#i mock the nice(blue)/funny/mean (red) but like. it could give me an indicator... im just saying lol

[hwrryscherry]

The one where Y/N is a princess.

characters: HARRYxPRINCESSY/N

blurb: Y/N is the youngest daughter of Prince Charles and Princess Diana which makes herself the youngest sister of William and Harry(the duke of Sussex). Harry(Styles) and she meet at the Dunkirk premiere when Y/N attended with her brother Harry. This time, Harry(Styles) is in London and show Princess Y/N what it feels like to be just a girl called ‘’Y/N’’ for a day.

word count: 2.4K

warnings: fluff, a little sad in the end.

author’s note: I received a request about Y/N being a heiress and my mind just go directly to royalty so I guess this could be cool? I tried lol. If you’re british and you felt ofended by any way while reading this I’m extremely sorry!!!! I hope you guys like it as much as I do. And also, I just wanted to share that I wrote this listening to ‘’Ophelia’’ by The Lumineers and ‘’The Book of You & I’’ by Alec Benjamin. 

    You and Harry scheduled to meet in the British Museum situated in the Bloomsbury area of London even though it was a public space, it wouldn’t be a surprise as people already knew that you and harry new each other. You both met on the Dunkirk premiere which you attended together with your brother Harry. Harry(Styles) was such a gentleman, he actually were nervous. As a British man he respects the royal family as much possibler than he can, and he would never want to make neither you nor your brother to feel uncomfortable.

    But anyway, you both scheduled there because Harry had been in England for a while and as you stayed friends it just felt right to meet up. You actually felt really tired, emotionally tired. You were so used to traveling the most amazing places with friends and now being basically locked up at The Buckingham Palace because of the corona virus felt draining for you. So when Harry came up with the meeting you were so glad to finally be leaving home, and Harry has always been the type of person who you felt like you could talk openly and be exactly who you want to be, and we don’t even have to say that the British museum it’s probably one of your favorite places in London. You were enamored by art, and there were so many interesting things in there and every time you’ll go there you’d find something new.

  It was 9am and the museum it’s actually closed now but you did have some perks. You were in the Egyptian part accompanied by your bodyguard Jasper, when you suddenly listened the rough voice of you dearly friend coming closer to you making you turn yourself to look at him getting closer. He greeted you with a simple hug in which you reciprocated by opening a slight smile looking at him.

— Hello, darling — Harry said while using his hands to style his short and messy hair with a smile on his face. — How are you?

— Hi, I’ve been good, just tired! But what about you? — You asked as you both started to walk through the beautiful masterpieces — How’s your mom and Gemma? — You had that really strong British accent, which Harry understood completly, and he really likes it. He thinks it’s the cutest thing. Actually, Harry thought everything about you were extremely cute, you both have a little crush on each other but as you already told him a lot of times before, just the thought of how many things he’d have to leave for because of the royal regulation made you sad for him. You’d never ask him for something like that.

— They’re good but... — Harry stopped walking looking fixedly to your face trying to analyze your emotions by their expressions — Why are you tired? I mean, I understand it must be really bad living in a castle but anyway, what happened? — Harry said smirking at you and your reaction of laughing and rolling your eyes at him.

— Haha, really funny! You should be a humorist — You answered mocking a bit and running your right hand through your hair as you started walking again — And I asked you how were you, you won’t answer? I’ll lock you in the dungeon for your audacity! — You both always joked like this because when you first started being friends, Harry had all that idea about the old royalty with dungeons and prisoners so you’d always make fun of him for that.

— Alright, alright! I'm good, they're good, we're all good. Now, tell me! — Harry said putting his right hand slightly on your shoulder making you stop walking and look at him with all your attention. You sighed trying to form your words to explain exactly what you were feeling to him.

— I don't know, I'm just... I'm so tired of the routine, you know? I wish I could just go out to do the craziest things and not be recognized. — You were looking straight to Harry's green eyes, it felt like they were watching your soul because e was giving you his full atention. The boy really did care about you. He stayes quiet for a while in complete silence, it was a comfortable silence though. It never felt like you and Harry needed to talk all the time when you got together because it was nice just to stay together and enjoy each other's company.

— Let me take you out! — Harry suddenly said after a few seconds making your eyes widen up as you looked at him.

— Excuse me? — You asked.

— Let me take you out! We can put on some disguises and take the best London tour we can find, I bet you've never done it! — Harry said with a little smirk in the end. He was right, you never took a tour through your own city which seems crazy — You know... I really like you and if you wanna have fun this could be great! You'll be just a girl called Y/N and I'll be just a boy called Harry. — He said trying to argue with your thoughts thinking if this would actually be a good thing to do. But you didn't really have anything to lose, did you? — So, do you wanna do a bunch of fun things with me today? — Harry held out his right hand to you indicating that as soon as you shake his hand you would leave that museum and probably have the best day of your life, and so you did.

So as soon as you could, you both were out of that museum with the most ridiculous disguises, if I might say. Harry changed his fashionable clothes for some neutral grey hoodie and you changed your cute black dress to a jeans and hoodie as well. Your heart raced a bit when you both left that museum, the fear of being recognized was in you. It's not that you don't love the people of this nation, it's just... a day off could fit you pretty well.

It was hard to convince Jasper to leave you both alone though, it was his job to keep you safe and actually you don't even remember the last time you left your home without him, you just needed freedom for a while but you did convince him. He spent some minutes actually talking to Harry tons of rules about keeping both of you safe and how he couldn't risk your life and all that stuffs.

For the first time in your life, you were on those big, red and popular British bus. You and Harry entered by the back door and within minutes, you both were on the upon side of it on the last chairs. You looked through the window admiring this city and thinking about how much you would never want to live anywhere else. Harry was making a lot of dad jokes beside you though. You tried to laugh as lowly as you could but it was almost impossible, come on “What's the name of a man with a rubber toe? Roberto” it's so bad that it turns out to be funny. But anyway, the bus took both of us to King Cross where you entered a very popular fast-food place called “Five Guys” as Harry guaranteed you was the best he'd ever had and even though you'd doubted it so much, you agreed to go with him. When you were there, you ordered the biggest burger it had on the menu, which actually surprised Harry, but he surprised it too as he ordered it on the name of “Archie and Eleanor” so you could maintain your disguise.

— So.. Archie and Eleanor? — You asked smirking when you finally took the first bite of your burger. It was delicious but Harry was definitely lying, this is not the best one ever, but yep, all for the experience.

— Come on, you loved it! It's very charming, don't you think? — Harry asked as he took a sip of his coca-cola. It's crazy how these stupid disguises was working, is it really that impossible to recognize someone with a hoodie, cap and sunglasses? You didn't want to know because you were having a nice time.

— You know what, I think we need to get those Chinese cookies because I wanna read my luck! — You commented making him shook his head in reaction to your ask.

— Ok so we need to dinner Chinese food so bad! — You argued taking Harry from surprise as he didn't thought you'd stay this late with him.

— You'd have to buy actual Chinese food, you can't just buy the cookie! — He answered raising his eyebrows at you taking his last bite of his burger.

It didn't take much long for you both to be moving again. It was definitely the best day you've had in a while. You both went to Kensigton High Street and bought the most stupid UK theme hats. Harry bought a fake glasses too; it was blue and had a UK flag handed on it making you laugh every time you looked at his face.

— Come on, I still look cute! — He said putting his hands on his hips and posing like a model, on the middle of the street.

— If you say so!

Next you both went all your way up to Abbey Road which is the famous street from The Beatles photo, and you and Harry as the great fans you are had to copy them. You asked to a random person to take a photo of you two with the best American accent you could impersonate to her. The photo looked so cool and a car almost hit you two but you were fine and for some reason you both laughed and ran to the woman with your phone.

— Oh, to be drunk in love! You both are a really cute couple. — The old lady said giving your phone back to you and walked away before any of you could contest her. You both looked at each other and Harry smirked at you.

— Oh, we're such a cute couple! — Harry said blinking his eyes on a very cute way and you just rolled your eyes at him and started walking again.

— Come on, Styles! I wanna go to the Queen's Gallery — You said walking your way up to the bus stop. Harry had a big smile on his face, he didn't remember the last time he actually had that much fun. He loved England. He loved those places and he loved having this much fun with you.

In the Queen's Gallery, you and Harry tried to not make that much of a noise, it was a museum right? But it felt hard to keep it quiet because you both were taking the weirdest and funniest photos with the arts in there, for a moment you even thought you both were going to be expulsed of the location, but you didn't. None of you realized how much the time was flying and it was probably 3 pm now.

The next step was the Columbia Road Flower Market. It was probably the coolest thing of your day. You both ran around taking a lot of photos and videos. You bought one of the most delicious breads in there. You were looking at some flowers when Harry came back to you with a bunch of pink tulips on his hand, it was your favorite flowers and he knew it.

You both went to so many places actually; you went to HMS Belfast, Battersea Park, Albert Memorial, Old Spiralfields Market, Serpentine Lake, Carnaby Street and Holland Park.

When it was closer to the sunset, you went to Princess Diana Memorial Garden. It was a hard place for you. It has always been and Harry even asked if you really wanted to go there, but you did. You needed to sit down for a moment on your life and miss your mom. You were little when she died so you're probably the only one of your brothers that remember her the least.

You both lied down on the grass. It had a fresh breeze in the air, but the sun was still out, it was that golden hour moment. You rested your head on Harry's thorax looking up to the sunset orange sky above you.

— You know this can be great... If we're willing to try! — Harry said in a very low tone. He was caressing your hair with his hand analysing your face, so he could get any reaction for you.

— It would be for a while. — You said sitting up to look at his face, your faces were a few inches apart, the golden coloration on his face giving him the glow he did have naturally — But what would happen 3 years from now when someone tells you that you couldn't perform anymore? Or you couldn't release your songs? It's not right, I can't ask you this! — Harry looked away for a moment, probably trying to contain his emotions and think, just think — But we have today, we have now. Maybe we should just enjoy what we have now!

He looked back at you, directly into your eyes and again, comfortable silence. The comfortable silence Harry thought was so overrated felt right any time he was with you. He put himself closer to you if that even it's possible. His ring handed touched your cheek, eyes never distracting, you leaned in and your lips touched his. It felt magical, it felt quiet and it felt right.

The sun was out now, bringing the night and the sky full of stars. You both were by The Mall avenue, running, and dancing to the song playing backwards; it was Ophelia by the Lumineers, after that day, this song was your song and any time any of you listened to it, each other was brought up to your minds. You called it a night when you both were by the top of the London Eye, where all the big lights inspired you. When the cold breeze hit your hair and the height scared you but Harry made you feel safe.

Harry dropped you off at the castle's gate at midnight, just as he promised. You stayed by the balcony of your room until the sunrise looking at the sky because you knew that Harry was on the other side looking at the sky too thinking about how you'd never get to finish the book of you and him, and if you weren't faded to end together at least you had today.

[guqin-and-flute]

In Your Hands--Ch. 3 [Peony to Lotus!Verse]

[Chapter 1][Chapter 2]

[This whole fic is the second chronological installment of the Peony to Lotus!Verse]

[First Installment] [Ao3 Series]

“...A-Jie?”

“Mm?” Yanli opens her eyes, going from the deep red-orange of the sun on her eyelids to the fresh blue of the world. She cranes her neck around to look over at A-Cheng. 

And finds that he’s no longer basking beside her and is instead sitting up, elbows on his knees, hands fiddling with something on the ground in front of him. 

It had taken some convincing to get him to actually lay down in the grass with her as A-Xian and A-Yao man the kites for target practice below them in the waterfall grotto--he is so concerned with being proper and respectable that he hardly lets himself relax anymore. He isn’t even relaxing now. While his gaze is on the disciples playing and training below their bluff-top vantage point, his lips are tight, his face troubled. Sitting up, she scoots closer to him and nudges her shoulder up against him, playfully. “What is it, A-di?”

The wind dances over the dewy spots the sun-warmed grass had left on her robes, lifting up the fresh and living scent of plants and water as she waits for his jaw to work over the words before they come out. For all that he blurts out whatever he wants about (or at) Xianxian, he is always careful when it comes to something regarding her. So she waits, gentling her energy and leaning closer to rest her temple against his hunched shoulder, rubbing her thumb along the tough leather of his bracer. 

“Are you...happy?”

She smiles, even though he can’t see it. “Of course I am, A-Cheng. It’s a beautiful day and we’re spending time together. Why?”

“I mean, are you happy...in general? With….” As he pauses, she follows his still stuck gaze and finds it on A-Yao in the shade holding a kite string, listening to something a shimei is saying with a patient smile. “I didn’t...we didn’t force you, did we? You really seemed to like that peac--well, you know. Wei Wuxian and I were wondering…” He looks back to his hands, twisting grass between them fitfully, but she sees his gaze dart to her sideways from underneath his eyebrows. “Are you happy?”

Sweet, romantic boys; the ones who had planned her wedding in full when they were only 8. Both still haunted by the wounds left by her parents’ relationship in their own way. Who had both been more than unimpressed with Jin Guangshan’s attempt at what he clearly saw was a hand-me-down marriage--a marriage they were apparently forgetting that, had she not insisted on for the good of the Clan, wouldn’t have even happened. “With you all taking such good care of me, how could I be anything but?” she teases, but his anxiety stays on his face, so she pets down his hair.

As for Jin Zixuan…. Yanli hadn’t flinched when A-Cheng had said his name, but that familiar drain had opened up in her chest, pulling her down and in until she’s a little smaller, a little sadder, a little...less. Yes. She had wanted to become worthy of that match, for her Clan, for her mother, who had promised her to it since she was just a girl. She had tried.

She just hadn’t been enough. 

“Is he good to you?”

Yanli shakes herself from her thoughts and sits up. She laces her fingers together and cushions her chin on the back of them with a faux thoughtful air. “Hmmm, is he good to me? Well, let’s see. I think I’ve received about 4 more gifts from him this week alone and he practically waits on me hand and foot.” She grins despite herself, that familiar giddy curling in her belly. “I would certainly say so.”

At this easy reply, he slants a curious, self conscious look that fits the round faced child she can still remember better than a would-be-stern Clan Leader and hesitantly asks, “Are you...in love?” while waggling his finger back and forth, as if indicating the space between her and her husband.

She covers an unlady-like snort of laughter that threatens to escape before she bites her lip against its persistent aftershocks and lowers the hand. “Why do you ask that like you’re going to get in trouble?” Something about the way he asks it just seems so young.

Flushing, he squirms and looks back down the bluff, but she sees the smile trying to fight its way onto his compressed lips. “I’m just curious!” When she continues to grin, he shoots her a look of reproach and complains, “A-jie, don’t laugh at me!”

“I’m not, I would never!” She laughs and rubs his shoulder to lessen the sting of the tease. “You’re so funny. But...I think...I don’t honestly know. I love talking with him and learning about him; I love...making him happy and seeing him smile. I get excited to spend time with him. I was always under the impression that being in love is something huge and earth shaking--from all the legends and epics--and when you know you know, but…” Yanli takes a deep breath of the clean, full air and looks back down, catching her eyes on the lovely, now-familiar shape of A-Yao in profile. Now, he’s looking up at the kites while shading his eyes, a small smile still on his lips. “But I’m just...happy. It’s lovely, with him, and honestly, I would be completely content if this is all it is.” It would be enough.

She searches this thought, a little, pushing at its edges. For a family? For children? To want? The answer within herself doesn’t feel nearly as urgent as it used to when it comes back with ‘Maybe. There’s no rush.’ She marvels a little at how much she actually believes it.

Watching her watch A-Yao, A-Cheng smiles tentatively in the side of her vision. “That sounds really nice, A-jie.”

“It really is. He’s very...doting.”

At this, A-Cheng snorts. “Unsurprising, considering how he was with Nie-xiong.”

“Oh? Were they close, A-Yao and Nie-er-gongzi?” 

“He definitely was devastated when Jin-xiong was kicked out of the Unclean Realm. I always got the feeling that he was something in between a shixiong and a babysitter, but they always got along well, from what I saw. Actually,” he furrows his eyebrows thoughtfully, tilting his head as he watches the disciples milling about, joyful fragments of shouts drifting up with the breeze. “Come to think of it, I don’t know that he’s seen him since….They weren’t in contact during the Sunshot Campaign, we know that much. Maybe they got to talk at the banquet?” His face darkens at the memory--where Jin Zixuan had officially called off the engagement, but he doesn’t speak on it. “I wonder what Nie-xiong thinks of him being here.” His scowl lightens to mere irritation and he scoffs, voice testy, now, as he adds, “Hasn’t bothered to visit.”

Hmm. She plucks this blossoming idea like a little flower to keep for later. Perhaps this is something else she could give her husband. 

And oh, that distant past, when she had first seen A-Yao in the classroom of the Cloud Recesses, standing humbly beside Nie Huaisang with his head down. A whole lifetime ago, when her family and Clan still lived and her biggest worry was Jin Zixuan’s aversion; it felt like an entire version of her had lived and died since. If she set herself to it, she could even remember the specifics, like how she had been impressed by his eloquence and the competence of his bearing--even when his parentage had been publicly mocked. In truth, she had been more focused on Wei Wuxian behaving at the time--to her shame. She had known it was wrong even while it happened, could have said something, anything at all. 

At least she would, now.

Turning to smooth her hand down his cheek to soothe his ruffled feathers over Nie Huaisang’s neglect and difficult memories, she catches sight of A-Xian charging up the hill with fiendish purpose under the rolling shadow of a cloud. He canons into A-Cheng like a vaguely sweaty firework without slowing.

A-Cheng squawks in disgust as it bowls them both over into the grass and the two of them begin to scuffle about it. A-Xian pants, “Shijie, I don’t think your husband has ever shot a bow before! Ow! You shit!”

A-Cheng sits, grinning and triumphant, on the back of Xianxian’s shoulders, digging his brother’s face into the grass and dirt. But just for a second or two, before he is flipped off and pinned, until he is shoved over and on and on, growling insults and play threats at each other like wrestling puppies. Eventually, laughing, Yanli stands and tugs A-Xian’s arm from the writhing pile, more of a hint than actually physically intervening. But he obediently heaves himself up, sweating, panting, and grinning, all harder than before. A-Cheng gives him a faux-surly punch in the side in retaliation and it very nearly starts the whole thing over again until Yanli firmly puts herself between them with a grin, brushing grass clumps from their hair and clothes. “Honestly, you two! I don’t envy the laundry women, just look what you’ve done to your robes. I should make you two clean them!” A-Cheng at least pretends to look halfway chastised while smiling, but A-Xian just looks proud. That is, until she continues, “And I hope you didn’t embarrass A-Yao about it. You know he wasn’t raised with the same training we were.”

At this, he cocks her an half pout, tucking his chin down and sticking his lip out. “Shijieee, all I said was that he must be worried he couldn’t beat our youngest shidi because he wouldn’t even try. Then he started ignoring me!”

A-Cheng rolls his eyes and tuts, loudly, before saying, “You asshole,” just as Yanli sighs.

Shaking her head, she tilts it in gentle scolding. “Maybe because you compared him to an 8 year old? Xianxian. You have to be careful; you know what people say about him. He needs to be safe, here. Where did you leave him?”

“Oh, he’s still down there, organizing clean up. He wasn’t offended--unlike some people,” here, he shoves at A-Cheng’s shoulder, who elbows him back. “Just the usual smiley Lianfang-zun. You know how he is, shijie, he doesn’t get upset over stuff like that.”

He’s always smiling, that doesn’t mean anything, Xianxian. You of all people would understand that. Yanli raises an eyebrow, gentle but not smiling. His childish act mellows behind his dirt smudged face and he looks away, pouting for real and rubbing his nose. “Sorry, shijie,” he mutters. 

