#and the bit with Chris not being able yo open doors

[dizzybevvie]

Why was the Until Dawn fandub literally life changing

[astayinwonderland]

"Your surprise is here..." | minchan

pairing: bang chan x f.reader x lee know

genre: smut || a little plot || +18 MDNI

summary: chan is very observant and he just knows you have a thing for minho... [enjoy! (;]

word count: 1.7k

warnings: threesome (ish?), voyeurism, exhibitionism, pet names, fingering, oral (f-receiving and m-receiving), slight mention of degradation, praise kink...

also english is not my first language

You are in love with Christopher Bang. It was always hard to picture yourself with someone and not be scared of them leaving you in the future. But with him, it was different. Chan is a man who values honesty and communication. Since day one, somehow he has extended to you warmth and trust making it impossible not to like him. Now, loving him, that was something else. What didn’t you love about your boyfriend? Is he flawed? Yes, of course, so are you. But it is in his flaws and in his caring nature that you get to be unapologetically you, no secrets, no burdens. 

One of the things you have learned about Chan in the time you’ve been together is how observant he is. You have little tells when you’re excited, sad, joyful, horny, extremely horny, and he loves being able to tell so diligently. Even when sometimes you are not aware of how your body reacts. 

Chan had his suspicions, but just by looking at you, he confirms it. You have a silly little crush on his friend and bandmate Minho. It’s not just the way you giggle a little bit too much when he makes a joke, it is the way your hand touches his arm for a brief second, the way you seem to arch your back a little bit for him to casually look at your breasts for a second or two, the way you smile at him with that flirty spark in your eyes.  Yeah, you wanted Minho, and Chan was not jealous because at the end of the day, he wants what you want and to please you was his religion. 

So one night Chan makes all the pieces fall into place, he is a man with a plan. 

Spending the night with Chan is the definition of lovely. You can barely keep your hands off each other. Cuddling, playing pranks on each other, cooking together, having him inside you… you name it. However, you didn’t know what your man was orchestrating behind your back. 

So now you find yourself kissing him, one of your favourite things to do. Chan has a way of kissing you that instantly melts you, it is never enough, you want his lips on yours forever. It starts slow, he wants to just see if you’re in the mood… so he waits and observes as you are both sitting on his couch. His sensual lips caress yours, asking for permission to kiss you. When you do, he pulls you closer, making you straddle his lap so he can put his hands on your waist. You part your lips for him and the faintest moan leaves you and the way Chan’s tongue teases your bottom lip makes your hips roll against his. 

“Hmmm, are we impatient, my love?” he whispers. 

“You know I am…” you reply breathlessly. “Now please kiss me, Chris, fuck me.”

Chan chuckles as you leave wet kisses down his jawline and neck. 

The doorbell rings. 

“Your surprise is here,” Chan looks into your eyes. They are wide with excitement, and dark with lust. 

Your boyfriend carefully lets go of you. Your pajama shorts are wet from your arousal and your bralette leaves little to the imagination. 

“There’s someone here for you, but if you don’t want to do this… we can stop,” Chan runs his hands over his blonde hair that slightly curls at the top. 

“What do you mean?” your heart races as he opens the door and Minho’s eyes look right into yours, and then to your nipples hardening under your bralette. 

“Minho?” you look at Chan. You try to find something to cover yourself with, he shouldn’t see you like this. 

Minho walks in, his eyes glued to your figure and you can’t help but feel like a piece of meat for these two men. An unspoken fantasy come true. 

“Baby, you have a little thing for Minho, am I right?” 

You panic. It was always something stupid and innocent, you love Chan. You blink and your eyes go to Chan, then to Minho, and back to Chan. 

“I–” you start but he shushs you. 

Shit. 

“I just want you to have fun, Minho here wonders if you are an obedient good girl. Would you like to show him, baby?” 

Minho still says nothing and Chan smirks in a way you feel your clit throbbing in need of attention. Chan nods to Minho and they walk together closer to your figure. Chan kisses the back of your hand and draws little circles with his thumb over your fingers, reassuring you it’s okay and in that moment you know this is the man you are in love with. He is selfless, he is exciting, he is lustful, he loves to watch. 

“Kiss her,” Chan tells Minho, but it is you who pulls Minho towards your lips. Your needy fingers entangling on his purple hair, drawing a deep groan for him. 

“That’s it, good girl. You wanted him so bad, didn’t you, baby? Well… now it’s time to follow what I say, yeah?” 

You try to nod as you bring Minho with you to the couch Chan sits opposite of you. 

“Baby, strip for us, would ya?” 

Only then do you stop kissing Minho, his eyes half-opened, lips swollen, ears red. You slowly unclasp your bralette and toss it on the floor. Minho’s mouth watering at the sight of beautiful tits, an arm’s distance from his wanting tongue, but when you pull down your pajama shorts… shit. Is he in heaven or in hell? 

“She is beautiful, isn’t she?” 

And for the first time since he came into the apartment you hear Minho’s voice. 

“She’s exquisite, hyung,” Minho’s eyes never leaving your tits. 

Your eyes are glued on Chan, how he palms his very noticeable erection in an attempt to relieve himself a little bit. He winks at you, he is really enjoying himself. 

“Lick her tits, she will whimper if you blow on her nipples first and then suck them really hard.” 

You don’t have time to process the words coming from your boyfriend’s mouth when Minho’s mouth and hands are already on you. Just as Chan said, Minho first licks your tits, his flat tongue working wonders. Chan’s eyes encourage you to let out your majestic moans, the ones that drive him insane. 

“C’mon, my love, let Minho know how good he’s doing,” Chan says, but that’s when Minho blows on your right nipple and sucks hard, his crafty tongue switching between circling it and sucking while his fingers pinch and slightly pull your left one. 

“Ah! Fuck–mmhh, shit–” you whimper under Minho’s touch. 

You see Chan close his eyes in delight, finally freeing himself from his joggers. His perfect cock delighting your eyes, you want to suck him off, your adorable, perfect, boyfriend. 

Minho didn’t stop there, he had you arching your back for him, almost crying for him to give you more. His mouth moves to your neck, licking and kissing you until his fingers tease your fold. 

“Fuck, Minho, put your fingers in me already,” you beg. 

“No, baby, he has to taste you first. Your taste alone will make him, cum, believe me.” 

You moan at his words, so Minho puts his thumb in your mouth and you suck. You suck his thumb as the little needy slut you are because you want to suck Chan off so bad. Your brain can’t process the pleasure Minho is giving you and the sight of Chan jerking off to his friend going down on his girlfriend. 

Minho first rubs your clit with his nose and cries are leaving your mouth as your eyes shut in pleasure. 

“Make her cum. It’s the least you can do after she’s been so good to us, don’t you think?” The fact that Chan speaks as if you weren’t there makes your head spin and your pussy clenches, eager to cum for both of these men. 

So Minho gets to work. His tongue circles your clit as one finger slides into you, the squelching sound of your dripping hole making both men moan in unison. 

“Baby, how are you feeling, is Minho making you feel good?” 

“Yes… yes–f…uck, yes, Chris,” you moan. 

Chan smiles, he knows that when ‘Chris’ falls from your lips your brain is somewhere else. You are a goner. Head so plagued with pleasure your only aim is to climb higher and higher and get the mind-blowing release your body craves so much. This is Chan’s queue to finally stand beside you. He watches as Minho adds another finger in you, his motions quick, filled with lust as you pant and moan his name and Chris’s. 

“I need you in my mouth,” you beg, looking at Chan. “Please, Chris, please, fuck! Minho!” you can’t seem to finish one thought when another wave of unmeasurable pleasure washes over you. Minho flicked his tongue over your bundle of nerves his hand now fisting his erect cock that was trapped in his tight jeans. 

Chan obeys your command, he wants his baby happy and fucked out. So he thrusts inside your mouth as you moan for him. Hollowing your cheeks as you try your best to take him all in. Minho spits on your pussy and this is it, you are so close, his fingers moving so good in and out of you. Both men begin to talk you into cuming. 

“Baby, you are doing so good for–u-us… such a dirty, dirty little thing,” Chan pants, close to cuming as well. 

“Cum, please please cum, I want you all over my face,” Minho grunts and he is cuming on his hand. 

Chan pulls out and his hand work on his cock angling it to your tits as his eyes roll back, while he cums and cums all over you and fucking hell, you cum with him. You feel like you are ascending to a never-ending feeling of euphoria as you cum with a loud cry, making your head explode and see stars behind your eyelids. 

“Fuck…” is all you manage to say before your body lies limp on the couch. 

“Shit, baby, you are amazing,” Chan kisses you. 

You then reach for Minho’s adorable face which is buried between your legs and kiss him, tasting you in his mouth. 

“Next time, tell me exactly what you want, baby.” 

You nod. 

“Thank you,” Minho whispers and you run your hand through his hair. 

“Let’s clean her up,” and with that, the two men gather their strength to take you to the shower… but this was just round one of a steamy night that would not be easily forgotten.

___________________________________

a/n: this is pure ✨fiction✨ -- this idea wouldn't let me sleep so I just poured everything I got into this and it took a toll on my soul... totally worth it though.

let me know if you would like to be a part of my taglist :3

[siredtosturniolos]

YOU

paring: chris sturniolo x reader

part 1 of ???

summary: your best friend madi set you up on a blind date with one of her closest friends. you go and have a decent time, but ultimately decide there’s no second date. chris doesn’t like that, and resorts to extreme measures to get YOU.

warnings: stalking, dumb!reader, mentions of drinking/going to a bar idk

authors note: guys i hope you guys like this as much as i do LMAO i just love joe goldberg (this is gonna be so long help) (also i love jake webber sm so he’s in this for a bit!) (everyone is a couple years older in this, the triplets are famous but it’s never brought up) (hopefully there’s not many mistakes i’ve read it too many times LMAO)

word count: 3,936

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰*.:｡✧*.｡:｡*.｡✱ ���──

the last few weeks you can’t help but notice the unsettling sensation of always feeling like you have somebody’s eyes on you. walking around your house with the curtains open became such a hassle, always drawing them shut when chills would rake down your spine. you were constantly checking that your front door was locked, unable to shake the feeling of a presence that you don’t know about being with you.

you were getting more and more paranoid, traveling to and from work constantly having to look behind you, hearing things that aren’t there such as footsteps. slowly overtime you notice some of your belongings missing. such as your favorite lingerie set, your childhood blanket, and even t-shirts and shorts that you wouldn’t otherwise miss, until you were looking for them.

you finally confessed to madi what’s been happening, resulting in her and laura coming over. they helped you change your locks and make sure all of the windows on the ground floor of your two-story town house fully locked and weren’t able to open from the outside.

you were terrified to say the least.

you did your best to shake the feeling as you got ready for a date. you had met him at a bar just down the street, as you refused to let madi set you up with another friend after you had met chris. you had a good time with him, but he just seems slightly off in a way that you couldn’t place. it was like he knew you before he ever met you, and it kind of freaked you out.

at the time you just shrugged it off and assumed madi was hyping you up and telling him lots of things about you, but when you asked her about it a few days after the date, she said she hadn’t told him much other than your name and age.

chris kept texting and calling you, trying to make plans or inviting himself to your house, you decided to just block him. madi had reached out shortly after saying that chris was trying to get a hold of you. you had explained to her what was going on, feeling bad as you know madi would beat herself up over this.

madi was shocked and said that she would let chris know to leave you alone.

your heels clicked against the floor as you made your way around your apartment, doublechecking your back door was locked, you even put your trashcan in in front of it so if somebody did get in, it would be knocked over. you make your way out of your place once you feel everything is secure, locking and dead-bolting the door, you trudged down the steps.

before you know it you’re at the bar you met jake at, and quickly find your way to the bar, where the two of you agreed to meet.

you instantly spot his tall frame, grinning to yourself as you approach him. “jake.” you greet politely, sitting down on the stool next to him.

he greets you back enthusiastically, “you look great.” he smirks down at you, letting his eyes scan your body. you were wearing a black long sleeve dress, with black heels. you wanted to keep it basic as you were just meeting up in a bar to get to know each other over some drinks.

your cheeks flush, “thank you, you do too.” you shyly compliment him back. the two of you order your drinks, and begin chatting, finding that you both have lots of things in common.

at some point through the night, you found yourself scooting closer and closer to jake. your knees now pressing against one another. jake brought his hand down to your knee and began rubbing it. he leans towards you as the bartender took away your now empty glasses, a warm buzz setting over your body.

“do you want to get out of here?” he quietly asks you, tugging one of his snake bite piercings into his mouth.

you bite your lip in anticipation, “my place or yours?” you seductively ask, making jake spring to his feet and instantly help you off the stool you had been sitting on all night.

the two of you quickly make your way back to your place, as it was closer than jake’s, his hands wandering your body as you pull out your keys. you look up to your door and freeze. shock courses through your body at the sight, it had been slightly left open.

“oh shit,” jake mumbles, turning to look down at you, “forget to lock up before you left?” he asked questionably, shuffling to the side slightly so he could enter first.

“no, i swear i had it locked. i even remembered to deadbolt it.” you nervously reply, no idea as to what could be lurking inside your home. you definitely didn’t want to tell jake you more than likely have a stalker, considering this was your first date with him.

“i’ll go check it out.” jake offers. he pushes the door open slightly, making it creek eerily, sending goosebumps across your arms.

“are you crazy? i’m not staying out here by myself. i’ll go with you.” you insist, taking a step to follow him.

he turns his head to look at you over his shoulder, “fine, but just stay behind me.” you nod in agreement, lightly trailing behind him up your stairs.

the two of you slowly make your way into your town house and you quickly flick on the lights. you both observe the floor plan for any signs of movement.

when you see there’s nobody down here, you and jake look at each other before looking up the stairs that were right by the front door.

jake makes a move towards the stairs and you stop him, “shouldn’t we take a weapon or something?” you ask incredulously, making him freeze in his spot. maybe this guy doesn’t have the best common sense, but at least he’s hot.

“yeah, we probably should.” jake replies, as he slowly and quietly makes his way towards your kitchen. you grab the baseball bat behind your front door, thanking the gods above that it’s still there. jake shuffles about in your kitchen for a moment before he comes back with a knife.

taking a deep breath to calm your nerves, you follow behind jake as he leads the way up the stairs. you had two bedrooms and a bathroom up there.

your hallway light was on, so you had the advantage of being able to slightly see into the rooms. jake quickly enters one room and flicks on the light, holding the knife out from his chest, twisting his head back-and-forth looking for any signs of life. once you both deem the room as clear, you move onto the bathroom located right next-door.

you’re shocked when the light turns on, the shower curtain is open, and all of your shower products scattered on the floor.

“that wasn’t like that when i left.” you mumbled to jake, chills shooting down your spine.

someone had definitely been in here.

the only place left to check was your bedroom, and you were terrified as the thought of someone being in there someone waiting for you. what if you didn’t bring jake home with you tonight?

jake makes his move quick, turning on the light and stepping into the room. you’re right behind him, frantically searching to see if anything was missing or out of place.

your eyes land on your bed and a gasp escapes your lips. there’s flowers all over your bed, and a black velvet box sitting on one of your pillows. jake checks under your bed and in your closet before lowering his weapon setting it on your dresser

“this is freaky.” jake comments, rounding the bed and grabbing the black box. you move to stand next to him as he peels the box open, revealing a beautiful necklace. it was a pink diamond heart, with a ring around it to make it look like a planet on a silver chain.

“that looks familiar.” you murmured to jake, racking your brain to figure out where you had seen something like that before.

before you could place it, your front door slammed shut making the two of you jump in fear. jake raced down the stairs to see a man running away from your apartment, dressed in all black with his hood up.

“what the fuck?” jake yelled, while opening the door and stepping outside. it was no use as the figure had turned the corner and was out of sight.

“should we call the cops?” you ask jake, trembling slightly as you realize that more than likely, that man been in your house while you were still still looking for him.

jake turns to face you, “go pack a bag and you can stay with me or I can take you somewhere safe. it’s up to you about the cops, but by the time they get here he’ll be long gone.”

you nod wordlessly, and make your way back upstairs quickly changing into a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. slipping on your white nike’s you pack your bag. immediately once you’re done, you start texting madi saying that you needed to stay over.

“tonight was fun.” you joke softly to jake, as he drives towards madi’s home.

jake looks over you briefly, grinning, “i did have a good time but that ending was not what i expected.” he replied you, making you nod in agreement.

jake pulled into madi’s driveway, madi instantly running to the car.

“are you okay? is everything okay?” she hurriedly asks, helping you open the door and taking your bag for you.

“if you somehow want a second date, you have my number.” you tell jake as you shut the door. you wave at him, offering him a smile before you and madi make it inside of her house.

you noticed there’s several pairs of shoes by her front door when you kick off your own, you looked at her questionably, to find her already looking at you apologetically.

“who’s here?” you ask as the two of you made your way towards her living room.

“i’m sorry i didn’t you would be coming over but the triplets are here.” madi replies, just as you both enter the living room to find nick, matt, and chris sitting on her couch.

all three of them to look at you and madi, and you can’t help but feel incredibly awkward. you glance towards the tv, to see a movie paused about half way through.

great, i just interrupted their movie night, you think to yourself.

“hey.” nick greets you casually offering you a smile. you grin back at him in acknowledgment before taking a seat next to madi on the loveseat. nick had always been chill, occasionally crashing sleepovers at madi’s house. you didn’t mind, he was pretty fun to be around.

you had only met matt a few times, not really able to give an opinion on the man. he seemed very closed off, like he wanted people to work if they wanted to get to know him. you admired that about him, as you tend to have word vomit and end up oversharing frequently.

“okay, what the hell happened?” madi demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

biting your lip softly, glancing to the triplets, who are still focused on you. they were madi’s closest friends, there’s no harm in them hearing the story too.

“i was taking my date back to my place and when we get there, my front door is open but we ended up not finding anyone. they messed with my shower, and they put flowers all over my bed and gave me a necklace.” you explained briefly, shortening the story. you left out the part of seeing a guy running away from your apartment, you’d wait to tell her that when you were alone.

“what the fuck.” madi comments, raising her eyebrows in shock.

“damn, you have a full on stalker.” matt commented, making your eyes shoot to his. he had an apologetic look on his face.

“yeah, this isn’t even the first time they have been in my house though.” you reply, leaning back into the cushion behind you.

“what?” nick gasped, turning to fully face you. you decide to overshare, telling them all of the times you had noticed someone entering your home without you knowing. even when you were there yourself.

chris was rather quiet, his eyes darting from you to madi, to his brothers. he was nervously fidgeting with the blanket on his lap, subtlety tucking his necklace underneath his shirt.

you suddenly decide to let madi and the triplets know the full story, “i know it was crazy. we were in my room when we heard my front door slam, but by the time we got down there, we could just see the person leaving.” you tell them, not missing how chris’ eyes grow in size, a worried expression etching onto his face.

“that’s actually so scary. what are you going to do?” madi asked, resting her hand on your arm attempting to comfort you.

you shrugged, “i think i’m gonna go to the police station and see if they’re any help in the morning. i just know that i can’t stay there tonight.”

“i’m so sorry you’re going through this.” chris suddenly speaks up. you meet his eyes, and he genuinely looks apologetic for you.

“nothing i can’t handle i suppose.” you offer him a small smile.

you zone out for the next hour, overthinking every possible scenario of what could’ve happened tonight. the movie everyone else was watching when you got here ended, making madi announce she was going to bed.

“you sure you’re good to sleep down here?” madi asked you, as you offered to stay on the loveseat since chris was getting the couch and matt was getting the spare room.

nick was going to sleep in madi’s room with her and you didn’t want to mess up their plans any more than you already had.

“yeah, i’ll be fine. i’ve done it before.” you assure her with a shrug, before she handed you the pillow and blanket she had went and gotten for you.

“okay,” she sighs, “you know where i’m at if you need me.” with that, she turned on her heel and made her way to her bedroom where nick was waiting for her.

“do you fall asleep with the tv on?” chris asked, making you turn towards him. he had the remote in his hand, slightly leaning upwards to look at you from a few feet away.

“i do you,” quietly reply, “but if you don’t, i can survive one night without it.”

chris immediately shakes his head, “i fall asleep with the tv on too don’t worry.” he offers you a smile before loading up a random movie you had never seen before.

the two of you sit in a comfortable silence, leaving you to your thoughts. you can’t help but think about the date you and chris shared a few months ago, was it as bad as you really thought it was or were you just overthinking?

being around chris tonight made you realize he might just have a strong personality. he’s been rather low-key tonight and that’s something you’re deeply attracted to.

“hey chris?” you quietly ask, unsure if he’s sleeping or not. you turn your head to the right to look at the couch just in time to see chris fully sit up to look at you.

“what’s up?” he asked, bringing his knees to his chest as he looks at you.

“i’m sorry for how things went between us.” you quietly apologize, doing your best to meet his eyes in the dark room.

he offers a small smile, “it’s okay, i think i just came on a little too strong because i was so excited to even have a chance with you.”

your cheeks flush at his confession, “how was your date with jake tonight?” he asked, making you frown as you realize you hadn’t thought of him once since arriving.

you pause, slowly turning to look back at chris, “how’d you know i went on a date with jake?” you ask, knowing you hadn’t brought up his name when retelling the story an hour ago.

chris freezes, “i think madi mentioned it when you texted her earlier.” he replies after a beat of silence, leaving you on edge but letting it go anyways.

“it was fine.” you finally speak, answering his first question, while shrugging your shoulders. “he’s not really boyfriend material.”

chris’s eyebrows raise at your reply, “so what was the point of going out with him?” he questions, a puzzled expression set on his face.

your cheeks burn, even hotter, “think about it, chris. what else is there to do when you don’t want to date someone?” you sheepishly reply as you watch the realization wash over his face.

“oh, so you wanted to fuck?” he asked a small smirk appearing on his lips. bashfully you nodded, surprised that you’re keeping yourself together with this conversation. chris bites his lip as he looks at you, and you can barely see his eyes glance down at your lips before he briefly closes them.

“if you ever want to give me another chance, i’m here.” chris comments before he lays back down so now his back is facing you.

your heartbeat jumps at his words, and his low tone of voice. your thighs clench together, your brain fighting over which dirty scenario to think about first.

you get lost in your thoughts, and before you know it you had fallen asleep. you wake up pretty early as you never sleep well when you’re not in your bed. you sit up after you see chris is still sound asleep, this time facing you. you can’t help but think how cute he looks while he’s asleep.

his head is resting on the pillow, and his arms are tightly wrapped underneath. his lips are slightly parted, and his hair flopped perfectly over his forehead. it was longer than when you went out with him, and you can’t help but like it more.

you catch yourself staring and you quickly look away before you shuffle your feet to go to the bathroom. you do your business, brushing your teeth and changing your clothes.

grabbing your bag and you set it by the front door, returning to the living room to leave madi a note.

going to the police station, i’ll call you when i get home. love you.

you quickly scribble that onto a napkin, leaving it at the center of the table before you make your exit of madi’s house and walk to the police station. it was only a 20 minute walk, and you can feel your blood pressure rise as you enter the building, instantly meeting eyes with a woman behind a desk.

“what can i do for you, hon?” she asked offering you a wide smile. your nerves slightly washed away at her friendly expression, as you leaned against the counter.

“i have to report a break-in from my possible stalker, that I know nothing about.” you inform her, watching the smile slip from her face. instantly she’s on her feet searching through folders before handing you a sheet of paper and a pen.

“fill this out for me and we will get to the bottom of this for you.” she offers a sad smile, sitting back down you walked to one of the waiting chairs, and instantly fill out the papers.

your address, your name, and any incident revolving any sort of suspicious activity. you fill it out faster than expected, as she was shocked to see you back on your feet in front of her.

she glances over the paper curiously, “okay, i’ll see if we have any officers able to do an inspection.” the woman speaks, taking the paper with her, you watched as she disappeared around the corner.

10 minutes later, you’re in the back of a cop car getting driven to your house. you were silent for the ride as the cop instructed you to stay in the car until he does a sweep through.

once he comes outside, you instantly step out of the car, “i took some photos, but there’s not much we can do at the moment, unfortunately. you’ll have to keep reporting any incident’s, preferably as soon as they occur, so there’s a higher chance of finding evidence or whoever is doing this to you.” he explains, making your heart drop.

there’s nothing they can do for you.

he has a little plastic baggie in his hand containing some of the flowers and the velvet box that held the necklace.

“thank you for taking the time to come out here.” you reply, as you make your way inside.

you text madi, letting her know what the cops said, as you sit on your couch in silence. you lean back against your couch as tears brim your waterline, feeling completely hopeless.

you were surprised when you suddenly woke up, not even realizing you had dozed off amidst your crying. you push the blanket that was resting on your chest off, feeling overheated, before you freeze.

you weren’t using a blanket before you fell asleep. chills ran down your spine as you quickly glanced around the room. your eyes settle on the kitchen table, a vase of flowers now sitting in the middle.

you cautiously get up, checking your surroundings as you slowly walk towards the flowers. there was a white envelope resting in the middle of the bouquet. your hand instantly grips your phone from your pocket, wanting to call the police but something stops you.

you don’t know how long ago he was in here, what’s the point in calling?

you carefully pick up the envelope, barely touching the edges as you don’t want your finger prints on it. you lift the flap, shaking it slightly for the folded up piece of paper to fall onto your table.

you take a deep breath before you unfold the paper, your jaw dropping at the amount of writing.

baby, don’t be scared. i’m just trying to show you how much i love you with the gifts. i was really disappointed when i saw the cop leaving with your necklace. did you not like it? you looked so pretty when you were sleeping, your tear strained cheeks and your pouty lips looked so kissable. i controlled myself, you’re going to be awake for our first kiss. you’ll be begging for it. now, the real reason i gave you these flowers. they’re a reminder for you, and anyone else, that you are MINE. i don’t want to see you with jake again. you wouldn’t want him to get hurt, would you baby? i’ll be seeing you soon my love.

your jaw is on the floor by the time you’re done reading it, instantly pulling out your phone to call jake. you’re searching for what seems like forever, not able to find his contact in your messages. you search jake, and are shocked to see no contacts come up.

goosebumps cover your arms as you realize, he had gotten on your phone and deleted jake’s contact. the only way you could get in touch with him. your breathing quickens, as you feel a rush of panic wash over you.

before you could move, a warm cloth is placed over your mouth, and a body pressed against your back. instantly you’re fighting to get away from them, but the arm that had slipped around your waist, tugging you into their body tightly, prevented you from getting away.

“shh baby, just relax.” a deep voice whispers in your ear, as you begin to feel light headed. your eyes slowly start to droop shut, despite your desperate attempt to keep them open. the man slowly removes the cloth from your nose, letting you suck in a deep breath before you fall limp.

[skzhocomments]

Mafia Book #2 - PART I - The Black Iris - Chapter 1 - Breathe in and jump

Story masterlist - please consult it for the summary of the story, trigger warnings etc.

General masterlist

Chapter 1 (current chapter) - Wattpad | AO3

Chapter 2

---

PART I - THE BLACK IRIS

Chapter 1 - Breathe in and jump

chapter word count: 4.2k words

~Third person POV~

"Yo! Are you back already? Our Yongbok is doing so well!" Minho smiled sweetly, seeing Hyunjin and Felix open the kitchen door.

"Yea, he's doing amazing." Hyunjin praised. "He still has to take it easy, but..."

"I'm alright." Felix intervened. "It's already been a year; I can move and breathe normally now."

"That's great to hear, Lix. Soon enough you're gonna join on missions again." Lee Know poured some coffee in a mug and handed it over to Felix.

"I'm thrilled." Felix joked, grabbing the mug. He hesitated a bit before asking something that's been on his mind the whole day, taking a sip of his drink instead: "So... Did you see him today?"

"Who, Chris? I did, yea."

"Mhm. How is he doing...?"

"... Stick up his butt like usual." Minho replied sombrely. "He looks like he hasn't slept in 2 weeks, and he probably hasn't."

"Fuck." Hyunjin cursed under his breath. "I don't even know what to say... I love him, but he needs therapy... like yesterday."

"Who needs therapy?" Chris entered the big kitchen and nonchalantly walked towards the fridge, grabbing a cold water bottle.

"Boss?! I meant-"

"I don't need anything, Hyunjin. I'm perfectly fine." The leader replied coldly.

He's been like that ever since he cast away the love of his life, Emilia.

He simply couldn't forgive himself for his stupid actions that brought her death one year ago, so he did what he knew best: he let his soul die as well, with her, and he focused solely on Stray Kids.

He became the most heartless Mafia leader there was, not caring about anything else but building his empire to be able to protect the only people he cared about.

He killed, killed, and killed anyone and anything mercilessly, unable to feel even the slightest bit of remorse.

He would do so with a straight face, for his soul was as vacant as an empty shell.

The members knew this all too well, but no matter what they would say or do, it wouldn't matter. The Chan they all knew and loved was too far gone, only a ruthless monster that swore to protect them left in his place.

Therefore, it's safe to say that Stray Kids' House was no longer the happy place filled with laughter it once was. A gloomy energy hung around in the air, and there was an especially uncomfortable tension between the oldest – Chris – and the youngest member – Jeongin. None of them wanted to address it, though, so they let themselves grow distant and turned a blind eye to the other's suffering.

With Chris being so unavailable emotionally, it all fell on Minho to pick up the pieces. After all, he was the next in command when it came to their Mafia.

He would go ever so often in the leader's place to represent the Mafia, especially internationally, since he took over the gun trade business with Momo after Hyo's passing.

~

As Minho found himself once again leaving the house in the middle of the night, he pulled out a cigarette from his pack – the second one he bought today – and headed towards nowhere in particular.

The night's breeze felt cold against his cheeks, as he leisurely walked around the empty streets of the city. He used these calm moments to contemplate on why everything fell apart so horribly.

Well, not everything. Their mafia was more prosperous than ever. The Empire Chan's father built - the North Side, as it used to be called – was only a little kid compared to the territory Stray Kids managed to take over in the past year. It was quite scary, frankly, what Chan was capable of when he dedicated his whole energy towards something.

However, everything comes at a price. To welcome this new change, all of them – Chan, more than anyone else – changed drastically.

How could losing one girl affect him so much, Minho wondered?

It was dumb to be so blinded by love.

Love, what even is that? Minho asked himself and continued walking on the icy streets.

Sure, he understood the concept of it. He thought what he felt for his members could probably be described as love; he cried seeing Felix almost dead last year, and his heart burned with Chris' from the loss of his Shade. But could love screw you up so badly to make you become an entirely different person once you lose it?

Well, that wasn't exactly true, and Minho knew it all too well, for Chan didn't only lose the love of his life; he was also betrayed by someone he thought to be a little sister he held precious. And worst of all, he blamed himself for everything that happened.

Guiltiness is one of the harshest feelings that can weigh down on you, and both Chris and Minho felt it stronger each day, for each of them held part of the blame.

Chan – for everything he did wrong one year ago, and Minho – for allowing himself to be played like a violin by Hyo and turn Chan against Emilia, who did nothing wrong but put her trust in the people she considered friends.

Thus, Minho couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for the downfall of his leader's life.

What could he do differently to make Chris be his old self, or at least a fraction of his old self? Or actually – was there even anything he could do?

~

It was one of these nights that Minho found something in particular that caught his eye. Or rather – someone.

He was once again out walking aimlessly in the middle of the night when he decided to cross one of the many bridges over the river.

After half the distance and reluctantly remembering that he has a busy day tomorrow, he pressed his back on the railing and lit up a cigarette.

Inhaling the smoke and relaxing, he allowed himself to stop thinking of everything that went wrong for a moment. Or at least try to.

That's when he spotted her, on the other side, smoking a cigarette herself.

