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marslikestowrite · 3 years ago

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That’s my kind of night

Part 1

Eddie Munson x F!Reader

Part 2

Part 3

Masterlist

Summary: You’re the new student. Not preppy, not sporty, not nerdy, you’re different, and lord knows the people of Hawkins don’t like different. You just recently moved to Indiana from Texas before the school year started, having lived on a 100+ acreage of farmland. Eddie and Jason get into a fight, and you decide to step in.

~~~~~

Hawkins Highschool, Hawkins Indiana. Far from where you lived just a few months ago. Your heel clicked against the school tile, the sound from your boots getting drowned out by the constant chatter of the students around. Your parents decided to move from Texas to Indiana to get a fresh start. Your father used to fly Jets for the Navy before he decided he wanted to focus on a family with your mother. He got an honorable discharge, and you’ve been living off military money since. A few months ago, your father got a job offer lined up to work on jets, and had a decent sized property lined up as well, and decided it was time to move on, and he accepted the offer. You wanted to stay, stay in your small home town, living life the way you were raised to live, but since you got into trouble quite often, you were forced to repeat your senior year of highschool, so you were also forced to move with your parents, kissing you childhood farm goodbye. You sent all your cattle, horses, and animals over, and then moved. You wanted to go back. You adjusted your hat, as well as your aviators, and you definitely stuck out like a sore thumb as you walked into the cafeteria.

The room was bustling with cheerleaders, jocks, band kids, every type of click you could imagine, and you still stood out, being the only one dressed in what the students of Hawkins would call a “Yeehaw” outfit. Stares were given to you, and words were muttered as you leaned against a wall, minding your own business. Your sunglasses shielded your wandering eyes as you took in your surroundings, making sure to know everything that was going on, where it was going on, and how it was going on. You were going to graduate, and get the hell out of highschool, that was your main priority. You heard the sound of chairs screeching against the tile, making your nose scrunch as the sound burned your ears, you looked up from your gaze at the ground, to see people crowded around in a large circle, supposedly around two people being loud. You used the wall to kick yourself standing, before your feet moved on their own towards the circle. You were taller than average, standing at a height of 5’10, you easily maneuvered your way through the crowd. “

“Still here Munson? Can’t believe you haven’t graduated yet.” A voice in which you’ll later learn to associate with the name Jason Carver said.

“Still running around and tossing balls into laundry baskets for fun, Carver.” Another voice retaliated. You looked at the two, one was wearing a green lettermans jacket, hair slicked back and clean, while the other was wearing a bikers jacket, with a shirt that read “Hellfire Club.” You eased your way back into the crowd, watching quietly at the encounter. No one seemed to care about who you were, they were all too engrossed in the argument. Fine by you. That was until gasps were heard, and you see this “Munson” kid, stumbling backwards clutching onto his cheek. Munson brought his fists up, and you almost broke out laughing. His form was shit, he’ll break a finger or two with the way his thumb was tucked. Carver wasn’t much better either, however he didn’t give the poor guy a chance, and he hit him for no reason. Munson punched Carver in the shoulder, and hissed at the pain. Called it. Carver then threw a hook, and punched him in the ribs, causing Munson to fall backwards, clutching onto his rib cage in pain. You sighed, knowing that they would hurt themselves more than each other, and pushed past the crowd, walking into the ‘fight’ circle, and standing in front of Munson, muttering some low curses to yourself. Ma’s gonna be pissed when she finds out I got into another fight. Your mumbling continued, cursing yourself as you locked eyes with Carver.

“Who the hell are you? You look hilarious!” He laughed, you could tell by his voice he was still hyped up on adrenaline.

“Who are you?” You retorted. You almost broke out in laughter at the way his face twisted in utter shock. Oh no! The new girl doesn’t know who I am!

“Who am I- Jason Carver. Now step aside, the freak and I aren’t done with our little engagement.” He hissed, a sigh breaking from your lips.

“Listen, I don’t care who y’all are, nor do I know why you’re calling him a ‘freak’,” You said, looking at Eddie.

“All I know is that you’re someone who can’t stand words, and has to fight over petty shit, he’s someone who can’t keep his mouth shut, and both of y’all don’t know how to fight. Y’all are gonna hurt yourselves more than you’ll hurt eachother.” You chuckled, hearing the students mumble and whisper to eachother. This new student, wearing very unfamiliar clothes, is standing up for Eddie to Jason Carver, The Jason Carver. Great, first day and you’re already on people’s shit list. Lucky you! However your thoughts were lost as Jason spoke again, making dead eye contact with you.

“What do you know? I’ve never seen you around. Must be new. How do you know I can’t fight? I don’t normally hit girls, but you’re really pissing me off with that ego of yours. So come on then, you want to see who’s the better fighter? I’ll kick your ass.” He growled, a smirk on his face. Welp, so much for graduating this year. You took off your hat, turned around and set it on Eddie’s head, before taking off your aviators, and handing them to him.

“Take care of these will ya’? If you break my glasses or fuck up my hat, I’ll kick your ass.” You said, smiling sweetly at him, to which he returns a nervous grin to you. Little did you know the things you were doing to poor Eddie Munson’s heart. His heart rate increased rapidly, and it wasn’t from the punches. It was from the way you were defending him, treating him normally.. Sort of.

“Now, where were we?” You turn back around, staring at Jason, and shrugging off your dad’s old Aviator jacket, letting it fall on the floor next to Eddie, revealing your white long sleeve. You roll up your sleeves, and bring your fists close to your face.

“We were about to fight, and I was about to kick your yeehaw ass.” He said, a grin on his face. He was cockier than you were. Time to wipe that grin off his smug little mouth.

“Lets tussle city boy.” You quipped, a smirk etched onto your face. Let’s say Carver didn’t like that.

~~~~~

It was over before it was even on. He came at you first, trying to get a running punch in, while you just side stepped, making him off balance. You then punch him straight in the nose, right as he turns back around to look at you. Blood quickly seeps down his nose, his face scrunched up, as you elbow his side. He goes to clutch it, before you kick him down, him landing straight on his back, crying out in pain. A laugh escaped your lips, as you crouched down next to him.

“Thought you were gonna kick my “yeehaw ass.” Your retorted with a laugh. By now everyone was staring at you, some people with a look of shock, some with disgust, but one, a look of awe and love. You didn’t notice, but Eddie was staring at you like you just did the most angelic thing, even though you kicked one of the most popular kid’s in Hawkins’ ass. Jason’s friends helped him up as he cussed you out, however you just turned around, walked over to Eddie, took your hat off his head, and put it on yours. You reached down, picking up your dad’s jacket, before then grabbing your aviators and putting them back on your face. You left him sitting there after you said absolutely nothing to him. You pushed through the crowds, people letting you through as they were now absolutely terrified. New girl arrives from god knows where, on the first day kicks the popular guys ass. They think they’ll stay away. Eddie quickly gets up, and scrambles his way over to you, pushing past all the people as well. He jogs his way over, before slowing down and walking next to you in silence for a few moments, before he finally decides to speak up.

“So uh- I guess the propper thing to say would be thank you, though what I really want to say is who the hell are you.” He chuckles. You walk in silence for a little more, as he awaited your response. You sighed, knowing he wouldn’t leave you alone until you answered.

“Y/n.” Was all you responded.

“Y/nnn-?” He urged you on, encouraging you to tell him your full name.

“Y/n L/n. You?” You said annoyed. It wasn’t like you did something showstopping, you just did what was right, and now you have way more spotlight on you than what you had wanted. However, his face lit up.

“Eddie. Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson.” He grinned, as you rolled your eyes.

“Well, L/n, I must extend my most sincerest gratitude.” He said, putting a skip in his step, his voice showing every hint of sarcasm.

“If you’re not gonna mean it, then you can leave. I don’t have time for your shit. I’m actually graduate this year.” You grumbled, and his eyes lit up.

“You’re repeating your senior year too?” He asked, still not leaving your side.

“The way you said that, and with what Carver said, I take it you are too. But to answer your question, yes I am. Got into too many fights back in Texas, have to repeat my year because of it.” You sighed.

“Well, I suppose we stick together then hm? I could show you around since Hawkins is definitely not your average highschool.” Eddie mused, earning a chuckle out of you as well. Oh the things he would do to hear more of your laugh.

“Fine then, I suppose you couldn’t show me Mr. Baker’s Biology class in this ‘not average highschool’ could you?” You joke, Eddie laughing with you.

“You underestimate me L/n. Because of that, this year you are going to be my lab partner, because suprise, surprise! We are in the same class.” He elbowed you teasingly, making you groan.

“Great! That means I have to deal with you everyday? I didn’t sign up to be a babysitter Munson.” You quipped.

“Well too bad. You’re stuck with me now, Ms. Babysitter.”

You had a feeling this year was going to go quite well.

I have ideas for this.. Should I continue it?

#eddie munson #eddie #strangerthings #fanfic #eddie x reader #eddie munson x reader #stranger things x reader #dnd

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internalsealpanic · 4 years ago

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Sealing the Deal part 1

Summary: Always, always be nice to sea creatures but never ever accept their pelt.

A/n: A fic I’ve been meaning to write since forever. My contribution to mermay.

warning: Disgusting fluff and bad decisions

Main Masterlist

part 2

You look like you're gonna die from boredom in your little fishing boat.

Dick rolls over to where Jason was sprawled and used his momentum to push the larger seal into the water. Jason gives an undignified squawk of outrage. Dick just preens and looks smug.

You cup your hand over your mouth as you begin to laugh.

Jason glares even harder at Dick. Dick... couldn't care even less if he tried. All he can focus on is the wrinkle in the corners of your eyes. They'd been gone for so long these past few months. It felt like the first ray of sun after a long storm.

Dick claps his fins in excitement even as Jason snuffs and rolls his eyes. You clap in return but accidentally drop your fishing pole into the sea. Reaching for it, you fall into the water. Dick feels a little bad for laughing but you manage to get yourself back up into the boat safely. You sigh in defeat as your fishing pole drifts away. Dick notices for the first time that your face has grown gaunt from the last few weeks. Are you eating enough? Are you even taking care of yourself? Dick swims over to your boat as it rocks back and forth on the waves. He hops in easily and plops onto your stomach. You laugh and pet his head. It was a weak laugh so he croons at you in question.

“Sorry pup, I don’t have any food for you today. I mean I don’t even have any for me.” Despite the sweet timbre of your voice, Dick can still taste the bitter hopelessness in the statement.

He nuzzles his face into your chest. He can feel just how thin you’ve gotten. He has to do something about this.

To say Dick had been afraid of humans would be a monumental understatement. It had been around 200 years since humans had left the island and the first thing they did when they came back was hunt down selkies. Dick's parents had been two of the unlucky few who'd been hunted down.

So when Dick found himself stranded onshore because of a fin tangled in a fishing line, he thought he was a goner. And when he saw you approaching; well, he still thought he was fucked but he thought you'd at least be nicer than the adults.

Maybe if he acts cute enough you'll spare him.

Dick whimpered and he gave you the big innocent look.

You shushed him harshly. Dick flinched then you flinched and muttered apologies.

You approached him slowly. You looked around before crouching and fiddling with the line Dick had managed to get himself caught in. Carefully, you began to disentangle him. It hurt, especially when you took the hook out, but once he was free. He clapped and trilled before you shushed him again.

Dick thought that it was all over and he could just roll back into the sea until you scoop him up and swaddle him in your shirt.

After 10 minutes of your father screaming at you, he agreed to treat Dick who knew better than to snap at him. Your father was kind with gentle hands. He worked on Dick while you fed him fish. It wasn't the best fish but Dick can't complain.

After an hour or so, Dick started to wriggle and you pull him closer to your chest.

"Dad, can we keep him for a few days? He might still be sick." You plead with big eyes.

Your father glared at you then sighed. "No more than two. His wounds just need to close up, understand?"

You squealed a little. Hugging Dick tighter, you thanked your father before scampering off to find you a basin to put Dick in. You, thankfully, had the good sense to fill it with lukewarm water.

Dick lived like a king in those two days. You fed him a lot of fish much to your dad's exasperation. You kept him warm. You even read to him and sang songs to him.

Dick wanted to stay but he missed Bruce, Alfred, Damian, and maybe that new kid Jason.

On the fourth day (one of the wounds was deeper than expected), Dick was released back into the sea but he never did manage to stay away after that

Dick sets the odd little trinket down in front of Jason's sleeping form. It was something you'd caught in your net days before along with the meager amount of fish you'd managed to net. You'd busied yourself with it for days before throwing it out. Dick wasn't sure what it was; all he knew was that it was something Jason would like.

He waits semi patiently for Jason to notice it, nudging it forward a little until it touches Jason's snout and the larger seal is forced to pay attention to Dick.

"I know when I'm being bribed, Dickface." Jason says, glaring.

Dick volleys it with a wide-eyed hopeful look. He nudges the little trinket forward again. This time, instead of ignoring him, Jason rises to his full height, teeth bared. This... does not faze Dick.

"C'mon Jaaaaaaay," Dick says as if the prolonging of syllables would whittle down Jason's irritation. Jason suspects if he were less inclined to tell Dick to fuck off, it would have worked. Probably. But as it stands, Dick is responsible for ruining a very good, very rare nap for Jason and so he's on the shit list and has lost any favor privileges until further notice.

"I said no. Go away or ask Bruce."

"But Jaaaaaaay, it's just a teensy tiny favor. It won't even take an hour. Not with your skill at least."

"That kind of flattery may work on Harper and it may even work on West but I'm not an idiot about to get involved with whatever shenanigans you have planned with the human."

Dick lets out a long-suffering sigh. Jason isn't stupid enough to think that Dick has actually given up. No, the stubborn little fuck is worse than a barnacle. "You've left me no choice-"

"I have given you plenty of choices. Most of them involve minding your own goddamn business." Jason says with a little snuff.

"-I'm calling it in."

Jason narrows his eyes at Dick.

"Don't you dare. That was 5 years ago."

Dick smiles, evilly. "Unless you want the rest of the family to know about-"

"Fine! What do you want?"

Dick looks smug. Jason wants to bite his face off.

"I need you to help me catch fish."

Jason looks at him, incredulous. "Did you hit your head or something?"

"Not recently. Look, I just need you to help me catch fish for the human." Dick explains like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Contrary to what Dick seems to think, Jason really isn't concerned with the one human on the island. Most of the selkies on the island have barely even interacted with you outside of staring at you.

"You're insane."

"I think we reserve that term for Bruce."

Jason raises his head from the ground. "You're not wrong."

You think you hear the light pitter-patter of raindrops. You sigh. You would be lying if you say you aren't the least bit thankful for the excuse to stay indoors today. You... don't exactly like foraging for food. You had avoided it for as long as you had food in the lighthouse. You thought it would at least last you 'til the ships came in but whatever is going on in the mainland has kept the ships from your shores. You don't mind. You never did find the sailors all that pleasant on the rare occasions that you did have to interact with them.

You like your island the way it is but... you're not exactly the most skilled at hunting... or fishing. You have no idea how your father did it. You chucked it up to the miracles of loaves and fishes. You miss him.

You curl around your pillow in a vain attempt to chase the wakefulness away but the sun in your eyes was too bright. You flutter your eyes open. The sun had the audacity to be there. Still the splushing sound continued.

You strain your ears to listen, trying to make heads or tails of it. It was a squishy sound, the sound of putty hitting stone over and over again. You scramble to the front door. In hindsight, you probably should have grabbed a weapon before running towards the strange sound.

Opening the door, you're greeted with the sight of a familiar seal caught red-handed with a fish in his mouth.

You stare at each other for a long moment before your eyes wander down to a pile of fish. A large amount of fish. Laughter rolls from your lips, musical and manic as you bury your face in your hands.

You think the seal furrows his brow at you, dropping the fish in its mouth before plopping towards you. Plop. Plop. Plop. He looks at you with big dark eyes. Your mouth twitches between curling down into a frown and a smile that spread across your face. On one hand, you are confused. On the other hand, you were gonna be able eat some meat.

A concerned croon comes from the pup and your face decides that it would rather smile at the moment. You throw your arms around him, not at all caring about the seawater getting on your nightclothes.

"Thank you." You whisper and the seal answers with a happy trill.

Dick is over the moon.

He can't even help how loud his trills get. It's ok you don't seem to mind either. He's just happy that you get to eat now.... but you don't.

Dick's a little frustrated when you don't immediately start digging in. Instead, you go back inside your home, swear, shout in delight then come back out with a basin and a jar of white powder. You then run around to fill the basin with seawater then add what Dick finds out is salt into the seawater.

Dick is... concerned.

You go back inside the house. When you come out again, you have a knife in your hand. Dick waddles back a bit. He knows you won't hurt him but it's a habit. You develop these kinds of habits around Bruce.

You settle yourself onto the ground cross-legged and grab a fish. Dick looks on with mild curiosity. You begin to dismember the fish by cutting off it's head, cutting it up in the middle then removing the bones and stomach. That kind of makes sense, Dick thinks. The bones are kind of annoying. Dick nods his head agreeably until you toss the fish into the basin.

Dick looks on in utter confusion as you repeat the process with most of the fish he's brought you.

You turn to him looking equally befuddled before your eyes soften. You look sheepish. "Sorry pup, I can't eat all of this today so I'm salting them so I can eat them the next few..." You count the fish in the basin. "... weeks."

Dick tilts his head but doesn't say anything. You really should just eat more. Dick can get you more if you need it. You just need to ask but you seem content with what you're doing.

Dick is about to rest his head on your lap when you shoot up and scuttle back inside. You return with a line and a smile. Dick watches you string the fish up like laundry. He could probably help you but he has no clue if he should. Just eat the fish damn it.

Finally after what felt like forever, you start preparing the fish and actually eat. You offer Dick some and Dick has to admit cooking the fish does taste odd but not unpleasant. It's totally different from eating it raw (the better way) but it's not horrible. Or maybe it just tastes good because you've got the biggest grin on your face while eating.

Maybe.

Probably, Dick thinks as he munches on his fish, pressed to your side.

___

You sing at the top of your voice. It's a cheerful song but Dick can't quite make out the words. He knows it's human but he's not quite familiar with it. The tune is nice though. Dick rests his head on your lap closing his eyes.

He croons happily when you being to pet him.

You stop midway through the song dissolving into a fit, of what Dick can only describe as, giggles snorts. It was a despicably adorable sound that was engineered to make Dick feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

He looks up at you with big curious black eyes. He's not complaining but he hasn't heard you laugh this much before and he may or may not want to know how to make you laugh like this again.

When you don't answer his questioning gaze, Dick nudges against your chest. Your shoulders are still shaking but you manage to stop laughing for a moment.

"Sorry pup," you say wiping a tear from your eye, "I must look crazy to you. "

A little but not as bad as Bruce, Dick thinks. Bruce thinks you humans still don't know there are selkies on the island. Dick snorts at the idea. Everyone knows that all you humans know about selkies. That's why those men keep coming here trying to trap them.

You squish his face affectionately with your hands. "My dad taught me that song and I just realized..." Your mouth turns into a curved line of held back laughter. "...It's a sea shanty about missing being between a woman's legs." The last few words come out more as giggles than proper syllables but Dick can't enjoy that because he can feel his face warm up from the thought. He hides his face in his flippers.

You squeal, absolutely delighted with his mortification. Smiling down at him, you say: "Yanno pup, sometimes I think you understand me."

Thought process-wise, no.

Dick snuggles up to you again, blowing air out of his nose to voice his ascent. You can't just say things like that but again, you just simply seem amused by his suffering when you bend down to press a kiss to the top of his head.

Dick looks up when you pull away. No! Give him more!

Dick stretches up to return the favor, having to partially climb on your lap but only managing to boop your nose with his snout. You nuzzle your nose against his and Dick makes the happiest noise in the back of his throat.

Sometimes after wandering around you had a habit of falling asleep on the shore which Dick thought was fine until he found out that you couldn't swim. Dick being the only with brains in this duo always nudges you awake when the tide starts getting too close. Dick doubts the lapping water will wake you up before sweeping you away. After all, you managed to sleep through Tim, Kon, and Bart's rock piling contest on top of you. Dick shooed them away but even after cleaning up, you didn't wake up.

Dick sees the sailors on the shore and nudges you. You... don't even blink. You hum, content to bask in the sun as you wrap your arms around Dick. Dick huffs. He likes this but he really would prefer it if you move. Dick considers slipping from your grip and grabbing a fish to slap you with like last time.

Dick cranes his head to look at the ship again. It was far too close now, too close for you to get away without being seen by the sailors.

Dick turns you back over to your back and proceeds to body slam you with all his blubber. He winces when you make a choked noise. Dick can give you apology fish later.

"Pup, what the fuck?"

You see the ship. Your eyes widen then flicker to his injured fin. Dick had injured it when he’d been swimming by the docks and got caught in one of the old traps. You’ve done your best to help it heal but you only know so much. You’re still reading up on herbs in case it happens again.

You try in vain to push him off but he's a big loveable sack of blubber and he refuses to move. “C’mon pup, you need to move. They’ll try to catch you if they see you.” You grunt but the sack of blubber refuses to move.

You and Dick stay still as the ship draws near, neither of your chests rises or fall as the ship rocks back and forth.

The ship passes and you let your head fall back with a sigh.

Dick nuzzles his snout against your face, his whiskers tickling your face. You giggle and try to push him off. It’s useless so you let him stay there.

You both decide to take a nap on the shore with Dick huffing in your face once in a while as he snores.

You curl up on the floor in front of the fire, watching the embers flicker, flash, and fade. It's the best thing you can do to calm your fraying nerves. The storm rages outside violently as if it was trying to tear the lighthouse down brick by brick. The whole building shakes with another boom of thunder. You close your eyes and burrow under the thick blanket.

In the back of your mind, your father is chuckling. The absence of a hand on your head is disconcerting. You remind yourself that it won't come, that you'll have to learn to weather the storm alone. You sigh then tighten the blanket around you.

Tok. Tok. Tok.

You blink. The fire was dying. When had you fallen asleep?

Tok, tok, tok.

Blinking, you rub the sleep from your eyes, but the haze doesn’t lift, only growing as you watch the firelight.

Tok tok tok.

You shoot up and barrel towards the door with the frantic knocking growing louder and louder as your feet pound against the stone floor.

You run into the door in your haste. The loud thud of your body against the door causes the frantic knocks to turn into muffled shouting.

Prying yourself from the door, you open it and you don't know what you expected but this wasn't it.