“Mm, it’s not me you have to apologize to, A-Xian. It’s about time for you to organize cleanup now, don’t you think?”

He heaves a dramatic sigh, but grudgingly nods before perching on the edge of the bluff, shouting down through cupped hands. “Jin-gege-e-e, your wife wants you!” When he turns around, he points at A-Cheng nonchalantly. “You’re helping.”

“Oh, am I?” A-Cheng smirks, folding his arms and puffing up, very clearly preparing to pull rank.

“Uh, yeah, if you want this back!” Suddenly, A-Xian spins and sprints down the hill, holding his fist up over his shoulder.

“Wei Wuxian! What’d you take?! Hey! Stop!” 

As he pelts down the hill after him, Yanli has to laugh because, in the second before he had run, A-Xian had had nothing in his hands at all. For a moment, in this new peace, she closes her eyes and folds her hands over her belly, savoring the sun shining warm--almost hot--on the top of her head and the playful shouts of her brothers and the disciples below. Then, she hears footsteps. When she opens her eyes, she sees A-Yao making his steady way up the hill, his face pleasantly blank. The closer he gets, however, his eyes warm and the edges of him soften until he is here, reaching out and taking her hands. “A-Li? What do you need?” He smells like grass and water and sun.

“Was A-Xian being terrible again?”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Oh no, he’s just being Wei Wuxian. You look flushed--shall I walk you back?” 

But day by day she is learning each of his little lies and she recognizes this as one of them. Strangely, as the weeks go by, the masks he wears have been bothering her less and less; partially because she is beginning to understand that they are protection for him. Like armor or clothing--he would feel naked without them. If she can still tell what he wants, if she can still peek under them, she is more than happy not to pry them from him when he still needs their safety. (Of course she wishes he didn’t feel like he needs them in their home, with the people who would be his family, if he let them. But, like growing seeds or proving dough, these things take time and that, they certainly have.) He is becoming less of an impenetrable fortress and more of a foreign land that she can more easily navigate as she learns the language. It allows her to leave these smiles hung up like beautiful paintings she can name. Underneath this, he is tense and displeased; his smile-curved eyes opaque, his jaw holding tension. This one is Humiliation.

Twining her arms around his trim waist, she thrills in that wanted way she does every time he lets her hold him before she tucks her cheek to his to murmur, “I told him not to tease like that. I know it hurts you.” While she may have become more inclined to leave him his shields when he puts them up against her, she can’t help but talk around it, just a little. She cares less about the hiding and more about the fact that he suffers.

“...It’s fine.” He says nothing more, but his hands move to hold her back, one smoothing up between her shoulder blades as his face tips down against her neck, nose and eyelashes pressing. Not a talking problem, then. So she rocks, a bit, from her ankles to her hips, swaying them both slowly together in the rustling breeze with something like playfulness and something like comfort. “What are you doing, this afternoon?” She asks the air behind him, eyes cast to the wisping clouds passing slowly across the sky.

“Mm, I had planned to organize a list of new merchants in the area for Jiang Wanyin. Is there something you need me to do instead?"

"Is it urgent?"

"Not that I saw. Why, A-Li?"

"I was going to make dumplings tonight and I would love it if you joined me. If you want," she adds, diffidently. “I made the dough this morning.”

He startles, a little, and draws back, looking genuinely surprised. He opens his mouth, then closes it. Then smiles warmly. “I’d be delighted.” 

The sincerity of that smile makes her grin and she bounces a little on her toes--and he laughs. Clearly, he's pleased she wants to spend time with him. And she's pleased that he's pleased. And he seems to be pleased that she's pleased that he's pleased and around and around they go--it might have been embarrassing if it weren’t so fun.

It turns out that he’s as quick a study at being a kitchen hand as he is at anything else he does; he absorbs her instructions thoughtfully and works diligently, his noon-sky blue sleeves patterned with little whirls of teal tied back with a simple strip of cloth as he chops up the chives and garlic and ginger. His knife strokes are as rhythmic and sure as the kitchen is hot, with little wisps of breeze edging around the wet billows of spices and green and cooking pork. “You are so much easier to work with than Xianxian,” she tells him from down the smooth, sunbathed counter where she’s perched on a stool, rolling out the rounds of dough. “I love him dearly, but he tries to put absolutely everything in his mouth, even now.”

A tiny smile picks at the corner of his concentration tight lips. Then, with a flick of an eye to see if she’s watching, he wordlessly pops a little shred of ginger into his mouth from the neat pile he has made. “You!” Yanli gasps in delighted outrage at his audacity and leans over to ineffectually tap at the counter near his elbow--she can’t quite reach him, sitting down.

At this, he laughs outright and offers his wrist out, knife blade carefully angled away . She gives the back of his wrist a playful little swipe with her fingertips, leaving streaks of flour. “I thought I would make it a little more familiar for you,” he says, by way of excuse. “More what you’re used to.”

“Absolutely incorrigible,” she replies, fondly, righting herself again.

Here in the kitchen, where she has history and proficiency--where she is master--it’s as easy as anything to tease and tend with absolutely no worry at all. She isn’t agonizing if she is providing enough or saying the right things, because she knows exactly what must be done when, and he is masterful at following directions the very first time she gives them. Conversation is light and inconsequential around her instructions, and she is able to conserve her energy staying seated on the stool, maneuvering him about the kitchen as her arms with little guilt at all.

 In what feels like no time, they sit beside each other at the floured, bowl littered counter; bowls of filling, of water, of flour. Their shoulders brush. “So you wet the edge like this, because the dough isn’t completely fresh anymore--”

“Mn.”

“And you spoon in about this much--not much more or it will burst in the pan.”

“This much?”

“A little more, I think. Perfect! Then, like this. Then you fold the sides.”

“Too much?”

“Mmn, next time it can be a little tighter, but that’s good for your first one! Pinch it and--beautiful!” She pauses a moment to savor the look of her husband with flour speckling his quick, capable hands and lean forearms, seriously contemplating the dumpling. “You’re a natural.”

The withdrawing he had done behind his shields that morning is nowhere in sight when he looks over at her with unmistakable pride in his bright eyes. “Well, I have a wonderful teacher.”

She bites her grin back and waves the compliments away, laying out the next wrapper in front of her. “Oh, you.”

“Where did you learn the art of food?”

“Liu-popo, one of our cooks! I think I first got interested because I was sick for a lot of my childhood and she always made me the most wonderful meals. And when we found out about my heart and my health...well….” Mother stopped pushing once she realized Yanli would never be able to keep up with the training of the other disciples because there was no way for her to improve. No way for her to contribute to the Clan in a meaningful way. “I had a lot more free time. My room was by the kitchens, and I have always loved the smells and the bustle of it all. The more I was there, the more Liu-popo would let me mix things, tell me how they worked and what flavors went together. At dinner, seeing people eat what I made...knowing I did that, knowing I made them happy and full…it felt good.” She gives a little smile and glances at him. “And there's so many things you can do once you understand the basics, too. You can experiment and make new dishes!”

He wets the edge of his next dough wrapper and says, conversationally, “Like Wei Wuxian and his talisman inventions.”

This startles a laugh out of her and sparks from her dangling earrings in the sun dance off the warm gold glow reflected from their bodies onto the wall around the window. “Oh, no, it’s nothing special.”

“Really? I think it’s very similar. You’re perfecting something and helping people. Bringing them together and taking care of them, feeding their bodies and keeping them strong? That’s just as important.”

She hesitates and looks out the window. She never thought of it that way. The lotuses are pearly and bobbing in the bright breeze, their heady scent sneaking in light and fragrant under the punch of the spices. Their brilliance under the sun leaves dazzling green after images when she blinks. “Do you think so?” Assigning that much importance to it seems borderline ridiculous--what she does and what her brothers do is hardly comparable at all. She struggles to make herself useful while they blaze their way through the world, changing it with their will and sword edges. They are proper cultivators, proper warriors.

There is a pause, then a gentle hand lays over her wrist, slightly gritty from the flour coating his palm. “If you had asked me what I would have preferred when I was in the Scorching Sun Palace--a talisman or a warm meal from someone who--” it feels like he swallows a word back here, smoothly substituting, “cares, I know which I would have chosen. Without question.”

Even this feels like a kind exaggeration designed to make her feel better--soup instead of life saving magic? But this little rare little bauble of personal experience he was handing her was something more important than soothing her pride, so she smiles over at him. “You’re very sweet. But what about you? You’re a natural! Did your niang teach you how to cook?”

At this, his face slides from serious earnest to pleasant veneer and, with a spike of cold anxiety, she fears she has put her hand on a door that she thought she was being invited into, only to find it forbidden. But he merely turns back to spooning in the pork filling and says, lightly. “I’m sure she knew how--she was well educated in most things. But we didn’t tend to frequent the kitchens.” There is a silence she fears is the end of this particularly enticing thread. But then, eyes still on the pre-dumpling, he says, “She taught me other things, though. How to read and write. Proper etiquette. The basics of a guqin….”

There is a pause, and this feels almost uncertain, him tilting on his toes on the precipice of a step she desperately wants him to take, so she hazards, “Like Lan-zongzhu.”

A smile, small and fond, before he forces it brighter at his hands, efficiently twisting the little peaks. “Just like. He’s had more formal training, of course, but she was able to play quite well.”

Yanli knows some of this, of course. His mother had been famous for how educated she was despite her occupation--the refined courtesan of Yunping. But that’s not who she had been to A-Yao. She had been his mother. “She was a very talented woman.”

“Yes.”

“You loved her very much.”

Softer, smile greying; “Yes.”

A silence stretches, a bird outside trilling to accentuate it, so she says, quietly. “I’m sorry, we don’t have to talk about her, A-Yao. I didn’t mean to pry.”

That smile hikes wider and he looks over at her, where she can see in full the raw tension that hides just barely underneath and she wants to shower him with praise and thanks for the gift that it is. “You’re my wife, A-Li. There’s no prying; you can ask me anything you want to know.”

Mmhm, she thinks, I can ask, but you won't necessarily answer. What clever wording; sneaky. No need to push. Just like with A-Xian, she will let him take the time he needs to tell her what's wrong. As long as he knows she is always there to listen. “Well, I love hearing about her….” Then shyly, she adds. “Would she have liked me?

When his face softens completely, there is something in the corners of his mouth that makes her think of tears, though there’s no trace of it anywhere else. His voice is low when he says, “She would have adored you.”

She reaches out and touches his cheek with her flour coated hand, crumbling a swath of white up to his cheekbone. The way he’s looking at her is almost like yearning in his eyes, searching and wanting, even though she is right here, right with him, staying. A warmth rushes in her chest. “I would have loved to have met her, A-Yao. She must have been amazing--and you honor her so well.” It's truth. Nothing but.

Little lines pierce where his dimples should lie and he swallows, blinks. “...I try,” he says in a voice she has never heard from him before; it’s small. Clotted and uncertain. His eyes widen and he stiffens, and she feels him tightening, receding--so she pretends she doesn’t see it, pretends that she doesn’t know that that had been a slip of vulnerability that scares him.

She takes away all pressure--her hand from his cheek, her gaze from his face--and turns away to fuss over another circle of dough. Sprinkling more flour on the counter, arranging everything just so in front of her as she smiles. “Well, you’ve proven to be a wonderful kitchen hand, so you should help me make dumplings for all the holidays, since you’re so good at it. New Years and Dongzhi and--oh, I should teach you the dances we do for the Dragon Boat Festival! I perform one every year for Lotus Pier, when I can. Or,” she straightens with realization. “Oh!” When she turns to him, he’s considering the dumpling he’s pinching with far more concentration than is warranted. “Oh, you grew up in Yunping! Do you know any?”

He clears his throat without looking up, smile uncomfortable. “I know a few. Quite a few. My mother taught me to dance because she didn’t know any martial arts to prepare me for cultivation outside some of the books she managed to find. But she knew starting me in a physical discipline young would help. I’m...adequate.”

Even more corners of her life she could tuck him into! More things she could share with him! A way to draw him from the shell he’s desperately trying to retreat back into! Excitedly, she twists on her stool, swiping her hands on her apron. “Oh, show me, please, I want to see!”

The tips of his ears redden adorably, and he winces. “I don’t...A-Li--”

There are not many things she will push him on, except on matters where he paints himself as unworthy, but this! This she absolutely has to see, here, just them, sharing the things that make them who they are under the kitchen counter in private. “Please, oh, please! I’ll even dance with you, if you don’t want to do it alone! We’ll go together!” She stands and shrugs her shoulders to free her arms some mobility from where her apron captures the joining of her sleeves, letting her hands rest on the air in delicate anticipation.

He’s startled into looking up at her, eyebrows pinching. His face is colored in embarrassed alarm. “I only ever performed alone, my partner dances aren’t--”

Performed! She could crow. And she will get that story in time, oh yes she will. “Then you choose! Whatever you want, I’ll follow you! Whatever you want, whatever!”

At this insistence, reluctantly, slowly, he stands, dusting off his hands before untying the cloth that keeps his sleeves back. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, to her utter rising delight he shrugs out of his heavier blue outer robe entirely to drape over the edge of the rack of unpeeled vegetables. It leaves him in 2 lighter, tighter layers of shades of plum and navy. The lack of patterns on the fabric simplifies his lines, rendering him limber and neat as he places his feet just so.

Immediately it is clear that he is not merely adequate, as he claimed. When he lifts his hands, the intent behind them shows someone who has had control of their body’s movements from a very young age and knows where every square inch of it is at all times--no less talented or powerful than those lifelong cultivators that she knows. He is watching her. She glows with the trust of it all and follows his first step. 

There is no music, and so she sees his quick tempo and meets it with a wordless, half remembered song, all ‘da da’s and breathless notes as they move. And they dance, wheeling tight in the modest space of the kitchen floor. The dance he chooses is, as he said, not usually a couple dance, but she knows it and mirrors him, light and lilting, stepping quick and smooth. Some of the sweeps of his arms and legs are the masculinized version of what she knows, so she reflects in compliment when she can--when the counters and bulbs of hanging garlic and strings of peppers don’t block her path. It’s amazing, it’s easy, it’s fun.

She watches his face flash pass during a turn--once, concentration; twice, surprise; thrice, realization. When he faces front, he looks tentatively pleased. 

She arches her back and kicks up her foot in a sharp arc in improvisation, grinning cheekily and that real, crooked grin of his is back, with something different, something--is that teasing? Arms spread like wings for balance, he responds in kind, but the arc of it is wider, higher, until, for a single moment, the billow of his robes is a flower blossom on the impossibly straight line of his legs, up and down. She whoops in undignified awe in the middle of a measure, abandoning the tune.

In the end, she bumps the corner table with her hip and teeters a moment, arms wheeling for balance even as she laughs. When he catches her wrist and pulls her back, Yanli collapses onto him, arms around his neck as she giggles, helplessly elated. Struggling back upright, she grabs his face in her palms and plants a quick, hard kiss on his lips. 

His fast breath tastes like ginger. 

They are both flushed and panting in the heat of the kitchen, wisps of humidity frazzled hair escaping their respective guan and pin. And they are both grinning. “You must perform with me,” she wheezes.

Breathlessly, he lets out a short laugh, smile going wryer but not disappearing. “Ah, I doubt anyone wants to see me.”

“I do!”

Again, he chuckles. “Then I’ll dance for you.”

He’ll dance for her! That golden bubbling is back in her chest, permeating the whole of her until she feels like sunlight. “Think about it at least?”

With an air of extreme indulgence that tells her that he has thought and has already decided, he nods, one dimple pressed in deep. She lets it go. Oh well, next year. 

He helps her sit because her lungs are tight and her legs going to jelly, but she is so helplessly pleased by him and the gifts he keeps giving her. So she kisses him again, because she likes to and she can, and feels his palms press her closer by her shoulder blades and feels so very very wanted.

[lalazinhaaaaaa]

Julie and her friends were on an exchange, they were lucky to be able to go together. It was their first time outside their country, they barely knew how to speak French, but they decided to throw themselves into the new experience.

Little did they know that it wouldn't be one of the best things they did, they should have studied more, learned more about where they decided to stay. As they did not want to stay in university dorms, they decided to rent an apartment to stay during the exchange.

"Julie, are you sure we'll be fine?" Joseph asked.

"I do have my dear friend," Julie replied.

"But we still don't even speak French properly, in my opinion it would be better to stay in the university dorms," ​​Olivia replied.

-Guys, what is that? Scared now, we're between 8 , so all this drama - said Julie giving a mocking giggle.

"But Olivia is right, Julie," Tom said looking at the apartment.

-Tom, fuck you love you're scared to death too - Julie laughed as she looked at Tom giving him a kiss.

- Okay, but if something happens I'll get out of here little people - Margaret said.

- All in favor of giving the apartment a chance? asked Julie.

-Yes, said Tom, Leyla, Ayla, Mark, Margaret, Olivia and Joseph.

- Okay but let's be friendly heard Tom, it's not for anything you're going to beat up everything and everyone, we're not in Mexico.

- Yes my goddess I'll hold back with the jerks - replied Tom.

Tom had already disliked that place at first, but he didn't want to be the coward who would abandon his beloved for fear of a silly apartment. But still something about that place wasn't right, maybe the people there or the red color of the walls.

Everyone was so quiet, even the neighbors who had little kids. On the very first night the students noticed strange things, such as whistles, footsteps, saw noises and screams.

Tom woke up in the middle of the night scared looking at the scared faces of his friends and his girlfriend. "What is this noise?", a question crossed the minds of the students.

"We'd better not go see, he's a maniac," Ayla said.

"Who would be the crazy one who would see what's making that noise," Joseph said.

"Me," replied Mark, wanting to pay as a bully.

"Look if you die no one will be responsible," Julie argued.

"All right then go back to sleep, you cowards," said Mark.

"Why can't we pretend we haven't heard anything," Margaret said.

"It would be a good idea if asshole Mark would stop wanting to play manly," Joseph said looking at Mark who was now frowning, fists clenched ready to fight Joseph.

- Enough people, let's all stay here, tomorrow we talk to our neighbor about the noise coming from his house- argued Julie.

"Okay then," Tom said.

"Fucking shithole bunch," said Mark.

- Mano I'm putting up with you, if I hear one more fucking word from you, I'll kill you right here! - shouted Tom.

- Tom, calm love - Julie said trying to avoid a fight.

- Wow, I...- Mark stopped after hearing a thump on the wall behind him.

"Let's lock the door and be quiet here, whoever or whatever will stop soon," Leyla whispered.

"Great now everything's closed, we don't need to worry," Ayla said looking at everyone.

Ayla walked to the apartment door and her classmates all followed her slowly, then  Ayla closed the door. And everyone went back to their room, lay down on their beds and spent the night awake looking at the ceiling, waiting for the noise to stop, but from what they could see the noise only stopped at 6:30 am.

They were exhausted, as all night without sleep made them look like walking zombies, the worst thing is that now they would have to go to college. In Julie's mind what she wanted most was just sleep, she didn't even know where her school supplies were.

- Enough, we didn't sleep at all because of that asshole neighbor, I'll break his face if that was a movie and if he was throwing things at the walls - said Tom angrily.

- Tom, hey calm my angel, leave it aside, we have to go to college - said Julie.

- College, you're crazy, bro we didn't close our eyes for a minute, tell me how we're going to study - argued Tom.

- Tom, calm down, Mark said.

- I'm not coming back here later, I'm going to a college dorm, no more fucking sleep! - Ayla shouted - And worse bro today for sure will have either physics or math just because we're dead sleepy.

"Guys this was just a bad night's sleep," Julie said.

"Just a bad night's sleep with a neighbor who watches horror movies and throws things at walls all night long," Tom said.

