#I am seeing an urgent care doc tomorrow | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tinyboxxtink · 3 years

Text

"Weird Secret Friends" *Chapter 12*

Chapter 11

(i fucked this up by editing on my phone and now I have to post the next chapter link like this. )

Whoooo buddy! The angst is REAL, y'all.

I apologize for this, but also I really don't. And I made it normal length to make up for that short shitty one earlier.

Enjoy!!!! Mwahahahahha

Tag List

@madamsnape921

@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@word-scribbless

@gibbs274

@sassyada

@aprildecker-blog

@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

@stars-trash-18

@omgsuperstarg

@objection-argumentative

@thatesqcrush

@shittanyy

@mrsrafaelbarba

---------

It seemed like forever for the ambulance to get there, Rafael just sat there trembling and crying while you started to convulse in his arms. Finally the door busted open and EMT’s threw you on a gurney and took you downstairs. Rafael sprinted behind them and jumped in the back of the ambulance as it sped away.

“Y/N….Carino please, please don’t die on me…” Rafael stroked your hair as you were hooked up to oxygen and anti drug meds. It was like literal hell having to watch this all over again, even worse that it was someone he actually...loved.

“Please, please don’t die…” He looked up to the sky.

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

Rafael paced the hospital waiting area furiously, they wouldn’t let him go back with you once the ambulance got you both there. When he saw Sonny running up the hallway towards him, he grabbed him by the neck and shoved him up against the wall.

“I TOLD YOU!!!!” He screamed violently, while several nurses ran over and pulled them apart.

“Rafael! Jesus Christ--” Sonny was breathing heavily while he tried to recover from Rafael’s ambush.

“I told you something was wrong, I told you I knew her better than you did!” He tried to wrestle away from the nurses.

“Okay I’m sorry, I’m sorry alright?!” Sonny yelled, tears starting to fill his eyes. “I should have listened to you--”

“You’re god damn right you should have!!!” Rafael continued to scream.“ She could die right now, do you realize that?”

“Of course I realize that!” Sonny screamed back while looking around them, trying not to make a scene.

“God dammit Carisi, she knew better than you. Why didn't you listen to her?!” Rafael was beginning to cry; he was so upset.

“Barba I--” Sonny started to apologize.

“Excuse me, is Miss Y/L/N’s family here?” An orderly came out from the back.

“I am!” Sonny forgot about Rafael and ran over to the man, Rafael did the same.

“I’m sorry sir but this is really just a family conversation--” He started to dismiss Rafael, but Sonny put his hand up.

“He’s fine,” He assured the doctor.

“Right, well--” He cleared his throat as he led them to a more quiet area. “The damage to Y/N’s body is pretty bad,”

“....God,” Sonny muttered, putting a hand over his forehead.

“The mouthwash has several chemicals that aren’t in traditional grain alcohols, mostly lethal. And her pancreas, liver and gallbladder were already severely damaged from the years of alcohol abuse,” He explained as he looked gravely between the two men.

“No…” Rafael put his hands over his face.

Flashbacks of a very similar conversation happening between a doctor and his mother filled his mind. The way his mother fell against the wall when she heard the doctor say there was a good chance his father was never waking up.

“How bad is it, doc?” Sonny’s voice quivered, and Rafael instinctively took his hand.

“Well, we had to completely remove the gallbladder, and parts of her pancreas so she’s most likely going to develop diabetes,” He further explained. “...And she most likely will need a liver transplant, depending on how the next 24 hours go,”

“Christ…” Sonny whipped his hand from Rafael’s touch and put both of his hands over his head while he paced.

“Can we see her?” Rafael asked.

“Yes, you know your daughter is very lucky to be alive,” The doctor informed them.

“...Excuse me?” Sonny asked while he and Rafael exchanged confused looks.

“...Are you two not her dads?” The doctor waved his pen between the two men.

“Oh my god,” Rafael muttered in horror, wanting to vomit right there.

“Uh, no sir-- no we’re not,” Sonny shook his head. “I’m her uncle and this is my partner,”

“Excuse me?!” Rafael practically screamed in disgust.

“...Do you want them to let you back there to see her or not, honey?” Sonny said through his teeth.

“Right,” Rafael nodded uncomfortably, taking Sonny’s hand once more. “We’re her...Uncles,” He tried not to grimace.

“Oh, right. So sorry sirs,” The doctor apologized once more as he led your “Uncles” to the room you were in. You were unconscious, but breathing on your own.

“She might be out a while from the meds, if you’d like to come back tomorrow,” The doctor informed them once more.

“Uh, I think we’ll wait at least for a little while, if you don’t mind doc,” Sonny replied while Rafael walked up to your sleeping body and just stroked your hair lovingly.

“Whatever you two want to do is fine with me,” He nodded. “I have other patients to see, if you’ll excuse me,”

Sonny nodded to him and he walked out of the room leaving the three of you alone. Sonny ran his hands through his hair while Rafael pulled a chair up next to your bed, still stroking your hair.

“...Barba I think you should leave,” Sonny said softly.

“...What?” He laughed. “Are you...are you fucking joking me, Carisi?”

“No look,” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, I’m sorry I didn’t hear her. And I’m sorry that I just...gave up, protecting her,”

“Yeah well--”

“But I hear you now, and-- and she’s going to need to go away,” He looked at your sleeping body sadly.

“She’s in no shape to go anywhere, Carisi,” Rafael clutched your hand as if he was protecting you.

“Not now, no,” Sonny agreed. “But when she’s better--”

“We don’t know if she’s going to get better!” Rafael suddenly stood up and walked towards him; Sonny backed up as he approached, afraid Rafael was going to grab him again.

“Even more reason you shouldn’t be here!” Sonny argued.

“What?”

“Barba look,” He cautiously put a hand on Rafael’s shoulder. “I...I get that you two have some kind of-- I don’t know, connection,” He glanced at you.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that you barely know her, and she barely knows you. You have a job and a life waiting for you tomorrow, you can’t be sitting here sitting vigil for some girl you slept with once,”

“How dare you fucking say that to me, Carisi,” Rafael’s eyes narrowed as he snapped his shoulder from Sonny’s grasp.

“How fucking dare you. First you don’t want me anywhere near her, then you tell her she’s nothing to me, then suddenly you think that I’m in love with her, and-- and now that I’m finally...attached to her-- you want me to just leave her alone again?”

“No, I never wanted you near her because of this exact situation!” Sonny hissed, trying not to wake you. “I told you straight up that she was complicated, and that you weren’t about that life,”

“I am about that life-- I’m serious, about her,” Rafael corrected himself, rolling his eyes at the terms Sonny used.

“Well I don’t think you should be,” Sonny crossed his arms.

“This is the jealousy thing again, isn’t it?” Rafael licked his lips angrily. “You and your stupid ego can’t stand the fact that we--”

“That is NOT it Rafael and you fucking know it,” Sonny narrowed his eyes.

“Then what is it?” Rafael crossed his arms. “It’s clearly not because it’s too much for me, because I’m flat out telling you it’s not,”

“Rafael--” Sonny placed his hands over his face. “I have spent my life protecting this girl, okay? And I may have dropped the ball here, but that just means that I will sure as hell not do it again. And that means that I have to have her best interest at heart,”

“What does that even mean?” Rafael looked at him quizzically.

“Her whole world is different now, Barba!” Sonny gestured to you. “You heard the doc. She has no gallbladder, whatever the fuck that means, she will probably get diabetes, god knows what will happen even if she needs a liver transplant, but my guess is it ain’t good!”

“...Well she won’t be able to drink alcohol,” Rafael said softly.

“Which will make her sobriety that much more urgent and permanent, Barba,” Sonny stepped towards your bed.

“She’s gonna have a long hard road ahead of herself no matter which way this goes right now, and keeping her on track is the only way she is gonna get through it. You think she’s gonna be able to focus on anything but you if you stay here?”

“I can help her--” Rafael insisted, glancing down at your innocent sleeping face. It broke his heart you were hurting, now all he wanted to do was take care of you and make sure you never hurt again.

“You don’t have the time or the freedom to do that, Rafael,” Sonny said sternly. “And you know it,” Sonny’s statement brought him back to reality.

“And you do?” He looked back up at Sonny.

“I’m a detective, Barba. It’s not like I do that much,” Sonny shrugged. “And I have enough PTO for a bit to take care of her. And she’s my responsibility! She’s MY family, Liv will understand that. What she won’t understand is you sitting Shiva at some young girl’s bedside who you barely know,”

“....And what are you going to do when she gets better?” Rafael ran a finger down your bare arm, wishing you would wake up and stop this nonsense your cousin was spewing.

“I’ll ask around,” Sonny now sat next to your bed. “I’ll find her a good place, somewhere she can be taken care of the right way, not some creepy mental hospital,”

“...Alright fine,” He sighed, looking at his watch. It was getting late, and he had an early court date.

“I’m coming back--”

“No, you’re not,” Sonny shook his head. “Look I promise you if she gets worse and needs your emergency liver or kidney or somethin’, I’ll let you know. Other than that, just-- leave her be,”

Rafael flashed back to the last time Sonny had used those words, and how as soon as he agreed, you heard him and it destroyed you. He couldn’t do that again, what if you could still hear him?

“No, I’m coming back--”

“Barba if you come back here I’m gonna tell the nurses that we broke up and you are no family member of hers,”

“You,” He shook his head. “You wouldn’t do that--”

“If it keeps you away from her, I’ll do anything right now Barba, I’m sorry,” Sonny gave him a sympathetic look.

“...She’ll never forgive you for this, Carisi,” He warned Sonny. “When she finds out you kept us apart she will never forgive you,”

“What are you Romeo and Juliet all of a sudden, counselor?” Sonny scoffed. “Give me a friggin break. I’m sure she’ll get over it, when she’s clean and sober and thinking straight,”

“I’ll never forgive you for this,” he growled with a death glare.

“...Yeah, well--” Sonny stood up and started escorting Rafael out the door. “I guess that’s something I’ll just have to live with,”

Rafael glared at him once more before turning on his heels and stomping down the hall, just as you stirred from your med nap.

“Sunshine?” Sonny quickly ran to your bedside.

“Rafa..?” You sleepily asked, you swore you heard his voice just moments ago.

“It’s Sonny,” He nervously looked back at the door, making sure Rafael hadn’t heard you wake up and came running in again.

“Oh,” You blinked several times, trying to get your vision back. When the blur in your pupils resolved, you saw Sonny’s smiling face beaming at you.

“Hey there,” He kissed your forehead. “You scared the shit outta me there, Sunshine,”

“...I’m so sorry, Sonny,” You began to cry in remorse.

“Hey hey hey,” Sonny took you in his arms and shushed you while he rocked you. “Shh shh shh, you’re alright. I’m sorry I didn’t hear you when you were asking for help, I just--I just let you go,”

“...But Rafael didn’t,” You sniffled as you looked around the room for him. “Where is he?”

“He uh--” Sonny stammered. “He left, Sunshine. Early court meeting tomorrow, y’know. Lawyer stuff,”

“Right,” You nodded.

“...He said he wouldn’t be coming back,” Sonny added with a sympathetic look.

“What?” You blinked in disbelief. Had he really just taken off? Without even saying goodbye?

“Well it’s just,” Sonny took your hands. “Honey you’re-- you’re gonna have a lot to go through these next few weeks, maybe months. And Rafael--”

“He doesn’t have time for that,” You finished for him, accepting the truth.

“Yeah,” Sonny nodded slowly.

“Right,” You picked at your blanket as you stared down at it morosely. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything more than him dropping me here. He tried telling me that he was--”

“He was what?” Sonny quirked an eyebrow. You thought about telling him that Rafael had said he was in love with you, but you weren’t entirely sure that happened anymore, given how out of it you were at the apartment.

“...He was ready for a relationship,” You lied. “But I guess he wasn’t ready for a dumpster fire of a girlfriend,”

“You’re not a dumpster fire, Sunshine,” Sonny assured you.

“...Yeah clearly this doesn’t scream ‘damaged goods’,” You gestured to all the wires you were hooked up to.

“You’re not--” Sonny sighed and shook his head as he wrapped his arms back around you. “You’ll find someone,”

“...Not someone like him,” You whispered sadly, tears dripping down onto your IV tube.

“Well hey,” Sonny coughed as he tried to change the subject. “I better get goin’ make sure you get some good sleep,”

“...But I was just--” You tried to say you had been sleeping this whole time.

“I’ll come check on you tomorrow, kay?” Sonny kissed your head and started heading towards the door. He hated to do this, but he had to keep you safe. He turned around and gave you a sad smile.

“Hey, Sunshine?”

“Yeah, Son?”

“I uh, I don’t wanna rub it in or nothin’, I just--” Sonny cleared his throat. “Barba wanted me to tell you not to contact him anymore,”

“...Oh,” You looked over at your phone, which was charging on the table next to your bed.

“He just thought it would be easier, y’know? Clean break and all,” Sonny lied with a sad smile.

“Yeah, sure no of course,” You nodded, trying to keep it together.

“Alright well, I’ll see ya,” He nodded one more time before shutting the door, leaving you alone.

You immediately grabbed your phone and began typing a message to Rafael, telling him how you were sorry and that you never should have tried to kick him out, and that he saved your life and that you knew you were a huge mess, but that you would clean yourself and do everything in your power to be good enough for him if he just let you--and you just stared at it.

You re-read it a thousand times, tears streaming down your cheeks. You couldn’t send this, it was pathetic. He already made his choice, he tried to tell you he loved you and you had blown him off by almost dying in his arms. And he ran. You couldn’t blame him either, you’d run away faster than a Kenyan track star if you were him.

After going through all that bullshit with his dad, he’d never want to relive that with you, some girl he barely knew. There was no way. And begging him to come back to you after all the shit you said to him at your apartment was just pitiful.

You deleted the message and then started to delete his contact info, but you knew you needed to be drastic. If it was a clean break he wanted, you’d have to give it to him. You’d already put him through way too much stress and punishment than he deserved, you had to be stopped. You highlighted his number and hit “BLOCK NUMBER”, before deleting it from your phone.

There. Now there was no way you could find him, or vice versa. Clean break. You put the phone down next to you and laid down, realizing what you had just done. You had just deleted the potential love of your life from your existence, forever. You cried yourself to sleep, only dreaming of Rafael.

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

Rafael laid down in his bed after getting home and showering the bad day off of him. He opened the text thread of your messages, and saw the ellipsis light up, signaling that you were typing. It was there for a long time, he became more and more anxious as they just flashed in the darkness, taunting him. He was so happy you were okay, he had to tell you what Sonny said but that he would never be able to keep him from you. He waited and waited, and then the dots were gone. He waited a moment for you to send it, but soon got impatient and just texted you

“Y/N I’m so glad you’re okay, you had me so worried. I miss you,”

He hit SEND, but was met with the most horrifying response:

“The number you have texted has blocked you from contacting them.”

“No…” He muttered alone in the dark. “No, this can’t be happening,”

Did Sonny have your phone? Did he do this? Did he tell you something to make you do this? Did you do this on your own when you realized he had left. Sonny had to have told you something bad, something diabolical. He had no way of contacting you now, and he would never get into the hospital to see you.

What was going on?

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

The next morning after his court session, Rafael headed over to the precinct to talk to Sonny. He practically sprinted through the door into the bullpen, to find it empty.

“...Where’s the SVU squad?” Rafael asked a cop at the front desk.

“Do I look like a concierge, Barba?” The cop rolled his eyes. “Does my badge say ‘doorman’? I don’t keep tabs on you people!”

“Thanks Louie,” Rafael rolled his eyes as he walked out of the station, dialing Sonny’s number on his phone.

“Hello?”

“What did you do?”

“Barba?”

“What did you do, Carisi?!”

“What do you mean?”

“Y/N blocked my number,”

“Well good--”

“NO, not good. Carisi. What did you say to her?”

“Y’know Barba, maybe you should take the hint and move on,”

“Oh fuck you, Carisi,” He growled into the phone. “I’m going to the hospital,”

“Yeah well, good luck getting in here counselor,” Sonny shook his head with a small laugh, glancing over at you in your room, while he stood outside. “I’ve told the nurses you were a deadbeat dad who wanted to kidnap our niece for yourself, so they’re on alert not to let you anywhere near her,”

“You’re evil,” His voice was low and horrified.

“I’m doing what’s best for my baby cousin, Barba. If that makes me the bad guy, so be it,” Sonny spoke like a mob boss, tracing the glass on the window to your room.

“I’ll see her when she gets out,” Rafael sneered.

“Well that might be difficult, seeing as I’ve found her a very nice place to go as soon as she gets outta here. Somewhere far away from here, and you,” Sonny couldn’t help but smirk.

“No, Carisi don’t do this,” Rafael became desperate, his angry threats turned to pathetic pleas. “Please don’t send her away-- I love her,”

“If you love her you’ll let her go, Rafael,” Sonny simply said, ending the call before Rafael could say anything else.

“GOD DAMMIT!!!!” Rafael screamed in the middle of the foot traffic, making people turn and stare at him.

He had to fix this. He couldn’t let you leave thinking he didn’t want you. He couldn’t lose you, not now. Not after everything.

Was he going to lose you forever?

#rafael barba #rafael barba angst #rafael barba x reader #rafael barba x you #rafael barba fanficton #law and order svu #sonny carisi #sonny carisi angst #law and order svu fanfiction #weird secret friends

37 notes · View notes

autumnleaves1991-blog · 4 years

Text

Day 14: The Test Results - Santiago ‘Pope’ Garcia

Todays story was requested by @itspdameronthings. Thank you so much for the request and I really hope you like it. This is the longest of all the stories I have written for the November Writing Challenge.

November Writing Challenge Masterlist

Day 13: Water Flowed- Llewyn Davis

Day 1

“Do you have to go?” Your voice is quiet as you watch him pack his bags from your seat on the bed.

“Querida, you know I don’t want to but they are asking me back as a favor AND I’m being compensated. I worked in Columbia for three years, it's where my mother was born. I feel like I need to do this,” he kneels in front of you, taking your hands in his own. “It’s only four months and I promise I will call and text you every single day. It’s killing me to leave you but...I feel I have to do this.”

Santiago ‘Pope’ Garcia was a former member of Delta Force in the US Military before leaving to go work for the DEA in Columbia. Three years ago, he left Columbia to return home but not without one final mission. He got together a few of his old buddies from the force and robbed a drug lord before killing him and fleeing the country. But something went wrong. Well… a lot of shit went wrong, resulting in the death of his old captain, Tom, and forcing them to leave millions of dollars off the side of a cliff buried in the snow.

Santiago had accepted a temporary assignment with the DEA to return back to Columbia and train some new recruits. You were not one bit okay with this plan but the one thing you loved and also kind of hated about your husband was how headstrong he could be. Unfortunately, you are just as stubborn as him. The last few weeks leading up to his departure had been fraught with arguments. You didn’t want him to go. Even though it had been years since that last mission, you didn’t know what the situation down there was. Were they still hunting for the men who had robbed and gunned down Lorea? Was he walking into a trap? No money was worth losing the man you loved, and he didn’t seem to understand that.

“You don’t have to do anything.” The words are bitter on your tongue and Santiago winces, before moving to stand. “We don’t need that money, and you have no idea what you walking into baby…”

“Y/N, we have talked about this enough. I am going!” He slams the top of his suitcase closed before pulling the zipper harshly and walking towards the door. He turns sharply at the door pointing at you, “Why do you keep arguing with me about this? I have told you a million reasons why I need to do this! Instead of supporting me you're just fighting with me!”

