#ok last vent of the day but if this woman brings one more time her whole spiel of

[sherlock-is-ace]

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[alara-kahya]

"Things end, that's all. Everything ends, and it's always sad. But everything begins again, and that's always happy." - 12th Doctor.

Self Para: Post break-up, 3 days later. Involved: Jayden Cross (deceased), her mom & Kian. Mentions: Nate Donovan & Emiri Tezel. Location/s: Cemetery & her home. Triggers: Death, grief, heartache.

"So, yeah, that's it. Sorry to come and bring bad news, I just... Well, selfishly I guess I thought it would help." Sighing as she sat on the ground in front of Jayden's grave, she tucked her knees into her chest and decided to just wallow for a minute. It was day three since Nate had walked out and aside from this right here, she hadn't told anyone. Not her mom, not even Emiri. What was she supposed to say? "I don't know how to talk about it with anyone else, or maybe I'm just scared to." Yeah, that felt more accurate. Alara had worked so incredibly hard over the years to shape herself into a strong and confident woman, it was difficult for her to show that she was still capable of being hurt. "I know what you'd say, I even know what you'd do, you would hug me and tell me to call my mom. Actually, you'd probably call her yourself. You can't beat a hug from your mom." She chuckles, saying something that Jayden used to say about her mother. Honestly, he was as close to an adopted child as her mom had, it broke her too when he died.

The soft laugh soon turned into a sniffle and before she knew it, she was choking back a sob and desperately wiping at the tears that spilled over her eyes. "How did I let this happen again," she puffed out a breath, still somehow laughing between crying, though it was far from a place of amusement. "I did what you always wanted me to do and I took a chance. Now look at me, right back to square one and you're not even here for me to say it's all your fault." Joking, but the words only made her miserable. "I feel like a fool, I really thought if I just kept patience, he'd find his moment and talk to me. Now I'm wondering if I should have pushed harder? And then I hate myself for thinking this could be my fault, because it isn't, is it? I gave him everything, and it just wasn't enough, how am I supposed to accept that? How can I when I don't understand." Groaning, what she does understand now is why she chose to come here and talk to a headstone over someone who could actually support her. Emotional and manic wasn't her best look, she wanted to try and vent a lot of it out before she turned to her family and friends. "It just hurts, it... yeah, it hurts."

The ache that swirled all around her insides only rippled outwards until it felt like even breathing in was painful. "I'm so lost without you, Jj, I miss you so much. So much." It wasn't fair. A thought that she seemed to be thinking a lot lately. Nothing was ever fair and she couldn't stand it. "You don't know what I'd give to go back, even if it was just to see you one last time." She lost herself when he had died, that much was clear to everyone who loved her, but what a lot of them didn't realize was that she never truly recovered. A part of her was still lost, still trying to claw it's way back but it never would. There was an empty space there in her heart that belonged entirely to her best friend. Sighing, she swiped more tears away and climbed up to her feet, staying crouched as her brown eyes lingered over his name. "Love you. I'll be back in a couple days, I'll bring beer." With a sad smile and a soft hand pressed against the cold stone, she takes a deep breath and turns to leave. Hopefully looking a little less blurry-eyed by the time she got home to greet her mother.

"Hey," calling out as she drops her bag at the door. "Sorry I'm late, work ran over and then I got talking to Jay," a statement that wasn't out the ordinary, it was never unusual for her to visit the cemetery just to keep her lost friend upto date on her life. "That's ok, sweetie. Little man is all tucked up, he's just waiting for a hug," her mom smiles, though she can't help but eye Alara with mild suspicion. "Everything ok?" Hard not to notice bloodshot eyes and tear stained cheeks when they were right in front of you, but it wasn't just that. It was something Kian had told her while they ate dinner. That he heard his mommy crying in the middle of the night. "Yeah, I'll go give him his hug," shying away from her gaze, she knew she couldn't talk about it right now, not while her son was waiting for her.

Making her way up the stairs, she does her best to rub the mascara away and go in his room with a warm greeting. "Hello my beautiful baby. Sorry I missed dinner." Walking over to sit on the end of his bed, her smile actually reaching her eyes just at the sight of him. "That's okay, but nanna made me eat sweetcorn," he pulled a blegh face and shuffled out his covers to envelope his arms around her. An action that had her eyes stinging with a fresh set of tears as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. "I didn't tell her sweetcorn is on the no no list now." Chuckling, she kisses at the top of his head, and holds him tight, finding a warm comfort that only he could ever really provide. It almost made her unwilling to tuck him back in, but she did, somehow resisting the urge to just lay down with him. "Mommy?" Innocent eyes peer up at her as she strokes his hair. "Are you sad?"

The question made her heart hurt, she never wanted to be sad in front of him but she should have known, he was always very perceptive. "I'm a little bit sad, yeah. Missing your Uncle Jayden a lot today." It wasn't a lie, and she obviously wasn't going to tell her four-year-old child about her breakup. "It's okay to be sad sometimes, as long as you know how to make yourself happy again, and I do, so don't worry." Nodding, she wasn't sure that part was quite true, not as things stood. "How do you do that?" He asks, making her laugh softly. "Well, I just look at you and all that sadness goes away. You know what I always tell you, I'm the luckiest mommy in the world to have a baby as kind and loving as you. But it's late, so close your eyes and dream nice dreams. I love you." Leaning forward to kiss his head, she waits for him to say it back and gently leaves the room, door ajar just how he liked it.

As soon as he was out of sight, she has her hands pressed over her mouth, silencing the hiccup and quickly making her way to her room. Washing up and getting into her pj's, she's surprised when she sees her mom still here, waiting for her on the sofa. "Now that your baby is settled, let me settle mine..." Patting a hand on the sofa, Alara looks between her and the spot, wary, almost timid. She didn't want to break, but damn, it didn't matter how old she got, a mother's influence was always the instinctive way to run. And so, she grabs a blanket and walks over, settling herself closely by her side, head on her shoulder and arm around her front, allowing her mother to just be there and hold her.

"Jayden was never wrong about this, can't beat one of your hugs." Smiling as she sits up, she doesn't bother to hide the sad defeat in her eyes, instead, she just shrugs. "Nate and I are done. He'd rather spiral than lean on me. I tried, but... It's pretty impossible to fight for someone who doesn't want to be fought for." The corners of her eyes crease as she tries to say it with a calm tone. As soon as she hears her mom say she's sorry, she shakes her head, trying to tell her she didn't really have anything else to say, except maybe... "You know what the worst part is? I never forgot how crap this feels, I broke my own promise never to put myself back in a position where I can be hurt because... I managed to convince myself that this time, it wouldn't end with tears."

And in a gesture to her own, she scoffs a sad half-laugh and tries to swallow the lump in her throat. She appreciates that her mom gives her the time to talk without interrupting, the squeeze on her arm is comforting enough without making her feel crowded. "Maybe I'm just not meant to be in a relationship. Some people aren't, and that's fine. I was happy by myself, I can be that way again." Nodding, "Yeah. It's fine. I'm- I'll be fine." Maybe if she said it enough, she would actually start to believe it. "Alara..." That soft tone of a concerned mother had her sucking in a breath as she shakes her head. "Don't. Please, just don't. I don't need you to say anything." She practically insists, misty brown eyes lifting up to hers only to close with a shaky sigh. "Okay, sweetie. I won't. But you should go get me some pajamas because I'll be staying here tonight." Her mom says, lifting a hand up to Alara's cheek, hoping that she wouldn't protest. Truthfully, she didn't have the energy, and not being alone sounded far better. "Thank you."

[dilfwaynes]

hi!! can i request a hc of the batfam reaction of their eastasian!reader gf  experiencing racism? thank you <33

just a reminder if you took place in any involvement of asian hate block me rn bitch :)

a/n: i hope you enjoyed this anon, i tried to make it accurate without stepping over any boundaries since im not asian myself. if anyone finds any sort of this offensive pls dm me !!

warning ; racism, batfam beating hoes, mention of blood

parings : bruce wayne x asian!reader, jason tood x asian!reader, dick grayson x asian!reader, stephanie brown x asian!reader, tim drake x asian!reader, damian wayne x asian!reader

BRUCE WAYNE:

it’ll honestly take a minute for bruce to realize what happened

when first entering the store he took notice of the man glaring but brushed it off thinking it was directed towards him as bruce wayne

you however didnt really pay attention to the dirty looks being thrown at you

with bruce excusing himself to the restroom and makes a promise of a quick return, you wander around the area by yourself

it was all fine until a man approaches you, giving a fast glance at him before turning away. there was definitely something up with him

“you don’t belong here”

your head shot up at his words, looking around you to make sure he was talking to you

“excuse me?” you lift an eyebrow at him, knowing what he was hinting at

“you fucking heard me, you don’t belong here. go back to your country.”

you inch away as he steps closer,”you better back the fuck away..”

he simply gives a smug face only coming closer,”or what?” you tighten your jaw when he loosely lets out a slur, your fists clenched.

“or i dislocate your arm.”bruce’s voice rings out, deep in anger as his eyes flicker to you and scanning to see if you were ok physically.

the ugly bitch’s face pales when he realizes who’s your boyfriend. without hesitation bruce yanks him away from you, slamming him to the wall

demanding for a first and last name,  squeezing his neck when the guy stays quiet

shaking he gives in and tells, flinching when bruce slams him against the wall one last time before dropping him

“i guaranteed whatever poor status you do contain i’ll tear it completely, say goodbye to your job.” he grabs for your hand and brings you into him as you both walk away.

“i’m sorry i shouldn’t have left you alone, my fault,”he presses a kiss to your temple.”and please don’t think any worth of that garbage’s words.”

you shake your head,”he was just some lowlife, not worth thinking about.” you reply leaning into him.

he looked at you and could tell no matter what those words still hurt somewhat and it angered him to no end

no one deserved to hear that disgusting shit, especially not his girlfriend.

his eyes hardens but doesn’t push further to make you anymore uncomfortable than you probably already are

giving another kiss to the side of your head he makes a quiet promise to himself not to leave you alone anymore in public with disgusting people like that around

jason todd:

as soon as the slur leaves the guy’s lips jason’s fist collides to his jaw, no doubt   shattering it

you and jason were grabbing lunch at some restaurant slash bar since it was the first time in a few days jason was free

everything was okay until you got up to go to the bathroom and some guy bumped into you

jason watched with hardening eyes as you apologize instead of the guy who slammed into you

“watch where the fuck you’re going at.”

you fall shock at the word, staying in place

while jason is on his feet in no time, swinging to the asshole’s face

screams were heard as well as the sound of bones breaking from his fist impact, the guy stumbling to the floor

“you racist fucking prick that’s my girlfriend you ugly fuck,”lifting him by his shirt he grabs his face and turns him to you.”apologize to her before i break your fucking face.”

he quickly rambles apologizes, crying in fear or pain. most likely a mix of both

jaaon lets him go and gives him another punch, this time to the nose. finding satisfaction at the pool of blood now seeping out

jason grabs your hand and starts to lead you outside,”let’s go eat somewhere else and forget about this shithole.”

you barely had time to give a reaction to anything as everything happened so fast

“hey look at me, don’t listen to that worthless fuck and his fucked up mindset. i dont know what to say to comfort you since i never experienced anything like this.” he stops at the car, placing his hands onto your shoulders

you nod sighing lightly, you only wanted a simple lunch with your boyfriend but instead got hate crime for simply  breathing.

“it’s nothing i haven’t gone through before,”he shakes his head blue eyes filling up with rage.

“no one’s gonna be doing that anymore, or at least getting away with it while i’m around

DICK GRAYSON:

he was completely taken by surmise at the slur being thrown at you, as well as the fault of you being the root of the covid 19

but before he had any time to react you were already on your feet glaring,”the fuck you just called me you piece shit.”

before he could reply you already kneed him and punched him between the eyes, dick laughing at the cries of pain

“you want me to take over or you wanna handle it babe?”

even how badly he wanted to beat the shit out of the pos the choice was yours

you denied and wanted to handle this on your own

but everytime the guy tried to get up dick would just shake his head and tell him to stay down, or simply push him back down

eventually if you start going too far richards would pull you away and tell you hes not worth it

he understands your anger but he doesn’t want you to past a line you won’t recover from bc of some worthless grime

“c’mon, he’s not worth anymore of our time. lets go eat pizza.”

DAMIAN WAYNE:

swing first talk later

he’ll just look at guy for a few seconds with a blank face

then he’s literally knocking them out

will probably kick him into the wall or ground

u dont know if you wanna pull him away because you already the tabloids, or if you wanna let him continue to beating the guy

damian probably wouldn’t realize how much he beat the guy to a pulp until you’re tugging him away

nudging his neck with to your nose to try and calm him down

he’ll end the fight with spitting on him tbh

your face reddens with anger when your eyes met the racist bitch, enjoying the view of his blood on the floor

“racist piece of shit,” he hisses before finally turning his back brow still frowning with anger

unlike the others (mentioned) he also knows and experienced racism and understands your point view way more

and know bow to comfort you better tbh

afterwards he’ll talk to you and comfort you, as well as opening up about his racist encounters, as well as his mothers.

if you’re still upset about what happened some hours later he 100% offers to beat up the guy again

you laugh it off cos hes serious about doing detective work, finding the guy and beating him to a pulp

you thank him but deny his offer and settle to confiding into him and just telling him how your feelings

STEPHANIE BROWN:

“are you fucking serious right now bitch?”

steph deadpans staring at the girl who called you the slur with ease, going on about how you were the cause of corona and to go back to your country

shocked at the words, hearing all of this before but it still doesn’t fail everytime you hear them

turning to you and seeing the hurt on your face from the word, she quickly turns to seeing red

without a second thought she grabs the collar of the woman’s shirt

“you’re gonna fucking apologize to my girlfriend right now or i’m gonna slam your face into the floor and break it

you stay still, pleased at watching the girl shake in fear under steph as she chokes out a mesh of a shit rushed apologizes

stephanie throws her down to the ground after her third apologize

“are you okay?” she knew you weren’t but asking the question would lead into the stage of comforting you

you nod but go on to tell her that this isn’t the first or last time this will happen, but it still never fails to shock you

she frowns at your experiences and doesn’t quite know what to do to help since she never went thru anything like that

she offers to take you to your favorite restaurant and end the day in wayne manor watching whatever you wanted

smiling when you accept, pulling you in her and pressing a kiss on-top of your head

“dont worry i’ll beat any jackass that pulls any racist shit.”

TIM DRAKE:

i think he’ll be the less  violent one out of everyone

he would honestly be so disgusted and gross out at humanity and how the woman thinks shes superior just because she’s white

if it was a guy saying what was said, then he would probably hit them ngl

but he takes the higher road with the woman, belittling and ending her with his vocabulary

and you’re pretty sure that his words hurt her more than an actual punch would 

you laugh when he compares her built to a buffalo

he then goes on to a more education lean, explaining how skin tone has nothing to do with a person, and she should adapt to modern times and stop being a racist cunt

after he ends it he goes on to find out who she is and email/call her workplace to inform what kind of employee they have

probably also goes on to make sure she wont be hired anywhere else

comforts you alot and and will get you anything you want

prob gets you both milkshakes as you vent to him about today and other racist things said to you

hates how you have to go thru any of this for simply existing

the  incident opens his eyes and he starts talking to bruce about opening a charity for ‘stop asian hate’

would shy away from the press and say you both came up with the fund

u’ll dismiss that rq and tell everyone it was all tim’s idea

all the money goes people got assaulted and paying for any hospital bills or anything needed

[jamiedc-they-them]

One way ticket (Platonic)

Requested Imagine: An argument with your parents sends you to your best friend, and on a journey of self discovery. 

The door to your house swung open, and a tired you walked in through it. You closed the door, your back resting against it as you closed your eyes. Today had been a hard day, lots of studying and deadlines.

However, part of the weariness now came from being at home. It was something you weren’t exactly thrilled by.

 “Evening, dear.” Your mother called from the kitchen, your step father barely paying you any attention.

 “Hi, mum.” You greeted in return. She gave you a smile. If it was your old dad, he would’ve said something.

 But, they just had to fall out, didn’t they.

 In your room, filled with posters of films and large posters of book covers and your favourite characters, you sunk into your bed, back hitting it first and you exhaled. For once, a moment of peace.

 Your phone vibrated, and your reached for it. You saw the caller ID, and smiled.

 “Dickhead.” She greeted in her usual manner. You could practically hear the smile on the other end.

 “Maeve.” You weren’t as creative with the nicknames, but she didn’t care.

 “Tough day?” She asked, there was some softer part to her tone there.

 You let out a breath, “In a way.” Was your cryptic answer.

 It wasn’t, however, cryptic to her, “Parents again?”

 “They haven’t done anything yet.”

 “That ‘yet’ is the concerning part, Y/N,” As she spoke, you heard the door to her home unlock. She was home too, “If they’re giving you any trouble, you call me, ok? Spend the night at mine. Nothing wrong with taking a break. Or just walking away” She assured you as you heard her keys hit the counter.

 You always were a bit envious of your best friend, how carefree she was. If only your father didn’t cheat, maybe the month long that turned into a forever long break wouldn’t have happened.

 “Yeah, he was a bit of a prick for doing that, wasn’t he?” Maeve’s voice was softer still when she spoke. Seemed you said some parts of that out loud.

 You paused, hearing call up to you from downstairs, “That’s dinner. I’ll call you later.”

 There was silence, she must’ve nodded and then remembered she was on the phone, “Yeah, sure thing.”

“So, son, how was school?” Internally, you cringed at the misgender, but didn’t correct your father. More importantly, neither did your mother. They had made their voices known on that want of yours, to go by something else, something they called a “none entity.”

 “Good, yeah, thanks.” You answered, going back to your food.

 “That it?” He asked, making you look up at him.

 “Is what it?” It wasn’t meant to be a challenge.

 He took it as one, though, staring you down as he spoke, “Was school just, ‘good’?”

 “Yeah, I mean nothing really happened, mum can attest to that.” You answered, trying to be careful with your word choice. Your father’s choice of words explaining his action was what caused the break.

 He looked to his wife, and she nodded, confirming it.

 “You been hanging around with your friends?” You nodded, “They still…preferring to go by the plurals?” Again, you nodded, “Youth of today, doomed, I swear.”

 “Because you don’t like a pronouns?” Ok, you shouldn’t have said that, and you immediately regretted it right after as there was a pause. It was sharp, and it was a direct pause.

 Your father stopped eating and looked to you, “Excuse me?”

 “I’m sorry, I –” You started to apologise. But you knew you had crossed a line.

 You were in your room the next moment, having ran up there yourself to escape your fathers growing wrath.

 You found your phone, dialling the number you needed instantly, “Maeve – I… I don’t –“

 “What’s happened? Are you safe?” Was the first thing your friend asked, concern leaking through the phone.

 “I don’t – I…I think Mum’s calming him down. But--”

 “You know the bridge?” You nodded, and Maeve seemed to know that you had nodded, “Meet me there.”

 “What?”

 “Meet me there.”

 “Can…can I stay the night?” You asked. You heard her door open and close, and her breathing became more laboured as she walked.

 “Of course you can.” She answered.

 “Ok, bridge, right?”

 “Bridge.”

“Ok, see you there.”

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

You had nothing with you, just yourself. You didn’t even have a jacket. You were still in your school clothes, but the night was cold.

 Maeve was there, just as she said she would be. When you saw her, she was smoking, but eyes were scanning the water.

 She heard you approaching, and turned to you. Her eyes softened at your figure. You probably looked lonely, and you looked anxious. You were.

 She approached you when you stopped, bringing your timid figure into a hug. She didn’t say anything, she just held you.

 You appreciated it massively, how she didn’t say anything, just hugged you.

 It lasted a few seconds, but when she released you, you were teary eyed. You were scared, but you weren’t alone. You were scared still.

 She gave you a sympathetic smile, “Let’s go home.” She said, arm looping into yours and bringing you with her to her home. Yours was behind you, not too far away.

 Unlocking the door, she opened it up and ushered you in, closing the door behind the door and flicking on the light and taking off her jacket.

 “Do you want something to eat?” She seemed to just know without ever being told the circumstance you were in. It made you feel for your friend, wondering how she was able to just know what you had gone through.

 She grabbed a spare plate, filling it with the Chinese food she had picked up on the way home.

Together, you both sat on the couch, eating in silence. She didn’t seem to mind, but she did curl up, feet touching your own.

 “Thank you,” She looked to you at your words, “For this, I mean. Thank you.”

 She smiled, “Anytime. I know what it’s like to have shitty parents.” She said, despite the attempt of humour, you detected the sadness that was there.

 “Sorry.”

 She shook her head, “You have nothing to be sorry for.” She told you. You both went back to eating, but she did grab a blanket for you both.

 When you were done, you just started venting. You didn’t even mean to, it just all started to spill out. The whole time, she did not speak, she only let you talk and vent and rage about it all.

 There were tears, your own tears as you spoke. Maeve passed you a new tissue every so often as you spoke.

 “I’m sorry, Y/N. I really am. You can stay here as long as you –”

 “It’ll just be for tonight, I’ll go back tomorrow.” She looked like she wanted to say something, but nodded in granting and respecting your wish.

 “You can have the bed.” She said, and your eyes met her’s in an instant.

 “No, Maeve –”

 She held up a hand to stop you, “I’m not arguing about this, Y/N. I don’t mind you going back tomorrow, but if you’re staying, then you take the bed.”

 “…Why?”

 She rolled her eyes, “Because I know how to be comfy on that sofa. Besides, can’t have my best mate here and have them be uncomfortable, can I?”

 You resigned yourself to your fate, going to the bedroom, but not before you both shared another hug.

 As you went to bed, you saw a piece of paper on the floor. Picking it up, it was a form to be a guardian, but the name was blank as to who it was. So, you just left it.

 You woke up in your school clothes, you hadn’t exactly had time to change. But ‘school clothes’ you were wearing a smarter shirt than usual and some jeans.

 Maeve entered your room, toothbrush in her mouth, “Morning.” She said, even if it wasn’t as clear as it could’ve been, what with the toothbrush and all.

 “Morning.” You said in return, getting out of bed.

 She spat into the sink, before leaning against the doorway, “You can borrow some of my clothes. I’ll make sure they aren’t too embarrassing.” She said, lightly, before going to the drawer to find just that.

 “Might as well go out, right?” You joked, referencing to the opinion your parents had on your identity.

 She laughed, “If you’re up for it.”

 “Mum will say what she says, but I can’t let her define me, try and make her understand it.”

 Maeve just nodded, but there was some conflict there.

 Your mother worked at school, she was a science teacher – it was where her view on your identity came from.

 You had her today on the schedule, you liked science enough, but you knew this would be an…awkward session.

 Maeve had walked with you. She had called Aimee and told her she would be with you today, and the other woman understood, giving you her love. So, arm looped in yours, Maeve and you entered school.

 “First period, you ready?” She asked, putting her head on your shoulder for a moment as you continued going down the hallway to the lesson. You ignored the looks from people in the hallway. Otis had his mother to contend with, now so did you.

 “As I can be.” You answered honestly. As you got the doorway, she gave you a wink, before she went in first. After a few moments, so did you.

 It was to make your mother think anything other than the fact that you had gone to Maeve for help.

 As you went to your seat, you felt your mother’s eyes on you the whole way. When she went back to teaching, you saw that she had a slight darkness under her eyes. She had stayed up. A feeling stirred in your stomach. However, you went back to looking at the lesson.

 You did pay attention, just not all the time. Sometimes, you’d find yourself writing notes or just looking them up yourself in the textbook, just to avoid looking at your mothers gaze.

 However, as the bell rang, you were one of the last to leave. The other, was Maeve. She sat on the desk, legs swinging as she looked between yourself and your mum.

 She never hated your mum, or your dad. They had their flaws, but it was mainly their apathy to who you wanted to be that pissed her off.

 Still, she didn’t voice it, which was something that was unusual for her.

 Your mother looked up at you as you put a book on her desk. You looked nervous, eyes darting a little, but you managed to get the words out, even throwing a bit of humour in with your tone.

 “Parlay?” Behind you, once she approached, Maeve smiled a bit, before it turned a little bit – just a little – more threatening to your mother, a warning.

 As stated before, she didn’t hate your mum, just hated the discomfort it caused you.

 “He’s not angry, not now anyway. If anything, a little impressed.” Your mother said. The little amount of praise, despite it being so little, stirred something within you.

 Maeve saw how your shoulders relaxed a little. How you seemed to almost not expect it, but be deeply appreciative of it at the same time. She made a mental note, and her smile became more sympathetic.

 “Talk about it at dinner?” You asked, your mother nodded.

 “Talk about it at dinner,” She said, standing up and packing her own bag to leave for the teachers lounge, “And I can finally meet this girlfriend of yours.” You sighed, seemed you wouldn’t be able to fully escape their ideas yet.

 As she left, you turned to Maeve with your eyebrows up, but a tired expression on your face.

 “Dinner?” She asked, light smile on your face.

You laughed, putting your hands to your face before moving them around and interlocking them at the back of your head, you smiled at your friend, “Dinner.” You confirmed.

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

 You had gone back to Maeve’s place without her. She had something to do with the clinic, which you understood and so she gave you her keys, telling you only to leave the door unlocked for her.

 So, it was just you, alone in the home. You actually looked around it now, seeing the little things, like how the cups were stacked neatly, how the plates had been washed. She took care of this place, she cared for it. It was a shithole, but she stayed and looked after it.

 If she stayed and managed to make this place work, maybe you had hope with your parents just yet.

 Your thoughts went back to them, your parents. Maybe you had been too hasty, maybe they’d just accept you back with open arms. Maybe, for once, they’d be sorry. You had stood up to your father, that was new.

 Maybe you’d still have a place to go.

 The door opened, and Maeve entered, she tossed her bag onto the sofa and took her jacket off, giving you a smile as she saw you getting a drink.

 “Sorry I took so long, Otis held me up.” She said, gently moving you aside and doing the same – getting a drink – for herself.

 “It’s alright, he’s a good guy but can…I don’t know.” You conceded, not really knowing how to explain your other friend – a mutual one of yours.

 “Much?” She filled, you nodded.

 “Please don’t make a scene tonight.” Your friend took a sip of her water and looked at you, almost a little taken aback by your words. You further explained, “I need to go well, Maeve, please. I can’t have it turn into another row. I can’t have another uncomfortable breakfast, again.”

 Maeve stopped you, “Wait, ‘again’? Your staying?!” She couldn’t stop the surprise that one.

