#I really need to get a tablet because doing this with my finger is hell

[kariggi]

Color-blocking, I guess

[curiousquirks]

Day 14 | Dabi x F!Reader (18+)

Sex Pollen | Begging

Content Warnings: Sex Pollen, Quirk Misuse, AFAB Reader, Dubious Consent/Somewhat Non-Con, Rough Sex, Dirty Talk, Unsafe Sex, Oral (Female Receiving), Pet Names Used (Sweetheart), Dabi burning fingers digging into your skin, Overstimulation, Bullshitted my way through a quirk for plot

Word Count: 3,094

Summary:

You were important to the Meta Liberation and finally got brought into the Paranormal Liberation Front. This brought you face to face with Dabi, who grabbed your attention. You intrigued him as well and with the help of your quirk, he’d be yours in no time.

Reader has a quirk: Small colorful flowers in your hair that produce a puff of odorless power that make the target have an amplified sexual desire towards the user. The more the target views the user in such a way without aid of the quirk the stronger the desire gets.

The day’s tasks stretched on more than it needed to, and yet things kept happening adding to Dabi’s growing frustrations. Making it worse currently was being dragged into a meeting. Again. Normally he wouldn’t even bother but it’s like Skeptic always knew how to include things that piqued his interests. He’d have to give him credit for that at least. Once he got the information he needed, Dabi had no issues getting up and leaving in the middle of the Paranormal Liberation’s briefing. He’d already been tuning out most of the discussion for the past few minutes anyways.

“Dabi, don’t you want to hear about—” Mr. Compress began, looking up towards him from his tablet. 

“Not interested.” Dabi interrupted, swinging open the door and only pausing when he saw you standing outside the door. Small colorful flowers were animated and littered throughout your hair. He eyed you curiously as he let his foot hold the door open. “What do we have here?”

He heard ReDestro clear his throat from the table behind him. “You can come in now.” Skeptic had called towards you, and your eyes lingered on Dabi’s for only a moment more before you had made your way into the room. 

Dabi’s eyes lingered on you as you passed him, everyone going back to what they were apparently originally talking about. You were a member of the Liberation Army who they valued and would be a vital member of the Paranormal Liberation Front. Dabi kept that in the back of his mind as he continued on his way out. He’d find out more about you later, especially since he wanted to know more about why you were so valuable but he couldn’t care enough to know now.

A few days passed, Dabi having spent his spare time working on personal projects that you hadn’t crossed his mind. That was until he saw you across the way one day in the villa. His mind lingered on you for a while that day, being genuinely surprised when you popped up on the same side of the villa again. You were walking towards him, and kept this intense eye contact with him. It piqued his interest, it made him want to know more about you. Nowadays that was a hard thing to do.

You smiled as you got closer, making a beeline towards him. He made no motion to stop walking, so you instead decided to just walk beside him. “Fancy seeing you again, especially since it seems hard for people to get ahold of you.” You said, glancing towards him. 

“Skeptic tell you that?” He asked, not really wanting an answer. “I know that’s not true because he sure as hell knows how to bother me.” 

“Everyone says that you aren’t really in many meetings, seem to be doing your own thing.” You said. “I can admire focusing on your own thing, it must be important.” Your interest was focused intensely on him.  He noticed.

“If you’re trying to get information from me to give back to the Liberation, I’m pretty sure those freaks know enough.” He said, turning a corner. 

“I was just trying to get to know you.” You explained, letting your quirk subtly activate. A small puff of odorless powder floating into the air from the flowers in your hair.  “Your whole mysterious aloof personality made me curious.” 

“Cut your losses and leave me alone, sweetheart. I’m not about to tell you anything.” He said, part of his mind not really meaning it. 

“I’m sure you have something that you want to share with me.” You teased, knowing it wouldn’t take long for him to take the bait. 

He thought your perfume smelled really nice. The scent was light, not too strong. He slowed his steps to be more in sync with yours. “Why should I do that?” He asked. “Why are you suddenly so interested in me? They certainly took their time dragging you into the fold, despite how long we’ve been set up here.”

“I could be more direct but where’s the fun in that.” You said, taking note of where you were in the villa. It was working. “I’m not doing this for any nefarious reasons, you just caught my eye.”

“Considering that doesn’t happen with me, unless someone wants something, I find that excuse to be bullshit.” He said, feeling his body heating up. He tried brushing it off. “Knock it off and stop beating around the bush.”

“I’m serious, Dabi.” You explained, lying through your teeth. His name falling from your lips was really getting him going. “You caught my eye.”

You were really pissing him off. The back and forth banter was a turn on, but your lying was doing nothing but angering him. He hadn’t noticed that you had been guiding him through the villa at all, until you were both steps away from the main meeting room. He paused and took a second to process that he hadn’t been paying attention to much aside from you until now. The confusion was apparent on his face and you were stifling a laugh. 

“Why are we over here?” He asked, something he actually wanted answered. 

“I was following you.” You lied, moving your way towards the door. You pressed an ear up to the door for a moment. “It doesn’t sound like anyone’s in there–”

He pushed your body up against the door, pinning your arms against your back. His body was warm against yours, his breath fanning against your ear. “What’s your fucking game?” He asked. Your quirk activated again, small puffs of that powder releasing into the air from your flowers. Dabi coughed and tightened his grips on your arms. “What the fuck was that?”

“You’ll find out soon.” You teased, rubbing your ass against his crotch. His cock twitched excitedly in his pants, steam started lifting from his skin as his body started heating up more. “Do you get it now?”

“You’re one fucked up bitch.” He spat, yanking you from the door before shoving you into the room. “All this shit with your quirk just to convince someone to fuck you.” 

“You wanted to, I’m just speeding up the process instead of waiting.” You explained as he shoved you over to the long meeting table. “Not that it matters now.”

“You fucking talk too much.” He said, bending you over the table. His breathing was rough, he was used to his body feeling warm but this was different. He started shedding layers of clothes, tossing them to the side. “Lying to me, leading me over here so you can get fucked in the meeting room huh? Probably some sick fucking fantasy of yours.”

“You hate being in here so much I thought you might want to take your frustrations out on me here.” You said, wiggling your ass at him. 

He didn’t bother taking his pants off, just down enough to free his cock. You had already gotten rid of anything that would obstruct his access to your dripping pussy. You braced yourself just in time before he roughly pushed his cock into you. A moan was ripped from your throat as he wasted no time slamming his hips into yours. Your warm walls were squeezing him and enveloping him in intoxicating bliss. He just couldn’t get enough of your pussy.

He selfishly chased after his own high, not that you minded because you knew he was far from done. His fingers gripped into your hips, blistering heat burning into your flesh as he neared his climax. His cum was so warm as it shot inside of your welcoming pussy, your walls clenching and squeezing every drop out of his cock. 

He pulled out of you, expecting the intense high to leave him. He braced himself against the table next to you, his breathing uneven as he tried to keep ahold of his sanity. “What the fuck is your quirk?” He slowly asked, looking over at you in time to see another odorless powder puff out in front of his face. “What–”

He groaned, his cock twitching violently as he felt an intense desire course through his body. He looked down at his cock in time to see some of your juices dripped off of his cock. His mind was consumed with only you, he’d barely seen anything of your skin but the way your pussy felt wrapped around him was enough to fuel his body. Steam was actively rising from his skin, his body heating up as his thoughts raced.

You were long ahead of him, being the only sane one in the room after all. You pushed yourself from the table, observing him struggling beside you. It made you so wet knowing how much men lost themselves with lust wanting to fuck you. They’d do anything to sink their cocks into you. You took a few steps away from the table, removing the rest of your clothing. This is when Dabi finally paid attention to your movement. His eyes narrowed, intensely watching your movements especially when your hands cupped your breasts. 

“Come here.” You commanded, breathlessly. 

He shoved himself roughly away from the table, moving towards you. You didn’t let him get too  close before you had tripped him, pushing him onto the ground. He grunted as he landed, glaring at you. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” He asked, moving to push himself off the ground.

You hovered over him, crouching and pushing him back onto the ground. “I had to force you down here because you weren’t about to do it if I asked.” You explained, grinding yourself against his cock. “I wanted to be in control for a minute.” 

“If you wanted to do all the work all you had to do was ask, sweetheart.” He said, thrusting his hips up as you continued grinding against him. “Stop fucking around, you’re the one who wanted this.”

“I think you want it more than me.” You teased, deliberately going slower in your movements. Your wet folds dragging agonizingly slowly across his throbbing cock. His hands found your hips, digging into your skin again. 

“You’re playing a dangerous game.” He said, strong heat burning into your skin. You hissed in pain as you stilled your movements. Your quirk activated again, puffs of smoke filling the air which had Dabi using his strength to flip you over. He hovered over you, leaning really close to your face. “Didn’t really think this through did you?”

Your face was flushed, and your chest was rising and falling rapidly. Your eyes were half-lidded as your lust consumed you. He wasted no more time, pushing his cock into you again. His hips slamming into yours, your body clinging to his. Curses were muttered under his breath as he buried himself as far he could into your pussy with every thrust. The heat consuming your body and how good his cock felt left you nearly breathless. 

“You fuck me so good, your cock is so–mmgn big.” You moaned, wrapping your legs around his waist. He had an animalistic pace, rutting himself against you. “Fucking fill me with cum, fill me–yeeess, oh...”

Dabi couldn’t even form words right now, just grunts and groans as your walls sucked him with every thrust. Your voice dragged him closer and closer to the edge, the need to fill up your pussy with so much cum that it spilled out was burning in every fiber of his being. He need to keep going, he was going to spend every waking moment fucking you, bruising every inch of your skin with his fingers as he bend you in every position. It was your own fault though right? Your quirk caused this, you asked for it. You wanted it.

He slammed his hips into you again, his burning hot cum shooting inside of you again. He choked out a groan, his hips staggering thrusts against you as he rode out yet another orgasm. You kept your legs wrapped tightly around him, not wanting him to move. You clenched your walls around his cock, hearing Dabi groan above you. You did again.

“Still desperate for more of my cock, slut?” He asked, getting inches from your face. 

“I think you’re still desperate for my pussy.” You shot back, clenching your walls around his cock. “You can’t get enough of it can you?”

“Smartass little brat aren’t you? Your fucking quirk is…” He trailed off, his cock twitching inside of your intoxicating pussy. He was trying to keep his thoughts straight but it was easier than actually done. Another puff of your quirk activated.

“You’re right, this is my fault. My quirk got you in this state.” You conceded. “Want me to ride you? Give you a little show while you let me take care of you.”

You unwrapped your legs from around his waist, he took the initiative to pull you close to him and roll himself over to lay onto his back. You laughed at the sudden movement, moaning as you adjusted yourself on his lap. His cock was twitching inside of you still, his hips thrusting up into you driving his cock further inside of you. You whined, bracing your hands onto his chest. 

You finally met his wishes by lifting your hips up to start riding him. Your breasts bounced as your body grinded down against him, his attention entirely on you. You whined, locking eyes with him beneath you. He couldn’t handle not being in control, dragging your body towards him as he started thrusting his hips roughly up against you. His cock drilled deep inside of you, hitting your sweet spot in a new angle.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, just like that.” You whined, your body tensing up. “I’m gonna come–-oh please, please, please, please…”

“You like that?” He groaned in your ear. “That’s right fucking beg for it.”

“I wanna come, I wanna come all over your cock.” You moaned, your thighs starting to shake. “Your cock is so deep, you’re fucking me sooo good.” You were so close. “Let me come, please, please–.”

Your orgasm got delayed as his interrupted, more spurts of his hot cum coated inside your pussy. You whined, that tight coil in your core slowly loosening. You felt his arms let go of you, allowing you to sit up. You glared down at him, bracing your hands on his abdomen.

“Don’t look at me like that, you deserve it.” He said, placing an arm over his face. “Selfish bitch.”

“I’m selfish?” You shot back, offended. “You don’t even know how my quirk works! You got to come three times and you couldn’t even let me come one time?”

“Forced me to have sex and now you’re gonna get hung up on me not letting you get off? You did this to yourself.” He said, panting as his body was still heavily affected by your quirk. “Fuck, how long does this shit last.”

“Depends on your attraction, asshole.” You explained, lifting yourself up off of his cock. “So actually you did this to yourself.”

You got most of the way up before you felt his hands on your legs. He dragged your lower body towards his face.. “What are you doing?” You asked as you looked down at him. “Don’t tell me you suddenly feel like giving back because–”

He answers by shoving his head between your legs. The sensation of his insanely warm tongue against your folds had your legs buckling. You collapsed forward, forcing both of you onto the ground. His hands held you in place as his tongue pressed against you like he was trying to make up for mistakes he didn’t even make. You gasped and whimpered as his tongue devoured you. 

You knew you wouldn’t last long. Your juices mixed with his cum were leaking out of your pussy, coating his chin as he lapped at your swollen clit. His tongue against you making wet noises echo through the room almost as loud as your moans.

Your fingers found his hair, gripping it tightly as you grinded against his mouth. “So good–soo good…” You moaned, your eyes nearly rolling into the back of your head. His fingers were digging into your ass now, forcing your body as close to him as possible. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…” 

You heard a muffled groan from him, which almost had your vision turning white. You couldn’t think straight, nothing other than pure euphoric pleasure and how good his tongue felt. There was sweat coating your body, just another fluid you were going to be covered in by the end of this. Another string of curses left your mouth, along with promises of anything if you could come.

“I’m so close–so close.” You whimpered, rocking your hips against him as you felt that coil tighten again.

It only took a few more flicks of his tongue before your orgasm slammed into you. You cried out, your hips tightening around his face as you almost collapsed forward. You don’t get much breathing room before Dabi’s tongue starts its assault on your clit again. A noise gets choked out as you squeeze against him. Your body twitches as jolts of pleasure and pain from the stimulation run through your body. You feel his fingers dig into your skin, that searing pain from the heat radiating off of him burns into your skin.

“Stop stop—fuck e-enough!” You cried out, falling on deaf ears as he continued torturing you.

Your body tenses up, whines leave your lips as your fingers dig into his hair. Tears prickle at the corner of your eyes, the sensations clouding your every thought. You’re a whimpering mess as every flick of his tongue has you reeling with gasps and cries.

“Please, please stop. Please I c–can’t handle it.” You whined, trying desperately to pull your hips away from his mouth. “Fuck, Dabi STOP!”

You keep leaning forward, curling in on yourself. It gets hard to breathe as your gasps from the pain and pleasure coursing through you consume every thought. You only feel relief after you feel your body falling forward as he finally lets you go. As you catch your breath, collapse against the ground do you finally feel the intense pain from his fingerprints burned into your hips.

Dabi sits up, wiping his face with the back of his hand. He looks over his shoulder at you. “You have until I get up and come over there to recover. I didn’t say I’m finished with you yet.” He warned.

[resowrites]

Rolo - oneshot.

Summary: Henry takes learning about his wife’s pregnancy a tad too far…

Pairings: AU!Henry Cavill x Wife!OC

Warnings: fluff, banter/British humour, language, dialogue heavy, graphic descriptions of labour/childbirth, nondescript OC body type/appearance, hastily written/lightly proofread.

WC: 3002

A/N: Remember, this is pure fiction (as in completely made up) and not in any way meant to reflect reality. My work must not be copied, reposted, or translated elsewhere. Likes, follows, reblogs and comments are thoroughly welcome and appreciated! Gifs/pics not my own. I hope you all enjoy and thanks for visiting!

Rolo - oneshot.

"Oh my God, this reads like Stephen King…"

"Will you please be quiet? I'm trying to watch tv—"

"Oh stop, you can watch the A-Team any time. Now listen to this, a 'show' is the act of the mucus plug that seals the opening of the cervix, falling out as either a blob or smaller pieces of pinkish jelly—" she threw the spoon she was holding back into her pot of yoghurt.

"Henry shut up, I don't want to hear this while I'm eating!"

"It looks a bit like that apparently," he pointed to the pot in her hand, much to her chagrin. "It signals the start of the cervix beginning to soften and thin ready for labour, though this can take anywhere from an hour to several days to begin…" She hoped Henry was finally finished and tentatively took another mouthful of yoghurt. "Sometimes the colour of the plug is red or brown—"

"Henry, stop it!"

"What? I'm just trying to share with you the miracle of creation!"

"No you're not, you're being an annoying little shit because I had the last yoghurt and you don't want to let me enjoy it!"

"Don't be ridiculous, we've got our first scan coming up soon, don't you want me to be prepared?"

"Henry, it's not a fucking quiz, and anyway, it's me who has to answer any questions, not you!"

"Well, excuse me for wanting to be ready just in case, God most women would give anything for their husbands to be this involved!"

"Henry, why is it you need to know about the 'show,' or anything else that happens at that point in labour? You're not the one delivering the baby!"

"Well, who knows? You could go into labour on the bathroom floor and the paramedics might not make it to the house in time, we are a bit out in the sticks here."

"That won't happen, most women have to be induced—"

"What does that mean? Hang on let me look it up," he flipped further ahead in the baby book. "Ah, induction means to bring on the start of labour artificially. Before this is done, a membrane sweep is performed first. This involves a midwife or doctor sweeping their finger around the cervix via internal examination. This should help separate the amniotic sac surrounding the baby from the cervix—"

"Henry, I'm really getting annoyed with you now!"

"What? This is fascinating! To continue—" she gritted her teeth.

"If labour does not then occur, an induction will be offered next. This procedure involves the insertion of a pessary or gel into the vagina. If contractions do not begin after six hours, a further tablet or dose of gel will be used. Please be aware that induced labour is usually more painful and can require assistance via ventouse or forceps. What the hell's a ventouse?"

"Henry, I'm giving you until the count of five to put that book down. One—"

"A ventouse is a vacuum cup attached to your baby's head via suction—"

"Two—"

"It's pulled gently by the midwife or doctor to aid in delivery—"

"Three—"

"However, this method comes with several risks including a third or fourth-degree vaginal tear. This means the wall of the anus is ruptured—"

"Four, five! That's it, give me that right now!" She snatched the book from Henry's hands and chucked it aside.

"What the hell did you do that for?! We were just getting to an interesting bit!"

"Really, you find the instance of vaginal tearing even remotely interesting, do you?"

"Look, I have to learn about all of this otherwise I'll be clueless to help!"

"Is that right? And what help do you expect to be?"

"… Well, I can tell the doctor what it looked like before, it'll help him put everything back in place!"

"That's it, I'm going downstairs—"

"No, wait! I'm only joking, jeez lighten up will ya? I'm just trying to have a bit of fun!"

"Yeah, but it's easy to do that when you're not the one who has to give birth!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm already shit scared about all of this without you telling me my rectum could be torn asunder!"

"Oh for God's sake, that isn't going to happen!"

"Oh yeah? How do you know?"

"Because I won't let anything like that happen, alright?"

