#we were the last ones left inside of the theater cause I wouldn’t stop crying and get out of my seat 😭😭😭

[shire-ivy]

Finally saw Wicked live in Broadway this week and let me say that something has changed within me, something is not the same

[thelastdrop]

Personal

The cameras snapped wildly as the celebrities came down the red carpet dressed in some of their finest clothes. This is your first major premier you’re attending as a lead journalist for your small entertainment news outlet. To say you were a little intimidated by the whole thing was a bit of an understatement. You’d always dreamed of being here, but with every reporter looking out for themselves it left little room to admire your surroundings. 

So far many of the stars have arrived and you’d yet to get even a quote from any of them. Just some second hand notes you were able to take while overhearing them talk to other reporters. You know that going back without a single quote to bring to your editor would earn you an earful and probably put you at the back of the rotation for the next event.

Honestly though the best thing about this premier in particular is that one of the hottest up-and-coming actresses is in the supporting role for this film. Your first time seeing her on the big screen took your breath away. She possessed such natural beauty and had a smile that could light up a room. Not only that, but the range of emotions she was able to portray with such control astonished you. All you wanted was to have her wave in your direction and personally you could call it a successful day.

Just as the cameras died down the next car pulled up to the edge of the red carpet. The black limousine’s door is opened from the outside. Through the various heads of different people standing around you, a single long tan leg steps out from behind the door and onto the carpet below it. Almost as if you were in a movie yourself at this moment you see her head pop out giving everyone their first look at-

“IT’S YOO JEONGYEON!” you hear a female voice cry out from the collection of fans lining either side of the red carpet.

A gust of wind blows from behind you, feeling everyone’s attention be drawn to the stunning woman taking her first steps down the red carpet. A roar from the fans quickly erupts as they scream and yell things at the actress. 

While every other actress you’d seen before her tonight was wearing a very gaudy and outlandish dress, Jeongyeon was wearing a very modest outfit compared to them. A white long sleeve button up shirt with a long black collar and black bow with two long ribbons rounded out the top of her outfit. Her bottoms were simply some high waisted shorts with six gold buttons on the front of them.

Smiling that bright smile you vividly remember seeing on the big screen she waves and greets fans, signing whatever they put in front of her. It is difficult to not want to sit there and admire her as she patiently and deliberately takes her time with the fans in attendance. All you could do was hope you’d get the same kind of attention when she finally reached the reports area right outside of the theater.

“Ah looks like we aren’t going to get a statement from her again this time.” you hear a male voice from behind you say.

“Fuck! I really wanted to get something from her I could bring back with me.” another male voice says in response to him.

You turn and face the two men behind you.

“What do you guys mean?”

“What is this your first premier with Jeongyeon?” the taller one on the right asks.

You nod your head in response.

“She barely has any time to talk with reporters because of all the time she takes mingling with her fans,” the other man says in an annoyed tone.

Damn. Looks like you aren’t getting that quote. You turn back and watch as Jeongyeon continues to make her way towards your group at a slow pace. While you’re sad you still find it incredibly endearing to watch her interacting with as many people as she can. If you’re going to write about anything tonight, it’s going to be that. 

Finally Jeongyeon makes her way in front of the photographers and has her picture taken what seems like almost a million times in a few seconds. She then turns and walks in the direction of the reporters, looking down for a moment to recover from the barrage of flashes she just looked at. As she looks up, your eyes meet.

You’re positive she’s staring right at you and not someone around you. Those gorgeous dark brown eyes were locked onto you and your eyes were locked onto her. Just like they had been for the past 15 minutes. A small smirk creeps over her face and she pulls her straight brown hair behind her ear and turns to look forward, making her way past you all and into the theater. 

Jeongyeon whispers something in the man’s ear that is walking beside her. With a quick nod he heads in a straight line towards our group and stops in the middle of everyone, so they can all hear him.

“Miss Yoo would like to say she thoroughly enjoyed working on the film. She was honored when she was chosen for the role and hoped she portrayed her character to the best of her abilities.” 

Groans and moans of disappointment fill the gathering as they seem to once again have been shafted out of another chance to hear from Jeongyeon herself.

“I know, I know. I’ll be sure to tell her she should make more of an effort to come and see you all more often,” he jokes with all of us treating us like we’re some family member that doesn’t get enough attention.

The mood of the crowd lightens up quickly as the next limousine pulls up. Since you know Jeongyeon was your last real shot at getting a quote, you flip your notepad shut and begin to put it in your bag when you notice the same man walking in your direction now.

“Excuse me. Sir!” ye calls out in your direction.

You look around you and then point to yourself while looking at him.

“Yes you,” he says, stepping closer to you so you are next to one another. “Miss Yoo would like for you to have a one on one interview with her.”

“A-A what now?” you ask dumbfounded.

“A personal interview,” he says with a bit of a chuckle. “You know the thing where you ask her some questions and write down her response on your notepad. Don’t you do this for a living?”

“A what now?” you repeat yourself still in a daze at what he’s telling you.

“Listen, just go to this room,” he grabs your hand, puts a piece of paper in it, then closes it, “at the Steel Circle Hotel after the movie is over and knock. Tell her you’re the reporter she asked to do the one on one interview with.”

You look down at the papers crumpled up in your hand then back at him without making a sound.

“Well if you don’t have any questions for me I should really catch back up with Miss Yoo inside. Good luck later.” he says with a slight bow before turning and briskly walking into the theater.

You open your hand and see 3 numbers “829.”

A WHAT NOW?

---

825. 827. 829 here it is. You stand in front of the egg shell colored door and stand there for a moment. Your hands get a little clammy as you look at the looming door in front of you. Could this be some sick prank that Jeongyeon’s assistant is pulling on you? After all that was your first major red carpet event and you aren't sure if this is something that was normal.

Suddenly you hear the elevator doors ding down the hall. The noise causes you to reflexively reach out your hand and knock on the door. Fear washes over your entire body. Your heart starts to race as you wonder if you just made a grave mistake.

“Who is it?” you hear a gentle, feminine voice call out from behind the door.

You stand there and start almost running in place. You throw your hands over your face and drag them down, continuing to wonder if you’re making a huge mistake right now.

“Hello?” the voice calls out again.

“Duhh. Sorry. Hi, I’m the reporter Jeongyeon asked to have a one on one interview with.” you spurt out closing your eyes as you say the words.

You hear the lock on the door flip and the handle move. One eye peaks open and sees the stunning Jeongyeon standing in front of you. Both of your eyes slowly open as you fully take her and all of her beauty in from this short distance.

“You sure got here fast. I just got back myself.” she says with a smile while taking one of her earrings out. “Well don’t just stand there, come on in.”

Jeongyeon holds the door open with her body leaving you a space to slide by her and into the hotel room.

“Ugh, yeah sure. Excuse me.” you mumble as you sneak by her.

Once you’re in the hotel room, you look around and see some personal belongings strewn about the room.

“I’m gonna get a little more comfortable if you don’t mind waiting out here for a couple minutes,” Jeonyeon says as she reaches for her other earring and moves into the doorway of the bathroom.

“No not at all.” you say after clearing your throat.

Jeongyeon smiles and ducks into the bathroom. You hear the sound of the sink running and look for somewhere to sit down. With her clothes and luggage taking up most of the normal seats, you take a seat on the edge of her bed and pull out your notepad and a pen.

“If you wanted to ask me a few questions while I’m in here that’s fine. Just nothing too deep,” Jeongyeon calls out in a semi-seductive tone from inside the bathroom.

“Ugh okay then. Well first off you were great in the movie. I’d heard mention from a few people saying you have a shot at winning best actress in a supporting role this year as they were leaving.”

“Oh that’s such an honor to hear. I really thought the director made it so easy to understand my character and play her role out, so most of the credit goes to him.”

“Personally I wouldn’t be as humble as you. You seem to know just how good you are, but you always pass the spotlight off to someone else. Why is that?”

“Hmmm I’m not sure. I really don’t notice myself doing things like that so often.”

You hear the water stop and sit up straight in your seat.

“I was wondering if you’d like to change up the interview a little bit. I like being more personal in my interviews. It helps me get to know the reports I work with.” Jeongyeon says as she exits the bathroom and comes into your view.

Your jaw nearly hits the floor as you look at her. Jeongyeon stands before you in a set of green lace lingerie. She places a hand on her hip and lets you soak her in for a moment before walking over to you on her bed. Throwing one of her long toned legs over you, she straddles you while lightly placing her arms around your neck.

You can’t say anything as you look the breathtaking woman up and down while she grinds against your lap.  

“Well it looks like somebody wants to have my type of interview.” Jeongyeon coos feeling your cock harding in your pants and pressing against her pussy.

You can’t control yourself any longer. Dropping your pen and notepad you dive into her cleavage, kissing and licking her soft, smooth skin. Jeongyeon lets out a fit of giggles as you wrap your arms around her torso and pull her body further against your own. 

While you love how the lingerie looks on her, you need it off now. You pull yourself out of her heavenly cleavage and hook your fingers under her bra, lifting it over her head and tossing it to the ground. 

Placing your hands under her thighs you lift her before spinning and dropping her onto the bed. Looking down at Jeongyeon hungrily, you make quick work of your already loose tie and shirt. Undoing your belt and dropping your pants you watch Jeongyeon run her hands up the curves of her body before grabbing her tits and arching her back off the bed.

“Hurry up slowpoke. I want to see what you’re hiding from me.”

“Take those panties off and I’ll do a lot more than show you.”

With a satisfied smirk removes her panties as you pull your remaining clothes off. Jeongyeon hums in satisfaction as she sees your cock standing tall. She opens her legs and holds them open, inviting you to enter her.

Crawling over top of Jeongyeon you capture her lips for the first time. Jeongyeon kisses you back and brings her hands to your head, running them through your hair and pulling you deeper in. 

Guiding your dick into Jeongyeon’s wet cavern, the hopeless woman lets out a long, muffled moan as your cock stretches her out.

“Oh fuck baby…” Jeongyeon moans as you slowly slide in and out of her, reaching deeper into her with every thrust.

Her tits begin to bounce erotically in front of your face as your thrusts start to intensify. Wrapping a hand around one, you flick your tongue against her hardened nipple. Soon you feel Jeongyeon wrap her legs around your waist as she holds her body tightly against yours.

You release her nipple and hook your arms under her legs. Placing her ankles on your shoulders, you lean further into Jeongyeon to give yourself a better angle.

“What’s this big boy? You going to go deeper now?” she teasingly asks.

“You ready?” you say while smirking at the sexy woman.

“Fuck yes I’m ready, don’t hold back baby.”

With that said, you start rapidly pounding into her. Jeongyeon's moans get louder and she begins shuddering a bit as she nears her own peak. The sound of your hips hitting hers is music to your ears as you give one almighty thrust and bury yourself to the hilt, feeling her velvet walls tighten around your cock.

"Oh fuck!" she cries out.

With that, hot liquid rushes over your cock coating it in her love as she begins quivering.

You slowly roll your hips in and out of her while she rides out her orgasm. Once her high has subsided, you go back to pounding into her with the same vigor as before. It doesn't take long before the walls of her cunt recoats your dick with another fresh layer of love juice.

"Your pussy feels so fucking good Jeongyeon. It feels like you're milking me for all I've got."

"Don't stop, harder, faster, please. Don't stop."

Your cock grows even harder inside of her as you give her exactly what she desires. She begins clawing at your back and shoulders as you push yourself closer and closer to the edge. With a few more slams, you feel yourself reach your limit as you cum hard within her. Jeongyeon pants as you continue your relentless assault, not allowing yourself to stop until the last waves of orgasm leave you.

The two of you rest there for a moment, basking in the glow of your combined fluids before you slowly slide out.

“I hope you got some material to use.”

A/N - Sorry this one is a little later than the other 2, but it took me a while today to think of a good scenario. But I’m very happy with what I was able to come up with so I hope you all are too. I also once again may have gone a taaaaaad bit over the 2k mark lol. I also wanted to make sure I did Jeongyeon justice for locke since I promised him god knows how long ago I’d do a Jeongyeon piece. 3 down, 6 more to go. Hope you all enjoy reading it~

[cdelphiki]

It was dumb.

No. Not dumb.

It was really, really, exceptionally stupid.

Being afraid of a little rain was probably the lamest thing a person could possibly be afraid of.

What was even scary about storms?….. Anymore?

Jason had a house now.

Sure, it wasn’t like, forever or nothing. But it was at least for now. And for now was long enough to protect him from the storm outside.

And yet, here he was. Hiding under his comforter, trying to ignore the cacophony of noises outside.

People who said rain was relaxing were high, Jason was fairly certain. High or really, really crazy. Because the harsh static of the constant downpour only made Jason more anxious. Even the gentle pitter-patter of a drizzle was the prelude to the deafening onslaught of far too much rain for the city’s sewers to handle, and Jason couldn’t handle any of it.

The crash of another bolt of lightning made Jason jump so hard, he nearly tumbled off his bed. His heart was hammering so hard, he was amazing no one could hear it.

But then again, the rain outside was so loud, there was no way anyone could hear anything but it.

And he was immensely grateful Bruce had skipped patrol. Because the last thing he wanted was for Bruce to come ‘check on him.’ Bruce might have thought he was sneaky whenever he poked his head in on Jason at 2 in the morning, but he wasn’t. And now Jason was happy, because the last thing he wanted was for Bruce to find him cowering under his covers, afraid of a storm.

A freaking storm.

It was insanely dumb. Jason knew why storms happened. He understood about cloud formation, positive and negative charges, and all that fun stuff. He’d read all about it in one of his school books.

That didn’t stop his heart from racing or his hands from shaking. And when another bolt of lighting hit, this time probably only 500 yards from the Manor, Jason leapt to his feet.

It was dumb. It was really, really dumb, but he could not be alone anymore.

He couldn’t.

He needed… he didn’t know what he needed. He needed to not be alone.

Before he could think better of it, Jason found himself standing in the hall, looking down at the doors ahead of him. There was Bruce’s room on one side. Door wide open, as he always left them to encourage them to wake him, or something. Jason just found it annoying, because it meant he couldn’t sneak past Bruce at night to go downstairs.

Perhaps that was Bruce’s plan.

On the left was Dick’s door. Shut, as always. And entirely unoccupied. Per the norm. Damian’s was next to it, and just barely cracked, so the dog could come in and out as he pleased.

The dog.

“Ace,” Jason whispered, trying to keep his voice quiet enough so not to wake Bruce.

He couldn’t deal with Bruce right now. He might ask questions.

And Jason did not want to talk about how the storms reminded him of being stuck outside in late fall, unable to find adequate shelter, freezing cold, soaked to the bone, and shivering while the rain kept coming. Didn’t want to think about how it took days to fully dry out after that, nor how the ground was wet for a week.

Or the case of pneumonia he’d developed, that landed him back in foster home for the third time. Stupid clinic being a rat.

Bruce would be super caring and understanding and he’d listen and hug Jason, probably. Then offer to stay up with him and watch movies, or drink hot cocoa. And Jason… kind of wanted that. But he couldn’t handle it. He wanted to cry just thinking about it, and Jason was so over crying. So freaking tired of doing it.

The dog, though. The dog wouldn’t ask him questions. He’d just lay with Jason and be there for him.

Ace was awesome like that.

But when Jason said, “Ace” again, this time a little louder, all he heard was the jingling of Ace’s tags. Deep inside Damian’s room.

From experience, Jason knew Damian was a heavy sleeper. Like, a really heavy sleeper. One time he fell asleep on the couch, and he and Bruce continued talking at a normal level for an hour, and Damian didn’t seem to notice one bit. Bruce was able to carry him up to bed afterward, all without Damian so much as stirring.

It was wild.

Would totally get him killed, one day, but probably okay for him right now. As long as he was safe in the Manor, that was. With the literal Batman watching over him.

Jason was kind of a little jealous of how deeply he could sleep. If only Jason could sleep through even the lightest footsteps passing his room at night.

Or storms.

“Ace,” Jason whispered again, nudging the door open just enough so he could stick his head in. Once his eyes adjusted to the darker room, he had to blink.

Because Ace wasn’t on the ground, where he normally spent the night, ‘guarding’ Damian.

No.

He was up in Damian’s bed, under the covers with him, tucked up against his side.

And Damian was there, wide awake, looking right back at Jason.

“Jason?” he said, far too loudly for Jason’s liking. Considering Bruce’s door was right there. Like, five feet away!

A crack of lightning flashed outside Damian’s window. And even with the half a second warning, Jason couldn’t suppress the flinch at the loud crash that followed. “Sorry,” he said, slipping into Damian’s room and shutting the door more, in hopes that Bruce wouldn’t hear them talking, “I was just… uh.”

The fuck was he doing? He couldn’t tell Damian he was looking for the stupid dog because he was scared, now could he? What would Damian say to that? He’d probably laugh at him.

Or start calling for Bruce to come fix it…

“Checking on Ace?” Damian asked, pushing himself up into a sitting position. Ace, in response, whined at Damian and pressed up against Damian’s side more, “Did you know he’s scared of storms?”

Ace was afraid of storms, too? Why would he be scared of them?

Well, he supposed the noises were very loud and Ace was a dog. Practically a baby. He didn’t understand what caused storms.

“Yeah,” Jason said, standing a little straighter and crossing his arms across his chest, “Yeah, I just wanted to make sure he was okay.”

It was perfectly reasonable for Ace to be afraid of them. That was a valid excuse. Poor Ace.

Jason, however. He had no good excuse. It was just rain. And some thunder and lightning.

And trauma, Bruce’s voice whispered in the back of his head.

Stupid fucking Bruce saying stupid fucking things like that to him all the time.

When another crack of thunder made Jason jump and bump up against the door behind him, Damian frowned. “He’s okay as long as he gets to sleep with someone,” Damian said, running a hand through Ace’s fur.

“Oh.”

That made sense. Ace didn’t want to be alone, either. Why would anyone want to be?

Because they weren’t being fucking stupid like Jason, probably.

Jason wasn’t sure what to do now, though. Ace was with Damian and probably wouldn’t follow Jason, even if he asked. Ace was Damian’s dog. Damian was Ace’s favorite person. He wouldn’t want Jason as a substitute.

Maybe Jason could sneak past Bruce’s room real fast and go into one of the interior rooms downstairs. The theater, maybe. It had no windows. If he turned the TV on, he—

“You can join us if you want,” Damian said, eliciting another flinch from Jason.

Stupid fucking storm making him all jumpy.

Good thing Bruce wasn’t there to see, he’d get his dumb little frown on his face, similar to the one Damian wore. But Bruce would ask dumb questions like ‘what do you need to feel safer?’

Stupid fucking Bruce. Who made him like that?

Staying in Damian’s room would be admitting he was scared, and he wasn’t…

…admitting it.

Aloud.

“That’s okay, I’m gonna—“

“It’ll make Ace feel better,” Damian cut in, “he likes it when more of his people are near. Sometimes we go into Dad’s room.”

“Oh.” That actually made sense. Ace was a guard dog. If the storm scared him, he probably liked knowing as many of his people were safe as possible.

Jason still wasn’t convinced he was one of Ace’s people, but Damian kept insisting he was, so maybe…

“Are you sure?” He didn’t exactly want to crowd Damian’s space, either.

“Yeah.” Damian pulled his blanket over, making room on the other side of Ace for Jason to crawl in.

Figaro, Damian’s cat, had been underneath the blanket, too, apparently. Jason hadn’t even noticed her, but she protested loudly when the blanket over her moved. Her collar jingled when she jumped down off the bed and crossed the room.

She brushed past Jason, tail up in the air, just as snooty as always, and paused at the door. When Jason didn’t open it for her instantly, she mewed at him.

Loudly.

It was like she was trying to wake everyone in the house, just like she’d been woken.

Jason opened the door for her and she raced across the hall into Bruce’s room. Based on the startled snort Bruce made, she hopped up on him.

Stupid cat was trying to wake everyone.

“Figaro,” Jason heard Bruce mumble, his bedsprings creaking for a second as he grumbled something else Jason couldn’t quite make out.

Jason held his breath, willing Bruce to not get up and check on everyone. But when the bed settled again, and no footsteps followed, Jason let it out in a quiet sigh.

“Okay,” he whispered, “but I’m gonna get my own blanket. Be right back.”

On tip toes, Jason rushed back to his room and grabbed his comforter. It was huge, so he wrapped himself up in it and let the rest of it drag behind him, like an oversized cape.

Was this what Batman felt like all the time? His cape seemed like it would be heavy, even if it didn’t drag the ground. How did he even run around with it? Jason could barely walk down the hall without tripping all over himself.

The storm outside was already calming down, but Jason knew there were several more cells following the one passing. He’d looked at the radar. The storms weren’t going to stop until well after breakfast.

Ace would definitely need the company all night, Jason was sure.

He was extra careful not to wake Bruce on his way back to Damian’s room and very quick to crawl up into the bed, opposite from Damian.

Jason wasn’t used to sleeping with other people in the same room, much less the same bed, but Damian had crashed in Jason’s room once already. It hadn’t been bad.

Maybe a little nice.

He would have never thought it’d be so easy to fall asleep with someone else in the room.

Even though Damian was a heavy sleeper, there was something relaxing about knowing someone else was there. Someone Jason could trust not to be a jerk to him. Damian was just a little kid. And a pretty nice one, at that.

Staying in Wayne Manor was turning him soft…

“We can watch a movie," Damian mumbled, from where he’d curled up next to Ace again, clearly half asleep already.

“You said you’re not allowed.” The last thing Jason wanted was to get Damian in trouble.

He wasn’t quite sure how Bruce punished Damian, since usually all he did was say something like ‘knock it off’ or raise his eyebrows at Damian, and Damian stopped whatever he was doing. Even though he doubted it’d happen, he’d feel terrible if he got Damian hurt just cause he was too scared to fucking sleep.

“Dad won’t care,” Damian mumbled, “there’s no school tomorrow.”

Jason looked at Damian skeptically. The rule was ‘no tv after bedtime.’ Jason wasn’t sure it mattered what day of the week it was.

Damian was, apparently, confident in his opinion Bruce wouldn’t care, because he sat up and grabbed the remote, then handed it to Jason.

It took Damian telling him twice more that it was ‘really fine, just pick something,’ for Jason to actually power on the projector and flip through the kids movie files.

In the end, he found an old cartoon for them to watch instead of a movie, and snuggled down in his blanket, all cocooned up so only his face was showing.

Predictably, Damian fell asleep within 7 seconds of the first episode playing. But the gentle snores from him, as well as the warm weight of Ace against Jason’s side, did help Jason relax a ton.

The storm kept raging outside. At times, the wind howled against the windows, and the rain fell so hard it sounded like hundreds of people were on the fucking roof, stomping. Not to mention the thunder and lightning, which continued to hit nearby.

Even with all that going on, Jason found himself jumping less and less.

And about four episodes in, he started to doze.

Sleeping while it was raining wasn’t something Jason had done in years.

But that night, he slept right through the rest of the storm. If the thunder kept up, Jason didn’t notice it.

When he was finally roused by Ace, well after breakfast, the sun was peeking through the curtains and birds were chirping outside.

Damian yawned dramatically as he stretched and said, “See. Told you Dad wouldn’t care.”

“Yeah.”

Maybe he wouldn’t care next time there were storms, either.

Because… Jason had to admit. He’d never felt as at peace as he did that morning.

He never wanted that feeling to end.

[louiseleblancdiggory]

Once Upon a December

Chapter 1: A Song Someone Sings

A/N: I can’t believe that there are people that are actually interested in this... I hope it’s not a complete hot garbage. I had to change some aspects to fit all characters and their personalities but I hope you guys like it!

Prologue // chapter 2

---

“Are you fucking shitting me?”

The slap came only a few seconds later, stinging her left cheek and undoubtedly leaving a reddish mark. Shit shit shit.

Clarisse’s rule number one: no fucking swearing, especially at her.

It was one of the rules that mostly got Lin in trouble, causing the orphanage’s master to leave a series of bruises throughout her body during the ten years she lived in that hellhole. Minor swearings usually earned her slaps or pinches, and if she continued to say them afterwards, Lin would probably receive a full beating. It was absolutely miserable.

Until the year before, however, she wouldn’t be receiving those slaps alone. Until a year before, if Lin was swearing from the top of her lungs, Lysandra was definitely there with her, saying things just as filthy. Sometimes they would get caught, but sometimes not even Clarisse could find them when they sneaked off the orphanage to steal alcohol from the market and then went to a rooftop to drink their asses off. 

Lysandra. Remembering her name, her existence was the only thing stopping Lin from finally lashing out against the orphanage’s master. She needed help and information that only Clarisse or Arobynn would possess, and she was smart enough to know that Clarisse would always be the better alternative.

Even if being pleasant to the woman who made her life hell for ten years made her blood boil.

“Pardon me, Clarisse. I wasn’t swearing at you, it’s just that you caught me by surprise.” It was an understatement. What Clarisse had said completely shattered her plans and hopes. Her throat tightened and her vision started to unfocus. Shit shit shit. “Could you repeat it? Please.”

“I could not care less why you did so.” She spat out, and one of the kids that was coming down the stairs took one glance at the two women standing by the door, at Clarisse’s tone and wisely went back up. “You are finally eighteen, you are not the orphanage’s problem anymore. Just as Lysandra has not been our problem for almost a year now. I will repeat what I have already said: Lysandra was taken to Inish a year ago, and as we do not keep tabs on the adopted children, we do not know if she is still there.”

Lin had to hold her snort and sarcastic remark. Adopted. Clarisse said adopted as if Lysandra had found a beautiful family to sit by the fire during Yulemas and drink hot cocoa, but both women knew for a fact that what had happened to Lysandra had been more of a buying than an adoption. Her blood only boiled hotter, her hand itching to hit the woman across the face.

“And what I said about the railroads and regular roads is true. Adarlan has cut off relations with Fenharrow and Melisande as a political strategy or something like that, I honestly do not care. They will most likely be opened again in a few weeks or months, but currently you are incapable of traveling straight from Rifthold to Inish. Crossing the border on your own is suicide and you will get caught, girl, so do not do anything stupid.” As Clarisse pronounced the last words, she opened the door and the fresh summer air swept in, causing Lin’s golden braid to whip around a bit. “This is my last warning and piece of advice. Now leave, you are not a child here anymore, Lin Sirota.”

