#would be wear a hat + scarf? I feel like he would tough it out?? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

raven-at-the-writing-desk · 4 years ago

Note

An imagine for adeuce please! They hang out someplace in their hometown during vacation but awkwardly run into crewel. I think treys family bakery would be a nice location but the setting is your choice in case you want to limit the dialogue and number of characters

Ps. I personally feel like the game needs more interactions between the students and teachers. Hopefully we can get more in the new event

Teacher-student interactions are so much fun! We definitely got more from Vargas Camp (which I’m really thankful for), and I hope we keep getting more!

So far, my favorite teacher-student dynamic has been Vargas and Azul. I’d feel bad for octoboi if I wasn’t laughing so hard at his flying fails--

I really liked this prompt, so I wrote more than my usual ~1000 word imagine; please enjoy!

***Mild spoilers for chapter 4!***

Imagine this...

The Rose Kingdom was aptly named for the flowers that bloomed in nearly every corner of its land. In the summer time, they blossomed magnificently, perfuming the warm air with their heady aroma—but in the winter, those delicate rosebuds were banished by a spell of frost. Without fail, a great cold would wash over the region every year, casting their famous red flowers in a thick layer of white.

It was a pattern that the kingdom’s residents had long since grown accustomed to. This was, after all, their beloved home—amid the roses, frozen as they were.

“Oi, Deuce! Hurry it up, will you?!” Ace called, tossing an annoyed glance over his shoulder.

His friend—wearing so many layers that he resembled a moving blueberry more than a human—lagged several paces behind.

Deuce attempted to return the sass, but his words caught in the scarf bound tightly around his mouth, coming out muffled instead. The puffball on his winter hat furiously bobbed up and down, as though communicating his frustration for him.

“If we don’t pick up the pace, they’re gonna sell out of hot chocolate and fresh pastries!” Ace rushed back, grabbed Deuce by the arm, and tugged. “C’mon!! I thought you were in Track and Field Club or something—so let’s get moving!”

Deuce loosened his scarf with his free hand and, glaring at Ace, declared, “No way am I running with the roads this icy. That’s a recipe for disaster.”

“Hah? You serious? I already got wasted enough time waiting for you to dress in your 101 layers of coats,” Ace grumped, gesturing to Deuce’s ridiculous outfit. “It can’t hurt to be a little quicker about it.”

“Mom wanted me to stay warm,” Deuce countered stiffly. “I’m gonna respect that, no matter what.”

Ace rolled his eyes and waves dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, whatever—enough talk, we really gotta get going...!! I’ll be damned if I freeze out here.”

“The Clover Bakery isn’t that far from here, so we don’t need to rush.” Deuce indicated a warm building at the end of the block, which gave off delicious fumes—spun sugar, baked bread, and spices. “Slow and steady wins the race.”

Ace groaned loudly. At this rate, it would take all day for them to waddle on over. He was about to bury his head in his hands when an idea dawned on him.

A mean, but clever, idea.

“Betcha I could make it there faster than you,” Ace chirped, his voice casual.

“It’s not a competition,” Deuce reminded him sternly.

“No one said it was, dummy! I’m just saying I could definitely beat you at your own game.”

“Tough words for someone shaking like a leaf in the cold.”

“Oh yeah?” Ace’s grin was wicked. “Prove me wrong, then.”

“I don’’t have to prove anything. It’d be dangerous to run in this weather, anyway.”

“I bet it’s way more snowy in Pyroxene—and Jack’s probably totally fine with running through it!”

“That’s Jack, and this is me. I said I wasn’t going to rush things, and I meant it.”

“Yeah? Too bad~” The redhead gave an exaggerated sigh and a shrug. “Backing out, huh...? Oh well. Guess if you snooze, you lose...!!”

“Hey, I never said...” Deuce’s voice trailed off, for Ace had shoved by him, darting off in the direction of the bakery. “H-Hey...!! Ace...!! ACE!! GET BACK HERE!!”

He tore after his friend, shouting at him all the while—and Ace, with his (cheating) head start, only laughed in return. Deuce soon caught up (no thanks to his club conditioning), and they were neck-and-neck for first place.

Windchill, knives upon their faces. The biting cold seeped into their lungs, making it hurt to breathe as they hurtled toward their destination. Yet they sailed on, determined to outdo the other.

Both boys launched themselves at the bakery entrance, grasping the handle at the same time.

“EXCUSE US!!” Ace and Deuce yelled in unison, yanking open the door (struggling to cram through the doorway at the same time) and stumbling in.

They were greeted by a blast of warmth and the smells of sweet cakes and toasted breads. The employee manning the counter glanced up, startled at the duo’s sudden appearance. When he saw who it was that had barged in, he sighed and calmly readjusted his glasses.

He looked a little different than usual, wearing a white shirt with green plaid that showed off his broad shoulders. The sleeves were rolled up to reveal thick forearms forged from years of lifting flour sacks and kneading dough. A brown apron was slung over his attire, four-leafed clovers sewn on the pockets.

“If it isn’t Ace and Deuce. How are the two troublemakers of Heartslabyul doing?” Trey asked, his smile lopsided as his underclassmen approached.

“A-Are we really troublemakers in your eyes, Clover-senpai?!”

“I’m just kidding,” he reassured Deuce. “Well, you are troublemakers, but more for Riddle than for me.”

“Geez... thanks for the vote of confidence...” Ace grumbled, casting the third year a cheeky look. “Some senpai you are, huh?”

“Now, now... I’m allowed to have some fun, aren’t I? We’re all ‘off-duty’, so to speak.” Trey said light heartedly. “Anyway, what brings you guys to the Clover Bakery? I’m assuming you’re not dropping by just to say hello.”

“Hehe. Obviously we’re hungry, so we came by for some grub!” Ace held up his index finger. “One large hot chocolate, and a plate of assorted butter cookies for me!”

“I’m okay with a small spiced apple cider,” Deuce chimed in, “please and thank you.”

“Gotcha. I’ll get you your drinks in a bit,” Trey nodded, “but as for the butter cookies, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sell those to you.”

“Huh?” Ace’s face collapsed. “Why not?”

“We’ve only got a few dozen left, and they’re reserved for a client that preordered them. Sorry.” Trey pointed to a neatly wrapped box already set upon the counter, done up in a bright green bow.

Through the plastic window in the box, Ace could see that the cookies had been converted into little sandwiches. Each pair housed a generous dollop of cream, caramelized raisins threaded throughout it.

“What? Who needs that many butter cookies? And why are there gross raisins in them--“

The door to the bakery flung open, summoning a gale of cold once more. A bell suspended above jingled, ringing in a new customer.

“Ah, speak of deville the devil,” Trey said—while his underclassmen balked in terror.

There, in the doorway, was a tall man in black faux leather gloves and a voluminous fur coat—striped, black and white. Beneath that, he boasted a crimson turtle neck and a blazer, half solid white, the other half a black , checkerboard pattern. This, paired with his slicked back hair, steely eyes, and regal face, made him appear as though he had just strutted off the runway, were it not for the leashes he gripped.

Two Dalmatians—one in a blue coat, the other in a red one—stood alert by his feet. They caught Ace and Deuce’s eyes and barked in greeting, but the two boys were far too fixated on the Dalmatians’ owner to gush over dogs.

“Crewel...”

“... Sensei?”

Ace and Deuce glanced to one another, then back at their Alchemy teacher.

“C-CREWEL-SENSEI?!”

“Wh-What’re you doing here?!” Ace demanded, pointing an accusatory finger. “School’s out for winter break...!! You... You didn’t hunt us down to make us do our homework, did you?!”

Crewel snorted. “Spare me your theatrics, Trappola. Your instructors are granted a vacation for the duration of winter break as well. Were you not aware?”

“I-I knew that! I just didn’t know you lived in the Rose Kingdom, too!”

“I thought teachers lived at school...”

“... Seriously, Deuce?!”

“The more you know.” Crewel narrowed his eyes at Ace. “But speaking of homework, I trust you pups are keeping on top of your assignments? Being on break is no excuse to slack on your studies.”

“D-Duh! Of course I haven’t been slacking!” A lie, Ace grimaced, thinking to the piles of homework he had abandoned in his bedroom in favor of hanging out with friends. Whatever, he could just pester his brother for help later. “Right, Deuce? Back me up here!”

“I’ve been diligently studying and working on my homework bit by bit every day, Crewel-sensei!”

“... But have you done it accurately?” Crewel asked, raising an eyebrow. “Simply writing down an answer does not guarantee full marks, Spade.”

“... Errrrrr, okay, maybe I need to work on it a little more.”

“You’ve got your notes and a reliable Science Club member to count on for assistance,” Crewel quipped, gesturing to Trey with a gloved hand. “There is no excuse for why you should not do well. That goes for you as well, Trappola.”

“Y-Yessir!”

“Crewel-sensei, I think that’s enough interrogation,” Trey called, waving for him to come to the counter. Outwardly, he wore a smile, but inwardly, he sighed. For the love of the Great Seven, don’t offer my help for me. “Here, I have your order prepared--oh, but be sure to keep your dogs at the doorway. No pets allowed beyond a certain threshold for health and safety reasons.”

“I am aware, yes.” Crewel’s eyes passed over to the two scared stiff underclassmen. “... Trappola, Spade--come here. Do your professor a favor and tend to my Dalmatians for me.”

“What? You want us to watch your dogs?”

“I’ll do my best, Sensei!!”

“Don’t just blindly agree to it, Deuce!”

“It will only be for a moment,” Crewel insisted, shoving his leashes into Ace and Deuce’s hands. The boys fumbled, but held firm--the Dalmatians eagerly staring up at them.

“... Oi, don’t give me those looks,” Ace grumbled. “You’re... You’re too cute looking and innocent to be Crewel-sensei’s pets.”

The dog in the red coat gave a happy bark, as if pleased with the compliment. Its partner, in the blue coat, panted with delight as Deuce gave it a firm head pat.

Crewel received the box of raisin butter cookies--but allowed his eyes to quickly a scan the glass display case as he strode up. “Do you have dog treats in stock as well?”

“We do.”

“Then add two to my total, please--peanut butter flavor.”

“Alright, you’ve got it.” Trey ducked, retrieved a pair of tongs, and fished out two bone-shaped biscuits. He dropped them into a paper bag and handed them over to his teacher. “That’ll be--”

He was cut off by several bills being fanned out on the counter.

“I’ve ordered enough from your bakery to know the general prices,” Crewel smirked, tucking his wallet away into his massive fur coat. “If there is a discrepancy, you may keep the change.”

“Ah, thanks for that. Hope you and the dogs enjoy--” Trey paused, cut off this time by the sound of several small footsteps from the back room of the bakery. He groaned, already knowing what was coming. “Oh no...”

“Trey-nii!!” A chorus of high-pitched voices piped up, startling Ace and Deuce. “We heard bark-barks!! Did Mr. Fluffy Coat bring back his doggies?”

Three heads of green hair poked above the counter--just barely. One girl and two boys, probably elementary school age, all of them sharing Trey’s mustard yellow eyes.

“Guys, not now. Big bro’s busy with the customers,” Trey warned. He passed an apologetic look to his underclassmen and teacher. “Sorry, my siblings are excitable sometimes.”

“I wanna pet the doggies!”

“I wanna feed’m snackies!”

“I wanna dress them up!”

To the boys’ surprise, Crewel merely chuckled. “No worries. Fellow canine lovers are always welcome.”

“Mr. Fluffy Coat!! Can we feed your doggies?”

“Pretty please with candied violets on top!”

“Please, please, please!!”

Crewel barked with laughter. “Perhaps I can allow it, little ones--permitted that your brother grants his permission.”

All three Clover siblings looked expectantly at their eldest sibling.

Trey heaved a sigh. “... I guess I’ve got no choice. Go ahead.”

Excited squeals filled the interior of the bakery. The Clover siblings nearly tripped over themselves racing over to Crewel’s dogs (they nearly trampled Ace and Deuce’s feet, too).

“Hey, watch it! We’re the ones babysitting these dogs, not you!” Ace cried as the kids descended on the Dalmatians. I’ve only had these dogs for five minutes but if anything happened to them, I’d kill everyone here and then--

“We can share, Ace!”

“Spade is correct. There is plenty of the pups to go around,” Crewel interjected. He produced two dog treats and broke them into smaller pieces, offering them to Ace, Deuce, and the Clover siblings. “Go on, then. One for each of you to feed them.”

The Clovers cheered and eagerly claimed their pieces, holding them out and allowing each Dalmatian to sniff and lick the treats straight out of their palms. As soon as the food was slurped up, the Clovers proceeded to vigorously pet the pups. But the first years hesitated.

“You’re... being awfully nice,” Ace noted, eying him suspiciously. “Are you gonna spring a pop quiz on us as soon as I take the treat?”

“Keep biting the hand that feeds you, and I just might consider it,” Crewel warned with a dark smirk.

“W-We’ll take the treats!” Deuce snatched up two pieces, shoving one into Ace’s hands. “Come on, let’s not worry too much. We’re on winter break, after all. Let’s just relax while we still can.”

“You’re right, you’re right! Let’s not sweat it!”

They exchanged a brief laugh before kneeling and offering up their own dog treat pieces to the Dalmatians. Just as the dogs’ sloppy, wet tongues connected with the boys’ hands, their cell phones went off.

“... Huh? Did you just get a text, Deuce?”

“I think I did. I heard your phone ping too, though. Did you get a text too?”

“I can check. One sec...” With his free hand, Ace fished his phone out of his coat pocket and consulted it. He immediately paled. “Oh, shit.”

(“Hey, language!” Trey shouted--but his protest seemingly went ignored.)

“What’s wrong?” Deuce asked, frowning.

“Check your phone. Check it right now.”

“Is it something seri...” Deuce’s face dropped as soon as he looked at his messages. “Fuck.”

(“I said, language!” Trey tried again, only to be snubbed a second time.)

The distressing text they had received?

SOS SEND HE LP STRAND ED D IN SCAR ABIA CANT GET OUT - Yuu, Grim

Ace and Deuce abruptly stood and bolted toward the exit, much to everyone’s surprise. They paid no mind to the concerned shouts of Trey, nor Crewel, or to the excited barks of Dalmatians no longer held by leashes.

All that remained of where the duo once stood were soggy, half-finished peanut butter dog treats.

#twst #twisted wonderland #Ace Trappola #Deuce Spade #Divus Crewel #Trey Clover #disney twisted wonderland #imagine this #twisted wonderland requests #twisted wonderland imagines #twisted wonderland scenarios #spoilers

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arrowflier · 3 years ago

Note

arrow!!!!!! the x-men AU idea! yes, yes, yES. 🙌

Twisha my dear, thank you for giving me an excuse! This got a little dark (warnings in tags), but it was fun to try.

Spikes and Quills May Do Me Ill (but your hands never hurt me)

“The fuck are you lookin’ at?” the hedgehog boy growled at Ian, and Ian backed away, hands raised.

“Nothing,” he said quickly, then hesitated.

“Well?” the kid pressed, quills perking up in agitation. “What is it? Spit it out!”

“Your neck!” Ian blurted out obediently, and immediately closed his eyes with a wince. He shouldn’t have said that. He should not have said that.

He waited for the blow to come. Hedgehog guy was notorious for his short temper, and the only thing Ian was unsure of was whether he’d be getting a fist to the face, or a spike to some other part of his body.

Probably his eyes, since he’d been caught looking.

He just couldn’t help it, though.

Ian had always sort of had his eye on the other boy. He didn’t even know his name, but he’d seen him around school. The guy would show up wearing like fifty layers of clothes—long sleeves, cut-off gloves, a hat and scarf no matter the weather—and he always stripped off as soon as he was in the door, shedding clothes like a snake sheds skin, until he was down to a sleeveless tee that showed off all his most unique attributes.

And unique they certainly were.

The first time Ian had seen him, he’d almost thought that they were tattoos. Some sort of major piece that covered his back, his shoulders, and his neck, carrying down the backs of his arms but fading away from the front, from his chest. He’d been trying to get a better look at the pattern when some idiot had come up behind the guy and tapped him on the shoulder, resulting a sudden flare of quills that had everyone around them stepping back in alarm.

It was beautiful.

That wasn’t the only beautiful thing about him, but it might be what Ian liked most. Plenty of other boys had dark hair, or blue eyes, or a muscular stature. Plenty of other boys walked through the halls like they owned them (even though none of them did).

But there was only one boy in school with all of that and more, only one boy that Ian wanted to touch. To see if those spikes felt real.

Only one boy who…still wasn’t hitting Ian?

Ian squinted one eye open, then both. The other boy was just staring at him, lips pursed, eyes narrowed. He looked angry, but also…curious? That couldn’t be right.

“The fuck did you say to me?” hedgehog boy asked quietly, the kind of quiet that was dangerous. The kind before he threw that other kid across the bleachers last year for calling him a mutie to his face.

Ian wondered if that kid had ever regained the full use of his legs. Or his facial muscles after they got all the quills out.

It had sure been something to see that happen.

But now wasn’t the time to reminisce about watching this fine specimen in front of him picking up some asshole like it was nothing, quills rippling down his muscled arms and back as he tossed him aside like a bag of potatoes. Not unless he wanted the same thing to happen to him.

Well…

No. Never mind.

“I said I was looking at your neck,” Ian muttered quietly, torn between answering and self-preservation. He wasn’t really sure which one won.

“And what,” hedgehog boy hissed, stepping closer, “is wrong with my neck?”

Um. Was he serious? Ian had been able to tell from the across the room that something was wrong, even under the flickering hallway lights. The other boy’s neck was red, and not in the fun, blushing kind of way.

No, it was red like a bloody bruise. In fact, now that Ian got a closer look, it actually was bloody—smears of dried blood covering an oddly smooth area that looked wrong next to all the quills spiked up around it.

It almost looked like he had been plucked.

“What happened?” Ian asked instead of answering the question. “Did you do that to yourself?”

“No, I didn’t…” the other boy sputtered and paused, clearly caught off guard. He eyed Ian warily for a moment, but whatever he found in Ian’s eyes must have calmed him, because then he was backing away again, quills smoothing down into his skin.

“What’s it to ya?” he asked, glancing around. There were only a few other people left in the hallway, most having already made it to class.

It made Ian weirdly brave.

“I could help,” he offered, and tried not to shrink back when those ice-blue eyes fixed on him again.

“Yeah?” Hedgehog boy stepped closer again. “How you gonna do that?”

“I, um.” Ian paused, swallowed. Tried again. “I can heal?”

The boy’s eyes rose. “That a question, tough guy?” He sounded incredulous.

Ian shook his head.

“No, I mean, I can,” he confirmed. He lifted a hand awkwardly, reaching for the other boy, who pulled back out of reach before Ian could touch him.

“I just need to…” Ian trailed off, reaching out again. With another glance around the hall and a shallow nod from his companion, Ian stepped forward.

He got his hand on that reddened neck, soft under the skin of his fingertips. After a single breath of hesitation, when he wasn't pushed away, he flattened his palm against it focused.

It started as a warmth under his skin. Almost soft, not unpleasant, just a brush of heat to tell him it was working.

Then came the pain.

Ian hissed between his teeth at the first sharp feeling, like a pinprick on his own neck. If he looked, he knew it would be red like the other boy's, a tiny fleck of blood rising to the surface.

"Hey, wait," came that boy's panicked voice. "What are you--"

"Shh," Ian urged, and pressed his hand tighter to that injured throat. "This is how it works."

The pain kept coming. Pull after pull of quills that didn't exist coming free of his skin, each one sharper, more real than the last.

And with one particularly rough pang, the visions started.

Come here, Mickey boy

Fear. Anger. Shame.

No son of mine...

Heightened heart rate. Breath catching. A hand on his shoulder. Around his throat. Pain.

Get that from your no good mother...

Pain. Pain. Tweezers in a gnarled hand, plucking. Cold eyes, staring. A girl cowering in the corner, watching, crying.

"Stop!" the boy cried, yanking back out of Ian's hold. "The fuck are you doing?"

I’ll teach you to...

A door opening, hands dropping. Metal instrument falling to the floor. His neck is sore, but his legs burn more as he runs, runs, runs.

He sounded frantic, afraid, but Ian was too far to stop. There was more healing to do.

He ignored the now raw wound on his own neck and reached out again. The other boy went to slap him away, but hit his palm instead with his own, and Ian was once again lost in pain, and memories, and feeling.

His neck was healing, now. But his palm was bleeding, crescent shaped marks from untrimmed nails digging in as he saw his own eyes staring at him across the hall.

Bright green eyes. Pale skin. Red hair. Lips that looked like--

"Get offa me!"

Ian let go, panting, disoriented. The eyes he gazed into weren't green like his own, but blue and sharp and wide.

"Mickey," Ian breathed, and the boy bolted.

🦔🦔🦔

Ian didn't see Mickey for the next two days. Not at school, and not around the neighborhood, either.

He wanted to see him. Wanted to apologize. It was how his mutation worked, and he wasn't sorry for that--he had to feel something to heal it, take it into himself, live through it. But he should have warned Mickey of what that meant.

That it meant he would see everything.

Ian was walking home after school, starting to wonder if Mickey would ever show his face again, when they jumped him.

Two older boys and a girl, all wearing anti-mutant propaganda shirts with bandanas over their faces, tugged Ian back into a narrow alley by the straps of his bag and threw him up against the rough brick wall.

"Heard about your little stunt with the Milkovich brat," one of them hissed in his face. His breath was rank even through the cloth covering his mouth, and Ian tried to twist away.

Another one punched him in the gut, hard enough to make him wheeze.

"Don't you look away while he's talkin to you, mu--"

He was cut off by an arm wrapped around his throat. An arm covered in bristling, sharp quills.

"You wanna say that again?" Mickey growled behind Ian's attackers, voice low and dangerous.

"Shit!" the third one yelped, and took off running, nearly knocking her own companions over as she ran for the opening of the alley. Ian fell to the ground as his first attacker followed close after, and rubbed a hand over his ribs.

"Uh, hey there man," warbled the boy Mickey still held up. "Just a misunderstanding, I swear, we were--"

"Shut the fuck up," Mickey ordered, shaking the arm around the boy’s neck so the longest quills rattled dangerously close to his face.

Ian wondered what he was going to do to him. And whether he should care.

Mickey looked at him over the other guy’s shoulder. Whatever he saw in Ian’s eyes had him relaxing his arm, and shoving his prisoner away so hard he stumbled.

“Don’t let me see you again, asshole,” Mickey said to his back, aiming a kick at him on his way to the street.

“What made you come back?” Ian asked from his position on the ground once they were alone. Mickey turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. The quills along his back flared once and settled, calm.

“Why do you think?” he returned, like it was obvious.

Maybe it was. But Ian needed to hear him say it.

“Thought you were avoiding me,” Ian challenged, and watched Mickey roll his eyes.

“Yeah, well.” Mickey rubbed a hand over his lip, the quills on the back of it sticking out over his fingers. “Us muties gotta stick together, right?”

Ian smiled.

And though he’d definitely deny it later, Mickey smiled back.

#daily speedwrite #x-men au #gallavich #ian gallagher #mickey milkovich #mutants #hedgehog mickey #tw:abuse #tw: bullying

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blu-joons · 4 years ago

Text

When You Feel Insecure Because Of Your Acne ~ GOT7 Reaction

Mark:

Any event Mark took you to was a nervous occasion, watching as all the idols walked into the room, you couldn’t help but feel like you didn’t belong. Mark sighed as he felt your body tense up, kissing sweetly against the side of your face.

“You’re gorgeous,” was all he had to say, knowing straight away what was going on with you, “you’re the most beautiful person in the room tonight.”

You turned to look at him with a questionable glance, “if that’s the case, how come no one else in this room has their acne visible, even if they spent hours trying to cover it all up?”

Mark frowned, he’d been through hell and back watching you prepare for the event trying anything to hide your spots, or just get rid of them all together. But he knew, and so did you, that your acne was something that wouldn’t go away.”

“So what? No one looks as good in their outfit as you do.”

“But no one looks at my outfit, they look at my face.”

His head shook, resting his hand against your side, “I look at your outfit, because I think your body looks incredible, you look stunning.”

“Don’t just say those things to make me feel better, I know what you think.”

“I think you need to stop being so hard on yourself and listen to your boyfriend, because he’d never lie to you, would he?”

“I guess he wouldn’t.”

JB:

Each time you saw JB with his makeup done it killed a part of you inside, his skin was flawless, even without makeup, leaving you often sitting back and comparing yourself, wishing you could have skin like he does.

“I think I might start wearing makeup every day,” you announced, taking him by surprise, “you always manage to look nice with it and without it, maybe it’s the solution I need.”

He pulled you close to him, “the solution to what? I look horrendous without my makeup on, but you’re gorgeous without it, I wish I could look like you do with natural skin.”

JB knew that you tended to beat yourself up over your acne, it was the biggest insecurity you’d had since the very start of your relationship, but that never stopped him reminding you that it was a part of you that you should embrace.

“I won’t stop you wearing makeup if it’s what you want to do.”

“Because you think that I need it?”

His head shook as he sighed heavily, “not at all. With or without makeup it makes no difference to me, you’ll always be beautiful in my eyes.”

“You clearly don’t know what beautiful is if you think it describes me.”

“I do,” he assured you, “I wake up and go to bed beside a beautiful face every night, one that I’m extremely lucky to have in my life, believe me.”

“I do believe you, thank you Jae.”

Jackson:

The silence that came from you instantly had Jackson worried, he watched you closely as you stared out of the window, brushing your hands over your face, trying to figure out what it was that had caught your attention.

“Penny for your thoughts?” He chuckled, making you jump. “Something’s clearly on your mind, and a problem shared is a problem halved?”

