#ready to take out the forks to defend her and her 'private life'

[thissmycomingofage]

That's so weird how I do not care at this point. I do not care if he cheated, I do not care if she cheated, I would even dare to say I do not care if she's happy. Because we're at a point where all that I can bring myself to care about is that she's, you know, dating a racist, antisemitic, sexist and so on and so on kind of person. She made me not care about her happiness, she made me resent her for proclaiming her happiness. She doesn't seem to care so why should I?

[tabloidtoc]

National Enquirer, May 10

You can buy a brand new copy of this issue without the mailing label for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Prince Charles orders Prince Harry to divorce Meghan Markle

Page 2: In a sniveling fit of pique, scorned Alex Rodriguez has trashed former fiancee Jennifer Lopez as a dud in the sack and A-Rod is moaning J. Lo drove him to chase excitement elsewhere because she couldn't keep up with his sex demands and Alex is defending his piggish behavior by saying Jennifer pushed him into it and their spark died long ago, and they were barely intimate for the best part of a year before calling it quits -- Jennifer would pack on the PDA for the cameras, but the moment they were in private she pushed Alex away and even made him sleep in a separate bedroom and he says it was like dating an ice queen and pities the next guy she ropes in -- Jennifer thought she and Alex had a pretty good connection during their happier times, even though she'd likely admit things really petered out toward the end when the lack of trust set in so it will sting her that he's trashing her skills in the bedroom

Page 4: Robert De Niro is getting pummeled by estranged wife Grace Hightower's free-spending ways and his bitter spouse is intent on taking the aging legend for every penny as their nasty divorce drags on -- Robert's lawyers argued in court that greedy Grace's extravagant lifestyle has forced him to take every job he can snag, causing the 77-year-old to toil 12-hour days, six days a week and what's more, Robert's Nobu restaurant business has hit hard times and his tax bills to Uncle Sam are piling up but he is reportedly worth a whopping $500 million, and Grace's lawyers have countered he's pleading poverty but regularly charters a helicopter to Sunday brunch, a charge denied by his lawyer and her attorneys also claimed Robert frequently flies to Florida on a private plane and spends millions and millions on himself -- meanwhile, Robert's relationship with 66-year-old Grace has taken such a nosedive, she's spending frivolously just to punish him and she's walked into a shop a spent $80,000 in 15 minutes and she will go on vacations to the Bahamas, stop at the duty-free store and pay four times the price of what things usually cost and she has more wigs than Imelda Marcos had shoes -- Robert met Grace in 1987 when she was working as a waitress in London, and they married a decade later but they split in 1999 then reconciled and renewed their vows in 2004 before finally calling it quits in 2018 -- De Niro has forked over as much as $375,000 a month to his spouse since their split and the financially squeezed star may resort to doing product endorsements just to pay the bills -- under the terms of the couple's prenuptial agreement, once Grace and Robert are finally divorced, she's allowed a $6 million home, $500,000 cash and $1 million in annual alimony, but her lawyers have argued she should be entitled to half his fortune

* Nearly two years after Hayden Panettiere accused ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson of brutally attacking her, the bully was sentenced to serve time in Los Angeles after he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, and the remaining charges of battery, assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness were dismissed and he was hit with 45 days behind bars and four years' probation but he'll get credit for 12 days served -- he's done his own damage and will pay a permanent price for it -- meanwhile, Hayden is now in a great place in her life

Page 5: Danny Masterson has dragged Leah Remini into his rape case, claiming her docuseries Scientology and Its Aftermath influenced his alleged victims to file police reports against him -- former Scientologist Leah offered the women inducements and benefits to report Masterson to cops, his lawyer Tom Mesereau told a L.A. criminal court -- Danny, a 45-year-old Scientologist and That '70s Show alum, has pleaded not guilty to charges he raped three women in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003 -- Mesereau also called an LAPD detective who worked a second job as security for Leah a double agent and questioned how a 2000 police report made by one alleged victim went missing, but Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller dismissed Mesereau's double agent claims as hyperbole and said the defense got a copy of the missing report and Mesereau's request to push back Masterson's preliminary hearing, a Scientology delay tactic, was also rejected

Page 6: Kelly Osbourne's shocking relapse after nearly four years of sobriety occurred amid intense family drama for the former reality show clan -- Kelly's mom Sharon Osbourne's exit from The Talk amid racism claims by co-hosts and dad Ozzy Osbourne's struggles with crippling Parkinson's disease and excruciating nerve damage frazzled her and she confessed she relapsed and she's not proud of it, but she's back on track and she's truly learned that it is just one day at a time -- her parents' problems weighed heavily on 36-year-old Kelly, who first struggled with substance abuse in her teens, and there's no doubt her mother's scandalous exit from The Talk played a big role as Kelly was crushed over the beating Sharon took in the press and retired rocker Ozzy's relentless suffering also pains Kelly and throw in brother Jack Osbourne's progressive MS and she's dealing with a lot

Page 7: Distressed Dolly Parton is ready to stage an all-star country intervention for her party-hearty goddaughter Miley Cyrus after recent photos of the troubled wild child swilling booze triggered alarm bells for Miley's family members and inner circle, including Dolly who has acted as a mentor to Miley and Dolly has always fussed over Miley like a mother hen and she's worried Miley is going to throw away her career and her life -- 75-year-old Dolly is so concerned about 28-year-old Miley that she's talked about reaching out to other country icons to arrange a meeting with the former Disney child star and help her consider her options and Dolly wants to enlist women she knows Miley truly admires, like Reba McEntire and Loretta Lynn, and organize a sit-down and Dolly knows if Miley hears from legends who achieved so much in the music industry, she's likely to understand any mistakes she makes now can affect her life forever -- every time Dolly thinks Miley's got her demons beat, she hears of another slip-up, so she feels like it's time to take action and Miley's parents Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus, who are good pals of Dolly, are thankful for Dolly's concern because Billy Ray and Tish have tried talking to Miley, but she tunes her parents out and they agree their daughter is more likely to respond to Dolly and her legendary friends

* Angelina Jolie blamed her ugly divorce with Brad Pitt for dashing her dreams to direct movies -- she and Brad split in 2016 and the two have been locked in a mudslinging legal slugfest ever since -- Angie says she love directing, but she had a change in her family situation that's not made it possible for her to direct for a few years and Angie, who last directed 2017's First They Killed My Father, said she needed to just do shorter jobs and be home more, so she kind of went back to doing a few acting jobs

Page 8: Shamed sleaze Matt Lauer has been snubbed by his old Hamptons crowd, and it's got the scandal-scarred scumbag down in the dumps and the super-rich who live and socialize in the fashionable high-society playground won't forget how Lauer was axed from his longtime Today gig over bombshell allegations of sexual misconduct and Matt's done everything he can to regain his place in the community, from hanging out in the village to splashing money around and tipping too well and he's convinced he can make a comeback, but snooty residents turn their noses up and it must be difficult for him because it's tough for anyone who wants to get in with this crowd but for Matt it's become almost impossible -- with scandal raging, Lauer's marriage to Annette Roque collapsed and they divorced in 2019 after a two-year separation and they share three children, daughter Romy, 17, and sons Jack, 19, and Thijs, 14, and Lauer has denied any wrongdoing and insisted his reputation was wrongly smeared in a media feeding frenzy intent on destroying him -- after his divorce, Matt hooked up with public relations guru Shamin Abas and the two have reportedly been pals for years and were first linked when Matt took her to his New Zealand home in December 2019 and Matt's friends are saying he's talking about a big Hamptons wedding when he and Shamin make things official, but it would be a failure if no one attends but Shamin has a lot of connections, so maybe that will help in time -- Matt's obviously an embarrassment in the area and he's not getting much joy at the swanky country clubs he likes to frequent either and it's clear to see that doors from many A-listers, like Martha Stewart, Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson, who have had ample time to put out the welcome mat and Matt won't be getting invites to their homes anytime soon

Page 9: Kourtney Kardashian is packing on the PDA with new boyfriend Travis Barker and insiders said her desperate bid to compete with her sisters has gone way over the top and ever since Kourtney and Travis first went public, the oldest Kardashian sibling has made it a point to post the couple's passionate romps in racy pics and videos on social media and people in her circle feel it's beneath her to advertise her personal moments like this and even her family thinks it's unflattering, but she's getting a kick out of showing off her wild side and Kourtney has been desperate to raise her profile to keep up with internet-savvy sisters Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian, who promote themselves by posting incessantly and Kourtney was always more low-key, but now she thinks she needs to be outrageous to keep up but her friends and family say it's not who she is, and she should put a lid on the steam

Page 10: Hot Shots -- Alison Brie helped tend to newly planted trees in Malibu, Chris Rock tuned out the world with a set of headphones while walking in Miami, Dylan McDermott plays a bad guy on Law & Order: Organized Crime, Dancing with the Stars pro Sasha Farber buzzed around L.A. on an electric bike, Margot Robbie skating in Malibu

Page 11: Paula Abdul is filling in for Luke Bryan on American Idol, but she's gone crazy with fillers and Botox to the point where she can barely move her face -- 58-year-old Paula, one of the show's original three judges who left before the ninth season, jumped at the chance after Luke tested positive for COVID-19, but when she showed up for work, she was far from the familiar face everyone was expecting and she must have given her co-hosts quite a fright because her face is blown up like a balloon and her forehead has no lines and her eyes have no crinkling at the corners that you would normally expect on someone who's pushing 60 and people are saying she never did know when to quit and this time she's really gone overboard and it was a shame, since it's no secret she'd love to make a comeback on the show and she's still in fantastic shape, but it's kind of sad to see her fall victim to these Hollywood trends as she's a lovely lady and should leave well enough alone -- her heart-shaped face may predispose her to a slower aging process than longer facial shapes

* Jessica Simpson has plumped up her kisser, but one expert thinks her new inflated piehole would look better on a fish because she's gone overboard with filler in her lips and the end result is an unnatural and very unattractive look because the M-shape of the middle upper lip is distorted, creating a fishy appearance she surely wasn't going for

Page 12: Straight Shuter gossip column -- James Bond will be gunning for Top Gun: Maverick on movie screens in November, and Tom Cruise isn't happy -- moving the Top Gun sequel from July to November has left Tom shaken and stirred and no one is more competitive than Tom and going up against the new 007 film starring Daniel Craig has put the fear of God into him because Tom likes to win and coming in second is not an option so get ready for an all-out box office war between Tom and James Bond and this is going to get ugly

* Just out-of-the-closet Colton Underwood has been invited back to his old stomping grounds on The Bachelor but he won't be the new Gay Bachelor, but there's been talk about him returning to help contestants through the process -- he'll literally play the gay best friend who helps the straight contestants find love

* Bridgerton stud Rege-Jean Page won't be back for season 2, but crossing the show's powerful producer Shonda Rhimes was not smart because Shonda is not used to being told no, especially by an actor no one had heard of before she cast him -- Rege-Jean was naive about the business of Hollywood, but he's learning fast but saying no to Shonda is a move he's now thinking twice about

* Irina Shayk had her hands full during a photo shoot in NYC (picture)

Page 13: Racy reality series The Bachelorette has so disgusted some American viewers, they've flooded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with complaints and calls to yank the sexy show from TV -- according to documents, a season 16 dodgeball game that turned into a stripping competition among Clare Crawley's suitors in 2020 especially fueled viewers' rage, even though the aired footage was blacked out to protect the men's privates but the game was not over until one team was fully naked

* Matchmaker Olivia Newton-John is itching to play Cupid for longtime pal John Travolta as her Grease co-star approaches the one-year anniversary of the death of his beloved wife Kelly Preston and Oliva would like nothing more than to bring some joy and happiness back into John's life and she has lots of beautiful, fun-filled lady friends from the U.S. and Australia she could set John up with but he may not be ready for a new romance, and John himself has admitted mourning is individual and experiencing your own journey is what can lead to healing and John still hasn't gotten over Kelly's death yet and it feels like yesterday to him

Page 15: Tiger Woods' former mistress Jamie Jungers is dishing about her doomed 18-month affair with the then-married golf great and the fallout that triggered her harrowing spiral into drug addiction in a juicy new tell-all -- Jamie, 38, said she met the skirt-chasing links legend, now recovering from a shattered right leg after a February car crash, during her stint as a party host in Sin City and she claimed they kicked off a fling behind the back of his wife Elin Nordegren and Tiger would often fly his new squeeze to his L.A. home for their secret trysts and Jamie said she even once signed for a package at the newlyweds' pad that turned out to be wedding photos of Tiger and his bride, who divorced the sex addict in 2010 -- but it was not too hard for Jamie to convince herself the couple's marriage was on the skids because Elin spent so much time in her native Sweden and Jamie confessed she loved Tiger in a way but knew they'd never have a real relationship -- things came to a screeching halt when the tightwad millionaire refused to help her find new digs and Jamie kept her lips zipped about the hush-hush affair for three years, but she claimed her ensuing media appearances, in which she was dubbed Mistress No. 4, left her feeling humiliated, triggering a $500 a day pill habit that led to her getting hooked on heroin and meth and homeless Jamie endured failed stints in rehab, went through detox while behind bars and hit rock bottom before getting clean in 2018 and now sober, she said of her former flame she's not in love with him anymore

Page 16: Picky parents Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin have found one thing that's even tougher than raising six kids: finding the right nanny -- Alec and Hilaria have high expectations for prospective carers and exacting demands when it comes to their duties and Hilaria is so involved with the kids, so she's especially vigilant and has the final say when it comes to hiring and firing though Alec definitely has his checklist on what makes a good nanny and try as they might, they realize they can't do everything themselves and need help, lots of it, but it's been a logistical nightmare getting a team of nannies organized as Alec and Hilaria are tough on them and firm and long hours and multitasking are a must and of course they must be quick on their toes and know what to do with a cranky set of children without losing their cool and a good disposition, a clean and tidy appearance and the ability to step in last minute when needed are all prerequisites to be a Baldwin nanny -- Hilaria and Alec feel guilty about using more help than they initially thought they'd need and typically have at least two nannies on duty and they're doing their best to keep their home from becoming a nuthouse and stay sane and even when Hilaria and Alec are both home at the same time, they still need help changing diapers and doing endless loads of laundry, preparing meals and snacks and assisting homeschooling for the older ones and making sure they all get plenty of exercise and playtime -- it's been a challenge and they won't settle for anything but the most skilled nannies, and their friends can see the efforts are paying off

Page 17: Britney Spears has taken to social media to insist she's OK, but there are increasing concerns over the singer's state of mind -- Britney, 39, has shared bizarre Instagram posts showing her maniacally dancing and also bellyached that she's trying to learn how to use technology in this technology-driven generation, but to be totally honest she can't stand it -- the wacky videos followed the documentary Framing Britney Spears, which cast an unflattering spotlight on her troubled history amid her fight to have her conservator dad Jamie Spears removed from overseeing her personal and financial affairs and Britney, who has not had control over her own cash or major life decisions since her notorious 2008 breakdown, said the documentary's portrayal embarrassed her and brought her to tears and she cried for two weeks -- still, Britney reassured fans she's totally fine and she's extremely happy, she has a beautiful home, beautiful children, referring to her sons Sean, 15, and Jayden, 14, and although Britney, who's been coupled up with 27-year-old personal trainer Sam Asghari since 2016, insisted she's enjoying herself, she was caught on camera in Malibu appearing out of sorts and she looked a total mess and she looked like she hadn't brushed her hair in days and the truth is she's wracked with anxiety and she doesn't trust anyone in her orbit except her boyfriend

Page 18: American Life -- Like many dads, J.B. Handley couldn't understand his teenage son, but in this case, 18-year-old Jamison Handley is autistic and has not spoken a word since he was born -- using a breakthrough strategy called Spelling to Communicate (STC), J.B. discovered his son was hyper-intelligent and now Jamison is graduating from high school and will go to college to study neuroscience in 2022

Page 19: Newly single Kanye West is in the market for someone to cuddle with now that Kim Kardashian is out of the picture and the National Enquirer has decided to help him in his quest: Amanda Gorman, Bjork, Quay Dash, Marina Abramovic, Maria Cristerna

* While Kanye West is looking for a new lady to be his creative muse, his estranged wife Kim Kardashian sees the dating pool as the source of her next career move -- Kim has not been romantically linked to anyone since she filed for divorce in February and she's not dating anyone because, if she were, it would be a career move and Kim can't date quietly; she doesn't even understand what that would be like

Page 22: Katie Holmes and her boytoy beau Emilio Vitolo Jr. haven't been photographed together in more than a month, leaving people to wonder if the once snap-happy couple's romance is cooling off -- after being constantly caught on camera packing on the PDAs, the coosome twosome's vanishing act has sources suspecting work stress is taking a toll -- they're still together but things aren't anything like they were, and Katie seems pretty down and Emilio has been working long hours at his dad's restaurant, which was hit hard during the pandemic and that's meant less time for him and Katie to hang out and their romance may have gone from full boil to simmer

* Hollywood Hookups -- Danica Patrick and Carter Comstock dating, Zac Efron and Vanessa Valladares split, Madison LeCroy is dating a mystery man

Page 23: Lizzo stripped nude on social media for an unedited selfie to promote body positivity in all its glory and the 32-year-old defied the haters by bravely going makeup-free and wearing only her birthday suit -- she said she's letting it all hang out to encourage girls struggling with their self-image and self-confidence to embrace their natural beauty

* Bethenny Frankel plans to spend a whopping $10 million on her upcoming wedding -- she is set to wed Paul Bernon after she was spotted flashing a ginormous sparkler reportedly worth over $400,000 and movie producer Paul, 43, has given Bethenny, 50, carte blanche to spend whatever she wants so she's thinking 50,000 roses, champagne, gilt-edged glasses, a garden setting with fountains, dancers and a choir and Bethenny wants it to be perfect and she expects the best of everything

* Julianna Margulies has admitted things were hot on the set of ER, and it was because she and co-star George Clooney had a crush on each other and the chemistry on the beloved TV series between Julianna, now 54, and George, 60, was organic, she gushed in her upcoming memoir -- she also said when you create an environment that people feel safe in, then you do your best work and George taught her that and she felt so safe with him

Page 25: Troubled Tori Spelling is convinced having a sixth baby is the only way to bring her rocky 15-year marriage to Dean McDermott back from the brink -- Tori, 47, and Dean, 54, have been living separate lives for months and she has frequently been seen in public without her wedding ring and lately they've been more like brother and sister than husband and wife, but Tori is under the impression that another baby will give them a fresh start -- Dean has tried to repair their romance by taking on more dad duties and he even pushed for a recent family getaway to Palm Springs, where Tori socked her husband with the ultimatum to give her another baby or hit the highway and it's true they got along a lot happier when she was pregnant, but a lot of people think she's being delusional since they still have a lot of issues to work through and having another kid isn't going to be a magic fix and in fact, it may even add to their problems

Page 26: Cover Story -- Prince Harry's desperate bid to make peace with his estranged royal family exploded spectacularly when his father Prince Charles gave him an ultimatum to divorce Meghan Markle or you're out forever -- the secret showdown came after the funeral for his grandfather Prince Philip that forced family members to reunite for the first time following a year of bitterness and shocking allegations and any hope Harry had of mending fences and being welcomed back went out the window when he broke Queen Elizabeth's heart by snubbing her 95th birthday right after the funeral because he flew back to California the day before her birthday and it was the last straw for Charles, who was furious and he was stunned his son couldn't wait just 24 hours more to show respect for his grandmother and felt compelled to rush back to his pregnant wife Meghan and it would have meant so much for Her Majesty, who was still mourning her husband and needs all the comfort she can get but instead Harry headed back to his ritzy $14 mansion and Hollywood lifestyle, callously leaving his grieving grandmother on what should have been her big day -- the word is Meghan ordered him back as he'd been gone 10 days, their longest separation since they wed, and she didn't want his family playing mind tricks on him, trying to convince him he should return to the U.K. -- Charles confronted his younger son about snubbing Her Majesty during a phone call from his country getaway in Wales, where Charles was grieving his father Prince Philip and considering the future of the monarchy and Charles didn't mince words and he called Harry selfish and blamed Meghan for ripping the family apart and he bluntly admitted he and other royals, including the queen herself, were deeply disappointed and very angry by what the couple said in an explosive tell-all TV special and he couldn't believe Harry would agree to such a devastating interview without pressure from his publicity-obsessed wife or her advisors and Charles told Harry he was ashamed of him for turning his back on his family and breaking his grandmother's heart and Charles said he didn't believe Harry's marriage can survive long-term and suggested that Meghan was so ambitious, she'd dump Harry when something, or someone, better came along then he shockingly told his son he would only be welcomed back if he divorced that American actress and Charles insisted divorce was the only way to save the royal family and Harry himself -- Harry faced a great deal of frostiness from other members of the family after he arrived for Philip's funeral: Princess Anne, Prince Edward, his wife Sophie and other relatives didn't even look at Harry, they are so angry with him and Meghan, and Prince William and his wife Duchess Kate tried to put on a united front, speaking to Harry as they walked away from the service, but it was all for show as the queen had ordered a truce in the feud to avoid another public scandal, but family feelings are running very deep against Harry and Meghan for quitting royal duties and trashing the royals in their interview and the truth is if Harry doesn't divorce Meghan, this rift will never be mended

Page 36: Ellen DeGeneres confessed she'd swilled three cannabis-laced drinks and popped two snooze-inducing pills before driving wife Portia de Rossi to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy -- during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen said she'd downed a commercial beverage containing the weed compounds THC and CBD and admitted she didn't feel anything and then she drank three, and she also took two melatonin sleep pills and she's lying in bed and realizes Portia is not in bed -- after finding Portia on all fours and in pain, Ellen claimed her adrenaline kicked in and she rushed Portia to the hospital

Page 38: Gwyneth Paltrow knows at least one person who is not a fan of her catalog of sex toys: her mom Blythe Danner -- while Gwynnie loves to bang the drum for frisky female fun by hawking vibrators, whips, handcuffs, genital-themed jewelry and even a candle called This Smells Like My Orgasm, her 78-year-old mother is always shocked by her raunchy online inventory and is very proper, but Gwyneth said even proper ladies have sexuality too -- although her mom is not lining up to purchase the BDSM starter kit or the $15,000 gold-plated dildo, Gwyneth remains committed to tackling taboos related to female pleasure, saying she thinks that our sexuality is such an important part of who we are and one of the things they really believe in at Goop is eliminating shame from these topics

* The Entourage crew might get back together, with Charlie Sheen joining the gang -- the creator of the bro show and 2015 spinoff movie said he may bring the boys back with his buddy Charlie in the reboot and Doug Elin says whether he would ever be in Entourage as Charlie Sheen or whether he would create a character for him, he would be all for it -- Charlie hasn't been seen on the big screen since a 2018 guest spot on Saturday Night Live

Page 42: Red Carpet -- Sofia Vergara

[edythe-cullen]

I was inspired by @panlight with her Charlie!Vampire Hunter idea and this Drabble sprang from it. So enjoy! 

*

Everything happened so fast. 

Blood, horror and terror all at once. Mike was first, he didn’t seem to understand what was happening. A pale, slender hand wrapped itself around his neck, a white flash of teeth then red, so much red. The creature had hit the main artery, the gushing torrent of his life force pumped out and onto the ground, the blanket they had been sat on was wet and marred with splatter. There had been no time to scream, instead his last moments were open mouthed, crying out for his mother. 

Then, Jessica and Tyler in tandem. The vampire who had misjudged Mike was moving on, leaving the boy half-dead gasping amongst the grass. Jessica was in his arms, almost a loving embrace as he tore into her throat. Another vampire had appeared, red headed and wild, she reached for Tyler who did not have a chance to flee. Only then did Bella understand what was happening, the stake hidden inside her bag had slipped from her mind. She had never before used it to defend herself, it had always been an offensive attack. Her father by her side. Protecting her. Keeping her safe from harm. 

All she could do in that second was run. 

She had reached for Angela, dragging her away while a scream penetrated the air, she could not tell whose it was, only that it was not Mike’s. 

Her converse skidded on the grass, slippery with the dew of twilight, and with blood. 

They had just been leaving, packing up their picnic and heading back towards their cars. They had to be back as they had school the next day, showers were to be had, bags to be packed, lunches to be made. But they had been giggly and happy from the day and the food. The sun had just sunk below the trees leaving a purple cast over the woodland. Jessica had delayed them, demanding golden hour photos and they had all agreed, ready to post the, on Instagram, evidence of their day of fun. 

She hasn’t made it far, collecting herself from a fall, her palms scraped from where they had been cut against the hard ground, her hand had slipped from Angela’s. She was screaming for her to run, to keep running, and not look back. That was when she felt a foot on the small of her back, then a sharp crack. She could flee no longer. 

The vampire reacher out, caressing a finger to her cheek.... then nothing but pain so violent its blackness consumed her. 

*

News of the attack spread like wildfire. 

Forks was only a small town, low crime rates, the occasional drunk driver or low level burglary, but nothing worth it making the news. Well it had, but only once in fact, as the only noteworthy thing about it was that the town experienced the highest rainfall in the continental US. 

Now it was the ‘town of terror’, splashed across every news station, national new stations camped outside the victims of the families, scouring the crime scene for their own inside scoop. 

The school was temporarily closed out of respect for the five senior students involved. A makeshift memorial had been created outside the main entrance, flowers and photographs and letters of mourning while five smiling faces stared out from amongst the public grief. 

*

The house was silent and had been for many days. Alice all but lived at the Cullen house, no one had particularly missed her or even noticed her absence at home. Jasper remained close by at all times, hovering and angry. Too scared to leave her… or touch her. His very presence both protected and endangered her. She saw his conflict in her dreams, of the things he would not voice to her, all that he kept inside his soul that was on fire, always burning.

While in response to the attack the rest of the Cullen’s took shifts, each night patrolling the immediate area. She did not know if they were doing it to protect her, or their own privacy, or in revenge for murdered children. Or what would they do if they did come across the vampires. She had not asked. 

She had seen them both so clearly in her dreams. A man and a woman. Both fair, both handsome but wild with anger and bloodlust, no shreds of humanity remained, not even a facade. Her dreams offered her no answers to their location as hard as she tried. 

Instead she dreamt of the survivor. 

A ventilator pumping air into broken lungs, a body so black and blue, a patchwork of hand prints across her body. 

Carlisle had been upset upon his return, informing them collectively of the state of the survivors. Her condition was deliberate, although he doubted that they had meant for her to live.

It had upset them all, a reminder of what their kind was capable of. 

Alice had known the victims in the way she knew everyone in that small high school, that Mike Newton always pushed in line when getting lunch, pulling on Jessica’s pigtails to rile her up, everyone knew they would be that couple, the childhood sweetheart who would marry. Or that Angela Webber, who sat behind her in maths and would always ask for help from her partner, Ben Cheney, both blushing with the bloom of a first crush. While Alice had often wished to be invited to hang out in Tyler’s van where he would play loud music too early in the morning, and he would laugh and joke, so casual and cool. Or Isabella Swan, the girl who would sit in the canteen staring at Alice with a scowl so deeply etched in her face, as if somehow she knew the truth about her... The only person Jasper had ever warned her to stay away from. 

*

He had not left the hospital in over a week, his moustache was evolving into a full beard. But he didn’t care. How could he? Renee had been called on the day of and she had flown to Forks as quickly as she could. She had displayed her grief loudly and publicly and had retired to his house, their house, nestling herself into his private life as though she had never left. She would bring him food, clean clothes, she would kiss the top of his head just as she used to before. They were united once again for a cause, much like just after the birth of her… 

Crowded in a hospital, praying for her recovery. 

She had been born too early you see, so small, so weak, she hadn’t even been able to breathe on her own in the first few weeks. He wasn’t even able to hold her for those first few months, encased in a large plastic shield protecting her from the outside world. He used to hold Renee so tightly then, her face would be pressed against his neck and he used to wonder how she was able to breathe. He still had had to go to work, he was only a young police officer at the time. He would go and drift through his shift, all thoughts focused upon his newborn. Then he would return straight to the hospital. 

This time he refused to return to work, as chief of police he had advantages and ones he was willing to take full advantage of. So instead he remained there, half-slumped in the uncomfortable hospital chairs desperately grabbing snippets of sleep before returning to his watch. 

He did the same as when she was a baby encased in the plastic tomb, reaching out to take her hand in his own, praying for her to hold his hand in return.

Sleep no longer mattered, hunger no longer motivated him, nothing in the temporal world many any sense. 