Standing in front of you was a man soaked like a wet rat. You blink in confusion before pulling him inside. You run to grab him a blanket. Wait. You should probably get him a towel. No, wait. You should have gotten his name first. Fuck.

You shuffle back into the room with a towel, spare clothes, and an extra blanket. You.. what can generously be called a heart attack.

For the first time, in the soft glow of the fire, you can fully admire your guest. Not see, admire because there was a lot to admire.

The light of the fire flicking over the planes of his chest, with a light dusting of chest hair, the amber glow highlighting all the muscles of his body, framing the ripples of his toned figure. Swallowing any good sense you have, you watch the rainwater turn golden as it drips down his perfectly bronzed skin. The water cuts through valleys of muscle that could have only been handcrafted by gods. Your eyes follow the flow until... Oh.

You flush furiously, your face glowing brighter than the fire. He's- He's- Oh my god, he's naked.

You reign your eyes in. Ok, you let it linger down there a bit. Not long enough for your guest to notice. You concentrate on his face which wasn't hard to do. The man pushes his raven hair out of his face letting you fully appreciate his face. In keeping with his body, his fine boned face looked like Pygmalion himself spent hours shaping it, not satisfied until he's made the perfect face. It's handsome in an adorable way. Not intimidating. It's the kind of face you'd like to pepper with kisses. You try not to focus on his lips in case of any sinful thoughts. You just met the man. The only thing you will note is that yes, his lips do look absolutely kissable and it aggravates you.

The most striking feature however are his deep blue eyes. The kind of deep that you feel like you could drown in. The kind of depth that looked too pretty to agonize over the fact that your lungs are burning. You stare, trying to carve a perfect replica of those eyes into your mind. Those eyes... that are currently staring at you... as he steps closer... at an alarming speed.

You hold the stack of fabric in front of you like a shield. Your guest stops, looking at the stack. His face goes from concern to confusion to blinding enthusiasm. He was probably freezing.

A smile spreads on his face, the cutest dimples you've ever seen forming on his cheeks, as he accepts the stack. He thanks you and your heart leaps from your chest. Whatever chill you were experiencing from the storm was completely gone. You turn away from him, rubbing the back of your neck and mumbling a halfway point between 'no problem' and 'you're welcome'. You hope it came out as 'no welcome' instead of 'your problem'.

The man snorts and you are pretty sure which one came out. To save yourself the embarrassment, you walk to the kitchen and start preparing tea. The man thankfully occupies himself by looking at the assortment of knick-knacks you've hoarded gathered over the years. It gives you ample time to breathe.

"Do you like sugar in your tea?"

The man nods enthusiastically. You can't help but smile a little.

You sit next to him in front of the fireplace as you hand him his mug. He leans his head against your shoulder. You can feel his body radiating a comforting heat.

You two sit in silence, sipping tea and watching the fire flicker. You wanna scold him for slurping his tea. You're not exactly his mother. You don't even know his name.

You turn to him, face scrunched and about to ask him for his name when he surges forward. His lips brush against your lips as he nudges his nose against yours. You fall backward in shock and the stranger falls on top of you, his eyes still glowing bright and cool against the amber light.

There's a thrill working up your spine or is it fear? You squeeze your eyes shut and throw your arms over your face.

"Please don't hurt me." You plead barely above a whisper.

You feel the body above you lower itself on top of you. He chuckles and shakes his head. "(Y/n), you're being silly."

You open your eyes. The man is laying his body on top of you keeping you pinned down and he's... pouting at you?

"I- I don't know who you are. You can take what you want but please don't hurt me."

The pout deepens into a frown.

"(Y/n), I'm not gonna hurt you. Don't you recognize me?"

You blink. You would definitely remember someone this eye-catching. "You always sing that sea shanty to me. The one about the sailor who misses his wife's..." The stranger flushes and makes a hand gesture. Your face scrunches again. The only person you've sung that to aside from your dad is...

"Pup?!"

His frown morphs back into a pout. "I'm not even that little."

You squish his face with your hands before you let your mind wander. You think back to the scars crisscrossing his limbs and chest. "How is this possible?"

He laughs, prying your hands from his face. "I'm a selkie," He says as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. "My name is also Dick, not pup."

You stare up at him wide-eyed and stupefied. Dick snuggles against you like he always does. Somehow snuggling you in this form is better. He can hold you closer like this. You run your hand through his hair, fingers lacing through the tangles in his hair. He lets out an excited trill.

Dick might just be in heaven right now.

"I dunno how but you're somehow even prettier when I look at you in this form," Dick breathes contently. "I'm so lucky to have such a pretty wife."

You stiffen. Dick looks up at you and the confusion in your face wrenches a knife in his heart. He swallows. "That is what you meant with this, right?" Dick asks, tugging at the collar of his shirt.

Your mouth turns into various shapes trying to piece together a coherent response. It settles on the simplest one. "No."

Dick looks stricken like you'd taken a club to his head.

You reel back. "I just- I- I thought you were cold and you-"

Dick's heartaches. It's a dull ache. He thought this kind of thing would be sharp like having a hook pierce your heart.

His insides twist as he peels of you.

Your stomach sinks as you feel the cold fill your body once more. You don’t want him to go. The thought of being alone right now makes your stomach curdle. Your hands grip his shirt without meaning to. The look on his face hurts but the idea of him leaving felt unbearable. You know it's selfish but here you are begging him not to leave.

"Dick, I'm sorry... I didn't know... I-"

Thunder booms. You squeak and bury your face in his chest. You can't stand storms.

Dick smiles down at you softly. It's still pained but it's bearable.

He lays on his side and pulls you closer. He slots your face into his neck. You're still shivering even when he uses his body to shield you from the rest of the world.

You whisper another apology.

Dick shushes you, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

The sunlight floods into the room like it does every morning but the room is still cold. Your mind works to understand what's wrong with this picture. Your hand pads beside you. The space next to you is empty save for the blanket left behind.

You sniffle, gripping the sheet in your hand. You messed up, you think, pulling it to your face. For the first time in months, the tears come easily. You lay there all day because the tears won't stop.

"If you sigh one more time, I am going to rip your throat out." Jason growls not bothering to open his eyes. Why would he? Dick has been flat and mopey for the past two weeks and Jason is really starting to miss his hyperactivity.

Dick lets out another mopey sigh. Jason. Is. Going. To. Scream.

"Can't you be depressing in Roy's direction? Or Bruce's?"

Dick sighs even louder at the mention of Bruce and Jason, for once, is considering murder or at least maiming.

"She doesn't love me back."Dick sniffles and Jason really should have known this had something to do with you.

He turns to Dick. "I'm going to regret asking but how do you know that?" The sooner he sorts Dick out, the sooner he gets to sleep. "Did she tell you to go away and never come back?"

"Well no-"

It's Jason's turn to sigh. "You fucking moron, What did she even say?"

"She said she didn't know." Dick lowers his head to the sand and Jason wants to slap him with his tail.

Jason is now fully awake and very ready to throttle Dick. Or he's just cranky. "Are you telling me Bruce was right?! This day just keeps getting worse."

Something seems to click in Dick's brain. "Oh, crap Bruce is right." He mutters stupidly.

Jason will take whatever consolation he can get out of this. "She probably thought you were just some random pervert flashing her then." Jason snickers. It's petty and childish but so is interrupting a well-deserved nap.

"What?"

Jason lets out an exasperated huff through his snout. He twists his body to look at Dick with minimal effort to lift his head. "Let's see, you turned up naked at her door and then you called her your wife and nearly kissed her in what? The space of 15 minutes?"

"I got confused." Dick sputters.

"Geez, I thought West was bad but you're just a disaster," Jason chuckles, "Oh! And you made the brilliant decision to leave without explanation," Jason is having far too much fun rubbing salt in the wound. "She probably feels terrible”.

"Are you guilt-tripping me?"

"Is it working?"

"What-" Dick growls. "Well, what do you want me to do?"

"Hmmmmm, have you tried talking? Yanno the thing Bruce never does. But seriously, I can’t believe you call her your wife and then abandon her." Jason shakes his head. "And you have the audacity to call yourself the smart one."

Dick strips out of his skin and begins running towards the lighthouse... naked.

Jason debates on letting him.... he probably shouldn't.

"Dickface!" Jason calls out.

Dick doesn't stop, face crumpled in determination and his little Richard swinging wildly as he walks.

Jason is gonna die of second-hand embarrassment.

"DICKFACE!"

"What?!" Dick asks turning around his hands on his hips. Like usual, his hip tilts to the side and his foot taps as he waits expectantly for Jason to gather a mildly coherent response.

"Your little Richard..." Jason says pointing with his fin.

Dick looks down and the look of mortification on his face is satisfactory. ".... Right. Shit."

"Just steal some from her laundry."

"But she'll be pissed."

"Ok, so you would rather flash her then?"

Dick sighs and this time Jason doesn't have the urge to throttle him only because Dick is already beating his own ego into a pulp. "I hate it when you make sense."

Jason raises a brow, setting his head back down to the warm sand. "I always make sense."

Dick just cackles in response as he heads to the lighthouse.

Dick shifts his weight on the balls of his feet. He feels sick like he'd eaten one of those pickled fish you made him one time. Maybe this was a bad idea. Why did he even listen to Jason? He flips onto his hands and begins to pace. His stomach feels like it's being tossed violently by ocean currents. It feels like a shapeless lump sitting in the pit of his abdomen. Maybe you're out or maybe you never wanna see him again.

Your face had been so blown wide with shock when he had called you wife that it looked almost foreign like the suggestion had been so audacious that your face had to reconstruct itself to accommodate the shock.

Dick puts a hand to his face trying to stem the flow of thought. He was such an idiot. Why did he assume you would love him like that and why did he just leave you? Dick closes his eyes and breathes. He'll knock just once more then leave if you don't answer.

Tok. Tok. Tok.

The knocks register just above a whisper. He thinks you don't hear it.

He lets out a breath and walks away. This was stupid. He should never have come back.

Jason was right. Fuck. Dick buries his face as he walks away.

Distantly, Dick hears the squeak of rusty hinges but it's lost in the tempest of thoughts plaguing his mind, in all the little hurts from that night.

"Pup?" The sound of your voice is followed by the pounding of your feet against stand. Dick's careening to the ground before he knows it as your body collides with his.

"Pup," you sniffle into his shirt, "it is you."

Dick twist in your grip so he's facing you. Your face is buried in his shirt. He strokes your hair, wrapping an arm around you, holding you tight. "Of course, it’s me. Who else would bug you at this hour?"

Dick feels his shirt grow warm. You mumble an apology.

You look up to face Dick with half your face still buried in his shirt. You've clearly been crying based on how red and puffy your eyes are. Dick's stomach churns at the dark circles under your eyes. He feels guilt stab him in the gut. All of that combined with your generally disheveled appearance. Dick can just tell that you haven't slept well the last few days.

"Let's go inside and talk." You say, peeling yourself off of him.

Dick shakes his head, not loosening his grip on your midsection. "Let's walk around you look like you need some sun."

You flushed and put a hand to your cheek. "Do I look that bad?" You ask absently, a shy smile creeping into your features.

Dick smiles at you and pushes your hair out of your face. "Never but the weather is sunny for once and we both need some air."

"So you really didn't know that the island was filled with selkies?" Dick asks, adjusting the infernal scarf you had forced him into. He insisted that he didn't need it. He could just cuddle up to you for warmth but you were equally stubborn about him wearing a coat and the wool monstrosity strangling him.

Your face scrunches up in confusion." I- I don't even know what that is."

Dick stops.

You slow down upon realizing he wasn't by your side anymore. "You... don't know what a selkie is?" He asks, his face the definition of dumbstruck.

You shrink into your coat." My dad wasn't interested in things like that," you shrug, "I dunno much about..." Your hand twists in a circle, reaching for the right words.

Dick tilts his head. That made sense. "You thought we were all just seals?"

You nod slowly, looking like you wanna shrivel up.

Dick starts laughing and you look like you're a second away from throwing yourself into the water.

"I'm sorry," he says, flailing. He's screwing this up again. He breathes to collect himself. "I just thought it's funny that we all thought my dad was wrong about you guys not knowing."

You rub the back of your neck. "Most of us mainlanders don't really believe in magic, yanno? It's just such a foreign concept. Kind of hard to wrap my head around it."

"I get that." The smile on his face makes your gut twist. You fiddle with your hands.

"So what are selkies?"

Dick tilts his head, not exactly sure of how to word it because how do you explain something that's been obvious to you since you can remember to someone who just found out about it a few weeks ago?

"We're fae, I guess-" Your face twists in confusion.

Dick needs to backtrack. "We're fae..." This is hard. "We have this human form and we have our seal forms. We switch between them using our pelt."

Your brow knits in confusion. "Which one is your true form then?"

Dick wraps his arm around your waist and holds you closer as you walk along the cliff tops. He hums as he thinks. "Both?"

You look up at him with a weary smile. “That makes sense in a way.” You hum. Swallowing thickly, you fiddle with your hands. "So what was with the... um..." You clear your throat. "What was with the wife thing?"

Dick’s mouth dries. “Well... when we want to ask someone to be our mate... we- we kind of give them our pelt and I thought it translated to human clothes…” He stammers out dumbly.

“Oh...oh!” Your eyes widen into a look of horror. You open and close your mouth trying to form words. “Dick, I didn’t realize , that must have - I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“Please don’t apologize,” Dick says and presses his lips to the top of your head. His lips are warm and comforting. “I’ve spent so long in love with you my brain just didn’t...” Dick’s mouth twists. “It just didn’t do what it was supposed to.”

You would definitely laugh at that last part but you’re still seeing stars from the startling confession he just hit you with. You snuggle tighter into his embrace as you look over the sea. You don’t know how to respond. You really don’t and it frustrates you. It was all just a lot to take in all at once like you’d been tossed into the sea and you’re flailing and grasping at water.

But if nothing else, you’re at least glad that Dick is still talking to you.

“If you don't mind…” Dick says carefully, the look in his eyes determined. “Would it be alright if I try and pursue you properly?” Dick braces for a no. He’s not dumb enough to be hopeful twice but he needs to ask.

Inevitably, you freeze. You pull his arm closer to your chest. Swallowing, you ask: “you mean like a human courtship?”

He nods closing his eyes. “Yes, I want to court you.” He coughs clearing his throat.

You’re silent for what felt like the longest 30 seconds of Dick’s life. Dick cracks one eye to see you fiddling with your hair. “Uh Dick, there’s this one problem that might make that difficult…” Dick raises a brow. It wasn’t an outright rejection but it wasn’t an answer.

“I don't know how that works either.” You laugh nervously, burying your face in his arm.

“Good - then we don’t know if I’m doing it badly.” Dick beams with a blinding smile.

You twist to look at him, the corners of your mouth twitching. “That sounds like cheating.”

Dick snorts, “would you rather I court you the selkie way?”

“I mean it depends. What's the selkie way?”

“Fish.”

Dick startles when you let out a loud bark of laughter. “Fish? You’ve already done that so many times.” You giggle. Dick tries to wrangle his mind away from the fact that he can feel your lips through the thin fabric of the sweater.

“I thought it worked.” Dick sighs. He really did, but alas, miscommunication is a cruel mistress.

You lower your gaze trying to concentrate on the fraying needlework of his sweater. “Maybe it has.” You mumble low enough for a human not to hear. How unfortunate it is then that you’re dealing with a selkie.

Dick is beaming when you look up again. He nuzzles his face against yours. Dick is once again insanely, stupidly, incredibly happy.

__________________________________________________________________________

Because neither of you knew what you were doing, Dick's attempts to court you ranged from ridiculous (a literal mountain of fish that you ended up drying, giving away to the other seals, and selling to passing ships.) to ridiculously sweet (finding you handful of pearls). Dick nudged a little shell overflowing with pearls and looked up at you with liquid eyes. He could have gotten you pebbles and it would have been endearing.

It wasn't always gifts though.

Sometimes Dick would just sit quietly with you on the beach, snuggling against your leg as you scratched his stomach. You love the ways his squish vibrated as he purred.

When summer passed and it became unbearable to watch the stars outside, Dick sometimes spent nights in your lighthouse, wrapped up in your sheets or wrapped around you. It was nice having him around the house even if he was kind of a slob. You love him but he is a mess.

You made the mistake of introducing him to tea cakes and got him addicted to November Cakes specifically. As it turns out, your cute pest has a sweet tooth and will nuzzle you into submission just for another bite.

If you ever doubted that Dick was evil before, you now have proof.

During the winter, Dick insisted on staying in the lighthouse to keep you warm. You wanted to point out that you had a fireplace for a reason but it was so hard to turn down hugs from him.

And because you hadn't had the heart to clean out your father's room yet and Dick clearly preferred it, you let Dick sleep next to you on your cot. You felt a bit bad but Dick was just so happy with the arrangement that you didn't want to make him go away. Besides, it was nice to wake up to his sleeping face in the morning, all sleep rumpled and drooling.

__________________________________________________________________________

"Hey Jay, do you have a book on selkies?" Dick asks, caterpillaring on the rock Jason is sunbathing on.

Jason takes the opportunity to roll down the rock and knock Dick into the sea before saying: "No." It shall be put on record that there are no drama queens in the Wayne family.

Dick shakes off the seawater, big puppy eyes staring at Jason.

Jason glares at him. He can't even let Jason have a second of smugness. "Ask Selina."

No one really knows where Selina came from or why she stayed (well, they had their suspicions), but if you need something you can't find easily, your best bet was to ask her and hope she doesn't ask you to do anything ridiculously hard.

Dick hasn't had first hand experience but from what Bruce tells him, they're mostly silly things like recite poems or do a flip. He could do both those things. Well, depending on the poem. He gets tongue twisted sometimes. Hmmm, maybe he should ask if he can avoid tongue twisters so he won't bite his tongue.

Sloughing off his coat, Dick walks towards the glowing cauldron.

"Still no clothes pup? You're going to give a poor girl a heart attack." Selina tsked, reappearing from one of the other cave entrances with a handful of things Dick can't recognize.

"Oh... I- I'm still not used to it." He says sheepishly.

Selina chuckles, dumping the handful of what Dick can assume is plant debris into the cauldron while before dusting her hands off.

Dick stares at the thick vat. A bubble rises and bursts emitting what sounded like a human voice. "What is that? Should I be worried?"

"Oh no, no, this? This is just a little soup for colds."

"It screamed."

"All soups scream."

"I- anyway, I came here to ask if you have a book on selkies."

Selina tilts her head to the side. "I believe I do-"

"Great!"

"Buuuut..."

Of course, the price.

"I brought pearls and some seashells." He says hopefully.

The angle of her head does not change. Though from the gleam in her eyes, she's clearly interested.

"Tell me why you need the book."

Dick's thoughts halt. Should he tell Selina about you? His eyes dart to the boiling cauldron. "... Why do you need to know?"

Selina flourishes her hand. The book appears out of thin air."Do you want the book or not, pup?"

Dick's nerves pinch. Why does everyone call him that? "I need it to teach someone Selkie customs." He manages.

"Oh! The little lighthouse keeper!"

"You know her?"

Selina shrugs. "Do you really think I wouldn't know something going on about the islands nearby?" She pinches his cheek. "Oh little pup, I know about your little crush. You spend more time on land than you do in the sea these days. Dami's been all huffy about it."

He has.

"I've told you my reason." Dick says holding his hand out.

"Hnnnn, you have I suppose." Selina sighs.

Dick takes the book, putting it into a waterproof pouch before gingerly putting his pelt back on. He happily caterpillars out of the cave with the pouch in his mouth. He really hopes you'll like this.

You really should just fix up another cot for Dick at this point and maybe buy him a set of clothes when you go to town.

"It's too cold to sleep outside." Dick whines, flattening himself against you on the bed.

You lift your book to look at him. Dick just gives you that wide-eyed look when he wants something. You roll your eyes, letting him snuggle up to you. "Dick, it is obviously summer and you're like 40% blubber." You snort.

Dick pouts. "You're still gonna let me sleep here."

You scrunch your face up and sigh. "I can't exactly let you brace the summer cold, can I?" You say, running a hand through his hair.

"Eeeeeexactly." Dick says happily as snuggles into you tightly. He nuzzles his face into your neck wrapping his arms around your waist. You hum helplessly, curling into his embrace.

"See." Dick trills with a happy grin.

"Are you going to be smug about it all night?" You huff, throwing a blanket over the two of you.

"No," he says, "you assume I can't keep being smug 'til sunrise."

"Dork," you snicker, setting the book down. It was a book on selkie traditions that Dick had gotten you a few days ago. You devoured it the same night but you're reading it again and subtly testing things while Dick was invading your house. You hum, running your hand through his hair, fingernails lightly scraping against his scalp. Dick purrs against your chest. "There was a one eyed seal on the beach the other day. He was a grumpy fellow but kind of cute. Seals really are a sleepy lot. The big lug started snoozing on my lap after like 5 minutes."

Dick tense under your touch. He looks up at you seriously.

"That was a selkie." Dick deadpans.

You stop your rambling. "What?!"

"That grumpy one-eyed seal was a selkie." He repeats carefully.

Your breath stutters. "Are all of the seals on this island selkies? ALL OF THEM?" Dick is pretty sure your eyes are mounting an escape.

"All of them, darling." Dick nods.

"Oh." You are so screwed. "Do you guys all talk to each other?!" You shouldn't have told that seal about your little crush. You want the mattress to swallow you up.

"Yes? Should I be concerned?" Dick asks, lifting his head.

"No! No reason!" You squeal, shaking your head.

Dick pouts at you with suspicion. It occurs to you with some amusement that Dick is actually glaring. You wisely decide to sidestep the conversation.

"You guys love taking naps on people, huh?" You say, absently twining your fingers into Dick's hair. He settles his head against your chest. "That's just cus we like you." He hums.

A snort rips out of you. "You're just biased."

Dick looks up at you seriously again. "We selkies like pretty things like any fae." Dick says, wrapping his arms around you more tightly. He's being petty but Dick has always been protective of you and he isn't about to stop now. Besides... he doesn't want anyone stealing you away.

You frown at him. "Dick, there are far prettier things on this island and sweet talking won’t magically make November cakes appear." You huff, kissing the top of his head before picking up the book and using it to hide the smile shaping your lips.

You feel Dick pick himself up off of you. You peek over your book to watch Dick. He scoots closer to your face until the only thing separating you is the far too thin book in your hands.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"No." You say. You don't mean it but it's the easiest thing to conjure up when Dick is this close. Your lips prickle from imagining Dick's lips against yours.

