#whys she like this. we got some backstory that is VERY inch resting but after like 1 episode

[ginwhitlock]

summary: human!JASPER/ human!BELLA. Bella is called to deliver day supplies to a very tired and mostly lost 1st Regiment Calvary, headed by no other than Major Jasper Whitlock. What will the two do once left alone to go over maps of the Tennessee hills?

fic type: oneshot, SMUT 18+

warnings: is set in the civil war, which means Jasper is a soldier in the confederacy literally only because he’s from Texas I promise, it would’ve been weird to make him union and apart of the Texas Calvary as that wasnt a union regiment, I do not support the confederacy or any of its beliefs, its just part of his backstory and this fic is centered directly in his human life (the confederacy itself is not mentioned in detail, it is just alluded to the fact). This is a smut fic but not hardcore in anyway so be warned. Oh also I made Bella and Emmett siblings. Of course. 

She almost broke his nose kissing him.

She almost shattered bone and cartilage clicking their teeth together, enamel scraping enamel.

She almost caved in the center of his face so she could lick the insides of his molars, separate his jaws to find the pit of his throat, dangle her self righteousness by his uvula.

And to think she almost didn’t go out that morning.

Isabella Marie was the kind of pretty you didn’t see right away. The layers of fine muscle and fragile skin hiding the richness of her blood-red cheeks, crisp even in the horrible heat of August. And with that heat came hot headed Calvary men with unlined coat pockets and a hunger for pretty little girls.

She met Major Whitlock three miles outside of town, the local preacher sending her out to their camp with as many baskets as her daddy’s two mules could hold on their hips. She was flushed, the slot of her breastbone slick with afternoon sweat— her riding boots did nothing but slosh around with her pale feet inside, leather no match for Tennessee mountain hidin weather.

Maybe she should’ve dropped ice down her shift. Maybe she should’ve played dead and waited for God to put her on her ass.

The thin brunette was graced with the presence of an even skinner red head the moment Stubborn Ass’s (as she affectionally called her steed in private) hooves entered the temporary camp. The mans hair fell limply in front of his eyes which were slightly sunken, the blue of his irises molting into a starved shade of dust. His lips were worse. Once pink and slightly plump, now skinny and cracked with the less than dusty air.

“Is this the 1st Regiment Calvary? From Texas?” Her voice was strained and feverish, salt dripping off her Cupid’s bow.

The man nodded and offered a hand, “Names Sargent Henry Arquette. Nice to see you Miss, the boys haven’t been able to get any supplies up here for days,” Bella grasped his hand tightly, afraid her unskilled balance would come into play, and forced her weight down to the ground ungracefully, “you’re the sheriffs daughter, right miss?” His smile seemed correct handing off his skinny face, his teeth crooked and off centered, but sweet. She quirked her lip in return.

“Yes Sargent, I seem to be your supply wagon today. There’s more back in town but I was told you wouldn’t be in for a day or so.” Flushed and overdressed, that’s how she felt. Every second.

Henry took in the view of the well fed half breeds and gestured off handedly, something she would come to learn was an action he didn’t even notice he performed. “Day. Days. Who knows until we ration it. These trails are less trails and more raccoon paths. I’m just waiting to see why the hell we’ve been sent so far east to begin with.” He had no recognition what was proper to say in front of the young lady at his side, the year had been sucked dry of any feminine… life, to say lightly. A piece of his brain nudged him for speaking so plainly, but Bella never once looked offended and twitched her head in both sympathy and understanding. She had been raised in these hills. She knew their damnation like the back of her hand. Maybe even the back of her skull.

“I’ve heard about raids up in McMinnville. Bases and such lining up and down the mountain. My brother’s part of the 16th Regiment Calvary up there actually, you know. Things are heating up in our little slice of the world.” The little thing spoke like a sparrow, her nose pointed and soft, the bottom of her front teeth pillowing into her bottom lip. At the age of seventeen she seemed somehow both grounded and unsure.

The south was ripping itself apart. And she— and the Sargent, knew it.

Bella could see the redhead start to comment on her brothers hand me down gossip when a giant of a man— boy? Man? Definitely man, by the looks of his muscled shoulders and high jaw, the darkened cast shifting just under the skin of his cheeks, the low dip of a scar just below his brow— a brow which furrowed, twisted, and arched back up into his tanned forehead when he noticed the mules waiting restlessly, tails swinging behind a girl in a kinder man's idea of a dress and interrupted the lower soldiers train of thought.

“You must be Miss Isabella McCarty. I spoke to your father when we arrived last night.” Clipped and forward were his words, his hand outstretched in front of him, decorated in mis-matched freckles and calluses she could feel pressing into the column of her throat as she placed her small palm in his. “Major Jasper Whitlock, at your assistance.”

No smile graced his face but by God she would witness his lips stretch over his teeth if it was the last thing she ever did.

Still with her hand in his she whispered “You can call me Bella. Or Bella Marie. Or Isabella Marie oh or my mother calls me Belle or sometimes when my father is upset with me he calls me Marie McCarty like my grandmother used to and um..” her tongue had to have swelled to the size of a watermelon in the three seconds it took to look him in the eyes— the swamp green eyes in fact. Eyes the color of duckweed and marigold stems and whatever leaves would stick to the blackberries in the spring.

He laughed. And it sounded like a white flag waving in her insides. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Maybe the preacher was a righteous man after all.

“I like Isabella Marie. Miss Isabella Marie.” Like rain drops on a tin ceiling.

The Arquette boy looked between the two before edging towards the black mules “Any orders where to put these, Major?” Skinny lips. Skinny spine.

Jasper had finally looked up from the strawberry cheeked girl in front of him, released their hands, and knocked his head backwards, towards the other soldiers checking tents and cleaning their own horses.

“Just take em back to the storage tent. Not like it’ll be competing for space.” The Major looked back at his men “Calhoun, Jennings, help Arquette move these rations will you? Make yourself useful for once.” His voice didn’t have to boom and condense like a rung out air horn, the cool of his vocal cords carried and personally plucked the not yet men from their activities and dragged them towards the group of three. Like some sort of magic act.

Bella was far from resigned. “So Major Whitlock, what would you like me to do?” Hopeful eyes, always searching to please. Or to piss off— as Emmett always scorned.

An upturn of lips flashed through Jaspers face and he looked to the sky for a mere moment “Mind helping me sort out some of my maps back in camp? My backwoods knowledge ain’t as sharp as my Houston kind and you seem like an expert in this area, getting yourself up to us all alone.” Bella’s feet started to move on instinct towards the felted wool tent covering a hundred or so feet behind the large man, but his hand stopped her at the shoulder, “And, if you don’t mind, would you be my guide back to town this evening? I’ve got to scout the path for the boys to pull through by the end of this week.”

She should’ve thought longer about it, linger over his words, the way his tongue flicked over his canines and brushed noticeably at the edge of his front teeth. But she didn’t. Not now. Not when the time it would’ve taken could pick at the carefully constructed wall built specifically for boys with serpent tongues. And lion hands. And bear teeth and… he still waiting for her response.

A shake to her head “Of course Major. If you’ll help me bring the mules back home, you’d be more help to me than I think I’d ever be to you.”

He could taste her self doubt. And he didn’t like it.

A jut of his brow led them through the ragged campsite, broken down cinders coating the bottom of her unusually worn boots, the lace of her dress clashing horribly with the scent of charred flesh and resting wounds. If only she knew a doctor. If only the town still had one.

His tent was one of the stronger ones, every inch placated with the spine of a book or a map binder or a drape of letters. He needed a desk and a real bed and maybe someone to make sure he stayed warm during the mountain nights.

Jaspers hands found a tiny stack of drawn maps and laid them over his now folded lap on the ground. Bella swiftly found her place at his bended knee and ran a finger over the torn edge. “These look older than my father. It doesn’t even mark the trail you follow to town.” The squishy flesh of her thumb traced an invisible oil line through the mountain and deposited itself in a town with seemingly no name, according to the parchment. “That’s home. If you’re following these maps I don’t quite understand how you ever got here.” Her eyes were full, engorged on road markers and faded city names.

Jasper softly nodded, their heads just inches from each other as she leaned in to scour the map. He had barely gotten to the camp they were in, his right hand Henry doing nearly all of the sight work. He’d be a hell of a tracker if he was a bloodhound. The blond almost chucked at the thought of Henry with big floppy mutt ears, yelping at the pretty girl almost in Jasper’s lap.

Her hair was like a chocolate waterfall. The good chocolate that mama got sent to her from her sister up north, the kind that was broken off continuously, piece after piece fed to him and his sisters until nothing was left.

Part of him wanted to see if she tasted as sweet.

He’d blame it on how damn long it’s been since he’s smelled anything other than soured sores and gunpowder. Even if Miss Isabella Marie smelled good enough to eat. Good enough to take like a man starved. And God— Jasper hungered like no other.

“There’s a river through the valley here, if you can find yourself through the woods.” Bella had found a piece of graphite and drawn in the harsh line of a hidden waterway just a mile or so from camp. She looked up at him as she spoke, her eyes warmly whiskey colored through her lashes.

His mouth clenched. “How old are you Miss McCarty?”

She blinked rapidly, like coming out of a daze. “Seventeen.”

Her hand dropped the instrument to the paper and draw up to his knee, the covered bone sharp under her knuckles.

“Do you have a boy at home waiting for you, Miss McCarty?” Hot air blew from his mouth to hers like a heatwave. Like a curse.

Bella’s lips formed a small “No” as she slid her small hand up the Major’s thigh, her singular ring gliding like margarine inch my inch as the seconds ticked by, each breath marking the two closer.

“Do you have a wife, Major?” Only whisper escaped her rosebud mouth, his face turning downwards, noses only separated by spirit.

“I was too busy waiting for you, it seems, Miss Bella.”

Her heart thumped her chest hard enough to make her ears ring.

Bella’s fist jumped from Jasper’s thigh to his army issued button up and crushed his chest to her own, her lips finding purchase slotted against his, the force clinking their front teeth together without care. His hands were gripping the roots of her soft waves, their skulls as close as their skin would let them. She wanted more, more, the heat suffocating the tent from more than the August sun. Her thin fingers slipped easily through the button gaps as his tongue invaded the privacy of her mouth. A horrible demented part of her brain screamed ‘Take, Take, Take. Mark me down and climb into the spaces that were meant to fit just us.’ Her brother had always called her too much of a dreamer. Too much of a poet and a believer and an artist. But God. This man was in her hands and she felt like a masterpiece.

A man she hardly knew.

But somehow, the scrape of his knuckles against her soon to be bare thighs felt like they had known each other at birth. Like Texas and Tennessee were just minutes from each other. As if they were the only bodies in the whole entire war.

Jasper’s hands were of no gentleman’s when he unfastened the ribbons holding her skirt to her waist, the under coat used for riding coming off like silk in his calloused palms. She was moaning into his mouth, the world outside the tent becoming buttery soft and not to be worried about. All there was was Jasper and his fucking mouth moving to her neck and his teeth toying around her jaw.

“Jesus, Major” He chuckled at her swear and rid her completely of every layer but her shift and the wool of her stockings, the small corset she wore becoming just cannon fodder for the mouth and hands of the Cavalryman.

“I love when you call me that, darlin. Wanna hear you scream it.” She had barely gotten open a single button on his shirt before he brushed the maps out of the way and flipped her on her back underneath him, the sway of his curled mane teasing her, the golden wheat just barely out of the reach of her teeth or fingers.

She wanted to use it like reins.

She’d especially like calling him by his rank then.

“You know I—“ her breathing caught the better of her as he lifted her by her thighs and dragged her ass to his kneeled position, his fingers running up her stockings with particular care, each inch another layer to her growing wetness. She didn’t let go of her breath until he had reached the skirting of her underdress, the white cotton nearly see through with the sweat sticking to every inch of her skin. His watery eyes devoured the sight with an indescribable hunger. Like a wolf hanging over a bleeding lamb.

What a happy sacrifice she’d be.

“Are you a good little southern girl, Isabella?” His fingertips brushed just under the fabric, his intent not easily hidden behind his hardened brow.

She came out trembling, she couldn’t tell over excitement or fear. “Yes Sir. No ones ever…” even her mother would blush saying those words.

Jasper finally smiled, sharp and soul quenching, like a mist of rain before a hurricane.

“I’m going to ruin you.” He couldn’t tell her about the wedding playing out behind his eyes or the static electric resonance he felt thinking about how another man would never get to lay a hand on his pretty Isabella.

His fingers slipped over her cunt, the soft curling hair tickling his fingertips. The moist warmth wet his fingers before skirting over her lips. He almost groaned. She was soaked. He had to see what his little Belle looked like in the light.

Jasper’s eyes met Bella’s giant blown out doe ones, her elbows holding up her upper body, trying to anticipate his very next move.

If they were playing chess, he was going to win. And she had always been a sore loser.

The skirt of the shift creased with the heat of his palms against her stomach, the slightly cooler air blowing across her pussy, making Bella suck in a breath through her teeth, her bottom lip becoming stuck under them with practiced strength.

Her knees knocked against Jasper’s hips as he watched the pink of her pussy clench around nothing, her wet little hole puckering and buzzing with the want of something under his trousers. He licked his lips as he had a gathered two fingers at her slit and traced upwards, her breath coming out in pants as he reached her clit, the engorged nub nearly ringing in her ears. A small circle over it make her moan from her throat. Bella had never felt someone else’s touch, she had never realized how much she wanted for it. She never knew how much she wanted Jasper to touch her.

The solider took his time as he brought the pads of his fingers back down to her achingly small hole and gathered some of her slick, the smell of sweat and Bella nearly driving him half insane as he brought a finger to his mouth, his tongue licking her clean off.

If Bella could speak to God directly and have him reply, she’d thank him for the creation of Major Jasper Whitlock.

But all she could do was cry out for more. And more he silently promised to give.

Maybe too much.

He had to stretch her out, the head of his cock wouldn’t fit into her without an orgasm in her, not now at least. Jasper slowly brought his hand back a third time and entered a single finger, her hips nearly bucking against his wrist as he slowly sat himself. A bead of sweat ran off his brow. A second finger partnered with the first after a few pumps, in and out, in and out. The near wetness coated on those fingers alone could bring him to release in his cot. He couldn’t wait any longer.

“Isabella I have to—“ “Please Major I need—“

The two looked at each other, their mouths in sync as they sat, their souls intertwining and bundling up into a bramble of wonderful thorns, coy smiles gracing both their faces.

Bella sat up slowly and draped a hand over Jasper’s belt buckle. “May I, Major?” The shorty craftsmanship of the iron buckle became putty under her unskilled hands as he nodded, now without words for the angel in front of him. The belt was off before the two noticed and Jasper brought his issued pants down to his ankles and off with his shoes to rest with the scraps of her dress he had taken off so quickly.

“Do you… always go bare?” The squeak of Bella’s voice made Jasper snicker like the teenage boy he technically still was, the nineteen year old clicking his teeth together and grinning. “Miss McCarty, sometimes underpinnings only get in the way of an army man.” A deep blush settled into her cheeks as she slapped at his chest, his shirt hanging open just slightly as he pushed her back to the floor.

“Shush, Whitlock.”

His smile turned feral as the head of his cock graced the hood of her clit, bouncing just slightly with the breath of their bodies. Jasper marked in his head that this should be a sight to see on their wedding night, not their first night together, but by God was it a beautiful one.

He looked at her as he grasped one of her hips with his right hand and the base of his cock with his left. “Breathe, Belle. Breathe with me, alright?” She nodded her head slowly and brought her own hand to the tent floor, grasping tightly.

Jasper’s hand guided the head carefully over her lips and to her quivering entrance. One buck and he’d tear her to badly to bear. No matter how long it had been… he’d never rush with his Isabella. Not now.

He slowly pushed in, the stretch a burn like no other, Bella’s voice turning from a quick steal of breath to a long sigh, the air being pushed out as he took her in. Inch by inch she devoured him, the heat marking his cock in emotional third degree burns. The sky burned brighter, the colors in his eyes turned clearer. Her hips and her fragile skin and the slip of her cunt was the end of the world and the birth of something entirely new. She grasped his shoulders as he mumbled a slew of impressive praise as he allowed her to adjust and seated himself at the very base of her cervix. Her throat screamed out to him as her nails dug in his back.

A wonderful, wonderful burn.

Bella slipped a hand to Jasper’s hip to push him back, to set any and all pace so that the fire would keep burning. He quickly slotted his face in the clench of her neck and began to move his pale hips, beginning to push and pull within her very tight walls.

The tent was full of grunts and moans and breathy screams he was sure the entirely camp heard. But Jesus Christ he didn’t give a single damn at that very moment. His boys knew to stay out of his shit and they be proven that every second until his angel’s orgasm.

God he wanted to fill her up. Wanted to take all of his cum and bury it deep where the lord intended, leave her leaking and exhausted and full of everything he had. He’d empty his balls in her again and again if it meant the Tennessee flower in his arms would keep him forever.

He wanted her forever.

“Major, deeper, please God please yes YES.” Jasper’s hips were snapping at a rapid pace, his balls slapping against her ass as he drove her into the hard ground. He could feel her tighten up the way he felt the air change around him before a fight broke out, the way a horse steps on a snake without jumping. There was an electricity in the air and the moment Bella tore his head out from her and pulled him into a jaw crushing kiss, he was crumbling at her feet, her pussy clenching and spasming around his cock with enough force to take out a grizzly bear.

She locked her legs around his hips as he all but collapsed into her, his hair sweaty between her fingers as she combed through it as his dick twitched it’s last time inside her belly. Jasper’s own hands found repentance under her ass and stayed there, too tired to remove himself from her heat.

“That ride home is gonna be sweaty, isn’t it?” Her whisper made her snort and bite into the side of her neck as she giggled.

[theweasleysredhair]

CHLOE MY LOVE! congrats on 4.6k -- honestly not sure how you don't have a million more followers because your blog and your writing is freaking brilliant! so happy to have formed a genuine friendship with you :') brb getting emotional. anyway! for your event, could you write a little something with my love george with a few different prompts? is that allowed? 3 and 8 from angst, 10 from fluff? who's surprised, i'm all fluff, congrats again my darling you deserve it all x

thank you so so much angel!! 💕 of course i decided i had to do a fake dating drabble for you erica, i got v carried away with it too so hope you like a super long drabble that turned into practically a whole fic - enjoy! ❤️

theweasleysredhair’s 4.6k follower event!

~~

3. “I told you not to fall in love with me.”

8. “I can’t pretend anymore.”

