#in practice however it's packed with young couples walking slow as fuck and holding hands so you can't go around them

[thistransient]

CNY lights by Shuanglian Station 雙連站

[boop-le-snoot]

masterpost • main masterlist • taglist & faq

previously on...

Chapter 3 is finally here. Sorcerers need their shopping done, too. Beyonce/Wong platonic ship (joking)! And finally some action, more witchy stuff. Bucky whump because I have a saviour complex. Stucky cuteness moment. Some blood/gore in this chapter.

My insides clenched, seeing the yellow and blue notice taped to my door - the building manager rarely left notes, so whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good. I had managed to wind myself up into an anxious frenzy by the time I had gone inside and locked my door behind me, immediately thinking I would have to exhaust myself by turning to magic to keep a roof over my head.

For once, the news turned out to be positive: a neighbor was being evicted and turned in to the police for stealing packages. The building manager urged the tenants to report any missing items and apply for a refund when possible, apologizing for the inconvenience. I wondered what prompted this, basically unheard of in NYC, act of kindness as my altar stared at me with mocking amusement, pointing out the obvious by its mere presence.

Grinning to myself, I texted Odette - predictably, she was happy for me, happy that my protection spell had turned out strong and steady, and added a few tips of her own for my spell to stay that way. It felt like I'd grown invisible wings, those days, with all the possibilities open - and never once did I let myself entertain a thought of getting back at an enemy of the past for longer than five seconds.

Sure, it was perfectly human to consider making the cheating ex go bankrupt or make sure the college professor, that failed a couple of students each semester as a 'reality check', trips and face-plants at least once a day... I mean, who wouldn't experience a malicious sort of joy from petty revenge?

But I found my powers were best applied with a positive result in mind. My friend's cat was the first test rat- I mean, living creature I had practiced my healing spells on. The eleven year old kitty was struggling and both me and my friend loved the critter dearly - so the short, but tiring spell I performed yielded exactly the results I was expecting. Odette said something about genuine love backing up the magic, and- well, Dumbledore much?

On humans, it turned out, it wasn't nearly as simple. I didn't know what I had expected would happen after performing nothing short of a whole improv-performace type of ritual right in front of my very puzzled but hopeful friend with chronic asthma, but it wasn't the sheer exhaustion that ran bone-deep and left me bedridden for a whole day.

Odette visited my dingy apartment with her signature enormous purse full of vials she spoon-fed me and trinkets she strategically placed in and around my immediate sleeping area. "There, there," the woman patted my head as I pitifully moaned at the ear-splitting headache. "The first one is always the most challenging. After all, if it would be easy, everyone would do it."

I understood that. But at the same time, it felt unfair that no good deed went unpunished. I told Odette so, raising my voice to the best of my ability as she rummaged around my kitchen.

"Nothing in this world comes out of thin air, whatever you decide to give has to be taken from somewhere," she explained patiently. "People like us are considered hedge witches. We do solitary work and draw most of our energy from the Earth, from mother Nature. We cannot perform miracles, however, the cost of our spells are very low," I felt an immediate peak of interest at the simple yet effective explaination she gave me. "We remain mostly human. Gaia* is kind and generous to the ones who pay respect," Odette continued over the clatter of pans and pots. "There are other kinds of witches - who take from other people, who take from the dead. But taking something by force always leaves scars and taking something from the dead means bringing a piece of them back to places it should not be."

I pondered the words as Odette brought the kettle to a boil, the whistling shriek piercing through my skull like a sharp projectile. "What about Voodoo practitioners?" I couldn't hold back my curiosity.

Odette cleared her throat. "What is left of them is mostly not human. Their gifts are great but the costs are greater. They can live far, far longer than the average witch but their souls will know no peace, just like the souls of the dead they anchor to themselves over time," Odette entered the room with a bowl of tangy, creamy liquid that smelled like pumpkin soup. "We do not bestow any judgement upon our brothers and sisters but it is our duty to inform the young." She cast a pointed glance towards me, passing me the soup and a wooden spoon I didn't know I had. "This should help you recover. Take tomorrow off if needs be."

She left shortly afterwards and I hadn't much strength than to use the bathroom, wash the rune-engraved spoon and curl up in my bed, only waking up when the meager light shone over my face from the window. Sleepy and fog-tinted, the early morning NYC was damp and windy as I stuck my head out of the window to soak my sleep-heated head in the cool air.

As uneventful as the day at the café was, I still wasn't up to 100% energy-wise, but the long walk from Jeremy's to Odette's was pleasantly invigorating. I didn't find the cold autumn moisture displeasing; the small raindrops kept me awake and alert. Odette nodded in muted pleasure as I clocked in and returned the special spoon back to her. The runes on it were interesting; I had taken a picture of them for research purposes, fully intending to craft myself something similar.

"Odette has taken on an apprentice," Wong's voice had me take in several deep breaths in preparation for the inevitable fuck-fest on my patience. "She has been avoiding me. And the girl is painfully slow."

I didn't hear the answer of Wong's companion over the rustling of the boxes I was hastily shoving in their places before the Asian man's temper grew foul. More foul. Ugh. The sharp ding of the bell had me yelling a, "Just a second please, I'll be right with you," while trying to keep my tone polite.

Wong's sour face and a list of items required greeted me as I flew out of the backrooms, noticing the locked doors of Odette's office on my way out. Wong's companion stood at the far end of the store - his robes quite different from the ones I'd seen people of their kind wear, his lithe, tall figure seeming strangely familiar. I squinted my eyes at his back. "Is this all you need?" I waved the list around, increasing the volume of my voice.

The tall man turned around and I could only gape. He, in turn, also froze, the stern, unfriendly expression losing heat and giving way to perplexed wonder. "I had placed an order, for sorcerer Strange," Tony's boyfriend eyed me somewhat sheepishly under Wong's concerned gaze.

I nodded, eyeing Wong in turn, letting satisfaction nestle a warm ball in my chest. Stephen's look of displeasure had turned onto his... Colleague. By the time I finished retrieving Strange's order and packing up the items on Wong's list, the Asian man had left, leaving Stephen to sheepishly pretend to examine the books on the furthest shelf. I waved the paper bags as he took long strides towards me, his fancy, large necklace glimmering under the lights.

"So, how long have you been working here?" Sorcerer Strange asked after I told him the total.

The cash register beeped loudly, coins clattering on the desk as I counted out his change. "Some time now," I shrugged noncommittally. I felt his magnetic eyes gloss over my adornments, the star necklace, the various rings; I could practically feel him coming to his own conclusions. "Long enough for your colleague to get an attitude with me," I had to make sure he knew I would be taking no bullshit from him - or anyone else, for that matter. Odette's opinion on his kind was firm and I was heavily inclined to agree.

"Hmm, I see," Strange was equally as keen on hiding his curiosity. It was a funny thing, really, that we, being adults that we were, treated this encounter like some sort of a dirty secret. "Don't take it personally. Wong is like that with everyone," The man briefly scratched his beard with a gloved hand before pocketing his change and picking up the bags. "Except Beyoncè, maybe," the wink he threw me was positively mischievous as it caught me off-guard, giving him a fox-like appearance.

I sighed as the door shut behind him. Pretty white boys - the ultimate human disasters.

I had no time to dwell on them, however, as something - or someone, hit downtown with all the malicious intentions to wreak havoc on the innocent civilians calmly going about their day. Mutants and people who knew Odette came in hordes, scrapes and bruises and strange wounds that required imminent healing.

My boss was no rookie, she dutifully accepted each and every single soul, looking worse for wear with each minute. Not being able to withstand seeing her drain herself, I simply took over the simplest tasks - and she said nothing, just gave me a nod, instructed to use whatever I needed and write it down somewhere along with the name of the person who required the healing.

As the battle raged, the crowds thinned but the ones who managed to come to Odette's spouted more serious wounds, obviously a result of them fighting back. Mutants covered head to toe with coats and hats and robes, for me to swallow my shock when they undressed - horns, tails and weird skin textures were on the far end of the normal. I dutifully extracted small pieces of information from each and every person I treated.

Yes, the Avengers were winning. No, there aren't many people hurt, most of the damage is cosmetic. Yes, the villain of the week is as stupid as usual. It was like a mantra. Odette poked her head into the spare room every now and then, her eagle eyes briefly scanning over me to make sure I wasn't exterting myself.

As I applied the healing salve to a tiny, pink-skinned woman, bandaging up her hands, my boss entered and closed the door behind her, setting down on the creaky chair with a loud thud. "Just got the news, the Avengers apprehended the terrorist," she sighed long and slow. "We've done all we could, the next few days I'll be handling house calls so you'll be here on your own. I'll probably see you in a few days, don't hesitate to give me a call if something comes up," Odette seemed to be barely standing up, yet when she tore off a few pieces of her jewelry and chucked them into a big tin can under the sink, the glossy sheen in her eyes melted away.

"Okay," I mumbled under the watchful eyes of the mutant woman. "Will there be more people coming in today?"

"No," the woman in front of me snorted. "SHIELD is prowling the streets. They are not fond of us, they always say we intervene unnecessarily even though we willingly do their dirty work so our children could be safe," the bitter, harsh tone took me off-guard.

I had to admit, there was reason behind her words. "Will you be able to get home safely? I have a puffy coat and a hat you can borrow." Figuring an expensive taxi ride would be a better alternative to something terrible happening to the woman, I offered her my winter clothes.

She smiled at me, razor blade teeth and large, red eyes the kindest I'd ever seen on a person. In the end, she took the clothes, promising to bring them back in a few days and Odette gave me a parka that was too small for her frame - despite it smelling like someone's grandma's attic, I found it to be quite lovely vintage. The puffy knitted scarf she added felt like warmth and safety - she had to have knitted it herself, for I knew, handmade items carried a significant amount of energy in them.

The shop was eerily quiet as I cleaned and scrubbed the stained, dirty floors and disposed of the bloody clothes and bandages in the tiny, odd fireplace in Odette's office - that was a thing most peculiar, it burned everything I put in it, but had no chimney, no place for the smoke to exit. Magic.

Something banged loudly against the entrance door. I let out a startled shriek, broomstick falling out of my hand and adding to the sudden cacophony of noise as the figure behind the stained glass slowly slid down the door, a deep, male voice groaning something incomprehensible loud enough for me to hear.

Grabbing a large serrated knife we used for mincing the bones of small animals, I made quiet steps towards the door, seeing a large, obviously humanoid figure helplessly lean on the door. The man's arm glinted chrome black and gunmetal grey in the low light. "Sargent Barnes? Bucky?" I whisper-shouted, carefully plying open the door.

He lifted his head, blood dripping down from it, his face looked like someone went to town on it with a meat mullet, his eyes were unfocused and couldn't keep a straight line. His flesh arm leaned heavily on the door frame, the prosthetic hanging limply, dragging his whole body to its side. It must've weigh a ton.

"Я должен найти капитана Роджерса," he whispered.

I didn't understand Russian at all but I could make out the name of his boyfriend. Which made sense. Bucky looked severely concussed - I idly wondered what exactly they had been fighting, what could have given a freaking super-soldier such a brain-leaking injury. "Sargent Barnes, follow me," I put on my big girl shoes and used my momma bear voice, towing the man behind me.

He, too, weighed a ton, as I stumbled, helping him into the chair in the spare room that became my healing station for today. The longer I looked at Bucky, the less lucid he grew, eyes falling shut as he murmured something in jagged Russian, slurring his words.

There was no time to think about the consequences of exposure of my witchcraft; mortar and pestle, herbs and salves flying everywhere, I assembled a healing spell and memorized the according ritual in what felt like record time. He was bleeding all over the chair, fresh crimson blood pouring out of his nose and mouth and it was all I could see.

I hadn't known true terror until the blood that poured out turned black. Whatever it was in him, it was poisonous - my protection charms grew hot, scalding as they left marks on my skin; powering through the pain and unable to turn my eyes off the convulsing Barnes, I finished the chant just as the flow of vile, tar-like liquid suddenly ceased. It pooled around his feet, dripped down the armrests and matted his long hair. It reeked, too, of copper and putrid meat.

Bucky had passed out somewhere mid-spell, the slow, steady breathing bringing me my own sense of calm. To say that I was drained would be an understatement - my vision swam and my world spun on it's axis as I unlocked Odette's office to messily rummage through a cabinet for the emergency tonic I knew she kept there. I chugged the vial, an avalanche of almost anxious, jittery energy hit me like a freight train - exactly what I needed.

I bought myself a couple hours of time. Cleaning up the sludge around Bucky's feet and removing the outer parts of his gear was easy as he remained as relaxed as a cooked spaghetti noodle. The amount of weapons he had on him was impressive, but those weren't what I was looking for - his phone. It was dead, so I plugged it in, waiting for the 5% to show and bringing it to his fingertips, hoping he used the print recognition instead of the password option... And I lucked out.

"Hello, this is Star, I found a Bucky. Tell Dr. Strange to come get him, he knows where I am." I texted the "Stevie ❤️" contact, my inner fangirl self squealing at the dorky name of his boyfriend's contact in Bucky's phone. Shortly afterwards, I went ahead and snapped a picture of myself next to sleeping Bucky, figuring out some actual proof wouldn't do any harm in this bizarre situation.

The answer didn't let me wait long. "10 minutes" came the first text, and shortly afterwards - "Is Bucky okay??????". I had to snort at the amount of question marks before honestly replying "He will be ☺️" and putting the phone back in Bucky's pocket. I cleaned up and attempted to lift Bucky up, succeeding in waking him up into a half-lucid state, probably courtesy of decades of training and whatnot, to at least drag him to the front of the store. I wasn't particularly comfortable with strangers seeing the backrooms.

Bucky leaned with his back against the counter, ass flat on the floor and a towel with a cold compress pressed to his head when the doors all but flew open, revealing Captain Rogers, still in uniform and Stephen Strange, arguing with his boyfriend, both still suited up and bloody and grimy.

"Uhh," I blinked owlishly, causing the men to stop bickering and stare first at me, then at Bucky. "I think he hit his head," I offered weakly, backing up slightly at the amount of burning eyes staring at me.

"Shortcake, that you?" Tony's eyebrows rose as he surveyed the bodega, the items on the shelves, the black and red blood stains on my previously pristine, yellow shirt.

"Now is not the time, Tony. Go with Rogers, make sure the medical is prepared for Barnes and disable his arm," Strange barked out authoritatively, shooting me a puzzled but compassionate look. "The portal is open. I'll talk to Star, find out what happened." He advanced towards me as Captain picked up Bucky bridal-style as tenderly as he could while making sure the compress stayed on.

"Keep that tone fo the bedroom," Tony's voice was more than displeased as he shot me and Strange a hurt look, but followed Steve into the golden circle right outside the door before it sparked shut.

"Now, now, what happened here?" The sorcerer's voice lowered into a soothing drawl as I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. My shoulders sagged, fingers twitching with anxious energy. The man extended a gloved hand, briefly squeezing my shoulder. "It's alright, take your time."

Damn, did I look that bad?

Taglist: @couldntbedamned @mikariell95 @letsby @sleep-i-ness @toomanyrobins @mostly-marvel-musings @persephonehemingway @schemefrenzy @lillsxd @bluecrazedandbeautiful @slothspaghettiwrites

[houseof-harry]

What Happens in Jersey Pt. 2 | G.D.

A/N - hey guys!!!! Here’s part 2 of What Happens in Jersey! Let me know what you think, I’m always looking for feedback. Read the first part here

Word Count - 5.6K

Warnings - talk of abortion

Summary - Now you’re pregnant with Grayson Dolan’s baby and you have no idea what to do.

***

Recap:

“Your pregnancy test came back positive.”

Suddenly you felt nauseous again, but not like all the previous mornings.  How could you be pregnant?  He pulled out, you’re on birth control.  And that’s when you remember.  You didn’t take it a for a couple days after New Year’s Eve because you had run out of your current pack and your next pack was at school.  You hadn’t noticed your missed period because your birth control had made it almost non-existent to start.

The doctor continues to speak but you only hear the blood rushing through your ears as pure panic sets in.  You don’t even have Grayson’s number.  He’s a fucking LA YouTuber, he wasn’t even on the same coast as you.  You weren’t even friends.

As soon as you get out of the doctor, you call Jessie.

“Hey Y/N, what’s up?”

You’re blinking back the tears as you walk to your car.  “I need to tell you something.”

***

You’re full on sobbing by the time you actually reach your car, opening the door and getting in.

“Y/N, you’re scaring me, what’s going on? What do you have to tell me?” You can hear Jessie practically screaming through the phone, but it sounds like gibberish.  Maybe you should have waited until you calmed down to call anyone.

“I – I – I’m –“ you can’t seem to get enough air in your lungs to say what the doctor had just told you.

“Hey, Y/N, listen to me.  Breathe.” He exaggerates his slow breathing so that you can hear it through the phone.  You do your best to match your inhale to his, and exhale with him too. He always knew what you needed in order to calm down.

Eventually you are able to actually breathe a bit without sobbing and shaking.  “Do you wanna tell me what’s up?”  You can hear the concern in his voice.

“I just went to the doctor,” you rush out, scared to actually say what’s going on.  Once you say it out loud to him it becomes real.

“Why? Are you good? Is this about your stomach?” You can hear movement from his side of the call. You can only assume he’s getting ready to come meet you wherever you are.  This is all super out of character for you. Yes, you’ve had anxiety and even panic attacks, but nothing so bad you couldn’t speak or manage to calm yourself down. The fact that you called him unable to even speak probably made him scared enough to not be able to sit still.

“I’m, uh, I don’t even know how to say it,” you shake your head.  He was gonna be so disappointed in you.

After your night with Grayson, something had shifted slightly with you and Jessie.  It almost seemed like he wanted to protect you from Grayson.  He wasn’t a huge fan of the fact that you had slept together. It felt like you both just kind of put it to the back of your minds and moved past it when you had gotten back to school. However, that would be impossible to do now. Grayson is the only person you’ve slept with the past six months.

“Hey, you can tell me anything, you know that.” His voice softens significantly. He’s trying to make you comfortable, something he always tended to do. IF you think about it, this is the first time you’ve been scared to tell him something.

“I’m pregnant,” you cover your mouth as soon as you say it as if it will take it all back.  Your eyes squeeze shut, waiting for a response.

Silence.

After about a minute, you hear him take a deep breath. “Jess?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m here.”

You wait for another few minutes as he continues to process what you just told him.

“Can I come to yours?” You ask.  You don’t want to go home right now. Being in your apartment would mean being with the girls and they will be able to tell instantly that something is wrong.  Jessie is the only one who needs to know right now.

“Uh, yeah.” He sounds hushed and distracted.

“Okay, be there in ten.” You hang up and buckle your seatbelt.

The drive to Jessie’s feels like two minutes, not ten.  Your mind is going a mile a minute, trying to go over everything the doctor told you so that you’d be able to tell Jessie more once you got there.

You’re six weeks pregnant.  You’re sure it’s Grayson’s.  You have to set up an appointment with your doctor at home next month when you’re on spring break. You have to stop taking your birth control and start taking prenatal vitamins.  You should also probably start eating more vegetables or something. Because you’re fucking pregnant. Oh god.

You park in a visitor spot at Jessie’s apartment complex.  You text him that you’re there and walk up to his door.

When he opens it, he has a bit of crazy eyes going on.  You can’t tell if he’s scared, mad, excited, or anything. Maybe that’s how you look too.

You open your mouth to say something, but the tears come rolling down again. He reaches out and pulls you into a tight hug, closing the door in the process.  You wrap your arms around his middle and shove your face right into his chest.  You start to sob again and he rubs your back to try and soothe you.

“I’m sorry,” you say. You don’t even know why. It feels like you need to apologize to someone, though.  Maybe yourself.

“Hey, woah. No apologizing. Everything will be okay, we can figure it all out. What did the doctor say?” He puts a hand on your cheek to lift your face from his chest. You’re grateful he seems a bit more responsive now than he was on the phone. He looks you in the eye while he rubs his thumb over the redness on your face due to your crying.

“I’m six weeks. She gave me a bunch of papers and stuff about what I should be doing and all of my options.”

“What options?” He had to have known what you meant, but he wanted to be sure.

“If I don’t want to keep it,” you look away when you say it.  You felt some guilt even saying the words out loud, even though there’s nothing wrong with that. It was hard to think rationally right now, though.

Jessie nods and rubs his hands up and down your arms. “Is that what you want?” He asks.  He seems to be walking on egg shells, just as unsure as you are.

You shrug. “I mean we graduate a little over three months. I wouldn’t be able to start a job until after I had the baby, and getting hired as a new mom fresh out of college with no experience would be next to impossible. How am I supposed to take care of a child when I won’t even have a place to call my own and a job to feed us?” You word vomit, your hand resting on your stomach. It was obvious to Jessie that those were excuses for yourself, not for him.

He sighs. “Y/N, people will help you if you want this for yourself. Who’s the dad?” He bites his lip.

You roll your eyes at him. “Come on Jess, you know its Grayson.”

He sighs and nods. He grabs your arm lightly and guides you to sit on his couch.

“What?” His lack of a response plants a seed of anxiety you hadn’t even thought of before.  How will Grayson react. Does Jessie know something you don’t?

“Nothing. What do you wanna do right now? Movie? Shop for anything you need? Let me see what the doctor gave you,” he reaches for the papers and you hand them over.  You sit there quietly, arms crossed, lost in your thoughts.  Would Grayson want you get rid of it? Or would he just not be involved? It wouldn’t surprise you, him and his brother have been so successful since they moved to LA.  Jessie would tell you about how when they left they went all alone so young, but they managed to not only survive but thrive. All this baby would do is throw a wrench in that plan.

“What if I just don’t tell him?” You wonder aloud, almost more to yourself.

“What?” Jessie looks up from the papers, confusion all over his face again.

“I don’t know. His life would probably be easier if I just don’t tell him. Then he won’t feel the pressure.” You nod along as you like the sound of it more and more.

“Y/N,” he rubs his hand over his mouth, clearly thinking hard about what to say next. “You can’t do that. It’s his responsibility as much as it is yours. You shouldn’t go through any of this alone.”

“I’m not! I have you, and I won’t be able to hide it from any of the girls for more than a few weeks, and I’ll tell my parents and my aunt.” You list off, trying to convince him of your plan. Or more yourself, if you’re being honest.

“It’s his baby, too. If he finds out after the fact no matter what you do, that would be so much worse.” Jessie almost seems reluctant to defend him, but that’s how you know he’s right.

“Well, I don’t even have any way to contact him. Maybe I should wait a bit, make sure it’s real or something.” You refuse to look at him, knowing how ridiculous you sound. He laughs a bit.

“Pretty sure the doctor’s note makes it real. We can call him together if you want,” he offers. Suddenly, you’re breathing fast again.

“Right now?” You squeak out.

“I mean what better time than the present, right? You’re only getting more pregnant the longer you wait.” He raises his brow at you.

“Oh god I’m getting more pregnant every day!” You lean forward, elbows on your knees while your hands cover your face. “Can I wait until the weekend?” You mumble, only peaking one eye open to look at him.

He smiles softly at you. “Yeah. Whatever you’re comfortable with.” He puts the papers on the table and pulls you into his side. He rubs your arm as you get comfortable next to him, wrapping an arm around his stomach.

“Thank you. Let’s watch a movie now.”

***

The weekend comes much quicker than you wanted it to. You spent Friday night in with the girls, convincing them that you were just still sick but still wanted to hang out with them and have a bit of fun. They all got wine drunk and you watched Jersey Shore, because trash TV is only better when you’re three glasses in. Or I guess, they all were. You were one glass of cranberry juice in, without your usual vodka.

“You’re sure you don’t even want a glass?” Your roommate, Payton asks you while holding the wine bottle out to you.

“Nah, it’ll just upset my stomach more,” you shake your head, grabbing your water bottle. It wasn’t even a lie, you bet.

You meet the rest of them in the living room and settle in for your night. It felt good to be normal knowing that things were about to change soon.

A couple hours of Pauly and Vinnie and you’re ready to go to bed. You had managed to escape your friends’ questions about your sickness and lack of drinking for the whole night. Or so you thought.

As you’re getting into your pajamas, there’s a knock on your door.

“Yeah?” You call, just as you’re pulling your shirt over your head. Payton walks in.

“Are you good, Y/N?” She sits on your bed, watching you as go through the rest of your bed time routine.

“Yeah. Why?” You’re putting toner on in the mirror, so you can’t look at her directly.

“You just seemed off tonight. And you’ve been sick for a while. Have you considered going to the doctor?” She asks.

“Uh, yeah. I think I’ll go this week,” you lie, regretting it instantly. Now she’s going to ask how it went and you’re going to have to lie again. Payton was usually good at reading you and you weren’t sure how long you’d be able to keep it up.

“Okay, just wanted to make sure. I’ll come with if you want, I know how you feel about needles.” She gets up and smiles.

You look at her and smile back. “Thanks.”

She leaves and you get into bed. The only thing worrying you more than keeping this from Payton was telling Grayson tomorrow. And the fact you were pregnant in the first place.

***

You wake up to your phone ringing. You answer without checking to even see who it is.

“Hello?” You answer groggily.

“Hey, I’m here.” You hear Jessie’s raspy voice. It’s clear he just woke up, too.

The plan was to call Grayson and then hopefully be able to go to breakfast after to lift your spirits. That is, if you don’t puke.

“Oh, okay.” You sit up, rubbing your eyes.

“Dude, it’s 11:30, we were supposed to be doing this a half hour ago,” he laughs. “I could get used to not being the latest one to everything.”

“Hey, I’ve been sleeping more because I’m sick and pregnant. You’re just late.” You chuckle.

“Just come get me, I’m at your door.” You can hear the smile in his voice as he hangs up. You rub your eyes and go to the door, opening it for him. “Did you literally just get out of bed?” He looks at your pajamas.

“Shut up. We have some emotional preparation to do.” You let him in and shut the door behind him. You both walk back to your room and he jumps on your bed.

“Where are the ladies.” He wiggles his eyebrows jokingly as you begin to get ready.

“They’re at a pregame, they decided to darty because they didn’t go out last night. No one to eavesdrop, if that was your concern.” You’re deciding how much makeup to wear. What is the appropriate look for telling a guy they got you pregnant?

“I didn’t think they’d eavesdrop, I just didn’t want anyone to know if you didn’t feel comfortable with it.” He watches your ceiling fan turn. You can tell he’s not really present.

“What should I say?” You ask as you finish up your makeup. You decided a more natural look would do. If anyone has something to say about it instead of focusing on the pregnancy, that sounds more like a them problem.

“’Hey, remember that one time we hooked up? Well I’m pregnant and it’s definitely yours. Surprise!’” He jokes, sitting up. You role your eyes.

“I’m scared I’m gonna see him and just freeze.” You stand and pick out a t-shirt and leggings. “I’m gonna change. Text him to make sure he’s up.” You say as you leave.

When you come back from the bathroom, he’s got his phone propped up on your pillow so that you could both be in view.

“He’s waiting for me to call.” Jessie turns to you, smiling.

“Cool, call him.” You say as you throw your pajamas in the hamper, climbing on the bed next to him and fixing your hair a bit.

As the ringing continues, your anxiety worsens. Before you can get too into your thoughts, Grayson’s smiling face is on the phone.

“Hey Jess! Y/N? What’s up guys?” He sounds so cheery for it being almost 9 am where he is.

“Hey Gray. We’re, uh, just hanging out. You know, typical stuff. What’s up with you? Are you with Ethan?” You sit there quietly, biting your li, letting them lead the conversation.

“Nah, he’s still asleep. I just finished my breakfast.” He shows his empty plate, also showing his shirtless chest off. You can feel your cheeks flushing and you try not to think about it. Or, more specifically, the last time you saw his naked chest.

“Good stuff,” Jessie nods, not really sure what else to say. He looks at you while Grayson brings the phone back to his face. He’s also waiting for someone else to say something.

“So,” you shuffle uncomfortably next to Jessie, not really sure how to start.

“You didn’t just miss my cute face?” Grayson laughs, making you smile a bit. When he doesn’t get the reaction he expects, he realizes this is serious. “Is this about our agreement?”

Your eyes widen. He thinks you gave him an STD. “Oh my god, no its-“ you catch yourself about to say worse, but you don’t know if you mean that. “I’m still clean.” You nod.

Jessie looks between the both of you confused, shaking his head a bit before he looks at you again.

“What’s up then?” He also has his gaze on you, reminding you of how intense it can feel.

“I went to my doctor because I’ve been sick all week,” you begin. This feels ten times worse than telling Jessie. Grayson is nodding along, looking confused.

“I’m pregnant.” The phrase hangs in the air all over again and it doesn’t feel good. You and Jessie are both looking at him for his reaction, and he seems quite calm.

“Whose is it?” He asks. A laugh bubbles up from your chest before you can hold it back. Before you know it, Jessie is laughing, too.

“Yours, dumbass,” Jessie laughs out, shaking his head. That’s when you see the panic in his features. You start to freak out too, feeling like you’ve ruined his life. And his brother’s.

“I’m sorry.” You say, rubbing your hands up and down your legs to try and calm yourself down.

“Hey, don’t apologize. I didn’t have a condom either.” He breathes out, almost like he’s choking.  “You’re sure it’s mine?”

Your cheeks turn red as you nod. “There’s, uh, there’s been no one else.” He coughs, covering his mouth and what seems to be a bit of a smile before he gets serious again.

“What did the doctor say?” He looks at you guys again, and it looks like he might cry. It tears your heart up. “Are you guys healthy and stuff?”

You nod. “Yeah. I’m six weeks along. Well, I guess almost seven. She, uh, she told me about all of my options.”

“What options?” Oh my god, no wonder him and Jessie are friends. You look at your wall, not wanting to look at his face while talking about this.

“Options for if I want to end it. Or, I guess us. If we want to end it.” It felt weird to talk about you and Grayson as a collective group making decisions together. You still barely know the kid.

“Jess, can we talk alone?” He asks. Jessie nods, getting up and rubbing your shoulder before he goes to your living room.

“How do you feel? About these options, I mean.” He sounds almost resistant to say it.

“I don’t know, I didn’t really want to think about it until I spoke to you. Didn’t want to get stuck on one decision just for us to decide something else.” You mumble, you voice sounding weak and quiet.

“Y/N, look at me.” He waits for your eyes to meet his before he continues. “It is your body, you get to make any decision you feel is best for you. I would never try and change your mind or make you do something you don’t want to.” He pauses, waiting for a response from you.

You nod, debating what you should say next.

“Do you want me to get an abortion?” You ask. His immediate reaction is for his eyes to widen. He didn’t expect you to be so blunt, but you thought it would be better to just say it instead of dancing around it like you had done all week with Jessie.

He rubs his face, opening his mouth a couple of times but not actually saying anything. You nod, taking that as his response.

“It’s just two pills because I’m only six weeks along.” You tell him.

��Woah – Y/N – no.  That wasn’t me saying I want you to do that. I just didn’t want to scare you. I’ve always felt like I’ve been put on this Earth to be a dad. I don’t want you to make any decisions based off my wants, though. If we did keep this baby, I would support you the whole pregnancy and we would raise a baby together.” Your eyes glaze over the more he speaks. You’re continuing to stare at him wordlessly and he gives you a concerned look. “Y/N?”

You shake your head. “I just wasn’t expecting you to say that,” you shrug, whipping under your eyes to catch any tears that had started to fall.

“Hey hey hey, don’t cry. It’s going to be okay,” he brings the phone closer to his face as if that will bring you closer. You shake your head again.

“How is it going to be okay? I graduate in May. What do I tell the places I apply for jobs? ‘Oh hey, by the way, I’m going to be needing maternity leave in a couple months.’ Grayson, I’m already going into a male dominated field, it’s going to be so hard to find a job but I can’t have a baby without a job and I don’t have a house but you also can’t have a baby without a place to live and I-“ a sob cuts your rambling off as you cover your mouth. You look back at the phone and see the pain in his eyes as he watches you break down. “I’m just scared and I don’t know what to do. I’ve been so independent my whole life, but I just don’t know what to do. And now I’m crying on the phone with a stranger-“

“Hey woah, okay. Y/N, breathe.” You sniffle and try to calm your breathing down. “First, I’m not a stranger, I’m your baby daddy,” he chuckles. You smile a bit at that, which makes Grayson actually able to take in a breath. “Second, if you weren’t terrified, that would be way more concerning. The only reason I’m not panicking either is because I genuinely think I’m in shock.” He shakes his head, rubbing a hand over his face. “What do you want to do?” He asks, only after your breathing has regulated a bit.

“I don’t know Gray, I already told you that.” You sigh, bringing your knees to your chest and wrapping your arms around them.

“Come on, that’s not true. What’s your gut tell you?”

You bite your lip as tears slowly start to pour out of your eyes. “I wanna keep it,” you mumble, barely even audible. Your eyes widen. You didn’t even expect yourself to say that.

“What was that?” Grayson asks.

“I want to keep the baby,” you say, lifting your head from your knees, a bit more confident this time. “Nothing good in my life has come easy, it’s no shocker this isn’t any different.” This makes him smile a bit.

