#jess laying a hand on the leg and pretending she's helping is a mood

[ravireyes]

ravi’s instagram — marcus' 2020 birthday

in which femfam takes a chaotic, drunk, new family photo after marcus' birthday party and rafael snr's back regrets it the next day. ​

[cycwrites]

WIP Things aka Unofficial Fic Tease

In order to remind myself that I’ve left all of you hanging for the rest of my trilogy rewrite, I thought I would post my unbeta’d, unedited, good with the bad chapter 1 for the second movie. I also have hope that it will make me feel guilty for taking so damn long and get back to it. Especially since I’ve basically closed myself off from writing (and the muses) and I’m trying to pry the doors back open because I really do miss sharing my stories with you guys.

I wrote this well over a year ago, along with a 2nd chapter that deals with the Dean’s office, and really just hope you like it. 

--------

About Damn Time 

Chapter One: So That Happened

Word Count: 2600 -------- ~B~

At the end of Beca’s junior year, two things of note happened.

First: Chloe, once again, made the decision to stay with Beca and the Bellas and failed Russian Lit for the third time.  Beca had tried to talk her out of it, torn between wanting Chloe to move forward in her life beyond Barden and guilt that she was relieved they wouldn’t have to figure out how to work a long distance relationship. She wasn’t ready to try that and couldn’t imagine leading the group without her.  But Chloe had insisted this was where she’d wanted to be and she didn’t feel like she was missing out on anything.

Second: The Bellas were asked to perform at President Obama’s 50th birthday celebration at the Kennedy Center on August 8th.

Beca had laughed when the call had come through the never used landline at the Bella house.

“Good afternoon, this is Mack Johnson and I’m calling on behalf of the White House…”

“Yeah right. Nice try, Jesse.” She hung up and pulled out her cell phone as she walked into the kitchen. Pausing by the counter she typed out a quick message to him.

Beca: I’ve gotta give you points for originality though. You almost sounded like an actual adult.

She poured herself a glass of lemonade before he answered.

Jesse: I’m going to take that as a compliment and ignore the wound to my manly pride, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Beca: Whatever you say, ‘Mack.’ If you’d said you were calling from anywhere but the White House I might’ve let you keep talking.

Instead of answering via text, Jesse called her.

“Are you day drinking, Mitchell?” Jesse clucked his tongue. “Without your lesbro? I’m hurt, Becaw.”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Beca lifted her glass and took a sip. “What inspired your call today?”

“Uh, your cryptic and confusing texts to me, of course.” Jesse chuckled. “Want to clue me in?”

Beca sighed. “Man you’re committed to this.”

“To what?”

Beca set her glass on the counter. “Fine – you just called me and –” She jumped as the phone in the living room rang for only the second time in her years at Barden. “Pretended… to be… from the White House.”

“I thought you said you weren’t drinking?” Jesse laughed but it sounded distant as Beca watched Chloe answer the phone.

Her girlfriend’s blue eyes went wide and locked on Beca’s as she said, “I’m sorry, did you say you’re calling from the White House?”

“Jesse?” Beca said absently.

“Yes, Beca?” His voice took on an echo as all the blood drained from her face.

“I gotta go pass out now.” She swallowed dryly. “I’ll call you later.”

“Beca wa-”

Beca had remained frozen in the kitchen while Chloe became more and more animated, frantically scribbling down notes on the notepad sitting beside the phone, though her voice was carefully calm and collected. Then she’d run into the kitchen, screaming and jumping in excitement and talking faster than Beca’s shocked mind could process. Drawn by the commotion like a frat boy to a kegger, the rest of the girls soon joined the chaos while Beca still stood frozen by the counter as they swirled around her.

The school had allowed them to stay on campus through the summer so they could discuss songs and choreography. The time had been a whirlwind of security checks and practice and everything they planned needed to be vetted by the performance organizers. Of course, since they’d come to the Bellas after their third ICCA win in a row, there weren’t any real problems.

Until the night of the performance when one set of tangled silks and a desire for no panty lines wrecked everything.

No pun intended.

~B~ Sunday, August 24th, 2014

Beca lay on their bed and stared at the ceiling, listening to Chloe pace beside her.

“I’ve ruined everything.” Pace to the head of the bed. “Destroyed our reputation.” Pace back to the foot. “Made the Bellas a joke.”

Beca sighed and pushed herself up on her elbows. “Chloe. It’s a capella. It’s already a jo-” She stopped as Chloe spun to face her, outraged. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Beca tried a smile. “I was just trying to lighten the mood.” She let it slip when Chloe just stared at her and Beca dropped back down to gaze at the ceiling. “Won’t make that mistake again.”

“I’m the one who gave Amy the green-light to do ‘Wrecking Ball.’” Chloe resumed pacing.

“Because, despite most of her claims, she actually had done some training on the silks before coming to the states.” Beca countered, as she had for the past three weeks. “She was good on them and never once in our rehearsals did she get tangled up.”

“But-”

“No.” Beca cut her off and sat up, pulling her legs up to sit cross legged and face her. “We all agreed to let her do it. It was a group vote.” She softened her voice and held out her hand. “This isn’t all on you, Chlo.”

With a sigh, Chloe took her hand and let herself be tugged onto the bed. Beca stretched back out and Chloe settled against her side. “It feels like it.”

“That’s because you’re the one who looks out for us.” Beca gently rubbed her back. “No one could’ve predicted this, love.”

“No…” Chloe said grudgingly. “But…”

Beca cut her off again. “There’s no buts.”

“Except Amy’s.” Chloe huffed, tension that had begun to fade making her stiffen up again in Beca’s arms. “All over the news.” She groaned. “Why didn’t I just use the cloth I was freaking holding to cover her up?”

“Same reason I didn’t,” Beca said reasonably, having heard a version of this several times before. “My mind went blank and I couldn’t move. I just… kept waiting to wake up.”

“Same.” Chloe pressed her nose to Beca’s shoulder. “I still am. This is such a nightmare.”

“She feels bad.” Beca offered. “It was her idea to do that press conference.” She winced as Chloe snorted.

“Yeah, where she then tried to show her ‘silk burn’ to the entire world.” Chloe sat up and pushed herself off the bed. “Again.” She resumed pacing and Beca’s mind hunted around for anything she could say to defuse things.

“At least we saved Aubrey’s college legacy from Pukegate?” Even as the words were out of her mouth Beca knew they were stupid and wrong.

“And ruined ours with Muffgate.” Chloe snarled.

“I wish I could find the asshole that came up with that. Bet it was those podcast people and of course everyone else jumped on it.” Beca made a face. “It was an accident and eventually there will be another crisis for them to focus on.” She slid over to the edge of the bed and swung her legs over. “It won’t be forever, Chlo.”

Pace, turn. “But tomorrow we go see the Dean.” Pace, turn. “With those podcast people who are apparently actually part of the Collegiate A Cappella Association.”

“They’re still weird and he’s an ass.” Beca stood up and stretched as she heard the door open at the bottom of the stairs. “Think you’ll be able to enjoy yourself at dinner tonight?”

Chloe stopped by the small table they inherited from Aubrey and took a deep breath. “Of course. It’s Amy’s birthday. I’m not going to ruin it for her.” She flashed Beca a small grin, the first in an hour. “Why do you think I’m up here instead of downstairs?”

“Speaking of,” a new voice said from the stairs. “There’s maybe… A situation.” Jessica smiled apologetically when they both looked at her as she reached the top.

Beca sighed. “Of course there is.”

“Do I even want to know?” Chloe pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Probably not, but Stacie sent me to get you.”

“Coward,” Beca muttered. “She knows I can’t hit you because you’re too nice.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, quick like ripping off a band-aid.”

“Amy’s sitting on the couch. With a towel on her lap.” Jessica hesitated.

“That’s… Why is that a big deal?” Chloe asked, confused.

“She’s… commando. Because of her silk burn.” The blonde’s shoulders bounced once but she didn’t say anything else.

“I swear to fucking god I’m going to glue underwear on her,” Chloe muttered under her breath.

Beca was struck by a horrible thought. “Is she sitting on another towel?”

“We were afraid she’d show us if we asked.” Jessica looked at Beca. “That’s when Stacie sent me to get you.”

“Why do I have to do it?” Beca knew she was whining but couldn’t help it.

“Because you’re the captain.” Jessica shrugged again. “You can threaten her with cardio if she tries to flash us again.”

“Yeah but Amy doesn’t always listen to me and I don’t want to have flashbacks.” Beca reluctantly headed for the stairs as Jessica started back down.

“Birthday or not…” Chloe muttered as she followed.

“I’m sure Lilly has a hot glue gun you can use,” Beca mused, not surprised to find Ashley hanging out in the hallway when they left the attic.

“Don’t tempt me.” Chloe didn’t say anything else the entire trip down the stairs.

Beca rounded the corner, passing Jessica and Ashley who had stopped in the entry and came to a halt herself, Chloe running into her back.

All she could see was the back of Amy’s head but she appeared to be looking straight at Lilly who sat cross-legged on the ottoman and staring back.

“Do I even want to know?” Beca turned her head toward Jessica but didn’t take her eyes off the scene.

“I didn’t ask that either,” came the whispered reply.

Beca took a bracing breath then walked into the living room. Despite the reassurance that the covering towel existed, Beca didn’t relax until she saw it for herself. It was nothing personal against Amy, but Beca just didn’t want to see any of the Bellas naked, Chloe being the obvious exception. You never knew when the visual would pop back in your head and Amy had already shown up enough in the past few weeks to last a lifetime.

“Amy.” Beca looked up at a sound from the kitchen and saw Stacie leaning in the doorway with Cynthia Rose and Flo sitting at the center island.

“Captain.” Amy didn’t turn her head or avert her gaze.

“Are you guys in a staring contest?” Beca frowned, looking between the two women. “And if so why?”

“I don’t know,” Amy lifted one shoulder. “All I know is she hasn’t blinked since she sat down and why take the risk of losing.”

Beca felt her eyes twitch at the thought. “Jesus, please cut it out before my eyes start watering.” She stepped between them and Amy closed her eyes in relief.

“Thanks, Shawshank. That was starting to burn.” She started to lift one corner of the towel to wipe her eyes and Beca threw out her hand.

“Nope. That stays there.” Chloe said it before Beca could.

“Please tell me you’re sitting on another towel.” Beca sighed and ran her hand through her hair.

“Of course I am!” Amy actually looked indignant. “I’m not a heathen, Beca.” She rolled her eyes. “The pants I want to wear to dinner are tight, so I’m giving my bits time to breathe first.”

“Now that’s in my head.” Cynthia Rose muttered from the kitchen.

“That’s in all our heads,” Ashley said from the doorway behind them.

“You could always wear that blue skirt,” Chloe offered diplomatically. “That way you’re not uncomfortable for your birthday dinner.”

“I do look hot in that.” Amy thought about it while the rest of them made sounds of agreement. “Alright, you’ve swayed me. And as it’s almost that time, guess I’ll go upstairs and change.” She started to stand as Beca moved back then paused. “If you’d all turn around and give me some privacy while I wrap?”

Beca rolled her eyes as she turned to face the front window that, thankfully, had the curtains drawn. “That’s what you get for being half naked in the public areas of the house.”

“I got bored in my room.” Beca heard Amy stand up and the rustle of fabric. “Alright, I’m decent.”

“Hey!”

Beca jumped at the unexpected shout and looked over her shoulder. Stacie had come out of the kitchen and was pointing at the couch.

“That’s my favorite towel!” Outage filled her face. “I was looking for that for over a week!”

“It’s also the softest towel in the house.” Amy said as she picked it up, tucking the other firmly around her waist. “It’s the only thing that doesn’t hurt when I’m sitting.”

A choked sound from behind her brought Beca’s eyes back around to Chloe, who was biting the inside of her cheek and trying not to giggle. “I’m sure she’ll wash it before she gives it back.”

Beca tried to choke back her laugh and ended up sounding like a pug with a cold as she snickered into her hand.

“I think…” Stacie sighed. “Happy Birthday, Amy. It’s all yours.”

“You sure, Stretch?” Amy threw the towel in question over her shoulder. “I don’t think I’ll need it for much longer.”

“Yup.” Stacie nodded emphatically. “I’ll go get another one this weekend.”

“Thanks, Stacie.” Amy smiled at her before her lips twisted slightly. “Sorry I didn’t ask first.”

“’S okay.” Stacie shrugged. “Now go get changed so we can celebrate your day.”

“Are you allowed to give me orders on my birthday?” Amy mused as she headed for the stairs.

“Probably not,” Beca said. “But I’ll probably do it anyway.”

“Bossy.” Chloe whispered behind her and Beca flashed her a grin.

“Alright.” Beca clapped her hands once. “Show’s over, let’s go get our party outfits on and get some grub. We’ve got a Bella to celebrate.”

Stacie walked past her, shaking her head. “Bossy.”

Beca let her head fall back as she stared at the ceiling. “I can’t with you two.”

“What?” Stacie paused in the door to the entry. “Did we do the thing again?”

“Yup.” Chloe pushed Beca toward the stairs. “I called her that thirty seconds ago.” She high fived Stacie over Beca’s shoulder when the tall woman grinned and held out her hand.

“Score one for us.” Stacie laughed and started up the stairs.

“I hate you guys.” Beca said weakly as she followed.

“Liar,” Chloe laughed and ran her hand down Beca’s back.

“Maybe.” Beca let Chloe go before her.

“Definitely.”

“Yeah yeah,” Beca waved her up the stairs, unable to help admiring the way Chloe’s muscles flexed as she moved. “But seriously, my stomach just woke up and if I don’t feed it soon it’s going to take over the world.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” Stacie saluted as she stepped into her room.

“Smartass,” Beca threw back.

“And you love it.” Stacie closed the door with a laugh.

“Stop flirting with Stacie and let’s go change before you get hangry.” Chloe took her hand and tugged on it.

“She wishes,” Beca muttered but followed Chloe up to their room, ignoring the ‘Often’ that came from Stacie’s room behind them.

‘She’s got bat hearing, I swear.’ Beca thought to herself as she went to the closet to get her outfit for the night.

Tomorrow was still looming over them, but Beca pushed it all away, determined to think about Amy and the Bellas for the rest of the night.

It was one mistake and they’d just won three years in a row. Surely they weren’t in that much trouble.

Right?

[rami-hoe]

Confessions (Part five)

Pairing: Josh x reader 

Word Count: 2.3K 

Graduation was just around the corner, and as much as I wanted to pretend like I was cool about it, I was freaking the fuck out. After the prom everything became far too real for my liking. This was it. On June 25th, I would officially be a high school graduate with the diploma and the hat and everything. University, something that up until this point had seemed like some kind of mythical creature, was now only a few months away. I was finally starting to understand what people meant when they said “the end of an era.” People I’d known for years would disappear from my life. Most of them would never return to it. It’s not like we were all joined at the hip, but the idea of never seeing the people I’d spent six hours a day, five days a week with for the last 13 years again was a lot more frightening than I cared to admit. 

I suppose I was one of the lucky ones, though. I wasn’t going through my graduation freakout alone. Josh was right there, every step of the way. He already had his college plans lined up. He knew exactly where he wanted to go and who he wanted to be. I, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. The idea that I had to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life right now was terrifying- I didn’t know how Josh did it. Truth be told, I envied him. I would give anything to be half as certain as he was. There was no apprehension with him, no doubt. He told me he’d known what he wanted to do with his life since the fourth grade. For him, graduation wasn’t a giant leap into the dark abyss that was the rest of your life- it was just another step forward on a path he was already sure of. 

I tried to avoid talking about graduation as much as possible, but it wasn’t exactly easy when Josh was so excited about it. It seemed like every time I saw him, he had something new to tell me about the grad party he was planning, or the program he was planning on taking in the fall. It was a film studies BA and he couldn’t be more thrilled about it. It was at a pretty great university too, and he hadn’t really expected to get in. When he got his letter of acceptance, he was over the moon. I wanted to be supportive and happy for him and all that, but whenever he talked about where he was going, I was reminded of the fact that I was standing still. Thankfully, Josh didn’t seem to notice. He was too wrapped up in his plans, and I was grateful for it. I didn’t really feel like discussing my complete and utter lack of direction with someone who had his plan written in stone by the time he was thirteen.

                                                      ♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

When the bell rang at the end of last period, I grabbed my stuff from my locker and hurried out into the parking lot. This week had been entirely too long, and I was looking forward to finally getting some time to relax. When I got to Josh’s car, I leaned against the passenger’s door and pulled out my phone. Beth and Hannah showed up just a few minutes later. “Where’s Josh?” Beth asked. I shrugged. “Probably just got caught up with Mike or something.” We were waiting there for about ten minutes before Josh stalked out of the building. 

“Took you long enough,” Hannah said. She was just teasing, but Josh shot her a glare anyway. 

“You don’t like waiting, you can walk,” he said. He unlocked the car and got in the driver’s seat. 

“Jeez. I was joking, take it easy,” Hannah mumbled as she and Beth scooted into the backseat. 

“You okay?” I asked quietly as I pulled my door shut. 

“Fine,” he replied. He wasn’t, that much was obvious. I’d learned to read him pretty well over the past decade or so, and on the Josh scale of pissed off, he was at a seven. Not good. But if he didn’t want to talk about it in front of his sisters, I wasn’t going to push it. If it were at a four or five, maybe, but not a seven. “Am I dropping you at home or what?” Josh asked, breaking the… Well, I don’t think you could call it uncomfortable silence since the radio was playing, but it was tense and no one was talking. 

“Nah, I’ll come back with you guys,” I said. When we got back to the Washington’s place, I followed my brooding boyfriend down to the basement. He grabbed two cokes from the mini fridge and plopped down on the couch. 

“You gonna tell me what’s bothering you now?” I asked as I sat next to him and claimed the second coke. 

“It’s nothing,” he said as he leaned forward to grab the remote. I snatched it out of his hand before he had a chance to turn on the TV. “Y/N!” 

“You’ve been in a bad mood since we left the school,” I said. “What happened?” 

“I just had a bad day, okay?” His jaw tensed as he spoke. Shit, we were moving into eight territory. 

“You were fine this morning, and you were fine at lunch,” I said softly. I didn’t want to fight him. If I got too pushy, he would just get more dismissive. “I just want to help. Talk to me.” 

Josh sighed and put his can down on the table. He didn’t use a coaster, but that table already had too many water rings to count. I was pretty sure his parents bought it knowing Josh would have it looking like shit in no time- it was the only cheap thing they owned. “It’s nothing,” he repeated. “It’s stupid. It’s just…” I didn’t say anything. It seemed best to let him get there on his own. “Ms. Larson stopped me after class today,” he started. Ms. Larson was his English teacher, and one he was none too fond of. “Said she was ‘concerned about me’ and wanted to know what my plans were for after graduation.” He scoffed. “So I told her what I was doing and she just looked so… Shocked. Like she couldn’t believe I actually had a plan.” 

I scooted closer to him. “She doesn’t know the first thing about you,” I said. 

“But she’s not the only one,” he argued. “Everyone- my guidance counselor gave me a pamphlet on exploratory studies before he even asked what I wanted to do. Jess is always making those bullshit jokes about how I’m gonna ‘drink my way through college. My fucking Aunt Lisa called to tell me how surprised and excited she and Uncle Bill were that I was going. Everyone thinks I’m just some stupid slacker who’s gonna mooch off his parents until they die.” 

“Then fuck everyone,” I said. “If any of them really knew you, they’d know there’s nothing to be surprised about.” 

“Isn’t there?” He laughed humorlessly. “I’m just some party boy screw up, right? People are probably laying down bets on how long it takes me to flunk out.” 

I grimaced at the harshness in his voice. Josh was always his biggest critic, and as aloof as he may seem, he took people’s opinions of him to heart. “Don’t talk like that, Josh,” I said. “Take it from someone who does know you- you’re a lot smarter than people gave you credit for. You know what you want out of life, you just aren’t afraid of having some fun while you work towards it. That’s not a screw up.” 

Josh tucked one leg under himself and turned to face me fully. “But what if they’re right.”

“They’re not-” 

“They could be! What if I get there and I can’t do it. I’m not like you, Y/N; I don’t have the kind of options you do.” 

I furrowed my brow. “What?” “I mean, you could do anything, and whatever you decide to do, you’re gonna be great at. You literally can’t choose a program because you have so many options. But all I have is this one thing I think I’m good at, and if I’m not… Then I’m just gonna be exactly what they all think I am: a loser.” 

It took me a minute to process what he’d just said. Was that really what it looked like from the outside? Like I just had too many options? I shook my head. “Josh, I can’t choose a program because I have no fucking clue what I want to do with my life. I don’t know what I love yet; you do. And that’s exactly why you’re not gonna fail,” I said. “You’ve had this passion in your life for so long; you’re not gonna give up on it until you’ve reached your goal.”

The faintest of smiles twitched onto Josh’s lips. “Is that what you really think or are you just saying that to make me feel better?” 

“I don’t know anyone more willing to put in the work to make their dreams a reality than you,” I said. “You’re gonna kick this program’s ass.” 

Josh leaned in and kissed me softly. “Thank you,” he whispered against my lips. 

I chuckled. “You’re welcome,” I said. “And if anybody else tries to tell you you’re not cut out for this, you send them my way.” 

“You gonna beat them up for me?” 

