#mom came over trying to shove some food in my face (that comes with an unspoken catch where she gets to abuse me and justify it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

neiptune · 2 years

Text

dazzling haze, mysterious way

(eren x female reader)

college au; enemies to lovers

wc: 7k+

warnings: cursing, suggestive if you squint really hard

a/n: i have no excuses for this madness, please know i am embarrassed. considering writing a part 2 if you enjoy!

Things being back home for the holidays usually means:

a) indulging in your dad’s creamy homemade hot cocoa, b) having at least one christmas movie night with Christa, c) spending half of said christmas movie night repeatedly asking Christa to put her phone down (she can text her girlfriend after Juliet answers the doorbell to find Mark carrying a boombox playing a christmas carol and large cue cards), d) getting some well deserved rest after a decent finals week

Things being back home for the holidays doesn’t usually mean:

a) forgetting your favorite sweater at your dorm like a dumbass, b) finding out your dad fell prey of food poisoning, c) having to threaten to throw your brother’s nintendo switch out the window if he doesn’t stop smoking in his room, d) being so short on money you’re forced to look for babysitting jobs to roll out the slim earnings you get from working as a tutor on campus

So here you are, buried in a gigantic white puffer jacket and handmade scarf, backpack heavy with books, DVDs, craft supplies. Here you are, ringing the doorbell of one of the fanciest houses of the entire, affluent neighborhood you’ve been directed to by the woman who had called you yesterday. You sincerely hope you didn’t get off the bus too early nor too late, as this is not really a part of your hometown you’re familiar with.

You are, however, fairly familiar with the 5’12 broad chested green eyed cable knit sweater and pajama bottoms wearing figure opening the door.

“Thanks, we don’t need anything” he says, gaze flickering over your outfit, only one second spent wondering where you could possibly be hiding a vacuum cleaner.

Does he really not recognize you? Is it the scarf or is he actually that much of an idiot?

“Does Gabi live here?” you ask, unimpressed.

His eyebrows raise in interest.

“She isn’t old enough to buy anything”

“Eren, I’m here to babysit” it feels so weird to say his name out loud to someone that isn't Mikasa or Christa. It’s weird to call him by his name while he’s there to actually hear it.

“Do I know you?” his gaze narrows, gears in his head working exceptionally hard to try and remember a face that simply isn’t familiar enough for him to pinpoint.

You sigh.

“Isn’t your mom here? She asked me to come today and has already paid in advance. I can leave but—”

He finally opens the door fully, a gust of wind makes him shiver and it finally dawns on him that it’d probably be rude to let you freeze on his doorstep.

“Come in, I’ll call her” he moves to the side and you accept the invitation with relief, hands ice cold even if buried inside your pockets.

The house is warm, smells nice and you can hear that the tv is on in the living room. You stay by the door, watch as he heads to what you can only guess is the kitchen and comes out shortly after, phone squeezed between his cheek and shoulder as he removes the hair band sitting around his wrist with his teeth.

“Hey mom” you do your best not to stare as he ties his hair back and the sweater rises up slightly, revealing part of an annoyingly toned stomach “yeah, ‘m fine. Someone’s here, she says it’s to babysit Gabi?”

However, you are staring. Which explains why you slightly jump when his gaze is suddenly on you again as he hums, listening to whatever explanation his mom is giving him.

“Ah, right. She says you already paid?”

“I can leave and send the money back” you take a small step forward but Eren motions you to keep quiet with a raise of his pointer finger.

“Okay, I got it. Yes, I’ll tell her. Thanks, you too, tell dad I said hi” he smiles softly before ending the call and shoving the phone in his pocket.

“It’s honestly my fault, I came back one day earlier than expected. She’s embarrassed and so sorry and will call you later to apologize”

“It’s really no problem, I’ll just send the payment back” you’re already with one hand on the door handle, hoping to god the next bus will come within an hour, when his fingers delicately close around your wrist.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can stay”

“There’s no need, just take the money and I’ll be on my way”

Eren suddenly furrows his brows for a second, then his hand reaches over to your scarf and gently pulls it down enough to reveal the entirety of your nose and mouth.

“Ah, you’re the tutor girl. Thought I recognized that polemic tone” and now you finally find him more familiar as well, with that snarky smirk and teasing gaze.

“I wouldn’t need to be polemic if you actually cooperated for once in your life”

He brings both hands to his chest, a fake grimace distorting his features.

“Ouch. Still can’t believe Armin describes you as pleasant to be around”

You click your tongue in annoyance.

“Likewise. I’ll send the money back when I get home” you grumble, turning around to open the door once again. It sucks, cause you need it and your house is half an hour away and it’s 28.4 °F outside, but it’s the right thing to do.

“Hey, listen” Eren doesn’t grab your wrist a second time, his hand reaches the door handle instead. In an attempt to keep it shut, he’s basically hovering above you, an invasion of your personal space so sudden you barely have the time to register that he smells sickeningly nice. Way better than you have anticipated, given that he usually looks like someone who showers once a month and even then refuses to wash his legs cause water and soap rinse down on them anyway.

“She has homework, some kind of project to do. I’m too tired to deal with it, just do the job so you can keep the money and I can keep watching house of the dragon”

“Who is that? ” a high pitched voice asks, making you jump. Eren’s infamous smirk appears once again as he leans forward even more to whisper a good luck though, she’s a pain in the ass right to the shell of your ear. The shudder is a perfectly normal, balanced reaction that you hope to fuck he doesn’t notice.

“She’s your new mom, Gab! Mine finally decided I’m the only one worth keeping around, so she’s given you up for adoption, again” he finally pulls back and winks at his sister, who returns him an unimpressed look.

“Hi, Gabi, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m just gonna be here for a few hours to keep you company” you take off your scarf and attempt a smile. The petite, young girl staring back at you seems offended.

“I don’t need a babysitter, I’m twelve”

God, she really is his sister. The medium length black hair half tied above her head with large strands framing each side of a very skeptical face is the same as his, only darker.

“Have fun” Eren grins, patting your shoulder once before disappearing into the living room once again.

You clear your throat and kneel down to place your backpack on the floor, unzipping your jacket in an effort to stop sweating. What do they have in the house, radiators buried in the damn walls?

“I’m not here to babysit” you smile again “I won’t even bother you if you don’t want me to. Just thought I could give you a hand to finish whatever schoolwork you may have, so you can enjoy the rest of the holidays doing whatever you like”

Gabi weighs her options, studying you for a few moments. She knows she’s gonna have to do her homework anyway, sooner or later, so if this stranger suddenly appearing at her house is going to be there regardless, she might as well be of use.

“Whaddya have in there?” she suspiciously eyes your backpack and you zip it open to give her free peeking access. Gabi kneels on the carpet as well, snooping around the content of the indigo eastpak. “These movies are lame” she grumbles, holding one of the DVDs in between her pointer and middle finger.

You fake a gasp.

“Hey! I’ll have you know that Balto is an all time classic” you grumble back, taking the DVD back. Gabi fights the smile already tugging at her lips. She usually likes adults who talk to her as if she’s one of them, and you seem kinda fun. But it’s too early to let you know.

“What’s the crafting stuff for? I’m not three” she bites again, standing up with her arms crossed. You shrug.

“Those are for me, in case I get bored. I create killer notebooks from scratch, sometimes a pinwheel or two if I feel inspired enough” you casually wink, finally taking off your jacket and hanging it by the door, over your scarf.

“So, I guess, if you don’t want my help I may as well go craft myself something” you dramatically sigh, throwing your backpack over one shoulder and starting to march towards the living room.

“Actually, I kinda have a project for school” she mumbles under her breath, still loud enough for you to hear.

“Oh?” you turn around, brows raised.

“I have to make a snow globe and associate a story with it”

“D’you think I could help with that?”

She casually scratches her nose, shifting her weight from one leg to the other.

“Okay”

“How did you even manage to fit all that in one backpack?” Gabi eyes the materials scattered on the kitchen table, appalled. There’s paint, fake snow, fishing line, brushes, some small wooden decorations, ribbons, a glue gun.

“I have my ways” you chuckle “do you have everything we need?”

“I guess” she sounds skeptical, your favorite emotion to work with.

“Great! Let’s wash the container first, use warm soapy water and scrub well”

“Aren’t you supposed to do that?”

“Nope” you pop the p “you’re the one in charge, remember?”

She snorts but heads to the sink anyway, to do as instructed. You wait at the table, foot tapping lightly on the polished parquet floor. When she comes back and sits next to you, you can tell that she’s holding back some curiosity about how the whole thing is going to turn out.

“Wanna pick the decorations we’re going to use?” you smile, pushing the small wooden figures towards her “I have stars, trees, a truck, a bear, I think that’s a reindeer and, well, a slightly crooked snowman”

Gabi takes the decorations in her hands one by one, carefully inspecting each of them, pensive. The crests forming on her forehead as she focuses remind you of the exact same ones Eren gets when trying to understand how to solve a problem sheet.

“Let’s use the stars, the trees and the crooked snowman. We could give him a nice story”

“Sounds good to me. Wanna do the honors?” you ask, handing her a brush.

“I get to paint them?” her voice comes out slightly squeaky, coated with genuine excitement and, as you nod, she finally rewards you with a big, warm smile.

With your chin resting in the palm of your hand, you fondly watch as she focuses on making the stars, the trees and the snowman come alive with gentle strokes of color. She’s pretty talented and gets into it soon, asking for your opinion from time to time. As soon as she’s finished with the stars, you cut two pieces of fishing line and glue the stars onto one end. Then you take the other end and glue it to the inside of the lid, letting the stars dangle downward. This earns you a wow, you’re actually good at this stuff.

Time passes comfortably as you continue to work on the little project. You help Gabi glue the red ribbon around the (now painted green) lid, adding some twine to keep it in place. She fills the inside of the container with the fake snow and insists on getting some pink glitter from her room to give the snow more character. Lastly, she carefully glues down the decorations in the container, places the lid on top and snaps it closed.

When Eren steps into the kitchen, almost two hours later, he briefly stops to take in the view of you two bent over the messiest table he’s ever seen, paper sheets and colored pencils scattered everywhere as you confabulate in soft whispers occasionally interrupted by genuine giggles. He doesn’t remember seeing his little sister giggle with a stranger, like, ever.

“What’re you doing?” he inquires, finally bringing himself to interrupt the magical exchange he’s witnessing. You both look up as he approaches the table and Gabi proudly indicates your work of art.

“We made a snow globe!” she announces.

“Did you, now?” Eren fails to hold back a smile as he takes a look, carefully twisting the container in his hands.

“And we’re giving the snowman a story” Gabi grins, handing him one of the sheets on which she has drawn a scene from the tale you’re both trying to come up with.

His gaze flickers on you, amused, as if waiting for you to add something.

“His name’s Holly” your smile is uncharacteristically sheepish as you take back the page from his hands, accidentally grazing his fingers.

“Holly Berry” Gabi clarifies, which causes another sudden fit of laughter Eren can’t help but feel dragged into. He doesn’t really understand why or how he ends up sitting at the table as well, examining each drawing and handwritten paragraph you have produced. He can’t pinpoint the exact moment he starts coming up with ideas for the plot himself, suggesting that Holly Berry was actually a human raised in a village of snowmen for so long he eventually turned into one, although slightly imperfect, thus not always treated kindly by his fellow villagers. Eren Yeager actually takes a pencil in his hand and starts sketching drawings of gingerbread houses, candy cane forests and lakes of ribbon candies. He gives Holly Berry a human face and is offended by the way you steal the pencil from in between his fingers, mumbling that those features resemble more a potato than a human being. And yet he isn’t offended for long, because you reach across the table to fix the sketch with decisive and unforgiving strokes, but he can smell your shampoo and feel the warmth radiating from your face on his, so he has to lean forward just a tiny bit more.

“It does look better like this”, he concedes. The slight gruffness punctuating his words makes you look up and pull back to your chair immediately, in what definitely isn’t a suave motion. You know how attractive he is, because you’re not blind nor an idiot, although you’ve never been this close to him. He appears to reach a whole new level of attractiveness when his features are relaxed, cheeks slightly dusted with pink, eyes focused on whatever his skilled hands are tracing on a page. What makes it worse, is that he clearly knows. Which is not a bad thing per se, but just adds perfectly to that asshole attitude of his.

You know Eren Yeager because he’s like a celebrity. Best player of the Trost University men’s basketball team, decent grades, a party thrower that usually spends said parties sitting in a corner making out with hot girls, part of a large, loud group of friends, doesn’t smile much in public, usually dresses in black. You’ve seen him around campus for so long and yet only got to talk to him once, because of Armin, who works as a tutor as well. One afternoon, Eren had suddenly decided to barge in your friendly study session, annoyingly talking over and over and over again about trivial matters, not even acknowleding your presence until you asked him if he was aware of the interruption he was causing.

“Sorry, you are?”

“This is y/n, we tutor students together”, Armin cleared his throat, uncomfortable, apologetic gaze finding your annoyed one.

Eren had barely spared you a glance and a slight nod.

“’Kay, well, can’t you leave early today? Jean’s being a massive pain in my ass about tonight’s party and-”

“He can’t leave early, we’re busy”, you cut him off impatiently, pencil drumming on the textbook page opened in front of you.

He looked at you like he couldn’t believe you were still there.

“Listen, this kinda doesn’t concern you so can you give us a sec?”

Armin sighed as you put down the pencil in disbelief.

“No, I can’t give you a sec. I’m waiting for you to leave so we can resume a work that kinda doesn’t concern you”

With his eyebrow muscle contracting involuntarily in a twitch, Eren suddenly slammed his backpack onto the table, pulled out two thick textbooks, a notebook, one pencil, and stared at you with a challenging look in his sage gaze.

“It does now. I need help with this assignment”

Armin rolled his eyes as you pursed your lips, incredulous at such nerve.

“D’you think this is some sort of game?”

“Nah, a game would require you to remove that stick up your ass”

“Eren!”, Armin elbowed him in the arm, cheeks burning from an embarrassment that shouldn’t have been his.

So, in both your mind and conversations with friends, he became asshole, drunk on self-confidence, narcissistic Eren Yeager. Someone should’ve told him that being hot doesn’t give you a free card to also be a cocky fucker, so you simply won’t allow to whatever magic he works on everyone else to affect you as well. Even if his smile is warm as he jokingly throws a crumpled up piece of paper to his little sister, even if that dishevelled bun gives him a laid back look you can’t help but feel drawn to because it’s real, void of his usual, arrogant nonchalance.

“I’m kinda hungry” Gabi says after a while.

Eren glances at the clock hanging over the counter.

“Well, dad’s conference’s gonna last at least two more hours. Whatcha feel like eating? Grilled cheese?”

Her nose scrunches up in a disgusted but cute grimace.

“I’d like real food”

“Didn’t know bread and cheese were considered abstract food”

You can’t help but chuckle at the exchange and, as they both direct their gazes at you, an idea pops in your head.

“I could make noodles?”

Gabi perks up noticeably.

“Sure, we should have some instant noodles somewhere”, Eren gets up and walks towards the stove to start checking in drawers and cupboards. You get up as well, gently pushing him aside to grab a cutting board and carefully select what you need from the spices and sauces shelf: curry, cumin, white pepper, soy sauce. He looks at you, appalled, which makes you laugh again.

“I mean, I can make them from scratch if you don’t mind me messin' up your kitchen a bit. It’s healthier” you suggest with a shrug.

“Yes please!” Gabi cheers as her brother rolls his eyes at the enthusiasm. How on fuck did you manage to make her warm up to you that much in such a short time?

“I feel like you don’t get paid enough for this” he mumbles, to which you scoff.

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s nothing. Gabi, why don’t you keep working in the living room? I’ll have to set the table” you turn around to glance at her and she gets up right away, diligently collecting everything she needs in her little arms. Eren waits until she’s out of the room to lean on the counter, arms crossed as he follows your every movement around the kitchen.

“Can you stop staring?” you ask, focused on emptying a generous amount of sesame oil in a non-stick frying pan.

“Why, do I make you nervous?”

“If you’re asking whether your presence is bothersome, the answer’s yes”

An amused smile tugs at his lips as he watches you cut a red onion into thin wedges and then add them to the pan while softly humming.

“Didn’t know we’re from the same town” Eren finds it only slightly annoying that you’re being such a sealed box to him. He’s seen the warmth you have so effortlessly unleashed on his sister and can now find it less astonishing, the fact that his best friend likes spending time with you.

You snort as you keep cutting other ingredients: mangetout, some baby park choi, three spring onions, baby corn. You’re good at it, even if you’re so fast his eyes can’t help but nervously flicker from your face to your fingers, tense at the idea that you migth cut off one of your digits. In his kitchen.

“Can you even remember my name?” the question is dripping with sarcasm but your hands are forced to come to a halt when he mutters it without hesitation. He finds pleasure in proving you wrong, in witnessing the way your shoulders had slightly jumped up in surprise. And you feel brain stuck on how his lips must’ve wrapped around your name, making it sound so much better than what you’re used to. It’s just a name and he’s just a guy, what kinda freaky black magic is he working?

“My sister likes you” as much as it’s fun to tease, he finds he enjoys seeing you at ease, relaxed enough to spend an entire afternoon giggling with a twelve year old and actually enjoying it. It works, because you instantly offer a gentle smile as you crush a large garlic clove with the pressure of your palm on the knife you’ve been using.

“I like her, too. It’s scary how clever she is”

“Runs in the family”

To his surpise, you can’t help but let out an airy laugh. It’s authentic, definitely not coated with snark, and he likes it. How many more times could he make you laugh like that again, he wonders?

“Can you pass me some udon noodles?” you ask after a few minutes of comfortable silence. By now everything you’re frying in that pan looks and smells delicious, the curry powder and soy sauce have given all ingredients a golden brown appearence that makes his stomach rumble. As you add some previously heated water to the pan, you can hear Eren opening drawer after drawer, until the distinct sound of plastic being ripped open makes you think he’s found what he’s looking for. You don’t have the time to turn around and reach out to grab the pack of noodles from his hand because he’s already right behind you, so close his chest actually presses to your back for a second as he reaches over to pour the noodles in the pan himself, his other hand casually gripping the counter inches away from your hip. The proximity is unexpected, shocking and pleasantly warm, so you swallow and clench the handle of the wooden spoon you’re using to stir the ingredients.

“Set the table, please” the strangled way words come out makes it sound as if you’re begging, which would usually entertain him but for some reason he can’t bring himself to find it funny, the way you’re luring him in. In fact, the whole situation is so far from being funny, he has to force his body to move away from yours and towards the cabinet where his mom keeps the plates, because what would become of him if you sensed he was on the verge of getting fucking hard from the domesticity of it all? For someone he’s never even actually talked to, no less. What kinda fucked up witchcraft were you practicing? And what on earth did you even use to wash your hair?

It’s soft, the way you call Gabi once the food is ready and it’s playful, the way you urge her to turn around and go wash her hands first, as she dramatically sighs but complies nevertheless. Against all odds where odds = vegetables, she ends up devouring two servings of what, he has to admit, is the best yaki udon he’s ever had. You’re barely picking at your small portion, too busy making sure Gabi eats all she wants.

By the end of a dinner mostly spent coming up with more story options for Holly Berry and giving patient answers to the hundreds questions Gabi has directed your way (Eren now knows your favorite color is turquoise, your younger brother’s name, what you’re going to give Christa as a christmas gift, when your birthday is, which exam took you the longest to study for) he has to insist both of you leave the dishes to him and go finish Holly’s story. You protest—it’s his house and you’re being paid to work—but he simply motions Gabi to drag you away and she surely complies, her small hand closing around yours to not so gently guide you out of the kitchen.

It’s hard not to marvel at the Yeagers’ living room, fire crackling in the wreath covered white marble fireplace beneath the 80+ inch tv mounted to the wall. In the corner stands a second christmas tree (they have one by the kitchen door as well), twice as high, glistening with golden and silver decorations, red ribbons sitting on alternated branches. The big, sectional sofa is covered in what’s probably soft leather and curled up on it is a snoozing tabby cat. Gabi drags you to the right side of the gigantic room, where a bigger, more elegant table stands in front of a gorgeous library with egg-crate shelves filled with books, finely framed family pictures, candles and white Chinese vases decorated with blue patterns made of dragons, clouds, tree branches filled with tiny flowers.

Of course Gabi has made a mess of the table but you smile as you sit, closer this time, letting her fill you up with the latest details she’s come up with for the now almost ten pages long story. She asks you to produce a few more sketches as she focuses on writing the big conclusion and you abide, the snow globe you have both created sitting in your periphereal view right next to your left arm.

“Are you gonna come over again?” she asks without looking up from the snow covered village she’s coloring in.

“If I’m needed and you don’t mind, sure” you smile, not looking at her either.

“What will we do if I don’t have any other schoolwork?”

“We could bake, start a puzzle, come up with another story to fill one of my killer notebooks in. Whatever you’d like”

This time she does look up to meet your gaze and you’re surprised to see the blush blossoming on her cheeks.

“Next time I could show you my room” she suggests while twisting an orange colored pencil in her hand.

“I’d love that” you smile again and she relaxes on the chair, acknowledging your reply with a slight nod.

Fifteen minutes later, you’re done. The story is complete (Holly eventually turns back into a human but decides not to leave the village he grew up in, to protect his friends and make sure his family of snowmen never melts) and the drawings are a wonderful addition to a heartwarming tale you’re sure her teacher is going to appreciate. You get up and help her tidy up the mess scattered across the table. As paper sheets are neatly piled, glitter pens are reunited with their caps as colored pencils with their box and the table is cleared of colorful shavings, Eren returns from the kitchen with hands buried in the pockets of his pajama bottoms and a fond smile tugging at his lips.

“So? How does Holly’s story end?” he asks, not once looking away from you.

“You’ll have to read it to find out” is the playful reply he gets and Eren crosses his heart that he will, in fact, read Holly Berry’s story. It’s only fair.

“I have to go now” you smile down at Gabi “I’ve had so much fun today, thank you for trusting me with your project”

She opens her mouth in a disappointed expression, hand reaching up to grab your sleeve and lightly pull.

“But we still have to watch that lame movie of yours!” she protests, outraged.

“Hey, I have already asked you to respect Balto” you jokingly reproach her “we’ll watch it next time, promise”

“Please, I want to watch it tonight! I won’t call it lame again!”

“Gabi, it’s really late—”

“Can I bribe you with hot cocoa?” Eren’s voice is softer than expected, which causes you to look at him, startled. Why isn’t he beaming at the idea of you finally leaving?

“With marshmallows” Gabi adds, tugging at your sleeve once again.

“Unless you’re so sick of my little sister you’re anxious to leave as soon as you can”

Low fucking blow.

“So long as I don’t miss the last bus home” you sigh, having barely the time to spare his smirk a glare before Gabi drags you all the way to the couch and promptly runs to the kitchen to get your backpack right after you fall on the soft fabric, waking the cat up. It’s not diffident as you might expect and after carefully sniffing the two fingers you politely offer as a personal introduction, it simply hops on your lap to curl up once again. A soft but demanding meow seems to ask for head scratches and, obviously, there’s nothing left to do but to comply.

“Are you plannin’ on winnin’ over every single Yeager family member?”

You don’t look at him, a weak attempt of playing your uneasiness off as indifference. But if there’s one thing you can’t guess about Eren Yeager, is that he’s in no rush, ever. Contrary to popular belief, he likes taking his time.

He’s not sure what it is about you, a stranger who’s barged in unannounced (well, to him, anyway) only to so effortlessly light up each room they’ve walked into. Someone capable of earning Gabi’s affection in such a short amount of time is bound to intrigue him at the very least, it’s normal, nothing unusual there. Right?