You weren't paying attention. Dick has apparently been going on a two-minute diatribe on how pretty you are and in that two minutes, Dick has managed to scoot even closer. He gently takes the book out of your hands to make sure you're paying attention. He fails to take into account the fact that his face is in fact distracting. Your eyes zero in on his very plush and very kissable lips. If you just lean forward a fraction, you could...

Your lips feel warm and soft against Dick's, the rest of his diatribe dying in the back of his throat as his eyes flutter shut. His mind might just be melting out of his ears because the only thing he can think about is how soft you are and how perfectly your lips fit against his.

"I'm sorry." You whisper shyly. You should be sorry, Dick thinks. Who told you to pull away?

You touch your fingers to your lips. Fuck, what did you just do?

"You can do it again." Please, he almost adds.

You lick your lips. Dick perks up and leans closer. His heart is going to leap out of his chest. You lean closer. Dick can feel his heart pounding against his rib cage.

You kiss Dick on the nose and pull away, hiding your lips behind your hand as you snicker. Dick scrunches his nose and blows air out of it.

"You know perfectly well what I meant." He huffs.

You lean back into your pillow, grinning at him. "I have absolutely no clue what you're on about." You say slowly, smug.

"Let me remind you then,"A grin takes over his face. Dick leans in, pressing his lips against yours. You exchange breaths as you drink in the feeling of each other's lips. Dick caresses your sides. He feels you shiver and he smiles into your lips. "That ring any bells?"

"Not really..." You say, flickering your eyes to him. "But if you try again... it might."

"Oh sweetheart, I can keep reminding you all night." Dick chuckles, winking.

Covering your face, you attempt to hide your embarrassment. You hate how easily he flusters you. "You can't just say stuff like that." You whimper.

"Why not? I'm supposed to be courting you and that includes buttering you up," Dick says, nuzzling your cheek. You're just too cute. Dick gently pries your hands away from your face. "Don't hide your face from me, Honey."

"Oh god, you're making me regret letting you court me."

"Never."

______________________________________________________________________

Dick's eyes are struggling to remain open as he watches the fire. He burrows further into the thick comforter you'd given him. It's not quite as warm as his pelt but the fabric is puffy and it has a sweet smell that makes his head swim.

Dick angles his head slightly to watch you. You've been toiling for hours and refuse to tell Dick what it is. Your back is still hunched over with your foot bouncing on the floor. Dick lets his eyes flutter shut, listening to the sound of your shuffling tools.

You glance down at the adorable mess dozing off on your sofa. You gently move his hair out of his face. He swats at you sleepily, face scrunched even as he sleeps. You sincerely wish you had Damian's talent for art or that you had one of those cameras. You really wish you could keep a picture of Dick's sleepy face. It's the cutest thing in the world.

"Hey Dickie," you whisper.

"Hmmmmm?" He groans.

"Could you hand me your pelt?"

"Sure," he moans, blindly padding around for it. You snort as he nearly falls off the sofa. After groping nearly every surface, he finally finds the pelt. "here you-"

The fur brushes your fingertips before Dick stops. Dick shoots up, nearly clipping your nose with his forehead. He's looking at you fully awake, drool still hanging off the corner of his lips."Are you sure?!"

"Hand it over coward." You smile gently at him. You try your best to fight off the excitement bubbling in your veins.

Dick is off the couch, his own excitement barely contained as his whole body vibrates with happiness. He sits up. You hold out your hand but instead of handing you his pelt, Dick drapes it over you like a wedding veil. It's thick and warm to the touch. You let your hands brush over the silken fur. You can feel magic thrumming from it. It feels like a minute current of electricity but it doesn't flow linearly. It ebbs and flows as it pleases, pulsing beneath your fingers. You burrow yourself in it.

Something warm spills in Dick's chest as he sees you wrapped up in his pelt. Dick kisses your nose. "You have now been wifed."

You twitch your nose. "You missed."

"Nope. Don't think so. Buuuuut if you show me where you want me to kiss you..."

You roll your eyes and surge forward, pressing your lips to his. Dick smiles into it, pulling you close and savoring the sensation of your lips melding together. He makes a happy trilling noise while you laugh against his lips.

"That clear enough, Dickie?" You ask, pressing your forehead against his.

"Yeah, I think I got it, wifey."

__________________________________________________________

THANKS FOR READING

Tag list: @batarella, @anothertimdrakestan, @lucy-roo, @multifandomgirl-us, @idkmanicantenglish , @birdy-bat-writes, @boosyboo9206, @americasmarauders , @l-inkage, @arestorationofbalance , @cloudie-skay, @wunderstell @hyp-oh-critical @glorified-red @ marshmallow12435 @vvipgot7be @jadedhillon

#dick grayson x reader #dick grayson imagine #dick grayson x you #dick grayson #dorks #seals #selkie x reader #selkie au

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wwr-afterdark · 3 years ago

Note

What's the general premise of your game? Which OCs are going to be the focus? Can we get some brief bios for them? I crave information.

Familiar follows you, a budding witch, who has decided to adopt a garden of spiritual golems-familiars! They need a witch's care and you need the boost in magic. Perfect, in theory...

There's a full garden to tend to, and I do tend to give attention to each plant person! While the full cast is 7 (with two being a package deal), I'll focus on smaller groups based on my preference and/or Patreon voting. As of now I have three in mind, but nothing is set in stone!

• Danny, the marimo terrarium!

• He's 7' tall and built like a brick house.

• His inspiration is the Scream series, namely the character Stu.

• He's flirty and funny, life is a game and he's winning! Even if this is technically his second "round".

• He is the most physically affectionate-even towards victims.

• Dean, the poppy.

• The DILF, to put it simply.

• He was older when he died, and long past his "wild" teen years.

• He's the tallest, at 7'3", and will use that to intimidate you.

• He was inspired by JD (Heathers) and Fear.

• Absolutely needs to control you, and will find a way to do so.

• Jason, a Japanese honeysuckle.

• He's 6'5" and lanky. He doesn't know how to use his height intimidatingly.

• Inspired by various songs, one day I'll make him a playlist.

• Dude gets so overstimulated being around you that he's mistaken as being jittery/shy/etc. That's the power of pinesol love, baby.

• He stalks you. If he's not following you he's making scrapbooks or planning proposals or setting up your cage or-

• Victor, the white bitch rose.

• For your sanity, just avoid this one.

• 6' ain't shit compared to Dean, but try explaining that to this bratty lil god complex.

• They want a pet to dress, love, and lavish and all they want in return is that you worship their every petal.

• And if you look at another flower after making that promise you're losing sight privileges.

• Ward, strawberry ground cherry/lantern fruit.

• The shortest at 5'10"! Doesn't phase this king.

• Chill, stoic, with a sass that comes out of left field.

• Pretty and he knows it, and does appreciate competition in that aspect.

• RBF but without the F.

• Inspired by Stefano Valentini.

• Morgan & Tiff, the calla lily & lavender.

• Lived, loved, and died together.

• Morgan is pretty southern belle with a masculine fashion sense and love of guns.

• Tiffany (Tiff) is damn feral despite her sweet appearance. Watch that dress it's hiding your death.

• While they seem perfectly content with each other, they've always been open to finding one more-its unfortunate that the prospects kept dying y'see?

#murder oc #murderbabe #my art #yandere #ask #blue #familiargame #oc list

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ragingbookdragon · 4 years ago

Text

Don't Bleed Me Then Push Me Away

Kyle Rayner x Batbrother One-Shot

Word Count: 2K Warnings: Explicit Language, Angst

Author's Note: Based off this ask about Batbro being a Lantern! Enjoy! -Thorne

**********************************************************************

He burst through the door leading out to the roof, one arm wrapped around the man’s back, the other slamming the door shut. Huffing, he set him against one of the overhead vents before hurrying back to the door, yanking something from his belt. He shoved it against the door frame, just at face height and clicked a button, watching a red-light flicker on.

Sprinting back over, he knelt in front of the man who was moaning lowly, pawing at his side; he grabbed the hand. “Kyle, babe, don’t.”

“It hurts,” he moaned, dropping his head; he tugged the jacket away from his side, eyes widening at the crimson blooming larger and larger. “Oh God, I’m gonna bleed out.” He looked up, meeting his eyes. “(Y/N), I’m bleeding out.”

(Y/N) shook his head. “You’re gonna be okay.” Pressing a finger to his ear, he shoved the other against Kyle’s side. “Black Ops to Batman, come in.”

I read you, Black Ops. What’s your status?

“Not good. Green Lantern’s down and I’m not looking too hot either.” A blast sounded from below, on one of the floors beneath them. “We’ve got incoming enemies from the lower floors.” (Y/N) craned his neck, peeking over the side of the building before ducking again. “Tanks are in the courtyard.”

I’m sending the Batplane to your position.

“Negative Batman, anti-aircraft missiles were spotted earlier.” He breathed heavily, mind working in overdrive as he tried to think of a plan, but nothing was coming to him. Kyle’s blood was warm underneath his fingers and with how wounded the Lantern was, not even his ring could heal his injury.

—ack Ops. Black Ops. (Y/N)!

He shook himself from his stupor. “I’m here.”

I’m sending the Batplane.

“You can’t!” he yelled. “It’ll get shot down!”

I’m willing to take that chance if I get you and Kyle out.

“Dad I—” another blast sounded, this time from the rooftop door and he spun, listening to the screams of the men who’d taken a C4 charge straight to the face. (Y/N) yanked out his side arm, dropping the few who managed to survive and come out. He pulled the trigger one more time but all it did was click. Empty. He started hyperventilating, unable to decide if Kyle needed his attention more or if he should worry about getting them to safety.

But where could he take them? They were on the rooftop surrounded by tanks and soldiers. There was nowhere to run. They were at the end of the line.

(Y/N) looked back at Kyle. Sweat dripped down his face, his black hair clinging to his forehead; he looked clammy and ready to pass out. He glanced down at their hands pressed together, Kyle’s atop (Y/N)’s, and his eyes widened. The power ring.

He grabbed Kyle’s hand. “Kyle, gimme your ring.”

“What?” the Lantern moaned weakly. “My ring?”

(Y/N) nodded, slipping it off; he put his hand to his mouth, yanking the strap with his teeth before biting the tip of the middle finger, tugging it off. He slipped the ring on his finger and waited. He swallowed thickly, muttering, “Come on. Come on. Come on.”

“(Y/N),” Kyle whispered, and he looked at his lover. “It’s not working.”

“It has to,” he retorted, tears stinging the corner of his eyes. “I don’t wanna die here.” He leaned forward, one hand coming up to clasp the side of Kyle’s neck, his thumb brushing his cheek as he pressed his forehead to the man’s. “I don’t want us to die here.”

Kyle swallowed, a ghost of a grin on his lips. “I love you, (Y/N).”

He shook his head. “No. Don’t say that now.”

“I don’t know if we’ll get another chance,” he countered, nosing the soldier. “If we die here, then I want you to know that I love you.”

(Y/N)’s jaw tightened. “We’re not dying. Not now. Not today.” A wave of power surged through him, crashing against his soul like a tidal wave. “I refuse to give in. I won’t.” he shut his eyes, focusing on the feeling of Kyle’s skin against his own. “I’ll get us to the other side.”

A flash of green light burst across the sky, followed by an other worldly voice. (Y/N) Wayne of Earth. You have the ability to protect the ones you care for without fear. Welcome to The Green Lantern Corps.

He opened his eyes, the suit of green flooding his vision; a breathless laugh passed his lips and he gazed at Kyle. “I told you.”

Kyle snorted pitifully. “Yeah, yeah.”

(Y/N) grinned. “How do I work this thing?”

“Anything you can think of. If you can will it, it’ll come to life.”

He stood, looking down at the soldiers in the distance. “Any qualms against killing?”

Kyle shook his head. “Rules have been rewritten. Lethal force against enemies of the Green Lanterns has been authorized.” He gasped, leaning down to the ground and (Y/N) held out his arms.

“You need medical attention.”

“I’ll be fine,” he wheezed, shaking his head. “Go.”

(Y/N) knelt. “I’m not taking any chances.” He looked around. “I know who to call.”

“Who?”

He leaned forward, pulling Kyle into his arms. “Try not to move.” (Y/N) stood to his feet, eyes directed to the sky as he shouted, “Supergirl!”

A rush of wind gusted over them, almost knocking him off his feet and he looked over, seeing her red cape billowing above them. “(Y/N)?” she questioned. “You’re a Green Lantern?”

“For the moment,” he answered, holding Kyle up. “I need you to get Kyle to the Batcave back in Gotham City. Now.”

She glanced at the wounded man. “Oh my God, what happened?”

“Mission gone bad,” (Y/N) said. “Kara, please. Hurry.”

Kara nodded, lowering down to take Kyle from (Y/N); he grasped at (Y/N)’s shoulders. “I’m not leaving you.”

He shook his head. “You need to get to a hospital, or you’ll die.” He smiled. “I can take care of this.” (Y/N) met Kara’s gaze. “Go.”

She took off, ignoring how Kyle screamed at her to take him back.

(Y/N) flew to the ledge, standing atop it, and a gun went off; he raised a hand, imagining an aegis and sparks flew when the bullet ricochet off the bright green shield. He felt a renewed sense of strength and took a single step off the ledge, raising his hands high above his head; and the soldiers along the ground all gaped in terror as thousands of glowing arrows appeared in the sky, all the sudden coming down in a fury of green hellfire.

***

Kyle came to with wide eyes, sitting straight up on the med bay bed, though it proved to be a terrible decision as pain swelled through his side and ebbed outwards every which way. He gripped his abdomen, hissing with displeasure.

“Hey, take it easy,” someone commanded, pressing a hand to his shoulder and he cocked his head up, Jason coming into focus beside him.

“(Y/N),” he blurted out. “Where’s (Y/N)?”

Jason shook his head. “He hasn’t come back yet.” Kyle’s face dropped and Jason was quick to reassure, “But he didn’t send the code-word, so we know he isn’t dead yet.”

“What?”

“We’ve got a code-word we’re only allowed to use if we know for certain we’re not going to make it.” Jason leveled Kyle with a firm stare. “(Y/N)’s still out there somewhere.”

Kyle shoved his arm off. “Then I need to be up helping.”

“With what? He’s got your ring.” Jason put his hand back on the other’s shoulder and this time pushed him back on the bed. “You just lay right here and recover. We’ll do everything.”

“I can’t just lie here, Jay,” he retorted, though he made no move to get up. “I need to help you.”

“(Y/N) would want you to rest,” Jason shot back, and Kyle scowled.

“Screw you for using him against me.”

He snickered. “I’m just saying what you know you should be doing.” Jason reached over, pressing a button, and Kyle felt the world slow down, his vision growing dark as sleep washed over him. “There you go. Let the morphine lull you back to sleep.”

“Gonna…kick your…ass,” Kyle slurred before his head dropped down, eyes slipping shut as his consciousness faded, Jason’s amused hum echoing in his ears.

***

Kyle liked to be touched. He found physical measures of affection just as important as verbal ones. And (Y/N) liked to touch. A hand on a thigh, a kiss on a temple, a finger looped through a belt-loop, a toe brushing an ankle, digits carding through hair; he was content to simply be in contact. His favorite way was to touch was when he and Kyle were laying in bed, the latter’s back pressed to (Y/N)’s chest, one of the soldier’s arms wrapped around the Lantern’s waist, the other arm under Kyle’s head, folded back so he could brush through his lover’s hair.

It was uniquely intimate and sweet at the same time, and (Y/N) would simply lie there, breathing in the scent of Kyle’s minty shampoo, brushing the dark strands until they felt like silk beneath his fingers. And Kyle would hum contently like a cat, grunting if (Y/N) stopped. On the rare cases that he did, the Lantern would pout like a child and turn over in (Y/N)’s arms, burying his face in the soldier’s throat, nose brushing his lover’s Adam’s apple, breath warm against his skin. (Y/N) would chuckle, the vibrations rumbling through Kyle as the soldier’s arms twisted, cocooning the Lantern to his chest, legs tangling like ribbon.

It’s the feeling that Kyle had at the very moment, and he blinked blearily, inhaling deeply as he forced his mind to rise above the sleep clouding his brain. The comforting scent of cedarwood and gun metal wafted up his nose, a hint of tobacco hidden within. Warmth spread across his body, hot air puffing against his temple, as he finally felt the pressure over the left side of his body.

He opened his eyes, seeing a familiar set of dog tags and he tried to jerk up when someone’s hand rested on his chest, a comforting deep voice murmuring, “Easy, babe.”

Tears stung Kyle’s eyes and he fumbled for the hand over his heart, clenching the fingers through his own as he whispered, “Fuck you.”

“Hmm,” (Y/N) chuckled lowly. “Wasn’t expecting that.”

“You sent me away,” he hissed, barely restraining the tears. “I thought you were going to die.”

“Not yet.” He retorted, kissing Kyle’s temple. “Go back to sleep.”

“No. I’m mad.”

“Mmm, no, you’re actually relived I’m back alive and spooning you on a crappy med bay bed.”

“Don’t try to change my mind,” Kyle shot back, trying to wiggle, but (Y/N) had him in a tight grip. “I want to yell at you.”

(Y/N) sighed and pulled away, gazing at the Lantern; Kyle opened his mouth to start berating him and he merely leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his lover’s lips. Kyle’s eyes went wide as he made a noise of complaint, but it quickly faded as heat flooded his system.

They pulled away and (Y/N) patted his cheek. “You can yell at me in the morning. Go to sleep.”

Kyle glared at him, though he let his head fall to (Y/N)’s shoulder. “I’m going to kick you in the crotch.”

“Yep.”

“And yell at you for leaving me.”

“Uh huh.”

“Mock me at your own peril, Wayne. I’ll fight you.”

“Ooo, I’m so scared of the green space ranger with fancy boots.”

“You are a major douche.”

(Y/N) nuzzled his head. “I know. You love me though.”

Kyle swallowed the lump in his throat, and he turned, burying his face in (Y/N)’s throat as he whispered, “Don’t ever send me away from you like that ever again.”

He smiled, carding his hand through the Lantern’s hair. “Never again.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.” (Y/N) kissed Kyle’s head. “Go to sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

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rosesgonerogue · 5 years ago

Text

How to be a Dad 101

Chapter Eight - Children

Jasonette July Day Ten

Masterlist

Jason didn’t know how to prepare for a wedding – in the past he just wore what he was told and showed up to eat the food, but he doubted that that method would work this time. He staunchly refused to make eye contact with anyone in his family as they walked back to the hotel, putting his height to good use as he stayed at least five paces in front of everyone else.

Wasn’t Paris supposed to be a big city? How did he find Marinette after being there for less than twenty-four hours? The whole thing felt like a dream – everything was off-balance, especially Jason. Marinette had seemed nervous – it was probably just the unexpected nature of reunion, but Jason couldn’t help but worry that there was some deeper issue at play.

Once they made it to the hotel, Jason seized the handles of Babs’s wheelchair, pushing her towards an elevator. “Come on, Dick,” he called behind him. “You know you’re dying to be a part of this.”

As expected, the eldest Wayne child rushed to follow, strangely reminiscent of an overeager puppy. Finally alone in the elevator, Dick asked, “So does this mean I’m forgiven?”

“You’re both forgiven on two conditions: One, you’re only as involved in my love life as I want you to be, and two, you keep your newlywed bliss in the bedroom.”

“Deal,” both said immediately.

“Perfect, because I need your advice.”

“We can do that. But you need to let us know what we’re allowed to tell the family, unless you just want to let them eavesdrop like they’re attempting to anyway.”

“I don’t really care at this point, I just need advice,” Jason said, stepping out of the elevator and pushing Babs towards his room.

Babs had heard most of the story before, but both Graysons listened intently to the story with minor interruptions. A lot of it was events and emotions he’d never attempted to put into words before, and the words he did find felt inadequate.

“So what do I do?” Jason demanded, barely realizing he had been shaking Dick by his shirt.

“Jay-bird,” Dick said, looking close to tears. “You found your soulmate.”

“Ignore him,” Babs said. “He’s always been a die-hard romantic.”

“This isn’t a coincidence. The odds of this happening is like a billion to one. We would need Tim for more accurate statistics, but you get the picture,” Dick insisted. “She clearly made an impression on you if you only knew her for a day and you haven’t even dated anyone since then. And if she needs a date to this wedding that means she might feel the same! Because there is no way someone like that should still be single, so—”

“Babe, you’re using your conspiracy theory voice again,” Babs interrupted, patting his shoulder. “You need to tone it down a little.”

“Okay, so I might stand half a chance. That doesn’t tell me what to do. How did Dick win you over, Babs?”

“I met him when he was twelve. He spent six years annoying me until he finally convinced me to go on a date with him.”

Jason stared at the married couple before abruptly standing. “You’re useless to me.” Wrenching the door open, he called, “Bruce! I know you’re there, I need you!”

Emerging from behind the drapes in the hallway, Jason only had to take one look at his adoptive father’s face before he shook his head. “Nope. I already regret this. You’re all useless. The only person I would consider talking to is Alfred.”

“Well I have some delightful pastries,” Alfred said, walking down the hall as if he were meant to be there all along. “I would be happy to assist you in any capacity I can.”

“Just… Please help me decide what to wear at least,” Jason said sulkily.

“Anything you wish, Master Jason,” Alfred said, subtly shooing Dick and Babs out of the room.

“Ordinarily I would advise you to match the lady, but as we do not know what she is wearing, a black suit and tie is generally the safest option. Do you have any objection, or shall I press this one for you?”

“That sounds fine,” Jason mumbled.

“Did you wish to ask me anything further, Master Jason?”

“I don’t know how to handle this, Alfred. It’s been so long, what do I do?”

“Well, Master Jason, it appears to me that you’ve charmed her once before without difficulty or pretense.” He flipped through Jason’s closet before extracting the correct suit. “It stands to reason that you don’t need to do anything out of the ordinary at all.”

************

Jason paced the lobby, his heart in his chest. He was wearing the suit that Alfred had picked out and a pair of freshly shined shoes. He had made the mistake of letting Dick do his hair, so for once it wasn’t sticking up at odd angles, except for the white patch of hair on his forehead. No amount of hair gel could tame that. All in all, he felt like a little boy playing make-believe in his father’s suit.

He was nervous waiting for Marinette, so he found himself studying the hotel’s art intently. This was how she found him, his face inches away from a painting.

“One of my friends from high school painted that. It’s a mural of Ladybug and Chat Noir, the heroes of Paris,” a soft voice said at his side. When he turned to look, Marinette smiled. “Hi Jason, you clean up well.”