Lin clenched her jaw, grabbing her little sack of belongings and walking right out of the door. She raised her chin as she passed Clarisse, and kept it raised as she crossed the orphanage’s iron gates, and kept it raised as she did not look back at the place that had treated her like shit for the entirety of her teenage years. But even as she felt the relief of finally leaving that place, of not being chained to Clarisse and Arobynn anymore, she could not help but feel the weight of her new life crushing her.

She was homeless. Poor, having only the money that should supposedly be used to buy one ticket to Inish. She had no connections, no family and nowhere to go.

-------------------------------

She went to the docks that same day. She went to the taverns in which she knew the riders would be. She went to the railroad offices. All answers had been the same: we do not want to risk Adarlan’s wrath by crossing the border to Fenharrow or Melisande, even for the money you are offering or because of your pretty face. In all three places, she put an extra effort into masquerading her accent. It was widely known that immigrants were not welcomed in Adarlan, especially in its capital. In all three places she put on smiles and adjusted her braids, hoping to look just like an innocent girl who needed a ride. Nothing worked.

Lin was tempted to start crying when she sat down in a bench just outside the railroad office. She used to do that a lot once she arrived in the orphanage. Lin had been eight, and terrified of her own shadow. She had cried when she realized that she could not remember anything from her past, all memories just a thick black canvas in her mind. She only knew she was from Terrasen due to her extremely heavy accent, which also pointed to the fact that she must have grown up in the northern part of the kingdom. It wasn’t unusual for kids of Terrasen to end up in orphanages after the kingdom was seized during a winter night. The memory loss, however, had been a rarity. The only moments that Lin got close to remembering anything was during her nightmares, but once she woke up all the information that the bad dreams contained just turned into ash. It was like being trapped into an iron box inside your own mind. Sometimes Lin would curse the new Terrasen’s conqueror, as if the new queen herself had put her in that coffin. Lin did not even know her real name, had just been given a commoners name and that had been that.

She could feel the thick tears swelling in her eyes, but she refused to let them drop. She hadn’t cried in a long while, and it would not help her right then. She needed to think and be smart. She needed a new plan, a new route and a way to get to Lysandra and save her the same way her friend had saved Lin ten years ago when she was drowning in fear and despair.

That had been two weeks ago.

Lin was now seated at the rooftop of a shabby old house by the central square in Orynth, taking a swig of cheap vodka. She had decided that since she could not go straight from Adarlan to Melisande, she would need to take the long way. Terrasen’s relations with Adarlan were stable enough that the borders hadn’t been closed, so instead of buying a ticket to Inish, she bough one to Orynth. The city had a series of extensive railroads, a particular one that would take you through the Wastes on the west side of the continent and then straight into Melisande. That’s the train she would need to catch once she gathered the absurd amount of money she would need to buy the ticket and food for the next weeks unless she wanted to starve.

She had gotten two copper coins today and a bottle of Terrasenian vodka, all stolen. She had to admit, it was a new low point even for her.

She watched the people come and go, all of them wearing clothes as shabby as the house she was on top of. Orynth, the City of Learning, had once been booming with life, a beacon to all of those who wished a better life. Its people lived in peace and harmony, and even the slums were better than some Adarlanian cities. Once the kingdom was conquered, however, everything had changed. The new queen had raised taxes so much that even most of the city’s elite became poor, and most of the population had to give up everything they had to not suffer under the queen’s wrath. Access to libraries and theaters was limited only for the new nobility and officials, very few merchants also allowed. There were curfews and censorship, laws prohibiting people from even speaking the name of the old rulers. A city that was once beautiful was now a ghost town, much like the rest of the kingdom.

Not that Lin would be able to know the difference between now and then. She did not remember ever being here, but she had read in books. Part of her wanted to wander around, maybe try to awake old memories in case she did indeed come from Orynth, but she decided against it. It must be an unimaginable pain to remember a beautiful past just to realize it had been ripped away from you.

A silver flash caught her eye. She looked up at one of the cathedral towers at the other side of the central square, narrowing her eyes at one of the windows where she had seen the movement. It was a darker shade of silver, so it couldn’t have been lightning or even a trick of light. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she felt an incessant pulse. She stared at the window for a few more minutes before shaking her head and rubbing her eyes. She was going insane. Running low on food and sleep and then getting drunk, she was probably on the edge of actual insanity and now her mind was playing tricks at her. Sighing, Lin slowly eased from the rooftop and into the colorless streets. She would need a place to stay tonight, especially if the summer rains in Orynth were as strong as people said they were.

Lin wandered around a bit, her eyes always involuntarily going back to the cathedral. She mindlessly walked all the way to the old castle. It seemed like it was once beautiful, all built from marble and quartz, the towers so high that it seemed that you could touch the clouds from there. But once the new queen decided to build her new castle with the money she tore from the people, this castle had been left alone, vacant. It looked more like a mausoleum than anything.

It could have been a crypt if not for the whimpers she heard coming from one of the sealed doors. Against her best judgment, Lin walked closer and closer to the castle, the pulse in the back of her head as strong as it had been when she looked at the cathedral. She should go back, find some alley to spend the night. She was currently drunk, alone and unarmed. She was a fucking walking target and she should know better. Maybe the whimpers weren’t even true, just another sign of her madness just like the silver flash.

Sighing, she stopped in front of the wood panel covering one of the doors. From up close, it looked more like a window that had probably been shattered and then covered with wood.

Lin was about to go back, snorting at herself when the wood panel moved and another whimper sounded. Maybe she was just imagining things again.

Although you are probably a godsdamned idiot, you are not that crazy yet.

Setting the bottle down, she approached the panel until she could glance around it. It was thicker than she imagined, and when she bent down to try to look inside the castle, something moved, brushing her fingers. Lin yelped and fell right on her ass, staring wide eyed at the dirty golden tail waggling. Only the tail was on the outside, as if the animal had been entering the castle the moment the wood panel closed again. She looked around, realizing that there were new screws and a hammer on the floor. Someone had purposefully let the little animal stuck. Had personally closed the wood panel again. Her blood was boiling and she was half tempted to hunt that person down and pin them to a wall with those same screws.

Instead, she grabbed the hammer and carefully opened the wood panel. Lin hoped there weren’t any screws directly into the animal’s— most likely a dog— tail. After what seemed an eternity, the lower part of the panel gave away and the dog sprinted forward, going deeper into the castle.

“Fuck. Wait! Hey puppy, come here. Let me check your tail to see if you’re hurt.” She called after the pup, grabbing the vodka bottle from the floor and half entering the castle in all fours. “Hey, come here!”

She groaned and entered a little bit more.

You are broke, drunk, most likely crazy and in the other side of the continent from your destination. What’s a little breaking and entering into an abandoned castle?

Grunting, Lin fully crawled into the castle.

If it looked like a mausoleum from the outside, it was worse on the inside. It wasn’t only the appearance, but the feeling. Everyone knew what had happened ten years ago, and it seemed as if death and despair decided to make this their home. Lin took a step forward, her boots sounding way too loud in the empty entrance. Tables had been turned, vases had been broken and sofas had been ripped apart. Trash littered the floors, and the only source of light was whatever could enter through the holes in the wood panels covering the windows and doors. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes and, despite the terrible condition of the castle, something eased in her chest.

Lin’s eyes snapped open when she heard the dog’s steps from another room in the palace. She started jogging after it, whistling in the hope that the dog would come in her direction. It led her up and down stairs, through corridors. The palace was a maze, and she navigated it as if she knew the way like she knew the palm of her hand.

She finally caught up with the dog when they entered a ballroom. The destruction in this room had been worse than in any other, and even as Lin bent down to pick up the puppy, her eyes could not leave the dance floor, the destroyed thrones, the blood stains in the walls and floor. No one had bothered to clean up, it seemed.

The pulse in the back of her mind became almost unbearable for a few seconds, until it was transformed into a lullaby that she knew in her heart she had heard before, even if she could not recall where. Her eyes became blurry, colors that were not there a minute ago appearing. It was like watching from inside a glass box splashed with oil paint. The colors were vivid, moving around in the rhythm of the lullaby that was so loud in her mind now that there could have been an orchestra by her side. The oil paint figures were dancing, she realized with awe. They were misty figures sweeping around a destroyed ballroom floor according to a song long forgotten by her.

It was like a real party, one that had happened so long ago that blurry memories were everything she could invoke when thinking of it, but the feeling of being home, the beating of her heart along with the music were reborn that moment.

She took a step forward, as if in a daze. As if she could go to the dance floor and sweep around with her eyes closed to the destruction and her mind providing the music. As if she could join those fake memories, go to a better place where she did not know pain of hunger or despair.

She might have done just that, if she hadn’t caught the movement of three figures from the left side of her eye. Immediately the colors disappeared, the lullaby becoming an incessant pulse once more. Her heart rate picked up, and she held the dog closer to her.

Lin turned to the three figures, all of them unbelievably tall, muscular and with their faces hidden by cloaks and shadows. She took a fighting stance, her eyes narrowing and cocking her head. She could swear one of them smiled.

“So what do we have here?” A male voice straight from Hellas’s realm spoke.

From behind her.

There are more.

Fucking stupid.

Shit shit shit.

I’m going to die.

It was all Lin could think as she hardened her grip on the cheap vodka bottle and swinged back, hitting the male behind her straight across the face. He and his companions-- the three she had first seen and other two flanking his side-- were shocked enough by her reaction that they froze. 

Although her stupidity was obviously arguable, she certainly did not have a death wish, so instead of fighting her way out, Lin took their seconds of hesitation and used to her advantage.

She ran as if Hellas was trying to fucking murder her.

It took only seconds for them to recompose themselves before they started running after her. Lin tightened her grip on the dog who was thankfully quiet and obedient. If she got to the wood panel she came from, she could crawl out and they would still be inside. They were too big to follow her through that hole, even though she had the feeling that they could easily knock the wood panel down if they wished.

Please, Lin pleaded to Mala for the first time since she could remember, give me protection. Please, please, please.

The last please sounded inside her mind when she felt a hand around her elbow. She was instantly against a man’s chest, and then before she could blink she felt the cold floor against her back. All the air whooshed out of her, her grip on the bottle and dog faltering. The little pup got up and started growling in the direction of the five men now watching Lin, the one that had stopped her still behind her. 

They were going to kill her, and then probably the dog.

At least she could take some comfort in knowing that it couldn’t get worse.

But then a deep male voice chuckled from the shadows behind her.

Tags:

@morganofthewildfire​ @alyx801​ @ladywitchling​ @westofmoon​ @rolltide7​

[legal-graffiti]

A little girl finds a ring, washed up on the riverside. She drops her toy boat on the silt shore, and stumbles over rocky steps to reach it. She wasn't sure it was a ring at first- only that it was shiny, and bright. She picks it up in her small hand, laughing to herself. It must be diamond, she thinks. After all, as a seven-year-old girl, she believes all rings must be diamond. A real treasure. She hears a voice in her head. The voice is clear and soft. Feminine. No distinct age.

This is for you.

"For me?" the girl asks. Nobody is nearby to hear. And even if they were, they wouldn't think it unusual. What child doesn't have a few imaginary friends?

Yes. What is your name?

"My name is Avon!" she says, excited to introduce herself to someone new. It doesn't occur to her that a voice that speaks to her must come from somewhere. She only cares that they are friendly. Usually there is no one to play with when she comes here.

That’s a lovely name.

"Thank you! What's your name?" Avon says. There's a pause where the answer should be. Avon doesn't register it, busy fiddling with her new gift.

My name is not important.

"Why not?" she asks, her face scrunched up in confusion. She looks up to the water, but of course, there is no one there.

I will tell you tomorrow.

"Okay," she says, and quickly forgets the matter. "Does this mean that we're married now?" Avon asks, with wide, owlish eyes.

That's very clever of you. Not quite.

"Can I keep this?" Avon tries putting the ring on, but it doesn't fit on any of her tiny fingers. She frowns.

Of course. It is for you. It will fit soon.

Avon lets out an over-exaggerated sigh at the idea of waiting.

"Okay. I'm putting it in my house. So I don't lose it."

Alright, Avon.

Avon grins and scrambles back over the rocks, eager to stow away her treasure. She looks back towards the river. The toy boat she left behind is still there, and Avon resolves to come back for it later.

When she does come back, the voice is gone.

Avon loses the ring among her toys, and soon forgets about it entirely.

~~~

"Avon, where did you find this?" her father asks in a startled voice. He had been cleaning through her room. Generally she was good about keeping her mess off the floor, but he was assured that it wouldn't spoil her if he helped every once in a while. Today, he found a ring- a blue, iridescent stone, set into a dark band. Avon hops over to where he's kneeled on the ground.

"The river gave it to me!" she declares proudly. Her father turns it over. It's pretty, but not much else. He turns to Avon, smiling fondly.

"So you found it by the river, huh?" Avon nods in responds. He holds it out to her. "Okay. Make sure you take good care of your things, alright?"

"Okay, dad!" she says, hoping to avoid a lecture. Luckily for her, there isn't one.

"Here you go." He chuckles and hands it out to her. When Avon has it again, she inspects it in much the same way she saw her dad do it. It doesn't make much difference, but it is endearing. She giggles and runs off with her treasure.

~~~

Avon grows older. She learns to take better care of her things. She doesn't hear anymore disembodied voices. The ring stays on her hand. Years pass.

~~~

Avon brings a girl to her house. Avon is nineteen, and in college. She's only visiting briefly. The other girl is older by two years, and her family is in the military, and Avon feels like she needs to impress her. She must not be doing a good job, because her father reminisces all afternoon about how she caused trouble at her Catholic school when she was young, and when the girl asks Avon what she used to do for fun, Avon takes her to the river.

"I found my ring here," she says with a half-smile. "Some voice from the river said they were giving it to me." The other girl wrinkles her nose.

"That's weird," she says, and then snorts. Avon shoves her shoulder against her side.

"You callin' my river weird, Mayim?"

"You're weird! That's definitely one of those memories that people make up." Avon blows raspberries at her. Mayim squats down on the shore. "I like your weird dad though." Avon kneels down next to her.

"Was it bad growing up with your parents?" she asks. No judgement, just a question. Mayim shrugs.

"Nah, we just moved around a lot, that's all. I'm glad you have a little place." Mayim pokes at the water as if that proves her point. The river just flows around her finger. She turns to Avon with a bright-eyed smile. "Okay, my mom though. Every once in a while she'd bring home one of those MREs, and I got so excited about it. Do you know I lost my mind when I found out people hated those things?" Avon mirrors her smile.

"Never had one."

"Chef Boyardee met cafeteria lunch," Mayim explains. Avon pretends to retch.

"Ew."

"You callin' my food weird, Avon?" Mayim teases. She sticks her tongue out and goes to poke Avon with the finger she put in the water. Avon backs away from her.

"Hell yeah, I am!" Mayim tackles her, and Avon's shoulders hit the ground. She grabs Mayim's wrists, but she doesn't quite stop her. Silt gets in her hair, and they just laugh at each other.

Mayim ends up staying the night, and Avon forgets she was worried about impressing her.

~~~

Avon rarely visits her father, and she visits the river even less.

~~~

One day she visits the river, but not her father.

Heavy footsteps draw towards the water. Her hands are clenched at her sides, and if it weren't for the tears on her face, she might even look angry. Avon walks to the shore. She pauses for a moment, as if she doesn't know where to go next. And then she drops to the ground. Avon pulls her legs to her chest. When she opens her mouth, she almost screams. Except there's no one to be angry at. Avon should only be angry with herself. She could've visited more. A shuddering breath escapes her lips. Air will not stay inside her. She must be drowning.

"My dad is dead," Avon admits to nothing and no one. Her voice is thick with tears, and she curls up into herself. Avon's fingernails claw marks into her arms, where they wrap around her legs. Her face is lost in her knees. "Now I have no one."

Don't say that. I'll always be here.

Avon stays there on the ground. Eventually her breath slows to even.

Something guides her forward. Avon crawls closer to the river. She takes off her shoes and her socks, and then rolls up her pants. After a brief hesitation, Avon puts her feet into the water. It calms her. She still has tears left to cry, but they are no longer bitter.

~~~

Years pass. The house is now hers, but Avon doesn't visit at all.

~~~

Mayim doesn't think about giving Avon a ring, especially since she has one already. The two of them don't care too much about traditions. Still, Mayim feels like she needs to impress her.

So she puts together five years worth of videos of them, and dates they went on a million years ago, and trips they went on together across the country, and footage of them playing pranks on their friends, and holidays shared with both of their families, and days spent doing nothing but being in each other's company. And then Mayim rents an entire theater and tells Avon that they're just going to see a movie.

When she realizes what it is, Avon is too stunned for words. Her father is in the video too, smiling kindly at the camera. It is just like she remembers, as if he is still smiling at her. She starts crying long before the movie is over. Before the screen fades to black and the lights turn on overhead, Mayim stands up and takes her hand. She's crying too.

"Avon," she asks, "Will you marry me?"

Avon squeezes Mayim's hand, and she's crying and laughing at the same time she says "Yes!"

Mayim forgets she was worried about impressing her.

~~~

The venue for their wedding is close to their hometown. There is one person who won't be attending.

Avon takes a while to hide from everyone before the ceremony. She ends up at her father's house again, still in her huge wedding dress. The furniture is covered in white sheets, and dust dances in the sunlight. It is like being inside an empty museum. Avon takes the covers off the couch in the living room, just to make sure it's still hers. The couch is just like she remembers it. She sighs. Avon puts the cover back on. She isn't supposed to be standing in her childhood home, still wearing a dress twice her size.

The back door swings with the breeze. Its handle must have rusted open while she was gone. Avon stares at the backyard for a while, as if she doesn't know where to go next. She wanders past the door. Once outside, the yellow-green grass sways high against her skirts, having been left to grow for so long. She heads down a familiar path, lined with skinny, tall trees. They give way to plain dirt, then stones and silt. The water sings as it spills against the shore.

Welcome back.

Avon startles.

Are you going to leave again?

"Why are you here now?" Avon says from where she overlooks the water. Nobody is nearby to hear. The voice pays her question no mind. "Who are you, anyway?"

An old friend.

Avon stands there, uncomprehending. She's been here so many times, but she was young then. The river hasn't changed, but Avon is unsettled to be here. The ring is still on her finger.

Do you think it's odd that I've known you for so long, and we've barely touched?

Avon winces.

"What's that supposed to mean?" There is a beat of silence. Last time she was here, her father had just passed away. Avon stares blankly.

Come back to me.