She was dressed elegantly, in an all-black pencil skirt stopping right above her knees and a dark blazer, topped with a delicious pair of red bottoms black high heels.

Definitely my type, Minho thought, admiring the sight.

He was a man, after all.

Just seeing her felt entertaining enough for the 5 minutes long cigarette break he took, so when he was done, he threw it on the ground, stomping it with his foot, and forgot all about the girl with the pretty silhouette and slutty high heels.

~

A month or so later, the night brought him to the bridge again, his back supported by the same railing. It was an unorthodox hour, just like last time, and there she was, lighting up a cigarette.

This time, though, she was dressed more casually: black trousers and the same elegant blazer, no high heels, a pair of black loafers hugging her feet instead.

The same perfect silhouette prompted Minho to watch her from the other side once again, taking note of her late-night activities. She would chain smoke her cigarettes, no breaks in-between, and she would sometimes shift her weight from one leg to the other. Her elbows were promptly supporting her on the bridge's railing.

He couldn't see her face, for she was looking far in the horizon, her back turned to him, but Minho already thought she was beautiful, just for the way she was carrying herself. That's something you observe after being in his line of work for a while. There's a lot you can tell about someone from their mannerisms, from how straight they keep their back and from how high they hold their head.

After admiring her for a while, he decided to let her be and left to his business, taking note of the time on his watch. He had more important things to do than watch a random woman smoke.

What was she doing there, anyway?

It was too late for a woman to be alone there, in the middle of a random bridge. The thought that she was a hooker passed Minho's mind, but he quickly realised that it wasn't the case, as he kept returning to the same spot again and again and seeing her religiously follow the same ritual: cigarette after cigarette, shifting her weight from the left leg to the right and back every 15 minutes or so, and looking far away in the horizon, as if lost in thought.

Soon enough, he started to become curious. Who was she, and why was she there every night?

He knew it was stupid to wonder, especially since he did the same thing as her, coming there every night for no particular reason, but still, he couldn't understand why she kept going to the bridge just to smoke and look at the pitch black in front of her, for he was sure she wasn't able to see anything, and the water was too far down to be able to even hear it that well.

~

He's been watching the girl in secrecy for some time now. After all, it would've been hard to explain to the members that he was basically stalking someone he doesn't even know the face of yet, so he just kept it to himself.

Observing her so closely for the past month, though, made him sure that he would be able to tell her apart from a crowd any time with ease.

That night, as usual, he headed towards his spot on the bridge and started watching the girl. She was sporting the same tight black pencil skirt and high heels like the first night he's seen her.

One cigarette, two, three, and then her lighter seemed to stop working. She hectically shook it in all directions, but she wasn't able to get it to flame again.

Seemingly defeated, she turned around for the first time since Minho started coming to the bridge, and angrily threw the lighter, smashing it in the process, cigarette still in mouth. Her lips were full and stained deep red, and her teeth – for she was holding the cigarette with her teeth, not with her lips – were perfectly white.

Her expression, though, stayed neutral, despite her harsh actions of smashing the lighter to pieces, and she pressed her back on the railing and let herself fall down to the ground in defeat. That's when she spotted Minho for the first time, something catching her eye: his lit-up cigarette.

She locked eyes with him and smirked, and God, was she beautiful.

Minho's head rang with a quote he once heard in a stupid TV show Felix made him watch – American Horror Story, or something like that. The quote went like this: The Devil is real, and he's not a little red man with horns and a tail. He can be beautiful, because he's a fallen angel, and he used to be God's favourite.

Watching the girl look in his eyes with so much determination, he couldn't help but think that she must've been the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. She was expressive and seemed tough, and the smirk tugging at her lips told Minho she has definitely been God's favourite at some point, even if she seemed far from that now.

Just like the Devil. Minho smiled, lazily making his way across, taking out his lighter. When he reached her, he placed the flame in front of her mouth, waiting until her cigarette was lit as well.

"Thank you." She nodded. Even her voice sounded beautiful to his ears.

"Don't mention it." He put the lighter back in his pocket and contemplated joining her on the ground for a brief moment, but he considered that this would only bring bad luck, that there was no point in getting acquainted with her, despite his profound curiosity.

So, he just turned around and left, before hearing her voice once more.

"Name?"

He stopped dead in his tracks. Who asks someone for their name that way?

"Why? Curious?" he faced her again. She was still nonchalantly sitting on the ground, smoking her cigarette, and looking somewhere far away in the distance, not even a glance Minho's way.

"Honestly? Not really, no."

Well, this is getting interesting.

"Then why would you ask?"

"To pass time, obviously. We are the only 2 people crazy enough to be here at this hour."

"Crazy? I'd say we are the only two sane enough people to be here, doll." Minho replied, seeing the woman stand up and patting her skirt clean.

"That's certainly one way to put it. So, you're a "the glass is half empty" type, hm?" She smiled, still looking far away. "A bit pessimistic."

"Who knows? I always thought of myself as a realist."

"Yea? Are you such an objective person?" she smiled, finally turning her eyes at him, placing a hand in front of her, gesturing with her fingers to signal that she wanted something from the man. "Care to share that with me again, doll?" she signalled to Minho's pockets.

He scoffed, taking the lighter out and giving it to her. "Another one already? You're gonna get lung cancer and die in 2 years max if you keep it up."

"What is it, do you mean to say you care about what happens to me? Don't make me laugh." She chuckled slightly, lighting her cigarette on fire and inhaling the toxic smoke.

"Might as well keep it. It's Minho."

"Cute." She smirked. "And thanks for the present. I shall put it to good use and value it greatly, Minho." She winked.

"What's yours?"

"This lighter, obviously." She chuckled, playing a bit with Minho's patience.

"Your name, doll. That's what I want to know." He was growing impatient, and she noticed.

"Why? Curious?" She grinned, repeating the question he asked her just minutes ago.

Minho clicked his tongue, making her let out a small chuckle, as if she had won the little game they were playing.

"I'm Iris."

What a nice name. Fitting.

And the fact that she has such a prideful attitude only makes it better. Minho thought, smiling cunningly.

I should go, shouldn't I? he thought further, trying to convince himself to not spend any minute longer with this woman. She was addictive, somehow, and he certainly didn't want to end up in any disadvantageous situation.

"So, doll, why are you here at 3 AM on a Monday? Can't sleep, or are you running away from your problems?" she eyed him from under her eyelashes and smirked.

"You know my name now, don't you?" Minho took a threatening step towards her, a mischievous grin on his lips as well.

"Just giving you the same treatment you gave me, that's all." She shrugged, staying still.

"I just couldn't sleep. You?"

"Oh, so a man with too much on his mind, but somehow a realist! Sounds like trouble if you ask me." She looked once again in the horizon, before continuing. "I'm also way too troubled to sleep."

"So you prefer to come up here and fuck up your health?" Minho chuckled, pointing at her cigarette again.

"Look who's talking." She rolled her eyes annoyed.

She didn't need any bastard to tell her what is good for her, but there he was, doing it again. It was even worse that he was such a hypocrite. Wasn't he also smoking a few minutes ago?

"And that short skirt you're flaunting? Looks stunning, but will attract all the wrong attention during the night."

"What, do you want to fuck me?" she asked plainly.

"Why, are you that readily available?"

She scoffed at him and repositioned herself to face him properly, before bringing her body directly in front of his.

Faced mere inches apart, she mouthed a "Never.", then went around the man and left him there, staring at her.

She was a strange woman, just perfect for a strange man.

~

The next time Minho visited the bridge almost two weeks later, she was there, just as usual: her back turned against the road, her eyes facing the dark abyss over the bridge.

However, she did something oddinary: she turned around and glanced directly into Minho's eyes, as if she was expecting him to show up, to be there.

And then she waved her hand playfully with a big grin on her lips, expecting a wave in return, which he was quick to give. It was like she was tugging at the strings controlling his body, like a puppet master. She knew how to get him to make the gestures or expressions she wanted him to make, even when they were so far away from each other.

Many nights like this followed, where both would wave at the other, as if exchanging pleasantries, none of them willing to take a single step forward.

She was far too prideful for that, and she still had a bitter taste in her mouth from their last interaction. Admiring him from the other side was enough for her. He was really beautiful, a sight to look at, but his mouth was far too rotten for her liking. Besides, he seemed like bad news, all the alarm bells ringing in her head as soon as he handed her his lighter telling her this. He seemed dangerous even across the bridge from her. It felt like she wasn't far enough, and she knew she shouldn't mingle with him.

He was simply cautious. He was already obsessed enough with wanting to know who she was, what she did for a living, why she came here, how well she'd manage to keep her balance on those high heels bent over his desk – just thoughts like that. And as much as he wanted to find out, to make those thoughts a reality, he knew it wouldn't be wise to do so.

He was in a Mafia, for fuck's sake. He couldn't play the role of pretty boyfriend and take her out on dates during the day, while he mercilessly killed people during the night.

Just watching her is enough. He would keep telling himself.

I will stay away.

So why couldn't he just stay away and watch as one massive dude grabbed her by the wrist and turned her around, trying to overpower her?

It was like his body reacted without him realising, as he crossed over with heavy steps towards her.

However, she didn't seem to need him at all at first. She managed to free her arm from the man's grip and land a punch in his crotch, swearing at him like a sailor, and when he tried to throw a punch himself, she managed to avoid it with ease.

Her technique was messy, but luckily for her, the attacker was as skilled as a pig when it came to fighting.

Watching everything unfold in front of his eyes, Minho couldn't help but let out the biggest grin. How many more surprises did this girl have in store for him?

When the big guy raised his hand once more in the air to attempt to hit Iris, Minho pulled his hand back and tackled him to the ground, stepping on his neck with all his weight.

"Yah, I think I stepped on a big pile of shit by mistake. My shoe's all dirty now. Will you pay for this?" he asked mockingly, looking at Iris.

"Argh, I'm sorry dude, I get it! I'll leave her alone! Please get off!" The guy tried to ration, but Minho was having none of it. He pressed on his neck with even more force, making the guy choke.

After a few agonising seconds, he stepped away from the guy, allowing him to breathe, before sending a powerful kick his way.

"Go crawl wherever you came from, you cockroach." Minho said coldly, watching the guy barely get up from the ground and run away for his life.

Iris observed all of this with a neutral expression on her face. She seemed unphased by Minho's actions, and if she were true to herself, she even felt a bit of appreciation. She'd never let him know that, though.

"You're welcome." He said with a mischievous grin.

"I didn't ask you for your help." She replied, shrugging.

"You didn't, but I certainly helped, didn't I?"

"I guess so." She shrugged again. "Good to see you on this side, by the way."

"Yeah, good to be here." He shrugged this time. "Where did you learn to fight that way?"

"Why, you impressed?"

"Tsch." He tongued his cheek. "Not at all. Your skills are a mess. You could use some help polishing them."

"What, doll, do you want to teach me?" she asked in a low voice and came near him, face mere inches apart. She knew she should've backed away instead. She should've run, and never returned to this bridge again, for she knew he was danger.

"I could, if you'd want me to." He raised a threatening eyebrow.

"I don't think so." Her bright smile didn't reach her eyes, but that didn't bother Minho in the slightest. He loved playing this game with her.

"I bet I could help, though. Look, if you throw a punch with your little finger's metacarpal bone, you'll break it. It's the weakest one in your hand. You should hit with your index finger's bone first." He pointed towards his hand and showed her the proper way she should clench her fist before a fight.

"You seem quite knowledgeable on the subject." She came in front of him, face mere inches apart, similar to that night a few weeks ago. It seems her resolve to stay away was not strong enough.

Minho's breath hitched in his throat, but he didn't want to show her the effect she could have on him. Instead, he appeared composed as he slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her body into his.

He expected this action to startle her, so he was most surprised when she was the one to grab his collar and close the gap between their lips.

Her tongue rolled on his top lip as her hands moved from the collar of his shirt to his nape, her fingernails drawing small circles on it.

Minho opened his mouth and allowed their tongues to start a war against the other, and feeling her hands so delicate on the back of his neck, he couldn't help but let out a small moan in her mouth, making her smirk.

She tasted sweet. Too damn sweet.

As if she got what she wanted, she pulled away and admired Minho's fucked up beautiful face, stains of her red lipstick everywhere on his wet mouth.

He watched her in awe, mesmerised by her completely. What happened next came naturally for him, as the sexual tension was almost palpable. His hands found the back of her waist again, pulling her closer once more. They were quick to move from her waist under her blouse, fingers gently grazing the soft skin on her abdomen – moment when she pushed him away.

A tint of fear on her face disappeared as quickly as it came, a small grin showing up instead.

She chuckled a bit, before slapping his shoulder playfully two times and starting to walk away.

"That's it?" Minho asked, watching her elegant figure getting further away from him.

"I got something back for myself, so I'm done for the night. Thanks for the fighting technique lesson, by the way. Bye-bye!" she waved casually, continuing to walk.

What was on her mind?

Minho couldn't tell. He also couldn't convince himself to pursue her, give up on his pride and ask for her number. After all, why would he? She would most certainly be there the following night, as she did the past three months.

-

-

-

Except she wasn't.

Minho kept coming back, but she wasn't anywhere to be seen. It seems she left him high and dry. This certainly hasn't happened before.

How dare she?

~

Disappointed in his lack of entertainment the past nights, he had to leave for a mission that would keep him far away from the city for a few weeks – far away from the bridge.

When he returned, it was the first night in almost two months that he saw her again. She wasn't dressed in her usual dark blazer, nor did she wear heels or loafers as she usually would. She had big black trousers and a black hoodie on, but he still recognised her instantly, even with her back facing him, proving his hypothesis that he would've definitely known who she was just from the way she carries herself, from her straight back and perfect posture, and from the confident aura she emanates.

He resumed his position on the other side of the bridge and simply watched her, as he used to do before he put a name to her pretty face.

Iris.

After being away from her for so long, he wasn't even sure if their kiss happened or if he just dreamt it in one of his many wet dreams where she squirmed under him and moaned his name over and over with that sweet voice of hers.

He started counting how many cigarettes she lit up ever since he got here, and after the fifth in a row, she started taking off her shoes – some black sneakers to complete her cosy look tonight – and felt the concrete with her bare feet. After a few more puffs, she threw the still lit, unfinished cigarette on the ground and used her arms to raise herself above the railing.

She stood barefoot on the top of the railing and looked down to the abyss. Too dark to see anything, too far away from the water below, falling from here would be suicide.

Coincidentally, exactly what she wanted.

This is it. She thought. It will finally end. Just one more step.

She breathed in anxiously a couple of times, her chest rising up and down rapidly, and after a few moments of gathering her courage, deep breaths in her lungs, she jumped.

---

Chapter 2

[rarecarebears]

Christopher Diaz, The All-Knowing

Here’s a fic I started (my very first, holy shit) waaaaaay before season 5 actually started. It feels incomplete but I decided to finally post it. Feel free to give me feedback! 

Eddie pulls up to the Grant-Nash household feeling almost as giddy as Christopher has been acting since the night before. It's been a while since the entire 118 have been able to gather at one house on account of the seemingly never-ending pandemic. Now that all the adults were officially vaccinated, Athena was set on giving Bobby and Eddie a proper “welcome home” barbecue even though it’s been weeks since they both left the hospital.

Eddie’s missed seeing his entire family—short house visits and sporadic facetime calls just weren’t cutting it anymore. And ever since Buck had stopped taking up residence on his couch he felt even more disconnected from the 118. He especially wants to see Buck. Eddie hasn’t seen him since he moved in with Chimney in order to help out while Maddie stayed at a facility that specializes in PPD. It was only supposed to be while she was gone, but when she came back, Buck had a hard time leaving her side and Eddie didn’t blame him one bit. Maddie is Buck’s whole world.

“Okay, so I’m only going to be gone for like, a few weeks, max! Then I’ll come straight back, I promise.” Buck’s grabbing his remaining belongings and shoving them haphazardly into his duffel while Eddie watches from the kitchen doorway. “I just want Chimney to have some extra help while Maddie’s away and I figure I can take over uncle stuff for Albert, that way he can have the loft to himself for studying. It doesn’t sound like she’s gonna stay at the facility all that long-”

“Buck! Buck, it’s okay, I already told you there’s no need to explain. And stay as long as you all need,” Eddie clears his throat and tries to sound as casual as possible, “Ana actually promised to come by to help me out when I told her you were moving in with Chim for a bit.” Eddie knows he shouldn’t feel weird about his girlfriend wanting to support him while he’s injured but he can’t shake the uncomfortable itch that something is off. It’s probably not normal to be nervous of being left alone with the woman he’s been dating for months.

Buck stops his frantic movements and turns away from Eddie to frown at the living room couch. “Uhh, right. Yo-Your girlfriend,” he says awkwardly. Then, so quietly Eddie almost misses it, “That’s probably way more appropriate, of course.” Eddie’s about ask him for clarification about the implied inappropriateness when Buck suddenly turns to yell in the general direction of the hallway, effectively cutting him off.

“CHRIS! Buddy, I’m taking off. Come give me a hug!” Eddie tries not to mope too openly.

“Okay, buddy, you know the rules. Mask stays on and you gotta stay outside with us.” Eddie grabs the grocery bag perched in the backseat and runs around to help Christopher out onto the curb.

“Okay, dad. I got it.” As soon as he’s settled into his crutches, Christopher is off and Eddie has to catch up to him after closing the truck door. Any lingering doubts he had about bringing Christopher along disappear as soon as Athena opens the door.

“Christopher! Hey, baby. We have missed you so much!” Athena clutches Christopher tightly and glances up at Eddie. “Eddie! Come on in, both of you. I thought I told you just to bring yourselves,” she admonishes.

“Sparkling cider,” Eddie explains sheepishly, holding the grocery bag up with his good arm. “We are celebrating, after all.”

“Well that was very thoughtful of you, Eddie. Hey, sling’s off! I hope that means you’re healing up nicely?” She grabs the bag from Eddie and places a gentle hand on his cheek.

“PT’s going pretty good. Still got some stiffness, so I use the sling when I need it.” Eddie says, looking anywhere but Athena’s eyes. Physical healing is going relatively great, he’s even able to drive for short periods of time. Just… everything else —like the nightmares and the hyper vigilance— that he’s struggling with. More so with Buck gone, which. Fuck. He doesn’t want to dwell on why everything is harder without Buck around. Sensing his cageyness, Athena pats his cheek gently and backs off a bit. Eddie’s grateful for the space. He figures if anyone would understand, it would be Athena.

“Okay. Well I hope you’re doing okay, and if you’re not, you know Bobby and I are always here for you and Chris, alright? Day or night, just a phone call away.” She says kindly, watching him with the softest eyes. Eddie feels his own eyes sting immediately.

He thinks about nightly Zoom calls with his parents that quickly became weekly calls because he couldn’t stand their judgemental eyes and not so subtle suggestions to have Chris stay with them in Texas while Eddie got back on his feet. Their frostiness was worlds away from Bobby and Athena’s unconditional support that never failed to shock the hell out of him. Mercifully, Athena turns away to take the cider to the fridge so Eddie and his teary eyes catch a break.

“That means a lot, Athena. Thank you.” She waves him off, easily. “We’re family. There’s no need to thank me. And today’s about family. So make yourself a plate and join everyone.”

Eddie clears his throat in order to call out to Christopher and get him to eat but before he can, he catches sight of his son outside, sandwiched in a complicated group hug with Harry and Denny. Their infectious joy is palpable, even through their tiny masks.

Eddie clears his throat again and looks away. Pull it together, he tells himself. He’s been over for all of five minutes and he’s already unbearably emotional.

Eddie moves his gaze towards the adults outside which turns out to be a mistake. He spots Buck openly watching the boys with a ridiculously soft expression on his face. It’s the first time Eddie has seen him since he left -that was not through a screen- and it floors him a little bit.

He sighs and grabs a plate to head outside.

“Hey man, glad to see you could make it!”

“Eddie!”

“There he is!”

“Hey Eddie, it’s so good to see you.”

Eddie feels his heart soar at the warm welcome. He’s missed being with them all together. God, he loves these people so much.

“Don’t get up, Bobby. Man, it’s good to see you too!” He bends down awkwardly to embrace Bobby in his seat. Eddie moves on to clap Michael on the shoulder good naturedly where he’s standing by the grill and then turns to hug Hen and Chimney too.

“You’re not wearing your sling anymore.”

Eddie sighs. “Hello, to you too, Buck.” He’s aiming for teasing, but it comes out a little too pointed. He’s missed having Buck at home a lot. It’s no one’s fault that he left, but his absence has still left him feeling a little hollow and a lot cranky.

He turns around to find Buck with his hands on his hips, hardly deterred. “Hello, Eddie. Why aren’t you wearing your sling?”

Eddie doesn’t roll his eyes but it’s a damn near thing. “My physical therapist and doctor agreed on my progress and told me I could rely on the sling less as long as I take it easy.” Eddie feels a little guilty for not mentioning it on their last call, but stupidly, he kind of wanted it to be a surprise. He goes to move his injured side to show off his new mobility but ends up biting back a wince instead. Buck’s eagle eyed gaze catches the aborted move easily.

He’s clearly about to speak his mind when Bobby cuts him off.

“Eddie, I’m so glad you’ve finally joined us. Now Buck here can fret over someone else.” Bobby says, shooting Buck a look that’s equal parts fond and exasperated. Eddie can relate so well it physically aches.

“I was not fretting! I was being accommodating.” Buck pouts. Eddie finds it ridiculously endearing, but he tries his best to keep his face neutral. He’s been on the receiving end of Buck’s fretting enough times to know just how accommodating he can be.

“You should see him with Maddie and Jee, Buck gets downright frantic.” Chimney, on the other hand, is watching Buck with unabashed affection.

“It’s not my fault the people I love keep getting hurt,” Buck mumbles. Eddie feels his stomach do a funny flip at that, which means his guard is down long enough for Buck to take the empty plate from his hands.

“Now have a seat, Eddie. I can fill your plate.” The stern edge to his voice is softened by the worry written all over his face. He looks around suddenly.

“Where’d Chris go? Is he gonna eat too?” This time, Eddie is powerless to stop the goofy grin that takes over his face. Buck’s unwavering devotion to Christopher never fails to bowl Eddie completely over.

Christopher, as if summoned, pops up behind Eddie’s chair.

“Christopher! I’m so glad you’re here. We’ve really missed you.” Bobby greets Chris warmly, reaching a hand over the table to give Chris’ shoulder a gentle squeeze.

“Hey, Cap. I missed you guys too. Thanks for inviting us.” Chris ducks his head bashfully and makes his way around the table to give the adults a proper greeting. He starts by hugging Bobby who flounders a bit at the easy affection.

“Well, you know you're always welcome here.” Eddie catches Bobby’s eye over Chris’ head and if they’ve both gone a little weepy, well that’s nobody else’s business.

Michael ruffles Chris’ hair gently when he passes by with a side hug and Hen and Chim crouch down to get theirs.

“I have missed these hugs so much!” Hen gushes.

“Buddy, I’m so glad you’re finally here. Buck’s been a total drag. It’s probably because he missed his best bud,” Chim stage whispers, tossing a wink in Buck’s general direction.

“Hey!”

“Where’s baby Jee?” Chris asks curiously, peering behind Chimney’s legs as if he might be hiding the baby from view. Thanks to Uncle Buck, Chris has already seen a million photos of Jee-Yun. He’s been dying to meet her ever since Buck promised him he could hold her.

“Baby Jee is having a girls night with Maddie and Karen,” Chim replies easily, his eyes turning a little sad. “But you’re gonna get to meet her real soon, I promise.”

“Cool!” Placated, Chris turns to Eddie abruptly. “Dad, I’m hungry.”

“Well just tell me what you’re in the mood for, little man, I gotcha covered!” Buck says enthusiastically, gazing at Christopher with his heart eyes turned up to eleven. Eddie marvels at Buck’s undisguised tenderness, and briefly wonders why Chris didn’t ambush Buck first. Chris always seeks out Buck first.

“I want dad to do it,” Chris replies stiffly. Eddie tilts his head at that. Chris never turns down the chance to be catered to by Buck. Something is clearly up.

“Well, buddy, I was hoping we could give your dad some rest after he drove you guys here. Besides, I'll let you get as many desserts as you want.” Buck winks at Chris, oblivious to the tension that’s started to form around him.

“So what, you care about me and dad again?” Chris asks coolly.

Everyone freezes. Eddie’s eyes bug out so wide, he’s surprised they don’t fall right out of his head. When he looks up at Buck, he looks like he’s been sucker punched. His face has gone red and his expression is twisted in anguish. Buck looks back at Eddie as if searching for answers that Eddie regrettably doesn’t have for him.

“Christopher, uh, I-I told you, remember? Maddie is sick and she and Chim have a brand new baby. I wanted to help her for a little bit.” Buck puts the plates on the table and slowly crouches down to Chris’s level, moving as if he’s approaching a wounded animal.

“Yeah, or maybe you just ditched us for your girlfriend.” Eddie feels his eyebrows fly up to his hairline. Chris’s voice is venomous in a way Eddie didn’t know him capable of. “I saw you kiss Taylor Kelly on the mouth at dad’s welcome home party.”

“Christopher,” Eddie warns weakly. Eddie has absolutely no idea what to say to that. Christopher might as well have clobbered him over the head with a bat, Eddie’s so shocked. He thinks back to every moment leading up to this, between now and telling Christopher about the barbecue, trying to figure out when Chris ever hinted at being mad at Buck of all people.

Buck puts up a hand to stop Eddie, his eyes never leaving Chris.

“Chris I'm so so sorry that I left you guys in a pinch. I just figured that with Carla and Ana around, you guys would be okay.” His voice is so gentle it makes Eddie’s heart squeeze in his chest. But Buck just brought up Ana which means—

“Dad broke up with Ana.” Michael, Hen and Chimney take that particular bomb drop as their cue to make themselves scarce. There’s a flurry of activity as they all make a break for it while poor Bobby just watches on helplessly from his seat. Eddie sympathizes.

Buck’s face does a complicated thing, but before Eddie has a chance to decipher it, he settles back on the gentle patience he always regards Chris with when he feels a mega-tantrum coming.

“Is that why you’re upset? You miss Ana?” Buck prods, soft as ever.

“No! I’m upset because you’re a liar!” Chris snaps. Buck rears back like he’s been slapped. Chris has never directed so much anger at him and it’s clearly as much a shock to his system as it is to Eddie’s.

“Christopher! That’s enough!” Eddie interjects firmly. Judging by the devastation on his face, Buck is definitely already spiraling about this and Eddie needs to get some kind of control of the situation.

“I’m just expressing my feelings like you taught me, dad,” Chris replies petulantly, his glasses now foggy from the angry puffs of breath coming through his mask. Jesus Christ. Eddie gapes at him like a fish, at a loss for words once more.

Buck regains his composure first. “I’m really glad you’re being honest buddy,” he says earnestly and Eddie tries not to let his incredulity show on his face so as to not undermine him. Buck is such a golden retriever. “But I promise I never ever meant to hurt you or make you feel forgotten.” Eddie watches as Buck’s eyes become glassy and fuck.

Everyone knows Buck has abandonment issues the size of Texas and Eddie can practically feel the guilt rolling off him in waves. Buck was so cut up about not being there for Chris after the lawsuit, Eddie can only imagine the self-deprecating abuse going through his head right now. He so desperately wants to scoop both his boys up and take them home, far away from this argument.

Christopher refuses to relent and he delivers a final blow,“Well, you did. And you hurt dad too! You said you weren’t going anywhere and you did! You’re a liar!”

He turns away and bounds into the house as quickly as he can on his crutches and slams the sliding door. Eddie has to force himself not to follow, knowing that Chris needs space and that right now, an intervention could fairly lead to a more explosive meltdown.

Buck falls out of his crouch and lands on his butt as he raises his hands up in front of him in the universal signal of what the fuck?!

Eddie agrees with the sentiment wholeheartedly.

Chimney lets out a low whistle as he joins them to sit at the table. “Well, that sure escalated quickly.”

“Buck, I’m so sorry, I have no idea where that came from. He never hinted at being mad at you, not once! We definitely did not discuss how we felt about you not being at the house. And you haven’t hurt me. I’ve got no idea what he’s talking about.” Eddie flounders, trying to placate Buck and himself at the same time. He knows he’s definitely been in his feelings about the Buck shaped hole on his couch, but he was trying his best to put on a brave face for Christopher. He would sooner eat his own hand then try to turn his kid against Buck.

“You broke up with Ana?” Buck asks, finally looking Eddie in the eye, his face unreadable. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Buck, it's not a big deal. We just kind of—,” he gestures wildly with his good hand, trying to find the words, “fizzled out, I guess.” He desperately tries to ignore the twin looks of curiosity he knows Chimney and Bobby are wearing. He is so stupid. He should have known Ana would have come up today.

“I wish you would have told me, Eddie. You know I would have come around if I knew you were down an extra pair of hands.”

Eddie clamps mouth shut and feels his lips twist. He’s never once viewed Buck as an “extra pair of hands”. Buck was so much more than that to him and Chris. And as much as he loves his son, he knows his kid is full of crap. Chris wasn’t mad because he thought Buck was a liar; Chris was angry because he hadn’t seen him in weeks and he missed his Buck like crazy.

“Your sister needs you right now, Buck. I’m really glad you can be there for her,” Eddie says, and it's true. As much as Buck’s absence hurt like hell for him and Chris, he knew Buck was where he needed to be and Eddie supported him a thousand percent.

“Chris will come around Buck, he will. He’s a smart kid,” Bobby chimes in kindly.

“Buckaroo, maybe it’s time we revisit your help around the apartment, huh?” Chimney says gently.

“Chimney, c'mon man, I can’t do that to you guys.” Buck’s eyes go a little wild with panic so Chimney tries a different approach. He puts his hands up before Buck can continue.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t come around at all, bud. Maybe just split the uncle duties with Albert a little more evenly, huh? We all know you’re the godfather, okay. No need to prove it.” he jokes. Buck finally gets up from the ground to drop heavily into the seat next to Eddie. He scrubs his hands a little roughly through his hair and Eddie wants so badly to reach out and comfort him but he’s very aware of his extremely perceptive Captain sitting across from him.

“Chim, she’s my sister.”

“Maddie’s doing a lot better, Buck. The therapy and the meds are slowly doing what they’re supposed to. You and I were just talking about how she’s been more like herself these past few days than she’s been in a while. She won’t fall apart if you take a step back, I promise. Between you, Hen and Karen, the Lees and Albert, we’re spoiled rotten.”

Chimney reaches a placating hand across the table to Buck.

“Just let me talk to Chris. I’m sure he’ll understand,” Eddie tries, knowing that it would be unfair of him to ask Buck to ditch his sister just because his kid threw a tantrum. Besides, he really needs to talk to Chris about that damn attitude.

As if sensing his thoughts, Buck’s eyes widen comically. “No Eddie, don’t reprimand him. It’s like he said, he was just expressing his feelings. I don’t want him to think he’ll get in trouble for expressing himself.” Eddie can actually feel his eyes twitch from the restraint it takes not to roll them. He doesn’t know what he expected from the man who refuses to play the bad cop, ever.

“Cut the crap, Buck. You just don’t want him to get even more upset with you.”

“Well that too, obviously. Did you see the way he looked at me? I thought he was gonna say the “H” word.”

Eddie scrunches up his face. “Hell?”

“No! Hate. I thought he was gonna say he hates me,” Buck says mostly to himself. Bobby snorts and Buck shoots him a wounded look.

“Just let me talk to him, you’re only going to make him angry, Eddie.” Eddie balks at that. What an idiot.

“Buck, do you hear yourself? He’s a ten year old. Not an ancient deity.”

