#ALSO NEED TO BREATHE AND NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT THE LAST THREE EPISODES

[stormyoceans]

my head hurts from crying for the past twenty minutes but it's not because of pain. i don't think i will ever be coherent enough to properly explain my feelings but to me this scene wasn't heartbreaking. it was hope and love in their purest form. hope because day's life doesn't end when his eyesight is gone: day is no longer angry because he has learned that he can still experience the world and live a happy life and find meaning in both. love because mork, who could no more save his sister's life than stop day from losing his sight, is being held in the hands of the man he loves and being told 'someone like you is enough': enough to be day's last twilight, last picture, last love. of course there was loss in it, but so much beauty too. these two men who used to be invisible and alone and locked away in the darkness found each other, chose each other, and stepped into the light, together. and that's where they will always be from now on: in each other's light, where they'll never fade away again

[mj0702]

For @helen-with-an-a and her master brain and for @valewosomtb because she's now officially allowed to run people over now

You just wanted to do something nice. For Ona. Who looked after you the whole week while Lucy was away all the way back in England to “get some things sorted” - namely selling the house Keira and she bought all those years back. The house you basically grew up in. But now was not the time to dwell on long gone things. Now was the time to worry. To worry about Ona. She was maybe small – but she was also damn scary.

You watched all them firefighters weaseling in and out of your (Onas and Lucys) house in their full firefighter clothes with breathing mask so they don't inhale all the smoke. The smoke you inhaled. Oh Lucy gonna be so pissed. You sat in the back of an ambulance, your arm bandaged all the way up to your shoulder an oxygen mask over your nose and mouth like you were starring in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. You looked up at the paramedic who smiled at you with pity in her eyes as she pulled another liquid into a new syringe

“Hey ehrm... quick question” you said your voice raspy as you pulled the mask from your face

“Yes?” the paramedic – who looked a LOT like princess norwegian – looked away from the medication and right at you

“Ehrm... how long will that take until everything is done and all of you guys are gone again?” you asked a little embarrassed

“You got a deep 2nd degree burn and a smoke in your lungs and you really want us to go?” the dark haired medic asked confused

“Yeah...” you looked up shyly

“Yeah sorry that's not going to happen” the woman said smiling slightly “... we need to take you into hospital but we have to wait for an adult that gives us consent to do so... so no, we won't leave in the next few minutes”

“I'm an orphan...” you quickly said

“Oh please” the dark haired woman snorted “... you really think we don't know who you are? If I have to I contact Alexia Putellas”

“Ona is going to kill me” you mumbled as you pulled the mask back over your nose

“Ona Batlle” the paramedic asked as she pushed the liquid into you IV

“Yeah...” you croaked under your mask before you started to cough

“Looks like you're out of luck...” the spanish paramedic smirked nodding towards the end of the street where you could see a black Cupra with an open drivers door and a blonde woman sprinting up the hill towards the scene

“Fuck me... hide me....” you coughed “... better... kill me... you're probably way softer about it... she'll just rip me head off”

“The panicked expression on her face tells me she won't rip your head off” the woman smiled after she took a quick glance at Ona

“That's her disguise... she always looks nice and friendly and approachable but no no....” you croaked out “... she's pure evil... small... but pure evil... she didn't allow me dessert the last three nights”

“So evil” the woman snorted “... is that why you tried to get into her good books again?”

“No.. that was supposed to be just a thank you” you mumbled

“Bebita...” Ona suddenly appeared next to the ambulance her face panicked her breathing labored

“I swear I had good intensions” you immediately said shuffling back a little bit

“Are you okay?” the blonde spaniard asked checking you over “Your arm... what's with your arm?”

“2nd degree burn... we have to take her in but we needed an adult to give consent” the paramedic woman said trying to keep her face neutral but everyone could see the smirk that was forming on her lips

“Yes yes of course...” Ona said quickly “... take her”

“What?” you squeaked out shocked “... you can't let them take me”

“To the hospital Bebita... I promise I'm right there with you okay?” the blonde said gently

“Just hop in... you can ride with us” the dark haired woman said and immediately Ona stepped into the Ambulance

“Ona.....” you whined as you saw the doctors and nurses speed walking past your hospital bed

“It's okay Bebita” Ona said softly holding your left hand her thumb stroking over your knuckles in a calming manner

“No.... everything went wrong” you felt tears prickle in your eyes

“I don't care what happened Bebé...” the spaniard said gently “.... all that matter is that you are okay”

“No...” you chocked out

“No? What you mean no?” Ona asked confused

“I ruined everything” you sobbed as Ona started to brush your tears away

“No no Bebita... everything is okay... you are okay and that's I need” the blonde kept her voice soft

“I swear I just tried to make something good” you kept crying and at one point Ona realized it was the painkillers that made you cry

“Something good hm?” Ona smiled when she saw how the pain medication kicked in

“I wanted to make you paella” you sobbed heartbreakingly “... like you always make it”

“Oh Bebita” the blonde sighed

“I went with Mapí to the market thingy to buy sea creatures and that was a disaster because Mapí bought a whole fin thing” you started to ramble while Ona had to bite her lip hard to not burst out laughing “... a WHOLE one... with all the inside stuff... when she asked if I wanted a whole fin thing I thought she meant like... not whole...”

“Hm...” Ona just hummed amused

“... and then we got some of them... crab snippy thingies... the bigger ones... the ones that always look at Lucy when she eats them” you kept on rambling not even caring that Ona had to work really hard not to burst out laughing at your misery “... and I said “just two” and Mapí talked speed spaniard and you know I can't follow speed spaniard”

“I know Bebita... your spanish got very good” the blonde praised you but you didn't even noticed it as you just kept on talking

“... I wanted to snippy snappies not two kilo... so I had a whole fin thing with inside stuff and a bag full of snippy snappies... and Maps was so proud of herself that she was the bestest translator that I couldn't tell her she got it all wrong” you sniffed

“What happened then?” Ona asked keeping you occupied since you didn't even noticed the nurse that started to change your bandage

“Well... I went to the beach and made a snippy snappie race to see which ones are the slowest so I wouldn't kill the best ones... they have the best chance to survive... so I let them free on the beach but they didn't race each other... they... just ran in different directions and in the end I had no snippy snappies” you sobbed “... but I still had the fin thing so I went home and thought I just make rice with fin thing for you and order burger for me... I don't like fin thing... bleh”

“I know Bebita... you don't like fish... or sea food in general” the blonde smiled

“So when I came home I had to... cut..” you started to heave

“Deep breath Bebita....” Ona said calming

“Do you know how much things fin things have inside them... so so many things” you gagged again “so I got all the insides outside and I figured we need an alligator so the insides just don't lay around on the outside in the kitchen”

“An alligator? You could have also just used the trash bin” the blonde chuckled

“His name is Jesús... he'll be such a good gator...” you said wishfully as a doctor checked out your arm making you wince in progress

“So you really prepared a fresh fish for me Bebita” Ona said distracting you from the pain

“Yeah... it was really bleh...” you scrunched up your nose your eyes glassy

“So... how did you end up occupying a whole fire department?” the blonde mused

“Oh yeah... so I made the rice yeah... I followed the YouTube steps to the brim...” you got back on track of your retelling what happened “... and put the fin thing in the pan... and then I remembered that I saw that thing on that show...”

“That thing on that show?” Ona asked confused

“Yeah... you know...” you showed a pan swivel motion

“No.. I don't but please continue” the blonde shook her head

“So I looked in Lucys adult cupboard...” you started again

“Wait... Bedroom or living room??” Ona interrupted quickly

“There's an adult cupboard in the bedroom?” you asked confused tilting your head

“No... no... absolutely not” the blonde back paddled quickly shaking her head

“Oh... okay... alcohol is not good in the bedroom... only alcoholics have alcohol in the bedroom” you slurred “... so I went to get some of the alcohol and put it in the pan like they always do in the show”

“Oh god...” Ona groaned suddenly knowing what you were talking about

“So I tried to make it extra crispy but it wouldn't... poof you know” you looked at Ona but in reality you looked through her “... so I took a match and threw it in there and then it went... poof... big poof”

“Oh Bebita” the blonde started to pinch the bridge of her nose

“I tried to extinct the fire but then my sweater got very warm and it got very... smoky and yeah... next thing I know is that the men with the heavy boots kicked in the door” you at least had the audacity to look guilty

“Bebita... I really appreciate you going out of your way to make dinner for me but PLEASE don't get yourself in danger like that” Ona said seriously but you were already looking in the other direction

“Did you know we are in a hospital?” you asked looking around in awe

“I'm feeling like I lived through that before” the blonde mumbled as you pointed at an exit sign

“That's so pretty” you said in awe “Pretty green”

“Mhm...” Ona hummed stroking over your forehead trying to calm you down so much that you fall asleep

“You’re also very pretty…. Pretty spaniard” you slurred

“That would be Alexia but thank you Bebita” Ona chuckled

“Oni...” you mumbled “... I'm getting sleepy”

“Then sleep Bebita” the blonde whispered gently hoping you would listen to her

“But the green is so pretty” you mumbled your eyes darting back to the exit sign

“I'll get you your very own pretty green sign if you close your eyes and sleep for a few minutes” Ona said softly

“Okay” you sighed deeply closing your eyes falling asleep instantly

“No Lucy... she's not badly hurt” you heard Ona speaking softly her thumb still running over your knuckles “.... her arm is burned and she inhaled a bit of smoke but the docs say she'll be good in a week or so”

You made a low whining sound resulting in Ona looking up and over at you

“She's waking up...” the blonde said into the phone “... I'll call you later okay? Yeah... Love you too”

“Hey Bebita... how are you feeling?” Ona asked softly

“Me throat hurts” you whine still half asleep

“That was to be expected Bebé” the blonde hummed stroking over your cheek

“I really didn't mean to cause trouble” you mumbled ashamed

“I know Bebita....” Ona kept her voice soft “.... but Lucy and I decided that you'll take some cooking lessons... with my Mamí”

“It was all Mapís fault...” you whined “... she started the whole fuck up with buying the wrong fish”

“We'll work on your cooking okay?” the blonde said gently seeing how your eyes start to fall shut once again “... sleep some more Bebita... I'll be here when you wake up again”

“Hey Bubs...” you heard a soft voice next to you “... open your pretty eyes for me okay?”

“Five more minutes” you mumbled trying to turn away just to turn onto your burned arm making you shoot up clutching your arm in pain

“Easy Bubs...” Lucy reacted quickly moving your hand away from your bandaged arm “... easy... breath Bubs”

“Owie” you whined tears shooting into your eyes

“Yeah.... you really outdid yourself this time” your sister chuckled “... Keira is not happy”

“Owie” you whined again

“Mhm...” Lucy hummed “... I just woke you up so I can force some more medication down your throat”

“No” you looked at your sister pitifully

“Yes...” your sister smiled gently “... come on Bubs... just two pills and then you can sleep again”

“Lucy” you whined just realizing your sister sitting next to your bed – your own bed “... when did I go home?”

“I got you home last night” Lucy smiled still holding two pills in her palm

“I....” you looked confused

“I know... you were dead to the world” your sister chuckled “Open”

“Nooooo” you whined pulling your head away from Lucy

“Bubs you know I will get these pills down your throat” Lucy said gently grabbing your chin “It's either you take them or I'll make you OR I'll get Keira... you have to take them... one is a painkiller and one is an antibiotics”

“You're so mean” you huffed but opened your mouth

“I know... good girl” your sister smiled popping the pills into your mouth holding out a glass of water “... swallow”

“I'm not Ona” you grumbled as you grabbed the glass

“Don't start....” Lucy warned you but still smirked “... open”

You opened your mouth showing your sister you swallowed the pills

“Good.... now... will you behave when Ona changes your bandages?” your sister asked

“It won't hurt right?” you asked scared

“No.... the nurses showed us how to do it” Lucy said gently as Ona entered the room carrying several bandages and creams

“No no no no no” you said as you saw the materials shuffling away from where Ona put the stuff down

“It's okay Bubs” your sister said calmly “... it's not going to hurt”

“I don't like that” you tried to get away but Lucy quickly got you and just pulled you in between her legs so you have know chance to run

“It's okay.... it won't hurt” Lucy repeated over and over again

“No Lucy please” you sobbed as your sister hugged you tightly into her

“Okay... okay... calm down” your sister said quickly “... we won't do it”

Ona shot Lucy a quick look and Lucy just shook her head before she returned to whisper sweet nothings against your temple to calm you down

“I thought we won't change...” Ona started half an hour later

“.... she's out cold... of course we change her bandages...” Lucy said as she carefully held your arm for Ona to unwrap it

“She's going to kill us” the blonde catalan mumbled working as quickly as she could

“We'll let her call Alexia later... she'll wake up high as a kite again.... she'll be so happy to talk to the “pretty spaniard” for as long as she wants” your sister grinned making her girlfriend chuckle

“I'm sorry Lucy... I really am” Ona said her voice low as she carefully pulled the compresses off your arm cleaning the burn

“What are you sorry for?” Lucy asked confused still holding your arm

“You trusted me with her... she got hurt... I should've...” the blonde started her voice breaking slightly

“Babe no... no no no” your sister quickly interfered “... it's not your fault”

“You left her under my watch and she got hurt... how can it not be my fault?” Ona sniffled lightly as she started to wrap your arm back up

“She's a klutz Babe... no one holds you responsible... not Keira... not Bubs... and definitely not me” Lucy said seriously “... you know how often she got hurt just because I turned around for a second... trouble finds her... I swear there's ONE glass shard on the whole beach... I guarantee you you she'll steps into it...”

“I got so scared when I saw all these firefighter trucks and ambulances....” the blonde confessed lowly “... I got scared for her but then I also got scared you could hate me”

“I could never hate you Baby... I love you” your sister said softly as she gently placed your arm back down

“.... now let get out of here and let her sleep and I show you just how much I love you” Lucy smirked pulling Ona out of the room while you snored peacefully

[yourlocalravendork]

The not so accidental date

This is a sequel to my accidental date fic linked here (thanks for all the notes on that, it really encourages me to write more) and for timeline reasons, is set in season 5 just after the first episode.

CW: Slight spoilers for season five, Spencer complaining about the 2009 Dorian Gray film compared to the book, tiny hint/reference/foreshadow to Maeve (it's a passing comment in a mini reader spiral), fluff, Spencer spouting facts as per usual.

Spencer had been keeping track of the days since your accidental date. Three months, two weeks and three days. He had told himself that he wouldn't keep track of it, but it was his eidetic memory practically forcing him too. He couldn't help but replay the small moments in the planetarium. The way you offered your hand to help him from getting overwhelmed, the pure awe in your eyes at the stars, the soft way you admitted that you wouldn't have minded if it was an actual date. And every time Spencer would remember them, a soft smile painted his features.

He needed those smiles more than ever now that he was confined to Quantico. Due to his shot leg, he couldn't leave the BAU to go into the field. Doctor's orders apparently. And Hotch didn't take Spencer's opinion of being fine to fly as a second, medical opinion. So here he was, hobbling around on crutches. He'd long kissed the thought of a proper date goodbye once he'd gotten shot. There weren't many places you could take a guy on crutches to on a date.

However, he clearly didn't see how smitten you were with him. While everyone else was worrying over Hotch after Foyet had stabbed him, you were in Spencer's hospital room, making sure he recovered properly. You didn't want to leave his side and you were there, keeping him company before he was discharged. Spencer being the lovable, oblivious idiot he could be when it came to matters of the heart, thought you were just being friendly. That seemed to be a common theme between the two of you. Accidentally friend zoning each other.

The case you were working had wrapped up and you were heading back to the offices to grab your bags. You had no plans, you tended to live more in the moment, never knowing when your next free time would be due to the sporadic nature of your job. At your desk, you saw Spencer hobbling towards the elevator on his crutches and naturally wanted to help him.

"Give me your bag," you offered, hoping that could help him a little bit. "It's fine, really, I've got it." That was Spencer for you. Insistant that he didn't need help. "You sure?" you pressed. "Yep," he said with a nod. You nodded back, not entirely convinced but knowing you weren't going to get any other answer. As the two of you waited for the elevator, you couldn't help but think about Spencer and how well he'd been doing with getting girls and their numbers. You'd heard from Derek about this Lila a few years ago, an upcoming actress who he kissed in her pool. You also saw the way a bar tender had fallen for his magic trick and managed to get her number last year, not that it went any far. But if you didn't act soon then who knows who would steal his heart away from you? Perhaps a genealogist who he has a sweet, over the phone relationship with? You shook the thought from your head. You were being absurd. But you did have to seize the moment. "Are you doing anything now?" you asked as the elevator finally arrived. "Well, I was planning on catching up on some Doctor Who, they've just found more footage in the BBC's archives," Spencer shrugged as the two of you got in the elevator. "That can wait, right?" you asked, being slightly bolder than usual. Spencer picked up on it, arching a brow at your question. "I guess, why?" You took a deep breath, it was now or never. "Well, they've just made a movie of The Picture Of Dorian Gray and I know you like classic literature so I thought maybe you'd like to go and see it with me. You know, a proper date this time." Spencer hummed in consideration for a moment before a soft smile tugged at the corner of his lips. The thought of you and him, in the cinema together, on a proper date, sounded nice. Although the more he thought about it, he started to spiral a little. A date. Oh god. He wasn't used to dates. The only reason he managed to get through the last one was because he didn't know it was a date. You'd picked up on his spiral and decided to back peddle. "It's cool if you don't want to though," you shrugged, as if you couldn't feel your heart shattering. "No, no, no," Spencer frantically reassured you. The last thing he wanted was for you to think he was rejecting you. "I…I'd love to."