“I do support yo-”

“Well, you sure have a funny way of showing it.” he swings his backpack on his back, puts on his hat and walks out the door. You’re on your feet in a hurry. “Goddamnit, Santiago! Will you just fucking listen to me for two minutes?” You grab his shoulder and turn him to face you. He’s fuming and you can tell the volcano is seconds away from blowing. “I DO support you! I understand WHY you feel the need to do this but I LOVE YOU and I don’t want to LOSE YOU!”

You're out of breath from shouting, and you see the anger slowly fade from his face as he comes to stand closer to you, “Querida...baby you're not going to lose me. I love you….so … damn … much. I never really felt alive until I met you, and no one,” he puts a finger under your chin and raises your eyes to his own, “no one is going to take me away from you.”

“You can’t promise that…” Your words come out broken and a choked sob escapes you. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. Santi I can’t lose you. I won’t survive without you…”

“Shhh.” He pulls you close and you collapse in a sobbing heap into his chest, your tears soaking the front of his t-shirt, his hands are strong as he holds you close. “I know nothing is one hundred percent but I love you and I am going to come home back to you. Nothing could ever keep me away.” He pulls you away from his chest, wiping your eyes before kissing you gently.

“I love you too Santi, so much.” You sigh into the kiss and hold him tight before he pulls away, walking towards the door, grabbing his duffle bag from the floor and walking out, taking your heart with him.

Day 31

Santiago kept good on his promise and called and texted every single day, each time letting you know he was safe and how much he loved you. He was working hard down there, and he loved the adventure, even if he missed you like crazy. You missed him too and the combination of being without your husband, taking care of the whole house, your shared basset hound, and work was draining. It was only a matter of time before you started feeling under the weather. You had been feeling fatigued, sore throat, cough, and after two days of vomiting throughout the day you had to admit it, you were sick.

On your nightly call with Santi the worry in his voice warmed your heart. “Baby, you need to go to the doctor and get checked. Remember when you got bronchitis last year? It was pretty bad.”

You hack into the receiver “Yeah, maybe you're right. I just feel like shit Nauseous all day long. Jonathon actually sent me home today. Said he was worried about me ‘infecting’ the office.”

Santi mutters under his breath but you hear him and snort. “Yeah I agree he is a dick, but I appreciate being sent home. I’ll go to the urgent care tomorrow.”

“Do you promise?”

“Yes, I promise. I want to feel better...I just hate going to the doctor.” You recall the many times Santi had to drag you kicking and screaming (sometimes literally) to the doctor.

“Why don’t you ask one of the guys to go with you?”

“Maybe...Frankie mentioned he was off tomorrow when I called him yesterday....”

“See. It was meant to be. Why don’t you text him after you hang up with me and he will make sure you go? Then I can rest easy tonight knowing you’re ok. I wish it were me though. I would take such good care of you baby.”

“Oh yeah?” What would you do if you were here?” You snuggle down into the comforter with your box of tissues, hot tea, the humidifier and his deep soothing voice lulling you to sleep.

It doesn’t take long before your soft snores fill the phone and Santi smiles to himself. Listening to the sounds of his love finally feeling at rest. When you wake up three hours later to throw up the light from your phone signifies a message.

I called Frankie, he’s going to come by at 10 o’clock to take you for an appointment. I booked it online through the app. Get some rest and drink lots of fluids. I love you. - Hubby

You smile before brushing your teeth and crawling back into the warmth of your bed and falling back to sleep, dreaming of your husband.

Day 32

The next morning Frankie rings the doorbell at exactly 9:45.Like all the other Delta Force guys (except Benny), they are meticulously early. You greet him with a cup of coffee with his own special airplane shaped mug, complete with his name engraved on the side. You knew that when you married Santiago, Frankie came as part of the package.

“Hi Garcia, how ya feeling?” He wraps one arm around your shoulder and you lean into the embrace, placing your head on his arm.

“To be completely honest Cat? I feel like shit.”

Frankie lets out a small laugh before rubbing gentle circles on your back. “Well then let’s get you to the doctor. You got your insurance card?”

“Yeah it’s in my bag.” You grab your brown knit bag, swinging it over your shoulder.

“Then let’s get going.” He guides you out to his truck, helping you into the seat before running around the front to the driver's seat.

About twenty minutes later you're pulling into the parking lot of your doctor. Frankie walks you inside helping you get signed in. It's another thirty minutes before you're put back into a room, sitting on crinkled tissue paper, Frankie reading back issues of People. The door opens and you sit up a little straighter.

“Mrs. Garcia?” You nod. “I’m Dr. Jacobs. What can I help you with today?”

You proceed to tell her what’s been going on and she goes through the motions, asking you all about your symptoms, checking your ears, nose, throat, and chest. When she's done she types everything into her tablet, “one more question, when was your last menstrual cycle?”

You open your mouth to answer before closing it slowly. “When was my last...Oh. Uhm,” you laugh nervously at a loss for words, “about a month ago it should be starting any day now…”

“Is there any chance you could be pregnant?” she asks, looking between you and Frankie.

“Oh, he’s not my husband!”

“I’m her husband's best friend. He’s out of the country.”

“Well it sounds like you may have the flu but I would like to run some labs as well if that’s alright with you, and maybe a pregnancy test just to be sure?”

You laugh. “Sure doc whatever you need, but I am not pregnant.”

Day 35

You swing your car haphazardly into the driveway narrowly missing a planter box and running over Mia’s pink bike. The front door slams open. Frankie is running down the driveway, yanking the car door open and pulling you into his arms. Your sobs are staining your cheeks and you're a blubbering mess.

“Garcia! What the hell! Are you ok!?” Frankie checks you over. You shake your head frantically.

“NO! No I am not ok!” you shout! “The test results came back!”

“Oh god, is it bad!? Cancer? Diabetes? Fuck! Did Pope give you some kind of STD because I swear I will kick his ass for you!”

“NO! God...no...I'm...Pregnant!” You break down in sobs and hold onto Frankie who starts to laugh. “Stop laughing! This is serious! Frankie!!”

He chuckles squeezing you tighter, “Garcia this is wonderful! You're gonna be a mom and Santiago is going to be a daddy! Mia will have someone to play with. Fuck, I’m so happy for you guys.” You pull away to see a huge smile on his face.

Some of his excitement rubs off on you and you rub your nose on the sleeve of your shirt before you smile, “I’m gonna be a mommy…oh shit Frankie what do I tell Santi?

“We will worry about that later. But right now let’s get you home and back to bed. You still have that cough and you need your rest.”

Day 36

“Hey baby. How is my favorite man?”

“Oh Querida I miss you so much. I think I forgot how much I love being out in the field. The rush, the thrill. It’s addicting.”

Your heart drops and for a minute you say nothing. How the hell could you tell him about the baby? He would want to come straight home and he’s loving the work.

“Everything is great here. Yeah, I got the test results yesterday from the lab and everything is normal. I just have the flu and since I’ve been off the last few days I’ve rested and drank lots of fluids and I am feeling much better.”

“Oh good, I was so worried about you.” He sighs. “I got a new app on my phone that counts down to the second till I get to be back with you.. I love you so much Querida.”

You bite your lip to keep from crying before letting out a shaky breath, “I love you too baby, and I can’t wait to see you soon.”

The conversation shifts and when you hang up with your husband you shoot a quick text off to Frankie.

Don’t mention ANYTHING about the pregnancy to Santiago. I’ll tell him when he gets home.

What? Why?

He loves being there and if we're going to have a baby then he's not going to be able to do this again. If I tell him you know he will just come home early.

Ok...I still think you should tell him. You're going to need support though...he’s still going to be gone for three more months.

Your right...Frankie...will you be my person?

... of course. Get some sleep Garcia.

Day 100

Four months doesn’t seem like a long time. But when you're pregnant and missing your husband it seems like a lifetime. It had been one hundred days since Santi had left for South America and only twenty-two more days till he came home. When you did the math in your head you had become pregnant two weeks before Santi had left. Meaning you were well on your way to being a very noticeable pregnant woman.

You had been shopping a couple times with Benny to Motherhood Maternity store to get some bigger clothes because yours refused to fit. Also a very interesting trip to Babies-R-Us where after much convincing he did not purchase the entire store for his future niece/nephew. Will had been attending your doctor and lab appointments with you. And sweet Frankie had been helping you around the house, getting groceries when you were too tired, keeping up the yard, and taking you and your dogs for walks to keep you moving. Your husband’s brothers had become your own, and you loved them for it. Only 22 more days.

Day 120

You're sitting at the kitchen table doing a puzzle with Will when Frankie comes in carrying takeout and a squirming Mia. He puts her down and she rushes toward you.

“TIA GARCIA!” she screams, launching herself into your arms.

“MIA!” you shout, squeezing her tightly before tickling her sides. She giggles before shimmying out of your lap and running to the kitchen. Coming back a moment later carefully balancing (at least as careful as a three year old can) a plate filled with watermelon to you.

“Papa says this is for the baby,” she tells you in what could be called an attempted whisper but more like a shout.

“Why are you whispering Mia?”

“Papa says that I have guts to be quiet because the baby is sleeping.” She leans forward and hugs your slightly protruding belly before climbing into the kitchen chair across from you.

You give Frankie an amused look and he smiles with a shrug before plating out the food. Pizza for them and watermelon for you. It’s all you seem to want anymore. “Oh come to mama.” You spear a piece before placing it in your mouth, moaning as the cold sweet juice goes down your throat.

“So I’m taking you to the airport on Friday to pick up Santiago. Any ideas on how you're going to tell him?” Frankie asks, taking a large bite of pizza.

“Well I think he’s going to know.” You gesture to your stomach, spearing another piece of melon.

“I’ve been looking up ideas on how to tell people you're pregnant, and you could give him a jar of pasta sauce,” Will says and you all look at him like he’s nuts, “No, hear me out it’s Prego pasta sauce...get it, Prego?”

You groan before taking another bite, “I think he’s going to notice I’m pregnant before I can even give him a jar of pasta sauce Will.”

“Not if he doesn’t see your stomach first…” Frankie says, “what if you made a sign?”

“A sign?”

“Yeah like when we used to come home from a tour and the families would have signs. You could make a sign!”

You think about it for a minute before you fall in love with the idea. You go to the office and come back with a couple poster boards you kept for work presentations. You place one in front of Mia who squeals and grabs one of the markers you provide. You get to work outlining the words and filling them in with his favorite colors blue and red. When completed, you lift it up and show it to the others.

“That’s perfect!” Frankie beams.

“Bet you 50 bucks he cries,” Will says.

“Deal,” they slap hands and you glare, before smiling at the two. Only two more days.

Day 122 - Santiago Comes Home

You feel sick, what if he doesn’t want to have a baby? Will he be mad I kept this from him? Shit, maybe this was a terrible idea. What the hell was I thinking?

“Garcia, you need to calm down, you're making me stressed.”

“What if he doesn’t want this? What if he is disappointed? What if-” Frankie stands up and puts his hands on your shoulders.

“Garcia listened to me. Santiago loves you more than anything in this entire world and he is going to love this baby just as much maybe even more. He may be surprised yeah but trust me. Once he wraps his brain around it, he’s going to be ecstatic.” He pulls you in for a hug and you take a deep breath, calming your nerves.

The constant flow of travelers does nothing to lessen your anxiety. You take a deep breath and almost choke on the smell of espresso from the nearby Starbucks. Frankie gives you one last squeeze before handing you the sign and stepping back as people flood out of the gate.

You rise to your tiptoes in search for a familiar head of salt and pepper curls. When in a break of the crowd you see him, running in a full sprint towards you. His face split into a megawatt smile. As he gets close enough to touch, you hold up the sign. He slows down slightly as he reads and you watch the smile fade only slightly before it’s replaced by shock.

Welcome home daddy

He reaches forward, holding tight to the poster board and slowly lowering it, eyes transfixed at your swollen belly. Silence. His hands shake as they put the sign on the floor, his eyes never leaving you. Your heart races and you feel the urge to vomit return again before he drops to his knees.

You wince, “Baby, your knees…” reaching down to pull him up, but he makes no move to stand, his hands coming to your stomach. Placing his lips gently over your shirt. His forehead rests against you and tears drench your shirt. The baby chooses that moment to make their presence known kicking softly against his cheek. You run your hands through his curls and he looks up at you with a watery smile and a small laugh.

“Querida, you’re pregnant. We’re...we’re having a baby…” he sniffles and you can’t help the tears in your own eyes. “Why...why didn’t you tell me? I would have come home…”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t. You’ve been so happy these past few months and I knew you needed to do this. Yes, I was scared as hell about losing you but...I understood.”

“I don’t deserve you,” he whispers before shakily getting to his feet and clutching you tight, his hands frame your face and he pulls you close getting lost in the kiss, “I love you...so fucking much,” he whispers putting his forehead against your own. “I love you too. I’m so glad your home… I mean the guys have been great but I’m excited to go shopping for baby stuff with you, attend my doctor appointments together, and have you bring me platefuls of watermelon.”

He laughs pulling back, “Watermelon? Is that what you’ve been craving?”

“Oh god yes, even talking about it makes my mouth water.”

“If that is what you want Querida, then you can have as much as you desire,” he kisses you again.

A cough sounds from behind and you turn to see Frankie smiling at you. Santi reaches out to give him a slap on the back, the two conversing in Spanish. You hold your hand out and Santi latches on, never letting go as you make your way through the terminal and out to the truck.

The world passes by in a kaleidoscope of color as Frankie drives you both home. Arriving, you thank him before leading Santi by the hand and into the house. When the door is latched behind you, he presses you into the door gently. Every touch, every caress, left you breathless. His lips warm and wet against your own. When you take a breath his tongue snakes inside and he drags you from the door, striping each other, leaving a trail of clothes to the bedroom.

After you’ve been thoroughly fucked and your wrapped up in Santiago’s strong arms, legs intertwined together, and he’s rubbing your belly do you finally relax. Sighing into his chest, and kissing it lightly. “Your really happy about the baby?” you whisper, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between you.

His grip around you tightens, “I promise you, I am very happy about the baby. You made me a daddy Querida. I love you...so much.”

You sigh, “I love you too.”

3 months later

Eight months of pregnancy has flown by. After Santi got home from Columbia he took over doing everything. Attending your appointments together, buying and building things for the nursery, and bringing you platefuls of watermelon at all times of the day and night. Santiago takes the roll of daddy very seriously. All of those year in the military have come into play the last few months as he has transformed your house into a fortress. God help anyone that tries to hurt you or your unborn daughter.

It started small with a few extra cameras on the perimeter, then installing a new indoor security system. A new fence was put up around the pool two months ago, and most recently the baby monitors set up throughout the house. He was beginning to drive you a little insane and you honestly just wanted him to lay off a bit. The perfect opportunity arose one fateful morning during breakfast.

“So I’ve been thinking Querida, how do you feel about putting carpet on the floor of the nursery?”

Part 2: Carpet (If you haven’t read it, check it out!)

Day 15: Just Walk Away- Ezra (Prospect)

#November writing challenge #Day 14 #Triple Frontier #Oscar Isaac #Pedro Pascal #santiago pope garcia #Santiago Garcia x reader #fanfiction #my writing

182 notes · View notes

writingxonthewall-archive · 3 years

Photo

//Hey all. I know it’s been a bit and things have been spotty etc. I wanted to kind of update on things here.

((Lots of health/ER/Hospital/Doctors mention under the cut))

When I say it’s been a week/month/2 months... Holy shit do I mean it.

We’ll focus on the last week here, but know that within the last 2 months I have been to an after hours orthopedic urgent care, the ER for a kidney stone that I passed at the ER, the ER for a concussion and in the last week???

Last Monday I was hit with sudden, excruciating pressure and pain in my abdomen. I could barely breathe or get comfortable at all it was so bad. Had bloodwork and urine sample... Doc came in and told me she thought it was constipation and I just needed to go home with a giant bottle of miralax and I’d be fine and she saw no need to do a CT scan. Okay great. I listened and went home still in pain thinking okay I’m just full of shit.

Several days went by and my pain was still there and worsening. Only thanks to drinking a bunch of water with miralax every day as instructed... I was also spending lots of time in my bathroom and feeling a whole other kind of miserable.

I kept trying to ignore the pain, thinking I was being a baby or that I would go in and they would fine nothing and I would still be in pain with no answers. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with one of my closest friends on Saturday about the state of things with me that I got the final push I needed. I knew in my gut something was wrong. She gave me that nudge and reassurance I needed that something WAS wrong and I needed to go get it checked. So I went to the ER at like 11 at night.

Guess what? Something was wrong. I was, in fact, not constipated. Much worse, actually. I got an IV with fluid, more bloodwork drawn, was actually given some potent pain meds via IV that literally only took the edge off of the pain I was feeling, and then was taken to do a CT with contrast. As I was being given more pain meds for the pain, I found out what was going on.

I have a kidney stone on the right. My kidney and ureter are swollen on the right. There is a kidney stone in the kidney on the left and my left ureter is swollen. Annnd.... A gallstone. My insides are like Mick Jagger over here... Rolling Stones.

Got written a bunch of scripts and thank god stuff for pain. I see my urologist tomorrow and a GI specialist on the 19th. With me? I’ve been having kidney stones off and on since I was 18. I know what they are made of, but not what is causing them. Since living with my wife... This is the 5th one I have had in 5 years. One of which I had to have surgically removed. One that stayed stuck for almost 3 weeks. My track record is not good. This is also my first gallstone so I am not sure what to expect here.

But yeah. I am here. I am in significant pain, but at least I know why and am treating for the right thing. I basically suffered through 5 days of horrible pain and was taking meds to make me another kind of miserable/sick. If it wasn’t for the advice and nudge from my friend... I’d still be in horrid pain and getting more sick.

Moral of the story? You know your own body. Trust your gut. Advocate for your own health.

That said? I will try to be here, but the pain and meds make me sleepy and sometimes it’s hard to concentrate. I can’t guarantee I will get to a lot if anything. I appreciate any and all patience in this matter. <3

#OOC: Painted Faces Out Of Parade #Down Once More to the Dungeons of My Black Despair: Update #health problems tw #hospital mention tw #er mention tw #mun stuff tw

14 notes · View notes

twinkleallnight · 4 years

Text

Marshmallow

(Part-4) Frozen thoughts

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Liam x MC, Drake x ??

For previous chapters: catch up here

Thank you @bbrandy2002 for pre reading.

Tags: @ao719 @bbrandy2002 @choiceskatie @drakewalker04 @gkittylove99 @hopefulmoonobject @jovialyouthmusic @mrswalkers-blog @mom2000aggie @speedyoperarascalparty @texaskitten30 @no-one-u-know

Frozen thoughts---

There is no going back. I have lost Livy. I am listless as I lumber around the lawns when my phone buzzes. It is Liam. I take the call.

“Yes Liam?”

“Hey, can u distract the Big B?”, he says in a hushed tone over the phone. He is referring to Bastein, the head guard.

“Where are you?”

“In my room. And he is right outside my door. Can you please come over?” he whispers.

“ On my way.”