“I don’t know, Eddie,” Chimney starts, looking a little shifty. “Don’t you ever get the vibe that Chris just knows things? He’s super wise, man. Kind of like he might be omnipresent, you know?” Buck nods his head vigorously and Bobby punches out an incredulous laugh.

And okay, maybe Chimney has a point there. There was definitely something pointed about the things Chris threw in Buck’s face. His absence, Ana, Taylor. Eddie got the sinking feeling Christopher thought he was defending his honor or something. What if Eddie wasn’t subtle as he thought? What if his son had caught on to his feelings for Buck? Eddie had just caught on to his own feelings for Buck.

“Chim, you’re really not helping, man.” Eddie says hoarsely. He really needs to talk to his son.

The sliding door opens behind him and Buck turns around fast enough to get whiplash. He visibly deflates when he sees Athena coming outside.

“Hey everybody, I was just putting some finishing touches on dessert. Do you guys know why Christopher locked himself in the bathroom?”

“Christopher is upset that Buck hasn’t been around the house as much,” Bobby tells his wife sagely. Athena aws and comes up behind Buck to squeeze his shoulders. Eddie tries not to overthink Bobby’s usage of the house, like his and Buck’s home are the same in everyone’s eyes.

“He’ll get over it, Buckaroo. Christopher idolizes you. Between quarantine and you being there for him and Eddie with his injury you guys were living in each other’s pockets. You moving back out has been a big change for him. He’ll adjust. He just needs time.” She pinches Buck’s cheek affectionately.

“He hates me. He called me a liar.” Buck whines pitifully.

“Nope. Sounds like he just hates your girlfriend.” Chimney supplies unhelpfully. Eddie tries his damndest not to preen at that. Judging by Bobby’s curious gaze he’s unsuccessful. Whatever. He can feel bad about enjoying that particular revelation later. Taylor Kelly is shady as hell. Maybe Christopher’s just a really good judge of character.

“I don’t get why. He’s never really spent time with her, you know? In fact, when I introduced her at Eddie’s place, he seemed to like her. He thought it was cool that she was on TV.” Buck is looking down at the table like it will give him the answers to where he went wrong.

“Was that before or after he saw you kissing her ‘on the mouth’?” Chimney parrots smugly. Eddie makes a face at him ready to protest, but Athena tenses behind Buck.

“Hold on. ‘On TV’. Buck… are you dating Taylor Kelly?” She narrows her eyes and her grip on Buck’s shoulders looks a little tighter than it did a minute ago. Eddie doesn’t miss the way Bobby’s eyes bug out a fraction.

“Uhh, yeah. I thought you knew, Athena?” Buck says, his misery slowly dissipating into confusion. Eddie feels tension creep up his neck and he suspects another conversation is about to devolve into something less than civil. He would kill for a beer right now.

“I most certainly did not know this convenient bit of information.” She directs pointedly at Bobby. She drops her hands from their perch to cross her arms over her chest. Uh oh, this might get ugly. Where he at least tries to hide his disdain for Taylor, Athena makes no such attempt. It’s probably left over resentment from the dosing incident but Eddie suspects it has something to do with their careers clashing as well. Cops with protocol and journalists with agendas typically don’t mix.

Buck turns around to face her with a bewildered look on his face. “Hold on, I thought you liked Taylor? She came over here for breakfast after the treasure hunt!” Buck’s tone has turned accusatory and Eddie shares a desperate look with Bobby.

“I liked her fine when she was your acquaintance who was helping us find five million dollars.” Eddie really isn’t sorry about feeling smug about that particular dig.

“You also seemed to like her just fine when she was helping us find the criminal who hit Sue Blevins with his car.” Buck answers coolly and Eddie can’t help but think he sounds a lot like Christopher did earlier. He peeks at Bobby and finds him gaping at the tennis match before him, much like Eddie was doing earlier.

Chim scampers away again without so much as a backward glance, typing furiously on his phone as he goes, no doubt filling Maddie in on the chaos she’s missing. Hen quickly takes his seat looking a little too entertained for Eddie’s taste and without taking her eyes off of Buck and Athena, she gives Bobby a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

“First of all, I found the criminal,” Athena quips, pointing her finger dangerously at Buck. Buck just scoffs at that and Bobby’s eyes bug out further. Michael comes back to stand behind Bobby, clearly trying to figure out how to put a stop to this. Eddie spares a glance at Denny and Harry, but they’re far too entertained with Harry’s Nintendo Switch to pay attention to the adults. Eddie envies them. Maybe it’s time to check on Chris.

“-And second of all, that woman was just doing her job by reporting the news. Kind of like that time that she was supposed to be doing her job but decided to film Bobby after he was drugged against his will instead.”

Buck’s mouth snaps shut. Looking chastised he turns and glances at Bobby from under his lashes. Eddie winces, knowing full well that Buck is still sore about what Taylor did and how Buck feels he encouraged her. Eddie turns back to look at Athena and it’s obvious that she already feels bad about throwing that in his face.

“Buck, we all know that was a long time ago, and you’re not to blame for someone else’s actions,” Bobby says gently, shooting his wife a look. “You’re an adult and you can date whoever you want. Now, why don’t we all cool down for a minute. Buck, you should take some food inside to Christopher and see if he’s ready to talk, hmm?” Eddie is glad his Captain has finally decided to make an appearance. He really has no idea what’s in the air today but he knows he can’t take much more of it. Screw the beer. He wants a fat glass of wine.

Buck stands up and grabs the two plates he abandoned earlier, but Bobby stops him with a hand on his arm. “Just fill up Chris’ plate. We’ll take care of Eddie.” Eddie doesn’t even know if he’s particularly hungry anymore. He’s pretty sure he lost his appetite after watching his kid bite Buck’s entire head off. Buck meets his eyes over Bobby’s head with a silent question. Eddie gives him what he hopes to be an encouraging nod.

Buck silently fills up Christopher’s plate (with next to no veggies, the alcahuete) and throws one last hurt look in Athena’s direction before he steels himself to go inside.

“You got this, Buck,” Hen says softly. He nods and heads inside, sliding the door closed behind him.

As soon as it’s clear Buck won’t hear them, Michael finally speaks. “Well… that was truly something.” He’s clearly talking to Athena, but Eddie thinks it sums up the whole evening perfectly.

“Don’t you start with me. I’m sure these two have plenty to say.” Athena gestures at Bobby and Hen. “Well, go on then.”

“Athena, I get it, okay. You’re just being protective. I think it’s sweet,” Bobby says with a teasing lilt to his tone, but judging by the tender look on his face it’s not far from the truth.

“Oh and you’re one to talk, are you? And how did you react, huh? When he pulled that stunt with the crane, after the sniper?” Athena snaps. Bobby’s expression darkens just a tad, and Eddie looks between them in confusion.

“What stunt with the crane?” he croaks, definitely afraid of the answer. Hen outright cackles and she hurries to cover her mouth with her hands as Bobby and Athena shoot her the same dirty look.

“I’m sorry- I just. Of course Buck neglected to tell you about that little adventure,” and Eddie is definitely panicking but Hen just barrels on, “ And ’Thena, don’t even front, okay. You are one hundred percent being an overprotective mother about Buck right now. You like to act like Bobby’s the only one who babies him, but I know for a fact that Buck and Maddie have you wrapped around their respective fingers. And I know you’ve been especially worried for him after the whole fiasco with his parents. You clearly have your reservations about Taylor Kelly. That’s fine, I think we all do,” her gaze flicks over to Eddie and he tries not to react.

“Buck’s had his share of unhappy endings. We all want him to avoid any more potential heartbreak. I just think you need to work on the execution of your mothering a bit before it blows up in your face.” Hen says shrugging casually, like she didn’t just read Athena for filth.

“And what the hell is that supposed to mean?” Athena seethes, taking Buck’s empty seat but looking at Hen like she’s ready to pounce. Bobby speaks up, trying to de-escalate.

“I think what Hen is trying to say is that Buck is sensitive. He internalizes things very deeply, especially if he thinks they’re criticisms. Buck might read your distaste for Taylor Kelly and misinterpret it as distaste for him and his choices.”

“I love Buck, and I would never hold who he dates against him, ever. I just want what’s best for him, and I will not apologize for my reservations about Taylor.” Athena turns to Eddie, seemingly looking for backup. Eddie would love to give it to her, but he’s keenly aware of Hen and Bobby’s scrutiny. So, it looks like he’s done a spectacularly shitty job at hiding his disdain for Taylor. That’s fine. Everything is fine.

“Wait a second. Can we go back to the crane?” Eddie begs. It’s mostly to Bobby and Hen off his back, but he also really wants to know what kind of recklessness Buck was busy with while Eddie was out of commission.

Hen ignores him, “Well, you should tell Buck that. I’m sure he’ll melt like butter if you open with how much you love him.”

“I think we need to start talking about whatever demon possessed our sweet little Christopher tonight.” Chim returns, finally emerging from his hiding spot and he joins Michael to stand behind Hen and Bobby.

“Right?” Eddie hisses. He doesn’t think he’ll ever get over the vitriol in his sweet little boy’s tone. He is so underprepared for Christopher’s teenage years it’s not even funny. Eddie tries not to shudder at the thought.

“Like, I knew Chris could get a little nasty with his tantrums, but to direct that nastiness at Buck?! I never thought I’d see the day.” Eddie prays this will be the lesson in playing the bad cop that Buck so desperately needs. He loves that Buck is so affectionate with his kid but they need to present a united front in order to handle the impending shit storm that is adolescence.

Michael snorts loudly. Everyone turns to him simultaneously and Eddie raises his good arm as if to say spit it out, then.

Michael puts both hands up and says, “Look, it’s really not my place, man.” Athena throws him a withering glare.

“For heaven’s sake, Michael! Out with it.” Michael sighs deeply and makes a face like he’s choosing his next words very carefully.

“I believe… it’s not that surprising if we really think about it. Buck and Christopher have an unshakeable bond, sure. But you guys all view them as the best of friends doing best friend things.” Michael pauses as if he’s waiting for them all to understand.

When the only reaction he receives is a collective duh, he sighs again, a bit more frustrated.

“I think you guys underestimate Buck’s place in Christopher’s life just a little bit.” Eddie forces his face to go as blank as possible. He can sense where this is going, and he really thinks he prefers Michael as the silent spectator. He just knows Michael is about to read him for filth.

“Look,” Michael continues, undeterred now that he has the floor. “The bottom line is Chris views Buck as a parental figure. Eddie and Buck are partners just as much for Chris as they are at work. I’m sure lockdown only cemented Buck’s role as Chris’s caretaker. He was one of the few people allowed in Chris’s bubble which meant they were spending even more time together than usual. Chris couldn’t even see Carla or Eddie’s family for a while, so I’m sure he got extra attached to Buck. Ana coming into the picture probably shook things up just a bit,” he waves his hand at Eddie dismissively, “Athena and Bobby told me about his little Uber adventure to Buck’s place. But Chris never saw her as a real threat, because if anything, he’d get to spend more time with Buck when Eddie was spending time with Ana.”

Eddie feels severely uncomfortable at the idea of people looking too closely at whatever kind of little family unit he has going with Buck. Especially when outsiders seem to understand it better than even he can. He kind of wants to be swallowed up by the ground and leave this conversation forever. He’s fine continuing on with whatever they have and leaving it at that. Mostly.

Too bad Michael is far from finished. “After Eddie’s injury, Buck was around even more. The kid stayed in Eddie’s house while Eddie was in the hospital for Christ’s sake. He’s a very big fixture in their lives. Christopher must really rely on Buck to navigate all the heavy emotions that came with all the trauma he’s been through in such a short time. Christopher is ten. This past year has literally been a tenth of his life.”

And now Eddie feels like complete shit. This is about so much more than whatever he feels about Buck. It’s about Christopher, too, and his needs and his reliance on the little family they’ve built. He’d been so preoccupied with his stupid pining, he didn’t stop to think about how Buck’s absence would take a toll on the way Chris has been coping with everything up until now. Just one more way he’s failed at meeting his own child’s needs.

“And now Buck’s around less. Christopher loves Maddie and Chim because Buck loves them, so he’d never blame them for what he’s going through. So that leaves the only new variable.” Taylor fucking Kelly, Eddie thinks, stomach still roiling with guilt.

“Jee?” Chimney asks, looking very alarmed. Michael smacks him gently on the arm.

“Taylor Kelly,” Athena supplies ominously, looking deep in thought.

Hen hums in understanding. “And Chris just blew up on Buck like he would a parent, not a friend or uncle. Denny would never snap at Chimney like that. But Karen and I? Absolutely.”

Chimney nods, his eyes distant. “It’s easy to lash out on the person you know is always going to forgive you,” he murmurs to himself.

Eddie raises a brow at him and Hen actually snorts.

“Maddie told me it’s what Buck said to her after their parents left.” Maddie who basically raised Buck.

Eddie looks around at the rest of his friends trying to gauge their reactions. They all look pretty pensive… everyone except—

“And you view Buck as his parental figure too, Eddie. Whether you know it or not,” Bobby muses. He’s staring at Eddie like he’s seeing him in a new light. Eddie can only squirm uncomfortably, but refuses to break eye contact.

Across from him, Hen immediately clocks their weird energy. “What?” she demands. Eddie swears he can feel the sweat start to bead around his hairline. He might as well just get it over with. Better now than the next time he gets into a dangerous situation he can’t get out of.

“After the well—” he starts, but Bobby cuts him off abruptly.

“You don’t have to explain Eddie,” he says firmly.

Eddie appreciates the gesture but he’s already made up his mind. He inclines his head at Bobby as if to say it’s okay. He trusts these people with his life, what difference does it make if they know who he trusts with his heart? He blows out a breath, steeling himself. He carefully avoids everyone’s gaze.

“After everything that happened with the well last year, it got me thinking of Christopher and who would take care of him if I didn’t make it home one day.”

Athena actually gasps, and Hen covers her mouth with her hand. Chimney looks back and forth between them, not yet having caught on. “What?!” he practically yells.

“I updated my will so that if anything were to ever happen to me, Buck would become Chris’ legal guardian.” Eddie scratches at his chin, waiting for the fallout. He also made Buck his power of attorney but nobody needs to know that right now. Not even Buck.

Chim’s mouth drops open and the gum he seems to be perpetually chewing actually falls out of his mouth. “Holy shit. Holy shit, Eddie. Maddie is gonna flip!”

“You knew?” Athena observes, narrowing her eyes at her husband. Bobby just shrugs.

“Eddie told me a year ago. As his boss, he wanted me to have what he thought was a necessary heads-up. I figured it wasn’t my secret to tell. And for what it’s worth,” Bobby continues, addressing Eddie, “I think Buck is an excellent choice. He loves Christopher with all his heart.” Bobby had told him as much a year ago, but Eddie is grateful for him and the sentiment all the same. And okay, maybe it’s time to rethink telling Bobby about his power of attorney. He would keep that to himself too, right?

Michael hums sagely. “And if you view Buck as his parental figure, Christopher definitely senses that. So he doesn’t just view his absence as a betrayal against himself, but one against his father as well,” Michael’s hands are clasped in front of his mouth and he’s nodding to himself like he’s connected the dots. Eddie kind of wants to strangle the man.

Of course, Buck chooses that moment to join them. Eddie watches the faces across from him morph into something cheery before the sliding door opens. Eddie turns around when he thinks he’s got his own face under control.

“Uhh…” Buck pauses, clearly sensing their odd energy. “Eddie, can I take Chris out and then take him back to mine for a sleepover?” And that is definitely not what Eddie is expecting to hear at all.

“You don’t have to leave honey, just stay a little while longer and take Chris home after. I made peach cobbler!” Athena is pleading with big eyes, clearly trying to make amends. Buck’s expression softens at honey and the promise of his favorite dessert and Eddie knows she’s forgiven.

“Chris and I had a little chat and I just wanted to have some quality time with him since I haven’t seen him in a while.” Buck explains. Chris appears behind Buck, avoiding his father’s gaze like the plague. Buck turns around to grab Chris’s completely untouched plate to hand it off to Eddie sheepishly.

“Mijo, if you want to go with Buck now, you have to eat first,” Eddie insists, trying to win some authority back.

“Actually, Eddie, I was thinking we could stop at the grocery store so we could whip up dinner together at my place. Have a classic ChrisandBuck night,” Buck babbles, gazing down at Christopher. Chris beams back up at him. And Eddie actually feels his resolve melting away at their exchange. “Chim, I already texted Albert. He’s spending the night at Ravi’s.”

He sighs deeply. He really doesn’t want to reward bad behavior. But Chris and Buck have clearly made up and he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize their tentative harmony. Besides, Michael’s words seared into his head. Chris must be having a harder time coping with the aftermath of the shooting after Buck left. Christopher’s other parental figure. Eddie makes his choice and motions for Christopher to come to him. Chris panics, taking the gesture as a negation and looks close to tears instantly.

“Please, daddy! I'll be good, I promise. And I’m really sorry for how I behaved earlier. I was being rude. To everyone.” Christopher wraps an arm around his neck and shoves his face into his chest. Eddie narrows his eyes, wondering how long he and Buck practiced that apology together.

“Okay.” Eddie relents, smoothing a comforting hand down Chris’s back. He really should talk with him about his outburst but he figures this isn’t the time nor the place. He hugs Christopher to his side with one arm and looks over at Buck.

“No special treatment. He still has to go to bed on time and,” he pulls back to look at Christopher and poke him gently in the stomach. Christopher giggles, which is what Eddie was going for, “You gotta eat some veggies, young man. And no more yelling at Buck, okay? He loves you so much,” Eddie says, trying to keep his voice stern but it’s impossible to put any heat behind his tone when he’s thinking about Buck’s love for his son.

Chris nods his head vigorously but Buck just salutes dutifully and tells him, “Sir, yes sir.” And wow, okay, Eddie will explore his reaction to that later when he hasn’t got an armful of kid and a giant audience.

Christopher bounds off to say bye to Denny and Harry. Eddie watches them closely for a moment, and— are they high-fiving?

“Thanks so much for having me, Bobby, Athena. I promise I’ll come by this week for dinner.” Buck reassures them, still looking a little sheepish.

“You’re always welcome here, Buckaroo. And maybe next time, you can bring Taylor with you? I promise to keep the interrogation to a minimum.” It’s an olive branch if Eddie’s ever heard one, but it still sours his mood considerably. Isn’t it a little soon for her to be having dinner with Buck’s parental figures?

Christopher reappears suddenly and a little forcefully, a tiny grunt escaping his mask. The timing is suspicious to say the least. Chris drops his crutches and makes grabby hands at Buck who doesn’t hesitate before picking him up and holding him close. Eddie knows Buck is coddling him, but he also doesn’t have the heart to begrudge him something Chris probably won’t be asking for much longer. It doesn’t hurt that his insides turn to literal goo everytime he watches Buck and Chris cling to each other like koalas, either.

“Keep the crutches Eddie, I’ve got a spare set in the Jeep. And don’t forget to take your pain meds—”

“—With my meal. I know, Buck. Be super careful, and text me the second you guys get in. I’ll be by first thing in the morning.” Michael quickly comes around to Eddie to grab Chris’ plate muttering about whipping him up a fresh burger.

“Sure thing. Okay, Chris, say bye to daddy!” Eddie stands to give Chris a kiss on the cheek and hide his blush. “Be good for Buck, buddy. And I know you've still got a toothbrush at his apartment, so please, I want those pearly whites to be sparkling. Okay? I love you.”

“I love you too, dad,” Chris says, and then turns to cuddle into Buck’s shoulder.

Athena bends in her seat to pick up Chris’s fallen crutches before standing up too. “Let me take these inside. Then I’ll pack you boys up some peach cobbler and walk you out, okay?”

“That’d be nice, Athena. Thank you. Bye guys!” Buck settles Chris into his left side and wraps his right arm around Athena’s shoulder as they walk back into the house together.

“Bye, dad! Bye, everyone!”

“Bye, you two!”

Eddie watches them through the glass for a moment and then sighs with his entire soul before sitting down again. Michael places a fresh plate of food in front of him, piled high with a burger, mac and cheese and sweet potatoes paired with a bottle of root beer. It seems Eddie’s getting his own peace offering.

Hen’s got her chin propped up on her hand when he looks up.

“What?”

“What happened between you and Ana, Edmundo?”

Eddie scrubs his hand down his face. He reaches for a fork and begins to pick at his food as he tries to come up with something other than I think I’m in love with my best friend.

Nothing happened between them and that was precisely the problem. After that initial spark that swept them both up after their chance meeting downtown, things between them had winded down considerably. Ana was nice. Being with her was nice. Christopher having another constant in his life during an uncertain time was nice. Having someone around after Buck left was nice. But he wanted more than just nice.

Eddie thinks about how his brief conversation with Carla had left him tangled up in knots in ways he didn’t understand. He thinks about how seeing Buck covered in blood on the street clarified things for him almost instantaneously, when it was almost too late. He thinks about how the first thing he asked Ana when he woke up in the hospital was if Buck was okay. And then Buck was there. And then Buck was taking him home. And then Buck was staying on his couch and cooking meals and doing laundry and reading to Chris at night. His home felt whole and Eddie felt settled even though his dreams were plagued with gunfire and his body was riddled with pain. And Eddie didn’t miss Ana once. He hardly gave her a second thought whenever Buck was around.

And then Buck left. And then Ana offered to help out. And then Ana was dropping off food, and staying over late and kissing his cheek because suddenly, he would always turn away at the last second. And Eddie could only think about Buck and how much he missed him and how he selfishly wanted him to come back. Eddie would stay up late at night fighting off nightmares that had worsened, torturing himself with the thought that maybe Buck was with Taylor at that very moment.

“I almost died and it put things into perspective, okay? I— my heart wasn’t in it. I just— I don’t think that relationship was about what I really wanted. And it wasn’t fair to her, to string her along, so I broke things off. It was amicable.”

“Christopher must’ve been psyched,” Michael hums, and really, Eddie’s grateful for the food, but he’s had enough of this guy. Christopher was beyond chipper after Eddie had informed him Ana wouldn’t be around anymore.

“So do you think you’re ready? To go after what you want now?” Hen pushes. She’s searching his face for something but Eddie refuses to reveal anything more tonight.

“I’m ready for us to talk about someone else, Henrietta.” He takes a big chomp out of his burger pointedly.

She studies him for another painstakingly long moment before she finally acquiesces. She sighs and drums her fingers nervously against the table.

“Karen and I are finally talking about taking the next steps to foster another kid.” Eddie’s discomfort dissipates immediately. This confession is much more than a mere change of topic for his sake.

Chim gives her a soft squeeze on her shoulder from behind and Bobby claps his hands. “Hen, that’s amazing. I’m really happy for you guys.”

“Admit it. Jee-Yun, my terrific and adorable daughter, gave you two baby fever.” Chimney’s wet eyes betray his snark.

Hen just laughs. “Definitely, yes. But there was also something about meeting Nia’s birth mother. I don’t know guys, it really felt like a sign. Like someone was telling us we were meant to keep doing it.” She ducks her head, a sweet smile playing on her lips and then looks up at Eddie with a mischievous glint in her eye. “I think when the universe screams at you, it’s important to listen.” Eddie barely restrains himself from sticking out his tongue.

“Well we already know you and Karen make amazing moms. Any kid would be lucky to get in on that,” Eddie says easily after wiping his mouth. And maybe she’s still teasing him, and maybe they’ve had a conversation like this before but he’s ready to remind her —and Karen— of it until he’s blue in the face. His heart feels full at the thought of his ever-expanding extended family.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Michael says, tipping his beer in Eddie’s direction.

“Okay y’all! Banana pudding and peach cobbler. Dig in. But save some for Eddie,” Athena announces as she makes her way back outside, proudly displaying her hard work before them.

Bobby snorts rather loudly. It appears more than half of the cobbler is already missing. Eddie has to bring up his hand to stifle his own amusement.

“Must have been some apology, Athena.” Bobby’s just flat out mocking her now. Michael takes a closer peek at dessert and throws his head back in a full-belly laugh.

“Oh man, speaking of parental figures,” he says, shaking his head.

“Shut up, you two. It’s his favorite.”

Hen looks grumpy. “It’s my favorite too and I almost didn’t get any.”

“Well then hurry up and dig in.”

“You shouldn’t coddle him, Athena. Now he’s gonna think he’ll get some peach cobbler everytime you guys fight,” Chimney teases bravely. He serves himself some pudding and digs in enthusiastically.

Athena glares at him for a minute before turning to Bobby, “Well since we’re talking about our extra pair of children, Chimney—,” Bobby and Chimney start choking on their forkfuls of dessert at the same time, “Bobby and I would like to throw Maddie an official baby shower and host it right here. You guys didn’t get one with the pandemic and no one really got the chance to give you all the things they bought you.”

Bobby regains composure first, gently thumping his chest with his fist. “Yeah, Chimney. As soon as Maddie feels up for—” Bobby gestures at everyone with both hands,“—All of this, we want you guys to have a proper baby shower. We’d love for you to invite the Lees, too!”

Chim’s eyes get misty again and he tries to pull himself together before he speaks. “That means so much, you guys. Really, thank you so much. I’m sure Maddie would love that.”

Athena squeezes Bobby’s arm lovingly as she addresses Chimney. “We’re family. There’s no need to thank us.”

Eddie looks around at the table and lets the easy joy that always flows so freely amongst them wash over him. He thinks of their bickering, their teasing and their unwavering support. While a few of their people are missing, they don’t feel far away and the promise of another gathering means it won’t be long until they’re all together again. He thinks of Buck and Chris who aren’t here anymore, but still with each other, and wandering around somewhere with the little piece of Eddie they always seem to take from him every time they are apart.

[ramp-it-up]

Request:

Y/N is for one year in America and try to learn the language More (she is from Germany ).

Chris saw her at target and realized that she was kind of lost and was loved to help her 👀

Okayyyy Nonnie! How's this for a challenge?

At first I didn't know how I was going to get there from here, but I cruised IG for some German inspiration. As a result, instead of Y/N, reader is named Maëlle. I also struggled with the knowledge that most Germans know more English than Americans know of any other language, but this is all in fun. 😛

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader (Maëlle)

Word Count: Around 2K

Warnings: 18+, RPF, MINORS DNI, CURATE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE, not proofread, Google Translate for the German, verry limited American knowledge of Germans and German culture, not full on Smut, but smutty thots, thoughts of oral sex, fingering, degradation kink, allusions to Dom! behavior, disregarding of stranger danger, the Red Sox, and an age gap.

Maëlle

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

One of your goals when you got settled was to go to Target, Ziel when you arrived in Boston for your graduate exchange year at Boston University.

You understood a great deal of English and could speak many phrases, but you’d hoped your year in America would make you fluent.

You were proud that you were able to get from the BU Student Union to the store. You surprised yourself with the ease that you used your phone to help you translate for what you needed.

Now, you were standing in front of the doors, almost in tears, trying to find where your Uber was to pick you up.

You didn’t pay attention to which way you entered and you needed to find VanNess street. It was about to leave. You suddenly felt helpless, hilflos.

—-

Chris needed to pick up some sunscreen before the game, he couldn't afford a burn right before filming. Even though he had his Red Sox cap on, he still needed some high grade sunblock.

He hurried through the doors of the Target near Fenway Park, head down, trying not to get recognized.

He passed by some beautiful long bronze legs and followed them up a smoking hot body clothed in a scarlet Boston University t-shirt tied up tight and short blue jean skirt.

Your face was framed by waist length blonde braids and your eyes were the most beautiful he’d ever seen.

Your lips deserved ten minutes all on their own, but he kept it moving, not wanting to seem creepy.

You were gorgeous, although you looked flustered. Chris didn’t slow his roll, because you were probably waiting on someone.

When he came back through, five minutes later, he heard your voice and slowed down. He was surprised, but shouldn’t have been. There were black people all over the world.

Even in Germany.

“Kannst du mir zeigen, wo die Van Ness Street ist? Can you tell me? Where is Van Ness Street?”

Your accent was heavy, but passersby just assumed you were crazy or joking with them and ignored you.

Chris was ashamed. That wasn’t what he wanted Boston to be. Even though he was close to being late for the first pitch, he stopped for you. He summoned some German from filming in Europe.

“Kann ich Ihnen helfen?” It was one thing he knew how to say with perfect inflection.

You perked up and smiled at him. “Ach bist du Deutscher? You’re German?”

You looked into the face of the handsome stranger. His eyes. Verdammt!

Chris melted a little bit. When you smiled, you were even more beautiful. Chris smiled back at you, smitten. He laughed.

“No. Italian.”

You understood, but you were confused. Why was this handsome American saying he was Italian and speaking to you in German? And why was he so familiar?

“Oh, Ich entschuldige mich. Sorry.” You smiled again, and Chris forgot all about the game. He wanted to try to talk to you for hours.

“No worries, he said. “Bitte?”

This handsome man’s German was indeed poor. He’d fooled you. He was a good actor. Something pinged in the back of your mind, but you overlooked it. Somehow, he’d made you feel better.

“Ich habe meinen Uber vermisst. Uber, gone!” You made a motion with your hand. “Kannst du mir zeigen, wo die VanNess Street ist?”

“Ohhhh! VanNess is this way,” he pointed toward the other side of the store, and he started leading you through.

You breathed a sigh of relief as you followed him.

You neared the electronics department and there was a giant movie display with dvds. The man saw it, pulled up, stopped, grabbed your hand and quickly led you back the other way.

You were confused.

“Come to think of it, I’ll give you a ride, my car is back out this way. Druben?”

Chris was not going to ruin his afternoon and a chance to talk to you by getting caught signing autographs in Target. He loved his fans, but he already liked you.

You followed him back out of the sliding doors to the parking lot and a blank Range Rover. You just went along with him, your hand feeling at home in his.

Then the panic set in.

You didn’t know this man from Adam.

Your mother had warned you about getting kidnapped by an American serial killer. This was it. You hated it when she was right.

“Wait!”

You said it perfectly, and the man caught your anxiety.

Chris stopped as he tried to open the door for you. He looked into your worried eyes. Shit, he’d gotten carried away. He looked down to where your hands were still locked.

He couldn’t help but smile at them. You smiled, too. Then he looked at you, blue eyes looking like the sea. You smiled back, somehow knowing that you were safe. You leaned back on the car.

“I’m not going to hurt you. My name is Christopher, what is yours?”

“Maëlle.”

Your smile was brightening his entire life. He was into you.

“That’s beautiful. Das ist schön?”

You smiled wider at his compliment. Then you bit your lip. Chris' knees got weak and he took a step closer to you to regain balance.

You were in each other’s space, Chris looking down at you and you at him. You were both getting warm even though it was a cool September day.

Chris pulled your hand instinctively, and you were even closer, your fingers entwined in his close to his thigh, which you could sense flexing through his jeans.

You were staring at his lips and he was doing the same as the butterflies flew around your stomach.

Were you really considering kissing someone you’d just met in Target? What would your mother think?

That thought made you smirk.

“What are you thinking?”

He was leaning over you, his voice in a lower register now. His breath tickled your ear and made you moan slightly.

Chris wanted to know what was going on in that mind of yours, if you were as crazy as he was feeling this kind of connection so fast.

You understood exactly what he was saying, but you just cocked your head and smiled as if you didn’t. You didn’t want him to think that you were thinking of his hands all over you, in your most intimate places.

Chris took a deep breath, trying to clear his head and regain blood flow to his brain. His cock was hard being this close to you and he had to regain composure.

He wasn’t that reckless kid he used to be, but man he wanted to do some depraved things to you. Like drag his tongue up your…

He had to stop. Chris took a step back.

You watched as his tongue peeled out to lick his bottom perfect pink lip. It was strange, but you felt like you knew him. And you wanted him to know you. Intimately.

And now those perfect lips were moving, but you weren’t paying close enough attention to translate what he was saying.