And that's what led the two of you here, sitting in a dark movie theatre, almost awkwardly sat next to each other. Spencer didn't know the appropriate distance he should be keeping from you and you didn't know how close Spencer would want you sat. Neither of you thought about asking each other. Oh no, that would require common sense, something you both lacked when it came to each other. However, as the film went on, Spencer scooted a little closer, whispering references to the book and complaing when the film deviated from the source material. You had to stop yourself from giggling at some points and you were half convinced Spencer was ready to walk out by the end of it.

"A total disservice to the book," Spencer complained as you made your way back to your car, "Absolutely nothing like the book. Everything is out of order and they miss out key points. And what was that about Henry's daughter? Lord Henry never has a daughter. Don't even get me started on Dorian and Sybil's relationship though. The book shows how one dimensional their relationship is. They courted each other in the film, they don't even go on dates in the book. And you would've thought they could've kept Basil's love confession in the film. But no, of course they couldn't." You watched Spencer rant as he got into the passenger seat next to you. You couldn't help but think how endearing all of this was. He was getting so worked up over something so trivial. "So you didn't like it then?" you asked with a hint of amusement as you pulled out the cinema car park and started making your way to Spencer's apartment complex. "It was nothing like the book," he said, watching as you drove. With all of his rambling about the film, it was like he'd forgotten this was a date. He seemed a lot more comfortable now, showing how his awkwardness was just a mental barrier when it came to the unknown. "You know, the book was considered to use homoerotic themes to seduce Lord Alfred, Wilde's lover, so it was used for Oscar Wilde's trial for sodomy." There was the usual Spencer. Spouting random facts like it was second nature. "Yeah, a lot of the passages had to be heavily edited if he even wanted it published." He continued spouting contextual facts about the book all the way home. A soft smile painted your lips, listening to every one. Who needed the radio when you had your own personal encyclopedia next to you?

When you finally reached his apartment, you were convinced tonight could be called a success. Even if Spencer didn't particularly enjoy the film, he at least had a nice time info dumping to you on the way home. "Did you enjoy tonight?" you asked as you parked outside his apartment complex. Part of you was nervous to hear his answer. You wanted tonight to have gone well, especially due to the success of you accidental date. "Aside from how far off the movie was to the book, yes, I did enjoy tonight," Spencer nodded with a soft laugh, his hair falling into his face as he did so. You couldn't stop yourself as you reached out and adjusted it behind his ear. As soon as you processed what happened, you pull your hand back. A pink dusting coated Spencer's cheeks.  He wasn't expecting that. Not that he was upset by it, just flustered. "I… I guess this is me," he said after a few moments of silence, gesturing to the building. "Yeah, I guess it is," you nodded. You didn't want tonight to end, "Maybe we could do this again sometime?" you asked tentatively, not wanting to overstep any invisible boundaries. Spencer swollowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he did. "Yeah, that would be…. That would be nice," he nodded, a shy smile toying at his lips. "Do you need any help getting up to your apartment?" you asked, genuinely concerned with his leg injury. "I'll manage," he reassured you with a soft smile. "Be careful then," you replied. For a few moments, the two of you just sat in your car, neither one of you sure if you should make a move. It was awkward but in that beautifully awkward way you and Spencer had managed to trademark as your own.

Spencer was the first to break, clearing his throat and unbuckling his seat belt. "I will," he nodded, going to open the car door. You nodded back at him, watching as he got out and hobbled on his crutches. "Goodnight, Spencer," You called out of your window to him. "Night," he called back before disappearing inside of his apartment building. For a minute you just sat there, processing the fact that you had just been on a date with Spencer Reid. An actual date with Spencer. Your head rate picked up and a smile exploded onto your lips. You felt like you were on cloud nine. And as you pulled away, you couldn't help but wonder if this would be the first of many dates with the BAU's resident boy genius.

[lordprettyflackotara]

Hitchhiker || Chapter Fifteen || The Proxies

tw: it’s getting spooky in here. descriptions of gore. scary shit¿ idk if yall really need a tw for that, anxiety/asthma attack

<— previous chapter

Stirring uncomfortably in your sleep, you finally awakened. Blinking slowly, the soft crackling of the fire place and dim orangey lighting identified where you were. Lifting your head, you realized you had fallen asleep in Toby’s lap. Glancing towards the other couch, EJ was asleep as well.

Sitting up, both Toby and EJ were fast asleep in their sitting positions. How they managed to sleep without properly laying down, you’d never know. You lifted your arms, stretching as you looked around. Staying in EJ’s cabin ensured a loss of time, the concept foreign since no clocks were provided here. The only one you could possibly think of was in EJ’s truck.

Ensuring not to wake up Toby, you slowly got up from the couch. Pulling down your shorts, you trudged into the kitchen to get a glass of water. You briefly wondered where Tim and Brian were, before shrugging off the thought. With the moon revealing itself high in the sky through the thin kitchen curtains, they were probably on the look out. Opening the fridge, you went to grab a bottle of water, before briefly pausing. Rows of jars lined the refrigerator door, each of them black glass instead of clear.

Curiously you went to grab one of the jars. You picked it up, shaking it back and forth to see if you could tell what was inside of it. You could hear a liquid splashing around, but the glass didn’t reveal anything. Curiosity got the best of you, your fingers wrapping themselves around the jar lid to open it.

Creakkkk.

You stopped dead in your tracks, the eerie sound of a creak making you freeze. You couldn’t quite place what it sounded like. It didn’t sound like the traditional floorboard creak you had heard many times in this cabin. You also had figured everyone had memorized the floorboards like you had. You put the jar back in the door, deciding you’d worry about the mystery of the jar tomorrow. Grabbing your water bottle, you headed back over to the couch beside Toby. Curling up next to him you unscrewed the bottle cap, chugging as much water as you could.

Creakkkk.

Your eyes narrowed as you wiped your upper lip, looking around. Were the boys on the roof or something? Begrudgingly you stood up, having just found ultimate comfort on the couch beside one of your lovers. You stood in the center of the living room, looking up at the ceiling. Why couldn’t you pinpoint the source of this noise? Or even the direction? You sat the water bottle on the coffee table, putting your hands on your hips. It was then a swoosh came from down the chimney, wiping out the fire from existence. Ashes danced before you and settled onto the floor, the cabin suddenly going dark.

Goosebumps rose from your skin as you stared at the fireplace, your heart beginning to thump in your chest. Swallowing you closed your eyes, gripping your head. You repeated what Tim had told you. It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real. You tried to focus on the warmth of the fire, what that felt like. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Slowly you opened your eyes, looking over at the fireplace in horror. The fire had truly been diminished.

Creakkkk.

This time you were sure you heard it coming from upstairs. You grabbed a nearby flashlight, one the boys used to roam around the forest with. Quietly you went up the stairs, ensuring not to wake Toby or EJ up. If you were having a delusional episode, the last thing you wanted to do was wake them up. Clicking the flashlight on, you slowly pointed it around the hallway. Everything looked empty, as it should’ve. Creeping over to your left, you turned the knob to EJ’s bathroom. You pushed it open, ignoring the memories of the sinful acts you committed in it just hours ago. It looked just the same, the shower curtain closed. Tip toeing over to it, you took a deep breath before grabbing the side and slinging it open.

Inside was an empty bathroom, nothing more or less. You could see the water droplets still trailing down the sides of the tub, signaling to you the curtain was closed due to someone taking a shower prior. Sighing you walked back out of the bathroom, glancing over at EJ’s room. It was a dangerous decision, lurking around the tall demons bedroom. Despite his entanglement with Nova, you didn’t know him personally at all. And quite frankly, you did not plan on being on his bad side. However, your curiosity for the source of the noise urked you. Bracing yourself, your feet carried you in front of his bedroom door. You could faintly hear what sounded like scratching, the sound making your eyebrows raise.

“What the fuck?” You whispered. You reached your hand out to grab the door knob, before abruptly stopping as you heard the sound again.

Creakkkk.

You turned around, sure it was coming from the guest bedroom you and the boys had been staying in. You turned away from EJ’s room, storming inside of the guest bedroom instead. Upon shoving open the door, you were surprised to see the bedroom was back in order contrary to earlier. The bed was now back to being in the center of the room, nightstands on each side. The room was bare other than that, the only other personal item accompanying it being Hoodie’s cam recorder. You clicked off the flashlight as you tilted your head. The familiar little red light was dull, but you were able to see it through the darkness.

You picked it up, pausing the live recording. You tried to navigate the ancient artifact as best as you could. After some button mashing and patience, the memory database of the camera appeared. You raised an eyebrow at a video of you in your apartment, which seemed to be taken from outside of your apartment building. You made a mental note to question Hoodie about that later, continuing through. Clicking past the video of you getting railed, you decided to speed up the past hour of what was caught on camera. You watched Masky and Hoodie leave the room, leaving the bedroom completely empty. For a majority of the video it was just a dark room, until you finally saw something.

A man with jet black hair slid in the open window. A cat like mask covered his mask, intricate blades shaped like claws slid into the shadows of the room. You felt your heart begin to race as you watched him hide in the farthest corner of the room, the one your back was currently to. You put your hand over your mouth, trying to conceal the terror that had crashed over you. You watched yourself on video walking up to the camera, the presumed Cat Hunter slipping out of the video. You quickly turned on your flashlight, pointing it towards the corner. The video was evidence that at the very least Cat Hunter wasn’t in the room. But why didn’t he kill you?

This wasn’t an episode of The Operator’s influence. You had this on camera. This was real. Your breath was shaky as you made sure you were alone in the bedroom.

Creakkkk.

This time you knew which direction the sound was coming from. Looking out of the window you froze, your eyes narrowing in an attempt to see what the sounds source was. Lurking in the forest shadows, beyond the snow, was the shadow of a body seemingly hanging from a tree. You could see footprints in the snow, the body swaying back and forth. Without thinking you darted downstairs, going to wake up Toby and EJ. You grabbed Toby’s shoulders, shaking him with as much strength as you could muster. “Toby! Toby wake up!” You screeched. The brunette remained unmoving, soft snores escaping his lips. What the fuck? You moved over to EJ, repeating the process. He didn’t move either. Too many thoughts were circling through your head, the sound of footsteps from upstairs causing you to jump.

You ran outside, shoving on a pair of boots as you did so. Panicked, you looked over your shoulder before running out into the snow. You finally turned to face the forest, all of the color draining from your face. You clutched your flashlight for dear life, trying to understand the scene in front of you. From every branch of the trees displayed in front of you, was the hanging corpse of someone you knew. The rope creaked as the wind swayed the bodies back and forth, your hand flying over your mouth. Your parents, your coworkers, your boss. All of Nova’s coworkers and friends. Your ex boyfriend. Lifeless corpses were strung on display for your personal viewing. Tears sprung from your waterline, unable to look away from the horror.

Snowflakes continued to fall from the sky, your body shaking as you began to silently sob. Every person you could recall from memory, was hung in front of you. The Operator had killed every person you had ever known, just to spite you. You fell to your knees, clutching your chest. It was then you could hear the static, the sound growing closer. You screwed your eyes shut, clutching your head as you curled into a ball. “Please! Don’t hurt them! Please,” You cried. Your chest began to feel tight, your airway restricted from the amount of panic you felt.

Creakkkk.

Sobbing you tried to hold your ears to block out the dreaded noise. Despair had taken a hold of you and it showed no signs of letting you go anytime soon. You couldn’t get the corpses faces out of your mind, their skin now pale and lifeless. The eyes empty and dull. The static was getting too loud now, a deranged scream escaping your lips. You refused to look up, your eyes screwed shut as you prepared yourself for the end.

A large pair of hands grabbed your shoulders, causing you to jump. “Dont fucking touch me!” You screeched. The same pair of hands grabbed you again, tugging you towards the owners chest. “No!” You protested, squirming under the strangers grasp. The same hands turned you to face the owner. “O-open your e-eyes,” Toby commanded. Slowly you opened your eyes, looking at your terrified brunette lover. EJ stood behind him. “He hung them. He hung them all,” You cried. You put your face in your hands, too buried into hopelessness to face your lover and friend. Toby grabbed your hands, removing them from your face. “W-who h-hung who?” He questioned. You wiped away your tears, staring at the snow covered ground as you pointed at the forest. Toby and EJ both looked in the direction of the bodies before their gazes returned to you.

“Y/n there’s nothing there,” EJ informed you. Horrified, you looked at the trees. Nothing. Empty. No evidence that anyone had even been there. You felt like pressure had been applied to your chest, your breathing running shallow. You sprang to your feet, running your hands through your hair. “What the fuck? They were there! They were right there!” You exclaimed. You felt like you couldn’t breathe, your breath visible in front of you as you bent over and held onto your knees for support. Toby grabbed you by your waist. You pawed at his chest, beginning to hiccup through your free flowing tears. “H-here,” He said. He pulled out an inhaler, handing it to you. Your hand shook as you took it from him. “Where did you get this?” You asked, shaking it before using it. Toby tried to wipe away your tears with his thumbs, failing as they continued to free fall.

“Jack s-said you h-had asthma. He c-c-can hear it in your breathing,” He explained. It occurred to you then that EJ was some sort of nick name, the tall demons name actually Jack. You used the inhaler again, taking deep breaths as you tried to calm yourself down. Toby guided you towards the cabin, following EJ. You scrambled to stop Toby, digging your heels into the ground. “Cat Hunter was in there! It’s on tape and I heard him,” You protested. EJ and Toby shared a glance, EJ digging in his pocket. Squinting your eyes you were able to make out a small piece of metal that you could’ve sworn was medical equipment. What do they call that? A scalpel?

Jack stormed into the cabin first, Toby dragging you beside him as he followed him. Once inside you frowned, looking over at the fireplace. The flames were well fueled and full of life. The orange lighting illuminated the room. Looking at the floorboards in front of it, there were no ashes or dust. Your inspection terrified you, the warmth horrifying you. “Toby, did you relight the fire?” You whispered. Toby arched an eyebrow. “That fires been go-oing for days,” He whispered back. You felt heat rush to your cheeks. Alright, maybe The Operator was in fact fucking with you. But you had Cat Hunter on tape. You had literal evidence on video. Wiping the snow off of your hair, you followed Jack up the stairs. You pointed towards the guest bedroom, the demon storming inside.

The room was the same as you remembered it, the bed tucked in the corner with the nightstands. You raised your eyebrows as you realized the window was shut, the curtains tightly closed. You walked over to the nightstand, grabbing Hoodie’s cam recorder. Jack and Toby stood behind you, watching you mesh buttons in a panicked motion. Your hands were shaky as you fast forwarded through your sex tape with Hoodie. EJ awkwardly looked away, suddenly finding the ceiling more interesting. Toby stared in amazement, his eyes widening. “C-can I record you n-next?” He asked. EJ elbowed him, the brunette letting out a dramatic whine.

The memory of the cam recorder ended after you watched Hoodie turn the camera off once you left the room. You stared blankly at the screen, watching it fade to black. “What? I don’t understand. He left it recording. Right there,” You explained. You pointed at the nightstand. Jack furrowed his eyebrows, slowly extracting the device from your hands. He stared at your trembling hands, your mind spinning with confusion. “It was real. Cat Hunter was on the tape. It was real!” You argued. You brought your knees to your chest, nervously tucking your hair behind your ears. “What exactly do you think happened?” Jack asked calmly. You began slowly rocking back and forth, swallowing.

“I woke up and heard some creaking so I went to investigate. Then I saw Cat Hunter on the camera and saw the bodies strung up like sick fucking Christmas lights,” You explained. You stared blankly at the floor, too ashamed to look at either of them. “The fire went out and I heard scratching coming from EJ’s room,” You continued. Toby put his hand on your shoulder, attempting to be comforting. “Y/n no one is in there except Nova,” He said. You knew this was an attempt at comfort, but you felt your heart skip a beat. “Alone?!” You questioned. You rose to your feet, attempting to brush past the two men. “You had an episode, she is fine,” Jack informed you. He grabbed your upper arms, holding you into place. “I’m telling you it was real!” You argued. You were so annoyed you hadn’t heard two familiar sets of footsteps climb the stairs.