You smiled softly, feeling his presence join you by the window, “I read a study that said a lot of sunlight clears up acne, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

He didn’t want to laugh, but he struggled to truly understand your logic. His arm wrapped lightly around your waist, staring out of the window, there was barely any sun in the skin as the winter months were quickly arriving.

“Have you ever just thought about using a cream of something?”

“None of it works, what else can I do?”

He pulled you closely into his side, “you could just embrace that this is who you are. I know you don’t like it, but I love it, what I hate is seeing you beat yourself up about this.”

“You have perfect skin, it’s easy for you,” you complained.

“My skin is far from perfect,” he chuckled, “I wish I could have flawless skin too, but sometimes we just have to live with what we have.”

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

Jinyoung:

You sighed as you stared at your reflection in the mirror, grazing your fingers gently over the scars across your cheeks, you couldn’t help but get upset, frowning when you felt a strong pair of arms hold you, pulling closely into his chest.

“Stop this,” he sighed, kissing against the nape of your neck, “you’re beautiful, you’ve always been beautiful, nothing will ever change that,” he comforted, tickling lightly against your hips.

You refused to believe him, “look how bad my flair up is right now, I’ve tried everything to get it to go away and it won’t.” You tried to wriggle away from him, but he refused to let you go.

The two of you had had the conversation several times, but he never minded, it was his job to be there to support you when you felt down, he was never going to stop doing that for you.

“You’re going to try and tell me you’re ugly, aren’t you?”

“You seriously think that I don’t?”

His head shook, twirling you around so that your eyes could meet his, “I think you look beautiful; I’ll never stop telling you how beautiful you are in my eyes.”

“I wish I could see what you see sometimes.”

“You will, it just takes time, some days you have good days, others aren’t so good,” he smiled, kissing the tip of your nose, “a good day will come, I know it will.”

“I hope you’re right; I want a good day too.”

Youngjae:

Listening to you talk about the new girl at your office was tough on him, he could tell how jealous you were of her, reeling off feature after feature that you liked about her and compared yourself to her too.

“Do you realise what you sound like?” He questioned once you were done, “I can’t believe you feel like you’re not as beautiful as her, when you are.”

Your head shook, looking at him in despair. “Were you not listening to me? She even shows up to work without makeup, could you imagine what I’d look like if I did that?”

Whilst he was yet to meet the mystery worker who had clearly got under your skin, he refused to believe that she was any more beautiful you were, that was by far impossible in his eyes to ever be the case.

“You’d still look beautiful if you didn’t wear makeup.”

“Everyone would have to look at my acne though.”

He nodded, wrapping his arms around you, “and I’m sure no one would make a big deal about it, because it really is a big deal.”

“But she doesn’t have acne, or any marks, it’s just not fair,” you continued to groan.

“But I bet she’s not anywhere near as an incredible person as you are, the office knows you’re valuable, and not just for your looks.”

“I guess so, thank you Youngjae.”

BamBam:

He couldn’t help but look confused as you walked down the stairs with a baseball cap positioned firmly on your head, and one of your biggest scarves wrapped tightly around your neck, shielding as much of yourself as possible.

“It’s warm outside babe,” he chuckled, trying to take it away from you, but you held onto it close. “You’re going to be far too hot in that, and people won’t be able to see your face.”

Your head nodded, stepping away from him, “that’s the point, I don’t want anyone seeing me, my acne is horrible, it’s better like this,” you sighed, walking towards the front door.

BamBam was quick to follow you with a sympathetic smile, everything quickly made sense to him. He didn’t want to push you into anything, but he couldn’t bare to see you be so hard on yourself over something so small to him.

“Will you take it off and show me what’s going on?”

“I don’t want you to see,” you harshly replied.

He nodded, remaining calm, “everyone gets spotty, it’s natural jagi. I still think you’re look beautiful, even more so without the hat and the scarf.

“But everyone is probably going to look at me.”

“They will, but only because they won’t believe how beautiful you are. Please, for me, just take it off,” he sighed, holding it closely again in the hope you’d agree.

“If anyone stares, I’m putting it all straight back on!”

Yugyeom:

As you turned to face Yugyeom, snuggled closely under the duvet, feeling his hand press to your cheek, you couldn’t help but move back, guiding his hand so it rested back by his side, turning back around so that your back faced him.

“What did you do that for?” He challenged, propping himself up so that he could see your face, resting against your shoulder. “Will you look at me?”

Your head shook, burying your face into the pillow, “you don’t deserve to look at me, no one should be made to look at my face, it’s horrible.”

He frowned, hearing you be so critical of yourself tore him apart, but he knew why you did it, the marks of acne you carried had been the downfall many a time when Yugyeom wanted to be close to you, but he never really understood why.

“I always want to look at your face, it’s my favourite.”

“That’s not true, that’s impossible.”

He sighed, “it’s not impossible at all, can you just turn around so I can see you, please? I want to properly be able to tell how beautiful you are.”

“Fine,” you huffed, turning around to anxiously face him.

“See, beautiful,” he chuckled, placing his hand back where he had it before, “I won’t ever stop telling you beautiful you are, so get used to it.”

“You can try, but I might not listen.”

---

Masterlist

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sayonarasanity · 4 years ago

Text

Reverberation

Chapter II

link to first chapter

link to AO3

“It’s dead.”

Levi’s unimpressed, vacant gaze observed the lifeless body of the bird lying in her palms. He held the door to their house with one hand and wore a sweatshirt over a pair of plain sweatpants. His straight, black hair was combed.

“Seems like it,” he confirmed, voice flat. Then looked at her eyebrows rising, but he didn’t seem quite curious. “What do you want to do with it?”

“Bury it, obviously,” Hanji replied. “I found it on my way here. I thought it was just wounded at first, but its heart isn’t beating.” She lifted the little body to her ears one more time, lips curled downwards, waiting to hear the sound of a silent heartbeat. She wore gloves so she didn’t feel its body temperature, but no doubt, there was not even a flutter of a beat coming from the body, it was dead.

“The snow is too thick,” Levi spoke as Hanji lowered her hands down with the bird. “You can’t reach the earth. Even if you do, you can’t make it halfway without having your hands get frozen.”

“But I can’t possibly leave it out in the snow like this, Levi!” Hanji objected, overcoming the urge to tap her foot furiously on the ground. She didn’t want to be seen as a grouchy child.

“Hanji, you’re supposed to be smart.” He folded his arms, locking his eyes with her. “Do you really want to take this risk?”

“You’re exaggerating,” Hanji frowned, responding to his gaze. “I won’t lose my hands. I am wearing gloves.”

“What a great protection,” Levi murmured sarcastically, then turned his head over his shoulder and shouted, “Mom!”

“Coming!” Levi’s mother responded from somewhere inside the house. Hanji supposed it was the kitchen. Delicious smells were coming to her nose. As Hanji had learnt from her earlier visits here, Kuchel was a great cook and a beautiful, kind woman. Much like her son’s opposite.

“Hanji!” She smiled at her widely when she came in a hurry, drying her hands in her apron. Her long, black hair was tied as a ponytail, and her blue eyes were shining warmly. “How are you darling? Oh, why are you standing there? Levi, why didn’t you invite her inside? Come on in, honey.” Before Hanji could say anything to reject her, she caught her arm and drew her inside, closing the door behind them. The house was warm, and she immediately felt her cold face lulling with it. “I’ve just made an apple tart. Take off your coat and come to the kitchen with Levi.”

Hanji was dizzy, listening to her rapidly putting one sentence behind the other. Kuchel didn’t notice the dead bird which was still lying in her palms and it was Levi who in the end stopped Kuchel just as she turned her back to get back to the kitchen.

“Mom,” Levi called. “Hanji wants to bury a dead bird.”

Kuchel looked at Hanji, with a somewhat surprised expression plastered on her face. She blinked her eyes a few times, “Oh,” she said as if she was trying to digest what Levi had just said. And when Hanji pulled her hands upwards, she finally saw the bird. “Oh!” she said again, as realization sunk in. “A bird!”

“A dead bird,” Levi deadpanned.

“I want to bury it,” Hanji said, after glaring at Levi for a few, intense seconds for good measure. “I can do it on my own though. I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”

“Ah, but Hanji, darling,” Kuchel sighed, she seemed like she was trying to find out ways to reject her without breaking her heart. “The snow—”

“I know,” Hanji interrupted. “But I don’t care. I can’t leave it on the cold like this.”

Kuchel’s eyes were soft as the summer clouds while they were looking at her, and there was a little smile on her lips. “You’re such a sweet, sweet child.”

“No, mom she’s such a weirdo,” Levi presented his own idea, his arms were still folded, and he looked bored out of his wits.

“Levi!” Kuchel chided him, her soft look was replaced with a frown. “That’s a very rude thing to say to your friend.”

“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” he defended himself.

“Yeah, it’s okay Mrs Ackerman,” Hanji nodded. “He knows he is as much of a weirdo himself too. So, I don’t really get offended when he says that.”

Kuchel was apparently confused, but she was most probably convinced about the fact that her son and his possibly the best and only friend were a pair of odd, little human beings. “You can just call me Kuchel, sweetheart,” she said, at last, smiling again.

Hanji spared a moment to think, swirling the name inside of her head until she was satisfied with how it sounded. Then nodded, beaming at her. “Okay.”

“Good,” Kuchel reached with her hand and patted her hair which was covered with a green knitted hat.

“What are we going to do about the bird?” Levi asked, emphasizing each word. They both turned their gazes on him to see him impatiently tapping his foot on the floor, one eyebrow high above the other.

“We’re going to bury it, of course,” Kuchel said before Hanji even opened her mouth to give a response.

“Haa?” Levi was shocked, eyes widening and his foot stilling its motion. “Mom! I called you here so that you could talk some sense into her!”

“What’s so senseless about burying a poor, dead bird?” Kuchel asked innocently and Hanji smirked, barely stopping herself from bouncing but she did throw Levi a triumphant look, making him even more irritated.

Levi was still more or less astonished, so he just stared at his mom as she removed her apron and folded it neatly. “Come on, little grump, go change your clothes. Put on something thick and warm. Wear gloves and a scarf.” Then she turned back to Hanji and winked. “You wait here, honey. We’ll be back in ten minutes.”

She walked away to climb the stairs and Levi finally moved, murmuring “Women,” under his breath as he followed his mother upstairs. Hanji just grinned, then leaning her back to the wall she knelt to a sitting position. “You’re going to have a funeral little bird,” she whispered and smiled woefully at the inanimate, still body of the dead animal inside of her palms.

The three of them walked or rather struggled to walk on the thick, soft snow. Some parts were frozen which made the whole journey even more tough and risky. Hanji tried her best not to fall face down, which would also result in her crashing the innocent bird. But she put far too much focus on not dropping the bird rather than not crashing it so when she absentmindedly stepped on an iced part of the pavement, her supposedly sturdy boat slipped, and she lost her balance.

A panicked yelp escaped her mouth just as the world moved around her, she saw the blue, wide sky rather than the white, snowy road and readied herself for a harsh landing as her body locked itself and did nothing to save her from her situation.

A gloved hand caught her collar. “Watch out, idiot,” Levi hissed, drawing her close to him. She stared at him, blinking her eyes in shock as she was trying to decipher the events of the last few seconds.

“You saved me!” She exclaimed, eventually, looking at Levi as if he was the embodiment of a Marvel hero.

“Yeah, thank fuck for that,” he winced visibly as he checked his back to glance at his mother, face painted with pure fear but much to his relief Kuchel was way too occupied by trying to just walk so she didn’t seem like she had noticed anything. Also, she was far behind them, so she hadn’t possibly heard her son swearing. Levi sighed, relieved then glared at her. “Give me that damn bird.”

“Language,” she whispered harshly under her breath. Levi swore a lot for a boy in his age. Hanji thought it was most probably his uncle’s fault who lived with him and Kuchel. Levi didn’t accept it though.

“Give it to me,” he repeated. “Before you break your ass.”

Hanji scowled and almost pouted in annoyance but put the bird in Levi’s open palms. Her arms had been hurting as a result of carrying the bird in the same position for too long anyway. She shook them on her sides, wrinkling her face as she felt the pain spreading from her joints and shoulders to the rest of her arms. Then her hazel brown eyes turned to the bird again, lying motionless in Levi’s palms this time.

“Poor thing,” she sighed.

Levi observed it for several seconds, his sharp blue-grey eyes distant and thoughtful. Hanji wanted so bad to know what was going on inside of that raven-haired head. “We all have limited time,” he said at last.

Hanji hadn’t been expecting to hear that, so it caught her off-guard. It sounded way too gloomy coming from an eleven-year-old boy. And Hanji wondered if there was any specific story or event to push him to utter these words now. She wanted to ask but didn’t think he would answer. Talking to him sometimes made her feel like she was preying on a gazelle, trying to be as cautious as possible with her steps as to not scare and made it run away.

“Yeah,” she agreed for now, as another bird flew past above their heads, fluttering its wings and twittering as if it was lamenting for the dead.

They buried the bird under a big, old—ancient in fact—tree which was located in a park near Levi’s house. It was indeed hard to dig up the snow first and earth later. They had to take turns and rest every now and then for some blood to reach their fingertips. Hanji had taken her hat off and lied the bird on it, ignoring the fact that they were going to put it under the cold earth anyway. And everything was okay until they covered it with brown soil and then white snow.

After that something started to tickle her nose like she was going to sneeze. Then her eyes followed, they were also burning, and her lips curled downwards again, and she pressed them together as a gulp shaped in her throat and then pat—

Her vision was blurry but not because of the tears, but because there was snow on her glasses and her face was icy wet.

“Don’t start weeping like a baby.”

She heard Kuchel gasping in shock but couldn’t look at her for her eyes were tightly shut. Slowly, she took her glasses off then wiped her face in a deadly calm. Then used the tissue in her pocket to clean her glasses, she had taken it with her before she left home for she knew her glasses were going to get foggy one way or the other.

And then she put the glasses back on, in slow motion, cautiously.

Now that the world around her became full HD again, she could clearly see Levi’s sly smirk as well as Kuchel’s wide, bewildered eyes. “So, you wanna play it dirt, Ackerman?” she asked as she gathered snow in her hands and formed them as a big, fat ball.

“Afraid, Zoe?” Levi asked back as he copied her, making a snowball in a respective size.

“You wish.”

They threw the balls at the same time but both of them dodged the attack. Hanji immediately got up, already forming another ball in her hands. She took quick steps away from him and just as Levi stood up from where he was sitting, she pulled her arm back and threw the ball. And it hit him right on the head. His shoulders rose to his ears as he tilted his to the side. She was laughing victoriously when suddenly she tasted snow in her mouth. She spitted aggressively and had to swallow some of it, frankly, it didn’t taste that bad. Then she wiped her mouth with her sleeve, “Ugh, you little—” she grunted and crouched down again.

After that, it just became a vicious and bloody snowball fight. Neither of them was backing down, despite Kuchel’s warnings like, “Levi don't throw it to her face, you’ll break her glasses,” or like, “Slow down you two. You will get sick.” They didn’t listen to her though. Hanji was having so much fun, even though Levi was not holding himself back in any way. She had a ball to her face her head and chest countless times and they were very harsh ones at that. Yet she had also managed to hit Levi from the same places just as harshly. Her face was hurting from smiling and from the cold, but she was hot inside the coat and her sweater underneath.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Kuchel said, with a stricter tone this time. “Levi—”

A snowball to her face cut her sentence in half. It was her son who had thrown it, and she was solid as a rock for a second. Then she wiped her face and smiled viciously just like Levi did at the time. And Hanji thought the mother and the son had never looked this much alike.

“Oh, you’re so on, my boy,” Kuchel said and kneeled.

The three of them played snowball for the rest of the afternoon. Their laughter, screams and sometimes painful groans filling the air until they were exhausted to death. But as she laid down on the snow breathless, with a grin attached to her face as if it had no intention of leaving and watching the quiet movements of the clouds, she thought with all sincerity that it was worth every damn second of it.

Kuchel invited Hanji to their house after their intense snowball fight. Hanji accepted because she was too tired to walk back home and too hungry to gather enough strength in a short time. They took off their coats and wet socks. Kuchel helped them hanging the clothes on top of the heater. Hanji had to borrow a pair of socks from Levi and was very amused to see they were Sponge Bob themed.

“Don’t say a word,” Levi had stopped her coldly when he saw how her face had brightened up.

Currently, Hanji was sitting in their kitchen, as Kuchel was preparing hot chocolate for her from her own special recipe and Levi was making tea for himself. Hanji found it weird for an eleven-year-old boy to be so fond of tea but then again everything about Levi was kind of weird. She was getting used to it slowly.

“Good evening my dear family.” A man around his thirties stepped inside the kitchen, removing a black, bowler hat from his head. He was a tall and slim man, wearing a simple white shirt and black trousers. His eyes were a dark blue, and his hair was long, combed back.

“Welcome,” Kuchel greeted him shortly with a smile on her face before going back to her work. Levi merely tched quietly upon his uncle’s appearance then went on preparing his dear tea. “You left work early?”

“Yeah, left it to Traute to close for today,” he said as he left his hat on the kitchen table and then he noticed her. “Hello, little one.”

She beamed at him. “Hello, Kenny!”

Kenny took the seat across from her and reached the inside of his shirt pocket. “How’s your father?” he asked as he took out a packet of cigarettes.

Her father was a doctor working in the town’s hospital and Kenny had a little market at the centre of the town, so they more or less knew each other. “He is fine,” she replied, putting her elbows on top of the table. “Trying to get on well with furious patients.”

Kenny laughed, “Everyone is sick for no reason nowadays,” he said placing a cigar in between his lips.

As if she had sensed it, Kuchel turned to Kenny and slapped his hand, causing the tobacco to fall from his mouth. “Don’t smoke in front of the children.”

“Alright, alright,” Kenny grunted. “Geez.”

A great opportunity to fill them in, Hanji thought. “Did you know that smoking causes %90 of all lungs cancer deaths and %80 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?”

“What language are you speaking, kid?” Kenny snorted as he put the cigarette back in its packet.

“She is warning you, scientifically,” Levi placed a tray next to Hanji’s elbows then put two plates of apple tart on top of it. “Not that you would understand. Also, you have no will power to quit it anyway.”

“Hanji, don’t you have anything to say to that brat?” Kenny asked, waving his hat in Levi’s direction lazily. “He is drinking tea like he is sucking his mother’s milk. Don’t you think he is too… small for that?” He travelled his gaze around Levi as if trying to emphasize his point.

Hanji opened her mouth to respond just as Levi said, “At least I am not going to die pathetically from a lung disease because I inhale poisonous smoke.”

“You little scumbag,” Kenny scoffed, and his face crumpled in discontent as he looked at his niece.

It caused a slap from Kuchel to his shoulder this time. “Talk properly to my boy. He is just a kid.”

“A kid! Hah!” He exclaimed then put his hat back on his head. “Right. I don’t like kids anyway.” Then he looked at her. “You are an exception though little Einstein.”

“I’m surprised you know about Einstein,” Levi murmured, and it made Hanji laugh drastically, but she put a hand to her mouth right after. Afraid that she would offend Kenny. Yet he didn’t even spare a glance at her.

A muscle moved on his jaw. “I am sparing you for the sake of my sister, brat. Don’t push your luck.”

“I am not afraid of you.”

“Oh, you should be—”

“Enough!” Kuchel interrupted, putting two cups one of which contained hot chocolate and the other black tea on the tray. “Leave the kids alone, Kenny,�� she warned and looked at them. “You can go to your room, love. Call me if you need anything.”

Hanji nodded and slipped from her seat as Levi took the tray in his hands. They were about to leave the kitchen when they heard Kenny saying, “Leave the door open.”

“Kenny!” Kuchel yelled, while Levi simply rolled his eyes and Hanji merely blinked at him. “They are just children!”

“For fuck’s sake,” he whispered under his breath as they left the kitchen and started climbing the stairs.

“I don’t understand,” Hanji said, confused.

“Never mind,” he sighed.

They sat on the floor, leaning their backs to Levi’s bed and ate their tarts which were as delicious as they smelled. Hanji swayed left and right unconsciously, savouring the taste on her tongue and hummed happily. “Did your mother learn to cook like this in Heaven?”

“No,” Levi replied shortly.

Hanji rolled her eyes sipping her hot chocolate.

It had been almost five or six months since they have met. Ever since that night on the roof of a half-constructed building their friendship started to build up. Throughout the days they met in the same place, Hanji had told Levi about everything she knew about the sky and space. The names of the constellations and stars, the planets and black holes. Levi listened quietly, so quiet that it nearly made Hanji suspicious that he wasn’t interested in or didn’t care about anything she had told him. But then he had started asking questions and even saying the names of the stars and the facts about the planets with her. Talking with him eased her mind and also thrilled her in a way that only her books managed to do. Unfortunately, they didn’t go to the same school, but the nights spent on that roof and days on his or her home had been an almost miracle like an escape for her.

“Your uncle is nice,” Hanji blurted suddenly when the silence stretched far too long for her liking.

“He wasn’t,” Levi replied, unexpectedly, taking a long sip from his tea.

Hanji stared at her, curiosity climbing up to her eyes. “What do you mean?”

He looked beyond his window, watching the pink sunset and its reflection on the cream, tulle curtains. “He used to have a gang.”

“Oh?” She sounded way too excited without even meaning to. “Do you mean… like… an illegal gang?”

“Are there even legal gangs?”

Hanji shrugged. No idea.

“Whatever,” Levi put the teacup back on the tray. “He was actually the leader of the gang and, I heard that he had done some very… dirty things.” He clicked his tongue. “Useless man.”

It was quite rare to see Levi willingly talking about his life, so Hanji held her breath to not make a sound so that he wouldn’t get distracted and stop.

“He had been to jail before I was born. During the same time my dad passed away, I guess. Mom said she had to take him out of jail with the money she had put aside and with some money left from my grandpa.” He played with a stray string poking out of his t-shirt absently. “She said, he had deserved a second chance.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I am kind of angry at him for being a pain in the ass for my mom but also, you know—I am glad that she wasn’t alone when I was born. And he is not that bad anymore, though still an asshole. But that’s a given. He was born like this; he cannot help it.”

Although his words carried an air of heaviness and severity, Hanji couldn’t help but laugh at his last sentence, the cheerful sound dispersed the gloomy atmosphere. And she was glad that afterwards, his features had relaxed and soften albeit barely, it was there still.

“I like spending time with you,” she said, suddenly.

He was taken aback, eyes widening slightly. “You do?”

“I thought it was obvious,” Hanji replied. “You are my only friend.”

He snorted, amused. “Same.”

She smiled and drank from her hot chocolate which was losing that specific quality gradually.

“I like spending time with you too,” Levi said after a while. It was so quiet and tender that Hanji thought she was daydreaming. Then, when she looked at him surprised, she had seen the slight pinkness on the tips of his ears.

Her smile turned into a toothy grin. “I know,” she said. “It’s very obvious.”

He smirked in return.

Levi insisted on walking her home because he didn’t trust her in walking properly in the limited light now that the sky was somehow dark, and the stars started winking and blazing from their respective places above.

“Say hi to your mom for me,” Kuchel said as she was seeing them off.

“Sure,” Hanji waved at her. “Thank you for today, Kuchel!”

“Anytime, darling.”

Walking at night was slightly harder because the area of the town Levi’s house was located didn’t have great lighting. They opted to walk on the side of the road rather than the frozen pavement. Cars were sweeping past them, and it had started to snow again. The wet asphalt reflected the yellow streetlamps lined side by side, and little snowflakes melted the second they met the ground.

The boy walking in front of her reached behind with his hand as they were about to cross the road. And he didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. Hanji took her glove off from one hand and reached forward, grabbing the steady and warm hand stretched out for her and her mouth curled upwards. And the wet road reflected the blurry image of a raven-haired boy and a green hatted girl, holding hands on a cold, frosty winter night.

---

Hanji’s father was a tall man with a bearded, straight face and brown, slightly balding hair. He wore thick-framed, rectangle glasses. Behind them were a pair of soft-looking, hazel eyes and above them were dark, bushy eyebrows. They were raised, creating wrinkles on his forehead as he looked up from his book when the two of them entered the room.

“Dad,” Hanji gestured to Levi with her hand. “This is Levi.”

Her father looked over the boy, glasses slipping down his nose. It was the first time Levi meeting him, despite the times he had been here within almost a year they had known each other, Levi had never come across with her father.

“Nice to meet you, Mr Zoe,” Levi, the ever-respectful boy that he was, greeted her father in such a nice manner that Hanji was shocked. So, he did manage to be decent at times, ha! One of the things that she most liked about Levi was that there was no end to getting to know him. And just like it was impossible to count the drops on a river, she thought a day couldn't come in which she didn’t learn a new thing about him.

“Levi, huh?” Her father closed the book that he was reading and adjusted his glasses. “The infamous Levi that my daughter keeps nagging about?”

“I don’t nag about him,” Hanji objected, feeling her cheeks getting hotter. She knew introducing Levi to her father was a huge risk.

“That’s me,” Levi confirmed. And Hanji nearly pinched his side.

To both of their surprise, Mr Zoe let out a loud, uproarious laugh. “So, you are not imaginary after all, ha kid!” The man went on laughing, leaving Hanji stunned and annoyed and very much embarrassed.

“Dad!”

Worse thing than her father laughing like he had been watching videos of people tripping down, was that Levi snorting right beside her as if he had no shame.

“I am sure she has imaginary friends as well,” Levi pointed out, his face giving nothing away, except for a vague tremble on his lips.

It made Mr Zoe laugh even harder. He was beating his knee basically at this point.

