#that she was already fired up today cause of another manager and such

[ilkkawhat]

i'm already trying to talk myself out of working tomorrow fuck!!

[keirareidss]

scary dog privileges - s.r

♡ summary: when your coworker starts harassing you at work, you use your 'scary dog privileges' to scare him off pairing: spencer reid x fem!reader warnings: sexual harassment, derogatory names wc: 2.0k based on this request

There were many plus sides to having a boyfriend who was in the FBI and also had been to prison. Even though, to you, he looked like a lovely little puppy most of the time, he could put on a mean face and let you use what you liked to call 'your scary dog privileges'.

You didn't use them often, only when there was the occasional creep staring at you in public or out at a bar with Spencer's team mates. Unlike him, you weren't in the FBI. You worked a boring office job, though Spencer was always interested when you talked about your work. Then again, he was always attentive when you were talking.

Lately, you'd been complaining to him more and more about your new co-worker. Christopher. The bane of your work-life existence.

"He's so annoying." You groaned, your head in Spencer's lap as you lay on the couch after work. He was playing with your hair, braiding small parts of it before combing through them and starting again.

"What did he do this time?"

"He- he's just-" You sighed in frustration. "So he's been kind of targeting the women I work with and he'll say the nastiest things to them to try and make them either cry or fight back enough that he can complain. And the manager won't do anything about it because he's her nephew."

"That's awful." Spencer's eyebrows furrowed as he gently ran his fingers through your hair, undoing the braid he just wove.

"I know. So today, he cornered my friend Mel in the break room and just insulted her but in, like, a flirty way, it was so weird."

"Did he complain about her?"

"No, she gave him nothing because the last three girls have gotten either suspended or fired from his complaints."

"Wow, really? Can you talk to someone higher up?"

"I sent an email to HR, didn't hear anything back and I emailed the section manager and they didn't respond either."

"That's terrible, I'm sorry." He frowns and you shrugged. "Has he come after you?"

"No, not yet."

"Not yet?" You tilt your head up to grin at him.

"Why, are you worried about me?" He either didn't realize you were teasing him or just ignored it.

"Of course I'm worried about you, this guy sounds like an... an asshole." You chuckled as his voice lowered a bit as if cursing once would bring a curse upon him.

"Aw, Spence," You sit up, turning your body to face him. "I'll be okay."

"You sure? Cause I can call the team to stage an intimidating raid or something."

"Yeah? And what would that entail?" You grinned.

"Oh, I don't know, some intense building storming," He smiles, teasing now too, pulling you into his lap. "Maybe a desk search," You brush his hair behind his ear. "Potentially some loud interrogation on Hotch's part."

"And you think he's going to be cool with that?"

"I'll persuade him." Spencer shrugs and you bark out a laugh.

"Oh yeah? How are you going to do that, the same way you persuade me?" He blushed at your innuendo, smiling.

"Maybe. I can be very persuasive."

"Oh, I know you can." You chuckled as he leaned in to kiss you, his arms winding around your waist. He shifts the two of you so your back is against the couch, him hovering over you, nipping at your bottom lip. You pull him down closer to you with your hands on the nape of his neck.

His lips move to your throat, sucking the patch of skin between his teeth. Your head pressed into the cushions as his mouth traveled along your neck and chest, kissing and biting gently.

You went back to work the next morning, getting a lovey dovey send off (a goodbye kiss at the door) from Spencer and a text midway through your drive about how he already misses you.

You were expecting another typical day, emails, meetings, stale coffee, listening to Mel's rant about her on again off again boyfriend. You were sorely mistaken.

You trudged towards your little cubicle but were quickly stopped by Christopher, grinning at you slyly with the same expression a fox watches its prey with.

"Hey sweetheart. Looks like you had some fun last night." He winked, his gaze falling on your neck. Your eyebrows furrowed and you glanced in the nearest reflective surface, spotting the hickey that had been left on your neck, clear as day. Damn you Spencer Reid and your stupid hot mouth.

"Oh, yeah I guess." You tried not to let your voice waver. Don't show him any weakness. He'll jump at it like a shark smelling blood in the water.

"I mean, I don't blame him, you look really good in that skirt." His eyes trailed down your body and you shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. He chuckles as you push past him to head to your desk. Unfortunately, he follows. "You know, I've been meaning to ask about this mystery man of yours. How come none of us have ever met him?" He leans against your cubicle.

"He's very busy."

"Oh yeah? Seems like he's too busy to take care of his woman seeing as you're acting all grumpy this morning."

"He takes care of me just fine." You respond, giving him a clearly fake smile, wishing he'd go away. It was just your luck that he'd set his sights on you.

"I'm sure he does." It was a mocking tone and you couldn't help the way it irked you. How dare he insinuate that Spencer was neglecting you. Wasn't the hickey on your neck proof enough? Right, the hickey.

You take out your compact foundation, turning your head so you could cover the mark and hopefully save some of your professionalism and dignity. Eventually, Christopher lost interest in you and wandered back to his own desk, the biggest in the office courtesy of your biased manager.

The rest of your morning went smoothly, Mel brought you coffee, the good kind from the cafe down the street not the shitty cafeteria crap, you were in your groove, speeding through your emails like a pro, and you even had a chance to text with Spencer for a bit. Turns out, his day was going about the same.

It was around lunch time when things took a turn again. You were bent over, searching for your lunch in the communal fridge, when you felt a presence behind you. You quickly snatched your lunchbox turning to find Christopher behind you, the smirk back on his face.

"Am I in your way?" You asked, attempting to be polite.

"No, no, just enjoying the view." He grinned, stepping towards you. You step back but you're met with the counter behind you. He takes another step towards you, his smile wicked. "I'm glad I found you, I wanted to ask you something." He reached out, his hand finding your wrist.

"Uh, sure." You answered, uneasily.

"Are you busy tonight? My roommate's gone and we could head over to my apartment-"

"I'm busy." You cut him off, just the thought of going anywhere with him making your stomach turn.

"Come on, don't be a bitch." His tone was slowly becoming vile.

"I'm not-" His hand tightened around your wrist.

"I kindly offered you an invite to a pleasant evening, you didn't even think about it." You yank your hand from his grip, stepping to the side to get away from him.

"I said I have plans, sorry." You started back to your desk, your lunchbox clutched in your hand. You'd rather eat your lunch in a dark storage closet than be in the same room with him any longer.

"Whore." You hear him mumble under his breath, but you didn't dignify him with a response.

By the end of the day, he'd made several more uncomfortable comments to you, even going so far as to message you on his laptop. You decided to pull out the big guns to scare him off.

"Hi, angel, what's up?" Your boyfriend's voice came through the phone you held to your ear.

"Hi, can you come pick me up from work today?"

"Of course. Is there something wrong with your car?" His voice sounded concerned and you could picture the furrow in his brows.

"No, no, just, uh... okay, there's this guy at my work and he's been kind of... bothering me."

"Bothering you how?" His tone became more protective.

"Just making comments, kinda, I don't know. I just need you to come here and scare him off."

"Scare him off?"

"Yeah, you know, glare at him, flash your badge, just scare him a bit." He chuckled at that.

"Okay, sure angle, whatever you want." The two of you talked for a couple more minutes before you had to go back to work.

At the end of the day, it was just you, your manager, and Christopher. You watched your friend walk to her car, standing outside the building and searching through your bag to find your phone. Suddenly, you felt a presence behind you and you heard your name.

"Do you need a ride?"

"No thank you." You couldn't deny how much you wanted to yell at him, get him the hell away from you, but you absolutely did not want to get suspended or even fired.

You began to grow antsy as he inched closer to you, making more comments. His hand grazed your wrist and you pulled it away to hold in your other hand, your eyes searching the road and the parking lot.

"Come on, just come home with me." His hand found your upper arm and just as he was about to pull you away from the building, a car drove up, right in front of both of you.

Your boyfriend stepped out of the car, his eyes immediately finding you as you pulled away from Christopher.

"Hey, Spence." You rushed over to him, eager to get into his arms. He keeps his eyes on Christopher, saying your name in greeting as his hand finds the small of your back.

"This your boyfriend?" Your co-worker asks you, staring down Spencer.

"Yeah, this is Spencer. Spencer, Christopher." His arm wraps around your shoulders, pulling you into his side protectively. Chris eyes him up and down, Spencer glaring right back at him. "Spencer's in the FBI."

"Oh, really?" He asks.

"Mhm. He carries a gun." Okay, maybe you were laying it on a little thick.

"Alright, let's get you home." Spencer said, trying to nudge you in the direction of the passenger seat. But, just to make sure that Christopher knew you were taken, you grabbed your boyfriend by the tie, yanking him down and smashing your lips against yours.

His tongue quickly slipped into your mouth, hand cupping your jaw as he pulled you closer. You heard a scoff as Christopher headed to his car. Spencer pulled away a minute later, your lip gloss smeared on his lips.

"You ready to go?" He asked and you smiled, rounding the car to get into the passenger seat.

"Are you okay?" Spencer asked as he shut the car door, his voice concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. He was just being a creep."

"How long has he been doing that?"

"Just today. Well, he's been doing it to the other women in the office for a while but he just started messing with me this morning." Spencer shook his head as he put the car into drive, his hand finding your thigh.

"I'll ask Garcia if she can find anything on him."

"What do you mean?" You asked, confused.

"Criminal record, bad history, anything to get him fired."

"You'd do that?" You asked, turning your head to smile sweetly at him.

"Of course. I don't feel good about letting you go to work with someone like him." His brows were furrowed in that cute, distressed way of his. You reached over, using your thumb to smooth out the wrinkle.

"I love you Spence, but I really think he would have been scared off if you'd just flashed your gun a bit." He chuckles, shaking his head at your antics.

"Okay, I'll make sure to do that next time."

Taglist: @superbeaglewitch, @perfectgoopfishuniversity-blog, totallynotabuckybarnessimp, @dramioneforevertilltheend. @cynbx, @diminombre, @tinythebunni, @pixie-verse, @westanleovaldito, @khxna

[nameless-jamie]

Hi, I was wondering if you could write a Jamie x reader story but y/n is a footballer just like Jamie and they kinda have similar personalities. You can choose if she plays for Richmond’s women team that they showed in the final episode or for another club. But i think it would be both hilarious and cute to see Jamie hit it off with someone similar to him, like he both finds her insufferable because she’s so cocky but he also thinks it’s hot. Thank you so much in advance ❤️‍🔥

Princess of Pricks

One Shot - Jamie Tartt x fem! reader

Masterlist

Pairing: fem! footballer reader x Jamie Tartt

TW: cursing, suggestive scene/language, very long ff

Summary: Y/N, an Irish striker on the Richmond women’s team, faces off against the cocky Jamie Tartt when the teams are forced to train together. The two banter back and forth, challenging each other on the pitch while their rivalry turns into something more.

Not sure if I want to write PART 2 yet...

The AFC Richmond Women’s locker room was already buzzing that morning. Boots thudded against the floor, shin pads snapped into place, and someone—probably Niamh, the team’s right winger—was arguing over whether tea or coffee was the superior pre-training drink.

“Irish tea is the only correct answer, gals,” Y/N declared as she tied her boots, her thick accent cutting through the chatter.

“Yeah, ‘cause you’re Irish,” Niamh shot back.

“Exactly. Therefore, I’m right.”

A chorus of laughter rippled through the room as the team finished getting ready. They were in good spirits today—there was a big match coming up, and Roy Kent, their gruff, permanently scowling manager, had been particularly fired up during the last few training sessions. Which, for Roy, meant extra yelling and even more creative swearing than usual.

Y/N stood, rolling her shoulders. She was already itching to get on the pitch. As Richmond’s star striker and number 9, she thrived on competition. Nothing got her heart racing like the promise of a match—whether it was in a stadium packed with fans or just a training session with her teammates.

“Come on, then,” she called, leading the team out into the hallway and toward the training pitch.

It was a crisp morning, the kind that promised a good session. The team walked through the tunnel, laughing and chatting—until they stepped onto the sideline and saw Roy standing with the pitchkeeper, arms crossed, looking like he was seconds away from punching something.

Y/N’s steps slowed. That was never a good sign.

The pitchkeeper rubbed the back of his neck. “Pipes under the pitch are fucked.”

“Fucking brilliant,” Roy muttered under his breath. He turned toward the team, voice gruff. “Pitch is flooded. Can’t train here.”

A collective groan rose from the women.

“What d’you mean can’t?” Y/N frowned, glancing at the field. Sure enough, there were massive puddles of water soaking the grass, turning the pitch into a swamp. “We’ve got a match in a few days. We need to train, coach.”

Roy exhaled sharply, clearly thinking. Then, with a grumble, he pulled out his phone. “I’ll sort it.”

The team exchanged glances as Roy stomped off, phone pressed to his ear. A few seconds later, his voice carried back to them.

“Oi, Ted. Yeah, I need a favor.”

Y/N arched a brow.

Ted Lasso? Well. This would be interesting.

Roy returned ten minutes later, his usual scowl firmly in place. “Right,” he grunted. “You lot are training with the men���s team.”

A murmur rippled through the squad, half-surprised, half-amused.

“Wait, seriously?” Niamh asked.

“No, I’m fuckin’ joking.” Roy glared. “Ted’s agreed to let us use the pitch, but we’re combining sessions. So unless any of you delicate fuckin’ flowers have a problem with that—”

He was cut off by the sound of boots against the pavement. The women turned to see the AFC Richmond men’s team already on their pitch, mid-training.

Y/N squinted toward the field, watching them pass the ball around in warm-ups. Richmond’s usual stars were all there—Sam Obisanya, Dani Rojas, Isaac McAdoo, Colin Hughes—along with a few new faces. And then there was him.

Jamie Tartt.

Richmond’s number 9.

He was cocky, arrogant, and, as far as Y/N was concerned, the definition of a twat.

She had, of course, seen him play before—both in matches and in training when the men’s and women’s teams had shared the stadium. And as much as she hated to admit it, he was good. He played with a kind of self-assurance that she recognized all too well. The same way she played.

Annoyingly, he also happened to be fit as fuck, but that was beside the point.

Y/N was still watching him weave through defenders when her teammate Aoife suddenly cupped her hands around her mouth and whistled toward the men’s team.

“Oi, lads! Lookin’ good out there!”

The women’s team burst into laughter as a few of the men looked over in surprise. Dani Rojas grinned and waved enthusiastically. Colin smirked. Sam shook his head, chuckling.

Jamie, though—Jamie clocked Y/N immediately.

His eyes flickered over her, sharp and assessing, before he smirked. “You lot finally decided to watch some proper football, yeah?”

Y/N scoffed, folding her arms. “Oh, don’t feckin' flatter yourself, lad.”

Jamie’s brows lifted, clearly not expecting the immediate pushback. But then—annoyingly—his smirk deepened. “Irish, huh? That why you’re runnin’ your mouth?”

“Oh, you ain’t seen anythin' yet, Tartt.”

Ted’s whistle cut through the air before Jamie could respond. The men’s team jogged toward their coach, only sparing a few more glances at the women.

Roy turned toward the squad. “Alright, we’re splittin’ the pitch. Half and half. You lot do not get in each other’s way.”

Y/N rolled her shoulders, already focused on training. But as the whistle blew and they started drills, she could still feel Jamie’s eyes on her.

Fine, then. If he wanted to watch, she’d give him something to look at.

Jamie Tartt wasn’t used to being surprised.

But as he watched the women’s team train, eyes tracking Y/N, he found himself… well, stumped.

She played exactly like him.

Same flashy footwork. Same cocky confidence. Same absolute refusal to take the easy pass when she could humiliate a defender instead.

He’d seen plenty of talented players before—hell, he played with some of the best—but he had never seen someone who moved like him.

It was annoying.

And a little bit hot.

Jamie frowned, standing near the midfield line as the men continued their passing drill. He hadn’t realized he was openly staring until Sam nudged him.

“Careful, mate,” Sam teased, a knowing smile on his face. “You’re looking a little… distracted.”

Jamie scoffed. “Nah. Just—watchin’, innit.”

“Uh-huh.” Sam exchanged a look with Dani, who grinned.

“She is very good, yes?” Dani said. “A proper joy to watch!”

Jamie didn’t like how much he agreed.

His frown deepened as he watched Y/N take on two defenders at once. Instead of passing, she feinted to the left, rolled the ball under her foot, and absolutely sent one of her teammates with a fake shot before burying the ball in the top corner.

The women’s team cheered. Y/N turned, beaming, and Jamie could feel the smugness radiating off her from across the pitch.

“Oh, fuck off,” he muttered under his breath.

At that moment, Ted’s whistle cut through the air again.

“Alright, folks, bring it in!”

The teams gathered in the middle of the pitch, forming two loose circles. Ted, ever the optimist, was practically beaming as he clapped his hands together.

“Well, I gotta say,” he said. “I am lovin’ what I’m seein’ today. Y’all are puttin’ on a clinic out here.”

“‘Cept for Tartt, who’s too busy ogling instead of trainin’,” Isaac muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.

The men chuckled. The women did too, though Y/N just arched a brow, looking Jamie up and down like she was deciding whether or not he was even worth her time.

Jamie crossed his arms. “Ain’t oglin’.”

“Oh, so you weren’t checkin’ me out?” Y/N shot back. “That’s scarleh, Jamie. Here I thought I had a fan.” (scarleh = Irish. embarrassing/tragic)

A couple of oooohs went up from the women’s team.

Jamie felt a flicker of irritation. He tilted his head, smirking. “I mean, you are a bit of a show-off, yeah? But you can’t be all that if you still play for Richmond.”

Y/N didn’t even flinch. “You play for Richmond too, ya tosser.”

Jamie opened his mouth—then shut it.

Roy, who had been listening to this whole exchange with an ever-deepening scowl, cut in. “Alright, that’s enough.” He exhaled sharply, looking between the two teams. “Since you lot can’t seem to shut the fuck up, I got an idea.”

Ted grinned. “I think I know where you’re goin’ with this, Coach.”

“Men against women,” Roy said. “One half. See who’s actually worth talkin’ about.”

The teams erupted in noise—cheers, laughter, shit-talking from both sides.

Jamie, though?

He just looked at Y/N.

And she looked right back.

A challenge.

Jamie’s smirk returned. “You sure you wanna embarrass yourself like that, Irish?”

Y/N took a step closer, tilting her head. “I dunno, Manc. You ready to lose to a girl?”

Jamie’s heart thumped.

Oh, this was gonna be fun.

The teams spread out across the pitch, both sides brimming with energy. The men’s team looked confident—maybe too confident—while the women were locked in, ready to prove a point.

Y/N stood at the center circle, rolling her shoulders as she prepared for kickoff. Jamie was only a few feet away, arms crossed, watching her with that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face.

“You nervous, Irish?” he drawled.

Y/N exhaled a laugh. “Mate, the only thing I’m nervous about is how bruised your ego’s gonna be after this.”

Jamie just grinned. “Guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

The whistle blew.

And just like that, they were off.

Sam passed the ball back to Jamie, who turned smoothly, scanning the field. But before he could even make his first move, Y/N was on him—closing the space, pressing high, forcing him to act fast.

Jamie barely got his pass off before she nearly nicked the ball off him.

He frowned.

Alright.

That was how it was gonna be?

Fine.

The match played out fast—faster than Jamie had expected. The women’s team weren’t just holding their own; they were giving it to the men.

Y/N was relentless. Every time Jamie got the ball, she was right there, tracking his movements like she’d been studying him for years.

And it was pissing him off.

She played like she had something to prove. Every touch was clean, every movement sharp, every decision calculated to make Jamie’s life harder. She wasn’t just playing to win—she was playing to embarrass him.

And it was working.

Fifteen minutes in, the women’s team broke through on a counterattack. Niamh sent a gorgeous ball over the top, perfectly weighted, and Y/N—of course it was Y/N—was already sprinting onto it.

Jamie turned and chased, pushing himself harder.

They were shoulder to shoulder now, both flying toward the box, neither willing to back down.

Y/N threw a quick feint, shifting her weight like she was about to cut inside—then didn’t, instead nudging the ball forward at the last second.

Jamie took the bait.

Just for a fraction of a second.

But that was all she needed.

In one fluid motion, she pulled away, her left foot striking the ball cleanly—

—And burying it in the bottom corner.

The women’s team erupted.

Jamie, breathing hard, could only watch as Y/N slowed to a stop, grinning.

And then—just to really piss him off—she did his celebration.

The stupid little wrist-kiss, hands-to-the-sky thing he always did.

Jamie’s jaw dropped.

“Oh, you fuckin’ did not just—”

Y/N turned to him, smirking. “What’s wrong, Tartt?” She tapped her wrist like she was checking a watch. “Don’t like the taste of your own medicine, do ya?”

Jamie blinked. His whole brain short-circuited for a second.

And then he burst out laughing.

Because fuck.

He might actually be in trouble with this one.

The game didn’t slow down after Y/N’s goal. If anything, it got worse.

Jamie played harder. Not just because his pride was at stake, but because every time Y/N touched the ball, she made something happen. It was driving him mad.

Every flick, every trick, every little smug look she sent his way—it was like she was daring him to keep up.

And, fuck, he wanted to.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw—Dani and Colin had pulled the men’s team back, but Y/N had assisted a late equalizer that shut them right up.

When the final whistle blew, neither team looked disappointed. The women had proved their point. The men, despite their initial cockiness, were grinning, clearly impressed.

Except Jamie.

Jamie was frustrated.

Not because of the match—well, partly because of the match—but mostly because he’d never met anyone who made him feel like this.

It wasn’t just the competition. He loved competition. It was the fact that Y/N—this loud, cocky, Irish striker—had waltzed onto his pitch and played like him.

She got under his skin in a way no one else ever had.

And worse, he liked it.

The teams gathered near the sidelines, clapping each other on the back, exchanging handshakes and playful shit-talk. Y/N, of course, was in the middle of it all, glowing like she’d just won the fucking World Cup.

Jamie found himself walking toward her before he even realized what he was doing.

She spotted him approaching and smirked, hands on her hips. “What’s wrong? You look a little tense.”

Jamie exhaled a sharp laugh, shaking his head. “Nah, just tryna figure out how someone with your weak-ass left foot managed to score on me.”

Y/N gasped in mock offense. “Oh, you wish my left foot was weak.”

Jamie grinned. “Yeah? Prove it.”

Y/N stepped closer, eyes gleaming with challenge. “Careful, Tartt. You keep lookin’ at me like that, I’ll think you fancy me.”

Jamie’s smirk didn’t falter. “Yeah? What if I do?”

Y/N blinked.

For a split second, Jamie swore he saw her falter.

But then—just as quick—she recovered, laughing like he’d just told the funniest joke in the world.

“Oh, you’re a cocky little shit, aren’t ya?” she said, grinning.

Jamie tilted his head. “Takes one to know one, Irish.”

Y/N just hummed, looking him up and down. “You’re not completely hopeless, I s’pose.”

Jamie watched as she turned, walking back toward her team without another word.

And fuck.

He was definitely in trouble with this one.

The next morning, Y/N arrived at training to bad news.

“Still flooded,” Roy announced as the women gathered around him, arms crossed, looking thoroughly unimpressed. “Pipes are completely fucked. Dunno when they’ll be fixed.”

A collective groan rippled through the team.

“You’re jokin’,” Aoife muttered.

