#otherwise I carry my book bag and laptop back and forth from my

[sarasa-cat]

Okay. Now it is time for me to do the new new thing. To look through my references and then commit an idea to multiple pages of actual paper. To do the thing. Low stakes bc it is for me. But yeah, to do it. The thing. Now is the time.

[justlookfrightened]

prompt. jack taking care of sick bittle or viceversa?

This is really fluffy. Like, cotton candy-fluffy.

Jack knew the moment he heard Bitty’s voice on message.

It would have been extremely disappointing, if not for the rasp and slight quaver Jack could hear,

“Hi there, sweetpea. I hope practice is going well today. I, um, I have some bad news. I’m not going to go to Providence today. I’m just not really feeling up to it, so I’m going to stay here and rest, and not get you sick. I’ll miss you, sweetheart. Love you.”

As it was, the message was simply worrying, because Jack was pretty sure Bitty had been looking forward to this weekend as much as he was. Six weeks into Bitty’s school year and two weeks into his season, with preseason games just starting for Jack, they were reminded once again of how hard it was to see each other regularly when Bitty was at Samwell and Jack was in Providence.

“Something wrong?”

Marty was watching Jack frown at his phone.

“Bitty’s sick,” Jack said. “He said he’s not going to come for the weekend.”

“That’s rough,” Marty said. “Can you head up there for a while? Bring him some soup or something?”

“What? Little B’s not coming to our game tomorrow?” Tater said.

“Doesn’t look that way,” Jack said. “Sorry, Tater, no pie this weekend.”

“I’m not worrying about the pie,” Tater said, looking affronted. “You go see him, make sure he’s okay. Talk to coaches if you need. They’ll let you off morning skate tomorrow.”

“I don’t know,” Jack said. “He’s pretty stubborn. And he called when he knew I was in practice so he wouldn’t have to talk to me.”

Which really kind of sucked, Jack thought, because he wanted to talk to Bitty. Even if all Bitty said was those four sentences.

“He probably didn’t want to worry you,” Marty said.

“It didn’t really work,” Jack said. “I think I will go down there. Maybe I can get him to come back with me if I drive him. Otherwise I can just go back and forth. It’s not that far.”

Jack stowed his gear at home and packed an overnight bag with a change of clothes and a book just in case he ended up staying. The Haus would have basic over-the-counter medicines – Jack was pretty sure Bitty maintained the medical kit – and a thermometer, and he’d left a phone charger there last year, after he and Bitty told the Samwell team that they were dating.

He did try to call Bitty, but it went straight to voicemail.

“Hey, bud, I’m sorry to hear you’re sick. Do you think you’d be more comfortable at home in Providence if I could come get you?”

Then he called Bitty’s favorite diner in Samwell and asked for them to pack up a quart of chicken noodle soup to go.

Last, he texted Lardo to get Ford’s phone number.

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

Ford hung up the phone and shook her head.

Why anyone worried about Bitty when Jack Zimmermann was on the case was a mystery. A real, true mystery.

Well, of course she knew why. Jack couldn’t always be there, given his one-of-the-top-players-in-the-NHL work commitments. But she was pretty sure that if he could find a way, Jack would take care of Bitty as well anyone could. Even if it meant calling Bitty’s own mother and flying her here.

Jack’s call had come just at the end of Ford’s Theater as Design class, ringing as she packed her things for the trek to the dining hall, and she picked up without registering that it was from a number she hadn’t saved.

When she answered, Jack had apologized for going to Lardo for her number and then just started in without waiting for a response.

“How’s Bitty? Has he been to see a doctor? Do Hall and Murray know he’s sick? Is he taking care of himself?”

Ford spared a thought to wonder why Jack hadn’t called Chow, or Ollie or Wicks … someone he actually knew, more than having been introduced a few times. Then she remembered the way Hall and Murray had told her to make sure Bitty got to the health center after they pulled him off the ice at yesterday’s practice. He clearly wasn’t himself, and his cough was concerning. As he dressed and walked with her to the clinic, Bitty had admitted to coughing so hard he vomited before practice, and he was clearly feverish.

“The nurse practitioner said it’s an early case of the flu,” Ford said. “She gave him Tamiflu, and said that given his general health, he should recover in a few days. But he’s off the ice for at least a week. I got him excused from all his classes through next Thursday, too.”

“Fuck,” Jack said. “He just told me he was under the weather.”

“Yeah, he was pretty clear he didn’t want anyone calling you,” Ford said. “He was afraid you’d get sick if you came down. But he didn’t say I couldn’t  talk if you called me.”

“I’m on my way down,” Jack said. “I’m bringing soup, but I think it would be better if I brought him home with me. If he’s that worried, I can sleep in the guest room, but we’re not on the road this week.”

“It’s probably a good idea,” Ford said. “They people who live in the Haus love him to death, but they don’t clean the way he does. And if the place turns into a sty, he’ll feel guilty. Just give me 24 hours notice before you bring him back and get them to get the place back into shape.”

“As long as you make them do it,” Jack said. “You’re the manager, not their mother.”

He paused.

“You think I should call his mother?”

“Maybe leave that up to him?” Ford said. “I mean, no one seems to think this is a really dangerous illness. At least not at this point. But she could tell you what he likes to eat when he’s sick and everything.”

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

Jack let himself into the Haus, glad that he had never turned in his key, and made his way to Bitty’s bedroom as quietly as he could. He opened the door and peeked in, only to see Bitty’s head pop out of the nest of blankets on his bed like a meercat.

“Jack!’ he said, his voice now a raspy whisper. “I told you I didn’t want to get you sick!”

“I’ll take my chances, bud,” Jack said. “You’re sick. I brought you some soup.”

He saw two bottles of Gatorade next to Bitty’s bed, along with a bottle of ibuprofen and prescription bottle.

“I see you’re keeping hydrated,” he said. “That’s good. Have you eaten anything today?”

“I had some toast earlier, but I couldn’t keep it down,” Bitty said. “I mean it, stay away. I’m all gross and covered with germs.”

Jack sat at the end of the bed anyway, taking in Bitty’s greasy hair and the sweat-sheen on his face..

“How about you eat some soup and see how it goes?” he said. “Maybe take a shower if you’re up to it? That might make you feel better.”

Jack opened the soup carton and handed it over with the plastic spoon.

After the first couple of bites, Bitty’s voice was stronger. “Don’t think you’re staying here,” he said. “I see your bag, but you can’t share a twin bed with me, and I will not have you stay on the couch.”

“Then come back with me,” Jack said. “I can stay in the guest room.”

“Jack!” Bitty paused to cough, and yeah, that didn’t sound good. “I won’t put you out of your bed.”

“Then you can stay in the guest room,” Jack said reasonably. “But if you’re sick, you should be where someone can take care of you. I can get Carrie or Gabby to look in on you when I have to be away more than a couple of hours.”

“I’m not that sick!”

“Sick enough to miss a game this weekend, and a week of classes,” Jack said. “And I really don’t want to be on an air mattress for a week. I suppose I could call your mom ..”

“Jack Zimmermann!” Bitty had to cough again, “I will not have you worrying my mother!”

“Then I guess you’ll tell me which books and notebooks you need,” Jack said, already putting Bitty’s laptop and charger into his bookbag. “Do you need anything else besides Señor Bun? I think you have enough clothes in Providence.”

“Fine,” Bitty said. “I need my medicine.”

“Got it,” Jack said. “Ready for a shower? I’ll wait in the bathroom to make sure you’re alright.”

“And I should text Ford and the guys – and the coaches – to let then know,”

“I’ll do that while you’re showering,” Jack said. “Then we can go home.”

Bitty closed his eyes briefly before opening them and pushing the blankets away.

“That sounds good,” he said. “Thanks. Let’s get going so we can go home.”

[adamcoled]

just friends | kyle o’reilly

college au kyle o’reilly x reader

summary: sharing an apartment with kyle has, understandably, caused some feelings to develop. yet, you’re still hellbent on convincing everyone you’re just friends.

word count: 1,855

a/n: the inspiration for this came out of nowhere, so i just quickly typed it up and rolled with it. (aka i’ll probably revisit this sometime and completely rewrite it)

tag friends: @reigns420 @thirstiswet @xfirespritex @earthtwojess @notlikemostlunatics​ @mysteryoflovve​ @organicmillie​ @rollins-princess214​ @scuzmunkie​

With each fleeting glance at the clock in the corner of your laptop screen, you felt your motivation deplete and your exhaustion grow. The only thing preventing you from passing out right there on that uncomfortable chair was the brightness from the screen in front of you and the considerable amount of coffee you’d consumed earlier to avoid this very moment. As the moon sat in the sky above, summoning most people to bed – not you, a stressed college student, of course – it pulled on your eyelids much like it pulls the tides, trying relentlessly to lure you into sleep. But you couldn’t sleep, not yet, not when you were cramming for an exam you really couldn’t afford to fail; it was common knowledge that taking an exam after a sleepless night tends to lead to a less-than-amazing grade, but you assumed it’d balance out with all the studying. Or maybe cancel out – PEMDAS, right?

The gentle lo-fi music in the background was no longer doing much to improve your focus, instead creating a wonderfully serene atmosphere perfect for sleep, complete with Kyle’s light snores in the background.

Kyle. You’d forgotten he was even in the room with how deep into your cramming you were, and when you turned around from your desk – which could hardly be distinguished as a desk with the incredible amount of papers and books sprawled across it – you found him sleeping rather soundly on his bed, face pressed against the pillow and arm nearly dangling off. His face was towards you and you silently wished he was turned the other way because you hated how cute you found him right now.

You’d never thought you would be sharing an apartment with him, but when your hunt for a roommate was growing exceptionally bleak, one of your friends mentioned his similar roommate search and at that point, you were desperate for anyone to split the rent with.

So, that’s how you came to share a roommate with Kyle O’Reilly – and how you grew to become best friends, even if you wanted something more, even if your friends swore there was something more. Each time they made that silly remark, you’d wave your hand and brush them off, and then Kyle would sneak up behind you and talk about the movie he’d picked out for the two of you to watch that night. Then, he’d walk off, tossing a goodbye over his shoulder, unaware that he would become the topic of interest between you and your friends.

