#yeah fuck sure I want venom luke yeah I said it

[kalak]

Eldritch tentacle monster luke and leia when. You know like... the force part of the twins manifesting as a lovecraftian horror monster.. obiwan locking the twins' true nature away but it worming its way out as they grow up

A still fresh and somewhat untrained luke gets surrounded by stromtroopers and thinks he's dead for sure but suddenly he's waking up unhurt, in the middle of carnage. He doesn't remember anything but the security footage shows a tentaclish sludge bubbling out of him to devour the troopers whole.

Luke starts exhibiting unsettling behavior the more he starts to rely on his tentacle side. He starts to eat weird things, which people dismissed at first bc tatooine farmer but eyebrows are raised at luke eyeing rotten meat hungrily. He keeps yelling at top of cliffs swearing that he can hear something in the echo etc

Also this is very important, sludge!luke is very polite. It doesn't seem like the tentacle monsterified luke remembers anything nor has a sense of self, it just looks like it operates on instinct, but it's very nice to kids and even tries to pick up admiral piett's cap for him. He's just very nice if you can get over the chilling horror that pierces through you just at the sight of it.

[to-thelakes]

Luke confessing his love for reader during a screaming match/fight after confronting an unsub went wrong and reader being confused as to why he's telling them that now

faltered

pairing; luke alvez x fem!reader

summary; after you put yourself at risk, once again, luke finally snaps but the argument doesn't go in the way you expect.

warnings; fluff, angst, love-confession, happy ending, not proof-read

notes; is this proof-read? hell nah, is it good? honestly, anyone's guess, i am so so so so so bad at writing characters being angry because i just... honestly forgive people WAY too easy and i can't stay mad at people for long. i can probably count on one hand the amount of times i've actually been mad so this was a little experiment for me. and honestly, this little request/ask/whatever had me inspired and i wrote the dialogue last night and then finished it today so here is my little drabble/1.3k word one-shot about this scenario

“What the hell were you thinking!” Luke raged as he closed the hotel door behind him. You clenched your jaw, turning back to glare at him. You couldn’t believe this.

“I saved her life!” You snapped back as you looked up at him. He scoffed, throwing his hand up to gesture at your wound.

“Look at your face! You put yourself in the line of fire unnecessarily,” He argued back. You stared at him, in complete disbelief.

“I did what I thought was right,” You said, voice still loud but not quite shouting at him this time. You could feel the rage bubbling and you felt guilty enough that you didn’t need Luke shouting at you like your cheek hadn’t been slashed open.

“You knew that wasn’t the right call,” He responded, crossing his arms over his chest. You turned around briefly but his words stopped you in your step. You turned to face him.

“I had to do something!” You raged, anger jumping back to the surface within seconds.

“And letting the Unsub get you was the way of doing that, huh?” He questioned, venom lacing his tone. He couldn’t believe you had been so reckless and you didn’t understand why Luke cared so much.

“Yeah! I needed her to get away and if that meant I got hurt, oh well because she’s alive!” You argued, throwing your arm out as you spoke. Luke shook his head, disbelieving.

“No, we had a plan. You put that plan in jeopardy!” His voice raised at the last word, anger morphing his features. It would have bothered you if you weren’t equally as fired up, “If JJ hadn’t been there, you’d both be dead!”

“JJ was there, Luke. So, don’t give me this shit!” You shouted back before you turned around and grabbed your to-go bag. You wanted to get back to the team. You weren’t even sure why you let Luke come with you. Maybe you thought he’d be a comfort but he wasn’t. Of course, he wasn’t. You should have known.

“And what if she hadn’t been, huh?” He asked, voice levelling out as he stepped towards you. His arms still crossed over his chest.

“It doesn’t matter,” You retorted as you glanced over your shoulder. You were stuffing your clothes into the bag haphazardly, hoping that you could just leave this alone. But Luke wasn’t willing to give up it seemed.

“Yes, it does!” He practically shouted and you threw your last piece of clothing into the bag before you whirled on him.

“Why! Why does it matter so fucking much?” You were at your wit’s end with him. You were in pain, you were upset and you didn’t need this, “I’m alive, I’m here, I’m part of the team still! Prentiss isn’t mad at me so what gives you the right!” You were shouting again, rage bubbling over as you stepped towards him. You met his gaze defiantly.

“Because I love you!” He shouted back and you fell silent. Luke’s face suddenly morphed from anger to regret and he stepped back. You just stared, the silence permeating between the two of you. You didn’t know what to say. You were speechless and you just stared. 

“What?” You asked softly. All the anger had flooded out of you like the plug pulled out of sink and all that was left in its wake was confusion.

“You put yourself in the line of fire, again,” He tried to swerve away from his confession, ignore it. He tried to go back to what the argument had been about but you cut him off;

“Luke,” You tried to say something but you words seemed to falter. He looked at you for a moment and you opened your mouth before you frowned, “What do-?” You wrapped your arm around yourself, stepping back from him.

“You-” Luke faltered for a moment before he tried to inject the anger into his tone, “That is the second time you’ve put yourself in the line of fire. You can’t-” But the anger seemed to falter again. You were looking at him with an expression he couldn’t read and his words hung heavy on his tongue. Your mind was whirring with thoughts and you were trying to pick them apart, make sense of something.

“Why would you say that now?” You asked. He had never heard your tone so soft and guilt reared its ugly head in his chest. But also, that familiar sting of rejection began to creep in.

“What? What do you mean?” He replied, frowning down at you. You sighed raggedly.

“You can’t just throw around a confession like that,” You mumbled. Luke stepped back again, his face fell and you wrapped your arms tighter around yourself. You didn’t know what to think. You had loved Luke for so long. That’s why you had trusted him to come with you to the room but this, this was unfair.

“I wasn’t trying to-” But you cut him off with a soft; “I know.” Realistically, you did know that he wasn’t trying to use it as a guilt trip but it still felt so cruel. Why couldn’t he have said it some other time? Why now?

“I don’t understand why you’re so reckless,” He said after a beat of silence. You scoffed.

“It’s not recklessness, it’s a calculated decision,” You responded, wanting to shut this argument down before it even started again. Your anger wasn’t clouding your thoughts anymore so you thought you might as well explain it to him, “I knew JJ was behind me. I knew she’d be able to catch him. We had the profile wrong and I realised that. I didn’t have a choice. He was about to kill her.” Your gut twisted as you held yourself tighter. The sting of the knife against your cheek was still so fresh to you. You were lucky.

“And you got hurt,” He responded. You shrugged.

“But we’re both alive and I’m not gonna apologise for doing what I thought was right.” You said simply. He nodded and he stepped towards you. It felt hard to swallow as you stared down at the floor, unable to meet his gaze.

“I don’t expect you to,” His words were a simple reassurance but it made you feel a little lighter. You sent him an awkward half-smile, mumbling;

“Good.” There was silence for a few beats before you took a deep breath. You just had to say it, “But for what it’s worth, I think I love you too.” It was Luke’s turn to be silent this time and he stepped towards you. There was quiet for a moment and you chanced a look up at him. The frown had been replaced with a cheeky smile and you rolled your eyes at him, turning to look away.

“Huh,” He let out, the smile turning into a smirk as he stepped towards you. He wrapped his arms around your waist tugging you closer and you let him. Your arms wrapped around his neck as you looked up at him. 

You knew what he intended to do and you were quick to put your finger against his lips, stopping him from leaning any further, “Don’t even think about it, Alvez. Take me on a date first,” You stated. A grin began to spread across your face and you wished you could stop it but you couldn’t.

“Then let’s go out tonight,” He suggested. You hummed in thought before you nodded and pulled him against you.

“Okay,” You said. He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he pulled you into a hug, holding you tightly, “As long as you kiss me goodnight,” You whispered against his skin. He chuckled and nodded his head against your hair.

“I can do that.”

<3

[bellysoupset]

This fic is not so much a story, more like "Jonah sees an opportunity to give an exposé on Luke, doesn't realize he's giving Leo an exposé on himself."

There's no sickness or whump in this.

@its-a-goddamn-heartbreak this one is for you <3

----------

"You're quiet tonight," Jonah said, spreading himself on the bed with a sigh, "should I be worried?"

"Uhm?"

"I said you're quiet," Jon repeated, then cupped Leo's face, fully expecting to meet feverish skin. Instead he only got his boyfriend's normal temperature and an amused smile in return.

"I'm not sick, silly, I'm just thinking."

"Never good," Jonah teased, closing the space between them and kissing him. Leo let out a muffled chuckle, cupping Jonah's face with one hand and forcing them apart.

"Actually..."

"Yeah?" Jonah said, planting a bunch of little kisses on Leo's neck, biting his earlobe, "what are you thinking about?"

"Lucas," Leo said, causing Jonah to finally pull back, with a big frown on.

"Atwood?" Jonah scoffed, venom dripping from his voice, "why the fuck are you thinking about Lucas in bed?!"

"I'm not thinking about him in bed, I'm thinking about Luke while I happen to be in bed," Leo teased him, barely suppressing the glee in his voice at Jon's jealous reaction, "it's not like that."

"Uh," Jonah raised his eyebrows, unamused, "then fucking elaborate?"

"I was at his place yesterday," Leo explained, voice gaining a serious tone, "you know, keeping him some company, he's down bad."

"Yeah, I'm aware you and Vince are doing a suic- are keeping him company," Jonah quickly corrected himself, "he'll live."

Leo glared at him, "will you let me finish?"

"Fine," Jonah grumbled, rolling off of him, "so? You were at Atwood's place and?"

"And he mentioned his mom and he mentioned you..." Leo explained, turning on the bed so he could plant his elbow on the mattress and his cheek on his hand, "and I was just thinking about how you two met and stuff. None of you ever talk about it."

Jonah seemed taken back, the jealousy vanishing, "Oh... Well, you never asked," he shrugged, getting comfortable in the bed, "what do you want to know?"

Leo perked up, he clearly hadn't been expecting such an open and inviting reaction. Everything, "he said his mom would be disappointed in him... I told him no, of course, but like- Would she?"

Jonah thought about it for a second, then nodded, "probably," he shrugged, "yeah, I think so."

"That's a horrible thing to say," Leo pouted, frowning, "are you just being a dick or-"

"Lucas forgot, but Veronica was not a good mom. She was a good person sure, a really great senator, but she wasn't a good mom until she died," Jonah said dryly and noticed Leo seemed taken back. He let out a sigh, "look I'm not trying to be a dick, just to answer you honestly."

Leo nodded, frowning at him, "what do you mean when you say that..? Did you know her? I always thought you met in boarding school..."

Jonah let out a scoff, "I wish- No, our parents were friends. His stupid father got all his procedures with my father. We lived in the same gated community, literally a street away from each other... I hated him. My parents pushed so hard for us to be friends, but we weren't compatible. I especially hated Lucas when our parents would use me as a placeholder for a babysitter. I'd have plans and then suddenly Luke was in my house and I wasn't allowed to go out, because I had a guest."

Leo giggled, eyes sparkling with surprise, "I'd never have guessed, Jon, I thought you guys only met way later..."

"No, we were born in the same hospital," Jonah rolled his eyes, "couldn't get rid of him didn't matter how hard I tried. So you can say I knew his parents, alright. His mom was nice, don't take me the wrong way. Very polite, very busy. Never home, but nice... And head over heels in love with that asshole."

"Luke's dad?" Leo gossiped, scooting closer and Jonah bit down a smile at the clear curiosity in his boyfriend's face. It wasn't a secret that Leo was, or used to be before meeting Luke, a Kit Howard fan, "how was he?"

"Amazing," Jonah grinned, flicking a hair away from Leo's eyes, "magnetic, funny, you know? At nine I really thought he was the coolest shit. Except he micromanaged everything from afar. Was always touring, I don't think he was ever there for one of Luke's birthday. I don't think Veronica was there either, to be honest. But Kit? Even from across the fucking world, he could control everything. He knew everything always."

"Sounds... A little scary."

"He was the direct opposite of my father. Jasper was always home, his clinic was in our property, very discreet for the celebrities... He was always home and I don't think he ever knew who I was. Had no idea if I was home or in the boarding school that week. Treated me like a little friend he had around the house, when he accidentally bumped my way. He only remembered he had a son when he had to preach about how much of a better parent he was than Jackie," he tried to keep the bitterness off his voice, but failed, "now Kit, in the other hand, was never home, but he knew everything. He knew if Lucas got in a fight, he knew what were Lucas' plans, his girlfriends, his grades, his meal plan... Luke was like the fucking bubble kid."

"I can see why you hated him," Leo giggled, "it sounds like it'd be exhausting to be around him."

"It was!" Jonah agreed, glad the blonde got his point, "so then Jackie fucked off. I turned eleven and she packed her bags and fucked off, so Jasper enrolled me in the boarding school. Probably thinking he could turn my room into another surgery room... And I thought I was free of Lucas Atwood."

"But no," Leo seemed amused and Jon shook his head, defeated.

"Nope. Next day, Lucas fucking Atwood is in my class."

"That must've been amazing," Leo said sarcastically, stealing a kiss and Jonah scoffed, biting his lip and pulling back.

"It was hell," he groaned, "but we made do. We had different friend groups and only spoke when we had to go home and it was fine... Lucas was, well, this Lucas you know."

"So cool?"

"If you say so," Jonah bumped their noses together, "but he was popular and friendly... And then one weekend he went home. It wasn't a long weekend, I remember I thought it was weird he was the only kid sent home."

"Oh."

"And he didn't come back for two weeks. When he came back he was... A mess. He never picked a fight up until then, suddenly he was this angry teenager and it was very weird..."

"Because of his mom..."

"Yeah. That summer we went back home and I didn't know- No one knew. I got into a really nasty fight with Lucas, I don't remember why, but I remember we got the police called on us. He fucked tackled me in the middle of a restaurant, while we were out with our parents."

"Jon..."

"Must've insulted his mom," Jonah snorted, but there was no humor, "probably. He missed two months of the boarding school that year, I have no idea how he even graduated. Was flying home at every opportunity, missing a bunch of classes..."

"Then...?"

"Then about a week before we graduated, Jasper called me."

"Your dad?"

"Yeah," Jonah opened a small sad smile, "Veronica had died in her house that evening, Luke was there. I wasn't even aware he wasn't in the school... I had to go back for the funeral. Luke was... Fucking catatonic, I didn't see him cry, nothing."

"Jonah..." Leo sat up, looking teary eyed himself, "that's awful."

Jon shrugged, "we went back to school right after the funeral. Kit Howard showed up at the school, flashed some smiles, signed some pictures and suddenly Lucas was gonna graduate like the rest of us. At the day of graduation, Luke was wasted. I remember he could barely walk a straight line."

"Lucas doesn't-"

"Doesn't drink?" Jonah scoffed, "you know that's not true, you were there two months ago when he decided chugging vodka was a good idea. Well, imagine that, but worse."

"Then what happened?"

"We graduated. None of our parents showed up, obviously. We went back home. I barely saw him all break. Then I got into college, heard Luke took a gap year."

"He did?"

"Yeah," Jonah nodded, "and then when I think I'm finally rid of Lucas Atwood, he joins the football team I just joined. In my own fucking college."

"You love him," Leo snorted, lying back down, "I didn't realize how close you two were. You were... There every step of the way."

"I didn't want to be there," Jonah pointed out, but couldn't deny it. He was close with Luke, for better or for worse, they had shared all the important moments of their lives, "but I guess."

Leo didn't comment that Jon hadn't denied loving Lucas, instead he just snuggled closer, kissing him, "okay now... can we stop the depressing background and make out?"

Jonah let out a scoff in his mouth, "that was my initial plan!"

[storiesbyrhi]

Bones and All - Chapter 4: Hawkins, Indiana

Eddie Munson/Reader Series Masterlist

Warnings: canon typical violence/gore, cuss words, weird parental relationships, animal farming/slaughterhouse referenced; no beta; updated each chapter

Synopsis: A Bones and All AU. What do you hunger for?

Chapter Summary: He's not a hometown hero but he might just be yours.

“So, you never finished school?” Eddie asked, his one question when you told him about the sleepover. Blood-soaked shag rugs. Tinsel skirts and high pitch screaming. But he wanted to know about you.

“No… I could have a couple times over but, you know,”

“Yeah. I haven’t either. There’s other ways to learn…” He shrugged, kept his eyes on the road. You were making good time to get to Hawkins. “And your mum left after that?”

“Um, not straight away. Two months,”

“That’s weird,”

“Yeah,” you agreed. Yeah. Why had she waited? If that was the final straw, then why drag it out and make you feel safe and forgiven?

Your mother’s letter played in your mind sometimes. It was her voice you heard, but it sounded far away like an echo. ‘Maybe never loved you like a parent should,’ and ‘I will always love you, Y/N. Please don’t come looking for me.’ What was the truth?

“Do you think she was afraid of you?” Eddie asked.

Although you had just been talking about her, it still took a second for your head to connect it. Had your mother been afraid of you? Of course, it had sort of half-occurred to you that she might have been, but it seemed infinitely more likely now Eddie had verbalised it.

You felt a pain shoot down your spine and an ache in your fingers; you pulled at them trying to coax warmth back into your hands.

Eddie saw it on your face, said your name and tried to apologise, but you didn’t hear him at all.

Was she afraid of me?

Did she love me?

If she was afraid of me, how could she love me?

Penny. Luke. Dmitri. Kevin. Marcus. Noble. CJ. Jamie. Lydia.

The letter said your mother saw no shame on your face after you ate Luke Vanderwall. Maybe you knew how to hide shame by then? Maybe you had already mastered emotional concealment? Because you sure as fuck felt shame. Didn’t you?

All your contradictions suddenly came into pristine focus. Leaving Sully under the pretence of not deserving guidance nor company, then asking Eddie for those very things. Spitting venom at Andy for offering help, but using that same word when speaking to Eddie.

Did you deserve guidance and company and help and love, or not? What did you believe about yourself? What was the truth?

The truth is like the waiting jaws of a monster, a more menacing monster than you’d ever be. It yawns beneath your feet, and you can’t escape it, and as soon as you drop, it chews you to pieces.*

She never loved me.

She felt guilty for bringing me into the world.

I was just another responsibility.

An obligation.

Any kindness… empathy… it was all because she was so guilty.

Penny. Luke. Dmitri. Kevin. Marcus. Noble. CJ. Jamie. Lydia.

Why did I let Eddie help?

Pretence?

What do I want from him?

Penny. Luke. Dmitri. Kevin. Marcus. Noble. CJ. Jamie. Lydia.

I’m gon-

“M’gonna puke,” you managed to get out before clamping your hands around your mouth.

Eddie had already pulled over the van, but you hadn’t noticed. He expected you to bolt, so when you didn’t he nudged at you with an urgent, “Go!”

You flew from the passenger seat and across the road, throwing yourself to the ground and vomiting up everything your stomach had been trying to break down. Through your tears, you saw the still-formed top section of Lydia Harmon’s finger. You’d bitten it clean off and swallowed it whole. Now, it sat amongst the bile and soup.

Crawling away from the mess, you made it to the shade of a tree, laying in the dirt and dying grass. The itch of an ant crawling up your arm begged you to move, but you stayed motionless.

Eddie watched it all from the van, his arms hugging the wheel and his chin resting on it. He was berating himself for asking the question; speaking before thinking had gotten him into trouble in the past.

It wasn’t so much the eating that made Eddie consider himself a monster. It was the conflicted emotions he experienced after. Sure, there was guilt. But only sometimes. Sometimes he liked it. That made him bad, right? But watching you paralysed with misery because of something he said made him feel really, really fucking bad. More than guilt. A little like heartbreak. That had to count for something…

Eddie gave you five minutes in the dirt before he came over with water. He was sure he was going to apologise, but he stayed silent. You were glad he did. He helped you stand up and you followed him back to the van. You pressed on like nothing happened.

When you stopped for lunch, Eddie went into the roadside diner while you went into the toilets. You were staring at yourself in the scratched up mirror when there was a knock on the door.

“Occupied,” you said as loudly as your voice would go.

Someone had written RB 4 MG 4EVA on the wall in pink lipstick. You wondered if RB and MG were still together. A little further over, a thick black Sharpie had been used to draw a heart with SGC written inside.

“Y/N? It’s me,” Eddie called through the door.

When you opened the door, he was standing right there. “Sorry. You have to go?”

“Nah.” He was looking at you with his arms crossed. “I got food,”

“Good,”

“Ah, do you wanna sit or eat, or just… hit the road?”

You wanted to not have to make decisions.

Eddie’s expression softened and he stepped closer to you. “I’m… I’m gonna hug you now. Okay?”

You nodded helplessly, then felt the warm pressure of Eddie’s arms wrapped around you. You buried your face in his chest and snaked your way around his torso. There were no more tears to cry, so you just breathed heavily.

Eddie smelt like cigarettes. Not fresh tobacco leaves. The cheap brand. You hadn’t seen him smoke though; maybe you’d ask him about it later. Under that scent was his humanness, but it was sour. The same sourness on Sully. Was that it? Was that the smell of an eater? Other people were sweeter. Other people smelt like what they had eaten. What they had spent the day doing. Not Eddie.

Cigarettes and sour. He smelt earthy and more neutral than he should have, given that neither of you had showered in a while, and he was so so close to you.

“Are you thinking about eating me?” Eddie joked.

“You don’t smell like everyone else,” you replied.

He paused, then, “So, you were thinking about eating me?”

You smiled into him and sighed. He took it as a good sign. He kissed the top of your head, but it felt the same as if he had just nestled into it.

“Let’s just keep going, yeah? We’ll get to Hawkins just after dark. Probably not a bad thing. I shouldn’t really be seen around town…”

You nodded and regretfully let him go, following him back to the van. He handed you the plastic bag he’d been holding. Two roast beef sandwiches and two cans of Dr Pepper.

“Do you need to know why?”

“Why what?” you asked.

“Why I can’t be seen in town?”

You shook your head. “No.”

The sandwich was objectively good, but you couldn’t taste much. It didn’t really satisfy you. Neither had the camp stove soup before it, or Spaghetti-Os. You’d been hungry too soon after Lydia.

…

Hawkins was nothing remarkable, but it wasn’t the worst place in the world either. You watched the town go by through the dirty van window, sitting up straighter when Eddie cut the lights and slowed right down.

“Neighbours notice everything,” he said. “And trailer parks? They’re like mini-towns. We’ve gotta go under the radar as much as we can.”

The van was parked behind some trees just down from Forest Hill Trailer Park’s entrance. You and Eddie carried your bags through a small wooded area, coming out into the Park behind some mobile homes. He knew his way around, even in the dark, unlike you. It took you almost tripping once before he held his hand out behind him so you could hold on.

“We’ll go through the bedroom window,” he whispered, coming to a trailer. The window was unlocked, sliding up easily. He climbed onto a trash can, wincing when it banged against the wall loudly. Once inside, Eddie helped you up and in.

“This is your uncle’s?” you clarified.

“Yeah. I grew up here, basically. He works nights at the plant in town, so he won’t be back till tomorrow.”

The darkness meant you couldn’t see the room around you perfectly. You could make out the bed and side tables, and that it was very sparsely decorated. Everything seemed to be in cardboard boxes in the corner of a room.

“Yeah, ah, this used to be my room. Well, I mean, Wayne says it still is. But the trailer only has one bedroom, so when I started to, you know, not be here, I put all my shit in the boxes so he could stop sleeping on the fold out.”

Following him out of the bedroom, you noted a small bathroom to your left, then the main kitchen and living room. The space had larger windows, lighting it with moonlight. It was enough to see by but in no way romantic.

“Welcome to, ah, my castle.”

There were dozens of novelty mugs and baseball caps sitting on shelves around the room.  It was a tidy space, lived in but also missing the warmth that comes with family.

“Here, you take the flashlight. We gotta keep the lights off,”

“Neighbours,” you said.

“Neighbours.”

Eddie cooked another scraped-together meal. He didn’t want to go using up all of Wayne’s supplies. He felt bad enough for skipping out on him all the time and for… everything else. He didn’t want to add ‘eating all the food’ to the list. While he cooked, he could tell you were still deep in contemplation.

Eddie knew his own mother was terrified of him, as she had been of his father. One of his first memories, if not the first, was one of the look of abject horror on her face when she found him after he’d eaten. It never got better after that.

It seemed odd that the same truth had thrown you, but he had empathy. He knew that people hid all sorts of shit from themselves. It sucked when it came to the surface.

When he brought dinner over to the small two person table, you were standing in front of three framed photos on the wall. The first was Eddie, maybe ten-years-old, dressed as a skeleton for Halloween. The second was a photo of a man who you assumed was Wayne, holding a baby you assumed was Eddie. Eddie was asleep but Wayne’s face was wide awake with happiness. The last photo was an older Eddie, maybe fifteen or sixteen.

The face in the last photo was almost the one Eddie wore now, but there was a lightness in the expression that was hard to imagine on the Eddie you knew. He also didn’t have the same scar across his cheek.

It was then you realised you hadn’t given much thought to Eddie’s scar at all. You’d noticed his hair and big brown eyes. What he wore. How he held himself. The different smiles. The shape of his lips. The palms of his hands. A lot more. The scar that crawled from his jawline, across his left cheek though, it seemed so much part of him that it hadn’t earned a second thought. It was as if your mind had just decided he was born with it. But, of course he hadn’t been. The third photograph told you so.

“Good?” Eddie asked, breaking your concentration and drawing your attention back to him.

When you tasted the food, you told him, “You’re good at this… Making something out of nothing.”

He swallowed and looked away. “I’ll go see Red in the morning. Early. You can take the bed tonight,”

"Red?"

"Max."

You nodded. “I had the bed last time,”

“It’s fine. I’ll take the couch. Or the fold out.”

You didn’t want to argue, so you just nodded again, taking another mouthful. Was he hungry like you? Did he feel it growing inside him like you did? Was it normal?  You wanted to ask but talking about eating was still something you weren’t used to, despite your best efforts.

Washing the dishes in warm water felt nice on your hands. It was good to help. Eddie dried and put everything away.

“You can have a shower if you want. If you can do it in the dark,” Eddie offered. He showed you where everything was, then handed you a clean towel. “S’alright if you leave the door open for light. I won’t spy or anything.”

The bed was comfortable and clean, unlike the cowboy’s. Sleep felt so close. Real actual rest. It wouldn’t come though. You knew Eddie was awake in the next room. He was quiet for a while, probably reading by moonlight. He began to toss and turn like you. Your heart rate picked up when you heard the squeak of the couch and the soft padding of Eddie walking down the hall.

“You awake?” he whispered, paused at the open door.

“Yeah,” you whispered back.

Eddie moved through the darkness, getting into bed with you without saying another word. Before you could will your body to unfreeze or think of much at all, he had wriggled closer to you, spooned himself into your back. As he spoke, you could feel his breath on the back of your neck.

“This okay?”

“Yeah,” you answered, but your voice sounded different. It caught you off guard, but Eddie was too on the cusp of sleep to notice.

He put an arm around you, pulled you closer to him. Not having to do anything, decide anything, made it easy. You melted into the mattress and into Eddie like it was the thing your body was born to do.

…

There was a note on the kitchen bench when you woke up.

With Max. Be back soon. Be ready to leave. – E

After making sure your bag was packed and by the bedroom window, where Eddie had already put his, you went to look at the photos on the wall again. You wanted to see if there were more somewhere but you couldn’t just look through all Wayne’s things. The man you had never met was already being more of a host than he should have been.

The clock on the microwave told you it was just passed ten in the morning. You were wondering how long an overnight shift was when Eddie came tumbling through the bedroom window.

“Ready?”

“Yeah,” you said, falling in line like a soldier.

Halfway back to the van, in the middle of the little wooded area, you heard leaves crunch and twigs snap behind you.

“Eddie!” a voice called.

You both turned.

“Shut up. Shhhh,” Eddie warned, stepping back towards the red-haired teenager.

She rolled her eyes and looked behind him to you. “She your girlfriend?”

“She’s my friend. What are you doing here? I told you to go to school,”

“Why? You don’t go,”

“Yeah, I’m a dumbass though. Come on, Red. Don’t do this,”

“Me?!” Max yelled. Eddie stepped closer again, frantically waving his arms in an attempt to get her to be quieter. “Oh my god. Nobody cares Eddie. You’re the one that makes this weird. Why don’t you just come home? Wayne misses you. He’s always sitting on the doorstep smoking,”

“Don’t try to fuckin’ guilt me, alright? I’m doing a fantastic job at that already.”

Max had her hands on her hips. She looked at Eddie, her face set in a frown. “You go for longer each time… You’re never here,”

“Jesus. We don’t, like, hang out? You’re a kid. You’ve got Dustin and Sinclair,”

“We broke up,”

“Okay. Fuck. Sorry. Alright? I don’t know what you want me to say,” Eddie said, completely exasperated.

Max looked like she might cry, instead she willed herself to get angry. “Do you even fucking care about anyone? You pretend you stay away so it's easier for Wayne, but it’s not. It’s not for Dustin or like, Gareth and Jeff and stuff.”

Eddie took a deep breath in and dropped his duffle bag. He clenched his fist and walked away from her. She watched him walk to a tree and lean against it, pulling every last reserve of patience he had.

You remembered what it was like to be Max’s age. Everything felt personal. Everything felt like abandonment. So, when she said, “And whose van is that, Eddie?” you understood her need to provoke.

Eddie knew he wasn’t going to be able to make her walk away of her own free will. He closed his eyes and let the self-hate wash over him. “I’m not your brother, Max,” he said, voice low.

She looked stunned by his words, her arms falling from her hips and her scowl turning into a sad frown. Eddie turned to her, hoping she’d run, but she was strong and defiant and everything he loved her for.

“I’m sorry, Max. I told you I’d be here, I was. But I’m not your brother. I don’t owe you anything,”

“Fuck you,” she spat, utter grief in her eyes. Max turned and walked away. Both you and Eddie knew that she was crying.

Eddie picked up his bag and began the walk back to the van. It was parked on the side of the road, a little less hidden away than last night.

You jumped into the front passenger seat and carefully moved a McDonalds take away bag to the floor.

“That’s for you,” Eddie mumbled.

“Thanks,” you replied, voice equally quiet.