10. “Because I love you.”

~~~

Character: George Weasley

Word Count: 1884

WARNING: there’s no ‘read more’ bc i’m on mobile and couldn’t get it to work hahaha i apologise

Taglist: @dreamer821 @gracemayhateyou @criminalyetminimal @firewhisky-kisses @obsessedwithrandomthings @angelinathebook @iprobablyshipit91 @potterverseimagine @slytherineheir @kpopgirlbtssvt @rexorangecouny @wand3ringr0s3 @ickle-ronniekins @sehunasbitch @cryingforcrystalpepsi @kashishwrites @girl-next-door-writes @susceptible-but-siriusexual @crissdanvers @besitos-41 @heart-of-tempered-steel @andineversawyoucoming @mytreec | message or send an ask to be added/removed!

Disclaimer: Gif isn’t mine, credit goes to whoever made it

~*~

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST MY WORK! REBLOGS ARE ABSOLUTELY FINE! <3

+ + + + +

“I need you to date me.”

In shock, you dropped too many of the porcupine quills into your potion, making the liquid turn a nasty shade of green and sizzle as it practically exploded across the table. You sighed frustratedly, grabbing your wand and cleaning up the potion before turning to the person who spoke - one half of the Weasley twins and one of your best friends, George Weasley - who apparently found your reaction extremely amusing.

“I beg your pardon?” You asked, crossing your arms over your chest. The hint of a smile was still etched onto his face as he leaned forward, “I need you to date me.”

You felt yourself grow warm at the thought, “You’re joking, right?” “For once, I am not,” he shook his head, “I um, I told this girl I couldn’t go to the Yule Ball with her because I had a girlfriend who I’m going with instead. Except, I don’t have a girlfriend. So you can see my dilemma.”

“This may be a stupid question but... if you don’t have a girlfriend, why did you tell her you do?” You raised an eyebrow, half curious, half amused.

“I didn’t want to be rude and just tell her no because she was really sweet. So now I need to find someone to date me, and I thought of you,” he explained with a shrug, playing with some of the potion ingredients you’d left at the end of your table.

“There are so many other girls you could have-“

“I don’t want anyone else, I want you,” he said almost desperately, before sighing downheartedly, “C’mon, it wouldn’t be so bad, and it wouldn’t have to be for long! Just until the Yule Ball. It’s not like we’d have to pretend that much! I spend most of my free time with you as it is.”

“How do you know I don’t already have a date, huh?” You asked, beginning to start your potion all over again before Snape got the chance to scold you.

George’s face dropped and his jaw clenched, “What do you mean? Who asked you?”

“Well, no one. But my point was, what if they had?”

“Then you’d tell them you’ve been given a better option - me - and that they were never good enough for you. You know, the truth,” he nodded triumphantly, running a hand through his hair.

You shook your head at him with a smile, glancing up at him before your gaze travelled back to your potion.

“So what do you say?”

You pondered it for a moment, before replying, “Fine.”

George broke out into a large grin, wrapping his arms around you and very nearly swinging you around the room in excitement, “Darling, you are the best! I owe you big time!”

“Yes, you do. Now, do we have any rules we need to discuss?”

“Like what?”

“Like, I don’t know, a backstory, how we got together, how far we’d go with PDA - I vote not too far if I’m honest,” you said nervously, toying with the hem of your jumper.

“Well I vote the opposite, I think we should have lots of PDA constantly, all the time!”

“George,” you said warningly, though you couldn’t help the way your lips curved into a smile.

“Fine,” he dragged out the last syllable, “I can only think of one rule. A very important rule that I’m sure you might have a hard time not breaking.”

“Go on?”

“Whatever you do, don’t fall in love with me!” His eyes widened dramatically as he pointed at you. “No chance of that happening, don’t you worry,” you laughed, stirring the potion.

“Well that was rude of you,” he said in mock hurt, a hand on his heart as he pouted at you. You cracked a smile and shook your head, “Oh be quiet will you, and pass me the rest of those porcupine quills, I have to finish redoing this potion that you made me ruin.”

“Nagging me already,” George mumbled, “We really are a couple.”

***

You realised pretty quickly that you were wrong about there being no chance of falling for George. So very wrong. Turns out the chances of falling for George Weasley were 100%, because somewhere between being his friend and being more, you fell head over heels in love with him.

If you were honest with yourself, you’d had feelings for him before the whole fake-dating, but figured you’d mistaken them for feelings of strong friendship.

Now you knew - you didn’t want to be his friend, you wanted him to snog you against a wall as he whispered sweet nothings in your ear.

And all of this was because of one simple kiss. You hadn’t expected it, didn’t know it was going to happen. All you knew was that one minute you were walking down the hallway with George’s arm around your shoulder - not even for show, really, he just walked with you like that anyway - and the next, your back was against a pillar, your eyes widening as you stared up at George, feeling yourself growing warm.

“W-What’s going on?” You stammered out, heart pounding as you lost yourself in his brown eyes, suddenly getting the urge to run your hand through his ginger hair and pull him by his tie down into a kiss.

“She’s watching,” he murmured, nodding subtly down to the end of the hallway. You couldn’t see anyone, but took his word for it as you figured you were just overwhelmingly flustered from the proximity.

And suddenly you realised what position you were in: his hands either side of your head, trapping you between his chest and the pillar, your own chest barely an inch away from him and his legs brushing against your own.

Your breath hitched in your mouth, noticing how his eyes flickered from your eyes down to your mouth before moving back up again. Your lips parted a little, chin tilting ever-so-slightly upwards as you waited to see what he’d do.

“You’re so beautiful, you know that?” He murmured, and suddenly his lips were on yours, pulling you into a desperate kiss, him cupping your cheek to bring you closer, his other hand sliding down the pillar to grab your waist.

This wasn’t a kiss from someone who was just a friend. This was a kiss that made your toes curl, set your skin on fire and made you want more - so much more.

And in that moment you realised you loved him. You didn’t want to go back to being George’s friend, not when you knew how his lips felt against yours, how his hands felt holding your waist.

He’d finally pulled away for air, still pressing shorter kisses to your lips as you both breathed heavily, and you dragged a hand through his hair, just how you’d imagined.

You knew, right then, that you were in love with him. All of a sudden, and very very full on.

After that, you suddenly noticed and admired everything about him, from the way he laughed to the way he bit his lip as he glanced your way.

And the thought of breaking this whole dating thing off - something that you’d both planned to happen the day after the Yule Ball - made you feel sick to your stomach. The thought of never kissing him again made you want to scream.

You couldn’t imagine going back to being friends. Not when you’d had a taster of what it was like to be George Weasley’s girlfriend.

You argued with yourself, one half of you wanting to end it with him now in order to save yourself further heartbreak, and the other half wanting to continue for as long as possible. It was all you could think about, from the moment you woke up in the morning to the moment you went to sleep at night. And you decided you couldn’t keep going like this, it wasn’t fair to you.

You couldn’t keep pretending you weren’t in love with the ginger boy.

And so, when you found yourself sat in his common room late one night two weeks after that first fateful kiss, sharing one of the red plush couches with him, his leg pressed next to yours and your heart racing, the rest of the students already in their dorms, you decided to be honest with him.

“George?”

“Yes?” George waited for your reply, however at the silence, he looked up curiously, finding you chewing on your lip in thought.

“Are you okay, love?” He asked, concern seeping into his voice as he looked at you, noticing how restless you appeared, how lost in thought.

“I um.. yes? I mean no,” you frowned, “I mean- I don’t know.”

He shifted, his body tilting towards yours and he grabbed your hands in his, bringing them up to his lips so he could press a kiss to you knuckles, “What’s wrong, what’s going on?”

“I can’t pretend anymore, Georgie,” you whispered, afraid if you spoke any louder your voice would fail you.

“What do you mean, you can’t pretend? You’re scaring me, princess, please tell me what’s going on in that mind of yours,” he frowned, hating the idea of anything even remotely bothering you.

“I can’t pretend to be your girlfriend anymore.”

And suddenly George felt like he’d been winded, a pain in his chest he could only liken to heartbreak, if he was to be so dramatic.

“What?” His voice was small, especially in the silent room. He wanted to know why. Had he done something wrong? Made you feel uncomfortable at one point? He’d hate himself if he had.

“I can’t pretend because- because I fell in love with you,” you breathed out, lips trembling as you stared at your clasped hands, “This isn’t pretend for me anymore, this is real! And it’s scary, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

There was a silence and you couldn’t bring yourself to look up at him, not wanting to see the look on his face as he tried to come up with, you presumed, a way to reject you.

“You wanna know why I asked you to be my fake girlfriend?” He asked suddenly, squeezing your hands and waiting for you to nod slightly at him, before continuing, “Because I wanted a reason to ask you to the Yule Ball without being rejected. Because I wanted to spend even more time with you, to have a glimpse at what it would be like to date you. Because-because I love you.”

Your felt your heart skip a beat as you finally looked up at him, meeting his eyes as he smiled at you.

“You love me?” You whispered.

“Always have, I reckon.”

You couldn’t help the grin that spread across your face as you allowed him to pull you closer to him, “Well I guess it’s definitely a good job I fell for you, huh?”

He grinned cheekily, biting his lip as he replied jokingly, “Well, I don’t know really, I mean, I thought I told you not to fall in love with me.”

“Yeah, well,” you spoke, letting a soft smile creep onto your face,

“As it turns out, I just couldn’t help myself.”

[sarahjtv]

BNHA Chapter 327 Spoiler Analysis: Home Sweet Home

OH MY GOD, GUYS!!!  DEKU GETS A BATH!!!! 🎉🛁 🧼   My broccoli boy finally gets squeaky clean, gets some sleep, and we finally get some R&R time with the Class 1-A kids.  It’s not close to the happy-go-lucky days of old, but it’s some time with the kids nonetheless.  I’m glad Horikoshi put some heart and humor in this chapter because god knows we needed it.  But, let’s be real, this is the calm before the storm:

The chapter starts off with what everyone and Horikoshi has been wanting for Deku since he went on his mission: A motherfuckin’ bath 🛀 🧼🛁!   Kaminiari and Kirishima lead the Class 1-A boys to carry Deku into their side of the UA Alliance bathhouse (looks real nice btw) and give him a good power-wash.  The whole sequence is very comical!  The boys are rushing in and poor Deku has this O_O face on him like “what is happening?” 😂 We also see some of the boys butt naked 😳  It’s clear that Horikoshi had fun drawing this thing and it was fun to read 💚

Bakugo is with them of course and you can actually see his scars from when Shigaraki stabbed him.  He’s not bleeding, but you can see those scar patches on his skin.  I’m curious of how fan artist are going to draw him from now on.  I would like to see that fan art 👀

There’s also some bubble sfx coving Bakugo’s crotch and a translator said it might say dick or penis.  I’m curious what the officials will say.

But, Bakugo being Bakugo is still aggressive towards his classmates.  More playfully than before, but still.  He reminds everyone that he still intends on being the best there is and that everyone is still his rivals (also friends, Bakugo).  HE EVEN MAKES AN ATTEMPT TO CALL DEKU IZUKU!  LIKE HE ALMOST SAID “DEKU” BUT HE CHANGED IT TO IZUKU AT THE LAST MINUTE!  AND DEKU SAYS THAT CALLING HIM DEKU IS JUST FINE LIKE THAT ANGER THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE NICKNAME ISN’T THERE ANYMORE AND IT’S A FREINDLY NICKNAME BKDK FRIENDSHIP GROWTH YOU LOVE TO SEE IT 🧡💚  

After Deku’s bath, he’s sitting in the commons talking to the rest of Class 1-A.  Well, most of them.  Mina tells Deku that Ochako and a few other students went to bed after everything became ok again.  So, I definitely didn’t see Tsuyu, and it looks like Shoji, Aoyama, and Hagakare weren’t in this chapter either.  Ochako I understand; her speech must’ve been emotionally taxing.  Aoyama and Hagakare are the top suspects for being the traitor in the fandom and this isn’t helping their cases.  I don’t know about Tsuyu and Shoji though.  They’re both mutant-types, but characters like Ojiro or mutant-like people like Jiro, Mina or Tokoyami didn’t get outcasted.  Horikoshi did hint that Shoji would be getting something soon.  But, I really am just speculating here.

Now that Deku’s back, everyone has questions for him.  Though I understand why, this has gotta be overwhelming for Deku.  At least they’re not mad at him for hiding OFA.  They seem very understanding actually.

Then my ❄️🔥 boy, Shoto Todoroki, comes in all handsome right out of the baths 💙  He’s drying his right side while you can see a steam cloud on his left.  So, it is canon that Shoto drys himself naturally with his heat. His entrance is so pretty that even Mineta’s questioning it (shut up, Mineta, you’ll never be as beautiful as him).  And yes, I might be a Shoto simp, don’t judge me I see y’all too 👀

Anyway, Shoto asks everyone to let Deku sleep since that was pretty much the whole reason they brought him back.  Problem is, Deku can’t because he really needs to apologize to All Might for abandoning him.  AND AFTER HE SAYS THAT THERE’S A DETAILED PANEL OF SHOTO POINTING TO ALL MIGHT LIKE “UH, MIDORIYA? HE’S RIGHT THERE” AND ALL MIGHT LOOKING FROM THE WINDOW LIKE A HORROR VILLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE 😭

All Might comes in and apologizes to Deku for not being able to support him when he needed it, but Deku says that All Might support him more than enough.  Mina also scolds All Might for not saying anything when he left.  She wants All Might to apologize to everyone for that.  Though I’m glad Deku and All Might have reconciled (I honestly thought that last convo between them was going to be THE LAST for a hot minute), Mina has a point.  All Might did bail on all of them without any warning.  Kinda messed up in general.

All Might apologizes and he is going to fight with everyone regardless of his physical state so that he can see that flame continue to shine.  However, he warns the kids that they got info on the villains and that the final decisive battle is coming soon.  If the whole “Final Arc” thing hasn’t been hammered into your head, there you go.  I’m also glad that Stain’s speech did end up motivating All Might further.  Who knew?

So, All Might is off to help Endeavor since he’s got unfinished business to take care of.  But, the kids are wondering why Endeavor (and probably Hawks) isn’t entering UA entirely yet.  Shot reminds them that Endeavor is still connected to Dabi and that his presence alone would cause more discourse.  People’s minds can’t change that easily.  Shoto of all people would know.  

As Deku FINALLY SLEEPS 💤 and Shoto puts a blanket over him (possibly warmed by his left side 🔥) 💙💚 Shoto acknowledges how his presence might be making people anxious too even though it’s not his fault at all (thank you, Kirishima for doubling down on this btw ❤️🪨).  But, things are different and Shoto’s going to show that so that everyone can be at ease like he wants as a hero.  There’s even this sweet small smile on his beautiful face as he says this.  He’s grown so much and he’s pretty to boot I love him so much *HANDS IN FACE* 💙❄️🔥 

EVEN KIRISHIMA’S CRYING FROM HOW MANLY SHOTO IS I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!!

And now Jiro steps up and says her piece.  That she knows how hard it is to convince everyone to change their minds for the better.  Like with those two critics from the Culture Fest.  Even so, they accomplished this before, so she thinks they can do it again.  She even gathers all the band members to emphasize on this.  I love how Jiro uses her earphone jacks to rally the band and how she literally drags Bakugo by the shirt for a cute group shot.  None of these kids are afraid of Bakugo anymore LOL 😂!  Also, Momo is the tallest out of all of them in this line up shot (except for Bakugo who’s still being dragged on the ground).  I think she’s roughly 5ft 6-7 inches?  She’s the tallest of the girls I know that, but damn.  She towers all of them.  Even me...  She’s also very pretty in this shot and it’s her birthday as I’m posting this, so happy b-day Momo ❤️

And we get a beautiful panel of Jiro leading everyone to make sure that they’ll go beyond with making everything better than it was before.  We get a nice group shot of the rest of the class agreeing with her with a smile including Shoto with a small one (did I mention that I love him?) 💙💙💙 And Deku’s in the center still sleeping away.  I hope he has good dreams *kisses forehead*💚  And go Jiro for stepping up to the plate too 💜!  All these kids have grown so much.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Finally, the last pages show Endeavor, Hawks, and Best Jeanist going somewhere, maybe Tartarus.  They got info out of Dr. Ujiko via polygraph and the Nomu Research Group at Central Hospital.  They predict that they have 2 months until Shigaraki’s ready to go again, so they’ll need 1 month of preparation.  But, the info Stain gave All Might gave them more info.  His letter ended up being a personal letter to All Might (Stain really is that nuts...), but there was a microchip in the blade Stain left containing the security records from Tartarus.  It’s not stated how this info affected the mission at hand, but it sounds like it has to do something with the time frame.  So, I’m curious if they have less time to prepare or more?  Given how this is the Final Arc, Imma say less.

Finally, the teaser asks “How are the villains moving?”  I wonder if that means we’re switching to the villain’s next week.  I would love to hang out with the kids more, but I would also like to know what our villains are up to.  Like, where the hell is Himiko Toga?  Is Spinner still questioning shit?  What happened to Mr. Compress after he mauled himself to help Shigaraki and the others escape?  Also I think we need more info on this dude’s backstory given he’s the grandson of the famous Robin Hood villain who’s name definitely didn’t escape me... 😐  Is Dabi laughing his ass off from the utter chaos he started?  Is AFO still smiling like the evil mastermind he is?  Is Shigaraki as crispy as he was earlier?  I was going to ask about Twice but... 😭

So, yeah!  Love this chapter.  Really good transition chapter into whatever happens next.  I’m kinda sad we didn’t see Deku fight off more past villains during his vigilante days.  We got Muscular and Overhaul and I think that’s it?  Didn’t see any of Overhaul’s minions or that teeth-blade villain (Fish-something?; he broke out, but we haven’t seen him since) or Re-Destro or his goons.  I don’t count as Gentle or LaBrava as villains anymore and they were never truly evil to begin with.  Regardless, it was a really cool arc to see a more dark side of Deku.  I’m really glad Horikoshi made great use of his bunny hood and metal mask finally.  Deku really did look demonic for some time.  Also, seeing Deku badass is always a plus.  And seeing the deconstruction of hero society and the possible reconstruction of it was really good too.  Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, unfortunately, but we can do our best to make it that way.

I’m also glad that we finally got our kids back in top form.  Not just being heroes, but being teenagers too.  They all had great moments especially Iida, Ochako, and now Shoto as they should.  But, Bakugo’s apology was peak for me.  Over 320 chapters of development and build-up lead to that moment and it really is one of the best in the series.  It lives in my head rent free.

So, we got 1-2 months in-manga-time until what is probably the final battle of the series.  God, I can’t believe we’re actually nearing the end of this series.  I started reading it back in 2018 when shit was rough for me. I found this series after listening to the music and reading the hype around it.  I watched the show then I read the manga and it really helped me.  Saved me from a dark place actually.  I will miss this series when it’s done and I will be greatly for the joy Horikoshi has gifted us.  I’ll try to save the farewells for later.  I’d say this series has at least 1-1 1/2 years to go.

Me @ the kids and All Might:

[kaizokuou-ni-naru]

The Voyage So Far: Dressrosa (Part Two)

east blue (1 | 2) || alabasta (1 | 2) || skypiea || water 7 || enies lobby || thriller bark || paramount war (1 | 2) || fishman island || punk hazard || dressrosa (1 | 2) || || whole cake island || wano (1 | 2)

wild how this is upwards of 750 chapters in and yet i still get a big dumb smile whenever luffy declares he’s going to be king of the pirates. one piece is a series very much driven by its main characters and their goals and dreams- i don’t think it would be nearly as good if the main character was anyone but monkey d. luffy. 

personally, i always just feel kind of proud whenever he says this, because- yeah!! he is!! that’s luffy, he’s going to be king of the pirates, and we’ve known that since day fucking one. 

i really think there’s something to be said about usopp never taking credit for saving luffy and law from sugar. it’s arguably his greatest feat in the entire series thus far- an impossible, perfect shot across an entire country, with an angry mob inches from his back- and he never even tells anybody he did it. he’s come a long way from someone who tells tall tales about heroic acts he never did to someone who doesn’t even feel the need to take credit for ones he really did, so long as his friends are safe.

i really like how corazon’s introduction and characterization throughout the flashback is handled. at the start of law’s flashback, we know a few things about him already: that he’s someone law loved very much, and that he was killed by doflamingo. we know how this ends. 

but then cora is introduced as a clumsy mute weirdo who nearly kills law as one of the very first things he does, and we as the audience aren’t really sure how to reconcile that- and then the rest of the flashback is us, along with law, slowly discovering what a complicated and contradictory but ultimately good person he is. something very similar happens with the asl flashback- we know the endpoint of luffy and ace’s relationship, but the flashback is all about how they got there, from attempted murder to willing self-sacrifice. 

i think it’s really cool the way law and doflamingo’s backstories are layered together. they’re characters who exist with a lot of parallels and similarities between them already, which is something they’re both clearly aware of- i’ve mentioned before i think the only real difference between them is that law got corazon where doflamingo got the executives- and presenting their backstories simultaneously only makes that more obvious. 

i’ve always found it so interesting that we get what’s pretty much our only substantial exposition about the will of d direct from a former celestial dragon. it makes sense- cora’s basically the only character we’ve met who both has this information and is willing to share it-  but i don’t know, there’s something that feels very poetic to me about him having this information that’s clearly been suppressed and hidden by the dragons and willingly choosing to share it in order to help protect law, a D, who should technically be the very enemy he was once taught to hate and fear. 

i really like corazon. 

it fucks me up that we can tell the exact moment cora dies from the moment law starts making noise again. 

this might be a controversial take? i’m not sure. but i like baby five. i think her and sai’s relationship is really sweet, and people might complain about her getting off easy or whatever but i’m honestly glad she gets a happy ending after being thoroughly emotionally abused and broken her entire life. and on a lighter note, she’s also just a fun character to watch through the whole arc- the running gag with her crying whenever law glares at her is still one of my favorites in the whole series. 

the shot of robin’s bloody back is a favorite of mine, because it’s a reveal that doesn’t get lingered on at all, and yet at once it gives the entire proceeding scene a lot more weight when we understand just how much pain she must’ve been in the entire time. and yet she never even flinched or faltered while protecting rebecca. nico robin is very, very strong. 

there’s something so deliciously fitting about diamante’s final fall ending with him cracking his head on scarlett’s grave, and something so lovely about kyros and rebecca finally getting their proper reunion there, when neither of them ever really got a chance to mourn.

law’s line about the strawhats trailing nothing but miracles in their wake is one of the first ones i always think of when i think about the strawhats in general and luffy in particular, mostly because it’s so true. from the very beginning, the strawhats have been doing the impossible, from sailing to the sky to breaking in and out of the world’s greatest prison, and law saw that and staked all his hopes on it and they did not let him down. 

also i think it’s very cool of law to, when held at gunpoint and down an arm, grin, flip doflamingo off, and tell him to eat shit and that luffy is going to kick his ass. love that for him.

i think dressrosa does a very good job of making the victory against doflamingo equally law’s and luffy’s. they cooperate and trade off fighting him throughout the arc to great effect, and i think it’s pretty clear that neither of them could have tackled the massive challenge of dressrosa alone. 

while the final fight is luffy’s, it’s made clear that that’s only after law’s done absolutely everything he could and spent the majority of the arc distracting doflamingo, keeping him occupied, and even fucking shredding his insides with pure radiation before finally needing to tap out. i think it’s a good balance, given that luffy is the protagonist but law’s grudge against doflamingo is the driving force behind the entire arc. 

conqueror’s haki clashes are always very cool, pretty much regardless of who or where or why, but the one between luffy and doflamingo is a favorite. 

one of the things that’s always impressed me about one piece in comparison to other shounen series is how it handles its powerscaling- in that it does it well with a gradual increase and villains who vary widely in strength instead of every arc necessarily needing to be bigger and better than the last- and i think the way it handles powering up the main characters is a big part of that. 

through the entirety of one piece thus far, i’d say luffy has had three major power-ups- second and third gear in enies lobby, haki at the timeskip, and gear four here in dressrosa (an argument could also be made for ryuuou in wano, but i think that’s less major than these others). this helps prevent runaway powerscaling and also makes new power-ups feel like a genuine event, which i really like. 

i once referred to luffy as ‘hopebringer’ in a conversation with friends, and it’s a descriptor for him i think sums up really well how he manages to save so many people while insistently not being a hero. luffy inspires people, inspires whole countries, starting all the way back with coby in romance dawn. it’s one of the reasons i think it’s fitting how thoroughly he’s associated with the dawn. 

doflamingo is very, very scary. which is interesting, because he’s indisputably less powerful someone like kaidou, but at the same time i find him a much scarier villain, and i think it comes down to doflamingo’s gleeful, wanton cruelty. not that kaidou is in any way shape or form a nice person, but our first introduction to doflamingo is him forcing marines to attack each other just because he’s a little bored. he hurts people just because he can, and finds it funny. 

relating to my earlier comment about hope, i really like how the whole country comes together at the end to cheer luffy on and count down to his return. it makes it feel all the more triumphant when it does, especially for the citizens of dressrosa who’ve been suffocating under doflamingo’s rule for years and can finally, finally see freedom.

other people have put a lot more thought of the symbolism of doflamingo’s eyes and glasses than i intend to, but i’ll settle for saying that it’s the breaking of the glasses, before anything else, before the birdcage even vanishes from the sky and everyone is safe, that shows us that, at long last, doflamingo is well and truly defeated. his glasses break, and so does his power. 

i’ve written a longer post about it before (here) but it’s a recurring motif that one piece’s worst villains are those that steal people’s freedom, including, in the cruelest cases, the freedom to express their emotions openly. we see it with koala and the celestial dragons, with the failed smile fruits in wano, and here, too, with kyros. and, much like koala, triumph for him means finally being able to cry. 

i mentioned it back in the first post, but i’m so, so happy rebecca and kyros get the happy ending they deserve. they’ve both been fighting a war that they never should have had to for years and years, and they both deserve to get to just live, now, peaceful and quiet and together and surrounded by flowers. 

i really dig the note dressrosa ends on. it’s happy, of course, obviously, with the liberation of the country, kyros and rebecca’s happy ending, the creation of the grand fleet, even law getting some degree of closure through his talk with sengoku, but it also leaves this massive, gaping question- what now? 

in a way, doflamingo’s speech here follows up on law’s new era speech from punk hazard. luffy and law have just thrown a major wrench into the delicate power equilibrium of the entire new world, and we have all these characters out there who might be affected, who might want to take advantage, who might try to seize the throne. 

[tinyboxxtink]

"Not My Yacht" *Chapter 4*

Part 3

Part 5

Mwahahahahaha!

Okay so-- obviously, this story is taking place in an alternate universe. Clearly. I need you all to follow me along on this journey, suspend your disbelief, yeah? I did my best at a backstory, I went over it for a long time. I'm pretty sure every detail is covered. If not, I apologize, let me know and I'll fix it.

I think this is gonna be one hell of a ride, people. I'm super excited, are you?!

Tag List

@madamsnape921

@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@word-scribbless

@gibbs274

@sassyada

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@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

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(should I keep tagging @storiesofsvu ? I'm gonna do it until she says for the love of god STOP. 😂)

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

There was a very long, awkward pause before Rafael finally spoke:

“....What did you just say?”

“Please don’t make me repeat it,” You bit your lip as you looked at him with very sad, still very frightened eyes.

“I...I don’t…how...why...HOW is this man your husband?!”

“I...Well, he--” You muttered.

“He’s a PSYCHOPATH, Y/N!”

“Well he wasn’t when I met him!” You screamed unintentionally. You hadn’t meant to be that aggressive, but your instincts kicked in whenever a man yelled at you now.

“...I mean, I guess he was but you just said it yourself: He’s smart. He’s slick. He was sweet and charming and handsome, and I just-- we just-- “

“He seduced you,"

"I fell in love with him, Rafael! Jesus, it wasn't a one night stand. We were in love," You took a shaky breath. "Look I was a young, naïve, impressionable broke college student, okay? And he-- he was kind, and generous, and--”

“I don’t, I can’t have this conversation with you,” He started to walk into his secret room to get your clothes so that you could leave.

“No, please Rafael,” You grabbed his arm. “Please, let me explain? Please,” You pleaded with him.

“....Fine,” He sighed, unable to ignore your whimpers and tears.

“He wooed me, he gave me everything and anything I asked for. He lived in this giant loft uptown, I thought he was amazing. Looking back on it now, the loft was probably owned by people that he murdered and he’d kill people to get things I wanted, but I didn’t know that at the time!” You paced the floor while thinking out loud.

“And then when he asked me to marry him, I was ecstatic! I thought it was going to be my fairy tale ending before I was even 25, I didn’t know--” You suddenly stopped pacing and stopped talking, the memories of that period in your life coming back to you in disturbing waves.

Rafael saw how much you were in distress telling your story. Even though he was disgusted that you were ever intimate with this lunatic, he couldn’t help but feel for you. He stood up and took your hand, leading you to the leather couch in the corner of the room. He sat you down and motioned for you to continue if you could, while still holding your hand.

“I didn’t know that he was just trying to get me to be-- ‘his’, so that he could do whatever he wanted to me,” You barely got the words out while you still burned holes into the carpet with your eyes.

“Oh God, Oh-- Y/N,” He took your other hand but didn’t force you to look up; he wanted you to tell the rest on your own time.

“After we got married he started hitting me for stupid stuff like putting the dishes in the dishwasher wrong, or folding the towels the wrong way. And then he’d--” You felt tears catch in your throat. “He’d make me have sex with him whenever he wanted,”

“Carino,” Rafael instinctively put his arms around your shoulders, pulling you closer towards him. He just wanted to comfort you, he didn’t want to think about what else that monster did to you.

“I--- I didn’t know what to do. I had just graduated, he was paying for my law school, he was paying for everything I had in my life. I felt like I was trapped, so I just-- I put up with it,” You tried not to cry, you swore a long time ago you wouldn’t waste any more tears on him. But right now you couldn’t help it.

“But then it started getting worse,” You finally raised your head to look at him. “He started beating me when he was angry over other things, sometimes within an inch of my life,”

Rafael didn’t know what to say, he knew you weren’t finished so he just kept rubbing the back of your palms with his thumb comfortingly.

“I finally knew either I had to leave, or die,” You got your tears under control as you remembered how strong you had to be back then. And ever since. “So one day when he was on one of his ‘business trips’-- which now I know were probably killings or heists or worse, I packed everything I could fit into two suitcases and I just-- I left,” You sighed.

“I didn’t have anywhere to go. My parents live in Florida, I didn’t really have friends at school, which wouldn’t have mattered anyway because without him paying for it I had to drop out. I slept on the streets for months!” You unconsciously moved closer into Rafael’s chest as you relived the horror.

“Finally I-- I did something that I never thought I would do in a million years, but I was desperate Rafael. You have to understand that,” You looked at him with a terrified look, like he was about to kick you out of his office for real after what you were about to say.

“I do,” He put a hand to your face. “Whatever you’re going to say, I understand,”

“Okay,” You nodded softly. “I...I became an escort,” You turned away from him and his soft hand on your cheek. Even though he just assured you he understood, you could feel the judgement.

“Not a hooker,” You quickly added, like that made it any better. “An escort-- for older, wealthy gentlemen callers,”

“Ah,” He nodded. “I see,”

“...I changed my name, cancelled all my credit cards and got new ones in my new name. And I started making pretty good money. Enough for a small apartment and food anyway,” You continued. “I had accepted the fact that my life was going to be just what it was at that time-- living my life out as a whore,”

