#so i guess if anyone's got any rvb prompts

[tblsomedoodles]

Just me back on my rvb bullshit in the form of some rare pair cuddles.

I drew Simmons being clingy last time, so now it was wash's turn. and i was actually brave enough to start posting the fic for these two as well, so have that link too.

[macgyvertape]

50 or so hours into Cyberpunk 2077

This should be roughly the correct amount of time, ive been leaving the game running as I get up to get food or do stretches. Quests are roughly in order I did them

non spoilers above cut:

 i haven't found a single hat/helmet i like, and since you can't hide them I just am not wearing any. It matters that much.

I posted the other day about bugs, every few hours I play I find new bugs. some require me to go back and reload a save others I honestly can’t tell if it’s a bug or just really poor development

there are several perks that don’t quite do what the description says, like the Anamesis perk. Based on reddit and trying it out it seems to just not do anything.

sometimes in car chase segments the passenger will say “look out” as cars spawn in my path and hit me. Can’t tell if that was deliberate or a pop in issue

Yeah I’ve just totally given up on doing pacifist things unless required by a mission. Given up on doing stealth too unless a mission objective, except for sneaking around to set up a fight.

:readmore:

the delemain car quest is fun. From the shock of the one going "beep beep motherfucker" and doing a hit and run to start it off, to the GLADOS car i see a lot of people talking about. It was fun to explore the city when i might have missed places like the landfill apparently there is follow up on T-bug's death if you go back to the quick hack shop in Kabuki. It's not much but better than nothing I made the pass with Panam of "what if the room just had one bed". I know she won't do a wlw romance, which is fine since I wouldn’t have chosen her.  I enjoy her as a character, don’t get me wrong, my V considers her as a friend, but it seems like theres always drama going on which would be tiring. I would have gone for a fling, i like her leotard-pants combo with all the straps

but also her questline was buggy as hell. Multiple cases of having to reload due to clipping into objects, including her in a driving section, or just insta-dying when collision physics with some rocks broke "your neural network can no longer function independantly of the chip" me slapping my desk: s y m b i o te!!! come on lets have some s y m b i o s i s

in the scene with hellman i really liked how Johnny moved around the room. It made him feel like he was really there. it was hard to follow the convo as I left the room, i would not have understood it without subtitles. But i guess Takemura fucking waterboarded hellman. :|

lol I hope the dialogue is different b/c i refuse to smoke for Johnny

i am level 18 and still can't beat the first opponents in the fist fighting quest. ffs

I looked up the romances options so I went to do the I fought the law quest as soon as i got it. ACAB, but like I literally just met River Ward 2 minutes ago, and I really like him. His earring and cyborg eye, his big fluffy coat. I'm definitely gonna sleep with him Ok i like how when River Ward is dealing with the tiger claws if you interject it leads to a fight. It goes better if you follow his instructions and let him deal with it. Seriously I enjoy that sometimes its good to not pick a dialogue choice.

during the red queen club part, there was no dialogue over the phone. So i reloaded a save and got myself spotted and attacked. Then River showed up to help me <3 and it was more enjoyable having him there. I honestly am not sure if him not going to the club level is bug or not.

then uuuuuugh the worst of irl police "cops are my family" from Detective Han. Again ACAB "FRATERNITY OF CITY COPS RESEMBLES A [Nomad] CLAN NOT AT ALL" ok a few minutes ago i was complaining about bugs, but the character modeling in this game is good (when they're there). You can see body posture, characters jiggle their legs when they are nervous. Like I though character A was just throwing a cigarette on the ground, but then character B flinches back; I realize Char A threw it at B as a fuck you

I'm honestly curious if "I fought the Law" quest will have any impact later on. My choices were that I thought there was more going on than Holt being the only person behind this (based on how complicated the main questline heist is, and keeping an eye on some of the in game news), and told him not to take it to internal affairs, and I loved his response of how he doesn't give a shit what we think, he's doing it anyway.

In the elevator to report in, Johnny said "this muck is deeper than you think, tell them nothing", so i just said that the case was complicated. anyway i love how much of a sarcastic asshole V is

I thought i was being nonlethal with the monk quest, but it seems i accidently killed someone. RIP, but thats kind of the problem with this game. Like when i do the non lethal cyberpychosis quests I equip my non lethal modded gun and hope for the est. I like how a go here kill things quest led to Charles the ripperdoc. He's getting all his parts from scav gang members so I felt obligated to take him out. I got a police bounty for it but w/e.