He started up the van and pulled a u-turn, heading to what appeared to be the town centre. You’d figured Eddie would want to get as far away from Hawkins as possible, but apparently not. Staying silent, you are your breakfast and looked out the window and tried to imagine Eddie’s life in the small town.

Going passed a shopping mall and turning into a residential area, Eddie slowed down. He looked like he was searching for something or someone. When he clocked you watching him out the corner of your eyes, he said, “Found some weed in the trailer. I know someone always looking to buy. Figure we could make a quick buck, get supplies, then blow this joint.”

You nodded and smiled. We.

Eddie pulled up to a house that seemed pretty innocuous, except for the most outlandish swan statue smack-bang in the front yard. It wasn’t even a water feature or fountain. He looked over at you to find your brow set in a frown, a look of judgemental confusion on your face.

“Is that for me or the swan?”

“What?”

“Your face,” he said.

“It’s hideous.”

Eddie snorted a little laugh. “No accounting for taste, I guess. Wait here.”

He was in and out within five minutes. When he got back behind the wheel, Eddie handed you a wad of cash. “You’re the bank,” he said.

You took the money and held it in your hands while he circled the block and headed back the way you came.

“Here,” and he handed you his wallet. “How much do we have?”

The total amount of cash – yours, his, and the newly acquired drug money – was not bad. Eddie seemed happy with it, so you did too.

“There’s a thrift store on the other side of town. It’s big. Got like, camping shit. There’s a gas station just down from it,”

“Sounds good.”

You could tell he wanted to say something. Maybe about Max. The tap tap tapping of his rings on the steering wheel. His other hand brought to his lips, running his knuckles along them. They were giveaways that he wasn’t settled.

Deciding to risk it, you asked, “How’d Max do?”

“What?”

“In the driving lesson. Will she pass her test?”

Eddie nodded. “Yeah. If she can drive this, then she can drive anything.”

It felt like the conversation was about to die. “She seems smart. She’ll pass,”

“She is… Really fucking smart. Too smart… Deserves a scholarship or whatever, you know? Deserves better than Hawkins and everything that’s happened to her.”

They were nice things to say about someone. Nobody would have ever said them about you.

“I’m sorry… you had to see all that,” Eddie said then.

“It’s okay,”

“Nah, it’s not. I hate saying shit like that to her. I just don’t know how to make her stop… Her brother died last year… Fuck. It was a really shitty thing to say.”

You shrugged. “You couldn’t just tell her the truth?”

Eddie gave you a look of utter disbelief. “The truth?”

“Yeah, okay…” You shook your head. “Probably not the truth,”

“Probably not,” he repeated sarcastically.

“Anyway… Do you think maybe… if there’s time and there’s a good place for it, maybe you could teach me to drive too?”

Eddie grinned. “Am I taking you to prom too? Buying you a little red corsage?”

You quickly turned away, desperate for him not to see the embarrassment on your face.

“I’m sorry. Yes, Y/N. I will teach you to drive. But first, let’s get the supplies, ‘kay?”

Turning back, you smiled happily.

The thrift store provided a single mattress that just fit into the back of the van, a significant improvement on cardboard and old carpet. Pillows and blankets. A few more books. Other things deemed useful by Eddie.

After the gas station, you felt prepared to take on the world, or at least hit the highway and drive off into the sunset. Eddie had one last stop to make.

Half an hour or so outside of Hawkins’ city limits, you sped past an industrial farm. You didn’t catch the sign, unaware of the fact the place meant anything. Then, a mile or less down the road, Eddie pulled over and cut the engine.

You watched him readjust the rearview mirror and unbuckle his seatbelt.

“I worked there last summer for a week. They’re dumb as shit – all the cash from the café just stays in the register,”

“What is it?”

“Farm, mostly. Corn and soybeans. And pig slaughterhouse.”

“There’s a café in a slaughterhouse?”

“For staff, ‘cause it’s outside of town.” Eddie checked the time on his watch, then settled into his seat. “Better get comfy, got a couple hours before everyone’s out of there.”

You undid your seatbelt and climbed into the back. As you were pulling The Lord of the Rings out, an image of Eddie slitting the throat of a piglet flashed in your mind.

“Eddie?”

“Yeah?”

“Which part did you work in?”

He was rolling the window down, and suddenly you became acutely aware of the smell of fear and death. You knew it should have made you feel sick, but it didn’t.

“Started with the pigs. The pay is good because not everyone is cut out for it… But, ah… It wasn’t the killing part. That’s quick. It was everything else… The way they’re stuck in these shitty little pens just waiting to die. It fucked me up. Got all…” Eddie rolled his hand through the air as he searched for a way to put it. “In my head. Next day they tried to put me out in the fields but it turns out I’m too pasty white for that too… Spent the rest of the week washing dishes in the café. Quit on the Friday. But it’s how I know about the cash.”

You didn’t ask any more questions, just got back into your seat and started to read out loud from the bookmarked point.

…

You stopped reading for a late lunch slash early dinner. Halfway through, Eddie heard your stomach growl.

“You know you have to eat,”

“I am,” you said with a mouthful of peanut butter coated apple.

“S’not what I mean… Whatever… this is… We have to feed it.”

You thought about it. “What do you think happens if we don’t?”

“Honestly? I don’t wanna know.”

When the food was packed away, you both laid back on the mattress. It was too quiet, only the white noise of cornstalks and bugs beyond the metal walls of the van.

“What were you doing before we met?” you asked, carefully selecting a question you thought Eddie would answer.

“Nothing in particular,”

“How do you make money to live off?”

“Farm work, sometimes. Not really made for it though. It’s boring. Stealing is easy, once you’ve learnt. Whenever I’m back here I can usually get cut into some deals. Move some product out the state or whatever,” he answered. He knew you were building up to bigger questions, but he was curious about you too.

“When did you start living like this?”

“It’s been a while…”

“What made you wanna leave Hawkins in the first place?”

Eddie hesitated. “Pass,” he said.

“What are you gonna do once we get to my dad?”

He looked over at you. “What do you mean?”

“Well… Like… Are you just going to drop me off and… keep doing this or…”

“Guess that depends on if we find him. What we find out.”

You were pleased with that answer. It felt hopeful.

“Why’d you eat the babysitter?” he asked then.

“I don’t know… I was a baby… I just did it,”

“Okay… What about the next time? And the ones after that?”

It was only a question but you felt so accused. You wanted to be able to say ‘I can’t help’ it and mean it sincerely, but you knew that would never get passed Eddie’s bullshit detector.

“I… I don’t know,” you answered, words bouncing on shaky breath. “I can’t… I can’t control it,”

“Yes, you can,” Eddie said definitively. “If you couldn’t, you’d have eaten Andy,”

“That was different, I was distracted,”

“I don’t think it was,”

“What are you trying to do? What do you want me to say? That I’m a monster? That I enjoy being like this? That I just fucking love eating people?” You sat up, pulled your legs up into yourself defensively.

Eddie folded his arms under his head and looked over at you. His composure remained. “I’m just trying to get to know you… See if you’re… like me,”

“I don’t… I don’t know what that means. Like you how?”

Desperately, Eddie wanted to know if you felt conflicted like he did. Did you go screaming to the far end of self-hate, wishing you’d never been born and seeking oblivion, only to roll into the euphoria of eating? The undeniable high that came with the taste of the itty-bitty parts of the body like the pituitary gland. Sucking marrow from bone. Ripping fat from flesh. Did you feel it too? Because Eddie did. The frenzy. Swallowing. Feeling the person in him for days after. He felt like some kind of new superhero.

Eddie shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”

You could see that it did.

Five painfully silent minutes went by. Eddie had closed his eyes and rested, while you sat looking around the van awkwardly.

The sun had begun to set and when you looked out the window, the industrial farm loomed dark and ominous on the horizon.

“Is it time?” you whispered.

Eddie sat up. “As good a time as any.”

The cornfield between the van and the farm provided the best cover. The dirt beneath your feet was unstable, making it hard to follow Eddie with any grace. The feeling of anxiety grew the closer to the buildings you got. When you started to hear the distressed pigs, you regretted coming. Eddie hadn’t asked if you wanted to stay back; even if he had, you wouldn’t have chickened out.

On the edge of the cornfield, Eddie surveyed.

“There’s not like, guards or anything?”

“Yeah, two guys. Mick stays in the office. Gets blazed and sleeps most of the night. That’s his truck there. The other guy is pushing fuckin’ eighty. Can’t hear for shit… Come on.” Eddie held out his hand, you took it without thought.

Keeping to the shadows, you rounded a couple of the buildings until you came to one that looked newer than the others. Eddie picked the lock and you crept inside. Down a few hallways, you went by rooms filled with lockers and doors marked with names of men like Dennis Hurn and Robert White. The double doors to the café were unlocked.

You kept your eyes set on the doors once inside, listening to Eddie jimmy open the cash register and empty it. Suddenly, his hands were on you, putting folded notes and coins in your pockets.

“You want some chocolate milk?” he whispered into your ear.

Turning around, you watched him rummage through the kitchen for a bag, then fill it with drinks from the fridge and any food in reach.

“Alright, let’s go.”

When you got back outside, you both gasped at the light of a torch coming around the building. Eddie grabbed you by the wrist and pulled you in the opposite direction. He tried every door, eventually getting lucky.

It was a barn, eternally bright with pale blue lights above pig pens. Some of the creatures were asleep, some stood staring into the void.

“We’ll let him pass and go back,”

“Can’t we just go through the field and circle around?” you asked, keeping your voice as low as his.

Eddie shook his head. “Too easy to get lost out there in the dark. There’s a reason Stephen King writes about cornfields. We’ll just wait.”

Eddie walked down the centre of the pens and up a staircase leading to a small loft. He sat on the edge, letting his legs dangle over. You sat next to him, sides pressed together.

“You hear the music?” he asked, to which you nodded. “It’s meant to keep them calm.”

The pigs below you smelt like fear. “It doesn’t,”

“I know… I’d let them out but they’d either die out there or get rounded back up… Don’t wanna give them false hope.”

You looked at Eddie as he watched the pigs, how his eyebrows were pinched together in sadness and the lights were mirrored in his eyes like stars.

“What did you mean? Like you how?”

He sighed, looking down into his lap. Eddie took one of your hands, clasping both of his around it.

“We’re… bad. But… I think you love this as much as I do.”

You had never felt more alive.

Eddie’s mouth was on yours, and you didn’t know how to kiss but it didn’t matter. His tongue felt both slimy and like velvet and as soon as you tasted it, you imagined what it would feel like everywhere else on your body. You stopped being able to breathe but you had always wanted to die so you thought, let it be, let it be death by romance, death by being seen, being known, being understood, being loved.

End Note: *Those two lines are from page 130 of the novel. It’s perfect imagery that didn’t need to change.

For people that have read the book, PLEASE feed my praise kink – whenever you see a sneaky reference or line that I have used in a different way to its original context, tell meeee. I am literally writing this with the novel next to me and my film notes on the other side. I'm thriving.

Fic Taglist: @harrys-tittie @azydrateanatomy @pussy-drunk @mrsdollardog

All Eddie Taglist: @solomons-finest-rum @ruinedbythehobbit @munsonlives @sweetpeapod @depressooo-expressooo-blog @thorfemmes @hawkins-high @corrodedhawkins @grungegrrrl @lilzabob @mymoonisalways-in-scorpio @averagemisfit03 @ches-86 @ilovecupcakesandtea @onehotgreasymechanic @hazydespair @lacrymosa-24 @mel-the-fangirl

[wellthatschaotic]

We'd be down to hear about Species(tm) !

Just generally, but if anything specific, something that y'all feel is underrated or that people wouldn't inherently guess.

-Glass

slay!!

may wants to start fkjfds - vampires do not spontaneously explode in the sun we just get sunburnt Very Easily and our eyes are extra sensitive and we're naturally nocturnal so daytime just sucks anyway. we also do not fucking glitter in the sun like pixies. on that note everything in that book series is horrendously wrong - vampire fangs are retractable (like cat claws kinda) and are Very Sharp. yes i have bit my lip on accident before. we also do have retractable claws and our eyes slit like cats in Feral Vampire Mode(TM) (aka when someone pisses me off or if i'm Really Hungry) - not every bite will turn you into a vampire that takes venom which is pretty much always a conscious choice by the vampire - yes i'm allergic to garlic but in a lactose intolerant way. my entire body will HATE me but i WILL eat those olive garden breadsticks fuck you - yes we can eat human food it just doesn't do as much and for some it's like an acquired taste. as i said though. olive garden breadsticks. you understand - vampires usually travel in groups of 2-3 but rarely more than that and also rarely alone - crosses/holy water/etc do nothing. yes someone has splashed holy water on me before. it's just water. also i can see myself in mirrors so that too

ok now it's luke's turn - werewolves are not affected by the full moon. like it's Pretty but i do not lose control of myself. that's halfwolves (guys whos parents were a werewolf and a human so half werewolf. they have a lot worse control so the urge to Awoo is a lot more irresistible) - being bit by a werewolf will not turn you into a werewolf it will just probably hurt - werewolves are essentially just Big Wolves in their wolf form. with golden or orange eyes (all shapeshifters have golden/orange eyes when shifting) - a silver bullet will kill a werewolf but you have to kill its 'base' form which is the form it is most comfortable with. usually it's also the form it was born in but not always (so if a werewolf was born in wolf form you gotta kill its wolf form and vice versa). hard to explain kinda but yeah - injuries translate between bodies and often get a lot worse if you try to shift while injured - shifting takes energy so you can't just do it like 5 times in a row i'm pretty sure you'd just pass out - alpha/beta/omega shit is bullshit i hate it with a passion get that concept the hell out of here , ,, - all werewolves are bisexual /j

[look-at-the-soul]

Hey, Mar!! I'm wondering what you would write for this gif? (Only if you want to and have the time, of course!) 🥰

Hey Lee! Oh I love this gif!! 🥰😍 thank you!!

OMG this is perfect for a one shot @lyarr24 suggested me a couple of weeks ago! Let’s see how this one goes and it’s inspired by Luke Bryan’s song- Do I (Check him out, y’all can thank me later 😍)

Summary: Tommy and you had a fight, now you both have to deal with the consequences of what you said and did.

⚠️ Angst at its finest, sorry! Cheating. Mention of sex

Tommy x Reader -one shot-

Do I

Y/N had been distant, he noticed immediately. He knew her so well, when she said something out of embarrassment, when she truly liked the food, when he said something he shouldn’t, and the list could go on.

But this time, he deliberately decided to not ask what was happening, because deep down he knew.

Things weren’t like they used to be, their relationship reached the breaking point and now there was no turning back. He could only wait for her to get back home.

A week earlier…

“Fuck it!” Smashing the glass of whiskey on the table, part of the liquid made it to the surface and left a wet mark on it. Y/N winced at the harsh sound of his voice. “You should be grateful, but no… you choose to complain.”

“I’m not complaining, I just asked you to step down a little on the betting shop so we could spend more time together.”

“And how exactly do you want to spend time together if you wanna go out and grab a job?” Tommy poured himself more whiskey.

“I want to accept the job offer at the club because all I do is being here alone.” Y/N was surprised to see the ability to down the amber liquid of his glass. She had a job offer at an exclusive male club that only allowed in business men, politicians, lords, it was simple she would just take their names walk them to their table, she would be the welcome face.

“Yeah? Are you sure you’re going to just take ‘em to their table? You’re not going to offer them the menu too?”

Y/N was shocked by his insinuation.

“It’s impossible to talk to you like this.” She looked at the now empty glass of whiskey, was this his third?

Tommy frowned, squinting his eyes he shot. “Like what? Hmm? Go on tell me.”

“What do you want me to say? Just… forget it, I didn’t say anything.”

“Make up your fucking mind, you’re just wasting me time.” He blurted out.

“See? This is why I don’t like talking to you, I prefer to be alone. You’re s-”

“No, now you fucking listen to me.” Tommy interrupted Y/N.

“I’m always listening Tommy, that’s your problem you always want to have the last word.” She raised her voice. “But this time it won’t be your way.”

“Oh great, let’s do everything your way then, what’s your first request?” The look of annoyance he shot in her direction broke her heart.

“And all of this shit was caused because I asked you to spend more time with me and when you said you can’t leave your business in someone else’s hands I told you I wasn’t asking for permission to work… you think I’m not capable of getting a job and support myself?”

Scoffing, Tommy dragged his eyes from her legs and up her body before he talked. “You’re going to need to do more than taking those men to their tables if you think you will be able to support yourself with that salary.” He left the empty glass on the table and turned around.

Y/N couldn’t breathe anymore. Blinking, she looked at him to make sure he wasn’t serious. She wanted to slap him.

“Of course, you’d think I’m just like you huh? Surrounded by whores all the time. Men can also fall on my feet by the snap of my fingers… one day you’re going to wake up to an empty bed and you’ll feel sorry for the rest of your fucking life!”

Y/N’s eyes were filled with tears, the words felt like venom on her lips because she wasn’t like this, she was educated with values, she grew up with the money just for the necessary but he just made her go mad with every thing he was saying.

“What do you fucking mean? Are you gonna leave for good? Hmm? You wouldn’t dare.” He dared to say sarcastically.

“That’s what you want?”

“You know the fucking way out, or do you want me to show you?” Tommy moved his hand dramatically showing her the way she should walk.

His words hurt like a million thorns, she only meant for the night. “I’m done Tommy, for real.”

“There’s the fucking door.” His eyes were popping out of his head, the alcohol made them look red. “You want me to fucking open it for you?!” He pointed at it again and in a few long strides, he was turning the knob around.

“You’re going to regret this so fucking much.”

“Bet ya gonna walk five fucking steps and come back knocking.” He lighted a cigarette and threw the matchstick next to her feet.

“You’re so sure everything works out the way you want, one day you’ll learn you can’t control everything.”

“Are you gonna leave for good? Cos I didn’t ask for your little life advice thank you very much.”

“Watch me.”

The loud bang the door made when she closed the door was heard miles away.

To be honest, he never thought she would actually put a foot outside alone at night. His heart got up to his throat and immediately he felt a wave of guilt running up and down inside of him. Rubbing his face, he dealt with that feeling the only way he knew; he poured himself another glass of whiskey. He wanted to go after her, but it was so late now. All the things he said were out of anger, Arthur accidentally just killed a man and like usual, he had to clean up his brother’s mess.

The following morning Tommy woke up with a terrible headache, he drank beyond his own limits and now he would pay the price. Adjusting his eyes to the daylight, he looked behind him, her side of the bed was empty.

Fuck.

Tommy got up abruptly from the bed and groaned annoyed as he felt a sharp pain ran through his foot, he realized then a bottle of whiskey was broken, he must’ve knocked it down last night. It hurt like a bitch.

Picking his underwear from the floor, he supported his weight on his heel and walked to the bathroom.

The small flat he shared with Y/N felt so empty, they had been living there for almost a year, after two years of visiting her in the living room of her parents’ house, he suggested they finally took the next step and started living together. Now it was silence keeping him company.

After a couple of minutes, he found her tweezers in a drawer, walked to the living room and took a bottle of whiskey to pour some alcohol over the tweezers, it would work as sterilization. Taking off the broken glasses from his skin was more painful than just keeping them there, as he took a big piece he was panting, trying to keep his complaints down. “Fuuuck.” He let the glass inside a cup next to him. Drops of blood were falling to the tiled floor of the kitchen.

He felt as if he was pulling out his own skin every time he took a piece of glass out.

Not being able to stand any more pain, he took a pause, leaning back on the chair he smashed his palm on the table. Blaming himself for this accident and for making Y/N go the way he did, he had been cruel to her and now he regretted everything he had said.

It was an unnecessary fight over something stupid that escalated quickly to a point he never imagined. One of the main problems is that they barely had a fight, but when they did, the argument blew out of proportion.

Tommy heard the front door open and close softly and Y/N made her way in quietly.

For an instant their eyes locked on each other, the apologies they wanted to express showing in their gazes, he didn’t want to feel ever again the heartache that caused his chest to feel tight every time he took a breath.

Y/N’s expression changed when she saw Tommy was hurt. She refused to ask what had happened because it was obvious; he stepped on broken glass. She moved on automatic around the flat, got the bottle of alcohol, clean towels, bandages and some balm for the injuries. Without a word, she took a seat on the floor in front of him, touching his ankle softly, she placed his foot on her lap and started to take out the small pieces of glass embedded in his instep. He winced by the pain while she tried to be careful to not hurt him anymore.

Tommy looked at her features, she had a messy hair which she tried to fix, failing in the process, her makeup smeared, making obvious that she had been crying. All she wanted was to work, that’s all she asked for, to be independent, and he mocked her.

“Try to support your weight on the other foot.” He didn’t notice she was done, he was immersed in her. Y/N got up, wiped her hands and was about to walk out of the kitchen when he spoke.

“Thank you, Y/N.” Her name on his lips sent a burning sensation down his body.

She didn’t say anything, she just gave him a sad look without looking at him in the eyes and a small nod.

****

The following days weren’t too different; they weren’t speaking to each other, there was a broken bridge between them and neither of them were doing anything to try to cross to the other side, let alone try to repair it.

The anger was long gone, now all they had left was the words they both had said out of anger, the saddest part is when they let the alcohol do the talking it’s because somehow, somewhere down the road that’s exactly what they thought but they never said it before.

He missed the sound of her voice and the way she laughed, fuck, he wanted to feel her lips on his again, his fingers through her body…

That’s why he left the betting shop early, he wanted to do his part and apologize for what he said. As he heard the door open, Tommy took a deep breath.

His elbows leaned on the table, while his fingers were intertwined, Tommy turned his head in her direction looked up at her, resting his hands against his chin. She stopped on her tracks at doorframe.

But when he found her eyes, he couldn’t help but notice the sparkle in them was gone, her eyes didn’t light up the way they used to when she looked at him.

“I’m glad you’re home.” He admitted genuinely. “Can we talk, Y/N? Please.”

Her heart broke into million pieces just like the bottle she found in their room the day after their last fight.

Avoiding his eyes, she walked to the opposite side of the kitchen, leaning against the cupboard, she looked at the floor.

“I shouldn’t have mock at you the way I did Y/N, if you want to work I will support you. And I will start coming back home earlier, we can have lunch together if you want.” He started to say and her lower lip trembled uncontrollably, her arms were folded in front of her body, her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sor-”

“Stop it, Tom” she pleaded, her hands now covering her face. “Don’t do this.”

“Y/N.” Tommy got up to take her in his arms but she moved away. “I know I shouldn’t have said those things to you.” She walked to the window, facing outside instead of him. “That was the booze talking, not me.” His hands were on her shoulders.

Tommy felt them shaking and a quiet sob escaped from her.

“You don’t understand.” Slowly Y/N turned around, she was still looking at her hands, her face red by the crying.

“I know you’re angry with me.” He brought his thumbs up to wipe away the tears. Y/N shook her head.

“I crossed the line Tom.” She managed to whisper. And when he moved her chin up and looked in her eyes, he found the same look of guilt he had seen in the past, on himself. “The night we had that fight I went out, drank my soul out, complained to the bartender of our fight and I slept with someone else, it… it meant nothing… I’m sorry.”

They just stared at each other in silence. Suddenly, Y/N felt as if the room was getting smaller and she was running out of breath, walking around Tommy she ran to their room.

All she could do was cry, she shouldn’t have gone to the pub that day alone, the bartender just kept filling her glass, then a man heard her sobbing and mumbling about her selfish boyfriend and started talking so nicely to her, saying the things that Tommy never said, listening like Tommy didn’t do, he always wanted her to go straight to the point… ‘Do you need money? Tell me how much, don’t go explaining about the lavender skirt and top that match the hat you saw on Somerset Street.’ And she started telling this stranger how Tommy never was home before nine and if he was, he would check the numbers of the pub because his brother was lousy with the money. The stranger now knew about Arthur too and repeated several times how this idiot didn’t deserve a girl like her, everything around her started to spin around. He praised on her hands, her earrings, the color of her lips, the drinks were suddenly on his tab and he said something funny, a few minutes later she was in the back of a taxi with him, his hand on her leg and his lips he had a mustache, Tommy was always perfectly shaved. ‘you can call me Tommy if you want’ he had said before he made himself inside of her. He didn’t sound like Tommy, ‘no, wait’ she tried to say, but the words wouldn’t come out. When she woke up the following morning she emptied the contents of her stomach on the floor, maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the guilt. She regretted that night so much, it shouldn’t have happened.

And then she found him with his foot injured.

She took a million baths after that, trying to erase his hands from her body and his mouth from her lips. She felt terrible, embarrassed of her behavior, she wasn’t like this, she wasn’t a cheater, she loved Tommy.

But she couldn’t look him in the eyes after what she did. She didn’t know herself anymore. It could have passed twenty minutes or five hours, she didn’t know anymore, he was probably gone by now. She made a mistake.

The room of the bedroom opened and soon Tommy was lying in front of her in the bed, his blue eyes looking at her intensely without an ounce of hate in them.

“I’m sorry.” Y/N sobbed and broke in tears. A thousand apologies wouldn’t be enough.

Tommy could’ve started yelling, breaking things, drinking a whole bottle in minutes, but he couldn’t judge her, he couldn’t point a finger at Y/N when he had three pointing at himself.

He had failed her in the past and all she did was look in another direction and pretend it didn’t happen, she suspected, he never confirmed it, he pushed the affair to the back of his mind, if he didn’t remember it, it never happened. It was once, at the Eden club when a show girl was rubbing against him before his brothers started the fight, back then they was just in a courtship, her family had strict dating rules and they weren’t allowed to go out if they didn’t have one of her sisters as chaperone, he could only see Y/N on Fridays from six to eight, and he was tired of just using his hand to get himself off. The woman followed them outside the club and got in the car with them. The next morning, he was full of regret but he couldn’t take his actions back.

He decided he would never cheat on her again, it wasn’t worth it and she didn’t deserve it.

Now it was different, it was her the unfaithful one, but he couldn’t blame Y/N for it because he said some horrible things to her. She went to get pissed because of him, he was never around, he never listened to her, always busy, making his business the priority, when all that really mattered was right in front of him.

He could be the scariest man in Birmingham but the business, the success, the money, the recognition, it didn’t matter if he didn’t have her. Those hours without her were the worst of his life.

People always have a way to find out of this kind of things, if anyone talked, his reputation would be under the ground… but he didn’t care about any of that, because in those hours he realized what his life would be if she was gone for good. His loneliness flashed through his eyes for a moment, his life without her meant nothing.

“I should probably go now.” She whispered when he said nothing. Wiping her eyes, Y/N tried to get up, but his hand stopped her, making her lie in front of him again.

“I should’ve treated you better, Y/N… I’m sorry for the things I said too, for pushing your buttons the way I did.”

“Tommy…” Her words caught up in her throat. How could he blame himself for what she did?

“Listen to me please.” His strong hand was holding her by the back of her head. “I promise you I won’t drink like that anymore, I won’t raise my voice at you ever again.”

“I never meant to do it, Tommy.” The guilt was eating her alive. “Please forgive me.”

“Can you do the same?” When Tommy saw her nod, his heart felt lighter.

After all words are harder to forget than actions. Because the hardest part wasn’t asking her to forgive him for what he said, the hardest part was to forgive himself.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Y/N whispered. “Don’t do it.”

“Just answer me one question and I don’t ever want to talk about this ever again.” He cupped her face in both hands as if she was the most precious treasure. “Do we get to give this one more chance?”

“I think…” Y/N began to say, placing her hand on his heart. “There are two kinds of forgiveness… the kind that when you forgive and you’re also giving them another chance, or the one where you forgive but you move on without them…”

Do I have your love? Am I still enough? Tell me don't I? Or tell me, do I, baby. Give you everything that you ever wanted? Would you rather just turn away and leave me lonely?Do I just need to give up and get on with my life? Tell me, baby do I get one more try? Do I? Baby, do I?

Holding his breath, he asked: “Which one do you choose?”

Slowly, Tommy saw a small smile appearing in her lips.

“I choose you, over everything.”

Because forgiveness isn’t approving what happened. It’s choosing to rise above it.

****

A/N: Quote by Robin Sharma

Remember, if you like this story, your comments keep me going 🤗💖

[bibbawrites]

Don’t Mention This To Anyone - Alive!Luke Patterson x Reader (SMUT)

Request: Hi can u do a luke x reader smut with an enemies to lovers storyline? Maybe they’re at a party and they’re playing truth or dare and luke and the reader get dared to play too hot to handle and later on at the party they get drunk and hook up? // can you do rough sex with luke?!! // Can u do a luke x reader enemies to lovers smut? //  Would you make a Luke and Y/N smut and just make it whatever you want but super smutty?

Word Count: 2163 words

Summary: Your best friend Julie invites you and Flynn to come over to hang out with her bandmates, and a game of too hot to handle ends up making you re-evaluate your relationship with Luke Patterson

Warnings: swearing, mention of underage drinking, unprotected sex, choking, praise kink, dirty talk, grinding/groping

A/N: hopefully this makes sense, i’m editing it half asleep lol  i’ve also put together a masterlist which you can find here anyways hope you enjoy :) 

You should have said no when Julie batted her eyes and asked you if you wanted to come hang out with her bandmates after school one Friday night. 

You should have said no when she used alcohol as a bribing tactic to get you to come. 

You should have made up an excuse not to go. 

Don’t get the wrong impression, you loved Alex and Reggie. The two boys had become close friends of yours since the day Julie first introduced them to you and Flynn. 

It was Luke Patterson that you had an issue with. The lead guitarist of Julie and the Phantoms and the lead pain in your ass since the minute you met. 

If you had said no to coming you wouldn’t have been in this situation. 

Staring down at the bottle on the floor after you drunkenly agreed to a game of Too Hot to Handle, watching as the bottle slowly stopped and pointed at the one person you were praying it wouldn’t. 

Luke fucking Patterson. 

“Oh fuck no.” You exclaimed loudly. Luke shook his head. 

“No way. Not doing it.” He said, his tone matching yours. 

“You have to, the bottle chose you.” Reggie grinned. You rolled your eyes. 

“The bottle doesn’t know what it’s doing.” You spat. 

