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ptbf2002 · 1 year

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Here's My Top 30 Favorite Female Characters

#30 Molly McGee (The Ghost And Molly McGee)

#29 Libby Stein-Torres (The Ghost And Molly McGee)

#28 Mabel Pines (Gravity Falls)

#27 Anne Boonchuy (Amphibia)

#26 Annie Bramley (It's Pony!)

#25 Billie (Magiki)

#24 Lana Loud (The Loud House)

#23 Lucy Loud (The Loud House)

#22 Luna Loud (The Loud House)

#21 Lori Loud (The Loud House)

#20 Luan Loud (The Loud House)

#19 Lily Loud (The Loud House)

#18 Girl Jordan (The Loud House)

#17 Yumi Yoshimura (Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi)

#16 Ami Onuki (Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi)

#15 Audrey Smith (Harvey Street Kids/Harvey Girls Forever!)

#14 Dot (Harvey Street Kids/Harvey Girls Forever!)

#13 Lotta (Harvey Street Kids/Harvey Girls Forever!)

#12 FruFru (Harvey Street Kids/Harvey Girls Forever!)

#11 Lucretia (Harvey Street Kids/Harvey Girls Forever!)

#10 Buttercup (The Powerpuff Girls)

#9 Bubbles (The Powerpuff Girls)

#8 Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls)

#7 Princess Unikitty (Unikitty!)

#6 Starfire (Teen Titans 2003)

#5 Dot Warner (Animaniacs)

#4 Babs Bunny (Tiny Toon Adventures)

#3 Amy Rose (Sonic Prime)

#2 Yin (Yin Yang Yo)

#1 Jenny Wakeman XJ-9 (My Life as a Teenage Robot)

Honorable Mentions: Cleo (Ollie's Pack), Wendy Testaburger (South Park), Heidi Turner (South Park), Frankie Foster (Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), Lola (Angelo Rules), Lola Mbola (Robotboy), Lois Griffin (Family Guy), Meg Griffin (Family Guy), Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons), Isabella Garcia Shapiro (Phineas And Ferb), Ronnie Anne Santiago (The Casagrandes), Sid Chang (The Casagrandes).

Original Template: https://www.deviantart.com/amychen803/art/Top-30-Most-Favorite-Female-Characters-Meme-651275449

The Ghost and Molly McGee Belongs To Bill Motz, Bob Roth, Mercury Filmworks, Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney+ Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Gravity Falls Belongs To Alex Hirsch, Digital eMation, Inc. Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

Amphibia Belongs To Matt Braly, Saerom Animation, Inc. Sunmin Image Pictures Co., Ltd. Sugarcube Animation Studio, Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. Disney Television Animation, Disney Channel, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

It's Pony Belongs To Ant Blades, Boulder Media Limited, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Nickelodeon Productions, Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nickelodeon Group, Paramount Global Content Distribution, Paramount International Networks, Paramount Domestic Media Networks, Paramount Media Networks, Inc. And Paramount Global

Magiki Belongs To Eryk Casemiro, Cyril Deydier, Pegbar Animation, Animasia Studio, Rainbow S.P.A. Paramount Media Networks, Inc. Paramount Global, DeAgostini Publishing Italy S.P.A. DeAgostini Editore S.P.A. DeAKids, DeA Junior, DeAgostini S.P.A. DeAPlaneta Kids And Family, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, Télé Images Productions, Zodiak Kids Studios France, Banijay S.A. Ketchup TV, KidsMe S.R.L. Gulli, TiJi, Metropole Télévision S.A. Groupe M6, Frisbee, Switchover Media, Discovery Italia S.R.L. Discovery Networks Italia, Discovery Networks EMEA, Discovery Networks International, Discovery, Inc. And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

The Loud House Belongs To Chris Savino, Jam Filled Entertainment, Boat Rocker Media Inc. Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Nickelodeon Productions, Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nickelodeon Group, Paramount Global Content Distribution, Paramount International Networks, Paramount Domestic Media Networks, Paramount Media Networks, Inc. And Paramount Global

Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi Belongs To Sam Register, Renegade Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, Cartoon Network, The Cartoon Network, Inc. Warner Bros. Discovery Networks, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WarnerMedia And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

Harvey Street Kids/Harvey Girls Forever! Belongs To Alfred Harvey, Emily Brundige, Dave Enterprises, Digital Emation, Inc. NE4U, Inc. The Harvey Entertainment Company, Classic Media, LLC, DreamWorks Classics, DreamWorks Animation Television, DreamWorks Animation LLC, Universal Pictures, Universal City Studios LLC, NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, Comcast Corporation, NBCUniversal Media, LLC And Netflix Inc.