So what could be bothering him so much, he wonders while stirring cocoa powder, sugar, milk and salt in a saucepan. You haven’t been hostile, well, you’ve tried, but you were just unable to keep the facade up. You’ve laughed and smiled and joked and he feels this weird sting in the back of his throat just thinking about how nice of a person you must be on the daily, probably as good as the scent you carry around, and Eren has never wanted something as much as he now wants the book Christa is about to get as a christmas gift.

His hands are certainly big enough to comfortably balance tre mugs to bring to the couch with no risk of spilling but you’re so quick to turn around and reach over to get one, a soft I got it muttered with urgency as you pass the mug to Gabi and extend your hand to grab yours next. It’s probably for the best that his younger sister sits between the two of you and it makes him smile how invested she already is in a movie she didn’t even want to watch in the first place. The smile is still there when you both turn to look at him and laugh, Gabi pointing to his lips as he rolls his eyes and licks them clean of any whipped cream remains.

Gabi’s commentary slowly decreases in frequency and after ten minutes of silence, right as Balto and the sled team finally make it back to Nome, you feel a sudden, light weight on your shoulder. As you carefully take the empty mug out of her hands and place it on the coffee table, next to yours, you whisper an almost inaudible Eren.

“Should’ve guessed” the remark is gentle and there’s fondness in his gaze as he gets up to slowly pick his sister up, her arms finding their way around his neck as he balances her against his shoulder with a small hop.

“Be right back” he whispers and you hum, briefly allowing your gaze to follow him as he exits the room, headed to the stairs. You get up as well, collect the emptied mugs and take them to the kitchen. Even if it’s late, so late you’ll probably have to find a cab and spend a fortune to reach your house, the least you can do is wash them and put them away. It’s been a long day but you’re not tired, quite the opposite actually. For whatever reason, you feel so on edge all you know is it’s time to leave that weird house, filled with a weird warmth that barely allows you to catch your breath, and get back to the comfort of your bed with its ice blue duvet and soft pillows.

“You’re missing the movie” the weird warmth carrier himself speaks, arms crossed, leaning into the door frame of the room as you dry your hands on your jeans.

“It’s for the best, I always cry at the end” you let out a faint chuckle and he mirrors it with a smile. He’s changed clothes and is now wearing a pair of washed out jeans and a v-neck shirt that has your gaze inevitably flicker to part of his inner forearm tattoo, one you can’t completely see because of how he’s standing. Does he also have one on his collarbone or are you seeing things?

“Before or after Rosy stops by the memorial in Central Park to thank Balto?”

“You’ve watched it! ” it’s hard to suppress the surprised smile immediately stretching your lips, the excitement in your voice. Damn it.

“And cried” he shrugs and you scoff as you walk past him to get your jacket from the coat rack by the front door.

“I’ll believe it when I see it” you put it on and pull the zipper, feeling some sort of discomfort on your back as you reach to grab your scarf too.

He’s in front of you in the blink of an eye, his hands casually slipping past and under the collar of your puffer jacket, fingers warm against your skin, nails only slightly grazing your neck as he fiddles around to pull out the hood of your sweatshirt. His fingers linger by your now feverish skin a few more seconds, definitely more than they should for someone who merely wanted to be of assistance.

Eren’s literally on the verge of asking you to stay. It doesn’t make sense, it’s ridiculous and lowkey pathetic, but he’s oh so bothered by the idea of losing whatever sudden, fragile wire you had managed to tie in the course of one afternoon. He wonders if you feel it, the way he’s so eerily drawn to you. And it’s not just because he hasn’t been laid in weeks (lost a bet to Connie and is now forced to keep it in his pants for a month), it’s not because he likes a challenge nor because he knows he’s been an asshole. You just feel so authentic. Unexpected.

As you let out a quivering breath, green eyes silently asking yours something you absolutely cannot pinpoint, the front door unlocks and your neck is left cold once again.

Eren’s parents come inside, his mom is a little taken aback at first but then puts the pieces together and begins to profusely apologize for both not having warned you that her son was back early and the fact that it’s so late you’ve probably already missed the last bus home.

“Please don’t worry about it, I had the best time with Gabi” you smile shyly, palms raised in an attempt to quell the string of embarrassed apologies threatening to submerge you. Carla looks at her son for some sort of reassurance, brows still distressingly furrowed.

Eren hums from behind you.

“Can’t remember the last time she had so much fun. She’s already asleep”

They both smile and Grisha gives you a soft nod while taking off his coat.

“Thank you. We know she’s not the easiest to deal with”

“Took her ten minutes to win her over” Eren speaks again, he feels closer this time but you don’t dare turn around. Carla puts both her hands on your shoulders and squeezes lightly.

“Please accept an extra for the trouble”

“There’s been no trouble Mrs. Yeager, I promise” you attempt a reassuring smile and she sighs, turning to look at her husband with a troubled look in her big eyes.

“Let us call you a cab at least” phone is already in his hand as he gently pushes back the thin framed glasses on his nose.

“No need dad, I’ll drop her off”

This time you do turn around, mouth open on the verge of objection, but he’s already put a jacket on and has your backpack in his hand.

“Good idea. Take my car” Grisha takes the keys out of the pocket of his now hung coat and casually throws them at his son.

“You really don’t need to” you do your best to sound polite but Eren can see the daggers you’re shooting him and simply smirks, eyes rolling by default.

“Always so polemic” he mutters under his breath as his dad opens the front door once again and there’s really nothing left to do but to sigh into your scarf, repeat ten more times or so that you had a wonderful time with Gabi and you’d be happy to be back whenever they’d need you to and awkwardly return the hug Carla decides to abruptly give you on your way out.

You climb onto the passenger seat of the black mercedes-benz waiting by the end of the driveway and you exhale with relief as your butt comes in contact with the heated leather of the seat.

“I meant it, y’know. I live half an hour away” you mutter while fiddling to fasten your seatbelt. Eren glances at the rear window as he skillfully turns the steering wheel, one hand closing on the gear knob to move the lever gently.

“D’you always protest against everything?” the question is friendly as he releases the clutch pedal and presses on the accelerator. The engine purrs pleasantly underneath you.

“If needed” you shrug, determined to focus on the houses and gardens you’re driving by at a sustained speed. It’s dark enough for you can spot glistening trees by windows and sparkly christmas decorations in yards. You briefly wonder if your dad’s feeling better, good enough to have had a few spoons of the soup you’ve left him.

“You forgot the movie at mine” Eren says, with studied casualness. It’s the perfect excuse to ask you to come over again, or to bring it back himself. Hell, he will hand it to you in the middle of any class if he has to.

“Let it be my christmas gift to Gabi. She never got to see how it ends”

His hand tightens around the steering wheel.

“How’re you so good with kids?”

Finally, you turn to peer at him, head pressed against the warm leather seat. It’s kinda annoying, how he’s wearing a jacket, because you still can’t find out what his tattoo looks like. However, you do take notice of how pretty his nose is, of the shape of his jawline and of how the intermittent, orangy light of street lamps shines on the darkness of his hair, eyebrows, eyelashes. And who even has cheekbones like that?

When his gaze flickers to you with a soft yet amused, questioning hum, you remember he’d asked you a question.

“I used to take care of my brother when dad was at work” you clear your throat, directing your attention to the road in front of you once again “and I like spending time with ‘em. It’s a nice break from adulthood”

He hums again but this time you don’t dare look at him.

“So you’re good with kids, school, great at drawing and cooking. Is there something you’re bad at?”

“So many things” you softly chuckle “besides, you’re good with kids and at drawing too”

“How d’you know? That I’m good with kids”

“Gabi told me you’re the best brother in the world. But you haven’t heard it from me”

“Not really a secret, I already knew that” he sounds cocky but you can guess from his tone that he's smiling. All day long he’s looked at his sister with a fondness impossible to conceal, the kind that stems from pure, raw affection. The kind that soothed you, because how to not be happy before the evidence of Gabi having an older brother that loves her so much? It reminded you of how you used to be with your brother, the way he’d scoff and tell your dad never to leave him with you all day again, only to slide onto the mattress beside you in the middle of the night.

“I wish I still had a little brother to take care of” you find yourself mumbling.

Eren glances at you, to his annoyance you’re still facing the other way.

“How old is he?”

“Old enough to smoke in his room but still dumb enough to think I can’t smell it” you snort and he laughs a genuine laugh. The car stops at a red light, even though the streets are empty. It’s good to know that he drives responsibly, or maybe it’s just because it’s his dad’s car, who knows.

“I’ll have to teach him my ways, he’ll never get caught again” he’s half joking but you pull a face, rolling your eyes.

“You would” it’s inevitable, turning your head to look at him again. It’s also a big ass mistake, because who in hell looks that attractive underneath a basic, red traffic light?

“What’s that supposed to mean?” his pitch is amused but the way he’s staring at you almost, almost makes you wince. Okay so, eyes? Dangerous. Note taken. You focus on the bridge of his nose instead.

“You seem like the type of person to do that. Get away with things”

Eren Yeager isn’t one to get insecure. In fact, he doesn’t even remember the last time he has felt uncertainty, or self-doubt. And now he ever so slightly shuffles in his seat, suddenly self-conscious and preoccupied with what you think of him. Not concerned with the superficial thoughts you might have about his cocky attitude or vanity, he’s worried about what you might think of him as a person. How bad does your opinion actually get?

“And you don’t like that” he states, with studied but careful measure. You frown.

“Well, duh. You just volunteered to cover for my brother”

He lets out a puff of air from his nose, both relieved and annoyed at your humor. Guess he’ll have to add deflecting to the list of things you’re good at.

“What did you get him for christmas?” he asks as his eyes are on the road again, the traffic light turning green. Safe from his piercing gaze, you don’t look away yet.

“The new pokemon legends game so he can say I’m the best sister in the world and forget about it ten minutes later” Eren’s smile mirrors yours by default as his grip on the steering wheel relaxes.

“What’s Gabi going to get?”

“A portable speaker, so she can blast Taylor Swift for the whole neighborhood to hear”

“Excellent music taste” you grin and he rolls his eyes with fake exhaustion.

The rest of the trip is comfortably quiet and so peaceful you struggle to keep your eyes open. When the car stops right before your house and you reach across the backseat to grab your backpack, there’s a weird gloom churning in the pit of your stomach. You clear your throat as you unlock the door, one leg already out of the vehicle.

“Thank you” your tone is soft as you glance at him one last time. Eren nods, hands now awkwardly resting on his knees.

You step out of the car and close the door as delicately as possible.

Things being back home for the holidays usually means:

a)indulging in your dad’s creamy homemade hot cocoa, b) having at least one christmas movie night with Christa, c) hugging your brother until he pinches your hip because he can’t breathe from how tight you're squeezing him, d) cooking and eating and napping on repeat

Things being back home for the holidays doesn’t usually mean:

a) forgetting your favorite sweater at your dorm like a dumbass, b) finding out your dad fell prey of food poisoning, c) acknowledging that your favorite blanket is nowhere to be found, d) having Eren Yeager call you by your name right after you step out of his car, only to peer at you with staggering eyes and ask

“What are you doing on new year’s eve?”

part 2

#eren yeager #eren x reader #eren yeager x reader #aot #snk #aot fanfic #aot x reader #eren fic #getting back to writing my event requests now i promise #apologies for the eren brainrot #i hope to recover soon

710 notes · View notes

arriansarchive · 4 months

Text

Enoch O'Connor/Horace Somnusson

RAAAAAH 🔥🔥💥💥 The story has been decided

Honestly, enorace is probably my favorite ship..

It and jillard switch out every now and then

Love them both though

Set in Jacob's house after the third book since that's my favorite setting of all time

Can you tell I'm American by the dialogue???

Didn't know how to end it sooo forgetful Enoch I guess

EDIT... I READ THIS ON MY CHROMEBOOK AND I SWEEEEEEAR TO ALL PC READERS THAT THE NUMBERS WERE CENTERED

Summary: One Enoch tried to give Horace a gift and one time he succeeded.

-0-

It was a cold night in the broom closet where Enoch chose to stay in Jacob's gigantic house. The blankets were crowding him, and he just needed to escape.

Jacob had told him that the basement was also a place that he could go to work on his homunculi. Climbing out of the nest of blankets and pillows he had made, Enoch opened the door slowly.

He listened closely for any sign of footsteps and came up clear. His socked feet padded on the wooden floors. He was used to living in a space with toys all over the floor, so it was a relief not to have to watch where he stepped.

Now, Enoch didn't really want to work on his homunculi per say. He actually wanted to work on a gift that he had been conjuring up in his mind for a while.

Birthdays hadn't been celebrated for centuries in their original home with Miss Peregrine; but now that it was the present and all their clocks were reset, they could finally have the glory of birthday parties.

It was March third. March fifth was his.. something's, Horace Somnusson's, birthday. He supposed that Horace thought that Enoch was his best friend; he certainly acted so, but Enoch thought something more. Something he could never say.

So, obviously, he was going to make Horace a gift. Stupid, stupid Horace who always got red in the face whenever Enoch did something for him. Enoch didn't understand one bit why he couldn't just take the generosity and laugh at it. Meanly.

He never understood kindness or generosity until he met Horace, anyway. The boy had so much love to give, even to Enoch, that it was sickening. That's why he was trying to repay the ugly gift.

He downed the stairs two at a time, trying to get down quickly but silently. Nobody could catch him making a gift; he'd never hear the end of it.

He quietly opened the basement door, creeping past various sets of tools and the damaged car that they still hadn't replaced after they sent Jacob's parents on vacation. It's not like they planned to let them come back.

"Finally." Enoch whispered, coming to an empty work bench.

He pulled materials out of his pocket which consisted of: black fabric, white fabric, some random assortment of sewing materials from Jacob's mom's room, clay, and a flower. Oh, and a mouse's heart. Just the essentials.

He stumbled with the fabrics, poking himself with the needles a few times, but it got done nonetheless. He held it up with two fingers carefully. A small, horribly sewn suit that was made to fit on a homunculus.

Yes, that's right, his gift to Horace was going to be one of his little army men. Enoch grabbed a random cardboard box beside him and shoved the little man into it, closing the box hurriedly.

"Perfect." He chuckled with wiggling fingers.

Enoch decided he was going to give this gift to Horace tomorrow, so it could be more special than his other gifts. Jealous, yes, but it would pay off.

Now, he just had to wait.

-1-

Enoch woke up and cracked his neck from lying his head on the desk all night. He hasn't even realized he fell asleep. The banging from the cardboard box he shut last night blew him back to reality.

It's time for the gift of his life.

He trudged up the stairs, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The box was thudding around in his hands; it wobbled him slightly. He spotted Horace in Jacob's kitchen, some of the others standing around him, hovering over the food.

Enoch stopped in the next room over, tapping his foot on the ground as he tried to find out a way to get Horace alone. A slow, evil smile spread on his face whenever he thought of his idea.

Reaching his hand out to the vase beside him, he knocked it over loudly. He suppressed a chuckle and his behind the corner, knowing Horace would come and check it out.

"What was that?" He heard a fiery, female voice ask.

"I'll go check it out. It is my house, after all." An uncertain voice said.

But it wasn't a good uncertain voice. It wasn't Horace. It was Jacob!

Jacob came into the room, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the vase, almost as of he knew that Enoch had been the one to knock it over.

Immediately rounding the corner, he spotted Enoch against the wall, looking guilty. Jacob huffed and crossed his arms.

"Really, Enoch?" He paused to run his temples, "What is wrong with you? What is that box?"

Enoch scowled and looked around the room to avoid Jacob's eyes, clutching the box tighter in his arms.

"It's a bunch of organs that I'm going to spread around your pillow tonight if you don't buzz off!" He spat angrily.

Jacob rolled his eyes, pointing the the banging box. "Whatever you say, but I don't think organs do that."

Enoch jerked the box away from Jacob's accusing finger and walked away, clambering up the stairs to his broom closet. He'll store his gift in there tomorrow. His gift will just have to be normal, he guessed.

-2-

Enoch sighed, grabbing the box out from its hiding place on one of the shelves in the broom closet and prepared to bring in down to Horace's room. He had one last chance to make his gift special.

He would give it to him before anyone in the house woke up.

Quietly closed the door and shushed the little homunculus in the suit before padding quietly down the hallway in his cartoon socks that used to be Jacob's.

Horace's room was on the right next to the bathroom. Enoch entered quietly, hoping he wouldn't be asleep.

Much to his delight, Horace say on the side of his bed as he looked in the mirror, fixing his hair. It was tussles, and he looked a mess, but something in Enoch really liked that mess.

"Hey!" Enoch whispered, crossing the room swiftly.

Horace jumped and looked at Enoch with a hand on his chest. "You had me petrified, Enoch! You need not do that ever again."

"I need not do a lot of things that I do."

Horace rolled his eyes, but he stopped whenever he saw the box that was thudding from the inside that's in Enoch's arms. His eyebrows raised slightly as he pointed to it.

"Are there organs in there?" Horace asked.

"I don't think organs do that." Enoch shrugged. "But it is for you."

Horace smiled and stood up from his bed. He took the box from Enoch, caressing the side. He had such a sincere smile on his face that it made Enoch want to puke.

Horace opened the box, and the grin got even wider. It seemed like it would stretch from ear to ear. He put his hand in the box, pulling out the fancy homunculus.

His cheeks got all rosy, and it made Enoch scowl even harder. The little homunculus wrapped it's little arms around Horace's long fingers in a hug.

"It's so cute, Enoch! I love him." Horace cooed.

Enoch rolled his eyes fondly. "I suppose you've already named him?"

"Not yet, but I definitely will." Horace giggled.

He giggled!

Enoch coughed a little to hide the smile that was spreading across his face unwillingly. Seeing Horace so happy had made something in his presumed dead heart start to flutter.

Horace looked Enoch in the eyes, and his grin lowered into a calm, still happy smile. "You know, despite your outward look on life, you're quite the romantic."

Enoch's eyes widened.

Oh yeah, he forgot. Horace has asked him out five days ago. Somehow he was always forgetting.

#fanfiction #mphfpc #miss peregrines home for peculiar children #fanfic #enorace #enoch o'connor #horace somnusson #miss peregrine book #tumblr fanfic #tumblr fanfiction

22 notes · View notes

coneheda · 1 year

Note

50 "in my defense, I really wanted to."

“Uh Lex? We might have a problem.” Anya says, pulling her out of her day dream. Lexa groans as she gets up from her desk. The last three hours of her day could not be going any slower, all she wants to do is go home and lock herself in her room with her girlfriend who’s finally coming to visit. Okay, it hasn’t been that long since they’ve seen each other- Lexa was just there for work two weeks ago- but any amount of time spent apart is torture. Hopefully whatever the problem is, it can resolve itself quickly.

“What is it?” She asks, but there’s no need to wait for a verbal answer when she looks over her colleague's shoulder and sees the alert popped up on the screen. Her chest tightens as her heart rate speeds up. This has to be a mistake.

“You ran a background check right?” Anya asks. Lexa ignores her in favor of shoving her out of the way to take over the monitor. Suspect detained. Potential bomb threat. Terrorism. The words swirl around her head as she reads them. But It’s not the words that have ice running through her veins, no in her line of work they’re a common place, but the face attached to them? That’s something she never would have seen coming.

With shaky hands she pulls up the security feed, taking in the small figure hunched over a table, hands cuffed together but still able to clench themselves in disheveled hair. Lexa stares at the image, trying to understand how she missed something this big. It’s only when she sees what the detainee is wearing that she jumps up.

“Oh fuck.” She scrambles to grab her belongings and races up to her boss's office.

_____

Clarke likes flying. Likes seeing the world from a new perspective. Likes people watching while she waits for her flight. Likes the fact that she can cross the country in a matter of hours instead of days. She even likes the overpriced food, it’s all part of the experience.

Correction, Clarke liked flying. It’s going to be a long time before she sets foot in another airport.

It had started off a normal travel day. Arriving three hours early, a habit her mom had ingrained into her, even though she knows she doesn't need half that to get through security and get to her gate with more than enough time to spare.

She even remembered to mail her surprise to her girlfriends to prevent any potential embarrassment that could have come up had it gone through the scanner.

So when she was randomly selected and her hands swabbed, she thought nothing of it. It’s happened a handful of times before and she just waits patiently while they run their test.

When that test came back positive and she was roughly escorted to a small room with no windows and interrogated for the next two hours? All patience and calmness were sucked out of her, replaced by anxiety and confusion. Honestly it’s a good thing she went to the bathroom before queuing up for security otherwise she would be physically shitting herself instead of just mentally.

She has no idea how explosive residue got on her hands or the trace amounts they found on her bag. They keep asking her what the target is, where the bomb is, what it’s made of, if she’s working alone. For the first five minutes she questioned whether their test was faulty or she somehow switched bodies with someone, maybe it was all some sort of sick joke. But the questions kept coming and the people asking them kept getting scarier looking.

The next time the door opens she doesn’t lift her head up from the table. Her tears have long since dried up and her fear has morphed into anger.

“Oh my god Clarke!” Lexa rushes over to girlfriend. Startled eyes take her in as she smooths down blonde locks. “Baby I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

Clarke feels borderline delirious after the last few hours, enough to momentarily question whether or not who she’s seeing is real, but quickly shakes it off and allows herself to be lifted from the chair. The cuffs are removed and Lexa wraps an arm around her to guide her out of the hell box.

The scary people hand over all her belongings and don’t try to stop them from leaving. It’s a complete 180 from ten minutes ago when they told her she was facing life in prison.

Clarke doesn’t even realize they’ve left the airport until she’s being buckled into a car.

“Clarke?” Lexa asks, concern evident in her tone.

“What the fuck just happened?” Clarke says in disbelief.

“We need to talk.”

“Oh great, first I’m accused of terrorism and now I’m being dumped fan-fucking-tastic. I swear I don’t even know what you need to make a bomb let alone how to build one. I don’t know how it got on-”

“Clarke.” Lexa cuts her off, “I’m not breaking up with you, you might want to dump me after hearing what I have to say, but I really hope you don’t.”

“What are you talking about?” Clarke asks and oh how Lexa loves the little furrow between her brows.

“It’s my fault.” Lexa tells her “You’re wearing my sweatshirt and I assume you pulled it from the hamper instead of washing it.”

“So?” Clarke asks the furrow getting a little deeper.

Lexa takes a deep breath. “Well it had explosive residue on it…”

Clarke blinks. Once. Twice. “I’m sorry what? Why would your sweatshirt have- are you a terrorist??”

“No of course not!” Lexa hastily puts a stop to that train of thought. “No, I- it was a work training thing and I put it after and didn’t think about the fact that you might wear it before washing it let alone try to go through any sort of security with it on.”

“A work thing? What kind of foreign policy advisor work involves explosives!” Clarke says in exasperation. She looks at her girlfriends guilty expression. “That’s not actually what you do, is it?”

Lexa shakes her head, “No. Although I know enough about it to tell people, so it could be?”

Clarke is quiet for what feels like hours to Lexa, but is really more like a minute. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. I can’t believe I believed you. You’re terrible at lying! At least I thought you were, is that all an act?”

“In my defense I really wanted to. Tell you that is, but I couldn’t unless we were married and no it’s not an act. My job is the only thing I’m good at fudging the truth about. At least when it comes to you.” Lexa explains

“So why tell me now? We’re not married. Am I going to have to go live in a cave somewhere?”

Lexa laughs “no nothing like that. You’ll just have to sign a few forms and promise your first born to the government.” Clarke glares at her. “Okay okay, I’m serious about the paperwork though. My boss gave me the green light due to the circumstances and because I hope that one day we will be married, if you’ll still have me that is, but no one else can know.”

