#John Morris x Hermann Kermit Warm

[self-proclaimed-chaotic-good]

Writer’s Month 2020 Masterlist

Thank you @writersmonth for putting together this writing challenge again!

Fics will also be sorted under their respective fandoms and pairings in my main masterlist.

Day One: Tattoo Artist/Flower Shop AU | Inks and Petals | Detective Loki x Reader (Drabble)

Day Two: Quarantine | Shave and a Hair Cut | John Wick x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Three: Magic | Sparks Flew | Quentin Beck x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Four: Long Distance Relationship | Only in My Dreams | Carlton Drake x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Five: Soulmates | The Promise of Stars | Changez Khan x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Six: Ocean | By the Shore | John Morris x Reader x Hermann K. Warm (Oneshot)

Day Seven: Hurt/Comfort | Moral Support | Diego Hargreeves x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Eight: Eight | The Governess and The Doctor’s Hunt for the Copper Beeches | Sherlock Holmes x Reader (1/4)

Day Nine: Illness | Man Flu | Cassian Andor x Filipina!Reader (Oneshot)

Day Ten: Bunnies | The Enemy of My Enemy | Eddie Brock x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Eleven: Light | What If... | Ben Solo x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Twelve: Meet Cute | True Winchester Fashion | Adam Milligan x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Thirteen: Music | The Governess and The Doctor’s Hunt for the Copper Beeches | Sherlock Holmes x Reader (2/4)

Day Fourteen: Metamorphosis | Ordinary Cousin of a Superhero | Pearl Pangan and Reader (Oneshot)

Day Fifteen: Coffee Shop AU | The Umbrella Cafe | Diego Hargreeves x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Sixteen: History | Starting Over | Naz Khan x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Seventeen: Cooking | New Routine | Adam Milligan x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Eighteen: Myths | Hotel of Jedha | Bodhi Rook x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Nineteen: De-Aging | Accompanist | Vanya Hargreeves and Reader (Oneshot)

Day Twenty: Loss | Take Your Time | Bodhi Rook x Reader (Kyber Soldier Prequel)

Day Twenty-One: Family | Night at the Museum | Adam Milligan x Reader (oneshot)

Day Twenty-Two: Pet Shop AU | Puppy Love | Poe Dameron x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Twenty-Three: Poison | The Governess and The Doctor’s Hunt for the Copper Beeches | Sherlock Holmes x Reader (3/4)

Day Twenty-Four: True Love’s Kiss | Debating Sleeping Beauty | John Morris x Reader x Hermann K. Warm (Oneshot)

Day Twenty-Five: Drop | The Governess and The Doctor’s Hunt for the Copper Beeches | Sherlock Holmes x Reader (4/4)

Day Twenty-Six: Summer Vacation | Crush | Brad Davis x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Twenty-Seven: Dream | I’ll Be Seeing You | Robert Fischer x Reader (Oneshot)

Day Twenty-Eight: Fantasy | Consequences of Curiosity | HAPtives and Reader (Oneshot)

Day Twenty-Nine: High School AU | Thank U, Next | Poe Dameron x Reader (1/2)

Day Thirty: Joy | Thank U, Next | Poe Dameron x Reader (2/2)

Day Thirty-One: There was only ONE bed | Stranded with You | Bodhi Rook x Reader (Oneshot)               

[glockgal]

Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed in:

Nightcrawler (Rick and Lou Bloom) The Sisters Brothers (John Morris and Hermann Kermit Warm)

They really need to do a third movie together one day.  If only to fulfill my little completionist heart!

[eisoj5]

Chapter 5 of we would enter the wilderness together is up at long last! Halfway through the story now...

[littledozerdraws]

soft hugs and kisses between Morris and Warm -- who deserve only good things in life. my buddy @drawsaurus wrote this incredible fic about them travelling, talking, smooching -- you should definitely check it out 😭💕

[iknowhesfictional]

Someone explain this plz

[jotunvali02]

Roméo et Juliette - L'amour heureux - Lyrics

[quu-kii]

Thoughts on Nick x Lou?

(Warning: Spoilers for The Sisters Brothers below)

I really like them!! Though realistically speaking, I can’t see it ending well for Rick. Either he will be left with his heart broken or something even worse (see: the ending of Nightcrawler). But maybe there is a possibility of a good ending for them, somehow. 