The Powerpuff Girls Belongs To Craig McCracken, Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. Cartoon Network Studios, Cartoon Network, The Cartoon Network, Inc. Warner Bros. Discovery Networks, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WarnerMedia And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

Unikitty! Belongs To Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Ed Skudder, Lynn Wang, Renegade Animation, Snipple Animation Studios, Rideback, Lord Miller Productions, The LEGO Group, VERTIGO Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation Inc. Cartoon Network, The Cartoon Network, Inc. Warner Bros. Discovery Networks, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WarnerMedia And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

Teen Titans Belongs To Bob Haney, Bruno Premiani, Glen Murakami, David Slack, Sam Register, MOI Animation Co., Ltd. Lotto Animation, Inc. DongWoo Animation Co. Ltd. DC Comics, Inc. DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation Inc. Kids' WB! The WB, The WB Television Network, Inc. Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC. Tribune Media Company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Cartoon Network, The Cartoon Network, Inc. Warner Bros. Discovery Networks, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WarnerMedia, And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

Animaniacs Belongs To Tom Ruegger, Steven Spielberg, AKOM Production, Ltd. Far Eastern Animation, Freelance Animators New Zealand, CNK International, Philippine Animation Studio Inc. Shanghai Morning Sun Animation Co., Ltd. Sichuan Top Animation, TMS Entertainment, Ltd. Varga Studio, Ltd. Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd. Amblin Entertainment, Inc. Amblin Partners, LLC. Warner Bros. Animation Inc. FOX KIDS, FOX Family Worldwide Inc. FOX Broadcasting Company, FOX Entertainment, FOX Corporation, Kids' WB, The WB Television Network, The WB Television Network, Inc. Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC, Tribune Media Company, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WarnerMedia And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

Tiny Toon Adventures Belongs To Tom Ruegger, Steven Spielberg, AKOM Production, Ltd. Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd. Encore Cartoons, Freelance Animators New Zealand, Island Animation, Kennedy Cartoons Inc. Mook Animation Inc. StarToons International, LLC. TMS Entertainment, Ltd. Amblin Entertainment, Inc. Amblin Partners, LLC. Warner Bros. Animation Inc. CBS, CBS Broadcasting Inc. CBS Entertainment Group, Paramount Global, FOX Broadcasting Company, FOX Entertainment, FOX Corporation, Kids' WB, The WB Television Network, The WB Television Network, Inc. Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC, Tribune Media Company, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WarnerMedia And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

Sonic Prime Belongs To Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, Hirokazu Yasuhara, Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, Duncan Rouleau, Steven T. Seagle, Jam Filled Entertainment, Boat Rocker Media Inc. Flixzilla Aura, Sonic Team, SEGA of America, SEGA Corporation, SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc. Man of Action Entertainment, WildBrain Studios, WildBrain Ltd. Netflix Animation Studios, Netflix Worldwide Entertainment, LLC, And Netflix, Inc.

Yin Yang Yo! Belongs To Bob Boyle Elliott Animation Inc. Jetix Animation Concepts, Disney Television Animation, Jetix, Toon Disney, Disney XD, Disney Branded Television, Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution, Disney General Entertainment Content, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Entertainment, Disney Enterprises, Inc. And The Walt Disney Company

My Life as a Teenage Robot Belongs To Rob Renzetti, Rough Draft Studios, Inc. Frederator Studios, Frederator Networks, Inc. Wow Unlimited Media Inc. Nelvana Enterprises Inc. Corus Entertainment Inc. Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Nickelodeon Productions, Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nickelodeon Group, Paramount Global Content Distribution, Paramount International Networks, Paramount Domestic Media Networks, Paramount Media Networks, Inc. And Paramount Global

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romanarose · 2 years

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Leather and Lace: Chapter 8

Santiago "Pope" Garcia X Fem!OC

Fic Masterlist

Previous Chapter : Next Chapter

Chapter summary: Santi makes his round of apologies. Later, Frankie has an emergency and Santi has to take Laci to Will's, where they go on their own adventure, and a new person is introduced.

A/N: I feel like the last chapter had everyone like that Micheal Scott meme "why are you the way that you are" so here, hope I fixed it. Not a whole lot of Santi Laci but next chapter will, promento. Not proof read bc this was LONG AS FUCK and if I look at it one more second I'm going to SCREAM!!!!!!

shout out to @welcometostayingawake ask and you shall recieve, here is Laci in Santi's shirt.

WARNINGS: Mentions of drug use, mentions of addiction and alcohalism, general fic related references to sex trafficking but nothing super bad.

**********

Santiago Garcia was woken up that morning to a cup of water being splashed on his face.

“Jesus Christ!” He sputtered awake, a wave of nausea over taking him before he could process who was in his house. Santi found a trash can at his feet, which he promptly threw up in. When he looked up, he found Will standing above him, arms crossed. “Jesus, Will, what the actual fuck.”

“Get up.” The older Miller stated simply.

“Why are you here?” Santi groaned out, head throbbing from his hangover.

“I have a key and your home security info for a reason.” Will practically pulled Santi’s smaller body up, pulling him to the bathroom.