I merged the Delemain fragments with the whole. Guess he's the meta now. (Side note: some of my favorite rvb fanfic plots are Ai consiousness/memory merging with the humans, so I’m having fun with this game and look foward to introspective fanfic)

Honestly Jonny made some good points, the fragments didn't deserve to die; but also destroying the core and freeing the fragments, they couldn't really function alone.

I was able to rescue Saul fine with stealth. Using cameras and the synapse overload really made it easy.  Can't use the sniper rifle reward b/c I don't have the stats for it, and while it has a silencer the fact that it's a ricochette weapon and not a shoot through walls weapons, makes it not as good imo; and theres a legendary one that is stats free for only 100k.

Lol made a pass again at Panam, and she immediately shut me down. I then did Mitch's quest and I love every time someone tells V they area  good person.

I hacked the operation carpe noctem shard, and wow the corporations are using ai to make people have cyberpsychosis, or something like that. What a shocker /s, I've played Deus Ex HR before

lol driving through the unifinished interstate, past the fight from Panam's first quest I found a "batcave" with a very nice car, and a manifesto written by "muckman'. But here's my complaint about the loot, there is a legendary top, but it had 16 armor. My current top has 84 armor, like why would i switch?? then later i found a bunker with soviet spies in it. Wild

Doing River's second quest, love the timing of as soon as you ask, why are we breaking in, someone shows up to tell you he got kicked off the force. It's funny how Johnny comments how maybe River's into you, and V just doubts Johnny's words. Love how the first kid asks River if I'm his girlfriend. also wow like oof both the second parts of Judy and River's quest are SUPER fucked UP!! oof like i stopped doing first person mode on the braindances for those quests as soon as i could, just made me too uncomfortable seeing that in first person.

DRIVING IN THE GAME IS BAD! nowhere is it more apparent than the sinnerman quest, which took me 3 times to get the driving section done, as cars spawned out of nowhere to hit me. Then when you restart, there is a bunch of dialogue it doesn't let you fast forward through. The rest of the Sinnerman questline is interesting. My V took every option to tell the dude that he was messed up, and what he was doing was wrong. idk, I was surprised how much dialogue there was that let you buy into his whole "forgiveness thing" and how there wasn't any real dialogue to call him the fuck out, that in seeking forgiveness he continues to do harm both emotional to the mother of the man he killed, but also that he got the husband killed via cop. The later follow up quest, I told him that what he is doing is crazy, studio is just going to profit off this vid. Then I refused to join him prayer, and told him fuck no i wasn't going to hammer him to the cross, or even watch. Yes, the man is scared of dying, and the corporation is exploiting him, but he keeps creating burdens for others.  I think the discussion on this quest will be interesting to read, it's definitely my own personal experience with religion coloring my view. Anyway back to a main quest, yeah i don't trust Placide, especially in that scene where he grabs my hand, then jacks in. I ran off to do most of the sidequests here and got some criticism from him. I do love how in the cinema the western movie switches to a mission brief as the netwatch agent talks. its a fun enviromental detail.  I took the netwatch offer, i don't think he's being fully honest with me, but he didn't put a virus in my head. As I told Placide later, I didn't pick a side. I like how you can then talk with the agent, who is a fan of Western movies, b/c they show "a simpler time where all good guys carry badges" :eyeroll:, and then V recommends Unforgiven, which from the wiki summary goes against that theme.

Looks like the Voodoo boys all got killed by Netwatch, but I as revenge for them trying to set me up I'm fine with it. Honestly after speaking with ai!Alt I don’t believe their plan of trying to be on good relations with AI would work. 

doing the johnny flashback 2, and wow Johnny really is an asshole. Like I had gotten so used to him in side missions I forgot how self centered and unlikable he was.You constantly get prompts to drink or do drugs, which I ignored. But i do love the goth/punk love Rogue and others have.

lol i called it, when Hellman said that the engram would seek to override the host, put V on the engram. I really like how as the relic malfunctions, you wind up in the chair with a cigarette, which you can either smoke and say you are turning into Johnny or throw away. My dialogue "your problem is the ends justify the means", which is true!!! He and Rogue detonated a nuke downtown, does anyone know that, and like ask Rogue about it????