For this pairing, I see it as Rick having a crush on Lou and entering an unhealthy relationship with him. Lou treats him coldly at times, and Rick can never be sure of what Lou is thinking, but he sticks with him anyways because the few times Lou praises him, shows kindness, or even a hint of humanity is what Rick lives for. It’s really hard to think about Lou’s perspective on the relationship, but maybe he just views Rick as his side ho at first and slowly gets a bit closer to him. But given Lou’s sociopathic nature and lack of empathy, he is liable to toss aside Rick at any moment without remorse. Such is the sadness of this pairing (cries).

I also really like the scenario where Lou and Rick are John Morris and Hermann Kermit Warm, also played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed, respectively, from The Sisters Brothers reincarnated. See below pic for a comparison of both pairs.

Their characters were close in that movie (I think they loved each other!) and were planning to start their own business but met a tragic end. So maybe either Lou or Rick, or both of them, slightly recall memories from their past life and how they used to be so close to each other then, which is why they are subconsciously drawn to each other now. I like this scenario too because it gives a way for Lou to have feelings for Rick without it being too out of character.  For example Lou, who has never felt an ounce of love or empathy for anyone, suddenly starts feeling these things for Rick and he doesn’t understand why. 

Thanks for the ask!~

[self-proclaimed-chaotic-good]

Detective Loki (Prisoners)

I Can Explain (SPN Crossover)

Carry On My Wayward Family (Continuation of I Can Explain)

I Always Will

Jackpot (Continuation of I Always Will)

Inks and Petals (Tattoo Artist/Flower Shop!AU)

John Morris (The Sisters Brothers)

Ocean Eyes

By the Shore (Chemical Husbands x Reader)

Debating Sleeping Beauty (Continuation of By the Shore)

Quentin Beck (Spider-Man)

Sparks Flew

[self-proclaimed-chaotic-good]

Tommy Akhtar (City of Tiny Lights)

Partners Masterlist [Hiatus] (Might be rewritten)

Nasir “Naz” Khan (The Night Of)

Black Water

Starting Over

Changez Khan (The Reluctant Fundamentalist)

The Promise of Stars (Continuation of As You Wish)

Hermann Kermit Warm (The Sisters Brothers)

By the Shore (Chemical Husbands x Reader)

Debating Sleeping Beauty (Continuation of By the Shore)

Elias Rahim (The OA)

Consequences of Curiosity (HAPtives and Reader)

[Bodhi Rook fics found HERE]

[Carlton Drake fics found HERE]

[self-proclaimed-chaotic-good]

Debating Sleeping Beauty | John Morris x Reader x Hermann K. Warm (Oneshot)

Prompt: True Love’s Kiss

Fandom: The Sisters Brothers

Words: 881

A/N: Sort of a continuation of [By the Sea]. Slowly catching up on Writer’s Month. Only a day behind now.

-

You laid on a woven blanket between John and Hermann, gazing up at the stars. The night was peaceful with the sounds of bugs, the crackling fire, and the soft breeze filling the air. You sighed in content, tracing the stars with your eyes.

“Tell me a story, John,” you said.

John shifted around to look at you. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What kind of story?”

You shrugged. “What do you think, Hermann? Maybe something magical!”

Hermann nodded. “I agree. A fairytale would be suiting for this kind of night,” he said.

John hummed, sifting through the archives of stories in his mind. You excitedly turned to your side to face John and you could feel Hermann do the same, his chest pressing against your back and his arm wrapping around your waist.

“Comfortable?” Hermann whispered to you.

You snuggled closer to him, feeling his warmth seep through your clothes. “Very.”

“Okay,” John said, “How about The Sleeping Beauty? Also known as Little Briar Rose. Though, I’m thinking of adding my own twist.”

“Go ahead.”

And John proceeded to do so, starting from the birth of the kingdom’s new princess. The fairies of the nearby forest were invited and blessed the baby princess with gifts. Everyone was happy, until an evil fairy arrived, uninvited. Because of this slight, she cursed the princess to fall into indefinite sleep after pricking her finger on a spindle. The curse could only be broken by true love’s kiss.

“Why was that fairy angry, though?” you asked.

“I’m sure that it had something to do with the king and queen not inviting her,” Hermann said. “Maybe they fought over something that either side refused to resolve.”

“But to bring a baby into it? That’s not right.”

“It’s a lot more common than you think, unfortunately, my dear (Y/n),” John said.

You thought for a moment, then asked, “What did she mean true love’s kiss? What makes it true love?”