“It’s simple, if you don’t want to do it that bad just give in straight away.” Flynn raised an eyebrow, looking between yourself and Luke. 

“I’m not a quitter, Y/L/N can give up.” Luke said. Your eyes narrowed. 

“What makes you think I’m a quitter Patterson.” You stared at the boy across from you, venom in your eyes. 

“There’s only one way to settle this then.” Julie spoke up after a moment of silence. 

“Play the fucking game.” Alex finished, his head resting on Willie’s shoulder. 

You rolled your eyes, standing up and making your way over to Luke. You knelt down in front of him, glaring at him. 

“I still hate your fucking guts.” You told him. He smirked. 

“The feeling’s mutual princess.” His tone was condescending. 

You placed your hand on his thigh, leaning in and sucking on his neck. He scoffed. 

“Is that all you’ve got Y/L/N?” He teased. 

You pulled away, glaring at him again before moving your hand up his thigh, getting dangerously close to his crotch, your eyes never leaving his. He didn’t even bat an eyelid. 

You held back a scowl, frustrated that Luke was so good at this game. Standing up you sat down in his lap, grinding your ass into his dick. You grabbed his hand and placed it onto one of your boobs, and your friends whistled at the scene. 

Luke fake yawned and this time you couldn’t help but scowl. 

“Are you fucking kidding? Nothing? Maybe Carrie is right and you are in love with Reggie.” You said, and Reggie choked on his drink. 

“Guess you’re not as seductive as you thought, sweetheart.” Luke teased, ignoring the comment about Reggie. You moved again so that you were straddling his hips, and you could feel that his dick was slightly hard in his pants. Motivated by this you started rocking back and forth, trying to ignore the feelings of pleasure shooting through your body. 

“I feel like we shouldn’t be watching this.” Flynn joked, covering Julie’s eyes with one hand and Reggie’s with her other.

“You guys were the ones who wanted this.” You reminded them, stopping and looking Luke in the eyes. You had always known that Luke was an attractive guy, his arrogance often outshining his good looks, but up close he was stunning. You hesitated and he smiled, glancing down at your lips. Your heart started to race and you mentally kicked yourself. 

This was Luke Patterson, the same boy who you had hated ever since Julie had first introduced him to you. 

The boy who was so self centered he couldn’t handle things not being about him.

The boy who you fought with every single time you saw him. 

He lent closer and you froze. Was he going to kiss you? 

“I- I give up.” You stuttered, jumping out of his lap and rushing back to your spot. 

“I knew you’d chicken out.” Luke sung, a smug look on his face. 

You were silent, and Luke’s cocky grin fell, concern flicking through his eyes for a brief moment. 

“Hey Julie, it’s getting late, everyone needs to go home.” Ray said, stepping into the studio and you stood up quickly, rushing to grab your bag as the others stood up slowly. 

“You sure you don’t wanna stay the night Y/N?” Julie asked as you flung your bag onto your back. You nodded.

“Yeah I’m sure, my mum would kill me.” You said, and she nodded understandingly. 

“Can I walk you home?” Luke blurted out, and everyone turned to look at him in shock. He shrugged. 

“What? I may hate her guts but I still don’t want her to be murdered on the way home.” He said, and you could have sworn you saw a slight blush on his cheeks.

“No it’s fine, my house is just around the corner, Alex or Reggie can walk me.” You replied, glancing at your two friends. 

“Yeah I can-” Reggie stopped, noticing the glare that Luke was shooting him. “Actually sorry Y/N, I really have to get home quickly before my parents realise I was gone.” 

“Alex?” You tried. The blond boy shook his head. 

“Sorry babe, Willie and I are heading in the complete opposite direction.” Alex shot you a sympathetic look. You sighed, turning your attention to Luke. 

“Fine, let’s go Patterson.” You said, giving in. 

Luke followed behind you as you left the garage and headed out onto the street, walking in silence for a few minutes before you decided to speak up.

“So what’s your motive?” You asked. Luke frowned.

“My what?” He asked.

“Why are you walking me home? You said yourself you hate my guts.” 

“Can’t I just be a good friend?” He tried. You rolled your eyes.

“We’re not friends.” You reminded him. He shrugged as you turned heading down your street.

“Okay.” He replied simply. You stopped in front of your house, spinning on your heels to look at him.

“So?” You questioned. He hesitated, his normally confident aura gone. He opened his mouth to speak but decided against it, instead taking a step towards you. You looked up, your eyes meeting his, and your heart skipped a beat when you noticed the lust in his eyes.

“Luke.” You muttered quietly, and suddenly your back was pressed against the front wall of your house, his lips on yours.

Your brain short circuited. No one had ever kissed you with that much passion before.

You kissed him back with just as much force, the lust and alcohol clouding your better judgement.

He pulled away to take a breath and you wordlessly grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him towards your front door. You reached into your bag to find your keys, Luke’s lips on your neck sucking hard enough that you were definitely going to have a few marks to cover in the morning. You got the door unlocked and you kicked it open, spinning around to capture Luke’s lips with your own again, kissing him as you dragged him into your house.

“Are your family home?” He questioned breathlessly as he pulled away. You nodded.

“Just mum.” You told him as you lead him up the stairs, him trailing behind you like a lost puppy. “But she doesn’t care if I bring people home to fuck as long as we’re safe.”

You reached your bedroom door and opened it, shoving Luke inside before shutting and locking the door behind you.

He roughly shoved you against the door, lips connecting once more in a passionate kiss full of tongues and roaming hands.

You kicked off your shoes and began to strip down, your lips never once leaving his, and he did he same. You briefly pulled apart for him to remove his shirt, but once it was off his lips were back on yours again.

“Fuck.” He groaned, as your naked bodies pressed against each other.

“Speaking of, can you please?” You teased, pushing off the wall and placing your hands on his shoulders, leading him to your bed.

You gave him a light shove so that he fell backwards, and you climbed on top of him, straddling his waist, almost moaning at the feeling of his hard dick slipping between your folds.

“God Y/L/N.” Luke groaned as you began to move your hips, grinding into his boner.

“Shut up.” You told him.

He flipped you over, pinning you against your bed, his hand coming up to grab at your neck, choking you slightly.

You moaned loudly, not even caring that your mother might hear. She’d know in the morning by the marks littering your body.

“You like that? You like it when I choke you?” Luke questioned, placing a bit more pressure on your neck but not enough to hurt you or constrict your airways. 

“Fuck, yes.” You moaned in response.

“Of course you do, you dirty little whore.” His words made you even wetter, hips bucking up for some kind of contact.

“Patterson please just fuck me.” You groaned. He smirked.

“If you say so.” He sat up, hands running down your sides, before hesitating slightly.

“Do you have...” He paused, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

“Are you clean?” You questioned. He nodded. “Me too. Just fuck me.”

“But what about-” He started.

“I’m on the pill.” You cut him off. “Please Luke.”

He smirked.

“I think you need to beg a bit more.” He teased. 

“Fuck me right now or you’ll be jerking off in the street alone.” You threatened.

“Jesus princess, no need to be so pushy.” He said as he lined up his dick with your hole, pushing in roughly causing you to gasp.

“Fuck.” You exclaimed. He barely gave you time to adjust before he was pounding into you again, causing the both of you to swear loudly.

“Again.” You stuttered out, and he obeyed, slamming into you again.

“That feels so good.” You groaned.

“Oh yeah?” He smirked, repeating his actions to see your reaction.

“Yes you cocky bastard.” You spat, and he grinned.

“Fuck you.” He said.

“Please.” You bit back. He grinned, before beginning to thrust hard, creating a rhythm. His hand went back to your throat again, pressing down causing you to moan loudly.

“Fuck if you keep this up I won’t last.” You groaned. He bit his lip as he continued to pound into you.

“Me neither.” He admitted. He sped up his pace, the room filled with the sounds of slapping skin and your breathless moans.

“Fuck, I’m close.” He said, and you felt the familiar feeling pooling in your stomach.

“Me too.” You said. He glanced at you, seemingly hesitant to say something.

“What?” You questioned.

He bit his lip.

“Could you... tell me that I’m doing good?” He questioned, somewhat shyly.

“You have a praise kink?” You asked.

“Maybe...” He replied quietly.

“God Luke this feels so good. You feel so good.” You moaned, smirking at his reaction.

“Okay yes, I have a praise kink.” He admitted, squeezing your throat slightly as a warning not to tease him. You gasped.

“Yes Luke. So good.” You praised, and he moaned slightly.

“I’m gonna cum.” He said between moans.

“Ugh yes, fill me with your hot cum like the good boy you are.” You moaned, and he came undone, hips stuttering as he came inside you. The feeling of his cum coating your insides was enough to set you off too, your walls clenching around him as you came hard.

“I hate you.” You moaned.

“I hate you more.” He replied breathily.

You rode out your highs together and he pulled out, flopping down next to you.

“Mind if I stay the night?” He asked softly. You hesitated.

“No, I don’t mind.” You eventually decided. You turned your head to look at the boy next to you, his hair stuck to his head with sweat, and you suddenly realised that maybe you didn’t hate Luke Patterson as much as you thought you did.

You forced yourself to get up and clean off in the bathroom before climbing back into bed still naked with Luke.

He snuggled into your side and you pressed a soft kiss to his head, an oddly intimate gesture to someone you had claimed to hate up until an hour or so ago.

“Goodnight Y/N.” Luke whispered softly, his voice full of sleep.

“Goodnight Luke.” You replied, and with that the two of you drifted off to sleep, until the next morning when a shout woke you from your slumber.

“Oh my god did you two fuck?” Alex’s voice startled you, and you groaned, pulling the covers up over your head.

You were never going to live this one down.

[vynsvision]

Detective Darius Morgan Headcanons

Listen. I know there's hardly any content of him. I dont know how much this will be appreciated. But if the same for 4 people who saw my post asking if anyone wanted this see it, I win.

Be warned, its 2k words (just under, probably) because I have nothing to do at work. At all. *deepest of sighs*

Should be SFW!!! Some things are referenced but im not in the mood to talk about too much Naughtiness so its SFW.

If the flow is weird, my apologies. I tried to group stuff together and so I may have gone back to sections where the next section goes off something I said in part of the section above... you'll understand as you read.

I'm gonna start with casual, out of work attire. I genuinely don't think you would find him in loungewear EVER outside his home. So no sweatpants.... although maybe a sweatshirt on laundry day. I'm also thinking, even though he probably doesn't get a fat paycheque, he tries to dress well. He doesn't think about fashion but good lord, Marius wouldn't believe it. "I just buy what looks nice." in the once in three blue moons that he actually goes to get new clothes. He works every day, probably, so anything that's not work is casual and probably very worn.

I think, yanno those like school varsity football jackets? Um yeah he still wears his. Its not because he tries to show off, but those things are comfortable, warm, and if he happens to be with someone who forgets to bring a warm layer, he can give it to them and he secretly loves watching their expressions.

("Oh... my god this is so warm!" "Mhmm." "I'm keeping this forever. Sorry, its mine now." "Is your last name Morgan too, then? Huh, I didn't know." Motherfucker.)

P.s: he hates suits even if his work uniform is basically a suit without the suit jacket. If he has to wear a suit, its all black. That is all. Also yes he would wear the three-piece suit. Go all out or nothing. Maybe a dark blue vest for some flavor with a matching tie.... idk. Brainrot of Darius in an all black three-piece suit........... suspenders......... aaah... yep.

Ok speaking of. I really don't think he's super chatty. He's tired. I'm honestly thinking very Eddie Brock (Venom) vibes with him tbfh. But I think when he does talk, he's slick as FUCK. He probably likes to see you blush as your scramble for a response. Hes smooth tho. He doesnt let you scramble for long. Also would ruffle your hair (if you have some and didn't stop him). He chuckles a lot. I imagine his voice as deep, but since I play TOT with the sounds off, idk if they have a voice actor for him. But look at him. Hes got a great morning voice oh good lord now im thinking about his morning voice aaaaaah crap.

I also think, once a relationship is established, hes very doting and soft. Hes protective- he knows who he is, he knows that the police are not loved. (And he knows why. Honestly I'm not sure how to... write about that, though, and its also not my place to... so anyone who'd like to write about that may. Just yanno remember to be respectful to people and irl events.) So he knows that if he fucks up or a mistake comes to bite him in the ass, you might be in danger. He knows you can probably handle yourself, but he also thinks of all the worst scenarios. He doesn't want the most important person to him in any danger.

Honestly I think he would be very reluctant to a relationship. But, unlike three of the boys (Luke, Artem, and Marius), he and Vyn have something in common- hes definitely at least had some one-night-stands. Maybe after particularly rough days or weeks. Stress coping. Not gonna talk about if its wise or not.

Because, like, come on. Hes at leeeeast thirty, making him older than the boys. So he may be experienced in bed, but romance is tricky and he denies or hides his feeling like a teenager afraid of his crush. (Re: ohmygod they would be in danger tho if I confessed oh no I can never tell them!) Of course, he would confess while expressing that he is worried about you.

He also loves to see you in his blue uniform shirt. I dont know if either of you acknowledge it aloud, but since you grabbed it and put it on that one time... yeah. Yep.

But yeah hes a softy underneath all the brooding and tired exterior.

(Bonus: If u like... uh.... his cuffs..... yep thats all)

I dont believe he can cook much. Like, beyond the basics, he has like. 2 dishes that he can reliably cook. Hes a simple man, he knows how to vary them, but come on, its not like he has much time to cook stuff. You realize this quickly and while you dont have much time either, you meet him halfway... or more than halfway. Also, hey, carryout/delivery isn't so bad every once in a while. He'll work on it if you bring it up. He doesn't really notice until you do. Thats the first time you see him embarrassed. He's kinda cute as he apologizes, and it makes up for your slight annoyance at eating the meal for the third time. Hes used to his way of living, he might (definitely) forget people live differently than he does. Hes cute, I forgive him.

As a boyfriend, he does his darnedest. He literally doesn't care what he does with you, as long as its with you. When you ask him for date ideas, he thinks of some favors he can cash in to show you secret or expensive places. Those upper class jerks are good for one thing, if it makes you smile and if it impresses you. Because, of course, hes been here when it opened, so his attention is on you. (His eyes may not be, but hes much more attentive than you notice.)

I feel like hes the kind of person to snap candids of you an you dont even notice. I dont know how he would do it, but I really think he would want to remember and capture sweet moments with you. He doesnt tell you or show you these pictures, and they aren't, like, ones where you're exposed (....most of them, at least. He doesn't take pictures of you asleep for damn sure, you're not a pet.), but he just keeps them to himself. He forgets that you either know his passcode or you have your fingerprint saved in his phone, and you happen to see it because he had the album last open on his phone. Hes a sucker.

At the beginning of your relationship, I think he made a note in his notes app where he writes down your birthday, or favorite color, or things like that. Hes afraid of forgetting those things. He could never forget the day he met you, nor when the two of you admitted your feelings for each other, or when you went on your first date. He knows those dates. Hes quiet- hes thinking of those things. He doesn't mind being distracted by you.

He tries not to be super possessive because he admires your independence, but sometimes he snaps at someone like when Artem asks you to come in to work on a case on your day off. Scary Darius.

He likes holding your hand when you cross streets.

I dont think he would get jealous easily. He knows that, before he confesses, he hasn't told you, so he has no right to be upset if you flirt or spend time with someone else. And when you're together, he knows where you end up at the end of the day, so hes secure in that. If anything, if someone flirts with you and makes you uncomfortable, he checks with you first (in case you wanna defend yourself), then gives a death glare to the unlucky person. Even if you flirt back comfortably, again, he knows where the two of you end up. You in his arms, the other person unfortunately ~probably~ all alone, boohoo.

I have gotta say, I think sometimes he forgets to close doors all the way. He doesn't do it on purpose, hes just not used to people being in his home. He always puts the toilet seat down (if that applies), but cabinet doors or room doors can sometimes be left just slightly open.

His walls are kinda bare. What art he does have are monuments or architectural things. Stellis is very sleek and modern, but he knows about the older buildings. When someone else at work is reluctant to go into centuries-old buildings because they're creepy, he pretends to be annoyed but inwardly hes comfortable in them and goes without fear.

His home is usually clean, too. Its partially because he doesn't spend much time there, but also because he cleans things after use. So things aren't spick and span, but his apartment is presentable if you happen to drop by.

He shares something with Luke- i think the two of them are the only ones with any sort of pectorals. Yanno, them man boobs. Juicy muscle on the chest. (I simply refuse to believe the other boys have any beyond abs or, yanno, tone. Luke and Darius could have a nice arm wrestling match, no im not gonna say who wins.)

He tries to keep a cactus alive. He writes down when he waters it to be sure not to overwater it. Its name is Alfred and Alfred knows everything about you. He lives in the kitchen and Darius talks to him when hes cooking or nursing coffee or beer. Hes a beer guy.

I'm not sure if hes a cat person or a dog person. I think he would get along with either well. I dont know if he would have a pet, because he often has long days, and even cats need attention. Maybe if he ever gets to retire he'll get a pet. Beside himself, Alfred is the only thing living in the apartment.

He does have co-workers he spends time with outside of work. Methinks its usually at a bar or someplace like that.

I think he calls his parents every once in a while. More frequently after you start dating him. I also feel like he has a sibling but I dont know if they're older or younger. Methinks an older sister? What if she's a lawyer too!!!

(Plot twist- Celestine and Darius are related. Big just joking.... but his older sister is much like Celestine. He likes working with her.)

Idk where to put this but !! Hes a podcast guy. He listens to podcasts rather than music. He dislikes true crime with a passion (literally dont get him started because if you do, he, rightfully so, will talk for like a whole ten minutes and you won't be sure if you should be excited he talked for that long STRAIGHT or if he's ok) but he won't say anything if you listen to it. To each their own. I think he listens to podcasts talking about, like architecture or, like... news, or something. He knows what's going on in the world. Hes the first to deck any asshole. Not physically, tho. It takes a lot to get him to physical action. He has a killer glare, he knows how to insult someone (hes gotten his (un)fair share of insults or heard them thrown around). He knows how to intimidate. Usually, he can get someone to chill out or leave. If not, he would take anything outside. I think he would try not to flash his badge. If he's off the clock, he doesnt work for the city. Idk deTECtive Darius Morgan, only Darius. I dont think he likes attention.

Oh God this was much longer than I thought. I thought I would type a bit about his clothes, maybe a few habits. Good lord.

I hope someone enjoyed! If you have any of your own ideas, definitely let me know! If you agree or disagree. We literally have so little to go on that any of us could be right.

I... might post a NSFW batch at some point, but I also feel like it would be more telling of me than him, beside the things in this post. So yanno. Maybe we can just imagine.

[girlboss-molina]

Be Who You Are (No Compromise)

A Julie and the Phantoms Modern Royalty AU

Chapter 6: Growing Pains

AO3 Link

Words: 16340

-----

Alex POV

… 

Alex was surprisingly calm. The pressed white dress shirt was cool against his skin, the slim-fitting blue vest with subtle gold embroidery a calming pressure over his chest. He was anxious, of course, but not nearly as much as he would’ve expected, given the situation. He felt free, light…

And then he was drowning.

His lungs closed, refusing the air he tried to gulp down, throwing away a lifeline. Everything burned, like fiery needles stabbing into him at the speed of sound, not enough to bleed but somehow even more painful. His vision blurred, dizziness or tears, he couldn’t tell. He couldn’t hear his own breathing, or lack thereof, over the pounding of his heart in his ears. Everything was wrong. 

Then, the pounding of his heart silenced, his head felt lighter than air. He couldn’t move. He felt like he was in a cloud, no, like he was a cloud, floating in the sky but losing parts of himself as he passed, unable to control what happened, a bystander left helpless to watch havoc. 

Alex tried to move, tried to think, but his brain felt like ice, flaming with shivers as he shook, his lungs leaving no room for air between the panic. 

Something is going to go wrong, he thought. He had a feeling in his gut that fueled his panic, telling him that someone would get hurt tonight, or that something horrible would happen, a feeling he couldn’t shake no matter how unrealistic it might’ve been. He knew Caleb wouldn’t try anything at the ball. It was a huge event, and tons of people would be there. 

He couldn’t sort out his thoughts, though, so he had no choice but to let this panic attack run its course. It felt surreal but painfully there, like when you’re so cold that you feel like you���re on fire. His hands shook, and he barely registered the salty tears coating his lips as he paced across the floor, back and forth until there was a groove in the rug. 

He made his way back to his bed, shaking, barely able to get the breath to fake three sneezes. He almost worried that it didn’t work, but then his door opened, Luke abandoning his post and sinking down next to him. He felt Luke’s arms wrap around him, and the touch immediately grounded him. Rather than a helpless cloud, he was the icy snow crusting the tops of the mountains behind the palace, unable to do anything but laying a foundation for something. And as Luke’s hands traced circles on his shoulder blades, he became the water rushing down the cliff sides, rapid and unpredictable, his breathing quickening but the panic subsiding. And when Luke pressed a gentle, calming kiss to his temple, Alex’s breathing finally slowed, his lungs letting in the air they so craved, and he calmed as the rushing water flowed into a clear pond, each reassuring touch from his best friend like a lily floating on the surface. 

He could hear, finally aware of Luke’s soft whispers of “it’ll be okay,” and “just breathe.” 

“Sorry,” he choked out, seeing Luke shake his head out of the corner of his eye.

“Don’t be,” he said. “This is a nerve-racking thing. I’m super nervous too.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Alex said dryly, wiping his tears. 

“Really?” Luke challenged, a quiver in his voice, extending a hand in front of Alex, which was trembling. “You’re not alone, I promise.”

“Thanks.” Alex tore a hand through his hair, taking his turn to wrap Luke in a hug and let him let out his emotions. He felt him shake against his chest, but his breathing stayed relatively even. Alex was never great at the whole physical contact thing. His parents were never touchy, to the point where hugs were always a rarity. But Luke was a touchy person, and soon Alex was comfortable with his spontaneous embraces and casual, platonic affection. 

“Okay,” Luke finally said. “It’s almost time. Let’s get ourselves fixed up.” Alex nodded, squeezing him tighter before letting go. They both wandered to the bathroom, gently wiping their faces of tears and fixing their hair. Alex tugged on his sleeves, eliminating any wrinkles, and readjusted his snug vest. 

“Okay,” he breathed. “I’m ready.”

“Me too.”

They both knew it was a lie. But their steps were steady as they walked to the ballroom. 

…

The food was delicious, especially the dessert, and Alex’s cheeks flushed as he wondered if Willie had made it. The expertly piped frosting seemed familiar, and he was almost sure that it was he who had carefully crafted it. 

And if he got emotional over a beautifully piped flower because of the slight possibility that it was made by his crush, no he didn’t. 

Eventually, the dancing started, and Alex had to suffer through. He plastered on an unconvincing smile and did his best to waltz around the ballroom with random Nobility who were chatting non-fucking-stop about how excited he must be for the marriage, and how was he liking it in Dahlia, and did he mind the cold, and what his relationship with Julie was like. Soon, he’d had it, and made some lame excuse about feeling a bit light-headed. Thankfully, he’d been able to ditch them and sit down along the side of the room. 

Reggie plopped down next to him, sitting sideways with his arm draped over the back of the chair. 

“Tired of the Nobles prying?” he assumed. Alex nodded, snorting. 

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that they have no gaydar, but it’s still super annoying being asked about my supposed girlfriend,” he added. “But playing heterosexual is still a pain in the ass.”

“Tell me about it,” Reggie agreed. “Every time I have an interview, it’s all, ‘any special lady in your life?’ or ‘have you taken an interest in any ladies of different kingdoms?’ but never ‘what’s your favorite pizza topping’ or ‘why are you the amazing bisexual that you are?’” Alex nodded sarcastically. 

“Of course.” 

“I know I joke,” Reggie added, “but I feel for you, man. It must be super hard.” 

“Yeah. And I do appreciate the attempts to lighten the mood, too.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” 

…

It was nearly eleven when the screaming started. 

Alex’s heart jumped to his throat, his stomach plummeted, and he simultaneously felt like everything was happening at once, and like it was moving in slow motion.

He remembered the sound of people running. Cries of the few children in attendance. Shouts of furious Nobility. Hushed, terrified breathing of the council members. Caleb’s velvety, disgusting voice as he lounged on Ray’s throne. The pounding of his heart in his ears. 

But what he remembered most vividly was the glint of the daggers pressed against each of the council members’ throats. 

“Why?” someone asked. It took a few seconds for Alex to realize that he was the one who’d spoken. Caleb quirked an eyebrow and gave him the side-eye.

“Why what?” Alex was shocked by his sudden swell of angry confidence. 

“You know damn well what I mean. Why are you doing this? We’ve been allies for a century, and you’re going to try to overthrow us and put daggers at the throats of our council members?”

“You know, Alexander, it really is adorable how you talk about Dahlia as if it’s your country. You are, until the wedding, the Tamborian prince.” Caleb twirled an extra dagger around his fingers. 

“That doesn’t change the fact that what you’re doing is wrong, and you know it. You just want more power, clearly, but do you really think people will stand for this and accept you as their leader? Do you really think that anyone with half a mind will be okay with this?”

“Alexander, the beauty of youth also comes with naivete. I wouldn’t expect you to understand yet. But the fact of the matter is that, in life, you must deal with growing pains. This will all be for the better.”

“No,” Julie interrupted, “it won’t. There is a huge difference between growing pains and whatever the hell you’re trying to do, and you know it.” 

Before Alex could add to what she said, he saw the back door of the ballroom open silently, revealing Lilian - the tall, dark-haired woman he’d met when looking for Willie - stalking in, a gleaming knife in her hand. She was followed by a short, plump woman with purple hair, a line of various chefs and bakers, each armed with metal frying pans, and-

No. 

He tried to hide the fear in his eyes as Willie walked in, his brow furrowed and hands steady, wrapped around the knife in his hand. But when their eyes met, and Alex tried to give him the tiniest of head shakes, Willie mouthed something that Alex couldn’t make out before Caleb spoke again.

“I can see you’re all a bit tense,” he said silkily, “so here’s how this will go. Ray here is going to surrender, and I’ll let your precious council members live.” 

Alex watched as the group behind Lilian - thankfully not including Willie - silently lined up behind the seven Kryptonians holding daggers to the council. They made eye contact with one another before simultaneously bringing their frying pans down on their heads as hard as they could, causing everyone to erupt in shouts and screams, some of joy, some of rage, some of fear. Caleb’s head snapped over, and then Lilian spoke. 

“Or,” she said smoothly, “you could surrender, and go back to your own country.” She had the knife trained on his back, the blade gleaming in the lantern-lit room. Willie was in front of Caleb, popping out from behind the throne. Alex’s heart couldn’t decide if it wanted to pound louder or silence itself completely as he saw the terror in Willie’s eyes that he tried to mask. 

“Don’t hurt these people,” Willie said, his voice steadier than Alex would’ve expected. 

“A few bakers trying to save their precious leaders,” Caleb purred, but the malice in his voice was like venom. “How sweet. Unfortunately for you, I have this”- he pulled a small remote out of his pocket -”and while I would rather not use it, I will if I must.” Alex’s stomach dropped. 

A bomb.

“That’s right,” Caleb said over the terrified screams, people running for the doors. “If any of you here have any sense, you’ll run. You shouldn’t have to, of course, but if your leaders continue to be stubborn, it might be for the best.”

“You’re bluffing,” someone called from the audience. “You’re in this room too.”

“Am I?” Caleb challenged, and Alex’s face warped with confusion, until he saw a flicker. 

A hologram. 

“Yes,” Caleb remarked. “You probably didn’t notice my brief trip to the restroom earlier, but that wasn’t actually a restroom trip. I’m far away by now.”

“But what about your representatives?” Reggie asked. 

“Acceptable losses. These aren’t actually representatives, they’re criminals who have been offered the chance of a full pardon if things don't go south. They have, however, been made very clear of the other possibility.” Alex noticed one of them tremble. 

“You might notice that your king is not in the room,” Caleb added, and Alex’s face reddened with fury. 

“What did you do to my dad?” Julie shouted, her hands clenched in fists, shaking. 

“He’s alive, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Caleb said. “But I guarantee that, should I press this button, he’ll be in the line of fire.”

Furious shouts echoed in the huge room, and Alex watched as Julie stepped up to the royals’ table. 

“Leave my people alone.” The words were cold, harsh, but clear and steady. “Get out of our kingdom. You have no place here.”

“Yeah,” Reggie interjected. “We’re not going to abandon our people, no matter how much you want us to.” 

“You can’t make us surrender,” Luke informed him. Alex nodded, standing as tall as he could. 

“I truly hate to do this,” Caleb said, without an ounce of sorrow in his voice. “But you leave me no choice.” 

“NO,” Alex yelled, his eyes flicking from Luke to Julie to Carlos to Willie to Reggie, trying to find all of them and get them out of here.

“I’m sorry, everyone,” Caleb added maliciously. Everyone was running and screaming, bustling through the doors, 

“Everyone get out of here, now!” Luke’s voice echoed throughout the ballroom, and Alex barely saw him run after Julie. Reggie ran out another door, and Alex searched for Willie. 

At least thirty seconds had to have passed, searching the ballroom and crowded hallways, ushering people out.

“WILLIE!” his voice was louder than he’d ever known it could be, and he shouted a couple more times, finally meeting a dark brown gaze, panicked and full of all the words they’d left unsaid. Everything moved in slow motion, his legs like lead and air as he sprinted towards him.

The shockwave knocked him backwards, leaving him deaf and blind, barely registering when his back hit the ground, not even noticing the air forced out of his lungs. Alex felt like he was floating, every nerve in his body stretched along a cloud of light.

If this is dying, he thought, it’s not so bad. People don’t need to be so scared. 

His mind was trapped in a void of dark brights, blinding and comforting at the same time, like he was hovering in an endless state of between. Between fire and ice, ground and sky, life and death. He floated, wondering just how long it had been. It felt like minutes but it couldn’t have been, because that was only the shockwave.

Because then came the fire. 

The heat licked at his skin, and Alex was snapped back to reality. 

He wasn’t sure if he was burning or if it was just the air around him, which was now thick with smoke and dust. Bits of debris scattered all around, and he only saw Willie’s face one more time before falling into oblivion.