“Me either. Conventional isn’t really my style.” This makes you giggle as you nod in agreement. “So…” he bites his lip as your eyes meet. You raise your eyebrow. “Are we having a baby?” He asks.

“I- “ you shake your head, looking at the wall, another tear falling down your cheek. “I’m scared to say it.”

“Why?”

“Because every rational part of my being knows that logistically this is not what I should be doing, but the rest of me knows I’m going to. I can’t not, you know?” You turn to look at him. He can see the pure fear in your eyes and he just wants to be there and hug you.

“Yeah. Wanna say it together on the count of three?” He chuckles. You start laughing and shake your head.

“That’s stupid, we don’t have to do that,” you look back at him and he’s already smiling at you.

“Yes, we do. It’ll make it easier. It can be the first thing we do together.” You instantly feel your heart warm and the tears are suddenly falling again. “Hey, don’t cry again. What, doing things with me makes you that upset?” His tone is light, you can tell he’s just trying to make you smile.

You shake your head. “No, that’s not the problem. What you said was just really cute,” you giggle as your cheeks go a bit red once you realized what you said.

“So you’re down?” You nod. “1,2,3-“

“We’re having a baby,” you whisper, like it’s some big secret.  Well, it is.

Meanwhile, Grayson screamed it, instantly making you crack up. You grab the phone, hoping it will make you feel somewhat closer to him.

However, your moment of happiness disappears as the anxieties crawl right back into your brain.

“Grayson,” you get his attention. He looks at you and immediately can see your off again.

“Hey, what’s going on?” His eyebrows furrow.

“How the fuck are we gonna pull this off? You literally live on the other side of the country. How am I going to pay for all this?” Your free hand covers your face because he’s seen you cry for literally half an hour at this point.

“Don’t worry about that. We will figure it all out. I’ll figure it out. Your job is to be happy and healthy,” he shakes his head at you, concern written all over his face.

“Oh, so you’re a sugar daddy? Yeah, alright. I don’t take handouts.” You had been raised to be an independent person. Your dad didn’t come from much and worked hard to be where he is now. He had always told you to make your own ends meet, because you could never rely on anyone else.

“It’s not a handout when it’s for my kid and their mom.”

“Why are you so nice?” You groan, making him laugh.

“I’ve never had a complaint about it before,” he shines his pretty smile at you, making your lips turn up too.

“I just don’t get how you’re so down. We’re young. And we don’t even know each other,” you bite your lip.

“Yet. But we’ll talk every day and go through all of this together. We’ll definitely be well acquainted at the end of that,” he chuckles, “and, I’ve always said I was meant to be a young dad. If this is how it’s meant to be, then this is how I’ll do it. We’ll do it. That’s how we’ll do it.” He winks at you.

“It’s the size of a blueberry, you know. I googled it,” you smile at him. He immediately covers his eyes with his hand, his smile growing bigger. His hand slowly slides down his face.

“A blueberry. A fucking blueberry. We have a blueberry,” he shakes his head. “Y/N, I will do anything you and our blueberry need, okay? When’s your next appointment?”

“Over spring break with my doctor back home.”

“Text me the dates, I’ll be there,” he pauses. “Where do you live?” He bites his lip to try to hold back his laugh. It hits you both that you don’t really know each other at all. At least he’s able to find the humor in it, it makes you feel better. Otherwise you probably would have freaked out more.

“New York.  Well, that’s where I grew up. My parents moved down south when my brother graduated high school, so I kinda live with my friends and family all over. My doctor is about 45 minutes from there so I’ll probably spend my spring break with my best friend from home.” He nods along to your explanation.

“How far is that from Jersey?” He asks as he stands, walking into another room.

“Like an hour from Jessie’s.” He sits down at a desk and starts typing when he nods again. All of a sudden you see his door open and you hear another voice.

“Gray?” Ethan calls. “Who’re you on the phone with?” He asks. Grayson turns to him, stuttering over words that won’t come out. Ethan leans in to see you. “Y/N? Hey.” You smile at him.

“Hey Ethan.” If he couldn’t tell your cheeks had dried tears all over them, he could tell you’d been crying by your voice. He looks back to Grayson and then at you again.

“Well. I’ll be heading out now,” he waves awkwardly. He gives Grayson a questioning look before leaving the room. Grayson turns back to look at you with a sympathetic smile on his face.

“Sorry about that,” he giggles while shaking his head.

“It’s okay.  I’ll be seeing a lot more of him anyways.”

“Am I allowed to tell him?” You bite your lip, thinking about what the doctor said.

“I mean technically we’re not supposed to tell people until the first trimester is over, but I already told Jessie and I am definitely going to have to tell my best friend when I go home. Tell the people who you’d want to support you if something goes wrong, I guess,” you watch him as you speak. He nods.

“Can I say something without sounding like a douche?”

“Seeing as you said it like that, you’re definitely going to sound like a douche but say it anyways,” you laugh and so does he.

“Can we try to, like, keep this off the internet for as long as possible?” You raise your brow at him.

“Oh, me and blueberry are gonna hurt your image?” You smirk, just trying to push his buttons.

“No, more like I’m worried the fans will try to hurt you and blueberry. That’s why Ethan and I try to keep our relationships out of it anyway. I wanna go through this with the people who are most important to us so that we can make it as normal as possible before we introduce you and blueberry to the internet.” Hearing him call the baby blueberry makes you tear up once again, and hearing him want to protect the both of you made you feel warm inside. Suddenly you were missing a person you barely even knew.

“Oh my god, sweet girl, I gotta stop making you cry,” he laughs. If you weren’t already blushing, you definitely were now. “I promise I’m not trying to.”

“I know,” you wipe your eyes. “And yes. We can pull a Kylie Jenner. Except it will be a lot easier because you’re not the one who will look like they taped a bowling ball to their stomach.” This makes him laugh harder.

“You’re right.” He calms down a bit.

You hear your door open and you turn around to see Jessie walking in timidly.

“Is everything okay?” He asks gently, like he was scared of the answer.

You smile softly at him. “Yeah, we’re okay.” He comes and sits on the bed with you again, looking at Grayson.

“You good too?”

“Yeah man,” he shrugs. “You know how long I’ve been waiting for a dad.” Jessie looks at the both of you, shocked.

“You’re keeping it?” He looks down at your stomach.

“Yeah,” you look down too, putting your hand back on your stomach.

“No shit. Alright. You’re having a baby. Damn,” he laughs.

“It’s a size of a blueberry, you know,” Grayson pipes up, watching the two of you interact. You both look back at the phone.

“This is so fucking crazy,” Jessie exclaims, shaking his head.

“Make sure she takes care of herself, Jess.” Grayson’s face seems a bit somber watching the both of you together.

“Oh my god no. Absolutely not. I am still a functioning human being. Me and blueberry will be just fine. I eat my fruits and veggies, I’m gonna get prenatal vitamins, the whole nine. I absolutely do not need two men trying to care of me while I go through something they’ll never understand,” you cross your arms.

Grayson looks a bit taken aback, but Jessie just smiles at you.

“There she is. As long as she’s got that fire in her, she’s doing well, Gray,” Jessie tells him, looking at him on the screen.

“Good. Ethan keeps texting that we have to start filming. Y/N, text me if you need anything, okay?” It feels like he’s looking directly into your soul sometimes.

“Yeah, of course,” you nod.

He smiles and waves at the both of you before hanging up. You look over at Jessie.

“You’re having a fucking baby. You are having Grayson Dolan’s fucking baby. Jesus Christ,” he laughs while covering his face, laying down on your bed. You lay next to him.

“Yeah. Are him and Ethan, like, really successful? I knew they were doing well for themselves, but he literally told me he would ‘take care of everything.’ That takes some dough,” you turn your head to look at him.

Jessie looks to be contemplating what to say next. “Have you looked them up before?” He turns to you and you shake your head no. “I’d recommend not doing that, then. He can definitely figure out everything you’ll need, though. Just don’t want you to get caught up in that part of him without getting to know him first.” You take a big breath in, not really sure what to think of that answer. “Don’t freak yourself out, though. He’s a good guy,” Jessie sighs. You rub your hands over your stomach, getting lost in your thoughts. That’s when you remember something very important that you don’t know about Grayson.

“What’s his number?”

“Grayson’s?” Jessie laughs out.

“No, my other baby daddy,” you joke.

“I’ll give it to you and then we’ll head to breakfast?” You sit up and nod.

“Thank god that’s over. Things can only get better from here, right?”

***

Part 3 is up!!!!

[stilloutofmyvulcanmind]

NSFW Alphabet - Miles Strasburg

(screencap is my own)

Soooo, I spent the weekend watching the Darrow & Darrow movies, and fell head over heels for Miles...which resulted in this. I’m not sorry.

Warnings for a whole lot of smutty headcanons

A = Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

Miles is practical. If there’s no water by the bed (or wherever you happened to do it), he’ll go get some. His priority is making sure you stay hydrated. Miles is also a snuggler. After sex, he’ll want to cuddle for as long as you both possibly can. He likes when you lay with your head on his chest or when he can spoon you from behind. As long as there’s a lot of skin to skin contact, and he gets to touch you and tell you how amazing you were, he’s happy.

B = Body Part (Their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Miles loves his hands, mostly because you love them. He knows that you love how big they are, how long his fingers are, and he loves what they can do to you. As for you, Miles knows it’s a cliché, but he loves your smile. He loves your bright smile that can cheer up the worst day, loves your sleepy morning smile, loves the bedroom smile you give him to let him know just how much you want him, loves the soft, sated smile you wear after. Just everything about your smile. 

C = Cum (Anything to do with cum basically… I’m a disgusting person)

Back to being practical, Miles is gonna keep it wrapped up, even if you’ve been together for a long time, and probably won’t even think about going without a condom until you bring it up. Which means that nine times out of ten, cum doesn’t really get involved. That being said, with some encouragement from you, he does occasionally enjoy cumming on your stomach and chest. 

D = Dirty Secret (Pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Miles really wants to fuck you in his office. He thinks about it a lot. He wants to sweep everything to the floor, lay you back on the wood, and absolutely make a mess of you. He’d start by going down you, forcing you to bite down on his tie to stifle your moans, then he’d fuck you. He’d take away his tie, instead kissing you to swallow down both of your noises. And afterwards, if someone mentions a damp patch on his tie? Just some grape soda.

E = Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

Miles doesn’t have the most notches on his bed post, but he’s not inexperienced either. He had his share of encounters during Law school and his first few years of being a lawyer. He’s had a lot less since his wife passed, only really having a couple of partners. He’s far from rusty though, and he’s a quick learner...

F = Favorite Position (This goes without saying. Will probably include a visual)

Miles isn’t afraid to shake it up, but he’s a bit of a traditionalist. He likes to keep it simple and stick to missionary. He loves being able to look into your eyes and kiss you at whim, and enjoys feeling your chest heaving under his own. Mostly, he just loves that he can pin your hands to the bed with his own (something he knows also drives you wild.)

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous, etc)

Though he’s been known to be serious on occasion, usually Miles is pretty goofy. In fact, he thinks that if you’re not having some fun during the act, it’s being done wrong, and you’re breathless giggles that he turns into moans, drives him wild.

H = Hair (How well groomed are they, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.)

Miles has never really thought about grooming down there too much, especially when he’s out of a relationship. However, when the two of you start getting serious, and sex comes onto the table, he does keep it trimmed and tidy.

I = Intimacy (How are they during the moment, romantic aspect…)

Miles loves to be intimate and romantic. Given time, he enjoys setting the scene. One time you came home to find the bed covered in rose petals, and candles lighting the room. Miles spent the night making love to you, and it was probably the best sex you’d ever had.

J = Jack Off (Masturbation headcanon)

In the early days of your relationship, Miles jacked off quite a lot thinking about you. He was so enraptured, how could he not? Though he’d be hard pressed to admit it, he still does sometimes. If you haven’t seen each other in a few days, he’ll masturbate thinking about what he wishes to do to you, and vice versa. 

K = Kink (One or more of their kinks)

Miles isn’t super kinky, but he does enjoy using his tie to blindfold you sometimes. He also purchased some silk rope to tie your hands to the bed too. Miles enjoys sensory play, so keeping you like that means you get to enjoy everything he does to you even more. On occasion, if he’s had a stressful time, Miles does like it if you switch places, and you tie him up instead. He’s also a big fan of the erotic massage, both giving and receiving.

L = Location (Favorite places to do the do)

Miles’ ultimate favourite, hands down, is the bedroom, where you can have complete privacy to explore each other, and take your time.

 M = Motivation (What turns them on, gets them going)

Miles loves seeing you in a well tailored suit. There’s something about the way the clothes hang perfectly on your body that drives him wild. He is, also, a stereotypical man, and if he comes home to find you in something skimpy and sexy, he’ll think all his Christmases have come at once and that he’s the luckiest man in the world.

N = NO (Something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Roleplay. Specifically roleplay that involves abuse of power somehow. Whilst he obviously understands that it is just an act, and that you’d be consenting, the idea still makes him exceptionally uncomfortable. 

O = Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc)

While Miles will always enjoy you going down on him, there’s just something about seeing you on your knees, taking pleasure in giving him pleasure, his preference is always to go down on you. Hearing your moans and the way you chant his name as he uses his mouth to bring you to your peak, is absolutely one of his favourite things ever.

P = Pace (Are they fast and rough? Slow and sensual? etc.)

Miles has been known to get a little rougher, especially if things aren’t going well with a case and he’s frustrated, but usually, he prefers to go slow and take his time. If he can, he’d spend an entire night making love until you’re both sweaty, exhausted messes.

Q = Quickie (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc.)

Miles is definitely not opposed to quickies if the occasion pops-up (that one time during the office Christmas party immediately springs to mind,) but he definitely prefers to take his time.

R = Risk (Are they game to experiment, do they take risks, etc.)

Miles really isn’t that risky. He doesn’t mind the odd experiment, but only if it’s pretty safe. The riskiest thing the two of you have done was have sex outside one time when you went hiking together.

S = Stamina (How many rounds can they go for, how long do they last…)

Miles isn’t as young as he used to be, so he can’t go for that many rounds. The maximum rounds you’ve had together is two (both of which were fantastic so you definitely weren’t complaining.) However, with his age and experience, comes stamina, and Miles can last a long time if he wants to. Which he does, because he always wants to make sure you come as many times as possible before letting go himself.

T = Toy (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?)

Miles doesn’t own any toys, and he’s never thought about buying any either. If you show him one of your own though, or go out to buy one as a surprise, he’s going to thoroughly love helping you use it. Maybe a little too much. You’ll be walking funny the next day for sure.

U = Unfair (How much they like to tease)

Oh Miles is going to tease. It takes him some time to get comfortable enough not to stumble over himself, but once he does...he loves it. But, he’ll readily admit, that between the two of you, you’re the superior teaser. Especially when you’re out somewhere public, and start whispering in his ear what you’re thinking, or texting him the odd sexy pic during the day. It drives him mad.

V = Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make)

Miles is pretty quiet, he tends to hold back a bit, not wanting to come across too eager or embarrassing. Half your fun though, comes from dragging every little noise out of him. Your favourites are the small breathy moans he makes when you’re sucking him off, and the half-choked groan when he comes.

W = Wild Card (Get a random headcanon for the character of your choice)

Since meeting you, Miles’ new favourite item of clothing to wear is a tie. He loves when you grab him by it and pull him into a passionate kiss (usually shortly after a trial where you watched him be his awesome self and put a bad guy away.) And the first time you suggested using it to tie your hands or use it as a blindfold, his brain almost broke, but fuck, he loved seeing it on you like that.

X = X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants, picture or words)

Look at those pants. Miles is packing. He’s long and thick and curled a little to the left, and every time he fucks you he fills you perfectly, and leaves you craving more.

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

In between relationships Miles’ sex drive has never been that high. But when he’s with you, he can never get enough. Even after being together a long time, Miles still craves the touch and feel of your body against his. One of his new dreams is to whisk you away on a vacation where neither of you get out of bed the entire time.

Z = ZZZ (How quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

He hates to admit it, but Miles can’t stay awake for as long as he’d like afterwards. If he had it his way, he’d stay awake long enough to watch you sleep a little first, (he loves how relaxed and at ease you are asleep in his arms,) but that’s not often the case, especially if you’ve been at it awhile. You never mind though. You love watching him sleep as much as he does you, and it means you always fall to sleep with a smile.

[the-storyteller-and-her-soldiers]

Carrying You From The Cold

Title: Carrying You From The Cold

Word Count: 2,056

Warnings: Some cursing, but nothing in malice. OTHER THAN THAT JUST FLUFF!! Also some poooooooooossible oocness but I think I got it good!

Ship: The Ripper’s Rose (Raiden x myself) Also Jetstream Sam x my friend Ace

Summary: When walking home from my bank well after midnight, I stop at my friend’s house for a visit. But upon seeing how exhausted I am, she’s not letting me go home alone

A/N: Just for clarification Ace and Alyssa are the same person. The same goes for Raiden and Jack! Enjoy!

Eyes of ebony gazed into the window’s glow while the frigid wind whipped Rebecca’s back without any remorse. She stood on the crooked porch of her friend’s home that had been converted into separate spaces for multiple families waiting to be granted access once more to her haven from the hellish temperatures. When the door creaked open, amethyst wisps of hair smacked against her rosy cheeks and temporarily blinded Rebecca to the figure who greeted her.

It wasn’t the slim yet toned figure of her childhood friend, Ace, but instead, one that towered hers both in height and muscle. It was a man with long umber shaded hair tied into a ponytail, chocolate eyes that always seemed to burn brighter than the sun, a scruffy five o’clock shadow, and a long scar sliced deeply into the right half of his face. Using her fragile fingertips that had gone numb long ago to brush the strands away, a warm smile spread across Rebecca’s face.

“Ah, the lady of the hour. Come in, come in, Alyssa has already set up the fire and a drink for you.” The man greeted, beckoning Rebecca in with two metallic fingers before stepping aside.

The smile on her chilled lips grew even brighter as Rebecca gave a short bow. “Thank you, Sam, and happy holidays! I would’ve dropped by sooner to wish you well but school, work, and the government trying to screw me over have left me drained. I hope you have been enjoying the last bit of the year though and that Acey has been sending my regards.”

“She always does. It’s honestly very sweet that you look past my past with Jack to still wish me well.”

Rebecca let out a quiet laugh as she wandered what was practically her second home growing up. “It’s no biggie! As I told you shortly after you came back, you are my sister’s husband so if she trusts you to keep her arms open for you then so can I! But if you ever hurt her...”

“Yes, I know, I know. You’ll have my head, and by you, I mean that your guard dog Jack will. But you know that without Alyssa I’d not even be alive, honestly.”

The polite conversation slowly shifted to a slightly wary silence as the two made their way to the kitchen. Yet any reservation that Rebecca held was thrown to the softly howling wind as she finally met with her sapphire haired sister-figure. Her slow steps burst out into a stumbling dash as she rushed to tackle the older woman by two years in a hug.

“Acey, you’re an absolute lifesaver! You know that right? It’s so fucking cold out there, it’s not even funny!”

A slight smirk crept on Ace’s lips as she caught the shorter girl in the tight embrace. She only removed one of her hands to flick Rebecca’s forehead before returning it to where it had been rubbing her back to help warm her up. “And you’re absolutely insane, you know that, right? What’re you doing out so late? It’s twenty to one in the morning and twenty-five to zero outside! And why didn’t you have anyone accompanying you?! You know what kind of assholes are out there, especially at this time of night!”

The laugh that left Rebecca’s lips this time was much more sheepish as her dark chocolate gaze flicked from her life-long friend to the floor, then to the kitchen table where two mugs filled with steaming liquid sat.

“Um well, because I’m a dumbass! I bought myself a last-minute Christmas or early b-day present but I went below my net in my bank account and I’m forgetful sooo I just went out to restore it! It was only a quick thirty-minute walk one way, so I’ll be home in no time! I just wanted to stop by since I know you were awake!”

Ace shook her head, but the smile on her lips remained. Out of all the people in the world, her little sister would be the one to do this. She was always drawn to the silence of the sleeping world, finding it even more enchanting to wander around while everyone else slept. A slight exhale left Ace’s lips as she took a moment to admit to herself that she had probably been the one who planted that seed of wonder when the two were much younger.

Her slightly scolding gaze of thrashing seas melted to a still lake as she looked Rebecca over and found no wear or tear. “Well, at least you bundled up this time, but you still feel like a friggen ice-pack!! C’mon, sit down; the marshmallows I put in our cocoa are gonna melt into nothing soon enough!.”

So the two took their respected seats and began sipping on their drinks, with Rebecca once again deeming her sister as a lifesaver for the sweet treat. The two stayed there for about fifteen minutes, with Sam also pulling up a chair to join them, talking about everything that came into their thoughts. Ace could see her little sister growing more exhausted by the minute though. From the way, her eyelids began to droop and how the weight of her head was becoming too much to hold up, she knew that Rebecca wouldn’t make it in the land of the conscious too much longer. So when the young girl slid back and shakily stood up to bid the hosting couple a good night, Ace simply walked to her side and forced Rebecca to plop down back into her chair.

“What makes you think I’m letting you walk home?”

Rebecca’s heavy eyelids shot wide open as she looked up at Ace. “I-I only came for a visit! There’s no way in hell I’m letting you let me stay or drive me back! I don’t wanna be a bother!”

Once again, Ace flicked Rebecca’s forehead. “One: You’re never a bother. Two: You’re right around the corner. Three: I will not let you go back to walking another fifteen minutes all alone, so if I won’t drive you back I know someone who will. Heard from a source he was working late anyway, Sam can you call Raiden for me and let him know that his girlfriend is trying to make a dumbass decision again?”

Rebecca tried to protest, squirming around and insisting she was fine but Sam smirked and remarked how he was on it. Ace just brought her to the couch by the heater in the living room to let her rest.

Sam stood nearby in the foyer as he dialed his old enemy and current work-rival, silently pondering if the cyborg with silver shaded hair would even answer. The phone had begun its fourth ring and he then wondered if getting ahold of Wolf would be a better way to get in contact with him. But before he could get too far on to that train of thought, there was a soft clicking sound before a familiarly raspy voice spat,

“What the hell do you want?”

Although there was no way that the stormy gazed man on the other end of the line could see him, Sam slowly raised his hands in a surrender gesture.

“Always so defensive, aren’t you Jack? Don’t worry I’d like to keep this short as well so I’ll just get to the point. Your little kitten is at my house, it was something about buying a gift then wanting to go to the bank to manage her funds. She stopped by to visit with my Alyssa and now wants to walk herself home--”

“What?!” Raiden growled before there was a short pause. 

Sam could only imagine him gritting his teeth together and pressing his foot further down on the pedal. Thinking back on the comparison he had made about him earlier, it took all his willpower for Sam to stifle the chuckle reverberating in his chest as he thought further on the mental image. The idea of the oh-so-infamous ‘Jack the Ripper’ acting as nothing more but a scary guard dog to his innocent and kitten-like girlfriend was something that Sam never thought possible. But then again one could say that Sam was in a very similar position with his wife, so who was he to judge?

Before Sam could further explain the situation, he was silenced by Jack telling him that he’d be there in fifteen minutes and not to touch Rebecca in the meantime before he hung up. Sam chuckled to himself as he strode into the room where the two women were resting, slinging his arm around his wife and explaining the current situation.

Lifting her heavy head from Ace’s lap, Rebecca softly spoke, “Oh no... I didn’t wanna cause him any trouble. I hope he’s not mad. I can walk, really!”

“Mad at you? I don’t think he’s capable. But at me, well, there’s a possibility.” Sam assured, although his jovial tone revealed how little that mattered to him.

Rebecca let out a soft sigh of relief before laying her head back down to return to her rest, leaving the hosting couple to get cozy with each other. Yet within only thirteen minutes, there was a low humming of a car engine sounding from outside and only a minute after that the sound of knocking against their heavy wood door. Seeing how Ace was still occupied with her cat-like friend, Sam was the one to greet the other guest of the night waiting outside their door. Unlike before however, these two didn’t exchange pleasantries. These two barely exchanged a full glance before Raiden brushed by his host to greet his partner.

When he did enter the living room and took in the sight of Rebecca’s small stature all curled up in the warm scarlet hue of the heater, her expression free from any strife or worries. Raiden brought his hand over his mouth but that couldn’t hide the way the corners of his mouth twitched upwards or the warmth that coursed through him just by being in such a peaceful presence, her presence.

Once more Sam strolled in and stood beside Raiden, letting his arm rest on the other man’s shoulder. “See, there’s your kitten all safe and sound.”

Turning his narrowed gaze towards Sam, Raiden only told him to shut the hell up. His voice remained low as to not disturb the dear sight before him. But it was Ace who had broken the quiet as she cleared her throat.

“Will you two stop mind fucking each other? ‘Cause if you don’t then I’ll be the one having to stay with our cat the whole night.”

This seemed to snap the two out of their mental fighting as Raiden reached forward, easily scooping the small stature of his starlight into his arms. Without opening her eyes, Rebecca just wrapped her arms around her partner’s neck while a happy noise slipped from her lips. She then leaned forward to brush her lips against his cheek before immediately burying her face in the crook of his neck as though it was the safest place for her to be. Even though it was common knowledge how comfortable Rebecca was with her love, the wave of not only relief but pride that flowed through Raiden never ceased.

He then quickly said his goodbyes to Rebecca’s sister and her husband. Thanking them both for keeping an eye on her before carrying his partner out.

The sensations, however, tickled his cybernetics nerves and Raiden couldn’t help the soft chuckle that escaped his lips. “Long night, huh?”

“Mmmmm, needed something special... as a gift... Now I gotta recharge. It’s too cold.”

“Alright then, I got the car still running so it’s nice and warm for you. But next time, just call me if you needed to get out for a bit.”

Rebecca lulled her head to the side as she let out a breath of a laugh, “I know, but I wanted to surprise you with a gift, ‘cause I love you...”

Raiden leaned down slightly and pressed his lips against Rebecca’s forehead. “I don’t need anything else when I’m lucky enough to have you by my side... So, as I said if you need anything just give me a call, alright? I love you more than you’ll ever know...”

[nosferatyou]

If I Can Be So Bold: Chapter 1 (Jack White x OC)

Summary: Rosalie and her band “By Elliston” move from Nashville to Detroit to continue their music careers and move away from their demons. Rosalie notices an unhappy face in the crowd of their first show, and is instantly drawn to him. While she doesn't mind that hes easy on the eyes she does mind his less than stellar attitude about their music. 

Word Count: 3K

Warnings: Drug use, language, and mentions of abuse.

Notes: Well this has been brewing for A WHILE. I’ve been everywhere deciding on a plot, but after tedious planning this is finally a reality. I hope the 5 Jack White fans on here enjoy this. This will be a series so strap in folks. We got young jack. we got old jack. we got everything in between. (also series names are hard) Enjoy! Appreciate all the research i did!

Chapter Two

“Do you want another?” 

He holds his hand above me, his dark eyes burning holes into me, he pulls back more as if ready to strike again. As if on command, I recoil from the movement, feeling smaller than I ever had.

My head shoots up, suddenly back in Zoot’s coffee house. I blink a couple of times, trying to wake myself up. I couldn’t remember what she asked.

“What?” I asked her, phasing back into reality again, and not what was a horrific nightmare.

Sat next to me was my best friend and singer in our band was Harry, or Harriet if you want to be technical. Her head was held high, and she was practically jumping out of her skin with excitement, she seemed more than ready for our first show in a new town.

 She moved one of her two shots in front of me and asked again. 

“Are you deaf, Lee? I asked if you wanted another shot before we go on.” 

I quickly sat up and grabbed it off the makeshift bar, anything to shake off what I was feeling. 

We clinked our drinks together, and she yelled out a toast over the crowd of people behind us. 

“To fresh starts and new stomping grounds!” 

We clinked our drinks and quickly downed them, both of us coughing from our burning throats, but as soon as we saw our red faces, we burst out into laughter. 

“We are horrible at shots, aren’t we?” I said in between wheezes of laughter.

“We truly are.” She paused and grabbed the bottle. “One more for good luck!.”

It seems like this is the night, if any, to drink. 

We’d just gotten to Detroit. Like just got here a week ago and are already booking shows. We all decided to move her for reasons I won’t mention, but I’ll just say that we needed to switch up our scene a bit. 

Our band “By Elliston” had grown pretty big in the Nashville scene, we played pretty frequently at the Exit/In. Which is not the biggest venue in the world, but it means something for the Nashville scene. I mean, we technically shared a stage with Muddy Waters and BB King, so that’s at least something to brag about.

 We were known in the Nashville punk scene and had made some significant headway, but thanks to shitty people and our big egos, we decided to move to Detroit. Known for its great music and cars.

 And here we are at Zoot’s Coffee shop, which is arguably a coffee shop honestly. Off a dark street, that no person with money would venture down, and the outside seems like nothing is out of the ordinary, it’s just a house on a street. But the inside. Its a home, its a coffee shop, and venue for anyone who has an instrument. 

Its packed wall to wall with people, barely any standing room, especially near the stage, which is just a raised corner of the living room. Its the perfect venue for any rock band. Small and loud.

We (being the band and me) all lived for music, and it is our life’s blood.

 I grew up in a very southern home and was always surrounded by music, thanks to my dad. Id never met a man who loves Johnny Cash more than him or country music for that matter. Cash would always play through the house, or Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings. That kind of thing. However, I can’t stand to listen to any of them now. Overplayed and over appreciated is what I always said.

 That did spark something in me. I started playing guitar, thanks to my dad… and then I picked up the bass and then drums. And so on and so on. The moral is that If you hand me any stringed instrument ill know how to play it.

The other girls. Jo, Harriet, and Ezra. All got into good music when they were in high school, which also when we all met. Thanks to the high school band or orchestra. I played violin, as did Jo and Harriet, Ezra played the stand-up bass and continues with the bass to this day.

 Now we’ve all moved on the from hot cross buns and into a world of rock and roll. We used to be terrible, covering a lot of Alice in Chains and Nirvana. 

Graduating class of ‘93 for all of us, and we lived in a world of grunge. Five years later and we’ve since moved on from our teenage ways. We’ve embraced the blues and everything around it. However, we get a bit heavier than our inspirations, with my heavy fuzz and Harriet’s raspy yelps. With the look of punk dads (a lot of fun button-ups, dark makeup, and Dr. Martens boot) and the sounds of 4 angry ladies, we tore up Nashville.

We played a lot of house shows, met many a band, lost many a group, met a dumb boy who won’t be named (its John), and had a lot of fun tearing up the Nashville scene. 

As we grew, we played bigger venues, the show of ‘96 at The End being the staple of our career. We’d never played as good as we did then, and none of us are convinced we’ll play as well as we did that night.

 Either way, we were thrust forward, and our movement grew, we were making money from our shows, plus we played bigger venues. The Exit/In and The East Room, to name a couple. Last month we felt we needed a change of scenery to grow. As incredible, the Nashville scene is, its also quite small. Few venues and fewer people. That’s the other girl’s excuse, at least. 

We scrounged up what we could, found an apartment here, and moved as soon as we could. Unlike the others, I had to burn some bridges to get here, but more will be made here. We scooped out the scene the moment we arrived and set up a show here, and we are all buzzing to perform again. 

“So, who are we opening for again?” I asked as we headed to our van to start and unload our gear. 

“The White somethings.” Jo absentmindedly answered, wrapping her jacket around herself for warmth.

Harriet quickly cut in, “The White Stripes, you mean.” Correcting her.

We all arrived at our shared van and started grabbing our mess of cables and cases.

Harriet continued, “I’ve been asking around all night about them, you know. To learn about the enemy and such.” 

Jo popped her head up from the front seat and asked, “When have you had the time to ask around? I was with you literally all night.” 

Harriet picked up her small load for the night and parked a seat on the car next to ours, lighting a cig while she sat.

“I have my ways.” She said, wiggling her eyebrows before taking a long drag.

“Anyways, here’s what I’ve learned. They’ve been around a year, the drummer learned when they got together, and guitarist leads the show.” She spoke with her ever-present dramatics, waving the cig around after every word. 

“They can’t be that good if the drummers new, and they’ve only been playing a year.” Said Ezra, who was effortlessly carrying what seemed to be the world’s most massive bass amp. 

“I don’t know, Z. It seems agreed that they know how to rock a room.” Harriet pipped up.

“What does it mean for us then?” Asked Jo who’s joint was lit and already in her mouth, and arms were full with various drums. Explains why she was digging around the front seat.

I quickly cut in, not about to let them get nervous over a baby band. “Absolutely nothing. We’ve got six years on them. These Detroit kids won’t know what hit them, we’re from music city for god’s sake.” 

“That’s the spirit, Lee!  Now get your asses inside so we can set up.” Harriet popped off the car and started walking towards the door, beckoning us towards her.

“Feel like helping us speed up the process, Harry?” Joked Jo.