"Henry you're not going to have that much control over the situation, neither of us will!"

"Well maybe not but at least I'll be there to advocate for you, and I'll make sure everything is done correctly. That's why I have to learn about each stage of delivery."

"Well, can you at least stop reading aloud? I honestly don't want to hear all the grisly details thanks very much!"

"It's not grisly! It's a beautiful process—"

"Henry, birth may be many things but it's hardly beautiful—" he ignored her and continued.

"Just think, you'll be able to squeeze a whole person out of an opening that's only a few centimetres wide! Well, actually your cervix has to be ten centimetres dilated before you can safely start to push."

"Oh, God help me…"

"What? I can't wait! Being able to watch my baby being born will be the happiest day of my life! Even if it also means having to watch my favourite place in the whole world become like a Stretch Armstrong…"

"What do you mean? You're not going at the goal end, are you?!" Henry snorted.

"Well of course! Otherwise, how do I know that it's actually ours and not one that they've swapped?"

"Henry, trust me, no one is going to take our baby. So you're really going to watch the whole thing? Even as I start to crown?"

"Wait, what does that mean?" He tried to reach for the baby book which was still resting at the bottom of the bed.

"Oh no you don't, I'm not hearing any more blow-by-blows of birth thanks very much."

"Fine! I'll just look it up on my phone."

"Yeah, you might not want to do that—" suddenly Henry shrieked aloud.

"Jesus bloody Christ! Did it have to show me pictures? God, it's like she's being ripped in half!" He held his phone up close to her face.

"I did tell you not to look it up! Anyway, you wanted to see it, are you still so keen now on watching it live?"

"Well, I had no idea it was that graphic! Christ, I hope I don't end up with performance issues…" Henry looked down plaintively at his crotch.

"Oh, typical, you have to make it all about you. Did you honestly think the baby just appeared? Like all I had to do was sneeze and out it popped?"

"Well no, but now I must admit I'm getting scared as well - me and all of my brothers were big babies, I don't think it's gunna be that easy…"

"Oh well great, thanks for warning me."

"What? I'm just being honest! You could end up having one of those record babies, you know like how you see on the internet?" She breathed in hard.

"Henry, if you do that to me I will actually never forgive you—"

"Well, it's not my fault! Weren't you a big baby as well?"

"No I bloody well wasn't!"

"Maybe that'll balance it out then, besides it's not like they can't stitch you up afterward!"

"Oh God, kill me…"

"What? I can always get you a little rubber ring to sit on!"

"Henry, if you don't button it right now—"

"They use stitches darling, buttons would hardly be appropriate—"

"Carry on sonny boy and you're gunna be the one who needs stitches!"

"Alright, alright. God, I was only trying to be helpful!"

"No you weren't, you were just trying to scare me!"

"No I wasn't, I would never do that! As I said, everything will be alright—"

"You don't know that! This will be my first time giving birth, literally anything could happen..."

"Well, I'm sure there are lots of things we can do to prepare. Just let me have my handy guide back—"

"No, you're not reading any more baby books!"

"Fine, I'll just consult Google then instead. Let's see, how do you prevent tearing during pregnancy?" She took a deep breath. "Ah, see here it says an ep-is-iot-omy, a cut made in the perineum, is performed to make the vaginal opening wider where necessary—" 

"Right, I’m putting on my headphones—" 

"This cut is typically made diagonally… wait so they don't just cut downwards? You know so it's like one big hole?" 

"Oh bollocks, they're out of power!" 

"Are you listening to me?!" 

"I'm trying not to, no." 

"Well you'll be glad to know there's also such thing as 'perineal massage—'"

"Oh, well that's a relief…" 

"This can be performed from thirty-five weeks onwards as a useful tool to help prevent tears. It even says I can perform the massage for you—"

"Yeah, no thanks."

"Well, what do you expect me to do then? Just wait outside and leave you in the delivery room all scared and alone?"

"You can stay here, in fact. I'm not sure I even want you in the building anymore…"

"Oh now come on, you know I was only trying to make you laugh talking about all this stuff!"

"Henry I don't need a bloody comedian, I need a birth partner who's gunna take it seriously and actually be useful—"

"Yeah and that's why I'll be right by your side, cheering you on, and you can scream and yell and hit me as many times as you want."

"Can I do that right now?" He gave her a mischievous smile.

"I tell you what, why don't we change the subject and try some birth positions instead? Look, you can even lay like this with your arse in the air," Henry kneeled on both legs and let his face fall into the pillow. "Actually, on second thoughts, it was this position that got you into this situation..." She choked on her cup of tea. "What about like this then," he jumped out of the bed and propped one leg up on the edge of it. "It's called the 'leg-up lunge,' really helps open up the pelvis apparently and relieve back pain," Henry looked over to see her holding her face in her hands. "Or you can just do this," he rolled onto his back and pulled back each leg with his hands. In doing so, he landed on the remote and accidentally changed the channel.

"Oh for fuck sake, Henry! It was just getting to a juicy bit!" 

"Tell me about it, I need you to check how far along I am—" 

"Henry, I really am starting to lose my patience!" She leaned between Henry's legs and tried to manoeuvre him off of the remote. 

"Hey, it's me who's meant to push, not you!" 

"Will you bloody stop it?! And move out of the sodding way—" she carried on rooting around, not seeing the bottle of water he'd quickly grabbed from the bedside table. Seconds later, a jet of water hit her face.

"OH NO, I THINK MY WATER JUST BROKE!!!"

 "W-WHAT THE FUCK!!!" She coughed and spluttered while Henry collapsed into a pile of giggles. "That's it, I'm done." She scooched off the bed and headed for the door.

"WAIT, wait!" She stopped and turned round to face him. "You've still got water on your face—" she tried to storm off, only for Henry to catch her by the wrist. 

"Get off me, you arch idiot. I'm so angry with you I could scream!"

"Oh now come on! I was just trying to give us a bit of practice. I don't want you to think you've wet yourself—"

"HENRY, THAT IS ENOUGH!"

"Mmmm... I love it when you get mad. Come on, let's have some fun—" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. 

"You must be joking!"

"Well, what’s the harm? I've already knocked you up!"

"Henry—"

"And don't think I haven't noticed how big they're getting…" Henry pointed towards her chest.

"Listen to me you little turd, they're not the only things getting bigger. Very soon I'm going to be up to fifty pounds heavier, with an arse that could flatten even you - so don't piss me off!"

"... But I'll be able to hear you coming." 

"Right, that's it! I'm sleeping downstairs. Seeing as this is all just some big joke to you—"

"Whoa, hang on, that's absolutely not the case. I'm sorry, alright? I was just trying to make you less worried about giving birth. Honestly, I don't care if you scream, cry, puke, or even shit everywhere—" her nostrils flared. "Take it easy! Come on, let's get to bed, all this stress isn't good for the baby." She batted his hand away and folded her arms almost as soon as she was back in bed. "Okay, so you don't want to lie on your back. That's probably for the best seeing as the baby could then shoot across the room if you push too hard... I wonder if that's ever actually happened? Lemme see." She snatched the phone away.

"Henry, this is your last warning—"

"Fine, fine. Can we talk names then?"

"Oh, but we can never agree! Everything you like, I hate! Besides your mum used up most of the decent boy's names…"

"Well, let's think, what about Jack?"

"See, I like Jack but it runs into your surname because of the ‘k’ sound at the end. So it sounds like one long name, 'JackCavill.'"

"Okay, well what about Jake?"

"That's the same problem."

"Alright then, Jacob?"

"Nah."

"Caleb?"

"Nah."

"Callum?"

"Callum Cavill? Isn't that a bit of a mouthful?"

"Okay well, let's park boys' names for a minute and try out girls' names instead. What about Amelie?"

"Nah, I don't want too many syllables."

"Okay, Amy?"

"Mmm, no I don't want anything too cutesy."

"Ugh, what about Olivia then? That way she can be named after you—"

"Except my name's not actually Olivia is it?"

"Well, it's still a nice name! Why don't you come up with some instead of just criticizing me?"

"Actually, I'd rather just sit here and watch my programme in peace, seeing as how you've robbed me of that opportunity for the last half an hour!"

"But we've got to come up with a shortlist of names, otherwise, we'll struggle nearer the time!"

"Well, my sister said it's sometimes better to wait. Often you pick a name and then find that it doesn't actually suit the baby at all."

"... How about Hollie?"

"Hollie?"

"Yeah, I mean, she'll be born around Christmas time and it's a nice combination of both our names."

"Mmm… maybe."

"… And for a boy, we could always have Rudolph." She sighed and switched the tv off so she could turn over and go to sleep. 

"Hey, hang on, we're not done yet!"

"Henry, we've got months to decide and if it's okay with you, I'd like to get to sleep before I'm given any more reasons to have nightmares."

"Oh darling, there's really nothing to worry about. I mean, the chances of it having a conehead or a vestigial tail are actually very minor…"

"What the hell are you talking about now?!"

"Oh, didn't you know? When a baby is born its skull compresses so that it can squeeze its way out of the birth canal—"

"Okay, got it."

"But don't worry, it'll eventually round out in a few weeks—"

"That's good to know. Goodnight Henry."

"Wait! I haven't said goodnight to the baby!"

"Oh don't worry, they've been listening to you all evening and would now like some peace and quiet as well."

"Aww come on, roll back over so I can kiss them and you goodnight." She sighed and reluctantly turned onto her back. This was their new nightly routine and Henry wouldn't let her rest until he got to perform it. He scooted down slightly so he was level with her waist, and placed both hands gently on her stomach. He then lowered his head and spoke quietly.

"G'night bubba, Mummy and Daddy love you so, so much - only a few more weeks and we'll get to hear your heartbeat for the first time!"

"You know the lucky sod can't actually hear you just yet? It won't be able to until I'm at least eighteen weeks—"

"Will you please stop being such a spoilsport! And stop calling our baby 'it!' We at least need to come up with a placeholder name. Something sweet and memorable—"

"So that's a no to conehead then?" Henry clucked his tongue.

"Ignore her bubba, she's just cranky cos you're making her hormonal and retain water." She thumped him on the arm. "Ow! That hurt!"

"That wasn't me, that was my hormones…" Henry rolled his eyes. "And can you go get me some Rennies? I've got heartburn again."

"Hey, that's an idea, what about Rennie?"

"You want to name our baby after an anti-acid?"

"Well, can you come up with something better?" She considered it for a moment.

"How about Rolo? I mean that's the only thing I've been craving since I've been pregnant."

"Is it really a craving if you ate them lots before you were pregnant? And how come we can't name it after indigestion tablets but we can name it after your favourite chocolate?"

"Well, why not? I think Rolo's cute! It's about the size of one at the moment as well."

"Fine, although there's also the option of Henry Junior…" She gave him an annoyed look. "Alright, alright. Rolo it is. And don't worry, to me you'll always have a beautiful vagina—"

"Right, just for that, get your arse down those stairs and get me some Rolo's as well. Now, mister!"

"… Are you sure there's any left?" The look on her face made Henry shoot out of bed but not before he gave both her and her stomach a kiss.  

To be updated on when I post please follow @resowrites and turn on post notifications.

@elizabetharegina @fanfictionaddiction99 @luclittlepond @caffeinatedfestivalsheep @summersong69 @ushijimbo

[kayhi808]

Billy Mine - Home Sweet Home

Masterlist

After weeks of trying to purge her closet of clothes and...stuff, Juliet is exhausted. Falling back onto the floor, "Billy Russo wants to marry me." This thought has been on repeat for the past few weeks in Juliet's mind. Is this even real life? When am I going to wake up from my dream?

*****

"Jules? You home?" Bill let's himself into the apartment. Scanning the living room, he sees her bag on the couch. Upon entering the bedroom, Billy's heart stutters to a stop. Little over a year ago, his girl was the target of a kidnapping attempt. Scattered amongst clothes and boxes, Juliet's bare legs are half visible on the floor of her small walk-in closet. "Bunny!!!" Bill shoves boxes to the side to get to his girl.

Bill's roar jolts Juliet out of her reverie. She screams as Billy hurls into her closet grabbing her. "What the fuck, Bill?!"

"Jesus Christ!!" Standing, Bill turns & punches the door jamb, resting his forehead against it, trying to take calming breaths. Juliet backs away, distancing herself from Bill, moving deeper in to the closet. He's furious! Scary mad.

Trying to be as soft and calming as possible, "Bill?"

He holds up a finger at her & shakes his head against the doorway. After a minute, "Your room looks destroyed, and I see you on the ground unmoving."

She moves closer to Billy, "I've been trying to clean out my closet and get rid of stuff, since we're moving in together. I got overwhelmed with it all & took a break." She hears a growl rumbling in the back of Billy's throat. "You aren't even supposed to be here. You didn't say you were coming over."

"Do I need an invitation now?" Straightening to his full height, glaring down at her.

"No, but you can't be mad at me. It's not my fault." Slowly moving closer to Billy, like she's trying to calm an angry panther. "If I knew you were coming over, I wouldn't have started on the closet & I definitely wouldn't have been laying on the floor waiting for you to find me like that." Billy pulls her to him, resting his head on the top of hers. Settling her palm over his rapidly beating heart, "I'm sorry I scared you."

"I thought you were fucking dead." BIll squeezes her even tighter.

Pulling him down into a kiss, "Oh, Billy Mine, you should know you can't get rid of me that easily. "

*****

Juliet can't deny that Billy's penthouse is impressive. It's very modern, very sleek and very stylish. Very minimalistic. And yet she doesn't feel at home or relaxed in a place like this.

Neighborhoods, homes, floorplans, decor have been occupying her mind since they decided to find a place together. Weekends are spent looking at websites trying to agree on places to see. Cuddled up on Billy's couch, Juliet has her tablet out scrolling through homes. "Morningside?"

"I'm not living in Harlem!"

"It's not..."

"It's Harlem. Next!" Bill reaches over & deletes the neighborhood from the filter. "Kips Bay, I like."

"No, that's where my parents tried to stick me. Chelsea? Hell's Kitchen? You'll be close to Anvil." Billy gives a non-committal shrug, because it is close to Anvil, but it's really just outside of the Village. "So, you're open to those neighborhoods?"

"Do you know how much a townhouse costs in Chelsea?"

"Townhouse? I've been searching condos. You want a townhouse?"

"Do you want to raise our kids in a condo?"

"Whoa!" Pushes against Billy, to sit up, "Where did these kids come from?"

Smiling up at Jules, shrugging, "I'm not doing this again with you. This move is it." She nervously laughs. "Are we not on the same page?

"Um...holy shit." Billy gives her a minute before pulling her down against him. Cradling her against his chest. "I didn't think 'big picture'. I was just thinking us moving in together, getting married...later."

"Do you not want a family?" His arms tightening around her, waiting for her answer.

Turning to look at him & whispers, "You know I do." It was a dream that Jules was always scared to voice.

"Do you want a family with me?"

Her voice breaking, "You're the only one I've ever dreamed of having a family with, Billy Mine." She buries her face into his chest & cries. They both grew up in the foster care system, but only Juliet was fortunate enough to escape it. Bill suffered abuse from his mother & through the system. For him to admit that this is the future he wants with her, it's like a sacred promise. Billy is in this relationship for life and beyond.

"Well then," clearing his throat, "Maybe you should be looking for something a little bigger than a condo, hmm?"

*****

On a bright sunny morning Billy got his wish. The loan officer and realtor just left his Anvil office. They just signed mortgage papers to a townhouse just outside of the Upper East Side, Lenox Hill, to Jules chagrin. They ended up selling her condo and his penthouse to afford it, but it's an investment for their future. Their forever home.

Popping a bottle of champagne, "We did it!"

Laughing, "It's 10am, Billy!"

"I got orange juice in the fridge if you want to make this a mimosa," handing her a glass.

Holding out her glass, "To us."

"Not too bad for a couple of orphans." Touches her glass and sips his champagne. Juliet wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. Burying his face in her neck, "We finally got our Home Sweet Home, Bunny." Deep within the confident businessman, a dark eyed foster boy, who never thought this dream would ever come true for him, is overjoyed.

@imagine-a-fictional-boyfriend @snowkestrel @e-dubbc11 @bustlingcrowdsxorxsilentsleepers @jvanilly @k-marzolf

[9leaguesofmirrors]

Weekend Comfort (a Ross Gaines x Joseph Lisgoe fanfic)

Not sure what else to say, just had this silly idea of Ross having an awful day and Lisgoe trying to make it better - despite being awful at comfort

Lisgoe could tell Ross was out of it the moment he walked through the door and fell into the sofa, eyes closed and head leaning against the backrest. Not a word was spoken until Lisgoe said something:

"You alright?"

Obviously not, you daft twat, look at him!

"Just tired..." came the reply "I'll live."

"You look like death warmed up if I'm being honest."

"I'd rather you didn't."

"You love my honesty-"

"Not when I feel like this." Ross groaned as he sat up, massaging his temple "I've got a throbber."

Confused, Lisgoe's eyes dragged down, much to the chagrin of his partner

"In my head, Joseph."

"Seems alright to me-"

"My other head."

"Oh."

Watching his partner tut with annoyance, Lisgoe realised that this problem needed solving fast. So he stood up and headed for the kitchen, rummaging around in the fridge mumbling to himself

"Joseph? Need a hand in there?"

"What do sick people have?"

"You should've said," Ross stood up and joined him "I'd have gotten you some tablets or-"

"Not me, this is for you."

"I'm not sick."

"No, but you have a headache." Lisgoe took some milk out of the fridge and went over to the counter, taking two mugs and boiling the kettle "This might help."

Ross sighed, leaning against the counter

"You don't have to."

"Maybe not. But I want to."

"I'm fine, Joseph-"

He was interrupted by Lisgoe holding his upper arms firmly

"Ross. You're not well."

"I've been worse-"

"That's not a fucking good thing! Christ, you need to sit down. Or take a shower, do something to freshen up."

"Need to stay here," Ross gestured to the kettle "make sure you don't burn the house down."

Lisgoe furrowed his brows, jaw tightening in irritance. Eventually, Ross sighed

"OK, fine, I'll take a shower." He rested his hand on top of his partner's, running his thumb along it "This... thank you. It's nice."

"Will be if I don't burn the house down."

That made them both laugh and Ross moved his fingers under his partner's chin, tilting his head towards him and kissing him gently

"I'll be alright Joseph, I'm just-"

"Fucking hell, just get in the shower!" Lisgoe laughed

Ross went to leave when he heard a phone ring, he watched as Lisgoe picked his up, reading the name

Cameron Bell

"That someone from work?"

"Yeah," Lisgoe declined the call and went to message the person "started recently. I'll get back to him." He put his phone back in his pocket, focusing on making the tea "You're my top priority."