(Funny you can ask Rouge about Johnny silverhand, over the phone, then the game bugs out and spawns her npc where you are. She doens't say much about the nuke, but she does say no one trusts you for jobs). The line of no one trusting you for jobs is pretty funny at level 46 street cred where im at “respected” status. really loving the family atmosphere at River's 3rd quest. Also his big strong arms, and the fact he is no longer a cop. I totally let the kids win, and wow the family dinner where they GRILL YOU over the relationship and try to set the two of you up, then the water tower scene!!!!! I don't love the first person sex cutscenes but they do have personality. I'm glad afterwards you got to tell River about the biochip and that you might die. Because he's so far removed from your personal plot. So I took that option to back out of a relationship.

I do love that you wake up with "river's tanktop" that says "fuck the police" It actually has extremely good armor stats, so thats what I'll wear now.

panam 3rd quest, when shes like why did you help me, I'm like "because it's important to you". Basically the closest you can get to "when a friend asks for help you help them", which as an ex-nomad backstory I really choose the nomad options when ever i can Paralezes quest part 2! I love the piano song but I always think of it as ocean's 11 music. It's also fun to see the computer and see Judy recommended you for the first quest. The emails talk about "forgetting" to hire a staffer, on the balocony a strange antennia was scannable, the color of the roses was remembered wrong...  lol guess i was right with those giant wall screens. Its fun environmental details that spell things out before you can notice, and it ties into some other quests where people's behavior is being altered. Actually, this quest "Dream On" I love it! For a while I've been like "wheres the illuminati conspiracy! Here it IS! I chose to follow Elisabeth's wishes and not tell her husband he was being brainwashed. In best case they program him to forget again, in worst case he ends up dead. The gaslighting Elisabeth described is CHILLING, her husband describes a vacation she can't remember and she doesn't know whose memories have been messed with. On your way to the plaza you get a call from someone/something that says the know exactly WHAT you are, any you black out!!! It's such a great feeling of helplessness that you're just one person in a world so big that you can't fight every power. As Johnny said, could be a corporation, could be a rogue ai, either way Jefferson is fucked (and so are you).

[lazyfox411]

Zombie on the Doorstep

Requested by anon, from an ask meme! Fandom is rvb and it’s tuckington, since you let me choose and i am trash lol. Sort of a modern au, Wash showing up on Tucker’s doorstep with a broken leg and covered in little cuts. Thanks so much for sending in a prompt, I really appreciate it! So sorry it’s taken so long to get out, I’ve had a very busy time having to move out of my dorm because of these coronavirus precautions. If anyone else would like to send in a prompt, feel free!

Length: 1623 words

There’s absolutely nothing on TV. 

Tucker sighs, face half smushed into a couch cushion, arm extended to point the remote, and flicks through the channels one last time. Infomercials, the news, a documentary about gazelles or something, and a dumb zombie movie he’s seen about a thousand times. He settles on the zombies and ambles to the fridge for another beer. 

Spending Friday night by yourself, he decides, is the fucking worst. Ever since moving to this godawful town, leaving his friends behind and working a dumb nine to five office job, he’s felt like all the life is sucked out of the world. But he didn’t do this for him. This neighborhood is safer, schools here are way better, more expensive, but better, and Junior has made new friends and is happier than he’s ever been. 

Okay, so maybe not all the life has been sucked out, Tucker thinks, smiling at the family photos hung on the wall. Junior isn’t here tonight, though, he’s having a sleepover at his new friend’s house, and so Tucker is all alone, with nothing but a shitty beer and a shitty zombie movie to keep him company. He sighs again and turns the volume up, bright screen flashing around the dark living room. 

About halfway through the movie, Tucker is bored out of his mind and also debating whether or not to leave the comfort of the couch for a snack. Before he can choose, there’s a knock at the door, or at least something that sounds like a knock. It’s faint and uneven and makes Tucker wonder if it was just the wind, but no, there’s definitely a shadow swaying in the window.

He slowly makes his way to door, a little voice in the back of his skull telling him to grab something to use as a weapon in case it’s a zombie. 

What the hell? he asks himself. Get ahold of yourself, man, it’s a movie.

Still. He picks up his empty beer bottle. Grips the neck firmly. Just in case. He is a grown ass man and he is not afraid of zombies, he’s just. Being prepared, is all. He can’t believe he’s letting the dumb zombie movie get into his head.

The man behind the door, though he could be mistaken for someone doing his best impression of one, is not a zombie. Tucker blinks in surprise. “Wash?” 

Wash is the only person in this town who hasn’t treated Tucker like a shitty outsider since moving here. It may have something to do with people treating Wash like he is also a shitty outsider. Either way, Wash is about the only person even coming close to the friend territory for Tucker. He is also the last person Tucker expected to find on his doorstep. 

