#mona x mc fanfic

[monaownsmyass]

Reunion

Book: Ride-or-Die (2)

Pairing: Mona x MC (Ellie Wheeler)

Genre: ANGST (and just some general fluff)

Rating: PG13, Mona has a colourful vocabulary

Word Count: 3,930

A/N: So since we now know what was supposed to happen in Book 2, I HAD to write Mona reuniting with MC again for the first time in 5 years. The idea of them seeing each other after so long, the tension, mhmm! Since I'm working with the bare bones, I'm only guessing how most of the plot was suppose to go down. So if there's any plot holes in my own story, just ignore it :3

I never thought I'd be posting a fic again. And yet, here I am, years later writing for Mona cuz we were ROBBED of Book 2. I feel like I've come full circle cuz my very first fic was for Mona and I'm pretty sure this is gonna be my last. At least for a while. The last fic I posted was the last time I think I properly wrote anything so forgive me if I'm rusty, but anything for my baby Mona <3 Lmk whatcha think of this fic!

Ellie stared unblinkingly at the still face looking back at her from the screen. Her jaw clenched as her mind raced. Five years, it's been five years since she had seen her, five years since she's heard anything about her and there she was. And tomorrow, if everything goes to plan, she'll be right in front of Ellie. She'll actually be there, with her in the same physical space and not the one she had shared with her in her mind over the past half decade.

Just the thought alone was enough to make Ellie want to throw up, either from excitement or nervousness or both, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that she had been imagining this moment constantly ever since she last saw her. Ellie always thought about what she would say, what she would do, but she could never quite figure out what that would be. And for the longest time, she thought it wouldn't matter. She thought she would never see her again.

Until now, that is.

Ellie inhaled deeply and let out a shaky breath, trying to get her thoughts in order. But she never seemed to be able to whenever she looked into those sly brown eyes and at that infuriating smirk on that gorgeous face. It was no different now, apparently.

She slammed her laptop shut. She'll worry about it when she's there.

~.~

Ellie was hyperaware of everything around her. The heat emanating from her coffee into her palms, the espresso machine whirring, the music in the background, the grains of the wooden table.

Suddenly, she heard the shop doorbell ring and her heart fell to her stomach.

She just knew.

Ellie didn't turn to look, she just couldn't bear the weight of it. Instead, she heard, she felt.

She heard the familiar footsteps of boots walking towards her that awoke distant memories. She felt her eyes shut on its own accord. She heard a soft sound of curiosity coming from where the footsteps had stopped. She felt her heart drumming so hard in her chest, she could hear it in her ears. She felt a presence looming over her. She heard a hand slap against the metal backing of the chair across from her.

And then nothing.

Ellie slowly opened her eyes and gulped. When did her throat get so dry?

The first thing she saw was a perfectly manicured hand gripping the chair in front of her that lead up to a familiar fully tattooed arm. She forced her gaze upwards, finding it exceedingly difficult, feeling as if she was fighting against an invisible force, as if the more she dare to look up, the more her own eyes were denying her.

She took in the other hand resting against the waistband of dark pants. She noticed a black tank top covered by a black leather jacket and the way the necklaces worn rested against it. Her breath hitched and her heart stopped when her gaze finally met the one of the woman she had been dreaming of for 5 years now.

And goddamn, was she just as stunning as Ellie had remembered, even more so maybe.

"Mona," she softly breath out as if she was hoping it was true. The name sounded foreign yet familiar against her lips. Oh, how she had missed saying that name.

There Mona was, a hand on her hip and the other propping herself up by the chair, a brow raised and the corner of her lips quirked upwards, as if fighting a smile back. Her pretty brown eyes gazed down deeply into Ellie's and Ellie felt as if she was losing an unspoken uphill battle.

"Well, well, well," Mona whispered and Ellie nearly laughed in relief at being able to listen to her voice again. It was surreal. "If it isn't Ellie fucking Wheeler. Hello, princess."

~.~

The entire situation was so overwhelming for Ellie, she didn't know what to do with herself. She was between a constant push and pull state of fidgety and paralyzed. It was like a dream and a nightmare come true and Ellie wasn't even sure if she wanted to be woken up if it was one.

But it wasn't, and Ellie still wasn't sure what she'd say or do now that she was face to face with the woman that had been haunting her thoughts since she met her.

Ellie took in Mona who was now sitting opposite her. She was leaned back with her arms crossed and her lips pursed. Everything about her posture would suggest to Ellie that Mona was being standoffish. The only thing that was making her second guess herself were those damn eyes. Mona made no effort to hide the fact that her eyes were blatantly flickering up and down Ellie's form. They finally settled back on Ellie's and she swore she saw Mona's gaze soften just the tiniest bit. Ellie had no clue if she was assessing her as well or checking her out.

Despite her many psychology classes on body language and facial expressions, she still couldn't read Mona. She never had been able to. It was something that Ellie had appreciated every now and then, she liked that Mona kept her on her toes. But now wasn't one of those times.

"I didn't think you'd come," Ellie blurted out and finally broke the silence, not being able to stand the way Mona was looking at her anymore.

Mona cocked an eyebrow at her and shrugged a little. "It's not everyday I get a letter from a girl I took a bullet for 5 years ago. Had to see for myself." Ellie had no idea how to respond but she didn't need to because almost immediately after, Mona leaned in forward and glowered at her. "How did you find me?"

Mona was so near, Ellie could smell her perfume and she'd be lying if she said it didn't make her a bit heady. Ellie leaned back into her chair, feeling the need to put some space between the two of them. She saw the corners of Mona's lips twitch in a flash as she did.

Unlike Ellie, Mona always could've read Ellie very much easily, probably even a bit too easily.

Ellie shut her eyes tight, trying to think of an easy, gentle way to break the news to Mona. There was no easy, gentle way.

"Look, Mona," she sighed and looked up at her. "I was hoping to warm you up a little before I jump into it but since you asked...," Ellie drifted off and paused for a moment to try and figure out the best way to phrase her next sentence. "I'm working with the FBI and I need your help."

Just as Ellie had predicted, Mona was mad. Her hands gripped the armrests of her chair and leaned in even closer to Ellie, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"What the fuck, Ellie?!" Mona whispered angrily, her voice low. "If you're working with the cops, then you know that I fucking broke out of prison, right? You're basically leading them back to me!"

"Mona, listen," Ellie leaned forward and placed a hand on Mona's, not knowing how else to reassure her. It was a mistake, Ellie's breath hitched being so close to her. Both their eyes flickered down at their hands before meeting each other's again. Mona jaw unclenched just the slightest bit and didn't pull away so Ellie continued. "They agreed to clear your remaining offenses and even your criminal record if you cooperate with them."

Mona finally pulled her hand away and she folded her arms again, leaning back into her seat. Ellie leaned back as well, thankful for a way out. She knew she was on the verge of doing something stupid.

Mona considered what Ellie had told her. "What makes you think I want that? If you're working for the pigs you'd know that I'm still involved."

"I'm working with them, not for them," Ellie corrected. "And from what rumors I heard, your current situation is more of a necessity than a want, it's transactional."

Ellie looked at Mona expectantly. If she was honest, she was hoping Mona would fill in the gaps for her because that was all she knew. She hadn't gotten any details. Instead, Mona asked, "Why are you working with them, anyway?"

"There's a heist crew that Logan was in that obtained list of important informants and the FBI thinks I can help 'cuz I have ties with him."

"And where do I fit into this?" Mona questioned, unamused.

"Your current... involvement... appears to have connections to them, so we need your help to gather intel," Ellie put it plainly, no point sugarcoating it and wrapping it up in a pretty bow, especially since she knew Mona would appreciate the directness more.

"Hm," Mona squinted at Ellie and Ellie tried her best to maintain composure which was proving to be very hard in Mona's presence. "Very bold of you to assume I'd risk my neck by going behind the backs of one of the most dangerous crime families just to helps out a bunch of cops. Very stupid, but very bold too. I'm not sure if I'm impressed or disappointed."

Ellie couldn't help but grin. It was the most Mona-like thing she had said and just for a little while, it felt like old times. She decided to push her luck a little further. "Can you... is it okay if you explain to me why you're with them?"

Mona glared at Ellie and then let out a huff, running her fingers through her hair, clearly frustrated. Ellie just watched in silence, unsure what to make of it.

"After all this time and you still can make me want to talk, it's embarrassing," she mumbled and Ellie had to strain to listen to her. Ellie felt her heartbeat start to pick up again at Mona's words. "I'll make it quick. Escaped prison, cops chased, crime family protect, work for them, safe from cops." She gestured with her hand lazily, explaining with complete disinterest as if she's told this story a million times which was ironic since this was probably the first time she told this to anyone.

"Well, think about it this way," Ellie had offered in response after taking some time to ponder. "If you help the FBI, you'll help bust them and clear your offenses, which means you'll be free, Mona."

Ellie could practically see the gears turning in Mona's head, or more like, she could practically see her weighing out the pros and cons on a scale. Mona's eyes flitted from staring at her table up to meet Ellie's and Ellie forced herself not too look away, daring to challenge Mona to accept her offer.

Mona sighed and unfolded her arms to gesture with her hands. "It's a very tempting offer, believe me."

"But?"

"But there's a reason they're the biggest crime family," Mona said in a hushed yet hurried tone. "If they haven't gotten caught for this long, I doubt me throwing a wrench in their plans and schemes would do jackshit!"

Mona was frustrated, but Ellie could tell it was more so about her situation than at Ellie which kept Ellie at least a little calm for now.

"Not to mention, law enforcement fucking sucks, I don't exactly trust them to catch every single member."

Mona's eyebrows furrowed and her lips were set in a displeased line, the wrinkles at the corners of her mouth prominent with her scowling. Ellie found herself missing it.

"I know, I know you're not their biggest fan and I know what I'm asking of you-"

"NO!" Mona slammed her palm against the table, not loud enough to attract unwanted attention but that didn't stop Ellie from jumping in her seat at her sudden outburst. "I don't think you realise exactly what you're asking me to do, princess," she spat out the nickname venomously and Ellie fought hard not to flinch.

"Mona-"

"Listen, I took a bullet for you, I went to fucking prison for you. You get in touch with me again after all this years only to ask me to die for you." Mona paused and closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. Ellie watched in silence for a moment, her heart beating a mile a minute in realisation.

"You're right, I didn't think of it like that, I'm sorry." Mona snorted but Ellie continued. "But that's not the only reason I wanted to get in touch with you, I promise."

Mona opened her eyes and looked at Ellie. Ellie could sense she was trying to read her expression, decide if she was being sincere. She was.

It was quiet for a moment.

Mona crossed her legs at the knees and leaned forward. Ellie could see the anger in her expression dissipate into subtle smugness. Mona whispered, "What's the other reason then?"

There it was. Ellie knew Mona knew just from the slight pull of her upper lip and the way she was gazing at her with such intent. Over the past 5 years, Ellie had so much she wanted to say to Mona. Far too much to condense into a one sentence answer, but she tried anyway by saying, "I missed you, Mona."

"After all this time, and you still haven't learnt to save yourself." Mona let out a short, soft chuckle and shook her head. She stood up and tugged at the collars of her jacket, fixing it before shoving her hands in her pockets and turning around.

"Where are you going?" Ellie stood up in alarm, dumbfounded by Mona's actions.

Mona turned to face Ellie again, shrugging slightly. "I have to go, I came here on borrowed time."

"Will you consider it? At least?" Ellie was pleading at this point, but mostly because she knew if Mona said no, this would be the last time she saw her. She was very desperate for it to not be.

"I'll find you," Mona said and started to walk away again.

Ellie sighed softly, relieved that she's got Mona's word that she'll at least hear from her. But Ellie couldn't help herself, she had to ask, she had to know.

"Did you miss me?"

Mona stopped and and turned her head to the side to quickly glance at Ellie at the corner of her eye over her shoulder. She faced head on again and exhaled, as if the question itself exhausted her.

"I haven't learnt either. If I did, I wouldn't be here."

Mona walked away and left Ellie standing there speechless, mind and heart racing.

~~TIME CUT~~

Ellie looked around cautiously as she walked down the dingy back alley. Only a singular, dim streetlamp illuminated the street. Every small sound or movement caused Ellie to whip her head around in it's direction.

Leave it to Mona to pick the most unsavoury, suspicious place at the darkest hour of the night to want to meet up.

All of a sudden, she spotted a car headed in her direction. The headlights so bright, it temporarily blinded Ellie. She would've ran if she didn't catch a glimpse of the familiar purple of the car in the midst of being rendered sightless.

The car stopped right beside her and the door popped open to reveal Mona looking expectedly at her.

"Well, c'mon, get in."

"Mona! You still have your car?"

She rolled her eyes. "Questions later, get in now."

Ellie silently obeyed. As soon as she slammed the door shut, Mona sped off, leaving Ellie clumsily grabbling for her seatbelt. She managed to click it into place before turning to Mona who had a smirk on her face.

Mona looked at ease as always behind the wheel. Leaned back in her seat with one hand on the steering and the other on the shift stick, Mona was definitely in her element. And definitely looked hotter driving than Ellie remembered.

"Not used to the speed anymore, princess?"

"It's been a while," Ellie reminded and looked out the passenger's window, watching the buildings whip past them. "Some things never change though."

Mona drove in silence, not even humming along to the hip-hop music she had playing on the radio. Ellie cleared her throat and decided to speak up. "So, are you accepting the offer?"

"We'll talk later." Mona looked at Ellie briefly before averting her eyes back on the road.

Ellie looked around outside, roughly recognising their surroundings but not exactly being able to place her finger on it.

"Mona, where are we going?"

"You don't remember?" Mona quirked an eyebrow at her as they pull into an open area where a bunch of cars were parked. A video was projected onto a huge display screen right at the front. Ellie's eyes lit up in realisation.

"The drive-in theatre! The one we came to with Mercy Park Crew!"

"The one and only," Mona confirmed as she put her car into park and pulled the hand break up. "Literally."

She pulled the lever of her chair and leaned so far back, she was almost laying down. She raised both hands behind her head and stared at the projection in front of them.

Bewildered at Mona, Ellie's brows furrowed in confusion as she looked at her. "What are you doing? What are we doing?"

"We're watching a movie, duh," Mona replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Mona was being difficult, Ellie had enough experience with her to at least know that. And lucky for her, she also had enough experience to know how to annoy Mona into talking.

Mustering up the most gushy and enthusiastic voice she could, she said, "Aww, Monaaaa!" Ellie grabbed Mona's knee and Mona looked at her, with both brows raised, clearly confused and maybe even looking a little weirded out by her sudden change in tone. "If you wanted to take me on a date you could've just said so!"

"Pft! A date?" Mona sputtered, taken aback. "You wish, princess."

"What is it then? Are you feeling sentimental?" Ellie cooed and Mona lightly slapped her hand away, the one that was on her knee.

"Hah! Definitely not."

"It's okay if you are, it's actually so cute of you."

Mona gasped and sat up straight as if it was the most offensive thing to mankind.

"I am not cute," she glared at Ellie and Ellie fought hard to hide her bubbling laughter.

"Then what is it?"