“What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t?” He laughed, and I surrendered the remote I was still holding hostage and cuddled up to him. 

He turned the remote over in his hands a few times, but didn’t turn the TV on. “You know there’s nothing wrong with taking a gap year, right?” 

“I thought we were talking about your college problems,” I said. 

“We were,” he said. “But I didn’t realize you had college problems to talk about. And relationships are supposed to be, uh.. What’s that word? It’s like mutual but- oh- reciprocal!” He grinned proudly. “So we talked about my problem, now we can talk about yours.”  

I sat up. “It’s not really a problem,” I said. “I’m just feeling like I should have my shit together more than I do.” 

“I mean, how many people honestly have their shit together at eighteen?” he asked. “I don’t think it’s very many.” 

“It seems like everybody from where I’m standing,” I said with a sigh. 

“Nah,” Josh said. “It’s just a lot of people pretending to know what the hell they’re doing in life so the rest of the world doesn’t find out they’re scared shitless. Myself included. At least you have the balls to admit you need some time to figure it out. Plenty of people go to uni right out of high school just because they’re worried about what people will think if they don’t.” 

“I didn’t realize being aimless in life was such a courageous act,” I said sarcastically. 

“You’re not aimless,” Josh protested. “You want to figure out what you want to do- that’s an aim.” 

I snorted. “I don’t think that counts,” I said. 

“Of course it counts!” He argued. “What bigger goal is there than figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life? It’s not a given. Some people never get there. You’re not taking a year to fuck off and do nothing- you’re taking a year to make a massive decision you haven’t had time to really think about yet. There is nothing wrong with that.” 

My gaze fell to the rings on the coffee table. “I hate it when you make sense,” I said. “It’s a lot easier for me to stay angsty when you aren’t being all sweet and encouraging.” 

Josh chuckled and kissed the side of my head. “Too bad. I don’t plan on stopping any time soon.” 

I smiled up at him. “I love you.” 

He ran the back of his fingers down my cheek. “I love you too.” 

“Can we watch something stupid now? I need to wash off all this coming of age shit,” I said with a grin. 

Josh laughed and turned on the TV. The sci-fi network came on; it was playing a marathon of the original Star Trek series. It took about five seconds to recognize the episode and gasp. “Oh my god, it’s Spock’s Brain,” he said. He turned his head towards me with this huge, open-mouthed smile. “If you want something stupid, this is the goddamn motherload.” He grabbed the remote, paused the show, and leapt up from the couch. “Hold on, I need to get some snacks. This is a masterpiece of the small screen- we need the full experience.” He ran up the stairs and into the kitchen. I wasn’t done laughing by the time he came back with a bag of Doritos in one hand and a bag of chocolate chips in the other. “We didn’t have any movie candy,” he said. “But these’ll be fine.” He sat back down, grabbed the remote, and looked at me. “Are you ready for the worst thing you;ve ever seen in your life?” 

“Hell yeah,” I said, and he pressed play. In that moment, watching Josh eat a handful of chocolate chips while this god awful episode played, it didn’t matter that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. I knew who I wanted to spend it with. And that was enough. 

[olicity-fanwork-exchange]

Broken Bones And Porcelain Dolls

This one is for Jesse, @spaztronautwriter. I have always loved your stories and I am so grateful that you share them with us. This is no way as good as your original fic Broken Bones Lead Me to You but I hope you’ll have fun reading it all the same.

From: @tangled23works

Rating : Teen

Archive Warnings : No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationship : Oliver Queen/Felicity Smoak, Mia Smoak/Connor Hawke

Characters : Oliver Queen, Felicity Smoak, Mia Smoak, Connor Hawke,                                  William Clayton

Additional Tags : Future Fic

Words : 3896

Sick people made a lot of noise.

As someone who had been blessed with excellent health, Mia had never noticed it before. The last time she had visited Starling Memorial she had been too young to pay attention to the smell of disinfectant and constant groaning around her.

A man in a red hoodie that reminded her of an old photo of her Uncle Roy was brooding in the corner while a young girl with spiky black hair wearing a leather jacket was threatening the nurse with bodily harm if they didn’t treat his injuries soon. Mia couldn’t actually see an injury but she supposed that people got hurt in amentionable locations all the time. An older guy - she had made sure to stay far away from that one because she could feel his creepy eyes following her - was complaining constantly about inefficient nurses and female doctors. If Mia’s Mom was there she would have donated this slimy dude’s money to Greenpeace in a heartbeat.

“Mia?”

She looked up to find her older brother with a sad look on his face that could only be described as contrition.

“I’m sorry but the nurse said this is gonna take a while.”

“It’s fine, Will.”

Her brother sighed as if he knew she was lying and sat next to her. The plastic chairs weren’t exactly comfortable but the place had been so crowded that Will had been forced to stand at least for an hour while they were waiting.

Mia turned towards him. In all the years she had known Will, she had never seen him look like that. She had been about five years old when a trip to Central City had revealed that her father had another kid. Things had never been the same after that. But despite all the sibling rivalry, Mia wouldn’t trade her older brother for the world.

She leaned on him. “Remember the last time we were here?”

Will closed his eyes. “Yes.”

She could hear the smile in his voice. “Lucas was screaming the place down. Our parents were afraid that the nurses would kick us out.”

Will chuckled. “Felicity always said that you were so quiet. It was so easy to keep you happy. You were fine as long as your belly was full. I think Lucas surprised them. They hadn’t expected a baby to be so loud and demanding.”

“And now, he’s the best of us. Always zen and shit.”

The old lady in the next seat shoot her a reproving glance.

“Mia Smoak Queen. Don’t make me call your mom.”

Mia stuck her tongue out. “You wouldn’t dare. Because then I would have to tell her we’re in the emergency room. And she would want to know why,” she threatened in a singsong voice.

Will blanched at the reminder. “Shit, Mia. I’m so sorry.”

“Really, young man!” the old lady chided.

“Sorry, Ma’am. I’m so worried for my sister. She’s in excruciating pain.”

He grabbed Mia’s hand and pointed to her dislocated thumb. The sight made the old lady shudder. She nodded accepting Will’s apology and promptly turned the other way.

Mia tried to suppress a laugh and failed. “Aren’t you laying it on a bit thick? I have dislocated my thumb plenty of times before.”

“First of all, shush. And second, we all know you’re a badass,” he whispered the word, afraid that the lady was still listening to their conversation, “but you can’t know for sure it’s dislocated. It looks broken to me.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “So dramatic.”

“Shut up. It’s all my fault.”

“It’s not your fault, Will. And it’s not Addie’s fault either.”

Will rubbed his thumb and forefinger in a nervous gesture that reminded Mia of their father. She had told him plenty of times that the whole thing was a stupid accident but her stubborn brother refused to believe her.

It had all started with a text message. Mia had been hanging with Will at Queen Inc. when her brother’s husband had to leave for Central City in a hurry. Josh was a reporter and he had been following a story about some guy who kept running around dressed in a red suit pretending to be a superhero. What the police hadn’t anticipated was that the guy had unknowingly stumbled onto a human trafficking cartel and had even managed to get photos of their operation. Josh had sources all over the country so when one of them called and said that the CCPD was about to make an arrest, he had been forced to leave Addie in a hurry and catch the first train to Central City.

“Wanna hang out with me and Addie tonight?” Will had asked her. “I’ll even let you guys play that ancient video game that Felicity loves so much.”

They had left QI and after picking up four different kinds of ice-cream (in order to appease Addie), they rushed to Will and Josh’s home to spend a quiet night in with her niece. Josh warned them that Addie was in a bad mood because her Daddy was leaving but they didn’t listen. After all, they were both grown ups, perfectly capable of taking care of a grumpy four-year-old, right?

Little did they know how wrong they were…

At first Addie had been pleased to see them but that had quickly changed when she realized that she still had to say goodbye to one of her parents. She had stomped her foot and refused to eat her dinner. Will had to ply her with ice-cream even though Josh had told Mia repeatedly that giving sugar to Addie when she was having a temper tantrum was a recipe for disaster.

Addie on a sugar high was not a pretty sight. She had climbed every possible surface, she had stormed the bedroom and pretended to be a pirate called Slade Wilson, she had opened every single cupboard and thrown pots, pans and other kitchen utensils on the floor. Then she had decided to jump down from the oak China cabinet yelling “You have failed this city!” at the top of her lungs; which of course was the moment when Mia decided it was time to intervene. She tried to catch her niece mid-air but instead Addie’s little foot managed to kick her right hand at a weird angle dislocating her thumb. It hurt like a bitch despite what she had told Will but she had reigned it in so as not to scare the baby.

“How’s the munchkin?” she asked as she remembered Addie’s inconsolable cries when she had noticed her favorite aunt’s injury.

“She’s fine. You know she loves spending time with Josh’s parents.” Will’s leg jumped restlessly. “I really hate it that you got hurt, Mimi.”

Mia scoffed. She had never liked that nickname but the more she protested against it, the more Will used it. Plus, she couldn’t stand her brother’s guilt-ridden face any longer. “You know what I would like to have?”

“What?” Will asked, willing to help in any way he could.

“Can you get me some ice? It’ll help with the swelling.”

Will jumped up from his seat before she could finish her sentence. Mia leaned back and closed her eyes trying to relax. It had been a really long day and she couldn’t wait to go home. She didn’t open them again until she felt someone take the seat beside her. A glance to her right told her that it was not her brother.

A guy was now sitting next to her. She supposed he was what her grandma Donna would call “Hot with a capital H” if not for the fact that his nose was broken. Chocolate skin, tall, athletic wearing a pair of jeans and a dark green t-shirt. He was trying to fill in a hospital form but it was obvious from the way he was squinting that he couldn’t see very well.

“Excuse me,” she said after a minute of watching him struggle, “do you need some help?”

The hot guy dismissed her offer without even looking up. “It’s fine. Thank you, though.”

Mia shrugged and was about to turn away when he raised his head and noticed her. He scrutinized her from the top of her blonde hair to the bottom of her shoes. Mia decided it would be a good idea to try again. “Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

He went on the defensive. “And how would you help? Your thumb’s broken.”

“For your information, it’s not broken. Just dislocated. And I could read the questions for you so that you don’t have to squint like a knitting grandma but whatever.”

Hot guy sighed in defeat. “If you’re sure you don’t mind?”

“I don’t,” she said and looked at the form. He had filled in his name and phone number in neat handwriting. “Okay, so next question is the reason why you’re here.”

“Apart from the broken nose? My pride has taken a hit but this is not something the doctors can fix.” He wrote down the medically relevant answer.

Mia examined him closely. She didn’t understand what he meant with that comment about his pride. Unless he had gotten into a brawl and lost. “What happened? Did you get into a fistfight?”

“I wish.”

“You wish you were in a fistfight?”

“Being injured in a fight would be more manly,” he grumbled.

Mia couldn’t help but smile at the admission.

After much internal debate, he said quietly, “Actually, something fell on my face.”

She moved closer. “What was it?”

“I’d prefer not to say.”

“You have to! I have to know. Mysteries bug me, hot guy.”

He quirked an eyebrow.

“Well, I don’t know your name so I call you ‘hot guy’ in my head. At least, I’m guessing you’re hot beneath all the bruising and swelling.”

He almost laughed before he winced and took a deep breath through the mouth.

“I’m sorry,” Mia said. “It’s probably not a good idea to laugh with a broken nose.”

“I’m Connor, by the way. I would shake your hand but your thumb’s-”

“Dislocated,” Mia supplied before he could say that her thumb was broken. “So Connor, what was it that fell on your head and broke your nose?”

He mumbled something she couldn’t hear. “A what?”

“One of my Grandma’s vintage porcelain dolls.” He spoke so fast that the whole sentence sounded like one long mumbled word.

Mia blinked for a second before she started laughing so hard she nearly fell off her chair. She couldn’t help it. He was such a macho guy that the image of him being defeated by a doll was ridiculous.

“Was the doll dressed as a sheep herder?”

Connor didn’t appreciate her teasing. “I’m sorry,” she said even though it was obvious her apology was not sincere, “but it sounds like you were in an MMA fight with the doll and lost.”

He seemed exasperated for a second before a self-deprecating smile appeared on his face. Ugh, the smile made her pay attention to his lips. Biteable, pretty lips, like fluffy pillows… Mia was struck again by his hotness. She had forgotten about it in the midst of the doll fiasco.

“How did you break your thumb?” he asked.

She was about to explain for the umpteenth time that her thumb was dislocated not broken when she saw Will return holding out an ice pack.

“Thanks, Will.”

“Sorry I’m late. I had to check on Addie.”

Connor’s eyes darted to her brother, then fixed on Mia again. It was obvious that he was wondering if he was about to meet Mia’s significant other.

“Will, this is Connor. He has a broken nose. Connor this is Will, my older brother.”

Her brother threw her a questioning glance. “Nice to meet you.”

Will’s reserved greeting wasn’t lost on her new friend. Mia narrowed her eyes at her brother’s overprotectiveness. Sure, she had been approached by creeps all of her life just because her last name was Queen but she didn’t get that vibe from Connor. In fact she was pretty sure that he had no idea who she was.

“Miss Queen?”

“Dammit,” Mia growled.

“I’m so sorry for the delay, Miss Queen,” the nurse said. “If we knew you were here-”

“You would have done the exact same thing, I hope,” an authoritative voice said.

Mia shook her head in denial. She knew that voice. But it couldn’t be. Her father could not be here in the hospital when she had just met Connor, the hot guy who up until a moment ago was blissfully unaware of her last name.

“Of course, Mr. Mayor,” the nurse lied.

Mia could feel her father’s stare boring into her back. Before she could face him, another voice rose above the hospital noise.

“Mia Smoak Queen who did you punch and why?”

Mia turned towards her mother. She felt like a ten-year-old kid again insisting that she didn’t eat the last piece of her father’s birthday cake.

“I didn’t punch anyone.”

Felicity Smoak-Queen did not look convinced. “Really?”

Her father looked amused. “She’s telling the truth, honey. Her thumb’s broken. Mia knows better than to punch people with her thumb inside her closed fist.”

Felicity frowned, considering this information.

“It was my fault, Dad,” Will admitted.

“Don’t be absurd,” her mother said, dismissing Will’s confession. After all these years, Mia couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. Her mother had loved Will from the moment they had found out about him. It didn’t matter to her that he was not her biological child. It also helped that her brother was a certified genius and computer geek so alike Felicity it was scary. Even Samantha, Will’s actual Mom, said that Will was like a mini-Felicity. Mia didn’t begrudge her brother his relationship with her Mom. She only wished it were that easy for her.

“Actually, it was both our faults. We gave Addie ice-cream after Josh left for CC.”

Her father chuckled. “Hurricane Addie strikes again.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” the nurse said reluctantly, “but we need to examine Miss Queen’s hand.”

“Right,” Mia said.

She looked at Connor who had been quiet through the whole Queen family drama.

“I’m Mia.”

“I know.”

“Anyway,” she offered him the ice pack, “this might help.”

“Thanks.” He took it but averted his gaze.

She hated asking but she had to. If he said no, then he said no. Her pride would take a hit - worse than any porcelain doll accident - but it was important that she try.

“See you later?”

“Bye, Mia.”

That went well, Mia thought and followed the nurse, feeling like she was shot through the heart with an arrow.

Connor Hawke was not having a good day. Sure the porcelain doll incident was somewhat responsible for that but mainly it was because of a beautiful, sassy, intelligent woman and her ridiculously wealthy, overwhelmingly famous family. No one went to the hospital expecting to meet the Mayor’s fascinating daughter. No one. These things didn’t happen. Specifically, these things didn’t happen to poor kids, born in the Glades.

Will Queen sat down next to him. The family bodyguards stood close by, not intervening but noticing everything and everyone. The old lady next to him got called by the nurse and the Mayor showed his wife to the seat. She smiled at him and he softened. Mayor Queen was notoriously in love with his wife. And incredibly overprotective of his only daughter.

“So, how is it you know my daughter?”

Connor looked at the Mayor’s wife. She was a really beautiful woman. Age had honed her features and if rumours were to be believed, her professional skills as well. But her beauty was not skin deep. He had seen her in numerous press conferences and heard so many stories about her from his mentor that he knew not to underestimate her. Felicity Queen was special.

“Hello,” she said when he didn’t respond. “I’m Felicity and I will be your interrogator for the night.”

Connor snorted and immediately regretted it. “Pleased to meet you, Ma’am. I’m Connor Hawke.”

She took her husband’s hand in hers, pulling him close and smiled at Connor. “Did you know that I met my husband in this very room Mr. Hawke? It was two days before Christmas and…”

“Umm, Felicity,” Mia’s brother interrupted, “I’m sure this guy doesn’t care where you met Dad.”

“Will,” his father chastised. Oliver Queen had a way with words. He didn’t speak a lot, not like his loquacious wife but when he did you couldn’t help but listen.

“As I was saying,” she went on as if the young man hadn’t even spoken, “we met in this room. Believe it or not, I had a broken thumb much like my stubborn daughter and he had a broken nose. Despite our broken bones, he didn’t hesitate to ask me out on a date-”

“Which you declined at first because you said that people would think you punched me.”

Felicity Queen’s eyes crinkled and a smile played at the corners of her mouth. “I was right, wasn’t I? The paparazzi got a photo of our dinner at Big Belly and had a field day thanks to our injuries.”

Oliver Queen smirked. “I always wanted to be an MMA fighter.”

“Dreamed of dating another fighter?”

“Nope. Dreamed of dating a cute IT girl.”

She blushed at his retort and he smiled cheekily. The older couple shared such an intimate look that Connor felt really uncomfortable.

“They’re always like that. After the first twenty-five years, you get used to it,” Mia’s brother murmured.

The Mayor winked at his wife. Connor had to give it to the Mayor. He was really good at flirting with his own wife. It kind of reminded him of John and Lyla.

“So, Connor Hawke are you planning to ask my daughter out on a date?”

“What?” he asked, startled. “Mrs Queen, I-”

“It’s Smoak-Queen.”

“Mrs Smoak-Queen, I just met Mia and I don’t think that-”

“Listen, Connor. You seem like a nice boy. I hope you’re smart as well.”

Connor couldn’t help but think of his upbringing. He supposed he was smart. Once he had applied himself to his studies, he had managed to make something of himself. He definitely wasn’t nice, though.

He was the son of an ex-convict and a kindergarten teacher, not the son of the Mayor and a CEO. He had grown up dirt poor in the worst part of the Glades, bullying smaller kids for their money, candy and books. The only reason why he wasn’t a gangbanger now was because of a man called John Diggle who was like a second father to him. When Dig had opened a youth center in their neighborhood people had laughed and scoffed at the soldier’s naivete. He had agreed with those people at first. The irony was staggering because Dig’s decision had saved Connor’s life. And the fact that Dig had used Oliver Queen’s money to make it happen was part of the reason why Connor could not ask the Mayor’s daughter on a date.

“Mia is out of my league.”

The Mayor scoffed. “Of course, she is. Like my wife is way out of my league.”

“You don’t understand. You were a Queen. I’m a nobody.”

Connor looked down. This was so awkward for him.

Felicity Smoak-Queen grabbed his hand. “Never say that about yourself. Never.”

She sounded fierce, like a small, protective Valkyrie. Sweet and sunny on the outside, badass on the inside. He nodded and she got up, satisfied with his acquiescence.

“Come on, Will. Let’s call your inlaws. I wanna make sure Addie’s fine.”

“I just called ten minutes ago.”

Felicity gave him a little push. “Let’s go, Will. I wanna talk to my favorite granddaughter.”

The two of them moved away, bickering. “She’s your only granddaughter, Felicity.”

One of the bodyguards followed them quietly, shaking his head.

Oliver Queen approached Connor taking the empty seat. He sat down gingerly.

“The chairs haven’t improved over the years.”

Connor tried to think of something clever to say. What did one say to the man who had changed the fate of an entire city? His mind drew a blank.

“You’re one of Dig’s kids,” Oliver Queen announced suddenly.

“What? How…?”

The Mayor leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. “There’s no point in denying it. I know all of John’s kids. He is so damn proud of each and every one of you. He sends me cards at Christmas updating me on your lives.” There was a wistful tone in his voice.

“So you know who I am.”

Oliver Queen didn’t even open his eyes. “Yes.”

“You know where I come from.”

“Yes.”

“You know who my father is,” he pressed.

“Yes. Ben Turner, mercenary, assassin and former member of the Triad.”

Connor threw his hands in the air. “And you still don’t mind if I ask your daughter out on a date?”

That seemed to wake the Mayor up. He stared intently at Connor, taking his measure.

“You hurt my daughter’s pride today. What makes you think she’ll agree to go out with you even if you do ask?”

Mia was beyond ready to leave this hellish place. Her parents had asked her repeatedly if she needed help and she had repeatedly declined. Will had left a while back when his mother-in-law had called to say Addie was getting restless again and that Josh was on his way back from Central City. The little munchkin needed to sleep in her own bed where she could have her parents close and forget about her aunt’s accident.

The vultures had been alerted about the Mayor’s presence in Starling Memorial and a flock of paparazzi was waiting for her outside the front entrance. Mia of course was about to exit through the back when she noticed him standing alone in the corner. Her blue-green eyes widened in surprise.