Hanji glared at his head. You are so going to pay for this.

He responded to her stare from the corner of his eyes. Challenging. Bring it on.

“We’ll be at the attic,” she informed her still laughing father while feeling quite betrayed by her own biological parent. His father was a more obnoxious version of her so to say. He had this habit of laughing at things that were not relatively funny to others.

“Sure, sure,” the man replied, wiping the tears from his eyes with his index fingers. “Nice to meet you, Levi.”

Hanji dragged Levi out of the room before he could answer. Then pushed him towards the stairs while also putting her hands on her shoulders. Then positioned herself securely, a mischievous smile placed on her lips and she jumped on his back.

“What the hell, Hanji?” Levi snarled, sounding both astonished and frustrated. They stumbled left and right dangerously at first until he grabbed her legs on instinct to find his balance. Hanji grinned.

“Revenge.”

“Are you fuc—” He gritted his teeth, his hands gripping her legs painfully. “You can’t be serious.”

“Of course I am.” She patted his shoulder and then wrapped her arms around his neck. “Come on, Captain Levi! Carry me up!”

“God-fucking-dammit.” The swear left his mouth in a sharp, but a quiet whisper. Hanji laughed. Levi grunted, scoffed and swore under his breath as he began to climb up the stairs one by one, cautiously and slowly. They were almost half-way done when Hanji remembered something very important.

“Wait!” she exclaimed. “Wait! No-no-no-no-no! Stop, Levi! Stop! Stop!!!”

“What!” he snarled.

“Get back down,” she urged his shoulder. “I need to take something from the kitchen.”

He inhaled heavily like he had swollen a curse so big it would probably ruin her life lets it come out. Then, without uttering a word, he turned around and started to walk down, quietly. Hanji could feel the angry tension radiating from his body as if he were an atom bomb ready to destroy everything at any second. For that, she kept quiet as well. There was no need to provoke him even more. Just until they entered the kitchen. It was a success for her standards anyway.

“To the fridge,” she ordered, and Levi obeyed, still silent. Hanji opened the door of the fridge and searched the shelves knitting her eyebrows in concentration while doing so yet, couldn’t find what she was looking for.

“It’s not here,” she pouted. “Come on. Over there.”

Levi inhaled again through his nose, possibly absorbing yet another curse. Hanji pointed to the kitchen cabinets and Levi walked closer to the counter. She searched the cabinets until she found what she was looking for inside one of them and at the top of the shelves.

“Hold still,” she warned before putting one hand on Levi’s shoulder to lift herself up a little bit. However, she must have put so much pressure that Levi hissed between his teeth. “Almost there,” she informed, as her fingers touched the items at least and she pushed them closer with her fingertips. She bit her lip, and wrinkled her face, a sweat drop slipped down her temple, and just as she pressed a little more on his shoulder and Levi let out a whopping, “Fuck,” she grabbed two packets of chocolate milk, holding them tightly between her fingers and let out a loud, huge sigh of relief.

“Mission completed,” she said, as she wiped the sweat away from her forehead with her sleeve, and her body relaxed. “We may return to the head-quarters.”

“I am going to kill you,” he said, darkly, but carried her out of the kitchen, nonetheless.

“Maybe I’ll let you,” she laughed, boisterously. “Come on now! Up, up, up to the attic!”

It took a little too much effort on Levi’s side and a little too much fun on Hanji’s until they made it safely to the attic. She turned the light on after they climbed inside one by one and gestured the room with her hand.

“Ta-da!”

Levi observed his surroundings, trying to seem like he wasn’t interested but Hanji noticed the sparkle in his eyes when he took everything in. “You have a tent here.”

“Yes!” She jumped a little on her feet. “A book tent!”

It was indeed a book tent. She had piled the old books on top of each other, creating a short wall of two sides. Another line of books was behind them to support, and to avoid an avalanche. A wide and thin, navy sheet was spread from one end to the other. It was also a cave of sorts. Somewhat small, and just a little bit vulnerable. Yet, it had walls made of books and a floor made of a star-map.

Oh, right.

“Let’s get in,” Hanji grabbed his arm and pulled him forwards. “You’ll love it.”

They crawled inside under the sheet. The atmosphere here was dim and darker because the sheet was filtering the light, but it only increased the mystery and made it even more dreamy and so very exciting.

“Is that a star-map?” Levi asked, looking at the dark blue blanket they were sitting on.

“Yep,” she approved, nodding. “My father bought it for me as a birthday present. And I thought it would be cool to use it like this. It feels like I am sitting on top of the stars.”

Levi snorted. “Four-eyes, that’s kind of creepy.” He shook his head, and a ghost of a smile flew above his lips. “You’re a goddamn genius.”

She beamed at him, and her cheeks almost hurt from smiling so wide. She felt like there were fireworks in her eyes, and while she didn’t think it took that much of a brain to spread a blanket on the floor the fact that Levi complimented her caused the fireworks to explode in her stomach and their lustre reached up to her eyes.

“Orion,” he pointed with his finger and traced the lines all the while saying the names of the constellations he knew. “Taurus, Hyades, Auriga, and… what was that Pse- Pso- Poseidon?”

“No,” Hanji giggled. “Pleiades.”

“Right,” he chuckled.

Hanji opened one of the chocolate milk and gave the other to Levi. “Sorry, I forgot to prepare tea for you.”

Levi eyed the milk, sized it up for good before taking it from her hand. “Whatever.”

His grumpy face was hilarious as he put the straw in between his lips and drank the milk almost pouting. He didn’t have much tolerance for sweet things, unlike Hanji. Chocolate milk especially was her religion.

After they finished their chocolate milk Levi played with the straw absent-mindedly until he said, “Hanji?”

“Hmm?”

“Why did your father say that?”

“Say what?”

“That I wasn’t imaginary after all?”

“Oh,” she laughed, nervously. “It’s because I don’t really have any friends. I wasn’t joking when I told you you were my only friend.”

“But we are in middle school now,” he raised a brow. “Even I made some friends in class.”

“That’s great!” she said, but she would be lying if she said she didn’t envy him just a little bit.

“You’re actually outgoing,” he went on. “Why?”

She sighed. They were going to have that conversation then. Levi’s grey eyes watched her seriously, and with caution. He was giving her all his attention, focused on the words that were about to leave her mouth. Hanji thought that was the actual reason why they were so close. Because when no one cared to hear a word from her Levi listened to her telling stories of gods and goddesses, heroes and villains, ancient people and ancient folks, tales of love and tales of hatred. When no one bothered seeing her colours, Levi sat down in front of her and let her paint everything she ever wanted.

“They think I’m a weirdo,” she confessed. It wasn’t that hard though. She wasn’t even getting that offended anymore.

“I think you’re a weirdo too.”

“But you mean it in a good way,” Hanji pointed out. “They don’t.”

At that, his eyes turned as cold as an iceberg. Hanji swirled her index finger right next to her head. “Like I have a screw loose here,” then she tapped her temple. “I too thought that it would change in middle school, but it didn’t. Kids are cruel wherever you go.”

“Assholes,” Levi grunted. “Fuck it, Hanji. You’re obviously too smart for them.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I don’t care. I have you,” she shrugged and ignored the disturbing thought that Levi had other friends now and it was just a matter of time for him to get bored of her and then she would be alone yet again—

“Don’t worry about it,” he told her, and she twirled her head in shock. Had he just read her mind? “I won’t leave you alone.”

Oh, God, oh, no. She was about to tear up. Her nose started to itch again as if she was about to sneeze, and she did sneeze too or pretended to so that she could send the tears back to their places.

“Gross,” Levi said in disgust.

After that, they laid down and Hanji talked and talked. Telling him about pheromones and how some animals used them to trick their preys and a neurological condition called synaesthesia which was basically seeing colours on intangible things. Levi asked some questions and hummed every now and then to indicate that he was listening. Sometimes he made sarcastic comments like, maybe you’re unintentionally releasing trick pheromones, four-eyes, or comments like I think you are a rainbow basically when he couldn’t think of only one colour he thought he would see on her. Hanji told him he was black and blue. And he said how smart of you, I didn’t know the colour of my eyes and hair.

If I am a rainbow then that would make you the sky, genius. She told him and he didn’t say anything back.

She put her head on his stomach and he placed his arms under his head. “Hanji,” he said.

“Yes?” She asked feeling curious about what he had to say.

“You’re a cool weirdo.”

She laughed and smirked up to the navy sheet. The light flowing through the little holes on it made her feel like she was watching a starry night. “You’re not so bad yourself, clean-freak.”

now

She is dead.

Dead. How simple it is for one’s tongue. How easy to say, to summarize and fit a whole life in only one syllable, in mere four letters. Years are hidden within that single word, memories lost behind its dark shadow, loved ones buried under its cold weight.

Kuchel is dead. The woman who is always so full of life, so beautiful to exist in such a cruel world, so good to face its dreary winters and so gentle to deserve the hard slap of fate is gone now. No longer breathing. Just like that. But no scratch that. Not just like that , death never is. The living will never know, and the dead will never be there to tell.

Hanji holds her head with her hands, elbows resting on her knees, she leans forward. What now?

“How is he?” she asks, her heart already aching for she knew the answer beforehand.

“That’s… actually the reason why I called you, kid,” Kenny says. “I can’t reach him. I haven’t seen him since the funeral and couldn’t find him anywhere.”

Panic is quick to boil her blood. “Where might he be? Maybe he left the city?”

“He wouldn’t. Not yet,” he sounds thoughtful. “But I don’t think I can find him. To be honest, I am afraid I would make things even worse.”

“Why?”

“He needs someone who knows him,” he replies. “And there is no one left who knows him better than you. Kid, I know it’s too much to ask, but that brat is the only family I have left. I don’t want to fucking lose him too.”

“But how…”

“Just think about it,” Kenny cuts in, he sounds tired Hanji realizes and she feels her sorrow doubling itself just by hearing his voice. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to come, but just think about it at first. Then let me know your answer.”

Levi. Hanji cannot even imagine the pain he is going through on his own. He had always been so fond of his mother, always so protective and caring even though he was trying to be subtle about it, it was never hard to tell. He must be devastated.

“What am I going to do?” she groans.

“What you need to.”

Hanji shrieks and jumps in her place as she looks at the person who has just talked with wide eyes. “Mr Jeager!”

Zeke adjusts his glasses and throws a leg over the other. Then inhales through his nose. “Such a lovely night, isn’t it?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for the bus,” he replies simply.

“No, I mean—” she sighs, obviously she had been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed him sitting next to her. “Whatever.”

“So,” he continues. “How many days do you want off?”

“Huh?” She blinks her eyes at him. She didn’t remember mentioning him about asking for a day off.

But Zeke doesn’t look at her, instead, he searches the road to see if there are any busses on the way. It spares her a moment to consider his offer and she realizes that once Kenny asked her the question, she had already made her mind.

“About a week please,” she says, without hesitation. “I need to help an old friend.”

#levihan #hadn't posted the second chapter here so here it goes #the third one is on its way #hopefully #levihan fanfiction #levi x hanji #levi x hange

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itswildwinters · 4 years ago

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Seeing as it’s the holidays for me, I’ve had time to read (and re-read) quite a lot of fics, and I felt like sharing some of them with you. It’s my first time doing a fic recs post, so I hope it’s useful and not too much of a mess, especially since it’s quite long!

If you do end up reading any of these stunning fanfics, don’t forget to leave kudos and comments to show your appreciation!

Enjoy!! ✩

✩ baby blue by @soldouthaz (39k)

summary: Harry Styles takes his time coming out to greet them. Louis only knows what he’s seen on file and what he’s heard them talking about, but he fully lives up to the image he had inside of his head.

He saunters down the front steps of the farmhouse in his Levi’s, brown snakeskin boots curving out from underneath the denim Louis’ sure he had specially made. He’s got on a plaid button-down tucked into the jeans because of course he does, curls spilling out from either side of his cowboy hat around his sunglasses and country-tan skin.

“Harry Styles,” he drawls, extending a hand to Louis’ manager, “Pleased to meet ya’ll.”

I loved the dynamic between Cowboy Harry and Celebrity Louis. What I also really enjoyed about this fanfic is that the depiction of farm life was accurate. The way the story is written really gets you into action, so that you can picture everything quite well through the Louis-centric third point of view.

✩ The Space Between by @lads-laddylads (39k)

summary: Harry Styles is the alpha rockstar who can’t sleep and doesn’t know why. Louis Tomlinson is the omega PhD student who helps him figure it out.

A/B/O fanfic. I loved how Alpha Harry acted upon seeing Louis for the first time. You can really feel the tension and attraction through the screen, which is one of my all time favourite things. The way their relationship builds up is a delight, and Louis is a darling and so courageous in the end with how he deals with Harry, even when Harry is being an idiot. The connection they have at the end... just wow!

✩ fae series: Boiling Blood Will Circulate and Warming The Air Of The World by @crazyupsetter (42k and 3k)

summary of Boiling Blood Will Circulate: The wait isn’t long before something starts rustling in the bushes. Harry takes aim, squeezes the trigger, body moving unconsciously. They’re motions he’s done a thousand times before, and his body knows how to do it without the input of his brain now. It’s what makes him such a good shot.

He misses. The shot misses.

Something howls in the woods, a pretty clear indication that Harry hit it, but there’s no telltale sounds of a big body dropping, no animal charging out at him to take him out before he can finish the job.

Something does turn and run, though. “Fuck,” Harry spits out, scrambling to his feet and slinging the rifle back over his shoulder, giving chase. He’s not going to lose this hunt.

The trail of blood goes on longer than Harry thought it would. He doesn’t know how long he runs for, but his muscles are burning, chest heaving with exertion, until the trail just - goes dead. No more blood, just like that.

“Fuck,” Harry says.

I am a sucker for fantasy/supernatural fanfics, and this one is absolutely incredible. The suspense in there is well-built, and the dynamic between Louis and Harry leaves you hungry for more. There’s a lot of blood in this series, so if you’re not into that you should be careful, but for me the author really puts into perspective how complicated and different from mankind faeries are.

✩ With a whimper by @kitundercover (132k)

summary: Dystopian AU. Louis has been alone for too long to remember how not to be, and Harry has too much to worry about to deal with a scrawny, wild, stranger.

---

The man grips his arm tightly. “You’re not going to say anything.” It’s not a question.

Louis shakes his head, his body twitching.

“Fine.” Large green eyes survey him before letting go. “It’s cold. Take this. Wear it.”

Louis can’t help another flinch as the man’s long scarf is wrapped around his tender neck, it’s still warm. He touches the soft material. “Thank you.”

The man bears his teeth. “Don’t thank me. Don’t ever thank me.”

If you are into dystopian works, and doesn’t mind violence, blood and gore, this fic will make your day! I loved the world-building, the way it’s written, how Louis’ character is portrayed and how strong he is. I just couldn’t stop reading once I began. The secrets of the plot, the fear of the characters, and the curiosity that sparks within you as you read contribute into making this fic a unique one that’s so worth the read.

✩ Soaked In The Blood Of Angels by @crazyupsetter (40k)

summary: The boy looks drugged, caught between a man who’s almost twice his size and a girl who looks like she wouldn’t even break a sweat snapping him in half despite her small stature, eyes closed and mouth open as he pants, arching up between them almost as if he’s trying to escape.

Normally, Harry would ignore it and continue on his search for someone to drink from, someone who wouldn’t mind his sharp teeth and rough hands. He’s seen plenty of boys like this one, ones who picked the wrong playmates, and if he stopped to rescue every single one of them he would have died from thirst a long time ago.

This one, though. There’s something about this one, the sheen of his bright blue eyes as he blinks slowly, looks around as though he doesn’t know where he is, the weakness of his hands as he tries to push the girl off of him and make his escape.

Another magnificent creatures/fantasy fanfic. The writing is absolutely exquisite, and I love how hard to get Louis is. The violence between Louis and Harry might bother some people, but to me it really spiced up their relationship and made Louis and Harry, who are creatures of gloom, particularly interesting and even real, somehow.

✩ Play Pretend, Find a Friend? by @angelichl (40k)

summary: They had to pull back for air. Louis surveyed the guy’s face, in awe of his blown pupils and sharp jawline, the way their shared spit glistened on his lips.

“Hi,” he breathed. He blinked, and came back to himself a little bit, blushing at his own boldness. “Sorry. Is this okay?”

The stranger removed his right hand from the curve of Louis’ waist in order to cup his jaw, tilting it up to the angle he desired. He pressed their lips together, murmuring, “Definitely.” And then he kissed harder.

When Louis sees his ex-boyfriend kissing a random girl at a party, he acts out of blind jealousy. He kisses the first guy he can find. It turns into a thing.

Where do I start? I usually don’t like fake-relationship AUs since most of the time Louis and Harry are famous, which make it less fun to me. But in this fic, they’re students and Harry is a frat boy while Louis is a nerd, but it’s not cliché or anything. It’s actually so well-written and the relationship between Louis and Harry takes time to progress which I absolutely love, seeing as I am a sucker for slow burn. Harry is so sweet as a frat boy, and Louis is an angel. Really loved reading this.

✩ at your fingertips by @risthebrave (27k)

summary: He finds himself wrapped up in sheets in bed on Thursday night, staring at the familiar name on a new story that was posted the night before.

His fingers twitch, ready to hit play and surrender to his impulses, saving the regret and turmoil for later.

And still he hesitates, internally praying that he’ll somehow gain the strength to exit out within the next few moments before he inevitably loses his patience and hits the button.

Three…

Two…

One.

Play.

Or, Louis really should have seen it coming.

Besides being well-written, the whole plot is quite original. I absolutely loved Louis in there, especially since all of his insecurities made me relate to him. He’s so sweet, and I’m glad Harry was there to get him to open-up and see how amazing he is. I had so many moments of secondhand embarrassment haha, and they made the fic all the more amazing. Honestly, what really struck me in this fic is how the author managed to make Harry such an amazing person, and how intrepid Louis is while he learns to overcome his insecurities.

✩ Nothing But You On My Mind by @absoloutenonsense (83k)

summary: Louis Tomlinson is a PR manager hired to improve the image of royal bad-boy Prince Harry Styles. Unfortunately for him, that means being faced with the Prince's constant innuendos, incessant dirty jokes, and relentless flirting. Louis just wants to make it to Princess Gemma's coronation; once she's crowned Queen, his contract is up and he never has to see the Prince again.

It was such a joy to read this fic. Even though Harry pissed me off on more than one occasion, I took great satisfaction in how Louis ignored him or replied with one of his witty comebacks. The plot twist was just awesome and Harry’s stubbornness ended up being very much welcome.

✩ push you out, pull you back in by @behisoneandonly (31k)

summary: Harry grips his head in his hands helplessly, yanking the base of his dark curls and squeezing his eyes shut.

“Fucking hell,” he whispers, knuckles turning white from how hard he’s gripping the strands of his hair.

“Hey, hey,” says the petite stranger in front of him, quickly standing up. “Stop, you’re hurting yourself.”

–

Or Harry hates feeling vulnerable. Louis is set on breaking through his tough facade.

Oh my god, this was truly wonderful. The size difference made me go crazy! The smut was just wow too. What really made this fic so incredible is how protective of Harry Louis is, and how Louis seems to just... understand Harry despite his issues. Jealous Harry also! I loved it. Moreover, Louis’ character is literally perfect in this.

✩ thinking about the t-shirt you sleep in by @absoloutenonsense (52k)

summary: Harry's alpha fraternity donates to a local thrift shop (because of Liam's latent crush on a cute beta in his lecture). Louis' financial situation (and confusing omega instincts) lead him to make some interesting fashion purchases. Lots of pizza, feelings, and not-really-lying.

I’ve read and re-read this. I love Louis and Harry’s dynamic, and how they solve their troubles in the end. Harry is such a sweet soul, and Louis deserves the world!

✩ Canyon Moon by @eeveelou (40k)

summary: For as long as Louis has remembered, he has been promised to be mated to Harry, his best friend and the future pack alpha. But Louis’s heart belonged to the forest and to the hunt more than he could ever imagine it belonging to Harry.

Then Harry’s father dies in a violent accident, and Louis’s future alpha disappears on the wind.

An A/B/O Lion King AU

What really drew me in is that I’ve never before seen a larry fanfic on the Lion King, and honestly? It was so beautiful. The way the author made the plot of the cartoon go along with the A/B/O world was truly surprising, and absolutely interesting to read. Also, when Louis is introduced to the modern world? It’s such a sweet part of the fic.

✩ a trail of honey through it all by @yvesaintlourent (27k)

summary: The boy in front of him, well really, the man in front of him, was like something out of a confusing wet dream. Built, tall, tan and muscular, his skin glistened with sweat after a long day of working outdoors with his hands. He was wearing a cut up old American football shirt, the bottom hem was torn and the sleeves were cut off to the point where the t-shirt was really just a loose tank top. The shorts he had on had clearly been full length jeans at one point, and were now just crudely cut off above the knee. His white socks were pulled up too high on his calves, and the brown work boots he had on were old as fuck, the leather peeling along the edges of the soles. Curly brown hair stuck out from the edges of his backwards snapback, and there was a smudge of grease wiped along his brow bone. The smattering of hair along his jaw proved that he hadn’t shaved in a week or two, the hair growing in thicker across his upper lip and around his chin. His sinfully bowed mouth was pink and plump, and Louis was suddenly hyper-focused on the way that he chewed at the toothpick stuck between his lips. He looked like he needed a shower. Louis wanted to lick him.

Or, the TPH fic we’ve all been waiting for.

Trailer park Harry? HELL YEAH! The concept has been going on in the fandom for so long that when I saw someone finally wrote it, I was genuinely excited. And I wasn’t disappointed! The writing is wonderful and the way Louis and Harry grow closer is just so sweet. Loved it!

✩ The Healing Song series: The Healing Song and The Wedding by 2204 (111k and 3k)

summary of The Healing Song: Louis was carrying the large stuffed elephant like it was a baby, it’s trunk hanging over his shoulder and down his back and it’s front legs were resting around his neck, like it was hugging him. Said elephant was a present from Louis’ close friend Steve, who had thought Louis needed something to hug on bad days and had gifted him with a stuffed elephant the size of a one year old.

Steve had been right. Some days Louis did need something to hug, and this elephant was as good as anything.

Louis was having one of the rougher days. The harmonious state of the anxiety free life of a fearless Louis had ended the week after he met with Harry. It ended as abruptly as it had started. It was like pushing a button. Lights out. Almost as if the universe said “You’ve had your fun, crazy one, now go be sick” and slammed the door in his face.

Or where Louis is a single father of two, suffering from PTSD, and Harry is there providing soulmatey and loving support while he heals the wounds of past abuse.

God, this fic I swear! This made me cry, laugh, scream... this is a roller-coaster of emotions. It’s quite a hard fic to read, because it deals with past abuse and trauma. And it’s even harder knowing this story is based on real life events that the author went though. But the way it’s written, the way Harry helps Louis through his struggles and issues, it’s so beautiful and inspiring.

✩ Sunrise and Pixie Dust by @moonyblouie (14k)

summary: Harry's taking a walk at sunrise in the forest he knows like the back of his hand when the wind starts blowing, the sky turns pink, and golden glitter starts to fall from the sky. He’s not sure about what’s happening, but when he comes face to face with a gorgeous winged-creature, he can’t help but be immediately mesmerized.

Or an AU in which Harry finds himself crossing the borders between two worlds.

I loved this, the smut is so hot!! But the end... I really hope there will be a sequel! But other than that, the way Louis is written? Wonderful!

✩ Weightless by @smittenwithlouis (25k)

summary: He hopes that Harry still thinks of him. God knows Louis thinks of him every day.

Or: Harry is the best dragon racer the world has ever seen and Louis is an almost-vet who feels like he is carrying the weight of the world.

This was... just amazing, honestly. I loved loved loved every time Louis interacted with dragons, I could picture it and it’s just so so sweet. The way Louis is concerned about Harry’s safety, and Harry’s will to make Louis’ life better, to give him the freedom he deserves... it’s just beautiful.

✩ The Blood of Love by @mugglemirror (25k)

summary: Harry is a nurse and Louis is a painting worth more than a thousand words. As desire and darkness encompasses him, Harry has to learn the secrets of Thorne Hills manor before he succumbs to the mystery that surrounds him.

I absolutely loved this! The plot, the writing, the suspense, the secrets... everything was on spot and left me yearning for more. The atmosphere really makes the reader completely engrossed into what’s going on, and the end doesn’t disappoint. Dark fics have always been something that I enjoy reading, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. Just wow!

✩ Latibule by @quelquesetoiles

summary: Louis had worked in the infamous resort placed in the median point of all worlds for longer than he could remember. He went through everyday with a soul-crushing emptiness filling his mind, going through the same routine over and over again. Despite all the happenings around him, his soul never wavered, his emotions stayed superficial, and nothing took his breath away anymore.

Nothing, except the intoxicating smell of lavender and the contemplating green eyes that came along for the ride every now and again. His heart always seemed to wake up full force whenever those pretty lips formed around even prettier, yet empty promises, and he felt the magic sizzle in his bones again only when contact was made between the divine body and his own deceivingly normal one. He hated it for the fact he really didn’t.

Or : A Spirited Away AU of sorts where Louis just wants to heal and be left alone, only for all his plans to be destroyed by the hands of an infuriating British God.

I have read this at least three times, that’s how good this fic is. I am a sucker for mythology, like truly, and Louis and Harry’s dynamic in there had me screaming! Jealous Harry is the best thing, and the semi plot twist at the end made my heart jump. But besides the universe we readers are diving into, it’s also the writing that’s left me pleasantly drunk. The words flow together perfectly, at after each paragraph you just long for more. Also the pet names!!! Just beautiful.