“Do I look like I’m fuckin’ jokin’?” Roy shot back, eyes narrowing. “We’re training with the men again.”

"Let's leg it, ladies," Y/N sighed, rubbing her temples. It wasn’t that she hated training with the men’s team—okay, maybe she did a little, but only because it meant spending more time with Jamie Tartt.

And she was already very fucking sick of Jamie Tartt.

As if the universe was trying to make her life harder, the teams were partnered up for drills—and of course, Roy, in his infinite wisdom, put her with Jamie.

The second his name was called next to hers, Jamie grinned.

“Oh, you feckin’ planned this, didn’t you?” Y/N muttered at Roy.

Roy, in classic Roy fashion, just grunted and walked away.

“Relax, Irish,” Jamie said, stepping beside her, smug as ever. “It ain’t that bad.”

Y/N exhaled sharply. “Jaysus Christ. Let’s just get this over with.”

The first half of training was tolerable. Barely. They did passing drills, finishing exercises, one-on-ones. It was competitive—way too competitive for training—but at least they weren’t actually touching each other.

Until suddenly every drill became a war.

Sprints? She had to beat Jamie. If she ran a 12.3-second sprint, Jamie would push for 12.2. If Jamie hit 15 keep-ups, Y/N would make sure she did 16.

It wasn’t just competition anymore. It was personal.

During a finishing drill, Y/N watched Jamie attempt a ridiculous Rabona shot from outside the box. It went in—just—but she rolled her eyes anyway.

"Show-off," she muttered.

Jamie turned to her, smirking. "Oh, please. You love it."

Y/N scoffed. "Mate, I’ve seen under-12s do better."

"That so?" Jamie arched a brow, stepping closer. "Alright, then. Let’s see you top it, Irish."

Y/N wasn't about to back down.

She grabbed a ball, took a few steps back, and, without breaking eye contact, executed the filthiest outside-foot curler into the top corner.

The entire team howled.

"Fucking hell," Colin muttered.

"She is better than you, Jamie," Dani chirped.

Jamie, to his credit, just chuckled. But Y/N could see it—the way his jaw tightened, the flicker of something sharp in his eyes.

He liked the fight.

And fuck, so did she.

Until they got to the last drill.

The worst, though—the actual worst—the partnered stretching.

Y/N immediately turned to Roy. “Are you takin’ the piss, ya feckin' chancer?”

Roy ignored her, just mumbled something that sounded like watch it.

Jamie, on the other hand, looked delighted.

“What’s wrong, Irish?” he teased, stepping closer. “Scared to get a little close?”

Y/N should have walked away. Should have told Roy to swap her partner.

She was already annoyed that she’d been paired with Jamie, and now she was sitting on the grass across from him, her hands pressed against his shoulders, trying to ignore the fact that he was stupidly warm under her palms.

Jamie smirked as he spread his legs into a seated stretch. “Go on, then. Show me what you got.”

Y/N shot him a look. “If you make one inappropriate comment, I will kick you in the face.”

Jamie grinned. “No promises.”

She ignored him, placing her hands on his shoulders again, this time steadier, pushing gently to deepen his stretch. His muscles tensed under her palms, solid and warm, and fuck—why was she noticing that?

Jamie held her gaze, still smirking, but there was something else in his eyes now. Something sharp. Something teasing.

Something interested.

Jamie smirked. "Enjoyin’ yourself there, Irish?"

She pushed harder. "Touch me again, and I’ll break your fingers."

Jamie chuckled. "Touch you again? Babe, you’re the one feelin’ me up."

Y/N shoved him.

Jamie just laughed. Roy gave both of them a warning look from the sidelines.

Y/N cleared her throat and put her hands on Jamie's shoulders again, this time pushing harder than necessary. “Oi, what? You can handle Premier League defenders, but not a simple stretch.”

Jamie chuckled, voice lower now. “Nah, I can handle it.” He let his gaze drop—just for a second—then met her eyes again. “Question is—can you?”

Y/N inhaled sharply.

She hated him.

She really, really hated him.

And yet, when they switched places and Jamie grabbed her hips to pull her into a stretch, she damn near forgot how to breathe.

Jamie’s hands slid to her hips, firm, fingers pressing just enough to send something dangerous skittering up her spine.

Oh, she was in trouble.

"Relax," he murmured, voice lower now, more amused. "Ain't gonna bite."

Y/N rolled her eyes. "Pity. You look like the type to."

Jamie blinked. Then—so fucking slowly—it turned into a smirk.

"Wouldn't dream of it, although you look delicious," he said.

Y/N yanked herself out of the stretch immediately.

The problem with training together every day from now on was that accidents happened.

Too many players in too little space. Too many challenges. Too many bodies moving too fast.

And somehow, somehow, in all the hustle and bustle on the pitch Y/N and Jamie kept ending up right on top of each other.

One-on-one drills. Y/N tackled Jamie so hard they both hit the grass, tangled together in a heap.

"Jesus, Irish," Jamie grunted, blinking up at her. "You tryin’ to kill me?"

Y/N, still half on top of him, smirked. "What, can't handle a little pressure?"

Jamie’s hands tightened around her waist for half a second—too long to be innocent—before he smirked at the position they are in. "I'm good with pressure—even better with you on top of me."

Y/N scrambled off him so fast she nearly tripped.

By the end of the week, everyone was talking about them.

"You see them today?" Colin muttered to Isaac as they finished up a passing drill. "It's weird, right?"

"So weird," Isaac muttered back. "They're like... the same person. Different accent."

"They even run the same," Sam added, frowning.

Dani, of course, was delighted.

"They are meant to be!" he declared, positively buzzing. "A true football romance!"

Ted, overhearing, grinned. "Now that is somethin’ I can get behind."

Roy, standing nearby, grunted.

He had been watching, too. Watching the way Y/N and Jamie bickered. Watching the way they shoved each other, how they competed, how Jamie looked at her.

He knew exactly what was happening.

And he did not like it.

"Oi, Tartt," he barked.

Jamie turned, eyebrows raised. "Yeah?"

Roy narrowed his eyes. "Stay focused."

Jamie grinned. "Always, Coach Kent."

Roy scowled.

He was gonna have to keep a fucking eye on this.

For the past two weeks, training had been hell.

Jamie and Y/N hadn’t stopped competing, hadn’t stopped pushing, hadn’t stopped getting in each other’s heads.

And today?

Today, it boiled over.

It started during a small-sided game—men versus women, just like their first match.

Jamie and Y/N were marking each other. Because of course they were.

Neither had backed down the entire session. Every pass, every run, every fucking look they exchanged was a silent dare.

Then, Y/N got the ball.

Jamie closed in immediately, pressing high, forcing her to turn her back to goal.

She was strong, but Jamie had trained against some of the best defenders in the world. He stepped in, body to body, using his weight to push her off balance.

Y/N dug her cleats into the grass. Held her ground.

Jamie smirked. “Gonna need to do better than that, Irish.”

Y/N exhaled sharply, shifting her weight—then spun him, hard, using his momentum against him.

Jamie stumbled.

And that was it.

That was the moment he snapped.

She was gone, sprinting toward goal, but Jamie didn’t think. He just reacted—lunging forward, going in for the challenge with more force than he should have.

Their legs tangled.

Y/N went down.

Hard.

Coach Beard's whistle blew.

And suddenly, Y/N was on Jamie, shoving at his chest.

“The feck was that Jamie?” she snapped, furious, eyes blazing.

Jamie stepped closer, jaw tight. “It was a tackle.”

“No, it was a fucking cheap shot, you arsehole!”

Jamie should have backed off. Should have apologized. Should have done anything but what he actually did:

He laughed.

“Oh, piss off,” he muttered. “You give it, but you can’t take it?”

Y/N shoved him again.

Jamie’s smirk vanished.

It was too close now.

Too much heat.

Too much everything.

Y/N’s chest was heaving, her hair a mess, her hands still curled into fists like she was deciding whether to hit him or grab him by the collar.

Jamie clenched his jaw. “You done?”

Y/N glared. “Fuck you, Tartt. You're a right pain in the hole.”

And before either of them could do something really stupid—

“WHISTLE. ENOUGH.”

Roy’s voice cut through the tension like a knife.

The entire pitch went silent.

Roy marched over, face thunderous, eyes locked onto Jamie and Y/N like he was about to personally kill both of them.

Jamie huffed a breath, stepping back. Y/N crossed her arms, still fuming.

Roy glared. “You two—inside. Now.”

Neither of them moved.

“NOW.”

Jamie and Y/N exchanged a look—one last sharp, defiant flash of heat—before stalking off toward the locker room.

Roy followed.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Roy paced for a second, rubbing a hand down his face before turning on Y/N first.

“What the fuck was that?” he snapped.

Y/N’s eyes blazed. “Ask him,” she shot back, jerking a thumb toward Jamie. “He’s the one who went in like a fucking pox—” (pox = Irish: annoying person)

“Oh, please—” Jamie started, but Roy cut him off.

“Shut the fuck up! You both are acting like the prince and princess of fucking pricks.”

Silence.

Roy exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Look,” he muttered, voice gruff. “I don’t give a shit what’s goin’ on between you two—”

“Nothing’s goin' on,” Jamie and Y/N said at the exact same time.

Roy’s eyes narrowed.

“Oh, fuckin’ really?” he muttered. “Then explain why the entire fucking team won’t shut up about you two? Explain why you spend every second of training staring at each other? Explain why you’re both actin’ like a pair of horny, brainless fuckin’ teenagers?”

Neither of them spoke.

Because—fuck.

They couldn’t.

Roy scowled. “Listen, I don’t care what the fuck this is, but it stops now. You hear me? I ain’t havin’ my best player distracted because some little Manc twat’s makin’ eyes at her.”

Jamie bristled. “Ain’t makin’ eyes—”

“Oh, shut the fuck up, Jamie,” Roy snapped. “You are, and it’s fuckin’ pathetic.”

Jamie rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath.

Roy turned back to Y/N.

“I mean it,” he said, voice low now, serious. “You’re better than this shit. I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like to get distracted by—”

He stopped. Cleared his throat.

Y/N blinked.

Oh.

Oh, that was what this was about.

Roy Kent, legendary footballer, had been there. He’d been young, cocky, talented. Had been distracted. Had let himself get derailed.

He wasn’t just pissed—he cared.

Y/N swallowed, shifting her weight. “It’s not like that,” she muttered.

Roy just looked at her.

Y/N sighed, looking away. “Alright. Fine. We’ll knock it off.”

Roy didn’t look convinced but grunted anyway.

“Good.” He turned to Jamie. “And you—you pull that shit again, I’ll fucking end you. Fouling my best player in a fucking training match.”

Jamie gave a lazy salute. “Understood, Coach.”

Roy narrowed his eyes at both of them, then turned and walked out, muttering under his breath the entire way.

As soon as the door shut, Jamie sighed dramatically and leaned against the lockers.

“Well,” he drawled. “That was fun.”

Y/N scoffed. “Fuck off outta here, Jamie.”

Jamie chuckled. “Oh, come on, Irish,” he teased. “You’re not a little bit turned on right now?”

Y/N threw her water bottle at his head.

Jamie ducked, laughing, and Y/N—despite herself—felt the tiniest pull at the corner of her lips.

Yeah. She was in so much fucking trouble.

Y/N was determined.

Roy was right.

Jamie Tartt was a distraction.

So today, she was going to do what she should’ve done from the start—shut it down. No banter. No competition. No lingering looks.

Just football.

It lasted exactly twenty minutes.

Y/N ignored him in the hallways of Nelson Road.

She ignored him during warmups.

She ignored him when they lined up for passing drills and he smirked at her like he knew what she was doing.

But Jamie? Jamie lived for this shit.

“Oi, Irish,” he called as she settled into position for the drill. “You alright? You’re awfully quiet today.”

Y/N exhaled sharply. Did not look at him. Did not engage.

Jamie grinned. “Awww. You miss me already.”

Nothing.

Jamie hummed, juggling the ball lazily. “Y’know, studies say that bottlin’ up emotions ain’t good for you. You can tell me if you like havin’ me around.”

Y/N focused on her breathing. In. Out. Don’t kill him.

The team was already starting to notice.

Sam, standing nearby, bit back a laugh. Dani practically vibrated with excitement. Colin muttered, "This is a bad idea," for the fourth time that morning.

But Y/N refused to break.

Which, of course, only made Jamie worse.

During sprints, he jogged next to her, flashing a shit-eating grin every time she glanced his way.

During keep-away drills, he intercepted one of her passes, then leaned in as he returned it.

“Bit sloppy, that,” he murmured. “You feelin’ alright?”

Y/N clenched her jaw. Don’t react.

She went to the gym late that night, hoping to clear her head. The gym at Nelson Road was usually empty this late. The men’s and women’s teams had long since finished for the day, and most of the staff had gone home.

But when Y/N pushed open the door, she immediately spotted him.

Jamie Tartt.

On the treadmill.

Shirt damp with sweat.

Hair a mess, sticking to his forehead.

Moving at a ridiculously fast pace, like he was trying to outrun something.

Like her.

Y/N swore under her breath. Of fucking course.

Jamie must have heard the door because he glanced over his shoulder—then immediately slowed to a jog, a smirk curling at his lips.

“Can’t stay away from me, huh?”

Y/N let the door swing shut behind her. “I could say the same to you.”

Jamie huffed a laugh, tapping the treadmill speed down until he came to a stop. “This is my routine, Irish.” He grabbed a towel from the side, wiping the sweat from his neck. “You, though? This is new.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “I’ll be gone in twenty.”

Jamie tilted his head. “Oh, come on, Irish. Don’t pretend you don’t love this.”

Jamie was watching her as she grabbed a dumbbell and dropped into a lunge, not dignifying him with an answer.

“You alright?” he asked, voice lighter now. Less teasing.

Y/N exhaled. Focused on her form. “Fine. Grand.”

Jamie hummed. “Dunno. You looked real wound up today.”

Y/N clenched her jaw. Ignored him.

“Didn’t say one word to me all session,” Jamie continued, grabbing his water bottle. “Thought maybe you’d lost your voice.”

Y/N switched legs. Didn’t look at him.

Jamie smirked. “Or maybe you were just trying to ignore me.”

Y/N dropped the dumbbell louder than necessary.

“Jaysus, Tartt.” She turned to him, exasperated. “Do you ever shut up?”

Jamie grinned. “Nah.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. Shook her head. Reached for another weight.

And then—

Jamie stepped off the treadmill and closer to her.

Not much. Just a fraction. Just enough that she could feel him now, warm in the quiet, empty gym.

His voice dropped. “So, which is it?”

Y/N blinked. “What?”

Jamie tilted his head. “You ignoring me ‘cause you hate me? Or ‘cause you don’t?”

The air changed.

Y/N’s grip tightened on the weight. “Would ya ever fuck off, Jamie?”

Jamie chuckled, voice lower now. “Awww, c’mon, Irish.” He took another small step, invading her space, gaze flickering over her face. “Admit it.”

Y/N refused to look up. “Admit what?”

Jamie leaned in. “You like it.”

Y/N swallowed. “Like what?”

Jamie’s smirk deepened. “That I get under your skin.”

Y/N’s entire body tensed.

Because fuck him. Because he was right. Because he wasn’t supposed to know that.

Jamie watched her—watched the flicker of something dangerous cross her face, watched the way her hands tightened, watched the way her breath hitched just slightly.

Then, so fucking slowly—

He reached past her, grabbing a towel from the bench behind her.

Their arms brushed.

Y/N froze.

Jamie’s smirk faltered.

For the first time, his teasing edge dropped.

It was just quiet now.

Just them.

His eyes flickered to her lips.

Y/N’s stomach flipped.

Jamie inhaled—sharp, steady, deliberate. His fingers twitched.

Y/N felt it happening—that moment. The one where she knew she should step back but didn’t. The one where Jamie should make another joke but didn’t. Everything felt slow.

And then—

The door swung open.

“Oi, anyone in here—oh, fuck, sorry.”

They sprung apart.

One of the Richmond Men's kit men—some kid barely out of university—Y/N thinks his name is Will—stood in the doorway, looking wildly uncomfortable.

Jamie cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah, mate. We’re—uh—just trainin’.”

The kid looked between them. Clearly didn’t believe a fucking word.

“Right,” he said. “Well. Carry on.”

Then he bolted.

Silence.

Y/N exhaled slowly. Didn’t look at Jamie.

Jamie pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek. Dragged a hand through his damp hair.

“Well,” he muttered. “That weren’t fuckin’ awkward at all.”

Y/N let out a breath—half a laugh, half fucking hell, what just happened?

Then, without another word, she grabbed her bag and left.

Because if she stayed, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to walk away again.

And fuck, was that a problem.

To be continued...

[angelsluva]

| fall with you' | Hamzahthefantastic

+fem reader, sub hamzah, nsfw!

🍂 it was a quiet, cold, autumn morning in the middle of November. Gentle rain soothingly patterned the window right beside me. The crunch of the orange leaves from outside as the other students rushed to their next class. All of the noises around me created a peaceful harmony which caused me to go into a deep slumber. Usually my boring English teacher had managed to make me sleep like I was under in some sort of spell.

I was 19 when a new English teacher had started at my school which was a relief to hear as the previous one hated my guts and ensured I was lambasted each lesson, from accusing me of plagiarism to blatantly calling me out for packing up when multiple other students had done the same. She was like my personal bully, as if my friends weren't doing that job perfectly fine. It had been weeks since I had some proper sleep, I stayed awake most nights thinking of my so-called besties ignoring my existence every day even though we all promised to stick together at our new school.

He was 22, Handsome with big brown doe eyes and a maze of voluptuous curls which complimented his tan skin that was full of acne blemishes which resembled stars. His eyes lingered on mine a little longer than what others would consider innocent. I stared back. The tension filled the air only to be broken by him clearing his throat. Damn, I thought I've already got this man fumbling. His voice echoed in my ears as he droned on about some poem, I didn't care to hear the name of. My mind was full of racy thoughts about him and I. How good he would be in the bedroom just by his appearance. I don't know what happened to me. I used to love English, but here I am day dreaming about my teacher. 30 long minutes went by until I had given in it to my drowsiness, I felt like I had just closed my eyes when suddenly I felt the light graze of my ring on my hand. I jolted awake from the cold sensation and was met with big brown eyes in my face, his awkward lips moments away from my own. My heart thumped as though it would burst right out of my chest. "Are you okay?" he prompted. I hadn't ever gotten his name yet but just the idea that he was worried about me made my brain fuzzy. I rapidly blinked and cleared my throat from the coarse sleeping voice that had clouded over me. I tried to speak but the words would not. I instead rushed for my bag when I noticed the pool of drool that had gathered on my notebook. My cheeks were flushed as I tried to rush out of there as fast as I could until I suddenly tipped on his foot. I fell forward and felt my skirt ride up which exposed my black laced panties. I couldn't believe I ate shit in front of the teacher as well as completely flashing him. I wish I was dead right then and there. He shifted quickly to help me up and I took the opportunity to sprint my way out of his classroom. It's so typical for me to embarrass myself. I hated it. He probably thought I was such a weirdo and a loner he must deal with for another 2 years.

| hamzah's pov

It was my first day at this new school. A teacher was recently fired for misconduct and not to take pleasure in another's misfortune, but I was so glad I could finally teach. My dreams are slowly inching closer to completion. My first lesson was on poetry, a simple introduction to the classics which I ensured I revised timelessly during the weekend, nothing was going to bring my mood down today. The class was full of girls, as expected, the boys aren't much for contemplation. 30 minutes in and I noticed a girl with short curly hair holed up in a corner of the classroom with her head on her desk and a faint noise of rhythmic breathing which turned into soft snores. I recognize her as the girl who seemed to be paying attention to me, and I didn't expect her to be the type to sleep during the class so I was surprised but didn't want to seem like a stickler as I understand some kids need extra support, I chalked it up to just a small chat after class. Just like that the lesson ended and everybody had emptied the classroom within seconds. I slowly approached her desk and saw her name was y/n as written on her notebook. I accidentally grazed her hand with mine and noticed a scrunch between her eyebrows before she jumped awake. I asked her if she was okay but she didn't respond and suddenly turned bright red. She started to get her bag and was able to walk off until she tripped and was exposed. I quickly closed my eyes and tried to help her up. She refused my hand and instead ran out of the classroom. "I was so confused martin!" "I bet" he giggled "poor girl she must've been so embarrassed" "I know but she could've talked to me at least?!" I retorted "Dude, she doesn't even know you why would she? Honestly, I'd react the same way" Mandy chimed in. My friends both seemed to understand y/n, and I started to think about how I could help her.

| y/n's pov

I had English once more and was dreading seeing him, surprisingly though I was able to sleep today which reassured me that I wouldn't embarrass my self again. I scampered to my seat with my head hung low, so I wasn't recognized. Nobody else was in class yet and I was ushered to the front by the teacher who I now know was Mr. Al-Emad. "Y/n what's going on with you why were you asleep last lesson?" he questioned "Uh, nothing sir I was just tired. I'm sorry it won't happen again" I said. "Don't worry I'm not upset or anything I just want to make sure you're not missing out on vital study sessions" "okay thanks sir" "matter of fact how would you feel about some extra tuition I'm having a look at your grades here and you were doing so well, I'm sure with an extra push you can start getting A's again" he prompted. "I'm sorry sir I don't have enough money for that" I said embarrassed "Who said anything about money? I wouldn't charge a student, so what do you say?" "Um sur-" I was interrupted by a bunch of students entering the class which made me rush back to my own seat. I was alert during the whole lesson thinking about what our tuition sessions would look like, him with his suit on and me with my shortest skirt. My mind was racing with disgustingly sexual thoughts till I remembered the ring. THE RING? I was felt with a sharp twang of jealousy which was interrupted by the bell. Before I left the classroom, he called me to his desk and gave me his email to message him about when I'm free for lessons. So romantic.

Back home I imagined what his house looked like and Imagined his scent filling the air. I mean a teacher like him? His house was bound to be small, intimate even. I started writing an email, settling for an evening lesson on Saturday. More of an chance for him to feel open to a relationship with a student or even a fling. I don't care, If I can taste him, It's a win, wife or not. He emailed back almost immediately with an enthusiastic yes and some details about where we'd be meeting. A public library? Ugh he's not easy to say the least. I decided to go for a walk to get some coffee, do some reading, and most importantly do some digging on my new fixation in the privacy of a park. The foggy, autumn air was so crisp I couldn't help but start smoking. I know I should quit but it's been a source of comfort for me ever since my life turned into a literal hell. I walked 7 blocks away from my house when I saw a shadowy figure approach me. I halted and was about to walk away until I saw a familiar set of curls. Sir? What is he doing here? I quickly discarded my cigarette, but it was too late. "Smoking kills y'know?" he smirks as he pulls out his own. I shrug awkwardly, "Sorry sir" "There you go apologizing again, don't apologize" he demanded. "Oh okay sor-" I caught myself. "What are you doing around here?" I blurted out trying to divert his attention from my mistake. "Just on a walk to clear my head" "what about your wife?" your deep down flaring jealousy caused you to say that, "You should take her too" I said without a single thought, I must be dying for him to know I want him. "She's too tired today. We had a long night" he took another drag at his cigarette. "oh" I said awkwardly. "I mean she's a teacher too and we both were up late doing some lesson planning and marking" he murmured embarrassed. That was definitely not the reason. I sure know how to make things awkward. It was getting dark and I was getting ready to start walking home. "Enjoy your walk sir, see you at the library" "wait, I'll walk you home. It's not safe to walk alone" We walked together quietly, enjoying each other's company till we reached my home and said our goodbye's.