Bastein, chief of guards, holds a special place in our lives. He was my father’s close friend for most of his life though half his age. But after losing my father, he has been that fatherly figure in my life. Since king Constantine keeps busy in stately affairs, Bastein has been there for Liam and Leo too. As much as he loves us all he makes sure to keep all of his brats--us--in check. Bastein has taken care of the former prince Leo, who had a very risqué lifestyle and always found Liam as very easy one to deal with.

Liam has always been the golden boy. The most well-mannered, obedient and disciplined of us all. He still agrees with Bastein's suggestions. What surprises me is why Liam needs to get rid of him? I sprint towards his room and I am greeted by Bastein’s stiff figure standing in front of Liam’s door. He nods and allows me to enter.

As soon as I see Liam, all the memories from few hours back, come rushing in. He has a mischievous smile on his face, which fades when our eyes meet.

“What’s wrong?”, he voices his concern. I sit down on the couch with a heavy heart, placing my head down in my hands. “Is this the same thing that was bothering you earlier at the lawn party too.” I nod. He sits besides me, a hand on my shoulder. “ Can I help?”

“Yes, it’s Livy.” I gather myself and fill him with all the details.

He is remorseful about what happened. When I finish, he speaks,“ I am sorry. It’s my fault. I should have at least called her. But,” he claps on my shoulder, “ I will make this right. I will make it up to her. Please relax. I promise you.” I gradually calm down after his persistence.

“How are things coming along with the social season and the suitors?”, I ask after some time. I see the playful smile return on his face.

“ Yes, about that...We need to be somewhere right now if you can help me.” He grins.

A look at my wristwatch and it dawns on me, “Oh! I am sorry! I totally forgot. Riley’s Cronut sneak out!”

“Sshhh! Quiet! That man out there has keen ears” Liam says in a muted tone.

“ Okay! Okay!”, I say softly. “ So what’s the plan?”

“ If I move out from the main door, he will surely follow me.”

“So, where do you want to make a getaway from?” I ask him, puzzled.

“From the window?” He looks at me, quite unsure.

“Crown prince of Cordonia wants to sneak out through a window to be with his girlfriend,” I chuckle.

“Oh yes, go on and mock me. Yes, I want... no, I will sneak out to be with her. Now stop giggling like a lass and come over here and help me! Once I am out of here, you walk out of the main door, pretending you are leaving me back in the room so that Bastein doesn’t suspect anything.”

“Sounds good.”

I help him out the window. He lands on the bush down with a thud and an ah and a ooh! I control my laughter and turn back to get out. I make small talk with Bastein appearing normal and then head out to the lawns. Riley, Max and Hana are all busy plucking thorns from all over Liam’s clothes.

“You good there?” I ask, amused.

“Yes, except that I landed on a rose bush full of thorns!” He stares at me.

“ Well, you need to pay the price to sneak out.”

After the clean-up, we walk to Maxwell's SUV and hop in. I take the driver's seat while Liam sits with Riley in the back seat and Hana on Riley’s other side. We get down at a pastry shop near the beach.

Liam takes the ladies to a table while I follow Max to place our orders. As we carry our food to the table, Max makes his signature dance move with a shout-out, “Cronuts here we come!” The girls laugh and we all plunge into the delicacy. Hana, Max and Liam try them for the first time so all the comments start pouring in after the first bite.

“Do you know the recipe, Riley?” asks Hana in her smooth voice. I notice she has a soft and low tone even when we are out of court. I feel like asking her if she always speaks so softly.

“Ahaan!” nods Riley, her mouth full. She is just the opposite of Hana with her heavy commanding voice.

“Please do share with me.” Hana requests politely.

Liam perks up,“ Thank you, that means I don’t have to be punctured with thorns anymore for a sneak out.”

“Oh, Liam, I’m so sorry. I put you through this.” Riley apologizes since it was her mastermind plan to do all of this.

“Riley, I don’t mind the effort if the result is so scrumptious, not to forget the company of my friends.” Liam assures her.

Friends--with that word, I lose track of the conversation. Not all friends, I feel. Livy's forlorn face floats in front of my eyes. I start missing her again.

Absent-minded, I follow the group as they walk out of the shop.

“Bastein, We...I… How did you know?” Liam stutters. I come out of my trance and see Bastein standing tall, right at the exit point.

Riley and Hana giggle, looking at Liam fumble with his words.

“Sir, I have had the honour to train at the hands of your elder brother. I hope you can grant me that much. Liam snickers at the mention of Leo. “The king awaits in his study to talk to you about some urgent matter.”

Liam returns to his stoic self. “ Let’s go back,” he says and turns to the ladies, “ Thank you so much for this little outing. I apologise I will have to cut this short. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Max, I trust you will drive the ladies back to the palace safely. Drake, you may walk lady Hana to her quarters from there.” Liam assigns us the roles and I glare at him. He knows well I don't do well with strangers, especially a lady! I could have escorted Riley; I know her a little but Hana…! I have hardly spoken a sentence or two in these two meetings.

To worsen the situation further, Riley insists on taking the front seat and I have to share the back seat with Hana. We drive down to the palace. While I get out to walk Hana to her quarters, Riley accompanies Max to the parking lot. As he starts the SUV,Riley shrieks, “Full speed ahead!" Hana and I both giggle, then walk away.

“She is a live wire”, Hana says.

“Yeah, may be the right balance for Liam,”

I stop in my tracks realising my remark must have hurt Hana. She is a contender for the same position, after all. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Hana kept treading on, “ You don’t need to apologize for something that is obvious. I can sense the heat between them. And believe me, I am perfectly fine with it.”

She sets me back on heel by saying that. “But you are officially a suitor in this social season. How is it that it doesn’t matter to you at all?”

“Grabbing the crown to be a future queen is not the only purpose for some of us. In fact, even Riley is not a crown chaser. Some people live for love!”

“Oh, you mean you have already found someone in your life.” I make my presumption.

“No. There isn’t anyone yet. But when it happens, I wish it to be as strong as what Liam and Riley share. Until then, I aim to prove my worth at working with the state affairs.”

“I understand. The royal court is not a piece of cake and Liam surely needs to build a fresh set of representatives who serve the youth.”

She smiles and turns with a twinkle in her eyes. “Thank you for walking me down. It was fascinating talking to you.” I realise we have reached her room.

“Pleasure is mine, Lady Hana. Hope to see you again soon.” I curtsy and turn on my heels.

My steps get sluggish as I cross Livy's chambers. ‘Is she awake? Is she listening? She said she can make out my footsteps. Should I wait to see if she opens the door and comes back?’ The whirlwind of thoughts push me slowly to my room and I hit the sack without changing my clothes. I drift into a deep slumber without effort, tired of the day’s events.

---------

Morning comes with a new hope. We are travelling to Lythikos today. The snowy north duchy of Cordonia that belongs to Duchess Olivia Nevrakis.

There is much to do before I leave. I quickly pack my bags and then make a run to the stables, instruct my assisting vet for things to be done in my absence. I rush back to my room, load my truck and drive safely to catch up right behind Max's limo. Riley is with him in there.

Liam and Livy had planned an early morning drive as she is the host and I am hoping that they have got time to talk to each other and smooth out the creases.

I can feel the chill just by the sight of the snow after almost an hour-long drive. Max and Riley have already moved inside the cosy chateau. I pull on my jacket before getting out. As I drag my bags up the entrance, I hear her. 'The Guanaco call', I always teased Livy, saying her sharp laughter sounds just like the lama and she hits back saying 'what better comparison can I expect from an animal doc?’

I spin to find her ice skating with Liam at the frozen lake. She is beaming, radiant and glowing again. I feel a surge of fresh energy watching her.

But I am staggered, I stand there, I don’t know for how long, just with my frozen thoughts.

#pixelberry #olivia nevrakis #playchoices #drake walker #liam x riley #olivia #the royal romance #king liam x mc #trr #trr fandom #hana lee #twinkleallnight #marshmallow

43 notes · View notes

johnricharddeacy · 4 years

Text

Dentist appointment

Roger Taylor one shot.

this is my first one shot! I hope you like it and enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please tell my that you think!

There’s a bit of cursing, so be careful with it if you are sensitive to it.

-What’s wrong baby? -I asked my boyfriend, Roger, he had his eyes closed and it seemed he was in pain.

-My mouth hurts. -He said pouting like a baby.- Kiss me better?

I laughed at him and refused at first, but he continued pouting and doing grabby hands and my heart melted, how could I refuse? I grabbed his neck softly and kiss him delicately but he pushed me away and cried in pain.

-Dear God, I can’t even kiss you properly. -He said rubbing his eyes desperately.- Have to go to the dentist.

-Thought you were a dentist. -I said mocking him.

-Ha, ha, really funny. -He said ironically.- Not now Y/N, I’m dying.

-Roger! Hahaha you are not dying. -I said hugging him from behind.- You’re probably getting your wisdom teeth out, but you’re not going to die.

-I don’t know , just take me to the dentist so I can die peacefully. -He said closing his eyes and grabbing my hands, I don’t know if he’s serious or if he’s joking.

-Let me grab the keys and we’ll go, drama queen. -I said kissing his nose and running upstairs.

The car ride was dramatic and I started to think he was actually thinking he was going to die.

-If something happens to me, Y/N, remember I’ve always loved you. -He said grabbing my hand.- And please, continue my legacy of driving Brian nuts.

I only laughed and caress his face, noticing it has started to puff up, it was definitely his wisdom teeth, he studied medicine, how could he not recognize the pain? He studied dentistry.

-I will darling. -“If you can’t beat them, join them” I thought.

When we arrived to the dentist he told the nurse that it was urgent or otherwise he was going to die, she thought he was joking and laughed a bit.

-Why are you laughing of? -He cried out.- I’m being serious.

-Oh. -She only said and looked at me behind Roger that he was crazy and overreacting.

She told us to wait a few minutes in the waiting room for the doctor to finish with the pacient he was in with.

After a few minutes waiting, they let Roger in and stay out waiting for him, it wasn’t long when he showed up again but this time with the dentist beside him.

-Good news! -He said hugging me.- I’m not dying! I’m only having my wisdom teeth removed!

-Oh those are good news! -I said kissing him softly.- When are you getting them off?

-Tomorrow! -He said happily, oh my! My boyfriend is a 5 year old!- Thanks doc!

-Bye Roger. -The doctor replied laughing, it’s actually hilarious.

The trip back home was completely different, he was laughing and singing eventhough it was actually hurting him, it wasn’t going to kill him but it was surely painful.

He slept tight that night, happy he wasn’t going to die, I called Brian cause they were literally brothers and Rog told me to ask him to pick up up tomorrow when the killer teeth are out, he obviously said yes, I felt asleep spooning Roger, I was actually the big spoon, he’s a big baby and he likes to be taken care of.

The next day he woke me up screaming.

-Today is the day! -He shouted jumping.- I’m taking those motherfuckers out of my pretty little mouth. -He said singing and pouting.

-Yes babe, but please let me sleep a bit more. -I said rubbing my eyes.

-No darling, it’s already 8 am! The appointment is at 9:30! -He said taking my hands off my eyes

-Shoot! -I said sitting early.- I’m sorry Rog! I’m taking a bath and meanwhile call Brian.

-I will lovie! -He said running downstairs to the phone, what a child.

I showered quickly and grabbed a slice of bread for me and Brian.

-He’s here, my love! -He said standing at the door.

The car ride was quiet for me, the boys were talking about their new album and I limited my answers to supportive acclamations, when we arrived to the appointment the doctor was waiting for Rog, so he entered to the consulting room as soon as we arrived.

I waited with Brian in the car cause the waiting room was full, so we were constantly checking if he was out.

Brian went in and run to the car to tell me he was already out and asking for me, so we went in and in fact, he was waiting for me, when he saw me enter the room he started to do granny hands and pouting, I hugged him and he stayed hugged to my chest.

-He’s alright now, he’s still under the effects of the anesthesia so he is a bit high. -He said laughing, I looked down to see Roger’s face and he was falling asleep hugged to my belly, his face was puffy and two cottons were coming out of his mouth, he indeed looked high.

Brian has his camera with him and started taking pictures of the poor drugged Roger and the flash slipped in one so Rog woke up pissed.

-Hey Poodle! Fuck off, I almost die! -He said trying to punch him.

-Don’t take the cottons off, and eat ice cream. -The doctor told Roger.

-Ohh! Ice cream! -He said happy, like a child.- Can I eat her out too? -I whisper-shouted him to shut up.

-Hmm.. no sorry. -The doctor answer and he pouted, still hugging me.

-Okay, thank Doctor! -I said. - Brian please help me to get him to the car.

-Right away! -He said grabbing Roger and putting him like a sack of potatoes on his shoulder.

-Bye doc! You saved my life! -Rog said while waving to the doctor.

We thought everything was going to be easier, but we forget we were dealing with a high child, once in the car, Roger found a broom and that’s when the problems started.

-Can you not put that near my window, please? -Brian asked scared, but roger was looking at my with a teasing face and then pushed the broom to the window, nearly hitting it, and turning to look at me again with a funny glare.

-I’m going to count to three, Rog, put that broom down. -I said with a motherly look, my boyfriend is a child!- And if you don’t put that down!-He pushed the broom again and my heart skipped a beat.

-On three hit the window? Okay love! -He said excited.- Ready? GO!

-NO! -Brian shouted stopping the car.- I swear if you don’t stop your drugged boyfriend now I’m going to sell the pictures to a magazine I swear.

-Count to three. -He said looking at my with the two cottons popping out of his mouth.

-Roger Meddows Taylor! Stop it! -I told him a bit pissed! It was so stressing.- One. -I started my count for him to stop.- Two. -He continued teasing.- Three!

He dropped the broom and lifted his hands showing he was innocent.

-Why was you in my hands? -He asked the broom, it was hilarious!- Damn it!

The view was awesome, he was fighting with a broom, drugged, with two cottons popping out of his mouth and his cheeks that were three times bigger that usual.

-You almost made me get into trouble! -He lifted the broom and continued talking to it, but suddenly he slapped it, HE SLAPPED A BROOM!- Ugh! Stupid asshole.

-Oh God -I facepalmed and heard Brian giggling.

-Ugh! Some people, right love? -He looked at me, still with that cheeky glare on his eyes, how the fuck can someone be that beautiful while being that drugged.

-You’re lucky I love you, Rog. -I said grabbing his hands and caressing it while he tried to sleep a bit.

Minutes of peace passed in the car and I felt Roger’s hand slipping out of mine and reaching to his mouth.

He took off the cottons. Oh my! He looked at them disgusted and shocked, it was a bit gross actually, cause they were full of saliva and blood.

-God damn! Look at this lovie! -He said while putting the cottons as near to my face as he could.

-Put then back Rog! -I said feeling like a mother once again, he was sticking his tongue out cause it was numb and apparently it felt funny cause he started giggling at the feeling.

-You are still bleeding Roger, please put them back. -Brian said while rubbing his forehead tiredly.

-Eww, that’s disgusting. -He said showing them to me once again.- You want me to put them back again? -I nodded and made an affirmative sound.- I’m going to get STDs.

Brian and I looked each other and burst out into a fit of laughter, drugged Roger is hilarious as fuck!

-I’ll put them back again just for you lovie! -Rog said singing and falling asleep once again.

When we arrived home, Brian helped me to put him into bed. Hopefully when he wakes up, the anesthesia crap will be over.

48 notes · View notes

spac3bar7end3r · 4 years

Text

Tell Me That I'll Be Alright

Modern Wizarding World, Draco Stays in Muggle Part, Pre-relationship, Short fic, potion master Draco, auror Harry

For the prompt: “Yes, I’m aware. Your point?”

2873 words

read on Ao3

‘For today's weather, the wind is calm. It will be sunny throughout the day. There is a chance of a little reunion happening. The person you don’t expect to see will walk through your door. It’s your choice to decide to close the door or open it once more.’

Luna’s message is cryptic. She is always cryptic, that’s for sure. But today’s message seems specific in a vague way (how can that be?) Normally it would be something like: your lucky person is the man who wears green, or something similar to that.

He loves it though, and it sells well both for muggles and in the wizarding world. It’s Luna’s own business, sending daily cryptic texts to subscribers. He once saw a muggle who has religiously studied her texts like verses in the bible.

If Luna said, he’s going to have a reunion today then so be it. Let’s hope it is not someone who wants to kill him. The weather is too good for a sparring today.

Draco Malfoy put his phone back in his pocket and locks his flat’s door before checking the time on his mobile phone. The young wizard smiles to himself. He has more spare time before work than usual.

He put his keys in his the other side of his pants’ pocket. The sound of the keys jingling echoes through the hallway. He looked up to nod at one of his old neighbour who is also going out of their resident. Draco smiles back when the other sends a smile his way like he always does.

He hums to himself while walking down the street. Maybe today is a great day to order coffee from the shop across the street. He deserves it. He has time to indulge himself in muggles’ fancy drinks (and he will!).

Draco orders a hot latte and a plain bagel. He smiles to the barista with a familiar face. Draco sees this bloke a lot when he becomes this shop’s regular (His first time here was a bit embarrassing because he cannot pronounce macchiato. What a dumb word.) The barista smiles flirtatiously, but Draco pretends like he doesn’t see it. He takes an effort to make small talk and puts the tips in a jar then goes out with his drinks and heavenly-smelled bagel in hands.

He unlocks the door when he reaches his office the muggle way, opening it and waves his hand, sending his scarf flying to the coat rack next to the door. The Closed sign hanging on the door flips itself and now showing Open instead. He turns on the light and the wireless before throwing his body on his chair. The smell of hot coffee and the gently sound of muggle’s music makes him feel lively for a second but then his mood shifts when Draco notices a letter on his desk, his brows furrowed at the pretentious, ugly wax seal and the department behind the symbol of the seal.

Comparing to the first time he received a letter from Hogwarts, this is like a 180 change. It is a letter from Gawain bloody Robards.

‘Dear Potion Master Draco Malfoy,’ written the letter, and Draco has to look up from the letter to sneer with himself for dramatic purpose.

And then he continues:

‘The Department of the Auror of the Ministry of Magic urgently needs your expertise on an important case since we believe your skills and knowledge will assist our works tremendously. We will send one of our officers to your office tomorrow. He will tell you all about the case.

We hope you will regard us in the same way that the Ministry has been regarding and assisting the Malfoy family. I believe it is quite a crucial time for us to support each other for the best of the wizarding world in this time and age.

Warm Regards,

Gawain Robards

Head Auror’

“Warm regards my arse.” Draco quickly looks through the content of the letter then throws the paper to the fire without care. He picks his coffee up and drinks, his mood now soiled. Since the letter was sent to him yesterday (Draco guesses it must be right after him getting out of his office. Robards is sly like that. That prat might have sent it knowing Draco wouldn’t be able to reject it in time.

Then that means ‘one of the officers’ is going to turn up here sooner or later. Draco takes a deep breath, not sure if he can school his expression well when seeing the people from the ministry. Those bastards always sneer at him because of the former Death Eater thing. Of course, Draco sneers back, but it doesn’t mean—

A sound of someone opening the door interrupts his thoughts. Draco lowers the volume of the music then looks at the visitor.

“Welcome—” Draco says to his potential customer but his voice cracks at the end. His gazes fixed on the person who just enters who looks as surprised as Draco (or maybe more).

It’s Potter.

‘The person you don’t expect to see will walk through your door.’ Luna’s message rings in his head. He stares openly at the figure standing at his door.

It’s Potter.

Of course, it’s Harry Potter. Why not?

