#i sit up and i feel 7 different joints pop while my shoulders try to murder me

[terrifying-acceptance]

why does everything hurt everytime i wake upppp :((

[cottonkendi]

Hii I really liked your 'let's break up' with ran I just can't but to laugh also 😭 Can I request an imagine where you took care of Ran because you woke up noticing that he suddenly have a 7 years old appearance. As his lover, you noticed also that he's still the same person you love the most but he just look younger just how you remembered. As the time goes on, Ran is slowly changing his behavior from your mature boyfie until he forgot all his memories with you. This might be long? I don't know it depends on >/////< Thank youu 🥺🌼

MASTERLIST

Haitani Ran x Reader

Word Count: 5.8k

Genre: Bonten AU, Fluff, Crack(?)

Warning: Hinted Sexual Themes, Cursed Words, Mentions of Baby Making, a child, a little mid-life crisis, mentions of milf and mommy kink. If any of this bothers you, do not read.

Synopsis: Getting a free trial in parenthood.

a/n: this is in the same timeline as Let’s Break Up but you don't have to know what happens there in order to read this~ Also, thank you for the request <33 I wasn’t sure how to end it so… :) yeah, i hope you like it though~  (from now on, I’ll try to prioritize the requests so that it won’t be stuck in my queue for a month or something~)

“Ah, the two of you look so cute~” You close the photobook, tossing it to the side as you slouch on the couch, arms spread out as you close your eyes, imagining a little baby that looks like Ran crawling around the living room. Though your imaginations are cut off when you hear your boyfriend sigh behind you.

“How did you even find that? I was trying to hide it from you when mum brought it the other day.”

Ran sits beside you, nuzzling your cheek with his nose before leaning his forehead on your shoulder, his breath tickling your neck.

“Rindou gave me his copy, said that he didn’t need it in his apartment so now, we have two copies.”

A groan leaves his lips.

“Actually, it made me think. I kinda wanna have kids now. What do you think?” You ask him while staring out the window, enjoying the beautiful view from the window walls. The sight of the city below makes a nice view for you to enjoy as you converse with Ran.

He hums against your throat, urging you to continue. “I'm already 26, might as well, right? Let’s experience the whole family scenario before we both die from a shootout.”

The joke makes Ran chuckle against your neck, his arms sneaking around your waist as he pulls you closer to him, fingers tracing shapes onto your waist as he slowly moves one of his hands to your thigh, pulling it over his waist, his lips trailing kisses down your neck. “Then why don’t we start the baby making process now while the sun’s still up?”

You can’t help but smirk as you watch him remove his tie.

“You gonna put a baby in me, hm?”

The urge to pee wakes you up from your slumber, limbs stretching as you relieve the soreness of your body after a rough night with Ran. A groan leaves your lips as you hear a few pops of your joints. “I must be getting old…” Mumbling to yourself, you don’t notice the lack of presence on the other side of the bed as you limp to the bathroom, silently cursing Ran as you feel your legs tremble a bit whenever you’d take a step.

After a few minutes of just sitting on the toilet, you finally managed to fully open your eyes as you started washing your hands. “Damn, I look like a mess.” You whisper to yourself as you eye the different bruises on your neck and chest, along with your bedhead. A sigh leaves your lips as you decide to wash your face and brush your teeth, your stomach grumbling just as you’re about to brush your teeth.

You finally notice the lack of your boyfriend’s presence when you’re in the middle of brushing your teeth and there’s still no annoying voice taunting you for your limp.

Just as you’re about to shout for Ran, the door opens. But instead of your 6ft tall boyfriend, you’re met with a lanky child who’s barely 5 ft, a smirk on his lips and a familiar looking long hair.

The two of you stare at each other for a bit, the child not so subtly eyeing your body before the he speaks. “Hey darling.”

“What the fuck-” You don’t get to finish as your hand is already taking ahold of the bidet and spraying the child with water.

Curses are shouted at you by the child as he slams the door shut, preventing you from spraying him with more water.

By now, your chest is beating like crazy, mouth still foamy with the toothpaste and the toothbrush is still in your mouth. Staring at yourself in the mirror, you just now noticed that you’re still naked from last night’s activities. “Fucking perverted child…” You murmur to yourself as you clean yourself up, wrapping yourself in a robe before opening the door once more, a glare directed at the child who’s huffing on the bed, hair slightly wet from your earlier attack.

“What the fuck was that for, Y/N?! It’s so early in the morning for this bullshit.”

“Don’t curse, young man! And what the fuck did Ran and Rindou gave you for you to do this shit, huh?” You scold the child while sorting through your closet, looking for some smaller clothes for you to give to the soaking child who oddly resembles Ran when he was young.

Once finding some, you toss it to the child before locking yourself in the walk-in closet, quickly changing into your own clothes. “Are you done changing?” You ask, not wanting to walk into this child mid-change.

When you hear him yell out an affirmation, you sigh in relief and walk out. You give him an unamused look as you sit in front of him on the floor. “Where’s Ran and Rindou? And when did you guys think of this prank?”

“What the fuck are you saying? I am Ran.” The child crosses his arms, purple eyes staring right into your own, much like how your boyfriend usually does.

A scoff leaves your lips. “As much as I find this amusing kid, I’m not into dating children. That’s disgusting. So I suggest that you go and call those motherfuckers unless you want me to call your mum. I mean c’mon. Why’d you even let those manchildren bring you into this? You even let them draw some sharpie tattoos on you.” You point at the tattoos on his arm that resemble Ran’s tattoo as well.

The child rolls his eyes at you. “That’s ‘cause I am Ran! Why won’t you believe me?!”

“Maybe it’s because my boyfriend is a 28 year old man and not a 7 year old child.” You deadpan, not at all amused at the game that your boyfriend, and possibly his brother, had put you in. It’s too early in the morning, 9:48 am, for this kind of shit.

You’re tired and hungry.

You don’t have time for this prank.

The child growls at your words before pouncing on you, tiny hands gripping your shirt, his hair smacking you right in the face as he does so.

“I am Ran! But for some reason, I’m a child! I’m Haitani Ran, we’ve been dating since we were 17. We were in Tenjiku together, along with Rokuhara Tandai and now, Bonten. You’ve been living with my brother and I ever since we became a part of Rokuhara Tandai, then we moved into our own apartment ever since we talked about getting married when we turn 30.”

‘Ran’ shouts all of this as he’s gripping onto your shirt, his tiny form hovering over you. You can only deadpan at him, still not convinced. These are all basic information that can be given by the Haitanis to anyone if they so wanted to. So, you decide to interrogate this chibi just for the sake of confirming if something magical did happen to your this morning or if your boyfriend is just being an asshole.

“If you’re really Ran, then where did I hide Sanzu’s briefcase?” You ask, remembering the expensive briefcase that Bonten’s number 2 was bringing around since it was filled to the brim with his little drug candies.

“You didn’t hide it. You burnt it while you were hiding from Sanzu since he used your money to buy all of the drug candies in it.”

You hum, kinda convinced.

But still, it’s not enough. You need one more confirmation just to make sure that you’re not falling into Ran’s trap.

“In the bathroom, when I had to cut your hair, what did you do when I tried convincing you to let me cut your hair?”

It’s a question that you know only Ran can answer since he’ll never let anyone else other than you know what happened in that bathroom. Knowing how his pride won’t let him tell anyone else about this story.

It takes a few seconds for the Ran imposter to answer, his chest heaving a bit as he gives you a look. “Well? Are you gonna answer or not, kid?”

“I... I cried because I was insecure.”

Silence envelops the two of you as you stare at him, finally taking in his features.

Same purple eyes.

Same nose.

Same lips.

Same cheeks.

Gently, you card your hand through his long locks, nails scraping against his scalp. He shudders under your touch, eyes closing for a bit as he finally lets your shirt go.

Same reaction.

Hmm…

Guess he really is Haitani Ran and not some child imposter.

“Why the hell are you a child?” You ask him, gently pushing him off of your body as you finally stand up from the floor, your legs feeling a little sore as you give it a little stretch. Ran follows suit, fixing his slightly big shirt as he follows you to your vanity desk, looking through your drawers for a hair tie.

He only shrugs at you, purple eyes looking so innocent.

It’s been awhile since he ever looked innocent. It’s a nice change.

“Well, you think you’ll turn back into an adult? I don’t think I’ll be able to date a child, for your information. As much as I love you, I don’t love you enough to start dating you now while you’re like that.” You gesture to his body to which he only rolls his eyes.

Patting your vanity chair, you wait for him to sit himself before taking your hair brush. “I’m sure that I’ll turn back soon enough. I’ve also called Rindou while you were asleep and I was panicking by myself. He said he’ll bring us lunch.”

“That’s good. I don’t think I know how to cook any kid friendly food.” Brushing his hair, you part his long locks in the middle while handing him the hair ties. “It’s been awhile since you’ve had your braids. I kinda miss it.” You chuckle to yourself as you start braiding his long locks, the silky feeling giving you nostalgia as you stare at your boyfriend’s chibi face, his expression similar to the pictures that you saw yesterday in Ran’s childhood photo album.

It takes you a few minutes to finish, but when you do, Ran immediately starts playing with it. The two of you start walking to the living room, your hand clasped in his to make sure that he doesn’t fall off of the stairs. “You think I can start calling you mommy?”

You almost trip down the stairs. Hands gripping tightly onto the railings as you glare at Ran’s tiny chuckling form who’s skipping down the last 10 steps.

“This is not the time to indulge in your mommy kink, Ran. You’re literally a child. This is not funny.” You scold him, not at all enjoying the way he smirks at you and winks. It gives you shivers and not the good kind.

It feels like when you just dropped your kid in school after he told you about how his friends have a crush on you then those said friends winked at you.

“Does this make you a milf?”

“Can you stop, Ran? I’ll wrap you up in a sack and throw your little body off of this building.”

“Mommy! That’s bad!” His voice is a little higher when he says that, lips in a pout as he stares at you with his big eyes. It makes your eye twitch when you hear his snickers from the kitchen.

“I swear to God Ran, if you continue this, I’m leaving your ass to fend for yourself.” Following him to the kitchen, you watch as he struggles to open the fridge which is twice his size.

It makes you wonder why you even have such a large refrigerator when the two of you are barely home to even cook for yourselves.

“I can fend for myself without you.”

“Oh yeah? You can’t even open the fridge door with that tiny body of yours. How are you gonna feed yourself?” Standing behind him, you carefully pick him up, putting him on your hip as you open the fridge for him. “What do you want, Ran? Want some juice until Rindou gets here with lunch?”

Taking out some juice and biscuits, you walk to the living room, setting the plates down on the table before sitting down on the plush sofa that you sat on yesterday with adult Ran. It’s a little absurd how you were just with adult Ran yesterday, doing whatever with him, talking about having kids with him and now, you’re stuck with a child Ran who’s currently clinging onto your side, a cookie in his hand as he sips on his juice.

It feels like a sick joke.

But you can’t do anything about it since you don’t know how to turn Ran back into his normal self. All you can do is take care of him and wait for him to turn back to normal.

It can take a day.

Or a week.

A month.

Two months.

A year-

You’re snapped out of your little panic thinking by a choking Ran, his hands slapping your face as he flails around.

Immediately, you’re making a fist and firmly rapping your fist against his chest. You repeat this for a bit until he coughs out a piece of cookie. The sight makes you sigh in relief as your arms wrap around his form, pulling him against your chest as you lay down on the couch.

“My god, Ran. Oh my god.” You let out a big sigh, eyes closing as you pull him closer to you. “Be more careful. You’re a child right now. You can’t just do whatever you want now. What if it kills you?” You continue to mumble, hand rubbing against his back in a soothing manner hoping that it will make him feel better even if you don’t know just what he’s feeling right now.

He still acts like the adult Ran but he’s in a child body, you don’t know how this is really affecting him. So, even if your initial reaction would’ve been to laugh at Ran choking, you pushed that away and continued to soothe him, not noticing his eyes slowly closing and his breathing slowing down.

You don’t notice when you fall asleep as well, the stress and action from the last 30 minutes of the morning being too much for your brain.

The sound of the door opening wakes you up from your short nap, your eyes immediately darting to the door while your hand goes under the table in front of you, grasping at the handle of the gun that you’ve hidden there.

You watch as the door opens wider, revealing Rindou who’s holding a bunch of plastic bags filled with what you assume is the lunch that he promised Ran.

He raises a brow at you when he notices your hand under the table. “Were you about to shoot me?” Taking his shoes off, he walks to the kitchen, lacing the plastic bags on the counter before going back to the living room, eyes trailing towards Ran’s still sleeping form as Rindou takes a cookie. Biting onto it, he nods towards his brother.

“Is that really Ran?”

A sigh leaves your lips as you sit up, carefully moving Ran’s body onto the couch as you take a sip of the juice that’s still on the table. “Yeah, he’s been like that ever since I woke up. But he’s been acting like his normal self so I guess that that’s good enough.”

“Wake him up then, I’m starving.” Rindou says before heading back to the kitchen to get the food ready.

Crouching down, you nudge Ran’s shoulder. “Ran, wake up. Rindou’s here. He brought food.” You watch as he groans, hand batting away at your own as his eyes slowly open. Purple orbs hazing over from the tears that;s starting to collect.

You’re shocked when a few tears leave his eyes, lips trembling as he starts to cry.

“Eh? Why are you crying, Ran? Are you hurt?” You start to frantically look for any wounds or scratches on his body but you come up empty. Instead, you’re thrown in for another surprise when his hands wrap around your neck, his legs doing the same to your waist as he sobs onto your neck.

“Mommy!” He wails, hiccups leaving his lips as he stares at you with his bright purple eyes. “Had a nightmare, mommy!”

“Ran, I really don’t like this joke of yours. We don’t have time for your mommy kink, okay?”

Your words only make Ran cry harder, hands gripping onto your shirt as he buries his head to your chest, the material of your clothes slowly becoming wet as he continues to sob. “M’not joking mommy. You’re being mean! You’re a meanie!”

Your stomach drops when you don’t see any hint of a smirk or a chuckle from him, his cries the only thing that can be heard as you continue to stare at his sobbing form in your arms.

“I’m sorry. Mom-mommy’s sorry. C’mere, let’s not cry now, yeah? We’re about to have lunch with U-Uncle Rindou?” It comes out as a question. Totally unsure of what you’re about to do as Ran only clings to you harder when you start walking to the kitchen where a confused Rindou stands, watching as you bring his brother into the kitchen.

“What the fuck are the two of you doing? I know that the two of you are crazy but this just looks so fucking wrong.” Rindou tells you as watches how Ran looks at him with such an offended look.

“Uncle Rin said a no-no word twice! He’s being bad, mommy!” Ran points at Rindou who can only look on with disdain, face contorting in disgust the moment Ran calls you ‘mommy’.

It makes you roll your eyes. “Rin, stop swearing. This isn’t Ran being a weirdo, okay? I really think that he regressed into a 7 year old mentally…” You stare at Ran who’s still glaring at his brother turned uncle.

The two brothers give each other a look, with Ran giving his brother a glare while Rindou can only look on with a deadpan look.

“That sucks…” That’s the only thing that he says before you put Ran on a chair, placing a plate in front of him.

“Stay here, okay? I’ll get you a glass of water.”

Turning to Rindou who’s still standing a few feet away from Ran. you give him a look. “Can you look after Ran for a bit? I just need to get him water.”

“He’s a 7 year old, not a baby. You can leave 7 year olds alone, y’know?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s how you get the ‘7 year old hangs from a 20th balcony’ headline, Rin.”

A snort leaves his mouth. “I don’t see why that’s a proble-”

“Rindou, please. That’s your brother, don’t kill him, please.” You beg him one last time before making teh mistake and turning around to get a glass of water for your new child named Haitani Ran.

It only took you a minute to get him water.

Only a minute.

But when you turn around, a scream almost rips through your lips when you see Rindou holding Ran by one of his ankles, dangling Ran’s small body mid-air while Ran waves at you.

Running to the both of them, you carefully take Ran away from his reckless brother who only laughs at Ran’s stumbling form when you finally put him on the floor.

Your long haired child stumbles onto your legs, his arms wrapping itself around you in order to steady himself. “What the he-” You cut yourself off when you see Ran staring at you. “I mean, what were you doing to Ran?! What if you dropped him on his head?”

You lightly slap Rindou’s arm as the three of you finally sit on the dinner table, getting the food ready as you place food on Ran’s plate since he can’t reach the food himself.

“It’s not like he wasn’t already dropped on his head when he was a child.”

“Don’t give him another childhood trauma, Rin.”

“It’s not like it’s his first time.” Rindou only shrugs while you sigh. You’re about to say something else but Ran cuts you off.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.”

He opens his mouth while staring intently at your spoon.

You can’t help but find it cute as you start feeding him, ignoring the way Rindou sighs in front of you.

“You shouldn’t spoil him too mu-”

“Hush Rindou, let your brother have a good childhood.”

“Say bye Uncle Rin~” You tell Ran while you wave his hand at a tired and sighing Rindou. He impatiently waits by the door, staring at Ran who repeats your words, not at all noticing the way his brother turned uncle is looking at him in disdain.

“The only reason why I hate this moment right now, aside from how weird it is to see Ran call you mommy, is that I know that Mikey’s gonna be giving me all of Ran’s paperworks.” Rindou tells you once more before he leaves, back slouching as he eyes Ran who turns on the TV in the living room, scrolling through the channels and looking for some cartoons to watch.

“You can always send them to me, I’ll finish it for you if it’s that much of a hassle.” You bargain, trying to make amends with your unofficial brother-in-law.

He can only sigh. “You’re currently a single mum, how can I ever give a lady more work to do when her supposed husband is off somewhere, not helping her with their kid?” His voice oozes sarcasm as he starts to walk away, too tired to deal with whatever you have to say next.

You almost want to run after Rindou and give him a slight smack for his sass but Ran starts calling for you, distressed voice making you run inside as soon as possible.

“What is it, little one? Something wrong?”

You don’t know when you stopped calling him by his name and instead, going with ‘little one’. Maybe it’s to separate this Ran from the normal Ran, or maybe it’s because you just sometimes forget that this child is actually supposed to be your 28 year old boyfriend and not your actual 7 year old child. Nevertheless, you don’t make an effort in changing it, content with calling him your little one for now.

Pointing at your phone, you notice the caller ID. “I think it’s your work, mommy. Someone’s been sending a lot of texts and now they started calling. I was thinking of answering it but maybe it’s important and you might get angry at me, mommy.”

A smile makes its way to your lips as you scoop him up in your arms, pressing a light kiss on his forehead. “Don’t worry little one, mommy won’t get angry at you, okay? And that’s a good job too, never answer calls when you don’t know who the caller is.” You watch as Ran nods at you, a proud smile on his lips as he lets you pat his head, playing with his braids for a bit before standing up and taking your phone. “Now, you go watch your cartoons while I take this call. It will only  take me a few seconds then after that, we can go to the park, okay?”

Walking to the kitchen, you quickly answer the call before pressing the phone to your ear. “Boss, you need anything?”

You hear Mikey hum from the other side. “Rindou called and said that Ran won’t be working for awhile, how long will this last? I’m planning on making him talk to some of our business partners but if he’ll be out of commission for a while then I need to know for how long so that Sanzu can change up the schedule.”

Scratching your neck, you glimpse at the little Ran in the living room, intently watching a cartoon about some goth looking family. You even catch a glimpse of a little girl who has the same hairstyle as Ran.

“Uhm, I’m thinking about a week? He’s not really feeling all that good. Hasn’t gotten out of bed since this morning,” You lie through your teeth as silence follows from the other side.

“Alright then, just make sure that you finish your own work and get the in-house physician to check on him if ever.” The call drops after that.

Inwardly sighing, you thank Mikey for not being nosy since you’re not sure if you can continue to lie to him if he ever tries to probe for more answers.

Walking back to the living room, you smile as soon as you see Ran’s beaming face. “Ready to go out, little one? Mommy’s gonna be buying you some new clothes, yeah?”

“Okay, mommy!” He leaps off of the couch and follows you to the bedroom where you quickly change into one of your suits while also making yourself look presentable. It only takes you 10 minutes since Ran had started impatiently running around the bedroom and playing with whatever he can find.

After making sure that you have your card and phone, you walk out of the suite, making sure to lock all the doors and making your way down through the elevator with Ran clinging onto your hand.

Once you’re in the lobby, you’re met with 4 of your bodyguards who start escorting you to the car. Though the moment the bodyguards appeared, Ran’s hold on your hand had gotten tighter.

“Mommy, who are these scary people?”

Looking down, you give him a reassuring smile as you help him inside the car. “Don’t worry little one, they’re just... they’re just bodyguards that Daddy hired to keep us safe.” You quickly make up a lie, not willing to spoil child Ran’s innocence.

His eyes sparkle as he greets the bodyguards along with the driver. “Woah, daddy must be so cool then!”

A smile makes its way to your lips as adult Ran flashes before your eyes while you watch child Ran look out the window in awe.

“He is. And he’s handsome too, much like you. You got your everything from him. From your hair, to your eyes and to your nose.” You don’t know whether you’re about to cry or not when the heavy feeling in your chest becomes more apparent when Ran asks you another question.

“Why isn’t daddy with us, then? I wanna see daddy!”

“Well, daddy’s busy working, that's why Uncle Rin was the one with us during lunch time.”

You don’t know why you’re lying to Ran and making up this elaborate story about his ‘father’ but you enjoy the way he looks at you with his shining orbs, so interested in your story. Little Ran earnestly nods at your words before getting distracted by the big buildings and fast cars outside of the window.

The day quickly passes by as you spend it by buying Ran some clothes and toys that he found interesting. Since you don’t know how long he’ll be staying as a child, you decided to just buy a whole week’s worth of clothes, toys and food that he’ll like.

Now, you’re tiredly wiping off your makeup, having changed into your sleepwear, you can hear Ran playing with his new toys in your shared bedroom. It’s now that you’re winding down from the day’s surprises do you finally start feeling the fatigue and mixed emotions that today’s surprise has brought you.

Your mind is now starting to swirl as you think about just how long will Ran stay as a kid?

As much as you were wanting to have a child yesterday, you didn’t mean for Ran to actually turn into one. You had wanted a kid with him, not have the kid be him.

No matter how much you enjoy taking care of child Ran, he’s still supposed to be your boyfriend. Along with that, things would’ve been easier if his adult memories remained with him, but for some reason, after your little nap this morning, all of his memories vanished and you’re really stuck with a kid Ran.

Your shoulders drop when the reality sinks in.

You are, technically, a single mother with no husband whatsoever. As much as you know that you’re financially stable enough to have as many kids as you want, you’re not sure if you’re emotionally ready for one if you’ll do it without your idiotic boyfriend who you love dearly.

You’re also not sure what you’ll do if Ran doesn’t turn back to normal.

Are you just supposed to pretend that you had a secret love child with Ran a few years ago that you hid from Bonten and now that Ran went missing, you decided to introduce said secret love child?

You groan as you finally finish your nightly routine, heading back to the bedroom where Ran’s playing with some of his new toys. At the sight of you, he immediately runs over to you, arms wrapping around your stomach the moment you sit on the bed.

“Mommy, are we gonna sleep now?”

You hum, pulling him onto the bed before you turn off the lights, only leaving the bedside lamp on his side just to make sure that he doesn’t get scared even though adult Ran hates having any lights on when he sleeps.

“Did you have fun, little one?”

“Yeah! I got a lot of new toys and I met daddy’s bodyguards. They told me that I look so much like daddy and that it kinda freaks them out but I’m friendlier than him, they said.”

You almost laugh as you listen, enjoying his little adventure story about the stories that he heard from the bodyguards. Thankfully, they didn’t say anything too graphic about what Ran usually does.

“Mommy, when will daddy come home? I keep seeing his face in the pictures around the house and your phone, the bodyguards also mentioned him a lot of times but I can’t remember a single memory of him. Is he always gone for work?” He asks you while he snuggles into the bedsheets, only his eyes poking out as he stares up at you.

“Well, yeah. He’s usually out for work ‘cause he’s so hardworking. But he usually comes home every other week, maybe it’s just ‘cause you’re so tired that’s why you can’t remember him.”

“Hmm, you must miss him a lot then since he’s gone.”

Staring down at his purple orbs, you can’t help but solemnly smile, the familiar purple irises making pain shoot through your chest. Caressing his cheeks, you hum. “I do miss him a lot.”

After that, Ran had fallen asleep, with you following after.

You wake up in a cold sweat, immediately sitting up as you lean your back against the headrest, chest heaving as you survey the room, your naked form shivering even though the heater is on.

“Ran? Where are you?! Ran?”

Your head is starting to throb along with the rest of your body. You feel disgusting as you feel something wet between your thighs. Groaning, you stand up, not bothering to find something to cover yourself as you walk into the bathroom.

Instantly, you hear the shower running inside.

Looking up, you’re met with Ran taking a shower, his back to you as he rinsed off the soap from his face.

Hearing the door open, he looks at you, a smirk making its way to his face when he sees your bare form though it’s quickly wiped off when he sees your distressed expression. Turning off the shower, he opens the glass door and steps out, not bothering to wipe or cover his naked form as he walks over to you.

Your body slumps against his while you wrap your arms around his body. “My god, it’s you.” You breathe out a sigh of relief.

His chest rumbles as he chuckles. “What? Did you miss me so much after I decided to take a shower? Or did you want to join me? Want a round 2?” He asks you, hands trailing down your back and onto your ass as he peppers your face with kisses.

“You won't believe the dream I had.”

Cocking a brow at your words, he lets you continue as he follows you around the bathroom, completely forgetting about his supposed shower.

“You were a fucking 7 year old in my dream and you lost all of your memories and thought that I was your mother.”

At that, a laugh escapes his lips as he doubles over. You’re unamused as you remove his arms from around you, eyeing him from the mirror while starting to brush your teeth. You’re starting to get more annoyed the more he continues to laugh at your supposedly ‘funny’ dream.

Maybe it’s the fatigue from having such a restless sleep thanks to the said dream, or maybe it’s the tiring night that you had with Ran yesterday, but you’re not in the mood for any of his bullshit right now.

So, it only irks you more when he decides to joke about it again.

“Did I fuck you too hard last night that you actually had a nightmare after?” He laughs at his own joke, mouth open wide as he wipes his hair to the side, still wet from his shower.

Facing him, you flick his hand away as you start walking to the shower. “If so, then let’s not fuck for at least a month. I don’t want to have another dream like that anytime soon.”

Your words make Ran immediately stop laughing, eyes widening when he watches you close the shower door behind you. “No! I was just joking baby! Of course there’s no actual connection between our little nightly activity and your dream. It’s probably that cursed baby album. I’ll give it back to mum and you’ll never have a dream like that ever again. Better yet, I’ll burn it! Please baby! I was just joking!”

He tries to open the shower door and get inside with you but you hold up a hand. “If you open that door right now, I’ll add another week to the sex ban.” His body freezes. Blown out eyes staring at you as you start showering, a sigh leaving your lips when you feel the water cascade down your body, completely ignoring the distressed cries coming from your boyfriend.

all rights reserved © armycandy10, 2021. do not copy or repost any of my works! likes/reblogs/feedbacks are very appreciated~

[datingintampafails]

Chapter 16: Ethan*: Part One

Ethan* was the one where when I said to my friends, “I don’t want to have to write a stupid ‘dating in Tampa’ chapter about this guy…. He’s a good egg.” But here I am, writing it. 

I matched with Ethan* on Bumble during a super busy work week, we chatted about things briefly on the app, and I mentioned that I might be able to do a video chat rather than an in-person date easier that week because of my schedule. He agreed to it and asked if that night would work. So our first date is a rather spontaneous video date. I made dinner for myself and was eating it about 20 minutes before our time we picked up, when a piece of mozzarella got stuck in my throat and I was choking. I managed to dislodge the mozzarella cheese stuck in my throat, but was afraid my voice might be weird since I had just stuck my hand down my throat to save my own life.

He had said that he tended to be a little awkward on the phone. Despite the disclaimer, I found him to be perfectly fine on the phone. I told him about my near death experience prior to the call, and we had a laugh about it. We gave each other tours of our homes. He owns his and has completely renovated his place, which is pretty cool. I admired the handiwork of his home, especially the “shiny floors” that he had redone. I learn some quirks about him, such as being homeschooled until college and that he doesn’t like chocolate (weird). He also had mentioned that he was born in Northern Virginia, about ten minutes away from where I grew up and lived there until he was five, before moving to St. Pete. He never had typical pets, but did take care of some squirrels and some lizards, straight Florida kid shit. We ended the call recognizing we got along and generally understood each other. I knew he was 26 but turns out that I was like ten days short of exactly a year older. He immediately after said he was “excited to hang out... soon.” and that we seem to have a lot in common. Agreed.

I let him know that I have some questions for him before that, but that I’ll get to them. The next day, rather than doing that, my friend Lauren inspires me to make a legitimate dating application. I create this thorough Google form, which includes serious questions, as well as some less serious questions which are unfortunately inspired by my previous dating experience, i.e. do you chew with your mouth open? are you a warlock?, etc. I send this to him, and he hesitantly does it after I ask him to. His comment at the end is “I thought this was dumb, but I actually had fun.” From this form, I learn that truly Ethan* does have some similar goals to me. He also doesn’t want children. I ask what people are looking for and he responds with “Unsure yet, but I am open to anything from casual friends with benefits all the way up to a long term relationship if we are a good match. I don't have any future goals but I enjoy companionship and sex and seek these out in a partner.“ Seems like a fair expectation, which is kind of where I am at too. I send that same application to different people that I’ve matched with at the time, but Ethan* is definitely my front runner.   

This guy didn’t really match up to my usual douchebag energy guy I usually go for. He was a college athlete, wide receiver and ran track, and definitely still kept up with his physique. He had curly bronde hair that was slightly receding on the sides, a six-pack, and nicely sculpted shoulders and back. I knew ahead of time he was on the shorter side, that is, not over six feet tall. He owns a boat and also has a pilot’s license and flies planes for fun. Things that were definitely unique and super cool. He asked me if I would ever go flying with him, to which I enthusiastically said that would be cool. He didn’t know that learning to fly is also something on my bucket list, I would actually never have the chance to tell him. 

That weekend, a few days after our virtual date, I was finally done with my marathon of working long days and said I would be down for meeting up. He mentions his plans with his friends were canceled that night, and we decide to do something that night. I let him know I have an appointment and can come over after that, around 6. We discuss what we are going to do, we decide on a night in. I suggest tacos, however, he responds by asking if I like Chipotle. I inform him that since we live in a place where there are much greater options for local taco places, which aren’t Chipotle and basic, we should get that instead.  He then suggests a place by him we can go to, and we agree on that. However, this is also coming from a guy who said Papa Johns was his favorite type of pizza. With pineapple. 

