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anonymous-dentist · 23 days ago

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Um, It's Kind of a Lot…

Or: Lukey's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Or: Have you considered a supervillain au?

Read on AO3!!! (It's 5k words lol, you might be better off reading it there.)

The Pangolin's design is officially inspired by @imhyperfixatingrn's art!

When Lukey steps out of the coffee shop to take his break and he’s immediately met with a gun to the face, all he can do is sigh because, somehow, being held at gunpoint is not the worst thing that’s happened to him in recent memory.

He still has his apron on, and his cellphone is in his hand with his thumb hovering over Newt’s contact (he’s still working out how to actually call people, but at least he knows where the contact list is!) His fingertips are stained brown from coffee grounds, and flour is practically caked onto his right cheek after a mishap with the electric mixer earlier in his shift.

Lukey, these days, is a barista, and a shitty one at that. He’s better with the baking, but the kitchen’s electric oven still gives him problems even after four entire shifts trying to learn it. He does the math in his head when someone tries paying in cash, and he has to fight with the cash register to get their change out without having to put their order into it.

He is a barista. He is twenty-one years old, and he is a community college student, and he is a barista.

“Hands up,” his assailant barks, voice hardly muffled by the black bandana tied around the bottom half of their face, “scientist. And drop the phone.”

Slowly, Lukey lowers himself to the ground. He raises one hand, keeping eye contact with his attacker, and he uses the other to turn his phone off and place it gently on the pavement.

And then the bastard slams the heel of their combat boot right into the screen, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

Lukey looks up at them in horror. “Ex-cuse me? Do you know how expensive those things are?”

He knows. He was there when Newt bought it for him, and his eyes just about fell out of his head when he saw the price tag.

The gun is pointed at the top of his head in response, cold steel digging into his scalp; he shivers and raises his other hand and shuts the fuck up.

“Don’t say a word,” his, what, kidnapper(?) snaps, “stand up, and follow me.”

Lukey nods shallowly.

They’re in the shady, smelly back alley between the coffee shop and the CBD store behind it, alone. Nobody would even hear if he screamed.

So he stands, hands firmly raised in the air.

Lukey, somehow, is a barista. He doesn’t know how to make anything fancier than a black coffee, but he can bake a mean croissant.

But he nods his head again in acknowledgement as his kidnapper orders, “Move, scientist. There’s a car that way.”

They put the gun against the small of Lukey’s back and push him to the left towards the mouth of the alley near the neighborhood drugstore.

And so Lukey walks, hands up and face flat. This isn’t his first kidnapping (he thinks), he knows the drill.

There’s a black van parked in front of the drugstore with someone leaning against the outside of it holding an honest-to-God whip in their hand; as Lukey approaches, the whip cracks and ends up tied around one of Lukey’s wrists.

“Scientist,” Whip lowly says. “Nice of you to join us.”

They yank their whip, pulling him a few stumbled steps closer.

He smiles as placidly as he can. “Of course! Anything for a fan.”

Whip laughs. Gun shows their amusement by slamming the butt of their pistol into the base of Lukey’s skull.

He falls forward right into Whip’s arms, and the world goes dark.

(Pangi orders a croissant and takes a seat with it while he waits for Ros and Aimsey. The guy behind the counter- almost as pale as the flour stuck to his face- steps out back to go on his break.

The croissant is good.

The guy who supposedly made it doesn’t come back from his break.

A black van speeds down the road outside.

Pangi's phone dings, and he checks it.

With a sigh, he grabs his backpack from the chair next to him and stands.)

Cold.

Once upon a time, Lukey used to like the cold. The cold meant snow, and snow meant snowball fights with Newt and hot cocoa from the nice old lady from the flower shop. He used to try and catch snowflakes and put them under his (stolen) microscope to spot the differences.

Now, though, Lukey’s wavering consciousness tells him that he’s somewhere cold, and he almost wishes he was actually fucking dead, actually, instead of awake and blindfolded and tied to what feels like the world’s most uncomfortable metal folding chair.

Even with his eyes closed from the blindfold, the world is spinning around him. His stomach is in knots, there’s bile in his throat, he’s sweating despite the cold- concussion, almost definitely, which is fine. He’s gotten over concussions before, nothing new there.

Lukey grimaces down a wave of nausea. The concussion might not be a new experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s a pleasant one.

Okay, he thinks, take stock.

Blindfolded, but he isn’t gagged. His hands are tied behind the chair’s back, but they haven’t been tied long enough to go numb; he wiggles his fingers one after another, and they all cooperate well enough. Each ankle is tied to one of the chair’s front legs. Restraints are rough against his wrists- rope?

Wherever he’s been taken is quiet save for his own breathing and a faint rumbling. It smells of metal and, comfortably enough, blood.

Scientist, his kidnappers had called him. Hah! He wishes!

His memory is foggier than it used to be, but he remembers being handcuffed the last time he was kidnapped. So, really, these guys are a downgrade.

But. It’s cold.

Lukey bites his lip and huffs a tense breath out of his nose. He is fine. He’s fine, and he’ll be back at work, and he won’t even get fired for disappearing before end of his shift; he’s only met his manager once, but Bad seemed nice enough, he would probably excuse a kidnapping and just schedule Lukey for an extra shift over the weekend, it’ll be fine.

It isn’t fine.

By the time the kidnappers stomp their way into the room, Lukey’s hands and feet are all numb and his brain feels like it’s melting out of his ears. His teeth are chattering. He’s one bad memory away from a panic attack, and the horrible cold feeling in his bones is not helping any.

Still, he tries to sit up straight as the heavier of the two pairs of footsteps approach him- Gun was bigger, it’s probably them.

And, indeed, it is, because they laugh lowly and say, “Well, well. Looks like the scientist is a little chilly.”

Whip adds, “Poor guy’s nose is blue!”

Lukey’s nose sure feels blue. It’s so numb that he can only imagine that it’s already fallen off him from frostbite.

“Heh,” says the wise gunman.

And then, suddenly, there is light as Lukey’s blindfold is ripped off.

He instinctively flinches back and cringes into himself, a near-perfect recreation of his performance a week prior. This time, however, he makes a point of keeping his eyes open, even if it makes his head pound and his stomach coil in upset.

The walls are metallic and covered in frost. Slabs of meat hang from the ceiling from hooks, and cardboard boxes labeled with various vegetables are scattered about. There’s one door, and Lukey is looking directly at it; between him and it, though, are his two kidnappers.

Whip has taken their makeshift mask off, revealing… an absolute nobody, the most white bread-looking person Lukey has ever seen. Their whip is on their belt, rolled up, and they themselves are leaned against the door casually with their arms crossed.

Gun is still masked up, and their gun is still drawn.

Lukey looks at the gun.

The gun levels itself neatly with Lukey’s jugular.

Gun tilts their head, eyes squinting in amusement. “Alright, scientist, don’t look so scared yet. You aren’t gonna die.”

“Yeah!” Whip agrees. “We need your help!”

Lukey blinks. “Excuse me?”

Whip beams. “That’s right, scientist. We’ve heard aaaalll about you.”

God, they say ‘scientist’ like it’s a slur.

Lukey blinks again; there are spots in his vision, and they’re dancing.

“Ahm,” he tactfully says. “What have you he-”

His voice cracks.

He coughs and tries again: “What have you heard, exactly?”

(Step one of the scientific method: posit a question.)

Whip’s smile flickers like a dying lightbulb, their shoulders tightening minutely.

Gun’s aim wavers slightly, their grip on their weapon going white-knuckle.

(Step two: search for background information. Research.)

“Turn him around,” Whip orders.

Gun does as they’re told and grabs the back of Lukey’s chair with their free hand, elbowing him in the nose as they roughly jerk the chair onto its back legs and spin it 180 degrees.

Lukey’s stomach churns from the sudden motion; it’s enough to make him swallow his own vomit, ough.

The feeling doesn’t subside as the chair goes level again and he finds himself just a few short feet away from a corpse laid out on a plastic folding table.

Gun’s hand moves from the chair’s back to Lukey’s shoulder; it squeezes tightly, nails digging in like dull knives.

“Oh,” Lukey says.

The corpse’s skin is as white as the frost gathered on its clothes. Its eyes are closed, and its hands are clasped across its chest like a prayer.

There’s a big hole blown in the side of its head, and Lukey knows fire damage when he sees it.

“The Red got him,” Gun quietly says.

Lukey swallows. “I’m sorry. But I can’t-”

The gun presses against his temple; somehow, it’s almost warm.

“Nah,” Gun interrupts, “you can, scientist. We’ve heard all about your dad’s little experiments.”

“The Corruption,” Whip elaborates. “Dr. Lucas Teevee learned how to harness its power and control it.”

The Corruption…? What in the…

Gun snatches Lukey’s head by the hair and turns it harshly to the right, where one singular cardboard box sits on the floor. Just one box, small and taped shut with just one tiny piece of masking tape across its middle seam.

The gun shakes against Lukey’s head.

Gun breathes out ragged, says, “We read your dad’s journals. In the library. They say the Corruption can bring the dead back to life.”

That’s when Lukey notices the faint purple stain to the box’s corners.

He jumps in his seat as the box suddenly rattles and skitters an inch or two across the floor towards him.

For whatever reason, he suddenly feels faint. Maybe it’s the concussion. Maybe it’s the lore dump- who do they think he is?

(Step three of the scientific method: construct a hypothesis.)

“If my…” Lukey licks his dry, chapped lips nervously, lets out a breath, “…father is the Corruption expert, just get him to help you. I’m not a scientist. I’m-”

He shuts up as the gun’s safety clicks off.

He swallows, nods.

“Your dad is M-I-A,” Whip explains. “But we have it on good authority that you’re just as good as he is. So here’s the deal, scientist. You use the Corruption in that box to bring our friend back to life, and you get to go free.”

“If you don’t,” Gun continues, “we’ll end the family bloodline right here.”

(Step four: experiment.)

Lukey’s dad died in a house fire in 1974.

The Corruption was called ‘Substance A-7-1’ when he last played with it. Epsilon called it ‘that fucking sludge’. Newt preferred never to speak of it at all.

Lukey is a community college student and a barista with a concussion and a gun to his head. He’s two seconds away from passing out, his hands are numb, he’s about to throw up all over himself and this stupid corpse in front of him, he’s twenty one, and he’s fucking cold.

So, naturally, he bites back a sob, tilts his head back, and offers his kidnappers a weak smile instead.

“I’ll do my best,” he promises. “But I’ll need my hands freed.”

He thinks he has frostbite. He tries to do jazz hands, anyway.

“And some gloves and a scalpel,” he quickly adds. “If that’s not too much trouble?”

He tries to look scared and adorable, which is easy enough to do when he’s one wrong word away from a bullet to the brain. He even bats his eyelashes (it always works on Newt, so it’s worth a try.)

Gun narrows their eyes.

Lukey politely asks, “Please? I can’t get into the lungs without one.”

(He isn’t getting into the lungs to begin with, but they don’t need to know that.)

“Oh,” Whip huffs, “just get him what he wants. If it’ll get Jeff back, do it.”

Gun sighs, but they back off and lower their gun.

Soon enough, the ropes are falling from Lukey’s wrists, and the show can really begin.

Before he wanted to be a scientist, Lukey wanted to be an actor. He even did a community theater production of The Wizard of Oz as the dog when he was a kid because it was easier to wrangle a child on stage than an actual dog.

Lukey rolls his sleeves up and tries not to flinch at the sight of his own goosebumps. He is cool.

(And very, very cold.)

The corpse formerly known as Jeff has had its chest shaved via a very irritated Gun. There should hypothetically be easy access to what remains of the lungs, Lukey will just need to break a few ribs to get there first.

Lukey’s feet were not untied, so he stands next to the body with the chair’s seat digging uncomfortably into the backs of his knees in an almost sort of straddle type position. His hands are mostly back (he can move his fingers again, at least), and his blindfold has been adjusted to act as a makeshift mask over his nose and mouth.

Gun is directly behind him with his weapon poking obtrusively into the small of Lukey's back. Their partner is gone, Lukey having (politely) sent them to the closest pharmacy for some painkillers.

("When he wakes up..." Whip had hesitantly asked. "Will he be, like... still in pain?" Lukey looked at the enormous hole in Jeff's skull and the shriveled remnants of his brain. "Maybe," he replied. "But it's better to be safe than sorry, right?")

There’s a series of cooking knives laid out on the top of a tall box next to him, a meat tenderizer, a stapler, a pair of scissors, and a pair of yellow rubber dish gloves. (As it turns out, Jeff’s parents own a restaurant, and they’ve teamed up with Whip and Gun to preserve their son’s body in their kitchen’s walk-in freezer like absolute freaks. Someone needs to call the health inspectors on them, because just how many people have eaten food corrupted by both a literal dead body and the literal Corruption??)

The box of Corruption is next to the body’s head. It smells like wine, but he knows from experience that it doesn’t taste half as good.

Lukey isn’t an actor anymore (as if he ever actually got to be one), but they do call it an operating theater for a reason!

“Okay,” he says, “my father didn’t tell me too much of what he’d been experimenting with, but-”

Gun cuts him off with a clipped, “Get on with it."

Lukey raises an eyebrow, but he doesn't argue.

He pulls on the gloves and picks up the meat tenderizer. He bounces it in his hand, tries a twirl of it, fails, flushes, and shoots a nervous look at the box of Corruption.

Right. Surgery on a corpse. A reverse autopsy, almost, considering how he's supposed to be bringing poor dead Jeff back to life.

As Lukey raises his arm, he tries not to remember the last time he ran this kind of experiment.

He slams the tenderizer down onto the body's ribcage; he full-body cringes as he hears the first 'CRACK!'.

"Hey!" Gun shouts. "Be gentle with him!"

"Sorry!" Lukey exclaims, more so to Jeff than to the asshole pointing a gun at him. "I just can't get to the ribcage if-"

He snaps his mouth shut as the gun pokes at him.

He nods, offers a silent second apology to Jeff the Corpse, and raises the tenderizer again.

Back in his day, he wasn't able to get any human test subjects, alive or otherwise. He made do with the rats that liked to live in the lab's walls and the occasional stray cat that looked one sneeze away from death's door. It was messy, but it was necessary.

(Step five of the scientific method: collect data. Step five-point-five: attempt experiment again should data be unsatisfactory.)

For science, Lukey thinks as a portion of the ribcage collapses beneath his mallet. He can't do any more science if he's fucking dead.

...Doesn't mean he isn't sick, though. The second he's home, he's going to crawl in front of his toilet and stay there for however long he can get away with- ouagh, gross, a rib is coming out of the skin, ewwww.

Lukey isn't a doctor. Not in this way, the medical way. He's always liked the little things more than the macro-organisms Epsilon was always obsessed with.

There's a peal of laughter from the kitchen outside, music blasting from the restaurant proper; Lukey wrinkles his nose in disgust. How can Jeff's creepy parents keep the party going when their son is literally dead and in their freezer?

But Lukey isn't a doctor. Even as he swaps the meat tenderizer out for the sharpest of the knives he's been given, he doesn't know if the Corruption will actually bring Jeff back to life; none of his old experiments showed evidence of resurrection, where did those so-called journals get that information from?

(Then again, it has been 39 years.)

Still, what else can he do but go along with his kidnappers' assumptions? Refusing would mean death. (Technically, failure will also mean death, but maybe Lukey will have actually figured out a plan by then.)

He starts the incision without really knowing how far to cut. (He failed human anatomy! Twice! What! Is he doing!)

Sternum to abdomen seems right...

God, how did Newt say do it back then? One big cut, then smaller ones? Ugh, but Newt was a chemistry student, what was he doing trying to tell Lukey how to cut a patient open??

Luckily, Lukey doesn't get far enough to start experimenting with secondary incisions before the freezer's door is slamming open and he's jumping out of his own skin and dropping his knife to the floor in shock.

He swears and falls back down into his chair, but Gun doesn't try and force him back to his feet.

No, Gun is, instead, running towards the door and grabbing a gasping Whip and pulling them inside and slamming the door shut behind them.

Lukey scoots his chair around in a rough circle so he's facing them both. (Come on, if he's going to be a hostage, he at least needs something to keep his mind off of the surgery he's supposed to be doing!)

He gags and rips his gaze away and to the frosty metal floor immediately, though, because Whip is...

"Darla!" Gun cries. "Where did your fucking arm go!?"

Whip is bleeding. Missing an arm and bleeding. It's caked across their entire left side and still drip-drip-dripping onto the floor.

People are screaming outside, Lukey can hear them now that he isn't caught up in his own spiraling thoughts.

(God, it's cold...)

Whip groans and retches and audibly staggers into Gun's increasingly-distressed-sounding arms.

"Is that really what you're fucking asking right now?" they moan.

"Who did this?" Gun demands.

"We fucked up," Whip responds. "We fucked up, dude. We kidnapped the wrong guy."

Lukey can't help but snap his head up at that.

He meets Whip's eyes, and he can't help but smile just a little at how fucking terrified they look all of a sudden.

"I told you," he innocently says, "should've gone for my father."

Gun sneers at him. "You-"

But they don't get to finish their statement. Not before the freezer's door explodes, sending both Gun and Whip flying across the freezer and into the opposing wall.

Even Lukey's chair is tipped over; he falls with it to the side, just barely catching himself on his hands before his head has a chance to hit the floor and make his concussion actual brain damage. (He's already had enough of that, thanks!)

The world is silent save for a faint, annoying ringing sound coming from the inside of Lukey's poor battered skull.

Smoke pours in from the open doorway. Red emergency lights from the kitchen backlight the figure slowly picking their way through the rubble, but all Lukey can see from his position on the floor are a pair of bloodstained black combat boots and a pair of red-stained cargo pants.

People are shouting, Lukey thinks. But he can't tell, it's all so quiet. Quiet and cold like fresh snow.

Lukey blinks, and then he sees it: the box of Corruption has fallen from its spot on the table and is just inches away from his face.

The tape is gone.

Then, suddenly, the world erupts back into focus: Lukey bites back a cry as sound floods his ears again. Screams and sirens and the crackling of flames and crying- so much crying. And-

"No, please!" Gun is screaming. "We didn't know! Honest! We didn't know he was yours!"

Lukey grits his teeth and tries to push himself up, but the chair he's still attached to just weighs him down. All he can manage is a roll onto his stomach and some useless attempts to kick the damn chair off him.

He props himself up on his elbows, face scrunched in pain as he tries to sort of rotate himself into a position where he can actually try and get the ropes off...

Aha!

He sees the knife he dropped just a few feet away under the operating table.

Ignoring Gun's pointless platitudes, Lukey starts dragging himself towards the knife one painful inch at a time.

(He can practically hear Newt now: "Lucas! How was work today? ...What do you mean, you got kidnapped? You were blown up by a supervillain!? Oh, dear, we can't afford another relocation... you really need to be more careful!")

"Please!" Gun pleads. "Spare her! She's already-"

There!

Lukey reaches as far as he can and manages to grab the knife. He quickly pulls it towards himself and rolls back onto his side, pulling his feet towards his knees and the chair with them.

He's starting to saw at the first of his restraints as the supervillain (because, really, none of this exactly screams superhero) says their first words since their explosive entrance:

"Dude, shut up," they groan.

And then there's a single gunshot.

Lukey freezes mid-cut, eyes wide. He's never... not since the fire...

Gun's dead body falls to the floor with a heavy thud. Maybe it's a good thing that Lukey can't see them.

"Ugh, finally!" the villain groans. "I never thought they'd shut up."

The villain's voice is muffled- mask, probably, but there's a grainy quality to their words that just scream 'voice filter'.

Lukey's mind races as he gets back to trying to free himself: Maybe he hasn't been spotted yet. Who did Newt say he had to stay away from, again? Maybe they're waiting to kill him. Mr. X... the Red...

The box of Corruption is open.

Lukey is still tied to his chair.

He is in a room full of corpses.

And, still, he somehow manages to hold himself together as a heavy hand comes down onto his shoulder.

"Please," the villain says, causing Lukey to freeze, "allow me."

The knife is easily plucked from his hand.

Lukey can only watch as the villain kneels by his feet and pulls out a long serrated- holy shit, is that a machete?

The machete is, predictably, covered in blood; Lukey can only assume that it was what was used to cut Whip's arm off earlier.

The rest of the villain is just as messy as their boots made them out to be: long duster coat that was probably brown before today, dark hood pulled up over their head. A gas mask hiding their face with the lenses spattered with Gun's fresh blood.

Lukey has no idea who the hell this guy is, but he stays still as the villain cuts him free with a few easy movements.

He stays still even as the villain nods to themselves, stands, and tucks their machete away into a sheathe on their belt. They stand, crack their neck, and look down at Lukey the same way he used to look at Ego under his microscope.

"Well?" they ask. "You coming?"

They even extend a gloved hand down.

Lukey looks at it.

Lukey looks up at the villain's hidden face.

There's a fire in the restaurant. Lukey doesn't need to see it to know it's there, he knows fire.

He reaches his own hand up, and the villain takes it without a word.

Somehow, they end up on the roof of a bank four blocks away from the restaurant. The sun is starting to set, and the city below glows with the lights of rescue vehicles.

Lukey still has his work apron on. Criss-cross on the roof, he fiddles with his nametag.

'Hello!' it reads with a smiley face, 'My name is LUKEY!'

The villain is next to him typing away on what Newt had called a 'flip phone' in his lectures. The gas mask is still on, but the gloves have come off. Their hood has come down, too, revealing a head of slicked-back ginger hair.

They haven't really spoken since helping Lukey out of the restaurant. Just some quick orders- 'This alley' 'Watch out'- and questions- 'Do you ever stop talking?'

(So what if Lukey is a nervous talker? Sue him, he was blown up half an hour ago.)

"Thank you," Lukey says, not for the first time.

The villain hums in acknowledgement.

"I mean, really, I did not want to go through with that surgery," Lukey continues, this time for the first time. (Again, nervous talker.)

He's surprised into looking up from his nametag as the villain lets out a confused little sound.

"The surgery?" they ask. "What?"

Lukey nods and tries to look as confused as the villain probably feels.

"Mhmm. They wanted me to use some, uh, Corruption to bring their dead friend back to life." He shrugs. "No idea why. I'm just a guy."

The villain looks at him. Keeps looking at him.

Lukey clears his throat and decides to look back down at his nametag. "I'm a barista, yeah? I mean, technically, I am, but I'm still learning."