Clarke can’t stop the flutter in her chest at the word married. Even if part of her is still angry at the whole situation, the idea of marrying Lexa is something she hasn’t stopped thinking about since they got together.

“Are we okay?” Lexa asks, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

Clarke sighs, letting the chaos melt away. “We’re okay.” She snuggles into Lexas side. “If you didn’t want me wearing your clothes all you had to do was say something.” She grumps. “You’re really going to have to make this up to me and do all the flying for the foreseeable future.”

#clexa #clexa drabble #asks #2 months later #i will get to the rest I promise

76 notes · View notes

ghouly-boiiiii · 4 months

Text

My Name Is Cooper

Chapter 6 Push-y and Shove-y and Cut-Off-Finger-y

(Lucy x Cooper Howard / The Ghoul)

<< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>

Tags: angst, fluff, romance, humor, banter, femdom, alcohol and drug use, eventual smut

In this chapter…

She shook her head, and despite the heaviness in her heart, put in the tape... Because there was also a comfort there, too. That handsome man on the screen. Mr. Cooper Howard. Even though she was much older now, she still carried that torch. He was so suave, so debonair. When she was young, anytime she felt stressed or overwhelmed, she’d put in one of his movies and it always made her feel better. She remembered fantasizing about marrying that man and having children with him. Having a glorious life out in the wide open country. Riding horses and lassoing things. It didn’t matter what. Could be rocks for all she cared. He was the cowboy of her dreams. Nothing gave her the butterflies and tinglies like Mr. Cooper Howard did.

But then, something else started to come over her.

It was odd. As she watched the film, something felt different. Seeing him was giving her a… strange sense of Deja-vu. Not the kind you would expect, having seen the film so many times. No, it was something else. Certain ways that he spoke. How he moved. Gestures he would make. His cadence, his demeanor, how he walked. The brow raise. The half-smile… He was so... different, and yet…

He reminded her of The Ghoul…

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 1,929

SPOILER WARNING: Contains all the spoilers

No trigger warnings except eventual sexy time with a zombie man.

Lucy did as she had offered and proceeded to put those dirty old rags of his in the wash. She didn’t know how people dealt with not being able to bathe. She didn’t know how she was gonna deal with it. A hot shower was enough to make her feel like her old self again. Almost enough to make her reconsider her conviction about never going back to the vault... And seeing how The Ghouls clothes had fared didn’t help much.

They were stinky and crusty with dirt and blood and God knows what else. And torn to bits. When’s the last time he got something new to wear, she wondered. He was so mean and nasty, and yet…

There was a feeling growing in her. A feeling she knew, but… the source confused her. She tried to stuff it down, ignore it, but it was there. And she didn’t know why. Maybe it was too much sun. Maybe the old food. Maybe not enough sleep. But the more time she spent with him. Every time she thought about him. There it was.

She kept trying to remind herself how awful he was to her before, looking down at her discolored finger and remembering the smirk on his face as he sliced it off. That said…

The more time she spent out in the Wasteland, the more she realized… lessons came hard and fast. She couldn’t expect anyone to ease her transition into this cruel and unforgiving world. Why would he treat her any different?

Then again, what was she supposed to do? Say it was okay? Because it definitely wasn't. Behavior like that is never okay, even if you are an irradiated wasteland cowboy. There's no excuse for it.

She huffed at herself.

What the hell was wrong with her? Having butterflies and warm fuzzies in her tummy like a teen crush… over him? It was gross. She must be losing her ever-loving mind. How could she feel this way, after what he did to her?

And it wasn’t just her either. He killed people. Lots of people. He shot that nice man who was gonna tell her about his mom’s apple pie. And then he ate him! And made her cut his behind up for leftovers! He tied her up by her neck, dragged her around the desert and refused to give her water! He even poured some on the ground in front of her just to be a jerk! Then he made her drink out of that… well, she wasn’t sure what it was. She just knew it was the most disgusting thing she ever tasted, and it gave her radiation poisoning! Why, if she hadn’t stumbled upon Max, she’d be dead!

She decided to chalk it up to the trauma. Everything she’d been through. It was hard, and there was no one there to comfort her. So it made sense that she might want to cling to the one person who happened to be around. Her mind was just looking for comfort, wherever she could find it. Yeah. That was it.

Speaking of comfort, she found herself appreciating more than ever the many amenities vaults had to offer. As much as she felt sick with herself about it, she couldn’t help but be drawn to the television set and the video tapes stacked beside it. Once she was done putting the clothes in the wash, she looked through the titles, and one stood out that she knew all too well. It was a film called, ‘A Man and his Dog’.

The former vault dweller paused as she stared down at it and a flood of memories came back to her. She couldn’t count how many times she sat down and watched this film with her dad. Ever since she was a kid. He loved this movie. Loved all the Cooper Howard movies. He was a huge fan. Always ranting and raving about what an amazing actor he was. He even had some pre-war memorabilia with the guy's autograph on it.

She remembered how he would joke about how he wanted her to marry a man like that someday. She would act disgusted, but secretly she found herself swooning helplessly for the Hollywood actor. And she wasn’t the only one either. Pre-war movies were one of the few remaining forms of entertainment from the time. A glimpse into the past. And even though all the actors were long gone, it didn’t stop anyone from being keen on them. She and Stephanie would often steal her dads movies and hide out in her room, watching them over and over, chattering on about how dreamy and handsome Cooper Howard was, and arguing over which of the two he’d pick to marry.

Of course, she would never tell her dad that. But he figured it out soon enough when his tapes started going missing for extended periods of time, then reappearing randomly in dubious places. He sure got a kick out of it too. Always going on and making fun, in a friendly way of course. She thought he seemed quite delighted that she liked the man, maybe even more than he did…

She swallowed hard as she thought about her father. All the good times they shared. All the jokes. All the long discussions about the latest book they were reading. The excitement over a healthy, abundant crop. How he held and rocked her when she got hurt as a child. How he looked at her with such love and pride.

‘You are my world…’

Lucy parted her lips and took in a shaky breath, then swallowed the lump in her throat and wiped the tear from her cheek. She took another deep breath and looked at the ceiling, trying to stuff down the sadness and grief.

Even though she was angry and disgusted by him. By what he’d done. She still missed him. She wondered where he was. If he was okay. Hoping that wherever he was going, he would be safe. Part of her wanted nothing more but to see him again and give him a hug. Part of her regretted not giving him more of a chance to explain himself. Wondering if she’d reacted too rashly. She wanted to believe he was a good man. But good men don’t destroy cities. Good men don’t lie to their families. Good men don’t make themselves a part of a plot to… control the whole freaking world…

But then, something else started to come over her.

He reminded her of The Ghoul…

Lucy laughed a little out loud. How strange, that two men who are so very different could seem so similar. Perhaps that explains the odd familiarity she felt around the old bounty hunter. The butterflies. Of course. He happened to remind her of her highschool movie crush. How gross… and silly… and… weird…

Suddenly, she was interrupted from her thoughts as the washer started beeping.

The former vault dweller shook her head and went to put the clothes in the dryer. As she pulled out The Ghoul’s shirt, she realized that - now clean - it wasn’t black and brown as she had previously thought. But actually more… blue and gold. It was still stained and faded, and torn to shit, but it was familiar to her too. Why… it looked a lot like the shirt Cooper Howard wore in ‘The Man From Deadhorse’.

Lucy stared down at it, puzzling and puzzling. It had to be a coincidence. There was no way it was the same shirt. She was sure they made tons of shirts like this, back before the war. Maybe even after the war. Maybe it was just a very popular style of shirt cowboys wore. Who knows?

She threw it in the dryer with the rest of the clothes and tried to put the nagging thoughts out of her mind as she went back to her movie, stopping briefly to grab the half-empty bottle of whisky The Ghoul had left on the table by the recliner. But the thoughts kept beating against her skull like a drum. There was no way. No way it could be him. NO FLIPPIN’ WAY.

‘I’ve been waiting over two-hundred years to ask somebody one question…’

He’d been around since before the bombs…

‘You wanna notha’ autograph, young Henry?’

He asked her dad if he… wanted 'another autograph'...

‘Feo fuerte y formal.’

She sat on her knees, right in front of the screen and squinted her eyes at the black-and-white picture. Looking for evidence to contradict her silly theory.

But he was the right height. The right build. His eyes… his lips… his hands…

It couldn’t be. It just… couldn’t be.

She shut the movie off, and sat there with her thoughts.

...But what if it was?

Her heart sank at the idea. That the man who had lived rent-free in her brain for so long, in their imaginary farmhouse with their imaginary children and imaginary dogs and cows and chickens… That perfect man, and a perfect patriot, with the perfect smile. The All-American family man who served his country with honor and dignity… That man... could have ended up like… like this. All those nights she imagined him gently holding her and kissing her and whispering sweet nothings. When the reality was he was push-y and shove-y and grump-y and cannibal-y and cut-off-finger-y. That would be just… awful.

The Ghoul said he was like her once. Which means he used to be a good person, right? But this wasteland broke him and took everything good away. Turned him into something twisted and menacing. If this man she hated so much, was also the man that she so once adored… What did that even mean?

She knew Cooper Howard was a good man. She obviously never knew him in person, but she just knew, based on what little there was published on his life two-hundred years ago, that he was a good person. She was sure of it… Could someone like that really fall so far from grace?

Could she?

When she looked at The Ghoul… was she really looking at her own fate? Her future self? Future Lucy?

The idea terrified her to her core. She shuddered at the idea, then took another drink of the whiskey and gagged at the burn.

That was it… She was going to get SO fucking drunk.

To be continued...

<< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>

#ghoulcy #vaultghoul #cooper howard #fallout #the ghoul #lucy maclean #my posts #ghouly-boi #fallout prime #the ghoul x lucy #cooper howard x lucy maclean #cooper x lucy #ghoul x lucy #lucy maclean x cooper howard #lucy x cooper #lucy x the ghoul #my fanfiction

18 notes · View notes

aranciafiamma · 1 year

Text

The Boy in the Ice pt. 2

2:18 p.m.

Tick-tock tick-tock, says the clock on the wall. It's an heirloom, inherited from her husband's mother. Nowadays, all clocks are digital. Hardly anyone has a clock with hands and cogs and gears that go tick, tock, tick, tock. Mitsuki doesn't have a reason for keeping it, and no reason to throw it away. So the old-fashioned clock hangs on the kitchen wall, marking each second with a tick and a tock.

Have the seconds always been this slow or was it the effect of her guest?

He sits at the dining table, slouching in his chair. His thin wrists lie on his lap, big brown eyes staring at the clock. He hasn't spoken a word since Katsuki came storming in, with the boy slung over his shoulders. Her son kindly dumped the kid on a chair, then stormed back out to fetch some clothes. Their guest is only wearing his underwear and Mitsuki can't wait to hear the story behind that.

But their guest hasn't spoken a word. She would have thought that the kid was knocked out or something. That would clear things up. Maybe some no-name thug knocked him out, and stole all his stuff. That would explain why he was sitting almost naked in her kitchen.

But he's wide awake and there's no bruises where Mitsuki could see. She wishes that he would talk to her. She tried offering food, setting up a bath, calling the police, and nothing - not a single sound from the kid. Mitsuki seriously considers calling an ambulance because even without any obvious injuries, something in this kid broke.

"Oi, Katsuki! What's wrong with your friend?"

There's thunder down the hall then Katsuki pops back into the kitchen.

"He's not my friend, hag."

"I don't care if he's the freakin' prime minister! Why'd you bring him here and not a hospital?"

"I tried that and he had one of those panic attacks when I suggested it. So I brought him here."

"Here?? Here's no good! Why'd you bring him here?!"

"Yeah, clearly Deku's Mom would have better bedside manners. What was I thinking?"

"Oh, put a cork in it, you little dick. I'm being real serious."

"And I'm not?! Listen, I'll get him help but I had to get him out of the streets first. You didn't see what it was like. He fucking catapulted out of the sky, smoking like that time we let Dad try to barbecue. He was catching everyone's attention and he was only wearing underwear! I had to do something!"

"You and your hothead! It don't always gotta be you pulling this shit! Let the police do their jobs if he wasn't hurting anyone!"

"Yeah, but…" Katsuki crosses his arms like Mitsuki knows he does when he's feeling real soft but trying not to show it. "...But I know him. He was already panicking and a stranger woulda made things worse. He listened to me anyways. And I got him outta there. So."

Well damn. Mitsuki sighs, running a hand through her hair. When it came to handling delicate situations, her boy would not be her first choice for help. But he got this kid to cooperate. Those teachers at UA were on a whole other level because he definitely didn't learn this from her.

"Then what now?"

Katsuki shrugs, shoving a pair of pants and a shirt at their guest. "Oi. Put some clothes on."

Mitsuki sees the kid blink for the first time. He glances at Katsuki before going back to staring at the clock.

"Listen, asshat-"

"How do you know this kid?" Mitsuki cuts in. "Is he from UA?"

"Sure. You could say that. His name's Sawada Tsunayoshi. I'm about a year older, actually. He's only visiting our school from overseas. His family's -"

"Coming."

Mitsuki and Katsuki turn to the kid. Their guest looks the same as always. She almost believes for a second that she was just imagining things, that she had some kind of split second hallucination. Then she catches Katsuki's eyes and from the look on his face, she knows that he heard it too. The kid really did speak.

"The fuck, Sawada?" Her boy sure has a way with words. "That's all you got to say?"

Katsuki dumps his clothes on this Sawada kid's lap. Sawada lifts a hand, picking at the buttons and the zippers. Then he breathes out, long and slow and sounding so painfully tired. Mitsuki studies the dark blotches under his eyes, the way his whole face seems to sag and droop.

"Oi!" Katsuki yells. "What's your fucking damage?"

The kid pays him no attention, pulling on the shirt. His movements are slow and sluggish as if his bones were made from lead and his veins were filled with cotton.

"Sawada, if you don't answer…" Mitsuki pinches the bridge of her nose. "Then we can't help you."

"You can answer the door," Sawada says to the floor. Keeping his head bowed, refusing to look at her - or Katsuki, he tugs on the pants, one leg at a time.

Mitsuki blinks, squinting at the kid. "What? What the fuck does that m-?"

Knock. Knock.

Mitsuki turns to look at the front door. She's gonna make a wild guess here and say that's what the kid meant.

The knocking repeats, polite yet firm, pausing to allow for a response. There is nothing overtly threatening or disturbing about the knocks, no urgency or distress in the sounds. And yet, she can't shake the chill spreading through her guts. It's the sensation of standing at the peak of a rollercoaster, looking down and down and down.

Knock-knock, says the door. Tick-tock, says the clock. There's nowhere to run and they've run out of time.

"Okay! Give it a fucking rest, damn!" Katsuki yells, stomping out of the kitchen.

Mitsuki isn't the most gentle of mothers, and she would be the first to say so. But her maternal instincts work perfectly. She wants to pull her boy in - drag him back into her arms where he will be safe. He moves too damn quickly for her to catch, always too damn quick - too damn smart - too damn everything. She could never hold him back, not even for his own good.

The door clicks open.

"Pardon me." The voice is a thick, rumbling bass. It speaks Japanese with a heavy accent, carefully enunciating each syllable. "I am here for Mr. Sawada. He is here, is he not?"

Mitsuki glances at their guest. Sawada is now fully clothed, and looking supremely bored. He even yawns, sliding down his seat like he's about to melt onto the floor. She frowns and joins Katsuki at the front door.

"And who the fuck are you?" Her boy spits out.

"Sorry about the brat," Mitsuki tells their unexpected visitor. She ropes an arm around Katsuki's shoulder, squeezing him a touch too tightly. "He was raised badly."

"You raised me -"

"How can I help you, Mr. … ?"

"Bouche. Croquem Bouche."

He ain't half bad looking, all slick in his black tie and three-piece suit. There's no hint of Japanese descent in his features, at least as far as she could tell. He had white, braided hair and dark brown skin - naturally brown, not tanned or anything. His posture is casually perfect, and by that, she's not talking about some rigid, military parade rest. He's got his arms hanging loose at his sides, with his feet planted and his chin lifted, smiling at them politely. She's done enough modelling to see when someone's calculating their every move, every gesture, every expression. Their visitor is doing everything in his power to be forgettable.

Goosebumps scatter down her arm.

"It's a pleasure to meetcha, Mr. Bouche." She nods at him.

He nods back. "Indeed, madame." And oooh, madame, he says. Mitsuki has been many things - miss, bitch, sweetie, old hag - but she's never been 'madame' before. If her maternal instincts weren't blaring out alarms, she would have been charmed, oh very charmed indeed.

"Mr. Sawada has been missing for a long time. His family is worried about him."

Mitsuki glances at Katsuki, raising an eyebrow. "You never told me that."

"I didn't get a chance!" Katsuki snarls, keeping his eyes on their new visitor. "Listen, fuckwit. He had a damn breakdown outta nowhere, right in the middle of town. So you gotta give me a reason to hand him over like he's some stray pet that wandered into our yard."

"You don't have a yard."

"Asshole, you know that wasn't my point!!"

"Okay! Okay. Settle down there, brat." Mitsuki unwinds the arm around her boy's shoulders, bonking him lightly on the head.

"Don't you tell me-"

"My kid's gotta point. I'm gonna need more than that to let Sawada go anywhere with you."

"He doesn't need your permission," says a voice from behind her.

Mitsuki turns around and finds Sawada standing in the hallway, looking half-asleep and fully bored out of his mind. Katsuki weighs like a whole kilo more than Sawada, so Katsuki's clothes sag and slip over his twiggy limbs. He ends up looking like a chocolate bar left in the car on a hot summer's day - a little, mundane tragedy.

"Aight, so you just gonna go with him or what?" Katsuki asks, blunt as always.

Mitsuki frowns. "... Sawada, if you don't want to go… I don't care about my permission. It's yours that matters."

Sawada snorts and it is an ugly, bitter noise. "My permission is even less important. Right, Croquem? I've never had a say in any of this."

Mituski looks back at their visitor. His smile has transformed into a frown, just a small and slight curve on his lips.

"Mr. Sawada, we need you back home. Please don't make this any more difficult than it has to be."

"Yeah," Mitsuki cuts in. "But if he doesn't wanna go with you, then he doesn't wanna go with you. So I'll need ya to back off, buddy."

This Croquem guy opens his mouth to reply but Sawada beats him to the punch.

"He can't just leave. He has a job to do. So I hafta come with him. Or else…"

Sawada's breath hitches and for a split second, Mitsuki thinks that he's about to cry. But no, Sawada barks out a laugh, dry and thin and slithering out his throat like a venomous snake.

"Or else the snipers will fire."

Silence explodes in her ears. Mitsuki stares at Sawada, jaw hanging loose. She expects him to say "Psyche!" or "Gotcha!" because surely, he could not have meant what he just said. She doesn't live in an action movie, thank you very much! She is a housewife. She cooks. She cleans. Sometimes, she tries to be a mother. She has nothing to do with snipers.

But Sawada says not another word, nothing to indicate that he was joking at all.

So yes, as a matter of fact, snipers. They exist in her world now.

"You cannot be fucking serious!" Katsuki shouts, hands lighting up.

He's wearing a t-shirt and sweats - clothes to wear when running errands in town not a full blown battle royale. But the easy way he just settles down to get ready, the sharp switch from "at home" to "in combat", Mitsuki sees this and thinks again that perhaps training children to fight was not a very good idea. It might actually be terrible and outright harmful, maybe. Children shouldn't be so prepared for violence.

"Now hold up!" Mitsuki claps one hand on Katsuki's shoulder, just in case. But in case of what - well, she doesn't wanna think about that. "Y'all better be messing around! What's this sniper bullshit?"

"There are no snipers." The deep bass of Bouche's voice washes over them like a tidal wave.

"Hah?! Like fuck there's not?! I'll make ya regret -"

Mitsuki blocks out Katsuki's words and returns her attention to their visitor. He has no expression - not a smile, not a frown, not a grimace - perfectly blank. He hasn't moved and she can't find a single line of tension in his body. There's even odds on him telling the truth or lying to their faces.

" - the fuck do you think you are -"

"I ain't playing no games here," she hisses out.

"And I tell no lies, madame." Bouche nods at her.

"Sure, of course," Sawada replies, dryer than a river bed in a drought. Mitsuki looks over to find him running a hand through his hair.

" - the balls on this bastard's gonna get burned - "

"Let's just get this over with." Sawada sucks in a lungful of air, and then, as if reciting a script, he says, "If I go with you, will you promise that you won't hurt them?"

"- oh you've gotta be shitting me!"

"No - What - There's -!" Mitsuki turns her head back and forth between Sawada and Bouche. Honestly, this is a pain in the neck, and she means that literally. "I'mma need y'all to run that shit way back."

"Hey, asswipe! Who's the hero in training here? It ain't fucking you! So don't pull that 'noble sacrifice' crap - !"

"Bakugou." Sawada pins his eyes on her boy.

He doesn't say anything else but their name and her boy snaps his mouth shut. Even Mitsuki freezes and Sawada isn't even talking to her.

"You are a hostage. I don't care if you want to die. But if you don't want your mother to die, then stay put," Sawada continues.

He stands straighter now, knees locked and shoulders hunched forward. Katsuki's baggy clothes still make him look smaller than he actually is. But somehow, the air about him has shifted, heavier and thicker than the bored, blase vibe from before. Like this, Mitsuki couldn't take her eyes off him, and her lizard hindbrain told her that if she did, it would be the last thing she does

"But there aren't any snipers," Bouche repeats.

"Enough. I'm going already. Drop the act."

There's a pause. Mitsuki hears the shifting of satin and cotton. Bouche is moving but she's facing Sawada so she can't see what he's up to.

"As you wish, Mr. Sawada. Shall we depart?"

Sawada sighs and, like a flower folding shut, his solid presence sinks back into him. Once again, in Mitsuki's eyes, he appears to be only a sad, thin, tired teenager - nothing more and nothing less.

She shakes her head, wrestling with her pulse. "Wait. What-"

Mitsuki turns around, a question - an accusation - something at the tip of her tongue. But all her words flee when she locks eyes with Bouche. For the first time, she gets a clear read of his expression. With eyes half-shut, and lips pressed thin, Bouche looks resigned. Whatever brought him to their door, any motivation or determination, has guttered out like a candle in a storm.

"If you don't wish for any harm to fall on yourself or your boy, then you will not follow us," Bouche tells her.

Sawada walks past Bouche without a glance of acknowledgement, disappearing out the door. Katsuki lets out a half-smashed shout and moves to lunge - hoping to grab Sawada before he can fully leave. Mitsuki catches his shoulder before he can get too close, but Katsuki has trained so hard - lifting weights and running marathons, he is much stronger than her. She yanks him back somehow, through sheer desperation as a mother attempting to keep her child close.

Bouche bows, in a proper and courteous Japanese farewell. Katsuki has managed to form words - curse words mostly with insults thrown in. Bouche pays that no attention as he excuses himself. Mitsuki can't comprehend what he's saying - not due to any flaw in his speech but because her mind is filled with white static. Her ears are ringing. Her heart is racing. Her legs are rubber, barely able to keep her standing.

The door clicks shut.

2:29 p.m.

"But there really weren't any snipers."

"You know that. I know that. They don't. Now, they won't do anything stupid like follow us."

"I could have just-"

"Touch them with your flames, Croquem. And I roast you alive."

…

"Understood, sir."

1:01 p.m.