"Fine!" Mona threw her hands up in defeat. "I just wanted to relax before we got down to business but since this is so much more stressful let's just talk now." Mona leaned back against her seat and motioned Ellie to copy her seat position.

Ellie smiled to herself as she adjusted her seat lever. "Why are we leaning back?"

"'Cuz it's less suspicious. Also it's more comfortable."

"So," Ellie turned to face Mona. "Why are we here?"

"Because, we needed a private place to talk in public at 9 p.m. and this was what I thought of. They have eyes and ears everywhere, this is the safest bet." Mona looked at Ellie. "I need to know the exact terms of this agreement before I give my answer."

"Yes, yes, of course," Ellie replied eagerly, hopefully that Mona was considering the offer.

"I will be exempted for all my crimes, correct?"

"Yes."

"And my record will be a clean slate?"

Ellie nodded.

"The leak must be anonymous, the gang won't know the mole was me. And I don't want the FBI to be tailing my every move either."

"Okay, that can be done."

"While working with them, I want the FBI's word that I'm under their protection and I get full immunity. I know it'll get messy. I need all of it in writing."

Ellie saw a flicker of emotions pass Mona's face. They both knew how dangerous this proposition was for Mona. Ellie gentle placed her hand on Mona's thigh and Mona stiffen at the soft contact, not daring to even look at it.

"I'll be with you the whole way, Mona. I promise, I-"

"Don't," Mona interrupted, sounding pained almost. "How many times must I tell you. We don't do promises, we don't do loyalty. It's each man for themselves, if you need to run, you run."

Ellie was quiet, letting out a shaky breath and squeezing Mona's thigh. Mona finally looked down at the contact and winced as if she was hurt, as if she could tell what Ellie was going to say next.

"And yet, you're still here."

Mona stared deep into Ellie's eyes, her gaze so intense it was hypnotising.

"I'll do it," Mona said softly. "I'm in."

Relief washed over her. Ellie smiled a little a nodded. As she did, a strand of hair came loose and fell in her face. As if on reflex, Mona's hand came up to brush the hair away, tucking it behind Ellie's ear. The gentle touch of Mona's fingers against her face made her sigh in contentment. Ellie had missed Mona's touch so much, she thought she could cry. It felt like an oasis after years of being parched.

Ellie thought Mona would pull her hand away, but she didn't. Instead, she let it rest on Ellie's cheek. Mona's warm hand cupped Ellie's cheek and Ellie leaned into it. She closed her eyes, reveling in the comfort and familiarity of it after 5 years. She moved her hand that was resting on Mona's thigh up her wrist, holding Mona's hand there, afraid Mona will move, afraid of missing the contact. But she didn't move. Instead, she whispered her name.

"Ellie."

Ellie's name coming out of Mona's mouth sounded so intimate, so precious. Ellie opened her eyes and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Mona staring back at her. She had never seen Mona look at her like that before. She looked soft, conflicted, as if she was fighting back. Ellie's lips parted and she noticed Mona's gaze look down at her mouth.

"Mona."

Ellie breathe her name out slowly, a praise, a hope, a gift. Silently wishing Mona would do what she'd been dreaming of for the past half decade. She was so close to getting what she wanted- no, what she needed. The touch, the gaze, the shallow breathes, it was all too much to handle. Ellie was ready to burst out of her skin, it was all too overwhelming.

"Fuck," Mona cursed, her resolve crumbling. She leaned into Ellie while pulling her closer as well. Their lips met halfway in a gasp and Ellie arms immediately wrapped around Mona's neck, her fingers playing with the baby hair on the nape of her neck. Mona moved her free arm around Ellie's waist and securely held her close.

Ellie could help but whimper at how good it felt to be in Mona's arms again, to be kissing her and holding her and savouring her. She had waited years to be able to do this again and it was beyond what she had hoped. She had forgotten how good Mona felt, she almost laughed at how she ever wondered why no one else could make her feel even a fraction of what Mona did. How could they when Mona made her feel like this.

Their lips moved in tandem and their grips on each other tightened. Even though Ellie had been waiting for so long for this, it was hard to believe any time had even passed between them with how in sync they were with each other.

Mona moaned softly into Ellie's mouth when she grabbed Mona's hair in her fist. Mona reluctantly pulled away and rested her forehead against Ellie's. Their hold on each other never ceasing as they tried to catch their breath.

Ellie felt delirious, she thought she would ascend at any moment. Mona softly brushed her thumb against her cheek. Ellie hummed softly at the touch and turned just the slightest bit to kiss the palm of Mona's hand. Mona sighed.

"I can't believe I'm still here."

[aces-and-angels]

Title: Just Try It (Vaughn ft. the Mercy Park Crew)

A/N: A forgotten fic found in the depths of my drafts- originally this was supposed to be for ROD week, but I never ended up posting it. Until now lol 

I have not seen a lot of Vaughn content since joining Tumblr. Maybe I’m not looking hard enough, or maybe this is the start of giving this side character the major love he deserves. Side characters create the perfect opportunity for crack!fics- and damn it, I want to create a crack!fic. Think of this as: if Ride or Die had a filler episode.

Rating: PG/PG-13 (Swearing)

Pairing(s): Colt x MC (implied)

Summary: Inspired by this article. Vaughn is in a culinary rut and needs to reignite his imagination. So, he calls up his favorite band of criminals to help him.

---

“Vaughn, you in there man? Are you hurt?” Logan frantically scanned his place for any signs of a break in. No broken windows- a good sign. He jiggled the doorknob. Locked. The eerie silence didn’t do any favors for his anxiety. He glanced down at the text that had him bolting out of the shop to his cousin’s apartment. 

Vaughn: HELP- need you here ASAP. 

“Wait a minute,” Logan yanked his wrist free, “you’re not being murdered?!”

His head snapped up at the sound of the door opening. “Thank God, you’re here!” Vaughn pulled him inside and shut the door. “We have a shit load to do. Sooner we start, the better.” Logan was dragged into the kitchen where he saw piles of grocery bags filling up all the counter space. Annoyed, he gave his very unharmed cousin a glare.

“Why would you think I was being murdered?” He shoved his phone in Vaughn's face. He squinted as he read the small text on the screen. “That message was accurate. I regret none of those words.”

“Vaughn, there’s an entire gang out currently hunting my ass down. The hell was I supposed to think?”

“Look, I’m sorry. But I’m fine, see?“ He twisted his harms, "No stab wounds, I can walk, and I still look incredible.” Logan’s lip twitched upwards, the worry fading away from his body.

“You’re a six at best,” he teased, chuckling at his cousin gasping in mock-offense. “So, what’s with all the food?” He got a better look of his kitchen island. Pickles, blueberries, sesame seeds. “And what the hell are you trying to make?”

“I’m in a rut man,” Vaughn sighed, ignoring his question. “I haven’t come up with any new dishes for the truck in weeks and customers are starting to notice.”

“Is it really that bad?” 

“Yes it’s really that bad,” he echoed, “now call up the rest of the dream team. We’ve got work to do.”

---

One quick text to the group chat later, the rest of the crew arrived and were sat in front of a table full of questionable looking dishes 

“Why did I come here?” Colt groaned, wishing he hadn’t followed Ellie.

Mona poked at a bowl of ice cream topped with diced pickles. “Full offense, V, I think these combos are going to put you out of business.” 

“We came because Vaughn needs our help,” she squeezed his hand underneath the table, partly to lift his spirits, mostly to make sure he didn’t run out the door. 

“You haven’t even tried anything yet,” he whined, setting down another one of his creations on the table, “look at Toby. Now that looks like a satisfied customer.” The group whirled their heads around to see him scarfing down a steak smothered in blueberry jam.  

“Wha-?” he asked, mouth full of food, “’s free.” 

Colt rolled his eyes, stabbing his fork into a green apple slice smothered in salsa. He took a deep breath before shoving the fork in his mouth. “How is it?” Ellie peered into her boyfriend’s eyes, trying to gauge his reaction. Wordlessly, he placed his fork to her lips for her to taste as well. She took a small bite, chewing slowly before swallowing. “Too much apple, not enough salsa.” 

“That’s what I thought,” Colt hummed, pushing the bowl back towards Vaughn. “You gotta dice the apple, man.” 

“It’s awful, but I can’t stop eating it.” His face contorted in disgust as he bit into another fry. “ My brain keeps gaslighting itself into thinking my experience is going to change.” 

“Dice the apple, got it,” Vaughn wrote down his feedback in his notepad. “Logan, how’re the honey chili fries with pickles?”

“Yeah, you can pair it with this salad that’s bringing up my repressed childhood trauma,” Mona deadpanned.

“Fries-induced Stockholm syndrome,” he scribbled another note down. “That could be a fun special, right?”

---

Over the next few hours, the crew reluctantly filled their stomachs with Vaughn’s experiments, each one stranger than the last. After the last dish, they all sprawled out in the living room. 

“I’m definitely going to poop weird later,” Toby blurted out, breaking the silence.

“Dude, shut up,” Logan groaned. He was lying flat on his back, trying to ignore the growing pain in his abdomen.

“If I have to try another pickle-infused dish, I’m going to kill the next thing that moves,” Colt threatened.

“I’ll help you,” Ellie grumbled, her cheery disposition replaced with utter regret after the fifth pickle-forward recipe. “Why don’t people just sell pickles by themselves? You don’t need to do anything special to them,” her rant was muffled into Colt’s shoulder. He attempted to soothe her by kissing her temple while lightly stroking her back. The gesture seemed to work, as he felt her shoulders relax into him.

“Could you two be less nauseating? I’m trying not to hack up that salad,” Mona glared at the touchy couple across from her. With his free hand, Colt flipped her off, the grip on his girlfriend slightly tightening in defiance. She responded by flipping him off with both her hands. 

“I know y’all are hurting right now, but I really appreciate the help,” Vaughn said earnestly. Despite the twinge of guilt that he felt at seeing his friends suffer, he was certain that all those taste tests would help him keep his food truck afloat.

“No worries, man. Glad we could help,” Logan said with a strained voice, a new wave of pain hitting his stomach. 

“Speak for yourself, pretty boy,” Colt scoffed. He turned his head towards Vaughn, “I’m serious about killing you if you shove another plate in my face.” 

“Noted,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, feel free to crash here until you feel better.” The crew members mumbled a bunch of nonsense, which Vaughn took as an okay. 

[starsoirees]

Expanse

drabble/concept ??

warnings - mentions of physical violence, bullying

pre sumeru/natlan release! lets see how much is accurate... also mona studies in sumeru in this instead of fontaine, and speculation on celestia r included!

“the stars. the stars are what guide us. we come from the stars, and to the stars we will return,” this was spoken to you, preached and ingrained into your mind throughout childhood. it gave you comfort and solace, especially when there was no one else to offer it to you. 

you spent many nights outside, resting on the soft ground, gazing up at the sky, tracing patterns with your small hands. the infinite sky, draped in it’s glittering robes, skin shimmering with the light of a thousand stars, entranced you. lulled you into a state of dreamlike wonder, wondering how something so utterly breathtaking could exist in this world. you spent hours pouring over fairytales and stories of the sky, something that pulled you away from the cruel ground, from the harsh reality that was sticks and stones and pain, from the insults that cut too deep, and the choking grip of loneliness. after all, how could you be lonely when there were a million stars keeping you company?

your infatuation with the stars soon turned into somewhat of a lifestyle. as a child, you learned all you could about the stars. their positions, what they meant, and how to use them. of course, in Natlan, anything that wasn’t fighting or combat related was shunned. you were a demure, quiet child, and you never participated in the small fight tournaments the other children had, instead preferring to stay inside, reading books. due to this, the other kids called you odd, freakish, and often used physical violence, because, that was simply all they knew. it wasn’t until night, when they were asleep, could you venture out of your tent safely, without the fear of bullies. 

when you were finally old enough, you moved to Sumeru at the first chance you got. You found an old astrologist to study under there. the woman was nice enough, and you and her other apprentice became fast friends. her apprentice loved astrology, although was a very impulsive spender, leaving her to make rash decisions that you often had to cover for out of your own pocket. 

you two would spend hours in the observatory, marking the positions of the stars, testing out the odd gadgets she bought, and writing down your thoughts and research. the difference between you and her though, was that she was interested in uses of the stars, lie detecting, personality observing, etc. You, on the other hand, were interested in the how the stars existed, why they were there, and the deeper understanding of how it worked. you scoured the shelves in the library, flipping through every astrology, history, even magic book available. anything that might aid you in your search for answers was on the table. the farthest you got was a book you had stolen from the restricted archives of the library, which contained an excerpt that mentioned celestia, not as the hall of the gods, but as a mysterious being, one who had immense power, and possibly was the creator of teyvat. 

it wasn’t enough for you though. that was the most you had gotten. it was frustrating. no record of any speculation abut how the sky and stars were created except for a page in a book hidden from the eyes of the public. Sumeru was known for it’s bountiful wisdom, so the void of information left you with the understanding that the knowledge you sought went against the leaders of your society, and perhaps, the archons themselves. due to this, you kept your pursuit of celestia hidden, only sneaking out to further your search when you had a spare moment, away from the prying eyes of your master. 

you did allow one soul in on your research, though. the other apprentice, your closest friend, provided you with theories, inquiries, and used her vision of hydro all to aid you. she knew how important this was to you, so when the sumerian guards appeared at the house you shared with her and your master to take you away, you didn’t expect her to simply do nothing. 

to stand there, stone-faced and silent when they restrained you, and accused you of betrayal of Sumeru and the dendro archon. to not react when your master backhanded you across the face, and ended your apprenticeship, telling you that you were a stain upon her reputation. to not respond when you turned to the apprentice, fat tears cascading over your red cheek, and screamed, words of hurt and anger and pain flowing past your lips, all directed at her. 

nor did you notice her eyes widen when a bright blue glow shone through the room, spikes of ice shooting up from around you when you pulled away from the guards, their grip slackened from shock as you grabbed the gleaming cryo vision. the glowing blue orb shone through your fingertips, illuminating your skin and reflecting in your glassy eyes. 

you wasted no time in dashing to the study and freezing the door shut behind you. by the time the guards had managed to break the door down, you were too far away to see the tear that slipped down the now only apprentice’s cheek, and the small smile on her lips when she saw that your research papers and books were gone, along with you. unable to her the soft whisper that left her lips.

i’m sorry

screaming ive had this as a draft for so long, and i had more written but i forgot to save im too butthurt to write more but i really like this premise sndhdjnd im so excited to continue ot so THERE WILL B MORE IM JUST CALLING THIS A 'teaser' for now muehehehe 

i think this’ll be a dainsleif? scaramouche? mona? aether? all? idk...

[mrpenguinpants]

Mona HCs: Self-worth

[For the Christmas Celebration Requests, please read this]

---

Hey anon! I’m so sorry this is late. I hope you’re doing okay anon, wherever you are. But I’m happy to hear you like my work 💕💕 I don’t mind talking/writing about sensitive topics if it can help people, even if the comfort is coming through words it’s still comfort, but I’m never too busy to skip over a request. Just might be a bit slow haha. I’m glad you enjoy reading them and sending me an ask! Thanks for telling me I’m doing great cause damn I need that right now.