“Just friends, right?” Nia joked, mocking your words from every previous conversation involving Kyle. You rolled your eyes as everyone else at the table snickered at Nia’s joke, a symbol of their agreement.

“Just friends,” you repeated, slowly for emphasis, “we watch movies together. Like friends.”

“And what occurs during these friendly movie nights?” Bayley inquired, resting her chin on folded hands.

“Arguments over who the best character is,” you answered, fully aware they didn’t believe your honest answer by the looks they all gave each other. “Reallll romantic.”

Deeply engrossed in that memory, you hadn’t even noticed one of Kyle’s eyes crack open, a lazy smile plastered on his face as he realized you were turned towards him.

“Hey, kiddo,” he spoke, voice muffled with his face still planted on the pillow. “You’re still up?”

“I told you I really need to pass this exam,” you sighed, spinning around in the chair so you were facing your laptop and books once more. You heard the sound of sheets rustling behind you and then felt Kyle’s chin resting on your shoulder.

“And you will,” he assured, reaching forward to close the open book you had been trying to read for fifteen minutes – it wasn’t going very well since your brain was clouding with the desire to sleep.

“Kyle! I don’t even remember what page I was on,” you groaned, attempting to open the book once more before his hand halted your movements. You moved your heard only slightly so that you could actually see his face, and when you did, you found him with the most serious expression he could muster.

“I’m not letting you stay up all night killing your brain cells for an exam you’re already going to do great on.”

A rebuttal was just about to drip off your tongue – one about how you still had so much more content to cover that would certainly make an appearance on the exam – but before you could get the words out, Kyle’s arms came around your frame and lifted you from the seat. Rather than dropping you onto your bed, he placed you onto his and climbed into it as well, depriving you of any explanation.

You sat on the edge of the bed for a few seconds, watching as Kyle returned to his previous position with the blankets draped over him. He had yet to say anything else, though he held the blanket up for you to settle in as well.

“Why’d you carry me to your bed?” you finally questioned, grateful for the darkness of the room because the tendrils of red that had settled into your cheeks because of the situation. You weren’t even sure what was happening, but regardless, your heart was beating erratically.

“So I’ll know if you try to get up again,” he said, patting the empty space beside him. While you wanted nothing more than to crawl over to the spot and lay next to him, you worried what the consequences would be – getting your heart broken when you realized it was Kyle being purely platonic, only trying to be a good best friend and roommate? Kyle figuring out your hidden feelings when he felt how fast your heart was beating?

Neither of those outcomes seemed pleasant, yet you climbed into the empty spot and released a heavy breath when he pulled you towards him. He probably had no idea what he was doing to you, or maybe he did. Maybe he was basking in the effect he had on you, goosebumps erupting on any skin his fingers brushed across. His arm was draped across your side, and you tried to fall asleep, but the thoughts rampaging through your mind kept you wide awake. Just minutes ago, you felt like you could succumb to sleep at any moment. Finally, exhaustion washed over you completely, tugging you into the dream world.

When your eyes fluttered open the next morning, all you saw was the white fabric of Kyle’s shirt. Confusedly, you blinked several times to determine what you were seeing, until you came to and realized the position the two of you had gotten tangled in through the night. Your head was on Kyle’s chest and his arm was wrapped around the top of your back; you immediately felt your cheeks heat up yet again, and you shot up quickly, waking him up in the process.

“Good morning,” he grinned lopsidedly, unaware of the more-than-friendly position you’d waken up to.

“Morning,” you replied, throwing off the blankets and beginning your morning routine much faster than usual. Honestly, you just wanted to escape the room, filled with a plethora of thoughts and emotions after the events that had transpired.

Kyle watched from his bed as you tossed things into your bag, picked out an outfit in .7 seconds, and gulped down a water bottle all without even sparing him a single glance. He couldn’t help but chuckle at your actions, but then he figured there must be a reason for your newfound haste.

“What’s with the Sonic speed?” he questioned, joining you in the bathroom to brush his teeth in the second sink.

“You mean supersonic speed,” you corrected, brushing through your hair one more time before exiting the bathroom a few seconds after he’d come in. Now he could clearly tell you were avoiding him; you hadn’t even met his eyes since you’d waken up.

“No, no,” he shook his head, making his way to stand in front of you, “I mean Sonic, you know, the hedgehog.”

He grinned, hoping he’d get a laugh or anything out of you, and of course you couldn’t stifle your giggle. Mentally, he felt like he could breathe again now that you’d broken your tensity.

“Dork,” you commented, and Kyle knew you were the only person he’d ever like calling him dork so much. It’d become your thing, and somewhere along the way you learned that was your term of endearment.

“You never answered my question though.”

You’d hoped you could wiggle out of this conversation, but you knew Kyle well enough to know he wouldn’t let up without an answer. “I just don’t want to be late.”

“You have a whole hour – you won’t be late.”

“Well, I want to go do some last-minute studying.”

“You only ever study in the apartment, otherwise you get distracted.”

This back-and-forth between you and Kyle told you that Kyle paid more attention to you than you even thought, and any excuse you gave him he would be able to disprove.

“I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship, so I’m not going to answer, okay?” you finally admitted. “Don’t worry about it, Kyle. We’re all good.”

With that, you hoisted your bag onto your shoulders and made for the door, but before you could get any farther, Kyle’s voice stopped you.

“Would it be jeopardizing our friendship if I said I wish we had more than just friendship?”

You weren’t really sure if you heard him right, so you laughed a bit as you turned around. “What are you talking about?”

“Your friends always tease you about us, right?” he asked, and you nodded, verifying. “Adam, Bobby, and Roddy do the same to me. Did you ever think that maybe there was some truth to their claims?”

Kyle was being more serious than you had ever seen him, yet you still wondered if he was joking about the whole thing; you never thought this conversation would happen, though you always secretly wished it would.

“I – no, isn’t it just them messing with us?”

“Or, maybe it’s them pointing out what we’ve been too blind to see,” he suggested, eyes hopeful. He was setting himself up for rejection, but he held onto the words his friends told him about the two of you. “I hope that’s what it is.”

It was such a surprise hearing these words from Kyle – words that you had come to accept he would never utter – that you ran towards him and threw your arms around him in a second, feeling his shock when he froze for a moment. His arms came around you, hugging you to him even tighter, and you buried your head into his shoulder. When you pulled back what felt like minutes later, the both of you were smiling wider than you’d ever seen each other smile, and then you were slowly eliminating the space between your bodies. Slowly, slowly, until your lips finally met and everything seemed right in the world.

“Just friends?” you joked, mocking your words from countless conversations regarding Kyle.

“Not at all.”

[litsy-kalyptica]

Loves of My Life

Of polyamory and single fatherhood. (1/?)

AHamilton: My son takes first priority in my life —always from the day of his birth to the day of my death. But if I wasn’t otherwise occupied by my Pip, I would pass the bar in only six months.

And his class partners had not liked him much after that introduction.

But they were in this for the long-run now, bunched together either by fate or the whims of a professor not one of them had seen in person. Five in total, but Alex couldn’t remember their names beyond a slew of arbitrary usernames.

He wondered if he maybe could’ve helped himself by giving his name in that first response. He’d staked his claim on mastery of the program to faceless classmates without even giving his name! That would be it.

Alexander had posted to the discussion board three days ago, and still no response. No one had posted anything yet. Alex wasn’t sure whether he was more worried that his group was avoiding him, or that he’d been bunched with a group of slackers!

Probably the latter.

His phone rang. MARTHA. He flipped it open, pushing down the rush of anxiety. Calm down, Alexander. There’s no telling that she’s calling with bad news.

“Alexander?”

“Hey, how’s my boy?”

“Oh, he’s doing just fine. He’s lying on the sofa, almost falling asleep on his picture book. Poor thing can barely keep his eyes open. Tired and hungry.”

“Okay, tell him I’ll be back soon.” He was already closing his laptop. “Don’t give him any snacks unless they’re on the approved list. He can have some orange juice.” He slipped his hefty laptop into his satchel and chucked the cold coffee into the trash on his way out of the shop. “I’m three blocks away. Ask him to start counting, unless he’s too tired to count to twenty.”

“Will do, honey. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Alex tucked his phone back into his jeans and ran a hand over his burning eyes. He had lost track of time again. He’d gotten out of work at five, and wanted to get a bit of coursework done at the cafe before he got home, but suddenly five became seven, and seven became nine. And he was going to miss Pip’s bedtime.

“He’s asleep.”

Alex nodded and stepped quietly inside. In the warm glow of a side table lamp washed over his small son curled into an impossible position on the sofa. How could he have been comfortable like that? Alex tried to pick him up in a such a way that wouldn’t awaken the boy.

He held Pip close against his chest. He’d always adored this boy, but he’d been feeling especially sentimental lately. It was Friday. On Tuesday, Philip would be starting school. Alexander wasn’t sure he was ready for that.

Ideally, father and son wouldn’t spend more than six hours apart at a time. Alex was lucky enough to work within six blocks of the apartment building, and George always brought Pip for lunch. It was always the highlight of his day, and Alex told himself that it was all for Pip’s sake more than his own.

“Thanks again, Martha.” He shifted his hold on his son a bit, trying to keep his computer and the small child from dropping to the floor. His poor laptop would have to go first. “And next time, feel free to call me earlier.”

“I know you’re busy.”

“I’m never too busy to miss Pip’s bedtime.”

She smiled and headed into the kitchen. Alex heard the water running at the sink. “Good night, Alexander.”

“Good night.”

Alexander lived down the hall from the Washingtons, so home was just a short walk away. But even on this very brief journey, Pip started to shift a bit in his arms, face rubbing back and forth against Alex’s shoulder as he started to wake up. “Daddy?”

“Look where we are, Pip. We’re home.” He was just coming up on the door, and kissed his son’s head through a bed of dark curls.