“You’re not, and never were and never will be, a whore Y/N,”

“Rafael, please,” You shook your head with a sarcastic laugh. “Maybe I was a fancy whore, but still one nonetheless,”

“No you--” He didn’t want to get into female derogatory slurs with you right now, so he just let it go. “...Okay, continue,”

“So then I just-- got lucky,” You played with the buttons on his shirt once again nervously. “I shouldn’t say lucky, that’s awful to say about a person’s death,”

“...Death?”

“Yeah um,” You picked harder at the buttons. “A regular of mine, Bartholomew Ridgewood. He was a very wealthy stockbroker who had no family or friends, just-- me, apparently,” You shrugged. “He had a heart attack and died, and then his estate contacted me to let me know that he had left his entire fortune and penthouse to me,”

“Seriously?” Rafael almost laughed at the crazy notion.

“I know right?!” You suddenly exclaimed. It really sounded like something out of a soap opera. “So, I used the money to immediately enroll back in law school, and got a job with Rita, and-- here I am,” You motioned towards yourself, in a ‘ta da’ fashion.

“So, let me get this straight,” Rafael began going over detail of your story in his head. “You actually have a huge fortune, but you’re still going to law school, AND holding down a job?”

“...Yeah,” You pushed a strand of hair behind your ear.

“Why?” He narrowed his eyes.

“Why?” You half laughed. “Well for one, because I don’t ever want to have to depend on a man’s wealth to survive ever again,”

“How would that even happen? Did you blow through it that fast?”

“No!” You suddenly stood up in anger, not believing he was questioning you now. “But it still scares me that something will happen to it, and I’ll be helpless again,” You crossed your arms. “And two, I want to help people like me, without a voice. And three, a recommendation from the District Attorney to any law firm is a very highly coveted accomplishment, Rafael,”

“Right,” He nodded. “So much more coveted than a lowly DA’s recommendation,”

“Are you-- Are you serious?” You laughed in disbelief. “Wha--How, HOW did you get to that from any point in my horror story?”

“I don’t-- I don’t know, maybe if I had known you sooner I could have protected you,” He rubbed the back of his neck. Why DID he say that? Why was he suddenly jealous that you had consciously chosen to work for Rita over him? Why did that even matter at this point?

“No, you couldn’t have,” You shook your head as you sat back down next to him. “I got away from-- By the way he went by Tommy Richmond back then, if you want to add that to your case file,” You pointed to the folder on the desk.

He stood up and walked over to it, pulling papers out of the folder and examining each identity he had found so far. Tommy was on the list from a few years ago. Eric Braverman was next on the list, then Eddie Warshack and then Billy Forsythe, before William Lewis. Eric’s ID was from Connecticut, Eddie from Pennsylvania, and Billy from Ohio.

“....So this shows that once he left New York he went south, but then came back up? That doesn’t make any sense,” He flipped through the papers as thoughts ran through his brain.

“Doesn’t it though?” You stood up and walked over to the desk. “He came back for me. He’s probably looking for me. Maybe he thought I fled the state and he went looking and came back,” Your face turned paler the more you thought out loud.

“I have to get out of here,” You suddenly decided out loud. You briskly walked to the secret room and pulled your clothes out with one minute left on the dryer, but you didn’t care. You were quickly putting them on when Rafael ran in after you.

“What? No, no you don’t,” He tried to stop you from unbuttoning his shirt. “Not now that I know he’s looking for you, you’re not going anywhere,”

“Look Rafael,” You stopped undressing and looked at him very seriously. “He’s smart, and he’s fast. I’ll bet you right now that he is doing some very specific research on anyone that was in that station the day you picked him up. And that includes you,”

“And why would he waste time on that if he’s looking for you?” Rafael raised a curious eyebrow.

“Well obviously if he thinks he’s at risk of being caught I’m the furthest thing from his mind right now! And he’ll study you all like lab rats, trying to figure out your fears and weaknesses, and prey on them. That’s exactly how he manipulated me,”

“So he researched you?”

“No, I don’t think he needed to back then! I just fell into his arms, no hard work on his end required,” You scoffed at your naivete as a young girl.

“....So why do you need to leave?” He crossed his arms.

“Because he’ll figure out we’re....involved,” You gestured between the two of you.

“Involved?” He half laughed. “Y/N we haven’t even-- we haven’t done anything but talk!”

“And yet I’m standing here in your office in only my underwear and your shirt like you said, a sex fantasy!” You gestured to your still scantily clad body.

That gave Rafael an idea.

Without warning his arms were suddenly around your waist, pulling you roughly into his awaiting mouth. You were shocked at first, but soon welcomed his tongue into yours as it began exploring your mouth. His hands slowly moved up your waist through his shirt, approaching your bare breasts. Before he could reach them, you pushed him away.

“What the FUCK are you doing?!” You yelled angrily. “Do you really think now is the appropriate time to do this?”

“Well, if Lewis thinks we’re ‘fraternizing’, shouldn’t we actually ‘fraternize’?” He gave you a smirk.

“He doesn’t think anything yet! I have no idea where he is, you have no idea where he is,” You sighed in frustration.

“I do know where he is,” He traced your palms with his finger sensually. “He’s locked in the tank at the station,”

“...Really?” You were suddenly feeling much safer, and arousal quickly came along with it.

“Really,” He nodded, cupping your head in his hands by your jawline so his thumbs ran against the side of your temples. He gently massaged them, making you relax even more.

“...And you’re not just trying to have sex with me so I won’t run off on you?” You did your best to keep your wits about you, but it was growing increasingly difficult with the smell of his cologne wafting from his hands into your nose. It was intoxicating.

“Maybe I am,” He chuckled, “Or maybe, I’m just acting on things I know we’ve both felt since yesterday on that boat,”

“That’s assuming a lot, counselor,” You bit your lip as you tried desperately not to look down at his mouth while he moved his face closer.

“Is it, though?” His smirk grew more devilish as he continued to close the gap between your lips.

“I…” You tried thinking of anything but his tongue inside you, but it was a losing battle. “....Screw it,”

You grabbed his head and thrusted it against your burning lips as your tongues once again began to do a tango in between your mouths. His hands moved upwards quicker this time, and this time you let them. You jumped onto him, wrapping your legs around his waist as he fell against the desk to support your weight. He picked you up and carried you to the leather couch, laying you down and crawling on top of you while never removing his mouth from yours.

You were both so happy and so enthralled with each other you didn’t notice the door was cracked open, and two dark eyes peering behind it.

[a-snow-decahedron]

Late saturday fics tend to be a bit more impulsive than usual, but I've wantd to write this small idea I had and finally got around to it.

It's set in the same "universe" as "A Flower's Guide" But it can be read without prior context.

Read this oneshot on AO3

Who cares about a name, anyways?

The world around him had changed drastically ever since he awakened. He didn’t notice at first, though. His first instinct was to find someone, and after endless hours of calling out, his father heard his call. He didn’t look a day older than he remembered. And when the flower spoke, the monster’s eyes filled with tears. He said he had never seen a flower cry before. Let alone one that sounded so familiar. The flower told him his name.

“It’s Asriel.”

The man tried to hug his son as best as he could. He fetched a pot for the Prince, and took the boy home. He did his best to make the place better for Asriel. He got the dusty children’s books from the shelves at home to read before bedtime. Asgore carried the flower pot as they gardened together...

But this wasn’t his life. He didn’t love Asgore. In a way, he knew Asgore was his father, but it didn’t feel that way. There was a lack of love within him. He realized that he didn’t care. Nothing in that house felt like himself. Asgore tried hard to make it feel like nothing had changed, when things would never be the same. And he knew he was different when the royal scientist came home one day, and informed the king that he had no soul. Perhaps that was the reason he was like this?

It didn’t make sense to live with Asgore anymore, so he left. There had to be some place for him. An idea crossed his mind. Mom was gone… Or was she still “mom”? Maybe she had changed as much as he did. He knew where to look. He crawled into the soil of the King’s garden and moved, making a tunnel beneath the ground.

Eventually. he found Toriel. She didn’t look a day older than he remembered. But when he told her he was “Asriel” the pain in her face became apparent. She did what she could for Asriel. She showed the boy around the ruins she had made her home again. She took her child to the sunlight. She let the Prince rule over the piles of leaves with a fist of iron, in a metaphorical sense.

And yet, as much as she had become different because of pain. Toriel didn’t mean anything to him. He just couldn’t care.

A world without love is not worth living in. He decided his existence just wasn’t meant to be. And so, the same way a gardener cuts the weeds, he ended his life.

But something primal burning within him made him go back. He was back at the start. He knew where he was this time. He waited, and as the lights around him grew brighter, and left.

He followed this ritual many times. He learnt a lot about this world. Apparently, a lot had changed. He still called himself Asriel. Some people laughed like it was a joke, some of them cried like he was their son. Others praised his existence and he hated every second of it. Soon he realized: it wasn’t his life, and it wasn’t the life he wanted to live.

The name seemed to carry too much history of someone he would never be again. Chara would understand, they always did. They once told him they had chosen their name. That their old one belonged to someone they could never aspire to be. So maybe… he could choose one too? But just like Asgore, he was lousy at them. Nothing stuck.

One day, he met quite an eccentric monster. His name was Papyrus, and he trained every day with Undyne, leader of the Royal Guard. The odd thing about him was how different he was from everyone else. Everywhere the skeleton went, he was beaming with joy and curiosity. He seemed oblivious of the problems of the world. Therefore, his apparent naivety made him the perfect victim.

How would someone like Papyrus react to Asriel Dreemurr, Prince of All Monsters, now in the shape of a flower with a tragic backstory for the cherry on the top? Well, he just had to find out! A smile spread across his face. Perhaps he couldn’t really say Asriel was really him anymore, but he could just turn back time anyways if it turned out to be a bad idea. It was just a matter of wanting to do it.

“Howdy!” He made a rehearsed friendly smile.

“Hello there, little flower!” The cheerful skeleton turned to face the flower, pausing his puzzle calibration. “I’ve never seen a monster like you over here.”

“Well that’s because I’m new in town!” He feigned innocence. Should he mess around first or tell him his name right away?

“Wowie, what do you think of Snowdin so far? Do you like it? I, the Great Papyrus, can make a full tour for you!”

Or perhaps he could let the other guide the conversation, he thought.

Papyrus didn’t wait for his answer, and began talking non-stop about his day, his new puzzles and every small thing that came to the skeleton’s mind. Some of it was absurd, and sounded like he was trying to pull an elaborate prank but the punchline never came in, and the flower started worrying Papyrus really meant everything he said.

“Don’t you have anything better to do?” The flower had let him do all the talking, but if he wanted to test his theory he couldn’t keep waiting. It was pointless, even if Papyrus's words had been interesting so far. Well, interestingly stupid, of course.

“Is there anything better than talking to my precious guest?” The plant creature pointed to one of the puzzles that still had its spikes retreated. “Forget about that, my brother can deal with it if he ever decides to get something done for once, nyeh heh heh”

“You don’t even know who you waste your time with!” He feigned indignation.

“What do you mean? You’re the only talking golden flower out there! I would recognize you everywhere!”

“I meant you don’t know my name! Are you an idiot? Braindead?”

“I don’t think that last one applies here.” Papyrus pointed to his skull.

“I don’t care!” The flower shouted harshly. Papyrus raised a brow. In a more stable tone, the flower continued: “Well, aren’t you supposed to know who you talk to? What if I was, say, the king in disguise, and you didn’t know?”

“O-ho! Interesting theory! Why would the king be here?” The flower wanted to bury himself on the snow and just give up already. Still, he had to at least try.

“Don’t be silly! Are you messing with me on purpose?”

“I am not!” Papyrus swore, shaking his head. “But I apologize for any offending act of rudeness from my person. After all, I strive to be as accommodating as possible. Nothing but the best.” He cleared his throat, how he did that without a throat to begin with was a mystery. He leaned down to face the flower eye to eye. “Who are you, flower pal?”

“Hee Hee Hee. None other than Asriel Dreemurr, Prince of the Underground.”

“Are you sure?”

“What do you mean by “are you sure”? Of course I am, I wear my name with pride. Just because I look different doesn’t mean I’m lying!” Papyrus analyzed him carefully, his empty sockets glancing at every inch of his stem and petals.

He looked reflexive for a moment. “I don’t get it.”

“What’s so hard to process? I just told you the truth! I just look different, unless you’re so ignorant you don’t even recognize my name…” The flower figured that could be the only explanation for the skeleton’s attitude. For him, usually just reshaping his face to look like his old one and using the same voice was enough proof for anyone who didn’t believe him right away.

Papyrus interrupted his thoughts. “But of course I do remember your name, my friend Flowey!”

Or maybe he was just dumb.

“Don’t you listen? Flowey is not a name and it sounds stupid!” There was no way Papyrus wasn’t at least pulling his leg... figuratively.

“Well I think you look like a Flowey!” Papyrus gave him his most sincere smile. “Or perhaps… Flowery is a good option? You could also be a Flowell…”

“This isn’t funny, I’m outta here!” He tried moving across the place, only to find himself trapped in a puzzle room surrounded by tall spikes. He growled, as the structure didn’t move despite the bullets he threw at it.

“Oh, how careless of me. Stay there for a moment!” He watched as the skeleton started digging around him, pulling him out of his hole. With utmost care, Papyrus lifted him. His stem shivered as he felt the change in perspective. He was always stuck to the ground. This was the first time he wasn’t.

“What do you think you’re doing to me?”

“Carrying you out of here, as you seem so eager to do.” Papyrus replied, and after a strong step of his boots, his body lifted from the ground.

The flower watched in awe as the skeleton walked in the air, perfectly avoiding the puzzle. Perhaps there was more to this guy? Was it really worth it to find out now? In the end, he figured he would eventually hang out with Papyrus too, whenever other people proved to be predictable. Well, why not keep this path now instead of later? He… enjoyed the view, at least.

Papyrus put him down and sat next to him. He patted the back of his head, behind his petals, like one would pat a child for comfort. “I’m very sorry, my friend. I’ve been rude to you.” The flower motioned for him to continue. ”It is just, you seemed a little conflicted back there. Did something upset you?”

No response.

“Flo— Asriel. I will never call you by a name you don’t want to again. I want you to know I really liked hanging out with you.”

“Whatever, I don’t care. Who are you to me, anyways?”

“Great question! A friend, perhaps. I’d like to be known as The Great Papyrus too! But do I know who Papyrus is, anyways?” Papyrus shrugged. “Perhaps what I should tell you is that despite everything, you’re still you! You will figure yourself out”

The flower narrowed its big black pupils, not quite sure what to make of the advice.

“Ah, already questioning things, I see. My lessons are working!” Papyrus stood up again, shaking the snow off his clothes.

“Well, friend, I hope we see each other again!”

The rest of the day wasn’t as eventful as that conversation. Papyrus words still lingered on his mind as he messed around with some strangers, and got someone to buy food at the town’s restaurant. Apparently, because of his conversation with Papyrus, he missed out on the debut of the fifteenth movie by the Underground’s greatest celebrity. Well, those were things he could look into now after wastingm this day. When he loaded his save, he went to Hotland instead, and talked to a couple of diamond heads about Mettaton’s debut.

One of them asked him for his name, so they could hang out the next day.

Impulsively, he replied: “I’m Flowey! Flowey the flower.”

Eventually, it just stuck with him. If people remembered or not it didn’t matter. It was just a made up name and it did the job better than saying he was Asriel ever did.

He kind of thought it fit who he had become.

Not a Prince, just a nobody.

Not a boss monster, just a flower

Not Asriel, with a whole reputation and history to weigh on his stem, just Flowey.

He chose that name.

And after a few dozen resets the story behind that name didn’t matter enough to be remembered.

[high-supernatural]

The Merge

Kai Parker x Female Reader/Character

Word Count: 1687

Warnings: typical tvd themes, the merge (not fluff, not smut, there’s a sentence of angst but its not much, mostly just toxic friendship)

Summary: “V” took Kai out of his prison world with a condition that they’d stick together. She helps him find his family and prepare for the merge. ((read part I – IV of the series to understand the backstories))

***since y’all like the one shots better than the series, I’m gonna write one shots for female readers under the name V for what I would’ve/will write in the series***

-

V and Kai have been out of the prison world for a few weeks. She got him out under the conditions that they would stick together no matter what, and that’s what she was doing, sticking by him.

Kai explained his plans to V when they got there and put together a plan. She knew his true motives, and she wanted to help.

While they prepared, trained, and got everything ready they stayed at motels but were mostly busy with the plan and didn’t see each other very often. The motel they were staying at only had one bed. They checked in in the middle of the night when they got back, “queen room fine?” asked the clerk, “absolutely,” Kai responded in his dramatically sarcastic tone.

“Hope sleeping in the same bed as me doesn’t scare you off… I’m a violent sleeper,” he joked with big eyes.

“Better than sleeping in vamp infested woods with a violent sleeper… I think I’ll be fine,” V responded with the same dramatics.

There were a few nights Kai had woken up in the middle of the night or before V and had intrusive thoughts come into his mind of killing her, not that he really wanted to. When he woke up one morning with his hand resting on her throat, he decided to sleep on the couch instead. He might have been a proclaimed sociopath, but he had morals for killing, and killing people who help him weren’t on that list. It scared him, but he ignored it.

V had the gift of seeing behind people and what they say their motives are, which is part of the reason Kai didn’t scare her. She knew why he started sleeping on the couch but didn’t bother to tell him she knew, just like she knew where he went during the day to antagonize his family, but still didn’t bother to confront him about it. She already knew why and what he was doing.

She liked pushing boundaries with him. To see how far he’d really go or what he’d do if she didn’t act scared or flinch even an inch at the things, he’d say to get a rise out of her. She liked seeing how he’d react to her affections, knowing he hadn’t experienced much of it.

When he started sleeping on the couch, she would sometimes join him, walking over to him with a blanket around her shoulders and laying on top of or next to him under the blanket. She liked how he’d tense up until he fell back asleep, nervous to put his arms around her. Sometimes she’d tell him she had a bad dream and say, “this is the part you put your arms around me,” when he wouldn’t.

They were best friends who loved pushing each other’s buttons.

V found his twin for him and told him where she worked, she found this out through gullible Elena. She didn’t question him about his whereabouts when he found out either, she knew this too.

They made another deal with each other when they started playing out their plan – if either of them was going to be out, they have to tell the other how many hours they’d be gone before the other should start worrying, and the general location they’d be, just in case anything went wrong. They didn’t have to explain what they were doing, they actually preferred if the other didn’t know, it worked perfectly.

When Kai disappeared for longer than he said he’d be gone, V knew to worry. She went to the cemetery he said he’d be around and saw Damon, the person who sent her to the prison world before her and Kai got out.

She hid behind a tree just enough so Kai could see her, but Damon couldn’t. Through the Earth, V sent Kai some of her magic to siphon, just enough so he could siphon the magic out of Mystic Falls that the travelers put there and free himself.

“How do you feel?” V asked Kai when they got back to the motel.

“I feel…. Really good,” he responded, “I soaked up a lot of magic,” he chuckled.

“Do you know how to use it?” She asked, “I can’t even imagine how much magic was in that spell.”

Kai jittered and sat down, “I uh… I should probably practice, you know? Make sure I can control it.”

“Let’s practice then,” V said.

He looked up at her when she said, “push me with your magic.”

“I don’t know if I can control it—” she cut him off, “I can handle it, I can’t die, remember?”

“Remember we can’t hurt each other though, that’s the pact,” he said. Kai was a lot of things, but deal breaking wasn’t usually one of them.

She stood in front of him and pushed his head playfully before getting on his lap with both legs on either side of his, “we said no fighting, this isn’t fighting, it’s practicing.” She pushed his shoulders back and pinched his face to annoy him, “come on, do something to get me off of you,” she played.

He grabbed her arms, “I can’t practice on you,” he spoke to her with an almost serious tone for the first time.

She grabbed his biceps and shocked him with her magic before sending burning waves up his arms, making his face turn in pain.

“Fight back,” she said, “or I’ll go hotter.”

Kai squeezed her biceps as she squeezed his and tried sending the magic she was using on him back to her, but it didn’t work.

“Try harder,” she said.

“I can’t—”

“Yes, you can, you have to focus,” she sent warmer magic through his arms and down his chest making him groan. “Make me stop at least once, you’re not gonna hurt me, you got this, focus on sending me the pain.”

With that encouragement Kai was successful not only in sending the magic she was using back to her, but sending it back more intensely, causing a sensation of being on fire for a couple of seconds.

When he heard her wince and felt her arms go limp, he knew it worked and quickly pushed her off of him to stand up, not knowing if he could stop if they were still touching.

She let out a “whoof” breath and chuckled, “you did it,” she looked at him, “why the long face?”

He stared at her like he just killed a puppy, “I need someone else to practice on.”

“Kai, it worked, what’s the problem?” she asked.

“I just need someone else to practice on, I’ll be back tonight,”

“Wait, I think I know who you can use,” she said, stopping him from rushing out and finding a random person.

“Elena Gilbert. She’s always pissed me off. When I found out vampires were in town she acted like I was crazy, now she is one. She never treated me how she treats everyone else, she’s still hung up on the fact that her brother confided in me instead of her,” V said, “everyone’s always saving her and letting others die for her own life. I think she could be put in her place a little better.”

Kai was always confused about why V was so helpful to him, another thing that scared him a little. It was unusual to him.

He practiced his magic on Elena at the high school after he left while V did her own thing, which usually included writing, drawing, or causing some chaos, until she got a call from Elena.

‘great,’ she rolled her eyes before she answered the phone.

“What?” she answered harshly.

“Kai just tortured me for hours,” Elena whined.

“Ok? How is that my problem?” V answered, knowing that all of them still didn’t know she had been with Kai this whole time.

“He’s on his way to the woods to complete the merge!” Elene blurted out.

“What,” she said with concern this time, “I’m on my way,” V left and went to try and stop Kai from doing the merge so soon.

She called him multiple times on her way, but he didn’t answer. When she had got there, Kai and Luke’s eyes were already white, and they were about to complete the merge.

Just when she was about to run up and stop them, they both fell back, and everybody stood like statues until Jo ran to help Luke.

V watched them both with wide eyes, looking for psychic signs that one of them has died or merged, but saw nothing.

After a few seconds of watching, she walked up to Kai. Everybody was watching Luke at this point, so V knelt down and put her hand on his chest, feeling for magic but felt none.

She teared up and tried blinking them away, shaking him by his shirt and saying his name before pressing her hand on his chest to transfer magic to him, waking him up.

His eyes darted open and he grabbed her wrist, sitting up silently. Nobody had noticed him yet. V sat behind him with her hand still on his chest when he turned around, “thanks, kid,” he whispered before he stood up.

Kai said some words to Jo before turning around and offering his hand to V before they walked off. They heard them ask, “did they just leave together,” but ignored it.

V drove them back to the motel and glanced at Kai every so often with worried expressions as he sat silently and wondered at his hands, “how do you feel now?” she asked.

“I feel good.. I feel.. different, I don’t know how to describe it,” he said in breaths.

“That’s good, I think,” V said still confused and paused for a few seconds to think, “we should get out of town, like, tonight, they’re going to look for us,”

“Don’t worry, I got it covered,” is all Kai said.

She looked over at him with a worried face again, “no really, we need to get out of town,” she was serious.

“I dunno, I kinda like it here,” he smiled ominously.

 ((read the next story for continuation of this one))

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

White Lies (Pt. 02 of 21)

Pairing: Keanu Reeves X Reader

Word count: 2.2 K

Summary: Keanu found the girl almost dead, in the wrecks of what was once her car. While she was in surgery, stuck in a coma, he gathered the best doctors of New York to attend to her. They told him she is likely to have some kind of brain damage, what may lead to memory loss. And this possibility added up wit the fact that she's pregnant, made the council come up with an odd idea. They asked Keanu to pretend to be her husband, since the stress of finding out everything that happened could put the baby in danger. He reluctantly agreed, but only if she does has some kind of memory loss. He still goes she'll wake up soon, with her memories intact.

But when you finally wake up, there's nothing inside. You're quick to find your head is empty, void, like a blank canvas. The only thing that brings you some relief, that makes you feel less lonely is the mention of a husband. And you can't wait to meet him, because you know you can't deal with this by yourself.

<- Previous part (01)

Next part (03) ->

{Keanu Reeves Masterlist}

{John Wick Masterlist}

×

Facing It Together

“Hi.” You mutter, feeling a little pathetic.

“Hi, beautiful.” The man softly says, walking closer to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“I...” Your hopes are suddenly crushed. You thought you'd recognize him, but you didn't. He's a stranger. “I don't remember you. I'm sorry.” You start crying again, sobbing, unable to look at Keanu. There's a pressure in your chest, like your own heart is being destroyed, and your head hurts so bad it makes you want to throw up. “I'm so sorry.”

“Hey, hey. Calm down.”

His voice is a distant sound as your body is shaken by the sobs, and you hide your face with both hands. “I'm so sorry.” You repeat, defeated and lost. Because this is how you feel now. Completely, ultimately lost.

You're tired of looking inside yourself and finding nothing but a void. No memories, no familiar faces, nothing. It's like you're an empty vessel, stripped away from everything you once were, everything you grew to be. You feel the mattress moving, and hands grabbing your wrists gently, pulling them away from your face. “Don't apologize,” Keanu says, and you can't control yourself. This man is everything you have, the only person from your life that you have around. Whatever this is, wherever this leads, you need him. Biting back a sob, you throw your arms around his neck, holding on to him like you holding on to dear life.

“I-if you want to divorce me, it's ok.” The words flow out, a little confusing, too fast. You can't put him through it, it's not fair. “I can't ask you to deal with this, I...” Still, you don't find it in you to let go of him just yet. And that's when you feel his arms embracing you, strongly holding you against his chest, and it just makes you cry even more. “It's alright if you want to leave me.”

“(Y/N), listen.” Keanu pulls away, and you reluctantly let go. But he remains close, his face once a few inches away from yours as a hand comes to caress your cheek. “I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together, you and I.” Blinking to push some tears off, you stare into his dark eyes. “I promise you.”

“But I–”

“No buts.” He cuts you short, placing a kiss on your forehead. “I'm right here with you and we'll go through this together.”

“Alright.” You mumble, feeling as Keanu dries off some tears with his thumb. “I'm so sorry.”

“Stop apologizing, none of this is your fault.” He's still speaking when a nurse comes in.

“Excuse me. I'm here to help (Y/N) shower. And Dr. Harris asked to see you, Mr. Reeves.” She says, showing off a small smile.

You don't want him to go, but you can't ask him to stay. So you watch as he stands up, looking down before sighing. “I'll see what Dr. Harris wants. But I'll be back, I promise.”

Nodding, you keep your eyes on him until he leaves. But Keanu gives you one last look, along with a smile before heading out of the room.

The psychologist goes through the same things they've been talking about since Keanu agreed to this. The backstory, how to deal with headaches, confusing questions, everything. It takes hours and he's annoyed, mind wandering through the hospital, all the way back to her room.

Keanu's heart is broken. He never saw anyone suffering that much. He never saw someone who felt utterly, impossibly lost. If there was a way, it doesn't matter how much it would cost, to bring her memories back, he'd pay for it. If only medicine was that advanced.

“Mr. Reeves?”

“Huh?” He asks, raising his eyes from his hands up to Dr. Harris again.

“Is everything set at your place? We're planning on discharging her by next week. As long as the baby is alright.”

“And who will tell her about the pregnancy?” Keanu inquires, leaning forward on the table. “I think she should know it sooner rather than later.”

“You, as her husband, should be the one to tell the news.”

“Of course.” He couldn't help but feel guilty, like he's toying with her life. It isn't fair, but her reaction just a while ago changed his mind. It convinced him that the doctors were right. (Y/N) needs him, and it doesn't matter if they're both complete strangers, he feels it in his heart that this is the right thing to do. If he's willing to pay any amount of money to help her get better, he can do this too. And he will. “When can I tell her?”

“Whenever you feel like it. We're counting on you to set the pace in this. Soon enough you'll be very close, and your reports will help us find the right treatments along the way.”

He nods, despite thinking he'll be doing their job. Keanu is not a doctor, and he's not comfortable with this lie. It's too huge, too cruel to trick her like this. He's a confusion of feelings. Maybe he could've found a way to tell her the truth. That he found her, brought her here, and would stay by her side until everything is alright. But now, the damage is already done, and Keanu can't bring himself to break through this. Not now. Not after he saw how desperate she was.

Their talking went on for hours, until late at night. (Y/N) is already sleeping, they told him, so he took his time to go back home, eat something, shower and sleep for a couple of hours. It was still dark when he gets back to the hospital, silently walking into her room. The hospital gown she's wearing now is light blue instead of white, he doesn't know why. Careful, he stands next to her, looking down at her face. (Y/N) is pretty, more than that actually, and despite telling himself not to see her this way, struggling not to find her beautiful given the situation, he can't. A small smile crosses his lips as he moves to the couch in the corner, taking a seat. He'll wait, patiently, for her to wake up. As a true husband would.

You make your way back to consciousness slowly, with a persistent headache. It doesn't seem like it'll leave you alone, said the nurse, not for a while. You also feel dizzy, and the hospital room spins around even though you're secure in the bed.

“Shit.” You mutter, tightly closing your eyes once again, hoping it'll help.

“Something wrong?” The voice startles you, eyes opening and your attention being claimed by him. Keanu is here, making his way over you, looking worried.

“I'm just dizzy.” You explain, trying to move into a sitting position. But Keanu stops you, a hand on your shoulder.

“Keep still until it passes.”

“Alright.” Suddenly feeling nervous, you look away from him, clearing your throat. “I guess it's normal. Giving my... Condition.”

“Actually, (Y/N)...” His tone changes, and it makes you brave enough to stare at him again. Keanu seems uncertain, like he's fighting against himself.

“What is it?” Anxious, you push yourself up, ignoring how your sore body complains. “I-is it bad?”

“No, it isn't.” With his voice softer, he sits on the bed, taking both your hands in his. Furrowing your eyebrows, you decide not to pull them away. He's your husband after all, he must be used to this kind of affection. “(Y/N), you're... We're expecting a child.”

Gasping, your eyes go wide, a hand covering your mouth. “What?” You mutter, tears filling your eyes again. Looking down at your stomach, which is flat, you furrow your eyebrows. “A-are you sure? It doesn't look like it.”

“You're only five weeks pregnant. But soon enough it'll start to show.” Unable to control yourself, you start crying all over again, sobs shaking your body. “Hey, it's alright.”

Once again, you hug him, arms around his neck. You can't help it. If you thought your condition was delicate, complicated, it only got worse. You don't remember anything about yourself, you don't even remember your husband, and now there's a baby in the mix. “W-what and I going to do?” You cry, feeling his arms around you. “I-I don't–”

“We'll do it together, sweetheart,” Keanu says, his voice as soft as silk. You do need him, more than you thought you did. This is something you can't do by yourself. Your whole body hurts as you shake a little, hiding your face from Keanu's neck.

Slowly, you stop crying, allowing Keanu to calm you down, a hand rubbing the small of your back. A couple of minutes after, you pull away, a little embarrassed for breaking down like this. Again. Reaching out for the remote control, you push the buttons until the bed allows you to rest your back while still on a sitting position. Keanu fixes your pillow, and you mutter a ‘thank you’. “So...” You start, a hand on your stomach. “Did we plan it? Or is he or she an accident?” You ask, meeting his dark, deep eyes, voice still low and weak.