Knock knock somebody knocked on the door, Tom went to the door and opened it quickly, seeing that she was a short lady who was with a sad expression he led her inside.

- Thank you young people, I wanted to ask you if you haven't seen my son Barth around? - Asked the lady.

"Sorry we didn't see it," Julie said.

- Do you know who our neighbor is? asked Tom.

- I'm your neighbor, and yesterday my son disappeared after 22:45 at night - I looked for him everywhere - replied the lady.

"So you were the one watching the movie until 6:30 in the morning," Tom said in a harsh tone.

"I haven't watched movies for years, it must have been my son then that little bastard," she said.

"What do you mean your son, he's not missing?" Ayla asked.

"You're quoting that I'm lying to you," the lady said.

- No, of course not, we just wanted to know how the television was on from 22:45 to 6:30 and you didn't listen? - Ayla asked.

- There was no television on this morning in my house - replied the lady.

- But you... - Ayla was silenced by the lady's indicated finger.

- My young woman, I think I'm going to go, I haven't found my son yet - said the lady.

- Bye then, it was a pleasure to meet you - Julie said goodbye.

The lady just left without saying goodbye, and went towards the apartment next door. They were thoughtful for a while, because if it wasn't you or her son who would it be? But now they didn't have time to think, they should go to college.

The tupique was about to leave without them, when they entered they saw their new colleagues, a girl approached them and said softly "sє єυ ƒσssє vσcєs iriα мє мυ∂αr" , and walked away soon after. The young people were kind of embarrassed after the way the girl spoke.

- Girl?! - shouted Tom

"Yes," she said.

"What do you know about the apartments?" asked Tom looking at the girl.

- Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Camili, I know that in the apartments you're in there were already several illogical disappearances and that people were never found- said the girl.

- Nice Tom, nice name your girl, but are these rumors or has it been confirmed by the police? asked Tom.

- They were confirmed by the police - he replied

Camili looking into Tom's eyes.

Tom felt a shiver run through her body, Camili's eyes were an icy baby blue hue, he could feel the coldness with which she answered his question. When they arrived at the college, the students went after Camili, looking for her everywhere and even. so they didn't find her.

So he decided to ask about Camili, but everyone they asked was stunned and embarrassed. At the end of the corridor they saw a vijia and went to him.

"Sir, have you seen a blonde girl with big baby blue eyes named Camili?" asked Tom.

-Camili was a student who studied here until the day she disappeared without a trace - he said - if you know something about her you can go to the police station and report it, any help or clues about her whereabouts are welcome.

- Wow, sorry is that we saw you today in the tupique - said Tom.

"What do you mean you saw her in the tupique?" asked the vijia.

"It's serious man," replied Tom.

- Okay young people, but stop playing with it, it's not funny - replied the vijia.

- But...- Tom was interrupted.

- But nothing, no more making fun of it! - shouted the vijia.

Tom walked away from the startled vijia, even though Tom tried, there was no denying that he and his friends saw Camili. But they couldn't prove anything to anyone, as only they saw it.

- Look guys, Camili spoke of the apartments where we are, don't you think it's strange? - asked Julie.

-We should keep an eye on that crazy girl from our neighbor, she seems to be suspicious of something - argued Tom looking at Julie.

- Okay, let's believe that crazy lady who lost her son could be a psychopath in disguise, please don't make me laugh - mocked Mark.

- Man is going to get hurt, I'm not kidding bro! - Tom shouted.

- Tom calm down, leave him please - Julie said trying to calm Tom down.

-Fuck you bro, you guys are fucking crazy! - Mark yelled.

- Dude, fuck it's serious my God you're dumb bro, you saw the screaming yesterday! cried Margarete.

- Bad guys, I'm tired, I won't stay in that apartment of hell anymore! Ayla yelled.

A silence dominated the place, the university corridors seemed to have fallen silent to hear their conversation, their classmates were all staring with wide eyes.

"Ayla we're not fucking leaving you alone!" Julia yelled.

-Damn fuck you, I'm not spending another day in that hell!- Ayla shouted.

"Enough, Ayla and I aren't staying at the apartment, period," Margaret said.

"Okay then, doesn't anyone else want to stay in the apartment?" Julie asked.

Everyone raised their hands, even her boyfriend Tom, demonstrating that she was the only one who would still want to stay in that apartment.

- Wow, you scared people, huh - said Julie.

-Love look you saw what you saw and heard what you heard yesterday-said Tom-is not safe that place and we both know it.

❏ ❐ ❑ ❒ ❏ ❐ ❐ ❑ ❒ ❒ ❏ ❐

After class everyone went to the apartment, Ayla and Margaret entered the room and began to pack their things to get out of that place as quickly as possible.

After tidying everything up, they sat on the couch while they waited for their friends to come to their meetings to say goodbye or even to go with them to the college dorms.

Suddenly Joseph and Olivia appeared with their bags ready to go with them. His eyes were hooded in dark circles.

- Is it really serious people are you going to leave the apartment and go to those boring dorms? - Julie asked.

- Oh love, look I know you'll be mad, but I don't want to stay in this place either - Tom said.

-Even you love, oh, you'll be screwed, Julie replied.

-Julie listen for the love of God, you have a problem, you heard that scream yesterday! - shouted Tom.

"Don't yell at me you asshole!" Julie yelled.

-Look here, I'm already tired of you and in this authoritative way, it comes, grows and becomes an adult! - shouted Tom going to the bedroom.

-It's over, you idiot, go with them and leave me alone asshole! - Julie shouted.

"Okay then it's over," replied Tom soothingly.

"They're all going to take your scared shit out of your ass!" Julie yelled.

"Oh you go, you useless babe, muggle!" Ayla yelled.

"Useless, you spoiled little patsy who lives off your parents, your carrot-colored hair!" Julie yelled.

- Julie will fuck you girl, stop being a child - Joseph said looking at Julie.

- Leave Ayla the fuck alone, bro you're more childish than my little sister of four years - Olivia said going after Ayla who ran to the room in tears.

- Come on guys, leave this clown there alone in this shit - Tom said.

- I'm staying here with Julie, I'm not leaving her alone in this place - said Mark.

- Me too, she is my friend unlike you - Leyla replied.

"Then stay there, you vultures!" shouted Tom.

-Look man you're pissing me off! - Mark yelled punching Tom in the face.

- You bastard! - shouted Tom going towards Mark giving him another punch.

- Damn, bro, stop!-  Ayla shouted entering the middle of the fight.

Mark landed a punch on Ayla, she fell to the ground, at that moment Tom and Mark looked at Ayla who sat on the floor and started crying again rubbing her forehead.

-Ayla my dear sorry - begged Mark.

"Tom help me!" Ayla said through tears and sobs.

"Calm down, let's get out of here," Tom said, approaching Ayla and extending his hand toward her.

Tom, Joseph, Ayla, Olivia and Margaret left the apartment and went to the university dorms. That night Julie wept bitterly for having ended up with Tom like that.

❏ ❐ ❑ ❒ ❏ ❐ ❐ ❑ ❒ ❒ ❏ ❐

A week later...

Julie, Mark and Leyla were unrecognizable due to their sleepless nights in that apartment. They spotted Tom kissing Ayla, at that moment Julie's floor disappeared.

She threw herself on the bench beside her and started to cry. She still loved Tom and wanted him back, but now she wouldn't stand a chance against Ayla, a tall, skinny redhead with long, shapely legs, a slim waist, a tight butt and a beautiful face.

She knew she was and always was the weirdest of the bunch. And she managed to date the captain of the football team and now played the two years of dating because of a silly little fight.

- Julie, calm down - Leyla said looking at Julie.

"How to calm me down Ayla and Tom are together," Julie said through sighs, "I love Tom and I will always love him."

-Girl forget about him, he doesn't deserve you - said Mark.

❏ ❐ ❑ ❒ ❏ ❐ ❐ ❑ ❒ ❒ ❏ ❐

Two days later...

Ayla called Julie, but the call was declined. Julie was still very hurt with Ayla and didn't even want to hear her voice.

Julie felt a hand caressing her waist, she turned abruptly and came face to face with Mark. She was so confused by it, she didn't want him to touch her like that, but something inside her was wanting some physical contract.

"Mark, please stop it," she said softly.

"Oh Julie you know I've always had a crush on you," retorted Mark.

- Mark is serious pa... - Julie was interrupted by a kiss.

Mark kissed her as he stroked her hair, she pushed him away hard making him fall off the bed.

"Mark arrives!" Julie yelled.

- Enough not we're just starting - he said opening a distorted smile on his face as he grabbed Julie's arms.

-Leyla, help!-Julie yelled as she struggled trying to escape from Mark.

Mark and Leyla appeared, and were amazed by what they saw, it was as if what was on top of Julie was a clone of Mark. The clone then looked at Mark and Leyla and began to dematerialize.

"Julie are you okay?" Mark asked, approaching Julie.

As he did so, Julie stuck a pair of scissors in his left eye, making him fall dry on the damp floor. Leyla was startled by what she saw and ran towards the exit of the apartment.

-Leyla waits!-Julie yelled as she ran after Leyla.

"Help!" Leyla shouted.

Julie took off her sneaker and threw it towards Leyla, but luckily for Leyla she missed. Leyla kept running and being chased by Julie.

Leyla got into the elevator and started pressing the button for the first floor. She was lucky that elevator closed before Julie reached her. Startled, she hurried out of the apartment as soon as the elevator stopped on the first floor.

Julie had never been this violent, but now she's paranoid. The only thing left for Leyla now was to go to the university dorms to find her friends and talk about Julie's situation.

She knew it wouldn't be easy because she turned down going with her friends to the dorms, she knew they were still hurt by her choice to stay with Julie in that damn apartment. But something was still brooding in her head "if that guy who was on top of Julie wasn't Mark, then who was it?"

-Leyla please wait! - Julie shouted running after Leyla.

-What do you want, leave me alone please! - Leyla shouted.

After running for a long time Leyla noticed that Julie stopped chasing, she just stopped and turned around and walked back towards the apartment. Leila kept running even though she knew Julie was no longer after her, as she still needed to communicate the situation to her friends.

Arriving at the dorm she noticed that everything was too quiet for her liking knowing it wasn't even time for bed yet. It was still 7 pm she knew her friends very well and knew they would always go to sleep from 10 pm onwards.

Upon arriving in the dorm room where her friends were, she noticed that the two were off and that a disturbing silence was in that room, something kind of weird because her friends loved to gossip about other people's lives and discussing random things. It was then that she realized they weren't there.

She knew he shouldn't have gone to the apartment where Julie was but something made her think about this possibility. So she decided to go back to the apartment even knowing it would be risky for her life even knowing that now whoever was there was no longer her friend but yes a crazy maniac.

Upon arriving there she noticed that there was a taxi at the door of the building where Julie was, she entered faster running into the building took the elevator to the floor where Julie was hoping that her friends would be there too. Luckily for her the only one there was Tom he was looking for Julia because he wanted to tell her that he had nothing against her and that he didn't hold a grudge against her.

"Tom is serious, get out of there, this isn't the Julie we know," Leyla said quietly.

"What do you mean by that?" Tom asked.

"She had a tantrum, snipped at Mark and killed him, all because of a damn clone of him I don't know what that thing was I just know it looked like him," Leyla replied.

"I'm not sure Julie wouldn't be able to do that or would she?" retorted Tom awkwardly.

- Yes, she would fucking have to get out of here! - Leyla said worried.

- First you get Julie and Mark here and now you mean that Julie killed Mark - said tone sarcastically - I mean that she is dangerous and that we have to get out of here do not make me laugh Please stop with this nonsense.

"Tom is serious, let's get out of here," Leyla pleaded.

"I'm not going anywhere without talking to Julie first," Tom said in a stressed tone.

- Tom please I'm not kidding - Leyla begged once again crying.

- Leyla, calm down I'll just talk to her nothing more - replied Tom.

- So first please get me out of here and take me with you?! - Leyla pleaded.

- I'll get you out of here and then I'll come back to talk to Julie - replied Tom.

As soon as he took Leyla's hand there was silence and then a sharp thud, Leyla fell to the ground with a knife stuck in her back. At that moment Tom saw Julie down the hall looking at him with a distorted smile.

Startled Tom ran towards the stairs and went down as fast as he could to the second floor, but then he saw Leyla, something wasn't right, Leyla had died in front of him there was no way she was alive and there was no way she could come after him.

Tom ran to the apartment that was closed, broke the door and entered and luckily there was a closet on the wall he entered the closet and locked the door and that's when he turned around and saw Julie's decomposing body. Leyla if that was what it was Leyla hadn't entered the apartment where Tom was hiding in the closet.

Doubts appeared in Tom's mind "When did Jully die? How did she die and how long have they been living with that imposter among them?" Suddenly he heard a familiar voice calling him, Ayla's voice.

But Tom wasn't stupid he wasn't going to get out of there, he knew he could be a clone of Ayla. But suddenly something opened the door, abruptly pulling Tom out.

- Let's go your mule, let's leave! - Ayla shouted pulling him by the arm.

He noticed Ayla was covered in blood, she pulled him outside the building where they were, shoved him into the taxi car, then got in next to him and the car started.

-Listen, we have to get out of here, there's something weird going on, something really weird and we can't stay here or we'll end up dying- Ayla said.

"Where are we going then, and you're really Aila?" asked Tom.

"We're going to the airport, let's go back home, yes I'm Ayla and I noticed that our friends are weird, I don't think any of them are real anymore," Ayla replied.

- Thank God. I would not know what to do without you, everything happened so suddenly - said Tom relieved.

-No, it didn't happen all of a sudden signs appeared everywhere, for example with Julie's obsession to stay in that apartment, the fights that happened between us, none of this was normal and also with Camili's appearance- replied Ayla.

"So you mean that our friends are all dead or that we were living a fake the whole time?" asked Tom.

- No, that's not the problem was that apartment. Do you remember those screams that night? - Ayla asked.

"I remember it was after that that everything started to get weird," Tom replied.

"You didn't notice that those screams sounded familiar somehow, you know it was Julie screaming," Ayla snapped.

"But Julie was on my side, it can't have been her," Tom said.

-Hey you're the only one who didn't notice that that wasn't Julie, but a clone of her- said Ayla.

"My God, since I was stupid all this time, I remember feeling like Julie was up that night from her bed," Tom argued.

Upon arriving at the airport, Tom and Ayla saw Ayla's father's jet waiting for them. Ayla's father got out of the jet and went to meet her and Tom.

They all quickly boarded the jet and shortly thereafter the jet took off and when it flew towards the airport exit it exploded killing Ayla her father and Tom. Then Margaret and Joseph were arrested for killing all their friends on the trip .

From the beginning there were things happening, first the less participative people in the conversations and who were always distant were Margaret and Joseph except for Olivia who was the first to die, second they were blood brothers and they both suffered schizophrenia and this story above was what they told the police. And the two had even killed 47 more people.

[marvelfansince08love]

The Pleasure is all mine  Chapter 2

Word count: 2616 

Pairing: Lou Miller x Fem!Reader, Background Platonic friendship Debbie Ocean x Lou Miller. 

Setting: Three weeks after their initial meeting, they finally meet again but does the reader assume things to quickly...  (of course she does because I wrote it and I’m an over-thinker)

A/N: I am so sorry for the late update, I was going to do it yesterday but I just needed to add a couple of things to it before uploading. Also I skimmed through this... does that count as proof-reading?

Tags: @waitingfortheendtocome​ @natasha-danvers​ @5aftermidnight​

P.S: Your comments puts fuel/gas in my car, much appreciated x

I do not own the gif below! ♥

Chapter 2 

Erin is a sweet five year old girl with the cutest blonde curls and crystal blue eyes reminding me of a certain hot knight in shining armour.

"See you around Y/N from Y/H/T"

"Miss Nurse do you have any fish?"

I shake the thoughts of Lou out of my head before focusing on the important question asked by my patient.

"No, but I did have when I was younger. He was a clown fish"

"Just like Nemo!" She squeals excitedly.

I grin softly at the innocent statement.

"Just like Nemo"

"Do you think if I ask mummy real nicely, she will get me Nemo once I'm better" she asked sweetly with a hint of sadness. I frown slightly thinking about the treatment that she's currently going through before quickly masking it behind a sweet smile.

"Well there's no harm in asking hey, my little munchkin?" I stroke my thumb across her cheek softly offering some comfort.

"Miss Nurse do you think I'll get any better?"

I fumble slightly trying to gather my thoughts. This has always been the most difficult part of the job but somehow, I wouldn't change it for the world.

"I sure hope so kid! But just know that me and your parents are going to be right here, with you, all the way" I reassure her before standing up and letting her know that she's due her medication.

 Leaving the room, I sigh gently before rubbing my tired eyes. After working three twelve-hour shifts in a row a girl could use a nap. I straighten myself up again and turn towards the nurse’s station, on my way over I see Erin's parents coming through the door and towards her room. They glance over and offer a polite smile and wave before entering. I turn back towards the nurse's station and see Rachel standing behind the desk going through medical files. She quickly glances my way before returning to her task with a mischievous grin.

"Someone looks like shit today; you want to borrow some of my concealer"

" Ha.Ha. very funny Rach, for that you can go on the next medication round"

She pokes her tongue out playfully before abandoning her task and turning her full attention to me. She places her face in the palms of her hands innocently before asking:

"Wanna come out tonight? Please, pretty please?" With a pout for good measure. I groan before rolling my eyes in displeasure.

"The last time I ended up out with you, I almost fractured my ankle" I complain. She scoffs and waves her hand in dismissal.

"Oh please! you were fine after a week besides you got rescued by some hot blonde, if anything you should be thanking me!" She teases. I roll my eyes in good nature before taking the medical file from her pile and walking away.

"I take that as a yes!" She states loudly, leaning over the desk. I turn my head to face her with a grin.

"Of course" with a quick playful wink before heading off to my next patient. I hear a loud "Yes!" from behind me before walking into the patients room.

................................................................................

The club is hot and dark with lightly dimmed blue lights. My tight black dress already clinging to my body like second skin from the heat. If I squint hard enough I can make out the sea of people dancing within the thick smoke on the dance floor.

"Okay before we hit the bar I need to dance the stress of work out of me" I state before being led by Rachel towards the dance floor in the middle of the room.

My hips sway in time with the beat of the song, warm bodies pressed close all around the busy dance floor. I can feel the floor vibrate beneath my feet. Rachel grabs my hand and twirls me around with Lucas our fellow paediatric nurse cheering us on. After half an hour of dancing I can feel my throat becoming drier indicating the need for a drink.

"You guys wanna get a round in" Rachel shouts to the both of us while gesturing to the packed bar in the middle of the room. We all cheer in agreement before grabbing onto each other and making our way through the crowd to the bar.

She waves over the bartender like greeting an old friend. She smiles charmingly at Rachel while leaning over the bar counter.

"There's my favourite girl! What can I get cha tonight Rach?" She says flirtatiously as she eyes Rachel's outfit. She's also opted for a tight-fitting dress in red. She giggles and places her hand on top of the flirty bartender's.

"Can we get a tray of vodka shots please?" She bats her eyelashes for extra measure. The bartender winks cheekily before turning around and preparing our tray

.

"You are such a flirt Rachel" Lucas says from beside me. I laugh in agreement as she pretends to be outraged by the accusation before grabbing the tray from the bartender and handing us both two each.

I bring the shot to my mouth and let the burning liquid travel down my throat. I splutter slightly from the first shot before downing my next one; this time going down a little easier - almost a little too easy. I grab another one from the tray that's still in Rachel's hand and down my third.

"Is it me or is the vodka a little weak?" I say loudly to the pair. They both chuckle and roll their eyes at me.