“Can I give you a lift to campus?”

You cocked your head in that pretty way again. He wondered what it would be like to feel your lips. On his lips. On his tattoos, around his…

Chris cleared his throat and tried to think of the words.

“Kann ich mitnehmen?”

He was so cute. You smiled brighter and nodded, “Yes, Christopher.”

Then you gestured to your bra-less breasts in your thin t-shirt. Chris could tell your nipples were hard. He licked his lips and looked around. This was a development.

Then he got your message. He shook his head, chuckling that his thoughts were in the gutter.

“Ooooooh! Boston University! You’re on campus. Yeah, that’s right near here. I’ll take you.”

“Danke. Thanks you, Christopher.”

Your smile would be the end of him. He had to think of a creative way to get your number.

“Hey! Let’s take a picture!” He had his phone out.

You were confused, but maybe this is what Americans did to get to know each other. Take pictures with strangers.

He took a couple of pics and then opened the door for you.

You brushed past him to get in, and Chris allowed his eyes to take in your form, especially your shapely legs.

You noticed him checking you out, and immediately got goosebumps, your nipples hardening again. Your panties were a little moist.

“Let’s just get you… “

Chris reached across you for the seatbelt with his right hand, face coming near yours as he leaned into the car.

“Buckled in…”

Now you were sure your panties were soaked.

Chris allowed his mind to go places, like your pussy, which he was sure was sweet, wet, hot and…

“….Tight.”

Chris gulped, trying not to drool all over you, although he would love to spit in your mouth and make you swallow as he fucked you raw.

“Danke.”

You whispered behind a breathy moan. You wanted not only to ride in this man’s car. You wanted to ride this man in his car.

Your eyes flickered down to his jeans and that’s when Chris realized that he had a raging hard on. He quickly put his hand in his pocket, trying to play it off, flashed a smile and closed the door quickly.

You giggled at how huge what you thought you saw was. You fanned yourself while you waited for him to get in trying to remember your decorum.

Chris stood outside the back of the car for a minute, trying to catch his breath and think. He had to be at least 15 year older than you, he just met you, and you didn’t speak English. None of this made sense.

He was going to drop you off at campus and try to be at the game for the second inning. And act his age.

Christopher got back in the car, much more formal, and started driving.

He looked over to see your legs open and started to wonder how easy it would be to reach over and under your skirt, pull your panties to the side, if you were wearing any, and…

Chris cleared his throat and focused on the road.

You could tell the air had changed. He was different. You wondered what happened.

You looked at his profile and decided that he was turned off by you being so forward. You decided to straighten up, so you did so, literally and figuratively.

You sat up straight and crossed your legs, like prim and proper young ladies do.

The curve of your spine and the crossing of your legs made Chris irrationally angry. It was like you were closing yourself off to him. Then he remembered.

You didn’t know each other.

You pointed out where to go as you neared your apartment. Chris pulled up in front of your unit and you both started talking.

“Danke, Christopher.”

“Hey, Maëlle…”

You both chuckled. Chris continued.

“Let me send you that photo. What’s your number?” He was fiddling with his phone. Then handed it to you. “Type it in for me.”

You grinned wide and his sly smile answered you. Now you understood. You entered your number and handed it back to him, your fingers sparking as you touched.

You were breathless.

“Well…”

“Christopher…”

You two interrupted each other again.

This time you continued.

“Thank you.”

You leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Chris closed his eyes. Your lips felt as soft as he imagined. He wanted to do the whole turn his head trick but he wasn’t 23 anymore. But you sure made him feel like it.

He did turn to look at you as you got out of the car and waved after you closed it. You swung your bag in one hand as you walked toward the building, also swinging your hips, watching him as he drove away.

Chris watched you too, as far as he could in the rearview. When you disappeared from sight, he said, “Fuck it,” did a uturn and peeled rubber back to your apartments. He rolled down the window.

“Maëlle! Maëlle!” You stopped just before you reached your door. Chris grinned at you. “You ever been to an American baseball game before?”

You skipped back down the walk happily, grinning back as you leaned in the open window. You cocked your head in that way.

“No, but I like playing wit the balls.”

Chris groaned. He couldn’t tell if you were talking about sports or something else. But he’d figure it out later. You climbed in the car, winked at him and crossed your legs.

Chris licked his lips as he drove back toward Fenway Park, thinking about how he would teach you about keeping your legs open that night.

——

Hope it’s okay Nonnie! ❤️

@olyvoyl @summerofsnowflakes @sillyteecup @riiyy @honeysucklechocolatedrippin @theselilwonders @lonelydance @chattykathysquietsister @anh1020 @nissameta1782 @betterkeepmewetterthanabayou @jbrizzywrites @stilltoyou @donutloverxo @wallowsgirl14 @my-soulmate-is-mycroft @kiwisa @food8me @aiikaa @marvelfansworld @justanormalfangirlsworld @lost-in-a-state-of-mind @london-grunge @pheebsyells @douxtille @thesecretlifeofdaydreams @ximaginex @jdmacca92 @fofisstilinski @dyapraxicwhore @bertieandberries @ladystrawberry @bit-of-a-timelord @aaronhotchiee @calimoi @fangirlfree @bbaengtan @karolsboo @aliceforbes @insertpithyusername @sickknik @photmath @whorekneebrain @mostannoyingbillioner @anacravalho @iconicshit @spicybibimbap @chaoticsteverogers @txtsfromyourex @sadthotsonlylove @assoftheamericana @ikatieebabyy @nerdymugsharkempath @crossfitjesusinblackskinnyjean @maroonsunrise83

[husbandomail]

Some valentines day headcanons for the Arclights perhaps~? (Special emphasis on Michael asgdhj)

Christopher:

Christopher isn’t the most expressive man, and he knows it, and he worries that you might not know how much he really loves you. Given that, for several years, he was involved in an over-the-top battle with the entire universe at stake, all he really wants to do is spend some quiet time together; he invites you over, and with his brothers busy for the day, the two of you have the entire mansion to yourselves.

When you arrive, Christopher is already in the kitchen— there’s all sorts of ingredients lined up on the marble countertops, he’s got his long hair pulled back, and he’s in the middle of tying an apron around his waist when you step in. His smile is nervous— he admits that he simply wanted to cook together, and he hopes that’s alright with you. When you nod enthusiastically, he visibly relaxes, and moves to tie your apron strings for you.

By nature of being the oldest, it usually fell to Chris to cook for his family, but he’s never been super impressive; his usually-steady hands suddenly seem clunky and awkward in a kitchen setting, struggling to chop the vegetables into proper bite-size chunks, having trouble measuring things properly because he’s distracted now. You giggle a bit as you watch him, but you’re quick to swoop in when he obviously needs it; season the roast like this, pop it in the oven like that. Chris relaxes even further once the main portion of the meal is in the oven, and he turns to you with another shy smile— this is the part he’d really been waiting for. He pulls the fridge open and holds the door so you can get an eyeful of the ingredients he has left— what he really wants to do now is make chocolate together. Of course he’d get you some for Valentine’s; homemade is better than storebought, because he can pour all his feelings into them.

Thomas:

Even away from cameras and crowds, Thomas is an entertainer at heart. He’d been dropping hints all week leading up to Valentine’s Day— and you know how difficult it is for Thomas to keep his mouth shut about anything, so he must be dedicated to his plans if he’s able to keep them secret this long. He teases you about being so curious, and he purrs like a cat when you run your hands through his soft hair, but he refuses to spill the beans until it’s finally time.

The day rolls around, and Thomas rolls up— a limo at your front door, glistening in the winter sunlight, your boyfriend’s beaming at you as he holds the door open. Climbing inside makes you a bit nervous; are these seats made of real leather? And those wineglasses resting on the mini bar— a single one of those probably costs more than you’re paid in a month. You tense up, firmly keeping your hands in your lap, determined not to touch a thing; but when Thomas slides back into his favorite place at your side, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and pulling you close, he laughs at how stiff you are. He tells you not to worry— this thing is for his personal use, so don’t stress out about messing anything up. That might make you a little more nervous.

Your first stop is one you vaguely recognize; the tailor that the Arclights use for their best clothing. The place is empty, reserved for just the two of you, as long as you need it; Thomas holds your hand as you step onto the small dais in front of the mirrors, then the tailors descend on you all at once, flurries of tape measures and chalk and all sorts of different fabrics.at some point in the controlled chaos, Thomas’s strong hands reappear among the mess, holding another budle of fabric— he unrolls it and helps you step into the new outfit, dragging the zipper up the length of your spine, leaning forward to press a kiss to your pulse as more hands splay across the fabric, hemming and tacking and snipping and sewing. And then you’re back in the limo, Thomas practically crushing your hands in his trembling grip, just as nervous and excited as you are. He still hasn’t told you where you’re really going.

Michael:

Michael is the giddy type— he’s received very little love throughout his life, so he’s beyond excited to be able to share this day with you. Normally he’s decisive, knowing what he wants and how to get it, but the night before Valentine’s he admits that he hadn’t been able to decide what to do for you yet— there are so many options, and he wants to make you feel like the most loved person in the world. You laugh and remind him that Valentine’s Day happens every year; the two of you will get through his whole list of ideas eventually.

He’s more sweet than he is traditionally romantic, although he does follow a few iconic gestures, presenting you with deep red roses and a batch of homemade chocolates. Like everything else he cooks for you, they’re incredible— he’s tense when you take the first bite, his eyes trained on your lips so intensely that you think the chocolate might melt, he’s so worried that you won’t like them. An idea pops into your mind, and you run your fingers over the edge of the box of chocolates with a “do you want a taste too?” Michael blinks, not expecting that, but he nods anyways— and then you lean forward and press a quick kiss to his lips, and you’re sure he’ll combust right there.

Once Michael has regained his composure, he’s a lot freer with his affection; he admits that he thought it would be fun to revisit the museum you’d gone to on your first date, so long ago, and see how the exhibits have changed. While the two of you practically waltz from room to room, lost in your own little world together, Michael tangles his fingers with yours and brings your hand up to his lips; he kisses the back of your hand gently, and when you begin turning as pink as his hair, he can’t help but smile. That only makes you blush harder. Thankfully he glances away, giving you time to calm down a bit; the two of you are in front of a painting that depicts Eros and Psyche. Michael has a new story to tell you.

[maxineswritingcenter]

You Saved Me - Derek Hale x fem!reader part 7

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

Derek was alive. I let out a shaky breath as I used a tree to get back onto my feet. 

“Derek…” I whispered. He stood on the hill, his shoulders rising and falling as he slowed down his breathing. Even though my legs were shaking from almost being mauled to death, I started walking towards him. And the walk turned into a run as I made my way to him. I stopped just short of him. Our eyes met and all my fear was washed away by overwhelming joy. 

“You’re okay.” I grinned, “You’re alive.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Derek slowly slid his arms around my waist, holding me close. He turned his head, his lips brushing my ear as he spoke. 

“We need to talk.”

-

After taking Scott home, Derek and him talked and agreed on something. They would work together and kill the alpha to cure Scott. I sent a quick text to Stiles to tell him I was alright and Scott was calm. 

Derek had offered to drive me home, the drive there was filled with his energy that I had never felt before, it was electrifying. I was just happy that he was alive. Once we were on the street the Stilinski’s lived on, I made him park a little bit back from the house in case Uncle Noah came home. 

“When did you start seeing it? The visions.” He asked, putting the car in park. 

“They started the night I last saw you. I am always looking through your eyes, feeling what you feel.” I leaned back against the headrest, looking at him. He seemed frustrated and upset. His lips were tight, but there was that look in his eyes that had made him look young and afraid. 

“What have you seen?” 

“I saw you talking to your uncle, you were agitated and felt lost. I saw you talking with this woman about your sister, you were angry and had so much guilt balled up in your chest. And I-… I felt the alpha attack you. I could not even describe the fear you felt then.” Derek’s hands were tightly gripping onto the steering wheel, it almost looked like he was blinking back tears. He felt weak, why I could feel that now I didn’t understand. 

“Derek, what’s happening? I don’t understand why I’m seeing parts of your life.” I turned fully in my seat. 

“It’s not uncommon among werewolves.” He said. 

“But I’m not a werewolf.” 

Derek shifted in his seat so he was facing me, “What it is… It’s a connection of two. Think of it like-”

“Soulmates?” I inserted the word.

He nodded, “But for werewolves it is supposed to happen after a mating ritual.” 

“I think I can imagine what that is.” I blew out a breath, “So… why me? Why us? If it’s not possible then how?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because high stress situations have been putting us together.” 

“Do you see visions of me?” I was really hoping he hadn’t been seeing me cry over him. 

“I have.” Crap. “The night the alpha attacked me and then tonight.” He paused and sighed, “I felt this intense pull in my chest to find you. You needed me to come to you.” 

“I thought I was going to die tonight. I thought that Scott was going to kill me.” I shook my head, “My luck is pretty crap.” 

“I found you each time, didn’t I?” A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 

“I guess you’re right.” I smiled and looked down at my lap, “Seems pretty inconvenient for you though. Saving me all the time.” 

“It’s not.” He reached over, tilting my face to look at him, “Whenever you need me, I will be there.” 

“I thought you needed to focus on finding the alpha, so that you couldn’t be selfish.” My breath hitched when he moved forward, pressing his forehead to mine. 

“It seems the universe had a different plan for us.” He paused, “I can’t promise you everything all at once. After we take down the alpha, after I have some time to come to peace with other things, then we could take the time to explore…whatever this is.” He leaned back in his seat. 

“That is, if those idiots don’t get me arrested first.” 

I chuckled a little, “They may be idiots. But they’re still just kids. No matter how many times Stiles tells me he’s a man, he is still a sucker for Spice Girls.” I unbuckled my seat belt, leaning over to press a kiss to his cheek, “But you didn’t hear that from me.” 

Derek grinned and nodded, “Right of course.” His smile was so… it suited him to smile. After all the grim and stern looks, I wanted to be able to make him smile everyday. I closed the door, leaning into the window.

“Smiling suits you.” I stood up and patted the top of the car. He dropped the smile, and chewed on his cheek. 

“Just remember, if you need me, I’ll know and I’ll be on my way.” I nodded, turning away and walking home. 

-

Did I ever think that I would be in a car chase? Absolutely not. But was I in a car chase with Kate Argent with Scott and Stiles while Derek was on the run from Uncle Noah? Absolutely. I was in the back of Derek’s Camaro, headset on with a police radio scanner from the Stilinksi’s basement. It was an older model and out of use but it could still pick up radio. 

“They’re chasing him on foot, heading northwest.” I shouted to Scott, holding onto the radio as we raced through downtown. In pursuit was Kate Argent. 

“Faster?” Scott asked, gripping the steering wheel. 

“Much faster.” Stiles answered, watching out the back window. Scott seemed to go a little faster, but the other car was still catching up.

“Scott, I don’t think you’re grasping the concept of a car chase, here…” Stiles said nervously. 

If I go faster, I’ll kill us!” Scott shouted, clearly panicking. Stiles leaned forward.

“Well, if you don't go faster, they're gonna kill us!” Scott pressed down on the pedal, but Kate Argent and her team seemed to divert away and left them. 

“They’re gone.” A new message came over the radio: “All units, suspect is on foot heading into the Iron Works.”

“He’s in the Iron works.” I called, and suddenly my vision clouded.

Derek ran but was stopped by a flash bang, blinding him, shots rang out.

“And hurry, Chris Argent’s got him cornered.”

“How do you know that?” Stiles asked, shaking his head in disbelief. 

“I’ll explain later.” Scott turned sharply, stopping the car. Derek was behind a forklift, shots ringing out towards them. 

“Get in!” Stiles shouted. Derek hurriedly got in the car, Scott speeding off before he even finished closing the door. 

“What part of “laying low” don’t you understand?!” Scott said in an exasperated voice. 

“Damn it!” Derek growled, “I had him!”

“Who? The Alpha?” Stiles leaned forward, I pulled him back, pointing to his seat belt. He rolled his eyes but put it on. 

Yes!” He said impatiently, “He was right in front of me, and the friggin’ police showed up.”

“Whoa! Hey, they’re just doing their jobs-” Stiles defended his dad. 

“Yeah, thanks to someone who decided to make me the most wanted fugitive in the entire state!” He shouted to Scott. 

Can we seriously get past that? I made a dumbass mistake. I get it.” Scott said defensively. 

“All right. How did you find him?” Stiles asked Derek. 

Scott scoffed, “Can you try to trust us for at least half a second?”

“Yeah, both of us!” Derek glared back at him, making Stiles shrink back into his seat, “Or, just him. I’ll be back here.” Derek glanced back at me. I nodded for him to tell.

“Look, the last time I talked to my sister, she was close to figuring something out. She found two things. The first was a guy named Harris.”

“Our chemistry teacher?” Stiles was back leaning forward. 

“Why him?” Scott asked. 

“I don’t know yet.”

“What’s the second?”

“Some kind of symbol.” Derek pulled a piece of paper with a drawing on it. It looked like a family crest with a wolf and sun. Scott stared at it. 

“What? You know what this is?”

“I’ve seen it on a necklace. Allison’s necklace.” Scott looked back at the road. 

- 

I sat at my desk, getting some papers ready for tonight’s lacrosse game, when I heard knocking at my window. I turned quickly and sighed when it wasn’t, in fact, a murderer. Derek looked around and knocked again impatiently. I quickly opened the window and pulled him inside. 

“What the hell are you doing?” I whispered, “My uncle is here, you know, the one that wants you arrested.” He grunted as he got up, closing the window and the curtains, setting a pile of books on my desk. 

“This was Stiles’ idiot plan so blame him.” 

“He was right, you are kind of a sour wolf.” I laughed, he was very unamused. 

“Okay, I’m sorry. Stay here, I’ll go grab you water and something to eat. You’re starving.” I turned to the door but stopped, turning back to face him. 

“How do I know you’re starving?” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. 

“Probably the same way I can talk to you like this.” His voice echoed in my head, I jumped and pointed at him. 

“Warning! Some warning would be nice!” I gave him a scolding look and went out into the hallway, quietly shutting the door behind me. 

As I was making Derek a sandwich, Stiles bolted through the door and upstairs. I sighed and finished the food, heading upstairs. 

As I got to the top, Uncle Noah came out from around a corner, “Hey Stiles!” He called and then noticed me, “Hey (Y/N).” He looked down at the sandwich, “I didn’t know you liked ham and…thick cut beef jerky sandwiches.” I looked down at the sandwich. 

“Uh yeah, I just figured out I liked it.” I grabbed the sandwich and took a bite. I hummed and chewed it, even though I rather spit it back out. 

“I’ll have to pick some up next time I’m out. My buddy at the station makes it.” I nodded and continued to chew. That would explain why it was heavy on the pepper. That guy should really stick to his day job.

Stiles mumbled something from his room as he came out. 

“What’d you say?” Uncle Noah asked. 

Stiles leaned on the doorway, “What? I said “Yo, D-Dad.”

Uncle Noah sighed, “Listen, I’ve got something I’ve got to take care of, but I’m gonna be there tonight. I mean, your first game.” He smiled 

Stiles nodded, “My first game… Uh, it’s great! Awesome. Uh, good!”

 “I’m very happy for you. And I’m really proud of you.” He said sincerely. If I didn’t have this terrible jerky in my mouth, I would be more emotional. 

“Thanks. Me too. I’m happy and proud of myself.”

“So, they’re really gonna let you play, right?”

“Yeah, Dad, I’m first line! Believe that?” 

“I’m very proud.”

“Oh, me, too. Again, I’m-” Stiles came forward, forcing Uncle Noah into an incredibly awkward, “Huggie, huggie, huggie…” 

“See you there.” Uncle Noah pulled away, heading downstairs.  

“Take it easy.” He said as he left. I waited until I heard the front door close to spit the mush back onto my plate. The jerky looked just as intact as it had when it went in my mouth. 

“Oh my god, that’s the worst thing I’ve ever tasted.” I went back downstairs and threw out that abomination and the rest of it that was in the fridge. For as long as I live, Uncle Noah will be bringing home that jerky for me to eat. But that was a sacrifice I was willing to make to make him happy. I made a different sandwich with edible toppings this time and made it upstairs to see Derek grumbling and broody as usual. I handed him the plate. He took it then sniffed the air. 

“What smells like death?” He asked. I covered my mouth. 

“Don’t ask, just know that it will never hurt anyone ever again.” 

-

After many rounds of tooth brushing and mouthwash, the death smell was extinguished. When I came back in, Danny from the lacrosse team was sitting at the computer with Stiles and Derek was sitting in the corner, reading. 

“You want me to do what?” Danny asked, “Hey (Y/N).” He greeted me before looking back at Stiles. I nodded and waved. 

“Trace a text.”

“I came here to do lab work– that’s what lab partners do.”

“And we will!” He paused, “Once you trace the text.” 

And what makes you think I know how?”

“I-I looked up your arrest report, so-”

“I-I was thirteen. They dropped the charges.” He said defensively. 

“Whatever.”

“No, we’re doing lab work.”

“Oh, my…” Stiles sighed, looking at the computer. I sighed and grabbed a book from the pile that Derek had. It looked old, the pages were yellowed. I turned to a random page and browsed, listening in on Stiles and Danny. 

“Who’s that again?” Danny whispered. Stiles looked back at Derek, then back to Danny. 

“Um, my cousin…Miguel.” He lied. Derek glanced up at them, then back to the book. I bit my lip to keep my giggles back. Derek’s eyes shot me a warning glance. 

“Is that blood on his shirt?” Danny asked. My eyes widened. I hadn’t realized it but his grey long sleeve shirt had spots of blood. 

“Yeah. Yes. Well, he gets these horrible nosebleeds.” Stiles looked back at Derek, “Hey, Miguel. I thought I told you you could borrow one of my shirts.” He looked pointedly towards his dresser. Derek closed the book on his lap and set it aside. He stood up, went to Stiles’ dresser and took his shirt off, revealing the triskelion tattoo between his shoulder blades. And it seems like I wasn’t the only one appreciating that it was off either. Danny was taking quick glances towards Derek. 

“So, anyway, I mean, we both know you have the skills to trace that text, so we should probably-”

“Uh, Stiles…?” Derek said, holding a button down shirt in his hands. 

“Yes?” Stiles asked innocently.

“This… no fit!” He said irritably, tugging the shirt. I covered my mouth and squeezed my eyes shut. It was cruel to be in this situation and not laugh.

‘Then try something else on!” Stiles turned back to Danny, “Sorry.” Derek found a blue and orange striped collared shirt. 

“Hey, that one looks pretty good, huh? What do you think, Danny?” Derek looked incredibly beyond pissed, but that anger was directed at Stiles so this just kept getting better and better. I was nearly in tears.  Was Stiles using Danny’s sexuality to his advantage? Yes, and we would have a talk about that later, but right now it was too damn funny.

“Huh.” Danny avoided looking at Derek, trying not to get caught staring. 

“The shirt?”

Danny looked over, “It’s… it’s not really his color…” Derek removed the shirt.

“You swing for a different team, but you still play ball, don’t you, Danny-boy?” Stiles whispered to him when they were both turned towards the computer. 

Danny sighed, “You’re a horrible person.”

“I know. It keeps me awake at night. Anyway, about that text…”

“Stiles!” Derek said, frustrated, “None of these fit!”

“I’ll need the ISP, the phone number, and the exact time of the text.” Stiles gave him the information and after some typing and clicks, “There. The text came from a computer. This one.” Derek and I came up behind the two after he found a dark grey shirt that managed to fit. 

“Registered to that account name?” Derek asked. Danny nodded. 

“No, no, no, no. That can't be right.”

“Scott’s mom?” I asked. Right there, Melissa McCall. Danny left soon after, a pink blush to his cheeks. Stiles walked him out. 

I grabbed my lacrosse bag, getting ready to leave to get to the game. Hopefully I could give Stiles a few minutes before Coach kicked him back to second line for being late. Derek stood in my path. 

“Was that situation funny to you?” He glared, tilting his head to the side. 

“Uh, after the fact, no.” I giggled a little, “But at the time it was really funny.” He wasn’t laughing. I cleared my throat. 

“Alright, I’m sorry. It wasn’t right of me to laugh.” I patted his chest, “But he was right, blue and orange are not your colors.” He grabbed my wrist, keeping my hand on his chest. 

“And what exactly are my colors?” His expression had softened. I smiled and hummed, thinking for a moment. 

“Dark red, burgundy. Greys. Maybe blue, just not that shirt. Never again.” I looked down, “You know it’s not Scott’s mom, right?” 

He nodded, “I know.” 

“And as much of a pain as he is, Stiles is like family to me. And I have this terrible feeling in my chest that something’s going to go wrong tonight.” I bunched up his shirt in my hand, “Please keep him safe. And you should be careful too.”

“It won’t take too long. We just need to get security footage.” 

“I’m serious, Derek.” I pulled my hand away, “I have a dark feeling. And I’m scared.” 

“And I believe you.” He reassured me, “I’ll make sure Stiles comes back in one piece. I promise.” 

I breathed in deeply, and let it out, “Okay.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss on my forehead. I really hoped that this feeling was wrong. 

-

I stood with Scott in the corner of the locker room. Or at least I think that’s where we were. Coach made me wear a blindfold to “protect my eyes from men”.

“Did you get the picture?” Scott asked, referring to the picture he had taken of Allison’s necklace that he stole.

“Yeah, I did, and it looks just like the drawing.” Stiles said. 

“Hey, is there something on the back of it? There’s gotta be something– an inscription, an opening, something…” Derek asked.

“No, no, the thing’s flat. And, no, it doesn’t open. There’s nothing in it, on it, around it, nothing. And where are you? You’re supposed to be here. You’re first line.”

“Where the hell is Bilinski?!” Coach shouted from his office. 

“Man, you’re not gonna play if you’re not here to start.”

“I can only buy you so much time, Stiles.” I said into the phone. 

“I know. Look, if you see my dad, can you tell him… tell him I’ll be there, I’ll just be a little bit late, okay?”

“Loud and clear.” I sighed. 

“Alright, thanks.” Stiles hung up the phone. 

I crossed my arms over my chest and shook my head, “He’s not gonna make it. First game his dad shows up to and he’s not gonna make it.” I poked Scott in the chest, “You owe him big time for this.” I felt at the wall, making my way back in the ( I think) direction of Finstock’s office.

-

I sat in the office, fiddling with my thumbs when I felt it again. That painful fear in my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut. 

“Stiles, get out of there right now! It’s him! He’s the Alpha! Get out!” Derek shouted into the phone. He cursed and got out of the Jeep, running inside. His heart was beating fast and a terrible realization was going through his head. His own Uncle killed his sister. It had been him all along, how could he have missed it? Derek ran inside, punching the nurse that had been taking care of his Uncle and helping him in his crimes. She fell to the floor, out cold.

“That’s not nice. She’s my nurse.” I looked at the man who I had seen from the previous vision but now he was walking and talking and Derek was scared. 

“She’s a psychotic bitch helping you kill people.” I looked at Stiles, “Get out of the way.” 

“Oh, damn…” Stiles squeaked. Derek launched himself at his uncle only to be grabbed and slammed into one wall and then another. Peter picked him up by the throat and slid him across the room on his back. I saw Peter’s attention go back to Stiles. Derek pushed himself up, punching Peter in the nose. It didn’t seem to phase him. Peter headbutted Derek and kicked him in the stomach. Sending him back into another wall. Pain spread through my back. But Derek still stood up, spitting blood. He threw punches at Peter but they were dodged, he grabbed Derek’s wrist and bent it back, fracturing it. He went down to his knees. Peter then grabbed him and threw him through a pane of glass.

I gasped and sat back, holding my arm tightly. It felt like it was broken but it wasn’t my arm that had been broken. It was Derek’s 

Out of the field, Coach called for a huddle. 

“Scott.” I tried to grab his attention, but from the looks he was giving Jackson, it meant that he probably knew something. 

“Let’s go! Huddle up! Let’s go! Big night! Big night! get in here, (Y/L/N).” Coach pulled my arm into the huddle. 

“Ready? Say it so they can hear it! Hands in!” We all put our hands in the middle of the circle, “What are we?”

“WE ARE LACROSSE!” They shouted. 

“All right, take the field! Let’s go!” Coach sent them out. It was too late to tell Scott who the alpha was and there was no way I could slip away to help without Coach noticing. Derek was getting his ass kicked and there was nothing I could do to help him. 

“You gotta get out of there. Grab Stiles and run.” I thought hard, hoping that I could send my thoughts to him. I heard nothing back so my heart sank even deeper.

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

Read part 8 here!

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Rose Red’s All Hallows Eve: Shall We Go Inside?

Summary- 5.3k Charles Blackwood x You. You were sent a ticket to the exclusive fund raiser at Rose Red on Halloween Night. You are to visit the character Charles Blackwood, played by your forever crush Sebastian Stan. He supposed to take you on a tour of the famous haunted manor, claiming it to be the home of his Aunt Ellen Rimbauer and Uncle Wilford Rimbauer. What a once in a life time opportunity! You might just never want to leave. 

Warnings- its a ghost story, creepy descriptions, mentions of suicide, death. 

A/N- written as my last submission to @jtargaryen18​ Haunted House 2020. This will be the final piece I write for Rose Red’s All Hallows Eve, and I hope you all enjoy a glimpse and some back story of Rose Red that wasn’t given in the Curtis chapters. The story is from Stephen King’s Rose Red which was a TV mini series. Excellent Halloween movie if you can find it. Its hard to locate now. Dividers made by @firefly-graphics​ Happy Reading and Haunting. 😈🎃🌹

Masterlist

You couldn’t get over your good fortune when you checked your mailbox that morning. Inside was an envelope, with wispy handwriting with no return address. When you opened it, there was a ticket, an exclusive ticket to the Rose Red All Hallows Eve charity function. 

Your jaw dropped, cause even though you had been trying everything to secure a ticket for months, no one would sell you one. And you tried finding scalped tickets, willing to take a chance for one, only to be turned down. It was an invite-only, only the elite were getting to tour the mansion and meet some of their favorite movie actors in their darker roles. 

Your hands trembled as you brought the ticket closer, reading the fine print to see which person you were getting to meet. Not that you were picky, you would take the chance to meet anyone. Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Frank Grillo, Scarlett Johnson, or Chris Hemsworth. Just being able to get into the mansion was worth all the months of begging and trying just about anything for tickets. 

Your eyes roved back and forth, trying to pick up a name when you saw the fine print announcing that you would be escorted around Rose Red by Charles Blackwood from We Have Always Lived In The Castle. You gave a little squee of excitement, having really wanted to meet Sebastian Stan. What a better character on Halloween night then the devious cousin Charles. Your plans for tonight went from working on a project for your boss to getting red wine drunk and watching the movie on Netflix to get reacquainted with Charles Blackwood. Research, of course, you didn’t want to be meeting the famous “Charles” without having done your research after all. Happy in a way you haven’t been in a while, you went to pour your wine and binge, wishing you had someone to call to tell your news to. But you were a bit of a loner and didn’t tend to connect with people. 

But whatever, this well this was going to be the best Halloween yet for you. No getting sloppy drunk in a bar to bring home some wanna be cowboy or that one time you brought home a clown. A disgusted shudder went through you at the memory. That wasn’t a Halloween you were particularly proud of. Not this year though, this time you were going to one of the most haunted places in New York and seeing Sebastian Stan. Wonder what it would take to bring him home? Making yourself grin like an idiot, as your major fan girl crush made your heart race. You poured almost the entire bottle of red wine in the goblet. 

“How did the saying go? Treat Yo Self.” Lifting the glass you took a rather large swallow.

