#locking in for finals so don't expect much from me for a minute (UPDATE: WE R SO BACK YAY)

[thriftybruce]

Script Below the Cut:

SCRIPT:

Panel 1:

Stan: Who do you think you are?! Coming to my- FORD'S shack and talking all this crap behind her back? Only I get to do that!

Panel 2:

Fiddleford: You know damn well I'm right! She was a damn fool to keep tinkerin' with that- THAT THING!

[denial-permanente]

Hi Mrs Edge. You answered a question for me some time ago, and it gave me so much to think about. I saw you reposted it recently, and I wanted to give you an update, and ask another question.

We do have an FLR, and I keep my husband locked all the time. I rarely came from intercourse in the past, so this was not a problem for me. After reading about you enjoying the Ranger so much, we decided to try it for ourselves. It turned out that I enjoyed it quite a bit, much more than either of us expected. I discovered that being "in control of the action" allowed me to have regular orgasms that I did not have from PIV with my husband, so "Foxing" became a normal part of our lovemaking.

That led to my keeping my husband locked for longer and longer periods, without any "reward." And as you can probably imagine, when I would allow him a "reward," he would be so sensitive that he would barely last a minute inside me before finishing. Since after coming I just want to lay back and snuggle, I decided that it was too much trouble to look for the key, unlock him, and then have him clean up the mess after he was done. So I finally told him that I really had no more reason to unlock him, and that I didn't imagine myself allowing him inside me anymore.

So as you can imagine, my husband is freaking out over the idea that he is now in a "No pussy" FLR marriage. I don't really feel guilty about denying him, because he did ask for all this, and this is where we ended up. Although sometimes I feel a little guilty that I don't feel guilty, do you know what I mean?

Anyway, I wanted to ask you about this. How did you deal with your own guilt (if you had any) over permanently denying your husband? How did you manage to convince him that this was a good thing? And how was he able to cope with it?

Thanks again, 💋 Mistress Karin

Hi Karin - I remember your post. I was wondering if I would hear from you again, and thank you for giving me an update. You seemed to have a lifestyle that was similar to how my husband and I started out.

Here is the original question.

You have a lot going on here. To begin with, I do know what you mean about feeling guilty about not feeling guilty. 😅 My husband really allowed me to be selfish and for a while I would stop and wonder why I was okay with it and if I "owed" him for spoiling me. All I can say is that time will tell. Eventually I just took it for granted that he was totally okay with pleasuring me and that he really was satisfied when I was satisfied. I used to ask him if he was okay but I guess eventually I just stopped asking and listened to him tell me how he felt. And while we don't have an FLR, we're in a very similar situation. He committed to this... to giving me all the control knowing that we could end up here. And that's where you are with your husband. I think a lot of men have this fantasy in their heads that their wives will become some kind of sexual dominatrix and don't know how to cope when we REALLY take over and tell them what we want. Your husband probably didn't expect to be in a "No pussy" relationship and now has to figure out how to cope with it.

The other thing that you have going on is that your husband is probably a little (or a lot!) freaked out that making love... intercourse... is more enjoyable now that he is "foxing" you with the Vixskin Ranger. My husband has said that a lot of men have this deep rooted primal fear of not "being good enough" in bed... wondering if their wives are thinking about someone else or wishing they were with men who were "bigger" down there. And while they can be good in bed... loving or creative or passionate or whatever you like... they can't make themselves bigger, so they tend to obsess over it. 😅

So right now your husband is freaking out that his own penis wasn't "good enough" to make you come. His worst fear... that he is being "replaced" is coming true. Even though the Vixskin attached to him he probably has in the back of his head that "he" wasn't enough and he is no longer in control of any part of his situation.

Worse (for him) ... now that you've discovered something "better," he gets unlocked less and less which makes him more and more sensitive. He is losing whatever ability he had to give you any pleasure with his own penis. So he's not just freaking out that you have turned this into a "No pussy" FLR... he is also freaking out that even if you allowed it he couldn't "measure up" to his replacement.

I know there are some couples who do "foxing" and who give a name to their Vixskin. That kind of plays on the "being replaced" fear that many men have. If your husband secretly enjoys the idea that may be a way to make his freaking out more exciting.

We aren't into that... I just prefer to think of the Vixskin as my husband's actual penis, and that's how he has learned to think of it as well. I don't know if that's good or bad but it's how I feel the most comfortable. He "copes" with being "locked and replaced" by learning how to enjoy the pleasure that he gives me. He says that he's still freaked out but has found a way to make it erotic in his head.

And of course a lot of men just get freaked out by the whole idea of "no pussy" in their relationship. If your husband is more freaked out by the "No pussy" aspect then you could probably help him by allowing occasional "rewards" like unlocking him and just using your hands. I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand I think it's okay to give your husband some rewards to keep up his spirits. On the other hand (😅) by using just your hands it might emphasize your "No pussy" rule, which could just make him more aware or focused on it. Certainly, by sticking to your "No pussy" rule he will be always re.inded that you are in charge which is probably what you want. I know that when my husband comes in his cage, it feels good for him... but it also reminds him that this is the only way he's allowed now. Again... the idea is both hot and scary for him at the same time.

For me... it really took a few years for me to feel comfortable that my husband was really enjoying this. Even though he committed to it years ago I needed some time to see how dedicated he was and know that even during those times when there was stuff going on with them family or whatever that he wasn't going to freak out and ask to be unlocked. And I have to say that a big part of my own comfort was a result of watching how he handled himself over the years. I know that even though he wanted more... he proved to me that my own pleasure was the most important thing in his mind. Once I could see that I just all sense of guilt or feeling sorry and have been able to just focus on what I enjoy.

Please drop by more often to let me know how you're doing.

[zorrasucia]

"Just sleeping and fucking all day," I AM DEAD!!! and i revived just to BEG you to expand on this please i just love them so much 😭

I'm so glad you liked it, Anon! I came up with something but I'm like 90% sure it's not what you were asking for - I aimed to write more smut and it turned into saccharine fluff somehow. I apologize. Rest assured that the next update for this fic is business as usual, very spicy and contains Carmy finally ******* ****** :)

Teach Me Tonight - Deleted Scene 2.0

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Deleted Scene] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] Deleted Scene: [Part 8]

Reader x Carmy Berzatto (The Bear FX)

Rating: Mature (1k)

Tags: Set sometime after the opening of The Bear, Smut, Virgin!Carmy, Fluff, Miscommunication, Domesticity

"Hey, baby," Carmy mumbled with a smile, rolling over in bed and looking at you with sleepy eyes.

You had padded into the room and leaned over to kiss his neck, waking him up from his third nap of the day. In between, you had fucked - slow and loving, then quick and hard, then a mix of both. You felt tired in the best way - and still somehow you wanted him. But you could wait.

"Shhh. I'm not here for another round," you soothed, moving a lock of hair out of his face. "Got us some pizza," you settled across from him, laying the box between you.

He sat up and ogled you shamelessly. You were wearing jeans and one of his shirts, your nipples showing through the white fabric.

"You're gonna be the death of me," he shook his head and focused on the slice of pizza you handed him instead.

"I mean," you gestured at him, his naked torso and satisfied smirk, "likewise, Carm."

You shared a hungry look while taking a bite of pepperoni. He broke first, looking up at the ceiling, away from you.

"How's it feel?" he asked.

"Mmm?" you nudged his leg with your foot.

"You come like two, three times when I can only do one and be just useless..." he blushed, curiosity tinting his skin. "I was just wondering what that was like, if all women were like that."

You smiled. Sometimes you forgot that he was a virgin before you.

"A lot of women can, uh, come multiple times," you explained. "If it's done properly, if you work for it," you cleared your throat. "Some women can't come at all."

"That sounds, uh-" Carmy struggled.

"Miserable?" you supplied and he nodded. "It can be. But sex isn't always about coming, you know? It's about being close and getting to know each other."

Carmy hummed pensively.

Just now, between one round and the next you had fallen asleep still intertwined, spent, his arms around your waist and his softening cock inside you. It was nice, to be so close with zero expectations of it going anywhere.

"What've you learned about me? With sex, I mean," he asked, his blue eyes wide.

"That you're giving, uh, determined, a fast learner," you pondered for a minute while you chewed. "A bit of a control freak but we knew that from before," he chuckled. "And you think you don't deserve good shit, even though you do."

"Pretty spot on," he let out a shaky breath.

You caressed his calf over the bedsheets. It felt strange to be talking about this but it had been a fucking weird day, and discussing orgasms with Carmy while eating pizza fit right in.

"You're a great fuck, Carm," you said softly. "And that takes patience and care and- I love that you want to make me feel good. I do," his gaze was downward and you reached for his hand. "I just don't want you to think you need to be perfect for me here too, you know? There's no pressure."

Carmy nodded and his eyes met yours, he gave you a soft smile.

"Thanks," he brushed your knuckles with his thumb. Then his smile turned mischievous. "Just to be sure, you do like coming though?" he looked for confirmation, head tilted.

"Yeah," you laughed. "Obviously, yeah," you poked at his side and reached for another slice of pizza. "I'm just saying there's no pressure, okay?"

"Okay," he took a big bite of crust. "You didn't answer my question from before," he prompted, raising his eyebrows. "How does it feel?"

"Uh. Well, you don't know how good it's going to be until you're coming. Sometimes it slows down, becomes softer. Or you get halfway through the next and get stuck there," you shrugged. "Sometimes it builds up, becomes more intense each time-"

"Like the last one?" he asked.

You blushed - the memory of him on top of you, his chain dangling near your mouth, his hands holding your wrists above your head, taking up all your thoughts. He had fucked you through your first orgasm until you saw stars and your moans turned into cries of pleasure.

"Exactly like that," you replied bashfully like it wasn't you that had begged him to keep going and fuck you harder.

"How many have you done?" Carmy asked after a while.

"Huh?"

"How many times you've come in a row?" he repeated, that calculating look back on his face. "What's the max?"

"I don't know, five?" you laughed nervously. "I think you're getting the wrong message from this, Carm."

"No, I know," he shook his head. "I was guessing we could start with all that 'no pressure' thing tomorrow. And I think I still have one more round left in me today, so..."

"What the fuck, Carm?" you giggled.

You covered your face with your hands, hiding how flustered you were.

"I'm serious," he said, amusement still showing in his tone. You finally uncovered your face and looked at him. He was smiling but he wasn't joking. "I don't know how to be calm," he explained. "I don't know how to fucking relax and be normal. I never have. Being with you- That's the closest I've come to that," he said softly. You cupped his face tenderly. "But sometimes it gets so crazy that the only thing I know I can do well is make you feel good. That's why I can be a control freak and competitive and insane..."

You shushed him.

"You're fine, baby," you caressed Carmy's shoulders, scooting closer to him. "I love that you're all those things. I just- You push yourself to the limit. You can hurt yourself trying to make everything perfect," your thumb traced the edge of the dark circles around his eyes - all from early mornings and late nights at The Bear. "I don't want to be that for you - another weight, another thing that needs to be perfect."

"You're not," he whispered. "You've never been that, okay?"

"Okay," you sighed and surged forward to kiss him, his face between your palms.

Even after the kiss was over you stayed there, your forehead on his, and your noses touching.

"So," you said after a while, "how about we finish this," you pointed at the pizza, "and watch a movie?"

You had learned that watching a movie with Carmy was shorthand for a nap on the couch since he was always so fucking tired.

He chuckled against your mouth.

"I think I can manage that," he replied, guiding you by the hand to the living room.

~

[Part 8]

~

@th3h0nkz @faephoria @wadupppp

[chiimeramanticore]

Part of the Band - Chapter 22 - Old Habits, Fresh Starts

Chapter summary: The gang goes to Showbiz to sign up as the venue's band. Beach Bear reunites with a friend. Dook tells an embarrassing story. A/N:

I may have been gone for four months but I assure you. this fic only dies when I do I don't have anything special to say for this chapter lol so notes from me are short today. here's hoping it won't be another 4 months until I update again 👍

Chapter word count: <- Chapter 21 - Chapter 23 -> Read it on AO3!

The restaurant is still preparing for opening day by the time the band arrives. The place smells strongly of paint, and you can't turn a corner without almost knocking someone over with supplies in their arms. Still, the group makes their way in and manages to find the cat they spoke to at the copier store.

"Hey, it's you guys!" He says upon catching their eye. "I wasn't sure you'd actually show up. But, ah– I am glad you're here, of course! I assume you're here to sign up to try out."

"Try out?" Mitzi asks.

"Sure," the cat says. "You guys aren't the only band who wants this stage, y'know. Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, right?" He chuckles, though it comes out a bit tense. "I'll, ah, take you to see the boss."

The cat leads the group down a hallway toward the manager's office. They pass by a kitchen, and another room that seems to just be an open space.

"What's that?" Dook asks.

"Oh, that'll be the game room," the cat tells him. "We're expecting a bunch of arcade cabinets to come in soon."

Dook shoots an excited glance to his left, his gaze being met by Mitzi. She looks equally excited about this.

"Bet you guys'll get Space Invaders?" Mitzi says.

"Bet I'll cream you in it," Dook says to her.

"You wish!" Mitzi giggles.

Finally, the group stops outside the manager's office. The cat turns to them. "I think he's still finishing up with another group right now, so give him a minute first. I gotta go worry about these painters we hired who act like they're allergic to tarp." He bounces on his feet once, then turns to leave.

Beach Bear snickers. "Good luck, uh... I don't think you ever told us your name."

"Oh! Call me Crusty," the cat calls back. "Good luck with the boss!"

"Call him Crusty," Dook murmurs. Then, to Beach Bear, "Sounds familiar." Beach Bear scoffs, playfully nudging Dook.

The hallway they've all been led into is narrow, and not exactly comfortable in a large group. Thankfully, it's only a short while before the door to the office opens.

"Finally," Beach Bear says, approaching the door. He moves to step inside, only to be caught face to face with someone trying to leave. A mouse, with brown fur and blonde hair, only barely comparable to Beach Bear in height by way of the heels she's wearing.

"Mini?" Mitzi says, but she doesn't get a response. Mini and Beach Bear have locked eyes, and neither seem to be able to break the uncomfortable silence that follows. That is, until Beach Bear's mouth twitches into something resembling a confused smile, and he laughs.

"What are you doing h–?" He glances behind her, seeing a small group behind her also waiting to leave. A dog, a gorilla, a wolf, and... another polar bear. His smile quickly fades.

"I have other stuff going on," Mini replies calmly, quietly. "I hope you don't think my life revolves around you."

Beach Bear's eyes are transfixed on the other bear. "I... don't," he murmurs.

"I should be asking what you're doing here," Mini continues, still just as quiet, as if this conversation isn't for others to hear. "We signed up first."

"...Healthy competition," Beach Bear finally pries his eyes away and back to Mini. "Least, that's what Crusty said."

"We didn't know there was gonna be another band," Dook tries, but goes equally ignored.

Mini chews her lip for a moment, looking Beach Bear up and down. "You could let us out."

Beach Bear seems to be sizing her up just as much as she is him. "...You look good," he says. There's nothing sarcastic in his voice when he says it, but her expression finally sours anyway.

"You could move," she reiterates, a bit louder now.

Beach Bear steps aside, but then reaches an arm out, blocking the doorway. He glances back toward the other bear, but addresses Mini, "Who's the new guy?"

"Name's Bosco," the bear replies. His voice is deep, and he carries a perpetually sour expression on his face. Beach Bear bites his lip, a failed attempt at hiding his smirk. After another knowing look at Mini, he finally moves aside fully, letting them all out. Dook watches the group pass by him– Bosco is tall, taller than Beach Bear. Is he meant to be a replacement for him? Then, he looks toward Mitzi. She seems as surprised as anyone else... did she not know what her sister was planning?

"Well, ah–" He starts.

"Hey, what's with the hold up here?" A rat stands impatiently in the doorway. He's stout, about Mitzi's height, and is holding a fat, smoldering cigar. "You guys the next group or what?"

"Uh, y- yes!" Billy Bob stands. "Yessir. We're the Rock-afire Explosion, and–"

"Save it." The rat returns inside his office, waving a hand behind him for the rest of the group to follow.

The office is a small, smoky room, with stacks of paperwork and other little messes strewn about the desk and the floor. The walls are a dark olive green. A window on the right wall has its blinds pulled tightly closed. A paint can sits by the wall, left open. It seems even this place hasn't been exempt from the chaos of construction. The boss's desk sits at the center-back of the room, with a plush leather chair to match. The rat assumes his position in the chair, flicking his cigar over an ashtray. At the front of his desk is a name plaque: "Chuck E. Cheese - Chief Entertainment Officer."

"So," he says. "Real ragtag kinda group you guys got here. What kinda music do you do?"

"Rock and roll," Beach Bear answers.

"Well, hey, not entirely," Billy Bob says. "I might wanna write some country music, too."

"And I wanna sing pop music," Mitzi chimes in.

"Can't go wrong with a little soul, too," Fatz adds.

"Alright, alright!" Chuck says. "I'm puttin' you down as 'eclectic'." He doesn't move to write anything down. "Besides, having a multi-genre-capable sort of band works for us, needing a cover band and all that."

"A huh?" Billy Bob says.

"A cover band?" Chuck says. "Didn't any of you read the flyer?"

"That wasn't on the flyer," Beach Bear says.

Chuck pulls open a drawer on his desk and slaps a copy of the flyer onto the table. "There," he says, a finger pointing toward some small text along the bottom edge. "Says we're looking for a cover band. Is that gonna be a problem?"

"No problem at all," Billy Bob says quickly. "We're all fine doin' song covers, aren't we, guys?" The rest of the group all murmurs awkward agreement. "See? No problem."

"Alright, alright," Chuck mutters.

"Any other fine print we might've missed in there?" Fatz asks, half sarcastically.

"Oh, we can go through all the terms if you folks wanna," Chuck responds, fully sarcastic. But intent on following through, he opens another drawer and retrieves a stack of papers, slapping them down on the desk in a similar fashion. "Basically outlines the pay, the hours, the clientele–"

"Is there something special about the clientele?" Beach Bear asks.

"Sure is," Chuck says, "they're human."

The room goes quiet for a moment, everyone apparently at a loss for words. Then, after a beat, Mitzi says: "Why?"

"My mother was half human herself, on her father's side," Chuck says plainly.

"Really?" Dook says.

"No," Chuck says. "But we are still a human-friendly establishment. Not exclusively humans, mind you! But, y'know, they'll be around. That a problem?"

"No problem," Beach Bear says this time. "We're fine with humans." No one protests outright, but the air hangs a little tenser in the room.

"Good," Chuck says, and the tension finally eases. "I'm assumin' you're all willin' to work nights and weekends and what-have-you?"

"Of course," Billy Bob says.

"Great." Chuck opens a third drawer and pulls out a clipboard with a form on it. "Whichever of you is the most literate, come fill this out." Everyone looks at Fatz– save for Fatz, who looks at Beach Bear.

"What?" Fatz says. "He's the English major."

Beach Bear rolls his eyes and approaches the desk. He takes the clipboard and a pen from Chuck and moves to the side to fill it out.

"While he's doing that, any of you have any questions for me?" Chuck asks the rest of the group.

"...Is your last name really Cheese?" Mitzi asks.

"Your last name is Mozzarella," Dook says.

"Oh, right," she whispers. "What's the E stand for?"

"Entertainment," Chuck replies.

"That can't be your real name," Dook blurts. Chuck only responds with a smile.

Thankfully, it doesn't take much longer for Beach Bear to finish filling out the form. He hands it triumphantly to Chuck, who looks it over.

"What'd you say your band was called again...?" He squints, holding the paper an inch closer. "The Rock-afire Explosion?"

"That's us," Beach Bear says.

"Hm. Dumb name."

·–—–·

"So... Humans, huh?" Beach Bear says. The ride home has been pretty silent between the two of them, and Beach Bear only speaks up once they've pulled into their driveway.

"Yeah," Dook responds. "What do you think?"

"Ah, I don't care," Beach Bear says. "They look different, sure, but us working on stage doesn't really mean we'll have to interact with them. It'll be fine. Why, what do you think?"

"I dunno," Dook says. "I don't think humans are bad... I just don't know much about 'em."

