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writing-wrxngs · 5 years ago

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Winter Day

(I got the idea for something with wintery vibes very suddenly as I was walking to my math class the other night. It’s only mid November but we got our first little snowstorm cause I live right on Lake Ontario. It was shit to actually walk through bc I was underdressed and not about to take the elevator back up 8 floors and change. Still, I got super excited to see snow! I love winter, or at least the romanticized version of winter. Also this is hella long, enjoy!)

It was the Saturday after a snow day, which meant an extra free weekend for Techno, Wilbur and Tommy. For the older boys, it meant a break from all the work being loaded on their adolescent backs. Tommy was only in his first year of school so he was just excited for a long weekend away from boring teachers.

Phil let the boys sleep in even more than usual. It wasn’t often school closed on a Friday, they deserved a treat. They had spent most of the snow day messing about and had tired themselves out. Instead, he sipped his coffee in the kitchen and waited to see which boy would roll out of bed first. To his surprise, it was Wilbur.

“Mornin’” the boy mumbled, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. He walked over to one of the cabinets and pulled out a bowl. Setting it down on the table, he went to the pantry and grabbed a random box of cereal from the top shelf. The ease with which he was able to do that still surprised Phil. Wilbur was growing like a weed, and even at his age, was taller than his father already.

Phil watched this ritual silently. Tired teenagers were like wild animals, and agitated easily. Of the two older boys, Wilbur was the one with the worse sleeping habits. Neither of them slept well, as was expected of teenage boys, but Wilbur was definitely the stereotypical tired out insomniac. Phil had no clue what kept him up, and let him for the most part, as it seemed like any attempts to help the boy change his sleep schedule failed.

Once he was done making the cereal, Wilbur sat down to eat. He scowled as he took the first bite. He might not have paid attention to what cereal he got, but he still wanted a particular one. Whatever. He had already poured this bowl. It wasn’t bad, either, just not what he had hoped for. The disappointment already wavering, he continued on eating.

It wasn’t long after that Techno came down the stairs. “Wow,” he said as he entered the kitchen. “Wilbur’s awake before me?”

Wilbur looked up from his cereal. “Don’t,” he replied morosely.

Techno couldn’t help but chuckle at the response. “What, didn’t sleep or something?”

Groaning, Wilbur turned to his brother. “I slept. I slept quite well, thank you very much,” he snapped.

“Doesn’t sound like it,” mumbled Techno.

“Like you would know. You somehow act just fine no matter how much sleep you get. I’m just not a morning person.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll back off,” said Techno. He did indeed back off, leaving to find himself some breakfast.

Phil shook his head at the two of them. Not in any disapproving way, more so a playful acknowledgement of their behavior. Their petty little fights were unstoppable, so he let them happen, waiting in case the fight escalated.

Wilbur finished his cereal as Techno sat down to eat his breakfast. After that, he left to go back to his room.

In his room, he flopped haphazardly onto his bed and relaxed. He wasn’t tired or anything, he just wasn’t awake yet. From his bedside table he picked up the book he was reading last night and continued where he left off. From over the top of his book he saw Tommy leave his room and head downstairs. He was finally alone for a while. Tommy would be a while downstairs, occupying Phil, and knowing Techno, he’d stay down there the whole time, talking about something Wilbur couldn’t care less about.

It was whatever. Wilbur was quite adept at slipping out of familial situations. Tommy and Techno seemed to fill his father’s time plenty anyways.

To his surprise, and perhaps even his chagrin, Techno came in earlier than anticipated. “So like, why’d you lie about not sleeping at breakfast?” He asked as he sat down on his own bed. “You know I know when you’re up.”

Wilbur slapped his book closed. “I lied ‘cause it’s nobody’s business.”

“We literally share a room. Your business is my business. It’s my right as the eldest to bother you about it.”

“Don’t you have things to do besides be a dickhead? A recital to practice for? Strategy books to read?” Asked Wilbur.

Shaking his head, Techno said, “I’m not in the mood for that today. Spent all of yesterday doing things like that ‘cause of the storm.”

Wilbur nodded in agreement. “More than I did. When did snow days become boring?”

“Well, Wilbur,” said Techno, “they got boring for you when you started spending all day waiting for a girl who definitely isn’t gonna call you to call you.”

Wilbur shot a glare at Techno. “At least girls have my number.”

Rolling his eyes, Techno shrugged off the comeback. “Seriously though, Wil. You should do something.”

“I was doing something,” said Wilbur, gesturing to his book.

“I mean actually doing something. Get out of bed. I know, come downstairs and we can do a little sparring.”

“If you just wanted some sword practice, you could’ve just asked me,” said Wilbur dryly. In all honesty, it didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Gimme a sec to get dressed and I’ll meet you down there.”

Techno nodded and left Wilbur alone to change out of pajamas and into something more fitting for a fight.

He walked downstairs and into the practice room. Well, half of it was a practice room. It was still technically a playroom, with half of it still having Tommy’s toys strewn about. In the half dedicated to the older boys, part of it had all their musical instruments in a corner, with sheet music and guitar tabs haphazardly splayed about on stands. The part that mattered was the fighting corner. It had practice weapons, and fighting dummies. Phil had this part put in a year ago, at the boys schools suggestion, after Techno’s third suspension for fighting.

“You ready to lose?” Asked Techno, who was waiting for him in the corner.

“Losing won’t sting too badly, there’s no audience,” replied Wilbur. “Can’t bruise my ego if no one sees it.”

“You’re still gonna lose.”

Smirking, Wilbur said, “I know, but what’s a win if there’s no witnesses?”

Techno tossed a practice sword to Wilbur. “You’re really taking all the satisfaction out of this, you know.”

Catching the sword, Wilbur nodded. “I know. It’s called mind games, Technoblade. I thought you’d know all that, with all the war books you read.”

“I think it’s called ‘delaying the inevitable’. Get over here and fight me.”

And that’s exactly what Wilbur did. Techno was correct. Wilbur did lose, but then again, Wilbur always lost. They weren’t kids anymore, and Techno had long stopped giving his little brother pity wins.

Wilbur got himself up, and turned to leave. As he did that, the good mood he had fell. Tommy was standing in the doorway.

He didn’t even say hello. “How come you always lose?” He asked.

“How come you never let people know you’re watching them?” Retorted Wilbur.

“I just got here,” said Tommy. “I’ve been watching cartoons, but they’re over now. Dad said I could play outside if you and Techno watched me.”

Techno, who had been putting away the swords turned to the other two. “And who says we want to watch you?”

The question made Tommy think. “Me,” he said, stretching his arms out to fill the doorway. “I won’t leave until you say you’ll go.”

“Kid, I can literally pick you up with one hand,” said Techno.

“Didn’t he try to bite you last time you did that?” Asked Wilbur.

Yes. Yes he did. Techno grimaced at the memory. “I think we’ve just been cornered by a five year old.”

Wilbur silently agreed. “Fine. We’ll take you.”

“Yes!” Cheered Tommy, who immediately ran out to get dressed.

The two followed behind, knowing he’d take longer than the two of them, seeing as he was younger and getting dressed more than they were. Still, it was decently cold out, so they threw on some heavy jackets and your usual winter accoutrements. After slipping on some boots, the two older boys followed Tommy out.

With intent, Tommy marched out to the back yard, which was piled high with snow from the storm. “You know, it kinda looks like a fort,” Tommy said, looking at the snowbanks. “Oooo,” he mused. “We could have a snowball fight!”

“We’d pummel you if we did a snowball fight,” said Techno.

“Well, maybe we could do teams?” Tommy suggested.

Wilbur shrugged. “I mean, me and Tommy would be pretty equal to one of you, Techno,” he added.

“Not really but it that’s what you wanna do, go ahead,” Techno said.

“Yes! That’s what I wanna do!” Said Tommy, already dragging Wilbur to one of the snowbanks.

Once there, Wilbur hunkered behind it, not easily hidden the way Tommy was. “Start making snowballs, go!” He whispered, then standing up. He turned to Techno, who was behind his own snowbank. “Now,” he said, putting on an extra dramatic voice for Tommy. “These are the official rules of duelling with snowballs! Number one: you cannot start throwing until the end of the count! Number two! You must announce when you’ve been hit! And number three: first one to hit their opponent ten times is the winner! Understood?” He called out.

“Understood!” Called back Techno.

Melodramatic? Yes. Did it keep most of the other neighborhood children from playing with them? Probably. But was it fun and made Tommy look at Wilbur like he was a god? Absolutely. “Oh-Kay! Three! Two! One! Go!” He shouted, immediately dipping behind the snowbank. A snowball whizzed above his head.

Tommy chucked one, and to everyone’s surprise, landed the first hit of the fight.

“Hit!” Called Techno, who went down to collect more snow.

“Nice one, Tommy!” Said Wilbur, throwing a snowball and missing. As he shook off the loss, was hit square in the chest with a snowball. He made a noise as the impact was made, then called the hit. He left Tommy and moved to another part of the snowbank for a different angle. As he did so, Tommy tried to hit Techno again.

Techno, being Techno, dodged it. He instantly retaliated.

The hit almost knocked Tommy backwards. “Ow!” He cried, before shaking it off. “Hit!” He called out, heading back down and rubbing the shoulder that was hit.

Tommy’s reaction made Techno pause. He wasn’t sure if he actually hurt Tommy or if he was just being a baby. It could be hard to tell. This pause was just long enough for Wilbur to pelt him, hitting him on his cheek.

“Get your head in the game, Techno!” Teased Wilbur.

“It’s not my fault! I was only standing there cause Tommy acted like he got shot!”

“Just call the hit, dude,” Wilbur said.

“Fine,” Techno said, rolling his eyes. “Hit.”

This went on for some time, them calling hits until they were almost tied. Seven to nine, Techno’s favor. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tommy, so he turned went to throw a snowball at him, but Tommy jumped out of the way just in time.

While Tommy distracted Techno, Wilbur ambushed him, and got a hit off, as called by Techno.

And then, Tommy pelted another snowball at Techno.

“What the hell?” He asked, dumbfounded by the ambush. “Hit,” he added realizing he hadn’t called it. Both of his younger brothers were on him, and very close. Closer than he knew they were. He was stuck. They would obviously the final blow as soon as he went to make a snowball. They already had snowballs.

“And you said it wouldn’t be an even matchup,” said Wilbur. He tossed the snowball in his hand once, then whipped it.

It hit Techno right in the face. Frowning, he wiped the snow off of his face and called the hit. “You guys won. I hope you’re proud of yourselves.”

“We are,” said Tommy.

Before Wilbur could get in a snarky comment, the back door opened. It was Phil, who had popped his head out now that he saw his sons were done with their game. “You guys have been out for too long!” He called. “Get inside before one of you gets sick!”

“Fine!” Wilbur called back, already heading to the front door.

Techno and Tommy followed behind, and they took off their winter gear together in the foyer. Both Wilbur and Techno wiped their glasses on their shirts to defog them as they walked into the living room, taking in the heat of the house.

“I was gonna call you boys in earlier, but you were having too much fun,” said Phil from the kitchen. “I figured I’d use that time for something else.”

Tommy was the first to notice, and broke out into a run. “Hot chocolate?!” He asked in surprise.

The older two followed behind, the suspicion correct. Wilbur eagerly grabbed a mug and sat down. “Thanks,” he said, taking a sip. The warmth spread through his chest and into his stomach.

“Did you three have a good time out there?” Asked Phil.

Wilbur nodded.

“Me and Wil beat Techno!” Added Tommy.

“I saw,” said Phil. “You wanna tell me about it?”

Tommy’s eyes lit up. The chocolate already giving him a rush, he began to tell Phil the story of how he and Wilbur conquered their older brother.

Watching this, Wilbur couldn’t help but smile into his mug. Today was a good day. He hated to admit it, but Techno was right. Getting out and actually doing something did make him feel better. Now, even though it was still midday, he felt good. As much as he sometimes felt out of place in his family, he still loved good times like these. Yeah, today was a good day.

#wilbur soot #tommyinnit #technoblade #philza #philza minecraft #mcyt #mcyters #mcytumblr #minecraft yt #minecraft youtubers #mcyt fanfic #mcyt fanfiction #sleepy bois inc #sleepy bois inc fanfiction #sleepy bois inc family dynamic

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2manyfandoms2count · 4 years ago

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I love you (not) - Chapter 9

Tackling two prompts of @marichatmay again ('take a break' and 'cuddles'), it's probably not going to help much with catching up on the schedule but it's okay.

We are now a little over a third into the story, and... Are those real feelings that are emerging in the fake relationship? Perhaps... Still quite a bit of oblivious dumbassery to go, though, else it wouldn't be fun :D Hope you enjoy!

First | Previous | AO3 | Next

---

Chapter 9: In which Marinette gets mixed up in her checklist

"I'm sure I'm missing something…" Marinette mumbled as she read through her extensive to-do list of the day, tapping her pencil against her chin.

School

HomeworkFrench: Dissertation Maths: exercises 5,9,12 p.132 Science: Lab report English: Act III, scene 1 Hamlet History: revision test Extra last minute?

ALYA’S BIRTHDAY PREP: coordinate surprise party + finish gift

Kitty section: costume prototype for single 2

Art project: finish dress

Picnic Alya, Nino, Adrien

“I swear there was a seventh thing I needed to do today.” She squinted, scanning her surroundings in the hopes that it would jog her memory. There was so much going on these days that things kept piling up, but today she was determined to catch up with everything. She didn’t have much of a choice, anyway; most of the items on her list had a set deadline, and it was coming at her faster than she liked. She preferred not to get hit by the truck head on.

Her eyes landed on Chat Noir’s blanket, which she’d draped over the back of her chaise after he’d left on the night of his birthday, over a week before.

“Right! Chat Noir - Ask Chat Noir to take a break, ” she mumbled, scribbling down the last point, before setting the list down next to her computer keyboard. She'd abandoned the idea of full on breaking up with him given how their relationship was dragging on; a break seemed softer to ask for first, and it could easily be followed up by a breakup.

It was going to be a long day, but with a bit of rigour, and thanks to her early start, it would all work out.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit much for one day, Marinette?” Tikki peeked over her shoulder, letting out a small yawn.

“Well, maybe for a normal girl, but not for Ladybug.” She yawned reflexively, and her kwami shot her a pointed look. “I know, I know. I have to power through, though - it’s not my fault I got sidetracked so much these past few days. I honestly wonder what Hawkmoth does as a living, the man has too much time on his hands.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to get a tiny bit more sleep? To help with your productivity?” Her Kwami asked, looking slightly worriedly at the bags beneath her eyes.

“It’s 6am, Tikki, not the crack of dawn. I’ll have to be up by the time I fall back asleep again.” She waved her concern away. “I’ll just let the stress adrenaline work its magic. It’s going to be fine, don’t worry.” Tikki pouted doubtfully. “Now, would you mind reading me the Hamlet scene while I finish sewing up my project?”

---

This is a disaster , Marinette thought as the formulae she read on the page danced in front of her eyes. It didn’t matter how many times she went through them, they just didn’t compute.

She looked at the time: 6:45pm. She had fifteen minutes before her picnic, and she had to finish her maths homework, her dissertation, her History revision, the Kitty section prototype, and send out individual messages to remind everybody of their tasks for Alya’s birthday so it wasn’t too short notice for the weekend.

She tried to ignore the palpitations of her heart; maybe she’d overdone it on the coffee during the day. It wasn’t like she had a choice, anyway.

She’d discovered as she'd walked into class that she had a class president meeting with Mr. Damocles over her lunch break, which had been when she’d planned to squeeze in some of her work.

Then, while she’d been packing her bag at the end of her classes, ready to leave, an Akuma had emerged. It had been a tricky one, too; Chat and her had spent about an hour chasing it around Paris before finally catching it.

Adding to that the fact that her 6am rising had left her exhausted by the second period of the day, she really hadn’t been the most efficient anyway.

“I think you know what you need to do, Marinette,” Tikki said apologetically, as if reading her mind, floating up to her with her phone in her flippers. Alya’s number was already dialled on the screen.

Marinette sighed and took the phone from her, pressing the green button before lodging it between her shoulder and her ear.

“Hey girl!” Alya’s excited voice sounded on the other end of the line. “Nearly ready to go? We really picked the right night for a picnic; the weather’s super nice.”

“About that…” Marinette winced. “I’m so sorry, I won’t be able to make it.”

“You’re kidding, right? You ’re passing up on an opportunity to have a picnic with Adrien? Are you ill?” Alya said after a small beat.

“Trust me, I surprised myself.” Marinette pinched the bridge of her nose. “I just feel like I have a bit too much on my plate right now, and I wouldn’t be great company if I came. I hope we can find another time to go out again, but I think studying and going to bed early is what’s best.”

“It’s true that you’ve seemed kind of out of it lately,” Alya said compassionately. “Don’t worry about us, take care of yourself! I promise I’ll take loads of pictures, it’ll be like you were here. And I’ll bully Mr Agreste with you after our exams to get Adrien out again if needed.”

“Thanks for understanding Alya.” Marinette smiled.

“That’s what best friends are for!” She could almost see her wink. “Now, get back to work and then go to bed! We’ll see you tomorrow.”

There was a bit of chatter on the line before Alya hung up, as she met up with Adrien and Nino.

“Wait, Marinette isn’t coming?” Adrien’s almost disappointed voice was the last thing Marinette heard before the communication ceased.

She found herself quite immune to it. She decided not to dwell on it.

---

Adrien enjoyed the picnic very much, as he did any opportunity to hang out with his friends, but his eyes kept drifting to the empty space next to him, where Marinette would undoubtedly have been sitting, were she with them. He hoped she was alright; Alya had told him that the reason why she wasn’t coming was because she was studying, which was fair considering the amount of homework they’d been given in the past few weeks, but he did feel like she was overworking herself a bit.

He didn’t doubt her ability to take on all of her projects, but he wished she’d slow down a little, for the sake of her health. What would he do if his everyday Ladybug burned out?

He wondered what Alya’s curious gaze meant when he voiced his thoughts about the situation. He panicked a little when she said that maybe a boyfriend could help get her mind off of work - firstly, because Marinette technically had a boyfriend, which he was surprised Alya of all people didn’t know. He thought the two girls told each other everything. Was Marinette keeping their relationship a secret on purpose? Was she confused about their status, which, he had to admit, he wasn't sure was himself? Was she (the thought scared him) ashamed of him?

Secondly, he found his heart squeeze peculiarly at the thought of Marinette having a boyfriend other than him . He decided not to dwell on it.

He couldn’t help but take the long way home, passing at the bottom of her building, after the picnic, though. And, seeing that there was still light in her room at past 11pm, he decided that he should probably do something; for her well being, not as an excuse to see her, of course.

He transformed in a back alley, then extended his baton so he could peek through the window closest to her desk. Maybe she was already asleep, but had forgotten to turn her lights off.

The sight of her bent over a sheet of paper, hands buried in her hair as if ready to tear it out of her scalp made him knock.

Marinette jumped at the unexpected sound, and looked up, looking quite haggard. Her features softened when her eyes met his.

There was a hint of a smile on her lips as she opened the window. “Hey Chat, what are you doing here?” She yawned.

“Bedtime patrol, just making sure that citizens are going to bed at a reasonable time,” he smiled, stifling his own yawn.

“That’s nice of you. But, does that mean that I’m in trouble?” she drawled out, leaning forward to boop him on the nose. Her exhaustion was clouding her better judgement.

“Depends, are you nearly done with your studying?”

“When will I ever be nearly done,” she snorted, turning around to take a look at her checklist.

Her feet caught in the straps of her backpack and she wobbled forward, but Chat pounced inside in time to catch her before she could tumble down.

“Woah there, little lady… Your spatial awareness is worse than ever,” he said fondly as she clutched his arms. “Sorry, but I’m not letting you get back to work.”

“But I need to finish something…” Marinette protested.

“What you really need is to take a break.”

Marinette paused to think about it. Taking a break with Chat Noir… she seemed to recall that was on the list.

“Okay.” She shrugged.

“Good. Come here, then.” Chat Noir sighed in relief at her lack of resistance and started to lead her towards her bed, but before he’d let out his whole breath, Marinette was already trying to make her way back to her desk.

“Wait, I actually still have so much to do…” She reached for her flashcards, which tumbled at their feet.

“Okay, tell you what.” He kept hold of one of her hands as he picked the flashcards up to avoid her escaping. “Why don’t you take a small nap, and I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the time. I’ll wake you up in an hour, and when I leave I’ll turn a blind eye on your choice between going to bed and getting back to work.” She looked at her doubtfully, and glanced at the cards in his hands. He took a closer look at them; their content was that of the test they had the next day. “I can read you these while you fall asleep so it’s not too much of a waste of time, if you want.” He waved them in front of her face, hoping she’d say yes. He really needed the revision, too.

Marinette nodded and he led her to her chaise, helping her lie down on it. He started draping his blanket over her and was about to go and sit in her desk chair when she grabbed his free hand and pulled on it, a lot more strongly than he would have expected from her, especially in her exhausted state.

“Take a break with me.” She shifted to her left and patted the newly formed space. “Please?”

Her pleading bluebell eyes were difficult to deny.

“Okay,” he said as he sat next to her. Marinette snuggled up against him and sighed contently.

Chat’s heart skipped a beat. He wrapped a tentative arm around her and cleared his throat before starting to read. “The Hundred Years’ war actually lasted one hundred and sixteen years, from 1337 to 1453…”

His own tiredness hit him like a truck after a couple of pages, when he heard her soothing, gentle snoring. He lowered the flashcards to watch her sleep. She looked so tranquil, a peaceful smile drawn on her lips as her body slowly followed her breathing.

He felt his eyes close, and soon the both of them were breathing in sync, holding on to each other.

Needless to say, Chat left a little later than anticipated the next morning, woken up by the rising sun. Neither of them complained, though; both had had one of the most restful nights in a while, and both aced their History test.

Each wondered if they weren’t onto something in terms of revision technique.

Adrien almost gloated to Alya about how maybe Marinette didn’t have a boyfriend who took her mind off of work, but she had one who took care of her while she studied. Almost.

#marichatmay2021 #marichatmay #miraculous ladybug #the miraculous tales of ladybug and cat noir #ml #miraculous fanfiction #miraculous fanfic #ml ship month #marichat #marinette dupain-cheng #chat noir #day 11: take a break #day 12: cuddles #elle writes #love you (not)

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rjhpandapaws · 4 years ago

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A Cup of Something Better

Ch 10: Down to the Wire

This was it, the week that had been two years in the making, his last finals week as a gen ed student. Assuming he passed all his tests, he would be able to take the nurses exam the following Friday. If he passed that he be enrolled into the nursing program for the fall semester. Five tests over three days, not the worst test load that he'd dealt with. The fact that they were between five and eleven at night was a pain in the ass.

He'd asked for the week off from the cafe so he could have more time to study. Some of the time he spent studying was also spent at the cafe, he preferred the idle chatter over the silence of his apartment.

Connor was spending the morning at the cafe again, going over calculus today. He had an Iced Americano that was helping to keep him concentrated. He'd had a few late nights that he was beginning to feel the effects of. His first set of tests was tonight, calculus and art history. Tomorrow was biology and mythology. The day after being his sociology final. Hank thankfully didn't have a final for his class so Connor had a chance to recuperate before his nurses exam.

He finished the problem he was working on and sat back rubbing at his face to try and wake up more. He needed to focus. He took another drink of his coffee and looked around the cafe, it was almost empty. As one would expect at ten in the morning on a Monday. He finished his coffee and figured he could use the break to order another drink. Hopefully he'd be more awake afterward.

He headed for the counter and ordered his usual before heading back to the table. Refueled and somewhat ready to go again, he sat back down and got back to work.

Connor woke up sometime later to North knocking on the table. He looked up to find that it wasn’t North, but Hank, though the red haired she-devil was behind the counter laughing.

“So, uh, North asked me to bring you this.” Hank said after a moment, setting the bigger of the two cups on the table, “she also said that knocking on the table would wake you up.”

“Thanks.” Connor took the cup and yawned, “you can sit down if you want. I’m just studying.”

Hank chuckled as he took a seat, “planning on learning through osmosis? I was lead to believe you had to be awake in order to study properly.”

Connor rolled his eyes as he took a drink from what turned out to be a large cup filled with just espresso shots, “I’ll do whatever works at this point.” He covered a yawn and leaned forward, “how do you like having the week off? Getting any writing done?”

Hank laughed as Connor got back to work on his calculus, “I’ve gotten a couple of chapters into my manuscript and started a couple of short stories.”

Connor took another drink from his cup, “you’re planning to release another collection then?” He yawned, “how is Sumo doing?”

When Connor looked up Hank was looking at him with a concerned expression. HIs brow was furrowed and his sky blue eyes were clouded over with worry. Connor knew that he looked rough but he was pretty sure he wasn’t bad enough to warrant that level of concern.

“Sumo is doing fine.” Hank leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table, “can you answer something for me Connor?”

“Hmm?” Connor sat up from where he had been slouching into his textbook again, “what’s up?”

“How many days has it been since you’ve gotten a full night’s rest?” Hank watched as he took another drink of his ‘coffee’.

“Today is Monday so...” He counted back on his fingers, muttering the days of the week under his breath, “Saturday, I think. Why?”

Hank sighed, and the sound was pure disappointment, something that if it hadn’t been directed at Connor would have impressed him, “Since you’re the one of us going into nursing, I feel like I shouldn’t have to tell you what’s wrong with that Connor. Do me a favor and get some rest. You can’t keep going like this.”

“I sleep two hours before classes. I’ve increased my calorie intake and added more caffeine into the mix as well.” He stumbled over his words as he yawned again, “five hour energy and espresso have been life savers for me.”

“Connor.” Hank groaned, “I was in college too, so I can’t argue with you, but try and get at least get four hours today alright?” He put a hand up when Connor opened his mouth to argue, “I know your nurses exam is important to you Con, but what happens if you burn out before then? You’ll have to wait a whole semester to take it again.”

In theory Connor knew him to be correct, but he had so many tests and he wanted to make sure that he was ready, “I just don’t want to fail Hank, if I can’t pass these then I won’t even be taking the nurses exam.”

Connor could feel tears pooling behind his eyes from the lack of sleep as well as the stress. The nickname made Connor give a watery smile as he rubbed at his face trying to collect himself.

“Hey now, don’t cry.” Hank reached out and squeezed his wrist reassuringly, “I’ve gotten to see you at work Con, you’ve got these tests in the bag. Go home, get some rest.”

Connor let out a wet laugh and wiped his eyes with his free hand. After another reassuring squeeze Hank let go of his wrist and Connor began packing up his things and putting them back in his bag not quite managing to bite back another yawn. He was starting to think no amount of coffee was gonna help this. With everything packed he sat back and rubbed at his face again hoping to wake up a little more.

“Alright.” Connor said before he drank more of his coffee, “time to go home and nap I guess. Sorry you had to wake me.”

Hank chuckled, “Its no problem. Do you need a ride? The weather looks like its going to take a turn for the worse.”

Connor looked out the windows and despite it being early afternoon apparently, the sky was almost black and the wind was howling through the streets, “thanks, but I’ll just get a cab.”

Hank nodded and stood. They walked out together and parted ways at the parking lot with a wave. Connor hailed a cab and checked his phone which had been vibrating consistently since Hank had stood up. There were several new messages in the coffee shop group chat, probably because he had been crying.

The Coffee Crew:

Northern_Lights: Aww, you two are so cute together

Northern_Lights: Why are you crying?

Northern_Lights: Is it his fault? I’ll kick his ass if I have to

Northern_Lights: Holding hands?

Northern_Lights: You’re good then?

Northern_Lights: Connor?

RunawayArkait: North, everything is fine.

SimonSays: Are you sure? We saw you cry

RunawayArkait: I haven’t been sleeping and the stress from finals got to me

RunawayArkait: Hank kind of gave me a pep talk is all

SimonSays: Aww his name is Hank, that’s fitting

Northern_Lights: That had better been all. Or I will fight him.

RunawayArkait: It’s fine North. I’m gonna get some sleep then get to class

Northern_Lights: Sleep well

SimonSays: You got this!

Connor smiled at his phone as he paid and got out of the cab. He walked up to his apartment and set an alarm for a half hour before he needed to leave. He set his backpack by the door and went to change into pyjamas. Connor was still fighting off the embarrassment from having cried in front of Hank, if he needed to sleep anything off it was that. Hank probably found him to be weak and pathetic for having cried ever a few tests. Whatever chance, if he’d even had one, was gone.

He sighed and rubbed at his face again and climbed into bed, double checking that his alarm was on and also at full volume. He plugged his phone in and rolled over falling asleep almost instantly. When his alarm went off he hadn’t moved. The song blared to life yanking Connor violently back into consciousness. He groaned, sat up, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes He turned off the alarm and checked his phone. He had quite a few messages.

The Family Feud:

Sixty-Second-Set: You’ve got this Connor!

UnluckyNine: You’ll be a nurse in no time

RunawayArkait: Thank you

The Coffee Crew:

Northern_Lights: Good luck college boy!

