#yeah I'm really feeling bad for the guy who called a swat team on an elementary school

[fuck-in-the-explode]

Are people just forgetting that this guy kidnapped Denji and threatened to kill the grade school kid living with him a few chapters ago? I feel like I'm going crazy over here

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

hi yes im still alive

DON’T MIND ME, I’M JUST--

HAVING A MOMENT TO PROCESS ALL THE LORE AND STORY CHAPTER 6 JUST DROPPED ON US, I CAN BARELY WRITE

AHHHHHHH, I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS 😭 kjdbbaufbiafafvoaybo LEMME PUT ON MY THINKING CAP AND THROW SOME STUFF OUT ASDYUBUASDLI;AGVUOQIB;VI You’ll understand why I used Leona’s face here even though it’s Idia and Ortho’s chapter after you read my thoughts--

***Chapter 6 (and other main story) spoilers below the cut!***

Okay, just to keep it simple, I’ll try to keep things in chronological order!

First is a bullet point list of my thoughts on chapter 6 so far, then all my questions and theories (mostly a biggish theory on Ace) are at the end of the post.

Expectation: Idia cowering in his room, Vil and Rook busting down his door using Epel as a battering ram, dead Ortho theory confirmed

Reality: SWAT TEAM RAID ON NRC, DORM LEADERS (sans Kalim) AND JAMIL GET KIDNAPPED

Admittedly, I’m disappointed to see that the injury Grim inflicted to MC was basically just a cat scratch and nothing more. I thought it would be a lot more impactful if MC had to deal with juggling the realization that Grim has betrayed their friendship and trust while also on the verge of death (or at least while being severely injured)... And given how MC reacted to the attack at the end of chapter 5, I would think whatever struck them was much more substantial than just a cat scratch. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say either the script got scrubbed by Disney, or the intent was that MC was still woozy from VDC / OB Vil, MC felt so betrayed that it shook them emotionally, or that MC was just that weak by default that they can’t defend themselves against cat claws.

Hey, Ramshackle’s finally getting renovated! Proceeds to immediately get destroyed again--

I feel like????????? They tried to retroactively explain why Neige won to try and mitigate the uproar over how VDC ended. There’s some dialogue between the VDC group about how they didn’t perform at their peak because of having just walked out of dealing with OB Vil, and how Neige’s fans were going to vote for him anyway because they resonated with his background. Honestly, I think they should have moved on from that sore spot instead of bringing it up again, even if how chapter 5 ended didn’t personally bother me.

BOOM, HERE COME THE TWST TERMINATORS--

NOT GONNA LIE, THOSE STYX GUYS LOOK HOT SO COOL

AAAAAAND IT’S KIDNAPPING MONTAGE TIME, KIDS

JOABSFHUPAUABDBADB CALM DOWN, RIDDLE??????? YOU’RE GOING TO COMMIT ARSON IN BROAD DAYLIGHT--

Okay, I know this chapter’s focused on Ignihyde and Grim, but the standout part to me (so far) has been the scene where Leona’s being kidnapped. Historically, Leona has not been a character that I like (excluding that one time I had to pretend to like him for a game). I feel like he’s one massive missed opportunity (he didn’t show up much in chapter 2, he’s pretty similar backstory-wise to his Disney counterpart compared to the other Dorm Leaders, he didn’t seem to learn anything or become a better person even a LITTLE after chapter 2, etc.). I’m not a fan of his lazy and arrogant attitude either (even if it is justified by his backstory). But here? THIS IS THE LEONA I ACTUALLY LIKE AND WANT TO SEE MORE OF. 

LIKE????? I CAN’T DESCRIBE TO YOU HOW MUCH I LIKE THIS SCENE???? Yeah, we have Leona fighting STYX at first, but as soon as he realizes who they are, he wises up and surrenders because he knows better than to resist arrest. AND NOT ONLY THAT, but he uses King’s Roar in a smart way--to turn the falling greenhouse glass panes into sand so they don’t hurt anyone nearby (namely him and Ruggie).

And after he turns himself in????? LEONA TELLS RUGGIE TO TAKE CARE OF SAVANACLAW FOR HIM!!! THIS is what a real leader would do. He looks after himself and his people, but he knows when to surrender, AND he leaves his “kingdom” (the dorm) in good hands while he’s away. THIS is the Leona I want to see.

AJBDUASHPFBUABFIABIYFBIPFAAFIAF I ALSO REALLY LIKE HIS SASS WHEN HE JUST THROWS HIS HANDS UP AND ASDBIASBIABAIODDAYOFAIPPADAIDB SAYS “I’ll go with you, but be careful while escorting me, okay? Despite my looks, I'm a precious prince. I’ll get sick/dizzy if you drive recklessly.” SARCASTIC SASSY SMARTASS??????? IF YOU HAD MORE LINES LIKE THIS, I’D LIKE YOU MORE

I love how Azul’s still talking about capitalism/how he can profit from Idia (apparently the Shrouds are like the TWST equivalent of Google??????) as he’s being escorted away by the agents?????? IF I WERE HIM, I’D BE PISSED OFF THAT THEY INTERRUPTED MY BOARD GAME????? At least let the man finish first--

Damn, everyone’s being tasered???????? And apparently all the STYX agents are equipped with anti-magic plates? I guess Bind the Heart can just eat shit then--

Lilia’s ringtone is cute, period.

CROWLEY CALLED STYX TO CAPTURE GRIM???? GRIM IS OFFICIALLY A SCP THAT NEEDS TO BE CONTAINED????

WAIT WHAT CROWLEY’S BEING KIDNAPPED TOO??????? Oh well, the school is probably safer in Trein’s hands anyway--

askhlbfbilhidbabbidasb RIDDLE WAKES UP POST KIDNAPPING AND HE’S USING LEONA AS A LAP PILLOW?????!

How does it feel to be held in a room against your will, Jamil? Yeah, don’t like a taste of your own medicine, do you?

OH HI IDIA, NICE YZMA MAD SCIENTIST GETUP YOU GOT THERE

Wait, what????? THAT’S IT?????? SERIOUSLY???????

MAN.

I have so many questions??????? Specifically about STYX and what they do, and how the Shrouds are tied into all of it.

So they say STYX is a specialized unit called in to quell serious Overblot cases. And if Crowley called them to deal with Grim... well, bad times ahead for Grim. STYX has also been studying Overblot for a long time, which is why (I think?) they captured Riddle, Leona, Azul, Jamil, and Vil. 

There’s been some allusions made between Grim and Stitch in a lot of fan art and fan theories I’ve seen, since their struggles have some parallels: that being them struggling to decide if they are “good” or “bad”. I don’t know if this was intentional on the part of the TWST writing team, but regardless, it’s a really good concept that plays into the themes of TWST itself. There’s no good, there’s no evil, no black and white--most of the characters we see may be BASED on villains, but that doesn’t MAKE them villains. They are good, and bad, in their own ways--and now Grim is dealing with that crisis as he fights to keep his sanity and avoid completely succumbing to Overblot.

Though Idia seems to be involved with STYX’s research, it doesn’t sound like he personally gave the order to retrieve those test subjects (or at the very least, he’s not happy about roughing up the test subjects), it sounds like the orders came from other people in the organization. His parents, perhaps?

They mention briefly that Idia’s parents are asking him to “come home”, so it must be for something urgent. Are they worried about his safety? But Idia’s lines at the end of chapter 5 lead me to think he is estranged from his family, since he straight up rejected a job offer linked to them (Olympus Corp is owned by the Jupiter family, and the Shrouds are a branch family of Jupier), and says something like “I’m not welcome anywhere”. Has Idia done something to disgrace him from the rest of the family? Or is it more of a self imposed/self inflicted statement, given that he always says he’s “cursed” and acts like he’s guilty of something that deserves scorn?

Why is Idia participating in STYX research, even if it means experimenting on his fellow students (and fellow board game enthusiast Azul)? People are speculating that he wants to use blots to fully revive Ortho (if dead Ortho theory is true), or that Idia actually has heroic intentions (he wants to know more about blots to prevent OBing from happening?), but at this point??? Literally anything could happen?!

In future parts, I’m guessing Pomefiore, MC, and Adeuce will team up to break Jamil and the Dorm Leaders (except Malleus, Malleus got left out again www) out? And HOPEFULLY we get to see Rook’s Unique Magic or at least more screen time, since I feel like he got so little in chapter 5... Another thing I’d like to see is Ace and/or Epel getting their Unique Magic, or at least starting to develop it. It’s really mostly Ace I want more details for.

A theory I’ve been holding onto for a long time is that Deuce getting his UM will spur Ace on to become jealous (since he has always seen Deuce as an idiot/”lesser” than him), and that will cause a rift in the friendship, or for Ace to throw himself into a dangerous situation to prove himself (he has done it before with Riddle)... and has his ass rescued again. This would make Ace even angrier, since he feels like everyone is treating him like a little kid or rubbing it in that he isn’t “as good” as they are. I don’t know where it would go from there (I’m sure TWST would get creative), but ultimately it would culminate in Ace making amends with everyone and rushing in to save them from either Grim or Idia OB.

I don’t think Ace would discover his UM in a similar manner as Deuce (Deuce had to embrace his own stubbornness and straightforwardness, but as the term “Unique” Magic implies, the way a magic develops and manifests is “unique” to the user). While Deuce has to learn to accept his own way of thinking, I believe Ace is already sure of his own way of thinking and has totally accepted it. I think what Ace has to deal with instead is coming to terms with his fickleness. We’ve seen him time and time again treating his loved ones kind of callously, from constantly bullying MC, Grim, and Deuce to ghosting his own girlfriend and flaking on people when they are counting on him to do a task.

The issue with Ace isn’t that he isn’t aware, it’s that he is aware and he seems to think this behavior is totally okay. He demonstrates little to no remorse in what he does and says, and he doesn’t seem to care about the consequences either (how many times does he get punished by Riddle, yet he keeps doing the same dumb things over and over?). Ace appears to operate under the mindset of always being in the right, or (if he’s in the wrong), he won’t really acknowledge it, or he will wave it off as “no big deal”--and I think that’s his greatest weakness.

In the scenario I described earlier, I mentioned that Ace’s jealousy will cause a wedge between him and his friends, and I think this will play into him realizing the error of his ways. When he has finally driven away all of the people that supported him, what will he have left? Nothing. Then maybe Ace suddenly finds himself relating to Idia, or to Grim, who have Overblotted and are in a similar emotional state as he is. Confused and lonely... and that energizes him to pitch in again, even if all he has is wind magic up his sleeve. Everyone could be shocked that Ace has returned, and in that moment, he could finally realize his true potential and unlock his Unique Magic!

(Maybe that’s too specific, but that’s a scenario that I’ve had playing in my head for a long time!)

... Buuuuut given that Ace has gotten little to no spotlight so far in chapter 6, I’m not sure if they’ll lean into him developing his UM yet (unless they pull a chapter 5 and really start addressing Ace in the latter half of the chapter like they did with Deuce). Seeing as chapter 6 is dealing with a lot of heavy topics (death, Grim lore, Overblot lore), I’m thinking maybe the TWST team will push off Ace’s UM development to chapter 7???? The only way I can see it happening in chapter 6 is if the chapter is SUPER long, or if the writing is REALLY good or really bad. 

Anyway, I’m keeping my fingers crossed!!! I’m so excited for the rest of chapter 6... I hope that we don’t have to wait too long for it!

[3416]

The way you put your answer about the Carlos/Grace scene makes so much sense honestly. I absolutely loved the team up between them and the scenes we got. But I have to think stuff was cut or rewritten to fit Angela in because Carlos’ journey in the episode doesn’t actually make a ton of sense. We didn’t get to see his headspace in and around that loft scene. And we didn’t get much resolution at the end for him either. Grace got to talk it out with Judd, voice her feelings with Carlos, and then even get the last word in with the gamer. Not trying to be negative or critical! I really did love their scenes and enjoyed the episode! I just think it was a bit lacking for him, like you said. I’d say after watching it, that it was really more of a Grace episode than his. And again, not negative, we’ve got some big episodes for him coming up by the looks of it!!

yeah, same! i wasn't totally in love or fully engaged with how they did that whole thing, lol, even though i had fun watching the episode and seeing two of my fave characters interact. i think maybe also the idea itself was kind of weak for the way they presented it? like they kept saying how they used carlos and grace specifically as weapons but... any person on that call kinda was? and i know it's based on real life incidents, and i know they wrote it so carlos is the one to deal with the guy when he ends up dying (which still don't understand with a whole ass SWAT team there? would those people not be on the perimeter too im.. 😭 overanalyzing a network procedural vibes rn my bad) but the writing just didn't sell the personal investment angle for carlos for me. and bc i think about and love the character so much, i know that carlos is someone who wouldn't take that lightly at all. it would REALLY bother him and since it apparently IS the first time that's happened to him (someone dying bc of his actions) i'm confused why that didn't take over the focus of that entire storyline. now i'm thinking about in the live where the were playfully like "no i think it's about YOU and i'm the side support" ... and the way sierra was adamant that it was more carlos than grace..................... that's clearly where the disjointedness comes from bc i don't agree with her lol. i think it should have been, but the show didn’t treat it like that. unless there were cut scenes we didn't see, it wasn't even necessarily the grace show, but i do think she got to express her feelings on it more thoroughly and got more closure and she's not even the one that actually like. caused him to die. it lacked a lot of closure for carlos, who i KNOW would be affected by that and who they clearly hinted at was............ it was just never addressed again which was a little frustrating? and then to kinda.. cram that lack of resolution for the actual lone star characters in the end by having athena catch the guy?????? underwhelming. i doubt it's something they'll touch on for carlos again so.. gonna rely on fandom to fill in the gaps i guess fkldjs.