Avon walks to it, solemn. She ignores the water soaking into her dress, or the mud staining it. It becomes heavy to walk in, but she continues. She stays facing forward. She wants to find that voice. It hasn't changed at all. It's exactly the way she remembers it. She falls forward onto her arms with a shout. The lace rips. The mud spreads to her hair. Avon keeps crawling forward. For once, the voice's silence is a taunt. Avon keeps going forward, and forward and forward and forward and

~~~

A few days pass. A little girl finds a corpse in a wedding dress.

[crystalangelluna]

A New Chance Chapter 5

Ao3/ Part 1 /Part 2 /Part 3 /Part 4/ Part 5(You're here)

Taglist: @wannajointhecrabcult @kceedraws @thequeenofpotatoeunicornss @lilyreadbooks12

Enjoy:

{With the PMH (Past Miraculous Holder} They were all sitting in the movie theater, eating popcorn, and watching the events unfold themselves.

“Our little bug needs some guidance, you guys thinking what I am thinking.” The first-ever ladybug spoke up (Mei).

“We should give her a surprise, after school”

Everyone agreed and started planning out their idea. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (With Mari) Yesterday was pretty embarrassing, especially since the assassins escaped. Oh well, I don’t want to relive that again.

(Mari it is Mei, after school today, go to the alleyway near _______ street. We have a surprise for you. Make sure to bring Kaalki with you. And just know, we are looking after you.)

(Thank you, Mei, I am happy to hear from you again, say hi to the others for me, will you?).

She happily agreed.

In under 10 minutes, I got ready to go to school, I grabbed my purse along with Tikki and Kaalki, and headed out.

Gotham Academy

Very different than I had pictured it, but it will do.

Being the new student sucks sometimes but it is what it is.

My mission is to avoid Damien at all costs. But apparently luck isn’t on my side, because he is on the other side of the school steps,

Great way of keeping a low profile, Mari. I scolded myself

Just ignore the pretty boy… Just ignore the pretty, wait what? Stop it, Mari, you promised yourself you wouldn’t go down this path again…

Just ignore your childhood crush,

Shi- No cussing, a tinny voice said in the back of my head. Shoot he’s looking at me better RUN!!!

(Damian’s pov) Yesterday was pretty embarrassing, and not to mention the bloody assassins dared to escape. All because of my insolent brothers.

Alfred dropped me off at Gotham Academy. I honestly don’t understand why my father forces me to even go to this school. I am clearly more intelligent than these empty-headed people. But apparently, I have to “socialize” with kids my age. No thank you I am fine with just one friend.

Where did that come from?

I was about to go inside when I noticed someone on the other side of the school steps.

It seemed the new student was having a fight with herself, she then ran up the steps and trip but got back up and headed to the office.

What an idiot.

Whispers were going around the school, so were rumors and questions about the new student. Why would a new student be joining in the middle of the trimester, and especially in the city with the worst crime in the world?

Suspicious…

I headed to my first class, Physics

I sat at the back of the classroom next to Jon because he is the most tolerable in the whole school.

“Good morning class today we have a new student, please introduce yourself, Miss.”

The same girl from earlier stood up to speak,” Hi my name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng and I originally lived in Paris.” This raises my suspensions even more, why would someone who lives in a safe city be somewhere like Gotham. People are Weird.

(Mari's POV)

“Thank you Marinette, you sit next to Marely, please raise your hand.” A black-haired, brown-eyed, Hispanic-looking girl raised her hand. While I was walking to my seat, 2 things stood out to me. I was sitting behind the one person I didn’t want to sit near.

Damian Freaking Wayne/Robin. And he was glaring at me, great, the famous bat glare.

I just sighed.

Great trying to stay away from Damian is harder than I thought,

Mei and the rest had something to do with this.

(Mei and the rest of the crew) They were snickering at the screen that showed their beloved little bug and her fate. Marinette was correct; they were a part of it, especially if they were planning her love life all while eating popcorn. This was going to be Fun.

(Time skip, Mari's Pov)

It was lunchtime already and so far I was done with my first 3 classes. I had Marely in all of my classes so she showed me around the school. She easily became one of my new best friends. Luckily for me, Damien was only in my first class.

Lunch came and went by, I punched a kid in the face cause he went too far in his opinion on me, then we got sent to the principal's office only for him to place us in detention for the next day. And then it was time for the last class of the day...

Gym.

Oh how I was excited to participate in this class {who hates the gym, cause I do?}

The Gym teacher announced that they would be competing against the art teacher's class since the teacher was absent for the day.

Low and behold…

…

…

…

…

{You guys probably think It is Damian, am I right?}...

…

…

It was that jerk face that I met earlier, the one I punched in the face, for calling me pathetic and a liar. Can't I have no enough enemies in my life? Jack, Jacob, Jim whatever his name is,

he is going DOWN!!!

Too bad he got on my bad side, you never want to see a pissed off, Mari.

Also, too bad for him, dodgeball is my favorite game, and I happen to be the best at it.

Well back when I was alive in my Paris.

And I happen to be the hero Ladybug. And I carry the Kwami's Of Creation and Teleportation right now, and not to mention the others especially Plagg./p>

Calm down Mari, it is okay you have another chance, you can sorta of start over again. I told myself.

Right now you have to show jerk face exactly who he messed with.

(Another time skip cause ya author too lazy 🤪)

Let's just say he will never mess with me, again. And for that matter, if these Gotham kids are who I think are, word spreads fast, and they would know not to mess with me.

As I was heading to the direction Mei talked to me again.

(Bring Marely with you, she will play a big roll in the future. Oh and she needs to know the truth after your surprise)

(Are you sure, that could be dangerous and risky?)

(Trust me you will need all the help you can get, just don't worry about it right now, you know what Bunnixx would say!!)

(Yeah, yeah I know, everything has a time and place.)

(Marley's pov)

I was about to leave the building when Marinette or as she told me to call her Mari, called out to me. I turned around and saw her running towards me.

She tripped but caught herself gracefully, I giggled.

" Do you need anything Mari?"

"I was wondering if you would like to hang out right now?"

My common sense screamed at me not to go because, 1.We are in Gotham for crying out loud. 2.She could be a villain in disguise And 3. I just met her.

But alas my gut is telling me to go, and I trust my gut, especially since it got me out of sticky situations.

So I went with her.

(Damian's POV) All-day people were pestering me with rumors about the new student. Especially after school, apparently, she beat up a kid and beat him at Dodgeball.

I spotted her talking to the girl she sat next to during Physics.

They left the building, and then I did what any reasonable person would do.

I dragged Jon with me and we followed them.

This is Gotham after all. And I am the son of the World's greatest detective.

(Mari's POV)

Someone was following me, I bet I know who.

It won't be of any use losing them now.

I’m just going to let them be surprised. Oh the CHAOS!!!

When we arrived at the place Mei informed me, Marely was confused.

"Just wait for it." Not even 5 seconds later a portal opened up behind us and covered our mouths, I wonder if this is the surprise that Mei had for me.

Then they yanked us into the portal and it closed.

I looked into a familiar room that I thought I would never see again I turned around and I saw…

And older looking Adrien and Kagami than me, precisely 3 years.

I was wrapped in a hug. I didn't even know that we were crying, once that was over I looked up to see Marely super confused and shocked.

I mean who wouldn't be both when you were kidnapped, then your recently new friend hugs your kidnappers and they all cry, and you don't even know what is going on.

"Umm, Marely meet my best friends Adrien and Kagami, from another alternate universe."

"Hi, I am Adrien" The sunshine boy is back.

"Greetings, nice to meet the friend of my best friend."

"Hi, I am Marely, can you tell me what the heck is going on???"

"Well, you see Marely…"

(With Damian)

Wtf just happened?!?!?!?

[lucifer-sucks-club]

Sorry, just asked for smut on my previous request, so you can leave that out. Just super fluffy movie night with the Twins?

Thank you for the request!! It ended up a lot longer than I anticipated and took longer too. So sorry for the wait! I hope it ended up fluffy enough, since I felt like it was leaning more into the hurt/comfort category rather than pure fluff. Hopefully you still like it.

You looked up at the small knock at your door and noticed Beel and Belphie poking their heads into your room.

“Hey guys,” you offered them a small wave, inviting them inside. “Did you need something?”

“We’re about to watch a movie.” Beel held up a bag of popcorn, which was still steaming from the microwave and filled the room with a buttery aroma. 

“Did you want to join us?” Belphie had a hopeful look on his face as he asked, though you knew he’d deny it if you pointed it out. He’d likely insist that Beel was the one who suggested that they invite you. Even if they were the case, you could tell they were equally eager for your response.

You smiled at them and closed your textbooks, deciding that you’ve done enough studying for the night. You’d finished all your homework and deserved a break.

“I’d love to!” You jumped up from your desk, stretching out your arms, your body stiff and thankful about no longer being hunched over textbooks. Though, you doubted sitting on the couch for the next two hours would do anything to help your poor spine. Oh well, you were willing to suffer, good postures were overrated anyways. 

You darted after the brothers, following them into the hall. They lead you to the living room where they had one of Levi’s spare widescreen tv’s set up — he’s sent enough controllers through screens to know to save a few backups. The coffee table was littered with snacks, though, glancing at Beel, you doubted the stockpile would last through the previews. 

You sat on the couch, Beel and Belphie falling into place on either side of you. 

“So, what are we watching?” You asked as Beel grabbed the remote and began setting up the movie.

“The Devildom Killer 2: The Creature Who Stalks the Night.” Belphie revealed, a wicked grin on his face.

You felt yourself pale. Despite being in a house of demons, you and horror did not mix well. 

Beel finished selecting the movie and got up to grab a few extra snacks, flicking off the light on his way back. You let out a small squeak, barely able to restrain yourself from reaching out and grabbing Belphie's arm.

“You okay?” Beel questioned, tilting his head as he rejoined you on the couch. 

You squirmed under his gaze, unwilling to admit to being afraid of a movie and instead searching your brain for any plausible excuse.

“Oh, uh, actually… You know what, I- uh, I actually just remembered that I completely forgot about one of my assignments and it’s, um, it’s due tomorrow so uh…” You looked down at your hands, trying to keep the embarrassed blush off your face. “I-I should probably go… Do that assignment…”

Belphie let out a small whine of protest from where he was already snuggled up at your side. You tried to move but he grabbed your arm, pouting at you. You knew he’d release you if you actually pulled away, but you didn’t make an attempt to get up again.

“Oh, are you sure?” Beel asked, looking away disappointed. “It’s the top thriller of the year. We were really looking forward to watching it with you…”

“Oh…” You felt your breath catch in your throat. They really wanted to watch this with you…

“Yeah, it’s supposed to be way better than the first movie.” Belphie told you and Beel nodded.

“Apparently Levi and Mammon went and saw it in theaters and Mammon cried.” Beel stage whispered, him and his brother not even bothering to contain their laughter.

They continued to discuss the movie, though you tuned them out. You chewed your lip, fidgeting in your seat. It’s not as if you hadn’t watched any horror movies before, you were roped into your fair share of murderers and poltergeists during sleepovers growing up. You could almost hear your childhood friends taunting you for your visceral reactions. 

You knew things were different now, that Beel and Belphie weren’t 11-year-olds determined to single out the weak and prey on their insecurities. They were demons, which was definitely several steps up from middle schoolers. You were in literal Hell right now, surrounded by demons. Could any horror movie even match that?

But if you were afraid… Would they laugh at you like they laughed about Mammon. Would they regret inviting you? Reconsider being friends with a weak human? 

Despite those thoughts, you didn’t want to disappoint Beel and Belpie, since you’d already told them you’d watch a movie with them.

For a second you considered admitting the truth, telling them you’re afraid and asking if they’d put on something else. But how predictable would that be? You, the human, afraid of a little horror. You didn’t want to ruin their movie night by making them watch something less worthy of their attention.

In the end you took a deep breath, steeling your nerves.

“A-actually, I’ll stay.”

Belphie let out a content chirp, snuggling further against you.

“Really?” Beel asked, his eyes lighting up. “But what about your assignment. I don’t want you to fall behind in school because of us.”

“Turns out I was mistaken, I just remembered it’s due next week, not tomorrow.”

“Okay, great!” Beel settled further into the couch, putting an arm around you.

You did your best to get comfortable, though you couldn’t put your nerves at ease, especially when the movie started.

Despite your own nerves, Beel and Belphie seemed completely unfazed. In fact, after only a few minutes you heard a soft snoring at your side, Belpie’s head lolling against your shoulder.

Beel looked over, letting out an exasperated sigh. “He always does this.”

He watched his brother with a fond expression and reached out, rubbing Belphie’s head. Belphie leaned into the touch, falling from his resting place against your side and curling up across your legs, his head resting in his brother’s lap.

Beel let out a small chuckle, stroking Belphie’s hair. “He’s just so at peace when he’s asleep.” 

You nodded, though you couldn’t understand how anyone could be at peace when there was a murderer with a chainsaw and a thirst for blood committing murders on the screen. The killer wasn’t human, or a demon, but rather something else entirely. Like sewed together pieces, nothing quite fitting into place. It’s voice sounded wrong, grating against your ears and causing you to shiver.

And the girl running just tripped and oh no she lost her keys and oh no oh no oh no-

You covered your eyes as blood splattered against the screen.

“Is everything okay?” Beel asked and you nearly went into cardiac arrest from the sudden sound of his voice. “You’re shaking.”

You swallowed, shaking your head. “I-”

“Stop being a baby!” You heard your childhood friend laugh as you hid your face in a pillow. “It’s not even that scary! My little brother isn’t even crying! We aren’t gonna turn it off so if you can’t handle it then go call your “mommy” to take you home.”

“Just cold,” you forced out, barely managing a tight smile.

Beel frowned, pulling off his jacket. “Here, you can wear this.” He placed it around your shoulders and pulled you closer to him.

“Th-thanks…”

You clenched your fist at your sides, annoyed with yourself. You made dinner with the actual Satan yesterday, and you were letting this creature scare you? No, you were better than that.

You continued to watch as the characters were picked off, one by one. Each time you bit back your screams, refusing to let the movie win.

Soon there were only two characters left. They needed somewhere to hide. As long as they chose anywhere but the… and they were heading into the basement. They stumbled around in the dark, whispering to themselves about how they were safe. But you knew… You knew it was down there.

The main character reached for a flashlight and you shook your head, silently begging him to stop. Your nails bit into your palms as it flickered on. You froze in anticipation, waiting. The light swept across the room and then-

The scream you’d been restraining for the past 2 hours finally escaped as you turned, burying your face into Beel’s chest. You covered your ears against the onslaught of horrific noises coming from the speakers. 

“Hey, it’s okay,” Beel assured you, wrapping his arms around you. “Are you scared?”

You pulled away at that, shaking your head. “I-I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” He asked, unconvinced, and you nodded. “Okay.” 

He turned his attention back to the movie, which finished shortly after. He stood as the credits rolled and scooped Belphie into his arms.

“Goodnight,” he said to you, turning to leave.

“Wait!” Don’t leave me here. “I-I’ll walk with you.”

You quickly followed Beel to his room, awkwardly standing in the doorway as he tucked Belphie into bed. Once he was finished he looked back at you, almost surprised to see you were still standing there.

“Do you want me to walk you back to your room?”

You paused, thinking it over. You remembered being a kid, timidly following your friends around their house after the movie.

“You’re being such a scaredy cat, it’s so annoying. What, do you need us to hold your hands? You’re just walking down the hall, jeez.”

Despite how desperately you wanted to take him up on his offer, you knew you couldn’t. So you shook your head, forcing your body to back away into the hall. 

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind. You seem scared.”

“I-I’m fine. I’m perfectly capable of walking to my room alone. I-I can do that.”

“Really?”

“In fact,” you turned your attention to the sleeping demon. “I-I think Belphie would be scared. If you left and he woke up alone, I mean.”

Beel frowned at that. “Yeah, maybe. Though, I leave for the kitchen a lot at night…” He turned, staring at his brother, probably worried.

You felt a pang of guilt about worrying Beel, though you knew Belphie was the one thing that could distract him. You needed to divert his attention, to keep him from seeing how utterly terrified you were.

Your first few steps down the hall were slow and jagged, your limbs hard to control as your nerves kept your body partially paralyzed. You took deep, shaky breaths until finally you were running. You were sure you could have won a track and field gold medal by the time you made it to your room. When you got there you slammed the door closed behind you and jumped into bed, cowering under the covers.

You laid there, using your D.D.D for light, and did your best to steady your breathing. You tried to fall asleep, but your eyes remained wide open, refusing to shut. 

After an hour of lying frozen, your phone finally died.

You felt your heart skip a beat, your breath caught in your throat as your room was bathed in darkness. Part of you regretted not flicking on your light as you came in, before confining yourself under the covers. As the darkness settled over you, you were still for a few seconds, then, you shot up.

Despite being in a house full of demons, you felt as though the creature was there. As though like in the movie, you’d turn on the light and find it behind you.

Your body moved on it's own and you found yourself sprinting down the hall, your legs moving faster than ever before. You threw open the twins door, and Beel sat up in his bed, confused.

Before he could process anything, you were in his bed, clinging to him and sobbing.

“I-I'll admit it, I'm scared! I’m sorry, but I’m scared. I-I tried not to be, I-I tried to watch the movie and to not let it affect me but I failed.”

“Hey, shh, you’re okay, I’ve got you,” he reassured you, wrapping his arms around you.

“J-just laugh at me and get it over with.”

“Laugh at you? I’m not going to do that.”

You pulled away and looked up at him, searching his face for insincerity. “B-but-”

You heard a noise and cut yourself off with a startled squeak, burying your face against Beel’s chest.

 “Hey, it’s okay, relax. That was just Belphie rolling over.” He held you closer, rubbing your back. “The creature isn’t going to get you, not here.”

“I know, that’s what makes being scared so frustrating. I-I know it’s not real, and that I’m being irrational and-and a baby and a scaredy cat and annoying and weak and-”

“Hey,” Beel stopped you, squeezing you tighter. “I don’t think any of that, it’s okay to be scared. I’m sorry for making you watch something like that. I-I should have realized.”

You shook your head. “It’s my fault, I should have said something…”

There was a loud yawn from across the room and Belphie sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you?” You asked, turning to him with a sniffle.

He frowned at you, ignoring the question.

“Are you okay?”

You thought it over, but decided it’s time to stop hiding your fears. You shook your head, more tears falling from your eyes.

Belphie joined you on Beel's bed, hugging you from behind. 

“Do you want to sleep here tonight?” He asked and you let out a sigh.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to fall asleep, horror movies have that effect on me.”

The two frowned, looking at each other as if devising a plan. Then, they stood, each one taking one of your hands into their own.

“Where are we going?” You asked as they led you down the hall.

“Well, we promised you a movie,” Beel explained.

“And we don’t think the last one should count.” Belpie added.

They sat with you on the couch, putting on Demonflix and choosing a family-friendly animated film.

“You guys don’t have to watch that if you don’t want to…”

“Of course we want to! We may be demons but that doesn’t mean we just like horror films,” Beel assured you.

“Yeah, we watch this movie all the time. Beel cries each time.” 

Beel smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I do. It’s heart-warming.” 

You felt yourself finally able to relax, the warmth of the brothers and the light of the screen making you feel safe. You heard Belphie begin snoring and realized that your own eyelids were beginning to grow heavy. You let them fall closed and rested your head against Beel.

“Really?” He said with a small chuckle. “You too?”

You nodded, slurring out an apology and snuggling closer against him. You heard him sigh, wrapping his arms around you.

“Sweet dreams,” he whispered and you smiled, feeling him press his lips to the top of your head.

Despite the horror movie, while lying in Beel's arms with Belphie fast asleep against your other side, you found it impossible to feel anything besides safe.

[that-writer-who-never-posts]

You know what it's like

Another Jealous Tom (This time, 2k words of angst and 400 of a fluff smut.) - Special guest: Jake Gyllenhaal

This is a mix of the request by @schizophrenicstoryteller (who I can NEVER tag, thanks, tumblr...) and the beautiful idea by @elinesama (thank you so much for sending me it!❤)

Prompt: You're an actress and Tom gets jealous of your good relationship with your co-star Jake.

Warnings: there's a tiiiiny smut in the end. Couldn't help myself.

---

"Ladies and gentlemen..." The tv host announced. "Let's welcome the stars of the most awaited romcom of the year: Jake Gyllenhaal and Y/N Y/L/N!"

Everyone clapped and screamed as you and Jake entered the studio. Maybe that was the movie you loved to promote the most in your career, since you were doing it with one of your best friends ever.

Now you were sitting down for an interview on live tv, while your boyfriend, Tom, was watching it from the house you shared. When you walked in, he couldn't help but smile. He was so proud of you.

"It's so good to have you here." The interviewer said smiling as the two of you sat on the couch. "It wasn't easy."

"Yes." Jake laughed. "We've been traveling a lot."

"But we're not complaining!" You interrupted him. "We're grateful for this project."

"And you must be having a lot of fun on those travels." The host said, making the crowd giggle.

You looked around confused.

"True." You replied. "We've become great friends. The whole crew did."

"But isn't it harder having to do those make out scenes when they are with a good friend?"

"I think it's always hard." Jake admited. "Nothing personal, Y/N, you're great."

Tom was watching all that with an annoyed expression. Since the host suggested you and Jake were having fun and the crowd reacted like that, he started to feel weird. But that was... a little too much. You're great, Y/N. Great at what? Tom was an actor himself, he knew that actors don't rate their make out scenes, unless they really enjoy it. But it wouldn't be a scene if they did.

"Well... I hope I didn't suck that much." You laugh at him, and the audience goes wild.

Oh, so she's worried he didn't enjoy it?, Tom thought. Because looks like she did.

"Let's change the subject." Jake laughed too.

"Oh, no." The interviewer grabbed his water mug and pretended he was watching some great drama. "We're going to be on all gossip blogs tomorrow. Give us more information."

"What are you talking about?" You rolled your eyes.

"Yes..." Jake looked at him confused. "If they want gossip, I have a few things to say about Y/N."

You playfully punched him in the arm.

Too much. Tom stood up angrily and turned the tv off. He started to walk around the living room thinking about the last time he visited you on set. You and Jake didn't seem to have all that chemistry then. Maybe because it was in front of him. You really were a great actress.

The interview lasted a few more minutes, in which you finally got to talk about the movie, and not yourselves. The begining was a little annoying, the host probably didn't know you were engaged and kept trying to find something between you and your co-star that clearly wasn't there. But you were used to those childish things. After you were done, all you could think about was Tom... Getting home to him, getting to cuddle him a little before sleeping... It was so late, and he was probably as exhausted as you, but he always waited for you to come home.

---

You got out of the cab so quickly, you almost forgot to pay for it.

But when you opened the front door, you frowned a little. All the lights of the house were off. You walked towards your bedroom, afraid Tom would be hiding somewhere, ready to scare you. But you found him in bed, sleeping peacefully. To be honest, you felt a little disappointed... But when you saw your bed, the tiredness hit you, and you could totally understand him.

After a quick shower, you joined his side, laying down carefully to not wake him up.

Little did you know that he was awake. He wished he wasn't, because feeling your warmt close made him feel worse. But he didn't want to start a discussion that late, so he decided to pretend he wasn't laying down there overthinking for hours.

---

On the next morning, you woke up first, since you fell asleep a lot before him. So you watched him with a smile on your face, hoping he would wake up soon.

Didn't take too long for him to do so. When his eyes opened, the first thing he saw was your smile. His brain wasn't working correctly yet, so he tried to convince himself that it was nothing but a dream, that you weren't fooling him. But he eventually remembered everything.

"Good morning, babe." You said excitedly, approaching him for a kiss.

"Good morning." He replied coldly, pretending he didn't see that you tried to kiss him.

After rubbing his eyes a few times, he got up.

"Where are you going?" You asked sadly. "It's early, we can stay in a bed a little more. I missed you."

"Sorry." He didn't see you missing him while you were out there in public with your lover. "I have to solve a few things."

"Can we have breakfast together, at least?" You offer.

"Sure." He replied unamused.

---

You were sitting by the table quietly. Quietly for too long. There surely was something wrong, you thought maybe he got bad news yesterday and didn't want to tell you, but you needed to know.

"Are you okay?" You asked carefully.

"Yes." He replied almost automatically.

"Are you sure?"

He didn't even reply or look at you.

"How was your night yesterday?" You insisted.

"I don't know, how was yours?" His smile almost scared you.

"It was normal..." You were so confused. "I finished the interview and..."

"Oh, I know." He kept the weird smile on. "I watched the interview. Well, not all of it, only as far as my stomach could take."

"What?"

"The limit was when you started to get handsy." He finally looked at you. "To be more specific, cause it probably happened in many moments, it was right after he admited you shared your secrets with him."

"Stop." You couldn't believe what he was saying. "I know that host forced us into some awkward situations... But you should know how it is. You're an actor, and everyone always starts to ship you with your movie partner and..."

"The difference is that I don't play their game, like you did last night."

"I wasn't playing a game I..."

"So was it all real?" Tom raised his voice a little, making you unable to reply. "That's what I thought. But deep down, never wanted to believe."

"You're being ridiculous." You felt tears starting to form. "Jake and I are just friends. You know that. You've been around us many times, did you see anything between us?"

"Don't cry, I just..." He didn't say that in a comforting tone, it was an angry tone.

"You don't trust me." You cut him.

There was a long silence after that.

"I have to go." He said after a while.

He stood up and went to the bedroom, but you didn't move. You sat on the chair looking at nothing. At some point, he started to walk around the house looking like an absolute mess. He tried to organize his things, but his head was too far away to thing straight. He just walked in circles, buttoning his shirt up, tucking it inside his pants, looking for a jacket somewhere. Anyone who saw that would think he was on a hurry. But no, the things he had to do would start in about two hours, he was only on a hurry to get out of that house, hoping that being away from you would calm him down.

He walked towards the front door and stopped a few centimeters away from it. He took a deep breath and went back to the kitchen. When you saw him approaching you, you felt a little hope growing inside you. He seemed to be coming in slow motion. He got closer and closer and...

He kissed the top of your head, turned his back to you and left the house.

You were in shock for a moment. But the second you heard his car leaving the garage, you broke down in tears. How could he believe that you were cheating on him? How could he leave with nothing but an emotionless kiss?

That stupid interview. You wanted to sue that channel. You wanted to punch Jake, for real this time, because he played along. But you knew none of that would work... What you really needed to do was prove Tom that he was the only one for you. But how? If he wouldn't even look at you...

---

Tom was sitting alone on a bench. He was right, being away from the situation did make him see clearer. It made him see that he was clearly an idiot.

He was never a possessive person... Of course he was a little jealous of you sometimes, because he was afraid of losing you. But he never imagined one day his jealousy could be the actual guilty of a break up. Did he truly believe in what the media wanted the people to believe? Him, who was also a victim on those kind situations all the time...