…

When Alex awoke, the sky was dark, twinkling with stars, but the faint light of sunrise teased the horizon. He was on his back, next to a giant slab of concrete, his face covered in dust. He did his best to sit up, a sharp pain on his arm. He winced, grabbing his bicep, grimacing when his palm came away soaked with blood. And his ankle hurt when he tried to stand. He tested it, but by some miracle, it didn’t feel broken. 

He stood, shaking the dust off of him and limping around, searching for other people. 

For survivors. 

Alex’s breath caught when he saw a group of people farther down the hill. He ran to them, ignoring the pain in his ankle as he bounded down. 

He saw Reggie first. His wrist was wrapped in a bandage, and a streak of red adorned his pale forehead, but he was alive. 

“REGGIE!” he shouted, running, tears blurring his eyes. Reggie’s head snapped towards him. 

“ALEX!” he cried, standing and dashing closer. They met in a hug, collapsing in each others’ arms, sobbing into their shoulders. 

“When we didn’t find you with the survivors we thought-”

“Shh, no, I’m okay,” he said. “A little roughed up, but I’ll live.” He turned his head to the palace, hundreds of feet behind him. He had a clear view of the destruction. 

He’d really underestimated the size of the palace. The ballroom was in the bottom right corner, and was blown to bits. More of the palace was scorched and crumbling, but it appeared the left half had been preserved, somehow. 

“Where’s everyone else?” he asked, refusing to give in to the panic rising in his chest. “Are they okay?”

“Julie’s with Carlos and Ray over where I was,” Reggie said. 

“Wait, Ray survived?” Relief washed over him. “But I thought-”

“I’m not sure how, but he made it,” Reggie said with an incredulous laugh, more tears running down his soot-covered face. “And Erik, Mira, Flynn and Carrie are also okay, same with Luke.” Alex sighed, smiling despite himself. They’d survived. 

“ALEX!” his head snapped to Luke’s voice, and he ran to him, once again ignoring the pain in his ankle. Luke tackled him with a hug despite the sling around his arm. “We thought you were-”

“I’m okay,” he said. “I’m okay.” 

…

Alex ran through the gardens, offering quick aid to anyone he could. But he was only half-paying attention, which might’ve made him the worst prince ever. But he needed to find Willie. 

He searched, tears blurring his eyes as he made his way to the last place he needed to search, but also the one he was dreading. 

As he ran into the park, he searched the lawn and sidewalks, nearly dying of relief when he saw Willie, sitting in the middle of the field, his knees hugged to his chest…

Shaking with sobs. 

“Willie!” he called, racing over. Willie’s head snapped up, his eyes red and puffy. His face went from shock to happiness to confusion to incredulity within half a second, and he stood, shaking and walking to Alex. 

A swell of confidence, probably tied with a huge rush of adrenaline, sent Alex running forward, wrapping Willie in a hug, who sobbed into his shoulder. Soon, Alex was crying too. 

“I’m sorry,” Willie whispered shakily. Alex shook his head. 

“No,” he said. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was doing, I should’ve grabbed you and ran…” His eyes met Willie’s, and he leaned a little closer, his heart racing until he was just a hairsbreadth away. 

Then, when Willie didn’t pull away, he pressed their lips together. 

Willie’s lips tasted like chocolate and salty tears, chapped and warm. He kissed back almost immediately, Willie’s hands tangling in Alex’s hair, Alex’s arms around his waist, pulling him closer. It might not have been a movie-worthy kiss, between the sobs, soot, and blood, but Alex couldn’t think, too caught up in the euphoria of Willie being alive, and of kissing him. 

It couldn’t have been more than a few seconds when they came up for air, foreheads pressed together. 

“When you weren’t with the survivors, I-” Willie choked off into another sob. “I thought I’d lost you,” he finally whispered. Alex shook, hugging him tighter. 

“You’ll never lose me.” 

-----

Julie POV

…

Julie smoothed the front of her violet ball gown, letting the layers of tulle float gently to the floor. Straightening the silky bodice, her hands shook with anxiety, but she didn’t let herself succumb to it. The gown was identical to the one she’d worn to the welcome feast a week ago, only rather than navy blue, this one was violet. Otherwise, though, it was the same; a silky, strapless dress with layers of tulle, one layer going over her chest and collarbone in a halter neckline. However, while the blue one had tiny starlike diamonds sewn into the skirt, this one had no jewels, but the tulle halter was embroidered with dahlia designs. 

She walked to her vanity, twisting her hair into two braids, tying them together and letting the rest of her hair poof at the base of her neck. She drew her eyeliner into a small, sharp wing, brushed on mascara, and painted her lips with a shimmery gloss. She massaged a bit of lotion into her arms and spritzed some perfume into the air, walking through the mist so that it was subtle. 

Her low heels made quiet tapping noises as she walked across her bathroom, examining her reflection to make sure she looked perfect. 

Once she’d made sure her dress wasn’t crooked and that her eyeliner was even, Julie sat on the foot of her bed and grabbed her phone. The time read 19:44. 16 minutes until the ball. 

A knock on her door drew her attention. 

“Come in.” She gave a weak smile when her dad walked through the doorway. 

“Hey, mija,” he said, “you okay?” Julie shrugged.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I’m nervous, but also just anxious to get this over with. With any luck, it’ll go well, and Caleb will revoke his declaration.”

“That’s the plan,” Ray agreed. A wistful smile spread on his face, and his eyes turned glassy. 

“You look beautiful,” he told her. Julie smiled.

“Thanks.”

“Your mother had a dress just like that,” he added. “You look just like her.” Julie stood, blinking back a tear as she hugged him. He squeezed back, finally letting go with a sigh. 

“Everything will be okay.”

“Here’s hoping. And if not, we’ll make it.” Ray nodded, his expression unreadable as he left, closing her door, almost seeming like he wasn’t sure if it was true.

Right at that moment, Julie decided that it would be. If things went south, no matter what, she would fight to make sure they all made it out alive. She would fight in any way she had to if it meant her family stayed safe.

She would fight, and she would win.

…

As she walked into the ballroom, she found her assigned seat, in the center of the long royal table, just beside her father. To her right was Luke, then Alex, Carrie, Flynn, Erik, Mira, and Carlos. To her left, after Ray, was Reggie, Councilwoman Noah, Councilman Richard, Councilperson Aster, Councilwoman Mei Lin, Councilwoman Anika, Councilman Ryan, and Councilman Trevor. 

The council members weren’t technically royalty, but they were the next tier of leaders in Dahlia, and the royal table was very long, so they got to sit there as well. 

Around the perimeter, circular tables were arranged with white tablecloths draping over them, and as the Dahlian Nobility flooded in, many of the seats filled. Soon, though, King Covington arrived.

He was dressed in a black three-piece, a black and violet cloak over his shoulders. His top hat was still perched on his expertly-styled hair, and his blue eyes pierced Julie’s before travelling to Ray. Ray stood, his face neutral. Covington took off his hat and pressed it to his chest, dipping in an elaborate bow. 

“It is an honor to be here, King Molina,” he purred. “I do hope we can resolve this quickly.”

“As do I. Hopefully it will be easy. We have been allies for over a century, after all.” Covington’s smile morphed into a sneer.

“Indeed.” He flourished to his table, Kryptonian representatives right behind him, as they arranged themselves. Ray cleared his throat, and Julie took a deep breath. 

“Welcome,” he said, “to the ball. This event is a celebration of allyship, a hope for peace, and a symbol of unity amongst our people. I hope all of you in attendance will find yourselves comfortable. Please, do not hesitate to speak up if you are not. Now please, enjoy the feast.”

Soft chatter echoed in the grand room, the clicking of cutlery on plates ringing in Julie’s ears. She did her best to focus on her food, but her eyes kept flicking to Covington. He was very shady. She couldn’t decide if he was always like that, or if something was off tonight, but he spoke in hushed tones to his representatives, glancing furtively around the room. Julie turned back to her food.

“How are you holding up?” Luke’s voice snapped her out of her daze. 

“Alright,” she said after a moment. “You?”

“Alright.” 

It was a lie, of course. Neither of them were alright, but they had to pretend to be. 

Julie noticed Luke’s eyes flicker to Caleb. 

“Something seems off,” he murmured. “I’m not sure if he’s always like this, but my gut tells me something’s wrong.”

“I had the same feeling,” Julie admitted, looking at her food so people wouldn’t notice her occasional glances to Covington and Luke. 

“Hey, dad?” she asked after a moment, her voice hushed. Ray looked at her. 

“Something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, my gut is telling me that something bad is going to happen. Look at Covington,” she added when he looked skeptical. “He’s glancing around like he expects someone to sneak up on him, and he’s hunched. He looks so secretive, but he’s usually flamboyant.”

“Hmm,” Ray murmured. “You’re right, he is acting strange. But I’m sure everything’s fine, mija.” He patted her hand. “Your dad’s got this.” Julie offered half a smile in reply, but met Luke’s eyes nervously. 

“I’m sure it’ll be okay,” he finally said. “He’s probably plotting what ridiculous outfit he’ll wear tomorrow.” The joke lightened the mood, and Julie giggled. Luke smiled, biting his lip to hold back a laugh. 

They finished their dinner, and then, the mingling began. Dessert would be brought up soon, but this was an opportunity for everyone to stand and walk around to see other people. Julie roamed the room, shaking hands and speaking cordially with the Nobility, exchanging a couple jokes with Lady Cadence. 

When butlers brought dessert from the kitchens, Julie gave a friendly curtsy to the people around her before making her way back to the table. The dessert was a mixture of mini red velvet cupcakes, piped with cream cheese frosting, and beautifully decorated cakes. Thin layers of fondant gave them warm pastel coloring, and frosting had been piped into flowers and swirls. 

She helped herself to a slice of cake, but didn’t finish it. Nerves were taking up more room in her stomach than she’d thought. So, she opted to sip her water, scanning the crowd. She noticed Lady Amara holding hands with Lady Sierra and smiled. She’d known they’d liked each other, so that warmed her heart. 

Soon, everyone had finished dessert, and the music volume increased, slow and rhythmic. People made their way to the dance floor with partners, waltzing around gracefully. Julie smiled as Carrie dragged Flynn over, spinning her around and catching her. Flynn protested but laughed. 

Soon, Julie was twirling around the dance floor, making idle chatter as she slowly waltzed with kind Nobility, talking cordially about political affairs. 

As she sat down on one of the free chairs at the edge of the ballroom, she sighed. Thankfully, everything seemed to be going well. She smoothed the tulle of her dress, fixing a curl back into a braid, when Luke’s voice caught her attention.

“My lady,” he said with a grin, dipped in a bow. “May I have this dance?” Julie stifled a laugh. He was such a dork. But she nodded, putting her hand in his and letting him pull her closer, hoping she hid her shiver when he gently placed his hand on her waist, the other holding her hand up as they danced.

“I’m surprised at how well this has gone so far,” he told her. She couldn’t help but nod, making sure nobody was paying attention.

“I half suspected Caleb would’ve tried something by now.” 

“Same.”

“But I still have a nagging feeling in my gut,” Julie admitted. Luke nodded, quiet for a moment. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, though. They held each other's gaze, and Julie’s hand felt right at home on his shoulder as she swayed. 

“There’s nothing to do about it now, though,” Luke reasoned, and Julie smiled, grinning wider when he twirled her. Her heart fluttered, but sank when Luke frowned. Half of his smile returned.

“We should probably trade off, now,” he sighed. Julie nodded disappointedly. Nobody could suspect that they didn’t want to go along with the arranged marriage. And besides, Luke might like her, but probably not how she liked him. He just cared about people’s reputations. 

She gave half a smile and twirled again, before someone took her wrist. 

“Your highness, may I have this dance?” The sickening voice of Caleb Covington filled Julie’s ears, and she wanted nothing more than to rip away from his clammy clutch and walk away. But this was for diplomacy, so she suppressed her shudder and offered a smile.

“Of course.”

“You know,” Covington said silkily, “this is a beautiful palace.” Julie nodded.

“Yes, I believe your grandfather helped my great-grandfather design it once we became allies,” she pointed out. “It has architectural properties that were inspired by Kryptonian styles, but was also its own thing.”

“Yes, one might say that,” Caleb agreed. “But, isn’t it ironic that my own grandfather, who was the king of the most prolific country in the world, held no reservations against designing a palace for a new ‘country’ that never should have existed?” Julie bit back a sarcastic remark. 

“With all due respect, your majesty”- she twirled, grateful for the moment without Caleb’s hand on her waist -”At that time, Dahlia had already been founded over a century earlier, and relations had stabled. Our resources were significant, and our citizens had settled in an unoccupied land. The Dahlian revolution was a revolution purely because Krypto’s king at the time was too stubborn in the years before his passing to let go.”

“You’ve studied your history, I see,” Caleb remarked. 

“I have been raised for this,” Julie agreed with half a smile, but it wasn’t genuine. “Your grandfather ascended over a century ago, and his goal was always peace, which was why he worked so hard to forge an allyship between Krypto and Dahlia. Relations have been stable between us ever since. We would rather keep it that way.”

“You know,” Caleb said with a click, “the funny thing about running a country is that you must always aim for growth. In that growth lies certain… growing pains, shall we say? Krypto is destined for greatness, and Dahlia is the rebellious teenager who was once an obedient child, and will soon be the respectful adult with familial ties.”

“Or,” Julie countered smoothly, “if you’re so set on growth, you could expand on uninhabited land. More resources means more wealth, and more land means more growth for your borders and space for your people. Holding onto a grudge that was resolved before you were born will only hold you back.”

She knew the words were risky, and might be perceived as disrespectful, but Caleb’s smirk grew into a laugh.

“My dear Julie, you are too smart for your own good. And yet,” he added, “there is still so much you don’t understand. You’re so young, I wouldn’t expect you to understand it in the first place.”

“Sir, with all due respect, I am just as qualified as anyone else in this room.” 

“But you don’t know what it’s like to lead a country on your own-”

“And I’ll never have to, because I have the sense to not distance myself from my people.”

“You’re marching into dangerous territory,” Covington warned, but Julie didn’t care. 

“Like I said,” she said with finality, “our goal is to resolve things peacefully and go back to our allyship. Please enjoy the ball.”

…

Julie had taken her chance to escape Caleb, and she was grateful that she did, because she got room to breathe, and got to hang out with her friends. 

She danced with Alex, chatting idly about the ball, and about a certain baker with whom Alex was absolutely smitten. She grinned to herself, asking questions to make sure that this baker was actually worthy of Alex. She knew he could be a bit… simpy, so she had to make sure she had the brain cell, and then approve of his future boyfriend. But, if Alex was to be believed, the baker - Willie, as she learned - was one of the sweetest people to ever walk the Earth, just shy of Reggie. So, Julie took his word for it. 

She twirled, letting the skirt of her dress flare outwards. 

“Okay, bro, that dress is amazing,” Alex noted. “It looks like the one you wore last week.”

“That’s because it is! Well, the same style at least. It’s a different color.”

“Well, same or different, it looks great.”

“Thanks,” she said with a grin. She noticed Alex’s eyes flicking around the room, scanning the people as if he was searching for someone.

“Looking for someone?” she asked, a shit-eating grin on her face. Alex’s face turned bright red as he stammered in denial. Julie laughed. 

“You know what? We’re done dancing, you can come back after you quit being an asshole,” he decided, flicking his wrist. Julie snorted; his gay panic was hilarious. 

She found herself dancing with Flynn, who gave her The Look, glancing at Luke, who was playfully dancing with Alex. They weren’t even dancing, it was more just… messing around in a rhythmic formation. But when Luke’s eyes caught Julie’s, she quickly looked away. Flynn rolled her eyes as she twirled Julie.

“Jules, I know I can’t yell at you about this since we’re at a ball, but come on. You have to know he’s absolutely smitten with you.” Julie sighed.

“Or he’s just a dork. Which is very, very possible. I mean, have you met him?”

“Then tell me why he doesn’t act like that around anybody else?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “But even if he does like me, there’s nothing we can do about it. It would be a disaster.” 

“Jules, you have to go for what you want!” Flynn took a breath as she twirled, giving an awkward smile to anybody looking their way. “Talk to your dad,” she added quietly. 

“What? Flynn, are you fucking insane?” Julie looked around; it was her turn to give an awkward smile. “I can’t tell dad about this.” 

“Can’t tell me about what?” Ray’s voice was in a normal tone and volume, but he looked concerned as he walked towards them. “Mijas, are you alright?” Julie opened her mouth, trying to speak, glancing to Flynn.

“We’re fine,” she said at last. Ray quirked an eyebrow. 

“Honey, you know I would never judge you, right?” Julie sighed, letting Flynn hand her over to dance with her dad. 

“I know. It’s just…” she couldn’t find the right words. 

“Is this about Caleb? Did he do something to you?”

“No, no,” she assured him, “it’s not about that. It’s about something else.” Her heart sank when he looked down.

“The marriage?” he asked quietly. She sighed. 

“Yeah.” 

“I know.” 

“No, that’s the thing, dad, you don’t know. You know that Alex and I don’t want to get married, and I know that you tried to get us out of it, but it just hurts so much more now that…”

“No, mija, I know. You aren’t as subtle as you think.” Julie’s jaw dropped, and she stuttered for words, refusing to glance over to Luke. 

“I’m sorry,” she finally sighed, “I’m so, so sorry. This isn’t something you need added to your plate.”

“Julie, you have nothing to apologize for. I know you can’t control feelings. I’ve tried. Did I ever tell you how your mother and I met?” Julie shook her head. 

“She was about your age,” Ray began. “I met her at a cafe, while she was out in the city taking a break from being a princess. I didn’t even know it was her. But as soon as I did know, I immediately tried to ignore my feelings for her. But every time I saw her, I remembered her smile, and how kind she was when we spoke.

“Well, I would occasionally see her in person. We got to know each other, and no matter how much I tried to repress how I felt and insist that I just wanted to be friends with her, it didn’t work. But it all worked out in the end.”

“Yeah, well, Mom wasn’t in an arranged marriage. Her falling in love with you wasn’t treason.”

“Maybe, but…” Ray trailed off. “I’m still trying to get you out of it, I promise.”

“Thanks, Papá.”

“Of course. But you have my word that, should you choose to stand up and face these feelings, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. I can’t promise that if people find out there won’t be trouble, but I’ll do anything I can.”

“Only if you extend the same courtesy to Alex,” Julie told him. “As well as whoever either of us might love.” He nodded.

“Of course, mija.” He pulled her in for a hug. “It’ll all be okay.” She nodded against his shoulder. 

“Thank you.”

…

Julie was exhausted. She must’ve danced with everyone in attendance, plastering on a smile and talking about whatever. But now, she could’ve collapsed and fallen asleep. 

That is, until she heard the screaming. 

Adrenaline coursed through her veins, her heart pounding in her ears as she ran to the end of the ballroom, stopping in her tracks when she saw Covington dramatically sitting in her father’s thronelike chair. He sat sideways, leaning on one armrest with his legs over the other, looking very pleased with himself. And next to him…

Next to him, all seven council members were trapped in their chairs, with daggers pressed to their throats. None of them made a sound, but the fear in their eyes was heartbreaking. Everyone in the ballroom shouted, screamed, and cried for justice.

“Like I said,” Covington shouted over the din, “you will either surrender peacefully to Kryptonian rule, or we will take it by force.”

…

A bomb. 

Julie could barely think. 

She took a deep breath, her hands shaking as she clenched them into fists and released, finally clearing her head. Normally she worked well under pressure, but this? This was something else entirely. 

The chaos of people shouting and running, trying to escape the ballroom gave her a chance to run for Carlos.

“JULIE!” he shouted, tears running down his face. Julie grabbed his wrist, running out the door of the ballroom. 

“I’m going to get more people out,” she said. “I want you to grab whoever you see on your way and run straight out the front gates as far as you can, okay? But-” Carlos shook his head, inhaling to interject, but Julie cut him off -”No, Carlos, listen to me. Do not try to be a hero. I want you to run as fast as you can, okay?”

Carlos finally nodded, wrapping Julie in a hug and leaving the chest of her dress soaked with tears. 

“I love you,” he choked out before running.

“I love you too,” she told him, never having meant the words more than she did in that moment. 

“Julie,” came Luke’s voice from behind her, his eyes filled with panic. 

“What are you doing?” she asked, traitorous tears finally leaking down her face. “You should be running, you should get out of here, get Alex, get Reggie, get anyone you can and get out!”

“No,” Luke said firmly, “I’m staying with you. But please, just-” 

“No! You need to get out of here! I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.” Luke grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a supply closet as more people ran by. Julie gasped in the dark.

“Please,” he said as her eyes adjusted. “Please, Julie. In case I don't make it, there’s something you need to know.” He took a breath, but Julie cut him off.

“No, don’t even go there.” She shook her head, letting her curls fly in the air.  

“Please,” he whispered. Julie couldn’t speak, just shaking her head. More shouts and screams echoed from the hallway. Luke’s eyes met Julie’s, and she couldn’t find the right words to describe the intensity and swirling, indescribable emotions in his eyes. 

“I’m sorry,” he said, a single tear sliding down his cheek. Then, Julie met him halfway. 

When her lips met his, they tasted salty from tears, and her arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. His hand cupped her jaw, and she sank into the touch. 

“I had to do that,” he told her when they pulled away, another tear rolling down his face. “At least once.” 

Then, he ran out of the closet, nobody noticing within the chaos. Julie chased after him, running back into the mostly-empty ballroom. The Kryptonian representatives - or criminals - had let the council members go, and were running as fast as they could. A few Nobles were also running, but one line of Caleb’s kept echoing in Julie’s mind. 

“I guarantee that, should I press this button, he’ll be in the line of fire.”

Caleb was about to press the button. 

He was about to kill her father. 

“DAD!” she screamed. 

“JULIE!” it was Luke who shouted it, and Julie’s eyes blurred, spilling tears as she sobbed into his shoulder. 

“We have to get out of here,” he told her, and she nodded, running as fast as she could, her hand clasped in his. They’d made it to the front gates before the shockwave hit them, quickly followed by fire which licked at their skin, the heat making it hard to breathe; not that they were able to breathe, the shockwave having knocked the wind out of them. They flew down the steps, and Julie was barely able to roll in time to not break her neck. Luke was behind her, and she did her best to catch him as they scrambled, making it to the hill before blacking out. 

…

When Julie awoke, it was to her father’s voice, blinded by light and grief and hope. 

I’m dead, she thought. But the grass under her back was cold and wet and very much making a bruise form on her spine, and the whooshing air in her ears felt real as well, and the sound of people crying and talking was heartbreaking but brought her back to reality, however horrible it might’ve been. 

She blearily opened her eyes, seeing her dad and Carlos, ashen, dirty faces streaked with tears. They wrapped her in a hug, and she sobbed into their shoulders. 

“Dad-”

“I’m here, mija.”

“But I thought you were dead! Caleb said-”

“I was able to make it out,” he assured her. “I’m a little beaten up, but I’m alive.”

“Where’s Luke?” she asked, choked up with smoke and fear. 

“Right here.” Luke’s voice was choked up, and he wrapped her in a gentle hug. She cried into his shoulder for a moment.

“He’s okay,” Carlos said. “We’re okay.” Julie cried harder, standing and collapsing into Luke’s arms, running to Reggie and Carrie and Flynn and Mira and Erik and-

“Wait,” she said, trying to convince her eyes that she’d seen wrong. 

“Where’s Alex?”

“He’s okay,” Reggie said. Julie hadn’t even noticed that he’d walked away. But now, his face was covered with happy tears, and he had Alex’s arm wrapped around his shoulder, helping him walk with a sprained ankle. Julie rushed to him and hugged him as tightly as she could, finally letting her tears break free.

They were okay. 

-----

Luke POV

...

When Alex’s breathing quickened, Luke had a feeling this would be one of the worst panic attacks yet. So, it was no surprise when three fake sneezes echoed in the room, Luke was prepared to walk in and sit next to his best friend. 

He wrapped his arms around Alex, trying to calm his trembling. 

“It’s okay,” he whispered, but Alex didn’t hear him. Luke kept holding him, trying to stay steady for him, letting Alex bury his head in his shoulder. He traced circles on Alex’s shoulder blades, thankful when he calmed a bit, but his breathing was rapid and shaky. 

“Everything will be okay, Lex,” he said. “I promise.”

Luke leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Alex’s temple, tracing gentle circles along his shoulders. 

“Just breathe,” he whispered. “It’ll be okay.” Alex hugged him tighter, and Luke patted his back.

“Sorry,” he choked out, and Luke immediately shook his head.

“Don’t be. This is a nerve-racking thing. I’m super nervous too.” It wasn’t a lie. Luke had always been good at holding himself together when he was scared or anxious, but he was still trembling. 

“Could’ve fooled me,” Alex said dryly, wiping his tears. 

“Really?” Luke challenged, hating how his voice quivered, even though it proved his point. He showed Alex his shaking hands. “You’re not alone,” he reminded him. “I promise.”

“Thanks.” Then, it was Alex’s turn to wrap him in a hug, and Luke was surprised but comforted by it. He let himself sink into the embrace, sure he was shaking, but he didn’t care. That was his best friend, and he was warm, and Luke needed a hug. He held him tighter, shaking, finally letting go, his heart protesting the lack of hugs.

“Okay, it’s almost time. Let’s get ourselves fixed up.” Alex nodded, squeezing him tighter before letting go. Luke followed him to the bathroom, fixing his heather grey vest and readjusting his sleeves, fixing a loose strand of hair. 

Neither of them were ready, but they nodded to each other and walked to the ballroom. 

…

Luke was rather surprised when he saw that his assigned seat was between Julie and Alex. It would’ve made more sense for Julie to be next to Alex, since they were supposed to be getting married. Not that Luke was complaining, of course.

“How are you holding up?” he asked quietly.

“Alright,” Julie replied after hesitating. Luke knew it was a lie. “You?”

“Alright.” 

Luke’s eyes flickered to Caleb against his will. Something in his gut was nagging at him that something was wrong.

“Something seems off,” he murmured. “I’m not sure if he’s always like this, but my gut tells me something’s wrong.”

“I had the same feeling,” Julie admitted, confirming Luke’s anxieties. He did his best to calm the swelling bubble of worries in his stomach, taking another bite of his food. He heard Julie whisper to her dad, mentioning that she felt like something was off. Luke kept glancing at her, never lingering for more than a moment before looking away, usually to see if Caleb was still acting sketchy.

Of course, he was. 

Julie caught his eye, and he couldn’t ignore how nervous she looked. He bit his lip, hating how anxious this was all making her. She didn’t deserve this distress. Luke had to fight the urge to reach and take her hand; even under the table, it would be a super risky move.

“I’m sure it’ll be okay,” he finally said. “He’s probably plotting what ridiculous outfit he’ll wear tomorrow.” Luke grinned when she laughed, for once not minding the butterflies in his stomach and how his heart started doing flips when she smiled. 

When the dancing started, Julie went to the large floor, speaking cordially with Nobles, and Luke was entranced. She flitted around the room like a butterfly. Her sparkly dress caught the light as she twirled, and the violet coloring made her look like she’d been dipped in twilight, with the softness of the clouds but the ferocity of a raging hurricane, the strength of a rushing river but the gentle touch of a feathery breeze. 

Luke stood at the edge of the floor, dancing with many people, including an overeager middle school girl who was both shy and enthusiastic. He gave her a smile and moved on to the next person. 

At some point, he ended up dancing with Mira, whose shimmery aquamarine gown had flecks of gold sewn in, glinting in the light. But he kept trying to subtly spot Julie in the crowd. Mira laughed.

“Dude, you’re killing me,” she said with an exasperated grin. “Go find her and ask her to dance!” Luke shook his head.

“We’re in a public setting,” he reasoned. It definitely wasn’t because of the nerves swelling in his chest. The eye roll Mira gave him was legendary. 

“And? It’s a ball! People dance! Alex has had to dance with a ton of people already, but nobody suspects him of treason, right? So who’s to say you can’t dance with Jules?” Luke sighed. 

“I know, I know, it’s just…” he trailed off, searching for the right words as he twirled Mira. “I feel weird,” he told her. “I’m normally really confident and can just go for things, but for some reason I just… can’t. I hate this feeling,” he added. “Nervousness does not fit me.” 

“It doesn’t,” Mira agreed. “But it is sweet. And I can guarantee you that she wants to dance with you too.” Luke’s eyes widened.

“How do you know? Wait,” he said, a huge grin spreading on his face as he lowered his voice, “do you think she likes me like I like her?” He shook his head, trying to get rid of those horrible, treasonous thoughts.

“I’m not going to betray Julie’s trust,” Mira said, “but I am going to call you an oblivious, pining dumbass.” When Luke didn’t respond, she added, “get it together! Go tell her how you feel!”

“I can’t do that,” he sighed. “Even if I really, really want to. We both know what would happen, Mira.”

“I know, I just…” Mira sighed. “I hate seeing her so doubtful. She’s confident in herself, and she doesn’t need a guy to tell her she’s amazing. But watching one of my best friends wonder whether someone she’s totally gone for feels the same, asking herself why would he be, when the answer is so obvious… I just hate it. You make her happy, Patterson.” Mira twirled, giving him a knowing look. “And I know she makes you happy, too.

“Things are happening, and the situation is awful,” she told him, giving a smile and encouraging nod to the other side of the ballroom. “Make sure it’s worth it.”

And then she was gone, having vanished into the crowd, leaving Luke with a goal and a pounding heart. 

But he wasn’t a quitter, so he made his way across the room, his heart fluttering when he found Julie. 

“My lady,” he said with a grin, dipped in a bow. “May I have this dance?” 

He heard Julie laugh, briefly saw her head bounce in a nod, and then her hand was in his. Everywhere she touched felt warm and cold at the same time, and Luke smiled to himself as he pulled her closer, gently putting his hand on her waist as they danced. 

Julie’s eyes shone in the light, deep brown with flecks of inky black and shimmering gold. 

“I’m surprised at how well this has gone so far,” he said. Julie nodded, glancing around.

“I half suspected Caleb would’ve tried something by now.” Luke agreed.

“Same.”