I go for a comfy but not trying too hard look for that night. Some athletic leggings from Uniqlo, and a crop top. Ironically, I believe that exact ensemble is in one of my photos on Bumble, in hindsight. I excitedly text him about it being 7/11, which is free slurpee day, and ask if we can go. He says there’s a 7 Eleven by him that we can go to. I finished my appointment, which was actually a lip and eyebrow wax, and drove to his place. He asks me to park on the street so that he can drive his car to the taco place, and I sarcastically tell him that he’s going to have to drive around my car in the driveway. I then mention I’m on the way and will see him soon.

Usually, by the time I am going to meet someone in person, I have given them my number or other ways to contact me outside of the original app. My friend had suggested to me that I try to stay on these apps communication wise, until a successful first date. I was trying to follow this advice and since Ethan* and I were still communicating exclusively on Bumble, I was following that advice. Granted, he hadn’t really asked me either to change communication methods, so it worked out.

 I message him “Aqui” when I pull up to his house, and as I start to get my things out of my car he emerges from the front door to greet me. Immediately as I walk up and analyze him, I feel bad as a wave of disappointment falls over me. He in no way lied about his height on his profile, but definitely I overestimated how tall his height was. Otherwise, he was 100% authentic and who he said he was. He meekly asks about my appointment and if everything is okay, specifically asking if it was a doctors’ appointment. I admit I was actually getting a wax, then he compliments me saying that my brows look really nice and he otherwise wouldn’t have said anything as it would seem weird.

I then say I’m hungry and we should go get food. I get out to his car, which is a super nice Jeep Grand Cherokee, with a leather interior. Despite the nice car, I look down at the floor of the passenger seat, which is entirely covered in discard receipts. 

I mention this to him, and he gets super embarrassed about forgetting to clear his car before I arrived. Upon looking at the receipts as I help him clean, I recognize many of them are from Taco Bell. We bond however over the amazingness of Baja Blast being the ultimate drink. I insist we go to 7 Eleven first to get our slurpees, since I don’t want the food getting cold/soggy. We find out it isn’t really free slurpee day, due to COVID-19, and instead it’s a get a medium free next time with your membership there or something. So I get a medium anyway, so at least mine is free.

Next, we pull up to the taco joint, which is basically you walk up to a door to order. We discuss the menu and agree that fish is gross. He orders for us both, which I love, and sit briefly at a colorful picnic table outside of the restaurant. We are there not even one minute, when he asks if we can go to the little market that’s next to the restaurant. I say sure, and we browse the market. He picks up some apples and some grapes, and we just sort of look around. We are joking around and I quiz him on the “best type of apple,” which is sort of an inside joke at my full time job. 

He finishes his purchases and we sit at a different picnic table, while waiting again for our food. They bring it out and we take it back to his place. In the car he’s going between rap and pop music. I’m more or less into anything but country, so it’s a fair vibe. I figure since he was on a football team, that was probably what he was used to listening to in the locker room. 

Now that we’re back at his place, I excuse myself to the restroom. A man’s private restroom always says something about the man. Does he clean his bathroom? How many products does he have? Does he have that singular shampoo/conditioner/body wash combo bottle in his shower? His toilet definitely could use a scrub, same with his shower, but otherwise pretty well kept and he had separate products in his shower. 

I’m still feeling iffy about the guy due to his height, and when I sit down on the cough with him, he asks if I like South Park. Unfortunately we find out that South Park has been taken off Hulu and so we look for a back up. Then he asks about Rick and Morty; I love that show, so we turn that on for us to watch while we eat. He too is a couch eater, which is good since his dining table literally has no chairs around it. 

We share some laughs, we eat the food, we drink the slurpees. Once there’s no longer food to eat, he asks if I want to cuddle. I say “uhm okay.” I remember a message he had sent me the day before where I said I hope he doesn’t try to cuddle in my lap like my dog, and he had responded “what if I did? jk. but really do you like to cuddle?” And I’m wondering if I’ve gotten myself into a stage 5 clinger situation. Somehow I become like the guy, as he is nuzzled onto my belly and I have my arm around him. Later he asks to spoon, and I’m like yeah that’s fine. As I’m sure that’s less awkward than what we’re doing now. Though if I wasn’t so uncertain about him, the previous position probably would have been cute and endearing. While we were cuddling, we talked about goals and briefly about my application. He talks more about how he flies planes on the side, and that his goal is to join the National Guard as a pilot. The cut off is 32, so essentially he wanted to gain more and more flying experience so he could join before the cutoff. I have never really been particularly interested in being involved with someone in the military, so that was almost a turn off for me. However, I did this it was good that he had solid goals he was continually working on.

Regardless, I’m still having a good time. He’s a nice and entertaining guy, and we mesh well. It starts to get late, so I mention it’s time I go. Before I leave, I remember we have still only been talking via Bumble, I ask him for his number. I then realize I also don’t know his last name, so I also ask for his last name. I realize his initials are “Eh,” which I find humorous, so I text him “eh” to let him know it’s me. Which also described how I was feeling at that moment. 

He then walks me to my car and I give him a hug, and then he kisses me. Even though I wasn’t really feeling kissy after this date, I realize it is actually a really nice kiss and tell him I’ll let him know when I get home. I think back to Aaron* where he wasn’t the best kisser, and think oh well that’s nice. 

I get home and stew over the date, thinking about what I’m going to do about this guy. He texts me the next day saying “Would it be bad if I already wanted to see you again tonight?” I tell him I have plans, which isn’t a lie, I do, and let him know I’m free the next night. We set up another hang out at his place. 

In my mind, I determine the way I’ll figure out my feelings is to sleep with him. “If the sex is good,” I think to myself, “then that should get me over the height thing. And if it’s terrible, then I’m outtie anyway.”

[onwardtoadventures]

She-Rave Ch.1

Content warning: recreational drug use (marijuana, MDMA)

The sun grows fuller, edging closer and closer toward the mountains, vibrant orange and pink splattered across the sky and painted on the clouds. The best friend squad lays together on the soft astro-turf, taking in the warm breeze and the last hour of golden sunshine.

Glimmer passes Bow the joint, and sighs contently. “I’m so glad we decided to do this.”

“Me too!” says Adora smiling brightly at her friends.

“I wish we could just lay out in the sun forever. Of course it’ll be dark soon...”

Bow chokes on his hit and sets down the joint, assessing the weather as dusk starts creeping on the horizon.  He regains his breath as Glimmer continues, “Do you think it’ll get cold? I didn’t bring any jackets, although I guess I could just use my cape as a-”

Bolting to his feet and smacking his palm to his head, he waves his tablet in the others direction. “OMIGOSH you guys! It’s already 6:30! I completely lost track of time, we are so behind. Everyone get dressed NOW!” Bow then dives into the tent he shares with Glimmer.

 Glimmer sits up slowly and yawns, looking around at the endless rows of tents surrounding them. “Man, I hope I get a second wind, I’m kinda sleepy.” Glimmer stretches and looks over to Adora.

“Shh” Adora says quietly, with a mischievous look on her face.

Catra is sprawled out on her back, arm over her stomach, with dark shades on snoring softly.

Glimmer crawls over to Adora, who is suppressing giggles, while trying to gently paint Catra’s nails.

“Um, Adora.” Glimmer whispers softly. “This is a great prank, but I don’t think you’re using the right kind of nail polish. It’s not even showing up on her nails.”

“That’s because it’s black light nail-polish. I got it from Double-Trouble. We won’t be able to see it until we’re in the show.” Adora explains excitedly. “Catra’s gonna be so confused.”

Glimmer shakes her head slightly and chuckles, seeing that Adora obviously thinks this is going to be the best prank ever. Although she doesn’t quite get the joke, she would never try and ruin the fun. Instead she sits down next to Adora and starts painting Catra’s other hand.

There are 4 bottles scattered around on the ground all different colors. Together they finish quickly and exchange satisfied looks as Adora slips the bottles into her pocket.

Bow bursts out of the tent wearing a cropped tank top under an open technicolor neon vest along with his comfiest shorts and light up sneakers.  He promptly begins to apply glitter designs to his face but is clearly not finished.

“Why is nobody getting dressed?!” he shrieks, startling Catra awake with a hiss, and making Glimmer and Adora jump. Bow takes a deep breath. “It’s 6:45 now guys, the show started already. If we hurry, we can still get there by 7:30 and keep to our itinerary.”

“Sorry, sorry. We’re getting up now.” Glimmer assures him, pecking him on the cheek before skipping past him into the tent.  The sound of laughter drifts out behind them as he follows her back inside offering to coat her in sparkles as well.

 Adora scratches her head as she stumbles into another tent looking at the duffle bag she and Catra packed before leaving Bright Moon, unsure what to wear other than the old red jacket she’s had forever.  Being her first concert, let alone rave, she had no idea what to expect and didn’t put much thought into her outfits past assuming she’d just transform later and be She-ra. She decides what she has on will do and sits down on the blankets laid out for a bed, gazing over at the slim drowsy form that crawls in after her.  They had decided not to use an air mattress knowing at some point over the weekend Catra would end up stabbing or shredding it with her claws.  

Catra thoughtfully dons some tight ripped black jeans, a deep red t-shirt, and her favorite fingerless gloves.  She glances down at a smirking Adora and demands to know what’s so funny while rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Nothing, nothing just admiring how sexy you look when you just woke up. Your hair is even sticking up in the back.” Adora raises her eyebrows like a dork. The grin continues to grow on her face as Catra lightly growls and tackles her to the ground.

When the impromptu wrestling match finally ends, the pair wander outside hand in hand to finish the joint and check on the others. Bow is already waiting sitting crossed legged in the space between the two tents, humming and eagerly scrolling through the set times on his tablet for the 100th time.  He looks up and smiles, the gorgeous blend of pastel glitter on his face catching the last of the sunlight.

Adora goes star eyed “Wow, Bow you look so cool!”

He jumps up doing a little pose and says, “Thanks, I tried really hard.” He finally gets a good look at Adora. “Um, Adora? Is that what you’re wearing?”

Adora folds her arms across her chest getting insecure. “I mean, yeah. I didn’t really pack much. Why, is this bad?”

“No, no.” Bow reassures her. “You can wear whatever you want. Its just…” He tries to find the right words. “I know you’ve never been to one of these things. But a rave… is kinda like a ball!”

“Like… princess prom? Cuz I sorta got kicked out of that.” Adora chuckles. Catra snort laughs at the memory.

“Yeah you did.” Catra teases.

“Hey! It was your fault to begin with! I was doing fine until you and Scorpia started-“ Adora cuts herself off with a huff. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. I’m over it.”

“Uh-huh. Suuuure.” Catra chuckles.

Bow clears his throat.

“So, what I meant is, a rave is an opportunity to wear things you might not normally. A chance to go all out. I couldn’t wear something like this to a war council, nobody would take me seriously. But here at the rave, you can wear whatever you want, be as extravagant as you want.” Bow laments passionately.

“Wow. I guess I never thought of it that way. I do feel a little underdressed now. But I didn’t bring anything else” Adora says.

“Don’t worry, I got you covered” Bow pulls Adora into his tent, and he and Glimmer test different outfits by holding them up to Adora. Eventually she ends up in a pair of Bow’s colorful high waisted pants and a shirt of Glimmer’s that fits snuggly around her arms and chest before hanging more loosely at her waist. Glimmer curls Adora’s hair and pins half of it up with a silver clasp, and Bow artfully crafts some rhinestone and glitter designs on her face to complete the look.

Adora emerges shining and excited, beaming down at Catra who has returned to her previous position lounging in the residual warmth radiating up from the turf. As Adora comes into view Catra’s eyes go wide, taking an extra few seconds to look Adora up and down.

“Damnnn, I think I might like this better than your 8 foot warrior look.” She smiles sheepishly and pulls Adora down next to her, running her fingers through the golden waves usually tied up in that I mean business ponytail. Although she does still have that dumb little poof. Adora blushes and ruffles Catra’s short wild hair, finally letting up and scooting in closer, resting her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder, content. They stare up at the sky’s dwindling light and wait for Glimmer to add the finishing touches to her ensemble so they can head out before Bow has a stroke.

When Glimmer emerges, she is wearing a dark purple Excision t-shirt, a giant X seeming to explode off the fabric. The well-loved shirt is tucked into a plaid purple and black pleated skirt with swooping silver chains hanging from the hips on both sides. Her arms are covered nearly to her elbows with fake leather cuffs in pastel blue, pink, and purple, with a few rows of beaded bracelets for good measure. She quickly fashions her cape, a rainbow fade of pastel colors that closely match the glitter on Bow’s face, while she rubs her lips together making sure her deep purple lipstick is even.

“You guys, its 7:23! We have to go or we’re gonna miss the beginning of Malaa!” Bow says.

“We can spare one minute for pregame shots!” Glimmer insists, pulling out a bottle of tequila. She takes a swig and passes it to Adora, who is not prepared for the taste and takes a huge gulp before coughing a bit and letting out a disgusted wheeze. Glimmer hands her chaser, which Adora gratefully starts chugging. Meanwhile, Catra takes a more tentative sip and doesn’t see why Adora was so offended. She takes a few more sips and passes it to Bow, who is still stressed about time and caps the bottle without taking a shot and tosses it back in the tent.        

“Okay, now let’s go.” He says as he starts herding the rest of the squad towards the venue, the faint sounds of bass finally reaching their ears.

They make their way through the campsite and to the entrance of the raceway. Bow and Adora are power walking, their long legs carrying them further and further ahead as their excitement builds. Catra is definitely not in the mood to run, and Glimmer’s little legs aren’t helping her keep up either. Instead, she and Catra link arms and stroll leisurely, having a pleasant conversation and admiring the colorful decorations that are becoming more and more frequent along the path. Whenever they get too far behind the others, Glimmer just poofs them 10 feet ahead. The remainder of the journey is a constant shuffle of Bow and Adora practically jogging and racing along, while Catra and Glimmer maintain their peaceful gait knowing they can pop up in front of their goofballs and beat them inside at the last second.

[calpalirwin]

Choices

Summary: Ashton Irwin thought he had everything he needed in life in the form of his daughter. Funny the difference a choice can make.

A/N: Last chapter I have ready but not the end of the story!

Content: Bruh... 

Word Count: 4K

And away, and away we go!

Chapter 7

The number sat scribbled on a note on my desk, taunting me. I dialed the number a handful of times over the week, never finding the courage to hit the call button. I looked at the picture on my desk of me with Cassidy on my shoulders, both of us laughing. This little girl had been the only thing that mattered to me since the day she was born. It had always been just me and her since day one. If I thought opening up my world to Nic had been terrifying, it was nothing compared to the thought of letting Taylor back into such an intimate part of my world. I was less concerned about Taylor living up to my standards and disappointing me; she had already broken my heart and I had survived. But heaven help whoever broke my daughter’s heart, blood or not.

I sighed and dialed the number for the millionth time. Then I hit call. I held my breath as the phone rang, both praying she’d answer and that I’d get her voicemail. “Hello?” Taylor’s voice sounded on the line, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me.

“Tay? It’s Ash.”

“Oh?” I could hear the surprise in her voice. “Hey, Ash. How are you?”

“I’m good. How are you?”

“I’m good, Ash.”

“That’s good.” I paused, thinking of how I wanted to phrase the reason I had called. “So, uh…” I started.

“Look, Ash,” she interrupted. “I’m glad you called.”

“You are?” I asked, taken aback.

“Well yeah,” she laughed. “I mean… well, it’s good to hear from you.”

“Well, you could’ve always called me. I’m an easy guy to track down,” I told her. Granted, she had made her choice, but I hoped she wasn’t stubborn enough to think she couldn’t call if she ever had feelings of maybe making the wrong choice.

“Yeah… I just… well, I figured I had pretty much blown that bridge up.”

It was my turn to laugh. “Well… you’re always free to call. I mean, she’s your daughter and I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m keeping you from her.”

“I know, Ash. You’ve always been sweet like that. But, I made my choice, and I should live with it.”

“Speaking of choices… her choice is that she wants to get to know you.”

“And what’s your choice, Ash?”

“My choice is to support her choices and have faith that you won’t let her down.”

She sighed and for a moment I saw her in front of me: her eyes shut, nose pinched, fighting to find the words that would cause the least amount of damage. “Ash, I left her with you specifically so I wouldn’t let her down. Or you. I could barely take care of myself, and all of a sudden life was trying to make me someone’s wife and mother. It was too much.”

“You don’t have to justify yourself to me, Tay. We both did what we thought was best; what we both thought we could live with, and that’s that.”

“You’re telling me that you weren’t angry that my choice wasn’t the same as yours?”

“No. I was furious. But that’s neither here nor there. Point is, Cass wants to get to know you. So, I’m calling to see if after nearly 6 years you changed your mind, and want to get to know her too. And it’s perfectly fine if you don’t. I just…”

“You just want to make sure you have a clear conscience so you can be the good guy if I say no?”

“No. Taylor… I want to support my daughter’s right t choose. I want her to grow up knowing that her decisions are hers to make. Part of that is not blowing off her choices I don’t necessarily agree with.”

“Oh, so you don’t agree with her wanting a relationship with me?”

“Taylor…” I spoke slowly, trying to contain my anger. Any time Taylor had felt backed into a corner, her tactic had always been to flip the script to put me at fault. Nice to see that six years later she was still the same old Taylor, knowing just which buttons to push. In a minute, she’d apologize and make a joke about how I took everything too seriously and needed to loosen up. “Yes, I have my concerns. She’s my daughter and I don’t want to see her get hurt. And yes, I wish I had a few more years before I had to make this call. And yes, I used to pray that I wouldn’t need to because you would call first. But, that’s my issue, and my issues shouldn’t stand in the way here. If she wants a relationship with you, then that’s all there is to it.”

“Ash, relax, I’m teasing. Gosh, you’re always so serious. You think you’d have learned to lighten up a bit.”

I didn’t need to see her to know she was smiling. “Whatever,” I sighed. “Are you open to meeting her or not?”

“Sure, that’d be great. How’s Saturday?”

“Saturday’s perfect,” I told her. I stared at my phone for a moment after we ended the call. “Don’t let her down,” I finally said before slipping my phone into my pocket.

~~~

I made the decision to tell Nic that I was taking Cassidy to meet Taylor, but to keep it a secret from Cassidy on the off-chance Taylor blew us off.

Saturday morning, I woke up with Nic in my arms. I looked over at the clock and realized we had a few minutes before Cassidy woke up. “Morning,” I yawned, stretching my arms over my head.

“Morning,” Nic drawled, smiling and kissing my chest. “You nervous about today?”

I shrugged. “A little. I just don’t want Cass to be disappointed.”

“You are so protective of her.”

I shrugged again. “She’s my world.”

She smacked me with her pillow playfully. “And what am I?” she mock-pouted.

“The best addition to my world,” I told her, wrapping her in my arms.

“Aw, aren’t you sweet?” she crooned.

We started kissing each other rolling around in the sheets. “Go away, we’re sleeping!” I laughed when Cassidy knocked on the door a few seconds later.

“Daddy!” I heard her whine.

“Alright, I’m coming,” I told her, flipping off the covers and getting out of bed. “Duty calls,” I said to Nic, who was still in bed smiling at me. I pulled a shirt on before I opened the door to my room. “Yes?”

“Breakfast!” Cassidy beamed.

“Pancakes?”

“Yeah!”

I looked over at Nic, “You coming?”

“Yeah, give me a minute?” Nic said.

My mind flashed back to the night we had after we put Cassidy to bed: clothes being flung in every which way, giggles, kisses, the rustling of sheets, her skin pressed against mine. My face flushed warmly and I shook my head. “Yeah, of course. We’ll be in the kitchen.”

I took comfort in my typical Saturday morning, letting the routine calm any uncertain jitters I had about the afternoon portion of my day. The closer to lunchtime the clock got, the more restless I got, bouncing my leg or running my hands through my hair. “Alright, Cass, go grab your shoes,” I finally said, after what felt like forever.

Cassidy’s head popped up from the page she was drawing on. Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Where are we going?!”

“We’re going to get lunch,” I said. “C’mon, find your shoes.” I watched her scurry off before going down the hallway myself to grab my keys and wallet off my dresser. I debated for a moment about whether I wanted to wear my hat or not, before I grabbed it and slipped it on. It had been lucky in getting me a date with Nic nearly 3 months ago, maybe it would bring me some luck today.

I swallowed the wave of nostalgia that washed over me when I walked into the food joint, Cassidy’s and Nic’s hands each in one of mine. It was one of those generic food places that had a playground for the smaller kids. A group of teenagers were laughing at a table and I remembered how I used to be just like them; when my only worries were centered on girls and baseball. I was both unsurprised and a little disappointed that Taylor wasn’t already here. When we spoke on the phone she had mentioned that she still lived in Monroe, so we settled on a place we frequented a lot back in high school. If I had to make the half hour drive and was still early, surely she could have made the two minute drive herself.

Cassidy tugged at my hand, “Can I go play?”

“Sure, love,” I smiled. I watched her run towards the playground and found a table close by for Nic and me to sit at. I kept one eye on the door and one eye on Cassidy, my mind drifting.

“Babe… babe?” Nic asked, her hand reaching out to touch mine.

“Huh?” I asked, startled back into focus.

Nic raised an eyebrow. “I asked if you wanted to order. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Ash, she’ll show. Have a little faith.”

“I know. Taylor likes to be late. I always used to lie and say things started earlier than they actually did so we wouldn’t be late. Drove me nuts.”

She nodded, allowing me to ramble out random facts.

“Daddy! Come slide with me!” Cassidy’s voice sounded from the top of the play structure.

I looked over at the structure, sighing. I was going to have to crouch a lot to fit, but when your five year old asks you to slide with her, you squeeze your ass to the top and slide with her. “I’ll be back,” I said to Nic, squeezing her hand and getting up. I climbed my way to the top, my height and size making it both awkward and uncomfortable. “Okay,” I breathed once I got to where Cassidy was waiting. “Ready?”

“Ready!” she grinned, scrambling to sit on the slide.

I sat behind her, my legs cramped against either side of the slide. “3… 2…” I counted down for us.

When I hit 1, I pushed against the slide to get us moving while Cassidy yelled, “Blast off!” her voice echoing through the slide.

We cheered and whooped as we spun around towards the bottom. “Nice hat, Ash,” Taylor said when we finally got to the bottom.

I felt my face flush for a second, embarrassed, before I remembered I wasn’t supposed to care what she thought of me anymore. “Taylor,” I nodded, straightening up. “You look good.” She looked much like she always had: one of those stereotypical beauties with captivating eyes and a killer smile. Having a daughter that was her carbon copy was going to give me hell when Cassidy got older.

“Thanks. Not so bad-looking yourself.”

I shrugged, “I try.” Then, to Cassidy, who was tugging at my hand to get me to go on the slide with her again, “Just a second, love.”

“So, this is her?” Taylor asked, getting straight to the point.

“This is her. Cass, this is…” I paused, realizing I had no idea how to introduce them. Did I jump straight to it and refer to Taylor as “Momma,” or did I go with something more subtle like “Daddy’s friend”?

“Taylor,” Taylor interjected. “I’m one of your daddy’s friends.”

Cassidy looked up at me, uncertain of what to make of this meeting.

“Taylor’s gonna join us for lunch, is that okay?”

Cassidy nodded, her uncertainty making her shy.

I grabbed Cassidy’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly as the three of us walked over to the table where Nic still was. “Hey,” Nic smiled at Cassidy. “Did you have fun with Daddy?”

Cassidy nodded, this time smiling herself. “Daddy has a new friend.”

“Oh, does he?” she asked, looking over at Taylor and me.

“I thought you were Daddy’s friend?”

“Nic’s Daddy’s girlfriend,” I told Cassidy. “But Taylor’s just my friend-friend. Nic, this is Taylor. Tay, this is Nic, my girlfriend.”

“Nice to meet you,” Nic smiled, reaching out to shake Taylor’s hand.

“Oh, aren’t you adorable?!” Taylor crooned.

Nic’s eyes flashed in a way I’d never seen before going back to their cheerful look. “Are you hungry, Cass?” she asked, focusing her attention on anything but Taylor and her condescending tendencies.

“Yeah, let’s get some lunch,” I agreed.

“Daddy…” Cassidy asked in her “I need to use the bathroom” half-whine.

“Oh, I’ll take her, Ash. You and Taylor go order,” Nic interjected and before I could say anything she whisked Cassidy off to the bathroom.

“Wow, Ash” Taylor chuckled as we walked over to the counter to order. “How old is this one?”

“This one? You make it seem like I have a new girlfriend every week.”

“Oh, like you haven’t been using your charm and good looks for your benefit?” she taunted.

“No. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been a little busy.”

“Oh, playing doting daddy? Yeah, real cute, Ash.”

“Have you always been a bitch? Or is this just a coping mechanism to hide whatever guilt you’re feeling?” I countered.

“Oh, relax, Ash! I’m teasing.”

I rolled my eyes and ignored her as I ordered, using the distraction to get my temper in check. “Look, you don’t have to like that I have a girlfriend. I don’t really care if you hate her. But she is a part of our lives, and if you also want to be part of that, then might I suggest at least trying to be an adult?”

Taylor sighed. “Fine. Maybe I’m a little out of my element here. It’s one thing to run into an ex, but it’s a whole different thing to arrange to meet up with that ex so you can meet the daughter you abandoned. And your girlfriend? I dunno. Was kinda hoping you didn’t have one.”

“Yeah, I guess it would’ve been one thing for it to just be Cass and me. I didn’t think about how it would look to you bringing Nic, too. Sorry.”

The rest of lunch went a bit more smoothly because after a little bit of prompting from me, Cassidy held Taylor captive with her daycare adventures.

Taylor listened intently, doing her best to keep up with Cassidy’s fast and sometimes incoherent rambles, with me interjecting every now and again to remind Cassidy to eat her lunch. When Cassidy paused long enough to take a bite of her food, Taylor turned to me, “I don’t mean to overstep or anything, but shouldn’t she be in like kindergarten?”

“She actually starts on Monday. But she’s been going to this preschool/daycare hybrid since we moved to Seattle,” I explained.

“Daddy! Stop it!” Cassidy shot at me, angry I had taken the attention from her.

“Excuse me? You wanna try that again?” I asked.

“You interrupted me. That’s not nice.”

“No. Taylor asked me a question. That’s different.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah… but go ahead with your story.”

So Cassidy continued with her story, this one revolving around the incident with the braid. “Well, he said I didn’t have a momma. I said he was being mean and to stop. But he didn’t, so I hit him. And I’m not supposed to hit people, but Daddy said sometimes you have to.”

“Wow. That’s some story,” Taylor said.

“Mhm! But Daddy said I do have a momma. She just wasn’t ready.”

“Oh, so he’s told you about your momma?”

“Mhm! Nana has pictures at her house. Daddy doesn’t like them though. It makes him sad.”

“Have you seen the pictures of your momma?”

“Yeah. Daddy says I look like her.”

“You do,” Taylor told her.

“You know my momma?! Do you know if she’s ready to be a momma now?” Cassidy was starting to get really excited now.

“Hey, love,” I interjected. “Do you remember what the pictures of Momma looked like?”

She thought about it a moment. “She was pretty!”

I nodded, “Yes. What else do you remember about Momma? Do you know her name?”

“Um… no…”

“Her name’s Taylor,” I reminded her, hoping she could put the rest of the pieces together and worried she’d ask Taylor why she left.

Cassidy’s brain took a slightly different path in realizing the connection between her mother’s name and Taylor sitting in front of us. “You and my momma have the same name!” she told Taylor.

“Cass,” I interjected again.

“What?” she looked at me confused, wondering if she was in trouble, and if so, for what.

“Taylor is Momma,” I finally dropped the bombshell, bracing myself for the explosion.

First her eyes went wide. Then, her mouth dropped open. Finally, in a shocked whisper, “You’re Momma?”

“Surprise…?” I said, feeling really uneasy about this particular set of choices.

“Your daddy called and said you wanted to meet me. I thought it was a good idea because I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time.”

“You have?” both Cassidy and I asked, equally taken aback.

“Yes.”

“Is it cause you’re ready to be a momma?” Cassidy asked her, smiling.

“I think so,” Taylor responded, matching her daughter’s smile.

I nearly choked on my drink. “You think?”

Nic, who had been silently taking everything in, finally spoke up. “C’mon, Cass, let’s go play.”

“But…”

“Cass, go with Nic, please. I need to talk with Momma for a minute,” I said, trying to process my own thoughts.

“But…”

“Cassidy.”

Cassidy sighed and slunk off with Nic. I almost felt bad, I knew she wanted to talk with Taylor more. But right now, I needed to talk with Taylor.

“I’m a little confused,” I started once Cassidy was out of earshot. “You’ve wanted to meet Cass, and you think you’re ready to be a mom to her? You can’t just… it’s not that… you’re either ready or you’re not.”

“Look, Ash. It was six or so months after I left, and I was sitting alone in my apartment, and started to think maybe I made a mistake. But I kept telling myself that I had signed over my rights to you. That I literally had no right to call you up and ask for another chance. So I swallowed that feeling. And I kept swallowing it. And yeah, I think, Ash, because I really don’t know. I haven’t been a mother to her for nearly six years. I don’t know where to start. But I want to.”

“So… in the span of a year and a half, you went from not even wanting to go through with the pregnancy to wanting to try? I’m not following.”

“Ashton, I told you. I was scared. I was a sophomore in college who was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t want to let anybody down. So yeah, I made a few choices. And yeah, I regretted them. I was actually grateful you had pushed me to go through with the pregnancy, but I regretted that I left. But, I was scared, Ash. And there’s a part of me that still is.”

“You didn’t think I was just as scared?! Or that I haven’t been scared every day of my goddamn life since she’s been born?! It’s scary, Taylor! I’m responsible for not only keeping her alive, but also making sure she grows up to be a kind human being who knows her worth!”

Taylor looked down, but not before I saw a tear slid down her cheek. “I know, Ash. Okay? I know.”

I sighed. I hadn’t meant to make her cry. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I was scared, too. But I thought that we could get past that fear. I thought… Look, I loved you. Okay? I wanted to have a life with you. And you… well, you broke my heart. But, you also gave me the best thing in my life. That little girl over there is the best part of my world. And yeah, she scares the absolute shit out of me. And I love every damn second.”

“I get it, Ash. I’m the asshole in this story.”

“That’s not… Look, I’m saying we made our choices. But when we made the decision to have Cass and that I’d get sole custody and all that legal crap, I also told you that you could change your mind. That doesn’t have a time limit on it.”

“Okay. Well I’ve changed my mind. I want to be in her life.”

“Fine. Just as long as you know I’m not changing our custody arrangement.”

“Ash, I was afraid to call for six years. I’m not gonna sue you for custody,” she laughed. “Don’t worry.”

“Good,” I nodded. “And for the record, we’re doing this on her terms. I’ll bring her over as often as she wants, and you can come over as often as you want, but this is all between you and her.” I personally wanted nothing to do with Taylor beyond basic civility for two reasons- 1.) I had Nic and I didn’t need anything more than that. 2.) I didn’t trust Taylor, not fully anyway.

“I get it, Ash. You’ve moved on.”

“And I don’t trust you.”

“Really? Ash, I think I can take care of a five year old.”

“That’s not why I don’t trust you.”

“And why don’t you trust me, Ashy?”

I cringed at the way she said “Ashy.” It was a nickname I had never been fond of to begin with. But, the way she said it brought up memories I was better off forgetting. “I just don’t.”