SimonSays: Don’t worry alright? You’re a genius

What.Josh.Does: See you in calculus. Who ever scores the lowest buys drinks on Friday

RunawayArkait: Thanks guys. You’re on Josh.

Made-By_Markus messaged you!

Made-By_Markus: Good luck Connor!

RunawayArkait: Thank you Markus.

Connor dressed in his day clothes again and made a pot of coffee. Travel mug filled, he grabbed his bag and headed for the door. He pulled up his hood as he got to the parking lot since the storm picked up since his nap. He walked toward the road and caught a cab to head to the university. On the ride over he pulled out the notes he had taken for his calculus class and got in some last minute studying.

He arrived early and made his way to the Math and Science building. Josh was waiting at one of the hallway tables and waved Connor over. There were two paper Hand Brewed Hope cups on the table, when Connor took his seat Josh slid one over to him.

“Figured you could use the pick me up.” Connor took a drink of what turned out to be Chai Tea with cinnamon and nutmeg as Josh spoke, “I know finals week is rough on you.”

Connor gave a dry chuckle, “It’s just stressful, and even more than usual this time because of the nurses exam.” He sighed softly, “You had tow tests earlier today. How do you think you did?”

He was distracting himself, but thankfully Josh let him, “Good. I was more confident for my philosophy exam than I was for chemistry, but it is what it is. Once I finish this up I’ll get to move on to student teaching. Which I’m looking forward to.”

Connor smiled, Josh was excited to becoming a teacher. He was going to be missed at the cafe but he would have more fun as a teacher, “You’ll be great at it. Those kids are going to adore you.”

Josh beamed at him and Connor took another drink from his tea, “I’m gonna miss the cafe though.”

“We’re gonna miss you too.” Connor said kindly, “I’m sorry that I can’t join you guys this weekend but I’m going to be getting ready for my nurses exam.”

“It’s alright Connor. We know how much this means to you, so no one is holding it against you.” Josh responded with a gentle smile.

When it came time to, they grabbed their things and headed for class. Josh gave Connor’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he headed for his seat at the back of the class. Connor headed for his as well, letting out a shaky sigh. He had an ‘A’ in this class, he could handle one last test. Probably.

The two hour test block seemed to crawl by. He fell into routine, solving the problems as he went and then checking them over when he had finished. Then, just to be sure, he checked them again. With a half hour left in the test block he grabbed his things, turned in his completed exam, and made his way to building one to study for his art history final. Having found a bench to sit at and go over his notes, he sent a few messages.

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: Calculus is done, just Art History left

RunawayArkait: Just finished calculus

UnluckyNine: Good job! You’ve got this one in the bag too

Sixty-Second-Set: Look at you go!

SimonSays: Bet you nailed it

Northern_Lights: Nicely done, you beat Josh

RunawayArkait: Calculus is done

Made-By_Markus: Congratulations Connor!

Connor was smiling as he put his phone away as he put his phone away and began to study, wanting to be as prepared as possible for the final. He packed up when the door to the lecture hall opened. When the class had emptied he took his seat and got ready for his exam.

This two hour block went by a little. Though that was probably because he had the confidence of having finished one already. When he finished this one he could go home and sleep for a couple hours before he got back to studying. This final took him a little longer but he finished it with ten minutes to spare. If he napped in the cab he could spend even more time studying. He probably wouldn’t though, he hated sleeping in cars. He sent messages as he headed out.

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: Done for the night

UnluckyNine: Nice. Now you can get some rest

The Coffee Crew:

Sixty-Second-Set: You’ll be a nurse in no time

RunawayArkait: First day of finals is over

What.Josh.Does: Congrats! Meet me at building 27 and I’ll give you a ride home

SimonSays: Three more to go, you’ve got this

Northern_Lights: You’re doing great

@Made-By_Markus

RunawayArkait: Thanks. I’ll be there soon Josh

RunawayArkait: One night down, two to go

Made-By_Markus: Don’t forget to get some rest.

Tuesday morning found him back at the cafe, is biology textbook as well as the semester’s notes spread over the table. He’d been at this since about midnight; rotating between biology, mythology, sociology, and subjects that would be covered on the nurses exam. His travel mug still had some coffee in it so he hadn’t bought a drink yet and he also had a couple of five hour energy shots in his bag if needed them. He figured he would, because despite the extra sleep he had gotten yesterday, Connor could still feel exhaustion hanging off of him.

After a couple hours he switched from biology to mythology when his concentration started to wane. When that didn’t work he grabbed a five hour energy bottle and got in line to order. He tossed the bottle between his hands without looking at it, occasionally tossing it straight up only to catch it and start the cycle over again. He had put it back in his university sweatshirt pocket by the time it was his turn to order. He was ordering a drink that North had made up that wasn’t on the menu, so he said it out loud.

“I’ll take a large Due North, Simon.” Connor said around a yawn and Simon looked at him with concern.

“You do know that drink is basically just straight espresso with a couple pumps of chocolate syrup right?” Simon was typing the drink in anyway, “with how much coffee you drink in a day, I’m worried you might vibrate out of existence.”

“I’ll be fine Simon,” Connor said as he paid for his drink, “I just need a little extra help staying awake today is all.”

“If you’re sure Connor,” Simon said as he handed the cup off to Josh who looked at it with worry.

While he stood in the crowd to wait out his drink he got out his lucky quarter and began to toss it between his hands. He would stop and roll it over is knuckles, toss it straight up, catch it and then start over. On the third pass his drink was called, he pocketed the coin as he walked up to the counter. He thanked Josh and took his drink. When he got back to the table he took the lid off of the cup and added the energy shot, stirring it with the straw so it would mix in. He put the lid on and took a drink when he finished. If the sheer amount of caffeine didn’t keep him awake, the taste probably would.

Connor was surprised that he actually finished the monstrosity that North had created. He’d moved on from mythology to sociology, and despite all of the caffeine pumping through his body, he could still feel himself fading. He knew he couldn’t go up for another coffee so soon after pumping so much espresso into himself, Simon wouldn’t let him. So he would just have to tough it out. He leaned more into his notes, resting his arms on the table.

He woke up to talking, “North, why are you drawing on him?”

“Because, he fell asleep and he knows the rules.” Came North’s reply, and now that Connor was slightly more coherent, he could feel something moving against his face. He opened his eyes with a tired groan and whatever had been on his face was yanked away. North laughed, “Shit.”

“Morning Sunshine.” Hank said with an amused smile as Connor sat up, “how is your studying going? I can see you’re trying that learning by osmosis thing again.”

He gave Hank a tired smile as North laughed, “it seemed to work well enough yesterday.”

“Alright Point Dexter, go wash the dicks off your face. I’ll have another Due North for you when you get back out.” North said as she pulled Connor to his feet.

As Connor made his way to the bathroom to clean his face North retreated back behind the counter. He checked the mirror to find that, yes, North had actually drawn cartoon dicks of various sizes along the left side of his face and a detailed shooting star down the side of his neck, He wet a paper towel and started rubbing at his face, glad that they didn’t use permanent marker to write on the cups.

With all the marker washed off his face and neck Connor went back to the table to find Hank had settled in and gotten to work on his laptop. As promised there was another large Due North beside his sociology notes. He sat down and gave Hank a tired half smile.

“So why was North drawing on your face?” Hank asked as he looked up from his typing, “she said something about rules.”

“Yeah.” Connor laughed rubbing at the back of his neck, “the first time you fall asleep in public is a freebie, after that whoever catches you gets to draw on your face. Either she caught me, or Simon chickened out again.”

“So you fall asleep while out and about pretty often then?” Was Hank’s follow up as he watched Connor get out his biology textbook.

“Sometimes,” he said with a casual shrug, “usually during midterms or finals week when I spend most of my time studying.”

“Your nap yesterday was your freebie then?” Hank’s attention was returning to his work, as was Connor’s.

“Probably, or your timing saved me.” With that the conversation fell away to be replaced with the clicking of a keyboard and the occasional turning pf a page.

It was a few hours later when Hank stood, “I’m gonna go get another drink. Do you want anything?”

Connor looked up from his notes, “A Chai Tea please. Thank you Hank.”

“No problem kid.” He said as he headed for the counter.

Connor put his biology book away and got out what he needed for mythology. He had about two hours until he needed to leave for the university. Time to concentrate on his test subjects. He sat back and stretched, his back popped like a line of fire crackers since this was the first time he had moved in a few hours.

By the time Hank got back with the drinks, Connor was once again absorbed in his work and jumped when a paper cup came into his line of sight. Hank laughed as he sat down.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’ve got tunnel vision Con?” He remarked with a laugh, “I called your name three times before I gave up.”

There was that nickname again and the bubbling warmth that came with it. Connor was fighting not to grin like an idiot when he spoke, “A few times. Sorry though, I wasn’t trying to ignore you.”

Hank chuckled as he got back to work, “I get the same way when I work sometimes too. Don’t worry.”

“After tonight I’ll at least be getting my sleep schedule back,” Connor said as a way of making conversation, “I just have sociology tomorrow and then I can pace myself for the nurses exam.”

“North won’t be able to draw on your face anymore,” Hank laughed, “but honestly, I’m glad you’ll be catching up on your rest.”

“I’m honestly just looking forward to getting back to my normal work schedule.” Hank gaped at him.

“Connor, do you ever take time off?” He asked, worry lining his voice.

“Yeah. When I’m sick, for finals week, and whenever Silas has a performance that’s within travelling distance. Why?” Connor asked with a tilt of his head.

Hank shook his head, “Let me rephrase that. Do you ever take time off for yourself Connor?”

“Well no. But I don’t need to, I’m happy.”

Hank sighed and leaned forward resting his forearms on the table on either side of his laptop, “Connor are you working this weekend?”

“No. I have-”

“Great. You’re gonna meet me here at noon on Saturday. I’m going to bring you to my place and you’re gonna meet Sumo. One day, that’s all I’m asking.” Hank’s tone made it clear that he wasn’t going to be taking no as an answer.

“Alright.” Connor wouldn’t have turned down the offer anyway, not when it came to spending time to Hank.

With that taken care of, they both got back to work. Connor nearly jumped out of his skin when the alarm on his phone went off. From the looks of it, the sound had startled Hank as well. Connor turned it off quickly and began packing his things.

“Well, that’s my cue,” he said with an awkward laugh, “I’m gonna grab a drink for the road, Want me to get you anything?”

When he looked up, Hank was also getting his things together, “how about you get the drinks Saturday. I’ll join you in line though.”

Connor waited for Hank to finish getting his things together and then they joined the line. Now that he was standing, Connor stretched slightly to alleviate some of the stiffness in his back and let out a satisfied sigh when he finished.

“Do you have plans for the night Hank?” He asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Go home, order take out and pend time with my dog.” He replied, “What about you?”

“Take my finals. Then when I get home check to see if I passed the ones I took yesterday and either order victory or pity pizza.” He responded which got a laugh out of Hank.

“How about this. Since I’m so certain it will be victory pizza, I’ll pay for it.”

“But you don’t have my number,” Connor said turning to face Hank.

“You’ll have to give it to me then, won’t you.” He said with a wink and Connor died. Or maybe he was already dead. Adding that energy shot to the Due North probably killed him and this was just a hallucination.

Hank tapped Connor’s shoulder to get his attention and he took the offered phone. He put his number in and set his contact as Connor :). He handed the phone back and by the time he got to the counter he felt his phone vibrate with a message, he could guess who it was from. Josh gave him a suspicious smile.

“Don’t even start.” Connor muttered, cutting him off, “a medium black coffee please.”

Josh put one hand up in mock surrender and used the other to put in the drink order. Connor paid and headed for the end counter, fighting a smile the whole way.

He checked his phone for new messages, and sure enough there were two from a new number.

3132480705: Hello

3132480705: This is Hank :)

Connor: Hello Hank :)

He added the other to his contact list under Hank <3, because he had a crush and couldn’t help himself. He put his phone back in his sweatshirt pocket as Hank joined the group at the end counter.

“So what tests are you taking tonight,” Hank asked, crossing his arms over his chest in a relaxed manner.

“Biology and then mythology. Tomorrow is sociology.” Connor pulled his phone out to double check his calendar, then put it away again, “then assuming I’ve passed those I’m scheduled to take my nurses exam next Friday.”

“It’s good that you gave yourself a week to study,” he said as Connor went up for his drink, when he came back Connor was wearing a sheepish smile.

“I, uh, didn’t plan it like this. The first testing block was full when I applied.” He waved at Hank as he stepped away, “anyway I’ve got to go. I can, um, text you updates if you want.”

“Sure. Good luck Con.” Hank said as Connor left the cafe.

As soon as he got a cab he texted the group chat which had been suspiciously quiet the whole time he had been with Hank.

The Coffee Crew:

RunawayArkait: Hank gave me his number!

RunawayArkait: Also! I am meeting Sumo this weekend.

RunawayArkait: So, progress. I think?

What.Josh.Does: You have his number and you’re meeting his dog. Yet you’re still questioning if you made progress

Northern_Lights: Go get your man!

SimonSays: Be safe please

RunawayArkait: I mean, Saturday is more of a hostage situation

RunawayArkait: I don’t take enough time for myself apparently

Northern_Lights: Oh. So you’ll listen to him on that!

Northern_Lights: What does that make us?

RunawayArkait: Friends who I love dearly

What.Josh.Does: Well either way, congrats

SimonSays: Don’t forget to tell your brothers

RunawayArkait: Thanks

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: Guess what?

Sixty-Second-Set: Your finals were cancelled!

UnluckyNine: You passed your exams?

RunawayArkait: Close, but no

RunawayArkait: Hank gave me his number

UnluckyNine: Nice

Sixty-Second-Set: It’s about fucking time

Sixty-Second-Set: If I had to hear you shine about him one more time I was going to pose as you and get it myself

RunawayArkait: Silas!

UnluckyNine: Just be glad it didn’t come to that

Connor rolled his eyes as the cab pulled up to the university. It shouldn’t surprise him that Silas would threaten him with something that extreme, in Silas’s opinion the more dramatic the even the better. Connor was glad it hadn’t needed to come to that, he knew Silas had meant it. He paid for the cab and made his way to building 27 for the last time this week.

He made his way to the second floor and took a seat at one of the hall tables. He took out his biology notes to go over them again before it was time for the test. He had half an hour, he wouldn’t get through everything but it was better than nothing. Science was a bit like math in that following a predetermined procedure would lead to one of a few results.

The half hour passed quickly since he was preoccupied, when students began leaving the lecture hall he began packing up his things. Just like his two previous finals, he didn’t feel like he was ready. He knew his grades by themselves were good enough to get him into the program, but the tests also came with a passing margin and he didn’t want to rely on his grades alone.

HIs father had raised him and his brothers under the belief that it wouldn’t matter how hard they worked toward their goals since there would always be someone out there that could do it better. He had meant for it to encourage them to go to school and help with the business, but Connor had taken it to mean that he needed to be the one working the hardest to get where he wanted in life. Silas had done similarly albeit in a very different way, and Richard had worked to make himself as close to invisible as possible.

He was waiting outside the classroom for the last of the students to leave when his phone vibrated and pulled him from his thoughts. He pulled it out of his hoodie to put it on silent and saw a message from Hank. He had time, so he opened it.

Hank <3: You’ve got this kid

Connor: Thanks :)

Connor smiled and put his phone away. The room was finally empty and the professor allowed them to come in. He took his usual seat and took a moment to mentally prepare. He got drawn into the test into the test and what he needed of the two hour block flew by. He finished with fifteen minutes left after having gone over his answer just to be sure. He texted Hank first as he left the classroom.

Connor: One more then I’m done for the night

Hank <3: You’ll do great, don’t worry

Connor: :)

He waited until he was in building 1 to message everyone else. He sat in the second floor study area and took a break from his notes.

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: Just mythology left

UnluckyNine: That should be easy

Sixty-Second-Set: Hopefully there aren’t any essay questions.

The Coffee Crew:

RunawayArkait: Last test for the night is mythology

SimonSays: You’ll be able to get some decent sleep tonight

What.Josh.Does: Good Luck

Northern_Lights: God I hated that class

He spent the hour before his mythology final studying for it. Working his way through all of the lecture and reading notes he had taken during the semester. This particular professor didn’t believe in midterms so the final covered everything they had gone over during the semester. It annoyed Connor slightly, he would rather take two smaller tests than one massive one. They had been told that there would be at least ten questions from each era of mythology they had covered. it was a daunting undertaking and Connor didn’t think he was ready for it. Not that it mattered much, considering as he didn’t have a choice, but the sheer size of the test made his looming anxiety seem heavier. If he didn’t finish in time he would fail automatically and could kiss his shot at the nurses exam goodbye.

Connor did his best to shake those thoughts from his head as he go this things together. Maybe if he got there as the first exam was finishing he could get an early start. He grabbed his bag and made his way to the classroom waiting across the hall for the other exam to let out. He got his quarter out again to calm his nerves. He went through the same motions as the cafe. Rolling the coin over his knuckles before tossing it in the air and catching it. He did all of this without looking. On the fifth toss the door opened and Connor caught his coin putting it away. He waited for a gap in the students so he could enter the classroom. The professor wouldn’t let him start early, but he did gain extra time to study as he waited on his classmates. He hoped it would help him get through the test faster to have some of the information fresh in his mind.

When the exam was handed out Connor silently cursed Silas and came to understand why North had hated the class so much. More than half of the test was made up of short answer or essay questions. This was going to take forever. With a sigh that was just as much annoyed as it was anxious Connor started on the exam. He finished with a little over five minutes left in the test period. He was one of the last students in the room. He turned in the exam and left quickly, letting out a relieved sigh once he was back in the hall.

Connor: Done for the night and about to head home

Hank <3: How are you feeling?

Connor: Stressed and relieved

Connor: Happy that this is almost over

Hank <3: Take a break tonight. Alright?

Hank <3: Try and unwind

Connor: That sounds like a good plan

Connor: When I get home I’ll let you know if you owe me a pizza :p

Hank <3: Cheeky bastard

Connor: That shouldn’t be news to you

Hank <3: Its not ;)

Connor smiled at the conversation and opened discord as he got in the cab. He tapped his apartment address into the terminal before he messaged his brothers.

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: Silas you jinxed me

RunawayArkait: More than half the test was short answer or essay questions

Sixty-Second-Set: Oops. But you finished didn’t you?

UnluckyNine: Obviously. Congrats by the way

Sixty-Second-Set: Then everything is fine

RunawayArkait: Anyway, I’m gonna be offline for the night

Sixty-Second-Set: Enjoy talking with Hank

UnluckyNine: Don’t do anything Silas wouldn’t do

RunawayArkait: That leaves me a lot of options

RunawayArkait: Also I hate you both

The Coffee Crew:

RunawayArkait: Done for the night

RunawayArkait: We can compare test scores tomorrow Josh. I’m going to be offline tonight

SimonSays: Tell Hank hello

RunawayArkait: Why is everyone assuming that!

Northern_Lights: Are we wrong

RunawayArkait: Well no

What.Josh.Does: Alright. Tomorrow then. Have a good night Connor

RunawayArkait: Thanks

He opened Canvas in his phone’s web browser to check if the exams from yesterday had been graded. They had been and he had passed them both. He had gotten 100% on his calculus exam and a 95% on his art history exam. Both above the cut off. It was definitely going to be victory pizza. Then he was going to unwind with a glass of wine and a bubble bath. He’d use what was left of his night to catch up on his sleep.

The cab pulled up to his apartment complex, he paid and got out to head up to his unit. Once he was inside and had put his backpack away and sent Hank a screen shot of his test results.

Connor: So, victory pizza?

Hank <3: Victory pizza. You got any place you usually order from

Connor: Nope. You can pick

Connor: Medium with cheese and mushrooms please

Hank <3: I really should have known that your pizza order was going to be fucking weird

Hank <3: I need your complex name and your apartment number

Connor: Ridgewood Apartments building B5 apartment 205-B

Hank <3: Alright. It’ll be there in an hour

Connor: You’re the best

Hank <3: You only say that because I bought you pizza

Connor: And coffee ;)

Hank <3: You’re the worst

Connor: I try my best

He put his phone on full volume and walked into the kitchen and got out a stemless wine glass as well as the bottle of white wine Silas had bough him the last time he came over. He poured himself half a glass and put the bottle away. With the glass in hand he made his way back to the living room sat back on the couch and kicked his socked feet up onto the coffee table. He turned on the tv and turned it to the true crime channel, quickly getting absorbed in what was on. An hour or so later when there was a knock at his door Connor just about jumped out of his skin. He collected himself and answered the door. He took the pizza and tanked the delivery person before heading back to the living room. He opened the box and set it on the coffee table beside his wine glass. He took a picture and sent it to Hank.

Connor: The right way to celebrate finals (almost) being over

He received a picture in return. It was of Hank’s coffee table, there was a half full whiskey glass and Chinese take out. Sumo was sprawled out in the background.

Hank <3: You’ve got the right idea Con

Connor: Glad we can agree

He moved to the floor in the space between the couch and the coffee table so he could use it as a dining table. He had a couple slices of pizza and finished his first glass of wine before he put the left overs away. He poured another glass of wine and made his way to the bathroom. He started the bath added bubbles and let the water run as he went to his room to get pyjamas. He texted Hank again before he got into the bath.

Connor: Now for the best part of the night. Relaxing with a glass of wine.

Hank <3: I’m more of a whiskey guy myself, but that sounds like a good plan.

Connor let out a content sigh as he sank into the water and relaxed into the warmth. He played music from his phone and stayed in the water until it went cold. He rinsed off and got ready for bed and texted Hank as he plugged his phone in for the night.

Connor: Good night Hank

Hank <3: Sleep well Connor

Hank <3: We wouldn’t want North drawing on you again :)

Connor: No we would not

The next day he didn’t wake up until around noon, his body deciding to try and make up for all of his lost sleep in one go. He got up and got ready, taking what he would no longer need out of his backpack and heading for the cafe. Deciding to walk since it was nice out. While he was waiting to cross at a crosswalk he sent the screenshot of his test results to Josh.

What.Josh.Does: Nice! I got a 97%

What.Josh.Does: I’ll cover your first drink as promised

RunawayArkait: You’re the best

What.Josh.Does: You’re only saying that because I’m buying you a coffee

RunawayArkait: See you soon

He tucked his phone away and crossed the street and continued on his way to the cafe, He put his bag at his usual table and went to stand in line. Connor hadn’t been in line long when Hank’s voice sounded from behind him.

“Late start today Con?” Hank asked, the nickname he had given Connor rolled off his tongue like they had known each other for years. The dopey grin it caused to curl over Connor’s lips made him glad that Hank was behind him, “you’re usually passed out at your table by now.”

“That’s only happened like twice this week,” Connor argued, it was weak but it was all he had.

“Connor, its Wednesday,” Hank continued, “two out of three days this week you’ve been asleep at the table. A two-thirds average isn’t that great when you’re on the third day.”

“I don’t think I’ll be doing that today considering as I didn’t wake up until like noon.”

“So you finally made up for your lost sleep.”

“Apparently.” Connor said as he stepped up to the counter, “a large Iced Americano please.”

Josh put the order in and Connor walked to the end counter to wait. He was tempted to pull out his coin but the cafe was pretty busy today and the sound tended to annoy people. So he settled for signing the alphabet in reverse. This would be his last test for the semester, he’d had plenty of time to prepare and yet his anxiety was still eating at him. He finished one cycle of the alphabet and started over.

“So what are you doing with your hand?” Hank asked, scaring the life out of Connor who had retreated into his own thoughts.

“Signing the alphabet backwards.” Connor replied once he had collected himself.

“Why?”

“I need something to keep my hands busy when I’m anxious and I don’t want to annoy anyone with my quarter.”

“Test anxiety? Is that why you’ve been studying so hard?’

“Yeah. I want to do everything in my power to make sure I pass my exams.” His drink was called and he went up to the counter to grab it. He pointed to the table where his bag was and when Hank nodded Connor made his way over.

Connor took his seat and got out his sociology textbook and notes. By the time he had gotten his stuff out Hank was taking his usual seat across the table. He got out his laptop and they both got to work. They passed the time in busy pleasant silence until Hank asked him a question.

“So what do you do with your quarter that annoys people?” Hank asked as he looked up from his work.

“This.” He said as he pulled out the coin rolling it over his knuckles then flicking it up in the air, catching it in his other hand and then showed it off with a ‘tada’ motion.

“That’s a pretty neat trick.” Hank said with a half smile, “but i can see why you wouldn’t want to d it in a crowded place.”

“It annoys some people so I try to avoid doing it if I can.” He said, returning his attention to his notes.

The conversation fell away after that. Hank was the first to leave today, Sumo had a doctors appointment. They said their goodbyes and Connor got back to work. A few hours later when he was on his way to the university he sent Hank a text.

Connor: Last one. Wish me luck

Hank <3: You’ve got this Con, luck or no luck

Hank <3: But good luck

Connor: Thanks Hank. You’re the best

Hank <3: I try to be

Connor was smiling at his phone like a love struck idiot and it took all of his strength not to send a heart back. He didn’t want to make Hank uncomfortable. They were only friends and most friends didn’t do that. He set his phone in his lap and used his hands to cover his blush and matching dopey grin. He knew he had it bad. Going back over the texts, some of them sounded like flirting. Connor took a deep breath trying to collect himself, he needed to focus on his final for the time being.

He was somewhat back to himself when he got to the university. Once this test was done he had four days of what amounted to free time. Thursday, Friday, and Sunday were days he was going to use to study for his nurses exam and Saturday he was going to meet Sumo. Monday it was back to work as usual and then that Friday he was taking his nurses exam. Then it was back to business as usual until the fall semester started, He got out and made his way to building 1 for the last time this semester.

He made his way to the classroom as the previous class left. There wouldn’t be any last minute studying this time. He took his phone out of his pocket to double check that it was on silent then put it away. When the last of the students filed out Connor entered the class and took his usual seat.

Once it started, the testing block seemed to fly by. He finished with half an hour left. Surprisingly this test was the one he felt the most confidence for. When he got in a cab, he messaged Hank first.

Connor: I’m done!

Connor: My finals are finished!

Hank <3: Congratulations! For the next two weeks you’re free

Connor: I’m going home and taking a fucking nap

Hank <3: It’s well earned

Hank <3: Sleep well Con

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: I’m done

UnluckyNine: Congratulations

Sixty-Second-Set: Time to celebrate

RunawayArkait: Time to take a nap

UnluckyNine: That works too

Sixty-Second-Set: Boring

The Coffee Crew:

RunawayArkait: I’m free

SimonSays: Nice

What.Josh.Does: Good for you

Northern_Lights: Party time!

RunawayArkait: Sorry to disappoint, but I’ll be taking a nap

Northern_Lights: That’s boring

Connor rolled his eyes as he closed discord going back to his conversation with Hank.

Connor: Apparently I’m boring for wanting to sleep off my finals

Hank <3: They’re your tests. You get to pick how you celebrate

Connor: Exactly. So I’m going to make up for lost sleep

Hank <3: Sounds like a good plan to me

Connor: Thanks

The cab arrived at his apartment and he paid and got out. Exhaustion weighed down on him as he made his way up to his unit. He’d reheat a couple slices of pizza for dinner and then head to bed. He fumbled with his keys for a moment before getting his door unlocked

Once he was inside he dropped his bag by the door and kicked his shoes off. In the morning the mess would probably bother him, but he was tired now so that was future Connor’s problem. He opened the fridge and grabbed two slices of pizza and put them on a paper towel then in the microwave. Tonight was a lazy night. He changed into pyjamas and came back into the kitchen when the microwave went off. For the sake of convenience he ate over the kitchen sink. He rushed through his nightly routine, Before he climbed into bed he pugged in his phone and messaged Hank one last time.

Connor: Good night Hank

Hank <3: Sleep well Connor

Thursday found him awake around eleven. Unlike yesterday there was no sleep hangover, for the first time in a long time he felt well rested. He spent the first part of the day cleaning his apartment and doing laundry. Giving his brain a break from the bookwork, which felt pretty nice.

Around three o’clock he made his way to the cafe. He stood in line and looked around. He found Hank at their usual table, he was absorbed in his work and had earbuds in. Since he had the time, he messaged him to see if he wanted anything.

Connor: I’m in line. Would you like anything

He scanned the menu deciding on a chai tea rather than coffee since he felt well rested for once. He looked down when his phone vibrated.

Hank <3: Fist of all, you scared the ever loving fuck outta

Hank <3: My usual with two shots please

Connor: Got it :)

Connor: And sorry. I just thought I’d ask since I was up here

When it was his turn he noticed one of the new trainees, Echo, he believed, working the register while North worked the bar. He smiled at the blue haired woman, “Could I get a medium Chai Tea with cinnamon and nutmeg as well as a Vanilla Latte with two shots of espresso.”

She seemed to struggle with the first drink and North came to her aid, staying to help with the second and writing on the cups to make things easier. Connor always spoke his orders to the new hires since knowing how to sign wasn’t a requirement and he didn’t want to assume they knew it. Shifts were designed so that at least one person who knew Sign Language was there. Once the drinks were up, he headed for the table.

He sat across from Hank in his usual seat and slid the cup across the table while Hank took out his earbuds, “so manuscript today or short stories?”