“Malfoy, you’re wearing a beanie.” Potter blurts out with wide eyes. Draco raises his eyebrows, touching his beanie consciously then he looks at himself from head to toe: Graphic shirt with top buttons undone, muggle jeans and Doc Marten boots. Pansy called it ‘A typical, Hipster Muggle Look.’

Seven years since the war and this is what this blunt prat decided to say to his old classmate? Draco decides to also look at Potter thoroughly. Potter is not the only one who has eyes. He looks at The Gryffindor’s dirty boots, his old jeans that have more tears than to be a fashion statement, his dark blue t-shirt and a dark jacket in his hands… The outfit screams Potter the War Hero that he’s seen before on papers (except his body that well… fitter, more muscle on his body than when he was a gangly kid — but this is not what he should scrutinise at the moment, isn’t it?)

“Yes, I’m aware, Potter. Since it is on my head and all. Your point?”

“I thought the potion master has to be like—”

“Like what? Snape? Slughorn? Potter, need I remind you that this is 2019? Do you think that a potion master has to wear a robe, putting a cauldron in the centre of their workplace and still use owls to contact each other? Please, only people at the ministry do that. Tell them to email me next time.”

“But the ministry recommended you. I thought it would be an old bloke wearing a robe, acting like a ministry agent or something.” Potter explains, “Your manner is still kinda the same, though.”

“I’d bite my own tongue before I behave like those old bastards.”

“I think the current you is quite nice. I, er, I mean, I prefer you than those wizards and witches.”

Potter stammers and Draco tries not to overthink what the other said.

He tries to channel the old Draco Malfoy from his school years, chin up and all, “Actually I thought the ministry wouldn’t really want to ask me,” He twists his lips, directing a cocky smile at Potter, “But I guess they have no choice. I am an exceptional potion master, and they can’t get rid of my pretty face even if they want to.”

Potter has a small smile at the corner of his lips “I guess that’s true.”

Draco doesn’t know which part that Potter agreed with him. Potter is playing with the hem of his shirt awkwardly and just stands at the door. Draco coughs, waving the auror to his desk.

“Nice to reacquaint, Potter.” Draco looks directly into the green eyes. The ones that he’s never thought he would be able to have a chance to stare at again. “Put your jacket on the rack and come sit here.” He points to the chair at the other side of his desk before getting up and brewing tea for his old rival.

* * *

‘It’s your choice to decide to close the door or open it once more.’

Draco’s mind dwells on Luna’s words. What does that even mean? If her random prediction is accurate, then it means Draco needs to do something about…this? What is this anyway? And has he ever open the door to Potter, to begin with?

“You don’t look surprised to see me,” Potter says while he lightly puts the teacup on Draco’s desk.

“And what face do you want to see? I’ve lived around muggles for seven years, Potter. I guess I am great at feigning nonchalant to surprising shits now.” Draco thinks of all the weird muggle stuff he has encountered over the years.

“…”

“So are we going to talk about the ‘important case’ that Robards mentioned in the letter now?” Draco raises his eyebrow. Potter nods, swallowing before he grabs something from his pants pocket.

“We found this in the belongings of a squib in a muggle part of London. We have to work together with the muggle police. They think it was some kind of drug, but we also think it also has some kind of magic properties.” He puts the tiny bottle on Draco’s desk.

“Is there anybody at the ministry—”

“It seems like some chemical that the muggle seems to know of a lot. I heard you—"

“Doing research on muggle drugs and potion-making. Yes, I was. Did they drink this or inject themselves with it?” Draco opens the bottle and lightly smells the transparent liquid inside. They are not that different from the bottle of pure water.

“They drank it. The symptom is a daydreaming-like behaviour, but we also have one frozen wizard who looks like he was cast with the Full Body-Bind Curse. We still have not found a permanent cure for these symptoms.”

Draco nods, opening his top drawer and grabs the notepad. He jots down something quickly as if he’s afraid of forgetting it.

“I am well-acquainted with a muggle who’s in law enforcement. I could find some more details without unnecessary paperwork. Oh, but if you have any important details like the locations, other noticeable symptoms, forward it to me directly via email.” Draco grabs his phone and sends a text to said muggle before he forgets. He doesn’t want to contact this bloke without unnecessary because no matter how useful it is, this muggle is quite clingy, but he also wants to get rid of Potter as soon as possible.

He looks up to find Potter staring at his fingers. Draco stops, tilting his head as if asking a silent question when Potter notices him stopping.

“Uh, I, just, I’m not used to you using muggle stuff.” Potter coughs, blushing. “You even used emoji.” Potter nods towards Draco’s fingers, and with a small voice, he adds, “Is that an eggplant emoji? You used eggplant emoji? To that muggle?”

“Those were old texts.” Draco doesn’t know why he needs to quickly explain that to Potter (Lie. He actually knows why.) He puts down his phone and continues, “I might be able to find a cure. Maybe in two or three days. Do you want me sending the report or just—”

“I can come here for that.” Potter interrupts.

“Good. Because I hate having to getting in touch with the wizardry world.” Draco smiles darkly.

Potter slowly nods before looking around the office, looking for another topic to talk about.

“Nice office.”

“Thanks. I didn’t want the old-fashioned potion master vibe, so I tried to match it with the surrounding.” Draco nods towards the scenery outside the window.

“How is it here? I want to come here a few times but haven’t had a chance.”

“It’s alright. If you want some hipster muggle stuff, you’d like it here. You already have the look for it, I guess.” Draco raises his eyebrow at the auror.

Potter laughs, saying “Luna will absolutely love this place. I also notice a shop selling plants here. I’ll have to tell Neville about it.”

Draco smiles. “I contact Longbottom from time to time. I remembered he did research on some magical plants. He’s doing business now or…?”

“Yes, still about plants though.” Potter smiles. “I’m living in the same flat with him, and his plants.”

“You’re living with Longbottom? In Fulham? I thought you live in House Black’s house or with Weasley—”

“That was six years ago.” Potter interrupts.

Draco thought he became immune to surprising shits now that he’s getting older, but it seems like he still reacts the same way when it is concerning Potter. He raises one of his eyebrows, slowly taking a peek at Potter’s left hand—the part where he tries so hard not to stare since Potter has stepped inside.

However, there is no object that he’s scared to see. No ring. No wedding ring.

He thought Potter would have a happy ending after the war. Having a bunch of kids and living in a big house.

But it’s not like that. Potter’s eyes look sad. They seem like he saw something, even after the war. Something is hidden behind his green’s eyes that Draco doesn’t know what it is.

“So you’re single right now?”

“Yeah, I thought everyone knows that. The Daily Prophet and other editorials always write about my relationships like their lives depend on it. Witches Weekly also does that, putting me in a bachelor list every month or two.”

“Congrats on getting to be on the list, Scarhead. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see your mug on the papers since I don’t read wizard papers anymore because they are shit. Well, except the Quibbler. Luna is great at her job.”

“True.” Potter smiles lightly, “Do you subscribe to her daily prediction? I got an interesting text today.”

“I do, and yes, it was quite interesting.”

“Do we get the same text? How many people does she send it to? Is it randomised or something?”

“I don’t know. What’s yours say?”

“It says ‘don’t hesitate to go through the door.’ I don’t know what that means.”

“‘It’s your choice to close or open the door.’ is what I got.”

Potter raises his eyebrows. He swallows slowly and says, “And you, are you seeing anyone?” Potter asks, and Merlin, Draco hopes that it is a real hope glinting in Potter’s green eyes and it’s not just Draco’s hopeless desire projecting his old feeling from his unrequited crush during Hogwarts years. (Yes, at least Draco is brave to admit that now. Plus, He’s good at Occlumency. Even if Potter’s learned Legilimency, he still wouldn’t get a glimpse. Draco is that good.)

“No…” Draco answers slowly, processing his thought.

“What about that Eggplant Emoji muggle?”

“Merlin’s sake, Potter. That was a text from months ago.” Draco rolls his eyes.

“Good.” Potter nods. “Good.”

“What were we talking about before? Right, work. Case. Potion.” Draco gets gloomy a little when his mind returns to this annoying task (but it actually got less annoying the moment he realised who he gets to work with.)

“Right. I may need more pieces of evidence for the case, and if I find something new—”

“Like I said, email me or text me.”

“Do I need to include emoji in my message?” Potter grins jokingly.

“If you want,” Draco answers with a challenging smile. Potter’s dark skin flushed a little. He opens his mouth as if he’s going to say something, but then he closes it again.

“Well, if it’s not urgent then you can tell me when you come to get a better cure for the victims in three days.”

“Alright. Cheers.”

“We can do it over lunch. So I can introduce you to the street here. I’m sure you’ll like Dalston.”

“Fantastic. I’ve never refused when it comes to food.” Potter grins. “That settles it then. See you in three days. Cheers.”

“I’ll text you the restaurant’s name.”

“Brilliant. See you.”

Potter stands up from the chair. He walks to his coat hanging by the door and puts it on. The sound of the doorbell chiming rings around the office when the auror opens the door.

Apart from that messy dark hair, Draco notices Potter still has awkward habits he did in Hogwarts, like the way he walks, or the expression he made when he’s embarrassed.

Before the door closes, Draco shouts at the top of his lungs, “It’s a date, Potter!”

Potter splutters, face blushing. However, the auror nods enthusiastically, agreeing. He waves awkwardly like he doesn’t know what to do with his hand then quickly leaves.

Draco Malfoy smirks. He stands up and looks at the back of the auror who’s vanishing in thin air a second later.

‘It’s your choice to decide to close the door or open it once more.’

Draco made his choice. It’s depended on Potter now whether he will enter Draco’s open door or not.

Draco hopes he will.

Spoiler Alert: Yes, Harry will definitely enter the door. No hesitation.

And it doesn’t’ have anything to do with Luna’s prediction.

#sbdrarryfic #drarry #drarry fic #Draco Malfoy #Harry Potter #my fic #spacebartenderfic

17 notes · View notes

chaniters · 5 years

Text

Detective Sidestep

While the rangers lick their wounds, Sidestep does his best to work the case, while dealing with his own issues.

This’s mostly experimental, first attempt at writing something like this. Hope it’s entertaining to read!

Enjoy. Also, Spoilers like usual!

_________________________________________________

CHARGE

“Hey, can we have some privacy?” Ortega asks, looking sweaty on the couch as Elyise kisses his fingers, sitting beside him. She smiles in turn, looking at you.

“Oh. Right right Right, of course. I was already leaving anyways. See you two later” you say picking up your backpack.

“Take care!” he says

“Leave some bad guys for me!” Elyise pleads.

“And don’t you worry, I’ll remind her to get to your patrol! You’ve got my word she’ll make on in time today ” you hear him as you walk the corridor while she laughs with that clear voice of hers.

You leave the gym heading out, before putting your mask on again before leaving their HQ.

It’s been the same for weeks. You help Ortega with his Physical Therapy, until Elyise comes in, and then you leave, put your mask on and start knocking criminals down until Elyise is free and you can both complete a joint patrol, going after the big fish of the week.

She makes daily a statement to the press about your stunts -and she’s generous, she praises you big-time- and it gets published everywhere thanks to Reaper’s contacts with the media. Meanwhile, you get to go back home unnoticed and watch it all on TV, with Pidgeon on your lap while having some cold dinner.

You make a really, really good team, and the powered criminals are going down like flies. She’s even better than Ortega at this hand’s down, and he’s saying he’ll ask her to join the rangers the moment he’s back on duty, his team’s already preparing the announcement.

They’ll be the new power couple in town once they’re together, that’s all the press says, that you are just covering for him, it’s always meant to be Elyise and him. Somehow a picture of them kissing got into the media and it’s made everyone insane. It certainly got you insane.

You’ve made a point to tell them how happy you are for them every time you can.

Happy.

It’s not the same.

It’s not the same and your knuckles end up in bowls of ice every night because you’re punching the criminals harder and harder with each passing day.

Happy.

You just need to keep on saying it until it becomes true.

____________________________________________________________

ELYISE

“So, how are you doing?” you ask as you duck behind the park bench to avoid the flying bladed drone disk aimed at your neck.

“Well I’m coping, you know” she answers while creating a barrier to stop a trio of incoming disks in the air. “And It sucks”

You stand outside your cover shooting at each of them in turn, causing small explosions and reducing them to pieces. Diskmaster turns tail and starts running at that. Coward.

“It can’t be easy,” you say as you reassume the chase.

“It isn’t... But I’m lucky... Reaper’s managing everything, and I’ve got Ricardo to keep me sane. I haven’t had that many boyfriends, least of all in hospital bed, you know?” she says running at your side, after the villain. “Glad you were there to save him”

“You pathetic heroes! You are nothing compared to my technological mastery! Prepare to be destroyed!!” Diskmaster says waving his hands and sending a swarm of sawed flying disks at the two of you.

You evade them all, finding a way trough, as Elyise simply pushes them away while still coming trough. Diskmaster stops as he notices you chased him all the way up to a dead-end and turns to you.

“Hahaha! Do you think you’ve got me, heroes? You’re WRONG! Prepare to see my ultimate weapon!”

“Of course I was going to save him! Who else could I make fun off If i hadn’t?” you grin. Also, remember the doctor says he’s going to be running around soon Elyise, so the two of you are going to be the next big hit”

“I know, I just wish I had been there…that night at the docks”

“HEY ARE YOU TWO IDIOTS EVEN PAYING ATTENTION?! I’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU NOW!” Diskamter yells standing atop a giant disk with rotating blades.

The two of you turn to him.

“Is he annoying or what?” she asks

“I think he just makes a point of saying something generic every minute” you answer.

“I’M STANDING RIGHT HERE!”

“Believe me, we know,” you say.

“Your arrogance will be your downfall, fools!” He rushes forward with his disk at you, but Elyise has other plans, extending a hand to force the disk back, it’s blade burying into a building while Diskmaster bounces painfully against the bricks and goes down to the ground with a dry thud.

“This isn’t over! You haven’t seen the last of DISKMASTER...!” he says trying to eat up the embarrassment and calling his final disks to surround. But you easily evade them all, walk up to him and knocking him down on his arse with a simple fist to the face. Ouch, your knuckles are in hell.

Elyise comes up to you as the villain starts incorporating again...

“Sweet dreams Diskmaster” the two of you say punching him at the same time.

---------------Cooling down, a few minutes later----------------------

“What was he even trying to steal again? Was it the bank of the Jewelry store?”

“Beats me, I just heard him with over the megaphone with all those crazy disks saying he was going to take over the city and jumped him.”

“Same here,” she says

You take a sip of your soda, looking as he is taken away.

“Why weren’t you there?” you ask.

“Where?”

“You said you wished you were there when the Fiend attacked. You got the call as well, didn’t you?”

“I got it late. I got another call right then, emergency on the other side of town… It was pretty urgent.”

“Oh, I think I saw that. What was it?”

“Ahh… A suicide attempt. At the bridge. A passer-by saw it, and called me”

“Ahh. Those powers of yours must be good to have to stop those”

“They are, yes. Anyways, I should be off. Going to be meeting Ricardo at the infirmary”

“Oh, sure. Take care Elyise”

“You too, Step!” she says, as you share another fistbump.

You watch her as she leaves, the smile dying on your lips as you finish your soda and take your mask all the way down.

You did not expect her to be so bad at lying, nor that it would be so easy to steal her phone.

___________________________________________________________

ANATHEMA

“Why do you keep stealing stuff?” Annie asks as the doctor keeps trying to pull into his skin with a miniature drill.

“I’m gonna give it back”

“I know, but it’s still wrong. You should have just asked her”

“She’s the one who lied,” you say looking into his eyes.

“You’re the one reading her mind. And maybe she has a good reason” he answers, impervious as the doctor pulls a bigger drill and goes at it again, sparks coming out.

“I know there’s something wrong. I told you the Shark had dirt on her too”

“Just like he had dirt on Ortega and everyone else! Does that make him a bad person?”

“It’s not the same!” you protest as you keep fiddling with the phone.

“Seems the same to me.”

“I’m just looking after my friends”

“Is that what you’re doing? Maybe it’s something else, you know?” he says as the drill finally snaps. The doctor, groans, frustrated and takes another drill, more advanced, with a diamond tip. He activates it carefully and applies it to Anathema’s bare arm.

“Something else like what?” you ask lifting your gaze

“I think you’re jealous of her”

“Ahahahaaha… “ you say with your best false laughter “Jealous?! Why would I be jealous?r”

“You obviously are. And you should speak to Ricardo about it”

“Wh… what would I even tell him?”

“I’ve seen you two during training, I’m not an idiot”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean you should talk straight to Ortega, instead of making up dirt on his girlfriend!. Wait, that’s the wrong choice of words… You shouldn’t talk straight to him, you should talk ga...”

“I’m not making up dirt! This stuff is real!” you interrupt him before he can finish the sentence

“But you DO like Ortega?”

“I never said that!!!”

“Admit it!”

“AHA!” The doctor interrupts the tip of the drill wet with a few drops of blood. “IT WORKED!” he yells.

“We can hear that,” Anathema says frustrated by the distraction.

“Oh sorry” he says removing his earplugs. “Couldn’t hear myself.”

“It’s ok. What’s the veredict, doc?”

“Well, I think your powers are fully restored by now if the diamond drill’s the only that works. Getting a blood test is going to be hell again now that we’re back to single droplets, but we’ll manage, I’ll have results tomorrow.”

“Wait so when am I good to go?”

“I’d say you have the all-clear right now. Just uh… don’t mess up with that thing again”

“Any idea about how It nullified his powers?”

“Well, obviously the purple spit. There were traces of hero drugs in it”

“Hero drugs?” Annie asks

“What does it mean?” you follow up with your own question.

“I don’t know, and they don’t pay me to speculate. The stuff was decayed, so it didn’t activate normally, it just messed up your existing abilities, but it’s not permanent so that’s the good news.”

“That thing vomited that liquid at him from its mouth. You mean it had hero drugs inside?”

“I assume that’d be the case Sidestep,” he says looking at you. In any case, I’m out”

Annie looks at you as he leaves.

“So it actually spits drugs? What’s next? Maybe it’s radioactive too?”

“Could very well be for all we know. It does bring an explanation of why it chased all those dealers.”

“You mean it’s eating the drugs?”

“Well, they came out of its mouth, right? And he said decayed, I bet gastric acid could decay them pretty well”

“Yuck. Anyways, If I’m clear, I’m totally out of here. Can you pass me my pants and leave the stolen phone alone?”

“LOOK! I was right!” you say holding the phone to his face

“I fail to see how that gets me my pants,” he says annoyed before looking at Elyise’s phone. “And what’s that supposed to be?” he asks looking at the calls log

“It’s the call she got while at the Awards ceremony. Guess whose number is that called her?”

“I don’t know, maybe an obsessed hero who’s trying to steal her man for himself?”

“NO you… !” you say making your hands into fists “Look at the stupid number! The person who called her was…”

_______________________________________________

“The Loanshark?!” The warden asks.

“Yep. We came to visit” you say as you step inside, followed by Annie.

“This area is restricted” he objects

“I’ve got clearance,” Anathema says flashing a card.

“Oh.. uh... In that case… alright. Just wait here, I’ll get someone to escort you two to the medical ward”

“Will do!” you say

“Thanks!”

You sit up to wait, as Anathema takes the seat next to yours.