[nebraska-is-a-myth]

Drown your sorrows - part 7

Grab your tissues dude, this one is not a happy one at all. I'm sorry in advanced

special shout out to my pal @hufflepuffkilljoy for helping me with some details for this chapter. I also feel like they’re going to kill me after reading this so wish me luck.

Masterlist

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

Tommy is fortunate enough to stay conscious this time.

It's a lot warmer than the warehouse was and he's still just as afraid.

But he feels more prepared for the heat now.

Tubbo was so close to the first explosion, too close. Tommy watches the blast separate them and he can hear his friends desperate coughs from across the burning room. He can't get up, his wrist is hurt and his injured leg burns every time he tries to put pressure on it. He calls for Tubbo but he doesn't think his friend can hear him between his endless coughing and the roaring flames.

He's so thankful Tubbo isn't alone when Eret finally shows, the older man slips masks on both of them and they huddle together for a moment before Tommy hears something explode below them. He tries to cling to Eret as he reaches for Tubbo and they all plummet down into freezing water.

He and Eret sink into the water and the harshness of it makes Tommy gasp. 

Water seeps in through his mask and the tightness of it makes him panic

He attempts to take the mask off, as if that might make him less disorientated.

It's doesn't

He takes a big gulp of water into his mouth and suddenly he can't stop.

He's drowning.

His limbs flail about and he cant help but scream into the water as pain ruptures through him. He keeps taking in more and more water and his lungs spasm as they fill with murky liquid. Tommy doesn't know where he is, it's dark and cold and he doesn't know which way is up and if his body wasn't already submerged in water he thinks he might cry.

Tommy doesn't want to die

There are so many things he hasn't done yet, so many things he hasn't said.

He wanted to take Tubbo to his favorite place in the city and go adventuring through the abandoned buildings Dream used to let him demolish when he was angry or upset. He wanted to tell his best friend in the whole word that he loved him, that they were brothers until the end. He never really had the courage to say it before now, thought it would make him sound childish and weird. ( Really he was just afraid that Tubbo wouldn't feel the same, and he wasn't ready to let his best friend go just yet. )

He wanted to thank Wilbur for taking him into l’manburg, for trusting him and becoming the older brother figure he never thought he needed ( or wanted ). For teaching him how to properly aim a gun and negotiate something without shouting, for letting him become the heir to the empire they built. 

He thinks about all the movie nights with fundy and Eret, remembers popcorn fights and sleepovers, baking competitions and playing video games till early dawn. He remembers waking up from nightmares and talking to Eret about his scars, sharing the good and the bad with each and every one of them.

As the seconds roll past, Tommy can feel himself suffocating. His lungs fill with more and more water and his body starts to shut down, the pain is everywhere and nowhere and slowly he becomes blissfully aware that he is going to die here.

In the back of his mind he hopes that dream knows he’s forgiven. If he’s going to die he might as well forgive the man, he knows deep down that dream never wanted any of this and he hopes that his death will spark something in the man, and prevent the bloodshed of his friends.

The last thing on Tommys mind before the darkness swallows him is Technoblade, and he wonders if he’ll finally see him again when he goes to sleep.

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

“How old were you when you first killed someone?”

“Jeezus Tubbo what the hell dude.”  

Tommy swats at his best friend who's laying next to him on the wooden floor. They're all laying on piles and blankets and duvets and tucked up in sleeping bags like campers. Popcorn crumbs litter the floor and Tubbo has kernels stuck in his hair after he used the bowl as protection from Tommy throwing pillows at him.

The group decided to have a sleepover to commemorate Wilbur's birthday, all of them laid in a circle around the couches in wilburs living room and Wilbur almost regrets letting them into his house.

Tommy and Tubbo are layed on the floor, heads close to each other facing opposite directions. Tommy is smiling as he flails his arms at the other boy and has his feet resting in Erets lap. Fundy is on Erets left, curled up in 3 blankets like a burrito, a clear sign of Wilburs handiwork after someone made a joke about fundy being wilburs child.

Wilbur himself is half paying attention to the movie they all put on as background noise as he tries not to look like he’s actually enjoying the night his boys had planned.

Nobody spoke at first, no one was really quite sure what to say. Eventually, Wilbur took a breath and spoke in a slight monotone. “fifteen.”

Even though they may have been concerned, nobody was quite as surprised as maybe they should have been. It was a rough line of work, it wasn't really a shock to anyone that their leader had started so young.

“Robbery gone wrong, cops came earlier than expected. Shot one to save myself, nothing more to it.”

Fundy pokes his head out of his blanket burrito a little more and rests his head on his knees. “Got in a fight back in the Netherlands when I was eighteen, ended badly for the other guy.”

Eret is a bit more hesitant to respond but with a reassuring nudge from Tommy, he gives the teen a small smile and takes a breath. “Got involved with a super serious gang back in England when I was sixteen.”

He doesn't say anything more but nobody really blames him. Eret never really talks about his time back in England much, but the team sees the way he gets nervous around cameras and always makes sure he can never be traced wherever he goes. Everyone is running from something, it's why most of them came to America after all.

Tommy doesn't realize it's his turn until he’s noticed everyone's looking at him.

He laughs and swats at Tubbo for a second time. “It's your question you go first.”

Tubbo looks at his friend strangely but shakes it off and reaches to grab a handful of crisps. “Ummm, technically I haven't.”

Tommy listens to his best friend shove a handful of crisps in his mouth and his throat goes dry, he only distantly hears Fundy ask Tubbo a question but his thoughts seem to drown everyone out. 

He knows he has two options here. He knows that lying is the safest one for him, that he could just follow along with what Tubbo said and just get it over with. But he feels compelled to let the truth just spill out of his mouth and let everything into the world. He can't help it when the words start falling from his lips, he so desperately wants to shove everything back into the box he’s kept everything in for years and go back to the fun loving, annoying Tommy everyone knows.

But instead he just had to open his stupid mouth like he always does.

“I uhh, I killed mum.”

Shit

Shit

Shit

“She uhh, bled out, when I was born.”

Shut up

Shut up

Shut up

“So yeah uhh, I guess I win.”

The room is silent, and he’s brought out of his head by Eret rubbing small comforting circles into the bottom of his leg.

“Tommy.”

He really wishes he hadn't spoke

“You know that couldn't have possibly been your doing.”

Wow the ceiling is really interesting

“Tommy.”

He can't speak. If he speaks he’s going to cry and he can't cry. 

Tommyinnit doesn't cry.

He feels Tubbo moving to wrap and arm around him and he really wants to just not be here.

He’s lying on the floor of his bosses friends house, crying in front of the people he cares about most about because he couldn't keep his fucking mouth shut.

Tommy feels himself moving and slowly more and more arms are around him. He feels a blanket being draped over him and suddenly he finds himself sobbing into someone's chest.

Someone is running their hand through his hair and he wonders if that's something his mother would have done for him.

Sometimes he wishes life was different, that maybe he might have had a better childhood if his mother had been in his life for longer than three seconds.

But as he feels his own tears soak into one of his friends' shirts, he thinks that maybe his life ain't so bad.

And later in the night when he's stood on Wilbur's kitchen counter with Erets glasses hanging off his face singing loudly to random Hamilton songs with his friends, he knows he wouldn't change it for the world.

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

Tommy wakes up confused and coughing.

He can feel the water spluttering out of his mouth and he feels like he's throwing up his organs.

He’s vividly aware that something doesn't feel right

He feels wrong and disorientated and,,,

He’s underwater?

Tommy flails his limbs about and in a matter of seconds he surfaces into darkness

He coughs up all of the water that's been sloshing about in his lungs and his throat stings as fresh air floods into his body.

Through all the coughing and the sound of water in his ears, he hears a voice calling him.

“Tommy!”

He turns his head to find Eret also treading water on the other side of a mountain of rubble, he has a large gash on the side of his head that looks like it would have dried by now if not for the water continuously splashing against it. His glasses are nowhere to be seen and Erets looking at him like he knows something Tommy doesn't.

“Tommy thank god you're okay.”

Tommy swims over to where Eret is still floating and takes a moment to examine the rubble surrounding his friend. 

Most of it seems to be concrete and rocks piled up around him, but the two big metal pipes separating him and Eret are what concern him. And the fact that Eret hasn't made an attempt to move past them.

"Where's tubbo?"

"He swam over that direction, tried to find a way out I think."

"Why didn't you follow him."

"Tommy."

"Come on we can't just leave him to look on his own. He'd get lost in a bloody parking lot."

Tommy wraps his hands around one of the pipes and attempts to push it out of the way.

Eret doesn't move.

"Tommy I,"

"Waters rising, gotta move this thing before Tubbo ends up swimming into someone's toilet."

The younger boy changed angles and tried to pull the other pipe towards him.

"Tommy."

He feels Eret place his hand on top of his own but the younger boy swats it away and keeps trying to force the pipes out of the way.

“Come on man, just, just try.”

Eret grabs his hand again.

“Just help me okay!”

Water splashes up Tommys nose and he feels tears pricking at his eyes

“Just, Just do something! Please! please” 

Eret grabs a hold of both of tommys hands and holds him as close as the barrier of rubble will let him.

“Please. I can't lose you too.”

Erets voice is soft and calming. Tommy wants him to laugh and point at him and tell him how this is all just a big joke and they can all go home together and watch movies on Wilburs couch.

But he doesn't

“Hey it's okay, you're not gonna lose me alright. I will always, always be with you, no matter what.”

“Don't give me that bullshit. I don't want you in my heart or looking down on me, I want you to stay here, alive.”

“I want that too Tommy, more than anything. But life doesn't always go the way we want it to.”

Eret coughs and shivers in the water, he looks up and realizes that neither of them have a lot of time left before the water fills the room. They both know Tommy can't stay here any longer, and it's only a matter of time before the coldness of the water gives him hypothermia.

“You need to go.”

“No.”

“Tommy.”

“No I am not leaving you here!”

“You don't have a choice Tommy!”

“Yes I do! Now help me move these goddamn pipes”

“For fuck sake Tommy! I am stuck down here! Those pipes aren't going to move and I'm not leaving this fucking basement. You need to go, now!”

“I-”

“Tommy you are my brother and I will always love you but you need to get the fuck out of here right now.”

“Tommy, Eret!”

“Down here.”

Eret hears Wilbur jump down into the freezing water and he can faintly see him swimming towards him and Tommy.

“You guys okay?”

“Yes now get him out of here.”

“I said no!”

“What about you.”

“I'll be fine just go.”

Wilbur takes a moment, a moment of weakness, a moment of emotion and sadness and he looks at Eret, his friend. He feels the water clog his nostrils and nods, with his heart heavy and his mind full, he drags a tired and freezing Tommy away.

“Wilbur let me go!”

“We can't leave him!”

“we have to help him!”

“Wilbur!”

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Later on when everyone's safe and dry and the adrenaline and panic has left his system, Wilbur finds himself gazing up at his reflection in his bathroom mirror. Every time he looks at himself all he can see is the look in his friends eyes before he left him to drown, he remembers the hurt in his face and his willingness to die just to see Tommy safe. Every time he closes his eyes it's all he sees.

Wilbur stands up tall and strong in front of himself and plasters on the face of a warrior, a face that dream and George and sapnap will forever fear. He vows on this day that he will teach them what true fear feels like, no more kind words or friendly disputes.

He doesn't care about making allies or keeping peace.

His city is in danger

His mind is broken

His friends are traumatized

Eret is dead

And Wilbur wants vengeance.

If dream wants war, he’ll give him war.

[doubleshotofsomething]

Come Into My Life

This is my entry for @nekoannie-chan​‘s writing challenge. Congratulations on 500followers :D! Thank you so much for letting me participate!