“Manuscript surprisingly enough.” Hank said before drinking from his latte and letting out a content hum, “what about you? What book are you rubbing your nose against today?”

“Today I’m going over the notes and study guide Markus gave me to make flashcards to go over on my breaks since I go back to work on Monday,” Connor said as he got out what he would need. Typed out notes, a hand written study guide, a stack of one thousand notecards, and a pencil pouch with that said ‘always look on the bright side’ on the front.

Hank gave an amused chuckle and shook his head, “I still think you should go over the definition of the word break Con.”

Connor drank from his chai tea to cover the involuntary grin that the nickname caused, “I’m taking an ‘actual’ day off on Saturday. Remember?”

Hank rolled his eyes but seemed to accept Connor’s flimsy argument. They lapsed into a companionable silence. Connor was working on his flashcards and Hank was working on his manuscript. Occasionally Connor would catch himself staring at Hank, but would look away before he got caught and forced himself get back to work. Until his luck ran out and Hank met his eyes cracking a smile that lead Connor to believe he hadn’t been nearly as stealthy as he had thought.

“See something you like Connor?” Hank joked, and it had to be a joke. Despite the way some of their messages read there was no way Hank would ever flirt with him. Connor turned into a tomato anyway.

“I was, um, I was just staring off into space...” he trailed off never having been all that great of a liar. He wanted the ground to open up and swallow them whole.

Hank didn’t look like he believed Connor but he didn’t comment on it. They went back to their easy silence until Hank had to leave.

“Sumo is getting groomed tomorrow, so I’m not gonna make it to the cafe,” Hank sounded almost upset that he was going to miss a day. Like he looked forward to these days too.

“That’s alright,” Connor said with a slight shrug, “we’ll see each other on Saturday.”

“See you Saturday then,” Hank responded with a half smile as he turned to leave.

Connor watched him go before getting back to his notecards. It took him a few hours and a couple cups of coffee to get them finished, and once he was done he headed home. He would probably stay home tomorrow too. Take a day to himself and mentally prepare for meeting Sumo and what that would bring.

He finished off the pizza and did the rest of his laundry. With his apartment mostly clean and his laundry done, Connor decided to call it a night. Once again messaging Hank before falling asleep.

Connor: Good night Hank

Hank <3: Night Connor

Hank <3: Don’t work too hard tomorrow

Connor: No promises, but I’ll try my best

He spent most of Friday morning fretting over what to wear. Eventually deciding on a black short sleeve button down that was patterned with gradient grey roses, black jeans and grey converse. It wasn’t a date, but looking nice couldn’t hurt anything. He hung the outfit on his closet door and paced into his living room debating on if it would be better to message his brothers or his friends. Richard hadn’t dated anyone before so seeking him out for romantic advise probably wouldn’t be the wisest. Silas preferred a friends with benefits arrangement over dating so he wouldn’t be any help. North would just make fun of him. That left Josh, Simon, and Markus. Simon and Markus were dating so that would probably be the best bet.

RunawayArkait has started a group chat with Made-By_Markus and SimonSays!

RunawayArkait: I need help

RunawayArkait: What does one do on a not-date visit to their crush’s house to meet their dog

SimonSays: Send their kind and supportive friends pictures of said dog. Obviously

SimonSays: Keep a level head, but pay enough attention to see if he is flirting back

RunawayArkait: Flirting back? That implies that I flirt with him. Which I don’t!

Made-By_Markus: But you do. I’ve heard all about it from Simon

RunawayArkait: Rude!

Made-By_Markus: As cliche as it sounds, just be yourself

SimonSays: Relax. Like you said, it’s not a date

RunawayArkait: Thanks I guess

Made-By_Markus: Anytime. Also Simon, I’m in the lobby

SimonSays: Alright. I’ll be down soon

RunawayArkait: And that’s my cue to leave. Enjoy your date!

Made-By_Markus: Thanks

Connor groaned at the lack of help. Figuring he was stressing too much over something that was decidedly not a date, he decided to spend the rest of his Friday curled up on the couch catching up on all of the true crime shows he had missed on his study binge.

He woke up at eight in the morning on Saturday. He took his time getting ready and once he was satisfied with his appearance he left for the cafe at around eleven-thirty. He decided to walk so he could work off some of the anxiety that was thrumming beneath his skin. He debated cancelling several times, but eventually decided that he deserved to meet a new dog after having worked so hard to pass all of his finals. If it so happened that he was reading too far into this, which was incredibly likely, he would have at least gotten to see a new dog. He would be able to add a Saint Bernard to his mug which he would have to edit and then reorder. He won either way.

Connor arrived to find Hank waiting outside the cafe with one of the biggest and most fluffy dogs he had ever seen. Sumo sat neatly beside Hank looking to be very well trained, which was probably pretty helpful considering the dog’s size. He took a picture of Sumo with is phone before greeting Hank.

“You’re here early.” Connor said in way of a greeting and Hank turned to him with a smile.

“So are you Con,” he said, lifting his free hand in a lazy wave, “but that’s more expected of you than me.”

Connor laughed, “Yeah.”

Hank changed the subject, “So I didn’t find a no pets sign but I just wanted to check if Sumo would be allowed inside.”

“Unfortunately no. We do have a service animal policy tough.” Connor kept himself from gesturing at the door with his free hand by reaching it out toward Sumo so the large dog could sniff at it, “I can go inside and get the drinks then meet you back out here, since I’m covering drinks today anyway. Your usual?”

“Sounds good to me,” Hank said with a thankful smile. “I’ll let you know if we head back to the car.”

“Thanks/” Connor said as he headed inside.

The line was thankfully short and it didn’t take long to place their order. An iced Americano for Connor and a Vanilla Latte with two shots of espresso for Hank. When he exited the cafe, both Hank and Sumo were at the bench.

“Ready?” Hank asked as he got up, Sumo obediently following suit.

“Yup.” He handed the latte off as they walked to the car and Sumo happily snuffled at his free hand as they went.

When they got to the car Connor opened the back door on the passenger side so Hank could get Sumo in. With that taken care of, Connor got in on the passenger side, only to have Sumo lean forward and lick a stripe up his face when he turned to look in the back seat. Hank laughed at the sight.

“Hello to you too Sumo.” Connor said, using his jacket sleeve to wipe the drool off of his face then reaching back to pet him, “its nice to meet you.”

“What kind of dog do you think you’re gonna get once you graduate?” Hank asked as he pulled out of the parking lot and began the drive to his house.

“Either an Australian Shepherd or a Golden Retriever,” Connor replied, “small enough to keep in an apartment but big enough to socially be considered a dog. I hope to be able to put them through search and rescue as well as service training.”

“Why am I not surprised you have all of this planned out.” Hank shook his head with a fond smile.

“I like being organized.”

“I can tell.”

Connor rolled his eyes, “What made you decide on a Saint Bernard?”

“I picked him up from a shelter a few years back.” He paused for a moment, seeming to consider his words, “my fiance and I had split and I didn’t want to be alone in the house. Took about a month to realize i was going to need a bigger yard and then we moved. Whoever had him first had already trained him which has made things a lot easier.” He looked in the rearview mirror at Sumo for a moment, “the big lug even knows a couple of hand signs.”

Hank had a fiance at one point, a few years back apparently. Connor wanted to ask about it, but the rapid change in topic made it clear that Hank didn’t want to, “Really? What commands does he know the signs for?”

“I’ll show you when we get to the house, how about that?” Hank suggested.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

As it turned out, Sumo knew the signs for sit, stay, laydown, and roll over. Connor spent the next few hours teaching him the sign commands for speak, play dead, shake hands, and high five. It didn’t go well, which was fine because hank seemed to get a kick out of it. Once he gave up and settled beside Hank on the couch they ordered take out and talked enjoying each other’s company. It was a few hours later, when they were getting ready to leave that Hank asked him a favor.

“So I kind of had an ulterior motive for asking you over today,” Hank started with a tentative smile. “There’s a writers’ conference next weekend, I was wondering if you would mind stopping by to check on Sumo while I’m away since he seems to like you.”

“Of course I wouldn’t mind,” Connor said as he headed for the door. “He’s well behaved and a sweetheart.”

“Thank you so much.” Hank sounded genuinely relieved. He opened the front door and called over his shoulder to Sumo, “I’ll be back soon. Be good while I take Connor home.”

“I’ll see you next weekend,” Connor called to the dog as he left.

The ride to Connor’s apartment was filled with idle chatter, broken up occasionally by Connor giving Hank directions. It was nice, and his anxiety over today seemed distant and unnecessary. Today had been easy and comfortable. They arrived at his complex about twenty minutes later and Connor wasn’t ready to be done yet.

“Uh, today was nice,” Connor said eloquently. He was pretty sure he couldn’t have been more awkward if he tried.

“Yeah, it was,” Hank said seeming just as nervous, “um, if you want to come by again just let me know I guess.”

“Yeah. Uh, thanks then.” Hank unlocked the door as Connor reached for the handle, “I’ll um, I’ll watch Sumo whenever you need me to.”

“Thanks Con,” he said as Connor opened the door and got out, “have a good night.”

“You too Hank.” Connor gave him a slight wave before he shut the car door and went inside the complex. He had been so awkward. Hank definitely know now and he was probably uncomfortable.

Connor let out a frustrated groan once he was in his apartment. He made himself a cup of tea to help wind down before bed. The best thing he could do would be to act like nothing had changed and maybe they could still be friends. He sighed and finished his tea and got ready for bed. He texted Hank as usual before calling it a night.

Connor: Thanks for today Hank. It was a lot of fun

Connor: Good night

Hank <3: I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Sleep well Con

Connor smiled at his phone before setting it aside and falling asleep. As long as he could keep his feeling tucked away, things would be fine.

Sunday went by in a blur of studying and self pity. He answered messages as they came, trying to make it seem like things were normal. Like he hadn’t potentially fucked everything up. He was thankful he had today to wallow because come tomorrow he had to be a functioning human being. When he was getting ready for bed, he checked the messages from Hank like he hadn’t been avoiding him all day.

Hank <3: Are you coming to the cafe today?

Hank <3: Is everything alright?

Hank <3: Connor?

Connor: Sorry

Connor: My exhaustion from the week came back with a vengeance

Connor: I didn’t mean to worry you

Hank <3: It’s alright

Hank <3: I’m just glad to see that you’re okay

Connor: I’m going to call it a night

Hank <3: Sleep well

Connor: Thank you

Guilt clung to Connor as he drifted off making his sleep uneasy and restless. He didn’t mean to make Hank worry he just hadn’t known how to face him. When morning rolled around he was exhausted. He went through his morning routine on autopilot. He made coffee and poured it into his travel mug before walking to work. He was almost late, but made up for it by working part of the lunch rush. He didn’t see Hank before he clocked out for the day. He walked back home and took some time to himself before studying.

The rest of the week went similarly. His texts to Hank throughout the day and before bed became the parts of his routine he looked forward to the most. he had Friday off so he could take his nurses exam. Connor didn’t feel like he would be ready, but this was all the time he was going to get. He would deal with it come Friday.

He woke up early on Friday and spent his morning studying. He left for the university around two and messaged Hank first when he got in the cab.

Connor: On my way to the exam

Hank <3: Good luck

Hank <3: Let me know how it goes

Connor: Will do :)

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: Time for the exam

Sixty-Second-Set: You’ve got this

UnluckyNine; You’re more than ready

The Coffee Crew

RunawayArkait: Exam day

Northern_Lights: Bet you’ll be in the top half of the class

Echo-Over-The-Water: Good luck Connor!

SimonSays: You’ll do great

What.Josh.Does: Here comes the cafe’s second nursing student

Connor put his [hone on silent and spent the rest of the cab ride going over his notecards. Markus had given him a general idea of what the test would cover, though the specific questions were changed every testing period. The test was a mix of essay, short answer, and multiple choice questions. They would have three hours to finish. Connor wasn’t exactly confident that he would pass, but he was fairly certain he would finish before the testing period ended. The results would be posted on Monday and he would have time to register for the recommended classes and buy books after that. Not to mention a whole weekend with Sumo to help with his worry.

He took his time on the exam, and then more time to go back over and correct some of his answers. He turned in the exam with fifteen minutes left in the period. He ordered a cab and messaged Hank, knowing that the other was on a flight and he wouldn’t get a reply.

Connor: Finished my exam and I’m feeling pretty good about it

Connor: I’ll swing by in a couple hours to check on Sumo and send pictures

The Family Feud:

RunawayArkait: It’s done

UnluckyNine: Congrats

Sixty-Second-Set: Look at you go Mr. Nurse

The Coffee Crew:

RunawayArkait: Finished!

RunawayArkait: I’m gonna be gone for the weekend

SimonSays: Give Sumo lots of love for us!

Echo-Over-The-Water: Congratulations!

Northern_Lights: You did it

What.Josh.Does: Enjoy your weekend

When he got to his apartment he set his bag on the couch and set an alarm on his phone for three hours from now and laid down for a nap. When he woke up he would pack for his weekend with Sumo.

#A Cup of Something Better #dbh #d:bh #hank anderson #d:bh hank #dbh hank #connor rk800 #dbh connor #rk800 #d:bh connor #hank x connor #hankcon #hannor #dbh hannor #d:bh hank x connor

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nsheetee · 6 years ago

Note

Can I make a request? Jaehyun x reader high school rivalry au. In which Jaehyun & reader are rivals in school when it comes to academics but one day they were informed they had to team up for a quiz bee against other schools. Some sort of enemies to lovers au I guess? 😅 THANK YOUUU!!

a/n: ugh I imagined Jaehyun in glasses throughout this entire thing and it killed me 😅 also, to include the academics and quiz bee part I wrote this based around debate team, that wasn’t exactly what you asked for but I hope it’s okay!

(warning: mentions of doyoung, jungwoo, and sicheng /swearing / y’all make out a bit in the end)

alright so let me tell you about your high school’s debate team

the team is as old as the school itself, but during doyoung’s sophomore year, he was given the title of president of the debate team

(the first time a sophomore has been given the position, and he made sure everyone knew about it too dfbhjh)

every since then, the team has TAKEN OFF and made some amazing accomplishments

doyoung crafted the team into what it is today

sicheng as head of research (and official tea-spiller of the team)

jungwoo as doyoung’s assistant (a.k.a. doyoung’s emotional support boy)

…and you and jaehyun, some of the best debaters doyoung has ever seen

your passion paired with jaehyun’s charisma and mixed in with both of your quick mouths was a sight to behold for judges

despite this, doyoung was very unwilling to let both of you stay on the team

because you fucking HATED each other

despite the amazing skill of teamwork you both possess on stage, the debate team meeting room was a nightmare

screaming matches every other day

snapped in half pencils

many, many, MANY disagreements

and how did it start?

during freshman year, your first class in your first semester of school was math- your teacher seated you next to jaehyun :)

every morning at 8am you had to deal with his whining about being tired or how the material was “too easy” :)

and then when you got your first tests back, your grade was one (1) point lower than his :)

and jaehyun says :)

“oh man, that sucks. you should’ve taken up that tutoring offer I gave you”

:))))))))))

and ever since then, you couldn’t stand his big head with his too-clear-to-be-natural skin and his smile that he sent you every time doyoung agreed with something he said instead of one fo your ideas

but you loved debate team, you were all such close friends (despite someone who liked the act up) and those big dumbos were your everything :’)

now, it was the beginning of doyoungs senior year

as the debate team teacher sponsor quietly cried at the thought of doyoung leaving, doyoung was more focused on who would take his spot next year

jungwoo and sicheng were both great candidates, but everyone knew that the only people who could even come close to filling doyoung’s shoes were you or jaehyun

and when doyoung told you both this after a debate team meeting, the tension between you two quickly escalated

“now, I expect both of you to get along; at least respect each other. if one of you is the captain then you have to be able to listen to them and right now…. the last thing you do is listen to each other” doyoung explained

with that thought, you and jaehyun made your way out of school

“ya know if you could just listen to my ideas every once in a while maybe we wouldn’t be in this kind of mess” jaehyun pointed out as you walked down the empty halls

“I could say the same thing to you” you snapped back and he suddenly stopped walking

“… is this what doyoung is talking about? I think… we both love debate so much, that we just don’t know when to stop” jaehyun laughs and you feel slightly uncomfortable with this seemingly truthful side of jaehyun

he legit doesn't seem like he’s about to laugh at your face

he just seems like he wants to stop arguing

he does, he’s actually really tired of arguing with your cute face everyday :(

you don’t know how far you can trust jaehyun, but you’ve spent years working by his side

there has to be some sort of connection between you two that allows both of you to work together so successfully

after you tell that to jaehyun, he slowly agrees

“how about this….” you start “after team meetings, we can go to the library and try to… not hate each other”

jaehyun scrunches his face

“the library? how about… the cafe two blocks down?”

you were about to snap at him about “what’s so wrong with the library? huh?” but you took a deep breath in and out

if you were going to stop fighting, change had to start somewhere

“okay, let’s go”

so you and jaehyun hang out at this hole-in-the-wall cafe after debate team meetings for a few weeks

you didn’t necessarily make your meet ups known to the other team members but…

you didn’t really want to have the whole team freak out over what could possibly be perceived as dates

cuz trust me

they TOTALLY looked like dates

jaehyun would buy your drink for you

(until one day he confessed that you drink was hella expensive and you rolled your eyes and started buying his drink from then on)

in return, he would help you on all the math concepts you didn’t fully understand

(you had flashbacks to the first class you had with him when he offered to tutor you but you shook that off)

and when your your brain was completely fried, he would listen to you talk about anything and everything

or if on one particular day you weren’t in the mood to talk, he would fill up the cafe with his low laughter and stories of the stupid things he and his friends do

(when the baristas found out y’all weren’t dating they started making bets on when one of you would confess ewfheb)

your relationship with jaehyun changed from snappy and argumentative to something like a friendship

and this was obvious to the rest of the debate team members

they were soooo relieved that y’all weren’t fighting everyday

and that they could spend the meetings getting prepared for competitions rather than settling your arguments

but of course, sicheng was a little too curious about the sudden change in behavior from you two

and he followed you guys after a meeting one day

he watched from outside of the cafe where neither of you could see him

he was shooooook

you guys looked so,,.., weird when you don’t fight but it was even weirder to see you laughing at something jaehyun said and leaning into him as you looked at his papers

he was ssososososoos sure you were dating

(although sicheng was awesome at researching stuff, he seems to have forgotten to confirm his sources on this one…)

(because you were not dating at all)

(yet…)

sooooooo fast forward to the next weekend, there was a debate team competition a few cities away

the school allowed the team to travel and stay over night at a hotel in that city

so the team packed up their things and took the long bus ride and settled into their hotel rooms once they got there

you were flipping through the tv channels in your room when your phone vibrated

with a text from jaehyun

“come meet me in my room”

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) hehe

it was against the rules that your teacher sponsor set before you left for the trip

but you were sure the teacher was already passed out in their own room and that if you were quiet and careful, the other team members wouldn’t hear you walking out of your room and into jaehyun’s

jungwoo, doyoung, and sicheng already broke the rule that the teacher had set for them

they were chilling in doyoung’s room, finished take out on the floor between them and face masks on as they relaxed

“I keep texting jaehyun to come join us, but he’s not picking up” jungwoo frowned and sicheng snorted at that

“what’s so funny?” jungwoo asked

“we’re on a trip away from home with our own hotel rooms and little to no supervision,..,.. don’t you think jaehyun and y/n would take this opportunity to mess around?”

the room suddenly went very quiet as jungwoo and doyoung stared at sicheng with wide eyes

“…what?” doyoung asked lowly

“oh come on…. you guys seriously can’t tell me you haven’t seen how much closer they’ve gotten-”

“that’s because I told them that one of them would have to be president next year and they need to get along” doyoung defended

“yeah, that’s why they were getting real cozy with each other in a cafe after one of our meetings” sicheng absentmindedly stated, looking at his reflection on his phone as he tapped around his face to settle the mask in

tea? spilled

sicheng’s job? completed

jaehyun and you? in trouble

back in jaehyun’s room, you quietly close the door behind you as you make your way in

jaehyun lays on his bed with only the light from the bedside lamp illuminating his face

his pajamas have little clouds and sheep on them and you take a moment to tease him about it as you come closer

he grabs your hands and pulls you onto the bed next to him and you both settle down to watch tv

both of your hearts are pounding so loud you think the other can hear it and you squeeze your hand into a fist to keep yourself from physically freaking out

jaehyun was right there… right next to you

if you turned your head, he would be only a few inches away

“there’s nothing to watch?” you ask, trying to get your mind off of your thoughts

“nothing seems interesting… let’s do something else instead”

and that’s how you end up making out with Jaehyun :-)

your lips are moving against each others and your hands are gliding down to wherever you can touch

he rubs your sides and when you react with a small moan he pushes you down and the kiss turns from a “wanting” type of kiss to something slower

like jaehyun wants to savor this moment of your kiss pressed to his for the very first time (it wasn’t the greatest setting or situation for a first kiss but hey, y’all take what you can get)

you barely notice doyoung, jungwoo, and sicheng storming into the room, turning on all the lights and standing in front of the bed, hands on hips or crossed in front of their chest, their face masks still on and frowns settled underneath

you and jaehyun separate from each other in fright, awaiting to be yelled at by doyoung, but instead you break out into laughter at the appearance of the three of them standing in front of you

“when I told you guys to get along, this is NOT AT ALL what I meant”

#jaehyun #nct jaehyun #jaehyun fluff #nct soft hours #nct x reader #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct au #nct drabbles #jaehyun scenarios #jaehyun imagines #jaehyun au #jaehyun drabbles #jaehyun x reader #nct fluff #jaehyun soft hours #enemies to lovers au #bulleted au

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cocochannel00 · 6 years ago

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Harry and Kids # 15 College Bound

Kids Ages: Connor (18), Rebecca (16), Grayson and Riley (14), Victoria (11), and Casey (6)

Connor is college bond and some family members take it harder than others

“Connor, is this the last box?” you asked your eldest son who had decided it would be smart to procrastinate packing till the last minute.

It was currently 7 am on what would usually be a quiet Saturday morning but with all of the boxes and kids bouncing around the house trying to get Connor’s attention you were on the verge of losing your mind. Harry and you were moving Connor into his college dorm today and to say Harry was taking it hard would be an understatement. He had managed to spend the majority of the night sobbing his eyes out at the thought of his first child leaving home. Don’t get me wrong, Harry was overjoyed with the idea of his son going to college, something Harry never got the opportunity to do, but Harry was accustomed to being the one to leave and now that the tables had turned he didn’t like it.

“Can we hold him back another year? I mean no harm in that right, might even make him smarter!” he stated while curled up in bed with you last night. You chuckled at his idea.

“Love he was top of his class and he’s going to an amazing school, I don’t think he needs anymore high school” you mentioned as you wiped the stray tears from his eyes.

“He’ll be fine, don’t worry. My college experience was fine and he’s a smart kid. You still have another five kids at home to pester you about help with math homework” you stated as Harry scoffed.

“Please, you and I both know I’m no help with math homework. I know he’ll be ok but I’m going to miss him. I was bad when Gemma left and now that it’s my kid I’m on the verge of a breakdown” he mumbled into your shoulder as he tried to close his eyes and ignore the problem.

You were upset that Connor was leaving you, after all, he had always very much been a momma’s boy and you absolutely loved it. Having Harry always being on tour growing up also helped in this situation as you had gotten so used to him leaving for long tours that having Connor go to college wasn’t as stressful for you. That’s not to say that you didn’t cry in bed because you did (for a good hour after putting the kids to bed). You knew that everything would work out just fine in the end though.

“Mom I can’t find my black leather jacket! You know the one Uncle Mitch gave me last year for Christmas?” Connor screamed from upstairs as he dragged a box into the hallway.

“Honey I don’t know where you put. Check your closet, love” you reply as you begin to search the downstairs part of the house for the jacket.

You had just finished looking through the coat closet near the front door when you saw a black jacket wrapped around one of your little ones. You crept over to the couch where they lay, careful not to wake them up if they were asleep, but what you find instead is more heartbreaking. Under Connor’s leather jacket lies a quietly sobbing Grayson curled up in a ball on the couch.

“Oh baby, what’s wrong?” you whispered quietly to the crying boy as you carefully sat down next to him and ran your hands through his curly hair.

“He can’t leave mom, he can’t” he whispered quietly, “Who’s gonna bring me to fun concerts or teach me how to play the drums or- or-or” he continued as sobs continued to come from his mouth.

You wrapped him in your arms carefully as you rocked him back and forth. Grayson and Connor had always been close especially for there love of music. On any given Sunday you could wake up to the two of them blasting Queen and Fleetwood Mac in the kitchen and using all of your frying pans as drums. You knew Gray was going to take it the hardest (although Harry was a close second) but you weren’t expecting it to be this soon.

“Baby, don’t worry he’s going to be back soon. We can always go visit him too, its ok. I’m sure dad would love to teach the drums or him and I can take you to concerts too” you replied back as you pushed his hair away from his forehead.

“It’s not the same though” he sulked as he tried to sniffle the last of his tears.

“I know baby, I know, but we’ll try our best” you stated.

You knew it wouldn’t be the same. Connor always had this livelihood to him that made everyone around him smile, much like Harry. Every time they went to a concert Connor would make the two of them “disguises” so they could join the crowd in the mosh pits and not be recognized. It was one of the few times in which the two of them could just be normal kids and not just “Hary Styles’ sons”.

“Mom, did you find it? I swear I left it in the kitchen or maybe... hey what’s wrong in here” Connor asked quietly as he sees Grayson in your arms, the leather jacket laying on his lap.

Grayson quickly attempted to wipe his tears while mumbling a quiet “nothing”.

“Hey come on now talk to me?” Connor replied as you slowly got up and left the two boys to talk.

You walked out into the driveway to see Harry trying to shove the last box into the trunk of the Range Rover. Praying there was nothing fragile inside as your husband slammed the door shut you carefully wrapped your arms around his back.

“Is that everything?” you mumbled as you placed a kiss to his shoulder. He turned around in your grasp, cradling you to his chest as he placed a kiss to your temple.

“Just missing the Connor” he mumbled back sadly. You squeezed his waist tightly.

“He’s talking with Grayson right now” you whispered as Harry bit his lip nodding his head. He knew how hard it would be for Gray to see his big brother leave.

The two of you made your way back into the house and headed for the kitchen, seeing the other four of your kids sulking at the dining table, each with a bowl of cereal. You kissed each of their heads before picking up Casey and sitting her on your lap.

“Hey, he’s going to be back and visit every once in a while. We’re going up for family’s weekend in a month, it will all work out.” You reassured them as Harry stole a spoonful of cheerios from Victoria’s bowl.

“I know its just going to be weird not having him at home or at school, you know?” Rebecca stated as she swirled her spoon around.

“I know baby but the twins start at the same school as you so you have them. And Connor will always just be a call or a car ride away,” you stated as you nudged Harry with your elbow hoping he would some encouraging words to the conversation.

“Uh yeah... I think... See I felt the same way when Gemma left for college. It was before the band and it had always just been me and her through everything. I remember I cried a lot for a couple of days but then I realized that it would all be ok. She came back for holidays and things and it was like she never left” He said just as Connor and Grayson walked back into the room.

“Ok, I’m ready when you two are. Come on guys I want a hug before I leave” Connor announced as he opened his arms.

Victoria was the first to give him a hug, followed by a crying Rebecca and Riley who’s eyes had begun to water. They each gave him a quick hug before Casey wiggled out of your arms and rushed to Connor, tears starting to stream down her face. The sight before you made your eyes water. This had definitely been the hardest goodbye for your kids. As Connor whispered something in Casey’s ear, making her giggle, Grayson came up to you and wrapped his leather jacket covered arms around your waist. You gave him a squeeze before placing a kiss to his forehead and slowly rubbing your hands up and down his back.

“Alright bud we should probably head out, don’t want to get caught into much traffic” Harry stated as he grabbed the car keys off the table. Connor passed Casey to Rebecca and gave a quick wave goodbye before heading out the door towards the car.

Harry started up the car as the three of you got in to start the five-hour car ride.

“You ok love?” you asked Connor as you watched him quickly wipe tears from his face.

“Yeah I’m alright, just hard to leave them you know” he replied back.

The rest of the car ride was spent with Harry blasting music trying to make the atmosphere a little more upbeat and happy. The three of you laughed and sang and talked the whole way there, only making one stop for gas (and for a tube of Pringles). It was a little past two that afternoon when you arrived on campus and after Harry getting lost for a good ten minutes and refusing to ask for directions you finally made it to his dorm.

A couple of students welcomed you at the door and helped Harry and you get everything loaded out of the car as Connor went to go check in and get his room key.

“So this is what going to college looks like? You know it doesn’t seem that bad. The dorm actually looks kind of nice” Harry mumbles as he grabs the last box from the car.

“My freshman dorm building had cockroaches in most of the bathrooms and my room was so small me and my roommate could touch hands from our beds that were on opposite sides of the room” you stated as you made your way into the building.

“That’s disgusting love, don’t tell me that” he replied as he searches the room full of parents and students for your son.