 You cocked your head, “Course I am. Why wouldn’t I? They’re my parents –”

 “Not good ones.” She pointed out.

 “They aren’t the worst.”

 Again, she couldn’t help herself, “They aren’t exactly the best either,” She sighed, putting her glass down and approaching you, putting her hands on your shoulders, before using one hand to cup your chin and turn it up to face her, “You are so much better without them, Y/N. They don’t accept you for who you are. I’m sure in some way they love you, just like my mum did. But, you know what I did.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement, you did know what she had done.

 Part of you resented her for having the strength to do it. Still, you insisted, “I can’t just drop them like that, Maeve…How would I fund school? What about rent and –”

 “We’d figure it out –”

 Now it was you stopping her, or more so talking over her at her first word, “’We’?”

 She creased her eyebrows, “Yeah, ‘we’, you think I’d just leave you if you did it?” She almost seemed hurt at the accusation she was now accusing you of.

 “I just – I don’t think I can do that. I don’t even know how.” You confessed, voice sounding tired.

 “I do, I know how,” Maeve assured as she nodded a few times, “It’s called ‘emancipation’.”

 As she went to explain, the alarm on your phone went off. Looking at it, you saw it was a half hour reminder to get to your house for the dinner.

 “Just…please don’t mess this up for me…please.” Was all you asked of your best friend.

 Her eyes softened at the pain, the loss, and the fear that laid within them. She had more on her mind, more she wanted to say, you could see that clear as day. Still, she nodded, and said nothing.

 You stood outside your door with your best friend by your side. You had walked together in silence, both trying to prepare as much as you could for this event. The main thing you had said to the other being that you looked nice. You both did, you in your normal clothes, Maeve in a dress. She had even redone her makeup.

 You saw that hurt in her eye hadn’t fully left, but there was an almost apathetic look now. She was here to help you, not to appease your parents who she had plenty to say on.

 You knocked, the door opening and your father stood there in smart, but causal wear. Seemed he’d put some effort into it too. Out of the pair, your mother had the better job, but it didn’t matter. Job meant nothing to how you were as a person.

 He didn’t say anything, he only moved aside as a silent beckoning to enter. You both did so.

 Maeve took time to look around. She didn’t comment, just looked around. She then met your eyes, a bit of life returning and you saw them soften a little, she raised her eyebrows; “Fancy.” Her gaze seemed to communicate to you.

 You had no idea if she meant it or not, so you just smiled a thin one, trying not to show your nerves. Maeve, however, was good at reading people. So, as you went to the table in silence, she held your hand to provide some comfort.

 However, as you both sat at the table, you saw your mother had seen the hand holding in a different light. Of course she did.

 You saw her have a look on her eyes, almost a proud look. You felt Maeve tighten her hold on your hand, trying to supress a sense of frustration. It did pain you a little, but you tried not to show it. This was redemption with your parents, not a further regress.

 Still, she didn’t say anything, she remembered the promise she made. And Maeve Wiley was not one to break a promise…to the best of her ability.

 “So, you’re the mysterious Maeve we’ve been hearing all about?” Your mother asked as your father put food on the table. No, the irony was not lost on you.

 Maeve looked to you, a silent dialogue going between you two. However, your communication was clear, “I’ve never mention you to them.” She knew it wasn’t in a mean way, just wanted confirmation.

 She nodded, “Yeah, that’s me.” She said, bullshit smile on her face. The smile, however, eased your mother – hell, even doing the same to your father, for once he smiled and it was genuine.

 You envied it. But, as you put your hands on the table, Maeve held one. To your parents, it meant the opposite to what it actually was, she gave your hand a squeeze.

 “One step closer to being a man, my lad.” Your mother hadn’t been lying when she told you your father was proud. Christ.

 You looked at your father with the same distaste you always had for him, but now it was less easy to mask.

 So far, no food had been touched by anyone other than your mother.

 “See? Even got the look.” He seemed to celebrate your hatred. Not revel in it, just celebrate it.

 “’The look’?” You parroted back to him in a questioning manner.

 “Yeah, every man needs –”

 “Y/N doesn’t identify as a man, though.” Maeve spoke up. You moved your hands down to your side, keeping your eyes only on your best friend. You shook your head, begging her not to.

 She, however, only kept her eyes on your father, a challenging and daring look in her eyes, “Y/N is a they –”

 “Not this bollocks again. He got you doing it now, too.” Your father’s tone was filled with frustration.

 “Yeah, I guess they have, haven’t they?” Her eyes squinted a bit, she seemed to be daring for him to try it.

 “Let me guess, you two haven’t shagged either?” He sounded tired. Done.

 Wasn’t quite the bite Maeve was looking for, but she still took it, “Y/N doesn’t feel that way about anyone. They don’t won’t a partner in that way, and that’s just fine.”

 “It’s sick,” Your father looked to your mother, “Isn’t that right, honey?”

 She seemed to just be enjoying her food, but when your father asked, she hesitated. There were a few look in her eyes, fear wasn’t one of them, but shame was as she spoke, “Yes.” Her voice was monotone.

 “I think it’s time you leave.” Your father said, seemingly taking back control.

 However, Maeve stayed put, “Not without Y/N.” She was firm in that.

 “Get out, now, or I will call the police,” He then looked to you, “Is that why you brought her, to get it all out in the open these beliefs you have about yourself?” His tone was cold.

 “N-No.” You managed to stutter out.

 “If you lay one hand on them –”

 “Him, and I won’t. I’d never hit my boy, I just need it to get through to him that he can’t think the way he does.”

 “So, verbal then?”

 “If you want to be a snowflake, then yes, verbal.” He seemingly had no problem with saying that.

 So, Maeve stood up, and she gave you a pat on the shoulder and an apologetic look. Then, with a click of the door, she was gone.

 Silence permeated the room, and now your father had his hands on the table and his chin resting on them.

 “I don’t want you seeing her again.” Your father said, “Go to your room, I’ll bring some food up in a few minutes.”

 You didn’t say anything, only getting up from the table, “Phone.” Your father said. You brought the item out of your pocket and gave it to him, before going upstairs.

 You laid on your bed, closing your eyes and letting out a sigh. Could’ve gone better, but it definitely could’ve gone worse.

 You heard a knock at your door. You gave yourself a moment to try to get rid of the tears that were pooling in your eyes and told whoever was there to come in.

 It was your father, who was carrying a tray with a plate of food on. He placed it on the floor, before he stood at the door.

 “You know I just want what’s best for you, right?”

 It was bollocks, but you nodded, “It’s just…there are two ways of being. I’d rather you be Trans than be…this.” Harsh, but it was more honest, more controlled.

 Again, you nodded. You hated the words he said, but you nodded.

 “We’ll talk again, tomorrow.” He then left, closing the door more softly this time.

 You picked up the tray, apathetic look on your face as you ate the food. It wasn’t too bad, to be honest.

 This was your life, one filled with pain, but two parents that gave you a roof over your head.

 You heard a knock at your window, turning, you saw the last person you expected to see. It was the face of someone else who gave you a roof over your head.

 She waved to you. You put your empty plate down and looked to the door. He never did say you couldn’t leave. Then again, he also said you couldn’t be how you felt inside. So, you know.

 Quietly, you made your way to the window, opening it with her help. Neither of you spoke, but she didn’t need to, she only offered you a hand – and a silent question along with it.

 You looked to the door one more time, one that – outside of it – held only misery.

 You took the hand that was offered.

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

She held your hand the whole way home, leading the way. However, this time you worked with – an admittedly – shaky confidence.

 She opened the door, going to her bed room to get her dress off. You, meanwhile, got a glass of water and sat down. You knew your dad still had your phone, but that was ok.

 Maeve re-entered, now with pyjamas on, “What’s on your mind?” She asked, seeing a look on your face that told her you had a plan.

 “Mum’s gonna be at school tomorrow. But, I’ve made my choice, I’m done with them. We just need to do that…what’d you call it, ‘emancipation?’”

 Maeve nodded, “Ok, we’ll need some papers for the court. Plus, I have this,” At ‘this’ Maeve held up her phone and hit ‘play’ it was a recording of the meal.

 It was proof.

 “Ok, you got my back?” You asked.

 “Always.” She swore.

 So, off to school you went to execute your plan. You walked to the school grounds, talking and – for once, in your case – being happy and having a sense of agency.

 You had made your request to the court and made some calls to friends, now you just had to hope your parents wouldn’t try and stop it.

 “Otis and everyone else agreed? Just like that?” You asked, only having spoken to Eric while Maeve called everyone else.

 “A noble cause worth fighting for.” She said with a smile, parroting your own one.

 You believed those words, and you believed in your own course too, you believed in your own freedom.

 Going to science, you saw your other friends now sat there, awaiting you. It started out as normal, just with you in a more positive beat.

 That was, until the bell rang and your mother asked you to stay behind. Without having to ask, your other friend stayed as well.

 “So, you’re applying for emancipation?” She asked, tone flat.

 “That’s right.” You answered, sure of your choice.

 “You know we’ll fight it, right? There’s no way you can take care of yourself out there. You can barely handle us. Besides, who else is going to take care of you?”

 You felt a presence next to you, it was Maeve. However, you felt the others behind you.

 “They will.” You said, standing strong, “And, yes, it’ll cost us, but we’ll fight it. Because it’s worth it. You were toxic to me, mum. And, I think I deserve better.”

 With that, you and your new family walked out.

  It had been a long battle, one filled with ups and downs, but the others stood by you, chipping in however they could.

 Plus, Maeve found herself with a new sibling, so that was something. It felt nice, to be validated, to have your pronouns respected and your thoughts taken on board.

 As you returned home from school one day, Maeve had left a bit earlier. You opened the door, going in and throwing your bag to the floor and laying on the couch, “Good day?” She asked, stirring the coffee she had made.

 You looked to her with a smile, “Yeah, good day.” You confirmed.

[korissideblog]

ok! so! this fic was getting a bit long for my tastes, so i decided to split it into 2 parts!

even though they don't show up, i'll be mentioning two lovely characters in this fic, Haru from the amazing @compoundhero and Jetsam from the outstanding @jetsam-kisa <3

and without further ado! here's part 1/2 of-

The Hedonist

“Welcome back.” Aito walked into the library, a dimly lit room draped in darker reds, softly lit by simple reading lamps.

“Where is the rest of the team?” he asked, looking to the only filled seat in the entire room, a plush settee with a woman in an overly large white mink coat lying across it.

“I sent them away. We do our best thinking when no one else is bothering us- isn’t that what you said?” the woman offered, sitting up a bit to look at Aito more clearly. “You play dumb, but I know there’s more going on up there. Am I wrong?” she asked, only to be answered with silence as Aito sat down in an armchair nearby.

“Will you ever tell me your name, Checkmate? I’ve told you mine.” Yua Sakura said, truthfully. “I think it’s only fair.”

“I’m a man of my word, Sakura san.” Aito responded calmly, settling into the chair and accepting the tablet Sakura passed to him. “I’ll tell you my name on my deathbed- only so you know what to put on the gravestone.” he chuckled, opening the tablet to find the plans already open.

Sakura rolled her eyes but dropped it quickly. This wasn’t the first time she’s asked for the man’s real name, and it won’t be the last. “I’ve already secured the bank’s blueprints. Consider our entrance my responsibility. If we’re in the vault, how would you plan our escape?” she asked, clearly still testing the newest recruit of their team, despite the fact that he’s been a full fledged member for almost a year now.

Aito looked over the plans with a critical eye, swiping marks onto the blueprint till she was satisfied, and held it up to present her idea. “The vents. If you can remove the screws while the rest of the team fills the bags, we could escape rather quickly.” Aito gestured to the woman’s hands, referencing her quirk.

And what an interesting quirk Sakura had. She had a form of telepathy, but the largest thing she could lift was a pencil. What really gave the woman’s quirk it’s bite, though, was the smallest thing she could lift. Her quirk let her quickly detach and lift tiny molecules, all at once. Aito once watched her deteriorate a man's fingernails in only the span of a handshake- and it was the most terrifying thing Aito’s ever seen.

“Interesting… Why the vents?” she asked, looking over the tablet carefully.

“Because-” Aito said, pointing to a shaded line going through the walls of the bank. “This is a gas line. If we set off even the smallest explosion…” Aito imitated a large explosion, which made Sakura smile wickedly.

“Oh Checkmate,” she giggled, clapping her hands together in glee. “Oh I just knew you would have the perfect idea! And they say blondes are dumb!” Aito’s jaw dropped in annoyance, touching her bleached hair in defensiveness. “Now now, don’t make that face, pet.” she laughed, waving off Aito with a flick of her wrist. “You know I jest. I’d never question a mind like yours, why, people like us- we just have to stick together.”

“People like us?” Aito questioned, setting the tablet down onto a nearby end table.

“Yes, People like us- us with quirks… predisposed for villany.” Sakura hummed, slumping further into her seat comfortably. “I mean let’s be honest with ourselves, once we’d gotten our quirks, we both must have known where we would end up. And it’s hardly our fault honestly- I mean how else would we have made use of our abilities?”

“I believe my quirk to be neutral.” Aito shrugged, mirroring Sakura’s comfort by souching into her armchair- and quietly wishing he had put on something with a bit more fabric. His usual crop top and biker shorts were of little comfort to him in the colder parts of the hideaway. “I really could have been anything with a quirk like mine. Hell, I could have even been a hero.” Aito quickly decided that sitting around wouldn’t keep him warm, and swung himself out of his seat to look over the books that surrounded them, still staying close enough to speak to Sakura.

“You don’t really believe all that, do you?” Sakura asked, her eyes following Aito like a panther watching its prey. Predatory, yet patient. She watched as Aito carefully touched the spine of nearly every book on a shelf, not answering, but still listening. “Why, maybe I could have had a chance but… your quirk in particular? Checkmate, what else could you have done except for villainy? I mean, I’d even go so far as to call your gift inherently evil.” and that… that seemed to still him.

Aito no longer pretended not to hear, her hand shaking minutely before she rested it onto the shelf and looked over his shoulder to Sakura. He took a book from the shelf and opened it randomly, wandering behind the settee as she looked over the text. It was some sort of book of mythology, and Aito’s fingers brushed over a small drawing of a little girl with a fox tail. She noticed Sakura reaching for her, but flinched away before her hand met his waist. One of the pros to wearing such little clothing was that most people didn’t want to reach for Aito, in fear of touching his skin. The awkwardness of human contact being the only thing that protected Aito from this villain’s grasp.

And Aito was sure that if she ever were to touch him, he would scream. And kick. And bite.

“Sakura san? Why did you become a villain?”

Sakura chuckled, pleased to have finally caught her partner’s attention. “I’ve already said it. I had little other choice, given my abilities.” she shrugged, looking up at Aito with a smile, and carefully laying a hand onto the book, their fingers brushing together softly. “And you, pet?” she asked softly

Aito’s eyes looked away from Sakura and to a nearby window, a small sliver of the starry night slipping between the thick velvet curtains, her eyelashes fluttering minutely as she thought.

“It was my love of strawberry ice cream.”

Sakura laughed, but Aito’s serious face gave her pause, calming herself before letting her partner continue. “Apologies, Checkmate, please continue.” Aito nodded, and flipped lazily through the book’s pages as she spoke.

“When I was a child, my mother would sometimes bring me to work with her. If I behaved myself, she would then take me for ice cream.” Aito started again, seemingly more involved in the book she wasn’t reading than the conversation he didn’t want to be having. “One time they were out of chocolate, so we got strawberry instead. I soon fell in love with the flavor, and got it every time we went.” Aito fought the smile that tried to crack her serious expression, but a ghost of it remained. “High school was hard on me. I was home schooled, and my high school had on campus boarding. Up to that point the longest I’ve spent away from my mother were the few hours when she would sleep, and now I had to spend an entire school year with only visits on the weekend.” Aito then snapped the book close, almost catching Sakura’s fingers between the pages. Aito barely blinked in apology. “I was homesick, and smuggled a bucket of strawberry ice cream into my dorm room. I ate the entire thing, and became sick soon after.” She then tossed the book into Sakura’s lap, not wishing to even touch it now that it had lost his interest. “I had to miss class for a day, and missed very important notes. After that I failed an important test, and my teacher started to worry for me. He asked another-more advanced-student to help me with my work, and we became close friends soon after.”

“What was their name?” Sakura asked, taking the book in her hands.

Aito was silent for a moment. “I called him big cat.” she finally responded, vaguely. Taking her turn to watch as Sakura opened the book. “After him, my other classmates seemed much more approachable.”

“This story isn’t about big cat, is it now?” Sakura hummed, looking from the book’s yellowed pages up to Aito, who was focused on the book with a deadly stare.

“No. it isn’t.”

“Who then, pet?”

Aito paused again, as if trying to find a way to describe her memories from her youth.

“He was a very nervous boy.” Aito started, her eyes fluttering shut as he tried to remember his friend as vividly as possible. “He’d be surrounded by clouds of this vicious black smog- his quirk, he would always produce the foulest smoke wherever he went.”

“You were irritated by him?” Sakura offered.

“No, never.” Aito responded quickly. “I had a habit of taking in the nervous ones. He wasn’t the first, and he wouldn’t be the last.”

“Oh, then I apologize for interrupting.” Sakura chuckled, patting Aito’s arm, which Aito gently pulled out of her grasp. “What drew you to him in the first place?”

Aito sighed, cursing his terrible memory as he tried to recall. “When not in uniform… he’d wear the prettiest clothes.” Aito explained. “One sweater in particular… it was pink I believe… It was softer than a cloud. I think I stole it from him- I probably wore it more than he did.” Aito said, letting the smallest smile show on her face as he touched his arm, as if he were wearing the sweater right this second.

“You tend to do that.” Sakura laughed, poking humorously into Aito’s side. “Remember when you wore one of my dresses to that charity gala?”

“I wore it better than you would have.” Aito quipped, immediately invoking another laugh from Sakura.

“Oh, you’re much too quick witted” Sakura giggled, wiping her dry eyes as though she had been laughing much harder. Aito nodded slowly, but kept his face flat.

“He… he’s the reason I don’t believe you when you say that our quirks can decide things for us.” Aito explained. “He was nothing like his quirk would suggest. Despite all the smoke, he was a pleasant boy.”

“Ohh… but, I asked you why you became a villain, pet. This boy, why do you mention him?” she finally asked, noticing Aito resting his hands on the back of the settee and carefully placing her’s onto his. Aito’s pained silence left Sakura a bit off guard, but she slowly came to a conclusion that… she could only hope her guess was wrong. “Is he… gone from us?” she asked, letting Aito assume her meaning.

“No.” Aito huffed, his grip on the settee’s back tightening slightly as she turned away from Sakura.

“What then? What could have happened that’s made you this upset?” she asked, her red eyes never faltering from her teammate’s face.

“He…” Aito finally turned away, as if even saying it out loud was too much. “He turned his back on me.”

“Oh… pet…” Sakura whispered, carefully patting his hand in an attempt to comfort him. “Loss can be hard… especially when the loss isn’t permanent… when it’s a choice someone makes.” Sakura hadn’t a clue how to ease this pain, completely unused to her teammate showing this amount of vulnerability around her. “If it’s any comfort at all… I’m thankful for you, the entire team is- you must know this by now.” Sakura suffered through another silence, wishing that Checkmate would just tell her how to help him. “What was… pet… what did you call him?” Aito looked back for just a second, his eyes trained on the floor as he tried to gain the courage to finally speak.

“Jetsam Kisa.”

[fan4196]

The truth

Hey everyone, here's another one. Hope you like it. Enjoy!

Big thank you again @angry-slytherin :)

-

"Hey. How are you?" Jo asks with a smile under her mask as she walks into Mer's room.

"Let's say better. Not great, but ok for someone who survived covid." Mer answers, looking tired over her own mask.

"You really scared us there. I'm happy you're better again. Your kids missed you so much." Jo nods with a toothless smile as she sits down on the chair beside the hospital bed.

"You talked to them?" Meredith asks surprised, as she watches her friend sit down.

"Yeah, I got my second shot the other day, which Link immediately used to talk me into babysitting Scout, and your kids happen to live in the same house." She says with a laugh.

"Amelia and Link really left you alone with four kids?" Mer immediately asks surprised.

"Yup. They are taking advantage of my new found love for tiny humans." She laughs, watching Meredith closely as she leaves this little hint about her intent now that Mer is fully conscious.

"Oh I heard you when you talked to me about that. You know Cristina and I used to make fun of Alex and the vagina squad back when we where interns. You really wanna join the pink scubs?" The soft tone and little smile on Mer's face calm Jo down. Knowing that Mer wasn't going to talk her out of it or judge her in any way let her nervous heart slow down.

"Yeah." Jo smiles. "I need some joy in my live and I think the vagina squad will bring me that."

"I'm happy for you, if that's what you want, even though I think that you'll miss the OR and all the cool surgeries with in a week." The older one says with a laugh.

"We'll see." Jo smiles.

It's silent in the room for a few seconds until Mer starts with a completely different topic, that Jo wasn't quite ready for.

"I think you should call Alex," the blonde breaks the silence, this time in a way more serious tone.

"What?"

"You should call him." She nods, trying to show the brunette her seriousness.

"Do you- Did Levi tell you-"

"Levi? What does Schmitt have to do with- no. I guess I have to start from the beginning." Mer starts, talking about her dreams. How she was able to see her loved once on a beach; talking to them.

"So you're telling me, that you saw people on a beach while you where sleeping? Like a dream?" Jo asks more confused than ever, not quite getting what her former mentor was trying to tell her.

"Yeah, well it felt stronger than a dream; more real than normal dreams. I was able to see people; talk to them, even touch some of them. Even before they put me on the vent I saw Derek and George." Mer tried to explain the experience she couldn't quite understand herself.

"But this time you saw Izzie?"

"Yeah and she told me that she died five years ago and that she never had kids; she never used the eggs. I know it may sound crazy and I don't expect you to believe me but what if it's true? What if Izzie's really dead? I've been near to death before, I saw Denny Duquette and that bomb guy, even my dog and mother. And they are indeed dead. So what if Alex left for whatever stupid, dump ass reason he thought was worth leaving us and is not with Izzie or his kids. Wouldn't you want to know if he left because he developed schizophrenia and didn't want to burden you with it?" Meredith asks, watching Jo closely, knowing that the Alex topic is still a really sore point for her.

"You are right. It really sounds crazy."

Jo immediately answers, defensive, putting her walls up as soon as she heard her ex-husbands name. And as quick as her mood changed she gets up and is about to leave and escape the situation she really can't be in, when something falls out of her lap coat pocket.

"Jo wait! I'm sorry- Jo!" Mer tries to scream after her, but the brunette is out of the room faster than Mer is able to hold her back.

As Meredith falls back in her pillow she sees Levi walking by.

"Schmitt! Get in here. Pick that up for me." She calls him before he's passed by.

Happy but also intimated by the big Meredith Grey he of course does what she wants and picks up the upside down white square from the floor, handing it to his superior.

"Is that yours?" He asks a little surprised as he sees that the paper turns out to be an ultrasound picture.

"No- It's Jo's." Mer answers just as surprised as the resident as she looks at it closer.

"Oh so you know? Thank god, I'm so happy that I'm not the only one anymore that knows about this. I'm actually a little concerned about her. Her morning sickness is really bad. It's more like an all day sickness and her mood swings- not fun. I bought the wrong cream cheese the other day-"

"Schmitt! Shut up! I didn't know until now." She shuts him up, looking up from the picture to throw him a look.

"Oh."

"Yeah oh. Now get me my phone, I need to make a call." She orders, holding her hand out while she's looking at the ultrasound picture again.

-

"Hello?"

"Ahm hi. Is this Alex Karevs phone?" Meredith asks confused as a female voice she never heard before greets her from the other side of the call.

"Yes, is it." The woman on Alex's phone answeres friendly. A little to friendly and casual for Mer's liking.

"Then who are you?" She tries to find out who the hell is currently speaking to her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I heard it ringing from the kitchen and just picked it up. Alex isn't here, he's at the park with the kids-"

"That's not answering my question. Who are you?" Mer interrupts, before the female can keep going. Slowly but surely the mood of the blonde is shifting.

"Well, who are you?" The woman on Alex phone asks back, also slowly losing the friendliness she had just two minutes ago.

"Oh no, I'm not playing this game. Who are you and what are you doing on my friend's phone." Mer starts, ready to scream if this woman won't finally tell her what she wants to know.

"Good. I'm not playing this game either so-"

The woman gets interrupt mid sentence. You can hear rustling and arguing through the phone until the voice Mer wanted to hear in the first place answers.

"Hello?"

"Alex?" She asks, even though she recognized his voice right away.

"Mer?" He asks back, rather surprised, but happy.

"Where the hell are you? Who was that woman? Do you have kids? I know your not in Kansas, Alex. Izzie is dead. What the hell is going on?" She starts shooting off questions without letting him answer.

"Wow, Mer chill-"

"Chill? I'm not going to chill, asshole. You better tell me that the hell is going on-" She needs to stop mid sentence as a wave of coughing overcomes her; an aftereffect she still has from COVID.

"Mer are you ok?" Alex immediately asks concerned.

"No I'm not ok. I almost died of COVID, I was in an induced coma and could have really needed the person on my emergency contact to pick up his stupid phone, to decide what to do next when I wasn't able to." She starts calling frustrated.

"Fuck- I'm so sorry, Mer-"

"Yeah, you better be. Now answer my questions." She comes back to the original topic why she called.

"Ok- I'm not in Kansas. I'm not with Izzie, I'm with my sister, Amber and her kids. She's pregnant and her husband is trapped in Europe because of Covid. I'm helping her with the house and the kids." He starts explaining.

"But there was no Covid when you left-"

"I know. I came here because my brother- well he tried to kill himself. His schizophrenia got worse, Mer. He was not taking his medication, he- ahm he hurt several people and raped three nurses in the facility he was staying in. They put him into prision, where he tried to kill himself and now he's at the hospital where no one's allowed to visit him because of Covid. My mom couldn't handle all the paperwork without interrupting her routine and Amber is seven months pregnant and has two little kids, I didn't want her to do everything." He adds to his story, letting go a little sigh as he finishes.

"I'm sorry to hear that. But why the hell did you feel the need to leave? Why lying to us and sending those stupid letters, you could have just talked to us. We would have helped you-"

"That's the point, I don't want help. This is my family, you had enough family crap for a lifetime and Jo-"

"She would have helped you. You know damn well that she would have gone with you in a heartbeat. She married you, so it's her family too." Mer adds.