One relief was that the vampire had steered clear, the vampire who masqueraded as a doctor in his own local hospital. He had not been part of the debate which had allowed such nonsense of course, and everyone was already quite aware of his opinions. But he technically posed no threat, instead supposedly utilising his ‘gifts’ for good (they still kept an exceptionally close eye on the hospital blood banks and all local hospitals) and appeared a god-fearing good man to everyone who did not know his true evil nature. 

He had however received a letter, written in a ridiculous fancy script that took him longer to decipher than to read the note in its entirety. It was an apology. A sincere expression of grief for the deaths of the teenagers and of the state of his daughter, how the vampire had regretted not being there in order to repel the other vampires, to protect the teenagers and if there was anything he could do to help him... 

He ripped the letter up, burning it with the lighter he always kept on his person. He did not need a vampire’s sympathies. 

Never in his life would he ask for help from a vampire, certainly not Carlisle Cullen. 

*

Carlisle remained at the nurses station, a safe distance away from peering eyes, and unhappy vampire hunters, but close enough he was able to monitor the girl as much as he could and to offer assistance should it be needed. Guilt threatened to overwhelm him often, as it had to be his fault for the death of the four, soon to be five, teenagers. Had their presence not drawn in the strangers then this would not have happened. 

Not that the strangers had made themselves known to them, instead making occasional visits to their land, crisscrossing with their scents, but making no move to communicate. Not that Carlisle would have anything pleasant to say. He had seen the crime scene photographs, the mutilation of the bodies had been graphic, but he could not fully understand the intention, whether it was to be a message, or a warning? 

The mother of Isabella Swan entered once again, looking haggard and wild, with some awful-smelling food packed into a Tupperware container. She went and greeted her ex-husband gently, kissing the top of his head, wincing at his rejection. 

Carlisle wanted to walk away, tend to his other patients, but he could not. Just in case Isabella Swan coded again and he was the only one who could save her, listening to the minute changes in the human body that were lost to the human ear. She had already coded three times within forty-eight hours. 

“Charlie... I’ve spoken to Annalise Becker again...” The bereavement counsellor, who no doubt would have briefed Renee on the best care for her daughter. Informing her where they were in her care plan and where they were going. That there had been little to no change  for over a week, that the chances of her waking up were slim and chances of a full recovery was nil. The stress that her body had been put through had been monumental and for a moment Carlisle was immensely proud of this random human girl and her resilience, her fight to live. 

“I don’t want to hear it Renee.” He cut her off, unwilling to consider any other approach than waiting and hoping, that there was any other option than recovery. Annalise Becker had most definitely suggested the termination of life support, it would be quick after that, painless. With the ventilator removed and other wiring that was keeping her alive she would look peaceful, almost like she were sleeping. 

“And what?” There was a crash and he looked away, pretending to read notes, while other hospital staff watched the room just in case their assistance was needed. “You’re not killing my daughter Renee!” The door was thrown open, the door handle slamming into the wall and leaving a deep gouge. Charles Swan stood in the doorway looming and ferocious, like a cornered dog. 

He ducked his head, he did not plan on aggravating Charlie anymore. 

“No one touches my daughter!” He roared, a warning to staff, and stormed towards the emergency exit. 

Carlisle could see it then, the fearlessness needed to hunt vampires, the ability to stare one of their kind in the eye and drive a stake through the chest. He no doubted the man would rather face seventy vampires than his current situation. 

“Awful isn’t it doctor,” a young nurse shook her head, looking forlorn towards the room. “So young, such a waste.” 

“Did you know her?”

“Who? Isabella? Oh yes, my younger brother is friends with her, she was always so kind, so lovely. She tutored him in government until he got an A, didn’t ask for anything in return.” She sighed deeply, catching a stray tear and leaving him once more to stew at the nurses station. 

Something made him think of his own father, and if he had had the chance to mourn his own death at the hands of a vampire. If he had found his corpse hidden in that basement, dead to the world while he transformed, would he have driven a stake into his heart? Or would he had helped him escape? Carlisle was not sure of the answer, but he knew he would not have wanted his father to suffer in his grief alone. Before he realised what he was doing he was moving toward the exit. 

Charlie Swan was crouched, head hanging so low, while tears dripped a steady rhythm onto the grass beneath him. 

“Charlie...” 

At his voice the man looked up, the face of a grieving man transformed into one of anger. 

“What do you want?”

In an attempt to touch the tissue as little as possible Carlisle held it out towards Charlie, a peace offering. Charlie stared at the small white tissue with such strange mixed emotions, he took it eventually, a grab that had it ripping, and a small corner remained held between his fingers. 

He did not know what to say so as not to offend the man, he could not offer condolences as he would throw it back in his face, nor could he offer advice as it would only inflame the man. So instead he leant against the brick wall. 

“I cannot begin to understand your grief, but my wife can, her boy died at birth and I saw how it consumed her.” He swallowed, an unnecessary human habit, but it displayed his nerves. He was sure Esme would not mind him sharing her tale however. “That is what killed her, her boy died and she couldn’t bare it, so she ended her own life shortly afterwards. I found her, mostly dead, and...” He stopped himself, unable to use the word ‘save’ as he knew Charlie would object. “I changed her, but it took a long while, dealing with it all. I’ve seen how consuming it can be... I can give you her number if you want someone to talk to about it...” Once more he knew the man would not accept the offer, but he hoped it was the thought that counted. 

He tried to understand the man before him, who had yet to say a single word beyond ‘what do you want’. 

Then it dawned upon him, justice. 

As any man would want.

“We’re looking for them still, we believe it’s just two of our kind. We still don’t understand the motive and they have yet to reach out to us. But...” He wondered if there was some Volturi code against what he was about to say, he was sure living in close contact with a group of vampire hunters had already broken a few laws anyway so what was one more, they would be dead within the century nonetheless and any crimes would be forgotten and thus forgiven. “If we do find them... we can pass on their location to you...”

He thought of his own youth, of London, of those midnight raids and of the horror he had seen that still lived with him to this day. Of the countless victims, both poor and rich, left like debris in the street, or thrown into the Thames without a second thought who would wash up on the banks leaving a detailed trail of evidence of the amount of vampires who lived within London. Violent crime was high back then and it was so easy to get away with. 

“You would turn in your own kind?”

Charlie had not used the tissue, scrunching it tightly inside his fist, while his other hand rubbed at his red eyes, wiping away the tears. 

“I do not associate myself with those kinds of vampires.” He responded, his tone tight and short. “You did not attend the meeting when we first arrived... I explained to your brethren then that while we may be vampire in appearance we do not engage with violence or killing, we only wish to exist in our quiet corner, undisturbed. Your council agreed to those terms. We are not like the rest of vampire kind.” 

It was clear Charlie did not believe his words, or understand them, Carlisle could not tell which. 

The hate for vampires was hard-wired into his DNA, suspicion was perhaps the kindest emotion he could regard Carlisle with, and for that he accepted it. 

“Since you’re here I want the truth. No sugarcoating. What did the vampire do to my daughter and what happens next?” 

He couldn’t look at Carlisle as he spoke, instead his eyes were trained on the horizon. Even so he still played with the large silver signet ring on his left hand, a weapon if needed. 

“Her spine is broken... she has several broken ribs, her femur is broken in two, alongside serious deep tissue bruising. Butt this is mostly superficial, and will heal over time. What the concern is the serious brain bleed she suffered...” He could see it then, the violent image invading his mind, the way the vampire would have slammed her head into the ground to subdue her, as it immediately quieted the victim through either knocking them out or disorientating them. Carlisle assumed she had been fighting, utilising her silver jewellery to the best effect, as evidence by the scratches on her hands and torn fingernails. “The brain activity we would be hoping to see, any improvement at all, just isn’t there... This is not what we expect to be seeing when the patient is in recovery...” 

He paused, watching as perhaps for the first time, Charlie acknowledged the severity of his daughters condition. 

The next thing he saw was a first aimed straight for his face. 

*

“So you’re telling me.... that you and that Black kid have never....”

“Fucked!” Mike cut in laughing, Jessica aimed a sharp kick that he managed to dodge, angry he had ruined her interrogation. 

“Nope.” Bella shrugged unable to bite back a smile. Just because she hadn’t technically had sex with him in the traditional notion didn’t mean she hadn’t done stuff. But that was private. She thought of only the previous night where he had come over for dinner with Charlie. They had gotten along so well, talking of sport, fishing and cars. Traditional guy stuff. Charlie had practically beamed when she told him they were dating, as though he and Billy had had it all planned out since their births’.

How as she had walked him to his car after Charlie had waved him off he had held both her hands in his, how warm he was, how comforting. How he had pressed his lips to her own and she had felt like she was on fire. 

“You’re such a little tease Bella.” Jessica rolled her eyes, and snapping her gum so loudly it echoed around the clearing. 

“What about you and...”

“Shut your whore mouth?” She had dived on her, clamping a hand around her mouth while the two wrestled, giggling with each other until Bella emerged victorious. 

“Stupid question Bella, of course we’ve done it. Nearly got caught too last week by my mom. She wasn’t supposed to be home until seven but...” Mike shrugged with a cool laughter while he and Tyler hi-fived. 

“Mike that’s private!” Jessica whined having nestled herself into Bella’s lap she began to plait her hair. It didn’t particularly matter about what they knew about each other. All being close friends, they were the core five after all. Bella just liked her intense privacy. 

Although Angela did know everything. But she was a special case, she was Bella’s person. 

“I think everyone knows what you and Mike get down to in sixth period,” Tyler chuckled with a sly wink at Mike. Jess squealed in anger. 

“Anyway shouldn’t we be heading back soon, we’ll be loosing the light soon.” Angela suggested, relieved to shift the conversation away from boyfriends and other stuff like that. She began to tidy their picnic away, all the Tupperware and flasks they had brought.

“Ang come on, we know these woods well. We’ll be fine.” Mike tried to convince her. What he was really saying, which both Bella and Jessica understood, was that it was safe from supernatural terrors. Wolves and bears were a whole other deal but they were not too deep in the woods and nothing had happened all day, nor was the dark a problem, each having their phone with a flashlight on it. No one was particularly worried. 

So they stayed that bit longer, joking and laughing, Mike and Tyler wrestling as boys do. Only when the cold started to set in did they move, packing their things up and heading back towards their cars, trucks and vans. Bella needed gas on her way home, she reminded herself again, having meant to do it the past two days. They reached their vehicles, hugging and saying goodbye to one another. Mike hoisting himself into her cab, his house was on her way home and it had made sense to give him a lift. 

“God I don’t want to go back to school tomorrow,” he pulled out a stick of gum offering her one, she had already completed all her homework, so all she had to do that evening was shower and read her book a little, she wasn’t particularly hungry and Charlie was working late. 

As she pulled out, her headlights sweeping across the vehicles of her friends she felt a deep unsettling unease spread through her bones. Mike began to fiddle with her radio with futility, it had been broken for months. 

“This isn’t right.” 

“Huh,” he wasn’t listening, instead still twisting the knob with intensity. 

“Mike.” She slammed on the break. “Something… something is wrong?” He continued to ignore her, the radio static only increased in volume, a screaming static loudness that made her skin itch. 

She caught his hands in her own, “look at me, why won’t you look at me?” 

She slammed on the break as a strange, tingling numbness had begun to spread throughout her body. The static noise faded into the background, a soundtrack of nothingness. 

“It doesn’t matter that it didn’t happen like this though, you don’t really want the truth do you?” His hands turned to ice in her hands, becoming stiff. 

“What truth?” Her voice wobbled, fear grasped at her throat as the tingling began working its way up her spine, ice colder than Mike’s hands began spreading out like roots underneath her skin. She had to look up, every sane thought in her body was begging her to keep her eyes down, settled on his hands, where it was safe, unsettling but safe. But she had to look… she had to… 

Blood coated his green rain jacket, his neck, more of a wound than a neck, pumped out blood almost lazily, leaving a waterfall effect down his jacket and onto her car seat, before pooling in the seat well. His eyes were bloodshot from burst veins, his skin a mottled grey and his mouth, his lips leeched of colour.

“You didn’t want this did you Bella, to remember this?” His voice was a mere rasp, she knew in reality he wouldn’t have been able to speak as his vocal cords had been torn, screaming as he drowned in his own blood.

She didn’t understand… how could… 

She screamed, so loudly it hurt her own throat, she screamed and screamed and couldn’t stop as the memories began to flood back. Of each kill, watching her best friends murdered before her eyes before the culmination of her own death, the numbness in her legs where the vampire had stood on her spine so heavily it had been cleaved in two. She had stood no chance. 

“Am… am I dead?”

Tears splattered down her face, the rain came down heavily, so heavily her windshield wipers could not keep up with it, beating loudly down upon the roof of her truck. She was stuck inside, unable to move, unable to see. 

“Oh Bella…” 

Mike’s hand, so cold, brushed her hair away from her face. 

*

Renee had not set food in the church since she had baptised Bella there. She had not been raised religious but had had been Charlie’s church, Charlie’s faith. She hasn’t minded at the time knowing she was going to afford her baby her own choice, exposing her to as many different world views, ideas and religions as she could. Then she would let her decided. And if..... if she chose Charlie’s church then so be it. She had tried. 

All the good it did her. 

Bella had made her choice, unfortunate as it was, but she had made it. She had chosen Charlie’s church. And here it was her funeral would take place. 

Her hands shook as she blessed herself as she entered, the holy water was so cold as it touched her forehead. A blessing. It felt wrong. She wasn’t the one who needed blessing in that moment. 

Instead she sat on the pew at the very back, hidden to one side. The church was large and wooden, Pastor Weber was one of the other parents who had lost a child. She knew the girl was one of Bellas closest friends. Who probably knew her daughter better than she did. 

Pulling out her phone she scrolled through coffin prices. She had not realised just how expensive death was and she hoped to god Charlie had some liquid assets. Maybe they could use Bella’s college fund? As she certainly didn’t need it anymore. She and Phil certainly didn’t have money they could throw around. Even worse she now had to compete with four other mothers. 

Who was the saddest?

Who grieved most?

Who spent most on their child’s funeral?

All of those questions swirled round her head. She knew Karen Newton definitely had her beat in nearly all of those categories. Charlie was doing a good job of acting the crazy father. Not even leaving her side to eat or sleep. It would have to end soon, soon he would break and it would be up to her to pick up the pieces. Again. 

She favourited a nice pine coffin. Affordable.

Charlie would kill her if he knew what she was thinking, but she was just future planning. She was always good at that. It was how she had escaped Forks. 

“Mrs Swan...” a voice came from her right, someone must have snuck in. 

“It’s Dwyer now.” She responded coolly. 

Mr Newton stood over her. Grief etched deep into his features. Mike was an only child too. She knew the other parents had other siblings to cling too. Their homes weren’t forever empty , filled with ghosts. 

“May I sit?” Mr Newton, Kier, had been a few years above her in school. 

“Sure. Why not.”  

He collapsed beside her, his breathing laboured, she assumed he had been crying. 

“How is she doing?” 

Her acrylic nails dug into her palm. If he offered prayer for her dying daughter there was no promise she would act right. 

“No better but no worse.” She unclenched her fists. “I spoke with the doctor the other day about end of life care.” She wondered if he would flinch. He did.

“I’m sorry Renee,” her said her name with such care, none of this Mrs business, she knew it was all bullshit anyway. He said her name like Charlie used to. 

“How are you and Karen doing?” She wielded the name of the wife with care. 

“Strange. It’s all so strange. I keep going to wake him up for school in the morning, I’m half asleep see, then I go into him room and.... nothing has changed. The bed is still made, the curtains open, the folded clothes that he had promised he’d put away when he got back. It’s empty. The whole damn house is empty. And I break down.” They had closed the shop for the time being so his days was filled with nothingness, similar to her. 

“I keep going to text her. That’s how we kept in contact. Constant texts. Anything funny I’d see I’d send it to her. I still do. Whether I remember or not. But they’re starting to pile up now, all the messages unread.... they weren’t able to find her phone so I don’t even know if they have the phone. It makes me sick to think of...” The words began to pour out of her, all black bile and anger, so she bit them back.

“No word on the case?” 

“No. No fingerprints, no traces of DNA, no way of know where they even went. Nothing. It’s like they disappeared.” Not that Charlie had been any help on that front. Instead she had charmed it easily from the deputy. 

He heaved a sigh beside her  

“The funeral is tomorrow. They’re doing one a day, making it a long weekend. Friday to Monday. I think they’re trying to make it some community thing. But Mike’s is tomorrow.” He scrubbed at the stubble that had grown due to negligence. “Would you like to come?” 

“That’d be lovely Kier. Thank you.” Like a cobra ready to strike she reached up, pressing a hand to his arm gently.

The solidarity of the grieving parents. 

It didn’t take much more. For them to sneak around the back of the church, away from the eyes of the God, but more importantly away from he eyes of the road. For him to slam her against the wooden slats. His mouth hungry against her own. Searching for answers, for relief, anything to take the pain away. She let him use her, letting his hands roam, his mouth abuse her own. She shoved him away shortly after he had finished, not bothering to pull her underwear up, she kicked it away to the nearest shrub. 

He was crying again. Mumbling apologies. Half sentences that bled with guilt that came with cheating on your wife while she grieves your dead son. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow Kier,” she promised and was gone. 

*

“He’s asked you to what?” 

Carlisle had asked him to go on a ‘walk’ with him, the rest of the family had assumed he had meant a hunt, preferring the euphemism. Only Edward had known the truth, privy to the turbulence within his maker’s mind, torn and confused. Carlisle hid the reason away, creating a puzzle for Edward to piece together. 

It hadn’t taken long, just far away that they became out of ear-shot of the rest of the family. The moon could barely reach its fingers into the deep fo the wood, so black the two figures practically glowed. 

Carlisle replayed the scene in his mind once more, Edward could feel the confusion Carlisle felt as Charlie flew toward him. He knew that the primary care physician had finally spoken to him about removing care for Isabella, and how the man had howled, full of pain and fear. Even his wife had recoiled from the sound, well ex-wife as she liked to remind everyone. Isabella Swan was dying, a little bit more each day, life leaking from her body and into the room, the ground beneath her, the soil beneath that.

“I don’t know what to do Edward?” He sat heavily upon a fallen tree, long dead it remained a hollow structure, forgotten within the woods. It was a favourite place of theirs for private conversations. 

Charlie had wrapped his hands in Carlisle’s white doctor’s coat, slamming the man against the wall with little care or concern. Instead blind panic was etched into his features. “You have to change her.” There was no request, only a demand. “She can’t die. I won’t let it. You have to change her!” 

“But he hates our kind?” 

Edward had never met Isabella, but he felt like he knew her, like he knew all the dead children, as every mind in Forks replayed every memory they had of their dead, over and over again. He noted she was the biggest waste, the most beautiful amongst her friends. A shame. 

Of course he also felt anger at their deaths, the use of violence upon children, he had seen the autopsy reports and the evidence of torture, of a brutal kill upon them all. He wondered if it were a warning. To them, vampire-hunters? Or their coven? The message was not clear. 

“He loves his daughter more.”

He shrugged and rubbed his face, such a human gesture. 

“You know how it affected Rosalie…” His last change, Emmett didn’t count, as Rosalie and already done half the job anyway by the time she appeared on their doorstep, bloody and crazed. But Rosalie had been so cruel, she had tortured Carlisle, twisting the sharpened knife of guilt again and again. 

“You did it for my mother,” he spoke quietly, desperately trying to conjure the face of his mother. One Carlisle supplied easily, caught in his own memories as he compared the scenes of Elizabeth’s impassioned plea from her death bed, to Charlie’s angered plea. Both desperate for their children to live. 

His heart ached for a moment, wishing for his mother, her laugh, or her gentle touch, just for a moment in time…

“You think I should say yes?” 

He looked to him with such earnest feeling, his mind a tangle of thoughts Edward could not quite make out if he wanted him to say yes or no. 

“I cannot answer that for you… however she is dying and will die regardless of your actions…” He stared off into the distance, wondering how he would have felt if people had debated whether or not he deserved to live. He would have been angry, violently angry. Of course he deserved to live… But like this? A half-life, a creature of the night having to kill to survive? “How old is she?”

“Seventeen.” Carlisle heaved a deep sigh. Their stories were so similar, Carlisle couldn’t help but compare the two in his mind, placing them side by side.

“Maybe it should be put to a vote?” It would effect them all after all, and it was quite clear Carlisle did not want to make the decision himself. 

Rosalie voted no, angry even at the suggestion. But it was Jasper who surprised him, a no, it was of course not safe to have a young vampire around Alice as it would create even more danger for her. Carlisle abstained. Esme was conflicted, but was leaning towards yes believing the girl should have some chance at life, Emmett voted yes. While he waited and watched instead he became the deciding vote. 

Rosalie bared her teeth at him, warning him not to go against her just to be contrary, a girl’s souls at stake, she had reminded him, venom in her tone.  

“Give me until tomorrow. Then you’ll have you answer.” 

*

Everything was black, something pressed down on her all around, she could not breathe, instead every time she opened her mouth gasping for air her mouth was filled with something bitter tasting. Something else wriggled against her body, eating away at her flesh. She screamed but only tasted more bitterness. Fighting against the oppressive force she began to fight, kicking her arms and legs, there was one way that was easier and so she dug her fingers into the less compact blackness, toward an escape. Finally someone grabbed onto her arm, hauling her out to freedom…

She collapsed upon the ground coughing and gagging, black bile spilled from her lips, dirt, she had been buried alive…

Her body ached, from head to toe, every inch of her felt as though she had been set on fire and left to burn for hours, then flayed. Still gasping for air she lay face first upon the ground, hands grasping at the woodland debris, twigs and sticks letting them cut into her palms just to ground herself.

“It’s okay, you’re going to be okay,” a reassuring voice came from above, a hand brushed her hair gently.

“Where am I?” Her voice sounded strange, deep, it hurt to speak. 

“You’re going to be okay, you’re saved.” And so she stared up into the red eyes of her murderer…

[darecruit]

New Sneak Peek: Open Arms, Chapter 16!

Here it is! The beginning of the next chapter of Open Arms! I know it’s been forever since I last updated. Life and writer’s blocks get in the way more often than I would like. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 16: Tension

 The sounds of dinner—the clinking of utensils on plates and ice cubes rattling in drinking glasses—gave way to an increase in chatter and laughter from three of the four occupants sitting around the table. The fourth picked at her food, having barely eaten any of it (claiming the lasagna was too messy and salad too difficult to maneuver a fork with her left hand), and refused to contribute anything to the conversation. Shelby sighed and pushed her plate away so she could prop her elbows on the table and rest her chin on her clasped hands. She regarded her daughter, the thick layer of sullenness hanging about the girl, and wished she knew why it was there in the first place. The two young women sitting across the table from them were both wonderful, thoughtful people. Shelby had taken a liking to them instantly, and the feeling seemed to be mutual—all except for Rachel. Not that Frannie and Quinn hadn’t tried with Rachel, the girl simply didn’t want to be bothered. And that bothered Shelby.

 Rachel wasn’t being overtly rude, but she wasn’t altogether polite either. She was walking a thin line and Shelby was on the fence about whether she should call her out on it or not. It didn’t help that something felt distinctly off about the entire situation, but she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what. She needed more information or something to go on and it just wasn’t there. And without that, she had no hope of identifying the problem, let alone solving it.

 Perhaps it was a touch of jealousy on Rachel’s part. They had had their fair share of that crop up recently regarding family, and maybe that had something to do with tonight. After all, mother and daughter were still getting to know one another and Shelby knew Rachel wanted alone time with her mother. The girl was struggling for it at the moment, and Shelby was still learning to find a balance. Still, they had had plenty of alone-time togetherness over the last couple of days. Rachel also needed to learn how to share Shelby’s attentions.

 Or maybe it wasn’t jealousy at all, and Rachel was feeling uneasy around new people. Thinking back, Rachel had been unsure of herself around their family at first, worried over whether they would like her or not. She had warmed up to them quickly after the initial meeting, but Frannie and Quinn were different. They truly were unknown—to both Rachel and Shelby.  

 Yes, that seemed to be the more reasonable answer for Rachel’s aloofness. Shelby decided she needed to have a quick word with her daughter to settle her fears when Rachel made it clear she needed a word for a completely different reason. Shelby watched in abject horror as Rachel very deliberately snubbed another attempt at conversation from Quinn. She went so far as to look directly into Quinn’s eyes, reach into her lap and produce her phone, and then made a big production of focusing on the device. The girl couldn’t dress, bathe, or feed herself, but had no problem navigating her phone with her non-dominant hand.

 Narrowing her eyes, Shelby shook off her astonishment and got to her feet. She began to gather the dinner plates, then added to her daughter, “Rachel, help me clear the table, please.”

 “Mmmm, that sounds like a bad idea that won’t end well,” Rachel said, her eyes never leaving her screen.

 “Rachel,” Shelby hissed. She was honestly shocked at her child’s gall.

 Rachel looked up at the tone and gave her mom a bewildered look—Shelby looked pissed. “I-It’s not like I’ll be much help…with only one arm?” She gestured to her cast for good measure; the angry glower on her mother’s face lessened, but didn’t go away fully. Jeez, Rachel thought, It was a joke!

 “I don’t mind helping, Shelby,” Quinn offered, rising from her chair.

 Frannie quickly pulled Quinn back down, shaking her head ever so slightly at her sister’s confused frown. She, unlike the two teens in the room, understood what Shelby was trying to do. It wasn’t about needing help clearing the dishes but rather wanting a private word between mother and daughter. Shelby met her eye and gave her a grateful smile, which Frannie returned.

 “I appreciate that, honey, but we’ve got it,” Shelby declined Quinn, noting her daughter’s divisive scoff in response. She took a steadying breath, then said, “Grab your plate and follow me, Rachel.”    

 Rachel sighed—she didn’t understand why she had to carry her own plate when it would’ve been easier to just add it to the other three—but moved to do as she was told anyway. Besides, the alternative meant she would have been left alone with the Fabray sisters and that wasn’t something she wanted to do, even for a few minutes.

 As mother and daughter reached the island counter, Shelby turned to take Rachel’s plate and set it, along with the stack she had, down on the granite surface before staring her child down, hands on hips. “You were extremely rude just now, young lady.”

 “Wha—Mom, it was a joke!” Rachel defended. “I didn’t know you only wanted me to carry my plate—kinda silly anyway, but—”

 “This isn’t about plates, Rachel! I’m talking about how you’ve been treating our guests!” Shelby exclaimed.

 “What?! I haven’t said anything to them! How can I be rude if I haven’t—”

 “That’s the point,” Shelby said. “You’ve refused to join in the conversation all evening, regardless of how many times we have all tried. And I watched just now as you deliberately ignored Quinn to play on your phone. It’s rude, Rachel. We’ve talked about this. And I told you to behave yourself tonight, didn’t I?”

 “Mom—”

 Shelby sighed and held up a hand. She didn’t want an argument, only to correct the poor behavior before it could escalate. And there was still the matter of why Rachel was so reticent in the first place. The mother still suspected her child was nervous and the less-than-polite attitude was simply a symptom of that. Even so, she would not let the girl be rude, no matter the reason.

 “Alright, Rach, let’s both calm down,” she began. “I’m upset about how you just treated Quinn and I do not want to see that sort of behavior again, not to Quinn or anyone else—” She held up her hand again as Rachel opened her mouth to argue. “—but more than that, I wanted to check in and see how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking.”

 Rachel frowned and looked away. What was she thinking? She was thinking that her arch-enemy was in her home, having dinner at her table, joking and laughing with her mother, and all signs pointed to this becoming a thing. Rachel wasn’t dumb, she saw how Quinn was ingratiating herself with Shelby, and her mother was eating it up! She knew she was done for when Quinn and Frannie revealed their sob story about their parents being killed in a car accident two years ago and how Frannie stepped up to care for Quinn so that Quinn wouldn’t have to go into foster care. And okay, it was actually horrific and Rachel was truly saddened to hear about Mr. and Mrs. Fabray’s deaths—it certainly made her think about Quinn in a different light (at least for a moment), until she remembered how awful Quinn usually was to her. The worst thing was that she felt bad for Quinn, had sympathy for her, and for the first time ever, saw her not as some heartless bitch who tortured her for the fun of it, but as a broken kid who was hurting. Maybe they even had something in common—Rachel had her fair share of broken and hurting—but Rachel couldn’t believe it possible of herself to hurt someone the way Quinn had her, no matter the circumstances.