Byakuran stares at the assorted members of the Vongola and their plus one assembled before him. There's Iemitsu Sawada, front and center, talking to Yuni about their little scheme. There's Coyote Nougat, next to Iemitsu, coordinating Vongola Nono's guardians. There's Lal Mirch, off to the side, securing the perimeter with the others from CEDEF. There's Xanxus, settled a good distance from all of them, lounging about on his portable throne because he would bring such a thing.

For Xanxus, extravagance is the norm, and notably, he's the only one acting normal. The rest of his posse stand oddly silent and still, huddled around their boss. With keen eyes, they pin stares on everyone around them, keeping an eerie and solemn vigil. Even Squalo is quiet and that's like a mirror breaking, or salt spilling, or a tea cup cracking. It's a bad, very bad, no good sign. Byakuran feels a chill skitter down his spine and looks up to find Xanxus staring straight at him. In that split second of eye contact, they shared an understanding.

"Right!" Byakuran claps his hands. "Well, this is a party! I don't have nearly enough marshmallows for everyone, so you know what, I'm just gonna make a quick conbini stop. Cool? Cool. Peace."

Before anyone could try and stop him, Byakuran leaps into the air and soars away. Some would call him a coward for fleeing. Some would call him wise for retreating. Both would be very wrong. See, the right answer requires the correct question. So here's a riddle for all the folks playing at home.

What is scarier than a serial killer in plain sight?

There's no need for Sherlock Holmes to answer this. But if the answer isn't immediately obvious, that's okay too. Byakuran took a hot second to figure it out himself. Xanxus got it instantly, of course. He's such a smart cookie under all that spicy rage.

So what is scarier than a serial killer in plain sight? A hitman that you can't see!

And from Byakuran's headcount, they were missing out on some chaos.

12:48 p.m.

"Skies are notoriously greedy. They are the only one with an innate need to bond. If denied long enough, baby skies get positively feral. And a lonely Sky is a dangerous Sky because they're liable to bond with anyone regardless of compatibility without even a proper courtship."

"Courtship?" Aizawa raises a curious brow.

They're Nedzu's office. Nedzu is seated in his chair and Aizawa stands to his left, Chiyo to the right. The two boys, Gokudera and Yamamoto, are in front of them. Yamamoto is in a chair, and he's not sitting more than he is lounging - legs spread wide, head tipped up, and one arm thrown over the backrest. He looks like the textbook definition of "at ease", right down to his wry, little smirk - so of course, that must be a front. In stark contrast, Gokudera's posture is immaculate - shoulders even, spine straight, and feet flat on the floor. Aizawa could put a book on Gokudera's head and it would stay perfectly balanced. But even if the boy keeps his body language controlled, his face - especially his eyes - give everything away.

Gokudera coughs into his fist, cheeks turning pink. "Yes. Courtship. Even though skies are outnumbered 10 to 1, the Sky has to prove themselves to their chosen guardian. You see, skies can suffer immense damage from loneliness but guardians do not. Guardians can live their whole lives without ever looking twice at a Sky. So even though some seek out powerful Skies, ultimately the Sky chooses who to court. You cannot force a Sky to court you, period end of story."

"What does courting entail?" Nedzu frowns, tapping a claw on his desk.

"It depends on what type of guardian they are. Some have more than one type. However, courting usually depends on an individual's primary type. Let's see..."

Gokudera starts ticking off fingers.

"Storms like to be dominated. Suns like to be chased. Lightnings like to be protected. Rains like to be impressed. Mists like to be surprised. Clouds like to be challenged."

Aizawa blinks, feeling a headache build behind his eyes. "What does that all mean?"

"The specifics vary between Skies and their guardians. But the basic idea is rooted in the type. For example, Storms are destructive - usually externally but there's a lot of internal stuff going on too. We need someone that can withstand everything we throw at them, someone that won't flinch at the sight of our worst, someone who can force us away from our destructive impulses - an eye to the storm, essentially. So if a Sky can overpower a storm, then the Storm will recognize them as worthy. Sometimes, it's a flat out, knock down brawl. Other times, it can be as simple as lecturing sense back into someone and not taking their bullshit."

Gokudera rubs his chin.

"Mind you, bonding isn't strictly a linear process. Sometimes courtships happen in order to judge compatibility. Sometimes, there is already a level of compatibility but that doesn't mean both parties are ready to bond then and there. So courtship happens to assure each other that this is the right choice."

"So. It's dating," Nedzu says wryly. "It's dating with pizzazz but it's basically dating. You go out a few times, see if you like each other, then you get married. Or maybe you already like each other and you go out to see if marriage is for you."

"Well, duh! Why else would we wear rings?" Yamamoto laughs here. "You know, when Tsuna asked us to be his, he offered us rings? Ah, but we don't wear the rings anymore so it's not as obvious. You shoulda seen them though. Mine was blue."

"Illuminating commentary from the baseball idiot, as per usual." Gokudera rolls his eyes.

"Okay. Fine." Aizawa leans forward so he can be at eye level with their guests. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

Chiyo snorts. "Isn't it obvious, Aizawa? They're going through a divorce."

Chiyo has stayed silent this whole time, so Aizawa thought that she was simply processing all this information. But he didn't give Chiyo enough credit. She is a battle-hardened old woman who has seen more of life than he has. She wasn't just listening - she was waiting too, for the right moment when her words could deal the heaviest of blows. And she sure hit hard. Her words cause both boys to flinch. Yamamoto wears a frown for the first time since… Actually, this may be the very first time that Aizawa has seen Yamamoto frown. Hmmm.

"Tenth is going through some things."

"Understatement." Nedzu agrees.

"Look, we're trying to help him, alright?!"

Nedzu gets to his feet. "And you are failing. Or does Tsunayoshi always court death every time he experiences emotional turmoil?"

Gokudera opens his mouth, shuts it, then opens it again. "Well. As a matter of fact-"

"That's not good!" Chiyo fires back. "I cannot believe this must be said, but that isn't okay! He is clearly in need of help, and you are not enough! Sometimes, people need more than their friends! Sometimes, they need -"

"Their enemies."

Aizawa jolts, immediately grabbing hold of his scarf. Next to him, Nedzu's fur stands up and his claws have punctured the desk. He hears Chiyo make a strange, choking noise as her next words abruptly transform into a gasp. The boys react in largely the same way and that's something to note. Yamamoto leaps out of his seat, so fast that the chair gets knocked down. He whips around, keeping his stance low to the ground, with one hand clutching his necklace. Gokudera spins on his heel, the muscles in his back pulling in tight. With a single fluid move, he draws out two fistfuls of dynamite as a lit cigarette appears between his teeth. Honestly, where was he keeping all that?

They all face the doorway. The door should have been shut and locked. Aizawa locked it himself. But that is not what he sees. Where the closed door should be, there stood a stranger. At the sight of this newcomer, the boys do something curious. They react very differently. Yamamoto keeps a hand on his necklace, sticking to his combat stance. Gokudera sputters out foreign syllables, allowing the dynamite fuses to die out one by one.

Aizawa makes note of this before turning his attention to the unknown man - the tall, dark, and handsome man. He restores this trite and overused cliche back to a timeless classic. Now, Aizawa doesn't care about his looks. He goes to work - both night and day shift - in what Nemuri likes to call "hobo chic". But seeing this man, in his black, bespoke suit with his perfectly coiffed hair, Aizawa is made keenly aware of how disrespectful he must seem, leaving his hair uncombed and his face unshaven.

"Dramatic as always." Yamamoto snorts. "Strutting in with a clever quip, you never change, baby."

Oh wait. This guy should not be here. Wow. Did he seriously forget that? Sure, this guy's hot as fuck but Aizawa knows better than to get so easily distracted. He's not a horny teenager anymore, for fuck's sake. Get a grip!

"Who are you?!" He barks out, his fists tightening around his scarf. "How'd you get in here?!"

The trespasser - because that's what he is - the trespasser leans against the doorway, and he smirks - a clever little twist of his lips. Oh, he knows. He knows that he's hot shit, and he's about to make it everybody's problem.

"Baby? Clearly I'm fully grown, so I can change. Unless, we're using pet names now. Is that right, darling?" The trespasser drawls, smooth and warm as the finest of coffees. He didn't even try to answer Aizawa, focusing on the two boys as if everyone else was just cheap decor.

"Yeah, quit fucking around, baseball idiot!" Gokudera snaps. The kid's got his back to Aizawa so he can't really see his face. But Aizawa can hear a hint of fear in his voice. His hands shake as he puts away the dynamite.

From the short time that they've known each other, Aizawa knows three things about this kid. He's loud. He's smart. He never shows his back to anyone from UA. He's always facing them head-on, ready to throw down at any moment. If he's got his back to Aizawa now, then either he's starting to trust them more… Or this trespasser deserves - no, requires his undivided attention. Aizawa is no fool. He knows which is more likely.

"Hey, I asked you a question!" Aizawa tries again because he didn't become a hero by quitting quickly.

Surprise, surprise, the trespasser ignores him once more. "Well, it turns out that my kids took a field trip. And they didn't bother to invite their dear old teacher. We can't have that, can we?"

"Aizawa, you have my full permission to capture this trespasser," Nedzu speaks up, and Aizawa admires the steadiness in his voice. "With the use of your quirk, if necessary."

At last, that catches the trespasser's attention. He shifts his gaze unto Nedzu, then Chiyo, then finally Aizawa. The black of his eyes peer out from under his wide-brimmed fedora and Aizawa is viscerally reminded of a predator, hidden in the shadows of tall grass. He tells himself that he is not prey and he tries to believe it.

"Oh excuse me, I've been very rude, haven't I? Allow me to introduce myself." The trespasser tips hat. "I'm Reborn. I'm their home tutor."

#khr #mha #bnha #katekyo hitman reborn #my hero academia

50 notes · View notes

bibeebuneee · 1 year

Text

☆》 we could leave the Christmas lights up 'till january 《☆

fluff ☆ just kissing ☆ smoker kei still, but there's no mention of smoking nor cigarettes in this

inspo : lover <> taylor swift (the one and only)

part i , alternate ending coming soon

ㅤThe holidays had finally come. You’re on a phone call with your mother. Your family is planning to move back into your childhood home, now that your parents are retired, they thought city life isn’t the best fit for them anymore. You left for college a long time ago, leaving your home to start a new life. You decided to come visit your family, to help with moving and spend Christmas with them.

ㅤ“Oh and oh my god, I think one of your little friend from school moved next to ours, maybe you could say hi before we leave! We should bake cookies for them” a school friend? Could it be Yachi? You haven’t seen her in such a long time maybe you two can hang out and catch up! Or maybe its Yamaguchi? Oh, how you miss him! You couldn’t wait to go home to your family and see who it is. “Yeah mom, totally! I’ll arrive tomorrow morning, so maybe you could pick me up at the airport, then I’ll get some rest and we start the baking in the afternoon” your mother could practically hear your smile through the phone.

ㅤThe next day, was all a blur, you were jet lagged and tired. You were limp and pale, and cold too. So, you slept for 10 hours straight. Only to wake up and ate so much, food coma threw you down for another 12 hour nap.

ㅤThe next morning you woke up and decided to look around the bedroom you never really live in. You moved to your college town not long after you stayed in the new home, so you didn’t have time to settle in. You then found an old box full of electronics. A familiar phone case stood out to you. “EEP!” you squealed from happiness. It’s the phone you used in high school. Aaand… it still turns on!

ㅤYou threw yourself onto your bed as you start to look through it. Your old games, pictures with your friends, and; contacts. And there you saw it. Tsukki. A flash of thought came over you. Call it. What? Absolutely not. You don’t have any feelings for him anymore, you don’t think, at least. Well, you do miss him. And miss his smile. And miss his laugh. And miss how he looked at you that one night. And how warm he felt. And how much of a nice kisser he was. And his lips around yours. And his grasp, and how small he felt against-

ㅤ Y’know what? You’re hungry. You left the phone in your bed then stumbled out to your kitchen. “Hi, mom” you greeted. “Come, eat. Then shower, and give this to the family next-door, okay?” she shoved a jar of chocolate chip cookies into your hands. Looks delicious, maybe you should try one. You slipped your hand into the opening of the jar. “Not on my watch!” your mother slapped the sneaking hand away from her jar, she pulls back the glass from your hold.

ㅤSo, you went on with your day. Breakfast, shower, pick an outfit, now you’re ready. “So, what am I supposed to say?” you nervously asked. “Just say hi, here’s some cookies, I hope you like living here, merry Christmas.. blah blah blah, just say stuff” she instructed. The cookie jar perfectly wrapped and tied with a red bow. “Well, can’t you do it, instead of me?” you’re all geared up now, in your coat and everything else. “Of course, I can-“ your mother smiled, quickly snapping a pick of you, ready for war and fight the blizzard. “-but I won’t” the smile warned off her face so quickly. “Now go!”

ㅤKnocking on the door, ringing the doorbell, calling out “hello”, came unanswered. You gave up, turning around to go back to your room and look through your old phone again. Suddenly the door opened, just before you turned around. “Uhh, hello?” a heavy voice rang in your head. Whoever it is sounds a little familiar, but not Yachi, or Yamaguchi, like you expected. “Oh hi! I’m [F/N] [L/N], my parents live next door, I’m going home for the holidays and I just wanted to give you this” you handed out the neatly wrapped jar, your head still on the ground. You introduced yourself over, just in case your mother was wrong. “I hope you enjoy living here, and I wish you a merry Christmas” you looked up, smiling wide, as a polite gesture.

ㅤ“[Y/N]?” his eyes widen in disbelief. You squint your eyes to see: Him. Short curly blond hair, familiar rectangular glasses. He looked more mature than how he did back when you were 18. Tsukishima Kei. “Kei? What the fuck are you doing here?” you snickered. Still taken aback from the handsome sight in front of you. His frame even taller, and his broad shoulders looms over you. He laughed a genuine laugh, like the last one you heard 3 years ago, still as beautiful. You blush at the pretty sight, maybe you still do love him. “I could say the same with you” he joked. You never heard him joke not out of somebody else’s expense before. You guess there’s a first time for everything.

ㅤ“I literally just said why I’m here, idiot” you joked back. You were so happy to see him again, its been so long. In the midst of your laughing fit he closed the gap between your bodies and held so close and tight. Surprised, you naturally hugged him back. He smelled the same, like smoke, but a tint of strawberry and the musk of a cologne mixed so jarringly. It really is him. “I missed you” his whispering almost goes unheard. But you caught it. You heard him. You missed him too.

ㅤYou made plans with him to meet up again later to night, you decided you’d meet at the town square, near the huge Christmas tree. And you two could go shopping and hang out! But that raised a question in your head: What are you to each other? Maybe you could finally be together, be something to eachother. But do you still feel that way? Does he still feel that way? It doesn’t matter now, you’ll think about that later. For now, you just need to get ready for the.. date? Fuck, you’re thinking about it again. Guess it is kind of like a date. Just the two of you. maybe you’ll get under a mistletoe and-

ding dong

ㅤThe sound of the doorbell snapped you back to reality. Is he here already? You ran to the door, excitement filled your heart. Swinging open the door, he looked at you, half of his face covered by a warm maroon shawl, but you can still his unusual smile in his eyes through his fogged up glasses. You didn’t realize you were staring. “Wow, do I really look that good?” he poked fun at you for staring. “Yeah, you look handsome” you blurted out. You thought you looked good, but in his eyes “You look heavenly”

ㅤ“O- oh…” he shut you up completely. “c’mon, we gotta get going before the good stores close” you hurried putting your boots on, trying to keep yourself warm. “You seem to know a lot about this place” he said, as you hopped out of the front door. “Well, duh, I might have to hold your hand so you won’t get lost” it was a code, a little poke at him, so he’ll hold your hand, but then probably he’d say something like “you wish!” and starts laughing at your lame attempt of a sappy romantic moment.

ㅤYou slipped your gloved hands in your coat pocket as a way to pretend you didn’t say what you already said. You nuzzled your face onto your shawl, you felt so embarrassed. What if he doesn’t feel the same way anymore? He called you heavenly, maybe it was a joke. Maybe he didn’t mean it. You’re not good-looking. You’re not as cool as you’d like to think you are. You don’t have many friends. Of course, nobody wants to hangout with a try-hard loser like you.

ㅤLittle did you know, he could sense your doubts and insecurity. You were walking so far in front of him, leaving him behind, practically. He ran up to your side. His right hand pulled your left out of your pocket. Interwining his fingers with yours, he looks forwards to the path ahead, a satisfied grin plastered across his face. “What are you-?” “Holding someone I love. Is that so wrong?” he cuts you off. Wait, Love? “Love? Wh-What do you mean by that?” you stuttered. Fuck, you just met again for the first time after 3 years. He can’t possibly still love you.

ㅤ“I’ve been waiting for you. waiting for the day you come back to me. And I knew when my family moved here, I’d have a chance of meeting you” his grip on your hands got tighter. “Why?” you asked, so unsure of what you heard. You stopped in your tracks, you turned your head to him, cold air hitting your nose and lips in an instant. He leaned down, his face now level with yours. His left hand pulled down on the shawl covering his face, travelling up to your cheek, caressing the cold chub.

ㅤ “Because I still love you, after all these times. I still have faith in you. You’re sweet, you’re cute. You’re, not that smart, but at least you’re trying. You’re not me, mean and evil and a bully and whatever you tell me I am, I’ll accept it, I was an ungrateful ass kid. But not to sound cliché, and cringy or whatever, but… you’re… you, I guess” his confession sent shivers down your spine, you can feel his hot breath against your lips. You looked intently at his eyes. A glimmering gold. Like the stars that are now waking up to decorate the cold night sky. Twinkling, hazed, and under your spell, and you don’t even realize it. Your pupils wander down to his lips, pink, and warm, you could feel them against yours already. Licking your own from reflexes, he snickered at your reaction to him.

ㅤ“You should kiss me, I know you want it” he whispered. Thank whatever omnipotent being up there, the one that is giving you the opportunity to even look at him, breathe the same oxygen as him. He looked so perfect. And you. You are so adorable in his eyes, the way your [E/C] wandered around his feature, scanning every inch of his face, landing on his lips. He’s thinking it, you’re thinking it.

ㅤ “That sounds like a good idea” you smiled softly lunging forward into his lips. Warm, soft, and gentle. Your hand squeezed his hand lightly, while the other rubbed up Tsukishima’s hair. you pulled away just a bit to giggle. Closing the gap again, you whispered into his lips, finally content with whatever it is between you two: “Can we always be this close?”

a/n : you dont understand how much I love taylor omfg I'm so excited for speak now tv because I am forever a speak now girlie, ALSO can you tell I've never experienced winter before (tropical country thingz)

#haikyuu drabbles #haikyuu x reader #hq drabbles #hq x reader #tsukishima kei x you #tsukishima kei x reader #tsukishima kei

27 notes · View notes

olsenmyolsen · 1 year

Text

Microwave Popcorn

Part 28 of On The Inside With Elizabeth Olsen

Word Count: ~5.6K

masterlist

Liz POV

"Oh, that's them!" Trent says with a certain excitement in his voice as he races to the door. "Who?!" I tell after him but by the attentional voices entering the house. I know exactly who it is.

"Lizzie?!"

God damn it.

I get up and off the couch to greet my (step) sister & brother Courtney and Jake. I breathe a little sigh of relief when I don't see any sign of our Dad. "What are you two doing here?"

"Us? What about you?" Courtney says with a sly smile while rushing over to me to pull me into a big that I swear is going to cause my chest to collapse. "I just wanted to visit before going to a friends!" I cheerfully say while eyeing my sister. Her eyes look away from me while Jake pulls me into a hug. "How's filming?"

"Good!" I say, adding more enthusiasm to my voice. "Can you spill secrets yet or what?" If only he knew. "Never." Jake rolls his eyes and makes his way toward Trent. "Where's Jarnie?" Court asks next to me. "In the kitchen." Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jake and Trent head that way.

"So, what are you two doing here?"

I mean, no offense, but them coming here without Dad doesn't happen often.

"Well, I wanted to come over and see Jarnie and Trent since I've been away this past month. Plus, while you were filming in London, I'd try and stop by and see Jarnie and have dinner and stuff." Courtney's voice trails at the end of the sentence. I know she loves my- our family, so I didn't mean to sound rude if I came across that way.

"Right. Of course! I didn't know about the dinners, but that's nice!" Court shines a smile at me that I give back. "Let's go see the woman of the hour!" I place my arm around Courtney and bring him into the kitchen, where Jake and Trent are already pushing her buttons.

"Okay, that's enough! Every Olsen with a penis, get out!"

I physically have to stop myself from covering my face while Courtney laughs and the boys groan with a couple of ewws and gross Jarnie. Once the boys leave to do whatever they want to do, Courtney greets my mother. "Hey J!" She says as they have a short hug. "How was Mexico?" My mom asks Court before getting back to working on dinner. I see now that my mom did wind up preparing food for more than just three people. So she knew Jake and Court were coming? Hmm.

"Oh my gosh! It was so wonderful! Between the beaches, the sun, and the authentic Mexican food, I could've died." She looks so bubbly as she speaks. I knew she looked tanner, but then again, she lives in California, so whatever.

"When did you get back?" I ask, leaning myself into the kitchen island, pulling Court's attention to me. "LAX. Earlier today." My eyes widen at the answer as my mom briefly looks up at us. "So did Lizzie." Thanks, mom.

"Did you?!" Court doesn't look as surprised as her voice sounds. Does she know? "Anyways, Lizzie, I gotta show you some of the pictures I took!" Court starts patting herself down as if she's looking for her phone. But I see the outline in her front pocket. "Probably left it in the living room. Come on." She pretends to sound annoyed as we leave my mom alone to finish up tonight's pasta.

The second we're out of earshot from Momma J, Courtney pulls me to the couch and brings her phone to my face. "Oh my God!! Lizzie, who is the girl!? Is that THE Y/N?! Please tell me that's her! Is she here?!"

When my eyes adjust to a phone being shoved in my face, I see the picture that Courtney is talking about. It's of Y/N and I, you can clearly see Y/N, but you wouldn't know that the other person was me, but I know it's me. Court knows it's me.

"Well?!" The phone is being removed from my sight as my face turns to see my sister, happy as can be, asking her question again and again.

Y/N POV

"So, are you back together?"

"We'll hello to you too, Mary-Kate!" I roll my eyes as I flop back onto the soft bed. "Yeah yeah yeah, hello and all that. Now answer my question."

"No."

"No?"

"No, we are not back together and- wait, how did you get that picture?!" I raise myself from the bed as the line goes quiet. "Are you in LA?"

"No." MK finally breathes into the phone. "Okay... Mary-Kate. How did you get that picture?"

"My sister took it. She couldn't believe she saw Lizzie and her friend at the airport. She would've gone up and said something, but in her own words, they goin' through it."

"Ashley?" I hear Mary-Kate's laughter erupt into the phone. "No, my other sister. Courtney."

Oh, that's right! Damn. I always forget that there's more than just the twins.

"If you must know, she flew back in from Mexico today, and to her surprise, she just so happened to see the two of you. She had heard of you and seen some of the articles from the last couple of months, so when she saw the two of you, she sent me that picture with the text, "omg, who is with Lizzie?! Is that Y/N?!" So, could you, honestly, answer my question? Are you back together?"

As MK keeps talking, I can't believe what's happening. Of course, the day I ran into Liz at the airport, her sister just so happened to be there and see us.

So weird how you run into people at the airport.

I don't know why MK asked me again. The answer still hasn't changed, and as if she wouldn't know. I roll my eyes. "Please, at this point, you'd find out before me." I laugh to myself, but MK doesn't find it funny. "What do you mean?"