"Oh the big mighty Y/N thinks she can handle her drinks better than us Rach" Lucas mocks in good nature. I roll my eyes before giving him a playful shove on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry the vodka isn't to your likening"

That voice

Oh how I've dreamt of that voice.

I turn around with wide eyes my mouth opening in shock to see her stood with such confidence and beauty.

Lou

She's got the same signature smirk on her face just like that night in the food truck. I quickly close my gaping mouth and throw Lou a shy smile.

"Just point me in the direction of the club manager because there's no way that's just vodka" I awkwardly tease. I hear Rachel gasp next to me and with a quick glance her way she shakes her head as if indicating for me to stop talking, her eyes wide with slight fear and amusement.

"There's no need to take you to her when she's right here, love" she teases with her deep Australian accent. There's that damn smirk again.

Shit!

"Oh my god Lou, I am so sorry I didn't mean it in a bad way. I guess I can just handle stronger vodka" I ramble feeling embarrassed that I've managed to make a fool of myself TWICE in front of this woman.

She walks slowly up to me so we are in closer proximity and leans towards my ear, her breath smells of mint and is warm against my cheek. I close my eyes at the feeling of it – feeling intoxicated by it.

Maybe the vodka is a bit stronger than I thought.

"If you want something stronger all you gotta do is ask my darling" she pulls back and winks while chewing lazily on a piece of gum.

I shake the dirty thoughts out of my head before straightening up and quickly glancing at the two spectators in this flirtatious game. Their eyes moving back and forth between the two of us, Rach clashes her eyes with mine and winks before mouth "go for it". I quickly look back to Lou and notice that she's still staring at me waiting for a response her crystal blues look dark under the dimmed lights.

"Okay"

Her lips twitch in amusement before replying:

"Okay"

I smile wide at the similar exchange from our first meeting.

I turn back towards my friends to see them subtly giving me approval and making whipping noises.

I am so not whipped.

I feel her arm circle around my waist and her mouth close to my ear - barely touching.

"I hope you don't mind but I'd hate to lose you in the crowd after I've just found you again" she says loudly into my ear before escorting me through the crowds, her arm never loosening its hold around me.

As we come to a flight of stairs, I tense and turn towards her in confusion which effectively removes her arm.

"My office is up here and it's quiet, I'd like to talk to you. I know it sounds crazy, but I've not been able to get you out of my head" she looks deep into my eyes with slight insecurity. I smile gently before gently taking hold of her hand and heading for the steps. I look over my shoulder at her and see that her eyes are glued to one place only:

"I hope you weren't looking at my ass, Aussie" I say cheekily with a smirk. She quickly looks away and smirks; as if she's not ashamed of being caught. Just like that the insecurity is gone.

"I wouldn't dream of objectifying you like that darling"

 The cheek of this woman!

 You secretly love it though

 I blush at the nickname as well as my thoughts before hiding it by turning back around and continuing up the stairs.

We finally reach her office space and gestures for me to seat down on a very expensive black plush sofa.

This is place is huge!

Lou moves over to a small bar in the corner of the room and pours two small glasses of vodka. She walks over with confidence and hands me a glass before taking a seat next to me - hip brushing against hip. She leans her forearms onto her thighs and turns to look at me with those crystal blue eyes.

"Thanks for coming up here it gets a bit much downstairs, how are you? How's that ankle of yours?" She asks softly with some concern.

I smile and feel my heart beating faster at our proximity.

"Uh yeah I'm doing okay. I've managed to see more of New York and made a few friends, plus my ankle is a hundred times better now thanks to you" I say with a teasing undertone. I gently bump my shoulder against hers and grin.

She laughs, mouth wide showing her perfect white teeth.

"So I see you run your own little kingdom around these parts huh. First the burger truck and now a nightclub you must be pretty busy" I state jokingly, she shifts uncomfortably before masking her discomfort with a smug smirk.

"I'm a woman of many talents Y/N" I raise an eyebrow in question to her diverting away from the statement. Her shoulders drop before taking a sip of her drink.

"Growing up... I didn't have a lot. My father worked two jobs trying to provide for us, we moved constantly, never staying in the same place longer than six months. I guess it made me more determined to not have that constant worry of where my next meal was coming from or if I had a roof over my head. So eventually I moved to New York starting working a few highly paying jobs and managed to afford this place.... 5 years later I'm running one of the busiest nightclubs in New York" She stares at me with a soft expression.

"Your amazing" I whisper my eyes taking her in, trying to piece this beautiful woman together. Maybe there's a softness to the mysterious confident Lou. She reaches over and takes my hand into hers, her thumb brushing softly against my skin.

"Listen Y/N...

"Hey Lou baby, we need talk about this plan because I've been up all night thinking about and honestly I need a listening ear... oh you have company"

Lou quickly let's go of my hand and stands briskly, her eyes widen as if being caught doing something she shouldn't be doing.

"Debs I uh, this is Y/N you know the woman I helped a few weeks ago" her voice tight and rushed; as if trying to justify my presence. I reel off all the possibilities as to why she's retreating in this woman's presence until a cold realisation dawn's on me as I stare at them both.

She has a girlfriend

A hot girlfriend

Fuck!

I stand quickly and both women turn and look towards me. Lou seems to realise my conclusion and steps forward, mouth opening as if to reel off an explanation. I sidestep out of her reach and look at her crestfallen face.

"I uh, I should go. My friends will be wondering where I am, it was nice meeting you" I stutter as I clumsily make my way to the door. The hot brunette seems to raise an eyebrow, silently questioning my sudden departure.

"Wait Y/N stay please" Lou asks desperately. My eyes widen at her tone of voice and I can see the brunette is also surprised by her desperation.

"I really can't do this. I'm sorry" I whisper before fleeing the room and down back to the club floor. I quickly find my friends through the sea of people. I grab onto Rachel's arm and lean my mouth to her ear:

"I gotta go I'm not feeling well"

She wiggles her eyebrows playfully.

"Oh yeah I bet you are, how was she?"

There's that sick feeling again; or is it the vodka.

"No seriously I'm gonna head home I'm tired and think I'm coming down with something"

She looks at me with a frown noticing the serious tone of my voice.

"Are you sure? Do you want me to come with you?"

"No its okay, I'll grab a cab from outside and text you in the morning"

I blow a kiss over to Lucas who seems to be too busy with a tall handsome god of a man and quickly leave. As I get to the door a look up towards the office and see Lou looking down scanning the crowd; for me.

It's like a magnet charging between us because in a second her eyes turn to me. She looks pissed and, on a mission, as she quickly takes to the stairs. I turn around and head out of the door and take a deep breath in the cold New York air before heading for a cab. I feel a hand wrap around my elbow desperately.

"Wait Y/N there's been a misunderstanding somewhere, I thought we were getting along"

"Look Lou, I think you're great but this, whatever it is, needs to stop"

She let's go of my arm and stands still, her eyes boring into mine before scanning every inch of my face.

"If that's what you want, I won't pursue anything but I want to at least be your friend Y/N. I know it sounds crazy even I can't believe it but there is something about you Y/N from Y/H/T and I can't get you out of my head. I shouldn't want this but fuck! I need you around... your presence grounds me" she sighs in defeat looking lost her crystal blue eyes pleading for me to understanding.

"Lou I... can't do this. I will not be that girl who gets involved with someone who's already taken, I'm sorry" I whisper before taking a step back - away from her and fleeing before she can explain further.

Once in the cab I look out of the window to see Lou running her hands through her blonde hair in frustration before storming back inside.

What have I gotten myself into.

[katpapple]

A Test of Courage

A Test of Courage

A Banri x Kat fanfic

This is a self ship fic, uwa. Hope you like it! qwq

Focus was drawn to the tv screen as the competition occupies his attention. Well, most of it anyway. Banri’s brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing with a frustrated growl. Itaru on the other hand had a completely stone faced expression, magenta irises honed in on the fight as he won the match once again. The younger man let out a sigh of defeat, rubbing his temples in small circles.

“Dammit…” He muttered. Banri’s skills were rusted. Though they shouldn’t have been; he practiced fighting the character Itaru was good at with her, after all. What was causing him to feel so distracted? His mind was drifting all over the place to so many different thoughts, but it always went back to those smoky blue eyes - that rosy cheeked smile - and those wavy blond locks. The image left a lasting imprint, one that was shaking him to the core. 

“Wow, your game was off today,” Of course Itaru noticed. “Alright, spill it. What’s going on?” And go figure he would want to know what’s on Banri's mind. This made the Autumn Troupe leader groan as he was trying to find good wording.

“It’s nothin’. Must be an off day for me.” Yeah, no kidding. He was just reiterating Itaru’s point. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk, it’s just that the words were escaping him. He didn’t wanna sound like a fool that wasn’t making any sense. Though right now, it felt like nothing was making sense to him. Why did he feel this way again?

“You like Kat a lot, don’t you?”

“Huh?” The brunette took a glance at the man sitting next to him.

“I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that you like her in a romantic sense. Your expressions seem so much more soft and doting around her. Plus, Kazunari said you two eat lunch together more often at class now.”

Shit. Banri’s cover was blown. Light brown strands were slicked back through his fingers as he tried not to keel over from the blatantly humiliating callout from Itaru. Now he remembered why he was so off today. It was Kat; She was all Banri could think about right now. He thought about playing it cool, feigning ignorance, but that wouldn't work. Not when Itaru knew him well enough to pick up on his mood just from his performance when gaming. A disgruntled sigh left slightly chapped lips, and Banri rested his chin in the palm of his hand.

"I don't know what it is about her, but-" He paused. "Whenever I'm near her lately, I kinda freeze up and I can feel my face getting warmer." Honestly, it pissed him off a little. He thought he sounded so stupid; getting this flustered around a girl he'd known for about a year now made him feel like some sort of protagonist from a romance anime. Even now, he felt his face rise in temperature, and he could deduce that his cheeks were definitely flushed. God, he felt so hopeless.

"Wow." A reaction that caught the young man off guard.

"The hell do you mean by that?" The question caused Itaru to chuckle, a smile decorating his face with mischief.

"Sounds to me like your life's not in super ultra easy mode anymore, am I right?"

The worst part was that Banri couldn't disagree.

"Ha ha, very funny Itaru," He replied in a mocking tone. "Though, I ain't gonna say that you're wrong. Cuz you're not."

"Well, if I'm not wrong, what's stopping you? Are you scared of rejection?"

"Ha! Scared of rejection? I'm Banri goddamn Settsu," He said that with a smile that so painfully indicated he was scared. "I can bet if I confessed to her right now, she'd be-"

"Banri, I know you're lying." That sentence… Why did it cut so deep? It shouldn't. It was true, of course, but the fact he wasn't able to get away with it made him feel like a deer in the headlights. An anxious pang in his chest only grew as Itaru continued.

"Just like always, you're afraid of losing. Typical Banri mannerisms for you, I guess." 

"A'ight, ya don't have to rub it in, bastard…" Both men let out soft laughter. Though Banri's was born out of fear. It pulsed in his heart, every scenario in his head playing out with the worst possible outcome. These feelings of longing- of teenage anxiety- of a racing heartbeat and lovesick laughter- all of it was so foreign. So exciting. Yet all the same, incredibly terrifying.

"It's just… she's such a cool person, y'feel me?" Banri started. "I mean, she's smart, she's kind, and so freaking talented on stage. And whenever I see her smile and gush over something she loves, her face lights up and it's just so fuckin' cute." At that moment, he snickered, looking at Itaru eye to eye for the first time in that conversation. "And, shit, don't get me started on how her occasional moments where she gets a bit flighty and airheaded make me so damn happy. Like, she can be so mature and caring, but also a bit of a klutz who doesn't always think things through, but also super passionate and energetic, just-"

"Your perfect girl, right?" Banri nodded in agreement with Itaru's statement. In all senses, to Banri, Kat was perfect. Even with all the little flaws and quirks, like her occasional bursts of temper, the way her face flushed tomato red when embarrassed, it was all lovely to him. The two of them got along so well, but he remembered that it’d be likely she’d just like to be friends. 

“I wanna tell her. I want her to know how much she makes me smile, man. I want her to know how god damn beautiful she is. But I don’t wanna make things awkward between us either, y’know?” This elicited a tired look from Itaru.

“Dude, it’s gonna be awkward within the first stages of dating anyhow. Better to tell her and at least get your feelings out and face rejection rather than keep going down this back and forth with yourself.”

“Well how the hell am I supposed to do that?!” The blonde shrugged.

“Meh, I dunno. Never dated anyone so I’m useless in that department.” That just turned Banri’s frustration into desperation.

“At least give me something, dude!” An eye roll from Itaru.

“Look, the best advice I can give is ask to talk to her and see where things go from there. Tell her how you feel about her. Y’know, regular confession stuff.”

“Guess that’s a start…” That unfortunately didn’t do much to settle the nerves from the realization that- oh no- he had to confess to the woman he’s slowly grown to pine for this past year and a half. This wasn’t going to be easy, he knew that for sure.

The next morning makes itself known to Banri from the sun’s rays tickling his face, and the absence of Juza’s snoring. It was the weekend, so he didn’t really have anything to do. Accept… he DID have something to do. Something he desperately didn’t want to do, but wanted to do at the exact same time. He could smell breakfast from his room. Pancakes and bacon. It distracted him from the nervous sensation in his stomach.

After a quick shower, he walks down the stairs, sleep still leaving him in a daze as he reaches the dining room. Pretty much everyone was here, save for Itaru and Masumi who were sleeping in. Kat was on the couch, sketchbook in her hands as she waited for Omi to finish breakfast. She looked up from the paper in Banri’s direction, and gave him a soft smile that melts him into a puddle of happiness.

“Morning, BanBan.” BanBan. A nickname she gave him that she used for some lighthearted fun. It caught him off guard, and he thought it was silly, but after a while, he really grew to love it. It was a nice little term of endearment to the both of them. Though mainly, she was too cute to say no to. Her laughter whenever she used it was enough to get him to laugh along from how infectious it was. Banri sat next to his fellow classmate, and gave a half smile in return.

“Mornin’ Kat. Good to see your face. Always brightens my mood.” A light giggle and a faint hint of blush on those already rosy red cheeks caught Banri’s attention. 

“Aww, look at you being all sweet and charming today. Who are you, and what have you done with Banri?”

“Pfft, wow, rude.” The two of them laughed quietly so as to not disturb everyone else. Lord knows Sakyo would be up their asses for it later if they were too loud. “For the record, I’m nice and charming all the time. I’m Banri Settsu after all.” That got Kat to snort.

“Oh my god, that’s so corny, I love it.” Banri chuckled at that. 

“Yeah, it was, my bad.” Then the fear returned. He could hear his heart beating like a hammer, and his hands quivered ever so slightly. “Hey uh… after breakfast, could I tell you somethin’ at the park?” Kat raised her brows inquisitively.

“Huh? Oh, sure!” On cue, Omi called everyone to the dining room. Breakfast was ready. Kat set down her drawing supplies, and made her way to the table, Banri following suit behind her. Today’s breakfast was simple, pancakes, bacon and hard boiled eggs. Kat smiled happily; they were some of her favorite things to eat for breakfast.  Banri sat across from her, the both of them eating in silence aside from occasionally joining in for small talk with others at the table. Though Banri had a hard time eating at all. The anxiety from what he would have to do later made his appetite seem smaller today. He excused himself after only finishing about half his plate, which surprised everyone at the table. He gave a quick tap to the young woman’s shoulder. 

“Just meet me there, ok?” A nod accompanied by a hum of confirmation from Kat was Banri’s cue to leave. His shoulders tensed up as he left, putting on his shoes before starting a jog to the park. The whole time he ran, he could feel his resolve waver more than it already was. ‘What if it isn’t worth it? What if she’ll feel uncomfortable?’

‘What if we’ll never be the same after this?’

It scared him so bad. And it manifested into tears threatening to spill and pour down his cheeks. His mouth felt dry, his breath laboured as he sprinted frantically to the park, stopping in his tracks at the park’s fountain before it all broke loose. Choked sobs left him as he tried to catch his breath. His lip quivered as tears rolled down his cheeks. Banri tried to collect himself, wiping his eyes and nose, and steadying his shaky breath. This break in confidence made him feel so stupid. He felt ashamed for being so afraid. He felt even more stupid because he knew Kat would ask what’s wrong. He didn’t want her to worry. He wasn’t used to it. His parents never paid much attention; he was perfect at everything. Right now though, he was far from that supposed perfect man he was. He was vulnerable; he was second guessing himself. If Kat saw him like this - all clumsy and anxious over a confession - what would she think of him? 

“Banri?” That voice made his heart sink. He felt like he was in such deep shit right now. His blood ran cold, but his face was red from crying.

“Banri, are okay? Oh god, were you crying?” Her worried tone made Banri feel so secure, but it was so odd to him. The young man wanted to brush it off, say it was nothing, but that was a lie he knew she’d see through. ‘Fuck it,’ He thought. ‘Might as well follow through on what you told yourself you were gonna do Banri.’

“Yeah, uh… I was.”

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Nah, nah. Well, I mean- I guess? I just- I dunno, I kinda got something on my mind and it’s really stressin’ me out.” A hand came to Banri’s back; a reassuring touch to let him know he was ok. 

“Do you wanna talk about it? I’m always here for you, BanBan.” That smile that followed her words felt so warm and welcoming. And the way she said ‘BanBan’ was so different from any other time she said it. In most instances, it was used to joke around with him when they were messing around being idiots together. Here, it was affectionate, and born of concern for her friend’s well being. Somewhere in his heart, Banri felt it wasn’t ok to be open with her despite her reassuring he could tell her. But right now, he didn’t care about his worries. His brain was silently screaming at him right now to get it out, to just go for it even if you two just stay friends. That was ok with him. It may be a bit awkward for a while if she doesn’t reciprocate, but that wouldn’t change how much he liked spending time with her as a friend to begin with. Worries be damned, he supposed it was at least worth a shot.

“Yeah, thanks.” Deep breaths. In and out. “So, I’ve kinda debated back and forth since the last week or so whether or not I should tell you this, cuz I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. But I wanted to tell you how I feel about you, cuz I have a lot on my mind about a lot of stuff. Ever since we started hanging out over the past year, I’ve kinda started to feel really anxious around you. My heart races, my face gets all red and shit, and I start losing my words.  I really don’t wanna beat around the bush with this but I- I really like you. Like, romantically.”

Silence. It hung over for about a couple seconds, but to Banri it felt like a fucking eternity. At this point one could drop a pin and it would be heard that was how silent it was at that moment. But shock filled the young man’s sapphire eyes when Kat took his hand and held it. She cast a little glance, before looking away with a timid smile. She looked like a blushing bride. Banri didn’t know what to do he was so nauseous from the anxiety, but somehow, gently reciprocating the touch felt so natural and normal. Their eyes finally met, and Kat had a really goofy smile. It was lopsided, and one could tell she was happy but also really nervous. Her face was red, which was unsurprising given she’d get like that when she’d be caught singing by the other company members.

“Y’know, I uh… I’ve kinda wanted to tell you the exact same thing so I’m like, really happy right now.”

“Wait, really?” Kat nodded fervently.

“Yes! Y-Yes I- God, I’ve felt so scared too cuz I really didn’t wanna make things awkward between us if you didn’t feel the same way, But you’re just really fun to be around, you’re really handsome, and I love watching you act cuz you try super hard, and it makes me wanna try just as hard too! A-And I really wanna make you as happy as you make me, so… um…! Yeah, I-I really like you, like, a whole lot!”

Banri’s eyes widened in awe. Was this real? Was this a dream? He wasn’t sure, but a big smile spread across his face, and he started to laugh in relief.