“Everything alright in here?” Tim asked, poking his head in the doorway. You looked around you. Tim, Brian, Toby, and EJ all staring down at you with concern filled gazes. “She had an episode,” Jack explained. You thrashed under his grasp, pushing his hands off of you. “One h-hell of an episode,” Toby added. You gritted your teeth, stepping away them. “Do you remember what we talked about? How none of it is real?” Tim asked softly. Your patience was thinning. You noted Nova’s absence, your blood running cold. “I need to check on Nova,” You stated firmly. You went to storm out of the room, Tim and Brian blocking your path. “Nova is fine, what you heard wasn’t real. This is what The Operator does,” EJ informed you. Toby let out a forced laugh. “Y-yeah, he gets o-off to it,” He laughed.

You attempted to shove past the boys, narrowing your eyes when they didn’t move. “If you all are so confident that i’m delusional, let me see that she’s okay,” You negotiated. Tim and Brian exchanged a look, telepathically communicating with each other. Reluctantly they stepped aside, allowing you to pass them. Approaching EJ’s door you could still hear the scratching, your feet suddenly growing heavy. “You guys hear that, right?” Brian asked. You shot him and Tim an ‘I told you so’ look, before grabbing the doorknob. You twisted it, surprised to find it locked. Your blood ran cold, the scratching from the other side of the door only growing louder. “It’s locked,” You murmured.

“It’s what?” He questioned. Jack pushed your proxies out of the way, standing in front of his door. He twisted the knob for himself, shooting you a gaze so deadly you were sure it could kill. “You may want to step aside,” He informed you. Tim grabbed your shoulders, gently guiding you to take a few steps back. You watched as EJ kicked at his door, the wood rattling against his weight. You felt dizzy, your mind spinning as he kicked open his door. “Nova?” He called out.

You felt your stomach churn, the color draining from your face as you stared down at your best friend. She had carved words into the wall with her nails, blood dripping down her hands as she continued to etch into the wood. “Nova,” You whispered. She had scratched the proxy symbol into the ceiling, along with various words and sayings all over the walls.

He’s coming.

No escape.

Home is where the heart is.

You narrowed your eyes at the drawings of stick figures hanging from nooses. “Nova!” Jack gasped, running over to her. He forcibly pried her away from the section of the wall she was working on, her gaze empty and fingers raw. A wave of nausea hit you as you stared at the faintest bit of her bone that was exposed through the mutilated skin. “I’m gonna be sick,” You whispered. Darting into the bathroom you shoved the toilet seat up, all of the food in your stomach making a grand appearance. Gripping onto the sides of the toilet for dear life, a familiar large hand gathered your hair. “It’s alright, let it out,” Brian murmured. You cringed at the burning sensation that rose in your throat, your knuckles turning white from gripping the sides of the toilet so hard.

Disgusted at the sight of your vomit you flushed the toilet, slumping back against the bathroom floor. Glancing out into the hallway Jack was carrying Nova bridal style. Forcing yourself to your feet you trailed behind him. “Where are you taking her?” You questioned. He walked down the stairs, Nova’s gaze empty and soulless as she stared at the ceiling. “Some place you don’t want to go,” Jack replied bitterly. You watched as he stormed through the kitchen, kicking open a door you hadn’t thought about before. Pitch black sat beyond the door way, your heart plummeting. “You can’t just take her! I won’t let you!” You protested. You went to grab his shoulder, Brian and Toby stopping you. Their large hands kept you away from EJ, the blood from Nova’s fingers dripping onto the floor below.

“I need you to trust me,” He huffed. He looked down at Nova, who was still as a board in his arms. “I’ll take care of her,” EJ murmured. He then headed downstairs, leaving you alone with nothing but a blood stained floor and two of your hitchhikers holding you back.

A few hours went by, the boys keeping you under close observation. You sat next to the door, Nova’s blood now dried and staining the wooden floors. You couldn’t hear anything, the silence bothering you. A pair of footsteps approached you, sliding down the wall and sitting beside you. It was no surprise Tim sat beside you, digging in his pockets for his trusty box of cigarettes. “Trust Jack for me, alright? He’s patched me up more times than I can count,” He said softly. He kept his voice gentle on purpose, knowing you needed nothing other than the upmost comfort he could provide. You didn’t say anything, your legs tucked to your chest. You rested your chin against your knees, avoiding Tim’s worried gaze.

“One time I got shot in the leg. Thought I was gonna die from blood loss,” He continued. Silently relieved when his fingertips grazed his cigarette box, pulling them out with ease. “I could see her bones,” You whispered, the memory digging its claws into your brain. Tim brought a cigarette to his mouth, noticing there was only one left in the box. He gestured the box towards you. “Take it princess,” Tim huffed. You did as instructed, open to accepting any form of distraction. Tim lit his cigarette first, before holding the open flame over to you. You stuck your head out ever so slightly, watching the end of the stick glow orange as you inhaled. “Jacks seen bones before. Hes practically a medical god,” Tim said, exhaling. You knew EJ would despise the two of you smoking in the cabin, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care.

“Cat Hunter sliced Hoodie’s ankles. Tore them to shreds. Thats how I know Nova will be alright. He’s still walking around like the egotistic dickhead he is,” Tim explained. You inhaled your own cigarette, coughing as the tobacco swirled around your lungs. “Why did he do that?” You asked in between coughs. Your waterline flooded with tears, your face turning red as you inhaled deeply. “He tried to escape,” Tim said, before raising his eyebrows. You finally managed to stop coughing, clearing your throat as you exhaled. “Jesus princess, I gotta stop offering you these things,” He commented. You rolled your eyes, taking another hit. Without saying anything you moved closer to him, laying your head on his shoulder.

There was a brief moment of silence, the two of you soaking in the other’s presence. “I’m not gonna let anything happened to you,” Tim said suddenly. You exhaled the smoke, watching it evaporate up into the air. “I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about Nova,” You replied blandly. Tim exhaled through his nose, smirking to himself. “I know. That’s why someone has to look out for you,” He grumbled. He leaned over, planting a kiss on your head. You could feel your face flush pink, despite the two of you having been in far more intimate positions. You didn’t say anything, enjoying the peaceful moment while it lasted.

Because like most things, nothing last forever.

—> next chapter

[lurkingshan]

10 Things I Love About Only Boo!

*kicks down the door* I'm a few weeks late but I have arrived and I am here to yell about this fucking adorable show. Have you heard that it's the cutest shit you've ever seen in a fresh new package of all your favorite silly old romance tropes? Besties, this is truly the Sunday Serotonin we need. Here are the top 10 things I love about it:

The main romance is between a confident sunshine protagonist and a kind older boy working through his grief and an artistic block. Mok (Moo) and Kang are such nice boys, two cinnamon rolls too sweet and pure for this world, and I loved them instantly. They have a nice crackly chemistry between them and really solid communication right from the start.

The setting is rural and refreshing. Moo moves to Nakhom Pathom to attend school for a semester because his mom wants him to focus on his studies before she will allow him to pursue a career as an idol. Little did she know she was delivering him to a cute boy who would become the new distraction.

The crushing and flirting starts immediately, and it's mutual. They just like each other, man. Kang is (slightly) older and trying to be responsible about keeping Moo focused on his studies so he's putting up some token resistance, but it's very very token. They both find excuses to keep seeing each other after they meet.

There's a side couple with a long-term pining friends to lovers arc. The way I squealed when they revealed that photo wall. I support you, Payos, you will get your boo. These two also have a lovely, easy chemistry and seem so comfortable around each other. Their characterization also gets a fun twist in the beginning of the story.

The writing is strong and assured. This was written by the same screenwriting team as Cooking Crush, aka the best written original Thai bl of last season. These folks know their way around a smart romcom. They know how to deploy classic tropes so they feel fresh, build authentic character arcs, and make all the beats of the story feel confident. We are in good hands and don't need to worry about any out of left field conflicts or weird plot turns with this one.

A fresh new cast brings a ton of energy. I really love all four of the main actors for this show. They're young and bright and breathing some new life into an old formula. And both pairs have solid chemistry and seem comfortable in their scenes together.

Some of our old favorites are here too. They've made the smart decision to bolster the young main cast by surrounding them with more experienced seniors like our lady Milk, here playing Kang's friend and neighbor who is all up in his crush on Moo. Louis and Book are also going to show up at some point.

The show incorporates music and dancing in such a charming way. Moo is one of those kids who just has to dance, and the show mines a lot of comedy around his efforts to stifle the impulse as his mom ordered. I don't think he'll hold out for long, though, because Payos and Tae are on him to train with them. And of course the music supervisor is having a great time working in some classic GMMTV music gags (yes, Love Score and Too Cute To Handle both make memorable appearances).

It's a high school story brimming with youthful energy without being mired in immaturity. The tone of this show reminds me of My School President in the best way, in that it has all the sweetness and innocence of a high school romance without making the characters so immature and bad at communication that it's annoying to watch. As expected from the CC writers, these characters may be inexperienced but they are going to talk to each other and honesty will prevail every time.

We are only three episodes in and the romance is already well underway. This is the kind of show where we will see the main pair flirt and date and face obstacles together. The swoony moments started immediately and Moo is already throwing around the faen title. We know from the synopsis that the core conflict will come when Moo is forced to choose between his relationship with Kang and his dream of being an idol, and I expect he will be finding a way around that choice. I'll be strapped in for the ride because I already believe in these two.

[kazuko-stuff]

Hidden Surprises Pt 1

Summary: After the explosion that killed your grandmother figure and the man you loved, a little surprise comes in an unexpected form.

You heard some beeping noises. Your head is throbbing like crazy. You slowly wake up, looking at your surroundings and realize you're at Akso Hospital.

What happened? My head” you wondered trying to recall how you got here.

Just as you slowly sat up, you saw Zayne enter your room, with his eyes widened in concern.

“Oh, good. You’re awake. How are you feeling?” his voice was laced with concern.

“I feel …disoriented… but Zayne…what…happened?”you asked deliriously. “Why.. I'm in the… hospital ?”you continued, still trying to figure out what’s going on.

He drew his breath, trying to find a way to approach this sensitive topic. “What is the last thing you remembered?”

You try to recall earlier events, remembering coming home to see grandma and Caleb… and it suddenly hits you, the explosion that occurred at your childhood home.

No..no…NOO!!!

You start panicking, causing the heart rate monitor to rise up in response.

Grandma…Caleb…

Caleb

“Zayne, is Caleb alright? Where is he?”you cried hysterically at remembering that last thing you saw was Caleb entering the front door right before the explosion.

“Y/N” Zayne called out to you, taking his hand into his to calm you down.

“Please���they didn’t … they’re alive, right” hoping this is just a nightmare.

“ Miss Josephine and Caleb…” he stops before he continues, “they didn’t make it out alive” he reveals to you, looks at you with a tinge of sadness.

You broke down after hearing the news from him. You should have told Caleb the truth of your encounter at the mart, when you were looking for the evol fluctuation source and the suspicious man you encountered.

Maybe…

they wouldn’t be dead in the first place.

——

Even after you were released from the hospital three days later, you still didn’t know what to do. You swamp yourself into work and even went overtime, hoping you wouldn’t break down emotionally from the stress eating you inside.

Even as the few months had passed, the event was still fresh in your mind. You nearly broke down at work when the news channel showed the explosion at the neighborhood but Tara turns off the TV after seeing you having your mini-episodes. You hold onto Caleb’s necklace to calm you down but your heart still beats erratically just re-witnessing the explosion at your childhood home.

Any traces of your fond childhood memories have burned within the flames of the explosion. The house is now nothing but rubbles. The only family you had and known were also burned away within the rubble. Grandma… Caleb…

Caleb

The boy you loved is no longer here.

You remember the tense conversation you had with him before the explosion. Luckily it didn’t escalate into an argument.

“…I don’t want you to worry about me. It’s not often you get to come home these days, so ruining the mood is the last thing I want to do” you answered, when you noticed your wound from the incident.

“Also, I’m a grown up now. I need to be the one making sure I stay safe. You can’t protect me forever” you embrace him, resting your head on his chest, before you stand on your toes to peck his lips.

“Besides, no matter what, you’ll be the first person I go to for anything, even if it’s just to talk about our days. That won’t change” you cupped his face tenderly. “Just believe in me, okay?”

“Alright, alright” the two of you shared a kiss. “We’ve been outside too long. Gran’s going to be worried” as the two of you continue your walk back home together.”

“y/n, y/n..Y/N” you break free from your reverie, realizing Tara was calling you for you.

She looked at you in worry, “I’m worried about you. How about we grab something to eat? my treat” she pleaded.

Just before you could answer, you heard a knock and saw Captain Jenna coming in.

“Captain…I’ll send you the report soon.” Tara answered back, as she noticed her.

“Thank you. I just got one about a Protocore analysis. Who sent it?” Jenna asks as she turns to you.

“Oh yes! Sorry about that. That was me…” you attempted to stand up but only to feel dizziness, causing you to stumble.

Why now? Pull yourself together, Y/N

You have been feeling dizzy for the last few days and even nauseated to a degree. Even now, that nauseated feeling hasn’t disappeared and dizzy spells occur more whenever you stand up.

“Uh, you okay? I bet you haven’t gotten enough sleep. Rest and don’t be too hard on yourself” Tara’s anxious tone gently chastises you.

‘I’m…”

“Take care of your health first. Then you’ll have the energy to do other things. You’ll be taken one week off for the time being” Jenna ordered.

“But-“

“You have been overworking a lot lately ever since the incident to a point of burnout.”her tone softens. “I noticed you weren’t feeling well and that you weren’t getting enough sleep. Give yourself space and time to grieve for your loved ones” she motions to the door.

——

As you glumly left the Association’s building, you noticed Xavier leaving as well.

“Hey” greeted Xavier.

“Hey… you leaving too” as the two of you walked towards the apartment complex.

“Just finished up some work” he noticed your eye bags and fatigue appearance. “I heard what happened, how are things holding up?”Xavier asks in concern.

“I don’t know…anymore” you answered weakly, once again feeling sick.

Xavier's concern for you deepens, “Do you need any help, I can cover your missions for you, if that’s okay?”.

Just before you were about to answer, another dizzy spell hits you, causing you to black out.

The last thing you hear is Xavier calling out for you, as he catches you in time.

—

You woke up once again in Akso hospital, this time Xavier is there to greet you when you regain consciousness.

“Xavier…what happened?” you asked sloppily, as you tried to sit up.

“You fainted on the way. Looks like I was right, you weren’t feeling well. I brought you to the hospital soon afterwards ”

“…Thanks Xavier” you looked embarrassed. “Sorry for causing you some trouble” you looked away, rubbing the back of your neck.

Just then, Dr. Zayne came in to check on you

“You have to stay over at the hospital overnight for observation” he answered in a factual tone.

“I’m sorry.. Probably I just needed to stay at home and…”

“Well about that, we run some tests to indicate if there were other factors that led to you losing consciousness ” Zayne stops as he turns to look at Xavier. “If you don’t mind, this is a private issue between me and the patient”.

Xavier was about to argue but you looked at him, “Xavier, thank you but knowing Dr.Zayne, it will be fine”.

Xavier looks at you and stands up, “if you need any help, just call me since I’m just one floor ahead of you” he leaves the hospital room.

“So what did the test results say?” you turn to Zayne with your eyebrows furrowed in worry, hoping it is nothing too bad.

“You're pregnant” he continued calmly.

You looked at him in shock, as you subconsciously touched your stomach from hearing the news. “Pregnant” you looked at him in shock. You were still registering the news. You then broke down crying knowing who the father is.

“It appears you are around six weeks” he continued tentatively, not knowing how to continue on for much longer.

As the tears die down, you look at Zayne. “There are other options…” Zayne started to offer

“I’ll keep the baby” you answered with finality.

The little life in you is the combination of you and Caleb��s love for each other.

You smile to your soon to be bump, “Don’t worry my love, mom’s not going to let anyone hurt you”

[hisyntha]

Carbonite Heart

WARNING: just agnst and sadness because I’m in my feels

AN: UGH ok finally done and honestly, crying my eyes out as we speak. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. It’s a bit long and I did go word for word ( bits were altered) as the episode for “The Last Battle” but other than that TOOK FOREVER. This is probably the longest oneshot I’ve ever written, but I’m also thinking about doing a part 2 if yall want more haha! My friend definitely was shook there wasn’t more so lol.

P.S. this was supposed to be cut in half to make two parts but I made into one, so you’re welcome.

Words: 5966

Pairing Old Rex x F!reader

“W-where are we?” Rex groaned, his eyes fluttering open as he shifted from the spot where he sat. His head throbbed, and his vision swam, blurring the dim surroundings. He glanced down, his brows furrowing as he noticed his hands bound tightly in front of him.

“Well done, B1-268.”

The cold, mechanical voice sent a chill down Rex’s spine. His head snapped up, and his heart nearly stopped as he locked eyes with a tactical droid. His gaze darted across the room, taking in the surrounding battle droids, all standing at attention.

“No… the war…” His breath hitched, his pulse racing as the echoes of blasters and explosions roared in his mind. “I-it’s not over.” Panic surged through him as he struggled to think, to plan, to escape.