 “I…I don’t—” Rachel sighed. “I’m ready for them to leave,” she answered truthfully. She was ready for them to leave and have her mother to herself again.

 Shelby nodded in understanding. So it seemed both of her suspicions were right. Rachel was feeling jealous and unsure. “I hear you, honey, and they won’t be here the whole evening—I promise you and me will have our time tonight,” Shelby said, reaching out to rub Rachel’s good arm soothingly. “But I’m really enjoying myself and enjoying getting to know Frannie and Quinn. I know it can be scary meeting new people and knowing what to say, but they seem like very sweet girls—young ladies. I think if you give them a chance—especially Quinn—you will find a friend.”

 Rachel groaned and rolled her eyes. Her mother had no idea—and it wasn’t like Rachel could clue her in! “What if I don’t want to be her friend?” she all but whined.  

 “Rachel!” Shelby half laughed, half scolded. “You can’t know that until you try. I want you to try, honey. Just talk to her, get to know her a bit before you make a decision.”

 “Mom—”

 “Try, Rachel. She’s been nothing but kind to you all evening and you’re snubbing all of her efforts. Remember what I told you last week—you can’t close yourself off to everyone. I understand last time she was over, Lexi was too and they already share a history together. I get that that can be intimidating, but you’re on equal footing with her tonight. I want you to stop ignoring her and put some effort in, alright?”

 “I’m not ignoring her,” Rachel whined, but wisely chose not to continue at the look she was receiving.

 “You absolutely ignored her not five minutes ago, on purpose. And before that, you were this close—” Shelby held her thumb and index finger a hair apart, “—to being rude in my book. And you know what will happen if you are rude, don’t you?”

Rachel’s face grew hot and she took an involuntary step backwards. She knew exactly what would happen—her mother’s warning from the weekend echoed in her head. She had no desire to be a part of any conversation that would include talking points over a maternal lap, thank you very much!

 “Rachel,” Shelby prompted, raising her eyebrow for added effect, “Do I need to remind you what will happen?”

 “Wha—? Yes, I—I mean no! No, Mo—uh—ma’am. No, ma’am. You don’t,” Rachel stumbled over her words. Her face was burning at this point and no doubt bright red, and she shifted her feet uneasily, purposefully avoiding catching her mother’s eye.  

 Shelby took pity on her girl and her stance softened. “I love you, Rachel,” she affirmed, her tone gentle. “You need to learn how to conduct yourself around others, especially when things aren’t going your way. I’m here to help you with that and steer you in the right direction, but I won’t let you get away with deliberate wrong-doing; there will always be consequences. Do you understand?”

 Rachel sighed and nodded. “Yes, ma’am…I understand.”

 Shelby stepped forward, reaching a hand out to lift her daughter’s chin. Meeting sad eyes, she gave the girl a warm smile. “You are a good girl, Rachel Barbra Corcoran. You’ve got a big heart and so much love to give. I need you to let your guard down just a bit and let others see how amazing you are.”

[papipopsicle]

AFTERTASTE PART FOUR

Pairing: Archie Andrews X Short!Reader

Genre: fluff, smut

Summary: In which two best friends since childhood test whether friendship and can co-exist without causing conflict. Including my OC's Flick & Cherry, a lesbian couple and best friends of Y/N. Set Pre-Veronica.

Song: Feeling Good by Sofi Tukker

Warnings: Dom!Archie, Oral (fem receiving), swearing (probably)

Words: 3K

MASTERLIST

feedback is always appreciated

!PING!

Y/N giggled as soon as she saw the picture Archie had posted, it had been taken a few hours ago at lunch. She hadn't even realised he had taken one, off guard beaming up at Moose as he told the group how the Andrews boy had face planted the turf during football practice. The caption read ‘when you're having a lousy day, i'll try my best to make you smile like an idiot’ and her face lit up at the kind gesture.

Today had been utter shit; Michelangelo had gotten into a fight with one of the neighbourhood cats and lost very badly, Josie picked a fight for no reason in Maths and called her a ‘brain dead bimbo’ in front of everyone, and to top it off she'd overheard Chuck sharing very private, personal details with his friends like they were nothing.

She felt miserable and hopeless, wanting nothing more than for this day to be over already. While the boy wasn't there with her when any of these events happened, he knew as soon as he saw her saddened expression that it was his duty to turn her frown upside down. After an hour of cheesy jokes bad enough to make her father proud, Y/N felt a little bit lighter.

Now, the two sixteen year olds were being blackmailed into making dinner for themselves, Y/N's family and of course Fred too. It wasn't uncommon for this to happen though, since Y/S followed in her mother's footsteps when it came to cooking abilities, and they felt bad for always making Y/D cook. So the blonde had rolled up the sleeves of her grey sweatshirt and pulled her hair into a messy bun, while Archie gathered all the ingredients for the perfect steak dinner.

"Okay," Y/N huffed out, putting her arms up and looking over the boy's broad shoulders to see the recipe, "what's the first step, Nigella?"

Two frustrating and hilariously messy hours later, the two teens were serving their masterpieces. Y/N showered while waiting for the steak to cook, her hair now in damp ringlets as she wore a black concert t-shirt and a burgundy pair of gym shorts.

She carefully placed the piping hot plates in her mother and sisters respective places, returning for her own and Archie's as the boy brought out ones for their fathers. Y/D and Fred sat at the heads of the table, with Y/S and Y/M on one side and Archie and Y/N on the other. It had been that way since the very beginning, the teen's chairs always closer than necessary.

The radio played hits from the eighties and nineties in the background; the atmosphere warm and cozy as the group began tucking into their gourmet meals happily. Conversation flowed easily as usual, soft smiles mirrored around the room in the amicable scene.

"How's school been today?" Y/D asked casually as he piled food onto his fork dangerously high, it disappearing into his mouth seconds later.

"Shit." Y/N answered with a shrug and a wry smile as she copied her dad's actions and stuffed her face. Her eyes closed for a moment to fully appreciate the perfection of her cooking, but in that moment she missed the sad look the redhead threw her way. Everyone at the table was aware her high school experience wasn't rose tinted, and she was never able to lie to her family about it.

"McCoy's girl again?" Y/S asked defensively, rolling her eyes in annoyance as she even brought up said name.

"It's no biggie, honestly. She's just holding a grudge against me for something that literally happened over a year ago. She'll have to let go of it sooner or later." The y/h/c girl ended the conversation, continuing to fill her mouth with copious amounts of food. While her parents had moved on to talk about another subject, Archie kept his eye on her and she knew it.

Y/N didn't hate being pitted per se, but she couldn't stand to be watched by loving eyes when the person those eyes belong to wishes to fix her problems for her. Knowing that's what his mind was preoccupied with, the girl turned to Archie sharply and began chewing with her mouth wide open, sticking her tongue out for emphasis.

The redhead gagged and couldn't stop himself from snorting in laughter and Y/N took this as her queue to close her mouth. Not truly phased by the grotesque sight, Archie returned it for just a second, leaving them both giggling. Finishing the mouthful, she bumped shoulders with the boy, keeping her head resting there for a few moments as she spoke with a grin, "You've already done enough, stop making my issues yours. We do everything together anyway, leave me this little slither of sardonic sanity, okay?"

She sat up straight again and sent Fred a wink upon finding his knowing grin slung in their direction. Looking around the table, three other faces have the exact same looks, and Y/N only rolled her eyes, "Can we have just one family dinner without planning our wedding? For all you guys know we could both be gay and just use each other for style advice."

Y/D scoffed, eyeing up his daughter with amusement, "You're not gay."

"What?!" The blonde's cutlery clanged against her plate as she threw her arms up in exasperation, "I could be!"

Y/M cackled her usual laugh and rolled her eyes, chiming in, "Darling, have you seen your wardrobe?"

"Cherry and I share clothes!" Y/N defended herself, only halfheartedly as she knew the conversation was completely false, but still stood her ground.

"Yeah, well, she has a blue-haired girlfriend and you only share dresses when you're going out because you're the same size. I'm pretty sure she'd rather be dead than wear a pair of your heels." Y/S interjected and received her sister's glare with a smug grin.

Archie silently ate his food, but soon his best friend turned to him, "I could be bi, right? Like Elizabeth Olsen and Sebastian Stan both own my life."

"You can be whatever you want to be, Tiger." Taking a sip of his drink, the boy continued, "But, to be fair, have you seen The Bronze? Like if there's someone I'd turn for, it'd be Sebastian Stan."

"See!" Y/N raised her arms in the way Will Smith had when showing the world his beautiful wife, "This is why he's my best friend!"

They high-fived with matching grins and the bubbly atmosphere carried on until Fred left for the night, Archie staying over in lieu of helping with unfinished homework. After washing up, the three teenagers headed up to bed.

But before the elder Y/L/N daughter fully entered her room, she swung back on the doorframe and locked eyes with her younger sister in a deadpan manner, "I haven't slept properly in three days, please have the decency to wait until I'm asleep before you start boning, thanks."

Y/N swivelled in the direction of her room, cheeks dusted pink at the insinuation. She closed her curtains and headed straight for bed, exhausted by everything the day forced upon her shoulders. Finding her phone, she sent a round of goodnight streaks and scrolled through Instagram before the bed dipped and a tuft of red hair came into view.

"It's only just gone ten, you lightweight." He bumped her shoulder with his bare one, soon copying her actions with his own phone but not finding anything nearly as interesting.

"Well, I fancy wasting time on my phone instead of doing anything productive, problem?" The blonde hummed, not turning away from the device holding her attention. A few moments of silence and mindless scrolling passed before Y/N's phone was ripped from her grasp and set down on the bedside table.

"Yeah, I do have a problem with that, Tiger." Archie grinned at her clueless expression, climbing on top of her, either elbow caging her face in his hold. A light pressure appeared between her thighs with a small twitch, forcing a giggle from the girls lips. She hooked her thighs around his waist and linked her feet together, pulling his entire being closer to her own.

"Oh," Y/N forgot all about whatever had been on her phone screen moments ago, hands now brushing through Archie's fiery locks, "and what would that be."

The boy dipped his head without warning, lightly pushing her jaw to the left to expose her soft neck. His tongue slowly ran from her collar bone to the bottom of her ear, kissing small pecks along her jawline until their lips met. Y/N smiled into the kiss, lifting herself up while pulling his torso closer into her own. Her hips moved on their own accord, needing more friction to scratch an itch only his mouth could fix.

Archie broke the kiss, looking down at the petite girl with lustful eyes as his hand found her neck once more, "There's so many better ways for us to waste time than on our phones. But I'm going to need you to stay quiet for me, Tiger. Can you do that for me?"

As the words left his lips, his index finger lifted from her neck and pressed against her own. Y/N couldn't help licking a stripe down the back of it, taking the digit into her mouth and letting it drop with a popping sound. She nodded her head in agreement with an innocent smile and wide expectant eyes.

Archie watched her for a moment in awe, giving her throat a small squeeze before moving down her body. He lifted her ‘All Time Low’ t shirt up, planting wet kisses from her bra line to the waistband of her lycra shorts.

“You okay?” The boys soft voice sounded through the room, any dominance dropped from his tone but ready to be picked up if he got the right answer. Y/N sat up, planting each hand on either side of his face and pressed her lips to his nose lightly.

She grinned down at him, “I’m sure.” Her excited tone couldn’t be missed, and without hesitation she hooked her fingers into the shorts and pulled them away from her velvety skin, flinging them to the floor carelessly. Archie felt another grin filled kiss skim his forehead, a small hand carding through his hair as the girl relaxed back into the plush bedding.

Y/N closed her eyes in content as hot breath traced her thighs, up and down in a slow rhythm, leaving goosebumps of anticipation in its wake. Her hips rutted upwards needing some kind of contact, but Archie’s firm hand pushed her back into the mattress and held her in place. He settled with his legs hanging off the edge of the double bed, pushing her legs to rest open. The girl resisted the urge to squeeze her legs together, desire overcoming her body but submission overpowering her mind.

Archie’s lips left trails down her silky thighs, plotting temporary marks by nipping and sucking at the delicate skin. He enjoyed feeling her squirm under his touch, showing how much she needed his touch. This was more than just helping each other get off, there was a raw urgency and need within them for only one another. He licked around the edge of her pink thong, another unintentional jut from her hips pushing him closer to her heat as a whine escaped her lips.

The redhead’s hand moved from her stomach to her neck while he forced her to look down at him, “No noise, kitten. Okay?” He warned and Y/N’s bottom lip curled under her teeth as she sent him another nod. With that, her underwear, if it could be even called that, was pulled from her body and joined her shorts on the cool wooden floor moments later.

Archie carried on teasing the girl, licking down her inner thighs and getting dangerously close to what her body was pleading for, but he enjoyed watching her struggle to stay silent and it was far too easy to bring her to the edge by barely doing anything.

“Please.” Y/N’s voice begged with a shaky moan she’d tried so hard to keep in. The boy smirked up at her before giving her exactly what she wanted, feeling her fingers tighten in his hair as he latched onto her clit. But as soon as the pleasure started, it ceased once more.

“You want me to carry on, little girl?” Archie asked in a low tone, watching his best friend panting in want from the smallest of actions. “Want me to make you feel good?”

“Yes, please, Arch. Please.” The girl nodded again, never needing a release so badly in her life before.

Archie’s tongue lapped small circles around the bundle of nerves, pausing again to elicit a small noise of bliss, “I need you to stay quiet for me though, Tiger. Don’t want Y/S finding out what a slut her little sister is.”

In any other circumstance, Y/N would slap someone for calling her something like that, and Archie would never let the word slip from his lips. But in this moment, with his tongue skilfully taunting her clit and a finger dipping inside her wet pussy, it sent a wave of pleasure and praise through her entire body.

He was her drug, one touch and Y/N was completely intoxicated, whatever he wanted is what she wanted and there wasn’t a single thing she would say no to.

It didn’t take long for Y/N to reach the edge of release, with Archie’s fingers pulsing inside her while switching from licking at her clit and sucking on it with his tongue swirling her into a trance of ecstasy. He wanted to play with her more, keep her tilting on the edge until she couldn’t handle it any longer.

But Y/N had a difficult day, he could tease her any time he wanted, for now he just wanted to give her one reason for this day to be good. With that, he tactfully curled his fingers bringing them in and out of her hot core, not stopping his mouth from all but assaulting her over stimulated clit. Her hips buckled once again and this time Archie didn’t stop her, then they began rutting back and forth riding his face until her body couldn’t take any more

“Oh god.” Y/N whined in a hushed tone, her body convulsing in euphoria she finally toppled over the edge of her climax. Archie pressed a final kiss to her clit, resting his head on her spread thighs for a few moments as they both caught their breath.

The girl giggled as Archie appeared back at her side, pressing her lips to his not caring about the taste of her lingering in the air.

“You okay?” He whispered, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her under the duvet with him. Her head rest in the crook of his neck, leg over is stomach and hand lightly tracing patterns over his muscular chest.

“More than okay, pretty boy.” Y/N hummed into the dark room with a bright smile adoring her features. “Arch?”

He mumbled an agreeable response, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Archie’s hand found her thigh and he gave it a small squeeze, keeping his hand there to hold her close.

“Can we play a game?” The girl sounded apprehensive yet excited with her words.

She felt him nod, “What kind of game do you want to play, Tiger?”

Y/N couldn’t help but smirk at her idea as the words left her lips, “I’m proposing a little bet.

Clearly were both attracted to each other, and it ends there, yes? Nothing romantic, just two horny best friends who need an outlet. So, why don't we have a little fun with this? We tease the other to breaking point, bring them to their fucking knees begging for it, and the first one to cave, loses. Nothings off limits, but you can't kiss the other, otherwise you lose."

At this, Archie lifted his head wearing a matching smirk, though it couldn’t be seen as the street lamp sending orange hues into the bedroom only lit up their silhouettes, "What does the winner get?"

"Whatever the fuck they want.” Y/N’s hand made its way to the boy’s neck and she tilted her head upwards to whisper into his ear, “And, when I win the first thing I'm going to have you do is eat me out again."

The boy chuckled dryly and shook his head, "Tiger, I'll be doing that when I win anyway."

Y/N giggled, tempted to throw the bet immediately if the consequence was his head between her legs once more. “Game on, Andrews.”

Archie couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of this situation, though he had to admit he couldn’t wait to see what his best friend would do to try and make him lose.

“Okay little girl, it’s time to sleep I think.” His voice felt more authoritative this time, and Y/N loved that about him, he wasn’t afraid to tell her what to do.

“Goodnight, Arch.” The girl said with a smile in her tone, anxious to see what Archie would do to her over the coming weeks. She felt his head shake once more, knowing a grin was etched into his lips. Y/N rolled onto her side, the boy’s arm tightly wrapped around her still as she drifted off into a fairytale land where this was all real. Not just two friends messing around.

PART FIVE

[hanneswrites]

i found something interesting and we should discover it together

Title: i found something interesting and we should discover it together

Pairings: Hakuba Saguru/Kuroba Kaito/Kudo Shinichi/Hattori Heiji || HakuKaiHeiShin

Rating: T

Word Count: 1.8k

Summary: Private Detective Agency / College AU How did these four boys get together in the first place? Who knows.

Saguru sighed as he rubbed his temples. This case was eating him alive. Three weeks and no lead, no clues, no sign of a witness or a suspect, nothing. There was a knock on his door, a soft knock—Shinichi—before it creaked open to reveal the barely-open eyes of his lover.

“It’s morning, babe, go to bed.” Shinichi said, closing the door. Saguru could hear the shuffling of Shinichi’s slippers going down the hallway to his own office. A smile crept over his features as he made his way out of his own office, down that same hallway, and into their bedroom. Kuroba was already curled up in bed, hogging all of the blankets. He sighed as he climbed into bed and tried to burrow himself under the covers surrounding Kuroba. He shifted a bit to let Saguru in.

“Late night?” Kaito mumbled, wrapping his arms around Saguru’s waist and pulling him closer.

“Of course,” Saguru replied, “I suppose you’ve been asleep for a while.” He kissed Kaito’s forehead. Kaito hummed in response, burying his head into Saguru’s chest,

“Shhhh, sleep.”

A loud crash from the kitchen startled both Kaito and Saguru awake and Saguru was suddenly aware of a warm arm draped over him, overlaying Kaito’s arm as well.

“Shinichi is trying to cook.” Kaito groaned as he disentangled himself from Saguru.  He slipped on a pair of lounge pants – clearly Saguru’s, as they were way too big for Kaito’s hips and pooled around his feet. Saguru moved to get up but was met with a hand on his chest, pushing him back down into the mattress.

“You finish sleeping. You know how you get when you’re sleep deprived. Plus, I think Heiji needs some company.” Kaito gave him a quick peck on the cheek before heading off to the kitchen, presumably to stop whatever atrocity was currently being cooked up by Shinichi.

It all baffled Saguru sometimes: his life now, how domestic they had become, how this crazy dream had become a reality, how well they worked together. How they’d gotten here—it was so far off now it felt like a dream. Part of him understood that they hadn’t always been like this, but it was just so damn hard to imagine the three of them not being an integral part of his life now.

By some stroke of luck, Heiji, Shinichi, Kaito, and he had all ended up at the same university. They had all studied together their first year, bouncing ideas off of each other. Even though not all of them had the same major or coursework, it was helpful. Sophomore year they had gotten an apartment together, for costs, they rationed. They all knew that was a lie, but that didn’t mean they’d admitted it. A large apartment: small bedrooms, one master bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, baths.

Unsurprisingly, Shinichi made the first move – on Heiji – that had been boiling even when Saguru had first met them. Saguru had bitten his tongue and bared the moderately loud moans coming from the master bedroom. He’d also bitten his tongue when he noticed Kuroba grow quieter as the weeks went on. He ignored it for about two weeks exactly before knocking on Kaito’s door in the middle of the night. There was light peeking out from under the door and Kaito had no reason to be up this late. The door cracked open, and Kaito, red-eyed and puffy-faced stood before him.

“Kaito,” Saguru whispered, his voice cracking halfway through, despite himself. He sounded pitiful. “What’s the matter?”

And that was how Kaito had ended up in Saguru’s bed, squeezing the life out of him and soaking the left shoulder of his nightshirt, explaining to him that he liked him, but he was confused because he also liked Shinichi…and Heiji. Saguru comforted him that night; he’d kissed his forehead and told him it was alright, that he felt the same way. But how would they tell the others? Heiji and Shinichi seemed content with what they had already. And Kuroba didn’t want to tell them, he didn’t want to burden what they had.

Saguru and Kaito had become lovers then, comforting each other, loving, settling. And they weren’t secretive about it, like Shinichi and Heiji tried to be. Both of them noticed the shift in the air then, the tense feeling permeating the apartment when they all ate together. It was Heiji that broke the silence this time.

“Ok. We’re all bein’ idiots. We gotta work whatever this is out.” Heiji sat them all down in the living room one fateful Tuesday.

“Work what out, Hattori?” Shinichi said, glaring up at Heiji, who glared back at him.

“Yer bein’ the most stupid. Quiet.” Heiji shushed, sitting down on the couch next to Shinichi, “Shinichi and I have been all jealous this whole time because y’all’ve been all over each other all the time.”

Saguru paused, he took the information in, turned it around in his mind, and almost snickered at him.

“And? Why?” He said. The words came out too bitter and he knew, but he refused to continue.

“And we’ve talked about it,” Heiji had a smile now, only to fall when Shinichi punched his arm, face a bright shade of red. “He likes both of you. I like both of you. We want to ask you if you’d join us.”

--

A while later, Saguru woke to Kaito patting his shoulder. Heiji had managed to nearly roll himself off the bed now, his head laying half on the mattress, half off. Saguru caught a fleeting smile on Kuroba’s lips.

“Dinner’s ready,” Kaito said, and Saguru took to the task of waking Heiji.

Spaghetti with Bolognese sat on the table, while little burnt bits of peppers sat discarded next to the stove. Shinichi sat at the dinner table, waiting for the rest of them, a sheepish smile on his face.  Heiji followed them in, still rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“Shinichi,” Heiji yawned, “it smells like you burnt down the kitchen again.” Shinichi chuckled nervously and Kaito burst out laughing.

“He almost did!” Kaito said, “When I got out here he was dozing off on the table and the peppers he was trying to cook had sparks coming from them.” Shinichi blushed, wringing his hands together.

“You’re one to talk, Kaito. You nearly knocked down a load-bearing wall while trying to hang up a shelf.” Heiji snorted, pointing accusingly at Kaito with his fork. Kaito laughed along with him.

“I did do that, didn’t I? But I wasn’t the one who filled the laundry room with bubbles because he overfilled the washing machine and put an entire bottle of dish soap in.” Kaito countered and everyone looked at Saguru, fondly remembering the “Laundry Incident”.

“To be fair, I had never done laundry before. Baaya-san always did it for me.”

“How did you survive living alone freshman year?” Shinichi, who was now halfway done with his second plate, asked.

“I paid my neighbor $50 per week to do it for me.” Saguru answered, gracefully twirling spaghetti around his fork.

“’Guru…..no……no….” Kaito chuckled.

“Hey, Heiji would just let his laundry pile up until Shinichi got tired of it and put them in the wash,” Saguru retorted.

“That was more out of laziness than necessity, to be honest.” Heiji said.

“You did break our first bed though.��� Shinichi was smirking now, and that sent Heiji into a full-on denial rant.

“That bed was unstable from the beginning! Also, it wasn’t just me! Saguru had a hand in it as well.” Heiji huffed. Kaito patted him on the leg and smiled.

“Unfortunately, no. Saguru and I were in England when that happened, if you remember. “ Kaito continued, clearing the now empty plates from the table and putting them in the sink.

“Fine, fine.” Heiji laughed, “You got me. I suppose that’s not the worst thing I could have done.”

It was Kaito and Heiji’s turn to do the dishes. They usually tried to avoid this – pairing Heiji and Kaito together and trying to have them do literally anything productive. But tonight seemed to be starting off in the right direction, so Shinichi and Saguru settled down on the couch with the television blaring the local news channel. Fingers intertwined, resting against each other, languidly watching the newscaster freak out over every small piece of news.

“How is Ran doing?” Saguru asked, shifting a bit to let Shinichi lay his head in Saguru’s lap.

“She’s well. She and Sonoko moved in together recently and they’re having all of the ‘living together for the first time’ quarrels. He grabbed Saguru’s hand and placed it on his own forehead, “All the silly little fights, y’know? Ran is going to defend her Master’s thesis soon and she’s pretty stressed about that but I know she’ll be fine.” He closed his eyes as Saguru ran his fingertips slowly through his hair.

“I agree, if anything she’s probably over-prepared, knowing Ran.” Saguru said and Shinichi smiled.

“She really worries too much. Always has. Any updates from your various step-siblings?”

“No, but my dad and step-mom are doing alright. From what I’ve heard from them—” A loud crash resounded from the kitchen, followed by the sound of water hitting the tile floor and a fit of giggling from the two in the kitchen. Saguru sighed and Shinichi kissed the palm of his hand.

“Do you think we should go figure out what they’re doing?” Saguru asked, resting his hand on the side of his lover’s face.

“No. They’ll be fine.” Shinichi said, snuggling into Saguru further. The buzz of the television, the leftover, lingering, smell of dinner, the warmth of each other, it was hard not to lose yourself in it, Saguru thought, his eyes drifting shut.

“—OH DEAR! BREAKING NEWS FOR ALL OF YOU KAITOU KID FANS OUT THERE,” The newscaster nearly shouted, “The thief has released a new riddle and here it is…” Saguru’s eyes fluttered open and he could feel Shinichi shift in his lap, as the newscaster read off the riddle and the day the heist would take place.

“Kuroba—“ Hakuba started,

“Kaito!” Shinichi finished. The laughter in the kitchen stopped.

“Yes?” Kaito called.

“Really? A heist on your birthday? Again???” Shinichi sighed. There was a pause, followed by a guilty, “Nooo.”

“Why?” Saguru asked, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

“Why not?” Kaito called.

“Why didn’t we get a heist note?” Shinichi asked.

“It’s on Heiji’s desk.”

“Of course it is.” Heiji groaned.

“And what’s with this riddle?” Shinichi said, brows furrowed, “It makes literally no sense.”

Kaito burst into the living room, hand on his chest like he’d just been mortally insulted.

“Excuse you. It’s poetic. Ingenious, even.” Kaito scoffed, plopping down onto the couch next to Shinichi’s feet.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure you’re not running out of ideas?” Saguru smiled, running his fingers through Shinichi’s hair once again. As Kaito huffed out a speech about how they were all clearly lacking in knowledge of classic European poetry, Saguru closed his eyes and laid his head back on the couch-back.    

[polygamyff]

5. Part 5

I adjusted myself, I paused to savour where I am, I am going to miss this so much. Robyn being under me, enter more of my dick inside of her. Leaning my head down and kissing her throat slowly “I love you so much Maurice” she leaned over to kiss and nibble my ear, I went all the way inside of Robyn and stayed there, Robyn reached down and grabbed my ass, gliding a finger over her pussy as I started to fuck her slowly. My left hand went on Robyn’ waist, caressing her hips and curves. My right hand cupped the back of her head, Robyn kept her mouth on my ear, moaning extra low into it. She then went down to my neck and kissed it tenderly, she took her hands off of my ass, put them on my face and kissed my lips. Moving my head back making eye contact with Robyn, I have never felt and witnessed something so beautiful that makes me want to cum now. I sigh left from my lips, it’s like exposing my soul to Robyn staring into her eyes. Burying myself back into Robyn’ neck and hair, she grabbed a hold of my arm when our hips circled against each other and grinded deeper together. Robyn wrapped her legs around me and rode me harder, the air got caught in my throat “oh shit” I breathed out, my body pressed against Robyn’. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders “I love you so much” I panted out.

Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I am still tired as shit but here I am awake having breakfast with Robyn. She really woke me up, she was trying to drag me off the bed. I just didn’t want to wake up, I am tired but Robyn on the other hand is very much awake. Robyn sighed out “what time did you wake up?” I asked, she must have woke up extra early because she had a shower and everything, used all the towels and made life difficult for me “well it’s eight am so I woke up about six. I don’t know I just woke up, but I remember you did say you needed to leave early” she remembered “yeah I do” I just can’t shake this sleepiness at all “Mr Davenport would you like some more orange juice?” scratching the back of my head “erm, no but do you?” I asked Robyn, she shook her head “no thank you, but please can you tell the management I need to meet with him before I leave. I should be leaving soon, can you also send towels to my room thanks” I need to have a shower “thanks to Robyn taking every damn towel, the hell you be doing? Second time” Robyn laughed placing her fork down “I just like to make sure I am dry, I don’t know I get carried away” I can tell she does, I don’t know what party she has in there.