“Yeah, for emergencies. What are you doing?”

Will dragged him to the bathroom, turning on he shower. “You’re trying to ruin the one good thing in your life, that’s enough of an emergency for me” He pushed Pope, fully clothed, into the shower.

“What the fuck!” He shouted as the water drenched his clothes for the second time in the last 24 hours.

Will walked out of the bathroom, calling to his friend. “You have 15 minutes. Get showered, get dressed, sober up, then we’re going to Ben’s, and you're going to make this shit right.”

Santi pouted the entire ride over. “How much did Ben tell you?”

Scoffing, Will couldn’t help smile a bit despite his irritation. “It’s Benny, he can’t keep a secret to save his life.” But he turned to Pope with a frown. “He told me the shit you said.”

He groaned. “Which time.”

“Well,” Will started sardonically. “There's the fact Laci had the courage to not only talk to you but to call you out, and you shut her down in possibly the cruelest way I can imagine, and I can imagine a lot”

A pang of guilt and shame shot through him. “Yeah. Yeah there's that.” Santi remembered the strangled smile that fell from her face when he said that to her. He had been so happy, thrilled even, with how freely she had been speaking that day, and the words he chose were almost certainly going to undo every piece of progress they made, and possibly fuck up whatever it is they had forever. He would understand if she never wanted to talk to him again.

“And then,” Will didn’t stop. “Then there’s the shit you said to Benny.”

Santiago flopped his head back to the headrest of Will’s truck. “Will, I’m sorry-”

“Don’t say to me, say sorry to Ben.”

A pause. “You’re not going to beat me up?” Santi joked wryly.

Will laughed back, pulling into Benny’s driveway. “No, I’m not going to beat you up. But,” He turned off the roaring engine, giving him a serious look. “You need to make this right. Listen. Maybe we’re done in the field, maybe our days as a team are done and everyone is moving on with our lives.”

“Will-”

“But I need us to stay connected. You and Frankie don’t have family, Ben and I just got our mom and piece of shit dad left, and y’all know how bad that bastard fucked up Ben.”

Santi did know. The Miller’s dad was alcoholic fucker who beat the shit out of their mom and the boys. Santi knew that Benjamin’s drinking and fighting started long before the shit he’d seen in the military. But he also knew what Will refused to acknowledge, that Will took the brunt of the beatings to protect Benny and Mrs. Miller. He knew that Will held a lot of guilt for all the times he couldn’t deflect his dad’s anger away from his baby brother. Will would never admit to any of that.

Will continued. “We are what we got. And I have… I have a hope that in the future, we’re still all together, still friends, even if our paths go separately. And I’m hoping Laci will be a part of that.”

Santi nodded. “I’ll make this right, I promise” They knocked on the door, Ben answered. Santi had expected him to slam the door on him, curse him out, maybe swing on him. But Ben greeted him and his brother with a smile. “C’mon in.” he turned to Will. “Grab a beer, I’ll meet you in the yard” then back to Santi. “Listen, she’s ready to talk, I wouldn’t let you in here if she wasn’t.” Benny nodded towards where the top of Laci’s blonde head over the couch on the other side of the house, out of earshot but actually aware of him. “I’m not gonna tell you how to live your life, but that girl is in love with you, and I’ve seen the way you look at her. We all have. Just… she could make you happy, if you let her.”

Santi shuffled, hand rubbing the scruff of his neck. “I know. I’m worried about hurting her-”

“Oh, I call bullshit. You’re worried you’ll get hurt the way me, Will, Fish and Tom have. You’re the only one who has avoided it this far. But if you let that girl walk away, I’m willing to bet it’s gonna hurt just as bad. There’s no avoiding it now., which maybe isn't what you want to hear, but it's the truth."

Santi nodded, patting Ben’s back as he walked past Ben to get to her. Before he took more than a few steps, he turned back to his friend. “I’ll talk to you in a bit, okay?”

Benny surprised him with a bright smile. “After last night, I sure hope so.”

Again, Santi nodded and made his way to her. When he rounded the corner of the couch, she was shitting with her arms crossed, legs tucked between her and the cushion. Laci avoided his eyes, a sadness on her face he hadn’t seen since they were alone in the jungle.

“Hey Lace.” He greeted tentatively, standing in front of her with his hands in his pockets to avoid wringing them in nervousness.

She continued looking at the tv, but motioned for him to sit. Santi practically scrambled to the other end of the couch.

Turning to face him, her feet on the couch pointed to him with her arms crossed, but nevertheless meeting his eyes. A pregnant silence surrounded them, Santiago trying to figure out where to start. Laci raised her eyebrows, waving her hand at him. ‘Well, go on then.’ Santiago thought back to the previous day, how easily she talked to him, and now she was closed off again, relying once more on reading her face and body language.

“Lace I’m so sorry” He burst out in one breath.