“Rex,” a voice called from beside him, sharp and grounding. “Rex! It’s okay.”

“Cody?” Rex rasped, turning toward the voice. He blinked, reality sinking in. “Kanan! I—I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

“It’s fine,” Kanan said, his voice calm but focused. “I need you here now.” He paused, tilting his head as though listening to something distant. “I think the commander is a super tactical droid.”

Rex’s eyes snapped to the droid standing at the center of the room, its calculating gaze sweeping over them. The droid’s deep green paint was dulled and chipped, streaked with patches of rust, and the gold accents painted on, tarnished sheen—a testament to the years it had spent abandoned on Agamar since the Clone Wars.

“Damnit, you’re right,” Rex muttered, his jaw tightening.

“Is that bad?” Ezra asked, leaning forward, his expression uncertain but worried.

“Really bad,” Rex replied grimly, keeping his focus on the droid.

The droid stood, pacing before them with deliberate movements before stopping and turning its gaze back down toward them.

“Near the end of the war, Separatist droids significantly outnumbered Republic units. By my calculations, our probability of being defeated was only twenty-three point six percent,” the droid explained, its voice cold.

“After Order 66, the whole droid army was given a shutdown command,” Rex retorted. “How are you even operating?”

“The Jedi betrayal ended the war for most of the galaxy,” the droid replied. “But here on Agamar, I assumed it was a Republic trick and prevented the shutdown command.” If the droid could smirk, Rex was certain it would. The faint hint of pride in its voice, as it boasted about outsmarting the shutdown and keeping its forces operational for so long, made Rex’s jaw tighten.

“Well, it doesn’t matter how it ended—the war is over,” Rex practically growled at the droid. “Let us go!”

“Negative, Captain,” the droid replied coolly, striding back toward the commander’s chair. It picked up Rex’s helmet, turning it in its metal grip as if studying it. “I calculate that this will be my only opportunity to end the Clone Wars as I originally planned—with a victory for the Separatist Alliance.”

“What do you want us to do? Surrender?” Rex’s brows furrowed, his teeth clenched tightly.

“On the contrary,” the droid said, its tone tinged with an eerie sense of satisfaction. “I want you to fight. To prove, once and for all, whose tactical strategy was superior.”

“Count me out,” Zeb suddenly interjected, turning his nose up. “I’m not playing some stupid war game.”

“That is correct, Lasat,” the tactical droid responded, its glowing eyes swiveling to Zeb. “Your species was not involved in the Clone Wars. Therefore, you will serve as the hostage your allies must rescue. The ‘Jedi Rescue’ scenario is based on 132 battles I have analyzed.”

“Yeah, we’ve done it a few times,” Ezra said, a hint of cocky pride creeping into his voice. The droid then looks to Ezra before looking at Kanan

“Jedi, is this your padawan?” the tactical droid asked.

“Most of the time,” Kanan replied, leaning forward slightly. Though the mask he wore hid his eyes, Ezra could feel the burn of his glare, making him shrink back slightly.

“Good,” the droid continued. “A complete set of Republic opponents will make this, authentic.”

“No, it won’t!” Rex barked, pulling against the restraints holding his wrists. “We’re not fighting!”

The droid paused, tilting its head before gesturing to another battle droid. Without a word, the subordinate droid turned and exited the room, the door sliding open and then hissing shut behind it. Rex’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the tactical droid with unrelenting fury.

“Maybe this will change your mind,” the droid said, turning as the door opened once again. The same battle droid returned, pushing something into the room. At first, it seemed unremarkable—a block of metal on a repulsor sled. But when the battle droid pressed a button on its side, the block tilted upright, revealing its contents.

Rex’s breath hitched, his eyes widening as he froze in place. A carbonite slab hovered inches above the floor, its surface cold and gray, and within it, a figure. Her. Frozen in time. Her features were etched perfectly, suspended in stillness, and yet even encased in carbonite, she looked radiant. Rex’s chest tightened, and he suddenly couldn’t find the air to breathe. He tried to lunge forward, to fight, to do something, but the battle droid behind him shoved him roughly back into his place.

“This Jedi was a worthy opponent,” the tactical droid said, almost wistfully. “I was… displeased to put her in carbonite. But I calculated she might prove useful one day.” It lifted a metallic hand and mimed placing it on her shoulder, its eerie imitation of affection sending a fresh wave of anger through Rex. “If you will not fight, then you will be terminated.”

“Let her go!” Rex roared, straining against his restraints again, only to be forced back down.

“I’ll fight your Clone War,” Ezra piped up suddenly, drawing all eyes to him.

“Ezra,” Kanan snapped, his voice sharp.

“What?” Ezra shot back. “You two talk about the Clone Wars all the time—the good, the bad. I want to help you win this last battle.” He turned to Rex, determination burning in his expression. “Besides, whoever she is,” he gestured to the carbonite block, “she seems pretty important to you.”

Rex’s gaze shifted from Ezra back to the frozen figure. Guilt and sorrow churned in his chest. For so long, he’d believed she was gone, lost to Order 66. And yet here she was—trapped, for years.

Kanan let out a heavy sigh. “It might be easier to fight them head-on than to get out of this situation.”

“Fine,” Rex growled, glaring at the tactical droid. “Fine. We’ll do it.”

“If we win, the Lasat and the lady go free,” Ezra interjected. “And we get all the proton bombs in the hangar.”

The tactical droid tilted its head thoughtfully before nodding. “I accept your terms.” With a gesture, he ordered his battle droids to move Zeb and the carbonite-encased Jedi out of the room. As they obeyed, the tactical droid dropped the clone helmet it had been holding, letting it clatter to the floor with a hollow, echoing sound.

———

Rex, Kanan, and Ezra exited the hangar, moving across the battlefield to a point where they had enough space for a fair engagement. The distant sound of clanking metal echoed as the battle droid army repositioned itself. Just as the trio stopped, the tactical droid’s voice boomed over the PA system.

“The objective of this battle is simple,” the droid announced. “You must fight your way back to my command center and capture it to free your friends.”

The PA clicked off, leaving a tense silence behind as Kanan turned to Rex, his expression unusually grave.

“Rex,” Kanan began softly, his tone laced with sorrow, “I think I know who that Jedi was. I only met her a handful of times, but…”

“It’s okay,” Rex replied quietly, his voice tight as he tucked his helmet under his arm. He didn’t meet Kanan’s gaze, focusing instead on the battlefield ahead.

Kanan nodded, sensing Rex’s reluctance to dwell on it, and straightened his shoulders. “Since you have more battlefield experience than either of us, you’ll lead.”

Rex inhaled deeply, trying to shake the storm of emotions swirling inside him. He needed to focus. To free her. To make sure she was okay, but doubt gnawed at him. Could she have survived after so many years in carbonite? The thought twisted in his gut, but he pushed it aside. There was no time for doubt now.

“Alright,” Rex said, clearing his throat as he straightened his stance. His tone was firm and commanding. “Our first goal is to get inside the hangar. That tactical droid is programmed to kill, and he’s got the numbers and firepower to back it up. Our only chance is to hit him hard, fast, and put him on the defensive.”

“How many droids do you think he has?” Ezra asked, his voice tinged with unease.

The tactical droid’s voice interrupted them once again: “The final battle will begin now.”

Blaster fire erupted from the distant lines, forcing the trio into motion.

“He’s got a lot of droids!” Kanan called out, igniting his lightsaber and stepping into a defensive stance as the bolts began flying toward them.

“We’ve gotta scatter them!” Rex yelled, pulling his helmet over his head as he drew his blaster. “Sword and shield maneuver!”

“The what?” Ezra asked, mimicking Kanan’s stance igniting his lightsaber.

“We block, he fires!” Kanan explained quickly, deflecting a flurry of blaster bolts with practiced precision.

“Duck!” Rex shouted, pulling a proton bomb from his belt and hurling it toward the advancing droid army. The explosion scattered debris and droid parts in every direction, briefly disrupting their ranks.

“Again!” Rex called, lobbing another bomb into the chaos before opening fire with his pistols. “That’ll scatter them—everybody move forward!”

Kanan and Ezra moved in sync, their sabers slicing through the droids with ease as they advanced.

“Stay together!” Rex barked, his voice sharp as he caught Ezra glancing back at him. The young Jedi hesitated, then quickly fell into formation, keeping pace with the group.

When the first wave of droids was finally cleared, they ducked behind a set of crates for cover. Ezra peered around cautiously, scanning the area.

“Looks clear. Let’s go,” Ezra said, moving to step out—but Rex’s hand shot out, gripping his arm and pulling him back.

“Wait,” Rex muttered, frowning under his helmet as he leaned around the edge of the crate. “That’s not how it normally goes.”

“What do you mean?” Ezra asked, confused.

“Droids usually keep coming—wave after wave,” Rex explained, his brows furrowed in suspicion.

“Well, that tactical droid’s had plenty of time to plan this,” Kanan pointed out. “Remember, he wants to win.”

“Winning means that much to him?” Ezra asked, surprised.

“Yeah, means a lot to his programming,” Rex replied, his voice quieter now. “But it means a lot to my programming, too.”

Ezra raised a brow, Rex’s choice of words catching him off guard. “Your… programming?” he asked hesitantly.

“We clones were bred for combat,” Rex said, his tone heavy with sorrow. “For most of us, there was no other way of life. With a few exceptions, it’s all we’ve ever known.”

Kanan reached over and placed a hand on Rex’s shoulder, grounding him. “We should move,” the Jedi said gently, breaking the moment.

Rex nodded, snapping himself out of his thoughts. “Right, Commander,” he said automatically, before correcting himself. “I—I mean, Kanan.”

With that, the trio pressed on, moving deeper into the hangar. The stillness of the droid ranks only made Rex more wary. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the image of her frozen in carbonite lingered, fueling his resolve to see this through to the end. More droids poured from the door ahead, their blasters lighting up the dim hangar. Above, destroyer droids rolled into position, their shields flaring to life as they rained fire down from the walkways.

“Ezra, get back!” Kanan shouted, urgency thick in his voice.

Blaster bolts hissed past as Kanan and Rex dove behind a stack of crates for cover. Ezra darted in another direction, slipping out of sight just before a fresh wave of droids charged in.

Rex cursed under his breath, peering over the crates. A volley of bolts forced him to duck again, frustration etched on his face. “Where’s Ezra?” he barked, anger rising. “Damn it, we’re being pinned down! We need to move—now!”

Before Kanan could stop him, Rex sprang up from their cover, his voice a ferocious roar as he stormed into the open.

"Rex, no!" Kanan yelled, reaching out to grab him, but his hand grasped only air as Rex charged into the open.

A blaster bolt struck Rex's upper arm, the searing heat slicing through his armor. He staggered, clutching the wound for a brief moment as pain flared through his body, but sheer determination kept him moving. Teeth gritted, he powered forward, fury fueling each step.

Kanan had no choice but to follow, igniting his lightsaber as he sprinted after Rex. The green blade flashed, deflecting incoming blaster fire with precision as bolts rained down from every direction.

Above them, the metal walkway groaned ominously, the supports straining under the weight of the destroyer droids perched on it. Suddenly, the creaking gave way to a thunderous crash. The walkway collapsed, smashing into the droid forces below and sending debris, sparks, and smoke billowing into the air. The hangar reverberated with the sound of destruction as silence briefly fell over the battlefield, save for the settling of shattered metal.

“Well, that went as planned… more or less,” Ezra’s voice called out, full of pride, as he emerged from the rubble, brushing himself off. He jogged toward Kanan and Rex, a satisfied grin on his face. “I make a pretty good spoiler, huh?”

“No!” Rex snapped, his voice thunderous as he rounded on the young Jedi. He loomed over Ezra, his fury palpable. “A good soldier follows orders! That plan relied on timing and execution—and you took too long!”

Ezra took a step back, his grin fading as Rex advanced on him, his blasters still clutched tightly in his hands.

“But Chopper—” Ezra started, his voice defensive.

“This isn’t a game!” Rex shouted, his voice cracking with raw emotion. His grip on his blasters tightened, his knuckles white. “This is life and death! I can’t—” He faltered, inhaling sharply, his voice lowering into a pained growl. “I will not lose her again. Every move you make affects the rest of us. If we’re going to do this, we’ll do it with strategy and discipline.”

Ezra stood frozen, guilt flickering across his face as Rex turned on his heel, his rigid posture radiating anger and determination. Blood from the grazing wound on his arm stained the edge of his armor, but Rex didn’t seem to notice—or didn’t care. Without another word, the clone pushed forward, leading them through the corridor ahead.

“It’s not you,” Kanan said softly, placing a calming hand on Ezra’s shoulder. “He needs to finish this battle his way. There’s… a lot you won’t understand right now. But in time, you will.”

Ezra glanced at Kanan, uncertainty in his eyes, before nodding. Without another word, Kanan moved after Rex, his calm, steady presence a contrast to the storm raging within the clone. After a moment’s hesitation, Ezra followed, keeping close behind as they advanced deeper into the corridor.

———

Rex blasted through a cluster of droids blocking the corridor, his determination driving him forward with relentless force. The blaster bolts from his pistols cut a path through the metal ranks, his focus razor-sharp. Tossing a smoke bomb into the advancing droid forces, Rex barely broke stride as the thick cloud hindered their visibility, allowing him to fire as he pushed ahead.

Kanan and Ezra followed closely, their lightsabers cutting down any remaining droids that Rex left in his wake. Finally, they reached the command center. Without hesitation, Rex burst through the door and immediately fired, disarming the tactical droid with a single, well-placed shot that sent the weapon skidding across the floor.

Rex tore off his helmet and tossed it aside as he stormed forward. His blaster was already leveled, its barrel pressed firmly against the tactical droid’s neck. His voice was low, almost a growl, as a grim, satisfied grin spread across his face. “Looks like we win,” he sneered.

“Negative, Captain,” the tactical droid replied evenly, its voice devoid of fear. Its hand rose in motion, gesturing to a battle droid standing behind it. The droid raised its weapon, aiming squarely at Zeb, who stood restrained to the side of the room.

Rex’s jaw tightened, his teeth grinding audibly as his muscles tensed. A snarl escaped his throat, his blaster never wavering from the tactical droid’s neck.

For a fleeting moment, his eyes flicked to the carbonite block standing nearby, his hardened expression faltering. There she was, preserved in perfect stillness, her face a haunting reminder of everything he thought he’d lost. The weight of her presence bore down on him, threatening to shatter the walls he’d so carefully built to contain his feelings.

But Rex couldn’t afford to falter now. He forced his focus back on the tactical droid, his grip tightening on the blaster as the standoff reached its boiling point.

“Rex,” Ezra said, stepping forward and gripping his shoulder, “we didn’t win because of skill. These droids are ancient—practically falling apart.” He gently moved Rex back, positioning himself between him and the tactical droid. “If they weren’t, we’d be dead right now.”

Rex hesitated, his anger fading as Ezra’s words sank in. He glanced at the young Jedi, then gave a brief, reluctant nod.

“The boy is correct,” the tactical droid interjected. “The droid army would have prevailed during the Clone Wars had it not been for our shutdown. Technically, we were victorious.”

“No,” Ezra countered sharply. “You didn’t win either. The Jedi were wiped out, the clones were decommissioned, and the droid army was shut down. If neither side won… then who did?” He frowned, his gaze dropping as he tried to piece it together.

“The Empire,” Zeb said from across the room.

Ezra’s eyes widened. “Wait… yeah. Zeb, how did you figure that out?”

Zeb tilted his head toward the window, his bound hands pointing as best they could. “Because they’re here.”

The group turned as the distant hum of engines grew deafening. A fleet of Imperial ships descended toward the command center, their ominous silhouettes blotting out the sky.

Rex moved quickly to the window, his fists clenched. He huffed in frustration, shoving his blaster into its holster. His gaze flicked back to the carbonite block, his thoughts distant as the others continued to debate their next move. Their voices faded into the background as his steps slowed. Rex approached the block, his expression softening, pain etched in every line of his face. He reached out, his fingers lightly grazing the cold surface, tracing her frozen cheek. Tears burned his eyes, but he blinked them away.

“Droid,” Rex barked, his voice echoing across the command room. He pointed to a nearby battle droid. “Turn this thing on.”

The battle droid hesitated, glancing toward its commander. The tactical droid gave a slight wave of approval, and the battle droid moved to comply. Rex stepped back, his heart pounding as he waited. He stood motionless, his heart pounding in his chest as the carbonite block began to warm. A faint hiss escaped the edges as the metal encasing her slowly melted away, the once-solid barrier softening to reveal her form within. His breath hitched when her body began to shift, slumping forward. Instinctively, he stepped closer, catching her before she could collapse.

Her weight was slight in his arms, too still, too lifeless. Panic clawed at him as he lowered her gently to the floor, cradling her fragile frame. His gloved hand brushed the damp hair away from her face, his voice breaking as he whispered, “Come on… don’t do this to me.”