"They're just people," Beach Bear assures him. "They're probably more scared of us than we are of them, ha."

"Should they be?"

"No! Of course not. But, I dunno... I guess I get their perspective. If I created a new form of life and it ran off and started doing its own thing, I'd probably be a little freaked out about it too."

Dook ponders this for a moment. "You don't think they think we're, like, monsters, right?"

Beach Bear laughs. "Probably not you. You're a big cuddly puppy dog. Me, though? I don't think most humans will ever even see a real polar bear in their lives."

"Have you seen one?" Dook asks, and Beach Bear shakes his head. On this note, they both leave the car and move into the house. Beach Bear heads to the kitchen to root around for snacks, while Dook wanders to the couch. He sits sideways, keeping an eye on Beach Bear.

"What if I do somethin' embarrassing?" Dook asks.

"What do you mean?" Beach Bear replies, his head inside the fridge.

"Like, on stage, in front of the humans. What if I say somethin' dumb?"

Beach Bear is quiet for a second before responding, "What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?"

"...Huh?"

"What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?" He repeats, finally moving to look at Dook. He shuts the fridge and moves toward the couch, soda can in hand.

Dook stutters a few times, unsure how to respond. It's not something he was planning to recall today. He's not even sure what his most embarrassing moment is. Beach Bear joins him on the couch now, sitting to his right.

"I can go first, if you want," he offers.

"I didn't know we were takin' turns."

"Sure. Like..." He thinks for a moment. "Mine was in the eighth grade. I had a crush on this girl– her name was Mindy." Beach Bear begins to describe his classmate, and Dook feels himself growing... disappointed. Of course Beach Bear likes girls. Had he been assuming he'd ever have a chance with him? Of course he doesn't. He finds himself withdrawing from the story, something about Beach Bear wanting to impress her during a school talent show and doing a poor job.

"Alright, your turn," Beach Bear says, and Dook blinks.

"Uh..." He'd already forgotten he was supposed to tell a story, too. "For me, it was..." He's still drawing a blank. "...It was also a girl. I, uhh, I wanted to impress her, so I..." His eyes meet Beach Bear's, who's watching him intently. He's so earnest... It's so unfair. "...So I joined her band," Dook says. "We were young, so the band didn't work out. And... turns out she didn't even like boys. So I never had a chance, anyway."

"Man," Beach Bear says. "That does suck."

"Why'd you ask me to tell you that?" Dook grumbles. He feels his face growing hot– he really has embarrassed himself.

"Because," Beach Bear says, putting a hand on Dook's back. "If you say something silly while we're on stage, I guarantee you it won't be as embarrassing as our most embarrassing moments. So you're gonna be fine!"

Beach Bear laughs, and Dook feels some awful mix of desire and shame. He wishes he could slap Beach Bear's hand away– how could he touch him like this after all but rejecting him? Yet at the same time, he wishes the moment could last forever, feeling the warmth from his palm bleed into his own body. It's selfish, it's greedy... it's humiliating.

If he can't keep it together, it could start getting in the way of the band, and cost them their job at Showbiz. He can't let that happen– not just for his own sake, but for everyone's in the band. So in that moment, Dook quietly makes a resolution to himself: he must swallow his feelings for Beach Bear, for good.

[albertasunrise]

Mistakes - Chapter 4

Masterlist

You’d known it was a bad idea to get involved with Javier Peña. You were just another notch on his bedpost but you were a notch he kept revisiting. You know you should have stopped it, declined his offers to rock your world but you couldn’t and now you had to deal with the consequences. Consequences that you knew he would refuse to accept.

Warnings: Angst, Mentions of Sex

Pairings: Javier Peña x Reader

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

~

Javier had been back at work for almost two weeks.

Neither of you had spoken about that night since it had happened. Clearly, his memories returning to him had been fairly traumatic as he then struggled to know how to be around you after that. You hadn’t kissed again. You'd barely spoken. You just cohabited and you were finding it too difficult. So that's why you had come to the decision that you had.

Chucho had returned to Texas after Javier had started back at work and you had found yourself on Steve and Connie’s couch more and more, crying into one of their shoulders as you lost all hope that Javier would return to you.

You had hoped that the kiss and him, somewhat, remembering you would have helped move things forward but all it had done was make things worse and so after two weeks of silent suffering, watching him battle with his internal demons you’d decided that enough was enough. So you found yourself sitting on his couch, Alicia at the Murphy’s. You needed to be able to have a quick exit after you told him what you were about to.

Javier’s key turning in the lock grabbed your attention and after taking a few steadying breaths you stood from your seat and turned so that you were facing him as he entered, catching his eye as he looked up from throwing his coat and keys on the table.

‘Everything okay?’ He asked after a few moments, noting your nervous demeanour ‘Where’s Alicia?’

‘With Connie and Steve.’ You stated as you rubbed your sweaty palms on the front of your jeans.

‘Why?’

‘Because I need to speak with you and I didn’t want there to be any interruptions.’ You answered, your gaze never leaving him as he moved through his home, grabbings a beer from the fridge and offering you one which you refuse.

‘What do you want to talk about?’ He asked casually. If he was nervous about what you were about to say he didn’t show it.

‘I’m moving out.’ You got straight to the point and he stopped dead in his tracks, attention now on you fully.

‘What?’

‘I can’t do this anymore Javier.’ You declared, trying hard to keep your voice from wobbling ‘I can’t keep pretending that I am okay with all of this’ You continued as you signalled your hand around ‘I can’t stay here and endure the hurt of waiting for the man I love to come back to me. I thought that night that we were making progress but then you remembered a few things and now we’re back to you being closed off and distant with me.’ You paused, scrubbing a shaky hand over your face to wipe away your traitorous tears ‘So I’m done. I put in a request for a larger apartment a few days ago and it was granted.’

‘Wait so where are you moving to?’ He questioned, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

‘To a building a little closer to the embassy.’ You explained and he shook his head, anger now bubbling beneath the surface.

‘No, you can’t do this.’ He growled ‘You can’t leave. You can’t take her from me.’

‘I’m not taking her from you, Javier.’ You snapped ‘You will still be able to see her but I need to do what's best for me or I’m going to suffocate.’

‘I just need time-’

‘I’ve given you nothing but time Javi.’ You sobbed ‘Almost 3 months of it! But it’s clear to me that you regaining any memory of me is not your priority and so I need to remove myself from all this…’ You paused as you looked him dead in the eye ‘From you.’

‘Come on wait.’ He pleaded ‘Let's at least talk about this. I don’t want you to leave.’

‘Well, it doesn't feel like you want me here all the much either Javier so…’

‘When are you moving?’

‘I already have!’ You declare and his eyes grew wide before he sprinted to the nursery, noting that it's empty ‘The embassy moved mine and Alicia’s things to the new apartment today. I asked Connie to watch her whilst I spoke with you. I’ll collect her once we’re done here and that will be that.’

‘So what… You thought the best way to spring this on me was to tell me the day you’ve already left me?’

‘I didn’t expect it all to process so quickly. Give me some fucking credit Javier I have been pretty honest and upfront with you from the beginning.’ You snarled as you pointed an accusing finger at him ‘I tried to talk with you after everything and you shut me out so the way I look at it. You brought this on yourself.’

He stood there seething. Chest heaving as the two of you glared at each other, neither one breaking the intense eye contact that you were locked into. When he said nothing more you took that as your cue to leave, nothing more needed to be said.

‘Goodbye Javier.’

‘No, I’m not letting this happen.’ He sobbed, tears falling freely now as he grabbed you before you’d managed to walk out the door ‘You can’t just leave. I need you. Don't leave me.’

'You don't need me, Javier. You've made that perfectly clear.' You sob, heart breaking at the way he was looking at you but you knew it wasn't because you were leaving.

'You can't do this.'

Pulling your arm from his grasp, you shrugged your coat back into place and looked at him one final time.

‘Watch me.’

~

1 Month Later...

‘Where the fuck is Peña?’ You snapped, as you threw Steve a cold look.

‘He called in sick.’ He replied, shrugging his shoulders but his expression didn't match the action.

‘Sick?’ You questioned ‘What’s wrong with him this time?’

Steve shrugged again and you scoffed, downing the last of your coffee before standing and making your way out of the office you shared. You knew that Steve knew more than he was letting on but you found it difficult to care.

Things had been difficult between you and Peña since you had moved out. He’d spoken to you only to get updates on the baby and regarding work. You had agreed on a schedule where he could have her for a few hours in the evenings before Connie collected her and brought her back to you. It was easier than attempting to exchange pleasantries that neither of you wanted to share.

After refilling your coffee you stormed back into the office where your anger-filled rant continued.

‘You know that he’s refused to have Alicia the last few evenings?’ You growled as you angrily stirred your drink ‘One minute he’s begging me not to take her away and now he refuses to see her.’ You stop to take a sip of your drink before you resumed ‘And the worst part is, is that she won’t settle now because she hasn’t seen him. She got into a routine and now it's fucked. Can't the man just man the fuck up and take responsibility for his child at least?’

‘Perhaps you should cut him some slack.’ Snapped Steve, taking you by surprise ‘The man was used to seeing his infant daughter whenever he wanted and now he gets her a few hours an evening? He’s a fucking mess and no wonder. He misses his daughter, he misses you, though he’d never admit it, and he’s all alone now with very little memory of the last year of his life! I get that you’re upset but the two of you need to sort this shit out.’ He scooped up the folders on his desk and abruptly stood from his chair ‘I’m sick of watching and I’m sick of being in the middle of it. Talk to him.’

You were stunned by Steve’s outburst. You stood there frozen to the spot as you meditated on his words and you realised that you’d once again been so caught up with your own pain that you had ignored his. Grabbing your purse you fumbled around until you found what it was you had been looking for and after telling the office assistant that you needed to run an errand you were out of the door and sprinting to your truck.

You needed to speak to him.

…

It didn’t take you long to get to Javier’s apartment but after banging on the door for some time you knew he wasn't home and so you rushed up the stairs. Connie answered her door after three knocks and was shocked, to say the least, when she found you stood there.

‘What are you doing here?’ She inquired as she nervously shifted on her feet

‘I wanted to talk and to check on Alicia.’

‘Oh um…’

‘Connie, what is it?’ You questioned, noting her shifty behaviour.

‘She’s not here.’ She declared and your eyes grew wide.

‘What?’

‘She’s with Javi.’ She said as you barged past her ‘He came to see me, he was an absolute wreck and when he saw she was with me he begged me to let him have her for the day.’

‘Connie you can’t just let her go off-’

‘With her father?’ She snapped and you turned to face her ‘Hun he’s her dad and he’s been broken since you left. He hadn’t even known she was here when he arrived but when he saw her he sobbed.’

‘You should have told me.’

‘You’re right I should have and I’m sorry.’ She asserted ‘If I’m being honest I wasn't expecting you back so soon.’

‘Yeah well, I actually came to talk to Peña.’ You confessed, noting her shocked expression ‘Your husband kinda yelled at me about how I’d been acting and I realised I may have been a little harder on him than he deserved.’

‘He misses you.’

‘He misses Alicia.’ You scoffed, rolling your eyes when she shook her head.

‘Well yes but he misses you too.’ She continued, taking a seat at her kitchen table ‘He realised that he’d dealt with everything so wrong. He wanted to reach out but didn’t know how to. Over the weekend we helped him with a few things for the nursery, he wanted to get some new furniture just in case he finally got Alicia overnight and as we were building it he just broke. Sobbed his heart out to us. Please, just give him a chance to prove he’s sorry.’

You nodded as you mulled over her words, knowing that you needed to take steps to repair your fractured relationship with your child's father. Perhaps baby steps were the best way to go.

‘Okay. Can you drop Alicia off when he gets back? She’s got a check-up appointment and so do I.’

‘Sure thing you.’ Connie returned, smiling sweetly at you as she walked you to the door.

~

Standing by the car looking at your baby girl in her seat you felt your heart ache a little. You knew that this was the right thing to do but that hadn't made it any easier. You'd gone to your appointment and after being given the news that everything was perfect you'd gone home and prepared her a bag. A few bottles of breast milk, formula, diapers, changes of clothes and her favourite stuffed toy.

‘Right baby girl now I want you to be good for Papi okay?’ You said as you lifted her from her car seat and placed her in the carrier ‘I’m going to miss you like crazy but I know that you’ll have so much fun and I’ll see you tomorrow.’ You finished as you slung her bag over your shoulder and lifted her carrier before ascending the steps of the building you had once called home.

Making your way to his front door you knocked three times and waited.

Nothing.

You scrunched your face in confusion as you knocked again only to once again be greeted with no answer. You placed your ear on the door where you heard what sounded like Javier crying out and your stomach dropped. Without thinking you slotted the key you still had for his apartment into the lock and opened it quietly, leaving Alicia and her bag tucked safely behind the large potted plant beside his door. Pulling your gun from the holster at your waist you entered his home, weapon drawn and ready.

What received you made you sob.

Javier was laying on the floor, a redhead bear beneath him and both of them were coated in a thin layer of sweat. Your stomach twisted as you stumbled back, gun dropping to the floor with a thud which then grabbed Peña’s attention. His blissed-out expression soon turning into something completely different.

‘Shit.’ He breathed before you snapped back to reality and looked at him with an expression that broke him completely before you fumbled for your gun and turned to leave ‘Wait.’ He called out to you as he pulled on his jeans and sprinted after you, catching up as you made it to your truck, the baby in your arms ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I came to give you Alicia for the night.’ You stated, looking at him now with a stone-cold expression ‘Connie told me how broken you'd been without her and how much you missed her. I felt bad that you had only been getting her for a few hours in the evenings so thought that maybe this would cheer you up a little’ You proceeded ‘She said you missed me too but clearly that's not true.’

‘I do.’ He stated and you snorted in response before pulling open the back door to your truck, placing Alicia in her seat.

‘Right.’

‘Fuck, I do.’ He roared, instantly regretting it when Alicia started to bellow ‘Look I’m sorry you saw what you saw. It meant nothing. I met her at the bar and we got to talking and-‘

‘You ended up fucking her on the floor.’ You snapped as you threw Alicia’s bag in the footwell and started to make your way to the driver's side door 'Some things never change eh Peña?'

‘Will you just stop.’ He begged, grabbing your arms and spinning you so you were facing him.

‘Why Javier? Why should I do anything for you?’ You sobbed ‘You say you miss me? Well someone who misses someone doesn’t then proceed to fuck a randomer he meets in a bar. He tries to talk to said person and maybe work things out.’

‘Would you have talked to me?’

‘Why do you think I’m here Javier?’ You growled ‘I wanted to talk... To try and have some sort of relationship with you, for our daughter's sake whether that was friends or something more but now… Now I’m done.’

‘Can I still have her tonight?’ He pleaded, eyes then falling on his screaming infant in the back seat of your truck.

‘No.’ You spat, shoving him back and jumping into your truck before locking the doors ‘We’ll work something out but I won't have my baby around one of your whores Javier. I rule the line at that.’

Turning the ignition you threw it into drive and you disappeared, leaving him stood there staring off after you. After a few numb moments, he allowed himself to cry, hands covering his face as he fell to his knees and allowed everything he'd been holding in to flow freely and that's what it took.

Looking up at the dark stain on the concrete pavement ahead.

He remembered everything.

~

Part 5

[classysassy9791]

Fandom: Inuyasha Genre: Romance/Humor/Fluff Pairing: InuKag Rating: T

Originally written for @inukag-week on tumblr circa 2016, now officially being updated. Its been a hot minute, hasn't it?

For InuKag Week - Day 2: Warmth

Part 1 l

Part 2 Word Count: 2,600

Can also be found on FFN and AO3.

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Kagome couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard.

Sometime between the moment she met the arrogant, rude man known as Inuyasha and the three shots she had consumed, they had fallen into a flirtatious banter that she rather enjoyed. Gone was the pompous jerk who had so rudely called her audacious names, replaced by a man who proved to actually be decent company.

No, she hadn't forgotten about their initial meeting, but as she downed another shot of whiskey, she realized she didn't much care. For the first time in months - maybe longer - Kagome found herself enjoying her evening. With her shackles removed and her inhibitions lowered, she relished in the sweet taste of freedom that had been sorely lacking from her life.

"You did not!" she squealed with absurdity in her tone, clamping a hand over her mouth.

Inuyasha chuckled, tilting his glass and giving a half-shrug. "I did," he confessed sheepishly, but not at all ashamed of his actions. "Miroku ran down the dorm hall, completely naked, screaming after me."

Kagome shook her head. "I can honestly say I have never stolen my roommates clothes while they were in the shower. Or pulled any pranks on them, really."

"To be fair," he continued, signaling the bartender for another round. "He actually met his girlfriend that way."

"By running naked down the hallway?"

He nodded. "Knocked her down and stopped to apologize."

"Still want to leave the tab open?" Kouga interrupted.

"Yeah, that's fine." Inuyasha finished off his beer. "Another round of whiskey shots while you're at it."

Flashing Kagome a smile, Kouga took their empty glasses. "You're going to dry me out."

"It's still early," Kagome barbed playfully. "Your bar will last until midnight at the very least."

He chuckled, filling up their shot glasses and handing them another drink. "Oh, thanks. I was afraid I'd have to close up soon."

Leaving with a, "flag me down if you need me," Kouga wandered to the other end of the bar where a busty blonde waved at him.

Typical, Kagome thought sourly. On the one hand, she didn't like the way her thoughts were turning, considering she didn't really know Kouga, and hated grouping him in with the rest of the spineless male population she had become accustomed to - especially since he was a bartender and it was literally his job to tend to the needs of his customers. But on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel bitter about his attention leaving her. Maybe it was because she had so blatantly been deprived of it for so long, that her longing for companionship had been exacerbated ten-fold.

Taking a sip of beer - which she had switched to once they started doing shots - Kagome heard her phone buzz in her purse again; it had already gone off several times during her conversation with Inuyasha. She finally pulled it out and unlocked it, frowning at the array of messages popping up on her screen.

Inuyasha raised a brow at the irritable look that overcame her expression before Kagome sighed and locked her phone. She quickly downed her shot of whiskey, not even bothering to 'cheers' him.

"Everything okay?" Inuyasha questioned, against his better judgement. There was a reason people showed up by themselves at a bar on Friday nights - either to drown their sorrows in whiskey or to find company for a few fleeting, midnight hours.

Kagome pressed her lips together. She didn't come to the bar to talk about her problems. She wasn't some sad case that needed a therapist to pour her drinks. If anything, she wanted to forget about the emotional damage that had been inflicted earlier that day. Her heart had been broken, her ego bruised, and no matter how many times her friends had told her he wasn't worth it, their sympathies didn't make her feel any better.

But, alcohol had a funny habit of turning into truth serum, and she found herself spilling her guts before she could stop herself. "Just my ex-boyfriend - er, fiance - blowing up my phone."

Inuyasha chuckled. "Can't take a hint, huh?"

Kagome shrugged with a bitter smile. "I mean, he broke off the engagement. Not sure why he can't follow through with his decision."

She had expected sympathy, perhaps even empathy. That's what most people offered in a situation like this, when they didn't know what to say or how to react. But Kagome was caught off-guard by Inuyasha's next question.

"How long were you together?"

Kagome eyed him curiously, his honey gaze hiding a wealth of understanding. "Five years," she answered him, twirling a strand of her dark hair around her finger. "Planned our life together, put a ring on it, and even booked the venue. But… I suppose he got cold feet a long time ago."

"His loss. What kind of bastard would put someone through that?"

She hummed thoughtfully, but didn't answer. It wasn't in her best interest to start talking about the past now, and she would rather take the spotlight off of herself all together. "What about you?" she asked her barstool companion as she took another sip of beer. "Any lucky ladies in your life?"

Inuyasha chuckled mirthlessly. "Nah, not anymore."

Kagome arched a brow. "Dare I ask?"

"Not much to tell. Her career and ambitions drove a wedge between us, and she decided they were more important than me. Simple as that."

"Sounds high maintenance."

He grinned. "Something like that. I mean, she knew what she wanted and didn't care what stood in her way. Even me."