There's something in his eyes, something you can't quite place. “We planned it.”

“How long have we been married?” You burst out, a hand still on your stomach. It's a weird feeling to know there's a new life growing in there.

“A year and two months.” Keanu quickly answers.

“Alright.” You whisper, your eyes falling on his hand. Taking a deep breath, you take it, placing it on your belly. His hand is a lot bigger than yours, and your skin warms up under his touch. It hits you suddenly that it must be weird, since Keanu doesn't move. So you sink a little, looking down. “I-I'm sorry. You don't have to.”

“That's not it.” It seems like he was snapped out of his thoughts, and he leans forward a little, his eyes going to where his hand is. “I don't want to make you uncomfortable, that's all.” He breathes out, his thumb moving a little, a small smile crossing his lips.

Laying both your hands on top of his, you sigh. “Keanu, how... How did we meet?”

There's an awkward change in his expression, and he removes his hand from your stomach. “Well, I'm an actor. We met at an airport.”

“An actor? Really?” Furrowing your eyebrows, you chuckle. Looking like this, it's not much of a surprise.

“Yes.” He giggles at your expression. “You weren't really into movies, so you didn't recognize me at first. We started chatting, I asked for your number and you gave it to me.”

“...You're a little older than me, aren't you? If you don't mind me asking.” You couldn't help but notice. Keanu is very handsome, breathtaking really, but he's certainly older. In his forties, probably.

“Uhm...” He clears his throat, restless. “Yes, I'm something around two decades older than you.” Keanu avoids your eyes, looking down at his hands. You wish you could read his thoughts, and you hope you didn't hurt him in any way. “How do you feel about that?”

“I don't know.” Shrugging your shoulders, you curse yourself for saying that. This must be hard for him too, seeing you like this. Having his pregnant wife seeing him as a complete stranger. “Are we... Are we in love with each other? I mean... Do we love each other? Is our marriage good?” You don't know exactly what you're asking, but you need to know how's your relationship. You hope it's good. You hope you're not stuck in an unhappy marriage. But, in your favor, Keanu is treating you nicely, and since the pregnancy was planned, things are probably fine between you two.

“Yes, beautiful,” Keanu assures you, kind eyes as a hand comes to caress your cheek. “We're completely in love. We have been since the beginning and nothing changed. It only got stronger.”

This makes you smile. At least you had a good life before, and hopefully, you'll remember it. You'll remember him. “That's good.” You mutter, and his hand comes to your stomach once again.

“It is.” Keanu smiles too, softly and kind. It still feels weird to have him touching you, but you keep in mind that he's your husband. And you've been hurting him enough already with all this.

“Thank you for... Everything. And I'm sorry for... Driving recklessly and putting myself in this situation on the first place.” If your condition had screwed up your life alone, that's one thing. But there's someone else in this, and a child too. You'll never apologize enough.

“Stop it. None of this is your fault and we'll deal with whatever comes together. I promise you.” Keanu leans closer, and you freeze a little, a burning sensation on your core when you feel his lips placing a soft kiss on your forehead. But you manage to stay calm, offering him a small smile. “I'm with you, alright? You won't be alone through this process, or during your pregnancy.”

“Thank you.” You can't help but repeat, feeling less lonely than felt when you woke up.

×

@multific @inumorph @aestheticallywinchester @bvbwestfall @liviiii98 @allie1804-fan @gian-giannina @playboygeniusphilanthropist

[cjstalkingstarwarsagain]

hi! i’ve recently decided to rewatch all the star wars movies and take notes on them and then,,, share them with you. so if you’re even mildly interested in my star wars opinions, here you go :)

i’ll divide it into a couple categories so,,,

well start with rogue one!!

shit that made me giggle

"oh look, here’s lyra back from the dead. it’s a miracle."

everything K2 says and does. i love him and he’s perfect.

i love the continuous attempts by K2 to appear imperial and how he fails every time. not a single storm trooper or officer ever believes him when he starts running his mouth.

so sorry but bohdi getting his cable caught and trying to shake it loose is such an adorably human moment. makes me giggle every time.

i honestly thought this section would be longer, this movie made me laugh a bunch. 

stuff i don’t like or doesn’t make sense

why does jyn start believing in the rebellion? there’s no indication that she cared before they found her. there’s no real turning point that we can see. she just,,, suddenly is really into this shit. which is strange because the only reason she ever joined was because she was given a non-choice (either help or get put back in prison). i guess i can kinda see how her father dying could have changed her, but we see none of that on the ship after his death. we just get to the rebel council and all of a sudden she’s the poster girl for rebellion.

saw seems really stable at the beginning of the film, so why did he go seemingly crazy and paranoid? it’s probably explained in the novelization but that’s no excuse to just have a character go crazy with really no explanation or backstory.

that being said, a lot of the character development is pretty lacking. i don’t think i’d care about these characters nearly as much if i wasn’t already a star wars fan.

video game cut scene style general tarkin

bor gullet is supposed to make you lose your mind but bohdi was pretty much fine after like,,, a day

how does the death star,,,, move?? like i know it can but has that ever been explained? is it like little thrusters? like the ones you can see in real life to stabilize things in space? there’s nothing i can visually see. i’m not mad about it i just wanna know.

why does saw insist on staying behind? why doesn’t he come and help?? it would have been so easy to just leave but he insists on staying behind and just watching as death inches closer. i think it doesn’t make sense because we know *so little* about his character. give me more on him, make me understand.

since james earl jones is getting older, vader sounds older. was there??? nothing the audio or editing department could have done about that??? not super mad about this one just because darth vader is really cool and i’ll never really complain too much about darth vader screen time.

when the fuck did jyn become a motivational speaker??

my one gripe about pretty much every star wars movie is the sheer number of times people climb through huge shafts and jump around and shit and they’re always *fine*. no way they wouldn’t fall to their deaths in any normal situations.

can someone?? check the science of the hammerhead corvette?? because there’s no gravity or weight in space right?? theoretically all you gotta do is give that star destroyer a bump and it’s spinning out, right?? i know absolutely nothing about space physics but i gotta be right. maybe i’m wrong. i dunno. i’m dumb as rocks. hear that baby girl?? it’s the spare change rattling around in my skull. i got pennies where my brain is.

absolutely no fucking shot cassian survived a blaster hit AND that fall AND climbed out. my belief simply cannot be suspended that much.

DUDE I FORGOT THAT THE DEATH STAR CAN TRAVEL THROUGH HYPERSPACE HOW DOES WORK SOMEONE TELL ME!!!!!

why doesn’t vader just,,, force grab the plans. i know he sees them. why not just force stop the guy running away with them??

final note now that the movie is over. yes, it’s got a lot of issues. the plot is ehhh at times. the trailers don’t match up with the movie shots AT ALL (i wanna know what happened behind the scenes with that). the character development is lacking in many major ways (that has not stopped me from loving these characters though, but that’s the autism talking). but like i’ll say in the "stuff i liked" section, this is such a damn cool movie. i was once talking about it with an older friend of mine and he said seeing rogue one in theaters felt like watching the original trilogy in theaters back in the 70s and 80s and honestly that’s such a compliment. i love this movie, i really do.

just cool shit,,, you know the vibe

DEATH TROOPERS

krennic is probably one of my favorite imperial officers. for some reason he just really sells it for me, the evil and manipulation that borderlines in try hard. and (i mention it more later because you see it more in the "choke on your aspirations" scene) beyond that just the fact that he’s?? a guy. just a dude. at any given moment he could be described as just hanging out. but he’s trying so hard (for whatever reason, we don’t know his evil motivations) to be this big bad evil dude. and it’s just interesting to see someone *trying* to be imperial and *trying* to be evil, as opposed to a tarkin-type character who’s just naturally an asshole.

i love the rogue one main theme. don’t even talk to me. it’s so cool.

it’s cool to see more about the birth of the death star, seeing other people learn about it. sort of realizing the fear and terror that everyone must have been experiencing. especially after being a star wars fan for so long and being like, yeah it’s the death star it’s just a staple of this universe. it reminds me that "oh god this was a planet killer and this was the first time something like that had ever even been heard of".

there’s gorgeous visuals in this movie.

i like the "i’m wanted in 12 systems" guy cameo (did you know his name is cornelius? i googled it)

when the storm trooper asks for papers?? like fuck yeah show me what life is like under imperial rule. give me that shit.

chirrut is so badass i’ll never get over it

"i’m one with the force and the force is with me" i’m eating that shit UP! salivating over the meal in front of me. i really want more exploration of the guardians and jedi worship in general. like gimme that weird funky space religion.

seeing an at-st just walk around a town. i dunno i like that shit.

K2 saying sorry for hitting cassian. i’m so soft on this robot.

"clear of hostiles,,,, ONE HOSTILE"

jyn stepping in front of K2 to protect him after she (not ten minutes ago) made the comment “i’m just afraid they’ll miss you and hit me”. jyn,,, your soft side is showing,,,,

i like the cool machine blaster that baze has. it’s awesome seeing different blaster styles when originally the only variation we really saw was chewie’s cross bow style blaster.

i really wanna see more of baze and cirruit. i wanna know what happened that made baze stop believing. i wanna know how they met. i wanna see them evolve and grow together.

i like that jyn argues that 16 is too young to be a solider (she’s 21 in the movie). i like that she’s mad that she’s young and has been put in a position to protect herself and then later save the galaxy. (for context: luke and leia were 19 in a new hope. anakin is 19 in attack of the clones, ~22 when he became darth vader, and rey is 19 in force awakens. stop putting the fate of the galaxy in the hands of people who are *barely* adults)

the testing of the death star is awesome. love seeing wicked cool space weapons. when it blocks out the sun? ominous as hell fuck yeah.

it’s interesting that baze says cassian doesn’t look like a killer, that "he has the face of a friend", when one of the first things we saw him do was kill a man. i think about that a lot. does that say more about baze’s ability to read people or does it say more about who cassian is deep down, beyond what he’s done to serve the rebellion?

cassian’s relationship with death and killing is very interesting. you could argue that cassian is just as brainwashed and deep in the rebellion as anyone imperial. i really hope it’s something that gets explored in his stand alone show. he mentions he’s lost everything and has been a rebel since he was 6. gimme cassian andor backstory.

"careful not to choke on your aspirations director" is probably some of the most dramatic-anakin-skywalker shit i’ve ever seen vader do

i like seeing rebel infighting. so often it seems there’s always general consensus about what the rebellion wants, but it’s good to see that they don’t always agree on how to rebel.

i love the consistent "found family" rebel alliance shit in these movies. it makes my dick so hard.

ARTOO AND THREEPIO CAMEO FUCK ME UP THOSE ARE MY BOYS

okay i totally get that the empire is evil, i really do, but rogue one (and lots of moments in the sequels) really reminds me how fucking cool some of their shit is. like death troopers? imperial droids like K2? the base on scarif? vader’s castle on mustafar and his bacta tank?? fuck me UP.

i loved hearing the troopers doing their dumb small talk about the T-15s on the beach.

i think ben mendelssohn is perfect for the role of krennic, no notes there. he’s just like?? a guy and he’s doing everything he can to fit into this evil role and he just wants to be like this big bad imperial boy on campus. i don’t know. i don’t have the words right now to express how fuckin awesome he is. i’ll write an essay about it later.

THE AT-AT COMING OUT OF THE MIST?? CHRIST ON A BIKE. LAY ME TO REST. LOVE IT.

fucking love me some female fighter pilots. the women of star wars are so badass. doing justice to my return of the jedi ladies.

i think a whole lot about jyn giving K2 a blaster. the way he takes it and looks at it and holds it so gently. i think that’s the first time a human has trusted him with a blaster since his reprogramming. he seems so appreciative of that trust.

i love seeing the faces of baze and the other rebels when a few of the x-wings show up and take down an at-at. i’m so very soft for the relationship between these rebels. not to be cliche, but the *hope* that they have. it’s so moving. this movie is just so full of that quintessential rebel feeling.

hey so i’m super emotional about the death of K2 okay? because in the novelizations you learn that in the last second k2 had before a full shut down, he ran a simulation where cassian lived and even though he knew it was impossible, it made him happy. FURTHERMORE K2 is very well known and his name is often listed along side jyn’s in terms of talking about the history of the rebellion.

chirrut and baze’s deaths are so important to me. we know they’re best friends, and even though we don’t know how long they’ve been together, they love each other so deeply. chirrut being the path for baze to return to the force? touching. i so wish these dumb force husbands could have had more screen time. baze calling chirrut back?? chirrut telling him to find him in the force?? baze looking to see the man he loves one more time before he dies??reminds me of the silken quote about dying in your best friends arms because it’s all you know. anywho,,, if star wars canon has any mercy then these two lovers are force ghosts together rn. don’t care how you feel or whether you "ship" them or not. love comes in so many forms and they encompass all that love.

terribly sorry but i think about those two star destroyers colliding with the rogue one main theme playing over it every day. it’s,,,,, so,,,, ( ´∀｀)

i’ve said it before and i’ll say it again BEN MENDELSSOHN??? UH YEAH

krennic watching his weapon (his beautiful, successful weapon) power up and kill him,,, the poetic justice of it all,,,,

any time anyone says "may the force be with you" i dunno maybe it’s my religious trauma but i’m head over heels for that good shit

the star destroyer coming out of hyper space as the rebels are escaping and some of the ships hit the destroyer?? one of my favorite things in the new star wars movies is directors and writers saying "oh this can totally happen" and they DO IT

jyn mentioning earlier in the film that she isn’t used to people sticking around when shit hits the fan and then dying in the arms of cassian?? because he stayed?? and for the first time she has someone??

in that same vein: cassian also says earlier in the film that he lost everything too. his connection with jyn is also important to him, just as important as it is to jyn. they need each other. i can’t remember who on this hellsite said it, but someone mentioned that they hope the stand alone cassian stuff coming out doesn’t make him this swindling playboy who fucks around a bunch. i think having him as more of like?? a mandolorian type character would be really cool. like he’s a rebel assassin: make him one. make him independent and badass and cool and DONT give him a bunch of romantic or sexual interests because then that downplays the clear love he had developing for jyn. again LOVE COMES IN FORMS BEYOND BASIC SHIPS. and there’s a lot of love in star wars.

i’ve said it a million times but vader is so cool and over and over again this movie reminded me that he’s actually so scary. i saw star wars for the first time when i was 6 and i can’t remember my initial reaction to him, but i’ve definitely (like with the death star) been desensitized to the fact that if i was in star wars, darth vader would scare the shit out of me. he’s *scary* and that’s cool. i liked seeing vader effortlessly go fucking mad on these rebels. then you understand why they were so scared in that first scene of a new hope.

no i absolutely will not get over the vader scene. i won’t. his saber turning on. his force abilities. his effortless lightsaber work. the choral music over the scene with the hectic orchestra. don’t touch me i’m emotional.

i loved seeing leia. it touches me so deeply every time.

fuck i love this movie despite all its faults.

if you’ve made it this far, thank you!! i hope you enjoyed. please remember that this is totally a safe space for all star wars opinions and you can feel free to disagree with me! i’d love to hear what some of you thought :))

[sincerelyella]

RAMifications Chapter 5 -  Why Don’t We Fall In Love

Book: The Royal Romance (AU)

Pairings: Liam x MC (Ella)

Song Inspiration: Why Don’t We Fall In Love by Amerie

Characters belong to Pixelberry; MC Ella Brooks belongs to me

A/N: This entire idea came from Burnsy and her unBEARable series featuring her OTP Drake and Alyssa. This is Ella’s backstory and how she met the love of her life King Liam of Cordonia and became his queen. This doesn’t follow much of TRR books, there is still a social season but not all of the players are present. Throw canon out the window!

Catch up here

Warnings: Adult language; NSFW -> second base maybe

Words: 2439 

“Why was kissing me a mistake, Liam?”

Liam stared at her in surprise. He didn’t expect her to bring up the kiss, he hadn’t planned on bringing it up either; but it had been on his mind all week.

“I should have asked; I didn’t know how you felt …” he babbled. You’re blowing this! He audibly swallowed and tried to think about what to say next without looking like an idiot. “I’m sorry, Ella,” he whispered. “It wasn’t a mistake. Nothing with you has been a mistake. I just … this is my social season with suitors. At the time I didn’t think I could have you.” When she remained quiet he continued to nervously prattle. “Then I saw you at the beer garden on a date-“

“Wait,” she interrupted with her hand up. “You saw me?”

Liam nodded. “Yes, Drake and Alyssa and I were driving by, and I saw you get in the car with … someone,” he clenched his jaw. Ella smirked when she saw it and raised a brow at him.

She took a step forward. “Why, Your Highness, were you jealous?”

“No!” He said a little too quickly. He looked away for a second then back down at her and she tried so hard not to smile, but the edges of her mouth were curving up.

She took another step forward. “It wasn’t a date, Liam,” she said softly. “It was a way for me to get my mind off of a certain prince.”

She was so close to him, but their bodies weren’t touching. He could feel the warmth of her through the clothes in between them; the smell of her lavender perfume made him dizzy and rock hard at the same time. There she was, looking up at him with her mouth slightly parted, sending him a message; her eyes darker then they usually were, almost black. His gaze dropped down and landed on her mouth, they were drawing him in, closer and closer. Kiss her! Kiss her now! He quickly dropped his lips down onto hers, not gentle or shy like before, but passionate, like he was drinking from her. Like he was dying and needed her, all of her, to live. He wrapped his arms around her small waist, tugged her tightly against his chest and he felt her arms come around his neck. She softly moaned against his mouth and he took that opportunity to slip his tongue inside. Their tongues massaged each others, their hands were everywhere, soft groans filled the room. Liam ran his hands down to squeeze her ass, then reached the back of Ella’s thighs and lifted her easily off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he pressed her up against the closest wall. He ravaged her mouth and pressed himself against her throbbing core. She pulled away with a small moan as Liam kneaded one of her breasts outside her sweater. He rested his forehead against hers as they fought to catch their breath.

“Oh … my God,” she panted. Her head was swimming, she had never been kissed like that before. Ever.

Liam watched her with a smirk on his face. He leaned in to capture her lips again, slow and gentle. “I meant to kiss you like that,” he chuckled.

Ella smiled wide. “Uh-huh. Well, I didn’t mind this though … not at all.”

“Neither did I.” He flashed a grin at her and her legs got weak.

He placed one last kiss on her swollen lips before putting her carefully back on her feet and cleared his throat. “I, uh, really did invite you to stay so I could answer your questions. I know all of this is rather foreign to you.”

What were we talking about? “Umm …” she looked up at him with a confused look on her face.

“The social season, Ella,” he laughed loudly. “Come on, I can order us some dinner and we can talk?”

She nodded, just now realizing she hadn’t eaten at all since breakfast and her stomach was growling. Liam stepped away to order some food while she took in the living area and kitchen. Everything was modern, stainless steel appliances, a large kitchen island, marble countertops, a comfortable looking sectional that face a 75 inch flat screen TV. The entire area was simplistic but very masculine at the same time.

“Food should be here in a little bit, come sit with me.” He led her to the sectional, faced her and took her hands in his. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable about being a suitor. I want to be honest with you about everything.” Ella’s brows wrinkled in question and Liam continued. “The social season is a way for single women from all the noble houses in the kingdom to, essentially, compete to be queen. My queen.” He sighed. “In all honesty, it’s basically me … dating these women … at the same time.”

Liam held his breath. He studied Ella’s facial expression then held eye contact, silently pleading for her to say something. Anything.

She stared back at him, trying to gather her thoughts. I left Ethan because he dated multiple women. “So, you’ll be doing what we did in here … with those other women?”

He shook his head fiercely. “No! No, Ella!” He placed his hands on both sides of her neck and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “Court dating is very different from normal dating. Everything is done in front of the court, we talk and dance and there may be kisses on the cheek or hands but I won’t be doing anything like that with any of them.”

Ella nodded. Liam leaned over to kiss her softly and a knock on the door caused them to jump, then giggle. “It’s just dinner.” He rose from the couch to answer the door and rolled in a cart of covered plates a few moments later.

As they dug into their food, Liam continued speaking about the social season. “Our next event is in Applewood, the Apple Festival. I must warn you,” he stopped cutting the meat on his plate and looked at Ella. “My father has already told me that I need to … spend time with all of the ladies the last few weeks of the season.” He frowned and started to cut the meat again. “Originally, I was making small talk with them but not fully engaging. My father took notice and … I can’t show any favoritism while out in public, Ella.”

Ella continued to eat, looking down at her plate, thinking about Liam’s words. I don’t belong here.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said quietly.

She put her fork down. “I’m thinking that maybe I don’t belong here, Liam. I’m in school … I am a semester away from getting my degree. I was … planning on working at the children’s hospital.” She sighed. “Do I just give that up? For something I’m not even sure about? What if the court hates me? What if you don’t … choose me after the season-“

“Ella.” He said sternly, interrupting her nervous chattering. She flinched at his tone and looked him in the eye. “I don’t plan on choosing anyone but you,” his voice softened. “The only time I wouldn’t choose you … is if you tell me this isn’t what you want. The crown is a heavy, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone if they weren’t willing.”

Say no thank you, Ella. “I want this,” she blurted out. If she was honest with herself, she never felt anything like what she felt for Liam.

“What did you say?” He heard her, but he wanted to hear her say it again.

“I want this,” she said, louder and with more confidence. “I want this, and I want you. I just … want to figure out a way to also finish my degree.”

Liam smiled and kissed her soundly on mouth. “I want this, and I want you too,” and started placing chaste kisses on her lips over and over until she laughed. “We will figure out something for your school. For the season, however, you may need to drop this semester. Start again in January.”

She nodded. “Alright, I can do that. Now, my sponsors … what are they for?”

“The Beaumont’s have no single women to send as a representative of their house for the social season. So, they find a woman suitable and sponsor her so that she can represent their house.”

They talked through the night, he answered her questions and they had made plans to meet with Maxwell and Bertrand the next day. He taught her how to address nobles with their title and how to curtsy when appropriate. Liam had one of the guards drive her home so she could pack her things and come back to stay at the palace.

*****

The next day

Ella smiled and her thoughts went back to last night. She absentmindedly put her fingers on her lips. This was the last thing she expected when she flew to a country nobody had heard of. Falling for a prince and possibly ending up marrying him - it all sounded a little crazy. She woke up this morning thinking it was all a dream. But a text from Liam that said ‘good morning beautiful’ brought her back to reality. It’s not a dream. Holy shit I’m dating a prince!

On her way to the palace, Ella made a pit stop at the floral truck. Her boss gave her a big hug when she told him everything.

“I knew there was a reason Prince Liam was making you deliver all his flowers,” Aaron laughed loudly.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ella rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry I’m leaving with such short notice, Aaron. I have to postpone school until next semester also.”

He waved her apology dismissively. “Don’t worry about it, you just make us proud and become a damn good queen.”

“Oh God,” she placed her hand on her forehead. “I haven’t fully come to terms with that yet,” her eyes widened.

“You’ll be fine, Ella,” Aaron’s face took on a serious expression. “You took the hospital by storm, you took on this job like a boss, everyone you speak to loves you immediately,” he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”

Ella swallowed nervously and swallowed. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I have to head to the palace, move in and all that, so I’ll see you around.”

She gave him one last hug before getting back in the car.

**

Liam sat in his quarters with Maxwell and Bertrand, waiting for Ella to arrive. Max was bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I can’t wait to meet her! Alyssa said she was great!”

Liam smiled. “Yes, she is pretty great.”

“Yes, well … great could still embarrass House Beaumont and I won’t have it.” Bertrand said with a frown.

“Aw B, don’t be so stuffy. If Liam is taken with her and Alyssa says she’s a winner then quit worrying!” Maxwell jumped up and down in excitement. “I’m hungry! Liam do you have fruit roll-ups?”

“Fruit … roll-ups??” His brows furrowed in confusion. He never got an answer as Max had already skipped to the kitchen to rummage through the cabinets.

A knock on the door made Liam snap his head towards the sound and start to get up off the couch.

“I GOT IT!” Maxwell hollered and ran to open the door. “Sam! It’s fine! Prince Liam knows Ella is coming … no you don’t need to see the prince right now, Sam … Come on, Ella!” The door slammed and a moment later Max had tugged Ella into the living area. Bertrand and Liam stood and Maxwell grinned from ear to ear.

“Okay! So hi, I’m Maxwell! Alyssa told me soooo much about you! Want some Doritos??” He handed Ella the bag.

“I’m good, thanks,” she laughed. “Nice to meet you Max.” Ella turned to Liam and Bertrand. “Hello, Your Highness, Your Grace,” she gave them a small curtsy.

Liam smiled down at her, took her hand and kissed her knuckles softly. “Hello, Lady Ella.”

Bertrand cleared his throat. “I see you know how to curtsy and address your betters.”

Maxwell gave his brother a glare. “What Bertrand means is … he’s happy to meet you!”

Bertrand rolled his eyes. “Lady Ella, if you are to represent House Beaumont we will need to prepare you properly for the festivities in Applewood. We leave in a mere day and a half.”

There was another knock on the door. Liam cleared his throat. “Excuse me.” He opened the door and was surprised to see who was standing on the other side.

“What in the hell is going on?”

[spacefaegoddess]

Alright come get your fresh hot (and very long I'm sorry) Mercury Black character analysis

I've loved our resident silver asshole since the beginning but we know like... two things about him. Before volume 6 he's always a package deal with Emerald (which I definitely don't mind) so we never got much on him individually. We knew he was raised to be an assassin by his abusive father, who he later killed. He's sarcastic and a joker but also an extremely skilled fighter who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. And now, though there hasn't been many explicit backstory points for him, we can definitely read into some things.

I wanna start at V6Ch9 "Lost". Emerald straight up asks Mercury why he joined up with her and Cinder, and he thinks it's a stupid question. There's our first point - he avoids a true answer. But then Emerald asks again, and he answers "It just made sense." He was trained a killer all his life, and once he surpassed his father/trainer, Cinder shows up to offer him a job. Again, this isn't exactly a clear explanation of his thoughts. Mercury Black is not the type to believe in fate, yet here he is saying that it was meant to be. He's avoiding what the real answer is, or maybe he doesn't even know why he joined them yet. Emerald pushes again, and this time Mercury gets annoyed and angry, yelling "What's your problem?"

Emerald wants to know what Mercury wants out of all this, and his answer is essentially power and control. Salem is going to throw out the old and be in control of the new - and she's going to put her followers in prominent positions. Then Emerald starts her speech about Cinder and how she relies so much on her and yadda yadda...and Mercury is super annoyed at this point. Emerald is pushing into a part of his life that he doesn't want anyone in, and now she's thinking that maybe there's more to life than what they've thought. She poking at Mercury's bubble so to speak and he's preventing it from popping the only way he knows how - anger.

He tells Emerald that Cinder doesn't care about either of them and she's in denial. Emerald is inching closer and closer to becoming something more than her past, and thought he doesn't show it, I think that scares Mercury a bit (I'll get to more of this later). He tells Emerald that he wants to be left out of her "crisis of identity". He can't even entertain the thought of being something more than his past. He's a killer, it was meant to be, that's his fate. Or at least that what he tells himself.

However, he shows what I believe is a little empathy when he makes Emerald look him in the eyes and says "I'm sorry you didn't have a mommy who loved you". But then his anger at his past gets the better of him - "But I had a father who hated me!" He rants and rants about his father and the abuse he suffered, and you can see the fear start to creep into Emerald's eyes. Mercury is absolutely livid about his past and his father. Talking about it makes him lose control and scare the one person who might care about him.

And again, Mercury reaffirms that he believes he is where he is fated to be. "I've had to work harder than anyone to get where I am!" Mercury has more than just no semblance. He has no love, no joy, no leadership, nowhere to run. He can't just leave. He tells himself that that is what makes him strong, makes him a fighter, makes him worthy. He believes in his future because of his past. "You may not like it here without Cinder, but I think I'm right where I'm supposed to be."

Aaaaand enter Tyrian. "Oh yes, the world is mean, and I'm a big, bad man now just like the others." Look, Tyrian might be psychotic but man can get into other people's heads like no other. He's calling out Mercury perfectly. Mercury believes he has conquered the world, conquered his past - but has he really? Or is he becoming even worse than the rest of the world? "All you ever learned was pain and violence, and now you're too afraid to leave it!" This line is Mercury to a T. That's the biggest question for Mercury right there: can he become more than what he believes he should be, what he deserves? It so accurate that Mercury lashes out again, yelling that Tyrian doesn't know anything about him because he knows that Tyrian is right. Deep down, Mercury doesn't like any of this, and Tyrian knows it. It doesn't matter why Mercury wants to do it (or why he believes he wants to do it), it matters what he's doing. This isn't going to prove that he's strong or worthy, it's only going to keep him from moving forward - stuck in pain and violence, just like Tyrian said. After Tyrian leaves, Mercury is basically bearing his teeth and breathing heavily. He is so angry and being called out like that because he knows that it's true.

Where is my evidence for this? First of all, though he tries to hide it, I believe that he does care about Emerald - in his own asshole way. Like I said above, he calls Emerald out for being in denial about Cinder. It's harsh but she does need that reality check. He desperately calls for her to move during the Battle of Haven. He defends her against Tyrian. He warns her to not move against Salem. I'm probably gonna make a separate post about this because I'm emercury trash but moving on.

Second, you need to look at what he does, not what he says. Mercury's words are harsh, sarcastic, and meant to inflict pain. His responses to the world around him though? They show what's beneath the surface. The beginning of V4 when he's looking at the Grimm with Emerald. His face is disgusted. Even later at the end of the volume, he sees Salem manipulating Grimm and he looks absolutely terrified. He doesn't even look at Emerald when she speaks to him. I think this is where he starts to really question if he's in too deep with Salem. This woman is commanding and manipulating Grimm, the soulless incarnation of evil. What does that make him? What could she do to him? We see this fear again in V6Ch4 when Hazel takes the blame for their failure at Haven. And one thing I want to point out with Salem's line in this episode: "It's important not to lose sight of what drives us: love, justice, reverence." Watts is justice. Tyrian is reverence. I think Emerald is love. So what does that make Mercury?

Now more recently, V8Ch7. Mercury is still afraid of Salem, and now he's not afraid to say as such to Emerald. He knows better than to disobey her. He also knows that they can't stop her. If Hazel couldn't, then how could he and Emerald? And now, Mercury is in his own state of denial. He justifies following Salem's orders by convincing himself that Salem won't destroy the world. That is, until Tyrian shows up with a reality check once again. Just look at his facial expression after Tyrian's little monologue. This might be where he's finally letting his conscious in. Again, Tyrian might be insane, but he knows what's really going on. Salem is going to destroy the world, and now Mercury is really starting to believe it. When he gets on the ship to Vacuo and gives Emerald that little nod, I think he's saying, "I understand now. Do what you have to. I trust you."