✩✩✩

If there’s any mistakes, please let me know!

#fic recs

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random-imagines-blog · 5 years ago

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Prescription (Viktor Krum x Reader Oneshot)

Requested by: Anonymous Wordcount: 2634 Summary: While in the hospital wing, you befriend the visiting celebrity Quidditch player.

Being the kid who was constantly sick was not fun at all. You missed out on fun experiences like Hogsmeade because you went outside without your warm hat on and caught a chill immediately. If you were to go out in an attempt to have fun in the winter, you had to wear the whole combination - hat, mittens, scarf, coat, long johns AND a heating spell or else you’d end up spending a week with the sniffles, missing class. It was only the beginning of your seventh year when you fell sick for the first time, only a month in. A first-year that you were showing around sneezed on you. Like snot, mouth open, uncovered, right onto your bare arm. No amount of hand sanitizer was enough for you to get the germs off, and the next day, here you were, in your pajamas, sitting at the Hospital Wing with a thermometer sticking out of your mouth. But you weren’t alone in the Hospital Wing - oh no. Madam Promfrey had sat someone beside you while she went and tended to a prank by the Weasley Twins gone wrong. Viktor Krum, famous Quidditch player with the face and body of a male model, was right next to you with a sprained ankle.

Madam Promfrey had given him a pain relieving position until she had an open minute to do the quick spell that would undo the sprain. He grimaced when he took it, and made a disgusted face as he set the empty bottle down on the counter. You chuckled, moving the thermometer around with your tongue, which caught his attention. Crap. Here you were in your button up pajamas, which were grey with pink bunnies on them. Why bunnies? You had no idea, but they were warm and they were the most comfortable items of clothing you owned and the best thing for these awful hospital visits.

“I had to take that one a couple of times, it’s awful, isn’t it?” You said, once he managed to catch your eye. His own lit up as he realized what you were saying, and he continued the conversation.

“It iz,” He said with a nod. “It taste like - rat piss.”

That made you laugh again, almost choking on the thermometer. That got Pomfrey’s attention and she walked over and took it out of your mouth. She checked the results with a sigh. “Another fever, y/l/n. I might as well get your name engraved in your usual bed.”

“No potion for me this time?” You said with your best pout, the one that usually worked on your friends and your parents. But the nurse had seen it time and time again.

“You cannot rely on magic all of the time, it’s not good for you, you’ll build up a tolerance.” She scolded. “You’ll just have to ride it out the natural way. Don’t look at me like that, you’ll be back in class in three days.”

“And spend my last year behind on school work, again.” You sighed. You looked over at Viktor, gave a weak smile, and got to your feet to be lead to your usual bed. She was right, you might as well put your name on it.

“Vait - you are staying?” Viktor followed, limping on one leg. Once you were situated on the bed, you looked at him with your head tilted.

“That’s what happens when you get sick a lot,” You said with a half-smile. “If you’re worried, I always turn out alright - eventually - and I don’t think that I’m contagious.”

It took Viktor a moment to translate what you said into his head. He opened his mouth to say something else, but Pomfrey noticed that he had gotten up from his chair. “Sit down, Mr Krum! I said that I would get to you in a moment!”

Swinging into action, Viktor hopped up onto the end of your bed, sitting down with his feet flat against the floor. His back was entirely straight, and he looked at Pomfrey like he was waiting for further instructions. You were amazed at how disciplined he was, though it made you giggle to see the nurse’s angry face, though he had done as she had asked. She sighed dramatically, in the way that she always did when the Weasley twins came in, and did a quick spell on Viktor’s leg. “There, you should be good as new now.” The look that she gave him very much showed that she was waiting for him to leave now.

He stood up slowly, lifted his once sprained ankle, and wiggled it in the air before deducing that it was indeed fixed. He gave Madam Pomphrey a curt bow of the head, which caught her by surprise. “When is - um-” He smacked his lips, thinking of what to say. “Visiting?”

“Visiting hours?” She asked. “Until seven o’clock - sharp.”

“Ahh, very good. I visit.” He sat back down on your bed and gave her a dazzling smile. The nurse didn’t seem very affected by it, just tutted in a ‘very well’ manner then went to check on the rest of her patients. He looked back at you, and his grin turned more shy. “I am Viktor Krum.” He introduced.

You said your name back to him and he repeated it to make sure that he got it right. You liked the way that your name sounded in his thick Bulgarian accent. It made it sound more ... tough, almost. “You don’t have to stay and visit me, I’ll be fine,” You assured him, in case he felt some sort of obligation.

“I want to,” He said, seriously. It seemed easier for him to be serious than to smile, but you didn’t mind. Even while straight-faced, he was incredibly handsome. It was just the prescription that you needed, though Madam Promfrey didn’t order it. “You get better faster with company, my mother says.”

“Smart woman,” You smiled. He kept you company until it was time for him to leave for dinner. He talked about Quidditch, slipping into his native every language every once in a while. Though you didn’t understand him when he spoke Bulgarian, you liked the way that he grew enthusiastic with hand motions and everything. You talked to him a bit about some of the Quidditch games that you had seen, though you weren’t much of a player. You liked the sport though, and the World Cup had made you change your favorite team to Bulgaria because you admired how they played together. “Thanks for staying with me,” You said, when he got up to leave.

“I come see you soon.” He gave you a more curteous bow than he had given to Madam Pomfrey, leaving you smiling as he departed. You couldn’t wait to tell your friends about how you had become friends with Viktor Krum while in the Hospital Wing! No longer could they complain about how you missed out on everything because you were always sick. The doors closed and you settled comfortably against the pillow, preparing yourself for the rest that the hopefully quiet night was going to bring you. Though hard to tell if it was going to be that peaceful, since the aged Weasley twins were still arguing only a couple of beds away.

True to his word, Viktor came to visit you each day that you were in the hospital. You were beginning to understand that it was an escape for him. Nobody in here stared at him or approached asking for an autograph. You did your best to treat him like a normal person, though it became difficult because you realized that you were increasingly falling for him. There was a constant flush upon your cheeks and you couldn’t fully blame your illness for that. You were feeling better at an increasing rate though, and perhaps it was like his mother said, the company was helping.

You were released shortly after Viktor left, when Madam Pomfrey did some tests and figured that the flu was entirely out of your system, and you were good to return back to your dormitory. You rushed back and greeted your friends with big hugs, and loved returning to your own four poster bed. As you laid there at night though, you wondered how things were going to work with Viktor. Was he still going to want to see you when you were healthy? Was he going to pretend that he didn’t know you outside of these visits? It was a bad idea to fall fast, you realized, and said to your friends. Half of them agreed with you while the other half told you that he wasn’t just going to stop seeing you now, not after visiting you every day.

You didn’t have a choice except to wait and see how things were going to go the next day.

In the morning, you put on your uniform for the first time in a while. The tie gave you problems as it normally did, but your friends were there to help with a quick tie spell. “Are you excited for a normal breakfast again?” One of your friend asked as you went down one of the moving staircases to head to the great hall.

“So excited,” You said, feeling your stomach growling. “All I’ve been able to eat was oatmeal and dry toast. Bring on the pancakes!” You rubbed your hands together, thinking of a high stack of food, doused in syrup.

“Good morning,” A heavy voice said, clearing his throat as you walked inside of the Great Hall. You looked over your shoulder to see Viktor standing just inside the large doors. In his hand was a single rose, though it was a rather large size, like magic had flowed through the stem rather than just water. You could feel eyes on you - not just from your friends next to you, but from the students sitting at the tables.

“Good morning,” You said, looking into his dark eyes. His jawline was to die for, and the facial hair that he had seemed to contour it to look even better. You remembered from when the other students came here that first night that the Drumstrang men sat with the Slytherins most of the time. You were not in that house, which was why the Hospital Wing was your first meeting with Viktor - it was a little shocking to see that he wasn’t there now. “Are you not going to have breakfast?”

“I am,” He said with an affirmative nod. So straight to the point, that was one of the things that you liked about him. “I vas vaiting for you.”

“Oh, that’s really very sweet,” You said, smiling widely. You couldn’t help but look back at the flower, then at his eyes. He held it out to you, and you took hold of the stem with your fingers. He didn’t let go. Your skin was brushing against his.

“This for you,” He said, finally letting go of the rose. “Good to see you feeling better.”

“It’s great to be out of that Hospital Wing,” You nodded. “Though I will miss our visits.”

“Can I join for breakfast?” He asked, looking past you to your friends who were waiting. They quickly grabbed onto each other’s arms.

“We forgot something-” One started.

“- at the dormitory!” Another finished.

“We’ll go get it now - see you in class!” The first one said again, and they dashed out of the Great Hall, shooting smiles over their shoulders at you. You shook your head at how obvious they were being, but they were still the greatest friends that you could have asked for.

“It looks like I’m free,” You said, chuckling. Viktor offered you his arm and you took it as he walked you towards your table. There was some free space close to the teachers, since most students didn’t like the idea of Snape or McGonagall eavesdropping on their conversations, so you two sat there. Well, rather, you sat down, then Viktor jogged around the table so he could sit across from you for easier conversations.

He first inquired about your health, making sure that you were okay. And even then, he didn’t seem to believe you until you made it through the meal without coughing or looking pale. “So why did you come to the hospital so many times?” You asked the question that had been on your mind for so long.

“I vanted to see you,” He looked surprised that you asked such a thing. Then he leaned in closer, saying something quietly so that no one else could hear. “Did you not vant me to see you?”

“No, no, I mean yes, I wanted to see you,” You stumbled over your words. “You came to see me more than my friends did. I was just asking because we didn’t know each other.”

“But we do now.” He smiled as he piled eggs onto his plate, as well as a handful of bacon. You supposed that looking like that required a lot of protein so you said nothing, only got your own breakfast together.

“You’re right, we do,” You said. It was hard not to think about the fact that you were friends with THE Viktor Krum, though when it was just the two of you, he didn’t seem like a Quidditch star. He was surprisingly down to Earth.

The two of you ate together in comfortable silence. You let the rose lay beside your plate so you could keep admiring it whenever you went to take another bite. It was one of the nicest gestures that you had ever received.

“So Viktor-” You started at the same time that he said your name and cleared his throat. “Go ahead,” You smiled, resting your hands on your lap once you have finished eating.

“You’ve heard about ball?” He questioned. Your heart started to beat faster as he had mentioned that. Word had even gotten to you in the Hospital Wing that there was going to be a grand ball to celebrate the tournament, despite the fact that the winners hadn’t even been chosen yet. There was no such thing as a secret in Hogwarts. Some girls had already started to order their dresses.

“A little,” You admitted.

“You - go with me?” His voice piqued at the end, as if he were nervous that you might reject him. You were glad you didn’t have food in your mouth when he asked that, for you surely would have choked. You picked up the rose and twirled it between your fingers, breathing in the hefty scent.

“I’d love to,” You smiled. “As long as I’m not in the Hospital Wing when it actually happens. I’m a bit clumsy and I get sick a lot so-”

“I be-” Viktor stopped you, putting his hand up as he thought about the word. You waited patiently as he thought hard for a moment, the word seeming to be on the tip of his tongue. When he finally got it, his whole face brightened up. “Prescription! Medicine!”

You were beaming so hard, you just hoped to Dumbledore that you didn’t have any food stuck between your teeth. You nodded enthusiastically, speechless for once. He reached over the table and took hold of your hand, rose and all, and squeezed it.

Perhaps being sneezed on was the best thing that could have happened. You’d have to send that first year flowers.

#Viktor Krum #Viktor Krum x reader #Viktor Krum oneshots #Harry Potter #Harry Potter oneshots #requ #request #oneshots #viktork

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simp-for-spencer-reid · 4 years ago

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Sugar with a Side of Coffee- Ch. 13: Purple Hyacinths and White Orchids

Chapter 13: Purple Hyacinths and White Orchids A/N: I’m sorry in advance Masterlist

Cate awoke the next day with a headache from drinking so much wine. Her alarm was chiming through her phone and it felt like the sound bounced between her ears. Pressing her palm into her forehead to create a pressure that wasn’t her headache, she let out a large sigh as she sat up in bed. It was her mistake to keep drinking with Spencer’s friends when she knew she had to work the next day. Even though she was paying for it today, she had a really fun night at Rossi’s.

Spencer had driven Cate back to her house last night. Instead of the usual comfortable silence, Cate was blabbering the whole ride in Spencer’s car. Not only was she the chattiest Spencer had ever seen, she was also the touchiest. Not always touching him, but fiddling with the radio, opening all the compartments to see what was inside. A wine-drunk Cate was brazen and not nearly as quiet as she normally was.

“Want to know my favorite flower?” Cate said out loud to Spencer, while rummaging through the pockets of his suit jacket that she was still wearing. Spencer glanced over to her.

“Of course.” He smiled at her. Every few seconds, a street light would shine an orange glow in the car, and Spencer swore this was the most beautiful he had ever seen her.

“It’s Asters. I like all colors but pink would be my favorite I think.” Cate started to take off her shoes in his car. She was struggling with the small buckle on the heel. “Now it’s my turn to ask you a question.” She sat back up, defeated by the small metal buckle. There was a silence as she thought of what to ask him. “What’s your middle name?” She decided. He had just pulled into her parking lot.

“Walter.” He quickly said, before getting out and walking around to open her door.

“Spencer Walter Reid.” Cate tried his full name out. She took Spencer’s outstretched hand and stepped out of his vehicle. She eyed him up, repeating his full name again. “Yeah, that seems about right.” She interlaced their fingers.

Spencer thought that the elevator would be their best option to get Cate safely to her floor. She dug in her clutch for her keys and passed them to Spencer to put into the lock. The two walked into Cate’s apartment just as Shrimp was walking past the hallway with one of the little toys Spencer had gotten him. Cate sat on the bench in her foyer and extended a leg to Spencer.

“Please help.” Cate stuck her bottom lip out. Spencer grabbed her ankle and his nimble fingers just barely struggled with the buckle. He laughed and motioned for her other foot so he could take the other heel off. When Cate stood up, Spencer admired the height difference between them. He could tell Cate was getting tired by the way her bubbling conversation faded. She slid his jacket off, holding it out to him. In the soft light of the hallway, Spencer could see her freckles that peppered the top of her shoulders.

That night was the first time that Spencer had seen her room. It suited her. He pulled back her black and white comforter. Cate laid down, still in her dress, getting settled in. Spencer kissed her forehead and gently took the bobby pins from her hair. He rested another yellow throw blanket over her body. On his way out, he gave Shrimp a scritch and quietly shut the door behind him.

“I feel like we haven’t worked together in forever!” Marta said loudly. Cate walked into The Empty Mug with her sunglasses on. She scrunched her face.

“Why must you be so loud?” Cate closed her eyes, pausing in her step. Marta chuckled.

“Hungover on a weekday? You’re becoming quite the rebel, Catherine.” Marta was putting the last of the chairs down. “It’s getting colder, my parents were thinking of retiring the cart for the season.” Marta informed Cate.

“Aw, I’m gonna miss my cart!” Cate was walking to the back room to put away her things and put on her apron. Like clockwork, soon after Marta flipped the sign on the door from closed to open, Spencer walked in.

“Hey, Sweater Vest, when are we gonna get a visit from Morgan for a change?” Marta joked with him, starting a pot of coffee. Cate came out of the back, her face lighting up when she saw Spencer.

“How are you feeling?” Spencer laughed. He had moved so he was standing in front of her. Cate brought a hand to her temple.

“Oh, you know, dealing with the aftermath of your friends. Remind me not to try and keep up with them again.” Cate laughed. Spencer shifted his weight from heel to toe.

“Would you like to go to the new Italian restaurant on Jefferson street later tonight? Like a proper date?” Spencer looked hopeful. Cate’s smile grew.

“I’d love to.” Cate nodded. She was mentally picking out an outfit already. The end of her shift could not come fast enough. As soon as Spencer mentioned Italian, Cate was thinking of an alfredo dish with bread sticks. Cate felt like she was back in high school, giddy like a schoolgirl for the first real date she’s had in awhile. She supposed she could count the museum date as a date, but she categorized it as friends, since that was all they were at the time. This time, though, their feelings were aired out and on the table and they were exclusive. That’s what made it a real date.

Cate just about ran home, her scarf blowing behind her as she rushed to her apartment. She showered and washed her hair to fix her hat hair. She shaved her legs, even though she planned on wearing tights. After her shower, she walked to her room in a towel, laying out her outfit she had curated all day. A dark green sparkly dress that had long sleeves. It fell above her knee, so she had black tights to cover legs and a black pair of ankle boots with a small heel. She curled her hair for the first time, managing to only burn her fingers twice. She facetimed Marta to show her the outfit and swoon over this date. Seeing the time, she wondered why Spencer hadn’t been to pick her up yet.

She remembered that they hadn’t decided on how they were meeting. Cate figured she’d shoot him a text and let him know she would meet him at the restaurant. Cate’s nose was red and a bit runny from the walk to the restaurant. The restaurant was all lit up with soft yellow lights and it was everything Cate imagined a real date would be.

Cate gave the hostess both her and Spencer’s names. He had made a reservation under his name in advance, despite the full house and the hostess informed Cate she was the first of their party of two to show up. The hostess led the way to a table for two, in a more secluded part of the restaurant that was more dimly lit and the tables in this area all had candles on their white table cloths.

It had been about fifteen minutes before Cate let some negative thoughts cross her mind. She tried calling Spencer, but his phone went straight to voicemail. Cate was on the second basket of breadsticks, pleading with the waiter for a few more minutes. After ten more minutes, Cate had decided to order her meal, not wanting the reservation to go to waste.

She could barely eat. Half of it was boxed up for Cate to eat for lunch the next day. The waiter had come back, telling her there was already a card on file to pay for the meal. Out of pure pettiness, Cate did something she never usually did. She ordered dessert for herself. A chocolate lava cake was brought to the table. The servers were now sneaking peeks at Cate sitting by herself. She pretended not to notice and picked at her chocolate cake that only tasted like spite. Cate finally gave them her own card to pay and left the restaurant with her leftover box.

She hauled a cab to go home, since it was now dark and freezing out. While she was in the backseat, her phone rang. Spencer’s name flashed on the screen. She wanted to answer and give him hell, but she left it for voicemail. She chuckled bitterly to herself thinking of Derek already chewing him out- wherever they were. It’s not like he would tell her what state they were in or where they were headed. Her phone finally stopped ringing, and a new voice message notification showed.

“I am so sorry. I know I promised you a date tonight. What I did was inexcusable. I’m on the jet and I’m an hour and a half out. Can we talk?” Spencer’s voice was rushed with embarrassment. Or was it guilt? After she texted Spencer to meet her at her place the taxi pulled up to her building’s entrance. Cate paid and got out of the car.

She left her box on the counter. She wanted to stay in her outfit so Spencer could see what he missed, but she didn’t want to be too mean. A part of her felt bad for being mean. She knew he had a demanding job and she was lucky to have spent so much of Spencer’s free time with him so far. She knew he was out there, getting the bad guys and making the world a safer place. With a sigh, she changed into sweats and a t-shirt and plopped on the couch with some reality show to fill the silence.

A knock on her door made Cate jump from a sleep. She hadn’t even realized she had closed her eyes. She could hear Spencer frantically knock again. His voice coming from the other side of the door.

“Cate? If you can hear me, please let me in.” Cate looked through the peephole. He was still in his FBI windbreaker. Still feeling mad at him, she opened the door just enough so he could see one eye. “Oh, thank god. I really am an asshole. I’m so sorry.” He started to say.

“Just tell me you got the guy.” Cate’s face was still hard with anger. She sighed. “Tell me you solved the case and it was good for you guys.” Cate blinked.

“Yeah. Yeah we did. It was tough, but we did it. That’s why I was late.” Spencer’s shoulders slugged.

“You weren’t late. Late implies that you would’ve showed up at all. You didn’t. I sat there by myself for an hour.” Cate spat. She took a deep breath in, fingers tapping the door while she made a decision. Opening the door wider, she let Spencer in. He followed her to her kitchen, where she took out a plate to reheat the leftover meal she had. “You must be hungry.” Cate said. Knowing that there was one less killer loose made Cate feel less angry at Spencer. She took out two forks and the two picked at the alfredo pasta together in silence. As they ate, Cate moved closer to Spencer, slowly pressing into his side. She was glad he was safe and home.

Spencer stayed the night, the two snuggled up in Cate’s bed. Cate’s head rested on Spencer’s chest, his arms wrapped around her. In the morning, he had to get up before her and he gave her a quick kiss before leaving to go back to the bureau for another day.

On another occasion a few weeks later, Spencer had promised Cate to another date at a different restaurant. Like before, Cate had gotten dressed and ready- waiting for Spencer to pick her up as promised. She facetimed Marta as she waited for Spencer to arrive. They discussed some new baked goods to try at the shop for the winter. She hung up the call when her doorbell rang.

She excitedly opened it, but it wasn’t Spencer on the other side. It was Penelope. She looked guilty, and when she saw Cate, she looked at her with pity.

“I am so sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” Penelope said. In her hands, were a bouquet of Cate’s favorite flowers: pink Asters. Cate sighed. “I can’t stay for long, I have to get back to my batcave, but I also brought you this.” Penelope handed a pint of chocolate ice cream to Cate. Cate smiled sadly at Penelope and thanked her for stopping by.

Spencer’s poor attempt at trying to mend his mistakes was to invite Cate over for more sleepovers and movie nights. He had even given Cate a key to his place. In the cases where he knew he was staying overnight, Cate would let herself in and water his plants for him. Sometimes she would wrap herself in his housecoat. She loved Spending time with Spencer and she was grateful to have met a wonderful male specimen, but she was growing tired of the kisses in passing and waking up alone in a bed where they had slept together. Cate bitterly thought of how she used to be happily single and how she became a wreck of a woman in love.

It happened one day when she came home from The Empty Mug. Spencer had beaten her to her apartment door. She smiled, excited to see him at a reasonable hour for the first time in a while. In his hands, he held a bouquet made of purple and white flowers.

“What’s the occasion?” Cate questioned with a small laugh. “Not that I’m not happy to see you.” She smiled at him, opening the door for the two of them. Spencer brought the flowers to the island. Cate could tell he was nervous. “What’s up?” now she was growing anxious.

“I know these aren’t your favorite flowers. They’re purple hyacinths and white orchids. They both mean sorry. Well, the orchids mean I’m sorry and the hyacinths are more of a please forgive me.” Spencer spoke with his hands, playing with his fingers.

“Forgive you for what, Spencer?” Cate placed her hands on the countertop of the island. “What are you talking about?” Cate shook her head.

“You deserve more than this. I feel awful when I have to leave for a case. You don’t deserve being stood up or waking up alone. And as bad as I want to be what you deserve and what you need, I can’t quit doing what I love. I wish I could but I can’t.” He stammered out. Cate grew angry at him, the floodgates had opened and everything she felt was coming out.

“You don’t get to tell me what I need! You don’t get to decide how I feel!” Cate started. She had come to terms with how their relationship was and how important Spencer’s job was. He was keeping people safe and Cate knew what she signed up for.

“Stop being so understanding, you’re making this harder than it has to be.” Spencer closed his eyes, pressing his thumb and index finger into them.

“Fine. I won’t say that it kills me not knowing where you go. Or if you're safe. I won’t say that it’s been easy, but I've been here, spencer. and I was planning on being here!” Cate yelled. Her throat burned. She didn’t want it to end like this. Tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t figure out why Spencer wanted to end this so bad.

After a silent standoff between Cate and Spencer, he curtly nodded and turned out the door. Cate let herself sit on her kitchen floor and Shrimp finally came out now that the screaming match had subsided.

Spencer was off his game at work. The team had spoken amongst each other and had come to the conclusion that Spencer and Cate were no more. That was a lie, Derek had visited the shop to get the details from Marta. Even though things were tense between Spencer and Cate, Derek wasn’t the only one visiting the shop.

“How long are you gonna let him just sit out there?” Marta asked, peering out the window to Spencer, sitting on the bench across the street from the coffee shop. He had been spending all his free time on this bench that faced the coffee shop. He hated how cold he got on the bench. Winter was in full swing now. He hated even more how things ended between himself and Cate. He tried reaching out to her, but Cate wouldn’t answer her phone or her door when he knocked. He knew he royally messed up.

“Until he freezes” Cate replied, not looking up from prepping a coffee order. She tried her best to ignore him. Talking to him or even seeing him would break her. She knew she would let him back in and she would just suffer again.

“Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to be cold hearted” Marta told Cate. Marta felt bad for the two of them. And not just because all the scheming her and Derek had gone through to get them together had failed, but because they were good for each other. Marta made Spencer his usual coffee order and walked across the street to the bench.

“She hates me doesn’t she?” Spencer asks. Marta sighed.

“I mean, I wouldn’t say hate but maybe strongly dislike” Marta said, trying to lighten the mood.

#sugar with a side of coffee fanfic #spencer reid #spencer reid x oc #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid angst #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction

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atlafan · 5 years ago

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Take it Slow - Part Eleven

a/n: okay this is my first shot at a harry:y/n fic, and it will be multiple parts. y/n had a bad experience with an ex over a year ago, and finally accepts her coworker and good friend Niall’s invitation to go on a blind date with his friend Harry.

(This was a tough part to write. TW: mention of past abuse)

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six Part Seven Part Eight Part Nine Part Ten

Masterpost

Friday night rolls around, Sarah comes over to get ready together at your place after work. You both opt for skinny jeans, something easy to slip into a skate. You find a couple of pairs of thin gloves. Sarah wears a large purple sweater with a chunky scarf. You wear a tight black sweater and a black beanie. Your hair is down and wavy.