“Holy shit, can I hug you please?” She nodded, and Banri hugged her so tight. He felt so happy. It may have been silly of him to cry tears of joy, but nonetheless he did. Just when he thought the tears had dried up, the euphoria made all the emotions rise up to the surface again. He pulled back to look at Kat, and she was crying too. Looks like she was just as scared as well. It made him feel a little better about everything. Banri tenderly brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away her tears.

“God, I knew you were adorable, but do you have to have such a cute smile?”

“What can I say? I guess I’m like your little ball of sunshine.”

“You’re damn right about that,” Banri placed a featherlight peck on the cheek. “I love you so much, Kat.”

“Love you too, Banri.”

Those words made him happy. So, so happy. Right now, time stood still. He wanted to stay like this. To stay close, in a warm embrace, pressing gentle, nervous kisses to each other’s lips. And right now, in this little moment, they would stay like this for at least half an hour. Banri vowed to himself, as they both stayed comfortable in that blanket of love, that he would make her so damn happy. Lucky for him, he was already well on his way.

[hookedonapirate]

We Own the Night

Summary: It’s a shame she’s so bloody beautiful in her low cut, curve-hugging red dress and black high heels, her green eyes glinting with mischief and her golden hair cascading over her shoulders as she leans into him. It’s a shame how sexy she is while she flirts with him and how adorable she is when she giggles and whispers in his ear, almost marking him with her red lipstick as her hand gently caresses his bicep, the warm breath against his skin making his heart race. In ordinary circumstances, they’d be engaging in more enjoyable activities, but unfortunately, he has to arrest her. 

A/N: Wow, I can't believe I wrote the first part of this story in September! I'm sorry it took so long to update. Thank you @onceuponaprincessworld​ for letting me share ideas with her and for constantly being a cheerleader. This part has not been beta'd, only self-edited so feel free to let me know if I overlooked any mistakes. Hope you enjoy!

Also Available on: AO3 l FF.N

Rated: Explicit for crude language and multiple mentions of prostitution.

Read: Part One

Part Two/Two

“I hope you don’t mind, I invited someone to join us.”

 Liam cuts Killian a sideways glance, his brows climbing to his forehead as they make their way up the walkway of the bistro. “No, not at all, but when we talked over the phone, I thought it was just going to be us brothers celebrating over rum and wings at our favorite pub.”

 “Well, make no mistake,” Killian says, clapping his hand on Liam's shoulder, “we will be celebrating and there will be rum, but I thought we could splurge and come here where we can get an actual drink. There is someone who I would very much like for you to meet, and I think the top shelf rum is better suited for the occasion instead of the cheap stuff. But don’t worry, I’m paying,” Killian assures him, in case the cost is what he's worried about.

 Liam waves off his words as they reach the entrance and wait outside. “Nonsense, little brother. We’re here to celebrate your victory, so I think I can foot the bill.” 

 Before Killian can demur, he turns his head to see a gorgeous blonde in a radiant blue dress as she makes her toward them, her high heels clicking against the sidewalk and long loose hair bouncing around her shoulders in golden silk waves that he itches to run his fingers through. His gaze travels down her form, appreciating every curve and every inch of exposed porcelain skin, before returning to her face.

 “So, who is this person joining us?” Liam asks curiously before he turns his head to see what Killian is gaping so shamelessly at. Or rather who. “Oh.”

 Killian can hear the smirk in his brother's tone, but he's too fixated on those beautiful emerald orbs glinting in the soft outdoor lighting, and that great big smile which shows off her pearly white teeth, and can't seem to tear his eyes away from her to catch the expression on Liam's face. 

 “Hi, babe,” she says, kissing Killian’s cheek in greeting.

 Placing his hand on the small of her back, a low groan bubbles in his throat when he can feel her smooth, silken skin under his palm and realizes her dress is backless. “Hi, love,” he murmurs in her ear and lifts her hand with his free one, brushing his lips over her knuckles. “You look stunning.” He places a soft kiss to her delicate, supple skin as he takes in the sweet, lovely scent of her perfume. 

 “Thank you.” She giggles when his prickly scruff tickles her skin, and her laughter warms his heart. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

 A big grin takes over his face. “Thank you, love.” He releases her hand so he can wrap his arm around her hourglass figure and pull her against him. As he eyes her luscious lips and darts his tongue to lick his own, he has to refrain from kissing her senseless while they're in his brother’s presence. 

 Right. His brother's here.

 Reminding himself he's not alone with his lovely Swan, he turns his head to Liam, who is standing there awkwardly with his arms crossed, waiting for them to finish groping each other, or so Killian assumes. “Liam, I would like you to meet Emma. Emma. this is my brother, Liam.”

 It’s funny because Killian has never introduced him to her before; he hasn’t so much as shown his brother a picture of Emma because, based on his own experience, photographs don’t do her a bit of justice. And yet Liam’s eyes widen with recognition and he’s standing there staring at her for longer than what is appropriate and necessary.

 Killian clears his throat to gain his brother’s attention as he tilts his head toward her.

 It doesn’t take Liam long to understand what Killian is trying to tell him. He quickly amends his behavior and shoots out his hand, offering it to her. “Apologies, lass. Where are my manners? It’s very nice to meet you.”

 She doesn't seem to take offense as she shakes his hand. “Likewise.”

 Liam is still gawking and scrunching his eyebrows at her, and Killian’s afraid he’s making her uncomfortable, even though she doesn't appear to be. 

 When Liam doesn't release her hand in a timely manner, Killian gives him a nudge in the ribs. Is he seriously checking out his brother’s girlfriend?

“Ow, what in the bloody hell did you jab me in the ribs for?” Liam grumbles as he lets go of Emma’s hand to rub his ribs.

 “I was gently persuading you not to ogle my girlfriend,” he teases, though his tone is void of any humor and is loaded with sarcasm.

 “I wasn’t ogling your girlfriend, Killian. It’s just…” Liam scratches his head and seems to scrutinize every detail of her face.

 She arches a brow, waiting for him to explain himself. “Just what?”

 “Have we met before?” he finally asks her.

 Emma purses her lips and pinches her brows together in assessment for a moment, then she shakes her head. “I don’t believe so. I’m not from around here.”

 Liam lifts his hand, rubbing his chin in contemplation. “Hm, you look very familiar but I don’t know where I’ve seen you before.”

 “Maybe from a picture?” Emma guesses, looking at Killian for answers.

 “No, that’s not it. Killian never showed me a picture of you.”

 “Aye, photographs don’t do you justice, love,” Killian says, winking at his lovely girlfriend.

 A pretty, pink blush paints her cheeks and she smiles at him. She leans into him, wrapping an arm around his back as he snakes his arm around her shoulders and kisses her temple.

 Liam narrows his eyes at Killian. “Come to think of it, you haven’t even told me about her. Why is that, little brother?”

 Emma glances at Killian, equally curious about the question. “Yeah, why is that?”

 “First of all, it’s younger brother,” Killian corrects Liam before his eyes move to Emma, “and secondly, I didn’t mention you because I wanted it to be a surprise.” Killian balls his fingers into a fist and points his thumb in Liam’s direction. “Do you know how long this ponce has been nagging me about finding a proper girlfriend after the last one ripped my heart out?” He shivers at the mention of his ex. He’d told Emma about her, and the gory details, but didn’t wish to bring it up again, especially tonight because it's supposed to be a celebratory one.

 Liam frowns. “Oi, I haven’t nagged you about it, I gently persuaded you to get over her,” he says, mocking Killian’s earlier words.

 Killian rolls his eyes. “Uh-huh. Gently persuaded my arse.”

 Emma laughs and shakes her head at the two bickering brothers and loops her arm through Killian’s. The three of them head inside where the hostess seats them at a booth and passes out menus. Killian slides in next to Emma, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and caresses the warm, bare skin at his fingertips as they get comfortable in the booth. Emma molds into him and rests her hand on his knee underneath the table. 

 When their waitress arrives to take their drink orders, the guys order Bicardi Superior and Emma orders a Rum and Coke.

 “A lass who enjoys her liquor, I like her already,” Liam teases Emma, “even though you're ruining your rum by adding soda to it. I’ll let it slide, though.” 

 Killian leans over to kiss her cheek. “I happen to like her too.”

 The waitress returns with their drinks and leaves when they’re not ready to order their food yet. 

 While they’re browsing the menus and chatting about what to eat for dinner, Liam keeps staring at Emma every now and then, as if he knows her. “I swear I’ve seen you before, I just can't figure out where,” he says before taking a sip of his rum.

 Killian sighs, and Emma shrugs. 

 “Sorry, I’m not sure. I’d remember a face like yours.”

 Liam grins. “Oh, really?”

 “Yeah, I mean even though you bear a slight resemblance to Killian, you have one of those unique faces. I, on the other hand, have a familiar face.”

 “I tend to disagree, love. While you do have a friendly face, your beauty is far from common.” 

 Emma blushes crimson and moves her hand to his thigh, squeezing him gently as she leans in to whisper in his ear. “You’re asking for it, aren't you?”

 “And what exactly am I asking for, darling?” he murmurs quietly so Liam can’t hear.

 “As if you don't know.”

 The clearing of Liam’s throat indicates they weren’t quiet enough or maybe they’re sitting too close and practically pawing each other on the other side of the table. Or maybe they both share that look—a look that says they’re going to rip each other’s clothes off and fuck each other’s brains out once they’re alone in her cozy hotel room. 

 When Killian returned to his hometown to visit his brother, he’d invited her to stay with him at Liam’s but she didn’t wish to invade Liam’s space, especially since she hadn’t met yet. So Killian paid for a hotel room for the night in hopes she would come around after getting to know Liam a bit and be comfortable enough to stay at his place. But with the way Liam is creepily staring at her, Killian doubts she will warm up to him anytime soon.

 “Alright, get a room, you two,” Liam grumbles and returns his eyes to the menu in his hands.

 “We have one,” Killian says to his brother, “and believe me, we’re dying to use it.” He winks at Emma, and sees her blushing and smiling from ear to ear. She is bloody adorable when she blushes.

 “You got a room for the night?” Liam asks Emma curiously. “You could’ve stayed at my place. If my knucklehead of a brother told me about you, you wouldn't have had to pay for a hotel.”

 “That’s okay. I’m used to staying in hotels for work.”

 Liam sets down the menu and curls his hand around his tumbler. “Say that again?” he asks before draining his drink.

 “I’m used to staying in hotels. I get around a lot for my job.”

 Liam spits out the expensive rum, spraying it over the table.

 “What in the blazes, Liam?!” Killian yells at him as he looks at Emma to make sure the rum didn’t get on her.

 She quickly reaches for some napkins and wipes off the table. Luckily the rum only splattered the table and menus.

 “Sorry, lass,” Liam says while grabbing some napkins and frantically trying to clean up his mess. 

 Killian notices a change in his brother’s behavior. He seems nervous about something, but he's not sure why.

 “Are you two ready to order? I’m ready,” Liam says frantically and turns his head, seeking the waitress before Killian and Emma can reply. He raises his hand to summon her over.

 “I guess we’re ready,” Emma says with a laugh and glances at her menu once more before handing it to Killian.

 The waitress takes their orders and menus before leaving the table.

 “So, do you want to explain to me what your problem is, brother?” Killian asks in irritation as he glares daggers at him.

 “Nothing, I… I’m sorry, the rum just went down the wrong pipe is all.”

 “I’m not talking about that specifically. You’ve been acting strange all night,” Killian chastises.

 “It’s nothing. I’m fine really.” His eyes move to Emma. “I just realized where I know you from. I saw your picture online. While you were working.”

 “Oh god,” Emma groans, “I look terrible in that photo. I had pulled an all-nighter right before that picture was taken.

 “I disagree, love, you looked beautiful. You always do.” Killian grins at her, remembering that photo very well. He and Emma had busted an organized crime ring that trafficked women into the local sex trade, and it was plastered all over the news. The photograph of them making several arrests had been taken for a local newspaper, but he’s not sure how Liam had seen it since he doesn’t even live in Washington.

 Liam’s face pales as he glares at Emma with disdain. 

 Killian scowls at him. He will have a little chit chat with his brother later on about displaying proper manners around his girlfriend. 

 “So, tell me, Emma, how do you like your profession?” Liam asks, his expressions steely as he observes her pointedly.

 “Oh, well, it's very challenging at times, but at the end of the day, it’s very rewarding knowing I’m making a big difference on the streets. The day that photo was taken, I single-handedly took on fifty guys at the brothel. I was so exhausted if you can even imagine.” She sighs as though experiencing that same exhaustion she had felt that day. There was so much paperwork from all the arrests they had made.

 “You were brilliant, love,” he compliments, leaning in to kiss her cheek. He was so proud of her that day. But for some reason, he can feel the burn of Liam’s stare which feels nothing like pride. He tilts his head to see him glowering conspicuously at him, appearing to be both mystified and disappointed. And Killian doesn’t understand why. 

 “So you're okay with her occupation?”

 What in the bloody hell? Here, Killian thought his brother would be happy he found someone as amazing as Emma, especially since Liam had been encouraging him to get back in the saddle after Milah broke his heart.

 “Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?” he asks, irritated by his brother’s crude behavior. “I'd be a hypocrite if I weren't okay with it, don't you think?”

 He can feel his lovely Swan stiffen at the topic, her jaw tight as she glares at Liam. “Excuse me, but even if he weren’t okay with it, no one's going to tell me what I can or cannot do for a living. Believe me, my brother has been trying since I was nine,” she says bitterly before sipping her rum and coke through a straw.

 Liam’s eyes pop out of his skull, shock washing over his features, and if Killian’s not mistaken, a hint of pity. But he has no bloody clue why. “Nine?! Wow, that's young.”

 “Well, obviously it was only a dream of mine at the time. I wanted to follow in my adoptive mother's footsteps.” 

 “Your mother was one too?” Liam asks, completely appalled. “No wonder you took to this lifestyle.”

 “Oh yeah, and thanks to her talking some sense into my brother, he came around to the idea, and now I work for him.”

 Liam claps his palm on the top of his curly-haired head. “You work for him?!”

 Emma furrows her brows at him from across the table, not sure why what's so shocking about growing up around people who were in the police force, but thankfully she doesn’t take offense, and seems okay about being hammered with so many questions. Killian supposes it’s because she was nervous about meeting Liam and was worried about whether he would like her. Killian had been quick to assure her he would absolutely love her, but now he’s thinking maybe he didn’t know his brother as well as he thought he did. 

 “Yeah, but believe me, he shows me no nepotism; he rides me hard all day, every day. In fact, he's down my throat more than anyone else,” she says, rolling her eyes at David’s constant need to dictate and tell her how to perform her job.

 Killian can actually hear his brother gasp as he slaps his hands over his cheeks. “Oh my God, your own brother?!” he blurts out, loud enough to gain the attention of other diners. “That's bloody appalling!”

 Emma wrinkles her nose and narrows her eyes at Liam’s response. He seems to take everything she says way out of proportion. “Look I know it's a dangerous job, but I'm just as qualified as any man in my field.”

 Killian agrees with a nod and strokes her back as he regards her with genuine pride. “Aye, she's a feisty lass. She has no problem taking on a heavy load.”

 “Lass, I didn't say you weren't qualified, I mean you're very… attractive—”

 “Wait, you think I got this job because of my looks?!” she demands, cutting him off. She’s clearly pissed. For good reason.

 Liam shrugs, not seeing what the big deal is. “Well, yeah. I mean I assume you get work based on your body, not your brains.” 

 Emma audibly gasps, her eyes popping out of her skull. “Excuse me?!”

 Liam raises his hands in defense and speaks casually, as though it's a typical Tuesday and he's not being a misogynistic tosser to the woman his brother loves and adores. “Well don't get me wrong, lass, I'm sure you give fantastic beejers too. Any man would be happy to have you.”

 "What the bloody fuck did you just say?!" Killian demands hoarsely. He's completely aghast, and he can see the rage spiraling through his girlfriend, he can feel her anger as she taps his shoulder, urging him to move. He feels his own anger bubbling up inside of him. He clenches his jaw as he glares at Liam, letting him know he’s not happy. Why the fuck is Liam speaking to her like she’s a prostitute? What's worse is he doesn't even appear to be apologetic.

 “Can you let me out, please?” she asks Killian in a cold, rigid tone.

 In other circumstances, he would’ve attempted to defend Liam despite his childish behavior, he would've begged Emma to say, but what his scoundrel of a brother had said was not okay—not even close. Killian slides out of the booth and steps aside so Emma can leave. Once she slides out of the booth and stands up, she goes over to the other side of the table and smacks Liam hard in the face. 

 It’s not until he feels the sting of her slap when he appears to be apologetic. As he lifts his hand to soothe his cheek, she picks up his drink and throws it at him. 

 “Oh whoops, it looks like I ruined your rum by adding a big sexist pig to it!” The bite of her tone and sting of her slap (based on how loud it sounded) are much stronger and bitter than the cheap rum at the pub. She bolts away from the table as Liam wipes off the cocktail from his face with a napkin and sighs.

 Apparently they've gained an audience because all the female customers and servers are glaring daggers at Liam, all of them ready to kick his arse. And despite being a cop, Killian wouldn't bother to stop them. Not after the way Liam spoke to his Swan.

 “What the fuck is your problem?!” Killian barks out, but doesn’t stick around long enough to hear the answer, and instead follows Emma out the door. “Emma, wait,” he calls after her as she heads to her car. “Please…” His voice is cracked with worry. He hates that she’s so upset and hurt. Even worse, he hates that his brother is the culprit.

 She stops and turns around, and his heart clenches when he sees tears sliding down her cheeks. He just wants to hold her in his arms and make everything better. His jaw twitches as he lifts a hand to wipe the tears from her face. “I will kick his bloody arse for talking to you that way. I am so sorry, baby. He’s not normally like that.”

 “It’s not your fault, Killian. I just don’t understand how he’s your brother,” she says, pointing at the building in the direction he’s probably still sitting in the booth. “He’s nothing like you.”

 Killian cups her cheeks in hands and speaks softly. “Please, just let me talk some sense into him.”

 “You can do whatever you want.” Her voice cracks as she wipes at her glistening eyes. “I’m going back to the hotel.”

 Killian nods and raises his hand to swipe some stray locks of hair behind her shoulder before wrapping his arms around her. “Can I come by later?”

 Relaxing in his hold, she rests her forehead against his, allowing a small smile to tilt the corners of her mouth. “You better.”

 “Of course I will,” he reassures, kissing her forehead before lowering his gaze to hers. “I love you,” he whispers.

 “I love you, too.” Fisting her hands around the collar of his shirt, she brings her lips to his. 

 His arms tighten around her, both hands resting on her back, pulling her flush against him as his tongue parts her lips and they lose themselves in each other. His heartbeat quickens as he thinks back to their first kiss when he was posing as a john and she a prostitute. The kiss was intense, fierce. Full of heat and raw lust. But this one is so much different. It’s passionate, slow, tender. Full of love. He combs a hand through her hair and takes his time, enjoying the hint of alcohol and soda coating her mouth. The combination is sweet and smooth against the heat of her breath, and he savors every second of her. 

 Though Emma had said she didn’t date colleagues, they both had chemistry neither of them could deny. They plotted strategies together, and how they would bring down the biggest crime ring the county had ever seen. They had met for coffees and lunches for a few months before he finally gathered the courage to ask her out on a real date. She was so relieved and said she was tired of them dancing around their feelings for each other. They went out to dinner and talked for four hours, and then he brought her home and they talked all night, just curled up in her bed holding each other and talking. That was one of the best nights of his life, and every time he’s with her gets better and better.