And now that Emerald has switched sides....Vacuo is going to be interesting.

[popculturebuffet]

Carl Barks: Back to the Klondike Review: Blinkus of the Thinkus

Welcome one and all! If your a longtime reader of this blog, you know I love a good birthday celebration, having started with my first year reviewing animation last year with Donald’s and deciding to do Mickey and Scrooge’s later that year. But since I misseda  LOT of disney birthdays, and found several Non-disney birthdays and anniversaries I just gotta celebrate, this year i’m making it up and style and have a whole calender set up to tack these big milestones to the wall. So over the year expect tributes to the greats of disney, looney tunes, and mgm both behind and in front of the scenes, as well as to various shows I like. It’s gonna be a good time. 

So to start us off, it’s only fitting my first duck birthday since Scrooge, is for the love of his life and the stealer of his wallet, Glittering Goldie O Gilt! And I felt the best way to celebrate this storied day was to go back to her very FIRST apperance, one of earliest Scrooge headlined comics and a forever fan faviorite, Back to the Klondike!

But before we get into that, a little history on our gal in gold. Goldie was created for this story by comics god, the late great Carl Barks. Barks ended up just using her once, which is a shame but understandable as he probably only thought of her for that one adventure. While some characters like Gyro ended up being used again and again he probably just didn’t have any more stories in mind for her and figured Scrooge would return to her one day or he wouldn’t, but it wasn’t up to him.  Fans however loved the character, her feisty dynamic with scrooge, and the fact she brought out his good side, so naturally other writers would bring her back. In paticular Barks Superfan Don Rosa cemented her as the love of his life and wrote several more stories with her, fleshing out their backstory and saying that at least in his personal canon, Scrooge retired to spend his final years with her. And while his fanboy was clearly showing, and that can end nasitly just ask Dan “Hates Wally West because he’s not barry allen” DiDio, glad he’s gone.. Rosa’s work with goldie is an example of what happens when it’s done right. Less DiDio or Bendis and more Al Ewing. Using the continuity and what’s there to build on a character who deserved better.. to me that’s one of the BEST things you can do in comics and Rosa’s work is proof of that, ironing out the.. questionable elements we’ll get to and leaving the gold in.  So Rosa’s work combined with Ducktales not only adapting this story but bringing Goldie back a few times after that has elevated the character to a storied and permenat part of the duck canon, with her excellent heavily revamped Reboot counterpart currently carrying the torch with the help of the wonderful Allison Janey, perfect casting there. So with a legacy of gold behind her, let’s take a look at where it’s started and see if it still glitters after all these years under the cut. 

We begin our story at the Money Bin. Scrooge has been counting his money.. but has already forgotten, and forgot where he put the slip he wrote the number on and even forgets who Donald is when he shows up until Donald, while having some fun with him as Scrooge is trying to phone him while he’s right there. As for how he got into the most secure place in the bin.. the story actually answers that both worringly and hilariously: Scrooge left the door unlocked.  Naturally he’s not happy about this and Donald states the simple solution: Go see a doctor something’s CLEARLY very wrong, and the fact this could possibly be something like Demntia is VERY bad for someone who runs a zillion dollar company. Scrooge of course scoffs at “wasting his precious money” But Donald not only points out the obvious, that two bucks now saves him from having someone rob EVERYTHING, but Scrooge’s attempt to tie a string around his finger.. instead triggers a trap. And this entire sequence is decent with some good gags.. it’s just hampered a bit by making light of something that’s kinda bad. Not old people forgetting things.. but an old person with a disease as we find out forgetting things. Not helping is I laughed at first at the gags.. till I remembered a kind, old, friend of the family who had it and forgot me entirely by the end. So yeah, not the worst gags and the boxing glove and donald bits aren’t terrible, but it hurts now my brain’s made that connection. 

Our heroes head to the doctor’s office where Scrooge is diagnosed with... 

That.. might be the best name for a fictional illness i’ve ever heard in my life.. just inching out “Brain Cloud” and “Whale Cancer”. Still not the most SENSITIVE gag.. but it was the 50′s and mental issues weren’t given a lot of respect. IT’s why the above sequence and this whole part of the plot dosen’t scuttle things: It’s not the most repsectful.. but it wasn’t a time where these things were givne proper respect, treatment or knowledge, so barks wasn’t being an insentive douche on purpose, he just didn’t know. It dosen’t make it 100% okay btu it dosen’t wreck the story like say his blatant racist caractures in Voodoo Hoodoo. Seriously that’s.. not okay, and given he’s the kind of guy who researched locations he used, unlike with mental illness i expect BETTER of him than most men at the time. Still respect the guy, but it dosen’t mean i’ll overlook the fact he made some pretty bad mistakes. Same way while I love and miss Stan Lee I won’t ignore his blatant sexisim or racisim towards Chinese and Vitamise people. You CAN like a creator even if their work has some questionable and unjustifable elements, times do change and people do mamke mistakes when their young. It just depends on exactly WHAT they did or wrote that makes that distinctoin.  So on that bombshell, Scrooge is given medication after a needle gag. He needs to take his pills every 12 hours. It’s then he starts to remember something, mubling abotu skagway, goldie and dawson and telling Donald to get the boys, their going to Alaska! Once they get on the boat Scrooge explains: he remembered thanks to the medcince he left a stash of gold nuggets there from his prospecting days.. and part of why this story ended up being one of the single most important to Scrooge’s character. While it establishes some character traits, something I dind’t realize till wikipedia pointed it out, it also establishes Scrooge’s days as a prospector. While other things made him what he was and got him to that point as Don Rosa would later flesh out, it was his days in the yukon that, for better or worse defined who he is now and shaped him into the man he is today: Tough, fair, badass as all hell, mean as the devil and richer than god.  This time would be used a lot to set up stories, which made sense as it was the cleast and most agreed upon part of his past by all writers, and him at his abosltuely peak physically and mentally and the gold rush motif of the time perfectly fits someone defined by being rich. It’s also honestly nice that the Yukon is used, as Canada sometimes gets lost in the shuffle wise and hell until reading life and times I gneuinely had no idea what the Yukon was or where Calvin was headed when he and hobbes ran away from home. 

Scrooge also first mentions Goldie and while clearly remembering her fondly.. goes into a rant about her howing him a thousand dollars which has compounded to a billion the second the boys catch on he was sweet on her with Donald assuming he’s just not a good person. But this is really just setting up another vital part of his character and the other thing: his heart. Before he’d been show as a pretty heartless, greedy asshole. While the previous story, Only a Poor Old Man, had softened him up a bit, this is the first to show that beneath the pile of greed and mean lurks a decent human being. Just don’t tell anyone or he’ll throw his money at you.. then tell you to bring it back to him. It’s what makes the character who he is: he’s cruel, onrey and selfish.. but he CAN care when the chips are down and can do the right thing.. as we’ll see later. 

God I love the little poems Bill Watterson would put in the books. I didn’t as much as a kid, but god I do now. Anyways before our heroes can get going Yukon Ho, they stop in Skagway for suplies before heading out, Scrooge softing at taking a plane as “Soft” and him and the nephews hiking a week.. before running into the same flying service again, and finding out Scrooge OWNS it and forgot, because being scrooge he forgot to take his meds. Something I can relate to and i’m not proud of as staying on them is important to my well being. Seriously always take your meds. Unless their not working for you then talk with your doctor to get new ones. 

So we arrive in Dawson, as our heroes will have to walk rest of the day Scrooge takes the boys to the Black Jack Ballroom, which used to be a hot spot and was where he met Goldie for the first time. After another covering for his reminscing with greedy bollocks, he tells the boys the story.. one that was cut from the original printing despite introducing goldie and something the editors dind’t bother to tell carl till they berated him over trying to sneak a blackjack saloon and a kidnapping in there... and to them, or their long dead skeletons probably, I say. 

Yeah not wanting that in a kids story, while bollocks, tha’ts their perogative.. not having him send in replacement pages to keep story flow.. is dickish and underestimates kids intellegence as Don Rosa, while loving the story felt something was off till he saw the missing pages years later thanks to a fellow fan. So yeah kids, and adults, into the work noticed. Nice job. Again I can’t BLAME them for not wanting Scrooge to be a kidnapper as we’ll see and Don Rosa had to massage the hell out of that, but I can blame them for not caring enough to fix the obvious hole int he story. Though it’s now complete and unabriged and has been since the 80′s so there's that. 

So in a nutshell Scrooge came to town for a coffee, and while the bartender ignored him he didn’t once he plunked down his goose egg nugget, what made his fortune and one of Scrooge’s most treasured possessions. It’s here we meet Goldie. 

Yup.. just in case you thought her being a thief and greedy as hell was a new thing, and I kinda forgot how much, she dirves for the nugget, has Coffee with scrooge.. and drugs it, but makes the mistake of NOT clearing town, so Scrooge fights his way through the ballroom to her, gets the nugget back, forces her to sign the money for the iou he spent.. and then uh.. kindaps her to force her to work on his claim for 50 cents to try and teach her how to work honestly. 

Yeahhhh as I said Don Rosa tried his best to fix this , and did so in his final story, which we’ll get to some day, revealing Goldie had a shot gun on her the whole time and was going along entirely to find out where Scrooge’s claim was. That.. actually makes more sense with the character and is far less horrifying and Scrooge finds this out fairly quick, so them forming an attraction out of this becomes 100% more plausable. So yeah good on Don Rosa for fixing the implications here. I may give out on him from time to time.. but he is a genuinely talented writer and did what a good comic book writer in an established continuity should do: update elements so they aren’t so... eugguuhhh after they become horrifingly outdated. And look YES she did do horrible shit to him.. but you still can’t kidnap someone over that. just put her in jail. What was any of that. 

Anyways Scrooge HAS been taking his medicine, and proves it by showing the boys his pills and the next day they head to Scrooge’s old claim.. only someone’s living there and using it, and his old cabin.. and a shot gun. Yeah so they aren’t getting through in the day what about the night.. well they get attacked by Blackjack, who turns out to be owned by the claim jumper.. and is also you know a bear> And Donald left his back in new quackmore so their outmatched. 

So outgunned and outplanned, if not outnumbered or outmanned, our heroes make a camp fire and whiel Donald again suggests the obvious, call the police.. Scrooge can’t. He didn’t pay taxes on the claim so he’s technically jumping his own claim and techincally she has a right to it. So techncially.. Scrooge is the bad guy here as he left the money here, didn’t pay his taxes and didn’t ever come back for it. Still beats trying to terrify your nephews or deny orphans a train because your an asshole buffet. 

So the next morning Scrooge dosen’t want to rush her because “We Daren’t Get Rough with an old woman”. Two things.. 1... think before you put images in my head scrooge.. brrrrrrrrr. I mean Goldie. is not in the best shape in thie story as you’ll see and neither are you. In the reboot sure you two kept up a lot better but here.

And it’s not even an old people thing. Ann Margret was still fine so fine by the time of Grumpy Old Men, not to get creepy jut to prove i’m not being ageist. For a still alive example Keith David is also still a smokeshow at the tender age of 64. So yeah, not an age thing just not these paticular old people. 

But they need a plan so the boy suggest luring the bear into a trap with honey. Donald and Scrooge build the cage while the boys.. find the jar of honey. 

Regardless since the boys won’t do it for what Scrooge pays and neither will donald Scrooge goes to lure the bear with the honey. Once that’s done, and Scrooge is being covered with honey and licked by a bear...

So while he washes that off, the boys come up with another plan: they run around back while Donald makes noise to draw Goldie’s fire, with that being Dewey’s plan to meet her since he’s figured this out already. But Goldie has a backup plan and when she figures out they disabled Blackjack unleashes mosquitos... ugh. Having been stung like hornets about 50 times in animal crossing I feel you boys. So while Scrooge and Donald run off naked... troy if you will. 

Thank you Troy, the boys confront Goldie who reveals her identity... and that she’s broke, her dance hall having failed with the rush and this claim being all she has.. and her suspecting scrooge woudl gladly take it. The boys vow not to tell scrooge.. but he’s on his way so they kinda have to and he primps to go visit and Donald starts to see through his BS about collecting the debt. Sure enough despite being taken aback by her putting on her old dress , he takes her for all she has and is.. genuinely suprised as she thought she’d have more and she’d actually changed since the old days, donating her profits to orphans from mining disasters. Scrooge.. is clearly rattled by this. Whiel it turns out to my shock he was clealry after the money, though givne who we’re dealing with I shoudln’t of been really, he still cares and still realizes he’s being kind of a dick. So he challengers her to a gold digging race, and if she wins the claim is hers and any gold she finds.. and naturally, while he seemingly puts her soemwhere where there isn’t she finds the claim and Scrooge bemoans not taking his pill.. but while the boys boo him for it, Goldie who fondly waves them off and Donald know better: Donald points out he counted the pills this morning.. and recently. SCrooge DID take one today... he’s just has his cane shoved firmly up his ass with pride so he coudln’t ADMIT he was wrong and instead simply staged that whole thing with the full knowledge Goldie would win. It, again, sets up one of his defniing traits; how he keeps people at arms length. How he’s just so proud and full of himself he can’t bear to admit anything resembling weakness.. but WILl find a way to do the right thing without that or forgoe it as a last resort. He may project being a stingy cretionus old man.. because he is.. but he’s got a heart as big as that nugget.. it’s just locked tight in it’s own bin... his body is complicated and weird that way Final Thoughts:

This story is a classic with a decent setup, great backstory for scrooge, and a great guest character and unquestionable impact on the character. However.. it does have it’s problem; As Don Rosa, who as i’ll remind you is both a huge barks fanboy and huge scoldie shipper, himself pointed out he wrote his final story, and had planned to for years ENTIRELY because this one never quite explains how Scrooge and Goldie went from old enmies to lovers.It did lead to one of his best stories and one of the first I read post life and times so, props to that. And of course as I pointed out some things have just.. not aged well, especially the kidnapping so their relationship kinda comes off like stockholm syndrom as a result of both of these. 

That being said.. warts and all.. it’s still a really damn good story and a good one to try if your intrested in barks work or where Goldie came from: it has adventure, some really good jokes and if you can get past the dated bits the plot is solid. And while it goes without saying i’ll say it anyway Barks art is goregous as always ESPECIALLY in the flashback sequence. Overall not the best AGED Scrooge story, though not the worst either see Voodoo Hoodoo, good god, but defintely a classic for a reason.  If you liked this review, follow me for more, and for more duck content as I still have more of the three cablleros to work through, another chapter of life and times coming up this week befor ewe break again for feburary, and some other fun stuff. Until the next rainbow, it’s been a pleasure. 

[kats-baku1999]

Play with Fire

Confrontation, Number One

Warnings: This chapter gets a little bit smutty at the end.. So enjoy you filthy animals.

Asami practically sprinted to the door when she heard another knock. She felt entirely too much guilt after Keigo left the way he did. Mostly because she was thinking of this stranger, as handsome, while neglecting her boyfriends attempts at being intimate. That had to be some form of cheating right? So all she needed to do was swing open this door and then she could just jump into his arms and....

“Well doll face, you seem excited to see me,” The strange man smirked at her, leaning down to her height. She was so shocked she didn’t even notice him slipping pass her into her apartment. He walked around the living room before pausing in front of a framed picture. It was surrounded by a few memorial items, like a piece of fabric, and a small braided bracelet.

“What are you doing here?”

“How many copies of this photo do you have, this one is in your office at that damn school too,” Dabi smirked, picking it up. Asami quickly grabbed the photo out of his hand.

“You’ve been in my office?!” Asami hissed, overly annoyed with this man, “How did you even get in there?!”

“Who said I was the one that got in, you put a lot of trust in people, but you’ve always been that way haven’t you?” Dabi walked over to her couch and sat down, “I mean like right now, a man who threatened and burned your arm is sitting on your couch, and you aren’t calling the police? Or your pro hero boyfriend?”

“Maybe because I have a few questions for you, that have been bugging me for the last few days,” Asami glared at him, walking over to turn on the lamp, so there was more than the tv illuminating his face. Teal eyes followed her every move, and a smug look sat on his face the whole time.

“Does that bird boy of yours know I’ve been on your mind?” Dabi sounded overly proud of himself, “Is that why he looked so defeated leaving? Like a man who couldn’t get some?”

“I’m sure you’re very familiar with that look, you asshole,” Asami snapped again, and only earned an amused look from him. Before he stood up and walked towards her. Backing h her into the wall, one hand coming up next to her head. She could smell the scent of something burning, and looked to see him burning a mark on the wall.

“Rethink your words pretty girl, I could show you why I don’t typically hear the word no,” Dabi leaned down close to Asami, and she felt a little guilty that she was shocked he didn’t smell burnt. There was a faint scent of cologne, barely there but there enough.

“Are you done threatening me, and ready to answer my questions,” Asami met his eye, doing her best to ignore the nervous feeling that was in her stomach. Their faces were barely inches apart. His breath smelled of cigarettes, and a bit of mint.

“You know I have a few questions for you too, so why don’t we make it a game, for every three questions you answer you can ask me one,” Dabi grinned, his eyes going over her face. He was practically screaming with amusement at how nervous her violet eyes showed she truly was. She put on a good front of being confident though.

“How is that even remotely fair?” Asami glared at him, “I’ll make you a deal, we each get three questions,”

“Okay, doll, I’ll play your game,” Dabi shrugged, removing his hand from its spot against the wall, “With some limits, like no asking about tragic back stories,”

“You know, you avoiding your backstory really just answers all of my questions already,” Asami walked past him and bumped her shoulder against him. Dabi fought back the urge to slam her against the wall again.

“Well, then why don’t I start, why keep up so many memorials of a boy who’s dead?” Dabi flicked the picture frame, staring at someone he once knew too.

“Because he is the reason I’m doing all of this, so what is your name?” Asami watched him lose his train of thought while staring at the picture.

“Dabi,” He answered simply, and then turned back towards her.

“Your real name,” Asami warned, and Dabi let out a noise of disapproval.

“You don’t get two questions inna row doll,” Dabi smirked at her, “What do you mean by doing all of this?”

“Disappointing my parents, becoming a hero, aiming to beat Endeavor,” Asami explained in the mostly simple way she possibly could, “I didn’t want to be a hero before, but I think you already knew that,”

“Ask your next question, it’s not like I have all night,” Dabi urged her on, he knew she was figuring it out. He knew that the beautiful brain of hers was piecing it together. That’s exactly what he wanted though... Exactly what he needed.

“Why are you so fixated on me?” Asami asked, both of them finally looking at one another again. Dabi felt something flicker inside of him at how soft her voice sounded when she asked this question.

“You already know the answer to that don’t you?” Dabi sighed, feeling tired of his own game, “Oh come on Mimi, you used to be a lot smarter about my games,”

“And you used to have white hair,” Asami’s throat tightened up, “And you were shorter than me back then,”

“Growth spurts can be a beautiful thing doll,” Dabi chuckled to himself, “I get one more question, why did I mean that much to you?”

“Because I loved you,” Asami squeezed her eyes shut, still fighting back the tears, “Because you’re my best friend,”

“Ask your final question,” Dabi walked towards her, using the pad of his finger to gently catch one of the stray tears.

“Is it really you Touya?” Asami’s voice finally broke, tears falling down her cheeks profusely.

“That breaks the rules doll, but,” Dabi leaned down towards her face, gently placing both of his hands against it, “Yeah Asami, it’s me,”

Asami let her eyes broke open and took in his entire appearance. He was almost unrecognizable, but those eyes... Teal eyes that were so empty the other night, but right now.. They were brighter again. Dabi felt himself soften slightly at the look of sadness, but still happiness that was all over her face. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling herself into him. He stood frozen for a second, but inevitably wrapped his arms back around her waist. Taking in the sweet scent coming from her hair, and the sounds of her choked up sobs.

“Now come on Mimi, I never struck you as some big cry baby,” Dabi whispered against the girl, who shockingly pulled back from him, and then pulled him down to her. His eyes scanned over his face, just taking everything in. Trying to picture Touya’s face on his. Trying to imagine that stupid smug grin, without his burns and scars.

“You’re alive,” Asami whispered, her hands resting on the back of his head. Dabi looked at her, not noticing he was taking in the moment. Trying his best to memorize how her eyes looked staring at him with this much adoration. This much excitement.

“I’m alive, and I’m finally back with you,”

Both of them stood still for what felt like forever. Neither of them fully understanding what was going through the others head. So many emotions went through Asami’s head, but she pushed them all aside to focus on just one. Dabi knew what his plan was, and he needed to stick with it. This was all so he could make sure to find out where the training camp was. Yet he still couldn’t help but pay attention to how much his childhood crush had grown up.

“Would it be a total fucking cliche if I kissed you right now?” Dabi whispered, leaning his forehead against hers. Asami’s breath hitched in her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to say no. She should definitely say no.

She didn’t say no.

Instead she got onto her tiptoes, and pulled his face into hers. Dabi let out a small groan at the feeling of her body pushing into his as she fully closed the gap in between them. The kiss felt foreign to both of them, Dabi not used to someone being so gentle with him, and Asami not used to the rough feeling of his lips. His hands found their way to her hips, and guided her back into the wall.

Once her back hit against the wall, something within both of them broke. The almost gentle moment seemed to change pace instantly. Dabi’s hand snuck underneath her shirt, resting against her bare skin on her hips. Asami shuttered at the feeling of his warm hand against her skin, causing her body to grind against his. Another groan escaped his mouth and he broke away for a second, grinning down at her.

He watched her face as his hands traveled up her stomach. Wasting no time to land on her left breast, relishing in the moment as her head leaned back into the wall, small whimpers escaping her mouth. His mouth attached itself to her neck, kissing and nipping at every inch of her skin. Before finally finding the spot that made her let out the sweetest sound he swore he ever heard.

He wanted to hear more of that.

His hand traveled down her stomach again. Playing with the waistband of her sweatpants, before finally pushing his way through it. His fingers gently danced over the soft cotton of her underwear. Smirking when he felt a soaked through spot, and pressed up against it. Again that sweet sound left her lips, and he found himself chasing it. Rubbing against the spot at a quick pace, kissing into her neck again.

“More, please,” Asami barely knew what she was thinking when she spoke the words, ecstasy and adrenaline filling her head. Nothing about this was right, or made any sense. It was all like she was in her own quirk.

“Go to the couch doll,” Dabi growled, watching as she went to the couch, “Lay down, and get rid of the sweatpants,”

Asami quickly removed the sweatpants, revealing a pair of red underwear. They were nothing fancy, just a pair of cotton one. Still though, seeing her in red lit something inside of him. He made his way over to her, climbing down to start kissing her again. The bulge in his pants rubbing against her core, and there came the beautiful sound yet again.

“You see what you’re doing to me doll?” Dabi groaned, “This was all I could think about anytime I watched you walk down the street in that tight ass costume,”

“Pervert,” Asami teased, earning a glare from Dabi, “But, wait wait wait,”

Dabi paused his actions, his hands resting against her thighs. Both of their chests were moving up and down with their rapid breathing. Asami was finally coming back to her senses, and Dabi knew that. This moment of fun was going to come to an end, and he knew that.

“This is too much too fast, and I have Keigo,” Asami sighed, throwing her head back against the arm of the couch. Dabi looked down at her, smirking a little bit.

“You really want me to stop?” Dabi trailed his hands up, and Asami was quick to grab his wrist. She gave him a warning look, and he held his hands up in defense.

“Touya, if you’ve been alive all of this time, why would you not come to me?” Asami quietly asked, as she pulled her sweatpants back onto her body. Dabi was lounged back against the couch, his eyes fixating on the picture of Asami and that damn bird hero.

“A story for another day, I am going to head out but I’ll be in touch,” Dabi stood up, and Asami sat in disbelief.

“Wait, no you have got to be kidding me?!” Asami yelled, “I’ve spent these past years thinking you were dead, turns out you’re not, you come here and try to hook up with me, and then you just leave?”

“I told you that all I could think about was that costume, besides you should probably focus on your boyfriend doll face, he seemed a little distraught earlier,” Dabi chuckled, putting his hand on the doorknob again.

“Because all I could think about was you!” Asami yelled, and he froze one last time. Before opening the door and walking out without a word.

A sob came out of Asami’s mouth, that echoed throughout the entire apartment. Everything that just happened made no sense to her. There was no reasonable explanation for what had happened between the two of them. Even the fact that he was alive just made no sense to him.

On the other side of the door, Dabi listened for a second before starting to walk away. He pulled out his phone to let the League know the plan worked, and that person’s quirk was successful. A lust quirk was all it took for her to break down for him, and now he was inside her head. That was part one of the plan of infiltrating that damn school.

[taramikealson]

New Orleans Is Such A Sight (Pt. #1)

Rain poured down in large sheets, running down the gutters in small waves. The hood to a black rain-coat was tugged tighter to conceal the blonde curls from the harsh winds. Her feet take forceful steps towards a small side street where a lone, cracked open, metal gate stood. Delicate fingers push the gate open a few more inches to allow her access to the inside. At the halt of water that the structure provided her, she pulled the hood off of her head, looking around the space as she did. 

The building was beautiful. The high arches, open court-yard, tan walls - bricks revealed where the drywall was missing. It was obvious that the house was old and worn in, but it was kept well enough that it became part of its character. 

She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t even be on this continent but leave it to Damon to angering a pack of werewolves a few hours before a full moon. 

Caroline hadn’t stayed in Mystic Falls. A year after her mother died, she left. She needed time to cope and space to figure out what she wanted out of life. At first, she was a little scared, staying state-side. Ultimately, after visiting a few states, she braved up and traveled to Italy, and then France. Then Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Germany, Greece, Ireland, and finally, London.  Caroline spent quite a bit of time there, liking the culture and feel of normal British life. Although, after a while, she became bored with the gloominess of the British city and wanted to move onto more sun-filled places. One of those areas happened to be The Bahamas. The tropical paradise gave her a chance to relax and take in the abundance of sunlight. Caroline enjoyed it quite a bit, laying out on a towel, sunglasses resting on the arch of her nose as she watched the waves fold onto themselves. 

She’d barely noticed it, but before she knew it, she’d spent a few months there. Caroline had only meant to stay there for a few weeks for a little breather from the large cities that she had been visiting but had come to enjoy the beach town there. At a local cafe, she had made a friend of the barista and had been subtly flirting with one of the daily’s that came in often, conveniently the same time she always went to grab her morning coffee on Saturdays. One day, she listened in on one of his orders; black coffee and the name he uttered to the barista was David. He was attractive in the average model-ish way. Dark brown hair, square jaw, calm eyes. David was nice and… normal. But, she knew she couldn’t get involved with him. But on the other hand, she couldn’t refuse to go on a date with him. There wasn’t a harm in that, right? 

She was a half-hour into the date when she’d gotten a call from Stefan. Normally, she would have ignored it but it was the second time in the span of ten minutes and she knew Stefan doesn’t call more than once unless it’s important. So, she took the call, apologizing to David before walking out of the restaurant. Apparently, a gaggle of werewolves found themselves in Mystic Falls, something about Damon threatening the alpha right before a full moon. When Stefan had explained it, she was confused about why they were calling her, she was thousands of miles away. Then it clicked. Damon got bit and he needed a cure. And her friends knew that she had a personal connection to the cure. Caroline was so close to telling Damon that if he wanted the cure to a werewolf bite, he should have to go to Klaus’ door to beg for it himself, but she knew Klaus wouldn’t budge. In fact, it was probably even a low chance for her to convince him to hand it over to Damon, of all people. 

So, what was she doing here? In New Orleans? Saving one of her friends. 

A pair of rushed footsteps took her out of her musings. Raising her head, she caught sight of a boy. Light brown hair that was in a fringe up style haircut, slim build, maybe in his late teens. He was jogging down a pair of stairs in the courtyard, looking down at his phone as he did so. Sensing her presence, he looked up to see her, pausing for a second before realizing he was still in the rain. He took a few steps to be under the roof, his head tilting as his blue eyes inspected her. 

A similar smirk graced his lips. “If you’re here for Rebekah, you just missed her. Took a flight out to Florence an hour ago.” Something about this boy was familiar. The facial structure, his eyes.

When Klaus had left for New Orleans all those years back, it had been for some sort of rising against him that turned out to be a pregnant girl. Caroline had gotten all the backstory from Tyler in a more biased version but basically, Klaus had slept with Hayley, getting her pregnant. Then, he’d apparently accepted it, having a kid. Klaus had a child. A kid.

He had a kid. This boy was Klaus’ son. The hair, the face, the eyes, the smirk. 

Caroline faltered for a moment before catching herself and casting him a small smile. “Do you flirt with all of Rebekah’s friends?”

He laughs softly. “Only the really pretty ones.” 

“Trenton.” A voice calls, an all too familiar voice. 

Looking across the courtyard, she spots the owner of that voice. He looked the same as always, black jeans, long sleeve Henley, boots, blonde hair subtly pushed up. The Original’s eyes were first trained on his son but picked up on the other presence in the room, looking at her. They widened and dilated a hair before returning to normal, smirk growing on his face. 

The boy sighs, shoulders drooping in a defeated manner. His jaw tightening before turning around to face his father.

“Sneaking out, again?” Klaus walks through the courtyard, ignoring the rain as it dampened his hair, before pausing once under shelter and out of the rain. 

Trenton clears his throat, glancing towards Caroline then to his father. “I was, uh, I heard someone come in. Thought I’d greet our guest.” Caroline had to give it to him, the boy was quick on his feet and used similar tactics as his father did; charm and deviation. 

It was extremely odd and very interesting to watch Klaus act a little fatherly, but not too surprising. He seemed to instinctively have the trait, unlike a lot of human men. He had the capacity to be mature, elegantly answer hard questions, entertain someone with stories of the past, and he knew what the image of a bad father was, surely making sure he was the exact opposite. Caroline could only imagine that his artistic abilities had come into play in the early years of Trenton’s life. But, just seeing both of them, seeing alike they were, was intriguing. If someone hadn’t known that the two weren’t supernatural, they’d most likely assume Klaus to be Trenton’s elder brother. Although, when Caroline saw them, she could clearly see a father with his son. May it be the wisdom and centuries of age in Klaus’ eyes or his mature style in clothing, he looked old enough possibly be Trenton’s father. 

Klaus arches an eyebrow in disbelief. “I’d believe that if it weren’t for you prattling on to Rebekah about going to some high school, alcohol-filled gathering. One, in which, I profusely refuse you acceptance to be a part of.”