"I couldn't- She went through so much crap last year and she was just doing fine again- I couldn't bring her here, hearing that my brother raped three women- I- I couldn't do that to her. She deserves to be happy-"

"She's not, Alex. She's everything but not happy and it's your fault. You know that Jo's probably the strongest woman we know. Yes she went through a lot of crap and yes she just overcome depression, but you also know that she loved you with everything she had. This letter broke her, Alex. She's not showing it, but she's broken. She's working nonstop, even though she's-" She takes a pause before she says too much, then continues. "Abandoning her was worse than just telling her the truth, trust me."

"Even though she's what? Mer what is it? Is she ok?" Alex immediately asks, knowing that Mer's little pause and change of topic was supposed to distracte him from what she almost said.

"It's not my place to tell you, Alex. You should probably call her." Mer tries to talk her out of it, but she knows her friend way too good. When Jo's the topic Alex  wants to know everything.

"Mer, what? Tell me, damn it!"

"Alex-"

"Tell me!" He shouts, immediately sorry, but he's so frustrated right now. He has to know that Jo's fine, otherwise- he doesn't even wanna think about it.

"She's pregnant." Mer answers, regretting it the second it comes out of her mouth. It's not her place to tell him.

"What-"

"Before you say anything, I already regret telling you. It's none of my business and actually you don't deserve to know it. I'm sorry but I'm on Jo's side. When you left her, you left me too and I hate you for that. So you are not gonna call her now and scream at her for not telling you, you hear me? If she doesn't wanna tell you, she has every right for doing so, alright? You are not her husband anymore." Mer finishes, hearing the silence on the other side.

"I know." He agrees after a few seconds, before he continues. "Is it- is it mine?"

"The baby? I have no idea, Alex. I just found out an hour ago. An ultrasound picture fell out of her lab coat when she left my room, so I don't know. I heard some rumors- but nevermind." Again immediately regretting that she said too much.

"Rumors? What rumors?" He asks.

"You don't wanna know Alex-"

"Tell me!" He interrupts her again.

"She ahm- I heard rumors that she and Jackson-"

"What?" He stops her. His head is spinning and his heart immediately starts to hurt a little. Even though he knows that he has actually no right to feel like this.

"Alex, you need to calm down. She is not your wife anymore! You are the one that divorced her! I heard that they had a friend with benefits thing going but listen the baby on the ultrasound looks way to big for it to be Jackson's, ok? If you ask me it looks like five maybe six month-"

"Fuck. I left my pregnant wife-" Everything comes crushing down on Alex in that moment and he can't hold his tears back any longer. He really thought he did what was best for everyone.

"Alex are you crying?" Mer asks carefully after a few seconds listening to the silence on the phone.

"Yes I am, because I'm so fucking dumb- I abandoned the love of my life that is carrying my baby- during a freaking pandemic. She probably had the worst morning sicknesses and- god she always told me how scared she is to become a mom but that she feels safe with me by her side- and now I'm not. Fuck- I really didn't change much since our intern year, I'm still a freaking asshole."

"Alex no; you changed a lot. You became an amazing peds surgeon, you've grown so much during the years I've known you. You became an awesome person, my person and you were an amazing husband. But I have to agree, you are a little asshole. Now you hang up, you go outside take some deep breaths, throw a few things against a tree or whatever and then you man up and call Jo. She deserves the truth Alex especially when she's pregnant with your child." Meredith tries to convince him, not knowing what else to say.

"Thanks Mer." He answers quietly.

"Sure."

"I promise I'll visit you as soon as I can, ok? I'm sorry." Alex apologizes again, drying his tears with his sleeve.

"It's ok, asshole. The kids miss you." She laughs through the phone, trying to make him laugh too.

"I miss them too and I miss you. Thank you for calling Mer."

"Sure. Please promise me not to scream at Jo, ok? And please let her tell you that she's pregnant, she'll kill me if she hears that I told you."

"I promise." He answers. "Bye Mer."

"Bye."

-

After he did what Mer told him, Alex is now sitting on his sister's front porch, phone in his hand, fighting with himself, wondering if he should really call. Jo went through so much already because of him, she doesn't deserve any more pain. Maybe he should just leave her thinking that he's in Kansas. But on the other side, he could never live with the knowledge that she's having his child on her own. Sure he knows that she has a whole damn village at the hospital and they will support her, but they shouldn't. It's his child and he should be the one taking care of them, his baby and Jo.

So before he can think about it any further he's already dialing Jo's number. With his phone on his ear he stands up from the chair on Amber's front porch and starts walking circles in the front yard, while it's ringing.

"Hi this is Doctor Josephine Wilson, please leave a message."

Hearing her voice after almost five month for the first time again gives Alex chills, even though it's just her voicemail message it immediately calms him a little bit. The last thing he heard from her was her crying on his voicemail, begging him to call her. This message broke his heart into a million little peaces, but he wasn't able to answer her because he knew that he would have hopped on the next plane home in a heartbeat. But his family here needed him.

Now he's the one, getting send straight to her voicemail, which he totally understands.

"Hi. It's me, Alex. Jo, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know sorry doesn't fix anything and I understand that you probably never wanna talk to me again. But please just listen. I'm not in Kansas, I'm not with Izzie nor any twins. I'm in Iowa. I'm with Amber and her kids. She's pregnant and her husband is stuck in Europe due to Covid. I originally got here because Aaron- he- he was not taking his meds and tried to hurt himself. He's in the hospital now. I couldn't let my mom or Amber handle this, I just- I'm sorry I just left like this. I never wanted to hurt you, I just didn't want you to get wrapped into my family crap again. You didn't deserve that after you just pulled yourself out of this dark hole. I wanted to protect you, but I guess I just hurt you more- I never wanted to leave you and I sure as hell never wanted you to not be my wife. I married you because you're the most incredible woman I've ever met. I guess I never told you, but you Josephine are the strongest and most amazing woman on this planet and I never deserved you or your pure, loving heart. I'm so incredibly sorry- for everything." He takes a deep breath, wiping away the tears that started streaming down his face again as soon as he started talking. "Please call me. I love you Jo and I will never stop. I'm sorry. Bye."

-

It's been two days now since Alex left the voicemail and he still didn't get an answer.

He called Mer again but she didn't know anything about Jo either, so he guesses he really fucked it up this time and he couldn't even be mad at her. It's his own fault-

"Uncle Alex, there's someone at the door for you."

Alex got ripped out of his thoughts by his nieces little voice. He quickly smiles at the blonde little girl and gets up from the couch.

He rounds the corner of the living room and freezes as soon as he sees the visitor standing beside his sister on the front porch.

Even though he can't see her whole face, because it's covered with a purple mask, he knows that she's smiling while she's talking to Amber. Her eyes are sparkling as she takes her few from Amber and locks eyes with him.

Slowly, not knowing if everything was just a dream or if this was really happening, his feet carry him towards the front door, past Amber, pulling Jo into a tight hug. He can fell her immediately relaxing in his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her head deep in his shirt. He tries to pull her closer but the little bumb in between them won't let him.

"I'm sorry." He whispers, not making any move to let her go anytime soon.

"Shut up." She answers, which makes him laugh.

They stay like this for a few more minutes until one of Alex's hand finds his way from her hip to the bump in between them. Jo loses her grip around his neck a little without letting completely go, to look him in the eyes. She doesn't need to say anything, they both know exactly what the other one wants to say.

"I would really like to kiss you." Alex whisperes, afraid to scare her away by saying it to loud.

"Why aren't you." She smiles mischievously through her eyes, knowing exactly why he can't kiss her.

"You're wearing a mask." He answers, even though he knows she is playing with him.

"Well lucky you I'm vaccinated plus I got tested at the airport and brought this for you." She pulls a white bag out of her purse and hands it to Alex. "If it's negative you can take it off of me and kiss me." She smiles, as Alex grabs the Covid test and harshly unwraps it.

[fayemarvels]

get you out

Hey, so this is my first ever time writing fanfiction. So sorry for the mistakes and bad writing. If you find any mistakes or you can point out where I can improve my writing, please say it. I would really appreciate it. Also if you find any mistakes in my warnings, please notify me.

Thanks xx

Summary: After he escaped the Hydra, Bucky has a lot of nightmares. When he has a weird dream he asks Tony for help. He wants to find the girl from his dream because he thinks she helped with his escape.

symbols : (Y/N) - your name

(Y/M/N) - your middle name

(Y/L/N) - your last name

Words: 1,5 k

Warnings : bad writing?, mentions of wiping Bucky's memories, guns, shooting and nightmares

////////

“Pack his stuff!” the hydra soldiers were screaming around him. He didn’t understand what was happening but he heard a constant shouting and firing of guns outside of the base. She was packing stuff for her and him. Who was she? He was sitting strapped into a chair with a void look on his face. They wiped him merely 3 hours ago. He watched her as she packed all of their stuff into a few bags that lay on the ground. She took his hand and he heard her fuzzy voice. He was so out of it.

“Soldier” she started. She looked like it pained her to call him that. He just couldn’t comprehend why. His head really hurt.

”you have to escape. This is your only chance. ” she looked at him desperately and he looked at her in confusion. He didn’t understand.

“Here take this and let’s go.” She handed him a backpack, a gun, and a piece of paper. She released his limbs from their restraints and he stretched them a little bit. She took his face into her hands and stroked his cheek softly.

“Soldier” she gulped and then continued.

“You are going to escape through the west exit. When you are outside, you are going to run 3.3 miles southwest and you are going to encounter two trees that are leaning against each other. Under them, there is a motorcycle. You are going to take it and use it to leave this forest. The nearest city is located 7 miles northwest. You are not going to talk to anyone. You are going to find the nearest phone, dial the number on this paper and tell them exactly this.“ She took a deep breath and started explaining again.

”This is Bucky Barnes, an officer of the 107th Infantry Regiment. My service number is 32557038 and your location.” She looked at him, trying to see if he understands, or if she needed to say it again. Then, a loud bang came from the hallway and she realized that she didn’t have much time left with him.

“All of the instructions are on the paper. Money is in the first pocket of the backpack. You also have some water and granola bars there. You need to go now” she was talking really fast and he could barely make out what she was saying.

“Go through the vent and don’t stop until you are with the people who are on the other line of the phone.” She looked at him one more time and softly kissed his lips.

“This is goodbye my love.” She smiled softly and a tear escaped the corner of her eye. He caught it and stroked her cheek. He didn’t know her but he had a feeling that he could trust her. She pushed him softly towards the vent. He opened the covering and crawled into it. She closed it behind him and whispered.

“Good luck.” He started to crawl but then he heard a scream and a gunshot from the room he escaped from. Then it went black.

Bucky woke up with sweat running down his body. This is the first time he dreamed of the escape. The drea- no nightmares were always repeating so he was really surprised that it changed for the first time in 2 and a half years. That’s right he has been free from Hydra for 913 days and he was very happy. Even with the nightmares. He looked at his bedside table and saw that the clock was showing time 5:43. Great. After much thinking, he decided to get out of his bed and go for a run. He wanted to get his mind away from the dream.

When he came back to the tower he went to take a quick shower and made his way to the kitchen. When he walked through the door the first thing he saw was Tony standing in front of the coffee machine looking like he hadn’t slept for 3 days. That observation was probably true. Steve, on the other hand, looked like he slept really well that night. He turned around just as Bucky wanted to greet him.

“Good morning Buck. Sleep well?” Bucky just looked at the ground and smiled.

“Actually, yeah I slept pretty well. No nightmares or anything. Just had this weird dream I wanted to talk to you about.” Steve looked at Bucky concerned but he quickly reassured him that it wasn’t a bad dream. Steve just sighed in relief. Bucky then ate breakfast and decided to write the dream down so he won’t forget anything.

About 3 hours after breakfast, Steve came into Bucky’s room to talk about his dream.

“So, I don’t remember much of my escape from Hydra but I remember being on a motorcycle, dialing a number in a payphone and you coming to get me from there.” Bucky talked quickly while he looked at his notes. Steve just nodded his head unsure where all of this was going.

“But I don’t remember anything that happened before that. Until now!” Bucky exclaimed.

“I dreamed of this girl. She looked like a doctor and she was packing my stuff. She then gave me instructions on how to escape and gave me all the stuff I needed in real life! And she called me her love! This had to be a memory, Steve.” Bucky said with excitement written on his face. He didn’t know why he was excited but he was.

“Were there any people taken from the facility close to the city?” Bucky asked and Steve just Shook his head.

“All of the people were dead. But Buck, you don’t even have a picture of her how would you find her.” Steve questioned his friend.“

Bucky just smirked and showed him a piece of slightly wrinkly paper. I drew her.” Bucky said proudly. But his face fell a little bit and looked to the side.

”It’s at least what I remember of her. Her face was really blurry so I couldn’t quite memorize all of her features but it’s something right ?” Bucky asked hopefully but Steve just shook his head.

“All of them were gone S.H.I.E.L.D. killed them. They had a lot of guns.” He said. He slowly put his hand on Bucky’s shoulder and started.

“I think it would be best if you didn’t look into this very deeply. Fury doesn’t like it.” And then he left.

Bucky knew Steve wasn’t telling the truth. Instead of trying to get something out of him, he decided to go to one person, who had all the answers. He stepped into Tony’s lab. The music was playing loudly and it made his ears throb. When Tony saw Bucky he lowered the music and leaned against the table.

“What brings you to my humble lab soldier?” Tony asked smiling and Bucky just rolled his eyes. This was a really bad idea.

“So I really need some help with finding someone. I don’t know how this works, but I really hope it can see peoples’ faces from amateur drawings. ” Bucky chuckled and scratched the back of his neck.

“And will you enlighten me on why you need to find this person?” Tony asked and Bucky smiled.

“She was in my dream and I’m pretty sure she helped me escape from Hydra. ” Tony looked confused.

“Why are you asking for my help? Steve knows everything about everyone who was in the base that day. ” Bucky stayed silent for a few moments to think. Then he spoke up

“I asked Steve but I think he is lying to me.” He stammered and Tony looked very amused.

“Wow, so you are doing this behind his back huh?” Bucky nodded and Tony just chuckled

“You should’ve started with that, of course, I’ll help you” Tony cheered and Bucky smiled at him in gratitude.

“Let’s see,” Tony mumbled as he put the picture into the S.H.I.E.L.D database.

“This shouldn’t take very long.” And it didn’t in a matter of seconds the face of a woman was shown on the screen in front of them.

“(Y/N)(Y/M/N)(Y/L/N) . 26 years old, blah, blah, blah. Oh, she isn’t dead! S.H.I.E.L.D is keeping her in their cells in Pennsylvania. It’s like 3 hours from here. ” Bucky couldn’t believe it. He could meet her and she could tell him about his escape. He looked at Tony and said.

“Thanks, Tony I really appreciate the gesture.” Tony smiled and nodded his head

“Let’s go get in the car we are going to see your lover girl or whoever she is.” Bucky froze and looked at the man in front of him.

“You would do that for me?” He asked slowly and Tony nodded his head.

“Yeah plus, I think we should really get to know each other better. And what better way than on the road? ” He asked and Bucky grinned.

“Let’s just go.”

About 3 hours later they stepped out of the car in front of the S.H.I.E.L.D.’s base in Pennsylvania. They stretched their limbs and went to the entrance. Tony called Fury to tell him they want to see one of the prisoners and contacted the base. They welcomed them and the pair walked inside. They had to sign a bunch of papers to be allowed to go inside and Bucky started to lose his patience slowly.

“We need to pat you down first, in case you want to do something you shouldn’t.” The security guard grumbled and Bucky just looked at Tony. He just shrugged his shoulders and mouthed “Protocols”

After about 20 minutes of controls, they finally let Bucky into the visitation room. And then he saw her. She was sitting there with handcuffs on her wrists looking very confused. The guard that accompanied him opened the door into the room and the girl’s head shot up.

“What is happening”? Why am I here? I told you everything I don’t know anything else!” she was talking and the guard shoved her back into the chair. She hissed from the pain but froze when she saw him in the doorway. Her love. She tilted her head to the side like a confused puppy and he smiled shyly at her.

“Hey, I’m Bucky and I would really like to ask you some questions if that’s ok.” He said slowly to see her reaction.

“How did you find me,” she asked in disbelieve and he shrugged his shoulders.

“I had a dream about my escape from Hydra and you were there.” She slowly moved her head and he could see that she was thinking.

“You know, you did that a lot back there. The memories disguised as dreams. They didn’t know about it” he cleared his throat and sat opposite from her.

“Look, in the dream you, you called me love. What did you mean by that?” she just blushed and looked to the side.

”well,” she started.

“We fell in love. I don’t know what or how it happened but it did. You even gave me permission to take your memories before they wiped you so you could have them back after the wiping.” (Let’s just imagine ok?) She smiled fondly at the memories and he blurted out.

“Do you still have them?” she looked at him confused

“The memories you collected.” He clarified. She just laughed and nodded her head.

“What, you want them back?” he bowed his head and she grinned. Then her smile faltered and he panicked.

“What’s wrong, are you okay?” she hummed and started talking.

“I would really love to give them to you but I don’t have them. I would need to go out and that’s not happening anytime soon. Sorry.” She mumbled and he cursed under his breath. Then, he took her hand into his and confidently stated.

“I will get you out.”

---------

Thanks for reading my first fanfic. Hope you liked it. Byeee

- Faye

[angeli-marco-writes]

Steve Rogers - Promise

A/N - So, this is my first marvel imagine? I haven’t watched all the films yet, I’m halfway through and watching them all in chronological order, but I couldn’t resist because I love Steve Rogers. So much. Once I’ve finished watching, I'll probably realise a shit tonne of mistakes in this, but please don’t judge. Apologies for any typos and incorrect information. GIF credits to owner.

Warnings - angst, smut so 18+ please; fingering, unprotected sex (don’t do it), borderline ‘captain’ kink, 5k.

Summary - you’re an admin worker in stark tower, an average working girl except for one thing, you have a superior memory, one that has aided you many a time. But when you’re leading Cap on a mission and it gets cut off, is it because of your memory, or are you just letting your crush on Steve cloud any reasonable thinking?

YOU LOVE YOUR JOB, there’s no denying it. You’re young, a Brit in America, just working to help with your future, but after how well it’s been going recently? You don’t think you’ll want to leave. 

You’re an admin at Stark Tower. Not that one is really needed with all of Tony’s tech, and the fact that everyone is more than capable of sorting themselves out, it’s just fun to be around. Not only do you complete all the stenography and spreadsheets that don’t necessarily have to do with anyone specific, but you also do many of the more artistic plans and are everyone’s personal therapist. You probably don’t help your own cause - leaving your door propped open with a book to let anyone drift in and out of their own accord at any given time, unless you’re properly working, and then they know to find you in your office. Yes, your very own office.

Recently, with you becoming more and more familiar with the workings of all the residents, growing more knowledgeable of their work lives, picking up the lingo and everyone’s gladness at your perfect, imperturbable memory, you’re slowly being given more tasks. This could be anything from mission reassignment to looking through months old footage, but you’ve been helping out over the system on a couple of missions. You really feel like one of the team even though you know you’re far from it. Sleeping in the tower helps, as well as being welcomed by everyone every meal time that you sit together, especially the way they test your memory trick and always seem completely amazed at how you remember the most obscure details. Anything from the exact positioning of a birth mark on someone that Natasha took down the first week you began working, to the precise measurement of metal that Tony needed to complete a new project, to the freckle on Steve’s bare ass that one time he had to use your shower-

That escalated quickly. 

Currently, you’re in your office, daydreaming and completely wistfully thinking. You have no trouble remembering every conversation you and Steve have ever had, not that many admittedly, but he’s always been so kind to you. He was the first one to truly make you feel part of the team, welcoming you with a hug before holding you at arms length and brushing a crease from the arm of your blouse. You’re not really sure if he’d seen anyone dress that way, since all the girls he was around were always in their kick ass clothes, gym shorts or comfies, so you wandering around day in day out and wearing frilly Victorian-era blouses paired with short, tight pencil skirts and Louboutin stilettos may have been a shock to his system. It wasn’t with any agenda in mind that you did this, merely a mix of modesty and business woman style. Every word Cap has ever said flies through your mind, the impeccable memory of the way his exquisite nylon suit clings to him in all the right places... 

Steve is the only guy you’ve fancied for a while, the only person you’ve ever really gone for emotionally, and all of that is because he’s such a cute human being; so genuine, so upbeat around you, so supportive, and his smile. Goddamn his smile. He’s just too cute for life, which is also why you should really be concentrating, considering you’re supposed to be monitoring his mission. 

“Y/N, are you there? I think somethings happening, someone’s here that we didn’t know about, where do I go?”

His usually soft voice is frantic, and you can tell he’s a little scared, since this was supposed to be a simple solo mission, in and out, but now you’re having to recite an escape route. 

“Turn left at the end of that corridor, half way down there’s a grate on the wall. Pull it off, climb inside.” You tell him as calmly as you can, but even your heart is beating out of your chest, breathing laboured and a slight sweat forming on your forehead. 

“I’m in, sweetheart. What next?” Not the right time for your heart to flutter at his words, especially not the time to imagine the way his raspy morning voice would curl around those very same Few words...

“Follow the route, it’ll bring you out in a downstairs kitchen area that was empty last time I checked, I’ll look again...” you trail off, clicking off the one screen with the dot of his whereabouts to check the surveillance, and he seems to be safe. 

You hear his breathing calm down as he crawls through the ventilation system, but even as you flick through every camera that you’ve been able to access in the building he’s in and the surrounding area, nothing seems to be out of the ordinary apart from a couple of unconscious, probably dead blokes scattered across stone floors.

“I’m in the kitchen, but there’s no doors in here, no way out.” He says. 

Fuck.

Your heart sinks to your feet.

“Yes there is Steve, it’s on the north wall beside a faux, oversized spice rack. It has a silver handle and it’s an oak door, exactly like my bedroom door.”

He pauses, his heart rate thrumming heavily, “sweetheart there’s no door here, there’s no spice rack, just old built in cabinets and flat walls. You must have misremembered.”

“Shut the fuck op Steve, I’m doing what I can,”

Your usual eloquence is out the window along with all of your chill, sounding mildly like a road man as you frantically tap between the screens. He’s right though, his only way out is to climb back in the vent and hope to god, well, or Thor, that no one finds him there, but that may be too late.

“Try the cold tap on the sink, I don’t know exactly what was said but I distinctly remember someone talking about it. Stay calm for me Cap, please.” You want to beg for him to be ok, to come back in one piece, because this isn’t a normal mission, you’re emotionally attached. 

He takes a deep breath and walks over to the tap, but as soon as he touches it, all surveillance is cut off, your computer goes black, and you can’t even hear his breathing anymore. 

“Steve? Cap, come back to me, can you hear me? Steve?” With each call of his name to which he doesn’t respond, you grow more frantic. The lights are still on so you know that it’s not the mains, but you’re not educated with circuits, so you do what you can to reboot your computer, only for it to show up with your bland screen of spreadsheets, sans anything about the mission or Steve.

Your hands start shaking, lip quivering and mind overwhelmed with stress. It’s over, you’ve lost Steve, fucked up the mission, you’ll be out of a job, and the worst part? You broke a promise. 

“Promise you’ll keep me safe out there Y/N?” Steve asked, his cute little smile twinkling in his eyes and making your whole body go giddy.

“I promise, but you have to promise that you’ll come back in one piece.”

“That I can do, for you.” He murmured, wrapping his arms around your body and placing a kiss to your hairline. 

You haven’t been at the compound long enough to know whether this is normal for Steve, or for anyone, or if he’s just a natural flirt. Whatever it is, you feel too guilty to face him again if he even comes back alive. 

Slowly, soft sobs start to escape your lips without you noticing, tears slipping down your cheeks and dampening the neck of your blouse. You can’t help the guilt that overtakes you, the fear that you can’t even reason, and that’s when you hear a soft knock on your door.

“Can I come in?”

It’s Natasha. You nod gently as she takes a seat in the corner of your room, throwing her feet up on your coffee table so nonchalantly that it’s almost not a challenge of authority. 

“What’s up? Didn’t you have to radio for Cap?” Once again you nod, hastily wiping the tears from your face and smoothing your skirt out. “So, why are you crying?”

You like Natasha, of course you do, but you have normal people emotions and a little more conscience, unable to stand the thought of anyone even getting a papercut on your watch. 

“He went off, the computers crashed, and it’s all my fault.” You say, standing up and moving to shut your office door, locking it for safekeeping, because if Bucky finds out then you’re dead. 

Natasha grabs a lollipop from your sweet bowl and sticks it in her mouth, swirling her tongue around it, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think she’s flirting. She’s not, that’s just Natasha. “Care to elaborate?”

You take a sharp breath, “someone was there that we didn’t calculate, I had to get him through the ventilation system to an abandoned kitchen that I KNOW had a door, my memory doesn’t glitch, so in the time it took for Steve to get through the vents, someone must’ve closed off the door, but I’m not sure how. Then he just went when he touched the only possible thing that could be an escape route. Fuck, what if he’s dead?”

You feel tears bubbling up in your eyes again, blinking harshly to keep them away. 

“So what if he is? You’re smart, you’re panicking, so you’ve obviously done everything. It sounds harsh but you can’t get too attached. Just listen out and he’ll come back of his own accord, but if he doesn’t then we’ll have to deal with that later.” She says, grasping a hand around your shoulder before  stepping over the threshold to the main compound, leaving you alone with your thoughts. 

Maybe she thought tough love would work, but she has a point. You’ve done everything you can, so now it’s just a waiting game.

You keep an ear piece on you but shut your office for the night, heading out to the bar to pour yourself a more than healthy sized glass of wine. You unbutton your shirt a little and slide down the wall to your favourite reading spot, in one far corner, you set up some cushions and bedding. You’re the only one that uses it, but you could swear that you’ve seen Steve eyeing it up before. So you sit, tears streaming down your cheeks and leaving you with mascara-stained tear tracks, the first few buttons of your shirt recklessly undone, and your heels flung elsewhere. You bring the bottle over with your glass, and you pick up a book to keep you distracted. 

You’re not sure how long you sit there, guilt slowly building, occasionally calling Steve’s name to check if he’s come back on the system, but there’s nothing. Nothing until the lift doors open, and out walks a very bloody Cap with his suit half on and a skin tight white t-shirt clinging to his upper body.