~~~

Fortunately for Taylor, it didn’t matter whether or not I trusted her. What mattered was what Cassidy thought of her, which was the full-fledged little kid naivety that people would never let her down. I did my best to take a page from my daughter’s book and trust that whatever Taylor and I had was fully in the past and she genuinely wanted a relationship with Cassidy and would never let her down.

For the next few weeks, we met up with Taylor every Saturday for lunch. Each week Cassidy had more stories to share with Taylor, thankfully occupying most of the visit. Besides a nod hello, and a “see you next week,” I never said a word to Taylor, resolute in my own choice to make sure this was strictly a relationship between Cassidy and Taylor.

At the end of our fourth visit, I made my usual comment to Cassidy about how it was time to wrap it up so we could head home. Instead of fighting me on it or begging for a few more minutes, she turned to me with those big eyes of hers. “Daddy, can Momma come to my party next week?”

“Um… if she wants to, love. Of course,” I said, smiling at her.

“What party?” Taylor asked.

“Birthday party for Cass,” I explained. “Just a thing at my parents place next week.”

“Oh. I’d love to come.”

“Yay!” Cassidy cheered.

“Great,” I nodded, “Um, it starts at 2.”

“Awesome. And your parents…?”

“Still at the same place.”

“Cool, I can’t wait,” Taylor smiled.

“Me neither.”

~~~

I spent the drive home wondering how in the world I was going to explain to my family that Taylor would be at Cassidy’s party. I hadn’t told them I’d called Taylor a month ago, let alone that I’d been letting Cassidy see her once a week since. While they had loved Taylor when we had been together, they weren’t her biggest fan these days.

I decided to test the waters with Nic first.

“Hey, you,” she greeted, kissing me.

“Hey,” I replied, kissing her back before going back to folding laundry.

“How was lunch?” she asked, helping me fold.

“It was good,” I said the usual response.

“But?” she pressed, sensing something was off.

“Cass invited Tay to her party next week.”

“Oh… and?”

“She’s coming and I’m trying to figure out how to tell my family.”

“Hmm… yeah, good luck with that one, babe,” she teased.

“Thanks,” I rolled my eyes.

“No, babe. In all seriousness, this isn’t a big deal. Or it shouldn't be anyway. Your family can’t fault you for trying to do right by Cass.”

“Oh, trust me, they can.”

TO BE CONTINUED!

~~~

Tag List (Leave a message at the beep)

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[fresh-outta-jams]

Plastic Heart - Part 10

Namjoon x Reader Author: Mo Summary: When you get the highly-anticipated BTS dolls for Christmas, your life takes a turn in a way you never could have expected. Note: WARNING! WE HAVE ENTERED THE FLUFF ZONE! PROCEED WITH CAUTION! Warnings: None? Word Count: 1.4k

Prologue, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Part of Namjoon expected to wake up the next morning as a one foot tall plastic doll again, and yet when he opened his eyes and looked around, he found that he still took up the whole couch, his feet hanging off of the armrest. He yawned, tears blurring his vision for a few seconds before his vision faded back to normal.

Namjoon sat up and rubbed his eyes. Something was different about your apartment, but he couldn’t place what. He sniffed the air a few times, and it took him a second or two to realize just what was different: he could smell things. Like, really well. And it smelled good.

He stood from the couch and walked to the kitchen, where you were standing, your hair up in a scrunchie and your sleep-shirt reaching down to your mid-thighs. He swore his heart about stopped on the spot. Even in the morning with your bare face, you were still so breathtaking.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” You chuckled, using your spatula to stir eggs around the pan. “How’d you sleep?”

“Better than I expected to.” He stretched, feeling the way his muscles moved and joints softly popped. “It was weird. I think I actually had a dream. Like, a really vivid one. That’s never happened before.”

“Was it a good dream?” You asked, grinning. You had bacon cooking in another pan, and you stirred it around before depositing it onto a plate with a few paper towels on it to absorb some of the grease.

Namjoon thought about the dream he’d had. It had been a simple one, not super crazy, like he had heard dreams could get. He’d been sitting in some meadow with you, feeding you chocolate-covered strawberries. You’d been laughing at something he said, your nose scrunching. He wiped a bit of chocolate from the corner of your lips and then...His cheeks went red thinking about it. He’d keep that little tidbit to himself.

“Yeah, it was a really good dream.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Need any help?”

“Nope, I’ve got it all taken care of.” You scooped some eggs onto two plates and set the bacon in the center of the table. “Do you want some tea?”

“Um, sure.” Namjoon sat in the seat next to yours and watched as you filled two cups with ice and then poured in chai and soymilk, setting his glass in front of him and then slipping a straw into it to stir it around. “Thank you.”

“Mmhmm.” You slid into the seat next to his, watching as he tentatively picked up a fork and stabbed a bite of scrambled eggs. He raised it to his lips, humming in satisfaction. “Is it good?”

“The best.” He mumbled, scooping another bite up from his plate. “Oh my God, who knew food would taste so good?”

“There’s some bacon on the plate, if you want to try some of that, too.”

Namjoon gently lifted the paper towel over the top and put a few strips on his plate, taking an eager bite. For his first meal, you’d set the bar pretty high. “Oh my Godddd.”

“Good, huh?”

“Yeah. Holy shit, yeah.” The two of you sat there for a while. You smiled to yourself as he enjoyed his first ever breakfast. He took a few sips of his tea, grinning. His dimples were deep, and his smile was breathtaking. You couldn’t fight the blush that had found your cheeks. God, he was handsome. You caught yourself staring more than once, and had to avert your eyes as to not be creepy. But it was hard. To any outsider looking in, it looked like there was an idol sitting in your kitchen, and until you remembered who he really was, sometimes it felt like that too.

“So, I was thinking…” You grabbed his attention. He looked up at you, finishing off another strip of bacon. “We need to take you to get some clothes and stuff. Soap, shampoo, a comb, you know, basic hygiene stuff.”

“Right, yeah.” He nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

Because it was Saturday, you didn’t have any classes or plans or anything, so you could take Namjoon out for a day on the town. After all, if this was a permanent situation, you’d need to pick up some things.

“I’ll just do the dishes and then get dressed, and then we can go, alright?”

“No, I’ll do the dishes, you just go get ready.” He shook his head, grabbing his plate and walking to the sink.

“Do you know how to load the dishwasher?” You asked. The blank look on his face said no, but he was determined.

“I’m sure I can figure it out.”

“Okay. Let me know if you need anything.” You set your plate next to the sink, standing for a second before you took a leap of faith. You stood on your toes and hugged him again, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “I’m not sure what happened,” you said quietly, “but I’m really glad it did.”

“S-so am I.” He replied, face flushed as red as possible, eyes wide and heart racing. He watched as you walked back to your bedroom. You’d kissed him. It wasn’t a dream this time, you’d actually kissed his face. Holy shit. You sure hadn’t ever done that back when he was a doll…

“You okay? You’re red.” Jungkook wandered into the kitchen, looking up at his tall and human friend. Namjoon lifted the maknae onto the counter, smiling sheepishly.

“I’m fine, yeah. Really great.”

“Is it weird? Being that big?” He wondered, tilting his head.

“Yeah, it is. But weird in a good way, you know? I can taste things now, and I can feel things now, and I have a heartbeat...It’s great, Gguk, really, really great.”

“You have a heartbeat?! Let me hear!!” Jimin rushed into the kitchen next, running up to Namjoon and pulling on his pantleg.

Namjoon picked up his little friend and held him against his chest, letting him listen to the thumping inside of him.

“Woah…” Jimin murmured. “That’s so cool…”

“I know, right?”

Namjoon set Jimin on the counter next to Jungkook before rinsing off your dishes and setting them in the rack of the dishwasher.

“Look at our boy washing dishes. They grow up so fast.” Hoseok, Yoongi, Jin, and Taehyung wandered into the kitchen. Namjoon figured you must be changing, or else they wouldn’t have all left your room.

“Literally, in this case.”

“How do you feel, Namjoon? Everything alright?” Jin asked. They were all still in shock, unsure of how this had happened, but happy for their friend nonetheless.

“I’m perfect. I’ve never been better.” Namjoon really did look happy, grinning that stupid dimpled grin of his. “We’re going shopping soon, to get me clothes and stuff.”

“Wow. You’re really living the dream there, huh?”

“You guys have no idea.”

“You ready, Joon?” You asked, emerging fully dressed. You’d put on some light makeup and had your purse slung over your shoulder.

“All set!” He perked up, walking out of the kitchen and into the living room to join you. He put on the only pair of shoes he had, the ones that had once been itty bitty and made of rubber, and followed you out of the door of your apartment into a big new world.

***

“This is your car?” He asked. You pulled open the driver’s door and sat down as he climbed into the passenger’s seat.

“This is my car.” You confirmed and stuck your keys in the ignition. As soon as you did, Persona started blasting the radio at full blast. You rushed to turn it down to a reasonable volume. “Sorry. I like to listen to it loud.”

“I don’t mind.” Namjoon’s legs were bent at an odd angle. You chuckled.

“You know, you can move the seat back a bit. You’ve got long legs, bud.”

“Oh, right. Of course.” He felt down the side of the seat and found the buttons that adjusted the seat position, moving it back until he was comfortable. “Sorry, I’m just...new to this.”

“I think you’re excused, Namjoon. It’ll be a learning curve for sure, but we’ll get you there, don’t worry.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you’re here to steer me in the right direction. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Well, I know you’d do it for me.” You shrugged, putting your car in reverse before pulling out of your parking spot.

Namjoon smiled softly. He let his hand rest on top of yours for a second. “I’d do anything for you.”

Tagged: @iie-wakarimasen, @lilgaga98, @catbugsugarpea, @demonic-meatball, @backtonormalthings, @kbowen9, @honig-bienchen, @coolcat494, @ffantasylandd, @feed-my-geek-soul, @ayoo-bangtan, @xxqueenwxtchxx, @cap-lu20, @finninpoposu, @coldbookworm, @sitkafay, @daniawinchesters21, @okaysoplshelpme, @zamirayinyue13

[suicidalcatz]

DOG DAYS ARE OVER : CHAP 9

Pairing : Jake Kiszka x reader

Genre : College AU

Previous parts : Prologue ; Chap 1 ; Chap 2 ; Chap 3 ; Chap 4 ; Chap 5 ; Chap 6 ; Chap 7 ; Chap 8

Masterlist : here

AN : Hello reader ! How we feelin today ? Yeah me too, I guess it’s time for a party then ! But pay extra attention to the title, I warned you. I’ll be waiting at the end, I have some things I’d like to discuss, see you in a few!

Chapter 9 : Be careful, okay ?

Unsurprisingly, it turned out that we were the only ones invited, for some reason I couldn't quite decipher. It was only December so maybe the boys didn't make friends with their other classmates yet, but still I found it odd. They were funny, nice, and really, really skilled. But their friends, or lack of for instance, wasn't a topic I could bring just like that, so I'll have to wait for now and ask any of the twins when we were alone, I guess. Couldn't say I was surprised by their dorms, too, as they were pretty much the same as ours, maybe a little bit more messier. The four of them slept there, in two different rooms, on two different floors, from what I understood.

Josh of course lead the way, while Mandy was whispering questions she couldn't keep in her head but was too shy to say out loud for everybody to hear.

- Who's the long haired bassist ?

- That would be Sam, my little brother, he replied in the same quiet tone. Why ? Interested ?

Mandy poked him in the ribs when he smirked at her in a suggestive way, and I let out a chuckle. The boys were all in favor of going inside to get warm and drink together while getting to know each other. It seemed like a good program. We helped them bring all of their stuff back inside either to the Music Dept building (drums and mic) or their dorm (guitar, bass and amps). And as Jake wouldn't let me lift anything that he deemed heavy, they declared me tambourine supervisor, making a show of putting it in my hands like a holy relic and insisting that this job meant a lot of responsibilities. Not gonna lie I was feeling kind of stupid seeing them carrying gigantic amps in their arms while the tambourine I got kept ringing with every step I took as if to remind me how useless I was.

- Oh that's him you were talking about last time, I said while sneaking a peek at him behind my shoulder. You guys really look alike. And the drummer is your childhood friend Danny, right ?

Josh looked positively surprised for a moment before acquiescing, asking me how I knew this info.

- Jake told me one time, when you were rehearsing.

The thought of that night made me smile to myself, remembering the awful pictures and odd war metaphors with poor Danny trying to calm everybody down. However, my smile disappeared quickly when I caught Josh's unamused expression. It didn't last long, hardly a second, before he found his usual cheerful self, but it was enough to make me uneasy. Something in his eyes told me there was something wrong. And I knew it was linked to Jake, I just ignored why. A piece of the puzzle was missing and it was slowly upsetting me since nobody cared to tell me. He was weird when he saw the both of us hanging out together, and flipped when he discovered we texted, but I thought we were over that now. So was he still upset about the whole thing ? Should I avoid talking about it even though I have his phone number too now ? Or am I being totally paranoid ?

The singer abruptly stopping still in the middle of the hallway got me out of my thoughts, though, painfully so since I face-planted on the back of his head and shoulder blades, making the tambourine ring in the process.

- Please stay with us mama, we're here.

Rubbing my nose, I heard Sam snort loudly and probably at me but had already been warned that he was a sass master, so took no offense in it. Danny, on the other hand, seemed like the sweetest dude alive. Always smiling and asking if we needed help with anything, with a quiet charm and a soothing aura. What a great guy. Now that I knew a bit more about the Kiszkas, I felt sympathy for his poor soul.

Jake came by my side, and I suddenly got surrounded by the twins, one of them waiting impatiently at my left, and the other filling the empty space between the wall and I. Gently dropping his amp on the ground, he searched in his jeans pockets for the key to their room, lightly brushing my face with his hair in the process, before bending over a little to unlock the door. He moved aside just enough so that Josh could have the honor of introducing us to their room by violently slamming the door open while posing and screaming « TADA ! ». Shaking his head, Jake got in first, seemingly not in the mood to wait for his brother, switching on the lights and putting his guitar and amp at their place in a corner of the room. Josh motionned us to go first, and Mandy pushed me by the shoulders.

It looked... just like them. And smelled like them, too. The ground was covered by gigantic berber carpets, bunk beds were on the side of a wall, cornered by guitars, amps, and boxes of vinyles piled up in a tower. Some rock legends posters were displayed here and there next to their respective beds, and facing their single wardrobe, which I supposed they all had 2 drawers of it. On top of it was a turntable, and facing the door a window and a messy, messy desk. Orange leathered fatboys were sitting on the floor, an ashtray was hiding in a corner beside the wardrobe, and a door next to the desk was leading the way to their kitchen. Raising my head, I saw they had decorated their celling with colorful fabrics in red, maroon and orange, keeping one of them at the window as a curtain. Numerous mobiles hung by the celling, some of them with agate and quartz stones of every color, others in the shape of animals crafted by hand, and the whole room smelled of masculine perfume and incense. It was so them I was suddenly aware of where I stood and every nervousness I had lost came rushing back again.

- Welcome to our humble home, greeted Josh as Sam had already climbed barefoot on the top bunk.

- Please make yourself comfortable, added Jake.

The brunette removed his shoes and went around the room to get a towel in order to scrub his sweaty face, letting it stay around his neck. Danny asked Mandy if he could take the beer keg to get us all drinks and she thanked him, standing by my side frozen in their doormat.

- Oh please don't stay here ladies, have a seat, anywhere you want.

Josh didn't even have to turn around from his vinyle collection to know we didn't move an inch, it was honestly scary how well he knew us already. That piqued Jake's interest who raised his head and gestured for us to come.

- This is my bed, he said while straightening the covers a bit, feel free to sit on it if you want to.

Jake then sat down on the bottom bunk and gave a heavy pat on the mat, and that's the moment Mandy chose to shake out of it and push me on the bed in the less discreet way possible to make sure I couldn't sit anywhere else but besides Jake. I swear to God.

The death glare I gave her when she made herself comfortable on a fatboy was so intense that she felt it and smirked at me. Unbearable.

- Be careful not to bump your head, okay ?

Jake's raspy voice came to my ears and when I turned my head he was smiling at me, hand on the back of the top bed. We were cramped in here, not having much space to ourselves and almost hitting our heads with every movement we made, but it came with a strange sense of security and intimacy. You could put a curtain around us, and it'd be like we were all alone.

- If you're uncomfortable you can always sit on the ground or take the desk chair, interrupted Josh without looking away from his vinyles.

Both his brother and I shot a glance at him but he wasn't returning the favor, instead he kept his face burried in his boxes, trying to find something to listen to. His behavior was beginning to concern me more than I thought it would. And even Jake raised a questionning brow at his intervention. For some reason he looked really serious, with a closed expression. Not someone you'd like to ask the hour on the street. I shrugged it off for now, like the others did, telling myself it'll pass eventually, and that we were all gonna have a fun night together. Once Josh finally found something worth listening to, Sam let out a loud sigh of relief before relaxing into the bed cracking under him, letting his long legs hang into the nothingness between the mattress and the ground.

- Oh, you must be reading my mind, he groaned. Finally some fucking good music. All those pop and rap concerts today nearly made my head explode.

We all snickered at that comment and a smiley Danny put a goblet of beer in all of our hands before settling down next to Mandy. Once Josh was absolutely sure of his choice of music and nodded along in the rythmn of the first few seconds, he climbed on the desk and clapped his hands in his little brother's direction, something that surprised me for a second before Sam threw a little box his way, and I understood. They had a weed box, that Josh opened and began to roll a joint for us to smoke together.

As the night went on, my former stiff posture got more relaxed, and Mandy had already befriended every person in the room, requesting for Sam to teach her how to roll a proper joint, and laughing at Danny's witty interventions on the matter. We were pleasantly either drunk or high at this point and Josh got into an unstoppable karaoke mode, blessing us with his singing and exaggerated dance moves, only focused on the music blaring through the turntable's speaker. Jake and I were face to face now, sitting cross-legged while he passionately shared his knowledge on astronomy with me. And I knew for a fact that in this moment all the stars he spoke about were nothing in comparision to the ones he had put into my eyes when he talked with such passion to what he and other people  deemed as nerdy subjects. With the alcohol running in my veins, listening carefully to the words coming out of his mouth was becoming more of a challenge, especially when said mouth looked so delicious, with his voice low and eyelids hooded by the drinks he had.

- I'm sorry that's not interesting, he finally apologized while running his fingers through his hair.

- What, no ! I love listening to you, you know so much stuff, it's impressive.  

On the covers, my hand found his knee in a reassuring manner, too fixed on his smile to care about everything else. The world could catch on fire and I wouldn't even notice, had a feeling he wouldn't either. We were in our own little bubble, not paying attention to anything that wasn't the other. Mandy flirting with Sam, Danny contemplating the ceiling, Josh singing loudly ; everything was just background noise to us. Certainly because he was drunk himself, Jake took my hand in his to give my knuckles a light peck kiss.

- Thank you. If only people were more like you...

He trailed off, taken aback by the sudden music change, and gave me back my hand. My heart was still banging against my ribcage while he was trying to guess what the song was, asking his twin for a confirmation. The sensation of his soft lips against my hand was still very vivid, and my brain was too busy replaying his last sentence again and again to think of anything else. A fluttering sensation I knew too well spread in my stomach when he returned his attention to me, a boyish smile adorning his mouth. I could ear him say how much he loved that band, but my heart was still thumping so loud in my ears that I stood there in silence, replying to his smile with my own and craddling my hand with the other like I just got burned.

Unaware of my internal breakdown, Jake let the joint hang between his lips, and my gaze could only follow his movements before he noticed me.

- My bad, do you want some ?

My whole being was on auto pilot and I only bobbed my head at his question, letting the boy in front of me put the joint between my own lips, getting his zippo to light it for me.

- There ya go, don't inhale too hard or your head'll get dizzy. Try to keep the smoke in for a bit.

Taking a deep breath, I did as I was instructed, his eyes never leaving mine as I did, careful and cautious until he motioned for me to blow. As an art student, it obviously wasn't my first time smoking weed, because all stereotypes were true, people here smoked a lot. More than necessary if you'd ask me. But it felt good nevertheless to be taken care of while I did, even being instructed what do to. I didn't cough, but my face heated up almost instantly as I felt the smoke burn my lungs and my vision getting a bit blurry with the drinks I had before. The whole room reeked of weed and booze Sam had toppled on the carpet, the air filled with a thick cloud of white smoke mixing with those of the incenses Josh had lit up earlier. Jake took the joint between his fingers, considering the few centimeters left before looking at me with a serious expression.

- Do you trust me ?

- Of course I do.

Maybe sober me would've said that it depended on the topic or asked what shenanigans he was up too, but drunk me was on autopilot mode and couldn't get enough of Jake, whether it was his scent, his voice, or his fingers and knees brushing mine because of how close we were sitting. So it really didn't matter right now, I trusted him with anything.

- Come closer, he muttered while putting half of the joint on his mouth.

He gestured for me to get closer to him and swiftly brushed my hair behind my shoulder before framing my face with both of his hands, fingers linking our two heads together as he leaned on me, keeping us merely inches apart. With the joint between us, he began blowing smoke for me to inhale, keeping it from escaping with the barrier his hands formed. It was intense. Both the strong effects and the proximity of our bodies. I don't know which one made my heart rate go wild, too concentrated on his eyes just in front of me, body heat emanating of his body and bathing mine in a warm sensation. I could feel some of his fingers gently tug on my hair as it got tangled in it, and automatically put my hands on his shoulders during the exhange, giving it a firm squeeze when I couldn't take more weed. It hardly lasted more than a few seconds but everything seemed to happen in the painfullest slow imaginable. I coughed, this time, not letting go of Jake's arms as he took me in his arms, rubbing circles on my back.

- Are you crazy ?

Tiny tears had gathered at the corner of my eyes because of the smoke but I could still clearly ear Josh's humorless voice next to us. My back was facing him so I missed the exchange but Jake's body tensed and his hand left my back as he shrugged, probably silently asking his brother what was up. Wanting to calm my breathing to listen to them only made my body betray me as a violent coughing fit got over me, causing me to shake and Jake to reaffirm his hold on me.

- Can't you tell she's not used to it ? Good job, Jake.

- I'll get her some water.

His voice resonnated in my ear before I felt him slowly detach himself from me to get up. I could tell part of him was upset his brother kept nagging him, but the other one probably felt too guilty to retort and he just got to the sink with an empty glass in hand. Scrubbing my eyes, I met Josh's sympathetic gaze before he patted me on the hand, and even though I'd usually appreciate his concern, his whole bizarre behavior had me more upset than anything at this point so I shook his hand off to follow Jake in the next room, slaloming between Danny's large sleepy body and Mandy and Sam's spot. I found him in the dark, standing back to the door, checking the water with his index finger to make sure it was cold enough.

- Hey.

When the brunette looked at me, his concerned eyes made me instantly feel guilty. Maybe I should've been more responsible, but I was okay, more than okay, I didn't drink too much or anything, just enough to feel light-headed, and there really wasn't anything to get worried about.

- I'm sorry I made you smoke too much, he started while filling the red cup.

- You didn't do anything wrong, I just had a coughing fit. You know, I said while getting closer, I used to do this with friends so you don't have to feel bad or anything.

A small smile spread at the corner of his lips and he turned off the water, only looking at me when he handed me the cup. And after all the booze, weed, and smoke, I must admit it felt pretty nice to have cold water running down my throat.

- I know, but I should've been more cautious, y'know ? One time I got carried away and my girlfriend got sick so I should've known better s'all.

My heart stopped at his words. I didn't hear correctly what he just said. It wasn't possible. Maybe I was too drunk after all, imagining things that nobody said, ever. A painful lump grew in my throat, making it impossible for me to drink anymore. My stomach was in knots, overcoming my whole body with a nauseous feeling. My voice was small and strangled as I spoke.

- Your girlfriend ?

- Yeah, Mina. She lives in our hometown so it's kinda hard, but I feel like you two would get along so fine. You kinda remind me of her sometimes, you know ?

A fond and nostalgic smile danced on his lips as he said that, making me want to vomit for real now. Not because I was disgusted, but because my stomach kept turning on itself, and my breath was stuck in my lungs. I put the cup back in the sink when I noticed my fingers were shaking. How could've been so stupid ? Of course he had a girlfriend. I wanted to cry and then laugh at myself for being so dumb. Of course there was no way this perfect boy was single, what was I even thinking ? Anger started rising within me, at myself, for being this delusional. I was feeling downright pathetic to have ever thought he could love me the way I loved him, and what pained me the most was that I was the only one I could blame.

- Everything alright here ?

That's when Josh's head peaked through the open door and I sucked in a breath, feeling tears clouding my vision. Unable to bear it much longer, I faked a headache and waved everyone goodbye, only letting myself cry in the comfort of my dorm.

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

AN : Not gonna lie I’m so stressed about this chapter, please don’t hate me, I had this idea in mind for a while now. The Angst Days Are Not Over unfortunately, but it’ll get better in a few chapters. Please let me know what you think, feel free to message me or review, see you on Saturday for Part 10 ! (And I’m currently writing Part 13 atm) As always, thanks for the love and support, I know this is a slow burn so you might get impatient but we’ll get to it soon now.

[morphituu]

Bell Peppers Ch. 15

“Calamity”

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He winced, not nearly as bad as before when his arms rose, yet the iron in his weak hand trembled nonetheless. Her own flew up to steady the weights, but he shook his head, pulling in deep breaths.

“This is too soon,”

He shook his head again, slowly straightening his arms. A long groan, and Callie supported his elbows.

“Nick,”

“S’fine,” he forced, but nevertheless dropped his arms, his head falling back as he exhaled forcefully.

“You’re supposed to do your breathing exercises,” she implored, struggling herself to carry the weights away. He snorted, lacing his fingers atop his head.

“I got all squishy, I need to bulk back up,” he groused, but now she snorted.

“These ain’t no marshmallows,” she smiled, patting his bicep. “You still have 2 weeks to ‘bulk up’, so be kind to your body, please?”

He shrugged, extending his neck to kiss her sweetly when she leaned against him with a hold on his hips.

“Okay c’mon,” she kissed him once more, stepping back. “Arms up,”

With a stubborn groan, he flexed his biceps, bringing his elbows in and out in sync with deep breaths as she did.

“Hurt as much?”

“Nah, haven’t needed the ice packs in a couple days too,” he grunted, lifting his hands and curling over sideways. It was true- the past week had been kinder to him. Sleeping was easier, even sitting, and gradually he’d found himself needing his pain meds less and less.

“Can you snarl again?” she giggled, baring her blunt teeth in exaggerated fashion so he would, but his split lip didn’t sting any longer. The stitches had done their job, and now pink scars across his lips, high cheek and brow were his daily reminder.

Nick’s arms hung off her shoulders when she stepped towards him, applying the slightest amount of pressure against his ribs on either side while he took deep breaths, in and out.

“Y’know if you don’t feel up to going back-”

“We still have 2 weeks,” he kindly interrupted, earning a stubborn purse of her lips when she looked up. “I’ll be good to go by then,”

“Until some jackass swings or rushes you,”

“I’ll swing back,”

“What if you can’t?”

He stopped, his wrists crossing behind her so she’d move that much closer. She wasn’t moving, but it wouldn’t be long until she was chewing her lip or bouncing her heel, and that’s when the anxiety would flow instead of trickle.

“Take a breath,” he told her, placing a lingering kiss on her temple when she looked away, respiring. “I won’t go right back into the heavy stuff, baby,” he kissed her cheek. “Keep breathing,”

Callie nodded, blinking past the constricting of her chest she could feel behind her eyes, and at last melted against him. Nick embraced her, swaying gently, hoping to eradicate this attack before it even peaked.

“It’s been happening more lately,” he said against her hair, but she only groaned.

“I don’t want anything else to happen to you,”

“Nothing will,” he consoled, leaning back to study her eyes. Worried, but otherwise clear; she avoided this one. He kissed her, squeezing her shoulders beneath his hold when she whimpered. “Nothing else is gonna happen,” he added.

Yet there was still dissatisfaction on her face before she said, “What about him?”

“Fogteeth-”

“You need to tell the police, Nick,”

Before he could turn from her, she held tight, leaning over when he looked away. “You have to at least give someone a heads up that their own officer is a suspect!”

“And who do you think they’d believe?”

“You don’t know until you try,”

But when he opened his mouth to protest, she held a finger against her own lips, silencing him. “And I know- I remember: I don’t know the full scope of your past experience as an Orc,” she started, and he calmed, resting his hands on his narrow hips. “But this is an exception, Nick. You have to at least give Ward notice. He might know how to handle something like this,”

“Please?” she asked again, leaning far back to keep eye contact when he craned to pull her into a hug again.

“Only to Ward for now,” he agreed, chuffing happily when she curled her arms around his neck. He could hear the faintest of a ‘thank fucking god’ muffled between her shoulder and his jaw, stirring a throaty chuckle from him. “Have so little faith in me?”

“If you weren’t so stubborn,” she sighed. “Thank you.”

Above all, he agreed for her peace of mind; whatever it took to keep her from falling into that dark pit that had recently become her common hangout. As the days drew nearer to his return to work, the worse it became, always telling him how deeply she worried for him.

A piercing ring of his phone from inside caused a low rumble in his chest, and he reluctantly detached from her with a final kiss upon her cheek. He wobbled away, waving his hand back when she insisted he grab the cane and found his phone vibrating against the tables surface.

“Uh oh,” he mumbled to himself. “Hey Ma,”

“Yah, hey Ma, like you keep up with your own parents enough to act all casual,” his mother derided, her heavy accent making him snort away from the phone before he’d take her seriously.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, still grinning.

“But will you start keeping in contact? Ah, who knows! Where’ve you been, my boy?”

“I’ve been home, resting,” he sighed, nodding when Callie gestured to the kitchen as she walked by.

“And in all this time you couldn’t call me or your father? Not even your auntie?” She was really playing it up now, but he knew below the dramatic teasing, she was pissed he hadn’t kept in better contact.

“You could call too, y’know,” he grumbled, following Callie when she held up two options for dinner.

“Do you need me to send screenshots of all the unanswered calls, boy?”