“You have to be kidding.” Trenton scoffs, saying in that basic teenage-y way. “I’m not some human that’s gonna get wasted easily. I’m a hybrid.”

The Original’s eyes turn serious, indicating that his decision was final. “You prate on about being a hybrid, but have yet to learn to control your bloodlust in densely crowded areas without me or my siblings by your side. I will not risk the local’s lives nor my standing on the city council for you to have one alcohol-fazed night.” Trenton rolls his eyes and Klaus takes a step forward, now intimidating the boy. “We have an assortment of liquor here. If you wish to drink, it will be within these walls. Am I understood?”

“Why can’t-,”

“Trenton, am I understood?” Klaus interrupts, voice low. 

It takes a few seconds, but eventually, Trenton bites his tongue and gives his father a curt nod. The boys eyes were filled with aggravation and disappointment, she was sure Klaus saw it and understood that Trenton was hoping to have a little fun tonight. Klaus’ eyes softened as he placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“You’re lucky that I don’t plan to tell Elijah about your little scheme. You know how much he values your education. He’d be quite displeased to hear you were planning to stay out late on a school night.” A small smile graced Klaus’ lips as Trenton looked up to him. “Perhaps, even make you re-read that dreadful play, Hamlet.”

Klaus' words seem to make the boy puff out a laugh and inch a smile on his lips. “Thanks, for not telling Uncle ‘lijah.”

“Now, go on. I have a few words to exchange with our guest.”

Trenton nods and then glances to Caroline with an awkward smile. “Night.” He says before turning around and jogging through the rain-filled courtyard and up the stairs. Both Caroline and Klaus watch as he disappears into one of the second-story hallways.

After a moment, Klaus turns back to Caroline with a wide smirk. 

“This is quite a surprise. I wasn’t expecting you for nearly another decade and a half.”

She sighs, feeling the weight of his words and the intenseness that his eyes bore. “I’m not here for that.” Her voice a little too soft, the subject weighing on her a little bit more than she thought it would. Klaus recognizes her now uncomfortable stance and raises his arm in the direction to a set of french doors, a fancy ‘M’ insignia on both. 

“Then, perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere more private, rather than the courtyard?” He suggests and Caroline nods, thankful that he can still read on some of her subtle hints. 

Klaus leads her through the double doors and invites her to make herself comfortable in the living area. As Klaus went to pour them both drinks, she looked around the magnificent room that she was in. Two expensive looking, brown leather, sofas sat across from each other, a fireplace on the back wall, fancy chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and a mini-bar where Klaus was pouring their drinks. 

Before she knew it, Klaus had placed the drinks down on the coffee table by her legs and was now behind her, reaching for her wet jacket. “May I?”

She nods and shrugs the jacket off. He takes it, walking over to one of the stools near the mini-bar, and hanging it on the back of it. 

“I’m sorry for catching you at a bad time and so late at night.” She apologizes and he shakes his head. 

“No need for apologies, love. I’d gladly make time for you.” He says, sitting down on the sofa, taking his drink in hand. Caroline also sits, not yet picking up her drink. 

His eyes seem to analyze her and take in every detail that he could read off of her, trying to put together pieces in his head. His familiar mechanism and habits gave her a sense of reassurance that he hadn’t changed that much. She could clearly see the wheels turning in his head as he thought of situations as to why she was here, sitting on his couch in his New Orleans home on a very late Thursday night, a rainy one at that. Klaus must have caught her biting her lip because his intense gaze turned into concern. “You seem vexed, what’s happened?”

She swallows and looks away from him. “Damon ran into some werewolves.”

Klaus leans back as he huffs out a laugh. “And I imagine he is now sporting quite a nasty werewolf bite.” The Original’s amusement is not lost on Caroline, she knows how much he dislikes the eldest Salvatore brother, but that is why she was here. Now, he knows her reason for coming to New Orleans. 

When his expression showed a hint of disappointment, she felt utterly horrible. It was her that told him that she didn’t want him in her life, it was her that said that he needed to leave and to never come back. Now, she’s intentionally inserting herself back into his life just to leave again. Caroline couldn’t imagine what he would be feeling. Anger, disappointment? “Thus, you need my blood.” He utters, taking a thoughtful sip of his drink. 

“Yes.” She answers almost guiltily, her heart heavy. 

There’s a moment of silence where neither of them speaks. Klaus seems to ponder his situation as he runs the side of his index finger along his bottom lip in thought. For a moment, Caroline thought that he was going to turn her down, tell her that he wasn’t going to help her and that she had to leave, but that changed when he sighed. Placing his glass of amber liquor down on the coffee table, he stood from his seat and fished his sleek black iPhone from his back pocket. 

Klaus tapped a few times before pulling the cellphone to his ear and turning so his back was to her. 

“Joshua, do come by the Compound, I have a proposition for you.” He states quickly and then ends the call after he received a reply to his request. 

Pushing the iPhone into his back pocket, he turned back around without a glance to her and headed for the mini-bar. From Caroline’s perspective, he seemed a little tense but not angry, although she could be wrong. “Klaus…,” she begins as she gets up from her spot on the sofa and takes a few strides towards where he walks behind the counter, taking out a small vial and cork from underneath. Within an instant, he had already bit into his wrist, his blood now dripping down into the vial. His eyes wander up to hers when he comes out from behind the mini-bar. 

Caroline blinks, confused., sure that he was set on not giving his blood to her. In fact, she’s even more surprised that he hadn’t even tried to negotiate with her to have something to gain for his blood. “You’re not asking for anything in return? Won’t even try to negotiate with me?” She asks, clearly perplexed by  his actions. 

Klaus sighs. “I’ve come to realize that by negotiating between lives and the opportunity to have time spent with you, it hadn’t shown my understanding of the weight of the negotiations that I was making. And I have also come to realize that,” he takes a pause and Caroline swallows as he pushes the cork into the filled vial. His eyes stayed trained onto her as he pushed the vial into his front pocket of his jeans before stepping closer to her, “I don’t wish to negotiate our time together. Years ago, when I had coerced you to spend your time with me, it had given you a small glimpse of the better parts of myself but, yet, I’d be a fool not to notice the burden you had felt to be there in those moments.”

Klaus takes a cautious step forward, analyzing if she would shy away from him or not. When she stayed still, he gently placed his hands on the sides of her shoulders, the heat from his palms radiating like beacons through her clothing and into her skin. 

“Caroline, I don’t wish for you to feel burdened or obligated, by my actions, to spend time with me. It is your choice from now on, and it always will be.”

Her heart lurched in her ribcage and a flutter began in her stomach. His smooth voice, the eloquently and thoughtfully spoken words hitting her hard. Caroline’s thoughts swirled for a moment. Those two sentences that he had just spoken were not just talking about her feelings burdened to spend time with him, no. There was an undertone that she had caught. He didn’t want her to feel obligated to go to him, to be with him. In all honesty, it’s quite the sentiment. It shows her how much he has changed or, rather, bettered himself. This also tells her that he had been thinking a lot about their past and the wrong turns that he had taken to have an opportunity to win her over. 

And then, she remembers that he’s still waiting for her response. His eyes had begun to shift, analyzing her’s carefully and taking in the information that they bore. 

She gives him a reassuring smile. “I don’t feel obligated or burdened to spend time with you. Not anymore.”

His head tilts in that impossibly cute way that it does and smirks.

A pair of footsteps interrupt them, echoing through the hallway. Klaus lifts his head and looks over her shoulder towards the two french doors that had just opened. Caroline pulls away from Klaus’ warm hands and turns to see who had entered. 

“Joshua.” He greets a dark haired vampire that physically looks like he’s in his mid-twenties. 

“Well, I’m here. A little if-y about this whole ‘proposition’ thing though.”

Klaus smiles as if he knew something the other two vampires didn’t. “Yes, about that.” He begins, producing the vial of his blood from his jeans pocket. “Take this, carefully would you, to a small town in Virginia.” 

Josh furrows his eyebrows in suspicion, looking at the vial of blood like it was poisonous. “Why would I do that for you? Can’t you have one of your lackeys do it for you?” 

“Well, young Joshua,” Klaus begins as he takes a few steps closer towards the young vampire, “under these circumstances, it is precedent that this gets delivered in an expeditious manner, thus is the reason I present you with a proposal.” 

Caroline watches as Klaus takes another step closer to Josh, almost invading his personal space as he speaks. “Do this for me, and I will not only make an effort to look past your misdoings towards my family, but as well, that of your friend, Davina Claire.”

Klaus’ proposition clearly had struck a chord with Joshua, making him swallow in nervousness. Caroline could see how the boy’s mind was churning in thought, considering certain possibilities. After a few, long, seconds, Josh plucks the vial from Klaus’ fingers. The Original doesn’t make an effort to contain his satisfied smirk as Joshua looks at him with a hint of caution. “Fine.” Josh utters. 

“Brilliant. I’ll contact you with the necessary information.” 

Joshua sighs and takes his leave.

Once the vampire is gone, Klaus turns to Caroline, swiping his tongue over his lips with a smirk screaming how satisfied he was in getting his way. His eyes did that little thing that they always did when he’d look at her; his eyes starting at her feet and then moving up her whole frame, taking in very detail as if it’s the last time he’d be able to do so. When his eyes connected with her’s, his blue orbs seemed to sparkle. A small shiver went down her spine at the intensity of his gaze. 

“You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve just taken it back myself.” 

His eyebrow arches. “Well, I’ve already set up for a plane to take off from Louis Armstrong International in a half hour. Your friends should have the cure in no later than four hours.”

Caroline raised an eyebrow, knowing there was something he was not telling her. Klaus looks away from her almost bashfully and then returns his gaze towards her. “I, as well, was hoping you’d like to take one of our rooms.”

She’s a little confused at first, not understanding what he had meant by ‘taking a room’. “I’m sure you’ve had quite a journey here. A flight from the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and then a longer drive to New Orleans. I can only assume you’re exhausted and it’d be terribly unmannerly of me to not offer you hospitality.” He explains, tilting his head. “Perhaps, it’d give you time to recuperate and maybe… take in a few sights in the morning.”

His tone is hopeful, filled with possibility. She’d be lying to say that his behavior and words haven’t been a little tempting. Everything from the last few minutes has only shown her that Klaus is the same man that he’s always been. She wasn’t really expecting different, but deep down she had an idea that maybe he’d grown up a bit. This, right here, proves that he has. The man before would have threatened Josh instead of negotiating and he would have not had given up his blood so easily without a fuss. Would it really be such a bad thing to stay the night, in a different room than him? It’s not as if she’d be sleeping with him. Plus, it’d be for only one night.

“I’m not sure.” She trails off, still debating the decision in her head. 

“I’ll be sure to make it worth your while.” He states with a grin, knowing gleam in his eyes. 

Caroline laughs, the air in the room now becoming a little lighter. “I’m sure you would.”

He raises his eyebrows for a moment, silently asking her for an answer. She bites her bottom lip timidly. “One night wouldn’t hurt.” She states and a wide smirk grows on his lips, showing his thorough satisfaction. 

“Well, then. Shall I show you to a room?”

She nods, not finding the right words to say in that moment. He immediately begins to walk towards the french doors that they had entered in and opens them wide for her to pass through. It didn’t take long for them to bound up the stairs to the second story and then travel down a long corridor where a series of doors were on each side. Klaus, then, opened a mahogany door, revealing a gorgeously decorated room with a queen bed, antique dresser, small desk with a chair, and a door that lead to an adjacent bathroom. He’d been thorough in explaining the certain accommodations of her room and how his room is only a few doors down. After, he had left her to look around to gather her some clothing. When he’d come back, he’d placed a pile of clothes on the end of the bed. 

“I’ve procured most of these from Hayley. I’d doubt she’d mind much and I assumed you’d be closer to size with her rather than Rebekah. And my sister has a nasty habit of killing whoever touches her belongings.” Klaus states as he turns towards her.

She smiles at him. Her thoughts going past the topic of clothing. “How’d you know I was in The Bahamas?”

“I’ve kept tabs.” He mutters a little playfully, knowing that Caroline wouldn’t approve. She gives him an equally playful look and then rolls her eyes. 

“Of course, you have.”

Klaus chuckles as she goes to sit down on the end of the bed. He does as well, making sure to keep a foot’s distance away from her to make sure she stays comfortable and not overwhelmed by his presence. “Tell me, now that you’ve begun to stray from that desperately small town, how is it? Exploring the unknown?” 

Caroline hesitates for a moment, thinking about her experiences in the past decade and a half of exploring. They’d mostly been pleasant but nothing extraordinary. Yes, she’d been extremely impressed by the culture, architecture and environment, but it wasn’t as exciting as she had ever hoped or imagined. Although, she imagines that’s because she didn’t have anyone to explore it with. In the beginning she had thought Stefan may have joined her, but he’d been too swept up with a few problems in Mystic Falls and trying to make his brother into a ‘better man’. Like that would ever happen unless it was by Damon’s own incentive. Elena and Bonnie were too wrapped up in college and in their own love lives as it was, so that was a clear ‘no’. So, that just left herself. After her mother died, she’d needed a break and took the opportunity to branch off a little. In the long run, it has paid off. She’d met a few people here and there, as well as giving her a new perspective of the world. 

“It was kind of a quick decision. At first, I wanted to stay in the States and just London but the rest of Western Europe was too tempting to pass up.” She states and Klaus seems pleasantly pleased. “But, I kinda wanted to go somewhere hot, so I ended up in The Bahamas.”

“I imagine you enjoyed it there?”

She nods.

“And you?” 

Klaus tilts his head in interest to her question. “What of me?” He asks, genuinely satisfied that she was interested in how his life had been going. 

“Well, I was a little surprised that you were still in New Orleans. I expected you to move on. I didn’t suspect you as a person that stays in one place for long.” 

He smirks. She is, generally, correct. “I’d quite a bit of business to take care of here that took a little longer than I had anticipated and raising a child was one of the things I was most definitely not expecting.”

“I’m sure changing diapers didn’t fit so well into your plans for world domination, huh?” She asks teasingly, giving him a radiant smile.

Klaus chuckles, amused and glad that her penchant for over-exaggeration hasn’t changed. He’d always enjoyed the innocence within her and the light she projected off of herself and onto others. 

“You’d be correct.”

He smirked and they’d fallen into a silence. Caroline suddenly felt heated under his gaze, the intensity of it not lessening but a gracefulness communicating through those beautiful, blue orbs. 

In all reality, he hadn't changed that much. Of course, she can see that he’d become less prone to using violence as a first resort, but the way he regarded her was the same. He still looked at her with that look in his eyes that just screamed that he knew exactly what she was thinking. In the beginning, it was a little scary, she’ll admit, that he knew more about her than he let on. Although, after all this time, she’s come to realize that it’s not necessarily the worst thing. 

He understood her. But, it wasn’t just a one-way street. She knew him quite well, too. A decade ago, she would have said that she knew exactly the man he was, a monster. She’d pegged him for a man that had no heart. How wrong she was. After some time, she’s noticed that all the horrible things that he had done were because he cared. He’d always been pinned as the enemy, although sometimes he genuinely did something bad to get the advantage, but that wasn’t strictly true. Klaus was an extremely complicated man. He has many sides of him and has an extremely dark past that comes with them. His father brutally abused him, his mother locked half of himself off for spite, his siblings cast him off for trying to protect them. In fact, she’d condemned him and slung harsh words at him just because she didn’t truly understand his real intentions behind his actions. 

Now, she realizes him for the man that he was. He was an abused son, an abandoned brother, a misunderstood friend, a passionate artist, a good father. 

“Well, I’ll leave you to settle and call your friends. I’d rather not have them thinking I’d taken you against your will and have to deal with them knocking down my door. I’ve just gotten it re-painted.” 

His tone is light-hearted and filled with playfulness. Caroline smiles again as he stands from the bed, walking towards the door.

“Goodnight.” 

He pauses at the door and looks over his shoulder with a smirk.

“Goodnight, love.”

[jasonrae117]

Night at the Wayne Casino

This is gonna be a long one, I took the advice from @bourniebna and made it longer but also making it into two parts and leaving it on a semi-cliffhanger. Thank you everyone for the support and love! Enjoy! 

PART 3

Damian found himself on the third floor, a place he thought he would never be. Filled with rooms upon rooms of well equipped and private spaces for massages, mud baths, facials, and anything and everything a five-star spa could hold. He would never require the services provided here since he disliked physical contact unless it was necessary or it was self-initiated, which it typically wasn’t. Damian kept it simple with occasional handshakes or a pat on the shoulder.

When it came to women, he had been with a few. His name was enough by itself to get him laid easily, and where that wasn’t enough, his physique helped greatly. Anything that wasn’t strictly helpful to his endgame seemed inefficient and he always strived for maximum efficiency.

Here he was crossing the threshold to the Wonder Spa, a highly rated and regarded spa for ultimate luxury and innovation in experiences. He approached the reception desk where the two top ranked masseuses and overall spa managers sat preparing their completely packed schedules for the day, Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Sandsmark and Stephanie Brown.

Stephanie looked up from her tablet and a bright smile graced her face. “Damian Wayne? I never thought I’d see the day where you came to the spa!” Beside Stephanie, Cassandra perked up, eyes widened and mouth opened in excitement.

“Oh wow! Stress built up that much? We do have a full appointment schedule but we can squeeze you in.” Damian’s face remained the same, with a bored expression waiting out their excitement. He didn’t dislike the two employees, but they tended to be too peppy and care more about gossip and people’s personal lives, specifically his and whether or not it contained a girl. It was very tiresome and he currently didn't have the time nor was in the mood for their antics.

“Didn’t you say the spa was for weak patsies that like to hand over ridiculous sums of money for frivolous treatments?” Cassie thoughtfully brought a finger to her chin. 

“No, I think it was that the spa was a bloodthirsty capitalistic vampire sucking money from dim-witted fools that think worthless products and services will actually make them look or feel better when in reality their lives were already a waste.” Stephanie’s eyes searching the ceiling for his quote. They both broke out in laughter and faced him again when they had calmed down. 

He hadn’t moved an inch and he tried to remain calm but the overly floral scents and the girl’s mocking were grating on his nerves.

Cassie placed her tablet on the desk and rested her chin on her palm as she looked back up at him. “So really, to what do we owe the pleasure?”

Damian let out a small breath and mentally counted to ten. “Yesterday a woman had possibly come here and I want any information you have on her.”

Cassie and Stephanie exchanged glances before focusing on him again. Stephanie rolled her eyes and began typing on her tablet. “Is this about Raven? What is it with all you boys?”

Damian couldn’t help the shock that appeared on his face. “How did you-”

“Oh, that one that Tim sent! God, she was gorgeous!” Cassie practically bounced in her seat. 

“Yeah she is. Her skin was incredibly smooth. Cassie’s skin is pretty perfect, but this woman’s was literally flawless. I mean, it’s insane with her skin tone, no freckles or blemishes, just absolutely stunning skin.” Damian tried to fight the heat that rose to his face remembering how remarkable she looked coming out of the pool and the tiny droplets that rolled down her smooth curves, luckily Stephanie turned back to her friend, “I asked her what products she uses and what her routine is, you know what she said? She said she just washes it with some drugstore face wash and that’s it. She said she drinks a lot of water too. Luck and good genes I swear." 

"Perfect skin, gorgeous, and that body! I'm pretty stacked, but her ass! I'm literally jealous. That's why all the boys are crazy about her." Cassie shrugged and leaned back.

"Sandsmark, Brown! I'm here on official business. What's this about 'all the boys'? Who else is discussing her?" Damian crossed his arms and felt his irritation coming to a peak. 

"Oh my gosh! Do you have the hots for her too! First Jason, then Tim. I liked her too but you boys are wild. I wish I got this much attention." 

"Brown, focus. How did you know I was talking about Miss Roth?"

"Like I was saying, Jason hung out with us after we all got off and he wouldn't shut up about the 'hot girl that dissed him'..."

"Oh, I loved when she told him that he was a..what was it?" Cassie then snapped her fingers. "A delusional cockalorum who thinks boyish tricks will woo a woman that has even the tiniest bit of self worth and respect. He didn't even know what that meant!" She burst out into another round of laughter.

"You had to look it up too!" Stephanie shook her head giggling at the memory. Her eyes caught the glare Damian's was sending and she cleared her throat. "Anyway… yesterday a woman, Raven, came in with Tim's employee discount card. She was very nervous, but naturally we were curious because it's Tim's card. She told us what happened and we sent her to change so that we could call Tim. He confirmed everything and told us to give her the works and put it on a tab for him."

Cassie was nodding to the story and jumped in. "We thought this girl must be special and were curious so during her treatments we got to talking. She told us her point of view from the Jason situation and we bonded over horror stories of men hitting on us." She smiled fondly.

"She was actually really nice and tried to pay for the services but clearly we couldn't let her. She snuck a three hundred dollar tip into our drawer though. Literally one of the best clients we had. Then Tim swung by and asked her to dinner and walked her out of here. After that we don't know. We invited her to go to a club with us on Friday because she seemed so cool, but she's leaving on Tuesday." Stephanie huffed and brought her attention back to the tablet. 

"She didn't say anything about why she's here by herself?" He questioned, this trip becoming less informative and more of a nuisance than he had hoped. 

Stephanie sighed loudly, eyes focused as she tried to recall the memory, "Oh, yeah. She said something about working in advertising and having to analyze the ads and products and survey something. Poor girl has to work while in Vegas, major bummer. She says she tries to work during the days and play at night. Except yesterday, she felt like she needed that."

Damian processed this new data. Stephanie's information regarding Raven's occupation matched with what Tim had found on her. That would usually be a point in her favor, but if she was as crafty and smart as Damian suspected her to be, then she could have easily set up an almost alter ego that checks out and have her backstory memorized. Her good looks probably swaying prying minds from digging deeper. No matter, he wasn't so easily duped.

"I don't blame her...Now the only question that remains, is why do you care Damian?" Cassie looked suspicious and leaned slightly forward.

"She is a suspect in the casino. We don't have hard proof but something doesn't sit well with me when it comes to her." 

"Maybe because Tim swooped in before you could." Stephanie mumbled under her breath. 

Damian scoffed at the remark "Enough. That is all I wanted. Now proceed with your opening procedures." He nodded farewell to them and began toward the exit.

"She asked about you…" Cassie looked at her nails acting nonchalant.

He quickly snapped around, his full attention on Cassie. "What did you tell her? Why did she want to know?" His eyes narrowed.

"Calm down. We talked about Tim and she said that she ran into you a few times and said it seemed like you were always near her. We told her that you're the head of security and take it too seriously, like an assassin traveling by shadows waiting for someone to break a rule so you can strike. It got a pretty good laugh."

"Yeah but the best part is how she described you. If she didn't accept Tim's dinner invite, I swear she'd be ready to jump your bones..or uh bone." Stephanie dramatically winked at him and they began to giggle again. 

Damian kept his face stern but found it hard to swallow. He wanted to ask what Raven has said about him, but he feared it may unintentionally come across as sexually interested rather than a desire to know all information in an objective manner for the sake of the case. But perhaps he was a bit...interested. Not that he would ever admit it out loud. 

"Great. Did either of you think it might be unwise to divulge the status of all our employees to a stranger that may be trying to con our casino or worse? Or perhaps, you just want to hand her a key card so she can just as easily access it all by herself."

Stephanie rubbed at her temple and loosened her grip on the tablet, her words trying to coax him to a more manageable level of irritation,"Damian, relax. It's not hard to figure out that you're some big bad security for the casino. You literally stare people down and nothing else all day. You don't even try to blend in. She seemed to meet a bunch of us by accident or by everyone else's own will. It's not like she's seeking all of us out. I think you need to let it go or get laid or-" 

"And I think this is why you weren't given a position on the security team and instead washed up here as a servant to drunk simpletons." His words spewed out like venom as he scowled at her.

"Ok, I think we've done our part in your stupid investigation. We have actual work to do." Cassie stood up and placed her hands on her hips.

"Tt. Then I suggest you get to it and try not to gossip or discuss our business with clients." He growled out and turned on his heel. 

"Ay ay captain." Cassie saluted with a roll of her eyes.

Damian left the spa more frustrated than he went in. No matter how attractive she was, he wouldn't let her get to him. He had two and a half days to catch her and prove himself. 

Raven was a slippery snake and she was able to wiggle her way out of suspicion with everyone else, but not him. 

Damian groaned as he started to feel a headache coming on. He made it back down to the first floor of the casino and was about to start patrolling before he remembered it was his day off. If it were up to him, he wouldn't take one. Criminals didn't take days off but his father insisted due to laws regarding the matter. 

He just had to stay away from Jon and Richard since they'd be the first to call him out and force him to leave. He couldn't actively patrol but he could visit his coworker in the security room, picking up his notebook he had 'accidentally' left behind. 

He had to keep tabs on Raven if he wanted to get a step ahead of her. His talk within the spa proved almost useless except finding out that she was interested in him, in possibly more ways than one. Damian shook the thought from his head. That's what she wants me to think. He climbed the stairs to the second floor and looked across the large room to the hallway where the security room was located.

He would have proceeded normally had it not been for the two figures draped over each other tangled in a heated kiss. His primal instinct was to sprint over to them and yank Tim off of Raven and throw him as far away as he could, and lead Raven away to where they'd be alone. He shut his eyes as tightly as he could cutting off that train of thought. After a deep breath he refocused on the pair.

Tim had her pinned against the wall and his hands were roaming over her navy lace dress. Fuck, why did she have so many sexy dresses and why did they have to look THAT good on her? His jaw tightened as her hands curled in Tim's hair pulling him closer. Tim brought his mouth to her neck and Damian almost lost it when his hand slid to the curve of her ass. 

He immediately began to head over as soon as Tim pulled out his key card and inserted it in the lock, clumsily pressing his finger on the scanner until it clicked open for him. Damian watched as Tim pulled Raven inside and although he couldn't hear past the noise of the music and sounds of the slot machines, he was sure she let out a surprised gasp. He cleared the space slower than he would have liked, but he couldn't exactly plow through everyone that got in his way. 

He stopped as he reached the door and flushed when he heard a moan that definitely came from the woman within. He couldn't take it. Not only was he not the biggest fan of Tim Drake, he was harboring a suspect, while on duty, in an authorized personnel only area. He was a bit scared of what he might walk into but that was his woman in there...his wanted woman...fuck, his suspect. He slammed his card in and held his thumb to the scanner and he was quickly granted access.

His face was crimson with the rage that filled him and his fists were clenched. Suddenly though, the red in his face went from being caused by his anger to being caused by the sight in front of him. 

Raven was in nothing but black lacy panties, a matching bra, and thigh high stockings held up by a garter belt. Her ivory skin shone brightly through the lace and the blush on her cheeks added to the look. Her swollen lips were parted and her head was thrown back as Tim was in the process of kissing down her chest as one of her bra straps hung off her shoulder. She was sitting on the desk with all the papers pushed aside and Tim between her legs with his own shirt unbuttoned. 

Damian was shocked at how quickly they had moved in the relatively short time it had taken him to cross the casino floor, but in reality it was only one piece of clothing missing. 

Taking one last look at her and committing it to memory, Damian steeled his resolve and regained his stiff posture and his menacing glare. "What the hell are you doing Drake!" 

"Fuck!" Tim broke away from her and Raven yelped and covered herself, climbing off the desk. "Shit Damian, what the fuck are you doing?"

"I asked you that and I have yet to be given an answer!" His voice began to raise in volume.

"Can we talk about it in a second." Tim began smoothing his hair and attempted to straighten his clothes.

"Why the hell is there a guest in the security room and why are you trying to fuck her on company property on company time!" 

Damian noticed Raven slowly bending down to reclaim her dress without exposing herself further. Damian scoffed and turned around giving her a small bit of privacy. He heard the shuffle of fabric and she quietly cleared her throat.

He turned back around and narrowed his eyes at the woman whose face was now bright red with embarrassment. "I should...uh..go. I'm sorry, really." She had stepped closer to him and licked her lips uncomfortably. "It's my fault. It won't happen again. Uh..thank you?" She shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and slipped past him. 

Once she was gone, Damian turned his attention back to Tim who had just finished buttoning up his shirt. Tim held out his hands in surrender. "I know. Trust me, I know it all. I'll report myself. I wasn't thinking and I compromised our security. Although nothing actually happened thanks to you. And I don't mean to be snarky about it, I know that I probably wouldn't have stopped myself at all. But it's not her fault. So please don't turn this into one of your theories about her. I take full responsibility."

"You disgust me Drake. Can't even control your urges when it comes to your job. You'll be lucky if you even have one tomorrow. If it wasn't close to prime time and short notice, I'd dismiss you right now." Damian stood tall and crossed his arms, staring Tim down.

Tim took in a deep breath and released it slowly as he plopped into the computer chair. "Noted. I..um..think I've wasted enough time. I'll get started on the report and do a few sweeps of the casino." He didn't look Damian in the eye and pulled up to the desk, a blush rising to his cheeks while he rearranged the papers that had been strewn about. 

"Good, about time you take your job seriously. Although a bit too late in my opinion." He watched as Tim's movements stilled and his fists clenched. He didn't make a move though, it would be futile. Damian let out a small laugh before exiting the office.

He began planning his next move to get more information on Raven that didn't involve her revealing more skin. Although he enjoyed what he saw, it distracted him and that wasn't good for his mission. A cheery voice broke his thoughts as he was crossing the casino floor.

"Hey Damian." Jon walked up to him a look of concern overlaying his usual happy demeanor. "I saw Raven fleeing from here." Great, was everyone on a first name basis with his number one target? "You didn't terrorize her with an interrogation without me, did you?" He playfully nudged his shoulder and added a chuckle trying to mask the seriousness of his question. 

"No, Jon. I just caught Drake almost fucking her in the security room."

"Oh. Tough break…" Damian scowled at him. "I mean, wow unbelievable. So, what's your next move?"

"You all are infuriating. Could, at least you, stop implying that I'm trying to court our top suspect?" Damian began walking toward the elevator with Jon following right beside him.

"I would if you quit acting like it. She's hot, and I guess intelligent according to you, and she has the record for a woman, hell anyone, holding your attention this long without you losing interest." Damian was about to open his mouth to respond but Jon cut him off once more. "I'm only saying this because I care about you, as your best and only friend. It would do you some good to relax and actually stop working for once. The rest of us can handle a day without you, you gotta trust us."

"How can I trust the man that brought a potential criminal into our security office?"

Jon hesitated and paused to find the right words. "I'm not saying it was ok, but you know he hasn't been the only one to do it. Yes, you were pissed then and it wasn't the security office per se, but I think you're taking this a little more to heart because of whom it entails."