Wash staggers forward and makes a strained sort of moaning sound, and Tucker momentarily reconsiders the zombie theory until he gets a good look at Wash, leaning heavily against the doorframe, breathing hard, and bleeding from a gash on his forehead. He’s not the risen undead, he’s just hurt. Pretty badly.

“Jesus, Wash,” Tucker moves to support him and gently lead him inside, out of the cold. “What the hell happened, man? Are you okay?” 

He’s obviously very much not okay, but after Tucker gets him seated on the couch and he takes a few deep breaths, some of the colour returns to his face.

“I kind of, um…crashed my car.” Wash rubs a hand sheepishly along the back of his neck, a nervous habit Tucker’s noticed in just the short time they’ve known each other. With the other hand, he gestures outside, though the still-open door.

Tucker looks, and, sure enough, sees Wash’s little grey sedan a little farther down the road, rendered useless with its hood bent around a tree. There is a nasty curve in the road right there, and with the strong wind that makes it hard to even pull the door closed, it isn’t difficult to imagine what happened.

Wash is apologizing, talking too fast and moving his hands, embarrassed, saying, “I just knew that you lived here from that one time I dropped you off and I’m really sorry to bother you but I was just hoping that maybe I could borrow your phone because mine sort of got broken and I just need to call a tow truck and then I’ll be out of your hair—”

“Tow truck?” Tucker stares at Wash incredulously, who is still bleeding from a thousand tiny cuts on his face and is avoiding putting any weight on his visibly swollen left leg. “Tow truck?” he repeats, “are you out of your mind? Wash, you need an ambulance.”

“No!” Wash jumps up to put himself between Tucker and his cell phone sitting on the coffee table. He lands on his bad leg and nearly crumples to the floor.

Even as Tucker helps him back onto the couch, Wash is adamant. “No ambulances. I’m not going to the hospital.”

“Well you’re sure as hell not leaving this house, then, because I know for a fact you aren’t going to look after yourself.” 

Wash sighs and crosses his arms. Then he winces and uncrosses them

“You can stay here tonight,” Tucker offers, because he is just a nice person like that and definitely not because of the strange feeling in his gut that says he doesn’t want Wash to leave. For sure, it’s because he’s nice, and not that feeling, at all whatsoever. “Don’t worry about the car, we can deal with that tomorrow.” 

Wash looks up at him, dumbfounded. “A-Are you sure? You don’t have to do that, Tucker, really, I’m okay. I don’t want to impose.” 

I’m okay is possibly the most blatant lie Tucker’s ever heard in his entire life, but he doesn’t call Wash out on it. Instead, he says, “Dude, don’t use big words, I don’t know what they mean.”

Wash opens his mouth, probably to argue that impose is actually a relatively small word, but Tucker is leaving the room. He returns moments later with a first aid kit and a couple ice packs.

Wash tries to protest at that, too, insisting he’s fine.

“Shut up,” Tucker tells him, “I’m a doctor.”

Tucker is most definitely not a doctor, and Wash knows this, but it amuses him enough to listen and shut his mouth. He audibly holds back a groan as Tucker lifts his leg to prop it up on a throw pillow.

“I know, I know,” Tucker says, surprising even himself with how gentle that sounded. He quickly changes tone to, “But you’re supposed to elevate it so it doesn’t get all, like, swollen and shit.”

“You don’t sound like a doctor,” Wash informs him.

“Well, I don’t normally do broken bones. I specialize in love,” Tucker says, waggling his eyebrows exaggeratedly. That earns an eyeroll and a soft smile from Wash, so he counts it as a win. 

He pulls out some band-aids and little antiseptic wipe thingies (okay, yeah, he’s really not a doctor), and gets to work tending the cuts on Wash’s face. The car window must have been smashed. He tries his damnedest not to make awkward eye contact with Wash while staring at his face. Wash does his part by focusing on a very interesting thread coming loose from the couch.

“There.” Tucker leans back and admires his handiwork, and gives Wash the ice packs to distribute them as he pleases. One goes to his leg, and the other, his ribs. “How’re you feeling?”

“Better,” Wash says sincerely. “Thank you Tucker.”

Tucker feels a lot more flustered than he thinks he should feel, and nods, speechless, before retreating to the kitchen.

He roots around the refrigerator for some leftover pizza. He doesn’t have a whole lot of food in the house right now, but it’s better than nothing. He can guess with a fair amount of certainty that Wash hasn’t eaten yet today. Plus, it will be a lot harder for Wash to say things to fluster him when his mouth his pull of pizza.