He just wanted to throw everything away and run back home. He would apologize and beg you to not leave. But his watch warned him that he had 15 minutes to get in the theater for his play.

It was the hardest decision of his life. He loved his fans, he loved his job... He wouldn't want to risk his career for anything. But with you, it was different.

He got into his car and called the director. Told him he was very sick and couldn't make it. He told him to rearrange today's sessions to any other day, at any other time. The future didn't matter, you would only be part of his if he fixed the mistakes he made in the past.

---

You heard a car stopping in front of your house, but didn't pay attention. Not until you heard the door being unlocked, which made you jump from the sofa and look towards the house's entrance, to find Tom looking more like a mess than he did becore he left.

"Tom?" You said, sitting straight. "Shouldn't you be at..."

"No." He said walking towards you and kneeling in front of couch, so your eyes were on the same height. "There's nothing I should be doing right now other than apologizing. I'm so sorry, my love... Of course I trust you. I just tend to think that all this happiness I found by your side is too much for me... And I can't live without it anymore."

"Tom..." You cupped his face with your hands. "You don't have to worry about that. This is not too much for you, this is what you deserve... I was so angry because the idea of leaving you for anyone else seems ridiculous. You're the only one for me. You'll always be."

He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into a passionate kiss. You always shared what people call "movie kisses", but that one was more than that. It was needy, it meant 'I'm sorry', it meant 'I can't afford to lose you'.

He needed to get you as close as possible, so he pulled you, making you fall on your knees in front of him, but that didn't break your kiss. Nothing in the world would break that kiss. You kept your mouths almost glued to each other's whenever you had to stop to catch a breath.

Your heavy breathing mixed to his was driving you crazy. You needed to be his in every possible way at that moment. He seemed to think the same way, because he naturally helped you to remove his shirt and did the same to yours before you could realize. Pants, underwears, all flying around the room without excitation.

When you were completely naked, Tom sat down and pulled you to sit on his lap, and you could feel his hardness against your belly. Your eyes met and you felt something knew. You didn't find lust or darkness in his eyes, neither of you looked for pleasure more than you looked for belonging to each other.

You lifted your hips so he could place himself at your entrance and, as soon as he did, you lowered your hips slowly, focused on the feeling him stretching you. At first, he kept both hands on your lower back, forcing you to move painfully slowly. But your hearts still beated fast, because of the previous rush. So as soon as Tom was sure it wouldn't hurt you, that you were ready, he removed his hands from your back, which allowed you to go harder and harder, and you started immediatly.

You began to kiss again, like your lips had missed each other for centuries. His hands traveled your entire body, caressing some spots, squeezing others, adding pressure here, barely brushing there...

While your hands never left his tense shoulders, holding to them while your hips found the perfect angle and pace. Suddently, his hands stopped, one of each of your thighs, squeezing them hard enough to leave a mark, and his moans got louder and more frequent.

When he spilled himself inside you, you moaned loudly and came too. Tom let go of your thighs and placed his hands protectively on your back, pulling you to lay on his chest, and you stood like that for a while. On the floor, him still inside you.

"Please..." You almost whispered against his chest. "Don't leave like that ever again."

"I promise." He held you tighter. "As you could see, I didn't last a few hours away from you."

---

Taglist:

@spidey-holland7

@theoneanna

@inlovewith3

@too-cold-for-youhere

@princetale

@drakesfiance

@kcd15

@hiddlestylesbaby

@yzssie

@crescent-night

@thepowerofawkwardcompelsyou

@hiddlesbitch1

@schizophrenicstoryteller

@damyzzzzz

@scorpionchild81

@purplerain85

[thewritingstar]

1-200 we're all in quarantine so got nothing to do. Might as well ask pls

oo anon you were gonna ask anyways lol. But I did this hella quick during a zoom.....

1. What is your middle name?

-Rose

2. Do you have any nicknames that aren’t derived from your actual name?

-Star

2. Do you have any allergies?

-Penicillin (not really thou), but no

4. What is the longest your hair has ever been?

-Lower back

5. How well can you write in cursive?

-Its readable

6. Name one item on your bucket list.

-Going to all the Disney parks in the world

7. Have you ever been on a blind date?

-haven’t even been on a real date

8. What is the oldest piece of clothing you still wear and how old is it?

-prob like five years ago and its jeans

9. How often do you eat out at a fancy restaurant?

-nothing like I have to dress up but maybe once a year??

10. How grammatically correct are you when you text?

-rules don’t apply in text

11. Can you drive stick?

-hell no

12. What foreign country would you most like to visit and why?

-japan because I think it would be so cool

13. Nutella or peanut butter?

-NUTELLA

14. At what age did you have your first kiss?

-...............ahahhahahh

15. DC or Marvel?

-DC. Harley Quinn owns my ass

16. Have you ever hosted a wild party?

-my parties consist of drinking capri suns and playing cards against humanity and Mario kart

17. Name/author of the last book you read cover to cover. Do you recommend it?

-...ooof haven’t read a book in a while

18. How many of your Facebook friends do you actually hang with?

-my mom

19. Have you ever donated blood?

-I was apart of a cancer study so I used to donate my blood (and pee) to science

20. From 1-10, how much do you like decorating for holidays?

-8 I love to decorate but I’m not allow near the Christmas trees

21. Coffee or tea?

-vaniila iced lattes or raspberry ice tea own me

22. What is your go-to Starbucks drink?

-Vanilla bean frap with extra vanilla

23. Last show you binge watched?

-currently its assassination classroom

24. Dogs or cats?

-puppy’s

25. Favorite animated Disney character?

-Jessica Rabbit, Dumbo, Rey, Tamatoa and Guedo

26. Have you ever cooked a big family meal by yourself?

-mostly baking for my family

27. Favorite winter activity?

-Staying inside

28. Have you ever butt dialed anyone?

-probably

29. Can you blow a bubble gum bubble?

-yes

30. How early in the year do you start celebrating Christmas?

-my mom plays Xmas music year round

31. What emoji best describes your life right now?

-the wilting rose

32. Are you fluent in more than one language?

-nope

33. What is the longest you’ve ever kept a New Year’s resolution?

-I don’t make them

34. Have you ever successfully been on a diet? Did you gain any of the weight back?

-I’m on a diet to gain weight and its not going well

35. Are any of your grandparents still alive?

-only on my moms side

36. How good are you at communicating through facial expressions?

-hahaha my face gives everything away and I can read people pretty well

37. Have you ever gotten a commercial jingle stuck in your head?

-EDUCATION CONNECTION! Get connected for free

38. Have you ever left a movie theater before the movie was over?

-Nope

39. Do you consider rapping singing?

-rapping is in its own ballpark...its why its called rapping

40. Does your home have a fireplace?

Yep

41. Favorite non-chocolate candy?

-sour gummies worms

42. If you could have only one superpower, what would you want and why?

-oooof ummmmmm maybe teleportation

43. Have you ever locked your keys in your car?

44. Do you listen to any religious music?

-noooooooooo

45. Do you drink soda? If so, which one is your favorite?

-I hate soda

46. What was your ACT score?

-do not do me like this (21)

47. Rice or quinoa?

-rice

48. From 1-10, how good of a driver do you consider yourself?

-like an 8

49. Do you like horror movies?

-nope

50. How easily do you cry?

-uh depends on what it is

51. Do you have any tattoos? If so, of what and where?

-no but I want some

52. You are hanging with your closest friends. What are you most likely doing?

-being dumb and quoting tik toks at target

53. Can you handle spicy foods? What is your spice limit?

-not very well

54. Can you play any musical instruments? If so, which ones?

-no

55. Are you more introverted or extroverted?

-middle of the road

56. Last CD you bought?

-Folklore by Taylor Swift

57. Do you like roller coasters?

-yessss but they cant be extremely tall

58. What day of the week is laundry day for you?

-uhhh depends on when I have time

59. Have you ever played spin the bottle?

-uh maybe once but I was in fourth grade and walked away

60. How long have you known your best friend?

-I’ve known my bestie for 16 years (met when we were 4)

61. Can you eat using chopsticks?

-yes!! I usually eat my Chinese food with them

62. Do you have any stickers on your laptop computer? If so, what are they of?

-no because I need to get a case for my iMac and iPad

63. How often do you say y'all?

-every fucking day. Y’all is my go too

64. Favorite flavor of ice cream?

-cookie dough, pralines and cream, blue raspberry sherbert, vanilla, coffee

65. How long was your longest relationship? Are you still with that person?

-my longest relationship was like three weeks in fourth grade with my friends cousin who I saw twice

66. Star Trek or Star Wars?

-haven’t seen either but prob Star Wars cause r2d2 is cute

67. How good are you at math?

-ehhh I’m okay at stats

68. Have you ever acted in a play or a musical?

-used to do the plays in middle school :)

69. How often do you read/pay attention to your horoscope?

-not much my horoscope but just my sign in general

70. What is the shortest your hair has ever been?

-just above my shoulders

71. Have you ever broken any bones?

-my big toe

72. Do you like to go fishing?

-nooooooo I went fishing once and it pooped on me

73. Do you believe in evolution?

-of course

74. Favorite costume you wore for Hallowen? How old were you?

-I was perry the platypus…. 19

75. Real or fake Christmas trees?

-fake!!! WHO WANTS TO CLEAN THAT UP???

76. How many pillows do you sleep with?

-usually 1-2 but like 5 in the winter

77. Do you live in an apartment or a house?

-House rn

78. How many of your friends are of the opposite gender?

-in my close circle, one but I do have many boy homies

79. Have you ever had a near-death experience?

-many times

80. How long have you been at your current job?

-four weeks

81. What kind of car do you drive (year, brand, model, color)?

-white car

82. How flexible are you?

-not super but mama can bend

83. Have you ever ended a romantic relationship?

-haven’t even started one

84. Phrase you say the most?

-“I’m uncomfortable” “Y’all” “I would let J.D from heathers…..”

85. Have you ever kissed anyone of the same gender? If so, did you like it?

-no but I wish

86. Do you own any homemade clothing?

-not that I know of

87. Do you like fast food?

-yessss

88. Have you ever given anyone CPR?

-nope

89. Have you ever learned to do anything from a how-to video on YouTube?

-I fixed my moms glasses yesterday with a video so she wouldn’t have to spend a shit ton of money

90. Describe your sense of humor.

-if Always Sunny in Philadelphia and “vine comp that butters my eggroll” had a baby

92. Favorite cereal?

-no

93. Have you ever auditioned for a reality competition show?

-no

94. Have you ever gotten a TV theme song stuck in your head?

-Sugar, spice and everything nice, these were the ingredients…….

95. Do you believe in ghosts?

-indifferent

96. Do you think there is life on other planets?

-hell yeah

97. Have you ever given money to a street performer?

-yep

98. Your deepest fear?

-lets not go there

99. Pancakes or waffles?

-waffles but I don’t even like them that much

100. Are you still friends with anyone from high school?

-yep, my friend circle dates back to elementary

101. From 1-10, how good of a dancer do you consider yourself?

-7

102. How much of a patient person are you?

-I can be extremely patient. Once waited three hours in a dressing room with my friend and I didn’t have a phone

103. Do you know your IQ?

-no but its prob god level

104. Do you eat meat at all?

-mama loves meat

105. Do you own any clothes from a garage sale or a thrift store?

-I think so

106. Have you ever bought anything from a flea market?

-yess my mom used to take me to flea markets all the time

107. Have you ever quit a job?

-early this year

108. Have you ever gotten a song you dislike stuck in your head?

-many times

109. Any movie(s) you can watch over and over and over again and enjoy just as much each time?

-robots to ratatouille

110. Do you or have you ever worn glasses?

-just sun glasses

111. Have you ever skinny dipped?

-when I was like 6

112. Are your birth parents still together?

-yep

113. Have you ever been in the audience for the taping of a TV show?

-not that I know of

114. Favorite type of cookie?

-chocolate chip or the sugar cookies with the pink frosting on them (I’m a whore for them)

115. Have you ever been broken up with?

-nope

116. How often do you smile when getting your picture taken?

-most of the time

117. Have you ever accidentally dialed 911?

-yes I have and I was 6 and bullied for it for years by my uncle even though my cousins tricked me into doing it

118. Oldest memory?

-throwing a chair at a kid in preschool for stealing my cookie

119. Have you ever been the victim of a nasty prank?

-nope

120. How often do you snort when you laugh?

-uhhhh a lot

121. From 1-10, how good of a singer do you consider yourself?

-5

122. Favorite Disney song?

-uuuuuuhhh Shiny, See the Light, Why Don’t you Do Right, Show Yourself

123. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

-hopefully in la

124. What is your Myers-Briggs personality type?

-I’m an advocate

125. Have you ever had a fortune cookie fortune come true?

-I think so

126. Name one thing you wish people would stop posting on social media.

-fascist, racist, homophobia stuff

127. Last musical artist you saw live?

-Jonas brothers

128. Credit cards or cash?

-cash cause I feel like I didn’t spend anything

129. Favorite fandom?

-the powderpuff girls or fairy tail

130. What is your astrological sign?

-Aries

131. Have you ever been fired from a job?

-nope I’m a good noodle

132. Any hidden talents?

-I can do the cinnamon challenge

133. Can you surf?

-nope

134. What motivates you to do well in life?

-the fear of failure

135. Your worst physical feature?

-my acne

136. From 1-10, how much are you like your father?

-mehhhhhhhh like a 4

137. How lucky do you consider yourself?

-I’m a pretty lucky person ngl

138. Name a moment in your life when you were pleasently surprised.

-when I won a coffee maker at my senior grad night raffle

139. Have you ever been summoned for jury duty?

-nope

140. What type of shoes do you wear the most?

-my converse

141. Favorite summer activity?

-getting coffee

142. Favorite song to sing in the shower?

-any Taylor swift song

143. Have you ever lived with a roommate you did not get along with?

-my parents sometimes

144. Have you ever lived on a farm?

-my grandparents owned a cherry farm when I was little

145. Have you ever kept a diary or a journal?

-tumblr is my diary

146. TV show or movie you quote/reference the most?

-Always Sunny, The Office, Gotham

147. How often do you get mad at yourself?

-constantly

148. Have you ever gotten any stitches?

-only in animal crossing (he’s so cute)

149. Have you ever been hunting?

-no

150. Favorite YouTube channel?

-Jenna marbles, try guys, mukbang edit channel, drama channels

151. Have you ever had a pet besides a dog or a cat?

-I had a mouse once

152. From 1-10, how well do you work with others?

-9

153. Are you friends with any of your exes?

-I don’t got exes

154. Apple or PC?

-I have an Apple Mac rn but I think I loved my pc so much so I’m getting used to the format

155. Do you collect anything?

-what don’t I collect? Funko, pins, so much stuff

156. Have you ever seen any Broadway plays or musicals?

-I saw Newsies and A Music chorus

157. Any missed opporunites you wish you had taken?

-I’m not too sure

158. Have you ever uttered a spoken hashtag?

-yes

159. Do you have a pool at your house?

-nope

160. What is the longest you’ve gone without sleep?

-like 24 hours and it was hell

161. Last thing that made you laugh?

-a meme 20 sec ago

162. Disney or Nickelodeon?

-Disney

163. Name one celebrity you wish was still alive.

-Billy Mays (Oxyclean dude)

164. From 1-10, how much are you like your mother?

-maybe a 6

165. Your best physical feature?

-my hair

166. Earbud or earmuff headphones?

-earbud

167. Have you ever wished you were born the opposite gender?

-..hmmmm sometimes I think it would be cool but I’m pretty content with being a girl...

168. Do you have any piercings anywhere besides your ear lobes?

-my nose

169. How often do you wash your hair?

-every other day usually

170. Showers or baths?

-I love a good bath but I take showers more

171. Have you ever been a bridesmaid or a groomsman?

-noooo but I wanna be

172. Bottled or tap water?

-bottle

173. What was your favorite TV show when you were a kid?

POWERPUFF GIRLS

174. Any guilty pleasures you’re willing to discuss?

-watching glee

175. Favorite video game?

-Mario kart

176. Have you ever gotten a New Year’s kiss exactly at midnight?

-nooooo why are there so many questions about kissing

177. How many of the United States have you visited?

-four, ive passed over a few more in a plane

178. Have you ever given money to a homeless person?

-yes

179. Have you ever gotten a surgery?

-no

180. Your least favorite food?

-cheese

181. From 1-10, how competitive are you?

-depends. I’m like a 6 but I can be pushed to a 10 when motivated

182. Do you like wearing hats?

-only a snap back occasionally

183. How much of a jealous peron are you?

-ehh not really

184. What was your SAT score?

-900-1100 (stop nationwide testing doesn’t work and I didn’t learn eveything)

185. Have you ever voted for a reality competition show?

-no

186. Does anyone in your family currently serve in your country’s military?

-my cousin

187. Snowboarding or skiing?

-I don’t do snow

188. What celebrity would you most want to play you in a movie about your life?

-jack black

189. Have you ever been a Boy or Girl Scout?

-hell no

190. Have you ever dyed your hair?

-many times

191. From 1-10, how good of a cook do you consider yourself?

-7

192. You have just opened up a web browser. What is the first site you visit?

-this cursed site

193. How many things can you do with your weaker hand?

-a lot

194. Were you involved in any academic clubs in high school?

-honors i guess

195. Have you ever played hooky from school?

-like twice

196. Are you comfortable with watching rated R movies?

—-not with my parents

197. Do you root for any sports teams?

-bold of you to assume i do sport

198. First thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

-pee

199. If you could take home any one animal from the zoo, which one would you choose?

-a lizard

200. Tell something about yourself most people don’t know.

-uhhh ummmm (I have a tik tok with 7.5k followers) 

[deans-baby-momma]

Rebel Without A Cause-Ch 19

A/N: The NSFW document has been updated to include this chapter.

After the events in Delaware, Maggie went back to work at the newspaper. Jo was still miffed that Maggie was now dating Dean and had practically cut all ties with her co-worker and former friend. 

The rest of the staff were still as warm and welcoming as before though, and so life went back to normal. Well, as normal as it could be when you are exclusively dating an up and coming rockstar. 

Maggie had to get used to media speculations on who the mystery woman was that had tamed the lead singer, seeing as there were no more obnoxious stories coming from the band's late-night shenanigans. TMZ had snapped a picture of her and Dean at the airport but thankfully, her face had been obstructed so it was still a bit of a puzzle for those who didn't know.  

Monday morning came and Maggie arrived at her work cubicle to find a note to report to Mr. Singer's office immediately. She put her bag and personal items in her desk and made her way to the oak door with his name splashed across it. As soon as she knocked, she heard a gruff "Come in" and anxiously turned the knob.

Taking a deep breath, Maggie walked into the editor's office. She knew she had been lax on her last couple of stories, not going into many details about the performance or the production of the shows. She had mostly just written her personal opinion for each piece and went on her way, in favor of submitting something just to get back to Dean. She feared that her lack of effort was going to ultimately cost her the job. 

Mr. Singer's office was what Maggie would call collective chaos. Papers littered every surface of the room, scattered among empty takeout boxes and bottles of water. She didn't know how the man kept any semblance of order, let alone publish the weekly editions of Ft. Garrison News. 

She cleared her throat and spoke to the man behind the equally cluttered desk. "You wanted to see me?"

"Huh?" Mr. Singer grunted then looked up from his computer. "Oh yes. Ms. Fitzgerald. Yes,  we need to discuss a few things.

"I'm sorry, babe. I can't," Maggie expresses through the phone. "I can't afford to lose this job, you know that."

"I know,' Dean responds with a defeated sigh. "Not going to be the same without you,  though. You’re what I look forward to now. My performances are going to suck!" Dean knew he was sounding like a whining kid but it was true, he always seemed to execute better shows knowing she was in the back waiting for him- she was his muse, his dream. But he also knew that her career was just as important so he sucked it up and relented. "Can I at least call you after the shows?"

"I'd be upset if you didn't," Maggie tells him. "No matter how late it is, I expect you to call me and tell me all about it."

"What if I'm in need?" Dean asks playfully, already resigned to the fact that for at least his next two gigs Maggie wouldn't be there. "Can we have phone sex?"

Laughing at the request, Maggie replies. "I'll do one even better. We can Skype sex."

"Woman, you’re going to kill me," Dean wails through the earpiece.

Without looking at the ringing device, Maggie grabs her phone as she logs out for the day and grabs her bag from her desk.

"Maggie Fitzgerald speaking."

"So, Dean says you're stuck with work for the next two shows?" Maggie smiles as she recognizes Rayne voice. 

After the events of that night in Milton, Rayne and Maggie had become best friends, calling and texting each other constantly. The fact that they had become more intimate than usual best friends wasn't even an afterthought. It was as if it were totally normal for friends to eat each other out and fuck their respective boyfriends’ side by side. 

"Yea, well, when the bossman practically tells you to shape up or ship out, you kinda gotta shape up if you want to keep your job."

"That sucks," Rayne says and Maggie can visualize the pout on her friend's face. "I'm not going to have anyone to talk to."

"Oh, I'm sure you can find someone to talk to. Backstage is usually full of eager people," Maggie chuckled. Her amusement died out as a thought came to mind but she shook it off. "You could always chat up Crowley." The smile on her face returned as she heard her friend scoff through the device.

"Yeah right. That man is as entertaining as a hermit crab," Rayne said. "I'm sure we can find plenty of stuff in common."

Maggie and Rayne continued to discuss the reason Maggie was missing the next two shows as Maggie drove home.

That night, Maggie laid in bed. She knew Dean was up on that stage, rocking and singing, dancing, and making all the ladies in the place swoon. Her earlier conversation with Rayne came back to mind; specifically about the eager people who would be backstage to party and celebrate with the band. All the women that would be willing to praise and applaud them, especially Dean. He was the frontman, the one everyone seemed to swoon about. 

Maggie hated to admit it but she was fearful that without her presence, Dean would resume his old persona. The persona where he would pick a woman out of the crowd and enjoy her company, with or without the others. Would he overlook the fact that they were in a relationship in lieu of some random pussy? Would he realize that he was actually missing out on the indulgence of a random fuck? Is he buried deep inside someone who wasn't her at this very moment? Maggie fell asleep waiting for a phone call that may or may not come. 

Maggie's heart broke as she walked into the room to see Dean laying on his back with a blonde bouncing on his cock. His hands were gripping her hips so tight, Maggie was sure the girl would be sporting bruises in the shape of his fingers for days. He had his head thrown back,  eyes closed and his mouth hung open, grunts and groan passing through his pink lips.

"Fuck, Suze! You ride my dick so good," Dean pants out and Maggie can feel the tears swell and overflow her eyes, running down her face. How could he do this to her? How could he just shrug what they had off so easily? Maggie watched as Dean began thrusting up into 'Susie' and her head started ringing. And continued to ring. Squeezing her eyes shut to get the image of her boyfriend screwing some stranger out of her head and to try to stop the ringing, Maggie opened her eyes slowly when there was only the ringing left in her head. No moans and mewls in a feminine voice,  no grunts and groans from Dean; just a constant ringing. 

She was dazed for a moment as she took in the sight of the ceiling tiles above her, her bedroom ceiling tiles. She was in bed crying into her pillow over Dean sleeping with someone else. The ringing stopped only to start again and Maggie realized it was her phone making the sound. It had all been a dream!

Wiping away the tears and clearing her throat, she hoped her voice didn't give away the fact that she'd been crying. "Hey, babe," she answers after seeing Dean's name on the screen.

"Hello, gorgeous," Dean's voice croons through the phone, the smile evident. "Did I wake you?"

"No," Maggie lies. "No, I was just uh, editing my story for the high school theater program I had to cover. How was the concert?"

"Eh, it was okay. I missed seeing you in the crowd. I miss you, baby," Dean says with a sigh of longing. "Can I see you? You up for a Skype call?"

Maggie chewed on her lip at his request. She knew as soon as he saw her face, he'd know she had lied about being awake. He would see that she'd been crying and then she would have to voice her doubts and fears. 

"Um, just let me go to the bathroom real quick and then I'll Skype you, okay?"

"Make it quick, sweetheart," Dean laughs. "There is someone here that's really missing you."

Maggie hangs up and rushes to the bathroom to wash the evidence of her tears off her face, wondering who he could be talking about. Was he with Sam and Rayne? 

Opening her laptop, Maggie sat with her legs crisscrossed on the bed. She opened the Skype app and scrolled down to click on Dean's handle. She watches as the call connects and Dean's handsome face fills the window, a wide smile making itself known. "There's my beautiful girlfriend!"

Maggie blushes, she will never get used to being called beautiful by the sexiest man on the planet. 

"Hi," she answers with an equally wide smile. "So are you alone?" she asks as she takes in his bare shoulders and chest. Why was he shirtless if he was hanging out with his brother and her best friend?

"Yep. All alone," he confirms. "Came straight back to the room after the concert."

"If you're alone, who were you talking about missing me?"

Dean gets a wicked gleam in his eyes and answers, "Little Dean misses you." 

Maggie laughs as she watches him change the viewfinder on the phone to the camera on the back. His arousal is evident under the blanket. His hand comes into view and she gazes at her screen while he palms his erection and wraps a hand around his covered length. "There isn't anything little about him," she states.

Dean comes back on the screen and he has a smirk on his face. He knows he’s well-endowed and he knows what it does to her.

"Baby, I'm so fucking horny," he whines through the computer speakers. "I need a release. Will you help me?"

Maggie pulls her bottom lip into her mouth, biting down on it. "And just how do you suppose I do that?" she teases.

"Show me that pretty little pussy, baby. Let me rub one out while watching you do the same."

Quickly undressing and positioning the computer between her legs, Maggie gets comfortable. "How's that?" she asks, making sure not to glance at the smaller window on her screen; concentrating on the view of Dean's hand rubbing up and down his cock.  

"Fuck, baby. That pussy looks so delicious. Touch your clit.  Rub circles on it, make it throb for me." Maggie grants his request, touching her sensitive button and shivering at the sensation. She could feel her wetness increasing and her walls flutter around nothing. Dean's groans through the speakers bring her attention back to him.

She can tell he lubed up his hand with saliva before beginning to thrust his hips into his hold. Watching him jerk off causes Maggie to need more, to need to be filled so she withdraws from her clit and reaches lower, teasing her entrance with her fingertips. "Goddamn. That is sexy as fuck. Finger yourself, baby. Slide those fingers into that hot pussy, Mags. Get yourself off with your hand."

Maggie pushes her fingers into her body and immediately feels the coil in her abdomen tightening. She begins fucking herself with her fingers at the same pace Dean's hand moves along his hardened dick. 

"Fuck I miss feeling that tight cunt squeezing me," Dean pants out. "Tell me, baby, are you gonna cum? Is that pussy clamping down on your fingers yet?" 

"Uh-huh," is all Maggie can utter. She is so close to an orgasm. It's been a while since she's done this but the sound of Dean's voice and what he is saying brings her to her end quickly.

"Cum with me, Mags," Dean says and she obeys, soaking her fingers and palms as she sees him shoot his load, a gob of his release hitting the screen. "Oops." Dean chuckles. "Will definitely need to clean that off before I use my phone again."

Maggie laughs with him, removing her hand from between her legs and wiping her juices off with a towel.

"Well that was fun, but my god Mags, I miss you so fucking much!" Dean says after they have both cleaned up and are dressed again, enjoying the afterglow of a good orgasm.

"I miss you too, Dean," Maggie admits, feeling the ache deep in her chest. She knew now that she loves and is in love with Dean but prior experiences have her frightened to admit it out loud. Love hadn't worked out for her in the past.

When they both begin to yawn, they decide to hang up and get some rest. As they say their goodbyes,  Dean utters something that sends Maggie reeling. 

"I love you, baby," Dean sleepily declares as he ends the call, leaving Maggie to stare at the now darkened screen. 'Did he?' she thinks. 'Did he just say he loves me?'

Maggie is in the audience of the local community theatre observing the cast as they act out a scene from Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’ when her phone vibrates in her pocket, notifying her that someone had sent her a message. She quickly checks the device to see that Rayne has sent her a video. Knowing she can’t watch it at that time, Maggie slips the phone back into her pocket and continues watching as Tranio and Lucentio discuss how Lucentio can win Elena’s heart before Grumio returns with detailed stories of what happened at the wedding of Kate and Petruchio.