"I'm not fragile, Joseph." His partner teased as he made his way upstairs

Lisgoe ran his tongue along his teeth

"We'll see about that!" He called back

*********************************************

Ross wasn't surprised to hear the bathroom door opening while he was inside, he figured his partner was either peeing or just wanted to be his usual self

Taptaptap

Lisgoe was stood in front of the shower door, thunking his knuckle against it

Right. He's being his usual self then

He opened the shower door with a tired yet slightly playful smile

"Can I help you, Joseph?"

"I just realised something. You never really talk about that Pauline."

Ross sighed

"Joseph, can we talk about this later-"

"I mean, was she really that bad?"

His eyes narrowed

"Yes. Yes, she was."

"You say that, but I'm not sure. I mean, apparently she got married."

"To Mickey," said an impatient Ross "but she died."

"Apparently she faked it. Ran off."

"What is this about-"

Lisgoe took off the ring on his index finger and moved it to his ring one. He smiled softly at Ross

"Joseph, please, I'm not in the-"

"Nine years. That's how long she was destitute for. Because of you." Lisgoe went over to the window and pulled a padlock out of his pocket, locking it tightly "Nine years, she suffered."

"I have no sympathy."

"Maybe not." Lisgoe reached into the shower and turned the temperature up to its highest setting "But I knew I couldn't let you get away with hurting my fiancèe like that so I sought you out. Let you live happily for nine years."

For a moment, Ross was stunning into silence. Suddenly, he jolted back with a yell as Lisgoe yanked up the pressure on the shower

"Why, Joseph? Why didn't you just leave me?"

"Because I want your last moments to be spending wondering what's worse: nine years of hell, or nine years of bliss being stripped from you."

Ross watched Lisgoe shut the shower door. He gripped the handle, desperately trying to tear them open. By the time Lisgoe pulled away, there was already a padlock in place

All Ross could do was scream. Scream and slam on the shower door as hot steam scorched the room. His partner, the man he told all his secrets to, all of his darkest parts, left the room and locked the door behind him

As his body got weaker and weaker, Ross slumped against the moist wall behind him. The world closed into him in a haze of translucent heat. His eyes remained fixed on the door, clinging onto the pathetic hope that Joseph would have a change of heart. That his partner was still there, somewhere

Cameron Bell...

Cam Bell

Campbell

Have a shower, Ross... freshen up...

Joseph...

"Ross?"

Upon hearing his name, he jolted slightly looking around the room

His living room

He was in his living room

Lisgoe was next to him, looking slightly confused

"You alright? You kinda... went off."

Ross looked at the TV as credits began rolling

"Told you it was a great episode, second favourite one." Lisgoe said "Private View's better though. But you might like Riddle Of The Sphinx."

That's when Ross started to connect the dots

"You alright?"

"Just tired... I'll live."

"You look like death warmed up if I'm being honest."

"I'd rather you didn't."

"Alright, alright! Tell you what, we'll see what's on the telly. Pretty sure Inside No. 9's on tonight."

"That's the Black Mirror-y one you like."

"Yeah, there's a rerun of the season 8 finale tonight. Last Weekend, that's what it's called."

"Still can't believe he'd do that to his own partner, fucking hell!"

Ross looked at his partner in silence, not sure what to say after... whatever trick his mind had just played

"You're clearly out of it." Lisgoe went to stand up "I'll boil the kettle and-"

"NO!" The volume surprised them both "I mean. No. Thank you. I'll make it myself."

"O...kay?" Lisgoe nodded, trying not the laugh "Go ahead!"

Ross nodded, getting up and making a beeline for the kitchen. He chose to ignore Lisgoe when he said:

"Slow down! Christ, you'll end up scalding yourself!"

A/N: ... Happy April Fools :)

Hope you enjoyed this little prankfic, be sure not to spoil it in the comments! Promise my next one will be genuine

[what-if-i-just-did]

Destiel Prompt List 3. Extended version of a classic Destiel scene.

Trigger Warnings: graphic descriptions of pain, mind control and the aftermath of being beat up. Also there's some kissing but it isn't really nsfw. And as always feels.

Mind Control and Make-Out Sessions

"We need you."

Shit. He's gonna have to do the movie thing, isn't he? If it'll help Cas.

He swallows.

"I need you."

The next words are 'I love you', but he chokes on them. He tries "Cass.." instead. He thinks his voice breaks.

It seems to work. Cas dropped the Blade.

He tries to keep eye-contact, but just a few seconds in and he's done. Shit, his arm hurts like a biiiiiiiitch. And his face is all fucked up. He's fairly sure his cheekbone is fractured in at least three places, and his eye is definetly messed up, and some skin's been ripped, and there's no way he doesn't have a concussion, but it's fine, he's had worse. (Way worse) His breathing is incredibly ragged, though, almost verging on a panic attack, but he has more important things right now. Namely, Cas.

Then there's a blinding light and oh, Cas got the tablet. He closes his eyes.

Cas is looking at him now. Dean's trying to decide if Cas is okay now, but with a fucked-up eye and the angel being as unreadable as ever, he's not sure. "Cas.." he says, like he's approaching a wild animal. Cas reaches for him.

"No.. Cas.. Cas ! "

He grabs onto Cas's arm, uselessly, he knows, as if he could possibly do anything at all to stop Castiel from hurting him, and Cas isn't doing the two-fingers-to-the-forehead thing, no, Cas is cupping the beat-up side of his head, and it hurts, but Cas is being gentle, and if Dean is about to die then fuck, he leans into Cas's hand because yeah, it feels good if he ignores the rest, so he breathes in sharply and he waits for the blindingly hot pain to course through him and turn his insides to liquid, waits for his eyes to be burnt out and decides he forgives Cas and he has just enough time for a stab of panick when he realizes he'll probably wake up in Hell, again before he's opening his eyes.

He's not in Hell. In fact, he's still kneeling in the fucking crypt. In front of Cas. But.. nothing hurts. His face, his arm... shit, did Cas just... heal him?

He's panting. He looks at Cas, and the angel is looking so guilty, so motherfreakin' cute- no, adorable, that Dean's breath hitches. Which, you know, he's pretty sure is not a reaction he's supposed to have about Cas, who's a dude, (or, at least in a dude and wow that took a turn wait a minute), and also like this heavenly, millenia-old warrior of heaven or whatever but right now he's got other focusses.

"So sorry, Dean."

There's about a million things he could say, but he goes for

"What the Hell just happened". Are you okay?

"I... Naomi was..."

"Yeah, about that. Who's Naomi?" And what did she do to you?

"Naomi is an Angel of Heaven-" Which is the moment Dean realises he's still on his knees, in front of Cas. It takes him about .5 seconds to get to his feet. Cas stops talking to give him a confused look (with the squint and headtilt and it's not helping Dean with trying to stop seeing Cas as cute) but Dean just shoots him a quasi-innocent look that says 'I'm ignoring that look, you were saying?' so Cas keeps talking.

"She.. She's an Angel of Heaven who.. well, her job is to make sure everyone obeys their orders. She sent Angels to Purgatory to, save, me, but she realized of course I wouldn't simply obey her. She gave me... exercizes. Tests, perhaps. Or.. well, whatever you want to call it. She had to be certain I'd obey her. I..." Cas stops to shake his head and break eye-contact, looking at the floor. "Dean, I am incredibly sorry. I would never... I never wanted to hurt you. I wish I could take it back." He makes a vague hand-motion. "I healed you. I suppose that's as close as it'll get." Blue meets green again. "I would never have done that if I was in control of my actions."

Dean leans backwards. Between the emotion is Cas's voice, and the information that someone, some dickwad angel, had been controlling his Cas (he knows Cas isn't really his but it does feel that way. His guardian angel.) for that long, he's torn between possesive anger and being touched by how much Cas cares.

"I forgive you. Hell, I already forgave you since before you stopped... Cas, it wasn't you, okay? I think that's pretty obvious. I forgive you."

He needs that much to be clear to the angel (only angel he'll ever care about). Now that he got that much clear, he took a breath. It's been four years. He's already lost Cas... more than once. And maybe his brain isn't really working cause this is gonna have consequinces but right now he can't really care. He just needs to say it.

"I love you, of course I forgive you."

Cas frowns. "You.. love.. me? How.. after all I've done, after I just- how could you say that?"

Okay. not what he'd been expecting. Uhm. "Cas." He needs to find some words, but it's like all the words in existence are playing hide and seek and he's it (isn't that tag? Oh whatever). "You... You.. Cas, you've done so much for us. And I already said, I forgive you for beating me up. And.. whatever Naomi did, ain't your fault. Yeah, sure, you've made mistakes.. big ones. But so have I. So has Sammy, I mean... I don't care. Besides, love.. I don't know, it's probably just a stupid human thing, but.. mistakes, and betrayels and whatever, it's not supposed to matter. It doesn't matter. I love you. And.. yeah, we've got shit to work out, but that doesn't take away from me loving you. Get it? Like.. we're family. You know what family does?, family forgives. And loves. So. There's that." There. That was, decent, right? Maybe shouldn't've said the family part, but, well.. too late now, huh.

Cas nods, looking a little... overwhelmed. "I... I think I understand. it sounds like such a human thing, but, I... I love you too, Dean. In a way I don't think.. I don't think my brethren could."

And oh. Cas probably doesn't realize what that would mean, in human terms, what he just said. But there seems to be some residual brain damage or something, because the next thing Dean blurts is "Cas can I kiss you", followed instantly by him shoving a hand over his mouth and wishing the ground could swallow him up.

Cas tilts his head. Squints. "Yes."

"What?" W H A T ? ! ? Did Cas just...

"Yes. You can.. kiss me, Dean."

Dean gulps. Yes, definetly residual brain damage. Cas was probably feeling too guilty to properly clean him up. Right now, Dean could care less. "I... okay."

He takes a carefull step forwards. Cas doesn't move. Another step, and now he's standing right iin front of Cas. His eyes flicker over Cas's face, trying to find reluctance, or hesitation, or disgust. They find curiosity, and thinly-veiled exitement (?) and some caution. That's fine. He angles his head a little, and Cas's breath is pracitcally ghosting over Dean's lips. He hesitates, like if he stepped away now, they could pretend this never happened. But he started this. He wants this. And Cas said yes. "Love you." Dean whispers before sealing their lips and closing his eyes.

Cas's lips are soft. So soft. He cautiously moves against them, and consequentially inhales a lungfull of Cas. He smiled into the kiss, and he can feel Cas move a little too. He brings his hand up to cup Cas's jaw a little, for balance, and Cas does the same, but a little less shy, leaving his hand closer to Dean's lips than Dean would dare do to Cas right now. They shift their heads to different angles, putting more or less pressure to the kiss they're sharing. Then Dean carefully reaches out with his tongue, licks over Cas's lips, and Cas gasps. Dean takes the oppertunity and licks the inside of Cas's upper lip, and Cas lets him, so he doesn't stop. He doesn't want to stop.

It doesn't take long after that for the kiss to become a little... less innocent. Their tongues find eachother, and more hands are being shifted, holding onto shirts and trenchcoats and jawlines and hair and chests, and then someone moans, and the kiss turns desperate, hopefull, longing, nostalgic. Everything they wanted, out on the table, and mirrored on each side. Why did they wait four years with this? Why did it take losing eachother, over and over and over, for them to realize they could have what they wanted? They could have had this all along.

Then Cas puts his hand flat on Dean's chest, and it's clear what that means- stop. Dean pulls back, opens his eyes. "Shit, you okay, what's-" but Cas is softly smiling.

"Dean... as much as I'm enjoying.. this. We have... we have things to deal with, to discuss. Naomi... the Tablet. I think we should put this on pauze. What's the term- raincheck?"

Dean tries to clear up the love and lust fogging his head. Take a breath. "Y-yeah. Yeah, okay. Raincheck. Talk first, make out later. I can do that."

He breathes a few more times. Cas is patient. He puts his clothes and hair back into more or less the configuration they had before Cas's hands found them. He breathes. "Okay...

So, this.. Naomi. Has been controlling you since she got you out of Purgatory?", he prompts. Cas nods sullenly. "Yeah."

Then, of course, Cas leaves. So, 'Make out later' never really happens. Of course, that's how it goes when you're a Winchester. Always got a world to save.

[newgenog]

REVENGE

Notes: This is part one of chapter five. If you're just stumbling across this, and haven't already done so, please stop and start by reading part one of chapter one.

This #Batwoman AU is based on the ABC tv series #Revenge. Ryan Wilder lost a lot during really formidable years. Our Ryan had faith she could overcome those losses. This Ryan doesn't have that same hope...

Since you've been so patient for the last two weeks, I've given you a nice chunk of words in this chapter, and part one. I'm excited to see how you feel about the direction the story is taking.

Happy reading!

CHAPTER FIVE - CHARADE (Part One)

Ryan’s double life becomes harder to maintain as she’s confronted with the realities of her choices, and the potential for everything she’s worked for to slip through her fingers. 

MONDAY, JULY 10TH, 1:00 AM, THE LOFT

There’s an urgent knock, and Ryan knows it’s time to face whoever is on the other side of that door head on. 

Ryan: “Who is it?”

The person calls back, ‘it’s me,’ and she can’t believe her ears. She walks over to the door, her frown lines creasing deeply between her brows, and opens it with haste. 

Ryan: “Angelique, what are you doing here?” 

Angelique: “I need you.” 

She walks in, without an invitation, and starts pacing in the living room as she tells her story.

~~~~~

ABOUT 5 DAYS EARLIER, TUESDAY, JULY 4TH, 11:00 PM, KANE MANSION YARD - INDEPENDENCE AND WELLNESS DAY BANQUET

Ryan: “Angelique, what the hell are you doing here?”

Angelique was preoccupied, looking at the tablet used to keep track of the drink orders she’d taken and was headed back to the bar to retrieve. The Kanes had servers ordering and delivering them as if their guests were at a restaurant. She initially assumed the person was an agitated employee of Catherine’s who felt entitled to speak to her any kind of way.

Angelique: “I’m on my way to the bar to get these orders in. So you can chill.”

Ryan tries again with a different tone, since Angelique hasn’t connected who is standing in front of her. 

Ryan: “Ange, why aren’t you in Freeland?” 

That catches her up short. She swallows hard when she makes eye contact with Ryan, and immediately stiffens, defensively.

Angelique: “Ryan?”

Ryan looks over her shoulder to make sure they’re still alone.

Ryan: “Robyn.”

Angelique: “Right. Whatever. I’m working.” 

Ryan: “Why are you working here, in Gotham?”  

Angelique:”Because the pay is good. By the way, thanks for telling me you took Candy down.”

Ryan: “It’s still not safe.”

Angelique: “Safe for who?”

There was that question again.

Ryan: “I thought you were good in Freeland. You had everything you needed.” 

Angelique: “How do you know what I need? If you think Freeland has a better shot at keeping me clean than Gotham, then maybe you’re the one on something. Besides, Freeland isn’t home.”

Ryan: “Freeland was a chance at a fresh start. You’re making it sound like Gotham was good to you.”

Angelique: “Didn’t stop you from coming back.”

Ryan: “You know why I’m here. And you could have at least told me.” 

Angelique: “Oh, we talk now? Send good morning, how are you texts?”

Ryan: “Ange, I have always been there if you needed me.”

Angelique: “Actually, you haven’t. I’ve been on my own. You sent me off with a bag of cash and a lease, and thought that’d be enough for me, but it’s not. I wanted to come home, so I came home.”

Ryan: “You work at the Hold Up.”

Angelique: “They were hiring. I needed a job.”

Ryan: “No you didn’t…”

Angelique: “Again, you have no idea what I need. And, unless you want your little frienemies to find out that you know me, you should let me get back to work.” 

She ended the conversation by walking away from Ryan. 

~~~~~

Tommy: “Why don’t you stop pretending you’re not staring at her and just go talk to her?”

Kate: “I don’t want to force myself on her, especially if she’s moving on.” 

The second part was a low ramble, and whether Kate had said it that way because she felt sad or defeated was unclear, but it could have been both.

Tommy: “I knew you should have never trusted Robyn.”

Kate: “What are you talking about?”

Kate sips her drink, annoyed by the sudden accusation and shift in conversation. She wasn’t even aware that Tommy had an issue with Robyn.

Tommy: “Isn’t she supposed to be your friend, but she’s moving in on your girl?”

Kate sighs through her nose. 

Kate: “Regardless to how I feel, Sophie isn’t mine. And neither is Robyn. We all met her at the same time. She doesn’t owe any allegiance to me.” 

Tommy: “Right. What a coincidence. She just drops into all of your lives out of nowhere, and now she’s an integral part of it from every angle? You don’t find that odd?”

Kate: “Are you jealous of my relationship with Robyn? Because she’s been nothing but nice to you, so I don’t understand why you would randomly attack her, especially after you saw what just happened to her tonight.”

Tommy: “Seems pretty convenient to me.” 

Kate: “What the hell is convenient about having your recorded therapy session shared with a bunch of strangers?”

Tommy: “Exactly! Strangers! What do you even know about this woman? Because what I see is that your ex seems to be coincidently falling for her, she’s become besties with both Catherine’s and your most trusted employees, and she’s been in Gotham for 5 minutes and is suddenly included in a video leak of Gotham elites.”

Kate: “She IS a Gotham elite, or whatever, if you insist on using those terms. She’s the CEO at Jetirian. Of course she’d use the top recommended therapist. You know what, Tommy? I was just trying to confide in you about Sophie, and this insane rabbit hole you’re digging feels like you’re questioning my judgment in friends. And maybe you’re right about that, because I thought you, my friend, were supposed to be helping me figure out how to get out of this merry go round of feelings about a woman I still love who can barely tolerate me. But maybe you’ve had so much to drink that you’re becoming delusional.”

Tommy, relatively sober, because he’s been more focused on feeding drinks to Kate than consuming them himself, fights back the urge to follow up on the mysterious selection of Robyn as CEO of Jetirian, because he can tell she’s not going to listen to reason tonight. Tommy doesn’t know exactly what’s going on, but as someone who’s pulled a scam or two of his own, he knows one when he sees one. He throws an arm over Kate’s shoulder, bringing her in for a side hug.

Tommy: “Truce bestie! Maybe you’re right. I’ve missed you, and she gets to do all the fun stuff we used to do together. I’m sure you’re right, and I just need to get to know her as well as you do. So, let’s talk about how we get your girl back.” 

Kate: “I don’t know if that’s on the table. I just don’t want her to hate me anymore.” 

Tommy: “Bro. You’ve done nothing worthy of being hated. You just need to get out of the ex zone.”

Kate: “Funny. That’s what Robyn said.”

Tommy: “Well there you go. Seems we have something in common, after all.”

Kate: “How do I do that, though?”

Tommy: “Standing over here brooding with me all night isn’t going to do it, that’s for sure.”