"They kidnapped a barista," the villain slowly says, "to do surgery."

"Uh, yeah! See? Crazy, isn't it?"

He laughs a little, scared and more than a little confused about how those guys had even known who he was. Newt had assured him that all his records were sealed years ago; the I.D. he'd used to get hired at the coffee shop was as fake as his own last name.

Silence falls again, and Lukey... doesn't know what to do, really. Is he? Allowed to leave?

But then, soon enough, the villain next to him perks up as a new villain literally rises from the air in front of the both of them. This one, however, Lukey recognizes from the news articles that Newt had showed him.

Mr. X is currently the city's most wanted villain. Known for the ability to create and control shadows, and infamous for his kind of insane death toll, a lot of people call him the Grim Reaper.

But tonight Mr. X shrugs off his little shadow jetpack and immediately kicks Lukey in the side.

"I'm glad to see you're okay!" he cheerfully says, ignoring the way Lukey is kind of sort of now horizontal on the rooftop groaning in pain.

"Hello?" Lukey wheezes.

Mr. X waves. "Hi!"

"Mr. X!" the other villain cheers, hopping to their feet. "Finally!"

"Pangolin!" Mr. X sounds just as happy as the other villain- Pangolin?- does as he wraps them up in a tight hug. "Thank you so much."

"Eh, it's no problem. Just a couple of weirdos, ammiright?"

They look down at Lukey for confirmation; Lukey manages a sort-of half-nod, and Pangolin gives him a thumbs-up in response as if comforting him.

"Hello?" Lukey repeats, slowly pushing himself back upright. "Am I being kidnapped again?"

He sure hopes not. Newt would be inconsolable if he had to go on another rescue mission.

Mr. X, with his entire body hidden behind one big person-shaped shadow, almost looks amused at the question.

"What?" he asks. "Of course not! Your boss noticed you were gone, and he called me for help."

He breaks the hug; Pangolin, strangely enough, almost seems to deflate at the sudden distance.

Pangolin clears their throat and looks determinedly right into Lukey's eyes. "And he called me."

Lukey frowns. "Well, thank you, but aren't you both..."

"Villains?" Mr. X supplies. "Well, some people say that. Can't imagine why."

He sighs.

Lukey remembers the way Whip looked in Gun's arms without their arm, the way Gun's body was positioned over Whip's as if trying to protect them as Pangolin led him out of the burning restaurant, the burning restaurant.

"Me neither," he ends up saying. Because, well. They did rescue him, after all, and just because Bad had asked. (But, really, that just begs the question of how the hell Bad was able to contact Mr. X in the first place.)

Pangolin gasps and gestures towards Lukey appreciatively. "Thank you! Finally, someone else gets it!"

"Haha, yeah," Lukey awkwardly says, "I know a bit about being judged based of appearances."

(Newt dresses in all black and has an entire room in his apartment filled with various forms of weaponry; he also knits and cries when watching romcoms.)

(Butterfly Knight is supposed to be the city's most treasured hero. She also pointed her Spear of Justice at Lukey's chest and told him to start talking or he would end up wishing he was back at Null Tower.)

Mr. X hums consideringly. He looks down at Lukey with a shadowy finger on his shadowy chin, foot tapping against the rooftop.

Pangolin looks at him, head tilted. "What's wrong?"

Mr. X shakes his head. "No, nothing. I'm just... Lukey, do you work afternoon shifts often?"

Lukey is slightly taken aback at the sudden topic change, but he rolls with it. "Uhh, I don't know? I come in when Bad needs me to. I haven't been working for him long enough to have a set schedule, I think."

"That's true," Mr. X says, for some reason. "Well, tell him you're working mornings from now on, because you're going to be working nights for me."

Pangolin's shock can be heard even through their mask and voice filter. "Excuse me?"

Lukey feels like he's just gotten another concussion. "Yeah, what?"

Mr. X, though, looks proud of himself as he claps his hands together and rolls back and forth on the balls of his feet. "It's a great idea! What do you think, Lukey? You help us to not get caught, and we'll make sure nobody kidnaps you again. It's a win-win!"

Lukey and Pangolin look right at each other.

They look back at Mr. X, who seems to be absolutely clueless to the sudden uncomfortable atmosphere.

"And," he adds, "if you don't say yes, I'll have to kill you for hearing about our connections with your boss. Sorry, them's the rules!"

Ah, there's a third concussion. Or maybe it's just fear. Bafflement. Terror. Confusion.

"So, Lukey," Mr. X says, "what'll it be?"

By the time Lukey makes it through the front door, night has already fallen, and there's a Newt pacing in the entryway nervously.

He perks up when he sees Lukey, though his expression falls as soon as he actually sees Lukey.

"Lucas!" he gasps, rushing forward and pulling him the rest of the way inside. "What happened?"

Just as he's always done, he goes for a hug before he actually checks for damage.

Lukey immediately hugs him back, burying his face in Newt's shoulder.

"I got stuck in the freezer at work," he lies. "And then I almost got my head stuck in the oven."

Newt sighs, and Lukey is glad that he can't see his face because he's always been so good at telling when Lukey is lying. (It's almost like they've known each other their whole lives.)

Lukey doesn't protest as Newt drags him to the bathroom to get cleaned up, and he doesn't argue as he's sat down on the edge of the bathtub, and he doesn't even roll his eyes as Newt gets the first aid kit out from the cupboard and gets to work with his antiseptic wipes and bandages.

Tonight is Lukey's last night off before he starts his new job, after all. He doesn't want to spend it in an argument.

____

AN: Thank you for reading!!! Leave a comment or a reblog or an ask telling me what you thought! I love to hear from you! And PLEASE let me know if you want more!!

#pangkey #the realm smp #coffee shop superhero au #<- the tag for it #a.d.'s fics i suppose #a.d.'s fics i suppose.#you guys asked for it!#and i live to serve

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the-cosmic-cauldron · 6 months ago

Text

🪷 Healing Astrology: Chakra Astrology 🪷

ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴋʀᴀ ꜱʏꜱᴛᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴀꜱᴛʀᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ꜱɪɢɴꜱ

𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙣, 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. 𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙪𝙢.

Taurus/Capricorn 2nd/10th house

Root Chakra: Stability, security, grounding, survival, safety, belonging

Exercise: Weightlifting, Resistance Band, Body Weight Exercise, Isometric Exercises

Hobbies: Gardening, camping, foraging, pottery, painting or drawing, knitting, woodworking, cooking, baking, journaling, meditation, candle making, farming, fishing, musical instrument.

Yoga: Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Vinyasa Flow, Kundalini Yoga

Dance: Soul Motion, African Dance, Tai Chi Qigong, Barefoot Dance

Crystals: Black tourmaline, hematite, red jasper

Essential Oils: Cedarwood, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, frankincense, pine, cypress,

Colors: Red, brown, green, beige, grey

Music: Listen to 396hz sounds, ambient, classical music, nature sounds, meditative music, folk and acoustic music, world music, jazz and blue, chanting and mantras

Healing foods for you: sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, radishes, beans, eggs, nuts, lean meats, oats, apples, strawberries, tomatoes, pomegranate, dark leafy greens, brown rice, quinoa, avocado, bananas, dates, seaweed.

Teas and Supplements:Ginger, cayenne, dandelion root, ashwagandha, chamomile, lemon balm, passionflower, lavender, nettle, l-thetanine, gaba, CBD, lions mane, reishi mushroom, kava.

Key Components:

• Have a bedtime and a wake-up time

•Live below your means

• Create a savings for a rainy day

• Find ways to organize your space

•Carry a journal with you

• Make a list of your favorite foods so you can always have an idea of what you want to eat

• If you want to buy something make a goal before you can buy e.g do a ten minute run everyday for a week to be able to buy a new backpack.

• Go to spas, get a massage

Cancer/Scorpio 4th/8th

Sacral Chakra: Connection with others, pleasure, emotions, sexuality, sensuality, creativity

Exercise: Boxing, kick boxing, HIIT, Zumba, Running or sprinting, Weighted workouts, Plyometrics, Swimming

Hobbies: Writing fiction, poetry, journaling, painting or drawing, digital art, improvisational acting, music composition, jewelry making, filmmaking, podcasting, photography, mythology creation, cooking or baking, astrology or tarot, cosplay.

Yoga: Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Tantric Yoga, Kundalini Yoga

Dance: Contemporary Dance, Argentine Tango, Salsa, Belly Dance, Bachata, Flamenco, Rumba, Pole Dance, Jazz Dance, Freestyle

Crystals: Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Black Turmaline, Smoky Quartz, Carnelian, Lepidolite, Citrine, Sodalite, Clear Quartz, Labradorite

Essential Oils: Rose, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Lavender, Vanilla

Colors: Orange, Coral, Amber

Music: R&B, Soul, Jazz, Classical/Instrumental, Flamenco, Ambient/Chillout, World Music, Soft Pop, 582 hz, 639 hz, 432 hz, 852 hz

Healing Foods: Oranges, sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos, papayas, apricots, avocado, nuts and seeds, fatty fish, brown rice, oats, yogurt, kimchi, kefir, dark chocolate.

Tea’s and Supplements: Chamomile, rose, cinnamon, jasmine, hibiscus, ginger, lemon balm, holy basil, ashwagandha, maca, rhodiola rosea, vitamin D, l-thetanine, ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort, 5-HTP

Key Componenets

• Giving yourself time to feel without judgment or rationalization

• Realizing that expressing yourself is not wrong and beginning to discern who can accept your expressive self

• Using creative outlets to express yourself

• Finding activities that is going to bring your focus and awareness

• Creating boundaries and values for relationships that enter your life

• Giving yourself time to self-love as well as express love

• Indulging in what you enjoy without guilt, enjoy your life

• Learning your manifestation technique

• Using your intuition and connecting to it more as a guide

• Learning to be instead of constant doing, learning your power is in being receptive to energies

• Nurturing yourself and others

Leo/Aries 1st/5th

Solar Plexus Chakra: Personal power, self-esteem, confidence, ability to take control of one’s life, identity, autonomy, inner strength

Exercise: Strength training, martial arts, HIIT, core focused workouts, functional fitness, group fitness class, adventure and outdoor activities, endurance training.

Hobbies: Public speaking, creative writing or journaling, diy projects or crafting, learning a new language, performance arts, volunteering or mentoring, gardening or sustainable, travel or outdoor adventures, music, learning a survival skill, networking.

Yoga: Power Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Kundalini Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Core Strengthening Yoga, Yin Yoga, Bhakti Yoga

Dance: Hip hop dance, contemporary dance, Latin dance, belly dance, jazz dance, ballet, freestyle dance, pole dance, Afro dance, burlesque dance, combat dance

Crystals: Citrine, Tigers Eye, Carnelian, Pyrite, Sunstone, Amber, Yellow Jasper, Garnet, Golden Topaz

Essential Oils: Bergamot, Lemon, Ginger, Peppermint, Rosemary, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Cedar-wood

Colors: Golden Yellow

Music: Pop music, hip hop and rap, rock and alternative rock, R&B, soul, EDM, reggae, heavy metal, inspirational, spiritual, Afro beats, 528 hz, 396 hz, 417 hz, 639 hz, 741 hz, 320 hz

Healing foods for you: Bananas, lemons, pineapples, yellow peppers, corn, brown rice, sweet potatoes, oats, ginger, turmeric, yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, nuts and seeds, eggs, lentils, chickpeas, oranges, mangoes

Teas and Supplements: Ginger, lemon balm, chamomile, peppermint, green matcha, rooibos, dandelion root, ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, vitamin b complex, magnesium, turmeric, ginseng, probiotics, l-thetanine

Key Components

• Having self awareness and walking around with your head held high

•Living authentically to your true self, not conforming for others

• Taking action but also letting things be and relaxing

• Having trust and faith

• Leading with integrity and compassion

• Responding not reacting

• Aligning with your soul purpose

• The more you stay true to your values the easier success comes

• Being spiritual

Libra 7th

Heart Chakra: Love, compassion, forgiveness, emotional healing, relationships, unconditional love, empathy, inner peace.

Exercise: Fitness classes, walking, hiking.

Hobbies: Arts and crafts, cooking and baking, gardening, music and dance, reading and writing, animal companionship, sound therapy and singing, support groups

Yoga: Hatha Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Heart Opening

Dance: Contemporary, ballet, contact improvisation, tribal fusion belly dance, soul motion

Crystals: Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Amazonite, Moonstone, Aquamarine

Essential Oils: Rose, Frankincense, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Geranium

Colors: Green, Pink

Music: Classical music, pop music, ambient, folk, jazz, 639 hz, 528 hz

Healing foods: Kale, spinach, broccoli, avocado, kiwi, cucumber, nuts and seeds, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, dark chocolate, salmon, sardines

Teas and supplements: Chamomile, rose petals, hibiscus, magnesium, zinc, b6, b12

Key Components

• Understanding of both yourself and others

• Staying humble and aware of both your strengths and weaknesses

• Healing from your past wounds

• Practicing forgiveness and giving others space to forgive

• Showing love unconditionally

• Practicing self love both on the physical and emotional level

• Discerning who is pouring love back into you

• Strive towards wholeness in your interpersonal relationships

• Seeing others as an extension of yourself

Gemini/Sagittarius 3rd/9th

Throat Chakra: Communication, self expression, speaking one’s truth, creativity, clear and authentic expression, verbal and non-verbal, honesty, open communication

Exercise: Strength training, team sports, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai.

Hobbies: Creative writing and journaling, blogging or vlogging, theater or improv classes, stand up comedy, painting and drawing, photography, public speaking groups, debate clubs, musical instrument, song writing, book club, volunteering

Yoga: Vinyasa Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Vlog

Dance: Contemporary dance, salsa, ballroom, modern dance, ballet, contact improvisation, kizomba

Crystals: Sodalite, Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Blue Lace Agate

Essential Oils: Peppermint, frankincense, eucalyptus, lavender

Colors: Blue, Turquoise, Light Blue, Lavender

Music: Indie, jazz, experimental rock, electronic music, post punk, folk, alternative rock, neo soul, acoustic, indie folk, 639 hz, 741 hz

Healing foods: Fresh herbs, vibrant vegetables, salmon, chia seeds, spinach, kale, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, dark chocolate, avocado

Teas and Supplements: Chamomile, peppermint, rosemary, omega-3-fatty acids, b -complex vitamins, l-thetanine, rhodiola rosea

Key Components

• Living authentically to who you are

• Being able to clearly communicate and also actively listen to others

• Actions and words align

• You allow your ideas to flow, write them down and execute

• Focused on personal growth

• You care only what you think of yourself

Pisces / 12th house

Third Eye Chakra: Intuition, perception, inner vision, spiritual insight, inner vision, spiritual connection, emotional awareness, visionary experiences

Exercise: Tai Chi, Qiong, Martial Arts

Hobbies: Journaling, Creative writing, poetry, nature observation, bird watching, art therapy or visual arts, meditation, reading, cooking or baking, gardening or plant care, traveling or exploring new places, listening to music or playing an instrument

Yoga: Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Kirpalu Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Minful Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha Yoga

Dance: Ecstatic dance, belly dance, contemporary dance, qiong or tai chi inspired, sacred dance, trance dance, improvisational dance, chakra dance, butoh

Crystals: Amethyst, Lapis Luzuli, Labradorite, Moonstone, Clear Quartz, Sodalite, Fluorite, Lepidolite, Celestite, Lolite, Angelite, Kyanite, Selenite

Essential Oils: Frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, clary sage, patchouli, rosemary, geranium, juniper berry, myrrh, lemon, jasmine

Colors: Indigo Blue, Purple, Deep Blue, Violet, White

Music: Ambient music, new age, world music, chill wave, folk and acoustic, indie, electronic, classical music, chanting, binaural beats, 396 hz, 417 hz, 528 hz, 639 hz, 741 hz, 4-8hz, 8-12hz, 0.5-4 hz,

Healing Foods: Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, arugula, nuts and seeds, blueberries, avocado, pineapple, bananas, oranges, apples, brown rice, oats

Teas and Supplements: Chamomile, holy basil, peppermint, green tea, Yerba mate, ashwagandha, omega 3 fatty acids, rhodiola rosea, b vitamins, DHA, l-thetanine

Key Components:

• Grounded in your intuition

• Writing down your insights

• Deeper connection to spirituality

• Living mindfully

• Take your time, slowing down

• Praying, talking to your spirit guide, connecting to your higher self

• Meditating

• Making peace within your life

• Spending time to yourself to nourish your vessel

• Affirming yourself

Virgo/Aquarius 6th/11th

Crown Chakra: Spiritual enlightenment, unity, higher consciousness, inner peace, non-attachment, meditation and contemplation, sense of purpose

Exercise: Tai Chi, Qiong, Martial Arts, Mindful Pilates

Hobbies: Journaling, art and painting, writing, music and sound healing, dance, hiking, gardening, nature photography, tide pool exploration, spiritual group, attending ceremonies, volunteering, reading, attending workshops and retreats

Yoga: Bhakti Yoga, Kirtan Yoga, Kundalani Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga

Dance: Sacred Dance, Sufi Whirling, Gurdjieff Movements, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Flamenco, Butoh

Crystals: Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Sodalite, Moonstone, Lapis Lazuli, Selenite, Citrine, Turquoise

Essential Oils: Frankincense, Sandalwood, Lavender, Rose, Patchouli, Myrrh, Bergamot

Colors: Violet, Purple, White, Silver, Gold, Lavender

Music: New age, ambient, world music, chanting, mantras, tribal, indigenous music, classical Indian music, ambient electronic, 432 hz, 528 hz, 639 hz, 741 hz, 852 hz, 963 hz

Healing Foods: Berries, coconut, apples, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, nuts and seeds, brown rice

Tea and Supplements: Holy Basil, chamomile, peppermint, green tea, lavender, omega 3 fatty acids, rhodiola rosea, ashwagandha, ginkgo biloba, vitamin d, melatonin

Key Components

• Clearing your mind through mediation

• Writing and journaling in order to empty your brain

• Using your wisdom in practical ways

• Writing down your spiritual insights

• Trusting your gut

• Learning the art of detachment

• Living in the present moment

• Spiritual connection that allows you to view life in multiple ways

• Healthy body and feel energized for the day

• An inner peace

• You practice gratitude

• You extend yourself to others in a helpful and compassionate way

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roc-haze · 30 days ago

Text

Continuation from “I Was Neon”.

Southern Sun | WillNE

��✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊

After spending the day exploring the local cafe strip in the CBD, the boys raiding Y/N’s pantry and taking over the pool in her apartment complex, they were ready to explore. Y/N had changed out her footy gear for tourist clothes - decked out in linen, Birkenstocks and a dad hat she’d copped from one of the players she worked with. She was determined to squeeze in as much Perth as she could.

The next morning, the crew was up early. Y/N and Lachie had planned out their day to a tee. First stop was a drive up to Cottesloe Beach for a walk along the water and coffee from the local food trucks.

Lachie was determined to teach them AFL, and had them kicking a footy around while Will disappeared. Y/N and Lux sat on the wall along the stretch of beach, laughing to themselves as she explained the rules. Will wandered over with two drinks, handing her one without asking. “Flat white, almond milk. I remembered,” he said, a smug smile tugging at his lips. She gave him an exaggerated gasp, before following up with a sincere “thanks”.

Lachie had somehow wrangled the boys into the respective cars, the original late night Maccas crew in the same car with the others following. The rest of the morning was spent exploring the rest of Freo. They ran around the markets, bought tickets to see the old Fremantle Gaol, tried a matcha from the cafe strip and the local boutique stores.

Ethan and Harry got stopped by a street interviewer, who was quick to ask them their opinions on the current political climate - to which Y/N and Lachie immediately ran in to pull them out. Harry would manage to finally be cancelled. Josh and Freezy immersed themselves in the music scene, dancing around the buskers and stopping to chat with the local gallery owners. Lunch rolled around and they found themselves by the water yet again, yapping away. Y/N and Lachie were busy educating their guests about the existence of drop bears (or lack thereof). Will had picked a fight with a seagull, copping a chip to the face from his new favourite roommate.

“Oi, what the fuck?” He laughed, whipping around.

“You can tell she works in footy. Look at the aim on her.” Lachie high fived the other Australian.

Late afternoon rolled around and they found themselves back at Y/N’s apartment complex, rotting away in the pool. Will and Simon sat on the edge of the pool as the rest of them swam around. Will had a disposable camera in hand, snapping photos of his mates.

Y/N swam up, holding her hands out.

He looked over at her, the wind tugging at strands of her hair. She didn’t say anything, just reached out and took the camera, turning it to face him.

“Want me to pose?” he asked.

“Nah. Might make the head look squarer.”

—

Dinner reservations were made for 6:30pm. Lachie had pulled some strings and gotten a table at a rooftop bar overlooking the Swan River. The dress code was smart casual - the boys were all decked out in nice linen shirts and out of hoodies for the first time since they’d arrived. Y/N had traded in her work polo for an actual dress.

As they went through appetisers for the table and shared their first round of drinks, Simon started looking around the table. “Do you think we should do a toast?”.

Simon raised his glass. “To Australia and to our local tour guide.” He gestured to Y/N. “Thanks for not kicking us out of your house. And for keeping the boys from getting kicked out of the country today.”

Everyone took turns clinking their glasses, and Y/N flushed but raised hers in return. “Just wait till you hit Melbourne.”

Will, sat to her left, leaned in closer. “I don’t think the trip could get much better. You’re setting quite a precedent.”

“Oh, I never disappoint.” She winked.

By the time the dinner plates were cleared, it was almost dark outside. Tiramisu was ordered for the table, the cocktail menu was brought out and Will took it as an opportunity to grab Y/N away from the group.

The view was incredible. The lights made the water look almost iridescent. She leaned on the railing of the rooftop balcony, unbeknownst to Will’s staring beside her.

“Don’t want to leave tomorrow,” Will admitted.

Y/N looked at him. “You’re not going far.”

“No,” he said. “But it’s not the place I’m worried about.”

Her breath hitched slightly. “Yeah?”

Will didn’t look away. “It’s weird. I’ve known you for three days. But it doesn’t feel that way.”

She smiled softly, teasing. “That’s because you live in my house.”

He laughed. “That’s probably it.”

They stood in comfortable silence, Will eventually deciding to break it.

“I’m glad I came here,” he said quietly.

She met his eyes. “Me too.”

Back at the table, Lachlan leaned over to Freezy, nodding towards the two leaning over the railing. “Told you.”