“You look so cute!” Sarah says, finishing up her makeup.

“Thanks, so do you.” You smile at her.

“So we’re skating then going to dinner?”

“Yup, I think that’s the plan. Ready for me to order the uber?”

“Yup!”

You meet the boys at the ice rink. Mid-October was still warm enough outside that you didn’t need a jacket, but cold enough to start ice skating at night. You used to come to this rink with your friends when you were in college. You immediately spot the boys. Harry has a long sleeve green shirt on, and his classic black jeans. Only these ones don’t have rips in them yet, must be his new ones. He has a black beanie on as well. Niall is wearing a p-coat and some gloves. You and Sarah walk over to them, both of you hugging your men. You get on your tip toes to give Harry a kiss.

“You look so cute.” He says poking your hat. You swat an arm at him.

“Did you guys get your skates yet?” You ask.

“Nope, we were waitin’ for you ladies.” Niall says.

The four of you go over to the skate counter, giving the woman your sizes. She tells you that you all can leave your shoes with her when you’re done changing. You all find a bench to sit down at.

“I always struggle lacing these up.” You say, struggling to pull the laces tighter. Harry chuckles and kneels in front of you. He laces up your skates for you, and you blush. “Thank you.” He winks at you, and goes to bring your shoes up to the woman. Niall also helps Sarah lace up her skates, and takes her hand to help her up. You’ve never seen Niall on a real date, this will be fun.

The four of you get on the ice. You’re surprised Harry is actually a pretty decent skater, considering he hates dancing so much. He takes your hand, and you take a lap around the rink to get your bearings. Niall and Sarah stay back a bit and take it slow on the ice. Sarah isn’t the most coordinated, but she was laughing, and that’s all that mattered. Harry twirls you around a couple of times, and you can’t but laugh as well.

“I’m surprised by you.”

“Why?”

“You’re so good at skating, Harry.”

“You’re not too bad yourself.”

“I used to come here all the time when I was in school.” He takes your hand as you both continue to glide effortlessly on the ice. You look over and see Sarah on her butt. She’s laughing so hard she’s crying, and Niall is trying to help her up, but he’s also laughing. “I’m so glad they’re having fun.”

“Me too. They’re good for each other, yeah?”

“Oh for sure. Sarah came over to get ready with me beforehand, and she went on and on about how great he is, as if I didn’t already know. It seems like she and I snagged the two best guys in the city.” You skate near the barrier, and lean against it. You pull him close to you.

“And it would appear I scooped up the most amazing girl there is.” He leans in and kisses you. You stand there for a few moments, enjoying small kisses, as your cold noses brush past each other.

Niall finally helps Sarah up, and drops her again. His eyes are wide, looking at someone skating on the other side of the rink.

“Niall, everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just, that guy over there, he looks really familiar. Oh no.” He looks at the man then back at you. But you’re preoccupied with Harry, so you don’t notice anything. The man is skating with a woman, they appear to be having a good time. “Shit, Sarah, we gotta make sure (y/n) doesn’t see that guy.”

“What? Why?”

“That’s Jake.” Niall points in his direction.

“Fuck, you’re right it is.” She looks over at you.

Her heart could break for you as you detach from Harry, and continue skating. You notice them looking at you, and skate over to them.

“Are you guys alright, you’re giving me a weird look.” Harry is right next to you, still holding your hand.

“Um, yeah, we were just wondering when we should go eat.”

“We like just started skating.” Harry says, not picking up on Niall’s signal.

“No, we know, we were just discussing when we should leave. That’s all.” Niall says. Sarah has her eyes glue on Jake. She has lost all the color in her face.

“Sarah, are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

Before she can answer, you feel a woman bump into you. You turn to see her just about to lose her balance before a man catches her. She apologizes to you, but before you can say anything, you lock eyes with the blue-eyed man, and your heart nearly stops.

He gives you a funny look, like he knows who you are, but he can’t place it. Everything happens so fast, you don’t remember rushing through everyone, and yanking your skates off. You can barely breathe, and run in your socks to the bathroom. You throw up immediately, and rip your beanie off. Sweat runs down your face, you stay there until nothing comes up until you’re dry heaving.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to set her off, I only nudged her.” The woman says. Sarah has gone off to look for you. Harry gives Niall a confused look.

“S’not about you, he set her off.” Harry’s eyes grow wide when he puts two and two together.

“Sorry, do I know you?” Jake says.

“No, but I know you. Miss, I don’t know you, but I would strongly recommend getting away from this man. He’s not a good person.”

“Dude, I don’t know who you are, but I think my fiancé would know me pretty well.”

“Honey, what are they talking about?”

“I have no idea.”

“You don’t remember that girl that just ran off at the sight of you?” Harry grabs Jake by the collar. “You ruined her life about a year ago, you don’t remember?”

“Harry, c’mon, this sick fuck isn’t worth it. Hope you two enjoy the conversation you’re bound to have this evening.”

Harry lets go of Jake, and nearly throws him to the ground with the force he gives off. Him and Niall rush to find you. Sarah grabbed your shoes from the woman, and the boys get their shoes as well.

“I can’t find her anywhere, the woman said she practically threw her skates at her. Do you think she went to the bathroom?”

“In her socks?” Niall asks.

“She obviously was in a rush, let’s go check.” Harry says, pushing through the crowd of people.

You’re shivering, sitting on the bathroom floor, hoping you don’t dry heave again. Your face is plastered in tears and sweat. You hear your name being called, but you can’t find your voice to speak up.

“Sir, you can’t go in there!”

“Fuck off!” You hear Harry’s voice, but you can’t call to him. He walks right by you at first, then back tracks. He drops to his knees when he realizes it’s you. “Oh my god, (y/n), I’m so sorry.”

He pulls you close to his chest, and you cry hard into him. Sarah and Niall come rushing in, and go to their knees too. Niall rubs your back while Harry hold you.

“Mate, can you go get the car started, she’s freezing we gotta get her outta here. Sarah can I have her shoes please?” They both nod at Harry. Once he gets your shoes on, he scoops you up, and carries you out.

Neither of you care how it looks. You keep your face hidden in his chest while he carries you out to Niall’s car. Harry sits in the back with you, keeping you close to him.

“Just bring us to my place, lad, I’ll make sure she’s alright.”

“We’re going in with you, Harry.” Sarah says. “She’s my friend too. God, I could punch that guy in the face.”

“Harry almost did.” Niall says. You stay quiet, trying desperately to stop shaking and still your breathing.

Harry carries you up to his apartment, with Niall and Sarah right behind. He puts you down on the couch, and yanks your shoes and wet socks off. He runs over to his dresser and pulls out a pair of thick socks, and puts them on your feet. Sarah sits next to you, Niall kneels in front of you, and Harry sits on your other side.

“Talk to us (y/n).” Niall says. “What can we do?” You take your phone out, and hand it to Niall. “Right.” He takes it and goes into Harry’s bathroom. A few minutes later, he comes back and hands you the phone. “You can see her tomorrow morning.”

“See who?” Harry asks.

“Her therapist.” Harry looks at you, and wipes his eyes. He’s been fighting back tears, but he can’t anymore.

“I’m gonna make you a cup of tea.” He gets up, and Niall follows. “Did you know he lives in the area?”

“Honestly, no. She never mentioned running into him, so I figured he wasn’t from around here. This absolutely fucking sucks.”

“I’m glad you were here. I wouldn’t have known to call her therapist.” He plugs in his electric kettle, and waits for the water to boil. He wipes his eyes again.

“Harry, (y/n) and I have been through a lot together. It’s okay that you don’t know everything about her. You’re here for her, and that’s all that matters. I think she should stay with you tonight, maybe you could bring her to her appointment in the morning.”

“Of course. What time?”

“Eight-thirty.”

“I’m on it.” He grabs a tea bag, and rests it in a mug, adding the hot water. The boys walks back over to you.

“I think she could use a shower or something.” Sarah says looking up at them.

“(y/n), we’re going to leave you with Harry so you can relax and get some sleep. If you need anything, I’m a phone call away.” Sarah nods to Niall, and she gets up.

“Take good care of our girl.” She says before she leaves. Harry sets the tea down on the coffee table.

“Right, let me draw you a bath.” You grab his wrist.

“I’ll shower.” You get up, walk past him to the bathroom, and close the door behind you.

You take the elastic around your wrist, and put your hair up in a bun on top of your head. Tears continue to stream down your cheeks as you turn the water on. You stand in the hot water for ten minutes before getting out. You could kill Jake. You made so much progress, and just like that you’re brought back to that dark hole in your mind. You wrap a towel around yourself. When you open the door you see a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt. You sigh and put both on. Harry is pacing across the living area when you walk into his view.

“All set?” You nod in his direction. “Don’t feel like you need to talk. Your appointment is at eight-thirty tomorrow morning. I’m going to take you. We can leave as early as you want. I don’t know if you want to go to your place first. Whatever you want to do is fine.” You walk over to him. You can’t bring yourself to smile, but you wrap your arms around him. He’s afraid to touch you at first, but he lightly hugs you.

“Can we go to bed?” You say through a cracked voice.

“Yes, of course.” You slowly walk over to his bed, and climb in. “Do you want me to hold you, or not touch you. Either is fine.”

“Please, hold me Harry.”

You turn from him, and he wraps himself around you, pulling you slightly to his chest.

The next morning you hear an alarm go off, it’s seven. Harry rustles out of bed, and you hear his coffee pot begin to brew. You don’t want to move.

“Sweetheart, let’s go brush our teeth, yeah?” You groan, and he stifles a laugh. He knows it’s not funny, but you’re being cute, and he can’t help it. You swing your legs over the side of the bed. You feel sweaty, of course you do. You wore full sweats to bed, and had Harry wrapped around you all night. “Did you want to go home to change, or would like another pair of sweats?”

“Your clothes.” You say as you hop out of bed. You make your way to his bathroom. You brush your teeth together. He goes into his dresser to grab you a fresh pair of sweats, and hands them to you so you can change in the bathroom.

When you come out you see a coffee cup for you on his little island, and coconut milk creamer. You smile for the first time since you were on the ice with him. You pour the creamer into the mug and take a small sip.

“Thank you.” You say to him. He smiles at you warmly. “This tastes much better.” He looks down at his watch.

“We better go, love.” You nod, and take one more big sip of coffee.

You’re silent in the car. You aren’t sure what to say. Your boyfriend was driving you to an emergency therapy session. He walks you upstairs in the building, and helps you check in. Your name is called, and he sits there, waiting for you patiently.

“Hi, (y/n), please have a seat.” Dr. Mara says to you with a slight smile. You sit down on her couch. “You look comfy.”

“Thanks, these are my, uh, boyfriend’s clothes.”

“Boyfriend, hm? Well that’s nice. Was he the young man with you in the lobby?”

“Yes.”

“And Niall is still just your friend.”

“Yes, he’s dating Sarah now.”

“How nice for them. I was worried about you when he called. Would you like to tell me what happened?”

“The four of us were on a double date. Me, Harry, Sarah, and Niall. We went ice skating. The season just started, I was so excited to go.”

“You do love double dates.”

“I really do. Harry and I were off, we were kissing, and I noticed Niall and Sarah giving me a funny look. So we skated over to them. Then this woman bumped into me, no big deal, it was starting to get crowded. She apologized, and I was about to say it was fine and then I locked eyes with him.”

“Jake was there?”

“Yes!” You choke back tears, taking a tissue from the box on the coffee table. “I ran out, and threw up in the bathroom. I ran in my sock because I yanked my skates off. Harry found me in the bathroom. I stayed really quiet. The flashbacks came back, it was awful. Harry carried me out of the bathroom, and they brought me back to his place.”

“And the flashbacks, have you had them this morning?”

“No…but I feel shaken up still, you know? I don’t want this to ruin my progress, I’m afraid of regressing.”

“Don’t let a run in take control. You have worked so hard to move on. How long have you and Harry been seeing each other?”

“A little over a month.” You smile. “Niall set us up. He’s amazing, he’s been so patient and understanding.”

“Does he know everything?”

“Yes, I told him pretty early on.”

“And, have you two been intimate?”

“A little bit. I’ve been nervous. Not so much of him using me, I know he wouldn’t do that, but I’m afraid of having a flashback. So we’ve only done oral things, and I haven’t let him use his fingers or anything like that.”

“I see. Not that you need to move fast with him, but do you think if he’s gentle with you, do you think you’ll have the flashbacks?”

“I don’t know. Sometimes when we’re doing stuff, I start to overthink, and then I freak out. I’m comfortable with where we’re at right now. There are other things I’d like to do with him, but I honestly don’t need anything more right now. He’s spoken up about what he needs from me too, and I think he’s content.”

“That’s good. He sounds like a kind man.”

“He is, I still can’t believe how kind. Like, he gave up his Saturday to bring me here and basically take care of me Dr. Mara. I don’t want this ordeal to set us back.”

“Well, you’ve been through something pretty shocking, so it’s okay to keep taking it slow.”

“What if I run into him again? Now that I know he’s around, it could happen again at any moment.”

“Try to not let him control the narrative. Tell yourself that he can’t hurt you ever again. You are safe. You don’t have control of where he is, but you have control of where you are. Don’t let this stop you from ice skating, don’t let this stop you from going to that side of town. You are a strong young woman.”

“Thank you….I panicked. How do I not panic?”

“Well, running was actually a good first step. We all have flight or fight, sometimes running can help ease the anxiety. Are you still working out?”

“Yes, it helps a lot. I go five times a week, and I love it. I didn’t think I would, but it works for me. I’ve found myself, lately, though not liking being alone. But at the same time, I don’t want to be codependent.”

“On Harry?”

“Yeah. He takes really good care of me, but I don’t want to depend on him. He was gone for a whole week, and I found myself not liking sleeping alone. Something I’ve been so fine with and used to.”

“I think that’s normal when you’re starting a new relationship. Don’t think of it as codependent. Think of it as a new partnership. You each give and you each will take. You may find that there will be times you’ll have to take care of him, and be there for him. It’s okay to lean on people. You clearly have a strong connection with him, that’s okay.”

“While he was gone he gave me a key to his place, so I could water his plants. He only has two plants, and he didn’t take very good care of them as it was. I gave the key back when he got home, and I’ve been thinking lately that maybe it was his way of wanting me to just have a key to his place. But it feels so soon doesn’t it?”

“Whose timeline are you on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you think it feels soon? Because other people might say it is? How did you feel while in the possession of the key?”

“I felt trusted. Like he had nothing to hide from me. I have nothing to hide from him. I want him to have a key to my place too. I guess, yeah, I’m afraid of judgement. He asked me to be his girlfriend three weeks in, and Kate flipped. But Kate also has a lot going on, which I can’t even get into right now.”

“You know, I have met people who have moved in together three months into a relationship, and married just three months after that. I’ve also met people who have been dating for three years and still haven’t moved in together. I think whatever progression feels right and natural for you, is the one that matters most. It’s not anyone else’s life, it’s yours. If it feels right for both of you, I think an exchange of keys is perfectly fine.”

After twenty more minutes of talking you feel much better. Your run in does not need to be a setback. You agree to see Dr. Mara again next week to check in. You wondered why you stopped seeing her, she really was good at her job. She never judged you. You see Harry in the waiting room, twiddling his thumbs, and his leg bouncing. You smile at him when he sees you. He stands up and smile back at him.

“Thanks for waiting.”

“Of course, how was it?”

“Good, really good.” You hook an arm around his waist and walk out of the office. “I’m so sorry if I scared you last night.” You say getting into his car.

“You have nothing to apologize for.” He places his hand on yours and gives it a squeeze.

“I’m coming back here again next week, just for a check in.”

“That’s good.”

“Harry, I think I’d like to go home for a little while and just collect myself, but if you’re free tonight, I’d love to go to dinner.”

“If that’s what you’d like to do, then that works for me.” He smiles at you.

You take a deep breath when you get into your apartment. You grab a pillow from your couch and scream into it.

“Okay, now I feel better.” You say to yourself.

#take it slow #harry styles #harry styles imagine #harry styles x reader #harry styles y/n #harry styles y/n fic #harry styles fluff #harry styles fluff fic #fluff

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anastasiaenache003 · 4 years ago

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It’s all about the magic of the moment...

A/N: Hello there! This is my first post ever on Tumblr, and it’s also a fanfiction, more precisely an entry for #johnicaweek2021 , organised by the specatcular @eileen-crys :) I really hope that I managed to picture in the best way possible the tender relationship that John and Ronnie have. Enjoy!

My Instagram account: @anastasia.enake ( just in case)

Johnica Week day 5- “Memories” and “Nowadays”

Word count: 3087

It was the New Year’s Eve of 2021. The fireworks were now heard somewhere in the distance, with people rejoicing the last moments of a magical night. The whole house on an empty London street has gone quiet; it was dark, only the streetlights’ pale light making its way through the half-open curtains and the only sound that could be heard was the slight, almost intangible crinkling of the wood in the fireplace. On the second floor, behind the closed bedroom doors, the house’s habitants were seeing sweet dreams. Some of them were dreaming about the presents they would get in the morning; some were dreaming about the little holiday they were all going to go on for a couple of days.

The master bedroom, however, was empty. Or, to be more precise, it has been “relocated” into the living room. There were, sleeping on a comfy sofa beside the fireplace, covered in a huge and warm blanket, two old people, a man embracing his wife. On the coffee table in front of them was laying a very old and dusty photo album, which has been left open on a blank page, probably because someone had accidentally turned two pages at once. Or not?...

New Year’s Eve, 1971

“John, where’s the champagne? I thought you had bought it already?” questioned Mary as she greeted the young man in the doorway.

“I’m truly sorry, but I can’t believe that literally NO SHOP was open today in our area”, sighed John as he took off his coat. “It looks like there’s a conspiracy theory or whatsoever, I swear!”

From somewhere in the kitchen popped out a big black-haired head. “Don’t worry, darling, I made sure we would drink as much champagne as possible tonight!” Freddie gave his most flamboyant smile towards the guest. “Please, feel welcome! Mary, would you be so nice to introduce Deaky to our guests?” he added nonchalantly before disappearing in the kitchen.

As sweet and gentle as she was, Mary took his hand and led the way into the big living room where you could already hear the chattering. Freddie has always been keen on spending every holiday in the best way possible, be it Christmas, Easter or even his birthday (he was not modest at all). This year’s New Year celebration, as he and his other three friends formed the group “Queen” and already began on working for an eventual debut album, had to be very special. And extravagant nonetheless. Not that he gathered all London town’s population in his tiny apartment (although he would’ve loved to), but a close circle of good people who knew how to have fun was always welcomed.

When Mary and John entered the living room, John felt a little bit uncomfortable as all eyes were on him instantly. Truth be told, he didn’t enjoy that much big companies, but felt that this evening meant so much for the other three guys, especially for Fred, that he tried his best not to look or sound not at ease. People were approaching him and tried to engage him into different conversations, about music, books or whatever topic was popular at the moment and soon, John’s shyness melted away. As she made sure that everything was alright with the new guest, Mary glanced quickly over the people who were already in the room. She smiled to herself and then disappeared in the hallway.

The party was delightful, in every sense of the word. Soon arrived Brian and brought a whole packet of fortune cookies, “for entertaining purposes”, of course. “What is New Year’s Eve without fortune-telling?” he wondered surprised as Roger, who wasn’t into all kinds of “children games”, took the packet from his hand and gave it a discontent look. “Bri, I know you’re a very kind and wise man, but WHO ON EARTH reads fortune papers on New Year’s Eve? Be serious, no one’s interested in those and-!”. “Nice to meet you too, Rog”, smiled Brian as he shook the snow off his clothes and fluffy hair.” If you wanted us to play games, then we should’ve done “Truth or Dare”, complained Roger,” AND it’s far more interesting, at-”. He was suddenly cut off by Freddie’s yelling from the kitchen:” Not all of us are interested in THAT kind of games, Rog! Let the guy come in and enjoy the party! It’s all about magic tonight, and not about what you had in mind!”

The last phrase was said louder than the previous two, as a few people wandered curiously in the hallway to see what was happening, but soon got back to the rest of the party. Roger rolled his eyes and helped Brian to take his fur coat and scarf off, mumbling something to himself. “Don’t worry, Rog”, Brian teased him, “I guarantee that you’ll have great fun tonight!”. “Pinky promise!” he burst out laughing, not really trying to control himself. “Fuck off!” Roger shot him an annoyed look and punched him slightly in the ribs, but also couldn’t constrain a toothy smile. The two then hurried int the living room where they were welcomed by a burst of applauses and cheesy jokes. Now, the party must have truly begun.

It was already half past eleven when the doorbell rang, to a big surprise for some guests. As neither Freddie, nor Mary, were to be seen to be going to open the door, John has offered himself to do it.

When he opened the big wooden door, in front of him was standing a young woman, a very good-looking woman, dressed in a white fur coat and a white hat. Around her neck she was wearing a bright reddish scarf which was definitely pointing out her elegant look. In her hands, he noticed a few little present bags with lots of different velvet boxes inside, which he immediately offered to help with. But as she lifted her eyes to thank him and to meet his gaze, he stopped abruptly and stared in that astonishing sparkling pair of hazel eyes. His mouth fell open in awe as the mysterious guest slightly shook his shoulder. “Excuse me, sir, are you alright? You look… a bit lost” she spoke and John could swear that the tone of her voice was sending shivers down his spine. It was so soothing, calm and sweet at the same time that his heart began beating faster. He hardly found his words and whispered: “Um… no, thank you… In fact, … I… You… You should come inside, it’s already twenty minutes to midnight and it’s freezing here…” he finally found the force to speak properly as he welcomed the young lady inside.

As he helped her with her clothes and bags, Mary appeared in the long hallway. “Is everything alright with you two?” she wondered grinning at the couple. “Yes, Mary, thank you! This young man has come to help me, we shall come in about 5 minutes to you, guys! Open the champagne!” reassured her the new guest. Mary lifted her brow at what she was witnessing, but then decided not to disturb the two and quickly made her way in the main room.

When John carefully took the coat off the lady’s shoulders and helped her with unwinding the scarf, she stood in front of him in full height. John’s eyes were glued in the very next moment to her appearance. She seemed to be rather shorter than him, considering that she was wearing heels too. Underneath the coat was hiding a splendid tea-length long-sleeved silky dark-red dress with fine dark embroidery on the hem and on the collar. He took in every inch of her astonishing look, especially of what he later considered to be her most precious jewel- her bright hazel eyes, whose shade differed from caramel to apple-green in the light of the lamp.

“You look…” he began, unable to find the right words to describe her otherworldly beauty. “How do I look?” she questioned, smiling widely, which made it even more difficult for John to talk. “You… You look breathtaking!” he witnessed, more to himself, not completely trusting his voice and emotions. At his confession, a tint of blush covered her already rosy from cold cheeks. “I must be honored to receive a compliment from a gentleman like you, then” she bowed her head in response. The sound of her softly spoken voice made him smile in return. “The others are waiting for us; I think we shall go…” she whispered nodding towards the door leading to the living room. Without any further explanation, John offered his hand to the young woman. She accepted it gladly, putting her tiny hand in his and together they walked into the crowdy room. This wasn’t left unnoticed by Mary, who was sitting at the big table next to Freddie and Brian.

As the couple appeared in the doorway, someone poured them a glass of champagne for each, as Mary raised hers for a toast:” My dear friends! Here we are, 15 minutes before celebrating the New Year of 1972! This year has been a tough one, not gonna lie. It had a lot of difficult situations which we are bravely over now. Still, 1971 has brought some delights in our lives, which I will be eternally grateful for. This year has seen the beginning “, she then looked at Freddie and the rest of the band, “of a new musical group, “Queen”! These four guys, who were not afraid to start a band, made their first steps into the big music industry and I hope that, in a year or two, we shall all be hearing their brand-new album storming the charts! Cheers to that!” she cried happily as everybody stood up and clinked their glasses. “Let me have my little word here too, my dear!” exclaimed Freddie, hugging Mary from behind. “I just want to wish you, to all of you, that the new 1972 brings you what you desire the most in your lives, be it love, new friends, money or whatsoever! In other words, peace and love to all of you! Cheers!” he joked and raised his glass, much to the joyful laughs of their guests.

All this time, John couldn’t take his eyes of the mysterious lady who was, much to his pleasure, sitting on his right hand. As Freddie finished saying his toast, John raised his glass to her and whispered so quietly so that only she could hear him:” Happy New Year?”. “Happy New Year!” she responded, leaving a peck on his cheek. John felt vulnerable under her tender gaze. He must know what her name was. It was a matter of life and death. Maybe he wanted to ask her that question, but was interrupted by the joyful cries of the guests who were glued to the clock on the wall- 1 minute and 30 seconds until the new year of 1972. “Open the balcony! NOW!” shouted Roger, desperate to watch the fireworks invading the city’s night sky. Even at 22, he still remained that little child who loved the New Year’s Eve. Who didn’t, though?

The whole party started to crowd the small balcony of Fred’s apartment, waiting impatiently for the show to begin. “Follow me”, the lady leaned and whispered in John’s ear, “I know a better place to watch them.” Making their way through the crowd, the couple got dressed really fast and stormed out of the apartment, giggling. “We must use the fire escape, but quickly!” she added and started to climb it, careful not to slip on the icy stairs. John followed her immediately, paying attention to her movements.

As they got on top of the roof, the fireworks were already blasting in full force, coloring the sky in the colors of the rainbow. London town was glowing. It was a breathtaking view, perfect to spend the New Year’s Eve with someone special. “I’m Veronica Tetzlaff, by the way. But you can call me Ronnie…” she whispered as they were standing close to each other, still holding hands. “Happy New Year, Ronnie” he turned to face her beautiful eyes. “My name’s John Deacon, or Deaky, as the others call me” he smirked. “May I hug you, Ronnie Tetzlaff?”. “Please”, she smiled,” Happy New Year, John Deacon!” her voice now muffled in his shoulder. Behind them, the whole world was celebrating the new upcoming year of 1972. However, a new tiny world has been created, and it was now growing at the speed of light between the two young people.