For a moment, he pressed his ear to her chest, listening desperately for any sign of life. The silence was deafening. Her skin was pale, clammy against his fingertips. His grip tightened as he pulled her closer, his voice trembling. “Breathe. Please—breathe.”

Then, a loud, rasping gasp broke the quiet. Her chest heaved, her body convulsing as if she were fighting to wrench herself free from invisible chains. Her eyes snapped open, wide with fear, her pupils darting wildly in search of something familiar. Her back arched sharply, and her trembling hands clawed at Rex’s chest plate, gripping the cool durasteel like it was her only anchor.

“It’s okay,” Rex murmured, his tone urgent yet soothing. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

She blinked rapidly, her vision unfocused and clouded by the aftereffects of her imprisonment. Her lips parted, but no words came, only shallow, erratic breaths as if the very air around her was unfamiliar. Her body shook violently, chills coursing through her as cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

“I—can’t see,” she gasped, her voice weak, barely audible. Panic laced her words, and her head jerked to the side, as though she were trying to orient herself in the dark.

Rex adjusted his hold, his arms wrapping protectively around her trembling frame. “You’ve been in carbonite,” he explained, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions within him. “The blindness—it’s temporary. Just focus on breathing. I’m here.”

She pressed her forehead against his chest, her grip tightening as her breathing began to slow, though the tremors in her body remained. Rex’s heart ached at the sight of her. He shifted slightly, shielding her from the chaos around them, as if to create a bubble of calm amidst the turmoil.

“It’s going to be okay,” he promised, his voice low and firm. “You’re back now. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Her shaking eased ever so slightly, though she still clung to him as if letting go would send her spiraling back into the void.

“Guys, I’m happy for the reunion, but we’ve got to go!” Ezra shouted from across the command center, his voice tinged with urgency. “We’ve got walkers inbound!”

Rex snapped his head toward the window, his eyes narrowing as he spotted two Imperial ships descending, their ramps releasing the hulking forms of four AT-AT walkers. The machines landed heavily, their imposing silhouettes framed against the chaotic sky.

He didn’t hesitate. Tightening his grip, Rex hoisted her into his arms, cradling her protectively. She stirred weakly, her fingers gripping his armor as she buried her face into his chest.

“Hold on tight,” he rasped, his voice soft but commanding. He adjusted his hold to ensure she was secure, then turned toward the exit, following the Jedi as they moved with urgency. “Got a plan for how we’re getting out of here?”

Ezra slowed his pace slightly to jog alongside Rex. “Yeah, we’ve got one,” he said, glancing at the soldier and his unconscious cargo. “We’re gonna set up a few proton bombs at the hangar entrance. Me and Kanan will deflect the droids’ blaster fire to trigger them. Once we’ve got an opening, we run straight to the ships chopper found, take off, and then it’s home sweet home.” He flashed a cocky grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood despite the dire situation.

Rex grunted, his focus elsewhere. “Sounds… workable,” he muttered, though it was clear his mind wasn’t entirely on the plan. He glanced down at her face, pale and drawn, and his grip tightened. He wasn’t in the mood to debate whose idea it was or how risky it might be. Right now, his only priority was keeping her safe.

As the sound of the walkers’ thudding steps grew louder, Rex shifted his focus back to the task at hand. “Just make sure those bombs work,” he said grimly, his voice edged with steel.

Ezra nodded, his smirk fading as the weight of the situation settled in. “Don’t worry. We’ve got this.”

When they reached the hangar, the droids were already in motion, carefully positioning the proton bombs at key points near the entrance. Once their task was complete, they fell back into formation, awaiting further orders. Kanan and Ezra moved to their positions, igniting their lightsabers in unison. The hum of the blades cut through the tension as they stood ready, watching the walkers lumber closer with every heavy step.

Rex, however, didn’t stop to strategize. He headed straight for one of the ships Chopper had prepped for takeoff, his steps quick and purposeful. Inside, he gently placed Y/N into one of the seats, her body still weak and trembling. His hands moved to strap her into the harness, ensuring she was secure.

As he leaned back to assess her, her hand suddenly reached up, surprising him. Her cold fingers brushed against his jaw, cupping his face as she tilted her head slightly.

“Rex,” she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her half-lidded eyes squinted, slowly adjusting to the harsh, artificial lighting of the ship’s interior. Her fingertips grazed his beard, pausing as her brows furrowed slightly. “You… stopped shaving your face?”

For a moment, Rex was caught off guard, the tension in his chest loosening ever so slightly. A small chuckle escaped him, low and warm. “Yeah, guess I did,” he said, his voice gentler now. “Been a while since I had time to worry about that.”

Her lips twitched, forming the ghost of a smile as her thumb brushed over the coarse hair. “It suits you,” she murmured, her voice faint but sincere, before her hand dropped back to her lap, too weak to hold itself up any longer.

Rex’s smile faded slightly as he watched her struggle to keep her eyes open, her exhaustion taking over. He placed a hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You just rest now,” he said softly. “I’ll get us out of here.”

He stood, taking one last glance at her before turning back to the chaos outside. His face hardened once more as he headed for the exit, his hand instinctively moving to his holstered blaster.

“Kanan, Ezra,” Rex barked as he rejoined the others, his voice sharp. “How much longer?”

“Just waiting for the walkers to get in range,” Kanan called back, his lightsaber held steady in front of him. “Once they’re close enough, we’ll trigger the chain reaction.”

“They’re almost there!” Ezra added, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple as the sound of metallic footsteps grew louder and louder.

Rex nodded grimly, positioning himself to cover their retreat. “Let’s make this count.”

Ezra nodded to Rex, his jaw tightening as he peered around Kanan to watch the walkers draw closer. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation as the massive machines loomed ever nearer. Every second felt like an eternity until, finally, Ezra yelled, “Now!”

Blaster fire erupted, filling the hangar with deafening noise. Kanan and Ezra moved in perfect synchrony, their lightsabers spinning and flashing as they deflected the droids’ shots. Each redirected bolt struck the proton bombs precisely, and within moments, the first explosion tore through the hangar. The blast set off a violent chain reaction, flames erupting and consuming everything in their wake.

“Move!” Kanan shouted, and the group bolted toward the ships.

Rex sprinted up the ramp and into the cockpit, dropping into the pilot’s chair without hesitation. His hands moved swiftly across the controls, flipping switches and igniting the engines. As the ship roared to life, the blast doors buckled under the explosions, sending thick clouds of smoke flooding into the hangar. The haze obscured everything, making it nearly impossible to see as Rex maneuvered the ship toward the exit.

Behind them, the droid-piloted ships scrambled to take off, their engines sputtering as they too tried to escape the chaos. The looming silhouettes of the walkers appeared briefly through the smoke, their massive forms shifting as they fired wildly in an attempt to stop the fleeing ships.

“BT-628! Flank right! Flank right!” Rex roared into the comms, his voice urgent as he spotted one of the droid ships veering dangerously close to a walker.

But it was too late. The ship clipped the leg of the walker with a loud, grating screech of metal, spinning out of control. For a moment, it hung in the air, engines stalling, before crashing to the ground in a fiery explosion.

“Damn it!” Rex growled, his knuckles white as he gripped the controls. Smoke filled the viewports, and alarms blared in the cockpit as he fought to keep their own ship steady.

“Hang on!” he barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. With a sharp turn, he steered the ship hard to the left, narrowly avoiding another walker as it fired blindly into the smoke. The engines roared as Rex pushed them to their limits, breaking through the haze just in time to see the Imperial fleet looming ahead.

He gritted his teeth, hands steady on the controls as he calculated their trajectory. “We’re not stopping now,” he muttered, pushing the ship into a steep climb. The engines strained, the ship shuddering under the pressure, but Rex didn’t relent.

With a final burst of speed, they punched through the fleet’s outer perimeter, narrowly dodging a volley of laser fire as they soared into open space.

The cockpit fell quiet for a moment, save for the hum of the engines. Rex exhaled slowly, his grip loosening on the controls. He glanced over his shoulder toward the passenger compartment, his mind immediately returning to the figure strapped into the seat.

———

Rex leaned over the holographic table, his brows furrowed as his hand absently stroked his thick white beard. He tried to keep himself busy, to focus on the glowing display before him, but it was no use. His mind kept circling back to Y/N. She was finally back. When he brought her to Atollon, he’d left her in the care of the small medical team the Rebels could spare. He let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose before stepping away from the table.

“Everything okay?” Kanan’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

“That easy to tell?” Rex asked, turning toward the Jedi. His gaze lingered on Kanan’s sightless eyes and the scar that crossed his face.

“Well, it’s kinda hard to ignore,” Kanan said, crossing his arms. His blind gaze seemed to pierce through Rex, as if seeing something no one else could. “You know, she’d love to see you.” His voice softened.

“I know. I—” Rex’s throat tightened at the thought. Since bringing her here, he’d stayed away. Afraid. He wasn’t the same clone she remembered. He was older now, and the years had left their mark on him in more ways than one.

“She’s handling things well, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Kanan said, one brow raised.

Rex held back a grunt. He hated how the Jedi always seemed to read his thoughts, even though he knew Kanan couldn’t actually hear them.

“It’s not that…” Rex mumbled, his gaze dropping to the ground as his fists clenched at his sides. “I knew she’d handle waking up years later well enough. And I’m sure she’s still trying to wrap her head around the Jedi being gone… but… things between us are going to be more than different.”

Kanan stepped forward, placing a hand on Rex’s shoulder. His expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“You’re overthinking it, Rex,” he said gently. “A lot has changed for everyone, but that doesn’t mean she’d turn you away.”

Rex hesitated, his eyes meeting Kanan’s sightless gaze. The Jedi’s words echoed in his mind, each one carrying more weight than he wanted to admit. After a moment, he let out a breath and gave a small nod.

“Okay,” Rex said softly. “Okay… I’ll go see her.”

Rex’s legs moved before his mind could catch up, his thoughts still racing. Overthinking wouldn’t stop—not now, not ever. As he approached the tent marking the medical area, he came to a halt before the flaps. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. Finally, with a deep breath, he lifted the flap and stepped inside.

The moment his eyes landed on her, it felt like all the air had been sucked from his lungs. Even now, after everything, she was breathtaking. When her head turned toward him, he caught the faint sparkle in her eyes—the one he thought he’d never see again.

“Comm— Y/N,” Rex stammered, correcting himself quickly as he stepped closer to the cot where she sat. The silence between them stretched, heavy and tense, as his gaze darted between her face and the thin sheets draped over her.

“Commander Rex,” she greeted softly, shifting her weight to sit up straighter. Her voice, though weak, carried a warmth that immediately reached him. “I hear it’s been… a long time.”

“It—it has been,” Rex replied just as softly, his voice thick with emotion.

“You’ve aged,” she observed with a faint smile, her tone gentle, not teasing.

“You haven’t changed a day,” Rex replied, his voice barely above a whisper. A weak, sorrowful smile flickered across his lips as his eyes traced the contours of her face. But his expression quickly fell. “I’m sorry for not coming after you sooner. If I had known—” His words tumbled out, frantic, like he was trying to purge years of guilt.

“How could you have known?” she interrupted gently, her voice steady but soothing as she reached out and took his hand. “What happened to me was before Order 66. Rescuing me wasn’t an option after that. Don’t blame yourself for what you couldn’t control.”

Her reassuring smile was like a balm to his frayed nerves, though her words still weighed heavily on him. He clasped her hand tightly, afraid that if he let go, she might disappear again. Slowly, he sat down on the edge of the cot, his grip on her hand firm, as if anchoring them both to the moment.

“I still should have been there,” he mumbled, his gaze shifting from their joined hands to her eyes.

“I’m here now,” she said softly, placing her other hand over his and brushing her thumb across the back of his hand in a soothing motion. “That’s all that matters.”

Rex fell silent, savoring the warmth of her touch. Deep down, he knew the dynamic of their relationship had already changed, and the thought pained him. But for now, he was content. She was here, alive, and that was enough.

Before he realized it, she had pushed herself up from beneath the sheets and wrapped her arms tightly around him. His breath hitched as he instinctively pulled her closer, his head resting against her shoulder. Her warmth, her presence, was overwhelming, and he buried his face into her as tears pricked at his eyes.

“I missed you,” he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions.

“I missed you too,” she murmured, holding him just as tightly.

And in that moment, the weight of years and regrets seemed to fade, if only for a little while.

[vodika-vibes]

i love the love for the relatively obscure corries on this blog, personally i love stone bc the episode with him is so damn funny.... he was kicking ass and protecting jar jar but he wasn't having any of his loony tunes nonsense, he's rlly a perfect man!

It Will Be A Privilege

Summary: Stone loves you. You know this. You’ve known this since the day you first met him, and he looked at you like you hung the stars. But stress and poor health have aged you prematurely, and you can’t help but be worried.

Pairing: Commander Stone x F!Reader

Word Count: 988

Prompt: Whiskey, Grey hair, and warm hands

Warnings: Some insecurity, but mostly just fluff

A/N: Confession, I am very, very sick and have been for the last three days, but I wrote this, and the other store I wrote today, because I needed to focus on that and not how bad I feel. Anyway. I don't think this was a request, but I turned it into one anyway. Yay for the Corries! I love them so much~

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 The home you share with Stone is filled with soft music and warmth. There’s a fire crackling in the fireplace, and it is easy to forget about the snowstorm raging outside when everything is so warm and inviting inside.

You know that if you were to leave the bathroom and head into the main part of the house, you would see Stone stretched out on the couch, dressed down in lounge pants and an old tee shirt while nursing a small glass of whiskey that your father gifted him when the war ended.

In fact, if you close your eyes, you can even see the scene.

Stone stretched out, peaceful and relaxed, his shirt riding up to expose his stomach with how he’s stretched out. His foot bouncing in time to the music, while he holds a datapad in his free hand and reads the most recent draft of your latest mystery novel.

The fire in the fireplace paints him in a warm light, and, in your mind’s eye, he looks like a deity.

And, as soon as you leave the bathroom, you can see him for yourself. You can drape yourself over him, steal a sip of his drink, and tuck your head under his chin. Stone will wrap his arms around you, and kiss the top of your head…and the both of you will be happy.

You will.

And yet—

And yet, you can’t seem to bring yourself to leave the bathroom.

Your gaze darts across your face in the mirror, picking out flaws that you know Stone doesn’t see, and then your gaze moves up to your hair. There, glittering under the harsh fluorescent lights, are grey hairs.

You can’t hide them anymore.

And it makes you want to cry.

You’ve been sick for years now, and the stress of your illness and trying to make a living while also battling your health has taken its toll on you. And while a part of you is sure that Stone won’t mind, the large majority of your mind is screaming that he won’t want you anymore now that you’re showing signs of aging.

And losing him might actually kill you.

You jump when you hear a light knock on the door, “Cyare?” You press your hand over your racing heart, “Everything alright? You’ve been in there for a bit.”

“Oh, um…yeah. Everything’s fine,” You take a deep, silent, breath and then walk over and open the bathroom door, “Sorry for worrying you.”

Stone smiles down at you, his gaze warm and adoring, a look reserved for you and you alone. “I always worry about you,” He replies, his hand coming up to cup your face and then sliding into your hair. 

You smile up at him, “I know you do, and I love you for it.” His hands are warm, he’s clearly been lounging in front of the fireplace, and you don’t stop yourself from leaning into his sturdy frame. “You’re warm.”

“You could be warm too if you came to cuddle with me on the couch.” Stone points out with a quiet laugh as his free arm slides, securely, around your waist, “I have some comments on your story?”

“Good comments, I hope?”

He presses his nose into your hair, “I think you’re plucky lady detective needs a handsome partner to help her.” Stone pulls away for a moment to look you in your eyes, “In other words, she needs a me.”

You laugh softly, “Finish the story and then come back to me on that.” You tease lightly, and his arm tightens around your waist.

“Ah, there it is.”

You tilt your head, curious.

“You weren’t happy. That’s illegal, didn’t you know?”

Honestly, you don’t know why you’re surprised. He can read you better than anyone, so of course he can tell that you aren’t happy. “Well,” You start, “If Commander Stone says so, then it must be true.”

Stone lightly kisses you and then guides you from the bathroom and out of the bedroom, until you’re standing in the middle of the living room.

“What’s bothering you, cyar’ika?” Stone asks as he slides his hands to settle on your waist.

Without your permission, your lips turn down into an unhappy frown. Though the frown fades slightly when he starts swaying with you to the music. “My hair—” You start, though you don’t finish the sentence.

Stone doesn’t stop dancing with you, even as his sharp gaze moves to examine your locks, “It looks the same as ever.” He finally announces, “Perfect, just like you.”

You shake your head, “My hair is going grey, Stone. That’s not perfect.”

His smile doesn’t waver, “Is that what’s bothering you?”

You frown at him, though you’re not annoyed with him. You just don’t understand his question. Of course it’s bothering you. Your hair is what makes you…you.