By the time the curtain drops at the end of the 5th and final act, Maggie is anxious to get out of the theatre so that she can see what Rayne had sent her. As soon as she gets into her car and is settled, she pulls her phone out and opens the message. The video begins playing and Maggie sees it is the backstage room that she and Rayne usually hang out in while the guys are on stage. It’s obvious by the lack of people in the room that Rayne is alone. Maggie watches as the camera pans around the room, She sees Meg and Cas in a discussion with a group of people, Benny standing to the side talking to the stage crew. She briefly speculates where Dean is but before that thought can get out of control, Maggie sees Rayne’s pretty face fills the screen. She turns the volume up to hear what her friend is saying.

“...the concert was good. Everyone enjoyed themselves but the after-party is a little quiet.” Rayne laughs and smiles up at who Maggie suspects is Sam. “I’m getting there, honey,” she says and then directs her attention back to the camera. “So I just wanted to let you know. Everything is good and you don’t have to worry about your man because well…” she turns the camera once again and Maggie sees Dean sitting by himself, looking down at his phone. “Let’s just say he’s occupied. And lonely.” Rayne sneaks up behind Dean and Maggie can see what he is looking at. There is a picture of her that he had snapped one day while they were out filling the screen. In the picture, Dean had said something goofy, causing Maggie to laugh and he had taken that opportunity to snap a picture. 

Rayne once again directs the camera toward herself and smiles brightly. “Girl, we all miss you. When are you coming back? Love you!” Rayne blows a kiss at the screen before ending the video.

Maggie feels the tears well up in her eyes, knowing that Dean has apparently changed his philandering ways and instead was staring at her picture is just, so sincere. And after what he had said the last time they talked, it made Maggie’s heart beat faster. He did love her! Maggie decided then and there that she wasn’t missing any more concerts, even if she did have to look for another job. She wanted-needed-to be with her man.

@pink1031​ @spnbaby-67​ @winecatsandpizza​ @joseyrw​ @kricketc29​ @tftumblin​ @markofdean79​ @sandlee44​ @michellethetvaddict​ @lyarr24​ @travelingriversideblues-x​ @deanwanddamons​

[winterisakiller]

Get Better - Chapter Seven

Title: Get Better

Chapter: 7/18

Character: Tom Hiddleston/Cath Richardson (OFC)

Genre: Romance

Rating: Teen and up

Summary: Love. Companionship. Family. These are all of the things Tom Hiddleston desperately wanted. But his life and his choices left that a distant and unlikely prospect. So he did his best to move on and live his life as is. When an opportunity to return to the theater arises, he jumps at the chance and along the way finds that maybe, just maybe, those distant and unlikely prospects are closer than he could have imagined. Sequel to Brave Face.

Authors Notes/Warnings: So as I was writing Brave Face I knew that Tom’s story wasn’t over, even if that particular part of it was. And while I knew, more or less, what the overall ending to the story would be, its taken me a while to figure out the time in between. Thanks to @redfoxwritesstuff for letting me continually throw ideas off and at you. I still can’t fathom why you put up with it, but I am eternally grateful you do. This story will update on Thursdays.

Tag list:@tinchentitri @theheartofpenelope @noplacelikehome77 @blacksuitofdoom @nonsensicalobsessions @messy-insomniac-bookgirl @just-the-hiddles @wolfsmom1 @theoneanna

Previous Chapter

CHAPTER SEVEN

 Cath watched Tom as he jogged out the door towards the staircase, that stupid fucking curl brushing at the back of his neck. No matter what she did (and my god she tried just about everything), that stupid piece of hair refused to lay right. Why it bothered her, Cath couldn’t or wouldn’t let herself think on. It was stupid and she, it seemed, was stupid too.

 “Not interested?” Lorna snorted, “My left foot.”  She burst into laughter at the stern look Cath shot her way. “What? It’s completely obvious to anyone with eyes that the man is taken with you.”

 Letting out a resigned sigh, Cath dropped herself onto the small couch-like chair in the far corner of the room. “Interested or not, it’s not a good idea.”

 “And why ever not?” Lorna crossed the room herself and stood, arms crossed in front of her chest, brows furrowed in exasperation.

 Cath rested her elbows on her knees and turned her face towards Lorna. “We work together for one. And relationships in the work place…Lorn, you know those don’t tend to end well. I like Tom, he is a great guy…”

 Lorna rolled her eyes. “He is a great guy. Like genuinely decent and he is into you the way you are him.” She shot her a knowing look. “Yes, you work together and yeah, it’s not always the best idea, but do you really think the chance of it not working is worth not giving it a go?”

 “It’s not as easy as all that. If he were a normal bloke…”

 “He is a normal bloke,” Lorna cut in, “Albeit one with a slightly less than normal job…” she added with a knowing shrug. “And don’t look at me in the tone of voice, Cath. I know you and I know why you’re hesitating. But he’s not some conceited arse who’s after as much tail as he can get. You and I both have seen enough of that type to know the bloody difference.” She plopped herself down beside Cath, and wrapped an arm around her. “Just give it a go, the worst that could happen is it doesn’t work. And I seriously doubt Tom is the kind of person who would fuck with your career if things went badly.”

 Cath shook her head. “No, he’s probably not. But still…Let me process this whole…” she waved her hands around searching for an appropriate term and, failing to find one, settled on, “thing on my own time.”

 “Fair enough.” Lorna jumped up from the chair and held her hand. Cath took it and allowed her friend to pull her to her feet. “You’re still going to the pub, though.”

 It took all she had not to groan. “I know.”

 Lorna grinned. “Good. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Now get your coat and let’s go.”

 “But the suit…” She cut her eye to the dressing area. Tom’s suit would need to be hung and placed back on the rack. God forbid the damned thing wrinkled. She’d never hear the end of it. 

 “Cath, we are talking about Tom. I bet you twenty quid that man’s hung the suit up neater than you would.”

 The snort Cath let out was far from refined and both women nearly collapsed again in a fit of laughter. “Fine. Fine,” she relented, wiping the corners of her eyes with her fingers. “And I’m not wagering on it.”

 Lorna grinned. “Cause you know you’ll lose. Besides if it’s not, we can just steam it when we come in tomorrow.” She had pulled on her coat as she spoke and thrust Cath’s at her along with her small bag. “Now let’s go.”

 Shrugging into her own coat (a dark green woolen thing she’d found in an Oxfam several years back) Cath grumbled under her breath as she followed Lorna down the stairs and out of the theatre. The crowd outside was far larger than either woman had expected. Hundreds of people lined the side of the theatre, separated from the actors by a small metal barricade. Dozens of others were on the opposite side of the street, phones out and chatting to one another. Tom stood, his strong back towards them, chatting and smiling with the fans that approached.

Cath stood, staring at the mass of people, until a tug on her arm brought her round. She turned her attention back towards Lorna who mouthed a “wow” before tugging her on the arm, leading them down the street away from the theatre and around the corner towards the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus.

                                                        —

 Tom pushed the glass door of The Queens Head open and quickly made his way inside. It was cold out and he was desperate for the warmth he knew the pub would provide. He’d had the car his manager hired drive him a few blocks away from the theatre before he’d ask the driver to stop and had gotten out to walk the remaining short distance towards the pub. And ended up walking a lap or two around the surrounding area watching the later evening crowd wander from place to place, talking and laughing. It was probably not the smartest thing he’d ever done  (Tom could and would admit) but he needed the air and the walk to try to help clear his head.

 He was still jittery from the show and then later the crowd (while he’d known his fanbase to be...dedicated, he hadn’t expected such an influx of people, not when he’d been more or less ‘quiet’ work wise for the last year or so). And if he were being honest with himself, the almost…whatever it was with Cath back in the dressing room. What had he been thinking? Acting that way. Especially towards a colleague. He’d known better for christ’s sake. He hadn’t been thinking, that was the obvious conclusion. Just acting impulsively and had Lorna not popped up when she had…

 “Oy! Tom!”

 His attention snapped to the far corner of the dimly lit room. Charlie stood, glass raised, waving him over to the table he and the others had acquired. Tom laughed to himself, unbuttoning his coat as he made his way through the room towards the waiting group. The pub was full, but not overly so. Not at all surprising giving it was later in the evening on a Tuesday in the West End. A few people took note of him as he passed, but did nothing but whisper at companions or in a few cases stare, and Tom brushed it off.

 “What took you so long, mate?” Charlie handed him a tumbler of whiskey as he settled in the only open seat. Directly next to Cath. Tom didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his luck.

 He rested his elbows on the table top and took a brief sip of his whiskey, enjoying the burn of it as it slid down his throat settling in a tiny warm ball in his stomach. He took a breath and shrugged. “I walked for a bit, needed time to get my head back on straight.” Cath cut her eyes briefly towards him before turning her attention back towards Zawe, falling back into their conversation. There was something in her expression that he hadn’t been able to read. He turned his attention back towards Charlie.

 Charlie nodded, taking a sip of his beer. “Fair enough.”

 The two fell into quiet conversation regarding the show and their respective reactions to the response they’d received; Zawe leaning over to chime in  with her own opinion from time to time as she continued her conversation with Lorna and Cath. They’d received a standing ovation, something that never failed amaze him, though Tom had noted a fair few people sneaking out before official curtain call. Charlie and Zawe confirmed they’d noticed as well and all three touched on the lack of proper theatre etiquette in the general public with chuckles and sighs  of exasperated amusement. 

 “You want another?” Zawe leaned over, picking up Tom’s empty tumbler and reaching for Cath’s equally empty wine glass.

 “Sure,” Tom answered with a nod. He hadn’t realized he’d finished it. 

 Out of the corner of his eye, Tom watched Cath push her chair back and reach to take the glasses from Zawe. “Oh no you don’t. This here is to celebrate your guys’ hard work. Let me treat you.”

 She shot Zawe a pointed look and with a laugh, the taller woman conceded.

 “Fine, Richardson. Far be it me to turn down free drinks. But next round’s on me.”

 Cath merely shook her head and made her way through the room back towards the bar.

 “You stare any harder and your eyes’ll fall right out of your head,” Zawe pointed out, her voice snapping Tom’s attention back to the table. She laughed into her hand, eyes flashing in amusement. Beside her Lorna snorted into her wine glass.

 Charlie shrugged and smirked into his beer. “She has a point.”

 Tom scoffed, eyes darting towards the table before rising and locking on Charlie. “Just how much have you lot had to drink?”

 Zawe snorted, “Not nearly enough to buy what you’re trying to sell there, my good man.” She reached across and patted Tom on the shoulder. “I may not be sober as a judge, but I’ve still got my wits about me and you, good sir, were making eyes at our lovely Catherine.”

 “So what if I was looking at her, she’s a beautiful woman and I tend to notice these things. Doesn’t mean anything more than that.”

 “Me thinks the lady doth protest too much,” Lorna quipped, tipping her glass towards Tom and quirking an eyebrow. He shot her a withering look and she giggled in response.

 “You think you are so funny.”

 “Oh I don’t think, my dear man, I know.” She took another sip of wine. “And speaking of knowing…”

 Whatever Lorna had planned to say was cut off by Cath’s return to the table. She smiled handing Zawe her glass of red wine and placing Tom’s whiskey before him. She sipped her own white wine and settled back into her chair. “So, what did I miss?”

 “Nothing of consequence,” Tom answered, raising the tumbler to his lips and taking a generous sip. Both Lorna and Zawe raised their eyebrows at that but said nothing. “Thank you, for the drink.” He tipped the glass in her direction and smiled.

 Cath nodded, raising her own glass in his direction. “Not a problem.” She took a quick swallow and stared quickly down the table. “Don’t all stop talking on my account, unless you’d like me to get irrationally paranoid?”

 Zawe snorted into her own glass, took a sip, and placed it back onto the table. “Just debating the nature of attraction.” Her eyes cut quickly towards Tom and he fought to school his features into a neutral expression.

 “Yeah, how people tend to downplay things when called out on them,” Lorna added.

 “So Zawe,” Tom cut in, attempting to change the direction the conversation was steadily heading in. “Your book launch, that is next month right?”

 Zawe narrowed her eyes slightly but played along all the same. “Yes it is. The third of April. You’re still coming right? I know Charlie here is going. And Lorna and Cath too.” If that helps cement your interest, her look implied.

 Tom suppressed a groan, taking another sip of his whiskey, and nodded. “Like I would miss supporting my lovely, fictional wife.”

 “Oh honey, I knew you cared,” Zawe cooed back with a laugh.

 He reached across the table and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. “Anything for you, my cuckolding dove.”

 Both dissolved into fits of laughter triggering the rest to quickly follow suit and soon the entire table was enveloped in ruckuses of laughter. It took several minutes and more than a few disapproving glares from other patrons before they were able to calm. The next hour passed in a blur of conversation and laughter.

 Zawe pushed herself to her feet, holding her empty glass up. “Ready for another round ladies and gents?”

 “None for me thanks,” Cath answered with a shake of her head. “Strict two drink limit on work outings for me.”

 “Work outing?” Zawe pouted. “I’m crushed you think this is a work outing.”

 “I thought we were friends,” Tom chimed in. “You bought me coffee. That is like a sacred bond!”

 “That was once,” Cath laughed. “And to be fair you sounded wretched on the phone that day, it was a moment of weakness.”

 Tom tapped his fingers on the table and raised his eyes to hers, widened and glossy with unshed tears, hand resting over his heart. “I am hurt, I tell you. Truly hurt.”

 Cath snorted, “Overdramatic much, Hiddleston? And for that you owe me a coffee.”

 “How about tomorrow before work?” Tom had no idea why he’d blurted it out like that. And from the reactions of everyone else at the table, neither could they. Zawe, Charlie, and Lorna glanced from Tom to Cath and back before glancing at each other and taking sips of their drinks.

 She paused for a moment, uncertainty flashing across her face, and Tom felt his heart pounding in his chest. No reason to be nervous, it’s just bloody coffee. “You think you’re so smooth.”

 Tom leaned towards her and raised an eyebrow. In for a penny, in for a pound. “So that’s a yes then?”

 Amusement sparked in Cath’s eyes. “Why not? I like my lattes with four shots of espresso and extra vanilla.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek briefly. Tom froze. That was certainly not what he’d expected. Behind him, Tom heard Charlie sputter into his beer and then cover the misstep with a suspiciously timed cough.

 “So drinks?” Zawe called, her own laughter barely suppressed. Lorna and Charlie voiced their consent. Zawe jumped to her feet and clapped her hands together. “Alright. Back in a jiff.” She turned and headed off towards the bar.

 “Well that wasn’t strange at all,” Cath chuckled, settling farther into her seat.

 Charlie shrugged and took another sip of his beer. “That’s acting types for you. We’re an odd lot.”

 “Funny, how could I have missed that?”

                                                              —

 Bobby pulled on his lead, heading towards yet another copse of trees. Tom groaned under his breath and let himself be lead into whatever the damned spaniel had in mind. He was therefore unsurprised when Bobby began to bark explosively, sending pigeons scattering in every direction.

 “Absolute menace,” he grumbled. “Absolutely bloody menace.” He pulled on Bobby’s lead, trying urge him back to the path. With great reluctance the spaniel left his frantic prey and trotted alongside Tom as they finished their morning run. The park was nearly empty, the early hour and the cold keeping most Londoners safe in their homes.

 Two streets from home Tom found himself paused before Oak & Leaf Coffee. The siren song of caffeine called to him and he chanced quick glance at Bobby, wondering if the spaniel would behave enough for a quick dash inside. Large brown eyes locked with his and Tom let out a sigh.

 “Tom. Fancy meeting you here.”

 Cath stood by the shop door, dark hair covered in a brightly colored knitted wooly hat, scarf around her neck, ends tucked inside the opening of her green woolen coat. A quiet smile spread her face and Tom felt his heart thumping wildly in his chest. Her eyes darted from his face down to the pavement and he watched the smile grow slowly but infinitely wider.

 It had been just over a week since the bar and save quiet, polite talk in the chair as she did his stage makeup, Tom had done his best to keep his distance. He liked Cath, far more than he’d truly let himself realize, and that had unnerved him. Add that to the way he’d almost…So he’d pulled back, slipping into the calm and polite mask he’d worn so frequently in the last few years. He’d seen the hesitation in her eyes during the first few days which slowly morphed into a quiet acceptance.

 “And who is this handsome fellow?” She bent down, hand outstretched towards Bobby. The spaniel shoved an inquisitive nose into her palm and, upon finding her to his liking, began to lick at her gloved hand. The laughter such action pulled from her did nothing to calm the trip hammer that had become Tom’s heart.

 “His name’s Bobby. And don’t let that face fool you, he’s an unholy terror.” Tom was pleased the comment came out as calmly as it had. His voice sounded even and remarkably together.

 Cath chuckled and stood once more. “Of that I’ve no doubt. Especially given his owner.” She raised her eyebrow at him and Tom huffed in mock anger with only served to make Cath laugh harder.

 Tom sighed and shot Bobby a commiserating look. “Such disrespect.”

 “Only the best for my favorite grumpy actor,” she teased.

 His grinned and raised his own eyebrow. “Your favorite, am I?”

 “Eh, the day is young and I’m fickle.”

 Around them foot traffic was beginning to pick up as more and more people began to brave the cold on their way to work, shopping, and other such tasks which couldn’t be put off indefinitely. Bobby stood, his gaze darting from passing cars and people to his master and the woman who held his attention. He whined slightly and tugged at his lead.

 “Bobby seems to be keen on heading off,” Cath pointed out as she rocked back and forth on her heels.

 “Keen to get into trouble more like. He’s probably spotted a bird or a squirrel and decided it’s his mortal enemy and therefore needs to be vanquished.” He clicked his tongue once and the spaniel reluctantly relaxed. “London won’t fall if one gets away.”

 Bobby looked up, eyes wide, and Cath laughed. “He looks like you’ve just crushed his heart.”

 Tom laughed. “He’s perfected that look since puppyhood. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving in.” He uttered that last words with a meaningful look in Bobby’s direction.

 They slowly fell into silence. Tom adjusted his grip on Bobby’s lead and took a fortifying breath. “Would you like that coffee now? Vanilla latte with four shots and extra vanilla, right?”

 Cath’s eyes widened slightly before she nodded. “That is correct. But if you are in a hurry you don’t need to…”

 Tom shook his head. “No, no. I was just stopped here debating on seeking out a coffee myself and the wisdom of risking leaving this trouble maker tied to a lamp post so I could dash inside.”

 “Well then, I would gladly accept the coffee you promised now. And if you’d like I could stay here and keep an eye on Bobby here while you dash in. I think I can manage to keep him on the straight and narrow.”

Amusement danced in Tom’s eyes and he nodded. “I’ll be back in a moment then.” He turned back towards the glass and wooden door of the coffee shop and pushed it open. His eyes closed in momentary bliss as the warm, rich scent of fresh ground coffee and sweet, buttery pastry enveloped him.

 The shop was small, a few worn but comfy arm chairs lined the windowed front and the side wall of the room, with polished and sturdy wooden tables placed between. Soft light from the various lamps resting on the tables bathed the room in a warm glow. A handful of patrons sat sipping coffee and reading or talking quietly. Behind the glass and metal counter a bright eyed woman stood, her red hair pulled back in a loose bun and a warm smile on her face. “Welcome to Oak & Leaf, what can I get you this morning?”

 Tom offered a warm smile of his own. “Good morning. I’d like a double espresso, two pain au chocolat and a vanilla latte with four shots and extra vanilla to take away.”

 He ran his card through the chip and pin machine and stood to the side of the counter while she fixed the drinks and placed his pastries into a brown paper bag. Armed with caffeine and sweeties, Tom headed quickly back out into the morning chill. Cath and Bobby had laid claim to one of the metal tables near the storefront and both jumped to attention at his return. Tom placed her cup before her, bowing his head slightly. “Your latte, my lady.”

 Cath stifled a giggle. “You are too much, Hiddleston. Too much.” She picked up the cup and inhaled, eyelids fluttering in bliss. “Thank you.”

 “You are more than welcome,” he answered with a smile as he settled in the seat opposite. “And I’ve bought you something else as well.”

 She quirked an eyebrow, leaning across the table as her eyes focused first on the bag and then back on him. “Did you now?”

 Tom grinned and nodded, opening the brown bag and pulling out one of the pastries. He laughed aloud at the way Cath’s eyes widened at the sight of the warm delight and how she reached almost involuntarily for it. Placing it into her hand, he noted she pulled her gloves off at some point, Tom found himself watching as she picked the pastry apart bit by bit, savoring each piece. Absently, he picked at his own between sips of espresso.

 “So,” Cath started, popping the last bite of pastry into her mouth and chasing it with a quick sip of her latte.

 “So,” Tom echoed, passing his cup back and forth between his hands. A disgruntled bark from below them drew both sets of eyes towards the pavement. Bobby looked up at Tom, wide eyed, and whined. Letting out a resigned sigh, Tom looked up at the woman across from him. “I’d better get him home. I’ll see you at the theatre later?”

 Cath bit her lip and nodded. “Definitely.” She reached across the table, taking one of Tom’s hands in her own and squeezing it lightly. “Thank you again.”

 He smiled warmly at her, returning the squeeze. “It was my pleasure.” He pushed himself to his feet, his remaining espresso in one hand and Bobby’s lead firmly in the other. Bobby leapt up as well, pausing to lick at Cath’s offered hand and let her scratch him affectionately behind the ears.

 They took off down the street towards home; Ton fighting the urge to turn back and look at her once more.

Next Chapter

[siren-queen-imagines]

Talking To the Moon: Chapter 4

Summary: REBOOT: Cassidy Fernandez, an omega, finds herself in Beacon Hills and smack dab in the middle of a war between the hunting Argent family and new alpha werewolf Derek Hale. She joins his pack and helps him with his newly turned betas, growing close to Derek and beta Isaac in the process. Will these budding relationships be too distracting as the pack deals with hunters and a monster running around? Takes place during Season 2 (spoilers!).

Masterlist

Previously...

Chapter 4: Abomination

_____________________————————————— 

New day means new lesson. In this case it was a fighting lesson.

Today, Derek set up a couple of obstacles in the way so that his betas could get across them before engaging him in a fight. Since Boyd was still healing from his bite, it was Isaac and Erica’s day.

Boyd watched from the stairs, sitting on the steps with a smile as he watched Isaac make his way through the obstacles before being knocked down immediately by Derek.

“Again.” Derek told Isaac.

Isaac got back up to redo the mini course only to get the same outcome. Over. And over. And over again. Only this last time, Erica jumped from the top of the train car in an effort to surprise him. Derek heard her coming because he dodged her so she fell to the ground next to Isaac. Derek looked down at his betas with disappointment, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Does anyone wanna try not being completely predictable?” Derek said, irritability lacing his tone.

Accepting his challenge, Erica decided to be unpredictable and jumped on Derek, wrapping her legs around him. She kissed him, letting out a small moan as he kissed her back. Cassidy felt a pang of jealousy hit her when that happened. But almost as fast as it happened, Derek got her off him, sending her back to the ground.

“That's the last time you do that.” Derek told her, wiping his mouth before briefly looking to Cassidy.

“Why? Because I'm a beta?” Erica pouted.

“No--” Both Derek and Cassidy said in unison.

“You’re underage! He’s almost 23!” Cassidy scolded her. She was a fine one to talk. She’s 17 and almost kissed Derek the previous night. Derek lightly nodded in agreement as he rolled his eyes.

“Because I have someone else in mind for you.” Derek said after glaring briefly at Cassidy for interrupting him. 

“Are we done? I got about a hundred bones that need a few hours to heal.” Isaac interrupted, wiping the dirt off his hands.

Derek looked down at Isaac with a fake look of concern. Cassidy knew this wasn’t gonna end well. She watched as he squatted down and motioned for his arm.

“Here?” Derek asked before he immediately broke Isaac’s arm causing Boyd, Erica and Cassidy to flinch. “A hundred and one. You think I'm teaching you how to fight? Huh? Look at me!” Isaac looked at Derek pain all over his face as Erica and Boyd watched in fear. “I'm teaching you how to survive!”

Derek let go of Isaac’s arm and stood upright. Isaac sat back up, holding his arm.

“If they wanted us dead why aren't they coming for us now? What are they waiting for?”

“I don't know. But they're planning something. And you, especially, know that's not our only problem. Whatever that thing is that killed Isaac's father, I think it killed someone else last night. Until Cassidy and I find out what it is, you all need to learn everything that we know. As fast as we can teach you.”

Derek went onto the train car leaving Cassidy with the betas. Cassidy sighed and knelt down next to Isaac.

“You mind if I check that?” Cassidy asked Isaac.

“You’re not gonna break it more, are you?” Isaac replied, pain etching his face.

“No.” She offered him a comforting smile. Isaac held out his arm allowing her to feel it out. Biting her bottom lip, she looked back up at him. “I’m gonna have to reset it. It’s gonna hurt.”

“Do it.” Isaac sighed and grit his teeth, preparing himself for the pain.

“On three. Ready? One--” Cassidy counted before quickly resetting his arm back to place as Isaac let out a cry of pain. “Sorry.” Cassidy stood upright and helped Isaac to his feet as Boyd had already helped Erica to hers. “You guys go ahead and take a break. Rest up and I’ll take over in about an hour, okay?”

Cassidy watched as the three betas headed to their ‘rooms’. With a sigh, she walked into the train car where Derek was sitting, deep in thought.

“Don’t you think that was a bit harsh?” Cassidy asked him calmly as she walked over to him.

“They’re not taking it seriously. They don’t get this is a matter of life and death.” Derek vented.

“They understand.” She sat down next to him. “You were a bit too hard on them right now. They all learn at their own paces and yeah, that sucks. But we have to do our best and getting angry all the time won’t help us or make them learn faster.”

Part of Derek hated how calm she was because she was talking some sense. That part wanted her to yell at him for being the way he was. Hell, even if it were for about kissing Erica back.

“Listen, about that thing with Erica--”

“Don’t worry about it. Last night was a heat of the moment thing, right? It’s not like anything happened. “She looked down at her hands. “Plus, what I said about Erica, you know? I’m 17...it wouldn’t be right for us to--”

“Yeah.” Derek agreed, nodding as he followed suit in looking down at his hands. 

“Anyway we should be focusing on the Argents and this thing killing people right now.”

“Speaking of. I think I know where to start.”

____________--------------------------------

Later that night, Erica and Boyd’s jobs were to go to the lacrosse game for a while until Derek can question Stiles about what happened at the car garage he was at when the monster struck. Isaac had to remain out of sight so Cassidy decided to stay with him at the station. She was technically on standby in case Derek needed her help.

So Isaac and Cassidy decided to hang out and watch a movie on Cassidy’s laptop. They decided to go full on movie theater with popcorn and soda in the dark to see it better. The two teenagers decided to watch ‘Dumb and Dumber’ as their second movie of the night.

Laughter filled the room as Lloyd Christmas fantasized about fighting a bunch of guys for the heart of his love interest.

“Could you ever see yourself having as elaborate of a fantasy as this?” Cassidy asked Isaac.

“I mean, kinda but I don’t think it would be this crazy.” Isaac replied with a chuckle.

Cassidy took some popcorn from the bowl and ate it as she glanced over secretly at Isaac. It was nice to see him comfortable, smiling and without a care in the world at the moment. He had a really nice smile and she would like to see it more often.

“You still staring?” Isaac looked over at her, a cocky smirk on his face.

Cassidy coughed, choking on a popcorn kernel in surprise. She took a drink from her soda to stop it.

“I wasn’t staring.” She denied, watching the movie.

“Mm hmm. That’s why I caught you watching me out of the corner of your eye.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m flattered. Really.”

Cassidy made eye contact with Isaac...huge mistake because she found herself lost in his blue eyes. She would be lying if she said she didn’t find him endearing from the moment they met. Maybe this was a sign that she could and should spend more time with him.

“Cassidy!” Erica’s voice called out from the distance.

Cassidy got up and went to where she heard Erica’s voice was coming from, Isaac following her.

“The t-thing, it-it’s got Stiles and Derek trapped at the school.” Erica told her as soon as she laid eyes on the alpha, Boyd helping her stand upright.