John and Hermann looked at each other. “Well, I’m not fully certain that I’ve experienced it,” Hermann began, “But I think true love could be in many forms, not just romantic. Being caring, considerate, respectful, and kind to each other could be forms of love. And the ultimate quality is that it’s unconditional. What do you think, John?”

“Well, I was never sure that true love existed until…,” John trailed off, his eyes lingering on the both of you, “Now, I believe that true love seems to be a powerful force that influences you in a way that encourages you to be the best version of you. And not because you’re told to, but because you want to. Wanting to be better, selflessly.”

“You’d think a parent’s love would count as true love, right?” you asked.

John sighed. “We both unfortunately know that that is not quite true for every parent,” he said softly.

John lifted the other blanket around, scooting closer before covering all three of you. After getting settled, you leaned your head on John’s shoulder, Hermann’s arm still wrapped around your waist.

You thought of how the three of you met. Your father was heading a small prospecting company and was following the trail towards San Francisco. You had come along, your father saying that you should at least be useful, since you hadn’t married yet. It was then you met Hermann, a prospector that kept to himself but seemed to be open with the world around him. When your father wasn’t looking, you’d speak to him and soon enough, you became friends.

You had met John through Hermann, who had told you that he was heading to Jacksonville. He dressed for travel, but his clothing was not of simple material and the way he spoke reminded you of the businessmen that your father always spoke to. You had some suspicions with him, but Hermann took a liking to him after their initial conversation.

It was in Jacksonville when you decided to take your life in your own hands. Your father had lied to you and had gone ahead to set a meeting for your potential spouse. You didn’t want to go. You didn’t want to get married to a stranger, and you weren’t sure if you wanted to get married at all. Hermann spoke of his formula before, how it’ll help him find gold faster so he could create a community with likeminded people. You wanted to help.

Hermann had not been in his room and John was nowhere to be seen. You assumed that they had upped and left without you. It was something you feared would happen, given how their conversations flowed effortlessly as if they were old friends. You were mentally going through a list of what you needed to do in order to leave your father’s side while being able to sustain yourself.

The next day, you were awakened by Hermann’s voice at your door. John was waiting close by, looking restless as he watched the corridors. Hermann wanted to say his farewells before he and John left. You insisted that they take you with them, readily packing your things, taking one of your father’s horses, and following them out of Jacksonville.

“I love you two,” you whispered before closing your eyes, letting sleep take you.

[self-proclaimed-chaotic-good]

By the Sea | John Morris x Reader x Hermann Warm (Drabble)

Prompt: Ocean

Fandom: The Sisters Brothers

Words: 497

-

John took care of the horses while you and Hermann went ahead towards the beach. It had been your idea to go and see the ocean before you headed towards Texas. You never saw the ocean this close before and you didn’t know when you’ll ever see it again. You removed your shoes and rolled up your pants, stepping tentatively onto the wet sand, just at the edge where the water washed onto the shore. Hermann followed suit, scanning the area for shells to look at.

“Hurry up!” you called out to John.

Sometimes, he can be really boring and you didn’t want him to miss all the fun. He smiled warmly at the two of you, waving you off as he finished tying up the reins. Hermann drew your attention back to him as he showed you a bright colored shell. Your eyes widened in fascination, running your finger over the ridges on one side and the smoothness on the other. It kind of reminded you of your boys. Both intelligent, eloquent, and beautiful, yet John was more rigid and rough while Hermann was calm and soothing.

You pocketed the shell and went off to find a small stick. Hermann crouched next to a small hole in the sand, slowly sliding a stick in before pulling it out with a small crab attached to it.

“I’ve never seen them so tiny,” you marveled.

“There are many species of crab. They’re all different sizes, different colors, even different tastes,” Hermann said.

“Have you tried them?”

Hermann frowned. “Well, no. I’ve read about it and John had tried some variety before. I’ve never really had the means to afford such luxuries.”

“Maybe we will indulge ourselves before we leave,” John said, appearing behind Hermann. He squeezed both yours and Hermann’s shoulders before dropping his hands.

“That would be amazing!” you said.

“Now,” he said, loosening his shirt, “Let's make most of the day, shall we?”

John threw off his vest on the sand, his shirt and trousers following after. You sputtered, seeing his half-naked form jog towards the water. Hermann was unfazed by it, having travelled with him longer. He looked over at you and smiled, tossing his shirt and trousers next to John’s and ran in after him.