“Your face isn’t messed up anymore. Not that it was messed up before. Your face is fine. Very attractive,” she paused and cursed her Smoak genes for a moment, “what I meant was, before my brain and mouth disconnected, they fixed your nose.”

“They did,” he said, amused. His voice sounded like one of those old Smurf cartoons that Lucas liked to watch when he was little.

They stood, facing each other quietly. Connor was looking a bit uncomfortable but not distant like before.

“Mia would you like to grab a burger with me? Like a date?”

“I bet you ask all the girls you end up in the ER with.”

“Please, don’t make me laugh. It’s still painful.”

She shot him an amused grin. “But…” She took stock of the situation. “It might be better if we wait until your nose is healed a little.”

“What?” he asked alarmed. “Why?”

“Because with my busted hand and your busted nose, the reporters will think I punched you.”

He beamed at her as if she had said something funny. Suddenly, she realized they were standing so close that she had to lean her head back to be able to look him in the eye.

“Let them think what they want. Getting beat up by the Mayor’s daughter is still a better story than getting knocked down by a vintage sheep herder porcelain doll.”

“I knew it!”

[jjmaebank]

Justin Foley Imagine - You’re sexually assaulted

Description: You and Justin are best friends but he has always liked you. At Bryce’s party your drink gets spiked and Bryce and a few other guys try to take advantage of you. Justin finds out and tries to find you, confessing his feelings when he does.

Warning: This imagine contains swearing and depictions of sexual assault

You arrived at Bryce’s with Justin a bit late seeing as most people were already there and drunk as hell. The loud music blasting through the house and the sound of girls squealing followed by splashing sounds set the party mood and you decided to go get a drink with Justin following you.

“Jeez there isn’t that much left to choose from,” you laughed.

“You know Bryce, he gets the best shit and it gets finished twenty minutes in,” Justin chuckled, “but someone will probably do a beer run at some point so don’t worry.”

You smiled and started to make yourself a drink with the remaining booze left. Justin grabbed a beer and walked towards Bryce and Zach, gesturing for you to follow.

You and Justin had been close friends since freshman year but you weren’t fans of his jock friends so you rarely hung out with him when he was with them. You followed him shyly, not wanting to talk to arguably the nastiest guys at Liberty.

“Yo Justin, took you long enough to get here brother,” Bryce said, slinging his arm around Justin’s shoulder, “Nice to see you Y/N.”

Bryce always had an arrogant smirk that you didn’t like plastered on his face, making you feel uncomfortable as he looked you up and down.

You nodded in response and looked around to see if there was anyone you hung out with at school or whether it was simply just the popular dickheads and the cheerleaders.

You spotted Liberty High’s star baseball player, Jeff Atkins, getting himself some food so you left Justin and the jocks to go speak to him.

“What’s up Y/N?” He said, shoving some tortillas in his mouth.

“Just trying to avoid Bryce and his gang but Justin won’t leave their side,” you said, taking a sip from your drink.

“Good call, I mean I play ball with them but they have no respect for girls, most of them at least.”

Jeff and you talked for a bit but you kept catching Justin glaring at you two.

“Alright, well I gotta go find my girl Leah, stay out of trouble Y/N,” Jeff chuckled and left you sitting on the counter top, sipping at your drink, which actually tasted quite foul due to your awful mixing skills.

“Hey Y/N.”

You looked up and saw Montgomery De La Cruz and Scott Reed standing in front of you.

“Uh, hi Monty?” You said, finding it rather strange as you never spoke to these guys.

“You look good tonight,” Scott said, sweetly, coming across much more genuine than Monty.

You blushed and thanked him, looking around for Justin then seeing him talking to Jessica Davis, making your heart sink slightly.

You felt hands wrap around your waist and looked back, seeing it was Bryce, making your stomach churn. You remove his hands from your waist and turn back to face Monty who was suspiciously putting a bag of pills back into his pocket. 

You looked over at Scott and he seemed rather nervous and somehow apologetic. You thought nothing of it and got up, leaving with your drink, not wanting to be around those boys.

As the night progressed you began to feel rather faint and dizzy, not knowing why as you’d only had one drink. You began to stumble and the room began to spin but you felt hands stop you from falling, but they definitely weren’t Justin’s.

You look up to see Bryce’s face smirking down at you and some other jocks behind him.

“Don’t worry Y/N we got you, we’re just going to take you upstairs so you can lie down a bit.”

Your brain couldn’t process any of what he was saying or the nature of the situation. You felt yourself being helped up the stairs by Bryce and who you assumed to be Monty, but you began to slip in and out of consciousness.

You felt yourself being placed down on a bed and you immediately relaxed, curling up into a ball, trying to fall asleep.

You could hear laughing and then felt hands unbuttoning your jeans. You began to feel alarmed but your brain was still all over the place and your attempts at getting him to stop were lousy and futile due to the little energy you had left and your state of mind.

All you could do was lay there and let the boys undress you. You couldn’t move or scream or do anything, you couldn’t even see or think straight, all you could feel was hands roaming around your body which made you feel sick to the touch.

You began to feel a burning sensation in between your legs before you lost all feeling and everything went black.

Justins POV:

I was talking to Jess for a while, seeing as the last time I’d checked on Y/N she was with Jeff and I knew for a fact that guy was trustworthy.

I was in the middle of a conversation with her when Scott Reed interrupted me.

“What do you want Scott?” I spat, annoyed he’d interrupted my conversation.

“Y/N’s in trouble,” He said in an alarming tone.

“What? Where is she? What the fuck Scott? Where is she!” I yelled. I’d always secretly liked Y/N but I knew nothing could ever come from it as she wouldn’t feel the same way for someone with such a messed up life, but I cared for her deeply and hearing she was in trouble made everything else in the world disappear.

“Last I saw Bryce, Monty and a few of the other guy took her upstairs, I’m really sorry Justin, they roofied her I think, I don’t want people to think I’m a rapist just because I play baseball with them,” Scott gushed.

I’d stopped listening after he’d told me where she was and began to sprint upstairs, checking every room in Bryce’s big house.

I burst into one room and saw Y/N sprawled out on the bed, only in her underwear, completely unconscious. My blood began to boil, I’d never been this angry in my life as I saw Bryce trying put his fingers inside her.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON,” I yelled, tackling Bryce but then feeling Monty yank me off and punch me.

“We were just trying to have a little fun Justin, chill,” Bryce chuckled, getting up from the floor.

“LIKE HELL YOU WERE, THAT’S Y/N NOT SOME FUCKING TOY,” I spat at Bryce, not being able to tackle him again due to Monty holding me down.

“Aw does Justin have a little crush?” Monty laughed, causing me to spit in his face, only angering him more.

“Justin don’t worry, you can have your turn too, no one has to be left out, what’s mine is yours brother, remember?”

“You’re disgusting, get the fuck away from her before I beat the shit out of you!” I yelled.

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Bryce chuckled.

“With us,” Zach said, bursting into the room with Scott and Jeff.

They got a few punches at the guys before Bryce put his hands up in surrender and walked off down stairs, followed by the others, not even concerned about the shit he could get in for what he did.

I ran over to Y/N, taking my hoodie off and putting it on her to cover her up. The sight of her laying there, unconscious, having no idea what was about to be done to her made me tear up.

“Justin you should take her home, she can’t stay here, we’ll take care of Bryce,” Jeff said.

I nodded at Jeff, Zach and Scott, taking Y/N into my arms and carrying her down stairs, and into my car. I laid her down across the back seats and began to drive to her house.

Y/N POV:

You woke up in Justin’s car, dressed in Justin’s sweater with a massive headache. You groaned and the car came shortly to a stop. You sat up as Justin pulled over and looked back at you.

“Fuck, Y/N you’re awake, are you okay?” Justin said, worry laced in his voice and sorrow evident in his eyes. He parked the car and climbed over into the back seats with you.

The memories started to flood in, the feeling of hands on your body and the burning sensation. You started to sob as you realised what happened. Justin let out tears as he saw you cry and wrapped his arms around you.

“I’m s-so stupid,” you cried into his chest.

“Fuck no, Y/N, this is not your fault, it’s mine, I should’ve been keeping a better eye on you,” He sniffled.

“They raped me didn’t they,” You said, almost feeling empty inside.

“No, no, I got there before any of that happened, Scott told me in enough time,” Justin said, caressing your face.

“Thank you, Justin, I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there.”

“Don’t even think of that, I will always be there, I can’t imagine what I’d do if I was any later and I am going to fucking murder them for laying a hand on you.”

You sat there in a comfortable silence as Justin stroked your hair and you embraced each other.

“I-I uh,” Justin stuttered.

“What is it?” You pulled away from his face, looking him in the eyes.

“I can’t pretend like I don’t have feelings for you anymore Y/N, fuck I love you, I love you so much and it’s been killing me that I haven’t been able to say it for so long.” He gushed.

You sat there in absolute shock, but complete and utter awe at the boy who loved you.

“And I know I come from a damaged family, and I do terrible shit, and I wish I didn’t and I get that’s why you’d never be with someone like me but I just couldn’t keep i-,” he continued but you cut him off by smashing your lips onto his.

At first he didn’t kiss back, but as soon as he realised what was happening he held your face in his hands and began to reciprocate. You’d never felt this way about anyone and you knew this boy would never hurt you.

You pulled back, resting your forehead on his, looking into his eyes and said, “Justin Foley, I love you too.”

[rainbowglittr]

Love and Marriage - Chapter 14 (Mature, Minors DNI)

Description:

After a loss in the family uncovers a family secret, Jaleia and her husband Jesse are forced to balance one family crisis after another along with their budding careers and their plans to expand their family. Will the pressure to keep everyone else together ruin their own relationship? Can ruined relationships be fixed before it’s too late?

Chapter 14:

I stared at the closet. Which shoes, the rose gold pumps or the beige heels? I looked back at the mirror. My dress was a peachy color and both pairs could go with it. I could ask Jesse but he probably doesn't care. If I wrote the rose gold I would have to sit most of the time or my feet would kill me, but the beige ones where a little more busted up. I couldn't make up my mind.

"Di!" I yelled. She was probably in her room. Sure enough, two seconds later she appeared. Grabbing both pairs of shoes. I turned and faced her.

"Which ones?" I said. She looked at both, circled me once and said,

"The beige, rose gold ones are nice but they are too fancy and clash with your jacket."

"Thanks, beige heels it is." I said. I sat down on the edge of the bed and started putting the beige ones on.

"Where are you going?" Di asked.

"I'm going to my friend Monique's birthday brunch. It's in the city, I don't feel like using public transpo, so your bro is going to drive. Did you want to spend the day in the city?" I looked up at her.

"No thanks mom said she was going to take me to see our potential next house."

"That's nice. The one around the block?"

"Yeah."

"I hope you like it. How are you feeling about selling the house?" I asked as I checked to make sure I had all my things.

"I wish we didn't have to but now all I can think about when I go there is dad dying."

"I'm sorry Di, but you're going to make a lot of new happy memories in the new house. And maybe it will help you remember all of the good ones."

"Yeah I guess." She said. Seeing that I was done she started to walk downstairs with me right behind her.

"Alright Jess, I'm ready!" I yelled. He walked over to me putting his hands on my waist.

"You look beautiful." He said. He took my hand to spin me around. Being in heels I was almost his height. I stood on my toes and kissed his nose.

"You're so cute." He said. He picked up his his keys.

"Di, you going to be alright? We won't be back until like eight." He said as we walked towards the door.

"I'll be with mom, stupid." She said laying on the couch.

"Oh, guess what? We've definitely had sex there. Right where your head is. See you later!" Jesse said. Diana jumped up and screamed while we rushed out the door. I slapped his arm.

"Would you stop terrorizing your sister?" I said as he opened the car door for me. Funnily enough it was a good sign that they were both doing better. If they weren't constantly bothering each other, like all siblings do, it would be extremely concerning.

The car was so hot that I started sweating immediately and was suddenly grateful that Jesse had covers on his leather seats or ny legs would've been on fire.

"She called me stupid."He said sitting down in the driver's seat. I rolled my eyes. I was so glad Jesse didn't mind driving to the City today. I am NOT a New York driver. I can drive just over the border but once you get to Manhattan, that is a completely different beast. But Jesse, having attended NYU for four years, could drive comfortably around the city while I freaked out. He pulled out of the driveway and his hand slipped into mine. We enjoyed the silence for a while, as the air conditioning brought the car to a livable temperature.

Once I got bored of looking out the window, I looked at Jesse. J. Cole blasted through the speakers of the car. He way he would mouth the words to his favorite J. Cole song made me giggle. His face would get serious, his eyebrows crinkling, as he bounced to the beat.

"Stop laughing, this my shit." He said not missing a beat. I laughed harder.

"You rapping is the funniest thing ever!" I said.

"Not as funny as your singing." He said. I gasped.

"Rude! Not everyone was born with an amazing voice. It's not my fault I can't sing. " I said. I crossed my arms.

"I like when you sing."

"Yeah sure."

"I do. "

"You like the sound of animals fighting?"

"That's not what you sound like. "

"Whatever. You should sing more. You used to sing all the time but now I barely ever hear you sing."

"Just haven't been in the mood lately." He said. He looked at little uncomfortable.

"Didn't your dad sing?"

"Yeah, he loved music, I got that from him." A sad smile spread across his face.

"Is that why you haven't felt like singing?" I asked.

"I don't know, Jay, damn!" He snapped, causing me to jump. He sighed and we sat in the awkward silence for a moment, before he took my hand and kissed it.

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to snap at you." He said, squeezing my hand. He glanced at me and then back at the road. I reached across the armrest and kissed his shoulder.

"I know. I know you're still dealing with a lot."

"I still shouldn't snap at you." He said.

"Well, if you wanna make it up to me, there's something you can do."

"What's that?"

"Let's do something crazy tonight, we're in new york, we're young, lets have a little fun."

"Like what?"

"Let's go somewhere after you get out the studio." I said. He chuckled.

"Ugh, really, why don't we just go partying with the twenty-one year olds?"

"What's wrong with a Karaoke bar? It's fun, it's the city that never sleeps, come on lets do it."

"Ugh, there's noting else in this city that you would rather do?"

"Look you're the one that went here for college, what do you think we should do tonight?"

"Go home."

"You are so boring, how is it that you are soo boring sometimes. This is my favorite city and you want to go home? There's so many things we can do. And I know what I want to do, I want to go to a karaoke bar in New York City. Plus you owe me."

"How do I owe you?"

"Oh Imani" I moaned. Making sure I burned a hole in the side of his head. He suddenly shifted in his seat, and after taking a quick, uncomfortable glance at me, said

"You know what? Maybe a Karaoke bar isn't the worst idea."

"Oh, all of a sudden? But I'm serious I want to do something fun. We never do anything spontaneous. Let's go to a karaoke bar after you're done at the studio. You don't have to sing I promise."

"Fine. Are you ever going to let that go?"

"Not even after we're both dead. It's going to be fun, Jess. where's your sense of adventure?"

"You're all the adventure I need."

"Oh Really?"

"Jay, just one day with you is an adveture."

"Well I tire quickly of the same old stuff."

"I know, I love that about you."

"I'm glad, cause I am who I am and I ain't gonna change."

"Well if we're going to a bar, we should just get hella drunk tonight, in the spirit of spotineitity."

"You know I can't drink right now while we're trying to get pregant."

"I'm trying to get you pregnant, I'm not trying to get pregnant."

"Shut up, dumbass."

"You can't drink for just one night?"

"Well, I didn't want to tell you yet but,"

"But what?" He said looking at me. We were in the tunnel and even on a Sunday, the traffic was still bumper to bumper. It wouldn't stay like that for long. I hope.

"But I took a pregnancy test about a week ago and, it was positive, so I took another one, and another one, and another one. And they were all positive and I didn't want to tell you yet cause I didn't want to get you all excited and I didn't want to get too excited because, well you know what happened last time and I just-" Jesse kissed me quickly, he was quiet for a second with a dumbfounded look on his face. I really wasn't going to tell him about it until I had confirmed with the doctor that I was pregnant. I wanted to make sure that I was definitely pregnant before I told him. I also didn't want to get excited and it didn't work out. I just looked at Jesse but I didn't know how to judge his reaction. Finally he turned to face me and took my hand.

"How the HELL did you keep this a secret fom me! You usually cave within in three days!"

"I just really didn't want to get you all excited for nothing."

"Baby, I don't know which is more shocking, you being pregnant or you keeping that from me for a week."

"Well still don't get too excited, I haven't been to the doctor yet to confirm, so it could be a false alarm."

"I don't even care Jay, this is great!" He pulled me close to him and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back.

"This is fun and all babe but you better pull up before someone's road rage kicks in. Also, this is the one time I'm not late and I don't want to fuck that up." I said agaisnt his lips. The cars in front of us were pulling off.

"I can't believe you're pregnant." He said, shaking his head, a goofy smile on his face.

"I know. I'm sorry for not telling you but I just wanted to be sure."

"I'm not mad at you for that. I love you!"

"Love you too."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Do you need me to pick you up after your brunch?" Jeese asked me as he helped me out the car.

"No, I'm going to need a new outit for tonight."

"Oh God, pease go easy on your credit card." He rolled his eyes. He was leaning against the side of the car as I stood in front of him.

"I will geez, you think after one little out of control shopping incident I don't know how to be responsible with money?" I grabbed my purse from him and put my hand on my hip.

Giving me a look he said, "One, you spent over a thousand dollars in two hours. And two, just ONE incident?"

"Can you let me live, Jess?"

"Fine, are you meeting me at the studio?"

"Yeah, and don't come out looking like a bum, I want to have a fun evening.."

"Baby, it's a Sunday night. How wild can this night get? And what's wrong with what I'm wearing? I look fly as hell. "

"Okay. A Sunday in New York City! Did you even freaking live here Jess? Or maybe you spent too many college years in a buzz to remember."

"I wasn't a big pot smoker." He said. I pretended to take shots.

"Okay, that's enough. You good?" He said.

"Yeah, I'll see you later, love you." I kissed him before walking through the door of the restuarant. I looked aroung the room, searching for the girls. Mo's birthday brunch was at a cute spot, just a few blocks away from Times Square. The restaurant was crazy busy. But I could see in the back corner of the restuarant a group of fabulous chocolate women in pastel. Her theme for her birthday brunch was summer pastels. I didn't know why at the time but looking around, it started to make more sense.

The restaurant itself was beautiful, it had a lot of wooden tables and chairs with gold trim, giving it a very sophisticated yet earthy vibe. All of the napkins and silverware were pastel colors along with the walls. I walked over to the long table where Monique, Mariah, Kiara, Daija, and another one of Mo's friends, Tyra sat. I mentally threw a fit because I was determined not to be the last one to get here. I got halfway to the table before I suddenly realized that I left her birthday present in the car. I didn't think that anybody saw me yet so I turned around, hopefully I could catch Jesse before he was too far away. I was almost at the door when he came rushing in with the gft bag in his hand.

"Jess! Thanks, I forgot."

"Yeah, I was just about to pull off when I saw it in the backseat."

"You are so amazing." I said kissing him on the lips. I took the bag from him.

"See you later."

"See you later, Love." he said walking out the door.

This time I walked straight to the table.

"Happy Birthday Mo" I said. I gave her a hug and handed her the present.

"Thanks, girl!" she said. I went around the table greeting everyone until I took my place next to Kiara. The cool thing about this particular place was that they did brunch family style. Huge bowls of fluffy and cheesy eggs, grits, bacon, waffles, pancakes, fruit and just about every other breakfast food you can think of was placed on the table. A huge pan of fried to perfection chicken was placed in front of us. The waitress walked up to our table to take our drink orders. Everybody except me and Mo ordered some sort of mojito or mimosa drink.

"Wait, girl it's your birthday, you not tryin get a lil' buzz going?" Tyra asked Mo.

"Well, I was waiting for the best time to tell y'all this but," she paused looking around the table as we all got quiet. "I'm pregnant."

"What?"

"Congrats!" we all screamed.

"You know I just wanted to wait a while in case anything happened. We weren't even planning though, I wasn't really thinking about becoming a mom but I guess I got blessed. But I'm two months today. And you know since my mom passed, I really just have you ladies, cause I don't have any siblings and my dad wasn't in my life so it's nice to be able to share with you girls, cause you all are literally all I got. You my fam, I don't have no one else." she said as tears formed in her eyes.

"Aww, we love you, Mo. But absolutely no crying on your birthday" I said, handing her a tissue.

After a few hugs, we started to eat and talk.

"So after this little brunch what's the plan, girl." Daija asked Mo.

"Well me and bae will being doin something later but I don't know what cause he said it was a surprise. But after that Imma just chill I guess"

"Okay, she bouta have some one on one wit her man."

"It aint even like that, though we had to chill out with the freaky deaky stuff."

"Oooooooooh, girl!"

"Oh stop. What's been going on with y'all? and pass them pancakes yo girl eating for two now." Mo said.

"Well, that crazy divorce case I told you about?" Kiara said.

"They finally settled?" Mariah asked.

"No, they need criminal laywers now, they started leaking each others nudes on the internet. They are forty-five years old. " Kiara said.

"Damn. Bitter."

"But real talk he cute or nah?" Daija asked.

"Nah, trust me, I will never unsee that."

"How's it been going with you, Jay?" Mo asked.