 When she pulls away, he does his best to keep her there for a few more precious seconds. He knows she’s ready to get away from his brother as far and fast as she possibly can. As her mouth closes, he bites down gently and drags his teeth over her perfectly pink bottom lip. A soft moan escapes her mouth, and he smiles and slowly releases her from his hold as he licks his lips.

 He walks Emma to her yellow bug and kisses her one more time before she gets in her car and drives away. Now that she’s gone, he can focus on the matter at hand—figuring out what crawled up his brother’s arse and died. Anger surges through him and he clenches his fists as he marches back inside the bistro. His heart is racing again, but for different reasons. He’s not a violent person but he feels his brother deserves a good ass-kicking. That is if he hasn't received one already from the other patrons who witnessed such an atrocity. He finds their waitress and tells her to box up his and Emma’s food and he pays for their drinks and dinner entrees, but not Liam’s. Then he storms into the dining area and is shocked to find Liam in one piece. He's working on his third glass of rum, not including the one Emma threw in his face, his hair and clothes still damp with soda and alcohol.

 Killian slides into the booth across from him and gives him a deadly stare. “So, you wanna tell me why in the bloody hell you’re being a fucking wanker?”

 Liam sets down his drink and sighs slowly and deeply before lifting his eyes to Killian and crossing his arms on the table. “Why don’t you tell me why you felt the need to pay a hooker to be your girlfriend? So I wouldn’t harp on you anymore, is that it?”

 Um, what?! Killian's temper spikes again, and he has to refrain from throwing his drink in Liam’s face. Or throwing a punch. Emma was far too kind to him. “Excuse me, what the fuck did you just say?”

 Liam reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. “You heard me.”

 “Emma is not a hooker,” Killian snarls. He’s vibrating with rage as he stands from the booth with clenched fists.

 “Oh, really?” Liam pulls up something on his phone and shows it to him. “Then how do you explain this, brother?”

 Killian grabs the phone from his hand and has to rip his angry glare from his brother to study the photo. 

  Oh.

 Liam had snapped a photo of Killian’s computer as it displayed Emma’s picture and fake ad from the Cinderella Escorts website. The website solely designed to lure men who were looking to buy sex. Confusion washes over Killian’s face. Was his brother looking to pay for a prostitute? Please tell me I don’t have to arrest my own brother. On second thought, with the way Liam behaved to Emma, he'd be happy to throw him behind bars for a night or two. “How did you find this website?” he demands through gritted teeth as he lifts his eyes from the phone to look at Liam. The man he thought was honorable. But there’s nothing honorable about buying sex. 

 “I should ask you that. That is your computer, Killian. It was in your browser history. I just found it and snapped the photo.”

 “Why were you snooping around on my computer?” he asks angrily, although he should be relieved this was just a huge misunderstanding. But he’s kind of bummed he doesn’t get to arrest him.

 “I wasn’t snooping,” Liam claims as he snatches his phone back and tucks it into his pocket. “You had left for work and I was bored so I got on your computer and found it by accident.” Liam looks him in the eye, his features softening. “Look, Killian, I know it must be lonely being away from home all the time, but a hooker?” he asks, his nose scrunched up in disgust. “I thought you were better than that.”

 Killian’s jaw clenches as he stares hard at his brother, then slaps him upside the head. “Emma is not a prostitute. She’s a cop, you prat.”

 Liam’s face pales, his mouth falling open. “She’s a what?”

 “You heard me. She’s not a prostitute, she'd been going undercover posing as one.” 

 Killian sees the transformation in Liam’s expression. He sees him processing and putting all the pieces together. He sees Liam going through his conversation with Emma in his head, and it’s now clicking with him that she was referring to arresting johns for buying sex, not sleeping with them. She was referring to her job as a cop, not a prostitute. 

 Killian sighs and reclaims his seat in the booth. “We wanted to tell you we met while going undercover. She was posing as a prostitute and I was posing as a john, so when I met her at the hotel and pretended to pay her, we tried to arrest each other.”

 Liam stares vacantly across the diner in pure and utter shame. “Wow, that’s hilarious,” he says, but there’s no amusement in his tone, his face pale with humiliation. “That would’ve been a great story to tell.”

 “I know, that’s why we wanted to tell you, but then you started asking her ridiculous questions. That night we decided to team up. We worked together to take down the biggest  organized crime ring in King County, and that is why I invited her to celebrate with us.” She and Killian had celebrated in Seattle with all the officers involved in the operation, and of course, the man pulling all the strings, Emma’s brother (he was amused upon learning how they met, but far from it when he found out they were dating. He slowly came around to the idea though). Being a thousand miles away, Liam wasn’t able to attend at the time, so Killian and Emma had planned to have a small celebration of their own where she would finally get to meet his brother. And Killian had been ecstatic at the idea of introducing his brother to the woman he’s been doting on for months. But of course, Liam ruined that when he spoke to Emma the way he did. 

 “Think about it, Liam, I’m responsible for taking down a huge sex operation, saving hundreds of women from human trafficking and getting them into programs so they can live a better life, so why on bloody earth would I be paying one to date me?” 

 “In my defense, you never told me what kind of operation you were involved in. You just said you took down a big crime ring, you didn’t mention what crime.”

 “Does it matter? I’m still a cop, an honorable one at that. And so is Emma. We both work for her brother, who is the Sheriff of King County.”

 “Oh, boy.” Liam scratches his head and suddenly goes into panic mode, realization finally sinking in. “I accused her of getting work because of her body, not her brains.” His eyes snap to Killian’s. “I thought her brother was a pimp?!”

 “Aye.”

 He buries his face in his hands, mumbling into his palms. “Bloody fucking hell, I am so sorry.”

 “No need to apologize to me, I’m not the one you thought was a hooker.”

 He lifts his head and nods. “Right. I need to apologize to her. Did she leave?”

 “She went back to her hotel room.”

 “Take me there, please?”

 Killian shakes his head. “Liam, I don’t think she wants to speak to you right now.”

 “Please, I need to explain myself to her. She needs to know this was a big misunderstanding.” 

 Killian shoots him a warning glare. “Okay, I will, but you better be prepared to do some serious groveling.”

 Liam nods furiously. “I will.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. “I’ll pay for your meals and have them boxed up.”

 “I already paid for mine and Emma’s.”

 “Okay. How much was it?” he asks, digging out his card.

 “Liam, it’s fine.”

 “How much?” he repeats. 

 Killian sighs in defeat and tells him the amount. He supposes Liam deserves to pay since he’s the reason Emma stormed away.

 ~*~

 Emma is beyond fucking furious at the audacity of Killian’s brother! He accused her of becoming a police officer because she gives good blowjobs! Emma had worked hard to get where she is. And she didn’t gain the respect of her fellow officers because her brother is King County Sheriff either. No in fact, at first they treated her like his kid sister. It took time and dedication to gain the same respect and trust they had for David. So to have someone accuse her of becoming a cop based on the way she looks or the outrageous idea that she performs sexual favors is a crock of shit! And here she was so excited to meet the reputable brother Killian always goes on about. She had no idea he was a chauvinist pig!

 Emma’s blood sizzles under her skin as she unzips her dress and pulls it off. She can’t believe the things he'd said! And to think she had bought this perfectly nice dress to wear tonight, one that was, of course, approved by Ruby.

 Oh well, she’ll just have to wear it again when she goes out with Killian. He doesn't think she’s just a piece of ass. He loves her for her mind and for who she is as a person, and she loves him for that. She still can’t believe he’s related to that fucking douchebag.

 She changes into her pjs and grabs her phone to text Killian and invite him over. After that parting kiss, she needs him, and after that terrible dinner with his jackass brother, she needs to feel her boyfriend’s warm arms wrapped around her. Emma places her hand on her stomach when it growls mercilessly. Thanks to Liam, she didn’t eat, and now she’s starving. She wonders what the restaurant downstairs has. She grabs the menu and plops down on the bed to scan it over. She had ordered ravioli at the Bistro, and that's not an option at the restaurant downstairs, but she could really go for a burger right now.

 She picks up her phone to ask Killian if he ate yet. She’s hoping he didn't stay and have dinner with his brother, because that would feel much like betrayal. She begins typing out the text but is interrupted when there’s a knock on the door. Raising a brow, she stands from the bed and strides over to the door. It must be Killian. Just in case it’s not, she peers through the peephole, but she doesn't see anyone on the other side. Her instincts as a cop tell her to grab her gun, but she can’t help it. She’s encountered many creeps while posing as a hooker, and her vigilant attitude was kicked into high gear when there was a knock on her hotel door while she’s staying in an unfamiliar city, and no one appears to be at the door. Emma grabs the gun from her bag and returns to the door, keeping the weapon at her side just in case. 

 She cautiously cracks it open, and can’t believe her eyes. 

 Kneeling on the floor in front of her is Killian’s sorry excuse of a brother holding a bouquet of buttercups, his face etched with shame and apology. Oh, and there's a sign on his forehead that says I’m a donkey in black marker. In other circumstances, Emma would’ve laughed, but the sight of him fills her with rage and she slams the door in his face. She marches away when she hears him yelling through the door.

 “Emma, wait! I can explain! You’re really gonna laugh when I tell you this. Maybe not right away but someday.”

 She scoffs and replaces the gun in her bag before making her way to the bathroom where she’ll be able to tune him out.

 “I didn’t know you were a cop, I thought you were a prostitute.”

 She stops in her tracks and waits for him to continue.  

 He pauses for a beat and speaks in a quieter voice, his words laced with apology. “I was using Killian’s computer the night you met him and saw your photo on a website on Cinderella Escorts.” 

 She contemplates opening the door to hear more of what he has to say. She did post her picture on a fake escort website after all.

 “Emma, I cannot tell you how sorry I am.”

 Emma turns around and slowly walks over to the door, hauling it open and placing her hand on her hip as the other one lingers on the doorknob. Her face remains steely though as she looks down at him. “A pig is more accurate,” she remarks, referring to the sign on his forehead. 

 “You’re absolutely right, lass.” He pulls out a black marker from his pocket, removes the sign and scribbles out the word donkey and writes pig above it before replacing it on his forehead. 

 She allows a small laugh to escape her throat, which ignites a hopeful glint in his eyes as he looks up at her again. And damn, she really wishes he didn’t have the same sea-blue eyes Killian does. Because then she might find it easier to slam the door in his face again. “Get up. You’re making a fool out of yourself.”

 “I've already done that and then some,” he says solemnly.

 “You’re not wrong about that,” Emma remarks in a sassy tone.

 Liam gulps and pushes himself up off the floor. “I’m not actually like that—I don’t view women that way, I really don’t.”

 “So you only view me like a piece of ass?” Emma says with a nod. “Good to know.”

 “No, lass, you see I was just looking out for my brother because I thought he had paid you to be his date since all I do is harp on him about not dating.” 

 “Really?” she says sarcastically. “Why would Killian pay someone to be his girlfriend? He can get any woman he wants.”

 Liam’s lips twitch into a small smile. “Aye, and that’s what I told him… after you left… before I knew you were a cop.” 

 Emma sighs and purses her lips as she leans against the doorframe. She doesn't know if she should accept his apology or not. She supposes he has a valid reason for acting the way he did. She would be concerned too if she thought someone close to her, say her brother, had paid a prostitute. Emma certainly wouldn't stand for that, but she doesn't have to worry about that, considering he's the one who started the Women’s Justice Program and is leading the initiative to reduce prostitution and human trafficking in the county. Plus he’s happily married and constantly reminds Emma of how much in love with Mary Margaret he is. He’s the last man who would seek out the company of a prostitute. Well, he and Killian of course. A thought suddenly occurs to her, and she scowls at Liam, fighting off the urge to slap him again. “Wait, you thought my brother was my pimp?!”

 “Aye.” He hangs his head in shame. “Look, I don’t expect you to forgive my behavior, but I want you to know I am truly sorry.” Liam bends over and, with his free hand, he picks up two bags he had brought with him. “I brought your dinner and ordered you dessert. Killian told me you like Tiramisu.” He hands her the bag from the bistro and Emma accepts it, peering inside. She does love Tiramisu. And she’s completely famished, so she’s not about to turn down free food. Though it wasn’t exactly free; she paid the price when she was accused of being a hooker. Liam holds up the other bag. “I also got you a bottle of Bacardi Superior and a two-liter of Coca Cola.”

 Her lips tilt into a small smile. “Thanks.”

 He shakes his head, looking down in shame. “Please don’t thank me, Emma. I really don't deserve it.” 

 The expression on his face almost makes her heart hurt. Almost. She steps back inside and opens the door wider to let him in. She goes over and places the bag on the table as he does the same and hands her the bouquet he’s still holding. 

 “I’m guessing you don’t have a vase to put these in?”

 Emma brings the flowers to her nose and inhales their fresh scent. “No, I don’t even have a vase at home.”

 “That’s okay. If you like I can keep these at my place and you can stay there for the remainder of your week here in town. I’ll make you and Killian breakfast every morning, I'll even escort you to wherever you need to go.” As soon as those words leave his mouth, his eyes squeeze shut, his features twisting with regret. He claps his hand over his forehead, where he's still wearing that ridiculous sign, which wrinkles under his palm. “Sorry, poor choice of words,” he sighs, opening his eyes again and dropping his hand. 

 Emma folds her lips in to keep from laughing. In all honesty, though, she can see the sincere apology in his eyes. She reaches over and pulls the sign off his forehead with her free hand, crumpling it up into a ball and throws it in a nearby trash can. 

 “What do you say, lass, can you give this pig a second chance? Can we start over?”

 Emma mulls it over for a moment. She supposes giving him a second chance wouldn’t hurt. She sighs and points a warning finger at him. “Okay, but that’s all you get—one shot to redeem yourself, got it?

 “That’s all I need,” he says, a grin lighting up his face as he sticks out his hand. “I’m Liam.”

 Emma dons a smile and switches the bouquet to her other arm so she can shake his hand. “Hi, Liam, I'm Emm. It's nice to meet you.”

 “Likewise. I can’t wait to get to know the woman my brother is madly in love with.” He raises her hand and plants a chaste kiss on the back of it before encasing her hand with his other one.

 Emma smirks, blush warming her cheeks. Now this is how a lady should be treated.

 As if on cue, there’s a knock on the door, she opens it to let Killian in after she sees him through the peephole and greets him with a sweet kiss on the lips. He's carrying a bag of what she assumes is his and Liam's dinner after he informs her they didn’t eat at the restaurant. Instead, Killian drove his brother to her hotel hoping she would be willing to hear him out.

 Killian curls his free hand around her hip and turns his head to look at Liam. “I just wanted to make sure my girlfriend didn’t murder you,” he chuckles.

 “What if I did? Would you arrest me?” Emma challenges, placing her free hand on his warm chest.

 The corner of his mouth tips into a smirk as he looks at her. “No, I’d help you bury the body.”

 “Oi,” Lima frowns at him. “I said I was sorry.”

 “I know,” Emma smiles sheepishly. 

 She invites them to stay for a movie, and after the three of them nuke their dinners in the microwave, she and Killian eat in the king-size bed, leaning against the headboard as Liam sits in the chair. After the movie is over, she decides to sleep there for the night, and Killian stays with her. Liam does make good on his promise though and makes her and Killian breakfast every day she’s in town.

 When she gets to know Liam more, she finds out he's not so bad after all. In fact, she’s able to look back at that night and laugh hysterically.

 ~*~

  One year later...

 “That, ladies and gents, is how my brother met the woman of his dreams.” Liam glances over at the happy newlyweds, pointing his champagne flute in Emma’s direction, “and how I thought this lovely cop was a prostitute.”

 The crowd laughs softly as the best man takes his seat.

 Killian leans over to speak into the mic in Liam's hand, “And how the best man lived to tell our story.”

 David, who is sitting next to Liam, rips the microphone from his hand, scowling at him as he adds, “And how he thought I was a pimp.”

 Another roar of laughter fills the banquet hall, this time louder and more prolonged; even David's wife, Mary Margaret who's heard the story a dozen times, is cackling hysterically. David, however, is still unamused.

 Emma is usually able to laugh about, but not on her wedding day, even though she knew it was coming. She blushes deeply, burying her face in her hands as Killian leans over and wraps his arm around his bride, kissing her temple. She’s going to kill her brother and brother-in-law once she and her husband return from their honeymoon.

 “It may have not been the best of beginnings but I wouldn’t trade meeting you for anything,” Killian whispers in her ear, instantly calming her. 

 She lifts her head, smiling at him as she rests her forehead against his. “Me neither.” She takes the ends of his undone bowtie in her hands and pulls him to her, capturing his lips and wrapping her arms around the back of his neck, eliciting an eruption of cheers and whistles from the guests and wedding party. 

 When they break the kiss, she tips her champagne flute toward her husband. “Here’s to our happy beginning.”

 Killian clinks his glass against hers. “To our happy beginning.”

  They drink to that, looking forward to their future together as husband and wife.

A/N: This was inspired by a post on Tumblr about an undercover cop posing as a john. He arrested someone for prostitution who turned out to be another undercover cop. Legend has it they got married a year later. When I heard about this post, I just had to write it for cs. Thanks for reading!

[eddycurrents]

Darkness Calls: Chapter One

Words: Mike Mignola | Art: Duncan Fegredo | Colours: Dave Stewart | Letters: Clem Robins

Originally published by Dark Horse in Hellboy: Darkness Calls #1 | April 2007

Collected in Hellboy - Volume 8: Darkness Calls | Hellboy Library Edition - Volume 5 | Hellboy Omnibus Volume 3: The Wild Hunt

Plot Summary:

Igor Bromhead returns to bind Hecate to him. A trio of witches fondle Hellboy’s horn sculpted into a miniature. And, in England, while staying with his and Bruttenholm’s old friend, Harry (it’s going to get complicated, but just go with it right now), Hellboy goes for a walk with a company of three weird folk learning a bit of the witchfinder, Henry Hood, and a tomb. 

Reading Notes:

(Note: Pagination is solely in reference to the chapter itself and is not indicative of anything within the issue or collections.)

pg. 1 - Here we’ve the return of Mignola’s almost Aleister Crowley analogue (the character is more consistent with Wm. Somerset Maugham’s caricature as Oliver Haddo in The Magician) in Igor Bromhead, last seen in “Box Full of Evil” running afoul of a deal gone bad with a demon’s conjuration and imprisonment.

The old architecture is gorgeous. Really gives a connection to the ritual being performed to “old things”.

pg. 4 - I think it’s interesting that the first form that Hecate appears in is that of the Iron Maiden. You could suppose that this is her “true” present form, being spirit and flesh imbued into that iron coffin.

I’m also impressed that Duncan Fegredo not only included the rivets on the structure, but the hinges.

And it seems like Bromhead hasn’t found a cure for his reptile leg affliction.

pg. 5 - The shift to the more feminine yet monstrous gorgon appearance is interesting as Hecate admonishes and mocks Bromhead, though there’s something to be said for his own shit-eating grin. You can tell he’s got something up his sleeve even before he finishes the conjuration ritual.

The reaction shot of the birds supping on the blood is just gorgeous. That kind of “crap, something’s up” look that animals give when they’re spooked. Nice work from both Fegredo and Dave Stewart.

pg. 6 - Then we get almost a human appearance when Bromhead binds Hecate by her human name. It’s a brief shift as she then goes back to a gorgon and the iron maiden form, but it’s kind of significant in the binding. It’s a nice touch of the art.

Also, booty.

pg. 7 - And dragging another skeleton out of the closet, bringing Giurescu back from Wake the Devil and Hecate’s rebirth story. It’s neat how Mignola is utilizing the little bits and pieces from the past to push forward into something new.