Her face softened a bit, but prompted him to go on. “I don’t really have a good reason, but I panicked. I’ve never been in a serious relationship, never been in love.”

She rolled her eyes.

His foot began tapping on the floor. “I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true. And I was worried, I don’t want to fuck you up, I couldn’t forgive myself if I hurt you.

She gave him a dry laugh.

“Well, hurt you more. Not after everything you’ve been through.”

Laci pointed to herself and shook her head, then motioned like she was rocking a baby. ‘I am not a child’

Santi sat back against the couch. “I know. I’m sorry for treating you like one. I was trying to be careful but I think, and I can’t believe I’m saying this.” The smallest smile quipping up on his lips. “But Benny was right. I should be supporting you, not keeping you locked up”

Santi watched her face, for a moment there was no reaction. Then, thankfully, she let out a snicker.

Pope’s smile broadened. “Don’t tell him I said that.”

Out of nowhere she spoke again with a light smile, much to Santi’s relief. “After the shit you said, I’m definitely telling him.”

Santi dodged her eyes, but nodded.

She continued. “He’s just my friend, Santi. I love you.”

Quickly looking back at her with wide eyes, he barely whispered out, so quiet and nervous Laci almost didn’t hear him. “Still?”

Her shoulders and face fell at that. Crawling along the couch, she sat again facing him and taking his hands in hers. “I told you I love you, that doesn’t change after one fight… right?” Her voice trailed off, face faltering a bit as she looked at him with concern.

“No” Santi breathed out, sitting up and taking her face in his as as he moved to kiss her, waiting until he saw the smile on her face return to close the gap. His lips on hers, he couldn’t help but think how right it felt, how this was what he wanted. Out in the open, where Will or Ben or anyone could see them, away from the cover of midnight. As much as he cherished the nights they spent together, there was something different about it being open. Santi was well aware there wasn’t much of a secret with them between the guys, he had admitted his feelings to them before. But now, he no longer had to lie to them, to her, to himself.

When she pulled away, Laci touched her forehead to his. “Santi…”

A quick kiss on the lips. “Yes, Munequi- uh” He stopped himself, calling her little doll felt wrong after Benny’s comments and the accusation of her infantizing her.

She returned the quick kiss and laughed a bit, returning her forehead to his, still holding his hand. “You can call me Munequita, baby, I like that.”

“Okay” he grinned at her, unable to take his eyes off her.

“You need to apologize to Benny.”

Santi couldn’t help the small sigh that escaped him. “Yeah, I know. I will. I promise to do better, whatever you need, even if it's space, you can tell me. I want what you want."

When he found Ben and Will outside, he nodded at Will, letting him know things were right between him and Laci. Will walked inside to join Laci, doing the ‘I’m watching you’ motion, leaving Benny and Santi outside.

Santi started. “I’m sorry, Ben. I was an asshole-”

“Tu eres pendejo” Benny said with a cocked eyebrow and a slight smile. He didn’t hold a grudge.

Santi laughed back. “Frankie teach you that?”

Benny took a drink of his beer. “Hey, I can speak some Spanish. I learned the important parts.” A pause. “And it’s okay, we don’t have to talk about it more. An apology is more than I think anyone but her has gotten from you. You two good?” He nodded through the plexiglass to where they could see Will beguiling Laci with some story.

Santi turned back, smiling. “Yeah, yeah we’re great.”

Benny grinned at that. “Oh thank god. I think if you guys broke up, we’d all just give up on love forever, it would be more devastating than Taylor Swift and Harry Styles.”

Santi blushed, looking away but grabbing Ben’s beer from his hand and taking a drink.

After a pause, Benny added. “There’s not, and there never was anything with us, just friends.”

“I know-”

“I’m talking to someone” Ben spit out, body buzzing from not being able to keep the secret.

Santi’s ears perked up at this. Benny had a lot of people he fucked, very few people he ever talked to outside of a little flirting before hooking up. “Oh? Who is she? Or he! Or… they… or…”

Ben burst out laughing at Santiago’s awkwardness. “I appreciate you trying."

Santi threw up his hands. “I’m sorry! After what I said, I don’t want you to think I’m-”

“I don’t.” Ben reassured with a smile. “And it’s a she. She’s a she. Don’t tell Will, I’m not sure where this is going yet.”

Nodding, Santi finished the beer and motioned Will and Santi to come outside. “I won’t”

That night, they went to bed separately, Santi not wanting to rush or push her. As much as Pope was beyond thrilled that they were together (is he supposed to ask to make it official? Is he her boyfriend? Maybe he should take her on a proper date now…) the fact of the matter is that she was a victim of sex trafficking and had eluded to other problems in her past, he would wait as long as he needed to in order for their first time to be to her complete comfort and enjoyment.