He snags some pain killers, too. Wash will be too proud to ask for them, but he’ll appreciate them, Tucker is sure.

It occurs to Tucker that maybe Wash is a little farther into friend territory than he thought, since Tucker knows all these things about him. He decides not to dwell on that idea right this second. Or any future seconds.

He returns, hands out the snacks and medicine, and makes himself comfortable next to Wash on the couch. Wash is lying down, tips of his hair brushing against Tucker’s thigh. It tickles, but he doesn’t mind. He reaches over the back of the couch and snags a blanket, pulling it over Wash. Wash freezes, mid-bite of pizza, but doesn’t say anything. Tucker grabs his own slice and turns his attention back to the TV, to the stupid movie.

Wash nitpicks, highlighting details that are left out, and unrealistic stunts the characters are pulling off, tentatively at first, and more enthusiastically when Tucker doesn’t discourage it. Tucker jumps at the jump scare, it is indeed called that for a reason, and he feels Wash chuckle. It’s a nice feeling, even though it’s at his expense, and he thinks maybe the movie isn’t so dumb after all.

By the time it’s over, Tucker doesn’t feel so lonely anymore. He looks down at Wash.

“That,” Wash blinks at the TV as the credits roll past, “that was the worst ending, ever. Of all time.”

Tucker smiles. Wash smiles back. Tucker has seen the movie a thousand times before and hated it, but this time, he thinks the ending seemed pretty good.

[renaroo]

The Search (16/16)

Disclaimer: Red vs Blue and related characters are the property of Rooster Teeth. Warnings: Language, Canon-typical violence, Psychological manipulation and trauma Rating: T Synopsis: [Canon Divergence - Alternate S15] The Reds and Blues saved Chorus, but it has been a year and they are still missing. A motley crew has been gathered with the common goal of finding the war heroes, though the road is more troubled than anyone seems to realize.

A/N: Another year, another season of RvB long, long out pacing my writing of an alternate universe. And the more that my worldbuilding skills get a bit of a kick in the shins. Hopefully, you all enjoyed this installment because I absolutely loved and appreciated hearing from you all throughout the publication of this fic. 

Thank you all so much for the support, the patience, and just in general the fun. 

Special thanks to @secretlystephaniebrown, Yin, Lardo137, and # for the comments and feedback!

When Will It End?

She wasn’t expecting company. At least, that was what she told herself as she sat on the ledge, staring at the small projection before her. With her helmet on her lap, the AI’s form was lower than his usual eye level, but it felt, somehow, more personable that way. She could almost drown out the words that Epsilon was saying and pretend that it was in real time. Not frozen forever in a message she had purposefully neglected to open for so long.

Carolina told herself she hadn’t been expecting company, because she almost never allowed her emotions to be worn so clearly on her sleeves. She almost never let the stray tears fall from her cheeks without recourse.

Truthfully, she had desperately wanted to be found before she got to that point. But she hadn’t, so she let the tears and emotions come as she finally listened to the brother she hardly knew’s words.

His last words. For her.

“Closure kinda sucks, because that means things are over. And, well, if you’re anything like me — and we both know, you kinda are — you’re really really bad at admitting when things are actually over, Cee. Over — closure — it’s like the end of a whole world. I should know. I spent a few months inside my own brain ending a few of them. Long story. I probably told you at least twice about it, probably on a long night where neither of us could go to sleep. Let’s just say, a memory file degrades just like a memory memory over time.

“And… I didn’t want to admit it. That it was over. That we would eventually be over. But sometimes life sucking fucks, and you don’t get to make those calls before it’s too late. And I’m… still a memory. Good or bad one, I don’t know. I don’t know how you tell which kind of memory you are. I just know that I was happy to be a memory with you, with the Reds and Blues and Wash and… Well, especially you. My time was kind of short. But, hell, aren’t all memories?

“I just knew… I had to have an ending sooner rather than later, whether I wanted it or not, so I tried… I tried to make it count. I hope it did. No. I know it did. I have faith that it did. That’s the reason I’m making these final files. Sending them out. Having faith that you’ll have another day where you can see it for yourself. Final sacrifice and what not. Heh. Who would have guessed it from a selfish prick like me?

“I guess… I guess at the end of the day, maybe you did. I know it sucks. I know it’s going to hurt. And I hate it because, well, we know each other, Cee. You’re…. you’ve inherited the stubbornness that makes an ending hurt for a good, long while. I’m sorry about that.