“Can I ask you one more question, Ronnie?”.

“Yes, John. Ask me anything. I like the way your voice sounds when you talk, really…” she giggled, looking up to meet his gaze and his beautiful smile.

“It might sound too bold from me, and considering that we’ve only knew each other for less than half an hour…” he started, but she cut him off. “Really? I thought I have known you for a whole lifetime…”. At her words, John’s heart skipped a beat. Truth be told, he had heard talking about two people being soulmates. But he never thought he would be able to find his, and that fast, and on such a special night.

“Ronnie, I… May I kiss you?” he breathed out shakily, his face just a few inches away from hers. He could see the fireworks’ reflection in her eyes, which made them even more spectacular to look at. She didn’t say anything, just slowly nodded and smiled gently at him. The next moment he carefully took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. Her lips were as soft as a rose petal and felt perfectly matched for his. He moved his hands to her middle and hugged her tightly while she embraced his shoulders. If there was Heaven on Earth, that particular moment could represent it in the best way possible. However, not shortly after, he noticed that she was sobbing quietly in his arms. “I’m so sorry, Ronnie, I shouldn’t have gone that far- “he quickly started to apologize to her, but she gently stopped him. “Silly, I’m crying because I’m the happiest person in the world! Everything is perfect. You’re perfect” she kissed him back as a confirmation of her words. Freddie was right, the new 1972 has definitely brought something that they both desired in their lives- a true and profound love, which would last over the years, in happiness and grief…

When they returned back in the apartment, it seemed that, curiously, nobody has even noticed their absence. However, as soon as they stepped into the warm hall, they were greeted with a flash of a camera. “Roger! Maybe should’ve waited for us to look more presentable!” John half-shouted, half-laughed. “It’s all about the magic of the moment, so shut up! Plus, you look very presentable nonetheless. I’m talking about you, beautiful young lady. What about you, my fine friend…” teased Roger before receiving a punch in the shoulder from John. “Okay, problems aside, let’s celebrate! It’s the New Year!” giggled Veronica, taking both boys’ hands and running in the living room where the others were cheering and celebrating loudly. Happy New Year 1972…

Everything was just fine, exactly how it should be…

“Do you think it will work out for them?” Mary wondered as Freddie helped her washing the dishes. The apartment was now empty and only the confetti hanging from the chandeliers were bringing back the memories of an unforgettable night. “God knows… But I’m sure they found each other interesting, even at first sight. Do you agree, my dear?”. Mary just smiled to herself. “I hope so…” she added nonchalantly…

The first morning of the new year is always a special morning. The kids always hurry to get their presents under the decorated tree, whereas their parents and grandparents exchange secret knowing smiles and enjoy the happiness and the delight of the little ones.

The old couple sleeping on the sofa woke up before anyone else in the house. “Seems that we fell asleep here” the old woman yawned. “Good morning, beautiful” the old man turned to face her. Her hazel eyes were exactly the same as in that very morning, 50 years ago. Nothing had changed in their beauty. “Young man, you’re staring. How bold of you!” the woman added laughing. The man caressed her cheek, still admiring her eyes that caught his attention a long time ago and hadn’t let him go ever since. “You’re still as breathtaking as on that New Year’s Eve, my love. Happy New Year, Ronnie” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “Happy New Year, John!” she sighed, a feeling of perfect harmony growing in her chest. A couple of cheerful cries were approaching the living room. “Be prepared for the attack!” she laughed before sitting up and greeting her ten grand-children with a warm embrace. “Happy New Year, grandma and grandpa!” they cried in unison. “Happy New Year, our darlings, our sweet-hearts! Now go and open your presents. They’ve been waiting for you all the morning!” she advised them as she and John watched them go and rip off the packages impatiently and with stars in their eyes.

“Grandpa?” asked the youngest one, Mary, “shall we put another photo in your album? I’ll bring the camera, if you want to”. “Hurry up, then, my dear, and please wake up your parents and the rest” John told her warmly as the girl ran upstairs in her room. Soon, she returned with the whole bunch of parents and a camera in her hands. “Now”, she began enthusiastically, “everybody, gather round the tree and I’ll take a family photo. I said NOW, Richard!” she yelled at her older brother who seemed not to like the idea, but obeyed anyway. The whole family, still sleepy from the last night’s celebrations, came together smiling round the decorated tree, with the old couple being in the center of the group. “And now”, the girl warned as she fixed the camera on the tripod and quickly ran and stood at the side of the group so she would appear in the picture as well, “say CHEESE!” and pushed the camera button. The Polaroid came out instantly and showed a happy family on a New Year’s magical morning. A great picture for a photo-album. “It’s all about the magic of the moment” remembered Ronnie and saw John tearing up a little. “Yeah, it’s all about the magic of the moment…”

#johnicaweek2021 #john deacon #veronica tetzlaff #queen fluff #queen fanfiction #newyearseve

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idkthisisjustforfanfic · 5 years ago

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two years too late, chapter t w e l v e

If there was anything in this moment that you hated more than Harry, it was the fact that you’d navigated all the way out to JFK in the rain to accompany your friends back into the city.

Getting there was no easy feat in sunshine--but when the weather picked up and you made the trek on public transit, it seemed a bit too friendly for your current state of mind. Sure--they’d never been here before and maybe the subway system was a bit different from the tube or anything else they’d ridden overseas (rats eating pizza wasn’t unheard of, after all), but it still felt like a lot of effort to bring them all the way back over the bridge and part ways to avoid Harry altogether.

You knew you’d have to see him at some point, but a Friday night after a full week of work left you too tired to deal--especially when you spent the day before (the 14h day of February) using all of your power to not sucker punch any single person who even mentioned love or relationships or any type of positivity whatsoever.

Alyssa and Owen were the only exception--partially. She’d claimed it was too soon to do anything with him, but her tune changed when he happened to have tickets to a comedy show. She flew out the door with a scarf around her neck, promising to bring you any leftovers from dinner before she kissed you on the head.

Everyone else was excited for the wonderful week ahead. Jessie had texted a selfie of the four of them--cheeks pressed together in first class before take off--you responded before you realized Harry was in the chat. Alyssa was begging to see them tonight instead of tomorrow morning, seeing as she’d had many FaceTime encounters but never the real thing! But when Jake informed you only thirty minutes ago that they’d landed, you knew it’d be a while before they got through customs and made their way to you.

So you sighed, shoved your hands in your pockets and tried to ignore the echoing overhead voice of an airport worker. American Airlines Flight 1290 from Madrid: now at baggage claim 7.

But then there was a voice, a tap on your shoulder and you swiveled quickly, a pair of blue eyes and a five o’clock shadow smiled down at you. “Hi--sorry to bother you--are you Y/N L/N?”

A nod--you tried to find words, but confusion took over your tongue. You were used to being stopped by girls your own age--people who read your work or followed you on twitter. Every once in a while it happened to be a guy, but it had yet to be one as attractive as the blond head of hair in front of you. Adidas sweatpants, a backwards baseball hat on his head.

“Yeah, hi--” you pulled a hand from your pocket and offered it towards him. “Nice to meet you!”

“I’m Patrick Martin, I work for Digitize--we’re a social media firm over in Long Island City--I thought I recognized you from your picture on The Scoop.”

“Oh god,” you scrunched your nose, an immediate flood of embarrassment through your bones. “I did not know it was staff picture day and I never wear my hair like that--”

“It’s a beautiful picture,” he laughed, “really.” An awkward beat. “But I just wanted to say hi. We’ve done some stuff with Whitney Hall--d’you know her?”

“Oh yeah, she’s my editor! She’s fantastic.”

“Yeah!” He adjusted the shoulder strap of a duffle bag he carried. “She’s great--I didn’t mean to bother you but I’ll give you this,” he fiddled with his wallet, produced a small black card that had his name, email, and phone number. “If you’re ever interested in growing your online presence independently of a media outlet, we’re here for that.”

You took it in your hands and flipped it over. “Thank you--yeah, I’ll uh, I’ll be in touch.”

“I’d love to take you for coffee or something sometime.”

“Incoming!” A crash to your side, arms wrapped around you before a gap tooth smile was in front of your face, freckled cheeks red from the running she’d done to leave the others behind.

“We’ll get in touch online,” Patrick smiled, his eyes scanning over Jessie as she adjusted the jacket she wore.

“Sorry,” she laughed. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“All good,” he said, his accent American and stark in contrast to Jessie’s. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” you offered a hand again, another smile when he turned and waved goodbye, a nod to your friends who’d undoubtedly cut him short.

When you turned to see them, a grin stretching towards your ears, Jake opened his arms. “Smalls in the flesh--in America--how cool is this?”

“Pretty fucking cool,” Adam answered, shoving past Jessie to wrap his arms around you. “Happy almost birthday!”

“Another two days of being twenty-three!” Bryn took her turn enveloping, she reached a hand up to smooth your hair from Jessie’s crash landing. “Gettin’ old, yeah?”

You rolled your eyes. “Feels that way! You all got through customs that easily?”

“For fuck’s sake, Smalls, don’t say it like they should search us again,” Jake looked over his shoulder, hoping no one would decide to give them a harder time than they’d apparently gotten.

“M’not! M’not, I was just prepared to wait a lot longer.”

“Well we’ve got to get our bags and then we’re all yours!” Jessie offered another grin, taking a few steps towards the carousel that would soon spit out their belongings.

“All Harry’s tonight, actually.”

“Oh god,” she let out a groan, her arms crossed over her chest quickly. “Is this some type of split custody thing? Mom and dad fighting again?”

“Very funny,” you made a face at her, “you’re staying at his cause I don’t have the room--and I’m tired. Worked a whole week, you know. Big story on my hands.”

They didn’t ask, luckily. A shrill noise came from the carousel, it started moving and soon delivered all seven items they’d been waiting for. Four suitcases, two duffle bags. Jake and Adam lugged them off one by one, dropping them by their feet until Bryn pointed to each one. “That’s all of them!”

“Alright,” you said, pulling out your phone. You figured that it’d be easiest to just take the AirTrain over towards the A Train--right up through Brooklyn and home by 9pm. “We’ll take the shuttle thing over here,” you pointed in the direction of the doors, leading them out to a concourse where cars had already lined up for their arriving passengers.

When you crossed the threshold, Adam pointed towards a man with a sign. “Think that’s for us?”

Jessie, Jake, Bryn, Adam, Y/N--a big white board in Roger’s hands.

“Oh thank god!” Jessie immediately moved towards the big SUV--windows so dark you couldn’t see inside.

“What are you doing here?” You tried to hide the disappointment--and anger--in your voice.

Roger offered a smile, clearly unaware of the recent developments. “He said it might be a tough trip back with all of these,” a gesture to the bags by your feet as he started to push them into the open trunk.

“No--we’re taking the subway!” Your feet were planted on the gum-stained cement, hands back in your pockets to protect from the unforgiving wind.

“Not if we have this option we’re not,” Bryn smiled over her shoulder, a look in her eyes pleaded with you to just roll with it. You stood, still, watching as they climbed one by one into the waiting vehicle.

“S’fine--he’s just being nice,” Jake came and tugged at your arm, his voice low enough so the others wouldn’t hear.

“Headed to yours or to Harry’s?” Roger asked, the last of the bag fitting perfectly against the others--Roger had apparently played airport Tetris before.

“Harry’s please!” Jake answered quickly, giving you a gentle shove towards the back row of seats. You did it begrudgingly. You settled in between he and Bryn--too stubborn to admit that the subway would have sucked.

So you listened to them laugh about the fancy toilets in first class--Bryn had tried to eat her weight in peanuts and Adam was asleep before they even taxied the runway. Jessie listed off the things she wanted to do and Jake begged for dinner as soon as you crossed over the Manhattan bridge.

When Roger pulled up to the big glass doors on Greenwich St, you climbed out alongside them, arms crossed as you watched them all try to pull their suitcases from the mountain Roger had built.

“Good?” Jake reached up to shut the trunk after taking one last look. Jessie moved towards the entrance, the doors parting to reveal a hooded Harry, he didn’t even look at you.

“Hi lovie!” Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck, Roger offered a wave before climbing back into the car, promising to see you soon while Harry offered hugs.

“Coming inside?” Adam turned to watch you over his shoulder, a gust of wind blew hair in front of your face.

“M’exhausted--breakfast in the morning?”

“Y/N are you serious? We just flew ourselves all the way over the ocean to see you and you’re going to sleep?”

“What? I just--I worked, I dunno.”

“Come up for tea, at least,” his voice was smaller than the others, a shrug of his shoulders, his hands hidden in the middle pocket of his jumper. Fleeting eye contact, another gust of wind that seemed to kickstart Adam into motion.

“Yeah, tea, Smallsy, come on,” he was the first to make a move, he picked up his luggage and headed for the door, Harry’s eyes still on you.

If Roger hadn’t already driven away--his assumption that you’d also be staying the night only spoke to how out of the loop he was--you wouldn’t have followed them in past Mark, offering a wave before Harry swiped into the elevator.

“This is so fucking fancy,” Jessie giggled, her face only a few inches from yours.

You reached for your phone in your pocket, composing a desperate plea to Alyssa as the lift rose up to Harry’s floor.

Come to Harry’s--stuck here for a while. Pls!!!!

They did the same oohing and aahing that you had done--wide eyes tracing circles around the room. The high ceilings, the hardwood floor, the art on the walls and the rug on the floor.

Harry headed for the stove to put on a kettle, he told you to show them the two extra bedrooms.

“This one has a king so--if Jake and Adam are going to be weird about being in one bed and wanting to build a pillow wall between them, this should be theirs.”

“We already decided to alternate each night between the bed and the couch,” Jake laughed, earning an eye roll from Bryn.

“You’re both fucking wankers--you’re not going to accidentally touch willies in the middle of the night.”

“Girls down here,” you ignored their bickering, flipping on the lights in the farthest bedroom, navy walls and a white duvet.

“M’gonna change really quick!” Jessie dropped a duffle onto the bed, unzipping it when Jake spoke from the doorway behind you.

“Yeah I’ve gotta wee!”

They all seemed to disappear into their rooms, changing, using the loo, inconveniently leaving you to walk back to the living room alone, a message on your phone informed that Alyssa was on her way.

“Milk?”

“Hmm?” You looked up from your phone, swallowed down the anxiety when you realized it was just the two of you.

“In your tea--milk?”

“Yeah.”

He already had six cups out--each with a tea bag resting inside. He rested his hands on the counter, lips parted as if he was about to speak, when the kettle whistled.

“Much better!” Jessie appeared in sweatpants, her hair up on top of her head. “I smell like airplane, but I'll live.”

Harry pushed a teacup towards you on the counter, lips in a thin line when you picked it up and locked eyes with him.

“You alright?” Jessie watched him closely, he cleared his throat when he realized she was referring to the way he was looking at you.

“Yeah--just, uh, tired. Had a bunch of meetings today.”

You had no clue if that was true or not--it’d been a week since you’d last seen him, a week since you knew what he was doing or where he was. A week since you’d stood in his living room with tears on your cheeks and anger in your veins.

“Both of you, Jesus. Want us to fly home?”

“No,” you said. “We’re fine. So tell me about the meeting you had with the programme director. You like him?”

“I mean,” Jessie let out a laugh, reaching for her own cup before walking to join you on the couch. “He’s a total babe. Terribly smart, I think, too.”

“Most important part is that he’s single and his last wife died--” Bryn emerged from the loo, her face a mix of amusement and mockery.

“Well if he was divorced that would be a red flag,” Jessie tried to reason.

“But you’re excited to start?” Harry came around to the living room, he sat in a chair opposite you, his eyes on Jessie has if nothing happened. It almost felt like you were back at square one--back to a time where your feelings were a secret and like you’d never even dream of being honest with him.

July 2014

“I can’t believe he made us come all the way down to London when they played in Manchester the other night,” Jessie looked at herself in her front camera, using the pad of her forefinger to wipe lipstick from her teeth. When she looked up at you, her eyebrows furrowed. “Can’t believe you’re not mad at him, honestly.”

“Oh relax,” you said, a strange energy seemed to spread through you, starting in your core and out towards your fingers when you reached down to pat her on the shoulder.

She was seated on a couch--one in a green room somewhere inside the winding corridors of London’s O2 Area--Bryn was too busy trying to flirt with someone’s sister. Cool air blew through the overhead vents--a steady hum that did a good job of masking the buzzing in your veins.

You’d all done the math in the car on the trip down, a whole six months since you’d seen him in passing over Christmas. A quick hello at Annie’s--his last day in town before he was heading on vacation with his mum.

Sure--maybe your friends expected you to be less than thrilled to see the boy you once dreamed about, but things felt different. Mature and grown up and far removed from the sad 15-year-old he’d left behind.

And besides, there was Charlie.

“We just found a signed picture of Jennifer Lopez in the hallway,” Jake’s voice was low and measured, as if he expected you to be just as excited as they were. Charlie and Adam nodded beside him, their eyes wide with excitement.

“She’s so hot,” the words fell out of Charlie’s mouth without much thought, clearly.

“Right,” you said, a quick nod as if it didn’t sting--as if you didn’t practice calling Harry three times in Bryn’s bedroom to ask for another ticket for your boyfriend.

Is it serious--like, you really like him? Harry’d asked on the phone like it was any of his business.

Super serious, you’d said, as if alliteration had your back. He might be the one.

So he tagged along, given a fair warning at your parents’ house that morning that he wasn’t allowed to take the piss or give Harry an ounce of shit--after all, Charlie wasn’t the biggest fan of boy bands. He’d made that clear the minute he found out that your heart held a special place for the five-piece group.

There was commotion from the other side of the room--people stirring when a door opened, Jessie stood from the couch.

His hair was long--longer than the last time you’d seen him, part of it pulled up on top in an elastic as he locked eyes with Jake. A black silk shirt, unbuttoned low enough to see a bit too much of his chest--especially if you were running with the whole no feelings whatsoever idea.

“Hey man,” he pulled Adam in for a hug, both their hands patting the other on the back before releasing Harry to greet the rest of you. He made his rounds, finding you and Charlie last. One hand in his pocket before sticking out the right one for him to shake. “Nice to meet you,” he said. “M’Harry.”

“Charlie,” he nodded. “Thanks for having us.”

He brought his eyes to you, lips curled into a small smirk, dimpled cheeks. “Smalls,” he opened his arms, letting you get a good whiff of whatever cologne he now wore.

“How was the drive down?”

“Terribly long,” Jessie complained, her shoulders slumping. “Why couldn’t we come to Manchester?”

“Because--I told you--this is the better show to come to. Everyone brings friends in London. Better after parties, too,” he let an arm snake around Jessie’s shoulders, smiling down at her with raised brows.

“Like--with famous people?”

“If you’re lucky--heard Ed Sheeran might come say hello at some point. David Beckham, too.”

“Fine,” Jessie said quickly, not missing a beat. “That would be cool.”

“Always so composed, Jess,” Jake teased.

Harry’s assistant--he had his own now, not just one he shared with the other boys--offered cocktails, something to hold in hand while you made smalltalk with the friends of the other boys. The kids who grew up next door to Niall, Louis’ siblings and Liam’s best friend from college.

It was nice to be in a room with other people who knew what it felt like to be left behind. Maybe they didn’t all label it like that, but you knew that they understood what it was like to wonder about the next time you’d see your friend.

You reached for another drink the second Harry got you alone, a question about how you met Charlie.

“Lived on my floor during my first year. We were friends for a while--or, in the same friend group, I guess.”

He nodded, he elbow resting on top of a water cooler he made a face before letting words slip from between his lips slowly. “He seems...nice.”

“What?” You laughed, “what is it? How could you not like him when you’ve spoken like ten words to him all night?”

“I never said that!” He smiled, raising a hand in the air in defense. “Just--dunno--hope he’s not a tosser.”

You let out a small laugh, a space filler while you tried to gather your thoughts, or rather, your emotions. The idea that Harry cared about who you dated sent a spark through your system, but the rationalizing that soon kicked in--it’s because you’re friends, he’s just being nice--seemed to put out whatever fire had been momentarily ignited.

After a while he was pulled away by someone whose job it was to manage his time--warm ups in another room and maybe one last puff of hairspray. You were left with the others to consume more alcohol, eventually led to your seats by men in bright yellow shirts with flashlights.

Charlie was entertained enough--he laughed with Jake and Adam and clapped for the opening act. He made a face at the screams when the lights went down again, but even Jessie typically pulled something similar.

Ten songs, three more drinks, and a small bladder eventually had you wandering the corridors alone, tracing your way back to the room with the oriental rug and comfy couches. When you found the peaceful quiet of bottled waters and granola bars on the counter, you found yourself taking your time--staring at yourself in the mirror when you washed your hands.

“Hi,” Bryn’s voice sounded from behind you. “Y’alright?”

“Yeah,” you said, a solemn nod. “Just--kind of weird, you know, to have them in the same place.”

She hummed, coming to rest a head on your shoulders. “I figured.”

“I really like him, you know?”

“Harry?”

“Charlie!” You rolled your eyes, but a piece of you knew that Bryn’s words weren’t false. You turned around to lean against the counter. “He’s great--he’s funny. I just--I dunno. I hope at some point I stop wondering about the what ifs.”

There were tears in your eyes--a small enough amount that you could claim it was an eyelash or a yawn, but with Bryn, you didn’t feel the need to. “You will,” she reassured.

“And besides--s’a pretty good way to make them both jealous. Bring your new boyfriend to the concert of your friend who’s a rockstar? If Harry has half a mind, it’ll make both of them pretty antsy.”

You laughed, unsure of if inspiring jealousy was what you were going for. If anything, at this point, you wanted peace. Maybe things with Harry would never happen--after four years, it was safe to say that he’d moved on from your small town. Maybe another four years and you’d never see him again, save for tabloid covers in Sainsbury’s.

“What’s up?” Jessie asked, leaning against the door from the greenroom. The bass line thumped through the cement wall--you were sure your eyeliner was smudged.

“Just realizing she’s still not over Harry,” Bryn said quickly, no emotion in her words--as if it was as simple as discussing the weather.

“Bryn!”

“Y/N,” Jessie seemed to laugh a little, coming over to brush your hair with her fingers. “Charlie’s great--he’s funny and he’s handsome and he’s--”

“Not Harry,” Bryn said, a shrug of her shoulders when you looked up at her with narrowed eyes.

“He’s great though, she’s right,” you said, enough conviction to convince yourself that you actually believed it. “Who cares if he’s not the one--he can be fun for now, yeah?”

“Yeah,” they said.

Locked arms when you went back to your seats, wristbands granting you access to the floor with ease. When you found Charlie you let him wrap his arms around you, hoping that one day, he’d be enough to erase the memories of the boy on stage.

“Thank god you’re here,” you greeted Alyssa right in front of the lift, voice low enough so the others couldn’t hear you.

She shrugged off her jacket and made a face. “That bad?”

“Hi Lyss,” Harry’s voice echoed over Bryn’s laughter--they all turned their attention towards your roommate as she smoothed out her blouse.

“Hi,” she said. “Nice to finally meet you all!”

“Welcome, welcome,” Jessie laughed. “Many a FaceTime call!”

Harry seemed to watch in silence as you took your place back on the couch--Alyssa settling onto the carpet before looking up at him, a closed lip smile was the only interaction between the two.

It didn’t feel as bad as you thought it would--or maybe it was the glass of wine that Bryn poured you an hour later. That paired with the laughter that laced itself through conversation left your heartbeat steady, easily ignoring the fact that Harry’s eyes would linger a second too long every time you spoke.

Jake went off to bed first--claiming dramatically that his body really thought the sun should be rising. Adam made him promise to construct a sturdy enough pillow wall--Bryn once again pointed out their subtle homophobia with a raise of her wine glass. Twats, she said, once Adam left the room.

But she was next to fall, slumping down the hallway while Jessie sang along to whatever song Alyssa played from her phone. So once you’d decided it was time to head out, Jessie disappeared into a dark bedroom and Alyssa used the toilet--leaving you to trail behind Harry as you brought tea cups and wine glasses back to the sink.

“I hope it’s okay that they’re here.”

“Them?” You threw a thumb over your shoulder--reality setting in when you realized you’d yet to actually communicate with him about the birthday surprise. Anger fought its way up your throat. “S’fine--they’re my best friends.”

“Yeah,” he said, the next words came lazily out of his mouth like an afterthought. “Mine too.”

Back to the living room to get your coat, pulling it over your shoulders as if he hadn’t followed behind you, watching quietly when you scooped your hair out from the jacket.

“Maybe we can talk in a few days. I know they’re here, but, you didn’t even hear me out.”

“Hear you out? You were seeing two girls at once and you want me to hear you out?”

The door to the loo shut--Alyssa appeared in the hallway but faltered when both you and Harry took a step back from each other.

“Relax,” she said, her eyes wide for a second as she came to meet you near the door. “S’just me. I know you broke up.”

You rolled your eyes at that--Harry’s expression was calm. “I’ll see you in the morning?” His voice was hopeful--his eyes watched yours for any sign of emotion.

“Maybe--Jessie wants to do Times Square so I doubt you can come. And besides, we still need to minimize the amount we’re seen together. If people see you with them and then me with them they’ll start to put things together before--you know.”

“Before what?”

“Before I can figure out the story and telling Whitney, alright? If we have to be sneaky about this so people don’t know that I’ve known you forever--I vote that you’re the one to hide.”