“You’re big girls. I’m gonna go try and spot the enemy.” She yelled back to us.

“Oh, have fun, we will just be here carrying your band!” I yelled out.

“I knew I could count on you, darling!” She called out, throwing a wink and cigarette butt our way. 

When we had finally reached the stage, the already crowded room had doubled in bodies. While most bands would be shaking in their boots, it only spurred us on more. While we all have our fair share of disagreements, we have one thing in common. Our shared headspaces before a show. All ready to take on anything, and our confidence is unwavering. The bigger, the better. It’s honestly what’s kept us together this whole time. 

Now all eyes were on us, and it was a tough crowd, it was dead silent. The girls and I all exchanged a look and nodded. I always started us off. We had a set opener, it never changed and worked every time, but after that was a free for all. I usually took charge and just chose whatever I was feeling, but if not me, then Harriet. The other two just flowed with whatever we threw their way.

I always started first with the heavy riff, joined in by Ezra, then Jo, and finally Harriet. 

The riff is what pulled them in, and it was always quite the sight. I got fully into it every time. It was dark, straightforward, and full of fuzz and feedback. 

By the time Harriet joins in its mayhem, I speed up and play power chords. It’s not slow, but it’s not so fast that it’ll make your head spin. 

As the short show progressed, we felt like how we used to feel every night. Pure joy, which is what we all fucking needed. 

We improvised. I mashed up whatever songs I even threw in a little Stooges to thank the locals for letting us play. Though I did notice the gaze of one oddball in the back, who was just… watching.

 While that doesn’t sound weird, it was sure out of the ordinary. He sat in the back, arms crossed leaned against the wall. The whole mysterious boy schtick was down pact. He wasn’t scowling, but he didn’t seem happy. It was off-putting and kept my focus over towards that corner of the room, but didn’t hinder the performance. Maybe it fueled it. 

The show couldn’t have gone better, though. The crowd did not hide their whoops and hollers when we finished our last song of the set. I was already riding that performance high and will be for the rest of the night. 

“Thanks for a great first night, Detroit! We’re “By Elliston,” and we hope to see you next time!”

Screamed out Harriet for a final goodbye as we headed off the stage, their applause carrying us off the small stage. 

The moment we put down our instruments, we about took each other out, tacking one another to the ground.

 As tradition carries, after every show, we used to just aggressively group hug, but over time we’ve grown more and more… excited. At one of our last shows at The Exit/In, I accidentally knocked out Jo by slamming into her too hard. If that gives any frame of reference to what our dog piles look like now.

“Ladies. If every show goes somewhat like that here, I think we will rule this scene.” Ezra said from the bottom of the pile, her words garbled from the mass of bodies. 

“Alright, Lee, get your ass off the top, you’re gonna snuff me out down here.” 

Without much warning, she slid out from underneath us, and the rest of us went down to the ground, causing all of us to erupt in laughter. 

Once we all straightened ourselves out, we went to the van and had a celebratory cig, the first of many “celebratory” cigs of the night, 

To my right was Harriet leaning against the tail light, and Jo and Ezra were sitting in the van next to me. Harriet broke the silence.

“You know I missed this, Lee. I’m glad you’re back.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean Har-” While talking I’d noticed three figures a few cars over walking to their own. My eyes widened in surprise. I grabbed Harriet’s arm suddenly and dragged her in with the rest of us.

“Shut up. It’s him.”

“What I wasn’t even talking-” she stopped and sat up to face, she wasn’t upset, but she sure looked confused. “Wait, who is “Him?” 

I looked around to check to see if he could hear. 

“I saw him when we were playing. He kept just… staring at me. It was weeeird.”

“Why’d you pull me in the car then??” 

“I panicked! It was just weird!” 

Ezra peaked her head out of the car in curiosity and asked. “Which one is it, the young blondie or the black-haired beauty?”

“Gah Jesus, not the child, Ezra! It’s the hot one.”

Harriet whipped her head out of the car to look at them, speaking a bit too loudly.

“Lee, you need to start off saying it was a HOT stranger! You have my interest now.”

“I’m going to kill both you. Get your dumbasses back in the car.”

We huddled back up, Harriet has a look in her eye that I don’t like.

“So, what’s the plan of action here, Lee?” Asked Harriet.

“Nothing. He’s a scowler. Sure a hot one at that, but if he can’t enjoy what we make, then what’s the point? When we played that stooges song, he looked like he was going to blow his top.”

“I think you’ve missed the point here, Lee. Point one,  You’re fresh out of a toxic sludge of a relationship. Point two, hot stranger. And finally. Point three, he’s a hot stranger in a band. I’m not passing up this opportunity.”

She gave us a wink, took a final drag of her cig, and hopped out of the car. She was going over to them.

“Harriet, you fucker don’t you dare,” I said with gritted teeth. “I’ve tackled you once today, and  I’ll do it again.”

She chuckled. “You’re all talk, kid. I’m off to make friends!”

“Bastard!” I yelled, leaping out of the car and towards her. I was too late, she just about ran over to them, and I was quickly in tow behind her. 

“Well, look at that, Lee! New people. Hi there, I'm Harriet, but you can call me Harry. and this is Rosalie.” She extended her hand towards the three strangers.

“Its Lee actually, she’s just an asshole.” 

All of them looked slightly taken aback. They were sure as hell wasn’t expecting her hand in their face, or two random ladies in their space. The newly named “hot stranger” was the first to speak up. He seemed rightly hesitant.

“I’m Jack, and this is my sister, Meg. This over here is my nephew, Ben. He’s our pinball wizard. Or Roadie in technical terms.” 

“Well, good to meet Y’all!” Once she shook ben’s hand, he spoke up. Man he was young. Was he maybe 16? Not over 18 is the point.

“You guys played a hell of a show. The Stooges? Blues? You’re going to give these two a run for their money.”

Jack shifted on his heels when ben mentioned this. Same face as before, and little less friendly than introductions.

“Well, its all that Tennessee blood in us. Now we arent from Memphis, but Nashville’s close enough, right?” Harriet winked at the kid. His cheeks flushed a deep red. 

Jack shifted his eyes back to me, but they wander somewhere else. 

I clear my throat, he snaps his head up and makes eye contact with me, a small smirk falls on his face. 

“Well, you all seem busy, so Harriet and I are going to go back over there. Have a good show.”

I grab her arm and try to drag her away casually.

“What the fuck are you doing?” She whisper yells to me. We find ourselves on the other side of our van, out of their sight.

“Lee, You have never been one to shy away from new people. Especially men. Remember us, fresh out of high school? You practically had a different man in your bed every night. That whole nervous persona is new. Go seduce a hot stranger!”

“Jesus, Harriet! Lower your goddamn voice! First off its Jack, And yes I know. Different times though. I’m not going to go over there in front of his sister and prepubescent nephew to try and get in his pants.”

“Aw, come on, Lee! It’d be fun! Plus, you need a fucking rebound, girl.”

“Okay, well, talk me into this when its not a family reunion.” 

“You got yourself a deal, Rosalie.”

We started to make our way back to the other girls.

“Alright, ladies, let’s go catch our headliner,” I said, opening the van doors. A plume of smoke rolled out of it the moment the doors opened. I grabbed the joint from Ezra, taking a hit before going inside. I handed it back to the faded bass player and headed back inside.

[littlelonelyjournalist]

The Grave of the Damned - Prologue...kinda

SUMMARY: A damned soul trapped in limbo develops a connection to a young man beyond the living, and she’s not ready to let go of that.

AUTHORS NOTE: In late celebration of halloween, I wrote this story plot because I want to use the ghost/witch lore from the Originals and put it into Teen wolf, but I’m really not good at writing (Writing convincing dialogue without making it cringy but doesn’t sound like a robot is difficult guys) so please enjoy it and mind the terrible writing!!

Time ran slow. It dripped amongst reality like honey, and the young girl’s knees felt like giving up under her. She had been running around the crowd of cement mausoleums for what seemed like decades, or years, or hours. It was confusing. Constantly running through the aisles, which seemed to drown in silver fog in the forever moonlight. Everything around her felt hazy, like a dream. A weird, fucked-up, nightmare-inducing dream. She didn't know why she was running, and for some strange reason she didn't want to find out. It was a maze of graves, she thought. It was all she could think about. A never-ending movement of shadows and deafening whispers. Deafening, but alone.  

  

But she wasn't alone. Occasionally, she would pass still figures, standing silent. Ghosts of the past. She would call out but they would ignore her in the open wind. Their eyes would never meet hers. They all would look so different, but somehow all of them wore the same detached expression, forever lost in the grey fog. Whispers, however, followed her every step, constantly screaming in her ears. Unlike the people dressed in coal black clothing around her, she found herself wearing her white lace summer dress swaying gently in the soft breeze. It lifted just below her knees and the neck line would reach right below her collarbone. It was short sleeved, so from time to time she would often rub her forearms in hope of warmth.
 

She ran along the cement walls until she came to a crossroads, catching her breath in the cold air. Her eyes darted left to right, until she came across an sight that stopped her dead in her tracks. About twenty meters in front of her, as if shining through the fog, was a young man with his back turned to her strutting confidently in the other direction. Her breath hitched in her throat. He wasn’t like the others. For one; he was talking, which she had never seen in this realm before except herself. Two; instead of the cold charcoal clothes that were worn from the strangers around her, he wore a red flannel shirt with a black backpack strapped over his back. And three; his figure didn’t match her surroundings. To her, it had been always nighttime, but it seemed like orange and gold sun rays had shone over his body. It was a strange sight, indeed, but something in her jumped. She took a breath, and stepped in his direction. Then another foot. Then another. Of course, she wanted to be cautious as something deep in the pit of her stomach told her that something eerie indeed lurked in the shadows, but that didn’t matter anymore. 

 

“Hello?” She yelled quietly, hoping that he was the only one who could hear her. “Can you hear me?” He didn’t respond. As she started to get closer, she could hear him talking and laughing at himself. She could now see that he had jet black hair that was cut neatly on top of her head, and had olive brown skin on the back of his neck. At times, he stayed silent for a couple of seconds while his eyes often darted to the left of him, as if waiting for the air to response back. 
 

“So you’re telling me that, for some unknown supernatural reason, you found it? Just, by accident? In the forest?” The boy asked. A couple seconds of awkward silence went by until he spoke again. “You see Scott? That, my friend, is what is going to make us legends!”
 

Scott? The pattern kept going back and forth as she awkwardly stared. “Hello?” She found herself walking just a meter behind him, in order to keep up with him. Without thinking, she reached her hand out and touched the strap of his shoulder. Instantly, the air was sucked out of her lungs and she gasped, feeling a wave pass through her so violently she was nearly knocked to the ground. The dark blue light of the moon was replaced by a bright atmospheric light, and the large stone mausoleums changed into parallel grey plaster walls beside her with emerald green lockers lined up neatly. The noise changed too, as the eerie whisper in her ear automatically switched to voices and laughter of what seemed to look like students holding books passing by quickly. Was she in a school, she wondered. Where even was she?  
 

“Excuse me,” A gravelly voice said. She whipped around to see an old man with dark eyes wearing a violet vest glaring directly into her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere?” She froze, terrified. His eyes were almost as black as coal, and wrinkly pale skin seemed to be slapped onto his face. She had absolutely no idea what to do. She had been so used to silence that she unconsciously held her breath. Okay, this has to be a dream. As if the universe heard her statement, a body of a young blonde and a cherry pink scarf had gone through her chest from behind. A rush of cold air ran through her spine, causing her to yelp in shock. The man’s gaze had moved from her face to the blondes face as he walked beside her down the corridor, yelling “Yeah, and don’t make me find you out here again. You understand?” The voices in the hallway died down, until only a distant murmur could only be heard. 

 

She looked back to where the boy was walking, to have realised that he had disappeared. Shoot. Cautiously, she took one foot in front of her and walked down to the other side of the hallway. Multiple dark red doors seemed to have been placed on either side of her, with lockers closing the gap between them. It was mostly empty now, as all the students seemed to rush off. However, she stopped in front of a large glass cabinet containing golden trophies and wooden plaques, that read, “Beacon Hills High School: Lacrosse Championship award.” 

 

“Beacon Hills...” She whispered. Nothing clicked in her mind anymore. It was just one vague canvas now, with more questions popping up than answers. She kept walking and froze again at a door with a small window. She peeked in to see a room filled with students behind desks, and there sitting near the back was the lanky boy, writing down what seemed to be notes in his book. She exhaled. slightly fogging up the glass. Ghost physics were honestly weird; you would think that ghosts could just pass through walls as if it were nothing, but it was definitely not true. She went to grab the door handle, but it didn’t budge. Great. Just great. Perfect, even. Because people couldn’t see her, she thought it wasn’t the best idea to knock on the door, but she needed to get to him. 

 

A couple of hours passed, until the loud bell rang through the halls again. Rustles of students and conversations rippled through the hair tirelessly. She had to basically cling onto the lockers like a spider to avoid the bodies of students, but she couldn’t see the boy from earlier, until she found a clearance and spotted him still sitting alone at his desk, scribbling down on the page in front of him. It was only for a couple of seconds, when he stopped suddenly and glanced up in front of him, feeling a strange tingling on the back of his neck. Quickly, she ducked again behind the door before he could see her, practically holding her breath for only a couple of seconds. Stiles furrowed his brows at the notes in front of him in confusion, before shaking off the goosebumps that began to form on his neck and packing his notebooks into his bag. She carefully watched him get out of his chair and leave the classroom, descending into the crowd of students. Oh, she wasn't done with him yet. 

 

Stiles continued to head down to the field. Stands and grey bleachers entrapped the massive oval of green grass, where he could see (and hear) coach hustling and shouting at the other teams members, gripping their lacrosse equipment. He didn’t even know why he would come to practice, as most games he would end up on the bench (which was normally called the “Last Resort Policy” by the coach.” Meaning, he would only be on the field if either someone was seriously injured or didn’t have enough teammates. But hey, it would look good on his resume and college application so it wasn’t all for nothing. He could see Greenberg getting grilled down by their coach, which wasn’t unusual if he was being honest. He finally found Scott and Liam talking on the other side of the field, taking a break while watching the rest of the team on their throwing skills for lacrosse, and ran up to them.

“What are ‘ya guys talking about?” He asked.

“Just discussing some of the new plans for Mason’s party. Lydia’s been on it since August.”

“Wait, really? I thought she was joking about that.”

“Yeah, turns out not really. I guess she has a thing for surprise parties. She even showed me her binder that has all the details in it.” Liam chuckled softly, twirling the lacrosse stick in one hand. Stiles smiled until something was caught in his peripheral vision. Far out on the bleachers stood a girl with what Stiles could make out as long brown hair and a white summer dress. He couldn’t see the details properly as she was far away, but he could feel her empty gaze looking upon the group as well as the cold feeling on his neck prickled his skin once again like in the classroom.

 

"Hey, is that a friend of yours?" Stiles asked. Scott and Liam both faced Stiles and turned their heads to the bleachers where Stiles was pointing at. 

 

"What do you mean?" Said Scott, staring at Stiles in confusion.

 

"I mean, the girl who is directly in front of us on the bleachers, currently staring at us. She right over-" Stiles turned to look back at the white stands, but couldn't see anyone sitting on the stands. It was entirely empty, in fact the whole bleachers were empty. "What-" 

 

"I don't see any girl, man." Liam squinted his eyes to try and focus on the bleachers, but he truly couldn't see anything. Maybe he was seeing things, Stiles thought. It wouldn’t be the first time. Throughout the past years, the line between what was myth and what was real blurred as he dove head first into the supernatural world. Stiles rubbed his eyes and look back up to the bleachers, but the figure disappeared from sight, nowhere to be found.

"Hey, Stiles?" Scott whispered, the normal fierceness in his eyes that he was pretty used to looking at had softened with worry. "Okay, you feeling alright? You haven't been losing sleep again, have you?” At that question, Stiles whipped his head to face Scott.

 

"What? No no I'm fine. That’s all over.” He lied, as the group walked to the rest of the team. They both could hear Coach hollering and yelling at them, but something felt off. More off then usual. He could still feel the cold presence sitting impatiently on his neck, and the pressure in his chest tightened so much that he thought it might burst open. But whatever it was, he wasn’t going to let it phase him. He remembered the feeling of losing control and how worried he made everyone when he was possessed by the Nogitsune, so he shook his head and grinned sheepishly at Scott and Liam as they marched through the rest of the afternoon.

Unbeknownst to them, this new little encounter would shape how they live out the rest of their days.

[usagichanp]

lexthan

*rubs hands together* I was hoping someone would ask me that

This is gonna be a long one folks.

General:

Rate the Ship -  

Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs

How long will they last? - Life long partners, babey.

How quickly did/will they fall in love? - I think they had crushes on each other for a while. They didn't officially say "I love you" till a few months into their relationship, but they thought it sooner.

How was their first kiss? - I wrote a lesbian Lexthan version of their first kiss, though I don't think canon Lexthan's first kiss was like that. I imagine it to be not really planned out; just like they're talking to each other in the car and lock eyes, then slowly lean in and kiss. Since they've had kisses before, it's not a catastrophe, and it's actually fairly soft.

Wedding:

Who proposed? - Ethan. Wrote a whole ass fic about it.

Who is the best man/men? - I know who the best man is in my fics (it's my man Marsh, for those who have read it), but idk about the canon Ethan's best man. Maybe Danny (the Smoke Club Boy) but I'm not sure if they'd be friends enough to be his best man. He might not have one.

Who is the bride's maid? - Hannah. Duh.

Who did the most planning? - Ethan, but Lex chipped in too. Tom might help as well if asked lol

Who stressed the most? - Ethan. Though their ceremony isn't big, he still wanted it to be a good memory down the road (it was)

How fancy was the ceremony? -

Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big.

First they had just a courthouse wedding where they signed the papers, then had a tiny wedding ceremony with only close friends. Even if they could afford a proper wedding (Canon Lexthan prolly couldn't afford it) I don't think they'd want a big affair anyways. It's be exhausting.

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? - Lex's mom. Obviously.

Sex:

Now we're getting to the good part lads

Who is on top? - Ethan is a fucking switch. You can't convince me otherwise. He tops maybe like... 60/40 or 65/35. But when Lex tops, she tops bitch.

Who is the one to instigate things? - Ethan likes instigating things since he's a horny teenage boy, but it Lex doesn't want to, he stops. Sometimes Lex instigates, but usually when she does she's in the mood to top.

How healthy is their sex life? -

Barely touch themselves let alone each other | 2 | 3 | 4 | Once a couple weeks, nothing overboard | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They are humping each other on the couch right now

I'd give it a 7.5, depending on the situation. While they try to tone it down around Hannah, when they have alone time they'd totally go for it. Ethan's glovebox in his car has a box of condoms in it at all times. What can I say, as I said before, they're horny teenagers

How kinky are they? -

Straight missionary with the lights off | 2 | 3 | 4 | Might try some butt stuff and toys | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Don’t go into the sex dungeon without a horse’s head

They don't like seeing each other hurt so they wouldn't like BDSM. They're not vanilla but nothing too crazy- blindfolding, light bondage (aka tying hands up with rope or cloth), scratching, light spanking, pegging

How long do they usually last? - It depends on how much time they have to have sex. They've done quickies in bathrooms or whatever before, but if they have all night then they're pretty good at prolonging it.

Do they make sure each person gets an equal amount of orgasms? - Absolutely. It is said in multiple fics (I think?) of mine that Ethan makes sure Lex has the same amount of orgasms as he does. Always.

How rough are they in bed? -

Softer than a butterfly on the back of a bunny | 2 | 3 | 4 | The bed’s shaking and squeaking every time | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Their dirty talk is so vulgar it’d make Dwayne Johnson blush. Also, the wall’s so weak it could collapse the next time they do it.

They certainly can have slow, soft, romantic sex, but Ethan is also 100% capable of rocking Lex's world so hard she can't walk right for a week. (That happens in my first fic, Cassieopia, albeit off screen)

How much cuddling/snuggling do they do? -

No touching after sex | 2 | 3 | 4 | A little spooning at night, or on the couch, but not in public | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They snuggle and kiss more often than a teen couple on their fifth date to a pillow factory.

1) I fucking love that metaphor 2) They don't get much physical affection at home, so they fucking love snuggling and cuddling- whether it be after sex or just hanging out. Sometimes they cuddle as a form of stress relief after a shitty day.

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? - 2, maybe 3.

How many children will they adopt? - I think they might prefer to have children naturally, but in my California series they gain custody of Hannah when she's 12. Does that count?

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? - Lex forces Ethan to learn how to change diapers. That being said, Lex isn't half bad at changing them either, since she helped change Hannah's when she was a child.

Who is the stricter parent? - They're not exactly strict parents, but both Lex and Ethan can definitely scold the kid. ("hAnNaH! tHaT bEtTeR bE fUcKiNg fLoSs!!!!!") That being said, both take care to not be abusive to their child, especially Lex. She doesn't want to be like her mom, so she tries to keep her temper in check.

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? - Ethan has good reflexes, and has stopped his kids from falling and hitting their chin on a playground structure more than once. (Fun fact! That happened to me when I was 3. I fell from a steel elephant shaped jungle gym at a German zoo, hit my chin on a steel bar, and bit through my lower lip/knocked 3 teeth out. I still have the scar years later lol)

Who remembers to pack their lunches? - Lex. Though the lunches aren't always the healthiest.

Who is the more loved parent? - I think they're both loved, but maaaaaybe Ethan a bit more.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? - Neither would attend PTA meetings out of the goodness of their hearts. If Lex or Ethan would go to a PTA meeting, it'd most likely be because they wanted to yell at a teacher or principal. They might go seperately or together depending on the severity of the issue.

Who cried the most at graduation? - Ethan wouldn't admit he cried, but he did. So did Lex.

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? - Oh bitch, Lex and Ethan both said fuck the law. If it was just like, an overnight jail cell for some stupid misdemeanor, they might try to break their kid out. Otherwise, Lex would probably the one paying the bail because Ethan would try to punch the cop in the face if the cop talked shit about Ethan's kid. That reaction is not exclusive to cops.

Cooking:

Who does the most cooking? - Neither of them are exactly 5 star chefs, but they can hold on their own. Lex is better at cooking breakfast and Ethan is better at cooking dinner- but if he's exhuasted from work, Lex can cook dinner for him.

Who is the most picky in their food choice? - Neither are picky. Both of them grew up young scrappy and hungry just like their country without really the chance to be picky. They had to take what they could get.

Who does the grocery shopping? - Lex. She's good at calculating totals in her head. I wrote that in an unrealeased fic.

How often do they bake desserts? - Rather rarely. Perhaps on special occasions or to bond. Ethan has ruined the kitchen with his kid trying to bake a cake for Lex at least once. Maybe more.

Are they more of a meat lover or salad lover? - Meat lovers, babey. Fuck that fancy plant bullshit.

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? - Ethan. I wrote that in the proposal fic.

Who is more likely to suggest going out? - Depends on what you count as "going out". Lex likes going to McDonalds, but Ethan is the one who suggests eating at actual restaurants.

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidently while cooking? - Ethan, but both have had near misses.

Chores:

Who cleans the room? - Both had fairly messy rooms as teenagers so they're not super anal about having sparkling clean rooms. That being said, when someone comes over Lex does try to tidy the place up a bit. At least enough to make it seem like they have their shit together. Ish.

Who is really against chores? - Ethan can be a bit of a lazy bones sometimes, but Lex isn't exactly a huge fan of chores either. However, she is used to doing chores since she practically raised herself and Hannah.

Who cleans up after the pets? - They take turns. Both hate it.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? - Ethan, because he doesn't want to incur Lex's wrath.

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? - Lex. As I said above, she actually actively cleans the house beforehand. Not to the level of that freaking out mom from the comedy video who's name I can't remember tho.

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? - Ethan. He has a nack for finding random bits of money. Score.

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? - Lex, though both take relatively quick showers to save water.

Who takes the dog out for a walk? - They actually like doing it together. It's nice to get some fresh air, and they enjoy each other's company.

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? - Ethan goes over the top, partially to annoy Lex. You know that Christmas tree Chris Pine vine? Yeah, Ethan would fucking do that.

What are their goals for the relationship? - Live a better life together than they did in Hatchetfield. White picket fence and California dreams shit.

Who is more likely to sleep till noon? - Ethan, but Lex is known to sleep till 3 in the afternoon if she's really tired.

Who plays the most pranks? - Ethan. That's literally canon.

I can babble about them all day lol

[syms-things-5]

Clear The Area

Warning: Not explicit (yet); some mild language. This has been quite cathartic in a way.

Summary: 29-year-old nurse Sarah Bernette has worked hard to get where she is. Moving to Boston from a nowhere dump of a town, she’s studied hard and is grateful her stress is finally paying off. Despite being fostered repeatedly throughout her childhood, she’s since found some comfort in the form of her adopted parents, Jocelyn and Noah, and a pseudo-adoptive family of sorts in form of the Evans clan who have treated her as one of her own ever since she moved in with best friend, Shanna. Valuing them above all else, she appreciates their support even more when her long lost birth mother decides to reappear in her life after so many years, and is surprised to find out just how supportive Chris is in particular. As she struggles to maintain a firm grip on both her professional and private lives, she finds an ill-advised solace in her growing mutual attraction with him but how long before everything unravels and threatens to pull the rug out from underneath her?

Note: I have two chapters written and will post ‘Chapter Two’ at some point this weekend to get things moving. I apologise for my spelling/grammar errors. Let me know if there is something wildly incorrect here and I’ll change it. Still figuring out a few things and I expect this will be a slow burn but it’s exciting to finally get off my arse and…sit down and write. 

CHAPTER ONE

Today was probably a 4 out of 10.

4.5 if she was feeling generous.

Sarah thought about the decisions she had made in the past decade that lead her right to this moment, this moment being cleaning neon-coloured vomit off her scrubs for the second time in the past hour.

“You would think people would have learned downing shots of Absinthe was not a great idea by the time they’d left their teens,” snickered Audrey before shooting her a sympathetic look and handing over another wipe. “I can’t believe how green it was. It looks like you got punked by the Marshmallow Man!”

“Thanks for that.” Sarah was scrubbing as hard as she could while internally questioning her decision to pursue Nursing all those years ago. Her History teacher once told her she could have “a decent stab” at becoming a Middle School teacher if she applied herself right. Right now, she could be knee-deep in teaching half-interested kids about the 27 Amendments without an ounce of sick in sight. Instead, she was baffled. “Fuck. It’s practically luminous…”

This must have been payback for pushing herself as a teenager. Being fostered in and out of care homes during your formative years could turn you one way or the other, and Sarah chose “the other”. She was sure the universe was telling her she should have stayed put and been happy with her lot in life, in her too-small town with no feasible job prospects, where everyone knew you and held that against you, instead of moving halfway across the country with next to no money to study at a University she couldn’t afford and would most likely be in debt to for the next twenty years. Now, however, she got to convince local drunks that climbing on to roofs was, in fact, not a great idea despite the bet they had made with their “friends”. On a good day, she got to help children pick out the colours for their plaster casts. 

Or take today. Today, she got to lecture a group of young people about the trials and tribulations of playing “run the bus” with 60% proof. Every day was just a little bit different so as to keep things interesting. That, she reminded herself, was something she had to remain glad about.

She sighed and threw the last wipe in the bin. Taking a last look in the mirror, she turned to her friend for reassurance that she looked at least passable. She caught her frown before Audrey realised Sarah could see her and quickly gave her a thumbs up. She did love her Audrey which is why she decided to repay her kindness by forcing a hug on her as a thank you.

“Silver lining, though,” Audrey said, shoving her away, laughing in protest. “You’re lucky you didn’t get any in your hair.”

“Yeh bastards had a good aim at least.” Sarah dusted down her arms one last time to check for anything she might have missed and the two of them left the locker room. The place was now eerily quiet, thank god. Just run out the clock and they’d be home and dry in no time, figuratively speaking in Sarah’s case.

Audrey placed a comforting arm around her pal. “You want me to find some spare scrubs? I’m sure they’ll have some upstairs. It’ll only take a minute.”

“Nah it’s OK. I’ll be done in 20. Just gotta sign Mr. Richardson out from cubicle 5 then I’ll run home and shower.”

“OK, well, if you have to hang around, avoid triage because you-know-who is there and I don’t want you ruining your chances again.” Audrey pinched Sarah on her hip and headed back to her work.

You-know-who was Greg Anderson, an attractive 30-something medic from a hospital on the other side of town. He was up-and-coming in Paediatrics apparently and had been shadowing a Consultant for the past few weeks. He was 6ft plus with dark hair and brown eyes and his father was something big in Economics in MIT. He drove a Porsche and wore Louboutin’s on his rounds which had Audrey practically foaming at the mouth. Indeed, he hadn’t bypassed the attentions of the majority of females in the ER, as well as a few men and even a couple of patients but as always, Sarah was solely focussed on the job at hand to pay him any heed. Audrey thought she caught him staring at her the other week, though, and made it her mission to set them up. She took great pride in playing matchmaker for her friend given that she herself got locked down nine years earlier and “it’s a damn shame to let these skills go to waste.’ She had somehow also managed to get Shan and Lisa onside, too, however that had happened.

Greg was handsome, she’d agree with that, and definitely her type in the right light but something was a little too Republican for her liking. Plus, he was a Rangers’ fan and Sarah swore blind early on in her life that she couldn’t bring children up in that kind of hostile environment. Sarah briefly contemplated walking past triage with the lingering scent now clinging to her clothes but as Audrey kindly repeated to her at regular intervals during the days, Greg was her only realistic prospect right now and figured it was perhaps better to keep her options open, at least for the time being.

Mr. Richardson was gone pretty soon afterwards and, accepting defeat for another day, Sarah grabbed her bag and headed home.

*

There was definitely beer left in the fridge, she was sure of it. She’d bought a six-pack at the weekend and could only remember drinking two during the Bruins’ game, so…

“Oh yeh, you’re out of beer.” 

Sarah turned around from the fridge to face a sheepish looking Chris holding the last frosted bottle in his hand, his ball cap low over his face attempting to hide the faint black circles under both his eyes. There was a 5 o’clock shadow forming now he wasn’t required to shave. As drained as she was, she briefly contemplated wrestling him to the ground for that last swig. He looked just as tired. She figured she could take him. At least he had the decency to look guilty about it.

“I’ll run out and get you some if you…Jesus! Why do you smell like a brewery?!” He practically recoiled holding his free hand to his nose.

Sarah rolled her eyes and grabbed a glass for some cold water instead. “Are you here to just annoy me or steal my beer as well?”

“Both now you ask but seriously, what have you been doing all day? You don’t usually smell this bad.” He joked.

“Oh, some kids took it in turns to throw up on me and I didn’t have any clean scrubs to change into.” She downed the water and went to fill the glass up again. God, she didn’t realise she was this dehydrated. Chris shot her a look of confusion. “It’s a long story. Is Shan around?” She shed herself of her scrub top and headed into her bedroom down the hallway, Chris casually following behind.

She had to pop out for something so I’m just handing here ‘til she gets back. You coming for dinner at Ma’s? She’s doing her famous lamb roast. Might wanna shower first, though.” He joked, playfully sticking his tongue out at her.

“God, I forgot how hilarious you are.” she overtly rolled her eyes at him. “No, I’m good. Just gonna head for an early night, I think.”

“OK, well, if you change your mind, we’re leaving in half an hour. You know she’ll make me drive back to get you otherwise.”

That was true. For as long as she’d known and lived with Shanna, Lisa had treated her like any other member of her family and Sarah had never fully grasped how much she had appreciated it, coming from where she did. Lisa knew Sarah’s folks weren’t as close by any more and compensated for this by inviting to every dinner night she held, every games night, school events, theatre events, and more besides. She spent Christmases with them, visited Disney with them, and had New Years with them on occasions she wasn’t working. Lisa even organised a surprise birthday get-together for her as well despite Shan’s protests that she wasn’t a birthday kind of person. Sarah had learned to stop feeling awkward or out of place soon after.

Once Shan told Lisa Sarah had wanted to start learning to play piano as a new year’s resolution, Lisa had insisted she could teach her whenever she had some spare time. There soon after followed afternoons of tea and gossip and not much playing of the piano but it felt comfortable and nice for the first time in a long time. Shan would make excuses so Sarah didn’t feel obligated to attend everything but in truth, she didn’t mind so much. It was nice to feel wanted.

Chris was lounging on her armchair with one leg over the armrest, messing on his phone. Sarah could count the number of times on one hand the nights he had spent in his own place since returning to Boston a fortnight ago. As true as it was that he rarely spoke about filming in any great detail, she could nevertheless tell he’d been left particularly drained by this particular experience and wasn’t looking forward to the reshoots scheduled for next month. There had been a rumour he’d started sleeping with his married co-star and she guessed Lisa had been mithering him about it hence him turning up on their doorstep last week. Other than one night back in his own bed, he had remained on their sofa ever since, clearly relishing in the familiar company.

“So what made those kids throw up?” Chris called out, still engrossed in his phone. A quick glance over his shoulder told her he’d been ignoring someone’s text messages.