"Well I just found out that my monster in law may actually be moving like around the block from us cause she's not keeping the house and she has to have the one that's like five minutes away from us. So." I said.

"Damn she is always going to be at your house." Kiara said.

"I know I can't deal with the amount that I see her now much less when she's going to be a few minutes away from us."

"I've seen a lot of mother in laws with difficult relationships but she hates you."

"Why?"

"I don't know, the day she met me she really didn't like me but to be fair I didn't give off the best impression cause I was so tired from like med school. But everytime after that she really didn't say much to me. It really wasn't until we were engaged that she actually showed me how much she didn't like me."

"That's rough, I would've smacked her by now."

The converstion shifted to Eva and I started thinking. I could not believe that me and Mo were pregnant at the same time. I wanted to say something but because not only did I want her to have her moment, but I wasn't so sure about whether or not this pregnancy would last. But I was excited to have someone going through it with me even though she didn't know it yet.

"Jay, JAY!" Kiara said snapping me back to realtity.

"Oh, sorry what did I miss?" I said.

"We're doing the gifts now, you gonna join us?" Mariah said.

"Sorry, how we doing this?" I asked, I'm sure I did not even hear the last two minutes of conversation.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

After the gift exchange we danced to the live band that had been setting up while we were talking. It was great seeing everyone and just having a good time. It was a really great black owned restaurant that we all agreed we would be coming back to real soon.

"I'll see you girl!" I said to everyone's they left. It was only Mo, and Kiara left at the table now. We were helping Mo take all of her new birthday gifts to her car once her husband got here.

"Did you have a good birthday? I think this one went much better than last year's" I said.

"Yeah just this part alone was great. Last year we really tried to stick it out at that concert but it was horrible. The torrential rain? My hair has never been the same. That is why I chose something INDOORS this year." Mo said, we laughed.

"That was a mess, but we stuck it out. Looking back it wasn't that bad." Kiara said.

"Yeah looking back, but would you want to do that agin?" I said

"Hell no." They both said.

Mo's phone rang. and she answered me and Kiara started talking.

"So, sis what you doing after this?"

"Me and Jess are going to go out after this, so of course I'm going to go shopping. I finally convinced him to go to a karaoke bar. What you getting into?"

"That sounds fun, I gotta head back but I wish I could stay. I know better to leave you shopping by yourself."

"Will no one let that go, it was one time! You should stay, it would be fun for you and Mike to come to the karaoke bar with us."

"It would be fun to make him go...but his mom has babysat the entire week for us, she deserves a break."

"Why does everyone else have normal mother in laws but I have to have the one from hell?"

She laughed.

"He's here guys, thanks for helping me and coming." Mo said, giving us both a hug as best she could with all of the things in our hands.

"Sis, it is no problem at all. And congrats! You going to be the best mama ever."

"Thanks, I'm so nervous about it. I never really wanted kids, I wasn't against it, I just never considered it, really. This was such a surprise, a good one but a real surprise." She said as we walked out the door.

"You're going to be fabulous, girl. Now explain to me how in the world did Jamal manage to find parking in NYC?"

"He didn't, so we kind of have to hurry up." She said.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I walked around Forever21 in Times Square. I had walked here from the brunch place which was only a couple of blocks away. Jesse's studio wasn't far from here either. I had a short black dress in my hand and a longer blue dress and was trying to decide between the two. I went with the blue one and went to the shoe section to find some pumps that would match. I knew it was a little ridiculous to buy a whole new outfit just to go to a bar but I wasnt going to walk around New York at night in peachy colors looking a damn fool. So here I was trying to find something cheap and cute.

It was about six in the evening at this point as I walked around the store. I promised Jesse that I wouldn't go overboard with shopping. I grabbed a few more things and a few for Jesse and I headed to the checkout.

Everytime I came to the city I stopped by the spot where in the middle of Times Square Jesse proposed to me. I loved this city before that, the busy-ness of it all, hustle and bustle, the lights. It was always exciting and there's always something going on in this city. I loved that. Everytime I passed that spot I couldn't help but smile at the memory of him getting down on one knee in the middle of the craziness of the city. So many people find peace in the quiet and in stillness but I've never been that way. I find peace in the loud, the busy, movement, I find peace in the noise. Luckily I married someone who for the most part could understand that.

I sat at one of the little red tables, that I was actually lucky to get in the middle of Times Square. Breathing in all of the fumes, I looked around at all of the lights and people. I loved it here. My phone suddenly started buzzing. Jesse's face lit up the screen.

"Hey Jess," I answered.

"Hey, when you coming by the studio? Do you need me to come pick you up?" He said.

"Nah, These heels are comfortable. I'll just walk."

"No baby don't walk, I'll just come and pick you up."

"It's fine Jess, I'm in Times Square now, it's just like what, 3 blocks aways if I remember correctly."

"Try thirteen blocks away, Love, thirteen."

"Ooohh, I think you might wanna pick me up." I said.

"I think you're thinking of the other studio I used to be at Jay. You've probably only been to this one a few times. I switch between them sometines." I could hear a song playing loudly in the background.

"I really wouldve went to the wrong place. When you coming?"

"I'll leave now, I need a break, are you done shopping?"

"Yeah, I'm just sitting at the place where you proposed to me."

He laughed, I could tell even over the phone that he was smiling. "Okay, what's the damage?"

"I didn't do that bad, Jess I only bought one outfit."

"Annddd?"

"And a couple of other things but seriously its not that bad, you're lucky I only stayed in Sephora for like ten minutes."

"I know what kind of damage you can do in ten minutes Jaleia, and we're talking hundreds of dollars worth. Especially in that store."

"That was one time, Jess, let it go." I could tell he was smirking.

"Whatever, I guess stay there, I'll text you when I'm close but you know the traffic is going to be awful so it'll take me a while, you might want to get something to eat. I'll be at the studio for a while."

"Kay, you want me to get you somehing?"

"Do you have to ask?"

"I know, that was more of a what are you in the mood for question than a do you want something question."

"I could go for chinese."

"We're in New York and all you can think of to eat is chienese food? I dont believe you."

"Well you asked what I wanted. You're acting like I'm not here every day. There's not much I haven't eaten."

"Well your taste is trash."

"Can you just get something to eat? I'm hungry."

"Fine."

"I have a surprise for you."

"What's the surprise?"

"I told you it wouldn't be a surprise. Get the food, I'll pick you up and then we'll talk about the surprise, love you."

"Love you too Jess, even if you're such a tease."

"I'm a tease?" He said sarcastically.

"You're the one who decided it was a great idea to start sexting me during a very important meeting you knew I was in."

"Yeah, that was one of my finest moments."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up the phone. As much as I loved this city the one thing I didn't know was good chinese food here, time to go to google.

>>>>>>>>

"How the hell are baby back ribs, chinese food?"

"You said you wanted it, I didn't say I was going to get it. That's not even your food."

"Let me guess you went to like eight different places and ordered from each place."

"Yeah, I tried not to but it just smelled so good." I said. Jesse gave me a blank look.

"I don't blame you so much for doing it as I blame myself for not preventing it." He said.

I was sitting on the sofa in Jesse's studio. We were eating a combination of everything I managed to order in one hour, which was a lot, we'll have leftovers for the next week for sure. Everything just smelled so good I couldn't make up my mind so I just got everything.

It was now night time and Jesse was finishing up a few tracks that he needed to submit to the label. They didn't have a designated artist at this point. It was just us, because Dre had just left. Jesse hadn't made any mention of the surprise he talked about so I just sat patiently as I could. Which really didn't mean much.

"So Jess, what's the surprise? I've been waiting, you've said nothing, and I can't take it." I said, he turned around his chair and took off his headphones.

"Well in about two weeks I'm going to have a meeting with some of the execs from the label about making my own album."

"What?" I said in disbelief.

"I wanted to know what you think about that."

"Babe are you serious? Of course you should do it, I always thought you should be in front of the mic instead of behind the soundboard or whatever you call it. I thought you weren't in to that sort of thing, did you change your mind?" I said.

"Well it just happened that our conversation in the car did. One of my dad's biggest regrets was never chasing his dreams in music, I was always more comfortable being behind the scenes, you know I don't really like that kind of attention on me. But I thought about it, and I think I'm ready to take the next step to something bigger, like my dad always wanted to but never got the chance."

"I'm excited for you, Jess. They would be crazy not to choose you. I'll support you 100% if this is really what you want to do. If this is your dream I want you to chase it. I told you how many times that you should be on the stage."

"Thanks, but nothing is set in stone yet. and I just want you to know that if I do this I'll be away in L.A. a lot more, I'll be traveling to other places a lot more. I won't be home as much. Are you cool with that?"

"Jess is this something you really want to do?"

"Yeah." He said looking at me.

"Are you sure? Is this something you're willing to do whatever it takes for? Is this something you really want or is it something you just want to try?"

"This is what I really want Jay, it's my time." He said.

I put down my food on the coffee table in front of me. I walked over to Jesse and sat in his lap, facing him, my thighs on top of his. I held his face with my hands.

"Then I want or expect you to go for it. Whatever happens, we'll figure it out. When I went to med school and residency and even now, you never tried to stop me or convince me to do something else with my career because you knew this was my dream. You gave up a lot for our relationship to work while I was in training and I'll never take that for granted. It meant so much to me that you were willing to give up so much for me so that I could succeed. Now it's your turn to shine, and I want you to whatever it takes to make your dreams to come true, even if that means we have to spend a lot more time apart, that's temporary. Do what you need to do, I'll be here. If this is going to make you happy, you better do it. You'll regret the for the rest of your life if you don't." I said.

"I love you." He said, moving his hands behind my back. We kissed and I moved my arms around his neck. I didn't know how sturdy this chair was but I guess were about to find out. I felt his tongue swipe against my lips, I opened my mouth, getting lost in the feeling of our bodies being pressed together, our tongues dancing with each other. Taking a second to breathe in each others mouth I said,

"You taste like chinese food."

"I swear, only you."

"You know who you married." I said as I kissed him again, he leaned back but he must have leaned back a little too far in the chair because we went tumbling out of the chair in a loud crash. I landed on top of him and not even understanding the physics of what just happened, we just laughed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

We didn't end up going to a karaoke bar that night, by the time Jesse was done with what he was working on we were too tired to go, well he was but I wasn't. It was entirely too late and we had to head back to Jersey. We got home at three in the morning and for some unknown reason, Jesse's mom was waiting in OUR house for us. We walked through the door and saw her alseep on the couch. She woke up as soon as we closed the door.

"Oh, there you guys are." She said as she rubbed her eyes.

"Mom what are you doing here?" Jesse said.

"I was waiting for you guys to get back."

"Why? I think diana could've stayed alone tonight she's sixteen, she's old enough." I said.

"That's not it, Stupid. I wanted to tell you, I'll be your neightbor! That house that I was looking at that was around the corner, rejected my offer for someone who offered more money. But the unlisted house that's just as nice, across the street and down a couple houses was perfect, and they accepted my offer. I'm your new neighbor!"

[oddcoupler222]

Do you have any Faberry or Bechloe fic recs? You write amazing fanfiction, so I imagine you probably also have good taste in them :D

aw thank you so much! as luck would have it… I do have fic recs for both of those ships! And, well, of course I think of myself as having good taste in fics ;)

I have made a few faberry fic recs in the past, and unfortunately, I haven’t found many more fics with them since then? Granted, I haven’t been as much in a faberry-heavy mood for a few months, so… yeah the fic rec lists are the same. You can find them  here and here.

As for bechloe… okay, well the majority of my favorite Bechloe fics are shorter stories/oneshots (which i believe is the majority of stories i’ve really seen) but granted, I haven’t gone through this entire fandom and scoured for fics like i have for faberry. 

Okay, so without farther adieu:

Bechloe Fic Recs

By Redlance - 

Experimentation - So, about that one little regret… (aka canon divergent from the second movie and Chloe’s tent confession also known as the slowest burn to ever burn)

this is like the classic quintessential bechloe fic, let’s be real. i’m sure you’ve already read it, but… the hands down best bechloe fic i’ve ever seen.

Exception - Chloe is Beca’s exception to most of the rules she’s set herself in life. Which isn’t anywhere near as difficult for Beca to accept as it should be.

Sure Would Be Prettier - There’s an entire world out there for Beca to see, and she does. It’s filled with beauty and music and wonder, and it’s all pretty breath-taking. But there’s always something missing.

By wherehopelies -

You Still Make Sense to Me (Your Mess Is Mine) - “Chloe fills up all of the spaces inside her that she didn’t even know existed until Chloe was there."orrrrr the one where it takes a fake-engagement and being domestic as hell for these two idiots to realize they’re in love. Set two years after PP2 and mostly canon compliant. Title taken from Vance Joy’s "Mess is Mine”

By Care -

The Sexual Implications of Teleportation - The first time is a complete freak accident.

eliminate the distance between us - Senior year isn’t really going the way Beca thought it would.A Pitch Perfect 2 AU.

You Know Her Breath Will Catch And How Her Fingers Curl - If someone had asked Beca at the end of her freshman year whose idea it would be to do a Bellas reunion tour, she would have sworn up and down that it would be Aubrey’s.

By gilligankane -

reality is a sliding door - There is a theory: every person has a moment in their life where they make a choice to go left or right. From those possibilities, two parallel lines form, running alongside each other; two concurrent realities. Parallel lines never cross; they run forever next to each other without ever meeting.In one world, Beca Mitchell joins the Barden Bellas.In another world, she wasn’t supposed to.In every world, Beca Mitchell underestimates Chloe Beale.

when gravity’s pulling (you’re still holding my heart) - Beca isn’t sure how she got here.Well, she knows how she got here, in this house, with these girls. She knows all about the real estate process too. But she isn’t sure how she got here: Laying on her bed with her laptop in her lap and her legs bent at the knee, feet flat so Chloe can paint her toenails while she goes over the Bellas history with Legacy and answer every question about the Beca-and-Chloe (fake) dating thing.It’s this part of her life she isn’t so sure about.

Song Beneath the Song - Chloe has always followed the music, because music has given her the best, most important things in her life.  It’s never led her astray. Sometimes, though, she wishes it’d give her a little bit of warning about the roller coaster she’s in for.

By sexonastick -

The Party’s Crashing Us - Beca has never been big into high school activities, but sometimes desperate people do desperate things. Like show up for marching band and get stalked by the creepy redheaded cheerleader who won’t leave you alone.

Bulletproof Use of Bullet Points - Nobody values friendship more than Aubrey Posen. (Even her best friend, Chloe, can really only be said to consider friendship equally as important as Aubrey does.) The point is: it matters.But Beca Mitchell might just be the most annoying person at Barden University. (Important note: she most definitely is.) Tolerating smug shitheads for the sake of someone else is surely the True Meaning of friendship.

By eliseboobman -

One touch and I was a believer (every kiss it gets a little sweeter) - “I wonder how many there are.” Chloe says, pointing up with her finger. She starts to count, moving her finger every time she does, and Beca smiles as she watches her. It’s impossible to count every star in the sky, but obviously Chloe tries. It’s such a Chloe thing to do.

You’re ripped at every edge but you’re a masterpiece - Beca is in love with Chloe. Chloe is in love with Stacie. Stacie is in love with Aubrey. Everything is messed up. (The unrequited love AU that nobody asked for.)

By obstinate_questionings -

This World Is Gonna Burn (Baby You Should Stick Around) - Beca really should have let Chloe know how much she hated ghost stories.[Halloween fic.]

By shitqueen -

Silhouettes -  It’s quite worrisome, how happy-go-lucky, doesn’t know the meaning of boundaries, across-neighbour Chloe Beale doesn’t bother her.  She doesn’t dwell on it though, she just continues on with life and focuses on what’s in front of her. Like, giving Jesse his Chinese food and pushing his legs off her sofa.(or: beca thinks everything is perfect, then chloe moves in across from her. being domestic as hell and secretly in love with each other for two years  come after.)

oh the habits of my heart - Listen, Beca’s not gay.She’s, like, only mildly attracted to German blondes. And, like, half-ish attracted to weirdo redheads with no knowledge on boundaries and how to respect them. So, yeah. Beca’s not gay.

By novel_concept26 -

Storytellers and Legends - Dr. Mitchell has the habit of kicking off his classes with personal stories: stories about a girl so outrageous, she couldn’t possibly be real. At least, that’s what Chloe always told herself. 

(Accidentally) Taking Aim - For Kay’s prompt: “At Barden, the acapella groups are naturally drawn to understanding the world through music. It’s the language they speak, from toners to aca-children, but most of all in the harmonies they make with their mouths. So is it really any wonder that Chloe is falling so hard when Beca is wooing her with her music, even if it’s completely by accident?”

Secrecy - Chloe and Aubrey are best friends; always have been, always will be. Which is what makes this whole thing so weird. Because, see, best friends don’t keep secrets from each other. Most of the time.

Some Kind of Home - Home is where the heart is; Chloe is just better at following hers than most people. Not that Beca gets that at all.

By reliquiaen -

I Am Not Worthy (Not Worthy of This) - Prompt: “I found your tumblr but you don’t know and urg now you’re posting about your crush on this cute person oh wait is that me.”  Got waaaay out of hand.

Jesse’s Girl - “It’s an inner monologue of curses and other assorted expletives coupled with self-derogatory slurs that’s been skipping scratchily through her head for the past ten minutes.” - AU

By lismicro -

this love ain’t enough to leave you - On a one-way trip to Los Angeles, aspiring DJ Beca Mitchell doesn’t expect her world to change. Enter Chloe Beale, photographer and journalist, who doesn’t know how to make hers stand still.

By mooosicaldreamz -

mix the bourgeoisie and the rebel (we got the gift of melody) - Beca is an up and coming producer, Chloe Beale is pop’s newest princess. This is the story of how they fall in love.

By echo_wolf -

Something You Want, Something You Need - Beca Mitchell’s not really sure how, but a copper-haired Cocker Spaniel (who walked into her bathroom while she was singing in the shower) managed to change her life and give her Chloe Beale.  Or the story of how DJ-just-moved-in-down-the-hall Beca and  travelling-private-music-instructor Chloe succeed to be disgustingly domestic with a dog and 5000 miles distance.

By galpalkru -

Don’t You (Forget About Me) - If you drunkenly sleep with your best friend, you’re both just supposed to pretend that you don’t remember, right? Even if you know that she knows that you know that she knows. Yeah.Or the one where Beca and Chloe sleep together and refuse to be the first to admit that they both remember everything.

By lamachine -

embrace the weirdness -  She was working for a sex line. Chloe was a phone sex operator.  Okay. That one, Beca needed time to process.

By theamberissubtle -

Aca-awkward - Chloe gets caught sexting in class by a lecturer who also happens to be the unsuspecting father of her girlfriend.

By chloebeale -

All Apologies - Beca can’t believe it when her gorgeous redheaded neighbor shows up on her doorstep. When she starts crying, admitting that she’s run over what she thinks is Beca’s cat, she doesn’t have the heart to tell her that the feline belongs to the old man next door. And when Chloe locks her keys in her car, she can’t help but invite her in. But even Beca doesn’t expect what happens next.

OH MY GOD I COULD KEEP GOING WHY DO I READ SO MUCH FANFICI’ll stop there for now… I hope you enjoy!

[tellmevarric]

I Wanted To Pretend I Could Actually Have You

And here is my fic for day 2 of Stormpilot Week. It’s a modern AU and unlike my modern AU from yesterday, BB-8 is a corgi. :D Anyway. The theme is:

Day 2 -  Fake married/Fake dating 

This was the worst idea Finn had ever had. Because while Poe might not be the best flatmate, he was the perfect fake boyfriend. 

This can also be found over on AO3.

Finn stared at the email currently open on his computer with a growing sense of horror. Rey had been his best friend and surrogate sister since they’d ended up in the same foster home at the age of thirteen. They’d stood up for each other all the way through high school and when they’d gone on to their respective universities, they’d promised to keep in touch and had emailed or texted each other practically every day. That had continued after they’d graduated and gotten jobs on opposite sides of the country.

He loved Rey dearly and she was the best thing that had ever happened to him but he’d be the first to admit that she could drive him up the wall sometimes. And if he told her that, she’d be the first to laugh and tell him he was right. He’d always appreciated her concern but sometimes her efforts to meddle had not exactly ended well.

Though he couldn’t really blame her for this one. He’d gotten annoyed with her constant questions about his mostly non-existent love life and told her he was seeing someone. When she subsequently bombarded him with questions, he’d looked around in desperation and his gaze had settled on his flatmate.

Poe Dameron was not the perfect flatmate but Finn had never expected him to be. They worked together and when they’d both ended up looking for a place at the same time, Snap had been the one to suggest they could share costs and move in together. Finn had agreed without much thought and that, he supposed, had been his downfall. If he’d thought about it just a bit more, he might not be in the position he was now.

He’d been nursing a small but manageable crush on Poe since they’d first met on Finn’s first day but though they worked in the same department, Poe was further up the career tree than Finn was so they didn’t work together much. That had helped keep his crush to manageable proportions and he’d been fine with that. Then they had moved in together and Finn’s crush had gone from manageable to completely out of control.

Poe was not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination, while Finn definitely was. But he loved watching Poe, all rumpled and disgruntled first thing in the morning as he tried and failed to be a functional adult before he’d inhaled his first cup of coffee. Poe had a dog, a little corgi called BB-8, who was the most opinionated and wilful dog Finn had ever encountered. He’d have gotten frustrated ages ago but watching Poe dote on the dog was one of the most singularly adorable things Finn had ever seen in his life.