Kagome felt an ache beneath her breast for the man beside her. She knew the pain of rejection very well. "Put out in the rain just like a dog. Doesn't that bother you?" she asked, tilting her head.

He frowned at her choice of words, and Kagome knew she may have touched a nerve then, but the alcohol had stripped her of her filter apparently.

"Well, I guess we're all damaged somehow," he replied with a shrug.

She scrunched her nose. "That's a bit thoughtless."

"What can I say? Shit happens. Get over it."

And then Kagome suddenly remembered the arrogant, rude, condescending jerk she had met when she had sat down at the bar earlier in the night. She narrowed her eyes. "Why are you such an ass?"

Inuyasha smirked while bringing his beer to his lips. "You are what you eat?"

Kagome let loose a growl of frustration. She had only known him for a short time, but she had quickly learned that Inuyasha was the most infuriating human being on the planet! "Your immaturity is revolting," she stated matter-of-factly, waving down Kouga for another shot of whiskey. She was definitely not drunk enough to deal with the way the conversation had turned.

"I'm not known for my friendly disposition."

Kagome glared at the man sitting next to her. "Is it fun being a jerk to me? Does it satisfy you?"

Inuyasha chuckled. "Actually, it is pretty entertaining."

She rolled her eyes. "You know, Inuyasha. You can hide behind that fake bravado all you want, but I know you're just a big softie underneath."

"Keh," he grumbled, finishing off his beer.

Kagome threw him a glare. "What? No witty repartee?"

He set down his empty glass with a little more force than usual, grabbing Kagome's attention. "I know your type, wench," he snapped, his amber eyes boring into hers. "I know exactly the kind of person you are; all high and mighty, acting as if you're better than everyone else. You think you can show someone how great life can be and how fantastic it is if I would just try. Well, sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but not everyone is worth saving, all right?"

His words left Kagome stunned into silence for a brief moment. How did their witty banter only a few minutes ago turn into this? This… This denied anger and unadulterated cynicism had Kagome reeling, her thoughts turning to what exactly had penetrated Inuyasha's life so completely that he had such a negative outlook on such.

She pursed her lips. "How much do you think you're worth?"

Inuyasha shrugged. "Like twenty bucks. Or two twinkies." He grinned at his own comment, but Kagome didn't find it very funny.

If anything, Kagome felt pity for him. No matter how bleak her life became, she always managed to find the good in it. If a person couldn't do that… Well, that was a pretty sad way to live. "As much as I would love to hear you divulge all of your secrets, this is a great song and I feel like dancing."

"Look, wench," Inuyasha barked out, his anger palpable. "I'm not looking for your validation. I'm pretty fucking happy with my life of dirty pennies and whiskey bottles. We don't all need to be Barbie."

She looked over at him, the low dim of the bar lights shining off his silver hair, and found she could only nurse one wounded heart at a time. "I just wanted you to leave tonight and think the world is a little less horrible than you thought."

"Hey, pretty lady," Kouga greeted as he appeared at the perfect time with another shot of whiskey for her and a full beer, stealing her full attention away from Inuyasha.

Kagome immediately downed the shot and chased it with her beer, ready to forget half of the night and lose herself in the music pounding through the speakers. As the evening wore on, the bar became busier, and the DJ had started up a round of tunes that had half the customers on the dance floor.

Kouga watched her curiously, arching a brow. "You alright there?"

"Dance with me?" she called over the bass pounding through the speakers. Oh yes, it was now the time of the night in which she had no qualms for asking for what she wanted.

He chuckled and glanced over at the other bartenders who appeared to have things under control. "You can steal me for a few minutes."

Kagome grinned and giggled like a school girl, leaving Inuyasha behind without delay. Kouga met her at the end of the bar and took her hand in his as she pulled him out onto the dance floor.

Some upbeat dance music blasted through the speakers. Kagome moved and swayed through the bodies crowding near the DJ, the vibrations of the music becoming part of her energy, raising her up several levels at once. Gone were her heartbroken wallows and the biting arrogance of her barstool companion. Her mind buzzed with pure joy. She moved in her dress like her hips were made to sway, the black sequins catching the disco ball that twirled above, causing her to glitter on the dance floor.

Kouga pulled her close, his strong hand pressed against the small of her back, his chiseled chest pressed against hers. She ran her fingers through her messy hair and pulled it to the side, feeling the beat of the music pound with each beat of her heart. Bodies pressed in tighter all around them. Kagome felt the part of her that was really her come out to play, to feel the vibe of the music and let her body go free.

"You're beautiful," Kouga's voice whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

His lips looked soft and very kissable, and Kagome knew her decision-making skills were indeed hindered by the alcohol that buzzed through her veins. And then his attention was caught by something else, his royal blue eyes pulling from hers to the outskirts of the dance floor. He said something to her, attempting to shout above the music, but his words were swallowed up by the electric beat that kept her entranced.

Kagome felt his hands slip from around her waist and he disappeared into the crowd. She didn't bother to follow, her hands playing with her hair, her hips moving to the music as she lost herself within it. This was what her heartbroken soul had fiercely needed; a night to forget all the troubles of the day.

Large, meaty hands found her waist, but they were unfamiliar and too warm to the touch. Kagome felt a warm flush find her cheeks as she gazed up to meet a stranger's hazy stare. He pulled her in close - too close - and even in her alcohol-ridden mind, she felt mild panic begin like sparks in her abdomen.

She tried to push him away, first gently and then forcefully, pretending to laugh at his behavior. "Thanks for the dance, but I need some fresh air."

"C'me on, baby," he slurred, pulling her tighter to his sweaty frame, his hot breath rolling over her skin. "We just met. Let's dance s'me more."

Kagome frowned. "I said no." Before she could stomp on his foot and fight her way out of the throng of dancers, the man was forcefully pulled away from her. They became separated by another man, one with very familiar silver hair who had his back to her. She didn't hear the words exchanged, but whatever was said was enough to send the man scampering off to the other side of the bar.

Inuyasha turned around, his piercing honey eyes studying her expression, before his hand gently wrapped around her waist. His grip on her wasn't strong like Kouga's, or possessive like the stranger. Inuyasha's hand was warm against the small of her back, and the anxiety she felt moments ago melted away.

"You okay?" he asked, swaying his hips in tune with hers as they continued to dance to the beat of the music.

She grinned up at him. "Were you worried about me, jerk?"

"Keh," he grumbled, his lips pulling into a smirk. "I despise you more than any other human I've ever had the displeasure of meeting. You're loud and wild and apparently have no sense of self-preservation. You also act like you have the mental capacity of a five year old."

"Are you flirting with me?" she barbed in return.

"Maybe."

His hand found the back of her neck, his fingers finding purchase in her hair, his hips grinding against hers. Warmth pooled into the pit of her stomach, his breath caressing her skin, and she moved her lips to find his.

Kagome barely had a moment to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of her lips and delved inside her mouth. It was a very sloppy kiss with the strong scent of beer being exchanged between their billowing breaths. Her arm reached up and tangled around his strong neck. She pulled away and arched up into his broad chest, letting a moan escape in the contact of body heat against her own, before she drew back into his lips.

She could nearly taste the slight bitterness of the beer as it rolled off her tongue and seeped down her throat with every push of his tongue against hers. The kiss coupled with the beer and whiskey humming through her system obliterated every thought. For the first time that day, her mind was locked into the present. Her usual concerns for her life were suspended, and she had no wish for the kiss to end.

But as the music changed, they pulled apart. Inuyasha's skin shimmered with sweat and his amber eyes flecked with gold held her gaze. The beat of the music consumed them under the crazy neon lights, and Kagome felt alive during a night that was still so young.

[pbandjesse]

We jsut got our first 'no' rsvp. Well not really. But we got our first late night text that they aren't coming. And I am like. Really angry about it. On James's behalf I didn't think I would be this mad but I am. I am trying to calm down so I can write this with a clear head and go to sleep at s good time. But man. I didn't expect to be so mad.

I had a pretty good day though. I woke up after kind of a shitty night's sleep. Tossing a lot. Jessica was texting me asking if I wanted to stay late to cover the desk. Sure. All I wanted to do today was work on beading and I can do that at the desk. And getting paid is always nice.

I got dressed and had to double back after I left because I forgot to grab the totebag I filled with all my water bottles to fill since we are still in the boil water advisory. I would fill them at work with the filtered water they have.

It was a nice drive in. I got breakfast and a sandwich for later. And I got to the museum exactly on time.

We had a meeting all morning and that was good. I sat in the back so my beading wouldn't bother anyone. They brought us donuts. And it was nice to see all my old guy friends.

I was very engaged in the conversation. Because I had something to do with my hands. I was able to finish one whole word throughout the meeting. And I enjoyed the discussion and updates and reminders. Some of it was like reminding us how to do intros and what being a lead for a program means. And since I already do that I felt very much validated.

I would be texting Jess and my parents. Dad seems like he is doing okay. It was good to just chat with him. Makes me feel safer because I know he's alright.

After the meeting I went to eat my sandwich and fill my bottles. Jessica was going to have me work on the new tags for the cannery. First though I went and washed my hands and chatted with James for a few minutes before following Jessica upstairs to her office.

It took a lot longer then I think anyone thought to print and cut and match the fronts and backs of the tags. But I like a task and I just chatted with Jessica about how being able to anticipate needs is a really good skill to have. And how not everyone can do that. Which can be a problem at the museum.

Poor James was stuck at the desk with no relief for lunch because the tags took so long. And when I finally got down there they had to run to a meeting.

So I had an hour to work at the desk. I did my beading. I had some chats with some lovely guests. One visiting from a house musuem in Ohio, and a student from the Dominican Republic. We got to chat about how Ellen just moved there and it's beautiful. He said I should go visit. I don't disagree.

At 3 I kicked everyone out and locked the door. Well I failed to lock the door. Angie helped me when I got the key stuck in the door.

James finished their meeting and we said goodbye. I would head out into the world and go to the thrift store to wander around.

And I had a lot of fun. Just looking at stuff. I got a pretty little glass paperweight and this cookie jar that made me laugh. I also got an orange pinafore dress that is true vintage and is really cute. I'm going to look like a creamsicle.

It was misty raining when I left. And there was apparently an accident so it took me an extra 10 minutes to get home. But I got back here in one piece.

I felt a little annoyed because Mr Will was finally here 'fixing' the counters. But he just poorly caulked the one back to the wall. Didn't look at the others at all. And the caulk just dropped all down the wall and is horrible and once he left and I realized how and it was I made James contact Tina with pictures. I love Mr Will but this is above his skillet. The counters need to be installed correctly. Cause this sucks.

Brandon would come over soon. I would just be beading. Basically all night. James made us crepes. We talked about the wedding. Sweetp was a little goober and being very playful. It was a nice night.

Me and James came and laid down after Brandon left. And that is when we got a text from Jamess cousin that her and her husband aren't coming to the wedding. This is the same cousin who we traveled to go to their wedding. A cousin James really loves. And I'm just so pissed. Like first of all way to be wicked late letting us know. Second this wedding has had this date for over a year. You just chose not to prioritize this. And third I am very worried, as it James, that this is going to mean more of the Massachusetts family isn't going to come.

I am trying to not be very mad. I, again, was finally feeling a little more excited. Dad's doctor says he can travel for the wedding safely. Things have been coming together. But the whole wedding was sort of pushed on us in many ways, so now people we really had made the wedding more. Jamess larger family. Aren't coming. And it just makes me so stupid angry.

I texted Charlotte to let her know because James is going to reach out and I really hope she gives James some comfort. And maybe raises a little hell. I can only raise so much, but I really feel like the family should make them feel bad. I know that's like. Very petty but that's where I am right now.

I got a shower late because I was mad and couldn't move. But I am clean now and trying to wind down. I painted my toes and James packed their bag for this weekend. Tomorrow we are at the musuem. And then it is our Bach weekend trip! I'm looking forward to it.

Sleep good everyone. Take care of yourselves. Be kinder to yourself.

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[barnesandrogersfanfics]

Baby Love - Part 10

A/N - Finally an update!! 💕

chrisevans I'm so excited to announce that Y/N and I are expecting!! We are both over the moon.... i cannot even put into words how happy i am right now.

Mama and baby are both doing great and Dodger is thrilled that he's about to become a big brother.

#BabygirlEvansComingSoon

It was a few weeks after the premiere, middle of May, my 5th month in my pregnancy that Chris finally put out the announcement and surprisingly it went well....better than i could ever have imagined. The messages from Chris's fans were amazing! Of course there was still some haters but nothing that was too awful or couldn't be ignored. It was nice that it was out now and i didn't have to worry about someone finding out and leaking it to the press.

Chris was scheduled to start filming 'Defending Jacob' a series for Apple TV mid June through to July. The good thing being it was filming in Massachusetts, 20 minutes from home so he wouldn't have to stay away.

Chris was finally upstairs getting ready so he could head to set, he had been whining this morning about wanting to stay home with his girls.

I was currently laying on the sofa in a sports bra and shorts, with my now 6 month belly showing while i watched some crappy daytime show.... i had removed Chris's t-shirt when i started getting hot flushes.

"Okay im ready to.....go. Jesus christ why are you half naked right now?" I looked round to see Chris looking me up and down like i was the tastiest thing he'd ever seen. I rolled my eyes looking back at the TV "hot flushes, i sweat through my shirt...i feel like I'm burning alive"

"Such a drama queen" he chuckled

"Excuse you?..... you wanna try going through this??" I snapped, i knew as soon as it was out of my mouth it was uncalled for and instantly felt bad "I'm sorry i didn't mean to snap.... is the damn AC even working?" i said almost feeling like i was gonna cry. Chris came walking over crouching in front of me with a cold cloth and draped it across my forehead.

"That should help a little and i got you some ice..." he passed me a cup of ice chips and i cried.

"Hey! Whats wrong?"

"You're just the best boyfriend ever"

"Awww" he chuckled pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Don't.... I'm all sweaty and gross"

"I like you all sweaty" he wriggled his eyebrows making me laugh "and you're not gross..... you're beautiful. I nearly had a heart attack seeing you laying here looking like this.... now i really don't wanna leave"

"You have to, stop making excuses"

"I dont want to leave you alone like this..."

"I wont be, Scott's coming over we're gonna go for lunch later"

"Oh.... "

"You're okay with that right?"

"Yeah of course" he smiled before leaning in to give me a kiss.

"Hey! its just me!" Scott yelled from the front door on cue.

"In here!" I yelled reaching my hands out to Chris to help me up into a sitting position.

"Yikes! what is going on with you you're a mess" Scott said looking concerned.

"Thanks! Thats just what i needed to hear Scotty" i scooped out an ice chip and popped it in my mouth.

"Hot flushes" Chris told Scott and he pulled a face.

"I'll be okay in a minute, it'll pass. Though im pretty tempted to go jump in the damn pool right about now"

"Stay outta the pool sweetheart, maybe a lukewarm bath or shower would help?"

"I'll be fine Chris, you need to go or you're gonna be late"

"I don't wanna leave you alone...."

"Err hello? Im here, she's not alone" Scott said coming to sit next to me on the sofa.

"Can you put your shirt back on.....i don't feel comfortable...." Chris started to say while looking me over again.

"Stop! I am not putting that thing back on when i feel like I'm in the pits of hell Evans!" I said pointing at the soaking wet t-shirt on the table " besides Scott's seen me in my bathing suit plenty of times.... I'm wearing more now than i was then! also incase you forgot.... I'm not his type"

"I feel insulted!" Scott gasped before smiling at his brother.

"Just go to work! I will call you if i need anything, we'll be fine".

Chris sighed but nodded, he leant in and gave me a kiss and finally left for set.

"Geez he always like that?"

"No, he's got a little more protective as the pregnancy has gone on but that was new"

"He's probably just worried about you. This is the first time he's had to really leave you since you've been pregnant"

"He'll be back tonight! He needs to chill out. I know i sound like a bitch and i really don't mean to but i literally feel like Satan himself is roasting my body!"

"You want some more ice chips?"

"Yes please".

After another 30/40 minutes i finally felt myself cooling down.

"Oh thank god! I think it passed"

"For now"

"Thanks!" I laughed "I've had a few hot flushes here and there but nothing like that... that was brutal!"

"Well I'm glad it passed, why don't you go take a shower and we'll go get some lunch, it will do you good to get some fresh air, we can even take Dodger"

"Sounds good to me".

Scott and i grabbed lunch at a small family run cafe that was kinda tucked away, not a lot of people actually knew about it which was the reason we chose this place when we'd have lunch....it also had a small outside seating area where we could sit with Dodger.

Once we were done with lunch we took Dodger for a walk in the park where he found a new friend, they ran around together for a good half an hour.

"Wow he's gonna be beat" Scott laughed as we sat on a bench watching the two dogs running around.

"Good! He has too much energy!"

I chuckled "i'll be wanting to sleep and he brings me his toys wanting to play its exhausting" i said exaggerating, truth was i loved that Dodger always wanted my attention.

"Well he's gonna have to learn to share you when my niece arrives"

"Do you think he'll be okay with the baby?"

"Im sure he will, Dodge is a good boy"

"The best, i just worry. I worry about everything lately though" i laugh rubbing my hand over my belly "you ready to head back?"

"Sure"

I whistle and call for Dodger and he comes running straight over allowing me to attach he's leash.

"Lets go home bubba" i scratched behind his ear before handing the leash to Scott.

We got back to the house and let Dodger out of the car, he ran straight towards the front door and started growling and scratching at the door.

"Hey stop!" Scott said quickly and Dodger turned to look at him before starting again this time barking loudly.

"Whats his problem?"

"I don't know....."

"Maybe Chris is home?"

"His car isn't here....." i opened the door and Dodger ran inside sniffing everywhere.

"Hey Chris you home?" Scott called out but i already knew he wasn't, this didn't feel right.....

"Scott, somethings wrong....."

"What do you mean?" He asked turning to me looking concerned.

"I don't know its just a feeling i have"

Dodger suddenly ran past us and up the stairs, we followed him up to find him sitting outside mine and Chris's bedroom scratching at the door.

"Chris....." Scott called again thinking Dodger just wanted to get to him but no answer, the house was silent.

Scott stepped forward and opened the door and we both gasped at the what we saw. The whole room was trashed.

"Scott..... what if someones still in the house?" I turned to him with wide eyes as panic set it.

"Stay in here with Dodger, I'm gonna check the house..."

"No! Just call the cops, stay in here with us!"

"I'll be fine! They're probably long gone, Dodger would be going crazy if they were still here...but i just wanna make sure".

"Please be careful! I'll call the cops"

"Okay lock the door behind me".

Everything taglist: @jesseswartzwelder @dumblani @barnesandrogersworld @patzammit @rynabarnesrogers-reading @rainbowkisses31 @rororo06 @supernaturalwintersoldier @fairlightswiftly @hiddelstannerbarnes @bellamy-barnes @buchanansebba

Baby love tags @jennmurawski13 @mybabyboytony @ms-betsy-fangirl @vampgirl1997 @ajosieface @afuckingshituniverse @chmedic @esoltis280

@southerngracela @bethabear12 @letsdisneythings @sellulii @katiew1973 @princess-evans-addict

@deidrahouseofpain @siren-queen03 @shipatheart @little-dark-empress @xxloki81xx @lizzyclifford13-blog @booktease21 @lets--be-honest @thevelvetseries @farfromtommy @mery-be @drakelover78

[ladynightmare913]

Red Rose, Blood Moon

Greetings and welcome to Chapter 13! I apologize for the long wait but, reality got in the way of my story weaving. I have been doing much self-reflecting and I wasn't content with how it portrayed me. But after much deliberation, I decided to change the appearance of my blog until it showed what I felt is my reflection and made me happy. But do not worry, I have returned and links have been updated on the Masterlist.

This is an original story inspired by the tale of Red Riding Hood. As always, I would like to a special thank you to my best friend Olivia (@asunshinepuff ) for joining me in writing this world onto paper.

CW: This chapter contains a brief mention of gore, gruesome descriptions, creatures, fire, and things you can imagine in your nightmares! You have your warning!

This story contains only original characters created by Olivia and myself. For those who want to be tagged, feel free to send an ask to me or Olivia on her blog. If you have any questions, theories, or curiosities about any of our characters or how the story will progress, send them to the ask box!