Watching Robyn reach over and put her hand on top of mine, interlocking our fingers together. To see Robyn’ hand fit snugly into mine, just as it was whenever her tiny body fit snugly against my frame. I squeezed her hand gently, then just pressed my hand against it. Our fingers were locked, and we soon started batting our thumbs against each other. We started playing a thumb war until Robyn busted out laughing and failing at it “your thumb is bigger than mine, bye!” she defended her loss like it made a difference “your nail could have helped” she didn’t put it to use, she should have stabbed my thumb with that “and break my nail, no. I have to get rid of these now, which is sad. Tomorrow I will have to get these off ready for work, I love my hands with nails on but it’s not good for my line of work” she does have beautiful hands “is this something you always wanted to be? You got brains to be doing that though, you’re so close but yet so young” it’s something any parent would be proud of “yeah I did, I do doubt myself. Especially when I could be off work and they call me to come in but this time I said I will be out of the city so that ain’t happen, it’s hard. At times I am like so I want this stress but to see someone you saved, to witness that it’s so breathtaking, it’s been a lengthy process and yes I am young, I do have a brain. I give back a lot too, well my parents do it a lot do I do it too. I go to help at care homes, give money to people in need. It’s the way I have been bought up” who is this woman, shifting in my seat “that is amazing you know, my family don’t’ know what giving back is. We don’t give back, I don’t want you to think back of me because I am not like that but I have never done it” Robyn smiled at me “it’s not hard, when you have time free and also me. You can come with me, show you. Just giving back, just to even help a parent so they can feed their kids. It’s very rewarding” staring at Robyn in awe “you’re so pure, how did you even come into my life” I cannot comprehend this at all because my life is so opposite.

Robyn and her suitcases, pushing it off the elevator while holding my own bag. It’s heavy as shit too “you really packed your whole room in this?” she lucky I love her because I don’t do this for anyone “Mr Davenport, I hope you enjoyed your stay here” I have like a goodbye crowd here “Rodger, it’s been great thank you” placing my bag down walking over to him “that is what I want to hear, I spoke to your father” my eyes bulged out, please let me hope he didn’t say anything about Robyn “oh you did?” I said, I feel slightly nervous “yes, he said he spoke to you and he’s happy with the plans we have spoke about. The things this hotel needs, I am just happy we will get it finally” nodding my head, I hope that is all he said “it’s something that needed to happen but thank you for the stay and the rest of the staff that have been wonderful, I am sure you all will see me more than often now” that is no lie, shaking his hand “you’re always welcome here and also your wife” why do they do this, I mean they will know I am married. Robyn stared in shock, like someone just slapped her “nice to see you” Rodger got his hand out to her “Robyn” eye balling her “uh yeah, thank you” she shook his hand, Robyn is so confused and I feel so bad.

I am glad to be on the highway, this wife business was really getting to me. They assume she is my wife, they know I am married, I mean why wouldn’t they know the people that own the hotels, he must have done his research. I am just glad they don’t know who I am married too “second time they said I am your wife”I bit into my nail after she said that, my god “huh?” moving my finger away from my mouth “just saying that they kept calling me your wife, ok we are going very fast with everything but come on. We just become boyfriend and girlfriend now” nervously laughing “yeah, they probably think we make a perfect couple. I mean we are just that, we are couple goals remember?” I need to play this off “oh, god. Do not remind me. How crazy was that? They called us couple goals, embarrassing” I chuckled, my phone started ringing. It’s Ally luckily “hello” answering the call “Maurice, it’s been a while. Your jet should be in LAX, see you in New York tomorrow night? I won’t be personally there but we need to catch up” it’s been a long time “yes we do, thank you for that Ally. Can you arrange for us to meet after I see Malik? That would be great” back to work and not the fairyland anymore “I will be in the hotel anyways, so I will see you around. You’re paying for the coffee this time, bye” she disconnected the call, I paid last time. She playing game “who is Ally? Is that short for something?” Placing my phone in my lap “it’s my assistant and her name is Aaliyah, I just call her Ally, I don’t know why” resting my head back on the headrest “is she pretty? Have you had sex with her? Ain’t that what most business men do?” looking over at Robyn “excuse me?” I chuckled “I don’t know if she is pretty and no I haven’t had sex with her, where did this come from?” that is very random of her “well I need to know these things, you will be travelling everywhere” frowning at Robyn “I wouldn’t cheat if you’re trying to say that, I have done it. I have done everything I have wanted, I just want to be happy. I am sick of waking up and being lonely, these past few days I haven’t felt that way. Something to live for” Robyn looked over at me quickly “don’t say that, let’s not speak that. You’re making my eyes fill up, I need to drive” I don’t want her to think I would cheat because that is bullshit.

Robyn’ face is everything and more, taking her to a private hanger is funny “is this you?” she pointed at my jet “yeah it is, you know how to get back right? You will be ok yeah?” Robyn smiled “yeah I will, this is crazy amazing. Wow, literally just sitting inside the airport but here. Do you see famous people around?” nodding my head “I do at times, I don’t care though” seeing my pilot getting off the jet, I am late so I need to go “for every minute my jet is here I am getting charged, we late” I said to Robyn “oh, sorry. I didn’t know, why didn’t you say” Robyn got out of her car, opening the door and dragging myself out of the car. Closing the car door, walking to the back door and opening it. Smiling at Robyn watching the plane take off close by, grabbing my bag and closing the door. I need to take Robyn away but I know she has her career and I am not about to push her to come with me anywhere, I will be coming to her of course. Walking around the car, standing behind Robyn. Lowering my head and blowing on to the side of her face “you really like that?” I questioned, Robyn turned to me “it was amazing to see” she is special, so very special. Bringing my hand up, touching her cheek with the back of my hand lightly. Robyn reached her hands up and grabbed my hand that was once touching her cheek “I wanted to say I don’t think you would cheat, I was asking. I don’t like you saying such things, to say those things like I am something to live for but what about before me? You are are such a good man Maurice, you have a beautiful heart and I see it. Through the heart and whatever your family have done to you because I know they have done more you are a good man, I don’t want to hear you say things like that. It’s not nice” I am so sad, I don’t want to go now “I am going to miss you” putting my head down “I am going to miss you too, I wish you lived here so I could probably tell your family they not nice and also to make sure your heart is always happy” saying these words is breaking my heart, Robyn placed her hand on my face as she pressed a kiss to my forehead and tiptoed wrapping her arms around my neck.

I had to be a thug, suck those tears back “I love you Robyn” hugging Robyn close, a small whimper left my lips but hoping Robyn did not hear such a thing “I love you too Maurice, I trust you” Robyn said in my ear, that means a lot that she does but I have so much shit to go back too. Moving my head back, my mouth was on her and I kissed her, the kiss turned frantic and needy. She met me with urgency, wanting nothing more than to dive in with me. The kiss was almost feverish, full of ache, so desperate and needing that she whimpered against my lips. She clung to him, poured all the heartache and love into kissing me. We pulled apart “stop it” she said to me “it’s you, you’re hurting and I can feel it. Stop it” I need to go, I am doing it to her. Stepping back from Robyn, I made her teary eyed “call me and I will call you” leaning down and picking my bag up “take care ok, I miss you already” touching her hand before I walked off, the hardest goodbye of my life.

Grabbing my bag from the SUV, I thought the bitch would be at the house but she is at my family’ home. I paid a visit to the clinic and I’ve made it clear I want the sperm gone, I don’t wish the bitch to go near that shit at all. I only came to Texas for that but I need to tell Naomi to take it serious and leave, to know that it is over. It sucks to be away from Robyn actually, I am feeling it. I just wanted to stay close to her, hurts to be leaving her in a whole different city. Placing my bag down in the hallway, I am guessing they are out in the back yard. I can hear the music blaring, are they having a party here. I know Malik is in New York so I wonder who the hell is having a party, Nalah must be it “Maurice, baby not seen you in so long” my mom said, she placed some glasses on the kitchen counter “mom, it’s really not been that long at all. I am always away and you know that” walking towards my mom “you got a tan on you, you are glowing my son” my mom grabbed my face and kissed my cheek “thanks mom, who’s having a party here?” my mom grabbed the glasses “just a get together” following behind my mom outside.

Why is this even happening, Naomi family’ is here too “Maurice!! This is my little brother, come here” Nalah half shouted waving me over, catching Naomi’ eye as I walked off towards Nalah “so this is my brother Maurice, Maurice this is Eric. We have been dating” this is some old white man “nice, he’s very unseasoned but good looking out my man. Good luck with being with my sister” shaking his hand “excuse me?” my sister said, walking off and towards Naomi “Maurice” feeling have on my arm, looking behind me “what?” I questioned “why are you being an asshole for?” looking at that and back at my sister “It’s sad, to be this money hungry, or has dad hooked you up with him? Just leave me alone please” turning to walk to Noami but I near hit into her “I was just coming to you” it’s a real place to be telling her this at all “cool” she wrapped her arms around my neck, moving my head back “nah, what you doing” as she attempted to kiss me “don’t” pushing her arms away from me “what is wrong with you?” Naomi moved her arms away from me “this, don’t make me embarrass you in front of your family. You didn’t say there was a party here, you just pissed me off now” the chatter of people stopped abruptly, she wasted my fucking time.

Seeing as the bitch is making so hard to say it, I am just going to divorce her without even telling so there is that. Stuffing my bag with new clothes, hopefully my mom or the maid because my mom doesn’t know how to be a mom cleans that “son” hearing my dad say “what would you like to say now dad” hearing my bedroom door close “how was Santa Monica?” turning to him “I am divorcing her dad, just like you got rid of your first family but she can’t even give that” my dad sighed out “think of me, think of this family. Keep her there and have a second life son. Just please, until I can get the estate off them. I am not stupid, she can’t produce an heir, we don’t want that. You do what you need to do, keep her there until I tell you. I am telling you now, you divorce her before then I will cancel you out of everything. You don’t disobey me when I tell you” he’s not saying I can’t but wants me to wait out “I am twenty nine, your threats don’t really work at all” he is funny “but Maurice, remember this, I won’t let anyone be an heir to the empire. Get a girl, get her pregnant. Maybe you and Naomi can use that child as your own, I can’t trust any girl in this family” I am about bored of this old man “I think you should be very worried, cancel me out I don’t care. You know you’re stuck, Nalah can’t take it and Malik doesn’t want it. Me, I am beginning to not care. When you dead old man, that Davenport business about to be in the ground so pick wisely when you speak to me, I am not doing this anymore! You need me, I don’t’ need you” he is such a stubborn old man “If you divorce her now, you will be dead to me Maurice. You might as well be the child in Germany, useless” that is wrong and he is wrong, I will show him.

Picking my bag up from the bed “why are you stood staring at me? You honestly piss me off because you made my life like yours and still you want it to be like that? What is so special about Naomi? Why can’t you let me be happy? Please!” sadly, I do actually love my family “you can be happy, I have given you everything. Everything you got now is me, you’re being ungrateful, I helped you and I am still doing that. I am trying to make sure my grandchildren and their children are set for life” he is deluded “it’s not happening old man, I am telling you now. I am going New York and and I want the Santa Monica hotel on my name or I will expose your little game, I am sure Naomi’ dad will want to know. Just watch your back old man, I can’t wait to dace on your grave” walking by my dad “I know you don’t mean that Maurice, you will be the first to cry. You and I have a special bond, you know this. You are my child, my prodigy. Malik never got that, he is not getting it now. I see him going down your path but it’s you” dragging open my bedroom door, he is sick in the mind and I need to get away from him quick.

Dragging my suitcase inside my home “nobody help me, it’s ok!” I half shouted, usually my dad is always here to help. Kicking the door closed “is anyone here?” the car is outside so they are “is she always this loud?” Leon is still here, god help me. Dragging my feet towards the living area “this is what we have to deal with” my dad said “wow dad, I am your baby. Why is Leon here? Did he really stay over?” my parents ain’t even happy to see me “I told you, they like me. I actually stay with them, and spend time with them” raising my eyebrows “that’s what happens when you’re a bum, you got the time to do that” I pointed out, Leon jumped up from the couch. Running the opposite direction away from Leon “that was supposed to be between us two!!! You don’t tell my second parents” I giggled staring at Leon but he is not happy “look I can’t do it, I tried but I have missed my daughter. Where have you been? Your mom did say you went to Santa Monica” hugging my dad “I did dad” I am not sure what my mom said to my dad “you went to see a friend?” my mom said a friend “yeah I did, he was nice I mean it was nice” why am I stupid “he?” my dad heard “oh damn, Thomas. Your baby girl out there doing her thing” Leon can get me back now “no it’s not that, mom knows. He’s just someone I got to know, it’s fine and I am back now” let me go “leave her alone Thomas, she needs to find a man, doesn’t she?” my mom is right “see, and love you mom” leaning down and kissing my mom’ cheek, my mom smiled at me “damn” feeling a slight pain between my legs, I should be used to it now.

It is so nice to be back home even though I enjoyed Maurice, I am not about that living in a hotel life at all “spill the tea!! You went to Texas and what the fuck happened?” opening my suitcase my eyes lit up, his hoodie “he gave it me” I said a loud, I didn’t know he put this in there. Holding it up smiling, holding the hoodie close to my body and then smelt the hoodie “oh god” it smells like him still, I love it “wow!” looking up at Leon totally forgetting he is here “oh” putting the hoodie to the side “so, can I please find out? What is it? Who is it? And am I on my own with the search for dick?” busting out laughing, turning around and walking towards my vanity table. Pulling out the seat and sitting down “hasn’t Tif told you anything?” I am shocked she hasn’t “that you are seeing his cousin?” she she kind of has “ok so yes I am, we are actually dating” Leon screamed “no fucking way, don’t lie to me. How!? And so quickly” I knew he would say that but nobody understands us “we met at the wedding, he added me on Facebook and I was like oh you’re Kellen’ cousin, I remember him from the wedding but we didn’t really talk like that. So we exchanged numbers and spoke to each other, text each other for like a good few months. He calls me Bonita, get you a man that can speak Spanish” I cackled sticking my tongue “you playing with me, he knows Spanish? You got a Spanish nigga? Who is it? I know he is mixed with something, he is Kellen’ cousin. Is he as fine as him? Why Kellen never tell me!?” Leon kissed his teeth “because he doesn’t want dick but we saw each other in Texas, we erm. Also had sex in Texas, this is like the first time knowing him” Leon screamed out “biitchhhh!! You got dick in Texas. Please tell me the fucking details? He got a big dick? I need details like, he got foreskin” I can’t stop giggling “so yes, he is big. I kept annoying him, I said he had a small dick but I apologised. Boy, he has the best dick I know. He knows how to work it, he made me forget how my own pussy felt. I thought my legs were missing. But yeah, so we didn’t just have sex now I assumed he was going to put it down. Leon, I am not lying to you. He made love to me, now we had some drinks prior so I was like it’s going to be just sex, but no. He made love to me” Leon’ mouth hung open in shock.

“So, how did that occur, how the fuck did this man make love to you on the first night? Why didn’t he just fuck you senseless?” Leon asked “well when we spoke, we liked each other and we said once we meet we will see how it goes. I met him and I felt it, I liked him even more. The sexual tension was there and always is, it’s so intense with us. I can’t explain on how it happened but he did. I didn’t say anything to him about it but he said it to me. Leon, you don’t understand how crazy it’s been for me” Leon looks in shock “you got a picture of him? Like I could go on his Facebook but I can’t be bothered. How old is he? I won’t front girl, you look rejuvenated. You look so good, so happy too. I mean you are always that but it’s just a certain happiness to you” I actually do have pictures of him “thank you, I am very happy. I don’t want to scream it to the world just yet. I am telling you so keep your mouth shut” opening my photos file, I am not sure which to show “dick picture will do” Leon said, getting up from the seat and tapping on the picture of us before when went out that night with Tif and Kellen. Zooming in on us, turning the phone to him “ooohhh is this him?” Leon stared at him, I feel very giddy about this and it’s childish “I like, I mean look at this” noticing Leon is flicking through my pictures, snatching my phone from him. Seeing the picture of Maurice in his towel “come on, let me see” he was so cute here, his smile alone makes me smile.

Locking my phone “hold up, let me see your lock screen picture” pressing my home button and turning my phone to him “awww y’all cute, I want to meet him. So is he rich? I am guessing yes because Kellen got money” placing my phone in my pocket “I don’t care for his money but his dad owns Davenport hotels” Leon gasped “nooo way! Oh my god” nodding my head “yes way, we was in the hotel in Santa Monica all that time” Leon raised an eyebrow “all that time fucking huh? He giving you them backshots or was he love making?” picking out my clothes from the suitcase “I kept saying fuck buddies to him because like we didn’t have a title and I called him boyfriend, I got annoyed so I kept saying fuck buddies. Well I won’t be saying that again, he fucked me so good Leon. I am not a sex addict but I am now, I want him inside of me” Leon busted out laughing “wow, he got money, good dick and good lucks. Please, has he got any other brothers?” laughing as I placed my top on the bed “he does have a brother, he looks just like him. I haven’t met him, I saw him from afar” I shrugged saying but I am happy with my man “y’all fucking like rabbits while I was bored without you, just waiting on you” Leon is dramatic “did y’all use protection? You on the pill ain’t you” I paused “not really…” I dragged out “Robyn Willis! So the first time you had sex you didn’t use anything?” shaking my head “I trust him, it’s fine” Leon put his hands over his face “Robyn! How can you not use protection, ok he is a good guy but still. Have you been that blind sided by dick that you forgot” he is not wrong “you know what happens, a baby could come along. You a young girl, bitch you got so much to come for yourself. Girl, you need to just be careful” Leon got me worried now, I never thought about it “did you never ask about his sexual partners or was y’all just fucking, if you catch something” pulling a face “no, he is not like that. Please, I have told you now shut your mouth and don’t say a word ok? Don’t worry about it, there is no baby or whatever” I don’t want to hear it.

Reading the text from Maurice, it’s short and simple.

From: Maurice

To: Robyn

Miss you so much it’s unreal x

Walking into the dining room “what you made?” I asked my mom “your dad cooked this food” he really gone all out with the Mac and Cheese too, that looks so good “look at my daddy being the best” I can’t wait to eat it “same dad” Leon said “it’s ok, lots of food to go around” my dad finally came to sit down with us “what is the occasion?” seems like it is “no reason, just wanted to cook and also I have not seen you for so long” my phone started ringing in my hand, looking down at the caller I.D “I will be one minute” getting up from the chair, I am not about to ignore Maurice’ call now “hello?” walking out of the dining room “Bonita, solo para oírte hablar” my smile grew “I said just to hear you talk, I miss you. I see you read my message but not text me. I am back on the jet again” it seems very quiet where he is “where did you go? And trust me I miss you the most, it does kind of suck but are you feeling ok?” he was so sad, he was making me sad “I went to Texas, needed to deal with something but I wish I didn’t now but it’s fine, I am used to it now. And I’m fine” clearly something happened “what you doing anyways?” he changed the subject quick “just going to eat now with my family” it must be so lonely for him, I don’t like it “oh, why didn’t you say. It’s ok, I’m going to sleep now, I’ll just text you when I land ok? Love you” I feel bad for something I can’t change or help “I love you too, Maurice. I am here if you need me, I don’t care about eating” I really don’t “no go and eat, have fun” he disconnected the call, moving the phone back from my ear. Staring at my phone, I feel bad for him and I just want things to get better for him.

[thebeethathums]

Company of Friends

Sam and Dean x Reader (platonic)- One Shot Songfic- Company of Friends-Danny Schmidt

Warnings: Reader is dead and there are feels. No gore but I supposed could be triggering

When I die, let them judge me by my company of friends Let them know me as the footprints that I left upon the sand Let them laugh for all the laughter Let them cry for laughter’s end But when I die, let them judge me by my company of friends The Impala rushed down the road, eager to be far away from the terrible reality. A silence settled over the car like it rarely did- no music blaring from its speakers as Dean put all his focus on the road with a death grip on the wheel and Sam looked out the passenger window with a clenched jaw. In the air that rushed by, Dean swore he heard your laugh the one filled with squealed joy and ground his teeth as he fought back the tears pressing at his eyes. Never again. That laugh was gone and had taken with it the soft melodic giggles and the teasingly purred chuckles. All of it was gone.

Sam suddenly let out a soft, sad chuckle, the noise laced with nostalgia, and Dean responded with a low warning growl, “What?” “Nothing,” he shook his head, “Just remembering.” “Remembering what?” Dean pressed, a hint of hopeful curiosity under the overwhelming grief-fueled anger. “The day we met her.” A soft bittersweet chuckle bubbled up from Dean’s chest as he recalled you standing over a decapitated vampire with an almost giddy grin on your face, calling out a cheerful, “Hiya,” to him and Sam, He’d never told Sam but when you came to free them from their bonds you’d leaned in and purred in his ear, “Shame. I like the look of you all tied up.” His heart had nearly stopped then and there. You’d just patted his cheek with a sly grin and laughed that happy unrestricted laugh. He let out a more solid chuckle and then immediately frowned when he remembered he’d never hear that laugh again. When I die, let them toast to all the things that I believe Let them raise a glass to consciousness And not spill a drop for grief Let the bubbles rise at midnight Let their tongues get light as thieves And when I die, let them toast to all the things that I believe When they couldn’t bear the quiet anymore, Dean pulled off the never-ending trail of asphalt and parked in front of a bar. Neither brother said a word, sliding out of the car and slamming their doors in sync. There was no scolding from Dean for treating his baby roughly, no disappointed look from Sam over Dean’s inevitable drinking, only tense silence as they strode into the bar and claimed a shadowed booth away from the crowd. No beers for the Winchesters tonight. No. It was a hard liquor night. A night to drink until the pain faded and they could remember and then drink some more so they could forget. Dean just stared into the thick golden liquid as if trying to find some hidden message in the bottom of his glass and Sam cleared his throat, “She wouldn’t want us to act like this, Dean.” The older brother nodded, you’d always hated it when they got broody and dark, and then raised his glass with a forced smile that came across as more of grimace, “A toast then- to her life and the times we shared.” “To her,” Sam echoed, raising his glass before both of them drained their glasses with a toss of the head and a flick of a wrist. Quiet again. Sam wondered if the quiet had always been this agonizing or was it just the absence of your cheerful chatter that made it seem that way. In the end, it didn’t matter, he realized, fingering his empty glass as Dean waved for another round, either way, it seemed wrong. A tiny smile curled at the edges of his lips as a memory sprang up in his mind- He and Dean were researching and you’d burst into their room belting Warrant’s Cherry Pie at the top of your lungs. You’d leaped on to one of the beds and pointed at him as you sang, “I scream, you scream- we all scream for her. Don’t even try ‘cause you can’t ignore her.” Dean was quick to join you, jumping up on the bed to dip you down as you kicked a leg towards the ceiling. Sam had been unable to stop a laugh from escaping his lips and later, when you were laying on your stomach next to him, humming the same song, he’d asked you, “Why?” Your answer was simple, delivered with a grin, “I hate silence. It’s boring.” Returning to the present he looked up at his brother, hesitantly venturing in a low voice, “She’d want us to remember the good times…” Dean nodded, ruffling a hand through his hair and then running a thumb over his lips before meeting his brother’s eyes, “Then let’s remember. For her.” I believe in restless hunger I believe in red balloons I believe in private thunder In the end, I do believe Sam started, downing another throat burning swig before clasping his fingers around the empty glass and humming, “Do you remember that time she woke us up early and made us take her to the zoo three states over? ‘I can’t sleep. Too restless,’ she said, yanking you off the bed and throwing your clothes at you. Even hit you in the face with a shoe.” Dean chuckled, a distant look in his eyes, “She never could sit still. Even after I agreed to get ready, she was bouncing all around the room like a sugar-high hummingbird. Then you both made me listen to that British crap the whole car ride there.” “The Beatles aren't crap, Dean. Besides, you loved it.” “She was so happy- singing her heart out and leaning over the back of the front seat. It was hard to be upset,” he defended, cocking his head to the side before giving it a little shake. “We got there and she was out of the car like a bolt of lightning. I had to run to keep up with her and when we finally did, she slapped a red balloon on each of our wrists as she scolded us for being slow. Then she looked up with that grin, tugging on the strings to make sure they were secure…” “ ‘So I’ll never lose you guys,’ “ they quoted in sync. In the end, it had been them that needed to be worried about losing you. Isn’t that always the way. I believe in inspiration I believe in lightning bugs I believe in slow creation In the end, I do believe There was a pause as another round of drinks was procured and Dean shook his head, “She could kick some demon ass in total seriousness one second and then giggle over something so small and seemingly innocent the next. Remember that time in Kansas? We stumbled out of that run down building covered in blood, dead vamps everywhere, and what did she do? She bounced off to chase a damn lightning bug.” Sam let out a soft laugh, “Caught it too. Right in the middle of that field next door.” “The look on her face when she looked up and saw that there were near a hundred more…” “Priceless,” Sam breathed. Dean finished another drink, chuckling, “Her eyes went so wide I thought they were going to pop out of her head...Did she ever tell you what she whispered to that lightning bug before she let it go?” “Nope. You?” “Nah. Every time I asked she just said it had another bigger purpose- another moment in life waiting to be created.” Dean’s gaze focused on the table, the image of you, caked in blood, cradling the small creature in your hands so carefully as your lips trusted it with a secret neither of you would ever share flashing through his mind. You’d seemed so innocent, lifting your arms up to the night sky a moment later to let the little ball of light resume its short life with a soft secretive giggle. A quiet settled over the table as both brother’s eyes glazed over but it was different from the one that had weighed down on them before, their minds taking them on a journey through all the memories that there would never be enough time to share aloud- even if they talked until they were grey and old. I believe in ink on paper I believe in lips on ears I believe what's shared is savored In the end, I do believe Dean’s inner mind played the images like a flickering home movie projected on a tattered sheet, the memories of moments of content and joy amid a life of hardship seeming well loved and worn. He watched you writing a letter, the ink smudging across your fingertips and your tongue peeking out of your mouth as you struggled to keep your handwriting more legible than your normal rapid scrawl. You always loved writing letters when you could and Bobby and Ellen must have hundreds of them- little snippets of history waiting to be made, you claimed. Even he and Sam each had a small stack of letters tucked away in the Impala’s trunk. You wrote one for each of them at least twice a year with the stern instruction not to open them until the date written on the corner of the envelope. You’d made them pinky promise. The image changed and he could almost feel you, your lips brushing against the shell of his ear as you pointed out how you could prank Sam one slow winter morning. You were a ball of energy most of the time but you could always fall into a secretive quiet when you wanted to. Whether it was to plan some greater fun, to seductively purr teasing phrases, or just to preserve the silence for a moment on a hunt, you would drop your voice and bring your lips to his ear, letting the words caress the curve of it like a sweet summer breeze carrying the notes of some harmony from off in the distance. It never failed to send a shiver down his spine. With a soft flicker, his mind brought up you stealing a bite of his pie and then running off before he could retaliate. He’d been so angry at first- no one messed with his pie- but that grin on your face eventually broke him down... that and the fork you threatened to jab into his arm. You always stole just one bite of his pie every time and when he’d finally asked you why you’d responded, “It tastes that much sweeter when you have someone to share it with.” I believe in work on Sundays I believe in raising barns I believe in wasting Mondays In the end, I do believe Sam’s mind fell into a similar state, calling up his own memories of you on his own personal silver screen- his life with you in moments important enough to him that only this medium could do them justice. You pouncing on his bed like a child at Christmas, trying to get him up and moving on, what was supposed to be, a lazy Sunday, took its place on the screen. You stole his blankets, tickled his feet, hit him with a pillow, and finally dragged him limb by limb off the mattress, standing over him once you’d dragged him to the floor. You’d put a hand on your hip and exclaimed, “Come on, you giant moose. Demons don’t laze about on Sunday’s and neither should you.” The next day the situation had been reversed, he and Dean had had to try and talk you into getting out of bed with such little success that it was actually embarrassing. Dean had given in first, having moved to take your blanket and instead found himself pulled on to the bed with you. He was easily persuaded to stay when you snuggled into his side with a sleepy yawn- his own tiredness making it hard to say no. Sam had sighed, “God, Dean, when did you become such a pushover?… Come on, (F/n). What happened to demons don’t laze about and we shouldn’t either?” You’d simply yanked him into the bed with you and Dean, mumbling, “That was Sunday’s. Demons definitely laze about on Monday’s.” I believe in intuition I believe in being wrong I believe in contradiction In the end, I do believe Dean startled when his little brother suddenly wondered, “Do you think she’s watching over us? Where ever she is?” The older Winchester had never been one to believe in an afterlife or heaven- with all the things they saw it just didn’t make sense in his mind- but at this moment, he hoped he was wrong. Something in him felt like just this once he could admit that there was something more, even if it went against everything he believed in. “Yeah, Sammy. I think she is.” I believe in living smitten I believe all hearts will mend I believe our book is written By our company of friendsCompany of Friends-Danny Schmidt

[storytimefromthecreed]

Vigilante AU: Sonny Carisi

(Part 6)

“I don’t believe that for a second.” Mike took her hands and turned them over. In them, he placed headphones. “These will work better. A friend at the FBI made them for me, so we’ll be able to communicate on a private channel. Also, we need to train you on how to handle larger targets because we only got out of that DV by pure luck.” Mike nodded to himself, and pulled out a similar headset for Sonny. Sonny looked at it like it was a snake.