MK POV

"What, Liz didn't call you the second she left the airport?"

Well, no, Y/N, she didn't. It's been three weeks since I saw or heard from Lizzie. The last thing she said to me was an apology before walking out of my apartment at two am. And through the efforts of my twin, I still have yet to talk to our little sister. Since I'm not the one that blamed my fuck-ups on other people. I'm not the one that was angry at themselves. No those go-to little miss perfect.

"No, she didn't."

Apart of me wants to spill it to Y/N that, I haven't actually talked to Lizzie in weeks, but that'd be unfair and messed up to do, so I choose to keep it to myself. Just don't expect Lizzie and I in the same room anytime soon.

"Oh. Well, to answer your question. Again. No. We're not together. I promise you. We just ran into one another."

I couldn't help but hear a slight pain in Y/N's voice as she finished her plea. She misses her. "Oh.. well then, I guess my next question is, what are you doing in California?" For real, what is she doing?

"Seeing some friends."

"Friends, huh?"

"Yes, friends. I'm allowed to have friends that aren't famous." I can feel the playful eye roll across the county. "Okay, sure. But I have to know their names. What if something happens to you?"

"Fine. It's James. Max's brother." I'm trying to scratch my brain, knowing I know who she's talking about, but I'm coming up blank until Y/N says. "Remember from the club?" That's right. "Oh, right! I didn't know he lived out there."

"He moved here not to lon-" I hear a couple of knocks followed by Y/N shuffling her phone and her mumbled voice. "Oh shit, sorry MK, if I don't go and shower now, then we'll be late for dinner, AND before you joke, it's with his gf and Max's family." I laugh, knowing how well Y/N knows me. "Okay, I'll let you go, but I swear to God, I better not see a headline or photo about you without me knowing first!" I hear some laughs. "Trust me, I wasn't trying to photograph, but I'll keep you up to date." The sarcasm really rolls off her tongue today. "Alright, talk to you soon, Y/N!"

"Bye, Mary-Kaaattte!"

Our call ends, and I'm left looking at the photo Courtney sent. I stared at it earlier before I called Y/N up, and now here I am again looking at it. Fuck. The look Y/N has in her eyes, I've seen it before. Both times the look has been for Lizzie.

I set my phone down on my desk and sigh, running my hand through my hair.

I look up as I hear a knock on my open office door. "You okay?" I smile at the sight of my personal assistant Ruby. "Yeah, I'm good." I believe I made it sound convincing. I'm still an actress, after all. "Okay. Well, I came to drop these off." She says as she walks in and places a stack of binders for an upcoming shoot on my desk. "Ash has copies already. Also, your Friday meeting got pushed up. It's on your updated schedule."

Times like this make me value the people my sister and I choose to surround ourselves with. I swear, without them, we'd sink. "Thank you, Rubes!" I put on a smile as Ruby shines one back before turning to walk away. As I see the back of my assistant, an idea comes across my mind. "Rubes!" Quick on her heels, Ruby turns right back. I take a glance at my phone to check the time. "I know it's getting late, but do you have plans later?"

"No, Miss Olsen." I roll my eyes with a slight chuckle. She's been working here for 4 years formalities went out the window a while ago. "No, Mary-Kate." I remind her.

"No, Mary-Kate. I don't have plans. Do you need something?" I shake my head. "No, I was just wondering if you'd accompany me for some coffee and dinner. I know a cute spot."

Ruby doesn't seem to be stunned by my request. It wouldn't be the first time we've hung out after work. "Sure. I'd like that! Would you like for me to reserve a private table at either place?"

"For coffee, no. I'm friends with the manager, and for dinner, don't bother. They'll know who I am." Ruby smiles and leaves me alone in my office. I decide to try and finish up any work emails I have at the moment. I'm halfway through reading about a promotion opportunity when my cellphone rings. I let it ring and ring until it goes quiet.

When I peer down, I'm thoroughly shocked at the name I see: The Third One 🤍

My sister. Lizzie Olsen.

Liz POV

"Well?!" The phone is being removed from my sight as my face turns to see my sister, happy as can be, asking her question again and again.

"No. We're not together." Courtney slums her shoulders as she seems disappointed. "Oh.. I mean, it looks like you two were goin' through it. I just thought it was the idea of meeting Jarnie or the paparazzi." Courtney laughs a little to break the tension. I laugh a bit, but my mind is stuck thinking about Y/N's last touch of her fingers on my body.

"Lizzie?"

"Hmm?" I lift my head a bit to stop my thoughts. "So if you guys aren't together, where is she? What is she doing here?"

"She's just meeting some friends here. I didn't know she was until we ran into each other at the airport." Court nods her head as she listens. "You guys didn't look.. disappointed to see each other." I smile. "I wasn't. I missed her." I clear my throat as I can feel my cheeks start to get warm. "I'm sorry." I look at my little sister, confused. "I'm sorry for all that happened to you and her and for not reaching out when it happened." I place an arm around my sister as she leans into me. "That's okay. I'm okay now. It fucking sucks that it happened, but honestly.. we're- I'm going to be okay." Courtney puts both her arms around me and squeezes. "Just so you know, Jake and I are both proud of you. I'm telling you now in case he forgets to say something." Courtney pulls out of the hug, and I look at the smile on my sister. I don't know why I was ever nervous to tell anyone in my fam-. "Dad doesn't know." Oh right. Fuck how am I going to tell him? "Dad doesn't even know about me.."

I whip my head at the words I just heard. "You?!" Courtney tilts her head as if this is old information. "I told the siblings months ago." I shake my head as I've never heard this before. "No, you didn't." Court pulls out her phone and opens the group chat with all the siblings. Well, everyone except me. God. This is just like the Avengers all over again. "Court, you have Robbie in there, not me." "WHAT?!" Court immediately rips her phone back from me and looks through the contacts in the chat. It doesn't take long for her to come to the same conclusion. "Oh shit. I guess when I set this up, you two were still together, and you might've been busy, so I just added him! Oh shit, Lizzie, I'm sorry!-" "Courtney! It's okay!" I place my hand over her mouth to stop her rambling. I don't need her to spiral. I remove my hand as Courtney takes a breath. "I was wondering why you never texted me about switching teams." I laugh as she scrolls through the chat. She passes by a lot of tiktoks and memes. I think if I even were in this chat, I would've talked about as much as I have without being in it. "I guess I'll set up a new one with all of us and no Robbie."

"Thanks, Court. I'm proud of you as well." Courtney smiles as she exits the one chat to make a new one. I don't mean to watch, but I can't help but notice that Court and Mary-Kate have recently texted. "Hey, Court, what have you and MK talked about?" I let those words fall out of my mouth without stopping them. "Oh. Uh.. We were talking about you and Y/N." Courtney goes back down and opens the chat. Inside I see the photo of Y/N and me, along with texts between my two sisters. "See, nothing bad!" I roll my eyes. "I hoped not." Courtney goes ahead and sets up the new sibling's group chat without Robbie this time. I make sure to text in it first, so everyone knows I'm there.

"Okay, girls!!" We both perk up as we hear my mom call to us from the kitchen. I glimpse at the time on my phone and didn't realize had much time went by. "Come on!" Courtney pulls me up and off the couch. "Oh, by the way, is Trent really annoying about his gf?" I smirk. "A bit." "Well, thank goodness you're here!" I laugh as Courtney pulls me to the kitchen.

"Actually, one second." I hold my hand up and pull my phone out. "I'm going to make a call, and then I'll help!" I shoot my sister a smile as she nods and goes ahead.

Once I click on the name and hear the line ring, I take a deep breath hoping to talk to someone I need to apologize to.

Y/N POV

Why do other people's showers always work differently? I swear it took me 5 minutes to try and make the water the right temperature. So now here I am post-shower, rushing to put on what little makeup I have with me while deciding what to wear.

"Hey, Y/N, I don't wanna rush you, but we gotta go soon. Like real soon." James says through the bedroom door. "Okay!" Great. I move myself like a tornado around the bedroom, and in the end, I find myself dressed in a long sleeve keyhole dress that stops just above my knees. I don't even remember buying or packing this dress, so I'm pretty sure I've been transported to another universe, or we do live in a simulation.

Anyways we made it. James is parking his car in front of some modern look ass restaurant, and suddenly, that's when the nerves hit me.

"Shit," I mumble to myself as I hear James unbuckle himself. "What?" I look at him, and my eyes scan over his button-up shirt and dress pants. He's looking smart for once in his life. Lmao. "Y/N?" I meet his eyes. "Chill," Easier said than done. "My parents love you, alright. What's got you nervous?" I shrug my shoulders. I really don't know why. It's like the time I had a panic attack because I couldn't find the pair of sunglass that I bought one day prior. "Take a couple of deep breaths, and then we'll hop out, and then you'll meet-

Andrea!" James drops his arm behind my back as he fast walks/jogs up to a short girl with Auburn hair. They kiss as I look her over. She's thin and tan, but her arms! Her arms have got definition to them, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't stare at them as they wrapped themselves around my best friend's brother. I shut my mouth as the couple turns to look at me. "Andrea, this is Y/N! Max's best friend and essentially my little sister." I playfully roll my eyes as I shake Andreas' hand. Hmm. Soft. "Nice to meet you! James has told me so much about you!"

"I didn't know about you till a couple of hours ago!" Andrea and James look at me, shocked, until Andreas' face softens. "Keep that up, and we'll get along great!" I laughed along with her even though what I said I didn't mean to say. It just happened. "Are my parents here yet?" James takes a quick look around as we stand in the orange dusk of the night. "They're already inside. I just wanted to meet you and Y/N first." She giggles to James, and now I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

"Well, thanks, babe!" James turns to me. "Let's go!"

Liz POV

I'm not going to lie. The fact that my mom made homemade pasta so effortlessly pisses me off a little. I tried and tried and tried and came up with lumpy dry shit, and she knocks it out of the park. Ugh. But yes, my mom is fantastic, and dinner was delicious and fun.

It brought me a bit out of the fog I've been stuck in lately. I've done my best to navigate through it, but sometimes a home-cooked meal surrounded by loved ones is all you need.

Throughout dinner, Trent gushed about his girlfriend and all the things they plan to do over the next couple of months. Courtney caught us all up on her shenanigans that she's been doing. The pictures she showed us from Mexico were beautiful, and she had a certain glint in her eye when she mentioned one of her friends. Jake talked about the idea of modeling again, but he's not sure. He also tried to get me to spill spoilers for anything Marvel-related, but thankfully mom was there to stop him.

Of course, when it was my turn to talk about my life, there wasn't anything new to say. Thanks to the media and my life on the big screen, everyone already knows everything. So all I got instead was a show of support.

"Who wants to microwave popcorn?" Trent yells out to the house as I put my phone down, just as the third phone call to Mary-Kate goes to voicemail.

"Lizzie?" I flash my eyes to Jake and put on a fake warm smile. "What?" "Are you cool if we watch Interstellar?"

"Oh yeah, sure! I won't be staying anyways, so go ahead." All three of my siblings at once go: "What do you mean?" "Excuse me?" "You're not staying?"

"Guys, I'm staying at Aubrey's. She's on her way over."

"Are you sure, Lizard?" I roll my head over to my mother. "Yes. I already promised her, and she's an impossible person to say no to." I raise my finger up to Trent, knowing he was about to say something inappropriate. "Oh, come on." He whines.

"Listen." I get up from the couch, making my way to all my bags near the front door. "Now that I'm back, I'll be able to spend more time with you all. Alright? But for real, if I don't stay at Aubrey's, she will kill me." It's a joke, but low-key isn't.

Everyone begrudgingly agrees and starts forming a line to say goodbye. With my mom being last and squeezing my brains out until we hear a horn honking. "I love you all!" With a mixture of I love yous back, I open the front door but turn around. "Could someone grab the guitar?"

"I got it!" Courtney quickly hops over and grabs it to help me bring it to Aubrey's car.

"Is this Robbies?"

"Y/N's."

Courtney doesn't say anything but mouth the word "oh."

"What up, you brunette whore!" I instantly find myself chuckling as Aubrey shouts from her car before she hops out, running around the front to tackle me into a hug! "I've missed you!!"

"I've missed you too!"

Aubrey stops the hug as she takes my luggage, tossing it into her trunk. "Who's this?" Aubrey says as she walks and points to Courtney. "My little sister Courtney." Courtney has met celebrities and models before, but I won't lie. Meeting someone like Aubrey Plaza is intimating. So maybe that's why she's as still as a scarecrow in a co- oh no, her favorite show is Parks and Rec!

"Oh shit, what's up!" Aubrey nods to Court. "You're amazing," Courtney mumbles before realizing what she just did. "I like this one," Aubrey says to me as she brings Court into a hug. While they do that, I take the guitar case and put it into Aubrey's backseat. "See you, Lizzie!" I turn back, and see Courtney walking back to the house, excited as can be.

"What did you say to her?"

"I just did her favorite April Ludgate quote and said her name in that voice." I shake my head as we get into the car. "What's with the guitar case?" Why is that anyone wants to talk about? I used to play as well, people!

"It's Y/N's. Long story." Aubrey laughs as she pulls out of my mom's driveway. "Good thing we have until I kick your ass out."

"Which you never would!"

"No, of course not. I let you go once, Lizzie Olsen. I'm not making that mistake again!" Aubrey yells into the car, making us both laugh.

If I do go missing, you know where to look.

"Alright, be honest with my Lizzie. When they're putting all that paint on Paul Bettany, how much time do they spend on his penis?"

Y/N POV

"Let's see.. Oh! There was one time Max told me that James thought honey was bee poop, so he refused to eat it! To this day, if you bring up anything with honey, you can see him hesitate." Everyone at the table erupts in laughter as I've taken this opportunity to embarrass James. Hey, it's not my fault he had to go to the bathroom.

"Oh my God! Is that why he never puts honey in his tea?!" Andrea looks at me with bewilderment. "One hundred percent, dear!" James' mom Barbara says from across the table.

"What's so funny?"

The table does their best to try and calm down from the laughter, but I'm pretty sure James figured out what happened.

"Which story did you tell?" James glares right at me. "The honey one." James sighs, defeated. "For the last time, I didn't think it was poop; I thought it was throw-up. You know what, can we please finish up so we can go?" Andrea leans herself into her boyfriend. "Aww, is someone getting grumpy?" James rolls his eyes as his father, Randy, pats him on the back. "I regret introducing you two." I stick my tongue out at the party pooper as Andrea laughs.

"It's going to be okay, James," Barbara says to her only son. "Here, James, you can tell them embarrassing stories about me while I go to the ladies' room." I stand up and push my chair in as Andrea stands up. "I'll join you. James, you better not share anything embarrassing about me!" While Andreas' threat was delivered as a joke, I wouldn't mess with her. Andrea turns to me and takes my hand.

So I thought Andrea knew where the bathroom was, but it turns out she was hoping I knew where it was. Anyways it took us longer than an average person should. Once both get done doing what we came to do and wash out hands, Andrea turns to me. "Am I okay?" I turn my head confused. "What do you mean?"

"Like, do you like me?"

"Oh.. Yeah. I think you're great." I mean, I've only known you for like two hours but sure. "Okay. I know Max, and I have had problems in the past, and her opinion means so much to James and his family, but to James himself, your opinion matters too.

"Oh..." I continue drying my hands as I think about what I've just been told. "Well, until you fuck up, I think you'll be fine." Andrea laughs. "Is it cool if I hug you?" I nod as I feel those strong arms wrap me up. I almost comment but stop myself. "Thank you, Y/N!"

"Of course!"

With both of us freshened up, we leave the bathroom, and this time we know which way to go back to our table. As we're making our way back, I spot someone from the corner of my eye. I slow down as their table comes up next to me.

"Robbie?"

Aubrey POV

Okay, whoever the fuck keeps ignoring Lizzies call needs to answer it. She's done it three times since we left her mom's, and every time they don't pick up, Lizzie keeps looking more frustrated and sad.

"Alright, phone down or give it to me," I say as she goes to try again. "Who the hell keeps ignoring you anyways?" Lizzie sighs and drops her phone. "Mary-Kate."

I wasn't expecting that answer. I turn the car as we pull up to my house. "I thought you were going to paint it?"

"Yeah, but I'm probably going to move soon anyways, so it can be someone else problem." Lizzie nods as I park the car. "Where would you move?" I shrug as we both hop out. "I don't know wherever the great Elizabeth Olsen goes next."

"You keep talking like that, and people will start to think that Ingrid Goes West is a documentary." She laughs that angelic laugh of hers as we finish bringing her luggage to the front door—guitar case in her hand. "So." I pull out my key and unlock the door. "Why is your sister ignoring you?" Lizzie groans, knowing I won't drop this.

"Let's get this stuff inside, and I'll explain."

"You better. I know when you're lying."

"That was one time!"

After showing my Olsen to her quarters and guest bathroom, she decided that she would take a shower, and we'd just chill here for the remainder of the night. My original plan was to go out, but we have all the time in the world.

Oh, also, when Lizzie wasn't looking, I took her phone and put MK's number in my phone so that she won't ignore her sister this time.

"Aubrey?!"

"Yeah!" Shit, I guess she's done with her shower. "Have you seen my phone?" I immediately down my glass of red and slide the phone to the opposite end of the kitchen counter. "Yeah, I think it's down here."

"Okay, I'll be down in a sec."

Liz POV

I could've sworn I had my phone with me when I went to shower, but I guess I'm just tired from all my travel today. After a quick nightly routine, I head downstairs to find Aubrey sitting on her couch with a glass of wine in her hand and a bottle in front of her. Oh, it's going this kind of night.

"Hey, pretty girl!" Okay, the pet names have started, so Aubreys already downed a glass. I wave to cutie on the couch and search for my phone. "I think it's on the kitchen counter." I look over, and sure enough, there it is! "Thanks!" I am about to start fiddling with my phone when Aubrey begs for me to join her on the couch. So without missing a beat, I grab a glass from her cabinet and join her.

"So, what are we watching?" I ask as I sit myself down next to Aubrey, making sure to pull a blanket across the two of us. "I don't know. Nothings been catching my eye. Want to take a look?"

"Sure." I grab the remote from her and begin searching. Every time I passed one of my movies, I felt a nudge from Aubrey until I passed by Oldboy, and I felt nothing.

I look to my left and see Aubrey calling someone, but it looks like they didn't pick up. "Damn it," Aubrey exclaims before calling them again. "Who is it?" Aubrey smiles at me before I hear a faint "hello!?"

Next thing I know, Aubrey's phone is shoved into the side of my face, and I'm left wondering what the hell is happening.

MK POV

I'm standing in the ladies room of the restaurant I took Y/N too the first day I met her. Except instead of Y/N I brought Ruby. I'm not wanting or expecting anything to happen between us because they would be very wrong, but I need a win. Right?

Almost like a sign interrupting my thoughts, my phone rings out for the seventh time in the last couple of hours. I know exactly who it is, and I know I'm going to break down and answer her soon but not right now.

I pull my phone out to watch Lizzies contact disappear, but instead, it's an unknown number. But not only that, but it's a California number. Shit, what if this is important.

I take the gamble and decide to answer it. "Hello!?"

Y/N POV

"Y/N?"

The bearded man himself looks up from the woman sitting across from him. "Oh my God! Hey! What are you doing here?" Robbie lifts himself from the table and brings me into a hug. "I'm here with James and his family."

"Oh, right. So that was here? Small world."

"It just keeps getting smaller." I practically mumble to myself before turning my attention to the woman across from Robbie. "Hi, I'm Y/N!" I extend my hand out to her, and she looks at me, astonished, before looking at Robbie. "This is Y/N?" Robbie smiles and chuckles. "The one and only." I retract my hand and focus on the table in between them. I see a glass of white wine in front of the woman but water in front of Robbie. I make a mental note to congratulate Robbie later. It looks like they both paid separately, so this isn't a date. I look at the woman again, and she looks so familiar.

"Y/N, this is Marlana!" Robbie introduces me. She waves to me as the name clicks. "Oh! From Milo Greene!" She nods with a smile. "Sorry I didn't recognize you."

"Believe me that's alright." Robbie and her laugh as I feel a tap on my shoulder. "Y/N. You okay?" I look to my left to see James. "Oh yes." Shit, I forgot I was on my way back to a table full of people. "Sorry, I just ran into Robbie and Marlana." I gesture to the two as they wave to James. "This is James." Robbie makes an "oh!" face. "Y/N, I'd hate to pull you away, but we just finished up-"

"Oh, you guys paid? I told you I was-"

"I know, but it was my Dad, so I couldn't really argue." I roll my eyes, but I understand. "I'm going to go, Andreas, tonight, so here." James places his keys in my hand. "I should be back tomorrow before you head out." He glances toward Robbie. "Alright, thanks." I look behind James to see only Andrea standing at the front of the restaurant. She sees me and waves, so I wave back. "Tell your dad I said thank you!" James nods his head. "I will. I will."

"Alright, well, drive safe." "You too." James and I share a hug before he makes his exit with his strong-armed girlfriend. I turn my body back to the table with two-thirds of Milo Greene. "Cute boyfriend." Robbie practically chokes on his water as Marlana's joke hits my ears. "Ha ha ha," I reply back as Robbie wipes himself down.

"Well, it was nice to meet the two of you-" "Oh, trust me, it was nice to put a face to a name. Robbie spent most of tonight talking about the work he's excited to do." Robbie sheepishly looks away from me. "Whatever you two put together, I'd love to hear it." Marlana smiles. I fix my eyes to Robbie, who looks back. "Sure! We'd love that."

"Great! Well, Robbie, Y/N, I'll take this as my leave and see you when I see you." She gets up and hugs the two of us before she's out the door.

"She moves fast!"

"That she does.. Oh shit." Robbie sighs as I sit in the chair across from him. "What?"

"She was my ride." I laugh as Robbie's groans turn into a chuckle. "Think she did it on purpose?"

"Marlana? 100%!" I let the moment between us rest, but I decided to speak up when I saw Robbie's eyes dart to the glass of wine.

"I'll give you a ride." Robbie smiles. "Thanks. You'd be kind of a dick to leave me now." I lean forward. "But I still can." Robbie agrees and looks out the windows across the restaurant.

The smile he has drops.

"Oh shit."

"What?" I follow Robbie's eyes, and that's when I see them.

Paparazzi.

And they just got the perfect shot for tomorrow's headline.

Part 29

18 notes · View notes

theartofshizzy · 4 months

Text

This is a story I been trying out and soon to make into a comic so let me know how I can improve 😌!

The Alien Life

' The Crush'

“Augh, i don't know what to text baaack..”, said Buggles as she worried over a text from her long lasting crush (only from the 3rd grade). She looked back over at her bestie, Jubie, “TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” she cried at him. Jubie rolled his eyes at Buggles and snatched the phone from her hand, intensely reading the DM that was sent. He chuckled at the text then looked up at Buggles, “Permission to have full control over the cellular device in this occasion?” Jubie asked her, smiling in such a devious voice. Buggles thought it over and eventually agreed, “sure, just don’t be mean and at least try to sound like me this time..” Buggles asked Jubie, looking away in shame. “THANK YOU” Jubie said excitedly, he started to text profusely. Humming to each type, Jubie finally finished and sent his text, “DOOOONE!” he excitedly yelled before handing Buggles her phone back; looking at the text, Buggles jaw dropped and her face flushed. As Buggles' crush texted her ‘ what's up with you tonight?’ Jubie responded for her with, ‘waiting around for some fun tonight’. Jubie had no problem being front up with situations like this, in fact it intrigues him, “ what? Now you’ll get what you wanted from him riiiight?” Jubie asked Buggle, chuckling in between words. Buggles huffed at Jubie, “Of course not Jubes! I wanted to take things slow this time..” she cried before shoving her face in her soft pillow.