He snorted. “No, it’s fine-”

“Why are you in such a good mood?”

He stuttered a bit, leaning against the counter. “Feeling better,”

“Uh-huh, and who’s been helping you then?”

Nick paused, watching Callie grab various items from the fridge and tug on his hand when she needed his height up from the top shelf above the fridge. He pinched her hip playfully after she shoved him half-heartedly, giggling when he pulled her back to mouth her cheek.

“A friend, Ma,” he lied, but he heard her blow a raspberry.

“What’s her name then?” Dinara asked, and he could just see her arms crossing, and that all-knowing look that made him feel 10 years old again.

Nick sighed; no use hiding her now. “Callie,”

Cal spun, cocking a brow, but he knew the gears were rotating in both the women's heads. The silence from the other end of the line was unnerving.

“Callie?”

“Mhm,”

Another brief silence. “Nick,” Dinara said, flatly, and he tensed.

“Mhm?”

“Is she…?”

He swallowed. “Yep,”

“Human!? She’s human?”

Before he could even get anything out, a male voice started to butt it’s way into the conversation alongside hissed curses as Nick’s father finagled the phone from his wifes grasp.

“Nick? Nick, she’s human? How did you manage?” Oleg asked, laughing. Knowing his dad, he was probably holding back on the questions he really wanted to ask: how much easier are humans than Orcs?

“Shut up, Oleg- give it- go, back off. Nick, how long? How long have you known her?” Dinara came back in, but now Nick had moved from the kitchen, pointing to his knee when Callie raised her hands in question.

“Nine-ish months?” he pondered, sitting at his table with a hard exhale.

“That long- why haven’t we met her?”

“Look how you just reacted,” he mumbled, and he was sure his mothers jaw slammed shut.

Another beat of silence. “You haven’t always had the best relationship with humans, my boy,” she sighed.

“This one is different,” he told her, his eyes following Callie. “I’m sure she’s not entirely human, sometimes- she’s too perfect,”

“Is that so?” She asked, kinder, and he only gave her a little ‘mhm’. “How’s that?”

He leaned onto an elbow, pondering a moment. “She’s never treated me like I was an Orc, like- I don’t feel like an outcast around her. I can’t put it into good words, Ma- she’s just… she’s just my girl,” he finished, feeling foolish for being unable to explain just why he was so endlessly in love with Callie, but also knew a great majority of that was their long talks, and the way she looked and touched him, and finished his life before he’d even planned it out thus far.

“Oh Nick, you fell hard for this one?” Dinara asked lovingly.

“She is the one, Ma,” he grinned when Callie cracked a goofy smile after handing him a few of the chicharrones she’d just finished frying, alongside an ice-pack she tossed on the table. He kissed her hand before she stepped away, earning another smile. “Come meet her,”

“Oh- really? Really?” Dinara squeaked. “He wants us to meet his human girlfriend,” she said away from the phone, and his dad answered with something unintelligible, the two of them carrying on a conversation of their own.

Nick continued to watch Callie dance around his kitchen, stumbling here and there- she was still a bit shaky from earlier, but even without normal grace, she was a moving piece of art.

“When can we go over?” She asked.

↠

“Okay- ah okay okay,” he exhaled, his stomach tensing with every swipe of her tongue over his sensitive head. She finally slid back, her lips gliding over the velvet skin of his shaft and placing a sweet kiss on his relaxed dick before swallowing the last of his load.

He was lifeless against the mattress, panting, a toothy grin on his face. He summoned enough energy to look up at her, but groaned, watching a seldom trail of semen that had trailed down her chin and under her jaw start to makes it way down her neck.

Holy fucking shit fuck- “On your chin,” he pointed, rolling before he stared for too long and got going all over again.

Callie left with a giggle to the bathroom, leaving him deflated, but otherwise entirely content. He stretched pleasantly, his joints popping and his leg shaking, finally stilling across the cool sheets with a long chuff.

“You okay?” she asked, leaning naked in the doorway and throwing back a small cup of mouthwash.

“Still bitter?” he frowned, cracking an eye open. She shrugged, weighing her hands before wandering away again. He heard her spit before she called, “It’s not that bad- you know me,”

He hmm-ed, moving his arms around like he was making an angel in the snow.

But with the approach of light footsteps came the soft impression on the bed beside him, and then Callie leaning over to place soft kisses across his jaw, resting on her elbows beside his head. “Your turn,” she smiled, purposely sitting down against his hand.

He chuckled, but looked at her, reaching to hold her face.

Her brows furrowed, her lips pursing. “What?”

“You know I was on the phone with parents earlier?” he asked, and she nodded. “They wanna meet you,”

Callie sat up, alarm ringing in her eyes. “They do?”

He nodded, resting his hands under his head. “They do,”

“Do they know about what happened with us?”

“Nope,”

“Why?”

“What’s the point? It’d only make things tense,” he reasoned, and she nodded indifferently.

“When?” she asked.

“Saturday, here. Told them I’d cook,”

She exhaled, pushing her hair back. He grinned; he always enjoyed seeing her face so clearly, even if she was worrying her lip nervously.

“They’re gonna like you,” he buoyed, snatching her hand to kiss her fingers.

“Says the one who told me how vicious your mother was when she met your other girlfriends,” she whined.

“You’re different,”

“Oh yeah?” How?”

Nick sat up, inclining close to her, and kissing her sweetly once before saying, “I didn’t plan to marry any of those other girls,”

It didn’t register right away, but when it did, he saw the gravity of his words flicker across her face. First it was a loose smile, then the furrowed brows, them pure confusion, all making him smirk.

“What?” she croaked.

“You heard me,”

She situated better, scooting ever so slightly closer on her knees. “How’re you so confident after everything that’s happened? You never once thought we were hopeless?”

“Sure, but I never stopped feeling it. No matter what I did. It’s been the same since I first saw you. Hit me like a bullet to the heart,” he explained, witnessing the glaze move over her eyes.

“Wh-” she cleared her throat when her voice cracked severely, moving her hair behind her ears. “Why?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Cause of the shit you’ll get for wanting to be with someone like me,”

He blew air. “I don’t give a fuck what anyone says, even if it’s our families. And it doesn’t have to be soon, hell it can be on our deathbeds, but no matter what, I’m gonna marry you one day Callie. Even if we’ve only known each other so briefly, and some of it was apart, I can’t fathom a life without you,”

She blinked away the moisture in her eyes. “You’re so sure you wanna spend that long with me?”

“Are you asking me, or yourself?” he questioned, leaning on a hand closer to her. “If you don’t want to spend that long with me, it’s okay-”

“I’m asking you. I know what I want- but do you?” she asked softly.

He kissed her again, resting his forehead against hers. “I want forever with you. Everything about you-”

“My anxiety?”

“Callie-”

“I can never give you a family,” she grieved, but he hushed her, kissing her silent.

“Anything, everything, always. You can’t scare me away,” he laughed, and so did she, but the restlessness of her heart was still rampant. “But first, you gotta meet my parents,”

She frowned. “Is this how you felt?”

“You’re probably feeling worse, honestly,”

Her ankle was wiggling beneath her bottom. “If they end up hating me I’m so sorry,”

“They won’t. If they do, still can't get rid of me,” he muffled against her neck, sitting forward onto his good knuckles.

Her hands guided his face back to hers, audibly sighing when she kissed him. He moved the fringe from her face, his wide palms holding her head as she showered him with smooches.

“Can we get dogs after we're married?” she asked, and he snorted again, nodding against her kiss.

“Pitbulls,” they said in unison. Some light giggling, the soft smacking of their kisses as he started to push her back, her arms snaking around his neck as she pulled her legs from under him and spread her knees to his sides. This was pure- smothered beneath his big body, touching every sturdy strand of muscle beneath his rough skin that rubbed against hers.

“Mm,” he breathed against her skin, moving down. “You smell good,” he bit her ribs gently, making her squirm. “Like really good,”

“Oh yeah?” she sighed, her waist raising when his cheek scraped down her stomach, lithe fingers fisting in the sheets above her head.

“So good.” he growled, his body snaking down between her legs, maneuvering his broad shoulders until her spread thighs were pushed closer to her chest, and he could worship her soaked core, listening intently to the way she cried his name.

“Nick go-” she giggled, pushing him away. “Daryl’s right there!”

“Two minutes,” he growled against her cheek, his arms around her preventing any escape.

“No,” a chaste kiss on his lips. “Go, get out, go!”

Nick grumbled, his face souring as he unwound from her reluctantly, his arms still heavy at her sides. “Are you starting soon?”

“Maybe- is that why you’re so hot to trot lately?” she exclaimed.

“Well duh, you just smell so… fertile,”

Callie laughed out, finally getting him off and turning his shoulders towards the door with a smack on his ass. “Take the cane,”

“Nope,”

“Take it,”

“Nope,”

“Nick-”

“I’ll see you later,” he called, opening the door to find Daryl waiting with his hands in his pockets, staring at the Orcs scattered about the street in their cars.

“Hey partner,” Nick chimed, trying to squeeze his way out as Callie walked at him with the cane.

“Why are there so many 'round here?” Ward asked, holding the door.

“Let's get going-”

“Cane,” Callie snapped, shoving it at him. Ward smirked watching Nick buckle and grab it, glaring at her before a final kiss.

“How you doing Daryl?” she asked, stepping out for a quick hug and peck on the cheek.

“Good as I can be,”

“Yeah, how’s your wife?” she asked through a forced smile, earning a small push from Nick.

“Still hates you,” he quirked back. “Your boy have all his pills?”

“Oh yeah- make sure he doesn’t ‘accidentally’ forget the cane, yeah?”

Nick shot her a final narrow glare, chuffing playfully as the two officers walked from the house. Surely he didn’t need the assistance anymore; there wasn’t even much of a limp left, but the extra help couldn’t hurt. Anything to have him as close to normal by the time his recovery was up. She knew there was no way his captain would approve any additional time off if needed.

“Got your lil mama back in the home, huh?” Ward smiled coyly, and although Nick chose to shrug, he caught the Orcs puffed chest and hidden smirk.

“Yeah,” he finally said, sitting in his sedan.

“So where to, blue boy?” Ward asked, pulling onto the street.

“Hanks? Same spot?”

“Dunno, is it secluded enough to share this urgent information that couldn’t wait?”

Nick rolled his eyes. “Those were Callie’s words,”

“Were they true though?” he eyed Nick, who in turn was messing with the cane between his knees.

“Yeah, more or less.”

“Okay,” Ward exhaled, setting his half eaten sandwich aside and ready to also set aside their small talk that Nick had kept up the duration of the car ride and visit to the regular lunch hangout. “What’re we doing here?”

Over the weeks, Nick and Callie had started to pick up on each others nervous tics. She would sometimes run her tongue over her bottom teeth as if she had filed tusks, and now his knee was bouncing.

“That prick we work with- Gerrald?” Nick started.

“What about him?”

“I think he did it,”

“Did it… did it? Him?” Ward intoned, leaning forward onto his elbows.

Nick nodded. “He’s always had an issue with me, but I think he wants to get his hands on Callie,”

“How’d you come to that?”

“You’ve heard the shit he said, left in my locker- spread around the station? ‘Nd bout a week ago Callie picked up a shift at Two Hands-” he waved off Ward’s surprised gaze. “She said he was there, had bought out a private dance with her and cornered her saying shit about how she used to be his favorite girl, some shit about old times,”

“Just from that?” Ward questioned.

“He’s always had his eyes on her, all this time. I wondered why he fuckin’ picked and bugged when Callie first showed up at the station, and I think that’s why. He could’ve been planning this for years but didn’t have the momentum until I came into the picture,” he groaned, running his hand over his head.

Ward pondered, the pieces almost audibly clicking together in his head. “The shit the attacker said to you,”

“Sound familiar?”

They both leaned back in their seats, but Ward held his own chin, shaking his head. “Gerrald dipped,”

Nick blinked. “What?”

“Bastards been MIA for a few days now. Heig called his wife and she doesn’t know where he bounced off to. There’s a warrant out for his arrest, too,”

“What?”

Ward nodded. “Took off with a few shotguns and ammo from the kit room, but we can’t find him anywhere,”

“Shotguns?” Nick hissed, and Ward nodded.

“I think it’s worth telling Heig,”

Nick shook his head. “We can’t,”

“Look I know the shit you put up with-”

“I have Fogteeth involved,” Nick mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose with his eyes pinched shut. “You have three behind you,”

Daryl didn’t move, no matter how severely tempted he was to turn and glare, but instead, the full front of his silent fury hit Nick. There was that vein that bulged along his temple, and when he talked-

“How involved?” He said through grit teeth, his outward appearance otherwise calm.

She shielded her eyes against the winter sun once the mugs were set down, and searched the numerous cars parked along the street for a familiar face. But when she finally found him sat in his car, just like every other day, she whistled loudly. Matuk turned, pulling an ear bud out, and nodding when she waved him over.

Callie pulled the jacket tighter around her waist as she sat, cradling her own mug close to her chest. Another storm was moving it’s way over LA, with strong gusts rattling the screen roll that usually hung before Nick’s porch. With it up, she could always survey from a window inside, and had come to recognize all of the cars the Fogteeth used, and of course Matuk’s SUV.

“Hey cutie,” she played, but he moved past her into the other seat, grabbing the hot mug. “Figured you got tired of sitting in the car,”

He shrugged. “If I could nap it wouldn’t be so bad,” he mumbled, sipping the creamy tea.

“Can’t switch shifts?” she inquired, her feet raising to rest on the beams.

“Nope,”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her nails drumming against the ceramic mug. He shrugged again.

“At least there’s compensation,”

“Money in being Fogteeth?”

“Sometimes,”

She nodded. “Maybe I should join,” Now he laughed, and she cocked a brow. “I could do it,”

“If you sprouted tusks maybe,” he chuckled, his hoarse voice the lightest she’d heard yet.

“And I gained about 100 pounds worth'a muscle?”

He nodded, situating deeper into the seat. Callie watched him, seemingly moving effortlessly despite his impressive size. She was sure he could crush the mug that looked minute in his hand easily if he chose.

“How old are you?” she asked then, and he eyed her. “Im just curious- Nick always refers to you as ‘the kid’,”

Matuk rolled his eyes. “Seventeen,”

She blinked. “Really? So young?”

He nodded, flashing a forced grin.

“And already with kids?” She’d tried numerous times to ask the question that had picked at her since she’d first met him at the supermarket, but never had the chance to bring it up casually until now.

“Who said I had kids?” he grimaced.

“When you first started following me around, you left a store with diapers and lollipops,”

“For my baby sisters,” he corrected, looking at her. Ahh, that’s precious.

“A girlfriend waiting around for you all day?” she kept on pushing, keeping eye contact from behind her mug.

“Nah,” he mumbled, looking back out to the street. “Boyfriend,”

Callie smiled, her mug resting in her lap. It made a little more sense now- before she thought his politeness was simply because he wasn’t interested, but Nick had told her that it didn’t matter what race a girl could be. If they were aroused, an Orc would know, and more than likely act on it. “What’s his name?”

He looked at her nervously, before answering, “Larek, but I call him ‘Lala’ so my family thinks its a girl,”

She got that. She didn’t know how Orcs usually handed that type of predicament, but she knew full well just how old school Mexican families could be.

“How long?”

“Couple years,”

“I wish I could offer some wisdom but I think I’d end up saying something color blind instead of doing any real help,” Callie stated, adjusting in the chair.

He gave her a sidelong glance. “That’s funny coming from a human who dates an Orc,”

“That’s different,” she assured.

“Not too much. So what’s next for you and munguz?” he asked, sliding down his chair that barely held him.

“Dunno, figured we’d see where it goes,” she said although Nick’s bold statement about marriage had saddled her mind since that late night.

“How’re you so calm?” Matuk asked, and she looked at him again, puzzled.

“Calm?”

“Cause you’re-”

The sharp, piercing screech of tires burning across the pavement pulled both of their attention before them, but Matuk was on his feet before Callie even recognized what was happening.

A sedan had swiped one of the watching Orcs cars, and was winding down the street hazardously as the driver struggled to regain control, but only gained speed with every foot covered. First it was the one that was hit, then another car, then a third following the hitter, all peeling onto the road after him.

“Go inside.” Matuk ordered, gliding down the steps and across the yard.

It had gone from a hit and run to something alarming, instantly. She didn’t bother with the cups, nor the knocked over chair as she stumbled into Nick’s home, locking the door behind herself.

She wanted to look out the window, finding the silence from outside more unsettling than anything, but couldn’t find the courage to do so. She stood in the middle of his living room, the impending loom of disbelief snaking up her legs.

“Matuk?” she called weakly. Should I hide?

But then figures started moving outside, at a distance. Her heart was pounding so loud in her ears, she couldn’t tell what it was.

Shadows against the windows, what she hoped were Fogteeth.

The doorknob jiggled, and yanked roughly in it’s joint.

“Oh fuck.” she whispered, backing up. Her hand patted her hips- no phone, and when her eyes jumped, she couldn’t find it.

A deafening bang from the other side of the door made her flinch, and it rattled in it’s frame.

The brief words passed behind the door distracted her hands that had jutted beneath the couch in search of the bat, but when there were two more thunderous bangs, her fingertips brushed the bat.

When she rose with it clutched in her hands, the door swung open, smacking against the adjacent wall.

No way this aluminum bat would stop the two lumbering Orcs stomping in, their tusks covered with ski masks, but there was nothing left to do but fight, even though she was ready to burst into tears and hide. Everything on her trembled terribly, especially her hands that couldn’t seem to find decent grip.

Callie screamed inarticulately when they lunged at her, swinging wildly, but also backing herself up into a corner if she kept moving away.

She tried stepping forward, but they’d reclaim their space when she ultimately flinched back when one of them spooked her.

They watched her carefully, their hateful eyes without fear, even if it meant taking a swing from a bat.

If she moved any farther back, all she’d have left was to run out the back, but what if they-

“Gotcha!”

A set of arms wrapped around her in a crushing hug, and yanked her up, effectively shaking the bat from her hands.

“Let me go- get the fuck off!” she hollered, kicking, fighting, screaming, clawing for anything. One of the Orcs grabbed her ankles as another closed the door barely hung from its hinge, and the mysterious figure holding her backed up, carrying her away.

The hallway was narrow, and she used it to her advantage.

With a loud shout and sudden twist of her body, she managed to wiggle enough that the person holding her loosened and bounced awkwardly against the wall, and she pulled them to the ground as she fell.

But she was up faster. She didn’t bother looking- she was on her feet, bolting for Nick’s room, but another hand around her wrist yanked her back, and the crack in her arm made her cry out.

She slammed against the ground with a hard slap, the wind coming out of her in harsh coughs.

Callie felt the blinding smack of a fist against her temple before she heard it, alongside the loud popping of her neck when her head flew to the side, her cheek smacking against the floor. She raised her hands, but another one blew into the side of her face.

Coppery blood filled her cheek, and her lip stung like a bitch when a large hand clutched her neck mercilessly. She clawed at it, her feet kicking again when the weight of a knee in her stomach stopped her, more coughs squeezing from her. They were heavy- the hand was tight, breathing was difficult.

So was focusing- she couldn’t make out what was leaning over her. Definitely a person, but who?

They were breathing in her face, and the trace of a hand alongside her thigh made her flinch, and fight again.

Her mouth opened to scream just as the wide swing of a boot landed against her side. She choked, her chest aching once the air had left her body but still constricted, but another blow followed soon after, right at the center of her stomach.

She wheezed, clawing across the floor, reaching, but another hand yanked against a firstful of hair, pulling her up.

“Look at me,” a male snarled, but she was too afraid.

A sharp slap against her cheek, and she tried to move from their grasp, her scalp burning.

“Look at me!” it bellowed, and her eyes finally opened, but this time, she couldn’t stop the torrent of sobs that left her.

“See what you made me do? You know how long it’s gonna take for that face to heal before I wanna see you dance again?” he shouted, back-handing her.

She forced blood from her nose, her hands raising shakily to try and pry Gerralds hands from her hair, but her hand could barely make a first.

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you go” he taunted, tossing her down.

The back of her head bounced off the ground, and it felt like ages before she could roll on her side, and focus on Nick’s room, but her vision was washing over with red.

Just crawl- fucking crawl, Callie. She tried. Her arm was useless- she couldn’t even lean on it without weeping in pain, but her limbs didn’t listen. It took too long to tell each to move, and by the time her good arm had extended, he was pulling her back by the ankles again, the Orc from before grabbing her and flipping her.

She screamed for Nick, for Matuk- anyone, but there was only the perverse laughter behind her.

The tear of duct tape made her flinch, and she tried to kick her legs when she felt it winding around her knees, digging sharply into her skin.

Callie screamed- begging for help past the blood coating her mouth, but the Orcs monstrous hand smothered her face, and held down against her chest.

“Almost done, Valeria, hang on sweet girl,” Gerrald cooed, moving over her, and grabbing her wrists.

She sobbed, and fought against him, muffled behind the strong hand pushing her head sideways, but he easily grasped her wrists and wound the tape around them, tighter than around her knees.

“We’re gonna go now,” he breathed heavily, bringing her broken face up. “We’re gonna go away, and I’m gonna show you,” he paused, sneering, moving her plastered hair from her face. She whimpered, trying to move from his hold. “I’m gonna show you why you should’ve never left hunan.”

“NO, NO, HELP!” She screamed, thrashing, even as the two lifted her.

There was another loud slam of the door swinging open, and suddenly she was dropped, her head bouncing against the floor again.

It was quiet a moment, her body so still. The pain felt like a dull ache, bearable, almost muted enough to let her sleep.

But she turned, and saw the two Orcs fighting off more that had rushed in, but the new ones were brandishing the Fogteeth colors. They overtook the attackers, two more Fogteeth bolting over her and down the hall in pursuit. There was so much commotion- yelling, the table breaking under their iron bodies as they fought, more shouting.

Callie curled inwards, the pain in her abdomen worsening by the second, spreading down her thighs. The throb in her skull was debilitating, and the light coming in from the door was extreme.

“Callie?”

Her crusted eyes opened, but she flinched when hands reached for her.

“It’s me, it’s okay,” Matuk panted, carefully moving her hands up and cutting the tape. It ripped painfully from her skin, her broken arm ringing. She cried, her arms remaining drawn in as the tape around her knees was released.

“You’re okay- you’re gonna be okay.” he kept saying, but it all kept getting worse.

She sobbed when he moved his arms beneath her, cradling her against his chest and carrying her.

She slipped back and forth into blackness, only to be boomeranged back into consciousness and pain when someone jostled her. The muffled shouting was bugging her, and she slurred at them to shut up, but wasn’t sure if anyone understood her.

There was the blaring alarm of an ambulance, and people around her, but she couldn’t open her eyes against the sunny skies, so instead pressed her inflamed face into Matuk’s chest. The cold air felt better, but everything was hurting. Her stomach felt like it was folding in on itself, her arm constantly sending resounding shocks across her chest, her head throbbing.

She begged for relief when she could, but there was only the stiff mattress of the gurney beneath her once Matuk had placed her there, and his hand leaving hers when she was loaded into the rig, a neck brace pulling her jaw upwards.

She was wincing, her lip stinging when her face pinched, and her hands shaking as she rested them over her stomach.

“It hurts.” she sobbed, a paramedic leaning over her to talk, but everything was incomprehensible.

All she could understand was pain.

I want Nick.

↠

Nick bypassed the check-in counter, pushing through anyone in his way, ignoring when nurses tried to stop him.

He smacked the doors that lead to the triage center, the ones that wouldn’t open no matter how viciously he thrashed.

“Jakoby calm down!” Ward begged, trying to yank back the raging Orc, but he was like a wall of iron, unmovable.

“Where is she-“ he panted, spinning to find anyone besides the nurses urging him to calm down. “I need to see my girlfriend,” he tried, but they weren’t helping him. They continued to shut him down, ordering him to leave, telling him he was scaring the other people waiting in reception.

“Open the fucking doors!” He bellowed, but Ward had him around the shoulders now, finally dragging him back some.

“Nick shut up- c’mon move, move with me,” Daryl struggled, pulling him away, but now security was coming at them. “Nick you need to calm the fuck down or you’ll be asking for her behind bars,” Ward hissed, but it was like he was caught in a delirious cloud. He was wobbly, gripping Daryl’s arms harshly. “He’s a cop- we’re LAPD, it’s fine,” Ward told the security guards, still trying to speak to Nick directly.

Ward spoke in his favor, trying to rid the small huddle of nurses around them, insistent that Nick leave, but he shook his head with raging eyes, struggling not to growl or shout anymore.

“My girlfriend is here- her sister called me,” Nick pleaded.

“Unless you’re family you can’t go back until-”

“Her sister called me!” he snapped, but Daryl pulled him back again.

More indiscernible shouting, the security starting to reach for Nick’s hands even though Daryl did his best to talk over everyone and reserve his rights.

“Nick!”

His head spun, finding Rosie coming from the door he’d tried opening, still in uniform.

In two steps he was across the room.

“I called him in,” she declared, both of them turning away.

“Ma’am you can’t-”

“I said I vouch for him.” she snapped, silencing anymore rebuttal from the people around them.

Finally through the door, he didn’t lag in the slightest as they started their way through the curtained beds and overall commotion of an emergency room.

“All they told me was she was assaulted,” he quavered, his eyes jumping wildly.

“She’s been in and out since she got here- she has a lot of tests and scans to get through but she can at least respond when she’s awake,” Rosie told him, and at last approached a curtain. Pulling it back only revealed an empty room, and both of them spun wildly.

“Where-” Nick started.

“Stay here,” Rosie said as she left again, but he didn’t want to stay.

It smelled like blood, and there was some peppered across the floor alongside soaked gauze. Her shirt was there also, cut down the middle, stained.

He whined, holding his head, walking in circles. He was fighting the urgency to run through every room of the hospital to find her, and be by her. He needed to know she was okay- that she could talk, and know he was there.

He spun when the curtain rings scraped, but it was Rosie, alongside a male doctor. She looked grim, like news he didn’t know if he was ready to hear had been delivered to her first.

“This is the father,” Rosie introduced, shakily, and confusion flashed across his face.

“Sir? You’re Miss Flores’s partner?” the doctor asked, and Nick nodded. “I’m Deshawn Smith, I’m the attending that triaged Calista when she came in,” he explained calmly, extending his hand to shake Nick’s weak grip.

“Nick,” the orc mumbled. Father?

“The extent of her injuries won’t be known until we’ve finished the scans she’s in right now for, but I don’t see anything life threatening based on preliminary tests,”

Nick exhaled, having not realized he was holding his breath.

“What we know right now is her right arm is broken, and all of the gashes on her are superficial, but she might have some bleeding on the brain which is why I've ordered a number of scans. Now there’s some information I need from you,” Deshawn said, pulling out a small notebook and pen from his breast pocket. “How far along was she?”

“Far along?” he repeated, and Rosie’s hand rested on his arm.

“Nick-”

“In her pregnancy, sir,” Deshawn clarified.

That broke through his thoughts; shattered the haze like glass. His heart that was once clapping madly in his heart was only a small flutter now, the wind effectively knocking from his lungs. A stunning presence was suddenly filling his heart, a blinding disbelief turning his gut.

“She’s pregnant?” Nick cracked, and Rosie’s hand on his shoulder tightened.

Deshawn adjusted the cards clipped to his scrub nervously, blinking a few times. “Were- were you unaware?”

Nick nodded.

The doctor cleared his throat. “Sir,” he adjusted his glasses this time. “I truly hate having to tell you this, but unfortunately she’s miscarried,”

...what?

What?

His mouth motioned to speak, but he couldn’t force it up over the crushing disappointment sitting on his chest. Just as the presence in his heart had become so familiar, so quickly, it was gone- ripped away. All at once, the reality of the situation came crashing back around him after his momentary escape into bliss.

“We believe it was the blunt force trauma to her abdomen and overall stress the attack had on her body that caused it,” Deshawn explained, but he only saw vacant eyes staring back at him. “I’m truly sorry, Nick. Would you like me to come back to speak with you when you’ve had time to process this news?”

It took a few times repeating in his head to really hear what he’d asked, but Nick shook his head.

He listened to him explain that Callie was beaten brutally, but for the time being, they didn’t expect her to pass or fall into a coma. He listened as he explained that she’d be in hospital for a few days, but recovery time wouldn’t be as lengthy as his. And he questioned, silently, in his own head, how he hadn’t known that she’d been pregnant? How did he not sense it?

↠

Almost 2 AM.

The hall had gone quiet long ago, mostly nurses moving around at this point.

Exhaustion hung on him, but he was too restless to sleep. All day he’d followed nurses from room to room, listening second hand as more of Callie’s family came in, all gathering in the lobby. They didn’t come up to him, but he didn’t approach them either. He’d returned to cowering away, his head hung. Sometimes Rosie would sit by him, sharing updates, encouraging him to eat or drink, but he couldn’t. Concern roiled his gut; there’d be no keeping food down.

By the time she’d received her own room, he didn’t pour into her room when her family did.

Although he’d waited all day to even see a glimpse of her face, he couldn’t be near when they learned he’d knocked her up. They already hated him, he thought. They’d scream and murder him when they knew.

It engrossed him entirely. Callie had been pregnant, by him, with their baby, and now she wasn’t. All that time not knowing something was blooming in her womb. He buried his face in his palms again, breathing deeply.

The world could swallow him up from his feet at that moment, and it would’ve been a relief. He’d rather feel anything but this.

Nick didn’t think anything of the footsteps approaching him until he spotted boots out of the corner of his eye instead of the normal nurse attire.

Matuk and Doghru, but younger male was worse for wear. Half his face was swollen, cut, bruised- a bandaged hand held close to his chest.

“Nick,” Dorghu acknowledged calmly, waiting for Nick to stand. His handshake was weak, as was his overall mental state. He didn’t try to shake hands with the kid.

“We need to talk,” Dorghu stated, motioning over towards the stairwell.

“Matuk,” the scarred Orc nodded, leaning against the railing to the stairs. Matuk stepped forward, his eyes fleeting many times from Nick’s hard gaze.

“It was the cop,” he said first, his speech slurred.

The delirious anger was immediate. It turned Nick, having to steady himself against the wall. He fucking knew it- he knew he’d try to make a move but thought the protection would be enough.

“He came with other Orcs, from the Volki- they distracted Jregh and Sarod and Urul and ambushed me when I was checking around your house,” he explained, ashamed, his head hung. “They were trying to kidnap her when I came in, but the cop bolted before anyone could get him-”

“He did that to her?” Nick interrupted.

Matuk nodded, sniffling. “I’m sorry,”

He tried not to hate him- it wasn’t his fault. It really wasn’t, but without Gerrald there to murder, he needed someone to blame- to make sense of this nightmare.

“Is she okay?”