“Told me what?”

“That someone was gonna fall for her.”

Freezy took a sip of his drink, watching the two interacting.

“You may be right,” he said. “But I think she might be heading that way too.”

—

Y/N was curled up by the plane window, a hoodie tucked under her chin, one AirPod had fallen out and the other was being used to watch the newest episode of the MomTok ladies.

Will was beside her, flipping through the in-flight entertainment book. “As if these planes don’t have screens,” he’d complained. Most of the group had crashed hard the moment the plane had taken off, but Y/N had Will next to her wanting to yap for the whole 4 hour flight.

Will glanced sideways. “Do you think Melbourne will top Perth? From a tourist perspective.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “Not a chance.”

“You’re biased. Wanna back that statement?”

She stretched her legs out and yawned. “Perth’s my home. You don’t beat home. Plus, this next leg is a bit chaotic for me. I’ve only got tonight with you guys, then I’m off.”

He frowned slightly. “Where to?”

“Meeting with another footy club tomorrow morning. They’ve got a media seminar thing on that I can’t miss.” She gave him a pointed look. “I’m in the room next to you and Lux, please no noise after I put myself to bed.”

“No promises.” He winked.

She rolled her eyes .

They both sat quietly for a moment, but the peace didn’t last long. Will jabbed her shoulder gently. “Alright. Explain it to me again.”

She blinked. “Explain what?”

“This whole 2025 AFL premiership thing. Who’s winning?”.

Y/N laughed. “Okay, so it’s Round 11. At the moment, Sydney and Brisbane are top four material. The Pies are dominating. Carlton’s had a shocking start, Essendon’s somehow overachieving, and the Cats have snuck their way back into contention. Again.”

Will looked intrigued. “And your lot? West Coast?”

She let out a short laugh. “Bottom four. We’re rebuilding. But not in the way that Man United are rebuilding. We’ve got a fairly new lineup, they just need the game experience.”

Will quirked an eyebrow. “Well. In your expert opinion, where do you think you’ll end up?”.

She grinned. “Harley Reid’s basically dragging us up the ladder kicking and screaming. We’ll find out.”

Will rested his head back. “So who’s winning?”.

“Might be too early to tell. Brisbane are starting to look like flag potential. Collingwood has the best culture, they play the best consistently. The Daicos brothers plus Steele and a strong midfield? Game over.”

“Alright,” he said, pointing at her, “if I pick a team, you have to buy me merch from them.”

“That’s risky. But then again, you are a Newcastle fan.”

A/N: Finally a part two to the Aussie series! ✨✨

Taglist for this series:

@jonnybernthalslover @breaboo @asmoothoperator @valntynebaby

#willne #uk youtuber #willne x reader #roc haze #will lenney #Spotify

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xzaddyzanakinx · 1 year ago

Text

My Best Girl

Stepdad!Anakin Skywalker x Femme Reader Oneshot

18+ MDNI

Warnings: domestic violence/abuse, non-con/dub-con, oral sex, emotional abuse, manipulation, gaslighting

Info: this is a graphic and accurate depiction of an instance of domestic abuse/non-con. Read at your own risk.

🕊dead dove do not eat🕊

“Don't lie to me," he snarled, his hands gripping your wrists tightly. "I saw you."

He leaned in closer, his ice blue eyes boring into yours, filled with pure undiluted jealousy.

"Tell me the truth." Anakin’s fingers dug into your wrists just like your knees dug into the tile of the kitchen floor.

You were sitting at the kitchen counter, having a wonderful little moment to yourself. A big tall glass of blue koolaid, your favorite snack and your comfort cartoon playing quietly on your phone for background noise while you worked diligently on repairing your younger brother Luke’s loth-cat stuffie.

The poor thing had been through the wringer this week; left all alone in the cold dark cubby overnight in his preschool classroom, ran over by Leia’s tricycle, and his undoing was being left unattended in the living room under the watchful eye of your family dog. The horrible shriek that pierced your ears was enough to burst your eardrums, you went rushing, hoping that you didn’t walk into a bloody mess.

Though the tantrum that ensued after his initial shock was more than enough to wish maybe just alittle bit that Leia had just wacked him upside the head with her toy doctor’s kit again.

You’d sworn on your life that his ‘only best friend’ would have his leg reattached and in it’s rightful place under his arm when he woke up tomorrow morning.

So there you sat, sewing his leg back on when your stepfather Anakin returned home from work. Covered in oil and grease from his day at the garage, he walked past the kitchen and gave you a wave and crooked smile. You gladly returned the gesture, your relationship with your stepdad had begun rocky, arguments and mean words exchanged on a daily basis. But now, months later, you’d finally begun to get along.

He was a good man, a good dad; it wasn’t his fault that he had a bit of an anger issue. He worked hard to keep it in check, attending therapy, taking CBD gummies, he even tried meditating.

You’d quickly come to realize that his anger was a front to hide his vulnerabilities. He was a horribly cocky and arrogant person outwardly. But inside, tucked away in a beat up box, was a messily stored collection of vulnerabilities and insecurities.

Anakin thrived on praise and affection, he was happiest when he was eight inches deep in your poor little fucked-out pussy. Bathing in the sounds of your babbled compliments, the sweet lilt of your whiny voice when you begged him for more. His favorite thing? The best compliment? The quickest way to reassure him of his worth? That was the devastatingly wet *shlck* of his cock sliding home between your thighs.

It never failed to astound him. The way your body responded to him, the way you were tucked under his thumb. When he was pounding into you night after night while your mother worked the late shift; that’s when he truly came to life.

You made him feel needed. Wanted. Valued. But most importantly? Worshipped.

There was nothing else like the rush of warm adoration he felt from every little noise your pretty mouth made. It flowed over his tired, work-worn body and soothed all his stress away. He needed it. He craved it. He had to have it.

You.

You were the only thing that mattered.

It would be an understatement to say that he regretted marrying your mother. Every second of every day he hated her more. She wasn’t you. She could never be you.

Divorce, the hours of research on annulments, laws and stipulations, the legality of things. He’d searched through it all. He had the best lawyer in the state on speed-dial. Set on retainer for the moment he saw his opportunity to snatch up his brand new trophy wife.

But it’s not exactly acceptable to divorce your wife of six months to run off with her freshly 18 year old daughter is it? No. But was he going to do it? Absolutely.

You were his good girl.

You were his good girl, til now.

Anakin crouched down in front of you, getting on your level somehow made you feel even smaller. Any other time you would’ve taken the time to admire his freshly washed hair that stuck to his forehead in little swoops, the scent of his cedar soap, his bare chest and that delicious V carved into his lower abdomen.

But instead all you could see was the hard line of his lips, his knitted eyebrows… he was trying so hard to be angry. But you could tell he was just in pain, those big beautiful blue eyes were holding back tears, and you so badly wanted to comfort him, to make him understand.

“Anakin. Please listen.” You pleaded with him, desperate to get him to hear you out.

“Oh? I’ve been listening.” He stood back up and grabbed your hair roughly, tilting your head back to force you into eye contact. “I just don’t believe what I heard.”

“Just look!” You said gesturing at your phone laying on the counter near him, the screen cracked. “Please just look at you’ll see.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. Seeing what I already know is there.” He scowled.

“Am I not good enough for you?” He hissed, shaking your head by your hair. “Is that it?”

Before you could even answer him he grabbed your jaw and pried your mouth open and shoved two fingers down your throat.

“That’s alright. You don’t deserve me anyway.”

Collecting your saliva on his digits, he removed his fingers and flicked the spit on your face, making you flinch.

“Not even gonna waste my spit on you.” His voice tinged with hurt under the grit of his anger.

Your eyes welled up with tears, never had he spoken to you this way. You never imagined that he was capable of being so mean. Of course he had his issues, you’d argued plenty before you both finally allowed the hands of fate to shove you into each other’s arms. But never like this.

“I come home from work, see you sitting all pretty and patient for me.” He starts, his voice low and dark.

“Then I come back from the shower, ready to hold and love and spoil you just like I do every night. I leaned in to give you a sweet little kiss and what do I see?” You weren’t sure if he wanted an answer, so you stayed silent and waited. Apparently that was the wrong thing to do.

“I asked you a fucking question.” He grumbled. “You were so eager to talk earlier, so fucking talk.”

“You saw me decline a phone call.” You said quietly, trying hard to keep eye contact with him through the blurriness in your vision.

“A phone call from who?” He prodded.

“My friend Tyler.” You answered meekly.

“Exactly.” He released your hair by pushing you backwards, causing you to catch yourself with your elbow right on the granite tile flooring.

Pain shot up your upper arm and wracked your body with a momentary spasm of tension as your brain tried to sort out this new pain. Extended your arm gently you breathed in relief that it wasn’t actually damaged, but you would definitely have a gnarly bruise.

Anakin had turned around, his back to you. One hand on the kitchen counter and the other ruffling his wet hair, shaking off water droplets as he did so.

“Why?” He asked, his tone quieter but no less menacing. “Why would you hang up like that if there wasn’t anything to hide?”

“B-because Ani, I was talking to you!” You tried to explain as you stood up and hesitantly stepped closer to him.

“Don’t.” He barked over his shoulder. “Don’t you fucking touch me.”

“I was- okay.” You said, backing away.

“Anakin I was just trying to focus on you that’s all. You’d just gotten home, I didn’t want to be bothered while I was spending time with you.” Your whisper sounded cracked, broken.

“Why is a boy calling you at 8:00 on a Friday huh?” He spun around quickly and grabbed your arm.

“They’re not a-“ You tried to speak, to explain yourself but he didn’t give you a second breath.

He stole the air from your lungs and the words from your mouth with a resounding *smack* to your cheek. The impact was so forceful that your head felt like it was on swivel and you stumbled back. Too shocked to even cry, too hurt to look at him.

“Were you planning to cheat? Is that what this is?” He scoffed.

“N-no!” You squeaked. “No I wouldn’t! Never!”

He laughed, not in amusement or cynicism, but in a strangled bout of hysteria.

“And I’m supposed to believe that?” His teeth clenched and bared.

“You think someone else would treat you as well as I do? That they’d be able to put up with your attitude?” He laughed again, pointing his finger in your face.

“You’re a fucking brat you know that? There’s not another man in this galaxy who could love you like I do. You’re a spoiled bitch. But you’re my spoiled bitch.”

You flinched at his choice of words. He’d called you a brat plenty of times, sometimes even as a term of endearment. Bitch though? The thought of him calling you that was previously inconceivable.

“You want me to show you how someone else would treat you? How this stupid fucker Tyler would handle you?” He growled, putting a hand on the back of your neck and forcing you to your knees.

“Anakin wait! Just let-“ He shoved your face into the soft flannel of his pajama pants, fisting your hair to hold you in place while he ground his cock across your tear stained cheeks.

“No sweetheart I’m not Anakin right now remember? I’m anyone but me.” He corrected you.

“Take your fucking shirt off. I want to see those pretty tits.” He smirked as he watched you quickly comply. “There. Not so difficult Hmm?”

You shook your head no in agreement with him, hoping to appease him. You had no idea where this was going, but you knew for damn sure that you weren’t gonna like it.

“That’s right.” He said as he gripped your jaw once more, chuckling when you instinctively dropped your mouth open. “That was the last easy thing you’ll be doing tonight.”

“Pull out my cock.” He demanded, the look on his face giving no indication that this was negotiable.

You hesitated, then steeled yourself to comply with his order. His pretty cock, the beautiful thing that made you feel like you were floating amongst the clouds… was standing tall and proud. This was the only time you’d ever been unhappy to see it and you hoped it was the last time too.

“Oh don’t look at me like that.” He grumbled. “This is what you wanted isn’t it? To be a whore? To cheat on me?”

“No! Anakin Tyler isn’t-“ He scoffed and took advantage of your open mouth and forced your head down around his length.

“Fuck.” He mumbled his stomach muscles tightened momentarily before relaxing again.

“Finally some fucking peace and quiet. I’m sick of your whining. I don’t ever want to hear that fuckboy’s name again do you understand me?” He growled, his eyes filled with jealousy painted red with rage.

Anakin started to thrust quick and shallow into your mouth panting while he glared down at you like you were his mortal enemy.

“You like this?” He asked, watching you shake your head no vigorously. “No? Didn’t think you would.”

“Can’t fucking believe this shit.” He moaned, tipping his head back toward the ceiling before letting his chin fall to his chest.

He growled, seeing you drool down the column of your throat. A fire lit behind his eyes and burst into an inferno after only seconds of this brutal punishment.

“Move your tongue.” He commanded, jerking your head to the side when you didn’t do it immediately. “Fuck, that’s better.”

Your tongue lay flat against the under side of his shaft as his cockhead started to bully its way down your throat, in and out in deep ruthless strokes. Tears pricked your eyes and began to fall, this time from discomfort instead of the horrible emotional pain he’d dealt to you.

“What?” He laughed again, looking down at you with a menacing grin that didn’t meet his glassy eyes. “Don’t wanna be a whore anymore do you?”

You shook your head no to the best of your ability and Anakin nodded in agreement, his breath caught in his throat just like his cock was stuck in yours.

“This is how men treat whores.” He said matter of factly. “Like a stupid little fuck toy. Do you want to be a stupid fuck toy?”

“No of course you don’t.” He tsk’d. “You want to be my good girl, my sweet princess.”

You nodded vigorously, choking on his length accidentally from the quick movement.

Your gag reflex kicked in violently, caused by your choking fit as you tried to cough, your body begging for some control to be returned to you. You struggled to breathe as he continued his brutal assault on your throat. But despite the pain, there was an odd thrill running through you, a sick satisfaction knowing you were pleasing him in this way. You should hate him for what he’s doing right now, but it would be a lie if you said you didn’t find it alittle bit hot.

He was unraveling quickly, his hips snapping fast and deep. You heard the familiar change in breathing that happen just moments before he would cum, the cute little high-pitched whimpers that left his beautiful plump lips.

You tapped his thigh, looking up at him with furrowed brows and pleading eyes. Begging him to relent for just moment so you could breathe.

“No, I’m close. You can wait." he growled back, his pace unrelenting, but his voice becoming shaky.

“I don’t understand.” He panted, looking down at you with a pained expression. “Why would you want to be treated this way when I give you all the love in the world? When I love you so much?

“Seeing you hurt like this baby… it hurts me.” He sniffled, on the verge of tears.

“Just think, imagine it sweetheart; what if you went out there tonight and that horrible guy did this to you?” His eyebrows turned up in a deep swoop.

“You know I’m only doing this to help you right baby?” He let out a choked sob as his cock twitched in your mouth.

“I don’t want you to get hurt! I love you!” He cried out, his own tears freely flowing, salty drips hitting your face as he stared down at you with the face of a broken man.

“Promise me you won’t ever make me do this again.” He whispered, lovingly wiping the tears from your eyes. “I can’t stand it.”

“Promise? You won’t ever do it again? Please baby.” He cried, his chest heaving with a sob as his face scrunched up.

“Can’t do that to me, you can’t! I’d die.” He was practically hysterical, seeing him like this was tearing you apart in ways his rough treatment couldn’t. The pain and torture in his voice was a worse punishment.

“I wouldn’t wanna live without you. I wouldn’t.” He sobbed, his thumbs softly caress your cheekbones made you forget all about the way he was brutalizing you. It made you forget the hurtful things he’d said. You weren’t even sure your throat would be sore after this; how could it be worse than having your heart bruised the way Anakin’s must be?

“My sweet girl.” He sniffled. “My poor baby, I’m sorry. So sorry I had to do this. You understood don’t you doll?

You nodded, crying for an entirely different reason now. If you could, you’d be wailing. Pleading with him as you comforted him with kisses and gentle touches, holding him as he cried over your actions. How could you have done this? How could you be so cruel!?

“Good girl baby.” He hiccuped. “Good girl. I love you. Love you so much babydoll, g-gonna hold you n’ make love to you like you deserve.”

His hips stuttered against your mouth, his stomach tense and his hand tightened around your hair.

“My best girl.” He whined. “Do you want my cum? Those horrible bad men wouldn’t give it to you. They wouldn’t know how much you love it.”

You nodded, eyes rolling back in your head. He’s right. They wouldn’t know, how could they know? No one knew you like Anakin did.

“Mmm… yeah? G-goddamn.” He whimpered, pushing your face deep into his groin, your nose pressed firmly into the curly hairs at the base of his cock.

He sobbed, a full loud heart-wrenching sob as he came violently down your throat. You gratefully drank it down, thankful he’d let you have it after all you’d put him through.

Gently he pulled himself from your mouth, wiping his eyes dry as he sniffled. Tucking himself back into his pants before scooping you up into his arms and rocking you against his chest. Then he walked over to the recliner in the living room and sat down with you.

He let you cry it out while showering you with love and affection and beautiful sweet words in his warm honeyed voice. Finally once you’d calmed down he tilted your chin up to face him. Giving you a slow sensual kiss. The kind of kiss that was almost sticky, your lips wanting to stay connected for as long as possible.

“Are you okay sweetheart? Do you need anything?” He whispered against your lips in a pleading tone.

“No.” You shook your head, still taking shaky short gasping breaths. “M’so sorry Ani.”

“Oh baby. No, it’s okay.” He cooed. “You didn’t know. That’s why I had to teach you huh?”

“Uh huh.” You sniffled.

“You understand now don’t you doll? No body could ever love you like I do.” He squeezed you tightly as you agreed.

“That was horrible wasn’t it?” He sighed. “Those other boys… oh princess it would be so much worse you know that?”

“I couldn’t be as mean to you as they could, not even half as bad.” He said softly as if the information were scary to even say outloud.

“R-really?” You squeaked, not even half as bad? You shivered at the thought that if could ever be worse than he’d shown you.

“Yes baby.” He nodded, a sad and solemn expression on his tear streaked face.

“Th-thank you Ani.” You sniffled. Feeling grateful that he wasn’t even capable of what must be such horrendous brutality.

“Oh sweetheart. Don’t thank me,” he whispered, petting your head. “Just hold me and I’ll hold you okay? We both need alittle extra snuggles tonight after that don’t we?”

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@angelsadmired @kaminokatie @anakin-pilled

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lake-spy · 7 months ago

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Meeting You At The Subway

Artem x GN! Reader, Song Fic.

check out 12:28 by Jeiven! 1369 words.

small note: It's my first fic that I'm publishing, so I'm sorry if it's odd in a way!

Summary:

—>A few days ago, Artem's car broke down and required repair. As a result, he decided to start using the subway to get to the law firm. Little did he know that someone would catch his eye while he was on the train. Since then, he has found himself using the train often just so that he can see you.

Lately, Artem has been taking the subway train to work. He’s running to come through as he looks around for a nice seat when he sees an empty chair by the window. Artem took a seat, checked the time and sighed. It’s 12 in the afternoon, well, precisely 12:22 pm. He knew he would clock in to work late today, which would be unusual for others to see him arrive so late. He wished that his car hadn’t broken down a few days ago; it would’ve been quicker to drive to the law firm rather than to commute there. Artem leaned back against his seat, closing his eyes and trying to regain his breath after running so that he could reach the train on time. Even though he knew the train would leave at 12:30 pm, rushing there was better than being sorry. He looked at the train door, watching people go in and out; the train was bustling and loud. Oh, but little did Artem know there was someone fair and pretty who would catch his attention.

At 12:28 pm, you came rushing inside the train, nearly missing it by 2 minutes. You leaned over to a post— breathing heavily before taking a seat across Artem. Seeing you made him forget about the world and noise around him. Now he’s wondering who you are. You’ve wholly caught his attention overall. He hadn’t even noticed how long he had been staring at you until the train started moving and your eyes locked with his. Artem quickly looked away and cleared his throat. Now, he wouldn’t be the one to believe in such absurd things as love at first sight, but when his eyes locked with yours? It felt like fate. When Artem looked back at you, he noticed you were still on him; it honestly almost made him blush out of embarrassment. He took note of how your eyes sparkled like diamonds underground.

You looked so simple, yet when you started smiling, it was as if he had caught a glimpse of heaven. How cute… He quickly shook his head at that thought and mentally berated himself for even thinking that you were cute. You are a stranger and don’t know each other well. He shouldn’t be thinking like that towards you. He looked away from you, averting his attention from you. Instead, he focused on the window. He swore he nearly heard you chuckle at him. He wondered if you caught his tired and weary face; Artem hoped you didn’t.

You smiled softly at the sight of the handsome stranger before you. It was cute how hard he tried not to seem flustered; although he was trying to hide it, his ears were visibly red—it almost made you chuckle. You knew that you would much prefer to do your daily routine while you were on the train, which was starting your work through your phone. But right now? You would much like observing the pretty man with beautiful brown hair and striking blue eyes like aquamarine gemstones. While you would much like to keep your eyes on him, you did not want to seem like a creep, so you searched inside your bag for your phone; only then would you see the book you’ve been meaning to start but never had the time for.

You’ll just read the book for now while sneaking small glances at the man before you, though you quickly got immersed in the book before you could even glance at him again.

Throughout the ride to the CBD station, Artem wondered if he said “Hello,” would you say it back or just ignore him? The train arrived at his stop before he could even stand up and shoot his shot. Artem sighed and grabbed his stuff. As he did so, he noticed that you’d put away your book and grabbed your bag, standing up to leave. It seems like this was your stop as well. Though, he can’t waste his time talking to you right now. He’s already late for work. So, with that being said, he quickly left the station and made his way to the law firm while you went the other way.

....

From then on, Artem took the subway almost every other day just to catch a glimpse of you. While his car was already fixed and he could have started driving to the Themis Law firm instead, he chose to commute. The first time he saw you was on the first of December at 12:28 p.m. For any other person on the train, that date would be irrelevant, but to him, it signified the feeling of fate from seeing you.

Today, the train was calmer than before; he didn’t have to rush through the door. But alas, Artem had to, hoping to see you once more. He entered with a small smile, looking around for a seat down the aisle. It was 12 in the afternoon, 12:22 pm, the same time he had come here on the first time he had to use the train a few days ago. Artem had noticed that he hadn’t seen the familiar (your hair colour)ed stranger. He frowned a bit but knew deep down that he’d eventually see you again in just a moment. He eventually found a seat. It was by the window again. Artem knows that window seats are pretty, but it would be better if you were with him. Never in his life had he been so mesmerised by your pretty (your eye colour) eyes. Eyes that shine like stars in the night sky, eyes sparkling like diamonds. He wished he could look at them for a bit longer than just small glimpses.