The tears don’t stop falling from your eyes, but you close your book anyway. You would stand up, run to hug him, but your legs can’t hold you up, so you stay seated, all your words caught in your throat as Steve edges further across the common area towards you. 

He offers you a shy smile, virtually collapsing into the carpet only metres from you. Slowly his head lifts, hair falling into his eyes, and he holds his arms out. 

“Oh god Steve,” it’s him. Really him. You feared he’d be a hologram or something, your eyes deceiving you from their soreness post crying. But he’s here, you can tell from the overly memorised display of veins in his bicep when he offers you his arm. 

“It’s me,” he nods, edging a little further towards you as you crawl closer and settle into his grip. 

Your tears flow freely, dampening his shirt. Neither of you says a word, he just grips you closer to him, cuddling your legs into his lap to soothe you.

After a while, Steve fidgets, and you find your eyes dry. 

You angle your head upwards, your well kept chignon completely haywire. Steve’s face is covered in bruises and dried blood, but his eyes don’t look at all worried. 

“What happened?” You whisper, words vibrating through his chest. 

“The tap was a trick, or maybe I twisted the wrong one, but all the lights went out and I was shocked, I had to attack a few guys but I made it out, albeit bruised.” He swallows, running a shy finger over the curves of your face. “Were you worried about me?”

You nod, clutching him close. He chuckles and draws circles on your back through your shirt, just his soft touch more comforting than anything else. 

“I’m fine, sweetheart, is my nose broken though?”

You look at his nose, softly smoothing over a hell of a bruise, before placing a gentle kiss to the bridge. 

“No, trust me. In British comps, fights happen daily, and my ex was in with a bad crowd, always in fights. I had to deal with all kinds of injuries, and your nose is not broken. Be grateful because it hurts to sort it out.”

He laughs and brings you in.

“You deserve so much better than someone like that. I was worried about you when I was out there you know...” he says.

A strange conversation transition, but who are you to judge. 

“I was so scared, I thought you’d died,” ah shit, here come the tears again, “Natasha told me to just wait it out like I wasn’t completely emotionally attached to you. Bloody hell, Steve, I’d be responsible if you died.”

He cooes sweet reassurances in your ear, wrapping his arms entirely around your torso while the join between his neck and shoulder becomes your sanctuary.

“I’m emotionally attached to you too if that helps,” he whispers in your ear, so quietly that he hopes you didn’t hear, instantly regretting it. But with the soft kiss you place on the sweet spot just below his ear, he brings up all his courage to angle his head just right, capturing your lips in his in the sweetest of kisses. 

You gasp into the kiss, your reaction giving Steve means to believe you didn’t like it, instantly pulling away and dropping his hands from around your body.

“I-I’m sorry, you’re upset and I took advantage of that, and I haven’t really been with anyone since, well...”

“Shut up and kiss me, Steve.” You command, cutting off his rambling, your hand cupping his cheek. 

His hands slowly make their way around your body, fumbling for the bottom of your blouse and subsequently unable to find where your shirt ends and your skirt starts. You giggle a little into the kiss, taking the opportunity to deepen the kiss by delving his tongue into your mouth. You place your hands over his and guide them to your chest. For a second, he seems confused, his lips halting their massaging movements on your own, until he finds the open buttons at the top of your blouse. He pulls his lips away for a moment, breath mingling together in the air. His smells of strawberries, you note. He glances at you for reassurance, something which you eagerly give, so he begins. His hands slowly work their way over your chest, fingers fiddling with your buttons as you wait patiently, completely submissive for Steve to do whatever he wants to you. 

He pushes the material from your shoulders, and you untuck the back of it from your skirt, allowing it to fall to the floor, revealing your bra. Though now you see Steve eyeing it up, you realise it’s not really a bra at all, rather two triangles of flimsy fabric with some bands and strings attached, one of your only bras that doesn’t show through a sheer blouse. The way his eyes are boggling at your tits though, you guess he likes it. 

An unwitting blush creeps up your neck and cheeks, suddenly feeling cold under his scrutiny.

“You can touch them if you want,” you chuckle lightly, fearing that you’ll sound like an inexperienced teenager if you say more. 

Steve blushes as crimson as you, his large hands leaping at the opportunity to feel you. You throw your head back in pleasure as his cold thumb rubs over your nipples, making them hard to the touch, and the rest of his hands get to work massaging and kneading your boobs, pulling down the fabric to softly kiss your bare skin. 

Although he hasn’t done this in a while, well, a lifetime, he still knows how to do it realllly well. 

Your hands fly to his heart, keeping him there, his lips switching between your breasts until you grow a little more needy, grinding down on his bulge. 

“You wanna do this?” He asks, voice a little hoarse but still silky. 

“Yes, Steve. Fuck, just take me.”

“Language,” he chides jokingly, but despite that, he agrees. 

Clearly he doesn’t need to be asked twice, because he has you flipped beneath him with your back on your cushions in your reading corner, his lips attaching your neck. 

You fumble with the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head between kisses and suckles to a sensitive spot on your neck. He’s carved like a Greek god, abs toned to perfection, his tanned skin rippling with any given movement. He feels so soft too, skin tender beneath your fingers, trailing them gently across his back and torso to simply feel him. The contrary of gentle skin and solid muscles is one that makes your mouth water with desire, bringing Cap’s lips back to your own, palms pressed firmly against his back. You go in deep this time, licking his mouth and devouring his taste. To your surprise, he kisses you back with even more fervour, so passionate that you lose track of any thought swirling in your mind. 

“Suit off, now.” You call breathlessly, watching on as Steve clumsily tries to peel off his trousers by using the sleeve of his suit. He’s moving so recklessly that with an abrupt movement he’ll snag the fabric, ripping the suit that makes him look heaven sent. 

“Here,” you giggle, offering a hand out which he gladly takes, letting you shimmy the tough material down his legs, only blocked by his clunky boots which he kicks off at the same time as the suit, haphazardly leaving them wherever they fall in the lounge. “Fuck.” Is all you can choke out. The serum worked on everything. Even with his briefs still on, you can see his cock twitching within its confines.

“You’re wearing too many clothes now,” he faux scolds, leaping atop you again, kissing your collarbone as his hands work their way down your body. 

First he unhooks your bra properly, throwing it off and you both hear it land on the glass coffee table from the way your clasp knocks the glass. Next he moves onto your skirt, unzipping it, your hips raising of their own accord to accommodate his actions, slipping it off alongside your tights, revealing your bare legs to him for the first time. He doesn’t care about any of the natural marks that grace your skin, merely that you’re sitting in just your panties and only for him. 

“God you’re so beautiful,” he says.

He runs his palms over your thighs, just feeling your skin beneath his. His touch is soothing, as is his presence, allowing you to feel open towards him. You tilt your legs a little more open, revealing to him the small wet latch that graces your not-so-sexy work underwear. 

“All for me?” Steve asks, eyes innocent and doe like. 

If he’s really this sweet and naive then you’re gonna fucking ruin him. Sweet Jesus what you wouldn’t do to that man, starting with your incredibly well hidden Captain kink, though it may not be hidden much longer.

He brings a finger up to your core, pushing your panties to the side to run a finger up and down your slit. He audibly moans while collecting your slick from between your folds, fingers rough in contrast to the part of his body that you’re gripping onto, though you’re not sure quite where from your eyes fluttering closed. 

“Ready?”

You nod, bracing yourself as he rips your panties off and pushes one finger inside you. He feels brilliant, his fingers so much longer and better than your own, already bringing you jolts of pleasure from its presence. 

He draws it out before pumping back in again, continuing his movements. Your forehead falls against his bare shoulder, small gasps of pleasure escaping your open mouth.

“More,” you pant, ready to feel more of his intoxicating ministrations. 

He nods obligingly, slowly adding a second finger, continuing his gentle assault on your pussy. God, it’s been so long since you’ve had sex, just his two fingers pumping in and out of you brings you more pleasure than you’d care to admit. 

“S-stop,” 

He looks up at you, immediately withdrawing his fingers, covered in your juices and glistening in the moonlight. You flush far too deeply at such a simple thing. 

“I need to feel you already, please.”

You sensually drag your finger all over his bare chest, hearing his breath hitch in his throat. He nods vigorously, hair falling in his line of vision, but scrambles to be on top of you properly, hands either side of your head on your array of cushions and his legs steady, trapping you completely beneath him. 

“Are you sure? I don’t wanna take advantage of you, y/n. You’re so beautiful and perfect and I want your first time with me to be something you’ll remember forever.” He says sweetly, but despite his kind words, you can’t help but chuckle for a solid few seconds before he realises what he’s said. 

“Ok, but are you sure you wanna do it here rather than my room? Yours is out of the option, everyone will assume you’re dead if your book isn’t there anymore...” 

once more you chuckle, as does he, bringing your hand up to cup his jaw. 

“I’m sure, Steve, now get inside me before I change my mind and wake Bucky up,” you quip. 

He knows you’re joking but gets to work anyway, swiftly getting rid of his brokers and ungracefully kicking them off as you watch him. He may be hot but even Loki’s magic may not be able to make him elegant. 

As soon as he’s back in his previous position and you see is dick slapping against his stomach, hard and already a little red, you can’t help but gape. His too-tight boxers didn’t do him justice because now you’re worried he won’t even fit. 

He sees your worried face and panics, “We can go back if you want, we don’t have to do this.”

“I want this Steve, shitting hell-“

“Language,” he chides, interrupting you, allowing you to cock your eyebrows at him, a look to say ‘is this really the time?’

“I’ve never wanted anything more in my life, just go slow because you’re huge.” You finish, smiling at his dorky smile and flushed cheeks. 

Of all the things he could blush at, he chooses a compliment. Such a dork, you think to yourself, unable to stop the contagious smile creeping onto your face.

“I’ll be careful with you, I promise.”

And that he is. 

“Oh, and call me captain.”

That’s something you knew he’d have a kink for, making you smirk a little too. 

He runs the head of his cock through your folds to father a little lubrication before pushing in, very slightly and very gently. He bends his arms and kisses all over your face with the new leverage, feather light kisses of pure affection before you give him a breathy whisper, resembling of a ‘more’, so he pushes in a bit more again, repeating the process until he’s buried to the hilt inside your aching core, clenching around him without Steve even needing to do anything. 

“Can I start moving?” He asks, awkwardly shifting his weight above you, but you nod vigorously, kissing him urgently as his lips begin to move. 

He starts off slow, gradual thrusts, ensuring that he finds every weak spot inside or you, making your toes curl already and your legs knot around his waist, his tongue still dancing with yours. 

He increases his pace after a while, bucking into you faster, making you moan out his name and clutch onto his wonderfully broad shoulders.

You pull your lips away for a moment, “more Captain,” you ask, nothing more than a breathy sound, but Steve obliges. 

He breaks the kiss as he begins snapping his hips into yours with fervour and purpose. His balls are hitting your bare ass, his cock stuffed inside you and making the most delectable sounds from how wet you are, all for Steve. He looks down, tearing his gaze away from your pretty little face with your die eyes and parted lips, only to watch as he sinks into you again and again, blurring the lines of where he ends and you begin.

“Steve, Captain, please, talk to me,” 

Your words come out as a strangled cry, a beg mixing with his moan at the name, oxygen lessening as your eyes flutter shut, too engrossed in the pleasure to even care that your voice has gone up in pitch while his has gone down. 

“You’re such a tease, walking around in that tight skirt all day, those long legs always crossed. All I want is to pull them apart and go down on you, under your desk, in the kitchen, just anywhere that I can have you for my own.” 

His voice is low, raspy and needy as he trails his tongue along your collarbone filthily, forcing your eyes open with some unearthly force he must possess simply so that he can meet your gaze as he bites your nipples, his cock continually hitting that sweet spot inside you. 

“It’s not just that though,” he continues, resuming his dirty talk between caresses of his lips all over you, “you’re so perfect. So stunning, so intelligent, the reason I wake up every day just for the hope that one of these days I’d be able to kiss you.”

his hips halt just for a moment, long enough to unwrap your legs from his back and throw them over his shoulders, lust filled eyes boring into your own with an uncharacteristically devilish smirk. 

He kisses you again, fleeting but passionate before he nibbles your earlobe and purrs,

“And now I get to have you at my mercy, and believe me, that desk fantasy is gonna come true every day.”

With that sentiment, he starts ploughing into you even more ferociously than before, making you scream his name, a lot of murmured ‘Captain!’s and curses mingling with the cries. 

The new angle hits spots you forgot even existed. Your nails take his back, tugging in and clinging on for mercy, the burn of your legs in such a contorted position only adding to your pleasure.

“Fuck, I’m gonna come,” you shout breathlessly, chest heaving, your boobs moving up and down of their own accord and Steve is unable to take his eyes off them.

You feel the coil ready to spring in your stomach, a climax that’s been steadily building since he first kissed you. 

“Tell me what you’re gonna do with me tomorrow, and then you can come.”

His words are something forbidden, coaxing you off the edge, daring you to hit that wave of pleasure. Just the thought of your past daydreams make your walls clench around him. 

“I’ll wake you up by sucking your magnificent cock, then I’ll ride you harder than anyone has ever before, and then I’ll ride your face before we have intermittent sex in my office, at least twice.”

You don’t even know what you’re saying, your imagination running winks with the thought of Steve having you in his lap in your desk chair, pressed up against the glass of your office for everyone to see as he fucks you senseless. You’re insatiable. The thought of his dick twitching in your mouth is too much to handle, especially as he brings his thumb down and presses on your clit, moaning unintelligibly at your apparently sexy words, and you feel it. 

Your orgasm crashes over you so hard that you feel it on your bones, thrashing around beneath Steve, screaming out his name as he dudes your high out only seconds before coming too, his muffled cries of your name drowned out as he bites onto the juncture of your neck, bruising it and rendering you unable to wear anything other than polo necks for a good few days. The pleasure he’s given you is unrivalled, and you can’t waist for more.

His body collapses onto yours inelegantly, wrapping you unto his body warmth in your cosy little corner, both forgetting that you’re completely naked in the common area after having rather loud sex. 

“Was that good?” Steve asks sheepishly, fingers running through your tangled hair.

“Yes, incredible. And for you?”

He thinks for a moment before answering, “exquisite, sweetheart.”

Your heart glows a little at his sleepy voice. You run your thumb over the bump of his nose and the blood residue still on his face, but you think you may like Steve a little roughed up. You stay close to each other, breathing together and sharing kisses in the night time, so absorbed in your own bubble that you don’t hear someone come in.

“The fuck is this, Steve?”

Fuck, Bucky. 

“Couldn’t you have been a little better at aiming your clothes? We’re all glad you’re finally together, but loud and untidy as well as sex in the common area? Come on.”

You can hear the humour in his words, but they do hold some sincerity, making you blush and chuckle. Next thing you know, your bra is being thrown at the pair of you, landing in Steve’s messed up hair.

“Thanks buck...” you say with a meek giggle, kissing Steve and removing your bra from his face.

“Round two? My room?” He suggests, eyebrows wiggling. 

“Promise you’ll let me clean you up first?!” You insist, kissing his shoulder and beaming at him. 

“Promise.”

[afolderfullofstories]

Day 24: Unintentional

Note: Having ‘The Plagues’ on repeat does things to you. Nyway, the next part is a continuation of this. Hopefully by next week? I wish I had more time to write and really build up this AU but I kinda have to settle for scenes. 

Pavi was gathered with the other rebel leaders. It’s been 5 years since he’s been back in GeneCo but he’s finally home. The rebels had been trying to convince him for years but he always refused. And then they promised him that he would sit on GeneCo and no one would be hurt. Pavi knew that the rebels were not powerful enough to hurt his siblings but his mother had asked him a quiet ‘please’ and Pavi agreed. 

“They’ve locked themselves in the Panic room."

"It doesn't matter. I have an idea." Pavi pointed at the blueprints laid across the table. "See this vent here? It is the only air supply in and out of the room. We can siphon in gas. Something toxic enough to suffocate them but not toxic enough to kill them. They would have no choice but to come out."

"Pavi, are you-" Isabella cut herself of. 

"It's ok, mama. I've confirmed it with the scientists. The concentration won't be toxic to an adult."

"I...  if you're sure, Pavi."

"It ok mama. They will be fine."

“But…” Isabella cut herself off as the rebel leader sent her a warning glare. 

They did as he suggested, siphoning the gas into the room and just waited. He didn’t know how long it would take, but Pavi knew his siblings were stubborn enough to stay in there until the last second. 

And so, he could barely hide his surprise at how soon they surrendered. Barely a couple of hours had passed. Pavi expected at least a day or two. Pavi furrowed his brow. He told the men to clear the gas in the room. "Let me go in first. Defuse the situation."

Pavi headed to the room as soon as the gas cleared. He looked up to the cameras and the doors slid open. Amber sent him a glare and looked away. Luigi had his back towards him. There was a third person in the room. A woman, Luigi's wife. Pavi had been surprised when he heard the news over 4 years ago.

"It's over, fratello. We've won."

"Aren't you proud?" Amber spat. 

"Come now sorella. Don't be a spoilsport. The Pavi managed to get you out."

"You...you did this?" Amber's pained expression nearly made him pull away. "Of course. How else would they know which vent to use?"

"You fucking bastard!" There was nothing but hatred on the woman's face.

"Calm down, Bella. The Pavi has-a negotiated safety for everyone. No one has to get hurt."

Amber let out a bitter laugh.

"I mean it, sorella. It's like I've told you  before, no one will get hurt."

"Jac has nothing to do with this." Came his brother's voice finally. But he refused to turn towards him. 

"Of course. Your Bella is-a free to go."

Jacqueline just stared at her husband. She approached him slowly and placed a hand onto his cheek. 

Luigi leant into her hand. "Wait for me."

"Of course, my love." She bent down by her husband's side, facing her back towards him. 

Luigi leant his head into her neck. "I'm sorry."

They stayed that way for a moment before she pulled away. She and Amber shared a look. Amber just nodded to her. 

Pavi felt strangely left out. He knows he was the one who chose to leave but...now he felt like an outsider within his own family. 

Jacqueline headed towards him. He stepped aside and let her through the door. A guard raised his gun as soon as the door opened. 

“Easy. She’s not involved. She can leave.”

The guard nodded. “I’ll bring her to the others first.” 

“She can’t help us.” 

“Regardless.” 

“She’s not to be harmed.” 

“Yes, sir.” The doors slid shut. 

“You know, if it’s just being in charge that you liked, I would have given you GeneCo.” 

Pavi sighed. “It’s not like that, sorella.” 

“Then why? Why betray us like this?” 

“Sorella.” Pavi sighed. 

“Or are you just seeking mommy’s approval? You didn’t get it from Daddy, so you’re getting it from her?” 

Maybe. “It’s more complicated than that, sorella.” 

“I hope your new friends are worth it.” She spat.

“It didn’t have to go this far. I told you to surrender from the start. I told you once I was in power we could work something out.” 

“And we were supposed to just trust we’d be safe?” 

“Don’t you trust me sorella?”

“I don’t trust your friends.” She spat. “All this, this torture you’ve put us through. And we’re supposed to just trust you.” “If you had listened to me, none of this needed to happen. If you had just listened to me from the start-”

“Enough.” 

Pavi glanced at his brother but his back was still towards him. He still refused to turn; refused to speak to him. “Fratello, I am right and you know it. If you weren’t so stubborn and just listened to me; this didn’t need to happen. You did this. You-”

“Pavi, stop it!” Amber cried out. 

Pavi glanced at his sister then back at his brother. Luigi was curled into himself, shaking. 

“Fratello…this…this wasn’t anything personal. I just…”

“You chose your side.” Amber spat. 

“This was the most peaceful outcome. No one had to get hurt. I take control of GeneCo. The rebels are satisfied. Mama is happy. And we can be a family again.” 

Amber looked away from him. “It’s too late for that, brother.” 

Something settled in the pit of Pavi’s gut. “You don’t mean that.” 

“You made your choice, brother.”

“Sorella, this wasn’t personal.”

Amber refused to look at him. 

Pavi turned towards his brother instead. “Fratello, this wasn’t personal. This was the best outcome for everyone.” 

His brother refused to turn; refused to say anything. 

Pavi rather he yelled or screamed or reacted. Not ignoring him like this. “Fratello, look at me.”

Luigi still refused to move. 

“Fratello, look at me!” Pavi marched up and stood in front of his brother. That was when he saw it. Cradled in his brother’s arms was a small sleeping child. No. Not sleeping. The boy was too still; too pale. The gas concentration was not toxic to adults but… Something clenched in Pavi’s chest. “I didn’t know.” A child. Their family was all over the news. He would have heard of a child. Just like Luigi’s wedding. He would have heard of it. “Fratello, I didn’t know.” He didn’t expect a child. The boy was so small. The concentration would have been too high. He stumbled back. “No one was supposed to get hurt. It wasn’t supposed to be lethal. I didn’t know.” 

Luigi just stared forward, refusing to say anything. 

“Fratello, I-”

A loud explosion shook the room. What was-

Luigi shut his eyes and clutched his son tighter to him. 

The doors opened. The guard ran in. 

“What happened?” 

“The woman was wearing a bomb. When they brought her to the others, she set it off.”

“Is mama alright?” 

“She wasn’t there.”

“How many?”

“A hundred at least. Most of the ones in charge were there.” 

Pavi nodded. “I’ll be there soon.” 

The guard left. 

Pavi turned back towards his siblings. “Why would you do this? I negotiated safety. They will demand retribution.” Pavi’s voice cracked. He had everything planned out. How did everything get so fucked up. “They will not forgive this.” 

“Good.” 

“Fratello…”

“Go find your new friends, Pavi. You don’t have to bother with us.” Amber stood and headed towards Luigi. She laid a hesitant hand on his shoulder. When he didn’t pull away, she held him towards her. 

“No one was supposed to get hurt.” 

Rebels marched into the room and roughly dragged his siblings to their feet. Luigi refused to release his son. 

“Leave him alone.” Amber screamed. 

A guard slammed the butt of his gun into Luigi’s face. 

“They’re not to be harmed.” Pavi could only watch numbly as they ripped the boy from Luigi’s arms and lead them out of the room. Pavi’s legs felt weak. He had everything planned. Why did this happen? A child. “I didn’t know.” Pavi crumpled to the ground. “No one was supposed to get hurt.” The child was so small. He didn’t deserve this. Pavi planned everything so well. How did they keep the child a secret? “I didn’t know.” His nephew. He murdered his nephew in cold blood. He… “I didn’t know.” 

[tinyboxxtink]

“My Fairy Abogado” *Part 10*

Dammit I usually like to keep my stories around 10 chapters, but the whole ice cream banter was too good and the crescendo I want is way too long to not have it’s own chapter. Also, some Barisi thrown in there for ya. LoL. 

I suppose it’ll be one more chapter and an epilogue? Maybe? 

Tag List:

@dumauier

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@word-scribbless

@objection-argumentative

@wanniiieeee

Master List

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

FINALE

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

After stitching you up, and after a long conversation convincing the nurse that Rafael had not done the number on your body, you two were finally leaving the ER.

“Alright buddy, you promised me ice cream,” You hung on Rafael’s arm as you walked out to the awaiting SUV.

“You really wanna get ice cream without the kids?” Rafael asked as he helped you into the backseat once again.

“Uh are you kidding? I don’t have to fight with them over what flavors they want, or if it’s too expensive and they have to share, and not worrying about Chloe getting it all over herself, doing ANYTHING in public without the kids is a luxury I miss the most,” You felt guilty about rambling about your siblings, but it was awesome being able to just vent.

“Alright Alright, I get it-- having kids sucks,” Rafael laughed.

“I mean don’t get me wrong; I love my brother and sisters. I’m just not...cut out to be a mother. Not right now, anyway,” You looked around the car awkwardly, kicking yourself for bringing up kids so soon.

“Yeah, I never really saw the point in kids,” Rafael chuckled. 

“So you don’t want them, ever?” You were a bit taken aback. It shouldn’t be shocking to you really; Rafael was getting up there, and he seemed to like his things nice and tidy. He must’ve seen the look on your face because he quickly added--

“I mean….” He gulped. “I guess, with the right person…” 

“You know for a lawyer, lying is not your strong suit,” You snickered.

You finally arrived at a nearby ice cream place; Rafael helped you out and you both walked inside while your copper stood outside.

“Doesn’t he want anything?” You nodded to the man.

“He’s fine,” Rafael replied, not even looking back at him. 

“Hey guy, what’s your name?” You turned to talk to him. 

“Carisi ma’am, Sonny Carisi,” He nodded at you. 

“Sonny do you really not want any ice cream, or is Big Bad Barba being a tyrant?” 

“I could go for a scoop,” 

“See?” You smiled triumphantly. 

“He’s like a puppy baby, you feed him once he’ll just keep coming around,” He nodded at Sonny. “Trust me, I know,” He rolled his eyes. 

“You can get ice cream but you wait in the car Carisi,” He looked at him sternly.

“Copy that, counselor,” Sonny replied very seriously.

“Jesus Rafael, what is this guy your bitch or what?” You hit him softly. 

“Oh no ma’am, I wanna be a lawyer just like Mr. Barba so I spend as much time with him as I can,” He looked at Barba with puppy dog eyes. “As a mentor,” He quickly added, looking at the ground. 

“Oh um-- yeah okay, cool?” You smiled awkwardly at him, then noticed Rafael was getting very uncomfortable the more he talked.

“....Wait… feed him once...Rafael!” You whispered so Sonny wouldn’t hear you.

“ONE night, ONE time,” He rubbed the back of his neck looking around the place awkwardly.

“Mmmm...both sides, noted,” You winked. 

“Sonny go ahead,” Barba nodded to the woman at the counter.

“What can I get you?” She smiled at the three of you. 

“Two scoops of Rocky Road, please,” Sonny beamed. 

“Um I’ll have a scoop of chocolate mint,” You decided.

“A scoop of vanilla for me,” Rafael added.

“Why is that not surprising to me?” You rolled your eyes.

“What? I have simple tastes,”

“Uh huh,”  

Rafael paid and the three of you waited for your ice cream at the other end of the counter. Soon enough the woman handed out your ice creams and bid you a good day.

“Thanks Mr. Barba, I’m gonna go call Amanda and see what’s up at the station,” Sonny smiled and headed back outside with his ice cream.

“See? Now he has a new master,” Rafael chuckled. 

“Yeah I doubt that-- you’re kind of hard to top, counselor,” You nudged him.

“He didn’t have any problem,” He smirked. 