This is a series. The remaining parts will be posted throughout the day. It is a Thor fanfic with a song prompt “Entra en mi Vida” (its a beautiful song, i highly recommend).

Song Prompt: Entra en mi Vida by Sin Bandera 

Warnings: swearing, like a lot of it. Mentions of human experimentation. that’s it?? Also, people are idiots here, folks. bare with me.

Summary: You live in a world where soulmates don’t exist. Like, at all. All that meant to be, fate has chosen nonsense? Not real. Literal, actual, from-the-TV-screen fairytale. So... why is the God of Thunder convinced that you’re his?

Part One: Entra en mi vida, te abro la puerta

"So—" You clear your throat, throwing yourself onto the only empty seat, "—all jokes aside, guys. What the fuck!"

Everyone blinks at you, drinks in their hands and confusion all over their faces.

You stare back at them, completely dismissing the new sets of eyes staring at you. "No, seriously, like what the fuck?" You reiterate. "Like, no guys, this fuck needs an answer. What the fuck."

"Are we supposed to know what this fuck is?" Ghost asks, the first among the group of five to surpass her confusion. "Because I have a what the fuck for that what the fuck."

You reach over to grab her drink and she – having been used to your antics after three years of friendship – moves it closer for you to grab. You take a sip, let the taste of her chamomile tea settle on your tongue, blanch and give it back.

"So, you know how the Avengers got their asses whipped after they pulled a deadbeat dad, right?" You make grabby hands towards Hope's drink, and she – just like Ghost – pushes it over to you.

"Careful," she grimaces, "it has a kick to it."

"So did Thanos," You mumble as you take a sip of her drink. The espresso sits heavily on your tongue and you swear you can feel it stain your teeth. "What the actual fuck, Hope? What is this? And why does it not have sugar?"

She chooses to roll her eyes at you and mimic the remaining two new faces by staying quiet. Her eyes narrow at you in warning.

"Don't get a tude with me, missy—" You wag your finger at her, “—you're the one that MIA'd for five years without a return address and pissed off the Feds. Like, seriously, what the fuck guys? We had plans and everything! Why the fuck would you leave me alone for that long? You know how I get when I'm not forced to socialise!"

Ghost snorts. "Don't be a baby."

Pouting, because you’re very mature, you feign a sniffle and stick your tongue out at her. "Weeeeeh."

The dude with the annoyingly short blond hair snorts, consequently gaining your attention, and tries to hide his smile with his cup.

"You're new," you narrow your eyes at him. "Why are you new? And why do you look like the dude that owes me 12K for wrecking my car?"

"Oh my god—" Ghost grumbles in the background, "—not this again."

"I have bills and crippling debts and things that need to be paid for, Ghost!"

"You're a trust fund baby, you shithead!" She argues. "You don't know what crippling debt looks like!"

"You don't know that! My investment portfolio has been crumbling since the stock market crashed last year due to the recession."

Sam grins cheekily at you. "You have no idea what you just said, do you?"

Huffing and puffing, all you can say is. "Let's go back to the what the fuck that needs to be discussed." You glare at him pointedly, "then maybe, we can discuss why you're still here and why you came back from ashes."

"I know you missed me, cupcake." The evil bastard reaches over and pinches your cheek.

"I miss dancing on your grave," You try to swat his hand away, "now, thanks to your selfishness, I need a new dance floor. Very rude of you to not stay dead."

"You're adorable."

"As I was whatting the fucks," You turn back to Hope and Ghost, "when the fuck did my life become Thor versus Thanos, and why am I the Thor without the hammer to fight Thanos?"

"Is that your what the fuck?"  Ghost frowns.

It's her turn to get glared at. "Don't act like you haven't seen the footage. You know exactly how badly Thor got yeeted off his high horse. I'm only regretful that Captain Wrecking Ball wasn't knocked off his."

"You know he's over here, right?" Hope, ever the oblivious one to your obvious jabs, points at the dude that wrecked your car.

"Yeah, unlike my car and the check he has yet to hand over but hey—" lifting up the cup of espresso, you grin at her "—when life gives you lemons."

"I'm still confused and offended about the Thanos reference." Sam, the gift from the bad side of Pandora's box, begins. "What do we have to do with your life?"

"What does pulling a deadbeat dad mean?" The other new dude asks, his face is both the definition of confused and annoyed. "And what does it have to do with the Avengers?"

You frown. "Now I'm confused—"

"Oh no—" Ghost grimaces.

"—Why do you look like the dude from Gossip Girl but also like the dude on the UN's wanted poster of 20something?" You turn to Sam for assistance. "Doesn't he look like that old geezer from the museum?"

Sam grins, leans back in his seat to take a proper look at the manbun dude. Your table is the round one placed at the corner – the irony – and, until recently, it has always been occupied by the four of you. That was before they decided to ghost you for half a decade.

 "Now that you mention it—"

"Oh, fuck off." Manbun snaps at Sam, and you swear you've never fallen in love faster in your entire life than you have in that moment.

Your grin is wide and shit-eating as you put the cup down. You extend your hand to Manbun and wiggle your freshly painted — somehow chapped – fingers.

"I'd tell you my name but it's better if you just called me sweetheart," You’re still grinning. "What's your sign and what time can you pick me up?"

He blinks at you, still confused, and frowns at your hand. Slowly, because you’re a patient girl, you lean over and pry his left hand away from his cup. You place your palm in his and wrap your fingers around each other.

"I'd ask for your name but I think I'll settle for calling you babe," You shake his hand, and then place it back on the cup. "Or hun. I'd call you handsome, but that's too tacky and we—” You point between the both of you, " – don't do tacky."

You sit back in your seat and glance at Sam. "Well... Most of the time anyway."

At this, the rest of your life flashes you a grin. "How does eight o'clock sound?"

"It sounds like a recipe for disaster." Ghost cuts in, narrowing her eyes at you. "Back off, shithead. You've hurt enough of my coworkers"

Jaw dropping and shock feigning, you gasp. "How is that my fault?"

"Is that joke?" Ghost frowns, "because I feel like it's a joke. Three incidences with the analysts and five tech support team make it look like a joke."

You scoff at that. "Look, if your little back up boys can't handle the essence of a real woman, then that's not my fault." Confidently – and silently annoyed – you also add. "Plus, I actually did SHIELD, or whatever ridiculous name you're calling the remake of a failed organisation, a favour. If your boys behind the boys in spandex can't handle being told off by a 'mouse' as they call us, then they shouldn't be behind the dude that wrecked my car.

 "But now that I've said that out loud—" You pause, "—I finally understand why the Avengers are so bad at their job. I mean, with such poor support systems, it's no wonder boy blue and red uses cars as a landing mechanism. It's almost as if he's never heard of a parachute."

There's a pregnant pause as you pretend to ponder the situation. The new dude with the blond hair has visibly turned red and is shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Manbun has a very permanent looking frown smeared all over his face and you’re pretty sure you've just ruined whatever chances you had of giving him children. And Sam, because he's Sam and is patiently waiting his turn to roast you, has the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.

Ghost pretends to scowl at you, even though you’re pretty sure she's already drawing up the schematics for the pedestal she's about to build for you. Hope, because she's Hope and has first-hand experience of dealing with spoilt little brats that use creative antics to slowly drive people away, decides to use that exact moment to sigh and expose you.

"Hey sweetheart," she begins in that voice of betrayal. "Can you, like, not be an antisocial, territorial pain in the ass for five minutes and be nice? Stop trying to get our guests to leave with your little mind games, yeah?"

You blink at her. Once, twice. Because the betrayal always takes a few moments to sink in.

"They're not mind games." You retort. "Boy Blue over there did wreck my car. He used it to cushion his fall, because apparently the super-secret organisation that harbours entitled idiots doesn't invest in parachutes."

"But you don't even need that 12K—"

"I didn't ask for the 12k. I just simply pointed out that his reckless behaviour is very costly for those who suffer for it."

"Okay, guys—" Ghost tries to interject, but it's too late. The fire has already started, and Hope and you have never been on the same page when it comes to anything involving the Avengers.

"You're being unreasonable now. You, of all people, should understand that some things are out of our control."

"That doesn't excuse or make the damage done alright. The ruining of people’s livelihoods isn’t a necessary evil for your super heroe'ing righteousness." You point out, eyes narrowed, and teeth bared. "I, of all people, don't understand your defence. Because I don't use the lab that made me as an excuse to get away with the bad shit I do to people. Whether intentionally or not."

"Really? Because you weren't singing that same song when you cashed in on all that HYDRA inheritance."

"I am not the people that made me and it's not like I'm vacationing the money away. Or have you forgotten about that harbour I had to fix because your boyfriend decided to grow a few sizes?"

"Oh, how could I forget? It's not like you rub it in his face every time he tries to so much as even say hi to you."

"People should be held accountable for their actions. Excuse me for exercising my fifth amendment because I don't think communicating with the guy that turned your dad into a fugitive by siding with the anti-accords gang is cool!"

"That accords was messed and you know it!"

“Yeah, but I didn’t go around trying to be a vigilante about it!”

"Just admit that your stance for the accords is only because you need the government's protection against ex-Hydra agents."

She hit a cord and she knows it. "You're treading on very thin ice, Hope."

 "Scared they might come back and finish what they started? Now that Pierce and Rumlow are gone, there's nothing stopping them from finishing what they started, is there?"

"You know," You sigh, reaching for Ghost's drink and taking a sip. "At least, I don't have to abduct a man from his home, nearly ruin his chances at freedom, risk his life numerous times for my personal gain, just cause I have a theory about my mom's whereabouts. And then—" You let out a condescending laugh at the thought, "—have the audacity to look him in the eye and call it love. Because, ya know, turning a guy into a science experiment and berating him for doing what he thought was right is so romantic."

She's turning red. You can see it before it actually happens and there is a sick sense of pleasure coursing through your veins at the thought. At the fact that you’re the one pressing all the buttons.

Boy, are you fucked up.

"Damn." Sam mumbles, then chortles, then belts out a laugh. "Shit. Who pissed in your gourmet breakfast?"

"People," You scowl at him. “Fucking people. Because, now call me a bitch if you insist, I don't remember telling management to sign a deal with SHIELD."

"What the fuck?" Ghost, ever so caring, contributes to your bewilderment and pissy mood.

You nod frantically at her. "Exactly! What the fuck! Do you see why I needed you guys so bad? Like, it's like the creation of the Strike Force all over again!"

"Hold on—" Captain Damage Ball cuts in. "—I'm confused. What exactly is going on and what does SHIELD have to do with it?"

"Oh boy. Germany, here we go again—"

"Don't be an asshole, shithead."

 --

 When SHIELD fell and Black Widow released all those classified documents to the public, your existence was made known to the public. It turned out that running a terrorist cell inside a super-secret organisation wasn't the only thing Pierce had hidden from the world. You were.

You were supposed to be an experiment. Another volunteer, like the Twins, for Hydra's ultimate plan. Another Bucky Barnes, but without the constant torture to keep you mindless and loyal.

 You were supposed to be the next generation. The Rumlow that wouldn't need force and violence to get the job done. That was the requirement. Those were the orders. That's what you were supposed to be.

Instead, somewhere deep in the dark, cold corners of an abandoned Hydra lab, the inhumane attempt of creating Winter Soldiers through 'natural means' had taken place.

The surrogates were all volunteers, the scientist claimed.

The procedure was necessary for the mission, the doctor explained.

This is the only way forward, the master mind behind that plan argued.

Rumlow took care of the agents himself. Pierce burned down that lab himself. And, out of all the children born, you were the only one that lived longer than the rest. The others were unfortunate enough to be experimented on, before Rumlow found out.

Not knowing who to trust, Pierce kept you hidden from the world and Hydra. He never hid the truth from you, nor did Rumlow. They knew that, at some point, those that knew about the lab would eventually find you, and you needed to be prepared for when they did.

When SHIELD fell, the paper trail that led to your existence was small – miniscule, even – but it was there. Sam found it, but he kept you a secret as well until you were ready for the whole world to know.

But the world wasn't waiting for you to be ready. It wasn't that patient, nor kind. Because, with everything out in the open, chaos ensued, and you were still – at the end of the day – the next generation. All those assets couldn't remain frozen forever and all those lives that were ruined by Hydra couldn't remain unaided.

So, you had to step out and – begrudgingly – announce your existence to the world. Put a huge target on your back and claim the inheritance that Pierce had unwittingly left you.

"I'm gonna go piss off alot of bad people—" You had said to Sam over the phone, right before your News Interview. "What do you think I should start with?"

He wasn't having any of it. "Did you just wait for me to leave the country so you could do something stupid?"