If any of you are struggling right now, even if you’re in a slump, I’m always free to talk. Sometimes it’s easier to vent to a stranger and know that you aren’t alone. We’re in this together.

I’m kinda scared to post this but that’s alright;; This was way longer than I thought it would be so I’m gonna split Barbara and Mona into separate hcs.

But, depending on the feedback (if there is any lol) I might skip Barbara. I swear I was going to make this happy but then I shot myself in the kneecap.

[taglist]  <- if you want to be added, please read this first.

@hanniejji​​​  @mikeysbike​​​ @unionwitch​​ @musekala​​ @twistedsunnshiii​​ @stanzastic​​ @akaasea​​ @xoneaboveallx​​ @adoring-ghost​​ @asheseiler​​ @childelover​

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Mona HCs: Self-worth

Mona Megistus was an astrologist of great skill and equally-great pride. She was both beautiful and confident and never used her astrology for profit. You were so proud of her and grateful that she was your partner. But maybe being with someone so great was when you started feeling off. You started comparing yourself to Mona and everyone else around you, seeing and thinking that everyone was doing something worthwhile. Sucrose and Albedo were great alchemists. Jean, Kaeya, and Lisa were part of the Knights of Favonius. What were you doing? Even though you felt guilt for feeling these ugly emotions towards your friends, you couldn’t stop them. You loved Mona, nothing would change that. So instead, you started hating yourself. 

You had met the astrologist when she was moraless and starving outside the walls of the City of Freedom. You knew that she had a temporary home towards the corner of Mondstadt so why was she outside the walls? It turns out that she spent all her mora on astrological devices and forgot that she was human and needed to eat and had collapsed before making it home. Out of the kindness of your heart and frankly, leaving someone to die right outside the gates of the City of Freedom would be awful, so you helped carry her back to your home and made sure she was alright. Since then Mona had attempted to return the favour but you always declined. You didn’t want to know about your fate but if she wanted to hang out as friends, you would be inclined to. It started to elevate from there and now you’re both partners. Since then you found yourself in Mona’s temporary lab and house more often than your own home. 

Being that you spent so much time with Mona, you’ve had to deal with a fair share of clients storming out the door because of Mona’s bluntness when reciting their fates. To be fair, she was blunt towards you too. In the beginning you didn’t mind, you actually enjoyed the honesty, but now you couldn’t help but second guess yourself. Trying to reason with yourself that if Mona didn’t like you, she would say it. If you weren’t good enough, she would tell you. Well, due to her astrology she took one glance at you the next time you walked in and knew all your deepest insecurity's.

“Your life is not at a standstill, it’s not hopeless. There is nothing to be sad about.” 

That made you take a step back. Slowly registering the words and repeating them over and over in your head. You knew that she was just telling you what you needed to hear. That this is what you needed and wanted to hear. That she wasn’t trying to be mean and that she was right. You wanted to live a happy life with her and if you felt useless then you should work on it. Staying holed up in your room wasn’t going to help you. You knew all of this and yet, you could feel yourself slowly breakdown.

“Breathe in. Breathe out. You’re going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.”

Mona had her experiences of clients crying and getting angry at her predictions but when she saw you slowly breakdown. To see your eyes start to burn and get heavy, like the rim of a glass being pushed down and down. To see you slowly crumble from the inside out as you tried to hold your tears and sniffles in. She didn’t need the stars to tell her that she said the wrong thing. She was told to never offer advice, just to read what fate said when asked. 

“I want to be happy. But I just can’t. I want to enjoy these little moments. I want to enjoy seeing my friends. I want to do so many things and make so many happy memories with you. I know all of these things and I’m trying my hardest to think like that but I just can’t. I can’t. Am I just not trying hard enough? Am I enough to you? Am I worth enough to be okay?”

She called out to you but you already turned away and ran out the door. You didn’t see each other for a few days because you couldn’t help but second guess what you said. Were you overthinking it? Mona didn’t say anything hurtful so why were you so upset? You didn’t want to face her so you curled into yourself further and let yourself get swallowed whole in despair.

When a week had passed, Mona made her specialty dish “Der Weisheit Letzter Schluss (Life)” and awkwardly shuffled outside your door. She wanted to give you time to yourself but after talking with Albedo and Klee plus your absent presence from her, she felt lonely and was starting to reflect on her words. It was a insensitive to take your happiness for granted and while she usually didn’t complain about upset clients being told future’s they didn’t want to hear. You were important to her. You were worth enough to be told things were going to be okay and much more. 

As much confidence that Mona had in herself and her skills, she couldn’t manage money. She was always living on poverty line. She almost died if you didn’t find her and extended your help. She was so lonely and you were the first person that she considered a friend. More than a friend and more than a partner. You meant so much to her and she couldn’t realize that this is what you needed to hear instead. 

She softly knocked on the door to see if you were home but the door gave away. You hadn’t bothered to even lock the door. At least you were in Mondstadt so she could rely that no one had broken in. She softly opens the door and places the dish on the table and searches your little home trying to find you.

You’re on your bed, asleep even when it’s noon. She didn’t want to wake you up but she didn’t want to leave yet. Not until you were okay. She felt so much guilt and only now found the courage to come see you. She was disappointed in herself that she basically abandoned you in your time of need, what kind of partner was she? She bit her lip hard enough for it to bleed as she carefully lied down next to you and wrapping her arms around you. Even if you hate her or you don’t want to see her, she doesn’t want you to think that you’re worthless or she doesn’t care. You mean so much to her and you spent all this time not knowing.

You don’t need to be the best, even if you think that what you’re doing isn’t good, it was and she was proud of you. No matter how long it takes for you to feel okay, to feel happy, she’ll stay by your side the same way you did.

“It’s okay. It’s okay to feel like you’re not good enough. Don’t feel guilty for being stressed or sad. Things will get better. Fate has not abandoned you and neither will I.”

She had regressed to her apprenticeship, thinking that astrology could explain the laws that governed the existence of all things. That human hearts were guided by these laws, and if one had great enough powers of calculation, all the mysteries of the world could be understood. She remembered when she was starving, you had shared half your food with her. In your small but warm kitchen as you offered her your own hard work just to make sure she, a stranger, had something to eat. 

"Out here, we've gotta have each other's backs."

That was the first time she truly questioned her thoughts under the stars, she marveled that her research had been so full of holes. Mona cries silently beside you, even with all her training and how she boasts about the power of astrology, she can’t help you. No matter how many hydro graphs she makes or tells you that the stars show a glimmer of hope. That won’t help you. So she holds you and hopes that you can feel all her emotions and love. 

While you’re asleep she tells you about when she first started astrology, she accidently scaled herself. The burns are still on her as a reminder that she makes mistakes. How she was moraless for years after leaving her Master’s teachings but somehow found a job in the Court of Fontaine’s mainline newspaper. All on pure chance. She tells you how appreciative she is that you visit her everyday, to make sure she has a meal, and that she remembers to write her column for the newspaper. That she’s grateful to have met you and have you stay by her side. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It’s okay. It will be okay. You’re enough. You’re perfect. Everyone may seem to be exceeding but it doesn’t mean you’re slow, that you’re not worth it. You are at your own pace, working through your own steps. You’re not alone. I’m here. You’ll be okay.”  

[adam-memeleri]

a quickly thrown together mona fic for @rodappreciationweek

thank you @ineedskyecrandall for the idea and help, i hope i lived up to your expectations lol

Passing Faces

T Rating

Mona x MC (Ellie Wheeler)

~800 words

-

Blonde. Glasses. Beard. Face Tat. Neon Hair. Countless details on countless people pass Mona by as she walks down the street, heavy boots thudding on the pavement.

It’s been a few months since her release, and things are at least starting to feel normal again, even if they aren’t really. Even if no one was waiting for her when she stepped out, even if no one’s called her, no one’s even noticed her. Not the Mercy Park Crew, not Ellie, not even all the passing faces on the street.

Mona sighs, bored fingers pushing hair behind her ear once again, and pushes open the door to a little cafe.

Ellie brought her here once. Said even big bad car thieves can enjoy a croissant. It was a pretty good croissant.

Mona bumps into someone twice her size - Lip Piercing - and scowls up at him. He moves first.

She grumbles to herself, pushing past to reach the counter and situates herself in line, foot tapping in annoyance. Her dark eyes scan the shop, the tables and meals, and especially the people, just as she always does, in the exact same guarded way.

Until they land on one face in particular, details so familiar. Nose and hair and tiny tattoo and laughter-crinkled eyes, it’s all so familiar. And those eyes aren’t looking at her, haven’t even noticed her.

They’re on equally happy green eyes. They’re on lopsided glasses frames. They’re on dark hair and coffee cups and smiling teeth. And they’re on tangled fingers and a lovestruck gaze, heads bent so close the rest of the world’s fallen away. The coffee shop, the food sitting before them, even Mona across the shop.

Her legs are moving before she’s even registered it, those same heavy boots colliding with a polished floor until she’s before that familiar face, and the new one too.

“Ellie,” she bites out, the name bitter on her tongue, stinging where it once soothed.

Surprised eyes flicker to her, blink at her, the gears turning in Ellie’s mind for a moment too long. “Holy - Mona! You’re - You’re -“

“Free?”

“Yeah! When - Did you just get out?” Ellie asks, shock melting into amazement as she stands and approaches. But it’s slow and wary, like she’s approaching a predator. Or a wounded animal.

“No.”

“What? Then how come -?”

Mona cuts her off, arms folded over her chest and shoulders bent in to protect herself. “I tried. I called. You didn’t pick up.”

“Sorry, I’ve just been really busy. With school and everything, you know?” Ellie gestures, with her shoulders tight and the rest of her posture so casual.

“It was one phone call.”

“Yeah, and I’m sorry, I just -“

“Who’s this?” Mona stops her once more, jutting her chin at the new face.

“Oh,” Ellie visibly deflates, her bluster and confidence falling apart in a heartbeat. “This is... my partner,” she mumbles, glancing nervously between Mona and the new face.

The dark-haired woman is quiet for a long moment, the silence stretching and stretching, fraught with tension until it snaps. “I see,” is all Mona says.

Ellie exhales, fidgeting where she stands. “I’m sorry, this is awkward,” she begins to ramble. “What if you and I meet -”

“I have somewhere to be,” Mona interrupts again, turning on her heel in one swift motion. She starts for the door, shoving her hair back behind her ear when it falls, and ignoring the quiver in her grip as she does.

“Hey, wait!” Ellie’s voice calls after her, light footsteps catching up to Mona until they’re falling into step beside hers. “Can we trade numbers or something? Or -”

“You have my number. It’s the same one I tried to call you with.”

“Look,” Ellie steps in front of the other woman, blocking her from the cafe’s door. “Mona, if you’re mad at me for dating someone else, I don’t know what to tell you. It just… kinda happened,” she shrugs uselessly.

“It’s fine,” Mona counters, blunt and without any emotion in her voice. Her shaking hands the only indicator of her hurt until she stuffs them in her pockets. “I told you to forget me, shouldn’t be surprised that you actually did.”

Ellie’s face falls, those familiar features dipping into an expression Mona could only describe as heartbreak. “I didn’t forget you,” she whispers.

But it’s not enough. Nothing could be enough to fix the cracks in Mona. In her hopes, in her heart, in the stiff way she stands, and in the feigned scowl on her own face.

Ellie may be heartbroken, but Mona is falling apart in this tiny cafe.

“No, you just tried to.”

She shoves past and through the door, boots hitting the ground with even more ferocity, and elbows her way through the crowded street. The faces stop and stare now, surprise and annoyance and frustration and pity all painted across their momentarily passing faces. They notice Mona now, they whisper and grumble and tell her off now.

Of course it’s now, when she’s wiping tears from her cheeks.

[mortemersgf]

cassiopeia and cepheus

ride or die: mona x f!mc (ellie wheeler)

summary: ellie visits mona in prison to find her girlfriend much softer than she remembered.

warnings: none, just fluff

word count: 1.5k

a/n: happy new year. school has been kicking my ass but i hope you’re all well! this is the first fic i’ve completed since like forever so bear with me 😭😭 enjoy <3

The thrumming beat of her heart doesn’t cease as Ellie collapses into one of the chairs. She releases a long breath, biting back laughter at the absurdity of the whole situation. Toby and I really just forged identities and lied to prison guards so that I can see my incarcerated girlfriend, she thinks.

The security camera in the corner emitting a red glow dims to a dull black. Toby’s work. He wanted to give the two privacy and to ensure their ploy stays undiscovered. He’s a wonderful guy, he really is. The man instantly agreed to Ellie’s scheme, grinning with enthusiasm she’s seen only when he tinkers with sleek vehicles.

She drums her fingers against the metal tabletop as she waits for Mona’s arrival. What do I say? Will she get mad at me for breaking our promise? How’s her wound? Is she planning to break out of prison yet? Did she miss me? Dozens of thoughts course through Ellie’s mind, but she is almost certain words will fail her when she sees Mona.

There’s a jiggle at the door.

Ellie stands and fumbles with her satchel, rooting through the bag for her folder. A guard steps in and scans the room dutifully. He pauses seeing her pull out sheets of interview questions and steps aside. “You get one hour,” he informs curtly, shutting the door behind him with a hollow clang.

Ellie drops the act at once, feeling her heart rate decrease. Too eager, her head snaps up to meet the woman in front of her.

Mona looks, well, like Mona. Her raven hair is as silky as ever and the scowl she has on her face… it’s her. There’s a new tattoo peeking out from the short sleeve of her uniform. Strangely, the baby blue prisoner outfit looks good on her. Screw that—Mona looks good in everything and nothing.

“I never consented to being a part of your documentary, so think twice about getting me to talk,” Mona says, moving to sit in the chair across from Ellie. Her face is of practiced disinterest. Classic Mona.

Ellie breaks out into a smile at her usual snarkiness. She’s missed her fiery Mona. She steadies her slightly shaky hands as she strips herself of her disguise. The cap is tossed aside, the wig is pulled off, and her glasses are settled atop the cool tabletop.

“You sure about that?” she asks.

Mona looks like she’d just seen a ghost. The dirty look on her face transforms into one of incredulity as she scans Ellie up and down, to make sure she is indeed seeing what she is seeing. After confirming that the woman standing before her is truly her Ellie, not some junior reporter aching to unravel Mona’s life story, she shoots to her feet and pulls her grinning girlfriend into a deep kiss. Mona tastes just how Ellie remembered: sweet and intoxicating.

Her grip on the back of Ellie’s head is almost vice-like, but the latter doesn’t mind it at all. Mona’s touch simply reminds her of the validity of the situation. Slowly, her hand trails to Ellie’s wet cheek, caressing it gently.

“God, you’re so stupid,” Mona mumbles after pulling away. A small, amused laugh escapes her as she sees Ellie sniffling. “Stop crying.”

“Don’t laugh! I really missed you.” Ellie says, wiping away her fallen tears with the back of her hand.

“So much that you resorted to committing a crime?” Mona asks, nodding at the wig, “You make a cute reporter, though.”