“You never needed to clean up in the first place,” Jason said truthfully. “But you look absolutely amazing.”

It was true. In the past three years, Marinette had apparently ditched the pigtails, but now her hair was coiled into an elegant bun accented with small gems throughout her hair. Jason didn’t know the name of the type of dress she wore, but it was a traditional Chinese style made with delicately patterned pink silk and a bit more makeup than usual.

“Thank you.” A cloud crossed her face briefly. “Jason, I have something to tell you. I—”

“Marinette, we’re going to be late for the wedding!” someone called from across the lobby.

“I’ll be right there!” she called back. “Jason—”

“Hey, I’m not going anywhere. You can tell me afterwards, okay?” Jason said with an approximation of a smile. To be honest, he was terrified of what she had to tell him. Did she have a secret fiancé? Did she actually hate him?

“You’re right,” Marinette said, nodding slowly. “Come on, the wedding is this way.””

When they went to sit down, it seemed like Marinette changed her mind about where they were sitting at least five times, finally settling between groups of people she didn’t seem to know at all.

It wasn’t a huge wedding, and the ceremony was short and sweet. The bride and groom didn’t seem like the high-profile type Marinette’s manager had led him to believe they would be, but he would’ve done whatever it had taken to spend this time with Marinette. He still felt like he had to walk on eggshells around her, but it was mostly the overwhelming fear of screwing things up.

“The reception is in a different room,” Marinette whispered when people began to file out. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

“You seem to know this hotel really well,” Jason commented.

“It’s actually owned by Chloe’s father. I’ve known her for most of my life, and I’ve spent a lot of time here.”

“That… that actually makes a lot of sense,” Jason said, thinking about his first encounter with Chloe.

“The reception is just through here,” she said, pulling him along with her. “Don’t worry, the wedding isn’t nearly as high-society as Chloe made it sound. Max, the groom, also went to high school with us. He’s one of the world’s leading A.I. researchers, and he actually made the robot that was the ring bearer. His name is Markov.”

“So do you know his wife at all?”

“Oh yeah, Camille is a sweetheart. Max met her through another one of our classmates who works for the same nonprofit. Oh, that’s her. Hey Rose!” Marinette called, waving at a petite blonde.

“Marinette! It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you!” the blonde said, coming to hug her old friend. “Who’s your date?”

“Rose, this is Jason. Jason, Rose.”

“You look familiar,” Rose said, cocking her head. “Did you go to the charity ball at the Louvre last month?”

“No, I’m not really a ball person,” Jason said, uneasily shifting from foot to foot.

“There’s something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s so familiar.” Rose narrowed her eyes before gasping. “It’s that little tuft of white hair. It’s exactly like—”

“JASON!” someone roared from across the reception hall. Everyone went silent as the crowd parted for a fuming Adrien. “You think you can abandon Marinette in Gotham with—”

“Kagami!” Marinette pleaded. “Please tell your husband to calm down so he doesn’t ruin Max and Camille’s wedding.”

“Adrien, Marinette is right. You know Max better, so you must stay while I duel this cretin for Marinette’s honor,” a very pregnant Japanese woman said. “Go get my saber from the car.”

Jason backed up, bewildered as the entire crowd started turning on him. What had Marinette told them about him? Some of these people legitimately looked like they were out for his blood, and somehow that scared him more than any villain he’d ever had to face. There was Alya looking positively feral while Nino held her back.

“Control yourselves!” Marinette yelled. “We’re here for Max and Camille, just focus on that for today.”

“Marinette, you can’t honestly expect us to smile and shake hands with the guy who left you to deal with—”

“He doesn’t know about that,” Chloe interrupted. “I get that you want to protect Dupain-Cheng, but you’re acting ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Besides, if you get blood on the carpet you have to pay for the cleaning fee.”

“Kagami, please put down that chair,” Marinette said, rushing over the Japanese girl. “That’s not good for the baby.”

Things eased a bit after that, but it was still oddly tense. No one was quite able to relax around him, but the focus was off him as soon as the bride and groom came in. It was clear that Marinette was feeling strained, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was when she stepped away for a phone call.

It was a short phone call, but Marinette was pale by the end of it. She immediately bustled over to Alya and said, “Manon called, Mila got hurt and she can’t tell how badly. I need to go, can you apologize to Max and Camille for me?”

“You got it girl. Go,” Alya urged before narrowing her eyes at Jason. “It’s starting to get dark. You’re going with her.”

“Alya, no. I’m fine, you know I can—”

“I’ll go,” Jason interrupted. “I am your date after all.”

Marinette looked torn before finally nodding. She didn’t say a word as she sprinted out of the hotel looking like a woman on a mission. Jason was simultaneously impressed by her stamina and confused by the whole situation. They got to a residential area before Marinette faltered, seeming like her legs were giving out.

“Are you okay? I can carry you if I need to.”

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered. “You can walk away right now and pretend you never met me in the first place.”

“What are you talking about, Marinette? Don’t you need to get somewhere? I can – are you crying?”

She furiously swiped at her tears. “It’s been so long and I can’t stand the thought of you hating me. Jason, before we go into that house, you need to know something.”

“Marinette, you’re scaring me,” he said, grasping her shoulders to attempt to ground her.

“I just want you to know that I didn’t know you were a Wayne. I don’t want money and I won’t tell the press. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you either, you were just… gone. But please, please don’t take them away,” Marinette sobbed, years of stress all focusing into this one moment.

“I’m not taking anything away, Marinette,” Jason promised, uncertain and confused about what he was promising. “But I need to know what’s going on.”

She was clearly still agitated, but Marinette finally met his eyes. “After our night together in Gotham, I found out I was pregnant. We have twins, a daughter named Mila and a son named Jules. Jason, you’re a father.”

Almost on cue, a child appeared in the window of the house they stood in front of, seemingly screaming at someone. Seconds later a worried teenager burst out of the house carrying a sobbing girl and followed by the little boy who’d spotted them, toddling along with uncertain steps. They both had dark hair, though the girl’s had the same blue tint to it that Marinette’s had.

“Maman,” the sobbing girl said, holding her arms out to Marinette.

“I don’t know what happened, Marinette,” the teenager worried. “I only stepped away for a second, and then she started crying too hard to tell me what hurt.”

“Lala fall,” the boy said matter-of-factly.

Jason was only observing the actual events passively – he couldn’t help but stare intently at the boy. When he was convinced that his sister was in good hands, he wandered over and plopped down on the ground in front of Jason. His chubby face contorted into a grimace – it almost looked like the child was growling at him.

“Jules, we don’t scowl at strangers,” the babysitter reprimanded. “I’m sorry, Monsieur. He’s been doing that to everyone lately.”

“It’s fine,” Jason said faintly, staring at the child. The boy, Jules, had black hair, not blue like his mother and sister, but hanging down in the center of his forehead was a shock of white hair.

It was the same patch of white hair Jason had gotten after he’d been resurrected.

Jason was a father.

Taglist:

@jasonette-july-2k20 @ira-sairain @myazael @pawsitivelymiraculous @nik-nak-3 @dast218 @queen-of-the-trash-planet-tm @vixen-uchiha @momothefemur @toodaloo-kangaroo @marinettepotterandplagg @goddessofthewestwind @iamabrownfox @smolplantmum @coolspidermanmusicflower @wannajointhecrabcult @thenillabean @thequeenofpotatoeunicornss @spider-person95 @tbehartoo

Note:

Apparently I’m starting a permanent taglist guys, so if you want to be added just say so? If you just want to be tagged on this, or if I forgot you, just leave a comment below.

I’ve been super excited about this chapter for a while, I just hope that I did it justice. It feels like I’ve been sitting on the twins thing FOREVER, but now y’all get to meet them! Not going to lie, they are largely influenced by the fact that I have twin cousins that are about to turn three. Am I blatantly stealing their behaviors? Yes, yes I am. But I’m also just constantly surrounded by children lately. Remember how I started writing Mominette because I missed my nieces and nephews and cousins? Yeah, so my aunt is moving, but their new house wasn’t finished in time, so she, her husband, and their six kids (including the twins) are staying with me and my family possibly indefinitely. But at least I have a lot of material!

#jasonette july #jasonette #maribat #jason x marinette #mominette

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ace-in-a-shopping-cart · 5 years ago

Text

The Contest

Summary: Virgil and Logan are not very affectionate around the others but are very domestic on their own. When Virgil hears the other sides talking about a contest, he assumed it was harmless fun. That opinion changes when Logan has a panic attack thanks to them.

Logan being cuddly and soft? It’s more likely than you think!

Taglist at end.

Word Count: 1,257

Logan rose up in Virgil’s room, looking around for other sides. “Virgil?”

“In here, starshine!” Virgil called from the kitchen. He turned, smiling as he saw Logan enter. “We’re alone if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Logan instantly relaxed, even going so far as to undo his tie and let it simply hang around his neck. “Thank goodness.”

Virgil held out an arm and Logan slid next to him, cuddling close as Virgil stirred a pot with the other arm. “Is something wrong?”

Logan shook his head, burying it in Virgil’s neck and breathing deep. Virgil chuckled. “I see the problem. Did the hoodie get washed?”

Logan nodded. “On accident. It doesn’t smell like you anymore.”

Virgil smiled, pushing the pot off the burner. Straightening in height, he rested his chin on Logan’s head. “Are you wanting me to wear it for a while?”

Logan looked up at him. “Would you?”

Virgil hated the hoodie, the reminder of everything he left behind and what he had to sacrifice to get to the place he was at today. But, no matter how much he hated the hoodie, he loved Logan more. So, he nodded and Logan sank out to get it, an almost giddy smile on his face. Virgil wore the hoodie around for the rest of the night, cuddling close to Logan after dinner as they watched a movie together.

The next day, Patton called them all for a meeting. While waiting for Logan to arrive, Roman started talking. Virgil was sitting in the unlit staircase so no one noticed he was there at first. Roman smiled at the others in a way that said he had an idea that was going to be really stupid. At least, that’s the way Virgil chose to see the smile.

“I have an idea! We are all aware that Logan and Virgil are dating, yes?”

Patton and Remus nodded, while Janus just sarcastically said, “No.”

“Anyways, they never seem to be that affectionate but I can’t imagine that they’re both not clingy. So, I propose a contest!”

“What kind of contest?” Janus asked with all the enthusiasm of someone who was counting the seconds to leave.

“Whoever manages to get the cutest photo of them being affectionate wins a prize of their choice!”

Remus jumped up, clapping his hands. “This should be fun!”

Janus sighed and leaned back on the couch. “Fine, if this is what it takes to make you shut up.”

Patton smiled but didn’t say anything. Virgil decided it was time to make an entrance so he jumped slightly as if he just appeared and snapped on the lights. “What’s this about making someone shut up? Is it princey? He really does talk too much.”

Roman scoffed in indignation and immediately rounded on him. Virgil just grinned as Logan appeared and stopped Roman mid-rant. Patton clapped his hands and, as Logan settled onto the couch, got the meeting started about the schedule for the next few weeks and what that means.

The next few weeks went by without much incident, Virgil had to close a few doors when Roman or Remus tried to peek in on them but other than that it was quiet. He didn’t think Logan even knew about the contest. Everything was going smoothly until Virgil let his guard down.

He was dressed in a simple muscle tee, his muscular arms on display as he spun Logan around the logical side’s living room. They were dancing to simple love songs and Virgil had just leaned Logan down into a dip when they heard a camera shutter click.

Looking up, they spotted Roman peeking out from the coat closet. Virgil almost dropped Logan in shock but caught him before he fell too far. Logan’s face was frozen in a look of panic, his chest starting to heave. Virgil realized what was happening and quickly waved a hand, effectively throwing Roman out of the room and picked Logan up. Sitting on the couch with the other side in his lap, Virgil guided Logan’s hand to his chest.

“Dearheart, I’m going to need you to copy my breathing, can you do that?” His voice was gentle, entire attention focused on his boyfriend.

Logan nodded, trying and failing to mimic the steady 4-7-8 pace Virgil was setting. Virgil coached him through it, murmuring constant praise. When Logan’s breathing steadied and his eyes went back into focus, losing the glassy look they’d had previously, Virgil knew he was fine. Reaching with one hand, the other still wrapped close to Logan, he grabbed his old hoodie and threw it over Logan’s shoulders. He grabbed his newer hoodie from where he’d tossed it on the couch and wrapped it around a pillow.

Easily lifting Logan up, he put the tired logical side down on the couch and handed him the pillow. Logan’s arms wrapped around it as his eyes went back to a half-unfocused state where he was staring at the wall without seeing it. Virgil gently eased him down into a comfortably curled up position. “I’ll be right back. I’m just gonna go talk to Roman.” He offered as an explanation as Logan curled one hand around his wrist.

Virgil grabbed the baseball bat leaning against the wall, eyes starting to glow with how angry he was, eyeshadow almost nonexistent as the only emotion he was feeling was rage. His eyes turned gray as his hair fell in front of them. He sank out, appearing in Roman’s room, which was pitch black save for the computer screen lighting his face.

Roman must have heard him arrive because he turned around and shrieked. “Remus, is that you?!”

Virgil’s voice growled out, a second layer sounding a beat behind it that gave it an echoing feel. “Worse.”

Roman yelled again as he finally registered who it was and what he was holding. Virgil stalked forward, feet moving with pinpoint accuracy usually only found in cats stalking their prey. “Delete the picture.”

Roman’s hands went out, cradling the laptop to him. “Why?”

Virgil raised the bat as if a fastball were coming in. “Because if you don’t, I’ll make you wish it was Remus that had shown up instead of me.”

Roman squeaked and did as he was told, spinning the device around to show Virgil, who relaxed slightly as the trash folder emptied. “Good.” His double voice was still in effect, rumbling throughout the room. “If I find out anyone else has a picture, they’ll meet a similar fate.” With that, he sank out, keeping eye contact with Roman the whole way out.

He appeared back in Logan’s room where he was still curled around the pillow, slow tears falling onto the hoodies. Virgil sighed, putting the bat down and letting his dark voice fade. With his appearance back to normal, he moved over to the couch and picked Logan up, cradling him close. Logan’s hands reached up to fist into Virgil’s shirt, holding himself as close to him as possible. To help, Virgil slowly moved until they were both lying down with Logan on top and a blanket over his back.

Logan nestled into Virgil’s neck, cold nose barely making him flinch as Logan sought warmth. Virgil started out with humming, one hand gently placed on Logan’s neck while the other was rubbing his back in soothing circles they both love. Eventually, he started singing softly, the words ghosting over his lips in an intimately cozy way. When Logan started singing along with him, he knew they were going to be alright.

The song sung can be anything you want. The one I had in mind for this was I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz

General taglist: (Send an ask to be added or removed!) @starlocked01 @spoopy-turtle @lizluvscupcakes @more-fandon-than-friends

The group chat members that gave me idea and are the real brains behind this thing: @phandommember2803, @did-he-just-hiss-at-me, @star-crossed-shipper, @viva-la-pluto-dam-you,

Badass Virgil: @thefingergunsgirl

#virgil sanders #logan sanders #fanfic #ace writes

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loudsuitlover · 5 years ago

Text

Doctor Harry

A/N: I feel like I forgot how to write but I guess the best way to overcome that is trying to write again. I’m still trying to write Lawyer Harry and Ohana but I’m struggling I don’t know why. Also this on first person POV. Thought I’d try something different too. Anyway, sorry for this annoying intro I don’t even know who I’m writing this for haha if after all this ranting you still decided to read, thank you and happy reading! xxx

INDIE’S POV

This skirt fitted me better last spring. I look at my profile on the mirror and focus on my belly and my lips frown at the muffin top I got during the winter. I really need to get back with the abs routine Sergio had made for me. I guess it would help if I didn’t hate abs with a passion. I’d be so fit if I didn’t hate abs and then it would be over for all of them skinny bitches.

“Indie?” Jason barely whispers my name outside the door.

“Coming.”

I open the door fast as soon as I get my white coat on, getting my braid out of it as I walk with Jason towards the doctors’ offices. I have yet to meet my mentor, doctor Hill, since yesterday he didn’t work. That’s something I’ll never understand. If he’s not working then how can he have a medical student assigned for hospital practice? That’s beyond me. Thank God for young doctors who still remember what it was like to be an ignored Med student and help you out and take care of you. God bless them.

“You look cute today.” Jason points out but I know he means it more like a suspicion than a compliment so I just roll my eyes and check I have my notepad on the pocket of my coat. “Hoping to see Mario again, are we?”

I chuckle.

“You know some of us don’t want to jump the bones of every nice guy we meet.” I tease him.

“You’re telling me. You haven’t been with anyone in fourteen months.”

“You’re counting?” I can feel my face contorting in desbelief. “That’s sick.”

“I mean I don’t know if it’s been fourteen or fifteen or what but more than a year.”

I look into his brown eyes and hold his stare for long enough so that he undertands I do not necessarily want to discuss this here and now where any professor could walk past us any minute and he rolls his eyes so I know he’ll drop it.

“Anyway, our paths part here.” He announces right before he knocks on an office’s door and moves his mouth so that it looks like the voice of his mentor is his own.

I chuckle again as I make my way to office 32, where I read doctor Hill should be today in the doctor’s planning. A patient stops me on the way there and asks me where the digestive doctors hall is and I give him the directions with the smile that comes naturally to my face. I’ve been told that a lot, that I’m always smiling, even my grandad used to call me toothy when I was little for how much he would see my teeth when I smiled.

I’ve been studying medicine for four years and I’ve been dressing up as a doctor for hospital practice for two but it’s still exciting when some patient actually mistakes me with a real doctor because well, it’s so clear to me that I’m not, but it’s encouraging to see that people think I could be.

The office door is opened and I hear two male voices casually chatting on the inside. I don’t want to eavesdrop, especially because the probability of getting caught is rather high so I knock on the opened door and wait for them to give me permission to enter. They just stop talking so I take another step and stand on their sight. Mario, the nice young doctor that helped me yesterday, is looking at me with raised eyebrows. It’s almost hard to recognize him without the surgery gown so I reckon it might be the same for him but then he smiles and I give him a smile back.

“Hi, Mario.”

“Hi. Looking for doctor Hill?”

I nod at his question and he nods back as if telling me I’m on the right place but before he can speak the other doctor interrupts him.

“Here it is, Mario. D’you want me to print it fo you?”

Mario moves to the side so I can see the man who owns that voice and I know I must look stunned because I am. Doctors don’t usually look like that and I have never been this lucky. Usually our mentors are doctors over 50 and when they’re male they’re usually fat or bald, sometimes both, but he looks like a movie star or like a singer or someone from Olympus and I try to save the way he looks on my mind as if I already know no one is ever going to look like him ever.

I don’t know how long I’ve been standing here for or if any of them has said anything to me but by the way his green eyes stare into mine, amused, I feel like it’s been too long. How did he even manage to be a mentor? I don’t think he’s even a full doctor yet, he looks to young for that.

“You’re so unlucky, Harry. You got the most annoying student, always asking questions...” Mario jokes.

I chuckle, finding it funny that he would remember how I apologized the day before for making so many questions. He was really nice yesterday and he’s being very nice now saving me from my embarrassingly staring at Harry. He then stands up from his chair on the other side of the desk.

“Hi, I’m Harry. Nice to meet you.”

And much to my surprise, not that I’m complaining though, he approaches me and places one hand on my elbow, leaning in and pressing his cheek against mine in the way I would greet a friend. But he’s not a friend. No doctor has ever greeted me like that. And he just introduced himself as Harry, didn’t he? Does that mean he wants me to call him Harry? No doctor Hill anymore?

“I’m Indigo.” I tell him.

“Indigo.” He smiles and I think I’ve forgotten how to speak. “That’s such a beautiful name.”

“Thank you.” I look at my feet because I’m gonna fangirl if he keeps smiling at me. “My mum’s a painter and a hippy.”

He laughs and I feel my breath getting caught on my throat. I think I’m having a tachicardia. I feel stupid. It’s not like I’ve never seen a handsome man before. But I’ve certainly never been this close to one and I’ve never had his attention.

“Well, I’m on my way to the operating room.” Mario announces. “See you, mate.”

He gives Harry a warning look before he goes but Harry chuckles and shakes his head, dismissing his friend’s look and my nerves only grow stronger on my belly.

“Well, Indigo, sit here next to me.” He grabs the chair next to his and brings it closer to his until they’re touching and then he looks at me so I take a seat. “We usually check the list of the patients who are coming and read their clinical record before the visits begin, to be a little ahead, you know.” He smiles again.

If he keeps smiling at me like that I might faint at some point today. He then turns towards the laptop and starts telling me about the patients, even though sometimes it feels like he’s more thinking out loud than talking to me. I should really listen, especially in case he feels like asking me questions during the day because I really do not want to look like an idiot but I could stare at him all I want now and he wouldn’t notice and I can’t let this chance go so if I have to look like an idiot I will.

I let my eyes travel freely across his features. His hair is brown and is a little too long for a male who normally works on a surgery room. It’s not like it’s inappropriate or anything and it looks incredible on him and something tells me he knows that but it’s not usual that someone from his status wears their hair that long and that tousled. He asks something out loud but I know he’s not waiting for an answer because as soon as he asks it he searchs on the browser- and it’s not like I could have answered anyway. My mind is busy and the moment my eyes drop to his arm, flexed, elbow resting on the table, I could gulp just imagining those arms holding me against this very same desk and- what the fuck am I doing?

I know he can’t hear what I think but I still have to remind myself that and I pray to God he does not turn around because I’m pretty sure I’m blushing. He’s wearing the hospital uniform, with the baby blue button up and the baby blue pants, but I entertain my mind trying to picture his naked torso. This is so wrong for the love of God, he’s my professor. I really need to chill. I feel like a dog in season. But this is just extraordinary, I am not usually around men this hot, and what’s the harm in daydreaming anyway?

The moment my eyes move back up they stare into his amused ones and I feel my cheeks heating up so I get afraid I’m blushing.

“You were awfully quiet.” He states, a somewhat smug grin on his face but I am not judging, I made it pretty easy for him to make fun of me. “Did you understand?”

“Mostly.”

“Mostly, huh?” He smirks. “If there’s something I say that you don’t understand you just stop me, alright? Now, can you read an electrocardiogram?”

“I should be able to.”

He chuckles and places it one in front of me. I am getting embarrassingly exciting that he finds me funny but I have to bite back a smile of my own at his friendly attitude.