"Of course not, I'm not you—" You scoffed, checking your outfit again. "—I hired a hacker to fake a series of cyber-attacks. Then I asked that girl, you know – the one that could walk through walls, to freak a bunch of people out. So, you know, it could be an Avenger level threat, but not the kind that needed Captain Spandex, so they'd send you. Then I scheduled the interview for the night of the supposed attack, because I knew you'd be gone—"

"Are you kidding me, Y/N— Clint, turn this thing around now!"

"—So, I was thinking I show up on stage and say 'the law says I can take all those assets and I'm gonna use them to do the exact opposite of what my ex-bosses would've wanted'. How does that sound?"

"Do me a favour. Don't move. I wanna kill you myself."

You grinned. "I knew you'd love it."

--

Next Part

TAGS: @nekoannie-chan​ , @thorfanficwriter​

[haikyuu-loves-thiccies]

hey hey heyyy can I request Oikawa, Bokuto, Tsukishima and Sugawara being jealous over their crush (who is also their best friend and manager),, thank you! PS. I love EVERYTHING you do \ (•◡•) / ((uhmm, well, i'm not english, so i'm sorry if something is wrong with these sentences ;-;)

Your english is great!!! better than mine and I’m a native speaker XD. This is probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever written- all have similar ending styles, but hey... It made me laugh so :3

Oikawa

  Oikawa is a wildly jealous guy- its pretty damn well known. So it's no shock that whenever anyone else on the team tries talking to you, he'll butt into the conversation and slowly “scare” off the other guy, so that all of your attention is on him. You were one of his best friends, so you knew just how shitty he could get over stuff as small as a glance your way, but you didn't think anything more of it. It's just how he is, right? A flamboyantly jealous highschool boy who needs everything to be about him. Yeah?

  Well, either way, you liked conversing with the other guys, even Kentarou, and Kentarou seemed to like talking to you too! Even though he's very brash and will one hundred percent tell you you're an idiot or a dumbass or whatever insult is on his mind, the two of you do actually get along. Not just on some volleyball-player-to-manager level, but as friends, in and out of school.   So it's safe to say it was pretty shocking to feel his hand on your plush thigh. When you looked at your friend, he was staring at you, almost as if he had just realized where his hand was. Kentarou's face burned red, but he was frozen in place. You could hear the stomping of an angry brunette coming towards the both of you. Oh fuck.

  “Y/N! KENTAROU!” Oikawa shouted, his face fuming. Kentarou- without moving his hand- snapped to Oikawa and made a sour face. “What ARE you two doing?! And in the gym of all places!” He gasped dramatically, tilting backwards with his hands on his chest. “How dare you pull off such PDA on school grounds!”

  “O-Oikawa it's not like that-” you tried to explain but found yourself flustered and stumbling. God, he was a hypocrite, talking about PDA as if he hasn't been all over girls ALL OVER SCHOOL. But being called out like this- for something you weren't even sure was intentional on Kentarou's part, was making you burn with shame.

  “Don't yell at her you fuckstick!” Kentarou snapped. His hand finally let go of your thigh, leaving your skin cold from the sudden exposure. The two boys stood nose to nose, Oikawa burning with a rage  anyone could see if they knew what he was truly like- and Kentarou anyone could see no matter who they are.

  “Oh what, standing up for your girlfriend Kentarou? Is she your girlfriend now? Is that what's happening?” Toru teased, his tone not close to being as it usually is when he tries to get under someone's skin, instead coming off as pure burning hatred.

  “No you dumb fuck! We aren't anythin'! My hand missed the fuckin' bench!” Well, that did seem true. But you were still caught between the two boys arguing, so all you could really do was fade into the background towards the rest of the group while the two argued it out.

  “Save me.” You whispered to Hajime, who merely sighed at his friend's display.

  “Y'know Y/N,” he looked to you. “One day Toru will get the stick out of his ass and actually confess to you properly.”

  “HUH!?”

Bokuto

  Outside of the friendship Bokuto had with Kuroo Tetsuro- and outside of the almost boyfriendship he has with his vice captain, Akaashi, you were one of Bokuto's closest friends. You two trusted each other a great deal, telling each other things you wouldn't tell just about anybody else.

  It took approximately one minute and five seconds of a semi-flirty conversation with Nekoma's captain for Bokuto to be all over you, whining and grabbing places he most definitely should not be grabbing. Sure Bokuto could be jealous, but it was always more of a “I'm going to stand here and grumble/pout” kind of jealousy, not the “I'm going to purposely get in the way and cry until you pay attention to me” way.

  “H-Hey Bokuto could you um-” You tried to swat the boy's hands off you, but they had been firmly placed onto your stomach, squeezing your tummy all-to-intentionally for you to think it anything else

.   “Y/N why are you giving him your attention?” Bokuto pouted. “He doesn't deserve it! He doesn't even go to our school!” Kuroo feigned being offended by his friend's words, but was most obviously amused by the situation.

  “W-We're just having a conversation, Bokuto!” You tried explaining while unsuccessfully prying the boy's hands off you.

  “Doesn't matter! The coolest guy here is right here!!”

  “Well I can't see him if he doesn't let me go!” With this, Bokuto finally released you, pouting like a wounded puppy.

  “C'mon Y/N, it's not fair when the only pretty girl who talks to me talks to my best bro instead!”

  “Bokuto he just asked me if- oH.” Your face burned and, with an involuntary reaction, you smacked Bokuto's shoulder. “D-don't say that stuff!”

  “Whaaaaat? It's true!!”

  “Shut up! My face is going to melt off!”

  Kuroo snorted from somewhere behind both of you. “Wow, you two really are meant for each other.”  “WHAT?”

Tsukishima

  A jealous Tsukishima is a funny sight.

  You never expected to witness it, really, but you weren't complaining. You were friends with him for a while now- though some may see it as a one sided friendship, considering how the French fry can be. But you know better. You two are friends, plain and simple.

  Or at least that's what you thought.

  Now, here, talking to Yamaguchi about love and all that gushy stuff, you're starting to think Tsukishima might have feelings for either one of you- it's hard to tell who, but he doesn't seem very happy that the both of you are discussing dating and what your “types” are.

  “So your type is the excitable... Sweet kind?” You asked Tadashi, unable to stop an amused chuckle from seeing Tsukishima's sour expression behind your shared friend.

  “Erm- well, yeah, I guess! But I don't think having a type really means much. Like, I guess if anyone asked me out- or anyone nice, I'd give it a shot?”

  “Yeah, I can see that.” You agreed, leaning back in your seat. “Though, I know my type. One-hundred-percent bad boy lover right here~”

  “You... do seem like that kind of type.” Tadashi hesitated, smiling almost cheekily.

  “Haha, but I'm serious. A like a guy who could make me feel all rough and tough- and protected! It's hot.” Your words made the boy flush, so he merely nodded along. Behind him, however, Tsukishima was shifting in his seat uncomfortably. You couldn't hold back anymore.

  “What about you, Tsukki?”

  “What about me?” He responded, a small edge in his voice.  “Weeeelllll... What's your type!?”

  “Don't got one.”

  “Bullshit!”

  The blonde tch'd at you impatiently, which made you only more curious to get a real answer from him.

  “C'moooon Tsukki.... If you like Yamaguchi, you can just say so!” At his name, the smaller boy freaked out, waving his hands and babbling over himself, trying to get a coherent sentence but failing. Tsukishima merely growled, sending you a dark stare.  “Wrong friend, dumbass.”

  “Huh? Then what about Kuroo-san?”

  “Never in a million fucking years.”  “Language, Tsukki!”

  “Whatever, babe.”  “B-BABE? WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?”

   Tsukishima shook his head, looking the other way to try and hide an all-too obvious smirk. “Nothing, if you can’t figure it out, dumbass.”

Sugawara

  Sugawara isn't a jealous type, riiiiight? No, no. The boy is actually very jealous. Very very jealous. It just depends on who it is. You wanna flirt around with Daichi? Be his guest! Hell, he'll probably join in! But you wanna flirt with- mmm, say, Terushima? Now that, he has a problem with.

  You knew Sugawara was a protective friend, so it wasn't a big deal when he pulled you aside after you were chatting with the overly-excited and flirty Terushima. And you knew what he'd say, so you just went along with it.

  “I just think you should be careful around him, Y/N!” Suga looked at you worriedly.

  “I know, Suga. But he's not as bad as everyone says. Yeah, that one thing with Kiyoko was kinda messy, but like, he really is a good guy, just kinda.. stupid?” You chuckled at yourself, but Suga didn't seem impressed.

  “I'm serious Y/N.”

  “I know you are, Suga, and I appreciate you looking out for me. But please, tell me, why do you think he's such a bad guy to be around? One interaction with Kiyoko isn't enough to go off of, really...”

  Suga pouted, casting his eyes downward and mumbling.

  “Cuz' he doesn't respect women.”

  You deadpanned. You actually deadpanned. Looking at Suga, you took more than a couple seconds to get your words working again.

  “I'm sorry... That was the most white knight think you've ever said- g-give me a minute-” Laughter escaped you before you could finish yourself. Suga watched you laugh, seeming to lighten up at your giggles. “Okay, okay. You think he doesn't respect women, yeah? Okay... I hear you. But like, really, what is there to go off of? I'm not gonna ostracize him over one bad interaction. Maybe giving him a chance is just what the guy needs?”

  “Well.. Yes... I see where you're coming from- and normally I'd agree with you! But...”

  “But...?” He was twiddling his fingers together, and after a small moment, he mumbled.

  “I don't want him asking you out before I can...”

  “...OOOHHHHHHHHHH.”

Thanks for the ask!!!

[agentunwin]

WHY [POPSTAR!Y/N X SHAWN MENDES] [PART 6]

A/N: I recommend you listen to this song while you read, it’s super cute. I think this series is gonna have one more part. I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the support on this and my other writing <3

Prompt: Day two at the studio, and the two reach an agreement. [Based off Shawn’s song Why]. 

Warnings: Nothing!

Words: 2,057

Tag: @yourwonderbelle @coldluvr @marvel-mendes8 @xoxohannahlee @maddieeelizabeth @irwie-cake @coolgirlthemonologue

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4*, Part 5, Part 5.5,

Masterlist

-

When you woke up, you immediately found yourself in a compromising position.

You felt the steady rise and fall of a hard chest behind you, the person's arm draped over your waist to hold you close to them. As if you didn't already know who it was, the familiar brown curls were just next to you, flopped loosely against his forehead. You couldn't deny that you missed being this close with him, but it was his fault that there was a barrier between the two of you.

Your mind still groggy, you tried to remember what had happened the previous night. You must have accidentally fallen asleep next to Shawn when you guys were wrapping up the writing for Like To Be You, which only ended up taking an hour or so once you two began to pour your hearts out.

A lot was said that night, but nothing was said directly. Everything they wanted- needed to say was spoken through their lyrics, left to the other's interpretation.

Lines like "There's nothin' left to say, let's call a truce, 'Cause I don't really wanna go to bed like this," and "Can I kiss you or not, 'cause I'm not really sure right now of what you want," stuck in your mind as you fell asleep that night on the hardwood floor, definitely not with Shawn. He must have fallen asleep soon after.

You sighed heavily and listened to the birds outside of the studio beach house whilst you pondered your options. Either you wake him up by breaking free of his grasp, or you stay put and wait for him to wake up beside you. Either option seemed equally awkward.

That's when Shawn's grungy morning voice startled you, his breath tickling the hairs on the back of your neck. "Mm. Good morning."

As soon as you realized he was awake as well, you separated yourself from him, sitting up in front of him as he slowly rose to a sit as well.

"Sleep well?" He asked, running a hand lazily through his curls.

Shawn noticed the spaced-off look in your eyes and frowned, realizing that he may have unintentionally crossed another line. When you didn't answer, merely stared at the ground, he sighed and got up, looking over the mess the two of you had made.

A few beer bottles were spread throughout the room, a few blankets strung here and there, candy wrappers on the floor. The computer was still up and running, ready to play the few clips you'd managed to record.

Today was the last day the two of you had alone before the production team came in to help, and he intended to make the most of it.

"What's this?"

Your voice comes as a shock to him and he whips around to face you, face paling when he notices you holding his leather journal. You're flipping casually through the pages when he pounds across the room, ripping the book from his hands.

You give him an odd look when he holds it behind his back, pursing his lips awkwardly. "Nothing! Nothing. Please don't touch my things."

You hold your hands up defensively and nod, leaving it at that. He sighs in relief and puts his large hand to his chest, awkwardly messing with the collar. "Uh, do you wanna go back to the house and have breakfast?"

Giving his nervous tendencies a tiny grin, you nod and then you're walking out the door with him hot on your trail.

-

"Milk."

Shawn hands you the milk, watching you pour it into the mixture.