“You got shot for me, so I think we’re even.”

There’s a moment of silence as Mona makes her way to Ellie’s side, dark eyes searching hers. She tucks a chunk of hair behind Ellie’s ear and smiles wryly, “I told you not to wait for me.”

“You and I both know I was bound to break that promise sooner or later.”

“I know. I’m just that irresistible.”

Ellie’s shoulders shake as she laughs. She folds Mona into a hug, breathing in the subtle smell of her shampoo. A sigh of comfort slips past her mouth as their bodies meld together. It’s impossible to describe the feeling that courses through Ellie’s body in that instant. For too many nights, she has pressed a pillow to her chest, pretending it was Mona that was in her arms. She almost forgot how good her hugs were. They were safe, and they were comforting. As long as Ellie was wrapped in Mona’s arms, no harm could ever come to her.

“Hey, you got a new tattoo,” Ellie says, pulling away.

“Oh. I did.” Mona says, as if she forgot the tattoo was there. She almost looks embarrassed as her fingers brush against the tatted dotted lines.

“It’s a constellation, isn’t it?”

“So people keep telling me.”

“I didn’t know you were into stars.”

“I’m not. I got this for you, dummy.”

“Me?”

“This is Cassiopeia and Cepheus,” Mona says, rolling up her sleeve. Two tattoos, shaped like a house and the letter W, are inked into her pale skin. Ellie brushes her thumb across the art. Beautiful.

Mona continues, “I got this because... I liked their love story. It reminded me of us.”

Ellie’s face splits into a teasing grin. Mona, the same badass who can drive a car like no other, who took a bullet for her, got herself inked because of Ellie. She didn’t think she could love this woman any more, but time and time again, that proves to be false.

“God,” Mona says, scowling at the ground, cheeks warming, “this is more embarrassing than when I got shot. Don’t say anything. I don’t even—”

Ellie stops her embarrassed ramble with a soft kiss. She cups Mona’s pink cheeks and murmurs, “I like it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, you big softie.”

Mona gives Ellie a gentle shove, breathing out a scoff.

For the next half hour, they talk. Prison life, school life, and everything in between. Mona says she’s content. She keeps to herself mostly and stays out of trouble like Ellie had asked. As for the crew, Ellie hasn’t heard from any of them aside from Toby. The two of them ran into each other at a local cafe one day and stayed in touch with much discretion.

Mona hums out a response, absentmindedly running her fingers along Ellie’s forearm in a random pattern as she speaks. “It’s better this way. You should lose contact with him after this.”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“No, but you know better than anyone how grueling this life is, don’t you, babe?”

Ellie responds with a good natured eye-roll.

“Tell me Cassiopeia and Cepheus’ story,” she says, capturing Mona’s hand. Ellie slides her fingers between hers, smiling softly at their joined hands. This is so surreal, she thinks to herself, Her hands are so soft…

“It’s not that exciting,” Mona says. She rests her chin in her palm, avoiding Ellie’s eager eyes.

“It was exciting enough for you to get two tattoos, so spill!”

“Fine. Cassiopeia was someone with a truckload of faults, but her lover, Cepheus, adored her despite it all. One day, she was hurled into the sky for angering Hera. She stayed stuck among the stars, and that idiot Cepheus loved her so damn much he wanted to be thrown into the stars to be with her.”

“I really didn’t peg you to be the type of person to like stuff like this.”

“I thought the story was stupid. It is stupid. But staying confined in a cell for hours gets you thinking.”

“And what have you concluded?”

“That they’re messed up, but they still love each other.”

As much as Ellie was thinking about Mona from her dormitory, Mona was thinking about her just as much from a cell. She loves her. She loves her so much. “I love you, Mona,” Ellie says, untangling their hands just so she can press a chaste kiss to her palm.

Mona, in return, takes the opportunity to pinch Ellie’s cheek, not harshly but hard enough for her to squirm. “Do not use this against me, ever, got it?”

She laughs, batting away Mona’s hand. “Alright, alright!”

The digital watch strapped around Ellie’s wrist sounds a soft beep amidst her struggle. Five minute warning. Her face falls so evidently that Mona can’t resist pinching her cheek again.

“Time to go, I take it?” she asks.

Ellie mumbles a reply, nodding. Reluctantly, she stands and slips on her glasses and wig. She adjusts it accordingly, ensuring all stray strands of her own hair are hidden. After a moment’s worth, Mona moves around the table, snaking her arms around Cassie’s torso as she fixes on her cap.

She rests her chin on her girlfriend’s shoulder, mumbling, “I don’t want you to go.”

A pleasant shiver runs down Ellie’s spine with Mona’s breath fanning over her ear. She curses the absence of a bed in this dingy room in her head, huffing out a quiet sigh at what could've been a proper reunion. Nevertheless the slight regret, she spins around to embrace Mona, pecking her right on the forehead.

“If I’m being honest, I think prison has softened you,” Ellie grins, lowering her voice, “I’ll be back before you know it. The next time we meet, I’m taking you with me.”

“Ambitious,” Mona remarks, chuckling softly, “That’s really sweet, but don’t bother. I have something planned with some of the inmates.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Mona says, her nose grazing against Ellie’s. Just before she closes the distance between them once more, she adds, “You’ll see me soon enough, gorgeous. That’s a promise I’ll fight anything to keep.”

[blackandblueandstars]

Time waits for no one

Trigger warning: If you’ve struggled with pregnancy, this might be a hard read. Babies, children, etc. I dunno. It was a small laugh, you could barely even hear it but it still lit up the room. Ellie couldn’t help but feel it in her soul. The warmth, the light, all from such a small bundle of joy. She held her close, her small fingers wrapped around her thumb, her brown eyes wide with wonder and a hint of mischief. God, she looked like Mona.

As if summoned by the thought, Mona walked through the door, hands dirty from fiddling in the garage. “We’ll get a few more miles out of her,” she said, wiping her hands on a rag before tucking it in her back pocket.

Ellie smiled, catching her eye. “We’ve already gotten far more than we should’ve, thanks to you.”

Mona’s neck turned the slightest shade of red before she covered it with her hand, rubbing awkwardly. “Just doing my part,” she mumbled. She leaned over, looking at the swaddled baby in Ellie’s arms.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this,” she said lightly, in awe of the miracle they’d created. She opened her mouth to speak again when a loud blaring interrupted the moment.

Ellie opened her eyes, flailing to turn off the alarm. The room seemed darker than normal, coming out of the dream. Just a dream.

Alarm snoozed, she curled her arms around herself, taking a deep breath.

Happy, she thought, squeezing her eyes tight. I’m happy. I’m with the woman I love, doing what I love. That is enough. This is enough.

She hated herself for where her mind wandered in the night. She hated herself for the minutes that passed while she reminded herself how lucky she was, how happy she was. She hated every second that she didn’t believe the words.

“El?” Mona called from the other room. “You up?”

She blinked back the tears, steadying herself. “Working on it,” she answered lightly, adding a grumble at the end. She never understood how Mona was such a morning person.

Mona poked her head in, her brown eyes roaming over Ellie’s body. “Get a move on,” she said, lingering a little too long in the door.

“Sure that’s what you want?” asked Ellie with a wink.

Mona chuckled. “We’ve got to get to the shop.”

And that was that. Ellie pulled herself from bed, dressing quickly and darting out the door.

---

Mona took a deep breath. Nothing made her feel more at home these days than car grease tinged with gasoline. She looked around the shop, a lion surveying its domain. Ellie had made a beeline for the office, mumbling something about paperwork. She handled the business of it all, leaving Mona to the cars. With Ellie’s business sense and her...obsession...they were well on their way to being a premier import dealership in the area.

On their way, being the key phrase. It hadn’t been easy-going. El did her time in college and Mona served hers. They had a late start, and they’d put every dollar they had into growing this business.

They were happy, though. She wasn’t one for words or feelings, but Ellie...Ellie turned it all around for her. She made her something...someone. 

“Hey boss!” Mona shook her head, returning to the hustle and bustle of the shop.

---

Ellie focused on the work. It always gave her some feeling of purpose. She was happy. That was the most frustrating part of all of it. She loved Mona, she loved their life. It was her decision not to...not to conceive. 

She paused, taking a deep breath. This is stupid. Get yourself together, Ellie. But it wasn’t that simple. These things never were, were they? Her body yearned for a baby, her own baby. It was in her DNA. It was something she’d dreamed about since she was small.

And now she was old. Old, and in love, and all she wanted was to put more love into the world. She remembered that little girl from her dream. She had Mona’s eyes, her dark hair. A real heartbreaker. 

But that wasn’t reality, of course. They couldn’t just...make a baby. Maybe that’s why it hurt so much. Even if she could carry, the baby wouldn’t be theirs. Not biologically. And she knew, of course she knew that that didn’t really matter.

And then there was the cost. They couldn’t afford it, even if they were in agreement, even if they both wanted it. 

She wasn’t sure when the tears began, but she wiped them from her face quickly when she heard a rap at the door.

“Hey, El, I--” Mona cut off as she caught sight of Ellie’s tear-stained face. “El?”

“Hey, baby,” Ellie said, dropping her gaze to the stack of papers on the desk. “I was just about to start the invoices. What did you need?”

Mona crossed the room in two steps, towering beside Ellie. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m--”

“El,” she said quietly, kneeling before her. “You’re crying.” Mona wiped a tear from her cheek, her calloused thumb so gentle as it grazed her skin.

“I--I can’t…” Ellie murmured. She knew if she told Mona she’d blame herself. She couldn’t put that on her. But it hurt, holding it in. No one would understand. It’s not like she was physically unable to conceive. It was...it was her choice, right? She chose Mona, she chose the business. She chose this life.

“Ellie.” Mona’s voice was firm as she squeezed Ellie’s hand. “This is not how we do things. Talk to me.”

---

Love has a way of warping us. If we’re lucky, it’s for the best. But sometimes it’s not. Sometimes, it derails everything. Mona knew that pain too well. Like a cement block tied to your feet, dragging you down when all you want to do is tread water.

She tried to hide the tremor in her hand as she kneeled on the dirty floor, eyes locked on Ellie. Before she even spoke, she could feel it in her bones. These tears, they were about her...about them. Her head swam, heart thundering. We’re happy, she thought, overanalyzing every interaction, everything she’d done, everything she hadn’t. I thought we were happy.

“Ellie.” The word came like a lifeline, the only thing tethering her to the scene before her.

“I’m sorry,” Ellie whimpered. “This is so stupid.”

Mona had been shot. She’d been betrayed. She’d experienced every kind of pain imaginable. But nothing like the way her heart tore right now, watching Ellie, hearing Ellie’s pain.

“No,” she said, forcing the air into her lungs. “Your feelings are not stupid. Please, El, tell me.”

---

Ellie couldn’t stop the tears, now. She was angry with herself, angry for letting it get to her, angry for letting Mona see. She took a breath, meeting Mona’s eyes. She could sense her fear, and she knew she didn’t have a choice. Not anymore.

“I haven’t been sleeping well,” she began, trying to find some explanation for the intensity of her emotions. “I guess I’m just tired and emotional, I guess that’s why I’m such a mess.”

“What’s got you so upset?” Mona asked, not letting her off the hook.

“I’ve been dreaming,” she said with a sigh. “I’ve been dreaming about having a baby. Yours, and mine. Ours. It...it’s part of each of us, and...she’s so beautiful, and...I know…”

She cut off, taking a shaky breath, trying to find the right words. “I know that we agreed. I know that I agreed, that I changed my mind. But I...I can’t help feeling like I’m missing out on something.”

Mona was quiet, eyes on Ellie. It was true, they’d agreed. They’d agreed to put the business first...the business Mona wanted. They’d agreed not to have a child of their own. A child that Ellie had always wanted to carry and Mona wasn’t even sure she wanted.

“We can adopt,” Mona started carefully. “Like we talked about. Older kids, the ones that need love and safety.”

“Yea,” Ellie said softly. “I know.”

---

This is out of left field, Mona thought. But the more she thought about it, she realized that wasn’t fair. It wasn’t, not for Ellie. Ellie, who’d dreamed of carrying a child, who’d dreamed of giving birth and being a mom.

Mona never really wanted kids. Not after everything she’d been through, everything she’d done. She didn’t need to ruin another human. She just needed to stay as far away from influencing anyone’s life as possible. She was too broken, too utterly damaged to be a parent.

But with Ellie...she’d opened her mind to the possibility. But then Ellie said she wasn’t sure if she wanted it, anymore. And then they started the business, and years had passed, and now...now it was barely an option.

“I’m sorry,” she said, unable to meet Ellie’s eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”

It was all she could say. She always had a solution, a way to fix things, a way to make them better. But she couldn’t fix this. She couldn’t turn back time. She couldn’t change biology. She couldn’t magically acquire thousands of dollars for one shot...a long shot, with Ellie’s age.

“Me either,” Ellie whispered.

The air was heavy between them. Mona stood, wrapping her arm around Ellie’s shoulders. 

“Why don’t we take off?” Mona asked, gently. “Go home early, maybe go for a ride?”

It was a band-aid, at best. She knew that. It wasn’t an easy thing, mourning something you’d never had...someone you’d never know. As she held Ellie’s hand and led her out of the garage, she felt the sadness she carried with her. She even felt some sadness herself. She hadn’t wanted a child, but to see how badly Ellie did...it felt like something had been ripped away from them before they’d even had the chance to decide they wanted it.

They climbed in the car and drove home in silence, Mona feeling unbearably like a cement block. 

[scgdoeswhat]

Mirage - Mona x MC

Happy Mona Day for @rodappreciationweek​!!

How about a little impromptu drabble to go along with this?

Mirage

Had it been only a year since all the events of her senior year with the MPC?

Everything changed so much but as Ellie looked down at her Langston sweater and around her bedroom back in Mar Vista, some things never changed at all. Sure, she was back home for the summer, but nothing was the same.

A pang hit her in the chest when she thought about what happened with the Crew. Where was Logan? was Colt still around LA? But most of all, how was Mona?

The last she saw was Mona bleeding out after dropping her off at the hospital… and that was that.

She wiped an errant tear from her eye at the memory; she knew she had to close the book on that chapter of her life but how could she when she didn’t even know if Mona survived?

And that’s when she heard it: The sound of a familiar muffler rumbling down the block. But maybe this was her wishful thinking, akin to a mirage in a desert.

She shot out of bed and ran to her window, praying that her ears didn’t deceive her. Peering out towards the street, the biggest smile appeared on her face at the sight that greeted her. There, on the hood of her distinct purple car, sat Mona.

Ellie was sure of it as she ran down the stairs, out of her house, and into Mona’s arms. This wasn’t a mirage at all.

********

Thanks to @brightpinkpeppercorn​ @choicesarehard​ @client-327​ for hosting ROD Week! 