“Come on, (Y/n)!” John shouted, splashing the water around. “And you said I was the boring one!”

You huffed, looking around at the empty beach, then flung your blouse off. Your heart was racing, never having done anything like this in your life. You felt free. Away from the stifling constructs of society, being put in a box and having your life being determined by the family you’re born into and the family you marry into. As soon as your trousers touched the sand, you ran into the water, joining John and Hermann.

And for a while, the three of you lived in your own bubble of reality.

[self-proclaimed-chaotic-good]

Prospecting Gold | Carlton Drake x Reader

(AKA The Chemical Husbands turning into relationship counselors)

Words: 3846

Crossover: Venom x The Sisters Brothers

A/N: Idk why I keep writing Carlton Drake stories that involves weddings or being engaged, but never married. One day! One day I will write reader getting married to Carlton. Just not yet. I hope the format isn’t too confusing. It’s a bit dialogue heavy and I kind of envisioned it in movie scene sequence, so feel free to leave feedback on how it is.

Chemical Husbands = Hermann Warm x John Morris

-

You packed the last luggage and flopped onto the bed while you waited for Carlton to finish in the bathroom. With his space venture launched, he proposed a vacation and an opportunity for you to meet his twin brother. He had mentioned his twin many times when he spoke about his childhood and while their interests were quite similar, they ended up going their separate ways, living different lives. While Carlton researched in biomedical engineering, Hermann researched in chemistry and sustainable science.

“Where exactly is his place?” you asked.

Carlton’s head popped out of the bathroom, shaving cream on his cheeks. “Dallas. Country side. He lives with a friend who inherited acres of land and an estate there,” he said before shuffling back in to finish shaving. You could hear the faint sound of the razor gliding across his skin, followed by tapping as he flicks off the excess foam into the sink. “He never liked the city life. I was surprised when he got in contact with me last year. I hadn’t spoken to him since… I don’t know. I don’t even remember why we stopped talking.”

“I mean, it sounded like you two were close growing up,” you said, kicking your feet in the air and started doing bicycles.

“Yeah, yeah we were,” Carlton said, walking out of the bathroom, wiping his face clean. He sat next to you. “You two will get along fast. I just know it. My brother… he’s the type to see the good in people- “

“While you’re the pessimistic one,” you added.

Carlton narrowed his eyes at you, pushing down your legs and hovered over you. “Anyways,” he punctuated as you giggled up at him, “Not sure about his friend, but I think you’ll like it there. He sent me pictures and everything. The house has an extension that connects to the main house by a covered walkway, so we have an area to ourselves.”

“That sounds nice,” you hummed, running your fingers along his smooth, freshly shaven jawline. “But why did he contact you all of a sudden?”

“He asked if I could invest in his new company,” he said with a shrug, “I thought why not. He never liked working with those large corporations. They often tried to steal his ideas anyways, so I understand why he’d do it. I wanted him to work with me, but it wasn’t his thing.”

“You’re probably too bossy that’s why.”

“I’m not. Why, did someone say that? Was it one of the research scientists?”

“Carlton, honey, I’m your assistant. You are bossy,” you said, poking between his eyebrows to stop his frowning, “And temperamental. And a workaholic. And from what I’ve gathered from your stories, he’s the patient, level-headed type that appreciates the simple things in life.”

“Yeah, you two are definitely going to get along just fine.”

-

Carlton insisted on carrying the luggage for you while you looped an arm around his. He was finally out of that black tracksuit, suit jacket and plain t-shirt ensemble, and in a more casual flannel and jeans attire. Breaking out from the crowd of the airport, you spotted a man that looked practically identical to your boyfriend, but instead of the groomed cut hair, his dark hair was windblown and curled at the ends, a small moustache trimmed over a friendly smile. He waved happily at the two of you, walking up to take the bags from Carlton despite his stubborn protests.

“You must be (Y/n),” he said, “I’m Hermann, Carlton’s brother… obviously. It’s a pleasure to meet the woman that melted my brother’s frozen heart.”

“Very funny, Herm,” Carlton muttered, fighting a smile with irritation.

A tall man with brown hair and blue eyes climbed out from the truck’s driver’s seat to help Hermann carry the bags into the trunk with ease. “Oh, uh, this is my fiancé, John Morris,” Hermann said, gesturing to the man with a wide smile and bright eyes. “John?”