Finn had found himself looking fondly at everything Poe did and when he realised what he was doing, he’d wanted to bang his head against the wall. He was completely and utterly, head over heels in love with the man but if Poe’s behaviour was anything to go by, he only saw Finn as a friend. He certainly treated Finn no differently than he did Jess or Snap, his other friends at work. It made Finn want to scream or pull his hair out. He’d even thought about moving out for the sake of his sanity but then Poe would smile sleepily at him and he knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

So when Rey had pestered him about his new boyfriend, he’d ended up telling her all about Poe, though he’d been careful to never actually mention him by name. It had seemed perfectly safe. She was on the other side of the country and her job meant that usually he travelled to see her. She’d never know Finn was pining very ungracefully.

Except now she would. Because she was coming here. She had a conference in town and she wanted to catch up with him… and his mysterious but adorable boyfriend. Finn knew Rey far too well. Unless he could get Poe out of the entire damn city, perhaps even the country, while she was here, there was no way of avoiding the whole mess falling apart.

A hand was waved in front of his eyes and he jerked backwards in his chair. He whipped his head around to find Poe standing next to his desk with a look of amusement on his face.

“Hey, Finn. What’s wrong?”

“Uh, nothing,” Finn said hurriedly. “There is nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing. Why would there be something wrong?”

Poe’s eyebrows went up and he headed into the kitchen. “Because you looked stricken.”

“Stricken? Who uses the word stricken these days?”

“Me,” Poe said with a quick grin. “So?”

Finn looked down at the email again. “It’s nothing. Really.”

BB-8 trundled into the kitchen and ran in circles around Poe’s ankles until he leaned down and patted her. She sighed in satisfaction and flopped down on his feet.

“Right,” Poe said dryly once he’d appeased his dog. “That’s why you look like the doom of all men is looming down upon you.”

“It kind of is,” Finn said thoughtfully before he could think better of it.

Poe laughed. “Okay, now you have to tell me.”

Finn hesitated. “Um, actually… can I ask you for a favour?”

“Sure,” Poe said easily. “What do you need?”

Finn swallowed hard. “Would you… I mean, could you… that is, I need…” He sighed and buried his face in his hands with a low pained groan.

Poe extracted his feet from under his dog, much to her obvious disapproval. He came over and patted Finn on the shoulder. “Come on, it can’t be that bad.”

Finn didn’t raise his head. “Fine. Would you pretend to be my boyfriend while my friend is in town?”

Silence greeted his question and when it continued, he slowly raised his head and looked up at Poe. The older man was staring at him as though he wasn’t sure if Finn was joking or not.

“Um, what?” Poe finally said.

“Rey… I’ve told you about Rey, right?” Finn began.

Poe nodded with a snort of amusement. “Many times.”

“Right. Well. She’s going to be in town and I… may have told her I have a boyfriend so she’d stop pestering me about my love life or lack thereof.” Finn scrubbed his face with one hand, feeling more weary than anything else right now. “Now she’s going to be here and she’s going to want to meet my fictional boyfriend and if I don’t have one…” He shuddered. “It’ll be horrible.”

“So you want me to pretend to be your fictional boyfriend?”

Finn nodded and started babbling. “Um, I mean, you don’t have to if it’ll be weird. It’ll be weird, won’t it? Oh god, what is wrong with me?”

“Okay,” Poe said with a shrug, derailing his increasingly panicked reaction.

Finn stared at him for a moment. “What?”

“I’ll do it,” Poe replied.

“Are you sure?”

Poe shrugged and grinned. “Sure. I mean, how bad can it be?”

Finn stared at Poe and that stupid gorgeous grin of his and realised what pretending to be boyfriends was going to mean. Oh, it was going to be so very, very bad.

*****

It wasn’t bad, it was horrible. It was awful. It was the worst idea Finn had ever had. Poe might not be the world’s best flatmate but he was the perfect fake boyfriend.

Rey had asked whether she could stay with them in order to save on costs and Finn hadn’t thought anything of it when Poe agreed. But then he’d realised that meant that they would have to share a bedroom… and a bed. The day before Rey had arrived they’d moved enough of Finn’s things into Poe’s bedroom to make it believable but it was only after Rey had crashed the first night after she arrived that Finn had to face the enormity of what he’d agreed to.

He had to sleep with Poe. Or he had to sleep in the same bed as Poe. Poe, whom he was madly in love with. Whom he had jerked off to fantasies involving enough times that it was embarrassing to even think about it. Who looked utterly adorable and entirely kissable when he was tired and sleepy in the morning and having to lie next to him a bed was going to kill Finn. It really was.

He lay in the bed on his back, stiff and unable to sleep. Beside him, Poe lay on his side, facing him, fast asleep and looking adorable. His curly hair was all askew and Finn desperately wanted to run his hand through it. He wanted to lean in and kiss Poe’s forehead. Maybe wake him up and kiss his lips. And maybe kiss some other places while he was at it.

Finn groaned and crawled out of bed as quietly as he could. He made his way out into the kitchen, glancing at the half-closed door to what was normally his bedroom. Rey was fast asleep as well with BB-8 sprawled over her legs. The little corgi had taken an immediate liking to Rey, which Poe had laughed at and thought was hilarious. Finn had been a little disgruntled since it had taken a few weeks before BB-8 had warmed up to him. His mood had eased when he’d seen how happy Rey looked as she cuddled the little corgi. She’d always wanted a dog but their foster parents hadn’t liked the idea and Rey’s current apartment didn’t allow pets.

He slouched out the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. As he stood at the sink and drank his water, he heard footsteps behind him and then there was a warm body leaning against his back and a face pressed into the back of his shoulder.

“Why’r’you awake?” Poe slurred and Finn closed his eyes, feeling something almost like despair at the intimacy in Poe’s stance. He wanted this to be real, dammit! Was that really too much to ask?

“Couldn’t sleep,” he said and then winced at the sound of his own voice. The weary despondency was blatantly obvious.

“Hmmm,” Poe murmured, his arms coming up and around Finn’s chest.

Finn turned around and then sucked in a breath when Poe just used that as an opportunity to snuggle closer.

“Poe,” he began, his voice hoarse and pained.

“Hmmm?” Poe said, nuzzling against his neck. He still looked and sounded more asleep than awake.

Finn drew in a breath and set the glass aside. “You don’t have to… Rey’s asleep…”

Poe hummed sleepily again and then Finn felt Poe’s lips against his neck. He shivered and gasped and Poe seemed to take that as encouragement. With a series of little drowsy, contented noises, he dragged his lips up Finn’s neck and along his jaw line and Finn felt himself getting hard.

Finn made a small noise then he swallowed. “Poe,” he pleaded. “What… what are you doing?”

Poe abruptly stopped and Finn did not whimper. He really did not. He cursed himself for making Poe stop but then immediately wanted to know what the hell was going on. If Poe was teasing…

“Shit,” Poe said, sounding a lot less sleepy and a whole lot more awake. He started to pull away. “Fuck. I’m sorry, Finn.”

Finn swallowed around the lump that was forming in his throat. “For what?” he croaked before he could think better of it.

Poe stilled, as though that wasn’t the question he’d been expecting. He wasn’t slumped comfortably against Finn anymore but he hadn’t had a chance to move back too far either. For a moment Finn wasn’t sure if he was going to say anything.

“For thinking this was real,” Poe finally whispered.

Finn felt like he’d been punched in the chest. “What?”

Poe raised his head and Finn saw the uncertainty, the worry, the fear lurking in his eyes. “I…” He licked his lips and seemed unable to go on.

“Poe?” Finn said carefully. “Why did you agree to be my fake boyfriend?”

Poe looked down. “Because… I wanted to pretend I could actually have you,” he said with the air of a man going to his own execution.

Finn could only stare at him for a moment then he started laughing. Poe looked at him with an offended expression and started to pull away properly. Finn wrapped his arms around Poe’s waist and pulled him back tight against him.

“We’re both idiots,” he said cheerfully.

Poe frowned at him. “What?”

“The fake boyfriend I told Rey about for months?” Finn said, still grinning. “It was you. I mean, I never told her your name but everything else was you.” His grin softened into a fond smile. “Because I wanted to pretend I could actually have you.”

“That was my line,” Poe said weakly. He looked like he was trying to understand what was going on.

“It was a good line so I stole it,” Finn said with a grin and a laugh.

Poe still looked bewildered. “You… you like me?”

Finn snorted with laughter. “Poe… I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you for months. I didn’t think I was actually being that subtle, though Force knows I was trying to hide it so I didn’t make things awkward.”

“Oh,” Poe said. “I… thought I was reading too much into it. Seeing things that weren’t there, that I just wanted to be there.”

“We are both definitely idiots,” Finn said happily.

Finally Poe started to laugh as well and he let his forehead thump down onto Finn’s shoulder. “Yeah, I guess we are,” he said, his voice a little muffled. He raised his head. “I want… can I...?”

“Yeah,” Finn breathed. He didn’t know precisely what Poe was asking for but he was pretty sure that whatever it was, he wanted it.

A second later, Poe was pressed up against him once more, only this time, he was kissing him properly. Finn made a low sound of want and pulled Poe even tighter against him as he kissed back. This was as good as he’d imagined… in fact, it was better than he’d imagined because it was real and Poe was warm and here in his arms, squirming against him in a way that very quickly had Finn hard and panting into Poe’s mouth. He’d have been embarrassed but Poe was in very much the same state.

“Gah! My eyes!”

They jerked apart, though not very far, at the amused screech from Rey. She was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looking at them with exasperated amusement.

“Really?” she said in a teasing tone. “You two have been together for, like, nearly a year and you’re still kissing like it’s the first time. Ugh! Get a room.”

Finn looked at Poe who grinned back at him. “I don’t know,” Poe said with a shrug. “I like her suggestion.”

Finn laughed and tightened his grip around Poe’s waist before hoisting him up. Poe laughed and wrapped his legs around Finn’s waist.

“Ugh,” Rey said, waving them away with a fond smile. “Get out of here, you two. You’re disgustingly in love. I hate you both.”

“No, you don’t,” Finn said smugly as he carried Poe out of the kitchen.

“No, I don’t,” Rey conceded. “You two are adorable.”

Poe laughed as Finn shut the bedroom door behind them with a shove of his hips. “So,” he said, cradling Finn’s head with his hands. He didn’t seem at all inclined to move from where he was. “Are we ever going to tell her the truth?”

“No,” Finn said firmly. He walked over to the bed and lowered Poe into it, following him down immediately. Poe’s smile was addictive and he leaned down and kissed him.

When they finally parted, Poe’s eyes were wide and dark and his smile was full of lust. “We do kind of owe her our thanks.”

“Uhuh,” Finn said absently as he stared at Poe’s kiss-swollen lips.

Poe laughed and pulled Finn down on top of him. After that, there was no more talking, though Finn did take a moment to concede Poe was right. He sure as hell did owe Rey a lot.

[thedevilinherself]

Stranger Things: Ch. 2 Recruited

Jack let out a heavy sigh as a loud knock came from his door. He didn't have to ask who it was, he had been anticipating her all morning. Briefly, the Strike Commander wondered if he could pretend he wasn't in. He was swamped with meetings and calls and paperwork regarding the capture of the Deadlock Gang and didn't need one more thing on his plate. But as another knock rang out, louder and more insistent, Jack resigned himself to the conversation he was about to have. He knew her well enough to know she wasn't going to give up.

“Come in.” Just as he expected, the door opened to reveal a mop of red hair. Marching in, the woman came to stand at attention directly in front of his desk. Folding his hands over the mountain of paperwork, the Commander looked up at the officer, trying to hide his discontent as he prepared for the inevitable argument.

“This wouldn't be about Reyes, would it.” Raising an eyebrow, his expression made it clear that he wasn't in the mood.

“Yes Sir.” She replied matter of factly.

“Must we have this conversation every time, Captain.” Jack was a patient man, but he could only tell the woman no so many times before this constant debate became a chore.

“As long as you continue to give him recruits, yes.” Her eyes were steely, conviction strong as she studied the other.

“You know there's nothing I can do. My hands are tied.” He wasn't lying. Reyes knew people, people of power and influence. The Strike Commander may have been the one in charge of Overwatch, but when it came to matters concerning Blackwatch, he had no authority.

“So you're just going to let him take in that boy that killed 8 of our men?” Still at attention, the redhead had that fire in her eyes that always burned when talking about Reyes.

“I told you, that isn't my decisions.” Leaning back in his chair, Jack rubbed his temple, already getting a headache.

“He is just a boy, only 17. Are you really going to leave that child in the hands of that monster?” Her formality was crumbling how, voice raised as she clenched her fists.

“Most of our recruits are children. You yourself were only 18 when you joined. I can't baby people just because they are young.” The Commander shot back, wanting to just send her away.

“Morrison, I know you can’t save everyone, but this isn't another willing recruit. This is a young boy who has been captured, threatened and forced into this. He is not even old enough to be drafted. Do you really want to turn a blind eye to this? Or don't you remember what happened the last time you ignored someone's pleas for help?” Blue eyes were harsh as they met hers, warning her to back it down before she crossed the line, but the woman refused. “How much more can your conscience take? How many more will you let suffer from your lack of involvement. You are condemning this child, Jack. You are no better than Reyes.”

“You forget yourself.” Standing up, Jack’s hands smacked the table, his voice raised as he challenged the other.

“No, I remember! Sometimes I think I'm the only one who does.” There was a long silence, both of the officers leaning over the desk as they stared into each others eyes, a great battle raging between them as so much was said in the quiet. But as the woman showed no sign of backing down, Jack finally caved, letting out a growl as he reached for the paperwork.

“Fine. You can have this one. But I swear, if this causes a disruption on my base it will be your head.”

“Yes Sir!” She chirped, biting back the smile that tried to overtake her face as she watched him sign his name on the dotted line. Giving her a slightly aggravated look, the man wasn't sure if he was angry at the woman's constant disruptions, or proud of her for sticking to her guns.

“You'll need Amari's consent as well.” He muttered, handing the papers over without looking at her, ready for her to be gone.

“That won't be a problem, Sir.” She smiled, saluting before she made her exit.

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

The two guards at the door tried to stop her, but Marguerite just pushed past them as she held up the paperwork.

“Here on official business, straight from Commander Morrison and Captain Amari. Move.”

Pushing the door open, her eyes took a minute to adjust to the darkness of the interrogation room. She heard Reyes crime before she saw it.

Standing on the other side of the room was Commander Reyes. He turned his head as the door opened, giving Marguerite a smug look as he recognized her. Before him, on his knees, was the boy, mouth filled with the others cock as he was forced to take it deep into his throat. Pushing weakly against Reyes’s thighs, tears streamed down his face as the young criminal looked at her, eyes filled with all the fear and shame of a man caught at his lowest, most vulnerable moment.

“You come to join in?” The Commander cackled, continuing to force the boy down on his cock, ignoring the muffled cries his captive let out, the boy’s fight returning at the presence of the woman.

“I’m here to take the boy.” She asserted, stepping into the room.

“Oh, not this again. Every time I get a new recruit you do this. Haven’t you learned by now?” Pushing the boy’s face to the hilt of his dick, the man took satisfaction as the youth struggled for air against him, the sounds of gagging filling the room. “Just give this up. Hell, I might even be nice and let you have a turn once I’m done.”

“I have the paperwork here, Commander.” Stepping up to the table, she lay them out to show. “Both Morrison and Amari have signed it. The boy is in my custody now.” Staring at the man before her, back straight, she gave no reaction as he shoved the boy off him, stomping over to inspect the papers while the criminal sputtered and gasped on the floor, retching as if he might vomit.

“Like hell I’m handing him over.” Snatching up the papers, Reyes looked them over furiously before ripping them up.

“I made copies.” Marguerite stated, not backing down even when the Commanders raging eyes fell upon her.

“What makes you think you’re going to walk out of here with him.” Towering over her, the man stared her down with a look that would have made even some of the strongest soldiers cower away, but Marguerite did not fear him. Not anymore.

“If I need to, I will go get Morrison and Amari. Then the three of you can sort this out.” As furious as Reyes was, she knew he didn’t want to deal with the two leaders of Overwatch.

“If you think you’ve won, you’re mistaken.” His threat lost some of its power as he stomped out of the room, tucking himself back in his pants. Before his men could follow after him, she called out to them.

“Bring the boy’s things to my office immediately. That's an order.” As the men faded from sight, Marguerite walked with hurried step to the boy’s side.

Sitting there on his butt, long gangly legs stretched out in front of him, he did his best to save face. But one look at the tears and snot streaming down his face, the furious redness of his cheeks and the grit to his jaw, and the Captain could tell just how much of a blow this had been to his ego. Her first instinct was to ask if he was ok, but she knew all too well he wasn't. In an attempt to maintain some dignity he wiped at his face with the back of his hand, glaring at the Captain for a moment before averting his eyes. As he wiped the snot and tears on his jeans, she noticed the strong tremble in his hands.

“Can you stand?” she asked softly, extending her hand to the boy. Still he would not look at her, swatting the hand away as he silently got to his feet. Unperturbed by this, Marguerite maintained a gracious expression.

“I don't need your pity.” the youth spat, turning away from the woman to pick up his hat.

“Good,”she responded, unfazed, “Because I have none to give.” The boy whipped around.

“Are you mocking me?” he growled. She knew in his mind he must have pictured himself sounding tough and unflinching, but to her he sounded like a wounded animal.

“Not at all.”

“Listen lady. I don't know what your game is but-”

“My 'game' is to keep you safe and out of the hands of Commanders Reyes.” An edge of sternness came to her words as she gave the boy a harsh look. “Something that after today, I think you can agree, is the preferable outcome.” All the boy could think to do in response was stand there, brooding.

“Come now,” she ushered gently, turning towards the door. “Let’s get you a shower and a change of clothes.”

She hadn’t fully turn before the criminal reached out, grabbing her side arm before she could even register what he was doing. Jumping back, the boy pointed the gun at her, both hands grasping it desperately, a determinant look on his face.

When she was younger, Marguerite had found a fox whose paw had been caught in a trap. The small thing had hissed and barked and growled at her, snapping at her whenever she got near. But even still, it trembled in fear, keeping low to the ground as it watched her, surely thinking this was its last stand. Watching this boy now, she was reminded of that fox. The desperation in his eyes, the tremble in his hands, the words he growled at her, the big show he put on as he desperately tried to cover up his vulnerability and fear. He was trapped and he knew it, willing to try and fight his way out against hopeless odds for the chance at freedom.

Turning to face the boy slowly, the calmness of her demeanor unsettled the boy further. Looking him in the eyes, there was no anger in her voice, no strategy in her eyes, she talked to him like a friend.

“You've been hurt enough for one day. Please, give me the gun.” Lifting her hand just high enough to still seem nonthreatening, she watched him with insistent eyes. In that moment, Jesse knew he couldn't take her.

A minute or two passed, his hands still trembling as he pointed the gun at the Captain, still she did not move. His expression seemed so desperate to appear threatening, but all Marguerite saw was a frightened little boy. Finally, with a resigning look, the youth laxed his hold on the gun, lowering his head in defeat as he admitted just how helpless he was. Bringing his free hand up, he covered his face. Marguerite didn't know if he was crying or just overwhelmed by it all, but she just let him be, giving him the time he needed to come to terms with his situation.

Eventual, he uncovered his face, sparing her a weary glance before holding out the gun. She reached to take it, but as she watched the way his eyes lingered on it, she thought better.

“You know what. Why don't you hold on to it for me.” The boy’s eyes lit up with surprise at her words.

“Do you always give your prisoners guns?” He asked skeptically.

“I trust you. Besides, that was a quick draw there. I'd say you earned this one.” patting his shoulder, she gave him a genuine smile. “Now let’s get you that shower.”

As she walked to the door, Marguerite heard the boy hesitate before tucking the gun into his waistband and shuffling along behind her.

The cowboy slouched defeatedly as he followed the redhead through the halls, resigning himself to his captor as he saw just how big, and just how full, Overwatch really was. People bustled through the halls, many of them armed. Men far larger than the cowboy waved at the redhead, greeting her cheerily. A group of young girls called out to the woman, their words affectionate and familiar as they shared a brief conversation. The boy stood, brooding behind the Captain until the girls wandered off, giggling as they spared him shy glances. This only served to sour the boy’s mood further, thinking them mocking him.

Along their walk, many people had nothing but warm and friendly words for the redhead. She responded to them all in kind, taking the time to wave and smile. The cowboy couldn't help but compare this inviting atmosphere to that of the Deadlock Gang. With the boy’s, there had always been hostilities, many fights breaking out or insults being hurled. No one in the gang had ever looked at him the way these people looked at Marguerite.

Coming to stand in front of one of the many doors that lined this hallway, Marguerite typed in a code to the keypad, causing the door to click open. Stepping inside, she ushered Jesse in. They stood in a small entry way, approximately 5 x 9 feet. Straight ahead of the door was a long hallway with many doors lining it, none that he could see through. To the right was an open door way that led into a large office space. Walking into the office, the boy was taken aback by all the books that lined the walls and the many framed awards that filled the few places not occupied by book.