"Flour?"

He scurries to the cabinet and grabs the bag, running back to hand it to you.

"Egg."

"Ya'know," Shawn chuckles, handing her the carton. "Playing the messenger is getting pretty boring."

You glare at him jokingly and crack the egg into the batter. "Sorry I don't trust you enough to not to mess this up."

"How hard can pancakes be?" He bluffs, tossing a water bottle back and forth between his hands. "You just add the things and stir it... Simple."

You shake your head and laugh a bit, "Just let me do this, you're so annoying."

Shawn doesn't respond and you go back to stirring, humming a tune peacefully to yourself when you're suddenly hit with something, your jaw dropping to your chest.

An egg's contents were dripping down the side of your face, seeping into your hair and skin. Shawn lets out a booming laugh, holding the carton of eggs in his hand.

You reach for the bag of flour, grabbing a fistful of the substance and flinging it his way, immediately shutting him up as he coughs and waves it out of his face.

"Oh, it's on!" He yells, beginning to chase you around the kitchen.

"You started it!" You laugh genuinely, dodging his attempts to throw more eggs at you.

At one point you make a mistake and slip on one of his eggs, your body hitting the ground causing him to put the eggs down and run to your side.

He kneels next to you and his eyes run over your aching body, checking for any bad injuries.

"Agh, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" He asks frantically, watching as you prop yourself up on your elbows.

"Yeah, yeah." You huff, looking up into his golden eyes. "I think I'm good."

"Oh." Shawn mutters, his face looking much more serious than it did just 30 seconds ago. "Well... In that case.."

Shawn's hands are on your sides in a split second, his fingers tickling over the skin. You yelp and try to swat him away, his assault pulling boisterous giggles from your lips. "Shawn, stop! Please!"

He chuckles as tears begin to leak from your eyes, his fingers never stopping. You looked so perfect underneath him like this, face shining happiness and laugh lightening his heart. Nobody else could ever make him feel this way, he was convinced.

"Uncle! Uncle!" You tap out, your laugh dying when his fingers finally stopped.

He licked over his lips when you looked up at him, your eyes glazed over and hopeful. Shawn wished he could keep you here all day, just studying your beauty until someone pulled him off of you. But he knew that couldn't happen.

You cleared your throat and he snapped out of his daze, helping you up to your feet.

"So.." He bit his lip, "Who's going to get in the shower first?"

"You go ahead." You look down at the ground, unable to hold that mesmerizing gaze with the man anymore. "I'll finish the pancakes."

Shawn nods and walks off, going to wash himself from all of their shenanigans.

The pancakes are done far before you find yourself leaning against the wall next to the bathroom door. Shawn's silky smooth voice was belting out his own lyrics as he practiced runs and different progressions, and it blew you away just as it did every other time he sang.

You could imagine him in there, shower steam making his cheeks rosy, hair wet and stuck to his skin.

Oh, how you wish he hadn't been such an asshole.

You must not have noticed his shower stopping and before you could run away, Shawn's exiting the bathroom, dripping wet with only a towel wrapped around his waist. You stand there like a deer in the headlights at the fact that you'd been caught, however Shawn barely reacts. He merely smirks at you and nods towards the door.

"Shower's free."

-

Shawn watched you with the upmost adoration in his eyes as he witnessed you belt out the final lyrics to the song. When you finished, you stood there with your eyes closed and your right hand on the headphones, basking in the glory of basically completing a song.

Your peace is interrupted when Shawn lets out a whooping cheer, clapping his hands together and rushing towards you. You gasp loudly as he picks you up by your knees, spinning you around and holding you close to him. Both of you are laughing at his actions and he sets you down after a second.

His face is still rosy and radiant when he holds your shoulders, shaking you gently, "God, you're such an amazing singer. How did I get so lucky to get this collab with you?"

"Oh, stop it." You swat him away while simultaneously pulling him into a hug.

He cradles the back of your head and rocks the two of you back and forth, never wanting to let go.

"This is gonna go #1." You mutter into his chest. "I can feel it in my bones."

Shawn doesn't reply, only stops rocking you and pulls back the slightest bit to look at your face.

The open windows let in a slight breeze, strands of your hair gently tickling your face. The only light in the room came from the dimmed lights overhead, and the only noise that could be heard in the room was the noises of the night creatures outside.

Shawn's hand comes down to cradle your jaw, smiling when you nuzzle your cheek into his rough palm. His eyes flutter as his mind races, thinking of something to say, and quick before he loses you again.

"Y/N, I-" He begins, licking his lips nervously but keeping adamant eye contact with you. "I miss you. And maybe not in the way you're thinking. I would love to be with you in that way, yeah, but I understand if that's not what you want. If you want to stay friends forever, that's fine with me. I just need you in my life, in one way or another."

You grin at his small rant, squeezing his arm. "You're too cute."

Shawn lets out a quick breath in place of a laugh, shaking his head. "Okay.. I don't know what that means.."

"It means I miss you too." You quirk, rolling your eyes. "I just.. I'm not ready to try again. Not like that, not yet. But, I miss those conversations we would always have in between interviews and shows, and how you always supported me, even through my dumbest decisions. You never failed to put a smile on my face. And I miss having that kind of friendship."

"I'll literally take anything you give me. I'd wait 500 years until you're ready again." Shawn breaths out, finally feeling like he can breathe again. "Thank you so much, Y/N. Thanks for not completely giving up on me."

You nod, standing up on your tippytoes to ruffle his hair. "No problem, Shawn. Now what do you say we go celebrate our last day alone here and pop that bottle of champagne?"

-

Shawn's curly head pops into your room 2 days later, eyes saddening when he watches you packing your things into your last bag. "You ready to go?"

You zip up your suitcase, looking back at him with a smirk. "Jeez, are you rushing me?"

"The opposite, actually." Shawn snickers.

The song was completed with the help of the team that came in that next day, and today, it was finally time to leave. Your flight was leaving earlier than his, meaning that you'd be leaving him earlier than he preferred.

"I'm sure you'll see me soon, Shawn." You grin at him, pinching his cheek with one of your free hands. "Besides, when this song hits the charts, you're never going to be able to shut me up about it."

"I look forward to that." Shawn quips quickly, walking you to the wide open front door. The black truck was already in the driveway, ready to bring you to the airport.

"Be very careful what you wish for," You joke, pulling him into a small hug that turns into a huge one when he pulls you tighter against him, his blunt nails digging into your sides.

He breaths in heavily and mutters, "I'm really gonna miss you. Even though you drive me absolutely insane."

You laugh at this and shake your head as he lets you go, "I'll text you when I land, alright?"

Shawn nods and blows you a joking kiss as you walk away, loading your things into the truck.

You climb into the passenger seat without looking at him and your phone dings just before you pull away. Pulling it out, you're positive your heart skips a beat.

From: Shawn

See? Missing you already :(

You look out the window to see him frowning, waving at you as the wheels below you begin to turn and you're waving back sweetly.

And Shawn merely stands there, watching you ride off into the distance until all that's left of your vehicle is a tiny speck disappearing over the mountain.

[blazingtheway]

Thr ough the Looking Glass – Storyline 8 – Together - Part Nine

Continuing on from...

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ I heard the comment about my laughing from cross the bar as if I was stood right beside them both. Picking up a wedge of lime I flung it across the counter and smirked as it hit Call on the side of his face just as he said they were trying to remind the townies where they were. “Joe Fucking Walker..” I half growled and half huffed, making #Sam glance towards Call with that questioning look in his eyes saying, 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙢 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚? There was a name I’d not forgotten and had spent the last few days and nights thinking of. But by the spirits it wasn’t in the way that man wanted me to think about him. There was still some unfinished business there with Walker and I knew if I saw him anytime soon, my fist would meet his face before any words would come out. ‘Didn’t you think he wasn’t bad on the eyes?’ My wolf teased me now too. What was this? Pick on Leah night because you will get away with it? My eyes darted over to Call as he laughed, he was really flying too close to the sun. “Watch out Icarus, wouldn’t want those wings of yours to burn and melt before you land on your feet.” My gaze flickered to his hand as that slight change, the tightening of his fingers around the bottle didn’t go amiss. ‘What is that about. Call of all people knows you can manage tenfold than what these five have to offer.’ My wolf asked, I didn’t have an answer for her. I wasn’t sure myself. It wasn’t like he’d not witnessed me throwing guys out of here before. ‘Here you go sis’ #Seth was back in record time, and I knew that he’d not even tried to keep his trip down to the basement in human speed. And I also knew that with the kids super hearing, there wasn’t a word up here that he’d not heard. Setting five #Mermaidspunks on the bar before the townies, I charged them $80.00. $50.00 was for the cocktails and $30.00 was an idiot tax that I’d put into one of Ma’s charity drives. ‘What the fuck is that?’ One of them scowled picking up the illumines blue drink.’ While his friends just stood there looking at the drinks without touching them. “That’s what you asked for. And I did reiterate your request, to which once again you confirmed. Now pay up, before I really start to show you those skills of mine you have been daydreaming about.” Holding my hand out as they all set the money down, picking up their drinks, walking away from the bar. “Now, if I add five to the total that I’ve already sold Call…. How many have I sold all together?” Stepping up to stand before him, I slide a glass of #Mermaidspunk in front of him. “And this one is on the house. But I need to hear you say it...” Raising my eyebrow, my arms crossed over my chest. ‘I guess I need to get myself and Emily that babysitter for Monday?’ #Sam laughed a full belly laugh, patting Call on his back a few times. ‘Vocal exercises. Tony was saying that those things really work and help a guy out.’ #Seth’s carefreeness was back as he marked the board and wrote: ✷ 𝓐𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓒𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻𝔀𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓲𝓷 ✷ ↬ Embry Call ↫ My attention was pulled between the townies at the bar and #Sam; I was taken off guard by the lime wedge she lobbed at me. I flinched and picked the offending fruit up off the bar and smirked. I bit into it and sucked the bitter juice from it. "Thanks, Clearwater! Very refreshing." I teased her as #Sam muttered 'Disgusting.' under his breath... but it definitely wasn’t the grossest thing he'd ever seen me do. I chuckled at the muttered name of my boss. #Sam still had a clueless look in his eye... or at least #Sam's brand of clueless. More like a curious determination to figure it out. I just shrugged. "C'mon Trouble! You need to step up your nickname game!" I teased her. And #Sam's eyes rolled. 'You really are asking for it Call.' He sounded like he was warning me but his eyes were daring me. I smirked at him. I sighed... defeated when she sat the brightly coloured cocktails in front of the guys. Their indignation at the sight of them did give me a little joy though. I refused to answer her question

and struggled to keep the grin off my face. There was no point denying it, she had won hands down, and I was never one to welch on a bet. I looked at #Sam and laughed. "If I offer to babysit will that get me off the hook?" I didn’t mean it; of course, I would be here and take my lumps. I picked up the glass Leah set in front of me, and took a long drink of the sweet, liquid. "Yeah, yeah..." I admitted. "You win! I know." I lifted the glass and took again. "This really isn't bad... needs more alcohol... but it tastes pretty good." I smiled at #Seth's advice and shook my head. "Hey, it’s you guys that have to listen to it... your funeral!" I saw the moment of realization on #Sam's face. The vocal exercises comment must have done it for him. 'Wait... Call is going to sing?' He said, shocked and pulled his phone from his pocket. 'I'm texting every babysitter I know, right now!' ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ Watching Call bite and then suck on the lime wedge made me wrinkle my nose. Nodding my head once in agreement with #Sam’s comment. And yet I could tell so clearly that Call was doing it to get himself a reaction out of me. And by the Spirits there was no way I was going to give him what he wanted. Out of my peripheral vision I noticed the townies making their way over to the group of girls from before, they offered the cocktails and then slipped in around the table with them all. I had to give it to them, for a team of idiots who needed to learn how to talk to a real woman, they weren’t doing too badly when it came to playing the room. About as 𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝 as they could manage it. Serving a customer as I listened to them all laughing and joking, I stood still and narrowed my eyes. “Who are you calling 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚, dumbarse?” Setting the drinks on the bar I reached over and punched his upper arm hard. If it were a human, I knew I’d have broken some bones. But a Spirit Warrior? It was nothing more than a sting. “Keep it up Dimples, and I will dig you a grave and put your broken dead arse in it. Your saving grace is that I feel generous with my win tonight. And I won’t want to rub salt into your wound, not until after you pay up on your bet.” Glancing to #Sam again I continued. “It will be worth the money… Wait… I will call #Emma. That girl has some making up to do. So, it will be free.” I’d not forgotten about my little cousin and the diching school. Grabbing the bottle of vodka, I added a free pour to his glass. At this stage it was mostly booze with a touch of everything else. “We take all customer feedback here at the #HWH, I hope your drink is now satisfactory.” Pure sweetness dripping from my voice to the point that #Mac and #Seth both stepped back away from me. ‘It’s never a good sign when she’s that nice to anybody.’ #Mac whispered into #Seths ear. Making me smile that killer smile, combing my fingers through my long dark hair the way guys seemed to melt over. And just to test it, I turned to look at the men waiting to be served. And sure enough, all but two dropped their mouths to the ground. The two who didn’t were the ones I served next. ↬ Embry Call ↫ I couldn’t help but keep my ears half-trained on the yahoo’s from town; when they moved away from where I could see them without turning and making it obvious. I knew Leah and #Seth had a perfect view of the whole place from behind the bar, so they wouldn’t get away with much. I smiled at her threats making sure she got a good view of those dimples she was talking about. “We all know you’d never break my Mom’s heart like that.” I teased; it was funnier because it was true. ‘Momma’s boy!!’ One of the pups called from behind and I whirled lobbing the husk of the lime wedge at him. He ducked to the left and just about managed to swat it away at the last second. It skittered across the table of girls and townies. I stifled a laugh as the girls all shrieked like someone had just dropped a live fish onto their table. The guys glared at us all settled a little longed and #Sam and myself. We easily stood a head taller than all of them. ‘Sorry!’