"A criminal!"

"A very attractive woman that has the unfortunate burden of once being labeled as a suspect and then having you get attached in that mindset. Maybe the situation with Tim spooked her, and you can finally try to talk to her as Damian and not as head of security?" Jon looked pleadingly at him as Damian hit the button to call the elevator. 

"You all may think she's innocent, but I don't. Perhaps I am a bit attracted to her, but unlike Drake, I am professional and can contain myself around women."

Jon rolled his eyes and Damian stepped into the elevator. "Ok, well you go actually take the night off and contain yourself at the rooftop party tonight." He winked at him just before the door slid close.

Rooftop party...that's where she'll be. This is why Jon was tolerable enough to be his friend. Damian made his way to his suite a few floors down from where he was headed later that night. He would attend as regular Damian Wayne, but that didn't mean that his head of security side couldn't be 'undercover'. 

If he wanted to catch her, he knew he had to go at it by himself, everyone else had been compromised. Tonight was the night he was sure he'd get lucky. 

[musedblues]

You Make Me Feel Like Dancin’

Summary: Your best friend Lucy introduces you to her new boyfriend, Rami and the other cast of friends she’s been hanging around with. Joe catches your eye and the rest is history in the making.

W/C: 13k

Warnings: Language. Mentions of sex and sexual situations (nothing graphic) But better safe than sorry, so... RATED R!

A/N: This baby has it all! Fluff! Angst! Friends to enemies, maybe? It was originally like... 20k words because I’m a sucker for a backstory but I reigned it in lads. This was all based on a prompt for @royally-rogers​ follower celebration! Big shout out to the babe herself! Here it finally is, lovies!

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"Eekk! Come on, hurry!" Lucy squealed, pulling you close to her side.

She was your very best friend. Your partner in every shopping mall adventure, the first person whose opinion on everything you wanted to know. The only time you weren't attached at the hip was when she was working; and lately, she was on set all the time.

Lucy had fallen for her leading man, sometime last month. And it was high time you met the guy who'd been stealing away so much of your dear friends time. The trouble was, Lucy always tried to leave her work behind when the two of you got together. So, tonight was a big deal. Especially considering the rest of the crew of men who Lucy had grown close with were joining you, tonight.

Three statuesque men scattered around a high top table, in the modern wooden pub. Rami must have recognized Lucy's commotion as he stood up to greet the pair of you.

"You're here!" His voice was thick and warm and intimidating, even as he spoke with glee. The dark-headed fellow scooped Lucy into a short and sweet embrace before they both turned to look at you.

"Y/n, Rami." She beamed, holding out her lily-white hand to grab a hold of yours.

"I'm so glad you could join us. I feel like I already know you." Rami gleamed your way.

"And I, you." You pursed your lips into a coy grin, giving Lucy a look out of the corner of your eye. She was practically a live wire, beaming a smile that made her eyes sparkle.

"Well, come meet everyone else!" Rami held out his arm as you and Lucy followed behind the lad to step closer to the table full of charming men.

"Boys, the girls are here! This is Gwilym." Rami pulled out a chair, guiding you to sit next to a tall man with a face like a Greek god. His blue eyes glistened and he smiled right at you as you settled next to him. Lucy hopped into the seat on your left, pointing across the table to another pretty blonde.

"This is Ben," She mentioned, and the guy with the look of a Roman empire greeted you warmly.

"Joe is late, of course." Rami waved a hand at you, across from Lucy as Ben chuckled at his side.

And right in alarming time, a man waltzed up to the table breezing past everyone in a flourish.

"Fashionably late." The slender man with a closed mouth smile winked at Rami and moved to the empty seat across from Gwilym.

"And that's our Joe," Lucy chirped, giving you a look like she had so much more to say.

Even in your best efforts to prepare for such an evening as this, you felt winded by the introductions alone.

"Alright, everyone shut up so I can go on and on about my best friend!"

"Lucy-" You chided with a roll of your eyes. God, you loved her but you were not cut out to be paid close attention too.

"Oh, Luc, please. You know I don't like that sort of spotlight." Joe rang in some transatlantic accent from the end of the table, resting his chin on the heel of his hand as he gave Lucy a wink. He smiled a real smile then, and it was something of a spectacle to witness his features twinkle to life. He was the prettiest of the whole lot. And that was really saying something.

"While I do love you, Joe, I'm about to tell you why you'll all be wise to kiss the ground Y/N walks upon!" Lucy decreed. Before you had a moment shut her down, she was already speaking up again...

"She'd probably kill for me, and I'd probably ask her too, starting with your smart ass." Lucy playfully snapped at Joe who let a sheen of disgusted shock morph his expression. You found he was still attractive even when he looked like a hurt puppy.

"She can cook, she can sing, and she's smoking hot so, proceed with caution boys."

"Okay." You gave your friend a dismissive smile. The boys chattered in at once, all comments directed at Lucy's dramatic speech.

"You should know she talks about you like this when you're not around, too," Rami spoke up from the opposite side of the table. Most boys broke off into separate conversations while you leaned over the table to share your favorite facts about Lucy with her new beau. Somewhere along the way, you had Rami cracking up, catching his breath through choked laughs all the way until the end of your story sharing session. Lucy had to order for the both of you when the time came, as you'd been reduced to tears from all the laughter.

Rami left for the restroom soon after you'd both found composure, and Gwilym disappeared to make a phone call by chance. Joe took that opportunity to trade places, easing into the empty chair next to you like some kind of juvenile Romeo.

"Excuse me, your highness, we need to talk about this whole best friend thing." Joe was sipping some fruity drink from a straw, looking up to you through his long lashes. You'd be lying if you didn't have to take a beat to soak up the look in his dark eyes before you answered.

"What's there to talk about?" You countered, leaning a little closer toward Lucy.

"What's her favorite color?" He shrugged, looking to you through the side of his face.

"Oh, I don't think you're ready to play this game." You pointed toward Joe. Maybe it's because he and Lucy really were close, but something about Joe was already familiar to you. Not at all like you'd just met him. There was something in his persistence gaze that you recognized. Lucy watched on in utter amazement as you and Joe darted through the challenge of who knew her best. Favorite foods, songs she sang in the shower, her middle name.

"Okay... if Lucy had a dog what would she name it?" You doubled down, leaning in to stare right at the guy. Joe was watching you with a coy little grin that flickered a little brighter each time he got an answer right. And he hadn't gotten one wrong... yet.

"Uh..." Joe paused, watching you inch closer, searching your face as if you'd somehow be giving the answer away. "Maybe... uh... Bertha?" Joe tore his gaze from you to flash a hopeful look to Lucy.

"Bertha?" She stifled a laugh. "Joe. first of all, it's a trick question." Your best friend pointed knowingly. "I'd pick a cat over a dog. And its name sure as hell wouldn't be Bertha."

Joe pouted, bottom lip sticking out like a toddler. Lucy decided there was only one way Joe could come back from crashing and burning so severely in the best friend pop quiz. "Both of you go to the bar and order me a drink. The one I like better will be dubbed the winner of my heart and soul."

Joe's smile spread like a wildfire across his face, as he looked to you and cocked his head toward the bar. Oh, it was on. Lucy liked simple drinks, none of that syrup saturated shit. It was one of the first commonalities you bonded over with the girl. You practically raced Joe to the bar, trying not to stare as he hurried ahead of you. He was dressed in sharp bold colors and his figure was perfectly lean. The tired looking bartended gestured your way as you approached the bar, and Joe went first, seeming rather confident.

"Manhattan?" Joe asked, almost like he was wondering if the bartender would know Lucy's preference and approve of his choice. Good one.

"Uh, Sidecar." You decided on the spot, knowing it was something your friend had ordered a time or two. As the bartender turned around to mix your drinks, Rami appeared from the restroom and stopped next to Joe at the bar.

"Oh, please don't make this poor girl try that horrible drink you made up and forced us to try last night."

"Okay, first of all, how dare you." Joe pointed to his friend. Rami looked like he had seen some shit, and you had to chuckle under your breath wondering what Joe subjected everyone too.

"It was bourbon and tabasco sauce." Joe turned to you with a raise oh his thin brow.

"And he tried to add lime juice, like that was going to make it better." Rami waved his hands around, seemingly amazed he'd made it out of the situation alive. Your chortles had blown into laughter by now as Joe sulked in defeat.

"Do you hate your friends, Joe?" You teased, crossing your arms to your chest as the fellow rolled his eyes at you. Your drinks had been finished then; so there wasn't time to feel embarrassed by the way your breath caught in your throat, as Joe failed to think up a comeback and just bit his lower lip through a smile, shaking his head at you.

You settled back into your seats, and Joe stayed at your side since Gwilym seemed to linger outside the nearest window, chatting on the phone.

"Pick your poison." You turned to Lucy as you and Joe slid her drink orders before her. She hummed in consideration, shooting you a smirk as she reached for the Sidecar.

"Oh, come on!" Joe whined.

"Sorry dear," Lucy said, taking a sip of the drink she chose. "I like this better." Your best friend shrugged, taking another drink.

"But this is my favorite." You grinned, pinching the rim of the Manhattan and pulling the glass in front of you. Joe watched as you lifted the drink he ordered to your lips. You really did like it. And you especially liked the way Lucy's runner up best friend was piercing his gaze into yours.

The night moved on in a flurry of laughter and shared gazes. Gwilym shared his leftovers with you, and Ben insisted you come to his housewarming party over the weekend. You left arm in arm with your very best friend, but you found yourself thinking of Joe.

///

That's how it started.

Every time you saw Joe after that initial meeting was a collection of snowflake-like moments that lead up to an unpredictable avalanche.

The next time you saw the gang was when Lucy fetched you to attend Ben's housewarming. The pair of you danced around his new lush green garden while her other castmates slowly arrived to join the party, practically ignoring other random attendees for a while. Then, Ben, Gwil, Rami, and Lucy all went wild, telling stories to Ben's new neighbors and filling everyone drinks. You, somehow, ended up next to Joe on a patio swing set. The pair of you pointed to the strangers that scattered across Ben's new lawn and made up backstories on their behalf. Somehow, this translated to you and Joe trading your own stories. By the end of that afternoon, you and Joe knew each other high school prom dates and your least favorite parts of growing up.

You went home as an official member of the group chat, via Ben's excitable request.

///

The group chat was the source of every interaction between any number of you from then on out. It was where Ben invited everyone over to meet his new puppy, Frankie, with pictures to prove how sweet she was. A pile of wrinkles, pictured perfectly asleep in the actor's lap.

You drove twenty to Ben's home and Joe answered the door. He kept looking at you like he had a secret to pass on. Like there was something he thought you already knew and should have been mentioning. Regardless of the funny feeling you got when his forest toned eyes focused on yours, you took shots with all his friends and went about fawning over Frankie, like that was your only excuse for being there.

Then, there was the impromptu movie night at Gwilyms. He'd come to possess a VHS player and a copy of the Titanic and was desperate to know if it still worked. The film would pause every thirty minutes while black and white banners flashed across the screen. But watched on, you did. Everyone was hypnotized to sleep by the warbled recording, slowly, one after another, until it was just you and Joe. He sat next to you on Gwil’s sofa, and as you felt your eyes start to droop, another sensation stalled your slumber. Joe's hand had just barely nudged closer to yours. Almost like an accident. Like he'd moved in his sleep. But you cracked one eye open and noticed Joe was still focused on the movie screen. His hand stayed brushed against yours. It was just a couple of knuckles against your own. But it was a burning foreshadowing of a wish you didn't realize had been scratching below your subconscious until now. You drifted to sleep wondering if you'd been dreaming all along.

///

Next, there was a trip to the roller rink, at Rami's request. He held his own in a pair of skates and you figured he'd just wanted to show off. But in his typical, humble fashion, Rami patiently helped Lucy and Gwil learn to roll around the rink with ease. Then there was Joe, who made quite the show of turning his struggled flailing into dance moves. You caught moments of this on camera and posted it to your Instagram story, saying it was blackmail. But really, you just wanted something featuring Joe to look back on when he wasn't close by.

Joe heart reacted to the notification in your DMs that informed him he'd been tagged, and reposted your story his own, with the caption: "If you don't tell anyone its a dance battle, you'll win every time."

There was the time Ben invited everyone to a wine tasting, where you caught more of Joe's tipsy dance moves for your Instagram story. He danced slyly closer your way, as your friends galloped around the gift shop in their own wine-filled hazes. You swore Joe almost kissed you then. He stopped dancing and leaned against the wall you'd been admiring him from. His jungle eyes zeroed in on yours as you suppressed a nervous giggle. When Joe's gaze landed on your lips, Gwil came around the corner with pairs of matching sunglasses he demanded everyone try on. You decided that must have been a part of Joe's imaginary production. A way to get you a little flustered for the hell of it. You decided he'd had one too many complimentary sips of wine.

Then there was mini golf. The final fleck of frozen rain that caused your metaphorical avalanche to topple over in a way you never expected...

///

Joe: Mini golf tomorrow? Here's a link to the place...

Gwilym: I have a fashion show :/

Lucy: Maybe! What time?

Ben: Oh it's ON!

Y/n: Sounds fun to me.

And just like that, you had something to look forward to again. Joe set the time and date and threatened Ben to prepare to battle to the death.

You soared through your workday without a care and checked your phone on the way out to your car.

Lucy: Rami's brother just landed town, I forgot. I'm sorry to cancel last minute!

You missed Lucy. You had barely spent a single moment of one on one time since she introduced you to the boys. To her boy. But you knew Rami was her priority now. You admired how seriously she'd taken her relationship with him and sent a message back wishing her well in her boyfriend's familial affairs.

You raced home to change into something more appropriate. A nice flannel to protect you from the chill of the night since it wasn't quite summering yet.

Then when you checked the time and hurried back to your car, it wouldn't start. You didn't have time to worry about why, or try and fix it yourself. You just ordered an Uber and told yourself you'd deal with it after tonight's fun and games.

Ben was lingering outside the novelty put-put place, illuminated by the blue glow of his phone screen.

"Hey, my car wouldn't start." You shrugged as Ben shot you a curious glance, noticing the SUV you'd hopped out the back of.

"Oh, man. Sorry about that." The stunning blonde pouted, clicking his phone to lock before sliding it into his pocket.

"Party people!" The shout was heard across the sparse parking lot, and it undeniably belonged to Joe Mazzello. He walked toward you and Ben with a smile plastered on his face. He was alive with confidence and excitement, even at the prospect of playing a kid game with his friends.

"Alright listen." Ben countered like a tired coach. "I might have to leave early. If Chris Evans doesn't show up for an audition I'm the only other one on the callback sheet." Ben huffed. Oh, to have such worries.

"Okay, Casanova. Then we better kick this game night into gear." Joe placed either of his hands on Ben's shoulders and shoved him toward the line of families waiting to get in the place. Ben kept fretting over his pending audition, saying that if he scored the part, that he'd have to send Frankie to live with his parents and they'd fall in love with her and she'd never come back home. He hadn't even landed the roll yet, and he was in shambles of worry over the one con that seemed to outweigh the pros of living his dream.

"Ben I live like twenty minutes away. I can watch Frankie if you leave town." You shrugged. You cared for Ben, and you adored his darling puppy.

"You'd really do that?" Ben croaked, nearly moved to tears by your simple offer.

"I'd fly across the world for Frankie if someone wasn't so eager to land the job." Joe's elbow bumped into your side then, in just enough time to make your heart skip a beat. Ben murmured a thousand thank you's as the line slowly moved. As you waited behind a couple of middle schoolers and a family with three toddlers, loudspeakers crackled to life with Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

The speakers echoed into the parking lot, and the tune would have made you think of Joe even if he wasn't beside you, starting to shift his shoulders to the beat of the song. You knew what you had to do. As Whitney's song crept toward the chorus, Joe added more gusto into his dance moves, and you unearthed your phone from your pocket to capture the moment on your Instagram story. Joe lip-synced along to the chorus as he broke out the show choir dance moves and Ben cackled in the background.

"Next!" Some prepubescent voice croaked from behind the mini-golf ticket both. Joe's attention was torn from his dance break and you caught his shocked disappointment the moment just before the recording ended. Ben cackled with laughter as Joe sulked toward the ticket booth. He bought all of your bracelets that allowed your admission and you grinned gratefully to the guy before racing him to go choose a putter and a golf ball.

Ben was blue, you were orange and Joe was yellow. You kept getting stalled behind little kids, some who seemed to be trying their best, others, who reminded you of Joe- unabashedly enjoying whatever happened and making the most ridiculously enjoyable use of their time. You watched as he and Ben got into an argument over how to keep score, and laughed when Joe tried to mess Ben's shot up. You held your own, barely caring about how well you did, just enjoying the crisp air and the laughter of your pals- one in particular.

"We should get something to eat after." Joe shrugged. You'd ended up on hole seventeen and could see the final hole ahead of you. The jungle-themed play place was buzzing with kids of all ages, but you'd dared to believe you Ben and Joe were having the most fun.

"Yeah! I'm starving." You pipped up, stepping around Joe as he went to retrieve the golf ball he hit into the bushes. You skipped dinner to make it here in time.

"You down to mukbang, Ben?" Joe wondered, stepping back onto the green of the hole seventeen. Ben had pulled his phone out of his pocket and was staring down in a daze.

"Chris Evans backed out..." he murmured in his low tone, reading from the screen.

"Chris Evans back out!" He spoke up once again, turning his stary eyes to you and Joe.

"Get out of here, Ben!" You encouraged, pointing toward the exit, now in the distant view.

"Oh guys, I'm sorry." Ben scrambled to collect his golf ball and putter and Joe encourage his friend to hurry.

"Break a leg babe!" Joe chirped merrily as Ben started to jog away. "Run Ben! Run faster than Captain America!" Joe let his voice carry across the mini-golf field as families turned their heads toward you, and Ben hurried out, throwing his head back with laughter.

"At least we're basically done." You shrugged, watching Ben disappear behind the shack where you left your golfing equipment. You were alone with Joe now, like, really alone for the first time.

"Yeah," Joe seemed to realize, looking ahead at the eighteenth hole, where a group of little kids struggled to play the game. "We could like, quit and go get something to eat." Joe looked to you, raising his brows with the suggestion.

"Still? Even though Ben left?" You wondered. Joe had no reason to want to spend one on one time with you, as enticing as the thought was to you.

"Yeah, you said you were hungry, come on." He decided, stealing your putter and racing past hole eighteen. You laughed and hurried to follow him.

Joe had already disposed of your equipment by the time you'd met up at the exit doors.

"Where do you wanna go?" You jogged, following him out into the bare parking lot. "Oh shit." You realized. Joe shot you a curious glance as you stalled in place, remembering your ride here.

"I totally forgot. I got a uber here. My car wouldn't start." You frowned, thinking that the night had just come to an end due to your vehicular impairment.

"While I don't mind escorting you to a five-star dining experience, there is a pizza place across the street," Joe pointed. "And it looks like heaven."

The neon sign was flickering and the checkered awning was tattered. "Okay fine." You chuckled, following him across the one-way street.

Then, as he held to door open for a young mother and her warbling baby, it hit you. Joe was just being nice. He was that guy. He went out of his way to pour strangers an extra shot of whiskey at his best friends house warming party. He held doors open for mothers carrying babies. He escorted you to this pizza place just because you said you were hungry. He was just kind-hearted by nature, and that's when you realized you had it all wrong. Till now, you'd mistaken Joe's lingering eye contact on you as intentional. You realized that the one time his knuckles brushed against yours was a simple accident. If Joe wanted to kiss you, like you were so sure he nearly did at the vineyard, he would have by now. He was only ever kind to you because that's who he was. That guy. You couldn't possibly face your horrible delusion by letting him know you'd been dreaming of more. Oh, shit.

Joe held the door open for you, as a couple of bells rang from the handle. You wouldn't let your self search for his eye contact not now. You just smiled and kept walking toward a booth in the back.

Joe eased into the booth across from you and spent a very short time figuring out what to order, deciding to split a margarita pizza. Okay, you thought. Just look up, and don't think about it. Just be normal. When you finally locked eyes with Joe, you found he'd already had a steadied a sleepy gaze on you. Your stomach flipped so violently you had to wonder if he noticed, somehow.

"So the Bo Rhap wrap party is tomorrow night." Joe pointed, searching your eyes as you looked right into his, trying to suppress the butterflies that multiplied in your guts. "You should come! I can pick you up if your car won't start. Hell, even if it will."

Joe rose a brow your way when a waiter brought you each plastic red tumblers full of soda. He sipped his drink, his eyes peering up at you through fluttering lashes.

He's just being nice. You mentally cursed. You wound up alone, and he was only trying to make sure you didn't feel out of place, because he was that guy. Your heart was doing somersaults and your mind was racing, each conclusion coming back to Joe. You had been and currently were head over heels for Joe Mazzello.

"Yeah okay." You nodded shyly, hoping to God your voice wouldn't be faulted as you sat coming to terms with your feelings. You could pull yourself together, before falling too deep, right? Couldn't you accept his kind-hearted invitations?  Couldn't you keep watching from the sidelines as Joe dance alone at parties? You could live with those blips of heaven on earth, right?

While you waited for your pizza Joe started to gush over his family. How much he missed them and how he simply couldn't wait to return home after all this time. And at the mere mention of Joe being so distant, your heart sunk to the floor. Oh no, you were in a very dangerous way.

"You good?" Joe pointed. You had rested your temple on your hand, propped against the table like a student exhausted by homework. Your mind had yet to stop filling in answers to questions that appeared in droves.

"Huh? Oh yeah, just a little tired I guess." You decided. A better excuse than give the truth away. "Oh don't mind me I'm just trying not to fall for you. Just trying not to ruin this random lucky moment."

"I know it was probably exhausting to lose so hard at mini-golf," Joe smirked at you.

A chuckle escaped your throat but your heart felt as if it might pop. What were you supposed to do? Your pizza came and conversation died out while you picked around pieces. Every passing minute felt like the count down to a life-altering game show. Joe must have noticed how quiet your internal battle made you.

"You sure you good? If you need-

"Uhm, actually," You decided in a flash. "I think I better head home now." You pulled your phone out and order the closest Uber while you spoke. Two minutes away.

"I can take you. You don't have to pay."

"No, Joe. It's fine really." You scrunched your brows together like a weak apology. "I... I need a bit of space anyway. Thank you... for tonight, for everything." You stood in a hurry to leave, feeling conflicted but listening to the panicked voice in your head calling you to go. You shelled out a few pounds to cover the pizza and booked it out of the place.

On the ride home, you posted the video of Joe dancing to Whitney Houston, with the caption: "never a dull moment."

You admired the clip on loop, studying every way Joe managed to make you laugh with a turn of his lips or a perfectly timed flail.

By the time you got home with a much steadier heartbeat, you wondered if you were too quick to run off. You didn't quite feel the need to apologize, but something deep within you took control of your fingers and made you text Joe.

You: Seriously, thanks for the fun night, Joe!

You were grateful to have been invited along to join in the fun. But you knew it was best to take a step back and solve your feelings before they got the better of you. Still, you couldn't fucking resist taking one last stab at pulling a bit of Joe's attention toward you. Pathetic.

Later that night as you slipped into bed, Joe had responded to your text. All he said was,

Joe:  :)

Then you just had to check your Instagram. Joe had always heart reacted to the notification in DM's when it showed you'd tagged him in a story. Tonight was different. Joe had opened the DM, but hadn't liked the notification. Nor had he reposted the video.

You did tell Joe you needed a bit of space. But as you started to fall asleep, you wondered if you'd royally fucked everything up by your efforts to keep things steady...

///

The next day was torture. Absolutely agony. You spent silent breakfast avoiding all motivations, and lunchtime pouting when none from Joe appeared. The wrap party was tonight. He invited you. You said yes. But that was before you left the pizza place in a rush. And you'd still never called off those loosely made plans.

So around dusk, you hovered over Joe's name in the contact list, wondering if you should send another text. The thought seemed all too desperate. Asking if your plans were still on was exactly the kind of behavior you were trying not to succumb to. So you waited a little while longer.

But as the sun dipped below the horizon, your heart seemed to fade with the light. Was it wrong to be sad? You wanted space. You needed space. But just from Joe. Just from your feelings. Just time to figure out how to stop your thoughts of Joe from whirring into romanticism.

///

"It's midnight! where the hell were you? I thought you were coming!" Lucy stood in your doorway wearing a sequined party dress, and big worried cartoon eyes.

You sulked in your pajamas, gawking in disbelief to your friend who was concerned enough to come knocking on your door without calling first.

"Come in." You shrugged, almost nervously. Lucy had come to track you down. She must have been expecting to see you tonight. You must have let her down.

"You were supposed to be at the party! Didn't Joe invite you last night?" Lucy fretted, sashaying behind you, kicking off her heels as you lead her to your living room.

"Last night was weird. I haven't heard from him since." You revealed,  the pair of flopping onto your patterned loveseat.

"Joe made a really big deal over asking you to the party." Lucy eased, wringing her hands and looking to you as she tried to understand why you hadn't shown up. "I just got worried when I hadn't heard from you at all today."

"He did... ask me." You sighed, slinking into the sofa and wishing it would swallow you whole. Your feelings felt so minuscule now, in the brink of explaining them to your best friend. This all felt too much like a low budget high school rom-com.

But Lucy eventually begged you to tell her what was going on. So, you gave her a play by play of what had been on your mind the past couple weeks. You told her how you felt about Joe. And exactly when you realized it. You told her how you could never stop thinking of him, even when your mind went blank, it always came back around to Joe. You told her how it scared you to feel that way and why you left Joe alone in the pizza place. You wanted space to figure your feelings out, but how maybe you'd only made things worse. How maybe his leaving you hanging tonight must have been payback for your basically ghosting him, last.

"Well, I'll talk to him, love." Lucy decided like a mother after you'd spilled your guts.

"No, you don't need to do that." You chuckle remorsefully. "If we were supposed to like... ya know... we would have by now." If he really meant to hold your hand he would have. If he really meant to kiss you, he would have. But he didn't.

Lucy just gave you a purse-lipped grin before standing to make hot cocoa. She rummaged through your cabinets as if they were her own and you loaned her a pair of pajamas you knew you'd never get back, because who wanted to lounge around giggling at Parks in Rec in a ball gown?

Lucy fell asleep on your sofa in your clothes while you suppressed thoughts of her stupid, pretty, friend.

///

Two and a half weeks passed until you saw Lucy again. Bohemian Rhapsody was finished being filmed, and everyone had gone their separate ways.

Lucy was always busy, but she invited you to help pack her things for a trip to America, where she'd be staying with Rami for the first time. The pair of you left each other with long faces but how could you not be excited for your friend, on her way to mingle with the future. To build her life alongside someone who adored her the way she deserved to be adored.

You spent the next week desperately alone, your only company being the characters on the telly. Till your phone rang at the break of dawn, tearing you from sleep.

"Y/n!"

"Joe?" You worried over his random call, and the alarming tone if his voice.

"Y/n, I'm in New York and it's not right," Joe whined like a boy. He was well and truly drunk, you didn't even have to ask. Chatter clouded the background of his call and he was still mewling pathetically as you proceeded it all.

"Why are you calling me?" You wondered honestly. If he was all the way in as New York, and as hammered as he sounded, you were no use.

"Because... Because..." Joe sounded as if he were trying to pick between one answer or another. "I miss my friends." He decided in a slur.

"Uh-huh." You croaked, gazing out your darkened window as this bizarre interaction went on. You could hang up...

"See, I miss everyone so much. And I'm no good all on my own. I don't know what to do now. What's my job now?" Joe let a little hiccup escape his throat and somewhere between his incoherent rambles you felt anger bubble within you. Joe had everything. He had a contact list full of friends, and endless options of fun to have. But he'd called you.

"Your job is to smile, Joe. For the cameras and for pretty girls. New York is no different than London."

"Yeah." Joe seemed to agree. "But Lucy said..."

"Lucy?" You realized, all of a sudden. Of course. She'd totally put Joe up to calling you, and saying something. And you knew the girl had only done it out of the best of intentions. But Joe had only managed to phone you after a slew of drinks, hopefully, so he could move on without the memory of speaking to you the next morning. He wasn't calling because he wanted too...

"Call someone else Joe. Get a ride home, okay?" You huffed, trying to sound fed up. But your voice only deflated as your anger turned to something a little more bittersweet.

///

You watched the seasons slowly change and spent Christmas with the people you loved. You scrapped snow from your car windows and drove to work as silence filled your mind. Your free time was far less enchanting, with Lucy always gone. She never came back from New York, when she left that first time. But she facetimed you every Sunday, to weep over how in love she was, and to fill you in on all the group chats you'd failed to keep up with. Then she'd ask how you were doing and the two of you would pretend the pixilated date was the same as any other.

Your days were full of work, and your nights were exceptionally bland. But one, miraculous and furry hope gave you something to look forward too.

Ben landed the role in some action movie. You kept your promise to watch over Frankie while he spent his days in Italy, covered in fake scars. ///

Frankie was a bundle of pure joy. You stopped in to let her out every morning before work, on lunch breaks and again on your way home. You took full advantage of Ben's Netflix, and stayed a little later each night because Frankie was the dearest company you'd had in months. She snuggled up with you during movies and followed you around every corner.

You sent photos to Ben and he usually responded almost immediately with crying emojis and every different heart shape.

You posted a few shots of your daily walks to your Instagram story but saved one very special selfie for your feed. It was a photo of you and Frankie laying on Ben's bathroom floor. You'd tripped over the edge of his laundry bin, and Frankie came to check out all the commotion. She laid down across from you and looked in the floor-length mirror like it was a camera and you were on The Office. You clamored to grab your phone in time for the photo, and you did.

You asked Ben for permission to showcase his darling fur baby on social media and he agreed without hesitation.

But almost immediately after slapping a filter on and posting, you regretted it. Comments from user names like queeniedarling123 and hoemazzelo flooded your notifications.

That's Frankie! Tell Frankie I love her!

Are you and Ben together?

I thought you were with Joe? We demand Joe and Frankie selfies.

Your heart dropped then. You thought of taking the photo down, but it was already liked by a few thousand. So you quickly moved to make your account private and deleted a few select comments that really made you queasy.

When Ben returned home, he came bearing the news that he would have to leave again very soon. You could tell he wanted to ask, but something held him back. So you stepped up and offered to hold your spot, checking in on Frankie while Ben was away.

Through the next couple of months, you kept up the same schedule, taking the pup on walks and sending photos to Ben. You realized that the best kinds of friends trusted you to linger around, even when they were miles away.

///

Lucy facetimed less, but when she did, the chats lasted for hours. You managed your slumber party rituals as best you could while separated by a screen. But somedays the distance made you feel exceptionally alone.