“But I still have a nagging feeling in my gut,” Julie admitted. He nodded, smiling at her. The butterflies in his stomach were steady but light, and the small pressure of her hand on his shoulder kept him grounded. He had a feeling he would’ve floated away otherwise. 

“There’s nothing to do about it now, though,” Luke reasoned, and Julie smiled, grinning wider when he twirled her. Luke noticed Covington staring at him, a frown on his face and one eyebrow quirked. Luke’s face fell.

“We should probably trade off now.” He hated the coldness in his hand and on his shoulder as she let go, hated Julie’s disappointed frown, and most of all, he hated Caleb’s slimy smile as he took Julie’s wrist, and how pleased with himself he looked when she danced with him out of politeness. Luke could see how uncomfortable she was. Her whole body tensed, and her smile was extremely forced. He wanted nothing more than to get him away from her, to get him to stop touching her when she clearly wasn’t okay with it. But that would’ve caused a huge spectacle, and Julie wouldn’t want him to cause drama. So he walked away. 

…

When the screaming began, Luke’s stomach dropped. 

Then when he turned and saw all seven council members with daggers pressed to their throats, he nearly vomited. 

And when Caleb pulled out a small remote, threatening to detonate a bomb, anger contorted all of his features, his fists shaking, fingers tracing the outlines of two daggers inside his vest. His eyes flicked to Reggie, then Alex, then Julie, all of whom were terrified, confused, and angry.

“You’re bluffing,” someone called from the audience after Caleb made his threat about the bomb. “You’re in this room too.” Luke nodded. 

“Am I?” Caleb challenged, and it took Luke a moment to realize that he was a hologram. A terrifyingly real one, too. 

“Yes,” Caleb remarked. “You probably didn’t notice my brief trip to the restroom earlier, but that wasn’t actually a restroom trip. I’m far away by now.”

“But what about your representatives?” Reggie asked. 

“Acceptable losses. These aren’t actually representatives, they’re criminals who have been offered the chance of a full pardon if things don't go south. They have, however, been made very clear of the other possibility.” 

“You might notice that your king is not in the room,” Caleb added, and Luke gasped, running to Julie, whispering that it would be okay. She barely noticed him. 

“What did you do to my dad?” she shouted, her hands clenched in fists, shaking, a couple tears running down her face. 

“He’s alive, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Caleb said. “But I guarantee that, should I press this button, he’ll be in the line of fire.”

Furious shouts echoed in the huge room, large in part from Luke himself. Jule shrugged his hand off her shoulder, stepping up to the royals’ table. 

“Leave my people alone. Get out of our kingdom,” she instructed. “You have no place here.”

“Yeah,” Reggie interjected. “We’re not going to abandon our people, no matter how much you want us to.” 

“You can’t make us surrender,” Luke added loudly, squaring his shoulders. 

“I truly hate to do this,” Caleb said, without an ounce of sorrow in his voice. “But you leave me no choice.” 

Luke sprinted towards the doors next to Julie.

“I’m sorry, everyone,” Caleb added maliciously. Everyone was running and screaming, bustling through the doors, 

“Everyone get out of here, now!” Luke’s voice was louder than he’d ever known it could be, or maybe it was the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He ran out the door, ushering people away, directing them to the nearest exit and telling them to run as far as they could. But his mind was still on Julie.

He searched the crowd, craning his neck before he found her talking to Carlos and hugging her. He raced towards her.

“Julie,” he said quietly. 

“What are you doing?” she asked. “You should be running, you should get out of here, get Alex, get Reggie, get anyone you can and get out!” Luke shook his head.

“No,” Luke said firmly, “I’m staying with you. But please, just-” 

“No! You need to get out of here! I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.” Luke grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a supply closet as more people ran by, hating the way he was shaking.

“Please,” he said, blinking as his eyes adjusted, and blinking back tears. “Please, Julie. In case I don't make it, there’s something you need to know.” He took a breath, but Julie cut him off.

“No, don’t even go there.” She shook her head, but Luke couldn’t think.

“Please,” he whispered. He looked at her, trying to take in every beautiful detail; the deep brown of her eyes, the curls of hair draped over her shoulders, the small gap in her teeth, the curve of her collarbone, the beautiful melody of her voice.

“I’m sorry,” he said, a single tear sliding down his cheek. Julie leaned forward as he did, and then his lips were on hers. The kiss was brief and tasted like chocolate, full of all the emotions he couldn’t find the words for. She kissed him back, and he couldn’t explain how much it hurt knowing that it might be the last time.

“I had to do that,” he whispered when they pulled away, another tear rolling down his face. “At least once.” 

Then, he ran out of the closet, right into the mostly-empty ballroom to get everybody out and search for Ray. Caleb’s hologram smiled maliciously at him. Luke ignored it, running and helping people up as they fell, before Julie’s voice pierced the air. 

“DAD!” she screamed. No! Why was she here? She was supposed to run!

“JULIE!” he shouted, running to her.

“We have to get out of here,” he said, and thankfully she didn’t protest. She took his hand and he ran with her as fast as he could without pulling her over, making it to the front gates when the shockwave hit him. Heat from the raging fire burned the air and made it impossible to breathe, and Luke did his best to land steadily as Julie caught him after rolling. He ran as fast as he could, and everything seemed to move in slow motion as he looked back at Julie, her hand slipping from his, the final shockwave blasting him backwards.

He was blacked out before he hit the ground. 

…

When Luke awoke, he coughed, pain in his chest from the smoke and debris. His head was pounding, a drop of blood rolling down his cheek. As he sat up, a sharp pain in his shoulder told him he’d dislocated it. He grimaced, testing it; thankfully it wasn’t severe, and he bit down on torn fabric of his vest as he popped it back into place, using the rest as a sling he hastily tied. 

He stood, running down the pile of debris as he found Reggie. 

“REGGIE!” he shouted, running as fast as he could. Reggie’s face was streaked with tears, and he ran to him. Luke wrapped him in a one-armed hug, a sob escaping his lips. 

“Are you okay?” he asked. Reggie nodded. 

“I’m okay,” he choked out. “Sprained my wrist, but I’m okay.” 

“Where’s Julie?” he asked, looking around. 

“She’s okay, don’t worry,” Reggie told him, another tear streaking down the dust on his face. “But we haven’t found Alex yet.” Luke’s stomach dropped.

He was supposed to be Alex’s guard. He was supposed to protect him, and now he might not even be alive. Luke’s eyes blurred with tears and his chest heaved with sobs. 

“That doesn’t mean he’s…” Reggie trailed off. “We haven’t searched all of the grounds yet, so there’s still a good chance he’s alright and we just haven’t found him.” The words helped, but Luke couldn’t stop crying. Alex was missing. 

“Ray’s also alive,” Reggie added, and Luke was shocked enough to dry his tears. 

“But I thought-”

“He made it, somehow.” Reggie’s laugh was incredulous. “Everyone else is okay, too.” 

But not Alex. 

…

Luke practically flew down the hill to Julie, who was still passed out, her gown tattered and skin covered in soot and dust. A few streaks of blood marred her arms, but she seemed okay other than that, and Luke was too relieved to explain when he noticed that her breathing was steady. 

Ray wrapped him in a hug, which took Luke by surprise, but he hugged back. 

“I’m so sorry, mijo,” he said. “I should’ve-”

“No,” Luke said. “No, you did everything you could’ve. And we just need to find Alex.” He willed the words to be true, but Ray shook his head. 

“There were four casualties,” he whispered. “Four of my people, gone, because I couldn’t…”

“That was not your fault,” Luke told him sharply. “You hear me? Not. Your. Fault. It was Covington who did that, not you. You did everything you could.” Ray nodded.

“Okay.” He shook more, but stood, patting Luke on the shoulders, looking back down to Julie. Flynn was knelt next to her, holding her hand and whispering for her to please wake up. 

“She’s okay,” Luke whispered to himself. Then, he noticed Reggie was gone, and-

When he looked up the hill, he saw Reggie with a familiar tall, blonde boy in a torn blue suit.

“ALEX!” Luke ignored the pain in his shoulder as he bolted, running and tackling his best friend in a hug. He choked back sobs, but some tears still made their way through. “We thought you were-”

“I’m okay,” Alex said. “I’m okay.” Luke nodded into his shoulder. 

“I’m so sorry, man, I should’ve been with you, I should’ve-”

 “No,” Alex said. “We’re okay. You have nothing to apologize for.” Luke nodded. 

“Everyone else is okay, too,” he said. “Come on.” 

Luke ran back down the hill, followed by Alex and Reggie. But Luke sprinted as fast as he could when he noticed that Julie was stirring. He blinked back tears, a huge grin on his face.

“Where’s Luke?” he heard her ask. 

“Right here.” He leaned down and gently wrapped her in a hug, helping her up. She was shaky but didn’t fall, finally tackling him in a huge hug, crying into his shoulder. Luke cried into the top of her head, pressing a kiss to her hair, not caring who was watching. He let her to the others. 

“Where’s Alex?” she asked, her voice trembling. 

“He’s okay,” Reggie said from a few feet away as he helped Alex, who seemed to have sprained his ankle.

“We’re all okay,” Luke told her, wrapping them all in a giant hug.

We’re okay. 

-----

Reggie POV

…

Reggie’s hands shook as he fastened the buttons on his silky red vest, adjusting and readjusting the dark sleeves of his shirt. He took a deep breath, stretching and grabbing his bass to calm him down. He ran through the notes for Icarus, sliding down the A string and adding in some extra notes for funsies. He grinned to himself as he spun, tapping his foot with the music. 

Humming to himself, Reggie glanced out the window. The sun hadn’t set, but it was going to soon. It was retreating west, preparing to dive behind the mountains. And the time on his phone told him that he needed to be in the ballroom in ten minutes. He sighed and decided to go now. It was on the other side of the palace, and he might as well go early. 

…

When Reggie had settled into his seat next to Ray, Councilwoman Noah soon sat next to him. 

“Hi, Reggie,” she said with a smile. “How are you?”

“Pretty nervous,” he admitted, “but excited. I love balls. They’re so fun, even if we have to dress all fancy.” Councilwoman Noah laughed.

“Well, you look wonderful,” she told him. Reggie beamed. 

“Thanks! You do too!” 

“Thanks, hon.” She shook her head wistfully. “You’re so young. You shouldn’t have to deal with such a stressful situation,” Noah said. “None of you should.” Reggie knew she was thinking about Flynn.

“Flynn’s strong,” he reminded her. “And she’s Julie’s best friend. Plus, she knows that she doesn’t have to deal with all of the stress. She does it because she can handle it, and because she wants to.” Noah nodded. 

“Plus, she probably likes being able to say she’s best friends with the princess,” he added as an afterthought. Councilwoman Noah laughed, and Reggie felt very accomplished. 

“Thanks. I always have to remind myself that she’s grown up,” she admitted. “It feels like only yesterday her hair was just long enough to braid.”

“I know,” Reggie said. “Even though Julie’s only a year younger than me, every time I see her in the meeting room, I worry that she’s going to get too stressed. I don’t know how she handles it.”

“She’ll make a great queen one day,” Noah said softly. Reggie nodded. 

“Yeah. She will.” 

…

The food was delicious. Reggie couldn’t help but smile as he finished, leaving room for dessert. He might’ve been a prince, but he had his priorities in order. And dessert was very high up there. 

As people began mingling before dessert, Reggie wandered around as well, chatting with random Nobles. Lady Cadence asked how his music was going. Sir Blake quipped about the ironic circumstances of such a wonderful event. Mx. Genevieve brought up some interesting points about constitutional technicalities that Reggie would be sure to bring up when they met with Covington; something about allyship and unnecessary tension. Xe’d suggested that Reggie write it down; xe was one of Ray’s close friends, so xe knew about Reggie’s ADHD. It was probably a good idea, too, so Reggie took xer advice and jotted it down in his notes app. 

Then, dessert was served, and Reggie was in heaven with the mini cupcakes. They were red velvet with cream cheese frosting, and he probably ate more than he should’ve, but if he did, that was nobody’s business but his. 

That’s code for, yes, he did eat too many cupcakes. 

Soon, the dancing began. Reggie loved dancing. Didn’t matter what kind, either; he would waltz in the ballroom, jump around whilst playing the bass, twirl around the studio as Julie played the piano, or dance by himself in the middle of the night with his earbuds in. 

Reggie made his way to the open floor, cordially waltzing with random Nobles who wanted to know more about the current political situation, dancing with Alex to hype him up and reassure him everything would be okay, twirling Julie to give her a break from stuffy Nobles who kept pestering her, and letting Carlos stand on his toes as they danced, chatting animatedly about Minecraft and Star Wars. 

Carlos eventually left to go dance with Nick’s younger sister, Annie Danforth-Evans. They were the same age, and Reggie definitely didn’t miss Annie’s blush when Carlos twirled her. He grinned to himself and kept dancing around the ballroom. 

…

When the shouting started, Reggie’s mind flashed back to the day he ran away.

It was a cold, rainy day in October. Reggie’s parents had been fighting more and more for months, and it had gotten so bad that he couldn’t fall asleep at night without wondering when he would be woken up at some early hour by shouts and screams. A stray piece of stuffing floated in the corner of his eye. It was from a small stuffed penguin he’d had, one that he hadn’t seen in weeks after one of his parents’ fights. 

It was early evening, though the dark, cloudy sky and pouring rain could’ve fooled someone into thinking it was night. His parents were screaming at each other again, and Reggie was wrapped in a blanket and huddled in the corner of his bedroom, surrounded by pillows from his unmade bed, trying to focus on the sound of the rain instead of the cruel words from the living room. 

He blinked back tears and sucked on the inside of his lip. There was a swollen patch of skin next to his teeth. He never bit it, just sucked on it to give him something to do instead of trying to speak. His ear was pressed to the window, sending a numbing chill through his head and making his ear hurt, but it made it easier to let the sounds of the torrential storm drown out his parents’ argument. 

When the sound of a shattering glass caught Reggie’s attention, he jumped and whimpered, his tiny hands clutching into fists. He couldn’t take this. 

Gathering up a drawstring bag, he stuffed in the tattered blanket, a small first-aid kit, his favorite book, and an extra hoodie. It was a little small, but it was warm. He put on his bigger hoodie, a thick grey one with a big pocket over the stomach, put up the hood, and shoved earplugs into his ears. He struggled to tie his beat-up converse and peeked out the door, running out the front door when they started shouting especially loud. He doubted they heard the quick, quiet opening and closing from the entryway, but if they did, they didn’t bother investigating. 

Reggie ran. He wasn’t quite sure where he was going, but he knew the city well enough to find a familiar bench that was shaded by the roof of a cafe. He sat, grateful for the dry area, ignoring the cold wind on his nose. Huddled with his knees to his chest, earplugs making him deaf to the world, he didn’t notice the old woman handing him a small bag with a cinnamon roll inside of it until she tapped his shoulder. He jumped, flinching but quickly recovering. He mumbled a quick ‘thank you’ to her, digging into the sweet pastry. Looking back on it, it probably wasn’t a good idea to accept food from a stranger, but the pangs of hunger in his stomach said otherwise. 

He’d dozed off, using the drawstring bag as a pillow as he laid across the bench, when a gentle hand on his shoulder startled him awake. 

‘Are you okay?’ the man asked. ‘Where are your parents?’ Reggie looked down. 

‘I ran away,” he whispered. 

‘Why?’ 

‘They kept yelling,’ he sniffed, ‘and I hated it. They never stop.’ Worry and confusion and a little bit of anger showed on the man’s face, and Reggie retracted a couple inches, before the man knelt down. 

‘Is it okay if I give you a hug?’ he asked. Reggie nodded, hesitating for a moment. But when the man’s arms wrapped around his shoulders, his own skinny arms bolted up and wrapped around his neck, and before he knew it, he was crying into his shoulder, letting the man gently pat his back. 

‘Do you know who I am, mijo?’ he asked. Reggie shook his head. He looked familiar, but his head was too muddled to place him. 

‘I’m King Ray,’ he said. Reggie scrambled into a bow, but Ray’s hands immediately steadied him. ‘Everything’s okay,’ he assured him. ‘If you don’t want to go back to your parents, I could bring you to the palace,’ he offered. Reggie’s eyes lit up. 

‘Really?’

‘Yeah! You could meet Queen Rose and my daughter, Julie. She’s about your age. You’d love her.’ He stood, offering his hand. Reggie hesitated but took it, a slow smile on his face.

Ever since that day, he hadn’t heard his parents shouts, because he hadn’t actually seen them. But Ray was the best father he could’ve ever asked for. 

These furious shouts from the ballroom brought back that one memory, and even though it happened in a split second, he felt every effect in its whole, and it struck him like a well-aimed blow. But he was distracted by the sight before him.

All seven council members with daggers to their throats. 

Reggie wasn’t sure what he was feeling at that moment. It was a mix of confusion, anger, fear, and resolve, though that might’ve just been the adrenaline. 

“Like I said,” Covington shouted over the rising screams of everyone in the room, “you will either surrender peacefully to Kryptonian rule, or we will take it by force.”

More shouts echoed throughout the huge ballroom, arguments and cries of fear, anger, and betrayal. Some bakers and chefs snuck in from the kitchens and saved the council members, which was a huge relief. But when Covington pulled the small remote out of his pocket, and revealed that he was a hologram, everything silenced in Reggie’s ears.

Reggie had heard of seeing red, but this wasn’t the passionate scarlet of anger. This was pure, black, hate. Covington was threatening his people, including the people he cared most about in the entire world. Julie and Carlos, Luke and Alex, Erik, Mira, Carrie and Flynn, and the entire council.  His hands clenched into fists.

“But what about your representatives?” Reggie finally asked. Surely Covington wouldn’t be willing to kill his own people of such high ranking. 

“Acceptable losses. These aren’t actually representatives, they’re criminals who have been offered the chance of a full pardon if things don't go south. They have, however, been made very clear of the other possibility.” Reggie’s stomach dropped. Nobody deserved a death penalty, and given his impressions of Covington, he doubted their crimes were even that severe. 

“You might notice that your king is not in the room,” Caleb added, Reggie’s heart plummeted. Tears welled in his eyes.

Ray. 

“What did you do to my dad?” Julie yelled, being held back by Luke.

“He’s alive, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Caleb said. “But I guarantee that, should I press this button, he’ll be in the line of fire.”

Furious shouts echoed in the huge room, and Reggie was one of the loudest among them despite his aversion to raising his voice. Covington didn’t get to waltz into Dahlia, declare war, and threaten all of these people and just get away with it. He didn’t get to threaten Reggie’s own family without facing consequences.

“Leave my people alone. Get out of our kingdom,” Julie instructed angrily, her voice clear and sharp as a dagger. “You have no place here.”

“Yeah,” Reggie interjected. “We’re not going to abandon our people, no matter how much you want us to.” It wasn’t a lie, either; Reggie was a sincere person, but he’d never meant anything as much as he meant those words. He would not give up on his people. Not ever.

And he wouldn’t give up on his family, either. 

“I truly hate to do this,” Covington said, and Reggie was pretty sure his stomach was at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. But he sprinted to the doors, hauling them open and helping people out as they ran. 

“Everyone out!” he called desperately, tears rimming his vision. “Get as far away as you can.”

“Your highness, where should we go?” Lady Sierra asked, her voice terrified. 

“Run out the front gates,” he instructed, “then through the city. It’s late, but it isn’t raining. Just be careful.” He patted her shoulder and rushed past her, picking up a small child, barely older than six, who was struggling to hold on to his mother’s hand in the chaos. 

“I’ve got him,” he called to her, calming her frantic shouts for her son. Reggie cradled him as gently as he could, bearing a few bruises as he guarded the child from the stampede of terrified Nobles. He ran as quickly as he could and handed him over to his mother, sprinting along the side of the hallway and opening more doors, yelling into the kitchens to any chefs still in there to get out. He did the same as he passed the guards’ quarters, gesturing wildly and helping people out as they jumped from their beds. 

Reggie found Carlos as he ran to the front gate, wrapping him in a huge hug and picking him up over his shoulders, his legs carrying him as fast as he could possibly run. Bounding out the front gate, Carlos over his shoulder, he made it down the hill and put him down. 

“Lead the others as far away as you can, okay?” Carlos nodded, wrapping him in a quick hug.

“I love you,” he said. Reggie nodded.

“Love you too. Now go!” When Carlos took off, Reggie bounded backwards towards the hill. 

“Run through the city,” he instructed as loudly as he could. “Just go straight but keep the palace in view, then wait for further instructions.” People nodded as they ran, and Reggie directed them in the way Carlos had gone. 

“It’ll be okay,” he assured a sobbing woman as she jogged past him. But the tremble in his voice probably wasn’t very convincing. 

Neither was the shockwave that knocked them backwards.

Reggie’s ears were both ringing and silent. He couldn’t tell when or even if he hit the ground, though he had to have, if the sudden blast of cold on his back was any indication, same with the sharp pain on his wrist. It took a moment, but he was finally able to open his eyes, quickly shutting them as a tiny piece of concrete flew over him and sliced open his forehead. He groaned, reaching up to test the wound. It didn’t feel that deep, thankfully, but his dusty fingers still came away streaked with blood. And when he looked back up the hill…

He’d been lucky enough to avoid the fire. His clothes were torn but not singed like so many others. Reggie stood shakily, jumping over bits of debris as he raced back up the hill. 

“JULIE?” he shouted, looking around. “ALEX? LUKE? ERIK?” His shouting didn’t seem to be of any use until he heard a familiar voice to his right. 

“REGGIE?” it called. His head whipped around, worsening his headache, but he didn’t care, because Erik’s tarnished but handsome face was visible across the hill. 

“ERIK!” Reggie sprinted to him, tackling him in a hug, trying to choke back his tears. “I’m so sorry, I-” 

“No,” Erik whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. “Everything’s okay, I promise.” Reggie nodded into his shoulder. 

“Guys?” someone called. When Reggie’s eyes snapped open to a familiar redheaded girl in a tattered aquamarine dress, a grin broke out on his face. 

“Mira!” They both ran to her, picking her up in a hug and spinning. Reggie pressed a kiss to her hair. 

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Erik told her, and Reggie nodded his agreement. 

“Me too,” she whispered, smudging the soot on her face as she wiped away tears. “We should look for others.” Reggie nodded, blinking back more tears as he let go, scanning around him. Dozens of battered but breathing Nobles were littered around the field, sitting, standing, and walking, helping each other. 

“Are you okay?” Reggie asked Mx. Genevieve, helping xem up. 

“I think so,” xe coughed. “My head hurts, but I guess that’s to be expected after a bomb.”

“Probably.” Reggie made sure they were steady. “Make sure you’re alright, then try to help anyone else you find, okay? I’m doing the same.” Xe nodded, patting his shoulder. 

As he searched more rubble, he found Flynn and Carrie, clinging to each other and shaking behind a huge piece of debris. They were rattled but uninjured, thankfully. And soon, he found Julie, passed out near the stairs, the violet tulle and silk of her dress torn and dirty. He scooped her up as gently as he could, brushing a curl off her face. She coughed, and Reggie half-hoped she would wake up, but she stayed asleep.

“REGGIE!” His head whipped towards the familiar sound of Carlos’s voice, as well as the voices of the other Nobles who’d escaped in time, rushing back to the palace. He gently set down Julie, leaving her with Mira, and took off towards Carlos, who jumped into his arms. 

“Are you okay?” he asked worriedly. Reggie nodded. 

“I’m okay,” he confirmed. “And hey, if Han Solo can survive it, so can we.” Carlos laughed, but there were still tears streaming down his face. And they just quickened, until they heard an impossibly amazing voice behind them.

“Mijos?” Ray asked, coughing up dust.

“DAD!” they shouted, running to him, hugging him gently but tightly. Reggie sobbed into his chest. 

“We thought you were-”

“I’m okay,” he assured them. “Just a bit rattled. Where’s Julie?”

“She’s over there,” he pointed. “By the stairs.”

“I’ve been around the back of the damage site,” Ray explained, “which is why I hadn’t seen you yet. Almost everyone is okay, which is a relief, but…” he waited until Carlos had walked out of earshot before adding, “there were four confirmed casualties.” Reggie’s heart shattered.

“No,” he whispered. “No, that can’t be right, everyone-”

“It’s nobody we knew,” Ray added, but his eyes glistened with melancholy. Reggie nodded, hugging him again. 

“Can you take me to see Julie?” he asked. Reggie nodded, taking his hand and leading him to the small, clear patch he’d set her down in. Mira and Flynn were both by her side. 

“Has she woken up?” Ray asked. Reggie noticed the looks of shock on the girls’ faces, but they didn’t say anything, just shaking their heads. 

…

Finding Alex and Luke had been a huge relief, and when Julie woke up, something in Reggie’s heart clicked into place. 

There were shattered pieces of hearts throughout their family, found or blood, but those pieces combined into a beautiful mosaic of people who were scarred but lovely, bruised but kind, and loved each other with a passion and gentle nature that would bring them closer. 

----- 

Willie POV

...

“Okay,” Lilian called through the large room full of bakers and chefs, “get to your usual posts and finish up any extra dishes for tonight. Then, Alyssa, Conley, Ever, Jenna, Mark, Tori, Aaliyah, and CoCo, you’re in charge of distribution and waiting during the ball. Everyone else, be on standby, but if things go smoothly, you should be able to have an early night.” Willie smiled, but his heart fell.

He’d really hoped he’d be chosen to go to the ball and wait tables. He knew it was stupid, but he really wanted to see Alex. Even if they wouldn’t get to interact, it still would’ve been nice. And he’d spent the whole time he was baking thinking through tons of what-ifs. What if Alex noticed him there? What if they got to chat? If he was lucky, what if they got to dance? What if…

Willie shut down the thoughts. It wasn’t happening anyway. 

He redid his hair in the knot at the nape of his neck, sighing and heading back to the kitchens to make sure the cupcakes were perfect. They were, of course; he’d practiced piping cupcakes since he was little. Eva always loved cupcakes. Her favorite of his were the lemon ones, with the yellow and pink sprinkles. He’d made them on her eighth birthday, and her face lit up when he brought them out, complete with striped candles. Willie grinned at the memory of her trying to blow them out with her missing two front teeth, singing, ‘happy birthday to me, I’m a hundred and three, I’m getting tho old and thoon I’ll be wrinkly!’ It wasn’t the same song that a lot of kids sang, but it was Eva’s. She refused to sing it any other way. Of course, Willie still teased her about her then-inability to pronounce her S’s, and any time it was her birthday, he’d say ‘it’th your birthday, Eva! You’re getting tho old, thoon you’ll be wrinkly!’ It drove her absolutely insane. 

Willie missed those days. 

…

The ball seemed to be going smoothly, so Willie took it upon himself to make a batch of key lime tarts. He hummed to himself, letting his mind wander to all sorts of things (Alex, mostly), shaping the dough into the tins.

That was, until he heard the screaming. 

His stomach dropped and he dashed to the other side of the kitchen, where Alyssa was standing in a defensive position as if someone was about to attack her. Willie joined her, before Lilian snuck back in through the back door. She didn’t say a word, but pointed Alyssa to the frying pan shelf and Willie…

To the knife rack. 

Willie’s hands shook and a cold sweat dripped down his back, but he obeyed Lilian’s grim nod and took one, gripping it in his palm and watching light glint on the blade. He swallowed down the bile rising in his throat. 

Lilian led everyone in the kitchens to the door, surreptitiously walking out in a single-file line, all the way down the hall to the ballroom. Willie never knew Lilian could be so silent; her steps were completely inaudible. 

As Lilian pushed open the door, eyes flicked their way, and Willie silenced his breathing as he searched for a familiar blue-green-grey pair. And when he finally found them, they were fraught with terror, hope, confusion, and something else that Willie couldn’t quite place. Something lighter but heavier at the same time. 

Alex gave him the tiniest of head-shakes, but he was too far in to stop. 

I’m sorry, Willie mouthed. I care about you, Alex. 

He wasn’t sure if he’d been able to understand what he so desperately wanted to tell him, but Willie did see a resigned nod and a plea for him to be careful coming from Alex’s direction. 

Things seemed to move in slow motion. By some miracle, Covington, who was draped over King Ray’s throne, didn’t notice the nervous glances their way. He shouldn’t have been surprised, though; he was a very self-absorbed person. 

Then, all hell broke loose when Alyssa and six other cooks brought down their pans on the representatives’ heads at once, knocking them out cold and freeing the council members. Willie’s heart raced as he hid behind the throne as Lilian trained her knife on Covington’s back. He was astonished at how steady her voice was, how tall she stood (not just because she was over six feet; she was scarily confident). 

“Or,” she said smoothly, “you could surrender, and go back to your own country.” The knife in her hand didn’t waver, but Covington recoiled. He hadn’t heard her coming. Willie took his chance and got on the other side, his knife pointed at Covington as well. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to use it.

“Don’t hurt these people,” he instructed, proud of how clear and steady his own voice was. 

“A few bakers trying to save their precious leaders,” Caleb purred, but the malice in his voice was like venom. “How sweet. Unfortunately for you, I have this”- he pulled a small remote out of his pocket -”and while I would rather not use it, I will if I must.” Willie’s heart leaped to his throat, and he was achingly aware of the sweat on his back, the curl of hair that had loosened from his bun, the pebble in his shoe.

None of that compared to what he would soon feel if Covington pressed that button, though. Willie had never seen one before, but he knew exactly what it was.

A bomb.

The next minute was chaos. His knife clattered to the floor, heart pounding in his ears, and he jumped backwards, hating his fearful reaction. Lilian, to her credit, held her ground nicely, but the tension in her shoulders had returned in full effect, and her eyebrows creased in the middle. 

“That’s right,” Caleb said over the terrified screams, people running for the doors. “If any of you here have any sense, you’ll run. You shouldn’t have to, of course, but if your leaders continue to be stubborn, it might be for the best.” Willie shook his head. Covington wouldn’t just… do that. 

“You’re bluffing,” someone called from the audience. “You’re in this room too.”

“Am I?” Caleb challenged, and Willie could’ve sworn he’d seen wrong, but he didn’t. A flicker of transparency, proving that Covington was actually somewhere else. 

A hologram. 

“Yes,” Caleb remarked. “You probably didn’t notice my brief trip to the restroom earlier, but that wasn’t actually a restroom trip. I’m far away by now.”