The man, John, closed the trunk gate and turned to face the group. “Pleasure to meet you, (Y/n),” he said, taking your outstretched hand and kissed it with a wink. You laughed behind your other hand, risking a glance at Carlton whose eyes were slightly wide as his brother’s admission.

“Fiancé? Congratulations, you two!” you said.

“And you must be Carlton, Hermann’s brother.” John took his hand in a tight grip and shook it firmly with a forced smile as Carlton hid a wince.

“Uh, you never mentioned that you got engaged,” Carlton said to his brother once John released his hand.

Hermann scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Yeah, it happened recently. I wanted to surprise you, being that you’re the closest family I have, so…”

“I’m very surprised. Uh, congratulations! Perhaps we should get something to eat as a celebration? I’m paying, of course,” Carlton suggested as he wrapped an arm around you.

Hermann grinned, “That’s very generous of you. What do you say, John?”

“Well, if the man is paying…,” John said with a shrug.

Carlton helped you into the large truck and climbed in after you, glancing back as his brother and John were discussing something. “I don’t think he likes me,” he muttered next to your ear.

“He’s probably being cautious,” you assured him, patting his thigh. “He’ll like you, or at least tolerate you, eventually.”

“Engaged, huh?” he mumbled under his breath as Hermann and John made their way back into the truck.

“You guys are going to love it there!” Hermann said excitedly as he clambered up the passenger’s seat.

Throughout the rest of the drive, Hermann and Carlton shared stories from their childhood, inputting from how they remembered it and sometimes arguing on past events, much to your amusement, the carefree laugh that bubbled out of him made your heart swell. Carlton pointed out how Hermann used to be bullied in school because he was easy to walk over, so he had to stand up for him even if came to throwing punches before notifying the nearest teacher. It was so frequent that Carlton ran for class president so no one could touch either of them. Not to mention that they were two of the teachers’ favorite students. Then, they moved on to what they had been up to since they went their separate ways. Hermann dropped out of college, travelling a lot and learned about the world and how he could help people and the environment while Carlton went to an ivy league university and made a few breakthrough discoveries in the medicine field.

“So, what do you do, John?” Carlton asked, wanting to know the man that his brother fell in love with.

John’s blue eyes flickered to Carlton through the rearview mirror. “I’m a writer,” he said, “freelancing here and there. Wrote a novel or two.”

Your brain scanned through all the books you’ve seen at bookstores and gasped. “You wrote The Prospectors, didn’t you? You’re that John Morris?” you asked, leaning against his seat.

John chuckled. “Indeed, I did. Now, give me your honest opinion… how boring was it?”

“No! It was amazing!” you said, leaning back in your chair, “I read that book in one sitting. Although, it did have a bittersweet ending. While Elizabeth and Charlotte Brothers finally made it home, I really wanted Joan and Hera to have a happy ending, but their demise were left open ended. What really happened?”

“While that I’m glad that you’re invested in my characters, what happens to Joan and Hera is open to speculations. You can think of all the theories you want, and I will be glad to hear about them.”

“I bet there’s a lot of fanfiction for this book,” you muttered, knowing that if there was a dissatisfying ending to any story, there will be fans out there to rectify it.

Hermann nodded. “There is, I’ve read some. They’re quite good, too,” he said. “Have you read it, Car?”

Carlton shook his head. “No, I’m afraid I haven’t.”

“Well, I imagine you’re quite busy running an entire company of that scale,” Hermann said. “You deserve a break from all of that. I’m sure (Y/n) would appreciate the opportunity to spend time together. There’s so much sights to see. Look out the window.”

You leaned to the side and watched as the truck continued a long stretch of road lined by trees as they neared the country side. John took a turn, showing a glimpse of a lake below the cliffside, the sunlight glimmering off the smooth surface. You felt Carlton’s warm hands slide into yours and squeezed affectionately. It had been months since the two of you had time to relax, what with running a huge groundbreaking research facility. Although you were his assistant, he barely left the lab or his office, buried in paperwork.

After dinner at the fanciest restaurant Hermann could think of that was within miles of their estate, John drove the group to the estate, off the main road and in a clearing overlooking a lake. A gate blocked the driveway, which swung open after Hermann pressed a large white button that was clipped to the sun visor. Even Carlton couldn’t hide how impressed he was at the sight of the luxurious two story, four bed room, with a housing extension, estate. While Carlton built his facility and his home near a cliffside overlooking the ocean, there was something about the seclusion and the calm of nature that took his breath away.