Meanwhile getting ready for bed, I wondered what really happened between him and his wife. Maybe they had a big disagreement. I mean he was In my business, why not be in his? My mind raced on the many scenarios that could happen tomorrow. Those lustful scenarios sent me to a hard slumber.

The next day, I threw on a white mini skirt and a oversized knitted sweater pairing them perfectly with some boots. I decided to walk as it was my favorite way of transportation through out this time of year. The crunchy soothing leaves I'd step on making a soothing crunch and the brisk air that felt perfect on my face. The closer I was to my destination I felt a hard grip on my shoulder as I whipped my head back to see him In his regular black suit on just what I imagined "Sir, I'm sorry I was a tad late-" "There you go apologizing." he laughed as I looked around awkwardly "I noticed the library was a little busy, your welcome to study at my house. If that's alright with you of course" his soft smile warmed my cheeks as I licked my lips trying to not fight the urge to jump up and down. "Sure."

I noticed there being only one car in the driveway as I wondered where his wife was still trying to answer my question I have had since last night. "Please make yourself at home." he nodded as the quiet of his home was odd but cozy In a way. I noticed how there wasn't any evidence of his wife. He pulled a chair out for me as I grinned at him "I have a few things we can work on like-" "where is your wife?" His face looked pale after I asked that as if he'd seen the worst thing ever. He adjusted his glasses as he cleared his throat. "I- uh. She cheated on me" he murmured as I raised my eyebrows in shock. Why would she do that when she's married to HIM? Matter fact why would I even ask him? "I'm sorry- I should have never asked" I swallowed my guilt "It's fine. I was gonna tell you but I probably shouldn't be telling my students my business. Let alone be in my house but I trust you" he patted my hand as a soft grin formed on his face. His hand gently grazed upon mine as his hands were warm as veins faded through out his whole arm. I crossed my legs because of his comment, I arched my back as I noticed how the skirt I was wearing was the one I wore when we first interacted. The one where I completely flashed him. My face grew hotter as his eyes were locked on my lips. "Geez- I um so what do you have" he cleared his throat once more shaking his head back into his conscious as he looked down at my paper as his finger traced along it. I imagined his finger in other places than the paper, I couldn't process how bad I wanted this teacher. The way he would care about me by just teasing me turned me on to be completely honest. "Do you at least understand what's going on in my class? Because other than that, your a good student in all of your other classes" he flipped through some notes on his book as he licked his index finger "Or should I set some kind of punishment whenever you doze off in my class?" he teased as rolled I eyes In the playful way. "I don't know, what would the punishment be?" I snickered as the tension in the room grew, as well as his pants. I bit the bottom of my lip as his big brown does eyes that I adored rested once more on my lips as they met my eyes once again. The urge to just grab him and crash him to my lips was desperate "what sir?" I questioned as he scoffed "Enough with 'sir'" he said turning red as I noticed how he had been slowly getting worked up. Without hesitation as I followed my tuition, my lips connected with his as he groaned in shock. His hand rested on my thigh as his thumb traced perfectly round circles. His lips vibrated against mine as It satisfied me to the fullest. His tongue found its way in between my lips as my eyebrows knitted together. I gently rocked my hips as his hands traveled more up my waist beneath my sweater. His warm hands sent me into a state of satisfaction “is that okay?” He murmured lowly as I nodded in return, he nodded as his kiss became more intense and lustful than before indulging into my mouth once more.

He barged into his room as his hands were still on my waist pulling me on top of his lap sitting on his bed. “I’ve always wanted to tell you how beautiful you are” he panted as his praises made my heat grow. I circled around his curls as I felt the cold air hit my thighs. I’d never thought I’d be swapping spit with a teacher in his room but here I am making the most of it

“your completely okay with this again right y/n?” His voice sounded whiny and inpatient - “yes sir” “Hamzah” he replied in the span of a millisecond “Hamzah” his name rolled off my lips satisfyingly as I began riding his thigh as he kissed at my exposed neck. His hands fiddled with the bottom of my sweater as I removed it revealing my laced bra. His eyes sparkled as if his view was impeccable. My breath hitched as his wet lips kissed around my hard nipples. His knee was met with my heated cunt as a soft moan escaped my lips from the friction. He smirked as he threw his jacket somewhere in the cold room as he rode up his hand higher up my skirt “I love this skirt on you” he stated as the same black panties peeked out grabbing his attention. I bit my lip as he scoffed, he shuffled with the button on his pants as he was able to slide them off to his ankles as well as his boxers. He revealed what appeared to be 7 inches as I looked at him in awe as I slid my panties off as well he groaned as his member leaked with pre-cum. I began tugging on skirt as he easily grabbed my wrist “skirt stays on please!” he whined as I nodded. I pumped his hard cock as he whined under my touch. I caressed the tip as he bucked his hips obviously indicating me to stop teasing. I propped my self on his member as I felt his size stretch me out making me whine in his ear. His hands glued to the sides of my waist as I took all of him in. His eyes rolled back to his skull from my tight grip. I began grinding on him as he whimpered under me.

“oh fuck y/n” he panted as I slowly bounced on his cock taking all of him in. His length did magic in me as I already felt my self reaching my climax. His hands easily unclipped my lacy bra as he wasted no time into swirling his tongue around my nipples. His moans vibrated onto my sensitive tits making me reach my high even quicker. He began taking control as he thrusted into me quicker than before as my legs began shaking in satisfaction. His crave for me was stronger than ever as he whispered small praises in my ear. I felt myself come un-done.

“Can I cum in you- y/n!” he panted as I nodded in desperation. I felt his warm seed sprout into me as I laid my head on his shoulder as he rubbed my back. “your so fucking good y/n, fuck” he panted as my legs shook due to the overstimulation. I looked over at him as sweat beads covered his forehead as his curls look perfectly messy on top of his head. He was quick to offer clothes and water. I wondered if fucking a teacher would be something I would take to my grave.

| 🍂

I GIVE FULL CREDIT TO THE PERSON WHO GAVE ME BASICALLY HALF OF THIS PLOT I APPRECIATE U SM TYSM I LOVE U! I hope you all aren’t getting sick of the fall fics, I can’t help it 🥲

(not spellchecked i apologize for any grammar mistakes)

[jenscx]

[11] DAYLIGHT — d-day

you stared unblinking at the webcam, your stream displaying the waiting animation sakura had created for you a couple years back. the moment karina accepted your friend request on discord, you started the stream.

“hello everyone,” you smile, “today’s stream is slightly special and i’ll explain in just a minute when our mystery guest joins.”

your mouse hovers over the call button as the chat floods with comments about the ‘mystery guest’. by now, everyone had sort of figured out who the mystery guest was. could it really be counted as a mystery?

karina finally joins the call and your party in overwatch.

“hello?”

the chat goes crazy. you inwardly grimace. there’s a wave of donations and tips coming in. you didn’t know of karina’s popularity until that moment.

“we have karina joining us today,” you cringe at your cheerful tone. you can only imagine karina making fun of you later. she replies, “hi everyone, i’m karina.”

seeing as your viewers had calmed down significantly, you start to explain, “so i’m sure some of you guys are wondering why we hosted this stream. well, karina and i matched in a game and became acquainted with one another after.” you leave out the part about how karina was the cause of your account being banned.

“acquainted? didn’t you say we weren’t friends?” karina teased. you already feel a headache coming.

you try to smile, knowing that most likely, she’s also watching your stream and reactions.

“let’s just play!”

karina lets out a boisterous laugh as you quickly start a 1v1 match.

“are there any rules?” you read from the chat, “nope, but respawn is not on and we can change heroes.”

your mouse flashes across the screen, and you see karina being locked in already. knowing her, the youtuber probably picked genji to prove you wrong. a chuckle escapes your lips and you pick symmetra. the game starts.

“i’m excited,” karina remarks.

“excited to lose?”

she merely laughs. the doors finally open and you’ve never been so focused in your life. the mere prospect of having yu karina do anything you want is already egging you on. you weren’t aware of her fanbase, but you were now. with the help of kim minju of course.

“are you hiding?” you ask incredously after scouring the map for a few minutes but with no karina in sight.

“of course not, stupid.” her silky yet raspy voice reverberates in your headphones. you can’t help your cheeks heating up.

a moment passes, and you hear quick footsteps behind you. your mouse swiftly turns. she isn’t there anymore.

“you’re so annoying,” you mutter. you can hear karina’s smirk in her voice when she replies, “you like me that way.”

“i don’t like you in any way.”

“yeah?” before you even get to answer, genji jumps out of nowhere and gets a couple hits on you. you instantly snap into action, symmetra placing down her sentry turrets, combating karina’s swift movements.

‘are they flirting or arguing with each other?’

‘this is very homoerotic.’

you ignore your chat.

her health depletes slightly before she manages to escape again. you grin, already knowing that her pride wouldn’t allow her to switch to another hero. and she was so predictable that you chose a hero that counters genji.

“stop hiding and running away, it’s defeating the purpose of a 1v1,” you say.

“only if you tell me nicely, darling.” the red in your cheeks return and your chat goes berserk.

you click your tongue, irritation at yourself boiling. you were so easily flustered.

“don’t call me that!”

the blurry image of karina smirking only sends another wave of heat to your face.

“whatever you say, darling.” you roll your eyes.

“okay, stop hiding. let’s settle this for real.” at that moment, karina chooses to strike. genji apparates out of nowhere again and deals massive amounts of damage. when you use your primary fire, karina can’t deflect it. you’re left with barely a quarter of full health. you assume karina has roughly the same.

“baby, just let me win.”

you don’t even hesitate to stop firing. karina giggles as she throws one last shuriken at you. symmetra groans and the screen goes into darkness. your chat pings continuously.

defeat, in large and bold letters, shows up on your screen. your jaw drops. you only gaze at the monitor in awe. in awe of how easy you were. just a simple command from karina and you were basically turned into a lapdog. how does someone so insufferable have such a effect on you?

“what. the. hell.”

‘choi yena gifted 5 subs; park yn, don’t tell me you just lost because you’re a simp?’ the robotic voice says. you continue gaping at the screen. the humiliation of your loss only eats you up, and there’s an overwhelming urge to just end the stream without saying goodbye. in your headphones, you hear karina laughing heartily. the chat is still being flooded with comments, mostly making fun of you. not only had you lost, you lost in front of 20k people watching your devastating defeat.

“uhm,” you mumble, “so, see you guys next time.”

“thanks for the game, yn! don’t forget about our bet,” karina laughs gleefully.

your entire face turns red at this point. with clumsy hands, you end the stream, vowing to never play overwatch ever again.

masterlist | next

TAGLIST ! @flolio @imahallucination11 @wallfl9wer @edamboon @seullovesme @twicesserafim @klvarchives @rinapomu @pandafuriosa60 @jisooftme @cwpiqwon @yoontoonwhs @limbforalimb @xen248 @r4cjh @dni-unavailable @yukianism @i3lia @ryujinsdimple @httpisaoki @haerinsloverr @masuowo @multiliker @edenzeepy @1luvkarina @yeetaberry127

[just-dreaming-marvel]

Love That Burns ~ Ending 2 ~ 40

LOVE THAT BURNS MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 4,400ish

Summary: You and Logan struggle.

Warning(s): bars, drunk men, tears, heartbreak, seizures

Notes: Welp, this chapter was gonna be shorter and different, but y'all sent in some great ideas. I hope this chapter makes sense since I used the chapter I had already written and worked around it.

Reminder: I DO NOT do taglists. Please don’t ask. Please follow and interact! I appreciate any reblogs, likes, comments, and asks!

Logan was anxious as he pulled up to the diner the next day. He couldn’t see your car, which made his stomach tie up in knots. What if you actually walked away? He had kept telling you to, but then yesterday… he couldn’t lose you again. It might actually be the thing that killed him. Logan’s eyes scanned the diner as he entered, trying to find any sight of you.

“Excuse me,” Logan grumbled as he caught the attention of one of the other waitresses. “Is Y/N here?”

“Her shift starts in a few minutes,” the waitress responded. “Feel free to wait in a booth.”

“Thanks.”

Logan sat down at tapped the table as he looked out the window and waited for you. He felt some relief when he watched you pull up and enter the diner. You could feel Logan’s gaze on you, but you ignored it, quickly starting your shift. You didn’t go over there until Logan’s food was finished.

“Here,” you muttered, setting the food down. You kept your gaze down.

“Sweetheart,” Logan’s injured hand came up to your hand.

“I have to work, Logan. If you need something, we can talk after my shift.”

You turned away and went to help a rowdy truck driver at the counter. Logan kept his eyes on you, growing angrier by the second as the truck driver kept trying to put his hands on you.

“Hey, bitch,” the truck driver called, slapping your butt as you walked past.

Logan stood up and walked over, his whole world red. He grabbed the guy’s shirt and immediately punched him in the face.

“Logan!” You exclaimed, trying to pull him off the man. “Stop!”

Logan pulled the man closer to his face. “Don’t you ever disrespect a woman like that!” He then punched the driver again.

“Logan!” You went to grab his arm, but his elbow flew back into your face and hit your nose. Blood began gushing down you. You grabbed your nose to try to plug it. 

“That’s enough!” Your manager shouted. She glared at Logan and the driver. “Get out!”

Logan looked back at you, stomach dropping at the sight of blood on you. When did you get hurt? He didn’t remember that at all. Logan let go of the driver, causing the man to fall to the ground.

“Out!” Your manager repeated. Logan left the diner before the manager turned to you. “You’re fired.”

“What?” You questioned. “But I—“

“Keep luring that man in. I can’t ban him; he’s too dangerous, but I can ban you. Go.”

You grabbed your things and went out to your car, where Logan was waiting.

“Y/N,” he whispered, hands stuffed into his pockets to hide his own blood and bruising.

“Go away,” you muttered. You got into your car, slamming the door before driving off.

~~~

Logan dropped off the bachelor party at the bar and sat there in the limo. He knew he lost it today and that you needed an apology. Getting out, he was going to get to your motel when he saw you stumble out of the bar, hanging off of a man. You were giggling and touching the man, making Logan see red again. Without another thought, Logan was storming over there. He ripped the man off of you before you could kiss. 

“Hey!” The man exclaimed. “Watch it—“

“Run off,” Logan’s voice was gruff yet thick with anger. He lifted one of his fists and revealed his metal claws. The man scurried off.

“Are you going to sabotage all my jobs now?” You questioned, causing him to turn quickly toward you.

“What? What job?”

“Well, you got me fired from the diner, and I need money. The guy was going to pay well.”

Logan thought he was going to throw up. He had promised you a life away from this, yet here you were because of him. “There has to be another way.”

“What am I supposed to do? I need the money, and I don’t have a safe place… You won’t take me home—to your home… I have nothing.”

“But… you’re my wife,” Logan reached out to you, but you stepped away. “Just ask me, and I’ll help you.”

“I thought you said we weren’t even married, Logan. So, I’m not your wife…”

His heart was shattered. “I didn’t mean—“

“Just… let me walk away, Logan. That’s what you wanted, right?”

Logan felt frozen as you walked in the direction of your motel. He had caused this. It was all his fault. But how could he fix it without putting you in more danger?

~~~

The next morning, Logan woke up with a mission. He had to get to your motel. He had to convince you somehow to stay in town. He was stupid, stupid to think that pushing you away was protecting you. He would work more shifts or get another job just to keep you close. And to make sure that you were taken care of. Logan sped to the motel and rushed up to your door. Knocking on it, the door creaked open.

“Y/N?” He called, stepping inside. “Sweetheart?”

None of your belongings were there. It looked like you left in a rush. Logan ventured further into the room, checking for any sign of you. His eyes caught sight of the motel notepad on the desk, where your familiar handwriting sat. His hand trembled as he picked up the note. He moved it closer to his face and then away as he struggled to read it.

“Fuck,” he muttered, hating how his body was betraying him. 

Eventually, he found a spot that he could read it, if he squinted real hard.

Logan—Got kicked out of the motel. Apparently, they don’t enjoy long-term guests like me. I wish things were different.

Logan didn’t even know he was crying until a tear fell on your note. The dog tags and ring that sat against his chest felt like they were burning into him. A part of him wished that they would. That they’d burn right through to his heart. Keeping the note in his hand, Logan turned around and left the motel room. His eyes searched for any sign of your car, but it wasn’t there. You had left, just as he had wanted. But then why did he feel like he could just lay down and die? Like his heart had been ripped from his chest? You were right. This wasn’t protection to either of you. This just made things worse. And it was too late to fix it.

With a heavy sigh, Logan got into his limo and headed back to the smelting plant. He couldn’t work today. Not with his mind too caught up in you and the promises that he failed to keep.

~~~

It was dark, stuffy, and extremely bumpy. But you didn’t care, especially once you realized that Logan kept extra suit jackets and white shirts in the limo’s trunk. 

You knew that Logan would stop by; he was so predictable to you. That morning, you sold your stolen car and packed up your belongings. You waited patiently for Logan to show up at the motel and slipped into his trunk as he searched your room. If Logan wasn’t going to take you to where he was living, you’d just have to sneak there. Consequences be damned. You at least deserved a chance actually to say goodbye to Charles and to Logan.

Currently, you were in Logan’s trunk, wrapped up in one of his jackets, savoring the smell of him. It was something you missed. Just his woody, cigar, leathery scent. It was pure Logan.

You didn’t know how long you were in the car before Logan finally stopped and got out. As you waited, you began to grow nervous. What if you showing up like this was the last straw? What if he really didn’t want you?

“Don’t be silly, my dear,” Charles’ voice entered your mind. “Logan always wants you.”

“Charles?” You mentally responded.

“The coast is clear. I’m in the tank.”

You popped open the trunk and carefully slipped out. You shut it, leaving your belongings in there. Glancing around, you took in the abandoned smelting plant and the barely put-together tank next to it. There was a fence surrounding the place with a train track not too far from that. It was in the desert, the heat of the sun beating down on you. Nothing was around for miles. 

Tugging the jacket around you tighter, you quietly made your way to the tank. As you came up to the door, your heart sank as you realized that it was locked from the outside, clearly keeping Charles in. You entered and looked around. Charles was sitting in a wheelchair near a hospital bed. There was a chair and a small table with some plants scattered about. A fan was working overtime, trying to cool the thick, hot air. Charles smiled upon seeing you.

“Hello, Y/N,” he greeted.

You smiled back, trying not to worry too much about how it felt like he had aged too much since you last saw him. But the same could probably be said for you. “Hello, Charles.”

“I have missed you.” He wheeled himself over and held out his hand.

You took it. “I’ve missed you, too.”

“Come. Sit.” Charles led you over to the chair. “I know that it’s been a hard year for you.”

“I’m sure it hasn’t been easy for you either.”

“Alzheimer’s… That’s what I have. Seems to be an okay day today. Well, besides being stuck in this shit hole.”

You laughed. It wasn’t very often that you heard Charles swear. “Yeah, the whole place seems… nice.”

“That’s far too kind of a word. But it is better now that you’re here.”

“I don’t know if I can stay.” You shook your head. “I don’t know if Logan wants me here.”

“I don’t care what he wants. I want you here.”

“Charles—“

“Besides, that old grump yearns for you.” He tapped his head. “I know. Well, when I’m not full of those awful meds that they keep giving you.”

“They? Who else is here?”

Just then, the tank door opened, and a man walked in. He was carrying a tray of food and meds. He was tall and thin, all of his skin covered for protection from the sun. You jumped slightly and froze, not expecting anyone else here since Logan had been so adamant that you couldn’t be here for your safety. 

“What the— Who are you?” The man asked, closing the door and walking further in. He set the tray down on the table and pulled his goggles up onto his forehead, showing you that he was albino. 

“Caliban, this is Y/N,” Charles introduced.

“You’re Y/N.”

“I am,” you responded. “Who are you?”

“Logan found me. Offered me food, shelter, and protection in exchange for helping with Charles.”

“Oh.” You hated how much it stung that Logan would promise someone else that.

“Does he know you’re here?”

“No. I snuck over in the trunk of his limo. Please don’t tell him I’m here. I would like to do that.”

“Of course.”

“Y/N can help me with my meds today, Caliban,” Charles said. “You can go.”

Caliban nodded, stealing one last look at you before sliding his goggles back over his eyes and heading out. You walked over to the tray and brought it over to Charles, resting it across his lap.

“Now, Y/N,” Charles took a bite of his food, “tell me how it felt to beat Logan will some fire.”

~~~

Logan tipped the bottle of alcohol up, the liquid burning down his throat. Due to his dwindling healing abilities, Logan had started to feel the effects of alcohol more than he ever had before. But it did nothing to make him forget about you. Your smokey scent. The way your skin felt under his rough, calloused hands. The warmth that radiated off of you. Your eyes and your smile. 

He set the bottle down on the table as Caliban came back into the smelting plant. Logan’s thick brows furrowed as he watched Caliban unwrap his skin.

“Did you make sure he swallowed?” Logan questioned, thinking that Caliban hadn’t been in the tank long enough.

“He swallowed,” Caliban replied.

Logan scoffed. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“Well, it might be because you’re tired.”

Logan groaned as he stood up. “I shouldn’t have to do everything around here.”

“Don’t go out there.”

“Why not?”

“He’s, uh, lucid.”

“And?” Caliban looked away. “I’m going out there. Good thing the sun will prevent you from stopping me.” 

Logan marched out of the plant, slamming the door as he headed to the tank. As soon as he opened the door, he froze. You were sitting with Charles.

“Logan!” You exclaimed, surprised to see him already.

“How the hell did you get here?” He grumbled, marching closer. “You disappeared. Everything was gone.”

“I sold the car this morning and snuck into your trunk when you stopped by the hotel.”

“Don’t be mad at her, Logan,” Charles scolded.

“I ain’t mad,” he murmured. “You need to go.”

“No,” you weren’t going to let him push you away this time. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Yes, you are.” He grabbed your hand and pulled you from the chair with his uninjured one. “You can’t be here. Especially not in here.” He began leading you to the door.

“Let go of her, Logan,” ordered Charles.

“It’s okay, Charles,” you replied. “I can handle this.” You shut the door behind you as Logan pulled you outside.

“Get in the car,” Logan demanded.

“No. You don’t get to tell me what to do! You also don’t get to ask me to stay and then not let me be here.”

“It’s too dangerous! Charles is—He is lucid today, but it’s not always like this, and he can control the seizures and the psychic attacks. You could die, just like the others.”

“I’d rather die in your arms than die homeless on the streets.”

Logan let go of your hand and stepped back. His hand ran down his face in frustration—at himself and the situation. He would rather that, too. That he knew your fate than you die in some alley. But he didn’t want you to have to watch him and Charles decline. Logan knew he couldn’t have it both ways.

You could see the war raging in his mind. You stepped closer and gently took his face in your hands. “I also don’t want you to die alone… I know that something is wrong… I’m staying. We can do this your way, but I’m staying.”