“Time?”

“Bedtime.”

Pip sighed and tucked his head back against Alex’s neck, only to giggle through his exhaustion. “Your neck is itchy, Daddy.”

“Oh no. Pip, I think you need to help me shave.” He dug his key out of his pocket.

“I don’t know how.” He seemed to genuinely lament his inability to help with this.

Alex laughed. “You’re a fast learner.”

Alex got Philip through his evening routine, and the four-year-old climbed into bed a half hour later than usual, but Alex easily relented to reading him a bedtime story. “But only ten minutes tonight.” He set the timer to vibrate against his lap. Pip settled under his green wool blanket, and Alex read aloud from a secondhand copy of James and the Giant Peach.

He always did the voices. It sometimes hurt his throat, but it always made Philip smile.

Pip was asleep by the time the timer went off, but he still gently tucked the boy in and kissed his head, turned the nightlight on, and left the door cracked just a little bit open.

Alex thought that Pip would be just as nervous about school starting as he was, so he dedicated the weekend to doing all sorts of fun things. Most of it was at home: they drew and colored, put together puzzles, read together. They went out to the library and Alex took out eight books at Philip’s request, and carried to heavy stack back to the apartment.

Sunday was usually a day for rest at home, and the only day of the week Philip was allowed to watch TV on his own, while Alexander got some work done in advance of the long week ahead. But they would both be home for Monday, so Alexander pushed that time off a little, and they went to the park after breakfast.

George and Martha would often take Philip to the small asphalt park in the neighborhood, but Alex splurged on a trip to Central Park, followed by a lunch out and a movie in the theater.

Pip was already on the jungle gym by the time Alex sat on a nearby bench. Pip had no trouble making friends. He ran around on the playground with a group of two other boys, both white, and one little black girl. Pip seemed especially friendly toward the girl.

Alex caught the man sitting next to him watching the same group of children as himself, and he smiled. “What I wouldn’t do to have that… again,” he added as an afterthought.

The stranger smiled. “Which one’s yours?”

Alex pointed at the mop-headed ray of sunshine as he ran past the slide, nearly slipping on the woodchips. “Philip, be careful!” But he had a bright grin on his face. “Light of my life.”

“I know the feeling.” Shortly after Philip climbed up the steps to the slide, the same girl with whom he’d been playing came racing up after him, and in a similar childlike fashion she nearly slipped right off.

“Theo!” The man that had previously been sitting next to Alex suddenly rushed over. But the girl, Theo, was all smiles and quickly resumed the game of tag. The man took a slow step backwards, watching after her, before returning to the bench with some uncertainty.

Alex decided to help him lighten up. “They look like they’re having fun. Your daughter?”

“Yeah.” He laughed but without any humor behind it. “I wish sometimes she’d take a moment to slow down. I don’t want her to get hurt.”

Alex couldn’t blame him there, but couldn’t help but think it might be better for both of father and daughter if he could relax a little. He almost voiced as much, but his brain short-circuited when he realized he’d lost track of his son.

“Philip?” he called out, starting to sit up. This seemed to get the other father’s attention, as well, and he stood to join him as Alex set off closer to the playground. “Philip? Pip? Where’d you go?”

“I’m here, Daddy!” Pip popped out from behind one of the walls of the playground set. “Hide-and-seek!”

Alex laughed off his peaked anxiety and ruffled his son’s hair. “Okay, but you can’t be hiding from Daddy, right?”

“Right!”

“How’re you feeling?”

“I’m good!”

“You’ll sleep well tonight.” He laughed, more genuinely this time. Pip giggled and scurried off into the slide as Theo rounded the corner.

Theo’s father was still standing next to him, and Alex caught back up with where they were a minute ago. Only a minute, he thought. “She’ll be fine.”

The man didn’t say anything.

“I’m Alex.”

“Aaron.”

“Nice to meet you.” Alex watched their children playing together some more. The other kids had wandered off to other games. It was just the two of them left in their game.

“We’ll have to arrange a playdate.”

Alex smiled. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… 8… 9…”

Pip let a breath out on ten; slowly, as the doctor had taught him. “You’re getting better at this,” Alex noted with a smile, tucking the inhaler back into his bag.

“School starts this week, Daddy. I’ll carry it myself.”

Alex hummed quietly. Two more days. He just wanted to enjoy it, wanted both of them to enjoy it while they could.

It was around noon, and Alex and Pip sat under a tree so the boy could nap in the shade. Pip used his father’s shin as a pillow —“The boy could sleep anywhere, in any way,” Alex noted— so Alex could pull his laptop out and do some work while his son slept. The less he had to get done during the week, the more time he could spend with Pip in the evenings.

There were two new posts to the group forum: both from the same person, both on the topic he had posed to the group. Alexander was suddenly ecstatic and eager to reply. He looked over the thread. The first post responded directly to his first question (and, Alex would admit, rather intelligently), but the follow-up had less to do with the content Alex had presented.

ABurr: Alexander —you present an interesting argument here, but I get the sense you’re trying to outdo the rest of us at something. Call it a hunch, call it truth, but the way you’ve already been speaking to us on here you seem to think you’re better than the rest of us. Let’s agree to all stay on equal footing in this. I understand, and admire, your resolve to get ahead, but I ask that you make sure it doesn’t amount to showing off.

[comfsy]

The Legal Nomads 2019 Gift Guide: Art and Jewelry

I did my first ever holiday gift guide for travelers a few years ago, which was fun to compile. Readers seemed to enjoy the various items, and I was happy to share some of the products that accompanied me on the road. This year, I wanted to do something a little different. For starters, my life is a little different – something all of you already know. As a result, my own gifts to family and friends aren’t souvenirs from far-away places, but fun things I’ve discovered online. I wanted to share some of them here, especially as many are small businesses like myself.

I completed the resulting creative gift guide later than expected, because I could only type in 20 minute increments. I hope you enjoy this gift guide, one that focuses specifically on art and jewelry. There are so many shops with interesting work out there, and sometimes it’s hard to narrow it down.

The items below are from artists that I have supported, some of whom I’ve actually met, and they are all products I stand behind.

Unique Art and Jewelry Gifts for 2019

BECCA JANE DESIGNS

When searching for a gift for my mum’s birthday this year, I thought I would do something a little different. I looked for an artist who could illustrate our family with a beautiful border and then send her a printed copy for her birthday.

I’ve never commissioned this kind of gift before, and Rebecca – the artist I chose – was patient and kind, and we went back and forth a few times until I was satisfied. She even agreed to make my brother as depicted, wearing his favourite martini t-shirt.

I was waiting on this gift guide until my mum received her gift, and she loved it!

Rebecca’s full shop here, and note that she will do other kinds of designs as well, like Save the Dates for weddings, holiday cards, personalized baby blankets, and more.

LEXIGRAPHIQUE

I’ve followed Michael Buchino’s whimsical word work for some time on Instagram, as it combines two of my favourite things: learning, and art. His Insta feed, Lexigraphique, is one of those accounts that I send to multiple friends many times a week.

Before this guide went up, I wrote him to ask if he had any holiday items I could include, and lucky for all of us he was just about to launch the hygge cards below.

(c) Michael Buchino 2019

You can buy his prints and these cute holiday cards in his Buchino shop, here.

PICTRIXDESIGN

Anne Connell’s shop is a wonder to behold, chock full of paper goods designed — as she notes on Instagram and on her website — with an “absurd attention to detail” She lists herself as a precisionist, and it’s easy to see why. Her artwork is meticulous, delicately crafted, and very unique.

I found her botanical card series first, and clapped my hands with glee. As someone trying to get out in nature during brief spurts of respite from bedrest, they were a breath of fresh air. Her constellation cards, featuring each of the zodiac signs, are a clear crowd-pleaser. I’ve put those two types of cards below but honestly it’s worth heading to see her full shop.

I realize these are listed as cards, but I think they are frame-worthy all by themselves.

(c) Anne Connell 2019

(c) Anne Connell 2019

Botanical cards here.

Constellation cards here. 

And the full shop here.

NICALLENART

Nicola is a long-time Legal Nomads reader, and a fellow lawyer and traveler. She has generously shared bird illustrations and other fun to keep me cheered up when I’ve been down. She’s also a very talented artist, and her cards and other items are rich in puns and joyful artistry. 

Nicola’s work reminds me of the children’s’ books I loved most, with creative characters, maps, and whimsical animals. A talented hand-brush lettering artist, she also includes a lot of drawn typography in her work.

From a grumpy owl to a festive sheep, you’ll be sure to find holiday cards to your tastes. And one of my absolute faves is her wedding card below, “Of all the fish in the sea” — delightful.

(c) Nicola Allen 2019

(c) Nicola Allen 2019

(c) Nicola Allen 2019

Nicola’s full shop is here, with specifics from the above illustrations as follows:

Grumpy Owl here

Festive sheep here.

Of all the fish in the sea here.

BIRDSTRIPS

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jess, the genius behind Birdstrips, in person twice. She’s currently in Montreal, and a friend introduced us just before I re-leaked last summer. Her illustrations have grown a huge following on Instagram due to its relatable messaging, and her captions that accompany the drawings are raw and vulnerable. Together, it’s powerful work that makes almost everyone feel heard.

In Jess’ words, the shop comprises “the existential distress of the flightless through the eyes of the flighted.”

(c) Birdstrips 2019

You can check out her images and pick up mugs, shirts, prints and more, here.

ABSTRACT AERIAL ART

JP and Mike Andrews, two brothers from the UK are an Instagram favourite of mine. I often share their images with my community because their eye is unique, and their pictures compelling. Like me, they absolutely love to travel. Unlike me, they specialize in photographing bizarre, aerial images our planet using drone photography.

Their goal: to share perspectives of the world otherwise unseen, captured from a vantage point most of us miss. A great gift option for those who love to roam.

Here’s one I love from them: Skyline, a drone photograph of a freighter that looks like a cityscape.

(c) Abstract Aerial Art 2019

(c) Abstract Aerial Art 2019

And this aerial view of a beach made me smile:

Their full gallery shop here.