“You read all these?” the youth asked, pulling one out and opening it, only to be confused by the complex words and foreign terminology.

“Yes. I've spent a great deal of time studying combat and strategy.” Opening a door on the left side of the office, Jesse could see a vanity just through the opening. Pulling out a towel and a change of cloths from the cabinet, the red head tossed it at the youth, grinning at his confusion. “The showers in there. Plenty of hot water, so take as long as you need.” The t-shirt and sweatpants were large on her, but the boy had a good eight inches on her so they might be a little snug on him. She decided she would make a call to get him some proper clothes while he was showering. She had to arrange for a room for him too.

“You get a shower in your office?” his incredulous confusion made her chuckle. Marguerite had to admit, when he wasn't acting like a rabid bat out of hell, he was a pretty cute kid.

“Actually, these are my personal quarters. This was supposed to be my bedroom. They gave me a proper office, but I spent so many late nights there it was just easier to have my office in my quarters. And I figure since all I do is sleep and work, the office should be the bigger room.”

“You're one weird chick.” His expression was skeptical, but he seemed to be more relaxed.

“You don't even know the half of it.” Her cheeks creasing around her smile as she stepped aside, motioning to the door way. “Like I said, take your time. Feel free to use anything you need.” The cowboy looked hesitant, still debating whether or not he could trust her. “Oh.” She exclaimed, extending a hand. “How rude of me. I'm Marguerite Johnson.” The boy was taken aback, giving her a strange look as she waited for him to shake her hand. After a long pause, he shifted the towel and change of clothes into one arm, gripping her with a large, calloused hand.

“Jesse McCree.” His grasp was firm, strong as he shook. The redhead was used to large men, but the boy’s hands seemed particularly massive in comparison to his lean build. With that, the boy wandered off into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind him. As she sat down in her worn office chair, Marguerite heard the shower kick on, a smile pulling at her lips at the thought that the boy trusted her enough to shower in her personal quarters. It was at least something.

After making a few phone calls, the Captain settled into her paperwork. Knowing there would be plenty more coming her way after today, Marguerite was determined to finish as much as she could to get ahead of the avalanche that would be coming. As she read over papers, signing where needed, taking notes on reports, a subordinate of Reyes's brought the boy’s things. Briefly breaking from her work, the woman looked over the boy’s belongings.

There wasn't much. Not surprising. She couldn't say she was expecting the young man to have much to his name. A set of spurs, keys to a motorcycle, some loose change, a watch, a knife, and a revolver securely nestled in its holster. Picking up the gun, the redhead turned it over in her hands, admiring the relic from a bygone era. She had seen pictures of revolvers in many of the books she had read, but she had never heard of anyone using them anymore. This was the gun the cowboy had used to take out so many Blackwatch agents? Maybe he was more impressive than she gave him credit for.

From the other side of the wall, Marguerite could hear the boy gargling, no doubt trying to wash the taste of the Commander out of his mouth. A sad sort of smile crossed her lips.

“I assume that's the boy in there?” Leaning against the door, Captain Amari raised a brow at the younger officer, expression stern, but her eyes were warm, full of affection. Giving a slight nod towards the bathroom door, the Egyptian indicated what she was talking about as the redhead looked up at her.

“Yes. I thought a shower would do him some good.” Marguerite answered, giving the other a welcoming smile. Pushing off the door, Amari took a few steps in, standing in front of the desk as she smiled weakly at her friend.

“Are you sure this is wise?” Marguerite knew she spoke out of concern. Aside from being one of her few friends, Ana was more of a mother to the redhead then her own mother had been.

“I'm doing the right thing. I don't see how 'wise' has anything to do with it.” Always direct, there was no edge to her voice, no annoyance as she answered her superior.

“You know Reyes is in Jack's office right now, raising hell over what you've done.”

“Let him. The paperwork is signed. I'm not giving the boy up.” Eyes returning to her paperwork, Marguerite continued to sort reports and documents as the other watched her with worried eyes.

“He's not going to give up. He will do everything in his power to get the boy back. And with you standing between him and what he wants, you've put that target back on your head. And you of all people knows how he hates losing.” Folding her arms, Ana looked down at the youth, worried she didn't fully appreciate the situation she had put herself in.

“Let him try. He's not the only one with connections. I won't let him have the boy.” Marguerite had always been a stubborn thing. Ana remembered a similarly obstinate young girl when she had talked to the redhead about joining Overwatch five years ago.

“What are you even going to do with him. You can't just house him here. He is still a wanted criminal.”

“I'm going to offer for him to join Overwatch. Morrison shouldn't have a problem with it considering it was the same deal Reyes offered him.”

“I don't doubt that Overwatch would be a good opportunity for him to turn his life around. But from what I've heard this kid doesn't sound like he's got the dedication to stick with it. Especially considering he's being strong armed into it.” Ana had a point. The young man had already proved himself hot headed, and it was clear he wasn't the best with authority.

“I will work with him. Get him to see how good this will be for him.” Ana regarded the other with skepticism, not sure the youth knew what she was getting herself into.

“You overwork yourself as it is. I don't think you realized how much more difficult you have made things for yourself. Now not only do you have to take on the responsibility of mothering this child, you will have Reyes breathing down your neck, just waiting for you to make a mistake. Why are you risking your career, your livelihood, even your safety, for this gang member who killed eight of our men?”

“Why have you never done anything about this? You and Jack both knew what was going on. You could have stopped this years ago. Why have you always stood aside and let it happen?” Marguerite was on the defensive now. Fist tight around her pen as she fixed her Superior with steely eyes. “You stood by back then. But I'm not going to stand by anymore. I won’t let him do that to anyone else.”

As Marguerite's anger began to show through, Ana turned away, looking surprised as she stared off to the redhead's right. Following her line of sight, both Captains' eyes fell upon the cowboy, his hair still damp as his eyes darted between the two women nervously. Cursing herself for not noticing the water had stopped, the redhead wondered how much the boy had overheard. Enough apparently for his hand to be poised to grab the gun he still had tucked into his waistband. Trying to diffuse the situation, Marguerite spoke up.

“Did the change of cloths not fit?” Jesse's eyes darted towards her, uncertain as he studied her. But as she gave him a reassuring smile, he seemed to decide it was safe enough for the moment.

“I like my clothes.” Still wearing his filthy jeans and button up, it seemed a shame for him to have showered only to put back on those grungy garments. Now, with the dirt and blood washed off him, he looked less crazed. More like a normal seventeen year old boy.

“I have your things here.” gesturing to the small collection of belongings, Marguerite hoped that by giving him back his personal effects, even the gun, the boy might come to trust her a little more.

Seeing the revolver, the boy made a beeline for the desk. Taking the gun in his large hands, the boy inspected it, checking to make sure there were still six bullets and that everything was in order. Finding his inspection satisfactory, the boy put the revolver back in its holster. As he secured the holster to his waist, Ana shot the redhead a questioning look, but said nothing. The edges of the young woman's mouth pulled into a small smile, reassuring her friend that she knew what she was doing. Though she gave no protest, Ana's eyes were doubtful, a slight sorrow lingering behind them as she sighed.

“I will take my leave. I'm sure Jack will be needing my help with Commander Reyes.” Not waiting for a response, Captain Amari took her leave. Jesse watched the woman leave, something swirling behind his eyes that Marguerite couldn't identify.

“Who was she?” The boy said it with indifference, but as his gaze lingered on the doorway, his eyes betrayed him.

“Captain Amari. She's second in command around here. So make sure you stay on her good side.” She gave him a teasing smile as he looked over at her, but his gaze did not stay, soon returning to the doorway. “ I ordered food. It should be here soon. I hope you like burgers.” The promise of nourishment finally drew the boy’s attention back to the redhead.

“You can order food here? Like take out?” Marguerite suppressed a chuckle at the boy’s confused expression.

“Not really. But I know one of the boys in the kitchen. He owes me a favor. So just this once.” sparing him a wink, Marguerite found amusement in the strange look the boy gave her. He really was just a teenager. “You can sit down if you like. Lay down, take a nap if you like. Relax.” motioning towards a large plush couch that was against the wall opposite of the bathroom. Jesse walked over towards it, but refrained from sitting, still guarded as he studied the woman. “I have some paperwork to do to get you a room, but I should have you one by tonight.”

“I get a room?” The cowboy looked skeptical. “You're not taking me to jail?”

“Reyes didn't talk to you about Overwatch?” the redhead asked, genuinely surprised. Usually the Blackwatch Commander liked to have a little banter before he attacked, make his prey realize how helpless they were.

“No.” The boy stated with a scowl. “He just... He didn't talk about anything.” Looking away, the boy’s expression soured, wrinkles forming in his young face as he recalled the strength of the Commander, the force he had used.

“Well, you have two options. You can either join Overwatch or you can go to jail with your buddies.” The cowboy looked incredulous, puffing out his chest as he crossed his arms.

“Why the fuck would I join you?” It was a legitimate question. So far, the boy had been attacked, captured, beaten, and molested thanks to Overwatch. Marguerite wasn't surprised he held no fondness for the organization.

“Well, If you want to go to jail, you can. If you want to let your pride control the outcome of your life, you can. But you are a very good looking young man and there are a lot more Reyes's in prison. And you can't fight them all.” The boy grew quiet, expression that of a petulant child, but as he thought of what he had experienced at the Commander's hands, he second guessed his commitment to the gang.

Not wanting to push him, Marguerite returned to her work, giving him time to think about this life altering decision that was thrown in his lap. Jesse watched the redhead for a moment or two, before his eyes began to wander to the many medals and awards that lined her walls. Bravery, heroism, leadership, the plaques and certificates painted a picture of a brave warrior, charging into battle single handed to take out hordes of enemies. The cowboy had a hard time seeing the small framed woman as a viscous fighter. But as he remembered the way she had handled him back at the cell, how quickly and efficiently she had dispatched him, maybe she was tougher then she looked. And as the youth recalled their interaction that morning, the way he had spoken to her, the things he had called her, one question came to mind.

“Why did you save me?” The look he gave her was sincere, his brows knitted together as he waited for her answer. Leaning back in her chair, Marguerite didn't have to think about it.

“Who wouldn't save you?” Jesse scoffed, a long list coming to mind as his brain conjured up all the people he had made enemies of over the years.

“Well that lady you were just talking to didn't sound to happy about it.” Combing his fingers through his brown locks, the cowboy tried to look indifferent.

“You don't even know Ana. How can you assert that she wouldn't have saved you.” Captain Amari had taken far less convincing them Morrison when confronted with the boy’s transfer. Sure, she could be difficult sometimes, but when it came to the people Ana Amari cared about, there was nothing she wouldn't do for them. Marguerite admired her for that, aspiring to one day be as big an influence on others as the second in command was.

“Cause I heard her trying to talk you out of it. She said I would just be a burden. She wants you to give me back to him.” Marguerite was taken aback at the boy’s words. Ana hadn't gone as far as saying she should return the boy, but the redhead couldn't deny her friend had expressed great concern for her taking on so much. But it was only because Ana was looking out for her. “If this makes your life so much harder, why would you save me? It's not like I've been the nicest to ya. I'm just a delinquent to you. So why save me?” “Because I know exactly how it feels to be in that man's clutches. And I refuse to stand by and let anyone else suffer like that.” At her words, the boy’s interest was piqued, his guard lowing slightly as he waited for the redhead to continue, to explain. With a sigh, Marguerite realized the boy wouldn't trust her unless he knew the truth. So, despite her unwillingness, she hashed up memories she tried to keep buried. “I was just a year older than you when I joined Overwatch. It had been all I had ever wanted. I had spent my whole life preparing for a career in the military, but once Overwatch was established, I knew that was where I was meant to be. I wanted nothing else but to prove myself in glorious battle, to save people, to be a hero. I wanted my name to be told for generations. Marguerite Johnson: the greatest soldier to ever fight. I was put into Blackwatch. I was so excited to go on covert missions and be such an important and influential hero. But one day, Reyes told me to meet him in one of the sparring rooms for a private session. He held me down and raped me. I was devastated. And nobody did a thing.” Jesse looked surprised, whether by the act Reyes had forced on her or her quickness to admit her hardships. Either way, it made no difference as Marguerite continued. “Everybody knew and everyone just turned the other way. Just overlooked it. And it continued, for months it continued. For six months I endured this until it came to the point where I realized I could either continue to be the victim, or I could be my own hero.” The cowboy had slowly wandered his way over to the desk, leaning against it as the woman told her story. Despite all the years, despite the frankness with which she told it, despite the fact this boy had also known Reyes's cruelty, she couldn't meet his eyes. “So I practiced and I practiced and I practiced. And I became damn good at what I do. And I made sure I rose through the ranks, till I was high enough that no one could touch me. So I know very much what you are going through. And I know how much it hurts and how alone you must feel. And I want you to know you are not alone. And there is someone who cares. There is someone who will not rest till you are safe.”

As she finally turned to face him, eyes filled with determination, soul cemented by a resolve stronger than anything Jesse had ever felt, it was the cowboy's turn to look away, finding himself uncomfortable with the raw memories she shared with him. Though it was the redhead that had laid herself out bare to the boy, Jesse felt vulnerable and exposed as she studied him. He knew it should comfort him that she knew exactly how he felt, but somehow that made it worse. He couldn't pretend with her, couldn't act like there was no problem. The boy grew quiet, words lost to him as he thought over what the woman had told him, comparing it to his own experiences with the Blackwatch Commander.

Feeling the woman's eyes linger on him, Jesse felt compelled to say something. Not wanting to delve deeper into the feelings of inadequacy and exposure that currently plagued his mind, the boy racked his mind for anything else to talk about.

“So, what are you? A Commander?” Marguerite didn't question his change of subjects, understanding all too well his desire to avoid the topic at hand.

“I'm a Captain. Same as Amari. Though technical she is my superior.”

“How old are you?” Not realizing how rude the question was, the boy looked at her inquisitively. Marguerite overlooked his lack of edicate, assuming he had never had anyone to teach him better.

“I'm twenty-three as of last April.” The boy looked surprised, even flabbergasted at the woman's answer.

“What? I thought you were thirty-six or something.” Marguerite was used to people thinking she was older than she was. Due to her life experiences, she carried herself like an older woman. She certainly had more responsibility than most girls her age. But thirty-six? That was almost insulting.

“No. Just six years older than you.” Her pursed lips barely concealed her displeasure at the boy’s shock. She knew thirty-six wasn't that old really, but the thought that she already looked so much older wounded what little female ego she had.

“Well you don't act like any twenty-three year old I've ever known.” The boy shot back, still not sure if he believed the redhead.

“Why? Because I'm an officer? Or because I have so much authority.” the Captain replied, taking some pride in her accomplishments.

“You're not a hooker.” At the look the Captain gave him, Jesse began to second guess his honest statement. Over the last four years, he hadn't known any women in their twenties that had accomplished much of anything. He thought that was something women did when they were older, after they weren't pretty enough to get things with their looks. “Or a drug addict, I guess.” Staring at the boy in disbelief, a part of Marguerite's heart broke. Had this really been all the boy had known? Drug addicts and whores? She had heard that Deadlock was full of some of the lowest members of society, but for a boy this young to think that was the norm, she felt herself fill with sadness.

A long silence followed, both unsure what to say as their two very different worlds collided. Jesse turned away first, no longer able to bare the uncomfortable stillness as the woman looked right through him. He had never known a woman like this. Most times females came easy to him. They all wanted something. Money, drugs, power. If he knew what they wanted, he knew how to get what he wanted from them. But this woman was different. She didn't want material things. Her desires were for his wellbeing. And Jesse didn't know how to work with that.

“So... What happens if I join ya?” Again, Jesse tried to seem nonchalant, not wanting to let on how much the woman and her offer intrigued him.

“Well, you'll have to start training. It will be intense. Very rigorous. You have natural talent. That gun you have is proof you’re certainly brave enough.” Pointing at the gun that was tucked into his back waistband, the redhead gave him a coy smile. “It will be hard work. But I believe you could make something great of yourself.” The cowboy had turned to her now, listening to her, hearing her as he considered her offer. “With Overwatch, you could make a name for yourself. Make a better life.” Jesse liked the sound of that, though he would never admit it.

Things at Deadlock hadn't been easy. Much of the last two years had been a struggle. Constantly running from the law, always fighting with other members of the gang, always fighting to find his place in the gang. Maybe this would be better. The image of dark eyes and a smile like the devil flashed through his mind.

“But that guy will still be here.” Lips pressed thin, Marguerite couldn't deny that reality. There was nothing she could do to get rid of Reyes. Lord knew she had tried. She wasn't about to lie to the boy. Refused to give him promises she could never keep.

Without saying a word, she pulled open one of her desk drawers, nimble fingers pulling out a small black box with a single button on it. Tossing the matchbox sized object to the boy, she smiled reassuringly at his confusion as he turned it over in his hands.

“Carry that on you at all times. And I mean all times.” Her eyes were comforting, despite her serious expression. “If Reyes ever gives you trouble, press that button and I will come. I will help.” Without warning, the boy's rough thumb went from rubbing over the nub to pushing down on it. A loud and annoying alarm sounded from Marguerite's watch, only ending when she clicked a button. Without missing a beat, the redhead continued, unfazed as the cowboy grimaced, rubbing his ears. “I’ll be honest with you, he's not going to give up. Once he sets his sights on something, he goes after it till it's his. So we need to wait him out. It will probably take several months. But over time, he’ll get bored. And he'll find something else. We just gotta wait that out.”

An untimely knock at the door interrupted the conversation. A young man pushed open the door, smiling as he carried in a tray of food.

“Sorry it took so long. I had a hell of a time sneaking away to get this here.” His grin was bright, eyes full of life as he put the tray down on the table. As Jesse caught sight of the four burgers and fries, his mouth began to water, stomach suddenly feeling tight as it ached. Marguerite thought about introducing the two boys, thinking maybe the recruit could help convince Jesse to join, but as she saw the pained expression on the cowboy’s face as he watched the food, she decided now was not the time.

“Thank you Mercer. Consider the favor repaid.” Waving her hand, she ushered the recruit off as he beamed.

“Thanks boss!” Jesse didn't even acknowledge the boy as he left, still staring hungrily at the savory meal.

“Dig in. There's plenty.” The boy spared the Captain a fleeting glance before leaping at the food. Taking a big bite out of the largest burger, the cowboy looked like a lion chomping into its fresh kill as he devoured the food.

“Did they not feed you in Deadlock?” Marguerite couldn't help the laugh that escaped her, eyes squinting as she grinned at his eagerness. This was the first time the boy had really let his guard down. “I can get you more if this isn't enough.” Lowering the burger, the cowboy spared her a sheepish look from under his brow, wanting more, but a little embarrassed at how glutinous he was being.

“This is enough.” Despite his words, it didn't take the youth long to finish off the food, leaving the tray empty as he sat back content in the soft chair. Rubbing his stomach, Jesse felt full to bursting. He hadn't had that much to eat in a long time. Let alone something so tasty.

“So what's your choice.” Interrupting the boy’s coma, the Captain leaned onto her desk, finally getting to the heart of the matter. “I don't want to push you, but I need to know; am I getting you a room? Or am I getting you a bus to prison.” Jesse's eyes lingered on the redhead, already knowing his answer, but hesitant to admit it aloud.

“I guess I'll need a room.

[thescrewedrooger]

Chapter 57

We will be going to Australia for Christmas. We leave tomorrow. Jess is still messaging Seth. I’m over it, he is too.

I tell Seth “We will be swapping phones for the day”

“Why Babe? I thought you believed me” he sounds hurt

I smile, I raise an eyebrow “I do. That bitch isn’t going to know what hit her!”

“What are you planning?” he gives me half a smile

“Can I do some sexting on your behalf?” I ask

“What the fuck?” he wasn’t expecting that “You are supposed to be getting her to leave me alone”

“I am, it might seem cruel, but the only way she will leave you alone is to get her hopes up, then make those hopes come crashing down” I tell him.

He hesitates “She will take it to the media, then all hell will break loose”

I tell him “You should know I have tricks up my sleeve for that, I’m going to revisit my teen years”

He knows exactly what I’m talking about. “No, you aren’t doing anything of the sort” he’s serious

“Yes, I am. You can’t stop me” I tell him

“Yes, I can stop you. I’m not giving you my phone” he’s tone hasn’t changed.

“Why?” I’m genuinely confused as to why he won’t let me.

He smiles in disbelief “You are asking why? Really? Does it ever occur to you, that one day it might back fire and you end up behind bars?”

“I know that will never happen” I reply

“You don’t know that. Unless you have a good plan, I’m just going to keep ignoring her”

I mutter under my breath “There goes my fun, arsehole”

He laughs “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that, you are sulking because you didn’t get your way”

Seth asks “Do I have to change the password to my phone or can I trust that you won’t do anything stupid?”

“I won’t do anything stupid” I sigh

He smiles “Good girl”

Early Christmas eve morning, we arrive at my parent’s place. Maddi handled the trip really well. We put Maddi to bed. We didn’t mean to wake mum up, but she is a light sleeper, so it isn’t hard to wake her.

She comes out to us and gives us both a kiss and a hug. She asks “Where’s Maddi?”

I tell her “She’s in bed”

Mum then asks Seth “How are you feeling?”