“Oh shit!” Annie says looking through his backpack. “I forgot my tablets. I should be taking one about now… shit!“

“I know,” you say, taking them out of your pocket and offering them to him.

“Whaat? How do you even have those?”

“I realized you forgot them”

“Oooh… because of the whole…” he does a wide circular motion with his palm at your forehead. “Mind thing?”

“Nope. You just told me you needed to bring them, and I saw you didn’t pick them up from the table.”

“Ah. Well, now I feel dumb. Anyways, thanks! ”

“No problem,” you say “I do hear your thoughts, though, and I know how important Testosterone is”

“You do?”

“Well, some of it. Always wondered though.”

“Wondered what?”

“How did it feel? To change like that?”

“Oh,” he smiles “ Well it wasn’t easy at first but… It made me feel whole. Like I was becoming more of myself”

“A man?”

“Real. Alive. Human” he says with conviction.

“Oh,” you say falling silent.

“Used to be depressed all the time. But thanks to these… I can be my true self.”

And let me tell you, that helps a lot. Thanks for bringing them!”

“I told you, it’s no problem” you smile to him.

“Also, I really need them because I can’t do pellets, patches or injections, you know? Because my skin is..”

“Indestructible, yeah. I suggest you take them now, they’re not going to let us bring drugs into jail”

You can’t help but wonder if maybe there are some more tablets somewhere in the world that could make you feel like a real living human too.

Maybe the rangers are what does it for you?

___________________________________________________________

LEWIE

“Enough games! Tell me why you called Elyise!” Anathema says slamming the table. His bad cop could use some improvement, really.

“Did I really call her? I call lots of people!”

You send a couple of words directly into Annie’s mind. The two of you’ve been practicing this trick for a while now Ask again.

“We know you called her! We have phone records, you idiot fish!”

“Wow that’s racist, you know? Still, why don’t you ask your hero friend instead, if you have the records?”

You turn off the recorder as you interject “Hey Dipshit, we already know you threatened her. We just need to know what did you tell her exactly!” Bad-cop/Psychic-cop always works.

“Wh…”

“And I want to know what THIS is,” you say showing him the Data Rod you stole from him.

Annie looks at it surprised but quickly plays along.

“Ooooohhh so it was you! You stole it from my safe and then you couldn’t open it, is that it?” he grins showing all his pointy teeth. “Well isn’t that funny… I thought she was the one who did it” Of course he’s talking now that you’re not recording.

“Enough nonsense. Tell me what’s inside”

“I can’t. I mean I don’t know what’s in there, and I can’t open it. All I know is it’s bad, really bad for her and could put an end to her career. She’s not what she pretends to be, you know?”

You sigh looking at Annie

“You mean you don’t know what’s inside, and you can’t open it, but you still kept it in your safe? Do you even know who can open it?” he asks

Lewie just grins, saying nothing. Of course, he won’t admit Hollow Ground exists, but the answer is very clear in his mind.

“Alright, alright. You said Elyise’s not what she seems. What do you mean by that? Or are you not going to answer that one either?”

“You know, I think I will, just because it’ll be funny to see you all tear each other apart, I mean since you almost get me killed.”

“You fucking ingrate, we almost all die saving your shark ass!”

“Yeah well you didn’t do a very good job!” he says opening his shirt to reveal the scars and heavy bandaging over his chest wound.

“Still beats croaking you asshole,” you say

“Spit it out already, we don’t have all day” Annie adds.

“Alright. It’s pretty simple really. Elyise, or Riley, she needed help, you know? It’s not easy to escape Mother Superior’s deranged cult of freaky-misfits. So she sought someone powerful to help her. Hmm.. someone who could whisk her away just like that…” he snaps his fingers

“And that wouldn’t be Hollow Ground, right?”

Lewie ignores him and goes on “Powerful people don’t give favors freely. She was asked to perform several tasks, of which I only know about the first ones, which she did excellently. But the last one? That one was very big and difficult, and I was never told what It was, only that it all got recorded there he points at your data rod trough the glass. “So she paid her dues and received the aid she needed to break free of her evil mother. It fell upon me to keep that as insurance since. She even tipped me off when you guys raided my office, she was great.

She didn’t want you finding that little thing in my safe” he smiles “Everyone was happy with the arrangement. Is that a good enough answer, Sidestep?”

“She didn’t tip you off!” Annie protests.

“Believe what you will, It’s not my job to open your eyes kid”.

“Still doesn’t answer why you called her”

“That’s even easier. I just wanted her to stop”

“Stop what?”

“Stop killing us, obviously”

“She wasn’t killing your peple. That was Catastrofiend”

“Have you seen that thing? You both know it’s not a vigilante trying to save the city from drugs. Someone’s guiding it to each location, and I know it was her. She’s a big hero now, and I blackmailed her. She got mad and wanted to erase her criminal past with us so she made some sort of deal with that devil.”

“I suppose you have evidence about this?” you ask, arms crossed.

“Well maybe that the monster appeared just a few months after Riley went batshit and decided she was entering the hero business and calling herself Elyise? And that It showed up at every single location she knew about? Or what about this, when I called her the night of the awards to discuss some sort of truce, she told me to go fuck myself, then hung up, and Catastrofiend was at my door not 20 minutes afterward. Twenty fucking minutes and everyone was dead. How’s that for evidence, you morons?”

_________________________________________________________

You go silent on the trip back, holding on to Annie as he directs the motorcycle. Just two masked heroes moving through traffic. Regular stuff.

“You actually believed him?”

“I didn’t notice him lying”

“All he does is lie”

“Yeah, that’s true. It’s hard to tell in a mind like that… but I don’t think he wanted to lie.”

“So… what… Do you think Ortega’s girlfriend send that monster to hurt us all? That’s nuts”

“Someone did send it”

“Where would she even get in contact with something like that?” he asks looking back after stopping next to a traffic light.

“I’ve been thinking about where it came from for a while… I think I have a good theory”

“Of course you do” he groans.

“And… I’d need your help to investigate it”

He nods slowly.

______________________________________________

STEEL

You finally make it back to the desk at the empty office, putting the box on the table.

Just when you think you’ve got everything, you realize you’re missing a piece. Backtracking to the kitchen takes a moment before you return with a slice of the latest “Get well soon” cake you smuggled into their fridge, taking a sip and then a few bites. You’ve been getting these cakes for them and no one’s complained so far, even if you’re the one eating the most out of them. They know you can’t think well without enough sugar.

Ok, time to work.

You open the box, studying its contents. Since the incident and with Ortega’s word you’ve got more or less free reign over the HQ, and thus you did the logical thing and stole everything you needed.

Office supplies galore, glue, pins, red string, and copies of the case’s pictures, paper, scissors, and colored markers. Everything you need to make one of those investigation display boards that Ortega loves so much. But where to start? It’s not as easy as it looks.

You take a large picture of the Catastrofiend taken by Steel’s optical scanner and pin it atop the board. Then you start writing questions, answers, pinning more photographs, then attaching them with the red string… It quickly starts taking shape

“That’s a reasonable assumption,” a familiar voice says from above. You look up, but there’s no one there… just a loudspeaker.

“Steel” you sigh “Are you spying on me?” you say holding off pinning Elyise’s picture.

“Just keeping a record of your thefts”

“It’s just office materials and I’m inside the premises! Plus I’m working the case!” you protest.

“You also took all the ash-trays.” the loudspeaker says drily.

“Prove it!”

A screen on the wall turns on a moment after showing you take one of them and put it in your bag.

“Well ok, maybe I did, but I’ve got reasons!”

“You don’t even smoke” he accuses.

“Well, maybe I have expenses, you know? And perhaps official Ranger ash-trays with your logo on it sell extremely well.”

“So it’s our fault that you’re a dirty thief!?” the loudspeaker says

“Of course it! If you hadn’t all declared yourselves against the tobacco industry these things wouldn’t be even remotely as rare” you say holding one from your backpack. “I mean you shouldn’t have them in the first place, only Hood used them really. Don’t you see? I’m really doing you a favor!”

Your attempt is rewarded with silence.

“OK I’LL GIVE THEM BACK!” you say opening your pack and letting a pile of them over the table. Happy now?”

More silence. You let a few minutes pass, watching your own board critically.

“Could you come in here?” you ask

“What?”

“If you’re watching me make the board, you could come here to help?”

“... I think I can help just fine from here”

“Come on, I can’t talk to a loudspeaker all day, it’s stupid!”

You hear a groan, and then the peculiar loud steps approaching you.

“Fine. I’m here” he says coming trough.”

“They fixed your hands!” you say surprised.

“Barely,” he says, immediately hiding them behind his back.

“Uh… something wrong with them?”

These are supposed to be better.. But they don’t work at all.”

“How so?”

“I can’t really control the pressure. Can’t even take a glass without breaking it, it’s like the first time I got modded all over again, I’ve already gone through this” he sounds clearly frustrated as he explains.

“Want me to calibrate them?”

“No”

“Why not? It shouldn’t be hard”

“Not going to happen!”

“I know how those things work… and I can sense how it responds on your end because…”

“Because you’re a telepath” he finishes for you.

You nod lightly. He hates that word for some reason.

“You’re not authorized to modify my mods,” he says defensively

“Not unless you authorize me. You know I can get it right.”

The internal conflict in his mind is so entertaining to overhear that you have to make a conscious effort not to smile.

“I could get it working in minutes and you know it!”

That does it.

“Fine. But if you somehow make it worse…”

“Great! Now I need tools…”

“Let’s go to the lab… just this once” he says guiding you.

“I love that place!”

“Tell me, was this an excuse to steal more of our stuff from the beginning?”

“I don’t steal, I just borrow for a really long time” you smile following him.

____________Some extensive calibrations later______________________

“Now how’s that?” you ask as you unplug your phone’s cable from the input entry.

He slowly opens his hands, carefully taking the one deck of cards in each, and then starts shuffling them. There’s a hint of a smile in his expression, something that you haven’t seen before, he’s really pleased with the results.

“They never worked so well before” he seems actually … excited? But as his gaze fixes on you, the smile dies as quickly as it got there.

“Thank you” he lets out in a neutral tone “This was actually really helpful”

It’s so annoying not knowing what the heck is his problem with you. You’re pretty sure you didn’t do anything to upset him, and still, it’s always like this. He won’t let himself like you, no matter how hard you try, it’s as simple as that. Whatever may be it’s your fault for trying.

But perhaps that’s why you wanted his input.

“So what did you want my help with?”

“I just need your view on something”

“Fine.”

“Let’s say you’re part of a military unit, right?”

“Sounds familiar”

“Yeah. So, you’re doing missions one after the other… and then they start to go wrong… and you get intel that you’re being sabotaged”

“There’s a traitor, you mean?” he says looking dead straight into your eyes.

“Something like that”

“Anything you want to get off your chest?”

“No! I just want your opinion… What would you do?”

“Do I know who the traitor is?”

“You think you have a good case against them, but you can’t be certain. And if you’re wrong it could destroy your team. And on top of that, you’re not sure if your own feelings are getting in the way.”

He gives you a really long stare, and you can hear him reciting a poem over at the back of his mind as if he was trying to block you from mind reading on purpose. Did you do something to freak him out? What the heck is this guy’s problem?

It takes several minutes before he realizes you’re still awaiting an answer.

“I… I would gather all the evidence I could. And then… confront them directly, trough the proper channels”

“Oh” you let out.

“Not the answer you expected?” he narrows his gaze.

“I… don’t know what answer I expected really. Thanks” you say standing and walking to the door with your pack.

“You’re forgetting your board,” he says, his thoughts confused. “I don’t think I need it anymore,” you say closing the door behind you. You’re confused too. Why did you even ask him for advice in the first place? Oh. Because deep down you respect him, that’s why.

That was not the answer you expected at all. At the farm, the answer would have been to report the traitor in secret to the team leader, and then take out the threat by surprise before it could fester. Maybe there’s more to Steel than you thought.

__________________________________________________

“You hear me? Reception is bad here”

“I do! Did you get to the spot?”

“Standing on it,” Annie says. “Not much left honestly”

“That’s as expected… did you find anything?”

“I… I think you better see it,” he says trying to send you some pictures. They take a while to load.

The first ones open, showing the familiar landscape. Sunken town. Anathema’s standing over the ruins of Mother Superior’s lab.

“At first I thought there was nothing but... But then…”

A new picture shows some ruble he’s removing by hand… and underneath… a perfect round hole dug trough the collapsed ground and debris

He sends another picture, displaying what appears to be a broken down drone. A drilling drone. It has the familiar logo on it

“That’s … That’s Reaper’s company!”

“And we both know of someone who has access to his technology”

“Elyise”. You complete the sentence.

“Yeap. I’m on my way back. Guess you were right about her after all Steps. She came back for her mother after all. We’ve got to warn Charge right away.”

He hangs up, leaving you to ponder on what this all means. You have all the evidence gathered together as Steel suggested. Only one question left.

Are you right about her?

__________________________________________________________________

My fanfics: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero wold. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for her wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

#fallen hero: rebirth #fallen hero fanfic #Anathema #Steel #Ortega #Elyise #Investigation #Big chunk of text #SPOILERS!!!!

35 notes · View notes

compo67 · 5 years

Text

A spectacular bonsai tree from the lightscape I went to last week.

I'm so tired. Why am I still awake. I just finished Patreon rewards and have a stack of things to send out. But like. So tired. I drove 100 miles today. Somehow. My sister drove the last 70.

My EDS doctor is 4 hours away, but so worth seeing. He's filling out all my insurance accommodation paperwork and he signed off on the petition to get me a power chair through insurance. I'm wondering if I should call off tomorrow. For at least a half day. I could use the rest, but idk if it'll be covered under FMLA. But I haven't missed a day in a while so...

I got an informal POTS diagnosis, so there's that. I need to add more salt to my diet and be mindful of how I move. We're gonna try a new medication to see if we can help my sleep without ambien. Just another diagnosis to add to the layers.

At least for now there's nothing wrong with my heart. He did say the tilt table test results were poorly written and basically garbage. I'm just gonna avoid that hospital from now on, except my transplant stuff. 🙄

I hate it when doctors say they're experienced in rare conditions and they're not or they do sloppy work.

I think... I'm trying to do too much and it's causing me to feel super burned out. Sigh.

My sister pointed out that I've been snoring really loud lately. The soonest sleep doctor appointment I got was end of January. 🤷🏽‍♀️ My EDS doc said to not let the sleep doctors brush everything off as "you're fat" and to be sure they understand dysautonomia.

I also got a bill for $1700 for the MRI I had on my elbow in august because my insurance company claims the place is out of network. Idk about yall, but I don't have that kind of money lying around. Or available in two or three months of working part time while also trying to just live. So. Idk what I'm gonna do. I need to call on Wednesday and ask if they have a financial assistance program. They probably don't because it's not a hospital. It's too overwhelming to think about. And you know what the kicker is? The MRI showed nothing. It has been an expensive, physically and emotionally grueling experience. I've learned not to go to urgent care, xrays and imaging won't show anything, and ffs find a good ortho.

Let's pray I don't have another full dislocation anytime soon.

My crutches arrived today, so that was a highlight. I fell at the lightscape and bruised myself up pretty bad, plus my knee has been grumpy all week from it. So I decided one cane isn't enough for outings like that. Crutches it is.

I need to learn how to walk with them. That'll take some time. But I'm excited.

I might try and crowdfund that MRI bill. 😓

I just need to go to sleep. Things will look better in the morning. Or you know. In a few hours.

❤

#compo67 #authorial rambles #ehlers danlos life #ehlers danlos problems #chronic illness life #thanks i hate this

2 notes · View notes

carrietrekkie · 5 years

Text

Shut up and dance. (Welcome to Starfleet - Part 2)

Hey together!

Here comes Part 2 (Part 1 here)

I must thank @reeselivesforeverinmyheart for the idea, I hadn´t planed to write that party anyway but here it is! I was in a totally funny mood as I wrote it, so I hope it makes you smile!

And leave me a little fb, if you don´t mind.

With great pleasure I tag: @bold-brave-courageous @allthetrek

Had I remembered this evening later, I would have known that it still had some knowledge prepared for me. Cognition number one was that spaceships were damn labyrinths, that got even worse when you had one sitting like me, and already get lost in a sober state.

Cognition number two was that I should really keep my hands off champagne, no matter what the situation was. Should I marry someday there would be served water ... well, as I said, I will not remember this evening.

"Okay, stopover." Chris, who had hacked me in, pulled me around a corner, causing me to stumble again. Before I had an answer, Hugh grinned at me. "What are we doing in the sick bay?" "Oh yeah, I can see where the problem lies." The doc and the captain exchanged an amused look. "On it."

"Where on it?" I still didn´t know what to do here. "If there's going to be a party here, that's a funny moto. Hey, what will that be? " Pike pushed me to the treatment bed, grabbed my hip and sat me on it. "Keep still." "Hey, wow, that was impressive!" I grinned at him. "Is that possible ...?"

"Cathrin!" Culber interrupted me and stopped me from saying something very, very stupid. "What?" "Just be quiet for a moment, trust me." He raised a hypospray. "That will help you to break down the alcohol a little faster. You'll still have a hangover and feel shitty tomorrow, but it prevents you from stepping away completely. " "There exists something like that?" I squinted at the injector in his hand. "What do you want with the syringe?"

"Captain, what did you do with her?" Culber grinned at him, bringing him a very evil look from Pike. "I said I'm not the right man for this job." "So you decided to get her drunk?" "She drank two glasses of champagne!" Pike felt compelled to defend himself. "Who could have guessed that?" He caught the hand, with which I have just started to beat after hypospray as if it were an annoying fly.

"I just want to annoy you." Culber put the syringe against my neck and squeezed. "Ouch." I glared at the doctor. "That couldn´t have hurt!" He grinned at me, then turned around, fetching a glass of water and throwing an effervescent tablet into it. "Drink up." "He said no more drinks." Now I started waving my finger in front of Pike's nose. "In God´s name, drink that glass of water!" Pike shook his head, caught my hand again and squeezed it on my lap, then sighed slightly. "Please."

"Okay." I let him press the glass into my free hand, started, emptied it all in one and gave it back to Hugh. "Impressive." Culber patted Chris on the shoulder. "I understand how that happened." "Gnahh." I shook myself. "I suppose that must taste so awful?" "Punishment must be." Chris released me. "And?"

I had to blink a couple of times, then the desired effect would set in, I felt the mist clear a little and the heavy feeling on my tongue disappear, followed by the funny feeling in my legs. "Wow." I stretched a little. "That's weird." "Enjoy it as long as it lasts." Culber drove along my body with a tricoder. "And drink nothing alcoholic again, then it turns into the opposite." "Oh, I'm not going to touch anything anymore." I slid back onto my feet, still feeling a little dizzy, but not nearly as drunk as a few minutes ago. "And I take care that it stays that way." Chris's face spoke volumes, calling the expression amused would be a laughable understatement. "Are you coming with us Hugh?" "I have another hour of service before I come." He smiled at me. "Have fun and don´t forget to be surprised." "Oh, I found a solution for that." I turned around slightly and grinned at Pike. "I'm just saying he betrayed it to me, then nobody can blame me for not being happy enough." Hugh started to laugh as Pike stared at me in disbelief. "Good, right?" I nodded, then turned and left the sick bay. I just wanted to turn left as. "Right!" "Thanks." I glanced at the men, turned and ran away. "You should follow her Captain before she does something stupid." "For example?" Chris raised his hands, before he turned around and ran after me. "Cathrin slowly." I turned to him as he unlocked me. "That's weird." I was sure that my eyes had to be huge by now, at least that's how it felt. "You are still drunk, your body can only better catalyze it." Pike reached for my arm again. "So please, take care that you don´t catch anything alcoholic again, then that ends up really bad." "You speak from personal experience?" I looked at him. "Oh yes and no, I will not tell you this now." He stopped in front of the lounge.