TEKSTARTIST

Jason Markow, aka TEKSTartist is an artist I found a few years ago, and was hooked immediately. His work combines both traditional and digital media, a fusion of techniques that result in elegant yet crisp products. Given that my own products are typographic representations of food, I love that his art includes quotes he’s enjoyed over the years, visually represented in unique ways.

One of my favourites: this flower, “Your Garden, Forever” available here, created by warping and twisting the words from Tennyson’s famous quote – “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…I could walk through my garden forever.”― Alfred Tennyson

(c)TEKSTartist 2019

And the item below, The Giving Tree, was created by warping/twisting the words from the entire set of text from Shel Silverstein’s iconic book “The Giving Tree”. Buy a copy of the artwork here.

(c)TEKSTartist 2019

Full shop here.

EFFIN BIRDS

These illustrations of birds with curse words sayings are all the rage on Instagram and Twitter, for good reason: they’re hilarious. Crafted by Aaron Reynolds, they do seem to offend some, but as the name suggests exactly what they are it’s hard for anyone to be upset. Don’t like them? Close the tab. Personally, I find them exactly what I need, each and every day. Clothing, mugs, pins, and more at the link, including a new Effin’ Birds book.

Buy here.

TOTE BAGS: TYPOGRAPHIC MAPS OF FOOD

I’m excited to share the new tote bags in the Legal Nomads shop. Previously, I offered a canvas, bull-woven tote of the maps, with the map printed on once side. These new tote bags are black and white – and if people like, I can also swap out the handles to make them red or mustard! – and the design is printed on both sides.*

*If you’d like to swap out the tote bag for a different handle (example here), just send an email to jodi-at-legalnomads.com after you order, and I’ll make sure it happens.

The new tote has sturdy handles and holds up to 44lbs, perfect for errands and/or carrying a laptop without a laptop bag. Food maps of Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Portugal, Italy, and Mexico available.

(c) Jodi Ettenberg 2019

Shop the new totes here. The full shop is here.

VANRILEY

These beautiful macrame earrings are courtesy of the Van Riley shop, run by a fellow leaker. I wanted to share her work as I know how it is to worry about making ends meet with a CSF leak. If someone in your life loves macrame, please consider supporting her shop!

Macrame earrings and other items, on the VanRiley shop here.

MICAPEET JEWLERY

Given my love of nature, it’s no surprise that I also love jewelry that depicts it in design. I saw these gold leaf earrings recently and ordered a pair as my holiday gift to myself. They’re lightweight — great for anyone with headaches — and they are delicate and just so pretty. I like the contrast of the gold with the emerald green stud in the ear.

  If leaf earrings aren’t your thing, Mica also has necklaces, rings, and other earrings in a variety of shapes and sizes. They’re lightweight and beautiful, and oh so creative. Her jewelry is hypoallergenic and nickel-free.

Buy the same gold leaf earrings that I love here, with Mica’s full shop here.

GLDNxLAYEREDANDLONG

Several readers nominated this Etsy shop, and it’s the only one on this list that I haven’t also purchased myself. But when my readers are happy, I’m happy, and I wanted to share what brought them such joy in gift giving.

Chrissy’s shop features personalized, delicate jewelry for those who want to memorialize their care with initials or names. The image below is for the necklace that several readers bought, but her shop is full of other options, including rings, earrings, and pendants.

Personalized initial necklace here. Full shop here.

BEBANGLES

I’ve saved one of the best for last.

My friend Chantelle started Be., a company that sells bangles – but also much more than simply bangles. Chantelle is one of the most open-hearted, vivacious people I’ve ever met, and thankfully I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her in person years ago. Her company’s bangles work well in conjunction with the lightness and curse words of Effin Birds, two small business enterprises that use curse words to make a valid point. In Chantelle’s case, Be. takes a stand against societal norms. Her work aims to support women and girls in a society that often expects airbrushed perfection.

I received a few Be. bangles as a wonderful 40th birthday gift from Chantelle, and my two faves – that came with me to Florida are:

“I’m mostly peace, love, light, and a little go fuck yourself” – product here, and

“I stopped waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel, and lit that bitch up myself” – product here.

I am someone who uses curse words as a form of punctuation, so those two bracelets are perfect. For those with less swear-y tendencies, lots of beautiful options like:

“Be you. The world will adjust.” (here), and

“Speak. Even if your voice shakes.” (here.)

All of Be.’s products here.

That’s it for 2019!  A big thanks to my friend Reine who helped pull many of the images and upload them for me, so that I could do this guide more easily. It would have been a 2020 gift guide without her. Hopefully there’s something fun in here for someone in your family.

Happy holidays, and thank you as always for all the incredible support.

-Jodi

The post The Legal Nomads 2019 Gift Guide:<br /> Art and Jewelry appeared first on Legal Nomads.

The Legal Nomads 2019 Gift Guide: Art and Jewelry published first on https://takebreaktravel.tumblr.com/

[boardwalk-absurdist]

All the numbers! 😊

Aaahhh thank you~ I haven’t done one of these in forever but I love them, so let’s go (under the cut)!

1. coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans? Coffee mugs~ I have one standard reliable water bottle that I carry with me, but I love me a clever/cute coffee mug.

2. chocolate bars or lollipops? Chocolate bars, natch.

3. bubblegum or cotton candy? Cotton candy~

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you? Usually stuff like energetic, bubbly, and smart. They used to say gifted but around 4th grade they weren’t allowed to say that anymore.

5. do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups? None of the above, I don’t drink soda. The bubbles hurt my tongue.

6. pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear? Oh man this is an eternal struggle tbh. I think I usually dress a bit more grunge or boho, but I want to be pastel and goth as well? The others I could take or leave.

7. earbuds or headphones? Earbuds, as long as they aren’t those Skullcandy kind with the squishy part that you jam in your ear canal. I hate those.

8. movies or tv shows? Depends on my mood and how much time I have.

9. favorite smell in the summer? This may be weird, but like…sun sweat? You know when you’re laying out comfortably in the sunshine and there’s a nice breeze and you sweat a lil but it’s like just warm? Also the ocean, I love the beach but I live nowhere near one.

10. game you were best at in p.e.? Uh, avoid competitive people as much as possible by running in the opposite direction from the ball? Walk laps rather than play the game? I did not like gym class.

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day? Nothin’. Sometimes I’ll have a donut or poptarts or pain au chocolat but usually it’s a lotta nothing.

12. name of your favorite playlist? “Players musicals”, a spotify playlist with songs from the 4 musicals my college theatre group did while I was there. Or on my iTunes, I have one called “Power Up” that is all my pump-up jams.

13. lanyard or key ring? …both? I have a keyring on my lanyard.

14. favorite non-chocolate candy? Ooh, the Haribo gummy frogs. With like the white part on the bottom? Idk what that shit is but I love it.

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. I know it’s a play but we did read it, and I loved it. Alternatively, maybe Brave New World? I found that one fascinating.

16. most comfortable position to sit in? Curled up sideways in an armchair or with my legs thrown over one arm and my back against the other.

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes? In the summer, I always pick one pair of sandals with a fun pattern so I get cool tan lines on my feet. Otherwise, Merrell Mocs 5evr.

18. ideal weather? Sunny and dry, maybe with a light breeze, and in the mid- to high-70s. Either that or clear, sunny, and between 15 and -15 for like a perfectly brisk day.

19. sleeping position? I usually sleep on my side with my top leg flung out so I’m like half on my stomach. But I can’t actually sleep on my stomach cuz I have titties and they are Not Comfortable.

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)? Literally anywhere and on anything. I doodle and write on p much any surface I am given.

21. obsession from childhood? …uh. There were several. But I guess Jerry Lewis was the biggie/most embarrassing.

22. role model? That’s a tough one. Probably Bonnie Bassler.

23. strange habits? I eat most foods around the outside and save the center for last. Like poptarts, waffles, sandwiches… I also have a tic where whenever I have my car in neutral I jiggle the stick shift back and forth to like prove to myself that I am in neutral. I’m sure there are more that I’m unaware of that I just think are normal, so hey, if you know me irl and you know of a weird habit that I missed, send it my way.

24. favorite crystal? Idk. Does tiger’s eye count? It’s my favorite semi-precious stone.

25. first song you remember hearing? LORDT I have no idea, probably a Bruce Springsteen song.

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather? Lay in the sunshine. Or swim outside.

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather? Play in the snow.

28. five songs to describe you? These are more songs describing what it feels like to be me, but: “Fear and Loathing” and “Teen Idle” by Marina and the Diamonds, “I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers, “Yo Girl” from Heathers, aaaand “Carmen” by Lana Del Rey.

29. best way to bond with you? Work on a show together.

30. places that you find sacred? Difficult to say. I guess anywhere that feels like a liminal space.

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names? Ooh okay so I have this black cropped sleeveless hoodie that says “never trust the living” on a tombstone and has a skull, I like to pair that with some burgundy high-waisted short shorts and tights with embroidered skulls and butterflies. Then those go with my platform black and white sneakers or my 6 inch platform boots with flames on the heels.

32. top five favorite vines? rOaD wOrK aHeAd?; I AM THE SAND GUARDIAN; …wow; “little diddy”; and either happy crismus or WELCOME TO BIBLE STUDY

33. most used phrase in your phone? Probably “fair enough”

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head? “if you needed brain surgery, would you go to a general practitioner? No? THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL BUYING FISH FROM THE GENERAL STORE” fishtopia may finally be dead but that fucking commercial lives on

35. average time you fall asleep? Like midnight?

36. what is the first meme you remember ever seeing? I can has cheezburger?

37. suitcase or duffel bag? Depends. If it’s just for a few days, duffel bag. But I prefer to travel with a suitcase for anything longer than a week.

38. lemonade or tea? Lemonade

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie? Uh I guess lemon cake?

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school? Oh! One time this girl tackled this dude allegedly cuz he wouldn’t share his beef jerky. The school was put on a code yellow while the security guard separated them.