“OKAY, I think we’re good in the ghosts of sexual past portion of the evening,” You declared rather loudly as you sat in a booth near the door.

“Sorry Y/N, I didn’t know you were such a prude,” He smirked.

“I’m sorry if I don’t want to picture mi novio  being topped by a dude,” You rolled your eyes.

“Your boyfriend?” He asked in amusement.

“I mean...I did save your life, twice,” You pointed out.

“Mmmm true-- I suppose that’s girlfriend material,” Rafael nodded with a smile.

“Damn straight,” You nodded back, as you both continued to eat your ice cream in snarky matrimony. 

“So, no kids, no pets?” 

“I don’t have any currently, but I could see maybe getting a cat, or a small dog,” 

“Oh my god could you be any more of an old lady?” You giggled.

“Hey! I live in an apartment in New York City, I don’t want some huge dog cooped up in it all day!” He defended. “That’s just cruel,” 

“Fair point,” You licked your ice cream. “No kids I can live with, no pets is a deal breaker though,” 

“Really now?” He raised his eyebrow as he ate his own ice cream. “Noted,”

“So do you have any?” You nibbled on your cone.

“What?”

“Deal breakers,” You replied in a “duh” tone.

“Just one,” He replied nonchalantly.

“What’s that?” 

“If they’re not you,” He grinned.

“Oh gaaaaaaggggg,” You made gagging noises with a giggle. “Be more cheesy, please,” 

“Okay okay, one deal breaker--”

“Go on,” You were on the edge of your seat.

“Wearing socks during sex,” 

“Are you serious?” You cackled as you swallowed the rest of your cone.

“Yes! I am very serious,” Rafael nodded as he finished his cone. “Ask Carisi,” 

“Oh God,” You shook your head with a laugh as you both walked back out to the car.

“Hey uh, Mr. Barba Amanda says they might need you down at the station,” 

“Really? Now?” Rafael ask, annoyed.

“It’s what she said…” Sonny replied with a shrug.

“It’s fine, baby I need to go check on the kids anyway, they’re probably freaking out by now,” 

“Yeah alright,” He sighed sadly.

Soon enough you were pulling back up behind your back door. Rafael helped you out of the car and just held you in his arms for a moment.

“You sure you’re ok?”

“Are you kidding? The Diablo’s are gone for good, I got a boyfriend AND ice cream!” you giggled, pulling him into a kiss. 

“Boyfriend?” Beto’s voice bellowed.

“Ice cream?!” Chloe’s high voice chimed in.

You both turned suddenly to see all three kids standing at the back door slack jawed.

“Are the Diablo’s really gone?” Yaz asked, being the only one who hadn’t joined in yet.

“Yes, they are gone-- THANKS to Rafael,” You eyed Beto while Chloe took off for Rafael’s arms.

“¡Gracias, Rafael!!!” She squealed.

“De nada, princesa,” He kissed her cheek.

“...Did you really get ice cream without us?” Chloe looked at him with the saddest eyes.

“Blame your sister,” Rafael nodded at you.

“Y/N!!!!!” She yelled angrily.

“Gee thanks,” 

“You insisted!” 

“I got sh---a boo boo!!” You covered your tracks, causing your siblings to finally notice the shape you were in.

“Oh my God what happened to you?!”

“Diablo’s” You said softly.

“Because of HIM?” Beto clenched his fists.

“NO, Rafael saved me Beto,” 

“Actually, to be honest Beto” He put a shoulder on Beto’s shoulder “She saved me.” 

“We saved each other,” You laid your head on his shoulder.

“Gag,” Yaz made gagging noises behind you.

“Anyway, Rafael is leaving now BUT-- maybe if you guys do all your homework and eat all your dinner AND go to bed early, we’ll see if you can convince him to take you to get some tomorrow,”

“Really?!” Chloe exclaimed excitedly. “I’m gonna go do all of it RIGHT NOW,” She gave Rafael one more hug and ran inside.

“Chloe’s easy to buy off vato-- me, not so much,” Beto approached Rafael.

“I’d be careful Beto, he used to be a Chico Grande,” You warned with a sly smile.

“Wha-- seriously?” Beto’s eyes widened. “No way….tu suaves,” 

“Oh really, too soft? You wanna go, ese?” Rafael licked his lips, playing into Beto’s game.

“BOYS,” You stepped in between them.

“You, go do your homework,” You looked at Beto, then turned to Rafael, “And you-- stop picking on my little brother,” 

“He started it!” 

“esto no ha terminado, vato,” Beto warned, making the “I’m watching you” sign as he walked back inside with Yaz who just rolled her eyes. As soon as they were gone you turned and slapped Rafael across the chest.

“What?! What did I do?” He threw his hands up innocently. 

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” You wrapped your arms around his neck. 

“And you love it,” He smirked.

“God help me, I do,” You shook your head as he pulled you into a deep kiss. 

“Te amo, mi angel,” He whispered as he stroked your hair. 

“Yo también te quiero, Rafa,” You stared lovingly into his beautiful green eyes. He gave you one last kiss and hopped in the front of the SUV. Sonny waved goodbye to you as they drove off and you headed inside.

------

The next few weeks went by pretty uneventful. You decided to rip out the booths that had the bullet holes behind them and put in a stage, starting Karaoke Nights every Friday night. It was a great money maker to your surprise, since it had been Ash’s idea. She was a pretty good business woman, you wondered how much Rafael had rubbed off on her over the years. 

One Friday night, Ash was getting ready to host the usual Karaoke Party, when Rafael came through the front door. He was casually dressed, in his jeans and t-shirt with the leather jacket. He had learned very quickly that you much preferred him in paisano, plus he didn’t look like he had taken a wrong turn at 5th avenue. This was the first Friday he was able to make, and when he had come and seen you over the past few weeks Ash had found ways to avoid him. Tonight though, she was right up front when he walked in. 

“Ash...can we talk?” He gestured to the side.

“Go ahead, start talking,” She gestured, indicating she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Ash I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole story behind the money I gave you,” He put his hand out. “I should have been honest with you right up front but, you were SO young,” 

“Yeah….I get it,” She reluctantly took his hand in return. “You did get rid of the Diablo’s, I guess that gets you some points,” 

“Well I brought you something,” He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Ashtawnja. She took it and unfolded the paper, her eyes grew wide. 

“Really? You still want me to have this? Even after I yelled at you?” 

“Yeah, but it’s not guilt money anymore,” He nodded at the check. “Look at the ‘reason’ line,” 

“Creo en ti” She read with tears in her eyes. “Do you really? Believe in me?” 

“Si, Claro,” He smiled, pulling her into a hug. “Of course I do,”. Pulling back from the hug, Rafael felt his phone going off in his pocket. 

“Barba,” He answered, listening to the other person. He nodded as they went on, then his eyes began to brighten. “Really?! Are you sure? What time?” He looked over at Ash who just looked at him in confusion, the more excited he became the more she was confused. 

“Right right, yeah I’m on my way!” He hung up the phone and hugged Ash. 

“Whoa whoa whoa there abogado, you know I hate mushy gushy,” She pushed him off with a laugh.

“Right,” He smiled.

“So who was that?”

“Oh right--- tell Y/N I had to go, I’ll call her later I swear!!” He told her as he ran out the door, just as you were walking up. 

“Was that Rafael?” You asked.

“Yeah, he got a phone call and ran out of here, said he’d call you later,” 

“Wha--Why?” You looked out the window but Rafael was long gone. 

“I don’t know, but he was pretty happy,” She shrugged, putting her check into her pocket. 

Who had called him and why was he so happy about it??5

[grimbeak]

,,,,I was thinking ab @elementalmasteroffandom ‘s villain Jay theory again ((also im so sorry queen i keep bothering you and tagging you hhhh)) and like. I was thinking about how mb Jay would die at the end of the season, probably killed by mostly accident by Kai, the one who tends to insult him most, or by all the ninja combined, confirming the fact that he thinks they all hate him. 

So, the ninja go back to their island home probably all depressed and more than a bit traumatized (although that isn’t new), while Jay is dead.

But...

We don’t know much about the tribe, so I was thinking ((this is mostly to vent my own ideas, I find this incredibly unlikely to actually happen.)), what if they have a way to bring back the dead?

But there’s a price. 

So Jay gets brought back as a ghost... with no memories of fighting the other ninja, going evil, or how he died. This would defin be very interesting to see, as all the ninja would kind of have to skirt around him and avoid telling him what actually happened on the island- he’d probably find out anyway, from his memory returning or a tribe member telling him towards the end of the season.

Anyway here’s some long drabbles for it

Just after Jay gets brought back: 

Jay blinks awake, squinting at the sun in his eyes. “What...” He pushes himself up, not exactly...

Not exactly sure how he got here.

Glancing around, he can see... the ocean. And sand. He’s probably on a beach, then, or Zane had gone haywire again and filled the training room with sand and water. That had been a weird Tuesday. 

He looks around. There isn’t anyone else there, which was weird, considering he has absolutely no memory of how he got here. There’s a sort of... numb feeling, to his entire body, and it’s starting to make Jay very uncomfortable. Plus, there’s the fact that he can’t exactly feel the sand underneath him, despite his entire back probably being covered in it. Oh, gosh, he hopes he doesn’t have sand in his hair. That takes forever to get out. 

He swipes at his head, and-

Nothing.

He can... Jay can feel his hand on his hair, feel the pressure of it, but not the texture. It’s like he’s-

His arm is green and see-through.

Jay looks down. He can see the sand through his gi, slightly darker tinted. 

He pats the sand. Nothing. He can see the imprint that his fingers left on it, but he can’t feel it.

...OK. This is fine. This is perfectly fine.

“Alright. OK. We can... we can figure this out.” Why is he saying we, there’s no one else here. 

There’s no one else here.

He’s alone.

Alone and a ghost, and how is he a ghost, and hey at least he’s far enough away from the water, and also why doesn’t he remember dying? Do you remember dying? Did he even die? Cole... Cole didn’t die, not really, he just became a ghost for a while. 

...Jay doesn’t even remember how he got here, and if that’s not concerning enough, the last thing he remembers is arriving on the island. Then it’s just a blank. He vaguely remembers something about lightning, a bunch of people, and a blonde woman that looked strangely familiar, but nothing really else. 

“OK. I’m talking to myself. Like Cole does. Is it just a ghost thing to talk to yourself? Must get lonely.” He pauses, for a moment. The others. He needs to find the others, somehow. 

Can he make his dragon as a ghost? Did Cole’s powers work when he was a ghost? Jay can’t really remember, but... hey, he’ll figure it out.

Now he just needs to get off this island.

When Jay eventually finds the other ninja: 

Kai brandishing a sword at him was definitely not what Jay expected to see after he popped through the temple wall. 

Terrified screaming, sure, maybe even a tearful reunion, but definitely not a sword pointed at his neck. 

Jay’s hands are up, his back is pressed against the wall (on his journey back to the temple, he’s begun to figure out exactly how being a ghost works, and how much strength it takes him to allow others to touch him. He nearly got evaporated a few times in sudden rainstorms, but it’s a good thing umbrellas exist. Also overhangs.), and his eyes are wide. “Ok, Ok! Calm down, it’s just me! Don’t stab me!” He pauses. “Wait, can you stab me? I mean, I’m a ghost, can you even- was Cole able to get stabbed when he was a ghost? ...I think he got shot and the bullet went though him, once, but you guys probably don’t remember that.”

Kai narrows his eyes. “What are you doing here, how are you here, you’re de-” he pauses, eyes widening. “You’re a ghost.”

Jay attempts to push Kai’s sword down, but the tip of it is shoved forward until it’s barely a breath away from impaling him (or... going through him, he supposes). “Yeah, I am. Don’t know how. Do you know how? Took a while to get here, y’know, nearly fell into the ocean a few times...” Jay pauses, as Kai’s face grows more and more bewildered. “Do you... weren’t you guys there? We were on an island, and-”

There’s a sudden noise from the other room, as Cole and Nya rush in, holding their appropriate weapons. “We heard you yell, Kai, what’s going-” Nya stops as her eyes land on Jay, her face changing from shocked to pained to utter hatred in the span of a few seconds. “You.” 

“Nya, wait, I-” Jay barely has time to speak before she’s rushing towards him, and just before he can get A: stabbed or B: splashed with water (hopefully not B), Nya stops suddenly. 

“You’re... you’re a ghost.”

“Yeah.” Jay decides this would be a good time to drop the other bombshell. “And I have no idea why or how.” 

***

“So,” Kai says, in a strained voice, “you don’t remember anything.” 

“No.” Jay glances around the room. “Last thing I remember is getting to the island with you guys, and then... nothing, really. Just a blank.”

It’s been about an hour since Jay’s first confrontation with Kai, and in that time he’s almost gotten killed four separate times. Or, well, whatever you can do to a ghost in the lines of killing. First by Kai, then by Nya, then by Lloyd and Zane, in that order. Master Wu had been more shocked rather than anything else, but at least he hadn’t tried to commit murder. Jay’s explained everything to the other ninja- what happened after he woke up on the beach, how he got back to the city (stowing away on ships is surprisingly easy), and how he has, in fact, zero memories of dying. 

“So,” Jay says after a moment of very awkward silence, “how did I die, anyway? You guys were on the island too, so...” 

The others freeze, and Jay has the distinct feeling that something happened that was very bad and very wrong. Kai, apparently deciding to take one for the team, speaks up. “You... you fell off a cliff.”

Jay considers this. “I know you’re lying,” he says eventually, “but it’s- it’s a very good lie. That definitely seems like something I would do.” He stands up, pretending not to notice the way Zane’s hand tightens on his bow, and how Lloyd’s fingers start to spark. “On that note, I’m tired, you guys probably want to talk in private, I want sleep. G’night.” He walks off to his room, secretly hoping that there aren’t any pictures of him with darts thrown at it. 

Kai and the other’s reactions to ghost Jay: 

“So Jay,” Nya eventually says, after the ghost version of her ex(?)-boyfriend makes his way towards his former room, “is dead. And a ghost. With no memories of him dying.” 

Master Wu, who has gone to make tea to deal with his shock, makes an exceptionally loud clanging sound, probably as a precaution so Jay doesn’t hear any of the conversation. Pixal is absent, having gone on a two-week long mission barely a few days before Jay showed up. 

“Yes,” Kai confirms. “This is bad.” 

Cole nods, biting his lip. “He doesn’t... do you think he’ll find out? That he went bad, I mean.”

“I hope not,” Lloyd mutters, speaking for the first time since he yelled at Jay around an hour ago. “Honestly, it’s better if he just doesn’t figure it out. We can just... make up a believable lie for him, and hopefully, if he doesn’t get turned back into a human, he won’t remember. I don’t want him to know that we were the reason he’s dead. Even though it was technically his fault.”

“Yes,” Zane adds. “The fact that Jay’s dead is, in fact, his own fault. We were merely trying to stop him from causing any more harm to us, himself, or the people of Ninjago.” The nindroid pauses, for a moment, likely remembering how they all combined their elemental powers (well... most of them) to take the lightning master down. “So, I suppose we’ll just have to keep him under close watch. Don’t let him go out alone, and I can see if I can attach a tracker to him- one that works on ghosts. Perhaps one with deepstone embedded in it, so we can detain him if necessary.”

“Yeah,” Kai says. “We can do this. We’ll handle Jay, protect Ninjago, and hope that he doesn’t remember anytime soon.”  

[craniumhurricane]

call me, baby, if you need a friend

Cleaning up some old WIPs. This has been in my drafts since end of season 2/around season 3.

Basically 4 times Clarke calls Bellamy and 1 time that Bellamy calls Clarke.

Thank you @casleyislove and @sushigirlali for always reading things before I post them!

[ On AO3! ]

___

(i)

It's a quiet night in at the Blake apartment. Or, at least, for Bellamy it is. He's having a nice Friday night by himself after surviving a truly grueling week of finals. Octavia tried to convince him to go out and celebrate the end of the semester the "right way," but he turned her down… he's still not quite sure how he managed to do that.

His feet are currently propped up on the coffee table with a large bowl of store brand cocoa puffs in his lap. Bellamy may be an adult but damn if he isn’t going to celebrate the end of the term with sugary cereal… nevermind that he didn’t actually make time to grocery shop this week. The TV was queued and ready for the marathon of Ancient Aliens episodes he’d missed due to studying, and he was just about to press play when he hears a short but insistent buzzing sound.  

Glancing around, his eyes land on Octavia’s phone sitting on the corner of the coffee table. She must have left it in her hurry to leave since she was running late to meet up with her boyfriend.

Bellamy keeps his eyes on it for a second before deciding to ignore it, and once again his finger hovers over the play button on the remote. Then the phone lights up again, this time with a phone call; a picture of Octavia and a curly haired blonde that he recognizes, the name CLARKE THE GRIFFIN flashing across the screen. He considers ignoring it for a second time but... if she’s resorting to actually calling instead of texting again then something could be seriously wrong.

Bellamy swipes his thumb across the screen to answer and brings the phone to his ear but before he can even say anything a voice on the other side interjects immediately.

“Men are dicks,” the woman says without preamble. “No! Worse than that. They're weird tumors that grow on dicks," she pauses, seems to think about it, and then adds, "Preferably life threatening.”

Bellamy blinks a few times before he answers, “I'm sure you're right, but don't you think that's a bit harsh?”

The line is quiet. He can hear her shifting the phone, no doubt checking the screen to make sure she called the right person.

“Octavia?”

“Bellamy.”

Clarke huffs. “Where's Octavia?” she snaps. He can hear the annoyance seeping into her tone, which in turn just makes him feel his own frustrations start to rise.

He tamps it down though. “On a date,” he answers.

She deflates at that, “Oh right. One month anniversary with Lincoln.”

He hums a confirmation and then they’re silent for a few minutes. So long that it’s Bellamy’s turn to look at the phone and make sure she’s still there. “Did you need something?” he asks once he sees that the call is still, in fact, in progress.

She takes a deep breath before answering, “I ended things with Finn tonight.”

Bellamy had only met Finn Collins a handful of times; the guy was fine except for a little cocky… and he always seemed to want to show off in front of pretty girls. His hair was too long and always styled like he was some kind of frat boy that came from big money even though Bellamy's 100% sure he never so much as pledged.

And then there was that one time he flirted with Octavia.

Ok, so Bellamy didn’t like the guy. But a break up is still a shitty thing to go through which is why he says, “I’m sorry,” and finds that he means it.

“Not your fault,” Clarke says immediately, “But I was kind of looking for someone to watch me binge drink and listen to me vent.”

He understands that, having gone through the same thing when he broke up with Roma at the start of the term. If you could really call them “hooking up occasionally” the same thing as dating, but still, getting drunk with Miller had been essential in the whole moving on process.

“You want to come over here anyway?” he offers carefully, casually. He doesn’t mind Clarke. She’s younger than him, around Octavia’s age. They aren’t exactly friends, but he would consider them a little more than acquaintances. Enough that it shouldn’t be too weird for him to invite her over even without his sister present. Plus, her getting drunk here is a better alternative than her getting drunk by herself in some bar.

“You don’t mind?” she asks and he thinks he hears relief in her voice, “I was kind of already on my way over to your guy’s place... I don’t really feel like going out and I really don't feel like being depressed and alone in my dorm right now.”

“Nah,” he says and then tries a joke to brighten her spirits, “Sounds like something fun to watch. I’ll order food.”

“Chinese would be great,” and he swears he can hear a smile in her voice so he’ll count his dumb joke as a victory. “Thanks, Bellamy, see you soon.”

He's not even a little bit mad about dumping out his now soggy cereal.

*

(ii)

“So, you’ve been in school for basically forever. Is it normal for a person to experience this amount of stress?”

Bellamy’s lips twitch as he holds his phone to his ear. After Clarke crashed his Friday night in, and spilled on the whole cheating Finn debacle while they did shots, Bellamy figured he should give her his own cell phone number. As much as he hated to admit it, and honestly he never will, his sister and her boyfriend were getting serious, so who knows how much Octavia would be available for late night bitchfests about significant others, fellow students, and the human population in general. Which were just a few of the topics they discussed that night. Hanging out with Clarke ended up being kind of fun, a better night than he originally planned. She even let him watch a little of his marathon and offered her own commentary. Bellamy would do it again… which is something else he would never admit.

It's not like they suddenly talk every day, but it’s a near thing. They would send each other the occasional text when one of them sees something that the other absolutely has to know about. Mostly, he gets pictures of old dogs she sees at the park, asking if this will be him in 20 years. Bellamy responds in kind with memes about college life and rubbing it in her face that they no longer apply to him since he graduated last semester.

But sometimes she reaches out to him if there is something particularly bothering her. Such as dealing with egotistical dickwads that consider themselves professors and shutting down female students in a male dominated class.

Clarke’s probably the only person that ever calls him and can never start the conversation with a simple ‘Hello’. Actually, she’s probably the only person that actually still calls him.

“I just got a job teaching so that insult isn't going to work anymore since I literally will be in a school as part of my job,” is his first response before he turns to one of concern, “Midterms got ya down?”

“It’s just,” she gives an exasperated sigh before continuing, “I want to do something that helps people, I know I want to help people… But maybe I don't want to help people the way my mom wants me to help people...ya know?”

“You’re going to have to give me more to go on here, Princess-”

“I’m thinking about switching my major,” she says abruptly, like she’s ripping off a band aid.

He’s silent, waiting to see if she’s going to say anything else. When it becomes clear she’s waiting for him to say something he responds honestly, “If being a doctor isn’t something you want to do, then you shouldn’t do it.”

“But-”

“What your mom wants you to do shouldn’t overrule what you want to do, Clarke,” he interrupts her. Due to the increasing amount of time he’s been spending with Clarke, he’s learned that the Griffins have always had a capital “P” Plan and he knows that Clarke has a hard time knowing when she can push the boundaries of said Plan.

She’s silent again and Bellamy’s starting to think he’s going to have to prod her a second time. He’s got the beginnings of his big speech all prepared when finally she speaks up. “I’m thinking about going into Art Therapy,” She says thoughtfully, “Or maybe teaching? Helping out underprivileged kids...or hell, even underprivileged adults. Or maybe something for the community?”

His lips twitch on another smile at hearing the beginnings of a hint of passion in her voice. “Teaching can be very rewarding,” he says magnanimously.

She snorts and it turns into a full laugh, “You haven't even started yet! It could be the worst thing you’ve ever done and a total waste of your degree.”

“Your confidence in me really is touching,” he deadpans and then adds simply, “You’re an amazing artist, Clarke. I think doing something with that could be something you'd enjoy and be really really good at.”

She’s quiet when she asks, “You think I’m amazing? You’ve never told me that.” And Bellamy swears he can hear that smile in her voice again. The one he always looks forward to. The one he tries to coax out of her without realizing he’s doing it.

He feels his cheeks start to heat up and even though she can't see him, he feels the need to brush it off. “Yeah, well, I generally try to be as dickish as possible so…”

She snorts again and damn if he didn’t feel a slight flutter in his chest.

“For the record, I think you’re going to be an amazing teacher,” she says it so matter-of-factly but he’ll have to dwell on it later because she sobers and then asks softly, “So, you think I should do it?”

It’s not hard for him to build her up. She spends so much time being there for the rest of their slowly merging friend groups that she rarely takes time to see the greatness in herself. He doesn’t mind helping.

“I think you should do whatever the hell you want.”

*

(iii)

“Women are worse than men.”

Bellamy rubs the sleep from his eyes and glances at the clock; it was almost 3 in the morning. “I thought men were tumors?” he asks around a yawn.

“Yeah, well, women can be tumors too,” Clarke huffs, but she just sounds tired, “Comparing people to tumors is equal opportunity. Strides in feminism are being made, didn’t you know?”

Bellamy pushes himself into a sitting position, suddenly more alert as he picks up the trace of tears in her voice. “You ok?” he asks.

Clarke is silent at first, but he waits her out, he knows that she’ll tell him. “Lexa broke up with me,” she says quietly and then adds in confusion, “Or we broke up with each other? I’m a little unsure. We spent the whole night arguing and then suddenly she was packing up her stuff.” She pauses before taking a shaky breath, “It’s over. We’re over.”

“I’m so sorry, Clarke.”

“She was leaving anyway,” she continues, bitterly, “Some new job. She was leaving in a few weeks and didn’t even bother to tell me. I told her we could make it work long distance, I was willing to try and make it work. That’s when the arguing started. Not just about that but about-,” Clarke abruptly cuts herself off and hesitates, “about... other things. Things I didn’t even know were an issue.” She’s quiet again before she adds, “She didn’t say it but I think she was disappointed that I never suggested going with her...”

The thought makes a quick flash of irritation run through him. “She wanted you to uproot your entire life and go with her,” he summarizes as he tries to adjust the pillows on his bed by beating them, maybe a little too roughly at the thought of her doing just that, before leaning back against them.

“Which is completely crazy, I know,” she hurries to say, “but I wish we could have talked about it.”

“I am sorry, Clarke,” he says again, “I know Lexa seemed like she was it for you.”

“But maybe she wasn’t?” Clarke counters as if trying to reason with herself. “I don’t know. We were both committed to each other, but maybe this was a sign that we weren’t going to be able to make it work long term?” She pauses and Bellamy can hear the gears in her head turning as she processes a way for her to handle this, too explain it to herself. “When we were together,” she hesitates before continuing, and he can imagine her biting her lip, “I was happy... but I felt like a separate version of myself, ya know? Still me, but not completely me?”

Bellamy chews on the words he wants to say and goes with, “Sometimes the person you're with can change you; it's not always a bad thing.” He gets quiet as he adds thoughtfully, “I like to think Gina made me a better person...and she probably did,” he pauses, this time unsure if he should keep going, but Clarke hasn't said anything, so she must be waiting for him to continue, “We tried, tried really hard, to make it work, but eventually you just realize that maybe the relationship isn't going anywhere and what’s best for everyone is just to call it.”

“Wait, you and Gina broke up?” Clarke asks in surprise, “When did that happen!?”

“That's what you got from that?” He rubs a hand over his face as he thinks about it, “About two weeks ago?”

“Shit,” she says and is quiet before asking in a small voice, “Why didn't you tell me?”

“Honestly, I haven't seen a whole lot of you these last few months,” he hears what he said and corrects himself, “We haven’t seen a whole lot of you.” He’s surprised at his ability to keep the bite out of his voice; because the truth was this last year has sucked since Clarke started dating Lexa.