Charles stood at the entrance, waiting for the next patron he was to bring through the mansion. They should be arriving soon, the time on the ticket said 11 pm sharp. Waiting at the gate, his back leaned against the cold stone of the wall and his gaze fell upwards to see a bit of green creeping over the wall, sprouting thorns sharper than any dagger. Charles hummed softly with a bit of a smirk to see the creeping vine, a small bud twisted as it grew in size. The bigger it got, the more it tinted from green to blood red, and it spiraled open to a single rose. Reaching up, he pinched the stem, clipping it off and bringing it down to admire it. The perfect petals are just as soft as a woman's lips when he brushed his fingertip along one, and when a thorn bit into his palm, he hissed at the sting, that too just like a woman. Don’t respect her, and she will cut you down. Blood welled up and spilled towards the ground before he brought his palm to his mouth and sucked it clean, inspecting to make sure there wasn’t any of the thorn left in his palm. Snipping off the thorns, he let them scatter into the gravel under his feet. 

Charles was fixing the rose into his shirt pocket, when you started to come out from between parked cars, your hands smoothing against your thighs with a bit of nerve and you just looked so innocently sweet. The corner of his mouth quirked up while he inspected you. She’s a perfect choice, he thought maliciously as his features shifted to warm and welcoming. “Welcome Dear to Rose Red, my family's Manor. My name is Charles Blackwood.” Plucking out that flower from his shirt pocket, he gave a slight bow and held it out for you. Your giggle went right through him, making his toes curl in his shiny black Louboutin’s all the way to the base of his neck where his expensive Tom Ford collar rubbed. You looked up at him with a touch of innocence that should make him feel bad, but it didn’t. 

You dug out your ticket and showed them to Charles Blackwood, which he inspected closely and pulled out his wallet to pocket it. You bubbled with excitement and lifted the rose he had just given you to your nose, letting the tip brush against the edges of the petals. “Thank you. I shall press it to dry it when I get home Sebastian. But I have no place to put it.” You started to figure out a way to hold onto it and not get it ruined when he took it back and wedged it into the stone wall behind him. 

“It will be safe here Dear, and Charles, please. I don’t know this Sebastian you call me.” He gave a wink and you nod in understanding. It was supposed to be just the characters showing you around. So it made sense that you were supposed to call him Charles, not Sebastian. You bit your lip and nodded. 

“Of course, Sorry Charles.” you loved how well he fell into character, offering his arm to you that you curled your hand around his forearm, falling into step together once you two went through the iron-wrought gate. 

“No harm is done, Dear. I’m very excited to show you around my Uncle and Aunts family home for the evening. It’s not often I have such a lovely woman on my arm.” He leads you up the stairs and opens the massive door to the mansion. “After You. There are a few groups inside, but we won’t be running into them.”

Your head tips back to look all around, taken in by the deep wooden double staircase sweeping up to the upper floors, gleaming marble floors and a crystal chandelier that as you and Charles walked underneath it, you couldn't help but tip your head back, mesmerized by the glinting of the crystalline shards. “One of Ellen's nicer finds. She had the chandelier shipped from France, each crystal carefully wrapped.” 

“This whole place, it looks completely restored. I thought it was condemned, banned from the public?” You question as he leads you into what looks like a sitting room, another room that spoke of decadence, with plush chairs around a large fireplace that seemed to take up half the wall, large vibrant persian rugs sat atop rich wooden floors, and in the glow of the lamps light up around the room showed carvings in the wall, cherubs dancing amongst vines and roses. You shuddered a bit looking at them high above you in the molding. The innocence of them felt wrong in this place, malicious. 

Charles directed you towards a small staircase that went halfway up the room, climbing while answering your question. “Ahh yes. Well it is technically. But I have been told that Rose Red might be reopening soon to the public. For tours, the occasional overnight ghost investigations.” 

Once you two reached the landing, you saw the ornate dollhouse. Charles was able to turn it around on a turnstyle stand, and flicked a switch, lighting up the inside. Leaning down, you peeked inside in awe. It was a perfect replica of the house, the lower levels showed a large massive kitchen, sitting rooms, library, offices. Then up the stairs a ballroom of sorts, another library, bedrooms, and other odd rooms that seemed to serve no purpose. 

“This is beautiful.” You muttered and straightened, clasping your hands behind your back to keep from picking up the matching furniture to look closer. 

“My Great Aunt Ellen had this made for her daughter April, who was confined to Rose Red due to her bad health. She was a lonely child, her father sending her older brother off to boarding school. Wilford wanted little to do with his daughter. She had a deformity to her arm from birth. Withered. He would have disowned April, but Ellen wouldn't allow that. Upstairs, is a whole play room dedicated to her.” He pointed to a corner of the upstairs, which you peeked in to see a soft pink rose colored room filled with toys and dolls for a little girl. 

“What was wrong with April, to cause her to have a withered arm?” you asked and Charles shrugged. 

“It's said that Wilford wasn't faithful during his and Ellen's honeymoon, passed on a exotic disease to Ellen. She was ravaged in the years following their return to Rose Red. Which was also a honeymoon gift. He promised her anything she wanted. So the two years they were gone Rose Red was being built by one of the largest crew of men seen at the time. They even installed a train to bring in supplies from the harbor.” 

Charles directed you down the stairs to go look out a window, and far off beyond what looked like a greenhouse was a large train, like a black ghost of the past, rusting away under the vines wrapped around the engine. Squinting you could have sworn you saw a couple of women following a lantern down the path. “Rose Red experienced the first deaths with that crew. The train was derailed, killing hundreds of men on the grounds at once.” 

You shuddered while pulling away your gaze from the train. “How awful.” 

“How awful indeed.” Charles nodded, and tilted his head. “Some believe that such a massive tragedy stains the land, maybe what brought the house to life. Come, some of the more interesting rooms are upstairs.” 

Crossing the room for the massive grand staircase. “Do you actually believe that Charles?” 

“No, no I believe something else powers this house. I have my theories.” Charles gave a secretive smile, the two of you started up the many flights of stairs. He gave a bit more history of the house, including the most recent events that officially shut the doors for good to all further investigations till now. “A team of psychics led by a college professor came in. There were four men and five women with varying abilities. One woman disappeared, one died when she refused to leave, and two men died on the property during that weekend.” 

You pulled up a bit hearing this, closing your arms around yourself as if to protect you, like that could protect you. “Wait, should anyone even be here?” You said fearfully, and Charles looked back at you with a reassuring smile. 

“I assure you the house is dormant. The state of New York wouldn't allow us to have a charity here unless it was perfectly safe. I myself have been here many times.” His voice was smooth and confident, letting you relax a bit. Giving a nervous chuckle, you eased back into holding onto the crook of his arm, his other hand patting yours. He dropped a gentle kiss on your cheek. “I will keep you safe, this is my family's home.” 

After several flights of stairs, Charles led you into a massive hallway, doors lining each side. The symmetry while looking down the hall gave the illusion of it going on forever, you could just barely see the end of the hallway, or maybe it was getting smaller the further along it went. “This place is trippy.” You muttered to yourself but Charles happened to hear you. 

“Yes, it was purposely designed by Ellen this way. She had her own way of doing things that didn't necessarily make sense to anyone else.” He studied doors as you two went along, your eyes kept roving up to see what looked like the ceiling slowly getting lower when he turned you towards a door. “Ahh, the first room on our tour of interest. As I said, Aunt Ellen, well she got creative when designing rooms.”  

Opening a door, you went in and quickly paused as you weren’t entirely sure what you were looking at. Before you were upside down lights, standing upright, and covered in dust and cobwebs. What bothered you looking at them was that they should be hanging above you and that's when you tilted your head up to look above. Unlike any room you've been in before, desks were hanging above you, each one set up to have someone sitting at it as a chair was tucked in. Trays for papers, cups with pencils. It was just what you would expect to see in an office above you. Out of instinct you jumped back, half expecting it all to come crashing down, just to have yourself bmp into Charles' chest, making him chuckle as he embraced you gently. “Easy Dear, it's all safe.” 

You took a few steps away from him with an apology, your head tilted back to look around. “What in the world?” 

Charles, strolled along next to you, hands in his slacks, as he looked up at it all, chuckling. “Aunt Ellen's idea of a joke to her husband. He didn't seem to appreciate it as much as she did. Really it was just another room to show off to guests who came to visit.” You couldn't stop gaping at the details, wandering away from Charles who remained at the door. Even the walls had bookshelves filled with books, reading chairs above your head. 

“I will be right outside, take your time.” Charles slipped out, leaving the door open while you paced over to get a better look. A lamp clicked on to your surprise right above your head, and what your eyes saw made you jump back and yelp. Sitting in the chair on the ceiling looked to be a woman in a cocktail dress, her head tilted back. Decaying grey skin peeling and black hollow sockets where eyes should be was matched with a gaping smile. “Come now dear, don't be shy. You are the newest guest right?” Her head tilted and creaked, giving you what was once probably a seductive smile, but now the lips were stretched too tight and split to show decayed teeth beyond them. You stumbled back into a chandelier that was on the floor, and fell to your backside. Looking back up, the lamp above you was back off, and the chair empty. “CHARLES!” You push off the floor and run to the door, wrenching it open to stumble back into the hallway that Charles catches you as you fall into him. “What's wrong?” 

“I just saw- well I think I saw- there was a person, a woman sitting up there. But not a woman, she was rotting, old clothes.” Your words stumbled out as Charles straightened you back up. 

“Sounds like you ran into one of Rose Reds resident ghosts, Deanna. A famous actress who went missing while freshening up during one of Ellen’s parties.” 

You looked over your shoulder at the door and moved away from it. “Why is she here?” 

Charles rubbed on your arm, to calm you a bit. “She never returned to the party that night. Local police came out and searched the entire grounds for days. But she never recovered. You're pretty shaken, do you wish to continue?” 

You gave a chuckle and rubbed at your hands against your thighs to dispel the nervous energy. You should go, hell your heart was hammering so bad that you might just keel over any minute. No one was ever to see any actual ghosts on these things. Then that's when it occurred to you, side eyeing ‘Charles’. Sebastian was perfectly staying in character, that all this was. Actors, all of it. You almost laughed at yourself for getting caught up in the whole Halloween spook.  

“Yes… I just. I cant believe there are actual ghosts here.” you played along with a shrug, brushing yourself off where you fell in the dusty room. 

“Rose Red is full of many surprises.” Charles smiled in that charming way of his and offered his arm to yours. “Aunt Ellen, well she had a taste for the macabre. Holding frequent seances without her husband's knowledge, as he was away often. It's bound to attract some… interesting energy in a place like this.” 

He seemed to be counting doors, and you were right at his side, willing your hammering heart to calm down. “You're not going to leave me alone again, right?” you worried your fingers into his sleeve, as if weaving him closer, to not let him go. Sure they were just actors playing a part, really good actors. You couldn't begin to guess how they got her to sit upside down like that on the ceiling, but there was nothing to be scared of. 

“No, I'm surprised that the house is actually this active tonight. Maybe it's all the people passing through for the charity. But you're perfectly safe. I assure you.” Another door opened and you hesitated while stepping in. 

The floor shimmered oddly to you at first, till you looked down and went stock still. You were standing on a mirror, the whole floor stretched out in a mirror, and all you could do was picture you stepping on it, and it shattered. Charles took several strides forward, and chuckled softly. “It's perfectly safe. This glass is made to be walked on.” 

You take a few precautionary steps and chuckle. “Another one of Ellen's jokes?” 

“Yes, she took great pleasure trying to come up with oddities to fill the house.” 

You continue being mesmerized with the mirrored floor, watching as you walk across it. “Why? Why so many odd rooms?” 

Charles hummed a bit, tipping back and forth on his heels to toes, watching as you sweep across the floor, grinning to yourself in such an innocent moment. “Well, after April disappeared, Ellen is said to have lost her mind. She claimed that Rose Red must never stop growing. It's in fact true that no one really knows how many rooms Rose Red has. At this point there are rooms like these, staircases that go to nowhere, hallways that narrow to where you have to crawl through. Doors that lead to the outside on these upper floors. It is easy to get turned around here. Rooms seemingly from nowhere appear still. They are not on any official floor plans.” 

You gulp and shake your head. “It all sounds… so unreal. Rooms building themselves? Impossible.” 

“One would think.” Charles chuckles. “But every time it is attempted to be documented, and then when it's double checked, nothing adds up. There’s missing rooms that seemed to have disappeared, only to have reappeared elsewhere, another staircase, the halls won't match up.” 

You paused, still looking down at yourself in the mirror. “You said April disappeared?” 

“Oh yes, she was playing in the main kitchen under the watch of one of the staff. The woman walked from the kitchen to collect something for just a moment. When she came back, April was gone, her beloved doll abandoned on the floor. After a search, again, the staff was brought to the police barracks. She was unable to leave after the questioning.” 

“So they arrested her?” You start to feel cold, chills creeping up the back of your neck like a light touch, sweeping up your back and to the base of your hairline. You reached behind to rub at your neck uneasily. 

Charles seemed to not notice your discomfort, sliding his gaze from you and around the room. “Oh no, they didn't arrest her. No, she was beaten to get a confession as to what she had done with April. Ellen swore her innocence, but Uncle Wilford… oh he paid them to get it out, by whatever means necessary. Her injuries were too severe. She ended up dying here once they finished with her and brought her back, another victim of Rose Red in a way, I suppose.” 

You couldn't help the sadness that seemed to overwhelm you hearing the story. 

“In fact this room also has its own tragedy. Wilford’s brother who also happened to be his business partner hung himself here. From… that light fixture actually.” Charles pointed up at it, but you were looking at its reflection, and the light fixture swayed, a rope tied around it. A heavy set man all blue colored hung at the end of the creaking rope, his feet twitching and his tongue bulging from his mouth. Your eyes shoot up to see nothing above Charles. 

Charles himself gives you an odd look, and you look back in the mirror, he's still there, a swollen hand reaching out as if to grasp you. 

Your own hand was shaking as you pointed down at the mirrored floor. “Right there! You don't see it Charles?!” Your finger points near his feet, in which he looks down and it all seems to disappear. At the same moment, it felt like a heavy rope slid around your neck, and tightened all in a second making you gasp. Your hands fly to your neck, trying to pry at the noose that isn't actually there. When you collapse to your knees, trying to drag in a breath, you happen to see a little girl, in various stages of decay, a withered arm clutching a doll against her chest waved at you from across the room near the door, and an older woman in the same state standing next to her with an arm around her shoulders, merely watching you struggle for air. Your vision started to go in and out, the burning in your lungs now first and foremost in your mind. Charles stepped into your view, kneeling down next to you and you focused on him. 

“Hey! Hey! Y/N, what's wrong.” He yanked your hands away to check your neck, and you were suddenly able to take a gasp of air with a frightened sob, curling yourself in closer to him, and your arms going around his neck. 

“Get me outta here please! I don't want to be in this house anymore.” 

Charles moved to a stand, his hands grasping yours and pulled you to a stand. “Okay, we will end the tour here.” Hurrying you along, you both shoot into the hallway and turn to head back to the main stairway when at the end of the hallway, when the woman you had seen in the upside down room beckoned you two to her. “Come child, the parties this way, I just need to go freshen up, get you dressed for the party.” 

You pulled up sharply in fear with a panicked scream, and Charles spun you around. “This way, there's another staircase at the end of the hall.” 

Now your running with Charles to get away, every door and corner you two ran into became a blur. Once in a while a door would open, some nightmare of a person beckoning you to step in and join them, child like giggles echoes around you or hisses of your name just out of sight made you try to run faster, gasping for air as your lungs burned from running through the endless hallway. Charles was getting winded as well when he came to a staircase but that too was also blocked. This time with a wailing woman, her eyes rolled back to just the whites and clutching her purse to her chest, a dress looked like it had been shredded. Her skin was wrinkled and paper thin looking, what remained of her clothing something from a decade earlier. “I was just here to tour the house, can you show me the way out?” she screamed at you two, below her on the stairs were others, begging to be shown the way out. Now you froze, your mind in shock. 

Charles yanked on your wrist to pull you away as you teetered on the edge of the stairs, continuing to another hallway. 

“The servant's stairs are this way. They lead through the kitchen.” Charles rattled a door knob trying to get it to open, and you looked over his shoulder when there was a flash in your peripheral vision. The carpet in the hallway rolled as if something was racing underneath it, and of course, it was coming right for the two of you. 

“Oh fuck, Charles, Hurry it up” Your hand grasps the handle to, yanking on it. “CHARLES IT'S COMING.” You scream, feeling the weight of panic crushing your chest whenever you looked up, whatever was coming for you was speeding up, flapping dust up from the carpet into the air and you screamed when it was almost on you. The door yanked open for you both to fall in, and slam it behind you, leaving you and Charles in the pitch dark. 

“Oh god, fuck, get us out of here Sebastian.” dropping his characters name, you were over this fun house of hell crap they had made for the charity. 

“What do you think I'm doing?!” He snapped, losing his cool control as he fisted his hand through his hair, taking deep dragging breaths. “Once you hit the kitchen, the door is to your left.” You both start racing down the stairs, trying to be as quick as possible without falling and when you reached that door, you yanked it open and sprinted into the room, expecting to see a stove, cupboards, tables, anything. 

But that's not what you came into, you crashed into a whole other room. Confusion blurs your mind when you take in the attic like dusty interior. Spinning around, a couple times trying to make sense of it. 

“AN ATTIC? WE WERE RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS, NOT UP!” You twist to go back out the door, but Charles slams it shut, and throws a bolt. 

“Oh no Dear, were just where we need to be.” Charles smoothed his hair back, the panicked demeanor completely gone as he fixed his appearance. You backed away from him, licking your lips and panting with a wheeze. 

“I d-d-d-don't understand why we are up here, how we got up here. I want to leave.” Your foot comes down as if you're about to throw a tantrum. “Now. I demand you to take me out of this, keep my money. I don't care Sebastian, I'm all done with this game.” 

Charles crooks a brow, and smirks, striding in close in which you panic and back up further. 

“As I told you before Sweetheart, I don't know who Sebastian is. And there is no leaving. Rose Red needs you, needs you to grow.” 

“To grow? Your fucking crazy.” You start to look for another way out, and your back comes up to a large stained glass window. The famous stained glass Rose that adorned the front of the Manor. 

“Yes, Ellen is still building, don't you see. She needs to feed, and as her great nephew it's my duty to keep her alive.” 

He’s fucking lost it. Hollywood has snapped Sebastian's mind. 

“Just let me go, I swear Seb-” His eyes snapped at you. “Charles… I won't say anything.” 

“Auntie, do you want to let her go?” he asked with a cold grin. “You want to keep building Rose Red right? Keep building for April?” 

Your eyes darted around trying to figure out who he was talking to. But there was seemingly no one there. 

“I will donate more, give you money to keep building.” You felt around your pockets and pulled out your wallet, yanking out your billfold. “See a card.” tossing it at him in the delirious hopes that would appease him. He simply stepped over it. 

“That won't work darling. Auntie Ellen, she needs other materials.” That cold touch you felt before in the mirror room, made you jolt, and you spun away from Charles to see the decaying little girl with her withered arm folded up against her chest. 

“Play with me and baby?” the girl asked, her withered decayed hand shaking as she reached out to touch you.

You reared back and stumbled away to keep her from touching you, momentarily forgetting about Charles till you landed smack into his chest and a forearm locked around your neck. “Why are you scared of cousin April. She just wants to play?” He sneered into your ear, and you started clawing at his arm and trying to kick at him. 

How did you get here, and maybe this was some crazy dream. Your gasping the more his arms tighten, giving one hard clawing motion on his face  when you reach back and kick backwards to cause you both to tumble. 

“You little bitch.” Charles twists to grab at you while you're crawling away, and you kick back one more time, catching him in the shoulder hard enough for him to let go of your foot. 

“Fuck off Prick.” you scream, and yank yourself up, about to run towards the door. You're so close to going back into that hellish fun house when you are stopped right in your tracks, like hitting a wall. 

The lady of the manor stood before you, long off white gown clinging to a corpse. She would have been beautiful once upon a time as your eyes roved her up and down, like all those pictures you saw when you googled Rose Red before your trip, but now she was a nightmare, you stuttering before her with a whimper. “Please... please let me go.” 

“But Dear, Rose Red needs you.” Her voice had a tinkling sound to it, meant to soothe.  

Her brown leathery skin that clung to a skeletal frame creaked when her bony clawed hands cupped your face in a loving gesture, and your terror filled eyes lifted to see her lip less mouth showed what appeared to be fangs. Pale dead eyes softened for a moment, until her claws sunk into your face, tearing through skin and muscle, piercing your skull and her mouth widened to a fang filled gaping rotten hole. 

This is it, this is how I die. Your mind screamed in terror as she descended on you, your vision going dark, and your life just draining away. The pain fades, and your eyes roll back to see nothing. The last thing you will experience in your life, the overwhelming scent of fresh roses. 

Charles wiped at his face when he came to, looking around the attic and seeing nothing more than your still body. Moving to get himself up, muttering to himself. “Fucking bitch, got my suit all dirty.” He walked past your body, and looked to see his aunt picking up a hammer, April standing next to her playing with her doll. 

“I know, more souls for you to feed on Auntie.” He opened the door and made to go back down the stairs, his decaying aunt giving a slight nod in agreement. 

Whistling as he safely strolled through Rose Red, he made his way out the front door, and down the walkway back towards the iron wrought gate. Once he returned, he leaned back against that stone wall, feet crossing at the angle and reaching up to pluck that red rose he had placed there earlier, twirling it back and forth. 

Within ten minutes a couple young women strolled up to him, and he gave them a flirtatious smile, and held out the rose to one of them. “Ladies, welcome to Rose Red Manor, my family home and one of the most haunted sites in New York. My name is Charles Blackwood. Can I have your tickets please?” 

[prolestariwrites]

Triple Play

➔Fandom: Resident Evil ➔Rating: Explicit ➔Characters: Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Carlos Oliveira

➔Summary: Chris and Jill have been partners for years, but he never actually considered her a woman before. When he finds out more about her dating life than he ever wanted to know, it starts to make him re-evaluate his own (lack of) love life. Beta read by @solynacea. 

My first RE fic, and of course it’s a smut oneshot! Hope you all like it. It’s also on AO3, so visit me there!

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Chris remembers that Jill is a woman about two years after Raccoon City. They are finishing up a briefing and looking forward to a few days off when Capriotti makes a joke about Jill wearing lipstick. He hadn’t noticed himself, and turns his head to see that she is, indeed, wearing some color of pink on her lips. She’s also wearing eye makeup, subtle but there, and a shimmering top under her jacket. He guesses he didn’t pay close enough attention earlier, just acknowledging her when she arrived and launching into the gains they’d made until the meeting wrapped up.

Capriotti cracks a joke about a hot date, and Jill replies slyly, “Don’t you know it.”

Chris frowns as the others guys laugh. “Who is it?” Capriotti pushes.

“Yeah, I asked you out like five times,” Sami complains.

Jill makes a face. “How do you know it’s a guy?”

“It’s not?” Capriotti howls, half laughing and half in shock. “You’re not serious!”

“You afraid I’m getting more pussy than you?” she jokes.

The group continues to laugh but Chris tunes out. Jill is…? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but how didn’t he know? Should he have known? He wishes he didn’t know now.

He gives her a little signal as the group heads out and she walks over to where he stands at the head of the table. “What’s up?” she asks.

“Uh…” Chris clears his throat, looking up to check and make sure the rest are gone. “I was just wondering… I mean, I didn’t know you were a lesbian.”

Jill’s eyes go wide and then she bursts out laughing. “Are you kidding me? I was just messing with those guys.”

“Okay. Not that you couldn’t be. I was just surprised you hadn’t mentioned it.”

Chris’s face is hot but Jill just shrugs. “Not like we have time to date. Or talk about dating. I guess it never came up.” She laughs again and shakes her head. “But no, I’m not a lesbian. If I change my mind, though, you’ll be the first to know.”

She’s teasing him, he can tell that much, but he stammers a bit as he asks, “So, who are you seeing? Someone I know?”

“Yes, actually,” she replies, with a little grin. “Carlos Oliveira.”

“Oliveira?” Chris repeats, his brows drawing together. “The guy from Raccoon City? The Umbrella guy?”

“He’s not the Umbrella guy,” Jill corrects. “But yes, him. He’s with the UN now doing anti-terrorism work. And we actually both have time off together for once, so I’m spending it with him.”

Chris nods, still trying to wrap his mind around the idea. “Didn’t realize you had stayed in touch.”

She gives a shrug. “We see each other when we can. I like him. He’s not at all like most of the guys I meet. They either want to see Miss Badass become their sex slave or want me to step on their balls.”

He goes red again at the idea. “What?”

“You know what I mean. But Carlos just wants me. It’s refreshing.” She tilts her head for a second, considering him. “You should have some fun while we have a few days off. Go out on a date or something.”

“I date,” he argues. Jill gives him a look that shows she definitely doesn’t believe that at all, so he hurries to clarify, “Plus, like you said, we don’t have time for it.”

She pats him on the arm and turns for the door. “Anything else? I have reservations.”

“No, but does that mean we’re not meeting Tuesday?” he asks.

Jill shoots him a look over her shoulder. “No, we’re not meeting on Tuesday. I’m on vacation. As are you. So no check-in this week. Plus,” she adds with a grin, “if I’m lucky, I won’t be able to walk by then.”

He makes a face, and she laughs as she heads out the door. The room is blessedly silent, but that leaves Chris with his thoughts, which are now filled with Jill on a date and that is just too weird for him. So he picks up his stuff and heads out, hurrying back to his apartment.

Yet all the way up the elevator his brain can’t stop thinking. Jill, and that guy? His partner Jill, Jill who could shoot a zombie right between the eyes at twenty yards, Jill who was the only one on the team who didn’t throw up in the sewer when they were chasing a monster that had been mutated with three different virus strains? Jill. Dating Carlos.

Chris had met him, of course, after Raccoon City. The second he had gotten word of what went down, he caught the first flight back to the States to find the rest of S.T.A.R.S. Hearing that his sister had headed that way only made his panic worse, so when he arrived at the Red Cross encampment, he was only able to stay long enough to find out that almost everyone was dead before he was getting pulled to go work. Jill had seemed fine, shaken and exhausted but okay, and she had introduced him to Carlos, saying he had saved her. But Chris’ eyes went immediately to the red and white emblem on his shoulder, and barely heard another word as he promised to check in once he got a hold of Claire.

That guy? It’s so hard to picture. He’s not even Jill’s type. Jill’s type is…

Chris draws a blank. She’s mentioned dating before, right? He frowns as the elevator slows. Maybe, maybe not? But he knows for sure she’d never go for that type, the tall-dark-and-handsome or whatever. Too cliche.

Why do you care? his brain scoffs. Not like he’s interested, which he is not. Chris clears his throat, thinking that’s even weirder. Jill is… Jill. Not a sister really, not like Claire, because he doesn’t have the undeniable instinct to protect her at any cost. He doesn’t need to, because Jill can do fine on her own. Jill is his buddy. His partner. His pal. So why do you care?

“I don’t,” he says aloud, as the elevator doors open.

There are two agents on the other side who give him a funny look, and he sheepishly steps around them. He heads to his apartment in the officers’ building, relieved when he’s finally inside. Almost two weeks off, maybe a bit more if the world doesn’t end and they aren’t needed back immediately, and Chris decides he’s going to enjoy it. He’s going to relax and do some reading and… something. He’s got two weeks to figure it out.

Go out on a date or something.

He huffs at that as he moves around his kitchen, making some pasta. Date who? Nobody on the team, and everyone else is either under him or over him, so it’s all too awkward. There is the staff at the agency who keep the machine working, and he remembers Lisa from lab reception. “See? I date,” he says to the empty apartment. He had taken Lisa out to dinner after she had dropped some subtle hints at being interested, like “Do you want to get dinner sometime?” Chris grins smugly at himself as he stirs macaroni. The relationship didn’t really go anywhere after a few months; too hard to be away for days or weeks at a time, even though Lisa was good-natured about it. She was sweet in bed too, but not exactly his style. “I date,” he says again, as if to confirm.

The pasta and sauce are ready so he takes his bowl to the living room to find a game to watch. This is how you enjoy a vacation, he decides. Feet up, comfort food, America’s pastime on television. He sinks into the cushions as the third inning starts, feeling satisfied. Better this than getting all dolled up to go out, get sweaty, and meet someone for a night that goes nowhere.

Yet all that thinking about Jill and Carlos and Lisa has made him realize it has been a while. A real long while, and when he puts aside his empty bowl his mind starts to wander. His hand rubs against his crotch, soothing the erection growing underneath his sweats, and he thinks about Lisa. Lisa with the blond curls and the little dimple on her left ass cheek. She liked him on top, but he pictures her on his lap, dragging her fingers through his hair. It’s her hand that is fisting his cock, and Chris lets go a grunt as he lifts his hips to tug the waistband down enough to free it, giving in to the fantasy.

He sighs and tilts his head back, almost feeling her hair brushing his face as she strokes him boldly. But Lisa was never exactly bold in bed, so when he opens his mind’s eye it’s not her, but Jill on his lap. She’s wearing a t-shirt pulled too tight over her chest, and when his free hand reaches out to grab onto her hip, he realizes she’s wearing nothing else.

Jill says his name with her signature smirk before kissing him, and in his confusion he accepts. His hand moves faster, the end inevitable now, and he wonders how her lean body would feel against his, so much tighter and stronger than Lisa’s soft little self. His fingers dig into his thigh just as they would dig into her hip and he comes, pleasure sharp and intense and unexpected as it runs down his fingers.

Chris opens his eyes, breathing heavily as he shakes himself back to reality. “What the fuck?” he laughs, sitting up slowly to reach for the box of tissues. He might as well be in goddamn eighth grade, getting lost in a vivid daydream like that and not having the sense to prep for cleanup. What the hell is wrong with him?

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Four days later, Chris is bored. A guy like him who is used to action doesn’t do well without anything to keep him occupied. He works out and goes shopping and works out some more, but after going down to the bar around the corner for a drink and dinner, he realizes that vacation isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And it’s too late now to call Claire and invite her somewhere, especially since she’s in California or something.

He needs to get out of this rut, so Chris makes a decision. He sends an email to the team and invites everyone over for poker the next night. He grins as one acceptance after another comes through, jokes ranging from Captain? You dying or something? to Get your money ready, making him chuckle. But then he is surprised when Jill emails him too: I’d love to come, alright if I bring Carlos?

It’s fine, he answers back, but what happened to not being able to walk?

It takes a full five minutes to get an answer back, and Chris smirks to himself at being able to surprise Jill Valentine. But eventually she does answer: I’m a girl of many talents. Damn her.

The next night is plenty fun. He splurges on the good beer and even an excellent bottle of bourbon, figuring if he can’t spend his salary on booze, what else is there? Peterson brings cigars and there are eight of them that wind up playing, including Carlos, who fits right in with the group well enough that Chris can pretty much ignore him and the way his hand sits on Jill’s thigh.

They play a few rounds but they end up talking more than looking at cards, so the game evolves into a proper party of drinking and stories. Chris orders pizza and when it arrives, the crowd gathers in his kitchen to eat and he realizes Jill is missing. He heads down the hallway to check the bathroom but finds it empty. So is his office, and curious, he pokes his head into the bedroom. That’s also empty, but he hears something in the master bath, and without even thinking he walks through the room and opens the door.

Chris finds them alright. Carlos is fucking her against his sink, their arms locked around one another, her shirt pushed up and her jeans dangling from one knee and his jeans in a puddle around his ankles. He comes to a stop as his eyes go wide, watching in a weird moment of frozen time, noticing how they’ve knocked over his little container of cotton swabs and that the mirror is steamed up from their breath. Then Jill gives a yelp that shakes him back to present, and he gets a quick glance of Carlos’ dick pulling out of her flushed folds before yelling, “Shit, sorry!” and promptly closing the door.