Artem sighed and looked out the window, then at his phone, looking for some sort of distraction for the moment. But, his mind drifts off elsewhere. He wonders if it would ever be possible for your hands to intertwine with his. He wondered how soft it would be, and even if it weren’t as soft– he wouldn’t have minded as long as he held your hand. Eventually, he heard the familiar footsteps enter the train. At 12:25, he saw you seated next to the sky (window). As if almost immediately, his heart jumped at the sight of you.

As the train goes by, Artem loses track of time.

Eight times Artem met you at the same place and time if only he had known and noticed all the different signs. You caught him staring at you seven times in six stops today, and in five seconds, he had already forgotten where he was going and which way. It was a bit embarrassing for him, and it could’ve been if you hadn’t approached him, finally making a move on each other after so long. He looked at you with blue eyes, a little surprised to see you approaching him. You would have been lying to yourself if you hadn’t noticed how your eyes locked on each other longer than usual.

“Hey.” you greeted first. A voice so warm and welcoming, and boy— did his heart nearly leapt out of his chest. Artem’s voice got stuck in his throat for a second; he looked away from you and cleared his throat to regain his composure.

“Hey…” he greeted back, his voice a little strained, and oddly enough, it sounded nervous. He never expected to hear himself sound like that. And as a response to hearing his own voice, his cheeks burned light pink. It was such an adorable sight for you. You chuckled a little before you took a seat right next to him.

“Y/n, and you are?” You smiled.

“Artem… Artem Wing.”

“Well, Artem, I believe it’s finally time we started getting to know each other. No?” You replied with a slightly cheerful tone, tilting your head and grinning right at him. His heart fluttered at the sight. He only gave you a slight nod, returning your smile.

Perhaps this could be the start of something new between you. Perhaps he was right about meeting you as destiny. He’ll be forever thankful for meeting you on December 12:28

#tears of themis #tears of themis x reader #tears of themis x you #artem wing #tot artem #zuo ran #x reader #Artem X Reader

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its-in-the-woods · 1 year ago

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Down the Rabbit Hole Chapter 17

Chapter one here, two here, three here, four here , five here, six here, seven here, eight here,nine here, ten here, eleven here , twelve here , thirthen here, fourteen here, Fifteen Here, Sixteen Here

master list

Pairing: Walton Goggins x You + OCs

Rating/Warning: As always minor get out, Angst, hurt/comfort, lots of self-doubt, blindfold, p in v, creampie, comfort sex, cowgirl, idk it's late, be nice,

Synopsis: Updated synopsis, Red carpet doesn't always go the way you want.

Note: This is took time, there was a lot of emotions. A lot of self-reflection, enjoy!

It was so loud, it was so bright, you have the feeling you probably look more like a deer in headlights than a movie star's girlfriend. You try to focus on the feel of Walton’s hand on your waist, how he’d lean down and whisper encouraging words in your ear. You make sure to smile and nod, turning this way and that like he had shown you before you had gotten there. The handlers move you from one spot to the next one. Walton leaned down to tell you that he’d meet you inside, to just follow the path through the doors. You let out a breath, trying to gracefully walk down the carpet to the doors. Several different people are yelling at you for info, but you ignore them. Refusing to let it bother you, as they asked you incredibly personal questions. That was the ploy, trying to get a reaction out of you that they could use for their headlines. You were not going to let them rattle you.

Once inside you feel your bracelet vibrate against your wrist. You smile knowing that Walton is thinking about you, a breath coming out of you as the cool air inside hits your face. Panic starts to bubble up inside of you, as you move towards the bathrooms. Pushing open the door you are struck with how nice the space was. Floor to ceiling Mirrors with soft lighting, and walls painted a deep purple. The counters had any product you could imagine needing, along with fluffy white towels. The stalls were floor-to-ceiling as well, made out of some luxurious wood. Swallowing you feel suddenly like you came in covered in mud,

Your bracelet vibrates again, and you relax a little, opening the black clutch and digging out a gummy. Walton had told you to take one if your anxiety was getting bad, you’d used CBD gummies before so popping one didn’t feel too weird. You chew it and grab a bottle of what was probably very overpriced tap water. Looking in the mirror you check that your make-up hasn’t moved, before going into the hallway.

It’s much busier now, your lungs feeling squished in your chest. You reach down and run your hand over the bracelet, feeling a pulse in return. You move your way towards the auditorium where there is more space, trying not to let the feeling of being out of place overwhelm you. Your heart rate slows as the gummy starts to kick in. You smile at a few people as they walk by, not recognizing anyone just yet.

“Hey!,” You look over at a blonde woman making her way towards you. Joelle Carter has a bright smile on her face, she's dressed in a stunning blue gown that sparkles as she moves. Looking as elegant as ever, the woman was all class.

You smile back at her, “Ahh Hi,” Words come out more of a squeak, how could you not have known her? You may have never worked together, but you knew that Walton had.

“You look stunning, wow,” Joelle said with a huge smile taking you, eyes shining as she looked you over.

“Thank you, ahh, likewise. You look incredible,” You smile back, her energy was magnetic. It was hard not to let her present make you feel comfortable.

“I was really hoping you’d come out,” The woman said, the two of you moving over to the side. It is somehow quieter where the two of you have tucked yourselves away.

“Yeah, hard to say no to Walton,” You flush slightly as you feel your bracelet vibrate. “He is very persuasive.”

Joelle laughs, “Oh yeah, that sounds like Walton. Charm for days, pretty sure he could convince anyone to do anything.”

“He does seem to have that effect on people,” You touch your bracelet back, looking over her shoulder to see Walton moving your way. Your body relaxes the closer he gets to you.

Joelle grabs your hand, looking at the bracelet, “Wait, what is this?” Her finger ran over it.

“Oh, uh, just a gift from Walton. Sort of a touch-sensitive bracelet.” You say, trying not to pull it away from her as Walton moves over to you. A bright smile on his face, making you feel at ease. “If I touch it he feels it.”

“Well, if that isn’t the sweetest thing,” She smiles, turning as she follows your gaze to Walton.

“Joelle, you always look so ravishing,” Walton smiles leaning in to kiss her cheek. Your heart flips, but you push it away. Reminding yourself that he was with you and was just being friendly.

“It’s so good to see you again. I know you’ve been busy, we should get dinner sometime. When you are back in town of course.” Joelle smiles, jealousy crawling over your skin. You keep it to yourself, as the two talk about making plans for later. Repeating to yourself that you were overthinking things, everything was fine, even if you didn’t feel fine.

“I would love that. We definitely need to catch up soon, I think there is a new place on the southside we should check out.” Walton chatted, settling in beside you, hand around your waist. You lean into the touch, eyes almost closing at the feel of his warm hand through the fabric of your dress. His finger finds one of the gems and fiddles with it.

“Sounds wonderful to me! I should probably go find a seat, and get settled before things get started.” Joelle squeezed his arm and patted your shoulder before leaving. You smile back at her and want nothing more than to run in the other direction.

“How you doing, beautiful,” Walton asks, turning you to face him. You feel overwhelmed, awkward, and a little dazed.

“It’s a lot,” You say trying to put a smile on your face. “It was nice to meet Joelle.”

“We will have to have her and a few other friends over for dinner once you’re moved in,” Walton replies, “But for now let’s find our table."

Walton leads you a few rows finding a spot that has your name on it, pulling your chair out for you to sit. You sit down making sure that your dress isn’t caught on anything. Waiting for the show to start.

You sit in the back of an SUV on your way to Walton's place, from a whirlwind night. It was almost impossible to piece all the memories together, you had been introduced to many other people. Talked with one of your FX idols about coming by his studio to see some of the stuff he was working on. The whole thing feels surreal, and more like a dream than a real experience. Walton seemed to know everyone there by name, which was a feat in itself. Not only that but everyone knew him, asking about future and past projects.

“Did you enjoy the night? You seem far away.” Walton asks, his hand finding yours, lacing fingers together.

“I did enjoy the night, just a lot of feelings.” You are trying to find the words but it all feels jumbled up in your chest. The resolve you had held up all night is now crumbling around you. “I am not sure I am cut out for this.”

There is silence, and you are already regretting what you said. But you didn’t want to lie either, lying would be worse than not getting it out of your chest. You needed him to hear this, to be raw and open. Cause that is how you feel like a raw nerve suddenly exposed to cold water.

“What do you mean?” Walt pushes, squeezing your hand, you can feel his eyes on you.

“Seeing you, with other people-” You bite your lips, 'cause this isn’t you. You’ve never been a jealous person, but also you’ve never had a relationship like this either. Carrying so deeply about someone had changed you. The man was effortless with everyone, and people were of course drawn to him. “I felt jealous. People hanging off your every word, beautiful people. I just feel so out of place amongst everyone-”

“You fit right in, people loved talking with you,” Walton adds, you know he is trying to comfort you but you need to get this off your chest, or risk being completely consumed by it.

“Walton. You could have any of those people, and I am not going to hold you back from finding someone that can support you in ways that I cannot.” The words hurt more than you can bear, but at least they are out there now. Maybe you’re wrong? Maybe it's lack of sleep and anxiety, but right now this is how you feel.

“First off, you mean so much to me.” He squeezes your fingers again, “But you aren’t holding me back. You don’t get to make that choice. I am with you, no one else. You’re the person I want to be with after any of the booze and lights stop.” He takes a breath and you wish you could look at him, but it all hurts too much. Can feel your chest ache with each word. A sob threatening to break free, “I know that this is your first serious relationship and I know that seeing me flirt with other people would be difficult. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be worked out.”

You swallow, carefully dotting under your eyes where tears have leaked out. Trying your hardest to pull yourself together, and face him. The panic in your chest changing into grief.

“Whatever this relationship is, between us,” Walton says and you finally meet his eyes, even if it means more tears leak out. He is really looking at you, eyes so soft and expressive. As if you are the center of the universe.“I am in it for the long haul. I know we’ve barely been together for a month but you’re so special to me.”

You are now digging into your clutch for tissues and dabbing at your eyes more. “I want that too, but I feel so insecure. It feels so silly, but I don’t feel like I deserve this. I thought I wouldn’t react like this, because I knew that you’d be playing roles that had relationships with other women or men. But I am having such a hard time coming to terms with it. Cause I don't.” You swallow the sob in your throat. “I don't want to lose you.”

The driver had pulled into the drive, the two of you separating for a moment to get out of the vehicle. You take a deep breath of the cool air and try to pull yourself together. Walton is beside you, hand-finding yours as he opens the door for the two of you. The silence is worse, you could handle anger or anything else besides the silence. You take your shoes off, feet happy to be out of the pumps. The two of you walk down to the living room, sitting on the sofa beside one another.

“You aren't going to lose me, no matter who is across from me on set I can’t change how you feel,” Walton says, breaking the tension and silence between both of you. “And I am certain you aren’t looking for me to change. What I do for a living is my everything, it’s my craft. It’s what has kept me going and fills me with joy. I know you’ve seen that first hand.”

You nodded, continuing to listen to what he is saying, as you try to somehow feel comfortable. It was all true, you had no desire to change him, you liked him just as he was. The passion and love of what he does, the endless energy to keep creating and dreaming.

“No matter who I am with, on camera, at events, whatever. You’re the person I want to come home to.” Walton states, sliding so he is right beside you. “Yes, I am a flirt,” He says with a crooked smile, “I have many women, and men, who are dear friends of mine. And maybe one day be friends with you as well. But you are what's important to me.”

You’ve worried at your lip enough to remove the lipstick you put on. Mind still reeling a little. An instinctual urge to run makes your stomach hurt. At the same time you couldn’t, he was the only one who ever took the time to actually care how you felt. To sit here, and listen to all your worries big or small.

“I want to have these hard conversations. Jealousy is not an abnormal feeling, but I want us.” He gestures between both of you. “To work on making you comfortable enough to not feel that. I don’t have the answers, but I think we can do it, if we try. The two of us can do anything together.”

You swallow, the hard line of insecurity still making you question everything. Yet here he was, trying his damndest to show you that he gave a shit about you. Even when all you wanted to do was run in the opposite direction, he held onto you. The anxiety, the panic attacks, it didn't matter cause he wanted to be there with you.

“Are you sure?” You finally ask, fiddling with the jewels on your dress. It was a silly question that you already knew the answer to.

Walton closes his eyes, before smiling, “I am, as sure as I ever have been. I will tell you that every day, every hour, until you believe in yourself.”

He cups your face, hands so warm, leaning so that both of your foreheads touch. You close your eyes, taking a moment to just enjoy this, that he was here with you. That he wanted to be here, and you wanted to be here. That despite your insecurities, never-ending anxiety, and self-doubt he was still here, holding your face like you meant the world to him. You leaned forward and kissed him, just the two of you pressing lips against the other. It felt incredibly intimate despite the tenderness.

Separating, you hear Walton hum a little, eyes opening up to see his. You want to stay there, just let the world pass by while you are pressed forehead to forehead with him.

“I am pretty sure I need to get you out of that dress,” Walton gives you that crooked smile that makes you giggle. The dread eased out of your system as he looked at you.

“You sure you're up for that?” You grin back, finally breaking contact. He is the first up, hand out to pull you against him.

“I am always up when it comes to you,” He leans back down, kisses you, sucking your lip into his mouth, hand moving from your waist down over your ass.

You groan a little pushing your hips against his, “If we wreck this dress, Terrance is going to have me strung u,”

Walton lets out an exaggerated sigh, pulling away before taking your hand. “Guess we better get you out of it then. I unfortunately I’d like to keep him as a friend, if only it means I get to take you out of the clothes he puts you in.”

You giggle as the two of you make your way down to the bedroom, he has you stop just at the edge of the bed in front of the closet. Standing back and looking you over again, eyes glinting mischievously as he asks you to spin.

“It’s almost a shame to get the dress off of you,” He rumbles, “I am definitely coming next time you go dress shopping.”

You flush a little, and do a little curtsy in the dress, “I’d love to wear something you’d like.”

“More, I want to know what I am taking off,” Walton states, “Now hold still,”

You do as he asks, he comes over and carefully takes off the jewels laying them on the bed. He spins you finding the zipper slowly taking it down your back one tooth at a time. It hits the bottom, you can hear his breath as his hands go up and spread the fabric open. He grabs the ties over your neck and undoes it, your breath hitches as the dress slides down and off your body. Warm hands running across your waist, around over your naval, feeling his body pressed against yours. The push of the buttons along your back, the rough material of pants against your ass. Lips coming to the top of your shoulder, he kisses from the edge up to your neck, whispering about how good you smell.

“Mmm,” He whispers, speaking right into your ear.“So beautiful, bare for him to see, just me. Close your eyes for a second, trust me.”

You do what he asks, heart hammering in your throat as he moves away. Can feel goosebumps covering your skin when he moves away from you, eyes closed, fully exposed, and vulnerable to the world. Shivering against the chill in the room, one warm hand touches one of your calves. You lift your foot and step out of the dress, hearing him move it away from you. A shuffle of material behind, and for a moment you wonder if he was going to see how long you’d stand there for. Then he is back, guiding you over to the bed, a soft material is placed over your eyes and tied behind your head.

“Sit on the edge of the bed, Baby,” He coos, hands holding onto yours as you carefully sit down on the bed.

The cool bedspread makes you shiver a little, as you adjust to the feeling. His hands are gone again, your hands resting on each side of your hips. The feeling of a blanket covering your shoulders makes you jump a little.

“Just want to make sure you are warm,” Walton says, kissing your forehead, as he tucks the blanket around you

“Thank you,” You squeak, moving a bit back and forth settling in. The warmth of the blanket eases you as you settle, waiting for the next move.

His hands touch your thighs, and you shiver again, fingers tracing over the skin in various patterns. They come resting against your knees, then tracing up your inner thighs. You can’t help how your lips part, a little gasp coming out. Can feel that he is kneeling between your legs, the brush of clothing against the inner part of your knee. Your hips tilt forward slightly, as his fingers go all the way up to your groin up onto your hips. Body trembling, the whole day felt like so much, and you just wanted him to touch you.

“Please, I can’t,” Your voice shakes as his movements stop for a moment. “I just need you.”

The blindfold is removed, you shutter realizing that tears have formed. Walton’s face is lined with concern, brows scrunched together as he touches your face, wiping the tears away.

“Hey, hey, I am right here,” He whispers, leaning in to give you a small kiss. He is still clothes, suit jacket gone, but everything else is still on.

You lean into his touch, the warmth spreading across your face. “Why are you still dressed?” You try to tease, hands running over the soft shirt.

“Do you want the clothes off?” Walton asks, leaning back onto his heels and looking up at you expectantly.

You slide off the bed so you’re level with him, reaching forward to undo the buttons, finger moving the fabric off his tanned body. You trace your own lines across his skin before pushing the clothes off him. His eyes follow your movements, as the shirt hits the ground. You lean forward kissing him, moving so that you’re pressed against his chest. His hands find your hips as he pulls you closer. You move down his neck and over his shoulder, the same as he did before. You bite a little on the top of his shoulder, he hiss a bit but lets you continue. Looking up at him as he ran down between his pectoral muscles, tasting the salt from the long night. He groans, chest rising and falling in quicker as you continue. Fingers finding the button of his slack, pooping them open.

“Hold up,” Walton says just loud enough for you to stop. “Let’s get in bed before both our knees give out.”

You let out a laugh, and shift onto your feet with a mock groan. Hobbling over to the bed, landing face first into the comforter. Walton smacks your ass, you squeak, he grabs your legs and rolls the rest of you into bed.

“Get under the covers, you’re freezing,” He says, you lift the blankets and slide yourself in, peaking out as you watch him slip out of his pants.

Flipping the covers back for him, you wiggle a little, “Coming to bed?”

“I couldn’t keep a lady waiting now,” Walton grins, sliding into the bed beside. You both hunker down under the covers, staring at each other for a minute. You pull him against you, feeling the way his body reacts to your touches.

“You are stunning,” Walton kisses you, “Make me wild every time I see you, can’t stop thinking about you, the way you move.” He kisses you again, you move yourself so that your hips are pressed against him. “Love how you smile, the sparkle in your eyes when you see me. Just can’t get enough of you.”

You can feel his hips move against yours, a hard line growing against your stomach as you push back against him. You slip your leg up and over his hips, keening as he pushes against you more.

“Love how you talk, the stories you tell,” You whisper back, as the two of you rub against the other in some erotic dance. “How your hands feel against my skin. The way your smile lights up the room. I just want to be right here”

He leans in and kisses you, pushing you back so he can slide in between your legs. Breath catching in your throat as you spread your legs open for him, one hand around his lower back, the other running through his hair. He takes his time kissing you, as you continue to move. Moaning into each other's mouths, you can feel how slick you are as his hard dick pushes against your fold. The two you narrow down to just each other and the movements between you. He moves his hand between the two of you as you work your hips up to just the right angle he slides in and stills. Eyes closed, the two of you breathing in sync. Shift slightly, arching your back which lets him slide even deeper.

“Fuck, you feel so good inside me,” You whimper, you want him to stay like that but you also desperately need him to move.

He grunts, as he slides back and then pushes in, you dig your nails into his back. Feeling every bit of him as he moves, your head tipping back as you find a rhythm. His head is buried against your neck, as he whispers into your ear. Feeling your eyes roll back as you hang on, the sounds of the two of you filling the room. Engulfing the place in a passionate fire that consumes you.

You roll him so that you are on top, rolling your hips against him, leaning back as you slip him back inside you. Hands-on his chest as you rock and grind down on him. Waltons hands on your hips guiding you as you move in circles against him. Holding him in place as you work yourself up into a frenzy, gasping and moaning. His fingers work between the two of you, lidded eyes watching your reaction as you grind against this hand. Hair falling over your shoulders as you let him push you right over the edge, whimpering at the overstimulation, feeling your body shivering and shaking. His hands move to your thighs as he starts to push up into you, motion sloppy, you lean down to kiss him, raising your hips enough for him to have more motion.

“Want to feel you fill me up,” You moan into his ear, “Love when you come inside me,”

Walton gasps at your words, his stuttering as his own release edges closer. You keep moving with him, watching his face as he gets closer. Tipping your hips back down so he is fully inside you.

“Oh fuck, oh god you feel so good,” Walton moans as he releases, finger tight on your hips as he holds you in place,

You let yourself lean forward against his chest, both of your hearts pounding as you lay there. He reaches and pulls the blanket over the top of you both. Arms wrapping around you holding you close, you couldn’t think of a better place to be. The two of you just wrapped up together.

*thank you for the seventeen chapters. nearly 60k in words.

*This has been so much fun

*more to come, please be patient as I am currently neck deep in life stuff

Eighteen

Tag list:

@ghoulphile @Hiddlebatchedloki @live-logs-and-proper @justme12200 @ryankaylamartin96 @rachmari @therest-stillunwritten @sequoiassoul @awhoresjourney @stankface @giggle-shade

#walton goggins #fanfic #writing #writer #fan fiction #p in v #angst #hurt/comfort #comfort sex #established relationship #au #alternate universe #older man x younger women #walton goggins x you #walton goggins x reader #I make this all up #don't get it twisted #down the rabbit hole

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defire · 11 months ago

Text

Back to the Dregs Part 15

Part 1 Next:

Content: injuries, nicotine addiction, painful wound treatment, ANGST, whumper turned caretaker, ptsd, mention of child abuse

Michael dozed. As his consciousness faded in again, he overheard voices in the basement.

"But, sir... you're terrifying him."

"I'm not terrifying him, I'm just being a dick."

"...Maybe both?" Al said tentatively.

There was a pause.

"You think he's really scared?"

"Well, you did threaten to kill him."

"...Yeah, colloquially." Morgan said, and then there was another pause before he added, "Come here." Their steps came toward the bed.

Michael made sure his breathing stayed light and even. After getting kidnapped, he'd started practicing.

"Did you get a look at what they did to him?" Morgan said in a tone deep with irritation.

"Not really." Al said, coming closer.

Michael focused on his breathing, hoping they wouldn't touch him.

"Bruises and cuts, all down his back." Morgan said, more softly now. "I--it's a wonder they didn't fucking kill him. Just... And when he's sick, too."

"Sir, I think he's sick because of the beating."

"That's ridiculous. That doesn't happen." Morgan said. "Anyway, I've got disinfectant, bandages, all that stuff you asked for. Oh, and here. CBD lotion. For the bruises? Just... be gentle."