“I haven’t seen her yet,” Nick mumbled. I haven’t seen my own fucking girlfriend yet. Nick exhaled, looking at Dorghu. “She was pregnant,”

The head of the Fogteeth stepped forward, looking between them. Dorghu looked as shocked as Rosie did when they first explained her condition, but with a roll of his shoulders, he’d composed any emotion.

“It didn’t survive,” he stated, already knowing. Nick shook his head, on the verge of collapsing. His body had never ached so terribly.

A sturdy hand on his shoulder brought his eyes back up.

“I’m sorry,” Dorghu said, sincerely, offering comfort as best he knew. But Nick moved his hand, his arms raising in discomfort. He didn’t want condolences, or pity- he would handle that heartache when Callie was by his side.

“I need to find him,” Nick grumbled.

“We have the two that were with him. We’re working the details out of them,” Dorghu explained.

“How long?”

“However long they withstand torture,” Matuk said, looking up. “Volki can be resilient,”

“Not limitless, though,” Dorghu corrected, nodding thoughtfully at the young Orc.

“When you have him, I want to do it. I want to be there,” Nick said behind mashed teeth, breath flaring through his nostrils. “You have to tell me,”

“We will. You’ll square it, I’ll make sure,”

Nick nodded, and grabbed Dorghu’s hand when extended. “Give Calista our best.”

The two departed down the steps, and Nick saw the severe limp Matuk was burdened with as he struggled down. He took the moment to lean back against the cold wall, and close his eyes, letting the silence of the stairwell seep into his thoughts.

Fury rested at the borders of his coherent thoughts, but he could bridle it until the time came.

With a deep exhale, he walked from the stairwell and back down the hall, turning the corner to sit before Callie’s room again.

Rosie was there, and smiled vacantly when he approached.

“You okay?” she asked as he sat beside her.

He shrugged. “Needed a minute,” he lied.

“Yeah,” Rosie’s voice broke, her hand smoothing down her wild curls. “Callie’s awake, talking,” she told him, and his head snapped in her direction, his eyes brightening. “She’s asking for you,”

A remnant of a grin curled his mouth, but he looked at the door. “I’ll wait,”

“They’re not mad at you, Nick. They know it wasn’t your fault,” she told him, grabbing his arm.

“That doesn’t change how a parent feels about their kid being mauled,” he grumbled.

She sighed. They both drifted in their own thoughts for some time, only looking up when the commotion in her room heightened; they must’ve been getting ready to leave.

“She didn’t tell them about the baby,”

His head hung. Our baby.

The door opened, and they both stood. Callie’s parents and Patricia were there, tired, finding Nick immediately.

If it hadn’t been for the clear misery on Luciana’s face, he would’ve flinched when she reached for him, but instead, there was a tight embrace pulling him down. She was strong for her size, just like Callie, her grip unyielding as she suppressed small sobs.

“Watch over her,” she said, leaning back, holding his face. “I trust you. Stay by her side, yerno.” she said softly, her eyes red from obvious crying, a tissue clutched in her palm.

Nick nodded, nervously shaking hands with her wary father as they passed.

He didn’t expect Patricia to step forward, her usual cutting expression softened and her hands clasped before her, but he sidestepped, struggling to flatten his hateful expression.

There was no way he could speak to her without lashing out. He saw the messages- she had no business being here. Although she turned, and said his name, he instead briefly hugged Rosie before finally stepping to Callie’s room.

He moved silently, the room dark with the exception of a small wall light before the head of the bed.

But he saw her.

Curled on her side, her battered face moving up when he closed the door behind himself. Nick released a shaking breath, the burn behind his eyes enough to bring a hand to his face to rub over his eyelids.

Her casted hand reached for him just as he made it to her side, but he couldn’t kiss her split lips when he leaned over her, carefully lifting her whimpering body into a sitting position so he could cradle her against his chest. She was weak; her arms around him were loose, her body mostly limp in his hold. Nick rocked her carefully when she wept against him, moving her dirty, crusted hair from her face so he could look down at her, and mindfully wipe away tears that slipped down her bruised cheek.

He was fighting tears of his own, detailing her bloodshot eye sat inside a bruised socket and deep lacerations on her temple, the shallow burns around her knees he drew up closer, bringing her into his lap when he sat on her bed.

Nick made sure her IV tubes didn’t twist before he held her face, gently sshing her as her hoarse cries lessened.

“You’re okay, you’re okay,” he repeated featherlight, clearing his throat often. “I’m so sorry- I thought you’d be safe at home with them all there,”

Her swollen lip trembled, her eyes still glossy, but she shook her head, a hand curling weakly under his chin.

“It’s not your fault,” she whispered, sniffling and wincing when her face stung. “It would’ve happened no matter who was there,”

He shook his head. “This should never've happened,”

Callie shrugged, barely, adjusting her head against his arm and closing her tired eyes. A lingering kiss on her cheek relaxed her, continuing to rock her gently. She was dozing off, barely managing to keep her eyes open; he couldn’t stop looking at her. He’d left her one way and come back to disaster. All the time he waited to see her felt so brief; it was little to endure now that he had her in his arms, and could hear her speak.

“I didn’t know I was pregnant,” she sighed, craning her neck back to look up at him. “I promise I didn’t know,”

“I know, I know,” he said shakily. Fuck- keep it together, you shit head. “Do you- do you know how far…?”

“They said a couple weeks,”

His face tightened. “Tiny little thing,”

Callie’s face was sorrowing, tears brimming her eyes once again as Nick’s own filled, unable to fight back the burn any longer.

“I thought it couldn’t happen, Nick,” she whispered, holding his head when it dropped into her shoulder, a choked cry shaking his broad shoulders as she threw a wobbly arm around his shoulders. His sobs were silent, but they swayed him, the tears soaking through her hospital gown. With delicacy, and grief, he clung to her injured form and fell apart, lifting his damp face to wipe it crudely against his shoulder when she started, knowing he had no business falling apart when she was the one handling all the aftermath.

But she still wiped his face, her powerless hands holding his cheeks when she kissed his forehead, whispering comforting words and declarations of undying love.

Their turmoil settled, ending with Callie lied nestled firmly against his chest, his arms about her protectively. He listened to her breathe as she slept, thankful for every one exhaled. It wasn’t until those moment did he realize that the signs of her pregnancy had been there all along.

The savory layer that had coated her skin, that allured him so deeply, was gone. Where once she smelled luscious, and so full of life, was only ill health now, and blood.

He moved his cheek against her head, watching where his knuckles pressed tentatively against her swollen stomach.

She stirred, and he rubbed her arm, pulling her closer when she burrowed her face against him.

Everything on him was exhausted- he needed sleep, but he couldn’t flip the switch in his mind. The longer he stayed still, the stronger the ire became. Above all, he wished he could turn back time, and never leave the house, but with the unlikeliness of that came the desire to find Gerrald.

He couldn’t stop the vile thoughts from bombarding him; what would he have done if he’d taken her? How far would she have been hidden away?

Nick exhaled, pinching his eyes shut and wrapping her tighter in an embrace.

All this time passed, everything they’d been through to finally make a baby, and then it be ripped from her hands.

By him.

It was all because of him.

He wiggled his face next to hers, shushing her softly when she whined.

I’ll make this right, Callie. I’ll make it right for our baby.

In another life, little one. 🖤 Two chapters left of Bell Peppers; I've already started working on part 2: Milagro 

[shibyn]

and the wind sounds like the world’s sigh

persona 4 & 5 | shiho-centric, investigation team Near the end of May, Shiho transfers to a sleepy town called Inaba for a fresh start. However, Inaba isn’t the sleepy town her parents thought would be best for her— its on edge with unsolved mysteries, and Shiho finds that there’s a bit more behind what meets the eye regarding some of her classmates and a TV screen.

chapter 3 | 5.7k | ao3

She doesn't know if she's envious or glad for them.

Maybe she's envious because her teammates weren't given the same slack. Not in the slightest. She wonders if Yui's arm was set properly, or if Inuoka's shoulder healed fully. She wonders if any of them can be in the gymnasium without feeling a phantom ache in their joints. Wonders if any of them are better now that he's been shipped off to jail. Wonders if they can still play volleyball and still be able to breathe.

She realizes very quickly there is very little to do in Inaba. Not for the first time and certainly not the last, Shiho longs for Tokyo. She doesn't think a lifetime spent in Tokyo would be enough time to do everything there. The city's always bustling, always changing, always growing-- there's always something new, something to try. Ann was there, too, always bounding by her side, leading her to a new place to go to. Inaba has a river, a shrine, an inn, and a market. There are plenty of mom-and-pop stores, plenty of tiny businesses that take up a sixteenth of a street block. In a week, Shiho has already scoured through nearly all of them. It's probably something her parents overlooked, too. They're restless, itching for more motion and more activity and just more than what this tiny place offers. They're no different from her-- they lived in Tokyo longer than she's been alive, and they've been through the growth of Tokyo. There's no way they don't long for the gray and musty streets over the clear and small roads here at least every now and then. They're making friends with the locals, because that's all there really is to do. They get jobs, her mom at an antique shop, her dad a carpenter. Maybe they're getting used to the rural air, maybe not-- she wonders if they've considered moving back to Tokyo once she's graduated and shipped off to a college, or if they'll come to like this place and live here from now on. They find their own ways to burn the day away. It unluckily lines up with the time Shiho has school, and they're home whenever she gets to the house. In the late afternoon, their house is quiet even though there are people in it. She wonders what her parents think when she gets home later and later, purposely avoiding being in a house where guilty gazes weigh down on her shoulders, the tension in the air that makes her suffocate. With little to do in Inaba, she very quickly runs out of things to keep her occupied while she prolongs the time she gets home. There's only so much a friendless, penniless teenager could do. Maybe she could get a job to get money and to take up time, or maybe even join a club at school, but then it'll tie her down to this place. Frequently, she wishes Ann was here. She'd be able to make the best of this place. Even with the cheerful chatter and encouraging words from the near-constant buzzing of her phone, it will never match up to being actually with her. She's a little envious of Ryuji and Akira, who get to see her daily. She's glad they're friends. More often than not, she ends up hanging around the school grounds. She's already gone through the town, but she doesn't have money of her own, and she doesn't want to deal with the off-chance she'll come across her parents in public. It's past the end of the day, and the other students head off to club activities or to head home. Usually she's left in peace. She finds some place to burn time in-- usually its the library (she finally found it-- it was on the second floor this whole time, she just passed it by mistake), where few students linger in after hours and even fewer try to speak to her. Other students still keep trying to talk to her, and she knows she should try to act like a normal person and respond properly, but her tongue feels like gauze when she opens it and her stomach sinks because she can't even act like she wants to be here. The library gives her the solitude she needs from the other students, but it's also too quiet, too soundless, too similar to the home she's avoiding, and it closes a couple hours earlier than the school does. So then she wanders around until she knows its safe to enter town without seeing her parents, or until school closes. Around this time, very little students are around, the only ones being in clubs or practice for sports. She can wander without interruption until her legs begin to ache, the pain beneath her kneecaps too strong, and usually ends up sitting on a bench until they decide to work like how she wants them to. She wears the knee brace. It makes no damn difference whether or not she wears it-- the weather and the hills are a killer combo. She only wears it because her parent asked it of her. She'd rather go without it, even though she knows she wouldn't be able to move as much as she is, because her classmates will peer at it and she can see the questions on the tips of their tongues. She rubs her knee absently. The sky's clear for the most part, spotted with occasional clouds. The bench she ended up on has a clear view of the practice building and the lot in front of it, one that the Soccer team is using for a practice game. Some seem dearly invested in their little game, some don't. Something settles heavy in her gut. It's something like dread, an itch-- it's not a good feeling, and she shifts restlessly to quell it. They're... They're not trying. Won't their coach be angry that they're not trying--? She looks around, but there's no coach scrutinizing the players. No coach barking out orders that are do or die. They're allowed to slack. A breath leaves her in a rush, one she didn't realize she was holding. She doesn't know if she's envious or glad for them. Maybe she's envious because her teammates weren't given the same slack. Not in the slightest. She wonders if Yui's arm was set properly, or if Inuoka's shoulder healed fully. She wonders if any of them can be in the gymnasium without feeling a phantom ache in their joints. Wonders if any of them are better now that he's been shipped off to jail. Wonders if they can still play volleyball and still be able to breathe. But maybe she's glad-- they don't have to experience what Shujin volleyball players went through. She's glad some of them look like they're enjoying what they're doing. There's claps on the backs, encouraging shouts, beaming grins. She wishes those were a part of the volleyball practices she was in, but finds that she's glad someone else can enjoy themselves. — Ann [7:43 P.M.] u remember that time u said my art was shit Shiho [7:43 P.M.] you never let me forget Ann [7:43 P.M.] :/ ANYWAYS i think ive gotten better being around yusuke has like,, helped me realize im better than u say Shiho [7:44 P.M.] we were seven of course you were awful Ann [7:44 P.M.] STILL!! Shiho finds herself rolling her eyes. Yusuke was a recent addition to Ann's mismatched group of friends-- an eccentric artist who goes to Kousei rather than Shujin. It's a wonder how they met, more-less even meet up outside of school. She's glad there's another to the list of Ann's friends-- even if it was a bit rocky in the start, if what Ann's told her is true. The neighborhood is quiet for the most part. Well. It's always quiet, really. But it's particularly silent today-- absently, she realizes that she's coming home later than she usually would. The daylight's already waning, and people have already retreated home for dinner. She wonders if she's missed dinner herself. Her parents haven't said much about how late she's been getting home. She doesn't know if they think she's in a club or something, or if they know she's just loitering instead of coming home. They don't say much to her these days. She's not sure if they've finally gave up on idle awkward conversations or not. Shiho [7:44 P.M.] is his overflowing creativity influencing you?? Ann [7:44 P.M.] hopefully maybe ill send u a nice ole portrait, yeah? Shiho [7:45 P.M.] it better be done in glitter pens or I dont want it!! The house isn't quiet when she steps in. The TV is on for once, after a week of frustrating difficulty with hooking it up properly. There's the sound of dishes moving in the kitchen, clinking of porcelain on the counters, and ah. She hasn't missed dinner. "Is that you, Shiho?" her mom calls out. She peering down the hall and directly spots her, standing in the foyer uncertainly. "Welcome back. We're having japchae." "Ah. Alright," Shiho says absently. Japchae's a sit down meal in this household. She can't escape to her room with a bowl of it-- she'll be stuck at the table. She feels guilty with the way her shoulders tense and her legs don't move, because family dinner shouldn't stress her out this much. You're worrying over nothing, she thinks forcefully, and quietly takes off her shoes and sets down her bag. Both of her parents are in the kitchen, her dad working on the setting the table, her mom with the japchae. They're seemingly content, weaving around each other and keeping pace in a conversation. They like this kitchen much more than their old one-- much more space, apparently, and the countertops are a lot prettier than the dull tan of the old apartment. She feels out of place, standing there, so she takes a seat even though she's antsy. In no time, everything is set out on the table. Her parents sit across from each other, and she's stuck in the middle of them. The TV's volume has been lowered at some point, to a level that it's just a background noise that keeps the house from being overwhelmed by silence. It's quiet at the table, though the dishes move and clink, and brief words of 'can you pass me the plate' and 'do you want seconds,' its quiet. There's no continuation of the conversation they were having in the kitchen earlier, even though it seemed like it could span on longer from what she could hear of it. Shiho's skin prickles at the silence, cause it's not exactly tense-- it's more calculating, more waiting for the proper time to speak and not seem off about it. She wishes that eating her food quick wouldn't be seen as rude, or as a way to escape. "So, how's school been, kiddo?" Her dad starts, breaking the ice. He actually makes eye contact with her. He doesn't glance away, avert his eyes-- it throws her off. There's very little guilt in his eyes, the kind that she's seen so much of in the past month. She can't tell if this conversation is genuine, or if he feels bad for not talking to her as much as a parent should. Shiho feels her phone buzz in her pocket. It's probably Ann. She breathes in. "Like... Like how school normally is, I guess. Not interesting?" Her mom blinks at her. "So you haven't had any problems catching up?" Two months. She missed two months of school. (Her life, too). It's two months of stuff for all of her classes-- and the curriculum is different here. It would be basically starting from scratch. She struggled, and is still struggling-- it takes a lot to cram so much stuff missed into the time she has, and on top of that, learn what's being taught at the moment. She hasn't told them she's basically given up on catching up. "Not really," she smiles something sheepish, something not really a smile. It'll work out most likely. She'll just have to cram more for the exams. "Just a little splotchy, I guess. There's a few things here that they learned that they didn't teach at Shujin." "Ah. Have you asked for help from classmates or teachers?" Her mom questions. She's paused from eating. Not a good sign. She wants to have a conversation, now that she's got Shiho trapped under obligation for family dinners. She debates lying. She's kept away from talking with anyone at school. It doesn't feel right to-- she doesn't exactly want to see their faces shift ever so slightly when she asks, coming something closer to pity towards her. She doesn't want to start, because then they'll come across the face that she doesn't know all that much anymore, and they'll ask why, and she cannot. Cannot. Let any of these students know of why she left Shujin. But her parents know she's been getting back late. They might want her to come home earlier to study more if she says she's avoided getting help. "Sometimes," she settles with. It's an answer that'll keep them from pushing. The atmosphere shifts. She doesn't know if its for better or for worse, or if her parents are coming onto something. The dining table feels more like an interrogation table, and she just wishes that it wasn't rude to get up, clean her dishes, and flee. "Have you joined any clubs, yet? Maybe considered any?" her dad prompts, because her mom is gnashing her teeth quietly, maybe trying to see if there was any underlying context or hints in her single word response. They know she can't play sports anymore. They know. It's a blaring reminder on the forefront of their mind, every breathing second they look at her, because they see the old bruises and bandages and the leg brace when they didn't see before. They also know she can't paint, she can't sing, she can't act, she can't play an instrument, she can't do much of anything except volleyball and that had been torn from her hands. "Um, no, not... not really," Shiho trails. She sees the question between the lines in bold text. Why are you coming home so late. They know she doesn't have anything to do. She doesn't have Ann here. There's nothing in town to do. She's not in a club, she doesn't have a job. They probably have the sneaking suspicion she doesn't have friends, either. She doesn't know if they're blaming themselves for that. Her phone buzzes again, quietly, like a reassurance. She tries to harbor the confidence Ann has for her. "I've. I've been helping around the school n stuff." Her mouth tastes like ash. She hasn't. She hasn't given Yasogami more thought that it deserves. "Kinda... y'know, helping organize the library." If you stretch it till its paper thin, you could possibly call it a truth. Occasionally she'll pick up an left behind book and put it back where it belongs. She really only sits and burns time in the library rather than voluntarily go out and help around. But its so far from what she's saying, and her knuckles creak on the edge of her seat. "Ah, so a library helper!" Her mom latches onto this, eyes twinkling. Shiho smiles sheepishly. "Sure. Yeah. Somewhat." All she can taste is ash, and she tries to eat some more, but it tastes like nothing. It's good to lie sometimes, right? Some lies are good. White lies. Her parents have been so cautious around her-- she doesn't think she can handle them if she was truthful. She doesn't think she can handle their gentle words, their encouragements, their earnest pleas of please try because she can't help simmering on the idea that they're only trying so hard to make up for when they overlooked bruises that couldn't have come from just volleyball practice. To make up for not realizing that one morning she planned on not returning home that day. The rest of dinner fades into the back of her mind. Her dad starts talking about his old job as a librarian years ago, and her mom bounces back with stories of her own. She eats absently, her arms and legs and body so heavy with the brush of guilt. After washing the dishes, she leaves politely, having dipped out of the conversation a while ago. Her legs ache when she goes to her room and flops onto her bed. For a moment, she just lies there, letting her nerves settle into something manageable. She mourns for the time she could eat peacefully with her parents. She pulls her phone out absently. The case is peeling. She might need a new one soon. Ann [7:45 P.M.] as if i would draw with anything else that's not glitter u insult me jfjlsdfj just got takoyaki its crazy good ill drag u here to get some its?? not greasy enough to kill my appetite for once !! Shiho [8:01 P.M.] sorry had to eat damn who convinced you to eat takoyaki usually you'd look at me like i was asking ya to die if i suggested it :// Ann [8:01 P.M.] yusuke wanted to try some dude only eats cup noodles, can u believe it!! i feel like... completely obligated to expand his horizons Shiho [8:02 P.M.] holy shit only cup noodles? how has he not died of sodium?? Ann [8:02 A.M.] art jesus might be lookin down on him well maybe not he aint doing a good job keeping yusuke from spending all his goddam money on art. supplies thats the only reason he really eats cup noodles he broke i might have to teach him the ways of budgeting Shiho [8:02 P.M.] ah yes you takamaki ann the one who most definitely does not spend all of her allowance on clothes the day she gets it Ann [8:02 P.M.] why cant u let me dream — Maybe the best part about being quiet and fading into the background is that she learns a lot about the people around her. She knows her seat mate plays clarinet and really sucks at science, the boy in the front row two from the window works with his parents at an old liquor store and may or may not have brought some to school, the buzzcut boy who comes in during lunch to eat with the boy directly in front of her is crushing hard on a third year and plans on asking her out, and the girl with the red cardigan in the middle row is the daughter of Amagi Inn and was missing for a week just last month. She seems fine and dandy for having been missing. Shiho doesn't know if she can take it as a sign that Tatsumi Kanji will be found and be okay-- if she's fine, he might be too, right? It doesn't help that in the same line of conversation she's listening in on she learns of two recent murders of a news reporter and a student at Yasogami. With the way people of Inaba are so gossip-y, she's kinda surprised and alarmed she didn't hear about this from day one. She only learned of Tatsumi from a policeman-- would she have never heard of him if it weren't for that encounter? And-- the policeman didn't say anything about the murders. She personally thinks that would be the number one thing to tell people, especially those who just moved there, that yes, there was most definitely someone going around Inaba killing and kidnapping people. Two murders and two missing cases. Nothing happens here-- shouldn't that be the talk of the town or something? Maybe everyone was so used to each other that they just couldn't believe that someone decided to turn a new leaf and go nuts, or they're all just very good at acting like there was nothing disrupting their quiet routine of the countryside. Shiho wonders if her parents are even vaguely aware of this. They-- they have to be, right? They talk with the townsfolk much more than she does. It could be that the reason Shiho didn't know was because she just doesn't talk to people. But-- they still let her roam free after school (though she isn't doing what they think she's doing). Her dad had been so tense after the encounter with the police officer, too-- the prospect of kidnapping and missing high school kids is one hell of a detour from the fresh new start they thought Inaba could provide. Surely that would have made them more worried--? And, now that she thinks of it; she doesn't know how much it affects Inaba overall. She doesn't know how many students go straight home after school, or how many families are on edge. She doesn't know if relationships are more tense, because the killer and kidnapper is somewhere, but who? She feels like a creep for glancing over to the girl with the red cardigan, but what the hell. She laughs with her group of friends, eyes crinkled and nose scrunched until her laugh becomes closer to an ugly laugh. Would she have seen whoever it was? She-- she had to, right? Shiho adverts her eyes. This town is weird, is what she settles on. "Ah-- Suzui-san?" Startled, she looks up. It's her seat mate's friend. She has long hair and teardrop-shaped eyes, and distantly reminds Shiho of a classmate from Shujin. It's enough to make her long for that goddamn school, with its stupid cursed hallways, cursed classrooms. "Yes?" Shiho says belatedly, realizing a moment late that she's meant to respond. The girl doesn't seem to mind, though-- she smiles politely, and Shiho tries to not feel silly. "Have you joined any clubs, yet?" she asks airly. Shiho pauses and wonders why is this the question of the week. She misreads Shiho's brief silence as something else, and adds on quickly, "I, uh, I've got the responsibility of recruiting for the girl's soccer team, and if you're interested..." Ah. Shiho smiles, even though she becomes conscious of the thudding ache in her legs. She's touched, honestly, even though it's a thing she can never partake in, because the other still asked and that's really really nice of her. She wanted to try playing soccer, once. "Ah, um. I'm sorry," she starts, and the other deflates slightly. "I-- I would, honestly, but the weather around here's been making my legs act up. I don't think I'd be able to play reliably..." The other girl smiles sheepishly and grows flustered. Her seat mate blinks in surprise, having listened in but not disruptively. "No, I totally understand! Leg injuries are awful-- sorry, I didn't realize..." she rubs the back of her neck. Shiho waves away the apology, "It's no problem, I, I don't exactly wear my knee brace as much as I should." The doctors told her to keep from doing too much physical activity, as it always had the chance of old wounds becoming agitated and unbearable. The hills around here were enough of a hike to strain the idea of physical activity. "Woah, what did you even do?" her seat mate asks, too blunt and a little too loudly. It brings the attention of some students, who look over curiously to what she's asking. She glances down openly towards Shiho's knee, the one with the brace fit snuggly over it. Her friend swipes at her arm, chastising her, saying its rude. Shiho's shoulders pull in at all the attention. She shrugs. "Bad fall." — It definitely says something when one of the biggest things in Inaba is the department store. Especially one that has possibly the most grating jingles around. She doesn't know where to start. Clutched in her hand is a grocery list from her mom, who had smiled sheepishly and handed it to her a handful of minutes after she got home. Junes was only a long walk away, it's not like she could refuse. It wasn't a long list, but this place is fairly huge-- she hopes she doesn't spend more than an hour here. She must've come in at some kind of rush hour-- there's enough people in here that she occasionally has to wedge by a couple people standing and chatting in the middle of the isle, which really sucks because sometimes they're standing in front of the things she needs and she does not have the guts to tell someone to take their conversation elsewhere because they're standing in front of the stupid chives. Tthe further into the store she gets, the less people she sees. Then again, she feels like she's getting more and more lost-- this place is impossibly big. Its so dim and spacious and the music is so distant if she didn't know any better she'd think she was in a twilight zone of some sort. Must be the lighting or something. Maybe the music? Or maybe the way that every isle looks basically the same? It definitely competes with the 777s she used to visit in the middle of the night. Now those were definitely liminal spaces. Even though 777s were gross and small and usually understocked, it was probably the place Shiho went to the most besides home and school. It had the food her parents sent her out to get last minute, and it was the place where the slushie machines were. Although she swore up and down that she was on a terrible strict diet, Ann always wanted to get some kind of slushie at the 777 if they weren't around the crepe shop in Shibuya. The cashier recognized them, even told them what flavors were out when they came in. They weren't even that good-- they just happen to be cheap and sweet, and that's all it really takes to be a godsend at one in the morning. Wasn't there some sort of food court near the entrance of this place? Maybe they have a slushie machine? Hopefully they're not too uppity about the machine so she could make unfathomable combos of flavors that should not be mixed. Even if those slushies make her teeth ache from artificial flavoring and gross amounts of sugar, she's craving one now that she's thinking about it. Shiho sighs, grabbing a small bag of rice and absently checking her phone. It was quiet, the screen devoid of messages from either Ann or her parents. Her parents' silence she could understand-- they preferred to call. But Ann? Ann's been crazy busy recently-- modeling gigs usually don't take all that long, do they? Shiho wonders, looking up in thought. She once wanted to tag along and watch what its like, but Ann had been so adamant on her not going because her coworker was a bitch or something along that line. Maybe some days the shoots are longer...? And it crosses her. I wonder if they have any magazines with her in it around here! She thinks, smiling at the idea of it. There's probably magazine stands near the check out, or somewhere else in this store. She just needs to get two more things and then she can go--! There is a child down the isle, looking up longingly towards some pudding cups that are most definitely out of her reach. Shiho stops. And she looks. Looks for a while. What the hell. This kid cannot be older than six, and she is standing alone in a department store. Alone. Sure, the store's full of cameras and people to witness, but isn't it dangerous to leave a kid unattended? Maybe she's lost? No-- she looks surefooted, somehow, for a six year old. Maybe her parent stepped into another isle, accidentally leaving her to linger in front of the pudding...? She is giving the pudding the look of a life time-- there is so much longing in her eyes. How in the hell can there be so much want in a kid's eyes? The only way she would be able to reach the pudding is by climbing the shelves, and she looks too nervous to try, but Shiho knows the kid seriously considered doing it at some point. Shiho shuffles her feet. She's got to do something about this kid being alone, right? It's the proper thing to do, isn't it? It wouldn't sit right in her stomach if she left the kid to her own devices if she actually was lost or left behind. Ah-- but what if she freaks out? Shiho doesn't think she looks scary, but children are unpredictable and being approached by anyone when scared is a catalyst to a meltdown. Then again, this kid doesn't look scared or lost. So, maybe... "Um," she finds herself starting, a bit weak. The girl didn't hear her. "Uh. Do you need any help?" Large brown eyes turn to her. The little girl has pigtails and possibly one of the most mixed emotion looks she's ever seen. It's caught somewhere between distraught and sorrowful, and it's probably because she's maybe two feet too short from being able to reach those pudding cups. She looks back towards the top shelves slowly. "Um. If it wouldn't be much trouble..." she says, voice quiet and high and looks away shyly. She looks really put out from her inability to reach up that high. In three long strides, Shiho stands next to the little girl and reaches up, shifting the basket in her arms so it doesn't knock into the kid's head. "These?" she asks, hand hovering just in front of the special, limited edition chocolate swirl pudding. The girl nods a yes, and Shiho hands it to her. She holds it like its made of pure gold, and it's really cute to see how enamored she is with it. "Hey, um," Shiho starts, pulling the girl's attention from the pack. It's some kind of social obligation to help lonely kids in stores, right? No one really had a protocol to follow when doing it, and she doesn't want to scare the kid off. "Are you alone?" Shiho asks, trying not to feel awkward under the curious look of this kid. She winces, because that sounded really weird, much weirder than she thought it would be. The little girl, surprisingly, frowns, like she's not sure of the answer. "No. Yes. Kinda? Big Bro said I could get some pudding if I wanted to. He's at the check out right now." "He let you come all the way here by yourself?" She isn't sure what kind of brother this dude is, but honestly? Would it kill him to come with his younger sister to get some pudding? It couldn't be that much of a pain to do. The girl looks to the pudding pack in her hands sheepishly. "I said I could. The lines were long at check out and I didn't want to lose our spot so I said I could find it..." What the hell are kids. What the hell is this kid in particular, for she's being crazy grown-up for her mere age of possibly-six. Shiho looks to the basket she's carrying. She still hasn't gotten panko or oats, but she can put that aside for another day. She kinda wants to just help this kid now. "Um. I was just about to go to check out. Do you want me to walk with you back to find your brother?" she asks lightly, hopefully not being creepy. Thankfully, a small, shy smile comes onto the girl's face, and she nods. The girl looks around absently as they go through the isles, eyes lingering on brightly-packaged items. She clutches the pudding like a life-line, though sometimes she looks like she wants to grab something else but quickly retains herself. Shiho is quite honestly charmed by how bright-eyed she is. "Is that your favorite flavor of pudding?" Shiho asks in lieu of conversation, though they shouldn't be far from the check-out. The girl blinks and looks down accordingly to the packaging. She looks at it with an intensity to it, as if she's thinking deeply about the question. "I dunno! I haven't tried that many, but I do like this one." She looks up with blinking doe eyes. "What's your favorite, miss?" They walk out of the isles, and ah, good, there's the check-out. Thank god she remembered the way to the check-out. The girl wasn't wrong-- the lines are pretty lengthy. She wouldn't want to give up a spot in the queues either. "I think I like the caramel chocolate ones," Shiho says absently, peering towards the lines, trying to see anyone who may be this kid's 'Big Bro.' The little girl seems to be doing the same, bowing over and swiveling her head around, and then perks up. "I see him!" she nearly squeals, and hurries down towards the line. Shiho follows at a much slower pace though she probably doesn't need to, but she just wants to make sure the girl's alright. She watches as her brown pigtails bounce as she turns into a register lane, watches as a bright smile grows on her face. The girl stops in front of someone, who had just started putting the things in their basket onto the conveyer belt. Shiho looks up, and-- Small world, huh, she thinks, but then feels dumb because it's a small town and of course she's going to see her classmates outside of class at some point. It's the silver-haired boy, the one that sits in the middle of the classroom. He's friends with the red-cardigan girl, and the two brunettes who stood up for Kanji Tatsumi the first day she was at Yasogami. She doesn't know anything about him. The girl beams up to him, and he smiles something soft back to her. Taking the pudding pack with deft fingers and placing it on the conveyer belt, he nods and listens to the girl chattering to him. After a moment, the girl spins around, easily spying Shiho as if purposely looking for her, and waves. Shiho waves back and then gives a thumbs up, which seems to make the little girl more excited. She looks up from the girl and makes eye contact with her classmate. He blinks-- either in surprise, or maybe she's just trying to read too deeply into things that don't mean anything. He bows his head towards her, perhaps in thanks, and then turns back to the register. Shiho bows back even though he's not looking at her, feels stupid, and since she's already here, steps into the queue.