“Fine. But you follow my rules.”

~~~

Logan’s rules were stupid in your eyes, but you were willing to follow them, at least for a little while. The biggest rule Logan had was that you were not allowed to go near Charles unless Logan was home. You thought it was ridiculous and told him as such, but he was still insistent anyway. However, perhaps the biggest thing Logan insisted on was that you two had separate bedrooms. 

“It’s for your own good,” Logan told you.

You rolled your eyes and scoffed. “Or it’s for your own good. You just don’t want me to figure out what’s wrong with you. So you’re still running and hiding.”

Logan hated how well you knew him. That first night you spent there, neither of you got any sleep. You couldn’t help but think about crawling in bed with Logan, though both of you were stuck with uncomfortable twin beds. There was a time when that wouldn’t have mattered. When you two were stuck with a small sleeping situation, Logan would pull you on top of him, holding you there all night. That’s where you wanted to be. In his arms. 

Logan was itching to go to you. To hold you and beg for forgiveness for everything he had done to hurt you. But he couldn’t let himself. Logan needed to keep you at a distance still. He believed it would make it easier when he died from the poison in his body. Though he was sure that you could tell he was already dying.

You, Logan, Charles, and Caliban quickly fell into a routine. Caliban would sleep in the tank every night with Charles. You would make breakfast for the bunch and switch Caliban out so that he could eat and get some more rest. You would stay with Charles, making sure he ate and took his meds until Logan left for work. Logan would always escort you from the tank into the smelting plant before leaving. You took it upon yourself to clean up the smelting plant, trying your best to make it more homey while Caliban took care of Charles. You also took care of lunch and dinners.

Logan would often work late. You made sure that Charles and Caliban ate and went to bed while you waited up for Logan. You had a few books in your belongings, so you would wait on the dingy couch with a book until Logan came home. You would always watch him carefully as he entered and hung up his jacket, trying to hide his pained groans. Logan would hobble over to the table, grabbing the alcohol on his way before you warmed up the food. The two of you would eat in silence.

“Goodnight, Logan,” you would say softly every night after cleaning up. 

“Night, sweetheart,” he would mumble as you walked away.

This routine went on for months, barely ever changing. Logan had noticed that Caliban and Charles were doing better with you around. It helped that they had another person to help ease the burdens and talk to. Charles hadn’t had a seizure since before you arrived, with all of you not taking that for granted.

Logan began to realize that you were doing so much to take care of the three of them, but no one was really taking care of you. You deserved more than that. 

The first gift he showed up with was a new book. It appeared outside your door one of the rare nights when you had gone to bed before Logan got home. 

The next gifts were weeks later and spread out. Logan felt bad that you were stuck in an uncomfortable bed with a flimsy sheet. He knew that your mutation kept you warm, but you still deserved to be comfortable. Each of the gifts was already on your bed when Logan left for work. The first one was new sheets, already fitted against your bed. The next one was a blanket, and then there were new pillows with a whole new mattress as the last one.

You couldn’t understand how Logan was affording these items. You knew that money was tight and felt guilty that he was spending so much on you. The only way you could think to repay him was through your grocery list and the food you made. You knew what meals Logan liked and had them on a constant rotation for him.

Charles and Caliban watched the quiet gifting with much annoyance. They both believed that you should just talk it out.

“Logan is not working today,” Caliban said. “You should talk to him.”

“He’s not the talking type,” you responded, finishing up getting breakfast ready. “Besides… I don’t know if it could help anything now.”

“You never know until you try.”

You ignored the comment as you picked up the tray. “I’ll be out with Charles.”

Caliban sighed as you left, and Logan came down the stairs. Logan grabbed the plate that you had already prepared for him, along with the cup of coffee, and sat at the table.

“She’ll be glad to have you home today,” Caliban commented.

“Sure,” Logan scoffed.

“She misses you.”

“And you would know?”

“I often find her crying as she works.”

That immediately caught Logan’s attention. “What?”

But before Caliban could respond, a high-pitched mental sound rang through their minds. Caliban froze while Logan groaned in pain. Moving as fast as Charles’ seizure would allow, Logan grabbed the medication and fought to get into the tank. He needed to stop Charles and get to you. When he opened the door of the tank, Charles was in bed, seizing, while you had collapsed to the ground. Logan ground his teeth and pushed harder. 

Far too long for his liking, Logan reached Charles’ bedside and injected the meds into him. The seizure stopped, and Logan collapsed to his knees with a grunt. He immediately crawled over to you, only to find you bleeding from your nose and ears. It was his worst nightmare come true again. Caliban stumbled into the tank, covered, as Logan swept you into his arms. He stood up with you, not caring how much pain he was in himself.

“Take care of him,” he mumbled as he carried you out of the tank. 

Every part of his body and soul ached as he carried you up to your room and tucked you in there. You were still breathing, giving him hope. But the last time you had experienced one of Charles’ seizures, you had been in a coma for months. Logan didn’t know if he would survive that again. 

With gentle care, Logan cleaned off your face once you stopped bleeding. He sat in a chair beside your bed, leaning forward with his head down and hands clasped together. You were out for the rest of the day before you finally showed signs of waking up. You moaned as you moved to stretch a little and opened your eyes. Looking over, you saw Logan sitting there, tears streaming down his cheeks. His eyes were red and he wasn’t even bothering to hide the heartbreak.

“You can’t be here,” he whispered.

“Logan—“

“No! You can’t be here. What I was trying to prevent from happening almost happened! You could have died!” He stood up, clenching his fists together, almost like he wished he could physically fight this battle. “I— I can’t— I love you too damn much to lose you like this! I just want you to be alive and safe. And that’s not possible here with Charles… here with me.”

“I have nowhere to go.”

“I know! And it’s all my fucking fault! I broke my promise, and now you’re struggling, and it’s all my fault. I hate myself for putting you in those situations! But I— I can’t have you here and watch Charles kill you like he did all the others…”

“James,” you reached out for his hand, relieved when he let you take it. You could see some of the tension leave his shoulders as you squeezed his hand.

“I can’t live without you, sweetheart.” He plopped back into the chair, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to do this… to be the man I need to be for you and make the right decision.” His grip on your hand tightened. “I need you like I need air to breathe.”

“Then don’t run. Don’t push me away.”

“It’s not safe here… Charles could have killed you today.”

“But he didn’t. And Caliban told me that he’s been more lucid and less prone to seizures. Telling me to leave would make it worse… And then what will happen to you? Who would take care of you?”

“I don’t need you to worry about me, honey.”

“How can I not?” Tears slipped down your cheeks. “I have worried about you every day since I woke up. I masked it with anger because I thought that would help me handle my situation more, but it didn’t… I know you’re dying, James. Whether you want to be honest with yourself or me, that doesn’t matter. I can see it. And… I can’t let you die alone. Please don’t make either of us die alone.”

Logan launched himself at you, wrapping you up in his arms and holding you close. He was full-on sobbing now; the walls that he had put up now crumbled to dust. “I’m so sorry… baby, I’m so sorry…” 

Your arms came around to hold him. “Please don’t make me leave…”

“No, no,” Logan shook his head as he pulled back and gently cradled your head in his hands. “You’re not going anywhere… Honey… I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t need to keep apologizing.”

“I will never stop, baby. Until my dying breath. And I never expect your forgiveness for my behavior… for my words.” He reluctantly let you go as he pulled your dog tags out from underneath his shirt.

“My ring,” you gasped as you saw it sitting there.

“I went back and got it,” he explained as he removed it from the chain. “I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else taking it.”

“I thought it was gone… I thought…”

One of Logan’s hands went up to cup your cheek as the other held your ring. “I said things I didn’t mean… I told you that our marriage wasn’t real when it was the most real thing in my entire life. You are my wife. I am your husband. Whether or not it’s on an official document.” He easily slipped the ring on your finger, eyes boring into yours. “You are my wife.” He moved his hands to your neck before he kissed your cheek. “You are my wife.” He then kissed your other cheek. You were growing hotter as his beard scratched your skin in a different way than you were used to. “I am your husband.” He kissed your nose. “You are my wife.” Then his lips finally crashed onto yours.

You pulled Logan closer as he fought for dominance in your mouth. Slowly, you lay down, forcing Logan to get on top of you. Logan never broke the kiss, taking you in like a starving man. His hands moved to slide under your shirt, feeling your heated skin. He groaned as he pulled his hands away, and his lips left yours.

“I’m sorry,” you panted. “I’m just… It’s been too long.”

“I know, honey,” he rasped. “I’m feeling the same way.”

“I can try to cool down—“

“Don’t. I can handle it.” He kissed you again. “Let me try to make amends.”

next chapter >

[gojoidyll]

Infinity

Yandere ! Gojo Satoru x Female ! Reader

Part 26 | quelled fears

Summary | And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you.

Infinity Masterlist

“Will he really be ok?”

Her voice rung out as she watched Itadori leave with Nanami, Gojo stood next to her silently with that same charming smile on his, “he’ll be fine. He’s a tough kid.”

“If you say so…,” she muttered. Truth be told, she was still worried.

“Now,” Gojo exclaimed as he clapped his hands together, “what should we do for the rest of the day.”

She smiled and quirked an eyebrow up, “don’t we have classes to teach?”

He pouted instantly, “why can’t we just ditch it and go on a date instead?”

“Because I don’t want to get fired,” she answered as she grabbed his hand and started to tug him along. Gojo scoffed in response, “please, they will be insane if they let someone like you go.”

Laughing at his words, she pulled him close so he was walking right next to her, “whatever you say, Satoru.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed his smile grow bigger, “something funny, mister?”

He shook his head, “not at all, I just like it when you say my name.”

She rolled her eyes, “you’re so weird sometimes. Now, come on before our students miss us.”

“You two are so late.”

Y/n smiled sheepishly as Nobara glared at both y/n and Gojo, “listen, I know you two are all lovey dovey now, but my time is precious!”

Fushiguro stood idly next to her, not much caring for the tardiness as he was already used to it.

“Right, sorry,” y/n said, “we were just meeting up with another sorcerer was all.”

Nobara rolled her eyes, “we’re not little kids, you know? You don’t have to use excuses when you really lost time because you were making out with one another-“

“Kugisaki,” y/n said exasperated.

Meanwhile, Gojo was pouting in the corner. Honestly, making out with y/n and being late would have been a whole lot better than meeting up with Nanami.

“Whatever, so what are we doing today?”

Y/n looked over to Gojo, but he was still pouting causing Kugisaki to angrily march over to him, “hey! We’re talking to you!”

“No need to get impatient,” he said as he raised both of his hands in defense.

“Then tell us what we’re doing-“

“You’re training with the second years!”

Gojo said it excitedly as he clapped his hands together. And as expected… there was no excited reaction to follow suit.

“Where’s the enthusiasm?! You two should be excited!”

“Why are we training with them?”

Gojo grinned and looked to Fushiguro who already pieced together what was happening.

“Is it to go up against the other school?”

“Correct! Two points to Megumi!”

Y/n laughed to herself as she thought back to her own school days as Gojo explained to a confused Nobara about what was going to go down. Going up against the sister school was always fun!

“Ok… so we basically need to kick their ass, right?”

“Bingo! Two points to Nobara! Now, you are currently set to meet up with the second tomorrow at the training field. Which concludes our lesson for the-“

“But we didn’t do anything-“

“Our job here is done!”

Gojo was quick to grab a hold of y/n as he gave his two students a little wave before teleporting away.

“That jerk,” Nobara huffed.

Meanwhile, y/n was gripping onto the front of Gojo’s shirt tightly when he teleported them both to his apartment.

“Satoru,” she whined.

“Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t resist,” he said as he held her close.

She looked up at him, “at least warn me next- mmph!”

He cut her off instantly by pressing his lips hard against her own. And he didn’t let up. Anytime he pulled back to get a breath in, he was already diving back in to kiss her. His lips simply devouring her as he refused to let her go from his hold.

“Satour,” she managed to say between his searing lips, “what’s gotten into you?”

“Just wanting to be late because we’re making out,” he said simply, his lips molding into her own. And when he bit into your bottom lip, his teeth snagging on the flesh as he gave it a gentle tug, she whimpered causing him to move forward a bit in search of something. It wasn’t until she felt her back press hard against the hallway wall that he found what he was looking for. His hands moving down to grip her hips, “jump,” he muttered letting go of her lip.

She wanted to do as he said, but her legs felt wobbly. Her grip on his forearms could only tighten as he smirked. So, with controlled ease, he lifted her up.

“A few kisses got you weak in the knees,” he teased as she wrapped her legs around his waist, “how adorable.”

His teasing words didn’t last long as he slotted his lips with hers again. His teeth biting at her lips again as she got the silent message and opened her mouth. Her movements were a little hesitant, scared, but he was quick to quell her fears when he shoved his tongue into her mouth.

He didn’t like the closeness she had with Nanami.

He didn’t like Sukuna’s continual taunts and blatant remarks.

He especially didn’t like the fact that there was a possibility that y/n could remember everything.

And yet, he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Not right now, at least. Not when he finally has some time with her away from everyone else and no one to interrupt.

“S- satoru,” she moaned his name out when he pulled away from her slightly. Their mouths still so close together as their breaths mixed and a single string of saliva connected them.

“Again. Say my name like that again.”

And who knows, maybe she’ll quell his own fears too by saying his name just like that.

[zepskies]

Take Me Home - Part 7

Pairing: Beau Arlen x F. Reader 

Summary: You are another lost soul at Sunny Day Excursions. You’re aiming to settle in Helena, Montana, where Beau Arlen is the new sheriff in town. But you’ve both got a past you’re running from. 

AN: For everyone who has Easter plans tomorrow (Happy Easter!), I decided to release this part a bit early. And yes, we’re at that part of the season 3 plotline…

Word Count: 6.6K

Tags/Warnings: Major angst, survival situations, violence, hurt/comfort.

❤️ Series Masterlist

Part 7: On the Edge of a Knife

Beau returned home that night with a large pizza for Carla and Emily. He’d already eaten with you an hour ago, but true to his legendary appetite, he still found room for a slice of pepperoni. They got comfortable around the fire out in front of his trailer.

“What held you up?” Carla asked.

Beau sighed and first wiped a bit of sauce from his face with a napkin. He admitted there was an altercation between you and your ex-boyfriend, Michael Hadley. Beau happened to be there in time to settle things down and help patch you up after you fell through a glass coffee table.

“Oh my God. Is she okay?” Emily asked. Beau noted her concern with a smile.

“She’s fine. Some minor cuts and bruises,” he said. “But I had to encourage the guy to leave town. If he’s got any sense, he’ll get gone.”

Emily looked relieved at that. Then she eyed him with a suspicious smile.

“And you just happened to be in the neighborhood?” she asked slyly, voicing the thought that Carla hadn’t wanted to.

Both women watched him closely, but Carla knew the tell-tale signs of Beau covering his embarrassment, giving his daughter a wry look.

“All right, smart Alec. Why don’t you break out the extra sheets I got in the trailer? We’ll set up the bed and the couch.”

“If you can call that glorified bench a couch,” Emily muttered with a grin. 

“Ey!” Beau called after her, though he watched her go in amusement.

After a couple more hours of chatting and catching up, showers taken and plates washed, Emily headed for bed. The adults stayed up for a while, bundled in warm coats as they sat together by the fire.

Beau remembered what Emily told him days ago; that he hadn’t needed to be a perfect man for his wife and daughter. They’d just needed him to be a bit more honest about what he was going through, to let them in. After what happened today with you, your patience and understanding with him…he was beginning to get what she meant.

“I’m really thankful for you helping us,” Carla said. It unearthed him out of his own head.

“Yeah,” he replied with a nod.

Admittedly, he was still a bit distracted. Besides how he left things with you (which still made heat crawl up the back of his neck), he still had Avery and that stolen money to worry about. Otherwise known as the reason Carla and Emily would have to cram themselves in his little trailer.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Carla prodded, laying a gentle hand on his arm.

“I just got a bad feeling about all this,” he confessed. “It’s like in Houston with Randy.”

“No,” she shook her head. “You can’t go there.”

“It’s too late,” he replied. “‘Cause it feels the same. Like something’s…something is comin’, and I’m powerless to stop it.”

“Randy’s death was not your fault,” she reminded him. Just like you had.

Beau looked over at her with a humorless quirk of his lips.

“We both know that’s not true. He was my partner and I let him down. And then…then I wasn’t there for you, or Emily. I don’t blame you for leaving me.”

Carla couldn’t help it, but a part deep inside her had been regretting that choice. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She managed to blink and keep them at bay, though she let out a shaky breath.

“Well, you’re here for us now,” she said. And yet, she could’ve predicted his next words like clockwork.

“It don’t make up for the way I checked out,” he said.

Carla licked her dry lips and swallowed down the emotion clogging her throat. She didn’t cry often. She could have an ironclad grip on her emotions when she needed to.

It was part of what made her a good lawyer. She knew Beau had sometimes gotten frustrated with that aspect of her personality in the past, because he was the opposite.

The man kept a good lid on things for his job, but at heart, he was driven by his passion, his anger, his love, and right now, his bone-deep guilt and shame.

She knew he’d been drowning in it for a year and hadn’t known how to pull him out. Every time he pushed her away, it had hurt her, hardened her, making her will to try again less and less. So she left him. 

It was the choice she made, and she knew she had to live with it. Just like marrying Avery.

Carla laid a hand on Beau’s over his knee. She made sure he looked her in the eyes when she said this.

“I forgive you. For all of that, okay?” she said. After a moment, he nodded. This time, she felt like he actually heard her.

“But I’m telling you, this thing with Avery…this isn’t over by a long shot,” he told her. “I’m not saying that to scare you. You understand that?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, even though those tears from earlier were working their way down her face. She wiped them away hastily.

“I’m not gonna let anything happen to you two,” Beau said, in a firm, reassuring tone.

It worked, and it didn’t. Carla nodded again. “I know.”

He sighed through his nose and squeezed her hand. His gaze shifted away, back to the bonfire dancing in front of them. His eyes stung at both the smoke, and the emotion rising in his chest. He steeled himself.

“Carla, I’ll always love you…”

She smiled slightly, brushing the remaining tears from her cheek.

“Though I sense a but coming,” she said.

When she said your name in question, Beau glanced back over at her and nodded. Carla had been his first real love, besides Daisy Harlow in the eleventh grade.

But you were unexpected. How quickly, how deeply you’d gotten under his skin was too hard to ignore. And at this point, he didn’t want to.

Meanwhile, Carla stared at her ex-husband in bemusement. She slipped her hand from his and folded hers back in her lap.

“What’s she like?” she asked. Half of her was genuinely curious. The other half would rather not hear his answer, but she supposed it was only fair. She was the one who moved on first.

Still, the flicker of Beau’s soft smile stung, just a little.

“She’s special,” he said. “Resilient, like you. And smart to boot. You know she’s a college professor?”

“Yeah, Emily told me,” Carla said. 

Beau’s smile dimmed when he noted the resignation in her voice. She gave him a knowing look. 

“I have no right to complain,” she said. “And you deserve to be happy too, Beau.”    

He considered that with a nod. He wasn’t sure if he believed her, but for your sake…he would try.

“Can you promise me something?” Carla asked. 

“Name it,” he said.

“I know Avery is in this thing deep. He lied to me and he created this mess. Even when this is over, I don’t know what’s going to happen between us. I know I’m asking a lot of you, but please, look out for him,” she implored. Beau uttered a wry chuckle and rubbed at his chin.

“He is in this deep. And he’s being stubborn about it,” he said. “I might not be able to help him walk it back, but I will try.”  

Carla released another sigh and nodded in response. She supposed that was the best she could hope for. 

A few days later, you walked up and down the grocery store aisles with a basket in one hand and your phone against your ear with the other.

“Okay, I’ve got all manners of junk food and chick-flick movie watching snacks, including Reese’s cups, ice cream, frozen pizzas, and no less than three bottles of wine,” you said. “Am I missing anything?”

“I don’t think so, hun. That sounds very comprehensive,” Denise replied.

She was at work, and you were still getting ready for the fall semester. It was only a little over a month away, which meant you were excited, and also nervous.

You had five classes on your roster. You’d also visited Carroll College yesterday to set up your office with all your books, both textbooks and your favorites in fiction and non-fiction (but mostly fiction). Much Ado About Nothing was front and center in the Shakespeare section of your shelf.

You also wanted to at least try and relax for the rest of your summer. Denise was all too willing to help. You’d always had a good relationship with your aunt, albeit distant, since you’d lived in different states.

Living so close now just made you realize how much you two had in common. It was nice to find a friend in her, not just someone who would try to mother you in your own mother’s absence. 

“Yes! Good. Then get ready to brainstorm what movies we’re gonna watch tonight, and in what order,” you said.

“Oh, don’t pretend like you don’t already have a color-coded checklist,” Denise quipped.

You laughed. Yes, she knew you too well. “Okay, maybe I do, but you still get a vote.”

You turned a corner in the aisles and nearly ran right into Carla, who was pushing a cart. You both jolted in surprise and recognition.

“Oh, hi! I’m sorry,” you said, at the same time she said, “Sorry, I…”

You two did the polite, nervous laughter people did when put in awkward situations. You noticed all the food she had in her cart—enough to feed a family of three for the week.

“Yeah, finally getting around to doing a grocery run,” she said. “Beau’s trailer leaves much to be desired in the form of amenities, so…”

You adopted a more amused smile. “Yeah, he’s not much of a cook, is he?”

“Do frozen fish sticks count?” Carla remarked.

“Only if there’s expired tartar sauce, according to Emily,” you joked. The two of you shared a laugh that was a little more genuine. You chatted for a couple minutes more before you parted with amiable handwaving. Then you realized that your aunt was still hanging on the line.

You sighed and put your phone back up to your ear. “Hey, sorry.”

“Was that who I think it was?” Denise asked. She was probably trying to be cryptic, if Emily was in the room with her.

“Indeed, it was. Doing a nice family-sized grocery run,” you whispered back, to make sure you weren’t overheard. You brought your basket of junk to one of the checkout lines.

“When was the last time you heard from him?” Denise asked. She must’ve heard the heaviness in your voice. You both knew exactly who “him” was code for. Beau friggin’ Arlen.

“Not since we said goodbye last week,” you replied. And the memory of that kiss had been torturing you for days. It had also been the fuel of many…late nights with yourself.

Speaking of which, need some more AA batteries, you thought with a warm blush.

“Okay, forget candy. We should get cheesecake,” Denise proposed.

You smiled. “You know what, that’s a damn good idea. Definitely cheesecake.”

You hopped out of line to do just that. You knew it probably wouldn’t be as good as Chicago made, but you went over to the bakery side of the store and hunted for the most good-looking cheesecake you could find.

“Hey, if you want, stop by here later,” your aunt said. “Em is here. We’ll grab lunch, make it a real girls’ day.”

“Sure,” you agreed. You hadn’t seen Emily in a week or so either. “Where are you thinking? I’ve been wanting to try that Indian place down the street from your office.”

“Sounds good to me. Come over after you drop those groceries off at home.”

“Okay, will do. I’ll see you guys soon!” you said. 

Beau knew that he was going to be working straight through lunch. What he, Jenny, and Cassie had discovered in the past 24 hours was deeply unsettling. 

Not only was Walter Sunny Barnes’s son, but Paige was alive. She’d been found in the foyer of Sunny’s home, brandishing a knife, convinced the married couple were in it together on her kidnapping. Sunny claimed she’d had no idea her husband had taken the poor girl and kept her in a shack for days.

According to Paige’s testimony, Buck Barnes had tried to kill her. And since she was alive, it meant Walter had lied in confessing to her murder. It was also likely that he hadn’t killed Mary or Luke either.

That wasn’t even the worst of Beau’s headache.

He rubbed his face in frustration after getting off the phone with Carla. Thanks to this whole business of Avery’s stolen cryptocurrency, she was being followed. 

Fuckin’ hell, Beau thought. The next time he saw Avery, it had better be with handcuffs, or he was going to start working on his punch list for real. Instead, Beau grabbed his cell and called his daughter.

“Hey, Dad,” she answered on the third ring.

“Hey, honey. You doin’ all right? You good?” he asked. Maybe he was coming on a little strong, but worry was a living thing inside his gut.

“Yeah, totally. Just doing some research…but guess who’s coming to have lunch with us later?” she asked.

Her tone was leading him somewhere, and Beau thought he knew the destination. His lips curved with a half-smile. When he guessed your name, Emily confirmed.

“You’re welcome to join us. If, you know, you wanted to,” she teased.

Beau’s smile twisted with disbelief. Was his daughter trying to set him up? And better yet, it seemed like she liked you well enough to do it. While the thought warmed him, his smile dimmed.

“Wish I could, but uh, I got a lot of work here to do. I’m just…checking up on ya, like dads do,” he said.

As much as he wanted to see you (and he really, really did), he wasn’t lying. He needed to follow up on the man who’d trailed Carla to the drycleaners this morning. And he already had Jenny and Poppernak looking into finding Buck Barnes. He’d fled the scene after Paige and Sunny were picked up at the Barnes residence.

“Well, okay, consider me checked. We can talk later if you want,” Emily said. She sounded a bit disappointed. Beau felt guilty for that, but he’d make it up to her tonight. Maybe he’d bring home some takeout so Carla didn’t have to cook again in his tiny kitchenette.

“All right, honey. If not, I’ll see you tonight,” he said. “Just…don’t go anywhere by yourself, okay? Make sure Denise or Cassie’s with you. Matter of fact, I’ll pick you up from there today.”

“Yeah sure,” she said. Though he didn’t think she really heard the warning in his voice.

“‘Kay. Bye, Dad.”

She hung up, leaving Beau still feeling off-balanced. Until news came in from a fellow officer: while Paige had been brought to the hospital, Sunny Barnes had been brought into the station for questioning about her husband.

“Sorry I’m so late. I started cleaning my apartment and lost track of time,” you said, walking into the office of Dewell & Hoyt. Denise and Emily waved at you from their respective desks.

“That’s okay. We’ve been busy here,” Denise said. You looked at the large pinboard on the wall filled with news clippings and pieces of evidence. Bleeding Heart Killer, read many of the subject lines.

“Ech. Still working on this?” you asked.

“Unfortunately,” said Denise. She grabbed up her purse and went over to kiss your cheek in greeting. “But we might’ve gotten a huge break on it. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.”

“Get back? Where’re you going?” you asked.

“To get the food! I already placed the orders,” she said, patting your arm. “I’ll be right back.”

You gave her a narrowed look. “I was going to pay for it—”

“No need!” Denise sing-songed on her way out of the office. It had you smiling, shaking your head. You looked over at Emily and tossed a thumb over your shoulder.

“Careful with her. She can be devious,” you said.

Emily smiled and stood up from her desk. She went over to sit with you on the small couch near the center of the room.

“I’m actually glad you’re here,” she said. “I’ve kinda got a question for you.”

“Kinda?” you echoed with a smile, but you pat her on the knee. “What’s on your mind, honey?”

Emily looked a little unsure. It had you giving her your undivided attention.

“It’s about my dad,” she began. Your smile slowly fell, but now you were really listening.

“Okay,” you nodded.

Emily opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, the lights in the entire office went out.

Natural light still came in from the large windows at the front. It was odd though. The weather outside, while chilly, wasn’t cold enough to create an outage. You hadn’t heard anything fizzle when the lights went out either.

“That’s weird—” Emily said.

The back door burst open with the sound of hinges breaking. Both of you gasped and stood from the couch. You slipped a hand into your purse to find your phone, and then the first contact you could think of.

You were about to press the call button when a tall man with broad shoulders stepped through. He was older, balding, and his clothes and neck were stained with blood.

Buck Barnes.

“Buck?” you gasped. “What…what’re you doing here?”

He didn’t look like the easy going, kind-hearted man you knew at the camp. Now, he looked haggard, injured, and dangerous, like a wild animal.

“Hush up,” Buck held up a silver pistol in his right hand. “And drop that phone, nice and slow.”

Your heart was in your throat, but you couldn’t just think of yourself. You subtly tried to pull Emily behind you as you set your phone down on the ground.

“You tried to kill Paige,” Emily accused of the man. It had you turning to her, your eyes going wide. When you looked over at Buck to gauge his reaction, you saw how his lips pursed.

“Sit down and shut up,” Buck ordered, gesturing with his gun at both of you. He drew closer and forced you and Emily to sit beside each other on the couch. There he grabbed a roll of duct tape from his pocket and began taping your shaking hands together.

“Why’re you doing this?” you asked Buck.

“I need some collateral if I’m gonna get the hell outta dodge,” he replied.

“Fine, but let Emily go. She’s just a kid,” you begged, as tears stung at your eyes.

Buck just continued taping you up. Thankfully not your feet, just your wrists. He moved to Emily next. 

“You don’t need her,” you tried again. “Come on, Buck. You really think Beau Arlen’s going to want to work something out with you if you take his daughter?”

“Oh, I’m bettin’ he’ll be more than willing.” Buck grabbed you and placed a strip of tape across your mouth, then on Emily’s. He hooked a large, calloused hand around your arm.

“Now get up.”

“What?!” Beau asked. His eyes widened in alarm. “Slow down, Denise. What’s going on?”

The more he listened, the more his heart plummeted into his stomach. He had to grip his work desk for balance.

It took him and Jenny under half an hour to meet up with Cassie and Denise back at Dewell & Hoyt, along with a forensics unit of officers. There was evidence of struggle in a turned over table and a broken back door lock.