“Let me be clear,” Stone murmurs, his voice warm and quiet, “I will love you no matter what. I don’t love you for your hair, I love you for you. Whether it’s black or white or you shave it all off. I’ll love you all the same.”

“But—”

He stops you with a gentle finger pressed against your lips, “It will be a privilege to grow old with you.”

You stare at him, shocked at his words, “Stone,” His name is a breathy whisper on your lips.

“I will be here, for as long as you’ll have me.” He promises, and you believe him.

You smile up at him, tears in your eyes, “That almost sounds like a proposal, Stone.”

Warm hands slide up your sides to cup your face, and he leans in and kisses you, slow and deep. “Nothing would make me happier than becoming your husband.” He whispers against your lips.

And finally, a real smile crosses your face as the last of your fears vanishes as though they never existed, “Yes, Stone. I’ll definitely marry you.”

@imabeautifulbutterfly @n0vqni

@bad4amficideas

@justiceandwar98

@Mira-Loves-Star-Wars

@tiredbi-peach

@dukeoftheblackstar

@trixie2023

@Kimiheartblade

@padawancat97

@falconfeather23435

@etod

@bb8-99

@kiss-anon

@continous-mistakes

@yoitsjay

@liz-stat

@cc--2224

[stereopticons]

On This Day in Schitt's Creek: April 30

2019

(maybe i won't) die alone [david/patrick, G, 2,203] by my_middle_name_is_awkward

He had given up years ago, assuming he would never find someone that would put up with him for longer than a few weeks, but Patrick was still here and he didn’t seem to be wanting any sort of out. Maybe he wouldn’t die alone after all. Maybe he was finally going to be lucky enough for someone to stay, and he would be even luckier if that person ended up being Patrick Brewer.

An Offer [david/patrick, T, 3,711] by @stargatewars

The Rose's receive an offer to sell the town. Patrick worries that David will chose his old life over the life they have built together.

Hold Me Tight or Don't [david/patrick, E, 1,227] by orphan_account

David is a distracting little shit.

My Poor Heart Will Only Surrender [david/patrick, T, 3,880] by davidspatrick

The evolution of David's thoughts on children.

Overreacting [david/patrick, M, 17,100] by @codswalloping

David deals with a health scare, very calmly and maturely and without panicking at all.

Tearing Down Walls [david/patrick, E, 2,919] by @thefirstmrshummel

David had always had one hard and fast rule when it comes to sex. Falling in love with Patrick makes him want to break it for the first time.

Two Old-Fashioned Guys [david/patrick, G, 2,464] by hollybibble

The day after his and David's first kiss, Patrick is surprised to learn that David and Stevie have a more complicated past than he realized. Takes place post S04 E0- Dead Guy in Room 4.

2020

About Last Night [david & stevie, T, 175] by @this-is-not-nothing

@ emerald 🕶gave the prompt "David has dinner with Stevie the evening after Pregnancy Test. Stevie wants deets"

Adore [ted/alexis, NR, 7,583] by @maxbegone

She takes a deep breath in, eyes closed. “Alexis?” She opens them again to see, in all his glory and running gear, Ted Mullens standing across the path from her. - It's been three years since Alexis moved to New York. It has to mean something now that Ted's here, right?

Behave [david/patrick, E, 985] by @mickeysmyheart

24: “Behave."98: “If I have to pull over, you won't be able to walk for the next week.”

Don't Ask, Don't Tell [david & stevie, G, 39] by @neelyo67

David & Stevie are best friends.

Feather Light [david/patrick, E, 2,175] by @dazedwriter1

Set during Season 6, episode 11 "Escape Room". David and Patrick get a chance for some alone time in between the escape room and the Wobbly Elm. Porn without plot ensues, with some use of David's feather tiara.

Uninvited [david/patrick, M, 17,511] by unkindravens

Stevie’s mother and her boyfriend unexpectedly visit. This results in a fake David and Stevie marriage and a thruple situation with Patrick.

2021

and my task's but begun [twyla & her mother, T, 16,109] by @treepyful

Twyla was seven years old and missing a front tooth when her father left. *** A look into Twyla's stories.

April 2021 Twylexis Drabbles: Schitt Happens Bingo [alexis/twyla, E, 3,005] by TwylasCafeTropical

30 drabbles to spotlight Twylexis using prompts from the Schitt Happens Bingo board created by davidbrewer on tumblr. Drabbles are written by an assortment of Twylexis authors! These drabbles are all stand-alone, and are not necessarily intended to be continuations of each other. We'll add tags and adjust the rating as needed, and we'll also link each drabble's author and specific rating at the top of each chapter. Hope you enjoy them!

Buttered Hearts [david/patrick, T, 1,718] by redwineandqueer

There’s no one else in the bakery except for a man behind the counter with his back turned to David. “Just one minute,” the man calls and David hums in response, distracted by the dizzying array of baked goods on display in the glass case in front of him. His eyes fall on a tray of butter tarts and his stomach growls audibly. ***A very Canadian meet-cute.

In the Running [stevie/twyla, M, 3,587] by @floosilver8

Fulfilling one of the example prompts for the ROMANTIC TROPES category. Stevie and Twyla run against each other for Town Council.

Listen to Me [david/patrick, E, 2,024] by @dazedwriter1

Patrick arrives home early from a seminar only to find David at home watching porn. Patrick joins him, opening a video that he's been enjoying lately, one that hints at a fantasy he has.

Make a Wish [david/patrick, T, 26,666] by @agoodpersonrose

Patrick Brewer is lost. He's lost in his relationship with Rachel, he's lost in himself. So, finding a magical ring box, and a genie that will grant his heart's wishes should be a dream come true. Except David turns out to be a little more than just that. OR, the Genie/Fairy Godmother!David fic nobody asked for ✨

No Dress Rehearsals [patrick & ted, G, 3,770] by @kindofspecificstore

Life Happens to Ted and Patrick, and music is one of the things that helps them through it. Discovering a mutual love for the Tragically Hip forges a kind of friendship neither of them had before. Or, just two boys talking about their feelings in a Tim Horton's parking lot.

Taste of a Poison Paradise [alexis/twyla, M, 15,107] by @lilythesilly

“Where have you been?” Stevie yells, kicking someone in the face and sending them over the railing. “Stealing fireworks,” Rachel grunts, grabbing a stray piece of pipe off of the floor and bringing another one of them to their knees before delivering a swift roundhouse kick to their face. “Oooh, these are fireworks?” Alexis grins with a small shimmy. “Love that for us.” Green vines encircle the railings and Twyla jumps over it a second later. “I got the cane plus some other stuff,” she says, tossing it and another bag to Alexis and wrapping one of the ones around a guy trying to climb the railing to get up to them, dropping him onto the floor. “Let’s go.” -- Be gay do crimes but make it a Harley Quinn AU

Through Someone Else's Eyes [alexis & david, T, 1,351] by @kiwiana-writes

It's all Mr Hockley's fault. The tea was supposed to get him high, not make him wake up in his sister's body.

You Look Like a Movie, You Sound Like a Song [david/patrick, E, 18,683] by @fishyspots

David has often wished, at first seriously and then more cynically as he grew older, that his life was a rom com. It takes longer than he'd like, frankly, but the universe calls his bluff.

2022

Perfect [stevie/alexis, M, 7,633] by icantbestill29

Alexis and Stevie figure it out. A sequel to She

Selfie [stevie/alexis, T, 518] by ticklishraspberries

Alexis wants to take a selfie, but Stevie doesn’t want to smile

Sometimes When We Touch [david/patrick, G, 1,329] by @fictasticvoyage

After noticing something David does, Patrick gets all up in his own head and it causes a bit of an argument. But they communicate and everything works out just fine in the end.

The MVP (again? Ugh.) [david/patrick, G, 205] by @delilah-mcmuffin

David finds himself donning a familiar ensemble. He is not happy about it. From the prompt: someone says “I can’t believe you talked me into this…”

The Origin of Love [david/patrick, T, 3,454] by HowOldAreWe

David lowered his voice and turned his head toward Patrick. “I think the gods have been exaggerating their powers to scare us into submission. And to keep extorting meat from us, of course.” “I suppose it’s possible,” Patrick allowed carefully. He didn’t think he agreed, but it was always hard to resist David’s sway. Though their heads and thoughts were their own, sharing a body meant that David’s feelings, the way he experienced his emotions physically, always seeped into Patrick’s own. And once whatever David was feeling had rolled like a wave into Patrick’s chest, up his neck, and into his brain, he couldn’t help but see David’s point with total empathy. And right now he was excited and scared.

2023

Beware the Frozen Heart [david/patrick, T, 35,904] by swift_wind

Patrick feels it as soon as the door opens. Yes there’s a draft, but suddenly he’s *frozen*. He’s so cold he’s burning up, and he grips the table with his hands as his head is pulled toward the open door. The man stepping through. —- In this soulmate AU, a closeted Patrick is captivated by a brooding stranger nursing a very cold drink. Oh, and David is Elsa from Frozen.

Promises, promises [david/patrick, E, 1,428] by @a-noble-dragon

David watched the play of expressions over his husband's face. He'd never get tired of seeing Patrick like this. The beauty of Patrick's face as he fell apart from the touch of David's hand was incredible. The depth of emotion vying with pleasure that was contained in those big soulful eyes was unforgettable. And it was all because of David.

2024

April is a promise [david/patrick, T, 3,000] by @fakingsincerity

David and Patrick share small moments together, every day in April. ---- An April drabble-a-day project.

Sleepwalking [david/patrick, M, 669] by @character-assassination-at-9am

The first time David and Patrick visit the Brewers, Marcy has questions about the sleeping arrangements. Confusion, misunderstandings, and straight-up lies are revealed. Takes place not long after MTP

Stats:

No fanworks for 2017 or 2018 2019: 5 fics/33,504 words 2020: 6 fics/26,468 words 2021: 10 fics/92,020 words 2022: 5 fics/13,139 words 2023: 2 fics/37,332 words 2024: 2 fics/3,669 words Total: 30 fics/208,132 words

[tia-amorosa]

Episode 40: Bulletproof (Part 1/2)

When Zelda arrived back at her house, she noticed something unusual. And she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Roman had told her a while ago that the belongings of soldiers who never returned home were sent back to their families. “No… Please don't…” she gasped softly.

She came closer and immediately realized that it was Roman's backpack. The lump rising in her throat was hard to swallow. “It can't be and… why are they sending it to me? It should have been…” her knees suddenly softened and gave way. “R-Roman…” she couldn't think straight for a moment. She just wondered once again why they hadn't sent the backpack to his relatives instead of to her.

After landing on the floor with her knees, she was suddenly overcome with tears. And she began to cry profusely. No more words, just uncontrollable sobbing and whimpering. For two or three minutes…until she suddenly heard footsteps and a dark, deep voice. “wow, man, what happened? Someone died, babe?”. For a brief moment she felt like she couldn't breathe.

Zelda looked to the side and couldn't quite believe her eyes. But then she took a deep breath and realized that her strength was returning to her legs. Then she slowly stood up, still crying a little. “oh my god…"/ ”what? I was only at the back for five minutes to have a smoke… And then I find you here like a pile of misery. I wanted to surprise you"/ „asshole!.“.

“Hey, why asshole? What have I done?"/ ”That's exactly the problem, you've done NOTHING! You haven't contacted me for several days… I…"/ ”Whou, hey, there's a pretty good reason for that, blondie! My phone is fucked up and if it wasn't fucked up, I wouldn't be standing here right now! Come on, I wanted a sexy hug”…

After releasing her emotional pressure, she wiped the tears from her face, sobbing, but also after and ran into his arms. “Please, don't ever, ever do that to me again, do you hear me? I… I really thought…"/ ”What, that I bit the dust? No one's going to kill me that easily, you know that… Ow man, Babe”.

Zelda was more than relieved to see him alive and to be able to hug him. Nevertheless, the last few days were probably the worst she had experienced since that terrible catastrophe. “Man, you really are a chick, honestly. Can we go inside now, I really need to pee, but I didn't want to do it in your bushes. And then I'll give you an explanation”

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

After the two of them had gone into the house and Roman had put his backpack down, he quickly disappeared into the toilet for a few minutes. He already knew his way around the house, so he didn't have to ask where he needed to go. When he came back out, Zelda was standing in front of him in the kitchen with a look on her face that reminded him of a small dog that had just done something wrong. “I'm sorry, I…"/ ”It's all right. It's sweet that you were worried.“.

She hugged him with a pouty face. “so you think it's cute, huh?"/ ”hey, no one but my mom would have ever worried about me like you, you know? I'm happy to be standing here alive too"/ ‘what… happened?’/ ”some idiot tried to shot me. And if I hadn't had my smartphone in my breast pocket, I'd probably be with the angels now”.

“My God… And you weren't seriously injured by the bullet?“/”No, at least not with the full force. My phone acted like a shield. Hey, and as you know, I have a hard time remembering phone numbers… Otherwise I really would have called you. I'm sorry, okay? And I couldn't leave earlier, I had to recover a bit first.“.

“Hh… I was really worried. Twyla, really, that stupid cow…"/ ‘What about her?’. Zelda lifted her shoulders and buried her face in her hands for a moment. “Well, you know how she is with her stupid remarks… She said you were in bed with someone else and…"/ ”Oh man, hey, I brought proof pictures, I was really lucky and only had a minor wound. I would have really liked to get in touch, believe me"/ ‘I do… Oh man’.

There was a relieved silence in the room for a few moments. Then Roman looked at her face, which had become calm again. But he could clearly see that her body was still electrified. And not just hers… He grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him. “You wouldn't believe how much I missed you… I thought about you every day, it made the time seem a lot shorter and more bearable.” He kissed her neck, her free skin on her shoulders. “hh, I missed you too, so much…”.

Roman continued kissing her, gently and tenderly at first, then a little rougher and more insistent. “hh, Roman…"/ ‘What… What is it? Please don't push me away now, really…’/ ‘No, I, please don't go away again’. He looked at her for a moment. Her eyes were wide open, filled with tears that were on the verge of running down… “I won't…hh, now help me or I'll explode”. Zelda wasn't worried anymore. She had what had become very important to her with her again. And they shared many things…especially their feelings.

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

@greenplumbboblover , @solorisims , @honeywinesims ⭐

[30somethingautisticteacher]

Prompts, you say? What about this post I made 🤣

https://www.tumblr.com/v88sy/756596064088391680/nothing-just-watching-the-9-1-1-episode-where?source=share

"Nothing, just watching the 9-1-1 episode where Chimney thinks he lost Maddie's engagement ring in the city dump and realizing I need something like that for Tommy, hbu"

Thank you for the prompt @v88sy I hope I did it justice ❤️🥰 Now also on Ao3...link at the bottom.

***

Tommy was no Clipboard Buck, but between his childhood and the army, he had definitely learned to be efficient. So when it came to proposing to Evan, he had everything meticulously planned out. Every detail was in place, every moment accounted for. Tommy couldn't help but smile to himself as he went over the plan one last time muttering to himself as he checked each step. Evan wasn't going to know what hit him.

Satisfied, Tommy reached for the ring box to practice his proposal one more time. But as he opened it, his heart stopped. There was no ring inside.

Tommy felt his heart race as panic set in. How could he have lost the ring? It was perfect - a black tungsten band with a sleek blue stripe running through it. He had spent weeks choosing it, making sure every detail was just right. The engraving inside, 'My Evan', had been his final touch.

His mind raced, trying to retrace his steps. When was the last time he had seen it? Where could it have possibly gone?

Tommy took a deep breath, forcing himself to think logically. He couldn't let this derail everything. He had faced worse challenges before, surely he could handle a misplaced ring. But as he began to search, a nagging worry persisted - what if he couldn't find it in time?

Tommy's mind raced as he tried to recall the ring's last known location. "Where did I see it last? Where did I have it?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Suddenly, realization dawned on him. "Oh my God," he gasped. He had taken it to work because he was worried about Evan stumbling onto it during his 48-hour shift at home. The memory came flooding back - he had taken it into the helicopter and shown it to Lucy.

A new wave of panic washed over him. Was it still in the chopper? Or worse, had he lost it on one of their calls? The possibility of the ring lying somewhere in the city, lost during a rescue operation, made his stomach churn.

"Oh God," Tommy whispered, the full weight of the situation hitting him. He needed to get back to the station, and fast. The clock was ticking, and his perfect proposal hung in the balance.

Tommy raced to Harbor, his heart pounding. As soon as he arrived, he made a beeline for his locker, frantically searching every pocket and crevice. The empty ring box in his pocket seemed to mock him as he searched.

"Hey, has anyone seen a ring? About this big, black with a blue stripe?" he called out to his coworkers, trying to keep his voice steady. A chorus of shaken heads and apologetic looks answered him.

With growing desperation, Tommy headed for his chopper. He searched every inch of the aircraft, checking under seats, in compartments, and even in the most unlikely nooks and crannies. He tore apart the interior, his usual respect for the machine overshadowed by his urgent need.

But as he stood back, surrounded by displaced equipment and opened compartments, the reality sank in. The ring itself was nowhere to be found.