Hermann showed you and Carlton your living area for the time being and went to leave the two of you to unpack. Carlton had offered to walk Hermann to the front door and left. You squealed in excitement and ran to the wide balcony, taking a deep breath of fresh air and allowing the cool wind envelope you. As much as you loved San Francisco and the ocean, you needed to get away from all that pollution and noise.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” John asked from behind you.

You opened your eyes and nodded. “And all of this belongs to you,” you said.

“On paper, yes. But it’s strange to say that a section of land belongs to anyone,” he said, leaning against the railing next to you. “We’re glad that you’re here. Both of you. Hermann hadn’t spoke about his brother until later in our relationship, but he admitted that he missed him. It’s strange to see someone identical to him and yet feel so different.”

“They’re like the sun and moon.”

-

As the two brothers reached the kitchen of the main house, Hermann turned and crossed his arms, leaning against the granite counter.

“Come now, brother, I’m sure you hadn’t walked me back here out of courtesy,” Hermann teased, raising an eyebrow.

Carlton chuckled. “Well… I just wanted to talk with my own brother alone, that’s all.” Hermann looked unconvinced, making the forced smile drop from his face. He sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face as he started to pace.

Hermann sighed at his brother’s distress. “Coffee?”

-

“You didn’t seem to like Carlton when you first met him,” you commented, facing John.

John grimaced. “Sorry about that. It’s just, from what Hermann had told me, the last time they spoke, before Hermann reached out to him last year, they were in a huge argument. His brother wanted him to work under his company, but Hermann disagreed with the way he was running things.” John crossed his arms, leaning his back against the cool rail. “Hermann was too soft, apparently, too naïve, and was told that he will always get run over if he continues to act that way. Hermann said he rather be soft and naïve instead of cold and arrogant and controlling like him. More insults were thrown that landed in the other’s weak spot and they never spoke again. I was just being protective of Hermann when I heard that he invited his brother and his other half over to the estate.”

“But, I’m okay, right?” you said, trying to lighten the mood.

The corner of John’s lips turned up. “You are more than okay in my books. How did you end up with a guy like him? No offence.”

You shrugged. “Cold, arrogant, controlling, that sounds like Carlton. Of course, being his assistant for a while, having to remind him about things from business meetings to making sure he ate, running errands for him, and seeing him in his working environment, I’ve come to see what kind of person he was and when he went too far, I wasn’t afraid to voice my opinion. He had worked the scientists to the ground. We were so close, he said, and they couldn’t stop to rest. I told him it was cruel, and nothing would get done if they are working in exhaustion. He had also run himself down, told me not to tell anyone when he almost collapsed in his office from dehydration and exhaustion. I told him he was being ridiculous, and he told me to just do as I was told.”

You shook your head at the memory of his stubbornness and the scare that it gave you when you saw him stumble against his desk. When he snapped at you, you slapped him before you even realized what you were doing. You honestly thought he was going to fire you right there and then. It was unprofessional of you. Bosses were bound to snap at some point, and as an assistant, you just had to take it in stride. What possessed you to do such a thing, you weren’t sure at the time.

“And how did he win your affection? Was it his dedication and recklessness? If so, it may be a shared trait of theirs.” You both laughed fondly at your respective boyfriend’s charm.

“That sounds about right,” you agreed, “and he also… he actually listened to me. He became kinder, more thoughtful, slightly humbler. Slightly. He can only change so much, right? But, working for him so closely, and for him to actually value my help and opinion, I grew to care for him deeply. It was honestly a shock when he asked me out on a date.”

“How so?”

“He never seemed to be the relationship type. Married to his work and all that.”

-

Carlton sighed for the hundredth time as he stared down at the swirling dark liquid in his mug, his twin sitting across from him at the kitchen table. Hermann rolled his eyes, taking a sip of own coffee, then wiped the remnants from his moustache. He studied his brother’s face, trying to discern what was giving him grief.

“You know, twin telepathy doesn’t work if you don’t look at me,” Hermann spoke up, snapping Carlton out of his daze. “You seem troubled.”

Carlton went to open his mouth and sighed again. “I just… I’m scared, Herm.”

Hermann’s brows furrowed, his body leaning forward and ready to listen. “You can tell me anything. You know that.”