Kate thinks about that for a second. Robyn did also say she should just talk to her, and clear things up. She slams back the rest of her drink, and passes her cup to Tommy. She steps back and salutes him, before turning to try and not stumble towards her destination. 

Tommy: “Atta-girl.” 

~~~~~

Luke: "Can't believe all that happened in the time I went to the bathroom."

Mary: "Well, when you trekked all the way back to the house and there are bathrooms right over there."

Luke: "I'm sorry that I didn't realize I was at Gotham royalty's Coachella. Anyway, how are you doing?"

Mary: "I don't know. A part of me is just tired of all the drama. It's like my parents are lightning rods asking to be struck repeatedly. And the second hand embarrassment alone feels like getting a shock through osmosis everytime they're electrocuted. But another part of me just…I don't know, sometimes I'd trade all of this for parents that had the capacity to care about something more than their image and this family's reputation."

Luke: "I honestly can't imagine what that's like."

Sophie: "...Me either."

Sophie's timing is off. It takes her too long to add in her agreement, and her voice sounds far away.

Mary: "Earth to Sophie. Are you even listening to us? Or would you rather be listening to someone else relive how embarrassing tonight was for her?"

Sophie: "Huh?"

Mary: "You've been staring at Robyn's back for the last 3 minutes."

Sophie: "Because that's how long she's been talking to Angelique."

Luke: "And that bothers you because…?"

Sophie: "I didn't say it bothered me. Angelique isn't even working for me tonight."

Luke: "So then…?"

Sophie: "I don't know. Do they know each other?"

She sounds confused, because their energy seems familiar but they both just moved here from different places, and different worlds at that. Angelique had just walked off, and it seemed to take Robyn a second to restart her journey to her car. Sophie kept watching her, taking note of her body language.

Mary: "Sophie, are you jealous?"

Sophie: "What? Why would I be jealous."

Luke: "For the most common reason why someone is jealous. You like her."

Sophie: "I just know Robyn is new here, and still getting to know people, and, while I try not to let a person's past dictate their future, I'm still not sure Angelique is the best person to know."

Luke: “Right. Wouldn’t want the wrong woman getting too close to someone you’re interested in.”

That finally gets Sophie’s full attention, and she meets her friends’ prying eyes.

Sophie: “What?!”

Mary: “Luke isn’t wrong.”

Sophie: “Not you too.”

Mary: “And Jordan.” 

Sophie’s eyes widen in shock.

Sophie: “She told you…?!”

Luke: “So, are you going to do something about it?”

Sophie: “Do about what?”

Luke: “Drop the confused act, Sophie. We all have eyes.”

Sophie looks back at her employee and the mysterious but generous woman talking to her, and then returns to her interrogators. 

Sophie: “I don’t know. She’s so hard to read…” 

Mary: “Is Sophie Moore backing down from a challenge?”

Kate walks up to the trio before Sophie can defend herself.

Kate: “Hey, can we talk?”

Sophie raises an eyebrow at Kate, surprised she’s finally speaking to her. She’d sat across the table all night hardly making eye contact. After witnessing Robyn putting her number in Sophie’s phone, she wasn’t sure if they were currently on speaking terms. Kate only really talking with Tommy, who'd never let her find the bottom of her glass, was only reinforcing her hypothesis. But, maybe Kate was coming to get some things off of her chest.

Luke and Mary walk off, answering the question for her.

Sophie: “Look, you guys are going through a lot already, tonight. I don’t want to add to the drama. So, I can just go.”

Kate reaches out to grab Sophie’s hand, and she frowns, narrowing her eyes. Kate quickly releases her, and shoves her hands in her pockets. 

Kate: “That’s not it. I don’t want you to leave.”

Sophie: “Then why are you making it so awkward?”

Sophie’s undertone implies she isn’t just talking about tonight.

Kate: “I know. I’m sorry. And that’s actually what I want to talk with you about. Can we have dinner or something, so I can explain, and try to make all of this up to you.”

Sophie: “I don’t know… I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”

Kate: “Is it because of Robyn?”

Sophie: “Okay, yeah, I’m leaving.”

Sophie turns, and Kate quickly shuffles to block her. She throws her hands up in apology and surrender. She’d been trying hard not to let seeing their moment earlier influence this, but after a lot of old fashions and Tommy bringing Robyn up, it was almost impossible not to go there. 

Kate: “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Sophie: “Kate, what do you want from me?”

Kate: “I miss you.”

Sophie: “How? How can you possibly miss me?”

Kate: “What do you mean? I loved you.”

Sophie: “Yeah, loved, like in the past, where missing me and thinking about me like that should stay. You don’t know anything about me now. And I wish you’d stop trying to act like you have some role in my life. Tyler told me you said not to give me that job, which I actually needed, and I figured you’d at least get that, but once again, you’ve never really been able to see me.”

Sophie had lowered her voice and leaned in closer for the second part, so others wouldn’t get wind that she is working for The Crows. Kate drops her head, ashamed.

Kate: “You’re totally right. I should never have done that - it wasn't my place. And I do miss your friendship, too. Sophie, you knew me better than anyone.”

Sophie: “I must not have known you that well, because I never expected you to try to interfere in my life. I don’t need you, or anyone else for that matter, speaking for me, or making decisions for me.”

Kate: “I know. And that’s why I wanted us to go to dinner, because I do owe you an apology. A huge one. Ever since you got back, I’ve been handling things with you all wrong. I just…at least want us to be able to be friends. Like, a fresh start. So, if you’ll let me take you to dinner, so I can apologize more thoroughly, maybe we’ll have a shot…I mean, at being able to be in the same room without making everyone around us uncomfortable.”

Sophie wants to say no. She’s always trusted her gut, and lately, she’s had equally less trust of Kate’s intentions. Kate's eyes are pleading, seeing the rejection that hadn’t yet been spoken form in Sophie's face. Sophie catches Luke and Mary whispering not far from them, both chancing glances in the exes’ direction as they tried not to be obvious about the fact that they were very curious about what they couldn't hear. She decides Kate might have a point for once, and changes her mind.

Sophie: “I agree that this isn’t fair to everyone else. So we can have lunch, and I’m good with paying for myself.”

Kate’s shoulders relax in relief. 

Kate: “That’s great, really. Tomorrow?”

Getting this over with as soon as possible doesn’t sound like the worst thing to Sophie.

Sophie: “Sure. I’ll meet you at Mary Kate’s at noon.”

Kate: “Perfect. Thank you.”

Sophie: “And maybe get some water? You smell like a walking bottle of Jameson.” 

Sophie gives her a half smile that’s marred by the frown she never really released, and then starts to walk over to Luke and Mary.

~~~~~

Evan: “Gawd, I need to find a new job before Catherine fires me.”

Evan had been in earshot of Kate and Tommy’s conversation. When it ended, they took Tommy’s hand and escorted the two of them to the poolhouse to debrief. Tommy actually seemed fine with everything, but once they were away from all of the people, Evan realized they were probably the one that needed comforting. This summer had begun to feel like one catastrophe after another. Somehow, it seemed like Evan was the common denominator, having planned all events, and they were worried their days working with Catherine were numbered.

Tommy: “Are you crazy? You couldn’t have made out better than working for Catherine! And you’re doing an amazing job. The Kanes just have a target on their backs because of their status. There’s always going to be someone coming for them. Trust me, I know from experience.”

Evan: “While I can admit that the visibility of this job is clutch, all this drama is not good for a girl’s forehead lines. I’m going to end up spending every dollar I make here on Kheil’s line reducer and botox treatments.” 

Tommy: “You’d be buying those things whether you worked here or not.” 

Evan: “Rawr. You’re feisty tonight.  

Tommy takes a calming breath, to ensure his tone is controlled when he replies. And he steps a little closer so he can lower his voice, to reinstate the trust he's gained from Evan. 

Tommy: “I just think you need to refocus your priorities. You’re trying to work your way up the food chain, and it’s not just hard work that’s going to get you where you want to be. You need them to trust you. You’re right there…Get Catherine to see you as more than just her events person. You need to become an insider, her partner. Then you’ll be heading somewhere.”

Evan: “Is that what you’re doing with Kate? Trying to get on the inside?”

Tommy: “Not with Kate. She’s frivolous with her position and power - totally underutilizes it. Even Jacob. He might as well be Catherine’s trophy husband. She’s the key.”

Evan: “How are you going to get close to her? And, why is this so important to you? Doesn’t your family have its own money-made fans in Star City? Why not climb up through Oliver Queen’s people?” 

Tommy: “My dad got greedy and misguided, and lost everything. And Oliver and I haven’t seen things the same way in a long time…So, I’m making my own opportunity. That’s why I accepted the internship Catherine offered me when Kate was doing her fitting.” 

Kate: “So that’s the reason you showed up out of nowhere and have all but moved in?”

Kate had come looking for Tommy, to tell him how the conversation with Sophie went, and that they were having lunch tomorrow. He and Evan had left the pool house door open, and she could hear their conversation before she reached the door. She’d finally heard enough, and decided to call him out.

Tommy: “No. It’s not that simple.” 

Kate: “Sounds pretty straightforward to me. And you what, wanted to distract  me with your made up theories about Robyn. I can’t believe you."

Kate turns and walks out, leaving the door to the pool house open like she'd found it.

~~~~~

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH, 12:00 AM, THE LOFT

Ryan’s been home just long enough to wash her makeup off, shower, and throw on some running shorts and a tank. It is a holiday, and it feels too soon to get into bed, but she’s not really sure what to do with herself. She has so much to process, and what feels like decisions to make and yet, she’s also too exhausted to really focus on any of it. She sits on her couch with her mama’s box, and pulls out the journal, thumbing through the pages, searching for a lighter read. Hopefully, she can find something with a touch of advice in it. 

She flips to a page that she remembers helping her through one of her harder decisions, but before she can read more than a few words, she hears a knock at the door. She glances over at the clock to find it’s nearly 1AM, and frowns. So far, every unexpected visitor has been friendly, but this tendency of the people she’s now regularly associated with is definitely taking some getting used to.

She quickly places the journal back in the box, and shuffles to her kitchen to stow it in the cabinet above the stove, where it still resides. Because she hasn’t responded, her visitor knocks again. She throws on a zip up hoodie that was hooked onto the coat wrack hung along a wall near the door. 

Ryan: “Coming.” 

She cracks open the door and peeks her head out, very much shocked by who’s on the other side of it. 

Kate: “Hey.”

She takes in Kate’s appearance, and becomes visibly concerned.

Ryan: “Did you actually drive here?” 

Kate: “Yeah, guess I probably shouldn’t have done that. Can I come in?”

Ryan swiftly opens the door, and Kate walks through it without making eye contact. She looks around, surprised, but then heads straight to the couch, where she plops down and makes herself comfortable, sinking into it. Ryan closes the door, and heads to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. She walks around the couch and places it in front of Kate who takes it without a word, and then Ryan returns to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Kate drinks the water down in several loud gulps, and then clanks the glass onto the coffee table, immediately returning to her previous position. 

Ryan: “Are you okay?”

Kate: "You really haven't changed anything in here..."

Ryan: "That's right. You dated the woman who lived here before me."

Instead of responding to that, she comments on a different ex. 

Kate: “I took your advice and talked to Sophie.” 

Ryan is grateful for the distance between them, and that they're talking to each other's backs while she continues preparing the coffee. It takes effort to manage the expression on her face at the mention of that name, and she's already tired. Controlling her tone and words is much easier.

Ryan: "Should I assume it didn't go well, since you look like you want to hit something?"

Kate: "She's pissed at me for trying to stop my dad and Tyler from hiring her to figure out who sent them all those videos about Circe Sionis that were leaked, but we're having lunch tomorrow. She agreed that it's not fair of us to make our friends so uncomfortable all the time."

Ryan digs deep to not zero in on the fact that Sophie's been hired to track her down. She knows that's not the point of what Kate just unloaded, and asking questions about that could be suspicious. So, she stays on topic.

Ryan: "Okay…that's what you wanted, right?"

Kate: "I want to move forward with the community center."

Kate is all over the place, and while Ryan isn’t slow by any means, keeping up with the rapid shifts in conversation requires work. She'd done a casual pitch during their hike that wet Kate's appetite, and motivated her to want to see the full plan for the community center. Ryan felt Gotham needed a safe place for youth to spend their time outside of school, that would also protect them from predators on the street. They needed people they could trust to come to for guidance and resources if they didn't have that at home. They needed a place to eat dinner if they didn't have that either. Fixing systems took a long time and plenty of politics. This could be immediate support for the most vulnerable, so that they had a chance. It'd be a tax write off, and since the Kanes were already fundraising, this could be promoted along with everything else they were doing.

Ryan walks back over to the couch with coffee. She knows Kate drinks it black with a teaspoon of sugar, since they've eaten out together so many times now. After Kate takes the mug, Ryan sits across from her, folding both legs underneath her.

Ryan: "This is really great news, Kate, honestly, but why did you feel like you needed to come over here to share that after midnight on a holiday? What's going on?"

Kate: "My dad's a cheat. My step mom's manipulative and conniving. My best friend is a scammer. The woman I love is falling for the only other person I've come to trust in years. My twin sister is a ticking time bomb that I have to stay close to, so no one else catches her flames, and I try to keep my step sister at a distance so she isn't tainted by us Kanes, because she's t good for us. This can't be my life. Maybe it's me, and I'm actually the problem. If so, I've gotta do something different, and maybe I can start to offset all of this bad with your help."

Ryan: "Is this because of the counseling videos? And your best friend is a scammer…? Do you mean Tommy?"

Kate: "So much for offsetting the bad. I'm such an ass coming to you with my problems after what happened to you tonight."

Ryan drops her eyes and stares at her hands in her lap. Then, she fixes her face and looks back at Kate.

Ryan: "I'll be fine. I don't know those people or care what they think. And I'm glad you felt like you could trust me enough to come here, even though you should have called an Uber instead of driving."

Kate: "Or called to tell you I was coming."

Kate is speaking in more and more hushed tones, and she seems to be calming down. She's facing the ceiling, with her head rested against the cushion, and her eyes are closed. She hasn't drunk the coffee, so Ryan reaches over and takes the cup from her hands, placing it next to her water glass. Kate is drifting off to sleep, which is probably a good thing. She grabs the blanket that was draped on the arm of the couch behind her, and covers Kate with it. She gets up to grab a waste bin, and places it at her feet, just in case. 

She and Luke need to find out who Tyler is, what he knows, and how much Sophie might already know, too. She heads towards the kitchen to pull out her laptop and get to work, but is stopped in her tracks when her watch vibrates and she sees Sophie's name flash across its screen. It was like she had some kind of sixth sense. Ryan instinctively looks over her shoulder, back at the couch, as if the small sound would have been enough to jolt a very asleep Kate. Ryan pulls out her phone to read the text. 

Sophie's Cell: I know it's late, but I feel like you might be up. So I'm checking on you.

Ryan walks to the kitchen table and takes a seat. She peers over to the couch again, deciding if she should respond now or wait until the morning, or until she could learn how close or far Sophie was from figuring her out. She tells herself it’s always better to prepare, and that she needs more time. Then she looks back at the text, willing herself to close it, but can't bring herself to do so. 

Robyn's Cell: Wide awake. Did you make it home alright?

Sophie's Cell: Not quite.

Ryan frowns, because the first text didn't read like a call for help. Before she can type the words, 'is everything ok,' another text comes in with a picture of two empty glasses and a bottle of tequila on the bar counter top, with the words 'Take 3?'

Could she really take the risk and leave Kate in her loft? She wasn't even dressed. And more, what about keeping a safe distance from the woman who was only getting closer by the day? What would Luke say?

Robyn's Cell: We definitely don't look like we were at the same party tonight. I flew out of that dress when I got home.

Sophie's Cell: That's an image…and I'm sure you look amazing in anything.

Fourteen year old Ryan, the one who still had hope, hobbies, and a safe home is having a crisis of gay panic. She's shouting because it looks like the lean and leggy, caramel toned, golden eyed junior in her gym period who she’d felt a connection with but couldn’t believe would ever want her back is hitting on her. At the same time, this Ryan is reminding herself that her facade is at least in part kept up by all of the makeup and accessories. The young girl who hadn’t started to grow into her adult body and voice, or grown out of her rounder facial features is harder to miss without all of the glam. 

Sophie's Cell: I keep clothes here. We can match at our own party.

Ryan looks over her shoulder again, and takes a deep breath. Being cooped up in her loft, working while Kate slept did not sound better than this option. And this could still be an avenue to uncover something of what she needs to know. But she couldn't go like this. 

Robyn's Cell: Give me 10.

She throws the fastest beat that allows her to feel like she resembles her usual self onto her face. Then she switches into black denim and a black cropped top, with a blue and pink plaid button down, which she leaves open and rolls up the sleeves for. Her loose curls are still bunched high on her head from after her shower. She adds some combat boots and steps up to her full length mirror to assess. The look will have to work.

She walks to the spiral case that will drop her off in The Hold Up, and gives her unexpected guest one last glance before proceeding into the unknown.

~~~~~

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH, 1:00 AM, THE HOLD UP

Sophie isn't behind the bar tonight. She's at the same table she sat at with Jordan the morning after Ryan closed the bar up for her. And she seems prepared to stay a while. She has two glasses with large blocks of ice, a tray of sliced limes, two shot glasses, a bottle of tequila, and two tin shakers, which Ryan assumes are filled with her Tequila Sour. There's also a large bowl of chips and a smaller bowl of salsa. The scene makes multiple statements at once. 

And Sophie did change into a pair of blue skinny jeans and a fitted white tank. She even let her braids out of the pinned up style from earlier, so they’re flowing down her back, as is her preferred style. Ryan can only see her from the back at first, which proves to be a mercy, so she can make sure that screaming teenager inside is in check. It's possible Sophie's taking the moment too, because Ryan's combat boots aren't silent against the bar floor, but Sophie hasn't budged to acknowledge her presence. There are four seats at the table, as always, and Ryan has to make the same decision about where to sit as she did when she approached Sophie just hours ago. Besides the chips being in the middle of the table, everything else is placed in front of Sophie, so that’s no help.

Instead of deciding, she walks around to the side of Sophie and greets her. 

Ryan: "Hey."

This time Sophie's relaxed, and happy for her company. 

Sophie: "Hey! How are you?"

Ryan: "I'm good…"

Ryan's expression says 'you don't have to worry about me.’ They linger for a few seconds longer than others might, and then Sophie gestures to the seat next to her, deciding where Ryan should sit for her. Ryan obliges, and places her phone on the table, faced down. 

Ryan: “When you said we were having a party, you meant it.” 

Sophie: “Kinda trying to salvage this holiday for us.”

She pours the two shots that they always start with, and slides one to Ryan. They each grab a lime, throw them back, and then take matching bites, dropping their limes in their shot glasses after. Then Sophie pours some of the drinks out of a shaker into their glasses, and hands one to Ryan. 