Denise explained that she left you and Emily for just a few minutes while she went to grab a late lunch order. By the time she returned, the power was out, set off by the breakers, and you and Emily were missing.

Jenny found your purse on the couch, while Beau found your cell phone on the ground. He picked it up with a gloved hand. He’d seen you unlock your phone enough times to remember your passcode.

When he inputted those six numbers and unlocked the screen, he found his own name and phone number highlighted there. You’d been about to call him.

He squeezed your phone tight in his hand. He looked up and saw another officer pick up Emily’s backpack.

“No power means no surveillance footage,” Jenny said. “Okay, let’s think. Why take her and Emily?”

“It’s gotta do with Avery and the money he stole,” Beau said, grinding his teeth. “I needa find him.”

“Any idea where he might be held up?” Jenny asked.

“Carla will know,” he replied.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Jenny was quick to offer. She could see his rage bubbling.

“No,” he said, cutting her off with a swift hand. “Get a response team ready, but I don’t want anybody doing anything without checking with me!”

He was out the door before any of the women could stop him. Denise was in tears, both for you and for Emily. Cassie wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“We’re gonna find them,” she promised.

You and Emily were in the backseat of an SUV. Buck was singing along to some country song, driving them down a highway to hell knows where. 

The tears had begun to dry on your cheeks. It didn’t mean you were no longer petrified, but for Emily, to give her support, you’d been able to keep breathing through it. She was still in panic mode, hyperventilating as tears streamed down her face.

“Y’all better quiet down back there,” Buck warned.

You grabbed Emily’s hands and met her frantic eyes with your calmer ones. You were hoping to reassure her, let her know that while you were scared too, you were with her. She wasn’t alone.

She squeezed your hands back, even though it made you wince. Your right hand was still injured. Again, you breathed through it so you could hold her back. You rested the side of your head against hers to try and help steady her further. If you could, you would’ve held her like a mother bear.

Emily leaned against your side and began to calm down, bit by bit. Meanwhile, Buck continued to talk your ears off—about country music, and how this particular song was the one he and Sunny danced to at their wedding. Though frankly, you couldn’t give a shit about anything that was coming out of his mouth.

All you knew was that it was nighttime, pitch black darkness by the time he pulled into a plaza. It looked like a gas station next to a bar.

Only in Montana, you mused. Though you perked up at attention when Buck parked and actually left the car.

Of course, he took the keys with him and put the child locks on the doors, but you tugged at the duct tape Buck put around your ankles when he’d forced you and Emily into this car. If you could get free, then you could shove your way into the front seat and unlock the doors.

Emily tried to help you. You winced as the tape tugged at your skin. At least I shaved yesterday.

She gasped around her gag when she saw a young man coming their way in the parking lot. You joined her in banging on the window, trying to get his attention.

“Oh my God,” you heard him say, muffled as it was through the window. You pointed at the front of the car, trying to communicate to him to break the window open there.

“Hold on, I’ll get you guys out of there,” he said. He went to the front of the car and tried at the door handles, but before he could get very far in his attempt to free you, Buck came up behind the younger man and grabbed him in a chokehold.

You and Emily screamed at him, but it was no use. You did your best to shield Emily’s eyes when Buck snapped the man’s neck.

Bad call, bad leadership, bad police work.

Beau felt the weight of his shame like never before—all while he held Carla and rocked her in his arms. She’d just arrived at the police station, after getting the news that her husband had been killed.

When he learned that Emily was taken, Avery tried to help Beau and the police confront the men he’d stolen the $15 million from, but Avery had gone rogue by bringing a gun into the equation.

Beau had just one chance to pull Avery out and send in his unit of officers on standby. Jenny had asked him what he wanted to do, hoping he would make the right choice.

Beau had been selfish. He wanted to see if the men would give up the location on where they were holding you and Emily, so he kept Avery in play. He’d thought the man would be fine with Tonya and Donno backing him up in the room.

After all was said and done, however, Avery lay dead in a pool of his own blood with a bullet in his chest. The criminals also hadn’t taken you or Emily.

By process of elimination, Beau now knew it was Buck. The man had already killed a hiker on his way out of the woods, where he’d been holding Paige.

Now it was a whole new manhunt.

“Beau,” Jenny said. “We have something on Buck.”

It prompted him to drag himself out of the dark spiral of his thoughts. He let Carla go, but kept a supportive hand on her back. She was still distraught, and understandably so—not just for her husband, but for her missing daughter.

Jenny gave Carla a sympathetic look. She beckoned him over though.

“Come see this,” she said.

Beau comforted Carla one moment more, rubbing her back, but she encouraged him to go with Jenny. She led him into another room where Cassie was waiting for them, and Jenny’s laptop was connected to a smart TV.

On the screen was new surveillance footage of a parking lot, outside a bar a few hours out of town. There was a green pickup truck parked next to a black SUV. Beau couldn’t see you or Emily, but he watched Buck drag the dead body of a man behind the truck.

“Buck was casing the lot for a car to steal,” Jenny said. “We’re guessing this unlucky guy found them.”

“It means they’re still alive,” Cassie pointed out. Jenny drew attention to the keys, or whatever it was that Buck dropped and picked up off the floor. It was hard to make out from the footage.

Cassie agreed to ask Cormack Barnes if he knew what the keys were for, considering he already had the keys to the pickup trick in his hand when he picked up the fallen set. Beau knew it was time to question Sunny Barnes again.

He headed down the hall to do just that, with Jenny on his heels. Soon though, he found himself slowing down in the hall, like his feet were made of rubber. That, and his heart was fracturing. Jenny slowed down with him, giving him a questioning look.

“It’s just…it’s the one thing we’re supposed to do. Protect our kids,” he said. “The one thing.”

“Hey,” she said. Her blue eyes were understanding. “You couldn’t have done anything differently.”

And yet again, they both knew that was a lie. Beau held a curled fist against his lips for a moment, as he tried to swallow down the lump of emotion in his throat.

“She’s gotta be so scared, Jenny,” he said. His eyes stung, but he tried to blink the unshed tears from his eyes. It wasn’t working.

“Both of them,” he said. “They’ve gotta be terrified. And every minute we waste chasing our tails just gives that twisted son a bitch a chance to do something to them—”

Jenny grabbed his arm to steady him. “I still think he’s keeping them alive for leverage.”

“Well, I hope you’re right, because there’s nothing stopping him from making an example from one of them,” he said.

But the moment it escaped his lips, he wished he hadn’t uttered the thought out loud. It was too much.

He felt like a failure of a father. That was already destroying him from the inside out. And though he’d vowed to himself otherwise, you got dragged into this too.

You’d already been through the wringer enough. Beau hadn’t even checked in on you in damn near a week since he left your apartment the last time.

Now, you’d been taken by the very same man who murdered your friend Mary. Beau hadn’t had the chance to tell you…

He hadn’t been able to tell you a lot of things.

And maybe, he’d never get the chance.

The pickup truck Buck stole had a small trailer attached, convenient for stuffing you and Emily in, along with the corpse he’d made of the truck’s owner.

On the long and bumpy ride down the road, you’d been able to search the dead man’s jeans and found a small pocketknife. You pressed a small button to click the blade open. You showed it to Emily, and then tried to cut her bonds.

You only got halfway through when the truck and trailer stopped. Moments later, you smelled gas. Buck was probably stopping for a refill on the pickup truck. You closed the knife and hid it in your hands. That instinct turned out to be a good one, because Buck slid the trailer door open.

You and Emily winced as the bright morning sun hit your bleary eyes. Not only had you not slept all night, but you’d gotten used to the perpetual darkness of the trailer.

“You girls behaving yourselves back here?” Buck asked.

You and Emily stayed quiet, but fearful. He stepped into the trailer to lower your taped gag, and then the girl’s. He uncapped a water bottle to give her some. It was a strangely humane thing to do, you thought.

But then you realized that he just didn’t want you two to pass out of dehydration. He was trying to keep you alive long enough to use you as bargaining chips.

“My dad’s going to find you,” Emily said, staring up at your captor. Buck chuckled at her cheek.

“You want water or not?” he asked.

“And when he does, he’s gonna kill you,” she said. Buck rolled his eyes and gave her a few sips of water. He offered the bottle to you next.

Instead of drinking, you used his distraction and proximity to pop open the pocketknife and jab it at his face. He pulled back fast, but you managed to sink the three-inch little blade into his neck. Buck backhanded you so hard, it made the side of your face crack against the back of the trailer.

Emily screamed and tried to catch you when you accidentally fell on her shoulder. When you recovered after a bit, blinking the black splotches out of your vision, Buck punched at the spot right above your heads and made you both flinch. By then, he’d taken the little knife out of his neck, even though it made a new wound ooze blood down his shirt.

“Forgot to check his pockets,” he gritted out. His anger then bled away, into a dark chuckle. “Gettin’ a little rusty.”

He poured out the rest of the water over your boots, but he didn’t make any further threats. At least, not physically. He stepped away and began to exit the trailer.

“Next time it’ll be gasoline and a lighter,” he warned. “Now both of you, shut the fuck up.”

Then he closed the door, casting you and Emily into darkness once again.

“You okay?” Emily whispered. You could barely make out her face in the dim light, coming from the smallest crack in the trailer door. You rolled your head her way so you could give her a smile.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you replied. Truthfully, your head was ringing and aching at the same time. Buck had knocked you out for a few seconds there. Plus, you were exhausted, and hungry, and parched.

“At least the gags are off,” she said. You nodded, letting out a sigh. You welcomed her to rest on your shoulder and tucked her wrapped hands under yours.

“We’ve just gotta keep holding out,” you said. “I’m sure your dad is on the way.”

Emily nodded in agreement. She believed every word of what she’d told Buck. She just hoped it was sooner rather than later.

It was much, much later.

Still, you and Emily were no better off. Actually, you were pretty sure this was worse.

Buck had driven you deep into the woods, then forced you to walk what felt like another half-mile until you reached a dusty old shack. He’d unlocked it and forced you both inside, kneeling in the dirt and dead leaves. Along with the duct tape already around your wrists, he’d tied you both up with ropes around the metal hooks hanging from the short roof.

Even with the gags off, it was hard to breathe in the hot, stuffy woodshed. It felt similar to being buried in a box and left to rot.

You weren’t sure how many hours it had been, but the sun was slowly inching by. If you had to guess, it was around mid-afternoon. You were sweating down your neck and back, now uncomfortable while kneeling in the jeans you were wearing. And sometimes, your vision started to blur in and out.

By now you were beyond hunger. Dying of thirst? Quite possibly.

“How’re you doing?” you asked Emily. She nodded, but she didn’t have much energy to talk either.

So instead, you tried to twist your wrists out of the rope. Very quickly you gave yourself burns, however. Buck had tied your bonds so very tight, not to mention the duct tape underneath.

What a fucking asshole, you thought. He could’ve at least left a bottle of water. Or some protein bars.

“How are they supposed to find us out here?” Emily asked. Her voice was small and coarse with exhaustion. You nudged her knee in comfort.

“The police will get it out of Buck, I’m sure,” you said. “Even if Beau can’t, damn certain Jenny will.”

You gave her a smile. Emily tried to smile back, but she didn’t quite make it there.

“God, I’m so thirsty,” she coughed.

“I know, I’m sorry,” you nodded, letting out a shaky breath. “All we can do is keep trying to get loose.”

You both tried twisting out of the ropes for a while, but it was no use. You were just going to bruise or cut your wrists further through the tape.

You knew that you and Emily had been in the woods for hours at this point, somewhere in the middle of the mountains. You tried not think about how unlikely it would be that someone actually heard you, let alone found you.

You knew you were the adult in this situation. You had to keep it together for the girl beside you, but after a while, a feeling of desperation and despair rose up again in your chest, no matter how hard you fought it all.

Tears welled up in your eyes, though you tried to breathe through it. Emily nudged your arm this time, giving you a comforting look.

“It’s gonna be okay,” she whispered. “I know Dad’s coming for us.”

Your lip wobbled, but you nodded and sucked in a breath. If she could be strong, then you could too…

And that was when you started to hear voices. You knew they weren’t just in your head, because Emily perked up too. You both called out the best you could to whoever was out there.

You squinted watery eyes when the door to the shed finally slid open.

Beau tested the limitations of Jenny’s SUV on his way out from the woods, and then back into them. 

At the very least, Buck was dead. 

Sunny had shot him—before they had gotten a location on you and Emily. Beau had been about to have a serious breakdown before Cassie called him. 

“They found them,” he’d told Jenny, with red and shining eyes. 

In another five miles, they reached the old cabin. Cassie had said there was a woodshed attached on the south side. Beau tore out of the car and sprinted up a hill, through a patch of dense trees, until he found the cabin and the shed. 

Cassie and Cormack were talking to someone just out of Beau’s eyeline, but his gaze focused on his daughter. The moment Emily saw him, she brightened and ran to him. He met her in the middle, grabbing her tight and secure in his arms.

His tears burned in his eyes and fell as he held her, comforted her, rubbing her back. She held onto him just as tightly.

He struggled and failed to keep himself together. Relief wasn’t even the word for how he felt; it was beyond words.

And it was almost unreal to be able to hold his daughter and see that she didn’t look hurt, just shaken.

“I’ve gotcha, sweetheart,” he said. “God, I’ve got you.”

Letting out the deepest breath, Beau’s gaze ventured past his daughter and up ahead. There he found you, being supported by Cassie up the hill. Beau’s eyes widened.

You were rubbing your wrists. They looked raw. Your eyes were also red and watery when they met his. Your breath seemed to catch as well.

Your name fell from Beau’s lips, his voice breaking. Emily looked up at her dad and had to smile. She even made room for you when you came up on his other side. Beau still kept his daughter tucked against him, but he reached for you as well and brought you into his embrace.

He felt your body shaking with quiet, wracking sobs. His heart broke for it, but he soothed a hand over your knotted hair and down your back.

“Shh, it’s okay now,” he whispered in your ear. His voice was choked with emotion. “I’ve got you, darlin’."

Never gonna let you go again, he thought.

You nodded, sniffling, but you kept your face buried against his chest.

Eventually, you lifted your head to meet his kind, if tearful eyes. He was a mess, and so were you. He was right though; you knew that it was all right now, as long as he was here.

You looked over at Emily, who was still hanging onto her father. You touched her shoulder.

“You okay?” you asked through tears. She nodded back at you with a smile.

“Good,” Beau said. “Let’s get you two home.”

You realized then that you were clinging to him like…like he was yours. 

“Oh,” you uttered, releasing his shirt. “I‘m sorry.” 

Beau’s eyes widened at the way you pulled away from him, unconsciously lowering your gaze. He frowned, and he pressed a gentle hand to your cheek, so you’d look at him again. 

“Don’t you do that,” he said, his voice still a bit unsteady.

Almost every cell in his body said to pull you back in. To sink his fingers in your hair, and to kiss you.

But he noticed Jenny, Cassie, Cormack, and even his daughter watching with some kind of smile on their faces. You stared up at him, teary eyed and waiting.

Beau cleared his throat.

He hesitated a bit too long, warring with himself all the while. So he just stroked your cheek and guided you, along with his daughter to the car.

You and Emily were going home.

AN: 🫣 Lol please don't hate me for the little tease at the end there. But how did you like how all the action and drama of the kidnapping unfolded?

Don't think this is the finale though. We've still got some drama and fun things to come. (Also, I think it's funny how this next particular chapter is going to post on my birthday lol.)

Next Time:

“I’m the one who needs you to forgive me,” he said, gently squeezing your arm. “I promised myself I would keep you safe, that I wouldn’t drag you into this mess. And I couldn’t keep my end of the deal.”

“Stop that,” you said. You grabbed the front of his shirt. “How many times do I have to say it’s not your fault before you get it in your stubborn head?”

It came out a bit snappish, but the moment your eyes met his, you both seemed to realize where your passions had led you. Just inches away from one another.

“Maybe one more time,” Beau said, in a quieter, but no less heady voice. There was a hint of humor in his eyes. You couldn’t help but smile back.

You released his shirt and instead, took his face in your hands.

▶️ Keep Reading: PART 8

Ko-Fi Me ☕

Series Masterlist

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[putmeinmoviebaby]

Arriving at the FBI headquarters in Quantico, I walk through the huge door towards the elevator. It was exactly 2:30 in the morning when I received a call from Garcia saying we had a new case.

As I walk through the elevator door, I hear a voice shouting in front of me, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Y/N, HOLD THE DOOR, PLEASE!” Looking at the voice ahead, I see JJ and Reid approaching.

The two were coming towards me when the door was about to close, so I immediately held it open.

"Thank you. How was your weekend? I imagine it was more exciting than mine." JJ says as she gets into the elevator with Spencer, standing next to me.

"Ah, it was a lot of chaos. My neighbor set the kitchen on fire and I had to help her put it out," I say, rubbing my eyes in an attempt to get rid of the sleep.

“It is known that the biggest cause of house fires is neglect of the electrical system and lack of maintenance,” says Reid as he takes a sip of coffee in his hands.

“Actually, she was trying to make a cake and ended up setting the kitchen on fire. She’s a 66-year-old woman,” I explain as I lean against the wall of the elevator. "Wait, shouldn't you go out to dinner with Will? It was all arranged."

"Oh, I wish I could, but my babysitter got sick, and I had to cancel everything."

"I can't believe it, what bad luck! Everything was arranged for you to celebrate your wedding anniversary. You could have called me; I would have watched Henry for you."

"No, I couldn't do that. The last case left us all exhausted; we needed some rest."

As I hear her words, the elevator doors open, leading us to step out.

Ahead, I spot Derek with a mug in his hands, heading toward the meeting room.

I drop my things on the table in front of Emily and make my way to the room.

Upon arriving, I sit in the chair next to Spencer and Emily, who greets me with a smile and a pat on the back.

"Since everyone is already here, I will start presenting today’s case. Our Atlanta office informed us about a serial killer; two prostitutes have been stabbed and repositioned in the past two weeks," Garcia says, displaying the photos of the victims' bodies on the screen.

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

"Oh God, my back is killing me," I hear Rossi’s voice as he exits the jet.

I let out a low laugh and glance sideways at him. "Age catches up with everyone, Agent Rossi," I say, grabbing my bag after returning from Atlanta, where we solved another case.

As I move forward, getting closer to Reid, I see JJ running to catch up with me.

"Y/n, could you do me a favor? I don’t know if you have plans for tonight, but I managed to reschedule my restaurant reservation, and it’s only for today." "Could you watch Harry for me tonight?"

"Of course, go have fun, you guys deserve it," I say, giving JJ’s shoulder a squeeze. "Besides, I love Harry. He’s a really fun kid, way better than spending the night watching Friends."

"I can help you," I hear Reid’s voice say, who was walking next to me. "If you want, I can just go home."

I look at his face and smile.

"It would be lovely to have Dr. Spencer Reid’s company," I say playfully.

"Okay, I’ll see you two at 8," I hear JJ say as she heads toward her car.

As time passes, I park my car on the corner of JJ's house and soon see Spencer’s car nearby.

Getting out of the car, I lock it and head toward JJ's house, knocking on the door, which is quickly opened by Will.

"Y/n, how are you? Come in, JJ is finishing getting ready, and Spencer is in the kitchen with Harry."

"Oh, hey Will, I’m good. I’ll leave my bag here in the living room," I say, walking toward the living room and placing my bag on the side table.

Turning toward the kitchen, I soon see Spencer with Harry, playing a word search game.

Spencer was wearing his dark blue cardigan along with his glasses, making him even more attractive in my eyes.

He was so focused that he hardly noticed my presence upon arriving in the kitchen. Harry, who spotted me right away, came running toward me, throwing his arms around my shoulders and hugging me.

"Oh Harry, I’ve missed you! It’s been so long since I last saw you. You’re getting bigger every day," I say while still hugging him.

"Soon I’ll be taller than you" I hear him say, which makes me laugh.

"That won’t be hard, Harry, since height isn’t my strong suit," I say, releasing Harry from the hug and looking at Spencer, who was watching me with a sideways smile. I walk over to him and sit in the chair next to him.

"Good evening, Dr. Spencer Reid. Have you found all 1,000 the crosswords?" I ask, noticing the pencil in his hand.

"Yes, this was the last one," he says while writing in the leaf.

"The Spencer is really fast,Y/n. He’s the best at word searches," I hear Harry say with admiration.

"Oh, I’m sure he is," I say, looking in his direction, which makes him look back at my face.

His expression showed a mix of embarrassment and happiness. JJ enters the kitchen with Will.

"I don’t know how to thank you two for this," I hear JJ say.

"Don’t mention it, you’d do the same if we needed it. You look beautiful," I say, looking at her, which makes her let out a soft laugh.

"Thanks, the restaurant is a bit far from the city. If anything comes up, you can call me. I should be back by around 11," JJ says, heading toward Harry, kissing his cheek and ruffling his hair.

"Okay, Harry and I are going to throw a big party. In the meantime," I say, looking at Harry, who lets out a laugh.

"Oh, I’m sure of that," JJ says, laughing, as she heads toward the door with Will. "Bye, see you later." I soon see her closing the door.

"Can we order pizza?"

"Oh, Harry, you read my mind. That’s exactly what we’re going to do," I say, grabbing my phone to call the pizzeria.

"While we wait, why don’t we watch Jurassic Park?" I see Harry’s body jump in excitement, and we head to the living room, where he lays down on the couch to watch the movie.

I see Spencer sitting next to me and Harry laying his head in my lap.

"Did you manage to get some sleep?" I hear Spencer’s soft voice ask.

I look in his direction and let out a low sigh. "I wish I could, but I couldn’t sleep last night. I was too anxious about the last case."

"It’s okay, your body is stressed and anxious with your daily life. You have a job that demands a lot from your mental health."

"I often feel incapable, like I won’t be able to carry on, but I remind myself that I need to be strong, or I’ll fall apart."

"You don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s impossible to be, rationally speaking. Let yourself fall apart once in a while."

I let my body relax, feeling a little lighter, and rest my face on Spencer’s shoulder, which surprises him at first. Soon, he wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer and running his hand through my hair.

"It’s okay, you don’t need to be strong around me. You know that." I hear his voice whispering in my ear: "I’m here. You can call me when you can’t sleep, and I’ll read you the story of Snow White, which was your favorite when you were a child."

Hearing what he said makes me let out a soft laugh, and I hide my face in his neck, causing him to feel shivers.

"Oh, I’ll definitely remember that. So, wait for my call in the middle of the night for you to read me the story of Snow White."

"That won’t be a problem; I know the story by heart. I used to read stories to my mom when she had episodes."

"That’s really sweet; you’re definitely a great son." "I’m terrible at reading in public. I get really nervous," I say softly, looking at Spencer’s hands now resting in his lap.

"When we read or speak in public, the first thing our body thinks before we start is that we’re being threatened. And when we feel that way, biochemical reactions happen naturally in our body, which help us get out of the threatening situation," I hear Spencer say.

"I love it when you do that," I say, still looking at his hands.

"Do what?" He asks, looking at my face with a curious expression, raising an eyebrow.

"When you start to ramble about something," I say, laughing and watching his face heat up.

"Oh, the rest of the team hates it because they think I talk too much, which isn’t entirely untrue," I hear him say.

Hearing your words makes me laugh as I see a slight smile forming on your lips; sometimes, Reid seemed like a "little boy" seeking his parents' attention.

"Don't worry, you always have me, you know that," I say, leaning my shoulder against yours in an attempt to get closer to your body.

I see a slight smile on your face now, and your light brown eyes are fixed on mine as your hand moves toward my face, resting on my cheek for a few moments before leaning in to leave a kiss there.

It makes me feel a sigh in my chest, completely losing myself in those eyes and long brown hair that make my heart warm and alive.

The End

[drvirgus]

The shooting Range

Idol! Minji X Athlete! Reader

Wc: 2k

One Shot

———————————————————————————

Focused, I stared at the target, my hand outstretched and holding the gun in the correct position. I closed one of my eyes, especially since I needed to train both. I took a deep breath and moved my finger to the trigger. As I exhaled, I fired. This was my 150th shot today.

I pressed the button in front of me, bringing the target towards me, and immediately focused on it. I used 5 shots per target. My eyes narrowed as I counted the points I obtained on this target. Unsatisfied with the result, I sighed and secured the gun, placing it back in its place.

"Y/n," I heard someone say, recognizing my coach. My hand, still holding the target, lowered as my back straightened. My eyes now on my coach, who smiled at me. I smiled back at the taller man. "Yes?" I asked, as he didn't start speaking.

"You need to stop your training," the older man said, furrowing my brow. My head tilted to the side as I saw another girl behind him. She was taller and seemed to be a bit more muscular. Her face also seemed quite familiar. Especially when she politely smiled at me.

My eyes refocused on my coach. "Why?" I asked with a furrowed brow and visibly tense shoulders. "I've only done 150 shots," I added, pointing to the targets next to the gun. My coach glanced briefly at the targets and then at me, sighing softly.

He gestured to the woman behind him. "This is Minji, and she and her team will be filming here shortly," my coach said, causing my eyes to glance at Minji again. "So what? Let them," I replied with a disapproving shrug of my shoulders. Minji seemed to smirk at that.

"You need concentration during your training, and I need to explain and show everything to Minji here. That would only distract you. Plus, you shouldn't be caught on camera during your training," my coach explained, which annoyed me even more. My eyes fell on Minji once again before I sighed.

„How long will it take?" I asked, slightly more annoyed as I placed the used target on the stack. Minii's eyes followed me, but I simply looked at my coach, who then turned to Minii. "Well, I'm not quite sure. Maybe 1-2 hours?" she asked. "We've already shot some footage," she added shortly after, glancing at the clock on the wall.

"What exactly is a K-Pop idol doing at a shooting range?" I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest. Minji chuckled at that as she looked down at me. Her eyes gleamed with a certain curiosity. "I've always wanted to try it," she replied with a smirk, which took all my strength not to roll my eyes.

"So, you're disrupting my training for that?" I asked, but my coach immediately interrupted me. His hand on the back of my head as he gently tapped it. Outraged, I looked at him with my mouth open as I rubbed the back of my head. Minji laughed at that. "If only it were Hanni," I muttered quietly, causing Minji to stop laughing.

"Oh? A fan?" she asked, pointing her finger at me. I shook my head and shrugged. "Not really. But it's hard not to know about you when almost all of Korea promotes you," I replied, which made Minji laugh even louder. She nodded. "But why Hanni, then?" she asked, making me blush a little.

Minji's eyebrows shot up, and she nodded understandingly. She bit her lip for a moment but then turned her head as one of her managers said something to her. Unfortunately, I couldn't really hear it as a sudden tinnitus started in my ears. I sighed. "Alright. I'll go grab something to eat. I'll be back in 2 hours," I said as I took the stack in my hand and placed the gun back in its place. "But you start over," my coach said sternly, causing me to roll my eyes.

———————————————————————————

With the pistol in my hand, I stared at the target. My eyes narrowed as I tried to concentrate. "And then, out of nowhere, Haerin grabbed my hand. It startled me so much that I stumbled backward into Danielle, pushing her into Hyein. In the end, we almost landed on Hanni. She saw her life flash before her eyes. She didn't even scream and would've just died silently,"

I sighed, lowering the pistol. With narrowed eyes, I looked at Minji, who was sitting relaxed beside me, occasionally reaching into the small bag of chips and popping one into her mouth. "Do I look like I want to chat?" I asked, causing Minji to visibly hesitate.

"Am I bothering you?" she asked, sounding a bit sadder as she looked at me from her seated position. Her doe eyes softened, making me swallow. It looked pretty cute...

"No, not at all," I tried to say with a sarcastic tone, but Minji interrupted me with a broad grin on her face. "Okay, good. Anyway," she continued, which made me sigh again.

Anyway... that was also good training. It was never completely quiet at competitions...

I lifted the pistol once again and tried to focus on the target while Minii continued to chew my ear off. It was weird. Minji came to the shooting range every Monday at exactly the same time. She would shoot for a few minutes next to me, and I had to admit she was really good, but for the rest of the hours, she just sat there and talked to me. All I wanted was to train in peace.

"Hanni said you're cute."

Startled, with widened eyes, I turned my head at lightning speed to Minji, completely missing my target as I accidentally fired. With nervous hands, I placed the pistol on the desk in front of me and looked at the taller woman with obvious interest. She seemed to notice, starting to giggle.

"Oh? Do you still have a crush on Hanni?" she asked, popping another chip into her mouth. Then she held out the bag to me. "Want some?" she asked, but I shook my head. "I don't have a crush on her. It's more... I find her cute. Like a little sister," I replied, which made Minji hum loudly. Her eyes roamed over my entire face. "But she's the same age as me. Does that mean you see me as a sister too?" Minji asked, standing up from her seat, immediately towering over me.

My eyes narrowed instantly. "Why are you standing up? Are you trying to prove something?" I asked, rolling my eyes. Minji laughed. "Let's go get some food. I'm hungry," the younger one replied with just a smile. My eyes fell on the bag of chips and then to Minji.

„I Can't. I have to train," I sighed, but Minii just smiled even wider. "You don't have to. That was your thousandth shot. You're done," she said, surprising me. "Since when do you stalk me? Don't you have better things to do as an idol?" I asked, sighing, which only made Minji laugh. The taller one looked at me with a smile as she took my hand. She shook her head slightly, causing her long black hair to sway from left to right.