“I was going to wait to talk to you about this, but hearing that you and John got engaged, it got me thinking…,” Carlton trailed off, but the implication was there. He raised his head, his brown eyes showing a swirl of excitement and anxiety.

Hermann’s own brown eyes widened. “Whoa, Car, are you serious? This is a big commitment- “

“I know.”

He raised a hand as if to pause him. “Are you sure you’re ready for this, though? There’s no doubt that you two love each other, but marriage is a whole other thing. Even if you work together, there’s many things to consider- “

“Well,” Carlton shrugged, lifting his hands slightly, “how did you and John know when you were ready?”

“When we know that we can work things out, worked on our communication, showing each other respect and consideration,” Hermann listed. “I mean, for me, I just knew, you know? When I first met him, spoke to him for only a day, I felt like I knew him my whole life. It’s different for others.” Hermann then smiled, tilting his head to the side. “How did you know (Y/n) was the one?”

Carlton snorted. “She slapped me and calls me out on my bullshit.” Hermann nodded matter-of-factly, impressed by her potential sister-in-law. Of course, Carlton would fall for someone like that. “She checks in on me, not just reminding me to eat and drink, but my mental state, and she knows when I’m upset or when I’m tired. Sometimes she surprises me with her wit and makes me smile. She just… she’s so intelligent. So beautiful.”

“Ah, the Belle to your Beast,” Hermann mused. “Have you talked about it to her yet?”

Carlton shook his head. “No, I… well, she brought it up a couple of times. Just mentioned things here and there, especially when her friends got married. And I’d just…” He dropped his head.

“You brushed it off,” Hermann finished. He took another sip of coffee and readied himself if his brother wanted to argue. “You know, the longer you drag this, the more she’s going to question the state of your relationship. I’m sure she might wait, but if you keep dismissing the subject- “

“I know.”

-

“Carlton is probably just not ready,” you reasoned, “I mean, he’s so busy right now. Sure, we work and live together, but marriage is another thing, right?”

“I’m afraid it’s not my place to say,” John said, “but I do know that you need to talk to him if it’s bothering you that much. You have the rest of your vacation to discuss it.”

“Right. Of course.”

John lead you back inside as the temperature dropped along with the sun. You plopped yourself on the soft plushie couch in the living room downstairs and hugged the nearest pillow. John sat at the other end with one foot on the floor and the other leg bent on the sofa to accommodate the space. He watched as you sorted through your thoughts, your frown deepening the longer you took.

Eddie and Anne were one of the first of your closest friends to get married. You were so happy for them, happy that they found their way back to each other. You had joked to Carlton that day that you wanted your wedding with him to be bigger and you were sure he can afford it, but he nodded stiffly and looked away. When Tony and Pepper got married, their wedding was extravagant, of course. Tony was a diva and Pepper deserved it for having to put up with Tony as his assistant turned girlfriend and CEO of Start Industries. Tony pointed at Carlton and questioned why he wasn’t marrying his own assistant yet, for which he sneered that it wasn’t any of his business before walking briskly away and leaving you in an awkward position. Tony being Tony tried to make light of the situation while Pepper looked at you sympathetically.

“I guess marriage isn’t for everyone,” you found yourself saying, “maybe he’s fine with the way things are. I mean, we don’t necessarily have to get married. It’s something that’s on a piece of paper. We’re technically under a common law marriage by living together and what not… Right?”

John shrugged. “Again, I can’t say for you, (Y/n).”

-

Carlton ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “What if she says no?”

His brother gave an indignant laugh. “And what if she says yes? Carlton, it’s been almost a whole day since I’ve met (Y/n) and the way she looks at you, the way she talks about you… she’s crazy about you. And,” he emphasized, pointing at him, “she’s crazy to even be with you.”

Carlton smiled at this, then frowned. “She deserved better,” he muttered.

Hermann sputtered at the sudden change. “Are you serious? What happened to my confident and arrogant brother?”

“This is different! I’ve… I’ve never been in this deep before! I’m scared,” he repeated his earlier confession. “You know how it was, right? We were looked down for so long and I wanted my visions to be put into action and show the world what I can do. I didn’t have anything to lose when I rose from nothing.”

Hermann leaned his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his palm. “This is more than just fear that she’ll say no,” he realized.

Carlton stared at his hands. “What if I can’t give her everything?”

“Well, what does the word ‘everything’ mean to her?”

-

You tightened your hold on the pillow and looked up at John who was watching you carefully. “What if I’m not enough for him?” you asked softly.