“But what about your representatives?” a man asked. Willie recognized him as Princess Julie’s older brother, though he couldn’t remember his name.

“Acceptable losses. These aren’t actually representatives, they’re criminals who have been offered the chance of a full pardon if things don't go south. They have, however, been made very clear of the other possibility.” Willie’s hands curled into fists. Was he really willing to just… sacrifice those people? Criminals or not, Willie couldn’t stomach the idea of sacrificing seven people. 

“You might notice that your king is not in the room,” Caleb added, and Willie’s stomach dropped. 

“What did you do to my dad?” Julie shouted, her hands clenched in fists, shaking. Willie scanned the crowd, but didn’t find the king. 

“He’s alive, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Caleb said. “But I guarantee that, should I press this button, he’ll be in the line of fire.”

Furious shouts echoed in the huge room, and Willie watched as Princess Julie walked towards the royals’ table, getting in Covington’s face. Willie ducked his head in a bow.  

“Leave my people alone.” Her voice was cold, harsh, but clear and steady. “Get out of our kingdom. You have no place here.”

“Yeah,” her brother interjected. “We’re not going to abandon our people, no matter how much you want us to.” Willie nodded

“You can’t make us surrender,” another man informed Covington. Alex nodded, standing as tall as he could, and Willie tried to do the same, swallowing the bile rising in his throat.

“I truly hate to do this,” Caleb said, without an ounce of sorrow in his voice. “But you leave me no choice.” 

“NO,” Alex yelled, and Willie’s stomach dropped. His eyes darted to Alex, wide with fear. If Alex…

Willie shoved away the thought.

“I’m sorry, everyone,” Caleb added maliciously. Everyone was running and screaming, bustling through the doors, and Willie did his best to get people out. 

“LILIAN!” he screamed, rushing to her. “Grab Alyssa and the others, then get out as fast as you can!” She shook her head. 

“No, you need to leave too,” she told him. Willie shook his head.

“I’m going to try to get people out of here,” he decided. “I can run fast, don’t worry.”

“What are the odds of getting you to listen to me?”

“Slim to none.” Lilian sighed.

“Be fast.” He nodded, patting her shoulder and letting her dash away. 

Willie sprinted to the hallway outside the ballroom, shouting for people to get out of there, searching for Alex. Hopefully, he’d run, and would be far away by the time Covington made good on his promise. 

But, of course, a familiar voice echoed through his ears.

“WILLIE!” Alex sprinted to him, and Willie’s eyes widened. 

“GO! GET OUT OF HERE!” he said, trying to urge Alex out. “You need to get out before this place blows!” Tears streamed down his face but he ignored them, running to Alex. 

When the shockwave hit him, he was a few meters away from the man he was trying to reach. Willie was pretty sure he’d phased into a different dimension when it passed through his head, leaving it fuzzy and burning but also clear, cold, and sharp. 

He felt like he was floating. Maybe he was; there was no way to know. He felt disconnected from his body. The matter making him up wasn’t really his, it was just his turn to use it before he would inevitably die and be reabsorbed into the world, waiting for some other creature to be reborn from the ashes of his demise. 

When his back hit the ground, Willie felt it, but in the way you feel a headache when you’re half asleep. He registered it, knew he was in pain, but didn’t feel it as much as he should’ve. He barely registered the bruises forming on his shoulders, the heat from the fire on his skin, the flecks of concrete bouncing across his face. He was feeling everything and nothing at all, like a frozen fire, a breeze barely detectable as it rushed against a hurricane. 

Willie caught the faint glinting of a few stars in the sky before blacking out. 

…

When he awoke, it was to shouts. They weren’t urgent, but searching, calling, asking, hoping. Blearily, he blinked his eyes open. It was still night, so he couldn’t have been out for long. What had even happened? Why was he collapsed in the middle of a field full of bits of concrete, wood, fabric, and debris?

Then, everything came rushing back in an instant.

Screams.

Knives.

The shockwave.

Fire. 

Alex. 

Willie bolted upright, ignoring the pounding headache between his temples. Standing shakily, he ran to the first person he could find, which happened to be Alyssa.

“Willie? Is that you?” she called, her purple hair caked with dirt. He nodded, tears blurring his vision as he wrapped her in a hug.

“Are you okay?” he asked. When she nodded against his shoulder, he sighed in relief. 

“Thank God. Have you seen anyone else? Where’s Lilian?”

“She’s helping pass out medical supplies to anyone who was injured,” Alyssa explained. “I’m scanning the grounds for others.” He nodded. 

“Has anyone…” he trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. Alyssa looked away, nodding.

“Four people. But everyone else was lucky, as far as we know?”

“Has anybody found King Ray yet?”

“No, but we’re looking. It’ll be okay, I promise.” 

“I know, I just… This is horrible.”

“It really is,” Alyssa agreed. “I’m so sorry you had to go through it.”

“You too.”

She reached up and patted his shoulder, and Willie dashed around the grounds, searching for people, taking extra time to look for a certain blonde prince.

He helped a mother and her daughter up out of a ditch where they’d fallen after avoiding a huge concrete slab, assuring them that everything would be okay. After he’d sent them on their way down the hill, he continued his search. But no matter where he looked, he never found Alex. 

Tears blurred in his eyes, but Willie blinked them back. Now wasn’t the time to cry. It wasn’t the time to grieve someone who could be alive. 

He climbed over piles of broken concrete and stone, stamping out small fires along the way, leaving nothing but crumbling, charred ash. 

But no matter where he searched, he couldn’t find Alex. 

He doubled back multiple times, scanning the grounds and looking in every nook and cranny he could find, even going as far as to search the other half of the grounds where the bomb hadn’t affected. But there was no familiar sweep of blonde hair, no sarcastic remark, no eyes that shifted from blue to green to grey, no golden embroidery on a blue suit. 

Then, he found himself running through the gardens again, searching, and ending up all the way at the back end in the park where he’d tried to teach Alex to skate. 

Willie brushed the petals of one of the roses between his fingers, the sweet aroma floating to his head and making him dizzy. The grass was cold and wet with dew, but he didn’t care, embracing the chill rather than the fire he’d been so close to. He sank to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest.

Alex was gone.

And there was nothing Willie could do. 

He was heartbroken. He didn’t know Alex as well as he wanted to. He wanted to get to know every aspect of him, every quirk and flaw and edge, no matter what, but now he was gone, a memory floating away on a wind, gentle but cruel and unrelenting. Willie ducked his head into his knees, letting his emotions flow as he sobbed.

He was always a quiet crier, and it made him feel insignificant and forgettable. For once, though, he didn’t care. Let the universe forget him. Let him flow through the galaxy as nothing more than a speck, a dot on a timeline, a splash of color in an ever-growing sea of humanity. 

He cursed himself for falling in love so quickly, for not trying harder to get Alex to leave before the blast. He cursed himself for ever having met him at all, maybe then they’d both be alive, and it would be better in the long run. But nothing could ever be perfect. Willie knew that. So why, why did it hurt so badly when the one thing he knew would never work out ended so abruptly?

He tugged on the key on his necklace, the familiar grooves indenting his skin. He was shaking, the cold darkness like a blanket, fading as the sky gradually lightened, barely noticeable even as the sun began to paint the horizon with streaks of gold. 

Then, the impossible happened. At least, it should’ve been impossible.

He heard Alex calling his name.

He knew it couldn’t be real, but he couldn’t bring himself to care as his head snapped up, half-sure he was hallucinating. But Alex was running closer, and soon Willie was standing up, walking slowly, tentatively towards him, like if he moved too fast it might scare away the slim possibility that he was real, and not a cruel trick of the light.

It might’ve worked, too, because when he leaped into Alex’s hug, he didn’t phase through him, didn’t collapse back to the ground. Alex caught him, and Willie couldn’t tell if he was laughing or crying. Probably both, he decided as he wrapped his arms tighter around Alex’s back. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered shakily, feeling Alex’s head shake over his. 

“No,” he said. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was doing, I should’ve grabbed you and ran…” Then it was Willie’s turn to shake his head. His breath hitched as he realized just how close they were. He could’ve counted the faint freckles dotting the prince’s nose, traced constellations into his skin, searched his eyes for answers he didn’t know existed. 

And then, he kissed him. 

Willie had always thought that, when people described sparks flying during a kiss, they were exaggerating, but in that moment he realized that it was incredibly, beautifully real. Sparks flew from his heart, leaving flecks of light and euphoria on his skin. Alex’s lips were soft and warm over his, slick with tears. It was broken and imperfect, but Willie wouldn’t change a second of it.

When they came up for air, Willie was smiling, but more tears were rolling down his face. 

“When you weren’t with the survivors, I-” he choked off into another sob. “I thought I’d lost you,” he finally whispered. Alex shook his head, and Willie delved deeper into the embrace, memorizing every detail that he could, the way Alex’s hands felt on his back, the fabric of his suit, how his shoulder was perfectly level with Willie’s mouth.

“You’ll never lose me,” Alex whispered to him.

A few moments later, Willie breathed back, “I hope not.” 

[walkerwords]

“The Savior Sessions” Part 15 of 33 - Negan x GN!Reader

IMAGE CREDIT: AMC

SERIES MASTERLIST

Summary: What happens when a rider from Alexandria arrives with news from home? How does the reader react and what does Daryl think of it all. Then, when Alpha arrives at the gates, how will the group react when they discover that their enemy is much larger than they thought.

Word Count: 4827

Warning: Swearing

Song I Wrote To: “Start A War” by Klergy and Valerie Broussard

Note: Enter Alpha. I promise there will be a reunion in the next part, but whether it will be a nice one...i don’t know. Set during episode 9x11 ″Bounty”.

----------

The next time the doors opened at Hilltop, you expected to see Alden and Luke, but instead, you saw Scott entering on a horse with a concerned look on his face.

You were sitting with Daryl on a table a bit separate from the other residents of Hilltop, trying to brainstorm about what you were going to do with Lydia. 

"What's he doin' here?" Daryl asked, nodding his head towards Scott who was dismounting his horse.

"I don't know..." you said, just as confused. Tara was the one to meet him, gripping his hand tight. After sharing a quick hug, she pointed over at you and Daryl. Scott’s eyes found yours and he gave you a tight-lipped smile. You didn’t like the look of that.  Scott squeezed her shoulder before heading your way. Something told you that he wasn't there for a friendly catch up with distant friends. As he approached, he almost looked worried, you really didn't like that.

"Hey," he said and Daryl reached out to grip his hand in a friendly gesture. The two men smiled at each other, but then Scott looked at you and a coldness settled over you. 

"What's wrong?" you asked. "Is Michonne okay?" The last thing any of you needed was to be ambushed on the road by Lydia's mother and the rest of her so-called family.

"Michonne is fine," Scott assured you. "I was on my way here when I ran into them. They caught me up to speed on what happened. I'm on my way to Oceanside to inform Cyndie, and Michonne is going to send a rider to Kingdom. I'm so sorry about Jesus." You nodded, appreciating his condolences, but you knew there was more.

"Why were you on your way here? What happened at home?" you asked and Scott then began to wring his hands, something he always did when he was nervous. “Scott, tell me.”

"He got out," Scott said, “Negan, Negan got out of his cell.” And with those words, your world was pulled out from beneath you.

"What?" you asked, not quite registering what he was saying.

"The door to his cell was left unlocked and he escaped," he explained and you immediately went to defend yourself, but Scott was ahead of you. "We know it wasn't you, (Y/N). Gabriel was the last one to see him." Scott said, but Daryl was visibly confused. You, however, couldn't keep a single thought in your head before it went away and was replaced by another.

A feeling of almost betrayal washed over you and you nearly felt sick. You shoved it down before you could start tearing up, but it was almost too much. 

Negan had walked out on you. 

"Where's that son of a bitch now?" Daryl asked, bringing you back into your body.

"That's the weird thing," Scott said. “He came back." Your eyes shot back to his in shock.

"Excuse me?" you asked. Scott was chuckling under his breath.

"Yeah, confused the hell out of us, too. Just walked back in with Judith and said nothing as she took him back to the cell."

"What game is he playin'?" Daryl asked, but you couldn't, wouldn't, hear the answer. You got up from the table slowly.

"(Y/N)," Scott said, reaching for you. He was one of the people who had really seen the way you were with Negan and so he knew what this news would mean to you. "He's back now,” Scott assured you, but you didn’t want to hear it. 

“Does that matter?” you shot back. “He still left in the first place, didn’t he?

“I know, but something tells me he wasn’t planning to stay gone long.”

“So, what? He just decided to go for a stroll? Does anyone even know where the hell he went or even how he got over the damn wall? The armory was locked too so he couldn’t have gotten weapons. Unless he was in my house which means I will be killing him as I have told him many times not to touch my damn knives. Then again, he’s very resourceful and smart, but he hasn’t had to kill Walkers in a while. I mean, not since the night when the tree came down. I don’t understand why he would even—”

“(Y/N)!” Scott said as he grabbed you by your shoulders and you jolted in his grip. “Calm down,” he said softly. Scott was looking down at you with understanding in his eyes and it was making you even angrier. You knew that you were rambling, it was something you did when you got overwhelmed.

Negan always said that when you did it, it was as if you were on fast forward. 

"I need to not be here," you choked out as your heart felt like it was pressing against your ribs. You ignored their calls as you walked away. You didn’t have a destination in mind, but you needed to be alone. 

You found yourself at the stables and jogged up the steps and into the loft. Hay was piled up in the corner as you collapsed against it, bringing your knees up to your chest. You didn’t fight the tears this time. They dripped down your cheeks and onto the damp floor.

You knew he was back. Negan was back home and probably waiting for you, but he had still left. What hurt the most wasn’t the fact that he decided to finally break out, but because you thought that what the two of you had was enough. You knew that he hated being in that cell, but you were going to try to do something about that. There also wasn’t a day that you didn’t think about leaving that door open in hopes that he would be free too, but you also knew that there were too many factors. Michonne would never let him be free and if Maggie had ever found out, Negan would be hunted. 

“Foolish,” you whispered to yourself, scrubbing at your face. After everything you had lost, you thought at least that Negan was your new constant, but now? Now there was that level of uncertainty that just broke your heart. 

“(Y/N)?” Daryl asked as he came up the stairs. You hastily wiped your face as he appeared around the corner. 

“Go away,” you said, not looking at him. 

“Not happenin’,” he said as he took a seat across from you. “Will ya look at me?” he asked and you were still for just a moment before finally turning your eyes back to his. He noticed the expression on your face immediately. “What’s goin’ on? And tell me the truth, no more of this ‘later’ shit.”

“I can’t do this right now,” you said and you were starting to hate the phrase. 

“Well, yer gonna,” Daryl shot back. “Since when do ya lie to me?”

“Since when do you care?” you returned with just as much venom,

“Hey,” he said shortly. 

“You’ve been gone, Daryl,” you said.  “You don’t just get to jump back into my life like this and start demanding things. That’s not how this works.” He narrowed his eyes at you before relaxing into the hay at his back.

“You’re right,” he said. “I have been gone. I left ya, but I can still read ya like a damn book. So, why has this news about Negan got you all upset? Did he do somethin’ to ya? Did he hurt ya?”

“What? No!” you said, trying to diffuse his temper. “Nothin’ like that.”

“Then tell me,” he pleaded. You were trying to force the words out and you knew you had to tell him something. Jesus had been understanding, but this was Daryl and while he could always read you, sometimes he was impossible.

“We’ve grown closer,” you finally admitted. “Michonne and Gabriel asked me to speak with him. To make sure that he was still all there in his mind. Whether they had some kind of ulterior motive, I don’t know, but that’s how it started.”

“That’s how what started?” Daryl asked and you could hear some anger in his voice, but he was trying to remain calm for your sake. 

“Do I really have to explain it?” you challenged. 

“Maybe it’ll seem less insane if ya do,” Daryl said and you sighed. 

“I care about him, alright? I fucking care about Negan and he cares about me. I have feelings for the man. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Daryl was frozen as he stared at you. You cautiously looked at the blades in his belt, taking note that he hadn’t grabbed them yet. That seemed to be a good sign. 

“How did this happen?” Daryl simply said. Surprised that he didn’t immediately lash out, you began to tell him that had happened over the past couple of months. You poured your heart out to him and it felt...freeing. Daryl was quiet as you spoke, even moving over to your side so you could lean against him as you explained. 

He didn’t interrupt and he didn’t leave.

He was patient as you told him about everything that had grown between you and Negan. When you mentioned the night when Negan saved Judith, Daryl began to chew on his thumbnail which you knew he only did when he was either nervous or thinking. 

“He promised me that he would be waiting for when I got back,” you finished, your head on his shoulder. 

“He is,” Daryl pointed out softly. 

“Only after he realized he wouldn’t last more than a day outside our walls,” you scoffed.

“How do ya know that?” Daryl asked. “Ya don’t know why he went back, do ya?” You froze and then sat up in confusion. Daryl was looking at you with a stoic expression. “What?”

“Are you defending him?” you asked, surprised. Daryl sighed. 

“Nah, I hate the guy. You and Judith may be the only ones who don’t,” he said. “Doesn’t mean I want ya to be hurt over somethin’ stupid the asshole did, (Y/N). There’s a lot we ain’t know about him. Sometimes I thought he was gonna off himself just for the fun of it. If you’ve been able to get inside that thick skull and ya found somethin’ worth carin’ about, that’s yer business.” You gaped at him.

“Who are you and what have you done with Daryl Dixon?”

“Shut up,” Daryl scoffed.

“I mean it, what the hell? I have been terrified to come and see you because I thought you’d shoot me for even lookin’ at him for more than three seconds.” 

“I’d never shoot ya,” Daryl said. 

“You’d shoot him,” you pointed out. 

“Probably,” he admitted, “but I haven’t seen the son of a bitch since his ass got thrown in there. Yer a grown-ass adult, ya don’t need some kind of blessin’ from any of us. Ya wanna be with him, be with him, but it better be for the right reason. Not just cause ya wanna fix him.”

You were honestly in shock at his words. Perhaps both you and Negan had been too quick to jump the gun on what people would think. 

Then again, maybe Daryl was just trying not to set you off again. 

“Jesus said something similar to me earlier about nobody really knowing Negan beside what he let us see,” you said quietly. 

“Jesus knew?” Daryl asked. 

“I told him when we were looking for Eugene. I guess you and Jesus do know me better than I thought,” you said and then pause. “Knew,” you corrected. 

“He wouldn’t want ya to be sitting here like this,” Daryl said and then his hand drifted to your side where Paul’s sword rested. “M’glad Aaron gave you that.” 

“Why?” you asked. 

“Cause, Jesus knew the kind of person ya are. He recognized the warrior behind everything,” Daryl said. “He was a crazy son of a bitch, but when it came to readin’ people’s character, he was never wrong.” 

“Thanks, D,” you said, grabbing his hand and gripping it tightly.

“Look, I ain’t gonna pretend to understand what yer doin’ with Negan,” he explained, “but I just hope ya don’t forget who he was even if he’s different now.” You nodded, taking his words to heart. You would never forget the monster behind the man. Just as you would never forget who Daryl or Michonne were when you met them. Hell, even your own past haunted you. 

“I haven’t forgotten and I won’t, but I am not going to condemn him forever. If we did that, half the people in our lives wouldn’t be here,” you said. 

“Ya talkin’ about Carol?” he asked with amusement in his eyes. 

“You said it, not me,” you said with a jab to his shoulder. “No matter what we’ve done in the past and shit, I know we’ve done a lot, I just don’t want to use that as a death sentence. I think we’re better than that. We have to be.” Daryl looked thoughtful for a moment before sighing. 

“Fine, I’ll go along with it for now,” he said, “but if he hurts ya and I mean, really hurts ya, I’ll kill him.”

“I’ll let you know if it ever comes to that,” you said and he smiled softly at you. You then reached over and kissed the top of his head while messing his hair. “Thank you.”

“Just stop keepin’ things from me. We’ve been through too much shit together for that to happen.”

“I know and no more secrets. I promise,” you said. 

“Good.”

“Now, what are we gonna do about Lydia?” you asked, trying to divert the conversation. 

“I don’t know. I don’t like that she and Henry seem to be bonding. I don’t trust her,” Daryl admitted. 

“I don’t think we’re supposed to,” you said. Nothing about Lydia screamed trusting. However, after sleeping on it, you began to think that perhaps she was just what you had initially thought: a kid. While you still wanted to smack her at times, you were finally realizing that you have been too quick to judge. 

“Come talk to her with me?” he asked and you took the hand he offered as he hauled you up to your feet. 

----------

When you went to speak to the girl, hearing about the horror that was her mother was not what you expected. 

After Daryl had yelled at him about him telling Lydia about the Kingdom, Henry had convinced him to listen to Lydia and what she had been telling him before you and Daryl had barged in. Daryl had offered her medicine and after asking about Alden and Luke, he began asking her questions. 

You sat quietly next to him as they spoke. Lydia talked about what their life was like at the beginning of the end. The way she spoke about her mother sent chills down your spine. You knew about screwed up parents, as did Daryl, but this was a whole new level of crazy. 

Although, hearing her talk about her father was when you finally saw the kid behind the killer. Though, you still weren’t sure that Lydia was even a killer after all. Even so, you could tell by just the way Lydia recounted the events of her father’s death that he had been the abusive one first. Although, that didn’t make up for the fact that her mother was beating her now. 

You noticed the bruises before Daryl did and when you nodded towards them, that was when he went into protector mode. You knew that he still didn’t like her, but you knew that Daryl stood by the same code you and Negan did. 

You don’t hurt kids. 

“This place isn't real,” Lydia said as Daryl tried to convince her that Hilltop was safe. “The world changed, and you're all acting like it's gonna change back. My mom walks 'cause that's what the dead do. It's their world, and we have to live in it. And what my mom does, she does for a reason.” You shook your head at how much of an apologist Lydia had become for her abusive mother. 

“Your mom beats you because she loves you? That's bullshit,” you said, not believing it for a second. 

“No, it isn't. When you stay soft, people die,” Lydia argued. 

“There’s a difference,” you said. 

“Is there? Is that what you see when you look at yourself? I can see it in your eyes,” Lydia said. “You’re a killer. You may not know it, but one day you will be. You told me that you knew how monsters think,” Lydia leaned in towards the bars, “ever wonder why that is?” 

You stood from your seat, ignoring Daryl’s look as you stormed out of the cell. You didn’t need to hear that bullshit. You knew you were harder, colder these days, but you were not a monster. At least, that was what you kept telling yourself.

Daryl soon followed you out of the cellar. “What was that all about?” he asked. 

“Apparently Lydia pays more attention to what I say than I first thought.”

“Ya threatened her, didn’t ya?” he asked and you rolled your eyes.

“And you didn’t?” you countered. 

“We both know that our versions of threats are very different. I use blades, you use....psychological warfare,” he said with a look. 

“It works, doesn’t it?” you challenged and now it was his turn to roll his eyes. You were about to suck it up and go back into the cellar when Tara yelled for Daryl.

You and Daryl both looked at her in alarm as she waved you up to the watchpoint where she was standing with Magna. The two of you ran towards her, hauling yourselves up the rungs of the ladder.

When you got to the top, you finally saw what had gotten Tara so worried. Standing at the gates were members of Lydia’s family and in the lead was a woman who you immediately knew was Lydia’s mother. 

“She calls herself ‘Alpha’,” Magna whispered to you as Daryl stared down the woman, your hand was resting on your sword. 

“I show you my face because we mean you no harm. I just want my daughter. I know you have her,” Alpha said to Tara who didn’t take her eyes off of her enemy.

“You should turn around,” Tara warned. “Leave now and no one gets hurt.”

“Wrong answer!” bellowed Alpha as more masks came out of the trees and approached. Kelly, who was next to you was shaking. 

“What’s wrong?” you asked. 

“Connie is in the field,” she whispered. Your eyes instantly searched for her sister and fear settled in your stomach. 

“They don't see her. Least not yet,” you assured Kelly as you gripped her shoulder, trying to reassure her. 

“That girl told me what her mom does to her. We ain't sending her back to that,” Daryl added as Enid arrived on the platform, and in her hands was Daryl’s crossbow. She gave it to him and he instantly loaded it. 

“Yeah, but what if she has Alden and Luke? Pissing her off can get them killed,” Enid added as she moved to your side. “They killed Jesus, Tara.”

“I know,” Tara whispered and then turned to speak to Alpha again. “Did you kill our friends? We found their horses.”

“No,” Alpha said. “Which one of you leads these people?”

“The hell does that matter?” challenged Daryl.

“Then I'll just address all of you. Your people crossed into our land. There will be no conflict. Your people killed our people. There will be no conflict. I'm done talkin'. Bring me my daughter, or there will be conflict,” she threatened and you decided then that if it came down to it, you would gladly kill this woman. 

“No one touches the girl,” Daryl said. “The last thing I am doin’ is sending her back to that. No matter who she is.” 

“I agree,” Enid said. Daryl then turned to you and held out his bow. You raised a brow as you took it. 

“What do you want me to do with this?” you asked.

“I’m gonna go talk to her, but I need eyes up top. You’re a sniper, (Y/N),” he reminded you, “be a sniper.” You gripped the crossbow tighter as he began to climb down the ladder. Enid gave you an encouraging smile, but you were feeling nervous already. 

You moved on autopilot, going to kneel down next to Kelly and open the small window Diane had cut out for her bow. It was the perfect size to stay somewhat hidden and defended. You were decent with the crossbow, but you desperately wished for a rifle. 

“You can do this,” Enid said as she stood behind you with the binoculars, keeping an eye on the surroundings as you trained the sight on Alpha. You didn’t know if you could make a kill shot from that distance, but you could surely injure her if you needed to. That offered you some comfort. 

As you crouched, your mind drifted back home to Negan. You needed him right now as much as you were pissed at him. He could always keep you calm and you hadn’t had to slip into the sniper role since the end of the war with his people. Having a long-distance weapon in your hands felt too foreign. You took a deep breath and tried to focus. 

You watched as Daryl approached the gate and you couldn’t hear exactly what he was saying, but you knew Daryl was not going to back down. He had faced down enemies before and won. Although, you knew that these masked enemies were more terrifying than anything you had faced. 

“They’re just people,” Yumiko said who had come up behind Magna.

“Psychotic people,” Magna added. Suddenly, the sharp cries of a baby echoed across the field. 

“What the hell?” Enid asked, her eyes glued to the mask that was holding the struggling infant. Daryl must have said something then because two more of Alpha’s people came forward as they dragged two more. When they pulled the masks from their captives, Enid gasped. 

It was Alden and Luke.

Your finger twitched on the trigger of the crossbow. These people had already taken one of your people and now they held two more at knifepoint without hesitation. You were seeing red and just for a second, you nearly squeezed and took her out. You wanted her to burn and you wanted her to suffer, but a voice in your head made you pause. 

Negan had once told you, “I think we both know that you are the lesser of two evils in this situation.” You held onto that as your hand relaxed. Nobody knew what exactly these people were capable of let alone what their true numbers were. 

“Steady,” you said to yourself as you breathed evenly. You nearly yelled, however, when the mask with the child, placed it on the ground and walked away as Walkers approached. “No,” you said, staring at the baby with horrified eyes. 

The Dead were beginning to stumble towards the baby and you trained the bow on them, ready to take your shot when suddenly, Connie burst from the field. Kelly jumped as her sister fought her way towards the baby. It was then that you realized Daryl was gone. You could hear him below giving out orders, but you didn’t move. You weren’t going to give Alpha a single chance to make a move without you knowing. 

Although, your focus was cut short when you heard a quick whistle behind you. Turning, you saw Daryl who was looking up at you with a pissed expression. He then shook his head and you knew what had happened. Lydia was gone. 

“Shit,” you swore. 

“What is it?” Enid asked. 

“The kid is gone.” Enid was quiet for a moment before she shook her head.

“I think I know where they went,” she said as she headed for the ladder. “Don’t take your eyes off of her.” You nodded as she disappeared off the platform. This was either going to go very well or end in a fight and you didn’t know which one you’d rather prefer.

---------

You didn’t know how long it was that you stayed glaring at Lydia’s mother. 

There had been so many enemies and battles in the past, but there was something about these masks that felt different. They were ruthless like the cannibals at Terminus but calculated like the Saviors. Alpha reminded you of a wild animal a lot like the Wolves, but with a bigger bite. She also demanded respect like the Governor and you had never wished for Rick more. 

Grimes wouldn’t have let her get this far. Not after losing Jesus, not after what happened to Rosita and Eugene. Even with Negan’s new outlook on life, you also knew that he wouldn’t have allowed it either and if it wasn’t for Lydia, Daryl would have taken the shot too. There were too many factors and you didn’t know which one to focus on. 

You were beginning to get very nervous. If Lydia wasn’t found soon, you were going to have to watch Alden die and Luke as well who you had begun to like for the short time you had known him. Then there was Connie. You didn’t know where she was or if the baby was safe. You were in your nest alone while your family hunted down a couple of teenagers because you knew that Henry had gone with her. He was incredibly loyal, just like his dad. 

Though, you had a feeling that Ezekiel would have a few choice words for his son when it came to who he hung out with. “This was so much easier when he just had a crush on Enid,” you grumbled as noticed more Walkers approaching. Diane who was on the other side of the watch glanced at you with worry, but you signaled for her to be calm.

Walkers were easy as long as you knew that there were in fact Dead. Hilltop had dealt with worse hordes before. Alpha was the problem right now and you weren’t going to give her an inch. 

When the gates of Hilltop opened again, you were almost shocked to see that Lydia was walking out with Daryl. Neither of them looked as if they were happy about what was happening, but still, Lydia walked to her mother as Masks shoved Alden and Luke forward. 

You could practically see Daryl fuming as Alpha smacked her child and then hauled her away along with the rest of her people. Daryl didn’t move until they were out of sight. As soon as Alpha blended in with the trees, you finally relaxed. Your body was cramped as you lay back on the platform, the crossbow falling to your side. 

You could hear the cheerful reunions going on below you and eventually, you pulled yourself up and climbed down to join them. You then spotted Connie who was hugging Kelly and you relaxed a bit more. You found Daryl immediately. You handed him his bow which he slung over his shoulder. 