Connor gives you two a quick way as he helps lead the two boys helping you with his things up to his floor into the elevator. You and Harry followed closely behind as you made your way up to the sixth floor. After thanking the two boys Connor opened the door to his room.

“Nope I take it back, University is awful. I’m glad I didn’t go” Harry announces as he sees the small room Connor will have to share for the year.

“Dad its fine, come on help me get my record player set up on the desk,” Connor stated as you began to take out his folded clothes from the boxes and put it in the draws and closet.

The three of you worked together quietly as the record player played The Beatles album “Abbey Road”. You had just finished hanging up his winter coat when a small knock was heard on the door. Connor carefully opened the door, trying to avoid hitting any of the boxes that were sprawled out and saw a boy outside the door. He was about the same height as Harry, maybe a little taller with dark brown hair and eyes and olive skin.

“Hey, sorry to barge in. my names Lucas, I’m your roommate. These are my parents Pedro and Anna ” the boy stated with a smile as he gestured two the middle age couple behind him.

You all introduced yourself quickly as Connor and Lucas began to discuss living arrangements and what they would keep in their fridge. His family was lovely and you found out that both of his parents were originally from Spain but now lived about twenty minutes away. You ended up exchanging numbers with Anna as a precaution in case anything happened to either boy and to be able to better keep track of your baby. After a while of talking the three of you excused yourselves to let Lucas set up his side of the room.

You spent the next two hours eating at a local restaurant with Connor and stopping by the grocery store to stock his room up with water and other essentials (you weren’t sure how a box of 50 fruit snacks was a necessity but it somehow made it into the cart). When you came back in the room Lucas and his family were heading downstairs to say their last goodbyes before his parents went back home You decided it was easiest to say your own goodbyes up here now as it was getting late and you still had a long drive home.

“So I guess this is it” Connor announced as he rocked back and forth on his feet before bringing you into a tight hug, burying his head in your shoulder much like Harry does when he’s upset.

Your eyes filled with tears as you ran your hands through his hair carefully as he cried while telling him how proud you were of him. You placed a kiss onto his cheek before releasing him so he could say goodbye to Harry. The minute he was out of your grasp Harry wrapped Connor up in a bear hug as the two of them sobbed. You cried quietly as you watch the two of them whisper things to each other until the two of them let out a stranged laugh. Harry released Connor from his grasp and held him at an arm's length.

“I might be going on tour this year but if you need anything, anything at all, don’t be afraid to call me ok? I’ll fly out, I’ll sit and listen. Just know that I’m always here, ok?” Harry instructed as Connor gave him a quick nod, both men wiping the last couple of tears from their eyes.

You both said your last goodbye’s as a puffy-eyed Lucas came up again. You gave him a quick hug before stating, “Connor has money for dinner, make sure you both go out and eat something before you’re stuck with dining hall food all year, ok?”

Lucas chuckled before giving you a quick thanks and walking in the room. Connor closed it behind the two of you and you heard both boys talking behind the door.

“Dude you and I can’t go looking like this” Connor stated as Lucas gave a quick laugh and replied back “I know we’re going to look like absolute wankers if we don’t get it together”.

You smiled at their conversation, knowing that he would be just fine. You and Harry walked to the car and just as you were about to get in Harry handed you the keys and began to sob into your shoulder again. It took everything in you not roll your eyes at the blubbering mess your husband had become. If he was this emotional now you can only imagine how much of a mess he was when he moved out at sixteen. You rubbed his back softly as you carefully opened the passenger door for him, passing him a packet of tissues from the cup holder. You mumbled some reassuring words before getting into the driver's seat and starting the car.

Harry stopped crying about halfway through the trip so the two of you switched spots at one of the rest stops. You slept the majority of the way back as Harry decided to play all of his favorite sad songs. You made it back to your house a little before 11pm. You could see some faint lights from the upstairs bedrooms and the living room light on as you pulled into the driveway. The two of you carefully got out of the car and made your way inside, finding Riley and Rebecca watching a baking show on the couch.

“Hey, how did it go?” Riley whispered quietly as you sat down on the edge of the couch with them.

“Good, good. He’s all set up and his roommate Lucas is lovely. Your father balled for about three hours on the car ride back but it was good” you stated as the two of them laughed at their dad.

“Hey you know I’m a sensitive man” Harry grumbled from the kitchen where he was making himself a sandwich. The three of you rolled your eyes before you sent your kids off to their rooms with a quick peck on the cheek.

You carefully folded up the blanket they had been using and turned off the lights and the Tv before going up to check on the rest of your kids. You made your way through the hallway and found that Victoria and Casey were both happily asleep in their beds but when you went to see Grayson you found his room empty. You furrowed your eyebrows and heard Harry’s elephant-like footsteps come up the stairs. Just when you were about to ask if Grayson was somewhere downstairs you saw that the light to Connor’s room was still on. Carefully the two of you walked to the end of the hall to see Grayson tucked into Connor’s bed, hugging his pillow tightly. You could see the tear stains on the pillowcase but he looked much calmer then he had before even if he had fallen asleep in the leather jacket Connor had left him.

“You know when Gemma left for University I slept in her bed for a whole week” Harry mumbled as he took another bite of his sandwich. You nodded your head while bitting your bottom lip softly.

“You think he’ll be ok?” you whispered back as the two of you stared at the sleeping boy from the door.

“I think he’ll be fine (Y/n), I mean, I was. Come on leave him be, I want to cuddle you in bed for a bit, maybe even eat you for dessert” he announced as he placed a kiss on your cheek playfully and walked towards your bedroom.

You rolled your eyes at your husband and walked into Connor’s room to pull down the blinds and turn off the lamp. You placed a quick kiss on Grayson’s head before leaving the room and carefully closing the door behind you. Tomorrow was going to be a tough day for everyone but you knew that in the end, everything would be ok. The Styles family wasn’t going to break this easily, you were sure of it.

@thereal(y/n): Can’t believe our oldest baby is off to college!! Wish we could have kept you this small forever!

________________________________________________________________

Thank you too @applepiejamz for send this request in!! If you guys have any requests feel free to send them in as well!!!! My masterlist is in my bio if you want to check out any of my other writing!!

#harry styles blurb #harry styles preferences #harry styles imagine #harry styles #harry styles stories #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #harry styles x y/n #harry styles x reader #harry styles x you #dad!#dad!harry #harry styles fluff #harry #harry styles masterlist #harry fluff #harry family #harry styles one shot

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luci-in-trenchcoats · 7 years ago

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Dad’s Worst Nightmare (Part 2)

Summary: The reader is forced to deal with the aftermath of the party at school where things start to escalate...

Masterlist

Pairing: Jensen x daughter!reader

Word Count: 6,200ish

Warnings: language, bullying

You would never have called yourself a popular kid at school. You were friends with the in-crowd, the ones that were jocks and that showed off how wealthy their parents were. But you were friends with the kids other people wouldn’t be caught dead talking to too. The kids that liked working on cars or playing video games or actually enjoyed learning. The one nice thing about private school was pretty much everyone had money so there wasn’t much of a reason to be bullied over that. But it still happened and you were starting to suspect you were headed down that path.

You shrugged it off when Sara wouldn’t talk to you in homeroom on Monday morning after your long weekend. You weren’t in the mood to talk to her anyways. But when your chem lab partner didn’t say a word to you, when you were picked last in gym for soccer of all things, when you had to sit alone at lunch for the first time ever, you realized school was never going to be the same for you.

“Thanks for the grounding, Ackles,” said a guy on your way to math, shoving you in the hall, a few other people snickering. “I can’t believe you called your dad. Always knew you were a little prude.”

“Shut up, Eric,” you said, trying to walk past him, an arm reaching out in front of you.

“My dad took away my car. Thanks for that,” said Ricky, your eyes going to the ground.

“You guys are supposed to be my friends,” you said, scrunching up your face. Ricky knocked your notebook out of your hands, scowling at you.

“I wasn’t even doing anything at that stupid party and I got grounded for a month,” said Ricky. “I bet you didn’t even get in trouble, asshole.”

“Leave me alone,” you said, grabbing your notebook and hurrying past them.

Your dad flew back to Vancouver on Monday night, both of you disappointed that your front door security camera was too far away to make out anything Officer Barnes had said to you. The lawyer said they couldn’t do much unless you changed your statement again and tried to charge the officer but it wasn’t advised unless another incident occurred. The officer was a lifetime cop and if he wanted to make your lives hell, he absolutely could. Your dad said you weren’t giving up on getting some justice but he wanted you to lay low for now.

Your mom watched you like a hawk, even if she tried to not make it obvious, thankfully making excuses for you that you were busy with homework every night that week when your dad tried to talk to you.

But by the end of two weeks, you had zero friends left at school. It was like you had the plague or something. You tried to put on a brave face but only made it halfway through gym on Friday when everything reached its tipping point.

A dodgeball flew hard and fast at you, hitting you in the stomach that made you double over. You wouldn’t have been offended if the whistle hadn’t blown ten seconds ago. You heard the teacher shout angrily as you got to your feet, waving him off that you were alright. You managed to slump into the locker room to change, ignoring the whispers from the other girls about the names they were calling you.

Until you channelled your inner Dean Winchester that was.

“You know what?” you said, slamming your locker shut. “I hope to fucking hell none of you ever have to call your dad because you got drugged at a party and all your supposed friends are too drunk and worried about getting in trouble to give a fuck. I’m sorry all your parents got pissed or took away your phones or allowance or your cars or whatever the fuck is so damn important to you. It was not my fault though. It was the asshole who did that to me so you want to be pissed at someone, take it out on him, not me.”

You forced your way through the rest of the day, getting to your locker after your last class to find your teacher standing by it.

“Ms. Ackles,” said your english teacher. “After you get your things, please come to the principal’s office. Your parents are waiting for you there.”

You thought you’d been doing a pretty decent job of hiding what was happening but the looks on their faces when you got down there said that was farther than the truth.

“This is a strange meeting,” said the principal, walking around to sit on the front of his desk. “Y/N’s attended this school all her life. She’s been an exceptional student, one of our brightest.”

“Is this about why our daughter comes home looking like she just spent eight hours in hell everyday?” asked your mom, your gaze going to the principal and then the floor.

“The school is aware of the party incident that took place a few weeks ago. There have been several assemblies on it already. But a few staff members have noticed...potentially physical altercations between Y/N and other students. Nothing that is what I would call a fight but-”

“But you’re concerned for her safety,” said your dad. You looked down at the ground, biting your bottom lip.

“She’s not interacting in class unless called upon anymore. There is no other interaction with students unless it is forced. Y/N appears on edge often,” said the principal. “The school board feels it may be in Y/N’s best interest to seek alternate options for her final year of school.”

“So you’re telling her it’s okay to be bullied and not stand up for herself?” asked your mom.

“On the contrary, your daughter has stood up for herself, time and time again these past two weeks. But things are escalating to a point where standing up to bullies is no longer the solution. An anonymous student came forward saying it wasn’t safe for Y/N. They wouldn’t give details but mentioned something about a younger brother of a Johnny that attends school here,” he said.

“He has a younger brother,” you said, closing your eyes.

“We’re pulling her out,” said your dad. “I don’t want her anywhere near anyone in that family.”

“Can we just go home?” you asked, your mom nodding.

“What about Hilltop?” asked your mom, you dad closing his eyes. “It’s got great referrals.”

“Hilltop had those stuck up teachers, remember?” asked your dad.

“Well we have to figure out a school for her to go to,” said your mom. You sat on the couch, listening to them talk in the kitchen, your eyes peeking over the back occasionally to watch them.

“Why didn’t you talk to us? To me? I thought we had a deal,” said your dad when he caught you staring. “I let it slide because you seemed busy with your schoolwork but-”

“I don’t care that I don’t have friends anymore,” you said quietly. “I was going to school with this guy’s brother and who knows what he was going to do to me. Their dad arrested you and threatened to have a whole bunch of guys-”

“Watch it,” said your mom, holding up a finger, your dad looking away.

“Can I just get my GED?” you asked, your parents sighing.

“No,” said your dad. “You’re getting a diploma one way or the other. You’re going to school again too.”

“A public school?” you asked.

“Your dad and I talked about a few options when you were playing with the twins after we brought you home,” said your mom. She looked at your dad, a flicker of worry in her eyes. “You could be...homeschooled. You were taking almost all college classes this year anyways. You don’t need a full eight hours of school everyday to finish your diploma.”

“And if you were homeschooled...you could spend part of that time with me. In Canada,” said your dad. You looked back and forth between them, your mom looking away. “Your mom is scared about...we’re both scared to let you stay home alone anymore. This family that tried to hurt you...it doesn’t sound like they’re done with us yet and I know that’s scary but you need to hear it so you’re prepared. Homeschool is just one of the options and we don’t have to pick it. This is your choice.”

“Can I think about it?” you asked. They both nodded. “Can I go up to my room now?”

They nodded and you headed up the stairs, pausing once you were around the corner, nearly a minute going by before you heard a large sigh.

“Fucking hell, De,” said your dad, sounding so broken. “What’s wrong with these people? Now there’s another kid that wants to hurt her? I’m scared to let her out of my sight and now I know I can’t protect her.”

“You can. We both can,” she said.

“What if that cop shows up here again?” he said. “He just...I’m useless. Our daughter is the one saving my ass. We’re so fucking scared we want her to change her whole life over this fucking thing. What if he arrested her next time? What if he would actually help his kid and-”

“Stop talking,” said your mom, your dad going quiet. “I think she’s putting on a brave face for us but I don’t think she cares about going back to school, not after everything that happened to her. I wish we knew who the student was that warned the school. She’s got one friend left out there at least.”

“Hiding her away in another country isn’t going to solve this,” said your dad.

“No it won’t. But it’ll give the lawyer time to dig into the family and see if there’s been anything else like this before. For now we keep going as normal as we can for her and when we can, I give those little shits a piece of my mind,” she said.

“I don’t want you anywhere near them either,” he said. “We’ll kick ass when we have to. Right now let’s try to keep this together.”

“...it’s been so long since it wasn’t us girls together,” she said after a moment. “I’ve been with her the past 11 years.”

“She probably won’t even want to be homeschooled,” said your dad.

“We both saw her face. She’s made up her mind already. She’s just giving us time to make us think she’s considering all her options. But I think she’s spent the past two weeks going over all this in her head on her own,” she said.

“If I hadn’t made a scene-“

“Hey. I’m glad you did and so is Y/N,” she said. It got quiet, a few sighs coming from downstairs and you went up to your room, JJ wandering in a minute later.

“Hey, JJ,” you said, your sister crawling up on your bed, giving you a hug. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re sad,” she said. You pulled her into your lap, giving her a big one back.

“Yeah but I’ll be okay. Let’s go play in the backyard with the twins and have some fun, how’s that sound?”

“You’ve been quiet tonight,” said your dad, poking your shoulder as you stabbed at your bowl of ice cream a few hours later. “You played with the kids all evening.”

“I won’t get to play with them as much now,” you said, pushing the bowl away. Your dad hummed and took it for himself, taking a big scoop and making sure to get it all over his face. “Dad, don’t be goofy. I’m not in the mood.”

“Alright,” he said, grabbing a napkin to wipe himself off. “You want to talk about the conversation you overheard?”

“I didn’t-”

“Kiddo,” he said, crossing his arms.

“I want to be homeschooled...at least for now. I can still do stuff outside of school, you know?” you said. He nodded, leaning back against the counter.

“Where do you want to live?” he asked.

“I’ve never had a choice before,” you said.

“Part of being a grown up. No one makes you do anything. It’s always your choice what you do,” he said.

“How would it work though if you only have to work like three days in a week. Do I have to stay in Canada by myself?” you asked.

“No, honey. We can get you a teacher here and a teacher up there. You only needed English and Government and you’re a whiz at both. You only need to do school a few hours a day,” he said. “Mom’s been researching all night.”

“What am I supposed to do the rest of the time? I still need credits for a diploma,” you said.

“How would you feel about working? Kids that work get credit,” he said.

“If I’m in Canada, how am I supposed to...” you said, a smile creeping on his face.

“How opposed are you to working on a film set?”

Three Days Later

You’d traveled to Vancouver often growing up. You lived there with your dad when you very little, until he and your mom got serious and you started to stay in the states with her, allowing you to stay at the same school growing up. You had a bedroom in his apartment for weekend trips but it was more of a way station than anything else.

The twins didn’t understand that you wouldn’t be coming home that night so they were pretty calm when you left the house with your dad that morning. JJ was convinced you didn’t love her anymore but after a long hug she started to relax. Your mom was all smiles but you knew she hated that the three of you had come to the conclusion that at least in the short term, getting away was for the best.

“S’been a long time since it was just us,” said your dad as you walked through the Vancouver airport, a big gust of wind outside making you wrap your jacket around yourself. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Not used to the cool air,” you said. Your dad got a car to drive you back to his apartment building, the doorman saying hello to you but your dad stopping and making sure he knew you were a permanent resident now. You had a backpack and duffel, your dad saying the two of you could go buy anything else you needed later on.

It wasn’t until you were dumping your bags in your new room that it really hit you.

“I should have stayed,” you said, storming out to the kitchen where he was getting a drink of water. “I want to go home. I’m not letting some asshole scare me away.”

“Language, Y/N Ackles,” he said. You rolled your eyes, your dad cocking his head. “Do you need a timeout like your sister got this morning?”

“Running away is wrong,” you said.

“I’m sorry but this is what you agreed to with your mom and me. We can’t know that you’re safe and until the police and the lawyer figure out if Johnny’s family is going to pull something again, you’re staying with me. End of discussion. Sometimes that might be here, sometimes in Austin, sometimes at a convention. It-”

“You’re saying I can’t have a life now? I have to be with you all the time?” you asked.

“No, I’m saying...just stick with me for a few weeks until you start to make some friends up here, okay? I know hanging out with your father is awful but please just do this for me,” he said.

“You’re afraid,” you said, narrowing your eyes. “You would not be this afraid of some college guy. You’re not telling me something.”

“I don’t have to tell you everything,” he said. You raised an eyebrow, scoffing at him.

“This is my life that has turned upside down in the past month thank you very much. I deserve to know what’s going on,” you said.

“No,” he said, his jaw clenching. “Drop it. Understand that this is the safest thing for you and me right now, got it?”

“Tell me or I will get on a flight back to Austin tonight,” you said. He pursed his lips and squeezed the edge of the counter top so hard his knuckles turned white.

“There is a younger brother, Jimmy. He’s your age. He goes to your old school,” said your dad, loosening his grip. “The anonymous student overheard Jimmy on the phone with someone in the boys locker room, presumably Johnny. They were talking about you. It’s being looked into. Considering who their father is and what’s already happened when he came to the house, your mother and I decided getting you away was the best option.”

“What was said?” you asked.

“Never ask me that again,” he said, voice much harsher than you were expecting. You swallowed, giving him a nod and looking away. “The lawyer will find something but-”

“Lay low up here with you,” you said. “I got it. I’ll uh, be less of an ass about it.”

“Good. Now, unpack your clothes and we’ll go shopping and then we can make up dinner. You have your very first day of work tomorrow,” he said with a smile.

“Oh boy. I can’t wait.”

“How was school?” asked your dad at ten the next day, jogging into his trailer.

“Mr. Riley just left. He’s cool. Super cute,” you said with a smirk, your dad pouting. “It was okay, really. It’s a little weird being taught one on one but I’ll get used to it.”

“I’m glad it went well. Does school in my trailer work or would you rather do it someplace else?” he asked.

“This is fine. You can kick us out anytime though. This is your space,” you said. He shrugged, opening a closet door and going into the back bedroom, opening the door after a minute in jeans, a black tee shirt and a flannel, a piece of paper tucked in his back pocket.

“Come on, slacker. Time for your first day,” he said, waving you after him.

“Uh, you still haven’t explained what I’m doing,” you said, following him outside and across a parking lot, over to a trailer for hair and makeup. Your dad motioned for you to sit in the empty seat, someone playing with his hair for a moment before he was spun around and your saw concealer start to be applied to his face. You giggled, your dad holding up a hand. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You better not. This is nothing compared to what I used to have to get back in the day,” he said, someone patting his shoulder after a moment. “Now onto breakfast.”

“We get breakfast?” you asked. “Awesome.”

“I’m glad you think so because it’s pretty much where your breakfast and lunch are coming from for awhile,” he said, walking with you to the food tent. You were waiting in line when someone picked you up, a squeal escaping you as your dad laughed.

“Well if it isn’t my cutest niece in the world,” said your Uncle Jared, setting you down. You rolled your eyes as you looked up at him, giving him a hug. “Did you grow?”

“Uncle Jare. Don’t be a loser,” you said.

“I got it from your dad,” he said, a grin across your face.

“Good to know that’ll still be happening,” said your dad, grabbing a plate. “Eat up kiddo. It’s gonna be a long day.”

“Uncle Jared,” you said, walking with him over towards the studio. “Do you know what I’m supposed to be doing? My dad refuses to tell me and I don’t want to get in trouble.”

“You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to actually,” he said with a smirk. “You’re making sure I get to the studio for my blocking on time.”

“Your what?” you asked.

“It’s where we kind of stand around in different spots for a scene so they can figure out where to move the camera ahead of time. It gives us a chance to rehearse too,” he said.

“Am I one of those PA’s he’s mentioned before?” you asked.

“Gotta start from the bottom kid,” he said. “On the plus side though, if you end up being your dad’s PA, you get to boss him around for the day.”

“Don’t get my hopes up Uncle Jared,” you said. “I’ll settle for you.”

After about four hours of getting a crash course orientation and your own radio and headset, you felt like maybe you were starting to get the hang of things. Basically whatever odd or end needed done, you went off to try and help with. The first few days of work were long, your dad teasing you that a six hour day was nothing around there and you were lucky you weren’t 18 yet and having to work full shifts like him.

Friday night you were stuck at the studio, a scene between your dad and the guy playing Michael’s new vessel. It’d been fun earlier in the week but you already decided you weren’t a fan of working at midnight.

“Let’s move on to scene 14,” said the director, smiling when you brought over a cup of coffee to him. “Thank you. You’re Y/N right?”

“Yes sir,” you said. “Do you need anything?”

“No, no. It’s a little easy to spot Ackles’ daughter. She’s the bright eyed one on a Friday night after all,” he said, chuckling a little. “Does your dad let you drink this stuff?”

“A little bit,” you said.

“Word of advice, avoid it at least six hours before bed. Ruins your sleep otherwise,” he said as he chugged the mug down.

“I’ll try to remember that,” you said.

“Do you want to watch on the monitors?” he asked. “Your dad mentioned you’re a bit of a camera buff.”

“I don’t know where he got that from,” you said, scratching the back of your neck.

“This is our A camera and this is B. For this scene, A is on our bad guy and B is on Dean,” he said.

“Is A supposed to be dimmer than B?” you asked.

“Good catch,” he said with a smile. “Yes, for this scene it actually is. You ever get interested in the camera work or director side, talk to your dad. I’m sure he could pull a few strings.”

You nodded, your dad walking in front of one of the screens, laughing at something the guy playing Michael said. You did a double take when he spun around, fake blood all over his face and arms. He hopped up on top of a metal table and the props department walked over, handing Michael a fake blade and tying your dad’s arms down.

You bit your bottom lip, focusing on the smile on his face as he spoke to someone, remembering that this was all pretend and never once had watching his show bothered you.

After a minute they called action and Michael started the scene, Dean saying something witty back, prompting him to drag his fake blade across his cheek. You winced and turned away, getting out of your seat when he started to yell.

“Hey,” you heard half an hour later. You glanced up from where you were sat outside the studio door, your dad frowning at you. “What’s wrong?”

“I watched...I got scared. I thought of Johnny’s dad and...” you said, shrugging as he took a seat next to you. “I know I’m supposed to stay inside in case anyone needs anything but I couldn’t be in there for that.”

“I should have asked you not to stay for that scene. It was a hard one,” he said. You turned your head, his eyes tired and puffy.

“Dean could use a hug,” you said, your dad laughing.

“Yeah he could. I’ll settle for one and pass it along to him though,” he said. You rested your head on his shoulder, giving him a hug. “Thanks. I needed one of those.”

“You look tired,” you said. “Can you go home yet?”

“Mhm. Let’s get going.”

“Dad, are you okay? You’re like super quiet,” you said after Cliff had dropped you off at home that night.

“Yeah,” he said. “You should get to bed. It’s almost one, honey.”

“Okay. Let me know if you need anything,” you said, your dad humming as you went to bed.

You woke up thirsty a few hours later, noticing the light was still on in his room. You poked your head in, your dad sat in bed with his computer and a shoebox.

“Dad?” you mumbled. “It’s three in the morning. What are you doing?”

“Nothing, honey,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Liar,” you yawned. “Have you slept yet?”

“No,” he said, giving you a smile. “Sometimes hard scenes make me very tired but put me on edge too. It’s normally why I like to do them first thing in the day, not the last scene.”

“What are you doing?” you asked.

“Answering email. Looking at pictures of the kids,” he said.

“What’s in the box?” you asked, your dad patting the other side of this bed. You walked over and climbed up on it, the lid off of it as you smiled at what was inside.

“I didn’t have a cellphone when you were a kid. I took these with disposable cameras,” he said, pulling out the photos, handing some to you. “This was my very first day of Supernatural and you thought I should go to work with all these ribbons in my hair. Remember?”

“Pink is your color,” you teased, looking through the stack before handing it back to him. “There’s one’s from the hospital in there I’ve never seen before.”

“You were a big baby. Full head of hair when you came out,” he said, moving the box and his computer aside.

“Were you happy when I was born?” you asked. He tilted his head, frowning.

“Of course I was. Happiest day of my life aside from the other guys being born,” he said.

“But you knew she didn’t want me and you’d have to do it all by yourself,” you said.

“I wanted you, honey, and that’s all that mattered. It was never easy but I had help from our family and friends. Why are you asking that?” he asked.

“You’re scared, like all the time now, and it’s because of me. If I was never born or you gave me up-”

“Y/N,” he said, voice harsh. “I know things have been strange but it is not your job to take care of me. Understand?”

“No,” you said.

“No? That’s-”

“I remember having this fight when I was seven. You had a really bad day at work and you told me that and I said that’s not fair because you didn’t have anyone to take care of you and I didn’t care if you were a grownup because you’re my dad and you don’t get to love me more than I love you because-”

“Because I love you just as much,” he said, staring at his lap. “Always had to be a little insightful thing, didn’t you?”

“Will you tell me the truth? Please?” you asked.

“Honestly...that scene was hard. Harder than it’s been in a long time. My head was somewhere else. You’re old enough to realize that dad isn’t superman anymore. I’m only one man and I can’t protect you from everything. Doing a scene like that made me think of the day Officer Barnes was at the house and how I wouldn’t have been able to protect you. I saw you outside tonight and realized seeing me like that scared you and it made me feel worse. Normally this is something I would talk to your mom or Uncle Jared about or I would go for a run and get it out of my head. But I just didn’t think I needed it tonight and I didn’t want to talk to you because you should not be sitting in here helping me feel better at three in the morning,” he said.

“No offense but that’s stupid, dad. What’s Uncle Jared always telling us?” you said.

“It’s okay to get help,” he said.

“You can talk to me about stuff, if you want,” you said. He smiled, ruffling your head.

“I might take you up on that sometime. But for now, you need to get to bed. We have a flight at seven am to get back home,” he said.

“You sure you’re okay?” you asked.

“I’m fine, honey. Get some rest.”

“Y/N!” you heard your sisters squeal as you came in the front door when you got back to Austin around lunchtime. You bent down to give them a hug, Zeppelin jumping on your back and wrapping his arms around you.

“Sissy!” he said, your mom laughing as your siblings piled on top of you.

“Now you know what it’s like,” teased your dad, getting his own round of hugs from the kids, your mom squeezing you tight. “She was only gone four days, De.”

“I missed my girl,” she said, spinning you around.

“Mom,” you groaned. She released you and JJ immediately grabbed your hand to go play, your mom waving you off that you could talk later.

“How’s working with your dad?” asked your mom that night. “Total diva, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” you said with a smile, earning a noogie as he walked past. “It’s fun. So different than school.”

“Mhm,” she said, looking over your shoulder as your dad squeezed your shoulders. “Can I talk to your dad alone for a minute, honey?”

You nodded and let them be, halfway done the hall when you heard a loud swear behind you.

“Y/N!” he shouted. “Kitchen! Now!”

You carefully made your way back in, your mom pouting as she rested her head in her hand.

“You’re not to go anywhere in Austin without an adult,” he said.

“But that’s not-“

“It’s not fair but it’s how things are. In Vancouver you don’t have to but when you’re here…” he said. “Hey. Do not make that face at me and do not ask why. Understand?”

“May I go to my room?” you asked dryly. He nodded and you headed upstairs.

“Y/N can we get ice cream?” asked JJ the next day. “From Perry’s?”

“I need to drive the car to take us there and dad says I can’t anymore,” you said, flipping through a magazine. JJ sighed and grabbed your hand, pulling you to your feet. “Sorry, kiddo.”

“But you’re big and you used to take me,” she said. “Please?”