Seth replies “Not 100%, but getting there”

Mum says “I appreciate that you still made the trip. Thankyou”

“Don’t need to thank me” he smiles

Mum mentions to me “I have your Grandmother coming over for lunch, and I am having the family over for dinner tonight”

I groan “Why? Seth and I are hardly up to socialising today”

“Don’t be like that, everyone is looking forward to seeing you two again and are excited to meet Maddi” she says

I groan again “I’m going to bed”

Mum says “If it helps, I will get Maddi when she wakes up so you both can get a bit of sleep”

“Yeah, it helps, thanks Mum” I smile

I walk into our bedroom, Seth follows, we both collapse on the bed. We immediately fall asleep. What felt like only 5 minutes later Mum comes in and wakes Seth and I up. “C'Mon time to wake up”

Seth says “Go away” not realising he said that to Mum. He covers his head with his pillow.

Mum says “No I will not go away! It’s 12pm!”

I tell Mum “Fuck off would you” I roll over to go back to sleep.

Mum gets angry “Amanda Ellis and Seth MacFarlane, get the fuck up now!”

I say to Mum “Jesus Christ woman, no need to fucking swear! We are awake, that’s all you’re getting now”

“Alright, you have 10 minutes to be up, otherwise I will be back” she isn’t too impressed.

She closes the door. Both Seth and I roll over to face each other. We are both still half asleep, we lean in and kiss softly. So suddenly we crash our lips together. Without breaking the kiss, he gently rolls me onto my back. One of his hands massages my breast for a moment before moving to the other breast. He breaks the kiss and kneels between my legs, he strips my tights and panties off before stripping himself off.

He places himself on top of me. He pulls the blanket over the top of us. He teases me by grinding himself against me. I want him so bad right now. He guides himself into me. He puts his head into my shoulder his breathing slightly quickened “Babe, there’s no way I’m going last for you to come”

He puts my legs around his waist. He starts kissing me, roughly puts his tongue in my mouth. He starts pounding me. No sooner then he starts pounding me, he moans into my lips, then starts thrusting harder and faster, he’s so deep inside me. I start to feel my build up, this will be the quickest ever for me. I grab the back of his head and pull him in to deepen the kiss so I could suppress my moans. He knows I’m close, he picks up his pace. It sends us both over the edge. He slumps on top of me straight away. We both try to laugh while out of breath. Both of us coming that quick is a first for us! I still feel his cock throbbing, he is just about to pull out before Mum busts into our room, she sees us “I don’t think so, it’s been 10 minutes, Mandy your Grandmother is here. I bet that ruins the mood!”

“You’re too late Mum!” I tell her

She says trying to sound angry “Just get dressed and get your arses out here”

All Seth and I could do is laugh. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best idea. He gives me a quick kiss before pulling out. We both quickly get dressed. We fix our hair up to get rid of the “just fucked” look.

We head out to the living room. Grandma has already met Maddi. Grandma sees us she says to Maddi “Look who’s here” she points in our direction.

Maddi looks and sees us “Dad! Mom!” she tries her hardest to run, she falls over a couple of times before getting to us.

My parents immediately look at us. They picked up that Maddi called me “Mom”

Dad asks Seth “You wouldn’t have anything to do with that would you?”

Seth plays dumb “What?”

Dad says “It’s pronounced Mum”

Seth laughs “I didn’t actually! Maddi picked it up from her cousins”

Dad just gives Seth a skeptical look.

After lunch, we all go back to the living room, Grandma is playing with Maddi again. Seth falls asleep on the couch. He stirs, lays down and makes himself comfortable with his head on my lap, out of habit, I start playing with his hair. We are both jetlagged but he’s been getting tired very quickly because his body is still getting over the drugs that his drink was spiked with.

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[puckish-saint]

Hello love! Hope your day is going well. I have a request! If you're interested. How do Genii and/or McCree react when they admit their romantic feelings to their best friend, only for their friend to tell them that they see their relationship as strictly platonic.

can I please have some mccree and reader or genji and reader angst? injury or kidnapping or something, as long as it is ANGSTY

McCreeHe whistles a tune while he waits forthe coffeemaker to finish, stroking his freshly shaved face. He didleave some beard, he’s not about to make the mistake of cleanshaving again, but it’s neatly trimmed, even waxed to keep everyhair in perfect place. “You’re in high spirits.” Satya saysfrom over her tablet, giving him a once over as if she suspects hemight have been brainwashed. “And did you get a haircut?”

“Dead on.” He makes finger guns ather, not admitting that this has been his first professionally donehaircut in six years and that he still hasn’t gotten used to theway his hair tickles his nape. “New shirt, too.”

“I noticed. Looks good, man.” It’sLúcio this time who has to comment, but he’s far from the last.Everyone, as they slowly trickle in for some fresh buns or at least amug of coffee, notices his effort to clean up. Jack half-seriouslytries to remember the last time Jesse bought new clothes and wondersaloud if he missed the memo for another UN meeting.

“I bought clothes in the lastseventeen years.” Jesse says a bit defensively, but not even theteam’s fond teasing can ruin his mood. He’s finally made up hismind to tell you about his feelings and he’s got it all plannedout. There’s a bunch of red roses waiting to be picked up at theflorist at the corner and he’s practiced his speech for days. Latertoday, when both your duties shifts have ended, you’ll be hangingout as you always do and he’s going to confess his love.

Only that nothing goes according toplan. An emergency with the base-wide AC forces him to polish the oldhandyman skills and get his hands, hair and new clothes dirty. By theend of a shift that lasted hours longer than it should have he’scovered head to do in grime and dirt. The shirt he bought was hisonly new one and so he has to resort to wearing, after a quickshower, one of his old ones, washed out and patched up almost asoften as he himself has been. No matter what he does with his beardit simply won’t lie as nicely as it has that morning and eventuallyhe gives up, brushes the wax out and settles for a look that’sstill somewhat better than usual. He hopes.

He hasn’t stepped out of the doorwhen you send him a text, telling him that since your usual routinegot delayed you took to spending the afternoon with Hana and Genjiand he should join the three of you in the recreation room.

The roses therefore stay in the vase,he’s not going to confess in front of everyone, he wanted it to besomething special and now fears it won’t be anything at all.Somehow he manages to keep face throughout the rest of the day,laughing along to Genji’s jokes, losing to Hana in a game of chess,embarrassing himself in front of you, and pretending he doesn’thave the confession of a lifetime lying on his tongue.

At some point you excuse yourself toget drinks for everyone, including Fareeha and Zenyatta who justjoined, and he sees his chance by offering to help. It won’t be onthe rooftop watching the sunset as he planned, nor will his now lessthan dashing looks inspire you to swoon in his arms and the roseswill have to wait until after, but he still has his speech. He stillhas his heart ready to wear on his sleeve.

“You got a minute?” he asks themoment the kitchen door falls shut behind him.

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

Jesse swallows, takes a deep breath tosteady his pulse thrumming rapidly under his skin and starts.

“Wanted to tell you somethin’that’s been on my mind lately. You’re ma best friend, hell I cancount the number of people who cared for me the way you do on onehand. You’ve become real special t’ me, darlin’, and I … I …”He breaks off as your face falls. You’re not wearing theexpression of someone shocked but overjoyed to hear their secretcrush is reciprocating their feelings. Your face is that of someonewho just had the L-bomb dropped on them out of nowhere and doesn’tknow how to say ‘no’ in the least hurtful way possible.

While Jesse fidgets with his shirt, hechastises himself for never even thinking about this outcome. Healways imagined you falling into his arms, all too happy to progressyour friendship to another level.

“Jesse, I … I’m sorry.” you sayand you are, he can see that much, you really are sorry for having tosay it. Not that it helps his broken heart anything. He tries hishand at a reassuring grin but barely manages a grimace of a smile.

“Nah, it’s okay. Don’t need tosay anything, I got it.”

“You’re a wonderful person, youare, but-”“Nothin’ t’ be done, I know.” Oh God, he’sgoing to cry. He’s going to cry right in front of you unless hegets out of here fast. “Don’t beat yourself up over it. I’llget over it.”

And to show how well he’s alreadygetting over it, nevermind he’s just trying to flee withoutarousing suspicion, he picks up the tray of drinks and walks back tothe others. They immediately see something is wrong.

“Jesse …?” Fareeha says, brushinglightly against his arm.

“‘S nothing.” he lies and then,as an afterthought, pulls out a piece of paper out of his jeanspockets and lays it on the table. “Won’t be needin’ thatanymore. Figure one of you might have better use for it.”Hewants to leave right away but Hana’s gasp forces him to stop.

“That’s a reservation for thefanciest restaurant in this country. The tables are booked out half ayear in advance. How the hell did you get this?”He shrugs,keeps his back turned so no one can see him fighting with the tears.

“Doesn’t matter. Should probablyget some shut eye, though. Was thinking about hitting the road againsoon. G’night, yeah?”

Not even Fareeha’s concerned ‘Jesse,wait’ can hold him back. He all but runs to his quarters, sinksagainst the wall the moment he’s locked the door. He feelspathetic, weak, like the biggest idiot in existence. Most of all hefeels like running away.

No one, and nothing is there to stophim, either. He’s gone before dawn breaks, taking the earliesthypertrain out of Gibraltar.

He runs as far as he can and when he’sthere he’ll keep running just the same. Anything to avoid having tolook at you every single day and know you’ll never love him.

Genji

It starts with him, barely hanging onto life by mechanical threads he already despises, and you, confinedto the sick bay with a broken leg.

You try to get his attention, but don’tknow his name yet and resort to increasingly creative nicknames.Genji ignores them all. He’s focused solely on the thought ofrevenge. Or he tries to be focused, failing as you keep trying to gethis attention.

“What?” he finally snaps. Yourecoil from the force of his words but catch yourself quickly andgrin.

“You wanna trade my jelly for yourfruit cup?” you ask and at this point he assumes you just don’tlike the chemically tasting jelly that’s part of your hospitallunch. Just to spite you he says no, hoping to gain any kind ofsatisfaction from this. He doesn’t.

But you stick around.

Even after your leg has healed youalways seem to hang around the clinic when he’s there to receivefurther enhancements. More than once he wakes from surgery to findyou slumped in a chair nearby, catching up on sleep everyone elsetells him you haven’t been getting a lot.

Eventually your presence becomesbearable. Even later it becomes comforting.

Now when he has to report to Dr Zieglerfor another treatment - his mostly organic lungs are rejecting themechanical transplants and have to be replaced - he expects you to bethere and is not disappointed.

You lie together in the hospital bed,watching a movie on the laptop resting on your legs. It’s inEnglish and you’ve turned on the subtitles without a word, knowinghe still sometimes has trouble understanding every word. Resting hishead on your chest he doubts you do this with all your friends. True,he’s used to being tactile, downright cuddly with the friends heused to have before, but he’s no longer human. His artificial skinfeels wrong, too cold, with too little give. No one would want tocuddle with him just out of platonic affection. Or that’s how hetries to reason with himself. There is something deeper between you,there has to be. Over the last months he’s grown closer to you thanhe has with anyone else in his life. You, more than all thescientists in this hellish place, have saved his life by making himwant to live.

A lull in the movie’s plot urges himinto action. He turns a little, uncomfortable with the unnaturalstretch of his fake muscles, and pulls himself up enough to press hislips to yours.

He knows right away he’smisinterpreted all the signs. He knows and he still doesn’t stop,presses forward, hands curling into the collar of your top, pleadingwith you to just let him have this for one more moment.

You push him away, gentle but firm,pity crossing your face. He can’t bear looking at it.

“Genji … look, I-”“Yeah no,I get it.” he says and pushes himself off, turns his back to you.“Lead me on and have your laugh but when it comes to deliveryou’re-”“It’s not like that-”“The fuck it is.”He’s being unfair but can’t stop himself. Not with the hurtburning in his chest.

“Genji.”“Get out. Just getout.”You stay, try to reason. When you reach out to hug him hesnaps. Whips around and punches you in the chest, throws you off thebed. Only the wires and tubes attached to him prevent him fromfollowing.

“Get out!” he screams, throws thefirst thing he can reach which just happens to be the laptop. Youcatch it, scramble to your feet, throw him one last look and leave.

Dr Ziegler passes you by on your wayout, wants to check with her patient. Genji makes her go away, too.

In the end he’s alone to regret hisoutburst. To wish you’d come back, tell him it was all amisunderstanding. That you do love him, that he hasn’t ruinedeverything.

You don’t come back and Genji doesthe one human thing he has left, the one thing no omnic can mimic. He buries his head in his pillow and cries.

[letspretendfictionpressworks]

body language 9

I do not like eating as a family. Or perhaps, more accurately, I do not like eating with someone else’s family.

 “Here you are, dear.”

 I accept the plate of cheese toast from Carol and she takes a seat next to Kay, opening a yogurt.

 I thought my lack of interest in eating anything other than toast would somehow articulate my lack of a desire to sit with Kay and his family at breakfast. Instead, Carol is under the assumption that cheese toast is my favorite food, and is sure to prepare me a plate whenever possible to “help start my day.”

 Kay is staring at me, his eyes narrowed. In thought or irritation, I’m not sure.

 “Thank you,” I tell his wife hastily, in case he thinks me rude.

 She looks up from her yogurt and smiles.

 I resume chewing on my toast.

 And Kay is still looking at me. Apparently, he wasn’t sending me an irritated look of disapproval for lacking manners.

 “Any plans for this weekend?” he asks casually.

 I swallow my toast and try to swallow down my irritation with it.

 I do not like Kay’s version of guidance. I’m not sure I need it. I’m not sure I want it.

 I have no reason to lie, yet I feel an odd desire to, merely so he can’t continue to poke around the tatters of my social life.

 I like my privacy.

 “Going to a friend’s after work,” I mumble around another bite of toast.

 “A friend?” Kay repeats.

 He does not mean for it to be condescending—I don’t think so, anyway—but it rubs me wrong anyway.

 Markus, the social reject. Markus, who has no friends. Markus, who thinks that the only kind of “friend” worth having is one who pays him for sex.

 “Yes,” I reply, trying to keep my voice level. “A friend.”

 “Where’d you meet this friend?” Kay pushes, still trying for casual, but now sounding suspicious.

 Or maybe I’m paranoid. Maybe I’m bitter about things that I shouldn’t feel bitter about. Maybe he is just concerned. Maybe I’m so jaded that I’ve put a filter on the world that makes it look like everything is a personal attack.

 “At the amusement park. With Spencer.”

 Kay hums.

 “I think it’s good for you to get out of the house,” Jess says from beside me, her eyes glued to her phone, a spoonful of cereal in one hand.

 It’s her turn to earn Kay’s frown and disapproval. “Please put that away at the table.”

 She gives a long-suffering sigh and pretends to put it in her pocket, laying it on a thigh instead, the fingers of one of her hands still poking at its screen.

 Maybe she’s texting her boyfriend.

 But it’s none of my business.

 Kay still casts me quick glances, suspicion fluttering in and out of his eyes.

 My mood curdles.

 ***

 It is a long day. I can only be grateful it’s the last day of my work week.

 There are more customers than usual. Everyone is short tempered. I cannot do anything right. I manage to take someone’s order as “strawberry pancakes” instead of “blueberry pancakes.” I receive a lecture from my boss about my attentiveness. I offer to take the strawberry pancakes that the customer returned as my free meal for lunch.

 I am stressed. I am agitated. Eating the returned pancakes—cold and soggy by my meal break—does not cheer me. I choke down every bite.

 When I have an hour to go, I start counting down the minutes until my shift ends.

 Forty-seven.

 I empty the trash cans.

 Forty-one.

 Refill the napkins in the holders at the tables.

 Thirty-five.

 Wipe down table surfaces between customers.

 Twenty-three.

 The chime on the door jingles. Another customer. A quick glance at the register tells me that my co-worker has wandered off.

 Seventeen.

 I turn away from the customer and the register to reign in my shortening temper. Remind myself that I need a job, and I cannot refuse to work because I have bad days.

 Even if I have more bad days than good.  

 Fifteen.

 “Hey.”

 I wanted the new customer to see my turned back and understand that I was not going to take their order; that they would have to hunt down my missing coworker. I am annoyed at the persistence. I am just so agitated today.

 I whirl, mouth open, ready to let loose a curt greeting, but it’s not just any customer. It’s not a stranger. Not a complete one, anyway.

 It’s Trevor.

 “Hello,” I say, with much more bite in my voice than I intended to sharpen it with. My brain catches up with the fact that I’m speaking to Trevor and not another demanding customer, but my mouth doesn’t, apparently.

 He looks taken aback, startled, shocked, like he thought he was reaching to pet a playful puppy and found an aggressively rabid mutt instead.

 “I’m—I’m sorry,” he stammers. “I wasn’t—I’m not trying to make it seem like I’m following you. I’m didn’t—I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable.”

 I actually didn’t get a chance to think about the why of his appearance at my work. I suppose this time, he came here on purpose, to see me, if he didn’t immediately head for the register.

 “I just thought—” He hesitates, looking for something in my expression. Then, tentatively: “Well, when does your shift end?”

 “Twelve minutes,” I reply on autopilot, my brain ticking down those seconds, even now, even distracted, even while speaking to Trevor.

 That is testament enough as to how eager I am to leave, considering normally I have such a weak grasp on the hour that I have to look out a window to even take a guess as to whether it’s morning or night.

 “I just got off work,” Trevor says. “I just—wanted to ask if you get off soon.”

 “Eleven minutes,” I confirm.

 “Well,” he says. And then he pauses to wipe his hands on the fabric of his trousers. I marvel at the random gesture before I realize his hands must be sweaty.

 Am I… Do I make him nervous?

 The thought hits me like a wave. It feels like my feet lift off the ground, like my stomach does a flip from a sudden change in direction, drowning me for a moment, washing away my irritation. I’m not used to making people nervous. I’m the nervous one.

 “I was wondering if you’d want to walk back to my apartment with me,” Trevor says.

 I stare at him, confused.

 “For our movie,” he says, sounding disheartened at my expression.

 I was eager for Friday at the start of the week. Now it’s Friday, and I have been so focused on getting through the long hours of my shift, that I forgot I have something to look forward to after my shift.

 “It’s… it’s only four,” I stammer out, feeling oddly embarrassed for forgetting. We originally agreed to meet up at seven.

 “Yes, well.” Trevor wipes his hands on his pants legs again. I stare, marveling yet again at that gesture.

 “I was hoping you’d want to come over a little early, maybe?” he asks, ducking his head and peering at me from under his eyelashes, a hand rubbing at the back of his neck, nervous and fidgety like he’s asking a parent permission to break curfew.

 It’s such a hesitant question. A different sort of hesitancy than I’m used to.

 I’m used to people pausing awkwardly, as though I were an afterthought they didn’t want to muse over. Like they feel too guilty not to say or ask something, but want me to say no.

 This is shy. This is soft. This is Trevor afraid that I’ll say no.

 He’s honestly excited.

 I feel so overwhelmed by that simple fact, there are butterflies whispering in my chest, a warm, pleasant feeling that slowly spreads to my face.

 “You’re blushing,” he points out, a hand still on the back of his neck.

 “No.” I stare at anything but him.

 “Yes,” he corrects.

 “No,” I repeat.

 “It’s cute.”

 “No,” I repeat again, feeling my face grow hotter from his attention.

 “Are you saying ‘no, you aren’t blushing,’ or ‘no, you won’t walk home with me’?”

 I stare at the floor, willing my face to cool.

 “Will you?” he asks again.

 And I cannot refuse.

 ***

 “Do you jog a lot?”

 We haven’t walked very far. Cut the Crepe is only a block behind us when Trevor asks me this bizarre, random question. My eyes slide towards him in a confused side glance. “Why?”

 “I’ll race you,” he tells me.

 And that’s all the warning I get before he actually starts jogging.

 I’m standing stock still, staring after him, waiting for the punch line, waiting for the joke. But Trevor doesn’t turn around and come back towards me. He just… keeps jogging.

 After half a block, he finally turns around to look at me, jogging in place, looking at me expectantly.

 I walk towards him.

 He looks equal measures confused and disappointed when I catch up to him. “I said jog.”

 “You can jog,” I tell him as I continue walking. “I’ll meet you there.”

 Apparently, Trevor wants to keep pace with me, even though I’m walking. He’s… sort of doing a funny walk where his legs come up higher than necessary, like he’s comically pantomiming someone who’s running in place, while sort of moving as he does it.

 “It’s a race,” he informs me.

 “You’ll win.”

 “That’s not very competitive.”

 “It’s not like there’s an exciting prize waiting at the end.”

 His expression crumples, and I feel like I’ve just kicked a friendly dog. I’m not sure how I always manage to do it, but my words never match what I mean, and usually wind up sharper than I intend. Sharper tones, sharper meaning.

 “You’re not excited for the movie, then?” he asks.

 I realize, much too belatedly, how he misinterpreted my words.

 “I am,” I tell him.

 “Just not the race?” he persists, in a tone that suggests the two are somehow directly linked to one another, and it’s impossible to dislike one without disliking the idea of the other.

 I don’t know that I trust my words.

 But before I can figure out what to say, Trevor’s odd, exaggerated walking-jog stops. “Oh.”

 I glance at him.

 He clenches his hand into a fist and taps it against his forehead. “I didn’t even think about stretching. We’d pull muscles. Sorry, sorry, you’re right.”