John’s eyebrows turned up at the hint of sadness in your tone. “If you’re not enough for him, then nothing else will ever be,” he said firmly, resting a comforting hand on your knee. “Then, if that’s the case, he is not good enough for you.”

“It’s just that…,” you took a moment to gather your thoughts again, tracing patterns on the pillow, “he never really talks much about being fully content with anything.”

-

Carlton shrugged. “She always seemed to be okay with a lot of things. It’s not to say she doesn’t voice her opinions, it’s just… no matter what gift I give her, no matter where I take her, she always seemed so… happy. What if one day she’s not? What am I to do then?”

-

John suddenly stands up. “It’s getting late and you had a long day. We should get some rest,” he suggested, helping you up. “And I think you know what you should talk about with Carlton.”

You nodded. “Yeah. Thank you for listening, by the way. I don’t think you invited us here to talk about our relationship problems,” you said sheepishly.

“It’s no problem, (Y/n).”

John headed back to the main house while you trudged up the stairs to the bedroom, changing into your pajamas before climbing into bed.

-

Hermann stood up, grabbing the now empty mugs and headed towards the kitchen sink. He spotted his fiancé making his back through the walkway and said, “It’s getting late. You should head back and rest.”

Carlton silently agreed, hoisting himself up slowly. “Thanks for listening, Herm.”

“And you know what you need to talk about to (Y/n)?”

Carlton nodded.

“Good.”

Carlton passed John on his way back, muttering a goodnight to each other before heading towards their respective partners. When he turned to close the door to the extension, he spotted John enveloping Hermann into a warm hug, kissing the top of his head while they spoke softly. Carlton looked away and made his way to the bedroom where he spotted you curled up under the sheets. He climbed in slowly as to not disturb you and wrapped an arm around your form. You hummed, grabbing his hand and fell back asleep.

You had a whole vacation to talk things through and he wasn’t going to miss up the opportunity.

[littledozerdraws]

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[littledozerdraws]

The Chemical Husbands ⛏💰🧪

[littledozerdraws]

Hermann never shied away from his innate curiosity - a scientist’s mind, constantly inquisitive - and so it didn’t surprise John much that an idle comment about the difference in their build led to the two of them stripping down in the stuffy midday heat stewing inside their shared tent. Hermann had asked, without cynicism, “May I see?” and John saw no reason to deny him.

full image and more fic under the cut!! written by wonderful @drawsaurus​

“As children, my brothers and I ran about the homestead naked, of course, having no sister to chastise us,” Hermann started. John settled in for a story, happy to let Hermann’s fingertips rove over his bony kneecaps and hair-dark shins. “And, on the trail, the men washed together whenever we had clean enough water, sharing a dirty bar of soap; but everyone always turned their gazes. We liked to pretend to be polite society, on that trail, though everybody knew it was a sham.”

Hermann’s smile slipped ever so slightly, as it always did when he was reminded of humanity’s low morals, and John immediately missed it. He reached out and slid both hands up Hermann’s arms from wrist to elbow: his own exploration perhaps more loaded, but if Hermann noticed or minded, he didn’t show it.

“The last time I touched a man’s body, we were mostly rutting through our clothes,” Hermann carried on. John was startled by his candour, and it was not an unpleasant shock. “Barely in our twenties, so I was even skinner, if you can imagine, and he was very unlike you - lanky and tall, blond, perhaps some Danish lineage in his blood. He was hairy--” and here Hermann spread his palm on John’s broad chest as though he were a well-behaved pup to reward with a hearty pet - “like you are, but very pale, almost bleached. As I said, we did not see much of each other’s skin.”

They touched each other carefully for a moment. Collarbone, pelvic joint, sternum, the soft divot inside an elbow. Hermann was delightfully sensitive on the soles of his feet. His fingers brushed over the darkest thatch of hair above John’s soft prick: not a meaningful pressure, but neither was it embarrassed or fleeting.

“You are very matter of fact,” John told him.

“I like to take things at face value,” Hermann replied, almost humming. “Even if that is not always the spirit they are given.”

“Then I shall strive to give you every part of me openly and honestly.”

“John,” Hermann said, laughter in his voice. It was an absurd thing to reiterate, given their current state of undress.

“John.” Hermann said once more, softer this time.

[eisoj5]

Chapter 4 of we would enter the wilderness together is up! Now with, uh, existential depression :P