“What? What are you doing? I thought we had a deal?” (Y/N) asked, and Mike ran a hand through his hair.

“New deal. You asked me what I thought, and I think we need The Vigilante. You bring the people hope, and you give the bad guys fear. We need that. We can use that. But we’re going to have to do this better. So,” Mike set his shoulders back and readied himself. “Tell me how this works.”

“You wanna know everything?” Disbelief colored her tone, but the realization that he wasn’t arresting her made her giddy. “Are you serious?”

“How are we going to operate as a team without clear communication?” Mike looked to her and then Sonny.

Sonny tucked his headset into his pocket and escorted Mike to the couch. “I’ll make coffee.”

....

Mike was a godsend. He took the load off of her when it came to worrying about Sonny in the field, and he comforted Sonny in looking out for her when she was out and about. Having him over became not so strange of a sight. They ate together, hung out together, and trained together. It became the best year of their life.

“You’re going to have to change your fighting style.” Mike sipped his coffee and read the news. 

“What do you mean?” Sonny got defensive and shot Mike a look dripping with judgement. “Hasn’t she kicked both of our asses more than once? We’ve been doing this a long time, Mike. We got this.”

“No talking business at the table.” (Y/N) refilled Mike’s coffee and took a seat beside Sonny. Sonny lifted a forkful of eggs and ushered it into her mouth as he continued with Mike. 

“She has, but I’m learning her moves which means that others can learn too. All I’m saying is that maybe we need to work a little more on actual fighting and not just evading.”

Sonny nodded, now understanding. “Yea, you’re right.”

“Guys, can you stop talking about me like I’m not here?” She said, but they were already excited.

“Can we change the look?”

“We just upgraded the suit and weapons.”

“She looks like a killer.”

“Mike, she’s not supposed to look friendly. Bad guys are supposed to be scared of her.” Mike nodded. It made sense. 

“Ok, meeting over? Don’t you guys have jobs?” Sonny checked his smartwatch.

“We gotta go, Dodds.” Sonny kissed her before leaving the table and grabbing his stuff. 

“Go. Save the world.” She gave Mike his badge and he gave her a hug goodbye. Sonny gave her a kiss before walking out the door. Then the boys were off.

....

“Sir, put the gun down. We don’t want to hurt you.” Mike said, and he tapped the door just above the lock. Sonny nodded, wheeled back, and kicked. The door flew open, and Mike ran in first. Sonny close behind. They got the stituation under control and were able to cuff the perp and walk him to the car of a uni before she arrived. 

“Good job.” She said through her coms. Mike drove he and Sonny back to the station, and Sonny tried to hide his smile at her voice in his ear. “Do you even need me here?”

“Back up is always nice to have.” Sonny smiled, looking up at the skyline to see if he could spot her. 

“I’ll hang around and see if you need anything else, but I think I’m gonna call it an early night.”

“Sounds good.”

(Y/N) watched them take the perp in, and then proceeded to camp and see if they needed her. They were in interrogation, so she turned off her wire to let them focus. A shadow moved beside her, and she undid her blades as she was rushed.

The shadow kicked her ribs and sent her sprawled to the ground. (Y/N) tightened her fist and it connected with her assailant’s face. Her assailant groaned and pulled back, and (Y/N) kicked back to allow her space. She undid her blade and threw one at the assailant’s shoulder. This person was fast. They ducked down, and the blade clattered against the ground. A flash of silver headed to her,  and she barely put her hand up to defend herself before the blade hit her. Her new leather wristlets were no match for the blade and it dug into her skin. 

(Y/N) ducked to remove it, and found a knife to her neck when she did so. “You’re getting slow, sister.”

“Leah.” (Y/N) growled. “What are you doing here?”

“More importantly,” her little sister returned her blade to her side and grabbed the one from (Y/N)’s hand. She examined the blood dripping off of it with a smirk. “Why are you still so slow?”

“Good lesson, I’ll make sure to get faster. Are we done?”

“Not quite, big sister.” Leah smiled, and (Y/N)’s fist tightened. 

“What do you want?”

“It’s what you want.” Leah returned her blade into her wristlet, and flexed her hands. “This little world you’ve made for yourself? I think you want to keep it.” The mention of her life made her tense, but she didn’t react. Leah wanted her to react. “A storm’s coming, sister dearest, and I would be careful if I were you. I found you, you don’t think the others will?”

“So you’re with them, hm? I always knew the Brotherhood never sat well with you. Congrats.”

“Don’t get all sentimental with me. I am here to warn you. There is a war coming and this thing you’ve been doing here is gathering too much attention. All I’m saying is, if I were you, I would hurry up and pick a side.”

“I don’t pick sides.” (Y/N) watched Leah overlook the station. A curious look in her eyes.

“That’s gonna get you killed. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Then she leapt off the building.

....

“Your family? The one that wants to kill you?” Mike took a seat and Sonny was quiet. His hands were folded into prayer hands, and he covered his face with this.

“Well, only my little sister, but that’s not the point. Leah could’ve killed me tonight, but she didn’t.”

“That’s....comforting.” Mike searched for his words. “What do we have to do about it?”

“There’s nothing we can do. Her warning was just that, a warning. Something is going to happen, guys, and I just wanted to warn you. The streets are going to be more dangerous than ever now.”

“We’re keep that in mind.” Mike gathered his coat. “Thanks for the dinner and the heads up. How about we take it slow for a few nights? See how things go?” (Y/N) nodded in agreement, and bid Mike goodnight.

Sonny was still silent. When he did speak, his voice was flat.

“You never told me you had a sister.” Sonny cocked a brow. (Y/N) paced nervously in the livingroom. “You told me family stuff was-”

“Complicated. Looks like I’m gonna have to tell you the short end of it then. My sister Leah has always been the black sheep in our family. We grew up in the same life. I left it behind and came to New York to start over.”

“Where you became a vigilante instead.” Sonny nodded along. That explained how she knew the things she did.

“Yea, but it looks like Leah joined the bad guys. Both sides have been fighting for forever, one side believes freewill is right and the other believes peace should be forced. I left that life behind me a long time ago. But it looks like the two are fighting in the city. They want me to pick a side before things get ugly.”

“Then don’t pick one. Just stay out of it.”

“It’s not that simple, Sonny. People are going to die. Babe, my sister stabbed me just to prove she could.” (Y/N) raised her forearm and showed him the bandages. “She’d kill you if she doesn’t get an answer.”

“We’re not getting bullied like this.” Sonny said sternly. “They wanna fight? Let them. Mike and I are NYPD. Whatever these groups are, they’ve never taken on a gang like ours.” Finally, he stood and went over to her. “I’m not letting anything happen to you. I swear.”

(Y/N) nestled into Sonny’s arms. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

....

No sooner had Leah warned her, had the storm arrived. The city was in turmoil. Gangs rose up, there was fighting in the streets. It was madness.

So when (Y/N) got the call, her heart dropped. “Where?”

Sonny was pale in his hospital bed. His hair was messy and his clothes blood stained. It was difficult seeing the tubes sticking out of his arm. The bullet missed vital organs, thank god.

“Fancy meeting you here, doll.” Sonny reached out a hand, and she took it. Taking a seat beside him, she fixed his hair. It wasn’t that she thought he needed it, she just needed something to do. “You’re really pretty.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself.” Tears rimmed her eyes, and she chuckled. This displaced them, and they ran down her cheeks. With the back of her hand, she wiped her face.

“Don’t cry. I’m on some really good drugs. I can’t even tell that I fell.” Sonny kissed her hand, but basically just slapped her hand to his face. “Mwah.”

“Dom, you were shot.” (Y/N) took a seat beside him.

His eyes widened. “I was shot?!” 

“Don’t think about it. Go to sleep.” She lowered her chin to the bed and Sonny carressed her face. Or tried to. He palmed her face and gave it a squish.

“You’ll be here when I wake up?” His voice quivered, and she took his hand off her face and kissed it. Then she rose and kissed his lips. He hummed, and then whinced. 

“Sorry.” (Y/N) took a seat and then kissed his hand. Seeing him in pain broke her heart, and a tiny flame of anger ignited.

“Don’t be. You make me feel better.” Sonny closed his eyes and went to sleep.

(Y/N) stepped into the hallway when the doctor wanted to check on Sonny. 

“Do you want to die?” (Y/N) said when Leah appeared at her side.

“Hey, I didn’t want this to happen.” Leah grew serious. “He doesn’t deserve this.”

“What do you know? Why are you here? Think I won’t take you out right now?” Anger reflected in her eyes, and Leah put her hands up.

“I’m just here to talk.”

“Then talk.” They talked until Amanda appeared down the hall. When (Y/N) looked back, her sister was gone.

[spookyfloof]

Be My Escape (Ch. 2)

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Pairing: Shiro/Pidge (Voltron: Legendary Defender)

      Strong Language (Warnings might change for later chapters)

Summary: Amidst her growing fears for her family and the pressures of being a Paladin, Pidge’s feelings for Shiro only intensify. But is it really love, or the need to escape that’s drawing her to him?

Note: For the sake of this story, Pidge is 17 and Shiro is 21. It becomes relevant during this chapter.

Read on AO3

“Tomorrow” was both brutally long and frighteningly short.

At Allura and Coran's instruction, the team attended councils with the leaders of several planets in their current solar system. But it was all a formality. After having freed these people only days ago of Zarkon's control, introductions were only proper.

The occupying Galra forces had been easily taken care of, barely fortified as there defenses were – disabling communications without detection had been a cinch. After all, these planets were of minimal value to Zarkon, but for Voltron, every little victory helped.

The assemblies with the various alien species went smoothly, as expected, but it was Pidge's anticipated meeting with Shiro that had her on edge.

The entire day, she was distracted, anxious, exhausted, and most of all wishing desperately she could reverse time. For the most part, Shiro and Allura took turns speaking on the team's behalf, but when it was the latter's turn to take over the discussions, Pidge would catch the former stealing glances at her.

There was no way she was getting out of this.

By dinnertime, Pidge was sure she was losing years of her life with how fast her heart was beating.

“Just make it through dinner. Maybe if I eat fast enough I can pretend I'm not feeling well and go to bed early without having to say anything.”

The idea was appealing, but she knew that would only put off the inevitable. And she didn't think she could handle this anxiety for another day.

Suddenly, Hunk and Coran emerged from the kitchen with several plates of food in hand.

“Hey, guys!” Hunk announced to the dining room, “Me and Coran managed to make improvised Ratatouille with some of the vegetables the locals gave us! You guys are gonna love it!”

“It's actually rather good!” Coran chimed in, “It reminds me a bit of a traditional Utrurq dish I tried once...although this is a lot quieter, so that's certainly a plus.”

Keith exchanged his confusion with Lance from across the table, but no one questioned him.

Pidge tried to eat, but with her stomach in knots, the most she managed was a few nibbles and abstract food sculptures with her fork. Before she knew it, everyone else was already finished or cleaning up their dishes...except Shiro.

Hunk came up to her as he was taking his plate to the kitchen and leaned against the back of her chair.

“You didn't like it?” he asked, disappointed, “It was the sauce, wasn't it? I think I got a little too experimental with it.”

She turned to him, almost surprised.

“No! It's great!” she argued, “I'm just...not really feeling well.”

This earned another glance from Shiro despite him being in the middle of a conversation of his own.

“It's cool. Don't force yourself. Do you need antacid or something? I'm pretty sure we have something like that.”

“No, no, I'm fine,” she said before her peripheral noticed the rest of the team getting up from the table, leaving only her and Shiro still seated.

Panic settled in anew.

“Actually, I think I'm feeling a little better already!”

Pidge shoveled the rest of her food in her mouth and nearly choked in the process of gulping it down. She shot up from her chair.

“Thanks, Hunk. Thanks, Coran. That was delicious!” she said with a genuine smile, then abducted her plate through the kitchen door, leaving a completely baffled Hunk in her wake.

–

Shiro chewed the last of his food slowly as he processed the exchange between Pidge and Hunk. The way she was acting today during the meetings, and the way she'd bolted from the table just now, she was obviously freaking out about something. And while she promised to tell him, he still couldn't shake the feeling she was avoiding him.

Whatever it was, it had to be serious. Shiro liked to think he was pretty familiar with the members of his team, but he'd never seen her so on-edge like this before. It was obvious she was still concerned about Matt and their father, but there had to be something else. This couldn't just be about that, could it? The more he thought, the more he worried, but he'd already resolved not to pressure her into talking.

She'd come to him when she was ready.

–

It wasn't until at least an hour or two later when she'd found him, though he'd lost track of time poring over the ship's data on Galra weaponry and known battle tactics in the strategy room. Keith had asked to spar with him after dinner, but he declined with a promise to train together tomorrow – if Pidge did show up, he wanted to make sure he'd be alone.

When she finally arrived, she didn't bother to cross the threshold into the room itself. Her fingers were tangled together at her waist. Her fingers were wringing themselves behind her back.

“I'm...” she started,  paused, and then sighed, annoyed it seemed, though more at herself than him, “I'm ready to talk. If you are, of course.”

He smiled warmly in response.

“Of course.”

“First, can we go somewhere a little more private?”

--

In silence, Shiro followed her to a wing of the castle he was barely familiar with -- there wasn't much here and it went mostly unused. The hall they followed was dark and quiet with only enough lights for them to see where they were going. When they stopped in front of a locked door, Pidge touched her hand to a sensor pad nearby. It beeped softly and glowed green, apparently appeased, and the door slid open. Inside appeared to be some kind of personal library, furnished with floor to ceiling bookcases, a long couch, and a large L-shaped desk. There was a view of the nearest planet outside.

“This was King Alfor's,” Pidge said, answering Shiro's unspoken question, “Allura told me I could come here whenever I wanted.”

“I see,” he said while taking everything in.

“You might want to sit down,.”

Without a word, he took a seat on the couch and crossed one leg over the other. She began to pace in front of him.

“Okay, so, I'm just gonna get this out. I'm just gonna say it. Okay. Alright...”

Eventually, she stopped pacing, took a deep breath and with eyes honed in on the desk, she spoke the words, “Shiro, I like you. And not in a friend kind of way because I know that's what you would think hearing me say that, but that's not how I mean it. I like you, as in, I like you like you, and... uh I can't believe I'm saying this and I'm going to stop talking now and let you say something... Okay.”

“Oh god, what am I doing?!”

She faced him then and studied his body language expectantly, trying to gauge his response before he could even say anything.

Shiro leaned back a little and focused on the floor tiles between them.

“Hmm,” was all he could get out at first, but after several seconds, he continued. “Well, I can say I honestly was not expecting that. You did have me worried there.”

More silence. He chose his next words carefully.

“I'm flattered, but...why me? I'm...well...” He looked up at her then “...a few years older than you.”

If anything, Pidge was incredulous.

“You have to ask?”

She'd meant it as a genuine question, but as he didn't answer, she went on.

“I mean, you're mature, for one. You're tall, brave, a born leader, a great pilot, attractive, obviously.” She said these words with ease if not conviction, her anxiety dissolved by disbelief that he would even ask.

“Don't put me on a pedestal, Pidge. I'm only human.” His eyes flashed to his cybernetic arm. “Well, mostly.”

“And modest!” she added, gesturing to him as if he were ignoring something obvious.

Shiro gave her a reprimanding look.

“Okay, look, I've admired you ever since I found out you were going to be on the Kerberos mission with my dad and my brother. And then ever since I met you, I've liked you and....sort of...” she debated revealing the last bit of her confession, but she'd already come this far. “...Sort of wanted you to...kiss me. I know, that's cheesy.”

He leaned forward, planting both feet on the floor now.

“Pidge, I think you know what I have to say here. You are incredible, you know that, but no matter how I feel or don't feel, it doesn't matter. You and I can't get involved that way. You're...”

“To young,” she finished for him, irritation weighing down her tone.

“...Yeah.”

“And if I were older?”

“I...would think about it,” he said cautiously.

She frowned and Shiro sighed.

“You're a wonderful young woman, Pidge.”

“Don't do that,” she huffed while crossing her arms and looking away, “I don't want your pity.”

“I'm not pitying you,” he insisted, but she didn't buy it.

“I know it's ‘wrong’,” she said, emphasizing the word with her fingers mimicking quotation marks, “but if it's something we both happened to want, I don't see why we couldn't. I mean, I'm the one who came to you. It's not like you'd be taking advantage of me.”

“It's complicated,” he said, vainly hoping she'd accept it at that. Naturally, she wanted him to elaborate.

“If we were to be together in that way... hypothetically... the last thing I would want is for you to end up regretting it. Wishing you'd been with someone your own age. Or that you'd waited. You should really think about this.”

Pidge rolled her eyes with a groan.

“I have, Shiro! Practically every day we put our lives at risk. Every day we wake up with the reality there might not be a tomorrow for us. I'm not asking you to marry me! If you don't like me that way, then just tell me. I'd understand! I know I'm not gorgeous like Allura. I don't have long flowy hair anymore. I get it! But don't use my age as a cop-out!”

Shiro pinched the bridge of his nose. This was a lot more like the Pidge he knew – stubborn.

The right thing to do, the smart thing to do would be to simply tell her he wasn't interested and leave it at that. It was also probably the easiest, and yet he didn't, and he wasn't wholly sure why. True, he wanted to spare her feelings, but there was something else. Something he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

“Pidge,” he said finally, “I can't. I'm sorry.”

“You keep saying that! 'Can't'' It's bullshit!” Her voice started to fade from enraged to pleading, “Just say it. Please. Just say you don't like me that way.”

Shiro breathed deeply -- inhale, exhale -- but could only shake his head, defeated.

“I can't.”

She understood nonetheless and her mouth pressed into a hard line. She bit the insides of her lips together and the light reflecting in her big brown eyes seemed to shimmer.

Her hands balled into fists at her sides and they started to tremble. From anger? He didn't know. And neither did she. For a split second, Shiro feared she would try to punch him and his body tensed on impulse.  

Instead, she spun on her heel and started towards the door without a word until...she didn't. Pidge stopped in her tracks despite her mind begging her feet to move. They didn't.

“Don't you dare do this! Not now!”

It happened faster than either of them could fully register. Especially Shiro. But once he did, his eyes widened in horror.

He'd gutted her. With no more effort than it took to crush a sheet of tinfoil, he'd crumpled her to the floor. And he was petrified.

Despite her silence, her chest heaved. Pidge forced her hands over her mouth, her eyes desperate and wild like cornered prey.

“Stop it! Stop!”

But she didn't. She couldn't.

A sob escaped her throat and she wanted to scream.

“No!”

As he watched, the scene before him began to feel eerily familiar. Images of grieving mothers, children, siblings, separated from their families, separated from hope flickered behind his eyes.

He'd seen this before.

Slowly, wordlessly, Shiro approached her, his footsteps soft on the hard floor. Once he was close enough, he lowered himself to his knees behind her and touched her shoulder. She didn't react.

He started to ease her towards him, gently, but she resisted. Her arms flailed to shake him off and he was quick to let go, but in doing so, she released another cry. She clamped a hand back over her mouth and forced her eyes closed as she curled further into herself.

He waited a moment, then repeated the action -- this time she didn't try to repel him. Both his hands cupped her shoulders then and he drew her to his chest, gathering her petite form into his arms.

She was helpless but to hide her face behind her hands as unforgiving tears streamed down.

Shiro leaned back until he was sitting on the floor and pulled her into his lap. His arms wrapped tighter around her, enveloping her easily, and he planted his chin atop her head. On some instinct, he closed his eyes and started to hum a tuneless melody. His thumb slid back and forth over her arm like a soothing metronome.

“I'm so sorry,” he thought, “This isn't what I wanted.”

Pidge managed to whimper through her fingers, “I'm sorry. I'm being so fucking dramatic. You must think I'm insane freaking out like this over nothing. I must be on my period or something.” She forced a laugh, but it was quickly drowned in more tears.

Shiro said nothing, his face solemn as he continued humming.

Eventually, the tight bundle in his arms relaxed enough to rest her weight against him and lean her head on his collarbone. They stayed like that for several more minutes, until Shiro could feel her body had stopped trembling.

“Do you want me to let you go now?” he murmured.

Pidge was silent as she thought. When she finally answered, her subdued voice sounded almost guilty.

“Would you be angry if I said no?”

He chuckled and the sound rumbled into her like a distant thunder. “Not at all.”

She swallowed hard and it hurt. Everything hurt. Most of all her heart.

“Shiro...” She blinked back fresh tears. “What if they're... what if I'm too late? What if my dad and my brother...” Her voice started to crack.

“Don't think like that,” he answered before she could continue, “Both of them are strong and capable. And so are you. You'll find each other. You have to believe that.”

Her head bobbled weakly and it wasn't until her sobs subsided again that Shiro apologized.

“Pidge. I'm sorry. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

“I know. It's not your fault.” Her vocal chords felt thick and heavy against the lump in her throat.

“I hope you'll forgive me.”

She sniffled. “I'm not that petty, Shiro.”

“Well, I wouldn't blame you if you were.” He paused, unsure if he should continue, then lowered his voice. “I meant what I said, you know. You are wonderful –  you're so, so intelligent, not to mention a great pilot and more-than-decent fighter. I couldn't imagine anyone better suited to be the Green Paladin. And yes, you are beautiful, even without your flowy hair.”

He loosened his hold on her. “I wish I could give you a straight answer...”

Pidge didn't care anymore. She didn't want to talk about it anymore. She didn't want him to hold her – no matter how safe it made her feel. She didn't want his warmth. Didn't want his comfort. Didn't want to be near his scent that felt like home. All she wanted was sleep. Sweet, dreamless sleep to whisk her away and make her forget everything for a few precious hours.

“I think I should be going to bed.”

“That's probably a good idea,” Shiro agreed before releasing her.

As he helped her to her feet, he caught a glimpse of her bloodshot eyes and tear-streaked face, but she was quick to turn away, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her shirt. She shuffled out into the corridor, but as she turned the corner, her face out of his view, she paused, her hand lingering on the door's frame.

“Good night, Takashi.”

“Good night, Katie,” he said, and she left.

For a while, Shiro didn't move. He stared out into the empty hallway, white, pristine, cold...and silent. When he broke himself from his reverie, he retreated back to the couch behind him and sat down, his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers steepled together.

His thick eyebrows furrowed as his eyes wandered about the room, searching. Searching for something. He leaned back, his neck arching over the couch's support as far as it would go, and gazed at the ceiling, at nothing. He pressed the side of his fist to his forehead.

“Fuck.”

[currentsofdreams]

16. Betrayal

[So, this one got long. And dark. And there’s probably gonna be a part 2.]

Aranola stood on the terrace of one of the few private residences in Dalaran. As she looked out over the edge of the city, she allowed the sight of Suramar to fill her with its uncaring calm. She would be even as the elven spires, the only one of her former best friends to survive untouched, pristine, grand for ten thousand years.

The mage who owned the rooms and the terrace had been kind enough to loan Aranola his servants for the evening as well. One of the kitchen girls tapped on the door, keeping her eyes carefully downcast. Aranola smiled to think that this human girl thought her worthy of the same rank and privilege as her master.

“What is it?” Aranola asked.

“Your friends have arrived, priestess. Shall I show them up? Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” The girl dipped a small curtsy.

“Of course,” Ara said pleasantly. “Thank you.”

The girl smiled. “Right away, then.”

Aranola turned back to her contemplation of the view, hands gripping the railing, perhaps a touch too tightly. This was, in some ways a homecoming. In others, it was a performance, as much of what Aranola did was a performance. Let the weak sunlight fall just so on the silver circlet pinning her fall of rich, violet hair. Let the faint breeze stir her lilac skirts just so around her legs. Let her shawl drape just so to accentuate her elegant posture. Perfect.

The first indication she had that her guests had arrived on the terrace was a whiff of something unpleasant. It wasn’t overpowering, not enough to name it for what it was—corruption, in all its myriad forms. She turned, the red of her tattoos glinting in the fading sunset.

“You’ve made it!” she smiled, opening her arms expansively. Her eyes flickered over Niniyv, midnight dark burning teal with the contained fel power under her skin, and then to Aeternita, her former brilliant reds washed to a cold and stale pink in death. If either was impressed by Ara’s show, they didn’t look it.

“Aranola, I was surprised to receive your invitation.” Niniyv said, blunt as ever.

Ara lowered her arms, stepping carefully towards the table she had had the servants set for them. “The last time we all saw each other, the world was ending. And somehow, the world survived. I thought it might be a hypothesis worth testing.”

Aeternita huffed a laugh. “A toast to the world unending, then?” she asked.

Aranola gestured to the glasses on the table. “I should think so.” She pulled out a chair, but then moved around so that she could take the chair with her back to the wall. She glanced between her former friends and the waiting chairs. “Shall we?”

The other two stepped fully onto the terrace. Niniyv settled in the corner with her back to the side-edge of the terrace, and Aeternita took the chair with no view, her back to the edge. Before either could say anything, Aranola offered an apologetic smile. “It’s a long story,” she murmured, “but I much prefer to have something solid behind me if I’m going to be sitting for any length of time. Drops I cannot see make me nervous.”

Niniyv and Aeternita glanced at each other. They both smiled. “We’ve all been through quite a lot. Who are we to judge?” Niniyv said. The demon hunter reached for a glass, and poured for herself, then into Aranola’s offered glass. Aeternita politely accepted one as well.

Aranola raised hers. “To better times,” she said with a melancholy smile.

“To better times,” the other two responded, tapping their glasses together gently. Niniyv knocked back half the glass, while Ara watched over the rim of her glass and took a small sip. Aeternita left the liquid untouched, toying instead with the glass on the table.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between the three as the sun dipped lower. Niniyv took a breath, but was cut off from speaking by the arrival of two servant girls, bearing trays with dinner. The light pasta and salad was dressed and sauced so well that the delicious aroma nearly drowned out the inherent unfortunate odor of Ara’s former friends.

“Thank you, that should be all we need. Feel free to take the rest of the evening off.”

“The clean-up—” the girl from earlier was bold enough to begin to ask.

Ara waved a hand. “I will see to it that it gets done.”

Murmuring thanks, the two girls left. Aranola served, filling all three plates. Niniyv, who had always favored heavier foods, nodded over a rueful smile. Aeternita again accepted politely, but did not pick up her fork.

The two women ate quietly for long moments. Eventually Aranola glanced at Aeternita. “I…” She summoned up a look of concern. “I had not realized you could not eat at all, Aeternita.”

The death knight shrugged. “Not entirely true, but it benefits me little, and serves mostly to remind me of a pleasure I no longer feel.”

“I see,” Aranola said. Niniyv was careful not to look at Ara, masking what? Aranola tilted her head, trying to discern the expression through the guise of watching the liquid swirl in her glass. Incredulity, maybe. Or contempt.

Aranola sighed. “What would you have me do, Niniyv? I mean, look at you. Both of you. How does one…?” She artistically held back a touch of a tear. “I was overjoyed when your names reached my ears, that you had survived! To find that I was wrong—”

“Not entirely wrong,” Aeternita said. “To survive and to live seem to have different meanings, these days. I have made my peace, Aranola. Eat your pasta. I hope you enjoy it, even. Somedays, I wish I could, but.”