“Go on then.”

“Okay, first thing we need to look for P on II and V1.” I speak very slow so that I have time to think while I do so and judging by the way he’s smirking, he’s noticing. “And we see that we have indeed P waves, which is good, no auricular fibrilation then. And then we look for QRS and we check the frequency by counting and multiplying” I do the calculations on my mind “and it’s 75 hearbeats per minute, a little high but nothing to worry about, people tend to get nervous when we do electrocardiograms on them. And we check the dimensions of the waves, the height, the width... And I don’t know this looks pretty normal to me.”

I dare to look at him and he’s smirking but it doesn’t look cocky to me, it’s more like a proud smile so I smile back, happy with myself.

“Very good.” He smiles. “Just a little, tiny detail but you obviously don’t need to know that so don’t worry.” He stands up from his chair and stands right behind me and places his left hand on the desk in front of me so I can his chest hovering over me. His finger points a random P wave. “If you look closely at the P wave, does it look normal to you?”

I swallow, quite frankly I don’t know if the P wave looks normal or not. I guess it doesn’t because otherwise he wouldn’t be asking that but why does he smell so good? And why is his arm hovering over my chest? This could be the moment I faint.

“I know it’s not because that’s why you’re asking but I don’t see it.”

He laughs again and even though it’s silly, I can’t help but wonder if he laughs this much with everyone.

“It’s a little higher than normal, but it’s very subtle, it’s okay if you don’t see it yet and anyway it’s not that important.” He laughs again. “But it might indicate a right atrium hypertrophy. That’s for an A+ in cardiology.” He smiles before taking his seat back and opening a new record.

“What year are you in?” He’s not looking at me while he asks that.

“Fourth.”

He nods his head but keeps quiet after that and I’m not sure why he even asked that but for some reason- it might be because his scent still lingers on my nostrils or because he just hovered over me or because he indirectly asked my age- I feel a strange tension over my shoulders so I ask him something I genuinely don’t know anyway about the patient’s record and he even grabs a paper to draw some shit and for some reason that’s turning me on. The way he speaks, so slow but without hesitation, he’s got a very calming voice, and how many things he knows and how smart he seems to be... I’ve always had a thing for intelligent guys and the fact that he’s also so close and smells so good is only adding to that.

“Hi there.”

A very tall man with a white hospital uniform walks in and gives us both a look before he takes a seat on the counter next to the stretcher. He must be the nurse.

“So” He says, giving us his back as he types something on his laptop “who are you?” He turns to look at me.

I find it a little rude, but I don’t know this man at all. He might just be one of those people who come out strong so I give him a smile.

“I’m a fourth year med student. I have practice here today.” I explain.

“I know that, I’m your mentor, doctor Hill, but what’s your name?”

“Oh, sorry.” My tongue melts. “I mean Indigo, not sorry. My name’s not sorry.”

I hear Harry laughing out loud behind me and doctor Hill smiles as well. I totally looked like an idiot but at least they seemed to have found it endearing.

“Well, my name’s not sorry either.” Doctor Hill said. “You can call me Peter, Indigo.”

“Okay, Peter.”

“I see you’ve already met my resident doctor, doctor Styles.”

I nod my head.

“Cool, so now that we all know each other... Harry, who’s the first one?”

Like that we start visiting the patients and for the first time since I started my hospital practice, I actually have fun during one of them. Both Peter and Harry are quite funny, even though they do tease me a lot, but they also allow me to do a lot of things like weighting the patients, checking their blood pleasures and Harry even lets me do a clinical interview, under his watch obviously, but it was still exciting. The lady I did the interview to was so nice and I could feel Harry’s attentive stare with a proud, amused smile the entire time, even the lady smiled every time she looked at him.

After about three hours of visits, Peter stands up from his chair next to mine and stretches his back.

“So Harry, I think I’m gonna go to the surgery rooms to give a hand.” He states and my heart drops to my belly at the anticipation that he’s gonna make me go with him and my day with Harry is over. “What do you want to do, Indigo?” I hold my breath at the surprise. “Do you wanna come with me or stay here with Harry? Well, that’s if Harry doesn’t mind but I think he doesn’t.” He smirks.

“No, of course not. It’s actually nice to have a nurse around.” He smiles.

“I think I’m gonna stay then if that’s okay.”

Peter nods and smiles.

“Do you prefer visits over surgery room or you just prefer doctor Styles over me?”

I see Harry shaking his head from the corner of my eye and look down at my hands.

HARRY’S POV

“Sorry” I call Indigo with the nickname she gave herself and she raises her eyebrows “would you please call the next patient? Mrs Hope.”

“Good name.”

I cannot not smile. She stands up from her chair and I entertain my eyes with the laptop screen just to pretend I’m not watching her all the time. I think I’ve managed to rebuild my reputation from how much of a fool of myself I made when I introduced myself to her but it just took me off guard. I wasn’t expecing to have a student around at all, much less that the student was going to look like her.

I’m also done with feeling guilty for thinking about her that way, even though now I’m starting to feel guilty for not feeling guilty, but I can’t control my mind and I don’t think anyone who’s seen her could judge me. Plus, she can’t know what I’m thinking. Even Mario flirted with her this morning...

But no, I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable or to take advantage of my position at all. She came here to learn and I really need to stop looking at her thighs. She closes the door after Mr Copper and I feel the hair at the back of my neck bristle when I see the way he looks at her.

“Good morning, doctor.” He greets me. “You’re very lucky you have such a beautiful assistant.”

Sorry smiles but her shoulders have tensed and even though I’ve only known her for a few hours, I can tell when someone’s uncomfortable and I know she is. I don’t blame her either. I reckon I’d be uncomfortable too.

“She’s also very smart too. That’s why she’s here actually.”

I don’t want to be rude with my patient but for some reason I felt like I had to protect her. I catch her trying not to smile looking at her thighs and I try not to smile too. We do Mr Copper’s visit and she starts scribbling on her notepad and I have to help myself from peeking at the questions she’s going to make. I wonder if what she’s written down if that she has noticed Mr Copper jugular.

When Mr Copper walks out, I turn to look at her and smile. Again.

“Thank you.” She says.

“What for?” I frown.

“You know, for what you said.” Her eyes stare into mine and I try to figure out what is it about this girl that’s making me nervous. “Most guys don’t even understand why some compliments make us feel uncomfortable.”

I smile at her. I hope she knows she really is beautiful and I mean I can understand Mr Copper and had he said that any other way or had he not looked at her like he did right before, I wouldn’t have said anything and I’m sure she wouldn’t have felt uncomfortable but it was just inappropriate.

“It’s true though.”

I’m already a sucker for her smile. Thank God I am not going to see her again.

“Do you have any questions for me?”

“Mmm...” She bites her bottom lip.

I’ve noticed she does that when she’s not sure of something. I like it. She has very beautiful lips too, so full and pink and moisturized. Look back into her eyes, Harry.

“I’ve seen you scribbling like crazy.” I encourage her.

I want her to ask me whatever it is that’s going through her mind.

“No, well, I was describing his jugular.”

I feel my dick as soon as she said that. So she noticed. She’s fucking smart and that’s a turn on.

“So that I would remember what I saw, you know?”

I nod.

“Do I have to give you a mark or just sign your assistance?”

“Just sign.” She shakes her head.

“Shit. Well, you got an A anyway.”

She grins excitedly and I want to ask her how old she is again but I turn around and open the next record. This is the last one left and it’s the first time since I started working I don’t want to finish visiting, but when we are done she’ll go and I’ll never see her again.

I swear I’m trying not to feel attracted to her. I know it’s wrong but if I’m not going to see her again, I mean if she’s just going to leave now and I’ll never have to supervise her practice again, I could ask for her phone number, right? I mean I’m not a professor like Danny. It’s not technically prohibited. But she would feel pressured. I can’t do that.

“Actually, Harry” her voice cracks a little and I want to look at her but I know she’s nervous so I don’t “I do have a question. Can I ask you something?”

“Anything, Sorry.”

“It... It has nothing to do with the practice, though.”

“It doesn’t?” Now this is interesting.

I finally turn my body towards her so that I’m facing her and encourage her to ask me. If she asks for my number I’ll give it to her, but I don’t think she will.

“Mmm... Can I ask how old are you?”

I don’t want to tell her and that’s when I notice all my attempts at trying not to be attracted to her have failed. Her skin is so soft and she smells so good, like sweet vanilla, I bet she tastes sweet too. Fuck, I’m doing it again and I’m looking at her breasts. Fuck me.

“I’m 27.”

She smiles and I don’t know what that means. I want to ask her but we need to call the last patient.

“Miss Asvenson.” I smile.

She nods and stands up from her chair but before she opens the door I ask her.

“And you?”

We look into each other’s eyes and I think we both know why we’re asking. She smiles.

“21.”

I nod. She’s legal everywhere in the world.

202 notes · View notes

im-hqlover · 5 years ago

Text

Arranged marriage/Royal AU - Chapter 2 - The Party

A/n: I came back with chapter 2! I must say, it was worth writing this all day, and I really hope you like it.

Enjoy!

(none of the images used on the aesthetic belong to me, credit to their creators)

Warnings: arranged marriage, maybe some bad words, sex mentions, maybe discomfort?, cry (Idk if it is necessary, but I will put anyway), maybe english errors/mistakes.

important details to mention:

-This is kind of a Royal AU, but time kinda mixes with middle Ages and current time, so some technologies exist and others don’t, it’s kind of confusing, maybe, but I hope this isn’t a big problem.

-The reader is 20 years old, Jason is 22 y/o

-The reader is female.

Pairings: Jason Todd x reader

Y/n = your name

L/n = Last name

B/f/n = best friend name

F/c = Favourite cake

Words count: 6108

Previous chapters: Chapter 1

Next chapters: Chapter two's alternative ending, chapter 3

Tag list: @sarcasmismyfirstlove

Y/N's INFO:

Gender: Cis-Female

Sexuality: Straight

Height: Shorter than Jason

Weight: Not Defined

Skin Color: Not Defined

Hair Color: Not Defined

Eyes Color: Not Defined

Other details? Y/n is myopic

(I hope I have put all the information, let me know if i forgot something)

As we walked, I was still very nervous, with my body shaking and sweating cold because I didn't know exactly how to act, should I say something? I had no idea, so I just kept walking and tried to focus on what was important.

After we left the room where the ceremony was held, the bridesmaids continued in front of us, guiding us to the outside area, where there was a stone path, with several flower petals on the sides, together with several lights that adorned there, I couldn't help myself sigh a wow while I saw it all, it was ... just beautiful.

- Liked? - I hear Jason asking me, and I turn to face him as we continue walking.

- It's amazing. - I admit to him and look away from him, for some reason his look made me blush.

- Aweeee, you two are so cute together! - One of the flower girls who had black hair turned to us and kept walking back and throwing petals, she had a huge smile on her face. She should have been about six, eight at the most.

- Lian, you will fall if you keep walking backward. - It was just that he said that she lost her balance and almost fell, but she managed to be more agile and act as if nothing had happened, I couldn't help myself have a little laugh and Jason did the same.

As much as he seemed a little scary before, for some reason now he didn’t seem that much, I mean, he was huge, and obviously he was a warrior, his scars and muscular body proved it, he really looked like someone angry that you wouldn't want to get into a fight with, but after what that woman in the village said, my dad saying that maybe he wasn't as bad as I expected him to be, at the altar, he was trying to smile to make me feel more comfortable, and now he’s probably trying to find something to make things a little better, maybe he really wasn't that bad, but I couldn't jump to conclusions, my brain could be deceiving me to see what I wanted to see.

It was a short time to we arrived in an open area with several tables and chairs for the guests, there were also several lights hanging over the tables, I could see that in the background the sun was setting, I stopped for a moment to appreciate all that, it was really beautiful, I was speechless, even though I was stressed because of the whole situation, being there now made me feel a little more comfortable.

The venue was still empty, as the guests would arrive after us, and I didn't know exactly what I was supposed to do, I mean, we were probably going to greet the guests, but I wasn't sure about that. I looked at Jason and opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't have the courage to ask, but he must have realized that I was going to say something.

- Yes? - He raises his eyebrows doubtfully, waiting for me to speak.

- What exactly do we do now?

- Guests should arrive in a short time, so we should greet them and thank them for coming. - He said it as if it was the most obvious thing and that I should know, I mean, that was obvious, I just wanted to be sure.

- I understand. - I answer looking shyly where my feet should be, but that at the moment were hidden by the long dress, so I look where we had arrived, and soon the first to appear are my family, and then Jason's family.

They positioned themselves at our sides, and it wasn't long before the guests came, my nervousness returned again, I don’t really know if it left me at some point, to be honest, but it sure got worse now, what if I say something wrong? What if I can't say anything? But then I observe what my parents and Jason's family said, and then I repeated more or less the same.

It was tiring, there were several guests, people I never saw in my life but who acted as if I knew them, and that left me a little out of place.

Most people said things like: "You are such a beautiful and cute couple", "the ceremony was so beautiful, I couldn't stop the tears from falling", "it was a pleasure to see this wedding", "I hope you are very happy together", "you will have beautiful children", and many other things.

What irritated me was that everyone acted like Jason and I really loved each other, as if we dated for years and finally, after a long time we decided to get married, but all of that was a lie, even if I wanted to have that love between us, I knew it was a lie.

When all the guests were greeted and thanked, there was the photo session that was equally tiring and uncomfortable, mainly in the parts where I had to kiss Jason, not that it was bad to kiss him, but…. Do you know what I mean? It was fake and without passion, it wasn't cool. When the photo session ended my mom came over to talk to me, and Jason left me alone with her.

- Come on daughter, you have to change your dress. - Ah yes, the party dress, I had even forgotten that. My mom took me to my room and then left me alone for me to change.

Ah, at least a few minutes alone without anyone suffocating me, without unknown people hugging me and kissing my hand, it just made me more uncomfortable.

I looked at my left hand where the ring was, I didn't even have time to analyze it, it was very beautiful, full of details, and I must say, absolutely expensive, not that I know much about jewelry, but I’ve seen some carved rings like this cost the eye, or rather, cost a kidney.

The dress I was wearing was really long, and I'm happy to change it to one that was knee-deep, so I wouldn't be tripping over the dress all the time, on the other hand, my legs were exposed and I felt a little uncomfortable with that, even if the dress wasn't that short. I touched up my makeup slightly and then looked at my reflection for a while. I hear a knock on the door and my mother's voice.

- Are you ready?

- Yes. - I say monotonously and open the door, leaving the room, and so we went back to the outside area where the party was taking place, when we get there, most, or maybe all the guests look at me, and it makes me feel nervous and I feel my face heat up, my mom and I go to the big table where Jason, his family, and mine were sitting, besides the best man and bridesmaids. My mom sits next to my dad and brother, while I sit between my husband and my dad, while I try to ignore all the looks on me. As soon as I sit down, I hear the sound of someone gently tapping a glass to make a noise and catch the attention of everyone present.

- Now that the bride has arrived, let's go to the speeches! - Announced King Bruce, who started giving a speech talking about how happy he was with the wedding, that it meant peace and alliance between our kingdoms, and that finally, that war was over, he may have said other things, but I ended up not paying much attention.

When the king finished his speech, it was my father's turn, he was saying he was very happy and blah blah blah. After his little speech, the best man got up to do his, I didn't remember his name, but apparently he was very close to Jason. He said some things that I admit I didn't pay much attention to… y/n! focus!

- So, how about telling some funny moments of the groom? - I could see that Jason looked at the best man with a deadly look, but the redhead just ignored the look of the groom and kept talking. - Like that time, where it should be a normal night in a bar, just a few drinks, but he drank so much, he went so far as to want to kiss a tree saying that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen on Earth. I couldn't help but laugh, and neither did other guests, Jason laughed too, but I couldn't tell if it was genuine or fake, I felt a little guilty about laughing, but hey, I can't control my laughter.

- I could be telling several of these stories, but I can't spend the whole night talking, so I'm going to end this speech by saying to you, princess y/n, the situation you two met may not have been the best, but if you have a little patience to put up with this guy, I know you’ll find that deep down, very deep down, he’s a cool guy. - I smile at the best man, and like other people, I clap for his speech, and he soon takes his seat. I look at Jason, and I can swear his face was slightly red, who would have thought a tough man like him could blush?

It was then that my maid of honor started giving her speech, and it made me nervous, what if she said something embarrassing in front of everyone? I tried to calm down and pay attention to what she said.

- I know that things didn't go exactly as you planned them, but I really hope you two get along. And as the best man of the groom did, I will tell you a little about the bride so that the prince can also learn a little more about y/n. And the first thing I think you deserve to know is that she is the most stubborn person that exists on the face of the Earth, and no y/n, there is no point in looking away because you know very well that this is true. Besides of course, also being the most clumsy person I’ve ever seen, I wonder how it’s never broken a bone being clumsy the way you are. - I laugh, maybe because of nervousness, but I had to agree with her lines because they were true. - But I don't want to talk only about your defects, I don't want to leave you with a bad impression, I can also tell you that y/n is one of the kindest, talented, and incredible person I have ever met. She may not want to admit it and want to run away from other people, but Jason, if you have a little patience and determination, behind her walls, you will realize that she is an amazing person.

I smile shyly, and I can feel Jason's gaze on me, and it makes me more nervous. But there was something that was bothering me, both the best man and the maid of honor were the only people who acted saying that it was kind of a forced situation, but why? Shouldn't they act like the others and just ignore the fact that it was all forced?

I didn't know if I thought that was a good situation or not, in a way I learned a little more about Jason and him about me, not that there were big things, but it was still something. Would he be as good as the best man says he is? I think my answer will come over time, and I hope it is true, not the opposite.

B / f / n kept telling some stories about me, and as soon as it was over, it was time to cut the wedding cake. Jason got up first and I got up right away, he offers his hand which I accept shyly, and then he guides me to the table where there was a big 6-layer cake, its decoration was beautiful, and of course, on the top, there was a mini-me and a mini Jason.

Before cutting the cake, had more photos, which even though I didn't see them, I wanted to set them on fire, because I was sure that my tired and uncomfortable face was very apparent. After the photos were taken, we finally cut the cake, and then pieces were distributed to the guests, and I was surprised when I ate the cake and it was f/c, I swore it would be a bad thing, but knowing that it was my favorite cake made me a little happier, who will not be happy with cake? Especially when it's your favorite?

The party went on normally, people talking at their tables, picking up food, coming over to where Jason or I was to be able to talk and etc. There was also the orchestra that was playing background music, it was not too loud so that people could talk to each other without having to shout.

It took some time until it was time for the couple to dance, meaning Jason and I would dance, just the two of us, in front of everyone, I don't even need to mention that it made me very nervous. Not that I don't know how to dance, I trained a lot with my father, and I already danced before, but dancing with all eyes on you, dancing with someone you don't know if know how to dance well or not, is complicated.

The music grew louder, and Jason offered his hand so we could go to the dancing floor and start dancing. He puts his right hand on my waist, and I hold his free hand with my right hand. For a while, I try to avoid looking at his face, but I knew it was better to look at him, it would be strange to see a couple dancing without looking at each other, so I had to gather all my strength to not look away from his eyes, that were so... mesmerizing. Maybe I was distracted for a few seconds and… stumbled?

Of course, I couldn't help being embarrassed even in my own marriage, just when several people are looking. I end up laughing nervously and Jason asks.

- Are you alright? - Even if we continued to dance as if nothing that just happened has happened, he asks me if I'm okay.

- Y-yes, I'm fine. - I answer awkwardly and we continue to dance until the music stops and another one starts, and now my father asks to dance with me.

And well, things went on, I danced with my father, then with the best man, and I must say it was kind of funny to dance with him for some reason, maybe it was your conversations that made me laugh. Then other guys from the nobility came to me to dance, it came to a point that I just couldn't stand my feet and I had to stop for a while, and during that break, I took the opportunity to eat something. As I ate in a corner, trying to be at peace for at least a few minutes, I see Jason who was not far from me, and one of the bridesmaids/flower girls, whose name I think was Lian, approaches him and pulls the sleeve of his suit.

- Uncle Jay, dance with me? - I notice that she makes a very cute face begging Jason to dance with her, he sighed, he was probably tired of dancing too, but he accepted the flower girl's request.

- Of course Lian. - When he answered the girl gave little jumps of joy, and the scene as it was cute was at the same time funny because Jason was a giant compared to the girl. Until to resolve the height differences, and so that he probably wouldn't have back pain, he picked Lian up and started dancing, and the girl was laughing with joy. Seeing that melted my heart, it was too cute.

But my happiness and my time alone didn't last long, I hadn’t even finished eating, and more guys came up saying they wanted to dance with me, and my feet wanted to scream in response, "I danced too much already, go find someone else to dance!" until the men start to discuss who would dance with me first since I didn't even have the opportunity to speak. They were very close to me, and there should be at least five there, I was feeling suffocated, I tried to speak, but they just ignored me, and I didn't want to be rude, so I just tried to get away, but it didn't help.

- Hey! Can't you just leave her alone? - I hear a familiar voice startling the guests there, it was the best man, who if I'm not mistaken his name was Roy or something. The guys got mad at him, but they left, leaving me alone with the best man.

- Thanks, I couldn't take these guys on me anymore. - I tell the redhead who smiles at me.

- Don't worry princess, I know that this whole situation must be very embarrassing and difficult for you, and having these guys drooling over you shouldn't improve the situation. - I laugh at your speech and shake my head in agreement. When he was about to leave, I took courage and talked to him.

- Wait.

- Yes? - He turns to me with a questioning look on his face.

- Y-you're Jason's friend, aren't you?

- I believe so. - He laughs and then continues. - Why?

I hesitated, I didn't know exactly what to ask, or rather, how to ask, I didn't want this to be more embarrassing than it already was, I look around, and see that Jason was far away, I take a deep breath and then ask the best man.

- What's he like? I mean, what is he really like? - The redhead scratches the back of his neck and looks around.

- We'd better go to a more reserved place. - He points to me following him, and so I did. The place we went to wasn't far from there, but it was empty, and I was relieved to be away from all that crowd, I analyze the place, and I see that from there it is possible to see the sea, and far away there were some islands where one of the villages of the kingdom of Gotham was.

- What did you hear about him? - Roy asks me, I was silent for a few seconds trying to find the right words.

- In the beginning, when they told me I was getting married, I heard things that weren't very good, to be honest. - The best man signals me to continue. - They had told me that he was an indomitable warrior, that he killed several people brutally, that he destroyed villages, and among other things like that.