"Sir, wait!" Al sounded alarmed. "Don't leave me alone with him."

Michael inwardly rolled his eyes. Not like he was some feral animal.

"I don't understand why you would need me." Morgan said. His steps were already retreating.

"What if I need to hold him down? Or carry him to the bathtub?"

There was a pause.

"I don't understand, sir... Why are you so opposed to showing him a little bit of kindness?"

Morgan sighed.

"He might... Smile at me, or something."

Suddenly a large hand fell lightly on Michael's arm. He flinched and gasped awake.

"Huh?" He panted.

"Sorry," Al said, patting his arm. "I've got a few things here that should make you feel better."

Michael breathed out and nodded.

"I think it would really help all of us," Al nodded significantly at Michael, "if you stay, sir, please."

Morgan scowled and came closer.

"Need me to hold him down?" He glared at Michael, who opted for closing his eyes.

He didn't feel up for confrontation like this--not with his head pounding and his skin burning.

"He might do better with a bath, maybe with salt or something." Al said.

The thought of touching his dried-out, inflamed wounds to water was awful.

"Oh, please, no," Michael groaned.

"Michael, dude, calm down." Alvie rubbed his shoulder comfortingly, avoiding the injuries. "If you could see your back... it's really bad. There's... dirt, and stuff."

"Then take me to the hospital." Michael groaned.

"He's upstairs." Morgan cut in, walking closer.

Michael cursed into the pillow, huffing as he pushed back tears yet again.

"Alright, let's do it." He said.

Michael collapsed three times on the way to the basement bathroom, and eventually Morgan wrapped his arms around him and dragged him there, in a very awkward hug sort of thing.

When they lowered him into the lukewarm water, the moment it touched the first cut he gasped and clapped a hand over his mouth to keep from screaming.

The next minute someone had given him a rag to bite onto and his knuckles were popping with how hard he was gripping the bathtub, now fully immersed.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he let out silent screams, then sobs, through the rag, biting down hard. He couldn't make any noise, or Mr. Huer would hear him. He was vaguely aware of Morgan now, apologizing over and over, cursing liberally.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Mike, fuck, I'm sorry."

Michael shuddered as his tears soaked the rag, then as the pain ebbed, he took out the rag and then opened his eyes.

Morgan was leaning over the side of the tub in front of him with concern and fear on his face, and he stretched out his hand to touch Michael's cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Sorry... Are you okay?"

Michael shuddered and nodded.

Morgan got up and stepped back, looking out into the basement and then back in at Al like he didn't know what to do.

"So... I have to wash out the dirt now..." Al said.

Michael grimaced and nodded again. He put the rag back in his teeth.

[again I'm not too familiar with cigarettes so if it's inaccurate feel free to let me know, I want to be accurate]

It was soothing. Muscles more relaxed now, clean after a week of not being able to bathe, old and new blood washed off, now they had to unroll a sleeping bag for him while they got Morgan's bedding in the wash. It was too gross and bloody now.

The CBD oil must've been high quality, because the pain had retreated quite a bit from the bruises. The gunshot wound still throbbed like a motherfucker. He missed the Codeine.

After Alvie left, Morgan pulled out his cigarette box again and tipped one out.

"Does it still hurt?" He asked, staring neutrally at the wall Michael was leaning back on.

"A lot less." Michael said.

Morgan held out the cigarette box, offering him one.

Michael hesitated. He'd already broken his two-year streak, and it had felt so good... Would one more really hurt that much? He could start over later, start his whole life over, all over again. He needed the relief right now.

He swallowed, staring at it with gritted teeth.

Then he shook his head.

"No, I'm trying to quit."

Morgan sucked a breath in as he put the box away. He put his in his mouth and lit it.

"Me too." He inhaled and slowly released the smoke toward the middle of the room.

"How about that Blue Tarantula?" Michael suggested.

Morgan raised an eyebrow.

"How'd you know I have it?"

"Come on, it's your favorite." Michael shrugged.

Morgan assented and pulled out the tequila. He tapped his ash off onto the little tray, considered for a moment, then popped off the top of the bottle with his teeth and took a full-on gulp, straight.

He hummed in satisfaction, leaning back even as tears came to his eyes from the hundred-proof alcohol.

Michael took only a small sip, but he was grateful for some kind of relaxation after denying himself of that cigarette. The back of his mind was already planning out how he'd sneak one more pack as soon as he got out of this mess.

"This reminds me of the old days." Morgan smiled bitterly. "When the three of us would go drink and smoke up on the condo roof."

Michael remembered it. It was a mixture of fondness and anxiety he'd felt on those nights. Mr. Huer didn't usually burn him on the condo roof, as long as he acted like he practically worshiped the ground Mr. Huer walked on. But that didn't mean the threat wasn't there in that coal between his foster father's fingers.

He'd gotten so used to having fun while also stressed out of his mind, that now, he couldn't have one without the other.

Morgan had started to nod and sip mindlessly at the tequila. He did that when he was getting drunk.

"Do you miss it?" Michael asked.

Morgan scoffed.

"Do I miss being powerless?" He took another drink and set the bottle down. "No."

"Would you have run if you could've?"

Morgan shrugged.

"No point in answering that. I can't run."

"But I... what's stopping you?"

"Would you go? Would you leave me here with him?" Morgan's words slurred.

Michael licked his lips.

"We... we could both go, man."

"Oh come on." Morgan waved at him dismissively. "Easy for you to say."

"I don't understand, man." Michael pressed. "Why are you... protecting me from him?"

Morgan leaned forward, staring at the floor.

"Why shouldn't I?" He said. "I'm your brother."

"Foster brother."

Morgan winced.

Michael took a drink from the bottle, a couple shots' worth at least.

Morgan took a long drag on the cigarette, pulling the coal closer to the filter at record speed, and Michael blinked several times, trying not to betray his discomfort. He hated watching other people smoke. Morgan side-eyed him as he exhaled. He moved the unfinished cigarette to the tray as another chunk of ash fell, took a breath, and then stamped out the coal on the side.

He raised his eyebrows at Michael as if to say "is that better?"

Michael flushed and looked away. His anxiety had been pretty obvious, then.

Morgan's serious composure was quickly fading into a self-satisfied smirk. He was getting drunker.

"Morgan... can you please tell me why you brought me here? I won't... Smile at you, or anything. I promise."

Morgan scowled.

"You heard that?" He lurched toward Michael with a clenched fist, rage on his face.

Michael raised a bruised forarm to protect his face, cringeing.

Morgan froze, looked down at his posture, then sank down onto the edge of the bed, looking shocked.

"I forgot... you hate me." He covered his face and a hoarse little gasp came out. His shoulders shook. He was crying. And definitely drunk.

"Hate?" Michael repeated. Well, yes, he'd felt htat way for a long time, but that was not what he was feeling now.

If Morgan was drunk enough to cry, Michael suspected that he'd be puking shortly.

"And if you don't hate me, you're an idiot." Morgan whispered.

"Wow, thanks..." Michael reached out to comfort him, then stopped himself. He was supposed to hate him.

"Don't thank me." Morgan scowled. "I will kick your ass."

"I just wanna know why."

"Why what?" Morgan snapped. "Why'd I help him kick you? Why'd I hold you down so he could burn off the soles of your feet?"

"...Yeah." Michael grimaced. "That."

"It doesn't matter why."

"Morgan..." Michael pleaded.

Morgan growled and rubbed his face, noticed tears on his fingers and wiped them dry hastily.

"He said if I didn't help, he'd beat you with a stick instead of his hands. Even followed through a couple times."

So that was the time with the kindling.

Morgan cleared his throat, but it sounded more like a growl.

"Like I said, it doesn't matter."

Michael's mouth opened in shock.

"I... Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it doesn't matter!" Morgan nearly shouted, and Michael tensed, waiting to hear a noise from upstairs, but nothing happened. "I still did it."

Michael was blinking tears back.

"But... If I'd known you cared... at all... it would've meant so much."

"And then what?" Morgan stood up, fists clenched in a way that made Michael nervous. "Then you would've forgiven me, wouldn't you?"

Michael met the accusing glare with confusion, wondering if the alcohol was hitting him hard enough to affect his comprehension now, because that didn't make sense.

"I... is that bad?" He said.

"I don't deserve to be forgiven, man." Morgan said. With apparent effort he unclenched his fists and walked away slowly. "Now I'm going to go to the bathroom and cool down. I'll come back out, go back to being a dick, and we both forget this ever happened. Got it?"

Michael was about to respond, but Morgan turned and jabbed a threatening finger at him and he shut his mouth.

Suddenly there was the sound of an upstairs door softly opening and closing. Morgan and Michael both froze, then Morgan cocked his head as footsteps came across the floor above them, toward the basement door.

Michael recognized the footsteps of Joseph Huer.

Morgan set his teeth.

"Hide."

Taglist:

@fleur-a-whump @watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees @whumped-by-glitter @whump-writings @mimostic @tildeathiwillwrite @phoenixpromptsandstuff

#whumper turned caretaker #angst #angst with a happy ending #nicotine addiction #injuries #painful caretaking #injury whump #carewhumper #original writing #whumblr #whump fic #whump #whump readers #respectful caretaker #adhd whumpee

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irlcats-bracket · 2 years ago

Text

Bracket 5 Semifinals 2

Blackie vs Maccabee

check their descriptions and catpaganda (new for blackie)

BLACKIE

This is Blackie, submitter's little one-eyed wonder. He lost his eye to glaucoma quite a few years ago, but he's doing a lot better now, and still likes to play with his sister, Artemis. His name is Blackie because that's what the shelter named him and submitter's family couldn't agree on a new name for him so it stuck, but submitter themselves call him 'Big Boi' because of just how massive he is. He was once very timid, but with time and love and patience he is now a certified lap cat who will come right up to strangers to demand pets. He has a wonderful squeaky meow and when he purrs it sounds like two cats purring at once. He likes to have people watch him eat and he will guide submitter's mom over to the couch and make her lay down just so he can sleep in her lap. Also, when he lays on his back, he covers his belly with his tail. Pictured is him in his signature polite boi sitting pose

MACCABEE

- weird old man

- known to bite people's elbows when prompted

- frequently sleeps with one (1) limb stretched in a random direction

- the reason submitter can't have pineapples in the house

- knows the word "treat," meaning it cannot be said out loud around him

- they got him for chanukah (hence the name). diversity win! this cat is jewish!

- they paid $150 to buy him a half-page ad in submitter's high school yearbook because he's worth it <3

CATPAGANDA

MACCABEE

has a post made by his human as a separate propaganda piece. it has bribery. the offer as far as i know still stands

also has agitational posters!!

BLACKIE

So glad to see Blackie still in the competition! His response so far has been "aow."

Truth be told, I'm running out of propaganda. If he make it to the next round, I'm gonna try my darnedest to capture his meows on video, which I haven't been able to do before because he sees me coming with the camera and starts purring XD

For now, more assorted Blackie facts!

Very rarely, when he gets the zoomies, he'll laugh. Like "huhuhuheueheHUEHEUE" kinda laugh.

I like to let him sniff human food/whatever I'm holding just to make sure he feels included (still doesn't like anything but pizza crumbs). But he has gagged on pickled ginger, banana, and CBD rub. He always gets really embarrassed when he gags tho

Ever since I got a job, he has been following me to bed and jumping on my chest to get the pets that he now lacks during the day.

If he sees you getting out the cat brush, he''ll lead you over to where he wants to be brushed.

On that note, when I had hurt my leg one time, Blackie saw that I wasn't leaning down to pet him and instead lead me over to the couch to have me sit down to pet him. He kept that up for a couple months once he saw how relieved it made me.

More Blackie propoganda! This time I bring you big boi in motion

link

Assorted Blackie facts:

A brave man when it comes to thunderstorms. But the vacuum? His mortal enemy.

The friendliest cat at the shelter. But the staff forced me to pick him up and hold him to get a picture and he got terrified and peed on me.

We think, based on how he acts, that he may have grown up in a home with dogs. But the mark on his ear is one done by our local neuter and release program, so we don't know if he was a stray, an outside cat, etc. But he's one of the friendliest cats I've ever met.

Will go up to his sister and put his head down to get it licked. But as soon as she goes to lick him and flattens his ears and raises a paw like he's gonna hit her. Sometimes they fight and sometimes they just walk away. We don't think he's trying to trick her because he acts genuinely confused throughout this process.

Sometimes he uses his back paw to scratch the back of his front leg when he's sitting down and it's so cute <3

These are old photos from when I used to hold a camera down and snap a photo when they leaned in to sniff the lens.

Blackie is our older cat and is such a gentleman. He is eager to love, he does the quickest slow blinks I've ever seen from a cat. He has a two-layered purr, it literally sounds like a cat purring as popcorn is being made in the background. He lost his eye to glaucoma when he was younger but he runs around and plays and teases his sister Artemis like a kitten. And his eyebrow whiskers grew down over his missing eye! He's not a big fan of people food but he has a fondness for pizza crumbs (NOT the crust. Just the crumbs off the plate when you're done eating the pizza). He walks like he's gingerly stepping through flowers and he's so gentle that the one time I overstimulated him and he wanted to bite me, he just shoved his closed mouth against my hand. He has a super long tongue and if you scratch the right spot between his shoulder blades he will lick the air. He's my precious boy who started out so scared but he's so brave and social and happy now just typing this out makes me wanna cry and go give him scritchies.

#cat #cats #polls #catfight five #catfight five semifinals

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rainyfestivalsweets · 2 years ago

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Well.... working on a plan to lean out a little.

Shredding for the wedding style, I suppose.

All right:

NO ALCOHOL

If doing CBD, make sure you have an anti-snack or a safe snack plan. 😉

Gummies are candy, use them as dessert.

Tea & Coffee: always have one ready.

Water: 1 oz per pound of bodyweight. If you are bored, do a sparkling water!

If you want something sweet & cold: beverage on ice.

ABM- Always Be Moving

Walk whenever you can

Biking/Elliptical + Movies

Aromatherapy

Distraction methods

You can add ACV to drinks like water n tea

Fiber. Pectin.

Keep food basic, easy to grab n go.

Electrolytes

Greens supplement

Protein powders- I have a ton. Make a pudding or smoothie.

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verdemoun · 1 year ago

Note

Who introduces the gang to weed and who becomes a total stoner? I can see Javier using it recreationally. I can also see Javier getting Charles stoned for the first time and Arthur coming home to Javier and Charles eating cold tortillas criss-cross on the floor. I think weed would help Arthur, or at least CBD.

get out of my hEAD i was LITERALLY typing up some weed funnies before you asked

tw for recreational drug use

you know what's really interesting like weed was around in america and mexico in canon era and wasn't criminalized it's entirely possible a lot of the gang would have tried it the key difference is in america it was fashionable and trendy to smoke hemp so not necessarily something the gang would deal with a lot meanwhile in mexico it was used more in lower classes and military* so javier being absolutely down to smoke a joint exists in all timelines

of all people it was motherfucking annabelle that reintroduced them to weed in timewarp. honestly it was the 1899 gang she just looked around at all these recently warped individuals dealing with trying to learn modern era and mourning the gang as they learn more and more people's fates and went 'these guys. these guys need to relax'

she bought over some brownies and very gently explained like these have marijuana in them this is what it does these are the side effects precious baby boys if you want to try some please only have a little and wait to see how you feel

lenny and sean get the giggles. like uncontrollable giggles they're trying to walk to the kitchen to get snacks because damn how good does a sandwich sound but they're laughing too damn hard they keep falling over. you know when messy drunks are messier high? these guys

arthur is not having a good time. like he's physically relaxed and he's not panicking but it's just uncomfortable for him. he does not enjoy the altered state of consciousness he is trying to fight being relaxed because he does not know how to relax

kieran goes from his usual glassy-eyed stare in his nest of blankets to sitting up straight and going 'wait a damned minute is this hemp?' my boy was in the army he picked up the habit while serving in mexico and one of his happiest VDL memories is when he caught javier smoking a hemp cigarette in camp and worked up the courage to ask for a hit. they sat on the beach together just sharing a joint. he's eating a whole brownie and putting on a 3 hour relax with wild horses video.

the fact that kieran 'needs to be warned when the dishwasher is being put on' duffy is suddenly sighing in relief as he props his feet up on the coffee table also assures arthur he is not going to die. lets himself lean into being relaxed they're gonna watch horses and eat an entire bag of grapes

arthur falls asleep so quickly he really just needs the biggest nap and kieran would clumsily put a blanket over him he just cares too much and being high would help him not be awkward about it he also is the guy to drag lenny and sean to their beds

kieran is actually the modern era weed guy even after the 1911 gang get there anytime someone wants a bit of zaza there is a 99% chance kieran has some and will share. let him be chilling out on the couch eating chocolate and strawberries (he wanted chocolate covered strawberries but just having both flavors in his mouth at the same time is close enough) and watching his cartoons

charles and arthur probably wouldn't get high that often like looking over their lives i think both would be aware they are binge drinkers and for the most part don't drink or smoke a whole lot there isn't alcohol in their house because when there is they both just get absolutely drunk they just aren't interested in weed. arthur don't need weed he needs physical and psychological therapy and a metric shit-ton of supplements and medication to stop his body falling apart as he ages

abigail walking into her house and seeing john, javier and kieran all eating mexican take out on the floor would be common enough that she knows just to walk out. john is overly affectionate when he's high and because his wife isn't there he will be pulling javier into the tightest hug while kieran as the only one functional enough to use the remote is trying to find a bad cowboy movie to watch where they can talk shit and laugh about things that aren't historically accurate

karen, sean, lenny and jenny are also all occasional weed connoisseurs they have a seperate secret snack cupboard in their house for when someone brings home an edible. they split it because modern era weed is too powerful for cowboys. their collective vibe is female born after 1993 just mcdonalds, be bisexual and eat hot chip

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bearsbeetsbeskar · 2 years ago

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weed smoking! joel x dispensary shop! reader preview 🍃🔥💨💨💨

A/N: A little taste for you guys! I am very excited at this new idea, especially because I am co-writing this with the actual love of my life @serenaxpedro!!!

So excited to see where it will go and excited to see our grumpy old peepaw finally kick back and relax with some alternate pain management methods. He's not gonna be happy about it at first, but it's going to turn out so good 🤓. Moodboard art also by @serenaxpedro (please go check out her delicious writing as well, she's got some YUMMY Joel fic's posted 🫠)

sneak peak under the cut, feel free to comment or reblog if you want more!

“The side effects from an over the counter painkiller could spike your cholesterol even higher, which is what we do not want,” the doctor continues, unaware of Joel’s steadily boiling frustration. “Which is why I wanted to suggest an alternate method for pain management, something more natural.”

For fucks sake.

He thought this would be a simple appointment. Show up, get a new prescription for whatever magic pills can help this pain in his back to dissipate, and go home. Not look into ‘alternative methods’ that undoubtedly wouldn’t work.

Joel’s gaze narrows and he huffs, leaning back in his seat. “Natural? Like what, seeing one of those hokey practitioners that read your energies and use natural herb remedies and all that crap?”

“Not quite that per say but it is natural medicine. Medical marijuana to be exact.”

Joel’s mouth goes dry as his jaw hangs open. Weed? Nope. Not the solution he was looking for.

Maybe what he should be on the market for is a new doctor at this point.

“Uh listen, I appreciate the suggestion doc, but I don’t think that’s gonna help me at this point. I don’t do that kinda stuff,” he waves his hand dismissively. “If it gets to that point I’ll crack open a beer.” Joel leans forward in his seat and he starts to get up.

“Just a second, hold on. At least let me write you a prescription for it today and you can choose whether or not you want to get it filled at a dispensary.”

“I don’t think-” Joel continues to protest but the doctor cuts him off.

“It’s medicinal marijuana Joel,” the doctor says plainly, as if that’s supposed to calm his nerves. “It has opiate-like properties, which means it’s similar to a pain killer, just without all the usual side effects that come with over the counter medicine. Lots of individuals, older and younger,” the doctor pointedly emphasizes, “use it to help with aches, pain, anxiety, even mental health issues. Not just the physical.”

Joel continues to eye the doctor warily, his spine now stiff as he sits up in the chair. Even now, he can feel his body protesting his upright position, the inkling of that pinched phantom pain coming back slightly.

“Does it get you high?” he asks the older man.

Aside from the stories he’s heard, he’s had his fair share of buddies who used to toke up back in the day. Hell, they didn’t even know what was in it back then, they just smoked as a distraction, something fun to do, to take the edge off after a long day's work. Joel tried it once and didn’t like it at all. The hazy, fuzzy feeling not mixing well with his frayed nerves, all glassy eyed and out of touch with his body and his mind. No, he would much rather crack open a beer or pour himself a whiskey neat to kick back and relax when he was stressed.

“Not necessarily, some strains, or some kinds of weed have a higher content of THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component that makes you feel high or ‘out of it,”’ the doctor explains with finger quotes. “Some medicinal marijuana are low in THC but high in CBD, the relaxing component of marijuana. CBD acts as a relaxer, and it can ease physical pain. So depending on what you’re comfortable with, you can opt for the kinds that have a high CBD but low THC content, which will help with any pain issues, without causing you to experience the high.”

Joel’s mind whirls around the acronyms. THC, CBD, ABC.

Christ.

Does it have to be this fucking complicated?

#joel miller fanfiction #joel miller #joel miller x you #joel miller x reader #joel miller x female reader #the last of us fanfiction #joel miller fanfic #tlou fanfiction

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boyslit · 3 months ago

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i just cannot get my brain around why the state of Indiana will not outright legalize weed. they're doing like quantum steps through making cbd oil products ok for a few years, then suddenly i see certain delta whatever things for sale and look it up and it's a tiny amount of thc or something like. guys. c'mon.

Indiana government loves tax revenue!!! Indiana loves running on a surplus!! You get to be smug and celebratory about it! And the casinos are underperforming since we're in a recession and one has even had to close recently, why aren't you going in on the weed?? *sad mom voice* You guys used to love tax revenue off of sinful indulgences!

*puts my hands on my knees and leans in closer* ... is it the racism thing? Do we still really badly wanna arrest Black people and brown people and send them to jail forever for minor possession offenses? Hey. Hey look at me. Don't walk away, we're still talking- hey! Indiana. 🙍🏼‍♂️ Look at me. Are you shooting yourself in the foot because you're addicted to racist propaganda started by the Nixon administration 50 years ago to let you arrest more people of color? Hmm? Yeah, I thought so.