By now Sarah was in her old yet comfy sweatpants and a Boston hoodie Shan had bought her as an anniversary present of her 5th year living there. “Um, Absinthe. The nasty kind.” She was gathering her washing together.

Chris whistled low through his teeth, a kind of “been there, done that”.

“Rookie mistake.“ he laughed to himself. He frowned at his phone before chucking it onto her bed and turned around in her chair to plant both feet on the carpet, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees. He looked like he wanted to get something off his chest but was struggling to find the words. He was reluctant to drag Sarah into anything given how exhausted she looked. Despite their differences in careers, sometimes it felt like she was the only person he knew who could understand how long and tiresome the days could get. Then he would inevitably feel embarrassed he was out there only pretending to save lives when she was out there day after day actually living it for real in all of its bloody glory. And for a tiny fraction of his pay. He tried not to water than thought too much.

“I take it you know,” he asked quietly, still not looking up from her bedroom floor.

“Know what?”

“About Jenny?”

“Oh,” she paused for a brief second. He’d know straight away she was lying if she tried to play dumb. “I mean your mom might have mentioned something in passing,” she shrugged unconvincingly. He scoffed knowing she would have talk about nothing else since the rumours started gathering pace online. He knew he hadn’t done himself any favours by avoiding the conversation either but he simply couldn’t stand another lecture of disapproving look. Dinner tonight was to be his mea culpa.

Sarah was thankful when she heard the front door go and then the sound of Shan dropping her bags in the kitchen and heading towards Sarah’s room.

“I signed for this for you this morning while you were out.” she handed Sarah a brown envelope before turning to Chris with a hand on her hip, looking like she was scolding her 7-year old nephew. “Mom’s been trying to get hold of you all day. She wasn’t sure if she needed to lay an extra seat for you this evening. Sarah, she wanted me to make sure I couldn’t persuade you to come as well?” Sarah shook her head and held up her stained clothes and enjoyed Shan’s visible flinch.

“I’m not even going to ask.” She held her hands up and walked out. Chris rolled his eyes in mock imitation of Shan and Sarah smiled sympathetically, mouthing a “good luck” to him as he left trailing behind her.

Sarah was left looking down at the envelope in her hands. It looked very official; the kind you would receive if you’d been summoned to a court hearing or Jury Duty. She didn’t recognise the address or the stamp but recognised her home town almost straight away. It had been years since she’d been there. Why the hell were they dragging her back now?

*

[pkg4mumtown]

My Mistakes Were Made For You (pt. 2)

A/N: I got a huge response to do a second part, so I did. Not a huge fan of the end because it ends kind of abruptly and I got a little stuck, but it is what it is. Hope you enjoy! If not, I apologize.

Summary: I suggest you read Part 1 

Warnings: Fluff with some smut at the end.

Throwing this picture back in here because it’d be a sin not to and I can’t get young John out of my head:

When I stirred the next morning, I was mildly surprised to see Jardani still here. We had shifted in our sleep, ending up on our sides—facing one another—with my injured foot resting atop my uninjured one. I was at least thankful for that, so the swelling wouldn’t grow worse. His arm was wrapped around my waist, our lower halves barely touching. His face was so close to mine that I could feel every little breath he took ghost across my nose. I stretched carefully, mindful of his proximity as well as avoiding stretching my leg. When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by his stunning, brown eyes staring back at me. I’d be foolish to think I could wake up earlier than him.

“Morning,” he rumbled in his chest, his voice filled with sleep despite having been awake.

“Good morning, Jardani,” I mumbled back, smiling when I felt his hand leave my waist to push my hair from my face.

His hand lingered on the side of my face, brushing against my cheek before sliding his hand to the back of my neck. He brought our faces together, not giving a second thought to my wild appearance or morning breath. Now that he had the ability to kiss me, he was insatiable. His lips were insistent against mine, as if I was suddenly going to disappear from his arms. Every press of his lips and tilt of his head burned my face with his beard but I couldn’t find a reason to care. If anything, I enjoyed it a little too much.

I jumped as a firm knock sounded on my door, a quick guess telling me it was the Director. I smiled softly at him and patted his arm, heaving myself up and off the bed. I limped over to the door, opening it and seeing her waiting impatiently for me. She peered over her glasses and beyond my form, seeing Jardani sitting up on my bed.

“I see you’ve made a decision,” she stated. “I trust you respected my house?”

“Yes, Director,” I answered, understanding her insinuation and blushing.

“Very well. I expect you to finish out the day, Y/N,” she instructed and looked down at my still swollen ankle. “You did a number on that ankle, try and stay off it today. Be seeing you, Jardani,” she tilted her head, so she could see him over my shoulder and nodded to him.

“Director,” he nodded back.

“You better take care of her,” she warned, stalking away from the door.

I firmly shut the door, hobbling gingerly over to my discarded leotard and tights, and clutching it while sitting on my bed.

“What are you doing? You can’t dance like this,” he stopped me with a hand on my thigh.

“Jardani, if I took a week off every time I rolled my ankle, the Director wouldn’t be as fond of me as she is,” I chastised. “It’s my last day, I’ll just be instructing, relax.”

“At least let me help you,” he sighed, running a hand through his ruffled hair.

Jardani stood, taking the clothing from my hands and going through my desk until he found what he was looking for. He came back, holding a compression bandage in his hand and kneeling in front of me. I reached out, holding onto his shoulder for balance while shedding my sweats.

“Sit,” he ordered, gently, once the sweats were removed, “Please.”

He kept his eyes focused on my ankle as I sat, sans pants, in front of him. He cradled my ankle carefully in one hand, while beginning to wrap my ankle with his other hand. It was nothing he hadn’t done for me before, though I was always wearing pants when he did. When he finished, he double checked the wrap and pressed his lips to the bandage. He met my eyes after, his cheeks going red when he saw me watching him. He busied himself by grabbing the tights, scrunching up one leg of them so it would be easier to put on my foot.

“Jardani, I can—,” I tried to stop him.

“Let me help you, sweetheart.”

I just about melted at the endearment, giving him full control in assisting me. He pulled the tights up, letting me use his shoulder to keep my balance again. I sat back down, watching him focus on getting the leotard facing the right way and slipping my feet into the designated holes. His eyes drifted away from me as he noticed my hands sliding my shirt up and over my head. I giggled softly as he refused to look.

“Don’t laugh at me, I’m being respectful,” he grumbled.

“You’re being cute,” I murmured, hooking a finger under his chin and turning his head until he faced me.

His eyes snapped directly to mine before giving into temptation and slowly raking his eyes downward. He stood suddenly, pulling me to my feet and grasping my hips firmly with two large hands. He watched my face intently while dragging his hands up my sides, taking the material of the leotard with him so it slid into place as he moved. He hooked his fingers into the arm holes and guided them to my hands and up my arms. When he reached the top of my shoulders he released the material close to my skin to avoid it snapping against me.

“Thank you,” was all I could manage to say with my skin tingling in all the places his hands traveled.

“Anything for you. Let me walk you there,” he insisted.

“I can make it there just fine, Jardani,” I cooed, running my fingertips along the smooth skin of his neck. “You know the Director wouldn’t want you there anyway.” He nodded, understanding that he’d just be a distraction. “I will, however, let you pack my things while I’m gone.”

“Consider it done,” he murmured lowly, capturing my lips and sliding a hand into my hair to deepen the kiss. His other hand slid around to my lower back, pressing my hips securely against his. I clenched my hand in his hair as his tongue slid mischievously along mine, earning him a high-pitched whimper from my throat. I pulled his head away from mine by his hair, giving him a disapproving look in response to his smirk, which was disguised by his teeth sinking into his bottom lip.

“I’ll see you later, Jardani,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

I snatched my shoes off the floor, tossed back a couple pain pills, and disappeared from the room with a wave.

Knowing that I was going to be leaving today made the practice feel like it was dragging on. I was just thankful that the practice wasn’t in the theater under the watchful eye of the Director. The girls were all a little more at ease when it was just us, making me hope that their new instructor would be firm but good to them.

When practice ended, and I made the trek back to my room, a wave of nervousness washed over me. I was terrified to be leaving here, the place I grew up and the only home I’d ever known. The only thing calming me down was the thought of Jardani and building a life with him. I swung the door open, seeing all my belongings neatly packed in a suitcase and duffle bag, neither of which were mine. My eyes drifted around the barren room as I closed the door, my eye stopping on Jardani’s sleeping form. I let him nap and peeled my clothes off, snatching a neatly folded selection that he had left out for me. When I was finished, I gently shook his shoulder to wake him; jumping when his hand grabbed my arm in alarm.

“It’s me,” I spoke softly, his fingers loosening as his eyes focused on my face. “You ready to go?” He nodded, turning his head slightly to press his lips against my arm where he had just grabbed it.

Unsurprisingly, Jardani insisted on carrying the bags on our way out. As we entered the main lobby, I caught sight of the Director waiting for us. We slowed down as we approached her, our presence pulling her out of a conversation with security. She dismissed him and turned to us.

“It’s unfortunate to see you go, Y/N,” she sighed.

“You know how to reach me,” I nodded toward Jardani, “Us.”

“And if you need a recommendation…” she trailed off, opening her arms as an invitation to contact her.

We exchanged goodbyes and exited the building, the cool air of the late afternoon bringing a smile to my face as it touched my skin. We approached his Mustang, Jardani tossing the bags in before heading out. He peeled out onto the street faster than necessary, causing the tires to squeal against the pavement. I shook my head at the child-like glee on his face as he weaved in and out of traffic, practically feeling the car roar around us. His driving was dangerous, but he clearly knew what he was doing which only served to excite me in a way I didn’t think was possible. One of his hands gripping the inside of my thigh as he drove didn’t help either.

He slowed the car as he turned onto a clean, loose gravel driveway. My eyes nearly bulged out of my head as I laid eyes on the house. How much money was he making!?

“Jardani, what the fuck?” I breathed.

“Hm?” he hummed, unfazed by my reaction.

“It’s huge!” I shouted, leaning closer to the dashboard to see more of the house out of the windshield.

The laugh that emitted from his throat was deep and wicked, “You haven’t even seen it yet.” And just like that, the flirtatious side of Jardani made itself known. I involuntarily shivered at the tone of his voice as the vibrations tickled the insides of my ears.

“You’re gross,” I teased, drawing out the “s”.

“Am I?” he mockingly wondered, his hand sliding higher up my thigh. I squirmed in the seat, pushing myself further into his hand before he ripped it away all too quickly. “Come on,” he nodded towards the house and flashed me a playful smile.

He lugged the bags inside and set them down, so he could show me around the house. We had only gotten through the living room and the kitchen when the pain killers I took earlier began to wear off. My limping increased in severity, especially with the compression bandage somewhat hindering my ankle mobility.

“Do you want to sit for a bit, sweetheart?” he asked, trying to coax me onto one of the chairs in the kitchen.

“I’m fine, we’ve only seen two rooms!” I grumbled, frustrated with my injury.

“But—”

“Jardani,” I pleaded.

He narrowed his eyes at me, stepping closer as if he was trying to intimidate me into listening to him. I bit back a laugh as his intimidation had never worked on me ever in our lives.

“I’ll carry you, then,” he stated, not giving me a chance to respond as he was lifting me into his arms until we were chest to chest. His hands supported my ass while I slowly wound my legs around his waist to avoid smacking my ankles together.

“You just wanted an excuse to do this,” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“As if I need an excuse.”

“Don’t you dare run into anything,” I warned, knowing I’d get hit first.

“I’ve got it covered,” he grinned and pressed his lips against my jaw, so he could see over my shoulder. I wove my arms around his neck, clinging to his wide frame. I shuddered as his lips skimmed along my jaw and neck as he walked into each room, spinning us around slowly so I could see the entirety of the room. He took us through the dining room, peeking in the basement briefly, and passing expansive walls of glass. We paused at the huge glass windows to peer in the backyard and the surrounding forest.

“This must have cost a fortune,” I murmured.

“Nothing I didn’t make back in a few contracts,” he shrugged.

Jardani took us upstairs, showing me a guest bedroom and office before finally entering his room. He stood in the doorway of the bathroom for a moment, so I could see it, before walking back over to the bed and holding me above it. I had to marvel at his strength and endurance for a moment, as he didn’t even look winded after carrying me around the house nor did his arms ever loosen around me.

“Jardani?” I inquired, snapping him out of his thoughts. His eyes focused on mine from where they had been staring at my mouth.

“Yea?”

“Are you going to put me down?” I wondered.

“Not yet,” he replied, his voice a deep whisper vibrating through his chest and into mine.

“Very well, then,” I sighed, running the tip of my nose down the side of his face. “Make me yours, Jardani,” I purred, making an effortless switch to Russian.

“You were always mine,” he murmured, sending goosebumps across my skin.

I cradled his neck in my hands and guided his mouth to mine. Our kiss was loving but urgent as he lowered me, so I could sit on the bed. His hand dragged my shirt upwards and over my head, letting it drop to the floor; out of mind. His mouth crashed back to mine as his hands unhooked my bra. I dropped my arms, letting the article fall to the floor. He flicked the button of my pants, tugging them off my body as quickly as possible.

His wide torso leaned over me, laying me down and covering me with his clothed form. His bearded face burned kisses down my neck, pausing in calculated areas to lap at the skin. I moaned at the contact of his attentive mouth with the sensitive spots he discovered. He worked lower, taking a nipple in his mouth and teasing it. He sucked gently, causing me to clench at his head and release labored, shuddering gasps. With my encouragement, he pulled roughly with his lips and allowed his teeth to scrape along my skin. I fisted his hair tightly, feeling his groan disperse along my chest as I did. He moved down to my stomach, kissing it so gently it tickled and caused me to writhe under him. His teeth grabbed the edge of my underwear, dragging them down partially but growing impatient and tearing the sides instead.

“Hang on,” his voice dripped with need.

My neck arched, forcing the back of my head into the mattress as his fingers spread me open and his tongue met my clit. My hands immediately flew to his head, as I let out a sigh of relief. He teased my entrance before sliding in two long fingers. His lips wrapped around my clit, alternating between gently sucking and teasing with the tip of his tongue. I gasped at his efforts, feeling the pressure building as he held his rhythm. My body tightened, my hands gripping his head as my legs threatened to suffocate him. He continued on, gently bringing me down but drawing my release out as long as he could. He crawled back up to my face, before kissing me, causing me to go breathless all over again.

“Okay?” he murmured.

“More than okay,” I kissed his chin.

I ran my hands down his back, grabbing the edge of his shirt and pulling it over his head. He forced himself to stand back up and shed the rest of his clothing. In a few swift movements, he was hovering over me again with his mouth fused to mine.

“Slow, Jardani,” I gasped as I felt his length brush against me.

“I’ve got you, lubov moya,” My love, he reassured me.

I wrapped my legs around him, feeling my breath catch in my throat as he lined up and slid slowly inside of me. His eyes were intently focused on me, something I hadn’t seen since we trained together. He fought the urge to shut his eyes as the warmth enveloped him, a strangled moan ripped from his throat. His mouth found its way back to mine as he slowly moved, allowing me to get used to him until I told him otherwise.

“More,” I begged.

I gasped as he buried himself deep inside me and paused. He stayed still for a moment—torturing both of us—then snapped his hips roughly, causing me to cry out. He nearly stopped at the sound, double checking that he hadn’t hurt me before he continued. When he saw the pleasure written across my face, he continued. He hooked an arm around my thigh, bringing it higher and kissing me as he sped up. Our moans and sighs filled the air around us, his words cutting through the noise to whisper praises in my ear. I came undone in his embrace quickly, my arms wrapping around him tightly as I quaked and arched under him. He lasted a few more thrusts before his release hit him, his voice overpowering my own as I came down. He happily stayed in my embrace, easing his upper body down to mine so he wouldn’t crush me. I held him to my chest, listening to him catch his breath while running hands along his slick skin.

“Jardani.”

“Hmm?” he replied, pressing his lips against the skin of my neck.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he mumbled against my skin.

“You know what else I love?” I asked wistfully with a happy sigh, lightly scratching his scalp.

“Yes, we can order pizza,” he chuckled, pushing himself onto his forearms and kissing my forehead.

Taglist: @cuttlefishcatfish @futuristic-imbecile @anita-e-taylor @samanthagraceg @beyondantares

[pr3ttym3ssy]

Steve surprises Billy

Fuck work today sucks, so here is a little something I wrote cause I'm listening to Def Leppard and the plot bunnies wont seize. Here we go

It had been a long day at Scoops. The telltale announcement came on, that Starcourt would be closing and Steve sighed relived. Crazy kids, screaming mothers and cocky teens had kept him busy his whole shift. He was going to tear his hair out if he would have to stay any minute longer. At this point all he wanted to do was go down to the quarry or maybe lounge by his pool. Grab a six pack and some cigarettes, with Billy at his side.

They had been going steady, ever since the end of summer. After some chance encounters, awkward apologies and closure of the biblical kind. Billy was the first to apologize. He admitted that his anger towards him was based on his inability to have him. From the first moment he heard about the great King Steve, he had wanted him. He had built a façade of a macho character to keep his dad at bay. But even that didn’t seize the physical and emotional abuse that Neil Hargrove inflicted on him. He’d mentioned that he didn’t care what his dad thought of him, he had stopped caring a long time ago. He was just glad that Steve had given him a chance and that they were together now.

Just the thought of him being with Billy made his skin tingle, so deliciously. A good ol toss around the sack sounded peachy as well. It had been a couple days since he’d even seen Billy. This was Steve’s third closing shift in a row, and it was only Wednesday. He wouldn’t hear the end of it either if he saw him.

Billy had taken up a summer job at the public pool as a lifeguard. With his Californian experience and swimming skills, he was a no questions asked shoe in. So his work schedule consisted of early morning to mid afternoon when the pool would close. By that time around Steve was already at Scoops, so they rarely saw each other. That would change once the busy season stopped, and everyone was back in school.

“You ready to go space cadet”, Robin came around the counter that he had been so busy wiping down. He hadn’t realized how lost in thought he was when she smacked him in the face with her sailors’ hat.

“Fuck yeah! let’s go, I’m so completely done with today.” He grabbed his bomber jacket and made his way out of the glass entrance before Robin locked the place down. He unceremoniously took his own sailor’s hat off and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. They made their way together along with some other mall workers, out towards the parking lot. They talked about how insane the day was and how crazy busy it had been for a Wednesday night.

They had fallen into a nice friendship. They'd been attracted to each other, and Steve had even taken the chance of asking her out. Robin had admitted to having an attraction for him, but she was also very much into Jenny from her summer English class. A tall pretty girl with fiery curls. Steve definitely understood. He too was into a young Adonis who's blonde curls caught the sun's rays. His description of Billy when he had told Robin about his secret crush.

“Seriously I almost lost my collective shit when that lady called you an incompetent idiot.” she cackled.

“I literally only told her that sprinkles would be extra. It was a total waste too, since her idiot kid dropped the damn cone before he could finish it.” He sighed and rolled his eyes at Robin for effectively still laughing at his expense. As soon as they made it past the double doors to the parking lot, they were pulled out of their conversation by a low whistle to their left. Steve’s head turned like whiplash at the familiar sound. His eyes meeting ocean blue in an instant and being greeted by a 10-watt smile. He felt his knee’s go weak, and he could instantly hear his boyfriend say ‘plant your feet, babe’ in his head. What Billy didn’t know was that it was impossible, when Steve was so infatuated already.

To say that their relationship was going good was an understatement. Billy made Steve so incredibly happy. Sure, he could still be an asshole at times, but he was better now. They were far more similar than they let on. Billy had apologized to the kids and was practically part of the party, minus the obvious nerd knowledge he so severely lacked. Countless times now he would play chaperone to the nerds and he would just mention to Steve, ‘how do you keep up with them?’. Steve would just tilt his head back with a roll of his eyes and laugh. Truth was, he loved the kids and he would go back into certain death over and over for them if it meant that he could be around them and they'd be safe.

“Hey Bills!”, Robin was the first to break the silence. She half ran and skipped towards Billy and bumped fists. “Came to pick up your boyfriend?”, she waggled her eyebrows. Steve was now making his way over to them. He admired their quick friendship, after all Robin was the one to set them up. She was the one to tell Billy to cut the bullshit.

“As a matter of fact, yea I did.”

Billy was giving Steve a look, and oh he knew that look. Half lidded eyes and cocky smirk, almost hungry. He’d be damned if he didn’t say he felt a heat pool in his lower abdomen. Apparently, Steve wasn’t the only one who could tell. Robin made a coughing sound, “I get it you pervs, I’m outta here before you start ripping into each other. I’ll see you later Steve, Night Billy!”.

They waved her off and once the coast was clear, they closed the gap between them. Billy pulled Steve towards the wall next to the double doors, kissed him with a hunger that only comes with a three day absence. “Holy shit, someone missed me”, Steve chuckled between kisses only pulling up for necessary air.

“You bet your ass I did, sweetheart”, Billy kissed down Steve’s neck. Slowly running his tongue up again, just the way he knew drove him insane. All the stress of the day was left in the past, his thoughts were technicolor now. Non coherent, except for Billy’s face in the multicolored hue of his fantasy. He held his face tenderly in his hands, rubbing his thumbs on Billy’s cheekbone to try and have him relax a bit. If only to coax him from attacking him and being able to see his beautiful face.

“I missed you too, baby.” Billy loved it when Steve gave him pet names. He turned to total mush and relaxed into Steve’s embrace.

“Your closing shifts are killing me, the kids miss you like crazy. I will seriously slit my wrists if I have to listen to them bitch and moan at the pool. They have opted to following me around now. I'm still getting use to this.”

Steve's heart swelled. Billy wasn't one to receive a lot of affection. So for the kids to be doting on his every word pulled at his heartstrings. His Billy was finally receiving the affection he was deprived of so long. When Billy had made a mind of apologizing to the kids, it had taken them a while to warm up to him. Dustin was the first to accept that if he made Steve happy, then he was okay to have around. Dustin knew that Steve needed to hang out with people his own age and that Steve would be good for Billy. They were both broken people, they could mend each other. He was still far from being the designated favorite, but apparently not too far anymore.

“I'm sorry, I know that our hours have been nuts. You would think that with school approaching, things would slow down.”

Billy looked at him, those piercing blue eyes of his bore deep into Steve. It made him melt and his senses heighten. Touch, taste, anything that was with Billy felt far more profound. More genuine. He couldn't hide anything from him.

“I'll try to request some time off, how does that sound?”

“Can you afford too? I mean I know you don’t like mooching off your dad, but you're with me and I can provide for you", Billy smirked and waggled his eyebrow at him.

“I'm fine, and no I can live without my dad's help. However, I won't deny you treating me to a date night”, Steve smirked back with that last statement.

Billy took that smirk as an invite, specially with how Steve bit his bottom lip. He leaned in to kiss him again.

“Date night? Sounds like a plan. Got any place in mind?”, Billy asked.

It kind of caught Steve off by surprise. He wasn’t expecting to have to choose the location. He tried wracking his brain as to where they could go. He couldn’t think of a place where two young men in love could be see together and not be unfortunately judged. Hawkins was your total, ordinary hick town. They didn’t hear about two men being together without hearing the slightest slur. Steve knew what he wanted, he'd known for a while. He was proud of being with Billy, but he wasn’t stupid and he knew the risks that they're relationship faced.

“hmm-m let's rain check that, okay. I would need to think this one through. Cause I don’t want to be cooped up at home. I mean, movie nights are awesome but I'd like to go out.”

“Okay, well- think about it and let me know. I’ll walk you to your car, weirdly enough it’s kind of chilly out. Summer's here are so weird", he pecked his cheek and held out his hand for Steve to take and thread their fingers together. They walked back towards the front and Steve caught eye of an ad stuck to a store front window.

The sign was for a Def Leppard concert happening in Chicago. Apparently another date that had been added to their Pyromania tour cross the U.S, and it was the last night to catch them. Steve knew right then and there what he wanted to do. He knew very well that Def Leppard was one of Billy’s favorite bands. He couldn’t pass this up.

“Hey babe? Umm, you wanna go to Chicago?”

Billy turned his eyes towards Steve.

“Chicago huh? Any particular reason?”

Steve stayed quiet, just shrugged his shoulders. This was going to be a surprise and he had to think quick on his toes for cover.

“Just thought, we could get out of Hawkins for a weekend. Spend sometime alone, where no one knows us and we can go out in public. Where I can actually hold your hand and not be so heavily scrutinized for it.”

“Okay-okay sweetheart. Don’t loose your shit. I get it and you're right, I’m all for it. You're planning this out right, I’ve never been so I would be a lousy tour guide.”

Steve totally had this in control, he'd been to the city several times with his parents on business. So he knew his way around.

“Don’t worry baby, I got this. We leave this Friday”

Second part is coming

Excuse my story telling, I'm trying to not get caught lol

[thepurebredking]

BY THE WAY, YOU’RE SCREWED w/@DhestroyLegacy

Wrath: Tonight was going to be a long night. Not only did I have a full schedule to begin with, we had squeezed this Brian O’Neal kid in near the beginning of it. I was still unsure of how that conversation was going to go. I guess it would depend on how much he had already learned about his great-grandsire, and what he was going to be satisfied with. How much information was he looking for? The meeting could go in so many directions. I wasn’t sure I was ready for some of them, but we would see when he got here.

Caroh had fit Brian in somewhat early on it the evening, due to the fact that our early was his late. So, V had directed one of the doggen to pick him up in one of the blackened out towncars. Yes, he had found his way here once, but no need for him to remember that if we didn’t need him to. I had directed V to only tell Brian what was necessary to get him to agree to meet with us. Seeing as V had wiped him, I wasn’t sure what he was aware of at this point, and didn’t want V to give him any more information than was needed to get him in that car. He would find answers to his questions once he arrived.

Once again, I made sure that V was present with me. It had actually been V’s night for rotation, but a slight adjustment to the schedule and V was switched to be at the Audience House with me. Any other night, he would have fought tooth and nail to be out on rotation, as opposed to being here, at the Audience House. But, knowing that Brian was coming in tonight, he wanted to be here. He was just as thrown by the whole discovery as I was, and as much as this was going to be an answer session for Brian, we had questions for Brian, as well.

Brian: I was surprised to  the black car outside of my home. I told them to leave, but whomever was driving insisted I had an appointment somewhere. Why the fuck couldn't I remember? Shaking my head, I grabbed my phone, and my jacket. I also grabbed my gun, if I'm going to an unknown location, I was going to fuck someone up and take them down with me. I put the muzzle down the back of my pants, and pulled my shirt over it. Putting on my Jacket, I walked over to my niece and kissed the top of her head and left a note for my sister. No need to even try talking to her, I was a fucking ghost.

Wrath: The night started off with a couple looking for a blessing on their youngs’ mating. A mating that the young in question did not want. Thankfully, both young involved were at the appointment and could stand up to oppose the mating. Had they not been there, or submitted forms in advance, I might have had to grant match. There had definitely still been some people that were not thrilled with the fact that I had won the vote and obtained the throne. This pair of parents were among them, and they made it blatantly clear what they thought. V abruptly reminded them of their stature in the court, and they less than graciously left. The young thanked me emphatically.

Checking with V on the time, I knew it was close to time. I had one more appointment before Brian would be here, a couple that had been mated 250 years ago and were looking for my blessing on it. At the time of their mating, there was no one sitting on the throne to bless their union. They figured seeing as this would be their 250th anniversary, and a king sat on the throne, what better time. Beth would love this shit! I called for Micah to bring them in.

Brian: I chilled in the back of the car, my fingers twitching, I honestly couldn't remember a damn thing and it was eating away in my gut. Something was wrong,  that's what my cop instinct told me. As we slowed at a red light, I looked out in the night. The windows were tinted black, but I was still able to see. Rolling my neck, my fingers itched. I leaned up, and asked if we could make a quick stop. They said sure, and stopped me at a gas station. I promised I'd behave and bought a pack of cigs, and popped one in between my lips and smoked the whole damn thing before crushing it on my jeans. Feeling a bit more calm. I slid back, and off we went to see the wonderful wizard of assholes. Swallowing, I put one behind my ear as the car stopped.

Entering the building, I seen eyes widen in shock before a doggen darted into the back. Quirking a brow, I ignored the reaction as I studied the surroundings by me before putting a smoke to my lips,  not lighting, yet.

Wrath: *****

Micah was at the front again, tonight. He had been read in on the whole Brian sitch. It was evident that the King and V didn’t want anyone else to know about this guy until they were able to square things away. It wouldn’t go over well if someone like Marissa was to find out about him before Wrath and V were able to research all the details. So, a small staff of doggen, as well as Caroh at the front desk and Micah standing guard, were there for the night. Caroh and Micah had both already seen Brian, so there wasn’t a concern of them talking. They had both been told the seriousness of the situation.

Caroh saw Brian the second he stepped inside and immediately greeted him. “Brian, correct?” she questioned as she checked him off the appointment book. “Micah will bring you in, in a moment, if you’d like to take a seat.” She motioned to the set of chairs off to the side, and nodded to someone just down the hall, out of Brian’s site.

Micah caught the nod from his position, just outside the Meeting Room, and patiently waited for the couple inside to come out, all the while keeping his eyes on Caroh for protection. He would be at her side in a flash if needed. A couple of minutes later the doors swung open and an elated couple emerged, hand-in-hand. Micah escorted them back out front and wished them well on their anniversary.

Turning to Brian, he nodded and spoke, “If I search you, am I going to find any weapons on you?”

Brian: Watching everyone scurry around,  I  against the wall instead of taking a chair. I saw the couple coming out, freezing as they look at me. Quirking a brow,  I hear the word, “Human” but everything else was gone. Shaking my head inwardly at the odd word and moved passed them only to come up to the other guy. I reached behind me and pulled out my gun before letting it hang from my finger. “Safety is on, I wasn't planning on shooting myself in the ass.” I smirked, but looked at him seriously, “The gun stays on me, I may be a cop, but I'm not stupid enough to walk into a trap. Other than the gun, I got nothing else on me.” Setting the gun down close to me, I held my arms out for him to search me.

Wrath: *****

Micah thought to himself, ‘Respect to the guy for not trying to pull a fast one on me, but…’ unfortunately, Micah knew he was going to have to unburden the guy of the gun before letting him in the room with the King. “I’m sorry. I appreciate you being honest and all, but I can’t let you in that room with the gun… and trust me, you want to go in that room. If it makes you feel better, Caroh will lock it up in our safe, but you can’t take it in.” He waited, to see how the guy would react.

Brian: I growled between clench teeth as I stepped into the guy’s personal space. “Anyone jacks that gun, or I get my ass killed, or beat. I will hold you responsible. No, that's not a threat. It's a damn promise.” I hissed before handing him my glock. Normally, I would have walked when someone told me that, but my gut was telling me he was right. I was meant to be here, even if my cop instinct was telling me to tell them to fuck off. Narrowing my eyes, I looked down the hall, as if waiting for something before I shook it off. “We got a deal?”

Wrath: *****

Without responding, or taking his eyes off of Brian, Micah passed the gun to Caroh. Once Caroh took the gun and was on her way in the other direction, Micah turned on his heel and started walking toward the Meeting Room. “This way.” He had no patience for Brian’s sense of self-worth. He was here at the request of the King. Did he not even understand what that meant?

Stopping at the door, he reached an arm out as if to direct Brian into the room. “The King awaits.” He made sure to emphasize the word ‘King’, in order to remind the guy of who he was here to see. Once Brian was fully inside the room, Micah spoke clearly enough for the King to hear him, “Brian O’Neal, my sire.” and quietly backed out of the room, closing Brian in behind him.

*****

I listened as the kid cautiously moved forward. “Please, have a seat. I’m sure you have questions.”

Brian: The emphasis was not lost on me. However, I didn't know who the hell anyone was. My eyes snap up at the voice, holy shit! My adrenaline snapped and it made me jump back. In front of me, I was staring down two giant fuckers. Swallowing hard, and reached behind me, only to realize my gun was not on me. Mother fucker! Sitting down on the chair.

“Yeah, let’s start with an easy one, who the hell are you? And what the hell do you want with me?”

Wrath: I could hear the apprehension in Brian’s voice practically before he started speaking. He had absolutely no memories of our last meeting. Good, actually. The less he knew starting off, the better. The last time we met, he had preconceived ideas of who we were. Most of them, I’m sure were incorrect. This time, I could tell him without other ideas clouding up his vision. “Actually, you sought us out, and now that we’ve done a little digging and found out who you are, we have asked you back here so we could give you the answers you seek, as well as answer some of ours.” I paused for a second to let that sink in, but before he could start asking questions, I continued, “I believe you are looking for your great-grands… father? We have some answers for you, about him. Now, we can tell you about his life, who he spent it with, how he lived it, and who he was. However, I will tell you, the more information you want, the further down the proverbial rabbit hole you will go. So, ask yourself this, how much do you really want to know about your great-grandfather? You may find out some truths about yourself, you don’t want to know.” I knew that wasn’t going to make a shit ton of sense to the kid. But, I couldn’t put it more plainly. There were things here, that if the kid dug too deep, he may not want to know. I had found out he was a cop, so I was assuming digging was the kid’s second nature. However, in this situation, he needed a warning.