Ryan: “I take it you didn’t have the best time after I left.” 

Sophie: “Is it just me, or do you ever find yourself wondering why we keep going to those things?”

Ryan: “They’ve definitely been interesting, but they're not all bad.”

High school Ryan is still out and about, testing the waters, because in a rare moment of freedom, she doesn’t hold back her brightest smile. 

Sophie: “I have to admit, I don’t fight as hard against going as I used to.” 

Ryan takes a chip and nibbles on a corner, literally chewing on a thought. There’s so much she can’t share, and also so much she wants to know. The tequila is warming her up, and she’s probably a little too tired at this hour to be as diligent as she should be. So, she starts a conversation without a full proof plan around where it will lead.

Ryan: “So you and Kate…that's why you were fighting so hard before, right?”

Sophie looks at her glass for a second and takes a sip from it before answering. 

Sophie: “We are exes that apparently have to learn how to be friends, if that’s even a thing. But I'm guessing you knew that."

Ryan brings her glass to her lips and nods yes, and decides to divulge a little before taking her own sip. 

Ryan: “That friendship starts with lunch later today…?”

Sophie: “Wait! How do you know that part?” 

She smirks, because she’s having a little fun trolling Sophie. She puts down her glass, taking her time to answer.

Ryan: “She showed up at my door a little while ago, although she shouldn’t have been driving. She was pretty upset, but she’s asleep on my couch right now.”

Sophie: “Damn. Did she say what she was upset about?” 

Ryan: “She mentioned a few things, like not being in love with her family dynamics, and then…” 

She looks pointedly at Sophie, raising her eyebrow as an answer.

Sophie: “...And then me, or…us?”

It was clear they were both unsure if there was in fact an ‘us,’ as it related to the two of them, but that didn’t change the fact that Kate believed there was one.

Ryan: “Both. She also said she pissed you off.” 

Ryan takes another chip, curious about which part of that Sophie will want to discuss further. Sophie rolls her eyes and takes a drink. She puts her glass down, and shifts with a lot of intention towards Ryan. 

Sophie: “I’m not hers, in any way. That’s a far away past for me. And she can get on board with that or not, but I’m not letting her stand in the way of anything I want or need in my life.” 

Ryan is rethinking her layers in this moment. The air is blasting, and her hands are cold, but her neck feels very hot all of the sudden.

Ryan: “Is that why you’re upset with her, because she's not moving on?”

Sophie sits back in her seat, and traces the rim of her glass while she decides how to answer.

Sophie: "I'm more frustrated than upset. I don't really get it. That was so long ago."

Ryan: "I kind of get it."

Sophie frowns, and looks up, confused. She understands that Robyn and Kate have some things in common, since they've clearly become friends, but the idea that she'd be on Kate's side catches her off guard.

Sophie: "What do you mean?"

Ryan: "I mean, I get how it could be hard to just move on…why she wouldn't want to let go..."

The unspoken ‘of you’ in that sentence makes Sophie's face feel flushed. She’s unaware of just how much Ryan understands why Kate is struggling. Sophie has proven to be the one memory from her past that can take her back to a version of herself she'd thought was long forgotten. After so many years and all that's happened, to discover that even a glimmer of that girl still exists, and that she’s tied up in time she spent with Sophie continues to surprise her. Sophie takes this as an opportunity to shift gears.

Sophie: “So, are you going to tell me how you’re doing, for real?”

Ryan stalls with another chip, and Sophie takes one too, to busy herself while she waits. 

Ryan: “I’m processing a lot, but I’m fine. I’m not easily rattled.”

Sophie: “I’m really sorry that happened to you. I can imagine it took a lot to be so vulnerable, and how something like tonight might make a person want to retreat.” 

Ryan: “Retreat is a good word. Not exactly the audience I would have voluntarily said those things in front of.” 

She quickly pulls her eyes from Sophie to stare at the chip bowl. 

Sophie: “Maybe it’s not the worst thing... Of course, I’d rather learn those kinds of things about you like this, but...” 

Ryan: “You mean learn that I have abandonment issues, that have turned me into a loner, and drove me to therapy.”

Sophie: “I was going to say that, at least now I know if you disappear again, I should probably go looking for you. Robyn, your past doesn’t have to be your future. Not everyone leaves…And, going to therapy is courageous. Hell, I think we should all go, just maybe not to that sociopath.” 

That makes Ryan chuckle, and return her eyes to Sophie. 

Ryan: “You caught that too? She was so cold about everyone’s problems. The way she pretended to care and then judged us all so harshly.”

They both laugh at that. Even though Ryan’s moment of truth being shared so broadly was a sacrifice of her choosing, somehow, Sophie’s been able to comfort her.

Sophie: "Robyn, why do I feel like I know you, and I just met you? Why are you the first person to look at me like you truly know who I am, and…somehow, I believe you might actually? How is it that talking to you feels like we’ve done this a hundred times, and like…I found something I didn’t know I’d lost every time you walk into a room? Am I just crazy…?"

Another surprise from Sophie. Ryan really hopes the first questions are rhetorical. At the same time, she's fighting back her own warm cheeks, hot chest, and every form of panic. She just shakes her head no, so Sophie can at least know she isn't completely imagining things, before taking another sizeable drink. 

Sophie reaches over and places her hand on the one Ryan had left on the table. She lets herself have a moment, flipping her hand around to clasp Sophie's back. Her thumb automatically grazes Sophie's skin, and her touch makes Ryan feel like she’s gone backwards in time to a memory of holding this hand before. 

Ryan’s pacing her breath again - in through her nose, and slowly out through her mouth - trying to compose herself. She stares at Sophie’s hand in hers, reflecting. She puts her glass down, and wraps her other hand around Sophie’s, so that she’s holding her wrist, and Sophie reciprocates, doing the same thing. They’re arched towards each other, so closely that Ryan can smell Sophie’s Cherry Blossom sent on her neck and wrists. 

A really unfamiliar sensation takes over, and her chest starts to ache. She hasn’t cried in so many years, but she feels like she could right now. When was the last time she held someone’s hand? But she didn’t want that - not to hold just anyone’s hand. In fact, she never wanted to care about another person the way she once cared about Sophie...to be that close to someone she could so easily lose. 

Sure, a fourteen year old’s most trusted friend and crush might seem inconsequential to some. What did kids know about love, anyway? But for what Ryan understood at that time, it was the closest she’d come to ever loving someone that wasn’t her mom, in a healthy, unconditional, and what she’d believed to be a mutual way. She wasn’t given the chance to say goodbye, or give Sophie the Christmas present she’d bought and wrapped for her well in advance of the holiday. She was just gone.

Sophie squeezes her hand back, reading the shift in her energy. Then, she mirrors the motion Robyn had just made with her thumb, circling her skin. It’s like she can see the processing Robyn had referred to before happening in real time.

Sophie: “Hey…what’s going on in that head of yours?”

Ryan finally looks up, eyes brimming and pleading. She can’t do this. How can she do this? 

13 YEARS AGO, GOTHAM CITY HIGH SCHOOL

When Ryan arrives on the roof of the gym, Sophie is already there waiting for her, with Selly in her lap, like she is nearly every single day. She sets the cat down in its bed, and quickly jumps up. She almost runs to Ryan, and hugs her.  Sophie: “Everyone on my side of the gym was talking about what happened the period before. Are you okay?” Sophie pulls back, but keeps Ryan’s shoulders in her hands, looking down at her for an honest answer. Ryan smiles wide, appreciating her concern.  Ryan: “Wow. News travels fast. I’m okay, though. I’m sure you also heard that Angelique got involved.” She drops her hands then, seeming slightly more irritated than concerned.  Sophie: “Yeah…I guess I’m glad she was there. I can’t say I would have handled things any differently.”  Ryan grabs her hand, then. Their relationship had grown a lot in the over-four months they’d been meeting up here, and co-parenting this baby cat. They’d overcome a lot with her, and spent so much time together, that they’d become really close. They’d chat about school, life, parents, celebrity crushes, and dreams for the future while bonding with their little one. And, hugging when they first saw each other and before they parted ways was a norm for them.  As it had gotten colder with the change in seasons, they naturally sat closer together on the ground next to their kitten’s bed. Selina would climb between their sets of laps or lay across both of them at the same time. So, it wasn’t uncommon for one of them to rest their head on the other’s shoulder while they’d play with their pet. The whole thing really lended itself to a cuddly kind of relationship for all three of them. Ryan: “I’m sure you wouldn’t have.”  They hear Selly meow for them, and look over at her. Sophie starts walking towards their fur baby, without releasing Ryan’s hand. When they get to her, Sophie picks her back up and fills her in on the tea.  Sophie: “Selly, some meanie heads tried to bully Mama Ry today. And a girl we’re not sure we like stood up for her, thankfully. But mommy Soph is still waiting to hear exactly what happened. Be sure to give her extra snuggles, okay?” Sophie touches noses with the cat before passing it to Ryan to greet. Then she plops onto the ground, crossing her legs, and awaiting the story. Ryan does the same, and skoots in close, so that she’s facing Sophie, and there’s no break between their legs. She sits the cat in her lap, and it stretches across both of their legs, beginning its daily prance between them.  Ryan: “I promise, I’m okay Soph. It was hardly anything. And, honestly, I was more worried that Angelique would get kicked out for trying to defend my honor. I wouldn’t have wanted that for you either, if you were there.”  She rubs Sophie’s knee, to emphasize her point.   Sophie: “I don’t think that girl is worried about getting kicked out. And, even though I’m really glad you had help today, I hope you don’t think you owe her anything…” Ryan: “How don’t I? She didn’t have to do that for me. I think she could make a good friend.”  Sophie: “She’s not the kind of friend you need.” Ryan: “What am I missing? Why do you sound like you hate her?” Sophie: “I don’t hate her. I hardly know her. But what I know of her… I care about you too much to see you get wrapped into what she’s got going on.” 

Ryan: “Sophie, if you want me to stay away from someone who protected me today, I’m going to need a good reason why.” 

Ryan starts playing with Sophie’s fingers on her lap, while Sophie pets Selly’s head. She takes a deep breath, not making eye contact, and prepares to answer. She wasn’t one to gossip. She kind of prided herself in minding her business. High school wasn’t her favorite thing. She’d be around a group of people who seemed to be having a great time, and she’d laugh and smile along, but not really participate, because before Ryan, she’d felt out of place everywhere. She was still figuring a lot of things out, but she didn’t need to think with Ryan. She could just be. 

Sophie: “We get to school around the same time. I’ve seen her get dropped off, and the people she runs with are not known for great things. I’m not sure how or why she’s involved with them, but I just think it’d be safer to keep your distance.”

Ryan squeezes her hand, grateful for her constant concern.

Ryan: “Thank you for worrying about me, but I’m not worried. I’m not going to do anything crazy. But maybe she needs a friend. Maybe I could even be a good influence on her.” 

Sophie: “Ryan, if anything happens to you, I’m kicking both of your asses.” 

Ryan: “You’ll have to catch me first.” 

She snatches their cat, jumps up, and takes off running. Sophie is fast, because her stride is longer, but Ryan is quick too. So, they play one of their favorite games of Steal The Cat, running around the roof, trying to catch and tackle each other. 

Ryan: “Sophie, I…”

Ryan stutters, struggling to figure out how to tell her this will never work. She can’t form the words. It’s what she knows she needs to say. It’s what she has to say. And she just can’t. 

Kate: “Hey…I texted, looking for you. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to find you here, though.”

Both of their heads shoot towards the hallway that the stairway from the loft leads to. Kate is standing there, looking heartbroken. Ryan takes her hands out of Sophie’s, grabbing her phone to read the missed text, and sits back in her chair. Sophie quickly looks at her, left literally empty handed, and the disappointment can’t be missed by anyone in the room. 

Kate: “I’m better now, so I’m going to go. Thanks for…you know...” 

Kate heads to the back exit, where she’d left her car. 

Ryan: “I’m sorry...” 

Ryan jumps up, and runs after Kate. She catches her opening the door to her Maserati MC20.

Ryan: “Wait. Don’t leave like this.” 

Kate: “I knew…”

Ryan: “Nothing has happened with me and Sophie.” 

Kate: “Sure, nothing has happened, yet. Stop pretending you don’t have feelings for her, Robyn.” 

Ryan: “I...I want us to be okay, Kate.” 

Kate: “Look, I meant what I said. Sophie deserves whatever she wants, even if that’s you. I just need some time, okay?” 

Kate gets in the car, starts it, and speeds off. Ryan hasn’t felt this out of control in a long time. She turns around and looks at the bar door. She wonders if Sophie is waiting for her to come back, or if she was too let down to have stayed. She’s not even sure she can face her again, right now. 

She takes her phone out and opens their texts. 

Robyn’s Cell: It’s been a long day, so I’m going to call it. Sorry for the abrupt ending, and thank you for tonight.