"What's better than a date with you?" she asked, making me stutter. My mouth slightly opened. "Date?" I asked, which made Minji laugh even louder. "Of course. A friends date," she replied with a grin, making me blush slightly. My head lowered slightly. Of course, she didn't mean a real date...

I'm an idiot...

"No thanks. I have to do 500 more today," I replied, causing Minii to sigh in disappointment. Her eyes roamed over my entire face as I got back into position and lifted the pistol.

———————————————————————————

My eyes focused on the people who were talking loudly and laughing. My mouth shifted to the side as I bit the inside of my cheek. I could hear Minji laughing loudly and then she glanced at me. Her smile disappeared from her face, and I immediately stared back at the target. Minji was doing it on purpose. She knew I always trained at this time of day...

"Um. Excuse me?" I heard someone say shyly. My eyes widened as I noticed Hanni next to me. She had a pistol in her hand and held it firmly with both hands. I politely smiled. "Yes?" I asked as I briefly glanced at the pistol in her hand and then into her eyes.

"Could you explain this to me?" she asked, which surprised me even more. My eyes wandered back to Minji, who was currently teaching Danielle how to shoot. Hyein was just shooting without proper stance. With a smile on my face, I nodded. I gestured for her to use the desk next to me.

Quickly and carefully, I explained the key points to the equally tall person. I observed every movement and kept a safe distance. When she hit one of the targets, she looked at me with big, happy eyes, which made me smile contentedly. But my eyes kept wandering back to Minji, who seemed to be busy with the others.

I sighed in annoyance. "I hit it," Haerin's voice rang out as she threw herself into Minji’s arms. My forehead creased at the sight, and my mouth twisted into a disgusted look, of course without me noticing. Minji looked at me, her eyebrows raised.

I saw Minji start to giggle and slowly let go of Haerin. With a very relaxed, almost too slow pace, she came over to me. But my arms crossed over my chest, which only made Minji laugh even more.

"What?!" I asked, probably sounding a bit annoyed, but Minli didn't seem to mind at all. Her eyes wide as she looked first at Hanni, who was focusing on shooting, and then at me. "So? How's it going with your crush?" she asked with a grin, which only made me furrow my brow even more.

"Not good."

"Why not?" Minji asked, a grin on her face, her hands on her hips as she looked down at me. Her eyes were expectant as they met mine. "It's none of your business," I replied, annoyed, turning my back to her slightly. Minji laughed as she now covered her mouth with her hand. Feeling offended that she was really laughing at me, I gently hit her arm.

"My crush isn't going well either," I heard Minji say, which immediately made me roll my eyes. "Did I ask?" I retorted, which made Minji huff. "She doesn't even care about me," Minji continued, which only made me angrier.

So I started to ignore her. "Her training is always more important than looking at me. She didn't even want to go eat with me," Minji said, emphasizing each word. My expression twisted. Unaware that the taller one was talking about me, Minji continued, "Even though I visit her every Monday and spend a few hours with her."

Slowly furrowing my brow, I looked up at the younger person. She smiled gently at me, nodding slightly with her head. "Yes, Y/n. I'm talking about you," the younger one said, shocking me visibly. My mouth opened as my arms uncrossed from my chest.

I looked at the taller woman for a while.

"You... you said it was a friends' date."

"That was a lie. I didn't know you liked me."

"Neither did I."

"What?"

My head lowered as I felt my cheeks blush. Embarrassed, I laughed, "I... I didn't know I liked you either," I replied, which made Minji laugh a bit. Her cheeks were also visibly flushed. I took a deep breath.

"Do you-"

„Do you-"

Surprised that we spoke simultaneously, we both paused. Laughing, I looked at the younger one. "Do you want to go get something to eat? As... a date?" I asked, which immediately made Minji nod. Her smile turning to a big gummy smile.

"Definitely."

[cressidagrey]

Basically re-read the last 2-3 chapters cause it was so beautiful. The wedding was so beautiful and calm, quite, and serene-so Max and Belle coded. GP,Lando,Oscar,Daniel, Emilie, the entire Verstappen family banding together was just so wholesome. Sophie is more of mother to her than Pascale. The way she said Belle is more than welcome to the Verstappen family. I guess Belle is going to be more close with Sophie than Pascale?

Jos Verstappen saying her "chosen family always has her back" and "She is already ours.But make it official". This made me ugly cry.

The way Emilie takes on the role of a sister and gives her the day of her life exactly how she deserves. Leclerc family should take notes. She is just not a best friend, she is the 'sister from another mother' .She did it out of love. She remembered the most minute details regarding the flowers, cake, restaurant down to managing the men's ties. Jos likes her bossiness. Probably she is also going to have her own love story with Lando?

And what can we say about Belle's Max, he is just raising the bar. Each and every one is saying that Charles is going to kill him but what they don't know is Max is going to slaughter him in cold blood if he even breathes the wrong way around Belle.

Did the conversation between Christian Horner and Fred Vasseur reflected the condition of her relationships-Fred like her family forgetting her existence and Christian like everyone else other than her family taking her as their own?

Belle is someone otherworldly because how can someone be so calm about her Birthday.As someone who is a single child I would have created a riot and set the world on fire. We all need to give a warm hug to her.

At this point, Carlos, Oscar and Lando are the brothers she deserved-Carlos,the oldest and the understanding one, Lando the chaotic second brother, and Oscar, the youngest and the calmest one.I think Belle is going to be adopted by their family as well with Cisca, Reyes, and Nicole going full mother mode. Will we see that?

The way Oscar blasted on Charles in the grid gc was gold. Oscar represents all of us in the way we want to slam the Leclerc brothers in the wall. The whole grid is watching Charles meltdown in 4k like it is a champioship decider and the whole world is going to witness the showdown like a football World Cup final.

A baby Verstappen lion/lioness on the way. Sending Best wishes to Mr and Mrs Verstappen. Max and Belle are going to be the best parents. The baby is going to have the most protective uncles in the grid.

Your another shot 'Pawfect Coincidence' was also very good with Leo being the star of the show.

Hope your day goes well and you have time to rest and recharge.

(Answering questions from April, because my Tumblr inbox decided to randomly show them to me today for some reason?)

I’m actually crying in the club (the club is my desk), because this message?? This is everything. The thought and love and detail you’ve poured into this is so beautiful I want to wrap it up in tissue paper and press it into a scrapbook forever.

I love writing found family trope and that was a big theme in White Horse through a lot of different characters!

Well, by now you know how it ended, so Nicole did make a guest appearance in later chapters!

Oscar and Belle was my biggest surprise in White Horse, because I never set out to write that Big Sister/Little Brother dynamic, but then I realised how similar Belle and Oscar were in a a lot of ways and he just kept showing up, so of course I needed to continue that!

Also the Oscar dragging Charles in the group chat bit?? ICONIC. He was the voice of the people. A representative of the sisterhood. Charles is going to get publicly cooked and privately yeeted.

Finally, thank you for shouting out Pawfect Coincidence 🥺 Leo really was the main character and he knows it.

Thank you so, so much for this. For taking the time. For reading, for feeling, for getting it. I’m sending you the warmest virtual hug💛

[callmebrycelee]

9-1-1: FLASHBACK

Yesterday, I reacted to the season two episode “7.1” which sees our first responders dealing with the aftermath of an earthquake. For today’s edition of 911: Flashback, I will be reacting to the season two, third episode “Help Is Not Coming” which originally aired October 1, 2018 on FOX. The episode was written by Zachary Reiter and Tim Minear and directed by Bradley Buecker. Let’s chat about the episode!

Recap

Night has fallen in Los Angeles and Maddie is getting inundated with non-emergency calls. She gets a call from a man named Drew Hudson (played by Burt Grinstead) whose wife Ainsley has gone into premature labor. Maddie tells him that 32 weeks isn’t so early that Ainsley is in the danger zone. She tells Drew to monitor his wife’s breathing and time her contractions. Drew is adamant his wife needs an ambulance. Maddie tells him resources are spread thin, and no ambulance will be coming. She then goes on to tell Drew she’s a trained nurse and she’s delivered a lot of babies. Drew reveals that Ainsley is unconscious which, in hindsight, should have been brought up earlier in the conversation. Drew explains that he was in the process of taking Ainsley to the hospital when the aftershock hit. Ainsley fell and hit her head. Maddie remains calm considering this is like her first day on the phones. She asks Drew to check Ainsley’s breathing. Thankfully, she is still breathing. Maddie gets the bright idea of having Drew drive his wife to a fire knowing emergency units will already be on the scene. We head over to the fire where we see Captain Martinez (played by Pablo Espinosa) getting a call from Maddie. She alerts him of Drew and his unconscious, pregnant wife coming to them. Captain Martinez sees the couple pull up and directs his EMTs to treat Ainsley and transport her to the hospital. Maddie thanks the fire captain and we get our first official Maddie tears of the series.  

We head back to the Hollywood Palm Hotel where we see the father of our family of four approach Chief Miranda Williams (played by Romi Dias) about his daughter, Kat. The chief assures Brian (played by Eric Nenninger) search and rescue operations are continuing. Growing impatient, Brian tells her he wants to try looking for Kat himself. Chief Williams says she cannot allow him to do that because then he’d end up needing rescue, too. She tells him that the best thing for him to do is be with his family. Chief Williams also gets an update on one of the firefighters from the 118 being trapped inside the hotel. Bobby and Chimney are still inside the hotel looking for Hen. They call out to her but don’t get a response. Another firefighter is able to pick up Hen’s heat signature and informs Bobby and Chimney she is three meters deep behind a pancaked section of the parking garage. Chimney points out that if they attempt to get to her, it can cause further collapse. Several stories up, Buck and Eddie have managed to rescue Ali from certain death and are leading her through the stairwell which is now sideways. Bobby radios to them saying he needs a head count. Eddie radios back saying he and Buck are good. Two red shirts named Castillo and Jackson also respond. We hear the names Paulson, Marcus, and Riley reply as well. Chimney radios Bobby despite being with him. Bobby calls out to Hen but doesn’t get a response. Buck and Eddie exchange ominous looks. Ali asks the two firefighters if Hen is their friend. Eddie ignores the question and says to keep moving.

Meanwhile, Hen is trying to contact the others but not getting a response. She stumbles across the firefighter from the previous episode. Russell Byrd (played by TJ Linnard) is trapped underneath debris and is not doing well. He tells Hen that his pelvis is fractured, and he has a flail chest. He’s not going to make it out of there alive, but Hen is going to try. Hen gives Russell some pain medication to keep him comfortable. He asks her if she’s married. She tells him about Karen. He tells her he used to have a wife. He was so afraid of not making it back home to her at the end of the day that he just stopped coming home altogether. Hen tells Russell that her team is right above them, but her words are for naught. Russell succumbs to his injuries.

Over at Athena’s, Michael is trying to stay busy while May and Harry are watching the news. Michael chastises them for not cleaning up the mess in the living room. Harry, our little sociopath who was celebrating his school getting wrecked by the earthquake, accuses his dad of not caring about their mom. Michael looks angry but doesn’t lash out at Harry. He tells the kids to grab their coats and the earthquake kits and get in the car. Speaking of Athena, our resident sergeant arrives at a convenience store where an angry mob has formed. She pushes her way through the crowd and heads inside. Turns out, the owner whose name is Herve (played by Michael Ray Escamilla) fired a gun which is why the crowd outside is in such an uproar. Athena notices something’s not right about the situation and asks him how much he’s charging for water. Herve tells her $14.99 which is highway robbery if you asked me. A woman from outside peeks her head inside and says he’s lying. Herve is charging $100 for a case of water. Athena quickly cites a penal code and tells him about the anti-price gouging law. She threatens to write him up if he continues his shady business practices. Herve says he can off 50-percent off everything in the store. Athena approves of his idea. She announces to the crowd outside that everything in the store is half price.

We head back over to the dispatch center where Maddie is asking an LAFD Liaison named Bill Jenks (played by Matthew Jayson Cwern) if he’s heard anything about the 118. He tells her he hasn’t heard anything but assures her he will find her if he gets any new information. Over at the hotel, Buck, Eddie and Ali are still navigating their way towards getting out of the building. They hear someone calling for help in one of the hotel rooms. They investigate and find a hotel worker named Batari (played by Kevin Teh) trapped under fallen furniture. Buck and Eddie work quickly to move the furniture out of the way while the latter checks for injuries. The hotel worker apologizes for soiling himself as Eddie tries to get him to wiggle his toes. Eddie tells Buck he believes the man has a spinal injury. They brainstorm a way to transport Batari out of the building and Ali suggests using an ironing board. Eddie wonders how they will transport him via the stairwell. Buck thinks they should use the elevator. The three of them peek inside the elevator shaft and see the car is above them.

Down in the parking garage, Hen works hard to free herself but isn’t making any progress. She takes out her phone and records a goodbye message for Karen in case she doesn’t get out. She tells Karen that she wants her to know she fought hard to get back home to her and Denny. When she finishes recording, goes back to chipping away at the debris she’s trapped behind. She creates a space in the wall and the mean rich lady’s dog – Paisley – comes running out to her. Paisley runs off and Hen goes after her. Meanwhile, Michael takes Harry and May to their church so they can be a service to their community. They are greeted by another member of the church, Ms. Lorna (played by Kimleigh Smith) who puts them to work. While May hands out water, Harry notices a young man sitting under a table. When Harry asks the guy what he’s doing under the table, he tells Harry that his mom told him to go to church if something bad happens. Harry tells him he will have an easier time seeing his mom if he gets out from under the table.

Back at the hotel, Buck and Ali watch as Eddie repels down the elevator shaft with Batari. Buck then helps Ali harness up so they can repel down, too. Another aftershock hits, sending the elevator car crashing down. The four of them manage to get out of the elevator shaft without getting crushed. Meanwhile, down in the parking lot, a firefighter tells Bobby and Chimney he can see movement on the other side of the wall. They’ve found Hen. The only issue is there is a lot of concrete separating them from her. On the other side of the wall, Hen manages to find Kat. Outside the hotel, Captain Williams radios Bobby and tells him a collapse is eminent. She gives a direct order to evacuate. Bobby and Chimney defy orders and go looking for Hen. They see several floors of the parking garage and have collapsed onto each other. Bobby gets an idea to use one of the cars that hasn’t been crushed to pull one of the crushed cars out of the way thus creating a space for them to get to Hen. Chimney spots a huge pickup truck and decides it would be better to pull the car. The chain snaps just before they manage to remove the car. Buck and Eddie show up along with several other firefighters and Captain Williams to assist Bobby and Chimney. They all manage to create a space large enough in the wall for Hen, Kat and Paisley to crawl through.

Over at dispatch, Maddie gets a call from a woman asking if something else happened. She says she sees a glowing cloud in the sky. Maddie asks the woman if she has power and she says no. There’s not a light for miles. Maddie smiles and tells the woman she’s seeing the Milky Way. Los Angeles is usually too lit up at night for people to see it. We head back over to what’s left of the Hollywood Palm Hotel and we get a montage. Kat reunites with her family. Bobby shakes hands with Captain Williams while Buck talks with Ali. Chimney checks Hen out to make sure she doesn’t have a concussion. Kat’s mom mouths a silent thank-you to Hen. The basketball coach is leading his team in prayer. Hen stands at attention as Russell Byrd’s body is taken out of the rubble and loaded into an ambulance. Buck gets a text from Maddie asking if he’s okay and he messages her back saying he is fine. We then head over to the hospital where Drew and a conscious Ainsley are celebrating the birth of their baby. Athena makes it home to her kids and Michael. We see all the basketball players signing Jeff’s leg cast. Hen arrives home with Paisley in tow. Buck drives Eddie to Christopher’s school. The two are so happy to see each other.

We end the episode at Athena’s. The kids are putting things back on the shelf while Michael cooks dinner. Athena gets a call from Bobby asking her to come outside. Athena goes out front and sees Bobby standing in the driveway. The two embrace, happy to see each other. Happy they both survived the day. Michael comes outside and invites Bobby inside for dinner. Bobby politely declines but Michael tells him he’s already made a place setting for him. He tells Bobby the kids are excited to see him. Athena takes Bobby’s hand and leads him into her home.

Observations

Maddie is remarkably more confident since the last episode.

We will see Drew and Ainsley Hudson again later this season in the episode “Careful What You Wish For”

The death of Firefighter Russell Byrd marks the first on-screen death of first responder

While I don’t agree with the convenience store owner hiking prices during a state of emergency, Athena’s interaction with him is yet another moment that makes me uncomfortable. I’m not sure how I feel about her using her power to threaten someone. I love Athena but at the end of the day, she’s still a cop and sometimes cops engage in problematic behavior.

Buck accidentally refers to Ali as “Abby”.

At the end of the episode, Hen, Karen and Denny become the proud owners of Paisley the dog whose owner was crushed during the earthquake.

Poor Christopher! What a traumatic first day of school!

A lot of people misinterpret Buck’s look at the end of the episode as him displaying romantic affection for Eddie. I think at this moment Buck is in awe of seeing a father and son embrace each other. Knowing Buck’s personal history, I’m guessing he didn’t get a lot of hugs from his dad.

Michael is so supportive of Athena dating again and is so welcoming to Bobby.

We have reached the conclusion of our first disaster story on 9-1-1 and there are many more left to discuss. The last episode was packed full of action while most of this episode leaned more towards dramatic moments. I loved seeing Buck and Eddie work side by side. They work well together, and they have come a long way since their initial meeting which was only two episodes ago. My favorite part of the episode is the final scene. This show does a great job of showcasing the different dynamics shared between our main characters. I love Athena and Michael’s relationship and how it has evolved since the first episode of the series. They may not be together anymore, but they are very much still family and that’s what this show is all about. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s an older sister living with her much younger brother. Sometimes it’s a lesbian couple and their adopted son and a dog. Sometimes family is a woman, her gay ex-husband, her new boyfriend and her kids. These families may not look familiar, but they should feel familiar because love is the unifying factor. Okay, let me get out of my feelings and end this reaction! I hope you enjoyed this adventure we’ve been on and I look forward to discussing another disaster tomorrow. Until next time …

[horsesarecreatures]

I saw Rosa at the barn today. She came to visit Patsy and Alpine. After considering quitting working with horses because of how badly mistreated she was by Deborah, she got a job as barn manager at a new barn. It’s about as full service as full service can get (horses are tacked up for their owners and kept in training), but there are only 11 divided between 3 staff members. So I’m glad she’s not being worked to death.

Me, Lynn, her, and another former boarder at the old barn named Heather were all sharing stories. I think I already mentioned that D once refused to allow the owner of a 30 year old arthritic horse to put him down on the property. But the story was even worse than I initially realized, because her exact words to Ray’s owner were, “I will not allow you to execute your horse on my property.” Like how deranged?

She also got mad at Rosa when Scooter (the blue roan who I posted like once) started having severe problems and she recommended that the owners put him down.

So apparently D is super anti-euthanasia and believes horses should be left to die of natural causes. Cannoli was euthanized off property at U Penn, and I think I got lucky that she didn’t give me a hard time about it.

Her own horse Empire is on his last leg. He has narcolepsy, shivers, and anhidrosis, along with the typical wear and tear of a former high level imported warmblood. He’s dangerous to shoe and if a vet recommends that he be put down, she fires them. Alain the farrier is apparently also not working there anymore.

[tw1l1te]

The Final Promise₊˚✩⊹

Chapter 1

Linked Universe x reader

Warnings: Tension, not much else, maybe some angst??

Ordon Village on the cusp of winter was truly a sight to behold. The trees bare and the ground covered in frost in the early morning, fog rolling in from the surrounding forest. You could hear the birds chirping in the first hours of the day, being a nice, calming alarm clock for you, a nice change to your phone’s blaring alarm.

Stretching your arms out, you yawn. Today was pretty important, as you have a meeting with Rusl and the chain with what your next steps will be. You weren’t exactly looking forward to it, not wanting to end this domestic little vacation you got to have, but it was necessary. Nothing stays peaceful in Hyrule. 

Before you had the chance to rub the sleep out of your eyes, you could hear Wind banging on your door.

“Wakey-wakey sleepyhead! Wild made breakfast!” and before you had the chance to respond, much less actually get out of bed, Wind barges in and grabs your hand, pulling you along. You somehow managed to grab your old hoodie on the way out, not wanting to freeze outside of the warm blankets Twilight gave you. Ironically enough, it was the zelda hoodie that your best friend got you, one of those hoodies that were meant to look like Link’s hat as the hood. The group teased you a lot about it.

You were listening to Wind’s rambling as you were being dragged into Twilight’s kitchen, already hearing quiet talking amongst the boys. The kitchen smelled amazing. 

“Oh my god Wild what did you make, it smells SO fucking good.” you awed.

He rolled his eyes in amusement, “Just some toast with eggs over rice. I also tried making a new sauce to put over the eggs, so let me know what you think,” he said, sliding a plate of food towards you.

You took a bite and moaned, “Wild it’s official, you’re my favorite.” you mumbled, mouth full of food.

You hear a couple ‘hey’s!’ in the background, but you ignore them, just smiling at Wild who scratches his head in embarrassment, but gives you a smile in return.

You finish off your breakfast quickly, washing it down with a mug of warm honey milk, Sky’s homemade beverage that you’ve come to enjoy a lot. With a dash of some sweetened spice, it's the perfect drink to warm you up.

~

With all of your stomach’s full and satiated, you make your way to Rusl’s cottage towards the edge of Ordon Village. The cottage is quaint, decorated with small lanterns to commemorate the coming winter holidays. Rusl is carving a piece of wood on his porch and waves at your lot once you come closer, ushering you inside. The inside was cozy, a fire crackling in the fireplace warming the living room, a warm soup being heated on the stove and some fresh bread in the oven. 

You all sit down at his dining table, all curious and/or worried on what your next steps will be and whether or not there has been any news on the Shadow’s movements.

“I’m sure you all are anxious to hear about the Shadow’s activity, but there was something more important I needed to bring up first.” Rusl said, making eye contact with each of you, but his eyes stopped at you.

Time nodded at him, encouraging him to continue.

“We all know that our guide here isn’t from this Hyrule, much less any of yours. That being said, Ashei had sent me a letter a few days ago sending the typical update that she does every couple months, but this letter was… different, so to speak. Among the resistance and the Hylian research team there has been a discovery, or rather, a rediscovery.” Rusl paused.

The air was thick, tense with anxiety and stress.

“What is it Rusl? Is someone in trouble?” Twilight asks, putting a hand on his shoulder for reassurance.

Rusl shakes his head.

“No. For now at least.”

He takes a breath.

“They seem to have found another mirror. A twilight mirror possibly, not clear. But that’s not the part I brought you here for.”

Rusl then fixes his eyes right onto you, causing the rest of the group to turn their gaze onto you, one by one.

“They think it can bring you home, Y/n.”

₊˚✩⊹

[asillylittleistik]

Hi! Could I request a fluff fic where shadowheart takes care of a human ranger Tav with a cold? Thank you!

Sure thing! As it would have it, I'm also down with a cold right now, so sorry about that few days break I just took, but I'll be trying to fill out some requests today.

Contagion

Shadowheart is very observant. More observant than many would give her credit for. So you can bet she notices when you drag yourself out of your tent, adorned with deep, dark eye bags and cold, pale skin — still insisting you're alright. She knows for certain that you're lying, though, when you refuse breakfast. It must take something serious to have your enormous appetite suddenly sated.

Still, despite all her concern, and all of her hushed whispers telling you it's okay to stay back for the day, you are too prideful to admit you don't feel well. She wants to scold you now, and tell you how she knows better, but she refrains. She knows it'll catch up to you before too long.

You were leading the group, as you always do, but now with remarkably low energy. Even Astarion, the most leisurely (and lazy) member of the group, commented on your tiredness. You continue to insist it's fine, until Shadowheart finally has enough.

"Y/n," She calls, beckoning you over to where she walks, towards the end of the group. You slow down to let her catch up, seeming quite eager to be out of everyone's gaze. "You don't seem well. I know I keep saying that but I think you should take a break, you look like you can barely handle another mile."

You give a weak chuckle and try your best to play it off. "What do you mean, I'm doing fine, just a little sleep-deprived. I swear, I-"

Your efforts to convince Shadowheart are all in vain, as shooting hot pain erupts from your stomach, causing you to stop in your tracks and keel over in pain.

Shadowheart is at your side in an instant, taking only a brief moment to scan the area and confirm that your ailment is internal, and not an ambush from deep within the woods.

"Y/n, are you okay?! What hurts?" Shadowheart sputters out, hands already glowing blue as she prepares to cast a healing spell. When she touches her palm to your shoulder, though, the healing energy that dissipates through you seems to do little to quell your discomfort.

By now, most of the group has also stopped, and have concern painted all over their faces. With whatever small amount of pride you have left in this moment, you manage one more, pitiful excuse for a lie.

"I-It's alright, Shadowheart, just a stomach cramp." You try to stand up again through the pain, but Shadowheart has had enough. She puts her hand on your chest and pushes you back down to sit.

"You and your pride," She snarls, with no real malice behind it, "We are going back to camp and to your tent, and I don't want any more complaining about it. You look one small breeze away from collapsing, and that's no way to lead an adventure."

Shadowheart turns to the rest of the group, who are now sharing confused glances. You are their leader after all, and here you are, clearly incapacitated.

"Everyone, I am taking Y/n back to her tent. For now, I think it's best that Wyll leads the charge. I'll be staying behind to watch over Y/n, so try not to get yourselves hurt too terribly."

Before you can protest to going back to camp, Shadowheart picks you up from the ground and throws one of your arms over her shoulder, letting you lean on her for support as you walk back.

At camp, Shadowheart pays little mind to your protests as she lays you down in your bedroll, brewing up some sort of healing tea over the fire, just a few feet away.

You blushed a little in embarrassment, ashamed to be so incapable and needing your girlfriend to care for you.

Shadowheart sets the tea down in front of you and, as if reading your mind, assures you.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, love, sickness happens to everyone. But if you want to be rid of this illness soon, I suggest you actually attempt to rest and take care of yourself." As if to emphasize her point, she nudges the warm, pleasant smelling tea a little closer. You take the hint and drink it, and relief instantly washes over you as the drink soothes your aching throat. After a beat of watching you drink, she continues.

"I was prone to getting sick a lot as a child, especially since Baldur's Gate is always running wild with diseases. The Mother Superior would often make me this brew to help me get better. I used to hate feeling so babied, but sometimes, you just have to step back and let your loved ones help you." She trails off, looking longingly in the distance. She always had a tricky relationship with the Mother Superior, but this memory seemed fond to her. You break her out of her thoughts when you return the empty mug to her, and she smiles gratefully.

"Good?" She smiles, amused at how quick you finished off the cup, and you give her a quick nod. "Want more?" She asks, pointing her head towards the still full pot. You nod eagerly and she chuckles. "I'm glad you like it."

You take the second cup a little slower than the first, and start to feel all your tiredness catch up to you at once. Shadowheart sits beside your bedroll, one hand holding open a book, and the other tangled up in your hair. The soothing feeling of her scratching your scalp has your muscles relaxing, breathing evening out, and eyes slipping closed.

Just as sleep is about to take you, Shadowheart retracts her hand, and you respond with only the most pitiful of whines, too feverish to be embarrassed by now.

"I know you're tired, love, and I'll let you sleep, but before that..." She trails off, standing up and holding out her hand to lead you somewhere. You manage to pull your aching body out of bed and follow her, hand in hand, to a small clearing in the woods.

In the center of the clearing is a small pond, with crystal clear water and just enough space for two people to wade in.

"You know how attractive I find you after a long, hard day of battle, but right now, you need a wash." She smiles, already stripping off her clothing. You fight off your blush and start to strip down as well, taking a dip in the pond water. It's warmer than you expected, and you feel yourself melting into its comfort.

Shadowheart joins you just after, bringing in a small bar of soap in with her. You lean back against her and let her carefully wash you, taking extra care to get your hair nice and clean. The whole feeling of it all — the warm water, the quiet scenery, and Shadowheart's gentle touch — have sleep approaching quicker than you can stop it.

Shadowheart is only halfway done with washing you when she catches the sound of soft snoring. Instead of waking you, though, she only smiles and keeps going. She supposes you need this rest, and she doesn't have the heart to stop you.

Truthfully, Shadowheart could've probably fixed this back there on the road with a lesser restoration spell, without any of the need to take you back to camp. But, an opportunity presented itself, and Shadowheart knew she couldn't pass up the chance to pamper you. After all your adventuring and looking out for people as their leader, you needed someone to look after you too sometimes. And Shadowheart would fill that role any day, for her love.

[schrijverr]

Chris? Chris! Christopher!

Divergence from chapter 7, where there is an emergency at Chris’s school that the 118 answers to. Buck is more worried about whether or not Chris is safe than keeping his distance for the life he might lose, causing the others to find out about his marriage to Eddie.

On ao3.

Ships: Buddie (pre-slash)

Warnings: fire at a school, no one too hurt