A ding came from Buggles phone, she squealed before instantly opening her messages up only to find out it was her mom texting, Buggles sighed and read the text out loud, “remember i’m coming back home within the next 2 weeks…please have the house cleaned…love you.” she sighed and threw her phone too the side. “What’s wrong now Buggie?” Jubie asked her while getting all of his paraphernalia packed into his biggie bag. “Nothing, just mom coming home in 2 weeks..” Buggies rolled her eyes before helping Jubie get his things together, “Want some food on the way back?” she asked him. “Nah, i'm sure, i think you’re trying to fatten me up at this point” he chuckled before giving Buggles a hug, saying their goodbyes and heading out. Buggles closed the door behind him and headed back to her room, she closed the door behind her and started to blast some hard metal music, plopping on her bed Buggles closed her eyes and started to daydream of her and her crush.

On the other side, Jubie walked out of her home and started to head to his own. Between the two’s living areas it was about a 45 minute walk back, in the dark, at midnight with no light but the stars and moons. Jubie naturally didn’t care as it was a regular routine for him and Buggles, he would spend the night or week at Buggles when her mom was away and when she was home, naturally out of resentment, Buggles would sleep over at Jubie’s home until Buggles mom would complain to her about when she’ll be back. Jubie was strolling through the roadway to his house checking his feed on Domagram, only seeing acquaintances loving relationship posts, “bleh…love is dumb…and gross, can’t believe my bestie is gonna become one of these fakers and leave me to shrivel up and die!” Jubie said dramatically. He shoved his phone in his pocket and took out a pack of blunts from the other, taking one out and sparking the long awaiting green giving it a good huff and puff. Jubie sighed, he wasn’t mad at Buggles for wanting love just never understood the concept of it that made love that special to people, either way Jubie wasn’t going to let some alien come in between their friendship. After all he has enough broken relationships to deal with in the time being.

Eventually Jubie got to his apartment, he sat his things down and himself to sort of take in from what a day it’s been. Hearing a ding coming from his phone, Jubie picked it up to see it was Buggles, she texted ‘he wants to see me WHAT DO I DOOO’ he chuckled seeing her text. He insisted on her going to see the guy but somewhere public to be safe, “she can take care of herself….i hope” saying to himself before starting to overthink the situation she’d be in. He texted her again to see where they’d be meeting up at just so he knew where she’d be at, Buggles responded telling Jubie the Acebucks where he usually works at. Jubie’s eyes rolled as he sighed over the location that he knew she picked. He texted her back with, ‘just don’t worry too much if you need help im just a zap away’ he tried to insist that things will be fine while he starts to look up every inch and detail he can uncover and find about her crush. “Hmmm….okay Kinny Webber...what do you want with my bestie Buggie?” Jubie said to himself in a suspicious tone, for some odd reason he couldn't get his finger on it but Jubie couldn’t trust this alien Kinny, his family is well known for their wealth and owning half the city's retail chains. They’ve also been accused of hiding dozens of murders, the case was never finished but dropped for anonymous reasoning, no one ever truly found out why they would ever do or be accused of such a thing. Jubie eventually took it upon himself to start making his way to his job, not to spy but to make sure Buggles is safe he thought to himself while putting on his Acebucks uniform.

Buggles walked into Acebucks, scanning the room to eventually find Kinny patiently waiting for her to accompany him, Buggles walked over to him and tapped his shoulder, “h-hey!” she excitedly said. Kinny turned around and smiled, “ Hey Buggie” he greeted her, getting up from his seat and hugging Buggles with all eight arms, it made Buggles nervous but she gave a light hug back as she was too intimidated by his touch from all eight of his sensual arms and hands. They both sat in the booth across from one another, Buggles was fiddling with her fingers as she was unsure how to start the date off. She kept thinking to herself why her, why take the one girl who’s family is in the mafia, ‘as if he would even know that’ she thought to herself; the two knew each other from school and even from then Kinny Webber had no interest in Buggles or any girl, some even thought he was gay but Kinny never said either way he just kept moving along being the perfect grade A student any school would ask for. Though there were the occasional times where Jubie would see him at drug parties selling or buying and sometimes even stealing others drugs, it was like he had a whole second life no one really knew about.

Kinny was looking at his phone seeming to be texting someone, Buggles noticed this and just when she was going to ask kinny about his family a Acebucks worker had come over to their booth, “Can i get you loving aliens anything?” asked the worker. Buggles then looked up at the worker when suddenly her jaw dropped, it was Jubie! ‘He had taken it upon himself to come here and spy on me!’ Buggles thought as she closed her mouth, seeming very pissed off at this point. “No. I’m fine. Thanks.” she told Jubie, trying to keep it short, hinting she doesn't want him here, “yea no i'm good, not unless you have any type of chocolate cover flies by itself?” Kinny had requested if it was even possible. Buggles face scrunched as Kinny said his sentence, “r-really?” she had mumbled while her antennas wilted over worried like, “uhm…let me see what we have i guess..” Jubie said uncomfortable then walked away curiously to the back to even see if they actually do have chocolate covered fly’s. Kinny nodded and looked back over at Buggles, “So Buggie, would you go out with me..if you had even a chance?” he asked in a slight snooty way, Kinny had some sort of scheme he wanted to play out but Buggles didn't know this. Instead of acknowledging the snootiness in Kinny’s tone, Buggles was more ecstatic to know her crush wanted to potentially be with her forever. Buggles always obsessed over Kinny, she even had her own shrine for him that no one but Jubie knew about, she’s always waited for the day he would ask her even if it was in a rude way, “OF COURSE I WOULD, i would show you how much i could care and support you not to mention your family and support even your friends if they need it. I’ll help with your dreams and desires maybe be a desire one day oh i can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you Kinny!!” Buggles kept rambling on and on about how she would be a great house wife or business wife and was ready to basically sign her soul away to this alien. She couldn't help herself, all Buggles wanted was her dreams to come true and they were through her eyes. Kinny’s expression on the other hand said everything, he was almost disgusted on how obsessed someone could really be for him, “ugh, would you SHUT UP?!” Kinny shouted at Buggles, rolling his eyes before telling her, “If you're going to act like a pig then dont even worry even worry about it, i don’t even make deals with pigs ugh..” Kinny started to get up until Buggles grabbed his arm, “ No, please! i-i …i’ll listen and do whatever it takes just please give me a chance?” Buggles begged, her first love wanted her and she couldn’t mess this up especially all the times she stalked his socials and updated herself to know new knowledge on the family business. Buggles wants to be a great asset to Kinny and his family, “Fine. but no talking unless i ask, got it?” Kinny told Buggles, she nodded and sat back letting go of his arm, “Good, now my mother has arranged a marriage for me to insure another heir for the family, I could honestly give a damn and rather do my own shit, getting it?” his hand rolled in a circle motion as he talked. Buggles nodded and she did have one question, “but wouldn’t you want another spider…rather than a bug like me..” Kinny scoffed in annoyance, “NO, i want her to exile me out of the family so why not have a bug girlfriend than just killing her right?” he said so nonchalantly sitting back in the booth.

Eventually Jubie came back with teh chocolate covered flies, “ Here you go sir, it was hard to find but we have them somehow..” Jubie sat the cup of chocolate flies and looked over at Buggles nodding slightly to insure she’s okay. Buggles nodded back, she knew she was more than ok and was just about to make a deal of her life time, Jubie stood up and walked away going back to the shift he sadly had to pick up to be there. “So you’re telling me if I pretend to be your lover..i mean girlfriend then you’ll actually help me stop the mafia Bingz?” Buggles eyes lit up as if her dream finally came true, “yes, no questions asked but i'll help only after my mother throws me out from the family you hear me?” Kinny said to her in a stern tone, he wasn’t playing around with Buggles and in fact hoped she would follow through as she is the only one who can actually stop the Bingz for good, it was a win win on his side for he has a different deal to be dealt with. Kinny started to get up, “W-where are you going?” Buggles asked if she still had tons of questions on being his girlfriend, “Home silly, mother thinks i'm out studying with a group for college, i’ll see you tomorrow Buggie” Kinny chuckled then walked out, Buggles face blushed as she watched him leave. She couldn’t believe they’re together now, even if they are just pretending Buggles think she’ll be able to convince him to really love her. Jubie came back over and sat across from her, “so? What’d he say?” he was curious to know, “i’ll have to talk in private, your house after work?” Buggles asked him, he nodded but sighed as he really didn't want to be there. Buggles started to think and instantly gave Jubie THE look, he shook his no but it was too late Buggles twisted her leg till it broke! She cried in agony as all the workers and customers stopped and looked over at the two, Jubie instantly picked up Buggles and shouted to his coworkers, “Tell boss I have to take her to the hospital!” everyone nodded and told him to go ahead and go, Jubie left running out the door and about 5 miles down the street from Acebucks before setting Buggles to the side, “ARE YOU CRAZY?” he shouted at her. Buggles rolled her eyes and snapped her leg back into place, “calm down, i need you right now they’ll understand” she chuckled, standing up and giving the upset Jubie a hug, “thank you i appreciate this” Buggles said. Jubie sighed and hugged her back, the two started to stroll their way back to Jubie’s house, “so what happened anyways?” he asked Buggles, ‘Well let me start from the beginning” she responded and wrapped her two left arms around his waist resting on him as they walked and talked.

#storys #alien story #alien #drama #scifi #growing artist

2 notes · View notes

imnotasuperhero · 2 years

Note

wandanat as moms pls 🥲

YOU'VE WON MY HEART NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU BULLY ME!

Okay, so! Hear me out!

When Wanda found out she was pregnant, was as if the world had come crashing over her.

BUT! just for the first few seconds.

They had been trying to conceive for a few months, now. So when the stick read positive, the brunette was ready to book an appointment with her doc.

And when the doc confirmed the news, Wanda decided to stop at a baby store to buy a cute onesie to gift Natasha with it.

The tears Natasha shed that night will always be one of Wanda's favorite moments.

But boy. All the happiness and warm feelings became cloudy at times when not just one, but TWO babies came into this world.

Their peaceful sleep at night became power naps as they took turns tending to their sons (Yes, Billy and Tommy exist here because THEY DESERVE BETTER!)

Between infinite bottles and changes of diapers, both women started to feel the weight of having two tiny hoomans depending on them 24/7. So whenever someone offered to look over them for a few hours, they happily accepted, practically rushing to either get out of the house or pack their things and shove them into the awaiting pair of arms (Not without kissing their forehead goodbye, first)

As time passed and the little demons requested different things -from some toy they saw on the TV to having sweets right before dinner- they -Natasha- found it harder and harder to refuse.

"I damn you for they took over you," Natasha grunted one night during dinner, observing the kids had barely eaten their food.

"Excuse me? It's not my fault you're a mess whenever it comes to me." Wanda defended herself. "Or my kids."

"Our kids." The redhead poked her tongue at Wanda.

But at the end of the day, when they tucked the boys in bed, all the bad parts of parenthood were washed away at the content faces in front of them.

And when the boys called them crying bc they scrapped a limb? Bruh! Wanda happened to be the calm one, reassuring the kids and softly tending to the wounds while Natasha was the panicky one running around the house to get the first aid kit. And getting some bruises on the way.

"As someone so athletic, you should be a pro at dodging obstacles," Wanda kissed Natasha's cheek after she finished suturing the small cut on the redhead's forehead.

"One can only do so much when one of our kids is crying because of a scrap and me being all alone with the other one throwing up his guts because of food poisoning!"

Muffling a laugh, Wanda kissed Natasha's pout away. "Guess a third one is out of the picture, then?"

"Don't you dare," Natasha rolled them, laying down over a giggling Wanda.

Yeah.. parenthood was chaos most of the time, but neither of them would change it for the world.

Send me a pairing and a topic and I'll write you a headcanon.

#wandanat #headcanon #wanda maximoff x natasha romanoff #ahhh #i is sof #vee writes #wife.tag

43 notes · View notes

johnsbleu · 2 years

Text

Hold My Hand: John Wick x Reader Chapter 146

warnings: dual pov hmh masterlist

I haven’t seen my girls face-to-face in three days now, and it’s been killing me! This is the first time I’ve been away from them and it’s been really tough. I haven’t been away from Ronan since she’s been born, and the last time I was away from Y/N was before we were even married. I hope they’ll be as excited to see me as I am to see them.

I went up to the lake house to help Jimmy get some final touches done to it since we’re having Dan’s birthday party there this weekend with the family. It was fun to hang out with Jimmy and just have some good laughs, but I have to admit that I miss my girls so much.

Looking to my left, I wave at Jimmy as he pulls into his driveway, then I make my way up mine and smile when I see Bleu in the yard sleeping underneath the shade of a tree. He perks up when he hears my car, then he runs over to greet me as I get out.

“Hey, boy,” I smile, patting his side.

Bleu runs to the door and wags his tail as he waits for me, and I laugh quietly. He always wants to show me where the girls are. I open the door and watch as he walks inside, and I look up and smile when I see Y/N running from out of the kitchen.

“Hi, hi, hi!” she runs over to me and jumps into my arms as we kiss, and I hug her tight as she wraps her legs around my waist, “Oh my god! I missed you!”

“I missed you too!” I smile as I hug her, then I lean back and look at her, “God, you definitely got more beautiful while I was gone.”

Y/N scoffs, then she leans forward to kiss me as I carry her to the couch. I sit down with her straddling my waist as we kiss, and I let out a content sigh when she buries her face in the crook of neck. I rub my hands up and down her sides, then I smile when she sits back in my lap and looks at me.

“I missed you,” she whispers, cupping my face as she holds my gaze.

“I missed you too,” I kiss her palm, then I watch as she sits on the couch, “How have things been here? Bug’s sleeping?”

Y/N nods as she reaches for my hand, “Things have been good! Bug went down for her nap just a little bit ago. When you called and said you were on your way home, I was trying to keep her awake until you got here, but I left her for two minutes so I could pee and came back out to see her zonked on the floor.”

I laugh quietly, “That’s okay. Has she been good? I know we FaceTimed but I didn’t get to talk to you much yesterday since we were both busy.”

“She was really good! I had a girl’s day yesterday. Tess and I went to Amanda’s house, but we brought the kids. With Ro’s separation anxiety, I didn’t want to leave her with someone else, but she really didn’t give a shit whether I was there or not because she got to play with her friends.” Y/N says as we laugh, then she nods, “But she’s been really good. She slept in bed with me though. I hate that you weren’t here.”

“I know,” I nod as I relax back on the couch and prop my feet up on the coffee table, “I think the last time I was away from you was…I actually can’t remember.”

Y/N tilts her head as she thinks, “It was before we got married. Italy? No, not then. I showed up at the hotel. Holy shit, when was it?”

“Oh! I remember,” I say as I look at her, “Right before I proposed. When I went to your mom’s house to talk to her.”

“Oh my god, that was like…” Y/N looks around with wide eyes, “Almost two years ago.”

I chuckle as I look at her, “We haven’t slept without one another for almost two years.”

“Sick of me yet?”

“Nope, just getting even more obsessed,” I laugh as I lean over to kiss her, “I wish you would have come with me, to be honest.”

Y/N smiles as she nods, “Me too.”

“You had your girl’s night though. You deserved to have some fun, and I hope you did.”

“I did,” she nods, then she shrugs, “But I missed you. I missed you snoring in bed.”

I laugh as I playfully shove her arm, then I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her over to sit with me, “You had a good time with your friends though?”

“I did, we just had some food and drinks, had some chats about our annoying husbands, then I came home.” she says, and I chuckle when she smirks at me, “Nah, I gushed about you as usual. What’s new, right? What did you and Jimmy do?”

“Talked about our amazing wives and children.” I say, and she smiles at me, “We had the A/C fixed at the lake house and got a few other things done. I completely fixed up our room and bathroom downstairs. The bathroom just needed some final touches, then I got Ronan’s room done too. We just need to bring the crib we bought for there.”

“I’m excited to see it.” she says, then she snuggles into my arms as she leans her head on my chest.

We sit in silence together for a few moments, and I smile when she tilts her head up to look at me. I lean down to kiss her a few times while we have childless time together, then I start to smile when I hear Ronan crying.

“Go get her, she’ll be so happy to see you.” she whispers, and I lean down to kiss her before I get up from the couch.

I smile as I head upstairs to Ronan’s room and slowly push the door open, and Ronan juts her bottom lip out as she cries, one large tear coming from her left eye. I smile as I walk over to turn off her noise machine and to open the curtains, then I reach out for her as she cries.

“Why are you cryin’?” I whisper to her as I bounce her in my arms, and she leans her back to look at me, “Hi.”

Ronan still has her bottom lip jutted out as she looks at me for a moment, then she scratches her fingers against my beard before smiling wide and leaning against my chest. I hold her tight in my arms for a few moments before I walk over to put her on the changing table and get her out of this rank diaper.

“Hey, peach…”

“Yeah?”

I pick up Ronan and walk to the door to look at Y/N in the living room, “Do you want me to put her into something different?”

“Uh, just some different pajamas.” she says, shrugging, “Thought we’d just order something for dinner while we packed.”

“Sounds good.” I nod. I start to set Ronan down so I can grab some new pajamas but she just kicks her legs and starts to cry, so I hold her with one arm as I open her drawer, “Did you miss me?”

Ronan kicks her legs and babbles, and I feel the drool sliding down my arm as I hold her. I grab out some pajamas for her, then I carry her downstairs. Y/N looks over at us as we come down, and she smiles when Ronan squeals loudly.

“Did you miss dada?” she asks, which prompts Ronan to start kicking her legs wildly as she squeals.

I kiss Ronan’s cheek when I sit down with her in my lap, then with Y/N’s help, we quickly get her pajamas on. I reach for a toy that is on the coffee table, and Y/N and I completely disappear from Ronan’s sight when the toy is presented to her.

“Chopped liver now.” I say, relaxing back on the couch.

“Yeah, join the club.” Y/N jokes, then she smiles at me, “I just thought pizza or something would be good. I didn’t do any laundry or cleaning while you were gone, I won’t lie.”

I laugh as I look around, “The house looks fine.”

“I’m a pig when you’re not here.” she laughs, and I nudge her arm and shake my head.

“No, you’re not.” I laugh, then I sit up and look over at Ronan. I lean over and kiss her cheek, and she holds up her toy to show me, “Think she’ll crawl soon?”

Y/N hums as she thinks, then she shrugs, “I would assume so. She sits on her own, and this weekend I saw her doing the rocking back and forth thing, so I would assume she’ll start crawling within the next few weeks.”

I look down at Ronan and laugh as she ‘sings’ and makes noise, and I kiss the top of her head and pull her into my lap. I hold her up so she can stand on my legs, but she wiggles around and babbles nonsense loudly.

“You sure you’re ready for a road trip with us?”

“I am very ready,” I smile as I look over at Y/N, and she leans down to kiss me, “Can’t wait to spend the weekend up there.”

Y/N smiles as she holds up Ronan next to her face, “Us too!”

The car ride up to the lake house wasn’t bad since you waited until Ronan would be down for a nap. She slept the whole way there and only woke up about 10 minutes before you arrived. She’s currently sitting in the highchair waiting for John to get her some food, and she squealing loudly and babbling to everyone walking past.

Since John is getting Ronan fed, you decided to go downstairs to set up the crib in Ronan’s room. John is coming down to help as soon as he gets Ronan some food.

You smile as you look at Ronan’s room, and you walk over and check out the view from the window. Last time you were here, this room wasn’t even here, but Jimmy thought it would be a good idea to knock down the wall and put in a bedroom for Ronan, so that’s what he did this winter. It looks really good, and it’s nice that Ronan can be downstairs with you and John when you go to bed rather than being upstairs.

“Hey…” John smiles as he walks into the room, then he gestures, “What do you think?”

“I love it! I love the cute little plants all over and how it ties into our room,” you say, then you reach up to touch the cute little fuzzy pink deer head, “I love this.”

John chuckles, “Thought it was kind of ironic seeing as we don’t hunt.”

“It’s cute.” you laugh, then you reach for his hands and smile at him, “Thanks for doing this. If she could talk, she’d tell you that she loves this.”

“I think so,” he nods as he looks around, then he points at the toys, “I got her some new stuff that she might like too.”

Y/N looks up at me and smiles as she nods, “She’ll love it.”

I lean down and cup her face as I kiss her, and she wraps her arms around my waist as we make out for a few rare uninterrupted minutes. Y/N tilts her head to the side as I slide my tongue into her mouth, and I smile when she reaches down to grope me over my pants.

“Hey, hey, hey…” I laugh as she slouches and juts her bottom lip out, “Tonight, what do you say?”

“Yes!” she smiles wide as she nods, then she throws her arms around my neck and kisses me as I hold her and carry her in my arms back to our room.

“Hey,” Tess calls out downstairs, “Ronan keeps doing some thing to me, but I don’t know what it means.”

I laugh as I take Y/N’s hand and head upstairs, then we walk into the kitchen and see Ronan sitting in her highchair. I furrow my brow as I walk closer, then I watch as Ronan signs that she wants more food.

“She’s signing,” Y/N smiles proudly, “John has been teaching her some basic signs.”

“That’s amazing,” Bev smiles.

Y/N walks over and cuts the other half of the banana into small pieces, then she places them on Ronan’s tray, and Ronan wastes no time when she sees. She stuffs banana into her mouth and gets it all over her face, but she’s so damn happy to be eating.

“She knows the signs for ‘more’, ‘dad’, ‘mom’, and ‘food’, of course.” Y/N smiles as she looks at me, “Our little smarty pants.”

I smile when I look at Ronan with banana all over her, then I grab a napkin to wipe it off, “I read that it helps your baby communicate and keeps their frustration low.”

Bev nods, “That makes sense. Babies can’t always communicate verbally what’s going on.”

I shrug, “And she hasn’t said her first word yet, so I figured I’d teach her.”

“She’ll start talking soon, Jonathan.” Bev smiles, squeezing my arm.

“Watch this. Ro, where is dada?” Y/N asks, signing ‘dad’, then she points around the room, “Hmm, hmm, hmm, where is dada?”

Ronan looks at Y/N and smiles, then she only signs ‘dad’ as Ronan looks around. Ronan looks at me and smiles, then she smacks her hands on the tray and screeches happily.

“Good job!” I smile as I lean down to kiss her, “She’s a smart little bug.”

I clean up the tray and Ronan’s face, then I take off her bib and set her down so she can play with Finn. He crawls over to her with some of his toys, and I smile when I see him hold up one to show her. Ronan bounces in place and giggles as Finn plays with her, and she squeals loudly when he imitates a plane engine.

Leaning back against the counter, I smile as I watch my beautiful baby girl grinning like the happiest baby on the planet.

Standing on the sun deck, I look out at the water as the sun goes down and I take a moment to think about how much my life has changed. It’s something that is always on my mind, but today has been so good that I have to take an extra moment to really be grateful for how far I’ve come.

If someone would have told me years ago that I would meet the most wonderful woman who would change my life, I would have never believed them. I never in a million years would think I would be married to an incredible woman who is everything that I could ever want. She’s smart, kind, understanding, so damn sexy, and just beautiful inside and out. The fact that we haven’t lost the spark between us as well is pretty amazing. Not that I ever think we will, I’m crazy about her.

I can’t imagine my life without Y/N, and I certainly couldn’t imagine my life without Ronan. Being a dad wasn’t something that I thought I’d ever be, so I’m so grateful to Y/N for giving me the opportunity. I just hope I’m doing a good job.

“Hey, cutie…” Y/N smiles as she walks up to the sundeck, “Come here often?”