*points in the direction of Indiana's room and watches with chagrin as it stomps off*

shakes my head

#this post kind of got away from me......#but I'm kind of convinced this is the reason lol #z.chat #Indiana critical #but i guess if there's anyone here like actually defending and *shudders* GLORIFYING this fucking gutter ass state id want you to block me

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imaginesbymk · 4 months ago

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LA'S MOST PROFESSIONAL. ━︎━︎ RESERVOIR DOGS !

[ O4 - CALM ]

← previous chapter: [ O3 - NICE GUY EDDIE ]

fanfic info / read it on wattpad

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : ❝Come See About Me❞ - The Supremes

༺═──────────────═༻

WHEN OZ TURNED FIFTEEN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, he got his first cassette signed by Alexander O'Neal. It wasn't first-hand. He never met Alexander O'Neal face to face and asked for an autograph before O'Neal was chauffeured backstage. He got it from the black market, and it could have been Alexander O'Neal's penmanship, a forged one, or O'Neal's penmanship resold by some guy who was an autograph reseller. It was likely the latter.

It was then that Oz stuffed the cassette in his pocket and simply walked out. The store didn't have the budget for cameras or a sensor. But the cassette was never placed in the Walkman. It was to be sold to someone who lived down the block and loved 80s music. Oz felt it was too old. The guy slapped twenty bucks on Oz's palm and walked back inside his garage.

Oz had his record player but immediately switched to whatever could help show off how cool he really was when he peaked. He put stickers on his boombox and it sat on its throne near the wall.

Kate used the record player during business hours when Oz wasn't home. When he came home, The Supremes record was spinning on top, and Kate surprised him with homemade bread pudding.

Oz was popular, but this year he began losing that spark, as well as the sales. He took a few days to reflect on how four hands are quite better than two in this scenario, and after an awkward walk-in between Kate and him and a stubborn customer, he knocked on the door that led to Kate's apartment from the weird layout of his house. He said the words, "Fuck it. I'm recruiting you." Along with the next three, "You're my assistant."

But good assistants know when to separate the strain and quadruple-check the strain before handing it to a man with a gun in his holster 24/7.

Stephen halted his car on the side, looking to his left of the house. Almost immediately, Stephen was crossing the narrow road to the adjacent neighbourhood, storming up to the front porch and knocking loudly on the screen door.

"Oz!" A pause. "OZ!"

The door swings open to show Oz in his pyjamas. Oz, with a slight grin on his face, greeted the man with a playful tone, "What happened, Richard Reese? In search of yainner peace?" He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Cut the shit, will ya, asshole? Where's your assistant?"

Oz shrugged nonchalantly. "You just missed her. She left a few minutes ago."

Confusion washed over him. "What? How could I have missed her?"

Oz leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Well, she probably had some errands to run. Or she's shopping, on a date, I dunno jackshit. Why? What's got you all riled up? You seem upset with her."

Stephen's irritation boiled over. "You're damn right I am. I asked for the strongest ounce you guys had, and your idiot assistant gave me CBD!" Frowning, Stephen couldn't help but question Kate's suitability for the job.

Oz's face lights up, stunned. "Say honest, man."

Stephen glares at him.

"Are you sure?" Oz asks.

"Yes, I'm fucking sure!" Stephen says.

"How can you be so sure?"

Stephen pulls out the used joint from his back pocket and holds it up. "Here, smoke this bullshit yourself if you're sure that I'm not sure."

"All right." Oz takes it and brings it to his lips, lighting the burnt end that Stephen had put out in frustration. He takes a long pull and exhales it. He glances over at Stephen.

"You think I'm lying, Oz?" Stephen scowls at him cautiously.

"Well, you didn't trust me at first."

"And I'm now reconsidering falling back and mistrusting you and your walking art attack that works in your backyard. How old is this kid, anyway? She's not built for this kind of job, man!"

Oz's expression turned serious as he defended Kate. "That 'kid' is in her 20s. Sure, she might have missed a growth spurt, but she's got the ID to work for me. Look, I'll call her, and we'll get you the proper strain."

But Stephen was adamant. "Fuck that, I want a refund."

Oz's face fell, and his voice carried a tinge of desperation. "Come on, man. You know I'm tight on the rent right now. Look, come inside. Yo, you want some breaded mac and cheese? I made some breaded mac and cheese. Shut the door behind you."

Stephen sighs and begrudgingly walks in. "I'm not here to eat breaded mac and cheese. I want my refund."

Oz holds up a finger to gesture that he is on the phone. "Hey, kiddo. You far? A customer here's got a problem and apparently it was your fault... mhm... yep. Yep. All right..." Oz hums into the receiver. "Oh, forreal? Can you get me a Hot Pickle while you're at it?"

Stephen rolls his eyes as Oz continues chatting on the phone, seemingly unfazed by the brewing tension. "You're really gonna make me wait while you order snacks?" Stephen mutters, crossing his arms. Oz holds a hand up, signaling for Stephen to give him a moment. "Look, man, Kate's on her way. She won't be long. We'll sort this out, and you'll get what you paid for. In the meantime, why not chill out and have some breaded mac and cheese? It's a specialty." Stephen scoffs, "Am I Marco Pierre White? I just want what I paid for – good stuff, not this joint that probably grew up in a ditch." Oz smirks, "Hey, don't diss the ditch-grown. It adds character. But seriously, we'll fix this. Kate's reliable, just a bit unconventional." As Oz continues chatting animatedly on the phone, Stephen takes a deep breath, realizing he might as well make the best of an odd situation. "Fine, but after this, no more surprises. I just want a quiet evening." Oz hangs up and grins. "Deal. Now, let's enjoy some mac and cheese while we wait for Kate to work her magic." Stephen mumbles under his breath, "This better be some damn good mac and cheese." The room is dimly lit, with the clinking of forks against plates as Stephen and Oz sit across from each other at a worn-out wooden table. A faint 60s tune plays in the background on the record player, setting the mood as they dig into the breaded mac and cheese.

Stephen pokes at his food, pushing it around the plate with a sense of disdain. Oz, on the other hand, devours his portion with gusto, savoring each bite like it's the last meal on Earth.

"So?" Stephen interrupts the rhythmic clatter of utensils. "Is the joint THC poked?" Oz looks up from his plate, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Hm?" He grins, a bit of cheese stuck to the corner of his lip. "Oh, you were right. Kate gave you CBD." Stephen's eyes narrow, and he leans back, crossing his arms. "Now you know I'm fucking sure. I didn't pay for some herbal remedy. I wanted the good stuff!" Oz chuckles, unfazed by Stephen's irritation. "Relax, man. It's an honest mistake. Kate's got a lot on her plate, and sometimes she mixes things up. But hey, CBD's not that bad. It's chill, calming, you know? I'm feelin' it right now from the joint, that's for sure." Stephen scowls, "I didn't come here for 'chill' or 'calm.' I wanted a night to remember, not a night to unwind. And what's with this mac and cheese? It's like you're compensating for something." The dealer smirks, taking another large forkful. "I love my carbs. No compensation needed. But look, I get it. You want the THC experience. I'll make it up to you, promise. Next one's on the house." Stephen sighs, pushing his plate away. "Fine, but it better be the real deal next time. I'm not into this relaxation stuff. I need the good, mind-bending stuff. Got it?" Oz grins, raising his fork in a mock salute. "Got it, man. Next time, we'll blow your mind. Meanwhile, enjoy the chill vibes and some damn good mac and cheese." He watches Stephen's reaction intently, fork still in hand. "How is my mac and cheese?" he asks, genuinely concerned. "Not too gamy? Is the cheese overpowering? More bread crumbs?" Stephen, exasperated, rolls his eyes and sighs. "It's all right," he mutters, clearly uninterested in the culinary critique. Just as the awkward silence settles, the door creaks open, and in walks Kate, holding a grocery paper bag filled with a hot pickle, Korean ramen, and some Twizzlers. She grins as she spots Stephen and Oz at the table. "Hot Pickle, Oz!" She holds up the bag triumphantly. Stephen glares at the young woman at the door. "Really? CBD?" He stands up, pushing his chair back. "Do I look like a goddamn suburban mom to you?" "Was..." Kate winces at what she is about to say next. "Was the CBD at least up to par?"

Stephen's veins could pop out. "I paid a whopping bill for that!"

Kate shrugs. "But anyway, CBD is quite good."

"You're a goddamn idiot. CBD is from hemp, it ain't like real weed. THC, that's the good stuff. Makes you feel good. A handful of CBD? You might as well take an aspirin."

"I'm so sorry I mixed up your strains! But trust me, CBD is good. I use it more than I use THC. One time, I ate a handful of CBD pomegranate chewies before my 9-5 shift! It's helped me sleep," she shrugs.

"That's cute, but I never asked for CBD," he retorted. "Kid, you're lucky I'm not like those past druggies that would shoot ya on the spot even if you were an ounce off measuring the greens! Using CBD is like training wheels. You're either old and fuckin' goof, or you're skyrocketing off chronic pain. That's gotta suck for you to use it on the job. Why am I not even surprised about that, anyway?"

Kate nods. "Right. I will head to the greenhouse right now." Stephen follows her, marching outside the backdoor, and Oz follows, finishing up his plate and wiping his mouth with the napkin.

Oz chuckles, "She's a character, ain't she?" Stephen grumbles, stomping the grass. "Yeah, a character who needs to get her strains straight."

As Oz supervised Kate with the proper strain, Stephen impatiently paced, tapping his foot and sighing, frustration evident in his voice. The disappointment in the situation was palpable, and the professional trust that had once existed between them was now eroding. Oz and Kate could see it on his face.

Quietly speaking amongst one another, Oz leans over at Kate. "Kid, you gotta be more careful with these things. Can't have customers getting worked up over the wrong strains."

Kate nods, looking genuinely apologetic. "I know. I'll double-check next time. Promise."

The greenhouse fills with the pungent aroma of cannabis flowers as Stephen indulges in the corrected joint being rolled for him. Oz, trying to lighten the mood, gestures toward the remaining breaded mac and cheese on the table back at the house, pointing through the glass window. "Still got some mac left, if you're interested."

Stephen stares at him. "No, thank you."

"THC dominant," Kate hands him the pre-roll. "Absolutely 0% CBD. I swear on my Mama."

Stephen folds his arms, unimpressed. "You better. I'm not here for herbal teas and scented candles."

"Aw, but herbal teas and scented candles are therapeutic. Fit for a queen," Oz smiles.

"Herbal teas and scented fuckin' candles and no Thai sticks? The train has already left the station! So, no refund?"

"We don't do refunds..." Kate's voice trails off, intimidated.

Stephen was gritting his teeth. "Jesus Christ. Just get it right next time," Stephen grumbles, taking the joint from Kate's hand. He glances at Oz with a stern expression. "And no more surprises, or I'm finding a new supplier. One who sells Thai sticks."

Oz gestures at the joint. "Smoke it now and find out if there are any surprises there."

Stephen rolls his eyes but decides to play along. He lights the joint, takes a deep drag, and exhales a plume of smoke. For a moment, he seems lost in thought, and then a small chuckle escapes him.

"Well, at least the surprise this time is the right one," Stephen remarks, a hint of amusement cutting through his earlier frustration. "But seriously, no more mix-ups, alright? I want the good stuff, no compromises."

Oz grins, satisfied with Stephen's reaction. "You got it, man. From now on, it's smooth sailing. Enjoy the ride." He looks at him up and down, noticing his change of clothes. "Did ya get any laundry done?"

Stephen looks at him. "What?"

"Remember when we met? You had a stain on your ass."

Stephen sighed, knowing this was Oz just being genuinely provoking without even realizing it, or maybe he does notice it and thinks it's funny. Stephen did not want to stay there for another second, and he exited out the back gate.

"Oh! Godspeed to the sky!" Kate chirped from afar with her signature catchphrase. Stephen's eyes rolled at the familiar words, finding them more annoying than endearing. Without another word, he swiftly made his way to his car, a sense of irritation lingering in his thoughts.

Stephen starts the engine, but the car won't start. He checks the gas tank. The E was bold and strong, and very mocking.

"You gotta be fuckin' kidding me," Stephen began slamming on the steering wheel. When that didn't make him feel better, he stared ahead at the road, then back at the house. He comes out of the car and bangs on the door. A smug smile creeps on his face as Oz answers the door again.

"You got any gas?"

༺═──────────────═༻

STEPHEN WATCHES IMPATIENTLY. As his frustration simmers, he glances at the house, noticing Kate putting up wind chimes at the front. Their eyes meet, and Stephen scowls at her. She quickly looks away and retreats into the house.

"Is she always this ditzy?"

"Who's ditzy?" Oz focused on the gas tank.

"Is that supposed to be funny? Not a lot goin' upstairs for an assistant to work for your roof over her head," Stephen remarks, keeping his hands on his hips.

Oz doesn't take his eyes off the gas tank. "I told you, man. She's got a right to work with me. She's got a right to live with me. You dunno her like I do."

Stephen grumbles, not satisfied with the explanation. As Oz finishes filling the tank, Stephen shoots one last disapproving look at the house before getting back into his car.

The engine roars to life, and Stephen drives away, leaving behind a cloud of dust. Oz watches him go, shaking his head. As the dust settles, he heads back inside, where Kate is pouring hot water into the ramen cup.

"You did that thing again, did ya?"

"Hm?"

Oz leans against the counter, crossing his arms, his eyes narrowing at Kate. "You intentionally prerolled his joint with CBD. Don't lie to me." Kate looks at him, feigning innocence. "Who, me?" "Don't 'who, me?' me," Oz retorts, shaking his head. "What's the game here?" Kate's face falls, setting aside her task. "A dose of relaxation wouldn't hurt Mr. High and Mighty." Oz chuckles. "You're playing with fire, kid. Customers pay for a certain experience. We can't be messing with that kind of fuck-shit." "It's not like he didn't need a little zen in his life." Oz raises an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Now that's a word that you most likely learned today. You're pushing it. What's the real story here?" Kate stirs the ramen thoughtfully. "I kinda wanted to do what you did. With that O'Neal cassette." Oz groans. "That was way different than what you did to Mr. Richard Reese. A cassette ain't a drug, in case ya didn't know. You don't smoke a cassette, all right? You don't crush it and shit. You can't smoke an 80s R&B singer." "Are we really gonna take this guy seriously? We both know that ain't his real name."

"Kate, no fuckin' shit his name isn't Richard goddamn Reese. Y'know, the last time I did a customer dirty, not only could I see the barrel of a gun pointed straight between my brows, but the guy's girlfriend had a balisong swirling around my ankles. Your job is to pack the weed in the greenhouse and satisfy our customers, and here you potentially drove away yet another one. Do you have any idea how tight I am around the bills right now? And you're lucky this guy didn't pull out his gun and pointed it at your head. Even if it crossed his mind, we're still alive."

Kate stares.

Oz looks at her skeptically. "You're walking a fine line, kid. Just stick to the job. We don't need any childish bullshit, just the good stuff."

"Just the good stuff. But hey, at least we gave him a story to tell, right?"

Oz sighs, realizing he's not going to win this argument. "Just be careful, Kate. We can't afford to lose customers, our fucking house, and our goddamn lives over dumb shit. Don't make the same mistake I did."

Kate salutes playfully. "Roger that, boss man. Dragon Ball Z's on. Wanna watch it with me?"

#reservoir dogs #reservoir dogs fanfiction #reservoir dogs x oc #reservoir dogs fic #reservoir dogs fanfic #mr pink #mr pink fanfiction #mr pink x oc #mr pink fic #mr pink fanfic #oc #wattpad #reservoir dogs mr pink

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fletchervanhall · 1 year ago

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A Flavier Father's Day

Featuring: Xavier Mitchell & Fletcher Van Hall with Winter & Henry Mitchell, and Phoebe & Drew Van Hall Location: The Mitchell Home; San Francisco, CA Time Frame: Morning, Father's Day 2024 Notes: Plenty of feels, funnies, and whole lotta family!

FLETCHER

Fletcher had fallen asleep spooning Xavier and woke up the same way. In addition to being a very light sleeper, he was a relatively still sleeper in that he didn't toss and turn much when he slept well. But over the months, even with most of that time being Phoebe's infancy and not sleeping fully through the night, he found he slept very well when Xavier was in bed with him. For Father's Day weekend, they'd been at the Mitchell home. The night before, he and Xavier harmlessly argued over who would make breakfast in the morning. Fletcher was determined to be up before him and so far, it seemed like that had been the case. It was relatively quiet from what he could tell and since there was no sounds coming from the baby monitor to indicate Phoebe was awake yet, he'd had a triumphant feeling surge through him as he carefully lifted his arm from around Xavier and slowly rolled to the edge of the bed to get out of it. When he stood, he stretched his arms far apart and quietly yawned before padding around the foot of the bed. But as he reached the door, he felt and then sensed that he no longer was the only one awake in the room and stilled. Eyes narrowing a bit, he turned around and looked at his boyfriend. "Good morning sweetheart. And before you pick up where we left off last night...well, words-wise, I'm already up so I'm making breakfast for us. So there. Stay there and I'll be back soonish with food. And maybe a morning delight if the kids aren't already up and about too."

XAVIER

Sleeping in or sleeping for longer than four hours at a time was a foreign thing to Xavier. He didn't have a newborn that kept him up like Fletcher but he did suffer from bouts of insomnia from time to time. He had tried different alternatives to try to get him to sleep from anxiety meds to melatonin to cherry juice to warm drinks at night to CBD oil but nothing seemed to do the trick. His mind was always awake and while he was still young and actively working on new projects, it suited him well but in the back of his mind he knew that sleep was important and he didn't want to spend his later years burnt out. After meeting his boyfriend, he'd often joke that Fletcher would wear him out and while some of that was true, it was more than just the intimacy getting him to sleep peacefully, it was their closeness. The nights they spent together were the best ones and Xavier would always find himself missing Fletcher's presence and his warmth. With his boyfriend's arm draped around him, he'd favor holding the older man's hand until they both drifted and Xavier was starting to realize why sleep was so damn important. Xavier wasn't one to let go of anything and in the back of his head, before falling asleep the night prior, he reminded himself he'd have to beat Fletcher to the clock to make breakfast for Father's Day. It was an important day for obvious reasons but it was also their first Father's Day together and separately. There was something very special about that. When he felt Fletcher moving beside him, he kept his eyes closed to give off the illusion that he was still asleep. Xavier tucked his lips in as soon as he felt Fletcher roll off the best, trying his best not to snicker and with his boyfriend's back turned to him, he quickly and very quietly climbed out of bed, slowly creeping up behind him. And that's when he was caught. "Oh hiii, baby." He grinned widely. "look, I love it when you're so demanding but I fear that I will be winning this round." Xavier leaned and tip-toed to kiss Fletcher on the lips. "Morning delight included. I already have a menu in my head." He tapped his temple and smirked.

FLETCHER

Fletcher laughed, "It’s cute you think you're gonna win." He dipped his head to meet Xavier's lips and then smiled as he listened to Xavier. "Good. In that case," and he bent his knees, wrapped his arms around Xavier's thighs and lifted him off the ground, walking back to the bed where he deposited him. He climbed onto his boyfriend and pinned Xavier's hands over his head, looking down at the man with a smile. "Now stay here, sugar," Fletcher insisted, his voice low and demanding. He lowered his face enough to kiss Xavier's full lips, thoroughly and deeply and hadn't parted until they needed air. He brushed his nose across Xavier's as he sweetly murmured, "Let me make you breakfast, X."

XAVIER

"It is really cute, right?" Xavier replied with a mischievous grin before kissing his Fletcher. The night before had been amazing as always and he wouldn't mind a repeat as everyone slept as long as Xavier could make everyone breakfast and spoil the shit out of Fletcher. When they broke their kiss and Fletcher bent his knees, Xavier watched with a puzzled expression. "What are you--oh my God. How're you so insanely strong?!" He laughed when he fell back onto the bed, an amused smile spreading against his lips. "You're man-handling me." His smile only widened when Fletcher pinned his hands. "Not fair..." Before he could say anything else, Xavier was kissing his boyfriend, already giving up on this battle. When they broke their kiss, he chased another quick one and grinned at his boyfriend's antics. "I hate you." He stole one more kiss. "No, no kidding. I love you. Okay, you can make breakfast. I'll clean the dishes." Xavier looked up at Fletcher. "Happy Father's Day, baby."

FLETCHER

Fletcher chuckled, "I mean I know I'm not built like The Rock but you make it sound like you weigh a metric ton or something." He smiled and gazed down at Xavier as he climbed on him. "Mmhm, sure am," he confirmed of man-handling his boyfriend. "Completely fair," he casually argued, an impish smirk appearing on his face before he'd started kissing Xavier. He gladly accepted the stolen kiss and grinned back. "If this is your brand of hating me, I could live with it." He kissed him back again and then kissed his nose and forehead. "Happy Father's Day, sweetheart." And as he sat up, releasing Xavier's hands to tug his ribbed tank off and toss aside, he asked, "We might've worked up our appetites a little last night but how about a little sampling of what's to come later?" He reached to trace a thumb along his lips and then glided his fingers down Xavier's chest. While slowly scooting down Xavier's legs, Fletcher leaned forward and stamped kisses across his chest, giving plenty of attention to each pec. His fingers roamed to the elastic waistband of his boyfriend's pajama pants, all the while keep his eyes locked on the man before him. Just as he was about to climb off of Xavier and rid him of his pants at the same time, he heard eager knocking on the front door. Completely caught off guard, Fletcher jolted, lost his balance and fell backwards off the bed with a solid thud, accompanied with a loud, "Shit!" from him.