“Thanks for havin’ my back,” he said. 

“I get why we had to do it,” you said. “But it doesn't make it okay.”

“I never said it did,” Daryl said and you could tell he was thinking about Lydia.

“I gotta go home, D,” you said and he nodded, expecting this. 

“I know,” he said. “I need you there, too. Check on the kids and let Michonne know what’s goin’ on.”

“You’re going after her, aren’t you?” you asked, but you already knew. It was Daryl and he was always going to do the right thing. 

“I have to,” he said. With a sigh, you pulled him in for a hug, squeezing him tight. 

“Get her back and keep yourself alive,” you said and then took a step back. “Also know that if it came down to it, I’ll keep her safe.”

“A day ago you were ready to feed her to Walkers,” he pointed out. 

“I’ve learned a lot about anger lately,” you said. “Being blinded by rage never helps.” You gripped his shoulder and turned to go grab your things. 

“(Y/N),” Daryl called. 

“Yeah?”

“I hope ya know what yer doin’ with him,” Daryl said.

“I’m not sure of anything, but I’m working on it. We can’t lose everyone, Daryl. Go get her and try not to die. I’m not willing to lose another brother.” Daryl nodded, taking your words to heart.

“I’ll see ya soon,” he said. You didn’t answer him as you walked away. War was coming and you knew that to win it, you would need Negan. You just hoped that others would feel the same because if they didn’t, more people were going to die.

TAGS:  : amaroho  @thanossexual @yes-sir-hotchner @boom-bunny @delusionalteenagewhispers @scootankle @ritajammer21​ @writteriguess @tea-atfive @jennydehavilland​ @halszka-potter​ @yespleasejayhalstead​ @fmunegan @hoemadegrace  @pulplorrd​ @writingdead0829​ @lucillethings

[cals-sunflower]

the heart you broke (l.h)

summary: the one insecurity you have in your relationship with luke is brought up in a heated argument.

-

the sound of the door opening and closing made you grin to yourself knowing that your boyfriend was finally home. you hadn’t seen him since the morning when he kissed your head and mumbled an i love you before he left for the studio.

“there’s my favorite girls,” petunia’s head lifted up at luke’s voice and walked over to greet him. he bends down to give him some kisses and pets before sitting on the couch next to you. “hiya babe, how was the studio?”

“it was fantastic baby! we finally finished the album and i can’t wait for you to hear it at the listening party,” he rests a hand on your thigh leaning back with his head on the wall, “how was your day honey?”

“first of all i’m proud of you guys because i know how hard you guys worked for this album. it makes me happy to see you happy and my day was okay i guess. watched more criminal minds episodes and cuddled with piggy,” you nodded your head towards the tv that had a paused screen of the show.

“gosh i missed you,” he nuzzles his head into your neck placing small kisses to the exposed skin. “you’ve been away from me for a few hours lu. you make it sound like you haven’t seen me in years,” giggling while he now moved to place kisses all over your face.

“a few hours too long my love,” luke pecks your lips once more and leans away from you to give you space. “watch the show with me?” his phone rang loudly not giving him a chance to reply to you.

“hey ash what’s up?” seeing ashton’s face pop up on the screen. “hi ash! miss you and congratulations on finishing the album.”

“thanks y/n! it means a lot and i called to ask you guys and tell you everyone is going out in honor of finally being done with another album. wanted to see if you were coming or not.”

“yeah, we’re gonna be there mate. it’s about time we let lose after being so stressed out,” you freeze at luke’s words. you never were the one for going out to the club, not liking all the sweaty bodies and feeling closed in.

“sounds great, we’re going to the usual spot. see you then mate!” luke bids his goodbye with ashton turning to you after hanging up. “um lu babe, you know the club isn’t really my thing,” you were uncomfortable having this conversation because it’s not like he didn’t know how much you don’t enjoy being at the club. it was different at listening parties or parties at the houses because you pretty much knew everyone and felt safer.

“i know princess but promise you’ll think about going? we have a few hours before having to go and it would be greatly appreciated if you’re there celebrating with me,” he rubs your thigh with his thumb giving you a small smile.

“sure, i’ll think about it babe.”

“great now let’s watch criminal minds.”

-

you knew he was upset as he took glances at you sitting on the bed with his shirt on not moving a muscle to get ready to go.

“so you’re not going?” you shook your head sadly at him. “yeah of course you’re not.”

“what the hell is that supposed to mean?” you thought he’d at least be a bit more understanding but that wasn’t the case at all. “you do this shit all the time y/n.”

“well what’s wrong with that?” your brows furrowed which seemed to fuel his fire even more. “imagine having a boring fucking girlfriend who wants to stay inside all the time. you literally go to work, come home and follow the same routine everyday,” you felt your anger level rising not understanding where this was coming from and why he was talking to you with such hostility.

“i’m fucking sorry that i don’t feel comfortable. quit being a dick about it.” this lead you guys into spiting words you didn’t mean at each other and yelling at each other. why was he being a completely different luke than he was a few hours ago?

“at least sierra wouldn’t be a homebody,” he runs his hand into his golden curls, “she’d be out there celebrating with us unlike you.”

“well go fucking call her then! if you miss her so much,” your breathing was uneven but you refused to notice how you were on a thin thread of crying. “yeah maybe i will, then maybe i’ll finally be the fuck away from you,” the venom in his tone left a bitter taste in your mouth. with that he grabbed his jacket and phone, stomped his feet downstairs and slammed the door.

you slide your back to the wall and pulled your knees up to your chest. you replayed all of his words and started self doubting. had you really been that annoying to him for following your daily routine? did he really think you were boring? and was he still in love sierra? you didn’t notice you were crying until the first tear drop landed on your hand leading you to cry harder.

-

not knowing how you ended up at sierra’s house, you closed your car door and walked up to her door knocking on it lightly. of course you’ve been over here at a party she hosted and you always thought she was more of luke’s type. confident, bubbly, social and outgoing but he resured you that they were nothing but friends. now you weren’t so convinced he wasn’t still in love with her.

“y/n? what’s wrong?” sierra looks at your face seeing the puffy tear stained eyes and red nose. “i don’t mean to bother you but luke is still in love with you. he basically confirmed it without saying so tonight before he left and i don’t wanna stand in front of his happiness,” you felt your cheeks heat up and your heart pounded coming to the conclusion luke no longer wanted you.

“wait what? i’m not understanding, did you wanna come in to cool down?”

“no no, just wanted to um let you know so you guys can be happy again. it’s obvious he’s not as happy with me and i should have knew that. i mean look at you, who would honestly pick me over you,” you lifted your head up to give her a sad smile before walking away despite her calling out your name.

she watched your car leave and felt panicked. not knowing what to do sierra rushed to grab her phone and call luke. no answer, so she calls all the boys until calum finally answers.

“hey sierra? you okay?”

“listen to me, did luke tell you guys anything that happened?”

“with y/n? yeah he said that they got into an argument before he came here. why’d you ask?” sierra felt awful knowing that he probably said something about her to you.

“i think he compared me to y/n. she was just here a few minutes ago telling me that she didn’t want to stand in front of luke’s happiness and that he was still in love with me which i know isn’t true.”

“are you kidding me? we have to get in touch with her, i’ll call you back,” she sits with her phone in hand wondering what in the hell lead him to compare you to her.

-

“we have to go like now. luke your girlfriend went to sierra’s and told her you were still in love with her,” luke was confused about why you even did that until it hit him that it was his fault. the color drained from his face now realizing the weight of his words. luckily none of them started drinking so michael grabbed the keys and lead the boys to the car.

“call y/n ash, make sure she’s okay,” ashton nodded dialing your number.

“hi ash, is everything okay?” everyone could hear your small sniffles.

“hey kid, where are you?”

“i’m at home but i’m packing up my stuff. i thought you guys were at the club, no?” luke’s heart beats faster at the thought of you leaving because he doesn’t want you to leave. he doesn’t know why those words came out of his mouth, he didn’t mean them whatsoever.

“are you going to tell me why you’re packing or-“

“me and luke had an argument about how i didn’t feel comfortable going out but didn’t want to stop him obviously. some words were said back and forth until he said that sierra wouldn’t have stayed at home. so i told him to call her if he missed her so much and then he said that he would and he’d finally be away from me. not to mention he said that i was boring. so i figured that was the end of our relationship, you know?”

luke wanted to scream that it wasn’t true and if he could take it back he would. he loved you so much despite being together for only five months. he didn’t know what to say and it bothered him knowing he hurt you and didn’t think about it.

“doll you know that’s not true, right? luke loves you so much-“

“yeah but not as much as sierra. ash i want him to be happy and i didn’t realize how unhappy he was with plain old me. i try so hard to be outgoing but i’m just naturally an introvert. but ash i have to go, i love you and please don’t tell luke. i’ll most likely be gone before he comes back,” ashton tries to get you to not hang up but it was too late.

-

when they opened the door they seen your suitcase in front of it. you walked in the living room with a duffel bag and paused upon seeing the four australian men standing there with sad eyes. “what are guys doing here?”

“babe,” you winced at the nickname feeling yourself about to cry once more tonight. “please don’t say it. i already know.” luke steps forward towards you but you backed up keeping the space between the two of you.

“you don’t know. i’m sorry i made you feel this way, you know i love you. i didn’t mean it and I don’t know why i even said it,” you shake your head looking down.

“luke please it’s okay and i understand. i want you to be happy even if it’s not with me.”

“but honey, i’m so happy being with you and love coming home to you,” luke’s eyes began watering feeling like a terrible person for ever saying something like that. he didn’t know just how insecure you were when it came to sierra and that past relationship. they watched as you leaned down to kiss petunia on the head and give her a little scratch.

“i’ll miss you baby, i love you so much,” you stood up and then kissed luke’s cheek. “thank you for making me incredibly happy for the past few months. i wish you well luke,” he tried protesting for you to stop but you didn’t want him to see you cry so you grabbed your bags and walked to your uber that pulled up not too long ago. and just like that you were gone. luke had lost you and he didn’t know what to do.

“guys, i fucked up and now she’s actually gone,” the tears that had rested in his eyes fell down freely knowing you removed yourself out over an argument. he compared you to his ex and it’s all his fault you were gone.

[sarcastically-defensive17]

might be a weird request but an angsty fic of calum & reader r dating at a party but cal’s been givin the silent treatment cuz the reader did smth clumsy and cal got mad & they argue & at the party a drunk dude is all on her & she’s tipsy/mad/throws a drink on him & ends up bein a big fight & the band hears & sees the guy slap her causing calum go crazy feels guilty bc he wasn’t with her & the band protect her & kicks him out, fluff at the end insp: snooki getting slapped on jersey shore djjdkd

Fine - C. Hood

TRIGGER WARNING: NON CONSENSUAL SEXUAL TOUCHING AND VIOLENCE. PLEASE DO NOT READ IF THIS COULD TRIGGER YOU BECAUSE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT!!

I love this idea and I had to watch that video like seven times to get inspiration. I hope you like it! I couldn’t think of a plot for so long!

Original story by sarcastically-defensive17

There was something off with Calum. No rhyme, no reason, no explanation for his bad attitude, just random bursts of anger that led to venomous words falling off of his tongue.

Y/N hadn’t seem him actually happy in a while, and she had no idea what caused his outbursts.

She had been dealing with it, but the more he snapped, the harsher he was. She was starting to really dislike being around him, even more so, being at their shared house.

She had a breaking point, but he hadn’t yet hit it, until one Thursday night she had the girls over while the guys had a night out.

The wine had been passed around and they were all a little buzzed by the time the men returned home.

Shit truly hit the fan when Y/N gestured widely with her glass in hand.

She was always a clumsy person, that was no secret, and usually Calum would tolerate it with a smile on his face.

Until she spilled red wine all over Ashton’s white shirt. Everybody laughed it off, except for Y/N.

She rushed around trying to get the liquid out of the shirt it threatened to stain, and the minute her hands lingered on Ashton’s chest for a minute too long, Calum’s insecurities went haywire.

But in true Calum fashion, he refused to mention it to her until she noticed he was giving her the silent treatment after everybody had left for the night.

“Okay, enough,” she threw the cloth she was holding. “What have I done wrong now?”

Her tone was stern. She was sick of his random outbursts and bouts of silence. She didn’t deserve to be treated that way and she was determined to let him know that.

“Nothing,” came his curt response as he directed a look towards her that told her not to push it.

But she was never one for listening.

“No, Calum. I’m sick of this.” Her jaw was set as she folded her arms across her chest.

He let out a snide laugh, and her heart sank at the sound.

She had no idea what had gotten into Calum, but she really hated it. He was a boatload of insecurities and he took them all out on her.

“What do you have to be sick of? You sure looked fine when you were all over my best mate,” he rolled his eyes, setting his jaw to match hers.

“You’re joking!” She laughed louder than she should have, completely intent on reciprocating the sarcasm dropping from his tongue. “I was trying to clean his shirt, but oh no, I’m guessing in your mind, I want him!”

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” he mumbled under his breath, turning to walk away from her.

“What did you just say?” She gaped.

He was scared of losing her. It was no excuse, but he was so terrified of her finding love in another and it made his insecurities flare up. He had been hurt many times before, and he was preparing himself for the worst.

He just didn’t realize how far he was pushing her.

She grabbed onto his shoulder and spun him around to face her.

“What did you say,” she spoke through a clenched jaw. She had enough. She was sick of being made to feel as if she couldn’t be around any other male.

“I said, it wouldn’t surprise me,” he spat and he watched as her face fell slightly.

She shook her head, puffing her cheeks as she did so.

“You are ridiculous, Calum.” Her hands were on her hips and her brows were set in fury, “So first, it was random bullshit that you had a bad day and decided to take it out on me, then you were jealous, and now you’re accusing me of wanting to be with somebody else?”

Her eyes were wide and he offered her no answer, instead choosing to clench and un-clench his jaw while looking anywhere but at her.

“News flash, Calum!” She was shouting now. It wasn’t the first time he had accused her of something similar, “I’m not going to cheat on you, or leave you or whatever! You can trust me!”

He wanted to feel sad, almost hurt that he caused such pain to seep into her tone, but all he saw was red.

“How can I trust you? How can I trust you when you were all over him tonight? Huh?”

The limit was hit. She couldn’t take it anymore.

“Fine, you don’t trust me, then get out.”

There was no room for argument. She disappeared upstairs as he scoffed behind her, collecting a bag full of his clothes and throwing it out onto the front lawn.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Y/N. I’m not leaving,” his heart started to hammer along in his chest.

She was calm. A scary sort of calm that sent sweat pooling on his heavy palms.

“I’m not staying in a house with somebody who can’t trust me, Calum.” She blinked, grabbing his keys and snatching the door to their house off of the ring before tossing the car keys to him. “Get out.”

They went back and forth until ultimately, Calum was knocking on Michael’s front door with tears in his eyes.

She was beyond angry with Calum and in pain over the argument with Calum. They hadn’t spoken since.

Unfortunately, the same weekend after she kicked him out, the guys and their significant others were at her house for a celebratory party.

One of their songs had become number 1 in some country. She was far too tired to remember. Especially after Calum had walked in.

She expected to see him, but she didn’t expect the pain that came along with the sight of her boyfriend.

Thankfully, there were more than enough people to successfully help her evade him, but not enough to keep her away from the man who wouldn’t stop chatting her ears off.

His name, Steve maybe? She couldn’t remember. The amount of alcohol running through her veins made sure of it, and she was sure she stopped his intoxicated chatter at least 5 times to ask him for his name.

In her drunken state she managed to catch Calum’s eyes from across the room and she saw his flare once he saw the man standing beside her.

Fingers clicking in her face pulled her attention away from her boyfriend.

“Are you even listening?” A gruff voice asked. It wasn’t the attractive kind of gruffness, like how Calum’s voice is when he first wakes up, but more of a voice tainted by years of cigarette smoke, and alcohol abuse, following a naturally irritating tone.

She smiled at him, intending to return to politely listening to him ramble about his high paying but low effort job.

“Sorry, I saw somebody and got distracted,” she slurred, leaning against the table and rubbing her head. Unknowingly giving the man a perfect view of her cleavage if he were to look hard enough.

A gross smirk worked onto his face and Y/N jumped as his hand connected with her backside.

“Excuse me-“

“Let’s go up to a room, yeah?” His eyes were heavy, and she flinched as he wrapped an arm round her shoulder, roughly groping the flesh he has clasped in his other hand.

“No thank you, I have a boyfriend,” she dug her heels into the ground as he tried to pull her along with him, and she could faintly see Calum’s eyes bore into the two of them.

The man scoffed, “And? I’ve got a dog at home but I still gave the little rat you’ve got upstairs a pat.”

“What did you just say about Duke?” Her anger intensified, her drunken state more worried about defending her dog than focusing on his sleezy proposition.

His hands moved up her waist, brushing her boobs as they continued up.

She shivered at the contact, feeling sick to her stomach.

“Get your hands off of me, you dog hater!” without thinking, she lifted the hand she held her cup in and threw it in the mans face.

He went silent for a moment, barely allowing her heart to beat once before she connected with the ground. Her cheek was throbbing, tears pricking her eyes.

She could barely register the commotion around her, as a head of brown curls flew towards the man and tackled him to the ground.

Three more figures rushed to pull him off of the man, and she couldn’t stop herself from clambering towards him when she saw it was Calum.

Ashton grabbed the man by the neck, dragging him towards the front of the house as Luke yelled at everybody to leave.

“It’s okay, love. I’ve got you,” Calum cooed.

She could barely think of why she was mad at him. In that moment, all she could focus on was the pain in her cheek and the feeling of his arms around her.

He ordered somebody to bring him ice, before pulling her up the stairs to their bedroom. The same one she had slept in on her own for the past couple of nights.

Except for whoever delivered the ice, they were alone in the room. Duke worked his way onto the bed to lay in his owners lap as Calum inspected her face.

“M’sorry,” she whispered into the air, her head feeling as if it were swaying. The ache intensifying from where she hit the ground.

“What for, baby?” He asked, pressing a package of frozen peas to her cheek.

“That guy touched me. Maybe he thought that I want to cheat on you like you do,” she was slurring her words. The whiskey in her blood was not doing her any favors as she tried to communicate with her boyfriend. “I don’t want to cheat on you. I love you too much, you insecure bastard.”

He snorted at the seriousness in her tone. She was observing him with a purpose.

Her mouth was moving, lacking the filter provided from her brain.

“How could anybody want to cheat on you? Have you seen you? You’re hot as fuck.” Her words were slightly muffled by the bag of peas. “I’m sorry I ruined the party. I didn’t want him to hit me.”

Calum put his hands on either side of her face, making sure to watch her cheek.

“Baby, you didn’t ruin the party.”

“But everybody left-“

“And? I don’t care about everybody else,” Calum’s eyes bore into her bleary ones, and he struggled to think of why he felt so insecure in their relationship. “I care about you, and only you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there with you tonight, love. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you.”

He truly felt horrible. If he were with her, he could have kept her safe. He could have kept that sleezy guy away from her. Kept his hands off of her.

“S’okay, Cal.” She grinned behind the bag of peas, “You showed him whose boss!”

Her drunken state wasn’t the most ideal for them to discuss the issue of the past few weeks, but he made a note to do so in the morning.

He knew deep in his heart that she loved him, and it was about time he grew up and put trust into her as she did with him.

“I’m sorry he touched me,” she pouted looking down at her body. “His hands felt gross. Yours are better.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, pulling her close to him.

“He won’t touch you again, baby. I promise you.”

“Thank you, macho man,” she relaxed against him, letting her eyes fall shut with a sigh. “I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”

“Also,” she sat up, letting the bag fall from her face. “If you tell me you don’t trust me again, then you can walk that fine ass out the door and I’m keeping our son.”

He chuckled softly at her, ignoring the twinge in his heart at the reminder of his disgusting words.

“Okay, Lizzo. I promise, I trust you,” she kissed him quickly, pulling back to let him continue talking. “My fine ass isn’t going anywhere unless your fine ass is right beside me, promise.”

“I do have a fine ass, don’t I?” She beamed at him.

[heartbreakgrill]

That Smile; Luke Hemmings, Pt. 4

description: in which songwriting is over, but there’s still lyrics left to be written.

a/n: FINISHED SERIES

You glared at the wall across from you, fist clenched in your lap, teeth grinding together. The bass bounced from wall to wall in the studio, in tune with your fast-beating heart. You resisted the urge to scream, to curse the world, to quit your job and move to western France with all ties cut to anyone you ever knew.

Especially him. His stupid face was grinning at the carpet, skinny jeaned legs crossed over one another boot clad foot bouncing in the air. His hair was ruffled, messy from running his hands through it time and again, pushed behind his ears by a pen on his left side. Those stupidly gorgeous blue eyes were trained on the floor, too, almost nervous to meet anyone’s eyes.

They wrote a song without you- well, Luke wrote it, he even composed all of the instruments. Then, while you were working with another client for a grudging week, they recorded it. Now, they were playing it for you with proud shoulders, like, “Look! We can do it without you!”

This was your last week together. After a little over six months of bonding, partying, drinking, falling, and, yes, songwriting, it was coming to an end. You had never grown so close to a set of clients before, and you were terrified at how much it was going to hurt, saying goodbye. You hadn’t spoken to Luke since the week prior to your absence. You texted in the group chat about a few ideas, spoke to Calum both on the phone and in real life, and had even gone on a double date with Michael, Crystal, and a god-awful redhead. Ashtons girlfriend had taken friendly to you after a few mores parties, so youd even seen her for lunch and shopping with Crystal a few times.

But, he just wouldn’t speak to you.

You didn’t know why. You racked your brain for reasons and answers, afraid to even ask the questions. He averted his gaze when you looked his way, shrugged off your compliments on his outfit or lyrics, hadnt even liked your latest Instagram post. You were craving for his attention, pushing up at the universe which was destroying your year.

Two heartbreaks, and it had only been six fucking months.

Calum, who was sitting next to you- of course- tapped his fingers against your wrist to get your attention. You looked away from Luke, who looked back at you. He was disappointed to see you staring at Calum, a small smile lifting the corner of your lips. You murmured something, Calum smiled, and you looked back to Luke.

He went to look away, but simply couldn’t. He was avoiding your pretty face because he wanted to get detached before he had to say goodbye entirely. He knew you guys could hang out, and you were planning to come to Ash’s next weekend, but it wouldn’t be like it had been weeks before he got your confession. Plus, he was going home to Australia for a month or two, before the album was released, tour started, so his heart could mend.

He loved you, and you loved somebody else.

“So?” Ashton spun around in the studio’s chair, cheeks pudgy with a smile, “What do you think?”

You looked away from Luke, “Oh, it was really good. Really...good. What’re you gonna call it?”

Luke felt brave energy on the tip of his tongue. “Why wont you love you,” he said, directly into your gaze.

You furrowed your brows, your head tilting involuntarily. “Wh-“

“Yeah, we think were done now. That was the last song were gonna have on the record.” Michael interrupted without even meaning to.

“So today is your last day?” Your breath hitched, eyes already bleary with goodbyes.

Calum slung an arm around your shoulder and pulled you into his side, “Yeah. It is.”

You leaned into him without even meaning to, but Luke noticed. His bravery turned to venom, dripping off his frowning lips when he stood, headed for the door, and said, “Better get to confessing, Y/N.”

You stared at his empty seat, cheeks pink with embarrassment and sadness. Calum’s eyes screwed up with confusion, “What?”

Ashton and Michael looked towards you as you bent at the waist, cradled your torso. Calum got a better hold on you, hugging you as you began to cry. Ashton joined him on the other side, sitting on the arm of the couch. He rubbed your back, pushing hair out of your face.

Michael spoke, “What does he mean by confessing?”

“God,” you wiped at your cheeks, “God, I’m sorry.”

“What?” Ashton inquired.

You sat up a little bit because your chest hurt so badly, “I lied to Luke and told him I was in love with Calum because I love Luke and I didn’t want to make things weird. It was after my boyfriend broke up with me, so I was scared, and tired and my heart hurt so bad. And now Ill never see him again because he’s going back to Australia. And he didn’t even tell me that! He told Calum! Calum told me, and I feel stupid.”

Calum chuckled, sharing a knowing look with Michael, “Y/N, you dont have to apologize for defending yourself. You deserve the right to.”

“Yeah, its just human nature. Plus, I’m not sure it would make things weird,” Michael pursed his lips with quirked brows.

You looked up, “What?”

“Y/N, are you still scared?” Ashton playfully pinched your arm, smiling down at you when your eyes flickered to his.

“Tired?” Calum squeezed you in his arm.

“N-no, I’m just sad,” you admitted and pushed your hair back behind your ears.

Calum helped pull you from the couch, Michael gathered your things into your bag, and Ashton handed you Luke’s abandoned hoodie. Calum spoke as it happened, “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to freak you out or scare you, but his plane leaves in six hours. Ill send you his address-“

“I did you one better; Its in your Google maps,” Michael grinned like a child when your head popped out of Luke’s sweater, which Calum had pulled over your head.

You looked to Calum, confused, “Its raining, dont want you to be cold.”

“Get to his place, Y/N, drive safely, but drive quickly. Get there and tell him before its too late,” Ashton hugged you tightly.

Michael did, too, and, finally, Calum squeezed you in his arms. “Go, on, then.”

You hesitantly stepped towards the door, a small smile meeting your eyes, “Yeah?”

They nodded before you turned on your heel, taking off like a bat out of hell.

As you drove, it all began to make sense. The song he wrote, the way he looked you in the eyes and told you what it was called. The way he held you after you got sick, the way he looked at you when you were with Calum. The longing in his eyes when he saw you leaving the studio, at parties when you were dancing. He’d dance with a few times, but when youd get too close, he would linger away, deflated, defeated, and alone.

The way he smiled at you.

-

When you arrived, the rain slowed to a drizzle. Your name was still on the guards checklist, and he pointed you towards Luke’s house with ease. You quickly texted Calum you were there before turning off the car and abandoning your phone on the passenger seat. You jogged to his front door, stopped with your fisted hand against it.

Your eyes shut, rain falling from your eyelashes and hairline like tears. With three rasps on the door with your knuckles, you stepped back. The door hesitantly opened- he must have seen you in the peep hole. His eyes racked your body, almost smiling when he saw his damp hoodie clinging to your frame, before he met your eyes.

“Y/N, I’m sorr-“

“No, okay?” You stopped him with your hands and voice, “Just, no. Don’t speak, just let me get this out, okay? Luke, I am sorry for lying to you. I dont love Calum, unless you count as a friend. He is an amazing guy, but, Luke, he’s not you.”

Lukes eyes widened, their familiar blue color shining down at you.

“I have denied my feelings for so long because I am so afraid of you. You are tall, and so sweet, and insanely talented. And you look like fucking Aphrodite. You’ve been with so many pretty girls, so many talented, pretty girls who just- I dont look like them. Plus, I was scared because I was broken up with and, even though I’d lost feelings, it just hurts knowing someone doesnt want you anymore. I-I, dont know, I think I was just holding myself back because. There’s no reason, just because. I know I’m not a size 0 and I know I’m crazy loud and I get drunk sometimes and I can be kinda annoying, but, Luke, I never want you to sing Why Won’t You Love Me? and think of me. I want you to sing Valentine and Better Man and just think of me.”

Luke stepped forward, enveloped your hips in his hands. You pressed yourself against his chest before he responded, “Those size 0 girls just aren’t you, either, Y/N. They’re not loud or crazy or, yeah, even annoying. They dont make my heart leap when they sing or my fucking head spin when they laugh or look at me. You make me smile so much more than they could. Fuck fear, Y/N, just let go and give into it. There’s nothing to be worried about because I will be there to catch you, okay? I cant just think about when singing those songs, though. Y/N, you are in my head all damn day, it’s fucking grueling because I just want to hold you in my arms and kiss you all the damn time.”

“Then do it.”

When he pulled away from you, eyes screwed shut in overwhelming joy and satisfaction, that damn smile was grazing his lips. You kissed it off of him, clutching at his shoulders before your hands moved around to the buttons on his shirt.

“Gonna invite me in?” You whispered against his lips, squealing when he lifted you in the air and pulled you inside.

TAG LIST: @oopsiedoopsie23 @pixiiiiee @kingxnichole

[peachyaone]

Lonely Heart

Pairings: Lierra x OC

Iris was drinking shot after shot at the bar, she couldn't remember how much but she knew that it was a lot due to the state she was in right now. Amera, who was her friend that happened to work at the bar, was looking at where she was sitting. They were concerned for Iris, knowing that they would have to stop serving her soon, as Ashton told them that Iris had an addiction to drinking and it would be dangerous for her to keep going like that. Her bandmates left for a early night, after Iris convincing them that she’ll be alright by her own. They called an Uber to pick Iris up and send her home. "Come on, Iris. Drink some water, you can't go home in this state. You know what happens if you drink too much". Amera said. "But Ameraaaaa~ I don't wanna stop, it's the only thing that distracts me from the paain~" Iris slurred. " I know, hun. But your partners are gonna worry about you and besides, you're going to start the tour the day after tomorrow! And I know that you'll need time to prepare and I'm so not gonna make you have a bad hungover tomorrow so you can focus on packing your things!" Amera reasoned. Iris stared into space for a moment, then she drank the cup of water in one gulp. "Can I have another one?" she mumbled, slowly sobering up. "Sure, hun." They said, handing her another cup of water. And Iris gulped at down as well. "Come on, hunny. I've called an Uber for you, it should be here any minute now." Amera said. "Mhm, alright then" she slowly got up, almost tripping and falling on her face. "Here, I got you." They wrapped their arm on her waist and slung her arm over their shoulder. They were half-carrying, half-guiding Iris to the Uber that was waiting outside the bar. Iris was giggling at the pigeons down the street. Amera was laughing at her buzzed state. Both of them were distracted. Too distracted to see that some paps were taking photos of them from a distance. *Timeskip*

“Ma’am, we arrived at your destination.” The driver said.  Amera asked him to wait for a while, the driver nodded. Iris stumbled out the vehicle and walked towards where Amera was standing and hugged them. “ Thanks, Amera. You got my ass outta there before I got in too deep,” she said, sheepishly, scratching her neck. “ It’s no biggie, consider this as a payback for getting me out of the toxic place back in ‘09″ Amera said. Iris shrugged. “You didn’t have to ‘Mera, I had to do something back then, and I’m glad I did.” She smiled. 