She looked away, staring blankly into the house. “If nothing else, I am glad to fight for the life of this world.”

Niniyv grinned, slurping a noodle. She swallowed and then said, “Me, I have no regrets. I did what needed to be done. You’d have done the same, Ara, in my shoes.”

Aranola lifted her head. She thought about protesting, but realized it didn’t really matter. Niniyv had never been one to change her mind easily.

They struggled to think of something to say in silence as Aeternita’s food grew cold and the sun fully set. A billow of smog from the Broken Shore below cut off the stars. Niniyv watched the smog roll over the sky, chair tilted back. “I wonder what’s happening now,” she mused. “It only gets this bad when something’s up. I should go—”

“Wait, please,” Aranola said. The other two women looked over at her, concerned, confused. Two shadows detached themselves from the corners of the terrace, visible only to Ara’s eyes, shrouded in Ara’s magic. Niniyv half-rose from her chair, sensing something, but it was too late for that. As she reached for a weapon she had not brought to a meeting of old friends, a knife slipped under her ribs. A second knife found Aeternita’s heart. No time to cry out. No fuss, no mess.

The two succubi threw the bodies over the edge of the terrace. Aranola stood up and made her way to the railing. For just a second, she watched her former friends as they fell. Then she turned away, fingering the soulshard that hung as a pendant under her shawl.

“Thank you for your help, initiate,” a warlock said, stepping out of the house and onto the terrace. Ara raised fel-stained eyes, no longer masked by the vestiges of the priestess’s shadow magic she still held. She bowed, slightly.

“You are certain this will help?” she asked.

The warlock chuckled, low, menacing. “The head of the Illidari is dead. That you were able to secure one of the leading death knights as well is just a bonus, and much to your credit, initiate. We have begun to purge the corruption from within the defenders ranks. Soon, soon, our bargain shall be struck. Rest assured, you and yours will be safe when the reckoning comes.”

She bowed again, as the warlock vanished into the shadows, taking the two succubi with him. Aranola returned to the rail. Leaning over, she saw nothing but turbulent water stretching below all the way to the Shore, and Suramar beyond.

[penguinsocksworks]

See You At Home (1/?)

Read on AO3

Read on Tumblr: Chapter 1

Summary:Keith is just one of those normal teenagers living a double life, trying to balance being a superhero named Red and a boring college kid. Keith also has two major annoyances in his life: his roommate Lance, and his teammate blue. He swears to god, it's almost like they're the same person!

Or

Keith and Lance are roommates who don't know that the other is also part of earth's very own evil fighting squad; Voltron. Shiro and Allura shake their heads a lot, Hunk offers supportive smiles, Pidge laughs their ass off and Coran doesn't get what the big deal is.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IM GOING WITH THIS BUT YOLO AMIRITE? No but seriously, Nessa, Happy birthday and I seriously hope this is what you were looking for.

To all the readers that are reading this: I'm fairly new to this fandom and I haven't been apart for that long. That being said I tried to keep this as in character as I could but... idk. I attempt to be funny too, so warning for bad humor. This was originally just supposed to be a private one shot for my friend Nessa's birthday but it turned into something a little more when I started to think about it more. And so I wanted to share it will the community! I'm not sure when updates will come, but I'm looking forward to working on this. Im scared to call this a miraculous lady bug AU cause it really has nothing to do with that show but it has superhero concepts from the show so like... its not completely but the concepts are owned by them. So I hope you all enjoy!

Nessa requested that this fic contain: HeLL ToNS OF FlUfF, Keith interacting with kids, enough angst to make you need tissues for a year, cute oblivious boys, smartass Pidge, and like five other things. So lets see if I can make it work. Lets play the 'lets guess how many chapters long this fic will be' game.

If you wanna hmu for anything here on tumblr you can! Im currently taking prompts to distract me in between writing this when i need a break.

SO AFTER THAT WHOLE SPIEL ENJOY MY SHITTY WRITING!

Keith will kick his ass one of these days. Seriously, say he won't cause he'd absolutely attack his teammate right in the middle of this fight. He could've gotten the both of them killed!

“Red,” a hand landed itself on his heaving shoulder, “You okay?”

Keith turned to snap at the voice, ready to release his anger all over the black paladin that dared ask him if he was okay. But he didn't. He stopped halfway, because yelling at Black wouldn't do anything but get him in trouble, whether it be in general or having to face Pinks scolding later on about being nice to your fellow paladins.

All these code names were confusing as hell to Keith, but he supposed that they had to keep their identities hidden for their “loved ones” safety. Or so said Pink, aka his brothers girlfriend, ahem sorry fiancé as of last Friday, Allura. She was deemed the leader of Voltron when Coran had come to earth, crashing through the ceiling of Shiro and Alluras nice apartment, and told her that she was the long lost princess of Altea.

In the middle of taco night too.

It started off like any normal night. Keith had to attend mandatory family dinner nights at least once a month or he'd get yelled at by both Allura and Shiro. Keith didn't quite get it, since it was only the three of them that attended these dinners and he often wondered why Shiro never insisted that Lance, Hunk, and Pidge tag along as well.

Shiro probably just wanted a break from all the kids at once. And! He'd get to harass his little adopted brother as much as he pleased in this setting without having to worry about embarrassing him too much. Shiro was thoughtful like that. Call him a saint if you will.

“So,” Shiro had been sprinkling more cheese onto the meat of his Taco Bell taco, “What was Lance up to tonight?”

Normally Keith would just shrug, he would never be able to predict exactly what his roommate would spontaneously plan when he was out, but this time he had received a definite answer to his “so Lance, I'm heading over to Shiro’s tonight, what are you going to do?”

he usually just received a joking “I dunno, just go already. Your presence is making me sick.”

But Yes, Keith actually had an answer for Shiro's inevitable question this time around, “Movie night with Pidge and Hunk.”

Keith would rather be watching a movie with them than be interrogated and made fun of all night by Allura and Shiro, but it was the last day of the month and they hadn't gotten their dinner in. Allura hummed, “So how is school? Getting good grades I presume?”

“Y’know, for someone who claims to not be good with kids,” Keith shot Allura a glare, “You've been upping the mom talk lately. Is there a time constraint on this wedding that I should know about?”

“Haha Keith,” Allura rolled her eyes, “No there isn't. Can I not be concerned for the person I've known for practically all of his life?”

Keith scowled, “I met you when I was five. And you hated me back then.”

“That's because all the foster ladies thought that you were the cutest thing since puppies and gave you extra cookies,” Allura waved her fork. She always used a fork, claiming it was just unnatural to eat tacos with your hands, “Surely you can't blame me for that. I even braided your hair!”

“You are like the big sister I never asked for,” Keith mumbled into his food. His eyes only narrowed further when Allura got that weird gleam in her eyes.

“I'm going to be your actual sister soon,” Allura grasped at Shiro’s hand, “Isn't that right sweetie?”

“That's right pumpkin!” Shiro just cooed back with a sickly sweet look.

They only did this when they wanted to torture Keith. And boy did it work, “You two are the reason I don't believe in love.”

“Shouldn't that be the other way around?” Allura just smiled, head resting on her palm now.

Keith scoffed, “No couple could ever be ask cutesy as you guys. I'm calling BS on all this. It's all fake.”

He didn't like the weight of Shiro's hand on his shoulder, it was the tell tale sign of a serious dad talk, “Keith. You will find someone some day that will make you act like this.”

“Oh god I hope not,” Keith crinkled his nose, “If I ever look this dumb just… shoot me.”

“Who knows Keith,” Allura had a sing song quality to her voice that he didn't like, “Maybe you've already met that special someone. Maybe you already act this stupid with someone.”

“What are you imply-”

And that's when Coran promptly crashed through the ceiling, luckily not causing any major injuries.

Coran had been ecstatic that Allura had managed to find at least two of the paladins. Meaning him and Shiro. It had something to do with the earring and dog tag they had gotten over the years. Keith still played with the single stud in his earlobe when he was nervous. It had become a habit. But after everything that's happened recently, he almost felt like tossing it into a river and never looking back.

“Princess Allura! It is I, Coran, your faithful caretaker all the way from Altea,” Coran bowed in front of Allura, “I have dreadful news of our home planet. But that is not important right now.”

“Who… How on earth do you know my name!” Allura backed away a bit, “I demand you tell me now!”

“I've known you since you were a baby, Princess,” Coran wiped a tear, “I was just as sad as the rest of the royal family when we had to send you here.”

“Send me here?” Shiro looked at Alluras dumbfounded countenance and contemplated getting a pan to hit the guy with.

“For your protection, of course. Ah, Allura my girl! I'm so proud of you!” Coran put his hands on his hips. Keith just couldn't look away from his voluptuous mustache, “You managed to find two Paladins already!”

“Paladins?” Allura squeaked out, looking as shocked as Keith felt.

Coran just tilted his head and grinned, “Yes! And just in time too, Zarkon and a fleet of soldiers should be coming any minute to retrieve Voltron.”

“Voltron…?” Keith felt as if he had heard that name from somewhere before. Had Pidge mentioned it?

All three of them were shocked, Coran just  blinked curiously and explained for the unpteenth time that evil forces were on their way and they needed to find the other paladins. Of course none of them moved.

Except for Alluras hand, sliding over to call for 911.

To be fair, it's not everyday that someone comes crashing into an apartment ceiling, claiming that your flimsy little accessories could turn you into a badass crime fighter. Or that you were the long lost princess of a dead civilization. It was crazy and insane, but as Coran showed them how to summon their weapons and costumes from their respective jewelry pieces, it started to become a whole lot more real.

Either that or someone slipped something into their tacos. Which was possible. Keith had seen the cashier hopped up on something more than once around campus. He was more disappointed about his crushed dinner than concerned about the whole forming Voltron thing.

He had priorities bitch.

When Keith yelled out an embarrassingly cliche phrase to release his outfit, “Red Paladin! Defender of Voltron!” There was a flashing light and he was blinded for a moment. He looked sheepishly down at his armor, admiring the solid almost lightly matted red coloring. the sword was an unusual weight in his palm, he was used to a lighter fencing sword, but the cool metal that seeped through his covered fingers felt powerful.

The helmets on their heads covered their hair and the tinted visors made it hard to make out any sort of eyes. The outfit made it out so that the only feature of theirs that could be really recognizable on their faces were their mouths.  

After that initial transformation, Allura with her pink suit on, felt her necklace chime out. The sweet bells that were released when she first summoned her outfit was replaced by harsh screeching. Coran made an inhumanly high girlish squeal and led them all aboard the ship that he had used to destroy their tacos. Dinner was completely forgotten. Keith had a bad feeling about going onto a strange ship. Shiro always said not to go into strange vehicles. But then again, Shiro was also heading into this strange vehicle so...

Aboard the ship, the three of them were led to a command center of some sort, five chairs surrounding one pedestal. Shiro and Keith sat in what could have been their designated chairs, the ones glowing black and red.

“Princess,” Coran twirled the ends on his mustache, “please place your necklace in the hole!”

There was a heart shaped divot in the plain looking circuit board in front of her. She diligently removed her necklace that she had possessed since she first showed up on the foster cares doorstep and placed it in the hole, probably thinking this was still some strange dream.

The castle ship thing took off and landed somewhere in the middle of their city. Keith could feel himself pale at the sight of it, a beast robot of some sort preparing to take down building after building.

“Shiro…” he looked towards his adoptive brother, “Shiro what's happening.”

The older male just shrugged, awe struck at the sight.

“Chop chop! Let's go you two, your so called earth isn't going to defend itself!”

Coran shouted out, almost gleefully.

Shiro stood, “What? You can't be serious. We don't even know how to fight properly.”

Keith knew that Shiro did. Even just a little bit. He’s in the army, or he was at least. Deployed for only a year and a half and one missing arm to prove his time. He was a fighter, and if it wasn't for Allura, himself, and that therapists disapproval, Keith was sure that Shiro would go and sign himself up again.

“Oh don't be ridiculous! You'll be fine!” Coran started to push on their backs, “Though the ticks are ticking away!”

“Coran!” Allura lurched forward in her chair, closer to a hologram screen that popped up, “What is that?”

On the screen appeared three other figures, looking about as panicked as they all felt. But they had on outfits so similar to Keith and Shiro's that they stood out from the normal civilians, who were panicking and running away.

Coran let out a giddy noise, “Those are the other Paladins! How delightful, they're all in the same area. Good work Princess! We won't have to do any relocating!”

Keith and Shiro looked at eachother, then back at the screen. The yellow one looked like he pulled out a gun of some sort. Shocked himself by doing it too.

“Go on! Don't let all your fellow teammates do the hard work.” Coran ebbed them out of the ship.

By some movie magic bullshit they won without truly knowing what to do. Going into the details of their first uncoordinated and messy battle wouldn't be worth the effort. Just know it was bad and quite stereotypical for a first battle with a new team. The monster that these evil Galra things that Coran mentioned was one of those level one types. So it wasn't like they were smart and sent a boss to strike while the iron was hot, as Shiro put it. Which was good for them. Bad for the Galra. They all followed Shiro and Alluras careful commands to shoot here or stab there or watch out for that falling car Blue or holy shit seriously just watch out.

It was grueling. And by the end of it, Coran released some other magic bull shit, like fucking fairy dust sparkles, and the half destroyed city looked as if it had never been touched. As if a giant space alien thing hadn't just almost blown it to smithereens. As if Keith, Shiro, Allura, and these three other mystery people hadn't almost been killed.

What a day. Definitely one for the journal. And yes, it was a journal not a diary, no matter what Keith's annoying ass roommate said. Journals help keep track of events and important things while diarys were just something girls wrote in hoping they'd get taken so they could live their dreams of being in a cheesy Disney movie.

There was a difference.

“Good work team!” Shiro tried to smile as they all boarded the ship. The new guys marveled.

“Woah!” The green one’s eyes sparkled at the high tech looking castle interior, “What is this place?”

“This is the castle of lions!” Coran smiled waving his arms out, “it's our new base. Welcome paladins!”

The yellow guy tilted his head, looking impossibly innocent for someone of his stature, “b-base? You mean like, we're going to have to fight those guys again? Like. All the time?”

“Essentially yes. Until Zarkon and the Galra empire are taken down.” Coran played with his mustache.

“Sweet!” Keith flinched as the blue guy screamed in his ear, an arm nearly hitting him, “This is gonna be so cool! Imagine all the ladies that are going to be lining up to see a superhero.”

“Ah,” Allura spoke up, “That's probably something we should discuss.”

The newly found princess was startled when the blue paladin bowed and calmly spoke, “We can talk about it as long as you need your highness. Maybe somewhere private? Dinner perhaps?”

Keith figured by the way the Yellow and Green paladins shook their heads and tsked that the Blue one did that a lot. Of course there would be someone with that type of personality on the team. The type of personality that clashed with Keith's own. The type that Keith already had to deal with in his day to day life. He wasn't sure how he would cope with another guy like Lance. That sorry excuse for both a roommate and a reluctant friend.

Okay… he wasn't that bad. But Keith couldn't stand it sometimes.

“Blue’s not really my color,” Allura shook her head and laughed a bit.

“Back off blue,” Shiro’s voice held no malice, he actually smiled at the antic, “This one’s mine.”

The blue guy blushed. Or at least Keith thinks he did, it was hard to tell under the helmet and visor, “Ah sorry ‘bout that man.”

“Don't be. It's fine,” Shiro was never one to pick a fight for no valid reason.

“Idiot,” Keith whispered to himself before he could stop. He hoped that the guy hadn't heard, he didn't want to fight on the first day of making their team.

No luck. The blue ones head shot up, teeth baring slightly. Keith was sure that the guy was going to pounce on him, or yell at him or… something. But he froze for a millisecond before putting on a smile that made Keith's inside move in a funny way. Good funny or bad funny he couldn't tell.

“Well hello,” Blue grabbed his hand, placing a small kiss on it, “Do you have a name, or can I call you mine?”

Keith swiped his hand back wearing a look of shock, the blush prickling at his skin. It only deepened when Green let out a howl of laughter and was bent at the waist trying to catch their breath.

Shiro cleared his throat, clearly amused at how flustered his brother was. He could almost picture Keith glaring daggers behind his tinted visor. Laughing slightly, he tried to veer the conversation back, “We should discuss our identities.”

The blue one nodded, placing his chin in the crook between his thumb and pointer, “We have to be like Clark Kent right? And protect who we really are for the sake of our loved ones?”

Allura chuckled, probably to be polite, “Yes. Like um, Batman…?”

“Superman! How do you not know superman?” The green one exclaimed, the yellow one put a hand over its mouth to shut them up.

Shiro cleared his throat, “Okay. How about we just make this simple and go by colors. I'll be Black, the princess can be Pink, and there on.”

“What a splendid idea!” Coran seemed to brighten, “I can just go by Coran though. If you prefer.”

“Yes. Okay, then that's settled,” Allura breathed out, “We must not reveal our identities to anyone, including all of us here. The less people that know who we truly are the better. That means transforming out of sight and away from people.”

“Okay question though,” Blue interrupted, “How do we transform? Cause I kinda just tapped my ring when it started glowing and ended up like this.”

Coran smiled, “it's simple, just hold it for three seconds and say “ whatever color you are paladin! Defender of Voltron” you should be fine. Just as long as you don't let those things out of your sight.”

Coran gestured to the jewelry before twirling his moustache. Shiro coughed, “Well, then we'll just have to make sure that they're secure at all times.”

“Yes, the Lion spirits have all chosen you,” Coran leaned back on the dashboard and Keith felt like he was about to get a long lecture.

Green, who had been slumped back in their chair, hunched over to look slightly intrigued by the tale, “Lion spirits?”

“Yes! The lion spirits! Each of you has a possession that a lion has chosen specially. They were all sent to this planet with Allura when she was born and they seem to have chosen all of you,” Coran pointed his finger up towards the ceiling and smiled, “All of you must have very good souls if the lions chose you. Their original Paladins were nothing but Noble.”

“Yes but how did we not… not realize that we had their, um… spirits? Is that what you called them?” Shiro waited for Corans confirmation nod before continuing, “How did we not realize that we had them?”

Blue held out a hand too, “Yeah and how did they know that we’d buy these things?”

“Ah that is a fascinating story,” Coran pulled up a diagram in the space between them, the lights sparkling with an unreadable story, “The lions found their homes in your jewellery, as you call it, after you obtained them. They often track their potential paladins for a while before choosing and they have the ability to talk with their paladins and empathize with them. Perhaps they didn’t think that you were ready for knowledge of their existence yet.”

Keith felt a shiver run down his spine and a warming comfort pool in his stomach. Was it coming from his earring? Was that supposed to be Red? Or! Or! A better explanation for this was that Keith was currently stoned out of his mind or drugged and slumped over at Shiro’s from the obviously tainted tacos and this was all an extremely elaborate acid trip.

“Zarkon will do anything to get his hands on these spirits. Send spies or bounty hunters, or as you have seen, giant robots. The transformations should only last about four of your earth hours max before you need to reset them,” Coran nodded, before pulling what looked like a watch up to his eyes, “Which should be coming up soon. Hurry along, we wouldn't want your identities to be revealed. I’ll go over Altea’s history and the destruction next time, I’m sure you want to hear about that Princess. Your parents would've been proud of how you turned out.”

Allura just nodded, but Keith knew that she really wanted to know more than she was letting on. It was something that the both of them had wanted to know about for a long time. Back when he and Allura were both staying at the same foster home before she aged out of that particular home when Keith was nine and she was fifteen they used to sit around and talk about stuff like this. Their origins.

Keith, poor little Keith who was six years her junior was always hanging around Allura. Which was unusual for him, considering that he liked to be left alone most of the time. At first she found him annoying, Keith was almost positive of this, but she eventually warmed up to the lost child. They’d sit outside on the roof after the foster ladies would go to bed and just look at the stars and laugh about how their parents were probably somewhere in space fighting evil and just dying to come back to see them soon. It was Allura who taught Keith how much fun things like gymnastics could be, showing him how to do cartwheels and front hand springs. It was a nice way to pass those summer days at the foster home.

When she left that was the beginning of one of Keith’s dark periods. He hated describing it like that. It wasn't really all that terrible, but he supposed that there wasn't really a better name for it. He completely closed off, fearing that anyone he would get close to would have to be taken away from him again. He just… learned to adapt. It made him tougher in a way, more skeptical. His curious doe eyes didn't gleam with the same childlike wonderment. But he was still keith, and he learned how to live life. It wasn’t until the Shirogane’s adopted him that he started to feel better, he had even made a few friends at school. Lance had shouted at him and resented his “totally awesome and perfect” being at first, but once Hunk and Pidge had taken a liking towards him Lance started to warm up as well. And by the time Allura had come back into his life as his brothers fancy new girlfriend he was relatively… stable, again. Keith couldn't help but smile a bit at that thought, all the coincidences. He also couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of Allura, finally getting to see where she was from. Cause yes, Keith was at some sort of peace, and yes, he had a loving family and close friends… but that wasn't the same as knowing where you came from. Why you weren’t wanted in the first place…

“Thank you Coran,” Shiro gave a firm nod and Keith almost parroted him like a child would their parent. The man being thanked just smiled widely like he knew something they didn’t and he popped open the gate. With that they left, Coran promising to alert them via tacky jewelry when they should meet up again to train.

That was also about two weeks ago. Now Keith was about ready to kill Blue for nearly shooting him while trying to aim for a Galra. Granted it probably saved Keith a nasty blow to the head and grueling trip to those weird healing pod thingys, but Blue still could've hit him.

Slicing through a robot, Keith growled and pretended it was the other Paladin. Yellow whistled, “woah. Nice one there buddy. I think that was the last of them.”

“Alright Coran!” Blue yelled into their intercom, “Were good down here! Release the fairy dust!”

After the town magically regenerated, the paladins all marched back into the castle, Keith instantly turning to Blue, “You could've shot my head off!”

“But see, here's the thing Red,” Blue stuck up his nose, “I didn't. And I managed to save your ass. This isn't exactly the outstanding thank you that I should be getting.”

“Whatever Blue,” Keith's cheeks were hot, from anger of course, not from that confident and amused smile, “just be careful next time.”

The red paladin stomped past and into the castle before the rest of them, heading towards the main room to probably get briefed before going back to his apartment to crash. It had been a long few hours, and this stupid town was just lucky that he didn't have any homework due the next day.

“What's his deal?” He could hear Blue ask Yellow as they followed him in.

Allura was in a rush, her words jumbled as she spoke, “Alright good work today paladins! We are really bonding as a team. Some need more work than others-” she pointedly looked at Keith and Blue “-and I would love to stay and chat but this fight has taken up more time that I think any of us have anticipated. It is drawing on the fourth hour and if we do not hurry, we will transform back soon.”