 I’m not sure what I suggested that I’m “right.” I continue to stare in his direction.

 “Next time,” he offers. “We’ll stretch out beforehand.”

 “Yeah,” I agree, not even sure just what I’m agreeing to.

 But he smiles, bright and happy, and I decide it doesn’t matter.

 At least he doesn’t look like a kicked puppy anymore.

 ***

 Trevor freezes with his key still in the door of his apartment.

 “It—it’s a little rough,” he tells me quickly. “I usually clean on the weekends. I meant to do some spot-cleaning before I left for work this morning, but I forgot.”

 I blink at him.

 “Okay,” he corrects, his face flushing. “My ex-girlfriend used to clean on the weekends. I’m still… trying to figure out a routine.”

 I nod. I don’t know why I do, but it appeases him. He opens the door and steps inside, and I follow.

 And I understand what he means by “rough.” There are empty take out containers piled on the coffee table in the living room, overflowing and spilling on to the carpeted floor. There’s another small stack next to the couch.

 Trevor is hastily restacking the ones that tumbled off the table, piling them in his arms and rushing for the trash.

 “Just sit while I clean this up!” he calls from the kitchen area.

 I look at the couch, but there’s a pizza box open across the couch. There are still three slices of pizza.

 “Oh, I fell asleep on the couch last night,” Trevor says, coughing into his fist. “I—uh—forgot to put that away before work.”

 “For spot cleaning,” I clarify.

 He looks abashed. “Might’ve only needed to clean a few spots.”

 I look from the table to the area next to the couch to the couch itself. “Just three?”

 He clears his throat and rushes to close the pizza box, moving towards the fresh trash bag he brought from the kitchen.

 “My, uh, ex-girlfriend used to do the cooking,” he admits. “I’ve just been living on take out. And since she’s not here to make me, uh, stay on top of cleaning…”

 He drifts off, looks away from me, and snags more empty containers from the coffee table to shove into the bag.

 I feel useless, so I help.

 “You don’t have to—” he protests.

 “It’s fine,” I cut him off. “Faster this way, right?”

 He shrugs, grabs another handful of empty containers from the table and doesn’t look at me.

 I stare at him.

 “What?” he mumbles, giving me a quick glance.

 “You’re blushing,” I say.

 “Not,” he mutters, taking a little longer than necessary to push a container down into the quickly filling trash bag with his face turned away.

 “You are,” I press, enjoying the way I’ve turned the tables.

 He shrugs, gives me another quick glance, scans my smiling face. “I wanted to make a better first impression than this.”

 “First impression?” I repeat, not understanding.

 “Yeah, you know.” He gestures around the apartment. “First impression.”

 I am very confused. “I’ve been here before.”

 Trevor winces. “Okay, I was hoping we could pretend like this was your first impression. I mean last time…”

 He drifts off and I fight my own wince.

 “I made an ass out of myself last time,” he says. “Sorry.”

 I nod. I’m good at nodding when I don’t know what to say.

 The various empty take out containers are cleaned up, and Trevor ties the bag off, puts it next to the trash can in his kitchen.

 “I’ll take it out later, after you leave,” he tells me.

 I eye him skeptically.

 “I will,” he insists. “Same movie as last time?”

 “Yeah,” I agree.

 He puts on the DVD, and we sit on the couch. The opening credits start to play, and Trevor jumps to his feet, startling me.

 “Sorry, I’m so rude! I forgot!”

 He rushes into the kitchen. I look between the kitchen entrance and the TV, like the singing actress currently crooning on the set will break character and tell me what, exactly, is so rude.

 Trevor returns, offers me a glass filled with something yellow. I take it.

 “Oh. Do you like lemonade? Do you want a drink?”

 I stare at the glass. I look up at him.

 He cringes, his shoulders dropping. “I’m so bad at this. I did that backwards. Should’ve asked before I got it. I guess I’m just—nervous. This is new, you know?”

 I can’t say I’d make a spectacular host if I invited someone over to my place—if I had my own place—so I nod. Take a sip. “I like lemonade just fine.”

 He looks relieved and moves to retake his seat next to me. He throws his arm across the back of the couch and his fingers brush my shoulder. He snatches it back.

 “Sorry,” he mutters.

 I am confused once more. “For?”

 He studies me, his expression tentative. “Nothing, I guess.”

 “Okay,” I say slowly and turn my attention back to the movie. After another minute, he places his arm across the back of the couch again, slowly, like he’s afraid if he touches my shoulder, I’ll detonate like some kind of touch-activated bomb.

 I’m really not sure what’s gotten into him. I decide my best option is to keep watching the movie. Not like I know what to say—if there’s anything to say—anyway.

 Something like another ten minutes pass, and I relax as I get into the movie. We had gotten a little further last time we tried to watch, but—

 “Flowers!” Trevor bursts out, startling me again.

 I look at him. He looks deeply upset about something. “What?”

 “Flowers,” he repeats. “Do you want some?”

 “Uh?” I try to figure where the question came from, but I’m honestly not sure. There hasn’t been any flowers in the movie.

 I don’t have a green thumb, but I think Carol has a small garden in the back yard. I honestly should show more appreciation for her and Kay’s hospitality. I know it’s possible to grow the flower as a plant from the flower itself. I’m not sure how, though. Or, I suppose, if it’s even possible with all variations of flowers. But I suppose Trevor knows which can and can’t if he’s offering.

 I’m still not sure where the sudden question came from.

 “Oh… yeah, sure,” I tell Trevor. “If you have some.”

 He looks pained. “I knew you might want some. I’m sorry, I—”

 He cuts himself off short and looks at his front door. His gaze flicks between me, the TV, and the door, cycling fast, faster. Me, TV, door, me, TV, door, me TV door, meTVdoor.

 Finally, he lets out a long-suffering noise.

 “Next time,” he says. And then he repeats, nodding firmly, “Next time.” And he does it again, nodding firmly, “Next time. I promise I’ll have flowers for you.”

 “Okay,” I say, also glancing at the door curiously. I don’t know why Trevor was looking at it so keenly. I can only imagine that perhaps he has a small communal or private yard outside, and forgot the flowers there.

 We resume watching the movie. And again, ten minutes later, when I’m starting to focus on the story—

 Trevor turns his body so he’s full facing me. He takes a deep breath. “I have a question for you.”

 I already know this is not going to be a question I expect, like “how do you like the movie? Or “which song or character is your favorite?” No, somehow I have a gut feeling this is going to be a question like the flowers, and the drinks—

 “What’re some good porns I can watch? Like, gay porns?”

 Yet still, he manages to throw me for a loop. I was even expecting an odd question, but I wasn’t expecting that.

 “What?” I ask carefully, like with just the wrong word, he’ll spontaneously combust. Honestly, with the rate this night is going, it wouldn’t surprise me.

 “You’re gay, right?”

 Also not a question I thought I’d be answering tonight. “I—”

 He does not give me time to answer, but rushes on, like if he waits too long to get this—whatever this is—off his chest, he won’t be able to say it. Honestly, I think I would rather he lose his courage. But on he plows, waiting less than a second before continuing, “So you watch gay porn, right?”

 “I—”

 Again, he does not wait for me to reply, but charges on. “So, what would you recommend?”

 “I—”

 “It’s for research,” he adds quickly.

 I stare at him.

 “Research?” I repeat, before I can stop myself.

 He nods fervently.

 “I—”

 “I just thought it’d be good to be prepared,” he blurts.

 I’m staring again.

 “So?” he prompts.

 I wait, in case he has anything else he wants to add. And then I tell him, “I don’t know.”

 He deflates. And despite the eccentric topic of the conversation, I feel a little bad for yet again causing him disappointment.

 I don’t know what X-rated movies to offer. I don’t watch them. I don’t bother.

 My life was a pornographic film for several years. Why would I need to watch other people?

 “There’s websites, right?” I hazard. I have no idea what I’m talking about. “And, uh, video stores that only sell those kinds of movies, right? You could, um, maybe go there and, uh, ask for recommendations.”

 He shrugs, but his expression isn’t as crumpled. “Yeah, I suppose.”

 I have nothing more to say, but now things feel awkward. We never bothered to pause the movie, and the sound of the voices from the characters fill the room.

 I was just about to stiffly turn back to the TV when—

 “Oh, shit.” Trevor leaps up.

 I eye him warily.

 He dashes for the kitchen, muttering, “Popcorn. I forgot popcorn.”

 Oh. Right. Honestly, I forgot popcorn, too, I suppose. I can’t say that I want any, just that I forgot that popcorn was sometimes an option to accompany a movie.

 “It’s fine,” I call, but I don’t have a naturally loud voice. And over the racket he’s making—opening and slamming cupboards, still loudly muttering “popcorn, popcorn, where do I keep the popcorn”—I don’t think he can hear me.

 So I wait. I find the remote and pause the movie, and I wait, listening to the sound of the kernels popping, the ding of the timer, the sound of Trevor transferring it to a bowl.

 Finally, he emerges with a ridiculously large bowl of popcorn.

 “Are you hungry?” I ask.

 He frowns as he sits back down next to me. “You don’t want any?”

 “I… guess I’ll have some.” Still, I eye the overly large bowl like it’s a challenge I can’t figure out.

 “What’s wrong?” Trevor tosses a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

 “I think… if I were just a little more flexible, I could fit in that bowl.”

 Trevor bursts into laughter. He laughs so hard he has to put the bowl on the table.

 I stare at him, almost fascinated, not sure what I said that was so funny, but not disliking its consequences.

 Trevor laughs so hard he coughs. He coughs and coughs, clears his throat, reaches for his glass of lemonade, takes a sip, wipes his mouth, and looks at me. He starts laughing again. Not as hard, but a soft, rumbling chuckle. He leans towards me.

 And kisses me.

 I’m surprised. I’m not surprised. I don’t know what I am. I feel like I had so many surprises in the last hour with this guy that I can’t tell what does and doesn’t surprise me when it comes to him right now.

 But I kiss back.

 His fingers are soft for a guy’s. They skim over my collar bone, slide up my neck, ruffle my hair.

 He pulls back, tense all of a sudden.

 “Is—is this okay?” he asks, nervous.

 I try to fight a smile and fail, even though I don’t know if he’s asking if it’s okay to kiss me or if he’s any good at it. But he’s nervous. Because of me. A fact I still can’t get over.  

 “Yes,” I say.

 He leans in again.

 And I meet him halfway.

[candy-corps]

A Place to call Home

Jess belongs to mygardenofmuses.

Damien couldn’t tell if his day started well … or if it did not. He lay with his face to the wall, curled up in the sick bed that was part of their hideout. After checking - and failing - to find a place to stay the night in, he’d decided to come here last night. And brought some cats.

His room was gone. His home was gone. He needed something - anything familiar. So why was the first thing to see Jess. Familiar? Yes. At this time of the day? No. The little furry end of Damiens tail twitched where it hung over the edge as he just got more irritated, thinking of it.

It didn’t add up. Sleepy - and grumpy too - he turned again, all covered up in his thick jacket and blanket that Jess dragged here some time ago.

“What are you doing here” he mumbled eventually; tail still twitching visibly. 

“I didn’t see you yesterday, so I thought I’d drop by our secret hideout and bring some company, right, Bernie?” Jess answered with a kind smile. She could tell something was bugging her boyfriend, thought she wasn’t exactly sure what could it be.

“Yep, I’m here!” Bernadette was sitting on the floor. A friendly white cat had greeted them the moment they stepped inside, and now she had the same cat on her lap.

“Nice” Damien replied in a tone that made clear he was tempted to simply turn around again and ignore both of their existence. Problem being though - he did like Jess…

“I was helping dad” Damien explained shortly - which was just half of the truth. He didn’t want to think of the move though, right now.

“Helping him? Is he OK?” Jess asked, still not understanding the gravity of the situation. She, in her good faith, wished to help too.

“If it’s something that can be fixed with magic, bet I can do something!” Bernadette picked up the cat and showed it to Jess, who couldn’t resist petting it. It was too cute.

But Damien was more important now. Jess sat on one side of the bed, leaving her hands on her lap. She knew Damien liked school, even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud. “You know you can tell me anything. Wanna talk about it? I brought you something as breakfast…”

He did not want to talk about it. He did not want to think about it. Although Damiens tail at least stopped twitching, the boy himself went on to hide himself under the blanket. It was simply too early.

“What kind of breakfast?” he asked then - feeling just a little bit warmer. Yet - once settled his hand moved out of the cover; resting casually next to the spot that Jess sat on.

“Cookies and an apple. The cookies are something I’ve made myself.” Jess answered, picking up a small food bag from her purse. The bag clearly was handmade too, as it was decorated with little bats - three of them.

“You should try her cookies. Jess is fairly good at baking. Though it’s normal, she learned everything from her mom…” Bernadette commented with a chuckle.

Damien grumbled, hearing that. “Her baking is great because she’s great” he found. His hand moved back under the covers as he noticed Jess didn’t pick up on it. Instead, he rested his tail on her lap.

“Aaaawwww!” Bernadette found herself giggling in awe. It was really sweet that Damien was able to say such things out loud.

Jess blushed at his words. To hear him he thought she was great… boy, that sure was an ego boost. She offered him the bag with the breakfast. “I made this bag for you too. Hope you like it!”

Noticing his tail on her lap, Jess petted it gently. So soft!

“Aw yourself, Bernadette” Damien grumped beneath the covers. He wasn’t cute - at least he wasn’t trying to. He just said what he’s thought.

His tail twitched again at Jess’ touch. He didn’t mean for her to touch it - but he kept it there, nevertheless. In order to see Jess’ present though, he had to peek out beneath his shield. Still sleepy looking.

“Thanks” he mumbled to her. Food was appreciated since he didn’t get to bring some for himself. The young cat on his bed seemed interested now; climbing on Damien to sniff on what Jess had to offer.  

“If I had known you’d have company, I would have brought Elton with me. He always could use more playdates with other cats.” Jess chuckled, wondering if the cat on the bed would like some pets.

“I’ve got Limbo here with me, but he isn’t too good with cat transformations just yet. He got the makings of a canine, more than felines.” Bernadette commented. She looked around, studying the room. It seemed Jess had turned it into the medical room of the hideout, as she could recognize bandages, alcohol, peroxide, plasters, band aids and even some pills for headaches. She looked back at Damien, wondering if he had actually slept here all night. She didn’t dare to ask…

But Jess, in her innocence, dared to do so. “Hey, Damien… did you sleep here all the night?”

“No … “ Damien replied, finally starting to sit up. “Just since dad went out. Which was … all the night minus an hour and some more time go het here” he guessed, yawning. Thinking of whom though, Damien began to dig in his pockets - soon finding his phone and a total of 6 missed calls and three messages.

“That’s technically all the night.” Jess frowned in worry. “Damien… Whatever it is… You know you can tell me.” She reached for his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m here for you.”

Noticing the feeling in Jess’s words, Bernadette left the kitty carefully on the ground and got up. Those two needed some private time, and she could return later. “I’ll go to the bathroom one minute, be back soon!”

“Alright” Damien replied to Bernadette, though his gaze stayed fixed on Jess for the time. Tell her. What was there to tell? He didn’t want to talk, really - but some time alone would be appreciated, indeed.

“I won’t be staying another night here” Damien promised, the second the door closed behind Bernadette. He didn’t want her to worry. He pushed the blanket away; slowly getting adjusted to the cool rooms temperature.

“If you need a place to rest, we can have a sleepover in my house. Our hideout is nice and everything, but with the autumn starting, nights are cold. I don’t want you to get sick.” Jess insisted gently, squeezing his hand a little more. He kept dodging the question, so the girl assumed that something really bad had happened.

“Then I find myself something warm” Damien reassured her. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand - too happy that Jess was holding his other than to claim it back. “It’s good” he said - failing though to say that with confidence. He felt something squeeze up his insides at the thought to crash at Jess’ place. He slept there before, one time. He shouldn’t make it a habit. Places he made a habit of sleeping in had the bad tendency to just go away. And he didn’t want Jess to go.

Withdrawing his hand from his eye, he found something wet on it. Just a single tear, but enough to withdraw his other after all to rub both of his eyes and pretend to be SO tired, still.

Sadly Damien couldn’t fool her. Jess had done that same trick several times during her childhood. Pretending to be sleepy to hide tears. Oh, she knew it too well.

Lifting her arms, she enveloped him in a loving hug. She wouldn’t push Damien to sleep with her. After all, Jess was used to his antics. He was one independent spirit, and she respected that.

“It’s OK.” she whispered, and kissed him softly. “You can sleep here. I’ll get you some blankets. Knowing Bernie, bet she’s fixing the place to make it warmer for you. It will be alright.” she nuzzled him and sighed softly. Even if she didn’t know yet what was the reason why Damien was avoiding home now, Jess was willing to do everything to support him. Even if it was just a hug.

Damien let out a shaky breath - not crying anymore, but yes, still upset. He closed his eyes for a moment - so very glad that Jess was with him.

“It’s not” he said then, matter of factly. “We lost our home - me and dad… And Zagam’s gone, too. Something about dimensions. Dunno.” He swallowed.

Her embrace become a little tighter. Jess wished her touch could convey all her feelings for him and help him to feel better… even if the circumstances were worse than she thought.

“I’m so sorry something so terrible happened.” she whispered, and kissed his cheek. “I know how it feels… to lose someone you saw as a father. It’s hard. If anything… you still have Bernie and me. You’re not alone. We’re here for you.” She pulled back a little to cup his cheek with her hand and press her forehead against his. “I’m here for you.”

But for how long, Damien thought bitterly. “Well, it’s nothing new” he mumbled, drawing back after a little while. He had to get up. Keep going was the only option there was. Suddely aware that his hair must look like a mess after sleeping he brushed his hands through it.

“I’m just trying to help you…” Jess felt slightly hurt by that response, but she guessed Damien’s mind wasn’t in the best place right now. Heck, a year ago she was a worse mess after the camping. She had to be patient.

“I can leave the room for a moment if you need some private time to change your clothes.” she mumbled, looking down at her bag. She was carrying her magic brooch in there. Maybe she could join Bernadette and transform. Fixing the factory should be easier with a little bit of magic… if her friend wasn’t doing it already!

“No need. I didn’t bring any other stuff” he admit, a bit embarassed. He rushed out so quick, he left pretty much unprepared. Besides… “Most of it was, well … Home.”

As he got up, the bigger cat came up to him, rubbing against Damuens legs. He wasn’t in the mood to pick it up right now, but felt his shoulders relax a bit at the familiar gesture.

“Hum, in that case… How about we go there? I’m pretty sure we’ll find something if we look for it. Bet there’s still something left behind.” she offered, trying to encourage him to get up.

Jess looked back to the door. “I’m pretty sure that Bernie can help. She could take us there in a flash.”

“The whole building is gone” Damien said; his hands forming wrists. As if he hadn’t thought about checking. It’s what he’s done the first couple of hours. What his dad had done, too. What he was probably still doing.

“I should go to dad, if anything” Damien guessed, remembering the handful of attempted calls and text messages. “And bring the cats back, first.” He couldn’t leave the two in here all day - especially since he had no intention of returning tonight. It won’t be fair. He leaned down to the cat to pet it; feeling a little bad that he didn’t know its name.

“Ooh…” Yes, it made sense. Jess wanted to smack herself - as if that hadn’t been obvious! But thinking of that wouldn’t help. She focused all her attention on him, trying to think of solutions. If the building was gone, chances were a portal had sucked it in… However, according to her uncle’s theories, portals tended to open again from time to time. Maybe she could check by herself. If she could find the portal, perhaps she could cross it and get back his stuff. And Bernadette could help her in case something went wrong…

“Going to your dad is a good idea. He’ll be worried for you.” she commented, leaving her hands on her lap. “I know it’s hard, but… things will be OK. if you need anything, you can call me anytime. For now… how about we get up and go outside, mmh?”

“I’ll be packing” Damien answered. Not that there was much packing to do: Cats, food … And his school bag, he luckily had with him that day. Same as Jess’ wrist band.

“And … we’ll meet in school. I’ll be back on Monday” he promised again.

“Alright. I’ll wait for you.” Jess leaned forward and, without thinking twice, gave him a soft kiss on the lips. Nothing too long, since they had to get going. When she got up, Bernadette knocked and came in.

“Hey guys… I saw you didn’t fix the hole of the roof and the structure of the building was suffering from it, so… I’ve done some fixing using my magic. No more hole. You’ve got something nicer instead~!”

“You did?! Oh Bernie, thank you!” Jess gave her a hug, that Bernadette was more than happy to return. She looked back at Damien and pulled back from Jess.

“C’mon, Damien. I’d like you to come and tell me what would you like to have there. I’ve been thinking of some ideas, like a stargazing spot, an observatory with telescope included, or just a nice glass dome. What would you like?”

“A stargazing spot would be nice��” Jess mumbled quietly.

“How about … a hole. A gaping hole. In the roof” Damien grumbled, rushing out of the room to see what Bernadette had done to his place.

She fixed it. She dared to fix it.

“ G̫̯͍̳̯͇̬a͍͉͖̬̜̮a̩̙̜͉̙̖͓ạ̫h̰̻!̰̪͚” he roared; getting even angrier as his voice repelled from the walls and he could hear the sound tingle in his ears again. Why couldn’t one thing just stay as it was?