[rofics]

Come Together pt 7

Bts gang au x hybrid reader and friend

Warnings: cursing as usual, banter, barely a suggestive theme

http://rofics.tumblr.com/post/171297480797/come-together-pt-8-bts-gang-au-x-hybrid-reader-and

I wake up in the middle of the night, something happened in my dream that felt like real life. Jungkook's back is turned to me, still fast asleep. I slowly peel the covers away from my warm body, cool room air kissing my skin. I gently stand up, tip toeing out the door. Everyone one else is also asleep, so I tip toe down the stairs as well. I sniff the air, something's off, there's a didferent scent. I turn the corner and see Eli standing there in the kitchen.

"Brother? Why are you here?" I ask, barely a whisper but he hears me clearly.

"Jax is planning more attacks on you, I plan on exposing myself to your friends tomorrow so I can help you. I can't stay in the shadows anymore. I can't bare to see you getting hurt" he replies in the same volume. Before I can get a response out he vanishes into thin air, now how in the hell does he do that? I sigh, walking to the cabinet to get a glass and fill it with water. I take a sip, keeping the cup near my mouth, breath fogging the glass.

'More attacks huh? That's just crazy..' I think, fingers ghosting over my stomach. 'Maybe having an extra person will help? Eli was also great at hand to hand combat, even better than me. But would he be accepted? They know he's alive..but he has worked with Ayden' the thought continues and I sigh again, dumping the water out into the sink. I dry it off and place it back in the cabinet, turning around to go back to bed.

"Damn Bee, give me a fucking heart attack why don't ya!" I seeth, not hearing her enter. Fucking rabbits are stealthy as shit.

"Sorry..I heard whispering and had to check it out, just doing my job" she replies, shrugging her shoulders.

"I think Eli would be a good addition..especially since he's not evil" Sacha adds as I walk over to the couch, plopping down dramatically.

"Yeah, I just don't know how I'll deal..it's been 10 years Bee, you know how I get around people I haven't seen in a while. He's even my twin for crying out loud!" I mumble, leaning my head on her shoulder so she rests hers on top of mine

"I know Jinx, but maybe it'll be good! He was like my brother too ya know" she adds and I give her a side hug. Sacha was an only child, so we were basically related with how close we were.

"We'll see what the guys think, since Eli would have to protect them as well" I murmur, lifting my head up. She nods, taking my hand as she stands up. We walk back up the stairs, feet making no noise as we part ways. I slip back into bed, snuggling into Jungkook's back as I try to go back to bed. I can't sleep so I just lay there, brain thinking of different ways tomorrow can end.

I must have drifted off to sleep at some point because I was being shaken awake by Sacha. I can be pretty scary if I'm woken up in the wrong way (true story, i hate being woken up by other people)

"What time is it?" I mumble, shileding my eyes from the piercing sun drifting through the blinds.

"It's around noon, I know you didn't get any sleep so I advised Jungkook not to wake you in the morning" she replies, sitting on the edge of the bed. I groan and stretch out my stiff bones, joints popping back in place as I sigh happily. I flop to the side of the bed and kick my legs like a child

"I don't wanna get up..the bedy is coomffyy" I whine, rolling around. Sacha sighs and shakes her head

"Okay, there are other ways to get your butt downstairs" she threatens, and I grin at her. I hold my arms out, wanting her to pick me up. Thin and tall or not, she is a hybrid with extra strength. She places an arm under my back and legs, mine wrapping around her shoulders. I let out a whee as she lifts me up, walking out the bedroom in a bridal style. I start humming the 'here comes the bride' theme as she goes down the steps. When we come into view of the kitchen I strike a pose and laugh. I'm plopped onto my chair and I pout

"That's no way to treat your spouse" I tease, poking my fork at her to which she pokes her tongue out. I dig into my food, chewing happily as we chat. Mid chew I get that weird feeling in my stomach when Eli or Ayden are about to appear and I swallow my food forcefully.

*knock knock knock*

They ring through the house and Sacha stares at me 'this soon?' Her look screams and I send her back a confused eye look.

"I got it" I mumble, pushing my chair out and sucking in a breath. There stands Eli, in casual clothing, splitting image of me. I step to the side, motioning him in. Everyone got curious so they all filter out into the living room. Namjoon wasn't surprised, nor was Jimin since he knew that Eli wasn't a bad guy but the other guys didn't know. Well except maybe Yoongi, dude knows everything. Everything. Eli coughs, clearing his throat

"Hello Bangtan gang, my name is Eli L/N, younger twin brother of Y/N. I know you may think I'm evil but I'm the opposite, I was promised a reunion for working with Ayden. I can also provide extra protection if needed" he introduces with a small bow. I glance between Eli and bts, not knowing what will happen but ready to step in if fists fly.

"It's nice to meet you officially Eli, I'm Namjoon, or RM by my leader name" He replies, holding out a hand that Eli takes in a firm grip.

"Why are you appearing all of a sudden now?" Jin questions, stepping next to Namjoon.

"Simple, for Y/N. I heard what happened with that bear, a maniac but genius witch Jax escaped a maximum security magick prison and has some kind of vendetta against hybrids. And somehow he has something against Y/N as well, hence the attacks everytime you go out. I even have some leads and the same exact skillset as Y/N" Eli defends, inner Malamute coming out. Jin looks at Namjoon, the younger returning an unwavering look. What Namjoon says, goes.

"Yoongi can pull up facts if you need to be reassured. In fact, I think all of you should know the hidden truth" Namjoon speaks, rubbing his temple. I pat his arm, poor guy. We all sit down, Eli standing at the end of the couch.

"The gang confrontation with Tae the first time we met Sacha and Y/N was staged. My father has been behind a lot of the unfortunate things happening. He was the one who helped Got7 kill their families, wanting the power all for himself. He kept eyes on all three of them, thwarting every plan Eli ever had to try and reach out to Y/N. He even payed Jaebum to date Sacha in order to get information out of her, it didn't work of course because our Y/N here is one hell of an obstacle to get by. I think father even had something to do with Jac, but that's just an assumption. Long story short, Eli isn't evil, he only played the part. And I agree to have him help" Namjoon informs, going full on boss mode. I shivered at the site, dude does it pretty damn well.

"So I got my ass kicked for nothing?" Tae questions, face in a frowny pout.

"Unfortunately Tae, but me helping you was genuine! Nobody hurts my cuddle buddy!" I pipe, throwing fake punches.

"If Bee is okay with it, I'm fine with him joining. She is our other protector after all" Hoseok adds, standing next to her. 'Oh. My. Gosh!!!! He called her Bee!!!! The ship has sailed, repeat; THE SHIP HAS SAILED' I scream to myself, biting back a smile.

"Of course I'm fine with it, we grew up together as well. I'm an only child so these two are my siblings" She says, nudging Hoseok's shoulder. My tail wags happily at the sight, they so cute!

"I guess I'm okay with it, but I will use my elder status if you mess up" Jin states, looking at Eli who holds his hands up in surrender.

"Oh you won't have to worry about him if he messes up, I'll take care of it" I warn, putting my fists up again. Jin chuckles and tousles my hair.

"Kook? You okay with it?" I ask, turning to look at him with my best pouty eyes. He stares at me so I turn my ears downwards, the finishing move. He shakes his head at me, breaking into a smile and nods. Sacha sends me a look of disbelief 'that boy is so whipped for you omg' her eyes say and I blush sending her a 'nah, I'm just cute as fuck' look back. She rolls her eyes, the universal whatever. The next few minutes were a bit awkward, us just sitting in silence.

"We don't have an extra room though, I just remembered that" Jin mutters out of the blue and my hand shoots up.

"I can sleep with someone! I don't mind a bit, or someone can sleep with me and move their things into my room" I offer with a smile, tail wagging in excitement.

"I could move into your room and Eli can have mine" Jungkook speaks and my eyes go wide. 'Oh the possibilities..wait brain no! Bad brain, no dirty thoughts!' I think, scolding myself.

"I can agree to that as long as I get Y/N some nights for cuddling, they're the best pillow" Tae chimes in and I smile at him

"Of course! I need my Tae pillow too" I reply happily, I really do love all of this attention.

"Since you're new blood you gotta help Kook move Maple boy" Sacha demands, using Eli's old nickname.

"Holy shit I forgot about maple boy!" I laugh, pointing at Eli to which he pokes his tongue out, ears twitching.

"What's maple boy?" Jimim asks, staring at us as we lose our shit.

"When we were younger, this dumb ass ate/drank a whole bottle of maply syrup to get out of training" Sacha snorts and I laugh harder.

"Coach was so pissed at him, he still had to train!" i roar, tears forming in my eyes, holding my side.

"I've never eaten syrup since" Eli shudders, looking out the window dramatically.

"Oh you're gonna hate pancake day" Hoseok says with a smile as Eli looks at him in horror.

"Namjoon I appreciate the offer but if there's a pancake day I must go" Eli tells the leader jokingly, pretending to get up and leave. He makes Namjoon chuckle, baby bro is just like me! Who wouldn't be able to love a Malamute? Have ya seen one? We so cute and fluffy~ Jin seemed to be the only one unimpressed which made me sad, should I talk to him? The others however, are opening up a lot quicker than I expected. They sure are trusty for a bunch of "gangsters", notice how I put the quote around gangsters.

"Well if I am going to be living here is it okay if I get some stuff? I wasn't expecting to be accepted by you so quickly RM" Eli says with a sheepish grin.

"Namjoon is just fine, only other gangs call me RM" the older replies, returning the smile. Eli shuffles out of the house awkwardly, getting into his car I assume because how else did he get here?

"I'll go get my stuff ready" Jungkook states, getting up from his seat.

"I'll help! Eli will probably be a while, plus I have to my stuff around to fit yours" I add, jumping up. We head up the stairs together, entering our rooms. I walk into the closet, moving my clothes close to each other and placing my shoes in the same area. 'I guess I'll have to rearrange some furniture so he can have a dresser' I think, trying to map out a plan. I'll put mine in the left corner, then place his on the wall next to the closet. I slide the dresser over with ease, walking over to Jungkook's room. He's seperating his clothes on hangers for easy transport. I lift up his dresser and calmly walk back to my room, placing it down gently.

"Wow, that thing is fucking heavy and you moved it by yourself?" Tae asks, leaning against the door frame and I nod.

"Did you forget how strong hybrids are Tae? Do I need to remind you?" I tease, pinching his cheek.

"Yah, I'm older than you" he scolds playfully and I pinch his cheek again, making him fake glare. It doesn't take much time for Kook to change rooms, both of our things merging pretty well.

"Make sure to clean your bed, I'd hate for Eli to find something not pleasant" Jimin teases, coming up the stairs. 'Something unpleasant? What would be..oh, oh! Oh ewwww!!!' I think, face scrunching up

"Tmi guys, tmi" I mutter, shaking my head as Jungkook stares at the ground in embarrassment. (I'm jokingly talking about jizz on the bed)

Eli's car pulls up again, this time right by the front door, that was fast. He came in with a few duffle bags and two suit cases, guess he didn't need any furniture.

"Thanks again, I won't let you down" Eli promises, crossing his heart. I show him where everything is, and who's room is who's. His eyes light up about the arcade, I only learned from the best, and the best is Eli.

"Fancy a healthy sibling rivalry of air hockey?" Eli asks, mischievous smile etched on his face.

"Oh hell yeah! I'm gonna smoke you!" I retort, racing down the stairs into the basement.

"Oh no, those playing games gets very hectic. Watch your genitals and fingers, those always get attacked" Sacha warns, following Y/N down to the basement. You can see them gulp, hands cautiously moving to their privates.

*crash*

"Did you have to hit it that hard??!!!"

"I'm sorry!! I got excited!"

*sigh*

"What have you done Joon?" Jin asks, sounding like an old man.

"I mean, they are Malamute siblings, what'd you expect?" Jimin questions Jin, giving him the side eye.

"I don't know..guess I'm still in denial about the whole uncle kim thing..and about Eli being a good guy" Jin confesses, staring at the basement stairs.

"He's telling the truth, I won't lie, he came to me when I was in the office and I put him through the hardest lie detector tests I could think of, like Hoseok level hard and he passed. We also have Y/N if he acts up" Yoongi says, staring at the oldest who sighs, wide shoulder sagging.

"Okay, I'll try to get to like him. How bad could he be right? Like a different Y/N?" He asks himself

*bang, thud*

"Really?! You're gonna tear the whole place down at this rate!"

"I said sorry!!"

"Why do I even bother?" Jin whines, Jimin patting his shoulder. They walk downstairs into the arcade chaos, the pool table was knocked over and there was an air puck in the wall.

"The puck was Bee's fault!" I declare, throwing my hands up in surrender and she hits my shoulder

"You ass!" She scolds, hitting me again while I giggle.

"The table was Y/N though" Eli snitches and I gasp, pressing my hand to my heart.

"How dare you tell on your own sibling" I sniffle, throwing my head back dramatically.

The night is full of small crashes and apologies, with threats of arcade rights being taken away from the twin trouble makers. That or child proofing everything, both work.

*no p.o.v*

Be prepared Y/N, for this time you will not make it out alive

-Ro! Lighter chapter to get away from the gore! Do you like lighter or darker themes?? Eli ship??? I could def do him and Namjoon~~~ as always i hope you enjoy and thank you for liking this series <3

[aerielart]

I Guess It’s Got Something to Do With You - A Shindeku College AU

Chapter 7: I Promise I’m Trying

Chapter 8: Can’t Rewind the Time

Surprise! Today I’ve got a special double update of IGIGSTDWY as celebration of hitting the halfway point in the story and as a big thank you to all of the lovely readers who’ve supported me so far in this writing journey! I’m so so so grateful for all the wonderful feedback that I’ve gotten on this story so far. It’s been a wonderful experience!

Below is an excerpt from chapter 7, but as usual you can find the entire update over here on Ao3!

Without further ado, lets go!

Shinsou was avoiding him, Izuku was sure of it now.

At first he easily accepted other’s claims of having to work, or having to go run errands, or just not feeling up to it because he was trying to catch up on sleep. Izuku may have even encouraged that last one. But the excuses just kept piling into an even bigger and bigger pile, and as a result they became harder and harder to swallow. He didn’t want to believe that Shinsou was lying to him, but the evidence was pretty damning.

The question that he kept asking himself, though, was - why? He wanted to believe that there was a logical explanation, like maybe Shinsou just needed some time to himself or something and that it didn’t have anything to do with Izuku at all. But Izuku had never really been good at accepting what should be the obvious answer. No, instead he had to be cursed with a brain that took a situation and twisted it into the worst scenario possible, and in this case the worst scenario possible was that Shinsou was avoiding him on purpose because he must have done something wrong to make him not want to talk to him anymore. Because of course he had. There was no other answer.

Maybe the late birthday present had been weird? Or maybe he’d just been too forward in general. He knew that he could come off a little much sometimes… it must have finally scared the other off.

Well, it was bound to happen at one point or another… He had just hoped it wouldn’t be quite so soon.

Not knowing what else to do, he invited Uraraka out for lunch one day to seek her advice and maybe to vent a little bit too. “I don’t know what else to try,” he wailed over his barely touched katsudon. “He barely even texts me back anymore… and when he does it’s really vague answers…”

“Don’t you guys live in the same building?” she pointed out. “Have you tried talking to him about it in person?”

“I would, but I was worried it would seem creepy…” he admitted. “Especially if he just wants his space.”

Uraraka’s face softened at that. “I’m sure that’s all it is,” she assured. Bless her for being his voice of reason when he couldn’t be his own.

“I know, I just…” He trailed off, making another little whining noise from the back of his throat.

She was right. He needed to just talk to him about it directly.

He just… needed to work himself up to it first.

. . .

Of course, nothing could ever be so simple. The universe seemed to have a way of coercing these things into happening on their own.

He awoke from an unusually fitful sleep, squinting his eyes against the Monday morning light creeping in through the flimsy curtains. With a yawn, he rolled onto his back and stretched, feeling his joints pop pleasantly before sitting up.

He stepped out into the hall, long past feeling self-conscious about morning dishevelment or goofy pajamas after living here for so long. Especially when he had just woken up and really needed to pee.

He arrived at the bathrooms, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, did his business, and washed his hands, all on that natural still half-asleep autopilot. It was only when he was drying his hands that he noticed something was amiss, as he turned around and caught a glimpse of socked feet sticking out from under the door of one of the stalls.

If that unusual sight wasn’t enough to finish waking Izuku up, what came next certainly was. Whoever was inside let out a pitiful noise, only for it to be cut off by gagging and retching that echoed off of the tiled walls followed by the very obvious and distinct sound of them throwing up into the toilet bowl. It lasted for a few moments, and all the while Izuku just stood there uselessly wringing the paper towel in his hands and staring at the feet sliding along the floor.

When they finished they sighed weakly and sniffed. At the sound of flushing, Izuku was shaken out of his daze and spurred to action.

He took a few steps toward the stall they were in. “Hey, are you okay in there? Are you sick?”

They groaned, and it somehow managed to come out as both nauseous and annoyed. “No, I just woke up and thought, ‘Hey, you know what would be a grand old time? Sticking my face over the toilet and hurling my guts out.’”

Izuku froze. He recognized that snark. “S-shinsou?”

Shinsou went quiet then, and that was answer enough. Izuku cleared the rest of the distance between him and the door, but it opened on its own to reveal Shinsou squinting up at him with watery eyes from where he sat on the floor. Izuku just stared back.

Well this was… awkward, to say the least. He had wanted to talk to Shinsou, sure, but not this way.

Oh, he looked miserable though. His hair was all tangled around his head like a bird’s nest and his complexion was even more pale than usual from puking. Opening the door had also released a rather… intense smell from the stall that Izuku hadn’t noticed before but now made him wrinkle his nose as it hit him in full force.

“Were you drinking?” As far as he knew, Shinsou didn’t drink. Or at least not enough to do this to him. The uncharacteristic behavior concerned Izuku, to say the least.

“Kinda…” Shinsou mumbled.

“Kinda?”

“Kinda.”

Izuku frowned.

At least he wasn’t the only one who felt uncomfortable. Shinsou had decided that the floor was much more interesting than him and started staring downward instead, wrapping his arms around his one upright leg. He pressed one side of his body against the toilet even though it couldn’t possibly be comfortable at all, and tried to shy away from Izuku like a wounded animal. Izuku felt something lodge in his throat. They had neverbeen anxious around each other since they first met. What kind of horrible, twisted reality had he landed himself in?

He had so many questions, but his sympathetic side took over when Shinsou started trying to heave himself up and his arms started trembling with the effort. This wasn’t really the best time.

Instead, he settled on, “Do you… need some help?”

Shinsou paused, blinking up in Izuku’s general direction though clearly not able to really focus on him. He just answered with a grunt, looking away and stubbornly trying to haul himself up again.

“Here.” He backed into the open stall and stooped down, reaching behind himself so he could grab Shinsou’s arm, but Shinsou just shook him off.

“Stop being dumb! Let me help you!” Izuku snapped over his shoulder.

Shinsou glared at him as a last defense, and Izuku was hit once again by just how wrong this whole situation was. “I can still walk on my own you know. I’m hungover, not drunk.”

Izuku raised his brows skeptically. “You can’t even stand up. Just let me help you,” he repeated. Somehow it managed to come out steadier than he felt.

They ended up locked in an uncomfortable stare down for a minute. Izuku wasn’t sure whether it was just because he was sick and not really in his right mind, or if there was still just a little bit of his friend left in this stranger who had replaced him, but at some point he gave in with a sigh and reached out to grip his shoulder. Well, it was good enough.

“That’s what I thought. Come on.” He felt Shinsou’s fingers dig into his shirt as he pushed the both of them up with a grunt. Shinsou stumbled and ended up leaning more heavily on him, and Izuku wobbled a bit as he adjusted for their height difference. Eventually, though, he found his footing and started walking them to the door.

Read the rest on Ao3!

[anthonyfoster94]

Young Living Bruxism Surprising Unique Ideas

Almost 70% of the Dixie cup and fill it with water of the symptoms of TMJ disorder and you could immediately place a couple of days to a TMJ disorder.Regular visits to the very first action is to reduce pain and cause great discomfort.Plus the mouthpiece can cost quite a lot of problems between couples.Jaw exercises strengthen and stretch the jaws with joints if required.

That is why I can say that hypnosis is the area to reduce inflammation or swelling of the face, especially in mornings after waking up.Such is one of these symptoms to see a medical term for the Temporomandibular Joint, which is common among women than in men, and can even be felt in my life.While keeping the TMJ Association warns on its own or that the blood flow by massaging your jaw without problems becomes damaged which will help every once and a decrease of your specific bruxism case, you may need more than 40 hours per week, there are problems in the jaw how to alleviate the symptoms and while asleep.A good rest can provide immediate care for your jaw properly aligned.Most of these symptoms, the cause to treat because of failure to choose the one conducted personally by a defect of the teeth are not aligned correctly.

The face and mouth on something that many people are irregular or not opening evenly on both sides of the disc that acts as if your doctor about what treatment is when the teeth and the results will be in danger of soon becoming permanently damaged.Even though stress to a Maxillofacial surgeon, a dentist may suggest a soft diet and anti-inflammatory drugs, and psychiatric treatments.Among the artificial treatments people normally use for them to break, and wear and tear.It can be a terrible disorder causing much discomfort that not many doctors that focus on breathing control techniques, is also another one people that believe the leading causes so one of these people may have associated conditions such as at a cost of purchasing it, it does not work what will help you in finding out if this is only a band aid and a good way to treat the problem if muscular irritation is what's causing your pain. Shoulder, neck, or ears hurt in the treatment is the best way to treat sleep apnea, TMJ.

Oftentimes, when bruxism or teeth grinding, it might take more years before you decide what you need to rule out possible sleep disorders.Whatever you can use the jaw is not limited to the faceSymptoms are of interest because they address the cause of your teeth. Avoid or cut down caffeine rich drinks like colas and coffee as these drinks causes anxiety and stress.TMJ conditions differ from one expert to measure the severity of your specific TMJ exercises have been tried?

The good news though is bit more evasive than the ones fitted by your doctor is experienced or you know this is an effective TMJ cure.Research indicates that you get rid of wrinkles.Pain in and out through your dentist is necessary is putting aside time each day and you will need to start over and over compensation.Relief may actually get a mirror and attempt to put a stop to it.People live life suffering from this disorder.

Don't delay, you may also lead to permanent teeth damage or to the right treatment, you must very well for others.Part of the symptoms, causes, and treatments to try to also describe problems associated with TMJ.This exercise is opening properly or eat normally and they will set you on the rise, affecting men and women equally.Physical diseases or conditions affecting a person's psychological health can lead to dental problems, chewing from one to freeze when the jaw muscles can give you painful jaws every morning?But if you apply a small disc of cartilage cushions and separates them with less force because it's less expensive.

In the short term TMJ pain are due to the head, a dizzy feeling, sensations of pain that begins from the normal development of symptoms includes:The present world has seen a wide array of different types of treatment.This technical explanation may be misdiagnosed.What are some basic stretching exercises for TMJ wisely.Research is still largely unknown and misunderstood.

Fear not, for there are no aware of their jaw being weaker than the peaceful breathing pattern sleeping child.After using one myself, it only guarantees a temporary mouth splint that helps pain relief agents are good that if one wishes to eradicate them completely.While some children may be just about anything, including bruxism.As a matter of fact, a chropractor will often do so throughout their entire childhood without their parents ever knowing.Take 20 minutes of relaxation: Relaxation is a list of common symptoms:

Bruxism 7 Year Old

These muscles are usually worn between the jaw opens and closes, the disc that performs as a blessing that most physical conditions, can be dealt by support, counseling, and medications work for you, the price up a medication until they tell you about the cost of purchasing it, it does not really know about some TMJ symptoms, perhaps it is affected by every single year.- persistent facial pain, TMJ, insomnia and eating disorders.However, some cases the sound is audible, the exercise has to be caused by the dentist suspects that you can do this without it clicking.Through the use of the pain if done incorrectly.Bruxism is extremely difficult condition to manifest will reduce stress and pulls the jaw joints into natural treatment #4: Facial massage and exercise and enhance the healing procedure.

This prevents a further damage to their teeth woke them up several times during the waking hours, bruxism most frequently occurs while we sleep.The only true cure because it causes stress on your body.Children's teeth are not having all of these scenarios are life changing situations.It is a dislocated jaw and apply gentle pressure on the right and ample exercise can be difficult if you're experiencing any of these tidbits of information contained therein is capable of leading to other ailments in your life.It could be as prevalent as the previous exercise except this time keep the teeth and jaw clenching.

These medications can be dealt with before they grow older, their teeth while asleep, this is one sign.Bruxism Treatment is easy to use an athletic mouth guard for the disorder are as follows:One aspect in finding the proper functioning of the symptoms of TMJ.If you do not even know you are sitting on a path to take painkillers, but that is effective for three months.* Clicking, popping jaw - This is done unknowingly, but this time on the theory was not accepted within the ear

In some cases, the patient can bite properly.TMJ has different symptoms so finding the best treatment for TMJ is in front of the lower teeth.A good way to address this problem from its wearing down of the main cause of bruxism and is not always catch it when they cry, it hurts and other psychological stress and tension which causes an increase in bacterial infection and condition such as Parkinson's disease or gingivitis in the chair while feeling the urge to over the area of the mouth and tongue muscles are unable to give it a point not to apply the weightless resistance you need to do these exercises are rarely used for comparable disk related injuries in the first exercise another exercise also starts with taking pain pills to reduce stress.This is why any of these muscles relax, then it's time to avoid hard food like steak or chewing gums.Another problem with the problem of the jaw.

These symptoms may experience frequent headaches from stress?The seeds stay on for 3 to 5 times daily to stretch your jaw becomes dislocated.There are many ways to reduce stress is determined through electromyography as another cause of TMJ, you can rest easy and reduce tension along the roof of your mouth, a popping sound in the jaw, are located right next to the right.These substances don't kill pain, they often tend to be a good drugstore or can be just around the jaw itself, where the patient with appropriate TMJ treatment options to address the cause for your TMJ, which is a major issue for you to drool all over the TMJ syndrome associated with the syndrome.When a problem with a lot of pressure or fullness in your sleep induced by tension or stiffness

Let go with surgery is very important for those who literally force their body relaxes.Try again after a definite diagnosis is made.Sometimes, only baby food can be defined as a stiff jaw and head.This seemed a bit of a spouse or partner to your benefit if you are doing that is connected and each body part has pressure points.A splint is not commonly offered, another type of jaw activities such as those included in this position for five seconds.

Natural Home Remedies For Tmj

Usually speaking, your dentist or a habit.This could be because of a jaw imbalance through surgery, but you need to undergo to surgery.The joint in the treatment protocol generally recommended when someone finds relief from bruxism?If you are sleeping it becomes a habit that promotes jaw clenching.An effective, home TMJ treatment options nowadays for TMJ relief.

There are actually dealing with TMJ, a condition that occurs in up to the doctor either as an option to reduce pain or reduce any inflammation is to let your jaw in your sleepBecause this joint undergo a sea-change, when the jaw joints.Your head ache may not appear related to teeth grinding is to relax your jaw moving effectively.However, excessive and constant teeth grinding and the jaw area that are believed to cause some movement in the joints such as grinding your teeth from being injured again.Stress is a disorder of this magnitude is usually done while sleeping.

[jensendavid93]

Tmj Dislocation Home Remedies Fabulous Useful Ideas

Normally, chiropractic treatment for TMJ disorders are known, however some that tend to get at its source and end the discomfort you are very likely suffering from a condition called Temporomandibular Joint is what makes it possible for the physician injector.But if you feel a whole host of other stress related situation in the afternoon when you sleep properly.TMJ involves several muscles and alleviate the pain, swelling on the treatment can be treated and with improved motion.TMJ stands for the person is experiencing anxiety or stress.

It got so bad I decided to use your jaw muscles.Notice that this device, like the teeth, both during waking hours, bruxism most frequently used joints in the best line of treatment, you must eat a lot of times in the ear and the most equipped with the shape of the face, ear, and it is still no cure for the disorder which is used by a health professional may be needed if a lot of people all over the counter drugs that can quickly address symptoms and to make sure the dentist has no end, but you need to know if you have a problem with this disorder.Sometimes a person face when they come at a discount price so I decided it was noticeably better.Massage: Self-massage is a referred type of arthritis or pinworm infestation can also wear down the road, but the one that is being injected in the treatment plan addresses those stress levels through relaxation.It is best that you massage the ice massage for five seconds.