With that they were all dismissed and scattered. When Keith finally made it to the apartment he didn't even have enough energy to question where Lance was or why he wasn't back. His roommate would show up eventually. Eventually.

~~~

Keith woke up to the all too chipper sound of his phone. He would have to go and get Lance out of bed soon, the guy didn't seem to wake up to his own alarms. Keiths newest task was to get him to classes on time, as strenuous and torturing it can be sometimes. And despite all those things he said, he and Lance were friends.

Ish.

They had their moments, and they lived together! That had to count for something. They also shared the same friends, and a lot of the same classes. A few were differed here and there due to time. In the slots where Keith took fencing and gymnastics classes, Lance took archery and swimming or track (depending on the season). Both majoring in astrophysics.

Keith put two toaster waffles into their little second hand toaster and wandered down the hall to their bathroom to brush his teeth. He frowned at his reflection in the small mirror above the sink, his hair was sticking up in an unattractive way. Running a comb through it and watching it pop back up, Keith huffed. It was going to be one of those days. He quickly tied as much of it up as he could, though it still looked like a mess, and left the lights on as he exited.

He decided to get dressed after eating (not wanting a repeat of the previous morning where he spilt juice all over himself and had to frantically change),  so he skipped his bedroom instead going to get Lance, yawning as he opened the door without knocking, “Lance!”

“Five more minutes,” Lance pulled the blankets over her head, tightening his grip, “The you can drag me to hell all you want.”

“I'm going to go get the water,” there was only a hint of a playful tone in his voice. Because yes, he had once thrown a bucket of water at Lance. Though, being the boy who was always oblivious to common sayings and such, he had actually thrown the bucket as well. How was he supposed to know that you were just supposed to dump the water out? No books ever specified. But regardless of Keiths slight lapse in judgement, it had made a nice bruise form on Lance’s face that stayed for a week or two.

Lance shot up not wanting a repeat, “Don't!”

“Good morning,” Keith rolled his eyes, totally not ready to deal with the image of Lance’s stupid bed head. Ya know, cause he’d just complain about it, no other reason, Keith just trying to save his ears from the barrage of complaints that his roommate would make, not cause it was endearing or any other synonym of the word, “Get up or we’ll have no time to eat.”

Once Keith was out of the room, Lance unwrapped himself from his cocoon of warmth, exposing his skin to the cold autumn air. It was way too freaking early. It was always way to freaking early.

He quickly ran into the bathroom to brushed his teeth, nearly squirting the mint toothpaste everywhere and cursing under his breath. A clean smile is a nice smile. And a nice smile woos the ladies. Pulling on a shirt and some pants that were hanging out of his closet, Lance hopped on one foot trying to get his other sock on while simultaneously exiting his room. He nearly fell over, which wasn't new. That in itself was a daily occurrence. As was Keith's side step to avoid his wobbling on his way into the kitchen. They had learned to work around each other, with each other at times as well.The toaster looked as if it had been done for a few moments before either of them had a chance to enter the kitchen, Keith ran to get plates, “Here. It's still hot be careful.”

Lance slid into the stool at the counter before he gladly stuffed some of the waffle in his mouth, but not without his usual quip, “Truly a nutritional breakfast here Keith.”

Keith  rolled his eyes and turned to pour syrup over his and Lances waffles, “Bite me. If you want something better then wake up yourself.”

“Maybe I will,” Lance took another bite, wrinkling his nose a bit at the fingers that he got sticky, “Do we grab Pidge and Hunk today?”

Keith used a fork, like a civilized person would,  “Nope. They texted earlier that they have to be there early, something about a project.”

“Perfect,” He watched as Keith shook his head at the way he licked the syrup off his fingers and waved his now cleanish hand over at the fridge, “Please?”

Keith stood again to get glasses out of the cupboard above the sink. Why couldn’t Lance just get something for himself? Why was Keith saying this in his head? “Why can’t you get your own drink ever?”

“Because I know you’ll get it for me,” Lance’s smile faltered a bit at Keith’s glare, “Keith… Buddy? Love you.”

The boy in question just rolled his eyes at the dragged out ‘you’ and poured himself a glass of orange juice and got a cup of ice for his friend, “Here.”

“What’s this?” Lance raised an eyebrow at the ice then at the sitting boy, “Ice?”

“Yep,” Keith just turned to dig around in his backpack. He made a small victory noise when he pulled out his phone.

Lance sat there for a moment, waiting to see if Keith would say anything else. But when the other boy seemed to just be mindlessly checking things on the screen, Lance poked him, “Keith I can’t drink this.”

“Wait, it’ll melt,” Keith didn’t look up still, but Lance could see the small smirk making its way to his face.

Lance sighed and forced himself to get up, “I hate you sometimes.”

“Really? I thought you hated me all the time, ” Keith started tapping at the screen, “my how far we have come.”

“Sarcasms really not appreciated,” Lance just poured the ice into a canteen and then filled his glass with Milk, “Nice hair by the way, really goes with the whole I don’t give a shit look ya got going on today.”

He could hear Keith put his phone down and when he turned Keith just had an elbow on the counter and his head in his palm. A small frown adorned his features and he sighed, “I didn’t change yet. I probably should.”

Lance watched as his roommate walked in the direction of his bedroom, leaving a quarter of his waffle untouched. Keith had been wearing a pair of grey sweats that could have honestly been Lance’s at one point, since the pant legs were too long and now had holes at the bottom from stepping on the extra fabric. It wasn’t uncommon for them to wind up with some of the others clothes since they just combined their laundry to save water, though they’d usually notice right away and return them. Usually. Keith had a problem figuring out what was his and what wasn’t since he never really paid attention to which clothes were his. Shiro was always adding hand-me-downs to his collection anyways so it was hard to keep track. Plus the clothes that Lance outgrew he would give to Keith too, if he wanted them. If not then they went to his younger siblings and Pidge to root through. But the shirt that Keith was wearing that morning had definitely been one of Lance’s, the one he had been looking for but gave up on a month ago. It was an old NASA shirt that had paint stains on it from that one time they tried to redo the living room.

Lance chuckled fondly at that memory as he reached over to eat the rest of Keith’s waffle. He had been complaining for about three months after they reluctantly moved in together about the horrible shade of red on the wall.

They had moved in together when Lance had been kicked out of student dorming back in sophomore year of highschool because some shit that his roommate did (and the both of them were blamed for) and Keith had had enough of living with Allura and Shiro. Back then they had barely known each other, having Pidge as their only mutual friend but never had they all hung out. Lance had been whining about having no place to live when he was chilling with Hunk, “Dude! I’m broke and I have nowhere to go. All my stuff is going to be put on the curb in two weeks!”

“That sucks bro,” Hunk said in a totally not sympathetic way since he was too invested in his homework and had been listening to Lance repeat the same thing for the past hour, “Good luck with that.”

Pidge was out with someone they both hadn’t caught the name of and were left in the apartment to fend for themselves. It was a Saturday, and Hunk still chose to do the extra homework that wasn’t due for another two weeks, claiming that he’d forget it by then. Honestly it was a smart idea and he probably should have followed his friend's example, but Lance just groaned again, “Hunk! How did you and Pidgey manage to get this place? It’s so cheap for like, all this room. You gotta hook a brother up.”

“Actually,” Hunk looked up from his writing, “There is this apartment upstairs that’s open for rent. The woman up there is moving to Rhode Island and had to leave almost immediately. She was so nice too, had a tiny little baby and-”

“Okay Hunk! Set it up, I wanna see it!” Lance jumped to his feet, “Imagine if we lived in the same building! All the late night movies nights that we can actually have because we won’t have to worry about student curfew!”

Hunk had just sighed, knowing Lance wouldn’t let up until he called the apartment building super and request a tour. Lance was just lucky that Hunk had fixed the guys radiator once and now they were friends.

The apartment wasn’t terribly big, but Lance was awe struck by it when Hunk unlocked the door. The foyer opened up into a decent sized living area that had two nice floor to ceiling windows. Lance was already planning everything out in his head, his TV that he got as a going away present would go right in between those windows… and the plants he had could go next to it. There was a counter connecting the kitchen area to the living room area, the place was had an open concept. Lance knew his mom would love being able to talk to him from the kitchen while he played video games with his siblings whenever they came to visit. Or if Lance ever got that special someone he had been looking for, they could talk while one of them made dinner or something.

The closet off the side of the living room had a washer and dryer in it, as well as a few shelves for soaps and things.  On the other side was a hallway. The bedrooms were adjacent from each other and the bathroom was at the end of the hall, which Lance gaped at, “Its great!”

The mirror was small but there was a lot of counter space and the tub was big and the shower head was an appropriate height. Lance practically raced into one of the bedrooms. The walls were a baby blue and the closet was a nice size. But what got Lance falling in love with it was the skylight that lined the ceiling in one nice strip in the back, “I want this room. This… is perfect.”

Hunk just rolled his eyes, “Why don't you look at the other room first.”

“Nope. This one. This one’s mine, end of story,” Lance said looking up at the sky, “I’m going to just sit here and look at the stars for hours.”

Then there was the noise. A bam! sound of some sort, like someone had bumped into something. Hunk jumped out of his skin practically, “What was that!”

“I dunno, but I take it back. I don't wanna live somewhere that's haunted,” Lance clung onto his friend, “L-let's go check it out.”

“It came from the other bed room,” Hunk pushed Lance out the door, “You go first.”

Lance rolled his eyes but there was undeniable shaking in his step as he toed the door open. He screamed.

“What! Ghosts? Lance what is it,” Hunk had clamped his eyes shut and hid behind his best friend despite being almost twice his size.

“No,” Hunk perked up curiously at Pidge’s voice, “Just us. What are you guys doing here?”

Lance just ignored the question, “Hunk it’s worse than ghosts, it’s Keith!”

“Keith?” Hunk stood up straight and tried to look past Lance’s flailing arms, “Are you sure?”

“Who are you?” Keith had eyed him, “And what are you doing in my new apartment?”

Lance stopped freaking out for a moment to glare at Keith, pointing a finger at him, “Your new apartment? I don’t think so buddy, I’m buying this place.”

“Keith, this is Lance. He was recently thrown out of student housing,” Pidge sighed, “Lance, this is Keith, his brother’s girlfriend recently moved in with him and his brother and he doesn't want to live with them.”

“I know who this is Pidge,” Lance sneered, “We’re rivals at school.”

Keith just raised an eyebrow, “Rivals? Who even are you?”

“Lance! Ya know… Lance!” He poked his finger into the other's chest harder, “You seriously can’t remember who I am?”

“Oh, you’re that kid that accidentally tripped and dropped acid all over the floor the first week of school, right?” Keith looked genuinely curious for a moment before he narrowed his eyes and swatted Lance’s hand away, “Don’t touch me.”

“Listen, you both need a place to stay,” Hunk intervened, being the voice of reason, “Why don’t you both share the apartment? I know how much you both want it. Need it even. And it’ll lower the cost even more!”

“Fine with me, I’m going to go get the forms and stuff. See you later Pidge,” Keith just waved and headed towards the door. Lance thought he was seeing red, steam coming out of his ears. How dare his rival not remember who he was? Keith had to be the most infuriating, terrible, beautifully ignorant person that he had ever met. Stopping at the door, Keith turned back to the three that were now in the hallway watching him and smirked, “Oh, and Lance was it? Rule one if we’re going to do this, don’t talk to me.”

They broke that rule within weeks of them actually moving in. Keith quickly realized that he and Lance were going to have to communicate somehow, so he went with sticky notes for the first two weeks. They were simple notes like ‘My laundry is in the washer’ or ‘were out of OJ, I’ll pick some up later’. Lance thought he was going to have to build a working friendship with a packet of post-its for the rest of his time in the apartment.To say that their first official meeting, that both of them remember that is, did not go smoothly is an understatement. It wasn’t until Allura and Shiro made a surprise house warming appearance that Keith had to say something.

“Allura, Shiro. This is my roommate Lance,” Keith shook his head at the way Lance seemed to gawk at them. It was hard not to, they were probably the most aesthetically pleasing, photographic people Keith had ever known, “Lance this is my brother, and his girlfriend.”

“You…” For a split second Keith was worried that Lance was going to hit on one of them. Pidge mentioned that he had a hard time controlling himself in front of pretty people. But instead Lance just turned to him and grinned triumphantly, “You talked to me!”

At that Shiro and Allura both gave him disappointed and confused looks, knowing that he could isolate himself it he wanted to. Thus began what Lance and Keith both hated for quite a while, their forced friendship. Shiro, Pidge, Hunk, and Allura decided that it was best for all of them to start hanging out in a group, meaning that Keith and Lance would actually have to interact. Lance, personally, had no real issue with it. He definitely didn’t want to live with a stranger, his mother would not approve, and he was open to the idea of friendship. Not necessarily a strong one, but one that was stable enough to say, “Hey Keith, is this your sock?” without the fear of getting punched. Keith didn’t seem that invested in it though.

It took a while for him to open up, the whole group thing was slowly working. Slowly being a key word. They quickly learned that they all liked hanging out together which was great because Lance didn’t have a real group of tight friends since seventh grade. And Keith didn’t have one like, ever.

Lance and Keith had gotten along better, but it wasn’t until Keith came back to the apartment to find Lance trying to pry open a paint can three months after moving in together with a chopstick that things really started to change between them. Keith dropped the groceries on the counter and stared at him, furniture moved and trash bags lining the hardwood floor, “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like Keith,” Lance grunted as he tried to wedge the stick in again, “I’m obviously trying to open this.”

It was silent for a few minutes, so Lance figured that Keith lost interest and went into his room to brood or something like that. But then a screwdriver was stuck in his face and Keith’s hand was attached to it, “Here, try this.”

“Thanks,” Lance blinked for a moment, shocked that Keith was helping him. He smiled at the other boy, “Wanna help me paint over this awful red?”

Keith looked around their living room, the paint was a deep red that he honestly kind of liked, “Why?”

“It’s terrible Keith,” Lance waved his arms around, “I went out and bought this like, weeks ago but forgot about it.”

When Lance popped open the can and mixed it, Keith was slightly mesmerized by the deep blue color. Lance just continued to pour it onto the roller pan and gestured to the roller near Keith. Keith held it up cautiously, “In there?”

“Duh Keith,” Lance responded, reaching for the remote, “Mind if we watch some TV while we work?”

Lance put on one of the Friends DVDs that he had, starting at season one. Keith smiled, “I love this show.”

“You do?” Lance snorted. Keith didn’t really seem like the type to sit around and watch sit coms. Maybe documentaries, but funny little shows like Friends? Nope, never would have guess. Though Lance learned over time that one of Keith's guilty pleasures was to curl up under a blanket and go to town on Lance’s sitcom DVD collection. He caught his roommate once at three am laughing at the TV, which made Keith stutter out an excuse with an adorable blush on that didn’t go away until Lance insisted it was fine and joined him.

Keith got changed into clothes he didn’t really care about and rejoined Lance in his painting adventure. There was only an occasional laugh from one of them for quite awhile. They both decided to start on random parts of the walls, which they later regretted since Lance hadn’t bought enough paint to cover the whole room.

“What idiot doesn’t buy enough paint to paint a room?” Keith raised an eyebrow, his expression filled with amusement instead of annoyance.

Lance just shrugged, “I dunno, what kind of Idiot has paint all over his face?”

Keiths hands flew to his face to check for wet paint, but found nothing, “What? I don't ha-”

Lance smeared what was left in the bucket on to Keith’s cheek, “You were saying?”

That seemed to be the wrong thing to do and Lance was regretting it when Keith stuck his palm in the paint then hit Keith right in the middle of his face. Keith laughed at the shell shocked expression and didn’t stop until Lance sandwiched his face in between two paint colored palms of his own.

“Lance!” Keith cried out through a fit of laughter, which was honestly one of the nicest sounds that Lance had ever heard. It sounded genuinely happy, and unbound to anything. Unrestrained, light.

Lance just smiled as he stood and held a hand out, “Yes honey dearest?”

“Are you getting hungry?” Keith got up as well and tried to wipe his hands off on his shirt. His expression was still bright and if Lance squinted enough, a bit flustered from his last comment. Lance couldn’t help but think that Keith should look like that all the time, undoubtedly and purely happy. He started to walk closer to Keith, which alarmed the other into backing up win matching steps, “Lance? Are you oka-”

Keith’s eyes widened for a moment, realizing that he hd just backed up into a wall with wet paint all over it. Lance smirked, “I’m okay. You good?”

Slamming his hand into the wet wall first, Keith pushed Lance backwards and left a handprint on his NASA shirt, “Perfect.”

“Oh, you are so getting it Kogane!” Lance swiped at the wall, “Get back here!”

Lance tried to grab at Keith, who side stepped and made Lance fall face first into an area of the wall that was still red. Keith laughed, “Too slow.”

“How’s this,” Lance turned to get as much paint all over him as he could before launching himself at his roommate, “For too slow?”

Keith’s entire body shook with laughter as he tried to roll Lance off of him, “You’re heavy. Get off!”

“I don't know,” Lance let himself melt into dead weight, “I'm pretty comfy right now.”

Keith gave one hard shove and it had lance sprawling out on the trash bag covered floor with a hard sounding thud, “mm you comfy now.”

“Jesus okay, you can push pretty hard. So chinese?” Lance sat up and Keith nodded.

When the food arrived Lance paid the guy, claiming that it was the least he could do for making Keith help him paint the walls. Sort of. As they both settled in the middle of the living room, food containers placed in places without paint, they observed their handy work. Or lack thereof.

“We really fucked up these walls didn’t we?” Lance let out a low whistle, “I think I can see an imprint of my face on that one.”

Keith shrugged, “They're one of a kind now.”

It was true. No one else in the world had walls that were painted inconsistently in both blue and red with terrible hand prints and smears everywhere. Probably.

“That’s true,” Lance nodded, “First home renovation and we can’t say that we didn’t make it special.”

Keith just hummed, “Yeah…”

Lance still didn’t know a lot about Keith at that point, and Keith probably didn’t know a lot about him either. Which was fine, they were still growing.

“So, why did you need to move out of Shiro and Allura’s?” Lance asked since he never really knew why, “I had to move because my roommate decided to pull a prank on the dean and I got blamed too. So what was it? Were they being to lovey dovey?”

Lance was worried that he over stepped somehow when Keith went quiet. Putting down the container, Keith leaned back on his palms to stare out the big windows at the stars. His reply was so quiet that Lance almost didn’t catch it, “It’s exactly because of what you just said.”

“What? They were being too coupley?” Lance copied the other's movements. The stars were so bright that night.

Keith shook his head, “No. You called it Shiro and Allura’s. It was never really my home.”

“What?” Lance raised an eyebrow, “I’m sure people called it Keith and Shiro’s before Allura moved in.”

“Not what I meant,” Keith sighed and went silent for another moment, “I never really felt at home there. Like it was mine. It was always Shiro’s place to me. And Allura fits in there now, so it was time for me to start over.”

Lance turned to face him, “So this place can be your home now.”

Lance didn’t really get it. But maybe that’s because he’s always had a place to call his home. Surrounded by people he loved and memories that were irreplaceable. A place where he knew that he could just be himself, a place where he didn’t have to worry about doing things like turning a perfectly painted room into shit and getting kicked out. And Keith… well. Lance had heard enough of his story to know that Keith probably never had any of that.

“Maybe…” Keith’s reply came after a while, his purple eyes still focused on the stars but his expression wistful.

That was about three years ago. Now they were close friends that were going to the same college that was joint with their old high school. Still living together. Still hung out with the same friends. Still had that same crappily painted living room.

Lance couldn’t help but wonder if Keith considered their apartment his home now.

“We promised Allura to stop by to help pick out flowers for the wedding,” Keith walked back in fully dress, “Are you okay? You look dazed.”

“Yeah it’s all good. Just… thinking,” Lance replied, still a bit out of it.

Keith waved a hand in front of his eyes then snapped until Lance blinked, “Don’t hurt yourself there.”

“Shut up Keith,” Lance swatted his hand away, “I’m smart.”

Keith just shrugged, “Whatever you say. Anyways, were you listening? Allura and Shiro need us after school so don’t forget.”

“As if I would forget to help them plan the most upcoming wedding of the century,” Lance tugged on his backpack, “You better not forget.”

“I won't.” Keith laughed, slipping on his shoes to run out of the door. Initiating an unspoken challenge.

Lances legs picked up speed as he chased his friend out of the two story complex and down the street, “Good!”

“Good!” Keith called out from over his shoulder.

Lance let out an aggravated howl. And by the time they entered the school grounds they were panting at Pidge and Hunks feet.

“Why the hell are you guys so sweaty? It's not even seven thirty yet!”

~~~

This paladin stuff required a lot of running since there was no other convenient mode of transportation. None of them owned a car, or rather the ones who did were not confident about not crashing in the haste. Obviously the bus was out, and Lance could pull out his bike but what would he do with it once he got to the fight? Just leave it there? Oh hell no, not after he has kept it safe all those years with his trusty bike lock.

So yes. Lance was extremely happy that his mother had forced her baby flash into running track since fourth grade. No matter how Lance looked at it, he was grateful for his mother chiding him and pushing him to run. Imagine if he didn't! Yeah he had Archery as a sport but that didn't do much for your cardiovascular health.

He remembered the first time he was called into battle. Or, rather the first time that he, Hunk, and Pidge were. They were all over for a movie night at his place, obviously since they do that every week. But this time Keith was over at Allura and Shiro’s for dinner so they were down a person for popcorn.

How awkward would that have been if Keith were there too? They'd all see their glowing jewelry shit and have to leave him there while they were pulled towards the center of town. Or maybe he'd pass out like Hunk almost did when they transformed into their armour. Whatever it was, Lance was sure that it was fate that Keith remained oblivious to the fact that he and Blue were the same person. What would he do if he found out that his friends were also members of Voltron? Probably tell Allura and Shiro… then they’d get the ‘that's dangerous be careful’ speech from their parents away from home.

And that wasn't a conversation that Lance really wanted to have. Again.

The first time he had met Black, Pink and Red, Lance was shocked for a lack of a better word. He supposed that a three man team wouldn't have been that effective against the shit they were facing, but he wasn't sure what to expect. Pink was beautiful, that much was obvious. And of course Lance could see how Black was perfect for someone like her. Only Shiro and Allura’s future children would be able to compete with Pink and Black’s in the looks department. And every other department. Lance thought it was unfair that god or some being out there made two sets of perfect beings.

After hitting on Pink and thoroughly embarrassing himself, not that he really noticed, Lance saw Red. Well, heard him. And yes, Lance had just finished being starstruck over the only female there but there was something about the tiny pout on Red’s lips that made him smile and want to tease him Using one of his classic lines, he was delighted to see a hint of pink on the little bit of skin that the helmets revealed. Lance had to grudgingly admit that Red was something of a looker, adorable even.

Not that he’d ever say anything like that aloud. Not anymore anyways. Not after he and Red developed some sort of rivalry or something.

This whole paladin stuff is fun, trust him. Lance loved being a paladin. Coran had graciously explained to them the next day how everything was supposed to go down. It sounded, for a lack of better words, dangerous. But unique and fun. Might kill them, but fun.

“You will all be responsible for saving not only this world, but many other planets as well!” Coran had smiled widely, clasping his hands together, “You will form the Voltron team! Led by Black and the Princess of course. You’ll all be heros! Defenders of the Universe!”

Lance liked the sound of that. Heros! It sounded daring and cool, like he was. He could finally show everyone that he was good for something, even if that something was putting his life on the line for everyone else.

“Do you ever think it's strange that they wait until after school?” Lance asked, running towards the center of town yet again, “I mean. Do you think maybe the evil mastermind has school too and that's why he never attacks during the day.”

“As important as an education is Blue,” Pidge was slightly behind him, “I doubt that Zarkon waits until after school hours. You probably just jinxed us.”

“Ah Black you're so lucky,” Lance waved his hand, the black paladin turning to him, “You don't have to deal with the woes of school life.”

“Wait until you join the work force,” Black smiled, if they weren't running Lance was sure that he would've crossed his arms, “You're going to beg to go back to school. Try to save up for a wedding on top of college debt too.”

“You're getting married?”

Black looked a little confused by the question. He tried to study what he could from Lance's face. Had he mentioned this before and Lance just forgot or wasn't paying attention? Black slowed down, chuckling awkwardly, “Didn't I tell you?”

“Not that I remember,” Lance blinked. Pidge looked up at him with a laugh.

“But Blue has always been a bit slow.”

“Not funny Green,” Lance squawked, “I remember plenty of things-”

“Sure you do”

“-and, as a matter of fact, I just remembered that I'm missing some wedding planning right now too.”

“You're getting married?” Pidge bit down on their bottom lip at Blacks question, hitting him in the side.

Lance swore he heard Pidge whisper, something to Black along the lines of ‘if he doesn't’

“Nah,” Lance waved his hand and shrugged, “My two friends are. This college kids still single.”

“I wonder why,” Pidges voice was dripping with sarcasm while they tried to conceal a laugh. That was always a weird saying to Lance, dripping with sarcasm. It was accurate enough cause it was as if Pidge had plunged their words into liquified sarcasm and the extra was falling off of it. But still, it was a weird image.

“Guys!” Hunk called from his spot just a few feet behind them, his voice worried, “Guys! Look at that!”

Lance's full attention was drawn to the newest robot contraption thingy. It was huge, “oh fuck.”

“Alright team!” Pink’s voice was kind of static in their helmets, “This robeast is armed!”

Hunk and Red had come up behind them, Hunk panicking, “Armed? Like, he has a gun or like, several arms? Or both, oh god don't let it be both! Princess tell me it's not both!”

“Calm down yellow,” Black commanded as firmly as he could, “We have to just take this step by step.”

The battle wasn't as long as they had anticipated from the size of the monster. It took maybe an hour at most, Red and Pidge worked to cut off its arms (“Its both Yellow. It's arms are infused with rifles of some sort”) and then Lance shot through the plate on its back and it was down.

The easiness of it all made them a little weary. But that didn't stop them from going back to the conveniently hidden spaceship to celebrate.

~~~

“She's just magnificent, isn't she?” Lance was gawking at the new student sitting across the courtyard, “Her name is Nyma, how foreign and perfect.”

Keith scoffed as he stabbed his salad with a little more force than necessary, annoyed at Lance's latest antics. Hunk whined, “Dude come on! Finish eating, we gotta get to the cafe.”

“Why?” Lance raised an eyebrow, “You wanna go see your girlfriend before her shift ends?”

“She's not my girlfriend, she just happens to be a really nice barista that I admire very much and who also happens to be in the same fine culinary arts class as me,” Hunk pointed a finger in a matter of factually way. It was true! Shay was nothing more than a friend (sadly) and he did like hanging out with her in culinary class. The girl knew how to cook, and like people always said: the way to a man’s heart is throughout his stomach. And man did Hunk love those little tartlets that Shay seemed to magically make with ease.

Pidge snickered, they knew that Hunk had somewhat connected with the part time Barista that Allura had hired at her and Shiro's cafe, “Yeah, the blush really helps your case there.”

“Shut up Pidge,” Hunk mumbled, hands hiding his face, “Just hurry up so we can go!”

“Should I go talk to her?” Lance all but ignored Hunks exasperation, “I mean, I am the smoothest, most handsome person here. I should show her around.”

“What you should do is finish eating,” this time it was Keith that glared at him. Lance looked him dead in the eyes and brought his fork full of leftover pasta to his mouth as slowly as humanly possible. Keith growled in response, “Lance!”

“Yeah cupcake?” Lance feigned innocence, batting his eyes to really sell it, “Whatever am I doing wrong?”

Pidge didn't know whether or not the pinkish color on Keith cheeks was from frustration or something else, but they knew that they had to stop Lance before everyone started screaming again, “C’mon Lance. Allura and Shiro need us to go help them deliver the invitations.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Lance waved them off, finally covering the Tupperware and putting it back in his bag, “I hear you. You guys go first, I'm just going to talk to her.”

Hunk didn't need to be told twice, “Alright buddy. But don't forget to show your face since we have no more classes today, Shiro and Allura will be pretty upset if they find out you ditched for a girl.”

“Mmhm. Got it Hunk, don't piss off Shallura,” Lance waved his hand, “hurry up before you miss Shay.”

Hunk mumbled something along the lines of “for the last time we're not dating!” before Pidge presumable cut his rant off with a pull on his shirt and an annoyed sounding “shut up Romeo and let's just go!”

There was shuffling that Lance barely registered in his day dreams of sweeping Nyma off her feet. The chattering growing quieter and quieter until the faint buzzing was non existent. Lance sighed, finally alone and allowed to shamelessly look from afar for as long as he pleased. Or… so he thought. He jumped slightly when Keith's voice was directly shot into his ear, “What's a Shallura?”

“Jesus fucking Christ Keith! Give a guy some warning,” Lance turned to glare at Keith, the two jumping far apart when their noses accidentally touched. Coughing after choking on what seemed like air, Lance put his hands on his knees to catch his breath, “ how old are you exactly?”

“Nineteen,” Keith deadpanned, rubbing at his nose, “Why? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Shallura is Shiro and Allura's couple name, duh Keith,” Lance blinked. Keith did nothing but stare at him blankly. Groaning and shaking his head, Lance walked back over to sling an arm around his friend, “Y’know like… Brangelina or B-Zee.”

Keith managed to cross his arms, “Okay?”

“You're obviously not getting this,” Lance placed his chin between his fingers, “It's like… well… ours would be Leith. Or Klance. It's our names just smushed together.”

“That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard,” Keith glared, crinkling his nose in a way that was definitely not adorable, “What idiots come up with this stuff.”

It wasn't a question. But Lance treated it as if Keith was genuinely asking, “Me. I come up with this stuff. Personally I like Klance for us, it has more of my name which is obviously better. Keith is such a douchebag name.”

“It is not,” Keith huffed, “But that's fine with me. My name comes first like how I manage to beat you at everything.”

Lance sputtered a bit, “Well there's more of my name in it so… uh… there! I win.”

“That makes zero sense,” Keith just shook his head with a slightly exasperated sigh, “It's just a dumb name.”

“It is not! It's cute and creative,” Lance ran a hand through his hair, “Like me.”

“So it's extra stupid,” Lance hated the way Keith always rolled his eyes. Especially when he did it without any real annoyance, just slight amusement. Like now, why did he have to make that face. It was so… friendly? Endearing? Like he was enjoying fighting. Lance won't deny that sometimes it was fun, and more often than not now a days their arguments had more fond undertones compared to the absolute detestation they held when they first met. But that was also what annoyed him! What gave Keith the right to look like that?

“Rude Keith. I'll prove to you it's not stupid,” Lance mimicked Keith and crossed his arms.

The other didn't look too impressed, “How?”

“Um…” Lance looked around. How was he going to prove it? Ask someone? He could sense that someone was walking past them behind Lance, so he spun around quickly to get the stranger's attention, “Hey! Could you settle something for- Nyma?”

Keith let out a snort at the unnaturally high octave that Lance's voice reached. The girl that Lance had shot his arm out at blinked in surprise, “Hi? Do I know you?”

“Not yet,” Lance regained his posture and winked at her, surprised when she didn't turn away in with that unsure look that most people had, “but we could get to know each other.”

Lance was finally going to get somewhere with someone. This time he'd do everything right. He was going to pull out all of the stops, pull on every Disney movie he's ever watched. Nyma and her beautiful blonde head was going to be his. And they were going to slowly fall in love everyday and use those stupid cliche wedding vows and name their kids something along the lines of Marco and Lucille and die old together in a house on a nice hill looking over the sunset. Yes. He was certain of it.

~~~

Keith was a big enough person to admit that Lance was somewhat good looking. Okay, very good looking. With his stupid eyes and lean tall body and his broad shoulders from all that swimming and… okay off track here. Point is, he was attractive, which made it kind of confusing for Keith who didn't understand why Lance hadn't had a significant other  in a while. It wasn't like Lance didn't put himself out there. And it wasn't like there were no rumors of Sally or Jane or whatever people were named now a days having a crush on Lance.

And don't get Keith wrong. He was secretly grateful there were zero chances of him walking in on something he would want to forget. But he still had to wonder.

There was something more to Lance than just his looks though. Which, Keith figured, deterred some people. His personality was bright and excited and overall big and loud. It wasn't something everyone could handle. He was a self proclaimed flirt extraordinaire and often stated how he was the meme god's gift to the world. Whatever that meant. Some people didn't understand him or ridiculed him for his seemingly too optimistic outlook. They called him naive, claimed he would miss the really important things and do everything for show. People thought he wouldn't be able to handle a real relationship. That he was too out there for most people's taste.

But Keith just thought he was a goofball. A dork with a big mouth. There was nothing wrong with that.

Though many people didn't have to live with Lance either. Keith could sometimes see how Lance could be irresponsible, forgetful or spacey. He thought something along those lines when they first met. But he always did what he had to do and then some when it counted.

It was little things that he did. He still called his mom to say goodnight everyday at exactly nine thirty like clockwork. He looked out for that weird computer part that Pidge desperately needed to complete their super computer whenever they went out shopping. He could instantly tell when any of them needed cheering up, and would just crack a joke and smile. If it came down to it he would always shut up and be a good pair of ears to vent to.

Keith liked the small things he did around the apartment too. Like buying Keith his chunky peanut butter and eating that with Keith in order to save money even though he personally preferred the creamy kind. Or that He often draped a blanket over Keith if he found the boy snoozing on the couch, and if he was feeling adventurous and sure that Keith was in a deep enough sleep he would carry him into his room. Or that Lance had memorized his schedule down to a T and reminds him when he has to do things with a simple “oh Keith aren't you going late for that flipping or whatever practice with Allura?” Or “you have that weird English thing due tomorrow right?” They were subtle reminders that he could have bragged about remembering. Or at least he could have held it over Keith's head that he himself didn't remember some of the times. But he didn't gloat about how good of a person he was for doing these sort of things.