the pup raced over to the table and snatched up the offending fruit. I knew that apology was really aimed at Leah. There was no way he wanted to incur his Beta’s wrath. I half expected her to throw the vodka at me when she approached me with it in hand. I was just about to taste the improved recipe. But I was stopped with the glass in mid-air; she was combing her fingers through her hair again. She really did that a lot more than I thought she did… I hardly missed that over all these years. This must be a new habit… Right? There was something in my memory telling me I was wrong. but I seemed unable to cast my mind back and wonder if I had seen it before. A throat cleared near me and I almost growled at the distraction that pulled my attention from the train of thought… or… was it that my attention was pulled from her? I scoffed at myself. No. Definitely the first one. “Hmm?” My gaze turned in the direction of #Sam; he was gaping at me like I was insane, and I spotted the gawking table of jackarses almost drooling over Leah, over his shoulder. ‘Do you have a death wish?’ #Sam muttered, but not quietly enough that wolves in the room wouldn’t hear. ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ Taking my phone out I shoot #Emma a text. I wasn’t one to beat around the bush. So, I told her to be at #Sam and #Emily’s place on Monday night, because she was babysitting for free. Hitting send on the text I looked over to Call and his attempt to flash me those dimples of his. “Your Mom is the only reason you are still living, and we all know even those dimples can’t save you.” I scoffed at him, even if I found myself looking at his face a moment longer than I would have before. Again, the whispers of the Spirits telling me that he was on a path of evolution. ‘I knew there was a reason she didn’t kill him that night at the cliffs. If any of us had grabbed her….’ The Pups voice trailed off at the sight of my eyes on him. ‘I just mean it was funny how he took you over the cliff, and is still alive to tell the story?’ Pushing my hair over the side I leaned across the bar. “Who said he would live forever? The best revenge is served up when the other person is least expecting it.” I snapped my teeth at the pup, and he jumped out of his skin. ‘Sorry!’ The pup called out from across the room and I didn’t know if I wanted to go and smack him for not catching the lime peel, or it was Call who needed a kick on the arse for throwing things across the bar floor. The screaming girls all followed by the looks and the drinks being spilled made me growl, dipping my head before I grabbed a tray and a damp cloth. #Mac was on his way, but I stopped him telling him what the girls had been drinking and asking him to put a round together for them on the house. As I worked, I could feel Call’s eyes on me, and this wasn’t something new. But when I glanced up towards him again, he looked lost in his head. #Sam’s voice in my ears I wondered what it was I’d missed, but I was sure I’d soon hear about it when I was back. ‘Sorry Leah.’ The pup who’d ducked the lime skin whispered as I passed him towards the table. Telling the girls there was another round coming for them, I started to work my way around cleaning up the mess. ‘Here let me help you.’ Blonde tips came to stand beside me a little closer than was necessary. “Don’t worry about it, it’s all a part of the job. Feel free to continue with your evening.” I replied gathering the glasses. He moved in behind me, I glance in the mirror across the floor to see him looking over at his friends and the whispers in my ears started from them. ‘He is about to do something.’ My wolf told me, but in my heart, I knew it before she said it. I stood up and moved around the table. Excusing myself in the middle of two talking girls. Cleaning the spilled drinks, before making my way around and out of the way. ‘Lee, I got the new round.’ #Mac came to join me. I pointed out who had what before I started to step towards the other table, collecting empties on my way back towards the bar. ‘Are you sure you don’t want

some help?’ Blonde tips came back again. As I leant forward to grab some empties, I felt his hands moving up my inner thighs coming around and stopping on my hips. He lent over me reaching for a bottle, setting it down on the tray I was working to fill. In the moment, the world stopped around me. The sounds and the music were so far away, that I wasn’t even sure I was in the #HWH anymore. It was as though with that one move; he had managed to transport me back into the ring in Seattle. The look in #Beckers eyes frozen in my mind, and the sensations of his hands moving up my body had my mind racing. I was always in lockdown, but for a split second my heartbeat changed until I stopped my body from reacting. I was on auto pilot, the growl of my wolf as she pushed me to react but in the right way. But it was like her message wasn’t received in time. Dropping the cloth and the tray on the table. I reached behind me, taking a hold of the boy’s hands. Pulling them apart and off my body. Using my own weight, I stood up straight, twisting myself to face him. Face to face, I narrowed my eyes and for a blink it was #Becker who was stood before me and not some stupid townie who didn’t know how to read the room. Twisting his hands back and over his own wrists, I stopped at the point where I knew I would hear a pop and a crack. “You really need a lesson on respect, as well as on how to keep your hands to yourself, don’t you?” I growled in his face. His pale face had gone whiter as I pushed back on his fingers to the point where I knew just an inch more and they would pop out of place. Tears were streaming down his cheeks and I heard my name being called. “Do you have something to say to me? Do you?” I growled again as he fell to his knees apologising for his actions. But I still didn’t let go. ‘Leah Stop!’ My wolf ordered me. ‘He is not Becker. This is not Seattle!’ She tried to break me away from that Red fog that had come down over my eyes, and I let go of his hands taking a few steps back. Shaking my head as I brought myself back out of the fog, I always told the pups never to give into. “The Spirits!” His friends were by his side picking him up off the ground, but I didn’t give them much room. “Next time don’t touch a woman without asking her if she is happy with your grubby hands all over her. Especially at a place where she works! Now I believe it’s time for you to get your arses out of this bar. Head to the door before I pick you up and throw you out!”

↬ Embry Call ↫ I knew the thing about my Mom was true… or at least the reason why she’d never seriously wounded me. Not that it would have taken too long to heal. I laughed at the pup; he had balls to bring that up. “She didn’t kill me that night because it was fucking hilarious, and she knew it!” I beamed a triumphant grin. Even #Sam chuckled; I had no doubt he had seen a replay in one of the kids’ minds. I watched Leah mop up the mess and the pup scrambled to apologise. The arsehole that was sat at the table trying to 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 was playing with fire. I heard the warriors from both packs draw in a collective breath; when he touched her. It wasn’t a male ego thing about protecting a woman; maybe if it was one of the imprints. This was no different than when the pups saw me have an interaction at the club. A jerk that was harassing someone and you got a condescending hand on the shoulder and the ‘𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣' 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙤’ line. Leah was one of us, no matter what pack or double X’s in her gene. But we all knew she had no issues handling the arseholes. The wolves inside of all of us, live by the laws of the pack. The social aspect of half a dozen guys zeroing in on one guy didn’t apply to them. Not until we pushed them back. And that was just the start of it… the hell we’d catch if we deprived Leah of the chance to toss this bastard out on his ear; was nothing compared to the lecture we’d get from the elders (that were in on the secret) when rumours of a gang of thugs in the Rez started spreading. I heard the stutter of her heart and I wondered if she was thinking about Seattle. She never let this crap get to her. In a matter of seconds, she had turned the tables and the guy was in obvious pain, nothing he wouldn’t get over quickly… Leah had exceptional control. But she wasn’t letting go… #Seth was fighting with all his will to stay behind the bar. She got control again and freed the man. I didn’t even need to look at Sam to know we were going to make sure these fuckers left the Reservation and didn’t take their attitudes elsewhere. I pulled one of the pups in close and told him to slip out the back. Then connect with whoever was on patrol and have someone follow them off of Tribal land after they got on the road. None of us would rest easy if we were wondering if they had taken this misogynist act to the diner or somewhere else. The kid didn’t even try to protest, he was more than happy to do it. They headed out the door; heads swivelling to keep an eye on the locals, after the door swung closed, I counted to five, biding my patience not to fly through the count. Then we pushed off the bar and headed out front, our drinks in hand and we made our way to a bench out front. There was a light drizzle so no one else was outside. Our eyes fell on the fools that were hooting and laughing, both about the bitchy bartender and the fact their idiot friend had gotten whooped by a girl. That one never got old! But it was funnier when it was one of the imprints doing the whooping. ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ My feet grounded I kept my hands to my sides and fisted to make sure I didn’t go after Blonde tips again. Every inch of my being urging me to head out the back and cut them all off. To smash his face in until he got the message about how to know when a woman wanted his attention and when she didn’t. ‘That is the thinking, and the workings of Leah from ten years ago, not the woman who stands here today.’ My Wolf hadn’t backed down. She was the one keeping a tight hold around me. ‘You know you are better than this, don’t let old habits seep into the cracks Seattle cut into your armour.’ I cracked my neck from side to side, I knew she was right. but by the Spirits it felt good to imagine the outcome of him stepping up to me in a ring. ‘Watsi Nasgi Danuwa analihi’ ( Watch those Warriors ). All jokes forgotten in the moment. She was sounding proud at the way without making it obvious the packs took in a deep breath and steps were taken towards the group of townies. I wasn’t mad at them all for their

reaction, I knew this wasn’t about me being a woman. This was the same reaction they would have had if it were #Seth stood here, or even #Mac. We didn’t have our hive minds on our two legs. But there was more to it than that. We read people, situations, saw outcomes as a matter of it becoming second nature to us. This was what we had always tried to instil in the pups, have the ability not just in their wolf form but as humans too, clocking trouble before it got out of hand. And this very thing was what they all reacted too. I saw #Sam and Call taking their positions, waiting before they moved. I saw the pup slip out the back of the bar and disappear knowing he was going to give the patrol a warning of what these idiots could bring to the Rez. But more so my eyes moved to #Seth and that anger in his face. ‘He is not a kid Leah, even if you believe him to be.’ Picking up the tray I walked back towards the bar, but I was stopped part the way back. ‘That was well managed here.’ Pulling my eyebrows together, my glance moved towards the door where the wolves and the pups had stepped out of. “There’s nothing to worry about, this is a safe place to have a drink. We know how to manage little trouble such as that.” I reassured the man, recognition illuminating my now clear mind. He was one of the guys at the bar who had not reacted to my teasing. And the other sat on the table behind him smiling up at me. ‘I’m not worried at all; I had a feeling you were a woman who could handle herself as we watched you taking on that group of big guys around the bar.’ I smirked because he was talking about #Sam, Call, and the pups. Holding his hand out towards me with a charming smile. ‘Hi, my name is Charlie Waterson, and this is my boyfriend Theo. We’d just moved back to La Push and I was wondering if you may have a job for me here at the bar?’ #Theo stood up as I shook #Charlie’s hand and held his out towards me. ‘Please call me Teddy. Only my mom calls me Theo.’ His shake was a little more excited than that of #Charlie. ‘Char is from here, but not me. I’m a city boy born and raised. But you know how it is… Got to bring the Rez boy back to his roots at some time. And hope I am not too much for the town to handle.’ Raising my eyebrow, I listened to #Theo going a mile a minute and he reminded me of my cus #Jessica. “It’s good to meet you both. And Welcome to the Rez Th… Teddy” I corrected seeing the look in his eyes. “And it’s always good to see a Rez man coming back home Charlie. It’s a mad night tonight here as you can see. Why don’t you pop by the bar tomorrow before opening and we can talk then?” Excusing myself after I went towards the bar again, the eyes of the Pups left in the bar following me. “If you all don’t cut it out, you will be next.” I growled under my breath knowing they would all hear me. Setting the tray down to the side. ‘The pup went to tell the others; you don’t have to do it sis.’ #Seth whispered and I nodded my head, continuing into the back. I closed the door to the bathroom, turning on the water and splashed my face with cold water. When I finally looked up at the mirror hung above the sink, I saw myself. My eyes, my face, the anger that I was pushing down inside. Locking it all away from the world. ‘You keep pushing yourself to be better, but you can’t do that until you address what happened to you.’ My wolf was correct, and I knew that. But it was sometimes easier to push my crap to the back until my responsibilities were dealt with, with the Pack, with my family, with all that I needed to ensure was working smoothly. My face dried without the need for me to grab a towel, I combed my fingers through my hair, straighten up myself. All of me under a lock and key before I opened the door and stepped out again.