“Where at the school?” Cassidy asked her.

“The pool. They’re in the water.”

“Okay. Guys? Will you take care of that?” Cassidy motioned at the blood on the side of Erica’s temple.

“Yeah. I guess we’ll have to discuss this more some other time then, huh?” Isaac asked Cassidy as she grabbed her shoes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She smiled at him before she left.

________--------------------------------------

Cassidy heard the shriek of the creature and followed the sound. It was then she ran into Scott coming out of the principal’s office, startling both teenagers.

“What are you doing here?” Scott asked Cassidy.

“I’m here for Derek and Stiles, what are you doing here?” Cassidy shot back.

“What’s going on with Stiles?”

“They’re trapped in the pool. We have to help them.”

The two werewolves rushed to the pool next to the gym, peeking inside to see the creature walking around the pool, waiting for them to swim to the edge.

“What’s the plan?” Cassidy whispered to Scott.

“One of us can distract the creature while the other gets Stiles and Derek out of the pool.”

“Alright. Here goes nothing.”

Both teenagers shifted and cautiously walked through the door leading to the pool. The creature was hiding it seemed as Stiles swam to get him and Derek to the diving board. Only when they made it, they both began to sink.

Seeing as the creature wasn’t around, both Scott and Cassidy pulled Stiles and Derek out of the pool. 

“Cass.” Scott called as the creature showed itself, slinking out of its hiding place.

Both Scott and Cassidy let out a roar to the creature, who advanced on them quickly. The creature tackled Scott off the diving board but the wolf recovered quickly. Scott and Cassidy stared down the creature, waiting to see if it would make a move. Cassidy went to attack it first but just as the creature flipped her over it, its tail grabbed Scott’s ankle, sending him crashing into a mirror and right next to Cassidy on the ground.

Both Scott and Cassidy got up and fast as they could when Scott saw no other choice but to grab a shard of glass he crashed into to use as a weapon. The creature stood there for a moment, Scott noticing the creature seeing its reflection in the glass he held. The creature advanced forward, bypassing Scott and climbed out of the building through the glass roof.

“What the hell was that?” Cassidy asked Scott as they looked over to Stiles and Derek, who watched on, Derek holding himself up on the diving board.

“I don’t know.” Scott answered as he and Cassidy shifted back.

_______----------------------------------------

“You okay?” Cassidy asked Derek quietly a few feet away from Scott and Stiles, who were on a laptop.

“Yeah. I’m getting feeling back.” Derek replied as he flexed his fingers. “Erica--”

“She got out. She and Boyd are back at the safe house with Isaac.”

“I know what it is.” 

“What is it?”

“Is that even a language?” Stiles asked irritably as he stared at the laptop, interrupting them.

“How are we supposed to figure out what this thing is?” Scott asked, sharing the same sentiment as Stiles.

“It's called a kanima.” Derek said as he and Cassidy walked over to them.

“You knew the whole time.” Stiles guessed irritably.

“No. Only when it was confused by its own reflection.”

“It doesn't know what it is.” Scott stated his thoughts aloud.

“Or who.”

“What else do you know?” Stiles took his turn.

“Just stories. Rumors.”

“But it's like us?” Scott tried to make sense of it.

“A shape shifter, yes, but it's--it's not right. It's like a--”

“An abomination.” Stiles finished for Derek.

Derek nodded at Stiles before he and Cassidy turned to leave.

“Derek?” Scott called out to them, stopping them. “We need to work together on this. Maybe even tell the Argents.”

“You trust them?” Derek hissed.

“Nobody trusts anyone! That's the problem. While we're here, arguing about who's on what side, there's something scarier, stronger and faster than any of us, and it's killing people and we still don't even know anything about it!”

“I know one thing, when I find it? I'm gonna kill it.”

Derek walked away from the teenagers. Cassidy looked over to Scott and Stiles, sheepishly.

“About this kanima, I agree but I don’t know if we could trust the Argents.” Cassidy told them. “Maybe your girlfriend but the rest? I don’t think so.” Cassidy looked in the direction Derek walked off. She pulled out her phone and gave it to Scott. “Maybe we can work together on this. Just don’t expect me or Derek to have anything to do with the Argents. I can’t stop you if that’s what you choose. If we learn anything, I’ll call you.”

Scott decided to take that as it was because he put his phone number into Cassidy’s phone. He gave his phone to Cassidy so she could do the same.

“If anything, right now, we have to trust each other on this one.” Cassidy added. “At least, I’m willing to. Take care guys. See you tomorrow.”

Cassidy gave Scott his phone back and  walked in the direction Derek went. She found him waiting for her, leaning against his car.

“You know we shouldn’t trust the Argents.” Derek told her.

“I know. But I think we should trust Scott.” Cassidy said, stopping in front of her fellow alpha. “If he wants to deal with the Argents, fine, but he knows I’m only willing to work with him.”

“What about me?”

“Of course.”

“And if I ask you to keep something from Scott?”

“I will. We have to trust each other, right? It’s the only way you and I are gonna make this pack leaders thing work. But if I think it’ll be beneficial to the whole ‘investigation’ thing about the kanima, I will make sure you know how I feel about keeping it from him.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Derek offered her a nod as he opened the passenger door of his car for Cassidy. “I have an idea of where to start.”

Cassidy waited until Derek got to his side of the car and got in before she asked her next question, “Where?”

“Remember that bite I told you I gave before Isaac?”

“Yeah? That Jackson kid, right?”

“Yup. We start with him. And until we’re sure it’s him, don’t tell Scott.”

“And how exactly do you plan to be sure?”

“Trust me. I got a plan already.”

[insideoutstory]

Inside Out → Chapter Sixteen

summary: Christine gets an unexpected visitor at work. But this time, with a vastly different outcome. word count: 6.3k warnings: Teen angst, bullying, Jonathan’s pictures, violence, language (slurs used by Tommy and Steve)

[ masterlist ]   [ FF.net ]

When Christine woke up the next day, it was to the sound of her phone ringing on the bedside table. She reached out with an uncoordinated hand, slapping around until she could find it. Her eyes were still closed when she brought it to her ear. 

“Hello?” she greeted groggily. 

“Christine, where the hell are you?” 

Her eyes shot open. She’d been expecting the voice of her father, maybe Dustin or Claudia. But the angry voice of Mr. Vincenti from the movie theater made her blood rush with adrenaline so fast she thought she might vomit. She scrambled to push the covers aside, eyes searching for her clock. 

“Shit, I’m—I am so sorry, Anthony!” 

“You realize it’s Saturday? You know, one of the days you work for me?” 

“I do know!” She was already toppling out of bed. The phone base nearly fell off the table, and she jammed her finger trying to catch it. “Like I said, I am so, so sorry. I overslept and…” 

“You were still sleeping?” 

“No! I mean, I was up and down all night. With the—the funeral! Will’s funeral yesterday, and his best friend is my neighbor so, it was just crazy and I was comforting him all night and I am so, so sorry, but it will not happen again!” 

Her boss sighed heavily on the other end of the phone. Christine was already struggling into her black pants when he spoke. 

“Look, I get it. I try not to be a hardass. This Byers thing has everyone on edge. But that’s why I need you at work. When bad things happen, people want to be distracted. And when you wanna be distracted…” 

“You go to the movies,” Christine finished, straightening her black tank top. “I know, Anthony. I’m sorry.” 

“Stop apologizing and get your butt down here. You’re the most competent teen I’ve got, and I need someone at concessions. If you can make it in twenty minutes, I won’t even cut your pay.” 

“You got it. Butt moving. Bye.” 

Christine threw the phone back onto the base. Her hands finally free, she shrugged on her stiff white button down and slipped into her boots. She grabbed her bowtie off the dresser and ran out of her room. 

Her excuse hadn’t been a total lie. Will’s funeral had been yesterday, and everything had gone crazy. She had been up very late, and woken up several times during the night. But it wasn’t because of Dustin’s crying. It was because she was compulsively checking the house for Eleven. 

She’d gotten up every hour, making some excuse for herself. She would just go get a refill of water and check the kitchen. She would just go to the bathroom and peek out the back door. Once she’d gotten a thrill when she noticed the waffle was gone, but then she’d noticed the paw prints adorning the stoop. It was more likely that the waffle had become a late night snack for Mews. 

As she rushed around her house getting ready, she scanned the rooms once more. She wasn’t very hopeful. Eleven hadn’t come back last night, and she hadn’t come back this morning. She could only hope she’d gone to Mike’s instead. The only other option was the woods, and that didn’t bear thinking about. Sure, Eleven could defend herself with her powers. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t scary. And Christine knew how much Eleven hated being alone. 

When she left for work, she left both doors unlocked. 

With a burst of inhuman speed, Christine made it to The Hawk in fifteen minutes. She’d skipped breakfast and her hair was a wreck, but she’d seen worse mornings. Her hair was yanked back into another lackluster ponytail, and she’d just pop an extra batch of popcorn so she had something to eat. It wasn’t the first time she’d had popcorn and soda for breakfast. With her penchant for running late, it also wouldn’t be the last. 

Anthony had been right about the rush. All the Right Moves had been playing for two weeks already, and somehow their first matinee nearly sold out. Christine was scrambling to catch up with her duties, and hadn’t even gotten the chance to sit before the second showing started. But finally, she’d have a few minutes to herself. 

It would have been smart to work on her homework. But what Christine pulled out of her bag was a portable radio. She set it up on the counter, the volume low so as not to disturb the patrons in the theater. Then she fiddled with the knob until she found a station that was purely static. 

Christine folded her arms on the counter, laying down her head and closing her eyes. She listened intently to the sounds of the static. Maybe if she focused enough, she’d be able to make sense of the blips and buzzing. Maybe she’d find some sign that Will, Barb, and Eleven were okay. She knew she wasn’t Eleven, of course. She didn’t have superpowers. But if she kept the radio on…maybe Eleven could still contact her, wherever she was. 

“This your favorite station?” 

The voice in her ear startled her. She jumped to her feet, and her folding chair screeched against the floor as it skittered back into the popcorn machine. Steve, Tommy, Carol and Nicole all giggled. 

“Steve,” Christine breathed, clutching her chest. “Uh…hey, guys. The—The next showing’s not for another two hours.” 

“So what?” Steve asked with a grin. “Can’t a guy just come and see his lab partner?” 

“Yeah, Christine.” Tommy grabbed the radio and hopped up to sit on the display case. “Party in the lobby, am I right?” 

Christine wrestled the radio out of his hands before he could raise the volume. She almost managed to be thankful for Carol when she tugged Tommy back to the ground. 

 “Get down, asshole. The last thing we need is for your fat ass to break the glass.” 

“I thought you liked my fat ass.” 

“Yeah, well I’m tired of cleaning up after it…” 

“Anyway,” Steve said pointedly, turning back to Christine. “I just wanted to talk to you for a sec.” 

“Okay,” she said warily. “But, I haven’t gotten the chance to start the lab report, Steve. Honestly, you’re probably better off doing it yourself.” 

“What? No, I—not about science. About Nancy.” 

Christine felt a bolt of panic go through her chest. 

“Why? Is she okay? Is she safe?” 

“Yeah,” Steve said, who looked shocked by her palpable fear. “I mean, I think so.” 

“I think she’s doing just fine,” Tommy drawled, wrapping an arm around Carol’s shoulder. 

Christine didn’t miss the amused tone of voice, nor the glare that Steve sent his way. She didn’t have the energy for any more drama this week. But when Steve turned to her again, he looked just as exhausted as she felt. And honestly, really worried. 

“Can we talk in private?” he asked lowly. “Please?” 

“Oh, uh…” She glanced at Tommy, Carol and Nicole, who were lounging all too casually around the lobby. “I’m not really supposed to leave concessions.” 

“Please,” he repeated. “I mean, it’s Hawkins, right? What are they gonna do? Break the glass and steal some Airheads?” 

Part of her was getting ready to tell him just what kind of nasty things could happen in Hawkins, but he laid his hand over hers before she could. 

“Chrissy, I’m begging you. Five minutes.” 

Her resolve crumbled. With a last guarded look at the popular kids, she turned off her radio and slipped it back into her bag. 

“Five minutes,” she agreed. 

She followed him around the corner, down the hall towards the alleyway. It didn’t offer all that much privacy. She could still here Tommy and Carol’s obnoxious voices drifting down to them, but at least they were out of sight. 

“Sorry,” Steve apologized immediately. “They’ve been giving me crap all weekend. I’m just starting to get sick of it.” 

“I get it,” Christine offered, leaning her back on the wall. “No offense, but I think I’ve been sick of Tommy and Carol since the seventh grade.” 

He chuckled at that. Christine wished she couldn’t feel her chest swell with pride. Feelings were stupid as hell. 

“How are you feeling?” he asked finally. 

“Fine.” She watched him run a hand through his hair, and her stomach clenched. She remembered she was supposed to be sick. “Better, I mean. Since the party.” 

“Good. Good, good, yeah…” 

Steve nodded, and looked down at the orange carpet. One hand was tapping his chin speedily. His knee was bouncing too, just like he did before he took a long shot in a basketball game. It was a nervous tick he had. But Christine couldn’t imagine what was making him nervous. 

“Steve?” she prompted. “Four and a half minutes.” 

“Hm? Oh—right, sorry. Uh…I just wanted to ask if…I don’t know. Have—Have you talked to Nancy lately?” 

“Not really,” she sighed. “Not since…what was it? Wednesday night, I guess. When she was blaming me for Barb going missing.” 

“She what?” he asked in surprise. 

“I told you. We got into a big fight about talking to the cops. She wanted to make sure I was coming to school since I was the last person to see Barb. And she thinks I was stupid to fall asleep and leave her alone.” 

“That’s—That’s crazy, though. You know that, right? That’s not your fault.” 

“Yeah, I know,” Christine mumbled. “It’s no one’s fault, it’s just one of those things, bad things happen to good people, all that crap. It still sucks.” 

Steve nodded, and stuck his hands in his pockets. “But you—you haven’t talked to Nance about anything else? You haven’t seen her?” 

“No. Well, I saw her yesterday at the funeral but we didn’t…” 

“She was there?” Steve asked with rapt attention. “Was she there with Jonathan?” 

Christine stared at him. “It was his brother’s funeral. So yeah. Jonathan was there.” 

“No, I meant—like did you see them sitting together? Were they talking?” 

“No? Jonathan was sitting with his parents. You know. Cause it was his brother’s funeral.” Steve nodded shakily, but didn’t look convinced. “Why do you wanna know about Jonathan anyway?” 

Steve let out a dry laugh. Nervous hands wormed out of his pockets and through his hair again. He folded his arms, then rested them on his hips instead. His knee was still bouncing. 

“So…So I go over to the Wheelers’ yesterday, right? After the funeral, just to apologize and to check up on her. I thought maybe I could take her to see this stupid movie again, take her mind off things. But she blew me off. Which—I mean, I get it. Things have been crazy, a kid’s dead, her brother was friends with him. But she seemed really…I don’t know. Off. Nervous, scared. And she was swinging a baseball bat around her garage like some kind of lunatic. She said she’d call me later and…she didn’t.” 

“Steve,” Christine said gently. “I’m sure she was just with Mike. Yesterday was rough for him.” 

“Yeah, but that’s the thing,” said Steve, finally looking up at her. “I went over there to check on her again, and…she wasn’t with Mike. She was with Jonathan.” 

“…wait, what?” 

“Jonathan. Byers. He was in her room.” 

Christine’s brain struggled to create an image matching the description. Jonathan Byers, with his worn out denim jacket and shadowy eyes, standing amidst Nancy’s white wicker furniture and pastel pillows. 

“No way,” she said, actually smiling. “Look, I’m sure if Jonathan was ever at the Wheelers’ it was just to talk. To Mike, maybe. He’s not even friends with Nancy.” 

“They were certainly friends last night. He was sitting on her bed, he had his arms around her and…” 

“Wait, they were kissing?” Christine choked out. 

“No!” Steve shook his head fervently, blinking hard. “I mean—I don’t know. I left pretty quick. But they were together, and so I…I guess I just…has she talked about him at all…?” 

“Definitely not,” she assured him. She was still reeling. “Look, maybe…I don’t know. Maybe he and his mom came over to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. It was the funeral, right? Maybe she was just comforting him.” 

“Right. They looked really comfortable.” 

Christine wanted to argue, but she couldn’t find the words. Had she really missed that much in the week she hadn’t spoken to Nancy? She had never, ever expressed interest in Jonathan Byers. She’d only ever had eyes for Steve. And she’d gotten him. Nancy should be happy, if a little stressed. Unless… 

It was hard to stop her brain from spinning wild stories. What if she’d gotten Steve and already gotten bored? What if she’d gotten Steve, and then realized she didn’t like him as much as she thought she did? What if she’d only taken him because Christine liked him? Barb had been the one to say it was turning into some twisted competition. Maybe Steve had been the prize and Nancy had just wanted to get there first. 

She thought back to their sleepover, and Nancy admitting her schoolyard crush on Peter Jorgins. Christine had been friends with her for years and not known. Was it the same with Jonathan? Had Nancy always been interested in him, but felt too embarrassed to say anything? Or had it just been a spur of the moment connection? Jonathan looking for a distraction from Will’s death, and Nancy willing to help? Was…Was Nancy even capable of something like that? 

Christine’s brain warred with itself. She couldn’t believe it. And she wouldn’t. Not without talking to Nancy. They were supposed to be friends, and despite all the fighting and the bitching and the lashing out, she still cared about her. Saying she cheated on Steve with Jonathan was a huge accusation. It was insane. 

But Steve spoke before Christine could explain any of this. 

“I just can’t believe she’d do something like this. I mean, after everything at my party…” 

Christine flushed. That wasn’t a particularly comfortable conversation to land on. 

“Um…look, I…I’m sure it’s nothing personal. I mean, I know I was asleep, but I’m sure that…you know…whatever you and Nancy did went…fine…” 

Steve blinked at her. It seemed to be a few seconds before he realized what she was talking about, at which point he began spluttering. He even looked like he was blushing. 

“Oh, no! No, I didn’t—that’s not—I mean, it did, but I wouldn’t wanna talk—shit, um—not me! I meant Jonathan!” 

“Jonathan?” Christine repeated slowly. “What about him?” 

“What happened at the party.” 

“He wasn’t at the party.” 

The silence that followed made Christine extremely uneasy. Steve was squinting at her, confused and incredulous. It was making her feel stupid. She racked her brains, trying to remember what had happened Tuesday night in her drunken haze. Jonathan definitely hadn’t been invited. She wasn’t drunk enough to forget that. Had it been before she got there? Had someone said something about him? What could have happened that was making Steve look at her like he had to break the news that someone else had died? 

“Do you seriously not know?” he asked quietly. 

“Know what, Steve?” 

His mouth opened and closed mutely. He ran a hand through his hair, and Christine swore if he did it again she might grab his wrist and break it. 

“I mean, I know you skipped some school, but…shit. You really haven’t talked to Nancy, have you?” 

“About what?” 

“About, uh…okay…I really wish I didn’t have to tell you this. Shit.” 

 “Steve, just spit it out!” 

“Fine!” He looked down at her, conflicted. “Jonathan was at my party that night.” 

“Okay. Well, I didn’t see him.” 

“Of course not. None of us did. He was standing in the damn bushes taking pictures.” 

“He…what?” 

“He had his stupid little camera and he was taking pictures,” he said, talking very quickly now. “Nicole takes photography too, so she went to the dark room last week and bumped into Jonathan. And she didn’t think anything of it, cause he’s in there all the time—you know, cause he has no friends. But then she saw his photos hanging up, and they were all grainy pictures of us around my pool.” 

“Pictures of…? He—He was…?” 

“Being a regular Peeping Tom, yeah. He must’ve gotten there around the same time as you. Honestly, we thought he might’ve followed you or something. Tommy thought that you were in on it, for a while.” 

“That I was what?”

Christine pushed off the wall, taking several angry steps forward. Steve scrambled back, until he was the one with his back to the wall. 

“Woah! Hey! I didn’t say anyone believed him! You know Tommy, he just loves saying stupid shit! And he thought that since you were so pissed at Nancy you might be trying to get back at her. You know, blackmail or whatever.” 

“Blackmail?” She was tired of repeating him, but she couldn’t find her footing in the conversation. “What the fuck are you talking about, Steve?” 

“The pictures,” he explained shakily. “I mean, they show all of us drinking. Which, you know, is illegal. And then there were the really creepy ones of Nancy in the pool, and then…then you know…the ones uh…in my room.” 

Christine clapped a hand over her mouth. This time, she really might vomit. She was sure of it. Of course, she’d been mad at Nancy. She’d been furious. But she would never do something like this. She’d never wish, never even think about something happening like this. Jonathan Byers was a weirdo, sure. But she never thought he’d been capable of this. 

There seemed to be a lot of that going around. 

She wobbled on the spot, and Steve grabbed her shoulder to steady her. 

“Hey, I never believed Tommy, alright? I know you’d never do that to Nancy. I mean, you were in the pictures too, right? You had your whiskey, and then…then you were crying in the living room. And Barb was out on the diving board with her hand…” 

Christine’s head snapped up. “What?” 

“Barbara. Remember when she cut her hand?” 

“No, I know,” Christine snapped. “She was sitting on the diving board?” 

“Uh, yeah. After everyone went upstairs.” 

“I…I don’t remember that.” 

“Oh, well…you weren’t in the picture so, maybe it was after you passed out.” 

Christine’s mind zapped back into motion. Barb had been on the diving board. Jonathan had been there. It had been after she passed out. 

She stared up at Steve in horror. “Did you tell the cops?” 

“What? No.” He shook his head in confusion. “Look, I know he was being a creep, but I took care of it.” 

“Not about Jonathan, about Barb. The pictures.” 

“Christine, I didn’t tell them about anything. I’m in enough trouble as it is cause Nancy blabbed about the beers. I don’t need photo evidence.” 

Her jaw dropped. “I can’t believe you.” 

“You—You can’t believe me?” he repeated incredulously. “What about you? You know, if those pictures went to the cops, you’d be in trouble too!” 

“It doesn’t matter!” 

“Why not?” 

“Because! I’m not the last one who saw Barb alive. Jonathan was.” 

“Christine…” 

But she wasn’t listening. Christine ran back through the lobby and down the opposite hallway. She knocked on the office door and let herself in without waiting for a response. 

“Hey, Anthony, can I use your phone? Thanks.” 

Her boss jumped behind his desk, staring as she leapt for the phone on the desk. “Who’s up front?” 

“No one.” 

“Christine, I’ve told you…!” 

“One call,” she said shortly, already punching in the numbers. 

There wasn’t much he could do as she held the phone up to her ear. It rang and rang, but there was no response. That wasn’t entirely a surprise. No one had been at her house when she’d left, but she was still holding onto far flung hopes. She hung up and dialed again, calling a different number. This time it only rang twice. 

“Hello?” 

“Hi, Claudia! It’s Christine.” 

“Hello, sweetheart! Is everything alright?” 

“Yeah. I’m just looking for Dustin. Is he home?” 

“Oh, no. You know Dusty! Up at the crack of dawn and out on his bike. You could try…?” 

“Okay. Thanks, Claudia.” 

She hung up the phone, and started to dial again. 

“Christine,” Anthony said wearily. “You said one call. It’s been…” 

“Anthony, Will Byers is dead and my best friend has been reported missing. I’m just trying to get some information. Thanks.” 

Anthony sagged back in his seat, and grumpily turned to his expense reports. 

“Hello?” the voice on the phone asked. 

“Hi, Mrs. Wheeler. This is Christine Walcott.” 

“Christine! Thank God. Do you know where Nancy is?” 

“Oh, uh…no? I was calling to look for Mike.” 

“Michael’s not home. In fact, neither of my children are.” 

“Okay. Well thanks, Mrs…” 

“Christine, did you stay over last night?” 

Christine clamped her mouth shut. So Nancy did have someone spending the night. Someone her parents didn’t know about. Someone that definitely wasn’t her, and definitely wasn’t Steve. 

Nancy Wheeler had some gall. 

“Nope,” Christine said with a shrug. “Sorry, Mrs. Wheeler. I was with Dustin. I’m really sorry, but I’m at work, so I’ve got to run. Thanks.” 

She hung up before Mrs. Wheeler could ask any other questions. She plugged in one last number and waited for someone to pick up. 

“Hawkins Police Department. This is Flo speaking. How may I direct your call?” 

“Hi. My name’s Christine Walcott. I’m a friend of Barbara Holland’s, and I spoke to two officers earlier this week?” 

“Their names?” she asked dully. 

“Uh…I can’t remember. The guys who came down to the high school. But I had some more information I wanted to report. I was wondering if I could speak to one of them?” 

“If you would like to file a report, you can come down to the station at your earliest convenience.” 

“I’m not filing a report,” Christine said in annoyance. “I’m offering more information on a missing persons case.” 

“And you can come down to the station to offer it.” 

“I’m at work right now.” 

“Then you can come down to the station at your earliest convenience.” 

“Seriously? Will Byers’ funeral was yesterday, there’s a teenage girl still missing, and Hawkins Police isn’t going to put every available officer on the case? You don’t have anyone that you can send over to take a statement?” 

The woman named Flo sighed heavily. “What is your address?” 

Christine rattled off her information, instructing them to send a cruiser to The Hawk as soon as possible. Then she darted out of the office before Anthony could get to lecturing her again. 

Calling the police hadn’t been an incredibly helpful idea. She knew that the police couldn’t actually find Barbara, not if she was trapped in the Upside Down. But without Eleven, they were her best place to start. If Christine could talk to an officer, she might be able to get more information about the case—what the other kids from the party had reported, whether or not they’d found Barb’s car, if her parents had received any mysterious calls or electrical problems. It might give her a better idea of where Barb was hiding in the other dimension. And while she had the cops around, Christine could report Jonathan Byers for being a class A pervert too. 

Steve and his crew were gone when she got back to the lobby. That wasn’t a surprise so much as it was a relief. If she had to hear Tommy crack a joke about Jonathan spying on them, or Nancy sleeping with him, she probably would’ve gone postal. With some quiet, Christine was free to hop behind the counter and go back to her radio. If ever she needed to reach Eleven, it was now. 

The second matinee showing let out. Christine didn’t pay any attention to the patrons who were lingering in the lobby, or the ones were whispering on the sidewalk. She just darted into the theater and began sweeping as fast as possible. 

It was a mistake she didn’t realize until a few minutes later. 

Christine cleaned the theater, then took care of the bathrooms. Arms full of garbage, she kicked the alley door open before she heard the voices on the other side. She was so focused, she didn’t even realize the hush that fell over the alley as she walked to the dumpster. She didn’t notice anything until she turned around to go back inside and found six sets of eyes staring at her. 

The alleyway was filled with people. Steve, Tommy, Carol and Nicole had clearly decided to hang out here after they’d fled the lobby. A couple empty cups and boxes on the ground confirmed her suspicions that they’d swiped some snacks from the counter while she was too busy to notice. But they’d found other ways to occupy themselves. Tommy held a can of red spray paint at his side, and the wall behind him read, “Byers is a perv.” 

Down at the opposite end of the alley, Nancy was standing with Jonathan Byers at her side. 

“What’s going on?” Christine asked. 

She immediately felt very stupid. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on. 

“Oh you know,” sighed Carol. “Just catching up.” 

“Thanks for the snacks by the way,” Tommy said with a grin. “Hope you don’t mind.” 

“Go to hell, Tommy.” 

“Christine?” Nancy’s voice cracked as she called her name. “You’re…You knew they were…?” 

To Christine’s surprise, Nancy started marching forward, her hands balled into fists at her side. She looked positively livid. Jonathan made a grab for her shoulder, and Steve stepped in front of Christine. 

“Hey, hey, cool it,” he said, holding up a hand. “She didn’t know.” 

“Bullshit,” spat Nancy, as Jonathan pulled her back. 

“Didn’t know about what?” Christine asked. Her defenses were already up, and she laughed humorlessly. “Oh! Are we talking about all the things Christine didn’t know?” 

“Oh shit,” Tommy giggled to Carol. “Here it comes…” 

But Christine was too focused on Nancy to care. 

 “How about that you went looking for Barb, but didn’t tell me? Cause what—you were too busy thinking it was my fault? Or what about the fact that Byers took creepy pictures of all of us? Naked pictures of you?” 

“I wasn’t…” 

“But that’s fine. Don’t tell Christine. And let’s not tell the cops, either. Let’s let everyone think it’s Christine’s fault Barb’s gone, because she was last person to see Barb and she’s so irresponsible for falling asleep! Let’s not tell anyone how Jonathan was trespassing, and stalking us, cause he might get in trouble! And you know what? Maybe I’ll just sleep with him while I’m at it!” 

“That is not what happened. And if you were my friend you’d believe that. You’re supposed to believe me, Christine!” 

“And I thought I did! I really did. Steve told me and I thought, ‘No. No way would Nancy Wheeler do that.’ But then I got off the phone with your mom and…” 