When your phone rang, midweek on your lunch break and Lucy's name popped on the screen, you worried. She would facetime you on schedule like it was set in stone, and text in between with any trivial news. She never called. In the nanoseconds it took you to answer, your mind buzzed with every bout of horrible news your friend would have reason to call in the middle of the weekday with...

"Hello?" You asked, standing alone outside of your car, stalling your return to work.

"We're coming home!" Lucy informed merrily. She sounded as she were on a bus, now. Muffled voices and metallic clangs screeching in the background.

"Home?" You asked hopefully.

"Listen! We've rented a cabin for this weekend and everyone is coming to celebrate the last weekend of the decade. So I'm gonna come by your house tomorrow round five, yeah? Pack warm clothes and maybe some board games!" Lucy informed you all at once.

"Tomorrow?" You spun around, looking around the snow-covered parking lot. "I mean, I am off work but are you sure-"

"Tomorrow round five! It's going to be a good time okay? Joe is going to be there. I'll see you soon love, okay, bye!"

Lucy ended the call before you had time to protest or ask any more details. Were you being warned or enticed?

///

From the outside, the cabin looked more like a resort. You supposed that when a handful of actors who'd just been in a blockbuster vacationed together, this was somehow justifiable. How had you found yourself in the midst of all these people's lives? How were you worthy of four nights in a cabin with just as many levels? Lucy was the first one inside, greeted by a chorus of warm hello's. She and Ben shared some kind of knowing smile as the blonde man rose from a massive leather couch he was sprawled out on. He was dressed in designer joggers, and there was a large fire crackling from behind some painted bricks in the living area. The floor plan went on for ages, tall ceilings held up by wooden beams that lead your eye toward the open kitchen in the distance.

"Hello love." Ben stretched his arms over his head as he walked toward you. He found no qualms in grabbing your head in both his hands and planting a kiss on your forehead. Your insides had been abuzz with nerves, but a softer fuzzy feeling warmed your heart at Ben's gesture.

"Sorry we're late to the festivities. The weather, you know." You sighed, looking at Ben who was already waving off your apology.

"Better late than never! We've been stalling the party until you showed." Gwilym rounded the corner dressed like he might have been camping outback, layers of thermal decorating his tall frame. Rami trailed in after him, taking Lucy's matching overnight bags in clutch. Behind him, his twin brother.

"At long last! Sami, y/n, y/n Sami!" Rami's brother was just as handsome as the actor himself, and you were certain he was full of his own dynamic qualities. You'd also caught on to the few slight hints Lucy dropped about Sami to you. Painting a glorious picture of her boyfriend's brother, ultimately for you to yearn over, fall for so you could like, be one big happy family or some best friend bullshit. But other than a kind smile your way, Sami seemed to hold little interest in you, and your interests were occupied vastly by the one person you had to see appear.

"Come pick a room!" Lucy called after you, and you had no choice but to follow her orders. There were eight bedrooms. Eight. Rami and Lucy had snagged the biggest, and Sami had chosen the one at the opposite end of the hall. Ben and Gwil had taken the only two rooms on the third floor, and that left you to choose between the middle of this hallway or the basement. And you really didn't want to treck all the way back down to the basement with your things. So you darted into the room nearest the bathroom and were charmed to see the sleeping quarters weren't outlandishly lavish. The cabin still held the charm that any good cabin should, with wood paneling and a quilted iron-framed bed. Just as you dropped your duffle bag onto the dresser in the corner, Lucy came in to tug you back downstairs.

The boys were breaking out the liquor and the festivities were abound. You settled between Ben and Rami on the massive leather sofa, clinking your red solo cups of whiskey together and cheering to the gathering.

"Joe said he'll be half an hour more." Gwil grimaced looking at his phone screen. You were glad for the warning. More time to practice how you'd act once he landed. But you did a damn good job of pretending that wasn't what you were doing at all. You listened to Sami tell you about himself and laughed when Gwilym spilled his whiskey all over his trousers, complaining about how he couldn't change because he'd been wearing both pairs he'd brought, at once. It was all fun and games, which lead you to discussing such.

Sami revealed that he'd never played beer pong. Ben dashed toward the kitchen to collect solo cups, and before you knew it a game was set up on the coffee table. Then the front door opened. The lads abandoned their excitably flutter around the beer pong table to greet a frigid looking Joe.

"You're just in time for beer pong! But I think the only room left is the basement, mate." Ben patted his friend on the shoulder as you sat stone still on the sofa, watching the scene unfold. Joe didn't seem to mind the boarding situation and moved to hug Rami on his treck to abandon his things. Just before Joe left the room, his eyes drifted to notice yours. You'd planned for this; to see him. But all the things you practiced saying or doing were coated in white-out, and as soon as Joe's eyes met yours, they moved on. Oh, this wasn't going to go well, was it? He seemed happy. He seemed like he could care less that you were existing in the same space as he was. That only made you realize that the work you'd been putting in to ignore your feelings for Joe had worked. You'd definitely been ignoring them. They hadn't gone away at all.

You sipped your whiskey to look preoccupied, and let out the breath you'd been holding as your friends bustled around you without a care. Ben was pouring beer into the cups on the coffee table, and Rami was explaining the rules of the game to his brother. When Joe reappeared, shy of his coat and looking a little warmer, he was appointed to Lucy and Ramis team, where Sami belonged swearing he needed all the help he could get. But you had Ben and Gwilym. What could go wrong?

Were you doing this right? You'd played beer pong before, but you were playing a harder game of trying to avoid Joe's eyes. You weren't even sure if he had cast a single glance your way. You weren't sure of anything besides how awkward you felt. But the more you drank the less you worried. Everyone else seemed to be letting loose just as well, you were certain you'd never seen Gwilym so wasted, (funny considering he spilled more whiskey than he drank earlier.) Ben would cheer for everyone no matter who was playing, and Lucy was practically falling asleep at the wheel. Under Rami's wise direction, Sami played just fine, your team was loosing after all. But maybe that's because Joe kept switching the rules around.

He would rearrange the cups and allow way more redos than necessary, especially when you wound up playing against each other. You stood and waited for Joe to make his winning shot until somewhere around the seventh time he missed. When Joe reached for the ping pong ball again and you'd had enough.

"No, come on, you don't get another chance." You huffed. Those were the first words you'd spoken to Joe since you'd seen him tonight. He looked up at you with a roll of his stunning eyes.

"We've been playing by the same rules all night." Joe countered cooly.

"Yeah, for Sami's sake. Not yours. It's over anyway!" You gestured wildly. Rami drunkenly nodded with you in agreeance, somehow lifting Lucy from her alcohol-induced sleep on his lap. When your best friend's feet hit the floor, Lucy and Rami slinked off to bed.

"You can do it!" Ben weakly cheered from the armchair behind you. Joe lifted a brow and gestured toward his friend from the opposite team.

"He's not on your team!"

"But I'm almost done! You can't change the rules all of a sudden." Joe fired at you, seemingly genuinely angry.

"But you can?" You countered. Gwilym chuckled from the sofa beside you, and when you tuned your attention back to Joe, he just gave you a shrug as he lifted the ping pong ball in the air.

"Oh, fuck off." You groaned, reaching for the last cup of beer and taking a swig as you stepped over where Sami had passed out on the floor near the fire. Joe watched on is disbelief as you stomped up the stairs, in a hurry to outrun your regret. You shouldn't have snapped at him like that. You should have just kept your anger bottled up like you had been all along.

You dashed into the room you'd chosen and shut the door behind you. It was quiet. The loud laughter and chatter from your friends had ended and it was time to go to bed. Thank God you had so much to drink, or your thoughts would have certainly kept you awake all night.

///

You woke up with a dull ache all over and had to talk yourself out of from under the warm quilted covers. A hearty breakfast was just what you needed.

At the bottom of the stairs, you were greeted by Ben who was munching on a cheap granola bar. Joe was at the table, scrolling through his phone in his damned dinosaur patterned pajamas like it was Christmas morning. You held back an audible scoff as you gently tore the granola bar from Ben's hands, skipping over a proper good morning.

"Let me make you a real breakfast." You begged like a worried mother. Ben shrugged happily in agreeance, following you in the kitchen. You took the chance to teach some pseudo cooking class while Ben stole his granola bar back and leaned against the counter watching you. You found a few eggs and some other breakfast staples hiding in the cupboards, talking through every step like this was your audition for the Great British Bake Off. Ben chuckled at you along the way offering no other help. Sometime during your lesson over how to best fry bacon, Joe strolled over and shifted his weight next to Ben.

"You're doing it wrong." He noted. As if there were one right way. Even you knew that wasn't true.

"Yeah yeah." You pushed, trying to keep your cool. There was no need to let his presence make you manic any further. But then Joe stepped closer, taking your place in front of the stove to finish what you'd started without asking.

You huffed in disbelief, sulking over to stand next to Ben.

"You should help me make something in the morning." Ben shrugged, polishing off his granola bar. You happily agreed and managed to let Joe take over the last half of breakfast. There was more than enough to serve everybody as they slowly appeared, each more hungover than the last. Lucy drank coffee like it was her job, hardly enjoying the taste as much as she longed for it to cure her ailment. You sat with her near the now-empty fireplace, snuggled under a single blanket and sharing a laugh about one thing or another. When the girl reached to take another drink of coffee, she peered in to find her mug empty. The coffee pot was also visibly empty from the kitchen and Lucy let out a groan.

"I don't want to go all the way over there. But I need more coffee to live." You couldn't help but chuckle at her dramatics, considering jumping to do what she could have just as easily done. But Joe was on it. And out of nowhere, in some moment of daftness- no, true wonder, Joe turned to you and asked if you wanted a cup, too. It was like he'd forgotten you were supposed to be at odds with each other. Like he'd never know you were at all. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you wanted to drop it just as easily. But your sharp tongue had a mind of its own. You gave Joe an empty "no" and couldn't even look in his eyes as you spoke. God, this was going to be a long weekend huh?

Lucy gave you a look then. It was a cross between 'Whoa, what was that for?' and 'Oh God are you okay?' You pretended not to notice. You went on ignoring Joe when he was in the room. Thankfully a couple of classic films played on the TV and Sami held your attention in between, asking about how you and Lucy met. As the sun dipped low through the patio doors, your party longed to be entertained. It was Ben's idea to play charades, and you almost enjoyed playing along. But Joe was raking in points for his team left in right like this was some sport he'd been playing professionally. You tried not to roll your eyes, but let out a sigh of relief when the game finished.

"What now?" Gwilym looked at you. Maybe it was because you were the first person in his line of vision. Or maybe this was your divine chance to have a little fun.

"Let's do karaoke." A devilish grin spread across your face as Lucy squealed in delighted agreeance.

"That's not at all fair," Joe spoke up from the sofa near your side.

"If you get to turn charades into the dam Cannes Film Festival, I'm calling karaoke." You pointed right at him. So far, you'd let Joe shift your mood into something sour, but this was your vacation too, and Lucy was already setting up karaoke of the flatscreen. You were up first, and weren't shy about belting out Oh! Darling in front of everyone, most of whom danced and backed you up with their own array of vocal talent. You laughed as Ben and Gwil danced together, and even tossed Joe a glare as he sat watching you from the sofa, biting his lip to keep from saying something he would regret you were sure. It felt magical to finally let go, and to have a reason to scream, melodically so. Joe must have known what you were singing about. Hell, everyone probably did. But soon everyone was singing together and you were worn out by your efforts to steal a little thunder. A pipping hot shower was in order.

You bathed, soaking up every way you'd felt for the past 42 hours and letting your fleeting thoughts wash away. You'd sung your heart out, and now you felt your tension melt under the hot water. You felt almost like everything was going to be different back downstairs. After you were squeaky clean, you shimmied into a super large sweatshirt and a pair of leggings, heading back down the stairs to join the gang in what was supposed to be a carefree weekend in a super large cabin. Outside the distant patio doors, you spotted Gwilym and Ben pelting each other with snowballs in the setting sun. Lucy was lingering near the end of the hall, checking her cellphone. As you approached her, Joe appeared in your sight.

"Do you wanna order pizza?" He asked, looking to his friend with a quirked brow. Lucy seemed to consider for a moment before shaking her head with a shrug. Joe started to walk away in acceptance when you noticed Lucy's neutral expression morph into a barely noticeable frown.

"Uh..." Lucy cautioned, strangely enough, to stop Joe in his tracks. The man spun around to look her way.

"How come you didn't ask y/n?" Lucy countered. You could see in her eyes, she knew she was walking a thin line. But it was already crossed, and there was nothing you could do to stop it. Joe turned his eyes toward you, they were blank as ever. You had to stop yourself from holding your breath.

"She doesn't." He decided on your behalf.

"Well, how do you know? You didn't even ask me." You wondered in a pissed off tone. Joe clenched his jaw, looking all around as his heels slowly turned the other way like he wanted to walk away from this. But you, for some reason, couldn't let that happen.

"What you don't have a good enough comeback for once?" You snapped, shifting a little closer toward the man.

And that's when everything exploaded. You'd seen it in movies and read it in books, the trope where a pair of people bicker over each other in an incoherent fashion. You didn't think it was appliable to real life. But it was happening now. You were arguing over ordering a fucking pizza. Joe was going on about how he "knew you would have said no just because I was the one asking." And you were standing your ground, arguing that he'd "never even given you a chance to answer!" It was so dumb. It was the stupidest squabble you'd ever been apart of. You weren't even sure if Joe heard you, or if you were speaking clearly between his own pissed off rambles. You were both just arguing at each other.

"Stop!" Lucy's shrill tone cut through your grumbled arguing. You and Joe had no choice but to shut up on command and turned your shocked glares to Lucy, who spoke up once she had your attention. "I figured things might be weird but this has got to end."

In one swift move, Lucy grabbed your wrist in one of her hands, and Joe's in her other. Your shared bickering started back up the moment your best friend marched the pair of you down the hall.

"Go down there," Lucy released her grip on you first once you were on the landing of the basement bedroom Joe had been occupying. "And don't you dare come out until you've settled whatever the hell you have to settle!" Her eyes bore into Joe's as she turned the inside lock for effect, and slammed the door on her way out.

"I mean it!" Lucy's shouts were muddled through the door as Joe sighed, spinning around to shuffle down the small flight of stairs that led to his room. You stared at the doorknob in disbelief, knowing full well you could unlock it, and leave. You could even go home if you wanted. But... you didn't really want to be anyplace else, did you?

You swallowed your pride as you sulked down the staircase, fully prepared to finish dishing out the last of this crash and burn with Joe. The basement room was dimly lit by a lamp beside a quilt covered bed. A small window was covered with insulation near the ceiling, and the wood-paneled walls were bare, save for peeling wallpaper, a clock and a calendar, like this was some kind of bomb shelter. Fitting for the explosion to finish here.

"I guess we don't have to like each other, but maybe we can pretend in front of the others-" You started meekly, standing in the middle of the room.

"That's the problem! I do like you." Joe groaned. He was sat on the end of a quilt covered bed, looking utterly exhausted.

"You didn't even look my way until we started playing beer pong!" You reminded Joe of the half-hour you spent ignoring each other at the start of last night.

"And you didn't have much to say until you started shouting about beer pong!" Joe countered, crossing his arms.

"Shit." You let out a sorry chuckle. You were tired of shouting. It was time to stop running in circles.

"I mean... I wasn't really mad about the beer pong was I?" You breathed shakily, staring a the rope rug under your feet. You were finally all alone with Joe and it felt worse than you thought it could have. But the time for talking about why was now or never.

"Then what?" Joe wondered. It sounded like a plea. His tone had dropped an octave as he leaned back, propping his hands behind his back. A sign that he was all open to what you had to say next...

"Oh, God... I'm going to sound so dumb." You realized, covering your burning face in your hands. As you thought back to what upset you so greatly in the first place, you realized you were going to seem horrifically stupid mentioning it after so long.

Joe wait for you to go on and you knew there was nothing to do but dive headfirst into the thing you'd been avoiding forever. You drew your toe around the rug's circular pattern as if to gear up for your next question.

"You never... the wrap party. The next day we were supposed too..." It was too embarrassing to address directly.

"You... you said you wanted space." Joe's eyes were wide under his furrowed brow, but his voice was less gruff than before.

"Yeah, space, not an ending!" You emphasized. Joe looked utterly defeated, then. "I guess I should have made that a bit more clear." You sulked in realization.

"Shit. This whole time I'd been waiting for you to give me another green light. I thought I should have kept my distance until you said."

The air between yourself and Joe had always been supercharged with tension. You never knew what was going to come next. When the tension turned negative, it never went away. It just stayed there, festering until now. Until you saw him again and the space between you clicked back together, perfectly fitted, but clouded over by every conclusion you'd each come to on your own.

"And I kept waiting for you to call. I guess we're both a couple of idiots, huh?" You shrugged. There was nowhere left to go but forward.

"Well, I did call, eventually." Joe challenged. He was drunk then. You didn't let it count. But now, you wished you would have. You started at the carpet, understanding that he was right, and fate had might have been swayed. But this tiny, bomb shelter turned basement bedroom was all you were left with. A silence filled the air as you found the right words to speak.

"I'm sorry." You fessed through a grimace. "I'm sorry about beer pong. And for all the other stuff, I just let my feelings get the better of me the past two days."

Joe gave a single nod, chewing his lip as his brows slowly pushed together. You stood, closing in on yourself while you waited for Joe to say something, anything more.

"Your feelings?"

"I've always had feelings for you, Joe. They've just been hurt is all."

"Does that mean you still have feelings for me?"

"Seems that's the case." You nodded sorrily. "I know I've got a funny way of showin' it."

"Well cut it out, I'm the funny one." His brow was still furrowed but his tone was the lightest it had been all weekend. A grin flickered to life on your face as you looked up to Joe, who was still sat on the edge of the bed staring up at you.

"So, can we be done fighting?" You asked with a hopeful hint in your tone, still keeping your arms crossed all the while. You missed having fun with him. But you understood if all bets were off, by now.

"Well, I haven't apologized yet," Joe said.

"Why would-?"

"I'm really sorry I just let you go like that. I shouldn't have. And for hurting your feelings. For what it's worth, I haven't stopped thinking about you once."

"Oh."

He looked up to you, totally spellbound. No words came as he willed them out through a weak gesture. So Joe caught his lip between his teeth and bore his shinny eyes into yours. All you could do was what came naturally. You uncrossed your arms and held them out like a peace offering.

Joe slowly rose from the edge of the bed, keeping his eyes on you. He seemed cautious of getting to close, cautious of mistaking your intention and spinning into another round of shouts. But you kept your arms outstretched, and Joe accepted your embrace with his even stronger pair of arms, totally wrapping them around your middle.

"We can be done fighting, now." Joe muffled into your hair after a moment of all-encompassing peace washed over you. Your arms latched around his neck as you melted into his long-awaited hug. Before you could totally lose yourself in Joe's arms, you had one last thing to say...

"I promise to start saying what I mean, from now on." You spoke into Joe's shoulder. You could spend all day apologizing and coming to an understanding, but you couldn't leave the room until some resolve took place.

"And I promise to listen better." Joe spoked pointedly, slowly starting to pull away from the embrace.

"Do you think Lucy will let us out of here now?" You laughed. You'd nearly parted, but his fingers were still splayed over your ribs.

"I dunno. She said we had to settle everything, and... I don't think we have." His voice was a whisper, and it was in that moment everything about the moment hit you like a rushing wave. The way he smelled like a Christmas candle, his big hands pulling you closer toward his warm body, the sound of him sucking in a breath to hold, everything.

Joe kept his gaze in you while his eyes started to close, enchanting yours to do the same. Then he kissed you. Like really kissed you. Joe's lips pressed against yours as if he was trying to meld your worlds together in one perfect motion. His mouth was warm against yours. When your lips parted with his in a slow-paced sync, you decided it was quite possibly the best kiss of all time.

When Joe stopped kissing you, you could still feel his hot breath on your lips as you stood there utterly stunned.

"I've wanted to do that since the day I met you," Joe whispered. You allowed your hands to slink back around his next then and initiated another short and sweet kiss, a gesture that meant your interaction didn't have to end there. When you pulled away and Joe's lips chased your own, you were hooked.

"What else have you always wanted to do?" You wondered with a coy grin. Because you felt, then, like you used to with Joe. But better.

He tightened his grip around your waist and started to walk backward toward the bed; keeping his pretty jungle colored eyes glued in yours. And when he eased onto the mattress you didn't see a point in holding back any longer. You practically jumped into Joe's lap, attacking him with kisses. He actually giggled.

When Joe let his brilliant fingers creep bellow your sweatshirt that was three-time too big for you, he unclasped your bralette in nanoseconds, like he'd done it a million times. You were far too anxious to shed your layers and nearly knocked Joe in the nose with your elbow in your hurry.

"Easy there," Joe chuckled, watching your garments fall to the floor. That's when he pulled your hips flush against his own and nipped at your neck in the process. You couldn't help but let out a yelp of surprise, overwhelmed by the intensity of your interaction.

You and Joe became a mess of giggles and fumbles. You reprimanded him for yanking your hair and he almost fell over trying to take his pants off. It was wonderfully hilarious. Your laughter dissolved into contented sighs when your hot skin stuck together, when your kisses felt more like you were trying to devour one another.

When you finally eased into Joe's lap completely, you had to plaster your hand over his mouth to quiet his groans. You couldn't be sure if your friends could hear the next floor up. You almost wondered if they had been crowded around the basement door, trying to listen in on what kept you and Joe away so long. But all your thoughts were soon occupied by Joe and the way he was making you feel.

You found the best way to keep quiet was when Joe flipped you over and captured your lips in his. You traded sighs as soon as the escaped, and your toes curled while everything came together at the center of you and Joe.

After your vision went white, and Joe nuzzled his head in the crook of your neck, you found the cabin was deafly quiet.

"Why did we never do that sooner?" Joe's voice rumbled against your neck. His body was pressed warm against yours. As you took a beat to consider his question, Joe propped himself up on an elbow so he could look at you.

"I thought you were just... I dunno, I thought you couldn't possibly feel the same."

Everything was out in the open now, and Joe was still gazing at you like you lit up the sun every morning, so it might shine just right for him, and him alone.

"I was always kind of head over heels if I'm being honest. But I never imagined you'd feel the same. That's... that's why I left the pizza place. I didn't want to freak you out."

"Okay, well let's make a pact to say what needs to be said in a timely manner. Because that's exactly how I felt too." Joe sort of nodded, moving a strand of your hair from your eyes. You had only ever dreamed of a moment like this. What if that's all this would ever be, now? A memory to keep you occupied?

"So, what now?" You were almost afraid to ask. But after everything, you knew you had to.

"We'll figure it out. But together this time around, yeah? We should be together." Joe gleamed, tracing a finger along the curve of your hip. You couldn't be sure if his touch gave your chills, or if it was the look in his big adorable eyes.

"Really together?" You rose a brow.

"Facebook official, drive-in movie date, vacation cruise together."

"I do." You giggled, pulling Joe down for a quick kiss. He held on to you and kept you against him as you both drifted to sleep, together.

///

Your eyes fluttered open reluctantly. They wanted to sleep, but your stomach wanted food, much much more. You had skipped dinner last night, after all.

The clock on the wall read somewhere around five in the morning, and Joe was sprawled out beside you, draped in dark green sheets like an angel.

"Hey. Joe!" You whispered, snuggling closer. You could have left him to keep dreaming, but you only had a day and a half left in the cabin to spend every waking moment making up for all the times you'd missed together.

Joe grumbled, shifting into consciousness.

"I'm going upstairs to make cookies and if you don't come with me, I'll be absolutely heartbroken." You plead through a sleepy whisper.

"I'll do whatever you want for the rest of forever," Joe smirked, keeping his eyes closed as he pulled you closer against him. You'd never felt more content. As Joe's secure embrace started to lull you back into a daze, he suddenly jolted awake, ready to do your bidding.

"The last one upstairs is lame and gets one less cookie." He decided calmly, searching for his discarded pajamas pants. You stretched into the day with a smile. How'd you get so lucky? Just hours ago you and Joe were passing cold glares across the massive cabin. Now, you could hardly keep from clinging to the guy as you lazily crept upstairs.

The kitchen was empty, decorated with a few discarded mugs and some paper used to keep score for last night's game of charades. There was a dark navy light creeping past the patio curtains, a hint of the coming sunrise.

You and Joe kept mostly quiet as you found a tray to bake on and threw together ingredients for a cookie recipe you had a keen memory of. He kept stealing bits of dough and pretending to fall asleep against the refrigerator while you rambled about the baking process.

While you waited for the cookies to bake, you shared a single cup of coffee and talked. You talked about the days when you were just getting to know each other. You found out for every moment back then, that you'd gravitated near Joe, that he was equally as nervous of the magnetic pull between you two. He laughed about the time he nearly held your hand on Gwils sofa but admitted he was more petrified than a virgin schoolboy to cross any lines with you. You laughed too, admitting that you were sure you had been overthinking everything.

Then the timer went off on the oven and your scrambled to keep the noise down, creating more of havoc by doing so. You kept laughing and ate a few cookies before they had time to cool down- and then just kept laughing. Sleep-deprived chuckles of unadulterated glee. Everything was finally the way it should have been.

You were busy cleaning up the last of your early morning baking mess, scolding Joe when he offered to help clean, but only kept reaching to grab a cookie.

A different voice called from around the corner, then. Ben sauntered around the kitchen island, rubbing his eyes.

"You've either finally stopped fighting, or you're laughing like loons at seven in the morning because you both snapped, and a murder mystery has taken place." Ben reached for a fresh-baked cookie quirking his brow your way as you spun around to put the clean cookie sheet back in the cabinet.

"Oh, yeah," Joe beamed, rising out the coffee cup you'd shared. "We kissed and made up."

"Oh my God!" Ben practically rocketed through the raised roof off the immaculate cabin. You spun around, fleetingly worried over his cries. But then took another bite of his cookie and said something more. "Finally!"

"Finally?" You scoffed, moving to bodyguard the cookies before any more could be stolen. You'd already had a few and the others would be pissed to wake up and find that you'd never saved any for them.

"Yeah, finally," Ben spoke through a mouthful of cookie, reaching into the fridge for some milk.

"All Joe has ever done since you've met is drone on about you." Ben pointed the jug of milk your way. "And all you ever did was check his Instagram like four times a day, more when I wasn't around to spy I'm sure."

Ben moved to the cabinets to find a glass while Joe cocked a quizzical eye your way. The man with faded copper hair and earth-colored eyes moved to stand by your side. His smirk widened as you studied his face, considering every moment you'd glanced his way before now. You hopped for an infinity of shared glances, from here on out.

"Alright, come help you said you would," Ben demanded, setting up the stove with a few pans. Oh that's right you promised to make another breakfast alongside Ben, this morning. Soon, the three of you were bustling around the kitchen whipping together an English breakfast for your crew of friends. You plated the last of the cookies and set them at the center of the table, surrounded by dishes for everyone to fill up.

Gwilym was the first to appear, happy as ever just to be apart. Rami followed close behind. He suggested you go wake Lucy, who apparently refused to leave the comfort of the warm cabin bed. You could hardly blame her.

"It's a brand new day!" You hollered dramatically, bursting through Lucy's door and waltzing up to the lump she'd reduced herself to under the sheets. Your best friend groaned in protest, but when she pulled the sheets from her face she was grinning like mad.

"We made breakfast. You'd better hurry before the good stuff is gone." You informed Lucy, flopping onto the empty side of the bed at her side all the same.

"Oh, who's we, then?" Lucy chirped, propping her head in her hand against a slew of fluffy pillows. She was even radiant in the early morning. A visual display of all the beauty she'd stored up and selflessly showered you with over the years. She was the best friend you ever had.

"Me and Ben, and Joe." You shrugged, settling against the pillows.

"Sooo..." Lucy hummed, glancing at the painted nails on her free hand, then batting her lashes back up to you. "It worked?"

"You devil." You hissed through a smile. You knew Lucy hadn't necessarily planned to lock you and Joe away together, but you also knew that while you stayed hidden away, that Lucy had her own hopes of the outcome. She maybe even went so far as to cast a spell or two.

"It worked!" Lucy decided, based on the smile you tried to keep hidden between your teeth.

"Okay, it worked! You're a matchmaker, damn it!" You squeaked as Lucy sprung from her relaxed pose to throw her arms around your shoulders. "Thanks for being you, Lu." You cooed after hugging her back. When Lucy sat up next to you, she leaned close to pass along a secret.

"I only stayed up here so Rami would send you, so you could spill your guts in private. I simply can't go on with my day until you give me every gory detail."

After chastising your friend, you told her everything. She stifled giggles and awes and her eye's sparkled while you spilled the details that you lived through last night, and early this morning. She, like Ben, was naturally elated that you and Joe had finally wound up together. She said that you and Joe deserved each other. Lucy promised you that she would always be around to help you get the things you deserved in life. After a few sappy best friend speeches shared on the massive kingsized cabin bed, you left the room together.

You somehow ended up carrying Lucy down the stairs on your back, nearly toppling down the last couple of steps. Gwilym was there to steady your antics. The rest of the vacation went on with the same unbridled glee.

Everyone sat around together, laughing. You played board games for hours on end, told ghost stories, and made even more cookies. Somehow, Rami ended up teaching you how to do the salsa. You'd didn't know it, but Joe caught your dance lesson on camera. You found out later that night when he posted it to his Instagram story. 

You ended that final night in the basement, by choice.

When the morning came and you and Joe laid awake together and began to say goodbye. But you didn't feel sad. Joe filled your head with visions of your next meeting. He planned dates and surprises out loud as you lay together, relishing the closeness you'd always dreamed of. You had him, now. Joe was a collection of atoms, willingly existing just beneath your fingertips. He spoke of attaching himself to your hip the very second the next opportunity arose.

You helped each other get ready to leave the cabin going so far as to imagine coming back with everyone next year, together. All your friends dragged haphazardly packed bags to the living room, you didn't feel sad to leave them, for once. Everyone awaited separate ubers to separate places, but you still had your group text. You still had concert tickets to buy and bistros to try out, together.

Joe kissed you in front of everyone before you parted. It was a display that put all your friends at ease. A gesture that seemed like promised that everything was the way it was meant to be. You had Joe now, and even though everyone was happy to accept the long-awaited fate, you were the most ecstatic of all. You finally had Joe. Even as he reluctantly clamored into his ride and you lagged behind, you were finally together. 

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