Tagging a few who might be interested in Mona content: @ohsnapitzlovehacker​ @queen-of-effing-everything​ @itsbrindleybinch​ @tayab12​ @aspenroman​ @leondaltons​

[zaffrenotes]

[ROD] Adventures in Babysitting

Book: Ride or Die Pairing/Players: Logan x Jin, Mercy Park Crew with a focus on Colt, OCs Rating/Warnings: PG – language/swearing, but mostly fluff   Author’s Note: * All main characters belong to Pixelberry, I’m just borrowing them * OCs are my creation * A kind Nonny requested a future fic to have the crew look after Logan and Jin’s toddler * My submission for @rodappreciationweek Epilogue Day; thanks again to @brightpinkpeppercorn @choicesarehard @client-327 for hosting another successful event! * 31 days of ficlets and one shots using Jasmine’s Situational Summer Prompts – Popsicles * Word Count: +/- 5500 🙃

Perma/RoD Taglists: @ao719 @blackcatkita @brightpinkpeppercorn @gibbles82 @innerpostmentality @loveellamae @smalltalk88 @thecordoniandiaries // @choicesarehard @client-327 @everythingchoices​ @burnsoslow​ @debramcg1106​ @omgjasminesimone​ @emichelle​ @iplaydrake​ @lovehugsandcandy​ @lovemychoices​ @saivilo​

11:48 AM

Colt was in his office, on the phone with one of his suppliers, when he was interrupted by a rapid succession of knocks on the opposite side of the door. “Paul, lemme get back to you,” he sighed. He hung up the phone and scribbled a note on an invoice in front of him. “Toby, WHAT?” He exclaimed, just as the office door swung open.

Toby’s wide-eyed, nervous expression made Colt clear his throat, and he softened his tone before speaking again. “What is it?”

“Someone’s looking for Logan,” Toby replied, holding up the front desk phone in one hand, covering the base with his other hand. “They sound official, wouldn’t tell me why they’re calling,” he added, walking briskly into the room to hand over the phone, “said you were the only other person they were authorized to speak to.”

Colt’s brows raised in question, and the made an effort to keep the rest of his expression calm so as not to spook Toby into a panic. He beckoned Toby to hand over the phone, making sure to cover the mouthpiece, and took a deep breath before speaking. Toby quietly sat down in one of the chairs on the opposite side of the desk, clasping his hands together.

“Hello?” Colt paused for the caller to speak. “Yes, this is Colt Kaneko, you’re trying to reach my partner, Logan Rhee?” He side eyed Toby. “Uh huh. He went out this morning to pick up parts, his service might be spotty…Have you tried reaching his wife?” Another pause. “I see.” He covered the mouthpiece again, looking over to Toby. “Where’s Jin supposed to be?”

Toby picked up the tablet charging on one side of the desk, and opened an app. “Uhh… according to the schedule, she’s in a research lab until 4:30.”

Colt pulled his hand away from the receiver. “Mrs. Rhee’s doing lab work all day today, that might be why you haven’t been able to reach her…Okay. I understand. Got it.” His brows pinched together in annoyance. “Lady, I got it!” He exhaled loudly and jammed his thumb on a button to end the call. He clenched, then unclenched a fist, counting to himself as he breathed hard and slowly worked to calm down. Tossing the phone over the desk in Toby’s direction, Colt got up from his chair and reached for his cell phone, slipping it into his pants pocket. “It was just TJ’s preschool,” he replied, answering the questioning look in Toby’s eyes. “She spiked a fever and they haven’t been able to reach Logan or Jin, so I gotta pick her up.”

11:57 AM

Heading to the preschool took longer than anticipated. Colt initially grabbed his helmet, as he normally would, when he would get ready to leave the shop during open hours, but cursed at himself and set it down. Jin and Logan wouldn’t have to maim him for putting their only child on the back of a motorcycle; he would’ve kicked his own ass for all of them. He didn’t quite ask, but rather insisted, that Toby hand over the keys to his car. Toby’s car was definitely out of service, as evident by its raised placement in his workspace, halfway through a tire installation. Colt rolled his eyes when the rest of the group - Mona, Ximena, Ryan, Quincy, and even the latest addition, Jordan - drew straws to determine who would have to loan their car to him.

“Christ, I just need a car. Any car. To pick up the kid!”

Everyone held up the wire remnants Toby had cut up to use as straws, and Mona and Ryan laughed quietly, holding up long pieces in their hands. “New girl’s outta luck,” Mona smirked, casting a subtle wink in Colt’s direction. Jordan held the shortest wire between two fingers.

Colt pursed his lips together and swallowed. “C’mon Tanaka,” he sighed. He held out his hand, waiting for Jordan to drop her keys, but she just stood there. “Jordan?”

The young woman across from him shook her head lightly, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Nuh uh. Nope. Nobody drives my car but me.”

Colt rolled his eyes and sighed. “For the…fine, go get cleaned up, we’re leaving in five.”

He waited impatiently for Jordan to change out of her coveralls and wash off some of the grease and grime on her hands. She’d been working at the shop a little over six months, to keep up with the growing demands of Logan’s endeavor of restoring vintage cars with an extra kick.

Seven years had passed since the chaotic spring when Colt returned to LA, competed for Jin’s heart against her now-husband, lost his father, took down the Brotherhood, and began to rebuild his life. Since then, he’d rebuilt Kaneko Auto Body, and with his reluctant assistance from the others, restored the shop to be something bigger than he ever thought it could be. When Jin transferred back to school on the West Coast, she was a driving force for Colt and Logan to go to college. Colt earned a business degree, and Logan studied engineering. Somehow, between group study sessions and days spent working at the shop, his hatred towards Logan diminished to mild irritation; it was mostly Jin’s doing, seeing how she bloomed around Logan. The two of them made sense together, even though Colt would always argue that he could’ve ruled the city with Jin by his side.

It was a sliver of a dream that faded away as soon as she flashed a sparkling ring on her finger, just after graduation. Any feelings that remained were affectionate and friendly towards the girl that used to look out of place at side shows, once she and Logan announced that they were going to have a baby. Right around the time of TJ’s birth, he and Logan signed paperwork to become silent business partners - and bought out a section of property next to the body shop to expand operations.

Logan’s new skills as an engineer and technician, combined with his fascination in restoring classic cars that most people would’ve given up on, created a niche market that lured in a new level of clientele. Logan’s rebuilds were in high demand, so they hired Quincy to help with paint jobs and reupholstering. Ryan was hired on to help with Colt’s side of the business. Between work, raising a baby, and Jin attending grad school, they were spread thin.

Colt offered Jordan a job the night he saw her at a side show. Her ridiculously pink Honda caught his attention first, with My Melody and Kuromi characters painted all over it. Her magenta and lavender hair ticked a box he didn’t know needed ticking, and her initial brushoff stoked a tiny ember in his heart. When she pushed her car past its limit in a race and sent up a pillar of smoke at the finish line, she hollered at her crew to get her tools, and she repaired the engine within minutes. She was a candy-colored mechanical magician, and he needed her in his shop.

While hearing “Mercy Park Crew” and “Kaneko” didn’t instill the same level of fear as it did when his father had been in charge, most circles knew what Colt Kaneko was capable of. It was a line no one challenged, even now.

“Where we headed, boss?”

“Need to hit up Target and get a ca—“ Colt blinked several times, stunned into silence when he turned around to answer Jordan. She’d changed into temptingly low-rise jeans and a fitted tank, the former making him twitch in his pants. “Carseat. Carseat,” he finished. He ignored the impish smirks Mona and Ximena had on their faces, and got into the passenger side of Jordan’s very pink, very girly car, flicking the sparkly bunny charm hanging from the rearview mirror.

1:13 PM

After a harried stop to pick up a carseat, Colt and Jordan made their way to Sunny Days Preschool to pick up Logan and Jin’s daughter. TJ was a precocious three year old, and he not-so-secretly indulged in her every whim as her godfather. He converted part of the upstairs loft space just for her, even before she’d been born. When Jin told the group that she was pregnant, Colt renovated the loft to include a cozy nursery room for the baby, knowing Jin would want someplace quiet if and when she’d have the baby with her at the shop.

TJ loved all things pink, purple, and any little car she could get her hands on. When Colt gifted her a tiny plastic tool set last Christmas, her smile warmed his heart. They spent countless afternoons together, with TJ on her play mat mimicking whatever Colt was doing, while he cleaned up pieces of engines when Logan or Jin needed a babysitter. TJ’s little brows would furrow together when she twisted plastic bolts and screws apart, and she’d stick her tongue out the side of her mouth the way Jin would when she’d pause to think about something. And then there was the unmistakable mop of curls on her head, courtesy of Logan’s genes; soft, soot black hair that flared auburn in the light.

Colt kept stashes of chocolate around the loft for her, though they were often out of reach for her tiny hands. He and the rest of the group took turns looking after her, reading books and teaching her words in Spanish, Korean, and Tagalog. When Logan or Jin had to work or study late in the evening, he’d stay in the loft with TJ, often times singing her to sleep. It was something he only reserved for her ears.

“Must be pretty tight with the Rhees to be the emergency contact for their kid, eh boss?” Jordan pressed her foot on the gas, and her car accelerated in kind as she drove down the long stretch of highway.

“Makes sense from a practical point of view.”

“What about family though?”

Colt scratched the back of his neck. While there were no secrets about the parts everyone played to form their non-traditional family, the original crew never really talked about the fallout Jin had with her father. That was her life, and her details to share. TJ’s birth helped to begin to rebuild that bridge, but as far as Colt knew, there was still a long way to go. “You’re looking at their family. Me, Tobs, Mona, Xi…Ryan and Quincy, we’ve been looking out for each other for years now. Even if Mona tells you otherwise. You’ll see.”

Jordan pulled up to a cheery looking building with a bright yellow sun and dancing flowers painted on the front. She pulled into a visitor’s parking spot and Colt opened the door, glancing back down at her when she set the car in park. “I’ll just wait,” she said, peering up to him. “Keep the car cool for the little one.”

Colt nodded and shut the door, tapping the roof twice before heading inside the building. He offered a small grin to the woman at the reception desk. “Colt Kaneko here to pick up TJ Rhee…she was running a fever?”

The woman moved a mouse around and clicked on something on the screen. “Poor sweetheart, yes,” she answered, typing something on a keyboard. “Do you have photo ID with you? We need to verify you’re the emergency contact listed on the form.” Colt pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled his ID from a slot, sliding it over the ledge of the desk. The receptionist looked over his ID and back up to him before handing it back. She picked up the handset from the phone on her desk and punched in several numbers. “Hi, it’s Carrie at Reception. Mr. Kaneko is here for TJ…oh, okay, I’ll let him know. Thank you.”

“Let me know what?” Colt’s stomach clenched with anxiety.

“Nothing to get alarmed over,” Carrie replied. “She’s still got a slight fever, ninety-nine point eight, but she doesn’t seem to want to drink any fluids, and she hasn’t used the bathroom in a few hours. She’s wearing pull-ups as a precaution.”

“What kind of fluids would be good for her?”

“Small sips of water, ice chips, something like Pedialyte or watered down fruit juice, broth if she has an appetite. One or two tablespoons every fifteen to twenty minutes, or as often as she can stand to drink. Bland solids like toast or mashed potatoes if she’s hungry and hasn’t vomited. I—“ she paused to see Colt typing frantically into his phone. “Would you like me to write this down for you?”

“Uh, yeah. Thanks,” he muttered. Carrie began writing things down on a piece of paper. “I’ve looked after her plenty of times, but she’s never been sick before.” He saved the e-note and pocketed his phone.

“It’s not too uncommon at school, being around other kids. The amount of stomach bugs and colds that run through here would make you want to keep your kid in a bubble some days!” She glanced up to see Colt’s blank, wide-eyed expression. “Not that we don’t keep the facilities clean! It’s just…nature of things, you know?” She folded up the paper and handed it to him.

“Uh huh…” Colt slipped the paper into his back pocket, just as someone walked out with TJ in their arms. Her hair was in pigtail buns, and he grinned softly. “Heyyyy there, Meatball Head.”

TJ’s head perked up and she twisted around, tiny smile crossing her face when she recognized Colt. “Ahjoosh Coco,” her tiny voice rang out. She stretched her arms out towards him, and the staff member handed her over to Colt.

TJ wrapped her arms around Colt’s neck and immediately laid her head down on his shoulder. He could feel the warmth radiating from her head against his skin, and his heart sank, knowing she didn’t feel well. The staff member handed over a backpack - it was pink and sparkly, with the shape of a unicorn’s face on the front. “TJ’s things,” she said, proactively answering Colt’s unspoken question. “Change of clothes, lunchbox and water, blanket and stuffed toy for naptime.”

He slung it over his free shoulder, thanked the ladies for their help, and TJ weakly waved goodbye to them as he exited the building.

After wrestling with the safety straps in the carseat and a quick introduction to Jordan - Jorjan, according to TJ, with the pretty, pink car - they were back on the road to return to the shop. Colt began looking through the backpack for any form of medicine, but came up empty handed. “We need to go back to Target,” he sighed. “Pick up some baby Motrin or something, maybe some Pedialyte and juice.” He craned his neck back to look at TJ. “Hey Meatball Head, did your teachers give you any medicine, or just water?”

“Ummm…water,” TJ replied. “Ahjoosh, Ahjoosh, you sit wif me?”

“The car’s moving, I have to stay in my seat, but you wanna hold my hand?” Colt twisted his arm behind the console and gave TJ’s leg a tiny squeeze.

“Nooooo Ahjoosh! You sit! Wif me!” TJ began to cry, letting out an ear-piercing wail.

“Good god!” Colt exclaimed. “Pull over! Oh my god pull over!” Jordan eased off the gas and pulled into a bank parking lot, and Colt got out of the car, quickly trying to dial Logan’s number as he climbed into the back seat. “Pick up, pick up, pick up!”

“‘Lo?”

“Where have you been?!” Colt scrunched his face at the casual tone to Logan’s voice.

“I just got a signal back on my phone, man,” Logan replied. “What’s going on with TJ? There’s a bunch of messages here. Did they get a hold of Jin?”

“She’s still in her lab, as far as I know. Look,” he sighed. “I picked up TJ and I’m here with Jordan. She’s bawling her eyes out because she wanted me to sit in the back with her.”

“Ah, yup, she doesn’t like riding by herself,” Logan answered. “It’s a new thing. Just sit with her, give her a toy or a book from her backpack. If that doesn’t work, play some Elvis on the radio.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Nope, she loves him,” Logan chuckled. “Dead serious. She got to watch Lilo and Stitch this month and it’s her new favorite. Hey, I gotta go, I think I’m go—“

Colt frowned as he pulled the phone away from his ear and saw the call had dropped. “Hey Jordan, d’you have satellite radio or bluetooth to connect to your speakers?”

“I’ve got both,” Jordan called out over her shoulder. “What’s up?”

“Elvis might calm her down.”

“On it!” Jordan giggled as she tapped at a screen, and soon Elvis’s velvety voice filled the car.

Slowly, TJ’s wails turned to sniffles, and it wasn’t long before she began to sing along as she made up words to Heartbreak Hotel and Jailhouse Rock. Colt messaged Logan and Jin for any new tips in case TJ had another meltdown, and it wasn’t long before he and Jordan were back in the Target parking lot.