↬Embry Call ↫ The idiots spotted #Sam and me. We stayed seated, in a strained effort not to look too confrontational. Until they started muttering about us, then we stood up; both moving in such a way that it flashed the tattoos on our right biceps. Rumours of the group of troublemakers on the Rez with matching tattoos weren’t as common since the last of the pups learned their control. The random outbursts of temper faded out of people’s memory… But some local legends never died. One of the guys slapped the one that had harassed Leah on the arm and told him it was time to go. We watched them load into their truck; I wasn’t too worried about the driver. He didn’t seem drunk yet but they would have an escort all the way back to town. With us watching they didn’t even attempt to head towards the village. I knew the patrols would send someone to us if they saw them double back. We didn’t need them starting trouble elsewhere in La Push tonight. #Sam and I didn’t go back inside until the truck was on the tree-lined road, knowing the pack would be waiting for them, to give them their unseen escort off tribal land. #Sam and I took our seats at the bar and I looked up at #Seth, I gave him a nod to say they were gone. The pup wouldn’t come back until he saw them leave La Push in the hive mind. Leah was gone but I knew she wouldn’t be far. I hoped the kids would play it cool. But in the back of my head, I was thinking about Seattle. But even after that, she managed to find the strength to control herself, though I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had done a little damage to that arsehole. #Seth made a move to go into the back and I figured it wasn’t his first. “Kid!” I called after him and he stopped short. I gave him a sympathetic look, I knew how much he worried about his sister, but I also knew if she didn’t want to be alone, she’d still be behind the bar. I gave the tiniest shake of my head. He sighed and nodded. Just as he started to serve the next customer she reappeared. I knew I shouldn’t, but my eyes examined her face trying to read it like sheet music.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ As I stepped out into the bar my eyes moved around the floor, taking in the remaining people. Who had gone, who had come while I was in the back and if there was anything or anybody, I needed to pay attention to. It was second nature to me, to the pack to know our surroundings, to understand where we stood and what could come our way or in the way of others. Only once I was sure that all was well did I pick up the tray of glasses and bottles, putting them away I moved to go fill the glass washer and then bringing back a large tray of clean ones. I knew, as I worked, I knew I was being watched. Their eyes were on me, #Mac moved closer and closer as he served, #Seth’s head kept turning towards where I moved to refill the glasses under the bar. The Pups now acting casual around the bar and the pool table, darted glances towards me, as I stood or bent down. And I pondered what they were thinking? Did they wonder if I would lose it and go after the townies? Or was it that I could lose control and let my wolf out? ‘Or is it that they are just checking to make sure that a member of their family is safe and well?’ My Wolf snapped at me to pull my head out of the questions building in my mind. I shook my head, telling her that they should know better. That they didn’t need to act this way around me. and she snapped again. ‘It’s no different to how they would react if they were at the #Glamour club and saw Call in the same situation, so get off your high horse.’ How I wanted to punch her. It had been a while since the two of us had a disagreement. But when they happened, she liked to snap me into the right place and out of whatever second guessing I was in. I stood up from under the bar, the empty tray in hand and I felt them. I didn’t need to search for them because were locked on me and searching for something. ↬ Embry Call ↫ ’s dark eyes. They were doing that thing again, that thing that felt like he was pushing past my walls and trying to see what was hiding behind my eyes. For a split second a glimpse of seeing him at the fight club made me stumble back into Mac. ‘You okay Lee?’ He asked, because I wasn’t the kind to stumble. But ↬ Embry Call ↫ ’s eyes still had a hold. I blinked back that small crack that had shown itself and pushed it all deep, deep down within me. “Yeah, all good.” I replied to #Mac who was watching me. Pulling myself free from those eyes, the Spirits. What was up with that guy and his evolution? #Sam shifted and my attention followed his towards the front door and the pup was back. His clothes a little ruffled, hair a little damp and falling into his eyes. He walked across the bar to Sam and Call’s side and whispered, but Seth and I could hear too. ‘They are gone, the pack are sure they aren’t coming back tonight.’ Sam nodded his head, his eyes now on me as I started to serve the next customer. The look I shared with them all saying. ‘It’s done and dealt with’. Opening a bottle of beer, I slide it to the pup, motioning towards the pool table. “You’re behind, go and catch up.” Shaking my head, I cursed under my breath at the scents I picked up coming towards the doors. Part of me wishing they had stayed away tonight. The wolf in me, the protector of the Pups and the Imprints. The one who took being the Beta as a calling she was born to triumph in seriously. That part of me was winning out now. ‘We heard on the great vine that the Girls can get themselves some Mermaid Spunk down at the #HWH!!!!’ #Rachel, #Ness, #Kim, #Becca and #Jessica came rushing in shaking their phones in the air, glimpse of Instagram showing. They looked dolled up just enough to make an effort. But not so much that they would look out of place. I pointed to #Jessica. “You behave yourself before I tell your mom.” She looked at me with innocent eyes blinking and I rolled mine. She would give those looks to us, as well as #Ness did, and sometimes it meant getting away with murder.

↬ Embry Call ↫ She was back… back to acting like nothing had happened. If it hadn’t been for Seattle playing on my mind, I wouldn’t have a question in it that she was okay… But between what happened in the ring and then her hotel room that night, it just didn’t seem like something to be brushed off. It was too much… even for someone like Leah. No one should be subjected to this much predatory behaviour… even if she could snap the pricks that did it, in half. I knew I was far from a shining example of male chivalry, but I put up no pretences to be either. I heard no on the rare occasions I was told it, or it was implied and let it go. I didn’t respond by grabbing her arse, or not even with a sarcastic comment… I just moved on. But after what she’d gone through… She may not believe or want to accept that its assault. But if it were one of the imprints, she would agree… even if it was one of the pups. This had to be chipping away at her ability to control her temper when it came to this. I knew if she cracked, she’d hold it against herself for a long time. Her eyes connected with mine and I didn’t pull away… It was clear to me now that her eyes gave away things she wouldn’t ever say. But I could feel the door being shut when she turned her attention to #Mac and then #Sam, when he moved to the pup. I swigged from the bottle in front of me and nodded to #Seth for another, we all tuned our ears on what the kid had to say. They were gone… Leah didn’t need to worry about them causing trouble elsewhere on our Rez tonight. I couldn’t help but give a slight chuckle that that would be her issue… them hassling another random girl; she would rather take all the shit herself. I heard the girls chattering outside and that tell-tale strange beating of #Ness’s half-vampire heart. It always stood out in a crowd. Excellent! I thought to myself. This was exactly what she needed… a distraction. None of the guys would bring down the girls obvious jovial moods by telling them what had happened. But she would at least have them; not looking at her like the pack was trying not to right now. They would find out anyway once news spread, maybe not tonight. I hoped. I considered briefly mentioning #Tony to #Jessica but, Leah would definitely kill me for that. She would do it in her own time. I took my beer and moved over to the girls draping one arm over Rachel’s shoulder and one over #Kim’s… the twin thing was too cliché. “Look what the wolf dragged in!!” I smiled at them. “And how are you beautiful ladies tonight?” ‘Don’t touch me Call!’ Kim teased, poking me in the chest and I feigned a mortal injury. ‘I don’t know where you’ve been today!’ She laughed.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ I made a point to keep my eyes from looking back at Call, I wasn’t sure what had just happened, but I had no intentions of it happening again. I was locked down. I was back and the mask on as I got to work. #Mac offered to make the drinks for the imprints, and I didn’t stop him. My eyes glancing over to the others all settling in, and then I heard #Kim. The memories of the young girl who had fainted all those years ago, at the back of the Rez school the first time #Jared had kissed her, came to mind. And now here she stood, this woman who had for sure come into herself. “Never anywhere you want to know.” I muttered knowing the ones who needed to hear it would. The way #Jared and #Sams lips curved up a little told me so. ‘You okay Lee?’ #Bex leant over the bar, her short body not even making it half way and I smirked reaching over and pushing her back. “That dress isn’t made for you to climb up a stool and attempt to lean over a bar woman, and I am fine. What are you all doing out tonight anyway?” Speaking to her as I started to serve a few waiting customers. The look she gave me told me she didn’t believe me. But she never did. #Rach and #Bex were two of a few who knew the old me, the one from way back in my childhood, the dark years and now too. They knew me and stood by me in kindergarten and school, when I was starting to be known as the crazy kid who spoke to things that weren’t there. Even if it had been years since they were let in. The twins still tried to keep an eye on me even when it wasn’t needed. I was one of their protectors, it wasn’t the other way around. ‘Emily said she was going to take care of the meal runs tonight, she loves doing all that stuff. So, the girls and I thought we’d come see what was happening here.’ Turning her head towards the stage and then the board with the chalk marks on it. She tried and failed to pop her eyebrow at me. ‘The group chat has been blowing up all night.’ My hands tighten around the glass I was holding as I listened to her. My eyes then wondering over the imprints. All women who stood here surrounded by protectors, but they all had the ability to stand on their own two feet too. If you saw how #Rachel kept #Paul in line on his bad days, you would give the woman a medal. #Ness, that girl had grown up to be as sarcastic and strong headed as her mother, and then some. A hybrid who could hold her own in the midst of the pack. #Kim was still a little soft and got herself into trouble because she was too trusting. But all in all, they were intelligent women ( who sometimes bugged the life out of me. ) “So, Em is doing the food runs by herself tonight?” There were sick and elderly people on the rez who would from time to time need a helping hand. Ma, Emily and Ms C ( before she had gotten sick ) made it their responsibility to take care and look after them so that nobody was left alone and in need. ‘Yeah, you know how she gets. Everything needs to be done in a certain way.’ I had to put the glass down. My anger was flaring up again. ‘Easy, you don’t mean it. You don’t want to say it.’ My wolf pulled on me to keep the mask on tight. What I wanted to do was growl at her, at the others. I know they may not know that Emily was expecting another baby. And that she had been worked off her feet trying to ready herself, and her business for the time she’d need at home when the baby was here. I knew that maybe they hadn’t picked up on the fact that Ms C had been having a few hard days even if this morning had been a better start. The image of Ms C sat in my kitchen this morning and that smile on her lips, felt like a calming balm for a few seconds. Even if Call’s mom didn’t know about the packs, she knew all these girls, if they went knocking, I knew they wouldn’t be turned away. And finally, I would even give them benefit of the doubt that they may have missed that Ma had been under the weather fighting a cold. But still. It bit hard and deep that they couldn’t see that even if Emily hadn’t asked for help tonight. That she could do with

it. By the Spirits if someone as closed off and locked out as me could see it… They could see it… They were always in and out of Emily’s place more so than me. ‘Geyatahi Adanvdo Danuwa analihi’ ( Careful Spirit Warrior ) My wolf whispered. And I knew a part of her was right. But so was I. Biting the inside of my cheeks. I excused myself and pushed out from behind the bar and headed towards the floor again to collect the empties. “Control your Arse Woman!” I muttered to myself leaving them all talking amongst themselves.

↬Embry Call ↫ I watched the girl’s interaction with Leah, and I pulled out my phone to see what was being sent into the group chat. I let out a sigh of relief and tried to catch Leah’s eye; to let her know it wasn’t what she thought it was. But it was like she was avoiding meeting my gaze. #Ness sauntered over with a smug grin. ‘So…’ she drawled in her too-sweet-to-be-wholesome voice. ‘I hear you’re going to let us hear you sing at last?’ She laughed. “Word spreads too fast around here.” I grumbled, but jokingly… I would take my lumps with a good nature. “You can sing… any tips?” I lifted the bottle in my hand and swigged. ‘Of course, I do!’ She lifted her brows and flashed the evil smile of hers and I knew what was coming before she even spoke again. ‘But not for you… I want to see you crash and burn!! But I have a feeling you aren’t as bad as you say you are.’ I just shook my head and kept drinking. I noticed that something else was bugging Leah now… I wondered if maybe hearing #Ness and I talk would make her feel better. Knowing the group chat was blowing up over the bet. And that was fine with me, but she still seemed upset. No, angry. But it was hard to tell with Leah she masked most of her emotions with either indifference or anger. #Rachel spotted me and curled up one side of her mouth. ‘I guess we have you to thank for the new special right?’ She pointed to the words #MermaidSpunk on the specials board. I winked at her. “You know it!! And they are selling like hotcakes… who knew I was a marketing genius!?” Each and every one of them rolled their eyes in unison. “That had to be some kind of record.” I said with a laugh. Then one of the pups called me over to play a game of doubles at the pool table.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ When I was far enough from the bar, I set the tray in my hand down and pulled out my phone. Not caring much for the group chats, they were always on mute. I only went into them now and then just to remind the pups for the most part that I was there and watching. The Beta was always watching. Looking at the time, I knew that once she put #Kishil to bed, it was when she got most of her work done for the next day. Opening up my chat with #Emily I shot her a message. 𝚃𝚘 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ I hear you are making the meals for those in need tonight? Need any help with that? -L ] I hit send and went to pick up the tray, but a reply was back instantly. “The Spirits she is fast.” 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ You are a gem, I have this in hand. I will have it done in the next couple of hours xx ] I frowned as I reply;

𝚃𝚘 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ That’s not the point, you are meant to be taking it easy. -L ] 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ I will be fine, but if you want to help cook… lol. Joking. Don’t go worrying about me. I know it’s hard for you not too. xx ] That made me scoff. “Worry my arse.”