Brian: Sitting up straight, I listened to his words. I been here before? When?  Why couldn't I remember? Bowing my head, I ran my fingers through my hair and tugged gently. It was a habit I had picked up whenever I got stressed out. Sighing softly, I looked up at the guy. “Why…” I was cut short at the mention of my great-grandfather. My eyes widen, sitting closer to the edge. “You knew him?” The warning was grave, basically, I could end up six feet under, but honestly? I could care less. Besides, although these fuckers were huge, I felt...odd sort of hope. Licking my lips, my mind was made. I did what no one else could, I found his other life. “Tell me, I don't care if you end up killing me, just please. Tell me.”

Wrath: I knew this kid was going to want it all. However, I was only giving him as much as he asked for. I found it interesting though, that he was willing to die for information. What good could it possibly do for him to know, two minutes before dying? No matter. The kid wanted answers, I had them. “Your great-grandfather was an honorable man. I know you have had your doubts about that, but let me assure you, if he had known about your grandfather’s existence, your life would be extremely different. He would have been a part of his life, as well as your father’s, and yours. He lived life hard, and he loved hard. He was fierce with protecting and loving his family. He was a cop, just like you, and later a warrior, protecting a race. To us, he was family. From what I’ve learned about you, he’d have been proud of who you’ve become. Don’t get me wrong, he had his faults, but they were far outweighed by his good points.” How much more to tell him, without blowing the kids mind. That was about my limit, without the kid actually digging for more. The kid would have to ask some pointed questions to get more than that. “How long have you been searching for him? And by the way, don’t be so quick to die for answers. They won’t do you any good in the Fade.”

Brian: Listening to his words, my heart ached in my chest. It sounded like he had a good life, a strong one. Swallowing back emotion,  it took me awhile to get what he was saying. It was mind boggling, it was odd. Shaking off the sense of dread before looking at him. “I just needed to know what happened, now I can put my dad at peace. That's why this information is worth my death. WillI tell him where he was, no. That would be up to you guys.  Myself? Been looking for information about him for fifteen years. My great-grandfather's friend died looking for him, grandfather was killed trying to find him, got caught in a crossfire, my dad hates him because he thought he abandoned us for another family. Wouldn't you want to put those restless spirits, souls, whatever you want to call them, to rest? To be at peace?” I shrugged, “If I can do that, then it's worth it if you send me to a pine box afterwards.”

Wrath: Listening to Brian’s story about his family, I could see how the events could have unfolded that way. “Trust me, if he had known about your grandfather, he would have been there for every moment. There would never have been any question that his heart was with you all. But none of that is any reason for us to put you in a pine box.” I got the implication. I knew how humans buried their deceased. “I am only trying to help you make peace with the… “ I tried to come up with a way to get my point across with the weight I intended, but came up short. “Unfortunate misunderstanding.”

Waving a hand, I motioned to V to show Brian the folder of pictures we brought. I had asked V to make sure none of them gave away anything about us, as a race, or our locations. But, I wanted Brian to be able to see that his great-grandfather had lived a happy life. I also made sure none of them had either V or myself in them. Having pictures of Cop looking as young as he did, next to us, also looking young, would definitely freak this kid out. After I heard a shuffle of paperwork being passed, I spoke up. “We brought some pictures of your great-grandfather that we thought you might like to see.” I gave him a minute to peruse through them and let everything he has heard and seen sink in.

Brian: Sitting back, I narrowed my eyes.  Something wasn't right here. What he was saying, was true. I understood that, but something was...off. An earlier statement rung inside my head. “You may find some things out about yourself,’ then him telling me that I wasn't going down in a pine box for wanting to give peace to my family, then why make that innuendo? Snapping out of those thoughts, I caught the last part of his statement before sitting up. Unfortunate misunderstandings, that's one way to accurately describe this cluster fuck. A folder was slammed in front of me, and eagerly I opened it. Scanning each photo, each one held emotion. Whether it was love, lust, happiness, joy. Something about them was off though, and that's when I came across my grandfather holding a child, a girl. “I...I’m a nephew?” Well, I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, although it stung deep in my chest. I never did look up as I continued to look through them, the girl was growing up, but...Butch never changed. His appearance never got older. Now, I wasn't one to believe in the supernatural, not personally anyway. I was more thinking of them being myths that people created out of boredom, or as something that happened aeons ago. Something twisted as I looked up, “What are you?”

Wrath: A nephew? What fucking pictures did V put in that envelope? I raised my wraparounds with my thumb and forefinger as I squeezed the bridge of my nose. “No. Your great-grandfather had no young. He had many in his life, but none were of his own blood.” Dropping the shades back on my nose, I looked back up. Shit! What had I said that would have led him to that question? I thought back, hard, on everything I had said. Nothing. There was nothing I could come up with that would have steered him in that direction. That meant someone fucked up and put something in that envelope that didn’t make sense to the kid. I diverted away from the question. “However, you do have more family than you know about.”

Brian: I compiled the photos in front of him, pointing to each one, watching one of the guys pale slightly. “Someone put photos of the child growing up, everyone is tight lip smile, but their lips are sealed. I’m a detective, not an idiot.” I knew he avoided my question, and would avoid. That statement had me halting. What? “I know most of the O’Neal kids, and you said that he didn't have kids, how could I have more family?” Were they lying to me? Did he have a kid? I sat down, rubbing my temples. I seen the goatee guy leaning over, but I couldn't hear what was said, but by the guy's face, I knew it wasn't good.

Wrath: The sound of shuffling photos hit my ears and I waited, knowing that V would explain. “Fuck!” came the muffled response from V off to my right. As he leaned down to my ear, he whispered an explanation that several of the photos happened to have Nalla, Bitty, and LW in the background, growing up. I shook my head thinking, ‘First off, I’m going to kill the idiot that put the photos together, but more importantly, I’m going to beat the fuck out of V for not looking through them more thoroughly.’

Once again, I ignored the basic question. How to explain to a human that you, yourself aren’t? Most won’t believe, and I wasn’t sure I had the patience for the whole ‘Fucky you, you are!’ argument. "You have family on your great-grandfather’s side… behind him in your family tree. I am one of those relatives, as is my son and one of my… associates. It’s distant, but blood, all the same.”

Brian: I noticed, that once again, he ignored my question again, fine. As the saying goes, the less you say, the more that's revealed. Or something like that. I almost fell backward at his words, he was a relative of mine? Grabbing the desk to keep me up right, I stared at the black wraparounds, “Say what now? You telling me you are my….distant cousin or some shit?” Honestly, I didn't know what to think as I stood up and began to pace. Shit....”Wait…” I stopped and stared at him, “Does that mean I'm related to grease ball behind you?” I was flipped off at that, but I shrugged.

Wrath: Not knowing this kid from Adam, I had no understanding of how he would take any more information. However, we couldn’t let him go with only half of it. If he left now, he might be satisfied in knowing what he found out about his great-grandsire, but he would be back, and I couldn’t have him coming back and forth, drawing attention to our world. However, if we wiped him again and let him go, he would surely be back. Maybe not in a few days, or even a few weeks, but he would be back. This was going to have to be an all or nothing deal.

“I have an offer for you. If you would like to learn more, I can arrange for you to meet the rest of the family. But, you would have to come tonight and be ready to spend a few days with us. Should you chose not to, you will likely never get the chance again.” I paused for a second before adding. “I will warn you, this is the proverbial rabbit hole.”

Brian: Sitting back, I stayed quiet, lost in thought. I had what I needed, the proof of his life, where he was, and how things came to be, however it didn't feel like I accomplished anything. Stuck in the same damn rut, being cursed at. All because of a decision none of us made. I scraped my hand through my hair, ‘proverbial  rabbit hole’ he says. I wanted to snicker at the reference, but didn't.  According to this big guy, I was family. His family. I couldn't help looking back through the tears of my life in thought, was this what Butch was looking for? Sitting up, I grabbed the photos again, and looked through them, by the looks of it, he found what he was looking for, was I going to? Something in me vibrated at the idea of it, another part warned me at the ominous warning. Once I make this decision, there was no going back. Part of me wondered why I was about to say what I was going to say, until my niece’s face popped in my head.

“I come along, my  family gets left alone?” I asked, “And I put my dad at peace. As I said before, and Mr. Broody there can come if he wish to prove that I didn't break my word, not a word of this gets mentioned.” Was I asking a lot, yep. Did I expect him to okay anything? Nope. A small sliver of me hoped he would though.

Wrath: Letting out a heavy sigh, this kid was going to be the death of me. “Don’t worry about your family. They are in no danger. We have no intention of hurting them, or you, for that matter. However, you can put your father’s mind at peace /after/. You come with us tonight, give us a few days, then you can go back to him and put his mind at ease, then.” I couldn’t tell the kid that I couldn’t have him leave, knowing what he did. I wanted him to know it all before making a decision about the rest of his family and life. As it was, if he agreed, we were going to have to keep him here tonight, I was going to have to cancel my appointments for the night, and then I was going to have to go back to the manse and let everyone know what was happening. If he decided against it, we would have to wipe him again and send him home. That might even require moving the Audience House, and I did not want to do that. I sat back and waited, trying not to show how much I had riding on his decision.

Brian: I sat for what felt the longest time in my life. Turning everything over in my head. Everything just, overtook me, and had everything in me split between two parts. One was getting up and running as far as I could, or the other....taking this guy up on his offer. Learning more about him, about my...distant family. God, that was the hardest part to wrap my mind around. Rubbing my face, before rubbing my palm over my jean clad thigh, I lifted my head, looked at him, and answered, hoping like a mother fucker I wasn't going to regret this shit.

“May God forgive me, but yeah. I'll go with you.” I said, my eyes flickered on the other guy, and thought I saw a bit of relief on his face, and that amped my heart rate even more, what the fuck did I just agree to?

Wrath: A wave of relief washed over me, as all concerns about finding another property for the Audience House. There were so many things to consider… the whole race knew of this property now, switching it would be a nightmare! Not to mention, which property would work, and how would I make sure that people didn’t come to this one and think it was no more… But, that whole idea got a stay of execution for the time being, at least until we gave the kid a chance to meet everyone and decide which road he was going to take.

“Perfect. V and I need to make a few preparations at the house before you come by. So, we will go ahead of you and Micah can bring you over in a couple hours. Make yourself comfortable until then. Micah can bring you to a room to sleep for a bit if you’d like. If not, there is a kitchen. The staff will be happy to make you anything you’d like.” I grabbed the phone on my desk and dialed the front desk. “Caroh, can you move my appointments for the next three days? Yes, including tonight. Tell them all I’m sorry. Something important has come up, and send Micah back in, please.”

Micah wasted no time in making his way back into the meeting room. “Micah, make our friend comfortable. We will be calling for him in a bit. Until then, make sure he wants for nothing.” Turning back to the kid, “We’ll see you in a few.” And then Micah escorted the kid out.

I picked the phone back up and called back to Caroh, “Caroh, make sure Micah and the kid don’t leave the house until I call for them. Then one of the doggen is to escort them both straight to the manse, no diversions of any kind.”

“Yes, sire,” she replied.

“And call ahead to the manse. I want every one of the Brothers, and the shellans in my office when I get there.” I added.

“Yes, sire. Anything else?” She questioned.

“That will be all. Thank you, Caroh.”

“Of course, Sire,” she replied and hung up the phone.

Turning to V, I commented, “Well, this is going to be a long night.”

All I got was a grunt in return.

#BTWYoureScrewed #ISBDBRP

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[iammarylastar]

6. Sweat and blood

“Hit me.“ Jack said, fists in front of his face, getting his gloves up. This bitch could be sneaky sometimes. "Come on, don’t be shy Babe.”

He was sure to piss her off. She hated when he called her Honey, but giving her some Babe or Love would throw him into bigger troubles.

“Never call me that again.” She growled, throwing a side kick in his ribs. He blocked her kick easily with his elbow and waved at her to fight harder.

“Show me what you’re made of, Love.” He teased her, blowing her a kiss.

She attacked him, punching restlessly in his abs, hard as stone. She was not known to be a fragile pussy, she had been taught to fight like a tigress but something was keeping her from knocking him down.

“Shut the fuck up McClane. Fight back!”

Jack smirked and threw a punch towards her face which she avoided by bending her upper body to the side.

“Come closer Honey, don’t hold back. I won’t bite. Unless you ask me to.”

She had asked him to practice a bit, all those weeks spent to do nothing but filing files and snapping shots was nerve wrecking. She needed some action. Adding the frustration to have this asshole teasing her with some fucking ridiculous pet names and she was ready to kill anyone with her bare hands. Glancing at McClane doing his daily hundred push ups, muscles tight and glistening with sweat, along with the low grunts escaping from his throat from the effort didn’t help.

Fighting seemed to be the right release. So wrong. Being so close to him, touching him even through punches or elbow kicks, made her feel weird. Why did he have to practice shirtless ? Dammit!

A slap in the face made her come back to Earth.  “Honey! You should focus on my eyes, this way up!” He laughed at her, pointing two fingers at his fucking blue eyes.

Why had he to wear a so damn adorable smile? Cheeky bastard!

She startled and blushed furiously. He took her off guard and hit her, which had never happened before. Which should never have happened. And he caught her in the act of staring at his abs. Goddammit McClane! Stop being so sexy, asshole!

“Don’t worry Love, let’s say those cute cheeks got red because of the slap!”

Her blood boiled, both by anger and desire. She clenched her teeth and her fists and growled.

“Shut the fuck up McClane!”

She throws a backspin kick, aiming at his damn cute face with her heel, but Jack swiftly caught her ankle and hooked her leg on his shoulder, grabbing her waist to keep balance.

A devilish smile of victory taped on his stupid face, Jack stepped forward and closed the distance between their panting and sweating bodies.  Years of yoga, gymnastics and martial arts practice had her amazingly flexible, so she didn’t flinch where her thigh almost touched her shoulder.

“You’re damn loose-limbed Honey. I could already figure out nice ways to benefit from such a skill.” Jack whispered in a sultry ton, so close to her face they were breathing the same air.

“I’m tired of you McClane. Don’t you have any other focus in life than my ass and what you want to do with it?” Jack gasped for air at the thought and narrowed his eyes to stay tuned. He wasn’t sure he would be able to keep his cock in his pants if she teased him like that.

“I’m only focused on one goal: have this mission done so I could fly back home, pleased and delighted to get rid of you. Honey. ” He emphasized the last word, and leant forward, his nose grazing along her jawline.

She chuckled to hide the shiver that was running through her spine and laced her hands behind his neck. His musky scent was intoxicating and she could feel the heat coming from both their waists.

Damn, aren’t sweaty men supposed to stink? Why is he SO attractive?

Her face softened and she sighed in his ear. “Do you think you could handle me McClane?

He swallowed hard, thought hard, every piece of his body was rock hard before such a challenge. This moment was worth the wait. She’s so sexy, promising him Heaven, stuck in his arms.

"I’m so fucking ready to handle you, however you like, Honey.” His heartbeat raced twice, as the heat rose from his body. Jesus they were so close…

Shade purposely brushed her lips across his jawline, moaning and tugging on his neck.

Her knee crushing his balls knocking him out. Using her grip on his neck, she jumped and threw her knee straight in his crotch, making him drop her waist and mew like a lost kitty. Falling heavily on his knees, his face twisted in an awful grimace, his hands cupping his late crashed balls, Jack winced in pain, and growled loudly before resting his forehead on the ground.

Shade crouched down and patted his back.

“I warned you not to call me Honey.

"Bitch!” He groaned through his teeth.

“That’s better."  She laughed then became serious again. "I told you, you couldn’t handle me, McLane.”

Jack rolled on his side, still curled up like a wounded animal, helplessly rocking his three set. Watching his so-called wife turning on heel and leave the living room, he just yelled in anger.

“Fuck! Shade!” *

The next couple of days were nightmares.  Shade hadn’t been very talkative or receptive to Jack’s jokes before the ‘incident’, but now it was worse. Jack was pouting, mute, and humiliated. He looked so miserable Shade even didn’t want to mock him. They shared their lunch without a word and shifted silently.

Around 8 pm that day, Shade finally opened her mouth and ordered:

“They’re moving. Les Bains Douches. One hour. Get ready.” She threw her Phone for him to read the text their French contact just sent.

“What? Like bathhouse? What the fuck are they going to public bathhouse at night?”

“Jack” she sighed. “Les Bains Douches! like the famous VIP nightclub. Parisian nightlife: Champagne and cocaïne. Our friends have an appointment with their contacts. ”

“OK.” He just grumbled, somewhat happy to go out of the room. Paris had been waiting for them for weeks and they barely had put their feet on the cobbled streets since they arrived.

Shade magically showed up less than fifteen minutes later, moulded in a stunning mid thigh black dress, bare back and deep dip, the cut to the side forcing Jack’s eyes wandering along her endless thigh, his mouth suddenly dry.  She was walking towards him, confidently perched on silver stilettos, with the movements of a tigress… slow, soft and swaying. Her long hair dancing around her face, cascading over her plump breasts.  She stopped in front of a crumbled faced Jack and handed him a sparkling necklace.

“Please. ” she just said, turning her back to him and gathering her hair to the side.

Jack swallowed loudly, biting his lips not to blurt out some shit about her being drop dead gorgeous or eating her neck up. He was too scared to losehis freshly healed nuts.

Shade hooked matching earrings to her ears and said.

“Let’s get the party started McClane.”

“Yippi kay yay” Jack thought to himself before following her partner.

Waiting for the lift to pick them up, uncomfortably shifting on their feet, both avoided the other’s look. Shade broke the ice first.

“Jack, I’m sorry for…” she looked down at his zipper" … my kick. I shouldn’t have…It wasn’t fair.“

"I deserved it. I behaved like an asshole and it was not good. I totally understand why you don’t like me and I’m sorry.” Jack apologized.

Shade smirked and pecked his cheek.

“I like you, Jack.”

She noticed the red mark her lipstick had left on his cheek and rubbed it with her fingertips.

“Now you’re gorgeous. You forgot to compliment my outfit. What do you think?” She striked a pose like a top model.

“Shade, you’re absolutely stunning, I think… breathtaking, but…” he hesitated.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was so scared you’d kick me in the nuts again.” He chuckled.

Shade laughed heartily, her laugh sounded like cristal.

“As long as you stop calling me Honey, your nuts are safe, Jack.”

“I’m glad you call me Jack. McLane refers to my father and I swear it’s harder to ear than Honey.” His smile was goddamn adorable.

As the lift ringed and its doors opened, he reached out his hand she gladly took, intertwining their fingers together.

“Mrs Sinclair, I’m in your debt.” He led her inside the lift and smiled.

*

Shade was all over Jack, one knee on the Louis XVI armchair he was loose spread on.

“Here you go. Like new.” Shade finished cleaning up Jack’s cut on his lower lips, drops of blood still resting on the front of his open shirt.

“Thanks.” He hissed in pain, his jaw still burning from the punch he received.

“No, thank you…” Shade looked straight in his eyes. “You saved me…”

“Nothing you couldn’t have handle all by yourself.

* The nightclub was hot and dark, jam-packed with glitter, Louboutin, jeroboams of Champagne and Cartier’s watches.

They spotted the Mafioso’s, gathered in the VIP square, and sat at a table next to them. French’s police had them put on the right list.

After a few alcohol free spy-drinks, Jack and Shade headed on the dance floor, as Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, obviously a young couple in love.  They danced together, sometimes touching, sometimes staring. Mrs  Icecube seemed to finally melt, gracing Jack with some of stunning smiles of hers.  Jack was forced to glue himself to her to whisper smart words in her ear, his humour hitting his target. Shade’s cristal laugh was music to his ears and he sneaked a hand successfully on the small of her back.

At one point, Shade had to go the bathroom. She needed to pee, check her make-up and free her sore feet from her stilettos for a minute. On her way to the ladies room, she jumped into the wrong guy.

"Sorry.” She said, brushing past him.

“Ohhh! Quelle beauté!” The guy forced her, grabbing her chin and scrutinizing her face. He stinked strong vodka and was obviously drunk. “Princesse…I Love you” he leant over to steal a kiss but Shade escaped his grip and kept walking away. The asshole turned mad and threw both his hands towards her, fisting his fingers in Shade’s hair and shoulder and yanked her back. The strap of her dress broke and her thighs spread to keep balance tore up its side. Shade screamed in surprise, and turned around ready to knock the guy down. A glance to the side, mobs are staring at the scene. No way she could beat him up without drawing attention on her fight skills. She had to play the trembling lamb.

“I’m just worried to know you’re  alone. I don’t want you to spend the night all by yourself.” He growls, coming closer.

Nausea invaded her stomach at the memory. The 6 year old self had to deal with her terrifying drunk father, ordering her to be a good girl before slapping her for whatever reason, her mother too busy to sleep off her hangover in the couch to help. She needed someone to protect her but there was none.

“Elle est avec moi.” Jack popped up from nowhere and grabbed the fucker’s wrist, keeping him from touching Shade again. She was with him. She was his.  And he wouldn’tlet any-fucking-one threatening her.

“Dégage connard!” The guy barks at Jack, throwing his fist in his jaw. Jack bent down to grab his gun taped on his calf but Shade stopped him.

“Don’t… put ourselves on the show, Cupcake. People are staring at us.” She insisted. Jack glanced at the men,  laughing out loud at the Cupcake thing. She’s right. He couldn’t blow their cover.

Lifting both his hands in sign of abating,  Jack calmly said to the drunk guy.

“It’s OK man, we don’t wanna fight and waste the party. Just let me check if my wife is OK and ̀ we’re gone.”

My wife.

Facing Shade and brushing her hair out from her face, he lovingly inquired. “Are you OK Boo?”

She nodded, took his hand and they got the hell out of the club.

* “Take off your shirt.” He followed, amazed, Shade’s fingers undoing the buttons of his shirt. “It’s covered with blood, I’ll clean it up before it’s too late.” He helped her to get rid of his clothes she carefully hung on the back of the armchair.

“It’s a shame he ruined your dress. You looked stunning in it.” Jack played with the broken strap and glanced at the extended rip that exposed the skin of her hip. Showing the tiny thin string of the thong she was wearing.

“I’ll make it. You’ll make it. Big boy. ” Shade says, pecking the wound on his lips. And again. And again.

Jack’s hands landed softly on her hips, eliciting a light moan from Shade. Jack said nothing as she let her lips press a little longer on his. He groaned when she darted her tongue through his parted lips.

“Boo, please don’t start something you shouldn’t.” Boo. He was dead serious. She loved the way his low tone ran through her core.  “I’m not sure I could stop….”

“Stop rambling and kiss me, Cupcake.”

Jack could have laughed or chuckled if his lips weren’t busy tasting Shade’s tongue. She was fighting for dominance, dauntless tigress, but he let her have the lead. All those sleepless nights spent on that fucking sofa, looking at the ceiling to force his brain not to picture hot sex scenes with Shade, the hours spent fighting against his need to knock at her door, tiptoe into her bed and sneak a hand under her silky nighties. So many times forced to the shower for some quick releases, the ghost of Shade silhouette wandering across the suite with nothing but boy shorts and tight tops.

He still couldn’t believe it was really happening and didn’t dare to wake up from this sweet, perfect, hot dream.

Shade cupped his cheeks and pulled him closer, her tongue dancing with his. He sat up to deepen the kiss, his hands flying to her ribs, where they stopped, just below her delicate breasts his thumbs caressed. She tilted her head back to moan loudly, Jack took advantage of her offered breasts he covered with his mouth. Tugging on her wasted dress, he placed wet kisses on her bare stomach, while she racked her fingers through his short hair. Her feet back on the ground, Shade trailed open kisses down his neck and chest, and further down. She licked his navel while her hands unhooked his belt and unzipped his pants.

Jack shivered in anticipation and lifted his ass, his teeth hard dug in his lower lip as he witnessed his pants and boxer disappear down his legs. Shade didn’t tease him more and took his length in her mouth, twirling her tongue around the soft skin of his shaft.

“Fuck Shade!"  Jack tangled his fingers in her long hair and lowered his gaze to enjoy the show, gently guiding her head as he fucked her mouth. Her moans mixed with his grunts added more fuel to his fire and he quickly felt like he couldn’t handle more of those sweet ministrations.

In a swift but rough movement, he flipped her in the chair and captured her mouth in a searing kiss.  Kneeling down between her feet, he slowly slid his hands along her thighs, up to her ass and hooked the hem of her thong he pulled down and threw to the side. Shade mewled and opened her thighs for him. Grazing and nibbling at her thighs, he took his time to be met with the little patch of hair that covered her soaked pussy. Sneaking his hands back to her bottom cheeks, he roughly pulled them to his mouth and lapped her folds like his life depended on it.

Arching her back under the heavenly sensation, she clung at his neck and forced him to lick harder. Jack was losing his mind and his hardness screamed for more. He nonetheless did his best to make her pleasure last longer.

Lifting her ass up, he almost threw her on the floor, catching the force with his hands. He hovered his taut body over her and lay on her, his heavy body melting with Shade’s.

Shade could taste her own juices on Jack’s tongue as he explored her mouth again. She felt her body liquefying when Jack entered her gently and started to fuck her as slowly as he could.  Resting on his elbows he broke the kiss and plunged his eyes in Shade’s. Her green wild eyes were sparkling with lust. Jack couldn’t fight the urge to eat her neck and grazed his teeth on her pulse point.

The agonizing slow pace with which he was making love to her was quickly impossible to keep, Shade was wiggling her hips under him, inviting him to free the beast he had held back for so long. Shade slammed her hands on his ass, pulling and pushing hard to emphasize his thrusts. Jack grunted in her ear, this was thousands times better than he had imagined. "Shade…” he painfully hissed, losing control.

Shade pulled at his hair, forcing him to stare at her again. Her face twisted in pleasure but she needed more time. She parted her lips and captured a sweatdrop on his forehead. The salty taste in her mouth, the tortured sounds coming from Jack’s throat, his fucking scent were sending her over the edge.

“Shade…” he couldn’t hold on anymore. “Yes!” She cried in ecstasy, her thighs tightening around his waist as she came. Her walls crushed his cock as he spilled his load out, deep inside her. In a final thrust, Jack felt his orgasm run through him, powerful and devastating.

“Jesus!” She gasped for air once Jack had rolled to her side.

“Sorry but my name is Jack…” he joked, one hand resting on his chest, breathing heavily. His other hand played with her hair, before he rested on his elbow, staring at her flushed face.

She just chuckled, enjoying the last shot of pleasure traveling down her spine.

He leant over her to taste her lips once again, and sighed.

“Shade… I…” She stopped him, her fingers on his lips.

“Don’t say something you shouldn’t.” She whispered in a smile.

She stirred up then relaxed.  “I told you, you couldn’t handle me.”

Jack rolled to hover over her again but Shade was already on her feet, combing her long damp hair back, her head tilted backwards, offering the breathtaking sight of her perfect body to a crumbled-into-pieces Jack.

Without a word, she swaged to her bedroom, leaving poor Jack alone on the floor.

His short dream was over but it was fucking worth it. It was a shame he couldn’t have shown more of his skills, his hardness was quickly back at the thought.

Shade leant on the frame of the door, her sexy ass swaying to the music of her voice.

“Round 2. Now Cupcake.”

Thank God

@kenzieam @pathybo @tigpooh67 @beautifulramblingbrains @oddsnendsfanfics @frecklefaceb @badassbaker @jaihardi @angelswannawearmyredshooz @bookwarm85 @societalfailure @beltz2016 @pernilleals @captstefanbrandt @kiiiimberlyriiiicker1995 @zarkanic @kaybou902-blog @liendre50 @sporadichologramblizzard-ed17414 @red-diary @singingpeople @writingismyhappytime

[dvbermingham]

Chapter 9: Jazu

It was about three in the morning when we got to Tonic. I knew it was on the west side, over by 10th ave, so we drove around for a while until we spotted a few greasy looking inebriates who were walking with a little extra swing in their step, not looking for any trouble, no girls around to impress, too tired from dancing wildly through the night. This was the mid-nineties, mind you, so this kind of thing was just about to get very irritating to a lot of people.

They showed us the way — an old warehouse with no line, no bouncer, no velvet rope, just a light bulb glowing green above a door. Inside, there was a small man inside a small wooden encasement, old and chestnut brown. He looked like a fortune teller at a carnival, and took our money and told us to have fun.

Inside, smoke clouds plumed and collided like volcanic eruptions, formed a haze that swam between and through the purple and green lights. It was a wild atmosphere. The music was spastic, incredible. The kind of music Takuto listened to whenever he had the chance. The drummer led the band, calling out expletives each time one of his bandmates made his ears orgasm. It was a thrill to watch. I was glad to not have to talk anymore.

We walked up to the bar, the man there wearing a leather apron and a bow-tie, knives and strainers and jiggers attached to his apron like weapons and ammo. Matsusaka introduced himself and ordered two scotches neat. The bartender twiddled his mustache to greet us and introduced himself. Whit Bissell is what I heard, and that’s what I chose to believe. He served up the scotches and put out a plate of raw cabbage with a dipping sauce. The scotch burned its way down and we ordered another. Matsuzaka did the talking, while I watched the room. Pure human writhing, sweaty and beautiful. There were people of all ethnicities, all ages, even young boys and girls, dressed up in oversized suits and wing-tip shoes, drinking from rocks glasses and throwing them down, skidding off and slicking the dance floor to give the whole human carousel a slippery twist. No one seemed to care about anything. I finished my scotch and asked for another. For the first time that night I was feeling good.

Then I suddenly felt even better. Across the room I met the eyes of a beautiful creature, a mature woman with hips bursting from her tan high-waisted pants, a ruffled green shirt that looked softer than five-star hotel sheets. Her hair was as red as hot brick, cascading over itself like lava, the kind of hair her parents were baffled at having created, the kind of hair never seen before in the family, like the genes were biding their time, waiting to bestow it when the right person came along. Our gaze was quickly broken. She was dancing with everyone and no one all at once and for forever, her body airborne, her feet never once touching the ground. I wanted to breathe her in, smell every inch of her, let her aroma bewilder my brain. Then there was a tap on my shoulder. “Lou! What the fuck are you looking at?” Matzu handed me my third scotch. “Pay attention, alright? This place is dangerous.”

Dangerous it was indeed. Dangerous for the heart, dangerous for the soul, dangerous for what a woman like that could do to the only body I had. But Matzu was right. I forced my head in different directions, scanning the room for threats. There were quite a few people I would classify as goons or thugs or just generic intimidating security types. Nothing that seemed out of the ordinary, a fair number of Japanese men and women though, the security definitely sushi. What did a place like this have to worry about? What did it hold? Who did it attract?

The hot jazz explosion on stage came to denouement with the drummer executing a long solo that in my sloshy mind turned him into a cartoon octopus. The crowd roared, the band screamed, the cymbals clattered and the kick drums shook and the musicians started backing up as though their leader was about to self-immolate. Two people in the middle of the dance floor fainted, several more threw their drinks in the air, liquid courage showering the room. It felt like New Years Eve.

The drummer fell off his chair in a show of exhaustion, then bounced back up as soon as the clapping turned to a chant, all smiles. He straightened everything, held up his hand to quiet the audience, a call of a new mood. The frenzy came to a hush — soon all you could hear was heavy breathing, giggles, suggestive whispers. The trumpeter started up something slow and blue. The dance floor paired off, the bass showing them the way, slowly. Then the shhhhh of a brush on the ride, more slowly now, dragging the band a half-step back. I scanned the dance floor with hopes to see her again — she was pulling her hair back in an effort to cool off, revealing a thick neck I wanted to explore with the tip of my nose.

She watched as I walked toward her, the sea of dancers separating, my tribe cheering me on. My momentum carried me too far, and I found myself unable to stop my body from crashing into hers. Luckily, a woman of such magnitude had no problem side-stepping my oafish clumsiness, catching me by the arm, spinning me around, and leading the way. We danced for what felt like an eternity. Neither of us spoke, our bodies turning and turning over on each other, the bar and the other dancers having long faded away, leaving only the rhythms and us.

Of course that moment passed, gone forever, a moment I will never get back but am grateful to have had at all. The music kicked into another gear, and I realized I had been away from my post, had left my mark. I severed, but before I could, she pulled me back by my forearm and asked me my name. I said Lou, Lou Mastiff, and she said hers was Vicky Felix. I told her I had to go, that I was working, and I saw no concern on her face, no sense of loss, no pining. I, however, pined. I pined immediately for the dance that just ended. But there she went, away to dance alone again, never losing an inch of that smile, as though knowing something she was sure I would soon know as well.

Matsuzaka watched me the whole way back to the bar. “Sorry I just had to get that out of my system,” I said.

He shook his head. “No worries Lou. It was fun watching. You’re a good dancer.”

“I am?”

“I wish I could dance like that.”