XAVIER

“Still pretty strong.” He grinned, looking up at his boyfriend, completely amused and turned on at the same time. Breakfast did sound nice and he was plenty hungry but Xavier was enjoying Fletcher’s attention and when the question of sampling what they’d be doing later was posed, he used his now free hands and arms to prop himself up and watch his boyfriend. “That sounds like a good idea.” Xavier’s teeth raked across his bottom lip as the anticipation grew along with other things. “Only a sample?” His grin pulled at the corner of his lips and as he was going to lift his ass to assist Fletcher, he heard the door and his gaze snapped in that direction. He could have sworn everyone was still sleeping. And that’s when he realized Fletcher had lost his balance and as he was about to reach for him, Xavier missed and his boyfriend fell back. “Oh no.” He whispered, sliding down to the floor to help Fletcher. “One minute!” He called out toward the door and then let out a small laugh as he rubbed Fletcher’s arm. “Are you alright?” He asked him and made sure that he wasn’t hurt. As he got up and helped lift Fletcher up, Xavier noticed his other problem in his pants and turned around. “Dammit uhhh…” he closed his eyes and began thinking of all the unsexy things he could. The 96 year old crossing guard at the kids school completely naked with the exception of whipped cream anything. “Come in!” He sat at the edge of the bed and placed a pillow on his lap, pulling Fletcher down beside him. “It’s about time! Are you guys okay?! We heard a crash.” Henry came in with a platter of breakfast foods and Winter followed with another platter. “Henry, I told you not to ask questions. We made you both breakfast! We made some for grandad Drew but he’s still asleep sooooo once everyone eats and is ready, we’d like you to join us and Phoebe in the living room for presents!” Winter smiled at both the men sitting beside each other. “No seriously are you guys okay?”

FLETCHER

Fletcher was flat on his bare back at the foot of the bed, eyes squeezed shut as he slowly rolled to one side, rubbing the back of his head. “Ugh, goddammit,” he hissed. He was sure he wasn’t seriously injured but he certainly didn’t want to repeat this again. As he accepted Xavier’s help and they got to their feet, his back stung a little but he momentarily ignored it as he noticed the tent pitched in his boyfriend’s pants. Nothing and everything about their situation had been funny and, oh how he wanted to take care of that ‘problem’ for Xavier. But the kids were just on the other side of the door and likely weren’t going to wait too long for them to get themselves together. He considered sitting in front of Xavier between his legs but thought it would probably make matters worse for his boyfriend. He’d been pondering this with a hand still on the back of his head and his eyes on Xavier’s crotch until the younger man pulled a pillow there. Fletcher was momentarily taken by surprise from Xavier’ pulling him down beside him on the bed but he was trying to put the turn-ons out of his head for the time being and not work himself into the same problem his boyfriend was currently concealing. Looking to the door, Fletcher watched Henry and Winter enter the bedroom, brows lifting at the platters that each of them carried in. “Wow, guys. Yeah, everything’s okay, but wow. You two must’ve been up really early. What time is it?” He looked around for a clock or one of their phones to find out but listened to Winter. “Presents, huh? Well thanks, both of you. We’ll eat our breakfast, get some clothes on and meet you downstairs. Is Phoebe already up? I can get her diaper changed and I’ve got a bottle ready for her in the fridge. It just needs to be warmed up.” Hearing Winter check up on them again, Fletcher said, “Yeah, we’re okay. Promise, kid.”

XAVIER

Xavier began rubbing the back of Fletcher's head and then moved to his back, pouting a bit as he did so. "That sounded so rough, baby. Happy Father's Day, you have a goose egg." Xavier watched as Fletcher's gaze settled on his problem and then pointed to his eyes. "Hey! eyes up here!" He shook his head and grinned at Fletcher. "Stop looking at it like it's a meal! We have to behave. For a little bit." He then smiled as the children walked in, bearing all his teeth like he didn't just chastise his boyfriend for staring at his boner. Their gesture touched Xavier and he watched as the kids placed both platters on the dresser. "This all looks amazing! Wow! And it smells great! Thank you." "Happy Father's Day!" Henry chimed in and then glanced at his watch for Fletcher. "It's 7:22 a.m. Winter woke me up at 6:30 a.m. and we started. We even made the French Toast from scratch. You will be pleasantly surprised at the lack of egg shells." Winter smacked her brother on the arm and smiled when he rubbed it. "Don't listen to him. He makes fun of my cooking skills but he knows he loves it so...enjoy, guys! Phoebe is not up yet but once she is, I'll get her ready and give her the bottle! And then you can snuggle her on the couch and spend some very important daddy/daughter time while we set up the presents!" Winter was so excited about the surprises. "I'm really glad you're okay! Now eat up! We'll see you two in a little bit!" She was about to lead Henry out but then rushed to hug Fletcher tightly and then her father. "Love you, bye." "Peace out, fathers!" Henry threw up the peace sign and exited with his sister. "Peace out, children..." Xavier laughed and glanced over to Fletcher. "They love you."

FLETCHER

Fletcher softly snorted, "God, I hope it won't be that bad. My back hit the floor before my head did..." His comment trailed off as his eyes stared in the direction of Xavier's crotch. But he quickly snapped his gaze up to his boyfriend's face and cast him an unabashed grin. "But it was supposed to be my morning snack." He let out a dramatic sigh and then took a seat beside Xavier at the food of the bed. Henry and Winter's appearance with 2 trays of food really had surprised Fletcher but he was also warmed by their gesture and thoughtfulness. He smiled at them and listened to Henry, chuckling a little. "French toast without eggshells is the best way to have them. Thanks, Henry. Thanks, Winter." He was about to open his mouth again to protest Winter and Henry taking care of Phoebe when she first woke up but reminded himself that it was Father's Day and the kids were wanting to do some nice things for them and Drew. Drew was likely to be the last one up in the house but that was typical. He stood up, partly in front of Xavier to help it not look odd that he was resting a pillow across his lap, and shortly after he'd done so, he received Winter's hug. "Thanks, kid. Love you too. You too, Henry." Henry's departure made him chuckle a bit and after the door was shut again, he went to the dresser and plucked a strip of bacon from one of the trays. "Nice to know since I love 'em too," Fletcher said while munching on the bacon. He strode to the bedroom door and quietly locked it before going back over to the trays of food. "They really outdid themselves with all this. Come look."

XAVIER

You're welcome, dad--and Fletcher!" Winter added quickly, catching herself before saying the D word plurally. Would Fletcher even like that? Would Dad get mad at her considering it took her so long to call him the D word? It was different with her dad. Winter didn't understand why a celebrity would want to adopt her and Henry. Why would he want to add more pressure to his already crazy life? Was he trying to be another Daddy Warbucks? Were they just an Instagram post? Were they just meant to make Xavier look good? It didn't take long for those concerns to disappear and while Henry was convinced a week into being fostered, Winter knew she had to keep her guard up. She never imagined a life like this one in a million years and since Fletcher came a few months after they did, it was easier to include him into their unique family. In fact, Winter was thrilled that her father had found someone and that welcoming two kids into his life didn't keep him from falling in love. Everything that came after, meeting Drew, Phobe, and Emiliana cemented the feeling of family that she had yearned for. Even though she was only a few years older than Henry, it was a big enough gap for her to see herself as his sole caretaker. She couldn't believe her luck. "Come on, let's get Phoebe and you can finish setting up the living room, okay?" She messed Henry's hair and smiled as he skipped away to place everyone's gifts on the couch. Meanwhile, Winter quietly entered the nursery they had set up for Phoebe and she chuckled softly when she noticed Phoebe stretching. "Hey, Wiggleworm! Good morning!" She reached into the crib and picked the baby up. "Henry warmed up your bottle so we're going to change you into your Father's Day outfit and then get some food, ok?" Winter went to work, tickling the baby's toes every chance she got.

Xavier stood up, tossing his pillow to admire his kid's work. He smiled as he took in their gesture before plucking a grape off the vine. Xavier tossed the fruit into his mouth and snaked an arm around his boyfriend. "They really did outdo themselves." He reached for a fork with his free hand and gathered some scrambled eggs onto his utensils. The syrup from the French Toast had trickled down onto the eggs a bit and it tasted delightful. "Oh my God, try the eggs. They remembered the trick I taught them that keeps them fluffy." He gathered some more onto his fork and raised it to Fletcher's lips so that he could have a taste. "Mm before we get ready and go out there, let me give you my gift." He tiptoed for a kiss and then opened his closet to pull out a large-sized gift with various objects inside. He opened his top drawer and pulled out an envelope with two Father's Day cards and handed that to Fletcher first. "Okay, first gif is in there and the resttt...in here." He placed the bag on the dresser before reaching for more fruit.

FLETCHER

When the kids left the bedroom and Fletcher got to munching on some bacon, he leaned against the dresser to watch Xavier ditch the pillow and chuckled. He leaned over to drop a kiss on his boyfriend's shoulder and then hummed a little before accepting the offered bite of eggs. He licked his lips and nodded, "Mhm, those are great," and then he raised his brows. "Gift, huh?" Initially, he'd folded his arms and watched Xavier make his way to the closet. "Uh. That looks like gifts as in plural, sweetheart." He stuck the remainder of bacon into his mouth and dusted his fingertips along his pajama pants before taking hold of the envelope. As he chewed, he opened it and read the card, a soft smile appearing on his face. When he flipped the card open, however, he saw two strips flutter out and bent to retrieve them. "Holy shit, the Foo Fighters? I haven't seen them live before." Playfully, he tapped the corners of the tickets to his bare chest and stared up at the ceiling. "Now to just figure out who the hell I'm gonna go with..."

XAVIER

“I haven’t seen them either but I hear they’re amazing live and I figured you’d really like the show. We’re right at the front so the seats are incredible.” He heard what Fletcher said and raised a brow. “No sexy short kings come to mind? None? Damn, just when I thought we were getting hella serious.” Xavier sighed dramatically as he started cutting up his French Toast and then took a bite. Henry was right about Winter getting the recipe right. Everything tasted delicious. “Mmm Phoebe got you a present and a card too by the way.” A gentle smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “And I got a couple of gifts. Plural, yes but I can’t help myself and I wanted to spoil you.”

FLETCHER

"This is incredible, babe," Fletcher said, staring at the tickets in awe. He was already looking forward to going to the concert with Xavier but easily joked, "Mm. Do you know James McAvoy? He seems like he might enjoy Foo Fighters." He glanced up from the tickets and smirked before kissing Xavier's cheek. And then he moved from leaning on the dresser to standing behind Xavier and sliding his bare arms around Xavier's waist. He kissed the groove of his neck a few times and then reached around Xavier for some grapes and some bacon. "Are you compensating for not getting to be my sugar daddy before?" he teased in between bites and then shifted to his boyfriend's side to open the card from Phoebe. "I know you had to have had a lot of fun picking all this out," he commented, eyes lowering to read the card. His smile returned when he finished reading it, and then he propped both cards on the dresser. Setting the tickets down, he reached into the gift bag. Before taking the items out, he asked, "Do you want your gifts now or later? Fletcher had flowers being delivered after remembering how much Xavier liked getting them for Valentine's Day but he didn't know the exact time the bouquet would be delivered. The matching outfit with Phoebe made him chuckle. "This is cute. Maybe we'll rock these today." He had his and Phoebe's clothes for the week in his duffle still but thought it would be nice for them to wear the new attire. He grinned at the Foo Fighters shirt, as well as the tumbler, commenting, "New favorite cup." But when he took out the framed image, Fletcher's expression softened completely. "X... this is more meaningful than you know." He lifted his gaze to his boyfriend and after placing everything back in the gift bag, he gathered his boyfriend in his arms and kissed him full on the lips. Taking his time, he put as much of his appreciation into it as possible, tasting vanilla, cinnamon & syrup from Xavier by the time he pulled away. "Thank you, sweetheart."

XAVIER

Xavier loved seeing Fletcher so happy. There was something wonderful about how his face lit up when it did. He saw it often when he was with Phoebe, making him fall in love with his boyfriend repeatedly. At the question about James McAvoy, Xavier pretended to be in deep thought. "He does seem like the type, you're right. I could give him a ring tonight? See if he's available?" He grinned and looked back up at Fletcher when he situated himself behind him. Xavier enjoyed every kiss and let out a soft chuckle as Fletcher's facial hair moved against his neck and tickled him. He reached behind him, his fingers walking up his boyfriend's neck and they settled at the nape, gently caressing the skin as they buried themselves into his hair. "I am. Just wait until your birthday. Took everything in my power NOT to give that present to you today. But I'll behave." He wasn't lying. Xavier had ideas and since he preplanned most things, he was already getting that prepared as well. "Oh! before I forget, I got us tickets for the Deadpool and Wolverine grand opening fan event next month on the 25th. I actually got those last month because I wanted to make sure we had tickets to go see the movie. As soon as I heard about Fan events and presales, I knew it had to be done." When Fletcher moved to the side, Xavier's arm dropped and he leaned against the dresser to continue eating, stopping after having a healthy portion to wipe his hands and mouth. "That's completely up to you. You can give them to me when we all do presents or now. I did have a lot of fun picking them out. I got Drew a few things too and that was so much fun. One's back at his house and set up. I hope he likes it. " Xavier smiled as Fletcher admired the matching outfit, happy to hear they'd wear them today. "I'd like to see that." He was enjoying each and every reaction to his gifts, grinning at the favorite cup mention.

When Fletcher stopped at the frame, Xavier leaned in, biting his bottom lip as he stared at it too. "Yeah? I wanted you to have something special. Your first Father's Day and I wanted you to have something from when she was born. That's so important, those memories." It's why he had put together an album for Fletcher and the Sip N See. Xavier wanted those moments available for Fletcher always to look back on. He reached to wrap his arms around Fletcher's neck once Xavier was in his arms and looked up at him lovingly before their lips locked. Xavier closed his eyes, taking in the feeling and keeping Fletcher as close as possible. When his boyfriend pulled away, Xavier sighed. "You're very welcome, baby."

FLETCHER

"Yeah, maybe you can pull some strings. Get me a hot date for that night." He grinned and playfully squeezed Xavier's butt before wrapping his arms around him from behind. He'd closed his eyes while affectionately tending to his boyfriend's neck and shoulder, simultaneously enjoying the feel of the other man's s fingers wandering into his hair. He grinned and chuckled, "Are you sure you're gonna be able to wait another couple of months?" He couldn't even imagine what Xavier had in store for him for his birthday but he was sure it was going to be both thoughtful and plentiful. Gift giving and acts of service really were love languages Xavier most often expressed. And throughout their relationship, Fletcher adapted to understanding that about him and loving him for all his sincerity. He kissed his neck and shoulder a few times before halting abruptly, the moment he heard Xavier mention tickets for the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine. "Shut the fuck up," Fletcher blurted out in amazement. "Jesus, X, this is too much." He'd never been this spoiled in his life before; Drew gifted him things from time to time but like Fletcher, there typically weren't many or too extravagant, with the exception of The Ink Tank. Fletcher knew Xavier enjoyed doing things like this. He was about to answer Xavier but then asked, "Set up? What'd you get him?" And after finishing with the gifts and kissing Xavier, he said, "You are my sweetheart." Once he gave a few more tender pecks, Fletcher turned to the platter while remaining in Xavier's arms to take a few bites of the French toast. After licking his lips, he agreed, "Mhm, you were right. Winter killed it with the French toast." He enjoyed some more of the breakfast with Xavier before going to his duffle and taking out the card he'd gotten for him, along with a square gift box. "I've got a couple other things but they're supposed to be delivered sometime today."

XAVIER

“I’ll do my best. I just hope McAvoy can do that thing I do with my tongue you like so much.” He loved being in Fletcher’s arms. His smile remained on his face as he felt his boyfriend’s lips brush against his skin and he laughed when he was asked if he would be able to hold on to the surprise he had planned for Fletcher’s birthday. “I’ll definitely try my best.” Xavier would be the first to admit that spoiling others was his favorite thing to do. He didn’t feel like he needed to do that to buy anyone’s affection, it just came naturally. Coming from nothing, it meant a lot to him to be able to do big gestures for others especially those he loved. When he felt Fletcher stop his kisses and he told him to shut up, Xavier laughed again and shook his head. “Not shutting up but that’s not even a Father’s Day present. It was honestly something I meant to do anyway and had forgotten to mention to you. I already knew I wanted you to go to the premiere and the fan event is going to be so sick with the popcorn buckets and the giveaways and with it being in laser IMAX 3D, well, I really wanted to go with you. I know Deadpool is your favorite so…” he shrugged a little and then kissed Fletcher’s cheek. “It’s a garden bed!” He smiled so widely that his teeth shined. “Baby, it’s so beautiful and it has a little set up for his tools and for extra pots. I got pots and soils too and I figured I’d take him to the nursery when he has time so he could pick out the seeds for it. He won’t have to bend too much to tend to it and I could help him paint it if he doesn’t want the wood finish. And if he likes it, I can get him another. I’m not saying he can’t tend to his garden but I figured something more accessible would make him feel good about it.” Xavier knew that the garden meant a lot to Drew and he had done a lot of research on Parkinson’s by now to know that he didn’t want to Drew to feel less than by taking away his hobbies. What he needed was accessibility.

He chuckled at all the kissed and his cheeks warmed up from Fletcher calling him his sweetheart. Being someone’s anything, being his something made Xavier feel so complete. He reached for the last piece of his French toast. “Right? She’s a good kid. “ he already knew what Winter and Henry had gotten both Drew and Fletcher and was looking forward to see both their faces. When Fletcher walked off and came back with a card and gift, Xavier, very excitedly, opened the card with a giant smile. His first Father’s Day. He really couldn’t believe those were words used to describe today. Xavier was a dad. A dad to the most incredible children. He pressed the card against his chest and looked up at Fletcher with a thankful expression. “Love you.” He was so genuinely touched that he had a partner to share this day with, one that was also celebrating his first. He then set the card beside the others before opening the box, his eyes twinkling at the sight of the bracelet with the names of both his kids. “This means so much to me. It’s gorgeous. Here, help me put it on, then.” He smiled, removing the bracket from the box before handing it to his boyfriend. “Ya know, you’ve made me so happy today. And you’ve made my kids happy too. I don’t know if you realize how much I love you. It’s bloody amazing. you’re bloody amazing.”!

FLETCHER

"Hm... but is that appropriate concert-going decorum?" Fletcher pretended to ponder before grinning at Xavier. He chuckled at Fletcher planning to try his best at keeping whatever plans were being made for his birthday under wraps for the next month and a half, and then relished the moment of the two of them being physically affectionate towards each other. He then plucked a few grapes and after giving Xavier the gift and card, he moved to the bed where he sat and watched him open the card and then the bracelet. "Love you too, he said back and took in Xavier's reaction to the bracelet. He smiled and then held his hand out to take the item, undoing the latch and holding it out before guiding it around Xavier's wrist and hooking it shut again. "Thank god it fits," he smiled, glad he'd chosen the right size range for the bracelet. "I feel like you could be standing in front of a mirror saying that." He smiled warmly and twined his fingers with Xavier's before pulling him onto his lap and wrapping his arms around his boyfriend. "You, Henry and Winter have added so much light to my life. Mine, Drew's and Phoebe's lives are worlds better with you three in it." He kissed Xavier's chest and then rested his cheek there. "And now it's damn near impossible to even try to imagine not having you and the kids as a part of it." His fingers ran slowly up and down Xavier's back "Thank you for loving us, sweetheart."

XAVIER

"For me it is." Xavier teased. He looked over to the monitor, smiling as Winter was getting Phoebe ready. He was glad that the kids had really grown to love Fletcher's family like their own. There was something really special about how well everyone gelled together and how much they all cared for one another. Sometimes it felt like it's always been like this. Xavier smiled as Fletcher hooked the bracelet on. He turned it around so that he could admire the names on it again and then tapped the empty spot beside Henry's name. "And that spot is for my munchkin." He smiled even wider, letting that thought set in. If things continued going in such a positive direction for Fletcher and him, he hoped that they'd become a unit, a little family. "It fits perfectly." Xavier joined Fletcher, sitting on his lap, and wrapped his arms around his neck. He listened to his boyfriend's words and he swore he felt his heart swell at that moment. "We feel the same about all of you. Henry is obsessed with Drew. Winter thinks we were all connected in a past life somehow and she thinks Phoebe is like her little doll." He chuckled softly, dropping his arms when Fletcher moved to rest his head against his chest. Xavier began massaging his boyfriend's hair and he kissed the top of his head. "Thank you for making it so easy." They remained close in that position for a while longer with Xavier picking up his boyfriend's chin, framing his face gently so he could capture his lips. When he heard a few knocks, he smiled and looked up at the door. "Come in!" He didn't get up from Fletcher's lap but waited to see who was there. Henry poked his little head in and waved. "Uh, sorry dads--dad. Dad and Fletcher? I'm working on it. Drew is up and ready and Phoebe is finishing up her bottle. We have some light tunes on Spotify and presents galore! I'll see you lovebirds in the living room!" Xavier could hear Henry's giggle and shook his head. "Let me throw on a shirt."

Xavier got up but not before kissing his boyfriend again. "If you behave, I'll show you some of that concert decorum a little later."

FLETCHER

Fletcher glanced down at the space on the bracelet Xavier tapped at and smiled a bit. He'd considered a charm for Phoebe but he and Xavier hadn't yet talked about the blending of their families or if he'd felt like a second father to Phoebe, the way he was surprised to find himself already feeling like a stepfather to Winter and Henry. But Fletcher had saved the name of the business he'd ordered the bracelet from and would be able to add to it someday. His arms stayed wrapped around Xavier's lower back while they talked and kissed. It wasn't until there were knocks at the door again that his lips parted from his boyfriend's. He looked to see who was there and then let out a low chuckle from Henry's greeting. "Thanks, Henry. I'll get my shirt on too and we'll be down in a sec." He'd have to grab Drew's meds on the way down but appreciated the kids giving him and Xavier a somewhat later start to their morning than usual. Fletcher met Xavier's lips and spanked his ass shortly after he'd gotten off of his lap. "Behave like that? Or behave like a monk?" He smirked standing up and looking around the floor for the shirt he'd discarded the night before. He picked up the ribbed tank and pulled it on over his head. As he consolidated the few bits of food onto one tray and then stacked them, Fletcher added, "I'll keep Phoebe in my hands so I won't be tempted. How about that?" He smirked, carried the trays out on his way to brush his teeth and then stopped by Drew's room in the Mitchell home so that he could check his daily medicine container. The Sunday A.M. medication was already emptied out and out of habit, Fletcher looked at each spot to make sure the correct ones were either empty or still filled. And then he made his way to the living room to join his uncle, boyfriend and then kids.