They met at one of Clarke's art gigs. Lexa was cool; fun when she wanted to be, but also a little hard to be around. Most of the time, she seemed to prefer doing things without any of Clarke’s friends.

“I’m sorry,” Clarke says.

“It’s fine,” he answers her and means it. “Gina and I are still good friends.”

“I wasn’t talking about you and Gina,” she says, voice soft.

He realizes what she’s actually apologizing for and he doesn’t know what to say. Because of course he forgives her, he will always forgive her.

The silence lasts too long so he clears his throat and prompts, “Want to come over and get drunk?”

Her laugh through the phone breaks the tension, “It’s like 3 o'clock in the morning.”

“My bar is always open.”

She chuckles. “I really want to hit something,” she says with a determined edge to her voice, “Then maybe get drunk.”

“How about this, we get a few more hours of sleep, wake up at a normal time, and go hit something,” he offers and then adds as if it's an afterthought, “And then get drunk, of course.”

She laughs again, “Oh, of course.” There’s that smile. “I forgot what being single with you was like.”

Bellamy sobers at the thought. It has been awhile since the two of them were single at the same time. “Always here to help, Princess.”

*

(iv)

“Why did I agree to this trip again?”

He’s packing up the essays that are scattered across his desk when she calls, 4 o’clock on the dot. Bellamy tries to suppress a laugh but he’s pretty sure she can at least hear the teasing smile in his voice.

“Just getting back to the hotel?” he asks in lieu of his own greeting.

“Yes!” she exclaims in exasperation. “And if it were up to Josephine, we probably would have walked all of damn Paris tonight,” her voice gets muffled at the end and he can only assume she’s thrown herself face first onto the nearest bed. “I cannot wait for a shower- No! A bath, definitely taking a long, hot bath.”

And now the image of Clarke Griffin in the bath, with just enough bubbles to cover up to her chest, has entered his mind. He shoves it away before anymore thoughts can accompany it.

This used to never be a problem. Sure, he’s always known that Clarke is attractive, but he has never been attracted to her. But ever since he broke up with Gina and she broke up with Lexa, Bellamy has been exceedingly aware of the fact that they have both remained single.

The last time this happened was right after Finn.

Bellamy shakes his head for good measure before responding. “You’re going to fall asleep in the tub and your roommate will find your prune-y, wrinkled body in the morning.” He cringes.  Apparently he wasn’t able to get the image of her completely out of his head.

Clarke scoffs, but he can tell that it’s in an exasperated but fond kind of way. “How is it that you manage to be a buzzkill from over 4,000 miles away?” she asks drily and then pauses before adding, “Actually, Josie would probably just leave me in there for the entire trip and never let on that something was up.”

He turns the key to lock his office behind him and heads for the staff lot. “Don’t worry, if you don’t call to check in, I’ll call the National Guard,” he teases.

“I know you would,” she says simply, like it’s a known fact.

Things have been a little weird after he became aware that they were both single. Mostly because, he’s pretty sure that Clarke has also come to realize it. When he turns to look at her, he often finds her already looking. Their innocent touches are now more frequent and linger just a bit longer.

Bellamy has come to realize that he doesn’t want to be single and the reason he doesn’t want to be single is because he wants his best friend to not be single with him.

There’s just never a right time to tell her.

“So, what did you do today?” he asks.

Despite the exhaustion and jetlag that’s surly setting in, Clarke jumps into an animated retelling of the flight and arriving at their hotel room just in time to change clothes and head back out to walk the streets of Paris to get their bearings before their tours officially start tomorrow.

“I’m a little disappointed that we’re doing the Louvre first thing tomorrow. I was hoping to be a little more alert for that.”

“Your coffee addiction hasn’t stopped just because you’re in another country,” he points out as he gets in his car.

She laughs, “Jeez, you are such an ass.”

He starts the car but doesn’t leave just yet; afraid the long distance call will drop out.

“What are you doing now?” he asks into the comfortable silence.

“Admiring the view,” she admits softly. “It really is gorgeous all lit up. Makes me want to dig out my sketchbook.”

“You have a week, Princess,” he chuckles. “Don’t screw up your jetlag even more by losing track of time in your drawings on the first night.”

She’s quiet again before confessing softer somehow, “It also makes me wish you were here.”

His heart clenches in his chest and he wills himself to sound normal. “Maybe next time,” he tries for teasing but it comes out almost wistful.

“Next time, hmmm?” Clarke hums. “You’d come to Paris with me?” And he’s sure she’s flirting with him.

“Well, maybe not for our first date,” he says, “But maybe, like, our fifth or something.”

Clarke’s quiet for a long time and he’s afraid he’s overstepped, misread the room. He’s about to take it back, play it off as a joke when she finally speaks.

“And what would a first date look like?” she asks with what he thinks is hope in her voice.

He swallows a couple of times. “Well,” he starts, “Since you’re already getting some of the best museum experiences, I’d probably settle for dinner and a movie. Something cheesy that’s playing at the dollar theater; where we’re the only ones there and can yell at the screen.”

She chuckles and his heart flutters, “We already do that, Bell. Quite frequently, actually.”

“Yeah, but if it’s a date then I’d get to kiss you at the end of it.”

“What? No making out during the movie?” she asks and he can picture how cute her face gets when she pouts.

A grin spreads across his face and he’s grateful no one can see how goofy he must look.

“We’ll have to make sure it’s a really bad movie.”

*

(+i)

Clarke rubs some moisturizer on her face before capping the tube and tossing it into her bag on the bed. After ensuring that everything she’s going to need for tomorrow is packed, she zips it up and grabs one of Bellamy’s hoodies to slip on over her clothes.

Ever since he picked her up from the airport when she got back from her trip to Paris, and she ran directly into his arms, giving the other people waiting quite a show, there always seems to be one laying around, waiting for her to find it. She assumes that he gets as much of a thrill out of her wearing them as she does.

She heads down the stairs of their townhouse, passing various pictures and artwork, and shoots Raven one more text not to forget to bring her dress to the venue tomorrow. She’s supposed to help her get ready in the morning along with her mother. In the meantime, Abby has sent a car to pick her up and take her to the hotel. Easier to get ready if she’s already there for the stylist… something else her mother insisted on paying for. No matter how many times Clarke told her she didn’t care what her hair looked like because she was marrying the love of her life.

Clarke locks up the house and greets the driver, slipping into the backseat. She intends to spend the ride lost in thought, going through the checklists that were running through her head.

Their engagement had been on the short side but she didn’t mind. They were both ready to get on with this next chapter in their lives.

Her phone is resting loosely in her hand, face down on her knee, when it starts to vibrate with an incoming call. She holds her breath for a second, praying it isn’t the florist or the caterers. But when she sees the photo of her and Bellamy from New Year’s flash on the screen, she can’t help but smile.

She taps the button and greets him with a sultry, “Hi, handsome.”

“Hey,” he says and she can tell he has a soft smile on his face, the one just for her. “You just leave the house?”

“Yep. On my way to the hotel now, so hopefully you haven’t forgotten anything because it’s too late now.”

“The most important thing is already on its way,” he responds with a teasing lilt.

Clarke can’t help the sharp laugh that escapes her lips, “Oh my god! You are such a sap!”

“I was referring to the ring, obviously, Princess.”

“Oh, obviously,” she says, mock serious.

They chuckle to themselves for a few minutes and she honestly can’t tell if the driver is rolling his eyes or thinks they’re being cute from hearing one side of the conversation.

Bellamy sobers up first only to let out a groan. “I hate whose ever idea this is,” he whines.

“Aren’t you the history professor? Shouldn’t you know where common traditions and such come from?”

He scoffs, “No, I mean I hate whichever of our friends is making us do this.”

The two of them haven’t seen each other since yesterday morning, him having been spirited off by his groomsmen while she was left to spend last night alone in their bed. And now they’re meant to go one more night without seeing each other.

To Bellamy’s point, Clarke isn’t altogether sure why this is a tradition anymore, nor why they are choosing to follow this particular one. She and Bellamy aren’t even that superstitious! And yet somehow they were talked into spending the days leading up to their wedding apart.

“Ah,” she answers him now, “That would be Raven and Miller. Although, I’m pretty sure it had nothing to do with marriage traditions and has everything to do with getting back at us for making out in front of them so much.”

Bellamy scoffs again, “Well, jokes on them, because after tomorrow, I don’t ever have to stop kissing you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she says, “We’ll have to come up to eat at some point.”

The driver pulls up under the awning of the hotel and Clarke gets out and grabs her bag before he’s able to get out and grab it for her. She gives him a wave and a simple thank you before heading through the sliding doors.

“How’s your room?” she asks into the phone as she bypasses the check in desk, her mother having already checked her in and given her the key card to her room this morning when they were getting their nails done.

He heaves a deep sigh. “Lonely,” he answers as she steps into the elevator. From what Clarke knows from his texts, Miller dropped him off here last night and left him to his own devices. Apparently, the best man gets to sleep next to his husband but Bellamy wasn’t allowed to sleep next to his soon-to-be wife.

She makes a split second decision and presses a different button, jolting the elevator to stop sooner than intended. When she steps off she casually offers, “I could help with that.”

“Oh yeah?” He chuckles. “You going to describe for me what you’re wearing?”

“Hmm,” she hums as if she’s considering it. “I could do that… but I was more thinking that I could show you.”

Clarke stops in front of a door and gives it a nice rhythmic knock.

She doesn’t have to wait long before it’s opening and Bellamy is standing in front of her with his phone against his ear and a huge grin on his face.

She lowers her own phone from her ear, pressing the end button without looking.

“Hi, handsome,” she manages before he’s pulling her into his room.

[apocalypseornaw]

Always be Yours- 13

Word Count: 7,747

Story Summary: Follows Dean and Reader through season 9 into Season 10

Chapter Summary: The first blade is finally found but what will the consequences be of it connecting with the mark?

Warnings: blood, death, fighting, cursing

You weren’t sure if your words had any effect or if both of them finally decided to pull their heads out of their asses but you started to notice a shift between Sam and Dean. You’d wake up later some mornings and find them actually talking over breakfast or one of them would make a joke which would result in the other cracking up laughing. The heaviness that had been hanging between them since you and Dean had come back to the bunker was starting to lift and that made you happier than anything to see the two of them finally getting back on the same page. You’d meant what you told them. No matter how much it would’ve hurt you indeed would’ve left if need be to force them to work through it.

You were sitting at the map table next to Sam reading through one of the lore books you’d dug out of the archives that held mention of the first blade. Sam had his computer up researching as well while Dean paced across the floor yet again trying to get Crowley to answer his damn call. 

“Where the hell is he? Not like he’s got a social life” Dean growled and Sam shot you a smirk before saying “Uh are you actually worried?” Dean’s response was an eye roll at getting Crowley’s voicemail yet again. “Guy’s got one job. Find the first blade,bring it back. How hard is that”

“It’s Crowley. He’s not exactly a team player” Sam replied and you nodded in agreement glancing up. Dean sighed then shrugged “Yeah but his ass is on the line too. He goes missing for weeks on end without a peep?” “Well not one that makes sense anyway” he added clicking his voicemail then laying the phone on the table so you and Sam could hear “Listen to this”

Crowley’s voice filled the room “Dean..um..” then the rest of the message was gibberish. “Did he drunk dial you?” Sam asked and you could hear the laugh he was holding back. You raised an eyebrow at Dean “Should I be jealous?” he rolled his eyes at you before turning the voicemail off then picking the phone up again. He sat down as he hit Crowley’s number and shot you a wink. “Nobody holds a candle to you sweetheart”

“Hey look at this” Sam said so you leaned over his shoulder to read what he had on the screen about Cain and Abel while Dean once again cussed Crowley’s voicemail.

------

When the three of you spent an entire day trying to contact Crowley and run down more information on the first blade to no avail you decided on the only other option left, hitting the nearest crossroads. Your shoulder bumped into Dean’s as your half of the devil’s trap met up with his. You glanced up at Sam then nodded so he placed the small box down into the ground then kicked the dirt back over it.

“Daemon, esto subiecto voluntati meae”  You turned in a slow circle looking to see just where the demon would pop up and had to stifle a laugh of shock when Snooki was standing there. “Winchesters” “Gotta say it explains a lot” Dean said and you shook your head “Ok uh look Snooki..Can I call you Snooki?” Sam tried but she shook her head “No. It’s Nicole now” 

Dean rolled his eyes so you spoke “Ok then Nicole. We’ve got two ways this can go down. Option one, the easy way you talk or the easier way” you motioned to the demon blade Sam had just pulled out of his jacket “You still talk”

“I vote for number two” Dean added so you tilted your head in his direction “Well Nikki that makes two votes for that option. What do you say?” “We just want some basic information on Crowley. That’s it” Sam cut in with a shrug. Snooki scoffed “Google him. Are we done?”

You and Dean both cut your eyes at Sam who took two steps towards her before she hollered “Whoa! Not the face! Are you crazy?” she looked between the three of you “Look, what happens in hell stays in hell! I got nothin” “But you do have a pretty sweet deal with Crowley in charge, If Abaddon wins you can kiss all that goodbye” Dean reminded so you threw in “Fancy cars, book deals” “Showbiz can be tough” Dean said with a humorless smirk.

“I’m doing fine thanks” Snooki sounded a bit defensive so Dean looked around at the devil’s trap all of you were standing in “Well good luck landing your next gig inside a devil’s trap” She sighed and looked towards you “What do you want to know?” “Where is Crowley?” you questioned. “Last time I heard he was somewhere in the western pacific” she replied.

“Makes sense” Sam said so she cut in “Really? Floating around in the ocean while his kingdom goes up in flames?” “Meaning?” Dean asked so she explained “Hell’s getting crazy. Even the loyalists want to sign on with Abaddon. She’s gonna make her move”  “huh” you spoke softly cutting your eyes at Dean then at Sam. 

“Are we done? I got a thing.” Snooki asked, flipping her hair. Dean nodded to Sam so he turned to Snooki with a smile as he started the exorcism. “Seriously we had a deal?” She gasped so Dean smirked “See ya snooks”

------

Once you were done with Snooki you headed back to the bunker. Maybe if you started in the last known place Crowley was it could give you some sense of a trail to follow?

You were sitting at the table in the map room across from Sam. He was researching something on his laptop while you emailed a few other hunters you knew to see how the demonic activity was going considering what Snooki had said. Dean walked back into the room and sat a beer down in front of you before handing Sam one. “So..Cain said the first blade was tossed in the deepest ocean, right?” Sam spoke glancing up at Dean then over at you. You nodded so Sam pointed at his screen “That’s the mariana trench. Maybe Crowley found it and it’s a double cross?” he questioned but you shook your head “Doesn’t make sense. Considering all the trouble he went through to get that mark on Dean’s arm” 

Dean nodded in agreement “Y/N’s right. He wants me to power it up and kill the ginger. He set it up” Sam sighed and cut his eyes at you before turning his attention to Dean “Ok assuming he does show up with it, Crowley is only useful to us until we have the blade” you knew where Sam was headed with this and you were in complete agreement with him. “Yeah, so?” Dean asked so you spoke up “So there wouldn’t be anything stopping us from using it on him right?”

Dean’s eyes were on Sam as he answered you “Nothing at all” You took a sip of your beer and looked at Sam with a small shrug before Dean’s phone started ringing. You looked up when he said “Speak of the devil” he sat down on the table right in front of you so you leaned over on his thigh while he answered “Did you find the first blade?” you weren’t trying to hear what excuse Crowley had this time so when Sam looked at you curiously you had no answers.

“Well then what exactly?” he asked after a moment so you looked up to meet his eyes and saw the surprise flash across his face at whatever Crowley had said. “Ok”

------

You were sitting in a chair while Sam sat on the arm of it and Dean leaned against the doorway behind you when Crowley opened the door to his hotel room seemingly surprised at finding the three of you there despite calling. You imagined the way it felt was similar to how Lena felt the few times she’d caught you sneaking back in during your younger years.

“Hello boys, looking lovely as ever Y/N” he greeted so Dean kicked the stiff that was laid across the floor with the toe of his boots. “What do you call this?” “Refreshments?” Crowley offered so you asked “What’s in the bag Crowley?” nodding towards the brown paper bag he held tightly. “Nothing” christ he sounded like a toddler. Sam nodded as he stood up “Really? Then maybe I can..” he snatched the bag out of Crowley’s hand and it ripped to show a pint of AB blood in it. 

“Are you knocking over blood banks?” you asked standing and turning the chair you had been sitting in while Sam drug Crowley over and Dean helped to get him sat down in the chair and the demon cuffs on him. “Come on guys” he tried but they already had him secured. “Look at you. You’re a mess” Dean scolded Crowley as you came to stand next to him.

“You know we were counting on you. You got that damn mark on Dean and couldn’t even follow through?” you shook your head and Dean added “You let us down” “Your slimy followers were counting on you to kill Abaddon!” Sam scolded so you added “You let them down!”

Dean shook his head in disgust “The man with all the mojo. Captain Evil” “It’s pathetic” Sam scoffed and you nodded in agreement. Crowley pulled up his cuffed hand “What is this? An intervention?” “You need to focus Crowley!” Sam said so you spoke up “Get a grip man!” “Are you just gonna let hell go to hell?” Dean pushed.

You couldn’t even a comeback when Crowley looked up at Dean “You don’t know what it’s like to be human!” Dean shook his head then looked at you and Sam. You put up your hands because you were at a loss for once. “It’s your dna.It’s my addiction, my cross, my burden!” 

“All right, take it easy” Dean reasoned but Crowley seemed to be mid vent and not intent on stopping “I see the darkness of it now, the Anthony Weiner of it.It makes you needy” he looked over where the dead woman laid “I needed her. Lola used me. She reported everything I did back to Abaddon” “Crowley did you tell her about the first blade?” Sam questioned and Crowley grimaced “I don’t know. Things get a trifle blurry when I’m medicated” “Shit. If he told Lola,she definitely told Abaddon” you groaned and Dean finished your thought “Which means Abaddon is in the hunt for this thing too”

He turned back to Crowley “All right. You know what? This crap ends now. You’re cut off ok? Kicking it. Cold Turkey.” 

------

The drive back to the bunker with a detoxing demon riding next to you was less than stellar. “Y/N are you sure you don’t want to sit up here with us?” Sam asked considering you were on a deserted stretch of road it would be easy enough for you to simply climb across but you shook your head, side-eyeing Crowley as you said “He doesn’t scare me” Dean met your eyes in the mirror then said “If he even tries to come over his half of the seat dump holy water on his crotch” you shook the black flash you always carried with you “Oh don’t worry. I will”

“Don’t worry sweets wouldn’t want to risk the wrath besides you are clearly claimed” Crowley drawled looking up at Dean who glared at him in return “I’m still wondering if you let it slip to Lola the similarities Cain drew about Y/N and Colette” You realized in that moment you hadn’t told Sam the extent of what Cain had said where you were concerned because he turned around to look at you as Crowley said “I’m fairly certain I didn’t tell anyone to use Y/N to make you behave”

------

Sam was in the armory where Crowley was locked back up trying to form some sort of timeline involving the blade so maybe just maybe it could be found. After he helped Sam get Crowley sorted away Dean came into the library where you were leaning against one of the long tables “Is this where you try to keep me here because we don’t know if Abaddon may target me to stop you?” you asked and he stopped at the doorway with a sigh “Am I that predictable or do you just know me that well?”

You shrugged with a smile “I know you pretty well by now” he walked over as you sat down on the table and scooted back to let your legs hang so he stepped between your legs and laid his head over on your shoulder "Y/N...baby...I know you can take care of yourself. I just can’t stand the thought of you getting hurt because of me.If she laid a finger on you…” he trailed off so you spoke up “If her or her goonies managed to grab me I know for a fact all I’d have to do is stay alive until you and Sam get there. I have trusted my life in your hands for years Dean. Me being in love with you only reinforces that trust" You felt his lips brush against your neck lightly “I won’t let anything happen to you” You pulled back to look up into his eyes before saying “Don’t say it like that. We’re in this together. I’ll fight for you just as quick as you’ll fight for me” a smile tugged at his lips before he said “Oh I know that. I don’t know why but I’ve learned not to question you”  “Now that we have this settled let’s go see if Sam and Crowley have any leads for us” he scrunched his nose up at your words “That just sounds wrong” you laughed when he pulled you off the table to be standing in front of him then leaned up to press a kiss to his lips “It really does, doesn’t it?”

------

After some digging around a lead involving a guy named Andre Develin popped up. Apparently he’d bought the blade off some pirates and had been shopping it around so Sam contacted him to arrange a meet posing as buyers. The plan was when he got there it’d either be option one to spook him with the fed act or option two let Crowley do some digging of his own.

That plan led to the four of you sitting in a dark park waiting for this mystery character. You were sitting on a bench next to Dean while Sam was sitting on the back part of the bench with his feet down next to your hip. Crowley was not too far away so if he was needed for his part he could be close enough.

You weren’t paying too much attention to him until Sam glanced over his shoulder then asked “What is Crowley doing?” you leaned up to look around his legs before saying “I think he’s stealing candy..Dean?” Dean glanced up and nodded “Yeah, he’s stealing candy” Crowley had his arm shoved into the slot of the vending machine up past the elbow.

You shook your head at the sight. “You know at least when Cas was human, he was an ok guy. Should’ve known Crowley would be a douche version” Dean grumbled. You cut your eyes at him and half smiled “First of all Cas was like puppy level adorable as a human and Crowley is always a douche. Why would anything change that?” The shaking of the vending machine got all of your attention so Dean stood up and whisper shouted “HEY. HEY!”

Crowley finally looked up but had yet to take his arm out of the machine “CUT IT MAN! IMAGE!” Dean scoffed so Crowley finally pulled his arm out. “YOU THINK YOU’RE THE KING OF ROTTEN THEN ACT THE DAMN PART” You whisper shouted and almost laughed at how much Crowley looked like a kid that had gotten in trouble when he touched his hands into his jacket pocket then walked back over to his bench.

You sighed and looked up at Dean who was standing in front of you “Do you really think this guy’s gonna show up?” He shrugged “I mean, this isn’t exactly a place where million dollar deals go down” Sam spoke up “Look, word is this Andre Develin character brought the blade from the pirates and he’s been shopping it around. That’s all I found out” you saw movement over Dean’s shoulder so you nodded towards the man when he walked into view “Heads up”

You turned to be standing between Sam and Dean as Sam held his hand out “Mr Develin. We spoke on the phone” Develin simply stared at Sam’s hand until Sam dropped it. “You said you represented a serious collector with an interest in a private transaction” “Did he?” you asked glancing sideways at Sam as Dean dug his badge out and clarified “What he meant to say is that we are with the fbi” you flipped your badge out as well so Develin nodded “Good evening then”

“Wait a second. We just want answers” Sam spoke to stop his retreat. Develin turned around “Read Sartre. Jean-Paul Sartre. I’m merely a facilitator between the buyer and the seller- a conduit” you leaned back as he spoke and when Crowley looked your way you gave a small nod then saw his red demonic essence flow from his usual vessel across into Develin.

As fast as Crowley entered him he was flowing back out apparently having gathered the needed information. Develin asked if he was being detained so you replied “No, not at the moment but we’ll be keeping an eye on you” “Very well” he said with a nod then walked away.

Once he was out of sight the three of you turned to look at Crowley who announced “National institute of antiquities” which was in Kansas City.

------

By the time you’d secured Crowley back at the bunker and got to Kansas City the following day the National institute of antiquities was a crime scene.

You were standing next to Sam while the detective working the scene told the three of you about how the dead guards were good men, had worked there for years and had been thoroughly vetted but an assistant had caught them breaking into a vault “Gets weirder” he said clicking on the screen in his hand before turning it around so you, Sam and Dean could see it.

The screen showed the dead assistant laying on the floor but the weirder part was both guards shooting the other in the heart then shooting the camera out. Clearly demonic. “Anything special about the particular vault they opened?” Sam asked and the detective glanced over at it “Vault one is where they keep rare, new acquisitions while they’re being examined.” “So what was stolen?” you asked and he shook his head “That’s the kicker, nothing. The curator Dr McElroy said the vault’s been empty for weeks” the detective was called over by someone else so the three of you did your own rundown of the scene.

“Just connecting the dots but the blade was put in there when it first got here” Dean spoke and Sam added “The guards were obviously demons so..what? When the vault turned out to be empty they killed the guard meat suits and smoked out?” “And reported back to who?” Dean questioned so you raised a finger “I think we all know who. That ginger bitch is closing in”

------

After the bodies were wheeled out Dr McElroy was finally available for questioning. “So the first blade was never on display?” Sam asked her and she looked at Dean to reply “No authenticated item by that name was ever on these premises. He took the opportunity to push “Authenticated?  Dr McElroy, this blade was stolen and smuggled into the US in violation of treaties with several governments . We can compel you to speak” She had the audacity to give Dean a flirtatious smile “Compel? And what might that involve?”

“Nothing you’re gonna like Ma’am” you replied, stepping in front of Dean and feeling his hand brush against your lower back no doubt in case you felt the need to let your temper flare he could intervene.  “All right, agent. Look I did acquire the so-called first blade. And carbon dating did peg it back to biblical times but the authentication proved unreliable” “So it was in the vault?” Sam asked and she nodded “I removed it myself, the guards didn’t know” “Where is it now?” you questioned and she glanced down then over your shoulder clearly talking to Dean “Several weeks ago, a confidential offer was made to purchase it. I was afraid we’d never authenticate the thing, so” “Who was the buyer” you asked yet again stepping into her line of view.

She smiled “Sorry. The buyer insisted on absolute secrecy” “Well federal statutes trump your little deal. So the buyer..Now” you were trying your best to remain professional but her trying her damndest to flirt with Dean was pissing you off. “You’re a bit pushy agent” “I get that a lot but bully for me my boyfriend loves that about me” you replied so she nodded “I never did know his true identity. He called himself Magnus. Don’t ask me where he lives. I have no idea but I do have a meeting. So here is my number if you need anything else”

She dug out a card and tried to hand it to Dean but he shook his head “No. I won’t be needing anything else” she sighed “Pity” then walked off.  “Fucking bitch” you muttered and felt Dean’s hand at your lower back again gently rubbing “Down Y/N” he whispered and you cut your eyes at him “Don’t act like it wouldn’t have pissed you off had roles been reversed” he smirked “Oh it definitely would’ve but it’s fun seeing you get jealous every now and then, not that there’s any reason for it” Sam cleared his throat with a grin “You two are adorable, really but Magnus.. Albert Magnus. That’s the name the men of letters use when they want to be incognito”

You turned to face him trying to resist the urge to lean into Dean's touch considering you were still working an active scene. “But aren’t they all dead?” he shrugged “Maybe not as dead as we thought” “So back to the bunker?” you asked and he nodded “Back to the bunker”

------

Once all of you were back to the bunker and changed into normal hunting clothes you headed for the armory. Crowley was the one person who could point you in the right direction of whether or not any other men of letters survived Abaddon’s massacre.