“You called my mother?” 

“Yeah! Cause I was looking for you. Or Mike. Or anyone who might be able to tell me what’s going on, since Christine doesn’t know anything! And your mom asked if I was the one who slept in your room last night. So. What do you have to say to that, Nancy?” 

Gasps and oohs filled the alley as they stared off. Steve had stepped aside, pulled to the wall by Carol who wanted to sit back and watch the show. 

Jonathan made another attempt to grab Nancy’s arm. “Nancy, let’s just go…” 

“No.” Nancy ripped out of his touch, stalking forward as she glowered at Christine. “You’re a real bitch, you know that?” 

“Ha! Maybe I am,” Christine countered, stepped up as well. “But at least I’m sane. And hey, I’m not a stalker. That’s better than I can say for the two of you.” 

“God, you are so self-absorbed! He wasn’t stalking us! He was in the woods looking for his brother!” 

“Yeah, and then he stood in front of Steve’s house for twenty minutes taking pictures of a pool party. Wow, you’re right! He’s a regular investigative journalist! Let’s just give him the Pulitzer now!” 

“You’re just jealous!” Nancy was backpedaling, going back to her cornerstone argument. “You’ve been such a shitty friend all week, and it’s cause you’re so busy wallowing in your own jealousy that you’ve got no idea that there are more important things going on!��� 

“Of course I’m jealous!” 

She was saying too much. Could hear Nicole and Carol gasping while Tommy elbowed Steve in the ribs. But she was too far gone now and there was no way for her logical brain to send a clear message to her mouth. 

“I’ve always been jealous!” she screamed. “Cause you’ve got the perfect nuclear family and the perfect grades and the perfect face! Everyone thinks you’re perfect! And so Steve liked you! And you wanted me to be the perfect friend and support your perfect relationship! But you didn’t give a crap about me, or my feelings, and you treated me like shit! And what’s worse is that now you’re treating Steve like shit! Did you ever even like him? Huh? Or were you just sleeping with him to prove that you could? Cause that’s another thing that you can do and I can’t?”

“Shut up! Of course, I…” 

“Or maybe you were just biding your time til Byers came along, huh? Did you always like him, or does the stalker thing turn you on?” 

“I said shut up!” Nancy screamed. “You have no idea what I’ve been through this week!” 

“Two guys, for one thing.” 

Nancy charged forward, and Jonathan caught her around the middle. She struggled in his arms, prompting a few jeers from Tommy and Carol. Jonathan had to yell to make himself heard over them. 

“Nancy, stop! Stop it! We’re just wasting time!” 

“Oh, this is a waste of time?” Steve had stepped up again, standing between Christine and Nancy as he glared daggers into Jonathan’s face. “No, no, no. You don’t get to say this is a waste of your time. I think you deserve everyone here an apology, man.” 

“An apology?” he repeated incredulously. 

“Yeah. Seems to me like your deviant habits are really putting a strain on some people. I think you should apologize.” 

“Right, my deviant habits,” Jonathan laughed. “None of this happened because you’re an asshole.” 

“Hey,” Tommy barked, hopping down from his perch. “Watch your mouth, faggot.” 

For a moment, it seemed like Jonathan was going to lash back. But with some ungodly amount of self-control, he took Nancy by the arm and started walking to the mouth of the alley. 

Unfortunately, Steve wasn’t done with him yet. He followed them step by step, shoving Jonathan’s back every few words. 

“You know what, Byers? I’m actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer, but I guess you’re just a little screw up like your father. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That house is full of screw ups. You know, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised! A bunch of screw ups in your family!” 

“Jonathan, leave it,” Nancy begged over Steve’s tirade. “Jonathan!” 

“I mean, your mom? Psh! I mean, I’m not even surprised what happened to your brother!” 

“Steve!” Christine yelled. “Stop it!” 

“Jonathan, I said leave it!” 

“I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, but the Byers? Their family is the disgrace to the entire—…!” 

Jonathan’s self-control ran out. 

Steve had fallen into the wall before anyone had seen it coming. Christine screamed, and Nicole had slapped her hands over her mouth. Somehow, Tommy was still puffing on his cigarette with mild interest. There was a deadly moment of silence as Steve clutched his face. Then, he pounced on Jonathan. 

The next seconds passed in a blur. Steve and Jonathan were wrestling, struggling to keep their hands free long enough to punch the other in the face. Nancy and Christine both ran forward. They tried to break the boys apart, but it was hard to get close without getting punched themselves. First Steve was on top, then Jonathan, then Steve again. 

“Get in there!” Carol yelled, shoving Tommy forward. “He’s gonna hurt himself!” 

Tommy stood between them for a grand total of two seconds before Steve pushed him out of the way. “Get out of here! Get out of here.” 

"Fine! Fight over the whore!” 

Christine wasn’t sure when the decision was made. One minute they were all watching Steve and Jonathan. The next, she’d propelled herself between them and was lunging for Tommy’s throat. 

“Christine!” 

Tommy slammed into the wall, his head thunking solidly against the plywood he’d been decorating with slurs. “Ow! Stop! What the fuck…?” 

“Shut up!” Christine screeched, and she rammed her fist into his nose. “Just shut! The fuck! Up!” 

It was impossible to distinguish between the fights. Everyone was screaming or grunting in pain. Nancy had leapt forward to grab Christine, while Carol was trying to restrain her arms without getting scratched. Nicole was ushering Tommy away, helping him cradle his bleeding nose. Christine was kicking and screaming so loudly that hardly anyone was paying attention to Steve and Jonathan rolling on the ground. 

The police car pulled up not long after that. 

“Cops!” Tommy yelled down the alley. “Come on, Carol! Let’s go!” 

“Get back here!” 

It was Christine and the police, all screaming in unison and fury. Nancy held Christine tight while Jonathan was handcuffed, and the other cop chased a heavily beaten Steve and Tommy down the alley. 

“Hey!” The first one bellowed. He grabbed Christine by the shoulders. “Knock it off! You understand me? Knock it off!” 

It was one of the two cops she’d spoken to at the school, Powell. He glared down at her, daring her to keep up the commotion. But with Tommy out of her sight, with the fighting stopped, all of Christine’s energy had drained away. Even anger was too much work. She brought her bruised knuckles to her mouth, eyes watering. 

“Sorry,” she said brokenly. “I just—I’m sorry…” 

“Yeah, everyone’s hella sorry when they get caught,” he said gruffly. “Get in the cruiser. All three of you.” 

“Officer,” Nancy said, one hand still on Christine’s arm. “Do we really need…?” 

“Now!” 

There was no more argument. Powell lugged Jonathan to the car, tossing him into the back seat. Nancy dove after him, trying to get him situated upright while he had no use of his hands. Reluctantly, Christine climbed in beside her. The door slammed shut, and she repressed a jump. 

The car was almost silent. Jonathan and Nancy spoke in dark whispers, asking each other if they were okay, assuring the other they were fine. Christine just glared out the window. There was a lot she didn’t know, but she felt certain she’d feel better if she’d landed a few more punches to Tommy H’s face. 

Powell returned with his partner empty handed. Well, Powell was empty handed. Callahan was cradling his nose where Jonathan had caught him in the face. They didn’t acknowledge the teens in the back seat as they climbed into the car, and they barely acknowledged each other as they pulled out of the alley. As they turned onto the main road, Christine glanced up at the front of The Hawk. 

It looked like Tommy had certainly been busy while she was talking to Steve. Though how he’d accomplished it, she wasn’t sure. The front marquee was covered in the same red spray paint. It now read, “All the Right Moves: Starring Nancy ‘The Slut’ Wheeler.” 

Christine’s heart sank. At least she had the rest of the drive to think about how royally she’d fucked up.

[honey-bri-books]

Afraid of the Dark: SamCasDean

Un-related to any specific point in the series, but presumed to have happened after Cas and Dean have known each other a considerable length of time. SPN/Destiel fan fic. Fluff.

Characters created by Eric Kripke.

****

The Winchesters pull up in the Impala, just outside of an abandoned theater, which is now run-down and barely standing up in its decrepit state. Both Dean and Sam get out of the car and look up at the marquis, skeptically. Several letters are randomly stuck in a corner making up a mesh of black curves and criss-crosses, but just off-center and spelled out by the locals as a lame prank for the non-existent business owners read the “Movie Title” Are You Afraid of the Dark without the question mark, at the end. Dean makes a face.

DEAN: Didn’t know there was a movie that actually made it to the theater. I thought they just did a TV special thing...I remember seeing a commercial for it. You would’ve loved it, Sammy. Clowns and everything!

SAM: I don’t think they ever released a movie or that it played here, Dean. Probably some kids just joking around. Would’ve been smarter if they had thought to put up a warning that the place is haunted.

DEAN: And that the only way out is in a body bag, if you’re dumb enough to go inside...

SAM: Let’s be hopeful. No one’s reported any bodies turning up.

DEAN: Not yet, you mean.

Sam and Dean had been bombarded with messages that morning from other hunters and friends who were “in-the-know” that several disappearances had taken place within the past few months, since the closing of a local theater building, which had struggled to bring in an audience. The owners had just packed up and left, not leaving a note for anyone interested in taking up the building and re-vamping the theater for themselves. No one had even bothered to schedule a demolition of the premises, to open up a new mall or grocery store or apartment complex. It was left to collect dust and debris and according to recent rumors, kids from the local high-school and community college.

Amy, a friend of the Winchesters from a previous case, had claimed she was out for a run when she saw a few kids sneaking in, one of them wearing his boyfriend’s letter-head jacket. She wasn’t in the mood to go in after them and just continued on home, forgetting about them until noticing an article with their pictures highlighted. It read with the heading LOST in giant letters heading the article, and said they hadn’t shown up to school for several days, and that two of them were honor students and very reliable and responsible people. Amy had remembered that it was so cold outside when she was by the theater that she could see her own breath. Combined with so many cases being reported of missing people, all teenagers or young adults, Amy got a gut feeling and called Dean just as Sam was looking up the same story on his laptop. 

Now, Dean and Sam open up the trunk of the impala and start to fill their guns with rock salt. Sam picks up a third. The most popular theory among the remaining hunters in the district, was that anyone who entered the building died and that their spirits remained to haunt the building, in the form of ghosts.

SAM: Do you think Cas will need one? 

DEAN: I think he keeps one in the truck. Load that one anyway, just in case. Castiel arrives right at that moment, pulling up next to the impala. He gets out of the driver’s side and moves towards the Winchesters, wielding his own weapon, as Dean predicted. Thanks for coming. Usually, you’re too busy to even answer your phone. Castiel starts to protest but Dean slams the trunk down, nearly knocking Sam in the head, and cutting Castiel off.

SAM: Hey!! Careful! Then shaking his head, Please don’t tell me you two are still....

CASTIEL: [Tartly] Have either of you been inside of the building, yet? He sounds defeated and uncaring. He looks at Sam, a bit desperately. Sam just sighs, still upset from the night Castiel left the bunker. He had been in his room trying to read when he heard Dean yelling from the kitchen..

******

DEAN: Never mind about me, it’s YOU who we should be worrying about right now. Why can’t you ever look after yourself, for once!?!? For all of his concern, Sam didn't like the way Dean attempted to get through to Cas about his grace failing him, again. They had come back from a hunt that morning, Dean bleeding and battered, and Dean refused Castiel’s help. He argued that his injuries were minor, and would ignore Cas or walk away to avoid Castiel having to use his powers in order to heal him. Both he and Sam were afraid that if Castiel used them unnecessarily, that it would only be a matter of time before he lay dying before them both.

Their concern was well-founded. But finally, Castiel had had enough. Sam was walking down the hall with an armful of books, when Cas stormed past him and went up to Dean’s bedroom door. Sam didn’t have time to react when Castiel crashed into Dean’s room and crawled on top of him, on his bed. Sam ran to the door to see Dean struggling (pathetically) while Castiel put a hand to Dean’s forehead. With visible effort and strain, Castiel eyes began to glow, and light seemed to fill the room, as Castiel succeeded in healing Dean of his injuries...before passing out on top of him. When Castiel finally woke up, Dean let out a huge sigh of relief. He asked Castiel if he was alright...and then gave him the silent treatment for a week, before finally confronting him in the kitchen. 

DEAN: It’s like you don’t even care if you die right in front of me. What were you thinking?!?! What kind of a person could ever do that to someone he cared about?! How would you feel if I cut myself up and bled to death, in order to save you?! Would you want that for me?! Dean had been on the verge of tears. Sam could hear his voice getting hoarse..

CASTIEL: [weakly] Dean, please....I didn’t have a choice...

DEAN: One day you’re gonna have to make a choice, and it’s gonna be the right one, next time. You should have let me die! In fact...you know what....I’m finally done! You don’t wanna give a damn about yourself, then  that means I don’t have to either. 

CASTIEL: I’m sorry. I wish...Dean, I couldn’t stand to see you hurt like that and not be able to do anything. I wouldn’t ever ...It...I’m not...I...

DEAN: Whatever, just get out. All the time I’ve wasted, wondering if you’re gonna get yourself killed...There’s only so much I can take. You feel like helping out with a case or two, I’ll give you a call, but until then...Good luck to you!

The next morning Sam had gone into Castiel’s room hoping to mediate the situation, but by that time, Castiel was gone. 

******

Now, Sam could recognize the same tension between his brother and his friend as they faced each other for the first time in several weeks. Castiel appeared as if he were struggling to just stay standing. Dean can’t help but show concern on his face, looking Cas up and down.

SAM: Cas, are you sure you’re up to this? Are you, I mean...are you getting any better? Dean presses his lips together, not trusting himself to say anything. Castiel still avoids Dean’s gaze and tries to hide the fact that he’s swaying slightly.

CASTIEL: I’m fine. What do you need me to do?

Sam and Dean look at each other, and then they all look at the theater together. Castiel takes a step forward. He furrows his brows and tilts his head slightly.

CASTIEL: Dean, there are people in there.. Sam and Dean look at each other, confused. 

DEAN: What do you mean? All of their last fight forgotten, Dean now feels hopeful. The missing teens had never been declared dead. They could still be alive...Castiel shakes his head.

CASTIEL: I’m not sure, but.... I sense we’re not the only living ones in the vicinity. That we’re not alone.. Without saying anything else, Castiel heads towards the theater. Sam and Dean follow after him and they all enter the building together. 

Once inside the lobby, the three are enveloped in darkness, save for a glimmer of light coming from the front doors. The three decide to split up and each take a different level of the theater to explore.

*****

Sam finds himself in the basement. He can hear something leaking nearby and hopes to himself that it’s only water. With the little light from his flash light, Sam feels along the walls as he stumbles down the basement stairs. There are extra theater seats and old show posters underneath an old tarp. He thinks he’s alone when he hears someone sneeze behind him. Sam jumps and turns around to see eight different sets of eyes staring back at him. The missing teens are wearing the outfits they disappeared in, now dirty and torn, and with dirt and sweat covering their faces. Some hide behind their friends, not knowing who Sam is. Though pale and hollow-eyed Sam breathes a sigh of relief...They’re alive! 

SAM: Hey! It’s okay, I’m here to help...Some of the kids start to relax, and then one of them starts to scream. Sam turns around to see an old man with a gun aimed at him. The girl who screamed starts crying and before Sam can even blink, a woman appears from behind the group of kids and grabs the girl by the hair, dragging her back against her with one hand, a butcher knife in the other....

*****

Castiel made his way down the aisle of the theater and to the stage. He had to use a flashlight now, since he had weakened considerably over the past several months. 

Sam and Dean had expressed their concern for his failing grace on many occasions, and Castiel had always lied by saying he was ignorant of the cause. The truth was that an angel’s grace could be manipulated in its strength from Heaven’s Headquarters.

Awhile ago, a group of angels had threatened Castiel, ordering him to stop aiding the Winchesters and to ignore their calls for help. When Castiel refused, they had warned Castiel that his life was on the line and he would eventually drain of his grace and then finally die, if he didn’t change his ways. Castiel had of course ignored the threats, continuing to work and then live with the Winchesters at the bunker, before Dean ordered him to leave...

As Castiel crawls up onto the stage he struggles to make out the wings and the backdrop depicting a forest scene for whatever production last closed at the theater. There is a star drop, as well. Castiel doesn’t notice anything unusual. Just a lot of left over props and lights piled up back stage and old programs, covered in dust. He moves backstage and sees a door that must lead to the dressing rooms. Upon opening it, he finds himself in a darkened hallway. After walking down it for a few minutes Castiel stops. What was that noise? His flashlight had stopped working, so he left it back on the stage. He can’t see anything, but he knows he heard someone curse to his left. Suddenly, there is a sharp noise, like a door is slamming shut. Whatever made the sound, it was close. Without seeing it, Castiel turns and reaches out until he makes contact with a door handle.

Not thinking of the consequences, Castiel turns the handle and enters into the room. A pair of hands lock onto his arms and pulls him inside the room, slamming him against the wall. Castiel drops his gun...

******

Dean directs his flash light back and forth, unimpressed with the lack of bodies, the lack of clues, the lack of anything in this nothing hallway. Just a lot of dust and dark. There are several closed doors, but all of them have been locked up to now. Dean trudges on to the end of the hallway, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to try the last door, and is surprised when it actually opens for him. Yeah right, he thinks. Dean walks inside, out of habit, not really expecting anything interesting....

DEAN: What the hell? The closet is full of weapons. Dean at first thinks that they are props used for the theater, but then gets closer and realizes it’s all real. Guns, machetes, pitch forks, a hatchet, and even rat poison! He sets down his own gun full of rock salt and reaches towards one of the machetes when his light flickers out. Dean curses and backs into the door, slamming it shut and dropping his flash light. He fumbles around on the ground looking for it.. I can’t see anything, it’s so damn dark! 

All of a sudden, the door opens. Someone is directly behind Dean, standing above him. Dean reacts quickly, springing to his feet and turning to grab the dark figure by his arms, pulling him into the closet and slamming him against the wall. The person’s breathing is heavy and Dean realizes that he’s pressing himself up against his assailant, who struggles for a moment before stilling, his breath catching in his throat.

Then Dean realizes that he’s not threatened by his attacker, that he doesn't feel as if he’s in danger. The body in front of him is familiar, and...Dean leans his head forward against the other’s and the person pressed against the wall submits, pushing back slightly. Dean’s breathing becomes heavy as his grip tightens on Castiel who tilts his head back, so that Dean can feel the stubble on his chin brush against his lips. 

Dean is afraid to say anything. He doesn’t know what he’s thinking, right now. He lowers his mouth onto Castiel’s neck and traces kisses along it. When Castiel lets out a soft cry, Dean takes his face in his hands and kisses him roughly on the mouth. Castiel brings his hands up to Dean’s face and presses his body against him, as the lights to the closet and the hallway turn on. Neither hear Sam calling out to them from the hallway, or notice the sudden burst of light, at first...Their eyes are closed, and their lips are desperate for each other... Sam finds them in a closet full of weapons, in each other’s arms, crumpled in a heap on floor. Dean covering Castiel with kisses as Cas whimpers out “Sorry,..I’m...sorry...:”

*****

The old theater owners, Dale and Margaret Blanche, sit cuffed in the back seat of a police car. Once Old Lady Blanche had attempted to silence the crying girl, Dale had lowered his gun, letting his guard down and thinking they were in control. Sam kicked upwards into Dale’s nuts and retrieved his gun when he dropped it, howling in pain. Margaret had been distracted and another of the teen captives leapt at her ankle, biting as hard as he could. Margaret screamed and let the girl and the butcher knife go. 

The other kids leapt into action and helped Sam to overcome and defeat the couple of criminals, weak as they were from being denied adequate food and sleeping quarters. By Sam’s orders, they helped find rope. Some helped in tying their captors up and dragging them both upstairs. Sam gave one of the hostages his cell phone to call the police, while he looked for a way to turn on the lights. Apparently, there was nothing wrong with the lights or the electicity, though they had been turned off since the theater’s closing. When Sam tried turning them all on, he had little to no problem. Apparently, the town had cared so little about the theater at that point, that no one had bothered to cut off electricity through to the building. The Blanches had just not wanted to let on that anyone was living there, and kept them off at all times. 

When the theater closed, all had assumed that the couple had left the place for dead, but in fact they had both stayed hidden in the old theater, and lived off of killing cats, rats and all of the above, determined to stay. A nearby pond, spare candles, and other necessities had done the couple fine for resources...until local kids had spread a rumor that the building was haunted and had set off in pairs and groups to explore the place. 

Finally, the couple decided to get back at everyone for ignoring their establishment in the first place, by kidnapping and torturing anyone who trespassed, taking away the town’s children in revenge for running their business to the ground. They had stored a closet full of weapons to use as a means to torture their victims and kept rat poison to permanently silence the ones who made too much of a racket.

Now, the surviving kids were split up among sobbing parents, paramedics and police officers, in front of the theater. One boy pulled Sam aside to thank him, for reminding them all of how capable they had always been in getting themselves out of their captors hands, and waking them from their stupor. He said he felt it had been in him to stand up for himself all the while, he just needed to see that if could be done and Sam making the first move is what made it happen. 

******

Dean and Castiel sat on a nearby bench, watching the rescue take place. They hadn't said a word (and neither had Sam, thankfully) about what happened back in the closet, all night, though many hours had passed since then. Dean’s face is an unfeeling mask, and Cas is almost afraid to breath. Nothing had to be said to determine Castiel was going back to the bunker that night. Dean would ask Sam to drive Castiel’s truck while Cas rode shot gun to Dean in the impala. 

Dean had wondered what he’d do when he saw Cas again, after their fight. He’d wondered if Castiel could forgive him for being such an asshole to him when they finally confronted each other in the kitchen. He worried that Castiel was much weaker than he’d let on earlier, and thought he knew for certain that things weren’t getting any better for the angel. And now...everything was so much worse than Dean could have ever imagined. 

The darkness had acted as a veil, had tricked Dean into thinking they were safe, that they were completely alone, and maybe they could both feel happiness, pleasure, for just a moment..but something told him that somehow they had failed each other, back in that closet. To have opened his eyes and seen Castiel, trembling underneath him, surrounded by deadly weapons and blinding, accusing light, to see the tears in Castiel’s eyes... If the lights had stayed off until after they’d let go of each other, Dean wouldn’t have had to see it end...It wasn’t meant to last longer than a moment, but somehow...

CASTIEL: [Sadly] Are you afraid of the Dark.. Dean shakes his head from his thoughts, and looks at Castiel, worried. Castiel is looking up at the theater marquis, not really caring about it, but feeling one of them needed to say something to break the ice. Dean has never seen Castiel look so weak as he did at this moment. He fixes the expression on his face, trying to seem nonchalant.

DEAN: You know, there’s a movie I’ve been trying to get Sammy to watch with me. One of those new revivals. This one, I think, it’s from an old Nickelodeon program or whatever. Funny, right? Castiel nods. It hurts Dean to look at Cas when he’s this weak, this afraid. He’s in so much pain. What can I do to take it away? How can I save him? 

A tear escapes from Castiel’s eye and Dean’s heart breaks in two. They were never going to talk about it. And Dean knew Castiel would never let him touch him like that, ever again. Dean wants nothing more than to take Castiel into his arms, and to hold him underneath the stars, to just be close to him in the dark..but instead he puts both hands in his pockets and waits for the police to leave, waits for Sam to signal that they should be heading home. Castiel has his hands deep in the pockets of his trench coat. He leans into the back of the bench and turns his head away from Dean, knowing he can’t hold back his tears any longer. 

CASTIEL: Dean..forgive me. I keep hurting you. I can’t stop.. He shuts his eyes, ashamed. Back in the theater, I couldn’t help myself, I couldn’t...stop....I.... Biting his lip, Castiel can’t continue.

Dean knows that if he doesn’t get up and walk away, that his lips would find their way to Castiel’s again. He knew that the next time he put his hands on Castiel that he would never let go. 

DEAN: I’ll wait in the car. When you’re ready, join me, and we’ll head on home. Sam is going to drive the truck. Then after a moment.. Don’t think that I’m ever letting you go after tonight. And don’t you dare think about using your powers again, until Sam and I can figure out what’s wrong. I won’t hear of it. I’ll trap you in a ring of holy oil before I let you go and get yourself killed. Hate me for the rest of my life. I don’t care. And don’t take too long, I’m beat... Dean ignores the small cry coming from Castiel and stands up, hesitating for a moment, before heading determinedly back towards the impala. Castiel covers his face with his hands, the darkness enveloping him like a never-ending nightmare...

The End...

[bluehhj]

listen to me — chapter 20

LISTEN TO ME  — 0020

listen to me masterlist;

WORDS: 2.5K

As they waited in the queue, Jinah repeated to herself that she didn't have to be afraid, for all that was fake blood, special effects and costumed people. There was nothing to fear, it was just a movie like any other.

Jisung, who was standing next to Choi, would choke out a laugh every now and then while looking at her out of the corner of his eye. Although he had seen more than three times, he had chosen the movie "The Nun" to make sure that Jinah had never been interested in even looking at the trailers, and the queue for that session wasn't so long and so they would've to be in the midst of so many people inside the movie theater, since neither of them liked crowded places.

"You know you don't have to go, do you?" Han asked as they advanced a little further toward the entrance. As much as he wanted to see her false pose of brave collapse like a house of cards, he didn't want her to be traumatized. "We can change and see a romance."

"I don't want to." Jinah smiled nervously. "This movie isn't scary, I don't know why you're so worried."

Jisung laughed and raised his eyebrows quickly, "All right, you're the one who knows."

When they handed in the tickets and entered the dark room, Jinah swallowed hard to note that besides her and Jisung, only about ten people were there, most of them concentrating on the front seats. Her intention was to have something to distract herself with, whether it was a child chewing popcorn or a couple kissing, but apparently she'd have to keep full attention in the movie until it finished and twisted to avoid suffering a panic attack during the mission.

Jisung chose a pair of seats from the next to last to sit down and Choi tried to see the bright side of the situation. At least if she was reasonably close to the door, she might run somewhere else if things started to run out of control — and out of control she meant witnessing some evil manifestation off the screen or something. The straw of the soda glass was stuck between her lips during the entire sequence of unnecessary trailers and advertisements, and Jinah even considered the possibility of actually watching that movie as a normal person, but then the following words came out before her eyes: "Based On Real Facts".

"Fuck, Jisung!" she complained, taking care not to speak as loudly as she wanted. "Why didn't you tell me that this shit really happened?"

"You said you weren't afraid."

"I-I..." Jinah thought for a moment and fell silent, regaining her composure. "I'm not afraid, I just don't like leaving my house uninformed," she lied.

Jisung laughed again, amused by all that, and murmured a "relax" before looking at the screen. The movie had just begun.

                                           ♡˖°

It was as if Jinah was a balloon about to burst with every new fright.

No matter how many times she looked at the clock, the minutes just didn't seem to go away. Her heart was so fast that she felt like an old woman with a tachycardia; her eyes didn't stop quietly anywhere and her nervous system was being extremely tested by Han, who laughed at her face every five minutes.

"I can also watch a horror movie, she said," Jisung mocked. "I wonder where that brave girl has gone now."

And even as she was about to ask for help, Jinah still wanted to support her fearless image: "I'm still fine, if you want to know."