The little things reminded Keith that Lance wasn't actually a terrible person, and that if you got to know him he was actually nice to hang around. They reminded Keith why he shouldn't just kill Lance in his sleep with the knife under his pillow on particularly trying days when his patience was wearing thing.

Nyma was giggling into her palm, “What is it that you needed settled?”

“Oh nothing it was stupid,” Lance waved his hand, trying to play his outburst off.

Keith raised an eyebrow, “So you admit that it's stupid?”

“No,” Lance turned to shoot Keith a look, “it's not stupid, I just don't want to bother poor Nyma over here with our stupid fight that you clearly have lost.”

“Oh I wouldn't want to get in the middle of a fight between…” Nyma shifted her gaze from one boy to the other, obviously trying to find the right word to describe whatever she thought they were.

“Rivals,” Lance supplied at the same time Keith just stated, “Roommates.”

Nyma looked slightly confused, “Rival roommates?”

“Yep… roommates… who are also rivals.” Lance trailed off, “But that's not important. The names Lance, how would you feel about going to get some coffee sometime?”

Nyma eyed Keith one more time, making him squirm a little, before turning to Lance, “That would be lovely actually.”

“Really?” Lance sounded genuinely shocked.

Nyma just nodded and Lance let out a whoop. Keith tapped his foot in slight irritation as he waited for them to exchange contact information. They had to get to Allura and Shiro's okay? So of course he was a little antsy. And this girl… she didn't sit quite right with him. He was a person that followed his instincts and right now, they told him to stay away from this girl. Red flashing lights and everything going off in his mind.

“Oh what a nice ring,” Nyma commented as she handed Lance his phone back.

Lance put on what Keith thought was supposed to be a flirty smile, “Thanks. One of a kind, it's really something special.”

“I can tell,” Nyma waved, smile dazzling, “See you around Lance.”

Lance was just a stuttering mess, “Yea. You see soon. I mean! See you soon!”

Lance claimed he was in love. Keith said he was being ridiculous.

~~~

“I don't get what Keith's problem is,” Lance said as soon as he squeezed into the booth Pidge and Hunk were occupying. They had probably been at Alluras cafe for at least thirty minutes, meaning his was thirty minutes late. Pidge already had their computer out and was typing away at something again while Hunk was looking over at the counter where Shay was wiping down the espresso machine.

“What did he do this time?” Pidge didn't even look up, “you guys were pretty late.”

“Well, since you asked, he snapped at me again,” Lance glared at nothing, “He said I was being stupid when I said I was in love.”

“What?” Pidge turned to him, “You told him what?”

“I told him I was in love with Nyma,” Lance casually stated, “And then he totally flipped for no reason.”

Okay, maybe Lance was exaggerating a bit. Keith didn't scream or anything, just did that stupid pouty mumbling to himself not at all adorable thing that Lance hated. He liked it when Keith smiled at him, and couldn't Keith be happy for his friend? Maybe reward Lances efforts with at least a tiny smile. Pat him on the shoulder and say, good going dude you totally got her in the bag good luck. Except maybe say it in a more Keith way.

“Who is this girl again?” Pidge couldn't help but ask. The people that Lance claimed to love and die for were always somewhat interesting. Or more accurately it was interesting to hear about the different ways someone could be turned down. Pidge had faith in their friend though, Lance would open his eyes and see someone perfect for him one day. And if he was too stupid to use common sense, Pidge would just have to beat it into him.

“Nyma, just moved here the other day. She's breathtaking. Has the prettiest eyes too. Only the most beautiful people on this earth must have that weird purpley color. It's definitely special,” Lance looked starstruck and Pidge looked to the side of him, as if they were on the office, “she has a nice shy smile, oh god. She seems so calm and collected but she's got this fiery bold passion in her, I can tell. She and I are going to go on tons of daring adventures together.”

“Seems like you have a type,” Pidge mumbled to themselves while Lance continued to ramble on obliviously.

“And guess who has her phone number, that's right. Me! I actually got it,” lance looked like he was swooning.

“Wait what?” Pidge snorted, obviously not expecting that, “I mean. Good for you but wow.”

“Don't act so surprised pidgey, I got game,” Lance pointed two thumbs to himself, “She and I are going to live happily ever after.”

“I dunno Lance,” Hunk tore his eyes away from the counter, eyebrows scrunched together, “I kinda have a bad gut feeling about her.”

“Ugh, not you too! I've already had it up to here,” Lance raised his arm as far as it would reach, “with Keith and Red. I don't need this from you too buddy. Please!”

“What did Red do?” Lance looked at Pidge like their question had personally attacked his mother or something.

“What do you mean what did he do?” Lance waved his arms around erratically, “He's so annoying and a know it all! He practically hates me for no reason!”

“I don't see how this relates to Nyma,” Pidge just gave him a blank look, “but you did goaded him into running into a wall the first day of training and you started another stupid rivalry with him like the non-existent one you have with Keith.”

“He's still stupid,” Lance groaned and threw his head back, “Aren't you guys supposed to be on my side, you are my friends?”

“Yeah but we're also Keith's friends if you haven't noticed,” Pidge closed their laptop and scooched out of the booth, “I've just reached my Lance limit. I'll be in the back of you need me.”

~~~

Shiro wanted to shoot himself. Which, in itself, wasn't a rare passing thought (alarmingly enough). But this time it wasn't his well hidden and deeply buried emo side making a surprise appearance. No, it was Keith that was currently making Shiro wish that his brains were splattered about the table instead of inside his head.

In Shiro’s defense, Allura also looked like she was moments from strangling herself. Keith just continued to pace in front of the table, unusually talkative. But that was probably because he was ranting, “Blue is so, Agh! I already have to deal with Lance on top of it! They're like the same person Shiro, except not! How is it that I somehow am stuck with the two of the most infuriating idiots on this planet day in and day out!”

Allura and Shiro exchanged looks. Not quite sure if they should interject. Keith looked at them expectedly and Allura shrugged, “It's fate Keith, what do you want us to do about it?”

“I dunno! Something?” Keith groaned, face in his palms, “Separate us in battle? Let me come live with you guys again for a bit?”

“Keith,” Shiro sighed, he didn't like the nearly hysterical tone his brother was using, the break room in the back of their cafe wasn't the most ideal place for a freak out, “You don't hate Lance. You guys are friends, I'm sure you'll learn to get along with Blue like you have Lance. Working towards things like that will make you a better person.”

“Shiro I'm not sure how much more dumbassery I can take in a day,” Keith waved his arms, “Lance was one thing. I could… ya know, actually see his face. At least I can tell the difference between his I'm joking face and his I'm dead serious face.”

How could they not see that Keith was having a serious crisis? Lance was his friend, he wasn't a stranger. He'd like to think that he knows a lot of Lance trivia since the stupid little facts about him have reluctantly stuck with Keith over the years. The funny way he plays with his thumb and ring finger when he's nervous or how whenever he walked around he avoided cracks at all cost just to be safe. Lance was familiar and… safe.

Blue was a complete mystery. A very Lance like mystery. But still, a complete shadow in the dark. Keith was having a hard time trusting the Paladins his didn't know under the masks. How can you trust someone when you don't even know their name?

“But what do they do that makes it so unbelievably unbearable?” Allura rolled her eyes, continuing filling up sugar containers without much thought, “Sweetie pass me that one?”

Keith watched as Shiro handed over the empty and washed container before continuing his rambling, “They're both just so aggravating! I can't describe it. I thought that I'd only be able to feel this way about Lance but now Blue too. I think my tolerance for stupidity has dropped.”

“Or you are just being sensitive to his- their, taunts,” Shiro sighed, “Why don't we change the subject, why were you guys late today?”

Allura looked up at that one, raising an eyebrow and pursing her lips slightly, “Yes. We've been waiting for almost half an hour, you're lucky Shay came in late today and insisted on staying extra to fill up the time.”

“It wasn't my fault,” Keith pouted, crossing his arms and glaring at the tiles, “Lance was flirting with some girl.”

“Oh?” Allura laughed, head tilted slightly, “And pray tell, why were you there? I'm sure Lance could strike out all on his own without a wingman.”

“I was trying to get his sorry ass over here before you drop kicked him into next week.”

Allura looked like she was contemplating something for a moment, “fair enough. Continue, how did he fail miserably this time.”

“He didn't. He got her number. Nyma, like that's a real name,” Keith was slightly amused by how shocked they both seemed, “But something's off about her.”

“Well, normally i'd agree since I can't picture anyone that actually falls for Lance’s lines being exactly right in the head,” Allura sniggered, “But are you sure? She could just be that one in a million person.”

“Allura, I'm serious,” Keith shook his head, “Something's off! My instincts are telling me to avoid her and that Lance probably should too.”

Allura topped off the sugar and screwed the lid on tight. She shot Shiro the ‘this is your problem now sucker’ look before getting up, “I'm going to go relieve Shay of her duty now.”

Keith looked helplessly at Shiro, “You believe me, right?”

“Well…” Shiro scratched at the back of his head. He was luckily saved by Pidge bursting back in through the door Allura just exited.

“If I have to hear one more word outta Lance's mouth I'm going to stab him with- woah what's with the face? You look like you're also about twenty seconds from murder.”

“Nyma,” Shiro just shrugged and picked up the list of supplies that needed to be bought, “Some girl that-”

“Lance actually got the number of! Yes I've heard!” Pidge groaned and took a seat, “I'm blocking all of this out, I've heard enough about this chick to last me two years.”

Shiro started to check things off the list and there was a brief, wonderful moment of uninterrupted silence. Keith looked between his two friends incredulously, internally freaking out. He had to warn them, or at least get his point across.

“I'm telling you Shiro,” Keith shook his head as his brother did his stock orders, “Something's not right about her.”

“You know,” Pidge called out from the corner where they were huddled up. The break room was small but was the spot that had the best wifi in the cafe, “Normally I would just say that you were jealous or something but-”

“I'm not, what would I even be jealous of?” Keith looked like a strange mix between completely baffled and annoyance, “And I thought you weren't listening anymore.”

“I said but, jeez cool it there,” Pidge waved their hand, “to answer your question first, of her. Duh Keith, and secondly, as I was saying. I would normally just say you were jealous but Hunk had a weird feeling about her too…”

“Hunk?” Shiro finally looked interested, pausing his stock orders, “Why? What did he say?”

Pidge merely shrugged, “Some stuff about his gut not agreeing with her. But then again she was the reason we were late to see Shay so he could've just been upset.”

“No something is wrong,” Keith insisted, turning to Shiro, “Why do you only seem invested when Hunk says something's up?”

“Keith you… you and Lance… you're not…” Shiro seemed to struggle for a minute before he tried to switch gears, “What did she do?”

At that Keith pulled out a chair and crossed his arms, “She was just all giggly.”

“Did she say anything weird though? Or was it just the fact that she actually found Lances flirting amusing that's got you on edge?” Pidge raised an unimpressed eyebrow.

“She was all like,” Keith coughed and raised his voice to mock her. Normally he wouldn't stoop to that level of childishness, but he was only human. And he was annoyed so, “that would be lovely. What a nice ring you got there. Ohhh Lance you're amazingly cool!”

Shiro and Pidge exchanged what could've actually been a worried look before the door opened again.

“I am amazingly cool,” Lance threw his jacket onto the table, the room was growing increasingly smaller, “You finally admit it?”

“No,” Keith glared, “In what world would make you think that I-”

Pidge snickered, “He was imitating your girlfriend.”

“Nyma?” Lance looked at Keith kind of shocked, he narrowed his eyes “Good imitating or bad imitating?”

Keith must have had the oddest look on his face, but he ignored the question, “I’m heading back to the apartment. I have a lot of work to do, call me if you need anything.”

Shiro sighed, “Okay, but you have to be here for stuff tomorrow, you know how crazy all this planning is making Allura.”

“Got it.” Keith nodded on his way out, “I won’t be late tomorrow.”

Shiro nodded and Pidge waved as Keith made his way to the back exit. Lance startled them by grabbing his jacket too, “I’m just gonna head back home too. See you guys later. Hey Keith wait up!”

When the door was closed all the way Pidge mumbled, “Shiro, they are two of the dumbest people I have ever met.”

~~~

They convened in the backroom when the shop was closed. Pidge was the first to speak in an ominous voice, “Thank you all for meeting me here. We are here to-”

“Pidge cut it out, it’s creepy when you do that voice,” Hunk pulled out a chair and sat down in it, “What is this all about anyways? Where are Lance and Keith?”

“Well, if i weren’t so rudely interrupted,” Pidge shot him a glare, “You would know that we're here to talk about them.”

Shiro and Allura’s cafe was mostly dark now, the lights having been turned off to tell customers that they were no longer open. The place still smelled like freshly brewed coffee and tea though, which was calming. Allura placed a hand over Shiro’s on top of the table, “Go on Pidge.”

“Okay, firstly, we all know that we’re also those new paladins that have to save the world right?,” Pidge looked at the three others, “Right?”

Shiro blinked, “Oh… So we’re acknowledging it?”

“Yeah I thought we were just going for a ‘let’s just not get into it’ sorta thing,” Hunk added, “It took me a day to realize it. But when I did I was like ‘woahhh this is awesome. And crazy. But mostly awesome cause it’s you guys!’”

“Yeah it took us a week to figure it out,” Allura gestured to herself and Shiro.

Pidge still couldn't believe that it was true. Pidge had seen it from the moment they had all met up at the first battle. Their friend group had turned into a group of superhero fighters.

And people said that they couldn't possibly get closer.

At this point in their life, Pidge wasn't even surprised that it was them that got chosen to make up a weird ass team fighting for a weird ass cause. What Pidge was shocked about was the fact that not everyone immediately figured it out. Sure, Shiro, Hunk, and Allura didn't take that long to piece things together, but it still took a bit of time! To Pidge, the whole thing couldn't have been more obvious from the very start! Hell, Lance and Keith still had no fucking clue what was going on.

“It's literally a helmet. It's not super hard when you're not oblivious and stupid,” Shiro rolled his eyes, “these things don't even change our voices. And we're all friends, we've all basically memorized everyone's mannerisms.”

“Yep you would think that right,” Pidge deadpanned, “Now to the problem with all of this. Instead of complaining about just Keith, Lance complains about his alter ego as if they're two different people.”

“That's cause he thinks they are two different people!” Hunk cried out, “How?!”

Allura perked up, “Well if it helps, Keith still has no idea either.”

“They're just… a little… I don't know.” Shiro sighed, “Should we tell them?”

“No!” Pidge shouted, before coughing to compose themself, “This could Be fun. Don't ruin your kids fun Shiro.”

“I don't know Pidge,” the older male shook his head.

“But think about it. They should discover something like this themselves,” Pidge a smirk grew a little more, “Imagine their faces when they find out.”

“Mm,” Hunk put on a thoughtful look, “Terrified. I bet they'd be down right terrified.”

Shiro sighed, “Okay. But just because I think it'd be hilarious when they find out.”

“Oh I will be so disappointed if I miss it!” Pidge smiled, when something struck them, “That means that Lance hit on Keith technically when they first met as Red and Blue, which means that there was something that caught his eye at first glance.”

Shiro sighed and spoke quietly enough that Allura was the only one that heard, “I thought this was a meeting to talk about how oblivious they were to the whole paladins then. I didn’t know this was to address their refusal to acknowledge other things too.”

“Are you kidding me? Lance was like that when he first met Keith as Keith too,” Hunk shook his head.

Pidge and Shiro both shot him a look this time, puzzled. Pidge started to frantically wave their arms, a giant up to no good grin covering their entire face, “What! When!”

“Yeah, Keith told me that the first time Lance ever talked to him it was something about a rivalry and consisted of just screaming,” Shiro’s face was priceless, “he didn't stop complaining about it for hours!”

“Keith didn't remember it obviously since he didn't even remember Lance when they were looking at the apartment but Lance hit on him, like, the first day of school.”

“Wait seriously?”

Hunk put a finger to his chin, “Well I think it was more like Lance tried to when Keith turned around and it turned into ‘Did it hurt when- u-uh ah, y-you- pretty eyes… I mean. Hi! Hello, names Lance.’ He’ll deny it to hell and back though.”

“What did Keith say?” Pidge was up in his face now, face filled with amusement.

“He was just like,” Hunk put on the most annoyed looking face he could muster, “‘Keith.’ And then he turned back around.”

Allura smiled, “Oh i’m never letting him live this down.”

“Okay, but one more thing,” Shiro coughed, “What do we do about this… Nyma person?”

“Oh yeah, bad news,” Hunk shook his head, “Bad vibes everywhere.”

Pidge sighed, “But Lance thinks that she's his soulmate.”

“Well… I guess we're just going to have to see where it goes then,” Allura said firmly, “Give her a chance.”

~~~

Lance absentmindedly flipping through channels while Keith was on his phone. Homework was done and the clock read somewhere close to three am. He looked up when Lance snorted, “Tch. This show is so unrealistic.”

“Hm?” Keith looked at the screen, “Pokemon?”

“Yeah,” Lance pointed at the characters, “How do they not realize that’s team rocket? They see them like, every day. You’d think that they’d be able to tell.”

“Well, it is a kids show Lance,” Keith shrugged, yawning and clicking his phone off “Kids aren’t that smart, maybe they can’t tell.”

“You’d have to be a special brand of stupid to be that oblivious though,” Lance changed the channel.

“Yeah.” Came another yawn.

A few beats later Lance turned to see his friend’s sleepy looking eyes, trying to fight it. Lance smiled at the content look on Keith’s face once his eyes gave in and closed, “welcome home Keith.”

They fell asleep a little after that, curled up in blankets with the TV still on and empty takeout containers littering their botched up living room.

ech. Should I continue this or scrap it and redo it? I'm still super worried that I'm writing this completely wrong so lmk if I am lol.

Also this is only the first chapter and its like 36 pages (15,162 words) long. So I'm kinda worried about length. Future chapters will probably not be this long... eh. Probably, I have a tendency to over write things. BUT CONGRATS TO YOU, YOU MADE IT THROUGH 36 PAGES OF MY CRAP!

AGAIN  if you wanna hmu for anything here on tumbr you can! Im currently taking prompts to distract me in between writing this when I need a break.

[louismirage]

And My Heart Is A Hollow Plain~ XI

Its the 1600s and all Louis wants is the freedom he knows he will never taste again.

He knew happiness, knew a good life and love. Had dreams and reasons to see the good in people, to expect good things from life.

Forced into a marriage he will never get out of, all he’s looking for is a breath of life. Maybe something or someone to come save him from the hell he knows.

Not edited 'cause I'm tired. I'm sorry its so short!

~XI

Harry laid in bed with Louis right next to him. They were still naked and covered with the blankets even when they knew they had to greet guests. Louis felt warm and comfortable when Harry had his arms wrapped around him. Harry rubbed Louis’ back and kissed the top of his head, with the knowledge that Louis was comfortable.

“We should get dressed and go downstairs. We have guests waiting for us.” Harry spoke up, breaking the silence filling the room.

“I don’t want to get up. I’m tired.” Louis whined, his eyes closing again after he had worked so hard to open them.

“We can take a little nap then.” Harry easily gave in, when who would become the light of his eyes, just wanted to sleep.

“Thank you.” Louis mumbled before he fell asleep.

Louis woke up again almost two hours later to Harry sleeping soundly next to him. He lifted his head up from where it had been resting on his chest. He observed him for a little while, memorizing his soft features. In his sleep, Harry looked younger than what he actually was. He looked completely relaxed and satisfied, something that brought happiness to Louis. He just wanted to be happy and see those around him happy too.

He rested his head on his chest again and looked around the room. His gaze settled on the chair on the corner where a ball of yarn rested and next to it was a blanket. Anne had been teaching him to knit for the baby. Something she had called the baby’s first ever blanket. Louis didn’t mind it at all when he had been learning a lot and would be his first ever gift to his baby. He sat up when he got tired of laying down then got up to put his clothes back on when he started getting cold again, but was too tired to lay down again.

He walked to the baby’s bedroom and smiled when he saw the crib Anne had already gotten for her grandchild. It was made from woven fabric with a wooden frame and it was completely embellished with gold. Louis thought it was too much, but Anne had insisted it was what his child deserved. He ran his hand through the side and smiled, unable to keep waiting to use it. He knew his son would be comfortable there and it was easy to move, that way he would be close to them.

“Lou?”

Louis turned around when he heard Harry’s groggy voice calling his name. He looked one more time at the crib and walked back into his and Harry’s bedroom. Harry was already sitting up on the bed, rubbing one eye and trying to look around with the other.

“I’m here.” Louis tried to go to him as fast as he could, getting there just as Harry opened his arms.

“Where were you?” Harry nuzzled his face on the crook of Louis’ neck.

He started rubbing circles on his back and kissed Louis’ neck when his husband sighed.

“I was in the baby’s room. The crib is beautiful.” Louis kissed the side of his face.

“Worthy of our child.” Harry looked up at him, about to kiss him but a knock on their door interrupted them.

“Harry? Louis? Loves it’s time to go downstairs and greet the guests, we have been waiting for a while.” Anne spoke up.

“We’ll be there in a few minutes!” Harry said, and when he heard her saying a “okay”, he looked back at Louis and kissed his lips.

“Let’s go greet them, love. You need to eat too.” Harry kept kissing him, just wanting to take his clothes off again.

“I’m starving.” Louis giggled when Harry started kissing all over his face.

“I made sure that mother ordered the cooks to cook your favorites. This is your day, darling.” Harry kissed the tip of his nose.

Louis never stopped looking at Harry, even when the man grabbed his hand and pulled him with him in tow out of the room. Not even when they were walking down the stairs and Harry wrapped his arm around his waist. Louis didn’t hear Zayn introducing them, then the guests cheering for them even though it had been hours after the wedding.

They started off with what would be their first ever dance as a married couple. The next royal wedding was a little different from what princess Gemma’s had been like, and everybody was quick to notice. It was different when Louis didn’t have his father to walk him to the middle of the dance floor and join his and Harry’s hands together. It was different because everybody noticed the absence of the king himself. It was his male heir who had gotten married and he was nowhere to be seen.

But the heir, Prince Harry, didn’t seem to mind when he only had eyes for his consort. He didn’t care what they thought when they didn’t matter to him. The only one who mattered to him was standing in front of him, one hand holding his own and the other on his baby bump.

The music started playing out of nowhere, bringing them out of their own little private world. Harry gently pulled Louis towards him and placed his hand on Louis’ lower back. The only thing that had grown with the pregnancy was Louis’ belly. It was well rounded and a little on the small side. Soon they started dancing in sync, in the middle of the ballroom with everybody watching them.

The wedding was everything Louis had dreamed of when growing up, everything he had dreamed from the moment he said yes to Harry. He couldn’t help but let himself smile in a way he had never done before. It left Harry breathless when he saw it. The moment he noticed the crinkles by Louis’ eyes, he pulled him closer, never wanting the music to end. He wanted to stay there forever.

They were in the middle of the ballroom, with everybody surrounding them and watching them as they danced. Watching the way the prince was so careful with his husband, the way he looked at him. Anne watched them with a smile on her face, wishing she could immortalize that moment forever. She let out a long sigh soon after, knowing his son would have been one of the many greatest kings in history if it hadn’t been for her husband. She was sure that her grandchild would have been worthy of their title.

The music was over too soon for their liking, having to find their seats when Louis was already exhausted. The guests started dancing just as Harry helped Louis sit down right next to Anne, then sat down right next to him. They waited until the music was over and the guests had their full attention on Harry. He said a few words to all the guests, thanking them for being there on his and Louis’ special day.

After that, they sat down to eat. Louis didn't know what to eat when there was a lot of food to pick from, so he just went for the first thing he saw. When he took the first bite was when he realized how hungry he really was. He tried to hold back, but he was finding it impossible when Harry kept putting more food on his plate and encouraging him to eat.

“You have to have some of the lamb.” Harry told him, making sure he put enough on Louis’ plate. “It's my favorite.”

Louis felt like he was going to explode when he was already full, but he smiled at his husband when he saw his hopeful expression, and took a bite from the lamb. His eyes widened as he chewed, finding it tender and juicy, just like he liked the meat to be.

“Did you like it?” Harry asked him.

“The best I’ve ever had.” Louis told him, watching the way his face lit up.

“Then I’ll make sure they cook it at least once a month.” Harry put the fork back down on the plate, then leaned forward to kiss Louis.

Louis happily accepted the kiss, ignoring the many people watching them. A few wishing them and the little one the best, and a few others with envy. The few that thought Louis wasn’t good enough for their prince, the ones that thought Louis had gotten pregnant to trap him, when it was clear that the Styles never rejected anyone who had their blood running through their veins. It was clear as day that Harry had been raised well, but it was also clear that the king had not accepted that union when his absence spoke volumes.

Harry was quick to feel their eyes on them, and wrapped an arm around Louis, hiding him from their view with his body. He glared at anybody that dared to look at Louis in any way that wasn’t friendly. When they were done eating, Harry said a few words to the guests. He was in the middle of his speech when the big entrance doors opened and a few guards stepped into the ballroom, interrupting him. Harry was quick to stand in front of Louis and his mother. In front of him stood Niall and Zayn, ready to defend them while Liam stood next to Louis.

Louis held onto Harry’s arm as they waited, feeling him tensing up when the king himself walked into the ballroom in all his glory. King Des looked around until his gaze found his wife’s deadly one. If that glare could kill, Des would already be rotting. His wife was the only one that could make him feel ashamed of his actions.

He stood in front of his wife and son, as if expecting them to give him a warm welcome. His gaze settled on his son’s husband, looking him up and down without even trying to hide the fact that he was doing it. His gaze stayed on his middle, until Harry was clearing his throat but said nothing.

“Don’t let me interrupt the feast. I know I’m late, but thanks to God, I made it to my son’s wedding before it is over.” Des gave the guests a bright smile.

The guests chuckled and went back to what they had been doing before their king showed up while Des made his way to where his wife was. He stood next to her then helped her sit down, both of them faking smiles throughout the entire event. Zayn, Niall and Liam went back to their spots as if nothing had happened.

“So nice of you to show up, dear.” Anne took a sip of her drink, refusing to look at the man.

“Everybody makes mistakes, dear.” Des held her hand, and tightening his grip when she tried to pull it away.

Nothing else was said until the party was over and everybody was on their way back to their bedrooms. Harry had refused to talk to his father, no matter how many times Louis begged him to do. Louis never stopped insisting as they got ready for bed and he knew he was annoying Harry, but he felt it was the least he could do when he felt it was his fault. Harry never wanted to talk to him ever again, but it was impossible when the next day all four were sitting at the table eating breakfast.

“Its nice to finally meet you, Louis.” Des spoke up as soon as Louis had walked in holding Harry’s hand.

Harry gritted his teeth the moment his father got up to help Louis sit down, noticing how uncomfortable Louis was.

“I– Its an honor to meet you, your majesty.” Louis stuttered, not sure if he should bow down or kiss his hand.

“Call me Des, dear.” The king smiled and went back to his seat at the head of the table. “I want to apologize for my rude and unwelcome behavior. I now understand Harry is free to do as he wishes, free to marry whoever he wants.”

Louis’ eyes widened as he listened to Des, not really knowing how to react or what to say. It wasn’t necessary when Des kept talking, even asking when he was due.

“I think we should go back to the palace before my grandchild is born.” Des said as he cut the fruit on his plate. “Not a Styles heir has ever been born out of that palace, and my grandchild won’t be the exception.”

“I think we should leave tomorrow morning.” Anne suggested.

She had been smiling all morning and Harry couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He should have known it was all a plan of hers. His father couldn’t live without his mother and he would go to the end of the earth, do anything for her. This time it had taken him a little longer, but there he was now, trying to make them go back. Harry had enough of both of them.

“You both can go back if you wish.” Harry spoke up. “Louis and I stay here. This is our new home and it’s here where we’re going to welcome our child.”

“Bu–” Des started.

“But nothing, father. I gave up my title and I don’t intend to get it back, I don’t want it. What I want is to stay here and raise our children here.” Harry said, grabbing Louis’ hand.

“But what about the crown!?” Anne shrieked, placing her hand against her chest.

“One of Gemma’s children can take over as soon as they’re old enough. That’s no problem. But Louis and I stay here.” Harry held his ground, narrowing his eyes when Des opened his mouth to say something.

“This is not over.” Des said then continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Louis looked down at his food. He put a hand on his belly when he felt a small kick, wishing Harry would go back and accept his title again. He didn’t want to be the reason for the Styles reign to end.