Now without further Adieu!

Chapter 13: A Burning Night

The group gathered their belongings and traveled to the port of the river. The ferry they managed to secure passage from was not the most pleasant looking. The lumber was mellow and dull. It was fairly large, able to carry a hefty number of passengers, including a few horses.

Felis grumbled as they boarded the boat. Making comments here and there, saying his ship was far superior and making the occasional snarky remark. He would not allow the comparison of his “child” to this wreck of a boat, thank you very much. Who on top of it all, most probably had an inadequate captain. Cassandra simply rolled her eyes each time with a shake of her head, agreeing occasionally with Felis in order to finally get him to stop grumbling.

Rosabella walked behind the bickering couple, ensuring that neither Felis nor Cassandra was lost in the crowd. She would occasionally look behind her, not trusting Red to fade away into the crowd the moment she got distracted. She looked ahead, it made her uneasy, the way he would lag behind, and every time she turned to look at him, he would be looking right back. As if he was rather unimpressed that her consistent need to check on him was an offense.

Still, she supposed, Red still hadn’t made any mention of what occurred in the springs, to which was eternally grateful, she doubted she could live with the embarrassment. She would be mortified if anyone knew. Reluctantly, Rosabella hasn’t omitted to acknowledge that he has been acting like a gentleman about it. Now Rosabella prayed that it would remain that way.

Once they boarded the ship, along with their horses, there were few cabins so Cassandra and Rosabella would share one. Felis and Red would loiter about on deck. The ferry took sail just before the sun began to rise. Felis took to friendly conversation with fellow passengers, trying to get more intel about the missing persons and if anyone else had seen strange creatures. Red took to watching from afar. After getting a few hours of sleep, Cassandra and Rosabella joined the men when meals were offered.

The meal was noisy, but none of the lot weren’t used to it. Picking up a few choice words from the fellow passengers about mysterious figures walking in the woods at night. They would never respond to anyone’s calls.

“The strangest thing about them, I swear is their eyes. Glowing red they were.” One traveler revealed, “Twisted looking things, I bet it be another form of those thirsty bloodsuckers.”

“Do you mean the Night Stalkers?” Rosabella offered. She knew many creatures that feasted on human blood.

“I mean Vampires.” The man corrected gruffly. Unease when she spoke to him with ease. “You don’t suppose they moved into France do you?” he asked the other men.

“Oh, they’re already here.” One man commented. Some men choked on their food. Rosabella thought it best to not say anything. Felis and Cassandra’s silence was answer enough. Red scoffed. Sapphire eyes followed him as he rose from his seat before he left. After the meal, Rosabella searched for Red. She found him leaning against the wall, staring out to the water. She didn’t bother to announce her presence, she knew he would have heard her approaching long before he saw her.

“Will you not sleep?” She asks softly, stepping closer.

“Not if I can help it.” Only his eyes moved to look at her. “I don’t trust others, so I don’t sleep.”

“Surely you don’t doubt that we could keep watch while you slept?” She inquired.

His head tightly towards her, his eyes were scrutinizing her. “Is there something you needed?”

Rosabella did her best not to feel affronted at his shift in tone. She sighed deeply, she extended her arm, his cloak in her hands. “I simply wanted to return this to you.” Though she doubted he needed it, she could feel the heat burning off of him from where she stood.

His gaze relaxed, wordlessly accepting his cloak, and put it on before he carried on looking out to the river.

“And to thank you, for not saying anything about what happened.” She said sincerely, he didn’t say anything in response.

Rosabella placed her hands behind her as she leaned back to the wall. She was a respectable distance away from him. Looking out to the river, they stayed there in silence, and snow began to fall.

“Have you encountered vampires before?” Rosabella spoke gently.

“Yes.” He shifted, crossing a leg over the other.

“When?” She asked.

“Not that many years ago. Contrary to what people believe, vampires are not an old race. They’re new.”

“Really?” Her eyes blinked in bewilderment. “How do you know?”

“I’ve traveled far, I’ve met creatures older than myself. Vampires are young compared to the rest of us.”

She frowned at that. “Most people say they are terrifying, creatures of seduction and immense power.”

“I know of more powerful and terrifying creatures, Vampires are just overgrown mosquitoes. Vampires are entitled children, who play with their food. Get offended when their food supply fights back. ” He chuckled dryly.

“Do they fight you?”

“No, they didn’t stick around long enough to find out. They usually avoid us.” He looked to Rosabella.

“Us?” She leaned forward, her head faced towards him.

“The other old creatures and I. The oldest vampire would only be roughly three hundred years old.”

“I heard of wolves and vampires fighting each other. Is that true?”

“Yes. The vampires have no qualms about fighting any wolf that isn’t me.”

“Sounds like you don’t like them,” Rosabella nodded slowly, looking back to the water, “the other wolves.”

“To be frank, I don’t like anyone. Why would I make them the exception?” He eyed her skeptically.

“Because they are your kin?” She offered with sincere eyes.

“They are not my kin. I want nothing to do with them.” He replied coldly.

Disconcerted, she paused. “I would give anything to have kin,” she leaned back to the wall, her eyes solemn, “It’s the only thing I have ever wanted more than anything in my whole life. To not be alone.”

Red frowned, “What about your grandmother?”

“She adopted me.”

Red said nothing, only gazing down at her with an assessing gaze. “What about your friend Cassandra? She-”

“Will marry Felis. They will have a family. They will want to live their lives, and I will not interfere. Cassandra wouldn’t let me, but it wouldn't be right if I did.” She interrupted, her head turned to look at Red. “And I will be left to my own devices, they would never mean to leave me, but it is to be expected.”

“You sound like you’ve resigned yourself from finding your own pair.” He assessed. “Which is strange for women your age. You seem certain of it.”

“I am. I am something that men would find improper of a wife, and when they learn the truth,” she paused, looking back to the river, “I don't even know what I am. No one knows. I suppose that is why I have been searching for my kin for years, hoping that they would have answers.”

Rosabella looked down. They stayed silent for a long moment, staring out at the river. Red’s lips parted to speak before Rosabella interrupted.

“Goodnight Red.” She stepped away from the wall, walking to her cabin. Nox looked back to Red from his perch on her shoulders, ears perked up. Red stared out to the river. Rosabella went to bed, Nox curled beside her.

A monstrous roar resonated in the chill of the air. A scream. A struggle, and the sound of glass shattering to the ground. Flames spread across the ferry. Rosabella woke to the smell of smoke. Her sapphire eyes wide at the state of their cabin. Cassandra was already out of bed and standing, Lumi clung tightly to Cassandra’s arm as she hurriedly gathered what she could.

Rosabella was quick to her feet, Nox curled tightly on her shoulders, chirping as the women escaped their burning room and froze at the sight of the ship, Rosabella recoiled at the stench of burning flesh and the agonized screams of the ferrymen as they fell into the water. Stricken at the sight of the men, the women pushed themselves to flee. They came across Felis, whose eyes locked onto Cassandra. The pirate rushed spotting them over the sea of panicked passengers and rushed towards them.

“Cassandra!” His frantic eyes, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “Are you alright?”

Cassandra gives a meek smile, eyes softening briefly at the frantic look in his eyes, raising her hand to his on her cheek. “I’m alright. There’s no need to fuss, but we need to go.” Grasping the pirate’s hand, she pulled him along to find a way off this burning ferry.

“Where’s Red?” Rosabella called out as followed the couple.

“I don’t know, I ran to look for you when I saw the flames,” Felis responded.

Rosabella glared at Felis’ head. “You left him alone?!”

“Well excuse me for coming to your aid and leaving a grown man alone for a minute!” Felis replied as he turned a corner.

“And you didn’t think for one moment that leaving the Father of Werewolves to his own devices was a bad idea?!”

“To his own devices?! This wreck of a boat is in flames! I doubt he could do anything in this chaos!” The pirate retorted.

“When this is over, remind me to slap him, Cassandra,” Rosabella said.

Cassandra grinned. “Will do.”

The group turned at the final corner, stopping when their path was blocked by the creatures from back at the hot springs in Mirstone, in flames. Rosabella blanched.

“What are those things?!” Felis sneered at the smell of burning flesh. “They smell like fish vomit.”

“Fish vomit?” Cassandra asked in confusion. Looking back and forth at the burning creatures and the pirate.

“How did they even get on the ferry?” Rosabella muttered to herself.

“Don’t know,” Cassandra grimaced. “I hate that they're on fire, and they reek of dark magic!”

“We should probably abandon ship now,” Red spoke from behind the group. Catching the three off guard.

Rosabella sighed in relief. “Where were you?” She asked as Red walked toward them.

“Helping passengers and horses off.”

“By helping, do you mean throwing them overboard,” Felis interjected.

“Do you recommend they stay on the ferry and burn?” Red glance at the pirate.

“Alright, right now is not the time for this!” Cassandra yelled as she leaned over the railing, frowning. “They took all the lifeboats!”

“Oh great, now what are we going to do?” Felis exclaimed with a slight roll of his eyes.

Red looked at Rosabella. “I really hope you know how to swim.”

“What?” Her brows creased in confusion.

Red moves his arm under Rosabella’s legs and the other supporting her back, then lifts her with ease. Her eyes widened in shock. Red turns quickly and tosses her overboard. Rosabella let out a small yelp as she fell into the freezing water.

Red turned to look at the pirate and sorceress. Cassandra immediately backed away from the wolf.

“Don’t you dare. I’ll throw myself off, thank you.” Cassandra glared as she climbed over the railing, and jumped into the river.

Felis turned to Red. “After you.”

“Ladies first.” Red smirked as he pushed Felis off, Red climbing over just as the creatures reached where they stood.

The group swam until they reached shore, and watched as the ferry sunk below the freezing river.

“It’s f-freezing.” Felis stuttered out as he shivered as he stomped out of the water, his arms crossed as he sat on a log.

“It’s the m-middle of winter, w-what were you e-expecting?!” Cassandra retorted, rubbing her arms as she walked towards the shivering pirate. Lumi swimming close behind her, and shaking off his fur once he reached dry land.

“Cassandra, p-please light a fire.” Rosabella looked at her sister while she soothed the horses that reached the shoreline before they did. Nox curled tightly on her shoulders for warmth.

The sorceress nodded before walking to the log Felis sat on. “Felis, I need your seat.”

“Find your own log.”

“Do you want to warm up or not?” She gave a pointed look.

Felis grumbled as he rose from his seat and watched as Cassandra crouched down, placing her hand above the wood, after a few brief seconds it ignited into bright purple flames.

Red walked out from the river and didn’t stop until he reached the trees.

“Where’s he going?” Rosabella asked her comrades.

“Probably to get away from the horses. They smell.” Felis answered

Gypsy gave an offended nicker. Felis stuck his tongue out.

“Leave him be for now. Handling one man-child is enough.” Cassandra teased, pulling her hand away from the fire as she stood up.

Rosabella sighed, taking a seat next to the burning log, warming her hands and petting Nox’s head. Cassandra sat close to the pirate. Lumi began snarling at Felis, who in turn hissed right back at the little ermine. Rolling her eyes, Cassandra scolds the two, prompting them to behave.

“Are you my fiancé or my child?” Cassandra inquired.

“At this current moment, probably your child.”

They sat in silence for a long while, finally warm and dry. Red still had not returned. The silence ended at the sound of grumbling. Cassandra, Rosabella, and a few horses all turned to look at the pirate.

“... What? I’m hungry. Swimming works up an appetite.” Felis admitted.

“Definitely a child.” Cassandra sighed as she rubbed her temple.

Rosabella smiled softly as she rose to her feet. “While I’ll go find us something to eat, I’ll look for Red.”

“Can we have venison?” Felis asked, Cassandra elbowed him.

Rosabella laughed softly as she walked into the woods. Nox happily trotting behind her. Both woman and sable walked for a long while, finding a few berries and mushrooms that weren’t poisonous. But no deer. Rosabella hummed in thought, she looked down to Nox.

“Well it looks like I’ll have to hunt as a wolf now won’t I?”

Nox gave a chirp, Rosabella accepted it as affirmation. With nothing much left to pick from bushes, Rosabella shifted into a wolf. She was far larger than any of the horses back at the campfire. Nox quickly climbed onto the wolf’s back, and off they went in search of food.

It didn’t take long for the she-wolf to find a wandering stag. Nor did it take long for her to claim her prize. Carrying the dead stag in her jaws, she trotted back to camp. Nox chirping happily on her head.

Nearing the clearing of the forest, Rosabella turned back to her human form but froze when caught Red’s scent. Her eyes darted to the blonde man, who stood beside a large oak tree. There he stood, eyes wide.

“You’re a wolf?”

Tag List: Let me know if you wish to be added!

@waltzintherain @spookypotato @purple-amaranthe

[lunarsaga]

Chapter 6: The Poison Master

Here it is, Chapter 6!

Chapter 7 is in the works, and will be going up on patreon soon! Stay tuned and follow me on Twitter for updates!

Don't forget that this is meant to read like a graphic novel, meaning the art pieces are part of the story and aren't meant to be skipped!

Also trying a new thing! "========" <- Lines like this are scene breaks "// ~ ~ ~ \\" <- and these are perspective changes!

ENJOY, MY LOVES! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ

===========================================

“I’m going after Jakotsu.”

It was said with such confidence—the confidence of a man who had not just been struggling to keep himself from getting sliced to pieces by an undead murderer that kept trying to flirt with him—that Luna just had to wonder if it was really Inuyasha saying it. (It was, of course. She was just being sarcastic.)

“That’s funny, I thought I just heard you say you were going after that psychopath.” Luna said to the half-demon. She idly pulled her hair down from her ponytail and began to weave it into a loose braid.

“I am!” Inuyasha said, indignant. “He couldn’t have gotten far.”

“Yes, but Inuyasha,” Miroku interjected, “aren’t you worried about that poisonous gas?”

“Whaddya mean?”

Thoughtful, Miroku glanced off in the direction where they’d encountered the first of the Band of Seven. The cloud had almost entirely dispersed, but if you looked hard enough, you could still see wisps of the toxic smoke drifting into the sky. “Well, Jakotsu seemed to know something about it.”

“You’re right…” Inuyasha said, “You think it’s another member of the Band of Seven?”

“Could be…” Sango mused, “but didn’t Jakotsu seem to be in danger himself? Why would a member of his own team endanger him?”

“Infighting?” Luna guessed, running her fingers through the tangles in her hair. “They’re ruthless mercenaries, I wouldn’t expect them to be one big bloodthirsty family… Unless…” She tilted her head, trailing off in thought.

“Unless what…?” Kagome asked, looking at her sister in concern.

Luna paused another second, still deep in thought as she began to weave her hair into a loose braid. “I mean… If Jakotsu knows the guy? He probably knew that there was still time to avoid the poison. He did tell Inuyasha to get out of the way, remember.” Only Inuyasha, but still.

Inuyasha turned away from the rest of them, uncrossing his arms. “Whatever the case, I’m not letting him get away. You all stay here, and stay safe.”

“Don’t do anything stupid!” Luna called after him as he ran off.

“You’re one to talk.” Ai snorted, earning her a gentle kick from the Hunter sitting next to her.

Kagome stood from where she’d been rifling through her bag, holding a nearly-empty plastic bottle. “Ah, we’re almost out of water… I think I saw a well on our way over here, I’m gonna go fill this up.”

Luna arched an eyebrow at her sister. “Is going off on your own a good idea when there’s a bunch of killer zombies in the area?”

Kagome sighed, smiling back at her. “I’ll be fine, it’s not far. Shippo, why don’t you come with me?” Shippo grinned and jumped into Kagome’s bike basket as she got it on the road. “You should show Sango your crossbow, Luna.”

“Crossbow?” Sango asked.

“Ah, yes, I’m actually interested in seeing how it works up close,” Miroku said, “I saw you use it on Jakotsu, it was impressive.”

Luna smiled and shook her head. “Alright, be safe, Kagome.” She hoisted up the crossbow to show her friends how the arms unfolded, getting a little chuckle out of it when the two of them jumped.

“It does that all on its own?” Sango asked as Luna handed it over to her. She was unsure where to hold it for a second, but Luna showed her how.

“Yep, they’re spring-loaded, so they just pop out,” Luna explained.

Luna went on to answer all sorts of questions about it, and while Sango and Miroku (and even Kilala) seemed interested in the strange contraption, Ai had heard it all before, when Luna had first returned to this world with it. She stretched herself out, her tail fluffing itself out as she curled up against a warm rock. Mmm… warm… Her eyelids began to droop as she got comfortable there; it had been such an exhausting day already…

But as she was about to drift off, she took a deep breath, and a rancid smell hit her nose. She jolted upright with a disgusted hiss, trying to find where the smell was coming from.

“Ai?” Luna asked, “What’s up?”

Kilala seemed to pick up on the scent too—something foul was drifting in the air. The elder cat demon transformed into her full form, and Ai stood, hair bristling.

“Something doesn’t smell right.”

Luna picked up on the tension right away, and her thoughts immediately went to her sister. “God damnit, Kagome...” She hissed, going to her backpack and rifling through it.

“Kagome’s in trouble?” Miroku stood, worried.

“The smell’s coming from the same direction she went,” Ai said.

“And the smell could be that person with the poison,” Sango had already grabbed Hiraikotsu and was putting on her Slayer’s mask. “We don’t wanna take any chances—it’s too bad I only have one of these…”

“No worries, I’ve got these. Here, Miroku.” Luna pulled a medical mask out of her kit to hand it to her friend. “It won’t do much, but it’ll at least keep you from inhaling anything.”

“Thank you, Luna—what about you?”

Luna held up something from her bag: her own mask. It was a military-grade gas mask with a clear face shield, modified to fit a Hunter’s needs. “This one’s mine. It’s made specifically for Hunters like me,” She said as she slipped it over her head. She was well aware that to the locals she might look like a demon, but fuck if she cared; her sister was in danger. The first thing in hand was her crossbow, and she grabbed her ammo bag as she was taking off running.

As it turned out, they were right to call the masks, but Luna certainly didn’t expect to find an entire village choked with poison like a deadly mist. It was barely past lunchtime, and they’d already seen so much death—it was disheartening to see bodies strewn everywhere. But through the mist, they could see Shippo rolling on the ground and coughing, Kagome crouched on her hands and knees, and some weird little figure looming over her. (Well, maybe looming was a strong word. The guy was like three feet tall.)

Sango didn’t hesitate to swing Hiraikotsu; the first swing shattered the poison bottle in the creep’s hand.

“Stay back!” Shouted the little toad of a man.

“Like hell I will,” Luna snarled, aiming her crossbow at the poison master. “Step away from my sister. Now.”

Shippo was finally able to scramble to his feet, and, unsure of what else to do, proclaimed: “I’ll go get Inuyasha!” and took off running.

“Ai, go with him!” Luna said to her friend. The Bakeneko hesitated a moment, worried, but then shifted into her full form and took off after the young fox demon.

“He had to be the one behind the smoke,” Miroku said, of the poison master, “Which means he must be another member of the Band of Seven!”

The laugh that exited the little man made Luna want to vomit. “Yes! I am Mukotsu, Poison Master!”

“Then tell me, Mukotsu, someone must have resurrected you all,” Miroku continued. “Is Naraku behind all this?”

“Hehehehehe, couldn’t tell you! You’ll have to ask the Captain…” He trailed off, reaching back into the little box he was carrying on his back and quickly retrieving another bottle of poison. “Should you survive, that is!”

Luna wasn’t about to give him another second to unplug the bottle. She tried to step toward her sister again, but she only got to fire once before her vision was blocked by powerful black smoke that ejected towards them. Kilala—completely unaffected by the poison, it seemed—jumped in front of Luna to block the bulk of it.

“NO!” Luna shouted, trying to see around the giant Nekomata, “Kagome!”

Luna felt the crushing weight of helplessness almost immediately. That was her sister, helpless and about to pass out, and she couldn’t help. She couldn’t see, couldn’t move, couldn’t do… anything.

It was less than a minute until the smoke cleared, but it felt like an eternity. When she could see again, it only confirmed what she already knew: her sister had been taken. She knew her mask would’ve filtered out whatever the poison was made of, but her legs were still shaking. Not with pain, not with shock… but with pure, unbridled anger. Her lungs could only draw in sharp, furious breaths.