"That's mean." "I know." He put his hands on my shoulders and looked at me. "Last chance to run away." "No, I think I can handle this." I looked at him. "If you take care of me." Oh yes, I was definitely drunk. "Have I ever done anything else?" With these words, he pushed me through the door and I was greeted with a big hello, interrupted by the question of where I had spent so long. I was amazed by the party location. Although I had been here before, but it had definitely looked different, which brought me to cognition number 3. Party decoration in the 23rd century was futuristic. There was nothing that didn´t blink and flashed.

There were many crew members, some of whom I only knew fleetingly, others I had never met before, but everyone embraced me so warmly that I couldn´t help but love each one of them. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Chris always trying to stay close to me, careful that I really didn´t get anything alcoholic in my hands, which was extremely difficult since almost everyone put a glass in my hand.

Luckily, that got better as everyone pressed through and Tilly picked up the scepter. I immediately recognized where she had the music from when the first bars came out of the speakers, she had found my music files somewhere. "Oh God Sil!" I beamed at her as she came to jump on me. "I hope you are not angry, but I thought you would enjoy it?" "Of course I enjoy it, I love it!"

I let her pull me onto the dance floor and within a few seconds I found myself in a crowd of dancing and celebrating Starfleet members. So controlled they otherwise worked, they could pretty well let the sow out and what surprised me most of all was, that Michael was probably the most boisterous dancer. Unlike Pike and Spock who stood in a corner, talking and watching. Both did their best not to be asked to dance. I knew that Spock couldn´t or didn´t want to dance, that he had even told me, why Chris didn´t danced escaped my knowledge. And since I had made it a condition that he would have to dance with me when we went to this party, it was probably me to get him out of this corner. So I turned by Rhys, who was a towering dancer, and approached Chris.

"All right." I took his glass out of his hand and set it down. "You agreed to dance with me." "Did I do that?" He laughed slightly. "Don´t act like that." I grabbed his hand and pulled him to me. "I am the one with the fogging brain." "I work on the contrary." "And don´t come to assert the idea you cannot dance. "I put my arms around his shoulders. "I'm pretty sure there is a Starfleet rule somewhere around that charges a Captain to take a dance class or two." "That would be new to me." Nevertheless, he started to move with me to the beat of the current song.

Shut up and dance.

Somebody probably thought of me when they wrote it. The fleet number drifted on the dance floor and as good as any leftover started to dance and finally Pike was infected by the good mood. I kept finding myself watching him. He was even damn good at dancing and the part of me that was still dizzy wondered what else he could do with those hips. I felt someone bump into my back, turned around and found me right in front of him, laughing, he took my hand and I turned to him under his arm.

"You lied to me." "Fibbed, that's different." Chris grabbed me, then we turned on our own axis. "Quibbling." I pushed around him, now we stood back to back again. He looked at me over his shoulder. Something had changed in his eyes. "I have not heard that for ages." "Well, I'm by definition terribly old-fashioned." I grabbed the hand he hold out to me and now he turned towards me and before I knew it, changed the music and the fast beat gave way to a soft number. The song was Ancient, Lenny Kravitz, Believe in you.

Chris pulled me into his arms. Then I felt his hand in my back. I had the feeling that the warmth of his hand pervaded my skin, but that was probably just the effect of the alcohol. We stood so close together that our cheeks touched, I felt his breath brush over my skin, his scent enveloped me. Slowly we moved to the beat of the music, much too close and far too insensitive.

I lifted my head slightly and looked directly into his eyes. The tenderness and the desire that I could read in it almost knocked me over at that moment. My eyes flickered to his lips, his perfectly curved, inviting lips ... oh dear, that was going in a direction I didn´t intend. I was so caught up in him and my own thoughts that I didn´t even notice how the song ended and he broke away from me. What the hell was I doing here right now. It had only been a blink of an eye and I would have kissed him, here in front of the entire crew and I was sure that he was not the only one who had noticed that. "Sorry." I had to get out of here, now! Apart from the fact that this could have been more than embarrassing, I felt the dim feeling of the previous time coming back. Without another word I turned around and could barely stop myself from running. I needed fresh air, urgently or at least a few feet between me and the crew. However, I heard someone following me.

"Crap." "Hey Cathrin, wait!" Of course it was Christopher. "Where do you want to go?" "I just got sick, there was probably some alcohol in the last drink." He made a completely unbiased impression, he had not noticed anything? Or was I drunker than I thought? "I'll take you to your quarters." "No!" I shook my head, not a good idea. "I can go alone, really, is not my first intoxication." "I'm responsible for this ship and I'll bring you." He smiled incredibly sweetly at me, which I just couldn´t use right now. "You mostly get lost, even in a sober condition.”

He wrapped an arm around my waist to support me and I tried to lean against him for a moment, my head was buzzing and my legs were as wobbly as pudding, but I just didn´t want him near me. "No, honestly." I easily pushed him away. "Let me go, I'll manage. Go back in. " "What am I supposed to do there if the main person is missing?" With a sigh, I gave up and let him take me to my quarters, he would not give in anyway. The way seemed to me endless this time and the silence between us didn´t make it any better. "Thanks." As soon as I arrived at my door, I twisted out of his grip, well, I had it, he didn´t let go of my hand. "Cathrin." He bit his lower lip. "I'm sorry, I." "What?" I felt the heat rushing to my face. "The situation earlier." He raised his hand. "I.” Again he interrupted himself and I suddenly realized that I hadn´t imagined anything by any means. "God, you don´t believe how much I would like to kiss you." I stared at him, swaying between falling into his arms and running away. "But not like that, not in front of the whole crew and not when you're drunk."

"I don´t know what you mean." Run away, definitely run away! I went back a little and the door opened. Slowly my hand slipped out of his. "Wait, let me." He tried to hold me, but I somehow managed to push my arm behind me. "Cathrin, please." "No, all right." I raised my hand, smiled at him and waved briefly. "Much fun yet!" The door closed and I dropped against it.

Oh God, oh God, oh God, what had I just started? Was I totally nuts? Try to kiss the captain? In front of the whole crew? And yet…oh how much I want to kiss him but he was right, not like this. We must found another way but definitely not tonight.

I needed time to think and needed a cold shower and a damn strong coffee. That brought me to Cognition Number 4. Never dance with someone you like when you're drunk that will definitely end in a disaster.

As said, I wouldn´t remember that evening.

Masterlist

#star trek discovery #star trek discovery fan fiction #star trek discovery oc #chris pike #chris pike x reader #christopher pike x reader #captain pike x reader #captain pike x oc #captain chris pike #pike x oc #chris pike x oc #captain christopher pike #writeblr #cathrin zimmer #captain pike fan fiction

16 notes · View notes

ethereal-tempest · 6 years

Text

Commit (Erik Killmonger Series) Pt.2

Summary: Your a Mercenary used by the CIA and when you’re forced to work with a certain operative things get a little more heated than you ever expected.

Part 1

WC: 2.5k+

A/N: Heyya lovebugs! so spelling errors out the ass its nice to be back tho pretty sure you guys have forgotten all about me which is fine but ya girl is back! Now I still wont be updating super often but ill try and make it a helluva lot more frequent, well enjoy!

Unbelievable. That word ran through your head repeatedly. You and Erik had to play some love sick couple, the whole Bonnie and Clyde spiel. Except instead of stealing money and taking jewels you’d be stealing intel and taking lives. You grunted as the doctor applied the needed instruments to your body. “This might sting a little bit more than you’re used to Agent Y/L/N were doing the rapid healing process so you’ll be good to go before you leave in your mission tomorrow.” “Do your worse doc, i’m sure i’ll be fine.”

With a timid smile on her face the doctor started up the machine as she inject the serum into you, boy was she wrong, it stung a lot . no not stung burned. It’s as if a thousand needles were piercing your skin at the same time all over. you screamed in agony but began to scream silently as you felt the firm grip of someone’s hand in your own. you gripped theirs back and bit your lip to try and muffle your screams but failed as the pain began to consume you. You felt tears running down your cheek as the person holding your hand rubbed it almost affectionately as the pain began to finally subside you were unstrapped from the machine and had the disk on your skin removed from the your injured body parts before you opened your eyes and saw who held your hand, “Killmonger what— why are you hear?” you asked as you sat up and wiped your face clean. “Think i’d miss the chance to hear you crying like a little baby?” you rolled your eyes before bring your legs to the edge of the table you previously laid on. You landed on shaky legs and soon felt a hand slide around your waist to keep you up right, you saw Erik at your side and tried to shrug him off and walk away from the table but ultimately failed and stumbled back into his side one hand resting on his chest. “I can walk by myself you know.” “Sure you can princess.” you held back a growl as you took a deep breath, “What were you doing here?” “Wanted to make sure they pathed you up right, can’t go out there looking like a domestic violence case.” you hum deciding to accept his answer as he help you back to your room. “And why are you helping me now?” “I wanted to talk.” you raised an eyebrow in suspicion, what could this conniving asshole want to talk about, “The mission.” he said answering your unspoken question, “This can’t wait until tomorrow or something.” “No.” you groaned and stood on your own finally having the strength to do so as you turned to look at him head on, “What’s so urgent then Killmonger?” you guides you into your room and shuts the door behind you two. Your curiosity is at an all time high as you sit on your bed and you stare up at the man standing before you. “I really don’t have the strength to kick your ass right now Erik so spit it out or get out. I do prefer the ladder by the way.” the man rolled his eyes as he said, “We need to know thing about each other, to help keep up the act.” you sighed as you plopped back onto your bed, “Erik that’s it? This can definitely be talked about tomorrow!” “Y/N were going to be watch from the second we set foot in Colombia, there will be no time to work on it then!” you cursed under your breath before you said, “So you waltz into my room and expect me to just open to you? That’s not how this shit works Erik, that is not how you get to know another human being!” “You’re such a brat. I don’t understand what the big deal is, just tell me what i want to know!” he shouted at you, you shot ul still seated on your bed and stared at him with wild eyes, “You think demanded intel about my person is going to make me give to to you. Fuck off Erik, come up with whatever bullshit you want and get the hell out of my room.” “Y/N you’re being—“ you stood from your bed, a little too quickly as you stumbled forward but caught yourself on your chair as you grunted, “Get. Out.”

He took a concerned step toward you in but you held your hand up to him stopping him in his tracks before you whispered out. “Leave Erik.”

The man wiped his hand down his face in defeat before opening your door and finally leaving. You let out a painful sigh as you sit back down on your bed, Your body still wasn’t fully healed some sleep would do. And that’s exactly what you did. You shot up from your sleep in a sense of panic and searched around your temp room for anything wrong. Everything seemed fine by you jumped slightly as you heard a knock at you door, you walk over to it and swing it open before peering around it. You sighed seeing who it was and opened your door all the way as you walked away. “What Agent Ross?” you asked over your shoulder as you put a shirt on over your sports bra, “You going to be alright on this mission? I know you and Agent Stevens don’t have the beat relationship.” That was an understatement you hated the man, most of the time anyways. He’s done it all botched mission, risked your life, even stolen one of your perps but you were a professional and you wouldn’t let some petty squabbles keep you from giving it your all. “Might not like the man but i’m more than capable of keeping it professional Sir. We’ll get the mission done.” “Are you sure?” you smirked as you brushed off his question and said, “Don’t I always.”

After your little check in from Ross you began getting ready for your mission. You’d definitely have to do some shopping seeings as though your clothes were not very undercover friendly. Once your personal weapons were tucked away in your bags you hauled everything down to the hanger.

“Y/N darlin’ you look a helluva lot better than you did eight hours ago.” you laughed as you dropped a bag and hugged your closest friend Dani, she stepped back holding you at arms length to get a closer look at you. “I’m still surprised your up and kicking as great as you are though…” “Takes a bit more than some shock therapy and tears to put me down, you know that Chief.” Dani was nicknamed Chief because of how quickly she was able to get control of a hostile situation, always made those she needed information from her bitch, and her their Commander.

“Yeah yeah doesn’t mean i don’t get to worry about ya, by the way, i hear your going on this little undercover stunt with a partner. Who’s the lucky bastard?” you rolled your eyes and Dani raised her eyebrows at the action as you huffed out, “Killmonger.”

It started low almost inaudible before it raised to a booming laughter that spread across the aircraft hanger you two stood in. “It’s not that funny Chief. He fucks this up i’m gonna kill him.” she shakes her head as she mumbled out, “Or maybe you’ll fucking him.” “What did you say?” “Nothing.” you squint your eyes prepared to ask her once again what she said we you noticed Killmonger walking towards you. “Speak of the Devil.” “Stevens take care of my girl out there, that’s an order.” She said with a smirk as she patted your shoulder and left you two alone. “What did you need Erik, here to demand more information about me?” he rolled his eyes he crossed his arms and said, “Look, i’m sorry about that. I’m just not trying to mess up this mission.” you scoffed as you asked, “And you think I am?” “That’s not what i said.” you rolled your eyes and shook your head before slapping a manila folder you and in your back pocket onto his chest. “Here’s your information Erik. We fly out within the hour and i want some information in return.” you walked off before the man could answer missing the shock evident on his face.

You loaded up the last of your bags to the plane and wiped some sweat from your forehead, “Y/N how’s it coming?” you gave the pilot a thumbs up letting her know you were ready to go.

You boarded the plane no sign of Killmonger anywhere, you took out your phone ready to text him when he hustled up the ramp with only a few duffle bags. “Took you long enough.” you mumbled as you buckled into your seat and get comfortable for the long ride ahead. The plane started up and as you went to close your eyes when you felt something slapped into your lap. “My file.” you looked at him with a confusion before looking into your lap, it was the intel you needed for the mission. “Remind me why we're not just making things up again Killmonger?” you questioned as you open the folder and began skimming over it, “Because bluffed intel would require us both to memorize it. This way if one is us starts to slip up he other will no then see with ease.” you rolled your eyes , he made a good point but you wouldn’t admit it. “Were about 4 hours out from the chopper you guys will be taking to Colombia. Should be only about an 1 ½ you guys will be in the air of that.” you heard the pilot say through comms you wore. You gave her a thumbs up before she took off.

You did the flying in the chopper going over the information about Erik and yourself with each other making sure the important things were known. “Favorite colors not blue it’s turquoise more of a sea green than anything.” you looked over the man in confusion, “Is this really the time to hard on such a small specification?” you bickered out as you easied the chopper onto the ground. “Here’s this.” He said handing you a small jewelry box you looked at it with a puzzled face before you opened it up, “It's tungsten ring with a turquoise tinted inside. Shouldn’t be hard to remember my favorite color now huh?” Erik held it is hand for your waiting to slip the ring on your finger but you stayed in the same shocked position, he rolled his eyes before he took your hand in his own and turned it over before slipping the ring onto your hand, it was a perfect fit. You thought held your own marveling at the beauty that sat on your finger and in your face. You noticed his stare and cleared your throat as you slipped your hand out of his and began powering down the helicopter, “W-where’s yours.” you stuttered out looking anywhere but his eyes that still roamed your face, when he didn’t answer you looked back him as you said his name snapping him out of whatever trance he was in, “Right here let’s move out.” He mumbled out before slipping out of the chopper.

You did the same pullin our down of your bags as you did, “Mr. and Mrs. Genuine, so glad you guys made it safely. Welcome to hotel de passíon, how was your flight?” you look across the seats of the helicopter and made eye contact with Erik, it’s show time and you both knew it. “Thank you baby, it was a little bumpy nothing a little liquor can’t fix.” you said winking at the beautiful receptionist that greeted you on the helipad of the hotel you and Erik would be in for the next few weeks. She chuckled as you pushed forward a cart for your bags, “I’ll have a bottle sent up to your room unless you prefer to mingle with some of the other guest at the open bar.” Erik walked up behind you as he said, “Both sound like a good option to me baby, that way we don’t have to worry about leaving once were alone.” his arm made it’s way around your waist drawing you to him as you felt his eyes looking down at you, you refused to meet his gaze as you felt your face heat. You casted you eyes to the receptionist who had a knowing look in her eyes, “I’ll take you bags to your room for you, a few rules for the grounds. No guns are allowed in the restaurant or by the pool. Also there is no discharging of weapons on hotel grounds any and all disputes should be settled off de passíon property. In the event that an altercation does occur the party who initiates the fight will be at fault and politey asked to leave the premises. Alright i think that’s everything all this will be in a handbook in your room. Once again Enjoy your stay and let us know anyway we can make your stay one you’ll never forget.” It wasn’t surprising they had these rules laid out for their guest considering this hotel was notorious for housing some of the biggest names in any illegal business, if you needed a place to stay while in south america their was always a de passíon that welcomed criminals and common folk alike, but considering you guys were staying in of the more elusive and luxurious penthouses it wasn’t hard to assume you were on the former side of the guest list.

“Thank you baby, can you make it a bottle of crown apple?” “Of course Mrs. Genuine.” she said before she disappeared into the elevator with your bags leaving you and Erik alone, you slapped his chest and backed out of his want hold, “What the hell was that?” you questioned the man standing before you, “What do you mean?” you gestured between your two bodies which were still awfully close and said, “The touching and the implying….” the man scoffed before placing both hands on your waist pulling you to him and making your hands land on his harden chest, “Were husband and wife remembered, newly weds at that. Plus i barely implied to anything unless there is something you want to be more than implied?” you scoffed as you gazed into his eyes not missing the smirk on his lips but also unable to think properly due to the close space you two were in. you shook your head from your dirty thoughts and took a step back. “We should get down to the room and change.”

He took your hand in his and interlocked them, just when you went to protest you saw your ring shining in the dim lights on the helipad and decided against it. This was going to be one helluva mission.

#erik killmonger #erik #killmonger #killmonger imagine #killmonger fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfiction #marvel fandom #marvel fic #killmonger fic #black panther #black panther fic #black panther fanfiction #black panther imagine #imagine

30 notes · View notes

jeminy3 · 7 years

Text

Setbacks

Summary: Ed and friends are delayed from leaving Rush Valley for a day. Ling takes the opportunity to make a strange arrangement, and Ed finds himself roped into it somehow. Things get kinda gay.... but more awkward than anything else, really.

Features: swearing, groaning, underage alcohol consumption, coercion, dubcon (but it's for chaste kissing that never actually happens), some deep thinking about feelings and orientation that goes unsolved and ignored, because Edward is Edward.

Finally... Here's a fic that was originally part of a very long, convoluted edling fic series I've been slowly working and re-working for about 2 years now. This was originally a flashback that an adult Ed had while visiting Emperor Ling's palace, but it got really long and more of its own thing. the drinking section was my first piece of writing that tried to really nail their dynamic when they first met.

this is one of a few fics i have that are slightly canon-divergent like this for the sake of shipping, and probably won't be directly related, but could be interpreted that way.

no drawings for this one, I am… just not feeling it this time, sorry lol

Read on Google Docs

Read on AO3

---

"Delayed???" But it's urgent!"