She takes the outside stairway back up to her loft, to avoid exposing herself to the scene she’s abandoned. Those tears she didn’t know she could still shed find their way out of her eyes on the walk to her door. She’d broken so many rules, already, what was one more?

~~~~~

To be continued...

How did that feel? Tell me your thoughts!

If you pay super close attention and noticed that the season changed in the high school memory, that's sort of the tricky part about posting as you go. Sometimes, things you wrote before fully ironing out what you plan to write don't fit as neatly as you need them to. It was a tiny edit to the text that made a significant difference in the story. But yes, originally, Angelique defended Ryan earlier in the school year and I changed it to closer to Christmas, because it worked better for this part and more. Thanks for going with it.

Come back next week for part two. There's soooo much more to this chapter!

All #Batwoman things I do now are in the name of #SaveBatwoman. The month of May has so many fun activities planned for the campaign, including some committee members posting live updates from the #Starfury #Ultimates-Apokolips convention. Go follow @savebatwoman on social Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

[whatgaviiformes]

Ficlet: Cryptids and Toast

Based on the youtube channel Jazza - I Remade Monsters EXACTLY as described in the book...

And my own headcanon that Gordon’s love for Into the Unknown with Buddy and Ellie means that he also follows cryptids because one day that cryptid could be a real species discovered. Add in a bit of voracious reader John and you get the StarFishTank trifecta that I, at least, know and love. <3

This is so stupid, but I love them. 

Word Count: <1K

~*~*~*~

“G’morngh,” Virgil grumbled, sinking heavily into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. He’d passed by the lounge on the way down to the lower floor and waved wearily to Grandma, who was working on her embroidery at their Dad’s desk, as well as John’s hologram hovering above the main table. The thing about John being up in Five and with comms access in most locations throughout the villa was that it was too easy for him to follow, and so, when Virgil stepped into the kitchen, John’s silhouette was already emitting from the center. His grin was suspiciously wide. It was too early for shit-eating little brother grins today. 

“It’s noon,” John advised matter-of-factly.  

It wasn’t John who was pulling Two into her hangar at 4AM island time that morning, so as far as Virgil was concerned Noon was lucky to see him conscious. He yawned and grabbed for his toasted bread, warmed to a healthy golden brown. As he buttered one side, he realized there hadn’t seemed to be the buzzing energy of a rescue underway, so glancing around at the mostly empty room, it seemed the Island inhabitants were all dispersed among the villa and their home’s surrounding jungle environment. All except his brother’s image and their most mechanical of family members. He gave MAX a light pat on the head as he rushed by him with the broom and a pleased whistle. 

“Gordon’s on his way back from the lagoon,” John offered, nibbling at a small finger sandwich. “Scott and Alan are working on Thunderbird One sims today. And all’s quiet on terra firma, so far. What will you be doing today?”

“Hmph.” He coughed to clear his throat of sleep. “Brains had some tests to run on Two. But no rush.” 

“I have some new descriptions if you want to warm up your hands.”

He didn’t need to ask what he meant; it was a tradition they’d started back when they were both away at college, an exercise that really warmed up his brain, clearing it of fog, rather than his hands. He nodded for John’s benefit, maneuvering his tablet to his left side while picking at his breakfast at his right. 

The rules were simple. John would provide a character description from his reading, offering only visual cues, and Virgil would try drawing based on the description only, having no knowledge of the book or the character. Virgil had appreciated it for the chance to keep his skills fresh while he was deep in his engineering coursework, and John enjoyed it as a study in the interpretation of language. And sometimes, they still played their little game just for a laugh. They’d had a good chuckle recently at the description of Aragorn that turned out to look like a musician of the hair metal variety. 

“Okay, we have a large,  humanoid silhouette. Scaly, rubbery skin with claws on both feet. Face with a mass of feelers. Long, narrow wings behind.” 

“The hell have you been reading?!”

“Can’t tell you that.” 

Virgil shook his head while he selected a digital brush, then tapped a few buttons to allow for his work to stream up in outer space so John could add his screen to the list of things he was watching. First, he wrote down the list of prompts. The easiest way to approach the challenge was to break down each of the descriptors and start sketching, so he started with roughly drawing the shape of a human in a corner and shading it. 

“So obviously we are talking monster or alien.”  He started a second silhouette, playing with the proportions to emphasize the largeness of the being. “Is this a creature out of one of your Star Trek novels?” But he knew John wouldn’t answer. No questions was a rule, otherwise once Virgil started to figure out the character, it was easy to be influenced by what he’d seen and already knew. “Okay, so we have wings and feelers.” Alone, wings were fun and varied - bird wings, bug wings, faery wings, dragon wings, and so many varieties of each of those. The word ‘feelers’ made his skin crawl, and he couldn’t help but to think of insects, the kinds of wings that adorned the types of creatures with antennae. But then... “Rubbery is a strange word.”  

John smirked, a knowing glance back over at his brother’s confusion as he glanced away from the artwork. 

He lost himself in a few wing designs, ultimately deciding on a combination that was more dragon-like, with strongly defined joints along the expanse - with more length than width. 

“What exactly is a mass of feelers?” he shuddered, softly brushing away a few crumbs that had fallen on the tablet. 

They looked suspiciously like toasted bread. He glanced over at his empty breakfast plate. 

“Dammit, Gordon!” 

The blond hovering behind him and reading his prompts, with his toast still in hand, said “You’re drawing Cthulhu.”

“Gordon!” John squawked. 

“What?”

“You’re not supposed to tell him.” John shook his head in his hand.  

“Wait, really?” Virgil scanned the prompts again.

“You’re missing that he’s octopus-like, but yeah really.” Gordon raised an eyebrow at the hologram. “Probably would’ve helped with the - ya know…” He lifted the back of his hand to his chin, his fingers dangling and wiggling. 

“Jesus, John! You had me drawing a dragon bug!”

“It was an excellent dragon bug,” he laughed. “Gordon stop with the hand thing.” 

Virgil ducked under Gordon’s mocking of face tentacles. “I’m getting more breakfast.”

It might have been a bad idea to leave the two of them together, but watching Gordon consume the rest of his breakfast had reminded him how long it had been since he last ate and his stomach had been rumbling. By the time he returned, Gordon and John both were beaming at him. 

“We have another one for you…”

“Oh no.” Between Gordon’s cryptids and John’s sci-fi novels, he was done for.

[nokingsonlyfooles]

The menus don't work, the menus don't work, the menus DON'T WORK...

OK, my few readers. I took a break, I went back to fix the navigation, it's unfixable as-written.

I need some complex stuff in places, I was willing to forgive WP for putting out a new site editing interface that barely works - as long as it has the basic features someone would use on a storefront. I'm an outlier. I know this.

BUT IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO CREATE A MENU WITH A WORKING SUB-MENU IN IT. IF YOU TRY, THE SUB-MENU LINKS ARE UNCLICKABLE.

I am using their site editor and their 2024 theme, I should say.

I crossed my fingers and looked for the (now liable to vanish from anything more complicated than a paragraph) "edit as html" option. Nope! It's gone! I can't fix it. I would have to hack the interface somehow to fix this for WordPress, within WordPress.

I had to go looking for plugins. I HAD TO GO LOOKING FOR 3RD PARTY SOFTWARE TO GET A FUNCTIONAL MENU. And, of course, they paywall features I need. I found a "floating" menu that actually does work well enough (it's a little cramped on mobile unless you put the screen in landscape mode, but at this point you should really do that anyway, I can only format so much) but the sub-menu function is paywalled. And I'm actually fucking tempted to buy (haha, I mean "rent") it. Because the damn thing works in dark mode and across devices. And it sticks to the side in a fairly unobtrusive way, which WP's menu will not. It won't stick anywhere. And it sure as hell won't do that thing where you scroll up and it plops down for your convenience.

But if I use that floating menu without sub-menus, it's gonna get longer, and longer, and longer, until it doesn't fit on your mobile screen anymore, or potentially your tablet or desktop, and then I dunno what happens. Also, in order to keep it small, everything is a cryptic icon that displays a title when you tap it (on mobile) or hover over it (on desktop). That's kinda counterintuitive, I don't know if I want my one working menu to be like that.

I might keep looking and find another plugin that also works that well but... it's not likely. Or, if I do, I may run into another paywall. They gotta get their rent somehow!

This is a stupid problem and so far I am unable to come with with a non-stupid solution. I can:

Put all the links in the header menu, and you'll have to scroll through EVERYTHING to find the actual content every time.

Put all the links in the content area, in different places and different combinations depending on the page. (And this would mean doing some reformatting on every instalment AGAIN.)

Start fucking around with the sidebar - I don't know if it works and I'd have to rip up every template I've already made to add it.

Put all the links in the footer menu, and nobody will notice them.

Put all the links in the floating menu (see above for the issues with that).

Make sub-pages for Misc/Notes and similar that are just lists of links and serve the function of a sub-menu.

Actually put the content on the sub-page and have it navigable via anchors (this seems like it would be a bitch to load, but most of my content is just text).

Make a list of links that isn't actually tagged as a menu, thus losing the collapsible function for small screens.

Kill God.

That last one is probably the most doable but I feel like someone would get mad at me. Like, Hazbin Hotel finally got its first season on Amazon, and if God dies they might have to rewrite some shit.

If I don't lay out the money for the cryptic icon menu, we're probably going to end up with three or four accordions that are not technically menus at the top of every page. And I'll hafta check back every once in a while to see if WP fixed their shit yet.

If they don't stick with that site editor and make it useable, all this work is going to vanish like chalk marks in the rain.

I WANTED to put up another six-pack in February. I have it ready to go! But the site doesn't work. If I can't fix it this week, I won't even be able to put things up without illustrations. And forget having time to fill in the missing artwork. I got enough to do trying to kill God!

[naomiknight-17]

Gonna babble about medical bullshit under the cut. Related to reproductive health so. You have been warned

I had to have an endometrial biopsy today. I've had one before, and it felt like being punched from the inside. They had told me to expect a small, quick pinch but what I felt was like a repeated pummeling.

I am told it is not that painful for most people. The fact that I have advanced endometriosis has likely made the area more susceptible to pain. According to recent ultrasounds my endometrial lining is 20mm thick. It should be in the low teens. 20mm is. Way too thick.

Last time I had this kind of procedure, I was given a cervical dilator tablet to insert before the appointment so it would be easier/less painful to get the instruments through the cervix. I did not have that this time (it had been too long since I'd seen the specialist and they couldn't prescribe it without seeing me first. And couldn't see me before today so. Yeah)

So already it was going to be more painful because there's no dilation. And they don't administer any kind of painkillers or anesthetic for an endometrial biopsy. They just tell you to take an over-the-counter analgesic before coming in.

I took 2 extra strength Tylenol and an extra strength advil liquigel. I also take Lyrica daily

This procedure absolutely hurt like hell. It didn't feel like punching this time. It felt more like someone was jabbing a finger very harshly into a bruise. I had tears in my eyes. I had to fight not to scream. My arms were flailing whether I wanted them to or not.

It took them three tries to get a sample.

They offered to let me lie down after because I was shaking and felt sick, but I just wanted to get dressed and go the fuck home as soon as I could. So that's what I did.

Now I'm sitting at home, wearing a pad for the first time in a long long time (I do not have periods due to hormonal treatment for the endometriosis, but i have post-procedure bleeding and likely will for a few days) just sore and exhausted and really wishing I didn't have class tonight

Where is my squishmallow Gengar... I need a hug T__T

Oh. By the way. I have to have a specialized sonogram asap that involves filling my uterus with fluid so they can get a better look at my uterine cavity. They suspect polyps. This is also likely to be a painful procedure.

But I cannot fucking deal with that today. If I call the sonography place right now I am gonna break down crying on the phone so it is just going to have to wait

[queen-of-deans-booty]

Citizen Fang: Part One

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.7k

Warnings: canon angst and violence

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. Any and all comments on these are appreciated.

Between looking for a way to close the gates of Hell, Kevin translating his half of the tablet, and fighting the monster of the week, you're battling motherhood and Amara, and you're not sure which one is going to break you first. Amara has been more and more present lately, never really overstepping but always in the background of whatever you're doing.

If you're going to get to the bottom of this mystery, then you have to keep talking to her in hopes she will slip up and reveal something she wasn't supposed to reveal.

Dean parked off to the side of the road to get everyone something to eat while Sam stayed in the car. He's on the phone with someone, but you're not focused on him right now. You're off to the side away from everyone because you're talking to Amara. You don't want to look like a psycho pregnant woman talking to no one, so you need to stay away from prying eyes.

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you this for it to stick in your thick head, but I'm working on my life. I'm working hard to be the best mother I can be for my kids, and I feel like I can't do that with you here. Now, if you're truly here to help, then I'm grateful for it. But if you're not here to help, then get the fuck out of my life because I do not need you when I can take care of myself."

A young woman passes by you on her way to the food stand where Dean and Joanna are, and she looks at you like you're crazy. Only you can see Amara, so when she sees you talking to yourself, she gets a little scared.

"What the hell are you looking at?" you snap at her.

The young woman puts her head down and scurries off, and Amara just chuckles at this interaction.

"Nice job."

"I'm being serious, Amara. Please tell me why you're here. Something!"

"Look, something big is coming with Castiel. Something is happening to him, and I'm here to protect you."

"What is happening with Castiel?"

"You and Dean fought to get out of Purgatory through a portal that wasn't angel friendly. He got out, and you're not the least bit curious as to why?"

"Of course I am. He doesn't know."

"He doesn't know or doesn't want to tell you?"

"He wouldn't do that. He learned his lesson last time."

"Did he?"

"Why are you planting this doubt in my head? Castiel knows what would happen if he betrayed us again. Dean would never forgive him."

"Y/N!" You look to your right and see Dean waving you over since the food is here. "Food!"

"Be there in a second!" you call out. "Amara, what is happening? Do you know something I don't?"

"With Castiel escaping Purgatory and Kevin coming closer to closing the gates of Hell forever means more demon trouble for you. You're carrying two babies. You're going to need my help."

"What help can you provide? You're a figment of my imagination, no?"

"That may be, but you're carrying two potential witches that I can connect to. My powers are stronger than ever. I may not be here in the flesh, but I can still guide you out of harm's way."

"For your sake, I hope that's all you're here to do."

You look over to Dean to see him strapping Joanna into her carseat, and when you look back at Amara, she is gone. With a sigh, you head back to your family and accept your food before getting into the car. This is a drive-thru place that doesn't have outdoor seating, so you'll have to eat in the car.

"You're certain? You sure?" Sam says over the phone. "Okay. Great. Just hang tight till you hear from me, okay?"

"Who is that?" Dean asks, but Sam holds a finger up to him.

"No, listen to me. I said hang tight." He hangs up and accepts the food from Dean. "We need to go."

"Can I at least finish my burger?"

"We got a vamp kill, Dean, in Carencro, Louisiana."

"It's been a while since I got to chop off some vampire heads. Who's the source?"

Despite Sam saying you need to go, Dean opens his burger and takes a bite.

"Martin Creaser."

"Are you kidding me?" you ask.

"For a second there, I thought you said Martin Creaser," Dean chuckles, but Sam isn't laughing. "Crazy Martin from the loony bin?"

"Glendale Springs discharged him last month."

"And? Shouldn't he be assembling toys in a padded room? What's he doing back on the job?"

"I asked him."

"Excuse me?" you ask with raised eyebrows.

"Look, he called me when he got out and asked if I had anything for him that might help him ease back into the game. He seemed okay--mostly--so I said yes. I've had him tracking Benny for the past week."

"You put 'mostly okay' Martin on Benny?" Dean asks after a pause. "What is 'mostly okay' doing hunting at all?"

"Not hunting, Dean, tracking. Observe and report only. I was crystal clear about that."

"I can't believe you right now," you say to Sam.

"Really, Y/N? You two don't believe this? Benny's a vampire. Any hunter worth his salt isn't gonna let one just walk around freely. So, I had Martin keep tabs on him. Right now, it's looking like I made the right call."

"So, Martin's saying Benny did this?"

"Yeah."

"Okay," Dean says after a pause.

"Okay?"

"If Benny's in Louisiana draining folks, we should look into it."

Sam isn't too sure you're completely on his side, but if Benny is truly the one doing it, then you and Dean are going to take care of it since you're the ones who let him out in the first place. If he's not, then Louisiana has another vampire going rogue that needs to be put down.

You're a lot closer to Louisiana than you thought, so it didn't take long to get to the place where Martin is staying. Zeus is on a leash even though you're confident enough to keep him as an off-leash dog. You've been training him as much as you can to follow your orders, and he seems to be doing a good job for the most part. There are times where he gets distracted here and there, which is why you have him on a leash now.

You knock on Martin's door and he opens it, quickly rushing you inside. You let go of Joanna's hand so she can run around. There isn't anything in her reach that she can use to hurt herself or others, so you're okay with her exploring the tiny room. Martin looks at her and then at your stomach, but doesn't comment on it.

"I got into town about a week ago. Up until last night there has been nothing. He's been clean."

"Doing what?" Dean asks.

"Just minding his own business. He's working at the gumbo shack down the road slinging hash and pouring coffee--the whole bit. He may be Benny to you, but folks around here call him Roy."

"Martin, are you sure you're running on a full charge?"

"Y-yeah. L-Little shock therapy in the morning, and I-I'm good to go," he stutters and snaps his fingers.

"Tell us what happened last night," you say, getting him back on track.

"I followed him home, just like every night. He turned up a path and I heard a scream. I run up the path and there he is. The old man that Roy was eyeballing earlier is dead."

"Wait, did you actually see Benny kill the guy or not?"

"I saw enough."

"How can you be sure it was Benny if you didn't see him do it?" you ask.

"Because I saw Benny turn up the path, and then two seconds later, I trip over a body with its throat ripped!"

"There's a lot of holes, Martin."

"Holes? The only holes we should be looking at are in the vic's neck."

"This sound like the Benny you know?" Dean asks you, but his brother answers instead.

"I don't know Benny," Sam says in a serious tone.

"He meant to ask me, and no, it doesn't. Benny is sweet and he's not a killer anymore."

"The Benny you know?" Martin asks, putting the pieces together. "Why am I getting the distinct impression that your brother and his girl is vouching for a vampire?"

"Guys, let's not argue," Sam sighs.

"Nobody's arguing, but if this is Benny--and that's a big if--"

"Oh, it's him," Martin cuts him off.

"We have history with the guy, okay? I'm not signing up for a witch hunt. We owe him more than that," Dean says to his brother.

"What in God's great creation could a Winchester possibly owe a vampire? Am I hearing this right?"

"Look, until we get the facts, we stow the bloodlust and we work this case right, or we work it separately," you state seriously.

"Doing it right would be separating his head from his shoulders."

"Martin!"

"We just need some time, Sammy," Dean begs his brother.

"Oh, yeah. Let the fang take another life? I don't think so," Martin shakes his head.

"How much time do you need?" Sam asks after looking between you and his brother.

"You're not actually considering this?" Martin asks, but everyone is ignoring him.

"Couple hours, tops."

"What if it turns out to be Benny?"

"Then Dean and I will deal with it. We let him out, it'll be our job to put him back in. Please, Sam," you say with your eyes wide.

"Couple hours, Y/N. No more."

"We'll be in touch."

"Please watch Joanna and Zeus, okay?"

You don't wait for an answer as you and Dean leave the motel room knowing Joanna and Zeus are going to be looked after. Following Martin's directions, you two head to the gumbo shack he says Benny works at. The place is off into the woods that people would have to go using an off-beat trail. Despite its isolation, it seems to be doing well for what it is.

The cafe is in full swing, but there is room at the counter for you and Dean when you enter. A young woman named Elizabeth sets down two menus when you arrive, giving you both a smile.

"Actually, I already know what I want," Dean says.

"Let me guess, gumbo?" she chuckles.

"It was gonna be the gumbo till I saw pie," he grins and points to the pie on display.

"Well, the special's pecan."

"Let's do that. Two please."

Elizabeth nods and walks away to get two pieces, and you look at the wall behind the counter that is riddled with photographs. There is one of Benny and Elizabeth that wasn't taken too long ago. You nudge Dean and point to the picture right before Elizabeth comes back without any pies.

"Bad news."

"You're out of pecan," Dean finishes for her. "Story of my life. Uh, that's alright. Maybe you can make it up to me. I'm actually looking for an old friend of mine. I heard he's kicking around these parts. His name's Roy."

"Well, Roy works the night shift here. I mean, if we're talking about the same Roy."

"Yeah, he rides around in a beat-up camper that shouldn't be running but is."

"Yeah, I thought I was the only one who gave him trouble over that piece of junk," Elizabeth laughs.

"You wouldn't happen to know where he's parking that thing these days, would you?" you ask.

"Well, he was parking it out back, but he just called to tell me he's gone up the road to Mill Creek for a few days."