Tommy leaned against the helicopter, closing his eyes in defeat. He pulled out the empty ring box, staring at the velvet indent where the perfect ring should have been. The proposal he had planned was in jeopardy, and he was running out of options.

Tommy's mind raced, recounting yesterday's calls. Four. There had been four calls.

A cliff rescue, two life flights, and an organ transport. He distinctly remembered having the ring during the first three calls, even recalling how he'd absentmindedly touched his pocket to ensure it was still there.

But the last one? The life flight from the beach? Tommy's stomach dropped as uncertainty crept in.

"Shit!" he muttered, then louder, "Fuck!" The possibility hit him like a ton of bricks. Did he lose it in the sand?

The image of the ring, lying lost and buried in countless grains of sand, made him feel sick. If it had fallen out there, finding it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

How could he possibly find it in time? And how was he going to propose to Evan without the ring he'd so carefully chosen?

Tommy took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for. His thumb hovered over the call button for a moment before he pressed it, bringing the phone to his ear.

After a couple of rings, a familiar voice answered. "Hey, Tommy. What's up?"

"Howie?" Tommy's voice was a mix of desperation and hope. "I need your help. You don't happen to have access to a metal detector, do you?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "A metal detector? That's... an unusual request. What's going on, man?"

Tommy closed his eyes, dreading having to explain his predicament. "It's a long story, but I think I might have lost something important on the beach during a call yesterday. Something small, made of metal, and incredibly important."

He could almost hear the gears turning in Howie's head. "Wait, is this about what I think it's about? The thing you showed me last week?"

"Yeah," Tommy admitted with a sigh. "That's the one. So, about that metal detector?"

"I don't have one," Howie replied, sounding apologetic, "but maybe Eddie does? Chris went through a pirate buried treasure phase a few years back."

Tommy's heart sank for a moment, but Howie quickly continued, his voice brightening, "But hey, I'll help you look, and I'm sure everyone else will too. We've got your back, man."

A wave of relief washed over Tommy. He hadn't realized how much he needed to hear those words of support.

"Thanks, Howie," Tommy said, his voice thick with gratitude. "I really appreciate it. Could you maybe call Eddie about that metal detector while I finish checking here?"

"On it," Howie assured him. "Don't worry, Tommy. We'll find that ring. Operation 'Save the Proposal' is officially underway."

As Tommy hung up, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe there was still a chance to salvage his plans.

****

"Alright team, fan out," Athena's authoritative voice rang out across the beach. She stood at the center of a very determined group.

Bobby stepped forward, naturally taking charge alongside his wife. "We've got two metal detectors. Eddie, you take yours. Hen, you're on the one Athena brought from the station."

Eddie nodded, already adjusting the settings on his detector, while Hen powered up the police-issued one. Chimney and Ravi stood ready with shovels, as Lucy prepared the sifters.

Tommy looked at his assembled friends with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. He never expected his proposal plans to turn into a search and rescue mission, but he was touched by their willingness to help.

Athena turned to him, her eyes focused and determined. "Tommy, you said this is approximately where you think you lost it?"

Tommy nodded, gesturing to the area around them. "Yes, it was during that life flight call yesterday. We landed somewhere in this vicinity."

Bobby added, "Alright, people. Let's grid this area and start searching. Those without detectors, use the shovels and sifters. That ring isn't going to find itself."

As the team spread out, Tommy's phone buzzed with a text from Maddie: "Buck is thoroughly distracted thanks to your niece. Take all the time you need. Good luck!"

The beach had transformed into a scene of organized chaos. For hours, the team had combed through the sand with meticulous determination. Metal detectors beeped incessantly, shovels dug, and sifters shook as they searched every inch of the designated area.

Their efforts hadn't been entirely fruitless. A small pile of found objects grew steadily: over three dollars in assorted coins, a set of car keys that had probably ruined someone's beach day, a pair of military dog tags that Eddie carefully set aside to be returned, and even a retainer that made everyone grimace.

Tommy watched his friends work tirelessly alongside him, a mix of gratitude and growing despair churning in his gut. He appreciated their effort more than he could express, but with each passing minute, his hopes of finding the ring – and salvaging his proposal plans – dwindled.

As the sun dipped towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the beach, the reality of their situation began to sink in. The fading light made their search increasingly difficult, and the team's movements grew slower.

Eddie was the first to voice what they were all thinking. "Tommy," he said gently, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, "we're losing daylight. We might have to call it for now."

Tommy looked out at the darkening beach, his heart heavy. The weight of disappointment settled in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

"We can come back tomorrow," Eddie continued, trying to inject some hope into his voice. "First thing in the morning. The light will be better, and we'll have fresh eyes."

Tommy nodded, unable to find his voice for a moment. When he finally spoke, it was barely above a whisper. "Yeah," he managed, the single word carrying all his devastation.

The team gathered around Tommy, their faces a mix of sympathy and determination. Even though they hadn't found the ring, their support was unwavering.

As they began to pack up their equipment, Tommy couldn't help but wonder: how was he going to face Evan now? The perfect proposal he had planned now seemed impossibly out of reach, lost somewhere in the vast expanse of sand beneath their feet.

Tommy trudged through the front door, his shoulders slumped with defeat. He was so lost in his thoughts that he almost missed the sight of Evan sitting at their kitchen table, practically vibrating with excitement.

Before Tommy could even process what was happening, Evan leapt up and threw his arms around him. "Yes, yes!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy.

Caught off guard, Tommy returned the embrace instinctively, his mind racing to catch up. "Well, not that I'm complaining about the warm welcome," he said, a confused smile tugging at his lips, "but yes to what?"

Evan pulled back slightly, his face beaming with happiness. He lifted his left hand, and there, prominently displayed on his finger, was the very ring Tommy and their friends had spent the entire day searching for.

Tommy's jaw dropped, his eyes widening in disbelief. "How... what... where did you find that?" he stammered, a mix of emotions swirling through him – relief, confusion, and an overwhelming surge of love for the man in front of him.

Evan's smile, if possible, grew even wider. "First, I believe you owe me a proper proposal, Mr. Kinard."

All of Tommy's planned words flew out the window as he sank to one knee, his heart overflowing with emotion. Looking up at Evan, his eyes shining with love, he said:

"Evan, baby, love of my life. Come with me to our wedding?"

Evan burst out laughing, his eyes crinkling with joy as he recognized the callback to their second chance coffee date nearly two years ago.

"Of course," Evan replied, his voice thick with emotion, eyes sparkling with unshed happy tears. He reached down to cup Tommy's face in his hands. "This ally is yours forever."

As Tommy rose to his feet, they fell into each other's arms, both laughing and crying at the same time. The proposal might not have gone according to Tommy's original plan, but in this moment, with Evan in his arms, it felt absolutely perfect.

After a moment, Tommy pulled back slightly, a mix of joy and curiosity on his face. "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. But first, you've got to tell me - how on earth did you find the ring?"

Evan's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You're not going to believe this," he said, barely containing his laughter. "I found it in the washing machine."

Tommy's jaw dropped. "The washing machine?" he repeated incredulously.

Evan nodded, grinning widely. "Yep. I was doing laundry earlier today, and when I went to transfer your work clothes to the dryer, there it was, just sitting in the bottom of the washer. Must have fallen out of your pocket."

Tommy groaned, half laughing, half embarrassed. "You mean to tell me that while I had the entire team combing the beach with metal detectors, the ring was here the whole time?"

"The entire team?" Evan asked, eyebrows raised in amusement. "Oh, this I've got to hear."

Tommy pulled Evan close, pressing their foreheads together. "It's a long story," he murmured. "But we've got the rest of our lives for me to tell it."

Evan smiled softly. "I like the sound of that," he said, leaning in for a kiss.

As their lips met, Tommy couldn't help but think that sometimes, the best laid plans go wrong for all the right reasons.

Now also on Ao3! ⬆️

[fandom-imagines-stories]

The In Betweens Season Three Sneak Peek

AHHHHHHHH it's finally here. I know, I know, this has taken me absolutely forever, and only the first part is done, but I am so so excited to share this with you guys. This series is hands down one of my favorites and I'm hoping some of you have stuck with me during this long hiatus. So, without further ado, here is a sneak peek of Season Three Episode One: Schrodinger’s Cat.

-

He’s just passed out on his couch with his phone off. That’s what Emily kept telling herself as she climbed the stairs to Hotch’s apartment. Everything’s fine. It was just her profiler brain keeping her on edge. If something had happened, he would have called. 

Unless he couldn’t.

“Stop freaking yourself out, Emily,” she muttered to herself, finding the door to his apartment and knocking. “Hotch? It’s me, Emily.”

No answer. 

She pulled out her phone and dialed, that pit in her stomach turning. It worsened upon hearing the ringing off his cell inside. Everything else was deadly quiet. And when she turned the handle, she found the door already unlocked. 

Emily took out her gun and stepped inside. 

Everything seemed normal. Too normal. It looked as if he’d just arrived home and had stepped out for just a minute. But somehow, she knew she was stepping into a crime scene, even before she saw the multiple pooling bloodstains on the carpet around the corner. 

She didn’t waste any time. She called Penelope first and told her to send police and FBI techs as soon as possible. Emily also warned her not to tell the rest of the team.  Lives were in danger, including that of a young boy, and she didn’t want to do anything that could jeopardize their focus on the case. The only one she could tell was Reid, and that was only because he was expecting her to come back with Hotch any minute. 

She’d have to tell Y/N. Her chest ached at the thought. 

Reid was still looking over files when she called. 

“Hey.” 

“Reid, listen, I’m not going to be able to come back. Something’s happened.” 

“What?” 

She sighed, trying to keep the concern from her voice. “Hotch is gone.”

Spencer’s heart stopped. “What are you talking about?”

“What’s going on?” Dr. Barton asked. 

“I just got to his apartment and his car is here, but I can’t find him, and Reid… there’s blood.” Prentiss took a deep breath. “I told Penelope to send police here and I’ll stay to figure this out, but I need you not to say anything to anybody else. You all need to stay focused on protecting the Bartons and anyone else who might be in danger.” 

“Is this about Jeffery?” 

Reid turned to the worried father, his face paling. “No, no it’s unrelated.”

“We only have a few hours left here.”

“I’m really sorry, but I have to take this phone call, ok?” 

Dr. Barton sighed in frustration. “What could be more important than my son right now?”

It took everything in Spencer’s power not to lose it right there while countless panicked questions ran through his mind. 

“I assure you this will take one second. Please, I promise,” he pleaded. 

There was something about his voice. Something familiar. She stared at the twin blood stains and remembered how Reid had been when Y/N had been taken by the Cunninghams. 

“Reid, I’m going to need you to stay with Dr. Barton-” She started, but he cut her off.

“I’ll call somebody else. I have to go down there.”

“You can’t. Everyone has to stay focused on his case-”

“Emily, you don’t understand.” He tried to hold back cries threatening his voice. It confirmed her fear before he did. “Y/N went to see Hotch last night. She-” He inhaled, trembling. “She never came home.”

[theboys-inzoi]

🗜 Chapter 1: Work - Episode 3: As if it's your last Previous (At the Market) - Next (The Purse II)

Jack's next - fruitless - Job leads him down to Dowon's subway.

Still in a bit of a hurry since he's late. He needs to finish cleaning before it gets busy when the rush hour starts - with all the commuters down here on their way to their real jobs. Tch. Why was Halmeoni Ngyen pestering him about his jobs again? She knows very well that Leander and him prefer their freedom over 'doing something useful for the community'. They are doing something useful for Dowon's community. And that's just as important, right? Delivery Boy and Cleaner are respectable jobs - and they are the motors in the very core of Dowon.

... Finally done! Jack too. Time to take a little break. Now that he has time to breathe, he let his conversation with Halmeoni Ngyen play through his head again. Why did she also bring up the friend-situation again? Or better his no-friends situation. It's not his fault there are no other boys of his ... kind around he could hang out with. Except for the imaginary grandson of Francine, omg. So why turning that knife in his side over and over again? She's probably getting weird in her old days. Or maybe she's worried about him? Jack huffed out a laugh. Nah. No one is worried about him.

Jack sighed. There's no use going round in circles with his thoughts. And the station will open up soon.

When Jack got up to put his cleaning stuff away - before anyone breaks his neck - he looked around. This scenenery looks oddly familiar ö.ö

Like straight out of the 'As if it's your last' MV from Blackpink! Why had he never noticed this before? (We could have put a 'closed' sign on the wall too, but it's better to be -> open ;)

It's still time until the first trains roll out... So Jack quickly chose 'As if it's your last' and the music box started to play (what is this thing suddenly doing down here anyway?)

Jack danced for a while...

...alone. It would be more fun with a friend, though.

Should he go on another 'playdate' with Francine's grandson? An imaginary friend is better than no friend, right?

It's time to hurry to his next job. Jack ran over to the Police Station where he also cleans - and snoops around when Leander needs some information on his cases... And of course he forgot to put his cleaning stuff away in the subway station! Let's hope no one breaks his neck ö.ö

Previous (At the Market) - Next (The Purse II) From the beginning -> here

'One, two, three, it's a new beginning I won't ever be looking back If I throw myself at you, please catch me The world can't bring us down

Baby hold me tight, as if I might burst Don't stop to think, what's so hard about this? Kiss me like it's a lie As if i'm your last love

As if I'm your last As if this is our last night, love As if I'm your last As if tomorrow will not come, love'

As if it's your last - Blackpink

Just as for 'Underwater Love' from Smoke City for our Sims 4 story, there was not a single second of doubt that 'As if it's your last' would be the title of our inZOI storyline when it popped up in my head. I love this song so much and it fits perfectly.

Playlists Chapter 1 - Work: -> Spotify -> youtube

[mercymaker]

so we had a fake wedding episode in the grand bloodstorm adventure, but get ready the new season's about to start and we're opening with some drama

astarion and mal are trying to track down a relic that's rumored to have the power of protecting a vampire from the sun. neat. they find out that its last known location is at some ancient noble house's castle, so they go there but they get caught sneaking around.

fully expecting to have to fight their way out of there, both of them are surprised when the lord of the house instead offers a warm welcome to his house, taking particular interest in mal, showering her with attention and gifts.

he also reveals that the relic has been lost to the surrounding woods after their house was attacked by outsiders, but both astarion and mal are quite suspicious of that version, so they stick around to find out more. while mal focuses on charming her way into the lord's heart so he'd tell her the truth, astarion goes out into the surrounding town to gather information.

turns out, the local legend tells that the relic is, in fact, still somewhere in the woods, as when the invading forces attacked, the lady of the house took all of their most important belongings, shoved them into a bag, strapped that to a horse that she then tried to flee the castle with, but was shot down by archers and fell to the enemy as the horse galloped deep into the woods. it's said that the horse was eaten by a giant demonic bear, but the treasure still remains somewhere. and that leads various parties to venture out into the forest to seek it.

astarion decides to join one such party, if not to find the treasure, then at the very least to get more information. he leaves maleane alone with the lord, who seems to be quite infatuated with her. mal reassures her lover that she can handle herself in case something happens. she's a sorcerer, after all.

the vampire spawn & the gang set a small camp out in the woods after traveling for most of the evening. they drink and tell stories over the fire and astarion starts sneakily peppering in questions to get the information he needs. one of the drunk men decides to go on a bit of a spooky retelling of the most horrific event he had witnessed. the great attack on their town by the most brutal monsters. it happened over three decades ago, when he was just a little boy.

they came in the night, with their intricate armors, their swords and their arrows and their daggers in the dark. some of the commoners fell to poison before any blades could lick their throats. those that didn't flee in time were either massacred or put in chains and dragged back to the underdark to be used and sold as slaves. both the lord and the lady of the house were brutally slaughtered in the ritual known as the blooding, leaving their only son an orphan.

oh, so the guy's entire family was killed by drow? and who is he currently hosting in his massive castle? hmm, yes, another drow.

but not to worry! he dressed mal in the finest of silks and set up the most elaborate dinner for just the two of them. an array of intricate pastries, wild salmon and spit-roasted steak, and, of course, a flagon of his favorite wine to wash it all down.

they talk over the dinner, maleane slowly trying to poke and prod for more information about the relic and what happened to it. the lord, eventually unravels the same story that astarion heard over the campfire, and as the puzzle pieces slowly slide into their places, mal suddenly feels lightheaded. her breathing starts to become erratic as she struggles to catch her breath. and when she rises from the table, in a frantic attempt to flee, her legs feel like they're full of lead. the same petrifying feelings spreads throughout the rest of her body, pulling her to the ground in an instant.

as she gasps for air to fill her failing lungs, the lord walks right to her, watching the paralyzed drow fight the effects of the poison, and tells her how much he hates her kind. how long he's been dreaming of this moment, to get his hands on one of the monsters that took everything from him. how they all are the same. how he's going to peel the skin off her flesh, bit by bit. he chuckles at her panic, at soft wheezing coming from her throat. he wasn't sure how much of the poison to pour in her glass. after all, drow are known to be resistant to most of them. perhaps he gave her a bit too much. but it doesn't matter. by the time it wears off she won't be able to escape.

he then drags her to his personal quarters, a little dark room with chains and cages, a large wooden table stacked with books and scrolls and sketches. everything you need to know about drow and more. he takes the beautiful soft gown off her body and shackles her wrists and ankles to a rack.

a beautiful monster, he calls her, dragging his fingers from her cheek, down to her breast. yet, soon his hand is replaced with a dagger. this is more than just revenge. it's something darker and deeper. the obsession with drow, all that hatred and rage latched on something else entirely. the want to have her, to own her, to break and hurt her again and again and again, for years and years. because that's how long he's been carrying all that venom inside. it's not going to be over soon, maleane realizes.

it's almost a relief when it's his hand touching her again instead of a blade. but she knows that the intent behind the gesture is just as sharp as the bite of a dagger. she can't utter an incantation. she can't move her body to channel her magic. it's been so long that she felt this helpless.

then she feels her mind start to slip, drifting away somewhere. the lord's unhinged ramblings turn into echoes from a distant room. the throbbing pain softens into an almost-numbness. for just a brief moment, maleane is not there.

it's the odd shift in the surroundings that drags her right back into the dark cell. a sudden, violent gurgling sound. when she looks up, all mal sees is red. the blood pouring out of the lord's mouth and throat. the shock still frozen in his eyes before his body collapses just as hers did before. and then, two red irises, framed by a set of worried brows, staring at her. astarion.