When Laci gasped awake in the middle of the night to Santi turning her bedroom flights on. Santi never entered her room unless it was an emergency. Oh shit. “What’s wrong?” She cleared and focused her eyes to see Santi on the phone, face panicked.

“Laci, we gotta-” he stopped, glancing at her. “Are you… is that my shirt?”

Laci looked down, heart pounding in a panic. She had on Santi’s green long sleeve that he gave her their first night in the jungle. He never had asked for it back and she just… held onto it. “Yeah, sometimes I wear it when… if I’m nervous. Sorry.” she began to take it off.

Despite the anxiety flowing through his veins, he still felt his heart flutter. He never had gotten butterflies before her. “No, no” A slight smile spread on his face. “Keep it.” His smile faded. “We do need to go. I’m taking you to Will’s”

A range of negative emotions flooded Laci’s face. “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

‘Is she going to be okay? I know she’s only ever been alone with you or Benny’ Jana, Frankies’s babymomma, asked on the phone.

“She’ll be okay” He looked to Laci. “You’ll be okay with Will, right?”

Laci frowned deeply as she crawled out of bed, but nodded, trying to put on a brave face, but Santi could read her like a book.

“I’m sorry, Lace, there’s an emergency and I can’t take you with me.” Jesus christ, she was in her underwear, straps of the tank top peeking out from the collar of his shirt that practically swallowed her tiny frame up. Santi wondered if she was always underweight, if she had high metabolism or if she had eating problems way before she was starved. His eyes followed her as she went to her drawer to pull on pants, but looked away when she bent over and he caught a peak of her pink underwear.

“Can’t I come?” She always came with him. Where he went, she followed.

“Not this time, munequita.” Santi was apologetic. Jana had called Santi. Her and Rosie were on a trip to her parents, but Frankie had gone on a bender, showing up on her front porch. They weren’t home, but Jana got the alert on her phone from the home security that Frankie, ironically, insisted on getting for her and paying for.

“Benny?” She and Santi walked out to the foyette where she put on her shoes and Santi grabbed his keys.

Santi talked into the phone again. “What’s he doing?”

‘He’s still just on the porch, yelling’ Jana and Frankie were together for years, but after Columbia his drug use got much, much worse, and Jana ended things, taking Rosa.

“I’ll be there soon, please don’t hang up” Santi was pretty sure they had never fallen out of love, and held out hope that If Frankie could get sober, they’d get back together. He liked Jana, he missed her. She was there for him after Fatima’s death, even agreeing to name her and Santi’s daughter after her. She fit in well with them. But right now his focus was on Frankie, who was high as shit and would only end this night hurting himself in some way or getting arrested.

‘I won’t, I promise’

Back to Laci. “I’m sorry, I tried calling Ben but he didn’t answer, Will says he probably went out tonight” and was probably halfway to blacking out or getting in a fist fight by now.

‘You can tell her, she deserves to know what’s happening’

They climbed into Santi’s truck and immediately drove to Will’s house which was a 5 minute drive. “Listen, I can’t tell you everything right now, but Frankie is in trouble, I need to help him.” Santi’s hands and voice were shaking. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry I have to leave you and I’m sorry if I scared you-”

Laci scooted over, placing his hand on Santi’s knee reassuringly. “It’s okay. I trust you and I trust Will. You need to help Frankie.” Laci didn’t ask what was wrong; Frankie never pushed her for answers. He deserved his privacy. Santi visibly calmed to her touch.

When they arrived, Will was waiting on the porch in the warm Florida early summer night, and jogged up to her door. Santi squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, but I’m on a time crunch. I’ll text you later but please try and sleep”

Laci had no idea how she was supposed to sleep after this.

Will opened her door.

Laci gave Santi a quick peck on the cheek. “Be safe” and left Santi to do what he had to as Will coaxed her inside. When they stepped in the living room, he was noticeably nervous. “Hey, I’m sorry, I know this isn’t exactly ideal”

“Is Benny okay?” Laci stood with arms crossed, despite it being plenty warm inside.

Will laughed at that, blue eyes bright despite his clear irritation. “Damned if I know. I didn’t even know he went out tonight, but I shouldn’t be surprised. 50/50 chance I’ll get a call from him asking me to bail him out of jail. Again.” He walked her over to his spare bedroom. “You can stay in here. It’s a bit of a mess, Ben usually stays there and you know how he is.”

“Can I… stay on the couch? I’m not going to sleep much tonight so I might just watch tv, at least until I fall asleep.”

He squinted his eyes a bit. “The bedroom door locks, I can’t lock my room from the outside.”

Laci paused for a moment, confused. “Oh! No, I don’t need to lock the door, Will, I trust you.” She realized what he was getting at. He wanted her to feel safe and he didn’t think she felt safe around him.

Now that was enough to melt the 6’1 giant of a man’s heart. ”Okay, then yeah, tv is fine.”