You pursed your lips, looking at your phone. Your parents and the twins were at a swim class and they definitely wouldn’t be back for at least an hour. Perry’s was only a five minute drive and you’d be back before they ever knew.

“Please?” she asked again, putting on puppy dog eyes.

“Okay but we do not tell mom and dad and you don’t fill up on ice cream before dinner, got it?” you said.

“Uh huh,” she said, hopping up and down. You grabbed your wallet and phone, shoving them in your pocket before you went to the mud room, grabbing the spare key to the SUV. JJ followed you out, buckling herself into her car seat, surprisingly not making a fuss when you double checked it.

“Okay, kiddo,” you said, backing out to the driveway. “Let’s go get some ice cream.”

JJ ordered for herself and didn’t make a mess, stealing a bite of your ice cream sandwich when she finished up with her own. She seemed content with the mini snack, back in the car after only fifteen minutes.

You were in your neighborhood, a few turns from your street when you heard a siren behind you and lights go off.

“Y/N,” said JJ.

“I think we’re busted, JJ,” you said, pulling over and getting your wallet out. You reached over and dug through the glove compartment for the registration, sitting back in your seat as an officer walked to the passenger side.

“License and registration,” said the officer. You leaned over and paused, the officer taking off his sunglasses. “License and registration.”

You handed the items to the officer, sitting back and watching him carefully.

“Ms. Ackles,” he said.

“Officer Barnes,” you said, taking a deep breath.

“This vehicle is registered to your father,” he said.

“That’s correct. I’m a driver on his insurance though,” you said.

“Let’s check that,” he said. He walked away with the paperwork, JJ kicking in the backseat.

“Were you driving too fast?” she asked.

“No. I wasn’t doing anything,” you said. “Just be quiet and good back there for me, please.”

The officer returned after a minute, handing the registration back.

“You are on the insurance,” he said.

“Okay,” you said, eyeing him carefully.

“But you are driving unlawfully with a minor in the vehicle,” he said, you raised an eyebrow, looking back at JJ.

“She’s all buckled-“

“You have a junior license,” he said.

“Yes. I’m allowed to drive until nine and I am allowed to have minors in the car,” you said.

“You are not driving with a junior license today. You provided me a learners permit. You are not to be driving without a license at all without an adult in the vehicle, let alone with a child in the car,” he said.

“I gave you my license though,” you said. He flipped your wallet around, your old permit that was shoved behind your license in the front pouch. “But-“

“Do not talk back to an officer,” he said, you jaw snapping shut. “Kids today. Do you realize how dangerous it is for a young driver to be escorting a small child around when they are not following proper road rules?”

“I would never-“

“That is strike two, missy,” he said.

“Excuse me,” you heard through the car window, your head whipping around, spotting your Uncle Jared walking around the hood of the car in his workout clothes. “What’s going on here?”

“Who are you?” asked Barnes.

“Her uncle and a concerned neighbor,” he said, wiping the sweat off his face. You could only thank God he’d been out on a run and saw you.

“This young woman violated road rules. Now leave,” said Barnes.

“What rules?” he asked. “I have a buddy in the sheriff's office. I’m sure he’d love to be the one to straighten her out if she needs it.”

“Driving without a license,” said Officer Barnes.

“You mean the license on the ground you’re trying to stand on?” asked your Uncle Jared. The officer glared at him but bent down and picked it up, tossing it along with you wallet in the car.

“It seems we had a misunderstanding. You’re free to go,” he said, getting back in his car and tearing out of there.

“Y/N,” said your Uncle, picking up your wallet as you shakily took it. “Get in the passenger seat. I’m driving you guys home.”

A/N: Read Part 3 here!

TAGS CLOSED

#spn #supernatural #rpf #au #jensen x daughter!reader #Jensen Ackles #spn fanfiction #supernatural fanfiction #spn reader insert #daughter!reader #supernatural reader insert

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dammit-stark · 6 years ago

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good ol’ cousin sam

I‘m rewatching Spiderman: Homecoming and I just realized that the P.E teacher’s name is Mr Wilson so now allow me to present to you my theory that this Mr Wilson is the legendary Sam Wilson’s underperforming cousin... this was originally a head canon but I gotta admit this became not-a-headcanon many, many words ago

no pairing - - 2.3k words

While the family favorite Sam joins the Armed Forces to fight for his country, the other Wilson cousin- let’s call him Raymond, Ray to his friends and family- goes to a local community college and receives a degree in physical education.

Sam’s a few years older, has been climbing the ranks in the military for a few years before Ray even gets into college, and he continues to fight while Ray passes math tests and writes essays that get torn up with red pen. Ray graduates middle of his class.

The whole family comes to the graduation, except for Sam who’s stuck overseas. Sam sends a real nice congratulatory card anyway and Ray tacks it up on his dresser right next to the card from their Nana who passed and above the picture of the whole family ten years prior.

Too soon, cousin Sam gets discharged from the military with full honor for some unfortunate freak accident that leaves him injured and itching to fly. Almost all the details surrounding the accident are classified, leaving all their nieces and nephews guessing after supernatural means or clandestine alien attacks. Their imaginative guesses leave Sam trying not to break out into hysterical laughter and Ray rolling his eyes over and over again. Sam missed being home. Ray just likes that the whole family is back together again, complete and whole and good for the soul.

Ray starts coming back home on the weekends for a few weeks to make sure his cousin is doing alright.

At Auntie Glinda’s, they watch football and eat Uncle Greg's homemade chili as if they were teenagers again. It’s like any other weekend for Ray. It feels weird for Sam, who hates having his feet on the ground and his hands in his lap, but there’s nothing anybody can do about it. He puts on a smiling face, does his best to slip back into the family, but it’s all a little too forlorn to fit right, like the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle had a rip in it and the picture is just barely incomplete.

Sam refuses to watch Top Gun when little Billy so sweetly asks. He helps Auntie Glinda with dinner, but makes himself scarce otherwise. Ray notices, but doesnt know what to make of it.

After a few weeks, Ray stops coming by in all his free time, spends some time at his apartment, gets a cat named Hammy, joins a gym. Sam doesn’t need him. In fact, Sam up and leaves for DC, as independent and ready to move as ever. Before he leaves, he tells Ray that if he was gonna be grounded, he couldn’t imagine not at least trying to help others, whatever that means. Ray just smiles and nods and tries to imagine himself outside of New York. He just can’t see it.

Again, they part ways; things are good.

Then, around the same time that Ray gets his first job at a public school in the center of Queens, Sam meets Steve Rogers.

It’s not the best job in the world, a lot of the kids mouth off and tend to complain when they play anything that isn’t dodgeball, but it’s a job and it pays the bills. On Fridays, Ray orders himself a pizza from the Domino’s down the street and he gets take-out from the Thai place by the school every Wednesday. He’s not saving children in a third world country somewhere like his cousin always did, but he’s happy enough and that’s all that matters.

Out of the blue one day, Ray gets a job offer for a teaching position at a private school for gifted teenagers. He doesn’t remember ever applying for the position, but it comes with a pretty hefty pay raise and an office that doesn’t smell suspiciously like a festering rat problem, so he accepts the offer.

Completely coincidentally, his promotion coincides with the rise of Queens’ Amazing Spiderman on the public’s (and the Avengers’) media radar. Ray had watched in awe as the news revealed the first footage of their local vigilante. Another superhero? A lot of people complain, but Ray doesn’t mind. He never really had a problem with spiders anyway. Birds had always irked him, something about the freakish wingspan and their frail yet powerful little bodies, but spiders were always fine. He spends the night after learning the moniker of Queens’ new hero holed up in his bedroom under the covers watching Spider-Man compilations on his laptop. Late at night, when his brain slows down and he sees that red suit when he closes his eyes, Ray finds himself imagining Sam’s face beneath that mask.

Cousin Sam just so happens to move back to New York around the same time, too. Another complete coincidence. He starts coming around and visiting about once a week or so. Thai night turns into burger night with frequent guest appearances by Sam, food courtesy of the family diner down the street. The nice family have his and Sam’s order down pat within a month.

Once everything settles and Ray gets used to the promotion, he decides the job’s actually pretty nice. The kids are generally less athletic and less enthusiastic than at his old school, most too busy with their nose stuck in a book or worrying over the state of their manicure to go after the dodgeball, but they’re attentive and for the most part are too afraid of failing his class to dare sassing him too much. Once a week he has to supervise a detention, but considering that it’s a school full of suck-up geniuses, detention is usually pretty barren. At the very least his college debt is nearly paid off. That’s cool.

The same day that one of his students, Pete, stumbles into class with a black eye and a wicked limp for probably the third time, Tony Stark shows up at school.

The rumors about his presence flutter incessantly in the Teacher’s Lounge like the words themself has sprouted wings and were determined to bother each and every person in the room. The science teachers sound like they‘re about to pass out from excitement. Raymond himself doesn’t really get what the big deal is- Tony Stark is just another person. Sure, he had a big shiny suit and he fought crime or whatever, but his cousin Sam fought for the people of the country, too, but you don’t see people wigging out over Sam’s sheer presence.

Ray really just wants to eat his lunch, that’s it. He had picked up a chicken salad sandwich from the bodega under his apartment before heading to work that morning and Nancy made the best chicken salad. A quiet lunch unfettered by gossip. That day, Ray learns that history teachers are surprisingly interested in gossip considering their coursework was based on 200 year old facts.

The last thing Ray expects when he gets back to his not-rat-infested office after lunch is for Tony Stark to be waiting for him. It’s quite a turn of events.

“You’re Tony Stark,” Ray says dumbly from the doorway of his own office. He’d just spent half his lunch being forced into a one-sided conversation about the recent advancements of StarkTech upstate, something about unprecedented, unimagined technology that the market itself isn’t ready for. One man did that alone, tinkered in his office at two am and all but broke the stock market with the sheer power of his brain. This man is standing in Ray’s office. It’s weird.

Inside, Tony Stark is leaning back in Ray’s creaky office chair, his feet propped up on the desk next to a precariously tall stack of physicals that Ray hadn’t taken the time to peruse through.

Tony Stark peers over his orange tinted sunglasses to reveal a devilish black eye that he seems entirely unperturbed by. He lets his feet fall to the ground with a thud and his face is entirely serious, “Coach Wilson, right?” He says, “Come on in. Take a seat. I won’t bite.”

Ray inches forward, eyes narrowed. There’s a billionaire in his office, beckoning him in, and he doesn’t know why. This wasn’t something that happened to him every day.

As Ray sits, Tony rises from the office chair to peruse the degrees hanging on the wall. Ray remembers one of the science teachers gushing about how Tony Stark went to MIT or some super fancy college with an acronym or something. Tony flicks the bobblehead on the shelf beneath the frames and Wilson can’t look away.

Neither of them says anything. Tony watches the oversized head bobble on the bookshelf as Ray watches the mysterious billionaire. The quiet aches.

“That chair has awful lumbar support by the way,” The billionaire says suddenly, picking up an old baseball cap and sniffing it carefully. His hands are always moving. Ray sits back in the chair himself, but doesn’t say anything about it. The furniture creaks.

“Mr Stark,” Ray says eventually, “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Actually,” Stark says, turning around, his face serious for the first time since he’d stepped into the office, “I believe there’s something I can do for you.”

Ray realizes then that Stark’s suit is wrinkled, a possible stain forgotten at the hem of the graphic tee shirt. Every description ever given about Tony Stark has provided an image of pristine carelessness, of confidence and ease. Tony Stark’s hands can’t seem to stop twitching. It’s kind of unsettling.

“Have you watched the news lately?” Stark asks.

“I’m more of an ESPN guy myself.”

Tony hums thoughtfully, glances over at the wall of community college degrees for a second time.

“From what I’ve gathered, your cousin is Airman First Class Sam Wilson. He visits you every other Wednesday, checks in on you,” Ray skin prickles. Suddenly, Tony looks like steel, “Is this correct?”

Ray just nods.

“An incident occured in Germany. Your cousin was involved.”

Ray had long been told tales of his cousin’s heroics. Sam usually told them with an air of modesty, a dash of pride. Tony doesn’t spare him the expense.

“Was he injured? Is he okay?”

An out-of-place expression of hilarity traverses Tony’s face And he all but laughs, “No, no. Our, um, friend Sam is fine, scrapefree for the most part actually,” His eyes go weird and unfocused for a moment before returning to Ray like a laser gone haywire, “Unfortunately, he was caught on the wrong side of things. For an indefinite period of time, he will be in prison. Mr Wilson, your cousin is a criminal.”

No. Ray’s cousin was no criminal. No way. Sam joined the army, went off and fought somebody else’s battle instead of getting a degree, instead of living a safe life. He has a big heart with this wretched piece of PTSD shoved between its plates of steel. Sure, things got a little twisted after the whole thing with his friend up there in the sky, but he would always be a good man. Sam Wilson was a hero. Not a criminal. Tony Stark was supposed to be smart, not slanderous, and definitely not wrong.

“I think you’re talking about the wrong Sam Wilson.”

Tony’s hands twitch, “No, no, I think I’ve got the right one.”

A silence befalls them.

“I don’t believe you,” Ray accuses. Just because Tony Stark was a billionaire with an ego didn’t mean he could just waltz into somebody else’s office and defame their cousin right to their face, “You’re lying.”

“Tell me,” Stark says, “How is it you think you got this job? All on your own?”

Ray stares.

“Yeah, no,” Tony wipes a finger along a dust covered bookshelf, circles the office again. It’s a pretty small office. He paces over his own footsteps as he continues, “Sorry to break it to you, but you were all part of the plan. Wilson’s plan. But he- he messed up.”

Tony looks hurt. There’s a crack in the facade, a break in the airwaves. Ray’s so used to coaching emotional teenagers through the inevitable products of sleep deprivation and hormones every day, he spots it from a mile away. Tony continues like it’s nothing, a tendril of something else, not pain or betrayal or some drama that’s far beneath his celebrity status. God, Ray’s so tired.

“Where’s Sam? He demands, leaning forward against his desk, “Did you do something to him?”

“Sam Wilson is currently located in the most secure prison in the world. In the middle of the Atlantic. Otherwise undisclosed. Confidential, you have to understand.”

Ray’s eyes are narrowed dangerously on Tony Stark.

“What could he possibly have done?”

Ray isn’t thinking about himself anymore, he doesn’t care if he got his job through improper means or through hard work or through whispers up a chain of command. He just wants to know what happened to his cousin. He wants to know what happened to the good, caring, hard-working man that he had deigned to call family.

“Look,” Tony supplants, hands waving animatedly as his feet finally remain still, “It’s all very complicated. He broke some laws, defied the UN. It’s where he belongs, he put himself there,” Tony only looks distantly sorry, a regret misplaced from another dimension of time maybe, “In the end, he lost his title.”

“What title? I know for a fact that my cousin hasn’t been in service in years.”

Tony just stares, eyes narrowed, “Do you not know?”

Ray remains quiet, and then Tony’s eyes grow. He takes a seat opposite Ray, hands gripping the ledge of the metal desk as he peers into the confusion flashing across Ray’s express, “Oh my god, you don’t know.”

Ray crosses his arms, and Tony has to hand it to him, he’s certainly an indignant man, “I know everything I need to know about my cousin, Mr Stark. You don’t need to come in here and tell me things that don’t need to be said. I’d like it if you left.”

Tony’s grip tightens. He looks… confused, maybe a little out of place, suddenly uncomfortable or maybe doubtful or maybe they’re one in the same, but he makes no move to rise, “How do you not know?” The silence is enough, “Raymond,” He says seriously, “Sam Wilson is- was- an Avenger. He went by the codename Falcon. He had gone on nearly fifty missions with us. He lived in the Tower most weekends. You didn’t know?”

Ray doesn’t believe it.

While he was here, in the middle of dingy ol’ Queens with a bachelor’s degree from an unassuming college and a neatly laid out weekly menu, Sam was off in Manhattan lounging around with billionaires and saving the world over and over again. Then again, maybe it isn’t so out of the question, it’s just… a lot at once.

“Why are you telling me this?” Ray demands. His head is starting to hurt. Who would have thought that megalomaniac superheroes could be worse to deal with than moody, brainiac teenagers being forced to exert themselves physically for a grade?

Tony shrugs, “Why do you think?” He’s nonchalant, at ease, a line of platitudes expressed over his face before he finally says, “We’re really shorthanded with all the dissenters. I wanna offer you a job.”

“Wait- what?”

Tony looks more than a little smug, “Let me tell you about a kid named Spider-Man.”

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percywinchester27 · 7 years ago

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Unconventional Roommates (Part-5)

Word count: 4K

Pairing: Dean X Reader

Warnings: Fluff-ish? ;)

Series Summary: Now that his brother is at Stanford, for the first time in his life, Dean does something for himself. He takes a step towards chasing his own dreams and moves away from Lawrence to start college, which is both thrilling and scary at the same time. Only catch, in this unknown town, he is stuck with the MOST infuriating female on the planet- the roommate from hell!

A/N: Yes they’re talking!! ;) This is also written for @spnfluffbingo

Square filled: Slow burn

Thanks to my Darling @deanssweetheart23 for beta reading this. This wouldn’t have been possible without your love and encouragement. Love you <3

Unconventional Roommates masterlist

"Why do you look like someone died?" Cas' voice was curious, but his expression was borderline pitying when he found Dean on the lone bench in the quadrangle with his head in his hands.

"It's me. I'm about to get butchered in there," Dean sighed.

"C'mon, it can't be that bad."

Dean looked up to meet Cas' eyes. "You know exactly how bad it is."

It was Friday. In an hour and a half Zachariah's class would begin and Dean would be thrown out again if not failing for the whole semester. He had just one set of drawings done along with the assignment written one and a half times. That asshat of a professor was going to bury him alive. But Dean knew he couldn't have done any better. With all of his college work drowned, he had other subjects to take care of, too, and yet, he had put in every free second into this stupid redo.

So much for wanting to be in college.

Cas nodded sympathetically because he knew of the flooding tragedy that had befallen Dean, but then he smiled, placing a hand on Dean's shoulder. "Well, my dear friend, I have some good news for you."

Dean doubted it but he still tried to put on an interested face while internally trying not to drown in doom.

"Zach's class is cancelled today."

"You're kidding!" Could it really be possible? Could such good luck have really befallen him?

"Yep," Cas smiled. "I was just at the office and the assistant was talking over the phone trying to reschedule Zach's lecture to Wednesday. Apparently he has the flu."

"You're me telling the truth, right?" Dean asked, barely believing his ears.

"Hundred percent," Cas grinned.

Dean got up, smiling for the first time in the past couple days. "You're a frigging angel or something."

"Barely," he said. "You deserve a break, man. It's been coming at you from all sides, all the time. How about you join us tonight? There's a party at the beach and you can tag along with me, Meg and the other guys."

Beach sounded tempting, but given the chance, he would rather stretch his legs and complete the backlog at a more comfortable pace than the desperate speed he'd been working at.

"I'd love to come, but I think my sanity would thank me for a full night's sleep now that I have the option."

"Well you have to go there two weeks later anyways to click pictures for the paper, it would be nice to get to know the area."

This was going to be his first assignment for the magazine. "What're the pictures going to be about?"

Cas' face brightened up. "Oh, there's going to be the fall fair there. Ferris wheels, games and all that stuff. We cover it every year for the paper."

Again, Dean was tempted to say yes, but he knew better.

"Thanks Cas, really, but I think I'll just have a quiet evening. I could use some quiet about now."

"Alright. Let me know if you change your mind."

Dean watched Cas walk towards his class, thinking about how people seemed to actually have a life here, while he was stuck trying to grasp the pieces to keep it all together. At least, there was one person whose life seemed to be as boring as Dean's. He hadn't seen her since the broken tap debacle. God knows what she did in the day, but, by the time he got back home, her bedroom was always locked.

He'd spent most of those nights in the living room, drafting the sheets on the small table in front of the TV. It was large enough to mount an A0 sheet. More times than necessary, his eyes had flitted towards the red door, even though he knew there was no one behind it. Dean had tried his best to forget the look of absolute panic on Y/N's face when he'd asked to enter her room and he found himself wondering what could possibly be in there. Years and years of filthy clothes? Maybe that was it, maybe she hadn't cleaned the place in a while and was embarrassed by it.

Then there was also the question of what she did. About that, Dean had some idea though. Only the night before, when he'd left the work table alone to make himself some coffee at 3 in the morning, he found math books had been laid out on the counter in front of the coffee machine. They were all worn out and from what Dean could guess very advanced math. She'd probably put them out to dry after the water in her room. So, she was a university student too, either she took night classes or it was correspondence.

That gave Dean some perspective about her life. She attended the night classes and took up a job immediately after. Maybe a call centre? But that seemed unlikely given how uninterested she was in any sort of conversation. He'd laughed out loud to himself even picturing her speaking to anyone politely. What an impossible idea. But no matter what, Dean could see she was taking so many efforts to learn. He could respect that. For all he knew, she worked a day job, too. He was just never around to ascertain it.

Dean spent the rest of his day trying to figure out how to finish his work. It seemed impossible in every way, but he was sure going to try. When the last lecture for the day ended, he quickly picked up his bag, flung the leather jacket over his shoulder and got out of his seat, only to be obstructed by Meg.

"Where you heading, pretty boy?"

"Home. You guys have fun at the beach."

Her brows furrowed. "You're not coming?"

Before Dean could reply, another guy from behind her spoke up. "Oh, he needs to figure his shit out first. Trying to ace the class and all."

Nick, Dean remembered. His name was Nick and he was the asshole who always snickered in the back of the class when Zachariah gave him a hard time.

"He's better at this than all of us put together," Meg shot him down, but Nick only smirked and sidestepped Dean to walk out of class.

Dean couldn't care less. He did thank Meg for extending the invitation though. She'd been very supportive of him in the class and otherwise. He knew that he could trust her and Cas without question, and that was something.

Dean didn't pay any attention to the door on the opposite side out of habit when he got home. Since the rare opportunity had presented itself to him, he just walked into his room, pushed the jacket and the bag in a chair, stripped down to his boxers and threw himself on the bed face first.

Sleep. He needed some sleep to function and before he could even complete that thought, Dean was out like a light.

The room was immersed in complete darkness when he woke up, and Dean sat up bolt, his heart pounding, before he remembered that it was Friday evening and he still had 5 days to finish the stupid assignment from hell. He let himself breathe in and out deeply a few times before pushing himself off the bed. On his way out, he grabbed his black T-shirt and pulled it on. He took a minute to splash water on his face before dragging his feet to the kitchen to boil water for instant noodles. That would have to do. Only when he turned around did he notice a small figure huddled in the corner of the sofa scribbling furiously on a small notepad. Black shirt, black tracks and a black beanie. Y/N looked ready for ninja action.

"What're you doing here?" Dean asked, all sleep suddenly gone.

"Uhhh I pay the rent?" She replied. "More than you."

Oh, how he had missed the snark.

"I meant why are you home at this time," he said patiently, going to sit on the sofa opposite to her. "You work nights, don't you?"

"I took this weekend off," she said, without looking up from her little notepad.

"Why?"

She looked up this time, judging whether or not it was worth telling him, then muttered quietly. "I'm visiting my family."

That seemed fair enough, but another thought had stuck Dean- if she had to request an off, that meant she worked weekends, too. That looked like a lot of hard work.

"Does your family live close by?"

"Close enough," she muttered, her tone effectively ending the conversation. Dean left her to it, going back to his noodles. He briefly wondered if he should ask her if she wanted some, then decided he would make for two anyway. If worse came to worst, he'd have to put the rest in the fridge and reheat it the next day.

She looked up again when he put a bowl in front of her.

"Chicken noodle," Dean commented, taking his seat back. "Eat."

And she dead ass picked up the bowl and emptied it in a minute flat. All Dean could do was stare.

"You want me to finish yours, too?" She grinned, clearly smug about his shocked expression, then shook her head a little. "Thanks for the noodles. I was hungry."

"Yeah, I could tell," he murmured, trying to scarf his own noodles.

"Why are you up at 1?" She asked, and Dean realized he'd never actually checked the time. She probably had her sleep cycle inverted anyway.

"I've got to finish my assignment," he said.

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "It's Friday night. You got nothing better to do with it?"

Dean had a retort somewhere about how she wasn't doing anything too exciting with her life either, but it got stuck in his throat, because the remnant of her grin was still visible in her odd eyes. It was distracting. He just blurted out the truth. All of it, from the delayed assignment that had to be done five times, to the ruined sheets from the water.

Her face was a delicate mask of horror when he was done.

"I don't blame you for any of it," Dean clarified quickly. "I just don't know how the hell I'm going to finish it."

"How much are you done with?" She asked, and even without looking, Dean could hear how sorry she was.

"One set of the sheets. That's a total of 5 sheets and the assignment one and a half times."

"Hey you have one set done, the rest is easy right?"

Dean stared. "How is that easy? It took me the better part of 4 days to get 5 sheets drafted. I just have 5 days for 20 more sheets."

"Just Glass trace it." She shrugged, like it was the simplest solution.

"Excuse me, what?"

She looked at him like he'd suddenly grown a third eye, but elaborated all the same. "You have one set of all drawings done, so just trace it."

"How?"

She grinned cockily again. "Wait here."

Dean watched as she disappeared into her room and appeared with a light bulb, a holder and an extension cable. She screwed the bulb to the holder, attached it to the extension, which she then connected to the nearest switch.

"Hand me some scotch tape," she ordered and Dean followed her instruction, curious to see what she was up to.

Y/N carefully taped the bulb to the underside of the glass surfaced table he'd been using as the makeshift drafting board.

"Hand me your completed sheet," she said and Dean did. Y/N mounted the sheet on the table. She then placed another blank sheet over it, perfectly aligning the edges, then turned on the bulb.

At first, nothing happened, but when she turned the lights off for the whole living room, with only the bulb under the table glowing, he understood the term "Glass tracing" exactly. The bulb was illuminating the lines drawn on the sheet below to reflect it on the sheet above. The section, isometric view and components of an diesel engine were perfectly visible on the new sheet, too. All he had to do was take a pencil and trace it out now.

"I'll be damned," he swore softly and somewhere over him in the dark, Y/N's soft chuckle sounded.

She turned the lights on.

"That should help," she said. "I can't believe you didn't know about this. What sort of Mechanical student are you?"

Dean was asking himself the same question. For crying out loud, he'd been an assistant in college for 3 years. How did he not know?

"Let me take a look at your report," she asked, and he handed that to her, too, mutely, still lost in his own thoughts about the trick.

"This seems easy enough," she commented, reading through his assignment. "Calculating the load on the engine, I see. If you get the formula correct, the derivations are easy enough. This is good math."

He nodded, mentally realigning the time-table he'd drawn for himself in his head. He had a lot more time on his hand now.

"Tell you what, just get done with all your sheets while you are at it. Who knows, maybe after the weekend, you wouldn't have to worry about them at all."

She turned to leave for her room, but Dean stopped her.

"Hey, Y/N!" He called. "Thanks."

Her Y/E/C eyes were ambivalent. "For what?"

"For… for letting me know about this trick."

She didn't dismiss him quickly, like he'd come to expect, instead, she tilted her head to a side and then murmured, "You surprise me, Dean Winchester."

He hung his head, expecting as much. "Because I'm stupid enough to not know about it?"

"Because you are sincere enough to not know about it," she said, not as praise, but as a statement. Somehow that just gave more meaning to her words. "Not very many people are that sincere… they all know the cheat codes… except you, apparently."

"Thanks… I guess?" Dean frowned, unsure what else to say.

"Get some sleep, Romeo. I'm sure you can afford some more of that now."

Long after Dean had settled in his bed, her words still hung in the air. Something about the way she'd said it made him think that sincerity was a quality she valued. If only she wasn't so cryptic, he'd know what to make out of her.

The next day he'd fried enough eggs and bacon for two. When he went over to knock on her door, it was locked. Again. Who knew how early she had gotten up to see her family. Dean wondered if they were as weird as she was.

Having the whole house to himself for the weekend made him restless, and it was hard to believe that just a week back he had been hoping for this very thing with all his heart. Nevertheless, he put his time alone to good use, tracing all sheets to the best of his abilities. He was smart, he knew better than to just blindly trace, so he made sure that all the drawings had light guidelines in the background to make it look like they had all been drafted individually. It took a little more time, but it was thorough. It assuaged some of the guilt he felt for tracing.

Come Sunday evening, Dean found himself lounging back on the sofa, phone in his hand. He'd been so busy that he'd never had time to reply to Sam's hundred missed calls or messages.

His brother picked up on the second ring.

"If I didn't know better, I'd have thought that you disinherited me," Sam jibed and, even thought Dean could hear his brother's scoff, there was also a petulant hint of accusal in it.

"I'm sorry," Dean said, running a hand over his face. "Things have been crazy around here."

"Crazy enough to forget that you have a little brother? You could have at least picked up one call."

Dean wanted to laugh out loud, not because Sam's worry was hilarious, but because it was comforting. Over the last year since he'd started at Stanford, Dean worried if Sam would grow distant, love his new, exciting life more than the one Dean could provide him in the dusty town of Lawrence, but Sam had never fallen back on his calls, and even though Dean used to be rueful about the two or three calls in a week, turned out Sam was much better at keeping contact than he was.