He is sure his face is red when he returns to the others, but they must assume it’s the alcohol because no one says anything. Jill and Carlos join them a few minutes later, and he feels distracted, not because of what they were doing, but because he is oddly curious if they finished or not.

The evening winds down and everyone helps clean up a bit before they say their goodbyes, and somehow he ends up alone with Jill and Carlos as the only ones left. “Let me help you with this stuff,” she says, and he notes the blush on her cheeks as she fills her arms with empty bottles and cups and walks to the kitchen.

Chris is about to go after her when Carlos pats him on the arm. “Hey, man,” he says. “Sorry about earlier.”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s fine.”

“I’m so embarrassed.” Jill reappears, laughing and shaking her head. “That was not the right place or time.”

“Didn’t think anyone would catch us if we snuck off,” Carlos offers, laughing too. “You scared the hell out of us though.”

“Sorry.” Chris chuckles, thinking that this should be awkward and glad that it’s not. “Hey, at least the place saw some action. Not like there’s a lot going on in that department.”

He gives another laugh, but the other two don’t find the humor. “Don’t say that,” Carlos replies. “Guy like you is probably beating the girls off with a stick.”

“Not exactly,” Chris says. He pushes a chair under the table to cover his embarrassment. “But really, it’s fine.”

“I take full responsibility.” Carlos puts a hand up as if swearing an oath. “It was all my idea. I just can’t keep my hands off her.”

“Carlos!” Jill scolds, holding her forehead in her hand.

He points at her with a grin. “Hey, it’s not my fault. You’re fucking gorgeous. And your ass in those jeans? I mean what is a man supposed to do with that?” He turns to Chris with a smile. “I mean, you know what I mean, right man?”

“Chris doesn’t think like that,” Jill teases. “He is too respectful.”

“Well you’re disrespectful in those jeans.”

“Carlos.”

“I don’t,” Chris interjects. They both turn from their fun to look at him, and he hurries on, “I mean, think that way about Jill.”

Carlos makes a face. “What? Are you telling me you two never…?”

“Never!” laughs Jill.

“I’m surprised,” he says. “I wouldn’t be able to do a thing if I looked at her all day.”

Chris shrugs. “Sorry. I just never thought of her like that.” He glances over, surprised that she is frowning. “What? Are you mad or something?”

“No,” she protests. “But you didn’t have to be so adamant about it.”

He opens his mouth to argue before he remembers that he did, in fact, think of Jill that way, just the other day, not three feet from where they were all standing. “So you want me to then?” he laughs.

Jill rolls her eyes. “I don’t care if you do or not. All I’m saying is that if you did, you wouldn’t have to be ashamed of it.”

Chris clears his throat. “We’re partners. Not exactly appropriate.”

She sighs and walks towards him, her arms folded. “Chris, when are you gonna get over bullshit like what’s appropriate? We spend our whole lives fighting biological weapons, killing monsters, saving people. Every single day. We leave here on each mission not knowing if we’re coming back. Not knowing who is going to get infected or shot or bitten, if you’re going to have to pull the trigger or if I am.” Jill is standing in front of him now, barely an inch away, and he searches her face, wondering when this turned serious. “So when I’m not killing monsters and hunting people who want to see me dead or worse, I’m going to do what I want. I’m not spending the time I do have worrying about what’s appropriate. And if I want to have sex with someone, then I’m going to fucking have sex.”

He gives a huff, not quite a laugh, not sure what she’s trying to say. “I understand,” he replies.

“Do you?”

Now it’s his turn to roll his eyes. “Yes. As a matter of fact, I did think about you like that. Jerked off to it too.”

The words are out before he can stuff them back in, and his eyes go wide the second they are released. Panic rises in his throat for the longest second of his life as Jill’s mouth opens in an O of surprise; but then she smiles and presses her palms to his chest. “Did you really?” she asks.

“Yeah,” he chokes out.

Jill then does the last thing he expects. She leans up and kisses him, pressing her mouth firmly on his, one of her hands moving to cup the back of his neck. She should be slapping him or something, calling their supervisor, maybe shooting him? But instead she tilts her head and gives his lower lip a little bite, and a split second later he puts his arms around her waist and pulls her against him.

Her mouth opens and his follows suit. Her tongue rolls into his mouth, sliding along his, sending a little thrill up his spine. Chris realizes he had been right; she feels nothing like anyone else, her body somehow both solid and light as he presses her firmly to him.

Jill breaks the kiss suddenly, and he stares at her in shock as she blinks up at him. “Is this okay?” she asks.

Chris is about to answer when she looks to the side, and he realizes she’s talking to Carlos. He gives a start, releasing his grip; how did he forget Carlos was standing there and watching? The guy will deck him for sure.

Carlos nods, a little smile on his face. “Yeah. It’s all good.”

A million and one questions instantly flood his mind but her mouth is on his again, and Chris can’t deny the absolutely undeniable pull she has. Jill has always been like this, hasn’t she? Like a rocket, or an anchor, or a little beacon that pulses and makes people shut up and listen.

Which is what he should be doing now instead of listing adjectives in his head. “Sit,” she says, and Chris realizes she’s pulled him to the couch. Her hands push his shirt up and he helps her remove it before he sits, and Jill steps between his legs, leaning down to slide her touch along his arms.

“You good?” she asks, and her concern is almost touching.

“Yeah,” he replies.

He watches with great interest as she unbuttons her jeans and shimmies out of them, pulling her underwear down with them. Chris’ heart beats faster to see her slim thighs that curve up into perfect hips, his favorite part of a woman. Her stomach is flat with the hint of muscle underneath, her waist tiny and trim and making him start to get hard before his eyes even fall to the place between her thighs. As if she knows, Jill presses her hand against her sex, rubbing herself as she climbs onto his lap.

Her knees straddle him and she reaches for her shirt, but Chris stops her. This is it, his fantasy that he had conjured, and he takes a minute to just enjoy Jill Valentine half naked on his lap and the tight anticipation of what her chest is going to look like bare and what she is going to feel like sliding onto his dick. His hands press against her thighs and he slides them up, tracing the path his eyes took over hips and stomach and waist until he grazes the underside of her bra.

Jill shifts on his lap and Chris catches sight of Carlos. He is leaning against the table where they played cards on the other side of the room, just watching, his hand rubbing himself on the outside of his jeans. And fuck is that hot, knowing he’s watching and enjoying as he gets ready to fuck his girlfriend—what the fuck is wrong with him? He’s not this kind of guy, he doesn’t do kinky shit like this, he doesn’t get off on having sex in front of people or fucking his partner or having sex without at least buying dinner first and the pizza didn’t count at all.

“Hey,” Jill murmurs, tilting his chin up. “You still with me?”

“We really doing this?” he asks stupidly.

She snorts. “Yeah. If you want to.”

Fuck-shit-damn yes he wants to, his cock is like steel now at the very idea. He wants to do this. He wants to give up control and hand it over, stop playing by rules that don’t work and write some of his own. He wants to stop being in charge for one night and let someone else make decisions, wants to follow instead of lead, wants to be anyone other than Chris Redfield, special agent. He wants to fuck the girl every man wants as her boyfriend watches, and that nearly short circuits his thinking.

So maybe it’s not such a surprise that he says the dumbest sentence ever uttered, one that later he’ll think about and want to kick his own ass. “But you’ve already had sex tonight.”

Carlos chuckles from where he stands and Jill laughs along, stroking his cheek. “I got a special dispensation from the president,” she says, before sealing her mouth on his in a kiss.

She is cool and light against him, and Carlos was right, her ass is perfect. He grips her backside and squeezes as she grinds on his lap. Jill groans into his mouth and Chris realizes it’s because she’s rubbing herself against his erection, pressing up in a hard tent at the front of his jeans. Her fingers stroke against his shoulders and down his chest, running through the hair there and tracing along his pecs until they move lower, outlining his abdominals. She rolls her hips again and again and he can feel her getting his jeans wet, or maybe that’s him? Either way, he lets go of her long enough to open them, needing the relief more than ever.

Jill moves up on her knees to let him slide his pants down his hips, and she uses the opportunity to pull her t-shirt off over her head. Now she is left in only her bra, a lacy red thing that is so opposite of everything he knows about her that he can only stop and stare. He reaches up to carefully pull one cup down to expose her pink nipple, rubbing his thumb against the hard bud.

There is moisture leaking from the tip of his cock, and Jill uses it to stroke him, her hand tight as she pumps his length with quick, firm movements. Chris leans forward to lick her nipple, then presses his lips to her body, sucking lightly. Someone like her, would she even like the normal stuff? But she sighs in response, her other hand pressing to the back of his head to keep him there, and Chris uses his teeth and tongue to tease her until she is rubbing her sex against his.

Jill gives a groan, and he looks up to see that Carlos has moved behind her. He cups her chin up and to the side, his curls falling a bit to cover their kiss. Chris freezes momentarily, but then Carlos pulls away with a playful bite to her lip. “Does he feel good?” he murmurs.

“I can’t wait anymore,” Jill pants.

Carlos reaches into his pocket and pulls out a condom, handing it to her between two fingers. Jill snatches it and smiles at Chris as she tears it open, and he leans back on the couch, pressing his hands to the cushion. He watches in a sort of daze as she rolls it down his length, anticipation tightening his stomach as she leans up and angles him against her body before finally sinking down around him.

Chris lets out a hiss of pleasure as he throws his head back. Jill’s mouth is hot on his neck as she works to take him in, but with her slick body and the lubricated condom he slips inside with little trouble. She squeezes tightly around him, nearly taking his ability to breathe, before she pulls back and braces her hands on his shoulders.

When she starts to move, he risks a peek, groaning as the sight of her sends a jolt of excitement straight through his cock. Carlos is kissing her shoulder, undoing her bra and pulling it down her arms to toss it away before he grabs her bare breasts. She reaches up one arm to wrap around his neck as the other digs hard into Chris’ shoulder, and he watches in rapt attention as she fucks him while Carlos fondles her chest, delivering open mouthed kisses along her neck. Chris reaches up and presses his hands to her waist, dragging them over her hips as his eyes go downwards and giving another groan when his gaze falls on where they are joined, his cock disappearing in between her lips.

Jill stops the roll of her hips momentarily, keeping him buried inside of her, and he can feel her nearly pulsing around him. “She’s close,” Carlos says roughly, and Chris’ eyes snap up to his when he realizes he’s talking to him.

“Already?” he pants. Carlos nods, and Chris huffs a laugh. “So am I.”

Jill grins, opening her eyes as she bites her lower lip. “Can’t let this end too fast.”

She pushes off of him to stand, and Chris swallows a protest, his cock bobbing when it is released. But Jill grabs his pants and pulls them down his legs, and once they are removed she kneels on the carpet, carefully pulling the condom away. “I bet you taste delicious,” she says, and his eyes nearly roll back into his head when she lowers her lips onto his length.

Jill sucks him hungrily, making his head spin. Chris jerks upwards into her mouth, but fists his hands into the couch to let her work. Behind her, Carlos has pulled out his own cock and is stroking it freely, watching with dark, hooded eyes. “You’re so beautiful,” he groans before going down on his knees.

As Carlos pushes her thighs apart and pulls her hips upwards, her moan vibrates along his cock as she swallows him completely. Her eyes squeeze shut as she sucks for as long as she can before coming up for breath, panting against his wet length as Carlos starts to fuck her from behind. “Slow,” she pants, and Carlos instantly eases his pace. Her eyes meet Chris’ and stay there as she rolls her tongue around the head of his cock; then she is swallowing him again, the sensation nearly driving him mad with desire. It strikes him that he never understood before why someone would want it like this, least of all a woman, finding porn like this vulgar and strange: but now he realizes that it’s because she’s in control, with two men ready to worship her body, and Chris is willing to give her anything in this moment.

Soon he is close again, and he hisses her name. Jill pulls off and grips his cock, stroking him quickly as her mouth drops down to press her tongue against his sac. Carlos starts to move faster, drawing a whine from Jill’s throat, and when she shudders against him, Chris realizes she’s coming. It sends him right over the edge, his body tightening almost painfully before his seed spills out in a great spurt that she quickly moves her mouth to swallow. Carlos holds her firmly by the waist as she trembles, but Chris can only focus on her lips sliding along his cock in time with the pulsing that rocks deeply through him. He lifts his hips to push in further with the final waves of pleasure, and Jill swallows him with a sigh that she releases when he finally slides his cock from her mouth.

Carlos pulls her closer to him, and he muffles a groan against her shoulder as he jerks his hips. Jill looks up at Chris, their eyes locking as she licks her lips, and Chris swallows thickly, knowing Carlos is finishing inside of her. His erection is softening, but not nearly as fast as it usually does, and when she turns her face to kiss Carlos and he watches her tongue slide into his mouth, his cock jerks uncomfortably.

She laughs a bit when Carlos finally releases her. “Damn,” Carlos sighs, rubbing her arms. “So fucking hot. Told ya, man.”

He is grinning at Chris, who nods, rubbing the palm of his hand on his forehead. “Yeah,” he agrees lamely.

It feels so damn awkward now, but the other two don’t seem fazed, climbing to their feet as they chuckle together. Carlos yanks up his jeans before grabbing Jill, pulling her into a deep kiss as Chris looks up and watches. He remembers how he couldn’t believe they’d be together just days ago, and now he knows what an absolute idiot he is.

“Carlos and I are driving down the coast tomorrow,” Jill says, turning to look at him as Carlos kisses her neck. “Do you want to come? Spend a few days on the beach?”

“With you two?” he asks stupidly. Carlos lifts his head and Chris holds up a hand. “Yeah. Dumb question. Sorry.”

He stands awkwardly, wanting to put on some clothes, but Jill slides her hand over his hip. “Well? Do you want to come?”

The question makes his neck heat, and he nods. “Sure. Why not.”

“Good,” Carlos says.

They banter a bit as they get dressed, Chris just listening as he tries to figure out what to say. He spots the condom on the floor and quickly picks it up, and when he returns from throwing it away Carlos is at the door, grabbing his jacket. “Hey,” Jill says, stepping up to press her hand on his chest, just like she had before. “You good?”

“Yeah,” Chris answers. “I’m fine.”

“Be ready by ten.” Then she gives him a wink and they head out the door, Carlos slinging his arm around her shoulder as he gives a wave.

The door shuts behind them, leaving the apartment in silence and Chris standing with his pants half undone. “See? I have sex,” he says to the room.

[charming-charlie]

The Worst Goodbye

Title // The Worst Goodbye

Pairing // Anthony Ramos x Reader

Warnings // Mentions of drinking, cute little fluffs

Summary // Anthony is leaving the Hamilton show and you aren’t coping well with saying goodbye.

Word Count // 2k

Prompt // Hey there! Can I request something fluffy with Anthony from Hamilton? Maybe something where the reader really likes his long hair, aka Philip hair, so when he cuts it she’s a little discouraged? // I found a cute writing prompt for Anthony Ramos. “Person A and Person B having deep conversations together on the patio / balcony at 3 a.m.”

It seemed to be a long, winded night. You were tired, not fully exhausted yet, but there wasn’t much energy in you left. It was yet another end-of-run party, this time for Chris Jackson, for Hamilton. The year was full of losses. Lin, Philippa, Leslie, Daveed, and Ariana left earlier during the summer. Anthony, one of your closest friends, was scheduled to leave next.

The next party would be in celebration of him.

You were okay with that. He wanted to further his acting and music career. Working eight shows a week sort of hindered that and often left him too tired to pursue his other interests.

But it went with the territory, especially in your line of work. You worked at the Richard Rodgers theater as a backstage hand. You made sure people got to their places on time, handled wardrobe malfunctions, and helped devise a schedule if someone was going t be out. It was truly a fun job for you because you were able to see the ins and outs of the show, and you became close with the cast members, both past and present.

The hardest part were the goodbyes, like tonight. Chris was leaving, wrapping up his final curtain call in 2 days, which meant 2 more performances from the man who played a stellar George Washington. While these parties were meant to be a celebration, they were sadder for you. You said goodbye to so many people over the past few months.

The party took place on a rooftop bar. There was the bar itself, which had high glass walls and then there was the balcony area that fenced off the roof. Due to the chilly weather, it being November and all, no one even so much as attempted to go outside on the balcony. At least, not yet. Surely after they had more drinks in them and got warmed up from the alcohol, it’ll be full of party people.

For now, you were the only occupant on the empty balcony. The sun had set, and the moon was out. You were able to see very few stars due to the heavy lights of New York City, but it was still a very nice, relaxing sight. You knew you could never give up the city. There was just something about it that you found comforting, and peaceful nights like this were part of the reason why.

You had a drink in hand, barely touched. You were more focused on the sights before you. It was almost like a scene from a movie. Your hair whipped lightly in the cold wind, but you didn’t feel the frigid breeze.

In fact, you were so lost in your little world, you didn’t hear the bar door open, the one that led to the balcony. It was only when you felt someone brush against your shoulder, you were lulled out of your trance. You turned and you saw Anthony. He was wearing a hoodie with the hood up, his hands in his pockets, and some casual jeans. “Well,” you managed to say with a smile, “you certainly dressed for the occasion.”

He turned to look at you, smiling in return. One of his arms rested on the barrier of the roof. “Yo, I came straight from rehearsal. I didn’t have time to change. Besides, you really think Chris is going to care?” Anthony responded simply. It was almost like he knew you were going to say something about his look, and he had a rebuttal prepared. You wouldn’t put it past him.

That’s right, when he wasn’t working on Hamilton, he had rehearsals for the new show he was scheduled to be on. You said nothing, turning back to the city, not wanting to think about saying goodbye to yet another friend. The theater was starting to be kind of bleak with your favorite people leaving.

“No, Chris won’t mind. I mind though. What is this?” you asked. With your empty hand, you reached out to grab his hood, but he pulled back with a laugh, ducking your grip. He looked so casual and yet it looked like he was almost wearing a disguise. Like, he wanted to blend in. It didn’t work for you though. He had a personality and a smile that could be seen and heard from across a room. He was just that type of person, one of the best people you ever had the pleasure of meeting.

“This is fashion,” Anthony said much to your surprise. You couldn’t help but laugh, truly laugh, at his dumb choice of words.

“Your fashion sense is awful. What time is it?” you grabbed his arm and pulled up the sleeve of his hoodie, looking at his watch. It was going on three in the morning. You had no idea it was so late. The party inside the bar was still in full swing. You don’t think anybody even left it yet. The notion of the time emitted a yawn from you, and you tried to swat it away out of annoyance.

“Whoa, my fashion sense is amazing,” Anthony counted back as he lightly bumped into you, nudging you gently.

You took a sip of your drink, which had long since been watered down, and waved a hand in his direction. “There’s your catwalk, go model it for me and try to change my mind.”

You were absolutely kidding, and you thought your voice was dripping with sarcasm and jokes but Anthony actually took you up on that. He nodded, walked to the end of the balcony and turned to face you. You stood there in surprise, watching as the young man strutted toward you, one foot in front of another, giving off ridiculous poses. He unzipped the front of his hoodie dramatically, giving off such ridiculous model vibes. You were not drunk enough for this.

He got closer to you and he flailed his head, pushing the hood down. Your stared at him. Both of your hands flew to your barely drunken glass, fearing you would drop it from the sudden look. Anthony had cut his hair. His beautiful, long hair that he often wore pulled back, was now short and styled, and it caught you off guard to the point where you couldn’t look away.

You definitely were not drunk enough for this.

“Oh no babe, what is that?” you pointed to his head. Anthony was taking it in stride as he ran his fingers through his shorter hair with a sheepish smile. You had a feeling you were the first person he showed his new style to, but your reaction wasn’t exactly encouraging him.

“I had to cut it for the role. Does it look that bad?” Anthony asked. His smile was slowly fading, and he turned to the glass walls of the bar, trying to catch his reflection.

It didn’t look bad. It just looked different. It was yet another reminder that he was going to be leaving the show soon. It was a reminder that things were changing, and you were not liking it. Finding a cold bench, you sat down, your breath shaky. Your put your drink down somewhere on the ground, not wanting to touch it.

Anthony’s smile had turned into a complete frown by this point and he slowly sat next to you. “I’m gonna wear a wig for the rest of my Hamilton appearances, don’t worry.” His voice sounded a bit defeated. He looked out over the scenery, watching the still buildings, trying to avoid looking at you.

You hated how you were reacting, but you sincerely could not help it. To much was changing too fast.

“It was Renee’s old wig. I’m getting it fixed and cut before tomorrow’s show,” Anthony kept rambling on, as if it would make you feel better.

You sighed. Of course, you were overreacting. You knew that. You were being dramatic. Deep down, you had to expect that this was going to happen, and it has. It wasn’t just the hair. You loved Anthony’s longer hair and you thought he could pull a ponytail off better than most girls out there. This was different. This just proved things were not going to be the same in a very short amount of time.

“It’s not the hair,” you mumbled to yourself, but Anthony heard you. Slowly his head turned to look at you, but you could not bring yourself to face his warm, comforting eyes. “It’s what the hair represents.”

That astonished him and he let out a breath, sort of scoffing your words away like he didn’t quite understand. “What does that mean?”

Sighing deeply, you turned to look at him and you grabbed his hand. Maybe it was time for you to say what you were feeling. When were you going to get another chance? Plus, Anthony seemed a bit down in spirit right now from your reaction. He deserved an explanation.

“You cutting your hair means this is really happening,” you began. You were speaking slowly, trying to choose your words carefully. You didn’t want to end up saying the wrong thing and make the evening (morning?) even worse. “I mean… it’s another reminder that you are leaving the show and leaving me. I’m just not… I don’t know, I’m just not handling it well. That’s all. Your hair looks good. I like the new cut.”

There was silence after that. You wished he would say something. Tension was growing between the two of you with each passing second and you were not sure how long you could sit there in overwhelming silence. You couldn’t take it. You exhaled and stood up, only to feel Anthony reach out and grab your hand. He tugged you back and you instantly sat down next to him.

He leaned in, letting his forehead rest against your shoulder. “Don’t leave,” you heard him whisper. His fingers inched themselves slowly and wrapped around your hand in a tight hold. You rested your head against the top of his and closed your eyes. For a moment, everything seemed to be okay. But it was only for a moment.

“We knew this was coming,” you said slowly. Now you wanted to avoid the conversation. Anthony shushed you as he squeezed your hand. You felt his head rise from your shoulder. He let go of your hand, hooked his index finger and thumb under your chin, and turned your head to look at him. His eyes were unreadable, and he had a sad smile. That did nothing to help your dejected feelings.

“I don’t know if I’m ready,” you said but Anthony cut you off.

“Stop talking.”

He didn’t move, forcing you to keep looking at him. His hand shifted from under your chin to the side of your face. He was making it worse. He was stirring up things inside you that were going to be squashed like a bug on the night of his final curtain call.

“I may be leaving Hamilton but I’m not leaving your life. Don’t even think about that. You think I can just walk away and leave you behind? I can’t. I don’t want to. Shut up about saying goodbye. You aren’t saying goodbye. You may be working with a new John Laurens and Philip Schuyler, but you aren’t getting rid of me completely.” His voice took on a bit of sharpness. You could tell he did not prepare a speech for something like that, which further proved he was serious.

He leaned in, kissing your forehead softly. A cold wind zipped by, and you felt it that time. Or maybe that was just the chill that ran up your spine at his sudden, simple touch.

“Please promise me that,” you said, needing it for your own clarification.

“I promise,” he said while looking at you dead in the eyes. He held onto your gaze for a few moments. The lights of New York City were behind him and he looked like such a vision, like a painting come to life. He looked happy, his smile returned, and there was a sort of lightness behind his eyes.

Your worst fear turned out be over-exaggerated and you were thankful he was there. It’ll be hard, getting through these next few weeks knowing he was going to be gone soon, but you had faith that there was more to your friendship with Anthony than meets the eye. You knew he saw it too.

[purrincess-chat]

Quaranteen Hearts CH1

I’m early. That never happens, but hey, it’s Adrinette April somewhere! And I started this thing up because I’m a tool who can’t go outside. I hope you’re all doing well during this quarantine, and if not then hopefully this little amount of Adrinette fluff makes it a tad bit more bearable. We will get through this together!

Read on AO3

Chapter 1

“As cases of Covid19 continue to climb across Europe, France has no choice but to close its boarders. Officials are ordering all citizens to stay in their homes for the next 15 days and practice social distancing to prevent the spread of…”

The TV droned on in the background as Adrien stared up at his ceiling. His worst nightmare had come to life, and it wasn’t even because of an akuma. This was real life. There was no magical cure that could fix this. He was stuck in lockdown. Again. And his father refused to budge.

Sure, they had enough food and supplies to last them for 6 months, and Adrien should have had everything he needed to stay entertained for as long. Everything, that is, but the one thing he craved more than anything: human interaction.

There was Nathalie, but she was too busy rearranging his father’s schedule and organizing his school assignments and private lessons to chat. And Gorilla wasn’t exactly the talkative type. He could talk to Plagg around mouthfuls of cheese, but there was only so much you could talk about with an ancient, tiny god of destruction. Especially when all he wanted to talk about was cheese.

He’d already topped his high scores on all of his arcade machines again, and his basketball score board had maxed out 20 layups ago. His online schoolwork had only taken him an hour, and his father dismissed most of the cooking staff, so he couldn’t even order a snack. Earlier, he tried going out in the garden, but his father had alarms on all of the doors in case he tried to go out. It was so unfair!

Just when he finally felt like he was getting a taste of freedom, and everything in his life was looking up, boom. Here comes a global pandemic to push him right back behind closed doors. Back to square one. He’d be lucky if his father ever let him outside again after this. All he wanted to do was see his friends, but this stupid virus meant that even if they could see each other, they’d have to keep their distance. He hated this!

“Look on the bright side,” Plagg said, floating over lazily. “Now you have plenty of time to help me age my cheese.”

“Somehow I don’t think that’s really a bright side, Plagg,” Adrien sighed, lifting and dropping a pillow onto his face. “I just want to see my friends.”

“We could sneak out Chat Noir style,” Plagg offered.

“It’s a global pandemic, Plagg. Going out could expose me to the virus, and I really don’t want to have to explain to my father how I caught it under his lockdown,” he said, voice muffled by the pillow. “I think I should just resign myself to die of boredom and loneliness.”

“Just because you can’t see your friends in person, doesn’t mean you can’t still see them. Why don’t you try calling one of them with that video thing on the computer?” Plagg said before stuffing a wedge of Camembert in his mouth.

Adrien shot up with a gasp, “Plagg, that’s genius! I can just Skype my friends!”

“You’re welcome,” his kwami mumbled before swallowing as Adrien jumped up and slid into his computer chair.

“C’mon, c’mon,” Adrien said, tapping his fingers until Nino answered. “Nino!”

“Yo, what’s good, dude? How is quarantine?” Nino asked with a grin.

“Terrible. I hate it,” Adrien said, leaning against his fist. “I feel like I’m suffocating.”

“But, dude, your room is so epic. There’s a ton of stuff to do,” Nino chuckled, but Adrien leaned back with a groan.

“Yeah, but I do all this stuff every day. It gets old,” he said. “I wanna see people.”

“Sorry, bro. I know you can’t stand being cooped up, but 15 days is gonna be over before ya know it, and you can always call your best bud,” Nino said, flashing two finger guns.

“Thanks. You’re the best. Hey, do you wanna link up and play-”

“Nino!” Chris’s voice sounded and he appeared in the doorway behind Nino. “I wanna play with my Grobotech, but I need someone to be the puny hero that gets destroyed.”

“Can’t you just play both roles?” Nino asked. “I’m talking to Adrien.”

“But I can’t be both because it’s no fun if I destroy myself!” Chris insisted, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Sorry, little dude. Maybe in a little while,” Nino said, patting his head, but Chris turned back toward the hall.

“Moooom! Nino won’t play with me!” He shouted, and Nino turned back to Adrien with a sigh.

“I better go. Sorry, bro. We can chat later after Chris goes to bed,” he said with a wince.

“No worries. Thanks anyway, Nino,” Adrien said, waving before the screen went dark, and he leaned back in his chair. “Maybe Alya will be free.”

He clicked her name along his sidebar and waited while it rang. She answered almost immediately which he took as a good sign until he appeared on screen with her two little sisters climbing over her lap.

“It’s mine!”

“No, it’s mine!”

“Hey, there,” Adrien said cautiously. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.”

“A little,” Alya said, rolling her eyes. “We’re all going a little stir crazy around here, and Mom doesn’t want them going to the park because they don’t understand what social distancing means.”

“It’s my turn!”

“I guess I’ll let you get back to them,” he said, leaning against his fist in defeat.

“Sorry,” Alya said. “But, hey, if you want someone to talk to, Marinette doesn’t have any siblings, and I bet she’d appreciate a call.”

“Marinette…Yeah, thanks, Alya!” Adrien perked up.

“Bye!” Alya waved.

“You already had a turn!”

Adrien clicked the x and immediately scrolled down to Marinette’s name. Alya was right. Marinette was perfect. The bakery was closed, and Marinette was an only child. No siblings to interrupt. Plus, he always wanted to talk to her. Marinette was just who he needed.

“H-Hello?” Marinette blinked when her face appeared.

“Marinette! Hey, what are you up to? Are you free right now?” Adrien asked but decided he seemed a little too eager, so he toned it back. “I’m bored, so I was hoping to chat with someone.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m just- I’m not doing anything important,” she said, setting her knitting needles aside. “I can totally chat!”

“Awesome! What are you working on?” He asked.

“Well, I finished all of our schoolwork last night-”

“Same.”

“-so this morning I’ve just been knitting everyone’s Christmas gifts. Look, I made Max and Markov matching sweaters,” she said, holding them up then deflating. “It’s good to catch up on everything, but I’m running out of craft projects.”

“Yeah, I beat my high score on Extreme Racer 3 like five times now,” he said, shoulders slumping. “I miss hanging out with everyone. My father is adamant that I don’t leave the house for anything.”

“Not even out in the yard?” Marinette asked.

“He yelled at me for trying to go out into the garden earlier,” Adrien said, pursing his lips. “I swear he’s convinced it’s just floating in the air.”

“Sorry. I know how hard it is for you being locked up, but hey, at least we can still talk,” Marinette offered, and a smile curled on his lips.

“Yeah, and I’m really grateful for that,” he said. “I just wish I could see you in person, but Skype will have to do for now.”

Marinette pursed her lips then perked up and said, “Wait, do you have the new Animal Crossing?”

“Uh, yeah, my father got me the Switch that goes with it too,” he said, rolling over to retrieve it from his bed and holding it up.

“Why don’t we link up? It’s not exactly hanging out in person, but it’s close,” she said with a shrug.

“That’s a great idea! I can show you the tarantula I caught last night,” he said, booting it up.

“Ugh, I never see them coming! I keep getting bit by them,” she groaned. “They’re so scary.”

Adrien smiled up at her as she opened her gate for him, feeling the tension in his shoulders fade. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted, but his walls seemed a little less narrow now, so for that, he was grateful.

“Hey, Marinette?” He said, and she glanced up, eyebrows raising. “Thanks. It’s really hard for me being alone, so this quarantine is my absolute worst nightmare. I really appreciate being able to talk to someone.”

Her face softened in that token Marinette way that told him she understood. “You can call me whenever you want. It’s just me and my parents here, and if you ever need someone, just call, okay? We can ride out this quarantine together.”

“I will. Thank you,” he said, relief flooding over him. “Now, check out my tarantula!”

It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Enough to ease his boredom, and more importantly, enough to make him feel like everything was going to be okay.

[calypsoff]

Thirty Nine.