After a longer than necessary trip to pick up baby Motrin, apple juice, Pedialyte, snacks, a coloring book and new crayons, and an ear thermometer, Jordan was back on the road, headed back to the shop. She smiled when she glanced in the rear view mirror and saw Colt reading to TJ, while Elvis’s greatest hits continued to play.

2:22 PM

“Ahjma Xie!” TJ scurried over to Ximena in the garage, hugging her tight as Ximena scooped her up.

“There’s my little warrior!” Ximena patted TJ’s back and pressed the back of her hand to one cheek. “Feeling warm today, hmm?” TJ nodded, and Ximena looked over to Colt, who had his hands full with shopping bags and a bright backpack on one shoulder. “Has she eaten?”

“Give me two minutes,” Colt sighed, dumping the backpack on a shop couch. “Didn’t want to give her anything in the car in case it didn’t stay down.” Jordan and Toby helped him carry everything up to the loft, Ximena following them.

After putting things away, Toby popped batteries in the thermometer and took TJ’s temperature. “Ninety-nine point six.”

“It went down a little.” Colt prepared the liquid Motrin and brought it over with the water bottle from TJ’s backpack. “Okay Meatball, time for kusuri, it’ll make you feel better.” (A/N: kusuri = medicine in Japanese)

“Yuck!” TJ clamped her mouth shut and buried her face in Ximena’s shoulder.

Several minutes of coaxing proved fruitless, and Colt’s patience was beginning to wear thin, when he remembered something. “Jordan, gimme a K-I-S-S,” he whispered, jutting his chin towards a small ceramic bowl on the counter.

“Um, okay,” she replied, leaning towards Colt.

“No, no,” he grinned. “I meant the uh, C-A-N-D-Y kind in the bowl over there…but I’ll take the first kind another time.”

“In your dreams, boss!” Jordan covered an embarrassed smile with her hand and plucked a chocolate kiss from the bowl, hiding it behind her back.

“Meatball,” Colt spoke softly. “If you take your kusuri like a good girl, you can have a chocolate.”

TJ turned her face towards Ximena’s neck. “Loc-late?”

Colt nodded. “That’s right, locolate,” he repeated. “But you have to swallow up all your kusuri first, to help you feel better. Okay?”

“Okay.” TJ turned around and let Colt give her the clear syrup, making a face as it went down. She took a few sips of water from her bottle, smacking her lips when she was done. “Loc-late, Ahjoosh Coco?” She held out her tiny hand towards him, waiting for her reward.

Colt looked at Jordan and ticked his head in TJ’s direction. “She deserves it,” he grinned, shaking his head. Jordan unwrapped the chocolate and TJ’s eyes lit up. “Do you want a story or a movie with Auntie Xi? Or Uncle Toby?”

“Lilo ‘hana, Ahjma Xie!”

Ximena looked at Colt, hoping for a translation.

“Lilo and Stitch, current favorite movie,” Colt replied.

4:45 PM

Colt was back in his office, trying to finish up his paperwork from the morning. Ximena and Toby had taken turns watching the movie with TJ, and Mona read two books in an effort to get TJ to settle down for a nap. Logan messaged that he was stuck in traffic, and Jin’s lab experiment was taking longer than she anticipated.

TJ’s energy level went up and down while everyone took turns watching her. One minute she was curled up next to Mona, pointing at pictures in her storybook, and a few minutes later she wanted to have a dance party with Toby.

Colt watched it all from an old baby monitor they’d stored with TJ’s baby things in the loft.

He was surprised when Mona let TJ color in the tattoos on her arm and sang some sort of lullaby in Arabic.

He was less surprised when Toby played The Ramones and Save Ferris for a tiny rock concert. 

7:02 PM

Dinnertime came and went, and with it, most of the crew. Logan and Jin were still trying to get back as fast as they could, but Colt was the only one left at the garage, along with Jordan. She cleaned up and kept an eye on things while Colt was up in the loft with TJ.

Her temperature was close to normal, at 98.9 degrees, as evidenced by the renewed level of energy. “What do you feel like eating for dinner? I could eat the left side of Kelso’s menu right now.” He descended the stairs with TJ in his arms; she had her new coloring book and a pack of crayons in her arms.

“Bimbap!” TJ exclaimed.

“Bibimbap, hmm?”

“Bimbap!” TJ repeated.

Colt set her down on the ground and patted her back. “Okay, how bout you color with Jordan while I make dinner?” He took out his phone and tried calling Logan again, remembering that Jin said she’d call once she was leaving campus. Thankfully, Logan answered. “Dude, how far away are you?”

“Still at least forty-five minutes from there, give or take,” Logan grumbled. “Why I thought I could do this drive in half a day is beyond me.”

“You should know better by now,” Colt laughed. “Look, her temp’s nearly down to normal, but she says she wants bibimbap for dinner. Anything I should avoid adding so she actually eats it?”

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, before Logan spoke up. “No meat, no chili garlic sauce, no shallots. Scrambled egg instead of fried if she says she wants one…but you might have to eat it anyway,” Logan chuckled. “Sometimes she’ll just eat two bites of egg and decides to hate it.”

“So… rice, cucumbers, carrots, and spinach? Soy sauce and sesame oil?”

“Sprouts, if you have those.”

“We might, actually. Toby got pho for lunch.”

“Try to get her to have some of the broth if it’s chicken,” Logan added. “Nap. Yes? No?”

“Nope.”

Logan sighed. “So…she might get cranky in about an hour, fight off the sleep. I’ll try to get there as soon as I can. Totally fine to let her watch a movie until she passes out at this point.”

“Got it.”

“Hey, Colt?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for watching her today.” Logan coughed lightly and cleared his throat. “Total clusterfuck with schedules and shit.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Colt replied. “You know this kid has us all wrapped around her finger.”

Logan laughed on the other end of the line. “Don’t I know it. See you soon.”

Colt ended the phone call and walked back to the small kitchenette area in the back of the garage, peering over the couch as Jordan watched TJ color a page full of kittens in her coloring book. He got to work putting together bowls of bibimbap as best as he could with what he found in the fridge. He warmed up a small cup of broth from the leftover pho and called Jordan and TJ over when the food was ready.

“Nice of you to stick around.” He glanced up at Jordan before blowing on a spoonful of broth for TJ.

“Didn’t have anywhere to be,” Jordan shrugged. “And Miss Tater Tot was pretty nice company,” she added, smiling over to TJ.

“I no tader tod, I meatball head!” She beamed a smile at Jordan. “Right, Ahjoosh Coco?”

Colt grinned softly at her, tapping one of the buns on her head. “That’s right.”

“What’s ‘ahjoosh’ mean?” Jordan took another bite of food from her bowl. “Also, who knew you could cook?”

Colt grinned again, jabbing his chopsticks at the rice in his bowl. “This kid loves her bibimbap, I had to learn how to make it once Logan and Jin introduced solid foods to her.” He took a bite of a cucumber slice, chewing and swallowing before answering the second question. “Ahjoosh is her way of saying ahjussi…it’s kind of like ‘uncle’ in Korean. Ajumma is ‘auntie’. They tried to teach her Tito and Tita for Tagalog, but we’re still workin’ on those T’s, aren’t we?” He patted TJ’s back affectionately.

“And Coco?” Jordan looked over to Colt and grinned.

“Mama, Dada, Coco… Mona’s Momo,” Colt shrugged, but he could feel the back of his neck prickle with warmth. “Only the kid gets to use those names.” He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but he’d grown fond of the nickname, hoping to keep it even after her enunciation improved.

7:42 PM

After cleaning up their dinner - Colt ended up having to eat most of the scrambled egg from TJ’s bowl - TJ was allowed to have one ice pop; she picked a pink one, naturally. Instead of the brightly colored Fla-vor ice pops found in most stores, he kept a small supply of the ones found in Asian markets - pastel colored plastic tubes that had to be snapped in half in order to be consumed.

The dose of slushy sugar water was enough to get her to stay awake long enough to get cleaned up. He went back up to the loft to get her ready for bed, searching through dresser drawers for something that would work as pajamas. He kept extra clothes in the space for the nights he’d work late and would be too tired to ride home.

“Ahjoosh, can you sing for me?” TJ asked, face contorting as she yawned.

“Yeah Meatball, just as soon as I find you some jammies.” He ruffled some shirts in one drawer. “What song do you want to hear tonight?”

“Umm, nice song,” she replied. “White dress song.”

Colt paused. “White dress song?”

“Dada Mama princess song, king song.”

Colt sighed. She was talking about Logan and Jin’s wedding song. Can’t Help Falling In Love.

There was a soft knock on the door before Jordan stepped in, holding something bundled in her hands, and a case on her back. “Overheard you on the monitor,” she said, walking towards them. “Thought this might help. It’s clean, I keep a change of clothes in my trunk.” She handed Colt the cloth in her hands.

Colt held up the cloth and the corner of his mouth quirked up. Hello Kitty was emblazoned on the front of the shirt in glittery neon pink, and he momentarily thought about what the miniature tee would look like on Jordan. He turned and held the shirt up for TJ. “Whaddya think? You want to borrow Jordan’s shirt?”

“Kitty!”

He turned to look back at Jordan. “Think you just won extra points with her,” he smirked. “What’s with the case?” He turned back to help TJ change out of her clothes and into the Hello Kitty shirt.

“I…I play a little guitar,” Jordan replied. “I thought I could play while you sing, if I know the song?”

“You know Can’t Help Falling in Love?”

“More Elvis?”

“More Elvis.”

She giggled softly. “Yeah, yeah I know that one.”

“You get ready while this little meatball goes potty, yeah?” He looked down at TJ. TJ hopped off the bed and made her way to the bathroom, and Colt gave Jordan a shy grin before following TJ to make sure she didn’t fall into the toilet.

Jordan took her guitar out of the case and strummed her fingers across the strings a few times, tuning them as she played a few notes from the song. She felt nerves flutter inside her chest when she heard water running from the bathroom sink, knowing Colt and TJ would be back soon. It was rare that she ever played in front of anyone; more often than not, she just played melodies she’d make up in her head to help her unwind from the day. She straightened up when TJ skittered back into the room and climbed onto the bed, Colt boosting her up onto the covers.

“Keep your meatball hair up? Or should we take them down?” Colt sat down next to TJ  and held up the thermometer again. “One more time, yeah?”

TJ sat up and let Colt take a reading, setting the thermometer in her ear. “Hair down, pweez.”

The thermometer beeped, and Colt sighed with relief. “Normal.” He set it on the table next to the bed and started undoing the buns in TJ’s hair, gently tugging the elastics from her hair. It fell down in large, fluffy curls. “Okay, time to get comfy, find that sweet spot for sleeping now!” He smiled softly as she wiggled under the covers, and he pulled a small fleece blanket from her backpack. He laughed when he pulled a replica Scrump doll from the pack as well.

“Scruuuuump!” TJ hugged her doll tightly.

“Ready?”

“Ready, Ahjoosh!”

“Here we go.” He patted her head gently and looked over his shoulder to Jordan. “Whenever you’re ready.”

Jordan nodded and adjusted the guitar in her hands, and slowly she began to play the notes to the song. Colt began to sing, and the richness of his voice caught her off guard. He sang soft, but clear notes as TJ closed her eyes and squeezed her rag doll to her chest; it wasn’t long before she drifted off to sleep, one arm falling limply to her side. Jordan played on for another minute or two after Colt stopped singing, before quietly tucking her guitar back into its case. She flipped the hinges down as silently as she could, and leaned back into the couch cushions, looking over to Colt.

He pressed a single finger to his lips with a tiny grin, making small movements to push himself off the bed without disturbing TJ. He switched off the lamp by the bed, and turned on a small nightlight plugged into a wall socket, before making his way over to the couch, and sat down next to Jordan. “You’re pretty good on that,” he whispered, motioning to the guitar case on the floor.

“You’re a surprisingly good singer,” she murmured back. “I…did not expect to see this side of you today.”

“What side?”

“This soft, ridiculously cute, caring side.” Jordan let out a tiny puff of air. “You’re really good with her.”

“She’s family.”

Jordan shook her head. “It’s more than that. She’s not spoiled, but I can see how all of you care about her so much. She’s a lucky kid.”

“We weren’t all so lucky. I guess we’re trying to make up for our crappy childhoods by making sure she has a decent one.”

“You need to stop saying shit like that,” she scoffed lightly.

“What? Why?”

“Because,” Jordan exhaled. She rubbed her palms against her thighs. “It makes it that much harder to keep myself from kissing you.”

Colt’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat, and he looked over to meet Jordan’s eyes. “Maybe you shouldn’t try so hard then.”

“Mayb—“ Jordan’s words were lost to Colt’s lips, melting into soft whimpers as his tongue pressed against her bottom lip. Her thoughts dissolved into pleasant sighs when he pulled her close, and he kissed her over and over and over again, until their lungs begged for air.

“Maybe,” he panted softly, brushing a few stray hairs away from her face, “we should go out, next night off.”

-

Down in the garage, Logan and Jin stood in the back room, looking at the grainy black and white video from the old baby monitor. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and they were both grinning at the small screen. “About damn time,” Logan whispered, leaning down to kiss Jin’s temple.

[xiervollerei]

Mona x MC

@rodappreciationweek day 3: Mona

Word count: 874

TITLE: Found you

It's already been five years since Veronica last saw Mona, the memory of seeing her get cuffed by the police and dragged away still burns fresh in her mind. She'll never forget that damn smile Mona gave her before she has to leave her behind. 

Veronica already finished college, she moved out of the house she used to live with her father and now she's just living life to the fullest moving from city to city with her car that carries the memories of the Mercy Park Crew, she wonders how Colt is doing taking over his dad's business after he died she also wonders where Logan, Toby, and Ximena is they're company was always welcome to her.

Then there's Mona...

She wonders if she's already out of prison, and that she's also moving from city to city with a different alias. Part of the reason why Veronica is on this adventure was because she hoped to find Mona in the process, even just for a second, she just wanted to know if the girl is doing okay just so her mind can finally calm down and let herself forget and move on. 

But tonight Veronica will wash her worries away with lots and lots of alcohol, she parked to the nearest nightclub she sees and entered the premises, the loud thumping bass of the music doesn't somber her thoughts though, so she went straight to the bar to grab a drink. She sat on a stool and waved down a bartender which immediately rushed to grab her order, after a few minutes her drink arrived in a flourish and the next thing she knew she's drowning shot after shot just so she could forget tonight.

Forget her eyes, the taste of her lips, and that intoxicating voice of hers. Veronica just wanted to forget tonight.

"Tough day?" A voice breaks Veronica out of her trance, she turns to find an attractive woman right in front of her although she doesn't know if she's seeing things right because of the alcohol.

"Yeah... Trying to forget about someone."

"If that's an ex they are not worth getting drunk to, you're too beautiful to get dumped." A surprise chuckle slipped on Veronica's lips, and for the first time that day, she smiled even just for a second.

"There you go, you have a beautiful smile as well."

"Mhmm... You don't look like you're drinking anything, waiting for someone?"

"I'm trying to find this girl, I haven't seen her for five years then I suddenly got a text and told me she'd be here today."

"Wait... So you've never heard from this girl for 5 years, but she texted you once and you'll drop anything just for her?"