Lock it up, she told herself. She focused the energy buzzing around in her head on keeping herself contained—as best she could. Her face was solid as stone, and she snapped into work mode. She needed to make sure Sango and Miroku were okay—she could just see them again through the dissipating smoke. She looked them both over quickly, trying to make sure they hadn’t been affected.

“We’re alright, are you okay?” Sango asked her, “Where’s Kagome?”

“Gone.” Luna said flatly. “Let’s move. That little freak couldn’t have taken her far.”

“We should go back to where we were first,” Miroku suggested. “I have a feeling we are going to need the rest of both of your supplies.”

==============================================

When Kagome regained consciousness, she was in a completely different place. Her vision was still blurry—all she could make out was a wooden floor beneath her, and a hearth a few feet away. She tried to reach up to rub her eyes, but her arm wouldn’t move. She blinked, but her eyelids were so heavy. That was the only movement she could manage, and it was like trying to lift blocks of concrete.

My body… I can’t move…! She could feel her heart pounding in terror. She was trapped, in the worst way possible.

That guy—the “Poison Master” guy—he was a member of the Band of Seven. He’d done something… She could hear him, a few feet away from her, cackling in a way that made her stomach turn.

“We’re surrounded by a barrier of poisonous gas,” He uttered as he moved closer to her, “no one can disturb us!”

If she could move her face, she would have winced in disgust. This guy was creepy to the extreme—she knew in the back of her mind that if Luna were here, she would’ve kicked the absolute crap out of him. Kagome wanted to, too, but…

The Poison Master—Mukotsu, that’s what his name was, wasn’t it?—he kept chuckling as he grabbed Kagome’s chin. “Such a rare beauty—I’m so fortunate getting married to such a pretty girl~”

MARRIED? Kagome felt sick.

“You see, believe it or not,” Mukotsu reached up to remove the cloth mask covering most of his face, “there are some that find me unattractive.”

And no wonder, she thought as she was able to take in his full visage. He looks like a toad!

Kagome had no option but to physically abide by the “bridal preparations”; she felt like a ragdoll. It was humiliating. Surely her friends were coming—lord knows Luna would tear the countryside apart just by herself to find her, and if Shippo went to get Inuyasha? Kagome knew she was going to be okay, eventually, but she wasn’t about to just sit here and let this creep treat her like an object.

I have to find a way out of here, she thought, resolute. But how…?

She couldn’t move her head more than a little, but as Mukotsu was trying to dance her around for a “Marriage Ceremony” (gross), she caught sight of something glinting in his neck.

That has to be a Jewel Shard! If I can just get it somehow… Now she had to figure out how she was going to do that. Thankfully, the Universe provides. Mukotsu returned her to the floor after their “marriage dance”, this time directly facing the hearth, and she saw her opportunity: sticking upright out of the ashes was the fire poker. Now if I can just grab it...

Then, like a miracle, help finally arrived. “Arrived”, meaning “crashed through the roof”, but her friends and her sister arrived all the same.

“Kagome!” She heard Sango’s voice first, right next to her. Her friend helped her roll over, and from there Kagome could see her sister and Miroku: Luna had her crossbow ready to fire, pointed at Mukotsu—and she had on this odd-looking mask. Something from her arsenal, no doubt.

“Kagome, are you alright?!” That was Miroku.

There was a click as Luna drew back the crossbow’s string, ready to fire. “Get the fuck away from my sister.” Her voice was gravely steady—she almost didn’t sound like herself.

“How dare you interrupt our wedding ceremony!” Mukotsu grabbed one of his poison jars.

“Oh, so you wanna die, then!” Luna snarled.

Sango stood, quickly drawing her katana and brandishing Hiraikotsu like a shield. “Luna, leave him to me! Get Kagome away!”

No time to argue. Luna growled and stooped to grab her sister, just as Mukotsu unleashed the contents of the jar. Kagome watched Sango and Miroku stagger back, before Luna rolled her out of the way.

As the poison billowed around the room, Kagome felt her fingers regain some motor control. As her sister pulled up the hood of her flannel shirt to try to shield them from the cloud, Kagome managed to tug on it.

“The Shard…” Kagome managed to utter. “In… his neck…”

She saw the realization in Luna’s face, and the older girl nodded. “Got it, aim for the throat. Try to hold your breath, sis, I’ll have everyone out of here in a sec.”

“Those masks of yours won’t help!” Gloated the Poison Master, “This poison enters through the eyes and skin!”

“God damnit!” Kagome could only watch as her sister swore and staggered. Sango and Miroku had already fallen to the floor, and Luna was clearly not going to last much longer, either.

I have to help! Steeling her resolve, Kagome forced her hands to move. Come on, body… move! She pushed herself up just enough to grab the poker from the fireplace.

// ~ ~ ~ \\

Luna refused to crumble. She stood between her sister and Mukotsu, stumbling and shaking but still able to raise her crossbow. But with her arms getting weaker by the second, aiming steadily was getting pretty damn hard. Still, if she could just hit the bastard…

She was only able to let off one bolt, and the force of it sent her staggering backwards, until she stumbled into the wall and hit the floor. She felt sick; she doubled over onto her hands and knees, her vision drifting between blurry and straight up red. She was not going to be defeated by this lowlife.

You keep fighting, kid. No matter what happens, you keep fighting.

The voice echoed in the back of her mind, a voice she knew all too well. Her arms couldn’t hold her up anymore, but as she watched Mukotsu get closer to her sister again, she pushed herself away from the wall. Tears in her eyes, she struggled a few feet across the floor on her stomach to grab her crossbow again. She saw her sister, finally getting her strength back, stab the motherfucker in the throat. She wanted to cheer for her, but that would have to wait.

Mukotsu smacked Kagome back to the floor, which only fueled Luna’s rage. Her crossbow was ready to fire—but damn, she couldn’t see through the cloud of poison! It was starting to fog up the face shield on her mask, making it even harder to aim. But with the fucking creep trying to choke her baby sister out, she had to fight.

Dammit!

Luna took a deep breath, ripped the mask off, and got in position to aim—which was a tall order. Everything was fuzzy and she was mere seconds from passing out. She saw the light of the jewel shard (was that what that weird glow was?) and aimed for it. She only had one shot, it had to be enough. She hoped it would be enough. She let the bolt loose… and heard Mukotsu cry out.

She could barely see, barely breathe, barely move—but… wait… that glow wasn’t the Jewel Shard after all, was it? This glow was a sickly sort of green. And there was a lot of white behind it. Was she… was she seeing things? Was that….

“Kags…” Her voice was weak as she tried to crawl toward her.

“Luna…!” Kagome was still just as weak, but managed to shift toward her sister.

“Tell me, is Inuyasha here?”

Kagome turned back toward the powerful demon who stood over them, completely unaffected by the cloud of poison. Luna followed her gaze, and for a second she thought she was hallucinating; she could’ve sworn, even in her delirium, that she saw the bolt she fired buried deep in Sesshomaru’s shoulder. The end of it was letting off little sparks of purple light that quickly faded—but Luna’s vision was finally going out. She could hear her sister calling her name one more time before she fully passed out and crumpled to the wood floor.

[ghostofbrock]

venomous words

on a rainy afternoon in new jersey, the kids didn't have an option to go outside or not since they knew how strict their mother was on days like this and how their father would react if he saw mud tracked into the house. they'd be toast with the chancla.

so ellie played with her barbie dolls on the carpet in the living room floor with a small smile on her face, giovanni sat on the couch and watched over his baby sister while trying to look for something to watch in netflix, specifically a movie. luke and auggie were upstairs in their room playing whatever the newer generation was into. the two boys were in sweats that had crumbs on them since the boys were munching on potato chips as they played their game. their mother had just arrived from long and stressful day at work, she sat in her car for a minute or two to collect herself before entering her home where her babies and husband would be waiting for arrival. well maybe just her babies... once again.

she covered herself with her purple umbrella since it was pouring rain as she got out her car, closed the door and locked it before walking to her front porch that wrapped around the house. she closed her umbrella as soon as she was covered by the porch's roof. she grabbed her house key out of her pocket and opened her door.

"mom's home!"

she hasn't stepped foot into her home and she was already called out by her kids. luke and auggie jumped out their beds and ran downstairs as soon as they heard their older brother yell. ellie dropped her doll and skipped over to her mommy as gio stood up from the couch and walked over to her.

as sara closed the door behind her and turned around, she was attacked by hugs all over her body. from her thighs to her shoulders, her children had her trapped in a loving hug.

after she kissed them each and asked about how their day went, they went back to what they were doing before she came home. later they were expecting a home cooked meal that she always provided for them since mattia rarely cooked for them nowadays and sara didn't like having her kids eating fast food all the time either for their health. at times it was acceptable but if they didn't need to eat it then they wouldn't.

sara was now sitting at the island that was in the kitchen, she opened the bottled water she grabbed from the fridge and took a sip.

"how was work?" her oldest son's voice came from behind her. he walked from behind her to next to her and leaned against the marble island. "stressful. overwhelming. busy. i don't know how i'm gonna do it..." she rubs her temples with a groan. "don't over work yourself, ma. you got this, you always do." gio rubs his moms shoulder softly and flashed her a smile. a smile that made her feel better and made her smile.

"i know it's just that i wanna do as much as i can for this project. i've worked my ass off for years for this to finally happen and i'm so close. only a few more months of ridiculous amount of stress then i'll have my own clothing line." a weak smile formed on her lips, gio's heart swells at the sight. he knows how much his mom has been wanting this but he also knows how much she can overwork herself.

"isn't dad helping you with any of it? he said he would, right?" gio asked with his mother with hope as she took another sip of her water. "uh yeah. he is but there's certain things he can't help with." she gave her son a tight smile laced with lies.

truth is mattia hadn't even talked to sara about her huge project that she has been working on for over a year now. he thinks his wife can do it herself because of how strong she is but little did he know how weak she was getting from handling everything by herself. she was never the one to ask for help but this time she did ask for help from her husband but his answer?

"you're being dramatic"

so she never asked again and instead asked her close friends who were of course open to help with anything she needed. she knew that the kids had brought up the project while they talked to mattia recently either at dinner or something similar. and being the good father mattia is he had to lie because he knew if his kids found out their parents weren't helping each other out then they'd question why and jump to conclusions which leads to arguments and picking "sides".

"oh yeah. i've been helping her with scheduling everything and keeping the tabloids updated. she's not as stress thanks to me."

sara would just simply nod and give a small nod to the kids and glare at mattia who just rolled his eyes at her.

"like what?" gio asked. "it's personal business stuff, g. don't worry about it, okay? i'll be fine. but did your dad take you guys out for breakfast like he said he would?" she changed the subject with a smile.

gio avoided eye contact with her which she automatically meant no.

"h-he just forgot. that's all." he stuttered a bit. sara tried to remain as calm as she could. she didn't want to lash out in front of her baby and took a mental note to talk to mattia tonight about not taking the kids out for breakfast.

"you don't have to lie to me, ya know? i won't get mad at him." she sighed and gave her son a reassuring look. "when i woke up this morning he wasn't here. he sent me a text as well saying that something came up and he had to go meet up with his manager for a gig." he simply explains. "so i made breakfast for us instead and lunch too. he sent us money for post mates but i was just mad-" he stopped himself from venting to his mother about his father.

"i didn't use the money. that's all." he shrugs as sara looks at him with sympathy.

"he promised me that he'd try hard for us. to try being more involved... why would he lie?" gio claps his hands together. "sometimes work gets in the way of things, honey. trust me if he could clear his schedule for a whole week just to be with us he would, okay?" the fact that sara was defending mattia wasn't something she wanted to do.

she had to because she didn't want her son to think bad about his own father, she was trying to protect at least both of them.

after their little conversation sara made dinner while the kids were being entertained by the activities they were doing before she got home. as sara looked over at the clock, she sighed.

it was seven o' clock and mattia still wasn't home. usually he'd send his wife a text saying that he was going to be home late but when sara checked her phone she had no new messages. the kids were now sitting at the table with their mother. she sneaked a quick text to mattia before eating with her babies.

sara: are you on your way yet?

she got no response after she sent it. she called twice and still nothing. she was beyond livid at this point. first, he didn't take the kids out for the day, then he doesn't respond to her text or calls her back? this was the third time this month that this occurred. she didn't show it but she was pissed off at dinner and while she tucked this kids into bed.

"is daddy gonna tuck me in too?" ellie asked as she held onto her stuffed giraffe. "yes, baby. of course. when he gets home i'll tell him to come and give you a kiss, okay?" sara's soft voice said as she placed a strand of hair behind her ear. ellie simply smiled at her mother.

"goodnight, angel. te amo." sara kisses ellie's nose. "buenas noches, mommy. te amo mas." the two giggled. once sara finishes tucking in her kids, she goes to her bathroom to take a shower. she then changed into some house shorts and one of mattia's shirts that fit her like a dress.

she went to the living room and ate ice cream as she watched good girls. without even knowing it, she fell asleep on the couch. she was woken up by someone whispering her name softly and rubbing her cheek gently with their palm.

she opened her eyes to see mattia with a smile. oh how much she wanted to wipe that stupid smile off his stupid face.

"did you make dinner?" he questions her. "yeah. we ate already so i put your plate in the fridge. now if you excuse me i'm going to bed." she was too tired to deal with him right now. she would have to be up bright and early tomorrow for meetings and such so she just didn't want to argue with her husband right now.

she got up from the couch and tried walking away but mattia reached out for her hand to stop her.

"you guys didn't wait for me? what happened to family dinners?" he asks with a pout as he held her hand. she quickly glanced at the clock on the wall for a time check.

2:34 a.m.

"i was not gonna wait till now to eat with you and neither were the kids, mattia. family dinners means that everyone has to be here at reasonable times." she sighs and glares at him. "where were you anyways, mattia? it's past midnight and you barely got home." she questions quickly and changed the subject.

"i was out. it's not a big deal, babe." he scoffs at her.

"not a big deal? if it's not a big deal then why can't you tell me where you were?" she remarked quickly and crossed her arms over her chest.

mattia gives her a look, as if she was crazy or something. all she wanted to know was where he was at, what was so hard about that?

he started walking to the kitchen, sara quickly followed him.

"sara, i've had a long day. please don't start with me right now..." he huffs as he opens the fridge and grabs his plate of cold food. "says the guy who comes home late smelling like alcohol and cigarettes." she looks at him from across the island.

"i didn't do shit! all i did was go to a bar with alejandro and alvaro after i finished my meetings. they drank but i didn't because i knew you'd react like this and treat me like some kid!" he was getting frustrated with her at this point, he showed it by banging his fist on the island. his breath reeked of alcohol so she was even more pissed off that he was lying to her about drinking.

"all i wanted to do was come home to my wife and kids. a nice home cooked meal and after the kids go to bed and we all settle down, maybe some good sex with my wife but i can't have that can't i? ever since you've gotten this attitude all you ever do is complain! you're on bitch mood twenty four seven, sara!" he was now raising his voice at her.

sara had no energy to argue with him right now. literally nothing left. she had a long day, she just wanted to sleep. she looked at him with tired eyes, she scanned his facial expression and saw the anger he always had all of a sudden now. right now she ignored it and walked away, but he didn't let her.

"where the fuck are you going?" he turned her around a little bit too rough. "to bed, mattia! i'm too tired to deal with your bullshit right now." she stated as she tried not to yell at him.

"whatever. go ahead, walk away. that's all you're good at since you can't do anything right. you definitely can't be a good wife." his words felt like knives. she felt like her heart was getting stabbed completely, over and over again.

she walked off, pretending that what he just said didn't phase her and went upstairs quietly so she wouldn't wake the kids.

little did she know, gio was hiding behind a pillar near the stairs where he heard everything.

she went to the room which she shared with her "husband" and jumped into bed. she laid in bed for a minute, thinking about what mattia said. his words repeating in her head like that one song that could never get out of your head.

"you definitely can't be a good wife."

those venomous words scared her pretty much. she couldn't believe he said that... why would he say that? was she really not a good wife? what was she doing that made her so horrible to him? was it the kisses? was it her cooking? was it her looks? was it the sex? the constant need of having him around? what was it?

whatever it was made her feel like she wasn't good enough which was not the case.

sara was always good enough.

she cried herself to sleep that night. and hours later she felt his presence next to her body, his arms wrapped around her keeping her warm but it didn't make her feel loved like it usually did. no, she had a different feeling. she felt like she was in bed with a stranger. why was she feeling this way? shouldn't she be happy that he was still willing to sleep in the same bed with her?

all the questions she thought of made her feel more insecure, not about herself but about her marriage with the man she loved so much. the last thing she wanted was to lose him, it would ruin her.

she hopes for an apology of some sort. perhaps a date to make it up, she'd be willing to forgive him. she knows he lied about not drinking, mattia could never say no to not have a beer or three with the boys. he wasn't thinking straight, she knows her husband too well.

he just didn't want to admit that he was drinking because he didn't want to feel more guilt than he was already feeling since he missed out on dinner.

so the next morning she was woken up by the smell of pancakes and bacon. she went downstairs and saw gio and mattia cooking at the stove, auggie and ellie coloring on the table while luke looked sleep deprived as he walked into the kitchen with his mom.

"morning, amor." mattia walks over to her holding a plate of stacked pancakes with all the works. he bends down a bit to kiss her oh so sweetly, they both smile into the kiss. "i handled everything you needed to do today so we can all spend quality family time and to start off the day i thought of making breakfast." he hands her the plate where she takes it and sits at the table. once everyone is served the all began to eat.

"you have to cook more, pop. these smack!" auggie speaks as he licks his lips. "maybe i will." mattia laughs as he looks over at his son. "how'd you sleep, ma?" gio asked simply. the way he asked her sounded like he knew something (which he did since he heard what his father told his mom last night) but no one thought too much of it.

"good, baby." she lied with a smile. gio could tell that she was lying but he wasn't going to confront her about eavesdropping on her and mattia.

they all ate breakfast in peace and with joy. gio couldn't stop looking at his mom and dad. especially, his mom since she seemed so happy. didn't mattia's drunk words hurt her? was she really pretending that nothing happened between her and her husband? he couldn't believe she was still protecting mattia after what he told her.

"what's up with you?" luke nudges his older brother's elbow slightly. "what?" was gio's response. "you keep on staring at mom. i get that she's beautiful but it's starting to look weird now. quit it." luke let out a dry chuckle after he spoke.

gio just rolled his eyes and finished his breakfast. once the family finished eating they were told to get ready for a day out. mattia said that he'd be taking them out to the carnival since it happened to be in town.

"hey, can we talk?" mattia closed the door behind him as he walked into his bedroom. sara was sitting at her vanity deciding what necklace to wear that she had in her jewelry box.

"yeah, what's up?" she nods and turns her body to face him. he sits in the edge of their bed as she sat across from him in her spinning stool.

"first off, i want to apologize for last night. i know i should've gave you a heads up about dinner and coming home late. yes, i did drink and i didn't mean any of what i said. i was drunk and stupid. i'm sorry, mamas." he gave a look filled with guilt and he really didn't mean those things that he told her last night.

"tia... i accept your apology, okay? you just had me worried because you weren't texting or calling me back. and i just had a stressful day overall yesterday." she sighed. "i know, baby. you shouldn't be overworking yourself either. i also took the liberty of organizing all of your meetings and handling the little things for your project. i know you've wanted this for the longest time and i hate to see you so worrisome about the little things, babe. i wanted to help you." he explains which made her heart feel a certain way. only he was able to give her that feeling as crazy as it sounds.

"i really do have the best husband in the world, huh?" she giggles. "and i have the best wife ever. being all sexy and shit." he winks at her which makes her blush.

"come give me a kiss." he adds and she obeys. she gets up from her chair and straddles mattia's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and plays with his hair. she dips her head down, he catches her lips with his own. the kiss was soft and sweet, all of their worries seemed to wash away. almost as if all their problems went away as well... boy were they in for it.