Crowley blinked against the lights when you flipped the switch on. “Turndown service?” he asked then cut his eyes at you “I’d like a mint on my pillow” You rolled your eyes as Sam asked him “What do you know about the men of letters massacre of nineteen fifty eight?”

“We know Abaddon missed our grandfather and Larry Ganem, was there anybody else?” Dean added. Crowley looked from Sam to Dean before his eyes landed on you “Let me get this straight. Your lumberjacks lock me in this closet, all of you ignore my suffering and then come barging in here to demand my help?” 

“More or less, yeah” You shrugged. He nodded “Did I or did I not keep my end of the bargain the other night? Quite brilliantly, I might add. We’re partners sweets and you owe me” “Owe you? How the hell do we owe you?” you questioned and he motioned wildly towards Sam “I wouldn’t be here in this mess if it wasn’t for those two. He shot me up,he made me a junkie. All of you kept me stashed away for months while my kingdom falls apart” You glanced towards Sam then towards Dean who both nodded slightly so you turned back to Crowley “What do you want?”

“To get out of this damn room, and a glass of scotch. Then I’ll help” “Fair enough” you replied and Dean nodded in agreement.

-------

You were helping Sam to pull old records while Dean transferred Crowley into the library. When you walked back in carrying one of the boxes Crowley glanced up from his chair and smiled then went back to his scotch.

------

“Ok Crowley we’ve gone through the records for the entire membership of nineteen fifty eight. Every single name matches the men who were killed” Sam announced and Crowley looked up from the porn magazine he was leafing through “That would be the active membership, correct?”

Christ. You, Sam and Dean had been looking through active memberships. Not inactive. Even kicked out members would’ve learned the Magnus moniker. At your shared silence Crowley scoffed “Were you three dropped on your heads a great deal? Like I told you, rumor has it that a rogue member was tossed out on his arse. Does that make him active? Seriously how do you function without me?” 

You rolled your eyes at Crowley then looked back at Dean who had picked up one of the boxes “Infamati Et Obliterati” “Dishonored and forgotten?”  you asked and Crowley smirked “Well at least she knows a little bit”

------

You were looking over the file in front of you when Dean said “Wow. This guy was something” he handed Sam the file in his hand so you glanced over reading over Dean’s shoulder at the paper in his hand “Cuthbert Sinclair? Helluva name”

“I’d have just gone with Magnus” Dean scoffed. “Looks like he designed most of the warding, that keeps the bunker safe” Sam read off his sheet so you pointed to the one in Dean’s hand “Says he was named master of spells right after he was initiated” “I guess his work got a little crazy?” Sam replied before reading off where the leadership called Sinclair’s work “Eccentric and irresponsible”

Dean flicked through multiple folders “These are the projects he proposed, the last two years he was here” “They all have rejected stamped on them” you said and Dean nodded.

“So difficult. Brilliant, ahead of your time, despised for it” Crowley spoke up from the corner and added “Trust me, I know” Dean shook his head but showed you another sheet “Formal separation from men of letters was april nineteen fifty six.He missed the massacre”

“I never knew his name, but I heard someone was out. Did my damndest to find him. Thought he might be my way inside this joint” Crowley threw in from his corner so Sam questioned “Where’d you look?” Crowley glanced up with a smirk “You three up for a road trip?”

 ------

Crowley gave the directions to a seemingly empty field in the middle of a few hundred miles of woods. You walked between Sam and Dean into the clearing. “So this is where your demons tracked him to?” Dean asked and Crowley looked around “Exact spot”

He shook his head “Could never find him. I’m sensing nothing, so if he’s here he’s warded up to the gills” “Well he was a genius at it right?” you offered checking your weapons over. Sam nodded “Sure as hell ain’t gonna be found by a bunch of demons” Crowley turned to face the three of you “Oh like he’s gonna open his heart to you lot, because you’re such prizes?”

“Better, they’re legacies” you replied pointing over your shoulder at both Sam and Dean.

You followed the two of them further into the clearing. “All right, if he’s so hell bent on hiding, maybe he’s watching?” Dean offered so you shrugged “Give it a shot” Sam cleared his throat “Cuthbert Sinclair uh Magnus whatever. We’re Sam and Dean Winchester, Henry Winchester’s grandsons and men of letters ourselves” You decided to throw in “We know what happened back in the day. We don’t necessarily agree with it. We figured maybe you want to tell your side of the story”

You looked around to see no change. The three of you looked back towards Crowley so he pointed behind you. You turned to see a portal opening up. Dean glanced back at you “Keep a weapon handy” you nodded and saw him and Sam both pull weapons so you followed them through the portal.

------

The other side of the portal was a long hallway of either a large house or mansion. You looked down the hall one direction then the other “Which way?” Sam shrugged so Dean pointed in one direction. 

You were walking behind Sam and heard a growl. You turned in enough time to see a fanged woman dive onto Sam so you swung the blade in your hand and felt it bite into her neck so you forced it through. You glanced up to see Dean cut the head off the one who had attacked him. “Everyone good?” he asked so you and Sam nodded.

You heard clapping and realized there were speakers in the ceiling “Bravo” a voice said then continued “Well done” Dean reached out for your arm so you let him pull you next to him. 

A man walked around the corner and smiled at the three of you “Welcome”

------

You sat close to Dean as the man fixed himself a drink “Sorry about the theatricality. I just wanted to see what the three of you were made of” he turned around to face the three of you so Dean asked “What are we underground?”

He shook his head and sat in the chair across from the couch you were sitting on. “No, my fortress is right where you were standing but it’s invisible” “Then you must be Cuthbert Sinclair?” Sam guessed and the man groaned “Ugh. I haven’t gone by that moniker in oh fifty seven years now” “Gotta say you’re looking decent for a guy pushing ninety” you muttered “Well thanks darling” he replied with a smile that earned him a glare from Dean.

Magnus leaned up in his chair “There’s a spell for damn near everything. I am impressed though. You did exactly what you should’ve done. Though I am gonna miss those two from my zoo” “Zoo?” Sam questioned.

“Oh you are in the midst of the greatest collection of supernatural rarities and antiquities on the planet...I’m sorry did you say you were men of letters? I thought that whole thing died out after fifty eight not to mention you have a woman here with you, on that can fight”

Sam clarified “We’ll me and my brother, we’re legacies. But actually the three of us are hunters” That seemed to amuse Magnus “Hunters? Wow! Hunters with the key to the kingdom and a woman to boot? The boys must be spinning in their graves”

You threw a questioning look at both Sam and Dean as Magnus continued “Damn snobs. Bunch of librarians if you ask me. Although I was always fond of Henry. I was his mentor you know?” “Really?” you asked and he nodded “Yeah till the squares gave me the boot. Course he came here to visit me in secret. Called out to me same as you and these fellas did”

You looked between Sam and Dean with a curious look. The more you heard about Henry the more you liked about him. “Quite the wild hair, your grandfather was boys” Dean nodded “Listen, Magnus uh.. We got ourselves in a little situation. Abaddon the last knight of hell, is looking to up her pay grade and take over the place” Cuthbert shrugged “Things never change do they? I kept telling the boys over and over again I would say we could stop all of this, we could rid the world of monsters..once and for all if we just put our minds to it. But oh no they said it’s not our place. We’re here to study, we’re here to catalog..”

You cut him off “We get it they’re geeks but Abaddon? She can be stopped. We need something that we hear you have” Magnus waved a hand as if to ask what that would be so Dean clarified “The first blade”

Magnus nodded then a humorless smile slipped onto his face “If any of you had done your homework you’d know that it’s absolutely useless unless of course you’re possessing the mark..” “The mark of Cain?” Dean interrupted pulling up his sleeve to show the mark adorning his skin. You glanced at the angry red mark staining Dean’s skin. You had an urge to run your fingers across it but ignored it due to the fact that Magnus looked like he was on the verge of a wet dream “Oh my. How did you come by that?”

You reached over to push Dean’s sleeve down without even thinking about it as Sam tried “If Abaddon takes over. The one thing she wants more than anything is to make hell on earth. Not even you can escape that” Magnus chuckled “And they say all hunters are morons. It’s right there behind the three of you” All three of you stood and turned, there it was. 

Dean looked back at Magnus “Listen if you’re serious about taking action, this is taking action. You loan us the blade and we’ll stop the bitch” “Hmm let me think about it” Magnus considered then turned to his side table picking something up “All right, I’ve thought about it” He looked towards you and Sam “Abi, ab oculus meis” then blew a silver powder at the two of you.

The next thing you knew you and Sam were back in the empty field with Dean and Magnus nowhere in sight. “Son of a bitch!” you hollered kicking the dirt. Sam bumped your arm “Let’s get to the impala. We have all the files there, maybe there’s a way to get inside?”

You nodded so both of you started running towards where Dean had parked. Crowley was leaning against the trunk when the two of you ran out of the woods and glanced up so you said “The bastard has Dean”

------

You were leaning into the trunk digging through one of the boxes. You saw Crowley glance in out the corner of your eye and Sam grabbed the demon blade then motioned with it “Do you mind?” Crowley held up his hands defensively and stepped back “Who would’ve thunk it Moose? Me, you and sweets, same team in the trenches. When this is over we can get matching tattoos” you handed the box to Sam who said “Just to be clear Crowley, Me and Y/N are on the same team. You aren’t on anything and since the place is warded your powers are useless, which means you’re useless” “Even more so than usual” you added as Sam sat down in the open front door to look through the box so you grabbed a few files out of it to look through as well.

“You’re gonna need another set of hands when you get in there, unless you two have any other volunteers in mind” Crowley offered and Sam replied “Thanks, pass.” Crowley nodded and then cut his eyes at you where you were sitting against baby’s hood “If memory serves I’m the one who helped Dean find Cain so that we could find the blade so that Dean could receive the mark. I’m the one who flushed that lout Gadreel out of your noggin Moose. So lately I’ve seen more playing time than you” You cut your eyes at Sam before saying “Crowley, shut the hell up! We need to find something to get us in to help Dean” he met your eyes then shrugged and walked a couple feet away to give you and Sam breathing room.

------

Dark had fallen by the time you and Sam found any lead. In the file on Magnus was a spell that he’d wanted to use to make the men of letters bunker invisible and use as an entrance to the bunker. You leaned over Sam’s shoulder and looked over the spell “Well Crowley turns out you might be useful. We’re gonna need some things”

------

You squatted next to Sam helping to prep the ingredients. You glanced up when Crowley said “I did good eh moose? Everything on the list?” you nodded “Never thought I’d say this but thank you Crowley”

Once the ingredients were ready Sam nodded to you “Stay close” then added to Crowley “Shut the hell up” “I’m growing on you aren’t I?” Crowley asked with a smirk and you rolled your eyes stepping closer to Sam just in case the spell attempted to separate the two of you.

------

The portal glowered to life so the three of you took a collective breath then stepped inside.

“Love what he’s done with the place” Crowley commented once the three of you were in the hall of Cuthbert’s mansion. Sam motioned the direction the sitting area had been in so the three of you headed that way.

You heard footsteps approaching so Sam stepped back pulling you with him and Crowley stepped back as well. It was Magnus so Sam nodded to you and pulled his knife out.

You stepped out with him as he moved behind Magnus putting the knife at his throat “Take me to my brother”   

When he led the two of you into the sitting room Dean was chained to a column and you could see his expression change when he saw you and Sam. “NO!” You weren’t sure why until a second Magnus stepped into view. 

The shapeshifter Sam had the knife on turned into his own form then tried to grab Sam’s arm so you drove the silver blade from your side into his chest and dropped him. When you and Sam looked up Magnus had a gun pointed at the two of you “Shapeshifter. There are benefits to keeping a zoo” You met Dean’s eyes and the anger you saw there would’ve scared you if you didn’t know him. If he could get free Magnus wouldn’t even live to regret this.

He motioned towards another column with the gun so you held your hands up to show you weren’t armed as the two of you walked over to the column. Magnus chained you up side by side your body partly leaning on Sam’s. 

------

You glared at Magnus as he picked a dagger off a display “You know, Sam..Y/N I discarded the two of you too quickly. You’re both way more valuable than I thought you were” he looked across the room at Dean “Why would I knock myself out trying to sap your will when I think these two will get you to see things my way” Magnus walked towards you and Sam and it became glaringly obvious why he’d tied the two of you up together. Easier to torture two when they’re in the same place.

“Magnus I swear to god!” Dean threatened  but Magnus simply chuckled “What are you gonna do?” then looked back at you and Sam “What’s he gonna do huh?” you were mentally cursing Crowley for disappearing while keeping your eyes on the blade in Magnus’ hand. He pulled the blade across Sam’s right cheek while caused you to flinch from hearing him in pain and you heard Dean all but growl. “Look, I’m not gonna kill either of you but I am gonna make you both suffer unimaginably” Magnus promised turning his attention on you “Leave her alone!” Sam hollered but Magnus was unbothered, dragging the blade almost lazily across your collarbone. You felt your teeth biting into your cheek as you tried to stifle the sound of pain but knew Sam felt your entire body shake with it.

“You two are gonna be fun to break” Magnus commented but a sound made him turn and that was when you all noticed Dean had gotten loose. Magnus swung the knife back clearly meaning to plunge it into either yours or Sam’s heart but was caught by Dean who swung the first blade cleanly decapitating Magnus right before he could. You jumped from the sudden action when Magnus’ body hit the floor a second after his head.

You realized then Crowley had let Dean loose. Dean looked over at Crowley and you could nearly taste the change in the air and in Dean at having been connected to that blade. “Dean?” Sam called softly and that was when you saw that Dean’s hand was shaking at that the mark was glowing like it had when Cain first transferred it to Dean “Dean, it’s over. He’s dead” Sam tried again but Dean seemed to be in a trance “Drop the blade Dean” he added and you felt a shiver run through you when you saw the look in Dean’s eye. You weren’t afraid of him no you were afraid for him. That mark was changing him.

A snarl curled up his lips so you hollered “DEAN!” the moment you spoke he seemed to break out of that trance. He looked up at Sam who repeated once more “Drop the blade” He looked down and seemed shocked to see he was still holding the blade but immediately let it fall to the floor.

His hands were shaking while he unchained you then Sam. Even when he checked your bleeding collarbone you could feel the tremor in his right arm. You covered his hand with your and met his eyes for just a second before all of you decided to get the hell out of Magnus’ mansion.

------

You were walking close to Dean back to baby. He’d reached out a time or two not to take your hand but simply to ensure you were there.

Crowley was rambling about how much he did to help but even he went speechless when the four of you stepped out to see baby had clearly been ransacked 

You, Sam and Dean ran over to the impala. Your nose burnt from the smell of sulphur “Demons” you muttered then nodded to the trunk “Check it Sam” then added “Abaddon is one jump behind us and closing in fast”

“Warding kept them out” Sam spoke from the trunk so you shut the back door and froze when you saw the carving deep in the paint. “Now they’re keying cars?” Dean was busy cursing so you shut the front door to see that the message ran the entire length of the car.

“That’s Enochian,” you spoke staring at it. You knew enough to recognize it but not well enough to read it. “The message isn’t for you three it’s for me” Crowley said said pointing at the front door then the back “Be afraid, your queen”

“Abaddon’s getting more brazen Boris. She must really think you’re losing your grip” you replied, moving to check on Dean. He took a deep breath as Sam called his name so he stood to face you and Sam. Sam’s voice was barely a whisper as he told Dean “You said Crowley was only useful until we got the blade. We got the blade” Dean nodded but as the three of you turned away Crowley used his powers to pin you all against baby.

“You know I’m in debt to all of you. You forced sobriety on me and now I can see the situation for what it is. Dean, you are quite the killing machine and it occurs to me that Abaddon isn’t the only name on your list.Mine must be up there as well” he pulled the blade to him and Dean reminded “It’s no good to you without me” Crowley nodded “But as long as I have it, it’s no good to you. I’ll hang on to it until you find Abaddon then you’ll destroy her. Moose was right, you can’t trust me but I can’t trust any of you either”

He disappeared and the three of you were able to move freely yet again. “Son of a bitch” Dean groaned. You touched a hand to your collarbone because blood was flowing again. “What do we do now?” Dean looked up and his mood shifted from anger to worry when he realized you were bleeding “We make sure you and Sam aren’t gonna keep bleeding then we head home and get on the search for that ginger bitch. We’ve started this now, we have to finish it”

------

You sat quietly in baby’s backseat. You were tired and the liquid skin on your neck itched but it was needed to close the wound up. Dean glanced in the mirror a half dozen times so you finally met his eyes “I’m gonna lay across the seat. Wake me up when we get home?” he nodded so you took your jacket off to use as a pillow.

After you hadn’t moved for a few minutes you guess they assumed you’d fallen asleep because you heard Sam ask quietly “Are you ok Dean?” and after a beat Dean replied honestly “I don’t know”

 

Tags: @facadeformyrealblog @akshi8278

[jamiedc-they-them]

The Little Things (Platonic)

Requested Imagine: “Could you please do an agents of shield x reader in season 4 when the reader got taken by Aida early in the season and was replaced with an Lmd so when daisy and jemma are escaping the base and coulson is chasing them the reader is with may and sacrifices herself with her. So when daisy and jemma find her in the framework it’s just sad and a happy reunion?”

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

 Anniversaries where weird, they came around every year and yet you were expected to do something different for them; maybe a party or going out for the night or whatever.

There were different kinds too; Birthdays, holiday seasons, time since abandonment/ death.

Wait, what?

Daisy had been celebrating the last and final time she had been abandoned and sent back to sent back to the orphanage. At least that one made her runaway and meet you guys.

Speaking of you guys, she was currently looking at a photo of you and your father that you had in your room. She knew that the death of him still weighed on you heavily. She had wanted to find you and try and provide some comfort but had instead found an empty room with that photo.

 “Hey,” Daisy said in greeting to her scientist best friend. Jemma looked at her with a smile in greeting, “Have you noticed anything different about Y/N?” Jemma furrowed her eyebrows in thought at the question.

“I’m….not too sure. I haven’t seen her much. Maybe she’s busy.” Jemma suggested, but Daisy could tell her friend was now trying to piece it together.

“I mean, sure. But, with what? We’re all trying to stop the Watchdogs here. To my knowledge, there’s not much else going on really.

“There she is.” Daisy said, moving over to you when you entered the lab in a more dejected fashion, “Hey, Y/nn.” She said, giving you a friendly smile.

Yours was timid, but it was expected, “Hey.” You said in your naturally soft voice.

Daisy fought the urge to look back to Simmons, despite knowing her friend’s eyes were on you both like a hawk, “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you something….Are you ok?” She was blunt, both because she didn’t have another way to phrase it, and she just genuinely wanted to know what was hurting another of her best friends.

She knew Jemma was the same when someone she cared about was hurting, so she knew the British woman would back her up if needed.

You went to answer, but your eyes glossed over a little. She turned to see who it was, only to see Coulson talking to Simmons.

When Daisy looked back to you, she saw you gulp back those tears that had piled up. It was then that it hit her on what the issue was.

She softened her eyes and posture as it hit her, “Oh, Y/nn.” She said in a softened voice, as if not to scare a wounded animal.

“I’m sorry.” You said, as if at fault. But you had a slight laugh at the end of it, even if a teary one.

“No, you have nothing to be sorry for! We should’ve noticed –”

“It’s ok.” You assured her, but you could tell she didn’t fully believe it, “Daisy, I’m fine, really. It’s just a thing I’m going through. I’m not just this, you know.” You told her. You then left, not wanting to be reminded of your dad any longer.

She watched you leave, but her gaze was worried. She was older, so it was her job to look out for you. She knew how you could be at times.

 It had been a few days since that time, and the sister figures had done a decent job of dealing with this latest issue while also helping you deal with your own. Or, rather, they thought they had been.

They both watched as you walked with more of a confident one. Don’t get them wrong, they were kind of glad to see it. But they couldn’t help the nagging feeling they both seemed to share when they met each other’s gazes with a look.

The look that conveyed that both thought something was wrong. They just weren’t sure on what that was.

“She seems….happy.” Daisy didn’t really have another way to put it. Part of her did feel a little envois of it.

Fitz, seemingly realising this, approached her and put a hand on her shoulder, “Maybe she’s found some peace with it. Grieving is different for everyone.” He reminded her, gently. Trying not to cross a line that had been drawn in the sand the second Lincoln had died.

She put a hand on Fitz’s, squeezing it. She did appreciate her brother’s attempt at comfort, really, “I know….it’s just, I didn’t expect it this quick.” She admitted.

Jemma couldn’t help the nod, “Y/N always feels before she acts. She never did leave things on the best of footings.” She didn’t exactly want to talk about this behind your back. But, the three seemed to agree one thing, anyway.

This flip of yours wasn’t normal.

 It was later still, and everything was falling apart. Jemma and Daisy’s hunch was right, you were an LMD (a Life Model Decoy. A robot version of yourself essentially) and so where most of the team. Everything was spiralling. But none so more than Jemma Simmons.

The woman had just ‘killed’ the love of her life in a bid of survival. Daisy had watched it happen, the two sisters at each other’s throats for a moment. However, they soon realised that they were all that was left of the crew and were the only ones capable of bringing everyone else back.

“Hey, Jem, we will get Y/N back, alright? I promise you.” She said, firmly standing by that belief.

“I can’t lose you, either of you, Daisy! Please don’t do this!” Jemma begged one of her sister figures, the one she could save right now to not risk it all and die.

“I made you a promise Jemma, ok? Now, I can’t get out of here without your help. But, once we do, we will find the others. We will find Y/N and we will bring her home.”

She held out a hand for Jemma, one that was then clasped as the two rose up off of the floor, “We got this.” She assured her.

She was sure of it; she was going to bring you all home.

==================================================================================

Jemma and Daisy had met you at the same time, on the BUS when the team was first formed. You had been with SHIELD for a while, but you always seemed to be a background extra type of agent, you just kept your head down and did the work.

This would be your first time as a main and in the spotlight.

Skye was new, thrown into the deep end and told to swim. So far, she had managed to, barely. But, barely being above water was always more preferable than being under it and drowning.

When she saw you, though, she saw someone else who was slightly over in their head and out of their element. Hell, even the people she’d come to see as the siblings she never had (Fitzsimmons, but that list included you) seemed it as well.

Still, you succeeded in your mission, bringing Mike Peterson in non-lethally. However, it was what happened after that made Daisy want to befriend you both.

It wasn’t just that you both shared the same sense of humour, or that Jemma was one of the kindest souls she knew.

No, it was the way you all took care of each other. It was the way Jemma seemed to notice that you were a bit shaken. So, in her own awkward way that she had back then, she took you into the lab and helped calm you by injecting you with something to calm you with.

She then sat with you and got to know you, letting you rant and get it all out of your system. However, what made Daisy smile the most was the way she didn’t mind; she was more than wiling to lend an ear.

Who was there to talk to Skye when she relapsed a little with some of her old coping mechanisms? Jemma.

Who was there to pick her up when she fell or failed at a thing Ward wanted her to do? You were.

Who was there when you had a panic attack or had a depressive episode? They were.

Your sister hood was born through all of those factors.

 They had released the sleeping gas, and it had worked on some of the agents. Other than that, it had alerted everyone else to their presence.

LMD Mace (the new face of SHIELD) made a b-line for Daisy. She didn’t mind, she was more then ready to kick fake-Mace’s ass anyway. It would help her vent her frustration over this whole mess anyway.

Plus, she knew it was something you’d do, it was a trick you’d picked up from the academy; to channel your pain and anger into your opponents, but not letting it rule and ruin you.

Still, pain was pain and pain hurt. It especially hurt more when the emotional turned physical. For her, it was when she was shot in the back by LMD Coulson, then by LMD Mack. Two of her closest friends coming to bring an end to her.

No, she had the real versions to save. She had a family to bring back home.

So, she channelled all that pain and hurt; the abandonment and scars she had endured and gathered over her time before she met you all, and put it into her Quake that sent the both flying backwards and threw the glass, shattering that that wasn’t already in that state.

Slowly, she got to her feet. She was bleeding from the bullet wounds, but also the scratches and bruises were finally catching up with her. She made her way to the door, having to lean against the doorway to steady herself.

As she did, Jemma noticed her and helped guide her to the cart they were pushing. They then hatched a vague plan of Agent Davis flying them out. He hadn’t had much experience, but she didn’t care at this point.

 Daisy hit the floor, groaning as she did so. A hand was offered to her, she took it graciously. Once she was up, she faced you once again, “Neat trick, where’d you learn that one?” She asked. The trick in question was a bit of foul play in terms of getting your opponent on the ground. Something SHIELD definitely would frown upon.

“Dad.” You said, wanting to leave it at that.

Daisy, with her experience of parents, nodded and let it go, “He would always take me out to a place like this and train me. Told me it’d help calm me when I was anything but. He only did it when he saw that I was getting stressed, though.”

“No other time other than that?”

“No other time. I got myself through those one’s though.” You said with a cheery smile. Daisy mirrored it, but it wasn’t as bright.

‘You shouldn’t have had to, though’ she thought to herself.

 One obstacle she didn’t bank on (or want to) deal with, was LMD you. However, it seemed you were a packaged deal in his one; with LMD you came LMD May.

And, with that deal, came a remote detonator in your hands.

“Y/N….May.” She said, brain working overtime to try and find a way out of this that didn’t involve getting blown up, “You don’t wanna do this.” She said, opting on that one.

“We have no other option.” LMD you said, “Coulson told us to stay here and stop you if you tried to leave, we’re doing just that.”

“But you don’t want to hurt us, right?” Jemma asked, trembling smile on her face as she looked between you both.

“Coulson says that doesn’t matter.” LMD May replied with.

“That doesn’t sound like Coulson.” Daisy argued.

“Either way, we won’t have to regret this decision.” May said, putting her finger closer to it.

“Wait!” Daisy called out, “You have to feel something.” She tried.

“Y/N, I need you to look at me,” You complied, “You have to feel something right now, right?” She was tired, oh so tired. But she was so close.