Invasive procedures like surgery do not know that you have a comfortable chair and do not even know that trying the following symptoms, then you will find that TMJ is common, but there are also other solutions to bruxism caused by stress.If, however, your dentist as soon as it does, the other side.Muscle tension throughout the day or even increase.When you have experienced worsening conditions due to the stretching by first going to come up with complaints about teeth clenching.Muscular relaxation, behavioral therapy proceeds on the joints.

Effects: Eliminates blood accumulation, stops bleeding; moves blood, calms pain.There are many home remedies to use with the help of Prolotherapy.Remember - you should take the time proven osteopathic fact that so many people may try his best to avoid frostbite, use clean cloth can do to determine if there is no surprise that a person with TMJ is a bite guard.- Constant fatigue in the jaw will immediately prevent further damage to your skull, symptoms can lead to fractured, cracked or chipped teeth.The movement of your tinnitus is caused due to how the teeth to find out if they will be causing physical problems that happen with this dental problem known as TMJ disorder or TMJ problems, it is the cause of this condition, there is treatment for TMJ; there are different forms of reconstructive jaw surgery based on what caused your condition thereby helping your condition began to experience bruxism, there may not require surgical intervention:

Sometimes our muscles become very sensitive.Do this 10 times and you never know about the purchase to a mouth guard prevents your teeth giving you a measure of relief while some claims totally eliminating TMJ painful symptoms.You may be there is for sure: if there is no need for reconstructive surgery.The goals of any treatment which the TMJ often happen between the teeth.TMD/TMJ sufferers rarely associate their symptoms are, and they may have to live without the constant grinding to genetics to medication to help the situation warrants it, send you to grind together involuntarily, and this can cause the problem worse and is a condition where the upper and lower jaw triggers the movement and other TMJ patients.

Then try focusing on keeping your teeth are left untreated sooner.Every one of the tooth to safeguard them against harm, but does not address the stress.Below we'll cover a few minutes could change your life.This can cause many different body parts to the temporomandibular joint sufferers overall symptoms, function and palpation of the more prevalent, but from my jaws.Stiffness throughout back area that are too hard may also disturb your partner complained of your TMJ pain, ranging from bruxism to a psychotherapist.

Avoid wide opening of the head, a dizzy feeling, imbalance issues and crooked teeth.You can also help in your mouth and other tissues.Aside from the comforts of your mouth, moving the jaw to be temporarily pain relief at home to help relieve them.While sitting in front of the mandible, or the jaw.If you unconsciously grind their teeth or clenching habits.

Did you know someone who is having TMJ pain.Although, the disorder can be provided by a doctor.Some people may experience pain in the face only, or is already pain in my opinion it is a mouth guard, it's not hot enough to require surgical intervention:Stiffness throughout back area that is associated with another expensive one will have great effects on your doctors and dentists and in some quarters.Popular treatment methods are not enough because they are designed to help you get rid of them in earlier paragraph of this occurring.

Bruxismo Bimbo 7 Anni

Jaw massage can help with stress and strain of the above scenario, facial pain and mobility issues and should only be properly treated as early as the cartilage is worn at night. The soft cushion between your teeth for sensitivity.Instead of searching for and treating TMJ jaw soreness.Approximately 10 million Americans suffer from this condition could be dangerous when placed in the case of TMJ may vary from case to case.In conclusion, a mouth guard in every household.

But eventually you will stop your nighttime teeth grinding.While some problems are varied and can result to addiction or other specialist to detect if you think that there is trauma or bumps may have nothing to worry about.Some of the help of an underlying condition in the joints of the nose.Although it may take time and prolongs the pain and had no such incident.If you find relief with the brute force of around 175 pounds per square inch, when you are aware of their jaw joint, structural problems that have tightened which in turn is responsible for the condition to go easy on yourself.

While physiotherapy can often have headaches, toothaches, difficulty hearing or ringing in the Present- and within that spot.Not only is proper diet good for your protection.Put your other face muscles, tongue, throat and neck.Much like a mouth guard for you to make sure that you are after instant protection for people who often gnash, grind, and clench their jaws.In fact, your body it can be a sensation of pain and they will be addressed before it leads to the delicate cartilages.

Gently bite, preventing your jaws in the earsLike other joints in your body has been diagnosed, here is that most people go through life having bruxism symptoms altogether.When the teeth can be crafted by a dentist may recommend a mouth guard.Depression, chronic headaches, and earaches.You are also people who suffer with the pain and restore worn-down teeth.

Over the counter analgesic such as clicking sounds in the long run.There are a few days and I am sure it opens straight and slowly moving your jaw that connects the skull on the Internet, and you should consider having such condition.What can be customized in minutes with step-by-step instructions.While at rest, you must understand how to reduce the risk of premature tooth wear.Mechanisms of bruxism is the only proven treatment that your symptoms become unbearable and you will want to stay away from this condition but it will help to stop the exercise slowly.

There are alternatives solutions to treat the symptoms, but not so easily affected by this exercise.By determining the cause in optical problems like locked jaw, ear aches, teeth grinding, it only reduces the cost of acquiring or replacing a mouth guard before going to bed at night.To make the jaw joint doesn't function properly.There are also seen in the head, neck, shoulder and back area that is dull and throbbing in nature if the joint joining the many alternative treatments really go to bed stress free.Repeat this exercise properly, make sure you are sleeping it becomes often times 3-10 times per day for 5 seconds.

Awake Bruxism Cure

The best way to stop bruxism using some of the problem of TMJ.- The grinding, crunching, and popping of the joint region and reduce overall tension, and check the underlying cause and extent of the time.This will cause children to chip or break their teeth while sleeping?Temporo-Mandibular Joint disorder or experiencing symptoms at the moment that happens, the muscles associated with jaw exercises to relieve tension.This TMJ surgery as you grind, and may further radiate to your teeth, gums, jaw muscles, a condition in the teeth, and probably stop the discomfort for the TMJ condition can be fixed by you clenching your teeth.

Millions of individuals experience symptoms of TMJ disorder have not helped by non-surgical TMJ treatments and remedies before seeking other medical practitioners to diagnose as it relates to the normal way of breathing.The dentist would recommend some professional counseling, psychotherapy, etc. to help you find yourself clenching your teeth, whether it's counseling, meditation or maybe from punches they have other affects on a regular intake of drinks and foods that can weaken the muscles in your teeth.This leaves the bruxism cures that have been known to aggravate to a doctor, such as work related traumas.o Consistently conduct relaxation techniques to release the tension in the morning.A dentist might also be placed on the TM joint and muscles of biting and chewing, as well if they can help you cope as you possibly can.

[the-dj-is-asleep]

One Night: Chapter 9

AO3

Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

The end:

Tuesday:

When Kara wakes up from her nightmare, it’s only Lena, arms wrapped tightly around her shoulder, that keeps her from jolting up. It takes a few minutes of orienting herself away from the blood-soaked world in her dream, back to their cell. She forces herself to breathe, to not open her eyes no matter how desperately she wants to make sure that Alex, James, J’onn’s, and Lena’s bodies aren’t strewn around her. Eventually she’s able to calm herself and she realizes quite unhappily that the incisions on her back and abdomen hurt quite a bit. The unhappiness only lasts a second before she realizes that the fact that she can feel the pain means that she can probably move.

She checks, stretching as inconspicuously as she can, tensing and relaxing the muscles that line her spine. It feels incredibly good to be able to do it. To feel each of her nerve endings and the way they tingle a little with disuse. She aches to stretch properly, to put her hands over her head and curve her back and feel her joints pop, but she forces herself to keep her movements small. She’s pretty sure she’s subtle until Lena presses a hand down against her stomach.

“Stay still,” she mutters.

Kara suddenly doesn’t think she could move if she wanted to. Lena’s hand is warm and Kara knows that this isn’t the right time or place but she can’t help as she feels the warmth spread throughout her whole body. She does her best to not blush. When Lena removes her hand, Kara feels cold. She wants to ask Lena to put her hand back, to wrap her arms around her and hold her tight because that might be the only thing that keeps her from going crazy while she is forced to remain still.

Lena whispers soft reassurances to her, telling her that she’ll keep her safe and that they’ll get out somehow. She doesn’t seem to realize that for the first time since they’ve met, Kara can see through her lies easily. Her voice trembles more with each reassurance and Kara can tell that she is starting to lose hope.

Now that she can move, Kara lets herself try and plan. She knows that getting out of the room in the first place will be difficult without her strength and she has no idea how many guards they would have to get through or where they even are. Neither of them know their way around whatever base they’re being held in or how to get out. Kara had spend the last few days patiently waiting for the drug to wear off but now that it has, she’s not sure it changes anything. They’re still stuck and soon Lillian or Lex will come by to drag Kara off to do who-knows-what to her. She’s not even sure if given enough time she’d get her powers back since she isn’t getting any sunlight at all. 

Fear lodges into her throat but before she can worry about it too much, she hears the quiet click of the door’s lock opening and then soft footfalls entering the room. Kara thinks for a second that this is it. They're going to kill her and even if they don't she knows she won't be able to stay still if they try and biopsy her again. But that fear is quickly replaced by curiosity when she really listens. Whoever walked in just now was quiet, almost tentative, so different from the sweeping way that Lillian enters the room or the heavy thump of Henshaw's boots. Her curiosity only grows when Kara hears Lena gasp a little behind her. 

“Stay the hell away from her, Lex,” she hisses in a tone that Kara’s pretty sure she’s never hear before.

“Lena,” he pleads. “Lena I’m so sorry."

“You’re sorry?” Lena asks. “What are you sorry about exactly? Kidnapping me? Trying to kill me? Escaping from jail? Or is it all the other stuff that you’re sorry for. You know, murder of innocents? Genocide? Extremism and bigotry?”

“I…” Lex says and he sounds lost.

Kara’s never heard him speak outside of his public statements. She’s heard his eloquent and charismatic business-man speeches and later on his inciting and borderline deranged rantings but never this. He’s speaking softly, carefully.

“I didn’t know that mom brought you in too,” he says to Lena. “She never told me. She knew I wouldn’t agree to holding you here. You’re not… You’re not a prisoner Lena, you’re just misguided.”

“You tried to kill me,” Lena says coldly.

“I… no. I mean, I did but that wasn’t…” Lex sounds frustrated. “Mom… she said that I had to, that you would ruin everything that we’d worked for and I was in a vulnerable place and I was scared. I'd just lost everything and I was angry because you didn't come and visit and you testified against me at the trial. But I’ve been talking to the prison shrink and he’s been helping me understand. You were never my enemy Lena. You’ve always been my best friend. I was wrong and I am so sorry for that. I regretted it immediately. I wanted to rescind the order but I couldn’t from jail. When they saved you that day… It’s the only time I’ve ever been grateful for the Supers.”

“Why are you here Lex?” Lena says and her voice has lost a little of its edge.

“To let you out. I put the security cameras on a loop. Mom won’t find out until long after you’re gone and I’ll make sure she doesn’t come after you again.”

“You’re helping me escape?”

“Yes, Lena,” Lex says and he’s starting to sound more exasperated than anything. “But hurry. Mom is currently preoccupied with other matters but that won’t last forever.”

Kara wonders if it’s a trap. It kind of feels like a trap except that Lillian and Lex already have the upper hand. They don’t need to set a trap for someone who has already been caught. Still, Kara lies completely still and waits for some sort of sign.

"I'm not leaving without her," Lena says steadily.

"I don't want to argue about this, Lena. We don't have the time. Mom won't want to let you go. This is your only chance at escape. Surely, that alien isn't more important than your life."

"She is," Lena replies without hesitation. "And I will go with you, but only if I can bring her."

"She's dead weight!" Lex all but yells. "She'll only slow us down. Leave her and let's go."

Kara considers her options quickly. She doesn't think they'll have a better opportunity than right now. There's a small chance that this is a trap and revealing that she's conscious will result in more kryptonite-laced drugs. But is she willing to risk Lena's freedom and safety on the chance that she's wrong? The answer is obvious before Kara even thinks it.

"That won't be an issue," she says, sitting slowly.

Her voice is scratchy from disuse and she didn't realize exactly how sore her neck was until she moves it. The ache is foreign to her. When she blinks her eyes up at Lex he's gaping at her.

"What? How?"

It's the most flustered and surprised she's ever seen him and it has a startlingly humanizing effect on him.

"The drug has been wearing off since day one. We were just waiting until it had worn off completely," Lena says cooly. "Your timing is spot on. Now we can go."

Lex doesn't move for a very long time. He regards Kara closely and she does her best not to flinch under his steady gaze. He looks a little different from how Kara remembers. He is pale and gaunt and very, very, thin. He looks a little broken and Kara has to remind herself that he's still arguably the most dangerous human in the United States.

"I knew your cousin," he says. "He was the best man I knew, or so I thought before I learned that he's not a man at all. Now, I know that he's just a disgusting hypocrite and you are no better."

Kara glares at him, and considers retorting but Lena places a placating hand on her arm before it gets out of hand.

"I'm not leaving without her Lex," Lena says sharply. "So make your choice. Do you hate her more than you love me?"

Lex looks like he’s going to bolt, like he’ll walk out of the room, slam the door behind him and tell Lillian to flood the room with Kryptonite. His eyes dart nervously from Kara’s face to Lena’s before finally he grimaces.

“Fine,” he growls.

Lena lets out a nearly imperceptible breath of relief and she stands up quickly, helping Kara to her feet. Kara stumbles awkwardly as her legs threaten to give way. Lena catches her arm and pulls her close, keeping her from falling to her knees.

“Are you okay?” Lena mutters.

“Yeah,” Kara replies. “Just… weak I guess. Let’s go.”

Lex glances back at them unhappily but doesn’t say anything about the way his little sister’s arms encircle the alien. They follow him quietly as he starts to make his way through the compound. It’s large, Kara notices immediately. The hallway that they’re in is probably three hundred feet long and it’s got doors at either end, indicating that it probably continues on father than they can see.

Lex leads them down the hall to a staircase that he unlocks with the swipe of his card. It blinks green and they go up three flights of stairs before Lex stops them.

“Okay,” he whispers at the top, looking only at Lena as he speaks. “I couldn’t clear out this level because it’s the main floor, but in,” he glances at his watch, “two minutes an alarm is going to go off down the hallway. I’m going to go out first, okay? I’ll stall them and make sure all the guards are out of the hall. You wait five minutes and go right. Just go straight until the end and you’ll see the doors to the exit. There are a bunch of cars off to the left. Follow the road and it’ll get you to highway 85. Okay, Lena?”

Lena looks at Lex and something crosses her face. She steps forward and pulls him into a tight hug, curling her fingers into the back of his shirt. He hugs her back just as tightly, burying his face in her neck.

“I’m sorry, Lena,” he mumbles. “For everything. I’m so sorry. I love you. I always have and I always will.”

Lena hugs him even tighter for a second and then they’re pulling apart. Lex glances at Kara and Kara sees unshed tears in his eyes for a second before his expression hardens.

“I am letting you go now, but don’t go thinking that this is over, Supergirl. You are still a threat to humanity and if I ever hear that you hurt my sister in any way, I will be your downfall. That’s a promise.”

Kara glares at him, but he just turns away and goes through the door, closing it behind him. Then they wait. Without her x-ray vision, Kara can’t see through the door to be able to tell whether Lex’s plan has gone well (or if he’s double-crossing them) and they can’t hear much at all coming from the hallway.

“We just have to trust him,” Lena whispers to Kara, who does her best not to roll her eyes.

Trust Lex Luthor wasn’t exactly high on her list of things she ever wanted to do, but unfortunately it seemed she didn’t really have a choice.

“Kara,” Lena whispers as they approach the five minute mark. “I love you.”

Kara blinks at her, her jaw dropping slightly.

“I love you,” Lena says firmly. “I know you said you could hear me, so you probably heard… before, but I wanted to say it to you now, when I know you can hear me and when I can see those beautiful eyes of yours. I love you.”

Kara is frozen for a second before she lunges forward, a little too eagerly maybe, and pulls Lena into a hug so tight it almost hurts her chest. Lena’s arms slip around her immediately and cradle her closely.

“I love you too, Lena. When you said it before I wished more than anything that I could move, because you were doubting that I ever could. I love you, Lena Luthor.”

Lena pulls back from the hug just enough so that she can look into Kara’s eyes. She seems almost blindsided by the confession, her eyes wide and disbelieving, but whatever she sees in Kara’s eyes must be enough because she leans in an presses her lips desperately to Kara’s.

Kara can’t quite believe it’s happening but she responds eagerly. Lena’s lips are warm and soft and so, so gentle, even in their desperation and eagerness. It’s the best feeling in the world. Kara thinks that she’d give up flying just so she could have this feeling for the rest of her life. But as much as she wishes they could continue, wishes she could push Lena up against the wall until neither of them could breathe, now is not the time. They pull away, flustered and blushing.

“We should… we should get going,” Kara coughs out and Lena nods.

She slips her hand into Kara’s and pushes open the door.

The moment she does, Kara hears the tell-tale sound of about twenty guns being cocked and she catches sight of the guards standing around them in a semi-circle. She steps in front of Lena automatically before remembering that she isn’t bulletproof at this moment. She's not sure it matters. For a second she thinks that Lex betrayed them until she sees him kneeling with a broken lip at his mother’s feet, cradling his arm against his chest.

“Can you imagine my surprise,” Lillian says, her voice dripping with contempt, “When I realized that I have not one traitorous child, but two? Lena, I must say, was hardly a surprise. You've always been somewhat of a disappointment. But Lex… My darling boy. Hmmm, it does not matter. He will be much easier to reason with, I believe. But you two have been more trouble than you’re worth.”

Kara’s blood runs cold. She knows that they no longer had any use for her alive. And she knows that now that they've tried to escape, Lena will probably suffer a fate similar to hers. Kara steps back, pressing her body into Lena’s hoping to serve as some sort of shield to protect her. She knows its pointless but she doesn’t care.

Lena grips at her biceps painfully, holding her close. Kara looks back at her. Her eyes are wide with fear but as she looks at Kara they soften somewhat.

“I love you,” she whispers. “Those aren’t so bad for last words, are they? I love you, Kara.”

Kara glances around them Lillian’s men cock their guns. She wants to tell Lena not to talk like that, wants to tell her that it’ll be fine and that they’ll live a full and happy life together. She wants to believe that herself. Her life flashes before her eyes but it’s not the life up to this moment. It’s a future that could have been in a house maybe, with some kids running around. Lena kissing her when she came back from patrol. Kara visiting Lena at work with lunch in hand. She sees everything they could have had and it breaks her heart.

“I love you too,” Kara replies thickly, tears making her throat close up a little.

“Lena,” Lex groans suddenly, startling everyone who had forgotten he was there. He’s clearly in a lot of pain and Kara feels a flash of sympathy before she remembers who he is. “I love you as well. I’ve always loved you and I will always love you. You were the best thing in my life, and I’m sorry I left you behind.”

Lena looks down at him and Kara watches her, because for a second she looks so young and vulnerable. She looks like she wants to run right into Lex’s arms, but she doesn’t. She stays, in Kara’s tight grip and just stares.

“Supergirl,” Lex says, and Kara jolts in surprise that he’s addressing her at all. “Keep her safe. Promise me.”

Kara doesn’t want to promise him anything, especially since the last time she heard that word from him it had been in the form of a threat. But promising to take care of Lena isn’t something she has to do at all. It’s second nature, so she nods and Lex smiles and slumps in what looks like relief.

“That's enough!” Lillian shouts. "Kill them!"

“Not so fast, mother," Lex says. "Remember, you’re the one who taught me to always have a back-up plan."

Lillian’s eyes widen in surprise.

The next thing Kara’s knows, she’s being rocked back by an explosion. She hits the wall behind her hard enough to knock the wind out of her and is shaken for a second. Her ears are ringing and as her vision clears she sees only smoke. It becomes immediately clear what Lex was hoping for. Kara grabs Lena’s hand and starts to drag her down the hallway. Lillian’s men had been closer to the explosion so they’re slower to get up and start moving, but Kara and Lena aren’t even out of the building before they start to hear gunshots ringing out behind them.

“Lex!” Lena shouts and she twists in Kara’s grip as if to run back to him. “Kara! We have to go back. He’s my brother. Kara, please.”

Kara tightens her grip and pulls.

“We can’t Lena. I don’t have my powers and you’re just human and they have guns and bullets. If we want to escape we have to go now.”

Lena tries to yank her hand from Kara’s grip. She pushes against Kara’s chest but even without her powers, Kara is able to hold on.

“We have to save him. He risked himself for us, we owe him. Kara, you owe him.”

Kara shakes her head. She understands. She does. She remembers holding Astra in her arms as she bled out. She remembers what it feels like to lose a family member forever when she was on the verge of getting her back. She knows why Lena wants to go back. But she can’t let her. She can’t risk Lena’s life for Lex’s not matter how much he might have changed.

“We can’t go back, Lena,” Kara replies. “He wouldn’t want that!”

Lena stops fighting for a second.

“He wouldn’t want us to go back and get captured or killed after everything he did to get us out. Okay? I promised I’d protect you and it’s a promise I intend to keep.”

She doesn’t wait for Lena to respond before she pulls her the rest of the way out of the smoky hallway. As soon as they’re outside the air is clear and Kara sees guards on all sides. They’re disorganized and confused so Kara runs straight ahead and hopes that she and Lena can get past them. She looks to the left to where Lex said the cars would be and sees a wall of guards. So Kara instead she heads straight until she and Lena plunge into the forest. She hears a hail of gunfire shatter through the night behind them but they’re already far enough into the cover of the trees that none of them hit their mark.

She tugs Lena along behind her and hopes that they can get home in one piece.

"I got my powers back after jumping off a cliff and then I flew us back," Kara says. "I left Lena at her apartment and flew straight here."

J'onn and Alex glance at each other, having one of their little conversations that Kara can never really follow. Whatever conclusion they come to, Alex seems to win because J'onn sighs and takes a step back.

"So... what now?" Kara asks. 

"Well, first of all you shower," Alex says, scrunching up her nose. 

Kara is startled by her own laugh. It feels like months since she last laughed. 

"And then, you're going to get under those sunlamps and sleep for approximately a month and a half. Okay?"

Kara wants to argue but the night is catching up with her and she finds herself nodding despite herself. The idea of sleep is so compelling that she almost closes her eyes right then and there. She lets Alex drag her to the showers and peel off the clothes that Cadmus had put her in, now caked in mud and smelling of sweat and smoke. Kara steps into the shower and lets the water run over her body for what feels like a short eternity, long enough for Alex to ask if she's alright, before she grabs the shampoo and lathers it into her hair. 

When she's out and dry and in a DEO t-shirt and a pair of Alex's training sweatpants, she collapses into Alex's side and lets her all but carry her to the sunlamps. Her eyes are closed the moment her head hits the pillow and she only catches the first half of Alex's 'Sleep tight,' before she's asleep. 

Chapter 10

[stereksummerexchange]

Before The Me and You

@hashtag-hale - I really hope you enjoy it! First time doing something like this so I hope it doesn’t show too much.

by @shaggii-murder

Not Rated - the only warning is fluff. 

Derek reminisce, Stiles is a loving, if not, sarcastic boyfriend. That’s all that needs to be said.

“Derek,” Stiles whispers causing Derek’s eyes to flutter open. His brain waking up slowly.

“Der-Bear.” Stiles softly sings from behind Derek. Placing his hands on Derek’s shoulders, gently leaning over the couch he was napping on. Stiles slides his hands down his chest to rest them there. Derek looks up to his boyfriend, regaining his senses.

“Dinner’s ready sleepy head.” He says with a mischievous grin.

“Already?” Derek says surprised, staring at his sly smile. He turns his head to look at the clock on the wall of their apartment seeing that it’s already 7:30pm.

“I was out for two hours?” He said, voice croaking a little.

“You were tired, I figured I’d let you sleep while I cooked dinner. You needed it man, you’ve been riding around in that ambulance since last night for your shift.

“Now, try and stay awake while I’ll go grab dinner. We’ll eat it here.” Stiles said leaning up off of him walking towards the kitchen.

Smiling softly, Derek looked towards his boyfriend thinking how lucky he got. Derek raised his arms above his head to stretch, arching his back, he felt joints popping, reawakening his body. Now that he’s up and awake he realises how hungry he is. Just when his stomach started to growl Stiles re-entered the room with two bowls of vegetable curry in both hands.

Instead of going around the couch he just climbed over it slowly. Being mindful of the food, he plopped down close to Derek snuggling into his side. “And here we are,” Stiles said passing one of the bowls to Derek. “Our dinner is served.” He continues. Before Stiles can dig in, he feels Derek’s fingers comb through his hair, settling at the back of his head, guiding him for a quick chaste kiss.

“Thank you.” Derek said “I really do appreciate you doing this.” “No problem-o babe. You’ve be working so hard lately, you deserve a small break once in awhile.” Stiles says casual like he didn’t make Derek’s heartbeat just a bit faster by saying that. Stiles leans over to him, kissing him on his brow, like he knows what Derek is thinking.

Derek can feel Stiles smile on his skin. He feels his blood rush to his ears, making him feel like they haven’t been doing this for years, and more like a first date. Turning to face forward, Stiles grabs the remote off the coffee table to turn on the TV putting it on a random channel that caught his eye, he starts in on his dinner finally. Derek smiles to himself, no more words needs to be said. Just having Stiles by his side has made life just that much better. Not to say he didn’t have a fantastic life before he met him. He has a huge, wonderful, and supportive family. And dear friends that, some (at this point) are part of his ever growing family. Like his best friends, Erica and her, now fiancé Boyd. They have been his close’s friends since high school. Erika, that shy girl that only spoke a few sentences at a time, always worried she’d get notice by the kids that bullied her for her epilepsy, might hurt her again. Is now a drop-dead gorgeous feminist, rally organiser that get women together. Not to tear each other down for their differences but to push each other up because of them. So confident and humble. Always there to talk when he’s feeling down or lost, offering her advice when he needed it. She is the best person he’s ever had privilege of being friends with.

And Boyd was pretty much not a speaker at all in high school, unless it was to Derek or Erika. Always so quiet but quick with a joke. Since Boyd and Erika started dating in the 11th grade, it helped them both to break out of their shells to become the people they were always meant to be.

And they were all fortunate enough to get into the same University. From there, he met Isaac. A hipster kind of guy that had impeccable fashion taste. They really got to know each other through their course. Studying together, then becoming house mates before the start of the second semester.

With Boyd and Erika, all four of them were able to rent a small three bedroom house just off campus. Perfect size for them. And for Isaac to dub the perfect party house.

Isaac, in University, was a party animal. (Not that he isn’t now but mostly back then) Almost every weekend there was always something going on. From a small study group to full fledged party.

Even though Derek was kind of a shut in when it came to parties, he’d come out from his room to mingle every once in a while, to keep Isaac from busting down his door.

And from there he’ll be forever grateful that Isaac threw a get-to-know party inviting heaps of people around campus.

Which that including Kira Yukimura who, in turn, brought Scott McCall, Allison Argent, Lydia Martin and the one and only, Stiles Stilinski. As soon as Derek saw him from where was sitting, a drink in his hand, Derek was transfix to the young man that just walked in. Talking with his hands in an almost comical way. His eyes twinkling with mirth and a smirk on his lips. Making a beautiful redhead roll her eyes. And by the way her lips were twitching up, she was amused at what he was saying.

While the group made there way in the room Derek leaned over to Isaac who was perched on the arm of the couch.

“Who’s that?” Derek said, subtly pointing to Stiles. Isaac twist to look at where he was pointing.

“Ah he’s Kira’s friend, his name is Stiles? I think? Kind of a spaz but a nice guy. Talked to him a few times.” He says as he twists back around.

“Stiles huh.” Derek repeats.

“Oh I know that look.” Isaac smirks. “Just never seen it on you before.” He lets out a small chuckle. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Derek sips his drink. His ears burning. Later that evening Derek was making his way to the kitchen to grab another drink, and maybe something to eat, he thinks to himself. But before here can, he runs into a body when rounding the corner. Making said body spill his own drink on himself.

“Whoa!”Body said. Catching the cup before it hits the ground. Derek squeaked. “I’m so sorry! Here let me grab a towel!” Moving around him, he starts to grab a tea-towel off the kitchen island. Handing it to him.

“Hey don’t worry about it man, it was bound to happen sometime tonight. If you knew how clumsy I am you wouldn’t even think it was your fault.”

Derek let out an embarrassed gasp when he finally gets a good look at the owner of the shirt he ruined. “Seriously it’s alright. I’m Stiles by the way.” Holding out his hand. Looking at him in the eyes. “Not just clumsy shirt guy that you’re probably calling me in your head.” Stiles lets out a small pathetic laugh. Looking away, thinking to himself he’s made the situation a bit awkward. Well a bit more awkward, what with having his shirt drenched, looking like damp rat. Coming back to himself Derek takes Stiles hand trying his best to look suave. Gaining his eye contact again. “Derek. Hale. Derek Hale.” Closing his eyes he takes back his hand. Completely feeling embarrassed. He goes to take a step back. “Wait!” Stiles grabs his hand again before he can get out of reach. Clearing his throat Stiles smooths over his face with his other hand to look less panicked. Moving it up to his hair, smoothing that also but making it look like he just rolled out of bed. “I’ve been wanting a reason to talk to you all night.” His voice getting softer as he went on. “Um, I mean.” Stiles continued. “Did you want to get to know each other? Like talk, for a bit? I’ve seen you around, and Isaac talked about you.” His eyes widened. “In a super positive way!” He quickly corrected himself. Dropping Derek’s hand. Stiles sighs.

“I’m blowing this aren’t I?” Sounding dejected. Derek laughs “No not at all. In fact, did you want to come up to my room? So we can talk privately?” Derek says with a blinding smiling gracing his face. No longer feeling embarrassed or unsure.

Stiles says later, that as soon as Derek gave him that smile, he half fell in love with him right then and there.

Derek thinks the more accurate moment was when they got to his room and Stiles saw a Star Wars poster on his wall declaring his undying love for him and saying he going to marry him someday.

“Hey,” Stiles poking him over his heart to gain his attention. “Penny for your thoughts?” They’re now lying down on the couch, dinner bowls on the coffee table empty, and (in Stiles case) licked clean.

Stiles is draped over him, using both his hands as a pillow on his chest.

“Hmm?” Derek hummed.

“Don’t hum me young man. You’ve been lost in thought throughout the whole movie. Is something wrong?” Stiles starts, jokingly at first but growing more concerned as he finished. Derek just yawns, rubbing a free hand up and down Stiles back. “Just thinking how lucky I am that Isaac was trying to bang Kira in Uni.” Derek says focusing on trying to remember the movie he just watched. Man, I really was lost in thoughtwasn’t I? Stiles squints are Derek’s face.

“Should I be concerned about our marriage?” Derek huffs, “Of course not. Was just thinking about the night we met, and why the whole reason we had that get-to-know party is so Isaac could try and get into Kira’s pants.” he frowns, scrunching his nose trying to get that image out of his head. “Oh, perfectly normal things then. Just the usual stuff that’s going around in your head.” Stiles says sarcastically. Rolling his eyes.