[cocastyle]

Change - Ch. 1 | S E V E N

Pairing - Bill Denbrough x reader

Word Count - 4,475

A/N - it’s been a bit hasn’t it? I’m so sorry for the semi-long wait! it’s getting near the end of my basketball season so I’ve been busy with senior night (which went great but was very emotional) and trying to wrap the season up while also juggling the mounds of homework my teachers have thrown at me. anyways, here’s an update for you all! I really hope you like it! and for those reading Wonderwall (my Steve Harrington rewrite) I’m currently working on an update for that as well!

if you all would like to be added to the tag list, let me know!

C H A N G E

Change Series Masterlist

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - *

S E V E N -  Pictures

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - *

Y/N was silent as she held onto her cousin's arm, standing close to him due to the bit of fear coursing through her body. Her eyes flickered over the missing poster in front of her, the name Edward Corcoran and the words 13 years old standing out almost as much as the thick bold letters spelling out missing.

Edward had been her age, a kid just like her and all of the other members of the Losers' Club. What had happened to him was still unknown, but Y/N couldn't stop thinking about that clown that not only her, but Bill, Beverly, Stan, and Eddie had seen as well.

"They say they found part of his hand all chewed up near the standpipe," Stan muttered as he shuffled awkwardly where he stood. His words made Y/N gulp and she gave him a questioning look as to why he would say something like that as she let go of his arm. Stan only gave her a look in response, confused by what she was doing.

"He asked to borrow a pencil once," Ben commented, and Y/N felt like she might be sick. Something about knowing that they had known Edward made the situation that much more real. After all he was a boy that had used to walk the same hallways as her cousin. He wasn't the first one to disappear like this and it didn't seem like he was going to be the last.

A commotion coming from the steeet caught Y/N's attention and she turned her head to lock eyes on Richie who was currently playing one of the band kid's instruments while the kid desperately tried to wrestle it out of his hands. The corners of her lips tugged up ever so slightly as she watched Richie, her eyes then flickering over the parade going by before a movement out of the corner of her eye had her turning back to the others.

Bill was walking towards the flyer and he hesitated before gently lifting the paper up to reveal another missing flyer for a girl named Betty Ripsom. Bill sighed before letting his eyes flicker over to his friends, his gaze instantly locking with Y/N's.

"It's like she's been f-f-forgotten because Corcoran's missing," Bill said, his words making Y/N frown slightly and look to her feet while Bill hung his head and put Edward's flyer back down.

"Is it ever gonna end?" Stan questioned.

"What the fuck, dude?" Richie's voice could be heard yelling out in frustration as the band kid tore his instrument away from the boy before running away.

"What are you guys talking about?" Eddie asked as he came up behind Y/N. The girl jumped in surprise and Eddie flashed her an apologetic look as he licked one of the ice cream cones in his hands.

"What they always talk about," Richie replied in annoyance as Eddie handed the boy the other ice cream cone.

"I actually think it will end, for a little while, at least," Ben told them.

"What do you mean?" Beverly asked, everyone's eyes now on the young boy.

"So I was going over all of my Derry research and I charted out all of the big events. The Ironworks explosion in 1908. The Bradley Gang in '35 and The Black Spot in '62. And now kids being. . ." Ben trailed off as his gaze fell on Bill. He quickly looked away and sighed as he said, "I realized this stuff seems to happen-"

"Every 27 years," Ben, Y/N, and Bill all uttered in unison, Y/N and Bill both making eye contact as those words left their mouths.

It was silent as the group stood there before Y/N shook her head and whispered out, "Shit." All eyes turned to the girl who put a hand to her head almost in pain before she turned and began to walk away, the action causing them all to look at her confused.

"Y/N?" Bill called out, his voice soft and filled with concern.

"I. . .I just need to sit down," Y/N replied with a wave of her hand as she walked down the street. The others all shared a look before quickly following after her, not wanting her to be alone.

Before long, the group had ended up sitting down at a park bench set up in the middle of town. Beverly, Stan, Mike, and Ben all sat on the green bench while Richie, Eddie, and Bill were seated on their bikes. As for Y/N, she was sitting on the ground by Bill's side.

She was resting her head against Bill's leg, something that hadn't gone unnoticed by Bill or Stan, and was pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried to wrap her head around everything that she had been told over the past couple of days and everything that she had witnessed since she got here.

Derry was definitely a little stranger than the last time she had been there that was for sure.

"Ok, so let me get this straight. It comes out from wherever to eat kids for like a year and then what? It just goes into hibernation?" Eddie finally asked

"Maybe it's like. . .what do you call it? Cicadas. You know, the bugs that come out once every 17 years," Stan suggested while Y/N removed her hand to scrunch up her nose and look to her cousin.

"I don't think it's that," Y/N muttered with a shake of her head. Cicadas and kids going missing were not the same thing at all.

"My grandfather thinks this town is cursed. He says that all the bad things that happened in this town are because of one thing. An evil thing that feeds off the people of Derry," Mike explained.

Y/N's stomach grew queasy again and she let out a soft groan as she laid back against Bill's leg, the boy reaching down to brush some of the hair out of her face almost automatically before the two shared a small smile.

"But it can't be one thing. We all saw something different," Stan pointed out.

"Maybe. Or maybe It knows what scares us most and that's what we see," Mike suggested.

"But I don't. . .I don't fear my father," Y/N argued.

"Did he do or say something that scares you?" Mike asked, wondering if it wasn't Y/N's father that scared her but something else that he might've done or said.

Y/N's face fell at that and a flash of pain flickering across her face before she looked down, the sudden realization of what fear her father was supposed to represent hitting her harder than she had expected. For one of the things she feared most in the world was being the reason her parents split up and for being the reason her family wasn't a family anymore.

It didn't take much for the others to know that she had realized what her fear was, but Eddie knew she wouldn't want to talk about it and was quick to speak up, "I-I saw a leper. He was like a walking infection." Everyone's gaze turned to him and Y/N gave him a thankful smile which he returned.

"But you didn't. Because It isn't real. None of this is. Not Eddie's leper or Bill seeing Georgie or Y/N seeing her father or the woman I keep seeing," Stan insisted, the others all looking down as they tried to believe Stan's words. For it was better to think that they were all hallucinating than to know that something out there was changing into their worst fears.

"Is she hot?" Richie suddenly asked in pure curiosity that made Stan scrunch his nose up in disgust and glare at his friend.

"No, Richie. She's not hot. Her face is all messed up," Stan explained with a tad bit of aggression while Richie frowned. "None of this makes any sense. They're all like bad dreams."

"Nightmares," Y/N whispered, her face pale as she ran a hand through her hair. By now she was thinking of all of her fears and what It could do to her that she was more frightened now than she had been five minutes ago.

"I don't think so, I know the difference between a bad dream and real life, okay?" Mike told them, the seriousness in his voice making them fall quiet.

"What did you see? You saw something too?" Eddie asked.

"Yes," Mike muttered, his head falling as his eyes glazed over as if he were seeing the memory before his very eyes. "You guys know that burnt down house on Harris Avenue? I was inside when it burned down. Before I was rescued my mom and dad were trapped in the next room over from me. They were pushing and pounding on the door trying to get to me. But it was too hot. When the firefighters finally found them. . .the skin on their hands melted down to the bone."

A heavy silence fell among the group and Mike let his eyes flicker over each of them before firmly saying, "We're all afraid of something."

"Got that right," Richie said causing Y/N to look to him.

"What about you, Tozier? What are you afraid of?" Y/N asked, her voice soft as she looked to the boy. He glanced down at her for a second before sighing and looking back at the stage behind them which had a clown on stage.

"Clowns."

- - -

Bill let out a small sigh of frustration as he struggled to keep the blueprints on the wall from moving as he pinned them up. Before he could yell at one of his friends to help him, a small and gentle voice said, "Here, I'll help."

Bill didn't even have time to blink before Y/N was sliding up beside him to hold the paper up while he was able to pin the blueprint to the wall. Once it was secure, the two brought their arms down and looked to each other. "Thanks," Bill whispered before the two smiled softly at each other.

"Okay, lovebirds! If you aren't going to fucking kiss then sit down!" Richie exclaimed in slight amusement and annoyance, a few chuckles escaping his lips at the sight of Bill and Y/N blushing a deep red before they walked away from the blueprint.

Mike pulled the door to Bill's garage down while Eddie flipped on the projector that Bill had him set up. The Losers then all crowded around the projector while Bill put a slide in. Y/N and Bill locked eyes for a split second before Y/N quickly turned away and sat down beside Eddie on the floor, the boy sending a small smile in her direction which she quickly returned before they looked to the blueprints which had a projection of an old Derry map on top of it.

"Okay. Look. That's where G-G-Georgie disappeared. There's the Ironworks and the Black Spot. Everywhere It happens it's-it's all connected by the sewers and they all meet up at the-" Bill began as he pointed towards the spots marked on the map.

"The Well House," Ben said in surprise.

"Well House?" Y/N questioned, not knowing what they were talking about.

"That's the house on Neibolt Street," Stan explained, his voice shaking slightly as he spoke.

"You mean that creepy-ass house where all the junkies and hobos like to sleep?" Richie questioned while Eddie began to panic. The boy quickly pulled his inhaler out and took a hit before breathing heavily beside Y/N. The girl frowned and was quick to put a hand on Eddie's back, gently rubbing up and down his back in a comforting manner and helping the boy to calm down.

"I hate that place," Beverly admitted. "Always feels like it's watching me."

Eddie was finally able to calm down enough to sit back up straight and he leaned into Y/N's touch slightly, seeking the sisterly comfort she seemed to be giving him and that he used to receive from her when they were younger.

"That's where I saw It," Eddie told them. "That's where I saw the clown."

"Tha-tha-tha-that's where It lives," Bill concluded, the statement being enough to make Eddie use his inhaler once again.

"I can't imagine anything ever wanting to live there," Stan muttered.

"Guys," Y/N said in warning as she noticed Eddie's panicking state, but the boy was already jumping to his feet and turning to look at his friends.

"Can we stop talking about this?" Eddie asked. "I-I-I can barely breathe and-and-and Y/N's not even able to calm me down like she always does. It's summer. We're kids, I can barely breathe. I'm having a fucking asthma attack and fuck doing this!"

Eddie turned around and quickly grabbed ahold of the blueprint map that Bill and Y/N had just put up and ripped it off the wall. "What the hell! Put the map back!" Bill yelled while Eddie shook his head.

Y/N sighed and quickly got up from her spot before walking over to the boy. "Eds, it's okay," Y/N assured him while the boy watched her wearily.

"Woah! Woah! Woah! How come she gets to call you Eds without you biting her head off?" Richie complained.

"Because she's not an asshole like you!" Eddie exclaimed while Richie frowned and muttered something under his breath.

It was at that moment that the projector flickered on and off, the slide changing to a blank one and causing the group to look to Bill who was staring at the projector confused. The projector did the motion again and a picture of Georgie and Mr. Denbrough appeared in the place of the map. Although this time everyone had noticed that Bill hadn't been the one to change the slides.

"What happened?" Bill asked confused as the slides moved again, family pictures of the four Denbroughs appearing before them. "What's going on?"

Eddie slowly began to back away while Y/N merely looked at the pictures in confusion before looking back at Bill. "Bill, what's happening?" Y/N questioned.

"I don't know," Bill shook his head as Mike came over and tried to stop the projector only to find that he couldn't. His eyes then flickered up to the screen and he muttered, "Guys. . ."

Y/N turned back around and watched as pictures of Bill and Georgie appeared on the screen before there was another family picture of the Denbroughs. Although this time it began to zoom in on Georgie in the picture with each click of the projector.

"Georgie," Bill muttered before the projector began to move faster.

"Uh. . .Y/N," Stan said in a panicked voice as he noticed that his cousin was still so far away from him.

However, everyone fell silent and seemed to become mesmerized as they watched the picture suddenly shift view over to Mrs. Denbrough. For a moment it seemed as if her hair was moving with each click of the projector and it didn't take Y/N or the others long to realize that it was moving with each click.

The hair quickly covered his mother's face before slowly starting to move away. With each click, the new face began to be revealed and Y/N felt her breath hitch in her throat once she realized the clown was suddenly coming into view.

It was like she was frozen in terror, the only thing registering in her head was her friends yelling out as they desperately tried to stop the projector.

"What the fuck?"

"It's It!"

"What the fuck is that?"

"I don't fucking know!"

"Turn it off!"

"Yes, turn it off!"

Mike was the one to react and he quickly kicked the stand the projector was on, sending the projector tumbling to the ground. The picture appeared again only the clown was now gone and all that was left was the empty background of the picture.

Y/N was breathing heavily as she finally blinked out of whatever trance she had been in. Her body was shaking as she looked back at the others with wide eyes only to find them all looking behind her with wide eyes before Bill looked to Y/N in fright and yelled out, "Y/N, get away!"

Y/N felt her whole body tense at that and for some stupid and unknown reason she decided to turn around only to find that there was nothing there. Her shoulders relaxed slightly and she went to turn back at her friends only for the clown suddenly to appear out of no where, it's body now ten times bigger and crawling out of the projected image.

A scream fell from Y/N's lips as the clown turned to look at her and she heard Stan cry out her name among the scream of the others. That was enough to have her moving and Y/N tried to scramble away only for something to grab onto her leg.

Y/N quickly slammed into the ground and turned only to find that It had ahold of her leg. Another scream left her lips and tears were filling her eyes by now as she felt an immense pain in her leg.

It let go of her for a split second and Y/N tried to crawl away as best as she could while It just watched her in amusement. She didn't know what her cousin or her friends were doing at that moment, but for a split second she thought that they had left her and that she was going to die.

Y/N was crying as she crawled across the floor only to get trapped in the corner of the garage while It stared directly at her, his hand outstretched in her direction as he went to grab for her.

"Y/N!" Bill's voice yelled out before he was suddenly grabbing onto the garage door and flinging it up, allowing the light to pour into the garage. The clown disappeared almost immediately and the last thing to be heard was an ear piercing scream from Y/N as she huddled more into herself in the corner of Bill's garage.

Once nothing came for her, Y/N allowed her eyes to flicker open only to find the garage was now empty. This alone was enough to make her break down and Y/N began to sob as she hugged her knees close to her body, the others all standing there breathing heavily as they tried to process what had just happened.

Bill was the only one unfazed and shoved past Stan who was staring at his cousin with wide eyes, a look of pure horror on his face as he had almost seen his best friend die before his very eyes and hadn't been able to do anything about it.

Bill was in front of Y/N in seconds and the girl didn't even hesitate before lunging forward and into Bill's arms, the boy holding her tight while she cried into his shirt. He tucked her head under his chin and cradled the back of her head against his chest as he gently rocked her back and forth, whispering softly to her that she was okay while she cried in his arms.

"It saw us," Eddie whispered once Y/N's cries has quieted. She was still holding onto Bill tightly, the boy having not loosened his grip at all either, but the two turned their gazes to Eddie who was gripping onto his inhaler. "It saw us and It knows where we are."

"It always knew," Bill muttered, those words making Y/N quiet once again. Bill looked down at the girl and his mind was instantly made up on what had to happen next. He gave the girl one last squeeze and even kissed the top of her head before reluctantly pulling away from her, ignoring the heartbroken look in her eyes as she desperately tried to keep hold of him.

Bill stood up and glanced at Stan who took the hint and rushed over to his cousin before helping her up onto her feet. Bill was just about to walk out when he heard a hiss from behind him that had the boy turning around to see Y/N turn her leg for them all to see. He, along with all the others, paled at the sight of two long scratches down the back of her leg, blood rolling down her leg and making Eddie stumble back slightly from the sight.

"Shit," Richie muttered, his eyes filling with concern as he looked at Y/N and gulped.

Y/N's injury only seemed to fuel Bill's rage and he shook his head before storming out of the garage with a new purpose. "Let's go," Bill demanded.

"Go? Go where?" Beverly asked.

"Neibolt," Bill explained and, not wanting to admit his feelings for Y/N and how desperately he wanted to kill that clown for harming her or his brother, added, "That's where G-G-Georgie is."

"After that?" Stan asked appalled as he held his cousin up steady beside him. "After Y/N just got hurt?"

"Yeah, Y/N's hurt and we should help her. Besides it's summer, we should be outside. . ." Richie said.

"If you say it's summer one more f-f-f-fucking time," Bill muttered before letting his eyes flicker over his friends. Each one of them obviously wanted to stay right where they were and it made Bill even angrier than he already was. But then his eyes had landed on Y/N and his face softened ever so slightly as he noticed the utter pain in her eyes as she tried to limp forward and to him.

Shaking his head and knowing that not only would his friends not come, but that he couldn't allow Y/N to face that clown again, Bill turned around and grabbed his bike before beginning to bike away.

"Bill?" Y/N called after the boy, shoving Stan's grip away from her as she desperately tried to limp forward as fast as she could just to stop the boy from leaving by himself. "Wait!"

But Bill was already gone.

- - -

It took a minute for Y/N to convince Stan to let her on to his bike and another few minutes of convincing Eddie to allow her to leave with only a bandage lazily thrown over her wound, but the group was eventually biking after Bill side by side until they reached the Well House. Y/N could see Bill walking up the old stairs and her eyes widened before she yelled out, "Bill!"

Bill turned around in surprise, his eyes locking on Y/N who struggled to get off Stan's bike before she limped over to the stairs as fast as she could, wincing as she did. "Bill, you can't go in there," Y/N pleaded as she reached the stairs. "At least not alone."

Bill looked to the girl with surprise still evident on his face but it quickly washed away once he heard Beverly cry out, "This is crazy." Beverly and the others were behind Y/N in seconds and Bill frowned as he looked at the group.

"Look, you don't have to come in with me, but what happens when another Georgie goes missing, or another Betty or another Ed Corcoran or one of us? Are you just going to pretend it didn't happen like everyone else in this town? Because I can't. I go home and all I see is that Georgie isn't there, his clothes, his toys, his stupid stuffed animal but he isn't. So walking into this house for me. . .it's easier that walking into my own," Bill told them, his voice steady although he had tears in his eyes.

Bill then turned and finished walking up the stairs while Y/N watched him go with a sad look on her face. Her leg was on fire, but she didn't care at the moment because all that mattered was Bill.

"Wow," Richie muttered.

"What?" Ben asked.

"He didn't stutter once," Richie pointed out.

No one made a move to go after the boy and Y/N glanced at her friends before shaking her head and limping over to the stairs. It was a struggle to get up the stairs, but now that the adrenaline was coursing through her body and the initial pain of the injury was gone, it was bearable enough for her to be able to get through the pain for this.

Bill heard the footsteps before he could get to the door and he turned, his face softening at the sight of Y/N limping up the stairs. He didn't even hesitate before going over and holding a hand out for her. She took it and he helped her up the rest of the stairs before she stumbled slightly into him. Bill was quick to steady her and the two stared at each other in silence before Y/N gave him a small nod and whispered, "I'm with you."

Her words were enough to make Bill smile and his heart couldn't help but skip a beat as his feelings for the girl grew even more. He couldn't even find it in himself to tell the girl she couldn't come, for the way she looked at him dead in the eye and the seriousness of her voice was enough to tell him that she really would be by his side through this all, that she wouldn't let him do this alone even if she was hurt.

Y/N eventually tore her eyes away from Bill and looked to the others almost pleadingly and it didn't take much more than Bill's words and Y/N's pleading stare to have them start moving toward the stairs.

"Wait!" Stan cried out, instantly stopping everyone in their tracks. "Uhhh, shouldn't we have some people keep watch. You know, just in case something bad happens?"

Y/N didn't blame her cousin for not wanting to go into that house. After all, a small part of herself was telling her to grab her cousin and get on his bike before pedaling far away. But something was stopping her from doing so and she actually found herself wanting to go in there and kill that clown herself.

"Wh-Wh-Wh-Who wants to stay out here?" Bill asked and everyone in the group except for Bill, Beverly, and Y/N raised their hands. Richie was the first one to notice this and sighed as he lowered his hand.

"Fuck."

* * *

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[aishterukii]

It takes a couple minutes, but Chuuya and Dazai finally make it to the dojo. It was oddly quiet except for the sound of the sprinklers.

Dazai lets out a low whistle at how huge the whole thing is.

Chuuya taps his foot impatiently, "Well?"