~~~

Hen is bored. Today isn’t a quiet shift per se, but it also isn’t very eventful either. She isn’t going to risk it of course, but she wouldn’t say no to a little action. Maybe something harmless, like a cat stuck in a tree or something?

She sighs again and looks over to where Buck and Chimney are crowded around the pinball machine together.

Chimney has been trying to beat the high score she set during a slow shifts for the past two years now. Unsuccessfully, she might add. Seems like he recruited Buck to help now. That thought makes her smirk and she is about to go over and gloat when the alarm starts to ring.

Now, Hen will never be happy people are in an emergency and need help, however, a small part can’t help but be relieved at the action.

That is until the details start to filter in. There’s a fire at a school. It’s being evacuated and other units are on their way too, but it’s always scary to have kids in danger. Her stomach ties itself in knots at the news and she can’t help but he glad the school they’re going isn’t Denny or Harry’s school.

Then she notices Buck across from her in the rig, looking absolutely pale. He isn’t looking at any of them, just typing on his phone with shaking hands.

She is about to ask him if he’s okay, thinking that maybe he’s struggling with the idea of kids being in danger like this, I mean, it’s his first big school fire, but before she can they roll up to the scene. There are a bunch of kids on the lawn and fire blazing big in one of the wings.

There is already another house at the scene, so their Captain is in charge of the scene. Bobby instantly checks in with her, while the others go and get the gear from the truck, since they can guess that it will be necessary.

Buck keeps looking over to where the kids are and Hen follows his gaze. There are tears and scared faces, but there are also a couple of kids who appear to be playing a game. A paramedic is going over all of them and Hen wonders if they need more help.

Hen also hopes that the amount of kids will calm Buck’s nerves. She understands that a call like this isn’t fun and she hopes there is no fatality, because those are the worst for her. However, Buck needs to keep his head on right, he can fall apart after this fire is out.

Before she can say something, though, Bobby returns saying: “Not every kid is accounted for, two are still missing, but the 221 is too busy trying to get the flames under control. They just got here too. Someone needs to go check.”

“I’ll go,” Buck volunteers immediately.

Bobby eyes him critically for a moment, he probably saw the same things Hen did and needs to asses if Buck is up for it. Apparently the determination on his face is enough, because Bobby nods and sends him out there with a: “Keep us updated on the radio and don’t go too far in. Teachers assured us the burning part of the building has been evacuated. It’s no longer stable.”

As Buck jogs off with a promise that he’ll be safe, Bobby turns to Hen and Chimney saying: “Hen, you’re with me on getting these flames out. Chimney, go help check over the kids.”

“Yes, Cap,” both say, setting to their task.

As she and Bobby join the 221 in fighting the fire itself, they listen to Buck update them on clearing the building. It’s almost impressive how fast he’s moving, she is never making fun of his gym bro tendencies again.

He speed runs the not burning side of the building, moving closer and closer to the flames. As he goes, he’s not finding the kids and Hen can feel her own heart beating faster as Buck’s voice gets more frantic.

They’ve managed to stop the flames from getting further and are actively diminishing it, but there is still very much fire when over the radio comes: “This part still looks stable, I’m moving further towards it. Over.”

“Buckley, do not. If they were there, they won’t have made it. Over,” Bobby radios back, voice sounding wrecked at the thought.

“No, I see a door that looks to be okay. I’m checking it out. Over,” Buck voice crackles back and he ignores Bobby’s further orders.

As they hold the hose, they watch the building creak. A part at the far end collapse and they all hold their breath, praying that it doesn’t domino further to where Buck is.

It doesn’t crumble and both let out a breath. Bobby radios again: “Buckley, parts are collapsing. Get out of there now! Over.”

“I have one of the kids. I don’t see anyone else. Bringing her out now,” Buck radios back. “She’s still conscious, but heavy smoke inhalation. Transport has to be ready. Over.”

“We’ll have it ready. Over,” Bobby promises, nodding to Hen to get that ready. She nods back and turns off her hose to go help the kid.

She goes to get Chimney then a gurney. As they’re moving towards the entrance to intercept Buck, Chimney comments: “That crazy kid. He’s gonna get himself killed one day.”

“Yeah, but today he saved a kid,” Hen points out, both not mentioning that there had been two kids unaccounted for. Hen is sure this will haunt Buck, first losses always do.

At that point they’re at the entrance that Buck is coming out of, a small girl in his arms. The idiot gave her his mask and there is soot all over him, he probably has smoke inhalation too now. At this rate, Hen is going to die of stress that their probie will give her.

However, not the time. Hen and Chimney get her on a gurney as Buck updates them through coughs on her condition. Then he coughs: “I’m gonna go back. Look for the other kid. They might still be in there.”

“Oh no, you don’t,” Hen immediately says. “You need medical attention too Buck.”

More medics come running, taking the gurney from them. One of the medics from the 221 smiles kindly as he says: “Go take care of your own. Fire is dying.”

“Thank you,” Hen has the mind to smile back, before her and Chimney go to hold Buck back.

“Let me go!” he struggles.

“No, you idiot. It’s not safe. Cap said no,” Chimney says, nearly getting knocked over.

“I have to get back in there! I have to look for him,” Buck shouts.

Hen isn’t sure they would have won, Buck is already strong on a good day and he is way more motivated now than then. She doesn’t know why he wants to get himself killed so badly, but she isn’t going to let him.

However, salvation comes in the form of the radio crackling: “Second kid located. He’d wandered off to the playground. Over.”

Instantly Buck stops fighting them, instead sagging as he exclaims: “Thank god!” Hen can share the sentiment, grateful all the kids made it out alive today.

She is about to tell Buck to sit his ass down so they can look at him, but he is off again. This time not towards the burning building thankfully, but still. Her and Chimney share a confused look, before running after Buck calling out for him to sit down.

Buck does not sit down.

He beelines to where the kids have gathered, scanning all their faces as he calls out: “Chris? Chris! Christopher!” voice getting more frantic as he doesn’t find what he is looking for.