She sat down. “Does Ben get arrested a lot?” Will rounded the couch to sit at the opposite end as Laci pulled up Archer.

Will couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Yeah, about every other weekend. Sometimes weekdays. Isuslly me or Santi go with him but… yeah”

A crease appeared between her eye brows and her lips pressed into a pout. Santi didn’t go with him because he was stuck with her. “How is he not in prison?”

“Miss, ‘round here, if you get in a bar fight they just lock you up for the night and let you lose with the world’s worst hangover when you’re sober enough to walk home.”

Another pause. “Why does he get into so many fights? He’s so nice. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone easier to get along with”

Will’s playful mood faded out. “That’s sober Benny. Drunk Benny is a bit more combative. He’s not mean, but he’ll look for a reason to fight.”

Surprisingly, Laci kept going. “Why does he drink like that?”

“Sweetheart.” Will sighed. “We all got our shit that gets us through the day. After all the shit we’ve seen, everyone needs something, a way to cope. You’re in therapy, you’re doing it right. Benny has the drinking and fighting, Fish has the coke.” Laci’s eyes widened at that. Ah, so she didn’t know that about Frankie.

“That’s where Santi is, right? Did Frankie overdose?!”

The panic was evident in her voice, but even without that, he could tell by the rapid rise of her chest- wait, wasn’t that Santi’s shirt? “No! No, sweetheart he’s fine. He’s just having an episode, Santi needed to be with him to keep him safe.” A knot twisted in Will’s stomach. It was understood that Frankie was Santi’s, Ben was his. It wasn’t often that he had to think about Frankie’s addiction, but tonight was different, tonight the problem was clear an evident; there would be no other reason for Santi to drop his precious… girlfriend? Are they actually dating now? His precious girlfriend who was always so nervous about everything, drop her off with him, of all people. It had been months since Will had been a dick to her, but Will didn’t forget, Laci wouldn’t forget, and he knew a small part of Santi would never forgive.

Laci relaxed a bit. “Do you know where Benny is it?”

Nodding, Will pulled out his phone. “He shares his location with me.”

“Can we… can we get him? Before he gets in a fight?”

Will gave a short chuckle. “I think Santi would kill me if she left the house.”

Laci shot him a pointed look, but with a smile. “I’m not his little captive, Will, I can go where I want.”

A hearty laugh escaped him, slapping his knees before standing up. “You’re right sweetheart, you’re not. C’mon, let’s go rescue that dumbass”

Laci lightly smacked his arm, but they headed out. 15 minutes later, they were walking in the bar. Will had tried to get her to stay in the car, but she insisted she felt safer with Will.

“OH MY GOD! LACI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!” Benny was practically screaming as he hugged Laci, spinning her around.

Will spoke first. “We’re here to bring you back so I don’t gotta pick you up at 6 am.”

“UUUGGHHH” Ben rolled his head as me groaned. “I’m fine, William” Ben emphasized his brother's full name, much to Will's chagrin.

“Benny” Laci put his hand on his arm. “Can we go home so I don’t have to worry about you?”

Ben looked down at his friend, her wide blue eyes compelling him. He was a foot taller than her at least, and she really knew how to work that pretty, innocent thing she had going on. Even without the sexual or romantic attraction, Benny would do just about anything for her if she gave him that look. “You’re gonna have me whipped just like Santi” he grumbled, throwing money at the bartender.

Laci smiled, taking his hand and the three of them began walking out.

Until Laci passed a man sitting at the barstool, facing out. Her body lurched, hand squeezing him tight enough to break a bone.

“What was that?” Benny asked, but Laci was frozen, eyes wide with terror

“Laci?” Will asked, trying to get her attention. He looked at the man, then back to her. “He touch you?”

Laci, despite everything, gave a small nod, then tugged at Ben’s hand. She wanted to leave.

But before Will could stop him, Benny had flung towards the man. “You fucker!” he shouted, landing an aggressive punch that knocked him off his seat. The fight that ensued was a mess, Will could hardly keep track of what was happening. Laci clung to him, and he wrapped his arms around her. He wanted to step in, wanted to break up the fight the way he usually did, but he couldn’t leave her.

But she, apparently, could leave him.

Beny was getting his fucking shit rocked. The man had folded him, bringing him to the floor and climbing on top, laying punch after punch after punch on Benny’s blood covered face, Ben kicking and flailing.

Laci couldn’t sit there and watch it. Despite what everyone around her seemed to think, she wasn’t innocent, she wasn’t pathetic, and this was not the first fight she’d witnessed. She charged at the man, his unprepared frame falling over in exhaustion at the force. Benny, however, didn’t register any of this, as was still in fight mode. Eyes closed, he sent a punch to where he thought the man still was, punching Laci with a pathetic weakness in the nose.

“FUCK!” she fell back, holding her nose.