"Did he say why?"

"Fishing, I think. He really deserves a break. He's been working doubles for the last two weeks straight."

Dean takes out a piece of paper from his jacket and a pen where he writes his number on it.

"Listen, if he pops up before I can find him, you do me a favor and just have him give me a buzz. I'd really appreciate it."

"Sure thing," she nods.

You and Dean give her a smile before leaving the cafe. Dean takes out his phone to call Benny, but of course, he doesn't answer.

"Benny. I got a body here in Carencro with two holes in it, and I just found out you went fishing. Do I need to tell you what this looks like?"

He hangs up and turns to you for some sort of direction.

"Okay, she says he went up to Mill Creek. I say we look there before Sam sends out the death parade," you roll your eyes.

You and Dean get inside the car, and using the map on your phone, you tell him exactly where Mill Creek is. Dean wanted to park a ways away to not tip off Benny, but you know he'd hear your babies' heartbeats and yours and Dean's if you got close enough. Still, you could use the exercise up the trail.

You get about halfway up the trail when you notice someone digging a grave far away from the trail. You and Dean get closer to the person and realize it's Benny. He has blood all over his hands, and he uses a bucket of water he brought with him to wipe his hands clean.

"It's not me, Dean," he says when he knows it's you and Dean behind him.

"Now, which 'me' are we talking about? Benny or Roy?"

"I'm just trying to blend in," Benny sighs and turns to face you two.

"Blend in?"

"How's your babies doing?" Benny asks you.

"They're doing really well," you smile and place a hand on your stomach.

"Who'd you plant, Benny?" Dean asks, getting back on track.

"Victim number two. If you're concerned about the missed calls, I didn't want to get you involved. Now, want to talk a little bit or what?"

"We're all ears," you say for the both of you.

"This is the work of a rogue vamp. He came into the café a couple nights ago. Youngster goes by the name of Desmond. He remembers me from the good old days."

"The good old days?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but I haven't always been this cute and cuddly. He's chasing a memory, Dean. That's all. He's crewing up a new nest. He's hoping I can give him some cred. I told him no."

"Okay, so far so good," you nod. "What about the blood on your hands?"

"He didn't want to take no for an answer. He's trying to roust me out, leaving dead bodies in my wake till I sign up. Two bodies in two days. No amateur is gonna kick me out of my hometown, Y/N. Not this time."

"Hometown? You grew up here?"

"Born and bred, and with Andrea gone and you hunting again, it seemed like the right time for a homecoming. You two are the only ones who will keep all my ducks in a row. I went back to my old job at the café. I even found someone to hold myself accountable to. The best kind of someone, Dean. Family."

"Elizabeth is your family?" you ask.

"My great-granddaughter."

"Does she know?"

"No, as far as she's concerned, I was just another drifter. I'd like to keep it that way. It's been tough walking the line here after all those years in Purgatory and not having to deal with the hunger. Elizabeth keeps me honest. I finally feel like I got a handle on this thing."

"That's good, right?" you ask and look at Dean.

"Benny, you've got two stiffs on your hands and two hunters on your ass."

"Oh, please. The half-wit who found me at the café? I'll take my chances with him," Benny scoffs.

"Benny, Dean's brother sent him, and Sam isn't someone you want to mess with," you warn.

"I don't have time to worry about them, Y/N. I didn't think Desmond had an ounce of steel in his spine, but I was wrong about that. So, I'm gonna do what I should have done two days ago, which is put him back where he belongs."

"You know there's only one way to do that, right? That is for you to sit on the sideline while I convince Sam and Martin to go after Desmond. If they see you out there, you're as good as dead. They don't care about the new leaf you're trying to turn. They are gonna slice first and ask questions later. You know that."

"You really think they'll go for that?"

"We have to try. You saved our asses more times than we can count, and now it's our turn to do the same. Right, Dean?" you look at him.

"We'll try."

"Just stay out of the way until you hear back from us."

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[voidthewanderer]

WIP Wednesday!

I was tagged by @nukadisaster​! Thank you!

Unfortunately, I don’t have much currently, mostly due to being preoccupied with other things, but I also have been having a hard time typing on the new laptop while I’m currently trying to find my work one. The keyboard orientation is slightly off from a standard keyboard, making it rather annoying to type on.

This is what it looks like. Having those weird P1-P6 buttons (which weren’t explained anywhere about how the hell to use them btw, so they’re completely useless to me) makes it so I have to look at the keyboard to make sure my fingers are actually over the proper keys. I haven’t needed to do that since I was like ten.

Thankfully, I have a bluetooth keyboard coming in that I’m gonna sync up to my tablet so I at least have that until I can find my work one. I may even be more inclined to type too because, just as I need a tumbler that lights up every time I drink from it to drink water, apparently I enjoy listening to old keyboard click clacks when I write and it keeps me more focused.

But yeah! Since I don’t have much and I did already share the first part of this particular chapter of Addicted, I’m gonna share a small snippet from the stage I’m currently at. I still have another like thirty-one and a half pages from the original draft that I need to flip and move around to better fit the narrative and characters.

I’m not gonna tag anyone this time around, but if you have any WIPs of anything... art, writing, what have you; please share! I’d love to see them!

Avery and Sinjin took the lead with Jason and Maxson following behind, making sure Shae didn’t escape. She was free from her binds and now uncharacteristically quiet; hunched over slightly like she was trying to hide from anybody seeing her.

Before anyone could make it a few feet past the door, the lot was stopped by a rather scraggly man who looked suspiciously like one of the group. He had a crooked grin, displaying his horribly gnarled teeth, “Welcome to Leola. What brings such a large group of travelers to our lovely little settlement?”

“Just passing through,” Sinjin kept his voice firm, “Need a place for the night.” “Oh of course!” This fake hospitality bullshit was quickly grating on Sinjin’s nerve, “Come with me. I’m sure Layla would love to find a place for you.”

He tried to peek between the group at Shae, his vision almost constantly being blocked by the others, his voice finally faltering slightly, “I’m sorry, I need to know how many people are in your party. I know there’s another person here.”

“Seven, we have two that fell behind to get food.”

“Oh, we’d be more than happy to provide food.”

“I wasn’t planning on stopping here,” Sinjin seemed much more adamant on ending this conversation now. As it stood, they’d spent far too long in the open. A small crowd was starting to gather. Either these people were just over the top with hospitality or they were a cult with how they were acting. It was sickening either way.

It was then that the greeter’s expression finally faltered, only to be quickly masked by the false smile once more, “Well, we will be sure to bring them to you once they arrive. Please, let Jonah bring you to your rooms.”

Another person approached, similarly ill in looks, the same sickeningly fake grin plastered on his face. Sinjin and Avery went to move, but a grunt from Maxson made them stop. Shae refused to move. She needed to see the person who stopped them.

Jason gripped her arm tightly, growling in her ear, “Unless you really wanna see how bad the boss gets, you better move.”

She moved alright, breaking free from Jason’s grip and shoving past Sinjin and Avery. This garnered another grip on her arm, this time from Sinjin. He yanked her back and she yelped out, though still managed to get a good look at the ghost from her past. Only then did his smile completely cease.

“Kyle…” Shae's voice shook as she said his name. Things stilled for only a moment before Sinjin felt her muscle tense in his hand as she went to lunge at him. He quickly pulled her back again, throwing her to the ground. Before she had a chance to get up Sinjin rested his foot heavily on her shoulder, giving Kyle the chance to slip away. Only then did he let her up, though kept a tight grip on her arm.

[casspurrjoybell-30]

Howling Love - Chapter 19

*Warning Adult Content*

Amille Laurent

Camryn's car came to a screeching stop as he parked haphazardly by my house, just outside the garage, luckily he hadn't driven past the driveway into dad's flowers, or otherwise there would've been hell to pay when he woke up.

"Go, I'll get our stuff and follow you," he asserted reassuringly and I nodded, got out of his car and sped walk to the front door, used my key card and got in, I knew what I needed to do first in order to understand the poison that had been used on my dad, my only worry was the time and the ingredients needed to make the antidote.

I didn't have enough of either but I had faith and determination.

So I made my way up to the second floor, then the attic where I knew dad had set up the lab equipment because he was making patents for his new lotion, luckily everything seemed pristine, leave it to my dad to never make a mess.

Quickly I grabbed vials, tubes and solutions, setting the equipment I needed to separate the toxin from the blood and analyze.

"Whoa, I feel like I've just entered a whole other part of your life," Camryn muttered behind me and I scoffed, of course he would find something sweet to say to me about this.

"Need help?" he asked as I placed the last vial where I needed it.

"Yes, check the containers in there if we have any of these ingredients?" I told him whilst typing on my tablet what he needed to check.

"Oakwood sap, really?" he scrunched up his face like always when he was skeptical but I nodded.

[Yes, really] I assured and he accepted going to the neatly placed containers.

After two hours of waiting, with Camryn keeping me from letting my mind wander off with his ridiculous stories of his almost accidents, it was finally ready.

"What are we looking at exactly?" he asked as we stood side by side viewing the results on one of the lab tablets.

"Wolfsbane, redwood, concentrated silver, a variation of snake venom and wait, this marker is for ver-vain but mixed with something else, widowswail..." Camryn trailed off after listing what was on the screen, it was such a complex combination of toxins and ingredients, it could've easily killed a child, it's why dad got sick immediately after ingesting it, enough of it would've killed everyone at the party.

"How did something like this get into your dad's drink specifically, why not all of us?" Camryn demanded and that exactly was my question too, how did something so horrible find it's way into my dad's cup, why not all the other wolves there at the party.

[I don't want to point fingers but this does not seem coincidental] I signed and Camryn nodded eagerly.

"Someone meant for this to get into his cup but who?" he growled out and despite my own curiosity and bubbling anger.

I needed to get the antidote ready and the accelerant, then deal with whoever tried to kill my dad.

So I turned to the list I had given Camryn and we had a few ingredients missing.

[We need mountain ash, white oak bark, fuschia leaves, damphier roots and for the accelerant we need one ingredient, red thorn leaves, it's a well known herb used by healers on werewolves to accelerate healing by chewing the leaves but it doesn't grow in a normal garden, it's unpredictable and tends to choke other plants] I explained to Camryn showing him the images of the ingredients we needed and he nodded in return.

"I know the places marked here to get them but one of these is in the heart of rogue territory, it won't be easy to get," he explained and with that I deflated, I needed the accelerant for dad.

"It doesn't mean we can't go, he's not just your dad anymore short-stack, mine too and if leave now, it'll take about a day and half to get it all," he finally concluded and all I wanted was to hug Camryn.

I was grateful that he was willing to go through all this just to help my dad, it made tears well up in my eyes as he hugged me.

"I got you choco-moose and I'm not letting go," he assured me as we stayed in that hug for a moment longer, then we parted to get ready.

[We're going to need collection bags, that can preserve the ingredients, we also need hiking boots, in fact hiking equipment] I paused as he chuckled.

[What's funny?] I demanded using my phone.

"I never thought our first night or the rest of our lives knowing we're mates would start out with me taking you into the wild," he stated and it caused me to laugh as well.

[I blame you, you're the roguish wolf] I teased and he growled playfully.

"Oh if I'm to blame then I'm sure you can handle this roguish wolf, when he gets wild," he argued pouncing on me playfully, causing more laughter and a refreshing wave of happiness to flow into me, despite what we were headed into, he was still the same Camryn and I was happy.

After getting everything we needed, including my dad's old hiking gear which was what fit Camryn, and of course tons of bottles of water, we had settled into his car.

"Are you ready?" he questioned as he held out his large hand for me, it was warm, enveloped mine fully and reassured me of so many things, he was here with me, so I nodded, I was ready.

So he peeled out of the driveway and sped down the road, it should've terrified me but I guess there was a reason why he and I were mated, the speed, the acceleration, the rush, it was exhilarating for some reason and he smiled my way, as we left an unusual dust trail behind us.

As a sufficient three hours of driving passed, out of pack territory and out of Bridgeton, we finally stopped at a gas station which was positively in the middle of nowhere.

[We need to head east into the woods from here, but there are no roads from here on out, so we have to start that hike] I told him and he nodded after filling the tank.

"Great, I'll talk to the station attendant and see if we can leave the car here, I'll be right back," he explained, placing a kiss on my forehead before taking off inside the slightly rundown gas station shop.

About five minutes later Camryn came back and I had taken what we needed from the trunk.

[What did they say?] I asked in sign language.

"Haggled a bit but he agreed, I'll park it in his garage, he says it's safer there," he explained and I nodded, as I stood to wait for him to park.

Within a few minutes Camryn and I had taken off into the woods, after showing him the map, he had easily found a trail which led where we were going.

I didn't miss how alert he got, he seemed to be in his element and as a wolf, I could tell, the wild was his home, it's how he could navigate so easily, pick up danger before we even encountered it.

"Stop," he lowly hissed as I froze in place, a minute or two passed, I wanted to question why he had abruptly made us stop until I saw the dull gleam of dark grey almost black scales in the grass just yards away from us.

"Black mamba, extremely poisonous but it seems to have had it's fill already so we'll just circle around to be cautious," he explained and that's how I finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief, thanking the Moon Goddess for not just giving me a mate who was an engine junkie but a primal predator too, despite how horrible that sounded.

Another hour of walking had us finding our destination, it was in a small clearing.

I was elated to actually find more than one of the ingredients we needed.

"Isn't that fuchsia?" Camryn asked as we hurriedly walked to where a field of it blew freely in the wind.

[It is and that's damphier, we did it] I happily replied as soon enough I had carefully dug out the plant roots and more so we could grow it at home, then the fuchsia as well.

"It's getting hot, we need to get back to the gas station, get you fed and continue toward that," Camryn mentioned as in the distance he was pointing in.

I could see the outline of a mountain, and since we had travelled well into the afternoon, he was right, it was getting hot and late, so I nodded, we indeed needed to get a move on.

I could only hope getting these ingredients was this easy.

[ejacutastic]

Tips for Medicating Cats!!

Medicating cats can be a lot especially with lifetime medications that have to be maintained for years. I threw this together because I really believe it's vitally important to make medicating as easy as possible for everyone. Difficulty medicating can strain the human/animal bond, increase stress for cats and owners, and decrease medication compliance. If you're in vet med, this can be a good list of things to discuss with clients when they're struggling. A lot of these tips can apply to dogs too, but I know cats are often a particular pain.

To be clear, this is NOT a substitute for advice from your DVM and is just intended to be general tips that may or may not be helpful for your individual pet. I've tried my best to discuss any potential risks/considerations where applicable, but I am not a DVM and your personal vet needs to be the ultimate authority here for your pet's own safety.

Compounding

Compounded medications are a LIFE SAVER. I don't know about anyone else, but I HATE pilling cats and, frankly, I'm no good at it. It's also doubly hell for owners at home who have to do towel wraps/get assistance/etc especially when meds are every single day for the rest of their pet's life.

Liquid

The most frequent compounding I've seen is just making pills into liquid. This can be required sometimes in order to get smaller doses (say you need a 10mg dose and the tablets only come in 100mg), but it can also be done just to make administration easier. If you use a pharmacy that often does pet Rx, they'll have beef and chicken and fish and chicken marshmallow, etc flavoring that can use to make things taste better. I always like to ask the pharmacist/pharm techs what they recommend as some of the medications have major bitter tastes (looking at you metronidazole) and can benefit from the sweetness of chicken marshmallow over just chicken, for instance.

Chewtabs

I see it less commonly used in cats, but a lot of pharmacies also offer flavored chew tabs and other "treat" style formulations that may work.

Transdermal

There's also transdermal medications. These go on the inner, hairless part of the ear and are applied with gloves as they'll absorb into your skin too. Some medications have a more "proven" track record than others with absorption/symptom resolution given they're aftermarket formulations that haven't gone through the same absorption/dose testing as, say, mirataz (a transdermal med sold by a manufacturer), and it's usually not a 1:1 ratio dose wise if, say, you've got your cat's hyperthyroidism well controlled on oral meds (meaning you may need to retest bloodwork and adjust if you want to switch to transdermal), but in really aggressive or otherwise difficult to medicate cats, transdermal meds rock.

Mail order compounding pharmacies are usually cheapest (I've seen Wedgewood and Roadrunner used often), but you may have a local brick and mortar compounding pharmacy in your area if time is of the essence (and yes, they ARE different than regular pharmacies, though some may do both).

Hiding Meds

Considerations with crushed/mixed in meds:

Avoid mixing your cat's meds in with their regular food ESPECIALLY if they're on a Rx diet or if it will otherwise be difficult to find another food they'll eat. There is a nonzero chance they'll taste the meds and decide they absolutely HATE their regular food now because of the association.

Make sure the medication is okay to crush/mix into things with your DVM as some are not (especially extended release meds).

Avoid crushing/mixing for anything where exact dose is really important (ie thyroid meds, heart meds) as any leftover food in the bowl could contain part of the dose.

Always use a smaller amount of things if you're going to crush/mix to make sure there's not a huge bowl of food they have to finish in order to get the whole dose.

Considerations with pill coating style options:

If using a really bitter pill, try your best not to touch the outside of the pocket/holder with the same fingers that touched the pill.

If your cat is on a Rx diet, there's usually Rx pill pockets that won't mess with their diets through either the same company or a comparable one

it can be helpful to desensitize your cat to having a hard pill-like object hidden in the middle of whatever you're using by using hard treats or pieces of hard treats so they're less likely to hunt down the offending pill and reject it. It's best to do this BEFORE they develop a sensitivity to it (and ideally before you even have to medicate them), but you can try to do it after. You can also do like 2 treats and a pill every time you have to administer meds to make it less likely they'll figure it out.

Be mindful of what you can and can't use of the list below if your cat is on a Rx diet (ie urinary, kidney, allergy/limited protein, etc), is diabetic, or has other conditions. PLEASE talk to your vet if your cat has any special needs!!

Things you can hide meds in:

gravy treats (churu, other "lickable" treats)

tuna/chicken juice (with no added salt)

canned food (like mentioned above, avoid their core diet staples or ones that may need to become diet staples in the future ie Rx options)

pill pockets and other similar things: just break off a piece and wrap it around if they're dog sized. I had good luck with tomlyn pill masker for a while with my cat

moist treats as pill pockets (I had good luck with chicken flavored bandit ferret treats, oddly enough). sometimes getting them wet can help make them more moldable.

Other tips/thoughts

If you have multiple medications to administer, try doing one in the morning, one at night to see if they tolerate it better. Sometimes rapid fire medicating can be worse for them.

There's lots of youtube videos out there (look for ones from vet staff. bonus points if they mention fear free/reducing stress) about cat restraint/medication administration, but you can also always ask your vet office for a demo/help. Be advised, they may charge a small fee for their time in training.

Towels can definitely be your friend in restraint, but be aware your cat WILL associate the towel/blanket with medications and it can create some aversion/running away scenarios which can increase stress for everyone.

In terminal pets that are truly just a nightmare to medicate or where it's just making them miserable, it may be worthwhile to discuss quality of life with your vet. It's okay to make that call.

Most of all, be patient. You may have to try multiple things and/or change them regularly. Some pets are easier to medicate than others (and some are a bit more clever than others). At the end of they day, they don't understand. They just think you tried to give them some bitter garbage that tastes like crap for some reason and they decided they don't want that and really, wouldn't you do the same?

[jaehyunnie77]

hey babess i love your writing! can i request a jaehyun x ceo! y/n fic? (fluff + smut) something along the lines of jaehyun being the only one who can turn boss babe y/n soft & submissive?

Pairing: assistant!jaehyun x female!ceo

Genre: smut and tiny fluff

Warnings: mentions of masturbation, sexual tension, office sex, fingering, oral (male recieving), dom jaehyun, sub reader, protected sex

Word Count: 2.2k

a/n: hi love! thank you so much for the request. it makes me so happy to hear you love my writing <3. I had fun writing this one. I'm so sorry this took forever, but I do hope you like it. Also, Lemonade and Sticker Jaehyun did something to me so I got carried away a bit lol. enjoy

—

Knock knock.

"Come in!" you yell keeping your eyes on the computer screen. You really don't understand why people use Urgent as the subject line when it wasn't really urgent at all. The door to your office opens and the woody cologne of your assistant hits your nose. It takes everything in you to continue reading the email.