41. last person you texted? Myself, to send some gel pictures from my phone to my laptop.

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets? Jacket pockets. I have shitty girl pants pockets.

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket? why must you hurt me in this way. I have a denim jacket that I adore, so I guess that one? But I really appreciate the aesthetic of bomber jackets.

44. favorite scent for soap? Irish Spring. am cermet

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero? I guess sci-fi.

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in? I sleep in my underwear.

47. favorite type of cheese? Cheddar or Gruyere.

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be? No clue. Strawberry, maybe?

49. what saying or quote do you live by? “Once you’re in it, it’s okay.” - This is How, Augusten Burroughs Alternatively, “How unlikely! Yet here we are.” - Spaceman of Bohemia, Jaroslav Kalfar 

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have? An inside joke with the Brit, I think. 

51. current stresses? oh the thousands

52. favorite font? Currently I’m really feeling Book Antiqua.

53. what is the current state of your hands? Uh, fine? Clean? My nails are Ready for some new polish.

54. what did you learn from your first job? How to scoop ice cream.

55. favorite fairy tale? I don’t think I have one.

56. favorite tradition? So in my family, we have a routine for putting up the tree (we have a fake tree that we use every year). My dad puts the tree together, my mom rearranges and bends the branches to make it look more realistic, my dad puts the lights on, and then my little brother and I decorate it with all the ornaments. It’s a lot of fun and my favorite part of Christmas.

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome? An abusive relationship, getting help for depression/anxiety, and my mom’s attempted suicide.

58. four talents you’re proud of having? I’m a p good writer, a decent swimmer, I can do cross-stitch/needlepoint, and I am very good at taking tests/learning.

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be? “Eat an entire ass.”

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be? Slice of life goofy high school comedy. Like Ouran, or the lighter parts of Fruits Basket.

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.? There’s a line in @scifigrl47‘s fic “Hollow Your Bones like a Bird’s” that has really stuck with me over the years: “It is the farthest from death that I can get, to decide, second by second, not to jump.” In a similar vein, the line “I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spat it out” from the original Avengers movie really made an impression. On a funnier note, the lines “I’ve frequently not been on boats” and “One can hardly eat cucumber sandwiches in an agitated manner” from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and The Importance of Being Earnest respectively never fail to make me laugh.

62. seven characters you relate to? Lordt that is so many. Okay. Alissa Meson from the Truth series, Chidi Anagonye from The Good Place, Lee Fiora from Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket, Shiloh Wallace from Repo! The Genetic Opera, Augusten Burroughs in his memoirs (not technically a character but I relate so hard), and Bo Burnham’s stage persona (it COUNTS dammit).

63. five songs that would play in your club? “1, 2, Step” - Ciara, “Night Fever” - The BeeGees, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” - Journey, “Chelsea Dagger” - The Fratellis, and “Damn You Look Good And I’m Drunk (Scandalous)” - Cobra Starship

64. favorite website from your childhood? Quizilla, RIP

65. any permanent scars? Several on my hands (they used to be cat scratches but I picked at them so much they scarred up), two punctures from my cat biting me on my right inner forearm, and one biggun on my left asscheek from when I fell out of a tree and had to get 6 stitches.

66. favorite flower(s)? Poppies, lavender, fireweed, and forget-me-nots.

67. good luck charms? Not really? I have jewelry that I wear every day but that’s more a habit/ritual rather than for luck.

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried? LORDT okay so I worked at an ice cream shop two summers in a row, right? There was this DISGUSTING cranberry stout flavor, and a p gross ginger one, plus every time someone ordered a weird milkshake we’d make a little extra so we could try some. One time someone got like a large stout (the regular, not the cranberry, which was still nasty) and pumpkin milkshake with malt. It was horrid.

69. a fun fact that you don’t know how you learned? It takes as much pressure to bite through a human finger as it does to bite through a carrot.

70. left or right handed? Rightie.

71. least favorite pattern? Uh. I guess paisley? It doesn’t really do anything for me.

72. worst subject? Organic chemistry or physics.

73. favorite weird flavor combo? Oooh so nutella and honey is DELIGHTFUL if you’ve never tried it. Also those parmesan bread bites from Dominos taste real good dunked in the icing that comes with the cinnamon twists.

74. at what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an advil or ibuprofen? Like a 4 or 5.

75. when did you lose your first tooth? I genuinely do not recall.

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)? Scalloped potatoes with cheese.

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill? Idk I kill all my plants. I have a lil sempervivum that I’ve kept alive for a few months though~

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store? Grocery store sushi.

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo? Lmao they both are bad but I’ll say driver’s license.

80. earth tones or jewel tones? Jewel tones.

81. fireflies or lightning bugs? Are they not the same thing? I call them fireflies.

82. pc or console? PC. I grew up without a console so I lack the intuitive understanding of their control mechanisms that most people seem to have.

83. writing or drawing? Writing.

84. podcasts or talk radio? Podcasts.

84. barbie or polly pocket? Barbie I guess?

85. fairy tales or mythology? Mythology.

86. cookies or cupcakes? …cookies.

87. your greatest fear? Disappointing people who took a chance on me.

88. your greatest wish? If I tell you, it won’t come true.

89. who would you put before everyone else? My little brother.

90. luckiest mistake? Not applying for summer internships. Instead I just talked to the one microbiology professor and she offered me a summer job in her lab and it’s because of her that I’m at the school I’m at for grad school and have experience and all that.

91. boxes or bags? Uh. Bags I guess? Easier to carry.

92. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights? Sunlight.

93. nicknames? My parents call me Squirrelle. Some people call me T (my real name starts with a T).

94. favorite season? Spring, I think. It’s so nice to come back out of the cold.

95. favorite app on your phone? I guess fb messenger, I use it the most.

96. desktop background? It’s a colored collage of Jareth and Sarah from pika-la-cynique’s “Girls Next Door” massive crossover series on dA.

97. how many phone numbers do you have memorized? I dunno, like a handful? Some are totally useless.

98. favorite historical era? Probably the 80s.

[tattooed-on-my-wayward-soul]

Winchester brothers~ Idiots

Title: Idiots

Pairings: Winchester brothers x diabetic reader

Word count:1,631

Request:Omg omg omg you're back!!! I would love one (random I know) but the reader has diabetes and is using her insulin but the boys don't know and think she is using drugs?

Anything. That was what you could share with those brothers...Anything. They were your best friends, you joked around, flirted, teased each other, they were your life, your entire world and yet you kept one of your biggest secrets from them. 

It wasn’t because you didn’t trust them, or because you thought they’d tease you, it was because you were embarrassed. Whenever Sam scolded you about eating bad and how you should eat healthy otherwise it would catch up to you it always made you burn with heat, you could never tell Sam now, imagine the ‘I told you so’s’ he would deliver. He’d baby you forever, always making sure you were okay, eating right...

You could never tell your closest friends that you had diabetes. It was kind of ironic that you fought everyday to stop vamps and demons from killing you when all they had to do was take away your insulin. 

You always made sure you took it in your room, door closed, locked. There was no way the brothers were ever going to stumble across your secret. 

You were so careful, so sure they would never see you doing it that you had forgotten to make sure they never saw the needle by itself. But along came the giant moose screaming door the roof about his precious laptop. 

‘’(Y/n)? Have you taken my laptop again! I swear to god!’’Sam yelled as he pushed your door open before pacing into the middle of your room. He knew he shouldn’t have been going through your thing but he needed his laptop and you were the last one who borrowed it. 

Sam bent down, hand cupping the skirting of the bed as he pushed it aside and checked under, he groaned silently when he realised it wasn’t there. He got up, checking in draws, under your quilts... and then he spotted your duffel lying carelessly on the floor. He made a relieved face when he saw the edges of his laptop peeking out from the bag. Sam bent down, retrieving his laptop as he tugged it up only for your bag to spill over and all it’s contents spill out. 

Sam sighed, pushing the laptop onto your bed as he knelt down, scooping up your screwed up clothing and carefully placing it back into the bag. Sam grabbed your old book copy that you always carried, halfway through putting it in your bag when he froze. He spotted something odd sticking out under a sock. 

Gingerly, Sam removed the sock, his eyes widening as he let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding as he carefully picked up the needle without getting himself pricked. He held it to eye level, whatever was in there was definitely empty now. Sam felt a wave of emotions hit him, he wasn’t sure how to feel. He stood up, fingers nervously wiping at his jeans as he looked around the room, should he really snoop through your private things?

Sam shook the thought out of his head, he had too, to make sure he wasn’t actually seeing what he was...well... seeing. His fingers locked under multiple draws as he sighed, closing them, stomped before he paused and turned to your trash can. He knelt down, grabbing some tissue between his fingers as he used it to gently move things around. He froze once again, a sight of countless needles all used laying at the bottom. Sam’s jaw clenched, he wasn’t sure what he was feeling but it wasn’t good. 

Sam, obviously, went straight to Dean who was ready to defend you the moment Sam said ‘guess what I found in, (y/n)’s room’. Dean was always like that, he always picked your side even though Sam was his brother, he couldn’t help it, you had never left him like everyone else had, he felt a strange need to always protect you, even from Sam sometimes. 

‘’No. No way, there’s no way that (Y/n/n)’s a druggie, okay, Sammy. You know she hates the thought of it’’Dean scolded his younger brother for the stupid thoughts. Sam looked at Dean with a slightly agitated expression before it softened. 

‘’I know, Dean. I didn’t think so either but we also didn’t think I’d be a demon blood junkie either’’Sam added as Dean was immediately silence. Dean paced around as he groaned, hands raking through his hair. 

‘’No, man, no. I know what you’re saying but no. I mean she’s doesn’t even seem all hyped up or anxious or whatever’’Dean defended again as he paced. Sam shrugged. 

‘’Dean, sometimes drugs just make you relax not all have the same effect as weed’’Sam explained as he dropped into his chair. ‘’What else could it be, Dean?’’