Also, I love the little changes to balloon styles and colouring throughout from Clem Robins, giving each voice a unique touch.

pg. 8-9 - This trio of witches definitely seem to be up to something nefarious with that Hellboy carving. The design of the harpy form is also really neat.

And I’m loving Dave Stewart’s colours. He’s utilizing the colour washes that have been common since Seed of Destruction, but these aren’t nearly as stark. There’s a bit of layering to them that works well with the detail and lines of Fegredo’s artwork. It also makes you wonder if you’re supposed to carry over the old colour themes from the earlier stories, but I’m not sure if it works. There’s much more of a blue-grey wash to everything (previously denoting Rasputin and his influence for the most part) which makes me wonder.

pg. 11 - Gorgeous shot of Harry’s home by the sea. It’s also interesting that the “Stormalong” song begins with what looks like a flashback to Hellboy’s time drinking with ghosts on the island. Maybe that’s a hint?

pg. 12 - Nice replacement service pistol.

pg. 13 - You’ve got the impression that the witches are messing with him through that effigy, you’ve got Harry giving a present tense sentence of Bruttenholm’s pride in Hellboy, the weird song working a parallel narrative about the dead, the blue-grey wash giving a kind of illusory feel against which the red of Hellboy’s skin definitely stands out, and then you’ve got cats. Beautiful cats as rendered by Fegredo. Not quite as ominous as crows, owls, or such, but there’s definitely a connotation of cats being drawn to the supernatural (Mignola and Arcudi used it earlier in Garden of Souls) almost as a psychopomp or perhaps a familiar. It leaves you a little uncertain.

pg. 14 - Just beautiful art from Fegredo and Stewart.

pg. 16 - And then there’s this weird trio, picking up the song that you wonder if it was supposed to be in Hellboy’s head to begin with, or if they’ve been singing it all along and we’ve just been building to this.

pg. 17-18 - The history of Henry Hood and his demise is a nice touch, giving a bit of depth as to what’s coming in this sequence.

pg. 19 - It just gets creepy. The woods seem haunted by Hood’s spirit and it’s definitely troubling to all of them.

pg. 20-21 - The time shifts, between present and past, day and night, have a kind of interesting unsettling affect. Though it’s by no means confusing, it rattles you a bit.

Also love the use of sound effect from Clem Robins rather than seeing the actual end result of the hanging. Leaving it to the imagination is so much more frightening.

pg. 22 - Here’s where we get more of a clue as to what this trio has been up to and where they’ve ultimately been guiding Hellboy.

pg. 23 - Their physical changes are really neat.

pg. 24 - And boom, dead witches. But we’re still kind of wondering, why?

Final Thoughts:

And then things got weird.

If you thought that The Third Wish and The Island got into metaphysical realms, dabbling in esoteric ideas and telling the story through oblique allegories, you’ve not seen anything yet. Darkness Calls begins what could be considered Hellboy’s Arthurian period, where Mike Mignola because to incorporate some more British folklore and mythology into the story. It built upon the Irish and Celtic folklore began back in “The Corpse” and continued through with the angry little pig-goblin, Gruagach, as well as the Dagda being one of Hellboy’s watchers, and well...it just explodes from here.

The funny thing is, right now, it’s still kind of straightforward. You haven’t received the few bombs dropped on you yet as to what’s going on, so everything can be taken, and should be, at face value. Hellboy’s in England talking to some fairies about witches. Even incorporating the traditional ditty “Stormalong” as a parallel narrative, similar to how Mignola used poetry and Shakespeare in “The Ghoul”, isn’t necessarily as distracting (though it should definitely give a hint as to one of the things happening here).

Joining Mignola for the start of this final movement, an extended trilogy of sorts of Darkness Calls, The Wild Hunt, and The Storm and the Fury, is Duncan Fegredo. Fegredo became Mignola’s proxy in the present as much as Richard Corben did for the past. Although like both Mignola and Corben he uses a generous application of inks and shadows, there’s a bit more angular grit and a certain amount of detailed realism in Fegredo’s art. It’s suited perfectly to not only depicting a fantastical British countryside, but also that kind of kind of offbeat Woman in Black meets A Midsummer Night’s Dream type of ghost/faerie tale.

d. emerson eddy is calling the Darkness, but they don’t seem to be picking up.

[themostcleverandwittyname]

Curiosity Saved the Cat

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(Jumin x MC)(Saeran x MC)

Summary:

MC is fairly happy after Jumin proposes to her, however, her curiosity leads her to contact the hacker that started it all.

Chapter 3: Coffee and Cookies

Chapter 3 on AO3

Multitasking was a skill that Myung had considered one of her best. She was currently holding two cups of coffee and a bag of treats, balancing her phone between her ear and shoulder, and attempting to punch in the key code for the apartment door. Nearly letting her phone slip, she used her elbow to open and push the door open. Everything was so perfectly balanced and held secure in her arms that she was certain she wouldn’t drop anything. She had gotten there early so that she wouldn’t be taken by surprise and perhaps organize her thoughts before she began to hire the hacker.

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned and the brunette leaped from her skin when she turned to see something sitting at the dining room table. A squeak escaped her throat and her phone and the take out bag hit the floor.

“Fuckin’...ass” She muttered to herself, truly the pinnacle of her eloquent speech. The best first impression she could have hoped for. She bent down to pick up her device and the bag, painfully aware that the figure was staring at her. She held her phone in her hand and set everything down onto the mahogany table, trying to avoid looking at the person who sat silently.

“Oh, I just left the cafe. I’ll let you go now. Have a good day at work and I’ll see you later.” Myung stated quickly to her fiance, now freely holding the phone to her ear, “ Love ya, bye” She hung up quickly hoping to avoid arousing Jumin’s suspicions that she was hiding something from him. It probably wasn’t the best idea to abruptly hang up like that.

She now allowed herself to fully take in the appearance of the mysterious hacker. Dyed curly pink and white hair framed the man’s face. Misty green eyes peeked from behind a black mask that concealed the lower half of his face. His attire gave off a dangerous vibe, leather jacket falling off one shoulder to reveal a tattoo with a simplistic design. It reminded her of tribal tattoos that she had researched in art school. He had a bold red tank top and a humorously large spiked leather cuff on his arm. She would have been amused if the situation was different and if she wasn’t really frightened and nervous. He had a threatening aura that made her feel extremely vulnerable. His eyes never left her and he waited patiently for her to begin talking to him. He seemed to be rather relaxed as his slouched posture indicated.

Myung eased down into the chair never taking her eyes off of the man before her, anticipating some kind of malicious action if she looked away. After taking a seat and staring at him like a deer caught in headlights, she cleared her throat trying to organize herself.

“I brought you coffee.” she spoke finally, breaking the silence and attempting to alleviate the tension, “The one that has a blue marker on the top is yours and the one with the red marker is mine.” she tried not to let her voice show that she was terrified. She had to act bold and confident to show him that she could handle the situation. She couldn’t allow him to think she was vulnerable.

His gaze shifted down and he studied the two cups of coffee on the table, small wafts of steam steadily rising up and dissipating into the air. The scent of the coffee only slightly overpowered the musty smell of the unused apartment.

“What if I want the one with the red lid? Would you give it to me?” Instant goosebumps. The voice modulator that she assumed he was wearing in his mask caught her off guard. She tried to register what he had said through the altered voice. It resembled nails on a chalkboard and the screams of a hundred burning orphans. Maybe it wasn’t that bad, but Myung did not like it. The man asked this, she realized, because he thought that she was trying to trick him into drinking something harmful. She, in fact, was doing this to prevent any slight of hand drugs being put into her drink.

“Um...It doesn’t matter what color really. They’re just there for cautionary measures. I’ve watched too many movies to be unwise about drinks.” She nervously laughed to herself. He reached his arm out to grab the coffee. He pulled it to him and studied the red lid before as if he had never had coffee.

“Oh, and if you don’t mind me asking,” she began, “...could you maybe take that mask off? I would rather see my new client’s face.” the brunette made herself smile. “Before I forget, I also have cookies here to eat with your coffee.” Myung gestured to the take-out bag. The man laughed through the mask, the sound not doing anything to help her nerves. What was funny? The hacker leaned forward out of his relaxed position and he now felt twice as threatening. His long fingers reached up to remove the fabric from his face, pulling it down around his neck. His lips were curled into a grin creating small dimples on his cheeks. He was familiar in a strange way. Like deja vu, she felt as though she had seen him before.

“Does the mask really scare you? Or were you really excited to see my face?” He asked in his natural voice, punctuating his sentence in a chuckle. Was he flirting or just further trying to make her uncomfortable. She went with the latter.

“Ha, um, you just can’t drink coffee with that mask on.” she noticed the untouched coffee and tried to mess with him just as he was with her. She wasn’t going to let him make her even more nervous. “God, don’t let it get cold. I nearly fell trying not to drop that in the hallway.” The man hesitantly took a sip of the coffee. She hoped he liked the caramel in the bottom of the cup because it cost her extra.

“I have to give it to you, you’re a clever girl for color coding the lids. You don’t trust me, do you?” Myung shrugged in response to this. He raised his eyebrows and then asked, “Why did you think you can hire me if you don’t trust me?” Fair point. She may as well have just told him that she was desperate and he was the only other chance she had, but her response was not very specific. She wanted to see how he responded in order to gauge how much to offer him and if he would help her like she hoped.

“Ya know, people will do anything for money.” she said nonchalantly. He took another sip of the coffee and eyed the cookie bag.

“What exactly are you wanting to hire me for? Are you done with the lies of the RFA?” His dull eyes pierced hers, bitterness seeping into his tone. He had guessed it.

“Yes… well, not exactly the RFA as a whole. I want to know what two of the members are hiding from the rest and I thought that you would be perfect for helping me uncover it.” she slid him the bag of cookies and gave a sarcastic smile “What do ya say? I can offer you any amount.” Again, he burst out into a fit of laughs. Bitter, knowing laughs as if he knew something she didn’t. As if he was expecting this.

“Let me guess the members? Luciel and that dreaded V?” Bingo! She was surprised that he knew who she was talking about. She slowly nodded and he gave her a proud smile. “What if I told you that I don’t want money to help you?” he drew out his words, adding emphasis. What did he mean? So all of this is over a grudge?

“If you don’t want money, then what do you want?” she asked cautiously, fearing the answer. She took a sip of her coffee to calm her nerves. He leaned forward over the table, lifting from his seat slightly and balancing on his arms. His serious expression and his focus had trained on her and it made her want to shrink back.

“What I want is way more precious than money. I want enlightenment for everyone, for you. You’re too nice and clever a girl to be among liars like the RFA. If you come with me, I’ll tell you all that you need to know and you’ll be free of the RFA and finally be happy.” He gave a toothy grin and tilted his head slightly. This was wrong. Did he think she was completely against the RFA?

“I...I actually don’t want to leave the RFA. I want to know these things to make the RFA better. Besides, Jumin is in the RFA and I don’t want to disappoint him with leaving. It’ll be kinda hard to do that anyways.” she stated, trying to get the facts straight before he started getting the wrong idea. He narrowed his eyes and his grin vanished sending chills up her back.

“What I want to give you is better than the RFA. I want to take you to the Magenta. Don’t you get it?” He almost growled, obviously angry with her previous answer. The Magenta? Was it some sort of amusement park?

“Why not just tell me what you know? That would be better for me.” she offered, smiling awkwardly. “I’m not going with you anywhere. I don’t trust you.” She was honest and noticed a flash of anger in his misty eyes.

“It’s sad to hear that. I want you to trust me, I really do. What choice do I have?” he asked a mock question, standing up. He offered his hand over the table and his other hand was in his jacket pocket.

“I’ll tell you what I know anyways. Deal?” He smiled, his eyes crinkling up. Finally, he gets it. This may not be so bad after all. She stood and moved the chair back slightly.

“Ah, I’m glad you’re helping me anyways. Thank you,” She beamed, happy for the agreement. She shook his hand firmly, however, his grip was way more tight than her own.

Before she had realized the mistake she had made, he yanked her arm forcefully. The force of the pull lurched her over the small table and closer to him. In the chaos, she had not even felt the needle pierce her skin and she only registered what had occurred when she saw the hand that had been in his jacket pocket holding an empty syringe. She was completely appalled and was at a loss on how to react to what had unfolded.

He released the grip on her hand and she stumbled back speechless, her hand finding its way to her neck. They both focused on each other, waiting for the other to act. They both stayed like that until a familiar ringtone sounded in the breathy silence. She felt her heart start to beat again and her muscles began to grow numb. Stay calm, this was her chance. Don’t pass out. She quickly grabbed the phone and had milliseconds to read the caller ID before the deranged man snatched phone away. He threw it across the living room and it landed with a thud but wasn’t silenced. With her only means of contact gone and her time running out before whatever was in that syringe began to work, Myung panicked.

She froze. She froze in shock, fright, anger; she didn’t really know or understand. All she could understand was that her breathing became labored and she felt as if she was falling.

She was falling.

The man caught her in her fall, jerking her wrist painfully to keep her from hitting the ground. Her mind slowed and her thoughts blurred. She felt as though the world around her was fizzing as if the air was static on a radio station. Her senses faded as the last thing she felt was arms lifting her.

“Rest well. You’ll be in paradise when you wake up.”

The last thing that she felt before everything went away was regret. Regret that she will have left Jumin to wonder what happened. To wonder if she had left him and why...

Why she had not answered his phone call.

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[jadehqknb]

Could I have a fluffy scenario with Ushijima and his fem s/o on their first date?

I kind of went crazy with it but hopefully thelength makes up for how long it took me to get it done. I really hope you likeit! It’s a blend of awkward, funny and fluff (at least I hope it is). Ilistened to Dashboard Confessional’s “Stolen” on repeat while writing this incase you’d like a tune to set the mood.

Wakatoshi Ushijima – Fortune Favors the Blunt

Nobody is more surprised when Ushijima asks you outthan him. Normally one to avoid anything or anyone that gives him a feeling ofnot knowing what he’s going to do, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to you.It starts off subtle, as these things often do, with his eyes consistentlyshifting to you in class. Every time he catches himself staring at you, he whiskshis attention back to the front of the room but even then, he’s distracted justby the thought of you.

Eventually he gives into the inevitable; he may bestubborn but he’s not stupid.

“______-san,” his deep voice rumbles one day afterschool. He’s on his way to the gym when you cross his path. Inevitability ornot, there’s no way he’d be late for practice looking for you but he’ll takefortune where he can find it.

You almost drop your books in surprise at being addresseddirectly by the huge volleyball player. Turning around and craning your neckupwards you ask, “Yes?”

“I really like you, go out with me,” he says. It’snot a question, it’s a statement.

Beside him, Tendo doubles over with laughter. “Wakatoshi,that’s not how you get a girl to go out with you!” he exclaims throwing an armaround his blunt friend. “You have to askher,” he mock whispers to him, casting a side wink in your direction.

The attention this whole scene is garnering ismaking you rather uncomfortable so to avoid further embarrassment you say, “Ok,Ushijima-san, um,” you pause ripping a piece of paper from your notebook.Scribbling your number down you hand it to him, Tendo’s mouth falling open asyou say, “Call me.” Then you scurry away, completely convinced the past fiveminutes had to be a figment of your imagination.

Behind you, Tendo, still slack jawed, looks at hisfriend in awe. “Then again, maybe it ishow you get a girl to go out with you.” Ushijima is unaffected, turning on hisheel to head to practice.

Later that evening, your phone rings, a number youdon’t recognize flashing on the display.

“Hello?” you answer

“______-chan,” comes the reply. “It’s Ushijima,” headds completely unnecessarily.

“Oh…hel…hello,” you stammer, clearly shocked heactually called.

There’s a moment of silence, which really shouldn’tsurprise you considering who you’re “talking” to; maybe you should havesuggested texting. Clearing your throat, you try to get the conversation going.“So, um, thanks for calling. I…I didn’t really think you would.”

“Why wouldn’t I call? You gave me your number inorder to,” he asks confused.

“I know! I…it’s just that usually when guys say they’regoing to call, they don’t.”

“That’s stupid,” he says simply and you can’t helpbut laugh.

“Yeah, you’re right it is. Um, anyway, did you…didyou have an idea of where you wanted to go for a date?”

There’s another pause. “A date?” he asks.

Now you’re the one confused. “Well, yeah, you asked,er, um, told me to go out with you, so…did you have anything in mind?”

“You misunderstood, when I said go out with me, Imeant be my girlfriend. Isn’t that what that usually means?”

The phone slips from your hands, shock renderingyour limbs temporarily paralyzed. From the ground, you hear his voice callingfor you, but you can’t move. With no warning, no indication of ever liking you at all, he just…wants you to be hisgirlfriend?

“______-chan?” Wakatoshi tries again, borderingbetween irritation and concern; is the idea of exclusively dating him that bad?

Finally, you come back on the line, voice shaking abit. “Um…Ushijima-san, why…why do you want me to be your girlfriend?”

He doesn’t have to think long on his answer. “I don’tknow, I just know I want to be with you.”

An incredulous laugh escapes your lips; this is alljust too surreal. Shaking your head, you’re just about to tell him you don’tthink that’s the best foundation to base a relationshipon when you stop. When is the last time you’ve taken a risk? And what bettertime than now? It’s your third year and you’ve only ever dated one other guy,one who told you all the reasons he loved you only to end up breaking yourheart in the end by cheating on you. At least with Ushijima-san you’ll havefull disclosure.

“Ok,” you say before you can convince yourself notto. “Ok,” you repeat, “I’ll considerbeing your girlfriend, but on one condition.”

“And that is?” he asks.

You have no idea where this sudden bout ofconfidence is coming from but you’re determined to ride the wave as long aspossible. “You have to take me on a proper date first, then we’ll see.”

For a moment, Ushijima is at a loss. Why didn’tanyone ever tell him dating would be this difficult? Granted, he’s never asked anyone about it before but still. Buthe knows, without understanding why, that he wants you to be his, so he’ll dowhat it takes to make that happen.

“Alright, I’ll take you out Saturday night,” he replies.

“Sounds great,” you say smiling. After another pauseyou add, “Well, I better get going. Homework to do and all that, but I’ll seeyou tomorrow at school…Wakatoshi-kun.”

He’s not sure why it is that you saying his firstname makes him blush, but Ushijima can feel his cheeks heating up and iseternally grateful you’re not having this conversation in person.

The rest of the week passes uneventfully, no one (saveTendo) the wiser of the change in your relationship status since, technically,nothing has changed between the twoof you except the fact that you’re going on a date this weekend.

“Sooooo,” Tendo says Friday afternoon in the lockerroom, “where are you taking _____-chan tomorrow?”

“Dinner and a movie,” comes the quick reply.

Tendo yawns dramatically. “Boooorrrringgg!”

Wakatoshi looks at his grinning face. “Well then,what would you suggest?”

Slamming his locker door, the red head then leansagainst it. “Look, she said this date is conditional of her becoming yourgirlfriend. If you’re serious about this you’re going to have to up your game.”

A sudden feeling of doubt overcomes the ace; what thehell was he thinking?

“Don’t panic, your best buddy is here to rescue youfrom dating ineptitude,” Tendo says following him out of the locker room.

“But you’ve never had a girlfriend,” Wakatoshi says.

“Tch, doesn’t mean I don’t know what to do,” he sayswiggling his eyebrows.

The next day you are bouncing around the house, completelyexcited, nervous, anxious and…hopeful. For the whole week, you’ve struggledwith whether to call this whole thing off, but your girlfriends insisted you atleast go on the date; the guy deserves that much they reminded you.

In the afternoon, you receive a text from Wakatoshiadvising you to dress nicely but warm. After going through your entire closet,you decide upon a knee length grey skirt with blue leggings, black ankle bootsand long sleeved white shirt, a black vest over it. Finishing your hair andmakeup, you take one last look in the mirror; well, it’s as good as it’s goingto get.