"That about sums it up."

"Why?" The mysterious woman stared at Veronica for a few minutes, considering her words before she spoke up.

"Because I love that girl, and even though I told her five years ago she shouldn't waste her life finding me... Here she is anyway, scouring the entire universe just to find me."

Veronica's eyes widened in shock, and the words slowly started to register in her brain. She rubs her eyes just to check if she's seeing things right and it's not just the damn alcohol but when Veronica reached out to cup the stranger's cheek, she realized she's no stranger at all. Right here in front of her is the woman she spent five years trying to find.

"Mona? Is it really you?"

"Yes Veronica, it's me."

Overwhelmed with emotion Veronica surged forward and kissed Mona, which the latter quickly kissed back in response. The two poured all their yearning and feelings into that kiss, they didn't even try to hide their desperation even though they're in public, Veronica missed this she missed her home, she missed every bit of Mona and she couldn't believe that this is real, Mona's really here.

The two finally pulled away to catch their breath, their foreheads resting on each other, scared that the other might disappear if they let go.

"How did you find me?"

"You sent me a text, remember?" Veronica immediately knows what she's talking about, in the past five years every time the girl moves to a new city she makes sure that she texted Mona where she's heading, in some hope Veronica thought she would be able to read it and find her where she is. She knows it's risky, but the first time she did it nothing happened so she continued every time she would have hoped Mona can finally see the text she's never felt so happy to see her plan worked out in the end.

"But how did you see it? I thought you would have thrown away that phone by now."

"Turns out I never got the strength to throw it away, and I'm glad I didn't."

"God Mona, I missed you."

"Me too."

After a few minutes the shock finally wore off, Mona stood up from her stool offering her hand which Veronica immediately took.

"Let's get out of here?"

"Where are we going?"

"Honestly I have no idea, but wherever you go I go."

"That was so cheesy."

"Ugh I know, it sounded better in my head."

[lilyoffandoms]

Polaris - Colt Kaneko x mc drabble [part two]

Based on my ask and this answer by @choicesarehard and these drabbles by @lovehugsandcandy​

Art by the amazingly talented @somewillwin​ (thanks for taking this challenge on)

“Where are we going, Colt?” she shouted over the motor as they raced down back roads to some unknown destination. 

Only a few hours before he had shown up unexpectedly at her apartment and asked if she wanted to go for a ride. She had blushed more than she ever had and hissed Colt! My roommates are right there!” pulling him past the group, now snickering, to her room. Not that kinda ride, sweetheart. He had peeled off his jacket, giving her that infuriating smirk of his.  But since you offered. And so they lost themselves in each other’s arms for a while before finally dressing and leaving the apartment on his bike.

When he didn’t answer she continued, “You aren’t going to kill me out here because I know too much are you?” 

He glanced at her over his shoulder and she knew that beneath his helmet he was smirking at her. “That’s comforting to know” she teased and wrapped her arms tightly around him deciding there were worse ways to meet one's end than at the hands of a sexy criminal.

Eventually, he pulled up to an empty field and dragged her by the hand out amongst the wildflowers. They sat down and watched the stars overhead. Ellie occasionally pointing out certain constellations and the stories behind them.

He began toying with her bracelet. “I have a gift for you,” he whispered.

She looked down and saw a slip of paper attached to it. “What is this?” she inquired. lifting her wrist so she could read it. You’re making a giant mistake by going to college it read. 

“Colt!” she laughed and gave him a playful shove. Tearing the paper off her bracelet she stuffed it in her pocket. “Not exactly the sort of memories I want to keep on my bracelet.”

“Okay, okay. Here,” he said and shoved the compass charm he had purchased days before into her hand and closed it in his. “Every idea, every plan, every move I make. It’s your voice I have guiding me. Even when you are hundreds of miles away, you guide my day. You are my Polaris, you are my guiding star. You, Ellie, will always be my compass.”

[monaownsmyass]

Are any Mona lovers still alive here?👀 I’m writing a lil snippet of how I’d picture RoD2 to go down, more specifically, Mona and MC meeting again for the first time. I think I’ll be posting the fic soon so keep an eye out and lmk if you wanna be tagged 😙

[romerona]

I'm so happy about the new book and BB3 coming this year it's fucking crazy I can't wait. But it's been 4 months with the same answer ABOUT ROD 2 ”is still in early stages” like TF? Should we be expecting Pb to pull a Hero/the Most Wanted move??? I'm frustrated LMFAO

[flowerpowell]

You Drive Me Crazy (Colt x MC)

PART EIGHT (FINALE) + EPILOGUE

A/N: Hello everyone! It’s been a long time since I updated this series but here it finally is, the very last chapter! (there may or may not be an idea for a next au series in my head) I hope you all liked the series and will like the finale. As always I don’t own the characters but I would love to hear your feedback!

Rating: PG-13

Word count: 2305 (Beware, dialogue heavy!)

Tagging: @agent-bossypants @brightpinkpeppercorn @walkerduchess @confessionsofabrokegirl @lovehugsandcandy @desiree-0816 @choicesarehard @going-down-downtown @long-gone-girl @client-327 @i-only-signed-up-for-fanfiction @umiumichan @zaira-oh-zaira @claudevonstruke @akrenich @emichelle @lunablr-choices @emomoustache @liamzigmichael4ever ♥

Colt knocked. And knocked. And kicked the door and yelled and knocked again. Nothing was working because Mona apparently left them all alone in the garage. If they died no one would know. Great.

“I guess she really trapped us here. I’m sorry, Ellie,” Colt shifted uncomfortably and risked a look at his old friend, sitting on his father’s couch. Despite the circumstances she looked amused. And she was searching the mini fridge for something to drink.

“It’s fine. Oh! Look! You like these!” she held a bottle with his favorite soft drink but he only shook his head.

“It’s not funny!”

“Well, I’m having fun,” she chuckled, “ seriously, Colt. We haven’t been able to talk for so long and I’m really tired of this miscommunication between us. I miss us.”

“Ellie...”

“I called you pretty much every single day but you never answered.”

“I lost my phone in this mess a few months ago and I never bought another one. I didn’t expect anyone to call me.”

“Well, I did,” she whispered, smiling sadly at him.

A few minutes passed before Colt spoke, his voice calm and composed despite his heart nearly having an attack.

“How are you? How’s college?”

“I’m good. But I hated you so much when I was in hospital. So much.”

“I know I screwed up, I never should’ve come between you and Logan and--”

“I hated you for putting yourself in danger again. You promised to never race again.”

“Ellie, I...”

“Did it for me, I know,” she admitted and his eyes widened.

“You... do? Mona told you, didn’t she?”

“No one told me. But one day we have no money and right after you win a race we do? I’m not stupid, Colt.”

“I never thought you were,” he answered quietly.

“I wanted to talk to you. Before I was run over, I wanted to talk to you about something,” she looked at him and he remembered the conversation he had with Mona that day. She told Ellie everything. He blushed at the thought and shifted his gaze to his father’s desk.

“Was it true?” he heard Ellie’s question but he didn’t know what to say. What she wanted him to say.

“Mona,” her voice broke slightly, “Mona told me you were’t mocking me or joking. She told me you really felt something for me. Was it true?”

He wasn’t sure if he wasn’t imagining this, but her voice sounded almost... hopeful.

“Yeah,” he answered slowly, not bothering to look at her. He just couldn’t.

“When I woke up in hospital I needed to talk to you. But my father didn’t let me. He told me I wasn’t allowed to go near a man who almost got me killed.”

“I almost got you killed?” Suddenly Colt turned to face her. “I almost got you killed? Me?! I would kill for you, I would move the whole world for you, how could he say that I almost got you killed?!”

Colt took a deep breath and walked away from her to calm himself. One, two, three.

“I tried to reach you but I couldn’t. Mona told me you were in jail. That you risked your freedom for me.”

“I wouldn’t be that dramatic about it,” he snorted.

“Why didn’t you tell me? About your feelings? You know, talk to me instead of yelling.”

“I tried but... I don’t know, it’s not the easiest thing for me. And you were with Logan and all. And I was only your friend and I didn’t want to risk our friendship,” he sighed, “but I guess I did anyway.”

Ellie was silent for a few minutes and all Colt could hear was the ticking of the clock his father found on the flea market.

“You know...” Ellie finally spoke, “I didn’t...”

“You didn’t what?” Colt asked, still not looking at her.

“I didn’t sleep with Logan,” she whispered.

“What?” he turned to her, his eyes widened but he tried to ignore her red cheeks.

“I didn’t sleep with Logan. I wanted to because I was mad at you. But then I realized I wasn’t ready. Because all I could think of was you.”

“Whaaa--” Colt felt like the room was spinning. Or maybe he was spinning. Or maybe his head was detached and started spinning. Or--

“Logan is amazing. He’s a perfect guy for me. But... he’s not you.”

Breathe, Colt, breathe. Or you’ll die and you’ll never know if what she’s saying is true. Holy shit, is it true? Am I hallucinating?

“You on the other hand... You’re like everything I don’t want in a guy and yet you’re the only guy I want,” she admitted, blushing.

Okay, I don’t need to breathe anymore cause I’m definitely dead already.

“When I realized that I was scared, I didn’t know if you would return my feelings. I know what you’re like with women,” she said, sadness in her voice, “When you started acting weird and yelling these things I thought you were mocking me. That you somehow found out and decided to mock me.”

Breathe!!!!! One, two, holyshitshelikesmeohmygosh, three...

“It’s silly but... I was reading an article the other day, about fifty wordless ways to say ‘I love you’ and I realized you did most of them... I wanted to believe but I knew it was impossible... Given your history.”

He still didn’t say anything and Ellie shifted uncomfortably on the couch.

“Colt, say something, please.”

He took a deep breath, debating his answer. He needed to be honest though.

“I know my dating history is bad, Ellie. I know what you think of me. But you know why I sleep with all these women?”

“You... don’t need to tell me that,” her cheeks were red and for a second Colt found it adorable how sweet and innocent she was.

“It sounds so, so, so stupid, so please never tell anyone and forget it right after I’ll say it, but I just wanted to feel love,” this time he blushed. Gosh, what was about her that made him acting so weird? “I thought I’d know how it is to feel loved. After a while I realized it wasn’t love but I didn’t care really.” He shrugged and tried to sound nonchalant.

“That was the closest I could get to love so I didn’t mind. That’s the only reason, Ellie. Not because I’m a monster or whatever you think of me.”

“I never thought of you like this!” she protested but he only waved his hand at her.

“Please, forget I ever said that okay? And especially never tell Mona, okay?”

“Of course,” she nodded, “ I wish you told me sooner, though.”

“So, you and Logan? Are you guys--?”

“No. We never were. He knew my heart was elsewhere. We stayed friends.”

“Oh.”

Silence fell between them again. They stole cursory glances at each other as if they were strangers, not best friends. Or whatever they were at that point.

“I meant everything I said.” Colt broke the silence and sat next to Ellie on the couch. He took her hands in his and looked at her. “Or yelled, actually. I do love you. I don’t know what to do about it, I don’t know how to express it and I would make the shittiest boyfriend ever, not even mentioning that I don’t deserve you at all, but I want you to know that I love you, Ellie. Even if it ruins our friendship, I want you to know that.”

“Colt...” she said before leaning in and kissing him on the lips. He smiled against her and pulled her closer to him.

If it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up.

“I know you were my first kiss to,” she admitted when they parted.

“You... remembered?”

She shook her head, “Unfortunately no. Mona told me. But if you’d like to remind me what it felt like...”

Colt smiled before his lips crashed onto hers, pinning her to the couch, lying on top of her. He deepened the kiss, his arms wrapped around her, holding her as close as possible.

“Colt?” she pulled away to catch a breath.

“Yeah?”

“I love you, too.”

Colt’s expression almost melted with affection when he looked at her, tears in his eyes. This is definitely the most beautiful dream.

He felt her lips on his neck and frowned when her hands wandered under his shirt.

“Ellie, Ellie,” he stopped her and she looked at him confused.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to--”

“No, no,” he kissed her forehead, “it’s okay. I just don’t want to do it here. And now.”

“Why not? The couch is pretty comfy.”

“Ellie, I have waited my whole life for you and you’re way too special for this. And I’m not ready yet, I-- I want it to be special. We’re not doing it on the couch my father found next to the dumpster.”

“Ew, ew, ew!” Ellie jumped out of the couch, smoothing her dress.

He laughed, for the very first time in a very long time, relieved and happy as she shot him an annoyed look.

“Okay, point taken. I guess you’re worth the wait,” she teased biting her lip.

In no time, it was Colt who was biting it, holding her close, as if still not sure it was real.

“Do you have your clothes on?”

They jumped apart at the sound of Mona’s voice from behind the door.

“Yes, you pervert! What did you think we would be doing, huh?” Colt yelled at her, kicking the door.

“I’ll leave it for your imagination. I’ve heard you’ve made up so I guess I can let you out now. And I promise it has nothing to do with Kaneko going back to his office in like a minute.”

“MONA!”

When they finally were out Colt let out an exaggerated sigh. Mona shook his head and looked at Ellie who was standing quietly, smiling from ear to ear.

“Anything the two of you want to say?”

“You kept us in there against our will, which is illegal?” Colt suggested and Mona rolled her eyes.

“A simple ‘thank you’ would do the trick too.”

“Thank you, Mona. I don’t know what would happened without you,” Ellie said before Colt could snap back at Mona.

“You’re welcome. If Colt didn’t make a move on you finally, I would,” she winked at her before turning to leave.

“She’s right though,” Colt admitted when Mona already disappeared. “If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be here.”

“Which means you should be nice to her. Unless you’re not happy with how it all played out...”

“I am! I am,” he kissed her again and again. It wasn’t possible for him to ever get tired of kissing her.

“I love you, Ellie. Even when you sometimes drive me crazy.”

“I love you too, Colt.”

~~ EPILOGUE ~~

He was happy.

For the first time since he could remember, Colt was happy. 

He was still learning about being in a relationship but Ellie was always beside him, and that was enough. The first days of dating were a bit awkward since Colt had never been in any long term relationship but his girlfriend was always ready to help him out.

“Oh Colt! You don’t need to buy me flowers every single time we meet!” Ellie chuckled as Colt blushed holding a bouquet of sunflowers in his hand.

“Really?”

“Really,” she shoved him playfully, “You’d be broke in no time!”

“Oh,” he ran his free hand in his hair, “I actually stole these…”

“Colt!”

He was happy.

He had someone who cared about him and always made sure he knew he was loved. His mornings always started with “Good morning, I love you” message from Ellie and ended with a “Sweet dreams, I love you” message, also from Ellie. 

His father didn’t seemed to care much that he was dating Ellie but he did pat him in the back awkwardly one day and repeated, “She’s a good one.”

But Colt already knew that.

Ellie’s father forgave him eventually, after finding out what he did for her, what they felt for each other, he didn’t have much choice but to accept his daughter’s choice. 

He was happy.

Their first time happened much later. Colt didn’t feel ready before and Ellie mocked him to no end.

“Well, well, well… Who’s being a nun now?” she laughed at his flushed face when he shot her an annoyed look.