The older Winchester turned to face his younger brother as he looked utterly hopeless. ‘’Botox?’’He offered before sighing and waving his hand at the look Sam cast him. ‘’Yeah, yeah, I know’’Dean grumbled. 

Sam who had that ‘bitch face’ still on his face sighed slowly. ‘’We gotta talk to her, Dean. Let her know we can help her’’

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

The moment you stepped through those bunker doors you knew something was off. Dean was sat, brooding in his chair as he stared at a newspaper that his eyes didn’t even follow. Sam was sat at his end of the table, scrolling through his laptop but his face was contorted into sadness and pain and your immediate thought was that there had been a brother fall out. 

‘’Hey, you guys okay?’’You asked cautiously, slowly stepping into the tension filled territory. Sam looked up, jumping slightly. 

‘’(Y-Y/n)’’Sam called loudly, gaining the older winchester’s attention. ‘’H-hey’’Sam smiled nervously. You squinted your eyes at him, turning to look at the older one who simply looked away with red cheeks. 

‘’Hey...’’You trailed off, dragging out your words to show you were wary as you sat down, placing the plastic bag on the table. 

‘’You okay, (Y/n)?’’Dean asked, voice firm but not strict. ‘’You feeling okay?’’He asked. You could see that look in his eye, the pained one where he watched someone he loved hurt themselves and you looked back and forth between the two brothers. 

‘’Are you two?’’You asked, changing the subject as Sam frowned.

‘’of course we are’’Sam offered as he leaned forward, watching you. You caught his gaze and he immediately set you with a soft smile. ‘’You know you can come to us about anything, (y/n)’’Sam added. 

You sighed, getting up and holding your hands in the air. ‘’Okay, I don’t know what’s going on with you two but I hate when you get like this, call me when you’ve got the weird out of your system’’You mumbled with a slight tease but also a hint of irritation to you as you walked to your room only to notice Sam and Dean quickly jogging behind you. You turned around slowly, narrowing your eyes. 

‘’Can I help you?’’You asked, eyeing them as Dean rolled back on his heels. 

‘’Nope. We’re good, why? you hiding something in there?’’Dean questioned but the teasing smile didn’t quite reach where it normally did and Sam elbowing him caught your attention. You nodded. 

‘’It’s official, you’ve both lost it’’You murmured before opening your doors and not being surprised when the two giants followed you in. You sat down on the edge of your bed, heeling off your shoe when Sam and Dean sandwiched you between them. ‘’Okay, I’m getting worried’’You joked.

‘’(Y/n), we know’’Sam whispered softly, his eyes big and round like a wounded puppy. You watched him, trying to figure it out. 

‘’Know what...’’you trailed off more confused than ever. Dean sighed, rubbing his face. 

‘’We found the needle’s, (y/n)’’Dean interjected as your face dropped. The two brothers watched you as you looked at the floor ashamed, playing with your fingers. 

‘’So you finally found out’’You laughed sadly as Sam’s hand rubbed your shoulder. 

‘’(Y/n), why didn’t you tell us?’’Dean whispered with hurt, something you hated to do to him. 

‘’I was ashamed, I didn’t want you guys to baby me or think I was weak as a hunter’’You shrugged mumbling. Sam and Dean both glanced at each other. 

‘’Hey, you’re the best kick ass hunter out there’’Dean cut in. 

‘’Yeah, and we’ll always baby you not matter what’’Sam teased, nudging you with his elbow. You laughed, feeling teary. Sam’s sad smile presumed.

‘’Have you thought about going cold turkey?’’Sam asked. You turned your head, squinting at him to see if he was joking before frowning. 

‘’Uhm...no, I can’t say I have’’You answered sarcastically as Sam frowned and Dean grew slightly angered. 

‘’Why not? ‘’Dean barked before Sam held a hand up. 

‘’It’s okay, we can try slowly easing you off them’’Sam offered. You looked between the two. 

‘’Uh, no thanks, I don’t feel like dying’’You jumped in as Dean scrunched up his nose. 

‘’You keep using and you will die’’Dean growled somewhat impatiently. Sam flashed him another look. 

‘’Look, (Y/n), I know you think you’re gonna die without them, look, I did too when I had to go cold turkey, and I know this life is hard and it feels like a way out, but drugs isn’t the answer-’’

You cut Sam off with a look you sent him as he stopped. ‘’What?’’Dean mumbled. 

‘’Y-you think I’m doing drugs?’’You repeated slowly before you slapped your face and groaned. They both flashed each other a confused look. 

‘’You’re not?’’Dean added. 

‘’No, idiots. It’s insulin. I’m diabetic, I thought you two knew’’You laughed as their mouths dropped open. Dean jumped you, arms slinging around you. 

‘’Oh thank god, I thought you were a junkie’’He breathed out as you giggled. Sam chuckled as he shook his head. 

‘’You should have told us, you know what we said before about being a kick ass hunter and babying you still stands, no matter what’’

[superpuppies]

Week 4/22 – 4/28/20

Anti-Virus

So, when this prompt hit, I was re-watching TMNT 2012, I really like that series it just fun, and I instantly knew who I was writing about. I did have to change the word mom to dad in the prompt because the character of Casey doesn’t have a mother at least not that I could recall though I did remember him talking about his dad and little sister. I also did break my no research rule on this one a little bit I wanted to make sure I got the age of legal guardianship right. This was strange for me because I had never written any TMNT fiction before and my two favorite characters are Mickey and Donny and they aren’t who I focus on here. Donny plays a bigger role but it’s not his story. And Micky is almost demoted to Leo statues (Leo is my least favorite turtle; I very much just tolerate his existence).

This got a lot darker than I thought it would, not that I ever thought it was going to be light and cheery but still there were times when I was writing and I thought “oh shit this is uncomfortable” so please keep that in mind. I’ll list some trigger warnings below the summery.  Otherwise I had fun writing this one it just poured out of me in in about a day and a half. There are some moments between the turtles that just make me smile. Does anyone ells think it’s weird that Raph has a pet turtle? That just always struck me as really weird.

Summary : When Donny accidently unveils Casey’s dark secret, he isn’t quite sure how to proceed without hurting his friend or one of his brothers. Can he find a way to help them both without causing anymore harm?

Trigger warnings: child abuse, reference to NonCon & rape, forced fellatio

 This story is a longer one and I wanted it to be easier to find for solo reading, so I have posted it separately. Please click the link out to it or continue on to the next week’s tale.

If you would like to read this and all of 2020′s weekly writing challenge stories click HERE or continue read below for today’s tale.

Dialogue Prompt: “hear that? It’s destiny. She’s calling.”

“No, I’m pretty sure that’s your mom dad yelling for you to take out the trash.”

                 Donnie leaned back in his computer chair and looked over his shoulder at his brothers, Raph and Mikey, reading comics with Casey. They had all come up to Casey’s place after almost an hour of whinnying from Casey about his computer. With an exasperated sigh Donnie had finally caved under the condition that Raph came with him to keep Casey out of his way while he worked. Mikey had simply invited himself along and now the three were huddled together on Casey’s bed reading.  Donnie bit back the smirk as he looked at them.

               They had been quiet for the last hour or so and that quiet had finally peaked Donnie’s curiosity. Raph was sitting with his back against the wall, Mikey leaning against his left shoulder munching on some chips. While Casey was settled between Raph’s legs, his back against Raph’s chest while he held up the comic book for all of them. The three of them looked so comfortable and natural together. Mikey reached out and offered a chip to Raph’s mouth his eyes never leaving the comic book. Raph’s tong snaked out, snagged the chip and retreated also never breaking concentration on the comic book. Donnie’s gaze slid down them as he tried not to laugh, until he realized just how low Raph’s hand was on Casey’s stomach, could it even still be said to be on the stomach anymore? Donnie turned back to the computer, he needed to get this fix and done. So, he didn’t have to think about what might be happening behind him.

               Donnie groaned, what had Casey done to get so many viruses on his computer at once. Part of him just wanted to throw the damned thing out the window. “CASEY!” the whole room jumped at the boom that was Casey’s name. Casey shot off the bed and out the door closing it behind him as he went. The three brothers listened to their friend’s muffled voice as it spoke with quick almost desperate speed to an older male voice.  They went back and forth, finally who they had to assume was Casey’s dad issued a loud and final statement, “Your friends better be gone and the trash out when I get back.” They heard the front door closes and shared a quick glance between each other.

               Casey came back into the room plastering on his classic goofy grin. “We’ve got about ten minutes.”

               “You okay Casey?” Raph scooched forward so he was sitting on the edge of the bed. Mikey perched on his knees behind Raph with wide concerned eyes.

               “Yeah, dad was just pissed because I hadn’t done my chores or told him you guys were coming over.” Casey waved Raph’s concern away turning to Donnie. “So, what’s it looking like Doc?”

               “well…” Donnie looked back at the laptop. “I can’t have it done it ten minutes but if I take it back with me, I might be able to have it done by tomorrow night.”

               “Cool, yeah. Take it.”

               “Okay.” Donnie began shutting everything down and gathering the cords he would need before grabbing his bag.

               “are you sure you’re okay?” Raph asked moving closer to his friend. “That sounded pretty bad.”

               “Na, it’s fine. His bark is way worse than all that, you know.”

Donnie sighed, why couldn’t Casey finish a saying like a normal person.

“are you sure, you know we’ll help if you need us.”

“It’s nothing to worry about. Why are you acting so weird about stuff? I mean I know you guys haven’t had a lot of experience being at friends’ houses but sometimes your friends get yelled at. It’s not that crazy. So, chill…” they all heard the front door open. “Okay, times up. Bye guys.” Casey pushed them all toward the window and fire escape. All three brothers sent up protest at being so man handled toward the window.

“Casey,” Raph started.

“CASEY!” his father boomed from the hall.

“Hear that? It’s destiny. She’s calling me.” Casey posed dramatically.

Raph sighed he clearly wasn’t going to get a real answer out of him now. “No, I’m pretty sure that’s your dad yelling for you to take out the trash.”

Casey grinned wide and goofy. “See ya guys.”

“See ya!”

“Bye, Casey.”