Dazai lets out a yawn and considers the man beside him.

Chuuya's looking at him expectantly, most likely waiting for answers.

Dazai sighs, "I don't know what you want me to tell you."

Chuuya glares at him, "Bullshit. How did you know about the Underground?"

"Mmm, everyone knows about the Underground."

"No," Chuuya stresses, "Not everyone. At least not to the point that they'd be familiar with the type of poison they use and how to make an antidote for said poison."

Dazai hums, "I suppose you're right."

"As for the antidote... Well I did make the poison after all, so of course I'd be able to make something to counter it."

Chuuya splutters, "You what?!"

Dazai raises a brow, "I made the poison myself, is chibi deaf as well?"

"Bastard," Chuuya grits his teeth and grabs the lapels of Dazai's coat, "Just who the hell are you?"

Dazai smiles serenely but doesn't offer any explanation.

Chuuya's about to press him for more answers when the rustle of leaves catches his attention.

Chuuya immediately lets go of Dazai and drops into a stance.

Dazai looks at him weirdly when suddenly four kids leap from the bushes and comes charging towards Chuuya.

A kid was about to attempt to land a kick when he sees the bandages and immediately halts

"Wait!" The kid yells and the other three freeze in their steps.

"What the heck Raku, we almost had him!" A boy groans

Rakurai turns to the other three and frowns, "Sensei's injured!"

"Injured?"

And suddenly, all four children huddle towards Chuuya to inspect the bandages.

A girl then turns to Dazai and squints at him, "Did you do this to our sensei?"

Dazai let's out a surprised chuckle and was about to kneel down to pat the girl we she suddenly grabs his hand and twists her body, and next thing Dazai knows, he's down on the ground.

Chuuya snorts, "Alright, that's enough. But good work, Akane."

Akane lets go of Dazai and bows before rushing towards Chuuya.

The children all inspect Chuuya's wound but he brushes their worries off, "It's fine, nothing bad. That man over there is Dazai Osamu."

"He," Chuuya hesitates, "He saved me, I guess."

"And your sensei tried to knife me but that's neither here nor there," Dazai huffs but smiles genuinely.

Chuuya rolls his eyes, not unkindly, and then looks over at the kids, frowning when he notices one of them was missing.

"Wait, where's Kyouka?"

Akane sighs, "She's with the Sōke. She's locked herself there ever since you didn't show up two days ago."

A boy tugs at Chuuya's sleeve, "Where has sensei been? We wanted to look for you but the Sōke didn't want us to leave the dojo."

Chuuya tenses as all four children look at him expectantly.

"Why don't we go inside first? I'll tell you all about it after I speak to the Sōke."

"Is sensei going to be teaching us today?"

"If the Sōke permits it--"

Chuuya suddenly doubles over and clutches at his wound.

"Sensei? what's wrong?" the kids all cry out as Chuuya grits his teeth to keep from screaming.

"Hold on, let me look at him," Dazai's immediately by Chuuya side and was making quick work of unwrapping the bandages. He curses and turns to the kids

"Help me get your sensei inside. We need to lay him down so that I can help him."

The kids look at him warily before nodding. Rakurai, Takiyo, and Eiko assist Dazai in lifting their sensei while Akane clears the entrance to the dojo.

They carefully lift Chuuya and lie him down on a makeshift bed made out of paddings and Dazai checks his kit to make the antidote.

The last thing Chuuya thinks of is how odd it is to see panic on Dazai's face before everything goes black

................

Even without being told who the woman in front of him was, Dazai could tell she was dangerous.

Kouyou takes one last glance at Chuuya's sleeping figure before turning her full attention to Dazai.

Dazai explained what had happened after giving Chuuya another dose of the antidote

"Why isn't the antidote working?"

Dazai ponders over this, "His body's having a hard time taking in the antidote, the poison they used this time was much more severe than I had expected."

Kouyou frowns at that and thinks over if the doctor should be trusted or not. He was, after all, a former member of the Underground and she had other children under her proteci. Was it worth the risk to trust the doctor to make sure Chuuya gets healed?

Twitter poll:

>Ask Dazai to leave

>Ask Dazai to stay

Twitter poll is still on going! Please head over to twitter if you want to vote (link in bio)

**phew! That's the longest update I've ever done. also, thank you so much for the support this au has received!

**special thanks to @redzeverin for allowing me to borrow their boy Rakurai for the au! We'll be seeing more of him soon ♥️

[video-killed-the-radio-host]

Heartbeats on the Airwaves ch10

so uh long time no chapter huh? It has been like six months since I’ve updated this so uh....yeah.

Carlos didn't want to leave Cecil's bedside, but he had a job to do. He needed a shower and to check on his patients. He also needs a super strong coffee.

Kevin only left Cecil's bedside to go to work. Cecil's sister Abby had shown up after she got off work, promising that her husband Steve would be by with Janice when she got out of school. Carlos stops and squeezes Kevin's shoulder as he passed. The half asleep dancer gives a small smile before closing his eyes once more. Carlos then drops a kiss on top of Abby's head but the blonde was dead to the world. He gave a small smile before stepping into the hall and closing the door softly behind him. 

He heads straight to the locker room and strips down, showering quickly before changing into new scrubs. Then he heads to the cafeteria. He hated their coffee but it didn't feel right to go to Earl's coffee shop without Cecil. With a grimace, he downs most of the coffee before stepping into the elevator. He rids up and steps out into the nurses station, spotting one of his best friends, Alec Stewart leaning against the counter. He looks up as Carlos approaches. 

"Hey Mendez. Heard about Cecil. How's he doing?"

Carlos sighs a little. "No change."

"Oh man. That sucks."

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

"You could give your baby sister a hug." A new voice says behind the pair.

Carlos turns with a gasp. "Dee! What are you doing here?"

"Well I heard about Cecil and I know that you try to carry it all by your lonesome but I won't let you. Not this time. Because this is a big deal."

"Dee-"

"Don't you 'Dee' me. I'm here for you so c'mere." She holds out her arms. "Let your guard down for a minute."

Carlos walks into the hug, holding her close. She hugs him tightly. 

“He’ll be okay.” She murmurs.

“He has to be. Because I don’t know what I’ll do if he’s not.”

“You won’t have to know because he will get better. He’s too stubborn to die and too stubborn to let his bitch of a boss have the last laugh.”

Carlos gives a tiny smile. “You are absolutely right.”

“I know I am. Okay I have to go sleep. I’m exhausted but I had to see you. Can we do dinner later? Tonight maybe?”

Carlos gives a  chuckle and a nod. “I get off at six. I’ll pick you up at six thirty?”

“Fine by me, But no pizza this time. I had it everyday the past week. Perks of being a college student I suppose.” Dee says with a sigh and a yawn. “Okay, I’m gonna go before I pass out right here on the floor.”

“I’ll see you tonight.”

“Don’t be late!” Dee called over her shoulder. 

Carlos watches as Dee disappears into the elevator before turning back to Alec. The peds surgeon raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Carlos asks.

"You didn't tell me your sister got all the looks in your family. You've been holding out on me Mendez." 

Carlos rolls his eyes. “Watch it. That’s my baby sister you’re talking about.”

“You think she’d go out with me?” Alec asked with a raised eyebrow. He pushes off the counter and stretches his arms up over his head.

“You can ask but don’t come crying to me when she rejects you.” Carlos grins. “Oh the new class of interns starts today.”

“New blood! This is going to be fun. Does Rochelle know?”

“If she didn’t last night, I’m sure she does now.” Carlos chuckles and shakes his head. “Come on. They’re waiting and I have patients to check on.” He glances over his shoulder toward Cecil’s room once more before following Alec.

-----.-----

Lauren drums her fingertips on the shiny top of her desk. The fact that Cecil was comatose and not dead really put a damper on her week. And where was Tyler? This is the second time he's stood her up. He was probably at that club again with that whore. Men, as a whole, were a disappointment. With a sigh, she stands and leaves the office. She pulls out her phone as she walks, dialing Tyler’s number. Voicemail. Damnit. She grips the phone with the urge to throw it. She calls again. Voicemail. Again. This time, she does throw it. The phone hits the wall across the lobby and  clatters to the ground, making interns scatter.Fine. I’ll find him myself.

-----.-----

Kevin scans the room as he moves across the stage. He wonders if Tyler is here right now. Suppressing a shudder, he drags one hand down his torso as he rolls his hips. Hooking his thumbs under his shorts and leans back against the pole, his eyes still scanning the room. There. In the corner. Tyler was sitting, watching him and sipping idly on what was likely whiskey. Going through the dance muscle memory so he doesn’t really notice as he moves, anxiety spiking. Before he knows what is happening, his hand slips and he’s falling. He hits the ground, back first. He groans softly in pain before forcing himself to go on, switching from the choreographed dance to improve to cover up the fall. He pushes his hips up, climbing up the pole elegantly until he was upright again. Tossing out a flirty smile, Kevin bends at the hips, brushing his fingers through his hair before twisting a lock around his finger. He’s trained to keep his expression happy, hiding the pain. That seemed to work well., No one seemed worried. Near the stage, was a bachelorette party. Maybe that was his salvation. His safety net. When his song ends, he leaves the stage and makes his way over to the group. Just before he gets to the table, an arm around his waist pulls him away. His brain’s first response is that it’s Tyler and fight or flight. Then realizes if he fights, Tyler will hurt him more. 

Kevin is pulled gently into a room that he didn’t recognize but was likely a break room of sorts. He looks around in confusion. “W-” He turns and his gaze falls on one of the bartenders. The other man is a little shorter than Kevin himself but muscled enough he can easily take Kevin down without much trouble. His salt and pepper hand was a bit messy, likely due to moving quickly behind the bar. 

Kevin backs away, a new fear filling him. The room was empty except for the two of him and the bartender had shut the door. “I-I’m-”He swallows quickly. “Please ...don't….”

“Woah hey.” The bartender says gently, putting his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He moved to the sink and gets a glass of water, offering it to Kevin. Kevin slowly takes it, deciding it best to not make this man mad. He sips at the water, not realizing how dehydrated he was until then.

“I should probably explain.” The bartender gives an embarrassed laugh. 

Kevin is quiet, watching him. The room was cold unlike the rest of the club so at this point so Kevin was covered in goosebumps and shivering slightly. 

“I’m Charles, head bartender but that’s...not really important. Um...the reason I pulled you away is because I was worried about you.”

“Why?”

“Because I saw how you looked at that guy in the corner. You were obviously terrified. I’ve also noticed that’s not the first time he’s been in here or how’s he’s treated you.” Charles pauses. “I saw how you looked when you left last week after he…..requested you.” He said ‘requested’ as if it were a question.

“I can take care of myself.” 

“I ...don't doubt that. But I figured if I can save you for one night, I should.”

“I don’t need your help. I can handle bad patrons. He’s not the worst I’ve had.” A lie, but Charles doesn’t need to know that.

“I’m only trying to help.” Charles puts his hands up. 

“It’s the bouncer’s job to keep me safe. Not the bartender’s.” Kevin says flatly, despite being actually grateful to be pulled away. 

“How about the owner’s?” Charles asks with a raised eyebrow. 

Kevin laughs. “Why would the owner care? I’ve never even met the guy.”

Charles chuckles in amusement before opening his wallet and offering a business card. Kevin takes it due to curiosity. That curiosity dies as Kevin reads the card. The color drains from Kevin’s face as he looks back up at the other man. 

“I-I-I’m…” Shit. Panic starts to fill Kevin. Shit. Shit. Shit. “P-please don’t fire me. I need this job. I’m sorry. Please don’t fire me.”

“Kevin.” Charles settles his hands on Kevin’s shoulders. “I’m not going to fire you.”

“You aren’t?”

“No.” Charles laughs softly. “I’m giving you the night off.”

“But....”

“Hm?”

“As much as I’d love to accept, I have to work tonight. My brother is in the hospital and his insurance isn’t the best…”

“Tell you what. Why don’t you go get dressed? I’ll take you to breakfast and comp you for tonight.”

Kevin studies Charles for a moment, suddenly self conscious. “I’m not going to sleep with you.”

Charles laughs again. “I didn’t expect you to.”

Kevin studies him for a moment more. “Alright.” He stands. “I’ll meet you out front?”

“I’ll be there.” Charles nods as Kevin leaves the room. 

Kevin steps into the hall and takes a deep breath. That was a terrifying experience. With a sigh, Kevin starts towards the changing room. He’s almost there when he feels a hand slap his backside. Kevin jolts and turns quickly. The hall is empty. Weird…. Shrugging it off, Kevin pushes into the dressing room. He quickly  changes from the pastel yellow short shorts and starts to unwind the thin criss crossing sash wound around his chest and torso. He coils it in his palm and puts both pieces and the pair of gold stilettos in his locker before changing into a pair of old jeans and a soft dark green t-shirt with a honey bee on it. He ran his fingers through his hair, watching the glitter rain to the floor, turning over his hand in front of his face. Well Charles is going to have to deal with it as he didn’t trust the showers here. 

Finally stepping into the hall, Kevin had stuffed what tips he had into his wallet and starts to make his way up front. He is almost there when he feels his backside grabbed again. He turns and catches his assailant that time. He looks up, and up again. Up into Tyler’s face. Tyler wore a smirk as if to say “what are you going to do about it?” along with his usual threat still hanging over head. Kevin presses his lips together, debating if he wants to retort or not. 

“Why are you so dressed down? Hiding the goods?” Tyler stepped forward, forcing Kevin to take a step back “You should dress like the whore you are.” He reaches for Kevin again but Kevin steps aside and out the door quickly. The door nearly hits Tyler but unfortunately doesn’t.

Once outside, Kevin looks around before finding Charles standing nearby with a cigarette. He turns toward Kevin with a small smile. “Ready?”

Kevin gives a small nod and looks back toward the door. Does he tell Charles what happened? Probably not important. Worse things have happened to him than getting grabbed by some asshole and being called a whore. Clearing his throat, Kevin gives a small smile. “Ready.”

(I promise to touch on the short Lauren scene in the next chapter)

[jennsmischievousmind]

EXSOMNIS

CHAPTER 1 - OATH OF HIPPOCRATES

Exsomnis: Wakeful, Vigilant

Summary: Fresh Doctor out of residency you didn't expect Conyers to be this uneventful until everything happened at the same time. From the outset, an odd meeting with what seems like a steadfast Detective but it was only the beginning.

Notes: English is not my native language, I'm trying to get better at it, please be indulgent.

Based on the movie Prisoners by Denis Villeneuve (so I don't own any of the OG characters) if you haven't seen it, I recommend you do (maybe before reading) :) The story takes place before and through the event in the movie.

“Incoming, male 22, shot in the thorax, GCS 2”

“Trauma 4 Dr. Izzy you’re on it.”

“Incoming, same site, female, 35, shot in the leg, no artery touched, police officer GCS4.”

“Trauma 2 is free”

Night shift in the E.D was on for eight hours straight.

“Evening Dr. Y/L/N.”

“Evening Erin, updates?”

“Well, we’ve got 2 gunshot victims whom just got in, they’re being take care of. The young Alisa with the addiction is, unfortunately, ready to get discharged and Mrs. Huston is …“

“True to herself I presume” ... we both sighed, she nodded

“I’ll check on her, you patted her shoulder, thanks.” You took a tablet checking Mrs. Huston, our backslider, last results.

“This man has to be handcuff right now!!” You turned around at the loud voice echoing in the E.R waiting room. The head nurse bumped into you.

“That’s the officer who brought the two shotguns, victims.” Your attention returned to the tablet.

“Well he must shut it, it’s a hospital, not a sports bar.” She looked at you embarrassed, you saw another nurse looking at him but trying to make herself busy.

Putting the tablet in your pocket you head to the waiting room.

“Sir, I need you to stay quiet please.” you saw the hospital security guy coming your way, but gently dismissed him.

The officer looked at you visibly annoyed, he blinked a few times in a matter of seconds. Your attention got caught when he stumbled on his side.

“Sir? Are you all right?” You caught him by his side and he hissed. Retrieving your hand, finding red stains on it, you lift his jacket.

“I need a treatment room!” You yelled, and ask a nurse for help, rushing the officer in the E.R.

“Treatment 1, Y/N” the head nurse pointed at your left.

He looked down at his stomach, a gash of blood was staining his light blue shirt.

“Shit!” He growled as the nurse helped you lay him down.

“I don’t have time for this.” He hissed trying to stand up.

“And I don’t have time to argue with you!” You pushed him back on the bed. Putting your gloves on.

“I won’t let you bleed out on my shift.” He sighed as the nurse cut down his shirt and tank top.

“Knife wounds.” He sighed as you inspect his chest and abdomen. He had two on the abdomen.

The adrenaline must have been enough for him to not feel them until now.

“You’ll need stitches.” The nurse prepares the stitches kit and she sanitizes the wounds.

“Won’t be the first.” He groaned you checked his vitals while the nurse prepared him.

“Dr. I need your nurse, is it okay with you?” The head nurse came in a rush.

“Yeah yeah, thanks Gail.” She let you the kit. One of his wounds was pretty low on his abdomen, genuinely you grabbed his belt to undo it.

“What the …!” he caught your wrist.

“Sorry, should have asked, I must lower your pants to reach the wound.” He didn’t answer anything, looking at you pondering if he really had to, he yields undoing his belt on his own. You lowered the pants as much as you needed, his dignity remaining intact.

“You’re lucky he didn’t stab you lower, you would have bled to death.”

“So much for reassuring your patient Doctor” he inhaled, a smile creeping on his lips.

“Yeah, well, sorry about that.” He smirked and hissed as the thread pulled the nerves.

You finished stitching him up in silence as he wasn’t much of a talker, but it didn’t bother you as you were not the best at small talks either.

“There you go. Try not to move too much, you need some rest officer.” You threw your gloves in the bin.

“Thanks, doc.” You finally took a good look at him. Sleek black hair, thick eyebrows, dark circles under two bright blue eyes, thin lips and a sharp jaw. He reached out his hand, that you shook, blinking multiples times again.

“My job. Do you want a hospital gown?” You asked him gesturing at his bare torso.

“No, thanks, I have a shirt in my trunk.” He hoped down the bed.

“Careful with those stitches, please. You’ll have to come back in a few weeks to get them removed. If you need anything for the pain…”

“I’ll be fine.” He grabbed his jacket and put it on with your help, his other hand on his stitches, he leaned forward and walk out the treatment room.

You shook your head and went to the main desk. Typing in your last entry, still filing up his charts you saw him pulled out his phone.

“No phone in the E.R.” you pointed at the sign on the doors. He looked at you then to the sign then back at you and finally head to the waiting room. A nurse approached you, multiple IV bags in her arms.

“Thank god I didn’t get to take care of him.” You turned your head to her wondering. She might have felt she said something wrong, as she stuttered an explanation.

“Well, he ... he is pretty stubborn, not the first time he shows up wounded and don’t want any help.” She grimaced, you suppressed the urge to roll your eyes at her.

“He is indeed.” You past by her, heading to the waiting room.

Patting on his shoulder as he was still on the phone you handed him a note and a painkiller prescription. The note reminding him how many times he had to change the gauze etc. You lock your gaze with his, in a way to make sure he’d got it. He was still listening to whoever was on the phone, and nod at you, somehow you stared at him longer than necessary. You mouth a goodbye raising your hand turning back to the E.R. immediately wondering what exactly got into you.

“Yeah, can you repeat that please I didn’t ... get it.” He talked to the phone, looking back at the note you gave him.

A few hours later you were finally on break. Erin had just got hers, she slumped into the seat next to you, she hummed at the smell of the fresh cup of coffee. Night shifts are not always the easiest, keeping up a healthy lifestyle when you’re pretty much a bat is not the best deal. Erin sighed loudly.

“Like you said.” You sipped on your ginger tea.

“I’ve heard you’ve met the infamous Detective Loki?” She asked putting down her mug. You opened your resting eyes, arching a brow at her, she had straightened up suddenly refreshed.

“Oh yeah, the stubborn guy! He's a detective?” you frowned.

“So?” She wriggled her eyebrows at you, finally getting what she meant you sighed.