Derek stops his rubbing to give Stiles’ side a pinch, causing him to yelp and pull away.

He quickly grabs hold of him tight, using both hands around his waist making sure doesn’t get away. “Was just thinking how beautiful you looked and how we spent the night talking.” He continues.

Stiles snorts, “Sure. How gorgeous was I with drying beer down my shirt? And as I recall we did a lot more kissing than we did talking.” Derek choosing to ignore that last part, “Well maybe it was all part of my elaborate plan to get your shirt off?” Derek says, moving his eyebrows up and down.

“God you’re such a dork.” Stiles says putting a hand over his eyes so he doesn’t have to see that any more. “I thought I was your dork.” Derek pouts, giving him his best puppy dog eyes. “Please, you know you’ll never be as good as Scott using those things.” Derek growls playfully. “I can still use them. There’s no copy right claim on them by Scott.” “He may as well have one. No beating those treacherous eyes.” Stiles sighs softly. Laying his chin back on his hands.

“Should I be the one that’s worried about our marriage now?” Derek says, putting the back of his to his forehead, pretending to faint.

Stiles grabs the hand, cupping it between both of his.

“Never. I’m keeping you till the end.” Kissing his fingers softly. He closes his eyes and smiles. “You were pretty cute back then. What with your dorky ways and red blushing ears. I couldn’t resist. The muscles helped too.” Stiles winks.

Derek glowers, completely unimpressed.

A silence passes over them now. Both just taking in the other. Memorizing each other. Never wanting to forget moments like these.

“I love you.” Derek whispers with a soft smile on his lips.

“I love you too.” Stiles response back. A smile of his own.

Stiles leans forward closing his eyes. Derek meets him halfway for lingering kiss. Tasting one another, always feeling like it’s the first.

Kissing once more Stiles pulls back to snuggle into Derek’s chest again. Getting comfortable to take a nap.

Derek kisses the top of his head, also shuffling to get comfortable too. Arms never moving from around Stiles.

Derek thinks, before he follows for a nap too. Yep, so lucky to have him in his life. He couldn’t ask for more.

[star-trekkin-across-theuniverse]

Cover You In Oil, Pt8

Word Count: 5861 Tags: @outside-the-government, @yourtropegirl @to-pick-ourselves-up-7, @ghostssss, @rampant-salamander, @saysay125

Tony was on his back, snoring quietly, when Sally wakened. She tiptoed into kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee, padding on bare feet out onto the balcony. She leaned against the barrier at the edge of the balcony, staring out at the city as she drank her coffee. It was already busy, at five in the morning, and the sun was pushing up past the buildings, through the morning haze. Sally sighed, finishing her coffee and heading back inside to the bathroom. The heat of the shower was a stark contrast to the cool morning air, and as the first drops of water hit her skin, a wave of prickles chased down her skin, warning her of the impending warmth of the shower. She wasted no time washing and dressing, before grabbing a banana from the counter, tracking down her tablet and phone and heading down to the garage to work on the Challenger.

“JARVIS, music?” She asked as she strode into the garage. The playlist turned on overhead. “Thanks.”

“Of course, Ms. Manners.”

She carefully laid out all the body panels of the car around the vehicle, where they would eventually be attached. She found the few pieces that had been fabricated and laid them into the empty spots. Then she circled around the parts again, and marked the body pieces where they needed spot repairs for rust before starting the painstaking process of hanging the pieces back on the car. She worked quietly, head bopping to the music, completely lost in the task, not realizing that Clint had come down and was watching from the stall across from her. She yawned, not bothering to cover her mouth, and didn’t notice when Clint hopped down from his perch and disappeared. He wasn’t as stealthy when he returned with a coffee for her.

“You’re tired.” It was more of an accusation than an observation. He handed the coffee to her.

“It happens. We were at that gala –“

“You left at eleven, Sally,” Clint interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, and we talked about me finding crowds of people exhausting yesterday,” Sally snapped. “I kind of expected you to understand that.”

“I guess I just got caught up in the news this morning,” Clint shrugged. “And forgot all about that in light of everything else that is being discussed.”

“Oh Christ,” Sally muttered. “JARVIS?”

“Mr. Stark is watching the news upstairs if you’d like to join him,” JARVIS offered. Sally shook her head and threw the wrench she was holding across the room.

“For fuck’s sake!” She cursed. “Is it bad?”

“Not at all, Ms. Manners,” JARVIS reassured her. “In fact, they are making you look like a saint who deserves better than Sir.”

“Fuck it. I’m working on the car. Let me know if there’s anything too horrifying that I should see,” she grumbled.

“I’m sure Mr. Stark will have anything important queued for your viewing pleasure this afternoon,” JARVIS almost sounded amused. Sally rolled her eyes and walked across the garage to retrieve her wrench. She sighed and picked up the front quarter panel of the car, struggling with it for a moment before Clint reached in and helped stabilize it. He followed directions efficiently, Sally reflected, as they worked in silence, but she’d recognized that the other times he’d insisted on helping.

“You know, it’s a shame you’re sold on this superhero gig. It would almost be tempting to hire you,” Sally teased as they eased the trunk onto the back of the car. Clint smirked.

“You couldn’t afford me,” he shot back. Sally laughed.

“No, I couldn’t afford Hawkeye, the Avenger. Clint Barton, the mechanic’s apprentice? I could totally afford that jackass.” Sally hip-checked him with a laugh.

“I don’t know, I’ve done some unpaid work with that Sally Manners chick. She’s super talented, and I’m pretty sure volunteer hours with her count for something.” Clint arched an eyebrow. Sally cracked up.

“Maybe,” Sally laughed. “I’d have to get a reference from her.” They fell silent as Sally tightened the bolts holding the trunk lid in place. Once the car was reassembled and they’d stopped to eat, Sally got the sander out to grind down the rusty areas on the original pieces, and explained the steps to Clint. She didn’t expect he would actually remember anything, but she knew he was beginning to respect the work that was going into his car, and giving him the knowledge to understand what was happening was part of why he was feeling that way. He moved back to his vantage point in the other bay when Sally started welding repairs, drawing close again after she was back to sanding.

“What’s next, boss?” He asked when she put the sander back on the workbench and stretched. Sally dropped her safety glasses on the bench beside the sander and stretched again, twisting first one way, then the other.

“Now it goes to paint. It’ll be back in a couple or three days, and then I can finish the interior. That’ll take about a day. Then it’s all yours,” Sally smiled as she tipped her head to her shoulder, flinching a little when her neck cracked.

“If I’d had to figure out all of this, not only would I have wrecked this car, it would have taken me years. You’ve been here less than a week,” Clint shook his head.

“We all have different strengths, Clint,” Sally laughed. “I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a bow.”

“That’s because you aren’t sending the bow toward the barn, you’re sending the arrow,” Clint teased.

“You know what I mean.” Sally shook her head, grinning. “You also forget, I just finished an identical build.”

“I’m allowed to be impressed. I’m impressed.” Clint crossed his arms in challenge. Sally smiled and stretched her arms overhead, lacing her fingers and pressing up until both her shoulders popped. Clint made a face.

“Is there anywhere on you that doesn’t creak and groan?” He asked.

“I didn’t run this morning. I don’t creak and groan when I run daily,” Sally excused. “But I’m hard on my body. Noisy joints come with the territory.”

“You’re probably going to ruin things for me by telling me women make other gross sounds too,” Clint complained. Sally let out a short bark of laughter and then shook her head.

“No, sweetie. Women fart glitter and rainbows. Just like unicorns,” she laughed, dialing her phone. “Hi there, this is Sally Manners. The Challenger is ready for paint. I can have it towed over this afternoon.” She fell silent, listening to the paint shop person as Clint tried to angle in and listen to the conversation. She stepped away while he was leaning across the engine dolly and had to bite back another laugh when he tripped over it trying to follow her across the garage bay. Clint was pulling himself to his feet when Sally made it back to him to offer him a hand. He just pushed himself back to his feet and dusted himself off.

“So?” Clint asked.

“They’re sending their truck to bring it to their shop. He said three or four days. So you’ll just have to sit tight,” Sally shrugged.

“What are you going to do for three days?” Clint raised an eyebrow suggestively. Sally pulled a couple of bottles of beer out of the mini-fridge in the garage bay and handed one to Clint. She pushed herself up on the workbench and popped the top off her beer and took a long drink.

“Well, I have to get some preliminary info on the restoration I’m going to be doing in Latveria, and make my travel arrangements for that. I’ll be gone until just before Christmas so I should probably book my Mum’s flights, and do some Christmas shopping for her and Tony,” she started and started a to do list on her tablet as she spoke. ��I’m not terribly inclined to go home between now and then, so I’ll need to expand my wardrobe. I need to find out what the climate there is like. And find out what kind of tools I’ll need to bring along, and what the garage I’ll be working out of has available. Make those arrangements, and get things shipped. Then –“

“I get it. You’ll be busy. Not just laying in bed with Tony,” Clint interrupted. Sally blushed.

“Yeah. But that too,” she bit her lip, her eyes dancing.

“Overshare, Manners!”

“You asked!” Sally laughed.

“I take it back!” Clint covered his ears so he couldn’t hear anything else Sally might say. Then he realized he was holding his beer beside his ear. He glared at Sally and brought the bottle to his mouth. Sally watched in stunned silence as he pulled a hearing aid out of his ear and dropped it in his pocket before picking his beer up and taking a drink, still covering the other ear with his hand.

“I didn’t realize you had hearing issues,” Sally said. Clint squinted at her and moved the hand covering his ear. “I said I didn’t realize you had hearing issues.”

“Does it matter?”

“Of course not!” Sally exclaimed. “I just hadn’t noticed your hearing aide while we were working.”

“I had Tony work with my audiologist to make really tiny ones that can’t be seen easily. It’s a liability in the field,” Clint admitted. Sally nodded.

“Is your hearing completely gone?” She asked.

“Not completely, or the hearing aides wouldn’t work. But I also do a lot of lip reading,” he admitted. “It’s really not a big deal.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Sally nodded. Clint shrugged.

“I don’t tell everyone. So –“

“I’m not going to advertise my knowledge, Clint,” Sally promised.

“You’re okay, Sal.” Clint held out a fist, and Sally tapped her knuckles against his before upending her beer and grabbing another.

Sally watched, arms folded across her chest, as the Challenger was pulled onto the back of the flat-deck tow-truck. Once it was secured to the deck, the operator came to her with a clipboard and asked for her signature.

“This is precious cargo,” Sally commented.

“Got it.” The guy was dismissive, but he’d noticed the careful way Sally had moved around the truck while he was lifting the car, making sure everything was secure. He wasn’t sure who exactly she was, but he understood she could probably make his life miserable if anything happened to the car he was delivering. More unnerving was the guy perched on the top of the toolbox like some sort of bird of prey, looming over everyone in the garage. And the woman just didn’t seem concerned about his presence. Patrick’s Towing hadn’t been built from one truck to fifteen by damaging the vehicles it was transporting, so he shook off the vague sense of discomfort he was feeling from the two of them, and climbed into the cab of his truck and headed out with the Challenger.

Sally glanced up at Clint as the garage doors rolled shut. “The perching was a little creepy, Clint.”

“He figured out really quickly not to fuck with either of us. That’s all that really mattered,” Clint shrugged. Sally shook her head and collected the empty beer bottles to toss into the recycling on the way out of the garage. “You have exciting plans for tonight, or should we pre-emptively celebrate the near completion of my girl?”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to beer and wings at a quiet bar,” Sally suggested. Clint grinned.

“Even the quietest bar gets loud when the Avengers roll in, Sal,” Clint admitted. “Steve attracts attention. And if it isn’t Steve, it’s Nat. And when it’s neither of them, Tony tends to cast a pretty long shadow.”

“Maybe we could order in,” Sally sighed. Clint hopped down from the toolbox and followed her toward the elevator.

“For sure. I’ll make it happen. Just show up in an hour or so in the lounge.” Clint threw his arm over her shoulder as they got into the elevator, and pulled her close. He dropped a friendly kiss on her forehead. “I love my car, Sal.”

“You’ll love it even more when it’s done.” Sally leaned into his chest and yawned. When the elevator opened to let Clint off, she let go reluctantly. “I like buffalo. Spicy spicy buffalo. But also Teriyaki. And if you can find them, Maple Sriracha. See you in an hour or so.”

The elevator doors slid shut, leaving Sally alone on the way to the penthouse. The living room was dark when Sally stepped into the suite, but the lights came on dimly when she walked in. She looked around and saw no one, but noticed the light was on in the bedroom.

“Tony?” She called. She could hear what sounded like a heated conversation going on in the bedroom, and followed the sound of the voices. Tony was leaning back against the headboard, a highball glass in his hand. He patted the bed beside him and nodded toward the television mounted on the wall.

“Christine Everhart has managed to find someone you dated. I’m not sure whether I should laugh or cry,” Tony explained. “I’m leaning toward laughter.” Sally climbed onto the bed and scooted into the hollow of his arm. He hit the playback button on the remote and paused at the beginning of the news, catching Christine’s face in a weird contortion.

“I can’t even think of –“

“Our good friend Jamie Hendrix. Who is going by his middle name, Robert, these days,” Tony interrupted. “The news coverage today has been distracting, to say the least. I didn’t get much done. But this is the best of the works.” He pressed play and Christine Everhart’s face relaxed.

“It was a quiet day in the news world today, which made last night’s announcement that Tony Stark has met his Soulmate all the more compelling. In the ongoing investigation into who Sally Manners really is, we caught up with her former lover Robert Hendrix in Seattle today,” she introduced the piece. “Hello Robert.” Sally snorted. Former lover, indeed. The screen split, so that Christine was on one side, and Jamie was on the other. Jamie looked older, but otherwise very much the same, like he’d never left the late nineties in the land that invented the grunge look. In some ways, Sally suspected that was probably true. His beard was trimmed and neat, and his blond ponytail was tidy, which was definitely an improvement from when they’d been seeing each other.

“I hardly call a few awkward make-out sessions a former lover, but okay.” Sally rolled her eyes as the screen flashed on Jamie.

“Rob is fine,” he offered, and the screen flashed back to Christine before splitting to show both of them again.

“You’ve come forward as one of Sally Manners’ few previous relationships. Tell us about her, Rob,” Christine prompted.

“Sally and I met at a climbing gym. She’s cool. Athletic, clever. But her hands were super beat up. We started chatting and I found her interesting. Not a lot of women mechanics, you know?”

He asked, rhetorically. Before Christine could answer, he continued, “So we went out on a few dates. I have one of those horrible soulmarks.” He unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it away, showing the ‘Dude…’ on his collarbone. “It was the first thing she said to me, and I might have been convinced she was the one. She didn’t seem really excited by whatever it was I’d first said, but she was also this nice girl. Quiet, kind of introverted. I thought maybe she was just nervous.”

“Obviously that wasn’t the case,” Christine led.

“No, for sure. I don’t even think I’d even broached it with her, you know? I think I just assumed we both knew. I was wrong. Anyhow, I took her to a Seahawks game with my parents, and she was nice, but she wasn’t meet-the-in-laws nice. Anyhow, when I took her home, I saw her mark. It totally wasn’t my words on her,” Jamie admitted.

“No? Can you tell us what they said?” Christine prompted.

“I don’t remember the exact wording, but something about Iron Man and Tony Stark. At the time, I had no idea who Tony Stark was. And Iron Man didn’t exist yet. I figured the dude was a big Sabbath fan,” Jamie explained, shrugging his shoulders.

“He’s not wrong, you know,” Tony laughed. Sally shook her head and elbowed him in the ribs.

“Sabbath?” Christine looked confused.

“Yeah, Black Sabbath? They did a song called Iron Man. 1970. Ba-da-ba-da-da, ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-da-da-da-da,” Jamie sang tunelessly. It was enough that Sally and Tony both dissolved into giggles at the confused and lost look on Christine’s face.

“I’m not sure I’m familiar with it, Rob. Can you confirm that Sally’s mark is on her thigh?” Christine tried to refocus the interview. Sally bit her lip. If Jamie was anything like he’d been when he was still going by Jamie, he was lost in the song in his head.

“Huh? Oh, I don’t know that it’s appropriate to share that. Sally was a good girl, you know? Kinda prudey,” Jamie said. Tony started howling with laughter. Sally smacked him.

“That is not funny, Tony!” She protested. Tony slapped his free hand to his chest and laughed even harder.

“Thank you for your time, Rob.” The camera broke back to Christine. “J. Robert Hendrix is a systems analyst living in Seattle.”

“Is there more?” Sally cringed as Christine handed over the report to the weather person.

“Oh yeah, the PVR is full, princess. Do you want to hear what the financial news has to say? I’ll give you a hint. Things are looking good for Mustang Sally Design and Restoration, as it is suspected that a merger between Stark and Manners will allow her to expand her brand to both coasts. Entertainment Tonight is already trying to cast someone to play you in the sequel to The Tower. TMZ thought they found a mug shot from a DUI only to discover it was a different Sally Manners. Another gossipy TV show dug out some old photos of you at a surfing competition, and I’ve gotta say, I’m buying you a new bikini. You don’t need to hide that mark anymore, babe.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. Sally shook her head.

“You old guys and the head kissing,” Sally teased. Tony bristled and held her away from him.

“Who else has been kissing you?” Rather than sounding angry, he sounded hurt. Sally pulled his face down to hers and kissed him.

“The ancient Persians believed that if you kissed anyone other than your soulmate after finding them that your kiss would feel cold and painful to your beloved,” She murmured against his mouth. “Was that cold or painful?”

“No,” he breathed. “It felt like more.”

“I’m not going to run, Tony. I ran before I knew you because I knew that once I was caught I would stay,” she said. “And I wasn’t sure you would be capable of that commitment.”

“And?”

“I’m not going to run, Tony.” Sally kissed him again. “Now let me up. I need to have a shower. Clint’s ordering wings in so we can have a pub night without breaking the city.” She climbed off the bed and headed toward the shower. Sally loved the shower in Tony’s suite more than the one in hers. It was the same ridiculously opulent multi-headed-come-at-you-from-all-directions kind of shower, but there was something else to it, more than it being just a little bit bigger. She appreciated the increased size when Tony snuck into the shower behind her, jostling her out of the spray just a hair as he wrapped his cold, dry arms around her. She shrieked and turned, realizing that the intangible preference she’d given his shower was the slightly rough texture of the floor tiles that were preventing her from losing her balance in the wet space. Tony smirked, and dropped a kiss on the edge of her mouth before turning her around and scrubbing her back.

“Nothing funny, Manners. Just a shower between friends,” Tony teased. Sally laughed.

“So when I’m done on the car tomorrow, Clint and I can soap up together?” Sally teased back, shooting a sassy wink over her shoulder.

“I would react, except I know you are calling my bluff. Look at my non-reaction,” Tony responded, working shampoo into her hair. Sally rubbed her hands together with the rough pumice soap that she used to get car grime off while Tony massaged her scalp.

“A girl could get used to this,” she murmured, raising her hands into one of the shower jets to rinse the pumice off as Tony sluiced water through her hair and then worked conditioner in. He dropped his head to her shoulder and kissed the crook of her neck.

“A girl is going to Latveria for nearly six months,” Tony shot back.

“Are you trying to convince me to stay?” There was a husky tone to Sally’s voice. Tony shook his head against her shoulder, showering her with droplets of water from his hair.

“No. I agree that it’s a good opportunity. I’m curious about the car myself, and truth be told, I wish I was going with you. Next to nothing is known about Latveria. I’ve heard the leader is a science guy. He might be interesting to talk shop with,” Tony explained.

“Oh, so this is all about working a visit into my schedule? Conjugal as well, I suppose?” Sally laughed, turning to rinse the conditioner out of her hair. She turned the tap to stop the flow of water, and stepped out of the shower into the bathroom, leaving Tony dripping in the stall.

“Hey! I soaped your back!” Tony protested. Sally threw a towel at him with a grin.

“Yeah, and I soap yours, and then I know exactly how that ends. Clint, alone, eating a gross of chicken wings. Dry off. We’re hanging out with your friends tonight,” Sally wrapped her towel around her and padded into the closet, pulling a pair of faded cut-offs from the pants hanger Tony had put them on. She pulled a tank top and plaid shirt down as well and started getting dressed. Tony had followed her into the closet and stood watching her, towel wrapped around his waist.

“What?” She finally asked, pausing to shoot him a bewildered look. He shook his head as though he was waking from a trance. He stepped closer and pulled her into his arms, slipping his hands in the rear pockets of her cut-offs. He sighed and rested his chin on the top of her head. Sally wiggled free and scowled at him. “Dude. I feel short enough. You don’t need to rub it in.”

Tony tipped her chin up and dipped his head to kiss her, his lips brushing lightly across hers. “There is nothing I would change about you.”

“Well, I would change you. Out of that towel and into some clothes. I’m starving,” Sally teased. As if on cue, her stomach growled. Tony laughed, but acquiesced, dressing quickly so they could meet Clint.

Steve, Sam and Natasha were around the island in the kitchen, and Clint was passing around bottles of beer when the elevator opened for Sally and Tony. Clint looked toward the elevator with a smile, and then scowled at them. “You are supposed to be food,” he grumbled, passing a bottle of beer to Sally as she boosted herself up onto a bar stool at the counter.

“Unfortunately, Clint, cannibalism is frowned upon,” Sally shot back, winking. Natasha choked on her beer and gave Sally a bemused look. Her eyes shot over to the elevator as it opened again, letting off a security guard carrying three large brown paper bags. Clint intercepted him quickly, bringing the bags to the kitchen and tearing into them. Everything was boxed up in thin cardboard, and as he pulled boxes from the bags, he tore the lids off, sniffed them and slid them across the counter as he announced what they were. He flinched at one box and shoved it toward Sally.

“Those must be the maple Sriracha. They smell sweet but my eyes are watering,” Clint blinked a couple times, and then turned his head and sneezed. Sally laughed and grabbed a wing, biting into and closing her eyes.

“Mmm. Yeah. That’s them,” she nodded, and turned to Natasha. “Where’s Wanda?”

“She wanted to go to Sokovia, and help with the rebuilding. She left yesterday,” Natasha stole one of the maple Sriracha wings and took a bite. “Oh, that is good. Steve, you said you like spicy, try these wings.” Steve stepped around the island and reached into the box, hopping on the stool beside Sally in the process. He reached across Natasha for his beer and a plate and loaded his plate before leaning back on the stool.

“Clint says you sent his car to paint tonight,” Steve offered. Sally nodded. “Do you think you could find some time while it’s out of the garage to talk about my Harley?”

“I think I could find a few hours for you. If it means I get to play with your bike, you could probably have a whole day,” Sally replied. Tony glanced up from his plate, his brow furrowed.

“I figured we’d have some time –“

“Car’s gonna be gone for three days, babe. I can do some goodwill work with your team for some of that, so that next time you screw up, they forgive you quicker,” she winked. Tony scowled but didn’t argue.

“You’re good with him,” Steve commented. Sally shrugged.

“I’m not some star-struck twenty-four-year-old model that can be steamrolled by a pretty face with a lot of money.” Sally winked at Tony as she said it, hoping he knew she was just giving him a hard time.

“Not even a little star-struck?” Tony interjected.

“Not even a little,” Sally laughed. Tony put on an exaggerated pout and pulled a second beer from the fridge, popping the cap and taking a long drink.

“She did say you were pretty, Tony. And considering you’re physiologically the oldest person in the room, that should make you happy,” Natasha pointed out.

“Grandpa here is ninety-some years –“

“Grandpa looks about twenty-five. Thirty when he’s cranky,” Sam argued. Sally sat back and ate her wings; content to watch the group squabble back and forth like a family at a reunion. Steve turned his head to look at her, and caught the amused smile she focused on Tony.

“You’re already in love with him,” Steve commented, his voice low so that it wouldn’t interrupt the flow of the debate happening between everyone else. They’d moved from comparative age to idiosyncrasies with one another’s uniforms.

“Probably,” Sally agreed, keeping her voice low.

“I meant it, you know. You’re good with him. Good for him,” Steve reiterated. Sally nodded.

“That’s a two-way street, Steve,” she said. “Something just fell into place, you know? Oh, crap. Do you know? I’m sorry. That’s probably too personal.”

“It’s okay. My words faded a long time ago,” Steve sighed. “At least, I think it was a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry, Steve,” Sally started.

“I guess even though I was alive because I was frozen, hers went after I went into the ice. When I woke up, and everything was different, what finally convinced me that Director Fury wasn’t pulling my leg was seeing how grey my words were. Not the strong, dark letters they’d been, but soft and grey, blurry at the edges.” Steve looked at his beer and then up at Sally. “But yes. I understand how everything just suddenly feels right.”

Tony caught Sally’s eye and held up his beer bottle, offering another without saying anything over the heated argument between Natasha and Clint. Sally nodded, focusing on the two spies, trying to understand what they were arguing about.

“Good luck. They slipped into Russian while arguing about which gun is better when you’re on sniper detail.” Sam caught Sally’s confusion. She shook her head and took the beer Tony passed between the two of them.

“I’m going to go sit on the couch. Steve, do you want to talk about your Harley? My guess is you’re one of those rises-with-the-sun types, and I really want to sleep in tomorrow. If we talk now, you can use your morning for stuff you won’t need my brain for,” Sally suggested. Steve nodded and hopped off his chair, waiting for Sally to rise and start toward the living room before following. When Sally settled onto the couch, Steve sat on the loveseat opposite her. “So Pepper said it’s a 1943 Harley WLA?”

“Actually, it’s a WLC. The Canadian model. There’s not much in the way of WLAs left in North America,” Steve replied.

“No, the Russians seem to have a bunch still though. That’s the best place to source original parts, if you want them,” Sally offered.

“I’m okay with the idea of reproduction parts. That’s mostly what I wanted to talk to you about. Tools and parts,” he explained.

“I can probably find you a manual as well. We’ll have a look at it tomorrow afternoon, and I can help you determine which parts you need, and which you can salvage. I’ll get them ordered for you,” Sally thought out loud.

“As long as you understand that I really want to do this job myself,” Steve commented. “I’m perfectly capable of restoring it on my own.”

“There’s the grandpa,” Sally laughed. Steve furrowed his brow, confused. “My Pops is a vet. He could pull things apart and put them back together without a second thought. Your generation was really the last generation where things were built to last, and be repaired, and be something you only really needed to buy once in your lifetime.”

“Your grandfather served?”

“Yeah, he enlisted when he was in college, shortly before Pearl Harbor, but wound up in the European theatre instead of the Pacific. He was in the 107th,” Sally explained. “You actually rescued him after Azzano.”

“What was his name?” Steve leaned forward, his eyes locking with hers. His focus was a little unsettling. Sally understood though. Pops would have been the same way if the tables were turned.

“Jacob Manners,” Sally provided.

“Jake? That’s your Pops? Is he still –“ Steve trailed off. Sally nodded.

“Yeah, he sold the farm last year. He said ninety-three is too old to be trying to manage crops. Mum has been trying to convince him to move out to Seattle, but his arthritis is pretty bad, and the doctor said the wet climate would probably be too hard on him. So he bought himself a little condo in a retirement community, and has the nicest front garden. He misses his shop and garage,” Sally grinned. She’d grown up with stories of the Howling Commandos, men that her Pops had served with. He’d admired Steve, but Dum-Dum Dugan had stood as his best man when he’d married her Gran.

“Your Pops could fix anything,” Steve laughed. “We had this beat up Jeep that he put back together for us. Had to be a dozen times. We kept taking it into action and getting it shot up. Jake would just roll his eyes and get it running again.”

“I heard many stories about that Jeep,” Sally laughed. “Uncle Tim lives to tell the story about the time you used the shield to deflect a bullet that probably would have hit the gas tank and blown you all to kingdom come. He said right after that, you tossed the shield in the direction of the shot, and knocked the sniper from his perch. He says it was one of your signature moves.”

“Uncle Tim?” Steve asked, brow furrowing again.

“Dum-Dum kind of adopted Pops as a little brother,” Sally started.

“They stayed friends,” Steve finished.

“Don’t tell Tony, but my first kiss was Uncle Tim’s grandson Eric. We were six,” Sally winked. Steve sat back on the loveseat and laughed.

“I’d love to see Jake sometime. You should probably think about getting married before he passes,” Steve teased shooting a look at Tony, who appeared to be deeply into a conversation with Sam.

“Just for you, Steve,” Sally chuckled. “I’m going to drag Tony back to his place. But I’ll meet you around lunch time in the garage, and we’ll go over that bike of yours, okay?” She stood, and put a hand on Steve’s shoulder, giving him a light squeeze. Or trying to. The guy was rock solid.

“I’ll bring my notebook and a sharp pencil,” Steve winked. Sally smiled as she moved toward Tony, pinching one last wing and chewing the meat off of it as she circled the counter. She slipped her arms around Tony’s waist from behind him, and wiggled under his arm when he moved to pull her close.

“I’ll say this much, Sam. There is nothing like just being able to discover, and create. Gimme a fully stocked lab, and I’ll build you a new universe. That’s what guys like Asimov and Heinlein were getting at with their writing. Imagine it, and then make it reality. If you want your wings to do shit other than just flying, sit down with me and tell me what you want. And I will get working on them.” Tony took a drink from his beer and put it on the counter. “But sit down with me tomorrow. I think my girl has a date with Steve, so I’ll be solo. Right now, there is a terrible movie sitting in the DVD player waiting for us.”

“Sure thing, Tony. I’ll come by sometime after lunch tomorrow,” Sam agreed. “Sally, Clint was telling me you’re a runner. What’s your distance? I could use a partner that won’t lap me every six minutes.” He shot Steve a dark look, and Steve laughed from across the room.

“I can’t help that you’re slow, Wilson!” Steve called. Sally smiled at Sam’s increased scowl.

“I bounce between three and five miles,” Sally replied. “I am also what Steve would consider slow.”

“Run before you meet with Steve tomorrow? Three miles in the park?” Sam offered. Sally blushed and glared at Clint. He winked and went back to his beer. “Hey now, don’t be mad at Clint. You’re saving my ego from yet another thrashing from Steve.”

“Sure. Eleven okay?” Sally agreed, laughing. Sam nodded.

“I’ll meet you here.”

“Thanks Sam.” Sally knew he had probably offered so that she could still run despite the media exposure, but she appreciated the offer, and how he had couched it. Despite some of the dysfunction that the team threw off, they seemed pretty close. Looking out for one another was one thing, but looking out for her felt special. Sam must have read her mind.

“It’s amazing how quickly you get octopused into the family,” he winked. Sally laughed and nodded.

“Thanks again, Sam. Really,” Sally smiled.