"Miss Y/LN, you have a five o'clock meeting today with design department." Jeong Jaehyun looks at his tablet in his hand to make sure there wasn't anything else he was missing. Last time you missed an important conference call all because he wasn't paying close attention to your schedule.

"Fuck." you say under your breath. You completely forgot about the meeting and honestly, didn't want to go. You stop reading and rub your temples. You look up just in time at your assistant and you both lock eyes. There is no denying there is heavy sexual tension between you both. Everyone in the office, hell, everyone in the entire building can sense the chemistry between you and your assistant.

You won't admit it to anyone, but the way he talks to you in his soft voice, makes your ovaries go in overdrive. The way his hand would slightly touch yours when handing you papers, gave you goosebumps. From your desk you have a perfect view of him, you can't help but look at him and daydream. When you two would talk about something outside of work, you can't help but smile and laugh with him. You wouldn't say you were whip for him, he was just a good eye candy to have around during stressful times.

Okay, you may have thought about him and his fingers a couple of times whenever you masturbated, but no one needed to know that.

However, you would never act on those fantasies because you are the CEO of a multimillion-fashion company. You can't afford to be distracted.

"Cancel and move it to another date and time next week. I have all of these paperwork I need to sort through." you say.

Jaehyun nods his head as his hand starts tapping away on his tablet. "Done. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No that is all. You may leave for the day."

Jaehyun gives you another nod and walks out of your office. You stare at his back and thirst over his figure. You wish you could run your hands all over his broad shoulders, hug around his waist, and your hands running through his gel back hair.

Jeong Jaehyun has been your assistant for the last four months and surprisingly, he is the only one who stayed the longest. All of your other assistants were either fired or quit because of how demanding you are. You were prepared to find another assistant when Jaehyun quit, but he could handle your sharp tongue and ranging mood swings.

In the end, it works out for you because you get to see his muscles flex and his dimples almost every day of the week. You get to boss him around whenever you like just to see if he would break one day. Strangely enough, he is the only one who makes you feel this way, both horny and soft for him.

If you could, you would fuck him on your desk and have your way with him. You would edge and overstimulate him over and over again, if only your reputation wasn't on the line. Your pussy clench around nothing with just the thought of Jaehyun under you. Before your imagination could run any more wilder, you get back to work.

The following day, you were overwhelmed with the stacks of paper work that sat on your desk. Jaehyun has been helping you sort through most of it the entire day and by the time you look at your clock, it was well past eleven o'clock. You sigh as you glance over at Jaehyun who looks just as tired as you.

"Jaehyun that should be it for today. We can sort through the rest on Monday." you collect the papers in front of you and put them in your file cabinet. "You should go home to your girlfriend or whoever is waiting for you at home." you mentally slap yourself for even saying that aloud.

Jaehyun sees your flustered state and grins as he puts the stack of papers on one side of his desk. "It's fine and for your information, I don't have anyone waiting for me."

You try your hardest to breathe and tighten your cross legs. It was his voice and the way he said it that sent shivers down your spine. His sexy sulky voice that you've heard once and made your pussy clench. Oh how you want to fulfill your fantasies right now.

"Miss Y/LN?"

"Yes Jaehyun?"

You didn't notice Jaehyun getting up from his chair and walking towards you.

"Y/N."

You finally look up surprise to see him leaning against your desk right beside you. He has a cocky smile and even from this angle, he looks like a hot Thor, but hotter.

You gulp as you regain your composure, "What is it Jaehyun?"

Jaehyun leans down, his face comes closer to yours, and you don't dare back away. When his face was inches from yours, you whisper, "This is unprofessional."

He gazes into your eyes, still smirking, "Was it unprofessional all the times we've been eye fucking from across the room?"

You sigh as you gave in and close the gap connecting your lips. It was cold a minute ago, but now it was hot. Hot and sexy. He grabs your neck to keep you in place as you get up from your chair and your hands finding their way to his neck. Both of your hands wander all over each other, until you start to unbutton his white shirt and he unzips your dress.

The height difference is making you weak, but you want to show him you're the boss and dominate him. Jaehyun notices what you're doing and you feel him smile in your heated make out session.

"Still trying to be the boss Y/N?"

"I am the boss Jaehyun." You finally get rid of his shirt and damn, does this man work out. You stop to admire his hardened abs, while Jaehyun finally takes off your dress, admiring you in just your bra and panties. You both take each other in.

To be clear, this has never happened before to you. You were always the one to set the pace, to show your partners for the night you were in charge, but this was different. Jaehyun was different. He was captivating and you wanted him to destroy you now that you've seen what it's like to be kissed and touched by him.

He leaves kisses on your jaw, your neck, to your chest and as he senses the sudden change in attitude, he growls. He captures your lips once more as he picks you up to sit you on your desk. He pushes everything on top of your desk away onto the floor and lays you down. He continues his kiss attack by leaving purple bruises all over your chest, boobs, and stomach. When he finally reaches where you need him the most, he teases you over your panties.

"Jaehyun." you whine.

"Yes baby." Even the nickname is driving you crazy.

"Stop teasing."

"If you say so." Jaehyun pushes your panties to the side and slides a finger between your folds.

"You're dripping wet. All for me?"

Without an answer or a warning, he pushes in a finger, then a second. The stretch makes your back arch as he pumps his digits into you. He curls his fingers and set a rapid pace as your walls pulsate around his fingers making you see the stars. Before you could reach your orgasm, he stops and takes them out.

"Jaehyun!"

"No. Be a good girl and don't come until I tell you to."

"I would do no such -"

He reinserts his fingers pumping into you again and when you clench, he stops again. He loves to see your expression when you were right on the edge and can see the frustration take over.

"J-"

"I said, be a good girl and come when I tell you to. If not, you won't come and we'll do this all night if we have to."

Fuck was he hot.

You whimper as you slowly nod to his command.

"Good girl. Now get on your knees."

You sit back up and get down on your knees anticipating for what's to come. Just as you were about to unzip his pants, he stops you with his hand on your wrist. "Don't. Hand behind your back." Once again, you did as you were told as you watch Jaehyun slowly unzip his pants and bring down his boxers. His long hard cock standing proud almost hitting your face. Precum visible as it leaks from his tip. You unconsciously lick your lips wanting nothing more than to have him in your mouth.

"Suck."

With your hands still behind your back, you inch forward and put him in your mouth. Jaehyun groans at the feeling of your warm mouth around him. You bob and twist your head as you slurp on his dick. Saliva mix with his precum are coming out of the corner of your mouth. You pull off him to catch your breath but Jaehyun wasn't having it. He grabs the back of your head, pushes his cock into your mouth, and fucks your mouth. You feel him hit the back of your throat and gag around him.

Jaehyun hisses when you moan and gag around him, "You're fucking sexy."

When he feels himself almost coming, he pulls you off, helps you up from the ground, and bend you over the desk. "Spread your legs."

You do as you he says and spread your legs best as you can. He grabs a condom from his wallet and rolls it on, pumping himself a few times before finally entering you. You let out a loud moan when his girth stretches you out perfectly. You feel so full.

Jaehyun doesn't wait for you to get use to him as he starts to pound into you. The way his hips thrusts into you has you moving up on your desk. You try to grab onto anything, but Jaehyun kept your hands behind your back still. Your head laid to the side and Jaehyun has the perfect view of your fucked out face.

He leans down next to your ears, "Do you think you could boss me around as a lost boy?" he thrusts harder.

"J-Jaehyun, ahh!"

"Do you think you could make me your bitch boy and tell everyone to reschedule your meetings every day?"

"Fuck!"

"Ah, do you think you could tease me every day when you wear those short dresses and skirts, bend over in front of me, and don't expect me to get hard?"

"Fuck fuck fuck!"

"What would everyone say when the CEO is getting fucked by her assistant?"

"Th-they w-won't b-believe y-you."

He growls in your ear, "Even when I'm balls deep in you, you still want to be the boss."

He pounds into your harder and faster making you see the stars, "Please Jaehyun."

"Who's the boss Y/N?" Jaehyun pulls your hair bringing you up to his chest. The new position as him hitting in deeper as you continue seeing the stars as tears fall out of your eyes.

"Jaehyun! You are! Oh my fucking God! Please don't stop, don't stop."

"You like that? You like getting your hair pulled?"

"Fuck yes! Only for you. Please let me come."

He was getting close too, "Come on my dick baby." You didn't need to be told twice as you let go and cum on his cock and soon enough he also reach his climax.

His hold on your hair loosens up as you fall forward on your desk with him falling on top of you, both of you worn out. He kisses your glistening shoulders as you feel him go soft inside of you. He pulls out throwing the condom away and helps you get dress.

Standing there with clothes back on and hair slightly messy, you suddenly feel shy. Jaehyun caresses your cheek as you shyly look up at him, a warm smile on his face with those beautiful dimples showing.

"Hi." he whispers.

"Hi." you feel yourself get butterflies in your stomach.

"I know this is reverse, but do you want to get dinner tomorrow?"

You study his face for any remorse or seriousness, but all you found is adoring eyes staring back at you.

"I'd love that, but," you pause. Jaehyun's expression falls.

"But?"

"But I'm still your boss and," you wrap your arms around his neck while his found your waist, "you're fired."

You smile up at him, feeling the rumble of his laughter. "That is fine by me as long as I have you by my side." He kisses your lips and you kiss back.

"About time honestly." you joke as you detached yourself to get your purse.

Jaehyun smiles at you, "Well if you weren't so busy bossing me around and playing this cat and mouse game -"

You lightly smack his chest laughing and you both walk out of your office interlocking your hands.

[alstroemeriadissonance]

Operation: Rosa

I was going to write a situation based on how Rosa would interact with each of the NXX duders while they're drunk

But then I thought, what if it's Rosa who's out of it? Then decided to just run with it anyway.

Also I really want to see more interaction between the NXX dudes in the game.

This was fun to write

Vyn here is based on his Electrifying Night appearance

The underground club pulsated with lights, sound and emotion.

It was almost suffocating. Tension filled the stage as the band's performance came to a climax in the midst of the raucous cheers from the audience.

Then the music ended.

The applause all around Vyn Richter flooded his senses almost to the point of overstimulation. Yet none of the passion overflowing from the audience reached him.

His apathetic eyes scanned the audience.

She's not here, he realized, with a sharp tinge of regret as his hands let go of his keyboard.

===

He was about to make his way to the break room when he heard Marius call out his name. Vyn almost missed his voice in the midst of the crowd that loudly clamored for the band's attention.

"Vyn!" Marius sounded agitated. "Vyn! Over here, get your punk ass here quick!"

Vyn dropped the towel he used to wipe the sweat away from his face and neck. "Marius," he called out, deftly avoiding the females who started to crowd around him. "What are you doing here?" He raised his voice in order to be audible over the cacophony of the excited crowd.

With nary a word Marius grabbed his arm and together they barreled through the sea of people, navigating through the narrow dimly-lit, smoked filled corridors of the backstage.

Eventually Marius pushed Vyn into one of the rooms.

Already irritated, Vyn was about to confront his student when his eyes fell upon the missing piece of that night's performance.

Rosa lay sprawled over a a dingy plush chair, unconscious.

Luke was also there, dabbing a wet towel on her forehead. Seeing Vyn, he quickly stepped aside to make way for the doctor.

"Rosa!" Vyn kicked away a stool that got in the way and knelt beside her.

He quickly checked her pulse. Arrhythmia.

Hands shaking, he opened one of her eyelids carefully. A glassy, dilated pupil stared at the ceiling.

Despite the tender fingers caressing Rosa's face, nothing but cold fury burned in Vyn's eyes.

"Who the fuck dared to drug Rosa?"

===

Marius tossed Luke a flash drive. "I filched this from the security room," he said, and grabbed the stool that Vyn kicked away earlier to sit himself beside Rosa.

"Fucking hell. I only looked away for a minute because I needed to take a call from Vincent," he said to no one in particular. "I messed up."

Luke, sitting on the floor tablet in hand, was playing through and rewinding a certain segment in the CCTV footage. He could not afford to lose his wits at the moment. At that very moment his detached PI mode kicked into high gear as he watched for any tell tale signs of anyone who could have spiked his childhood friend's drink.

Vyn stood with his back against the wall, his eyes unfocused, deep in thought.

"Luke, Marius," he finally said, emerging from his state of almost-catatonia. "Does anyone else know about this incident?"

"Not yet, no," Marius said, his eyes never leaving Rosa. "Actually, there's a reason why we haven't reported this to the police yet."

"I'm going the kill that little shit with my own hands," Luke said, never breaking his inspection of the CCTV footage.

"He's not even going to reach jail."

"Well, I believe that settles it," Vyn grinned, with a tinge of mania in his eyes. "I am glad we are finally all in agreement over one thing."

"Damn, Vyn. You're scaring me," Marius said. "But yeah. This fucker is going to get it."

"Heh." Vyn speed dialed a number.

"Artem? We need you by the docks, now. Bring your car."

===

Even after he was updated of the situation, Artem still punched Vyn's face hard enough to knock his glasses off.

"Alright, I'll take her home," Artem muttered, his eyes never leaving Vyn. "But if her situation does not improve in a couple of hours I'm sending her to the hospital. I don't care if that's going to get the police on your tail."

"Just keep her room dark and quiet as much as possible to prevent overstimulation," Vyn said quietly as he rubbed his cheek and picked up his glasses. "You can do that much, I presume?"

Artem carefully picks up Rosa and tenderly seats her on the passenger side.

"You have two hours. No more."

"Well, you heard the man," said Marius as they watched Artem drive off to Rosa's apartment. "You okay?"

"Never better," Vyn muttered, his left cheek still throbbing. "Let us begin."

The three men gathered around the hood of Vyn's car. Luke turned on the display of his tablet. "We have the perp here," he said as he pointed to a grainy still image of a man in nondescript purple shirt, sporting a perfectly normal crew cut. Using his fingers, he zoomed into the image and enlarged the suspect's side profile.

With a click Luke captured the image into a separate application and ran it through the police database via a backdoor that he set up just in case.

"Welp, we're in luck," Luke said. "Got a hit."

Marius peered over Luke's shoulder and read the man's rap sheet and profile. "Bruce," he muttered. "I never knew anyone named Bruce who's trustworthy. Luke--"

"Raven" Luke murmured as he booted up his access to Big Data's surveillance network. "Use our code names."

"What?"

"Treat this like a proper operation," Luke said as he ran the image through facial recognition of the nearby security cameras. "King."

Marius blinked. He hadn't had any experience in clandestine operations, but he liked the idea. "Fine. Raven it is." He looked over at Vyn, who was adjusting his gloves. "You fine with that, Judge?"

"Did you forget my code name already?"

"Give me a break," Marius said, exasperated. "Adjudicator is a goddamn mouthful."

"Very well, then."

A ping coming from Luke's tablet confirmed a positive in one of the cameras in the vicinity. "Got him," Luke said urgently as he ran to his motorcycle and started it with a kick. "King, catch," he threw the spare helmet to Marius.

"I've hooked up your phones to the security network--it'll take them an hour before they notice anything amiss," Marius said as he pulled the helmet over his head.

"Oh, and Judge?"

Vyn only stared at Marius in response.

"Don't kill the fucker before we do," Marius said before Luke revved the motorcycle and rode to the darkness.

All of us care for Rosa, were the unspoken words that did not need to be said.

===

As they have discussed previously before meeting up with Artem, the plan at its simplest was to track the suspect's movements through the security camera network.

And just go from there, Luke had said. After all, we don't have the luxury of time to observe his usual routes.

With one hand on the wheel, Vyn cruised through the 3 am streets of west Stellis with the windshield rolled down. He listened intently for any updates that Luke fed into their phones.

His portable keyboard, a keytar, lay on the shotgun seat.

"Judge, can you hear me," Luke said in a low voice through the speakers, as if already tracking down the target. "Target is on foot along Weiming River towards the Old Streets area."

"Noted," murmured Vyn as he made a turn into the intersection ahead. "Raven."

"No, we're already tracking him down, Judge. We need you to cut off a possible escape route along the CBD."

"Just pin me the location."

===

Marius and Luke, both wearing helmets, silently stalked their prey as the man unwittingly walked into a deserted alleyway presumably on the way home.

They have already ditched Luke's motorcycle in a nearby parking lot, banking on Vyn's car as their escape vehicle.

The alleyway was mostly devoid of light except for a lone flickering streetlamp a few paces ahead. The chiaroscuro of faint light and deep shadows made for an easy hunting ground for an experienced agent such as Luke.

Alas, the one who tagged along wasn't as experienced as he is. Marius accidentally kicked an empty tin can, causing quite a commotion that reverberated through almost the entire length of the alley and even prompted barking from a stray dog.

"Ahh fuckit," Marius muttered.

Alarmed, the man they were tracking turned around and tried to peer into the darkness directly behind him. "Who's there?!"

Luke shrugged at Marius. Might as well get over it.

The two helmeted men stepped out from the shadows and into the soft illumination from the single working streetlamp.

"Hello Brucey," Marius said in a sing-song voice while cracking his knuckles. "How'd your night go?"

Luke didn't bother saying anything, but picked up a nearby loose steel pipe.

"Wh-who sent you?" the man stammered as he backed into a nearby pile of crates. "I paid! I swear!"

"Relaaaaax," Marius said as he walked slowly towards him, akin to a cat stalking its prey. "We actually just want to pay you back for what you did to our little darling."

"Wait, what?" He pushed himself away from the crates. "I didn't do anything to her!"

"You liar," Luke spat, pure hatred in his voice. "You put fucking ketamine in her drink."

"Ooh, I wonder what'll happen to you if you got jailed again for the same offense?" Marius said in the same friendly voice he used when talking to the older board executives. "But since we're friends, we're not going to turn you over to the police."

To emphasize Marius' point, Luke fiddled with the steel pipe he picked up earlier.

The man immediately understood what was going to happen to him. "Get away from me!" With great effort, he toppled the pile of wooden crates in an attempt to block Marius and Luke's path, trying to prevent them from further chase on foot.

"Oh well," Marius said as he tapped his receiver. "Judge, the little shit is coming your way."

"Noted," came the quiet, nuanced reply over the phone.

===

Bruce scrambled through the long alleyway, desperate to get away from the two men who threatened to beat him in retaliation for the little fun he attempted--but failed--with their girl friend. I didn't get the chance to do anything yet!

This was an alley that he always took every night, but for some reason it seemed to stretch out longer than he'd always remembered. He threw a glance behind him. Nothing but darkness, but his back tingled as if their presence persisted, threatening to swallow him if he ever so much as stopped running.

Then, as he neared the exit, a strange sound wafted in his ears.

It seemed like some classical music. It was familiar to Bruce, but since he never cared about those things he never knew what the music was actually called, except that it was bougie trash.

Then when he turned the corner nearest the exit, he was horrified to find out that a car blocked his way.

A man, his head glinting silver in the thin gibbous moonlight, stood with his back to the hood of the car, arms crossed.

As if waiting for him. If Bruce peered closely at him, he could have seen gold cat-like eyes glare at him with unadulterated hate.

The car door was open. The classical music Bruce had been hearing came from the speakers inside the car.

"Shit," Bruce muttered, panicking as he tried to scan for other escape routes. It was already too late to turn back; he could make out the silhouette of the other two already approaching from the distance.

"Hey, I'm sor--"

Bruce did not get a chance to speak, as Vyn crashed his keyboard hard at his crotch. He doubled over at the searing white-hot pain that burned the family jewels.

Without missing a beat, Vyn once again lifted the keyboard high above his shoulders and brought it down hard at the back of Bruce's head.

===

Vyn was lazily trying to flip Bruce's still-breathing body using his foot by the time Marius and Luke finally caught up.

By his feet and all around the limp body on the ground scattered bits and pieces of what used to be a keyboard.

Marius recognized the music that has been playing on repeat.

"Vy-Judge? Did you actually beat up this little shit while Ode to Joy was playing?"

He did not reply for a moment.

Then, "No better music to murder with," he said as he flipped Bruce a second time with a sound kick to the side.

A faint groan emanated from the man lying on the ground.

"The fuck you doing?" Marius said as he walked over to Bruce's prone form.

"Step aside, King," Luke finally spoke up and brought down the steel pipe for more additional pain that Bruce may or may not survive through.

===

Vyn, Marius, and Luke stare at the beat-up body of the man they just stuffed into the nearby trashbin.

"Well, its a good thing he's still alive," Marius murmured detachedly. "You---uh, checked? Judge?"

"I do not care if he's alive or dead," said Vyn, his voice equally disinterested.

"He'll live," Luke murmured. "I did check.

"It's more painful that way."

===

The next morning, Rosa woke up a little groggy, but in a much better condition. Huh? I'm in my bed?

She wracked her head trying to remember how she ended up in her room. Wasn't I at the club...?

It was then she finally noticed the presences of the four men who lay asleep in various spots within her bedroom: Vyn, still in his EDM outfit, laid by the foot of her bed, his feet hanging over the edge; Artem had his arms crossed while sleeping, sitting on the chair set next to her bed; Luke and Marius were both sprawled on the carpeted floor snoring away their tiredness.

What the hell happened?