A knock at the front door has your heart racing.Rushing from the back of your house, you open it to reveal Wakatoshi with abouquet of daisies which he thrusts a little abruptly at you.

“Thank you,” you say, placing them in a vase ofwater. Now that the flowers are out of your field of vision you see he’s cladin dark jeans, a black long sleeve shirt and maroon jacket.

“Ready to go?” he asks and you nod, following himout the door.

You walk down the street in silence, heading to abus stop. When it arrives, you climb on and take seats next to one another. Thesilence is slightly awkward but you know Wakatoshi enough to not be surprisedby his lack of conversation skills; he doesn’t speak that much and when he doesit’s often in quick, concise sentences.

When you arrive to your destination, he stands andyou follow him. Surprise registers on your face when you see you’re at a largepark, a gigantic lake spread in the center. Wakatoshi is walking slightly aheadof you, his long legs and quick strides making it hard for you to keep up. To hiscredit, he does notice and slows down, coming to a stop and looking at you. In silence,he reaches out his hand to you. After a moment’s hesitation, you take it, yourhand being swallowed into his. You can feel the callouses built up over yearsof hitting a volleyball, you’re sure, hundreds of thousands of times.

Walking a bit slower, the two of you make your wayto a dock and his intention becomes clear; you’re going in a paddle boat. Payingfor the rental, Wakatoshi gets in first, turning to assist you. Both of you blushslightly when he has need to touch your waist to make sure you don’t fall over.Once you’re seated, he settles next to you and you both begin pushing on thepeddles, the boat coasting out towards the center of the lake.

It’s lovely here, sakura trees releasing theirpetals which float through the air and land silently on the glass like surfaceof the water. Above you, the stars are starting to wink and twinkle, the moon ahalf crescent but bright.

After peddling for a while, you decide to stop,looking up to enjoy the night sky. Glancing at him from the corner of your eye,you smile; he may not say much, but his efforts thus far have impressed you.

Deciding you should put in a little more effort too,you say, “You know, we don’t really know that much about each other. So howabout we play twenty questions? Answer one, ask one?”

“I don’t think I’ll come up with very goodquestions,” he says.

“Nothing says they have to be clever,” you say lightly, “Just ask things you want to know aboutme.”

Thinking it over, he realizes you’re right and nodshis agreement to your suggestion.

By the end of the game he’s properly fallen for you,learning about your love of animals and dream to be a veterinarian, the factthat you’re a pretty good cook and enjoy comedy movies over any other genre.You learn about his family, his ambition to play professional volleyball (not surprisingat all but you are surprised by thelevel of detail he went into once he really got going) and that he enjoysreading mysteries when he has the time.

“This was a really great idea,” you say with a softsmile.

He wants to confess it wasn’t really his, that Tendowas the one who found out about this place but thinks it better not to; youlook so happy.

“I’m glad you like it,” he says instead.

When the temperature shifts downward a few degreesand you shiver Wakatoshi takes off his jacket, draping it over your shoulders.

“We should probably head back,” you say and he nods.You get the boat turned around and return to the dock. Wakatoshi gets out firstafter it’s secure, leaning down and extending his hand to you to help you out.You grasp his hand, but as you step you slip, careening forward. Were he notthere, you’d probably have banged your knee up pretty bad but his strong armsand quick reflexes are more than enough to pull you to safety; which means you’reclasped in a full Wakatoshi embrace.

Looking up at his face, you smile and say, “Thanks.”

He swallows, his blush returning due to theproximity of your face to his. Unthinkingly, he leans down further, lipshovering over yours, eyes almost closed. Deciding to risk it, he continuesdownward, kissing you very gently. When he pulls away, your eyes are shining,your own cheeks sporting a beautiful, natural rouge.

“So, does this mean you’ll be my girlfriend?” heasks.

“Yes,” you breathe, “yes, Wakatoshi-kun, I’ll beyour girlfriend.”

When he smiles, you think your heart is going stopbut don’t have time for further consideration of your impending cardiac arrestsince he’s kissing you again, a bit firmer, a bit longer and oh my, you nowknow that while his mouth may not expel many words, it is exceptionallytalented in communicating passion.

[scarletkate1881]

Coming Down - Chapter Two

Float 

After three days on the road, I'd finally arrived back in Bayville, New York. It was strange being back here and as I climbed out of my shabby pickup truck, I noticed the mansion was under repair, a blue tarp covered one of the large bay windows and the corner of the building looked like it had been blasted off.

I knew from Logan that Xavier had shut down the mansion as a school; he wanted it to be a safe haven for young mutants, but since it doubled as the X-Men's base, it was the target for numerous attacks from the Brotherhood, other pissed of mutants and the new anti-mutant group, Friends of Humanity, so really it was no place for children; now it was purely X-Men business. At least it'd be a bit quieter.

"Rogue!" The wind was knocked out of me as my old roommate Kitty Pryde ran into me and gave me a tight hug.

"Hey Kitty, I missed you, too," I laughed as I patted her back and then pulled away; she hadn't changed much in the six years I'd been gone; still the small little bundle of excitement with her hair in a high ponytail that swung with her movements.

"Oh wow, look at your hair," She noted, the smile on her face was a nice, familiar sight.

"Yeah, I kinda got sick of dying it and straightening it." I used to have to get up two hours earlier than her to work on my hair; it was naturally curly and it took a lot of work to get it in order, if I didn't dry it properly after the shower, it'd look like an afro. As for the color, I'd like to think I'd gotten over my gothic faze, and went back to my natural red.

"You look totally different! Like in a good way, though, you don't look so scary anymore," Kitty stopped, her bright blue eyes widening slightly. "Not that I was scared of you, or anything, but others totally were. Want help with your bags?"

"Nah, it's okay, only got the one," I replied, going round the back of my truck and retrieving my small rucksack from the backseat.

"Is that seriously all you have?" Kitty's eyebrows pulled together and I rolled my eyes but smiled.

"Yes, unlike some, I don't need fifty dresses and two hundred pairs of shoes." I mocked and headed toward the front door; Kitty skipped along beside me. I tried to hide the nervousness I was feeling as I open the door and walked inside.

Standing in the lobby, memories flooded my head of my time here; when Bobby slid down the banister and ended up breaking his arm, running around after Kurt when he ate the last of my cereal, I know that my time here wasn't all bad, there were some good memories; but I'd felt like I was in a cage; just sitting around waiting for the next fight.

The strong smell of sulfur signaled the arrival of my furry blue little brother, Kurt, he smiled at me, showing his sharp teeth, but there was a hint of sadness in his yellow eyes.

"Hey Rogue, I'm glad you're back, I didn't believe Raven when she said you were coming," Kurt had definitely had a growth spurt since I'd been gone, at a guess, he'd have to be at least six foot one.

"What can I say? Mystique really sold it to me," I replied lightheartedly, but instantly realized my mistake when both Kitty and Kurt's face fell.

"You're only here because Mystique spoke to you? I thought you were just coming home," Kitty asked, coming to stand in front of me to look me in the eye.

"Does it really matter? I'm here to help with Sinister," I muttered, feeling mightily uneasy. "Look, I've had a long drive here, I'd like to get some rest. Where am I staying?"

"Jean's old room is empty, I guess you can stay there," Kitty replied, but the energy from her voice was gone, after speaking she walked off toward the kitchen. So glad to see Kitty still gets offended over the smallest thing.

Turning to look at Kurt, I opened my mouth to speak but he got there before me. "The Professor will probably want to talk to you." He mumbled and then bamfed off before I could say anything else.

"It's good to see you again, Rogue," The Professor said as soon as I walked into his office. Driving over here, I kept running through my mind the things I wanted to say, I wanted to have a go at Xavier for keeping tabs on me and for telling Mystique where I was, but as soon as I entered the office, I felt nothing but relaxed and happy to see him again; maybe that was his doing.

"Same to you; it's strange being back though, especially since there's no screaming kids running down the hallways," I mused, sitting in the seat in front of his desk.

"I assume Raven has informed you of our problem," O…kay, so straight into business, that's fine, I can deal with that.

"Yup, Mr. Sinister, hopped up mutants, evil intentions to take over the world, the usual," I shrugged nonchalantly.

"It's a little bit more than that, I'm afraid, Rogue," Xavier sounded more tired than usual, the wrinkles on his forehead more pronounced; had he just aged that much since I left? Or was this Sinister thing taking its toll on him? "He seems intent on collecting powerful mutants and not just giving their mutations a boost, but also giving them new powers."

"Mystique did tell me about the ones you've already come across; did they really down Colossus?"

"Yes, Mr. Rasputin was incapacitated to quite a serious degree; Hank had trouble treating him because we couldn't get him out of his steel form, but he's recovered well, already back in action." The Professor wheeled himself around the desk to be by my side.

"You've gotten control of your skin," he said, his eyebrows furrowed. "How did you manage that? We worked for two years and didn't get anywhere near control."

"Oh, I don't know, I was just meditating a lot, maybe being away from here, being somewhere where I could just focus on myself for days on end without being disturbed might have helped. But it sure was a surprise; I mean, I was concentrating so much I thought my head would explode and then something just snapped," I let out a small laugh as I clicked my fingers to emphasize my point. "The first thing I did was run out into the street and touch the first person I came across; nearly gave the poor old woman a heart attack."

The little smile on my face disappeared at Xavier's concerned expression, I was about to ask what was wrong, but he spoke before me; people have to stop doing that.

"I'm sure you had a tiring journey here and you'll want to rest; Jean's old room has been made up for you," I took that as him dismissing me, so I left without another word.

Why did I find it funny that I was given Jean's room? The girl I used to envy so much it hurt; she seemed perfect in every way, smart, popular, pretty; the things I'd never been. Scott's interest in her just made it worse. Four years ago, before I left, I'd finally gotten over my little flame for Summers and in turn, my jealous of Jean, not that I ever tried to bridge the gap between me and Grey.

As I walked down the once familiar hallway toward the room, I wondered if Kitty had kept our old room; I'd left a few of my things, mainly because I packed in under twenty minutes when I decided to leave. Just as I arrived at Jean's old room, I heard a door a couple rooms down open, I turned and I felt my heart stop for a second.

There stood Remy LeBeau, the person who brought so much frustration and excitement into my life. His hair was a little longer, almost brushing his shoulders and it looked like he'd bulked up a little bit but not in a way that he looked like a body builder. His strange, striking eyes bored into me for a second, before he turned back around into his room and slammed the door, making me jump and come back to my senses.

I wanted to talk to him, tell him that I had missed him and explain why I ignored his calls; but how do I start? And would he even listen to me? I sure wouldn't. I shook my head and entered my new room, throwing my backpack into the blue arm chair in the corner of the room.

Looking around the room, there was no indication of who the past occupant was, I doubt I'd be staying around long enough to make the place my own. I let out an indulgent sigh as I sat down on the soft double bed, it was a massive improvement on the lumpy piece of shit I'd been sleeping on the past few years.

I unlaced my boots before sprawling out on the bed, the exhaustion of the past three days crashing down on me. A thought drifted through my mind that I should probably drop in on Logan. It can wait, he'll understand, he knows how much I need my sleep.

The last musing in my mind was what I'd say to Remy, I knew I'd have to talk to him sooner or later, but he's always had a way of making my mind blank, whether it was with his terms of endearments or one of his devilish smiles, maybe Kitty would help me out, lord knows she owes me it with how many times she asked me for advice with Avalanche.

"Wakey wakey, Rogue, dinner time," I cracked opened one eye to see my blue elf of a brother smiling down at me, I guessed that he wasn't still upset over my earlier comment about being here.

"Great, I'll be down in five, gotta change," I mumbled out, my voice thick with sleep.

After I'd changed into a dark green turtle neck and light blue jeans, I made my way down to the dining room. My steps did falter slightly when I realized that Gambit would probably be down there; Don't worry about it, Rogue, what's he going to do? If he says anything, I'll deal with him, thanks, mental Kurt.

Even though the mansion was no longer a school, the noise in the dining room could've fooled me, the loudest voice was Bobby, of course, closely followed by Jubilee. I took a deep breath before entering the room, while I'd work a lot on coming out of my antisocial shell, I still didn't like being the center of attention.

"Rogue! You're finally returned, huh?" Bobby greeted, his mouth full of food. I gave a small awkward smile and offered a halfhearted wave. The rest welcomed with smiles and comments about how they missed me, it took all my self-restraint not to roll my eyes. Even Jean said she was happy to have me back here. Remy wasn't anywhere to be seen, not that I was looking for him.

I took the empty seat in between Kurt and Rahne and within seconds everybody had went back to their previous conversations, the momentary "excitement" of my return had passed, thank the lord.

"Hey, where's Logan?" I asked to no one in particular as I helped myself to some apple juice; my stomach rumbled as I looked at the food, it'd been a while since I'd had a proper meal.

"Him and Storm are in New York City, trying to get some more allies." Kitty answered from her place across the table from me. "They're always off somewhere asking for help."

"The more help, the better, I hate to say it, but we're out of our depth here," Scott said, his tone conveying how it pissed him off to have to outsource help. Yeah, I know I had a crush on him, but I'd realized just how much of a sore loser he was, at least when he lost it just made him try harder the next time.

"How come Mystique hasn't gotten the Brotherhood to join our ranks?" I didn't care to ask where my adopted mother was, she'd said she was going to England, maybe she was still there.

"Mystique abandoned them to join us; Avalanche, Blob and Toad are still causing trouble, but we've got bigger fish to fry right now," Kitty informed me, I didn't miss the way she said Avalanche, was she seriously still hung up on him? I thought she'd moved on to the Tinman.

"What about Pietro and Wanda? Or Boom Boom?"

"Tabitha's just dropped off the map, but the twins? You won't believe me but they're members of the Avengers now, rubbing shoulders with Captain America, being heroes and all that."

"You're fucking kidding me? Did someone knock their heads together and make them see sense?" I stared wide-eyed at Kitty, how just shrugged.

I knew that Captain America had been brought out of the ice, they'd finally managed to find the cure to save him; that phone call was the first time I'd ever heard Logan sound so happy and it warmed my heart that he'd gotten one of his closest friends back, friends were something Logan desperately needed.

After the little catch up session, I focused on eating as the others had conversations around me, I sometimes chipped in but for the most part I kept quiet.

While drinking some of my apple juice, Kitty kicked me under the table and quite hard, I glared at her before looking over to where she was gesturing with her head. Gambit had decided to join us. I wasn't unaware of the way things quieted down or the looks that were being shot between me and Remy, but I ignored them, just kept on eating.

He took the seat next to Jubilee and started a conversation with her, seemingly ignoring the looks, too. Of course, everybody knew what went on between the two of us and I wouldn't be surprised if people thought I left because of him, that obviously wasn't the case, well, not fully.

The rest of dinner went by uneventfully, Remy didn't say anything or even look at me and I just spoke to Kurt, Kitty and sometimes Rahne before making my excuses and retiring back to my room. I took the time to empty my backpack and put away the clothing, not that it took me that long, five minutes and I was back to sitting on the edge of the large bed, staring blankly at the pale green wall in front of me.

Leaving here was such a big leap, for years I'd been wanting to change myself because I wasn't happy in the slightest, but after being on my own for a few months I realized I still wasn't happy, I thought that maybe I was just an unhappy person, so I tried to change that, too; become more sociable, try and get some friends, it wasn't easy but I committed myself to the whole 'fake it 'til you make it' and I guess it did work slightly, I did make some friends back in California, not ones that I'd necessarily contact now that I'm here in New York, but ones that I could talk to and go out with while I was there.

It might be more difficult trying to pull off my new persona here, mainly because the people here know me already, they know how problematic and mean I can be. But am I really intending to stay here once the Sinister debacle is over? It's a nicer place to live, I don't have to worry about having food, paying rent or having heating, all I have to worry about is getting out of a mission alive.

A gentle knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts; in the few seconds it took me to get over to the door I went through a mental list of who it could be; not Kitty or Kurt, they just come in, just like Gambit would, not that he'd be visiting anytime soon.

Jean stood on the other side, looking slightly nervous but still with a kind smile on her face, one that I knew I didn't deserve, not with the way I treated her when I was here last.

"Hey Rogue, I was hoping I could speak with you,"

"Uh, sure, come on in," I felt sort of stupid that I had to invite her in to her old room, but unlike some in the mansion, she was polite enough to respect others' space.

She sat in the armchair in the corner and look around the room. "What was I thinking choosing that shade of green? Any plans to change it?"

I rubbed the back of my neck as I sat on the edge of the bed facing her, feeling a bit uncomfortable around her. "I don't think I'll be staying here long enough for that."

"Oh, that's a shame, I know how much it means to Kurt and Kitty to have you back; they were heartbroken after you left. Logan missed you, too, not that he'd ever admit it, but he'd always be looking out the window in case you came rolling up the driveway."

"I'll admit, I missed them, too, but I don't regret leaving, it was nice to be away from it all, work on getting my head sorted." Yeah, I know lying is bad, but that's technically only half a lie, I did do some work on the mental side of things and finally had the breakthrough I'd been dreaming of for years.

"Anyways, not what I came to talk about. Gambit." The look on my face made her pause and baulk somewhat. "I know it's none of my business but –"

"No, it's really not," I spat, my hands clenching in the bedsheets and my teeth grinding together.

"But if you're going to be staying here for any amount of time, I think it's crucial for the team that you air your grievances, I'm not saying throw yourselves back into a relationship, I just think you need to agree to be civil with each other; we've already got a battle coming, we don't need one at home, too."

"Jean, I appreciate it, but don't. I will be civil with him, we're not going to start a screaming match, he's gone his way and I've gone mine, I'm sure he's landed on his feet and is working through a long list of rebounds or whatever."

The older redhead's eyebrows pulled together and there was a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "Is that what you really think? That Gambit is that cold-hearted? Because I can tell you that couldn't be farther from the truth. Sure, I can't read his mind properly, but I can get a feel of his emotions sometimes when he lets his guard down. And the first few months after you left, he was distraught, but of course, around everyone else, he was smiling, cracking jokes, but when he was alone, he was sad and lonely, it brought me down just being on the same floor as him."

I didn't want to hear this; I didn't want to hear how my selfish tendencies had affected someone I cared about.

"And I think you know better than anybody here that Gambit isn't very good at admitting his true feelings, so you need to be the bigger person here, sit down with him and talk it out, come to an agreement about where you both stand, not just for the two of you but for the good of the team."

"Did Scott get you to do this? He's always going on about the best options for the team. Would he be too uncomfortable to talk about relationships with me that he sent you to do his bidding?" As I spoke, I mentally scolded myself; this aggressive, defensive behavior was something I'd been working on getting rid of, it's just childish, but I can't help myself, it's my go to mechanism to protect myself from things I'm too cowardly to listen to.

The look on Jean's face wasn't one of being offended, it was sadness, not at my rudeness, but actually for me. I knew Jean was a nice person with such a kind heart and it was another thing I was jealous of.

"Gambit may act like an emotionally untouchable ladies' man, but deep down, it hurt him, I'd even go so far as to say you broke his heart." Jean said softly before giving me another soft smiling and then getting up to leave.

Once the door shut, I dropped my head into my hands. Coming back here was a mistake, I'm too much of a weakling to deal with this kind of stuff; fighting the bad guy? Let me at 'em. But dealing with relationships and that kind of shit? I run a mile.

Here I was thinking that I could just drift back to New York after floating away; hoping that everything would be the same. The thing about floating, though, is that it's all well and good until you've drifted so far from the shore and you don't know your way back. Maybe I should start swimming.

PART THREE