“I could teach you.”

“Unfortunately I’m a little focused on not getting shanked in the alley, so maybe we can push off the dance lessons a few weeks, hm?”

“Right I’m s—“

“While you were over there over there with Miss Hipswivels I’ve been here talking to my new friend Mr. Bissell. He tells me there was quite a scene here a couple weeks ago involving our friend Takuto. Turns out Takuto had a bit of a drug problem. Got him into some trouble with the local dealers I guess.”

“Drugs?”

"The devil’s sushi rice. Colombian short-grain. Brought out his aggressive side. I guess that was enough for Senju to give the okay for him to get taken out. No sense in jeopardizing the whole city of New York for one junkie, right?”

“I never realized,” I said.

“That’s what my new friend Whit here seems to think. And if that’s the case, then we, my friend, are in the clear. Raise a glass. You too Mr. Bissell. A toast to our dearly departed friend Boss Takuto. And to new beginnings. And to New York!”

“To sushi!”

“Here here.”

We drank. Matzu ordered another round and we turned our attention back to the band, which was putting forth glorious noise feasted on by the pack of insatiable hyenas on the dance floor. I tried to pick out Vicky Felix, but she was no where to be found. I told them I’d be right back and went to go look. As I moved through the frenzy I got the feeling again, the same one that I got in the alley outside Takuto’s apartment, that same feeling that came too late, after he had already been cut up and left for dead. I glanced to the perimeter of the room and the guards had shifted, and multiplied. Some were in among the dancers, others were moving in groups of two and three. I turned to the bar. Neither Whit nor Matzu were there, just a couple of jazz freaks trying to get a round of drinks. That’s when I felt a hand on my shoulder, a pistol in my side. Turn around sir, I heard him say. And don’t make a scene.

I was sandwiched between two Japanese men with long hair and black suits. They moved me through the crowd with ease. The trumpeter and I made eye contact and he blew a little harder. I tried to swivel my head one last time to see if Ms. Felix was anywhere near by and got a nice clock in the spine for it. Keep moving, buddy, he said, jamming the pistol deeper into my kidney.

I was relieved to find no aquatic themes in the back room of the club. There were no decorations at all, just exposed pipes, uneven floors, ceiling rot, peeled paint. The metal chair bolted to the floor had little metal jags on the corners which tore my clothes as my body absorbed the alternating slaps and punches and the occasional stomp. The slaps actually hurt more than the punches. With this mass my body can absorb any number of direct blows, but something about the tautness of my skin, maybe due to being overworked trying to retain all the blubbery bits inside of me, it’s a little more sensitive than most other parts of my body. This guy, the slapper, seemed a well-practiced skin-stinger. Still, years of taking beatings gave me the ability to dissociate from the pain and the torture of it all so I just kind of coast through and deal with the physical trauma later. As for the psychological trauma, well, I just hope I die before I ever have to deal with that.  

“I’ll tell you whatever you want,” I said, trying to gauge what level of back-rooming we were dealing with here. But they hadn’t asked me anything, didn’t seem to care. Like a classically trained boxer I sat there absorbing everything those henchmen could give me. Then I hit them with some basic trivia, current events or pop culture from decades ago, general knowledge type stuff. This was a tactic I learned years ago from one of my early mentors Don “Loopie” Loper, back in my days as a caddie. When I was starting out, the best way to get into the hired goon industry was through your local caddy program. Loopie told me that when he was getting worked over by a couple of tough guys you wanted to tire out without getting yourself too messed up, just quiz them a little. Nothing too hard. Give them questions they feel like they probably know or used to know once upon a time. It distracts them, makes them feel inadequate, but it won’t enrage them. It’s a subtle defanging that creates self-doubt. Punches will land a little softer after that.

As the one part of my mind took care of the beating-end of business, the other part, the one hiding deep in the brain-bunker, began trying to remember those last few moments between when I walked away from Matzu and when I turned to find him gone. Had I seen anything suspicious? What did Whit Bissell’s face say to me when I slugged back that fourth scotch? Did he smile? Did he glance to the corners of the room?

A while went by — who knows how long. At some point I glanced at my new friends through what I assumed were my swollen eyelids and saw them panting, a little sweaty on the brow, a little hunched over, and I decided it was about time. I stood up, grabbed them both by their wrists and squeezed. Right there I heard two separate snaps. I held on, squeezed some more. That was another trick Loopie taught me. The old adage “break the wrist, walk away” was for amateurs. Professionals snap the wrist and hold on, they squeeze, grind up those little bird bones into dust. Make the pain so intense and long lasting that your enemies collapse that their whole bodies quake and they wet themselves. Then let go.

Out front the band was packing up. A few people still lingered, flirting with the musicians, sucking back the remaining ice in their highball glasses.  Security had vanished. I let my nose guide me to the smell of fresh city air.

Night was over. The sun was making its way over the horizon, giving the sky a nice peachy preview of the day to come. It was going to be a warm one. High humidity, hazy sky. I tried to catch my breath enough to get walking, seeing as I didn’t want to hang around the club much longer.  That’s when I heard a voice. A woman’s voice. A voice that made my buttocks tingle. I looked over to what appeared to be a small cluster of bikers wearing cut off shirts, long hair, standing around their motorcycles.

“The big bad Mastiff got away,” she said. Now I knew my eyes were swollen, as I saw her figure walk towards me, I was unable to make out a single feature. Instead I smelled a glorious sweet aroma, hers and only hers. “Looks like they did a number on you.”

“I’d say you should see the other guys, but honestly, it’s just two grown man who’ve pissed their pants.”

“You got a ride?”

“I’ll just hail a cab.”

“Nonsense. I’ll take you home.”

We rode without helmets down the empty New York streets, too early for traffic, maybe it was a Sunday.  I felt the air whisk away the dried blood crusts off the corners of my mouth. Vicky took local streets, coasting through red lights, swerving across four lanes and back again, taking her time. I saw the sun cast double in the river as we crossed the bridge headed to Brooklyn. The air smelled different above the streets, closing in on a new borough. I became overwhelmed with emotion, thinking of how I lost Matzu, how I left the tuna, how I might be 0-8, or is it 0-7, I couldn’t remember. The sight of Brooklyn made me wonder how much of the world was really out there for me to explore, and what exactly was holding me back.

We pulled up to a big building on Atlantic ave, across the street from some Lebanese grocers. It was an old concrete thing with the words Ex-Lax carved into stone above the entryway. She said it was the old factory, or one of them, she didn’t know. When we got inside she told me to flop down on the couch while she runs a bath. There was nothing I wanted more than a nice flop, and she knew it. She could tell that’s what I needed, knowing me only a couple hours. I knew I had found someone special.

[lillaxtrigger]

Young Hope: Chapter 26

Shining down upon the brickwork of an everyday city apartment, the evening sun gleams through the glass of one apartments kitchen window; the light shimmering upon the back of girl pouring a batch of cake mix into a bowl. Obstructing the light be the passing purple merc, who opens the fridge door and digs through its chilling contents; asking the baker: “You know where you keep your eggs?” “On the shelf at the top right.” the girl answers in soft, calming tone. “Right! See’em.” Following the bakers directions, Roy pulls out a trio of pure white large eggs from the depths of the fridge; holding all three of them in a single hand. The girl turns away from her bowl and to the approaching purple angel; her olive green eyes gazing to the mercs only hand in worry as she notices him having trouble clutching onto the trio of eggs; questioning if: “Are you sure you can hold them all? You look like your having trouble.” “Tsk...come on, bae, this is nothing. I’ve juggled worse shit than this. In fact...” Taking his words to heart, Roy begins to toss the large eggs right out from the palm and into the air; juggling all three of them with but his only hand. “Ye-e-eah! Look at this circus act. A whole month with just one arm and I can do the equivalent of a 6 year old’s birthday party act. Practically out showing a 20 bucks an hour clown in their own game.” While the purple merc show’s off the coordination of his single arm, the baker grows more worried as she continues to watch him juggle; standing further back and bumping right into her bowl full of batter. A few bits of the batter winds up escaping the contents of the bowl, splashing right next the merc’s feet; some of which Roy unfortunately steps in. Slipping right onto the batter causes Roy to fall flat on his back, tossing the eggs in his hand upward; soon to break all over the purple merc. Shielding herself from the splattering yolk, the girl glances down to the violet angel lying on the floor; Roy’s face showing to be covered in uncooked egg. The spilling sight draws out a charming little smile from her cheeks, a cute giggle escaping out from between her plush lips; this in turn drawing out the mercs own smile.

Once she finishes giggling, the girl reaches her tan brown hand out to the purple boy; Roy grasping her helping hand to be pulled off the floor. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” “Yeah...guess I kinda had it comin. Thanks Roxanne.” the merc thanks, brushing the bits of egg shell and yolk from the bakers red and brown striped spiked back bob hair. After a little giggle escapes her, Roxanne attempts to return the purple merc’s thanks with: “Don’t mention it. You just gotta be careful of where you-” Surprising the young girl, she feels the boy pull her right in and planting a soft kiss right upon her full lips; the sudden kiss causing her eyes to widen. Soon, both Roxanne and Roy break from the smooch, the purple merc discovering to have left the baker in shocking silence; Roy taking the silence with: “I know. Might be kinda early for that good stuff. But hey, we’ve been going steady on deck for about 2 weeks now. I figure why the hell not? Speaking of not waiting, I gotcha a little something?” “Huh?” the baker utters, watching as the merc strolls over to his backpack sitting in the corner of the kitchen. Plopping his backpack right on the marble counter, Roy begins to dig straight through its contents; pulling out a myriad of various objects. Items he sets aside be a couple of books, some pencils, a binder or two, a zip lock bag full of drugs, a few magical artifacts of questionable origin, a bulls heart, and a glass ball with muffling souls trapped within. “C’mon. I know I had it in here Where the hell is it?...Ha, there!” Pulling out from the mysterious depths of his pack, Roy presents to Roxanne a magnificently carved, small, glass like ice figure of the girl taking a graceful pose; surrounded by flame shaped ice enveloping her feet. Beholding the icy statue with her own two eyes, the girl could barely make a sound; left completely speechless by the figures reflecting beauty as she holds it in her hands. “Yep, it wasn’t easy to find somebody who could make never melt ice and shape it to your figure. Pretty much got lucky in all honesty. So, what do ya think? Does lookin at it make ya go “Hot damn, I look sexy as all fuck. The icy sheen really bring out my eyes and tight ass”? Bet it does, don’t it.” “I...I don’t know what to say. It’s-It’s amazing. We’ve only been going out for just about two weeks and you got me something this...beautiful.” “I thought it make up for all the sweet as hell treat you’ve been baking for me.” “I think I know just where to put it.” Saying such, the young baker walks out of the kitchen with her new icy decoration in hand; strolling straight into the neighboring living room.

Roxanne sets her newly acquired ice sculpture right dead in the center of her coffee table, letting out a small sigh as she stares upon its shinning cold surface; thinking that: “It’s still shocking that he gone through so much trouble just to get such a wonderful gift this early in our relationship. I really don’t have any idea what to say to him...Or what I will have to say to him. God, he’s just been so nice these past two weeks. I just have no idea how I’ll break it to him. I just hope that I can before its too late. I just don’t know what he’ll think of me.” “Holy fuckin jizz rockets! She is rockin that dress. Makes her breasts and butt look oh so spicy juicy…I wonder if she might be down for a threesome?” the merc ponders. “Will you quit being such a pervy horn dog for one minute and get your mind out of the whore house. You remember what your dear sister told you about taking things slow with this girl.” the goddess in his head advises. “I know, I know. A man can have wet dreams, can’t he? Truth be told, these past few week with sexy Roxy have made me happier then I’ve been in a long time. Its like a feeling that’s been dormant for a long time has risen from the depths of my dark, rustically cold soul. And rather taking the form in my indescribable pelvis pleasure pole, it boils somewhere high; somewhere more satisfying and warm...Kind of like my heart. But I forget what its called.” “Would you happen to be referring to the magically enchanting feeling called love?” “Maybe…All I’m feeling right now is some form of content. Like all is well in my little world. You know what that feels like?” “...I did.”

Returning from the neighboring living room, Roxanne grabs hold of the mixing bowl with both hands; reminding her house guest that its: “Time to get back to baking. Mind getting the chocolate chips out from the cabinet?” “Sure thing.” As the merc digs through the cabinet for his girls requested chocolaty chip, he can’t help but question if: “So you making all these sweets just to get on my sweet side; cause let me tell ya, its workin hell a fast.” “Nu uh, that ain’t it. I’m making all these treats for the team later on. Figured I’d be prepared and start now.” Setting the packet of chocolate chips down next to the stove top, Roy goes on to mentions how: “Oh right, that little team you went on about on our first date. You haven’t really brought up much else about them since then. You thinkin about introducing them to your boy someday?” “I don’t know. A girls gotta keep her secrets, ya know.” “Consider my lips sealed then.”

It’s in that moment do the two of them hear somebody’s phone go off, Roxanne pulling hers out from her skirt pocket to check the new message she’d just received from someone called Artemis. “Speaking of which, I just got a text from one of them...” Once having read what the message says, a sharp gasp is drawn inside her lungs; the mixing bowl dropping to the counter. “Oh...oh my god. She says we all been assigned to a mission. An actual mission this time!” “Don’t you guys go on those all the time?” the purple merc questions. “I mean kind of, but those just usually boil down to just doing laundry, picking up groceries, cleaning pets, and polishing weapons. It’s the first time the whole teams been assigned to do anything meaningful for once.” “Whoa, back up a sec there. Polishing weapons? Roxy, what kind of pre-nuclear war fallout after school club did you sign up for?” “I already told you that its a secret.” “Oh come on, it won’t hurt to tell me; I already swore not to open my mouth. Beside, I happen to be one hell of an expertise in fields like this, bringing me along might give ya the edge you need.” “Hmm...I don’t know. I haven’t really planned how I’ll introduce you to the team yet.” “Well, now’s a better time as any. Bettin seeing me in action would make one hell of an intro to them. Think it’s a plan?” From the purple merc’s insistent suggestion, it takes Roxanne a good moment to decide whether to take her recently meet boy friend along to meet up with the gang; with only having Roy’s faux innocent smile to give her any reassurance.

The setting sun finally disappears from the horizon, giving way to the countless stars shinning along Townsville’s night sky; none of which however shine within the dark veil of one of the city’s many alleys. Dwelling inside one particular alley, four figures blanketed in shadow stand in waiting; one of them watching where they step among the piles of trash and rats. “Ew ew ew ew ew! Just why!? Just why are meeting up with Roxy in this dank and disgusting alleyway? Why can’t we just meet up at the nearby seafood restaurant?” one of them with a feminine voice complains. “Why the hell you bitchin at all of us for? Baby blue Charles over here’s the one that shoved us in this trash heap.” another with a loud and sassy voice questions. “Because, we supposed to be staying hidden. We’re on the clock here. Walking around in public would defeat the entire purpose.” one with a guys voice explains. “Oh ho ho, you haven’t seen how much of a bad bitch I can be. I can kick your sorry slimy ass all the way back to the sewage treatment you spawned from if you want me to demonstrate.” “At least I got a juicy ass on me. You can barely count the flat smooth wooden boards on your backside that you sadly call a butt.” “At least my butt is cleaner then your nasty asshole!” the one girl screeches. “The fuck did you say about my ass motherfucker!” the other barks back. As the two girls bickering echo throughout the walls of the alleyway, their only male comrade lets out an irritated growl as he covers his ears; complaining on how: “Why the hell do I always have to be stuck babysitting these loud mouth brat. Its always just constant headaches with the two of them. At least Artemis had enough sense to bring headphone.” Gazing away from the pair of bickering children, the guys eyes are draw to the neon green hair of their forth member; calmly listening to the music that the headphones covering her ears put out. “Mmm. Just when in the hell is Roxanne going to get here. It’s almost been 30 minute since Artemis messaged her and she still hasn’t showed up. Almost afraid someone’s gonna crash this meeting at any moment.”

Right on queue, the two rooftop edges above them suddenly explode into tiny pieces; the lights above gleaming into the alley as the rubble rains down. As all of them cover their heads from the descending stone pieces as the dust blinds their view; one of the girl coughing up the clouds as she complains how: “Ah! Dammit, its in my mouth! Cak! Ak!” The sassier of the two lets out a mocking laugh from her partners suffering, spitting out small bits of rubble as she cackles. From the middle of the dusty cloud, all four of them soon witness a bulky figure stand between the four of them; their wings withdrawing into their back. “What in the blue blazes just crash landed! Artemis, open fire!” Charles demands. “There’s no need to!” the neon green girl calmly elaborates in a semi monotone voice. “What!? Why!?” “Because its who I asked to meet us!”

Parts of the dusty cloud begin to dissipate before them, revealing the olive green eyed girl come out from the dirt ridden shroud; two of the other girls approaching the recent arrival as they excitedly squee: “Roxanne!” The light from the newfound holes in the roofs reveal one of them to be a dirty blonde with long bangs and baby blue eyes, complementing their newly arrived teammate with: “Nice entrance there Roxy! Really attention grabbing and bombastic; cloudy reveal was a nice touch too.” The other to approach her shows to sport slimy chocolate brown skin plagued with lime green bulges across her arms and forehead, her pitch black pony tail stretching down to her wide hips; adding to the blondes statement with: “Yeah girl, what’s with the crashing entrance anyway? Bitch like you typically just go through the backdoor instead of bustin down the roof.” From the side, a pale blue skinned man with charcoal hair swipes the dust off his lab coat; adding to her question with how: “It’d sure make much less of a mess.” “I know, I know. I’m sorry for literally just dropping in like this. But he really wanted to make a good entrance.” “He?” the slime girl questions. “Who’s He.” the blonde follows.

As more of the rubble dust begins to settle from behind their comrade, the purple hue of another figure begins to their view; his violet hair waving in the passing alleyway wind. The dusty clouds finally part from the alley, unveiling to the rest of the team Roxanne’s newfound boyfriend; Roy’s wicked smile sending chills down most of their spines. Once making himself known to Roxanne’s pose, the purple merc begins to approach the two girl closest to him; both the blonde and slimy one backing away to the wall as Roy nears. “And what might these fine ladies names be?” “Un-Un-Uuhh...” the blonde stutters out. “You even think of tryin any shit with us, you getting a whole load of slime shoved down your throat!” the slime girl threatens. “Sounds pretty tasty.” the merc fires back. “Toxi’ander! Quit being so on edge and chill out. He won’t bite, I swear. Looks aren’t everything, you two.” Roxanne scolds. “Yeah Toxi, kinda figured you of all people would know a thing or two about that by now.” the blonde quips with a grin. “Excuse me! The fucks that supposed to mean!? You tryin to piss me off bitch!?” “Gigi! Stop trying to start arguments with her. It always just devolves into an insulting screaming contest between you two.” “Uh, xuse me! Who’s in charge here?” they hear Charles sarcastically question. Glancing to the side, all of them watch as the blue skinned guy approaches; continuing his reminder with: “I was stuck with the job of watching all you brats, so I’m the one running the show here.” To his statement, Roxanne can’t help but look away with a sour frown, mentioning under her breath how: “Should be me who’s in charge...” “Ya know Charles, that just fuckin priceless coming from you. Considering that you order us like grunts while you laze around on your ugly blue ass all day.” Despite hearing the slime girls scathing accusations, Charles simply just lets out a passive aggressive growl. “Hell, we coulda just wait at the back of some Denny’s while waiting for Roxanne and her new boy toy to show up. Least it wouldn’t be nearly as rank.” “Toxi!” Roxanne exclaims, blushing as red as a beat; all the while her “boy toy” behind her just busts out laughing. “I’m likin how spicy your friends are Roxy.”

Turning his gaze over to the blue skinned boy beside them, Roy then follows up by questioning: “Speaking of friends. What’s the deal with doctor blue balls M.D, specializing in testicular examination over here. You wound up getting trapped in a freezer while tryin to rob a bunch of chocolate cookie fudge bars from the ice cream shop.” “What?” “Cause if you have, I know you’re pain, pal. Took me about a week and a half just getting all the sharp icicles out of my nose. But those fudge bars were so fuckin worth it.” From this confusingly sympathetic insult, Charles catches the giggles of both Gigi and Toxi; backing up on how: “I was born with this blue skin.” “That unfortunately happens to be our leader.” someone with a semi monotone voice points out from behind. Glancing back, the merc comes face to face with a tall and well built pale skinned girl; her neon green flaming hair catching his eye. “And you must be Artemis. Gotta say, lovin the rockin green mane. Can you flambe stuff with ya green lit locks?”

A false attention grabbing cough reaching everyone’s ears, forcing everyone to turn their eyes back towards their blue skinned captain; hearing him state how: “Great! Now that we have introductions out of the way, How about we get back on track here. Roxanne, tell your purple lover to leave.” “Uh, about that Charles; he’s actually wanting to help us out on our little mission here.” “Yep, ain’t you all lucky to have me?” Almost everyone in the group jumps from their teammates sudden decision; Charles in particular questioning her choice with: “And when exactly were you gonna mention this little decision through us?” “Sorry, it was kind of a last minute decision. Didn’t Artemis read the text to you all?” Asking such, everyone’s gaze is turned towards the neon green girl; who could be seen reviewing the text and going: “Yep, she did. My bad.” “Still Roxy, you can’t just drag some random asshat on our assignments with us. The people at the top will throw a shit fit.” Gigi informs. “They let your flat ass in, didn’t they?” Toxi quips. “The hell did you say about my booty, bitch!?” “Excuse me! Just some random asshat!? Let me kindly remind y’all on how my girl and I crashed through the motherfuckin ceiling without so much as a scratch between either of us. Like to see any of you do that shit.” “So what, think that makes you better then any of us?” Charles accusingly wonders. “Gee, that kind of abrasive insecurity probably ain’t the best thing for a captain of a team like this to have. Ya practically have such a massive opportunity right in front of ya but just being too “Blue balled” to take it.” “Oh damn. Oh damn! OH DAMN! OH DAMN!” Toxi cries out; her astonishing swears echoing out beyond the entire alleyway.

Amidst his teammates astonished cries, Charles gazes to the purple merc in a silent, almost vengeful fury; all the while Artemis adds her own thoughts to the conversation with: “This is one of the first times our entire team has been assigned to any missions with any meaning beyond washing clothes and picking up food, we may need all the help we can get. With the kind of background that our purple guest’s profile informs, it could be more than enough to tip the scales in our favor.” “Oh ho! You read up on me, have ya? At least one of you guys is doing their homework.” “Hold up, Arti; background? Just what kind of stuff does this violet freak do?” Gigi questions. “His full name is Roy Shapen Donovan. He is an on demand work for hire mercenary with a caliber of achieving dangerous and high paying jobs for a multitude of shady organizations and political figures; capable of a multitude of darkness fueled powers and abilities that both employers and other mercs would describe as catastrophic and lethel. And that’s barely scratching the dozens of achievements and rumors that have spread through his career of nearly six years by now.” Through their teammates description of their purple guest reputation and profile, each one of them gaze upon the merc himself with encroaching skepticism, worry, and surprise; even Roxanne herself left astonished by his boys perceived profile.

“Aw, come on. Stop. Your makin me blush.” the merc himself sarcastically mentions. “Bitch please, as if his scrawny teenage ass has that kinda street cred to spare. He don’t even look like he washed his rank ass dick after fucking shit all night long.” the slime girl sasses. “Oh, and like you guys get any action. Cause from all I’ve been hearing, you girls barely get any. Tell ya what! I normally charge my services for one hell of a pretty penny; but since I’m really doing a favor for my one hell of a pretty penny; I’m offerin you lot the once in a lifetime chance free of charge discount. Order now and you’ll get the lovely souvenir of whose teeth I knock out first. Sound like a deal?” “Girls, even if Roy’s background is the teeniest bit exaggerated; it still may be a good idea to take him with us. We need all the help we can get for this mission.” “Whatever, I really think Charles should be the one to decide. He is our leader.” Gigi reminds with twinkling eyes towards the blue skinned captain. With everyone else soon directing their gaze towards the baby blue leader, Charles taking a moment to ponder to himself as he stare right to their purple guest; Roy’s less then welcoming smile making his whole spine shudder. After letting out his brief jitters, the blue captain finally gives his answer with: “Fine, whatever; he can come. Ask long as he keeps to himself, I don’t care.” “Oh for fucks sake!” Toxi screams out. “Thank you, Charles.” Roxanne thanks.

With a snap to his fingers, the purple merc points out to his new blue employer and states: “Looks like we struck ourselves a deal, baby blue. You won’t be regretting it anytime soon.” “You mean like I am right now?” “So, now that we got the business bullshit outta the way, which unlucky son of bitch are on our “Fuck over with a 5 foot razor wire string up the bum” today?” “Our...O-Our assignment that the higher ups have given to all of us is to procure a very special gemstone that can conduct a myriad of power sources; including but not limited to electric, plasma, radiation, positive and negative ions, kinetic energy, and even quantum energy. From light to dark, from hot to cold, this jewel can take in and distribute untold amounts of power.” “So if this bling we got here’s as badass as you say it is, why the hell would they send us to gank it?” Toxi questions. A small chuckle escaping from the blue skinned captains lungs, he goes on to mention how: “I thought it was pretty obvious. This little assignment of our is a test. A mission to determine if were worthy to rise in the rank. They probably have a lot of faith to leave this job to us personally.” Shattering Charles’ motivating speech be the neon green haired girl herself when she corrects him on how: “Actually, it was because literally everybody else was busy. Everyone was on their own missions and assignment, so they simply stuck us with this one.” “Agh, I knew it was too good to be true! Why else would they stick this job to us?” Gigi complains. From hearing Artemis’ correction, a small hiss escapes from the mercs teeth; claiming how: “Sounds like you guys got pretty sloppy seconds. Think the best thing you girls can do now it try and make the most of it.” “Roy’s right. Who cares if this job just got dumped on us. It’s still our job at the end of the day. Lets just give it our best and show them that this C team can pull off a fantastic A+”

As the rest of the crew cheers from Roxanne’s motivational speech, Charles takes a quick glance to his phone to find a blinking dot nearing their location; grabbing back everyone’s attention with: “Look sharp, girls. Our coveted prize is nearing its destination.” “If that’s true then we need to move out now. Come on!” Artemis orders, passing right beside Charles alongside everyone who follows her lead. The blue leader himself is left spun and dizzy by his passing teammates, shaking off the daze as he chases after his leaving team as he reminds them: “Hey! Hey! Don’t leave without your captain!”

Through the stretches of Townsville’s city roads, an armored truck drives along past a couple of other vehicles; turning into what seemed to be a far less pleasant part of town. The truck eventually makes its stop along the side of a less then welcoming building; two police officers stepping out of the front and strolling out to the back. Opening up the back doors, the two cops uncover a box made from titanium; dressed with coded and psychical locks abound on all of its sides. Even with the case’s imposing weight, the two officers manage to heave it right out of the armored trucks back; dragging the locked titanium box across the ground.

Between the alleyway of a couple of buildings across the street, everyone watches as both cops haul the case right inside the seemingly bland looking abode. “Why in the hell would these motherfucka’s bring out such powerful bling to this shithole? It makes no damn sense.” Toxi questions. A quick snicker passing through her lips, the blonde among them insults the slime girl with: “Jeez, I knew you were thick. But I didn’t think you were this bad?” “The fuck you sayin, ya blonde bitch!?” “I mean it’s obvious by now that they’re taking it to an underground lab just below there.” “Oh, now I know your just bullshitin us. The fuck makes you so sure.” “From experience, duh. A good couple of my dads labs are built under decrepit buildings like this so nobody finds them out in plain site. Pretty basic there, Toxi.” “She’s right you know.” Roy than weighs in. Hearing the merc so confidently confirm the blondes guess, everyone looks to Roy as he focuses at the buildings grounds; following his statement with: “I can sense me about several people scuttling around beneath that dump. About...30, 35 people I’d say.” “The fuck can you know that? Wait, lemme guess; it’s one of your daaaark powers, ain’t it?” the slime girl questions, putting a mocking emphasis on dark. “Somethin along the lines of that. Its just practically frosty dip n dots to what else I can do. Just wait til you see the whole damn sundae.”

“Is it possible for you to map out the entire facility?” Artemis wonders. “Eh, not really. Can really only see the people scampering around down there...that and the bugs n rodents.” “Guessin those “Senses” of yours aren’t as reliable as you boast, huh?” Charles snides. “Charles, quit being so mean! It still helps, doesn’t it?” Roxanne scolds, soon glancing over to the neon green girl. “He’s right. Even if he can’t map out the place, having constant knowledge of the enemies position is invaluable nonetheless during our mission. We need to handle all of this with as much precision and care as possible. Trip any kind of alarms, any patrol or staff spotting us, any camera’s watching our moves could alert authorities to our presence and risk loosing our target entirely.” “So you mean like with stealth and stuff? Uuuggh! That’s so boring, though. When are we gonna get to the good part and kick people’s shin’s” Gigi complains. “As much as I like your spirit blondie, rockin neon green’s got a point there. Don’t wanna wreck too much shit and risk losing our coveted mcguffin.” “Sounds like y’all just makin up the plan then. How the hell we even get inside?” Toxi questions. “I plan for us all to simply dig out way in.” Charles butts in. “Too noisy. We’d risk drawing too much attention to ourselves.” Artemis denies. “True...though doing it somewhere else might be better.” the merc suggests. “Like where.” Gigi asks.

Down within the darkness, the light of the city shines down a dank sewer tunnel as a manhole cover is pulled right off; the panicking cries of the blonde echoing through the brickwork. “Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Hell, no! You are not making me go through that disgusting sewer! Nuh! No way!” Gigi screeches as everyone begins to descend down into the tunnel. Before Roy and Roxanne could descend down to join the others, she attempts to talk her reluctant teammate into joining them with: “Come on, Gigi. We have to go down here. There’s no other way inside.” “Absolutely not! I’m not being caught dead going down there!” “Are you getting through to her?” “Sorry Artemis, she isn’t moving.” Roxanne states, glancing down the manhole. “You’re damn right I ain’t moving! There ain’t no way in hell I’m setting one foot in that rancid dank shit hole!” “Jeez, girl. Your screamin like a fuckin macaw getting its wings twisted up. Move it!” the purple merc demands. “It ain’t even that bad down here, really. It’s pretty clean here for a sewer tunnel. I ain’t seeing shit down here.” the blue skinned captain confirms. “You’re not helping Charles.” the baker girl claims. “I don’t care how clean it is! I’m not jumping down! No, if’s, and’s, or buts!” the blonde enforces. “Aw, what’s the matter girl; ain’t brave of a bitch enough to come down here?” Toxi taunts. “Shut up, you slime stain! You belong down there and you know it!” “Why don’t you come down here and say that to my face!?” Taking Toxi up on her taunting words, the blonde delves right past Roxanne; the sounds of their fighting ringing through the tunnel. Glancing to one another, both Roy and Roxy shrug off the matter before heading down the manhole; the merc placing the iron cover back on as they descend.

While the entire group travel through the brickwork tunnels lying underneath the city roads, they find their blue leaders words to be right on point; the floors and walls of the tunnel being very clean and tidy for a sewer. As their purple haired guest leads the way through the underground tunnels, the neon green girl of their team questions them all: “While we have some time on our hands, mind if I ask what our plan might be once we break in; cause we are literally marching out towards our destination and I haven’t heard a single one of us come up with one.” Its then that another fake cough draws the entire crews attention, all of them glancing back towards their baby blue captain before he goes on to explain: “If you would all be so kind as to let your leader speak up for once, I got us an idea may let us get our prized mcguffin scott free.” “And that would be?” Roy questions. “While I move out towards the surveillance room and disable the security. Toxi shall await until given the go to move out towards where the gem is and melt through whatever containment that they have it stowed away in. Her plasmic acid being as corrosive as it is, she should have next to no trouble melting through.” “So, how we settin up teams, then? Who goes with who?” Toxi questions. “I think I’d be better off waiting with Toxi then. Better to stick with her and keep her out of trouble so the mission isn’t a bust.” Roxanne offers. “Wherever my flamin hot spicy sweet pepper goes, I’m stickin right alongside her.” Roy adds, picking up Roxanne and holding her in his arms; all the while the girl herself looks to the merc with a faux smile. “If that’s the case, then it’s best that I go with Charles. Our leaders lack of overall combat experience may make him a very vulnerable target.” “Tsk, are you kidding me? I’m not that much of a pushover. I watched my Mom spar with a couple of people. I can totally fight. Watch!” In hopes of proving the neon green girl wrong, the baby blue captain attempts to show off what little punches and kicks that he could muster; his long lab coat flapping in the air as the young man flails about. Charles lack of proper balance eventually gets the better of him however, kicking a little too hard and making his own lab coated ass fall flat onto the slit of water underneath them.