“Later, man.” Raph smiled following his brothers up to the roof.

Mikey and Donnie were already across to the next roof but Raph sank low in the shadows and watched Casey gather a few wrappers off the floor before the door burst open. “Just getting the last of it now.” Casey said waving the wrappers at the furious man in his door way.

“Don’t give me that crap!” the man swung at Casey’s face but Casey managed to side step him and run down the hall.

Raph gripped the edge of the roof somehow unsure what to do. Casey appeared at the front of the building a bag of trash in hand a minute or two later, just as goofy and care free as usual. He paused for a moment after tossing the bag into the dumpster in the alley beneath Raph. Casey looked up almost directly at Raph, who sank back farther into the shadows, and shook out his hair. His right hand brushed lightly over the place Raph’s had rested against him, a smile stretched across his face before turning and heading back inside.

 Raph walked into the lair to Mikey’s loud announcement, “Raph’s, back!” from the sofa. Ice-cream Kitty Meowed a greeting at him as he came to settle on a beanbag chair closest to her.  “where did you go, Bro?” Mikey asked swirling whipped cream onto Ice-cream Kittie’s head.

“I felt like a walk.”

“Oh, that was weird tonight, right?”

“I don’t know,” Raph watched Mikey drop a cherry onto Ice-cream Kitty then another into his mouth. “I don’t have a lot of experience with this stuff, maybe we were luckier than we realized…”

“Where did you disappear too?” Leo cut him off coming to a stop in front of Raph, arms folded over his chest.

The odd contemplative calmness Raph had been feeling flared into rage at the smug look on Leo’s face. “I felt like a walk,” he snapped at his brother.

“So, you just walked off and didn’t tell anyone?”

“I don’t have to tell you anything Leo.”

“We need to know where you are, what if there was a mission?” Raph dropped his chin against his right shoulder, rolling his eyes at Leo. “This is important, Raph.” As Leo was reeving up into yet another, I’m the leader I’m right speech, Raph watched Mikey sigh, stand and carry Ice-cream Kitty back into the kitchen. There Mikey put away all the toppings and pulled his monster dualling card deck across the counter, settling in for a game with Ice-cream Kitty.  Raph glanced back at Leo, his anger fading as he realized he just didn’t have the energy for Leo today. Standing abruptly Leo jumped back startled. “Look, you maybe our leader but you aren’t our dad, so just stop trying to be.” Raph stomped past Leo, not even sure what he said matched any of what Leo had been going on about.

Closing the door to his room, Raph stroked the sleeping Chompy’s head before dropping onto his bed. He knew it was crazy to think he could still feel Casey’s body heat on his skin but there was part of him that almost did. There was definitely a part of him that missed Casey’s weight against him. He looked down at the hand that had rested on Casey’s stomach and groaned. Flopping down onto his chest, what was wrong with him? Why hadn’t he been able to move when Casey’s father took a swing at him. Why had his hart skipped a beat when he had watched Casey’s hand brush over where his own had rested? Raph bit his pillow with a frustrated groan, something was definitely wrong with him.

Donnie was doing better with Casey’s laptop now that he was in the quiet of his own lab. No longer distracted by his friend and brothers or the knowledge that right behind him Raph was practically groping their friend. How could he do that and with Mikey right beside him. Oh man, had Mikey noticed? Probably not, if he had their probably would have been some sort of scene about it.

Donnie glanced back at the computer screen; his software was still running through everything chasing down all that virus code. Maybe if he could figure out what or where they had all come from, he could convince Casey not to do whatever he had done again. Time for a little snooping. The internet history wasn’t all that surprising bunch of websites for hockey, a few that were clearly school project related, some video sharing websites. Donnie hovered the mouse over one he couldn’t place, finally clicking on it a video window opened with the title ‘teaching a punk to shut up’ under it. With a heavy sense of trepidation Donnie clicked play.

The camera was looking down on a mop of messy black hair as a hand forced the owner up and down a cock. Donnie sighed of course Casey had something like this saved to his computer. “where’s that back talk, now” the voice behind the camera laughed, Donnie froze on his way to close the window, he recognized that voice, he had heard it less than an hour ago. The hand in the hair forced the head back just enough to see the face. Casey glared up at the camera through a swollen left eye and bloody nose. Casey’s father laughed down at him from behind the camera as he pumped his dick in and out of Casey’s swollen, stretched and cracked lips.

Donnie watched in complete horror and fascination; he had never seen Casey so docile despite the fury that burned in those eyes. Casey’s father tightened his grip, pulling Casey tighter against his hips and groaned heavily as he came in Casey’s throat. Finally, releasing his grip, Casey fell back coughing and spitting out all he could. “At least you’re not completely useless, get lost, you little shit.” He kicked Casey’s hip until Casey scrambled away from him. The video ended and links to similar content popped up over the blurred frozen image of Casey’s retreating form.

Donnie’s eyes were locked on the screen. How could this be happening? Why hadn’t they done anything today when they heard Casey getting yelled at? That’s stupid, they didn’t know about this then. How did they not know about this? Why hadn’t Casey told them?  They would have helped him, he has to know that, right? He has too. Donnie closed the window, to keep snooping. There had to be some sort of explanation as to what was going on somewhere in here. There had to be.

Digging through more history he came across a slew of websites on the age limitations of a legal guardian and how to apply for guardianship. Fallowed closely by what was needed for proof of child endangerment and abuse. Donnie swore under his breath, if he was putting this together right Casey was trying to figure out how to become his sister’s guardian but was at least two years away from that happening and that video had been at least a year old already. There had to be something he could do. Opening his own laptop Donnie began researching and digging for more information, switching between the two computers as needed. A pen twirling between his fingers as he reads, pausing to take quick notes from time to time.

Donnie vaguely registered when Mikey called out that Raph was back, too engrossed in his new mission. The sound of Leo starting in on Raph played like familiar music in the background.

Donnie leaned in to the computer screen, he had found what looked like a digital journal, he took notes of some particularly bad beatings and what appeared be the first sexual attack. He felt sick reading it all in detail but was oddly proud of Casey for keeping such meticulous notes, these would certainly be a great help in the case against his father. Apparently, the sexual stuff started a little over a year ago so only just before that video, not that, that was somehow better but at least it didn’t go back farther than that.

Donnie tilted his head at the first mention of himself and his brothers, it was several months after they had met. ‘I dodged him, completely dodged him and managed to get us both out the fire escape and across a few roofs before collapsing in a heap behind some pigeon house. She slept through most of it, a rough landing woke her up but she’s still so little that a quick song had her back to sleep. Hanging around with the guys has definitely made me faster. I’ll have to get Raph to show me some more cool moves. Maybe I can get him to teach me that neck pinch thing.’

Donnie smiled, happy that they had been able to help at least a little bit already. he would have to make a point to show Casey a few more evasive moves. Raph started coming up more and more as Donnie read, though he supposed that wasn’t all that strange they were best friends. Though the focus slowly changed from learning new moves or who / what they found on patrol to what Raph did or how he looked silhouetted against the city. How close Raph would settle next to Casey on colder nights and how much Casey looked forward to those nights in particular.

Donnie stood; he needs to talk to Raph. He was surprised to find the lair so dark as he walked through it but a quick glance at his T-phone cleared that mystery right up. But if it was so late why had no one pestered him to go to bed yet? Maybe someone was still up, he peaked into Mikey’s room. Mikey was out cold, Leo was the same in his room, that only left Raph which might be ideal considering what he had to talk to him about. After no response to the light knock, Donnie eased the door open. “Raph?” Raph was deep asleep, his jaw slack, a trail of drool dribbling onto his pillow. Donnie smirked, reaching in and flicked off the over headlight. He could talk to him tomorrow, he should probably have everything as mapped out as possible for him anyway, might make the news a bit easier to take then just having Donnie saying it to him. Yes, if he had something concrete to show Raph, he might not be so quick to hit him, might. Donnie returned to his lab and started on some simple flow charts.

Raph walked into the kitchen to find Mikey dancing with Ice-cream Kitty as he made breakfast to some of his latest music obsession, Raph was pretty sure he had called it nightcore, booming through the room. “Moring,” he smiled at Raph still dancing, “Breakfast’s almost ready.”

“Where’s Leo?”

“Shower.”

“Donnie?”

“Not in his room.” Mikey danced over to the coffee pot and poured a mug.

“Did he sleep in the lab again?”

“Probably.” Mikey handed Raph the mug.

Raph took the mug and headed for Donni, why didn’t Leo ever ride Donnie about getting some sleep? Why was it his job to make sure Donnie didn’t kill himself with work. Donnie’s head was on the desk top between his and Casey’s laptops. Casey’s was blinking some message at the sleeping turtle. Raph shook his head and shouted Donnie’s name. no response. Coming closer he poked the sleeping turtle’s head, shook him, shouted in his ear, waved coffee sent in his face but the best he got was a grumbling turn of the head. Raph’s left eye twitched. Finally, he kicked Donnie’s chair out from under him, but instead of the dramatic flailing he was hoping for Donnie simply sank to the floor and curled up under his desk. “Fine.” Raph grumbled placing the mug of coffee next to Donnie’s head, the smell would get to him eventually, and walked back out to the kitchen.

“Where’s Donnie?” Leo asked between bites of pancakes.

“Sleeping, why didn’t you make him go to sleep?”

“I thought I wasn’t everyone’s dad.” Leo narrowed his eyes, triumphant.

“that’s never stopped you before.” Raph dropped into his chair.

“Ooohh- snap! Shots fired Kitty.” Mikey laughed feeding Ice-cream Kitty a bite of pancake. Leo frowned and Raph smirked. They all knew Mikey loved them unconditionally but even Mikey was getting fed up with Leo’s attitude recently., that was why he had tagged along last night. He didn’t want to be left alone with Leo when he was like this and they all knew it. Leo, thankfully had enough sense today to keep his mouth shut. Raph and Mikey shared a quick glance and shrug when Leo opted to just eat in silence, before picking up their own forks again.