[she-karev]

The Worst Day (Andrew DeLuca x Alex Karev’s Sister Angst with a Happy Ending)

Previous Chapter Here

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: Two of Three

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Ship: Andrew DeLuca x Amber Karev (Alex Karev’s Sister)

Canon Episode: Season 17 Episode 6

AN: Here’s another tearjerking chapter guys so get your tissues out and don’t worry I’ll get to Japril and Jolex once I finish this story.

Summary: Jackson and April find out what happened and go help Amber who is beating herself up for walking away from Andrew DeLuca the night before.

Words: 1638

April 30th, 2020

Jackson Avery is sitting at the park bench waiting for April Kepner who asked to speak with him last night. Yesterday they worked together for the first time in years on two young girls who were kidnapped. The night was long and sorrowful for both of them, and it made them question their feelings for one another. It made him question if he was ready to give their relationship another chance.

He sits at the bench thinking about his conversation with Alex last night and his advice when Jackson told him about him and April. Alex said that maybe the timing was right for them this time, but the question was did Jackson want it to be? It’s a question that has been wracking in his head all night and ultimately, he came to a conclusion that has been building inside of him for weeks since he found out April and Matthew broke up.

He sees April approaching him in her casual clothes and black mask. He stands up and keeps six feet away from her.

“Hi.” Jackson greets her, “I’m glad you texted me last night, I uh I needed to talk to you about some things.”

April nods, “Me too…let me start by telling you what Amber said that pissed me off so much. She said that the reason you are unwilling to take me back is because I left after Samuel.”

Jackson’s heart tightens at the reminder of that painful time of their marriage but lets April continue, “And I thought she was being awful but there was some truth to what she said and I realize that now and I know now the real reason you signed the papers that day.”

“April I-” Jackson tries to respond but his phone rings and he looks and see’s it’s Alex to his confusion, “I gotta take this it could be a patient of mine.”

Jackson answers the phone and holds it against his ear while April looks ready to give the rest of her speech, “Yeah?” April sees Jackson listening to Alex on the phone and something he said caused his eyes to widen.

“DeLuca did what?” April begins to grow concerned as she sees Jackson’s face pale and his mouth drop open, “Okay, okay, I’m coming.” He hangs up the phone, “We gotta get to the hospital come on.”

Jackson doesn’t wait for a response as he walks in the direction of the hospital at a fast pace with April following, “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I’ll explain on the way but we gotta hurry.” Jackson continues walking fast with April following as he explains what happened.

Later

Alex sits on a pew at the chapel with his sister next to him. She is still wearing her casual clothes with her mask on. Her elbows are against the back of the pew in front of them leaning down and closing her eyes trying to take slow and deliberate breaths to keep from having another panic attack. Also in the chapel are Carina DeLuca and Maya Bishop who are at the first pew sitting in silence as well.

After she cried on his shoulder, he got someone to cover her service knowing she is not in the right state to treat patients. Alex knows his sister is trying to focus on her breathing so the million bad things in her head can be kept at bay. It’s what he and Aaron taught her, rise through the pain. He admonishes himself for telling his baby sister to shove down the pain that she needs to feel otherwise she could explode once the emotional dam bursts.

Jackson and April enter the chapel with worried looks on both of their faces. They see Amber in the pew and their worry morphs to that of sympathy. Alex stands up to allow them to comfort her in her time of need. Jackson takes Alex’s place; Amber opens her eyes and sees her best friend right next to her who pulls her against him.

She doesn’t fight it, instead she lets him pull her into his embrace allowing her to cry in his presence. Amber holds Jackson’s forearm around her for dear life and the small chapel is filled with her small cries and sniffles that Carina shares as well in the front row. Maya holds her as she breaks down over her brother being in surgery while Amber breaks down over the man, she loves being hurt the day she was gonna tell him she still loves him. Alex and April look at the couples in sadness, not knowing how they can mend their pain.

“Any updates?” April whispers to Alex anxiously.

“No, he’s still in surgery, Hunt and Altman are working on him.”

April blanches at that, “How bad was it?”

Alex looks just as tormented, “It’s bad.”

April shudders at that and sees Amber still crying in Jackson’s arms, “How is she?”

“She was a wreck when they brought him in, she was right there we both were.” April closes her eyes at the thought of Amber being right there in the middle of all of that chaos, “She had a panic attack, but I calmed her down and now…now we’re just waiting.”

“Waiting is the worst thing a person can do at a time like this.” April’s eyes glisten in tears, “She loves him, she never stopped. She was gonna give him another chance and then…”

Alex sighs at that, “I imagined so many bad things happening to him. He hurt my sister, and I saw the damage he left and I…he’s gotta pull through. He’s gotta pull through.”

April can see her old friend beating himself up and blaming himself for what happened to DeLuca, “Even if you specifically wished it, a sex trafficker attacking him would not have been you’re doing. Don’t blame yourself, your shame spiral is not needed, not when your sister needs you right now. I blamed myself for what happened to Samuel so many times until someone convinced me that it was out of my control. This was out of all of our control and all we can do now is pray for the best and prepare for the worst.”

Alex nods at that sage advice, “Have I told you I missed having you around?”

April grins at that, “No but I wouldn’t mind you saying it every day I continue to work here.”

Alex’s phone beeps and he looks at the message in regret, “Damn it, Hayes found a bronchogenic cyst in Luna, he needs me in the OR. Can you guys stay with her while I go?”

“Yeah of course. We’ll call you if we need anything or if we have any updates.” Alex nods gratefully before leaving. April approaches Jackson who is holding Amber in his arms as she begins to calm down, “I’m gonna light a candle are you good?”

Jackson nods letting April do her praying routine as he focuses on his friend in his arms. Her sobbing has stopped though he can see tears streaming down her cheeks from her red and blotchy eyes. Seeing her like this makes him want to go to the OR and make sure DeLuca comes out alive for his sake as well as Amber’s. But he knows she needs him here, holding her and making sure one of them is strong enough to carry the other.

“Hunt and Altman are the best people we could ask to patch up DeLuca. If I was in his position, I would want them to treat me. I know it’s hell but all we can do is wait and I’ll wait with you, you can count on me for that, I promise.” Jackson rubs Amber’s arm up and down with her head against his chest.

“I should have told him last night.” Amber sniffles and exhales a shaky breath, “I ignored his calls and made him think that the night we spent together was just some random hookup. He thought things were the same that I…that I couldn’t forgive him or love him.”

Jackson’s heart breaks for his broken best friend as she continues to confess her regrets in his arms, “He tried to change my mind last night. He came to me, and he told me he would earn back my trust. He told me things would be different, he said that I was the love of his life…and I walked away.”

Amber’s voice breaks with every sentence that destroys her already fragile heart, “I walked away and left him there. I didn’t say anything, no I love you, no good night just nothing. The last moment I had with him I let him think I was never gonna love him again. My last words to him were nothing and now he could die, and I’ll never say the things I wanted to say last night to him. He’ll never know how much he means to me…he’ll never know I never stopped loving him.”

Jackson sighs at this pressing a kiss to her head in brotherly love, “He knows, deep down he knows.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.” Amber states in shock and despair, “I mean with everything that’s happened and now this?”

Amber sobs softly in Jackson’s arms with her face pressed against his chest. He allows her tears to soak through his shirt as it’s the only thing he feels he can do at this moment. Jackson holds her against him by her arm letting his chin rest on top of her blonde head. He closes his eyes and says a silent prayer to every higher power he can to let DeLuca live so this beautiful and strong girl in his arms can say what she needs to say and get the happy ending they both deserve.

Next Chapter Here

[idontplaytrack]

✧ Hard Times

Jos Cleary-Lopez x fem! reader

Warnings: MDNI, mature themes— angst, fluff, anxiety / panic attack mentions & some descriptions

In which Jos has recurring nightmares about the guy who burned himself alive (Episode 6)

(Pictures used are from Pinterest + Prime Video on Youtube)

Jos could see it, over and over the same image running through her mind. Jos thought she’d be over it, that she wouldn’t keep thinking about it. That damn moment that had somehow got burned into her brain. In the moment, she just froze in utter fear, and disbelief. Looking right at the guy who stood in the middle of the many, many reporters and torched himself. She was held by her Dad, but her eyes…she wished that she would’ve shut them.

She’d barely ate anything for dinner before excusing herself so she could retreat to her room. Worried, you followed after her. Her parents watched with concerned eyes. But neither of them dared to talk to her, knowing that she was not in a good mood and they didn’t want to push her— for the obvious reason.

You carefully closed her bedroom door, leaning against it. She walks to her window, looking out of it at nothing in particular. “Jos.”

“What?” She asked softly.

“What’s the matter?”

“Uh. I— it’s a lot, I don’t want to stress you out with it.”

You knew what happened, apart from the fact that it was all over the news, you were also informed about it the very day it happened by Margot. To make matters worse, people at school kept bringing it up, teasing her, making jokes about it. So you get it, as hard as she’s been trying to work on it and move forward, the people around her are no help. Including Matty, her ass of a brother, UrbanDox worshipper.

“I hear you, it’s okay. You can talk to me about it.”

“I don’t— y/n, the thing is…I don’t want to talk about it, I don’t think I have to. You already know what went down, and all I want is for it to go away. I don’t want to have that vivid image in my head, but that seems impossible no matter what I do. I saw a therapist for it, and for what? Matty brings it up every chance he has, watching fucking UrbanDox still, knowing the hell that I’ve been through— that you’ve been through since getting the EOD. It’s not fair that we— that we don’t get normal lives, that we can’t have normal lives. My Mom’s…amazing, her job is important. I get why she does what she does, heck I get why my Dad does what he does. I don’t get why Matty just doesn’t get it…it’s like he’s brainwashed into all of that crap. My own brother contributing to my issues!”

You just listened, fighting the urge to pull her into a hug. “I cannot stand the way he treats you, the way he talks to you. It makes me want to strangle him, y/n.”

Tears pricked at your eyes hearing her ramble on and on about how she was feeling. You know things were different now, but this simply was a whole other level of things that needed getting used to. This new normal was more than what either of you had been thrust into. The EOD was a relief, a necessity in fact. But the whole…man burning alive in front of the Cleary-Lopez family thing? Fucked up. Trauma. A full-on nightmare. Even just hearing about it made your skin crawl.

“Can I hug you?” You asked, taking in a deep breath. She didn’t even go for the hug, what she did…was that she immediately laid on your chest for snuggles. Either way, you went with it. “Will you take me to my appointment tomorrow?” She asks.

“Of course, love.” You agreed, “I’ll drive you. Then we’ll go out lunch tomorrow afterwards at the place you like.”

She sniffles, nodding, “Thanks.”

“Think you can get some sleep?” You asked dreadfully, “Or would you want to take the sleeping pill?”

“I dunno.” She exhales, “I don’t want to rely on it.”

“Okay.”

“Could you just…stay with me?”

“Whatever you want.” You rubbed her back, kissing her on the head, “I’ll be right here.”

For the last three nights, Jos has barely gotten any sleep. She keeps getting scared awake by the same nightmare, you’ve been with her through all three nights. Seeing her shaking and sobbing, having trouble even breathing shattered your damn heart into a gazillion pieces. As much as you wished that you could take it all away from her, you knew the harsh truth was that you couldn’t. Nobody could.

The girl couldn’t even cry anymore. It was as if she had no tears left after those long, hard nights of being forced to stay awake. Her broken up sleep never lasted longer than an hour or so each time. This resulted in you having the same sleep schedule this weekend, It absolutely worried her parents, so much so that Margot allowed you both to take a sleeping pill just so that you two could sleep peacefully for a night. You didn’t take one last night. Jos did, but at four in the morning, like clockwork, she jolted up in bed, in tears and hyperventilating. Poor Izzy was worried, too. But she couldn’t do anything, she was just a little girl. Jos’ heart hurt seeing her so confused and sad. But she just…couldn’t do anything. Between having to survive and making sure she kept her grades up, she hasn’t been feeling like herself at all.

————

“I can’t fall asleep.” She mumbles, breaking the silence.

“Sure you can.” You gave her shoulder a squeeze, “You’re safe here, baby. I’m not gonna leave. Just try, close your eyes.”

“I close my eyes and it’s right there.” She reveals, licking her dry lips.

You let out a little sigh, “It’s still pretty early, how do you feel about a walk?”

“Sure.” She answers, shifting a little but not quite wanting to get up away from you. “Who’s gonna stop us, anyway? We have The Power.”

You both grabbed your phones and headed back downstairs. Izzy was watching TV with Margot, Rob was washing the dishes…and thank god, Matty wasn’t around.

“Mom, Dad, we’re gonna go for a walk if that’s okay.”

“Jos!” Margot gasped, “O-of course, yeah. That’s okay, honey. We have some leftovers from dinner so if you two want any after you get back, please help yourselves to them.”

“Okay.” Jos shrugs, “See you.”

There were two parks near Jos’, but she liked one of them more so that’s the one you guys were headed towards. Once there, she led you to a bench, holding both your hands in her own. The streetlight shone down on her, the gloss reflected thanks to her teary eyes from crying earlier.

“y/n, I just want to say thank you.” Jos began, “Life has gotten so different, so quickly. So much has gone down in this last few months that we can barely wrap our heads around all of it. I’m so glad, I’m so lucky to have you. You’re the only one thing — one person that feels familiar to me. Feel the same, like nothing’s changed. When I’m with you I can just be myself, and that’s been incredibly hard to do right now. I have not being saying this enough, so again, thank you. I love you so much, please don’t keep things to yourself. You can talk to me, too, it’s not your job to just listen to me. I know you’re worried, but I’m working on it, it’ll be a tough fight. But I promise you, I am working on it. We’ll be alright. We’ve got each other, and we’ve got The Power.”

You smiled, blinking profusely to keep the tears from flowing. “Things have been crazy. And— seeing you so affected by the action of that fucked up man, I’m furious. But we can’t change what’s already happened, we can’t control what we can’t control. And…you’re right. We’ll be okay. We’ll be okay…I’ve got you, and you’ve got me. We’ll get through all of this, we’ll get through life together.”

Following that, you and Jos sat in silence for awhile, enjoying the chilly nighttime breeze, the quiet, each other’s company. The calmest she’s been…the calmest you’ve ever felt all week. You’ve both been forced by circumstances to come to terms with the fact that some days will simply be terribly hard, while other days will be hard but not so bad. Days where you had not a care in the world were rare nowadays, amidst all the chaos that was the a big part of the world gaining new organs, you have learnt to deeply cherish the little moments of love and joy in mundane things.

“You know what I’ve been thinking about?” Jos asks quietly, hand reaching over to find yours.

You looked at her, and she continues, “Being awake so much gave me a lot of time on my hands. So I actually planned a little getaway for us. For our anniversary in a couple weeks.”

“Oh.” A smile tugs at your lips.

“We’ve been through so much together, y/n. It’s crazy to think about it all.” She chuckles slightly, “Four years. Coming up to five…look at everything that’s going on. But hey, we’re still here and living life. We have so much we can do, now that we have this new freedom. We’ve got a long life of adventures ahead of us, babe.”

🏷️ Tag list

@ashecampos @auliisflower @cheesysoup-arlo @frogs00 @ludoesartnstuffs @pda128

💭A/N

I swear once I think of something I just keep writing and writing. Like, nothing can stop me once I get the inspiration. Also, I just rewatched The Power and it’s reignited my obsession w Jos tyvm. She’s SO CUTE😭🫶🏼🫶🏼