As her blue leader begins to pick himself back up, Gigi can’t help but give a suspicious glare over to Roxy’s new purple boy toy; worry and anxiety beginning to boil within her as she stares to Roy’s devious, almost perverse smile. “I...I think that Charles might need more protection then you think, Arti. Maybe our new purple pal here should go with you two instead.” the blonde suggest. “Hol up, what?” the merc mutters, putting his girl back down. From her teammates suggestion, Artemis ponders to herself for a moment; mentioning how: “I think that might be a tad unnecessary, Gigi. I’m sure I have plenty of artillery that could efficiently-” In the midst of her denial however, the neon green girl takes a closer glance to the blonde herself; noting the anxious gaze in her eyes shifting over in the merc’s direction. “Uh…On-On second thought. There could be a lot more patrols and guards to worry about on our way to the surveillance room. Our guests specific abilities could lend well in navigating the facility and hiding from any potential witnesses.” “Guessin that just leaves Roxy and the blonde bitch and I to wait here while y’all take care of business.” Toxi reviews. “Ugh, why do we have to wait!? I-” the blonde begins to complain, but stops when considering that she was the one who suggested the teams to be like they are. “Uh...nev-nevermind. Forget it!” “Are you sure you wanna wait with us, Gigi? You can go with them if you want to. We don’t mind.” Roxanne asks. “No no no no! I’m sure; believe me. I’d probably just get in their way anyway.” Gigi insists.

It’s after discussing all this does the merc stop the crew right in their tracks; all of them pumping into one another from the abrupt stop. “Ah, what the hell; ya purple prick! Why we stop for?” Toxi aggressively questions their violet guest. “Last stop, ladies; we’ve reached out destination. Over to our right is the basement you wanna bust into; the people inside passing through with none being the wiser.” “So, you really can sense everyone passing right beside us?” Gigi questions. “Yep. All the little people scurrying and working around like little mice. Betting some of them in there are fuckin like mice too.” “If they’re literally right next to us, it might not be a good idea to break in from here. Maybe we should bust in from somewhere else so we don’t draw as much attention.” Roxanne suggest. “Good call there, Foxy Roxy. Glad to know you got brains behind that flamin hot bod.” the purple merc compliments. ��Aw, thanks Roy. Really, its why I should be the leader of this team.” “Speaking as the actual leader of this team, where exactly can we break in from here?” Charles cuts in. “Mmm. Let’s see.” Roy ponders aloud as he stares towards the intersection ahead.

The entire team are then caught off guard when their violet guest starts sprinting further down the tunnel; witnessing the merc taking the right of the intersection ahead. “Roy! Hold up! Wait!” Roxy panics as her and the rest of the crew rush in pursuit of the merc. Coming right around the corner, all of them witness Roy’s gaze fixated to a certain spot of the tunnels brickwork; the team approaching the merc as Toxi questions: “Roxy, the fuck is wrong with your boy toy!?” “You find a way inside, Roy?” the merc’s girl wonders. “I think. Among the bugs and rats scuttling along the walls, there’s a little nest of mice wiggling around on the other side here. If they haven’t noticed them all yet, then I’m betting its our safest ticket in.” Saying this, the purple merc turns back towards the rest of the approaching team, asking if: “One of you guys mind carving the way in?” “And why can’t you just bust a hole through it like how you crashed our little meeting?” Gigi snidely questions. “Because if he did, it be the quickest way to announce to the entire facility that were crashing their little research party.” Artemis swiftly points out. “Ding ding! Right on the mark. Your neon green compadre is scoring all A’s on this little test of your’s. I’d suggest the rest of you start taking note.” “Then if we can’t punch through it, how the hell are we supposed to get in.” the blonde questions. Eager to answer such a question herself, the slime girl shoves Gigi out of her way as she steps up; claiming that: “Outta the way, bowlcut bitch; stand back while I work my magic.” Their gooey comrade warning such, everyone stands aside as Toxi approaches the tunnel wall; stretching herself as she faces the brickwork that Roy pinpointed. The slime girl then slaps the palms of her hands right onto the brick wall, smothering her slimy hands across the hard stone side of the tunnel; a thick trail of sludge left behind as she trails her hands across the side. The sludge immediately begin to bubble and boil along the wall, eating away at the tunnels brickwork until parts of the other side could be seen. The slime girls acidic sludge makes quick work of the sewer tunnels wall, soon creating a sizable way inside what seemed to be a janitors closet; a scurry of rats scuttling out into the tunnel.

Once the way inside was clear, Roy was the first of them to enter; his senses letting him feel the life force of the people passing through the hall on the other side. “Right, just a couple more people passing along til we’re clear.” the merc informs. Their purple guest saying such, Charles turns towards both Gigi and Toxi and questions them if: “Now, can I trust you two to not make as much noise while we go out to take out the camera’s? Cause the last thing we need is for the two of you to throw a shit fit over which color dress you think is cuter or whatever and get the attention of anybody passing through.” “Charles, chillax. I’m sure I can get Gigi to keep her damn mouth shut for a least 5 minute.” the goo girl informs. “And you don’t got a worry about slimy Toxi here. I make her nasty ass mouth stays shut.” the blonde reassures. As both girls look to one another with vindictive scowls, Charles can’t help but let out a painful sigh; soon feeling Roxanne pat his back as she assures that: “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they stay out of trouble.” “Thanks Roxy.” “We promise not to take long.” Artemis vows.

As he peeks out from the janitor closet door, the purple merc is happy to inform the rest of the team that: “And that’s when the halls are nooooooow clear! It’s now or never people; move your sexy asses!” Hearing this warning, both Charles and Artemis rush out towards the door; the merc himself bidding farewell as they pass by with: “See ya bae. Meet back with ya when we got shit to wreck.” Saying his goodbye’s, Roy follows out into the hall and shuts the door behind them, leaving the rest of the girls to wait within the sewer tunnels. “Ugh! I can’t believe all we can do is just stand here waiting in this dank sewer shithole while the three of them get to have fun.” the blonde complains. “Might I remind yo flat ass that this was part of your idea to begin with. What yo expect when going on a mission; you gotta get yer hands dirty. So quit your whining and shut yo mouth!” “The only reason that you’re here in the first place is cause your slimy ass excretes so much nasty acid mucus that it sends people running!” Gigi barks back. “Bitch, I’ll melt yo sorry flat ass if you don’t shut yo mouth.” “Why don’t you slither over here and make me!” Falling for the blondes taunts, the slime girl starts chasing Gigi along the stretching sewer tunnel; all the while leaving Roxanne so done with their bullshit.

From around the corner of the clean hallway, Artemis peeks out to the hall ahead; discovering a couple of scientists traveling along its polished marble. “And there they are.” she whispers. After the two researcher turn the opposite corner, the neon green girl turns back to both the blue and purple boys behind her; informing the violet merc that: “Seems like your senses aren’t a lie after all. And here I though until this point, you’ve been going off of blind guesswork alone.” “He he, guessin your not the blindly gullible type?” “I still have...some doubt.” “I like that. What I don’t like is figuring out how to get to this control room.” In saying this, both Artemis and him the turn towards their baby blue comrade; Charles softly groaning before question: “Your having me figure that out? How I supposed to know where it is in this secret club house basement?” “Because it was part of your plan smartass. You really just expect us to check every room in this damn scientist orgy dungeon til we just happen stumble on it?” Roy scolds. “We don’t have nearly that kind of time. We need to find a way to get to the control room, now.” “Alright, fine, Jesus. I guess we can hack a computer somewhere and get a map of the place.” “That’s the spirit.” Roy claims grasping his only hand upon the shoulder of Charles lab coat; soon dragging his big blue ass across the polished marble of the underground hall.

Further along the clean confines of the facility’s halls, a single researcher dances to the music in his earphones as he strolls by; passing right under a lone camera underneath. The music in her ears prove more of an unseen hindrance however, as she fails to catch the glimpse of the barrel of the rifle behind him. The silencer barrel fortunately for her isn’t aimed at his occupied ass, instead fancying the camera above; the rifle firing out a single bullet to the surveillance equipment. Though the bullet leaves no physical damage, the energy it releases proves more than enough to disable it; the camera going completely dead. While distracted by the music in her ears, the researchers dancing stroll is put to a sudden stop once bumping into somebody in front of her; gazing down to discover the purple mercs ominous smile. “Who the-” Before the scientist could finish questioning where the violet young man came from, she feels the merc hand tightly grasp at her mouth; her panicking screams muffled by the boys single palm.

From behind the closed door of a nearby supply closet, the researcher finds herself bound upside down against the closet wall via duct tape; the neon green girl listening to the music that she was once dancing to. “Let me go, dammit! Do you honestly have any idea what we’re doing here?” “Energy transfer and application use?” Charles guesses while digging through the contents of the supply closet. “How-how did you know?” “The equipment you got stashed here pretty much says it all. You guys got some real state of the art stuff stowed in here.” “She has pretty good tastes in music too. For this, she may live another day.” Artemis claims, taking off the researchers ear buds. “Ya hear that, my sultry scientist. Seems like it’s you lucky day after all. Though if I were in your sort of peculiar position, I’d both be aroused and willing to cooperate answer whatever questions your captive may have. Else they might make you wish you were dead.” Roy warns, a sinister smile drawn across his cheeks.

Seeing the mercs less that inviting grin proves more than enough to send chills up the researchers upside down spine; the scientist questioning them: “What do you people even want?” Her questions are put on hold indefinitely when feeling something jabbing her tapped arm, glancing over to discover the neon green girl jamming the barrel of her technological rifle into her side as she reminds her that: “We’ll be asking the questions here. First one, where might the nearest computer terminal be?” “D-down the hall to the right, take two lefts; right from the three way intersection; third door you see.” “What are you guys doing with this little gem you have?” Charles then cuts in. “We-we had it delivered from the famous museum in downtown New York. We were hoping to utilize it to solve a potential energy crisis.” “And the final question!” Roy exclaims, his eyes drifting away from the scientist and to Artemis. “Are we really here on a mission to steal this gem from them.” he questions the neon green girl. “Yeah.” “Okay, cool. Just wanting to make sure. Let’s head out.” Having been told the direction to the nearest computer, both Roy and Artemis ready to head back into the hall; glancing back to find their baby blue leader still rifling around the stored equipment. “Quit digging around and come on, Charles. We’re leaving.” the neon green sniper states. “Just give me a minute. I wanna see what else these government lackies have stashed away.” “Right now, young man.” Roy sarcastically scolds, grasping the shoulder of Charles lab coat as he drags him away from the lab equipment. As the trio head towards the door of the walk in closet, the researcher attempts to warn them that: “No, stop! You can’t take the jewel away from us. We could save potential thousands with its power. Don’t-” But before the scientist could beg them any further, her mouth is swiftly tapped shut when Roy slaps a piece of duct tape over her; the sound of her muffling being what can only escape as she watches her captors leave her inside.

Following the directions that their captive had oh so kindly given them, the trio continue their stealthy travels through the underground facility; Roy soon sensing the life force of a few staff approaching. Silently warning his two escorts of the oncoming staff, he points over to the door nearby; all three of them scuttling inside before the two guard turn the corner. As the merc had sensed, a couple of armed security staff nonchalantly pass right through the hall; not even paying any mind to the door that their unknown intruders had hid behind. Once the two policemen pass right on through, Roy emerges from the other side of the room that both him and his comrade hid; silently directing them to continue with him.

In the midst of guiding both Artemis and Charles through the polished white halls, Roy is about to turn through the next corner; soon feeling the back of his hood being snagged back just inches from the corner. Glaring back, he discovers his neon green teammate having grabbed hold of his hood; Artemis soon stepping in front of him to take a quick peek around the corner. After seeing what lies along the other side, she turns back towards her violet partner, pointing out towards the top of the hall beyond. Coming back to the front, Roy looks out to where Artemis had pointed towards; spotting a lone camera perched between the opposing hallways. Back towards his posse, the purple merc gives the neon green sniper a thumbs up while making way for her to move in; Artemis peeking the barrel of her sniper rifle down the hallway. Her crosshair aimed right to the camera above, she fires her bullet right into the camara’s side; causing the piece of surveillance equipment to go completely dead. Artemis having taken care of the camera, Roy once more takes the lead, all three of them taking the right like their help little informant had told them.

Coming upon the third door down the hallway, the three scurry right inside before anyone could see; soon finding themselves within what looked to be a small office space. In the middle of the office stood a lone desk decorated with pictures of people, presumably of friends and family; all of which surrounding a lone computer displaying a simple password screen. Passing between his two escorts, Charles makes his way around the office desk to the seat on the other side, ploping his lab coated ass right onto the padded chair and typing away as he tells the two escorters that it: “Should be pretty easy to pull up a map from this thing; just gimme a minute or two to work.”

“And since we got a minute, I got something to ask you that’s been bugging me.” Artemis states with her eyes drifting to the purple merc. “Sure thing, what you wanna know? Bank accounts, previous jobs, slaughtered enemies? I’m an open book.” “How in the hell did someone like you wound up getting with somebody like Roxanne?” “Oh, that? That’s piss easy. See, one day I was flying low through downtown; getting back from school and going to meet up with my bro somewhere. That’s when I wound up seeing sexy Roxy herself strolling through the streets; one look of her face being all she needed to make me fall head over heels for her...and straight into traffic. After climbing out of the crater that no doubt caused numerous accidents and traffic jams, I race over toward Roxanne herself and asked her out then and there; simple as that.” “That’s...admittedly a rather bold move. Right after taking such a humiliating and destructive spill like that; you just rushed out and asked the girl who just watched. I’m more shocked how she said yes after watching all that play out in front of her.” “That’s what life’s all about, my neon green rocker. Learning how to get right back up after being brutally butt fucked by the massive throbbing cock of misfortune.” “Definitely not the way I would word it, but I get what you mean. A lesson that Roxanne is no doubt familiar with too. The poor girl.” Hearing Artemis comment such makes the merc drop is snarky demeanor for a moment, mild concern spread across his face as he wonders: “What do you mean?”

“And I got it. Cracked wide open like a freshly pulled scallop.” Charles declares, both Roy and Artemis glancing over to witness Charles giving them a smug smile. “Hot damn, man; that fast!? You cracked that open in like minute. And here I though you were just these girls whipping boy?” “Wasn’t that hard, really. Can you believe that these government assholes were using a previous gen operating system? I’d be pretty damn embarrassed if I had that on even my laptop.” “Charles, did you pull up the map or not?” Artemis questions. “Yeah, okay. Here. Don’t need to be so pushy.” the blue skinned captain confirms, turning the computer monitor over towards the two. The monitor showing the floor plan of the underground facility, Artemis takes a quick picture of the map on screen; reviewing it and mentioning how: “Seems that the surveillance room to the right end of the facility. And according to this, we’re on the left most bottom.” “If that’s the case, then we best get movin. Who knows how much longer the girls can take sittin around in that tunnel. No doubt Roxy can only hold both the blond and her slimy rival from tearing each other into chunky beef broths for so long.” A small chuckle escaping from underneath her breath, Artemis turns over towards her blue skinned leader and orders him to: “Agreed. Come on, Charles. We need to move.” “Agh, fine. Just about to log off anyway.” Right after logging out of the lone computer, Charles joins the other two as they prepare to head back through the halls; the merc making his way out of the office with both the hacker and sniper at his back.

Back within the dank wet tunnels of the sewers, the rest of the team await to hear word from the others; each of the girls passing the time on their phones. While attempting to look through social messages, Toxi’s ears can’t help but catch Gigi’s obnoxious giggling; the blondes echoing laughter literally driving the slime girl up the curving brickwork. “Arrgh! The fuck you laughin at, ya blonde bowlcut?” “My gossip blog is trending so hard right now. Posting photo’s of Victor’s porn collection was a juicy one.” “Oh wow, that’s great. How long do ya think it’ll be before ya wind getting your flat ass bitten off from this shit.” “I don’t know how he’s gonna find out. The guy can’t read, remember?” “Bitch, that ain’t the point. This whole gossip shit is gonna get yo teeth punched out sooner or later; and I’m grabbin be a bag of popcorn when you bitin the curb.” “Tsk, your just jealous that you didn’t have the brains to come up with it first.” “Oh…Oh ho...Oh ho ho...” Hearing the blondes insulting defense, the slime girl starts to slither over toward the side of the tunnel where Gigi stands; questioning if: “Did you really just fuckin went there, motherfucker!? Tell me you did not fuckin say that!” “Bitch you know I did. And you know what else? I got more a lot more brains than you to build my own damn gadgets. Bombs, master keys, holograms, weapons, even my own personal robot assistant that hovers around and makes milkshakes for me. You nasty ass acid can even come close to my technological prowess, bitch!” “My slimy acid is about to melt through yo brains if you don’t shut you fuckin trap.” “Why don’t you try and make me?” Gigi screams. Before either of the girls could tear into eachother, Roxanne comes between them just in time to split them up; scolding the two of the with: “Stop it, you two! We supposed to be hiding in here! Someone might here us with you two having a screaming contest.”

Once seeing Toxi back off, Roxy turns her attention over to the blonde, requesting to her with: “Gigi, can you please keep it down while you mess around with your gossip blog? We’re trying to keep things on the down low.” “Yeah sure, Roxy. Ya know, speaking of rumors; what’s the deal with you and your new boy?” Gigi eagerly asks. Taken aback by her teammates sudden question, Roxanne stumbles back from the blonde: “W-What? What are you talking about?” “Oh come on, Roxy! Don’t play coy with us! How many bases did you and him run through in under two weeks? 1st, 2nd, 3rd, home run and victory lap?” “No! Nothing like that! All we done is just some hugging and a kiss. No more.” “Really, that’s all? He hasn’t made any moves on you?” the blond questions with disappointment. “Not really. Though something tells me that he might be wanting two. It honestly feels like Roy is restraining himself sometimes.” “Purple piece of shit better.” both of them hear, glancing back to witness Toxi approaching to join in their conversation. “If he thinks of tryin any of that nasty shit on you girl, I’m gonna smack his sorry violet ass straight to hell.” “Toxi, don’t say that!” “Girl, can you blame me even? Creepy ass motherfuckin lookin like he crawlin out of the bowls of some B rated horror shlockbuster. Why the hell you bothering to shell yo sweet as to his purple creep anyway?” “Ah...It’s kinda hard to explain.” Roxanne admits. “Go on girl, we got the time.” Gigi assures.

“Well, it kinda started one day about two weeks ago when I was walking back from school to the hospital to see how my little brother was doing, when out of nowhere something just crashed like a falling comet in the middle of the road; caused a couple accidents, but nothing serious. I race over to see what landed along with tons of other people nearby and we all found that it was this purple hooded teenager, getting up in the middle of the crater he made; just like that, no injury, totally fine.” “He really just happen to crash right in front of you. What was he doing before?” Gigi asks. “I don’t know, I never asked him. But apparently it wasn’t that important since he crawled right out of it and asked me on the spot on a date.” “And you said yes? Why?” Toxi questions. “He had these eyes like he a lost puppy. Like was silently begging me not to turn him down; especially with literally everybody watching. How could I possibly say no with all that?” “So he just put you on the spot, what a dickhead?” Gigi states. “I don’t...think he meant to put me on the spot like that. He seemed just so...geniune.” “So what you plannin to do now?” Toxi wonder. A small panicked groan leaves through Roxanne’s lungs before she admits that: “God, I don’t know. I knew this was a really bad idea, but I didn’t wanna break his heart. I just don’t know how I’m gonna get outta this, especially since I’m still da-”

Just before she could finish her statement, the girl shuts her own mouth mere moments before saying something she’d know she’d regret blabbing about. In doing so however, she sparks the curious gazes of both her two present teammates; Toxi being the first to asks: “Girl, what were you about to say?” “No-Nothing! You what j-just forget I said anything.” “Oh no way. You gotta spill it now. I’m feelin some real rumor juice sloshing in you. And I ain’t stopping til its squeezed out.” “Come on, Roxy. What’s the deal here?” Toxi joins in. As both girl continue to push for info, they soon back the poor girl against the tunnel wall; feeling the brickwork scrape against her back a she continues to feign ignorance with: “Really girls, its nothing. I swear.”

Thankfully for the baker, a forth voice then reaches their ears; their eyes glancing back towards the hole in the wall as someone in janitorial attire waltz’s inside and wonders: “Why the hell is there a giant hole in the closet? I-” In that moment does the guy discover the three girls within the breached sewer tunnels; nothing but silence echoing through the brickwork as they simply all stare at one another. Breaking the silence, all three of them lunge forth towards the janitor; tackling the poor guy and shutting his mouth just before he could cry out for help.

Casually strolling through the white halls of the facility, a lone researcher turns the corner to find a single armed patrol approaching; a smile planted across his cheeks as he greets the officer with: “Evening Marty! How’s the family?” “All good Pat. The kids are doing amazing in school this year.” “Guess its quite an improvement from last year, ain’t it?” “Don’t mention it, Pat...Just seriously don’t.” Both passing beside the only door in the hall, neither of them were the wiser of the trio hiding on the other side; the door cracking open to let out the silent barrel of Artemis’ rifle squeeze out. The guns barrel aimed out to the camera perched along the corner, she fires her rifles straight into the camera’s side; the bullet she shot out disabling the surveillance equipment for the time being. Once having took care of the camera, Artemis and her two comrades move beyond the door and continue their stealthy venture through the underground facility; taking the path that the armed patrol went through.

While the lone facility guard wanders along the polished marble halls, he fails to notice the three intruders encroaching around the corners behind him; that is until he begins to hear the faint sound of their footsteps echoing nearby. Curious of the quiet taps sounding off behind him, the patrolman swiftly turns back to see where exactly its coming from; confused to discover not a soul at his back. A nervous breath escapes his lunges as he starts to approach the corner that he turned from; taking a tight grip of his firearms the closer he nears the end. Finally, he jumps out to the other side of the corner with his weapon aimed down the hall, finding not a soul awaiting him. A relaxed breath then passes through his lips as his guard dissolves, shaking his helmeted head as he turns back; telling himself to: “Calm down, Marty. Your just hearing things. Just think of the time you and Donny shared a kiss under the tree, should calm ya right down.” In telling himself this, the guard returns to his patrol route while calming himself; unaware of the intruders he grew paranoid of hiding along the next corner beyond. Once sensing the guards departure, Roy leads both of his comrades further through the facility, continuing on route through the guards patrol path.

Dwelling within the dimmy lit confines of the surveillance room, countless screens of dozens of camera feeds light the small darkened room, a lone staff member sat right in front of the glowing screens. Despite some of the screens clearly displaying the camera’s blacked out, this obvious warning sign goes completely unchecked by the staff member sitting right in front of them; the man having drifted off into a peaceful slumber. The sleeping staff member also remains unaware of the three intruders standing right beside him as he rest; the purple merc crouching to the slumbering man’s level and claiming: “Awww. Ain’t we just a little sleepy weepy. Dumb bastards takin a little snoozy cruise while were breakin and fucking with his shit. I just wanna pinch his little cheeks.” Turning the mans swiveling chair to face him, Roy pinches the man’s cheeks to disturb his slumber; the watcher mumbling to him if: “Is there more apple juice in the fridge, mommy?” “Yes sweetie. I got your apple juice right here.” Roy jest, soon clocking the poor bastards right in the face; the watcher stumbling to the marble floor. After taking care of the camera watcher, Charles swiftly takes his seat; turning back towards the security control panel and stating that: “Should only be a few minute to turn their security system into a poor example of government kept upkeep.”

As their blue skinned friend works his magic on the security system, both his purple and neon green escorters stand aisde; Artemis turning back to their violet guest and questions him with: “So, keeping on topic about Roxanne. What do you plan to do with her in the future?” “Eh, not to sure, really. Why’re you takin an eye with the two of us being a thing? You lime green jelly?” “I’m just worried about the kind of stuff you might try on her. The way you’ve acted during this entire ordeal hasn’t really reassured me that you’re not as mentally well rounded for her. Not to mention what I’ve read on your profile not giving me much hope either.” “We’ll, glad I’m breaking some expectations at least.” “I’ve only been with this group for about 3 months now; and so far, Roxanne is really the only one out of this team that I’ve held any respect for.” “Eh, you wanna think about rewording that a bit there?” Charles question. “Despite the others lack of effort and poor direction, Roxanne is the only one of us that has a palpable reason to be with us besides obligation or insecurities.” “Seriously, I’m right fucking here. Would it kill you not to at least talk crap about me in literal earshot?” “In the time that I’ve been with everyone here, Roxy has been like a little sister to me; comforting and caring through all the harsh and horrible times and vice versa. So I’m sure you can understand me when I say to you that...” Cutting herself off, the girl with the neon green flame main steps intensely closer to the merc with a threatening glare; promising that: “If you do so much as make her cry even a single tear, I will snipe your purple haired skull straight between the eyes; do I make myself clear.” “It’s a promise then? Better hope you not miss.” Roy states with a smile. “I never miss.”

After this exchange, the two of them hear their blue skinned hacker give another attention baiting cough; both Artemis and Roy glancing back towards Charles as he informs that: “If you two are done hate flirting over there, I disabled the security system and erased all the footage. Which one of you want to text the girls.” “How bout I-” Roy attempts to suggest while pulling out his phone. Just before he could finish, his neon green comrade cuts him right the fuck off; pulling out her own phone and insisting that: “I will tell them.”

Back inside the dank brickwork of the sewer tunnels, the girls had just finished taking care of the janitor that waltzed in their little hiding spot; tying the poor bastard to the piping above via a moving metallic rope. “And you thought that the little metal rope snake I thought of was a stupid idea. Self tying rope that coils around somebody to trap them and keep their mouths shut, what the hell made you think it was a dumb idea.” Gigi boasts to her slimy comrade. “Bitch, it’s a stupid ass idea cause its just a fuckin metal rope that moves. How the hell you don’t think that’s stupid.” Toxi claims. “Girls, just quit fighting already! This is exactly what almost got us caught in the first place.” “Tell her to quit spewin bullshit and I’ll stop.” the slime girl claims. “Tell this slimy stain to shut her damn trap!” the blonde mentions. Just before either of them could pick up their argument where it left off, all of them hear the sound of Roxanne’s phone going off; Roxy pulling it out to check her messages as Gigi asks: “Is that them?” “Don’t know. Let me see. Uh...Yep! They just disabled the security. Even sent us a map telling us where the gem is.” “And where’s it say it is?” the slime girl wonder. “See here...Oh wow’ its not that far actually. Just a couple halls away.” “The hell are we waiting for then. Lets get movin!” Gigi proclaims as she rushes out towards the hole in the tunnel. “No. Gigi, hang on.” Roxy plea’s as both her and Toxi coming running after.

With the security camera’s disabled, the three girls sneak through the polished white halls with caution in their step, tiptoeing along the marble floor so not to draw any attention. They soon peek out from around the oncoming corner, discovering on the other side a single door with two guards standing at its side; Roxanne glancing to her phone as she whispers that: “Kay girls, the room where our jewel is store lies just beyond that door. We just need a way to get rid of those guards there to get inside.” “Just gimme a minute there girl, I’ll melt some holes in their chest before you can even blink.” Toxi claims. “Toxi, don’t; were tryin to be sneaky. I’m not sure all three of us can take them on anyway. We need something to distract them with.” “Yeah, you heard her. Calm your slimy tits, bitch. I got this one.” Gigi boasts. “And just what the hell you think you gonna do.” the slime girl wonders. “Watch.” Saying such does the bowlcut blonde pull out from her back pocket an itty bitty cube with wheels attached to the bottom; Gigi rolling it over towards the direction of the guards as she finishes with: “And learn.”

As the little cube rolls out towards the two stationed guards, the panels on its top start to unfold to reveal a little projector; casting out the hologram of a sexy buff man dress in only a speedo. The two soldiers notices the holographic beef cake as he skips along past them, hearing him offering them to: “My beautiful followers. Come with me to the land of tanning oil and surfing pleasure, let your dreams come true in the waves of paradise!” Even with the seemingly random trespasser confusing the ever loving hell out of them, the guards nonetheless give chase; pursuing the holographic man around the corner. With the blondes distracting tool a complete success, Gigi moves in towards the door as she tells her other two teammates that: “Looks like my little test run was a complete success. Come on, girls.” As both Toxi and Roxanne come out of the corner, the slime girl can help but question her about: “What the hell was all that about?” “Oh that? That was one of my trusty little invention I like to call “My little holocube”. I usually use them if I wanna cause distractions or make easy getaway. Pretty neat, huh.” “Kay, but why did it have to be a guy dressed in a speedo.” “Cause they’re my cubes, Roxy. I can put whatever the hell I want on them.”

Once facing the door leading to their little coveted mcguffin, Toxi stands in front of its steel and reaches out as she tells the other to: “Gimme a sec here, girls. Meltin through this door won’t take long.” Just before her gooey mitts could touch the door, Roxanne stands in her way; advising that: “Maybe we shouldn’t melt our way inside. The acid could raise some eyebrows.” “The hell you suggest we do then.” “Just let me pick through the lock instead.” Roxy suggests, pulling out a small bobby pin from her black headband. “Since when the hell do you know how to pick locks?” Gigi wonders. “Since I was in a little gang a couple years back.” “Girl, you didn’t tell us you was a gangster.” Toxi mentions. “It really wasn’t all that big. More of after school ruff club to be honest. The worst we ever did was just steal trinkets from dollar stores.” The snap of the lock soon sounds off, Roxanne pulling her bobby pin from the lock as she tells the girls that: “There we go.”

Opening the steel door wide open, all three girls find on the other side what seemed to be a massive open room covered from floor to walls in countless electrical wires; several control panels and screens laying across the wide chambers. Standing right at the very end of the chamber be the prize they seek; the coveted jewel suspended within a glass case, the countless snaking wires hooked to its base. “Well damn, this lookin easy. Only thing stoppin us is tripping flat on yo ass.” Toxi states as she prepares to slither forth. Just before her slimy bottom could even touch any of the wires, Gigi stops her dead in her tracks; the blonde confirming that: “It does look pretty easy. A bit too easy. Why is there no one here?” “Bitch, the hell you talkin about.” the slime girl asks, pushing away Gigi’s arm. From a pocket in her pink sweat pants, the blonde pulls out a tiny metal ball pinched between her fingers; soon chucking the ball out towards the middle of the chamber. The ball soon explodes in the middle of the air in a puff of gas, the white clouds engulfing the entire chamber in its shroud.

The clouds eventually part to unveil the dozens upon dozens of security lasers that litter the entire chamber, Toxi stepping away from the couple of beam that were inches away from her face. “The fuck!? Though Arti said Charles took care of the security system.” the slime girl reminds them. “I guess he might have missed a few. Nice save, Gigi. I’ll call Artemis and tell her we’re still stuck.” Roxanne states. As her teammate fiddles with her phone, the blonde gazes out towards the other end of the room; discovering a small panel wearing a brand symbol familiar to her. “I don’t think were as stuck as you might think.” Pointing over towards the panel on the other side, Gigi begins to explain with: “This security system is my dads brand. I can just disable it myself.” “Really?” “Yep, I designed it along side dad myself. I know just how it works and how to stop it.” “Kay, cool. How the hell you plannin on getting past all this shit to turn it off.” Toxi aggressively questions. “You gotta show off your stuff. Now its my turn to show mine. Just watch and learn girls what years of dance and gymnastics training has sculpted me into.” Mentioning this, the blonde leap out towards the bramble of security lasers ahead; Roxanne reaching out for her leaving teammate as she exclaims: “Gigi, wait!”

From above, the gymnast flips down the cavalcade of red glowing beams spread through the chamber, landing right on her hands between a lone beam; her head mere inches from its bright red glow. In her handstand, she then lunges herself through a cluster of rays in front of her; landing right on top of one of the computer panels. Noticing the bramble of beams across the top of the panel, Gigi slithers and weaves her slender body through the bright red cluster of lights; contorting and flexing her figure in ways that lend to her to be on par with a professional gymnast more than her own comrades. After squeezing herself through the myriad of lasers, the blonde jumps across more of them littering the chamber; gracefully landing upon the countless wires littering the floor. Though these uneven wires prove to make her a tad off balance, Gigi nonetheless retains her stance and leaps forth through more of the lasers littering the room.

Her gymnastic feats soon take her only several more paces away from the glass case along with the security panel behind it, a straight wall of glowing beams blocking her from progressing any further. Though she finds the wall of rays far too closely knitted to effectively squeeze through, she does notice the wall failing to reach up to the roof; a rather sizable opening perched under the roof of the chamber. Gazing along the cluster of lasers set before her for a way up, she discovers a part of the chamber wall free from any alerting beams; decorated in only loose hanging cable wires. While it may seem risky to some, this proves to be just the path that the young girl needs; a smile beaming on her face as she prepares to leap out towards the wall. Taking a bounding jump over one more bush of beams below her, Gigi reaches out for the wired wall before her; clasping tightly to the cables coating the chambers side. Taking a tight grip of the hanging wires, Gigi pulls herself up the wall as quickly as a well trained Olympian; soon perched right at the very top of the chamber. Stuck along the ceiling, Gigi takes a moment to position herself before leaping out to the hole atop the wall of beams blocking her way forward. Finally, the blonde makes the jump out towards the wall before her; gliding over the countless lasers and beams below as Roxanne watches her in awe. Utilizing the momentum of her kickoff, Gigi successfully weaves herself through the gap between the laser wall and the chamber’s ceiling; soon descending right near where the glass case stands. Once landing on her feet, the blonde strolls aside the case containing their prize and over to the control panel for the security grid; swiftly typing along its keyboard as she claims that: “Aaaaand there we go. Down and out.”