- Hm, I'm not going to lie, that's true, Jason really did it. - Okay, that made me more nervous, my god, what man did I marry? Roy must have noticed my concern and spoke quickly afterward. - But he isn't just that. I mean, what most people know is his brutality, his stubbornness, and his skills as a warrior, but believe me, what I said in the speech is true, under that supposed "monster" that people call him, deep down, he's a very nice guy, he may not be very open with people, but if you give him time, and if you’re willing to meet him, I’m sure you’ll see a different guy than people usually say.

I nod, I don't think he would lie about Jason, would he? at least he didn't seem to be lying… and well, he didn't tell me exactly what Jason is like, so maybe he wants me to figure this out on my own.

- We better get back now. - Roy says pointing with his head to where the party was.

- Yes ... but I want to stay here for a little while. - He agrees and doesn't seem to want to insist, so he decides to go back to the party and leave me there alone.

I keep watching the sea and the whole landscape and general, I shiver a little because of the cold wind, it wasn't winter yet, but temperatures had already started to drop a lot. I got a slight fright when I realized that Jason was there, how did I not notice him coming?

- Sorry. - He says while scratching the back of his neck, I just shake my head and say that everything was fine.

- Are you alright? - Jason asks me after some time of silence.

- Yes, I just ... I was feeling a little suffocated with so many people. - I answer him as I nervously stroked my arm.

Who did I want to fool? Nothing was okay, there was no way to be okay, but even so, I thought I had to say I was okay so as not to disturb people. Jason seemed to want to say something, but he gives up and just keeps quiet.

- Maybe ... we'd better go back now. - I say going towards the party, but I'm stopped by Jason who took my wrist, but that he soon moves away. - Hmm?

- Are you sure you're okay? You can stay here longer if you need to.

- It's okay, and my parents will freak out if I disappear for a long time. - I have a little laugh when I think about it, and my husband laughs too, but I couldn't tell if it was because of what I said or by nervous, but it didn't matter that much. But before we go to the party, I take a deep breath and say. - Jason?

- Yes?

I automatically regretted it, why did I do it? I didn't even know what to say to him, so why did I call him? But now I had to say something, but what? Maybe I just wanted to talk to him to know more about him… but I was awful trying to talk to people.

- It's nothing, forget it. - I speak shaking my head and heading towards the party, and Jason comes right behind me.

I decide to sit a little at my chair at the big table so I can rest for a while, but I should suspect that this would not last too long, but when I look at whoever came to my side I am surprised to see that she was one of the flower girls, the one who was dancing with Jason, who believed her name was Lian.

- Hi Princess. - She says smiling at me.

- Huh, hi. - I say trying to return the smile.

- I wanted to say that I can't wait for you and Uncle Jason to have beautiful and cute babies, and know that I will always be willing to take care of them and hug and play with them a lot. - It looked like she was going to say something else, but Roy interrupts her by covering her mouth and taking her away.

- Sorry princess, my daughter doesn't know when it isn't convenient to speak. - He apologized for the girl and looked a little annoyed with her, he turns and says something to the flower girl something like "we've talked about this before Lian".

- It's okay, she wasn't disturbing.

- Are you sure? - He asks me while leaving his daughter free.

- How can this cuteness like me bother someone daddy? - Lian spoke convincingly and made me laugh.

- It's ok. - He agreed with his daughter's speech.

- Can I talk to the princess, daddy? - She asks looking at him piously, making the redhead sigh and then look at me.

- If it's okay for the princess.

- It's okay with me. - I say and I could see the girl jumping excitedly.

- Okay. But if she bothers you, let me know that I'm coming to get her. - The best man as he said left me alone with the flower girl, who sits in the chair next to me where Jason was previously.

- Your dress is very beautiful, princess.

- Thank you. Your dress is also very beautiful.

- Truth. But yours is much more incredibly beautiful.

- Huh, well... Thank you. - I say smiling.

- And Uncle Jason is also very handsome today. - She spoke looking at Jason who was talking to some people, I looked at him for some time, then I ask Lian.

- So you mean he's not normally handsome?

- Not when he wears that hideous armor that he wears almost always. It gets much better this way. - I end up laughing at the girl's speech, sometimes I forgot how sincere the children could be.

- Hey princess.

- Please, call me y/n.

- Then I will call you auntie y/n since you are my uncle's wife, that makes you my aunt, isn't it?

- Well, I think so. - I shrug and keep looking at Jason who was still talking to the guests whom I had no idea who they were.

- So, Auntie y/n, how did you and Uncle Jay meet?

I freeze for a moment, she really should believe that this was a real marriage, I mean, it was a real one, but it was arranged, and she certainly didn't know about it, and I didn't want to ruin her happiness.

- Well... it's a long story, you'll be bored. - I say trying to change the subject.

- I will not! I swear! And I have a long time to listen to you. - She says smiling hoping that I will tell her the story. What did I do now? If I lied, at one time or another she would discover that what I told was false, but if I told the truth... I couldn't tell that it was a forced marriage for her. I take a deep breath trying to find something to say.

- You are too young to hear this story. - I say, trying to get away from that, I had to change the conversation.

- But what it could have that I couldn't hear? Even more, I am very mature for my age, so tell me! Pleeeease! - I realized that she wasn't going to forget that and she wasn't going to stop until I told her.

- Hm, I need to talk to your father first to find out if he agrees to tell you this story, but for now, why don't we get some cake? - She nods and we went to get cake, it seems that I managed to get away from this temporarily, for how long I didn't know.

After we got cake and went back to the table, we talked about different subjects, and I was able to enjoy and discover some things about Jason talking to her, they were kind of silly things, but I admit they were cute too.

We talked until my mom came up to me and said that I should socialize with other people, I apologize to Lian and that I had to talk to some people, she understood and then went to her father.

I look nervously at the people around me, there were few that I knew, and I wasn't exactly a social person, so I didn't know who I should talk to or what to talk to. So I tell my mom that I didn't know who I should talk to, and then she said that to anyone, as long as I spoke to someone because it was not cool for the bride to ignore her guests, she then drags me over to where Jason was talking to some people.

- Huh, hi. - I say awkwardly when I approach them. At first, I was nervous about what to say, but they didn't seem to care and were kind and nice to me, I soon found out that they were Clark Kent and Diana Prince.

We talked for a while until my mom looked at me and signaled that I should talk to the rest of the guests too, Jason also seems to have understood what my mother had gesticulated and soon tells Clark and Diana that we had to talk to some other guests and that we would talk again later.

The good side is that Jason wasn't afraid to intrude on the conversation of others and start talking to them, so I didn't have to start the conversation, but to comment when necessary.

I don't know how long we stayed in this conversation with the guests, but I know it was a long time. In one of our conversations, we are interrupted by b/f/n.

- Hey y/n! It's time to throw the bouquet! - She said taking me to the area where I was supposed to stay and then gives me the bouquet.

- Okay. - I say nervously.

- PEOPLE! BUQUET TIME! - b/f/n shouts calling everyone to the women to get together so I can throw the bouquet.

- Is everyone ready? - I ask the people who answer in chorus a yes.

- 3… 2…. 1! - I count and then throw the bouquet, when I turn around I find that it was b/f/n who took the bouquet, and knowing her as I know her, she must have done everything and pushed everyone to get that bouquet.

Well, now I could sigh with relief, because soon the party was over, not before Jason and I had to say goodbye to all the guests. When it finished, several servants arrived to start cleaning up the mess that the place had become.

But even though the party was over, that night wasn't over yet. I go to my room, it was obvious that was going to happen, so the only thing I could do was try to get ready for that, right?

But I didn't know exactly what to do now, should I go to his room the way I'm now? Should I shower and put on some comfortable clothes or sexy clothes? I mean, I didn't even know if I had any clothes for that moment. I looked through all my bags for something that was good, but I sighed in frustration when I couldn't find something good enough. Well, I guess I should use whatever I like, shouldn't I? And it's not like he's going to run from me, at least I hoped it wouldn't.

I took a hot shower and when I left I put on shorts along with a tight tank, it might not be a very sexy outfit, but I think it was better than nothing, isn’t it? I even thought about putting on a bra for a brief moment, but fuck it, I wasn't going to use this to sleep, especially when, well, if that was really going to happen, it's one less thing, isn't it?

I dry and comb my hair, letting my hair down. I stop and think what I would put on my feet, I hesitated for a moment, but I put on my dear slippers, and oh, how nice it was to wear something comfortable.

I look at myself in the mirror in my room, everything will be fine, I have to calm down. I sigh nervously before going to the door and leaving my room, now I had another problem, where the hell was his bedroom? And would he be there? When one of the servants passed by me, I decide to stop him and ask him.

- Huh, excuse me sir, but could you tell me where Prince Jason's bedroom is?

- Of course, princess y/n, follow me.

The sir who guided me seemed to be in his 50s or 60s, but I couldn't say for sure, he had gray hair, but I think his hair was once black, and his eyes were a light blue. He guided me through that giant place until we got to a door, which I assumed was Jason's room.

- We arrived princess, feel free. - He spoke and did a little reverence.

- Huh, thank you. - I tell him before he leaves. I look at the door and I'm hesitant, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach and my whole body trembling, because of jitters and a little cold too. I take a deep breath and knock on the door to get it over with.

- Who is it? - I hear his voice, he seemed to be a little angry for some reason, and of course, it didn't improve my situation.

- I-it's me, y / n.

- Huh… ok, you can come in. - He said in a softer voice than before.

I open the door to his room and when I enter I realize that he was undoing his tie, he must have arrived there shortly. Jason lifts his head and starts looking at me, and I can feel my face heat up.

- Hum, do you need anything? - He clears his throat, but even though I wasn't looking at him, I could feel his gaze on me.

How was I going to say that? Hey! Time to have sex isn't it? Why else do you think I would be here in your room wearing these clothes? But of course, I didn't have the courage to say that. I bite my lips for a moment before I answer him.

- You know. - I say as I close the door behind me.

- Got it. - There was a moment of awkward silence between the two of us, what was I supposed to do? Talk to him? Kiss him? To be honest, the only thing I really wanted to do at that moment was to sleep since it had been days since I had adequate sleep, let's say sleeping in a carriage is not the best thing in the world.

- Are you sure you want to do this? - He asks me after some time, he approaches me, but there was still a distance between us.

- That's what everyone wants, isn't it? - Jason takes a deep breath and seems to think a lot about what he would say.

- Look, let's be frank here. It's just the two of us now, we don't have to pretend to be happy now just to please those fucking nobles. - His voice starts to get angry again, which made me shrink a little. - It doesn't depend on them, it depends on both of us, and if you don't want that, you don't have to.

I look at him for a moment, then look away again.

- You… won't you… make me do this?

- Of course not! I don't know what the fuck you heard about me, but believe me, I would never do that. - In a way I feel a little more relieved to hear that. - We don't need to do this if you don't want to.

I was silent thinking about what I could answer.

- And you... don't want that?

- No. I mean, yes, of course I would, but not in that forced way, and not because of other people.

- I understand. - I can feel tears filling my eyes, but I don't know exactly why, maybe they were relief? or maybe from all the stress I went through? I don’t know. But I held on so they wouldn't fall, I didn't want him to see me cry.

- I need to shower now. - He grabs some wardrobe clothes and a bath towel, and so he went into the bathroom, without saying anything else.

My heart was still beating very fast, and that feeling of butterflies in my stomach continued, I let my tears fall and then wipe it away. I had to put together myself, I breathe calmly and lie down on his bed, which was incredibly soft. Why did I lie there? Well, I thought that even if we weren't going to do that, if I left his room for mine, people would know that we didn’t have sex and would be filling me up because of it. When I was almost asleep, I hear the bathroom door opening.

- Huh, are you going to stay here? - He asked me before going to turn off the lights.

- If I leave here, it will be obvious that we didn't do that, and people will ask us questions, and I just want to avoid that. But if you want, I can go back to my room. - I say avoiding looking at him.

- No, you don't have to. - He climbs on the bed and then we were both silent, even if it was a strange situation, something told me that I would have to get used to it, I just sigh and try to sleep, which didn't take much effort since I was very tired.

=-=-=-=-=

A / n: chapter 2 finished! :D I hope you liked it, I feel like maybe it didn't look as good as the first one, but I think it was because I had a little headache/sleep and it makes me write some nonsense things, but I really hope that everything I wrote makes sense, btw, I had even written another ending, but it would be very different from how I wanted it to be because that ending they were starting to get along really well, and I didn't want that yet, but I hope this ending was good, it was inspired again by @writingblock101 fanfic, especially the ending since I didn’t know how to do it, so sorry if it looks like it, and if you don’t feel good about it I can try to find another way to finish this chapter.

Maybe I'll post the other ending in another post if someone wants to read it, and not that that ending is bad, but I think it would be confusing because of the next chapters where they are slowly trying to get closer. Anyway, Idk how to explain it, but you will understand what I mean in the next chapters.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, any English errors, or if you think something is very confusing, please let me know.

Until the next chapter!

See ya!

- Ina -

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myheartrevealedocs · 5 years ago

Text

Untouchable Ch 12- No Way Out (S2E13)

Warnings: murder, death threats, mentions of mental illness, Lydia having a death wish, and... a disembodied head?

Ch 11 | Ch 13

~ ~ ~

The small diner was a quaint area to conduct her first interview with a serial killer. She would have appreciated different circumstances, like no bystanders or some sort of upper hand over him, but her choices were limited at the time. There was a calm murmur around the single-room restaurant. As they entered a waitress approached them, but Lydia paid her no attention.

You walk in first. Look like you’re in charge. Don’t look to me for any help. You know what you’re doing. If he doesn’t respect you, he won’t tell us where she is. Make him respect you.

A man sat alone in a booth, facing away from the door. Gideon had told her all about this man. He doesn’t feel fear. He doesn’t know how. When you speak to him, neither will you.

A man in his late 50s. Average height. Grey hair.

She stood next to the table and waited for him to acknowledge her. When he didn’t turn away from the window, she said, “Is this seat taken?”

He was completely smug to see her standing there beside him. It was sickening. But she acted as though she reveled in his attention.

“Please,” he replied, gesturing to the cushioned seat across from him. “You should try Fat Sam’s milkshakes.”

She shook her head, leaning back comfortably in the booth. “Not in the mood. I’m cold and tired.”

“You’re also not from around here.”

She shrugged in acquiescence. “Where are you from?”

Gideon silently stood beside the table, watching the man across from her intently. He gave away nothing as they spoke, but his serene composure was evidence enough. They knew he had done it. That’s not why they were there.

Morgan stayed by the door, glancing outside at the cop cars surrounding the building.

The waitress approached, dropping a milkshake with the extra in a separate cup on the table in front of them.

“You really should try the shakes,” he tried again, pulling the pink drink towards him.

“Is that an offer to have some of yours?”

He shook his head, sternly. “What’s your name?” When she didn’t respond he tried again. “Come on. Names are a hobby of mine.”

“Lydia.”.

“I’ve never met a Lydia before,” he admitted. Then, he nodded towards Gideon. “What’s his name?”

“Why don’t you ask him?”

Gideon didn’t wait for him to decide, putting his hands down on the edge of the table. “My name is Jason Gideon.”

“Jason. From Greek Mythology. To heal.” he said, sounding like he was reciting from a textbook. “Gideon. A hero from the old testament who led the Israelites against the Midianites. Your parents had great ambitions for you.” He looked back at Lydia. “I’m Frank. Germanic. Third century. Deprived from the name of a type of spear. I wonder what aspirations my parents had for me.”

“Why don’t we cut the crap, Frank?” Morgan interrupted, walking over to their table. “Where is she?”

He didn’t take his eyes off Lydia. “Now, that’s direct.”

“You’ll have to excuse Morgan, he doesn’t have our patience,” she said, sizing him up for a moment to show him she wasn’t intimidated. “If you’d prefer that I’d be more forward, though, I can work that out. You were right, I’m not from around here. I work for the FBI.”

The whole room went silent, many turning to stare at the group. She pulled out her badge, sliding it across the table to Frank.

He didn’t touch it, just stared for several moments. “You’re not an agent,” he remarked.

Bad idea. She was losing his respect. “I’m not old enough. You’re too old. They’re picky at the Bureau, like that.”

“How do you know how old I am?” he asked curiously.

“You can learn a lot about a person by who and how he kills others. We were looking for a male in his mid- to late-fifties. Listens to Beehtoven. Wears a corduroy jacket with a fleece-lined collar.” She glanced at his coat, then back at him. “He’s left handed. In his right, inside jacket pocket will be a notebook,” as she said this, Morgan reached across Frank and pulled a small, black notebook from the very spot Gideon had told her it would be, “and it will give the extensive detailed accounts of the torture inflicted on every one of his victims… Do you know anyone like that, Frank?”

He smirked. “That’s quite the magic trick.”

She had him back. He was impressed. She grabbed her ID from the table and slid it back into her pocket.

“No magic trick, Frank,” Morgan growled. “Just the profile of a sadistic serial killer.”

People nearby started to look around frantically. Lydia knew that Morgan and Gideon would have to get them out soon, else they might cause a panic that interrupted the investigation. But Gideon told her that no matter what happened, she had to keep her focus on Frank. So, she did.

“Ambers, this thing is brand new,” Morgan said, flipping through the booklet. He followed Gideon’s instructions, speaking to her like she was in charge. “There’s only 2 entries in it: ‘black male, 220 pounds, portly; white female, late twenties’. This doesn’t prove anything.”

She raised an eyebrow at Frank. “Hm. Were you scared, Frank? Why hide the work that you were so proud of?”

“Guess what,” he continued, ignoring her question. “When I’m finished with my shake, you’ll get what you’re here for, but then… I’m going to get up… And I’m going to walk out of here… And you and your lap dogs are going to let me.”

This was good. Calling them her lap dogs indicated that he completely believed their act. So, she matched his pompous attitude. “You know what, Frank? That would be a magic trick.”

For the first time since sitting down, she turned away from him and looked out the window at the cars and officers surrounding them. There was no way for him to get out alive. But clearly, he didn’t care about that. They needed some other way to get him to tell them where the sheriff was.

“He’s looked at that clock three times in as many minutes,” Morgan noted. “He’s waiting for something.”

Frank glanced at him. “If I had your looks, do you know how much easier my life would be?”

“If you think you’re going to negotiate your way out of this one, you’ve got a whole ‘nother thing coming.”

Lydia sat up. The deputies told her she had 15 minutes to talk, and then they were coming in. If Frank really was waiting for something, might as well keep him busy until it happened. “Do you want to know how we caught you?”

“Please,” he nodded, but he knew. He had been the one to lead them there.

“Ambers, those men out there want to kill this guy,” Morgan argued. “We’re in the middle. We don’t have time for explanations.”

“You have the time it will take me to finish this shake,” Frank told her.

The milkshake again. He was planning to finish it before leaving. She wondered if there was a way to stall or speed up the process. And what would Gideon want? He could be waiting for something awful to happen, but at the moment, they had nothing to do, but wait.

“That’s all I need,” she informed him. Keep talking. “We got a request from Sheriff Georgia Davis. She had two victims in the Desert Rose National Park that had been dismembered. They asked the BAU to determine if this had been the same killer who left a dismembered body in the park 10 years ago. You see, serial killers don’t usually just stop killing. So, 10 years with no bodies was strange. And we like strange.

“A little research and we discovered hundreds of unsolved cases. Spanning 30 years and the whole country. All of them were people who lived on the outskirts of society, not a lot of friends. They were all left along the I-80 highway. And every dismembered torso that was recovered was missing a right rib bone.” She tsked. “That’s dedication. I believe Gideon’s exact words were, ‘the most prolific serial killer ever’.”

“Wow,” Frank replied, more to Gideon than her. “You truly think-”

“I know it,” Gideon snapped.

“And so,” Lydia continued. “We came to Nevada.”

Finally, Morgan and Gideon split up, telling the patrons of the restaurant, one by one, to get up quietly and leave in an orderly fashion. Lydia watched Frank closely, making sure he wouldn’t have a negative reaction to them letting innocent people out. But he just stared back, waiting for her to keep talking.

“You were saying?” he pressed.

“You dose them with ketamine and bring them to your trailer. The ceiling has a mirror, so that they can watch you mark where you’re going to cut them and as you dismember them, you cauterize their arteries, so that they won’t bleed to death as you torture them. It’s excruciating, they’re trapped in their own bodies, completely helpless. And you look them in the eyes as you do it. It’s how you get your high off the kill. They look so scared and you love it, don’t you?

“Although,” she reasoned, “I don’t think love is the right word. You are a psychopath. You can’t feel anything, can you? You’re incapable of remorse, compassion, and even love.”

He looked away when she said that. But not at the clock. Not at Gideon or Morgan. Just off into the distance. It was the first time he’d done that. What she’d just said had hit a nerve with him. She wanted to cry with relief, knowing she was getting somewhere.

“Do you disagree?” she inquired.

“Beauty can cover a multitude of sins,” Frank explained. “But underneath… we all look… exactly the same.”

“You are not leaving this diner,” Morgan hissed.

Frank just shrugged. “I don’t want to. Not until her story is done.” And then, he glued his eyes onto Lydia again, taking a sip of his milkshake.

“Thirty years ago, you picked up a girl on the side of the road. She was barely twenty. Her name was Jane. When she woke up in your trailer, she thought she’d been abducted by an alien. I spoke to her yesterday. She told me how beautiful it was. And how she looked into your eyes and felt completely relaxed. And you couldn’t kill her. Because she wasn’t afraid of you. People in town call her Crazy Jane, because no one believes her story, but she didn’t make it up. She just couldn’t understand at the time what you really were.”

“I read about a woman whose body was found in her apartment-- upper east side, I think.”

“If this is a confession,” Morgan interrupted. “Start with the woman you just took.”

“She had killed herself. But her body wasn’t found for more than a year. Surrounded by over a million people, and not one of them missed her. What does that say about society?”

“Don’t act like you care about her,” Lydia snapped. “Those that society forgets-- the throwaways, the runaways, destitute, disenfranchised-- they’re the very people you target… But not last night. Last night you took someone of prominence. Someone that mattered to everyone. Why?”

“That’s an interesting question, Lydia… Why?”

There was a commotion outside. But Gideon had promised that he would deal with any outside factors. So she stayed completely engaged with Frank.

“Gideon,” Morgan warned, pulling out his gun. A man had just entered the diner with a shotgun.

This was not part of the plan. She still had 5 minutes to talk to Frank before the deputies came in.