The thing with Erin is that she knew you well, you’ve been to med school with her back in Cleveland and since you’ve arrived in this little town, she had tried to hook you up with every man in uniform she thinks you’d like. Firefighters, policeman, surgeons, etc…

“Come on, I’ve seen the man 30 minutes top.”

“That’s quite enough to tell if at least physically, he’s interesting you.”

“Are you listening to yourself? He must have someone you know.” You scoffed

“Whatever. Tell me honestly, how you found him?” She leaned on the table.

You sighed leaning back, stretching your legs. Reminiscing the encounter.

"He is … good looking, I don’t …, you know the nurses fear him, right?

“Hm hm? So what?” She urged you to continue.

“I don’t know why they do though. His eyes look sad but ... sweet in a way, you scoffed at your own sentence, give me an anesthetic I'm talking nonsense."

Erin giggled as you went on.

“We stared at each other for a few seconds back in the waiting room.” You took a gulp of hot tea.

“I bet it was awkward”, her shoulders rising.

“Don’t tell me, I felt like a deer caught in headlights. It was ridiculous.”

She smiled brightly, you knew what she had in mind.

“Don’t you dare.”

“What, I didn’t say a thing!“

“I can hear your mind plotting, stop that.” You menaced her with your index. She sing-song a not so sincere okay.

Chapter 2 - Red Light

[jbankai89]

Never Let Me Go [22/37]

A/N: This is the final chapter of part one of Never Let Me Go – The Omega's Fate. I'll be taking a break for the Saturnalia season, and I will be back with Part II: The Alpha's Bane on January 7th—as of this update, I'll be moving over to Sunday updates due to internet connectivity issues. Until my return from my mini hiatus, please enjoy this early chapter! :)

Chapter Twenty-One – Flight

The atmosphere the following day was tense—far more tense than Yuri had expected it to be.

Early that morning, Yuri, his grandfather, Otabek, and Minami all piled into Otabek's old Honda, a beat-up and unassuming vehicle he had tucked away in one far corner of his expansive garage. Nikolai took the wheel, while Minami perched himself in the passenger seat, and Yuri and Otabek cuddled up together in the back.

It felt a little strange to be curled up with Otabek in front of his grandfather (or behind him, as the case may be) but at the moment, Yuri could not find it in himself to care very much, not when their future was so deeply uncertain.

“I'm going to miss you, Beka,” Yuri mumbled softly, and reached for the alpha's hand. He offered the limb to him freely, and they laced their fingers together.

“I'll miss you too, Yura,” Otabek murmured, and kissed his temple lightly. “But it's only for a little while. Then you'll come back, if you like, and we can do whatever you want, whether it's get together, stay apart, whatever. It's up to you.”

“The first one,” Yuri mumbled as he tried to shift closer to him, despite the fact that he was already more or less in the alpha's lap. “Definitely the first one. Will you call, or text, or anything? You will, right?”

“I don't know if that's such a good idea, Yuri,” Otabek replied while he reached up to stroke the omega's hair, “the whole point of this is to give you space from me, to decide for yourself what you want to do with your life. If we're talking, I don't think you'll be able to do that.”

“Oh.” Yuri frowned, and pressed his head against Otabek's shoulder. The alpha fell silent, his hand still tangled in Yuri's hair, and they watched the scenery pass them by.

“I'll wait for you if you want me to, Yuri,” Otabek murmured after a few minutes, “but I want you to live for you first. Do you understand?”

“I think so,” Yuri mumbled sadly as his fingers tensed around the edge of the leather jacket that Otabek wore, “I just hate how complicated this is, you know?”

“I know, sweetheart,” Otabek murmured as he kissed Yuri's temple again, and pulled him a little closer, “believe me, I know.”

The quartet drove for another few kilometres before Otabek directed Nikolai into a narrow dirt road in the middle of the woods. It was so off the beaten path that had they not been looking for it, there was every chance that they would have never found it. At the end of it, they found a tiny, shabby log cabin, the heavy snow on the roof of it making it look like an iced cake. Next to it was a car, similar to the one they were seated in in the sense that it was an anonymous sort of vehicle, and inside of it Yuri could see Viktor, Yuuri, and Phichit waiting for them. The two alphas were in the front seats, while Yuuri was in the back, more or less pinned down by his enormously pregnant belly, making him look very much like he had stuffed a huge balloon under his parka.

Minami regarded the vehicle nervously, his eyes fixed upon Phichit, who seemed to be determinedly staring at his knees as they made their approach. Yuri abandoned his cuddling with Otabek to reach forward and take Minami's hand, and the other omega squeezed Yuri's hand tightly.

Nikolai killed the engine and everyone got out of the pair of cars—except for Yuuri, who opened the door, but didn't get up.

Minami stood next to Yuri, their hands twined together and Minami's overstuffed backpack hanging precariously off his shoulder. He rocked on his feet nervously like a diver about to jump, his gaze flitting frequently to Phichit, who still seemed to be trying to keep from looking at him—with little success. The expression the alpha bore, Yuri noted, was not one of the usual possessive lust that he'd grown accustomed to seeing upon the faces of alphas when presented with someone or something that they wanted. Instead, it was a sweet sort of longing, which made Yuri confident that Phichit would continue his Perfect Gentleman routine long after he'd left Minami's side.

“You ready, Minami?” Viktor asked kindly as he held out a welcoming hand to him, but Minami shrunk back instinctively, tucking himself into Yuri's side like a nervous child. Viktor's warm smile fell, and he dropped his arm. “I'm sorry, did I scare you?”

“I don't—I mean...” Minami trailed off and clutched to Yuri more tightly. “I don't know if I can do this,” he whispered to Yuri in a rush, and he stared up at  his companion with a terrified look in his eyes.

“C'mon, Minami,” Yuri said encouragingly while he wrapped an arm around the younger omega's shoulders and slowly led him to the back seat of the car where Yuuri was waiting. “You can do this. It's only for a little while, after all. All the doors at their house have locks on them, and Yuuri will be there to keep you safe—and you know he's the best momma bear out of the lot of us.”

“I'm tired of being baby bear,” Minami mumbled sourly, to which Yuri couldn't help but laugh a little.

“Then show us all how tough you are, and do this despite being scared,” Yuri encouraged gently. “Sometimes being an adult means doing things you really don't want to, and you know Yuuri and Viktor wouldn't let anything happen to you, or let anyone touch you without your consent, right?”

“Right,” Minami mumbled, though it sounded as though he didn't really believe it.  

Yuri coaxed the nervous omega the rest of the way to the side of the car, and Yuuri got to his feet with an audible groan. Despite being just past twenty weeks he was already huge, which, Yuri supposed, was to be expected, given that he was carrying multiples.

“Minami-kun,” Yuuri greeted warmly as he tugged the omega in for a hug, which Minami returned. He murmured something to the younger omega that Yuri didn't catch, but he assumed that it was some sort of reassurance, given the way Minami smiled weakly and nodded. Both Phichit and Viktor kept their distance as Yuuri guided Minami into the back of the car before he turned back to Yuri, and offered him a watery smile.

“Well...I guess this really is goodbye,” Yuuri said, blinking rapidly as he spoke, but it did little to stop the tears from falling. “I'm going to miss you, Yurio.”

Yuri's bottom lip trembled, and he tugged Yuuri into a hug before he spotted the way Yuri, too, was close to tears.

“Take care of Minami,” Yuri whispered to the other omega. “He's really physically starved for affection, and he'll probably need someone close by tonight—another omega, not an alpha.”

“I'll spend the night with him if that's what he needs; I won't let anyone hurt him, I promise,” Yuuri replied softly, “not Phichit, not Viktor—not even Makkachin. I'll protect him.” Yuuri pulled back, his eyes glassy, and he smiled at Yuri warmly. “You just worry about taking care of you, and take tons of pictures of Iceland to show us, okay?”

Yuri nodded, uncertain if his voice was up to working properly, and Yuuri dragged him in for another tight, bone-crushing hug.

“I think I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow,” Yuuri murmured in a soft, cracked voice, and Yuri cursed as he felt tears begin to streak his own cheeks.

“Fuck, and I w-was trying to be strong...” Yuri choked out, which made Yuuri laugh warmly as he rubbed his back.

“Don't worry, I won't tell. Be safe, okay?” Yuuri said, and Yuri nodded a little, sniffling as he rubbed roughly at his cheeks with his sleeve.

Yuri paused for one last hug goodbye from Minami and a very awkward handshake from Viktor, which, Yuri noted, seemed to make Otabek visibly uncomfortable, despite his clear efforts to not act on the reaction. He shifted from foot to foot as he eyed Viktor darkly, and Yuri bit the inside of his cheek in an effort to curb his temptation to egg Otabek on. Instead, he tucked himself into Otabek's side, which seemed to calm the alpha's domineering instincts, and they rejoined Nikolai at the car.

Yuri and Otabek returned to the back seat, and as Nikolai started the engine and backed out of the little space, Yuri turned to watch Minami, Yuuri, and the others until they were completely obscured by the trees, then eased into Otabek's side while he directed Nikolai towards the airport, despite the fact that there was still nothing but a single stretch of highway, bracketed by thick woods. Yuri knew that the others would wait until they were long gone before leaving so as to not arouse suspicion by anyone who might be watching, and as a result, did not look for them, instead choosing to curl into Otabek's side and savour what little time they had left.

“After I'm gone, where will you go?” Yuri asked suddenly, as the trees around them slowly began to thin, and the city skyline began to form in the distance.

“Hm?”

“You said you were going to...um, lay low after I left. Where will you go?”

“Viktor has a lodge up north,” Otabek replied as he ghosted a kiss to Yuri's forehead. “It's fully stocked, electricity, WiFi, everything I'll need, and with the unpredictable weather I could get snowed in and the ORO wouldn't be able to investigate until spring, so I'll have a few months in seclusion to try and get this mess worked out.”

“I know you want us to not stay in contact, but could you just promise me one thing?” Yuri asked, his small voice, the note of uncertainty in it, it seemed to give the alpha pause as he gazed at Yuri curiously.

“Anything,” Otabek replied almost immediately, and Yuri couldn't help but smile a little.

“Just...let me know that you got there safe. We can cut contact after that, but I just want to know you got there in one piece. Please?”

Yuri's eyes were wide and pleading, his lower lip caught between his teeth, and to the omega's complete surprise, Otabek did something then that Yuri did not expect.

He laughed.

It was not loud and exuberant, and in fact barely counted as a laugh at all. However, from someone like Otabek, who was normally so reserved, it was just as good as the biggest, loudest laugh in the world.

Otabek's lips stretched into a warm smile as he reached out to cradle Yuri's cheek.

“How could I say no to such a sweet face?” he asked rhetorically, and leant in to peck Yuri's lips lightly. “All right, I promise to let you know I got there safe, but that's it.”

Yuri smiled as he arched up to kiss Otabek again, but this time, there was a distinct ache in his chest as well, for on the horizon he could see the city lights getting closer.

~*~

The airport was huge.

The only place Yuri could think of that was possibly bigger than the airport's interior was Otabek's house, and even then it was a fairly close contest.

Everything was white and grey, the massive passageways were dotted with duty-free shops as well as a number of restaurants and cafés, and the ceilings were so high that Yuri had to squint to properly see the scaffolding.

“First time in an airport?” Otabek teased as an arm looped around Yuri's waist, and the omega felt the colour rise in his cheeks.

“I always looked at this place in the distance, but I never went in,” Yuri said, a note of awe in his voice as they walked. “I mean, it's not like I could ever afford to go anywhere, so I just...”

“So you just never went in?” Otabek asked, “not even to look?”

“No,” Yuri replied as he shook his head, “I would get so depressed at the thought of not being able to escape here just by looking at the place, I figured it'd be worse if I actually went inside. Plus, airports are like the first place House Catchers look for runaways, so...”

“Well, you're escaping now,” Otabek said with a small smile as he leant in to kiss his temple. “To a brand new life.”

“Yeah,” Yuri replied as he leant into Otabek's embrace, “I am.”

Yuri and his grandfather hung back a little while they went through the checkpoints and customs, allowing Otabek to take care of it all for them. Part of Yuri still balked at the idea of letting an alpha take control like this, but a larger part of him felt warm and safe at the concept. He was taken care of.

It was a nice feeling.

Yuri's right hand strayed to his abdomen as he watched Otabek talk with the clerk, for the first time remembering what had occurred the night before.

Are you in there, kid? Yuri wondered idly, if anything bad happens, I'm counting on you to keep us safe. I won't let them hurt us, but you gotta do your part too, okay?

Yuri almost laughed out loud at the internal conversation, and dropped his arm just as Otabek turned back to them, and reached for Yuri.

Otabek wrapped an arm around the omega, and leant in to kiss his cheek. He faltered, his lips hovering close to his face, and Yuri blinked up at him.

“Something wrong?” Yuri asked, and Otabek smiled as he shook his head a little.

“No. I thought...but, never mind. Let's go.”

With Otabek's arm securely around him, he led them farther into the airport.

Once they reached their terminal, Yuri and Otabek sat down together in the crowded waiting area, still entwined in each other's arms while they stared at the gate door like it was a fearsome beast.

Yuri didn't want to go, but he knew better than to voice it. Once again Otabek would explain to him how he had to go, for the sake of his own brain or something. Instead, Yuri shifted closer to his alpha, and heaved a soft sigh and he clung to him.

“I know you don't want to go, Yura,” Otabek murmured suddenly, as though he'd been reading Yuri's thoughts, “but it's for the best. Even if I had not been worried about your mind, with the ORO looking for us, it's better that we split up, even if it's temporary. We're just too easy to spot together...”

“You keep saying, it's for the best, but it doesn't feel like it...” Yuri mumbled miserably, “I just found this, found you, and now I have to let it go? It's not fair.”

“I know, baby,” Otabek said as he kissed the top of Yuri's head, “I'm sorry, but it's for the—”

“—for the best, I know,” Yuri replied grumpily, and Otabek chuckled warmly.

“You're adorable when you're grumpy, do you know that?” Otabek asked as he kissed Yuri's cheek, and the omega's expression soured a little.

“Shut up,” Yuri replied without any real venom, and elbowed the alpha lightly. He chuckled warmly, and kissed Yuri's cheek again, making Yuri laugh along with him.

“Otabek, Yuratchka,” Nikolai said suddenly, his voice soft but sharp with warning. Both young men turned to him, and his expression was deeply grave. Yuri swallowed nervously as he gazed at his grandfather. Barring his initial removal from his home at sixteen, he could not recall the last time Nikolai had looked so grave.

“Do not panic,” he whispered, more to Yuri than to Otabek, “and look over there.”

He nodded to the left side of the terminal, and when Yuri looked over, he inhaled sharply.

A suited man, clearly a government official, was striding directly towards them with police in tow.

Yuri lurched forward to bolt, but Otabek's arm around his waist stopped him short.

“Don't. Panic.” Otabek's hissed words did not comfort Yuri at all, and he could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest, and began to hyperventilate as he stared wide-eyed at the approaching figures.

Otabek did not speak, but slowly and carefully drew the grey hood of Yuri's hoodie over his head, and helped him to stand slowly and casually as though they had not noticed the men. Entwined like a pair of lovers, Yuri and Otabek made a show of meandering towards where the bathrooms were. At the same time, Otabek pulled on his sunglasses, and tensed his arm around Yuri in silent reassurance.

“It'll look too suspicious if we both put on sunglasses,” Otabek explained softly as they moved, “just stay calm and hold tight to me. I won't let anything happen to you.”

Yuri nodded a little, and breathed slowly in through his nose and out through his mouth, using the even breathing as an attempt to stay calm—though Yuri did not feel as though it was helping very much. Yuri continued to hold tight to Otabek as they moved, and struggled with the temptation to look back and see how close the ORO people were.

“Don't look,” Otabek said urgently, once more as though he'd read Yuri's mind, “just keep walking.”

Otabek picked up his pace, and Yuri stumbled a little as he hastened to match the alpha's stride. They moved past the bathrooms, around a sharp corner, and Otabek tugged Yuri into a small alcove out of direct view. He put a finger to his lips, signalling for Yuri to be quiet, but even as he did so a shadow cast over the pair of them, and they froze.

Yuri didn't want to look up. He knew exactly who was standing there, he knew that they had been caught, and Yuri did not want to know it. At the same time however, it was as though he had lost control of his own body, and despite his reluctance, he slowly flicked his gaze upwards.

Standing there was the ORO officer, staring at the pair of them calmly with a vague, placid smile upon his face. He was flanked by two police men, both of whom were thick with muscle, and were smirking at them nastily.

“You didn't seriously think such a juvenile trick would work on us,” the man said gently, almost sweetly, “did you?”

“Yura, run!”

Otabek shoved Yuri hard, but in the alpha's panic he was not watching what he was doing as carefully as he should have been, and wound up pushing Yuri directly into one of the police men. The omega yelped as his arms were pinned at his back, and he immediately stomped down on the policeman's foot, but it did not help to slacken his hold. Yuri glanced up at Otabek, hoping to see him running away and saving himself, but unfortunately he, too, had been caught by a police officer. His teeth were clenched with anger, and his arms, like Yuri's, were pinned at his back.

“Beka!” Yuri cried as he tugged at the hold he was caught in, but as before, he found himself stuck.

“Oh, how sweet,” the ORO man cooed as he stood between them. “Another one of those silly couples who think they are above the law...” he stepped over to Yuri and tugged down his hood, and brushed his hair away from his throat. He then removed a strange contraption from his pocket, like a thermometer, but with a wickedly sharp needle affixed to the end of it. Yuri paled, but it did not stop the man from opening the sweater, yanking down one sleeve and pushing up his T-shirt to expose his shoulder.

Yuri yelped in pain as the needle was jammed into his arm. Tears sprung to his eyes as the man held the needle in the muscle until it beeped before he pulled it out. He ignored the faint trickle of blood that had begun to stain the sleeve of Yuri's T-shirt while he consulted the little machine, and smirked to himself.

“Just as I thought,” he pronounced to their tiny group, and Yuri paled as he realized what the machine must do.

No, he thought in a panic, don't say it, please, don't tell him...!

“Pregnant, and no bonding mark,” the man proclaimed, and Yuri looked past him to Otabek, who had gone very white. “Goodness me, you really have no concept of our laws, do you? Did you think we would be kinder, gentler, to a whore omega who happened to be with child? There are ways to train you that are just as effective without harming the life within you, you silly omega. I wonder, did you manipulate this alpha into fucking you while in heat, or was it a joint venture?”

He looked between Yuri and Otabek curiously, and Yuri watched as realization and heartbreak settled in Otabek's eyes. Yuri tried to catch his gaze to silently explain that no that was not it, he was not simply another fuck, but Otabek would not look at him. Otabek's gaze was fixed firmly upon the floor of the airport as he blinked, and Yuri watched, horror-struck, as tears streaked the alpha's cheeks.

“Beka...” Yuri whispered weakly, but Otabek did not look up.

“You will both be taken in,” the official proclaimed, drawing Yuri's attention once more, “Yuri Plisetsky, you will undergo retraining, and once your bastard child is born, it will be given up for adoption before you are reassigned to an Omega House. Otabek Altin, you are to be incarcerated in a re-education centre for the term of one year, and you are barred from seeing Yuri Plisetsky or your unborn child for the remainder of your lives. Take them.”

“No, no!” Yuri cried as he struggled against the hold when the policeman began to lead him away. “Beka! Beka!”

Otabek kept his head bowed, and went with the policeman willingly while Yuri continued to struggle.

He did not look up.

End of Part I

A/N:  Just to be clear, I am fairly certain (people who have had babies can correct me if I'm wrong) that in the real world the day after is way, way, way too soon to determine whether one is preggo or not. But, consider this a sci-fi quirk, haha. Also, from here on out, the warnings and tags are going to spike. I'm sure you guys can assume I'm not exaggerating, and when this mini hiatus is over I'll still have trigger warnings on specific chapters, but given that I'm writing and posting this roughly at the same time (which is something I don't normally do) there isn't as much advance warning for certain things. I would therefore highly recommend that when the next update for this comes out, double check the overall tags if you're worried about being triggered. There will be a shitload of mental and physical abuse in detail in the coming chapters, so I don't want to accidentally trigger someone who may skim over author's notes.

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