"So is the need for safety. The repairmen are working as fast as they can, I assure you. But even if they finish within the day, we need the extra time to make sure it's safe. I'm sorry. The train will be up and running at first light tomorrow morning, I promise."

Ed groans dramatically, letting his head fall back. Fucking great. A broken train engine was just what they fucking needed right now, when they needed to get back to Central as soon as possible.

He lets his head fall forwards again as he lets out a long sigh, then stares at the toes of his boots, searching them for ideas. He gets one.

In one swift motion, he tugs on the chain at his belt, pops his engraved pocketwatch out of his pants and into his open hand, flashing it at the train conductor in front of him.

"Edward Elric, State Alchemist. Lemme at the problem and I can fix it in seconds."

He also flashes a glare up at Alphonse, which silences whatever protest he was about to make, as telegraphed by the sound of his armor shifting at Ed's side.

The middle-aged conductor's eyes go wide. "State Alchemist? Oh-"

Then something crosses his countenance, and his brows furrow. "-Wait. I've heard of an Alchemist in town."

Yes. Ed can almost feel himself sparkling. "-You've heard of me? I mean, of course, I'm known through the whole country, I'm The Fullmeta-

The man cuts in suddenly. "-I heard that he tore up most of the market strip near downtown earlier today, part of some crazy battle with some kind of ninja warrior. Even leveled a building or two. The locals are furious."

A long, tired sigh from Alphonse doesn't go unheard.

Ed's jaw's gone slack. He... didn't expect this idea to backfire.

He struggles to get it working again. "I- Uh- Y-yes, that was- I mean, it was an accident! All of it! The ninja- I mean, the guy who hired that ninja's responsible! If that idiot-prince hadn't-"

He's interrupted as the man extends an arm to place his open palm directly in front of Ed's face. "I don't have time for a story, kid. The point is, we're taking care of the problem already, and I doubt you'd be much help. Do you even know anything about how trains work?"

Ed stammers his protests again, still in disbelief that this wasn't working. "I- No- I mean, no I don't, but I can-"

Too late. The man's already crossing his arms in front of his chest and shaking his head. "Didn't think so. Leave this to us. You've done enough."

"-Um. I'm an automail mechanic, if that helps?" The light, airy voice of Winry suddenly chirps up at Ed's other side. He looks over to see her gingerly raising her hand like she's in a fucking school or something.

The man's expression lightens significantly as he addresses her. "That's kind of you Miss, but I'm afraid train mechanics and automail mechanics are two entirely different beasts. You wouldn't be much help either, but I appreciate it."

Winry withdraws her hand to lightly touch her chin, looking dejected. "Oh. Well, okay..."

God, she was too fucking nice for her own good sometimes.

The disapproving, scowling expression returns as the man faces Ed again. "There's an inn down the street you can stay at 'till morning," he says, jabbing a thumb in its direction. "Unless you plan on wrecking more of the town, I'd recommend staying there."

Ed's already turning away and started walking, clearly defeated. "Yeah yeah, thanks. See ya later, or something..."

Then when he's a few paces away, he adds "...fuckin' asshole," under his breath.

"Don't be mean, Ed, he's just doing his job," Winry scolds as she keeps pace with him.

"-And you did cause a pretty big mess earlier. I don't blame him for being distrustful," Alphonse adds, clunking along behind him.

Ed just groans again, caught between an armored rock and hard-headed place who were both right about this, he just didn't want to admit it because he was still very fucking pissed at the person who really started this whole stupid mess, as far as he was concerned.

-And here's the shithead now, he thinks to himself, as Ling comes into view in front of him, sitting on a bench but with his legs crossed like he's still on the ground (fucking why). He's smiling merrily as they approach, the way he apparently always does, as if he's an innocent shit-eating lamb or something.

"So what happened?" he asks.

Ed barely spares him a glance as he walks right by him, curtly saying, "Train's broken. Staying at the inn. Leaving in the morning. Fuck you."

And he's a good several paces down the street as the sounds of Ling's confusion and Al and Winry's collective sighing carry down to him.

---

Ed would've loved to just sit and stew in his room until nightfall, but as usual Winry and Alphonse had to be all sensible and shit and suggest that they at least stock up on extra supplies while they're stuck here. And of fucking course, Ling agreed to it.

So here he was. Edward Elric, renowned State Alchemist, dragged down to a local market to help carry fucking groceries. As if this day could get any worse.

At least it was a smaller, farm-based market in a different part of Rush Valley, so not every townsperson who recognized him was throwing scowls at him because of the fighting earlier that day. And that barely counted as a plus.

Winry was off buying something girly like extra lugnuts or something, while Alphonse was nearby picking up extra food and supplies in preparation for whatever craziness awaited them after they landed back in Central. Ling...

Actually, he didn't know where the fuck Ling was. And he didn't care. He could fuck off for all he-

"Hey! Hey, Alchemist! Look what I've found!"

Speak of the devil. Ed groans, for the third time now, as he turns in the direction of Ling's stupid voice.

Past the thinning crowd in front of him, Ed sees Ling standing in front of a stall selling various wines and spirits, both arms raised above him, his hands clutching two square-ish bottles filled with a clear, light-orange fluid. Their labels are red and gold and peppered with lettering, both in Amestrian and a foreign, symbol-based language that Ed guesses must be Xingese.

Despite himself, Ed decides to approach him and ask, "What're those?"

"Rice wine! Doesn't look as good as the stuff back home, but I think it'll suffice," Ling says, with that stupid grin he seems to make when he's excited about something equally stupid. God, he wished he could punch him. Just knock his stupid teeth right out of his stupid smiling face. Unfortunately he couldn't, not with his hands full with their group's bags, much less within sight of Ling's bodyguards who were always watching from... somewhere. That was really unnerving...

Meanwhile, Ed says nothing in response to Ling's statement besides an uninterested grunt.

He wants to say something like, 'What's so fucking great about Xingese wine? It's all the same, just alcohol and shit,' but keeps his mouth shut, for once - a rare occurrence. He wasn't sure if he was suddenly getting wiser about his temper, or was just exhausted from dealing with Ling for the past several hours. Probably the latter.

No, definitely the latter, he concludes, as Ling proceeds to stuff the bottles of wine between the bags of groceries Ed's holding before running off into the crowd, leaving him with bottle-tops pushing into his face and chin as he awkwardly maneuvers himself to actually pay the stall owner for the drinks. The woman gives him a look that clearly says Sorry you're with dealing with this as she waves him goodbye, and Ed says "Thanks" to her as sincerely as he can for it.

Then he's back to following Ling and the others around the market with his cargo like a fucking pack mule, still quietly fuming.

God, Ling was such an asshole. He said he was a prince, right? Wasn't he rich or something? 'Cause he seemed like just an annoying freeloader more than anything else, expecting Ed to pay for everything, even his fucking meals.

Ed tries to keep his mind preoccupied as he goes through the motions to pay for the rest of their group's purchases and follow them back to the Inn on his already-aching legs. Mainly, by thinking about how he could find a good excuse to punch Ling in the face after they settled down tonight. Because boy, if he could, that'd definitely be something to look forward to.

He imagines, in detail, his clenched automail fist hiking back, shooting out, connecting with Ling's smooth, princely cheek. Distorting it as it kept surging forward, warping and displacing the flesh of his face, his jaw skewing to the point of breakage, his nice white teeth flying loose from his gums in a spray of blood and saliva. Ahh. So satisfying.

But at one point Ed gets so lost in thought about this that he's started staring at Ling's actual face, who was walking at his side and slightly ahead of him. And now he's... staring right back at him.

Well he was, until he looked ahead of him- No, he's glancing back at Ed again and- oh, ugh. Not only is Ling smiling at him in that stupid smiley way he always does, but now he's winking at him too. GOD.

That's more than enough to snap Ed out of his daydreaming in time to very quickly look down at his feet and focus completely on walking on the dirt roads and not on his burning ears. He hears Ling snickering softly, and starts thinking about somehow getting the ground beneath him to open up and swallow him whole.

As if he couldn't hate Ling any more than before. He was definitely getting back at him tonight. The only question was, how...?

---

Once he'd found him and Al's room for the night and set down their supplies, Ed almost had a mind to just flop into bed and try to forget about Ling and everything altogether until the next morning - but alas, fate had decided otherwise.

Because before he'd even finished setting down his things, he was unpleasantly surprised by the sound of Ling's voice coming from the room's doorway.

"Hey, Alchemist!"

His cheery voice aimed at Ed's backside makes him bristle like a porcupine, and Ed almost wishes he could shoot quills out of his ass like one too. He doesn't even turn to face him.

"I have a name, asshole," Ed mutters over his shoulder as he sets down his last bag.

Ling ignores that, as usual. "I have a proposition for you, before you settle in for the night."

Ed decides to turn and face him, bringing the full force of his scowl at him. "The hell do you want? I'm tired."

Ling was sporting another of his stupid grins, and- oh, for fuck's sake- he had those wine bottles again too.

"How about a chat and a few drinks? Just me and you, in my room."

Um. Seriously? A 'chat' with some drinks? That... was the biggest waste of time he's heard yet. Not to mention shady as fuck, coming from this guy.

"No," Ed says tersely.

Ling's smile doesn't falter. "Aw c'mon! Just to talk and loosen up a bit before bed-"

"No."

"We can get to know each other better-"

"No."

"I assure you, I haven't poisoned the-"

"NO."

Ling's smile had finally crumbled into a confused frown. "...Are you always this unpleasant?"

Ed breathes a long sigh through his nose, as if trying to get steam to come out. "Yes, now can you please fuck off so I can go to slee-"

"Hey brother, what's going on?"

Suddenly they're interrupted by Alphonse's large frame clunking into view behind Ling. Ling turns to him, only mildly surprised, then moves aside to let him into the room.

Al bows lightly at him before stepping inside. "Hello, Ling. Thank you."

Once he's inside, he turns to Ed. "Winry's good for tonight. So, what are you yelling at Ling about?"

Ed groans, now the fourth time. "I'm not yelling at him Al, I'm just-" He stops himself, pinches the bridge of his nose with one hand to gather his thoughts. "Ugh. Ling's just being annoying and won't let me go to fucking bed."

Ling feigns a look of hurt. "I am not! I was just extending a friendly invitation for drinks and a chat, that's all!"

Ed musters up a venomous glare at him in response. As usual, it doesn't faze him.

Al looks between the two of them for a moment, noticing the wine bottles in Ling's hands. "Oh, is that all? That sounds nice! Why don't you take him up on it, brother? It's not that late, y'know - you don't fall asleep 'till later anyway."

Ed, disbelieving of what he's hearing from his younger brother right now, reaches whine-levels of complaining now. "But Al, I don't want to-"

But as soon as he starts, Al suddenly leans down by his ear, dropping his voice to a murmur.

"Just play along, ok? See if you can get him to tell us more about Alkehestry."

Ed blinks at him. "But-"

"Just do it, okay? Okay."

Alphonse is... very assertive tonight for some reason.

He turns back to Ling before letting Ed voice any further complaints. "I think Ed's actually pretty open to your idea, Ling. He just needs a bit more encouragement." He accentuates the word with a heavier-than-needed pat on Ed's shoulder with one of his gauntlets.

"Oh- really?" Ling says, looking far too much like a happy little dog finally getting a treat.

"I know my brother can be... well, abrasive, but I think deep down he wants to give it a chance! Don't you, brother?"

Al hasn't relinquished his grip on Ed's shoulder, and presses ever so slightly harder on it as he turns to look at him again, and Ed swears he can see him winking somehow.

"Just as long as you don't overdo it with the wine, of course. You guys need to be sober for our trip tomorrow morning."

Ling nods with annoying enthusiasm. "Oh, of course! I wouldn't dream of inebriating your brother, especially not for something important like that-"

By now, their conversation had faded into background noise as Ed becomes lost in the dawning realization of Holy Fucking Shit I Cannot Believe This is Happening, I Cannot Fucking Believe That My Little Brother, Of ALL People, is Forcing Me to Hang Out and Drink With the Most Annoying Fucking Person in the Entire Goddamn World-

-Wait.

All these mentions of drinking and inebriation suddenly makes something click in Ed's mind. If Ling was trying to get him drunk - and he hadn't believed his words for a solitary second because that was totally what this whole thing was about - maybe he could, instead, get Ling drunk. Drunk enough to do something regrettable, even. Not hugely regrettable, but at least something that could serve as payback for earlier. Maybe... Juuust maybe...

Yeah... yeah, he could do that... Heheheh... Ed feels like grinning wickedly at all the potential outcomes that could come of this (the ones that involved embarrassing Ling, that is), and that seals his decision.

He interrupts Al and Ling's banter with the loudest, most dejected groan he can muster. "Uggghhh, FINE," he says, spreading his arms and putting on his best 'I don't care, just leave me alone already' voice to sell it. "If it'll get you two to shut up until tomorrow, I'll do it."

And it works - Ling breaks out into his stupidest, smiliest smile yet, and Alphonse nods at him energetically.

"Oh, wonderful! I'll go get set up," Ling says, then darts out of view.

Al gives a little chuckle at his enthusiasm. "There he goes... Just remember, brother-

Ed waves a hand dismissively as he trudges out of the room. "Yeah yeah, ask him about the shit, don't overdo it. Whatever. Just one thing-"

He turns to give Al one of his trademark glares, pointing an accusing finger.

"You owe me for this. Big time."

---

Minutes later and here they were, sitting on the floor of Lings' room, with the bottles of rice wine and a pair of shot glasses from... somewhere. Ling probably "borrowed" them from the inn's bar.

They make small talk as they take their shots, Ed acclimating to the taste of the drink. It's... just okay. Not great. Pretty bland overall, but the sting of the alcohol is still there. He tries to not go too hard on it, but still drinks enough to keep pace with Ling, as to not arouse any suspicion from him.

After explaining Amestris' general politics to Ling in the briefest, most watered-down way possible (because Ed didn't particularly care too much for it), Ling suddenly asks, "By the way - what is your heritage, exactly?

Ed squints at him. "My what?" He didn't mishear him, he was just- what? What did that have to do with anything?

"I mean, what are you descended from, exactly? Who are your parents?" Ling says.

Ah... Ed pushes away a memory before it can hurt him.

"None of your business," he says flatly.

"Oh, alright. I was just curious, because you don't really look like the average Amestrian from what I've seen."

It's a strange statement, but not that strange. Ed feels like someone's told him the same thing once or twice before. Still, he asks, "Whaddya mean?"

"Well, it's your hair. And your eyes, too. They're this gold color I've never seen before... It's rather pretty. Beautiful, actually."

Ed was halfway toward blowing him off and saying 'whatever' until that last sentence - that makes him stop his mouth halfway through opening, widen his eyes, feel a distinct surge of heat begin to grow in his cheeks.

Did he- did he actually just say that? Unironically? Beautiful...?

Ed's received weird looks and comments on the color of his eyes and hair before, but they were usually in passing. Casual stuff, like 'oh, that's a cool color.' And that was it. He never really thought much of them - didn't really care, he told himself, though truthfully he just didn't like being reminded of who he inherited them from.

But being called 'beautiful' for them? That was... new. Very new. And he has no idea how to respond to it. But he does know how to be annoyed, so he just does that instead.

"Are- are you already drunk or something?" Ed says, frowning and narrowing his eyes.

Irritatingly, Ling just chuckles at him in response. "Really, by all accounts you're fairly attractive - except maybe for all the scowling and yelling and hitting people but hey, no one's perfect! Haha. You can always work on that, anger management and all."

Ed just sort of boggles at him, because he'd gone back and forth between complimenting and insulting him so quickly that he can't decide what to feel now. But he's most familiar with anger, so he sticks with that.

He puts on his best scowl. "Shut up. I don't need any stupid... m-management," he growls, and pours himself another shot of his wine, grumbling. His whole face is burning by now, and he hates how flushed he must look.

Ling just smiles at him. Idiot.

He pauses to watch Ed take another drink before he starts speaking again.

"...Say, speaking of attractive, do you have someone waiting for you back home? Like a girlfriend? Or ah- a boyfriend, if you're into that sort of thing?"

Ed was about to tell him that was none of his business again but the 'boyfriend' part surprises him so much that he chokes on the shot he's swallowing and starts coughing violently.

A boyfriend? What the fuck?

Between the the sheer lunacy of the question and the burning fluid in his larynx, Ed can't even begin to respond to that. Who fucking asks that, even? This weirdo, apparently.

And now Ling's started laughing awkwardly, as if he's... nervous? Or something?

"Hey it's okay, I won't judge you either way, I'm just wondering. I mean, I know it's not very, uh- popular, but I don't know if it's different here in Ames-"

"No! I don't give a damn about any of that stuff so can you shut up already!?" Ed blurts out, having finally cleared his throat, enough to speak.

"Oh." Ling looks oddly disappointed. "You don't care about dating? Or you don't have anyone, so-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!" Ed yells, raising a fist, threatening to hit him with it.

An image of Winry had flashed across his mind's eye for some reason just now, but he pushes it aside. She was only a childhood friend, but this bastard implying that Ed had no one close to him still boiled his blood. Fuckin' asshole.

Ling waves his hands at him in a shushing motion. "Keep it down, some people are sleeping alrea-"

"I don't care about that either! Can we just drop this already!?" Ed cuts him off, snarling through gritted teeth, using quite a bit of effort to not raise his voice again.

Ling spreads his hands disarmingly. "Fine, fine."

Silence falls. An odd tension has started filling the room by now, and Ed already can't stand it.

He can't believe this. So far, he was the only one being made a fool here, and worst of all, Ling doesn't seem to be getting very drunk at all! He's had several more shots than Ed so far, but he was barely showing anything. Meanwhile, on top of feeling deeply flushed, Ed was already feeling an odd haze in his mind and a strange warmth in the bottom of his gut, and when he wasn't paying attention he'd sway in his seat a little. Apparently he's a lightweight, which was just fucking great.

He tries, and fails, not to stew in it too much as they drink two more shots each. Then Ling starts talking again.

" Hey. You uh, didn't really answer my question."

"Hm." Ed doesn't feel like responding with more than a grunt.

"Y'know, about who you like?"

God, he was so fucking nosy.

"I told you, I don't care. Stop ashking." Ed says, slurring a bit. Shit. The alcohol really was getting to him.

"Hmm." Ling regards him with this look that... Ed can't really identify. Is he studying him, or what? This is... getting way too uncomfortable.

Then Ling shrugs. "Well, okay. If you don't care either way, then you won't mind this."

He scoots closer to Ed's side, props his elbow on his knee and rests his chin on his fist. He smirks, gazing at Ed with a glint of mischief in his eyes that makes him... very nervous.

"Here's a proposition for you: It's late. We're alone. We're drunk. We could do whatever we wanted right now and no one would have to know."

Ed just blinks at him. Is... is this guy even real? Is this even happening? 'Whatever we wanted'...? Oh- oh no-

"Oh don't worry, I don't mean anything serious," Ling says, his expression relaxing and some of that mischief fading from his eyes. Ed lets out a breath he doesn't remember holding.

"I just mean something small, like say..." He lifts his other hand, holding up his index finger. "One kiss."

Ed has to stop himself from choking again, because that would've just been pathetic since he's not even drinking anything right now. A... a kiss? Was he- was he serious?!

"Are-are you crazy?! Wh-What kind of proposition is that?!" Ed blurts out, his voice rising to near-shouting levels again.