“Sir, do not come any closer,” Morgan ordered, but their newest threat was not in the right headspace. His eyes and gun were pointed at Frank.

“That man has my wife!”

Mr. Davis. Not good, not good. In her peripheral vision, she could see Gideon and Morgan blocking the aisle towards her and Frank, but if he decided to shoot from there, Lydia was in trouble.

“Please, put the gun down,” Morgan continued.

Lydia could feel Gideon’s eyes on her. Frank may have been closer, but she was still in the line of fire. Perhaps he wanted her to break, in order to get out of harm’s way, but she wouldn’t. She had to convince Frank she was powerful. She wouldn’t back down yet.

“Tell me where my wife is or so help me, I will shoot you.”

“Sir, I said put the gun down now!”

“Where’s my wife?!?”

The yelling back and forth continued. Without breaking eye contact with her, Frank leaned down, picking up something from the floor and dropping it on the table. It was a carpet bag.

He smirked at her. “You know what’s an even more interesting question? What’s the psychopath got in the bag, Lydia?”

She shrugged, unimpressed, but her heart was trying to leap from her chest. It was the size of a head. And knowing Frank, it probably was one. Could she keep her poise if she came face to face with the head of Sheriff Georgia Davis?

“Open it,” Mr. Davis demanded.

“Put it down!” Morgan insisted.

“Open the bag!”

Lydia rolled her eyes dramatically and asked Frank to excuse her for a second. Then, she looked up at Mr. Davis for the first time. He was so scared. He needed to know if Frank had killed her. But Lydia could not drop her face for him.

“Mr. Davis, I cannot open this bag until you put the gun down.”

His hand was shaking, but finally, he lifted the barrel towards the ceiling and Morgan was able to ease it away from him. With the threat finally diminished, she focused herself once more.

“May I?” She shrugged towards the bag.

Mr. Davis kept repeating ‘I’ll kill you’ from the door and Frank just smiled at her.

With no disagreement from anyone in the room, she reached forward and unzipped the bag. She was holding her breath, preparing herself for what she’d find inside. And she’d been right about one thing.

Frank had brought them a head.

The head belonged to a black male. Nothing like the blonde, tiny sheriff. Her heart clenched at the sight of it, but the fact that it didn’t belong to someone she recognized saved her from losing face in front of him.

“It’s not her,” Morgan told Mr. Davis, who began crying on the spot.

“Oh, thank god,” he was murmuring.

“Who is this?” she asked.

“I believe the correct question would be: who was this?” Frank sneered.

“You’re one crazy son of a bitch!” Mr. Davis shouted and Morgan started to usher him off the premises.

“We are all sons of bitches.” Frank looked disgusted by the sight of Lydia. Something had changed when she opened that bag. He stopped enjoying her presence. He didn’t like talking to her. But so long as he didn’t look down on her, she could work with him.

“Who is this, Frank?” she demanded, more forcefully.

“He’s irrelevant. Beyond being my ticket out of here.”

“Your ticket out of here?” Morgan cried, finally getting Mr. Davis out. “Even if you think you can get out of that booth and past us, I promise you those men out there will tear you to pieces.”

“I rather doubt that,” he grumbled. “So… finish the story, Lydia.”

“What do you want me to say?” she asked, calmly. “We set up a tip line for people to call. A nation-wide APB. We searched Golconda for an RV, later amended to truck and trailer, that was muted in color, in perfect working order, with a CB, radar detector, and police-band radio. And then, we got a call from Katherine Hale’s cell phone. That is, the Katherine Hale that you, so graciously, dumped in pieces two days ago. And we tracked her phone to Sheriff Davis’s house, where you had followed Crazy Jane. But Jane got away. And you, in your desperation to have her, took Sheriff Davis. Then, you came back here and turned on Katherine Hale’s cell phone so that we would come to you. But something has to happen first, no? You can’t tell us your deal until you’re done with your damn milkshake.”

“I thought you were interesting, Lydia,” he said, out of the blue. “People have such deep emotions. I knew you were going to act all stoic, but I figured I could break you. Make you angry, sad, confused, afraid. I wanted to see how that mind of yours worked. But you saw that head and barely blinked. You’re just like me, aren’t you?”

Lydia couldn’t stop a small twitch of her eye. He thought she was a psychopath? That’s why his demeanor changed all of a sudden?

She smirked. “Sorry to disappoint, but you’re the only psychopath in this room.”

“That’s why they sent you, isn’t it? No one could look me in the eyes, knowing all that I’ve done, and keep up a conversation, but you. That man who came in had a gun on the two of us, and even when your partners stepped out of the way, you didn’t break eye contact. Don’t you have to be just a little insane to be able to do that?”

“Don’t talk about things you don’t understand. It doesn’t look good on you.”

He didn’t argue with her, finally leaning forward and taking the final sip from his drink. All eyes were on him as he slurped loudly and sighed, dropping the glass on the table.

“One is perfection. Two is decadent.”

This was it. Final showdown. Whatever he’d been waiting for, it would happen now.

He turned away from the booth, sliding out, but Morgan had his gun out in a second.

“You take another step and I will shoot you.”

“No you won’t,” Frank argued, but Lydia’s words did keep him in place.

“What was it that Jane said to you?” she inquired. Poor Jane had survived this guy’s wrath only to live pitifully for the rest of her life. “She looked into your eyes. But that wouldn’t be enough for you. She must have said something. What was it?”

“I’m a sexual sadist,” he sneered. “I can’t feel anything. Remember?”

Morgan’s phone started ringing and he started talking to Hotch in the background.

“Are you trying to argue that? Did you feel something?”

“They just found his trailer,” Morgan announced to the room. “The remains of another woman and the sheriff, alive.”

They did it. They caught him. They saved the sheriff. But nothing about this was right. And Gideon knew it, too.

“He doesn’t care about the sheriff. To walk out of here with Jane, he’d need more than that.”

More hostages? Someone more important than the town sheriff? If someone like that disappeared, they’d already know about it.

“Jane said… how beautiful my eyes were,” Frank told Lydia, answering her question from earlier. “I looked at her like I’ve never looked at a woman before. My hands began to sweat. I dropped the knife. I tried to pick it up, but it fell again. I got butterflies in my stomach. Isn’t that love?”

“She was fascinating. More interesting than me. Or than all those you’ve killed.” More noises outside. Her 15 minutes were definitely up. “But sometimes, fear and love are easy to confuse.”

“Gideon. Ambers,” Morgan warned, watching people approach the door.

“What are you suggesting?” Frank inquired.

“We got George! She’s alive!” Deputy Silo announced as he burst in, the rest of the officers following him. “Get on the floor!”

“Take it easy!” Morgan stepped in front of them.

“Move!”

“Don’t ask dumb questions,” Lydia whispered. “You know I won’t answer them.”

“Take it easy!”

There was so much going on, she didn’t even register the entire group's cell phones beginning to ring. The high pitched buzzes echoed around the room.

And Frank smiled.

“No…” Silo sighed. “That’s impossible.”

He winked. “Magic time.”

~ ~ ~

Spencer listened as Emily softly comforted Sheriff Davis in the backseat. Being stuck in a trailer, in a coffin, all night was reason enough to be shaken up. But Frank was completely sadistic. She had seen his work. Probably first hand. There was no forgetting that.

Hotch pulled up to the diner where they had surrounded Frank abruptly. As they helped the sheriff out of the car, Spencer put on his sunglasses and surveyed the wall of cars and armed men set up around the building. They had him trapped alright.

“George!” her husband cried, pulling her into a hug. “Thank god. Thank god.”

“He killed Tommy’s teacher,” she sobbed. “I saw it. Annie. She was just 22.”

22… He couldn’t imagine Lydia dying so horrifically at her age. Spencer saw some horrible things in his everyday life, but he’d never been the center of it. Being able to compare the body they’d just found to Lydia was not a comforting thought.

Where was Lydia?

The sheriff’s husband started to explain their recent findings. Looks like Frank had killed the school bus driver on a kids field trip and abducted the kids. He’d been waiting all day for them to find the body of the bus driver and the abandoned bus.

“How?” she demanded. “We had the whole town shut down. There was no way out.”

“What was the one vehicle we weren’t looking for?” Hotch reasoned.

“School bus,” Spencer murmured.

Hotch stepped away from them towards the diner. “More importantly, where are the children?”

Spencer’s eyes followed him, then stopped upon looking into the diner windows. Frank was seated in a booth next to a window. There were multiple sheriff’s inside with guns pointed at his back. Gideon and Morgan stood to his side. And seated across from him, was…

“Oh my god, Lydia,” he breathed.

Emily followed his line of sight, seeing her in the window and felt a wave of sympathy for him. Followed by fear.

“If they shoot, they’re going to hit her,” she realized.

Spencer nodded frantically. “What is she thinking?!”

~ ~ ~

Lydia wanted to drop her head into her hands. “You have the town’s children.”

Silo had looked like he was going to faint upon admitting that the school bus for the kids’ field trip was just recovered outside of town. The kids had never made it home.

“Only the little ones,” Frank teased. “You profiled me. You know I have no interest in harming children.”

“We will find them,” Morgan snapped. “We have helicopters, dogs-”

Frank kept his eyes on Lydia. “The desert is over 25,000 square miles. And what with the rising coyote population…”

“If it’s Jane you’re after, we don’t have her,” Morgan insisted.

“Yes, you do.”

He looked out the window just in time to see a new cop car approach. And low and behold, Crazy Jane stumbled out of the backseat.

Lydia turned back to him. There was a way to win this. She didn’t like it, but there was a way to get those kids back. “If you want us to make a deal for Jane, you are going to get up slowly and let Agent Morgan handcuff you. You follow our orders and walk out of the diner peacefully before we discuss your terms for getting those kids back. Are we clear?”

His lips pulled tightly around his teeth in what could hardly be called a smile. “Crystal.”

As he promised, he got up, his hands in front of him for Morgan to handcuff. And he said nothing as Gideon and Morgan roughly shoved him down the aisle and to the door.

Lydia’s eyes stung just knowing that his gaze wasn't fixed on her anymore, but she had to keep the act up for just a while longer. She allowed herself one deep breath before standing up and following them out.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on the group as they left. Mostly on Frank, but she caught a couple of the officer’s gazes as she stepped down. She could see Spencer, Hotch, and Emily standing with Jane. She couldn’t tell where any of them were looking, due to the fact that they were all wearing sunglasses, but if she had to bet, she was certain Spencer was scared for her. When Gideon had taken her away from the crime scene to talk to Frank instead, she didn’t even believe it. He had been training her to interrogate suspects for almost a year now, but she’d never had the opportunity before. Why now?

“Jane!” Frank shouted.

They both tried to run to each other, but were held back.

“Tell them, Lydia,” Frank insisted. “Tell them I’m not interested in harming children. Have I ever once harmed a child? It does nothing for me. Give me Jane… and they’ll have their children back.”

“Is she part of this with you?” Silo accused.

“Look at her, Rick,” the recovered sheriff said. George had just gotten back from Frank’s trailer with tear streaks down her face. Lydia couldn’t imagine what her night had been like. “She’s not a part of anything. She’s as much his victim as you are.”

“With Jane in my life, I will never harm another human being,” Frank tried to argue, but no one believed him.

“Take me with you, Frank,” Gideon began. “Just you and me.”

“And my Jane?” It wasn’t a question. With all the town’s kids at his disposal, it was a demand. And Jane looked thrilled to throw herself at him.

“You’ll take me to where the kids are?”

“Happily. I couldn’t have that on my conscience,” he joked.

Lydia’s stomach flipped, but she was immensely relieved. What Gideon was about to do was insanely dangerous, but if they got those kids back, she did her job. She’d talked to him, gotten him to comply. And she’d been terrified for a moment that he was going to insist she come along. With his agreement, she was done with this heartless, tiresome act.

She stepped away from the group as Frank clarified his terms, wanting to collapse somewhere private, but was overcome by dread when he called her name.

She shivered as she flipped around, putting her unimpressed face back on. “Mhm?”

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

It was a sickening thought. She had no clue what he could possibly mean by it. But she couldn’t worry herself about anything else at the moment.

She smirked. “You better hope you’re that lucky.”

She didn’t make eye contact with anyone as she stormed away. Every interaction demanded something from her and after today, she had nothing left to give.

She got around the black SUV so that no one would be able to see her and promptly fell against the door, clutching her stomach. She just wanted to be able to take a breath that felt like enough. Smell something that wasn’t the dry dust coating her nose.

She thought she’d give herself a second to recover, then compose herself and reemerge, but as soon as he could sneak away, Spencer went after her.

He hesitated to say anything for a moment, seeing her so shaken. He didn’t want to startle her and make it worse, but he needed to speak to her.

“Hey,” he breathed.

Lydia glanced around him for others, then launched herself into his chest. And it was like her lungs cleared, just taking in the feel of him. Her breaths were shaky, but they weren’t so shallow anymore.

“Hi,” she replied. “Sorry, I just… that was weird.”

He was surprised by her sudden reaction, but pulled himself back to his senses and wrapped his arms around her back, one of his hands gently stroking her hair. “It’s okay. Are you… Is everything alright?”

“So much better now,” she mumbled into his chest. “We’re gonna do something fun together when we get back to DC, okay?”

“Of course.”

She leaned back to look at him, not dropping her arms from his waist. “Someone’s going to check on us if we stay here any longer.”

He nodded and slowly let his hands slip to his sides. “I, uh… I was so scared when I saw you in the window. No one said anything about you talking to Frank one on one and the deputies had guns trained on you. It was a lot.”

“It was a lot for me too,” she admitted. “He’s terrifying. He was convinced I was a psychopath-”

“What? Lydia, you’re not a psychopath!”

“It feels like it sometimes,” she grumbled. “He had a head, just sitting in a bag and I didn’t even flinch, Spence! I was just trying to do what Gideon told me, but that’s not human, is it?”

He sighed. “This job can desensitize us to things like that. But it doesn’t make you less human. I mean, now that you’re away from him, you understand how horrific he is.”

“I don’t think there’s a word to describe the things he’s done. And if there is, I don’t want to know it,” she added. “I just wanna go home.”

“Soon,” he promised. Then, he stepped away. “I’m gonna head back now. Take as long as you need.”

She nodded watching him go, before taking out her phone. In the time she’d been with Frank, her sister had called her seven times. It was unusual for Beck to be so persistent. There were a few texts, as well:

Beck: Call me.

Beck: Lydia.

Beck: As soon as you get this, please call.

Beck: NOW LYDIA!

What the hell…?

Lydia clicked on her sister's contact and put the phone up to her ear.

Beck answered after a single ring. “Oh my god. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call-”

Automatically, something stood out to Lydia. Beck didn’t sound mad at her. At all. In fact, she sounded like she wanted to cry.

“I’ve been working,” she explained. “Is everything alright?”

“You need to come home, Lydia. Mom- Sonia’s had a stroke.”

Oh god. She might actually puke from stress at this point. “What happened?!” she cried, already searching for Hotch. “Did you get her to a hospital?”

“Yes, yes. They did a CT scan. They say her chances of surviving are high and will be even better once they dissolve the blood clot. But, oh god, Lydia it was so scary. She started having a seizure and I didn’t know what to do-”

“It’s okay… She’s in the hospital now. You did everything you could.”

“You have to come home, Lydia. Tonight.”

“I’ll catch a flight as soon as possible-”

“I have Katie and Adam with me. Please, get here now. I need you. She’s going to be in the hospital for at least the night and I don’t know what to do with them. They don’t understand what’s going on. Katie started crying when the EMTs got there and she’s been stressed ever since. And Adam is bouncing off the walls of the waiting room like a maniac.”

Lydia couldn’t even imagine how freaked out Beck was. Katie and Adam were twins that Sonia had been fostering since Lydia left for college. They were seven now.

Finally, she caught a glimpse of Hotch and made a break for him. “Beck, I’m going to be there as soon as I possibly can. I promise you. But I have to go now and figure this out, okay? Just stay there, text me any updates, and I’ll call once I have a flight.”

“Okay. Please hurry. I love you.”

“Love you,” Lydia agreed before hanging up and reaching Hotch. He was talking to the sheriff, still wrapped in her shock blanket. They both looked startled to see her running at them, but she didn’t let them say anything. “Hotch! My foster mom just had a stroke. I need to go home. Is there-”

He was automatically understanding, trying to problem solve with her. “That’s fine. Go. Sheriff, can one of your deputies take her to the nearest airport?”

George nodded immediately. “Stay right here,” she ordered. “I’ll discretely explain to them what’s going on.”

Lydia thanked her as she left. It took a strong woman to help others after what she’d been through.

“Do you need anything?” Hotch asked her.

She shook her head. “According to my sister, she’s okay so far. But she still has the blood clot. Hotch, it’s going to take her a few weeks to recover, at least. Someone has to be in the house, looking out for her and the other kids she’s fostering. I can try to get back to DC soon, but-”

“Take all the time you need,” he insisted. The sheriff came back with an officer in tow. “Call me once you get to the airport. When we get back to DC, you can send me a list of things you want shipped to California and I’ll grab them from your apartment, okay?”

Lydia had never felt so compelled to hug Hotch before, but she figured now was as good a time as any. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Then, she followed the deputy to his car and took off, forgetting to explain herself to anyone on the team. Or, more importantly, forgetting to explain herself to the one person on the team who deserved to hear it from her.

Spencer.

~ ~ ~

Tags: @kris-stuff @wooya1224 @spencerelds

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beyondflashpoint · 5 years ago

Text

Prologue 2: Homeward Bound :

“I don’t understand the detour, Todd. We could have made port directly in Gotham bay and gone directly to father. Your palaver with the addict in Steel city cost us days. Hours at best.”

Jason rolled his eyes. He could sense the kid’s unease even without glancing at him in the rearview. A slight vocalization from the passenger seat indicated that Cassie agreed with the kid.

“First, the ‘addict’ has a name. Roy is an old friend. Second, that pal-whatever got us this car, so we aren’t walking. Third, the League would be expecting us to make landfall in Gotham, and I feel like an extended ninja fight would waste more time than my plan and also draw a lot more unwanted attention. Relax Damian. We’ll have you playing catch with daddy-dearest soon enough.”

“Smart.” Cassie said from beside him, her voice low and gravely from underuse. He couldn’t be sure, but Jason thought she sounded surprised. At least she was talking now, even if it was only one or two words every few days. The constant charades made his head hurt.

Damian clicked his tongue in that annoying way he did and prepared to retort, but Jason nipped that in the bud.

“Bruce has a bunker in Blüdhaven where we can swipe some equipment and feel out the situation in Gotham. According to Roy, Lady Shiva has been spotted in G-town, and there haven’t been any killings that fit her m.o., so it’s safe to assume the League dispatched her to catch us. So caution is the word.”

Cassie shifted uncomfortably at her mother’s name. They had never been close, but they had left things especially messy, as in duel to the death, excommunication messy. Shiva would kill Cassie on sight, and Jason probably not long after. Returning Damian al’Ghul to the Demon’s side was priority one. If he had to guess, Shiva would have deployed with a full attachment, foot soldiers and four other heavy hitters. A full Demon’s Fist, as the League called it. That could be very bad for G-town. Jason was by no means eager to put on tights again, but Bruce’s uniforms offered much better protection than swiped tourist threads, and he needed all the extra time he could get to figure out exactly how this reunion was going to go.

‘Hi Bruce, I’m not dead anymore. Ras dunked me in the Lazarus Pit. Also, I kinda kidnapped your son from Talia because Ras was planning on having him kill you. Also, you have a son. In case you didn’t know. Also this is Lady Shiva’s daughter, but she’s cool. She kicks ass and has decided to leave the League. Also the League is after us.’

Bruce would have a stroke. Maybe he should lead with the son thing.

Jason merged as they approached the exit he wanted.

Come to think of it, there were probably a few of his old friends running the streets of his old stomping grounds. Probably most of them were dead or incarcerated, but one or two of them had to be out and about. He could use eyes on the streets, and slum kids saw things that even the big bad bat didn’t. He’d look into it.

Five years changed things. Roy was a big indication of that. Before Jason’s temporary vacation from the mortal coil, Roy Harper had been a Titan, and Jason’s top guy in the team. Finding out that he’d dropped the mask game had been shocking enough, but the fact that he had been hooked on H AND working out rehab really opened his eyes. Roy had stayed in touch with Dick, as an unofficial sponsor, but he’d completely cut off Olly and the rest of the Star City crew. And now he was running a garage, just a few hours out of the Haven. Jason shuddered to think how the Batfam had changed. And now that he thought about it, five years may as well be fifty on the streets, especially in the Haven.

When Bruce had taken him in, the Red Hood gang had mostly run the Haven, and the less formal Hoodz had sprung up to replace the smaller crews and cliques that permeated Blüdhaven. Time served with the Hoodz could lead to an opportunity at the big leagues with the real Red Hood Gang. That had been Jason’s plan, which had put him in the alley where the batmobile had been parked, which had made him hungry enough for the cred that would come from boosting the tires from the Bat’s whip, which had led him to getting caught by the big bad bat, yadda-yadda, Robin, mother, Clown, crowbar.

But the Hoodz had already been on their way out even back then, with the Black Mask Gang snatching turf on the outskirts. Jason couldn’t begin to imagine who was running the Haven now.

They rode in silence until Jason finally parked in the alley. The sharpness and clarity of memory had to be a result of his dip in the pit. He’d only been to this bunker once, and it had been in the frantic haze of searching for his mother, the first stop on his way out of Gotham for the last time in his old life. Now it was his last stop on his way back to Gotham for the first time in his new life. Ka is a wheel, to quote Mr Stephen King.

He shook these thoughts off as he scanned the street, making sure their entry would go unnoticed, then opened the secret panel and typed the old code into the hidden keypad. The section of wall slid back, and opened to a flight of stairs and the blessed buzz of ac.

“Alright gang, to the bat-bunker.”

He started in without waiting for a reply. Lights buzzed to life as the trio descended the steps and were deposited into the armory. According to Roy, Dick had lived here until he’d gotten on his feet after splitting from Bruce. He still used it as a backup base/crash pad, and Jason could tell from the ratty couch and scattering of clothes. But Grayson was running with Titans 3.0 at the moment, looking into the evil tech dealer called H.I.V.E. so they would have the run of the place for now.