"Look, I'm really sorry. I know you must've been worried."

"Worried?" Sam said. "I went so crazy worrying that I almost drove over."

Oh. That wasn't good.

"But you didn't," Dean tried meekly. He was really feeling bad now.

"Yeah, only because Jess said I should call up the University pretending to be a worried kin. But, I was a worried kin."

Dean smirked. "Jess, huh? At least you're talking to her."

That calmed down Sam some. "Some student body person told me your attendance checked out and I know you wouldn't pull a bunking stunt in the first week. That's how I knew you were alive."

Sam lecturing him like a mother? Oh how the tables had turned, but secretly it made Dean feel all calm inside.

"Tell you what?" Dean tried to placate him. "I think I have the next weekend free. How about I drive over? It's like 6 hours. We can grab a few beers and I'll tell all about my misfortunes."

"Misfortunes, huh?"

You have no clue little, brother.

"Something like that," Dean smiled, because not all of it had actually been unfortunate.

"Sounds like a plan," Sam smiled. "I'll look forward to it. Don't stand me up."

Would the kid ever stop whining? "Do I look like the busty blonde who bolted on you yesterday?"

Sam chuckled on the other side of the line. "This one didn't bolt. Sleep on that." With that call ended.

Dean looked at the phone for a hot minute. Even Sam was getting action- Sam, the eternal virgin Sam! While, he, the apparent leather- jacketed stud the rest of his class thought he was, was stuck doing homework.

Such was life.

Monday morning was relatively more cheerful. If he stayed up for the rest of the two days as well, he'd manage to get the assignment written, too, the remaining three and a half times. That way he could catch up with rest of it before weekend and then he'd be free to go see his brother. It sounded like a lot of work, but, at least, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Even Bobby noticed when he caught him whistling.

"You're happy, boy!"

Dean nodded, putting his head back into fixing a bike that none of Bobby's other boys could figure out what was wrong with.

"Is it the girl?" He asked, and Dean threw back his head, laughing.

"Who? Y/N? God, Bobby no. It's not like that. She's a crazy girl."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Dean considered. "Nothing actually, but it's not like that." He'd be getting way more action if it had. But he answered Bobby's question more fully now. "I'm happy cause I'm going to see my brother next weekend… if there's no work here that is."

"Go on, boy… there's nothing that we can't manage here," Bobby said gruffly. "Didn't know you had a brother."

"I do, a little brother. He's up at Stanford," Dean said proudly.

"Two University boys? Your folks must be proud."

Dean started working back on the bike, fixing the wench under the engine. "They're both dead."

"That's… uhhg-"

"It's okay, Bobby. It's been a while now, we were kids then."

Dean drove back thinking if he should have told Bobby the truth. The full truth that is, about his parent's death. Sure his mom had died when he was a kid, but his dad had been alive up until a few years ago. Dean just wasn't sure he was ready to talk about him yet.

He walked up distracted. Absentminded enough to even realise that the lift was working. Finally! He was all the way up and almost to his room when a voice that seemed too familiar called out to him.

Y/N was standing by his makeshift worktable, looking harassed.

"What happened to you?" Dean asked, rushing over. "You look-"

"Like someone drowned me 5 times and was brought me back just as many times?"

"Well… yeah." She looked exhausted, sleep deprived and ready to kill." Knowing her, he wouldn't put that past her.

"The traffic on the road sucked!" She said. "I thought I'd never make it back home in time."

"It's okay, you're back now," Dean urged. "Sit down, you look ready to fall."

She shook her head, then pulled out something from the puffy satchel hanging across her frame, and dropped a thick bundle on the table. "Here."

"What's that?" Dean asked curiously.

"Your assignment done five times over." She looked pleased with herself.

His eyes widened as he bent down to pick up the neatly stapled bundle of papers, scourging through leaf after leaf of tall pointed handwriting, neatly compiled into what was now the assignment.

"When? How?" This was better than he could have expected.

She hesitated, the way she did when she was sharing something she wasn't sure if she should. "Me and my sister did it together. I wrote it, looking at the one you'd already done and she drew all the diagrams. I mean, you're new, it's not like that douchebag professor would know your handwriting to notice the difference. Besides, all your assignments from now on would be typed, anyway. This will never come up."

That was probably the longest speech she'd ever uttered.

"You spent your time away with family writing my imposition? Why?" Dean was astounded. It was all beyond him. The girl worked so hard so she could get a weekend away to meet her family and then she uses that time slogging through his work? Wow, she was crazier than he ever gave her credit for.

Y/N stole looks from under her long lashes. "Well, it was my fault you had to do it anyway and then some of it got drowned… also because of me." She paused for a second, looking him full in the eyes. "And, also, because my sister isn't like me, she's a nice person who didn't mind carrying my guilt and helping a stranger."

"Well, looks to me your sister is a lot like you… Good," Dean mumbled, still shocked. This cleared up his week completely. He would surely get to see Sam now. "Thank you so much, Y/N. This just- you just did me huge favor."

"Just don't ever mention it," she all but warned. "Ever."

She hurriedly readjusted the satchel and then turned to leave.

"Where're you going?"

"Work! Now shut up, so I can leave."

But Dean just couldn't let her go yet. "You'll go to work in those?" She was back in the baggy black pants, grey hoodie and beanie.

"Oh, I can always change when I get there," she smiled unexpectedly, like it was her own private joke.

"Hey, Y/N," Dean interrupted her again, just to annoy her and her expression didn't disappoint when she turned around.

"What now, Romeo?"

He simply grinned. "Try not to murder someone tonight."

She winked. "I'll try." Then the door slammed shut, leaving Dean grinning in its wake. Maybe not everything was unfortunate after all.

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

A/N 2: Any guesses about where this is headed?

A/N 3: Please do consider reblogging my work and leaving feedback. Reblogging helps spread it, and also helps against the “best posts first” option tumblr has. The more the notes, the less chance of it getting buried beneath others posts. And the comments are what keep me going. I love you guys and I’ll be in forever grateful <3

Here’s my side blog @percywinchester27-writes. You can give that blog a follow and turn the notifications on to know about updates.

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#dean winchester x reader #reader x dean winchester fluff #dean winchester reader insert #dean winchester fanfiction #dean x reader #Ana writes Dean #anawrites #anawritesspn #Ana writes UR #ur part 5 #please let me know how you like it?#q

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skelenyxx · 6 years ago

Text

Chapter 1 - Old Friends, New Drama ~ It’s Death or Victory

"Where, where will we stand when all the lights go out across these city streets? Where were you when all of the embers fell? I still remember them. Covered in ash. Covered in glass. Covered in all my friends. I still think of the bombs they built." ~ The Only Hope For Me Is You

**********

The sound of my alarm filled my ears as I awoke. I opened my eyes instantly and reached under my pillow, snatching my phone and switching the alarm off.

I smiled as I noticed the date. December 21, 2012. Today was the day. Today was the day that I would finally get to see them, after three years.

I crawled out of bed and started going through my closet, trying to decide what to wear. I eventually decided on a plain purple tee and black jeans. After I had showered and dressed, I applied a small amount of makeup and grabbed my bag. I smiled as I looked in the mirror. I smoothed my long, straight blonde hair and pushed my bangs to the side. My thin line of eyeliner accented my blue eyes perfectly and my outfit was plain and simple. Perfect.

I left my apartment with a smile on my face.

As I walked down the LA streets toward the coffee shop, the morning sun peaking between the tall buildings of the city, I began to think about how all this had come to be and how I had ended up with such amazing friends.

It had started in High School in Jersey. I was a Freshman, taking an Honors math class (like the geek I am). One day I got partnered with a quiet senior guy with dark hair and swirling hazel eyes. He told me his name was Gerard.

Somehow, even though we were practically polar opposites, we became close friends. I was some innocent goody two shoes Freshman girl and he was a dorky Senior boy with few friends and eyes that showed that there was more darkness inside than he let out. He was my first and probably one of my only friends in high school.

Obviously, he graduated that year. But he didn't go off to college. He decided to stay home and help his mom and brother out. It turned out that his brother, Mikey, went to school with me as well and was only two years older than me. He and I also became good friends and on weekends, Gerard, Mikey and I would all hang out, playing video games, talking about comic books, or just generally causing mischief around the old town. We had some good times, and I feel like us being friends was the only thing that kept us each from falling apart from the inside out.

I was in my senior year when Gerard told me he was starting a band. I was so excited for him. He always loved to talk about art and music. I always told him he needed to do something creative for a career because, honestly, I couldn't picture him doing anything else with his life.

One day, after he had gotten the lineup of the band, he invited me to come out to see one of their practices and meet the rest of the members. I had spent the whole day in school anticipating heading to his house afterward so I could meet the guys that he oh so often talked about. I remember clearly how anxious I was as I pulled into the driveway, unsure of what to expect. If Gerard thought highly of them, then they couldn't be that bad. But I was terrible at making friends and I had an unfortunate habit of annoying people I met.

Ms. Way led me to the garage where loud music could be heard. It was interesting, different to say the least. I couldn't even really describe the sort of genre of rock it quite sounded like. But I liked it.

I caught the tail end of a song that the band was finishing practicing. Just by watching them, I could tell that they were in their elements. Gerard was singing (and being a sassy mofo during the process), Mikey was on bass, there was a guy with quite the fro rocking out on lead guitar, and a shorter guy with dark hair and a pretty strong eyeliner game jumping around like he'd had fifty monsters while playing rhythm guitar. Both guitarists did backing vocals as well and I even saw the shorter guy doing some screaming.

(A/N: I'm not mentioning the drummer because the only drummer I have any knowledge on is Bob Bryar and he won't be included in this story)

Gerard introduced me to the others, Ray being the guy with the large hair and Frank being the shorter guy with the eyeliner. After band practice, we all went out to get something to eat and I really enjoyed hanging out with them. They all had pretty unique personalities and Ray and Frank were really cool guys.

Eventually, I became just as close with Frank and Ray as I was with Gerard and Mikey. I went to every one of their local shows in the early days and was overjoyed when they got picked up by a label. We kept in touch while they were touring and I watched as the fanbase grew from a tiny following to sold out stadium shows.

The band was called My Chemical Romance.

But as the band grew bigger and tour grew more hectic, I saw them less and less. One time I went for a whole year without so much as a text message from them. Not that it was a big deal to me, I mean, they were crazy busy and I knew that. And what with my moving to LA to take classes at UCLA, there had just been very little chance to catch up with them.

Fast forward several years and I was receiving a call from none other than Gerard Way himself, telling me that it had been way too long and that everyone wanted to meet up with me when they came through LA. I agreed immediately considering the fact that I'd been missing them like crazy.

And there I was, walking down the early morning LA street, pulling my brown leather jacket closer around me to keep the chill of the early morning air from seeping into my bones. The streets were already bustling with people, calling cabs and pushing past people without so much as an "excuse me."

I was relieved when I entered the quiet and warm coffee shop. It was a family owned shop, and better than any chain coffee place you'd find in LA. I came here regularly and the smell of coffee and the hint of chocolate was somewhat comforting. I ordered my usual, a caramel macchiato (fancy, I know), and took my usual place at the booth in the corner and waited.

Every time I heard the ring of the bell on the door, my head snapped to the front in hope that it was them. But even after forty-five minutes of waiting, they were yet to arrive. They were late.

I was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten when the bell rang yet again. I looked to the front of the shop to see a man with shocking red hair walk through the door, followed closely by a man with a brown afro, a man with brown hair and glasses, and a short man with nearly black hair and a wide grin on his face.

Gerard.

Ray.

Mikey.

Frank.

My guys.

My best friends.

Gerard's hazel eyes scanned the room and he smiled as they landed on me, sat in the corner of the room. I smiled and waved at them.

Their faces almost seemed to light up as they saw me and walked in my direction. My smile grew bigger as I stood from the booth, fixing my shirt in the process, so that I could give them a hug. God, I'd missed them.

As they got closer in the few brief seconds, Frank ran past the others and half shouted, "Skylar!"

I laughed as the man grabbed me and spun me in a circle. I didn't care that people were looking at us weirdly, they could get over it. Frank put me back on the ground and wrapped his arms around my torso and squeezed me tight. I buried my face into his shoulder and smiled. I loved his hugs.

He stepped away from me and I noticed the others had reached us, each with their own signature grin plastered on their faces. Frank ruffled my hair a bit and I pouted at him. He just smirked, his greenish hazel eyes sparkling as he brushed his dark hair from his face. It had grown significantly longer since the last time I'd seen him.

Mikey came next, smiling as he bent over a bit, since he was considerably taller than myself, to give me a hug.

"Man, did we miss you," He chuckled.

I laughed again. "I missed you guys, too."

He pulled away and Ray said, "Alright my turn!"

He, like Frank and Mikey, wrapped me in a tight hug.

"Careful, his hair might eat you, Sky," Someone said behind me.

"Shut up, Iero," Ray laughed, his chest vibrating with the action. I pulled away and patted Ray's hair.

"Nah. It's friendly," I laughed.

"Alright, come on. Don't I get a hug?" Gerard asked, feigning hurt.

"Of course you do, Gerard."

He pulled me in for a hug. "God, I fucking missed you," He said quietly.

I smiled. "I missed you too, Gee."

We pulled away and filed into the booth. Ray and Mikey sat on one side of the table. Gerard sat down on the other side, followed by myself. Before I even had the chance to move over more so Frank could sit, Frank was sitting on my lap.

"Um, excuse me sir, but what are you doing?" I asked him.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" He replied, turning a bit to look at me and send me a smirk.

"Shouldn't I be the one sitting on your lap, considering I'm the girl?"

He shrugged, continuing to smirk.

"Unless there's something you're not telling us, Frank..." I trailed off. This time it was my turn to smirk.

"Wh-" Before he could even finish his reply, I shoved him off of my lap. He only barely managed to keep his balance and avoid falling face first onto the tile of the coffee shop. The guys laughed and Gerard gave me a high five as I scooted over so Frank could sit next to me.

Frank sat down next to me, squishing me between Gerard and himself on the small bench.

"So how have you been, short stuff?" Frank asked me.

"Look who's talking, shorty," I replied.

"Hey, at least I'm taller than you."

"Barely."

"It's enough for me."

I laughed, rolling my eyes at the clown of a man.

"No, but really, how have you been, Sky? It's been forever since we've seen you," Ray said from across the table.

I smiled and laced my fingers on the table. "I've been good. My life has been absolutely insane but it's been pretty good."

"How's college been going for you?" Mikey asked.

"It's probably the most stressful thing I've ever done in my life, but I'm surviving. I actually graduate in a few months." I smiled again.

"What are you majoring in?" Gerard asked.

"Science. Biological sciences to be exact. I'm hoping to go into Criminalistics."

"Ooooo gonna be a scientist for the police department, huh?" Frank asked.

I nodded. "I'm also taking a course to be a certified EMT."

"Emergency Medical Technician, right?" Ray asked.

I nodded again.

"What for?"

"Well, you guys know my dad was an EMT. He taught me that it was always good to have emergency medical skills. You never know when you could need them. And, plus, it can save you a whole hell of a lot of money on medical bills when you can fix the problem yourself."

"And that's the Skylar we know, always thinking ahead," Gerard said with a smile, brushing his red hair out of his eyes.

I chuckled. "Yep, that's me. So what about you guys? How's everything with the band been going? I hear you guys are going in to record your fifth album."

"Yep. It's been great. The fans are amazing and it's great to just be doing what we love for a living. I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather be doing with my life," Gerard said.

"Man, it feels like it was just yesterday that you guys were still a garage band. You guys are huge now. It's mind blowing."

"Yeah. I can't say that we really believe it half the time," Mikey chuckled.

"So how are the fans?" I asked.

"They are the best fans you could ever ask for. They are so supportive of everything and they are so spirited it's just crazy," Ray laughs.

"I hear they have a thing for shipping you guys together," I laugh. "The one I hear of the most is between you two." I look at Gerard and Frank.

Gerard laughs a bit. "Frank and I can't even have a conversation on Twitter without them commenting 'Frerard.'"

"No kidding," Frank said.

"I don't even get why it's called 'Frerard,'" Gerard commented.

I turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean why does Frank's name come first? Why can't it be something like, I don't know, Grank or something?"

I laughed.

"Because I'm awesome and Grank sounds stupid," Frank said.

"It sounds better than Frerard."

"It so doesn't."

"It totally does!"

Frank was silent for a second before replying in a mocking tone. "Or maybe it's because I would totally top in that relationship."

I was trying my hardest not to fall off the bench from laughing so hard.

"No way in fucking hell. I would totally top," Gerard replied, his voice serious.

"Nu-uh! It would be me."

"Not a chance, shorty."

"Skylar?" Both said in unison, asking my opinion on the apparently serious controversy.

I looked back and forth between the two of them before replying. "I ship it," I said with a smirk.

We all bust up laughing and began talking about other things, the conversation being put aside and forgotten.

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

It was later in the evening and we were walking down the slowly emptying LA streets, headed to their tour bus so I could see them off. We had spent the day wandering around the city, going into stores with no intention of buying anything, visiting a street fair, and even seeing a movie. It had been a really good day, but it had gone too fast and now they were leaving again. God knows when I would be seeing them again.

The guys had slowed their pace and were whispering to each other behind me. I stopped walking and turned around to face the whispering bunch.

"What are you four being so secretive about?" I asked, quirking my eyebrow.

Gerard sighed. "Well, it's been three years since we've seen you. That means we've missed three birthdays and three Christmases. We've missed quite a lot lately and haven't been keeping up with you nearly as much as we should. So, to help make up for that, we got you something."

"What have I told you guys about getting me gifts?" I asked. I'd told them time and time again not to get me gifts. Half the time, I couldn't afford to get them anything and even when I could, it never compared to what they got me. And honestly, I didn't want anything. As cheesy as it sounds, their friendship was all I needed.

Frank waved his hand dismissively. "Oh shut up and just accept the gift, Sky," He said with a smirk.

Gee pulled a small, rectangular, black box from his jacket pocket and handed it to me. I flipped open the lid and gasped at what I saw.

It was a necklace. It had a sturdy looking golden chain and hanging from it was a simple, golden circular disc, appearing to be approximately one inch in diameter. It was simple and elegant and I loved it.

"Flip the disk over," Mikey instructed. I did as he said and had to practically fight back tears. On the back of the circular charm, my name was engraved in the center. And following the edges of the circle, each of their names were engraved, creating a circle of their names around mine. It was beautiful.

"This way you can always have something to remind you of us and know that we are always here for you," Ray said as I looked up at them.

"Oh, guys," I said, looking at each of them. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much." I pulled them in for a group hug and still had to fight back tears. It was just a necklace, but it meant the world to me.

Gerard grabbed the box from my hands as we broke the hug and fastened the necklace around my neck. I smiled as I felt the cold metal of the disc touch my skin. "I'll never take it off," I said.

"So when's the last time you saw one of our shows?" Gerard asked as he came back around to the front of me with the others.

I thought for a second, trying to remember. "At least four years," I said. "Not since the beginning of the Black Parade tour." The guys each began to smirk at me. "What?" I asked.

"You're coming with us, then," Ray said.

"What?"

"You're going to come up to the Northern California shows over the next several days with us and we'll pay for you to fly back before we leave the state," Mikey replied.

"We even have an extra bunk in the bus for you. We can stop by your apartment on the way out so you can get your clothes and stuff," Frank said with a smile.

My head was exploding with excitement. I loved seeing their shows and it'd been so long since I'd seen one. I get to spend the next several days with them, traveling around California and seeing them play for the fans. It'd be amazing. But I decided to mess with them a little bit first. "And what makes you think I would want to spend the next several days trapped on a bus with you guys?" I asked seriously, crossing my arms over my chest for an added effect.

For once, the guys actually looked confused and at a loss for words. My face broke into a grin. "I'm just kidding. I'd love to." The guys cheered.

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

It was the middle of the night when I woke up in my bunk on the bus. I was in my loose white tank top and black flannel pajama pants. After all, that's what I had put on for bed. I sighed as I checked the time, realizing it was close to eleven o'clock at night, the same night that we had left LA. I pulled back the dark curtains blocking the entrance to my bunk and slid out into the hallway. I chucked as I crept past the other bunks, the sound of the guys' snores resonating throughout the hall.

I pulled out a plastic cup from the cupboard in the main room and filled it with water, gripping the counter a bit to keep myself from falling over due to the bumps in the road. I glanced around the main room and spotted my backpack lying in the corner of the room. The very bag that held my clothes, a few bottles of water and several of my favorite granola bars (because I loved those things and refused to leave my apartment without them), and my extensive first aid kit that I always brought with me, thanks to the fact that I was a training EMT. When I showed the guys everything I had in it, they claimed that I could perform surgery with all of the supplies I had in it. That was pretty much true.

I looked out the window of the bus, watching as a sign reading "Route Guano" passed by. It appeared that we were in the middle of the California desert at that point. No sign of civilization in sight.

I shivered as I thought back to the chilling nightmare that had woken me from my sleep.

I was standing in the middle of the desert, the beating sun baking my skin as I stared and the motionless bodies of my best friends, each of them lying in a pool of their own blood. They were wearing strange clothes and there were strange guns scattered around the scene. Before I had the chance to move, the scene changed.

I was standing in a building, heat blistering my skin and the smell of smoke depriving my lungs of oxygen. A flash of red hair passed my vision. I called out to it, in hopes that they could tell me what was happening. But before they could do anything, a flaming mass of ceiling collapsed on me.

The scene changed again before I could feel the pain. I was crouched behind an overturned table beside Frank. Strange flashes of light passed over our heads and beside the table. Frank stood up quickly, firing a strange green gun in the opposite direction of us. Without warning, he collapsed to the ground beside me, blood pooling from a wound in his chest. I panicked as I scrambled beside him and tried to stem the bleeding. I called his name in desperation, trying to keep him alive as long as possible. Panic rose in my chest, choking my brain and causing me to not be able to think clearly. I didn't know what to do. His frantic hazel eyes met mine as he gasped for breath. He tried to say something to me, but his breathing hitched, cutting his words off. Then, he was still, his chest stopped rising, and his vacant eyes stared into mine.

I screamed in anger and rose from the ground, wielding a strange purple gun and firing at men in white suits. I didn't know what I was doing or why, but my body behaved as though it were second nature as I shot down person after person. Then, I noticed the other bodies on the ground, deathly still and pools of blood around them.

Ray, Mikey, and Gerard.

I was alone.

Then I woke up.

I had never had such a strange and chilling nightmare before. It's not like it meant anything, but it was just weird.

I had just started to head back to my bunk when the sound of an earth-shattering explosion pierced through the silent night. Before I knew what was happening, the world began to spin and I was flying through the air, my brain barely processing the sound of tearing metal and shattering glass.

My head hit something hard and the world turned black.

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gunsandfics · 8 years ago

Note

Do you think you could write a soulmate au for lafayette/hamilton/laurens/hercules/reader? Something with a happy ending and lots of fluff. Smut is up to you (sorry for so many characters!) Or a bodyguard!Reader/ward!Philip, like, she needs to protect him since he's the secretary of the treasury's kid? Ok, one last idea. SugarDaddy!Hercules/Reader. She's a broke college student and he loves to have someone to take care of. He makes her the most beautiful dresses and spoils her rotten? :-D

I hope this is alright uwu

A soulmate au with the reader and poly!hamilsquad (Al, Herc, John, Laf)

The soul mark is a star, and most people get the whole star instantly as they meet their soulmate, but for some reason, when (Name) meets her soulmate, only one spoke fills in…and it’s the same for him, too.

Enjoy!

Five-Spoked Star (Laf/Herc/Reader/John/Alex)

Your mother says her star mark, the half star that she had had all her life, suddenly formed another half the second she met your father, and the same went for him. Your best friend, Thomas, swears that his star tingled and he could genuinely feel it forming on his skin the instant he met James. Your other best friend, Aaron, admits that his heart was pounding when he met Theodosia. Eliza promises that she got a fluttering feeling in her stomach the moment she laid eyes on Maria.

If that was the case, why hadn’t your damn star completed fully when you met Alexander Hamilton?

As soon as he walked into the near-enough empty common room, pen in his mouth and piles of books and notebooks encased in his arms, as soon as his gaze locked with yours, as soon as he froze up, hastily placed his writing supplies on an overstuffed armchair and crossed the room to you in mere seconds, work-roughened hands reaching up to cup your face, you felt it. The tingling on your wrist as the black markings pushed their way to the surface, the fluttering feeling in your ribcage, the all-too-loud pounding of your heart. He was familiar, despite you never seeing him before in your life.

In that moment, he kissed you, and although he was a literal stranger, although you had never even laid eyes on him, let alone spoken to him, you let him, kissing back happily because here he is, the guy you’ve been waiting for your whole life! The guy who was made for you!

When he pulled back, intelligent, beautiful eyes shining as he drank in the sight of you like a man dying of thirst, you couldn’t help but smile back.

That is, until you noticed the jet-black star on his wrist was not a star. It was…two triangles. Two kites?

You pulled back fully, frowning, and slowly lowered your gaze to your own wrist. The same for you.

As you looked up unsurely, eyes locking with his, you said your first words to your soulmate.

“Why aren’t our stars stars?”

And he had looked down, examining his star with a furrowed brow and his mouth set in a straight line.

“I…don’t know.” He had said. His voice was higher than you thought.

“Are we broken?” You had whispered, voice coming out cracked because how could we be broken already, we’ve only just found each other and he had swiped his thumb over your cheek, catching the tears already beginning to fall as he let out soft sounds of no, no shh, we’re okay, we’re fine, I love you.

And you had sobbed and clung to him like a lifeboat, like he was your lifeboat, because you’d only just met him, only said two sentences to him and for Christ’s sake you didn’t even know his name but you loved him, he was yours, you were his. You were literally made for each other.

In the months that followed, you moved out of your college dorm - who am I kidding, you hadn’t even set foot in it yet, you met him on your very first day - and into his little, college-funded house in town. It was small, but you were deliriously in love and you didn’t even care what your living conditions were as long as you were together.

The second you moved in together, Alexander began research. Of why your stars only had two points, one for you and one for him.

Google had no answers.

Bing even less.

He Skyped with professors and soulmate scientists, vying for an answer.

It all came up blank.

Until one day, a year after you met.

You had just gone to sleep, curling up in Alexander’s hoodie like it was your comfort blanket.

A blinding light awoke you, and you winced into the lightness as you felt Alexander frantically climb into bed with you, pulling you close and peppering your face with kisses.

“Urg…Alex…its two a.m.” You protested sleepily. “We needta…go to sleep…got classes…”

“I’ve cracked it.” He said urgently, lips trailing down your neck.

“Mmm…what’ve you cracked now, baby…?”

“Our stars.”

That woke you up.

“Wha…”

“We’re not broken, (Name)!” His eyes were alight with excitement. “I was reading this article online, and it was about this woman who only had two thirds of a star when she met her soulmate. Her soulmate also only had two thirds.”

“And?” You were fully awake by that point, eyes glittering as he explained the solution.

“She didn’t know why, until she met this other guy at her new job and the rest of her star formed.”

You blinked, morning mind fogging over what this meant, until it clicked and your eyes opened wide. “You mean-”

“Two. She had two soulmates, honey.” He held his wrist next to yours and tenderly stroked your mark. “We’ve only got two fifths of a star each, so that means we’ve got three more soulmates to go. Three! That means there’s five of us!”

“Yes, I can do basic maths, baby.” You said wearily. “Five of us? What if your three remaining soulmates are different to mine? It can happen that someone can have an unrequited soulmate." Poor Angelica. Why couldn’t she have been one of your five soulmates, Alex…?

"I…” He paused, pursing his lips. “I don’t know.”

“Well…” You grinned at him. “It’s like before I met you, all over again. Searching for soulmates.”

He laughed. “Sure is.”

You spent literal weeks looking for your remaining soulmates, to no avail.

Each day you came up empty handed, you grew a little more depressed.

One weekend, your best friend Aaron literally dragged you out of bed, grumbling under his breath.

“Enough with this trying to find your soulmates already. I’m going to take you to have coffee, and we can have a heart to heart.”

He took you to the local cafe, buying you a (favourite drink) and sitting you down. You sighed.

“Alright, alright. What therapeutic methods are you going to try on me now?” You asked with a smirk.

Aaron opened his mouth to retort but was cut off by a loud yell.

“If it ain’t the prodigy!” Called a man’s voice, and three handsome men popped up behind Aaron. As soon as they did-

Oh. There it was, the heart pounding, the fluttering, the tingling. Only much, much stronger. You glanced down at your mark, and grinned as you saw the remainder of the black ink pushing its way to the surface. Your star was complete.

You looked up at the three men who were jesting around with a very irritated Aaron, and frowned. You needed to get their attention.

“Excuse me.” You called. The buff one with short, bandana’d hair glanced at you and held his gaze as he realised who you were. “What do you three, my soulmates, think you’re doing with my best friend?"

That caught their attention. The other two fixed their eyes on you and gazed, transfixed.