Ling frowns at him. "Hey, quiet, remember?"

Then his eyes dart away for a moment, thoughtful. "And it's... an experiment. Just a one-time thing. We won't tell anyone. Not your brother, not even Lan Fan or Fuu. It can be our secret."

Ed sputters, his face burning hotter than ever now."I- Wh- !?"

An experiment? Behind his brother's back? What the hell was going on?! Who the hell did stuff like this?! This idiot-prince did, apparently. Was this another one of those weird-ass customs Xingese people did? He wouldn't be surprised if it was.

Well Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, would have no part in this, thank you very much. This was beyond simple stupidity. This was idiotic. Foolish. Pointless. Fucking dumb. All of it, all this shit with the wine and the secrecy. And over a kiss? Even worse. Kissing was pretty sappy, but here they were, treating it like it was as bad as-

Wait. Had he actually said anything yet? Shit-

Ed realizes, too late, that he'd blanked out and let his mind wander into colorful protests without actually voicing them. He was still sitting there, tense and bristling, his face still flushed and his mouth still hanging open stupidly. His eyes had relaxed and started wandering into strange places, gazing at Ling's dark eyes, following the slant of his eyelids into the lines of his cheekbones, going down to his thin lips and round chin.

They'd started drifting down to the sliver of Ling's bare chest through his open coat before Ed caught them and refocused them on Ling's face in general, which was starting to tense into an annoyed expression.

By the time Ed composes himself, Ling had started speaking again. "So, will you-"

"NO! Why the hell would I kissh you, you idiot-prince?!" Ed found himself blurting out.

In another part of his mind, Ed wonders why the words came out like that, because he was pretty sure he was gonna say something a bit different from that... but he'd worry about it later. As in never.

Lings eyes widen in shock for a moment - then crinkle up, nearly closing completely as he starts snorting softly, his face twisting up in an especially stupid way as he attempts to suppress his laughter.

He has to take a breath to compose himself. "I didn't say you had to kiss me, but if you want to-"

"NO!" The protest shoots out of Ed's mouth so quickly it's like it has a mind of its own, and Ed's grateful that his mouth is just as opposed to this idea as he was.

Ling just starts snorting harder, breaking down into barely contained laughter. He has to turn away to compose himself again, half hiding his face with one hand as he takes another few breaths.

"Man... you're so funny," he says wistfully after he calms down.

He turns back to Ed, still smiling stupidly, but now he was giving him this incredulous look, as if Ed was being the ridiculous one here. Which was completely wrong, of course.

"It's just one kiss," Ling says. "It doesn't even have to be on the mouth! Just a little one, on the cheek, if you want." He pokes his index finger into his cheek to illustrate, squishing his face in a way that looked so ridiculous it was kind of... cute, or something.

But Ed doesn't have time to think about that, because he was starting to choke again from the... just the sheer gall of all this, of this stupid, embarrassing, idiot prince.

And he thought he was funny? Asshole. Let's see him keep laughing with half his face swollen and bruised from one of Ed's "kisses". From his fist. In his face.

...Bad analogy, but whatever.

The brief thought of violence helps Ed focus, and he finally composes himself enough to properly glare at Ling and say, low and threatening, "Never in a million years, shithead."

Ling just shrugs at him. "Alright."

Ed could've been holding his arm-blade to his throat right now (part of him wishes he was) and Ling would be just as unphased. Fucking bastard.

Still, he takes Ling's nonchalance as a sign of defeat, and Ed tries, unsuccessfully, to breathe a sigh of relief and relax again. Unsuccessful because within the next moment, Ling gets his attention again with a soft chuckle.

When Ed looks at Ling again, he's giving him the most withering, cunning smile yet.

He says, almost like a purr, "I'll kiss you then."

And that breaks him. Ling kissing him. Ling kissing him.

He can't even... he can't even think straight. This can't be happening. This has to be a dream. He'd already gone to bed instead of taking up Ling's stupid offer and he was just dreaming all this, right?

Wait- why would he be dreaming about this? Getting wasted and being dared into kissing Ling? No, this wasn't a dream. This was a goddamn nightmare, and he wants to wake up now. But the pounding in his chest and the heat in his face feels real, terrifyingly real.

His mouth isn't working. He's just staring at Ling, flushed and wide eyed, sputtering like an idiot. "I- wh- I- I-"

He can't focus. His mind was flying apart in a hundred different directions and he can't get any of the pieces to focus on getting his mouth and throat working enough to tell Ling 'Please don't fucking kiss me'. Or just 'no'. why would he say 'please'? Goddammit, his stupid, drunken brain....

And then Ling was still looking at him with that horrible, awful look - that glint in his half-lidded eyes, that curve in his lips, and now that Ed knew what he intended to do with those lips, a hundred images were flashing through his mind with a heat and intensity he'd never felt before, and he can't make sense out of any of it.

Ling kissing him... Ling kissing him... He just...

He can't. He can't do this. He just can't.

Ed realizes that he's still staring at Ling's face, and vaguely realizes that this might be part of his focusing problem right now. He forces his eyes down toward the floor - Yeah, that helps.

Calm down. He needs to calm down. What does he usually do for this- oh, yeah. Breathing. Elements.

Ed starts taking deep, even breaths, slowly reciting his list of elements that made up the human body in his head.

Inhale. Water, thirty-five liters. Carbon, twenty kilograms. Ammonia, four liters.

Exhale. Lime, one-point-five kilograms. Phosphorous, eight-hundred grams. Salt, two-hundred-fifty grams.

Inhale-

"...Are you alright?" he hears Ling say. Fucking hell. If he'd just give him a goddamn second-

Ed looks back up to meet Ling's eyes and tell him off, but stops.

Ling's expression had shifted dramatically within whatever timespan Ed had spent freaking out. He wasn't smiling anymore - it was almost a frown now. His eyebrows were knit together, and his eyes had softened, filled with something like pity.

Despite himself, Ed's caught off-guard - he wasn't expecting Ling to look at him like this, with all this... concern. Did he- was he worried about him? Genuinely? That's... weird. He's never seen Ling like this before...

Then Ed realizes he still needs to say something, and clearly. He takes another breath, and forces his mouth to speak.

"I- uh- y- yeah." Still pretty rough, but not bad.

Ling's soft expression fades back into mischief. "Good. Now, are you ready?"

Dammit. He should've known. Too good to be true. Ling still wants to give him that stupid kiss. And Ed still has to say something so he wouldn't do that, but he's still full of a million different thoughts and feelings, and he's losing focus again.

In the meantime, Ling's just staring at him, his expression unreadable. Then he straightens, taking his hand from under his chin and slowly extending it toward him, leaning forward.

Ed freezes in place, holding his breath.

He watches Ling's hand extend toward his face in slow-motion, his sense of time warping as all he became aware of was Ling, Ling's hand, and his own loud, rapid heartbeat. He realizes that Ling was probably aiming to cup his left cheek, brush aside his bangs there, then lean in and giving him the offered kiss - and just the thought of that scenario, imagining it, was sending so many contradictory thoughts and feelings through Ed's system that he couldn't even hope to process it all, and definitely not within the milliseconds before the hand reached him and made said scenario a reality.

His mind split apart again, even further. He's practically screaming at himself internally to do something at this point, but it's all so overwhelming...

He keeps watching the hand come closer and closer, the situation becoming ever more critical. Confusion began to give way to sheer panic as it closes in, slipping past his bangs.

And then Ling's fingertips were just a hair's breadth away from Ed's cheek, and the prickling of his touch on Ed's skin triggers a rush of anxiety that finally snaps him out of his stupor.

He reaches up and grabs Ling's wrist with his automail hand with blinding speed and firmness, making the prince flinch, freezing in place, eyes widening with genuine shock.

Ed looks into those eyes, giving Ling the most piercing, venomous glare he can muster.

And it works - after a few moments, he sees Ling's throat moving as he gulps deeply, the fear obvious in his expression now. He backs off, leaning back to a seated position.

Ed doesn't let go of his wrist however, staring him down for a few more moments to get his point across - and revel a bit more in the precious moments of control he was having over Ling right now. Feeling Ling squirm under his gaze and strong grip was entirely too satisfying.

But when he feels Ling has been cowed enough, he releases his wrist and relaxes his stare. Then he finally speaks.

"Don't try that again. Ever." And even Ed himself was a bit surprised at the clarity and conviction in his voice there. Good job, self.

Ling wasn't looking at him anymore, his head bowed into his chest. "O-okay," he says quietly.

They sit in silence for a few moments, with Ed still looking at Ling, and Ling just staring down into his lap. It's kind of... uncomfortable, again. Ed couldn't tell if he'd overdone the rebuttal or if Ling was genuinely ashamed of himself but then again, he didn't care. Besides, he'd started it, doing stupid things like saying his eyes and hair were "beautiful" and asking about his dating life. And then daring to offer him a kiss on top of it all! Idiot. He had it coming.

But that odd tension in the room was back and heavier than ever, and growing worse with each passing second, threatening to stifle him. Ed tries to distract himself from it by polishing off another shot from his bottle of wine - the warmth from the drink is nice, but it can't overpower the heat still burning in his face and ears. He resists an urge to look at Ling again, instead gazing at the room window beyond him, noticing the dark blue night sky, dotted with twinkling stars. Going outside for a while feels like a good idea, suddenly.

"I'll be outshide," Ed mumbles as he rises to his feet. He was pretty woozy from the alcohol, but he manages to pull on his jacket and stumble over to the door well enough.

As he steps out of the room and closes the door behind him, he can't remember if Ling had said anything to acknowledge his leaving, but as he'd told himself before, he didn't care. Let him sit there and stew in his idiocy.

---

He thanks himself for the idea to get some fresh air as he steps out of the inn's front door, filling his lungs with the night's chill. It stings a bit, but the briskness of it was refreshing.

He walks - more like shuffles, not completely trusting his feet - along the inn's front side until he comes across a wood-and-iron bench on the side of the road, then slumps into it, letting his head fall back with a long sigh. God. He still couldn't believe that just happened.

His brain was still replaying the events of the past several minutes to him over and over. That goddamn idiot prince, making a fool out of him.

But- wait. As he reassesses everything that'd happened, a thought occurs to him. Actually, his plan had sort of worked, in the end.

Ling had tried to do something embarrassing, and Ed had put him in his place. It was at his own expense, but still. Yeah, he totally got him back for earlier today. He didn't get to punch him in the face, but cowing him into submission was good enough. Yeah. Good enough.

He settles on that, lets himself relax against the back of the bench, closing his eyes.

No longer distracted by the view of the night sky and his slightly blurred vision, a quiet thumping in his ears makes Ed realize that his heart was still beating awfully hard. Actually, all the anxiousness from earlier was still there, still balled up in his chest and stomach. Jeeze, had he been that nervous back there? Or was it even nervousness? He can't figure out what he's feeling, or rather, what he was feeling back there. It's like his head's full of static, and he can't tell if it's from the alcohol or something else.

But the cool night air he's breathing in is already starting to calm him down and help him focus again. Maybe he could try to kind of comprehend what even happened back there.

Let's see. Ling bought that rice wine, then invited Ed to his room to drink with him to... talk about Ed's dating life and dare him into a kiss, apparently. He'd planned all that, hadn't he? Bastard. Trying to get him drunk enough to do stupid shit like that.

That 'boyfriend' part kept bothering him in particular. Why in the goddamn world would Ling just... assume Ed might be into other guys? Because he definitely wasn't. Wasn't that obvious?

In fact, Ed was quite comfortable in saying he wasn't into that kind of thing at all, and preferred...

...uh. Whatever he was... into.

Ed frowns to himself. Er... what was he into? Huh... He's never actually sat down and thought about this before.

All this mushy stuff about dating and romance and - okay fine, sex too - wasn't really something he was normally concerned about. Hadn't been for years, really, with everything that'd happened in his life lately. Right now he just wanted to get his brother's body back, along with his missing limbs, and then- well... Then he'd worry about this. Later. That's what he's been telling himself - he didn't have the time or brainpower to waste on sappy shit right now.

...But now Ling had come along and... did this. Just shoved it all in his face like it was no big deal. And now Ed felt strangely... incompetent, 'cause he totally froze up back there. He had no fucking idea how to react to this sort of thing, even when it was right in front of him. I mean sure, he hasn't had any kind of experience with it, but it still made him feel like an idiot. Goddammit, Ling...

...Okay, he's getting offtrack here. He needs to refocus. What was he thinking about? Oh yeah, what he likes.

Hmm... Truthfully, he doesn't know much about girls. I mean, he... guessed he liked them? Sure? I mean, he was a guy, so it was natural, right?

But then again, the only girl he really knew and kind of liked was Winry, but they were just friends. They'd known each other since they were little. Why would he be mushy with her? I mean sure, he cared about her and all, and... okay, she was kind of pretty sometimes, but- ugh. That'd be so awkward. Being with Winry like... that.

And Ed knew even less about guys - at least in that... way. This was.. actually the first time he's ever considered this, really. He just... doesn't really know anything about it. In all of his and Al's travels, men who dated other men, even gay people in general, were rarely talked about by folks, even in passing. What little he's heard talked them up as either something strange and worthy of ridicule, or harmless, just people like anyone else.

It was confusing, and none of it has helped him form any concrete opinions about it. And they'd yet to actually meet one in-person, to his knowledge.

...But then, they could be just... any guy, right? You can't really assume this kind of thing just from looking at someone, you'd have to actually talk to them and-

Wait. Wait a goddamn second.

Ed's eyes snap open. if Ling had been so interested in his dating life and even tried to kiss him, was he... one of them? Had he just- maybe, possibly, just had the moves put on him by another guy? Who was interested?

He straightens up in his seat, covering his burning-again face with one hand. Oh... Oh, god. That's... That's exactly what happened, isn't it? Aw, shit... that's so embarrassing... and confusing.

Because on one hand, Ed wants to think 'I can't fucking believe this guy tried to flirt with me' but on the other hand, he also wants to think 'I can't fucking believe this guy found me attractive enough to flirt with me.' He even straight up called him beautiful! Like, holy shit. What... what do you even say about that? What do you do?

Like... was this how women felt when regular guys flirted with them? Kind of flattered, but also kind of creeped out and uncomfortable at the same time? Jeeze... he makes a mental note:

Never do that to a girl, or anyone, ever. Not worth it.

...Not that he ever planned to flirt with anyone anyway, but- well, maybe when he was older? If he ever tried to settle down after everything was over- but he still can't really see himself ever doing that...

Ugh... Ed lets his hand drag, his fingers pulling down the skin of his face. None of this is making sense to him, and its driving him nuts because he was a scientist - he was smart. A goddamn prodigy, even. He should be able to make sense out of anything, even stupid shit like dating or kissing or whether he was into guys or girls or whatever.

But he can't. It's too confusing. It's too much. It's too soon. And he's too drunk and too tired to keep thinking about all this, because his head's starting to hurt like hell.

He lets out a long sigh, releasing his face from his hand and slumping forward on the bench.

It's pointless to keep dwelling on this. He's just giving himself a migraine at this point.

Better yet, he should just... forget it. Forget it all. He'd had a stupid, embarrassing night with Ling, but he'd gotten back at him, so that was enough. So he'll just drop it, and pretend this whole night never happened.

Yeah. He'll do that.

Ed sways to one side, laying down along the length of the seat of the bench. He rolls himself onto his back, giving him a full view of the starry night sky above. He relaxes his eyes and lets his mind drift far away from thoughts of wine and dating and Ling.

---

Ed didn't know how long he stayed out there, he might've even dozed off for a while. But either way, at some point Al came out of the inn to look for him, found him lying on that bench, and pleaded with him to come back to their room before the chill made him sick.

Then he chastised him for overdoing it on the alcohol as he watched how woozily Ed got to his feet and tried to walk. Ed just blew him off, saying he'd be fine by morning, but that didn't stop Al from pressing him to at least drink some water to clean out his system. Ugh. No wonder people always mistook him for the older brother.

Now he's pestering him over whether he'd learned anything about Alkehestry from Ling, and Ed, faced with the reality that'd he completely fucking forgotten about that, can only grunt at him as he follows him back inside the inn.

"You...You didn't ask him anything, did you?" Al finally says, turning to him, and would've been staring at him incredulously if his face could do that.

Ed just shrugs at him.

Al was the one to groan loudly this time. "Ugh, brother! This might've been our only chance! He's probably going to ditch us once we reach Central and we'll never be able to ask him again!"

Ed doesn't respond, scratching his ear with a gloved hand. At this point he was so beyond caring about any of this it wasn't even funny. (Not even the Alkehestry stuff. More like Alke-hell-if-I-give-a-shit-anymore.)

"You don't even care, do you? Ugh, Ed, I swear! You can't just let an opportunity slip by just because you hate him. Alkehestry might hold the key to getting our bodies back without using-"

Ed, not feeling like being lectured again, walks past him and up the stairwell without a word.

Al pauses, no doubt staring at him. "...What's with you, anyway? How much did you even drink?"

Ed turns to wave a hand half-heartedly at him, saying, "I'm going to bed, that's what. G'night."

Then he keeps walking upstairs towards their room, ignoring Alphonse's hollow sighs.

When Ed reaches the top of the stairs and faces the upstairs hallway, he's hit with a sudden wave of anxiety when he realizes he'll have to walk by Ling's room to reach his own, but when he peeks into its half-open door, the drinks and cutlery had all been put away and Ling had, apparently, already retired to his bed.

He has the odd thought of checking on the prince, but he quashes the idea as soon as it comes to him, instead focusing on how tired he was and how his head was aching.

He gets to his room, undresses and flops into bed, hoping he won't have a hangover in the morning.

---

Ed did have a hangover the next morning, but thankfully it was pretty mild. Just a more intense headache than usual. He's almost thankful that Ling didn't goad him with anything heavier than rice wine, cuz if he's a... sigh, lightweight, who knows what a few shots of hard liquor would do to him.

But that doesn't stop Alphonse from throwing silent, judging glances his way while he's seated next to him on the train, or Winry from pestering him with questions and concerns from the other side of their booth, like What the hell were you thinking? and You need to drink more water, like, all the time. Because of course Alphonse fucking snitched on him and told her about last night as soon as she woke up.

Whatever. At least they didn't know what actually happened...

Ed looks over at Ling, seated alone in the booth on the other side of the passenger car. He'd expected Ling to still be quiet and somber, or even angry with him for what he did, but true to form, Ling was back to his annoyingly light-hearted, smiling-y self, waving stupidly at them as he notices Ed looking his way.

Ling was doubtlessly eavesdropping on their conversations, but he doesn't say anything about their "encounter" last night, either. Ed was silently thankful for it - but at the same time, it kind of... bothers him.

The whole thing still bothers him, actually. More than he'll ever admit.

Ling's comments, his offer of the kiss, how close he'd been to fulfilling it - it's all stuck somewhere in the back of Ed's mind, prickles there during lulls in the train ride, when Ed finds himself looking over at Ling and noticing things like the shape of Ling's profile silhouetted against the train window he was gazing out of, how his hair fell over his eyes, or his bare chest subtly moving with his breathing (why the hell is he always shirtless anyway?).

But he's quick to snap himself out of it each time. He has way more important things to worry about right now.

Besides, it's probably just the alcohol getting to him. That's all.

END

#edling #fmab #fullmetal alchemist brotherhood #edward elric #ling yao #jeminy writes

89 notes · View notes