True to fashion, though Dick’s personal possessions were a mess, the armory itself was perfectly organized and orderly. Jason could barely suppress a scoff at the tube containing one of Barbara’s spare batsuits. Vintage black and yellow. He always suspected the two were hooking up. He and Dick didn’t agree on much, but both were of one mind when it came to red heads in tights. It was a shame Roy had let himself go recently. Before he could get too lost in that thought, he realized Damian and Cassandra were both staring at him expectantly.

“Right. We have a few hours of daylight left. I don’t want to move on Gotham till nightfall. Till then, I want you two taking inventory of the gear we have available to us. While you do that, I’ll grab us some food, and scope out the situation street side.”

“If I never have to eat any more of that greasy slop you call fast food, it will be too soon.” Damian said as he made close study of a wall of weapons Grayson had no doubt thought were cool as hell.

“Now you listen here, boy. Big Belly Burger is a staple of American fine dining, and I will not have you blaspheme against it like that in my presence. Besides, you and Cassie order and eat twice as much as I do every time we stop there.”

“TT.”

Cassandra grabbed his shoulder and shared a look that said her next words would be of the utmost importance.

“Milkshake. Strawberry.” She managed without any of the usual false starts.

“Actually, since we’re in the Haven, I thought I’d treat you two to the height of fine dining. Bibbo’s Diner is only a few blocks from here, and you haven’t lived until you’ve had his chicken and waffles.”

Alarm flashed in Cassandra’s eyes, but before it could settle, Jason reassured her.

“And Bibbo’s happens to be the home of the world famous Robin shake. Strawberry, chocolate and banana. It’ll be right up your alley Cassie. And their homemade peach cobbler is out of this world.”

She looked as if she was about to argue, then considered, and acquiesced, lulled into acceptance by the promise of a new sweet treat. The poor girl had been practically made to starve as part of her training. Combined with the laundry list of other abuses she’d faced, Jason had no problem shelling out the extra cash to keep her quickly developing sweet tooth satisfied. Besides, it wasn’t really his money.

It had been quite the adventure so far, and while Bruce would halve balked at Jason’s decision to loot scumbags they’d encountered along the six month journey from Nanda Parbat, Damian and Cassandra saw the necessity of it. Jason had found his people.

“Pull that suit on under your clothes Cass, it’s Kevlar microfiber woven over a layer of high density impact gel. Might not look like it, but it can stop a bullet. There might be an old Robin suit around here somewhere. You’ll know it if you see it. That might fit Damian. Gear up, stretch out, and be ready to move as soon as I get back. If something goes down while I’m gone, find the tallest building in town and wait for me on the roof.” As he talked, he scooped up a spare utility belt from the shelves and clipped it on his waist. A cursory search rewarded him with a tank top sporting the blue bird Dick used as a logo these days (because of corse Dick fucking Grayson bought his own merch), a flannel Jason could tie around his hips to hide the belt, a Gotham Knights cap, and a wad of cash Dick no doubt kept for emergencies.

This qualified, Jason rationalized as he stuffed the bills into a pouch on his belt. Satisfied with his civilian disguise, Jason returned his focus to the duo studying the tools laid out before them. Damian had slipped a samurai sword into his belt at some point and was now testing the weight of the stylized throwing stars (Wingdings?) laid out on the shelves. Cassandra was running through forms with a pair of batons, and was mildly startled by the arc of electricity that cracked between them when she happened upon the triggers. Shock turned to awe, turned to a pleased smirk. They’d be fine for a few hours. Probably.

He tried not to think too hard about the many ways they could kill, explode, or otherwise maim each other in his absence.

They’d be fine.

It took him an hour of scoping the usual hangs to get anything useful. The Row kids had relocated to an orphanage in G-town. The Brown girl and the kid that followed her like a lost puppy were m.i.a., Rome was in Blackgate, Garcia was dead, Diego dead, Carter dead, Crock m.i.a., Philippe jail, Jessie jail, dead, jail, jail, jail, dead, dead, Morales was working the youth center after a stint in Blackgate, which was good to hear. Finally he happened upon a decent lead, almost by accident.

One of his old crew from the Hoodz days was still out and about, and running a little cluster of the Hoodz.

Jason entered the ratty apartment Sasha shared with her father Nico though the fire escape. It was just as messy as he remembered. On the table beside the couch was a glass bowl, packed but untouched. It was tempting, but Jason hadn’t gotten high since his Robin days. The siren song of the crumpled pack of full flavored cigarettes, however, was irresistible. He plucked one free and lit it as he dropped into the tattered leather recliner across from the couch where Sasha snoozed. That first draw was harsh, and started him coughing. Five years had robbed him of his experienced smoker status.

Sasha groaned groggily, stirred by his hacking and sat up slowly, blindly groping for a cig herself.

“Told you to stop snatching my smokes if you can’t handle ‘em old man.” She chastised drowsily.

“Just out of practice Sash. Haven’t had one since the last time we talked.”

It took a moment for the strange voice to register, but when it did, her hand flew under her pillow. Before it came back out, Jason freed a birdarang (wingding?) and sent the glock flying.

“Fuck!”

“Shit, Sash, you pack now? I must’a missed a lot.”

Her eyes darted from her hand, which would be bruised for the next few days, and Jason, who chanced a longer drag from the stolen cigarette and pulled off his hat. This one went down smoothly.

“Jay-bird?” She stuttered as the pieces came together. Even without the shoot of white hair and the scars crisscrossing his face, five years was a lot of growing room.

“Nah. Nah, man. You died.” He leaned over the table, plucked another cig from the pack and offered it to her. She took it and let him light it.

“Didn’t take.”

“Dude, you definitely died. Me and the crew crashed the funeral, had to cause daddy Warbucks wouldn’t let no street rats in. News said you bought it in a skiing accident in the Alps or some shit.”

“I ain’t here for that Sash. I just want some info.”

She dropped the cigarette half smoked into an open beer can, opting to wake-and-bake instead. Jason couldn’t blame her. It wasn’t often you woke up to a ghost chilling in your living room. She took a few hits and offered him the pipe and lighter.

“Another time Sash. I got shit to do.”

“Right, and you need little Sasha to tell you what’s what. But little Sasha wants some info too, Jay-bird. Like where you been for five, and why you look like rough road.”

“I got blown up, and ninja’s in the Middle East brought me back to life and taught me ninja shit. My turn. Anyone strange running jobs in the Haven, or is it all Loco shit?”

“Hold up, ninjas? The fuck man?”

“Sash.” She hesitated, then took another hit from the bowl.

“Okay. Since you been gone, the Hoodz and the Black Masks called a truce to push out the Riddler gang. Falcone’s kid made a comeback, and is trying to take the whole Haven. Masks and Hoodz are gonna push him out too. His boys mostly run the Narrows. Then there’s this new guy my dad is running supplies for. Very strange. Outsider type. Fuckin spooky. He wears a pig mask and steals kids. The Masks are scared he’s gonna bring the Bat down on us. I’m not gonna lie, I kinda hope the Bat does come for him. I only seen him once and he freaked me out. Lucky you dropped in when you did. Dad’s talking about splitting soon. He don’t like Pig-face either.”

Jason listened intently. By the time she’d finished talking, he’d finished his cigarette. Paying attention was hard in that woozy high that came from the sudden influx of nicotine, but he’d gathered what he needed. The League wasn’t moving in Blüdhaven.

“You filled out good Jay-bird. I’d almost believe you were hanging with ninjas.”

Jarred from his thoughts, Jason stood, swiping another cigarette from the pack.

“I’d get out of town if I were you Sash. And out of gang-life.” He paused and scooped up the stylized ski-mask that marked members of the Hoodz. “I’d rather not have to crash your funeral.” She watched him make his way to the window, but said nothing.

With daylight to burn, Jason began his trek back to the bunker, taking a detour by Bibbo’s to acquire the promised delicacies.

He was not prepared for what his triumphant return to the bunker brought him.

Silence hung eerily over the now dark headquarters. The space had been tidied thoroughly, Dick’s discarded clothing organized, folded, and neatly stacked. Pinned to the chair in front of the large Bat Computer doppelgänger with a batarang (wingding?) was a note written in neat, curling scrawl which Jason instantly recognized as belonging to Damian.

“Todd,

In your absence I have determined that your course of action is actually strategically sound. After overcoming the computer’s laughable attempt at security, I have ascertained that there is a criminal element operating in this city which might draw,” the word father was struck through with two neat lines, “Batman, and potentially ruin any attempt at stealth. I believe we must handle the meeting between ourselves and Batman delicately, and on our own terms. Because of this I have determined the best course of action is to deal with this so-called ‘Professor Pyg’ with haste.

Should you return before we have settled matters, and wish to join us on this mission, you may find all the relevant information pertaining to Pyg (alias to one Lazlo Valentin) by pressing the large rectangular key which reads enter. I’m sure Cain and I would benefit from your expertises in these matters.”

Jason hadn’t believed it was possible to convey sarcasm through the written word. Until today.

“Ps. If you are determined to acquire sustenance before returning, I still do not like ketchup. Mushrooms are okay. Cain requests extra fries.

Pps. In keeping with the traditions laid out in your tales of the Batman’s adventures, Cain and I have decided to wear masks. If you do decide to join us, you might not recognize us, but we have agreed not to harm you.

Sincerely,

Damian al’Ghul, Grandson of the Demon, Heir to the Demon’s Head.”

Jason crumpled the note. The Batgirl uniform was gone, as well as a reasonable chunk of the armory. He’d have to move quickly.

The decision to pursue and subdue Valentin had been mostly motivated by three things. The first he had laid out in his letter to Todd. The second he had shared with Cain, boredom. The third he would reveal to no one, on pain of death. In the years since he had regained his memory, Todd had recounted every story he knew pertaining to Batman. Those stories had motivated him to come to Gotham and meet his father, leaving behind his mother and grandfather, possibly abandoning his great destiny. Those stories had told him more about his father as a man than his mother or grandfather ever had. They painted Bruce Wayne as a titan among men, a pillar of strength and will, and a paragon of virtue and honor. In all honesty, Damian was intimidated by that man. But he was also inspired. The third reason he had decided to pursue and subdue Valentin was to feel connected with his father.

Locating “Pyg” was a simple enough matter. First he plotted out all of the kidnappings that matched Pyg’s M.O. it would seem that Batman had been keeping an eye on Pyg, because he was the chief suspect in the manufacture and distribution of a drug gangs were using to pacify prostitutes. But he’d overlooked the kidnappings. By mapping those, cross referencing places that stored or manufactured components for the drug, Damian was able to triangulate possible hideouts this Pyg could be using. Of the three possibilities, only one was currently unused, an so Damian had settled on the abandoned theme park, ignoring how horribly cliched it was.

Cain had followed Todd’s instructions and donned the Batgirl uniform, but had decided against layering civilian clothes over it. He couldn’t blame her, with the summer heat stifling as it was. Damian had opted for the League’s stealth uniform which he’d carried across half the world. Then the two had gone at the veritable armory like children in a candy shop. Few of Todd’s stories included Grayson, and those that did made him out to be asinine and annoying. But his selection of toys was impressive by all accounts. Smoke bombs, flash-bangs, teargas, plastic explosives, acetylene torches, inferred flashlights, air powered line launchers, and many of the oddly shaped throwing stars Todd had called “batarangs.” The belts which Damian had crisscrossed his chest like bandoliers were jam packed with more of these tools than Damian had imagined was possible, as well as a first-aid kit and handcuffs.

Once they were outfitted and armed, Damian led them to the car Todd had conned out of the addict. The drive to their location was in silence, both mentally preparing for whatever they might encounter along the way. They passed the location several times, marking potential hiding places, paths of retreat and places that could host an ambush.

Once Damian was satisfied he parked the car a block away and they took to the rooftops to preform reconnaissance from above. The park was dilapidated, derelict, and most likely overflowing with vermin. But for the most part it seemed structurally sound. After brief deliberation, the duo decided they were adequately prepared for whatever they may encounter, and thus began their assault.

There is an old proverb that Damian would often think back on when remembering this first act of vigilantism.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

He thought he was ready for anything, but he was wrong.

Dick Grayson had apparently undergone a biker phase, which was good for Jason, because Roy’s car was gone. The modified superbike flew through the streets and cut between traffic like a dream. Jason had intended to return everything he’d stolen from Dick, but with every hairpin turn he grew more and more inclined to keep the bike. And maybe the jacket too. It matched the mask he’d swiped from Sash. And it was way too badass for Richard John Grayson.

He’d rushed out of the bunker with a stomach full of rage and fear, blended poorly so an acrid burn stung at the back of his throat. He imagined this was how Bruce must have felt every time he did something reckless. The dynamic dumbasses hadn’t even taken communicators with them.

He briefly wished he’d inventoried his belt before stepping out, but Dick had always been anal about his gear. So had he, now that he though about it. Bruce had drilled him on it relentlessly, having him empty and refill his belt over and over for hours until Jason knew exactly how much of what was in each pouch, and could find anything blindfolded or in the heat of battle. Thinking about it brought back the sharpened calm that came with patrols and missions. It was like the emotions were compressed and pushed back into a compartment on his brain’s utility belt. Not gone, just stored away. He twisted the throttle as far as it would go.

Once upon a time, he’d have cased the joint before getting close. Once upon a time, he’d have come from above, all stealth and shadows, and only dropped in once he had a clear vision of what was happening inside. Today he barreled through a hole in the fence at almost two hundred miles per hour with the engine screaming and fishtailed to a stop as close to the park’s rotting funhouse as he could without transforming himself into a pancake.

Kickstand dropped, and feet pounded against dry rotted wood. Jason had almost made it to the door before his ears registered the sounds of a struggle from within. He cursed his favorite curse as he filled his hand with smoke pellets and prepared to join the fray. With his free hand he pulled the line-launcher and took aim. He was topside in a heartbeat, and could practically hear the cape flutter that would have accompanied the motion in his Robin days. With practiced proficiency he located a skylight and paused to survey the scene from above.

Damian and Cass were surrounded. As if that wasn’t bad enough, their attackers were the aforementioned legion of League foot soldiers Jason had been eager to avoid. They seemed to be holding their own well enough for now, but outside their field of view Shiva was preparing to join the battle. Also moving in were the rest of the Demon’s Fist. Bronze Tiger, Cheshire, Ubu, and Mara al’Ghul. Things were well on their way to getting messy. Jason cursed again. Ubu was the meanest and the ugliest. Also the closest.

“Fuck it. Prison rules.”

He tossed the fistful I’d smoke pellets and dropped in as the cloud spread over the crowd.

Ubu was a hulking brute, and made a piss poor cushion, but he was a big enough target that Jason had no fear of missing. The sound the giant’s head made when Jason’s knee made contact with it was something like a watermelon falling off a truck at fifty, and was nostalgically comedic combined with the guttural grunt he released before flopping onto the floor like a sack of potatoes. But Jason couldn’t say if he laughed or not. All of his attention was on hurling wingdings (wingdings) into the smoke at the predicted positions of his foes. There were more than a few grunts, and a couple of clatters as weapons were dropped from struck hands. But not nearly enough, and the disorientation didn’t last long. This was League tactics, after all, and only slightly modified by Batman. Cass and Damian also got back to business, and everything was chaos once more.

Jason registered a shift in the cloud with barely enough time to dodge, and one of Shiva’s twin swords cut through the haze only millimeters from his chin. It was quickly followed by the other, this time arching towards his chest. Robin loosed a volley of wingdings in rapid succession, but the clash of metal on metal told him how effective that tactic was. Gripping one of the larger tools like a set of knuckle dusters, he advanced.

In his day the birdarangs had focused more on reducing weight than on durability, and it seemed that was still the case. Robin had only redirected a few glancing blows, and he could already feel the thing cracking. The smoke was fading quickly, and he could mostly see Shiva now. Which meant she could see him too. After blocking yet another strike which came way to close to opening his throat Robin stepped back and loosed one of the explosive discs that had been his favorites. Shiva was an expert, and had her swords prepared to swat it aside when it detonated, and the small explosion sent her blades flying.

Pressing the advantage Robin moved in. Hand-to-hand odds not in his favor either. Better than unarmed against swords. No cape to distract or disorient. Fight dirty.

Dodge high, block low. Opening when she kicks high, knock her off her feet.

It was alarming how quickly he fell back into his training. Batman had taught him a lot, and years of street fights had taught him more. Then there was his time playing amnesiac with the League. Jason winning.

Shiva was on her feet again before anything more than her shoulders touched the ground, and at some point she’d regained her swords, but Jason was ready, and before she realized what was happening, he clapped her ears. The pressure of the strike would have been disorienting on its own, but coupled with the detonation of the micro-flash-bangs cupped in Jason’s hands, Shiva crumpled like a rag doll.

The cloud had completely dissolved now, and Jason easily dodged the sai Cheshire flung at him. Of course this put him in excellent position to catch Bronze Tiger’s shin with his whole stomach. Breathless and airborne, he could do nothing about the pinwheel kick Cheshire dropped on his rib cage. The familiar crunch told him that two were cracked before the pain started up.

Jason landed hard, and Cheshire straddled his waist the second he had. Her other sai raised in both hands, prepared to fall into his throat.

“Enough.”

Silence fell in place of the killing blow. Cheshire looks to her left and Jason followed suit.

The few League grunts that remained standing parted as Talia al’Ghul strode across the battle field to Damian, who still held his blade in a ready position with eyes glued to his cousin. She hadn’t lowered her weapons either. The two had been bitter rivals from the day they’d met.

“Mother.” Damian said with all the tenderness of a freezer burned pork chop.

Without another word she dropped to her knees and embraced him.

After a brief awkward silence, she turned his face towards hers.“What is the reason for this foolishness, son?”

Damian freed himself from her grip. “Is it foolish for a boy to seek his father?”

Talia clicked her tongue in the same fashion that Damian was so fond of, and rose to her feet.

“I would have taken you to meet him in time, Damian. When I decided you were ready.”

“Taken me to kill him. Todd told me everything.” Talia turned her gaze to Jason, who waved awkwardly.

“Let him up, Cheshire.” The masked assassin complied quickly, and even gave Jason a hand standing.

“So this was your doing Ibn al Xu’ffasch?”

‘Son of the Bat.’ The name they had given him at the dawn of his second life. Jason pulled off the mask which was apparently doing him no good, and shrugged.

“Tt” Talia turned her attention to Cassandra, who had frozen in place with her baton less than an inch from a grunt’s nose. There was a circle of (probably) unconscious goons at her feet.

“I’d suspected you’d finally had your fill of your mother’s poor treatment and taken the boys hostage.” She turned back to Jason. “When did you regain your memory?”

“Midway through my second year with you all.” Talia nodded as if she’d expected as much, then turned back to Damian.

“I assume that you are serious about meeting your father, yes? Even if I were to drag you back, you’d simply escape again, isn’t that right?”

“Yes mother.” Talia nodded again. Then produced a sealed envelope from within her jumpsuit.

“I expected as much you are at that age where you think you know everything. This letter will explain everything. Deliver it directly to your father, and no one else. Understand?” Damian took the envelope cautiously, as if expecting it to bite him. Once he had it in hand she knelt again, placing her hands on his shoulders tenderly. “I would never send you to kill your father. Nor you Ibn al Xu’ffasch. My father would do no such thing either.”

“But Todd said-“

“Do not misunderstand me, I do not claim Ibn al Xu’ffasch lied. There are those within the League that believe Ras al’Ghul has been too long the Demon’s Head. There are whispers of a coupe. I do not doubt such plans involve removing my beloved from play. I intended to see you in his care soon enough.” She turned to look over the assassins. “We return to Nanda Parbat. None shall further impede these three, by my word, or face my wrath. My will is the Demon’s will.”

The assassins snapped as one into a bow, and set about gathering the wounded. She moved through the crowd to stand in front of Jason and cupped his face, smiling gently.

“Father swore to make no move on Gotham for as long as my beloved draws breath. He made this oath before the whole of the League of Assassins, and forbade any of them to move on Gotham in his name, on pain of death. This was his penance for your death. His sole intent was to return the son he’d taken from my beloved.”

“Uh, okay?”

“I have enjoyed having you in my home Ibn al Xu’ffasch. You have been as a brother to my son, and a son to me. Look after him, Ibn, for he is too much like his father for his own good.”

“If he’s anything like Bruce, I won’t have to.” Talia chuckled, pat his shoulder, and turned to Cassandra, who seemed to materialize at Jason’s side.

“Cassandra, you are welcome to return with us. You have my word that you will have no trouble.” Cass shook her head.

“They die without me.” She said, patting Jason’s shoulder. His jaw dropped, he’d never heard Cass say so much at one time. Talia had never heard her speak period, but to her credit she only cocked an eyebrow.

“Quite.” She said then returned to Damian.

“When all is well once more, I will send for you, my son. Learn what you can from your father. He is a great man.” Damian nodded, and Talia only lingered for a moment before following the last of the assassins out of the building.

The trio stood in silence for a time, until Jason realized they were waiting for him to tell them what to do next.

“Well. That was fun. Who wants soggy chicken and waffles?” Damian narrowed his eyes, but Cass’s hand shot up. “What? So I picked up food. I wasn’t expecting you two to run off for some daring-do and stumble into an obvious trap.” Damian’s eyes narrowed further. “Okay, after we eat we’ll go straight to the Batcave, no detours, no shenanigans, scouts honor.”

Damian rolled his eyes and started for the exit. “I’ll drive.” He stated as Jason and Cass fell in behind him.

“My turn.” Cass retorted.

“Do you even know how?” Damian probed, eyeing her doubtfully.

“You’re mighty talkative today Cass.” Jason quipped. Cassandra replied by sticking her tongue out. He understood her good mood. Their six month misadventure was almost over. As they stepped out into the summer night Jason looked to the sky, and pulled the pair to a stop. From this side of Blüdhaven you could see it clearly enough. For the first time in five years Jason looked up at the Bat-Signal, and pointed it out to the others.

He couldn’t hold back the smile brought on by the wonder he saw in his companion’s faces.

Homeward bound.

-END

Author’s Notes: this chapter is long, and maybe a bit rambling, but mostly because there’s room for two whole multichapter fics in here. Seriously, I was half tempted to start writing a Damian Cass and Jason cross country road trip full of shenanigans and hilarity. For those wondering, this takes place five years after prologue 1. It took me longer than I thought it would to edit, between baking cheesecake, doing some bag work, and feeling out crafting with worbla. That being said, the next prologue will take even longer (unfortunately(?)) because I want to make sure my events make sense and everything is lined up perfectly and ready for the series proper to begin immediately after.

Feel free to comment, complain, keysmash, or just like and reblog. I THRIVE on your reactions.

Till next time!

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