𝚃𝚘 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ I don’t do worry, just don’t want you poisoning the old people on the Rez -L ] I smirked at that one as I hit send, I could see her face in my mind. 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ Oh please, however I will not push you to say you care xx ] I muttered “arse.”

𝚃𝚘 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ It’s a good thing you are cute, it’s the only reason I put up with you. L ] 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ You know the good looks, and kind heart are in our gene pool Lealea xx ] Rolling my eyes at her reply, my fingers moving fast over the screen. 𝚃𝚘 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 [ Go to bed. -L ] She knew that meant the conversation was done with. ‘See, she has it all in hand. And if she needed help, she would have said.’ My wolf spoke to me as I started to clear up the tables. “That’s not the point, she shouldn’t have to ask for help, it should be there for her no matter what she says.”

↬Embry Call ↫ I watched Leah from the pool table while the pups racked the balls up. #Sam insisted the Alpha 𝔸𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤breaks. It wasn’t like her to be on her phone when she was working unless it was important. I smirked and pulled out my phone and shot her a quick text. Hoping to make her smirk or scowl… or both! Anything to get her out of whatever the cycle in her head was now and bring her back into the moment. [𝙷𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛! 𝙶𝚎𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔!] #Sam made his break and potted a red ball for us. I gave him a low five as the campers that #Seth and I had relocated; came cautiously into the bar. I turned away before the blonde walked in a muttered. “Shit!” Why the hell did #Seth circle the bar on the map!? #Sam Looked over at the guy and two girls and gave me a telling look. He knew who they were; he had seen the camp before I had. ‘You don’t waste any time, do you?’ He teased and I muttered at him to shut up. Then one of the pups moved up beside me. ‘Can I have the blonde?’ assuming I was avoiding the brunette’s looks… my usual type. Not knowing I had flirted with the blonde to piss off the angry brother. I jabbed him with my elbow. “Really? ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖?” I eyed the kid and he went to take his shot. They all knew I was a player… but I chose my words carefully. The trio took seats at the bar and greeted #Seth like they’d known him for years. But #Seth was the kind of guy that returned the same kind of enthusiasm; he was too nice for his own good sometimes. Then #Sam tapped me with his elbow telling me it was my shot… dammit!! The white ball was at the other end of the table. That meant turning my back on Leah. Never a good idea when you had just taunted her!

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ ‘Use your teaching Leah, lean on all you have learnt over the years and all #TheGreatWolf has trusted you with.’ She was right, I knew it. And I knew I was on edge. But I also knew that this was my life, the one I have chosen to make my own. We were not given the choice before we were thrust into this world. But now that I was here, if offered a different path I knew I would pick the same life I am living now. My phone buzzed in my pocket pulling me out from the mind space I found myself lost in. Making me stop to set the tray and cloth down on the next table I was going to clean up. Wondering if #Emily had changed her mind, but it wasn’t her who had sent me a text. ‘He’s sending texts now?’ My wolf sat up and smirked, at reading the words on my screen I frowned, glancing up I found him right away. “Slacker? Does that man know me?” Narrowing my eyes at him as he stood and then shifted to… hide? My wolf and I scanned the floor, noticing the new people walking in and making a beeline for #Seth. I tilted my head, crossing my arms over my chest watching to see the interaction the Kid had with the two girls and the guy too. ‘Our Kid could make friends in an enemy camp.’ My wolf mused, and I flashed images of #Rose for the two of us to smirk over. ‘Case and Point. The boy has a pure soul, and people are pulled towards him like a magnet.’ I smirked watching him interacting with these new faces, as well as the imprints too. My eyes bolted back to the pool table at hearing the Pup and what he said. “Have? 𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚…What is she a hamburger?” I muttered to myself, a lesson on how to talk about women would be on the cards for them all soon. ‘Maybe #Ness and #Rachel will do it for us?’ I shook my head. They would have pure joy I was sure in setting the pups right when it came to the topic. Picking up a bottle cap, I played with it in my fingers, watching the Guy with the two girls and the way he tried to send out a message to anyone thinking of approaching. And it really would have made me laugh. The brunette smiled sitting herself down at the bar, watching close as #Mac helped #Seth with their drinks. But it was the blonde whose eyes were wondering, and wondering and…… “There it is.” She clocked ↬Embry Call ↫like a beacon from a bonfire, with her drink in hand, she jumped her arse off the bar stool, flipped her hair and started his way. I sent my reply now. 𝚃𝚘 𝙴𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚢: [ 𝚂𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚖? 𝙶𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝. -𝙻 ] Smirking I took the bottle cap, flicking it across the room and over the heads of the people between us to hit ↬Embry Call ↫ on his arse as he bent over to play. Knowing it would make him turn at the right time for the blonde shortie to see him face to face. ‘I see that worked to pull you free from yourself.’ My wolf teased with a smirk.

↬ Embry Call ↫ I leaned over the table with one last glance at Leah… with her phone in her hand, of course. She’d seen the message. I lined up a relatively easy shot… at least with the heightened eyesight and accuracy that lent itself to being a Spirit Warrior. Something hit me, I jerked upright, and the cue lurched forward; the white ball flew, pocketed a yellow ball and ricocheted across the table into the corner pocket. “Call!!” #Sam hollered, but he was spluttering in laughter. I whirled to find Leah, but I found the blonde with a doe-eyed pout on her lips. Shit!! My gaze cut past her to a very amused Leah, and I smiled… At least I’d distracted her for a moment. ‘Aw!’ the blonde cooed. ‘And here I thought I could be your good luck charm.’ #Sam was practically suffocating now… It was rare to see him this laid back either… especially after what had happened earlier. And apparently, I was the comic relief tonight. But I supposed that was what I got for betting against Leah Clearwater. I cleared my throat as I moved out of the way for the pups to take their shot. “Oh…” I slipped easily into my carefree grin. “Um... Milly… Molly… something with an M… Right?” I clicked my fingers as I pretended to think. ‘Laura.’ She corrected me, fidgeting with the straw in her glass and looking disappointed. I took my spot next to #Sam who was barely containing the rocking in his shoulders as he repressed his laughter. “Right!!” I smiled. “I was close.” I heard chuckles from the pups not in the game, but it wasn’t loud enough for her to pick up over the sounds of a full bar. She didn’t contradict me as she came to stand next to me. ‘Um…’ she grasped at straws for something to make conversation about. ‘The… um… beach you showed us is beautiful. Thank you.’ “Technically I showed you the car park… but you’re welcome.” I lifted a cupped fist to my mouth and coughed, whispering “Ness... Please help me!” She and Leah were the only girls in the bar capable of hearing my plea, and Leah never bailed us out of these situations. Then in a normal voice, I said. “And… I mean… it’s the Olympic peninsula. So… it’s actually pretty mild right now.” ‘Not a hope Embry Call!’ Ness muttered from the bar and then told the girls what I had said, causing them to fall apart laughing too.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ “Oh don’t you dare Ness.” I mumbled cleaning up the last table. And then she turned to wink at me. ‘As if.’ She laughed. ‘This is too much fun to see and hear.’ I shook my head. It was hard not to listen. Not to laugh at him he acted like he had forgotten the girl’s name. But the disappointing look she had given him was kind of... well.... you know.. sad... #Sam’s shoulders were going, and I could tell the man couldn’t keep it together. “Sam. Man. Stop letting the side down.” I said, thankful that nobody was paying much attention to the angry bar owner talking to herself as I collected a few more bottles. “If anything, you should be helping the girl.” I told him one my way back. The Imprints and the other girls were falling off their stools, more at the look that ↬Embry Call ↫was giving. Wishing and hoping somebody would save him. ‘I should go and help him.’ #Seth said and shifted to turn out of the bar. But I handed him the full tray in my hand and told him he had work to do with the glass washer. ‘That’s mean Sis.’ But he was smiling now too. ‘What did I miss?’ #Mac asked and #Bex pointed over to the pool table, explaining what #Ness had told them all. ‘What’s the big deal? Isn’t she kind of his type?’ He asked. #Rachel shook her head. But it was me who spoke as I serviced a couple with some drinks. “She isn’t a brunette, or a Goth chick, but she is a shortie. So that’s something?” ‘You know his type Leah Clearwater?’ #Kim was grinned at me. ‘Leah noticed everything.’ #Jess was the one to say and I rolled my eyes at them all. The pups moved around him and the girl, giving them space but I could tell they weren’t going too far. They wanted that front row seat to this pony show. ‘Leah?’ #Ness pointed to the bar menu. ‘Maybe Call should send over a couple?’ I had to grin. The junior Cullen was something. But I did like how her mind was working. I made up a couple of #MermaidSpunks, glancing over I saw what the guy with the girls was drinking. And slide the drinks before the two sat at the bar. The guy had his eyes on the blonde and Call, and I was sure that he was shooting daggers. “From Call, over there.” The girl at the bar smiled and giggles taking the drink. Whilst the guys shifted and just nodded his thanks. “Who is taking this over to the blonde?” I asked, but #Rach had jumped down from the bar and took the drink across the bar. “Don’t you dare save him Rachel!” I told her. ‘Please, give me some credit.’ She winked back at me. “She has a soft spot for that idiot.” I mumbled. But everyone knew it was true. Rachel was always looking out for him and stepping up for him. She had Call and Littlesea under her little wings on the best of day.

↬ Embry Call ↫ I had to fight not to roll my eyes when Leah was encouraging #Ness to keep out of it. The pups took their extra shot and pocketed two more balls. I shook my head… but they knew better than to get cocky yet. But so far this night was not going my way. The look on her face was a little pathetic… but really I was doing her a favour. I was not interested… The blonde thing could be forgiven, but the fact I had to remove her from camping on land that was considered sacred… That drew a line in the sand for me. There was a subtle line between ignorance and blatant disregard of the small parcel of land the Tribe was allowed to keep. I glanced to the bar when #Seth said he was coming to my rescue. Leah suddenly had a job for him to do. I heard everything that was happening over there. I could tell by her voice that Rachel was on a mission. She slipped up between us and handed the girl the glass of blue liquid. I fought back a groan. ‘Hi!’ she beamed enthusiastically. ‘Welcome to La Push! Our boy here asked for this to be brought over especially for you.’ She patted my shoulder. The girl flushed bright pink even under her pale make-up. How did she think I’d managed that? I’d not been to the bar since she approached me. ‘He’s a sweetheart like that!’ #Rachel continued and patted my back, again. ‘Did he tell that he spends his free time taking care of his Mom…’ she babbled to the girl. ‘Poor thing hasn’t been well at all. But he is so good to her. You know what they say? Bad boys are fun for a while…. But Mama’s boys are the ones you should marry.’ She was channelling her inner #Jessica. ‘Of course, silly me I went and married the Bad boy… and I love the idiot… but…’ she sighed like she was a little disappointed with her life; when we all knew she was disgustingly happy. ‘Oops! Look at me taking up all your time to get to know one another.’ She leaned in and pretended to whisper knowing damn well Laura could hear her. ‘She is so much prettier than you described.’ She giggled. #Rachel never giggled unless it was at something dirty #Paul whispered in her ear. ‘Good luck.’ Then she was gone. The pink pooling in her cheeks was crimson now and she sipped on the cocktail, thinking I had been talking about her to my friends all evening. I had the choice now to humiliate the girl and tell her it was a practical joke or…. Well there really wasn’t an or… The pups were gathered and listening despite making a good show of not doing so. ‘She seems nice.’ Laura smiled. “Oh yeah.” I said… the sarcasm was too much to contain. “Too nice for her own good really.” I shot #Rach a look as I moved to the other side of the table to take a shot. I knew someone would tell her what I said.

TBC...