I’m a little nervous, like not even going to front and lie about it but I am very nervous. I am going to meet TJ and Barry, they maybe coming to the home or I meet them. No support, no walking frame, no walking stick or crutches. Just me on my own, I’ve spoken about this day to my therapist, and it’s arrived. He said it’s the day of your freedom, take it with both hands and do it. Barry and TJ said they will come here to me, not seen them in months so I hope they come here first, being able to walk on my own is a blessing, I get emotional thinking about it. I worked so hard for this, lots of work and sweat to just get to this moment of freedom. I can walk on my own, I’m a little slow but I do it and that is the point. My trainer said to keep it to a minimum, meaning long walks is a no but walk. So I am doing just that, Robyn came to see me for the month off and we didn’t have sex, that wasn’t on my mind, she was angrier about my hair and beard, I wanted to I don’t know, surprise her. Which I am, because I’m getting on a flight to Barbados tonight, just for her. She thinks I am staying here; she is currently confused on what to do because after her very last date she wants to stay there, but she thinks I’m not coming but I am. It’s to surprise her, with my new look. I am very happy “Chris” my mother knocked on my bedroom door “come in” I said, she opened the door slowly “shall I finish packing your suitcase?” Nodding my head “also your barber has arrived baby, I’m so excited to see you shaven” I think everyone is “same, I feel like my confidence is going to hit the roof but let me go and see him. He going to be scared” getting up from the bed “it’s been painful to see the mess of your hair” my mother is rude for that.

Making my way to the kitchen “fuck off, you are not Chris Brown. You’re not the nigga I saw last” JC screamed out laughing “are you serious?” He walked over to me so shocked, he is shook “bro, you good?” He hugged me, like he missed me “I’m alive, I just been through hell and back. I’m glad to see you here, my girlfriend is driving me crazy about this beard” he moved back from the hug “not surprised, wow. How you been? I heard you got shot on TMZ, after that no news everything went quiet, come. Sit down, I can’t wait to get your hair done. Usual?” Sitting down on the chair “yeh usual, I just been through hell and back, not going to lie. I have been just trying to put my all into walking again, you see I am a little slow with things but I’m getting there. I just been through so much pain and hurt, like a lot of shit. I stayed away from social media, just concentrated on myself, I needed to get better for myself. Now I am ready to go back to that life, I am ready to be me again” rubbing my beard for the very last time “I actually want blonde coloured curls and side low skin haircut, I want that bro if you can” I want to colour my hair again “I got you! It’s so good to see you, Drake been giving you love online. We all were to be honest, am I the first to see you after all this time” nodding my head smiling “you are bro” it’s good to feel this love from people, I didn’t think they cared like that “I am so glad you good though, has the process been hard for you?” He asked “it’s been so hard, I mean look at me, and I got a girl like Rihanna walking around. Man, I was scared she would have left me but god bless my wife she been there for me, I am ready for the world now” I can’t wait to just get back out there.

I looked at myself in amazement “can you crush on yourself?” JC busted out laughing “I look good, I look sexy as fuck. I ain’t going to be big headed but damn, you done wonders. That is me, I am so happy JC. Hand on my heart, you just gave me a new lease of life with this haircut. It’s what I wanted” getting up from the chair as he moved the mirror back “you going to get laid tonight bro, on my life you are” I laughed “what makes you think I wasn’t, joking. She would rather stay away from me but thank you. Look at the floor, it’s like a hairy ass dog just lost his hair. God damn” that is crazy, the amount of hair he cut off “you look well Chris, better than before” raising an eyebrow “for real? What makes you say that?” Didn’t expect that from him “you’re happier, vibrant. The happiness you feel within yourself is showing Chris, I feel it” that is impressive “it’s all love bro” dapping him “my handsome son! Oh my god, you have done gods work on him, Christopher” my mother just hugged me from behind “Mrs Brown, nice to meet you. My hands hurt now, but you like it? Just how he wanted” my mother was way too excited, she disliked I did that but accepted it, as she would “now this is my son, he kept it to annoy Robyn but annoyed everyone else around you too” my mother speaking the truth now “wow, you should love me no matter what, rude” my mother let me go and I turned around “such a handsome boy, I love you” I cooed out “I love you too ma” hugging my mother “I can’t believe you’re showing me this love now, the hell happened before?” She is so rude.

The boys both decided that they would come here to see me, it’s been a while so it will be emotional, and they are here, I mean I’m all clean now. I can kind of walk I guess, dragging open the door “my fucking brother” TJ is the first one to hug me, I fell back a little “you had me scared out here, it’s been months without seeing you or really speaking to you” he patted my back “I fucking missed you!” Smiling so wide “I missed both you and Barry, it’s been hard on me. I drove myself insane, I really had to pull myself out” TJ moved back, the grip he had on me there “you been working out?” He pointed at me “wouldn’t you like to know” I laughed “bring it in brother” walking to Barry “I love you so much” hugging him “I love you too, I’m so blessed to be here. To be alive, to see you both. To see you all actually, I am so blessed have you both as friends, Robyn told me you both kept the business alive and did so much. I know I kept away from you both, not because I hate you both, but I was going through it. When I got shot it just topped it off, I wasn’t me and I just needed time” moving back from the hug feeling a little choked up “It’s ok, I am glad to see you here with us, smiling and you right. I think Chris got muscle now, can you walk ok though?” Barry questioned, I shrugged “uhm a little bit I guess, I am better than I was. I can walk but I am slow with it, I take time to get to places, but I am ok, I am without any walking frame anymore, so all is well, but please come in. Let’s talk” I gestured.

My mother is always showing out with guests, she has bought out the snacks and drinks but I ain’t got time, I got to get a ring for Robyn “how is Camron? Yo, when I heard you called him Camron Myles, it made my heart so warm. You really did that, why? Also what did Robyn send you, you know that wasn’t me?” TJ laughed “nigga I knew it wasn’t you, she sent a baby grow set, a Gucci one and a Dior set for him. I was shocked. I didn’t expect it, I put it up on my Instagram. Thank you either way, even though you weren’t aware of it, you both come as a team so it’s whatever. I am happy, and I was just thinking how you pulled me and Barry out the hood, you have got us out of a place where we could have been stuck in, VA ain’t all that. You are taking us with you, you ain’t changed on us. I just feel like I am going to be able to provide for my son because of you, you’re my brother and I love you” I cooed out “I can’t wait to meet him bro, is he light skinned like you?” he grinned “you know that he so white I didn’t think he was mine, I was there for the birth. I admire her for going through that pain, not for me though. Good luck when it’s your turn, blood and her cooch was turning all different sizes. It’s the way it just popped out, I was shook” I cringed “dang, that sounds terrible. I think I will be elsewhere for the day when it happens” I say that but it’s a lie, I have no choice in that “but I got a little something I need to tell you boys, I am going to Barbados. Robyn doesn’t know, I am going there to surprise her and also I am going to propose to Robyn while we in Barbados, I think she deserves the title after taking care of me, she did things no woman would generally do, that is on god so yeah” TJ and Barry both dapped each other cheering “knew it! I knew it, I said it to TJ. Soon, but why not, she is beautiful and also has a beautiful heart” I grinned hearing that, she really does “so I need to get a ring before I go, just engagement for now” I don’t even know where to start, how to even get a ring for Robyn.

Ring shopping is actually so hard, I didn’t ever think it would be, but it is. I mean I am trying to ball on a budget first of all but I also cannot do that because this is Rihanna, this is someone that will be showing the ring off so I am digging deep into the savings, I mean I could get her something up to twenty thousand and that is it, I can’t go further then that but if I do that, I have spent all of my savings from the sale of the apartment, so I need to be careful. I do not want to touch my money from the business, that is separate “man, this is long” TJ said, rolling my eyes “you know what sir, what are you looking for?” even the girl is fed up “something that makes a statement but is not like thirty thousand, like I love that ring but it was overboard, I want to spend money but also not too much” she nodded her head “I will be back, please wait here” I hope she can come up with something “I really liked the ring too” I am annoyed that I have to be broke “I told you to take it from the business account but you won’t” they did both say it, but I ain’t doing it. If I do it then it’s like a free for all, we all will do it then “I appreciate that you both did it but no” the lady came back into the room “I really like this, it’s eighteen carat white gold, emerald diamond vintage ring. It is fourteen thousand dollars, it makes a statement like you said, it’s not as big as the thirty thousand but it still makes enough noise, you must really love this girl. I have had men that do not go above a rack” I chuckled “well, there is a reason for that. You may find out soon but thank you” taking the ring for her, it carries weight actually “I like this you know, it’s thick too. You think you could see twin with this on” placing it on my pinkie finger “hell yes, out of them all. That looks good, perfect size for her fingers” looking at the ring on my finger, I think I got a winner here.

My mother gushed over the ring; she is in awe “how much was this?” she questioned “erm guess” placing my hands behind my back “I think this was above twenty thousand?” I am glad she said that “nope, fourteen thousand. I am glad you said that because then it looks expensive. It needs to be right for her. But yeah, I am ready” I sighed out “I am going to hang with the boys outside, be back before I leave for Barbados” pressing a kiss to the side of my mother’ head before walking off, I am so amped for this. I am so confident and happy; I can’t wait to see Robyn. I can’t wait to just hold her, I have missed her so much “you got the blunt going?” TJ held out the blunt to me, grabbing the blunt “I have not had one in so long” placing the blunt between my lips, feeling the smoke fill my lungs. Blowing the smoke out between my lips “here” holding the blunt out back to him “Cali weed is always good but look” lifting my tee up “look at this nigga, he never had a six pack at all” Barry laughed out “bro, I am happy as fuck. Take a picture actually” I need to get back in the game, show the world I am back.

Pressing post on the Instagram post, I just posted my lower half. I ain’t post my face, I am just so proud of my six pack “reenergised? My nigga!” TJ laughed “you get my updates? Wow, I feel you crushing on me hard, I can tell you do” locking my phone “nah, I was already looking and you said you posted” rolling my eyes “sure, I got a ugly ass scar on my thigh though but it is what it is, I am happy” my phone started ringing in my hand, answering Robyn’ call “hey twin” TJ snorted laughing “so we posting thirst traps now?” raising an eyebrow “really? What is that?” I questioned “reenergised and you’re showing your six pack off? Like?” letting out an oh “I don’t post thirst traps, I am just happy with my accomplishment” Robyn is so annoyed “I mean it’s nothing, so are you coming home when you finished your tour?” she is annoyed, I know it “I want to go back to your post, you don’t even send me pictures, show me your face right now” laughing at Robyn being like this “uh, not right now. I will later, stop being this way Robyn” chewing on my bottom lip “that other women are looking at my man’ body, the first thing you put after months. I am going to snap on any bitch thirsting on your page, I am very offended you’re not sending me these pictures Chris!” let me stop laughing “twin, stop. You’re not like this, it’s just a friendly post that got your panties wet” Robyn groaned out “you’re so annoying, honestly” I do love her a lot “show me your face” she ain’t going to drop it “you think I have shaven? No ma’am” I will continue to annoy her, wait till I see her tomorrow she is going to be crying.

[randomsevans]

is it all fake part 5

your pov 

You had burst at out bed at the sound of someone banging at your bedroom door 

“your late for work !” your best friend  Katie , and housemate when she is around shouted 

“shit !” you muttered under your breath “THANKS IM UP NOW !” you shout back at her 

its really not like you to sleep in , usual your the one waking Katie up ,In fairness you did stay up last night working on your paper  , but still you couldn't afford to be late to work , 

which to be honestly you probably wouldn't be since its right down stairs , it just happens that your boss Sassie is also your landlord , but anyway . 

you leaped at of bed and grabbed your bush form the night stand and began to  brush your hair .You didnt know the time , but you know you dont have time to wash your hair , or even have a shower so you decided  to quickly pull your hair in a low pony tail , as you began to get up and walk towards your pile of clothes ,

you pulled the bobble around your hair as our grabbed a lose fitting dark shaded dress at hugged you  centre and gave the isolation of and hourglass figure . Not that you dont have one , it was just flattering that’s all  . as you quickly left your room , and ran towards the bathroom 

“who says you cant muiliti- task “you thought to your self as you threw your dress on the floor  , and began to brush your teeth , you began to feel uneasy as you were moving so fast , on auto pilot and your brain wasn't fully awake yet , as well  as not being able to do your normal routine ,

Routine was key for you, you would become over whelmed and slightly anxious if you wasn't able to do what you normal do , fair to say , you hate changes 

your brain was slowly waking up , as you applied mascara with a shaky hand 

“mascara that enough make up for today !”

you got ready and shot out the bathroom fully dressed seeing Katie in the tiny open kitchen behind the sofa , she was curently eating some toast while  in the other hand she held your phone and ear phones 

you quickly  went to her and grabbed your thing from her “thank you !” you sighed , unlocking your phone making your way to the front door , and pulging  your earphones in 

“have a good day “ katie said as you pulled open the door , pressing play on “twenty one pilots chlorine “

you took a deep breath your mind and body instantly relaxing , you dont know what it is but you cant started your day with out music , you have  shitty , stressful day if you dont  , you was always like this , earphones in , it keep you safe  you was like this ever since you can remeber , you music full volume blocking out the constant shouting that was always there in your house growing up . And you were just happy that Katie understood you weird behaviour and habits , and the reason behind them . 

you really couldnt wish for a better bestfriedn , you to lived toegather since yoj were 17 you both wanted to leave your home , and  you fely mature enough . Itwas something you both wanted do , and saved up for . it wasnt untill you needed to leave for uni , you became worried , you didnt want leave Katie , she your support , your  other half , you turly believ she is your soulmate in friendship form . And leaving in London was somthing you both wanted to do more then live with eacother , ever since you both took a school trip toegather when you were 13 .

“hopefully “ you began humming out the beat to the song 

“well it will be if that stranger comes back “ she chucled shouting over your music as you began you make your way down the stares away from your flat .

“yeah , yeh 2 you sight , shrugging her off as you made your way at the bottom opening another door and steppping out into the city you love  

you quikly changed the song to “my blood “ and began to quicly whisper along with it 

“when everone , you thought your knew “

you contuned to sing as you took a couple of stepps and turned around and opend a door to coffee time , 

you enetered shaking your head slight side to side , singing to your self when you notice you boss sassie raise her eyebrow to your from arcoss the countor , the cafe was mostly emtpy apart from the early morinng regulars , you walked passed them and pointed to sassie dramaticaly 

“stay with me ! no you dont need to run  , stay with my blood  “ you sang , cuasing a chuckle from your boss , trying your best to avoid the obousle you being late 

you placed what little you had behind the counte , and ppulled one earphone out , and turned down the volume slighltly , you wasnt going tos top your music , you needed at least 3o mintues of songs to start your day , 

you turned and began to check the machines as you always do , when you began a shift , Sassie walked past you shakngher head , with a small smile 

“yes ! no shouting at today 2 you thought , cauing a small smile to play on your lips . Missing the deep chuckle from the frount of the counter , you wipped your head around with you smile growing , and prepared to say 

“what can i ge...” you stopped as your eyes grew at sight of the hansome stranger form the other day . 

youd be lying if you said you hadnt been thinking about the american stanger , its not that hes not from around her , becuase he isnt the only america that you came across in your life . It was that he was drop dead gorgeous and funny from the little talk you to had . Those blue eyes stayed in your mind for the last tow days .It wasnt just that , he looked really familair and it was bugging you , but you just shrugged it off belive you have probably servied him before , but then again you would remeber that . 

You instaly regret sleeping in and not being able to have  a shower and get ready properly 

“that was quite the little performance there “ he chuckled 

“oh you seen that ?” you grew embarrest you dont know why , it never does before “just to meke the boss giggle “ 

“so i dont fire her ass for being late “ sassie shouted yur the floor above 

causing the mystiuou man, burst into laughs 

“yeah  i may have ran a bit late , sleep in “ you tuned your head towards Sassie and pointed upwards “but you love my sing so .. “

“not when its twnety one shit heads “ 

you dramactical look down as you put your hand over your head and wiped away fake tears “ im truly hurt “ 

the deep laugh once again echo throughout the nearly empty cafe , making your  cheeks readen , you forget he was standing there for a minute ,You cleared your throat and looked up to met those bright blue eyes 

you took a step forward and placed your hands on the counter “so what  can i get for you American “ 

his laughter died down , as he raised an eyebrow . 

“the devil jusice please “ he slighly chuckled , and you nodded , an over wave of exitement over the fact he remeber what yo called your order . 

you tunred around and began to make his drink , and you first one of the day , when he spoke up , 

“American ? really “ he asked , playfully 

you shrugged facing away from him 

“well what else iam ment to call you i dont know your name “

he was silent for a moment 

“you dont ?” he askd shooked , you turned around giggling in confusstion  as you held his coffee in your hand 

 “ why would i know it ?” 

you thought as you shake your head , answering his question 

“oh umm well “ he seemed to grew nervous placing his hand into his pockets staing at the floor . 

“umm im chris “ 

Your eyes grew and month gasped , as the coffee dropped out of your hands, when your brain finaly ! woke up .

Tag list @patzammit @denisemarieangelina @little-smurf @harrysthiccthighss @captainchrisstan @stupendousfirebouquetbwft @frencchfries @rororo06

[ella-se-vuelve-loca]

Chapter 19

Grand Masterlist

Series Masterlist

I’m sorry that this is posted a little late today! Lmao I’ve just been super busy with a lot of shit going on. I’ll keep trying to post up more chapters for y’all! I hope you guys enjoy chapter 19! I was gonna put the music video that Johann did of “Treat You Better” in this chapter, but I don’t want to give him more exposure and tag his shit in my story LMAO oops

Previous Chapter

~1 Week Later~

Joel’s P.O.V.

“Hola cncowners!” I smiled at my phone screen as more and more people started pouring in, watching my live stream. I had my laptop next to me playing some music while I waited a few moments, letting everyone get settled in. “How are you guys?” I asked and reached for my bottled water I had off to the side. I took a sip and started reading the comments of what everyone was saying.

“Uh I’m good. I’m just hanging out here in the hotel with Richard, but he’s currently FaceTiming Aaliyah right now.” I chuckled and switched the camera so it showed him holding his phone up to his face and smiling at his baby girl.

I turned the camera back to me and read the next following questions. “The rest of the boys are in their rooms probably sleeping or something, I don’t know.” I laughed. “I just wanted to check up on you guys and see how you’re doing.” I cleared my throat and continued reading the comments that popped up on my screen.

“Um.. ‘Mexico misses you! Please come back soon’. We miss you too! I love getting to travel and seeing new faces everywhere I go.” I smiled as more questions were being asked and I began answering them as much as I can. I turned my attention back to my laptop when a song ended and I looked for another video to play. “Hey, do you guys have any song recommendations? Any songs you wanna listen to?” I asked as I had looked back at my phone screen.

So many song titles came through and I waited until I kept seeing a repeat. I saw a few that told me to react to music videos and whatnot, but I played their songs and answered their questions while Richard was laughing at what his daughter was doing on the other line. “Okay you guys. I gotta head to bed really soon, so I’ll play one more song for you guys and then I’m off.” I smiled.

My good mood slowly went out the window as I saw Johann’s name pop up on my YouTube page with a new video that had been posted recently. I was going to scroll past it until I saw someone who looks very familiar on the cover. I sat there in shock, not quite sure if what I was seeing is true. “Uh actually.. I see something on here that caught my attention. I can stay for one more song after this one. Let me just..”

It’s peaked my curiosity though and I can’t help but wonder what he put out. I clicked on the video and was met with her beautiful face on my laptop screen. I felt my breath get stuck in the back of my throat for a few seconds as I heard Johann’s voice start singing to my girl..

“Huh…” It’s like all the butterflies in my stomach had just died watching his hands on her waist.. his face buried in her hair.. her smile. This doesn’t just mentally hurt, this physically hurts. “Treat You Better.. this is uh..” I cleared my throat and continued to watch Johann hold her close to him. I bit my lip and slowly brought my head down. I don’t know if I can continue watching this.

The way he looked at her made my blood boil and I wished that it was me instead of him. It’s been a few months, but I didn’t really think she would… I thought maybe we can… why does my heart hurt so much?

“Alrights, mamas, papá has to get going. I love you!” I looked up at Richard blow a kiss and say goodnight before turning his attention back to me, smiling. He placed his phone inside his front pocket and sat on the bed next to me. “What are you doing?” He asked as he looked at the video playing on my laptop. “I’m just.. I’m.. watching a music video and doing a live..”

He went silent for a few moments as he looked at who was on my screen. “Hey.. isn’t that – ”

“Yeah.” I cut him off and looked away from my laptop as Johann leaned down close to her face, indicating that there must’ve been a kiss at the end. I cleared my throat and exited out that video. “Okay uh.. one last song before I head to bed. How about we let Richard pick out what we listen to next, yeah?” I pushed my laptop closer to him as I looked down at the comments.

“Hola.” Rich spoke and waved at the camera as the cncowners greeted him. He typed in one of our songs and let it play for everyone to hear. I could feel him staring at me from the corner of my eye as I tried to not think about what I just saw. Richard pretty much took over as he started reading an answering questions they were asking as I got up and walked to the other side of the room.

“I’ll be right back. I’m gonna head to the bathroom real quick.” I spoke as I turned my back towards him and walked into the restroom, closing the door behind me. I’m just reminded of the fact that I can’t talk to her and now she’s in his arms. Then again, this could just be acting and nothing more, but it still doesn’t stop the hurt I feel in my chest. He’s rubbing this in my face, I know he is. Why else would he have picked her and sing that song?

I have to find a way to get the ball back in my court without damaging more relationships and my career that I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. Should I even attempt to fight for her back? I know you shouldn’t give up on people you love, but I don’t know if she loves me anymore. Is it worth the fight?

I walked out of the bathroom as I realized the song was just about finished. “Okay you guys.. it was nice getting to talk to you all, pero necesitamos dormir.” Richard spoke as he saw me walk back out of the bathroom and walk towards him. I put on a smile and waved goodbye. “Buenas noches.” I turned off the live and grabbed my phone, tossing it onto the bed carelessly without another thought.

“Bro – ”

“No.. you know what? This is what I get. I don’t deserve to feel the way I do because I did this. I just wish..” I bit my lip and shook my head, ripping open the blankets as I lied down. “I think I’m just gonna sleep on it…” I heard him sigh and walk around, but was shocked when he sat on the edge of my bed. “She’s moving on..” I softly spoke and brought the blanket close to my face. “With him..” He stayed silent for a few moments before speaking up.

“You still love her?” He asked. “What kind of question is that? Of course I do.” I spoke and gripped onto my blanket. “Do you want that second chance?” His eyebrows scrunched together as my body turned towards him. “Yeah..” I said, looking up at him. “Dude, what are you – ”

“Just answer the damn questions.”

“Why? What difference does it make?”

“’Cause I’m willing to help you pendejo, but only if it means that much to you. Now answer the fucking questions. Do you or do you not want that second chance?”

“Well of course I do!”

“You want to try again?”

“Yeah, but she won’t – ”

“Are you gonna give up on her?”

“No! No, I don’t want to. But Johann said – ” I sat up he kept going. “You want to be able to continue where you left off and grow together as a couple?” The tone of his voice grew a little louder as I became irritated and answered him back.

“Yes! Yes, okay!” I exclaimed and slowly brought my head down, angry at myself. “… But I can’t. I want.. I want to be able to do all of that and more without anything else getting in the way. I want to start over.” He slowly nodded and held up his hands as in question.

“Okay… so the question is, what are you gonna do about it and what do you need me to do to help you?”

~~

‘Why did the color drain from Joel’s face when he saw Johann’s new music video on his live a few days ago??’

‘Joel looked so sad at the end of his live recently :( are you okay bb? We love you! x’

‘Is anyone else gonna ignore the fact that Joel unfollowed Johann or…?’

‘Does that girl in Johann’s video mean anything to him or something? Was it the song he didn’t like? He looked so upset but didn’t say much about it’

‘I thought the video was good, I don’t know why he got quiet the way he did’

I shouldn’t have watched that during my live a few days ago ‘cause now the fans are asking why my mood changed right after. I haven’t addressed any of them and just continued like nothing happened.

“Alright, this song is fire because it’s telling your girl, or telling that one person ‘I don’t wanna keep fighting’, you know? ‘I don’t wanna keep bugging about things that happened before, let’s just start from zero. Get to know each other again.’” Richard spoke as the rest of us all sat around holding microphones in our hands, getting ready to perform.

“Well, we’re coming out with our new EP that we wrote like maybe 85% of it and we’re really really excited for the people to listen to it. Just going around and spreading our music and hopefully go around the country.” Chris smiled as he looked directly into the camera and cleared his throat. Now it’s time to introduce ourselves..

“Hola, soy Erick.”

“I’m Christopher.”

“I’m Joel.”

“I’m Richard.”

“Yo soy Zabdiel y nosotros somos – ”

“CNCO.”

“Y bueno este es nuestro más reciente sencillo, De Cero.” Zabdiel spoke as he started to strum his guitar. Music is a powerful weapon and can be used in any way you want. A love song to somebody? You got it. Breaking up and moving on? You’ll find one. Going out with friends and partying the night away? Pretty easy to find. Wanting to start over with someone you love? That’s promising..

undefined

“Niña, tanto tiempo

¿Qué estás haciendo?

¿Qué es de tu vida?

Dicen que estás sufriendo

Creo que tengo

Una salida”

I’m talking to her through the lyrics without mentioning her name. This is my apology and it’s the only way I can talk about it in public without Johann spilling the beans. I frowned as I brought the mic up to my lips, continuing the next verse.

“Cuando dejemos el orgullo

Y las barreras entre tú y yo

Soltamos lo malo

Nos inventamos un atardecer

Sin mente yo me entregaré

El pasado olvidamos”

I pictured her face and thought about her listening to us perform this song. I wonder if she would even listen to this and know that I’m sorry? I’m singing this for you, (Y/N)..

“Y de cero empezamos

Otro chance nos damos los dos

Mejor dejemos la estupidez (Oh)

Que el amor llega solo una vez

De cero empezamos

Otro chance nos damos tú y yo

Mejor dejemos la estupidez

Que el amor llega solo una vez”

I never thought I would relate so much to a song as I do now. I don’t want to give up on the possibility that we can make us work, but considering the way things are right now, I don’t think she’ll even give me the time of day.

Erick started to sing his next part as I thought about what I’ll do if she were to take me back. I’ll definitely work harder to make sure she feels loved and not a second choice ever again, that’s for damn sure. Have I even considered the possibility that she would just tell me to leave and never see her again? Yes.. yes, I’ve thought about that.

I heard Christopher’s voce start singing and knew my part was almost here. If I can’t have her, I at least want someone who will treat her like I should’ve done. Someone who will give her all the love she deserves and never make her second guess herself. Someone who will make time for her, make her happy and never break her heart. If it’s not me, it’s definitely not Johann. I need to know that she’ll be in good hands if I don’t get a second chance.

“Can we accept all of our differences

And put aside all of the pettiness

Just forget, no regret

I'll take you anywhere you wanna go

I got so much I want to show

Let's restart and we'll go far”

I guess I got so caught up with the cncowners shipping me with Emilia so much that I started to believe that there was something between us. I became nervous whenever I was around her and felt butterflies in my stomach, but nothing compared to the feeling I had whenever I was with (Y/N).

I never knew I could feel like this. Listen to my heart, (Y/N). Can you hear it sing? Please come back to me and forgive everything..

I can’t get that image out of my head. Johann’s hands resting on her waist… his lips just inches away from hers. She’s been seeing him more and more since I left and is getting comfortable around him. My mind became all discombobulated after that video and my heart literally ached at the thought of her falling for someone new.. someone like Johann.

Before I knew it, the song was over and we were free to get up and walk around. “Thank you for doing this for us. You guys were amazing!”

“Thank you for having us.” Richard smiled and shook hands with the video producer. I stood up and stretched, craning my neck back and forth. “We’ll have this video up soon and notify you guys when it’s posted.”

I zoned out the conversations around me as I thought about Richard’s words he said to me that night.

“What are you going to do about it?”

That’s a good question. A very good question indeed..

Next Chapter

~~

Wanna be tagged for future fics? 

@apla-o-eaytos-mou​ @pretendcnco​ @joelitos-baby​ @chellybear98​ @ericksmamita​ @littlestripmix​ @pizzaspirits​ @theweirdsideofstuff​ @cncoaddicted​ @prettymuch-cnco​ @guitargirl006 @cncoawo​ @ash-zahira​ @ashhemmingsstylesvelez​ @cncohhhhwoah @pimentelssmile​ @shordyfromdablock​ @h-bea92​ @xxxstormyninixxx​ @buttercup-chey​ @cncogirl18​ @urafakebetch​ @boundtobreakk

[r3b3lgrrrrrrrl]

A LunaTic and Her Gunn (Part 112) "Sliding Safely Back Home"

@crystalbaby12 @backoftheroomandnotbelonging @5sosfam1dlover @rosefilledhearts-blog

Colson had immediately called Ashleigh; who called his Cleveland housekeeper, Lucy. On a Sunday, during Fourth of July Weekend; asking her to please come clean up the mess that he had made. The conversation between Colson and Ashleigh involved a strong talking to and the promise of him watching her LIVE tutorial regarding the difference between dish soap and DISHWASHER DETERGENT. Along with an even stronger suggestion of leaving Lucy a HUGE tip for her inconvenience and troubles. Colson had agreed easily. He didn't care how much it cost as long as he didn't have to deal with the ocean of bubbles he was responsible for.

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Sticky, soaked and gross, Colson was still irritated with Luna when he joined her in the shower. Pulling hard on her hair, he roughly fucked her from behind. Not saying a word amongst his grunts and moans. Alleviating some of his frustrations along the way as he made her wince multiple times from the hard slaps he'd landed directly onto her plump ass. Luna took her punishment like a Good Girl, bouncing off of his thick cock studiously. Making them both willingly explode for the other amongst the steam.

After rinsing himself off, Colson had pushed Luna against the wall. With his oversized, heavy palm against her collarbone, he kissed her hard. Biting her lip after.

"This isn't fucking over." He promised her before stepping out of the shower.

"UGH... I hate him so FUCKING much..." Luna had thought to herself as her body flushed in desire from Colson's threat.

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

"I know she didn't do shit but still...." Colson's mind continued to throb. His stomach twisting at the thought of Luna's lips touching anyone else's but his, making the jealousy roll thickly throughout his body while he dried himself off. Adamantly trying to remind himself instead of the many times Luna had shown her devotion to him.

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Colson's attitude softened a bit more as they fell into their usual routine of getting stoned and doing other drugs together while getting dressed. They talked about what Colson expected from the game amongst other small things.

With light makeup on, Luna braided her long hair into pigtails. It was when she tossed on her cherished Rizzuto jersey over a knotted white T and black leggings along with her Yankees hat, that she caught a hard SideEye from Colson.

"I seriously hope he doesn't expect me to rep The Indians... Like, EVER... Because that's a hard NO." Luna thought to herself kinda baffled by his reaction.

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"Yo! You guys wanna kick it with Sid today?" Pete had asked once they had made their way downstairs.

"What? No. We're bringing Case." Luna scowled at both of them, killing their vibe.

"Fine, how 'bout a little micro dosing then?" Pete offered up a comprise as he pulled out a bag of mushrooms.

Before Luna could protest again, Colson's hand was down the bag and the mushrooms were inside of his mouth. Chewing with a smug look on his face while watching Luna's reaction.

"Fine." She had rolled her eyes as she grabbed her own small handful.

"Let the games begin." Colson declared as he rubbed his hands together with a diabolical smile while Luna chewed.

"You guys are the worst." She went on to sigh as she shook her head, both grinning as they agreed with her.