I look over at her and smile as I stand up to allow her to stand in front of me. I wrap my arms around her waist and bury my face in the crook of her neck, and she pulls my arms around her tighter.

“Ro is down?”

“She is,” she nods, then she looks at me and smiles, “What are you doing up here?”

I shrug as I look out at the water, “Just thinking.”

“Well, come on, Wick, fill me in!” she laughs, and I kiss her cheek before I stand next to her.

“Today has been great, hasn’t it?” I say, and she laughs as she furrows her brow a little. “Every now and then, I just start to think about how much my life has changed since we met.”

Y/N turns to face me, then she leans against the railing, “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I nod, then I shrug as I look out at the sun setting, “It’s days like these where I think about how far I’ve come, everything I went through…”

“You went through a lot. Ya know, not many people can say they literally fought like hell for their life and mean it. They mean it metaphorically, but I know it better than anyone how literal it is. I see it every time we’re in bed,” she whispers as she reaches over and touches the scars on my arms and chest, “I see the hell you went through, and I’m grateful that you’re so damn stubborn sometimes because you could have easily complied and said ‘you know what, I give up’, but you didn’t. You kept fighting. You kept fighting because you knew there was a better life out there for you.”

I let out a small laugh as I stand up straight and look over at her, “You know, you’re really good at these talks.”

“Well,” she rolls her eyes playfully as she shuffles in place, “I learned from the best.”

“I’ve just been thinking all day about how amazing my life has been since you came into it. You’ve made me a better man, and I’ll always be grateful for that.” I say, and she smiles with tears in her eyes, “You made me a husband again, and now you’ve made me a father. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me this opportunity.”

Y/N scoffs a little as she looks away and wipes the tears off her cheek, “John…”

“I mean it,” I reach over for her and hold her gaze, “I don’t thank you enough.”

“Because you don’t need to.” she whispers, and I shake my head. “Just waking up and seeing that you’re still there in the morning is enough. I mean sometimes Ro and I can be a handful.”

I shake my head as we both laugh, then I lean down to kiss her, “I’m not going anywhere. You and Ronan mean everything to me, and I mean it when I say I can’t function without you two. Those three days without my girls were rough. It gave me a glimpse as to what it would be like if I didn’t have you two in a way, and I hated it. I hated not feeling your body next to me in the night. I hate not waking up and bringing Ro into bed just to snuggle for a little bit. I hated not having you around.”

Y/N smiles as she looks up at me, then she cups my face and stand on her tiptoes to kiss me. I wrap my arms around her tight and deepen the kiss, then I kiss down her cheek to her neck before holding her for a few moments.

“Thank you for coming into my life and giving me all the things I never knew I wanted,” I whisper, and she tilts her head back and looks at me, “I love you more than I’ll ever able to express.”

“You’re so cute,” she whispers as she rubs her thumb against my cheek, then she leans up to kiss me, “I love you too.”

I hold her hand as I walk over to sit on the couch, and I smile when she sits next to me and puts her right leg over my lap, “It’s beautiful out here.”

“It’s a really nice night.” she nods, then she smiles at me, “Jimmy is going to start a bonfire in bit.”

“Sounds good.”

Y/N clears her throat a little as she shifts in place, then she looks at me and smiles softly, which causes me to grow concerned. Something is…off.

“What’s going on?” I ask, and she furrows her brow. “Come on, I know you. You got that little crinkle in your forehead. You’re thinking about something.”

“Uh, well, I…” she tilts her head back and groans as she looks at the sky, then she looks over at me, “I…god!”

I laugh as I hold her hand, “You can do it, baby.”

Y/N takes a deep breath and looks at me, “I think…I might be pregnant.”

I immediately sit up and look at her, “What?”

“Yeah,” she bites her lip nervously and nods, then she looks down at her hands and shrugs, “I haven’t gotten my period yet. It’s a few days late.”

I look down at my lap for a moment while we’re both silent, and I let everything run through my head.

We want more children but Ronan isn’t even a year old yet. We don’t want kids this close in age, and I know that we want to just stay the three of us for a little while longer before we add another member to the family. How the hell am I going to tell her that I don’t think we should have another baby yet?

I look up when I hear Y/N sniffle, and I move closer to her, “Don’t cry.”

“I just…I don’t want to be pregnant right now. I like just being a little family of three, and I’m just now starting to feel better about things. I’m finally feeling like I got this whole mom thing in the bag. I don’t want to be pregnant right now.”

“Yeah, of course.”

Y/N looks at me and shrugs, “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings--”

“Hey, I agree with you wholeheartedly.” I nod, and she smiles a little. “I love it just being the three of us. I love the way things are going. I don’t want another baby right now either. We’re still getting used to how things are with Ro.”

“Yeah,” she nods as I reach over to wipe the tear off her cheek. “I just finally got my body back. I finally feel like myself again. I’m not ready to share it again.”

I nod as I hold her gaze, “I know. I don’t blame you.”

“So…” she exhales as she looks at me, “Wanna come with me to take the test?”

I perk up as I look at her, “You bought some?”

“Before you got home the other day. I was too nervous to tell you.” she says, and I intertwine my fingers with hers and pull her up from the couch.

We hold hands as we walk inside, and I see Tess give her a wink. Of course Tess probably already knows what’s happening. I wouldn’t put it past these two. I’m glad that she had someone to talk to while I was gone.

Y/N heads downstairs and walks straight to her bag to get out the pregnancy tests, then she opens it while she walks to the bathroom. I let out a small laugh when she immediately sits on the toilet and sticks the test between her legs, then I lean against the door frame and look down to give her privacy.

“Okay,” she sighs as she flushes the toilet and washes her hands. She puts a piece of toilet paper over the test so neither of us peek, then she crosses her arms and looks at me. “I feel like I need to say this: I’ll be happy if we are.”

“I know,” I nod, then I gesture to myself, “Me too.”

Y/N holds my gaze, then she chuckles, “I just don’t want to be.”

“Yeah, same.” I laugh, reaching out for her hand, “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

A few moments pass as we stand there, and I smile when she looks up at me but I furrow my brow a little when I remember that she’s on birth control.

“I already know what you’re about to ask,” she laughs, and I start to smile, “I haven’t been taking it. It’s just so annoying to remember to take a pill, okay?”

I laugh as I lean over to kiss her, “I understand.”

“I have an appointment Monday, so I’m going to ask Doctor Mendez what I can I do instead because being a new mom causes me to forget to eat half the time, how am I meant to remember to take a pill?”

“Makes sense.” I nod, then I look over when the timer goes off. I walk over to wrap my arm around her shoulder and hold her close to my chest, and we both lean in to kiss one another before I pull the tissue from over the test. “Oh, thank god.”

Not pregnant.

Y/N leans against my chest and laughs, “I’ve never been more nervous.”

“Me too.” I laugh, then I lean back to look at her, “You’re sure you’re happy with those results?”

“Yes, very happy.”

I smile as I lean down to kiss her, “Because if you wanted a different result, I can always help with that.”

Y/N laughs as she tosses the test into the garbage, then she takes my hand and walks to Ronan’s room, quietly pushing the door open so we can check on her. We both tiptoe over to the crib and peek over to look at Ronan, and I wrap my arm around Y/N’s shoulder and kiss her head.

Ronan’s chunky little cheeks are a little red, so Y/N turns the little fan on to cool her down. I smile when she looks at me and wraps her arms around my waist, and we both look back at Ronan.

“I love her more than anything in this world, but I’m not ready to have another one yet.” she whispers, and I look at her, “I love our little world as three.”

“I do too,” I whisper back, then I lean down to kiss her, “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

Inhaling deeply, Y/N takes my hand and leads me to our bedroom where she sits down and pulls me next to her on the bed, “I want to have more kids. We’ve talked about this.”

“Why are you trying to justify your reaction like I’m upset?”

“I don’t want you to think I don’t want more kids.”

I tilt my head as I look at her, then I chuckle as I lean over to kiss her, “I know you want more. I do too! It’s just not time. I’m finally getting you back, I’m finally able to just have you to myself sometimes. You went through so much with this first pregnancy, and I don’t want you to go through all of that again unless you’re ready.”

Y/N smiles as she nods, “Yeah.”

“I love you, and I know you love being a mom,” I reach for her hand and press a kiss to it, “It’s just not time for another baby yet, and I’m completely fine with that. I think we’re both still trying to get used to how things work with a baby, and every month she’s learning something new and things are constantly changing. Plus with only one baby, I can get away with sneaking you off to the bedroom more often.”

“Yeah, very true.” she laughs, nodding her head as she leans over to kiss me.

I hold her gaze for a moment, then I nod to the bed and smirk, “Shall we?”

We both look over when we hear a knock on the glass sliding doors, and we wave at Jimmy. He slides the door open and sticks his head in as he waves.

“You guys coming for the bonfire?”

“Yeah, we’ll be right out.” Y/N says, then she looks at me and laughs, “Maybe we should wait for everyone to be asleep.”

I nod my head as I laugh, “Yeah.”

The sun has set, the kids are down, and now all the adults are outside for a bonfire. Bev never misses a moment to boast about her girls and tell embarrassing stories, and she’s making us all laugh telling us about the time Y/N got so sick at school that she needed to be picked up.

“Oh, she smelled horrid.” she says, and Y/N puts her head in her hands as she laughs. “The poor thing just couldn’t stop puking and then it was coming out of both ends. My poor baby was just a stinky crying mess when I picked her up. She ended up having a really bad stomach bug and was out of school for about two weeks. I remember when we needed to take a fecal sample to the hospital for testing, she nearly cried because she didn’t want the ‘boy doctor’ to look at it.”

“Hey! I was embarrassed!” Y/N says, and I chuckle as I look at her, “I was like…7.”

Bev smiles, “You just kept saying ‘no, he’s a boy doctor! Don’t give the boy doctor my poop!’ Everyone in the lobby was trying not to laugh, and the poor thing just cried. They ended up having a female nurse come take it to save the poor thing from the humiliation.”

Y/N laughs, “I’ll be sure to save Ro the childhood trauma and not pass her poop off to the boy doctor.”

I laugh as I rub her arm, then I lean down to kiss her head, “I know you have some embarrassing stories about Tess.”

“Hey!” Tess playfully yells and reaches over to shove my shoulder.

“Of course I do.” Bev laughs, then she shakes her head, “But I won’t do that to her.”

Y/N scoffs jokingly, “Oh, so you’re just going to tell my husband that I shit my pants one time but you’re not going to tell any of Tess’ embarrassing stories. Wow, I see who the favorite is.”

Tess puffs her chest up and flips her hair, then she nudges Y/N’s shoulder, “Nah, mom always said she never had a favorite.”

It’s actually really cool how Bev has always made it seem like Tess is her biological daughter. Y/N takes so much pride is having her as a big sister too. It’s cool that they accepted Tess into the family despite not being blood, and it was nice that I immediately felt at home with them too. They’ve always made me feel so comfortable, and I know it’s because Bev is just a really good woman. I’m glad that Y/N was brought up by her because she’s raised incredible daughters and now Y/N gets to help raise ours.

“Hey,” Jimmy comes out of the house and looks at us, “Ro-Ro is crying.”

Y/N laughs, “Ro-Ro?”

“Yeah, I mean, you got a nickname for Finny. I had to think of one too.” he laughs as he shrugs, “It was Ro-Ro or Rowey.”

“Well,” Y/N tilts her head, “I won’t lie, Rowey is kind of cute.”

I laugh as I get up with her, then we head downstairs to check on Ronan. As soon as we get to the door, Ronan reaches out for her mom and juts her bottom lip out.

“Oh, I know. Momma and daddy are here.” Y/N whispers as she picks her up and bounces her a little, and Ronan lays against her chest and sucks her thumb.

“I think she just needed her momma.” I whisper, then I grab Ronan’s blanket, “She can come upstairs with us.”

Y/N nods, “She’ll probably fall asleep again. She’s just been a little clingy.”

I wrap the blanket around Ronan as we head back outside, and I wait for them to sit down before I sit next to them and make sure they’re both warm. I wrap my arm around Y/N’s shoulder and rub her arm to warm her up, then I smile when she looks at me.

Ronan’s eyes are growing heavy as Y/N rubs her back and slowly rocks her from side to side, and I smile when I see Ronan’s eyes finally flutter shut as her thumb falls out of her mouth. I reach over and rub her back before leaning over to kiss her forehead, then I kiss Y/N and smile at her.

“We love you,” she whispers, and I smile again.

“I love you both.”

Holding tight to Y/N, I rub her arm and listen to the conversations being had, and I smile as I look around at everyone. My family. My perfect little family.

#john wick x reader #john wick x you #john wick x y/n #john wick imagine #fic: hold my hand #tbh i'm not thrilled with this chapter but whatever...#it's shorter than i'd usually write but i knew i wanted john and her to have That moment #anyway hope you like it!#if you don't please don't tell me lmao #i hope you're all staying safe and warm i love yall

29 notes · View notes

jazz-miester · 2 years

Text

All I Could Say

Pairing: N/A

Reader Type: Gender Neutral Human

Song: It was a sin - The Revivalists

Warnings: Swearing. Mentions of smoking.

An: Chapter one of something I'll probably never continue after I post part of chapter two or maybe I'll do a rewrite. Idk. Just trying to keep the blog alive lol.

Word Count: 5642

And if I hadn't said "Hello." What then?

“So do right people with wrong timing ever get a second try?” - (Via Welcometothedarksideofthemoon)

If there was one thing I could wish for it would be to not have to wake up in the mornings. It always came with the expectation that you had to do something. That in order for a morning to be good you had to be productive. God that was a bunch of bullshit. Mornings are for you to contemplate life then immediately go to your nine to five job.

My alarm blares to the right of me Breaking the silence of the room. I pull my arm out from beneath the duvet, goosebumps prickling the skin as it meets cold air. I smack my hand around until I find my phone on my bedside table. Toppling over water bottles and pencils to the floor as I do so. I just pray that one of those bottles wasn't open.

“Ah! Shit!” My dumbass self forgot to turn the brightness down before plugging it in last night. It was four in the morning. Sighing I drop my phone on my bed and cover my eyes with my arm. “God help me.” It’s too early. Why the hell did I live this far out of town again?

The back of my head aches. Tendrils of pain curling around with the promise of a migraine to come.

The end of my bed dips causing me to shift to one side momentarily before a heavy weight flops onto my stomach. Drool seeps through my t-shirt. “G’morning Orion.” My hand meets fur as I scratch behind his ears. “You’re up early. Ya hungry?” He barks once and lifts his head so I can get up. “Let's go get you some food then.”

“Yuck.” I pull my shirt off as I nudge my bedroom door open with my foot. The lock broke a month ago and I'm too lazy to replace it.

I let Orion outside to do his business before filling his bowl up, throwing in some of last nights dinner as well. By the time I started the coffee maker he’s already back inside. Orion drops a stick at my feet and barks once.

“Ah. Gee thanks bud.” Satisfied with whatever was going through his doggy brain he left the stick to go eat breakfast. I toss it into the corner with the other sticks.

After getting my first cup of coffee I hop on the kitchen counter setting the cup to the side as I search my sweats pockets for my cigarettes and lighter. Forgetting I left them in last nights pants.

It doesn’t take too long to find them.

If only mom could see me now. Such a star child I am.

I flick through the radio to find a station to get rid of the silence while I smoke. After settling on classic rock I hopped back on top of the counter to drink my coffee. Flicking through my phone as I do. I flick through any social media for a bit. Looking for any kind of news, messages, notifications.

A picture of Orion had gotten twenty likes on Instagram. He was slowly getting up in age as the years piled on. It showed in the slight grey on his muzzle and feet. In the aching of his hips as he needed more and more help up the stairs or into the pickup. He also slept a lot more, which says a lot for a Mastiff. They already slept a lot. Lazing about during the day. He’s seven now. O got him when I was sixteen. A birthday gift to myself.

“Shit!” The clock read four thirty. I had to be in work by six and I lived about an hour out from Jasper. I down the rest of my coffee, now cold. and ram the end of the cigarette into the ashtray.

I scramble to get ready.

Pulling out random jeans, shirts, and jackets until I find something that sort of matches. Taking a little bit more care to dig through my rings and replace a few piercings so I don’t completely look like a loon.

I forgo cleaning my face to save time and go refill Orion's food and water dish. Leaving the kitchen door open so he can have the backyard.

I shove my wallet and phone charger into my pockets. Along with my lighter and half carton of cigarettes. I flick the lights off as I leave, turning the ac on so it wouldn’t get sweltering in the house.

“No keggers and no girls over.” I point my finger at Orion who huffs from his bed and turns to look the other direction. “Rules are rules man.” Laughing to myself I walk into the garage. My clunker of a truck and my bike sit, waiting. I grab my helmet from the truck bed and pull the keys out of it. Patting the side of the truck I apologize to it. “Sorry blue but you still need fixed.” I’ve been waiting for replacement parts for about a week.

I put the helmet on and get on the bike. Turning the engine on as I kick the stand up. I have to walk it backwards in order to get it out. The garage door clammers closed as I took off down the road.

My mom’s always hated the fact that I ride my bike. Multiple times she’s tried hiding my keys, my helmet. Fuck, she’s gone as far as driving nails into my tires, claming that I must have drove over them on the road. There's more, honestly. But it's not something I can think about without my blood boiling.

This bike was the one thing I had left of my Grandfather. It was his bike when he was younger. And now it’s mine. Maybe one day, if I find someone. I might pass it down. But as for now it's not a concern even worth thinking about. I'm fine as I am. Complete by myself.

It was an intoxicating sense of freedom that this bike gave. One wrong move and it was over. I’d go ass over tea kettle and night night Y/n. Or a trip to the hospital.

It was one thing I could control.

Another way to flirt with death.

I’m in town a while later. The hustle and bustle of the small town is a cacophony of sounds. From cars to children and chiming doors.

The bike's engine rumbles beneath me. My hands tighten and loosen on the handlebars as I roll to a stop. Booted feet planted firmly to the pavement as I waited for a greenlight. I get a few looks, not unusual, A little girl waves excitedly at me and I wave back. The light flicks to green and I take off.

I work in a tattoo shop. When I first came to this town I was amazed that I was able to find one. I pull into the small lot and kill the engine. Shoving the keys into my pocket. The glass door opens with a quiet chiming of bells. I rub my hand over a wooden statue of a dog that sits next to the doorway. A force of habit after working here for so long.

“Y/n! You finally made it!” I laugh and pull my helmet off. I catch sight of myself in the reflection of the window. My hair wild around my face. smoothing it down I reply.

“Hey. I made it on time.” I glance at the clock. “I mean. I’m only a minute late.” The old man smiles.

“C’mon kid. You’ve got an appointment at seven thirty. Set up now and it’ll make your life a lot easier.” John was the store owner. He started the place after he got back from vietnam. He held the same physic he did when he was younger. Corded muscle bound beneath tan skin. Just a slightly more round belly from his beloved apple fritters. I only knew what he had looked like from his wife. A sweet lady who often sneaks Orion treats when she thinks I'm not looking.

“Ya ya I know. Ya mind if I go pop in the Cafe after I’m done? I didn’t get the chance to eat.” John shook his head.

“Kid. I swear if you don’t start eating I'm gonna give you to my wife. N’ she doesn't take no for an answer.” I drap my jacket over the back of my chair, telling him that, indeed, I will try. The last time the couple found out I hadn’t eaten all day, Marie, John's wife, made me eat till I was fill to bursting. Then sent me home with enough food for a week.

I made a tray of brownies, the only thing I could bake without burning, and did all their yard work as a thankyou.

I had gotten two black coffees and two bagel sandwiches from the caffe. The barista was one of my favorites. Always asking about my tattoos and piercings. Asking why I got them and how much it hurt. I was happy, as always, to answer them. Today’s was whether or not it would hurt if they got a vertical labret like my own.

“Come by the shop and find out. Include some of those lemon squares and I'll take some off the price.” They laughed and said maybe some other time.

My seven thirty came in a few minutes early. She was a bit younger than me. Maybe twenty two, twenty three. And this was her first tattoo. She was a bit nervous but still held on to that bubbly personality she had when I first met her. She didn’t get a very big one. and it was on her upper thigh.

After going over the placement she sat on the chair. I taped the hem of her dress so it wouldn’t hike up as I tattooed her. Consistently I asked her if it was ok if I placed my hand here, is this comfortable. Do you feel ok?

It was her first time and I didn’t want her to have the same horrible experience I had.

Her tattoo came out great in the end. If I may toot my own horn for a moment. It was one of my own. A woman from the waist up, a skull in one hand and a sword in the other. A crown of thorns resting on her brow. It was pretty clean linework and shading. One of the best I’ve done so far.

I go over on how to take care of it as I clean everything up and place the protective cover over it. She’s ecstatic as she looks at it in the mirror. The hem of her dress flutters around her thighs as she moves side to side.

“Thank you! It looks amazing!” I just laugh and lead her over to the till.

“Ah, Thanks. M’ just glad you like it. Be sure to come back if you see anything out of the ordinary ok. Don’t be afraid to call either.”

The day basically goes on the same. Consultations, designing new tattoos, and actually tattooing. John has people coming and going for piercings. He’s actually done a few of my own. My labret, tongue, and nose piercing.

My stomach growls as we lock up and clean up. Having skipped lunch and downing an energy drink instead. My body, as tratorus as it was, rebelled against my poor choices.

I pull my jacket on and grab my helmet after cleaning my station. My back aches and my hand hurts from constant drawing and leaning over.

“Heading home kid?” John askes. He had a binder tucked under one arm, phone in hand.

“Ya. I gotta feed Orion, then I might go take a drive.” It was three going on four so I had time before nightfall. John pulled a dog treat out from a drawer on his desk.

“Well, give this to the big guy. Make sure to tell him it was from me.” I smile and take it, putting it into the breast pocket of my jacket so it wouldn’t get crushed.

“I’ll be sure to, John.” The guy loved him. Both dog and man being gentle giants.

The ride home is a bit longer than the way up. Having to pick up groceries for dinner.

Orion could hear me the moment I pulled into the garage. His tail thumping on the floor behind the door. Speaking of which. The moment I open it i’m knocked over by two hundred and forty pounds of slobbering mastiff. He barks twice, nudging me to get off the floor.

“Ya ya, ya old bastard. Here ya go. A gift from John.” Orion perks up at the name as I pull the biscuit out. He nibbles at the end until I release it and tell him “ok”. It’s gone in seconds. He barks once he leaves to go to his bed.

“Really feeling the love bud.” I pull my shopping bags out from the saddle bags of the bike and head to the kitchen. Tossing everything onto the table along with everything in my pockets and my helmet. Dinner was nothing special, a rotisserie chicken, potatoes, mac’n’cheese and some greens. I was too lazy to actually cook anything that night.

Orion rests his head in my lap while I use his head as a table for my sketch book. Doodling new tattoo ideas and whatever happens to pop up in my mind. A cigarette dangles loosely from my lips. Unlit because I didn’t want any ashes to fall on Orion and hurt him. After a while I set it to the side and pet him. Ringed hand going from his head to his back then up again. Orion licks my hand at the fourth round about. Brown eyes looking up at me.

This dog has been with me through some tough times. I left home when I was sixteen. Barely any money to my name. I was homeless for a while. Working odd jobs wherever I could to keep him fed. He’s been with me through yelling and screaming. He’s kept me safe from horrid people. He kept my ex from harming me. Orion was quite literally the only reason I was still on this earth. The only constant in my life that hasn’t left or tried to hurt me.