His head tilted to the side, as if you’d started speaking a foreign language. “Hide?”

Alyssa slung her purse over her shoulder.

“Yes, hide. You can hang out with us but you’re on your own for making sure you don’t draw attention to us. This is my birthday gift, yeah?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, a sigh from between his lips when he looked to Alyssa. “Thanks for coming.”

She offered an awkward smile--you wondered what she’d say to him if you weren’t there, how they’d interact just the two of them.

“See ya,” you tugged Alyssa by the coat sleeve into the lift. You pressed a button and shut the door between you, welcoming the bitter air on the sidewalk. Quiet on the walk home--you would have taken the subway or called a car, but Alyssa probably knew you needed the silence.

A direct message on twitter that night when you climbed into bed. You didn’t even know Pat--his name sounded familiar and you trusted that he had to be decent at his job if Whitney had worked with him, but when you agreed to meet him for coffee next week, you wondered what it would feel like to love someone that wasn’t Harry.

You hoped one day you’d know.

The neon glow of Times Square was much more impressive at night, so the five of you stood in the center of a cement island, taxis and buses honking beside you as Jessie and Adam stared up with open mouths.

“S’brighter than I imagined,” Jake said, pulling the hood of his jacket up over his ears. “So much electricity.”

“S’beautiful,” Jessie cooed, the reflection of the lights bounced off her irises. When she turned to look at you, she wrapped an arm around yours. “Thanks for taking us.”

“My pleasure,” you laughed. “You come less and less to touristy things when you live here. S’like how we stopped doing the Eye or riding the double deckers.”

“Right,” Bryn laughed, a shopping bag in her right hand. “Or how we wouldn’t let Jake take any more pictures with the guards at Buckingham Palace.”

“They’re funny,” he defended, shooting Bryn a look of anger before resting an arm on her shoulders.

Adam looked around the group of you, a smile on his face when his eyes landed on yours. “Glad we’re here, Smalls.”

“Yeah,” Jessie said. “I can see why you like it so much.”

“Can see why you don’t want to come home,” Bryn added, another sweeping gaze of the billboards above. She counted the colors, pinks, blues, greens, yellows, reds. A cup of coffee sitting on the red chairs scattered about, laughing at costumes and watching the people who’d pass by.

After a good hour and a half you navigated over to Hell’s Kitchen, walking through side streets to find the restaurant that Harry had chosen.

Don’t see why he gets to choose, s’my birthday dinner, you complained as your boots shuffled along the sidewalk.

He’s paying, Bryn reminded. That’s why.

You were sat in a back room, wine was poured before Harry appeared in the doorway, shrugging out of his jacket before placing it on the seat across from you.

“Sorry,” he said, “had a meeting. Happy birthday.”

“S’not my birthday yet,” you sipped at the Cabernet that’d been offered, setting it on the table before giving him a challenging glare.

“S’your birthday dinner, though. A day and a half early, if you can forgive me,” a hand to his heart before Bryn raised a glass.

“Here’s to Y/N--kicking ass in New York City and carving out an amazing career for herself.”

“You’re probably the coolest person who lives in New York, Smalls,” Jake lifted his glass and let it hit yours, a scowl came across Harry’s face as he held his wine in the air.

“Was I even up for consideration?” He asked, a playful frown on his face.

Jake tilted his head. “Of coolest people who live in New York?”

You rolled your eyes--now wasn’t the time for his sensitivity. “M’the one who actually lives here, Harry.”

“Is the rent I pay not enough to convince you that I live here too?”

“Not when you jet set off to LA or London for a week just because you feel like it.”

“So business travel? That automatically disqualifies someone from considering themselves a resident just because they travel for business? Probably disqualifies half the population then.”

Adam tensed beside you, an awkward sip of his cocktail when he looked at Jessie to say something.

“What type of visa do you have?” You asked, leaning forward to rest your elbows on the table.

“What? I don’t know--my manager handles that for me.”

“I have an H1B, extendable to six years,” you said matter-of-factly. Jessie’s eyes were wide as she sucked some sangria through a straw.

“Alright,” Bryn tried to hold up a hand, unable to steer you down the right path.

“Well I don’t think the American government is going to kick me out any time soon.”

“They will if you lie to them,” you narrowed your eyes, a bit too much emotion in your voice.

“Do you need us to leave?” Bryn’s voice was quiet but snarky, Harry’s head snapped over to her and he picked up his wine, leaning back in his chair.

“No,” you both said at the same time--but you pushed back from the table and cleared your throat. “I’m using the loo.”

You heard Jessie say something about going after you, Harry’s voice stopped her, I’ll go.

You walked straight into the single bathroom in the back, shoes clicking on the shiny floor. A waterfall sink and polished copper faucet reminded you of the caliber of restaurant this was. Too fancy of a bathroom to cry in.

There was a knock on the door. “Let me in, Y/N, let me talk to you.”

You opened the door quickly, pushing your head through the crack to see him waiting in the dimly lit hallway. “No--I’m not doing this here.”

“You don’t want to do it anywhere, apparently.”

“Exactly,” you went to shut the door, his hand reached up to stop you from shutting it, fingers gripped around the oak.

“Two minutes,” he said. “Just give me two minutes to explain something to you.”

You let out a sigh, hoping to calm your pulse before you pulled open the door and let him take two steps inside. He shut it behind him.

“Go.”

“I just--I was seeing her, casually, yes. But the only reason I saw her after we got back here was to say I couldn’t see her again. I told her it was done.”

You pushed out your lips in thought, a head tilt to show him you meant business. “Did you sleep with her?”

“No.”

“Did you talk to her all the time?”

“No, Y/N. We had dinner and hung out with some friends and sure we kind of hooked up but we didn’t have sex.”

“Did she keep a deodorant in your bathroom?”

“What? No,” he laughed, a step towards you, hand on your arm. “I saw her maybe five times--I don’t know, it wasn’t--it wasn’t anything serious.” A pause, shifted weight on his feet.

“We’re not--we can’t do this Harry,” you said, kicking a boot against the black marble floor. “This never should have happened.”

“How do you figure that?”

“Because it would have worked by now if it was supposed to! It would have happened a long time ago! I was in love with you. I waited for you to come home and I hoped that one day you’d love me back. But it’s too late. I was here living my life on my own and you don’t get to just pop in and out whenever you please.”

He watched you, almost as if you’d laugh and say you were only kidding. Like a simple smile or a joke could take all of it back, wash it clean, and restart.

“So what, then?”

“So what? So nothing. I shouldn’t have slept with you--it was...unprofessional.”

His chest deflated, a huff of air through his lips when he scratched at the back of his neck, tired and confused. The door swung open and Jake stood, blond quiff of hair reflecting the overhead light, eyes glancing between the two of you.

“You’re lucky I fought Jessie off to come back here because they’re all bloody suspicious. So if you’re still keen on keeping this a secret,” a finger waved in the air between you, “you should get back to the table.”

“You know?” Harry’s head swiveled around, eyes locking on Jake’s.

“Of course I know--I’m surprised they’re all daft enough to not know, really.”

You rolled your eyes, giving Harry a shove out of your way before passing between them, wiping beneath your eyes to hide any evidence of emotion. Bryn’s posture straightened when you got back to the table, her voice a quiet whisper so Harry wouldn’t hear.

“Are you alright? What on earth is going on between you two?”

“Nothing,” you said, pulling your napkin back onto your lap. “He’s just a twat--you know how it is.”

Her eyes narrowed, Jessie listened--uncharacteristically quiet. Adam typed away on his phone, as if the entire scene hadn’t just come to close with Harry and Jake back at the table, slumping in their chairs when the server asked if another round was needed.

“Yes,” all six of you said in unison.

come talk to me about tytl

read the other parts here

AN: again this is kind of short but I wanted to update for y’all!!!!

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#tytl #two years too late #harry styles fanfic #harry styles story #harry styles fanfiction #Harry Styles Fan Fiction #harry styles fiction #harry styles writing #harry styles imagine #harry styles imagines #harry styles blurb #harry styles drabble #harry styles smut

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adarlingwrites · 4 years ago

Text

Absolution

Summary:

noun: formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment

The Capital Wasteland lauded the Lone Wanderer as a hero, a Messiah, a savior who's willing to give her life for the Good Fight. Beyond the legends, the propaganda, and the mythification that surrounded her legacy, there is only one person who knew her bare soul. She gave him his absolution, and now he will fight for hers.

January 4, 2278.

I followed Percy outside the Lamplight Caverns, trying to match the pace of her footsteps. Her shoulders are all tensed up again, and I just know a storm’s brewing in her head. I reached out to touch her shoulder.

“What is it?”

“Percy, how are we going to rescue those children from Paradise Falls?”

“Simple. We sneak in, free the slaves, and fuck the place up so no slaver can set foot in it again. Then we escort the kids back to Lamplight so we can proceed with retrieving the GECK.”

I shook my head. “Percy, that’s easier said than done. If we’re going to take down Paradise Falls, we need coordinated attacks. Inside information. Tactics. Rushing in would be foolish,” I tell her.

My friend gives me a sour look, but it melts into a pout. “You’re right. Shit, how are we going to pull this off?”

“May I suggest something?” I ask her. Her face lights up, lips curling into a smile.

“You know I appreciate all your suggestions,” Percy responds, bumping her arm against mine. The corner of my mouth twitches upward before I can stop myself.

“We need inside information. A layout of the place would be a good start. Then we figure out tactics. Our attack must be coordinated,” I tell her.

Percy pushes her glasses up, brows furrowing. “Yes. We’ll need to take care of logistics too. Ammunition. Medicine.”

Then she pauses, opens her mouth, and closes it again.

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Charon,” she starts, rubbing the back of her neck. “You said that slavers used to hold your contract years ago, yes?”

My throat tightens, but I nod.

“Then, do you happen to remember details about the place?”

I blink at Percy a few times, the holes in my memory screwing things up again. I couldn’t say anything.

“It’s okay big guy, don’t force yourself. Just tell me when you remember something,” my friend responds.

We continue walking.

The sun is high up in the sky, but it isn’t warm. Flakes of snow land on me and turn into water droplets. The days are getting colder, and though the radiation in my body and the lack of nerves on the parts of myself that didn’t have skin made me more resistant to it, I can still feel it in my bones.

We pause at the side of the road. Thankfully, the cold meant creatures stayed in their burrows, and raiders kept mostly to their camps, near the fires. Percy takes out the scarf she got from Tulip’s shop and wraps it around her neck. It must’ve been musty; she wrinkled her nose when she took her first inhale. I snorted softly at her reaction. Then, she reaches into her pack again and tosses me a hat.

“I thought you might like it,” she tells me as I look at the hat in my hands. “It’s an ushanka. You don’t have much hair to keep your head warm, and this hat has flaps on the side. I think you’ll like it.”

Something stirs in my chest. It wasn’t unpleasant… but it made me long for a life I lost centuries ago.

“My father used to wear one.”

Percy’s eyes lit up. “Oh. What was he like?”

“Tall. Strong. His hair was red,” I told her as I put the hat on.

It’s as cozy as I imagined. I felt like a child again.

When I tried my father’s hat on, it was too big for me. He said that one day I’ll be big like him and grow into it.

That day never came.

“Like you.”

I didn’t respond. I just bumped my arm against hers.

“I’ve read in a book in Arlington that those things came from a place called Russia. Have you ever been there, Charon?”

“No. But my parents came from that place.”

“Oh. Do you still remember the language? Or the culture?”

I hummed. “Barely. We used to speak it at home… but that was a very long time ago. There was a lullaby my mother used to sing to me, but I cannot remember all the words.”

“Was that the song you hummed to me, when I was grieving my dad?”

“Yes.”

Percy sighs and stretches her hands over her head, and they land on her sides with a muffled thud. “It’s a beautiful melody. So many things lost to war…”

I kept quiet, looking away. There are horrid things about wars I didn’t want to remember.

“Sorry for the rambling. I was thinking about dad.”

“Nothing to apologize for.”

Percy flashes me a smile. “Remember the day we got Dad out of Vault 112? He immediately ran off to get back to Rivet City and we had to tail him without stopping. He even took out a Super Mutant with a rebar club he picked up… Jesus .”

I remember that. James was pretty tough, for a doctor. Like Percy. Now I know where she gets it from.

“I guess I am my father’s daughter. I was so ready to dive into things. Like that book I wrote with Moira…”

“...that made you sick for days,” I interrupt, and she laughs.

“Yeah. Admittedly, that was pretty impulsive and stupid of me. And now I almost rushed into storming Paradise Falls. Dad used to be my impulse control when we were in the vault. I was just thinking, what would Dad say if he were still here? I used to live off of his advice...”

Without thinking, I put my arm around Percy’s shoulder, her small frame bumping into my side, and she lets out a soft grunt. Then, she laughs, and wraps her arm around my waist.

“I’ll make sure you won’t run off to do anything rash.”

“I’m glad you’re around, Charon.”

I didn’t respond. I just smiled. I hope she didn’t see it.

As we continued our trek back to Megaton, Percy said something that made me remember a detail about Paradise Falls.

“Dad probably would tell me to stock up on medical supplies. Remind me to go to Doc Church’s clinic when we get back. We might need Med-X. Lot’s of it.”

Doc Church.

Paradise Falls.

Wait a damn minute.

September 28, 2277.

I guess I’m a fucking babysitter now.

This girl that I’m supposed to protect and keep out of harm’s way just couldn’t stop getting herself in trouble now, couldn’t she?

I’d understand if it were due to raiders or wasteland creatures. But no, she just had to get herself sick from drinking that fucking atomic bomb water, and as if the radiation wasn’t enough, she had to contract a disease from it too. Stupid.

If it wasn’t for the contract, I would’ve let her sorry ass suffer the consequences of her foolishness. For someone who’s so smart, couldn’t she just explain the effects of radiation to that egghead who asked her to irradiate herself “for science”? It also doesn’t fucking help that she jumped off the railings to cripple her legs for that “scientist” too. It was a miracle that she didn’t receive any permanent injuries from that.

God fucking dammit. What she’s doing is borderline suicidal.

Her illness delayed our plans, as well. We were supposed to be in Rivet City by now. Instead, she’s feverish and looking miserable on the couch, the dog whining as she groaned and grumbled. Dogmeat licks her face, and she buries it in the dog’s fur.

Days ago, I noticed how small she really was, and now she looks even smaller, legs pressed against her chest, curled under a tattered blanket.

A pang of guilt twists in me for even thinking of abandoning her. She’s my employer, and she has been good to me so far. I shouldn’t think of such a thing.

But she’s making it difficult for me to do my damn job.

Sluggish, she stands up, and reaches for her jacket, the one with the snake embroidery on the back. Percy shuffles to the door, and I follow her.

“Miss, you are in no condition to be up.”

“I just need to get more antibiotics from the clinic, if the doc has any left,” she croaks. Her voice is hoarse from all the vomiting she did from her hangover and her illness.

I’d pity her, if she didn’t inflict it on herself.

“As you wish,” I replied.

We left the dog at home, who took the warm spot where she used to lie. I had to help her through the downward path from her house to the town clinic, making sure that she doesn’t stumble and fall, her arm around my waist. I look down and see the top of her head, her black hair tousled.

I had an urge to smooth it out with my hands, but of course I didn’t act on it.

I went inside the clinic first, opening the door for my mistress. The doctor didn’t glance up from his clipboard.

“Unless you’re dying, I don’t want to hear anything about-”

When he looked up, it took one look at me for him to stop his bitching, eyes wide.

I narrowed my eyes.

I swear I’ve seen his face before, but I can’t put my finger on it.

“Doc,” Percy croaks, voice cracking. “Do you still have antibiotics? Need a refill.”

The doctor clears his throat.

“That’s what you get for drinking the water from the crater with those Church of Atom folks,” he grumbles, standing up from his seat and heading inside his office. He comes back with a bottle of pills, which he gives to Percy.

As Percy was counting her caps, I can see the sweat on the doctor’s forehead as he watched me.

“Does he need anything too?”

“Oh, no. He’s my bodyguard,” Percy replies. “Charon, meet Doc Church.”

As soon as Percy hands him the caps, he hurriedly shows us the door.

Now I remember why he was so nervous.

“Wait. Church used to offer his medical services for the slavers,” I blurt out, and Percy whirls around.

“Are you sure? You didn’t seem to recognize him the first time you met him in Megaton.”

“Might be the age. If there’s any way I can prove it to you, I am unsure, though.”

Percy furrows her brow. “Let’s hurry back to Megaton. I have an idea.”

When we arrived in Megaton, it was already dark. The shops are closed, and Church’s clinic is closed as well. After dumping our equipment in the house, I followed Percy to Gob’s Saloon. Her footsteps are heavier than usual from her haste.

We got in, and there were a few patrons lounging about, but it was quiet. Gob’s face lights up at the sight of my friend.

“Percy! Good to see you,” he greets, and Percy nods at him.

“Hey. Gob, we need to talk,” Percy tells him. “In private. It’s important.”

With apprehension, Gob leads us to a room behind the bar, and Nova takes over for a moment. It’s a narrow room with a terminal adjacent to a back door, something that’s rare in Megaton. The other structures have single entry and exit points.

“Are Moriarty’s files still there?” Percy asks him.

“I haven’t touched the thing at all, smoothskin. I thought of letting Moira tinker with it so I can use it to keep track of tabs, but the thing just reminds me of Moriarty.”

Percy sighs in relief. “Well, thank whatever the fuck’s out there that they’re still here. Do you have his password?”

“I already threw the paper away. Sorry, Percy.”

Rolling her sleeves, Percy powers on the terminal and begins typing away. “It’s fine.”

Gob looks over Percy’s shoulder, eyes flicking to the text on the screen. “What do you need the files for, anyway?”

“Moriarty’s got dirt on almost everyone here and the prick was more than willing to rub it in my face. I’m trying to get information on someone,” my friend replies, flicking a stray lock of her hair away from her face. “Aha, there we are.”

Her face is inscrutable.

“Charon, you’re right,” she tells me, her eyes still on the screen.

“Can you please slow down and tell me what’s going on?” Gob asks, scratching the little skin he had left on his cheek. “This is all so sudden, Percy. Sorry.”

My friend and I look at each other. We know the other ghoul was trustworthy. There was a silent agreement between us.

“Promise to keep quiet about this? It could put all of us in danger.”

Gob nods enthusiastically.

“We’re going to take down Paradise Falls,” she says, and Gob’s eyes widens.

“Whoa, Percy, I know the two of you are badasses, but how are you gonna do that?”

“That’s what we’re figuring out. First, we gotta know the place inside and out, so we’ll know where to come and go,” Percy responds.

“That’s… actually pretty smart, wow.”

“It’s Charon’s idea,” she adds, nudging my arm with her elbow. I can feel my lips curling into a smile again, but this time I fought the urge.

“We’ll also need a rendezvous point while planning this operation out,” I add, and both of them turn to me. “This room is secure, and the back entry makes it ideal for whoever is involved in the operation to come and go in the cover of night. I suggest we meet here for a week, if Gob will allow it.”

Grinning, Percy turns to Gob. “Good idea. What do you say, Gob?”

Gob seemed to hesitate, but he smiled at us. “Y’know, I used to hope I can fight the Good Fight instead of being stuck here. Maybe I can’t go out there and be badass slaver hunters like you guys, but I’d do what I can to help. Sure.”

Percy pulls the other ghoul in an embrace. “Thank you!”

“Hey, it’s nothing smoothskin,” Gob replies, leaning into the embrace.

He probably needed that, but still I can’t help but look away.

“Is a week really all you’ll need, though?”

“I’ve been in operations with less resources and less time to coordinate,” I tell him.

“Anyway, Charon said Doc Church used to patch up slavers. What I saw in Moriarty’s terminal confirms it,” Percy explains.

“What are you gonna do to the doc?” Gob asks, tone wary.

“We’re not gonna hurt him. Whatever he was then, he’s overworked helping Megaton now. Sounds like a man who’s trying to atone. We’re going to use that as leverage to get him to help us.”

Gob rubs his arm. “Be careful, the two of you. Oh man, those slavers probably have connections everywhere. They could get you guys killed.”

A dark glint in her eye, Percy gives Gob a smirk. It was unnerving and fascinating at the same time. I’m certain that this woman is still the same kind and gentle girl I met months ago, but something changed.

“I’d like to see them try.”

#lone wanderer #female lone wanderer #charon #fallout charon #charon fallout #fallout 3 charon #charon fallout 3 #gob #oc: percy zhou #fanfic: absolution #series: through river acheron #fallout 3 #fallout #fallout fanfic #writers on tumblr

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mariekiki50 · 5 years ago

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Miles Edgeworth: Ace Attorney

– Turnabout Starters –

December 29, 2001 – 08:41 AM

Wedio General Hospital – Patient Room

December 28, 2001 was the date Miles’ life changed drastically.

For the worse, that is.

He just did not know it yet.

The sun creeping in what was awoke him, and his eyes slowly fluttered open; he sat up in his bed. The first thing that struck him was that everything was white around him. So white that it could not be natural, and this was when Miles thought something was off.

He did not what, though. His memories were still fuzzy and confused, and he could not remember for the life of him what had happened for him to be here. Because, he was quite sure now he was in a hospital.

Before he could reflect further on this, however, somebody knocked at the door and came in before Miles even allowed him too. It was a nurse, who had probably been working in this hospital for years, given her age. She was dressed in white, her grey hair tied back into a strict bun; she eyed Miles sternly before she told another person to come in. So, I have some visit, Miles thought, puzzled. He was even more surprised when he recognized who the person was.

She was in her thirties and had short curly black hair with piercing blue eyes. Her clothes were nothing extravagant, she had kept things simple by wearing a thick pullover with trousers and boots and had an anorak in her arms. It was winter, after all, so her outfit fitted the season. Except a wedding ring, she did not have any jewels or accessories on her, neither had she a scarf or gloves, but she removed her wooly hat when she stepped into the room. Her complexion was olive, but her smile was as bright as Miles remembered.

Mrs. Wright.

Miles had met her quite recently, actually, but his father had known her for much longer. It had all started when one of Edgeworth’s classmates had been accused of stealing his lunch money. If Miles had not known better, the poor boy would have been punished while he had not done anything. Funny how it had turned out that said boy’s parents were friends of Miles’ father. So it was only natural Miles had befriended Phoenix Wright, the child falsely accused of theft, and a certain Larry Butz, who, for a strange and unknown reason, had believed in Phoenix’s innocence too when the whole class had accused the latter.

Miles did not live with the Wrights, but he was quite sure Mrs. Wright was a very good mother. She was a widow, having lost her husband from cancer one year ago or so, just like Miles had lost his own mother in a car accident some years ago too. The mirroring of their situations was quite tragic. Despite that, Mrs. Wright had welcomed the Edgeworths with open arms, especially when she had known Miles had helped her son during a class trial. It had not surprised her that much, in truth: Gregory had been their lawyer during a tough case, and it was no surprise the son would grow up to be just like his father, one day.

Seeing a familiar face calmed down Miles a little, but even with Phoenix’s mother, he could tell something was definitely wrong. Was it in the way she behaved or in the joyful expression which was a bit too forced, the nine-year-old did not know. Maybe it was all that at once.

Mrs. Wright put her belongings on the chair in the corner of the room, and came to Miles’ side with the concerned look mothers have when they are worrying about their children. She put a hand on the boy’s forehead, while the nurse was silently staring at them.

“How are you feeling, Miles, dear?” Mrs. Wright asked, removing her hand. “Are you okay?”

“I… I think I’m fine,” the child replied, making the woman sigh in relief. “I can’t remember why I’m here though.”

“Oh, darling, there’s no need to hurry. We can take things one at a time. You should rest for now.”

Although Miles appreciated her concern, he did not feel like sleeping. He was fully awake, now, and was feeling quite well. What he wanted now was some answers about how he had ended up here.

“Phoenix isn’t here?”

“The hospital didn’t allow me to bring him here. My neighbor’s watching over him. We’ll both come to see you as soon as we can, okay?”

The boy nodded his head. He was glad to have Phoenix as his friend, and he could not wait for him to come and see him. They would talk about the brand new episodes of the Signal Samurai that were currently broadcasted on TV. Miles could not believe he had come to love this series that much. It was all because of Phoenix. And Larry too. Anyway, he was glad his friend was fine, but he still had some questions in his mind.

“What happened? Why am I at the hospital?”

Mrs. Wright bit her lips and looked at the nurse, who just shrugged. Miles was not sure what all that meant.

“So, you don’t remember anything…?”

He shook his head, and the mother sighed deeply before she answered. “You and your father were at the courthouse. Your father had a client to defend, and he took you with him because you wanted to see the trial.”

Miles’ memories slowly came back. That was right; his father had recently promised him he would let him attend one of his trials. The young boy still remembered how excited he was when he had woken up, yesterday morning. This was the first time his father had accepted him to come and watch one of his trials. As usual, Gregory’s performance had been quite impressive, and his son could not have been prouder of his father. Still, in the end…

“My father… I recall he lost the case… He told me he planned to appeal.”

“That’s right. After that, you both took the elevator.”

Ah, that was something Miles remembered too. He could even say there had been a third man in this elevator, with them, a black-haired man in his forties. He had introduced himself as Yanni Yogi, a bailiff. Apparently, he had a fiancée by the name of Polly, and they were apparently planning to get married soon; that was what Mr. Yogi had said anyway. He had pressed the button to go down, and indeed the elevator had gone down, until…

Miles’ eyes went wide with fear and he shivered.

… Until a violent earthquake struck.

Everything became clear from here for the young boy. He recalled the lights had flickered and gone out because of that earthquake, and if not for the emergency light, Mr. Yogi and the Edgeworths would have completely been in the dark.