"Oh shit,” said the freckled one, grinning. “We’ve found one, guys.” He walked towards you, grabbing your hand and raising it to his lips. "John Laurens, at your service.“

The buff one, the one who noticed you first, walked to John’s side and placed a strong-yet-gentle hand on your shoulder. "Hercules Mulligan.” He said lowly.

“Don’t be scared of him. He’s a teddy bear.” John smiled up at Hercules, leaning slightly into him.

“Et je m'appelle Lafayette.” The last one, with a crazy puff of hair in a bun, came to John’s other side and reached for your free hand.

Aaron looked between the four of you, a slow, steady smile crossing his face. “Should'a seen it coming.”

“Oh!” You gasped, causing your three soulmates to jump. “I have to introduce you to Alexander! He’s…the last puzzle piece.”

“Lead the way.”

Alex was, predictably, clacking away on his laptop when you got back. As you stepped in the front door and saw him, back turned, you could see Lafayette, John and Hercules visibly freeze up. You grinned.

“Alex…” You said, voice sweet as sugar.

“Hmmm?” He let out a vague noise of acknowledgement.

“I have some people you need to meet.”

“Ah, um. Honey, can it wait? I’ve really got to do this paper…”

“Baby, you’ve got two weeks to finish that paper and you’re halfway through already. Take a break." When this gets no response, you sigh. "I found them, Alex. They’re right here.”

“Who are?"

"Our other soulmates.”

Alexander jolts as though your words have pierced him, and spins around in his wheelie chair faster than you can say seven-eight-nine. He gets up as though in a trance, and before you know it you are crushed in a huge, five-way hug.

“Our stars are finished,” He mumbles thickly. “We’re not broken.”

“We’re not.” You agree, sniffling.

The hug is drawn back, and you stand, grinning, between them as they all introduce themselves.

You feel happier than you ever have in your life.

Kinda feel like doing a sequel to this.

I’ll tell you what, if this gets enough reblogs, captioned with something along the lines of ‘Please do a sequel’, I will.

#hamilton x reader #alexander hamilton x reader #mulligan x reader #lafayette x reader #john laurens x reader #Lafayette x reader x Hamilton x Laurens x mulligan #fic request #hamiltrash #hamilsquad #hamilsquad x reader #hamilfics #polyfic

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pen-masta · 8 years ago

Text

Let’s Play Pretend

College fic.

Joy surprises Castel at college and gets more than what she bargained for.

[Prologue] 1

Graduation was right around the corner and the two teens had been preparing to move onto the next chapter of their lives. College! Joy had been looking forward to college since winter break--new friends, new classes, new parties, new everything! Castel on the other hand was not as ecstatic, he still felt like he’d be the outcast but it would be a nice change of scenery. And who knows maybe it’ll be different than high school.

Applying for colleges hadn’t been very stressful at least not for Castel. He only had one college he wanted to go to and that’s the only one he applied to. He felt no pressure, no anxiety, he wasn’t worried in the slightest. It wasn’t until he was helping Joy with her resume that the fears started to creep into his mind.

She showed him all the pamphlets from all the colleges she was going to apply to--there had to be at least ten! She was rattling on about the art programs at each school, the vast variety of clubs she was planning on joining, and so on. Her voice became white noise in his mind as his eyes scanned over pamphlet after pamphlet.

“What’s this one?” He asked picking up a pamphlet for the community college just up the road.

Joy had blinked and smiled, “Oh I’m applying there as well.”

“What for?”

She cocked her eyebrow and smirked at him, “It’s my safety school silly.”

“Safety...school?” He asked giving her a puzzled look.

“Yeah you know just in case my first three choice schools don’t want me,” she says with a shrug.

Safety school? Choice schools? He didn’t have any of that! He didn’t even have a second choice school as a back-up plan! His panic started to set in. What if they didn’t want him at the University of Washington? What would he do? Where would he go!? The deadlines for all school applications was nearing and he had no plan!

He tried to drown out his worries by helping Joy with her applications...but it just made him feel worse. He offered to type up her resume for her while she worked on some admission essays. His heart dropped into his gut as he typed her very LONG resume. From the time they were freshmen Joy had been involved in just about everything. She was in the environmental club, the theater club, the photography club, the yearbook club, and she was president of the pottery club. Her grades remained in the A to B range giving her a very high GPA, not to mention she had been the school’s mascot for all four years. She had played softball the last two years of high school and she was their class rep. on the student council. She did all of this and still managed to find time on the weekends to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen and go to the state parks and pick up trash with her environmental group. She’s donated blood three times already and she worked at the YMCA all four summers. She kept up with all her clubs, sports, grades, job, and volunteering hours and STILL made time for her friends and a few relationships! Joy was beyond the meaning of well-rounded student.

Typing her resume made him cringe as he thought back to his almost a page and a quarter resume. He hadn’t been as involved as Joy had been, but he did have a few things to put on his resume. His GPA was extremely high, a near perfect 4.0 due to the fact of the time he spent reading and studying. He was in the concert band all four years playing the trumpet--an instrument he’s come to love. He was president of the debate team and he was apart of the robotics club and the astronomy club. He had worked with his uncle for most of the summers taking care of the maintenance the rental houses needed. He got to learn some life skills in construction, heating and air condition, plumbing and all that kind of stuff. It was hard manual labor, but it paid very handsomely and it made him feel good to know he was learning some actual skills. He could speak three languages fluently--English, German, and French. He’s grateful his mom fulfilled his request to teach him her language when he asked at age of six. He did take silver at the National Debate Convention but other than that...

Ugh! He growled as he stared at his reflection in his mirror. He had plenty of time to do other things! He could have volunteered to pick up trash along the roads, or help out with Toys for Tots, or or or something! He should have been more like Joy, outgoing and giving. No he was living only for himself like the selfish jerk he is. He huffed and sat on his bed--the groove he was wearing into the carpet becoming very prominent. He needed to not worry, it wasn’t like there was a whole lot he could about it now.

“You’ll be fine Tiger,” Mikey had said when his little brother called him to find some solace.

“But I’m not a well rounded student,” Castel huffed and ran his fingers through his messy curls.

“That’s ok sure they take that stuff into account, but with your GPA and the clubs you were involved in it will be enough.”

Despite Castel’s worrying his brother had been right. A few weeks later a big fat envelope came in the mail with Castel’s name on it--his acceptance package. Relief swept over him and his parents, he was off to the University of Washington! He ran over to tell Joy the good news just as she was running out of her house to see him. They ran into each other on the sidewalk, both babbling on talking over one another until they both started laughing.

“You first,” Joy giggled.

“I got into the University of Washington!” Castel all but yelled with a grin so wide it looked like his face was about to split in half.

“That’s awesome Cassie!” Joy had squeaked and bounced on her toes.

“Now you,” he grinned.

“I got into my first choice school! The University of Georgia!”

“That’s fantastic Jo-jo!”

They both screamed and hugged each other. It wasn’t until after their embrace and everything had settled down that it hit him. He was going to be living 2,695 miles from his best friend. Could he even do that? Well not that he really had a choice. How could he live so far from her? They’ve spent their entire lives living just a three minute walk from one another.

When both their families went out together later that evening to celebrate he brought it up to her. Her face crumbled. She hadn’t thought about how much they were going to be giving up by moving away to college. She had been so excited for this new chapter of her life that she forgot what the other chapters held--him. So they did what Castel does best, plan.

They made a plan to have weekly facetimes and stay in touch as much as possible. They’d spent the holidays together when they were home and during the summers as well. If they stayed in touch through those few months of being away it wouldn’t hurt so bad, right? They could do this, after all they’ve been through worse.

She was the first to move in. Since he still had a few more days before he’d have to leave he offered to help out. The trip down south was long but not boring in the slightest. They sang songs and played games, just as they always have. He helped move her in and make sure everything was perfect. She hung up her heart shaped lights and he helped her dad set up the television. After a few hours everything was moved in and her dorm was all set to go for her classes in two days.

Her parents offered to buy everyone dinner and went out to grab some Chinese food from Main street. This left the two teens alone in her dorm room. They both sat on the couch staring at her little pink television screen. Her roommate had yet to show face which was a little unsettling to Castel, but Joy paid no mind.

They sat in silence starting at the black screen. This was the last time they’d see each other for a long time. He wanted to say something, anything. But he couldn’t seem to get his mouth to work. While he mentally scolded himself, she placed her hand over his--intertwining their fingers immediately.

He blinked feeling her tiny hand squeezing his tough callused one. When he looked at her she was smiling sadly, unshed tears shinning in her eyes.

“I’m going to miss you dork,” she said.

Tears instantly filled his own eyes.

“I’m going to miss you too goober,” he smiled weakly.

She sniffled and moved closer to him on the couch.

“Nothing will change between us,” she said although it sounded like she was reassuring herself more than him.

He nodded, “I know it won’t.”

“We’re only a phone call away from each other,” she said squeezing his hand tight.

“You ever need anything you just call me,” he said squeezing back. “Homework help, friend issues, you name it just call me and I’ll be there.”

She smiled and wiped her eyes, “Same goes for you Casper.”

“No that’s alright,” he shook his head smiling teasingly. “I’ve seen what your math work looks like I think I’ll manage on my own.”

They both giggled and laughed before falling into comfortable silence again. He looked up at her smiling lovingly. He really is going to miss her. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut short by her lips. It was a quick chaste kiss, and it was nothing new. They shared a little kiss here and there in greeting or saying good-bye, nothing ever heated or beyond a quick peck. It was nothing new at all...yet when she grants him this little smooch it causes something to stir in him.

In milliseconds her lips were gone and he instantly missed her warmth, but he said nothing as butterflies spun wildly in his gut making it do flips. She sniffled and smiled at him.

“I love you dork-a-doo,” she said weakly.

He felt himself nod and smile back, “I love you too J-bird.”

It had a few days since he had helped her move in, yet her sweet taste was still on his lips. As he lied on his bed in his dorm staring at the ceiling in the darkness of his room, he ran his tongue over his lips. They still tasted like her strawberry lip gloss, so sweet and alluring and taunting...it was unfair! He huffed a sigh and flopped onto his side, he missed her something awful. And now just before they’d be separated for several months she awoke these feelings, feelings he had long buried deep within himself years ago.

He closed his eyes willing himself to sleep. It’d be alright, he wouldn’t lose her to this separation. They’d stay in contact and soon they’d be home for thanksgiving break. He’d pour himself into his school work and maybe join a few clubs and that would be enough of a distraction. The distance and some distractions would help him to smother out these feelings for her. College was going to be a great thing for both of them.

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simplyleez · 8 years ago

Text

Take my hand, take my whole life too - Jarchie

Archie Andrews is a complete and utter sap but his boyfriend appreciates it very much. A cute insight into the lives, and relationship, of Archie and Jughead.

It was a day like any other, except that Jughead woke up feeling loved and physically very warm. Forcing himself to open his eyes, it was 6:45am only 15 minutes before the alarm would sound. Jughead allowed himself those 15 minutes of relaxation in his boyfriends arms.

Said boyfriend - none other than Archie Andrews, Riverdale’s golden boy - is currently still asleep, head tucked in Jughead’s shoulder, only drooling slightly (Jughead would disagree). Jughead would be quite happy if he never had to move ever again and to just stay wrapped in Archie’s arms and the comfortably warm duvet. However, the growing pressure on his bladder disagreed.

Groaning quietly, Jughead made a sneaky escape from the bed and inched his way towards the bathroom. He spent considerably more time than he intended in there, deciding to start his morning routine washing his face and brushing his teeth.

He must have missed the 7am alarm as when he got back Archie was looking a lot more awake and less peaceful, Jughead could help but laugh lightly at the red head. “Not funny,” Archie groaned, sitting up from his position on the bed, “I’m so tired Jug.” His voice was low, evident that he had just woken up and Jughead allowed himself a few seconds to appreciate it.

Jughead turned to get his clothes, turning back to see Archie lying back on his bed and curled into the covers. “Archie c’mon, it’s Friday, please just get up.” Jughead made his way to the edge of the bed, prodding Archie with his hand till he stirred. “Okay, okay, I’m up!” Jug threw his arms up in defeat, backing away from the bed to allow Archie space to get up while he gathered the rest of his clothes.

“Ah! Fuck,” Jughead jumped, feeling strong arms wrap around his midsection and Archie’s chin resting on his shoulder, “I’m up,” Archie smiled into his ear. “Hmmm, I see that, now all you need to do is get ready.” Jughead pulled away, briefly pressing a kiss onto Archie’s cheek before leaving him to get ready.

“Morning Jug.” Fred Andrew’s voice greeted him as he reached the bottom of the stairs, “Archie up yet?” his newspaper laid out in front of him and coffee in hand, he barely looked up at Jug which Jughead found familiar and calming. “Barely,” Jughead’s sarcasm was a 24/7 thing, missing out the parts where Fred’s son possibly tried to attempt an initiation of morning sex as reward of getting up.

Jughead was sure that the whole neighbourhood could hear his boyfriend running down the stairs but he smiled fondly at Archie’s heavy footing. “Morning,” Archie announced, his head into the fridge before anyone could reply. “Morning Arch,” Fred replied, quickly folding his paper in half and standing up, “I’ll see you guys later.”

Archie was behind Jughead before the door closed, taking the same position as before, “Archie, what are you doing?” Jughead questioned his boyfriend’s actions, twisting his head to see him better. Archie just smiled and kissed Jug briefly on the lips then the cheek, “‘m just feeling affectionate today Jug, am I not allowed cuddles anymore?” his tone dropped in mock hurt but his smile remained.

“Hmmm I guess it’s not a crime just don’t get used to it,” they both knew it was an empty threat but Archie nodded in agreement and placed a last kiss on Jughead’s nose before moving away. “Ew Archie,” Jughead could only complain weakly, his face over exaggeratedly scrunched up in disgust to which Archie laughed at before biting into an apple.

“C’mon then we’re going to be late,” Jughead said, moving from his chair to pick up his backpack, “and lord knows that’ll annoy Betty.” Archie hummed in response, throwing the rest of his apple into the bin after taking hurried bites, then put on his own backpack before leaving the house.

As soon as Archie put his keys in his pocket his hand was reaching for Jughead’s, intertwining their finger Jughead pulled the redhead next to him. Stepping in time with each other, Jughead couldn’t help swing their hands back and forth a little.

Betty met them at the end of the block, still in fear of her mother criticizing her friend choice, her hands pulling at her ponytail and her clothes to make sure she looked perfect. “Aw, you guys are so cute,” he voice was high, almost sarcastic like which Jughead was impressed at. “I know right,” Archie’s smile was evident in his voice, and Betty began to walk alongside them. “Fuck off Betty,” Jughead resorted, still his face flushed from embarrassment.

They ended up a fraction of a second late, which Betty still complained about whilst running off in the opposite direction towards her classroom. “We’re definitely in the bad books,” Archie laughed, letting go of Jughead’s hand and putting his own on the brunet’s shoulder. “We? I think it was you who wouldn’t get out of bed, if she starts telling us off you’re taking the blame,” Jughead stated, his own hands placed on Archie’s hips, fine with the close contact in the deserted hallway.

“We should get to class,” Archie said but made no move. “We could… or we could totally skip today,” Jughead proposition hung in the air but defeated by Archie shaking his head. “I would love nothing more than just spending the day with you,” he placed a short kiss to Jughead’s forehead “but it is Friday, so I have all weekend to be with you, and maths won’t learn itself.” Archie leaned down to kiss Jughead’s lips, possibly longer than necessary since they’d only be apart for two lessons.

Not even ten minutes into second lesson Jughead’s phone vibrates, he deduces it can only be Archie and his suspicions are confirmed as he pulled it out of his pocket. The screen reading ‘Archie: Love you missing you already :’( <3 xx’ Jughead can’t help the smile that breaks out onto his face. He texts back ‘I love you too but you’re such a fucking sap x’.

“What’re you smiling about?” Veronica questioned him from across the table, he eyes seeming to pierce his very soul. “Nothing,” Jughead blatantly lied, Veronica was clearly not impressed with his inability to lie or that he was lying to her. “Okay Jug. Phone.” She demanded, holding her hand out across the table. Jughead huffed before looking around to see the teacher busy so handed his phone to Veronica.

“Aw you guys are just too cute,” Veronica gushed, scrolling up through his texts, “yeah, yeah, so we’re told by you and Betty 24/7. Now give me my phone back,” Jughead demanded, all but snatching the phone from the brunette’s hand. “You know, you are so lucky to have Archie, he really cares about you and I know that you really care about him too,” Veronica was using her sincere voice which guilted Jughead into not giving a sarcastic remark in response instead responding with “yeah, I know I’m lucky, thanks Veronica.”

The lesson continued, Veronica incessantly talking about Jug and Archie’s relationship, and speaking rather sorrowfully to which Jughead told her she needed to ‘get herself out there’ which was as far as his dating advice went. Then him and Veronica made their way to the common room, the rest of their ‘gang’ (were they in scooby-doo or something?) were already there.

Jughead instinctively sat next to Archie, their thighs pressed together and hands connected, conversation flowing as normal. Or was flowing. Until none other than Reggie fucking Mantle walks in, well walking Jughead would disagree and call it strutting but he was in no mood for an argument. And clearly neither was Archie, his eyebrows furrowed and he was glaring at Reggie, telling him to back the fuck off. Jughead was his boyfriend and if Archie needed to fight someone to keep him safe he would do it in a heartbeat.

Reggie got the message though, maybe he just didn’t want a fight on Friday and the weekend was so close Jughead could almost feel it. “Reggie’s such a dick,” Veronica stage whispered to the group, most of them nodding in agreement but not willing to spend any more conversation or gossip time on the man.

Jughead hadn’t realised he had zoned out until Archie squeezed his hand, he squeezed back in return and looked up at the redhead who just smiled and went back to the conversation at hand.

While Jughead had no idea what the topic of conversation was, although he nodded in agreement sometimes, his thoughts returned to his conversation with Veronica from before. The thought about how lucky he really was to have such a compassionate, caring boyfriend who actually wanted him and liked him for who he was not his outcast, alternative, loner facade but for the kid he had been and the young man he was growing to be.

The bell rang loudly throughout the school, everyone jumping up from their places and hurrying down halls, narrowly avoiding bumping into each other. “Guess I’ll see you at lunch,” Jughead spoke, awkwardly avoiding eye contact with Archie due to his earlier thoughts he began second guessing Archie’s feelings for him but quick to assure himself he was wrong still he couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Yeah, are you okay Jug?” Archie questioned, his face contorted in concern, Jughead realised that he probably couldn’t hide these feelings from Archie for very long. “I’m alright, I’ll tell you later tonight, okay?” Jughead released Archie’s hand from his grip, “yeah, alright then.” Veronica appeared beside them, Betty and Kevin already having gone to their lesson, “come on lover boy, time to go.” She linked her arm in Archie’s, giving Jughead an over the top cheesy smile to show she meant no harm in being close to his boyfriend but Jughead just nodded in response and walked the other way to class.

Lunch couldn’t have come sooner in Jughead’s opinion, if there was one thing he hated (he hates a lot more than one thing though) it was teachers who gave unimportant, off-topic lectures about shit no-one cared about and would be no use to anyone ever. His eyebrows were crossed from frustration so he wasn’t surprised when he reached the table Betty asked what was wrong with him, to which he gave his own droaning lecture about teachers time wasting while everyone sympathetically nodded along.

He felt somewhat better after his little rant, but even if he hadn’t Archie’s leg linked with his own sure did brighten his mood considerably.

Jughead also paid little attention during lunch, Veronica and Kevin conversing deeply, hand gestures and all. He didn’t necessarily ignore them because the conversation was boring, although it wasn’t exactly riveting, but because Archie wouldn’t stop rubbing his ankle with his foot and casting him glances across the table.

“Will you two stop eye fucking across the dinner table!” Veronica snapped, her head turning to stare at the two of them. Jughead’s cheeks quickly heated up, focusing his vision anywhere but Veronica or anyone else that matter, and he could only assume Archie had that damn attractive faint blush on his face accompanied by a cocky grin. Jughead vaguely hears Kevin telling Veronica to ‘back off’ and ‘let them be’ but he quickly removes himself from participating in the conversation.

The rest of the day passes rather uneventfully, except for last lesson where Archie wouldn’t stop looking at Jug from the corner of his eye, giving him side glances and smiling when he got caught instead of being embarrassed.

Archie and Jughead left the classroom and school together, their fingers occasionally brushing against each other until Jughead decided it was a comfortable distance away from the school to actually hold hands. They were walking alone, Betty staying behind to ‘finish off some work’ with Veronica but Jughead guessed they weren’t staying behind together for academic purposes. The thought of Betty attempting to seduce Veronica made him laugh lightly aloud to which Archie gave him a funny look.

Jughead disregarded his boyfriend’s stare and pulled him up to the house, waiting for Archie to open the door, then tugged him inside. Their lips met as the door slammed closed, it was brief and chaste but Jughead smiled into it. Archie’s face broke out in that seemingly ever present grin when they parted and opened his mouth to most likely say some sappy or stupid shit (or both), but Jughead cut him off with a peck of the lips then a smack to his shoulder.

The rest of the evening they spent eating junk food, courtesy of Fred - who Jughead described as an angel when he brought take away bags through to the kitchen - then playing video games and talking nonsense.

Then Friday was done. It was 1:07am on Saturday, Jughead and Archie lying in bed together. Archie had his head placed comfortably in the crook of Jughead’s neck when Jug spoke up, “love you, Archie.” His voice was so soft and quiet than Archie raised his head, having to look him in the eye to see what was wrong but finding little to nothing replied, “I love you too Jug.”

“No seriously,” Jughead twisted his head so he was leaning into strands of red hair, “I mean it, I love you so much even if you are a complete sap who can’t handle being separated from me for two hours but you just- I just- you make me feel so, so loved and- thank you Archie.” Jughead let out a sigh of relief, finally having said what had been bothering him.

“Aw Juggie, forgive me for not having a poetic speech prepared like you but I feel the same, so you shouldn’t thank me just saying you love me is enough.” Archie’s voice became quieter, evident that sleep was pulling him, Jughead brought the blanket up further to cover the both of them.

#jarchie #archie x jughead #riverdale #mine #simplyleez

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aslightstep · 8 years ago

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13 - ROTC/new-to-the-Air-Force Rhodey and/or CW/post-CW Rhodey

Flying like a cannonball, falling to the earth/Heavy as a feather when you hit the dirt

First

The first thing Jim remembers is flying.

If he was honest, that would be a lie. His first memory is something mundane like his mother singing to him or watching TV with his father. But what he remembers most, brightest, strongest is this: standing on the ledge of his family’s second-story apartment balcony, gazing down at the little section of the tiny backyard Mrs. Turner has used for her garden (bushes grown up high, hopefully high enough) taking a breath, closing his eyes and leaping.

He remembers flying.

That glorious moment of weightlessness fighting gravity, when he was moving faster than light, faster than sound, the fastest thing on this planet. He was invincible.

He doesn’t remember hitting the ground, but he remembers rolling off his broken arm to stare up at the blue blue sky and thinking someday it would be his. Someday he’d never have to land.

(”He fell,” his little sister Jeanette insists with a pout when his mother comes home and panics at not finding Jim where he should be. He can hear them through the window. “He fell, Mama.”

His mama looks over the balcony and screeches, going back inside. Jeanette stares at Jim through the bars of the railing. “I didn’t fall,” he tries to say, but he’s six and the pain is finally catching up to him. He can’t feel his arm. He cries when his mother picks him up.)

In between fussing over him relentlessly, which he likes, and yelling at him for being so fool-headed he jumped off a balcony, which he doesn’t, his father says something that sticks with him for years.

“What if something had happened to Jeanette while you were stuck down there?” Terrence Rhodes says softly, his anger petering out, too tired to keep it up. Daddy is always tired. “You have to look after her, Jim. She depends on you while we’re away. Sometimes that means sacrificing your own wants.”

Jim feels his eyes go big, and Daddy notices and looks upset. “Ah, no, kiddo. Don’t listen to your old man. I know we’ve put a lot of responsibility on your shoulders and you’ve made us proud, you hear? It was a mistake, son, and you’ll learn from it, won’t you?”

Mama and Daddy work hard. Harder than Jim thinks anybody should, and he knows its to keep the roof over their heads and food on their table, and they would never say that, but Mrs. Turner downstairs would. That’s what she tells them when the Rhodes children have to stay over for the night, Mama too busy at the hospital and Daddy pulling overtime at the plant. “It’s all for you, baby dolls,” she says, wiping away Jeanette’s tears. “Because they love you.”

Sometimes that means sacrificing, Jim thinks. All they ask in return is that he look after Jeanette.

Meals are a little simpler after that, new clothes a little scarce, and Jim finds hospital bills on the table under Daddy’s sleeping cheek one night. Sacrifices, he thinks, and doesn’t go near the balcony again.

He studies hard, he works harder. He learns how to cook dinner and watches after his sister even after she complains she doesn’t need it anymore. He takes care of his family. It’s all for you, baby doll, he remembers, and kisses his tired mother on the cheek every night just to see her smile.

He builds model airplanes in his spare time and hangs them all around the room. For his eleventh birthday, the whole family makes a day of painting his ceiling like the sky. He hides his research on MIT under his bed so his parents don’t see.

He packs his dreams carefully into little boxes and stows them away. All but one.

He braves the balcony again. He keeps his head out of the clouds and his feet on the ground, but he keeps his eyes on the horizon. Someday, he dreams, it’ll be mine.

Here’s the thing: years from now presumptuous journalists will assume that he joined ROTC to get out of dead end future. That he seized an opportunity to rise above his ‘situation.’

That isn’t it at all. ROTC was always the goal, because Air Force was always the goal. He signs up for it in high school as soon as he could.

He is scrawnier than the other kids, having skipped a year, and the other kids think he’s stuck-up. Rhodes has always got his head in a book. Rhodes is too good to talk to us. Rhodes thinks he’s so smart.

(He is so smart. He’s gonna get smarter. Bring me the horizon, he writes on the edges of his notebook paper in classes that are far behind him.)

They playing at boot-camp, climbing up one of those wooden walls with a rope, trying to beat the other guy. Jim doesn’t, arriving up top later than Roy Williams, a junior, and Williams takes a sneering look at him before simply and easily pushing him off.

He flies for a brief moment, a child all over again, and he is smiling when his body hits the ground with a thud.

“Jesus, Rhodes,” someone says, touching his shoulder. “You ok?”

Jim just laughs. “Again!” he declares, and when he opens his eyes the boys are all staring at him.

Williams, up top, just shakes his head. “You’re crazy, Rhodes. But you’re alright.”

Later on his mother sighs as she rubs numbing cream on his bruises. “What am I gonna do with you, Jim?” His back is killing him, but he can’t keep the smile off his face.

He keeps the MIT acceptance letter tucked up tight under his bed with all his other little hopes and dreams. He quietly applies for scholarship after scholarship and resolutely thinks about other colleges that maybe aren’t as good, maybe not where he wants to be, but are good enough. Cheap enough.

He walks in one day to find his parents sitting at the table, an unopened letter from MIT between them. They never get home this early. That’s how they didn’t know. He didn’t want to get their hopes up.

Hopes, he has discovered, don’t fly. They fall. It’s all they can do.

“I can explain,” he says, and his mother smiles and it breaks his heart.

But Dad laughs. “There’s no need, son. They called the house to personally congratulate you for the acceptance awhile back, on my day off. We’ve been on the phone with the Office of Admissions for weeks, trying to work out a payment plan for you. They’ve got some really nice scholarships there. We told them we’d talk to you about it but imagine our surprise when they tell us ‘no need, he’s already done it, we should know in about a month.’ Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I didn’t want to-” Jim swallows. “I can go to another school.”

“Honey,” his mother shakes her head, pushing the envelope to him. “Open it.”

He takes it. It shakes in his grip - because he’s shaking. “What if they turn me down?”

“You’ll never know until you try,” Mama says. “Take a leap of faith, Jim.” And well. He’s always been good at that.

He does. The envelope is thick, filled with many papers. He flips through them one after the other. Two scholarships, then three, then five. A full ride to MIT. He doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry so he does both, and his parents hug him tight.

That night lying in his bed he takes all his hopes and dreams out and unpacks them. He looks them over, notices dents and dings and changes. He thinks for one night only about having it all. When the sun spills over the horizon he puts them all back and pins his acceptance letter onto the ceiling, up in the clouds. This one is enough.

Here’s the thing: other, nicer reporters like to say that James Rhodes and Tony Stark have been friends since the moment they met. Jim likes those reporters, likes the harmless fairy tales they try to spin. There are other, nastier ones that like to think they’re commiserating with Jim when they talk about the man being Tony’s ‘caretaker’ or ‘babysitter.’ On his darker days, Jim has actually done so. But those are few and far between, and usually involve Tony dying for stupid reasons.

The larger point is: nobody gets it right. For the first two month Jim knows Tony Stark, he hates him.

Stark is his lab partner in CHEM 316. He’s two years younger than him, smarter than him, richer than him, and he never shuts up.

Stark has this habit of fixing Jim’s measurements after he’s already done them. Stark is fond of double-checking Jim’s math. Never mind that he compliments Jim on nearly always being right, he always delivers these compliments like they’re a surprise to him, like its amazing that Jim is even halfway-intelligent.