“I love you Orion. You know that? I hope you do. Oh god. I hope you do.” I bow my head and press a kiss to his head. I know that I’m going to be devastated the day I lose him. I have no idea what I’m going to do without him. Orion licks my hand again. Whining as if he could feel the hurt welling in my chest. I shake my head and lean back against the couch. It wouldn’t do good to dwell on things that haven’t happened yet. Nor is it good to reminisce about the past I've tried so hard to run away from. I haven’t thought about my family in a long time. It wouldn’t do good to dredge up the feelings I've worked so hard to chain down.

“Do ya wanna go for a drive Orion?” I glance up at my bike helmet. He just looks up at me. Then huffs. He used to love driving in the sidecar on my bike. I took it off a long time ago because it got to the point he couldn’t sit in it anymore. I always offered it to him. But, like always, he went and flopped down onto his bed. “Well, i’m gonna go on a ride bud. Ok? You stay here and be good. And I'll bring you back a couple of burgers from KO’s. Despite how bad you stink afterwards.” I give him another treat before leaving. Turning the tv on so he had something to pay attention to while i’m gone.

It’s cooler outside now. The sun slowly sets over the horizon. It felt weird not seeing mountains out in the distance. Just flat land with the occasional rock jutting skywards. As if it were desperate to touch the clouds. I flew along the pavement. Everything is blurring around me. I stay on the main road for a couple of miles before peeling off into an old back road.

Pavement eventually turns into gravel then gravel evens out into solid rock. Cliff faces surround either side of me. The air cools down even further. Icy cold and bitting into my skin despite the jacket as I drive on. The sound of the bikes engine echoes against the rock walls. Deafening to my ears. The rocks close in almost dangerously close. The sides of my legs occasionally brush against the cliff face. If it were any other time I probably would have gotten scared and backed off. Afraid that I would get wedge and unable to get out. But, as it were, I've gone here what felt like over a million times. So I knew that the walls would part again. Opening up to the most bizarre place I had ever seen.

An open lake with large, deep blue crystal jutting put from the ground and rock walls. I've never boon good at identifying crystals so I looked it up online. Nothing I saw looked like what they were. As weird as it was, those crystals were comforting. An image I've drawn time after time.

I just hoped they weren't radioactive and that my hair wouldn't fall out.

I will admit I've checked to make sure I didn't grow any more extra toes once. I. I got a little too high that night.

I come to a stop at the opening of place. Turning my bike off and letting it sit next to the valley. My helmet sits next to my bike as I walk off. It's quite a bit away, the pool of water. Maybe a couple of football fields length away.

The air hums with the strange energy the crystals give. As if though they were singing. My toes touch the edge of the pool. It was crystal clear all the way through. And at the bottom more blue rocks. Like one of those crystal sinks filled with water.

I run my fingers over the surface of the water. Ripples distorting the image below. I hum along with the crystals. My voice echoing in the great chasm. The moon reflects in the pool. Stars looking as if I could reach right down and grab them. I wish I could bring Orion he. He would love it. Peaceful. Almost to the point of near sleep. As if though this was the resting place of tired souls.

I sit down on my heels. Still fluttering my fingers in the waters surface. Fingers tingling from the cold and the crystals. My rings clicked together as I moved my fingers.

As stupid as it sounds I chances swimming in the thing once. Stripped down to my underwear and dove right in. Not only did I freeze my ass off but I fleet whole body tingles for a week after. My entire body feeling as if I got supercharged and down a hundred monsters.

I didn't do it again after.

Not a whole lot anyways.

I lit cigarette and just smoked for a while. Letting the smoke curl around my lips and float into the open air. Just breathing in the good shit and exhaling all the bullshit I had been feeling before I came here. Letting the place wash away all the negativity I held. Wasn't that what crystals were for? Raising your vibrations or some shit.

I jerked my head upwards as I heard another hum. This one more deep and engine like. I glanced at my bike. No. It was turned off. I look back up in time to see the underside of a plane.

I'm calm for all of two seconds before I realize the damn thing is falling down right above me.

I uttered every swear word I knew right then and their. My heart jumping into my throat as I willed my legs to run. Falling flat onto my face and kicking up dirt as I jump back up and run what is hopefully far enough away.

The cigarette falls from my lips as what lands in front of me definitely is no longer a plane. I fall right on my ass and lose my breath as the thing lands. The ground shuddering beneath me.

That mother fucker was a giant robot. My brain resets. Blinking a few times and pinch the skin on my wrist. Hard. Pain bloomed. Nope. This was real.

Deep purple metal glints in the moonlight. Thick legs lead into a thicker waist. Then to broad shoulders and a head with no face. The things looks around at all the crystals. Body vibrating with what I could only call excitement.

"Commander Starscream. I've found the energon deposit." Asshole speaks english then. Dope. And what was energon. From the way the robot rapped it's knuckles on the blue crystals I supposed that's what energon was.

At least a had a name for it now I guess.

I glanced over at my bike. Wondering if I could make it there without altering grape juice there. I was halfway between him and my bike with nowhere to hide. So either I ran now and get caught with a headstart or the fucker sees me standing here and maybe tries to eat me.

I didn't see it coming for me. My eyes still trained on my bike. It wasn't until I heard rocks being crushed underfoot did I realize it was making a beeline towards me. It stops when it realizes that I'm looking right at it.

My heart pitter patters in my chest. Drumming along to the adrenaline pumping in my veins. It's silent. Save for the creeking of my leather jacket and whatever exhale breathing thing it's doing.

Blood rushes through my ears. It's red eyes cycling dark to light then back again. My mouth opens before I realize it.

"What in the fresh fuck are you supposed too be? WALL-E on steroids?" It rumbles deep and heavy. Shaking me where I stand.

"And what are you fleashy? Another Autobot pet?" I snort. Did this reject barny just call me a fleashy?

"Hey tin for brains! I got no idea what the fuck an Autobot is." Bad choice! Holy fuck bad choice for words. A scream hurdles out of my throat as rocks and dirt flung into the air. Raining down upon me. Rocks pelting my head and shoulders as it came back down.

I blink the dust from my eyes and glance to my right. A large crater where ground use to be. Any closer and I would have been incinerated. I swallow thickly and look up at the robot.

"So. Not reject barny then." My voice shudders and my body both shakes and feels like it's floating. I can't move. Frozen to the spot as realization rolls over me in cold wave after cold wave.

I. Almost. Died.

No one would have been able to care for Orion.

He comes for me again.

I'm still frozen.

Move.

Fucking move.

GOD DAMNIT MOVE!

My whole body surges forward. As if though it were a rubber band pulled back as far as it could go before releasing into the air. It shoots again and I wanna vomit. Fear like I had never felt it before.

One moment it's chasing me. The next it stops. I turn around in time to see it being tossed into next Tuesday.

"You will leave the human alone." Its voice rumbles like thunder before a storm. Promises over disaster dangling on the edges. Red and blue become a blue against purple as the two fight before bright blue stained the rocky floor.

Red and blue lays down purple as if it were a child. Cradling it's head as it helps purple lay on the ground. Offering it solace in its final moments.

The crystals change it's humming tune. Red and blue looks over at me. I step backwards. Sky eyes lock onto me. Darkening as if it were upset that I had flinched backwards.

"I am sorry." It rumbles. It's voice unlike any other I've heard. Gentle and commanding. Peaceful yet full of chaos.

"For what? Saving my life? Uhh. Thanks. By the way." I swallow thickly. So either this is hella A.I or...

"I am sorry for what you had to witness. I prefer if less human knew about us. For the safety of your kind. No doubt he has sent images of you back to our enemy." Hold up.

"Barney was taking pics?" My hands shook. Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit. Whatever cotton candy here considered and enemy I did not want to know.

"Most likely. Yes. We have human allies. And with you being this close to an energon deposit no doubt he has thought you to be an Autobot ally." I say nothing. Do nothing. Was this gonna hurt Orion?

"So what? We part ways and pretend this didn't happen? I move towns and quite possibly see a therapist for what seems like the umpteenth time?" What I previously thought to just be a part of his face retracts. So. He has mouth.

"No." He starts. "You will go back to your residence. I will send Agent Folwer to come bring you to Autobot base in the morning." I raise a brow at him.

"How the hell will you know where I live? That being if I want to even see you again." Still quite a ways away he takes but three steps for him to come close to me. He drops on one knee. Hand dropping down beside me.

"This is for your safety. And that of any family you have. As for figuring out where you live, I will accompany you to assure no Decepticon follows you." His face is now level with mine. "I assure you. I mean you no harm." Something humms deep in my chest. Sparks shooting through from head to toe.

My hand moves on its own. My palm coming to rest upon metal skin. My hand small compared to the rest of him. He lets me. Not budging an inch. My fingers follow the curve of what I assume are his cheeks. The metal surprisingly warm and malleable. My hand shakes as I follow the contours of his face. Right up until I look into his eyes.

Not once had he stopped watching me. Not once had he looked away. They cycle and twirl. Like a camera lens focusing itself. Hot air rushes over me. He blinks.

Suddenly I'm five again. Bared open as me and this being look at each other.

I feel like I'm five again and staring into the night sky. Knowing full well I'm looking into something ancient. Something far older and wiser than I. It breaks me down to my very soul. Leaving me with my most vulnerable part. I swallow thick and jerk my hand away as if it burned.

He was old and ancient. And so very past his resting point. His body is tired and worn. And I feel guilty. Why? I truly don't know. But empathy wins over and all I want to do is say sorry to him, for whatever the universe has has done. For whatever fate deemed fit to steal from him.

"Sorry. I whisper." For touching what seemed like a gods instrument. Sorry. For whatever that God had done to him.

I glance to the ground. Then to him.

"Whats your name? What should I call you?" A smile. Barely there.

"Optimus Prime. And you, little human?" I hold my hand out to him.

"My name is Y/n. Y/n L/n." He held his own hand out to me then. His hand was so large my own couldn't wrap around one of his fingers. It was an akward little handshake, never the less, despite his gentleness. There was nothing but power behind that hand. He could very easily be rid of me if he wanted to. Left to be nothing. Just like the Decepticon laying on the ground. Nothing more than a husk of its former self.

"Home." I began. "Is this way. I don't think your gonna blend in very well though." He said nothing but nodded.

"I will meet you at the end of the valley. Y/n." He waited for me to get on my bike and drive off. I could feel his eyes on my back as I left. Watching over me for some reason or another. Maybe he thought there would be another purple robot?

The drive back through seemed longer than ever. Purely for the fact that I wanted to know just how he was gonna go through town unseen. I supposed I could go through the back roads. But then Orion would worry. I'm never longer than a few hours unless its for work. My legs once again touch the walls. A whispers breath apart. I shake my head. And who was this Fowler that I was supposed too meet? Was he a robot thing as well? Or was he human and one of the allies that Optimus spoke of. Maybe a government agent? I wouldn't put it past the government to hide something like this. Fucking hell. I appreciated it. Up until this point in time I was content without knowing their existence. And now I have to worry for mine and Orion's safety. Gods above I've really gotten into it this time. Lord knows was gonna happen at the end of it all.

There's a bright light when I pop out. And a large blue and red semi and im sent into a panic for a moment. Up until that thundering voice come out of it.

"I will follow you home. No one will know, Y/n." I swallow thickly and I'm thankful in that moment for my helmet hiding the surprised look on my face. I'd look like a right fool. With my mouth hanging low and eyes wide open.

"Holy fucking shit." I mutter beneath my breath. I had to drive past him in order to get back into the side road leading to the main road. My body screaming to get away from the semi from years of riding my bike on the highway. "Jesus christ he turns into a truck." Do the others all turn into other vehicles? Or is it strictly planes and trucks?

He's behind me the entire time I drive home. Just barely in view of my mirrors. Everytime I glance into the mirrors he'd blink his headlights as if he knew I was looking to see if he was still there. Showing me that he would keep his word. Dread swims in my stomach every so often; just because he saved me doesn't mean that he would be a good guy. I saw the way he took grape juice down. But. I click my blinkers on and turn left onto the road that leads to my home. Only one more hour and I could go and hug Orion and pretend that I wasn't scare shitless tonight. I glance back at my mirror and sure enough he blinks his headlights. Something inside me told me I could, at the very least, trust him to keep his word. That heavy feeling in my chest was back. A bright warmth unlike i've ever felt before. The only kind of warmth I felt once before.

Fucking hell. God damn gut instincts. I've only been wrong once when judging someones character. Despite everything screaming at me to not trust the guys. I just knew. That at the very least, with him, another one of those purple guys wouldn't hurt me.

Orion's howling when I get home. I don't even weight for Optimus to pull up behind my little garage and just dart into the house. Orion jumps up and gets his paws on my shoulders and effectively topples me over when I misstep and land one one of his toys. I hit the ground with a thud and get slobbered all over. Not one inch of my face is safe.

"Ah! Gahh! Orion! Dude! It's okay! I know, I know. I was gone to long but im here now!" I manage to sit up and hold his head in my lap. He's whining as he noses into my stomach. Every so often glancing over at the semi that has yet to leave. Despite wanting comfort in knowing that i'm not gonna just up and leave, he wants to make sure I'm safe. Optimus is the stranger here, and he's confused as to why no ones left the vehicle yet.

"Your companion is names Orion?" I look over at him. My hand soothing the top of Orion's head as I talk to him.

"Ya. Uhm." I look down at Orion. "It's after the constellation. I like learning about space n shit." And that's all he's gonna learn about me. Optimus rumbles a hum. The sound rolling over in my small garage.

"I will send Fowler over in your morning cycle. Feel free to bring your companion as well." He begins to roll backwards then stops. "And stay safe Y/n. Do not let anyone else but Fowler in." And with that he's gone. I watch as he rolls out of view before hearing some weird static. Like an old glass tv. The sound is gone just as quickly as it came.

I look down at Orion.

"Something tells me were gonna have a hell of a couple of weeks bud."

#maccadam #transformers #optimus prime #transformers prime

8 notes · View notes

dragonmasterhiccup · 12 days

Note

After she had said her goodbyes to Hiccup, she went out to where the ceremony was taking place to stand next to her and Hiccups mom near the front.

She had a huge smile plastered on her face as well, rocking back and forth on her heels as she waited for them to come out.

Once they were deemed officially married, Danny cheered and clapped as well, though she didn’t cry, because why would she? She was nothing but happy for her brother and sister-in-law.

———

Danny had been sitting next to Valka in the Great Hall, leaving room across from them for Hiccup and Astrid to join whenever they wanted.

She’d been shoving a plethora of food in her face when they came over [people needed to get married more often, because Gods, this feast was good], but when she saw them, she immediately stopped, waving them over excitedly.

“Hey guys!” she exclaimed. “What’s goin on? Oh, I met your friend Heather, she’s f***ing bada**! Have you seen her axe? It’s crazy! Her brother’s a little weird though.”

“Anyways, when are y’all planning on leaving? Not like, trying to kick you out or anything. Also, Hiccup?” She looked over at him. “Don’t think I didn’t see you almost start crying,” she teased, a playful smirk on her face.

She took another bite of her chicken, which caused Twilight to chitter and come over by her. Danny rolled her eyes, throwing her the rest before focusing back on them.

“So! How does it feel to be officially married? It took what- three years?”

While waiting for a reply, she caught Spitelout glaring at them from a few feet behind Hiccup. She quickly shot him a dirty look before looking back at Hiccup.

Gods, she hated that guy.

Astrid giggled. "I have! I have a similar one, Hiccup made one for me for my last birthday."

Hiccup chuckled. "Eh, just give Dagur some time, you'll warm up to him!"

They sat down across from Danny and Valka, still all smiles and sitting closely together.

Glancing at each other, Hiccup turned back to Danny to answer. "We'll probably head out in a couple hours, get to another island and camp out for the night before continuing our flight tomorrow." He rolled his eyes playfully. "I didn't almost cry, my eyes just...watered a little, seeing Astrid, that's all!"

His new wife rested her head on his shoulder.

They laughed lightly, and Hiccup shrugged. "I'm not sure yet, it's still very new. Ask me again in a couple of months, or even a year!" Astrid elbowed him playfully, which made Hiccup laugh. "I'm just kidding! It feels good, really good!"

He tilted his head. "What was that look for?" Glancing behind him, he understood. "Oh, I see."

Turning back around, he offered Spitelout a friendly smile. "Spitelout! Hey! Uh, enjoying the festivities, I hope?"

Astrid turned to face him as well, but her expression was less than friendly.

#asks #tallestgrace #threads

1 note · View note

rkpierre · 1 year

Text

When I was around 11, we lived on a quaint little farm about 30 minutes out of town. We had horses, goats, chickens, cats, and dogs. Three old barns stood on the property and were filled with tools and such. We also have 10 acres of field that my sister and I rode dirt bikes on. The small community we lived in had a population of around 150 people, a church, a fire hall, and a convenience store that acted as a gas station and liquor store. The community was somewhat tight-knit, and everyone seemed to take care of each other. The elementary school I went to had about 80 students with 3 or 4 classrooms, a gymnasium, bathrooms, and a library. Recess consisted of kids running around outside playing "Kick the Can" or "Mission Impossible."

One night at home, I was eating dinner, and I started having chest pain. I did not think anything of it, and I continued to eat my food. After I finished, I went to my room to play some Nintendo or watch TV. While sitting and playing, I had a little thought pop into my head. "What if the chest pain I'm having is a heart attack?" From that thought came panic that I've never experienced before in my life. The type of panic that you never forget is terror. I ran out of my room straight to my parents, asking them about my chest. I continued to complain over and over again, seeking reassurance from them that I was okay. My dad lifted me up, put me on his chest, and hugged me, trying to comfort me, but nothing worked as I was convinced my life was coming to an end.

A nightmare haunted me that night;

I found myself standing alone on a dimly lit train platform, the cold wind sending shivers down my spine. Suddenly, a monstrous, metallic train emerged from the darkness, its wheels screeching against the tracks like a banshee's wail.

The train bore a malevolent presence, adorned with sinister, blood-red eyes that pierced through the night. It sped toward me with relentless force, its deafening horn drowning out my screams. I tried to escape, but my legs felt like lead, rooted to the platform as if bound by an invisible force.

As the train closed in, I saw its windows filled with nightmarish faces, contorted in anguish and despair. I knew that anyone who boarded this train would meet a gruesome fate. Panic coursed through my veins as I desperately sought an escape, but it was futile. The killer train engulfed me in darkness, and with a bone-chilling scream, I jolted awake, drenched in sweat, thankful it was only a nightmare.

__________________

Grades four, five, and six were filled with beatings, bullying, and tormenting. Every recess, I always felt like I had to watch my back due to being previously attacked by older students. I was suspended over twenty times due to retaliation and self-defense. The faculty refused and were unwilling to accept the fact that I was under a barrage of attacks daily. It hit another level when other kids would follow me, and I'd come home with fresh bruises and black eyes.

I remember one instance in particular. We were in gym class, playing basketball. The boys took turns playing the court while the girls hung out on the side talking to each other. I was playing against one kid that I had "beef" with for a few years. He had elbowed me in the nose during the game and shoved me a few times, but I just considered it competitive. Again, he elbowed me in the nose, and I slapped the basketball out of his hands and punched him in the face. He fell to the floor, and I picked him up by his collar, hitting him again. The teacher started shouting at us to get to the office. He got up, holding his nose, which was spewing blood, and jogged to the office with me, shouting obscenities towards him. When we arrived, we sat away from each other until the principal took us into his office and called out our parents.

At this point, my mom had gotten this call dozens of times and was tired of hearing about how "aggressive" I was. She drove to the school, and I could have sworn she kicked the door in. She was so mad. I exclaimed to her that I was exhausted and was done defending myself in a school where the faculty didn't give a shit about my health and safety. My mom told me to wait outside in the hall, and I marched into the principal's office. All I heard was shouting and swearing before she opened the door, grabbed me by the hand, and said, "Are you ready to leave?" saving me from that horrid place.

Four years of hell Four years of cuts, bumps, bruises, punches, and emotional abuse changed me forever.

A nightmare haunted me that night;

I found myself on a dark and desolate train platform. The air is thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant, haunting whistle of an approaching locomotive. As the train screeches to a halt before me, its windows reveal a blood-red glow, and I realize it's the killer train, hungry for passengers.

Panic sets in as I scramble to escape, but the platform seems to stretch endlessly in both directions. Just when all hope seems lost, a hero emerges from the shadows. Clad in a cape and armed with determination, they leap onto the tracks, ready to confront the malevolent machine.

The ensuing battle between hero and killer train is a frenzy of sparks, steel, and heart-pounding tension. My saviour displayed remarkable courage and resilience. As the hero finally gains the upper hand, they manage to halt the train and save me from certain doom.

Relief washes over me as the hero stands victorious, ensuring my safety. The nightmare begins to fade, leaving me with a sense of awe at the courage displayed by my heroic savior.

__________________

The first person I ever fell in love with was a girl named Tori. We were in the same grade, shared similar music tastes, and hung out with the same group of people. She was the one I lost my virginity to and the first person I shared that level of vulnerability with.

During the first few months of dating, my mother expressed her distaste for my new partner. My mother was not ok with me having sex in the first place, and she often reminded me that "nobody gets anyone pregnant in my house." So cuddling and physical shows of affection were not appreciated.

One day, I met Tori at the local mall bus stop. She had a large red rash-like mark on the side of her face. I asked her what happened, and she said that she fell down the stairs and told me not to worry about it. When my mom found out, she immediately called the police and reported her parents for abuse.

We dated throughout high school and went to prom together. After school, we moved into a small basement suite together. Things felt magical; we were out on our own and living every day like it was our last. However, I started to notice that she became more and more agitated the longer we lived together. During arguments, she would physically attack me, scratch me, cut me, and burn me, and I would let it happen without retaliation. I didn't tell a soul—I was ashamed.

We ended up moving out of that place and into an apartment building that was very small. I had a job running machinery for a forest company at the time and would be gone for a week at a time. And one day, when I came home, I noticed that my safe had been emptied and she was nowhere to be found. I messaged her and called her dozens of times until she answered. She came home and physically attacked me for raising an issue with her stealing money from me. In an attempt to flee from her, I locked myself in the bathroom. She kicked the door in and attacked me one last time before I picked her up and threw her across the room. I called the police and left the building.

I went and visited my mom and asked her if I could stay with her for a while. My mom and sister told me that I had to leave her as they could see the damage that was being done to my mind and body. My sister also said she was willing to "Go to jail" which I kind of believe due to the circumstances.

I met up with Tori and told her I was done; however, she wasn't done tormenting me. She told me she took the money and spent it on cocaine with this guy she was fucking and partying with when I was gone at work. She also told me she was pregnant. She then went on a bender and tried killing herself, telling me it was her fault for her suicide attempts.

After another three years of being bullied, tormented, diminished, and abused, I persevered.

A nightmare haunted me that night;

In the dream, I find myself in a dimly lit forest, shrouded in an eerie silence. The full moon hangs low in the sky, casting an unsettling glow on the surroundings. As I cautiously move through the trees, you stumble upon a scene that chills me to the bone.

My mother, transformed into a menacing, snarling werewolf, stood amidst a litter of adorable, helpless puppies. Her once-loving eyes are now filled with bloodlust as she hungrily eyes the defenseless pups. With a haunting howl, she lunges towards them, tearing into their fragile bodies.

The terrified yelps of the puppies echo through the night as my mother devours them mercilessly, her fur matted with blood. I stand frozen in horror, unable to intervene or escape the gruesome spectacle. The nightmare leaves you with a profound sense of dread and helplessness as you witness this nightmarish transformation of someone you love.

#ocd #growing up #children #childhood #trauma #intrusive thoughts

1 note · View note