"It's not what it looks like." Jisung put his hand on the girl's damp palm. "You're sweating, you're so nervous."

Choi would certainly say some tattered excuse, such as blaming the nonexistent heat, but, before she could open her mouth, the fucking idiot Nun reappeared just to put an end to the little self-control she still had and her first involuntary reaction was to squeal a little and squeezing Jisung's hand against hers, entwining their fingers without even realizing it, and then bringing close to her heart.

"I don't want anymore!" she whimpered.

The boy smiled and, even in the partial darkness, stopped to watch the girl's face as he felt the beating of her heart. It was undeniable the fact that he had found her beautiful from the first moment he laid eyes on hers, but he didn't always admire her details so closely. Jinah was sweet and sour in the right dose. Sometimes it sounded a bit childish, but it was captivating. Beautiful eyebrows, beautiful eyes, flawless smile, rosy lips; Jisung couldn't deny even to himself: she was beautiful at his sight.

"Why did you want to come, being so afraid of this kind of movie?" he asked without taking his eyes off Jinah's almost terrified face. Part of him wanted to hold her.

"'Cause I wanted to go out with you again" there was this detail: Choi didn't hide things when she got nervous.

"But we could go out anyway, you silly girl." Jisung got up and pulled the girl to do the same. "C’mon, let's eat something."

Jinah didn't protest and followed the boy out of the room. The funniest thing was that they were walking hand in hand around the mall as if they were a couple and only noticed it halfway to their chosen diner, which resulted in a minimally embarrassed Jisung and a half-annoyed Jinah cause she had lost the touch. After facing the queue of requests — Choi recovering from the trauma of the movie and Han teasing her —, they sat at a table by the window.

"How's the internship?" Jinah changed the subject, since she didn't want to talk about the events of minutes ago after having sworn that she'd never see another horror movie in her life. "I know it's only been three days, but do you feel well already?"

"Yes, it's interesting." Jisung took a sip of soda while his eyes searched the place to see if there was anyone he knew. "The only problem is that, sometimes, the people are too noisy."

"At least you're not in Changbin's place, who's going to start his next Monday. Imagine just having to put up with an entire classroom full of hyperactive kids." Jinah grimaced in disgust. She envied her friend's patience to deal with that sort of thing. "At the very least, I think I'd have a stroke."

"Does he really want to be a teacher?" Jisung frowned. "He'll scare the kids with his homicidal face."

"Of course not, Changbin's a baby inside."

"I don't know... This week even he was completely angry there in the store, just missing breaking everything."

"It must be because Jade and him were going through some problems, but now they're well again" Jinah glorified the heavens for that. It was horrible when the two of them weren't well, because a tense atmosphere settled in the apartment and everything seemed out of place. “The infamous jealousy."

Jisung shook his head in brief agreement and there was a pause in the conversation as they ate their sandwiches. Added to the topic of jealousy, it was a perfect loophole for him to begin to travel in his own thoughts and to bring up subjects he didn't want to revive, but which were always there, marking presence inside his head. Jinah soon noticed the boy's rapid change of mood.

"Are you thinking of her?" she asked cautiously and Jisung sighed. Han felt as if he could never be with Jinah without the shadow of Chaerin appearing between them as a barrier. He didn't want to ruin the night with his problems, but Choi was willing to listen to them, because, in her conception as a psychologist, you can't overcome anything by trying to choke it.

"No" Jisung lied and forced a slight smile. "It's just bullshit in my head."

"It's okay, you don't have to lie to me. You were like this after I told you about jealousy."

"We had a few crises," and before he could stop the words, Han was already venting. It wasn't his fault that talking to Jinah was so comfortable. "Or rather, I had a few crises..." another sigh. "Before I didn't realize it, but, looking better now, we haven't been well for a long time. It was a hard way to reach the last point."

"Can I ask how it happened? I mean, you say Chaerin ran away with another guy, but I wanted to get it right" Jinah knew she was stepping on eggshells by asking all those questions, but just kept insisting on them because the boy, however, didn't show any hesitation at the time of answering them.

"She had left home early that day" was the first time Jisung had spoken openly about it. He remembered hiding many details when he reported what had happened to Yoorim and Hyunjin. Not because he didn't trust his friends, but because he didn't feel comfortable enough. "I called and always fell in the mail box. She didn't even respond to the messages. She just came back at night, when I was already thinking that something serious had happened, she apologized before going to the room and packing" Jisung even would cry, but when it came to his ex-fiancée, his tears were already dry. "I asked what was going on, but she held the cry and didn't answer. Something told me it was a cry of guilt." rolled his eyes. "She left and I couldn't do anything. When I looked out the window I saw Seungmin's car and it was clear."

"So, you already suspected she might be having something with Seungmin before that happens?"

"Maybe" Jisung bit his lower lip for a moment. Even though it was complicated, he felt good talking about all those things that had been trapped in his throat for so long. "I had read some messages and noticed strange things, but it was always 'my head's thing'" he made quotations with his fingers, repeating what he heard so much from Chaerin's mouth whenever he asked about it. "But I can't feel as much anger at Seungmin as I wanted, after all, if Chaerin hadn't paid attention to him, we'd be fine now. It makes no sense to blame only the affair, because who really owed me respect didn't."

Jinah nodded, approving Jisung's way of thinking, so she wouldn't have the trouble to make him understand that part.

"When the two left," Han continued his account of the worst night of his life. "I felt the whole world fall on my back. It was difficult to clean up the mess of glass shards I made in the room, and, before I could ruin the whole kitchen too, I remembered the call center number. I meant to talk to Sorn, I think you know her." Jinah nodded again, smiling slightly as she remembered the Thai. "She had helped me a lot in the last few days, but it was you who answered this time. And by the way, the service wasn't one of the best," he joked, although he was telling the truth.

"I confess I felt a little bad for not having the standard treatment with you," Jinah admitted. "But I only started to act normally after I was sure you wouldn't do anything you could regret, otherwise I wouldn't have said so much bullshit. We would've extended the conversation if you hadn't turned it off."

"You threw it in my face that at least you hadn't been kicked by your fiancé, you wanted what?"

"But you did stress me first!" Jinah defended herself, patting the table as she remembered that Jisung had also thrown unnecessary things into her face. "I didn't return because I thought you wanted to be a little alone, or maybe you'd call again to talk to some other attendant, but, anyway, the idea of looking for you in college was already firmly in my head."

"I actually thought about calling again to talk to someone else, but your voice..." Jisung pressed his lips together as if he had no weapons to deal with. "It managed to calm me even by saying idiots."

"I realized you liked it" Jinah smiled. "So much that you must've wasted a good few minutes looking for my branch in the early morning."

"Just a few" Jisung smiled too. "Still, I thought you didn't care."

"You thought wrong. And I do care until today, you know that."

"Thank you, JinJin." Choi used all her willpower not to freak out when she heard Han call her that way without being drunk. "I don't even know how to thank you for all this."

"You could thank me by moving on," Jinah murmured, hesitantly for the first time. No one could blame her for looking at Jisung and feeling an overwhelming desire to kiss him, but not being able to do so, after all, the boy was still trapped in his old relationship. It wasn't as if she expected the love he felt for Chaerin to disappear overnight, but she believed he had to at least try, and Jinah was so willing to help him overcome all those bad things... "I know it's hard, but it's been almost a month. Life has to go on, don't you think?"

"With moving on," Jisung put his elbows on the table. "do you mean to get a good mood or open my heart to let other people in? Because, if it's the first choice, I think I'm already doing it."

"The two options sort of complete."

"I don't know, Jinah." Jisung ran a hand through his hair absently. Choi almost died without air. Why did he do that to her poor heart? "I don't want to be with someone while I love someone else, and it's not like I have too many suitors."

Jinah blushed, so much that it was impossible to hide from the boy.

"Wait..." Jisung's eyes widened. "Don't you-..."

"No! Of course not!" the girl had tried to fix it, but her face only turned redder. "Aish, don't start to misinterpret things!"

It wasn't the first time that Jinah had given him signals that shouldn't be given to mere friends, but Han always took it as a joke. However, since the small meeting at the home of Hyunjin and Yoorim, when Choi quietly asked for a kiss, a set of internal doubts struck Jisung. If Woojin was there, he'd probably tell him to stop being dumb and grab the opportunity, but, in his head, it wasn't as easy as it seemed.

"Sorry" he disguised as if he really had misunderstood and believed in the girl's acting. "Would you like some ice cream?"

He didn't even have to ask twice.

And as he looked at Jinah without her realizing it, Jisung wished, with all his heart, that he might correspond to her correctly someday.

[winterisakillerwrites]

Get Better - Chapter Seven

Title: Get Better

Chapter: 7/18

Character: Tom Hiddleston/Cath Richardson (OFC)

Genre: Romance

Rating: Teen and up

Summary: Love. Companionship. Family. These are all of the things Tom Hiddleston desperately wanted. But his life and his choices left that a distant and unlikely prospect. So he did his best to move on and live his life as is. When an opportunity to return to the theater arises, he jumps at the chance and along the way finds that maybe, just maybe, those distant and unlikely prospects are closer than he could have imagined. Sequel to Brave Face.

Authors Notes/Warnings: So as I was writing Brave Face I knew that Tom’s story wasn’t over, even if that particular part of it was. And while I knew, more or less, what the overall ending to the story would be, its taken me a while to figure out the time in between. Thanks to @redfoxwritesstuff for letting me continually throw ideas off and at you. I still can’t fathom why you put up with it, but I am eternally grateful you do.

Previous

CHAPTER SEVEN

Cath watched Tom as he jogged out the door towards the staircase, that stupid fucking curl brushing at the back of his neck. No matter what she did (and my god she tried just about everything), that stupid piece of hair refused to lay right. Why it bothered her, Cath couldn’t or wouldn’t let herself think on. It was stupid and she, it seemed, was stupid too.

“Not interested?” Lorna snorted, “My left foot.”  She burst into laughter at the stern look Cath shot her way. “What? It’s completely obvious to anyone with eyes that the man is taken with you.”

Letting out a resigned sigh, Cath dropped herself onto the small couch-like chair in the far corner of the room. “Interested or not, it’s not a good idea.”

“And why ever not?” Lorna crossed the room herself and stood, arms crossed in front of her chest, brows furrowed in exasperation.

Cath rested her elbows on her knees and turned her face towards Lorna. “We work together for one. And relationships in the work place…Lorn, you know those don’t tend to end well. I like Tom, he is a great guy…”

Lorna rolled her eyes. “He is a great guy. Like genuinely decent and he is into you the way you are him.” She shot her a knowing look. “Yes, you work together and yeah, it’s not always the best idea, but do you really think the chance of it not working is worth not giving it a go?”

“It’s not as easy as all that. If he were a normal bloke…”

“He is a normal bloke,” Lorna cut in, “Albeit one with a slightly less than normal job…” she added with a knowing shrug. “And don’t look at me in the tone of voice, Cath. I know you and I know why you’re hesitating. But he’s not some conceited arse who’s after as much tail as he can get. You and I both have seen enough of that type to know the bloody difference.” She plopped herself down beside Cath, and wrapped an arm around her. “Just give it a go, the worst that could happen is it doesn’t work. And I seriously doubt Tom is the kind of person who would fuck with your career if things went badly.”

Cath shook her head. “No, he’s probably not. But still…Let me process this whole…” she waved her hands around searching for an appropriate term and, failing to find one, settled on, “thing on my own time.”

“Fair enough.” Lorna jumped up from the chair and held her hand. Cath took it and allowed her friend to pull her to her feet. “You’re still going to the pub, though.”

It took all she had not to groan. “I know.”

Lorna grinned. “Good. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Now get your coat and let’s go.”

“But the suit…” She cut her eye to the dressing area. Tom’s suit would need to be hung and placed back on the rack. God forbid the damned thing wrinkled. She’d never hear the end of it.

“Cath, we are talking about Tom. I bet you twenty quid that man’s hung the suit up neater than you would.”

The snort Cath let out was far from refined and both women nearly collapsed again in a fit of laughter. “Fine. Fine,” she relented, wiping the corners of her eyes with her fingers. “And I’m not wagering on it.”

Lorna grinned. “Cause you know you’ll lose. Besides if it’s not, we can just steam it when we come in tomorrow.” She had pulled on her coat as she spoke and thrust Cath’s at her along with her small bag. “Now let’s go.”

Shrugging into her own coat (a dark green woolen thing she’d found in an Oxfam several years back) Cath grumbled under her breath as she followed Lorna down the stairs and out of the theatre. The crowd outside was far larger than either woman had expected. Hundreds of people lined the side of the theatre, separated from the actors by a small metal barricade. Dozens of others were on the opposite side of the street, phones out and chatting to one another. Tom stood, his strong back towards them, chatting and smiling with the fans that approached.

Cath stood, staring at the mass of people, until a tug on her arm brought her round. She turned her attention back towards Lorna who mouthed a “wow” before tugging her on the arm, leading them down the street away from the theatre and around the corner towards the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus.

                                                      —

Tom pushed the glass door of The Queens Head open and quickly made his way inside. It was cold out and he was desperate for the warmth he knew the pub would provide. He’d had the car his manager hired drive him a few blocks away from the theatre before he’d ask the driver to stop and had gotten out to walk the remaining short distance towards the pub. And ended up walking a lap or two around the surrounding area watching the later evening crowd wander from place to place, talking and laughing. It was probably not the smartest thing he’d ever done  (Tom could and would admit) but he needed the air and the walk to try to help clear his head.

He was still jittery from the show and then later the crowd (while he’d known his fanbase to be…dedicated, he hadn’t expected such an influx of people, not when he’d been more or less ‘quiet’ work wise for the last year or so). And if he were being honest with himself, the almost…whatever it was with Cath back in the dressing room. What had he been thinking? Acting that way. Especially towards a colleague. He’d known better for christ’s sake. He hadn’t been thinking, that was the obvious conclusion. Just acting impulsively and had Lorna not popped up when she had…

“Oy! Tom!”

His attention snapped to the far corner of the dimly lit room. Charlie stood, glass raised, waving him over to the table he and the others had acquired. Tom laughed to himself, unbuttoning his coat as he made his way through the room towards the waiting group. The pub was full, but not overly so. Not at all surprising giving it was later in the evening on a Tuesday in the West End. A few people took note of him as he passed, but did nothing but whisper at companions or in a few cases stare, and Tom brushed it off.

“What took you so long, mate?” Charlie handed him a tumbler of whiskey as he settled in the only open seat. Directly next to Cath. Tom didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his luck.

He rested his elbows on the table top and took a brief sip of his whiskey, enjoying the burn of it as it slid down his throat settling in a tiny warm ball in his stomach. He took a breath and shrugged. “I walked for a bit, needed time to get my head back on straight.” Cath cut her eyes briefly towards him before turning her attention back towards Zawe, falling back into their conversation. There was something in her expression that he hadn’t been able to read. He turned his attention back towards Charlie.

Charlie nodded, taking a sip of his beer. “Fair enough.”

The two fell into quiet conversation regarding the show and their respective reactions to the response they’d received; Zawe leaning over to chime in  with her own opinion from time to time as she continued her conversation with Lorna and Cath. They’d received a standing ovation, something that never failed amaze him, though Tom had noted a fair few people sneaking out before official curtain call. Charlie and Zawe confirmed they’d noticed as well and all three touched on the lack of proper theatre etiquette in the general public with chuckles and sighs  of exasperated amusement.

“You want another?” Zawe leaned over, picking up Tom’s empty tumbler and reaching for Cath’s equally empty wine glass.

“Sure,” Tom answered with a nod. He hadn’t realized he’d finished it.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tom watched Cath push her chair back and reach to take the glasses from Zawe. “Oh no you don’t. This here is to celebrate your guys’ hard work. Let me treat you.”

She shot Zawe a pointed look and with a laugh, the taller woman conceded.

“Fine, Richardson. Far be it me to turn down free drinks. But next round’s on me.”

Cath merely shook her head and made her way through the room back towards the bar.

“You stare any harder and your eyes’ll fall right out of your head,” Zawe pointed out, her voice snapping Tom’s attention back to the table. She laughed into her hand, eyes flashing in amusement. Beside her Lorna snorted into her wine glass.

Charlie shrugged and smirked into his beer. “She has a point.”

Tom scoffed, eyes darting towards the table before rising and locking on Charlie. “Just how much have you lot had to drink?”

Zawe snorted, “Not nearly enough to buy what you’re trying to sell there, my good man.” She reached across and patted Tom on the shoulder. “I may not be sober as a judge, but I’ve still got my wits about me and you, good sir, were making eyes at our lovely Catherine.”

“So what if I was looking at her, she’s a beautiful woman and I tend to notice these things. Doesn’t mean anything more than that.”

“Me thinks the lady doth protest too much,” Lorna quipped, tipping her glass towards Tom and quirking an eyebrow. He shot her a withering look and she giggled in response.

“You think you are so funny.”

“Oh I don’t think, my dear man, I know.” She took another sip of wine. “And speaking of knowing…”

Whatever Lorna had planned to say was cut off by Cath’s return to the table. She smiled handing Zawe her glass of red wine and placing Tom’s whiskey before him. She sipped her own white wine and settled back into her chair. “So, what did I miss?”

“Nothing of consequence,” Tom answered, raising the tumbler to his lips and taking a generous sip. Both Lorna and Zawe raised their eyebrows at that but said nothing. “Thank you, for the drink.” He tipped the glass in her direction and smiled.

Cath nodded, raising her own glass in his direction. “Not a problem.” She took a quick swallow and stared quickly down the table. “Don’t all stop talking on my account, unless you’d like me to get irrationally paranoid?”

Zawe snorted into her own glass, took a sip, and placed it back onto the table. “Just debating the nature of attraction.” Her eyes cut quickly towards Tom and he fought to school his features into a neutral expression.

“Yeah, how people tend to downplay things when called out on them,” Lorna added.

“So Zawe,” Tom cut in, attempting to change the direction the conversation was steadily heading in. “Your book launch, that is next month right?”

Zawe narrowed her eyes slightly but played along all the same. “Yes it is. The third of April. You’re still coming right? I know Charlie here is going. And Lorna and Cath too.” If that helps cement your interest, her look implied.

Tom suppressed a groan, taking another sip of his whiskey, and nodded. “Like I would miss supporting my lovely, fictional wife.”

“Oh honey, I knew you cared,” Zawe cooed back with a laugh.

He reached across the table and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. “Anything for you, my cuckolding dove.”

Both dissolved into fits of laughter triggering the rest to quickly follow suit and soon the entire table was enveloped in ruckuses of laughter. It took several minutes and more than a few disapproving glares from other patrons before they were able to calm. The next hour passed in a blur of conversation and laughter.

Zawe pushed herself to her feet, holding her empty glass up. “Ready for another round ladies and gents?”

“None for me thanks,” Cath answered with a shake of her head. “Strict two drink limit on work outings for me.”

“Work outing?” Zawe pouted. “I’m crushed you think this is a work outing.”

“I thought we were friends,” Tom chimed in. “You bought me coffee. That is like a sacred bond!”

“That was once,” Cath laughed. “And to be fair you sounded wretched on the phone that day, it was a moment of weakness.”

Tom tapped his fingers on the table and raised his eyes to hers, widened and glossy with unshed tears, hand resting over his heart. “I am hurt, I tell you. Truly hurt.”

Cath snorted, “Overdramatic much, Hiddleston? And for that you owe me a coffee.”

“How about tomorrow before work?” Tom had no idea why he’d blurted it out like that. And from the reactions of everyone else at the table, neither could they. Zawe, Charlie, and Lorna glanced from Tom to Cath and back before glancing at each other and taking sips of their drinks.

She paused for a moment, uncertainty flashing across her face, and Tom felt his heart pounding in his chest. No reason to be nervous, it’s just bloody coffee. “You think you’re so smooth.”

Tom leaned towards her and raised an eyebrow. In for a penny, in for a pound. “So that’s a yes then?”

Amusement sparked in Cath’s eyes. “Why not? I like my lattes with four shots of espresso and extra vanilla.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek briefly. Tom froze. That was certainly not what he’d expected. Behind him, Tom heard Charlie sputter into his beer and then cover the misstep with a suspiciously timed cough.

“So drinks?” Zawe called, her own laughter barely suppressed. Lorna and Charlie voiced their consent. Zawe jumped to her feet and clapped her hands together. “Alright. Back in a jiff.” She turned and headed off towards the bar.

“Well that wasn’t strange at all,” Cath chuckled, settling farther into her seat.

Charlie shrugged and took another sip of his beer. “That’s acting types for you. We’re an odd lot.”

“Funny, how could I have missed that?”

                                                            —

Bobby pulled on his lead, heading towards yet another copse of trees. Tom groaned under his breath and let himself be lead into whatever the damned spaniel had in mind. He was therefore unsurprised when Bobby began to bark explosively, sending pigeons scattering in every direction.

“Absolute menace,” he grumbled. “Absolutely bloody menace.” He pulled on Bobby’s lead, trying urge him back to the path. With great reluctance the spaniel left his frantic prey and trotted alongside Tom as they finished their morning run. The park was nearly empty, the early hour and the cold keeping most Londoners safe in their homes.

Two streets from home Tom found himself paused before Oak & Leaf Coffee. The siren song of caffeine called to him and he chanced quick glance at Bobby, wondering if the spaniel would behave enough for a quick dash inside. Large brown eyes locked with his and Tom let out a sigh.

“Tom. Fancy meeting you here.”

Cath stood by the shop door, dark hair covered in a brightly colored knitted wooly hat, scarf around her neck, ends tucked inside the opening of her green woolen coat. A quiet smile spread her face and Tom felt his heart thumping wildly in his chest. Her eyes darted from his face down to the pavement and he watched the smile grow slowly but infinitely wider.

It had been just over a week since the bar and save quiet, polite talk in the chair as she did his stage makeup, Tom had done his best to keep his distance. He liked Cath, far more than he’d truly let himself realize, and that had unnerved him. Add that to the way he’d almost…So he’d pulled back, slipping into the calm and polite mask he’d worn so frequently in the last few years. He’d seen the hesitation in her eyes during the first few days which slowly morphed into a quiet acceptance.

“And who is this handsome fellow?” She bent down, hand outstretched towards Bobby. The spaniel shoved an inquisitive nose into her palm and, upon finding her to his liking, began to lick at her gloved hand. The laughter such action pulled from her did nothing to calm the trip hammer that had become Tom’s heart.

“His name’s Bobby. And don’t let that face fool you, he’s an unholy terror.” Tom was pleased the comment came out as calmly as it had. His voice sounded even and remarkably together.

Cath chuckled and stood once more. “Of that I’ve no doubt. Especially given his owner.” She raised her eyebrow at him and Tom huffed in mock anger with only served to make Cath laugh harder.

Tom sighed and shot Bobby a commiserating look. “Such disrespect.”

“Only the best for my favorite grumpy actor,” she teased.

His grinned and raised his own eyebrow. “Your favorite, am I?”

“Eh, the day is young and I’m fickle.”

Around them foot traffic was beginning to pick up as more and more people began to brave the cold on their way to work, shopping, and other such tasks which couldn’t be put off indefinitely. Bobby stood, his gaze darting from passing cars and people to his master and the woman who held his attention. He whined slightly and tugged at his lead.

“Bobby seems to be keen on heading off,” Cath pointed out as she rocked back and forth on her heels.

“Keen to get into trouble more like. He’s probably spotted a bird or a squirrel and decided it’s his mortal enemy and therefore needs to be vanquished.” He clicked his tongue once and the spaniel reluctantly relaxed. “London won’t fall if one gets away.”

Bobby looked up, eyes wide, and Cath laughed. “He looks like you’ve just crushed his heart.”

Tom laughed. “He’s perfected that look since puppyhood. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving in.” He uttered that last words with a meaningful look in Bobby’s direction.

They slowly fell into silence. Tom adjusted his grip on Bobby’s lead and took a fortifying breath. “Would you like that coffee now? Vanilla latte with four shots and extra vanilla, right?”

Cath’s eyes widened slightly before she nodded. “That is correct. But if you are in a hurry you don’t need to…”

Tom shook his head. “No, no. I was just stopped here debating on seeking out a coffee myself and the wisdom of risking leaving this trouble maker tied to a lamp post so I could dash inside.”

“Well then, I would gladly accept the coffee you promised now. And if you’d like I could stay here and keep an eye on Bobby here while you dash in. I think I can manage to keep him on the straight and narrow.”

Amusement danced in Tom’s eyes and he nodded. “I’ll be back in a moment then.” He turned back towards the glass and wooden door of the coffee shop and pushed it open. His eyes closed in momentary bliss as the warm, rich scent of fresh ground coffee and sweet, buttery pastry enveloped him.

The shop was small, a few worn but comfy arm chairs lined the windowed front and the side wall of the room, with polished and sturdy wooden tables placed between. Soft light from the various lamps resting on the tables bathed the room in a warm glow. A handful of patrons sat sipping coffee and reading or talking quietly. Behind the glass and metal counter a bright eyed woman stood, her red hair pulled back in a loose bun and a warm smile on her face. “Welcome to Oak & Leaf, what can I get you this morning?”

Tom offered a warm smile of his own. “Good morning. I’d like a double espresso, two pain au chocolat and a vanilla latte with four shots and extra vanilla to take away.”

He ran his card through the chip and pin machine and stood to the side of the counter while she fixed the drinks and placed his pastries into a brown paper bag. Armed with caffeine and sweeties, Tom headed quickly back out into the morning chill. Cath and Bobby had laid claim to one of the metal tables near the storefront and both jumped to attention at his return. Tom placed her cup before her, bowing his head slightly. “Your latte, my lady.”

Cath stifled a giggle. “You are too much, Hiddleston. Too much.” She picked up the cup and inhaled, eyelids fluttering in bliss. “Thank you.”

“You are more than welcome,” he answered with a smile as he settled in the seat opposite. “And I’ve bought you something else as well.”

She quirked an eyebrow, leaning across the table as her eyes focused first on the bag and then back on him. “Did you now?”

Tom grinned and nodded, opening the brown bag and pulling out one of the pastries. He laughed aloud at the way Cath’s eyes widened at the sight of the warm delight and how she reached almost involuntarily for it. Placing it into her hand, he noted she pulled her gloves off at some point, Tom found himself watching as she picked the pastry apart bit by bit, savoring each piece. Absently, he picked at his own between sips of espresso.

“So,” Cath started, popping the last bite of pastry into her mouth and chasing it with a quick sip of her latte.

“So,” Tom echoed, passing his cup back and forth between his hands. A disgruntled bark from below them drew both sets of eyes towards the pavement. Bobby looked up at Tom, wide eyed, and whined. Letting out a resigned sigh, Tom looked up at the woman across from him. “I’d better get him home. I’ll see you at the theatre later?”

Cath bit her lip and nodded. “Definitely.” She reached across the table, taking one of Tom’s hands in her own and squeezing it lightly. “Thank you again.”

He smiled warmly at her, returning the squeeze. “It was my pleasure.” He pushed himself to his feet, his remaining espresso in one hand and Bobby’s lead firmly in the other. Bobby leapt up as well, pausing to lick at Cath’s offered hand and let her scratch him affectionately behind the ears.

They took off down the street towards home; Ton fighting the urge to turn back and look at her once more.

Next