“Okay then, It’s getting late, get your ass inside before your partners get worried!” Amera playfully shoved her shoulder. “ Okay, okay no need to get rough” she pouted at them. Amera laughed. “ Alright, alright! Get back home safely okay?” Iris said. ‘Okay, see you soon, hun. Not too soon, you’ve been coming to the bar every night for a week.” They said. Iris laughed nervously. “I’ll try,” she said. They hugged each other before Amera got on the Uber and left.

Iris stepped inside the apartment, she was mostly sober now.  She carefully placed her shoes on the cabinet and went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. She heard footsteps behind her and she turns around to see a furious-looking Luke and sad-looking Sierra. “Where have you been,” Luke said. His eyes burning with fury. “Out,” Iris said, drinking the rest of the water. “To where exactly?” he asked,  “Downtown LA, out and about. Who got you knickers up in a twist. why are you looking at me like that?” she said, her face was blank. She knew that Luke rarely get that angry. So whatever this is, it must be serious.

“Downtown LA, huh? You’ve said that last night, and the night before that! Nevermind that. Who is this?” He said, shoving his phone at her face. The photo showed Iris and Amera coming out of the bar earlier. “Are you cheating on us, Iris?” Sierra said. Her voice seemed to sober Iris up. “Of course not. I would never!” Iris said. “  oh really? Like she isn’t practically holding you all touchy-feely like, god you’re such a whore!” he yelled venom in his voice. Her body tensed. “Do you really think that little of me? Don’t you trust me?” Iris said. “ Well, You’ve been going out all week, I wouldn’t be surprised if you went around sleeping with other people!” He shouted. “For fuck’s sake Luke! Do you really think I would do that ?!” She shouted back. “I don’t know?! Maybe you would?!” He yelled again. Iris looked at him, then at Sierra. She was staring at the floor. “ Sierra? Do you have anything to “claim” that I’ve done? Are you agreeing with him as well?” Iris said.

Sierra looked at her. “Yes. I agree with him, Iris. You haven’t been spending time with us lately and you always act so distantly and suspicious! I just...I don’t know, maybe you are cheating!” she said.

Iris’s eyes widened. “Wow, the two people that I thought trusted me actually believed the paps than me...” She thought. She then stared at them, her eyes filled with unshed tears, betrayed and disbelief. “ I really can’t believe you two, you trust the paps more than me?” she said, quietly. “You haven’t given us anything to make us trust you the whole week! God! Now I know why Daniel and Meaghan left you. ” Luke said. Iris frozed in shock. How could he? She didn’t noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Fine. I-I’ll guess the both of you hate me and want me to leave? It’s okay. Save you breath, I’ll go.” she said with a monotone voice. She grabbed her coat and left the apartment. Her head was spinning. She grabbed her phone and called the person that was on top of her contacts.

“Hey, Ash?” Iris said with a shaky voice. “Hey, Sunshine. What’s wrong?” His voice was filled with concern. “Can I come over?” she said. “Of course, Sunshine. Have you forgotten you live here too?” He lightly teased. Iris lets out a soft chuckle. “Yeah, Katniss is with you right?” she asked. “ Yes she is, she has been waiting for you, I’ve fed her already. You don’t have to worry.” he said. She sighed in relief. “Thanks, Ash. Your a lifesaver.” she said. “Yeah,yeah. Now hurry over, it’s getting rainy and it might have a thunderstorm.’ he said. “Alright then, see you there, bye.” “Bye!”  

She started walking. Rain starts to pour. She sighed and pulled her hood over her head and start to run.

[rebelcap]

We are not just friends —Part 12

Chris Evans x bi!latina!character (Sofia is a people of color, she's brown.)

Chris and Sofia meet when their best friends started dating, it all started at friends with loads of bumps on the road.  

Warnings: drinking, smoking, drug use (weed), assault, Chris being Steve Rogers, commitment issues, my girl Sofia kinda messy, lots of fucking (eventually) 

This is slow burn at its best, at least emotionally. 

Series masterlist

"You know friends with benefits never work, don't you?" Amanda told Sofia as she rolled her eyes and sigh.

"I don't wanna be his girlfriend," Sofia shrugged, setting her phone in silence as the Twitter and Instagram notifications kept coming. Apparently, people found out who she was and they were blowing up her phone. Obviously, she didn't acknowledge it.

"Says no woman ever,"

"I know, but—look," Sofia sighed again and sat straighter on the couch facing her friend, she looked around because they were in Amanda's parent's house about to lunch. "He's the first queer, nonwhite, Latina, immigrant woman he ever wanted to date, I mean look at all of his exes."

"Okay, he's definitely into brunettes and white,"

"Yes, there's a part of me that's thinking that maybe he's…" Sofia tried to think of a subtle way to say it. "experimenting, and there's going to be nowhere and that left me high and dry when he realized that he's not that into me that much."

"Have you asked him?"

"No," She answered and Mandy just looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "He's going to say that's not true."

"Because it's not. Why does it seems like I know him more than you do, he never said anything remotely like that." She now rolled her eyes at her. "This is you sabotaging yourself, as usual."

"No, it's me trying to protect myself. I don't wanna fall in love with him and shit,"

"Again, talk with him. I'm sure he'll compromise with you at some level,"

"He's away all the time and I hate flying, I hate LA,"

"Oh my God,"

"I'm going to get all weird seeing him kissing other people," Sofia explained. "and he's going to think I'm an insecure, immature little girl that can't handle that." Sofia pouts and crosses her arms.

"Sofia," Her friend scoot closer on the couch and looked at her. "I heard you, about everything and I'm not trying to invalidate how you feel about it, but you need to communicate if you what this to work out for you."

"I'm scared Mandy, because I really like him," Her eyes got all glossy. "I know he's a good man but I'm scared shitless. I can't physically take another loss. You know how hard it was for me to leave my ex, just because of that and it got so fucking ugly on the end."

"I know, I was there," She said and her bottom lip tremble. " crying with you non stop for two years, I know but you know she's a piece of shit and took advantage of you because you were in a very vulnerable position."

"Yeah, I know," Sofia wipe her tears with the back of her hand and sighed, "Stop crying, you're making me cry,"

"I just want you to be happy, you're my best friend I love you so much," Amanda was full-blown sobbing hysterically as Sofia was holding her and chucking. "Capitan America wants to be your boyfriend stupid bitch," She kept sobbing and Sofia laughed.

"I know, I'm just emotional and I'm about to get my period, hormones."

"Your period?" Amanda asked separating and looked at her, pensively. "wait, what date is today?"

"It's the fourteen,"

"Oh,"

Sofia sat down straighter and give her a look. "Are you late?"

"Yeah," Amanda said looking down at her stomach. "Like, three weeks late."

Sofia looked at her belly and mutter. "Jesus, Maria y Jose."

"Holy shit." Amanda blinked a few times and they stare at each other for a full minute.

"Your dad it's going to fucking kill Luke."

~~~~

It's been around a week and a handful of days since the last time Sofia saw Chris, he was already in town since last night but he slept on his mom's house.

Also, Amanda was fucking pregnant.

You up?

She texted Chris at two am. Of course, he wasn't because he was an old man.

I gotta tell u something.

It's important and I need to tell someone I'm really bad at secrets, I just can't.

But you can't tell

I'll literally kill u,

And I'm getting away with it because I know too much about murder men, it's insane.

I'm up, I'm up. I'm watching a movie with Scott, he says hi and also wants to meet u and plot murder.

Also, what's the juicy secret?

Amanda is pregnant and your brother is way handsome than you.

Chris was calling almost immediately.

"Excuse me?"

"Amanda is having a baby,"

"No, about Scott being handsome than me," He asked and Sofia let out the loudest laugh, God she needed that.

"Oh my God, you're an idiot," She laughed. "I miss your face."

" I miss you, too." He laughed.

"Is Scott there?, we follow each other on Twitter and made fun of you."

"You two what," He asked and she could hear Scott laughing on the background. "You made fun of me with my girl?"

"Yeah, I slide in her DMS." Scott laughed and Chris was red as a tomato.

"Dude," He said and Sofia heard a lot of ow's and she laughed. "And about the other things, what the fuck?"

"Yes, I'm freaking out. Mandy's at Luke's house now but I don't know, she didn't text me. I can't sleep," She groaned and Chris stood quiet for a moment.

"Want me to come over?"

"Please?"

~~~

"Oh, hi," Sofia exclaimed as soon she opened the door, Chris grabbed her face and plant a quick kiss.

"Hi," He smiles, still cupping her face. "Hello," Chris kissed her again making her laugh.

"You dork," She said as she took his hand and took it to the kitchen, "Want something? I'm about to stress bake."

Chris laughed while he sat on the high chairs. "Mandy didn't text u?"

"No, dude. I'm freaking out, I know Luke it's the sweetest," She said giving her back to Chris as she measures some flour.

"He's going to be over the moon, I'm not supposed to tell you this but he's been thinking about proposing,".

Sofía was taken aback for a moment there but a huge smile, she turned around and look at him.

"Are our best friends getting married and having a kid?"

Chris laughed and nod, "Yeah, guess so?"

"Yeah," She smiles. "So weird," She turned around and Chris walked up to her, leaning on the counter beside her.

"Why?"

"Don't know, I'm happy don't get me wrong, I just. It's weird for me because it's," She stumbles over her words a little. "it's the first time I'm seeing this going right for someone I deeply care about."

Chris made a face and she laughed.

"I have really shitty examples on my life," She went again to her baking. "My mom and dad fought a lot, they had to get married because they were having my brother—

"Wait, you have a brother?," He asked, surprised. "You never mentioned him."

"We don't really speak, well I don't speak to him,"

"Why?"

Sofía pursed her lips together and give Chris a look, she didn't want him to think less of him or him judging her about what went down.

"Can we skip that part?"

Chris quickly nod, "Yeah, of course," He said putting a hand on her shoulder. "whenever you're ready,"

"Okay," She nod too and remained silent. "it's just, I'm sorry." Sofia took a deep breath and wipe a tear. "I've never had a normal family dynamics until I've meet Mandy's family and a still feel so out of place sometimes, it's weird—" She chuckles. "I'm weird."

"It's not weird, you're not weird. I've gathered that you went through some shit that no kid should go through," Chris said and Sofia stopped moving and looked at the bowl in front of her. "things that obviously hurt you still."

"Stop." She told him trying not to cry and took another deep breath trying to pass the lump on her throat but her lower lip was trembling.

"Hey, hey," Chris grabbed her and hugged her, but she pushed him away and went back to the counter.

"You like muffins?" She asked in a small voice and Chris just stare at her, he just shut him out on whatever it's going up with her. "Do you?"

"Yeah, yes. Are you okay?"

"Yeah," She nod.

Sofía was feeling like an idiot, she didn't want to be crying on his arm about her shitty life, to someone that obviously couldn't relate because he also had the perfect family, the perfect brothers. His fucking life was perfect. She didn't want him to see her like a wounded little girl.

"Sofia?"

"Just drop it, forget about it." She said going to the fridge and grabbed some milk.

"What? come on baby, you know you can talk about me about anything," Chris told her and she just chuckles. "Is this funny to you?"

"I can't talk to you about everything, there's a lot of things we can't relate to Chris." She quickly answered him.

"I know that, but I can listen. You can open up with me for fuck's sake," Chris said frustrated and Sofia sigh. "You're always shutting me out when we even slightly touch a subject you don't like, I've known you for like almost two years and I right now found out you have a brother. You know everything about me, you know my fucking whole family,"

"Yeah, and now you're now throwing it back at my face."

"I'm not throwing it back at your face, you can tell me anything, Sofia." He said and she shook her head.

"Why do you wanna know so bad? I'm just some girl you're fucking." She asked him and Chris was taken aback.

"You're not—is that what you think of me?, that I'm so guy you're fucking?"

"Are you not?" She asked nonchalantly and Chris lost his shit.

"Woow, that's how it is?, like I'm nothing to you." He said taking a step back.

"Why the fuck are you pushing this so much? what are you gonna do? I don't want your fucking pity and I don't fucking need you either." She was spitting venom at him, feeling attacked at everything he was doing.

"You're being a fucking asshole right now," He told her and Sofia rolled her eyes. "I just wanna know my fucking girlfriend."

"I'm most definitely not your girlfriend, I won't ever be your girlfriend" She answered and Chris just stared at her, feeling hurt.

"You know what, fuck you," he muttered angrily and turned around, nervous.

"There we go, pretty Chris don't get what he wants and he lashes out," She mumbled and pointed at him. "And now you leave,"

Chris rubbed his beard and grabbed his phone. "When you want talk this shit out, let me know. I'll be staying two more days and then I'm back in LA, you know I'm leaving for three months. Because I tell you all the shit I do," He pointed out again and Sofia just shrugged.

"Whatever, you know where the door is." She didn't even look at him, Chris was fuming. Sofía flinch when she heard the door shut.

~~~

Well, shit.

Tag list:

@smediumsmeatbae

@lunaticbarnes

@firstangeldragonranch

@lovepeacefood

@thegirlwithpaperheart

[calpalirwin]

Confessions

Summary: Anon request- I may have sent this request to you last week so if I did just ignore me. 🤦🏻‍♀️ So I NEED a one shot/fic where Luke’s twin sister just got out of a bad relationship and comes on tour with the boys. Luke is really protective over her and he finds out she’s been dating/sleeping with Ashton behind his back. Idk why I’ve had this story in my mind forever but I’m a horrible writer. 😂 Thanks!!

A/N: Thanks for the request! Gave the reveal some fluff because the idea of the brothers hating the boyfriend dating their sister always rubbed me the wrong way.

Content: Abuse, protective dynamics

Word Count: 3.3k

And away and away we go!

__

“Is there anybody you’d like us to call?” the nurse asked her.

Leia Hemmings shook her head. She couldn’t tell her family about this. Not that they wouldn’t rally behind her, but because despite all the pain Wyatt Miller had caused her, she didn’t want to return the favor. Wyatt could break her ribs, but he could never break her spirit which was to love with all she had.

“Do you have a safe place to go?” was the follow up question.

Leia nodded. “Yeah. I’m good.”

The nurse pushed a few pamphlets for domestic abuse services and women’s shelters into her hand anyway. “I’m going to sign your discharge papers, but feel free to stay in here as long as you need, okay?”

Leia let out a sigh of relief as the nurse left her. She was grateful that for all her stupidity, she had kept her apartment, not giving into Wyatt’s demands for her to move in with him. It had earned her three broken ribs and the worst bruising of her life, but she was steadfast that in all her bad decisions with Wyatt, that wasn’t one of them. That being said, she knew she couldn’t stay at her apartment. So with shaking fingers, she dialed her brother.

“Hey!” Luke greeted happily, picking up on the first ring.

“Hey,” she answered.

“What happened?” he asked, detecting the slight wobble in her voice.

“Wyatt and I broke up,” she whispered, offering up the simplest part of the truth.

“Oh, Leia” was the heartbroken response.

“It’s fine, Luke. I’m fine. It just… uh… gonna need to get a new place.”

“Shit,” he cursed. “What happened?” The question was repeated with a much sterner tone than the first time.

“It didn’t end well. It’s fine. Hey, I gotta go. But we’ll talk later to make plans for when you’re back out here, yeah?”

“Yeah, of course. Hang in there.”

“Who was that?” Ashton asked as Luke ended the call.

“Leia. Wyatt and her broke up.”

“Fuck. Is she okay?” He had always liked Leia, more so than the other siblings of his bandmates. It was something in the way she held herself in a manner that made her seem older but still clung to the childhood innocence that spoke to him right from the get go.

“I don’t think so.”

“How can I help?”

~~~

“I’m fine!” she huffed for the millionth time.

“No, you’re not. You’re coming with me. End of discussion.” Even through Facetime she could see the hard glint in his eyes. As the youngest boy, Luke had learned the mannerisms of getting his way. But Leia was the only girl, and the baby by five minutes. And she could be just as stubborn as he was, if not more.

“I’m fine at home with Mum and Dad.”

“Fine with sulking in bed you mean?”

“Oh, because sulking on a tour bus is so much better? C’mon, Lu-lu,” she pleaded, using a nickname only she had ever called him. “I’m just gonna bring everybody down. It’s better if I stay here.” At home with her parents, she could hide the bruises on her body better. At a week, the bruises only looked worse, making her more certain of her decision to hide it from her family. All they knew was that her and Wyatt had broken up and that she was looking for a new apartment to get a fresh start. And that was the way she wanted it.

“Le-le,” he used, using her nickname only he had ever called her in retaliation, his blue eyes pleading softly. “You’re not gonna bring anybody down. We want you with us.”

“Really?” she asked, trying to keep the hope out of her voice and remain skeptical. She didn’t get a lot of time with Luke these days, what with his band constantly traveling and him living on the other side of the globe. And she always got along with his bandmates, especially Ashton. But ten months of touring? It had been a long time since she had spent that large amount of time in such a confined space with her twin brother. Add three other fully grown men and a crew to the mix? Well, it would be a good way to ensure a certain you-know-who stayed far away from her mind.

He was still talking as her mind went through her thoughts. “So you’ll just meet us at the show and we’ll go from there. Le-le? Leia! Are you listening?”

Her long blonde curls shook with her head as she cleared her thoughts. “Sorry, what was that?”

Luke’s eyes rolled in feigned annoyance. “Our first leg starts in Sydney. So you don’t have to worry about traveling to us. You can just meet us at our first show and we’ll go from there.”

“Yeah, I just have to worry about my job… Not all of us can just pack up and leave, Lucas...”

“Hey!” was the hurt and offended retort. “You think that I don’t miss always being there for you like when we were kids? God, Leia, if I could be there all the time, don’t you think I would?”

“Alright, alright!” Leia huffed, feeling her eyes water at his sentiment. “It’s okay. We’re okay. I’m okay.”

“Well, I think the family can handle running Hemm Clothing without you for a while. And you can put those marketing skills to use by helping Andy and Ryan with merch?”

“Wow, way to sweeten the deal…” The eye roll was playful.

“So is that a yes? You’ll come?”

“See you in a few days, Lu-lu.”

~~~

“Fancy seeing you here,” a voice breathed and Leia’s body tensed.

“Get away from me,” came the barely audible reply through clenched teeth as her vision blurred with unwanted tears.

“Came to see big brother play?” was the sneer. “Think he’s gonna protect you from up there?” Wyatt’s head nodded towards the stage.

“I don’t need protection…” She threw as much malice and venom as she could muster behind the words but her shaky voice betrayed the fear that had seized her body.

The laugh was anything but humorous as it entered her ear.

“Go away. Please…”

“Aw, c’mon. Aren’t we having fun?”

“Hey, she said leave,” a voice barked and a tall figure strode toward the pair. Two shocks of pitch black hair framed the set of hazel eyes as Ashton’s large arms crossed in front of him as he tried to come across as menacing as possible. Leia felt herself relax at the sight of him alone. “Now leave, or I’ll gladly call security to throw you out,” Ashton used his slight height advantage to tower over Wyatt. “On second thought, I think I’ll just throw you out myself. Save security the trip.”

Wyatt, smart enough not to start a fight in public, muttered under his breath about how this wasn’t over and slunk off.

Ashton’s demeanor dropped the tough guy act and his hand was soft as it rested on Leia’s shoulder. His voice was equally soft as it asked, “Hey, you alright?”

Leia looked up at him and shook her head before letting out a blubbering wail.

Ashton’s eyes went wide before he was wrapping the younger woman in a tight hug. “Hey, it’s okay. Shh. He’s gone. I got ya.”

She froze, her body tensing immediately, and when her face involuntarily flinched, Ashton dropped his hold, a wave of disgusted horror washing over him. When Leia had called Luke up to tell him about her breakup with Wyatt, she had severely downplayed the damage he had inflicted if she was jumping away from a touch she knew she could trust. His heart shattered in his chest for her and he knew he had to keep this from Luke the same way she had. The look of pity in his eyes as she turned to look at him made her throat close up. “Please don’t tell, Luke,” was the pleaded request of a woman who was barely holding it together.

“Hey, look at me,” he implored and blurry blue met steady gold. “I’m going to get security to make sure he stays far away from you. He’s never getting near you again. I promise.”

“Ash, you can’t promise that. Eventually I have to come home. And he’ll be waiting. And the longer he was to wait, the angrier he’s going to get. And the angrier he gets…”

“I wouldn’t promise it if I didn’t think I could keep it. I’ll figure something out.”

“Promise me you won’t tell Luke.”

“I won’t,” he said, holding up his pinky. “But why didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell him the truth?”

“Because it makes me feel weak? Because I feel like I should’ve known better? That I should’ve fought harder? Take your pick…”

“None of this is your fault and you’re stronger than you think.”

She gave a sad shake of her head. “I shouldn’t be here. I should just go home. I’m just gonna bring everybody down. Tell Lu- Tell Luke I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I can’t be here.” The words fell from her mouth and she stumbled backwards away from Ashton, tears streaming down her face.

“Whoa, easy there,” Ashton said, keeping his voice calm and low. “We want you here.”

“You guys really want me here?” she asked skeptically.

Ashton nodded. “We really do. I do. C’mon, give this a chance. Please stay. Please?”

How could she say no to that dimple and those soft eyes?

~~~

“Let’s play a game of spot the goth,” Calum laughed at the camera before Ryan was moving the shoot upwards to Ashton and Leia, hiding in the shade.

The duo waved and shared a laugh. “You sure you don’t wanna go for a swim?” Ashton asked her. “Awfully hot out.” He was still in a pair black jeans with rips in the knees, but his shirt had been discarded long ago, while she stayed clad in her shirt and shorts.

She shook her head. Her sides still ached terribly when she laughed, but she could finally withstand a hug without having to excuse herself to cry out in pain after. The bruises, while no longer a horrendous shade of blues and purples, were a sickly faded yellow. No. She would much rather hide out with Ashton.

Ashton sighed. While she hadn’t actually confessed the truth of what Wyatt had done to her, Ashton was highly certain his speculations about what had happened were closer to the truth than what she had been telling Luke. “He hit you didn’t he? That’s why you’re hiding up here with me, isn’t it? To hide the bruises?” His voice held only concern, not even the slightest trace of judgement, which somehow made it worse. She didn’t deserve sympathy.

“He broke three of my ribs,” she confided anyway.

Ashton’s jaw tightened and he swore under his breath. “When?”

“The day I called Luke. So about two weeks ago.”

“Any other times?”

“No,” she shook her head. “That was the only time. I swear.”

As much as he wanted to, he wasn’t stupid enough to ask why. It didn’t matter. Wyatt shouldn’t have laid a hand on her, period. “Is that why you left your apartment?” he asked instead.

She nodded. “I’m scared of him, Ash. I don’t know what’s going to happen when this is over, and I have to come home. I can’t live with Mum and Dad forever. If I let him scare me from living my life then he wins. He already took so much from me. I can’t let him take what little I have left.”

“Come to LA with us,” he suggested.

She started to laugh but winced. “Ow! Don’t make me laugh!”

“I’m serious.”

“What would I do in LA? Live with you? Keep helping run merch for your band?”

“Well, you could get your own place if that would make you more comfortable.”

“Ow!” she chuckled, clinging to her sides. “It hurts to laugh! Stop!”

“I’m serious!” he repeated, not being able to help his own giggle. Even her pained chuckle was infectious.

She leaned her head into his shoulder, sighing in the daydream coursing through her head. Would living with Ashton really be all that horrible? She was as close to him as she was to her own twin; closer even now that they had this secret between them. It could be just like this, him making her laugh her worries away. “Mum will never forgive you for taking both of her babies to LA, you know that don’t you?”

“Hey, Luke took me to LA.”

She shook her head against him with a soft chuckle. “I’ll think about it, okay?”

“And I’ll help you pack when you realize I’m serious.”

~~~

She woke up in a cold sweat, eyes wild, hair even wilder. Her hand felt her heart racing underneath her fingertips as she kicked off the covers. The bruises had faded, her ribs had healed, but Wyatt still haunted her dreams nearly three months later. She rolled on her side to check the time on her phone: 2:17 am.

They hadn’t played a show as they were traveling to a new venue so everyone was catching up on much needed sleep.

She tried to tame her curls by pulling them into a messy ponytail before she shoved her curtain aside and crawled out of her bunk.

“Oh, hey,” a smooth but raspy voice called out to her as she pulled the fridge open to grab a water. “Couldn’t sleep either?”

She whirled around, spotting Ashton on the couch, plucking softly at a guitar. “Something like that…” she muttered, kicking the fridge closed and moving to sit beside him.

“Nightmare?” he asked, setting the guitar aside to wrap an arm around her shoulders.

“How’d you know?”

“I can hear you at night. Everyone here can sleep like the dead. Everyone but me. Always been a light sleeper.”

“Did I wake you up?” she asked, worried.

He shook his head. “Nah. I haven’t gone to sleep yet.”

“What were you playing?”

“Nothing really. Just messing around. Any requests?”

She brought a finger to her lips in thought. “Hmm… Safety Pin?”

He chuckled lightly as he reached for the guitar again and they both shifted around on the couch. He strummed quietly and sang even quieter through the song, her voice humming softly along. “You should try and get some sleep,” he told her as he set the guitar aside again. “Luke may think he’s hiding it, but he’s worried about you. We all are.”

She leaned her head back, staring up at the ceiling. “That’s not what I wanted. I never wanted anyone to worry about me.”

“Sweetheart, we’re always gonna worry about you. We love you.” And that was as close to revealing himself to her as he was going to get for now, but he placed his lips briefly to her forehead anyway.

“Ash,” she breathed, peering up at him. The tenderness was too much to bear. The ache for someone to show her that type of soft affection left her desperate and needy. “Please don’t do that…”

“Do what? Care for you?”

“Kiss me.”

“It was just a forehead kiss,” he defended, feeling guilty he had crossed the line.

“I know. And it’s going to make me want more.”

“And what if I want to give you more?” he pressed, her words assuring him of long buried feelings.

“Ash… I’m heartbroken over a boy who doesn’t deserve my tears. You’re my brother’s bandmate. We shouldn’t do this,” she said, drawing the line in the sand.

“Alright,” he relented. “But for the record, I’ve…” he paused to find the right words. “Have you ever looked at someone and just known deep down that there’s something there?”

She nodded.

“I feel that when I look at you. And I’m still going to feel that when I look at you tomorrow; the same way I’ve felt it every time I’ve looked at you.”

“Ash,” she started, but he cut her off by pressing a finger to her lips.

“Shh, it’s fine. I won’t cross that line. But I couldn’t keep that inside anymore, either. G’night, sweetheart.” He pushed himself up off the couch, heading for his bunk, but her hand reached out to wrap around his forearm. “Need something?” he asked.

“You,” was the mouthed reply and his lips were crushing down on hers, pulling out the ache she had been drowning under.

~~~

The set of light blue eyes bounced back and forth between the laughing duo as Leia tried her best to mimic Ashton’s yoga poses. “This is impossible!” Leia’s laugh rang out as she struggled to keep her balance.

“What are you talking about?” Ashton laughed with her, his hand shooting out to help keep her steady. “You’re doing great. I gotcha.”

“Whatcha guys up to?” Luke spoke up, eyebrows raised as he leaned against the wall.

Leia let out a yelp of surprise and wobbled, taking Ashton with her as they crashed to the ground, erupting in more giggles. “Lu-lu, you scared me!” Leia scolded her brother lightly as Ashton helped her to her feet.

“Mmm,” Luke nodded, pursing his lips in thought. “So, you gonna tell me? Or are you going to keep lying to me like you lied about Wyatt?”

“What are you talking about?” Leia asked, narrowing her eyes. She and Ashton had taken every precaution to keep their growing relationship as hidden as possible. The plan was to tell everyone when the tour was over, along with announcing that she’d be moving into his place in LA. Wyatt, however, was the secret she had wanted to take to her grave.

“Mum and Dad got the hospital bill, dumbass. They called me wondering if I knew anything about three broken ribs because you tell me everything. Imagine my shock when I was just as in the dark as they were.”

“Luke I-” she started.

“Why’d you lie?” he cut her off.

“I was embarrassed!” she screamed, throwing up her hands. “It’s embarrassing, Luke! I got beat up by a guy who swore he loved me! Who had us all fooled that he was a good guy! Do you know how embarrassing it is to have been that bad of a judge of character?!”

“You’re not a bad judge of character, Leia. Like you said, he had us all fooled. And you’re with Ash, aren’t you? Yeah, definitely not a bad judge of character. Not by a long shot.”

“Wait… you’re not mad?”

“No! Well… yes. But only because you lied.”

“We were gonna tell you, mate,” Ashton jumped in. “We were going to tell everyone after the tour wrapped up.”

“I’m not talking to you!” Luke snapped.

“Luke, you just said you weren’t mad about this,” Ashton said, his jaw setting.

“You lied to me! I’m your friend, Ashton! Damn near your brother!” His fiery gaze flickered over to Leia, “And I’m your actual brother!” His words held no malice, only a deep hurt that two people he cared deeply for thought that they had to keep their relationship a secret from him.

“Lu-lu, we were going to tell you. We just…”

“How long?”

“Six months,” Ashton answered. “And if we’re clearing the air, then you should know that when we get home next month, she’s moving into my place.”

Luke nodded. “Okay then. Break her heart, and it’ll be you who ends up with your ribs broken.”

“Lucas Robert!” Leia scolded, punching her brother’s arm.

“Too soon?” Luke laughed.

“Way too soon,” Leia laughed with him. “So, you’re really not mad?”

Luke shook his head. “I only ever wanted you to be happy, Le-le. You’re my twin. I’m always on your side.” He wrapped her in a tight hug.

“We’re sorry, mate,” Ashton apologized, placing his hand on Luke’s shoulder and a kiss on Leia’s hairline.

Luke fake gagged, stepping away. “I’m not that happy for you! That’s still my baby sister you’re kissing.”

“Well, I love her, so you better get used to it.”

“You fuckin’ better,” the siblings responded in unison.

“So fuckin’ much.”

__

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