“Shut up.”

But as Colt promised, he made as special as it was possible. He booked a hotel room, the same one where they spent her 20th birthday, lit the candles, prepared all that fancy stuff he used to mock, and that way, he made their New Year’s Eve special. While people were welcoming the new year, celebrating it with the whole world, Colt was holding his own world in his arms.

He was happy.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy; Ellie still attended college so far away from him and even though she was trying to visit him as often as possible, it was still not enough for Colt. He couldn’t travel for a while and he desperately needed to be with her every day but he understood, he waited, he was patient. And even when things weren’t always easy for them, it didn’t matter much to him.

Because he was happy.

THE END.

[choices-betch]

Lost on You (Mona x MC)

Chapter I: when the party’s over Description: It’s been 6 years since the Mercy Park Crew split and Lexi is about to graduate from law school. Despite her valiant attempts to move’s on, an unexpected event sends her reeling in the past. Pairing: Mona x MC (Lexi Padilla); OC X MC Chapter warnings: some NSFW content, light cursing  Notes: After the RoD ending I was NOT satisfied and needed to have some semblance of control and resolution with Mona lmao so here this is. I don’t know how many parts it will be; I’m estimating maybe 4? We’ll see where it takes me, but it’s gonna be angsty. Thank you to @pauclaws for the prompt that got the wheels turning! Let me know if you want to be tagged in future chapters. Song accompaniment: when the party’s over - Billie Eilish Tags: @maxwellsquidsuit @scarlet-letter-a0114 @whoinvitedalx

Chapter I: when the party’s over

Lexi gathered her belongings after handing in her last final, sighing in relief as she headed out the door; finally this hellish semester was over, and with that, her final year of law school. Lost in thoughts of what cheap wine she could snag and curl up on the couch with that evening to ignore the world around her, she was startled when she ran into something hard. She looked up to a grinning face, stepping out of the way to avoid blocking other students exiting.

“I know I’m sexy but damn, girl,” the man joked with a wink, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. Lexi grinned at him sheepishly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“Sorry, Joel. Got distracted,” Lexi apologized, clearly embarrassed.

“My devilishly handsome features do tend to have that effect on people,” Joel responded with a wink, eliciting an eye roll from Lexi. “What are you off in a hurry for? Celebrating tonight?”

Lexi eyed him dubiously, shaking her head. “The most exciting part of my night will be deliberating between Zinfandel and Rosé.”

“Boooorriiiinng,” he chided, motioning for Lexi to walk with him. “Unacceptable. You just finished your last day ever of law school, girl! You’re coming with me and my friends to a club downtown.”

“Clubs aren’t really my thing,” Lexi responded with a cringe. On the rare occasion she went to one, she seemed to attract the people with the worst pick up lines, not to mention smells.

“It’s a gay club, trust,” Joel said dismissively, waving her off. “It’s gonna be fire.”

“I don’t have the money for that,” Lexi hesitated, her resolve crumbling.

“We’ll pre-game at my place.”

“I—“

“Nope!” Joel interrupted, “You’re coming. I’m not letting you rot alone on your couch in ratty ass grandma underwear when you could be gettin’ some ass. You’ve done nothing but throw yourself into school since I met you and I’ve had it! You’re coming with.”

Lexi barked out a laugh; he wasn’t wrong. They’d met on the first day of law school and for the last 2 years Joel had been trying to get Lexi out more, to help her relax...no such luck. Lexi finally relented, agreeing to go. After hashing out the details on where to meet, Lexi headed back to her studio in an effort to regain some energy for the night ahead. — Lexi shook her fingers through her hair as she doused it in hairspray in an attempt to secure her beach waves. She straightened up, staring at herself for an extended period of time before sighing. Lexi had thought getting a shoulder length cut a few months ago would make it easier to style, thus forcing her to do something with it, but clearly her hair was hopeless. A glimpse of a drawing in the background caught Lexi’s eye. The significance of this time of year wasn’t lost on her, as was the case with every year that passed. Six years later she still thought, what if...?

Despite Mona’s demand that Lexi forget about her and leave her alone, she couldn’t and wouldn’t. Lexi managed to figure out where Mona was being held (though found very little else) and wrote to her religiously...at first. But she never got a response, with one exception: her birthday. Every year she would get a hand drawn card, which she always treasured and had displayed in her room, but it was always followed by silence. That hurt worse than anything Mona had done. Just as Mona said - words meant nothing; it’s what you do that counts, and doing nothing said everything. Still, Lexi continued to write, less frequently as the years went by, and still, only a birthday card once a year.

She didn’t know why she couldn’t let go. It’d been a few months of passion followed by six years of absolutely nothing but those few and far between glimmers of hope that Mona had the same difficulty forgetting her. Still, those memories stayed with her as vivid as if they’d just happened. Sometimes, she could even swear she still felt Mona’s lips on her mouth, her neck…

Lexi snapped out of her thoughts, suddenly conscious of her fingers grazing her lips. She shook her head, gave her makeup and short black dress a once over one last time, then grabbed her belongings and headed to Joel’s.

She walked around the complex, glancing between her phone and the door numbers; surely she was missing an area, but after circling multiple times she was about to force Joel to come escort her.

“You look lost.” Lexi looked up in alarm, locking eyes with a woman gazing at her in amusement. “Sorry, I’ve just seen you circling around a few times. It was disorienting.”

“Why were you watching me for that long?” Lexi retorted, eyeing the woman cautiously and getting into a defensive stance. If this lady was some sort of serial killer, Lexi wasn’t going down without a fight.

“Whoa, calm down killer,” she joked, holding her hands up in defense. “I was smoking...a few times, actually. Social anxiety plus clubbing is not fun. Although you certainly look like you’re about to enjoy your evening.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lexi was growing frustrated, and she didn’t know why this random stranger was getting under her skin.

“I just meant you’re dressed to kill,” she clarified, scratching her neck. “Well, this went horribly awry. I only meant to offer to help you find what you’re looking for.”

Lexi relaxed slightly, eyeing the woman briefly before sighing.  She wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She gave the woman the unit she was looking for and the woman chuckled, looking around awkwardly.

“Yeah, it’s uh...down this way. Joel’s one of my best friends; heading out with the gang to celebrate his release from the prison of law school,” she joked. “Come on, I’ll walk with you.”

The woman introduced herself as Jordan, a software engineer that had been friends with Joel since undergrad. Lexi observed Jordan’s physical appearance for the first time. She wasn’t particularly tall - maybe 5’6 at the most - but she had a solid build accentuated by her button down and chinos. Her caramel hair was pulled back in a tight bun, strong jawline more prominent as a result. Lexi silently appreciated the view, knowing from her behaviors over the years that’s all it would be. After finally making it to Joel’s apartment and being introduced to his group of friends, everyone did a few tequila shots before requesting a Lyft.

Lexi squinted slightly as she entered the dark club, disoriented from the pulsing neon lights. She adjusted the band on her wrist as she looked around, following the group toward the bar.

“What are you drinking?” Jordan asked, her hand gently touching Lexi’s lower back. Lexi looked at her, dazed for a moment; it’d been a long time since an innocent touch felt that intimate. Not since…

Lexi cleared her throat and forced a smile. “Whiskey, on the rocks. Make it a double.”

The rest of the night flew by in a drunken blur of dancing and too many random bodies touching. Jordan got increasingly close over the night, and Lexi didn’t know if it was the alcohol talking or if she was really that desperate for intimacy, but she found herself back in a Lyft, making out intensely on their way to Jordan’s apartment.  She didn’t know what she was doing. Sure, she found Jordan attractive and she definitely felt chemistry there, but there wasn’t anything special about this particular person. Why was she so torn, so desperate for this feeling? 

Somehow they made it to Jordan’s apartment, tangled limbs stumbling through the door and to the bedroom where they wasted no time undressing.

“I’m so glad I came out tonight,” Jordan said against Lexi’s lips as they fell on the bed. Lexi kissed her harder; she didn’t want to talk, just feel. As Jordan’s lips moved down her neck, Lexi closed her eyes, hands going to Jordan’s hair.

Lexi ran her hands through Mona’s hair then pulled her into a passionate kiss, Mona’s half naked body conforming to hers. Mona pulled away slowly then shoved Lexi back onto the bed, smirking as she kissed up her body.

“If I do get killed because of the stupid brotherhood, it might be worth it.”

Lexi blinked back to reality, Jordan halfway down her body by now.

“Is this okay?” Jordan asked, pausing at her underwear. Lexi paused, mind racing as her breathing increased.

Lexi looked down at Mona, perched between her legs with a teasing grin. “You really want me, don't you?” Mona ran her thumb gently down Lexi’s folds, wetness coating her thumb as Lexi twitched slightly. “I can tell.”

“God, yes,” Lexi breathed as Mona glanced up at her, gently sucking the juices off her thumb. Lexi’s breathing hitched, Mona silently urging her to continue. “I want you to kiss me everywhere…”

Lexi nodded, her underwear quickly being pulled off and thrown to the side. Her mind was racing, stuck between the past and the present as it always seemed to be.  Lexi gasped, her thoughts in the present for now at the shock of the intense feelings coursing through her body.

Lexi gripped her pillow, reaching down to grasp Mona’s hair in her hand as Mona’s tongue continued gliding against her.

“Mona, don’t stop...I’m...I’m gonna…”

Lexi’s eyes flew open as her climax overcame her, her legs trembling with every wave of pleasure. As Jordan kissed back up her body, Lexi flipped over quickly, silently and quickly making her way down Jordan’s body.

“You don’t waste time, do you?” Jordan joked breathily.

Lexi didn’t respond, continuing her way down, maintaining every effort to distract herself from the flashbacks she was having; to help her forget. The rest of the night went by in a blur, and next thing she knew she was staring at the clock on the bedside table. Lexi glanced to her right, Jordan sleeping deeply, then scanned the room for her clothes. She slowly got out of the bed, quietly grabbing her belongings before exiting the room. She hurriedly got dressed and requested a Lyft home before making her way out the door, closing it quietly behind her. — Lexi walked into her studio on autopilot and stood just past her doorway, dropping her keys and bag on the floor and staring blankly ahead. After a long moment she snapped out of it, closing the door behind her. She quickly began stripping and walked to the bathroom, her clothing leaving a trail behind her. She turned on the shower hastily, stepping in and under the water without waiting for it to warm. Squeezing a glob of soap onto her loofa, she began scrubbing her body roughly, furiously trying to clean off every touch, bite, lick on her skin; any trace of intimacy left on her body.

She’d been with men over the years, even casually dated a few, but ultimately something never fully clicked; they always felt more like friends. While she found plenty of women attractive over the years, something - someone - kept her from fully pursuing anything. For the first time tonight, she’d felt something since Mona. Perhaps she’d always thought nothing would compare - which she was still right about - but what she hadn’t prepared for was the emotional toll it took after the fact, and why: she didn’t want a connection like that with anyone else.

She paused her scrubbing, eyes stinging and breathing hitched slightly. The tears came quickly and freely, a mixture of anger, guilt and heartbreak. Why? Why did someone have to matter to her when nothing was ever meant to come of it? Why Mona, who clearly wasn’t bothered one way or the other? Why did she have to be so damn persistent instead of listening for once?

She slid down the shower wall, a sob escaping her mouth, allowing the water to beat down on her until it ran cold. Lexi finally calmed herself, standing to rinse her face before turning off the water. She dried herself off and threw on some bed clothes before making her way to her desk. Pulling out a piece of paper, she began to write.

She wrote about her anger, guilt, sadness, resentment; the difficulty she had enjoying any milestone or accomplishments in her life without thinking of Mona or wishing she were there, but most of all her seeming inability to meet anyone without comparing them to her. And they never compared. Lexi hastily scribbled the facility’s address on an envelope, stamped it, then walked to the corner to mail it before she could change her mind. Maybe this was what she needed to finally move on. Lexi walked back to her studio and headed to bed, curling her comforter closely around her as she drifted into a restless sleep. — 2 weeks later

Mona shoved her hands in her pockets as she approached her destination, having gotten dropped off a few blocks down the road to avoid traffic back up. She scanned her surroundings, glancing down at her phone for clarification of where she was headed, then continued on the path. After a few too many turns (and even more curse words), Mona finally made it to her destination, careful to do her best to blend into the background. Announcements had already begun, and Mona scanned the rows of chairs at the front for any sign of familiarity. After searching a few times, Mona’s sight focused on a familiar profile with much-shorter-than-she’d-remembered dark hair beneath a cap. She smirked; sexy.

Just then, the girl looked back, seemingly straight at Mona. Mona panicked, ducking behind other attendees as she moved farther out of view. She caught sight of the girl again, seeing her frown and look around for a few moments before turning to a man next to her.

Mona’s thumb grazed the edges of the folded letter she’d received just as she was about to be released. Perhaps it wasn’t a direct invitation, but there was certainly enough information for Mona to figure it out. Still, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, and it kept Mona protected; in control.  Mona stuck around until she saw what she came for, then headed out for her next mission. —

Lexi enjoyed brunch with a few classmates and her dad after the ceremony then headed home for a much needed nap. As she got close to her doorway she took off her heels, sighing in relief as she tiptoed toward her door, her dad chastising her for not waiting until she was inside. She stopped short at the sight of a small package left at her doorstep. Her dad put a hand out to keep her in place, slowly moving forward to inspect the package. After he deemed it safe, he picked it up and handed it to her. Lexi examined all the edges curiously, shaking it gently. She flipped the tag and her knees buckled slightly at the recognition of the handwriting and the message.

Congrats, gorgeous. Always said you were a nerd. xx

“Lexi?” he questioned, concern etched on his face as he reached out to steady her. “Are you okay?”

She stared at the tag for another long moment, mentally telling herself to get it together with a shaky breath before turning the tag over and forcing a smile.

“Yeah, Dad. I’m fine. Let’s go inside.”

[choicesjulychallenge]

Choices July Challenge

This masterlist has been created for DayTwo of the Choices July Challenge…

Day Two prompt: Regret

Bloodbound

Guilt isn’t always a rational thing (Adrian x MC) written by @kinda-iconic 

Guilt isn’t always a rational thing part II (Adrian x MC) written by @kinda-iconic

Old Regrets (Kamilah x MC) written by @nk-writes

Regret (Priya x MC) written by @bhavf (Warning: NSFW Content)

Open Heart

Regret: AU (Ethan x MC) written by @maria-lahela

Second Chances (Harper x F!MC) written by @queerchoicesblog

Ride or Die

Just a Broken Girl (Logan x MC) written by @ladykateofhousebeaumont​

Regret (Logan x MC) written by @coltsforeverdriver

Say the Word (Mona x MC) written by @rocket-scientist07

Rules of Engagement

Regret (Elena x MC) written by @kennaxval

The Freshman Series

Regret (Zig x Aaron) written by @darley1101 (PG)

The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir

Homecoming (Drake x MC) written by @burnsoslow

Living with the Consequences (Drake x MC) written by @argylemnwrites

Tattered Tears: Crimson Rain (Liam x MC) written by @bobasheebaby

You’ll Dance One Day (Maxwell x MC) written by @itsbrindleybinch