Once the fear had passed, the only choice left had been to wait for the emergency services. Miles had sat with his back against the wall and had wrapped his arms around his knees. Gregory and the bailiff had sat in front of him, with their backs against the wall too. And then… the three of them had had to wait for what had been an eternity. One hour… Two hours… Three hours… Four hours… Five hours… And finally… There had been that moment. That moment when Mr. Yogi had started getting crazy because of the lack of oxygen.

“S–Stop breathing my air!”

He had grabbed Gregory by the collar, right in front of Miles, who had started to panic. He had felt something under his hand, something that was probably dangerous… but he had not realized what it was exactly. He had been so frightened to see the bailiff lash out at his father that he had thrown the object without even really thinking about it. He just wanted the fight between the two men to stop.

“Get away from my father!”

Only when he had heard the gunshot had he realized the thing he had thrown at the bailiff was a weapon. Probably some sort of pistol, even maybe Yogi’s. It did not matter in the end: the result was the same. There had been a gunshot. After that, Miles had heard a long, terrible and awful scream of pain and…

… it was a blackout after that. He did not remember anything else.

His heart started pounding faster inside his chest and his hands gripped the blanket tighter. Where is Father, now? What happened to him? And what happened to the bailiff? He looked up at Mrs. Wright with worry in his eyes.

“I… I’d like to see my father, please…”

The woman gasped and turned her head, unable to meet his eyes. Miles was surprised, because for the time he had known her, she had never looked away like that. She had never looked away at all.

“I’m afraid it won’t be possible, Miles.”

“Why? What happened? Where’s Father?!”

“He’s dead.”

It was not Phoenix’s mother who had spoken, but the nurse. Miles had nearly forgotten about her existence. She who had been so cold at first was now looking at him with some sort of pity in her eyes Miles had a hard time accepting. He could not just believe what he had heard. There was no way Gregory could be dead! He had said… He had said to his son and to Mr. Yogi everything would be fine! He had to be okay, he had to, because, without him…

… Miles had nothing left.

He was all alone.

He looked at Mrs. Wright with eyes full of hope, a foolish hope that she would deny the lie that nurse had just told him. He needed to be told all this was just a joke – and a pretty bad joke, at that – but when he heard her sadly muttering the world ‘sorry’, this was when he knew for sure all that had been said to him was the truth, nothing else.

To say his world crumbled was an understatement. Tears came to his eyes and rolled down his cheeks as he hiccupped violently, unable to speak because of the lump on his throat. Instead, he just sobbed in Phoenix’s mother’s arms, without stopping, and he even lost track of time. The only thing he could feel was the woman gently stroking his hair and whispering soft words to him.

He just cried, again and again.

***

Manfred von Karma was no man to wait.

When he wanted something, he did everything in his power to get it as soon as possible, just in the same way he did everything in his power to get a guilty verdict in court. He had been prosecuting for decades, and not a single defense attorney had been able to stand up against him. Well, not a single defense attorney still alive, that is. Of course, there had been that Gregory Edgeworth… but he had still lost in the end. And above all, he had been… dealt with, to say the least.

And now that he was dead, von Karma had one only obsession: to take Gregory Edgeworth’s son with him and to turn him against everything his foolish father had once believed in. He would make this boy become a perfect prosecutor under his control, and then… he would find a way to get rid of him. This child would be a puppet who would obey his orders, and he would get guilty verdicts just like Manfred. Von Karma would make him and his damn father pay for what they had done to him. The boy was so fragile and innocent… That was the perfect moment to mold him just like the prosecutor wanted. He wanted Miles, and he would have him.

This was why he was a bit upset to find there was already somebody in Miles’ room. He had hoped to be alone with that boy – the fewer people there was, the better – but he did not say anything and just glared at the woman. Edgeworth was stupidly crying in her arms. Manfred did not like how that woman was interfering, but it did not matter in the end; he was already taking care of the papers for the adoption, and soon, Miles would be his adoptive son.

“I would like the boy to be ready to go as soon as possible,” he informed the nurse.

“Very well. Given his good condition, he had no need to stay here any longer. I’m going to check when he’ll be allowed to leave.”

She never met the old prosecutor’s eyes and exited the room at the very moment when Mrs. Wright exclaimed: “Miles? Leave? But he’s mourning his father! He still need time to recover! And who are you anyway? You’re not a relative! You’re not even part of his family!”

Manfred glared at the woman with deep contempt and folded his arms. “I don’t care. I’m currently about to adopt him, and when the paperwork is done, he’ll come with me.”

Miles stopped crying and looked at the man with big fearful eyes. Mrs. Wright saw all the terror and the shock the poor little boy was going through right now, and she took him in her arms once again, embracing him protectively while he was shaking. Her eyes then met von Karma’s, and she gritted her teeth. This man did not mean any good for the now orphaned child, and she did not know what his plans were, but… by any means, she would not let the child go with a man who probably still held a grudge against said child’s father. Von Karma had a reputation, and Bonnie Wright had been told about the penalty he had been given due to Gregory exposing his unorthodox methods during the trial. To say he falsified evidence just to secure a guilty verdict… That was disgusting. How could anyone let Miles go with such a jerk just like that?!

On top of that, Gregory Edgeworth’s death was highly suspicious, to say the least. Miles and that bailiff, Yanni Yogi, were both unconscious when they had been found, after five hours, by the emergency services. There was no doubt Gregory had been shot right in the heart, and although the police was investigating, they apparently considered Yogi to be the culprit. Unlike Miles, he was not awake yet, but the both of them would be heard by the police anyway.

Still… Until then, Miles needed comfort. And Mrs. Wright did not intend to let that prosecutor take him away without doing anything to stop it. She took a deep breath and looked fiercely at the man. If he thought he could have anything just by demanding, then he was for a surprise.

“You have no right to do so! Gregory entrusted me with the custody of his son should anything happen to him!”

If Manfred was puzzled by the woman’s words, he did not show it. He had not expected that damn Edgeworth to leave the upbringing of his child to someone, but that was barely a hindrance. He would deal with this soon enough. All he wanted was the child, to turn him into somebody who would fight against everything his brat of a father had always believed in. He was determined.

“You have no say in that, woman. I will take the child, no matter what.”

“Over my dead body,” Mrs. Wright spitted out, glaring daggers at the old man, embracing the child even more tightly. “As for now, Miles is under my care, as Gregory wished. I will prove it at the courthouse, and when everything will be in order, Miles will come to live with us and you will never see nor touch the child again!”

Von Karma was now full of fury and rage, and he started rushing to that woman and the child threateningly, but he finally thought better. He could not lose his temper like this. The woman had probably her doubts on Edgeworth’s death, and if she started investigating and discovered the truth behind that case… his perfect career would be over, and that was something he could not afford. No, there was only one way to have the custody of the kid, it was to go to the courthouse and fight Mrs. Wright. With that, he was sure there would not be any problems.

He smugly wagged his finger in front of him and smirked viciously. “You’re right, Mrs. Wright. Let’s take care of this kind of things like the grown-ups we are, shall we? Everything will be settle in court soon enough.”

Miles was still looking at the old prosecutor in awe, and the latter glared back at him with huge contempt. To say he was doing all this for revenge… But he wanted this revenge. He despised the Edgeworths above all, and dealing with the child of the man he had killed was such a sweet revenge! He would have given everything just to see the face of the man as his son would be raised to be everything his dear father had been fighting against…

And on that thought, von Karma left the room.

Bonnie Wright sighed, and stroke Miles’ hair gently.

“Will I have to live with that man?” he asked, looking at her with eyes full of terror, sadness and uncertainty.

“No you won’t. I’m the one who will be in charge of you. I have paperwork to do, but once it’s done, you’ll move in with me and Phoenix. No harm will be done to you. I swear. Everything will be alright.”

Miles nodded, reassured. He was so glad he did not have to go with that prosecutor. He had never wanted to. He clearly preferred to grow up with his best friend Phoenix. And Bonnie had told him that everything would be fine, so he could finally rest, now.

They could not have been more wrong.

On January 4, 2002, the judge officially entrusted Miles Edgeworth’s custody to Bonnie Wright, much to von Karma’s furor. On that same day, while the day was coming to an end, Mrs. Wright was murdered in strange conditions. The identity of the killer remained unknown.

Phoenix became an orphan too, and Miles never got the chance to live with the Wrights.

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acemeaskipper · 5 years ago

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The Other Woman

Stuck in a universe that isn’t her own, Kochanski contemplates the past existence of the other Kochanski (au where they're on Red Dwarf when they go through that whole alternate dimension Kochanski thing and the crew doesn’t come back before i wrote this before i remembered that happened)

She thought about the other Kristine a lot. More than she perhaps should.

It wasn't intentional, she didn't want to go around thinking about the other her that was now long dead and gone. But she did.

Lister never said anything, bless his heart. He just took her as she was now; the only giveaway was the occasional tightness of his smile or a strange look in his eye as if he couldn't quite understand what he was looking at.

She might have never even thought about the other Kristine if it weren't for Holly, in that bland voice of theirs, suggesting that she raid the other Kristine's wardrobe for clothes.

Two days was as long as she could hold out.

It was unsettling from the moment she opened the door, like someone had taken the world of its axis and left it spinning and confused. Everything was almost right, but not quite.

The bed was the same, and the table had been pushed against the far wall, the chairs all tucked in neat. But it still so strange.

Where she would have had her horse show rosettes, this Kristine had a Scottish rugby scarf and a plain black hat. Where she preferred red, this Kristine's wardrobe was made up of black and beige and browns. Where she found have had her books, this Kristine had Blondie albums. Strangest of all was the photograph on the wall.

It looked like a birthday party of sorts. A rather pathetic one where the banners were all crumbled and the balloons were already starting to deflate, but it seemed a well-meaning attempt. It might have happened right after a shift as everyone there was dressed in uniform. Well, almost everyone.

There was Lister, because of course they was Lister, dressed bright and obnoxious, wearing a million-dollar smile. Todhunter, or so she thought, was next to him, his hair a bit straighter and his grin a bit awkward. On the other side was... well that had to be McGruder. The eye colour was wrong, and she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen McGruder with her hair down, but that had to be her. She was smiling too, wide and blinding, and Kristine couldn't help but smile back. McGruder just had that effect on people. And if she wasn't mistaken, there was even Rimmer, hiding in the background, probably waiting for the photo to be finished so he could drag Lister away to get in his daily yelling.

And then, there was the woman in the middle. The woman with the, in Lister's words, 'pinball smile'.

She was smaller, rather dainty looking, and yet somehow, you got the feeling that she was far more rough and tumble than her size would suggest. She wasn't outrageously beautiful, but she looking charming, cheek, fun.

It seemed impossible, but the patch on her shirt said it all: Kristine Kochanski.

She hadn't been able to sleep the night she'd found that photo. Had spent the night staring up at the ceiling, the creaks and groans of the ship echoing in her ear as she thought about that photo.

It didn't make sense. A jumble of similar features - same hair, same skin, same gender - rearranged and organised to create two unrecognisable things.

She could imagine this Kristine bumming cigarettes off Lister after a tough shift, going out to drink with McGruder on the weekends and getting wasted for fun. She could imagine this Kristine grinning as she elbowed Todhunter in the side, teasing him about his crush, watching the rugby with Tim and yelling loudly for her team.

She could have never done that herself.

She'd resisted asking for a day, but then gave in. Holly gave her everything they knew about this Kristine, with the promise that Lister didn't need to know about this.

This Kristine had a different father.

Kristine knew him, he was her mum's best friend, but in this universe... well, they were apparently more.

She'd tried not to think about it, just as she tried not to think about the other Kristine, but it didn't work. She wondered and wondered and wondered. While she ate, while Kryten complained at her, while she read, while she ran for her life- it was always in the back of her mind. What had changed, what was the catalyst? Why him and not the man who was her father?

That, Holly didn't know.

A week after her first venture in, she visited The Room again.

She found a familiar well-worn diary filed with unfamiliar scrawling and events. She found a dusty teddy bear wearing a graduation hat congratulating her for surviving university. And she found, hidden behind a mirror on the desk, a picture of her and Lister.

It had obviously been taken at the same birthday the other picture had, but a few moments before everyone else had joined in. It was a strangely platonic picture.

Lister had always worn his heart on his grubby sleeve, and after they'd first broken up, it'd been painful to see photographs of them together, of how much he clearly cared. He always had an eye on her, a softness to his smile and a tight arm around her waist.

This Lister, looked straight at the camera, smile big and wide, an arm over her shoulder.

Maybe they had been friends before they dated, unlike her and Dave. And that lead to other thoughts.

Would this Kristine ever been able to love her Lister? Would this Kristine been able to handle being possibly the last human alive? Would this Kristine have wanted to be a mother, ever get into this whole mess in the first place? Would this Kristine have ever saved the cat?

"Wondered how long it'd take you to come 'ere."

Lister could be a surprisingly quiet man when he wanted to be. Her Dave didn’t often want to be; he liked to walk loud and talk louder, to make up for every silent step he’d ever taken.

Kristine didn't look away from the photograph in her hands, not even when Lister stopped beside her and sighed.

"Hope you're not too mad I didn' tell you 'bout my Kochanski. Thought it'd jus' make you feel weird."

"...Well, you were right about that. I can't believe how different we are. Why did you even believe me when I said I was her?"

Lister shrugged, and she finally looked away from the photo. She wondered if Lister had felt like this when he saw Dave.

"Weirder things have been true. 'Sides, the other me seemed to think you were, so I guessed it was jus' some weird parallel universe thing."

"...I suppose weirder things have happened."

Lister leaned over her shoulder, and let out a breathy laugh.

"God, I didn' know she kept tha' one. Thought she threw it out after Tim."

"She hid it behind her mirror."

It was strange talking about someone who was technically yourself in the third person.

He gently took it out of her hands and smiled down at the photo. There was silence in the room for a while, not an awkward one, but not an easy one either.

Eventually, the smile left and Lister ran his thumb over the frame.

"...Sorry I'm not more like your Lister."

She blinked, frowning ever so slightly. She knew that look; her Dave wore it well. He’d worn it a lot before he’d been given his hard-light body.

"Don't apologise, please. You shouldn't be sorry for that, just like I'm not sorry for not being your Kristine... I'm sorry you didn't get anything like us though, me and Dave."

He shrugged, a half-smile on his face.

"I'll get somethin'."

"With who? This Kristine is dead."

Again, he shrugged.

"Weirder things have happened."

There was something missing here, a blacked-out sentence in a banned book, but she didn't push it. This wasn’t her Dave to push and prod. Just like she wasn’t his Kristine to love. Perhaps they could be something though, something like that Kristine and Lister in the picture.

She put a hand on his back and leaned against his arm. He kept his eyes on the photograph.

In the end, she took from McGruder's wardrobe. The clothes there were a better fit.

#it's a bit messy i like wrote half of it last night before bed asdf #Kristine Kochanski #Red Dwarf #fanfiction #David Lister

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rafivadafreddy · 5 years ago

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The Favor pt 2

Rafael Barba x Amelia Herrera Fic An AU to my story “I Wonder” that can be found HERE

Summery: Something Happens to Amelia and Rafael comes out to Chicago to be with her and tell her how he feels. Will things work out for these two?

Word Count: 2,184 Warnings: Pretty sure there is no warning here. Amelia gets hurt though. But there’s a happy ending! ENJOY

Part One

Part Two

That was two weeks ago. She left and haven’t spoken to Rafael since. She ignored his messages and his calls. She ignored him. Emma was in no mood to talk to the man who hurt her. Did he think that just because she wasn’t some fancy lawyer or that she didn’t go to some Ivy-League school like him that she wasn’t busy or didn’t have a life? Did he even know WHAT she went through just to get a week off work to be with him? To help him forget about the wedding. A wedding that he spent ignoring her after the ceremony. Not like she used the full week. Only five days. By the sixth, she was back to work. Working her 12 to 14-hour shifts and resting the ten hours recommended before throwing herself back into work.

It wasn’t until Emma and her coworker were kidnapped one morning while walking to work. The two held at gun point and their hands tied behind their back, the two were taken to a house and thankfully, Emma was able to get her phone from her pants pocket. Able to dial her friend’s brother who worked as a cop. Emma wasn’t sure if he picked up or if it went to voicemail. Either way, they’ll find out about the kidnapping.

When being pushed into the house, the men telling Erik, her coworker to shut up as he tried to reason with the three men. Emma wanted to cry she didn’t try to stop the tears either. She let them fall as she and Erik were handcuffed together and forced to sit in a chair. The men going on and on how it was her fault that his son was dead.

Emma, the whole time was confused. Her fault? How? Who was his son?

“I… I’m sorry.” She cried and squeezed her eyes shut when one held the gun to her forehead.

It felt like forever, Emma was smacked, punched and chocked. By the time the police finally came to rescue them. Emma was barely conscious while Erik had a nasty bullet wound in his leg.

At the hospital, Emma laid there crying and covering herself with the blanket. Answering the police’s questions. Confirming everything they heard from the call. It seemed as Jay had answered the call and quickly jumped into action to help rescue her.

When Emma was finally left alone to recover. Stitches to her forehead where they had hit her with the butt of the gun. Emma ignored all the looks she got from her coworkers.

Rafael

“Early yesterday morning Amelia Herrera and Erik Bryant were both kidnapped while on their way to work. Rescued by the Intelligence Unit, it appears to seem that while tied up in the back of the trunk. The resident doctor, Amelia Herrera was able to grab her phone and call Detective Jay Halstead. Who rushed to work and his boss, Sargent Hank Voight quickly got his team together and managed to rescue the two doctors…….”

Rafael was looking at his screen with wide eyes. He quickly shot up from his couch and grabbed his phone. Calling his office, telling them he was taking a few more days. Explaining the situation. Rafael grabbed a bag and threw clothes inside it before racing out of his apartment and headed to the airport. Mumbling under his breath about the fact that the taxi was going too slow. By the time he got to the airport, he asked for the first flight out to Chicago.

‘Of course… the ONE time I need to get somewhere I have to wait..’ Rafael thought as he made it to his gate. Having to wait an hour before he was able to board the plane. By the time the plane landed in Chicago two and a half hours later, Rafael got a cab to the hospital. Not caring that he was in dark jeans, and a black shirt with a heavy jacket over it. Not wearing a hat or a scarf or gloves. The cold Chicago weather was really hitting him. Causing his face to become slightly pink thanks to the harsh winds.

By the time he finally arrived at the hospital, Rafael jumped out after shoving his money at the driver. Grabbing his bag, he quickly walked into the hospital and went up to the reception desk. “Hello, I’m here to see a Amelia Herrera.” He told the women sitting behind the desk, who just gave him a certain look.

“And you are?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

It was then that Rafael realized, this is where Emma worked, these people would be protective of one of their own. “I’m Rafael Barba… I saw what happened to her on the news... I just flew in from New York.” He frowned, thinking that they wouldn’t let him go through.

After the women typed a few things into the computer, she sighed. “Well, looks like you’re on the list of Emergency Contacts. You only weren’t notified because we got a hold of her mother first.” She informed him and handed over a clipboard. “Sign in, then you can take the elevator to the third floor. Room 307” she nodded, and Rafael quickly wrote down his name and grabbed the name tag before rushing off towards the elevator.

The minute he was the third floor, Rafael found her room number and knocked on the door before stepping inside.

“Emma?” he called out her name and glanced at the girl in the bed. It sure looked like Emma. Not that she turned to acknowledge him or anything. Stepping inside the room and closing the door, Rafael put his bag down and moved over to the bed. Watching the form under the blanket curled up in a ball.

“Mi corazón?” he tried again and softly touched her back. When he still didn’t get a reply, Rafael decided to leave it and pulled up a chair next to her bed and sat down. Seeing that Emma’s eyes were closed. Rafael closed his own and was soon snoozing in the chair. Waiting for Emma to wake up.

Amelia

Waking up with a gasp, Emma sat up quickly and looked around. Her breathing was heavy, and she took in her surroundings. “The hospital… I’m okay, I’m at the hospital,” she whispered to herself and Emma finally calmed down. Seeing a figure in the chair next to her bed, her mouth dropped.

“Rafael?” she called out to him, her voice coming out a bit horsy thanks to being chocked by those Basterds.

Watching the sleeping man wake up startled, Emma raised an eyebrow at him and leaned back. “Oh, your awake! Good…” he sighed and sat up right. Causing Emma to frown slightly.

“What are you doing here Rafael?” She asked softly this time and rubbed at her eyes.

Watching as he raised both eyebrows up, Rafael sighed. “I heard about what happened to you on the news.” He shook his head. “You’ve been ignoring me, which I don’t blame you. I treated you horribly at the wedding. Then when I heard your name on the news, hearing about what happened…” he trailed off and looked down at his hands. “I… I just knew Emma. I knew I had to come here. To see you, to make sure you were okay.”

Sighing, Emma looked up at the hospital ceiling. She didn’t know what to tell him, she had been terrified and kept thinking that the last thing she had done was shut him out because of that stupid wedding.

“I thought I was gonna die, Rafi…” Emma managed to say before her bottom lip started to tremble and she let out a small sob.

Within seconds Rafael had his arms around her, holding her close. Being careful with her head and neck. “Lo siento mucho mi amor…” she heard him whisper. “I’m so sorry.”

Shaking her head, Emma cried. “Bu… but you didn’t d…do anything!” she wept, burying her head onto his chest. “I’m the one… the one who ignored you. I knew the wedding would be tough for you!”

“Amor! Para. Tenías todo el derecho de estar enojado conmigo!” He said seriously and Emma frowned and continued to stay close to Rafael. “The truth is… I didn’t care about the wedding. When you left the table. I watched you… saw how all these guys kept coming up to you.” Sighing, she felt him run a hand through his short, but messy hair. “I was jealous… I know this might ruin our friendship, but damnit Amelia. I’ve been in love with you since your 16th birthday. I just never said anything cause I was leaving for college.”

Lifting her head up, Amelia looked at Rafael shocked. “You never told me… cause you left for college?” she repeated and shook her head. “What about after college? What about every time I visited you? Or you came to see me?” she nudged his shoulder not so softly. “I thought you’ve been hung up on Yelina all these years!”

The two looked at each other, not saying anything. Rafael moved first. Softly placing his hand on her cheek and leaned forward. Emma found herself doing the same, feeling her heart beat faster in her chest with each passing second. Soon their lips brushed against the other, it was like everything around her was gone. Nothing else mattered in that moment.

She could taste the coffee on his lips, making her grin into the kiss. Her coffee addict. His hands moved to the back of her neck, though he was careful with the bruising she had there. Emma’s own hands went to grip onto Rafael’s polo shirt. It didn’t last long, probably a minute or two, but to Emma it felt like hours. When they pulled away, Rafael leaned his forehead against hers. The two of them had their eyes closed still.

“What… what does this mean?” Emma asked, almost too afraid to.

“I want to be with you, Amelia. Whatever it takes… even if it means moving out to Chicago.” He finally opened his eyes to look down at her. Finding that she still had her eyes closed.

When Emma opened her eyes, dark brown was met with his beautiful green ones. “I don’t want you to move… let me finish my residency here then I can come back home.” She smiled slightly. “I was always planning on returning to New York… I can never stay away from you Rafi.” She leaned her head on her shoulder.

“Good… cause I can never stay away from you either mi amor.” He whispered, kissing the top of her head and laid there in the hospital bed. Holding Emma as the two of them fall asleep. Both with a smile on their face. Thinking about what the future will hold for them.

One thing Emma was certain. She was not about to let her chance in being with him pass, No matter the distance. Amelia only had less than a year to finish her residency, then she would be transferring to New York.

One year and 10 months later.

“Rafael!” A voice called out from the other room, causing the man to rush over, almost tripping on the way.

“What? What happened?” he asked scared and looked around. Trying to see if something was wrong.

Amelia stood there with narrowed eyes. “You expect me to move in with you… yet you’re throwing my things away?” she lifted her hand and showed him her Jane Austin book that she had found in the kitchen trash.

Biting down on his lip, Emma watched her boyfriend rub the back of his neck. “I have no clue how that ended up in the trash can mi corazón…” he gave her a sheepish smile.

“Yeah, it must have flown over here by itself. Right?” she shook her head and took her book over to his bookcase. Finding a place for it, Emma gasped. Hand going to her stomach. Rafael was by her side in seconds. Instead of saying anything. She grabbed his hands and placed them on her stomach.

Watching his reaction, Amelia grinned when Rafael grinned. Lighting up like a Christmas tree.

“She moved…” he whispered and knelt before Emma, the girl watching as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her 6-month bump. “Hola cariño, este es tu papi… te amo mucho mi princesa.” He spoke to the bump and Emma just laughed. Running her hand through his hair softly.

“Come on amor… let’s go before your mami comes over here to yell at us for missing lunch… again!” she stepped away and went to grab her coat. Smiling at her boyfriend.

Lucia had a field day when she found out Amelia was pregnant, and they weren’t married. Gladly the women got over it when reminded she would be a grandmother. His abuelita had also been excited and Emma couldn’t have been happier. She finally had a family, she couldn’t ask for more.

Walking out of their apartment hand and hand. Emma and Rafael were happy and that was all that mattered.

Tagging- @the-baby-bookworm If you’d like to be tagged, feel free to message me. Don’t forget to reblog and heart this! <3

#raul esparza #rafael barba #rafael barba x oc #rafael barba fanfic #rafael barba fic #raul esparza fanfic #raul esparza one shot #rafael barba one shot #rafael barba fanfiction #svu #law and order svu #happy ending #cute rafael barba #Chicago pd crossover #chicago pd #jay halstead

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