XAVIER

“Somewhere in between both?” Xavier chuckled, getting his shirt on and plucking Drew’s card from his dresser. He knew his kids had the sunglasses case wrapped in the living room and the garden bed would be a surprise in the form of a photo inside the card so that Drew would know what was waiting for him back home. Xavier quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth before stopping in the kitchen to get the Brita filter and some glasses out for everyone. He started a fresh pot of coffee in case Drew or Fletcher wanted more and then helped put away some of the perishable items that had been used to make breakfast. “We made grandpa Drew breakfast too.” Henry appeared like a ninja, giving Xavier a fright that made him chuckle. “You gotta teach me how to do that.” Henry smiled at his father and then gave him a hug. “Happy Father’s Day, dad. Did you like breakfast? Did Fletcher?” “Mm hmm. We loved it. That French toast was to die for and by the looks of it, you two made bacon just the way Fletcher likes it.” “Good!” Henry led his father into the living room and Xavier trailed behind carrying the Brita Filter and a few cups. “Good morning! There’s a fresh pot if you want more coffee, Drew. Or I can make you some tea. Whatever you’re in the mood for.” He went up to the older man and hugged him. “Happy Father’s Day. Sleep good?” Winter was sitting on the floor with Phoebe, showing her a couple of toys. “Don’t do any dishes! Fletcher! I can hear you!” She smirked and chuckled when Xavier messed with her hair as he passed her to sit down on the couch. “Okay! There are presents that I will now hand to you. These ones are from Winter and I” he went up to Drew and hugged him, Winter handed Phoebe to Xavier so he could hug him too. Xavier smiled when Phoebe was in his arms and he blew a few raspberries onto her tummy before he let Fletcher take her. “Check out her outfit.” The kids then handed Fletcher his bags and Xavier his. “Okay! Open them!!” Winter beamed

FLETCHER

“Hm… I don’t think I’ve ever actively tried to be monk-like. In fact I don’t even know why I asked. But I’ll give it a try. I guess,” Fletcher sighed, pretending to be disappointed that he wasn’t given the go-ahead to give more smacks to Xavier’s ass while they were downstairs. After the two of them finished getting ready and going downstairs, Fletcher was rinsing off some of the dishes but paused when Winter called him out. He chuckled a little and shook his head. “Alright, alright, Oh Pyschic One,” he called back, turning off the faucet and drying his hands. He made his way into the living room and took a seat beside his uncle. “Happy Father’s Day, old man,” he said with an affectionate jostling of Drew’s knee. “Thanks,” Drew replied and a beat later, he nudged his nephew and nodded in Henry and Winter’s direction. “These’re some great kids."

“Yeah, they are,” he murmured back, already knowing that Xavier hit the jackpot when he and the foster agency arranged for Henry and Winter to come live with him. He then watched Phoebe be passed from Xavir to him; Fletcher extended his arms and accepted his daughter, immediately holding her up high and looking up into her face. “Good morning, tree frog,” he said with a warm smile and then glanced down at the tutu onesie she had on. With a grin, he brought her close so that he could repeatedly kiss her cheek, “My first one thanks to you,” he whispered to her, sitting his daughter in his lap. He looked at Xavier, “Did you get her this outfit?” He wouldn’t put it past his boyfriend, but he also wouldn’t put it past Winter and Henry either. Or Drew for that matter, but he started with asking Xavier. And then the gifts came. “Wow, guys,” he started, brows shooting up without having opened them yet. With one arm secured around Phoebe, he started with the gift bag that held temporary ‘dad’ tattoos and a bracelet. The tattoos made him chuckle, “I can rock a couple of these today.” And the bracelet was on that he started to put on but paused and read the tag with it, instructing him to look inside the stand-out charm. Squeezing on y shut, Fletcher held up the bracelet and looked, only to find himself gazing at an image of him and Phoebe. She’d been scrunched up to his chest, fast asleep and he was staring down at her, serenely watching her sleep. The bracelet immediately went on his right wrist. “Thanks, you two. This is…” He gestured to the bracelet and then gave a few shallow nods, unsure of how best to say how meaningful it was. “Yeah…” was all he could manage before reaching for the wrapped square. In truth, he didn’t know what he was looking at but surmised enough that it would get hung up somewhere. “This looks pretty cool… are those sound waves?” he asked, looking from Henry to Winter.

XAVIER

Xavier chuckled at Fletcher's words and shook his head as they both got ready. Once they were downstairs and reprimanded by Winter, he moved into the living room to take his appointed seat. He smiled at the gentle interaction between Drew and Fletcher and also at how much Henry enjoyed having Drew around. He knew Winter loved him too but Henry had already grown an attachment. Once Phoebe was in Fletcher's arms, Xavier looked on with admiration and he smiled at his boyfriend's words to his daughter. "I sure did. That tutu had her name on it." He tickled Phoebe's side a little and then let Henry sit beside him. "You two did such a good job with all of this." "Winter would have gotten the black tutu but dad was like, red suits her well too. We wanted everyone to have a great day. It's our first Father's Day with like, a real dad and all." He smiled at his dad and Xavier wrapped his arm around the younger boy. "Well, it's all very special." Xavier winked at his teenage daughter who smiled back. She was busy waiting to see everyone's reactions. Xavier had opened his gifts, feeling very touched by all the details. He promised his kids he'd hang the family frame and tell them how much he loved his mug and personalized Pokemon cards. When he was finished, Xavier handed Drew the card which contained the photo of his new garden bed and the leather Gucci case for his new aviators. While Fletcher tried to come up with something to say after placing the bracelet he got from his kids on his wrist, Xavier massaged his back affectionately. Winter stood up and walked to Fletcher, turning the sound waves around to reveal the QR code. "Yeah. take a picture, it'll take you to a Spotify....you'll see!" Winter explained as Xavier took in his daughter's excited expression. She was beaming and it wasn't hard to notice. "Go ahead, Fletcher!" Henry smiled widely, waiting for the older man to follow the directions.

FLETCHER

Fletcher smiled, knowing his boyfriend well enough to have correctly guessed that he was behind Phoebe's outfit. "The red looks good on her." And when Xavier tickled her side, she squirmed a little and made her gasping laughs that Fletcher loved so much. She'd only recently been responding to being tickled but she'd been laughing at things for the past few months. His smile softened at the information Henry supplied about the black versus the red and Fletcher nodded in agreement about the red suiting her. "The day's early but I think you two already did a great job with making today special for all of us." "Damn right," Drew agreed. "You kids are very thoughtful. All of you," he said, shifting a pointed gaze to Xavier and Fletcher. He was content watching the two men open gifts from the kids and was happy seeing his nephew not only touched by the gifts that were given but that he was in love with someone who clearly loved him back and had a couple of kids who loved him and his family as well.

He hadn't expected to be gifted anything but when Xavier handed over a card and a glasses case, he gave the young man a harmless look of reproach, "I shoulda known better than to think you saying 'Happy Father's Day' would be enough." He saw the Gucci label and shook his head before setting the container in his lap to open the card. Chuckling at the card's front, he then opened it and just barely caught the picture that slipped out into his lap. He finished reading the card first and then picked up the picture. "What in the...?" He recognized the garden bed right away and said, "Thanks, Xavier. This is gonna be great on the old knees." He chuckled a little while patting one of his kneecaps and then he flipped open the sunglasses case. "And you're gonna have me looking like I should be in some kinda gardening magazine with these bad boys on." Though his hands were unsteady, he took out the sunglasses and decided to slide them on his face before sitting back in his seat and going back to watching the happenings in front of him. His son had texted him before he'd woken up, and his daughter was likely to call later, but the present company held his full attention. Fletcher was looking at the framed sound waves and listened to what Winter explained after turning it around. Keeping am arm around Phoebe, he shifted to take out his phone from his pajama pant pocket and tapped for the camera. Scanning the QR code, he was immediately taken to Spotify. His brows furrowed until he tapped the "play" button and heard a series of Phoebe's very young laughter. While the bracelet rendered him mostly speechless, this present very nearly made him cry.

His eyes misted up and while no tears spilled over, he was deeply touched by how priceless this gift was. Phoebe would continue to grow. Her laugh would change as she did. And now Fletcher would have this memory to cherish. Setting his phone back on the couch, he stood up with Phoebe still in his arm and moved to hug Winter tightly in his free arm, and then he did the same to Henry. "You guys are the best. Hands down."

XAVIER

"It really does. And it's not pink!" Xavier looked over to Drew and laughed, enjoying that they both were on the pink train when it came to Phoebe but Xavier did try to include other colors. He adored hearing the baby laugh and it made him melt. Xavier always loved children and knew that someday, someway, he'd end up with a house full of them. It was nice to see some of that happening already. Henry felt a sense of pride at Fletcher's words. They felt important to him. He really wanted to impress Fletcher and Drew and he wanted to have a big family so badly that this most felt like a dream to him. "You're welcome." When Drew spoke, Xavier grinned, his gaze shifting from one man to the other. He continued rubbing Fletcher's back, feeling how emotional he was getting and he felt lucky to have such incredible kids who had quickly grown to love his boyfriend and his family. When Drew opened the card, Xavier watched eagerly, glad that he liked the content of the card and that he seemed to like the gift. "You're welcome! If you like it, we can add more here and there. And looking stylish there, Drew! Gotta get you on a gardening dating app or something." He winked at Drew and chuckled. Henry and Winter quickly placed the giant box and gift bag that belonged to Drew at his feet and hugged him again. "Happy Father's Day!!" They said it in unison. Once Fletcher figured out the QR code, the two of them beamed. Xavier, unaware of the contents of these gifts, watched his boyfriend in anticipation, curious as to what would play for Fletcher. When he heard Phoebe's laugh, he smiled, looking up at a smiling Winter and Henry, and watched as Fletcher stood up to hug them both. "You guys...that's very special." He felt his own tears forming but he wiped them away. His kids hugged Fletcher tightly and Xavier welcomed his boyfriend back to his spot, gently massaging his knee. "Alright, Drew! Let's see what you've got!"

FLETCHER

"That's the biggest surprise," Fletcher dryly quipped, a soft smirk on his lips. He saw his uncle shake his head at him but he gladly shared a look with Xavier who knew of his fondness for pink. The gifts from Henry and Winter had been deeply meaningful to Fletcher. The bracelet was something he was going to wear as often as possible, and he already decided that the soundwave frame was going to go in his bedroom. Henry and Winter were true treasures of children, that much Fletcher was sure of. Xavier had been the perfect person to have been chosen to foster them. And the day that the children legally became his, Fletcher truly was happy for all 3 of them. Winter and Henry had constant and unconditional love from Xavier. And Xavier had his compass in the two of them, guiding him back home any and every time he needed it. For Fletcher,.it was a sight to witness and a pleasure to be enfolded into,l their family, along with Drew and Phoebe. After Drew learned that Xavier purchased him a new gardening bed, he listened and then laughed, "Hell no. I'm not looking to date anybody." "You sound like me now," Fletcher teased. "Now look at me."

"Yeah well you're still plenty young for all that and had the love to give. Any love I've got to gives for you guys and your kids." It went without saying that Drew included Rodrigo and Jade with that, and to a lesser extent, his own children and his son’s children. He'd then looked at the gifts the kids placed at his feet and looked at them in disbelief while returning their hugs. "Alright, Mitchells, this is the last time you get to spoil me without any fussing, you got it?" He got to opening the gifts, slowly, while Fletcher learned about the audio that went with the soundwave frame. The sound of Phoebe's innocent, sweet laugh seemed to have touched everyone who hadn't already known about the audio. And after Fletcher stood and hugged the kids with gratitude, Drew agreed with Xavier. "Yeah, you kids really knocked it outta the park with that one." He enjoyed the moment a little while longer, and then finished opening his gifts from Henry and Winter. The shirt with Phoebe's face all over made him laugh and the whiskey glass had him smiling from seeing the 3 kids' names engraved beneath handprints. When he finally reached the large box and unwrapped it, he gave an astounded chuckle, "This is gonna be a gamechanger for my old ass. Thanks for this." His smile was genuine as he looked between Winter and Henry. "Between thie anr the flower bed your dad got me, I'm gonna be growing the hell outta my herbs, veggies, fruits and flowers."

XAVIER

"Last time spoiling you without any fussing? Hard ask." Xavier chimed in and the kids laughed a bit. Phoebe had been reaching for Xavier's face and pretended to gobble her little hand up. As she grew, he was starting to see more of Fletcher in her, and Xavier couldn't help but adore her little features. He couldn't believe he had the privilege to witness a lot of her development already. Xavier continued playing with her as the kids looked on to watch Drew open his gifts. "You got your little teef coming in? Daddy told me!" He whispered in sing-song, trying to get the baby to smile as much as possible. "Mm, I don't know. Dad may be on to something with a dating app." Winter grinned as she watched Drew admire the gifts, gently pushing in the aviators on the older man's face. She was so proud of Henry for budgeting his allowance and getting some sincere gifts and Winter felt so much pride in herself for doing the same. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so full of love for so many people. She and Henry stayed silent after their gift-giving abilities were complimented. Once Drew was done, Henry beamed and said "You're welcome." Xavier smiled at Drew's words and then added, "Just let me know when and we'll get some seeds. I got a call that they want to do some comedy special back in New York City next week so I'll be there for that just for a week but once I'm back, we're all spending a lot of time together. I have some ideas. It's going to be a great summer. " He sighed contently, "Thank you so much for letting us into your lives. We love you guys so much." He then glanced over to his boyfriend. "You're gonna get sick and tired of me." He chuckled and leaned in to kiss his cheek.

FLETCHER

"I think you're up for the challenge," Drew told him with a deadpanned expression. He then shook his head when the kids laughed. "Don't encourage him you two. I mean it," he added with a wag of his finger. "If it helps," Fletcher said to his uncle as he passed Phoebe to Xavier, "I can try to rein him in. I'm not attached to his hip so there's no guarantees but I can try." He smirked to his boyfriend and found himself gazing a while longer at him and Phoebe--a sight he wouldn't ever get tired of. He loved them both and knew Phoebe loved Xavier. And as much as Xavier praised him as a father, Fletcher felt equally about Xavier whenever he witnessed it with Henry and Winter as well as the way he was with Phoebe. He listened to Xavier and Drew and while he was mildly bummed about Xavier's upcoming trip to New York, Fletcher wasn't one to express it or say anything unless asked. Settling down next to Xavier again, he glanced about at the family, their family and let his eyes linger on Xavier's face. "We love you too. All of you." He shut his eyes when Xavier's lips pressed to his cheek but when he opened them again, he dead-eyed his boyfriend. "I will not get sick or tired of you. Not seriously anyway." He cupped the back of Xavier's head and kissed him full on the lips for a few seconds and then told him, "Put that outta your mind today," while offering Phoebe his index finger to grip and shake. After a moment, he asked Winter and Henry, "Did you two eat breakfast?"

XAVIER

"Always, sir." Xavier chuckled but then let the moment pass between Drew and the kids. They were so drawn to him. He had learned it had a lot to do with them never having a family. They didn't know what a grandfather was or an aunt or a cousin. They survived together without the kind of exposure. Henry had stories to tell and awards to show off. Winter just needed a nudge, a protective figure, someone to talk to when teenage life got to be exhausting. "Okay. No app." Henry giggled and Xavier felt his eyes well up. It's not like the kids didn't have his parents, it was just that he had also been a kid that wished for a big family. Xavier happily accepted Phoebe into his arms and she smiled, stuck her tongue out, and squirmed and giggled; he enjoyed every part of it. "He can try but I'm so cute..." Xavier continued playing with Phoebe , cherishing every coo and giggle. The kids were helping with cleaning up and Winter had gotten quiet as she text someone which made Xavier's brows shoot up. He watched from the corner of his eye but knew Fletcher would soon get him to well, reign it in. Xavier let the tears fall from his eyes, making sure only Fletcher saw them and he smiled at him, pressing a finger against his lips before letting his boyfriend kiss him. "Good. Feeling is mutual." At Fletcher's question, Winter pocketed her phone and nodded. "Why don't you tell Fletcher, Hen?" Winter smirked and Henry rolled his eyes. "I ate 10 slices of bacon and two pancakes. I kept eating it like a snack until it was too late to realize I had gone through half a package." Xavier's eyes widened. "Son, you better be kidding." "Meh, he'll be fine." Winter laughed. "But yes, we ate but it won't be long before lunchtime rolls around so everyone figure out what we're ordering and go get dressed or whatever adults do on a day off. We meet back here in 1200 hours."

FLETCHER

Their family dynamic was relatively new, and it was unique but it was beautiful and it was theirs. Fletcher was truly happy about that fact, especially given his own upbringing and how, for a large part of his life, it ended up feeling like him and Drew as their own family unit. Drew's kids separated themselves as swiftly as possible thanks to Fletcher. Drew never told him as much but his cousins certainly did. And while he used to have bouts of guilt for Drew about this, he'd since gotten over it and kept himself out of their dysfunction unless it was something directly affecting Drew. Rodrigo and Emiliana entered their lives in an unexpected way and were now family just as much as Phoebe was his blood. And now, they had Xavier, Winter and Henry whom he hoped would forever be in their lives. He chuckled at Xavier commenting on his own cuteness and then quickly said, "I want all of you to remember this moment with Xavier calling himself cute." He grinned to his boyfriend and their occasional "cute" battles with each other in private. And a few moments later he saw the tears form and spill over Xavier's eyes. While a bit curious and concerned, he hadn't fussed and just quietly wiped his tears away following the kiss on Xavier's lips, he gently kissed each eyelid and then slipped an arm around Xavier's back. He briefly Winter's expression but hadn't called her on it, thinking that he or Xavier could ask her about it later. His brows raised upon hearing how many strips of bacon Henry had eaten. "Maybe cut back to four next time, huh, kid?" He chuckled a little and then said, "But I'm glad you two ate. And hey, thanks for cleaning things up." He listened to Winter and quietly muttered so only Xavier could hear, "Not sure they wanna know what these adults do on a day off." Quickly though, he spoke normally and asked, "1200 hours? Are you prepping to join the military?"

He checked the time on his phone and leaned into Xavier's side for a moment. "Phoebe's gotta go down for her first nap in a little while, probably by the time we're done showering and getting dressed for the day." And by that time, she would also likely need her diaper changed again. Still wearing the aviators, Drew told the bunch, "I was thinking of taking a little walk around the neighborhood after I got dressed if either of you kids wanna join me." While he napped about as much as Phoebe did throughout the day, Drew knew that staying active was important. He raised from his chair and reached for his cane. "We can all figure out something for lunch later on, yeah?" Fletcher suggested, gathering the gifts to consolidate in the gift bags. It would be easier to figure out where to put certain things once he was back at Drew's house. For the time being, he left them at the center of the coffee table and went over to his uncle. "You need anything?" Drew knew he was asking if he needed any help and waved him off, "No, no. I can dress myself. If I come back out with underwear on my head and my shirt hanging off my arms, then I might need something." Fletcher rolled his eyes at his uncle, "Smartass," and then watched after the older man taking to the stairs with one hand on the railing and the other holding his cane. Drew going up and down stairs always made him a little apprehensive but he knew that giving his uncle some independence where possible was important. As soon as Drew was out of sight though, Fletcher asked Xavier, "You ready to go up and get ready for the day?" He hadn't forgotten about his morning delight promise to Xavier but figured if the kids ended up going on a walk with Drew, that they could take advantage of that moment.

XAVIER

“Yeah yeah. Remember it because it’s not often.” Xavier laughed and his expression softened at his boyfriend’s gentle gestures. He smiled, nuzzling Fletcher’s neck for a few seconds and leaving a kiss against the inked skin there before pulling back. When Fletcher leaned into him and made the comment about what they do on their day off, he chuckled softly and shook his head. “Don’t think so,no.” Winter rolled her eyes playfully and shrugged. “Can you imagine me in the military ? The school has a this junior ROTC and while the uniform is nice I doubt I’d survive.” She grinned and stood up in case Drew needed help. She noticed that Henry did the same thing. They both volunteered to go on the walk with Drew and agreed to meet back in the living room once they were ready. Xavier stood up as well, swaying Phoebe gently in his arms and noticing that she was already trying to doze off. “Okay.” He kissed her cheek and handed her to her daddy. “Let’s get the munchkin ready for her nap and we can sort our morning out then. Winter, Henry listen to Drew please.” They both nodded and Xavier pointed to his eyes and then up the stairs indicating that Winter also keep an eye on Drew to which she silently nodded. Once upstairs, he yelled out a ‘Have Fun!’ To Drew, Henry, and Winter once they yelled that they were leaving. He turned around to face his boyfriend and grinned. “Want to take a shower with me after the baby falls asleep? I’ll make it worth you while.”

FLETCHER

"Reminders like that don't need to be made often. Just as long as you know it like the rest of us," Fletcher replied with a cheeky wink to Xavier. He did his best to dry his boyfriend's eyes and then shut his own when eyes upon feeling the kiss against his neck. When muttering about their day off, he grinned, and then Winter's response made him chuckle. "Who knows? You could've and some secret ambition just now coming to light." He was glad that Henry and Winter were going to join Drew on his walk, not liking the idea of his uncle going out alone. If anything happened, he knew Winter and Henry would call or one of them would come back to get him and Xavier. When he glanced over to Phoebe, he saw her resting her head against Xavier's shoulder and her small lips part for a yawn. He smiled softly when Xavier handed her back to him and once he had his arms around her, Phoebe rested against him in a similar fashion, head tucked under his chin. He caught the exchange between Xavier and Winter and gave his boyfriend a grateful smile. After a little bit or swaying and dropping a couple of kisses to the top of Phoebe's head, Fletcher followed Xavier upstairs and went in the direction of the nursery Xavier set up for her. He quietly began to sing Rascal Flatts' "My Wish" to her and took slow strides around the room, all the help further lull her to sleep. When he heard Xavier's question, he nodded and then grinned at his boyfriend's last remark as he continued softly singing Phoebe to sleep. It had been a good ten minutes before he felt his daughter was in a deep enough sleep to lay her down in her crib. Once he felt assured she wasn't going to wake right up again, he kissed her forehead, laid her in the middle of her crib and pulled a light blanket over her, up to her chest.

With the monitor on, Fletcher left the room with Xavier, twining his fingers with his boyfriend. "Now about that shower. I'm pretty sure I'm the one who promised morning delights first. You and the kids gave me a lot this morning. I'd like to return a little of that to you while we have some time to ourselves." Passing the bathroom, he led Xavier back to the bedroom saying, "We'll shower. Later." And when he pulled Xavier past the threshold and into his arms for a passionate kiss, Fletcher reached over his boyfriend's head to shut the door, intending to pick up where they left off earlier that morning.

#Xavier #A Flavier Father's Day para

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