“You don’t like goodbyes. You don’t like endings. But I was there, I saw when you sought one out for you and York. I know it hurt when you realized you didn’t have it. Not really. So I’m giving you one. I’m giving you an ending to this. Us… If there’s some kind of digital heaven… or, well, realistically a digital Hell, I know I’ll miss you. But giving you an ending means something beautiful, something I didn’t learn for so long. Ending one chapter can take you to the next one. And, Sis, you deserve a new chapter. You’re a hero. You saved a planet. If that doesn’t get some red off your ledger, fuck the ledger.

“I love you. But, I bet you already knew that. You, and the others, are the greatest family someone could ever have. And I’m honored to always be in your memories.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, Carolina pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long, breathy exhale she had been keeping in her lungs. She was still making no effort to hide her tears, even when she new that her wish had finally, belatedly, been answered and someone was standing on the roof behind her.

Washington was hesitant, or perhaps just respectfully distant, before he slowly came around to her side. He lowered himself to sit beside Carolina and remained somber and silent for the majority of it all.

Carolina continued to sob, because the words were the most true things she had ever heard. She didn’t want things to be over. She had spent the better part of a year searching for anything but the ending or closure to their journey. She was waiting, anxiously, to lead everyone around her right back into the loops they all had been stuck in for years.

Epsilon over her shoulder, guiding the way.

Which meant there was no reason for her to listen to his last message to her. Because it wouldn’t have been.

But the search was done, the living had been found, and what was left for Carolina was an ending she hadn’t asked for, hadn’t wanted.

And very few proper people to punch left for her.

“I thought it wasn’t over… I thought… To me, it wasn’t over. It wasn’t for the longest time, and that… that was what I wanted,” Carolina admitted to Washington without prompting. “Is this how…. This shouldn’t be how it feels. The end. I’d rather not feel it at all.”

Wash quietly wrapped one arm around Carolina’s shoulders and held her close as she continued her babbling. There weren’t any comments, but then again, after nearly a year of him trying to warn her of what finding answers might mean, maybe he just didn’t have any left to share.

Carolina leaned into the half hug and inhaled sharply again, not yet over the weirdness of having her emotions so naked and revealing to anyone around her.

But, she supposed, if it was around anyone, she was glad it was with Wash. Even if that was selfish, even if she knew, deep down, that the relationship he shared with Epsilon was far more nuanced and dark and hurtful than her own.

He still didn’t say anything on it. At least not in that way.

Instead, Washington waited until the worst of Carolina’s tears were dried, just rubbing and squeezing her shoulder from time to time.

“I’m such an idiot,” Carolina growled at herself, unable to even look in Wash’s direction. “We… we saved them. We found them and saved… all of them. And I know more than anything else, that’s exactly what Epsilon would have wanted me to do. He practically told me to start a new chapter without him. But I… I still the whole time was thinking of finding him, too. I didn’t think that if we lost anyone… that if we lost anyone it would be him… God. I’m such an idiot. I’m such—“

“Missing people you love, no matter how long it feels like it’s been… it’s not something that makes you bad, let alone an idiot,” Washington assured her. “And it’s not like we knew for a year that we would find everyone but Epsilon. We…. well, we didn’t know who we’d find.”

“You knew,” Carolina reminded him darkly. “You tried to warn me—“

“I did’t know, Carolina. No one could have known,” Washington corrected her. “I wanted you to be… I don’t know. Ready for the possibility. I… I wanted us all to be ready — as much as any of us could have been — for learning the absolute worst. Because I knew I wasn’t going to be.”

Carolina looked at her oldest friend and watched the exhaustion in his eyes. It was like looking into a mirror.

“Thank you… for being the person we all needed at some time or another,” she thanked him softly.

“I try,” Wash half joked. “Though… Well, I wasn’t as close to Epsilon as the rest of you. So… I know I can’t really be the person you all need right now… But the one thing I can say for sure is that… you’re not the only one missing him. And, when you’re ready, I bet you’re not going to be the only one who needs to talk about it before completely starting a new chapter.”

Carolina nodded quietly. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. I should…” she stopped for a moment and looked back at him. “Do you really think it’s time for the new chapter? For a whole new story? I mean. We’re still outlaws. Chorus is still in rebellion against the UNSC. We still… y’know. Had a hand in the death of the Chairman.”

“It’s something to worry about later,” Washington assured her. “Right now? We worry about what matters — each other.”