Stark does his homework five minutes before class, the same homework Jim spent all last night doing and then double-checking, and still gets straight-As. The boy has come in drunk to more than one class. He has a fucking butler who visited once, dropping off some tools at the dorms, who Tony talks a mile a minute at and never once says thank you.

But the worst thing about him, the thing that Jim can’t stand, is that Stark is a dreamer. He scribbles on every spare sheet of paper he can, some of it even Jim’s, and Jim takes it home at night and marvels at the ideas there. He talks about artificial intelligence, he talks about the Arc Reactor Stark Industries built in California, he babbles incessantly about the next manned space voyage.

He talks about it all as if its entirely possible. As if there’s no conceivable way he couldn’t make it happen.

Tony Stark has never had a dream he’s had to lock away, and Jim can’t stand that.

He has one goal, one purpose that he works towards relentlessly, and even that sometimes seems out of reach. Stark has a million at any given moment, and holds them all in the palm of his hand.

Stark knows Jim doesn’t like him, but he just keeps chattering away every time they meet like they’re friends. As far as Jim knows, Stark doesn’t have any friends, and maybe that twinges something in his chest sometimes, but MITs the first time Jim hasn’t had to responsible for anybody but himself and he’s damn sure not picking up the habit for some mouthy rich-boy know it all.

“We should work on this,” Stark says as they watch their midterm project go up in flames - again. “This weekend?” He looks up at Jim hopefully, but he just shakes his head.

“I’ve got an English project due,” he says. An English project that is kicking his ass. Jim’s never been good at English, preferring hard sciences and math, and Professor Brubaker is a tyrant. A study on ten poems of a subject of your choice. Jim’s been putting it off and its due on Monday. “Some other time.”

But on Saturday night, his dorm phone rings and its Stark, sounding wasted and afraid. Jim grits his teeth and goes and picks him up. “You can take me back to my room,” Stark slurs, but Jim refuses to have the Stark heir’s death of asphyxiation hanging over his head and takes him to his room. Stark whimpers next to the toilet all night and Jim watches him to make sure he doesn’t die. The essay only barely gets done.

“I don’t even have a topic,” he snaps in Stark’s general direction. He hates this, hates being a caretaker again with a strength that frightens him. The mantle he wore so well in his childhood feels like a noose now. “I was supposed to work on that tonight, but of course Tony Stark has to go to the frathouses by himself to get drunk. Now I have to-” Stark throws up.

Reluctantly Jim rubs his back, trying to keep his anger when he feels the skin trembling under his hand.

In the morning Stark emerges looking only halfway dead, and Jim hands him a glass of water before picking up his backpack. “You good?”

“Yeah,” Stark says, and Jim nods jerkily.

“Don’t call me again.”

Stark finds him the library, five books stacked precariously in his hands. “Hi,” he says cautiously. Jim keeps his head down, trying to scratch out some semblance of an outline.

“I’m sorry,” Stark says. “I shouldn’t have called but I - well. You’re the only person I thought might pick up.”

Jim feels his shoulders tense up at the lonely, resigned tone of that voice. Jesus, what is Stark, fifteen? Besides, it is his fault for putting the essay off so long. “It’s alright,” he says gruffly.

“It’s not,” Stark replies. “And I owe you. You said you didn’t have a topic, so I brought you these.” He puts the books down, turns to bookmarked pages. Ten poems, all about flight. “That essay is pretty hard, huh? I didn’t know what to write about either, but Mom said to pick something that interested me.”

“You’re in Brubaker’s class?” Jim frowns, glancing over the first poem. The way the poet describes the bird flying stirs something familiar in him. “I’ve never seen you.”

Stark grins, a little strained. “I sit in the back; I don’t talk much. What is there to say? I wouldn’t even be in there except English is my mom’s major and I wanted to be able to talk to her about stuff she likes. She helped me pick these out, too. She said to thank you for giving me a reason to call home, by the way. Moms, you know?”

Jim feels his brow crinkle at that, then he looks down at the poems again. “…how did you know?” he asks quietly.

“The times when I talked about rockets and planes were the only times you actually looked like you were listening,” Stark says with a practiced shrug. “And then we read that Icarus poem in class. I think that’s the only time I’ve actually seen you pay attention. I picked that one, too.”

Its in him to bristle at that, but Jim is too busy looking through the poems. There’s a lot he could do with this. He picks up his pen, itching to get started, and Stark turns away. “Hey,” he says. “You already done yours?”

“Yeah.”

“What was it about?”

“Creation myths,” Stark says, looking embarrassed.

Jim points at his paper. “You want to help? I’ve got exactly 28 hours to write 5000 words.”

Stark’s smile looks just like the sun coming over the edge of the earth. “No stress, then?”

(”I don’t dream,” Tony scoffs one time when they’re both a little tipsy. “I think, and then I make it happen.”

Here is a list of dreams that Tony keeps locked away: that his father will love him. That his parents will be proud. That he hasn’t inherited an predisposition for addiction. That he will fall in love.

Most of those wither and die. There is one though, that he keeps deep, and Rhodey never manages to get him to look at ever again: that he will be loved in return.)

They graduate with honors, Tony with three degrees and Rhodey with his one aerospace engineering. (”You don’t just want to fly,” Tony accused him with a laugh. “You want to own the sky!”) His parents hug Tony after the ceremony and Jim laughs at his face just so he won’t feel sad about it. (”Oh my God, Rhodey, I’m not deprived, just a WASP. We don’t hug.”)

He enters the Air Force. He goes through training, and finds himself growing a bit terrified. Not of what happens once he finally gets in the air, but what happens when he touches down. When he lands, back on the Earth again, dream realized. What does he do, then?

He flies.

It is the most glorious thing to ever happen to him. The clouds hanging shelter over his head, close enough to touch, the horizon always there to guide him, the earth far below. He can see everything. He can do anything.

I am invincible.

When he lands, the feeling stays, and he isn’t afraid. This dream never dies. He goes up again, and again, until he’s the best flier in his squadron, on the base, on the ship, in the entire Air Force. He soars through skies and ranks. He never wants it to end.

(”But what if you fall?” Tony frets over the phone.

“I won’t.”

“But how can you be sure?” Tony presses. “You know what? Easy way to solve this. I’ll build some planes to go with that new weapon shipment. Then we’ll be sure.”

Jim rolls his eyes. “Okay, Tones.”

But really, the Stark jet line is fantastic.)

Being away from Tony and his family is hard, but not as hard as the moments he finds himself in when he’s with them, moments when he is uncomfortably aware of the solidity of the ground beneath him, and how far away the sky is. He becomes hyperaware of his body, how his lungs wouldn’t handle the thin air, how his body wouldn’t handle the pressure, how he isn’t Icarus with his wax wings soaring through the sky, and anyway Icarus fell to his death.

To be honest, he is incredibly jealous of the Iron Man suit.

It feels dishonest to do so, when its power comes from Tony’s three month sojourn into malnutrition, torture, and three decades of guilt landing all at once, but watching Iron Man soar alongside his jet and hearing how happy Tony is - well, he doesn’t always smile back.

He wonders, as he flies his new suit away from Iron Man’s fallen form, as the sheer joy of flinging himself through the air overwhelms the worry that has been a hum at the back of his mind since Obadiah died, what kind of man he is.

Because the entire world congratulates him on taking the suit like Tony couldn’t lock him out at any moment, using it responsibly as a force for good like Iron Man hasn’t been flying around the world putting out fires for two years, and that is part of the reason why he took Iron Patriot - because he wanted to help.

But in his selfish thoughts, he doesn’t care about the world, a billion nameless faces. He just wants to protect Tony, even if its from himself.

And even deeper, even darker: he just wants to fly.

But when he and Tony forgive each other, fight together, fly together, he figures out the man he is. It’s like Tony always says, and nobody else has understood. He is the suit, and the suit is him. He is these missiles and this armor and the minigun perched on his shoulders. He is the people he saves and the bad guys he takes out and the collateral damage he regrets.

He is War Machine, and he is flight. The sky is his, and sometimes he even shares it with Tony.

(”Is it everything you dreamed of?” Tony asks as they coast lazily over the water. Rhodey turns his faceplate towards Iron Man’s, imagining the shit-eating grin on Tony’s face.

“Yes,” he says, and maybe that surprises Tony or, more likely, it doesn’t, and they fly towards the edge of the earth nearly hand-in-gauntleted-hand.)

Tony flies into a wormhole and saves the world. Tony falls back out.

Rhodey sees it on the back of his eyelids every time he closes them: the suit, falling end over end. No control. No flight. Just the fall.

Thank God he didn’t land, Rhodey thinks. The noise. The thud. His arm pulses out an old ache. Rhodey opens his eyes and doesn’t think about it anymore.

unsignificantlyoff the coastthere was

a splash quite unnoticedthis wasIcarus drowning

What was it he wrote in his paper about that poem? He’d thought it be neat to juxtapose all those flight poems with a crash. Brubaker had liked it too. It had made Tony sad, though, he remembered. Something about how-

He flips again, feet pointing up. He doesn’t throw up in his helmet, even though all the systems are knocked out and nothing’s keeping pressure on his body.

-it made Icarus’ fall seem so normal, so commonplace. Like a bright young boy hadn’t just died. Tony said “It’s a tragedy!” and Jim had replied-

He has to close his eyes, he has to stop calling for Tony, for anyone. He has to stay calm.

-”I think that’s the point.”

The last thing Jim remembers is falling.

Tony isn’t there when he gets out of the hospital, too busy in surgery of his own. Rhodey wants to stay, but Pepper insists he gets rest, and he can’t exactly stop her from wheeling him away.

He can’t walk. No head in the clouds, no ground on the feet anymore. Just hanging, in between. Like a ghost between realms. He wishes he could feel his legs. He wishes he could feel anything.

And then the hospital ships them the mangled Mark III and Rhodey doesn’t wish at all.

Tony doesn’t dream anymore. He has nightmares.

Rhodey takes care of him, like he always has, but here’s the thing those reporters have never understood, alongside everything else: Tony takes care of him, too.

The braces are iffy at best for the first few editions. They get better and better.

Rogers sends a letter that Tony reads once and a phone that is shoved into a drawer and they make a home out of that cold, abandoned compound.

Tony and Jim get better, too.

“138 combat missions,” he tells Tony. He doesn’t regret it, he finds. Misses it, but can’t bring himself to feel sorry for himself any longer. He’d do it again, every bit of it. “It was the right thing to do.”

Mark IV is born alongside Tony’s new black and gold armor. They strap themselves in and don’t think about how this part used to be the most exciting as they launch up into the air.

“Higher?” Tony asks, and they both cautiously rise a few dozen feet. The ground is so far away, Rhodey notes. The HUD gives off a warning about his heart rate.

“Higher,” he grits, and hesitantly Tony follows him up.

They rise. Tony’s new triggers are not the same as his, and he is content to watch and wait at every level for Jim’s heart beat to slow down again.

“Higher,” Rhodey whispers, and they climb.

The horizon appears, ever there to guide him forward, and for the first time on this little trip Rhodey doesn’t feel like he’s still falling. His body stops waiting for impact. He watches the sun set inch by inch, Tony by his side.

Night falls, and the delineating line disappears. “I don’t know,” Rhodey breathes. “If I can go back down.”

“I’m always here,” Iron Man says softly. There’s a whir, and Rhodey knows that there’s a gauntlet extended towards him. He thinks at the suit to move, and feels it respond, turning towards Tony, hovering so close, always ready to catch him now.

I know you were coming for me, he doesn’t say. I know you tried as hard as you could. But Tony will never be ready to hear that.

He takes the offered hand, and War Machine is grappled onto Iron Man’s back as Tony takes them in a slow, circling descent. Rhodey watches to sky get further and further away.

They land impossibly gently. “You okay?” Tony asks, and Rhodey nods. It’s not even a lie.

He knows now, what it is to land, to crash. He knows how to treasure the ground under his feet. He’s different, but the dream is the same. He’ll fly. He’ll crash. He’ll fly again.

He is invincible.

#Anonymous #poem is landscape with the fall of icarus by WCW #song is first #by cold war kids #james rhodes #mcu #tony stark #slightly OOC because i really like rhodes but i don't feel like i'm good at writing him

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davidinosaka-blog · 8 years ago

Text

March 15

Hi again! I’m taking a bit more time between posts now, so I’ll try my best to keep the quality up. I’m going back about a month ago, starting bright and early at morning track practice. This was my first one because no one told me there were morning practices before then, but everyone came on that first day to say goodbye to the students leaving for foreign exchange. Every year, one sophomore age homeroom goes on a year long exchange to Canada. That’s the same program that my current host brother, Ryosuke, came home from in January. In track club, there was only one person going: a really outgoing girl named Ami. After morning practice, we took a last team photo with her, then went on to our normal day. The whole program is amazing to me; each homeroom has about 40 students in it, and for the most part each student goes to a different school in Canada, which is so many! The teacher in charge of making sure all of the students get to their school alright is Mr. Okada, who normally translates for our Japanese history class. Since he was gone on Wednesday, Mr. Mizou showed us some old Japanese artwork. It was strange at first, because he showed us paintings of hell and diseases, but it kind of fit with our topic that religion was very important? I’m not quite sure how it was related, but he also showed us the first Japanese manga, which depicted samurai as rabbits and commoners as frogs, and had them doing sumo, riding horses, and wearing kimonos. Again, not sure how it was related to class, but it was funny. The next day in our home economics class, we made hamburgers and apple pie, which felt pretty American, but then in our next class our teacher made my classmates and I clean our room by hand, which felt veeery foreign, cuz I don’t like cleaning so much. It wasn’t actually that bad, and we messed around a lot as we were working. My teacher also explained to me that it’s a sort of good luck thing, to clean your room yourself towards the end of the school year. My last class that day was PE, which we used to have with the class that went to Canada, but since they left, my host brother and his homeroom joined us. It was especially fun because they all speak almost fluent English, so they would yell and curse at each other as loud as they wanted and no one else understood. The next day my host mom packed me a pretty awesome lunchbox, but in particular she packed green beans. I have those a lot in the US, but I hadn’t had them since coming to Japan, so I kind of felt a bit homesick. Who would’ve thought I would miss something as small as that? After lunch we had volleyball, which I really like, but that day in particular was awesome. All we did were matches, and in our second one I served the first 15 points straight! My team was really hype about it, and eventually the coach came over and joined the other team to help them out. In general it was an awesome day, and a huge confidence booster for the class. After dinner at home, we celebrated a festival called Setsubun, which is supposed to keep out the bad spirits from your home. The way to celebrate it, though, is to have someone wear a mask and try to come inside while being pelted with soybeans. We all took turns, and it was really fun! The next night, Saturday, we had a welcome home party for Ryosuke and his classmates at home, and it was great! Like I said earlier, everyone knew English, and they knew a lot about American and Canadian culture, like twerking and rap songs. A few people brought cameras and took candids the whole night, which was really funny. The next week I went to monday morning, and I realized that the first time with Ami was exceptionally well attended, because at this practice I was one of only three people to show up. We did our thing, though, and it was easier to talk when there were less people around. On Tuesday and Wednesday both, I spent a lot of time after practice hanging around and talking to people. Once it was with the sprinters, and they were all super excited about speaking English to me and singing American songs. The other day I talked with the distance team about the summer trip to Okinawa, and they told me a bunch of different foods to try while I’m there. They’re going to England and Canada instead for a month to work on their English, so we also talked about the differences between American and British English. But the next day, Thursday, was my favorite day since coming to Japan. We had a half day, and after school one of my friends from math invited me to go and grab lunch with him and two girls. My host mom gave me the thumbs up, so we went and ate in Tennoji, the big station near the school, then saw Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. It was really fun, and it was really easy to talk about this and that. After the movie I went straight to my violin lesson, where we worked on vibrato for the first time. Then after the lesson, I went out to dinner with my teacher, his wife, and my host sister at a grilled beef place. I took more time to eat than everyone else since I ate more, so everyone else just drank for the last bit of the meal. Then we went on to another restaurant, this time Italian, for salads. Everyone else said they were too full to eat very much, though, so again, I ate while everyone else drank. My teacher and my host sister both got pretty tipsy. My teacher, Mr. Matsuda, alternated between roasting Korea and complimenting Azumi and me on our instruments. My host sister didn’t do anything as dramatic as that, but she nodded off on the train and was hiccupping a little. It was a really fun way to end an awesome day. The next day was a holiday, so Ryosuke and I played each other in Super Smash Bros on the Wii, then he went to his soccer practice and I went to check out Kyuhoji park. I wanted to find a track, or at least some kind of lockers to put things in while I run, but there weren’t any. It was still a fun trip out to the park. I had only been once before, with my first host brother Kenta, so I got to explore more this time. The next day I went back to the Terakawa family to stay the night. I went on Saturday morning, and was picked up at Yao station by my host dad, Yu and Rina. The car ride back was fun, seeing the same neighborhood where I used to live, and talking with Yu and my host dad was nice. I realized how much my language skills had improved compared to the last time we had seen each other, so we were able to talk more than when we lived together. Once we got home, I met my host mom again, and we talked about how the Tsuchida family is to me. I sort of knew that we would talk about it, since it was a big change for both of us, but I hadn’t really thought of how it would feel to talk with my first host mom about how well I was doing with my second host family. While my host mom worked on lunch, (quesadillas!) Yu, Rina, and I kicked and threw some balloons around the living room, just like when I lived with them. Kenta’s friend came over again, as well as a family friend of the Terakawa’s, who I met on my first weekend. We met up together at Tennoji, ate lunch together, and went to get my commuter pass. His English is very good, and we talked about how I’d been doing since I arrived. The last time we had seen each other, I hadn’t been able to make a complete sentence in Japanese, so he was really interested in how much I had learned. We had a good time together until the late afternoon, then everyone who came for lunch went on home. We had some down time after that, and it really didn’t feel any different from when I lived there. We just sat around in the living room, watching Rina’s cartoons and talking during commercials. My host mom needed something from the convenience store for dinner, so Yu and I walked a few blocks over to buy it. When we walked out the front door, though, Rina started crying and throwing a fit that we could here through the open window. Yu just looked at me and gave me one of those “She’s three and I have to put up with this 24/7” looks, and we went and did our thing. When we came back home, though, my host mom told me that Rina had been crying because she thought I wasn’t coming back. I hadn’t thought of that, and I went through a lot of feelings and thoughts, like did she cry that much when I moved? It was a strange feeling, but she was fine when I came home, so we all put it out of our minds. Dinner was okonomiyaki, the cabbage and bacon pancake-ish dish. After that, we all took our baths and showers, then it was time for bed for Rina. She and my host mom went back to their room, but a few minutes later they were back, and my host mom said Rina wanted to stay up until I went to bed. It was pretty early, but I didn’t want to argue, so we went back and had an early night. The next morning nothing special happened. I had the same breakfast as I used to on normal school days, then the Terakawa’s drove me back to the Tsuchida’s house. The goodbye wasn’t bad at all, in terms of emotions, so I think that was a little bit of closure after the whole email thing. Then school on Monday was back to normal. After classes, my host family took me to go see a saxophone concert. The group was half Japanese college students and half Taiwanese college students, and Shinji, my host sister’s boyfriend, was one of the principal players. It was a great performance, and once it finished I found out that was the first time they had played together. Before they had been practicing separately, in Taiwan and Japan, but from the performance I never would have thought it. The next day was Valentine’s Day, which is very different from in the USA. In Japan on Valentine’s Day, only girls give chocolates. There’s a separate holiday called White Day that happens a month later when guys give gifts back to the girls they received chocolate from. I actually didn’t get very many from my homeroom, but when I went to my math class, almost everyone had something small to give to me. I was a little worried about White Day and remembering who I needed to give gifts to, but White Day falls during Spring Break, so I don’t think there’ll be much pressure to get chocolates to everyone. After school I checked Instagram, and I saw that track was starting up in Austin! Time really is flying by. I’ve realized now that once school starts up after break, I’ll only be in Japan for three more months. It seems crazy to me that I’m already that close to heading home, and even crazier to think that I’ve been in Japan for almost 7 months already. Anyway. Back to the story of my life. I had a really good day on the day after Valentine’s Day. First, as a disclaimer, I 100% meant to go to track practice. Was not planning on skipping. But, you know, life happens. We had an assignment in homeroom to create a poster about a college you want to go to, then choose which poster we thought was the best put-together. It was due Thursday morning, and the posters were in the classroom, so I had planned on scanning through them and filling out my ballot before going down to practice. It took me a while to read the posters, though, but my homeroom talked me through what the tougher ones said, and gradually our conversation kind of drifted away from school. I ended up completely missing practice, and talking with my homeroom until 6:30 when the building starts closing for the night. It was awesome to spend time outside of class with my friends, and I met a bunch of new people, too. The next morning, Bain and I were supposed to join a Skype call with Bain’s school back home and all the students interested in coming to Japan next year, but when we joined, there were no students. No one had applied to come. We talked with the head of the program at Bain’s school, and with a Japanese teacher about keeping up Japanese once we come home. In PE, we were wrapping up the school year, so we ran the 1500. My host brother, Ryosuke, and one of my friends from math, Takeo, had been talking trash to me and saying they were going to beat me, so we had a pretty serious race. I want to give a shoutout to Coach Carrozza, because I whooped ‘em. It was actually pretty slow, and I actually didn’t win by that much, but still. I just wanted to give a shoutout to Coach. The next day, Friday, we had our last volleyball and guitar classes, so we played matches and had a playing test, respectively. Both were really fun, and it was a little sad, because I don’t know if I’ll have the classes again next year, or if I’ll see my classmates again. On Saturday, Shinji and Goro both came over, and we played a giant game of UNO and another playing card game. We had a lot of fun, even though I got completely run over in both games. I also went and got my haircut again, which normally wouldn’t be big news, but again, I’m in Japan, so everything is big news. In particular, I went to the same barbershop as last time, which hasn’t happened until now. I even had the same barber! The next week at school was the last one before finals started, so classes were for the most part laid back. In music we watched these home video type movies, and our teacher played different soundtracks over it to show how music changed the feeling of a movie. Then he showed a different movie, that he explained as his recreation of the Terminator movies. It was very funny, in particular to see his personality outside of class. Our last judo class was as lit as always. I had to finish up the required number of matches, so I had to do 5 in the class period. The guys that I had talked with last time about nicknames cheered me on during my matches, and chanted USA pretty loudly whenever I did something good. It was a great way to go out, if a little embarrassing. I went running on my own after school that day, and the area at Nagai park in front of the stadium was packed with college aged guys doing skateboard and BMX bike tricks. They were blasting American rap music over speakers while they were at it, and it was really cool to watch while I warmed up. I’ve seen some small groups of friends messing around before, but it looked like a coordinated event this time. The next few days were pretty slow and relaxed before exams, but on Thursday when I was at Nagai, I ran into some guys throwing a frisbee while I was cooling down, and they let me join and throw with them for a little while. It was pretty cool; we met on the street, did our thing for 10 minutes or so, then said goodbye and went our separate ways. Friday and Saturday’s exams went well; I have my Saturday math exam back and I aced it! Once my exam finished on Saturday, my host mom, Goro, my host grandmother, and I went to the plum gardens at Osaka Castle. I was kind of dazed after my exam, so I wasn’t listening to the conversation in the car as we were driving, but at a stoplight, my host grandmother tapped me on the soldier and asked me how people in America are buried after they die. I was really confused and it showed, and Goro explained that they had been talking about if a zombie apocalypse could happen in Japan. He told me that in Japan most people are cremated after they die, so there aren’t any bodies to become zombies, and my host grandmother had been wondering if it was more likely to happen in America. I told them what I could, and we kept talking about it until we got to the castle. The plum blossoms were beautiful, and I got to take lots of pictures. The garden was very spacious, and lots of people were walking around just enjoying the view. The rest of exam week went by pretty uneventfully. I also got back my Japanese and Physics exams, 97% and 95%, and on Sunday Bain, Takeo, and I went to Nagai to throw a frisbee around and avoid studying. It was really fun, and it was a really cool place right in front of the stadium. We accidentally got the frisbee caught in a tree twice, and once threw it over a security fence, but we got it back every time. On Friday I went to Namba, the big downtown area, with Takeo and Isoyama, who are both in my math and home economics classes, and with Bain. We went sort of window shopping in the morning and walked down the big streets, then went to the best restaurant ever. It was a pizza, pasta, and curry all-you-can-eat for $7, with no time limit. Best. Deal. Ever. All four of us went back for thirds, and we might have had more if we hadn’t been planning on going to Round One. It’s an entertainment place, with games like an arcade, and three floors of indoor sport courts. We played tennis, volleyball, badminton, basketball, and even went rollerblading. There was also archery, segway lessons, and ping-pong, but we ran out of time before we could try it all out. It was awesome, but the closest one to the school is four subway stops away, so it’s a little inconvenient to get to, but I’m definitely going to try to go back again with friends. Now it’s getting into spring break, so the days are kind of disconnected. One day, we went to see another one of Shinji’s concerts. This one was special too, because all of the pieces were written by one British conductor named Philip Sparke, who came to Japan to conduct the concert. It was very interesting to hear so many pieces from one man’s mind, because you could kind of see how he viewed the world through it. For example, the last piece was called Symphony of Colors, or something along those lines. There were five pieces named after five different colors, and each one had its own personality attached to it. There were also several non-traditional instruments throughout the whole performance. I also noticed some of the cultural differences between Mr. Sparke’s conducting and what the performers were expecting. After each movement, the conductor pointed out the people who had a strong presence in the movement and had them bow, alone. At first, none of the Japanese performers were expecting it, and there was a bit of confusion about what was going on. By the end of the night everything was flawless, but the way Mr. Sparke left the stage was really surprising. He made a big show of saying thank you and bowing, then left the stage with everyone standing. He came back out a few seconds later, holding up the number one and mouthing “One more?” Then, in the middle of the last piece, he stopped conducting, walked around looking over the principal player’s shoulder at his music, then sitting in an empty chair in the percussion section. The song ended and the audience started applauding, and he just stood up, waved once, and stepped off stage to let the performers take the attention. I had a really fun time watching it. The next day, my host family woke up early to go spend the day driving around. Our first stop was an all-you-can-eat strawberry farm. It was amazing. We could walk around the greenhouses, pick whichever strawberries we wanted, and take as much time as we wanted. After that we went to this river in the next prefecture. It’s pretty famous because the riverbanks are over a hot spring, so if you dig out a hole, it’ll fill with clean, hot water. We tried to dig our own, but the process was taking a long time, so we used one that was already made. It was really cool, and we messed around skipping rocks and crossing the river to get to other springs. A few days later as I was about to head home from Nagai, I met these three guys who were finishing up their own workout. One of them, Kaoru, speaks really good English, and he and I talked for a little about this and that. We followed each other on Instagram, and since then we’ve met up once to workout, and Kaoru wants to go to a Gold’s Gym with me, then go get Mexican food. Honestly sounds pretty fun, but I’ve only met him twice, so I’m not sure if it’ll happen. On Wednesday, we had our last half-day of classes, and now we’re in a month long spring break! To sort of kick off the break, Ryosuke took me to a bathhouse in our neighborhood that has a “denki-furo,” which literally means “electric bath.” I was very skeptical about it, mostly because it has “electric” in the name, but Ryosuke sort of peer-pressured me into it. It was weeeeiiird. Like, it didn’t really hurt, but I could definitely feel the charge in my muscles. We both chickened out after, like, 2 minutes, then went back to the normal baths, but hey! I tried it. The next day I had track practice at Nagai Track for the third time ever, and it went really well! This was the first time I had on spikes all year, and it felt pretty good. My first time ever at Nagai was really bad; I came dead last in an 800 meter time trial and was almost in tears most of the way home. This time, though, was the exact opposite: I was either second or third for every interval, and coming home I had that one line from Bounce Back stuck in my head. The next day I went with Azumi to go see Moana in Umeda. It was opening day in Japan, and I had been seeing ads for it all over, and it was really good! After the movie we had dinner, then Azumi showed me some places where she thought I could get good pictures. On the 13th, I went to Universal Studios Japan! I had made plans with Misaki and Hana, who both went to Canada a few years ago and helped me get adjusted to Japan, and with Harada, one of my friends in my homeroom class. We met up before the gates opened and stayed all day, almost until the gates closed. We rode some of the big rides, but the lines were so long we couldn’t really do them all. While we walked and waited, though, we talked a lot! Communication wasn’t that hard, either, but by the end of the day I was pretty fried. It was an incredible experience! And finally, yesterday we went to hear Azumi’s graduation piece. She had been practicing the same piece since I moved here in December, and yesterday she finally performed it! It went really well, and tomorrow she’ll leave to go to New Caledonia as a graduation trip. One of my host mom’s piano students came with us to Azumi’s recital. I don’t know his actual name, but he told me to call him Boss. My host mom told me that when he was in his 20’s he was really cool and hot, but now he’s in his early forties, and even though he’s not what he once was, he still is called Boss by his friends. He was really cool, funny, and very easy to talk to. Aaaand that’s a wrap! I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written, and I’ll try to stay on top of it from now on. Love y’all!

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