She saw something glimmer in your eye, “Something.” You agreed.

“That’s love, Y/N. That’s love for us and the team, you’re family. I know you care about us, and that you don’t want to hurt us. Please Y/N….” She watched you as the conflict in you grew and grew.

  They made their way up the ramp, Daisy almost collapsing as Jemma held her, shouldering her weight. She was bleeding badly, borderline passing out.

However, she had bought them the time they needed to start up the Quinjet and have it rise out just as the explosions rocked the base, “Thank you Y/N….I’m coming.” She said in a tired voice as she gulped, finally processing the fact that her plan had worked.

 She found you sat in an unused Quinjet (something she’d then do herself much later on in time) and just sitting there. You were spaced out, as something had clearly hurt you.

Jemma was sat next to you, hand holding your own as you seemed to hold it like a lifeline, your head rested on her shoulder. Her head rested atop your own.

She made her way over, sitting on your other side and grabbing your other hand. She didn’t ask the cliché question; she just held your hand.

“My dad……he -- he….” You couldn’t get through it without choking on the words. However, it was all Jemma and Daisy needed to know as they both tightened their hold on your hands.

“We’ve got you.” Daisy promised you, “You have us.”

“….I know, thank you both. You guys being the closest things I’ve had to sisters and you’re all the closest thing I’ve had to a stable family.” You said, giving them all a teary smile. They mirrored it.

“Of course, that’s what friends are for.” Jemma pulled you both into a hug at the words.

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

The framework was a world that they, obviously, didn’t know. They were outsiders here, having to adapt to a new world that they barely knew the rules of.

What they did know, was that HYDRA were in control and all of their friends were scattered all over the place.

So, they were off to a great start, it seemed.

 Daisy had found May, but quickly learnt that the woman didn’t know anything about the other world. She was then called into a meeting. Following May, she found someone else she was looking for. That being you.

You were quieter in this world. You didn’t seem to really have any friends, you seemed to just keep to yourself.

She sat down in the chair and listened to the briefing, but you ignored her gaze as it flickered to you every now and then.

As she did what she could to really pay attention to the briefing on the target, she couldn’t help but wonder one thing: where you always like this? Was this a side to you she either didn’t know about or didn’t want to acknowledge?

 You had, obviously, been in the field for longer than Daisy had. Still, she saw the way you handled yourself on the field like any other agent. They were still pieces of the person she saw, though, the friend she had made and the sister she had grown to know and love. It was in the blush you’d get at praise, or the way you would always give her an encouraging look whenever she was send off on a mission.

 She had been found out trying to help Mack, only to find that he was forced into going with what she said. It had led to her being the cell.

AIDA had walked in, trying to offer a life with Lincoln. As much as she wanted it, she knew it wouldn’t be worth letting the rest of you all die. Lincoln wouldn’t want that.

So, AIDA tried something else, “You know….that Y/N sure is a tricky person to work out,” She smirked at the way Daisy fixed her with a dark look, “So many layers to unpack. Seemed her father was just the tip of the iceberg.” She seemed to enjoy the taunting.

“Leave her out of this.” Daisy tried to muster up as much hate as she could, but the beatings had taken it out of her.

AIDA, however, seemed a bit impressed, “Still got it, don’t you? That fire and spark, yet a caring and protective side as well?”

“If you touch even one hair on her head –”

“Oh, don’t worry, I won’t hurt her. She’s living without her regret of opening up,” Daisy looked shocked at the news, “That’s right, she wished she was a little less open. Now, I wouldn’t have gone with that with everything she’s been through. But people can be surprising.” AIDA then got up, “Hope he doesn’t kill you.” With that, she walked away.

She was left in the hands of Fitz, hands that used to be caring but now were used for hurting. The darkness that Fitz had always struggled with had come to the surface, and this one seemed to relish in it.  

She was alone, clinging onto what life was left within her. She was, at least, until the doors opened. Looking up, she saw not only May, but you as well.

A moment later, she had her powers back and the three of you were breaking out. She sent AIDA through the glass and looked at the body on the floor with a sense of triumph.

You were here, and you were on her side. Don’t get her wrong, she was happy May was too. But May wasn’t the name used to make her give into AIDA’s demands.

Turns out the robot was wrong, which Daisy was thankful for.

The way back was met with danger, but what was new? Well, mainly your cynicism.

They were talking about the Patriot (Mace’s alter ego in this world) having been killed in an airstrike. As you spoke about it, May revealed some key information on it. That being that it was her who had caused the death.

“You couldn’t have known.” Daisy comforted, looking at you as if expecting the same.

“She did, but she did it anyway.” She definitely didn’t expect that. May, however, nodded at it.

Seemed the cold and warmth you both had was swapped to a degree.

“What?” You asked her, finally confronting her on her staring and look she was giving you.

“Nothing.” She said, looking away.

 You made it to the TV station, going in and uploading the footage May had that would put HYDRA in the ground.

When Daisy left the room after her talk with Ward, she saw you looking at the footage with an expression of anger. She approached you, “What’s wrong?” She asked as she came beside you.

“My dad was killed by HYDRA, turns out,” You said bluntly. Daisy was lightly taken aback by it, you had never been like that before in this type of fashion, “And only now am I just hearing about it.”

“I’m sorry.” She offered in a heartfelt gesture to try and find the sisterly bond you had back home.

You shook your head, “Yeah, well, I’m more pissed at just finding out now than the event itself. We were never the closest, so….” You said in a flat tone.

“Family is family.”

“Sure.” She could tell you just wanted to move on. So, she let that request be followed through with.

 You had made it back to the base, where Daisy reunited with Jemma. She had a large smile when she saw that it was you, pulling you in for a hug. You may not have known who she was, but you returned it, for her sake. She seemed like she could need it if she was honest.

She pulled away, seemingly giving you a once over with a beaming smile at the fact you were there. As said, you didn’t know who she was, but this meant something to her, so you just let her have this moment.

 Daisy and the team where waiting for you at the entrance to the base, you were coming home from a few months of undercover work and they all stood eagerly awaiting you.

The door had opened, but they had gotten their hopes up before only to be disappointed before. Still, they looked, and this time it was you.

You had a conflicted look on your face, but a smile was on your face as your eyes went glassy. Daisy was right over, embracing you, one you returned tightly.

“This is new.” She joked, in reference to how tightly you hugged.

“Just….I need this.” She complied with it, tightening her own hug as well.

Her family was whole once again, that was all that mattered.

 She was then arguing with Jemma about how they unfortunately couldn’t save Fitz, when she said something that she wasn’t meant to, “We need to get everyone out first! Then we can save Fitz! Look, this Y/N isn’t the one we know, Jemma. I need my sister back the way she was.” She didn’t even think about it, she just wanted to get you all back home and get her family back.

However, at a scoff, they both looked and saw you stood a small distance away, clearly having heard those words as you shook your head.

“So, what, I’m the broken one?” You didn’t even give her a chance as you then walked away. Jemma took a shaky breath as she looked to Daisy, the two sister’s having a silent discussion about who should see you.

In the end, it was Jemma who had left.

 Daisy sat on one of the spare beds, mind racing with thoughts of how to proceed. She knew that you guys needed to know eventually that this place wasn’t real, but she didn’t expect you to find out like that. Hell, she definitely didn’t expect the reaction she got from you, the scoff, and the look of anger.

A moment later, however, you came and sat next to her. She almost didn’t believe it, that you were here. But she only waited for you to talk. Now, she expected anything.

“So….was I like a square peg in ‘the real word’?” You asked, keeping your eyes straight ahead, but you decided to just be blunt in this moment.

Daisy chuckled a bit, lowering her head to the ground as she did so, “Yeah, or I thought you were anyway. Stupid, huh?” She chastised herself.

“Nah,” Now you both met eyes, “You….I only showed you part of who I was. But, there’s more to me than my dad’s death. I appreciate the help that you apparently gave me there, I do really appreciate it. But, that’s not the only thing I’ve got going on. Just like I’m sure that you’ve suffered a lot more than you’ll ever let on, which I respect not wanting to go into. But, there’s to us then one thing.”

She nodded, “I know, and I’m sorry that I did that. I just wanted to help.”

“I know you did, but I’m not always going to be that sad person you need to protect. I can do that myself, just like you can too.” You told her.

“Ok.” She said, finally letting herself believe it that she didn’t know everything about you.

She then moved it onto the issue at hand, “So….now you know….What do you think?” She asked.

You gave it some thought, “Oh, you know, it’s out there. Then again, most things here have been.” You gave her one of your soft smiles that she was used to.

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

So, you had come around to it, and you were now all packing up to leave through a backdoor that Doctor Radcliff (one of the creators of this place) had left for you all to get out.

Now, you just had to get to that place. So, you all got the crew together, boarded the Quinjet, then went to that place.

That place was a factory, but you weren’t one to judge. Or, rather, this version of you wasn’t? Maybe? You didn’t know, no one had really told you. All you knew was that Jemma had approached this version of you the way you were here, which was nice.

On the way, Daisy had started to do that, you saw it was a pain and struggle, but she was trying. That was all you could thank her for.

 You all entered the warehouse, with the gateway being a drop into lava. Not the best exit, but a way out was a way out.

Mack had then found out, and he wasn’t exactly taking it well. Like, not well at all. You, however, kept an eye out, it was going too well.

And it was, as HYDRA agents stormed the place and fired at you all. You all went for cover as you did what you could to keep them off Daisy as she held out her hand, her power opening the portal.

As you all did what you could, members slowly went through; May and Coulson were first, then a bleeding Fitz and Jemma, then it was all of you that were left.

As you made your way to it, a bullet struck you, taking you to the ground. Daisy wanted to stop and run over, but she then saw the look in your eyes that told her one thing; keep going.

You were bleeding, and you weren’t doing great on the moving department at first, but you then started to. Mack was still covering you, even grabbing your gun as a backup.

As you moved and Mack covered, she took a breath before putting her hand back out as the power left her hands again a hit the portal.

As it opened, she checked on you again. She knew some part of you would want help, but right now that part wasn’t the one that was there. This was the one that cared more about others, the one that let them be helped instead of you.

You finally made it to the portal, you gave her a look, “See you on the other side.” She smiled at you. Then, you fell into it.

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

You were all out, and AIDA was defeated. You all sat at a bar, with your family. Daisy looked at your food, different from what you’d normally get.

“Look at you, being all reckless.” She joked.

“Maybe for today, sure.”

She smiled and shook her head. She didn’t know what else you had to show her that was new, but she was willing to see. She knew people couldn’t just be codified and put in a box. People were different, they grew and changed.

[jessicalynnhepner]

What Every Parent Needs to Know About Child Sex Trafficking

For most police officers, this scene is a familiar one—a young kid gets mixed up with the wrong person and finds him or herself on the wrong side of the law. In virtually every case, this would be the end of the story. The young girl would get a slap on the wrist and be released into her parents’ custody where they could, presumably, set her straight. And, at this point in our story, Officer Scott was prepared to do just that—to trust the overwhelming testimony of prior experience and process this girl out so that he could get on with his shift. But, something was different this time… Discerning the SignsAs Officer Scott sits down to file his paperwork, he’s reminded of last Tuesday’s roll call.  His Sergeant, having recently attended a training seminar on human trafficking, used that day to teach his officers how to identify potential trafficking situations. All of a sudden, alarm bells start going off in Scott’s mind: The Fear — Sure, a kid’s going to be afraid of the consequences. But, this girl seems to fear for her physical safety. She’s acting like there’s something worse waiting for her than an angry mom and dad at home. The Stolen Merchandise – Why did she need a Red Bull and a pack of condoms? Scott recalled that traffickers use starvation to control their victims. Usually, their only choice is to steal the bare necessities. The Boyfriend – Per the owner’s description, this guy was at least 10 years older than she. What were they doing there together in the first place? A New ApproachWith these things in mind, Scott calmly invites the young lady out of holding and brings her to a quieter part of the station, away from prying eyes and menacing glances. She looks cold, so Scott hands her a sweatshirt. As he does, he notices a small tattoo of a crown with the name ‘Hugo’ scrawled beneath it—likely a brand to show who ‘she belongs to.’ They start to chat. This time, he speaks less like a cop and more like a friend. Clearly, she hasn’t had anything to eat for quite a while. Moments later, a female officer appears with a bag from McDonald’s. The three make their way to a private lounge. As they talk, the girl lets her guard down. Scott listens as she describes her broken home life, struggles with friends at school, and her constant search for belonging. All the while, her phone continues to buzz. “Your boyfriend?” “Yes. He just wants to make sure I’m ok.” He really is a great guy, she explains. He’s been there for her when her parents weren’t. He shows her the affection and attention she needs. She feels protected. He loves her……only, sometimes he makes her do things—things she would ordinarily never do. TrustHaving earned at least a glimmer of trust, Scott asks if she would slide her phone over. Reluctantly, she does, and he begins to scroll through the text messages. Wisely, Scott checks his emotions before he begins to read. It doesn’t take him long to realize these are not the supportive words of a loving boyfriend. No, they’re the verbal assaults of a degenerate thug bent on belittling her into submission. Scott does his best to hide his disgust as he reads about threatened consequences for ‘missed quotas.’ Horrified, he sees insults that no human being should ever have to endure, capped off by threats against her little sister for talking to the cops. Officer Scott thanks the young woman for her trust and politely excuses himself to make a call. He can read the writing on the wall: this girl is clearly a victim of trafficking. She needs someone with much more experience than him to help regain her freedom. He picks up the phone, dials his Sergeant, and together, they get to work. What Made the Difference?This story, though generalized in some ways, is rooted in the accounts we hear from police officers every day. The first part of the story is common enough. But, what about the second when, in Scott’s eyes, the girl goes from ‘shoplifter’ to ‘trafficking victim’? Not so much. So, how do we get from A to B? How do we help police officers learn

to look at each ‘punk kid’ as a potential victim, to ask deeper questions, and find the real story lies beneath the surface? Just as in Officer Scott’s story, that turning point comes when an officer recognizes the signs, trusts his or her gut, and decides to unravel that thread. It all starts with that one officer—a soldier on the front lines of the underground battle to set captives free. This can only happen when officials at every level of law enforcement learn to detect the signs and receive the tools they need to bring trafficking victims out of the cruel darkness and into the liberating light of day. National Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Training ProgramAt ERASE, one of the most impactful things we do is train police departments so that they produce more officers like the one in this story. It’s our mission to educate officers to detect the warning signs, identify potential victims, and safely lead them to freedom.  Your donations make this possible. Source Child Sex Trafficking-Not My Child Mom shakes her head and Dad raises his voice. Their 16-year old daughter storms up the stairs. As the bedroom door slams, she collapses on the bed with phone in hand. She’s ready to vent her frustrations one status update at a time. With every angst-laden tap of the keyboard, she lays bare her soul: “Nobody here gets me.” “No one understands!” “I feel unloved.” 📷An hour later, a boy from the next town over reaches out. She doesn’t know him, but they’ve got a few mutual friends, so it’s probably no big deal. He’s cute and thoughtful. And, he seems to understand what she’s going through better than anyone else. For the next two weeks, they exchange messages every day. He’s sweet, a digital shoulder to cry on when nobody else seems to care. They decide to meet up in person, so she borrows Dad’s car “to meet some friends at the mall.” That night, Daddy’s little girl doesn’t come home for dinner and Mom sits up all night. The next morning, they call the police. An officer searches her computer and finds evidence of the girl’s new relationship. Turns out, the boy she thought she knew didn’t exist. And, just like that, she’s gone.Reality check about child sex trafficking At ERASE, we hear heartbreaking tales like this all too frequently. Stories from average families dealing with everyday stresses when out of nowhere, their child is lured right out from under them. Whenever we tell these stories, the most common response goes something like this: “Child trafficking is something that happens to those types of kids out there. We live in a great community and our neighbors are good people who look out for one another. Something like that could never happen to one of my children.” This is the kind of response that makes us cringe. If only parents knew what we know, they wouldn’t be so quick to ignore this real and pervasive threat. Sadly, that very ignorance is what traffickers count on most when looking for children to target. The danger is far more imminent than most parents recognize. If we’re going to protect our children, we need to be clear on the real threats child traffickers impose. Traffickers are Smart, Motivated, and Tech-SavvyA dark and horrific market has grown up around the purchase and sale of human beings. Researchers estimated that, in 2007, Atlanta’s underground sex economy alone brought in $290 million. Even in a far less “saturated” market, sex trafficking in San Diego enables a pimp to pull in over $11,000 per week. Fast forward 10 years and there’s no reason to think that number hasn’t grown. Innocent children aren’t given a pass here. Instead, the most vulnerable among us are routinely bought and sold like property—many of them up to 15 times a day. With business booming, traffickers are working harder than ever to keep up with demand. Leaving no stone unturned, they use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, to research, target, and groom children for sexual exploitation. In fact, 77% of sex trafficking victims

report having been initially approached online. Just as a skilled marketer uses sophisticated keyword searches to identify his audience, traffickers monitor social media for anything at all that would suggest an easy target:Children with social media profiles open to public viewing Teenagers posting introspective status updates about feelings of insecurity Boys and girls who are venting about arguments with their parents Like a lion crouched in his thicket, a predator will scan through lines of text looking for vulnerable children to drag off into the tall grass. How many of those lines will have come from one of your children? Yes, your child can be a victim of sex traffickingThe children that traffickers rip from their happy homes aren’t pretend characters on television or disembodied faces from the evening news. They’re our kids, the ones we work hard to raise and the ones we hope to see grow up happy and healthy. They’re the kids we teach to be smart, to mind their surroundings, and never talk to strangers. And yet, we give them free reign to explore every dark corner of the internet via their cell phone. We must do betterLittle more than half of parents closely monitor their children’s online activity. So, when a stranger asks to connect on Snapchat, it’s nearly an even shot that no one will be looking over that kid’s shoulder. You can count on a child trafficker to take that bet. Do you know which platforms your children are using or who they connect with online? Do they have any secret accounts and how would you find out if they did? If someone asked to meet in person, would they do it? Can you be sure? These questions may seem intrusive and even overbearing. However, considering the reality of child trafficking in the United States, we have to ask these questions.  Every day, thousands of children disappear into slavery. We’d like to hope our kids could never be victims but the facts simply don’t allow us that option. Understanding the facts of child trafficking is the first and most important step in prevention. There is HopeGood people around the world are standing up and fighting back against this great moral evil. You don’t have to live in constant fear for your children. The story we shared at the beginning of this post doesn’t have to be your story. And with some common sense and the will to step intentionally into your kids’ digital lives, you can protect them from becoming a victim of sex trafficking. The question is: will you? At ERASE, we want to educate parents on how best to protect their children from online predators. Please take a look at our tips and best practices pages to see how you can teach your children to be safe online.Juvenile Delinquent or Victim of Human Trafficking? Blog Story of a Human Trafficking Victim It’s midnight. Officer Scott pulls his patrol car into the lot of a small, 24-hour convenience store. As he approaches, he peers through the decal-laden glass door to see a middle-aged man struggling to restrain an agitated 16-year old girl. The store owner had caught this young woman and her boyfriend stuffing items into a small handbag. Her companion—a ‘white man in his late 20’s’—had bolted out the door without so much as a backward glance. The last thing on Officer Scott’s mind was “human trafficking victim”. Scott had seen this before. Some young teenager, looking for thrills, decides to pocket a few items from the local bodega and gets grabbed by the watchful owner. As he escorts the girl to his police car, Scott’s treated to an earful. She can’t stop going on about what a jerk he is, how he had violated her rights, and how much trouble she’d be in if he didn’t let her go right away. “Just wait until I call your parents,” he thinks. 📷 The Same Routine When they arrive at the station, Scott walks this young woman to his desk. She can hear the snide remarks of a few men handcuffed to chairs nearby. As they leer conspicuously at her, she shrinks further into herself.  Scott starts in on his typical line of questioning: name,

age, address, and so on. The entire time, her phone buzzes with one text message after another. She begs Scott to let her reply, but he refuses. “There’ll be plenty of time to talk to your parents later.” “I’m not worried about them,” she snaps back. “They don’t give a crap about me, anyway. They’re too busy arguing to even notice I’m around.” Not sure what to make of that outburst, Scott begins to sort through the items she had attempted to steal: a sleeve of Hostess Cup Cakes, a Red Bull, and a box of condoms. “Must be one heck of a boyfriend to leave you there like that, huh?” “You wouldn’t understand. He loves me. He takes care of me.” Angry and frustrated by this girl’s bad attitude and ignorance about that poor excuse for a boyfriend, Officer Scott escorts her to a holding cell and prepares to process her out.Is This the End of the Story?

https://whateveryparentshouldknowaboutcps.blogspot.com/2020/08/what-every-parent-needs-to-know-about.html

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Mikan and Ibuki’s day off (Part 2)

Nn...?

...

*Ibuki wakes up, still laying in the futon, and the first thing she sees is Mikan’s smiling face.

Good morning.

Hm? You were up?

Yeah, a little earlier than usual...I was watching you while you slept.

Oh...did I...make any weird faces?

You did.

No way!?

You had this incredibly happy expression. Like you were grinning in your sleep...

Well that’s...creepy...

*Ibuki smiles and gently kisses Mikan.

Wanna hop in the bath before breakfast?

Sure.

[Breakfast Bar]

Woman: You two must have enjoyed yourselves last night.

...!?!?!?

Woman: In the karaoke box. I was in the corner of the bar and could hear you two singing. 

Eh!?

Woman: My daughter loves Pop Drop Candy, and she plays it constantly. I couldn’t help but hum along.

O-Ohh...Alright...(That was a surprise...I was wondering what the hell she was talking about?)

Welcome back...uh...

Hm? Something wrong?

No just...are you going to finish all of that soup?

What? AH!

*Ibuki looks down and realizes that while talking to the woman, she instinctively grabbed several bowls of soup. Her entire tray is taken up by nothing but soup.

Well, this is...I was sweating a lot last night, so I wanted to get some salt in me.

Hm...I understand. Well, I guess I’ll help you if there’s too much...

Oh, Ibuki, I’ve been meaning to bring something up.

Yeah? What’s up?

I don’t know if you’ve seen it yourself but...the highlights in your hair are starting to become a little...desaturated.

Huh? You mean it’s fading? Makes sense I guess...

Is it permanent dye?

Yeah, it is, but the color fades if I don’t top it up every now and then.

Well, there’s a hairstylists in the town. Do you want to go there?

I mean, sure if you don’t mind...

Hairstylist: Welcome, good ladies. What would you like today?

Um. w-well, I hair hightlights am. fading that little, then myself will appreciation that top upon pleasure?

Hairstylist: Oh, do not strain yourself, I speak Japanese.

Oh thank god...I’m so sorry, I can’t speak a word of English.

You could have just asked me to?

I don’t want you doing all the work...

Well, I guess it is pretty funny to hear you talk like a bad google translator.

You making fun of me or trying to cheer me up?

Hairstylist: Anyway, I am under the assumption that you want to re-dye your hair to make the colors stand out more?

Yeah, that’s right.

Hairstylist: It can be done. And what about you? Would you like a haircut or your hair dyed?

Huh? Me?

O-Oh no, it’s fine. I’m not confident enough to have my hair dyed.

...

Hairstylist: Very well then. Here, I shall add you to the queue. Surname?

It’s Mioda.

A-Actually, on second thought...

Hm?

Hairstylist: Yes?

*Mikan whispers something in the hairstylists ear.

Hairstylist: Very well then. Surname please?

Tsumiki.

What are you doing?

You’ll see...

...

Um...sorry to keep you waiting...

Hm?

Woah!?

...How do I look?

That’s...wow...it’s just streak but you look really different! I-It’s a good different!

Thank you. I just thought...

I-If I got a streak...it’d be easier to see that...we were together...

...God damnit I love you so much...

But...that aside...your arm and leg...

Oh, you noticed...

How could I not?

Well, I’ve been thinking...with all that’s been going on lately...how I’ve been venting and stuff...

I-I’m not quite sure I need them anymore...these scars are grim, sure, but...They’re a part of who I am...

I hope you don’t mind...

I don’t mind at all...Now, come here, I brought us lunch!

*Mikan sits down next to Ibuki and pulls out some shaved ice from behind her back. She takes a spoonful of it and feeds it to Mikan.

MMM! It’s crunchy and dewicious!

But...are you ok with this light a lunch? I don’t mind paying for something expensive if you want?

It’s fine. You have to take the chance to go to these kinds of places when you can.

But other than the shaved ice, you’ve just brought plain yakisoba...

Well, I don’t really care what we eat. There are lots of good restaurants both here and back in Japan...

But when I eat with you, looking out among the sights of this lovely kingdom...it tastes particularly delicious.

...

*Mikan suddenly takes Ibuki’s shoulder and turns her towards her, kissing her on the lips.

...!?

S-Sorry...you had something on your lips...I was getting it off.

!?!?!?

IBUKI!?

Hrngh...

I’m so sorry! I-I didn’t mean to frighten you!?

No, no, it’s fine, I’m ok now. But jeez, you can be pretty daring sometimes Mikan...

Guess that’s just one of the irresistible parts of you though...

Ehehehe...

Hey...Ibuki look...

*Mikan crouches down and picks something off the ground.

Look at this stone! It’s so cute and small.

It’s a dark purple too...Like the color of your hair...

Yeah...maybe I’ll take it home as a memento of our trip here.

These two days went by pretty quickly...It feels kinda depressing...

Not yet...

It’s not over yet until we go home...

Yeah, I guess you’re right...

...

Ibuki...can you promise me something?

What’s that?

Promise me you won’t get hurt...or die on me, ok?

Hey, hey, what’re you talking about!? You really think I’m just gonna lay down and let Yonaga and her asshole followers kill me?

No, I don’t but...that doesn’t mean I’m not still worried...

...

Hey...Mikan? Close your eyes...

Huh? Wh-Why?

Just do it...

Ok...

*Mikan closes her eyes, and feels Ibuki take her hand. Ibuki slips something onto her finger.

Ok...now look...

...!?

*Mikan sees a gorgeous bracelet around her hand.

I brought a cheap lunch because I was using my money to buy this...

It’s a little strange, and I’m not implying anything, but...I just figured you deserved it.

No...it’s fine. I always dreamed of a moment like this...where someone would give me jewelry. 

Mikan...thank you for going out with me...I know I’m a lot to handle at times but...

No, don’t apologize. 

You’re super hyperactive sometimes, sure...but I love you for it.

I love you so much...

*They share a long kiss and hug.