Pressing the last key on the panel, Gigi glances back and watches as the grid of beams dissolve before her eyes; the entire room soon void of any security lasers left. Both of her teammates waltz through the laserless chambers to meet with the blonde at the very end, all the while Gigi gazes to them with a smug grin; Roxanne applauding her efforts while Toxi looks on with bitter scorn. “So, you two enjoy my little performance or did you love it? Pretty spectacular, wasn’t it?” “It was amazing, Gigi. You really-” Roxanne attempts to compliment, though finding herself being rudely interrupted by her slimy comrade. “Bitch, you call that an olympic showcase? I know at least half the peeps above us that can make your sorry ass flips look like grade school gymnastics.” “Toxi! Using other people accomplishments and abilities instead of your own to try and leave scars? And here I thought that your slimy ass couldn’t stoop any lower.” “Bitch, I’ll leave more than a scar when I’m done with you!” Just before either of them could throw down, Roxanne gets right in the middle and swiftly reminds them of their objective with: “Girls! Job! Jewel! Melt! Case!” Seeing their partner point out towards the case in question, Toxi and Gigi give one another spiteful glares before breaking off; the slime girl slithering to the glass case before them.

Finding herself showing within the surface of the glass veil, the gooey girl gets to work on melting through the clear glass; reaching her palm out to her own reflection. Touching the glass with her slimy hands, she begins to spread her corrosive acid across its clear reflective surface; the ooze she leaves behind bubbling and seething as it starts to melt through like melting butter on a piece of glassy bread topped off with delicious face melting acid. Toxi’s slimy deep violet goo makes quick work of the clear vial, dissolving a massive hole leading to the coveted shiny prize contained within. Once cracking the case wide open, Roxanne reaches out for their glimmering target; snatching the gem right off the pole it was perched upon. “Good work, girls. The people up top might just not take us for granted anymore. Maybe even make us go on more missions like this if we’re lucky.” Roxanne informs as they all stroll towards the exit. “I’m betting they’ll let me work out in the premium practice room after all the stuff that I’ve done.” Gigi claims. “All the stuff you did? Bitch, did you not see all the shit my acid melt through today? They outta gimme my own fuckin personal chef for all the shit I did.” Toxi asks. “Girls, you both did amazing on this mission. I’m sure they’ll be proud of both of you.” Roxanne attempts to tell the both of them. “Oh, like you did so much. You’ve just been sitting on your slimy ass while I had to jump and flip through a damn security system.” “Oh yeah, cause I like to see your flat ass flip through a brickwall. We wouldn’t even be here if it weren't for me.” From failing to quell her partners incessant bickering, Roxy’s face swiftly deflate; just being so done with both of them. Even after being with eachother for nearly 4 months now, they still think of ways to piss each other off; they can at least not be as loud. Practically keeping everybody almost every damn night. Wish they’d just stop for once.

Roxanne’s wish is swiftly granted when only a few feet from the exit, all three of them discovering a bright red energy barrier barring their only exit. “What...what is that.” Roxy questions. Approaching the barricade, Gigi reaches out to the force field and taps the surface of the blockade; the energy surface echoing her taps across its face. “This might be a problem.” “A problem my ass! Stand back, motherfucka. I’ll show ya how big a problem this is.” the slime girl boast, pushing the blonde aside as she approaches the door. Just like the glass case before hand, Toxi lathers the face of the force field with her own acidic goo; the slime she leaves behind bubbling before her and her comrade. The slime girls prideful smile swiftly dissolves however when finding her slime simply sliding right off the barrier; leaving not a single melted hole along its surface. “Wow, just look at that. I guess we’re just as fucked as I thought.” Gigi sarcastically claim. “Whatev bitch. So what if I can’t melt through the damn door. They ain’t got them barriers on their walls. Should be pretty easy meltin through the dry wall and wires.” “Oh yeah, you’re right. Should be pretty easy melting through it all as the wires fry you alive.” “I’m afraid Gigi’s right, Toxi. Your acid could conduct the electricity flowing through all the wires dressed through here. And since you can’t melt through anything without touching it first, It probably wouldn’t be hard to imagine hurting yourself.” Roxy adds. After an irritated growl escapes from between the slime girls gooey lips, Toxi points out towards her two comrades as she accuses Roxanne that: “This shit ain’t fair! You always taking her side, Roxy. You never back up what I think.” “That’s cause she knows which of them is the smarter out of us.” “The fuck is that supposed to mean.” “It means you aren’t the one whose got all A’s on their report card.” “Guess it also means you ain’t got one hell of a bodacious bod like mine.” “The hell did you say about my body, bitch?” Witnessing her two partners stirred into a furious arguing fit once again, Roxanne can’t help but let out an exhausted sigh; wondering how in the hell can she get them to stop doing this shit.

In the midst of her emotional exhaustion, Roxanne’s eyes trail up to the roof of the chamber; fixated on a hole in the middle beginning to open up. “Uh, girls.” “Least I don’t gotta wear shitty contacts to see three feet in front of me.” Toxi mocks. “Is that way you have to keep yourself locked in a tube to keep yourself from looking like literal shit?” Gigi barks back. “Girls.” Roxanne utters. Taking a glance back towards the ceiling, Roxy discovers the hole above them to have opened wide; gazing back towards the two as she once again exclaims in dismay: “Girls!” Alas, the panic in her voice fails to reach her two comrades; neither of them batting an eye to her as Toxi continues with: “Oh, like you lookin any better right now. Bitch, you gotta whole lotta work to do if you wanna make that bowl of yours work cut work.” “Same for you with all those nasty ass boils. Betting not even a dash of makeup could cover up all those.” As her two partners argue among themselves, Roxanne looks up to the ceiling once more; witnessing a massive block of metal drop down from the hole. The oversized block crashes down right in the middle of the chamber, the quaking impact finally breaking both Toxi and Gigi out from their bickering as they glance over in its direction. As all three girls stare out to the heavyweight piece of metal, they watch as its metallic surface begins to unfold before their very eyes; a pair of arms emerging from its sides and grasps the countless wires below it. “Roxy, the fuck you didn’t warn us about this?” Toxi questions. “Yeah, Rox. Could’ve used the heads up.” Gigi adds, both of their responses drawing out yet more frustration from their red haired partner. As the transforming block of metal lifts itself from the floor via its morphing legs, it uproots countless electrical wires from throughout the entire chamber; dressing itself in the loose broken wiring as it breaks out from its cube like shell. Once the body finally takes its shape, the boar like head pops out from the middle of its chest; its glowing indigo eyes glaring out towards the three intruders.

Once finishing its grand transformation, the massive metallic automaton lumbers over towards the trio; the girls backing away to the approaching robot as Gigi states that: “Oh...They must’ve shelled out for my dads deluxe security package. Security droid and all.” “Tell me you text the others.” Toxi questions, her eyes shifting over to their red haired partner. “They’re on their way now. We just have to buy them enough time until they get here.” Roxanne informs.

Their robotic adversary nearing, the girls witness the metallic giant flings its wiring out towards them like a makeshift whip; their electrical ends sending out a constant flow of sparks as they fly. From dodging the oncoming lightning whip, all three of the girls splitting off as they sprint away from the towering automaton. Once gaining enough distance from their lumbering foe, Roxanne aims her site out towards the blonde flipping away from the giant; Roxy asking if: “So if your dad built these things, does that mean you know how to shut them down?” “I should. If we could melt through its metal shell, I’d just have to mess with the circuitry to break it down.” Whilst slithering away from the pursuing android, the slime girl is all too eager to rudely remind Gigi that: “Bitch, you forget what you said? Touching just one of those wires might reduce my sexy ass to a fine chard sludge.” “You think I don’t remember that? Like I said before, leave that to me.” the blonde retells, a determined smile stretching across her face. From her determined grin, the bowlcut blonde pulls out from her jacket a pair of brightly colored pom poms; shaking the two of them in the palms of her hands. “Girl, you lost your fuckin mind or what!? This ain’t the time for one of yo shitty cheering practices!”

Partially ignoring her slimy comrades less then encouraging input, Gigi takes a moment to breath before preparing to start; soon jumping around while flailing her pom poms around as she cheers with: “Hey hey, you you! Automaton! Fuck you! Dressing in wires is so last year! You outta be running in tears!” The cheerleaders enthusiastic taunts prove effective enough to draw her robotic foe’s attention; the metal giant halting in its tracks and glaring over towards the mocking blonde as she continues with: “You overblown fax machine! Bet you can’t touch this teen! Come get me! Come, come, come get me!” The mocking cheers cause the massive android to charge out in her direction, drawing her metallic foe away from her friends as she witnesses the automaton ready to strike with its loose wire whips. Just as the iron behemoth casts its electrical wires out to the cheering girl, Gigi springs up high into the air; flipping across the slither of loose wiring and landing right atop a clean spot of the giants arm. Hopping from the top of its metal limb, Gigi glides right over the metallic automaton’s boar like head; gliding over its sharp mettalic teeth. The blonde cheerleader soon comes to face the giant androids wire coated backside, continuing her cheer as she claps her red and white pom poms together with: “Now it’s time to end this cheer with a blast! A-A-A blast!” Between the palms of her hands, the paper making up her pom poms suddenly burst apart; revealing under their glittering paper a sizable explosive. The cheerleader waits not another moment to chuck her bomb towards her iron adversary’s backside, the explosive releasing its deadly payload upon impact. Gigi’s little bomb shows to be more than powerful enough to knock the security android right off its feet; the automaton falling to the wire littered floor on its stomach.

Once landing back onto the floor, the bowlcut blonde looks towards her two teammates; gloating on how: “And that is how a genius downs a giant. Hidden expanding explosives mark 2!” Just as they hear Gigi say such, both Toxi and Roxanne witness the iron colossus quickly begin arise from the floor; seemingly unfazed by the cheerleaders surprise explosive. Upon seeing this, the slime turn glances back to her blonde partner; looking to her smug ass face as she wonders aloud to her: “The hell all the good that did!? You didn’t even put a dent in it! You just tryin to show off again?” “Toxi, it’s back.” Roxanne points out. Gazing out to the rising giants backside, they find the wires that once coated the automaton’s back to be rendered to burnt chards; the pieces fluttering down to the floor as the colossus stands back on its feet. “Hey, slime tits. Time to get your gooey ass a movin.” Gigi order. “Bitch, you don’t tell me what to do.” the slime girl states as she moves in towards the approaching security droid.

Slithering out to the nearing giant, Toxi watches as the massive robot prepares to lash its wired whips towards her; the slime girl refusing to move as the wires near. In one clean swipe, Toxi is slashed into meager puddles by the cast wire whip; parts of herself spreading across the semi wire littered floor. Even with their comrades presumed demise and the security droids approach, both Gigi and Roxanne remain completely confident as the hulking metal giant nears. From around the chambers flooring, the puddles and drops of Toxi’s remains begin to slither their way around the countless wires and towards the giant, halting underneath the metal monsters feet. As soon as the metallic colossus steps onto Toxi’s own slimy remains, the automaton fumbles right back to the ground; falling flat on its stomach once again. The giant fallen forward, the bits and pieces of the slime girl climb across its small bits of wireless metal; reforming into her old slimy self right atop the robots backside. Having pulled herself back together, the Toxi acts fast and smears her slimy acid across the iron giants backside; her gooey substance quickly beginning to melt through its metal shell and exposing the circuitry within. Before she could reach for the circuits however, the giant android beneath her begins to roll back on its feet once more; Toxi left to slip right off its backside.

After her partner splatters along the floor, Gigi leaps above her as she thanks the slime girl with: “Thanks for the assist. Have fun, sitting in a puddle of your own filth.” The bowlcut blonde races out towards the lumbering metal monster, watching as the droid prepares to cast its wire whip out to the approaching cheerleader. Once leaping over the massive androids lightning whip, Gigi slides right between the giants metal legs and faces its exposed backside; seeing the melted hole that her slimy partner had made just for her. Gigi then spring up to towards the automatons back, climbing her way up via the wires leading to the hole; the blonde careful not to grab hold of any sparking ends. Finally, the blonde reaches up to the security droids open hole; taking a peek inside as she claims to herself that: “Right. Now just to rewire the insides and direct the output to the mainframe to overload it and this little droid here should-” Its while gazing at the insides of the giant that shock and bewilderment spread across the blondes face; Roxanne noticing her agile teammate simply staring at the inside and wondering: “Gigi, what’s the hold up? Is there something wrong?” “Th-the circuitry. It’s...it’s completely different…They modified this model! I can’t believe it! They can’t do this. It’s a violation of the deluxe packs user agreements. These cheap, lab coated rats! They’ll-” Before the cheerleader could rant on any further, the android begins to shake itself in an effort to toss the blonde off its back. Despite her desperate attempts to hold on, Gigi eventually goes flying off the modded androids backside; the robot itself lashing its electrical whips upon the helpless cheerleader. The bowlcut blonde can’t help but take in the full brunt of the sting, the lightning like strike sending her careening across the chamber. Roxanne watches in horror as her comrade is sent slamming straight into a wall, rushing to her aid as she tumbles to the wire littered floor; crying out: “Gigi!” As Roxanne urgently dashes towards the injured cheerleader, the giant pulls back its lightning whip in an effort to intercept her; failing to catch Toxi slipping underneath its metal foot. Stepping onto the slime girls entire body causes the giant to take another spill onto the wired floor; the tip of its whip missing the rushing Roxanne entirely.

Finally coming to her downed teammate, Roxy kneels before the lying Gigi to inspect her; discovering several bruises and burns across her body. “Gigi? Gigi? Come on, please! Are you still with us? Say something?” Upon pleading such, Roxanne hears uttered from her partners mouth a painful groan; the sign of life making her let out a relieved breath: “Oh thank goodness. Just gimme a second here, Gigi. I’ll have you fixed up in no time.” Declaring this, Roxanne gently places the palms of her hands over the bruises and burns plaguing the young cheerleader; a bright lavender light beginning to light up underneath her hands. Its in that moment does Roxy lift her hands off her friend, unveiling a small lavender flame awaiting beneath her palms. Rather then burning the blonde even further, Roxanne’s light purple fires instead mend her injured friends bruises; Gigi’s painful expression coming to a calm as her wounds disappear within her friends blaze. Her bright lavender fires blaze across her comrades body, consuming more and more of Gigi’s bleeding bruises and burns the further it goes; extinguishing itself when the blonde body is left completely healed. Once the last of the flames go out, Gigi rises from the wired covered floor simple like getting herself out of bed after a long and well deserved nap; stretching her arms out as she sits up beside Roxanne. The blonde looks to where her painful bruises once were, finding not a scratch left on her as she tells her gratitude to the medic who tended to her with: “Thanks for the heals, Roxy. I’d probably be dead if you hadn’t had stuck with us.” “Don’t thank me just yet.” her medic disappointingly suggests, turning back towards the scene of the action.

Gazing back towards the iron giant, the two witness their slimy comrade slithering around the massive android; the androids whip slinging her back towards her team. Pulling herself back together beside her fully healed partner, Toxi shakes off her sudden blow; glancing over to the blonde as she wonders: “Glad to see yo sorry ass back from the dead. So how you plannin on hackin this metal dick?” “I...I don’t know.” “Yeah, real fucking funny. Seriously, what’s the plan?” “Bitch, I said I don’t know! I can’t stay on the robots back long enough to understand the newly place circuitry.” Before any of them could plan further on what their next move might be, all three of the girls witness the metal giant lumbering over towards them; bracing for the worst as the iron colossus pulls its whip back.

Right before the security android could lash its wires out to the three, a resounding boom echoes throughout the entire chamber; everyone gazing out to the side to find a part of the chamber wall having burst open. Shooting out from the resulting cloud of dry wall dust, a massive green beam fires out towards the iron giant; the ray proving more than enough to send the security droid crashing straight towards other side in one clean shot. Before the steel behemoth could stand back on its two iron feet, something slams down upon its stomach and keeps it glued to the floor; its indigo eyes meeting the purple mercs devious grin. Keeping the giant grounded to the wire littered floor, Roy starts pummeling the automaton further into the ground; each pounding strike quaking the entire chamber from bottom to top. “Roy?” Roxanne utters, shocked to find her boy before her beating down the colossus that troubled them so. Turning her eyes back towards the dispersing clouds of dust, all three of the girls find standing behind its shroud to find both of their other comrades coming out from the freshly busted hole in the wall; a large technologically enchanted bazooka perched over Artemis’ shoulders. “I still don’t get how exactly you managed to carry that monstrosity of a gun with us. You’re not exactly sporting a lot of pockets on you, much less a holster to luge that beast around in.” Charles points out as he walks alongside the sniper. “No time for questions, stay sharp and look alive.” she simply counters with.

Once the two of them come to the rest of their team, Artemis kneels down and offers them her hand; asking them all if: “You girls okay?” “Uh...yeah, obviously. We were just about to hand this tin can motherfucka’s shiny metal ass on a silver plate til you guys busted in. Knocked this metal bitch flat on its face at least a good couple times.” Toxi brags. “All thanks to my ingenuity and planning of course.” Gigi smugly adds. “If that’s the case, then it shouldn’t be much of a problem for Roxanne’s purple demon she oddly calls her boyfriend to finish off.” Charles states. “Charles! Don’t just go calling him names like that. He’s not that bad of a guy when you-” Roxy attempts to scold her blue leader for; though hearing Roy’s maniacal laughter echo in their ears proves to be detrimental to her point.

Gazing back towards the scene of the action, all of them watch as the violet merc continues to beat the bot in; Roy eventually smacked aside by the hard steel of the automatons backhand. Despite being smacked back by the full brunt of the iron behemoth’s metal strike, this fails to keep the merc back for long; Roy regaining his aerial balance as his black wings sprout from his back. His metallic foe standing back on its steel legs, the merc takes the moment to give the giant a less then friendly middle finger; taunting on how: “Surprise motherfucka! Your rustic metal asshole ain’t got nothing on my glorious cheeks. I got enough spunk in me to take way more than you can dish out with your tiny wire string dick!” Hearing their purple guest mock the security droid in such a lewd manner, Roxanne’s entire team glances in her direction; all wearing face ranging from worry, disbelief, and “What the fuck were you thinking when hooking up with this maniac?” kind of looks. Roxy can do little but give her crew a semi insincere smile, letting out a nervous giggle as she can only shrug.

From the black angels taunting mockery, the metallic monster thrust his free hand down the rest of the wires beneath his feet; pilling out more of the electrical wiring littering the floor. Once uprooting whatever wires are left lying on the floor, the robotic behemoth whips both the mess of wire strings in his hands and swings them out towards the purple bastard himself. Roy shows to be more than capable of evading the bots makeshift whips, dancing around the lightning like wires in a 360 pirouette; soon countering the giants swing with his own power in the form of pitch black beam. The giant automaton takes in the full force of the merc’s deadly ray; Roy’s beam piercing straight through the security droids side; its pieces flying across the chamber. Even after taking in such a lethal shot to the side of its torso, the iron colossus still refuses to fail back on the floor; standing against the odds as if nothing happened. “Ya gotta be fuckin with me here! The hell did yo daddy make this asshole out of to take a hit like that.” Toxi questions, everybody glaring eyes locked to the blonde cheerleader. Gigi can’t help but let out a nervous chuckle, explaining to everyone that: “Only the best for his inventions. The motto of his company.” “Lets see it stand up to another shot of this.” Artemis mentions as she aims the tip of her plasma bazooka out towards the standing giant. Firing her massive weapon off from the wayside, the neon green markswoman lands another clean hit to the hulking androids shoulder; the blast strong enough to knock the behemoth straight into the wall.

After lending her own support in handing the iron giant a piece of its own rustic asshole, Artemis glances over to the other girls and questions if: “Did you all manage to get the jewel.” When asked about such, Roxanne pulls out the little coveted prize in question; presenting the shining jewel as she declares that its: “Right here. All in its glimmering glory.” “Great work, you three.” After complimenting the Roxanne and her friends for the accomplishment, the neon green sniper shifts her gaze over to their airborn purple guest; demanding that: “We have what we need here. We need to make our escape ASAP.” “Right behind y’all.” Roy acknowledges; gliding in their direction as the rest begin to take their leave through the hole in the wall. Before heading out with the rest of her team, Roxanne stops inches from the way out; taking a look back to her boy as he glides in her direction.

Just when Roy was about to reach for his purple flamin girl, the merc feels something wrap around his body; a whole cluster of loose shocking wires entangling around his entire body and jerking him back. Having caught the black angel in its electrical whips, the mechanical colossus wastes no time in beating the merc across the entire room, shocking and slamming the black angel constantly into the concrete floor. In the middle of his battering punishment, Roy’s purple eyes venture out towards the hole in the wall; discovering his girl watching the scene in horror. Roxanne worry is all the merc needs for motivation; stopping himself from crashing onto the wireless concrete floor and landing back on his feet. Though the android attempts to pull the merc back, its purple captive proves to have far more strength under his than its mechanical servos can fight against; Roy refusing to budge where he stands. Its in this stand off does the black angel burst free from the wires that bind his entire body; the resulting shock wave causing the automaton to stumble back. Just when the security droid was ready to fall, something prevents it from crashing down; the boar head gazing down to witness the purple merc taking a tight grip on its makeshift whips. Even when having felt the millions and millions of volt coursing through his entire body, Roy refuses to let go the electrical wires that once bound him; instead pushing the power current back with his own power. Roy’s own pitch black power creeps up the wires dressing the androids arm, soon consuming the rest of the wires alongside the massive metal giant itself; causing the automaton to explode in a mess of black smoke. Roxanne backs away from the drifting clouds of black, soon finding her own purple boy emerging out from the clouds and flying in her direction; Roy sweeping Roxy off her feet as he jets out of the smokey chamber.

Racing through the white halls ahead of the underground basement, the rest of the crew sprint across the polished marble with the mcguffin in their mitts; their proud getaway coming to sudden blockade. Standing in the entire teams way be a whole battalion of armed guards and patrol facing them down; their weapons squarely aimed right at the four. “So, how much more ammo do ya got in that cannon of yours?” Charles wonders. “Don’t think it matters. One blast from it could make this whole hall crash on top of us.” “How the hell we getting outta here then.” the slime girl wonders. Right then and there that they here the blonde cheerleader behind them warn that: “Guy, something’s coming up on our tail fast.” “Is it more security?” Artemis questions. “Not unless they’re on fire.” “Heh?” From their teammates bizarre answer, everyone else glances back from where they sprinted from; witnessing a giant ball of purple flames swiftly approaching. Jumping out from the burning comets path, all four of them witness their red headed comrade leaping off of its back; Roxanne greeting them all with: “Hey guys.” “Roxy, but then is that-” Toxi questions. Coated in a dark purple flame, the black winged angel rockets towards the blockade of guards with a smile on his face; the battalion he approaches scattering in attempt to flee from his blazing charge. Alas, there escape from the merc was but a fleeting wish; Roy ramming straight through the squad in a literal purple firestorm. Once the blazing inferno quickly comes to a calm, the girls then rush past the countless downed guards; Roxanne helping Roy off the burnt marble floor as she hears him thank her with: “Thanks for the quick fix there, Fox Rox. You’re fires were pretty sick.” “No problem Roy, happy to help. The way we came in isn’t too far from here. Come on.”

Following the rest of the squad, both Roxanne and Roy make it back to the janitor’s closet they broke in from; Roy stopping right next to the doorway and facing the way he came from. The red head turns back towards her violet boy toy, wondering: “What are you doing? Reinforcements will be here any minute.” “Covering our tracks. You go ahead with the others, I won’t be far behind.” the merc informs, a pitch black power forming above the palm of his hand. As her boyfriend has instructed, the red head races through the hole leading right into the sewer tunnels; leaving Roy to face the oncoming pack of security guard himself. With the power in his hand fully charged, Roy fires out a massive black beam out towards the oncoming mass of guards; the ray consuming the entire mob in its agonizing darkness. The catastrophic blast causes the entire underground facility to furiously rumble, pieces of the hallway collapsing from the resulting quake; a clear queue for the merc to take his leave as he dashes through the janitor doorway.

Back out the dark alley atop the surface; Charles holds their well earned prize in the clasp of his finger; admiring the gems cut as he declares to the rest of the team that: “Ladies. Our mission has been accomplished.” From their blue skinned leader declaring as such, most of the team cheers from their victory; others admiring the shinning jewel in pride. “I still can’t believe it. We pulled off our first big mission, and none of us loss a single limb.” Gigi exclaims. “Still can’t believe yo flat ass didn’t screw us over. Though for sure we’d be dead with your loud ass mouth.” Toxi mocks. Despite this promptly starts up another argument between the two of them, their baby blue leader promptly ignores them both as he approaches his neon green sniper; admitting to her that: “I never thought in my time with you all that I’d be one day proud of everyone. Each of you played your parts well.” “Roy did too. We wouldn’t have pulled off this big assignment if it weren't for him.” Roxanne reminds him. A reluctant groan escaping from his mouth, the lab coated leader swiftly showing his weak gratitude for: “Yeah, fine. Thank you Ray for your excellent services, we’re lucky to have had you on the team. Blah blah blah blah blah.” “Eh, no need to thank me.” “Good, cause I wasn’t.” “Really I should be saying the same for my lavender hot bae here for the fun night out.” the merc states, giving his girl a peck on the cheek. The sudden smooch causes Roxy to let out a nervously faux giggle as she strolls over to the neon green sniper; Artemis knelling to the red heads ear and asking if: “Mind if we have a little talk. Girl to girl.”

Once taking the red head to a little more private side of the dark alleyway, Artemis takes in a deep breath before coming out with: “I hate to be the one to ask this out of the blue, especially with all the luck that we’ve been having, but...how’s your brother’s disability treatment going?” “Oh...It’s-it’s been rather slow as of late. Taking baby steps I guess. Hopefully all the money the Alliance is feeding me can go to helping him deal with it until I improve.” Roxanne hesitantly informs. “Well, if it isn’t enough, I’ll be more then happy to send whatever money I get your way. It’s the least I can do after making my time in the Alliance as comforting and stress free as possible.” “No problem, Arti. I’m more than happy to help you.” “By the way, did you mention any of this to the mercenary yet?” “Roy? Uh, no. I really haven’t figured out a way how to yet. I was hoping to do it naturally.” “Are you sure its a good idea to tell him at all?” “Artemis. I know you’ve read up on all that he’s done through his supposed career; but with the few weeks that I’ve spent with him, he really isn’t as bad as you think.” “I’m just wanting you to watch yourself.” “I know, and I will. Thanks Arti.” Unaware to either of the girls, the purple merc in question stood on the other side of the corner behind them; taking in the entire conversation with a sort of mild unease.

Strolling along the nearly empty city walkway, both Roy and Roxanne walk together hand in hand; the dimly lit streetlights to their side lighting their way. “Ya know, we still got us a lot of night on us to burn away. Could go somewhere else tonight, like a restaurant, arcade, mall, lake, fight club. You got the wheel on where how this night can go.” the merc suggests. “Actually, I already have a place in mind that I wanna stop; though its not really as fun as any of those places. You don’t really have to come with if you don’t want to.” “What, you mean like a hospital.” “Actually, yeah. I was planning to stop their for a little bit to maybe help out.” While walking alongside his red headed girlfriend, Roy loosens his grip on Roxanne’s own hand; eventually letting go of her as he asks her if: “Is it the same hospital where your brother is staying?” “Yeah...How did...Were you overhearing Arti and I talk back there?” “Kind of.” “Oh, I’m sorry for the way she talked about you. I know she can be defensive, but-” “Don’t be. She’s a good friend looking after you like that. That neon green gal’s lucky to have somebody like you with her.” With her boy mentioning such to her, Roxanne can’t help but crack a sincere smile; soon hearing Roy continue with: “Plus, I think I know a guy that can help out just as much with your little bro’s problems. A blue bro of mine with healing powers somewhere close to yours; I figure with his help, we could get your brother back on his feet. I ain’t too sure if he could fix him up completely, or if at all. But hey, can’t hurt to try; right?”

It takes the red head a few good moment to ponder upon her purple merc’s offer; but eventually responds to him with: “It sounds too good to be true...but I don’t think I can take you up on your offer.” “What? Look, I know my bro can be act like an idiot sometimes, but he’s pulled through for us lots of times before. I’m pretty sure that he can fix your-” “That’s not what I meant...I was...hoping to one day heal my brother myself.” Roxanne corrects. “What?...Why? Why would you wait for something like that?” Roy questions. “Its the Alliance. Being with them gives me a good outlet to practice and hone my healing flames; practice that I may one day heal my brother myself. Once I master my powers to do something like that, there may be no one else in this world I can’t heal then. To take care of the needy and sick that dwell in this cruel world, awaiting for somebody to end their pain and suffering; I can become a beacon of hope and life for everyone.” His girlfriends explanation on denying his offer drives Roy to the point of silence, his only fist trembling behind his back as he finally answers her with: “Are you kidding me?...” “Huh?”

“That has to be some of the biggest pile of bullshit I ever heard!” The merc harsh comment shocks and appalls the red head; backing away from the black angel as she questions him: “How...could you say something that?” “You mean to tell me that your using your brother as a milestone for something that you don’t even know might happen, all the while leaving the poor kid to suffer; how could I not say it!” “He’s not suffering, Roy! All the money the Young Blood Alliance gives me help treat and comfort him in his hour of need!” “He wouldn’t even need any of that cash if you stop being so self centered and get him actual help!” “It’s like that! You don’t understand!” “No, you don’t understand! If you actually gave a damn about your brother, then you wouldn’t have him wait around for who know’s how fuckin long until you muster up the skill to actually do it; all just so for you hope of what you could do in the future rather than the reality of what you can do now. That’s not dreaming, that’s just being selfish.” Taking in the merc’s harsh words, Roxanne stands before him shocked and silent; attempting to hold back the flow of tears welling in her eyes. Roy lets out a small sigh as he pulls out his phone, passing by the shock struck red head as he tells her to: “Now, come on. My bro can meet with us at the hospital.” “No...” Roxanne utter. Stopping dead in his tracks, the purple merc turns back towards the red head behind him and simply states: “Why now?” “It’s over Roy...It’s all over...We’re through.” Hearing the girl uttering this with his own ears, the merc’s phone slips out from his grip and onto the cold concrete walkway; staring at Roxanne’s back as he himself utters: “What?” “...Goodbye.” Its with her final word that the red head runs from the merc, disappearing into the darkness and leaving Roy under the light of the streetlamp; Roy crumbling to his knees as his eyes drift down to his own shadow.

In the midst of his heartbroken sorrows, the merc hears a familiar voice ring inside his head; the goddess within asking if: “Are you going to be okay?” “I…...I don’t know anymore.” “Why did you say all that to her?” “I was just hoping to talk some sense into her. Get her to see and do the things that are in the now rather than what may be in the future.” “...What do you plan to do now?” To Hera’s worrying question, the merc can’t bring himself to answer her at the moment; simply rising from the concrete walkway and flying up into the night sky.

Perched atop the edge of a buildings, Roy gazes down to the few people left strolling along the streets; staring down to a couple holding one another in their arms. “Hera...” “Yes...” “Is it wrong that I still love her?” “...No.” “But with everything that’s happened...It still hurts. She just cut me out so fast, all while I was offering to help her. I know I was being aggressive. But I did it to try and get through to her...” “Did you think it would’ve been better simply to not say anything?” “How could I not say anything to something like that? Anything to change her mind...But all I did was just ruin everything.” Ruminating in silence, the merc’s gaze drifts up towards the moon perched high in the sky; staring upon the glowing half crescent as a heavy breath escapes him. “Sometimes, I wonder if I even deserved to be loved.” “Oh Roy, of course you do.” “Then why am I so bad at keeping it?”

With his last question baiting out no answers from the goddess, the merc stands from the edge of the building as he prepares to take off into the night sky; his black wings unfolding from his back. Just as he launches right off the rooftop, an unexpected green beam blasts into the side of his head; the surprising headshot causing the merc to plummet to the streets below. The impact of Roy’s crashing descent could be heard ringing across the entire block; accompanying the merc cursing: “Fuck!”

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The final episode before the season finale. I'll be honest, I had the scenario at the end in the back of my mind for a very very long while now; the thought of Roy severing a sort of romantic connection with his own stubborn morality and beliefs was one that I was wanting to experiment with for a long time. I especially wanted to make this argument as two sided as I possibly could, with readers being able to see both sides of their argument without demonizing either; plus for both parties to have their own mistakes in the relationship beforehand. I really hope that I pulled it off well...Just in time for Valentines day too.

Gigi, Toxi, Artemis, Charles, and Roxanne all belong to: @princesscallyie