“BEN WHAT THE SHIT!” Will ran over to her. “Let me see.” He brought her hands down, revealing the blood lightly dripping from her nose. It wasn’t a much, looked worse than it was.

The bartender threw two ice packs at Will. “Get him out of here, now, or I’m calling the police.” He turned to Benny, who was still getting his bearings. “You’re 86’d, asshole. I’m sick of you.”

“But he groped her!” Benny defended himself.

“And you punched a 5 foot girl who weighs 100 pounds.”

“On accident!”

“OUT!”

Will held Laci up, handing her ice, and yanked Benny up “Ben, now”

The walk back to the truck was a long one, a litany of apologies spilling from Benny’s lips as Laci ignored him, storming away. When they got in the truck, Benny moaned in the back. “Pope’s gonna murder me!”

Laci sighed, taking mercy on the man who had become her best friend and pushing back the anger once again “No he won’t, we won’t tell him.”

Benny perked up immediately. “Really?”

“Yes, Ben” She smiled at him in the backseat. “You got beat up trying to defend me, let’s call it even” Will muttered about not encouraging him, but it was only half hearted.

If Laci wasn’t sitting, she would have been knocked over by the force of Benny’s hug.

Upon Laci’s insistence, Will took Ben to the ER.

“Oh hey Loralei!” Ben called drunkenly to the ER nurse he recognized.

Laci trained behind the Miller’s, having cleaned up her face. Will half carried a drunk and beat up Benny.

The dark haired nurse looked up from the chart she was holding, giving Benny an almost motherly look. “Benjamin Miller. Again.”

Benny shrugged with a cheeky grin. Will didn’t recognize her, but it seemed Benny was frequent enough of a ER flyer to know the nurses.

“What is it this time?” she asked.

Will took over. “This dumbass got into a fight and we need to make sure he isn’t concussed." Will’s free hand smacked Benny.

“Hey!” The nurse snapped at him. “Don’t hit my patients.” She ordered, voice firm but calm as she motioned for a wheelchair

“It’s okay” he chuckled out. “He’s my brother.”

“I didn’t ask. He’s my patient, this is my hospital, behave or leave.”

Will raised his hands in defeat. “Yes ma’am” There was no playfulness or condescension in his tone, just respect.

She nodded, then turned to the other nurse. “Get him a scan, make sure he somehow avoided traumatic brain injury again.”

Benny looked up at the new nurse as she wheeled him away. “Hey Amy, how’s the baby”

Will called after him. “Ben no flirting with the nurses!” Then looked over to see the nurse glaring at him for yelling. “Oh sorry.” He extended his hand. “William Miller”

She gave a quick shake. “Lorelei” Then walked to Laci. “What happened to you?”

There was still some blood around Laci’s nose. Laci felt the familiar sense of things folding in, her mouth unable to form the words she needed.

Loralei continued, motioning her thumb back towards where Benny went. “You guys get in a fight? “

Will leaned in. “Actually, she got in the middle of another fight-”

She simply held a hand up to him. “I wasn’t asking you.” Her intense gaze was focused on Laci, her tone was soft. She reminded him of Santi in a way.

Laci shook her head.

Will tried again. “She has-”

With the wild eyes of a nurse who's seen it all and the intensity of a woman tired of men not listening, she turned to him. “William, I’m going to need you to step back, please.”

Will opened his mouth to argue, but closed it when he decided better. He turned to Laci. “Use your notes app, I’ll be over here.” With a soft smile to Laci and a nod to Lorelei, he walked away.

Lorelei turned back to Laci. “Hey honey, everything okay?” The irony of it wasn't lost on Laci, she was safer with the Millers, Frankie and Santi than she had been with anyone since her brothers death.

Laci took a moment to type. ‘I have trouble talking sometimes. Ben and Will are my friends.’

Lorelei nodded, but continued. “Did one of them hit you?”

Laci considered lying, but opted for the truth. ‘Kinda. Benny got in a fight and I tried to stop him, he accidentally hit me. That’s it.’

Lorelei scanned Laci’s face for a lie, but found none. She nodded, beckoning Will back over. “Wait out here, fill out these forms, he’ll be done soon” She began to walk away.

Will cleared his throat. When Lorelei turned back to him, she was greeted with a cheeky smile. “Yes?” She asked.

Will raised an eyebrow at her. “Well?”

She smiled back, but put her hands on her hips, challenging him. “Well what?”

At that, Will scoffed, still keeping his smile despite his mock offense. “Well?! You basically accused me of hitting her, and I didn’t.”

Lorelei's smile was a challenge, ‘keep going’ it said ‘I’m not backing down’ “I won’t apologize for seeing clues and being suspicious. You work in my line of work for one week, you’d do the same. I’ll talk to you when your brother is discharged.” She walked off.

Will couldn’t help hoping she’d come back.

Him and Laci sat down in the waiting room in silence until a ding it Laci’s phone. It was Santi.