Donnie crawled out of the lab four hours later, a mug of very cold coffee in his hand. Mikey spotted him first. “It Lives!” Raph took the distraction to kill Mikey in the game they were playing, while Leo looked up from his magazine.

“Where you off to Doctor Doninstine?” Raph chuckled fending off Mikey’s whinnying slaps.

“Coffee.” Donnie grumbled.

“Looks like you have some in your hand.” Leo said putting down his magazine to watch his usually smarter brother try to navigate the lair.

“coffee.” Donnie just grumbled in response again.

“Sorry Don, but the kitchen is closed.” Raph folded his arms over his chest, smirking Down at Mikey, who he had pinned down with a foot on his chest.

Donnie finally turned to look at them with his morning dead eyes. “Coffee.” He growled.

“No.” Raph growled right back. Mikey and Leo shot each other a quick glance.

Donnie bolted for the kitchen. Raph on his heels, Leo and Mikey right behind him. Mikey latched his nun chucks around an overhead pipe, swinging over Raph and Leo to land on Donnie, tackling him to the ground. Raph and Leo dog piling right on top of them as Donnie let out an inhuman screech.

“it’s for your own good.”

“you won’t sleep tonight, Bro.”

“you should have just gotten up earlier.”

Donnie let out another horrifying shriek, the three brothers struggled to restrain him as he flailed about.

“Caffein deprived Donnie is scary!”

“Where does this strength come from?”

“Where is it when we need it?”

“Mikey, wrap him up.”

“I can’t, I can’t reach my chucks without getting off him.” Mikey reached for the chuck he had dropped when landing on Donnie and was almost thrown by his flailing brother.

“Wait, look.” They turned to Raph who was struggling with Donnie’s legs. “look at him.”  They all looked down at Donnie and saw that his berserker state was quickly fading beneath their combined weight. So instead the all just tightened their grip and hunkered down to wait him out. Once he was calm, they dragged him into the Dojo and locked him in for a four-hour training session.

With training finished Leo grabbed Mikey and dragged him up to the surface with him for patrol. Donnie pulled some left overs out of the fridge to finally eat something. He had been uncharacteristically quiet all through training. Everything he had learned through the night and his lack of caffeine, not a good mix, the better part of his mind told him it was best to just say nothing at all, so that’s what he did.

Raph watched Donnie, petting Chompy while he mechanically eats the cold leftover lo main. Raph leaned against the counter sipping on some water after filling a glass. “What were you working on so late?”

Donnie went still remembering he wanted to talk to Raph, he looked up at his brother slowly. “I … I found some stuff on Casey’s computer.”

“Some new crazy techno virus?” Raph chuckled at Donnie’s need to tackle every program thing he came across.

Donnie dropped his eyes to the table, he wished. “No,” it came out as more of a broken whisper then he hoped it would have.

Raph knitted his brows together. “What?” Donnie kept his eyes on the table, he wanted to talk to Raph, needed to. And now he was presented with a prime opportunity to and he had no idea what to say. “Donnie?”

Donnie looked up at Raph’s concerned face. “I’m worried about him, but I don’t know if there is anything we can really do.”

“About what?”

“I … I..”

“About what, Donnie?”

“Maybe I should just show you.” Donnie stood and walked them into the lab. He moved his laptop off a large paper flow chart. “It’s not finished but it’s not a pretty picture.”

Raph ran his eyes over the mapped-out maze of words, taking note of a few key words as he did. ‘start of abuse,’ ‘loss of mother.’ ‘legal age’ ‘sister’ ‘start of sexual abuse’.

“What does this…” Raph’s finger hovered over ‘start of sexual abuse’ unable to finish the question, he felt oddly heavy and cold.

“That’s the first thing I found but it might be worse than I originally thought…” Raph just looked up at him. “I found another video.” Donnie opened a link on his computer, this one had a preview image. Casey’s face was swollen, though not as much as in the first video, he was on his knees in front of a door looking as protective and defiant as he could while clearly so defeated. Come was splattered over his face, his nose bleeding and a bruise forming around his right eye. “I’m not going to play it again.” Donnie told Raph who just nodded, his eyes locked on Casey’s face. Donnie watched his brother closely; he couldn’t think of a time when he had seen Raph take bad news so well.

“Why wouldn’t he tell us?” Raph finally asked.

“I think there are a few reasons for that. The main one being that everything that I’ve been able to piece together right now is Casey is trying to become his sister’s guardian but he isn’t old enough yet. So, until he is, nothing, can happen to his father.”

“What?!”

“If something happens to Casey’s father, both of them will be put into child services where they will most likely be separated.” Donnie put his hand on Raph’s wrist to try and calm his growing rage. “If they are separated, there is a very good chance he will lose her to the system, forever. But if he waits it out a bit longer, he can be her guardian.” Donnie tightened his hold on Raph but was surprised to see him settle again.

“He could lose her?”

“yes.”

“I don’t want him to lose her.”  Raph felt numb and crushed by the idea of losing a sibling. His brothers were everything to him and he was sure Casey felt the same about his sister. He could understand wanting to be hurt over losing them.

Donnie stroked a comforting thumb over Raph’s wrist. “There is something ells you should know.” He took a quick breath. “Casey, is falling for you,” Raph’s chest tightened. “but maybe you already knew that.”

“What?” Raph looked up at Donnie with desperate confusion.

“the way you two were sitting against each other last night…” Donnie trailed off as a deep blush spread across Raph’s face. “Oh,”

Raph tried to ignore the heat on his face and the strange look Donnie was giving him. “why,” His voice was strangled, “Why do you think that he’s …. Um … you know, for me?”

Donnie turned to the computer in order to hide his smile, he still had a hold on Raph’s wrist and his brother’s hart rate was intense. “he’s been, well I think they were originally notes about what was happening but they turned into more of a journal and you come up, a lot. I mean you’re his friend so that in and of itself isn’t all that unusual. But the way he talks about you has changed. You’re not just a friend anymore. You’re more important than that.” Donnie looked back at Raph. “Are you okay?”

Raph looked and felt like he had been hit by the metaphorical bus, frozen, staring blankly ahead. What the hell was his life right now? Had he gotten seriously injured in the last fight and this was one of those weird final brain flash things Donnie had told them about? No, he could feel Donnie’s hand on his wrist. Okay, so this was a thing that was happening. Why couldn’t he think? “Raph?” Donnie stepped closer to him. He should say something, he should respond. “Raph? Are you okay? Take a breath.”

Donnie snagged his rolling chair with his foot and brought it around behind Raph, slowly lowering his brother down on to it. He hadn’t been anywhere near prepared for this reaction. He continued giving soft calming commands for Raph to breathe until, Raph spoke. “it’s a lot.”

Oh, thank goodness, “yeah, it is.” Donnie stood next to Raph watching him process until his hart rate had slowed to a more normal pace. Then he slowly stepped away and pretended to work on something, just to give Raph the space he knew he needed.

About twenty minutes later Raph stood abruptly and started for the door. “where are you going?” Donnie asked watching him.

“I need a walk.”

“Raph,” Raph paused in the door. “Don’t say anything to Casey, he doesn’t know we know.” Raph gave a curt nod and disappeared through the door.

Raph wandered through the sewers, his feet moving seemingly as aimless as his thoughts. Except for the fact that all his thoughts were about Casey. From how his laugh always rang in Raph’s head to the pain he must feel every time he was at home. To what might happen if he tried to keep Casey safe in the lair to how much that stupid catch phrase of his made Raph chuckle. Looking up he wasn’t surprised to find himself almost at Casey’s. Settling into one of the cross tunnels, he wasn’t in the mood for the surface right now and he still needed to get his head right. He let his thoughts over take him again.

Raph came back to the sound of a manhole cover sliding closed above him. Sinking back farther into the shadows, he waited to see who was climbing down the latter. Casey walked past his tunnel and before he had thought about it Raph heard himself calling out to him. “Hey,” Casey jumped, turning around he found Raph already standing behind him.

Raph frowned, Casey was sporting a fresh shiner on his left eye. Raph reached out cradling Casey’s face between his hands. “he hit you after we left.”

Casey froze, he didn’t know how to take Raph’s soft voice, sad eyes, gentle movements or that he knew exactly what had happened. “Wha…”

“I’m,” Raph leaned in, “sorry.” He pressed his lips to Casey’s, soft but persistent.

Raph’s lips met his and Casey’s mind screeched to a holt, his eyes locked on the turtle. The soft reassuring warmth of Raph, the warmth from his hands against Casey’s face. Casey felt something brake in his chest, tears began to stream down his face. His fingers fumbled against Raph’s chest, catching on the edge of his plastron.

Raph rested his forehead against Casey’s wrapping his arms around his crying friend. Casey’s tears were quiet but violent, he shook with the force of them. Raph held him tight, hopeful that the warmth of his arms and his presence was enough to reassure his friend.  They stayed that way, standing int the sewer, clutching to each other for a long time.

Casey’s legs gave out under him, emotional exhaustion over taking him. Raph scooped him up and cradled him against his chest. Seeing Casey finally lose to sleep, Raph started toward the lair.

Donnie had been nervously watching the entrance since Leo and Mikey’s return. They hadn’t run into Raph on their way back nor had they seen Casey tonight. They pestered him for why he wanted to know but of them all he could be the most stubborn when he put his mind to it and after twenty minutes of him not being willing to give them anything, they had left him to his own brooding. He stood a Raph slid through the turnstiles caring Casey against his chest, taking a few quick steps toward them to help. “where did you, what happened?!” Leo stood from his beanbag chair.

Raph shook his head at Donnie who nodded and rushed past them to open Raph’s bed room door. Raph ignored Leo, moving past Donnie. “if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Don.” Raph appreciated how low Donnie had kept his voice and matched it.

Donnie nodded and closed the door behind them. Turning he found his two brothers staring at him eagerly awaiting some sort of explanation.  “It’s okay” he tried to sound reassuring with out going into anything.

“What happened?”

“It’s okay, they just need some time.” Donnie smiled at them, actually believing it might be true.

The end.