“You know you’re my best friend, right?” Carolina asked.

“Emotional break through. I recorded it. You’ll never be able to take it back now,” Wash joked.

“I already take it back, that was a mistake, you’re just my subordinate,” Carolina teased back.

“Nope, I told you, no take backs,” Wash said before turning the side hug into a more proper embrace. “Thank you for being our pillar. We found everyone alive because of you and your perseverance.”

“Thank you for being my second in command. I didn’t strangle anyone on the team because of your intervention,” Carolina said back. “But you’re right. I do need to get down there and…. be there for the others. At least to talk.”

“Your forte,” Wash said seeping with sarcasm.

“Hey now,” Carolina warned. “I’ve not had as many chapters as you yet. Give me time to learn how to spend my time standing around talking and doing nothing. It takes practice.”

“Yeah it does,” Wash laughed, getting to his feet and offering Carolina a hand.

She took it and pulled herself up.

It hurt, the idea of closing on a hope, a dream. But her family — Epsilon, Wash, everyone — were right.

It was time to keep moving.

“And that concludes my report, Missus President.”

Dylan looked up from her laptop screen, ignoring the hum of the machines around her bed keeping her stable. Or the fact that they were living in the damn future in space and she still had to deal with the ridiculousness of patient gowns not really having a back of any sort.

Surely someone had had the time to develop some breakthrough in medical wardrobe.

But that was a report for another day.

At the foot of her bed was the large and imposing president of the Independent Planet of Chorus, former General Vanessa Kimball. And, at the moment, highly scrupulous protector of the Reds and Blues by her own account. For the time being, Dylan’s investigative instincts did not compel her to investigate otherwise.

“That’s what you’re thinking of submitting to your paper?” Kimball asked suspiciously. “An exposé with that amount of inflammatory content, particularly toward the UNSC and endangering relations with the Alien Covenant? Your editor won’t want you to lower the blast radius on that gun?”

Somewhat surprised, Dylan Andrews only blinked a few times before shaking her head definitively. “My editor? No, no. I’m afraid you misunderstand the situation. I took off on a long journey without any clearance or supervision, was spotted with and accused of being an accomplice to fugitives, and personally broke into several computer terminals that were probably not, legally speaking, clear for me to mess with. My career through Interstellar Daily is about as thoroughly fucked as it can be. I’m going to be posting this directly to my personal website and contact a few of my fellow reporters who would love to report on me reporting this. Taking the proverbial bullet as you will.”

Kimball was wearing a helmet but Dylan liked to think there an impressed look hiding behind the visor. Then again, pragmatically she knew better than to weave fiction with her reporting.

“You have already taken enough bullets for this story by almost any measure,” Kimball said flatly, head tilted slightly toward Dylan’s side that was still thoroughly bandaged and sore.

Almost instinctively, Dylan tenderly put her hand on her wound. “Well, true as that may be, I don’t believe things worth reporting don’t also come with some great amount of risk,” she replied. “I live for reporting these things. And punishing anything less than the truth would be unethical by my estimates.”

“Hm. With that kind of attitude, I have to wonder how tabloids get started,” Kimball hummed slightly.

“Same way freedom fighters can’t always weed out all of their anarchists,” Dylan answered. When Kimball didn’t immediately answer, the reporter began to squirm some in her bed, making her jerk at the pain of her side. “I was… ah, trying to say you and Chorus are the freedom fighters and the UNSC is wrong to label you as anarchists—“

“You didn’t appear to me to be particularly dull-witted, Miss Andrews. I assumed the best,” Kimball assured her.

“Oh! Well. Good. You should have… I just. Have a real difficult time reading people who are wearing full helmets,” Dylan admitted. “Which is… somewhat ironic considering my company for this excursion.”

“That is exactly why I make excuses for wearing a helmet as much as possible,” Kimball answered. “Now, your story more than has the support and approval of me and my people. I’d say with a quick proofread from either Agent Washington or Agent Carolina you would have the approval of the Reds and Blues as well. Then you could… well, publish it any way you decide to.”

“Great,” Dylan said, fingers tapping on the flat of the laptop, chewing on her lip. “I do need one favor from you if you don’t mind, though. I don’t think this story can really be over until I get it.”

“What’s that?” Kimball asked sternly.

“I need someone to wheel me into Siris’ room for an interview,” Dylan said. “He ties some pieces together I feel like we don’t have yet… and without them I don’t know how much outreach into the UNSC itself we’ll have.”