Santiago: Frankie is okay, we’re at his place, he's sleeping, but I can’t leave him. I hope you’re asleep, but I know you probably aren’t.”

Lacina: I’m glad he’s okay. I’m fine here, stay with Frankie. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

Santiago: I love you, Lace. I’m lucky to have you.

Lacina: I love you too, Santi. Stay safe.

It dawned on Laci that Santi had her location, as she did his. He had no reason to doubt where she was, but he hoped she wouldn’t look. Benny and Santi just made up after weeks of tension, she didn’t need Santi acting up because Benny accidentally hit her Laci knew the irony of telling him to stay safe considering she got decked. She relayed the message to Will, then rested against his shoulder. “Hey Will?”

“What’s up.”

“You said you all have ways you manage things. Ben had drinking and Frankie has coke.”

“Yeah?”

“What’s your thing?”

Will huffed out a laugh. “You’ve seen part of it.” She looked up at him confused. He continued. “I was a complete ass to you. Made you feel like shit when you did nothing wrong. I tend to have outbursts like that. I ever tell you I was engaged?” Laci shook her head. “Yeah, years ago. It ended because I went ape shit on a guy in a grocery store. I have a few vices. Drinking, being an ass, fights, the list goes on. Jack of all trades I supposed. I’m not any better than Benny or Frankie.” Why was she asking this?

“And… Santi?”

There it was. What Will did not want was to get in the middle of them, and he especially didn’t want to inadvertently mess up what they had. “Projects. It’s always something. Work, house renovations, drug lord bust. He always needs something to focus on until the next thing comes along. And alcohol. We all drink a bit too much.”

Things were quiet for a moment before Laci replied. “Am I his project?”

Will sat up, forcing Laci to sit up as she was resting on him. “No! Oh my god, no. You are…” He shook his head. “You are, wow, I’ve never seen him like this with anyone before. He loves you.”

Laci laid back down, but she wasn’t convinced.

‘He always needs something to focus on until the next thing comes along’

If she was a project, how long until the next thing comes?

Benny was fine, but under strict order to drink water and to ‘stop fucking around, before you find out’ according to the nurse. Will took them both home, putting Benny in his usual bed as Laci insisted she wasn’t going to sleep. That morning, Santi let himself into Will’s house. He found the house quiet, and Laci, predictably, asleep on the couch. He knelt down beside her, taking a minute or two to watch her. It was rare he could see her like this; calm, peaceful, in the daylight. He hoped, as they progressed, he could wake up to this sight every morning for the rest of his life.

She was incredible. The light shone on her face, a light flush of pink on her face and her under-eyes ever so slightly dark from lack of sleep. Wisps of her long bangs covered her face, and he brushed them back, revealing the scar on her forehead. Laci stirred, waking up. “Hey Munequita.”

Without even opening her eyes, she smiled at the sound of his voice. “Hey baby.”

Baby. He could get used to that. “You alright? Everything go okay?”

She was… so tired. Laci reached out for him as she nodded. “Yeah. Can you lay with me? I don’t wanna get up yet.”

He smiled at her in adoration. “Yeah, scoot over honey.”

With a satisfied grin, she scooted back. “C’mere, I wanna hold you. I get to be the big spoon.”

Santi laughed out loud, but then realized she was serious. “Really?”

“Yeah, wanna hold you. You had a long night, wanna make sure you’re okay.”

Santi was in no position to deny her. He was exhausted, he was sad, he was hurt. He had never seen Frankie that bad before, it worried him. The idea of being held was appealing. Santi laid down, back against her chest as she wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled her face into his hair and neck. “Good night Santi” She spoke, despite the bright morning sun shining in.

“Good night, Lace.” With her arms around him, he felt comfortable, warm and safe with her.

When Will woke up an hour later, he found his friend on his couch with a tiny blonde clutched to his back like a backpack.

“Not a word” Santi muttered.

***********

I HOPE YA'LL LIKED IT!!!!

A lil announcement for those who didn't see my post, after leather and lace ends (chapter 12 is the last!) the universe will continue in the form of a Will Miller fic! Although Santi and Laci's story will be on the back end, Laci will make appearances throughout Will's fic and we'll get to see how Laci grows! Hope y'all tune in for Piece by Piece!

Also, come back out Seattle, my Marc Spector story!

Love y'all! Please remember to reblog if you are so inclined, and comments mean the world to me, i literally reread them all the time. I'm so glad everyone has come to love Laci as much as I have, and I really hope this chapter showcases more of her personality now that she talks more! Also, I hope you like Lorelei, bc she maaaaaaayy or may not show up in this universe again

@littlenosoul @bensolosbluesaber @milkymoon2483 @gogh-with-the-flow @itspdameronthings @trinkets01 @p0edameronswife @welcometostayingawake @spxctorsslxt @username21mk @lucianadraven32

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