As she watches him, she gets a sinking feeling she knows why Buck was looking so pale in the rig, why he kept looking at all the kids and why he was so eager to get into that building when he heard there were still kids missing. Buck knows a kid that goes to school here. Maybe has a kid that goes to school here.

That feeling is confirmed when a young boy on crutches makes his way through the crowd, calling out: “Papi!”

“Christopher,” Buck sounds heartbreakingly relieved when he sees him, face breaking out in a big smile. Immediately, he starts making his way over to him, scooping him up in his arms with a: “Hey, Superman,” as he kisses him on the cheek.

“Papi,” Chris whines, rubbing the soot that is now on his cheek.

“Oh, I’m sorry, buddy,” Buck says, not seeming sorry in the slightest as he hugs Chris tight.

“Am I hallucinating or is Buck holding a small kid who is calling him papi?” Chimney’s voice next to her breaks her out of the moment she’s watching.

“Uh, yeah, I think you’re not hallucinating, I’m watching the same thing,” Hen says. In a way it makes sense to her now. They speculated he declined drinks to hook up or party, but being a parent – and probably a single parent with how old that kid looks and Buck’s flirting – would be a good reason too.

“What the actual fuck,” Chimney says passionately.

Hen elbows him in the side for that, hissing: “Chim! There are kids here.”

“Sorry.”

They look back at Buck, who is both bashfully yet proudly grinning as Chris excitedly talks about how cool all the firefighters are and how his papi is a hero. It’s kind of adorable, Hen decides. Buck seems to be a good dad if Chris is so comfortable around him and in awe of him. She can see how he could be with what she knows of him.

Bobby comes up to them asking: “Did Buck come out okay? The girl on her way the hospital? All the other kids looked over?”

“Uh, not yet everyone looked at. Girl’s on her way to the hospital, but Buck walked away before we could check him. Idiot probably has smoke inhalation,” Chimney tells him.

Before Bobby can ask where he went of to, Buck starts coughing, pulling their attention back to him and Chris. Hen can see the relief on Bobby’s face when he sees Buck, then the confusion at him holding the kid, before realization dawns when the kid asks: “Are you okay, papi?”

Buck puts Chris down, coughing some more as he squeezes out: “Papi’s okay, buddy. Just something in my throat.”

“Yeah, that something is smoke,” Hen tells him, deciding that this is a good time to interrupt the two of them. “Sit down, Buckley, and let me check you over.”

He pouts, but sits down. Hen suspects it’s to give a good example, she knows she would and she sees nothing wrong with using that against him. She shoves an oxygen mask over his face and takes his vitals just to be safe.

As she is checking him over, Chris is peering over her shoulder, small frown on his face. “Is he gonna be okay?”

Hen smiles at him reassuringly and says: “Your papi is gonna be okay. He was out there being a hero, saved a little girl, he just got a little smoke in his lungs, but we’re giving him some extra air and he’ll be good as new again.”

“I will?” Buck asks hopefully excited.

“But he’ll still have to go to the hospital,” Hen tells him pointedly. She has noticed how he doesn’t seem to like medical checks very much and she isn’t going to let him duck out on this. If he didn’t want to go to the hospital, then he shouldn’t have taken his mask off.

Buck makes a face, but he doesn’t complain like she thought he would, the glance he gives Chris tells her enough. She can tell Chris has CP probably, so she can understand Buck not wanting to give him the idea that hospitals aren’t fun. So, his forced cheery: “Yay for doctors,” makes more sense.

“Yay,” Chris cheers for him and Hen just melts. Buck being a dad is not what she expected to find out today, but he seems good with the kid and Chris is adorable.

Bobby and Chimney have left to do their own jobs, since the fire is still smoldering and more kids still need to be checked over. Buck seems to be doing okay, but she doesn’t want him to do anything strenuous yet, especially not until they can transport him.

So, she turns to Chris and says: “I’m gonna continue checking other kids, why don’t you keep an eye on your papi for me. Can you do that?”

“I can,” Chris promises with a big smile.

“Good kid,” she praises him, ruffling his hair, before telling Buck: “Sit.”

“I’m not a dog,” he complains, but he is smiling anyway, looking grateful as he pulls Chris into his side and asks him how his day has been before the fire. More kids surround the two as Hen walks away with Chris obviously glowing at the attention that his dad saved the day.

Hen smiles and shakes her head, before joining Chimney. The school is starting to call parents, but all the kids are still hoarded together for now so they can be checked. Most evacuated pretty soon and didn’t even come close to the fire, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

As she squads down next to him, he nods over to Buck, asking: “Probie playing the hero?”

“Ach, let him have this,” Hen says, she knows Chim is just teasing.

“Fine,” Chimney winks. “Though, the kid is a surprise,” he adds, a clear fishing for gossip.

“Yeah, but it makes sense I suppose,” Hen replies.

“Because he’s promiscuous?” Chimney asks.

“No,” Hen gives him a look, “because he’s good with kids.” A beat. “But yeah also that.”

“How old do you think he is?”

“I don’t know, around six or seven, there about.”

Chimney whistles. “That’s teen parent territory.”

Hen nods, she has also done that math. Buck can be smarter than he seems and with his frat boy attitude, she always wondered what he was doing at the firehouse. He’s not a legacy and, as far as they know, he doesn’t have an experience with first responders that drove him there, which is a little unusual, but a small kid at a young age with medical bills? She can see why he picked this career path. A whole new level of respect towards him unlocks.

They quickly check the rest of the kids as parents start to arrive, most absolutely panicked and rechecking their kids, some forcing Hen or Chimney to look at them again. It’s a little annoying, but Hen can’t blame them, she’d want to be absolutely sure if it was about Denny. God, she can’t imagine what Buck must have felt like when they got the call.

After Bobby has cleared up, they all reconvene at where Buck and Chris are still sitting in the grass. By now Chris is wearing Buck’s helmet, absolutely glowing, while Buck has ditched the turnout coat.

Buck also still has his oxygen mask on, probably also courtesy of Chris, but he smiles through it as they arrive, asking: “Everything done okay?”

“Yes,” Bobby tells him. “We’re all wrapped up here, so we’re getting you to the hospital for a final check up. Are we going to have a passenger?” he adds, nodding to Chris.

“Ah, yeah, uhm, if that’s okay?” Buck replies, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “I kind of told his teacher I could sign him out and it’s okay. Sorry about this, by the way, uh, this is Chris. Chris, this is my Captain, Bobby, I mentioned him, remember?”

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” Chris says politely.

“It’s nice to meet you too, kid,” Bobby smiles, though his eyes shine a little.

Buck quickly also introduces Chris to Hen and Chimney, both getting polite ‘nice to meet you’s as well.

With that done, Bobby says: “We can bring him in the ambulance. I’m driving back in the rig, but I don’t want to see you back to work until you have a clean bill of health, am I clear?”

“Crystal, Cap,” Buck promises, looking a bit saddened by the news nonetheless.

“Good,” Bobby nods, then quickly turns around and walks away, his steps almost mechanical in nature. Hen wonders what that is about, but doubts she’ll get an answer; Bobby is a closed book to all of them.

Putting it to the back of her mind for now, she turns back to Buck and says: “Let’s get you to an ambulance.”

“I can walk,” Buck immediately says.

“But we provide such great service,” Chimney pouts. “But alright, you can walk.”

They haul him up on his feet and Buck helps Chris up, before they all make their way to the ambulance together. There Buck is ordered onto the gurney, while Chimney crawls behind the wheel, leaving Hen with Chris in the back.

Chris is super excited to be there, which usually isn’t the case for people riding along. However, it seems Buck talks to him a lot about a job – maybe a bit too much – because Chris asks Hen all sorts of questions about all the equipment and procedures with incredible detail.

Hen doesn’t mind answering all of it and handing questions he knows to Buck so he can be the cool one with answers. She knows what it’s like to have your kid be interested in your job and think it’s cool, she wants that for him.

Buck and Chris are definitely related. She can see in him the same enthusiasm she sees in Buck. It’s adorable now that the knowledge that Buck is a dad has settled.

A part of her wonders why Buck – who chronically overshares – never told any of them about Chris and just let them think he’s an irresponsible frat boy. However, she also gets it. As a teen parent, he probably got a lot of hate and judgment, she gets not wanting to share. While she never regrets always having been out, which is in part comparable, she knows it made it harder on her.

Then Chris asks: “Are the doctors going to take you when we get to the hospital?”

“Probably not immediately,” Buck tells him. “We’re going to have to wait in the waiting room, because there are other people who the doctors need to see first. I’m not that hurt, they just need to check to make sure. Others need medical attention more urgently.”

Hen is about to offer to stay behind to watch Chris, since Buck will have to be separated from him for testing and stuff and she’s sure Bobby would sign off on it, when Buck says: “But it won’t be too boring. Daddy is coming to keep us company and he’s bringing your book and art supplies, remember? He said so when we called.”

In the front of the ambulance, Chimney sounds like he’s choking on his piece of gum. Hen can’t deny she can’t keep the shock of her face either. Daddy. Another parent. Somehow that is one of the more surprising pieces of information that has come to light about Buck today.

It’s not the queer part that throws her off, she’s seen Buck make eyes at some of the guys on calls, though he doesn’t flirt with them the way he does with women. It’s the other parent part.

Of course, it’s not impossible to conceptualize that Buck might be raising his kid with someone else and daddy doesn’t mean the other dad isn’t also Chris’s bio parent… it’s just that Buck never acted very married. I mean, he flirted a lot. Gave out his number too.

Though, then again Hen never saw him actually hook up with anyone and with the whole being with a man means he could be trying to hide the gay. Even if he didn’t try very hard now. Also, he never did confirm he was with the other parent. Just that he is in Chris’s life. It could be that he is coming to the hospital to check on Chris, since he was just in a fire, not really Buck.

All those thoughts flash through her mind in the split second after Buck’s words. Chris seems oblivious, promising: “I’ll make you a card. The best card. For saving everyone.”

“Ahw, thank you, Superman,” Buck grins at him, ruffling his hair.

For a moment, Hen thinks this will be it. Buck is going to gloss over it and ignore her and Chimney’s reactions, even though he definitely saw her expression.

However, Buck then explains: “Uh, Eddie is Chris’s dad. Other dad, I suppose. He- We’re- It’s a little complicated.” His smile is tight. “But I’ll be okay. Eddie is my best friend and medical proxy, not to mention a medic. He’ll make sure I won’t kneel over when we get home.”

“Uh-huh,” Chris backs him up, nodding very seriously, “daddy is the best at making your scrapes go away. He kisses my scrapes better, he’ll kiss papi’s scrapes better too.”

Buck goes absolutely bright red at that and Hen snickers. It’s a little funny how embarrassed Buck is by getting kissed better by his… Eddie.

Still the ‘it’s complicated’ might be correct with how he splutters a little, not to mention the way he referred to Eddie as best friend and nothing else. She isn’t going to pry though, she has her own ‘it’s complicated’-story with Eva and she doesn’t appreciate people asking either.

In the end, Buck squeaks: “It’s not really like that. We’re co-parenting. Living together right now, ‘cause it’s easiest. Eddie got injured in the service.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to explain,” Hen smiles gently at him, privately tucking the information away for now. It sounds like a divorce, but amicable. Maybe Buck is still carrying a torch with the way he doesn’t take anyone up on their offers after flirting and the way he looks when talking about Eddie, but she isn’t going to get involved in that. Way too messy.

“Oh, okay. Thanks,” Buck smiles back, looking a little relieved.

At that point, they’ve arrived at the hospital and Buck complains about getting wheeled out, especially since they’re just going to dump him on a chair somewhere, since they need the gurney back again. However, it’s stifled a little by Chris’s giggles at riding the gurney with them.

Hen does the sign in for him, while Chimney theatrically leads Buck to a waiting room chair with Chris. He is also taking Buck’s turnout coat and pants from him, so they can take them back to the firehouse with them and Buck won’t have to deal with the bulky and unwieldy clothes here.

Chimney has brought the clothes to their ambulance has come over to see where Hen is at, because she got caught up in talking to one of the nurses she’s friends with. “Come on, Hen. Bobby is probably getting nervous about us taking so long.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming. Bye, Hannah,” Hen says, turning around and planning to say goodbye to Buck and Chris, before leaving.

As she does, a man comes rushing through the ER door, frantically looking at everyone there. He is handsome looking, brown hair and brown eyes, as well as a slight stubble. She is about to dismiss him when his eyes fall on Buck and Chris and he exclaims: “Gracias a dios, you’re both okay.”

He’s over by them in a second, pulling Chris in a hug as he exclaims: “You had me so worried, mijo.”

“I’m okay, daddy,” Chris assures him, hugging Eddie – because that must be Eddie – back. “Our class was out really quick and papi saved the day. He ran into the building and got Amberlee out! It was so cool.”

“That’s nice,” Eddie smiles, cupping Chris’s face and looking at him once more, as if to for certain assure himself that Chris is in fact okay. Then he whips his head over to Buck, who’d been looking fondly at the scene and demands: “What the hell were you thinking?”

“Uh, that I had to do my job?” Buck replies, sounding almost unsure of himself.

Eddie deflates a little at that, realizing that Buck is right, however that doesn’t prevent him from pouting: “Well, at least do your job correctly then. What happened to your mask? I know they’re required, I helped you study.”

Buck gets a goofy grin on his face at that, before it turns sheepish: “Uh, I gave it to the girl. She’d been exposed to it all for a lot longer.”

“Of course you did,” Eddie shakes his head fondly.

“I had to do it.”

“I know.”

They look at each other for a moment, understanding passing between them. Hen doesn’t know what their relationship is exactly, if they’re divorced, never together to begin with, or still trying, but she knows that those two are in love. That they care deeply for each other.

Chimney leans in and softly says: “Do you think it’s awkward to say bye now?” which makes Hen snort as she shakes her head.

She makes her way over and smiles at Eddie, holding out her hand as she says: “Hi, I’m Hen. It’s nice to meet you. We drove the man of the hour here,” she adds teasingly, ruffling Buck’s hair as he ducks his head with a flush.

“Ah, Hen,” Eddie replies, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to put a face to the name.” He turns to Chimney next to her and holds out his hand: “That makes you Chimney?”

“It would. Nice to meet you,” Chimney smiles, shaking his hand.

“Thank you two for keeping him alive,” Eddie says, nodding to Buck, who lets out a: “Hey!”

“Of course. He did something really brave today, even if he was a little dumb for giving that girl his mask,” Hen replies, usually not one for boosting men’s ego, but curious enough about the reaction to do so. Besides, it was Buck’s first big fire and he didn’t even panic that much, despite the possibility of his son being in there. He deserves some credit for that.

“Well, that’s Buck,” Eddie says without missing a beat. “Our very own hero.”

“Oh fudge off, Silver Star,” Buck blushes, bumping his shoulder against Eddie’s side, trying to play it off and maybe giving something away. Not many people walk away from a Silver Star uninjured, which might explain the ‘easier for now’ about the living together. Though, if he was, Eddie seems to be recovering well.

“I hope you’ll be cleared soon,” Hen tells Buck.

“Uh-huh, won’t be the same about your probie-ness,” Chimney jokes.

“Wouldn’t wanna leave you hanging,” Buck rolls his eyes, but he’s grinning.

“Are you leaving?” Chris pipes up, pouting at them. In that moment they can clearly see Eddie in his face and Hen notes Buck and Eddie must both be his parent.

“Yeah, buddy, sorry. But we’ll probably see you around again,” Chimney assures him, melting a little into Uncle Chim that he is with Denny.

“And you’ll answer my questions about the ambulance?” Chris asks hopefully.

“Of course we will. We need someone to tell your papi about the ambulance,” Hen jokes.

Chris brightens immediately and eagerly says: “I hope to see you soon! Thank you for looking after papi and my friends.”

“I hope to see you soon too, kid,” Chimney says, he always gets choked up when it’s kid thanking them. “You did well out there.”

“It’s what we do. We’ll see you around,” Hen promises.

Buck smiles gratefully at them, then turns to Chris, saying: “Now say bye, Superman, Hen and Chim have more people to save.”

“Bye!” Chris waves cheerfully as Eddie also says his goodbyes to them, while the two of them leave the family to the waiting room.

As they drive back to the firehouse, Chimney says: “So… that was sure something.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I don’t know what about all this I’m supposed to be most surprised about. What do you think is up between him and Eddie?”

“Honestly?” Hen answers. “I have no clue. I would say divorced based on what Buck said, or maybe it was a one night stand and they’re trying to make it work, but aren’t together, but…”

“But romantic with the way they were acting,” Chimney fills in.

“Yeah,” Hen agrees.

“Well, hopefully Buck gets that clean bill of health so we can question him next shift,” Chimney says optimistically. He’s always in a good mood when there is gossip to go around.

However, Hen can’t judge him, she’s exactly the same. It’s why their friendship works. Besides, this is the most fun she’s had at work since Bobby took over. Buck being a parent too, not to mention maybe, probably, being a queer parent, is exactly the thing the 118 needed.

Thankfully, as both had hoped, Buck returns next shift with a clean bill of health that he proudly presents to Bobby.

“Ah, this looks to be all in order. Thank you, kid, good to have you back,” Bobby smiles at him paternally, before leaving to file it. Hen has noticed Bobby warming up more since Buck joined the team. It’s good to have the kid around.

But it’s not just good because he’s helping their Captain become more part of the team, it’s also good because with Buck comes newly discovered gossip. So, she comes over to him the second that is done, greeting him: “Buck, hi! Good to have you back. Eddie a lot of a mother hen or does he come across like that more than he actually is?”

“Oh, no definitely also a mother hen. I think it’s just his dad instincts honestly. I didn’t mind that much, though, we ordered food from my favorite place and Eddie did the laundry. It ruled,” Buck tells her with the excitement only he can have about that.

“Wow, that sounds thrilling,” Chimney says, half-genuine and half-sarcastic.

Buck doesn’t seem to notice just nodding. “I also got this cool new drawing from Chris and a bunch of kids in his class also drew me pictures. It’s the best. They’re all so sweet and cute.”

“That’s nice,” Hen says genuinely, smile on her lips. Then she switches topics to what they’re truly curious about: “So, what’s the deal between you and Eddie?”

He clearly hadn’t expected her straight forwardness, blinking at her a few times, but Hen usually preferred it if people just asked instead of danced around. And if he seemed uncomfortable, she was totally prepared to drop it.

However, luck is in her favor, because once Buck gets over the surprise he waves his hand around as if swatting a fly, as he shrugs: “Long story, but me and Eddie are husbands, I guess. For now.”

The sentence clears up exactly nothing, which Chimney lets him know for them by saying: “What do you mean husbands you guess and for now?”

“Uh,” Buck responds, looking a bit like a deer in headlights. Hen is about to elbow Chimney to drop and change the subject herself, when Buck explains: “Well, it’s- it’s a marriage of convenience, not anything real.” He swallows, then plasters on a smile, definitely carrying a seemingly in his opinion one sided torch. “We got married so I could adopt Chris while Eddie re-enlisted so we could pay off medical bills, you know.”

“Wait, you adopted Chris,” Hen says, delighted by the knowledge that not only does she share being a queer parent with Buck, but also being an adoptive parents. Though, she’s also surprised, since she would have sworn Chris was Buck’s.

“Yeah, I- I did?” Buck replies, sounding unsure about what they’re expecting from here.

Quickly Hen assures him: “Nothing wrong with that, I mean, would be hypocritical of me. I just thought Chris was yours and Eddie’s, since he’s so much like you both. He makes the exact same face you do when he’s asking questions.”

“Oh.” Buck looks surprised for a moment, before a pride flush spreads across his face along with a big grin. “Thank you,” he says and she has never heard anyone mean those words more.

“Course,” she smiles back. There is something special about someone seeing you in your kid. She knows it well and she is glad to have given Buck a chance to feel it now.

Then Buck blinks the expression off his face. “No, but uhm, me and Eddie both cis. I’m bi though, but Eddie’s straight. Like I said, just convenience.”

There is an undercurrent of hurt in his voice now and Hen knows enough. Buck clearly carries a torch for Eddie and while she swears it’s mutual, she also doesn’t know Eddie and if Buck says Eddie is straight then it might just be her.

Chimney also picks up on it, or he picks up on her not gearing up to push further. Either way, both of them drop it.

However, Buck doesn’t get that memo or wants to explain, because he continues: “Yeah, so we were planning on divorcing after Eddie came back, but obviously I wasn’t going to leave him and Chris without insurance of income while Eddie recovers – he was injured during his service – so we’re still married now, but we’ll probably divorce when Eddie is up to work again.”

“Divorce can be rough,” Chimney sympathizes. He might not have had divorced parents himself, but he knows about families splitting up and new people coming in.

“Yeah, it’s gonna suck,” Buck agrees, seeming downtrodden about it. “I’m going to miss Chris so bad.”

Wait. What?

“What the fuck do you mean with that?” Hen asks, the words out of her mouth before she can stop them, despite her resolution not to push moments earlier.

Buck frowns back at her: “What do you mean with what do I mean?”

“I mean, what do you mean you’re gonna miss Chris? You’re still going to see him, right? How long have you been raising him with Eddie? Are you two not going to split custody?” Hen asks.

“Uh, I’ve known Chris for about three years now, helping for two,” Buck answers, voice slightly wobbly. “And we haven’t really talked about it. I guess I kind of assumed, since Chris is Eddie’s kid, I was just there to help. It’s not as if he wanted me specifically.”

Fucking hell. Hen’s heart just breaks at that confession and one glance at Chimney shows that he feels the same. Of course Buck wouldn’t mention any of this, he’s already mourning a family he might not even lose, because he’s assuming he will.

“Buck… buddy,” Chimney starts, hesitating, before he continues: “Shouldn’t you and Eddie talk about this? I mean, I don’t know either him or Chris well, but that kid loves you. You’re his dad too. Don’t you think it’ll hurt him when you just disappear like that?”

By the looks of it, Buck never even considered the possibility that he might be missed back. Hen isn’t sure if she wants to hug or strangle him more.

“Oh, yeah, uhm, maybe?” Buck replies dumbly after a beat that lasts a bit too long.

“I think you mean definitely,” Hen tells him with a stern look so he knows she means it. When that has sunk in, she smiles, before wrapping an arm around him: “But that is a conversation for you and Eddie. Come, I wanna know more about Chris. I think he and Denny would get along, you guys open for a play date?’

That out is one Buck takes gratefully. Hen gets it, they’re just coworkers and this is pretty personal. Gossip is one thing, messing around in someone’s business is another. Still, she does hope it works out between him and Eddie, in whatever form that is. They have a nice family.

But for now, she’s getting Denny another potential friend and another name on the roster for emergency babysitting. It’s nice to have other parent friends.

~~

A/N:

Nearly put Chris in the burning building, but I didn’t. Because I’m nice like that <3

Also the call to Chris’s school is such a classic one and I love it so much, can’t believe I didn’t think of this one earlier, but very thrilled to write yet another take on it :D (I also did in The Permanence of Saying It Out Loud, which fun fact, is the inspo for the back story in the I Do verse!)

I contemplated not adding that bit after the hospital, but I felt like it would be nice for Hen and Chimney to get more context. And I love adding the possibility of them communicating so much earlier and maybe avoiding the cluster fuck that is the main verse lol