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Not being able to find her leather on their way out, Luna had grabbed Colson's oversized jean jacket off of the couch. With Casie in her beloved, clean, yellow T-shirt, they were out the door with Mod, Rook, Benny and a strongly protesting Pete to the idea of leaving Kevin behind.

"He'll be lonely and think I abandoned him!" Pete had shouted with wild eyes, he'd started micro dosing way before offering any to Luna and Colson.

"I talked to Kev, Petey... He's knows... He's cool. I set him up with a movie and everything." Luna had calmly reassured him.

Only being able to get Pete inside the SUV after convincing him it was for Kevin's own safety. That there just weren't enough seatbelts in Colson's Navigator to get all of them to Progressive Field safely. He continued to complain with worry for a majority of the ride until Casie told him to Calm It Down.

Phem, Noah and Caroline had caught an Uber to Hopkins for a flight to LA a bit earlier. Slim heading back to his own Cleveland house in the meantime. The plan being to meet back at Colson's for Family Dinner around 730/8ish to map out the upcoming week or so.

Leaving Kevin to chill at the house alone, watching Back To The Future with a blanket and a bowl of Doritos. Luna doesn't lie.

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

At Progressive Field, it's Team World V. Team Cleveland. Colson gets changed as Luna roams around the stadium with Casie, Pete, Rook, Mod and Benny. Grabbing enough hot dogs, pizza, sodas, french fries and beers to satisfy Chris Farley, minus the speedball, they head onto the field.

Mixing in with the other celebrities, Luna introduces herself to Dascha Polanco. Making an immediate friend as she genuinely gushes and congratulates her with a huge hug over her success through Orange Is The New Black and How she's Dying for the Last Season BUT NO SPOILERS, PLEASE.

Also being a NYC native, Luna finds herself having a LOT of things in common the actress. Starting off with the Bitching of The Bagel that includes huge, knowing laughs. They flow through to different HangOuts, common friends and experiences until the conversational river finally opens up to Luna's humble embarrassment when Dascha realizes who she actually is. Knowing her first and foremost by her photography and obscure reputation, it just so happens that Dascha is also a genuine fan of Dysfunctional Baggage.

Luna's new friend being wise enough to not to make a big deal out of her FanGirling Soul and to skip the verbal condolences with a simple look of acknowledgment. Breaking the verbal damn by asking Luna What Her Favorite Book Is to the artist's relief.

It's The Little Disturbances of Man. Luna's kept a hardback copy of it on her ever since she first read it when she was 10yrs old. Finding that it helps her humanize the masses when The World seems too mean for it's own good.

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Colson is busy introducing Casie to Anthony Mackie, who plays Falcon in the MCU. They're all huge fans and Colson's can't help his slightly spiteful mind snark to itself how Luna's missing out. He's still mad. At her. At Jackson. At the idea of anyone other than him being near His Girl. 

"She's gonna be saaaallttyy... I don't even fucking care. Fuck her..." Colson's mind abruptly shifts scenarios. "It may be more Jackson's fault... But that fucking bitch needs to realize what the fuck she's capable of on her own... Like, for real. Kissen' MOTHERFUCKERS and SHIT..." Colson feels his jealousy bubbles begin to simmer. Looking over Casie's head he catches Luna's eye not too far down the field. Their souls connecting instantly. Colson can feel her smile seep deep inside of him as she spreads her fingers wide to greet him like she always does. "FUUUUUUUCK Me." He pouts to himself as he feels his dick stiffen at the sight of her. Taking a gulp of air, he looks down at Casie. "Chill Kells... Focus. Kick this fucker out, then we'll deal with Luna." He pep talks himself before turning all of his attention back to Anthony, his daughter and the game ahead of him.

"Are you and AntMan friends yet? I don't believe that Captain just reeee-tired." Casie challenges as she rolls her eyes. "Annnnnnnnd, just so you know. Human is better and Carol Danvers is THE BEST." Casie cocks out her hip as she thrusts her hand onto it. "But I like that you can fly." She offers out with a slightly forgiving tone.

Colson and Anthony burst out laughing over the girl's questions and opinions. Anthony can't help but slap Colson's on the back. Reassuring him that he's got a Wild One as his roarous laughter continues before he squats down to speak with the girl.

"Yeah... I'm friends with AntMan... But he's tiny and annoying... And... Yeup, unfortunately, Cap's retired. He needed a break. He is like 500YRS OLD, you know!" Anthony chuckles as he throws his hands out to Casie's giggle. He continues on slightly serious as he looks her in the eyes. "Human is definitely better though and I don't care what the other Avengers's say..." Anthony leans closer to Casie. "You're right. Captain Marvel is THE BOSS... Her WHOLE body is an energy source!" Falcon goes on to laugh with Casie at his CoStar's undeniable powers. "And, Thank You." His tone lightens as he smiles at her softly. "I like that I can fly too." Anthony nods his head in solidification at Casie as his smile turns into grin, knowing it's more important to boost kindness, strength and acceptance inside a child over anything else.

After finishing up her chat with Falcon, Colson leads Casie over to his reserved seats. The mushrooms are just kicking in as he finds Luna and The Boys. Settling Casie, he kisses Luna with a forgiving look. With Casie muching, Rook and Benny drinking away and Luna beginning to feel the giddiness of the fungai with Pete, they all wish Colson a Good Game before he disappears again to find his team.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Travis Hafners's daughter opens the game with The National Anthem at 5P. For as young as she is, she's perfectly on pitch and astonishingly commanding of the entire stadium. If she wasn't so young, Luna might've immediately thought to sign her.

Being leery of the Music Business herself, she finds herself going back and forth about it by the bottom of the First as her third eye opens. Not being able to decide on whether to leave the girl alone or to step in. "I know I'm not the only one to hear her power... Fuck, the game's being the televised... I COULD be a protective barrier between an impressionable girl and some much unnecessary Nastiness though...." Luna holds onto her thoughts. Choosing to consult Colson and The Ash's... And possibly Sammy before deciding on any type of action. Trying to focus on Colson and the game instead for the rest of the evening, the strong voice continues to sing in the back of her colorful mind as ideas manifest along with it.

The lineup is stocked with Cleveland's greatest, finest and most map worthy. The World's Team rounding out with a wide array of goodies itself. The game is filled with Ewwws & Awwws, whooping, clapping, screaming and even the occasional Boo. Cleveland is an unforgiving City, almost rivaling Philadelphia.

The Miz from WWE opens up the game by coming out looking like Wild Thing as The World's Team takes the plate. Driving the crowd insane by rocking thick, black glasses on the mound while he imitates Charlie Sheen’s stance from the iconic film. On The World's Team, Daddy Yankee hit a triple slightly past Colson in the first inning. He could've caught it but was too distracted by the signs in clouds. Thankfully no one caught THAT as the batter ALMOST ran out of his pants as he flew past first base. Making Casie point and laugh loudly with her adult company. Falcon from The Avengers hit a pop fly to The Miz, causing him to crash backwards into their second baseman Stephanie Beatriz as he made the catch. Successfully ending the first inning.

Rook and Mod miss The Funny while conversing with Casie and the Hot Girl Summer happening behind them. Being RockStars truly has it's perks... ALL of the time. Luna on the other hand is an avid sports fan, having caught Benny's eye and a couple of Pete's elbows to her giggly ribcage during the first inning. Cracking up together over the on field collision they had all witnessed. There's something about people from NY... They love their fucking baseball.

During the third inning, Jim Thome's son joins the game acting as a pinch hitter. Batting left-handed, the young boy points his bat at the pitcher, just like his legendary father used to. With that and a solid smack, he snatches a two-run single through center field that pulls Cleveland's Team within four runs at a score of 16-12. JR Smith enthusiastically welcoming the boy as he runs Home.

The announcer mentions The Hometown Anti Heroe's love of Ramen as Colson steps up to the plate with multicolored vision. Following the young Thome with a drive to right field that eludes Ryan Howard, The Great HomeRun Hitter of the 2008 World FUCKING Champions. Colson races around past third with his tongue wagging in determination as he finds himself sliding safely back Home for an InField HomeRun.

"MOTHAFUCKEN' RIGHT YOU DID IT!! YOU ARE A GOLDEN FUCKING GOD." His tripping soul excitedly screams at him as he hits a light peak.

Colson's HomeRun leaves The World's Team within a three run grasp. Smith hoisting Colson high in the air as Team Cleveland celebrates his epic run. Casie and Luna hooting and hollering as they ecstatically cheer him on along with with Pete, Mod, Rook and Benny.

Finally, in comes The Legend of Cleveland himself, Travis Hafner. The retired Indians slugger crushes a ball to the left, over the wall and nearly hits Mustard the Hot Dog mascot standing near The Corner. Who took the surprise gracefully. Had it been the Philly Phanatic and Victorino, there probably would've been a fight on Broad Street.

Cleveland’s comeback being only a run behind now as another one of The Indian's legends steps up to bat. Carlos Baerga nailing a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Bringing the score to 16-15 heading into the fifth.

The World's Team scores five fucking times in the top of the fifth. Luna losing her shit along the way as Mod, Rook and Casie look at her like she's crazy but Pete and Benny laugh in appreciation of her passion and knowledge. It's the shocking two-run homer by Falcon as his drive to the left slips under the glove of The Great Hafner that truly fucks her up. Screaming WHAT THE FUUUUUCK as she jumps up and Pete laughs while pulling her back down. Rooting for the other team, Luna's soul is torn as Yankees legend, Bernie Williams steps up to bat. With a solo blast to left, Luna silently exchanges a cheering look with Pete for their hometown team as he slams another HomeRun. Pushing the score to 21-15. The World's Team leading hard with six runs at the bottom of the inning.

Cleveland comes to bat one last time. Allie LaForce starting them off with a single and scoring Cleveland another run on a ground ball by Beatriz. It's JR's pop up that gives them their last out. Swiftly stealing Team Cleveland's hopes for comeback. Ending the five inning game at 21-16.

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Hanging out for a bit after, even with the loss Colson's giddy from the mushrooms and happy with his performance. He's in the middle of busting it up with Jamie Fox while Luna talks with Stephanie close by. Casie leaves Rook and Benny to find her dad. Standing next to him, she dangles on his arm while patiently waiting for him to finish his conversation.

"Anyone ever told you how smooth your daddy is?" A middle aged woman asks as she slinks up to the young girl.

Colson forgets about his conversation as he turns around and laughs loudly at her absurdity while Casie physically recoils. Offended by the stranger's words and grasping onto her father's arm, she recovers quickly.

"Yeah. His GIRLFRIEND." Casie fires back with a monotoned voice before perking up. "Hi, Looney!" She exclaims as her face shifts from a scowl to a relieved, bright smile before falling into a smug look that she smoothly shoots at the stranger from the comfort of Luna's presence.

"Hiii, Dilla." Luna coos with her own gleam, having observed the whole scene. "How are you?" She asks the woman as her grin sweetly widens while she acknowledges and glides past her with eye contact and a nod. "You guys ready? We should find The Boys, we gotta get home for dinner." She advises as she ignores the woman and collects her family.

Luna takes Casie by the hand as Colson slips his arm around Luna. Tucking her wounded shoulder safely inside of him as always. Walking away, Casie turns over her left shoulder in between her and Luna. Glaring at the woman, she throws up her middle finger behind her back with her free right hand. Smirking at the woman's shocked reaction before turning back around triumphantly.

On their way home from the baseball field Colson posts the playful picture Rook had taken of him, Casie and Luna on the way to the car out of the park. A smile curling up on his lips as he places the caption. Proving they're always better together.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

"Who needs luck when you got them skills and these two as your biggest fans 🏆❤️💎💯"

×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

"FUUUUUUUCK, I MISSED YOU!!" Luna exclaims with overwhelmingly vibrant enthusiasm as soon as she walks into the kitchen and sees Sam. Grabbing her into a deep, soul hug, she plunks a huge kiss on her cheek. Squeezing her hand, she drags her around the island to a cooking Ashleigh. "I missed you tooooo, Buddy!" Luna squishes her with a hug from behind as she smooches her cheek also. Noticing two women she doesn't know at the island, she immediately greets them warmly. "Hi! I'm Luna." She smiles at the women as she extends her hand to AJ's wife, Naomi and Dub's girlfriend, Natasha. "It's a pleasure." She beams at them.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. I hope she doesn't know I hit Her Dude." Luna immediately thinks of her mishap with Dub.

"More wine?" She asks as she tests the waters while still dragging Sam along with her to finally sit at the island as she fills the ladies wine glasses. "So tell me.... What's the story mornin' glories?" Luna laughs as she pours herself a glass of wine, figuring that if it's gonna be something... It's gonna be something.

Gathered in the kitchen, the four women talk about all kinds of different things as they get to know each other. Jumping from their individual careers and hobbies to fashion and politics and everything in between. Including the dumb shit their guys do. Sam smiling slyly while Ashleigh shrugs with a Fucking Men as she continues battering chicken. Potatoes are boiling to be mashed and green beans are sautéing. Colson comes into the kitchen to pick at dinner while Ashleigh swats at him. There's a bunch of them over and she's been air frying for over an hour now. Her chicken is NOT to be fucked with.

"What I tell ya, fucking men." Ashleigh mimicks a young Madonna as she clucks her tongue and rolls her eyes.

"Fugkin' MEN, WHAT?" He asks with his hands, imitating a horrible Brooklyn accent before he kisses Ashleigh's cheek.

Laughing at the two of them while shaking her head and standing, Luna watches Casie along with Ashton, Dub's daughter and AJ's two girls. Gazing out at them, she notices how they're very much

like their parents. Rolling and falling all over each other as they rough house around the huge yard. Still in the kitchen and spotting her Polaroid camera in her bag on the counter; Colson snaps a quick picture of Luna without her noticing. Setting the camera back where he found it, he plops a wet kiss in the side of her head to her tilted smile. Walking back into the living room, he shakes the instant photo in his hand. Watching as it slowly creeps into focus, his heart beats faster as it forms.

"FUCK, she's gorgeous." He can't help but smile to himself as he pulls on his wallet chain to tuck it into it's new home safely.

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"DIIINNNNERRR!!!" Ashleigh yells.

Those who aren't already in the kitchen come roaring inside. With almost twenty of them that are functional, they each help carry parts of their meal into the dining room with the expanded table. You'd think they'd be a hot mess but some how they function surprisingly well together. Each naturally gravitating to a job.

Luna counts plates. Sam grabs the green beans, Casie and AJ's daughters collect silverware as Colson places down the napkins. Slim pulls another bottle of white as Mod helps him with beers and lemonade out of the fridge. AJ collecting cups for the kids out of the cabinet. D gets Ashton milk as Rook happily snatches up the bowl of mashed potatoes, salt and pepper. Sneakily dipping his finger into it and taking a bite to Ashleigh's immediate ROOK. Pete strictly limits himself to butter duty, he's too high to handle anything else. Dub and Benny help with the salad, bowls and dressings as Natasha settles their daughter and Ashton at the table. Ashleigh handles the chicken with Naomi, making The Kid's plates first. Kevin's sat down for dinner before anyone, making Baze hop up to grab the Louisiana hot sauce from the fridge upon his judgmental request to everyone's equal shame and laughter.

Dinner is loud as always. Everyone talking over each other as they pass food and condiments during cross table conversations. The Three Dinner Questions are answered by everyone before they talk about the game. Filling Slim and Dub in on Colson's inpark HomeRun. The Boys eventually going on to bust each other's balls as usual while The Women continue to get to know each other and The Kids ask questions about EVERYTHING. Beers and white wine being passed along as quickly as Ashleigh's homemade chicken.

"So, you don't mind the air fryer?" She asks.

"This is air fried?" Dub asks in shock.

"What the FUCK is air fried?" Benny asks with such a panicked authority Luna can't help but laugh; she's never seen him react like that.

"You cook with hot air instead of grease." Ashleigh tries to explain.

"Fuck that voodoo ass nonsense, Ash." Benny drops his chicken and crosses his arms.

"You good, Benz? Cuz you're on some real weird ass shit right now, Pal." Luna lightly laughs again.

"Nah man, that shit ain't right... Fucking air fry... Just sounds like some voodoo shit." Benny sticks to his guns with his arms still crossed.

"What the fuck do you think a microwave is?" Sam scoffs at him. "Talk about unnatural? That's fucking electromagnetic waves verses air, Bro. Get it. Together." She rolls her eyes as she chomps into her chicken leg.

Benny thinks about science for a minute before picking his chicken back up. It's too delicious too deny. Even if it is voodoo chicken.

"Fucking Men." Sam mumbles to Ashleigh's laughter as she shakes her head and enjoys her chicken.

No one else is afraid of air fried chicken. Easily finishing it off. Benny eating five pieces of the devil's work alone. As they sit with full bellies, they start to talk about the up coming week. Colson and AJ having their girls clear the table so that they can work.

"I've got you guys booked for GMA this Thursday." Ashleigh informs Luna and Colson while looking at the calendar on her phone.

"This Thursday? Like four days from now?" Luna asks. "For what?"

"Have you not talked to Jackie?" Ashleigh sighs, sounding like Monica.

"No... It's the Fourth of July Weeknd. I figured she'd start tomorrow." Luna shrugs.

When Ashleigh sighs again Sam, AJ and Rook simultaneously stand up, grabbing odd things the kids had missed off the table and heading into the kitchen. Naomi, Natasha, Baze and Benny follow behind shortly along with Dub and D grabbing their babies. That leaves Luna, Colson, Slim, Kevin and a super stoned Pete. He still has is plate in front of him and is just hangen' out while he figures it out.

"They were supposed to contact her." Ashleigh explains.

"Here... Let's just fucking call her." Luna pulls her phone out and looks for Jackie's number, there's a slight attitude to her tone.

It's not directed at Ashleigh. It's more towards television and MorningTime Bullshit Talk TV. Luna's avoided things like this all of her career. Now it like she's Tom from Tom&Jerry; with fame and over exposure being the rake that constantly keeps smacking her in fucking her face.

"Hello?" Jackie answers on the second ring.

"Hey Jack, it's Loon..." Luna greets her friend. "I got you on speaker with Colson and his manager, Ashleigh..." Luna pauses for them to say Hello. "Uhmmmm... She has me booked for GMA Thursday? Do you know anything about that? Apparently they were supposed to hit you up?" Luna asks.

"Yeah, you didn't get my messages?" Her chipper voice slips through the speakerphone.

"What messages?" Luna asks as Ashleigh cuts her a What The Fuck look.

"The text, email and voicemail I left Friday evening, telling you about the booking... Is there a problem, Loons?" Jackie's sweet Australian accent asks suddenly concerned.

"Yeah. Luna's a jackass who doesn't answer her phone." Colson laughs as he smirks at her.

"Man, fuck you." Luna rolls her eyes but knows that it's true. "Is there anything else?"

"Yeah, Rolling Stone wants to book you and Colson in September for their October issue... I need whatever IT is...? I got a call from Kimmel for either Nightmare or Bad Things, they don't care which. One for something called Hot Ones. Oh! This is fun... I also got call asking for you to be a judge on RuPaul's drag show! I think you should definitely do that one!" She giggles after rattling off the long list.

"What the fuck.... Why? Ugh." Luna mentally sighs as she rubs her forehead in irritation.

"Hi, Jackie... This is Ashleigh, Colson's manager. I'm gonna take your number if you don't mind. Colson's going back on tour overseas in August, this way we can just coordinate their schedules together." Ashleigh steps in to help out. "Get them booked on the right things... And make sure everyone's communicating." She gives Luna a glance to her grateful smile and playful middle finger in return.

"That's a great idea!" Jackie immediately agrees.

"While we have her on the phone, let's get everyone in here so we can lock down the week." Ashleigh suggests to Luna's nod.

With Baze, AJ, Sammy, Benny, Rook and Mod back in the dining room, they go over the upcoming week. Monday, Luna and Colson are headed to the DMV for her Ohio ID, the courthouse to apply for their marriage license and to Colson's Cleveland jeweler to hopefully find their wedding bands. Deanna's expected in early Tuesday morning to finish the rest of the fittings. Casie is set to head back to her mom's Wednesday evening while Mod flies back to LA and Luna, Colson, The Boys, Sammy, Kevin, Pete and Deanna take off in the other direction to NYC. Thursday is GMA and other business. Sam agrees to call Mikey to see if he'll fly back with them Thursday night to record IT on Friday.

Feeling confident about the upcoming week, Luna takes Jackie off of speaker to talk to her privately. Ashleigh going on to present Colson with a handful of movie scripts as Luna heads out back.

"I need you to do me a favor..." Luna begins. "When I'm in The City on Thursday, I wanna get into my storage unit and pull the things I want in The Brownstone... Can you book movers and make sure it all safely gets there afterwards? I'll give you a key beforehand."

"Yeah... No problem, Loons. You want me to meet you there and help?" Jackie asks.

"If you wouldn't mind, that'd be awesome. Sammy'll probably be with me too." Luna answers.

"Absolutely. I'll meet you Thursday morning in Times Square, Sweetie." Jackie's Australian accent coos before Luna Thanks her and they say GoodBye.

Once off the phone with Jackie, Luna calls Monica. They speak on the details regarding the two new properties Luna's trying to obtain. Luna then goes on to ask Monica about the PreNump. It's ready to be signed, Luna informing her attorney when she'll be in town this upcoming week as they can schedule a meeting.

"I know you don't wanna do this Loons..." Monica tries to comfort Luna before she cuts her off.

"I don't wanna talk about it. I'll see you Thursday. Thanks as always, Mon." Luna quickly ends the conversation.

Walking back into the house, everyone is still gathered at the dining room table. Luna politely asks to talk to Colson and Ashleigh alone.

"What's up?" Colson asks with concern as he fills her wine glass.

"Did you happen to mention the PreNump to Ash?" She asks lowly as she looks over at their friend.

"He did... Why? Is everything okay?" Ashleigh's voice now holds it's own tone of concern.

"Yeah, uhmmmm... I just got off the phone with Monica. It's drawn up and we're set to sign it while we're in NY....." Luna trails.

"But..." Colson leads her as he lights a joint.

"You know I don't want this and I trust Monica with my life but I'd feel so much better if you brought Cyrus to look over it on your behalf." Luna explains to Colson as she takes a sip of her wine. "Do you think you can get him out there with us?" She asks as she turns to Ashleigh.

"I'll call him right now." Ashleigh replies, appreciating Luna's transparency as she calls Colson's private lawyer.

Colson and Luna sit and share the joint as Ashleigh makes the phone call. He gently comforts her worries about the PreNump before they start talking about how they want the performance on GMA to feel. Off the phone, Ashleigh reassures them Cyrus will be at the meeting.

After a while AJ, Dub and Ashleigh collect their families. Spreading Love and GoodByes as Baze and Sam head out with them. Slim not far behind. Leaving Colson, Luna, Casie, Pete, Kevin, Rook, Mod and Benny.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Casie is tucked safely in bed after her and Colson's tradition of three books and their GoodNight Song. Mod is painting in the living room with Kevin. Benny, Rook and Pete are with them but deeply enthralled in a session of COD. Luna and Colson finally finding some time alone.

Sitting quietly by the edge of the pool, their feet playfully comfort one another's in the cool water as they sit shoulder to shoulder. Vance Joy is dreamily floating from Luna's phone as the moon beams down upon them. Sharing a joint, they go over the day's events. From their dry bubblebath to Colson's InPark HomeRun. Luna takes a deep drag off of the joint as the topic of Jackson finally comes up.

"I know why he kissed you, Loons, I'm a fucking dude." He deadpans as he looks over at her. "It was a pathetic last ditch effort to try to get you to change your mind." Colson looks away from Luna as he hesitates. "Which I hate that I get... Because I wouldn't wanna lose you either." He looks back into her eyes during his last sentence while he laces his fingers into her free hand that's resting beside him. Slightly squeezing it tighter along with what follows. "It's fucking disrespectful though. To you, to me... I still don't get why you had to go down there but I know you had good intentions... And it pisses me off because I feel like he takes advantage of that and your history together. And for real, I know it's not a big deal to you but you left him with a glimmer of hope when you kissed him GoodBye." Air quoting her on the last word.

Colson's now gripping her hand with a worrisome look. Luna finds herself in a unique position. Never one to explain herself but at the same time always knowing when to acknowledge that she's wrong, she gives Colson her own weird look. He's right... And, he's right. She has nothing to protest.

"I..." She begins to agree with him as Colson cuts her off, assuming she's about to argue with him as always.

"Aht." He puts his free hand up that's holding the joint hostage. "I told you. I'm a dude. I know what I'm talkin' about. So fucking stop. You wanna kiss someone GoodBye, kiss em on the God Damn cheek. Or Imma start kissen' bitches GoodBye too." He states firmly as he uses his joint laced hand to adamantly make his point.

Still holding onto Luna's hand tightly, he hits the joint finally. Staring out into the darkness just beyond the pool, they sit silently. Both thinking about his honest words. Puffing hard on the joint, he passes it to Luna. They catch eyes as she reaches for it. Like magnets, they're held there by each other's souls. Both of their blue eyes studying the other's. It's not they're normal challenging stare. It's more of a deep, inquisitive look into one another's truth.

"I'll fucking kill you." Luna lightly chuckles with that half grin that he loves as she holds his gaze and hits the joint seductively.

"EXACTLY." Colson retorts with a belly laugh before she lifts the joint to his lips.

Taking a full hit, he pulls Luna in by her jawbone and delicate neck. Kissing her passionately, he balloons her lungs with his smoke before releasing her. Luna's lungs expand beyond belief, taking Colson's WHOLE hit and the kiss he left on her lips. Exhaling, she coughs her head off.

"That's what you get..." He says with a slightly sarcastic tone as he rubs her back.

Luna proceeds to cough for another minute only for it to feel like forever as Colson shoots a couple more small zingers her way. Looking over at him as she's doubled over, losing a lung, Luna gives Colson the DeathStare. This shuts him up, leaving him to rub her back until she can breathe again after another minute or so.

"You're RIGHT." Luna slightly gasps out, Colson had hit her lungs too hard.

"Why... Wait... What??" Colson looks around the backyard in his honest confusion before scrunching his face up at Luna.

"I agree with you." Luna shrugs as she takes his arm and wraps it around herself. Nestling into him, she explains her logic. "He was disrespectful to both of us and our relationship... That's not cool. That's not fair and that's certainly not friendship. I would hope that you DO know that, THAT part of my life is bigger than Jackson..." They're both staring out into the star sprinkled and city line laced abyss as they talk.

"I do..." Colson sighs. "What are you getting at?" Knowing that Luna doesn't give details for no reason.

Sitting up, she turns to him. "I'd like for Opie to be at our Cleveland wedding. Along with his wife, dad and my niece and nephew..."

"I thought you didn't like kids?" Colson teases her under the midnight sky.

"I mean... I don't. Not REALLY." Luna lightly laughs at herself for a moment before thinking about it; she's slightly amazed by how many kids she truly interacts with and loves with her WHOLE heart without even realizing it.

"I'm teasing you, Buttercup." Colson pulls on her by the shoulders as he leans in closer to kiss the side of her head. "I know they're important to you... Invite who you need. Just not FUCKING Jackson. Or Tommy... Actually, you know what? Offer 'em both tickets to EstFest. On me." Colson looks at her smugly as he waits for her reaction to his new idea.

"No. That's not necessary." Luna answers after she hits the joint a few times before passing it back. "I may need to invite his mother though..." Luna looks over at Colson with a worrisome look. 

"Who's?" Colson asks with a slight attitude.

"Jackson's mom, Gemma. Out of respect." Before Colson can to begin to argue with her she reminds him of Old Codes to his understanding sigh. "I don't know though because of my Mom-Mom..." Luna trails at the end.

Their joint is long gone. Luna and Colson sit together quietly again, still side by side as they pass a fresh one back and forth. Saying what she needed to, Luna waits for Colson to speak.

"I'll make you a deal..." Colson finally breaks their silence as he passes her the joint. "I'll support whatever you feel is right for our private ceremony... As long as you let me record all of EstFest for a special Kelly Vision. Behind the scenes and all." He offers up his compromise with a cocky smirk.

The idea of recording their EstFest Wedding has been brewing in his head for a minute now. Knowing Luna hates feeling exposed, he had thought of a thousand different ways to convince her to do it. Now, Colson sees his shot free and clear and he's not missing it. In his mind, it also won't hurt his ego to have Jackson's Mommy watch as Luna takes him as Her Only either.

"Like all weekend?" Luna asks with a terrified look as she passes back the bone.

"ALLLL weekend." Colson grins as he takes a satisfied hit, knowing he has her on the hook.

"Fine..." Luna sighs, annoyed by whatever Buttercup shit just came out of his mouth beforehand and the fact that she's pretty sure Gemma won't dare come because of Patti but only mentioned it as a precaution; while simultaneously deciding it's all worth it to prove whatever point or loyalty to Colson that he needs.

"Thanks, Kitten." Colson pulls her closer with his draped arm still around her as he kisses the side of her head again, feeling bad for slightly manipulating her. "You can sit in on editing if you want..." He offers as he passes the shrinking joint.

"I'd fucking hope so." Luna scoffs before hitting it. "Considering you're basically talking about our wedding video."

"Shit... I didn't think about it like that." Colson admits.

"Yeah..." Luna exhales through her hit. "I didn't hire a photographer because it never struck me until now." She answers with her hands out as she yawns.

"No sweat, I'll hit up Wozy... I'm sure he'd love to do it." Colson reassures her with another kiss to the head.

"You ready to go tomorrow?" Luna asks him softly.

"Where? To the DMV or the courthouse?" Colson teases her.

"To the fucking courthouse, you Asshole." She chuckles as she slightly jabs him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Definitely. More than anything." He answers as he pulls her face in with his oversized hand to kiss her. "You?" He asks, letting his hand drop to fully study her as his eyes slightly darken.

"Absolutely." She smiles at him with That One Look, pulling him in now with both of her hands.

Luna kisses Colson passionately as his firm hands roam her body. With their tongues twisting inside their kiss, Colson pops back and grins against her lips. Pressing his lips onto her mouth with force, he breaks away slightly to grin again. This time wider. Rocking her slowly inside his hold as he begins to kiss her again, he picks up his pace. Realizing what he's doing, Luna starts to panic.

"Colson!! Nooo!!" Luna shouts as he throws them both into the pool.

Popping her head up, Luna spits out a mouth full of water at Colson. Making him quickly dunk her again. He pulls her up with his strong arms and plants a solid kiss on her sputtering lips. Still in their clothes, Luna wraps her body around his as they begin to heavily make out. Pulling off their wet clothing, they let the articles carelessly float around the pool as Colson guides her body to the side of the pool. Kissing all over her neck as he slowly pushes himself into her warm pussy. She gasps with a purring shudder as he hits her back wall.

"YOU. ARE FUCKING MINE." Colson's deep voice causes Luna to moan out in pleasure as he tangles his fingers in her wet hair and thrusts deeper inside of her.

The demanding authority in his voice has Luna bucking against him wildly. Pulling on his hair as she bites down on his shoulder and cums easily for him. Sliding safely back Home once more, Colson grips Luna's ribcage tightly.

"Oooooh, FUUUUUCK!!" He growls out as his body shakes and he releases himself inside of Luna while the water flows around their orgasms.

"Still mad?" Luna asks sweetly as she nibbles on his ear.

Not mad but definitely still hard, Colson drives himself further inside of Luna. She gasps again at his length and girth, her body twitches and she lowly purrs as her insides wrap themselves around him.

"This dick your only dick?" He taunts while pleased by her reaction.

"Mhhm..." Luna moans as she kisses him.

Unable to contain her desire for him, Luna starts grinding against Colson's solid dick. Leading them to fuck each other again feverishly in the pool. Sloppy, wet kisses land everywhere before Luna clutches onto Colson's body. Letting him take all that he wants from her. Again and again.

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To be continued...