The request made Kimball visibly apprehensive, but it was an agreeable enough set of terms.

Before Dylan could fully process everything, two of Kimball’s guards were putting her in a wheelchair and pushing her down the hall toward the other recent patient of the ICU. Two other guards were posted at the door and seemed only convinced to move and let them in once they saw the President herself was with them.

“Mister Siris,” Dylan spoke up as they turned the corner into the room. “I have some questions for you about… your part in… all of this…”

It should have felt like more of a surprise to her when they turned the corner and saw the empty bed, bloody sheets dragging from the bed to the open window.

“What!?” Kimball screeched, turning around to face the guards who were rushing in. “Put the city on alert, make sure there is no one flying off the planet! The damn mercenary escaped! I refuse for Chorus to lose a single other life because of goddamn mercenaries!”

In the commotion, Dylan was left in her chair, looking out the window, fingers lightly curled over the keys of her keyboard in her lap.

During the chaos, she began to slowly stroke one key at a time.

The report is not yet over. Just like the dangers we all face. But, we can hope, that wherever we are left at the end of our journey, the truth is found along the way.

[rvbficwars]

Angst War Masterpost

Submissions listed under the cut!

Art Submissions:

@artsyorangeykay

Removing Bullets: Wash gets shot and Tucker has to remove the bullets on-site

Guess That First Date Isn’t Happening: Tucker has to choose between saving Caboose or saving Wash

OH: 

The Crash of Merope:

@captainkonot

Too Late: draw the team/characters of my choice finding wash and caro too late. and then i accidentally posted it early and deleted it and accidentally deleted the original request with it wh oo ps haha

@chickendentist

Felix Haunts Tucker: Felix’s ghost haunts Tucker.

@creatrixanimi

Grif Leaving Home: Grif and Kai’s last night together

One Saved, One Lost: Reds and Blue are too late to save Wash

Remote Control:

@grimmmons

After Charon:

@fandomescapades

Betrayed: Warned by Santa that Locus is about to betray him, Felix strikes First.

@hazk

That’s Not Simmons:  Grif sees his friends again - but why do they have blue visors?

Search and Receive: Season 8 - Grif falls off the cliff with the Meta, but the Reds and Blues won’t leave without finding his body

@loyle-trash

Simmons in a Closet: Spoilers for RVB ep 10. Simmons has a hard time with closets.

@lostlegendaerie

Reverse Transistor AU: A character is immortal, it’s less pleasant than it sounds

@novarcade

Cyborg Vision: Being a cyborg has its drawbacks

@quetzalcactus

Supposed to Be: After Felix dies, things start adding up to Locus. Mostly how relationships are supposed to work and how theirs did.

Over:  how about Felix deciding the only way to get past his “fear” is killing Locus?

@sabishiita

Kids of Yesterday: Some Jensen angst for @kansasjustgotgayer. Warning for a bit of blood.

A Reflection: Anon prompted “Nightmares” and I knew I had to attempt something I’ve been wanting to do since I began watching this show.

@sxpaiscia

Grif Alone:

Donut’s Nightmares: Donut has nightmares about being shot

@telekenetic-pony

Hello Gene:

Fic Submissions:

@agent-murica

A Letter to Sunday Drive: Felix is supposed to have nice parents according to Miles. How do they take to their son's actions when everything comes to light?

Beach of Melancholy Thoughts: Grif sees Simmons again – and discovers it isn’t the real Simmons.

@anneapocalypse

Line of Sight: agent illinois is actually camped out in a sniper’s nest when wash and carolina find his place. he knows he’s being hunted, and he intends to strike first. 

Please (Don’t Leave Me): CT tries to convince south to defect with her, and fails.

Cascade: the moment PFL-era tex discovers what she is 

@arirashake

An Eye Opening Experience: Locus goes back in time to the start of the Chorus trilogy

Poor Mary is A-Weeping: Carwash siblings in their current predicament?

@aquatariuswrites

Freckles: oh, for rvb angst war, maybe something with Freckles and Caboose angst?

@awesomenessagenda

Phantom Pains: What happened to Siris?

That’s What I Am To You: Caboose has never seen this many empty tables at a party.

Wait: It takes Felix twelve seconds to hit the ground.

Unwelcome: Felix knows that, if Siris knew they were leaving on this job, he’d never let them go. So Felix and Locus don’t say goodbye. They leave for Chorus, and they know they’ll never see Siris again.

@bizarrebird

Shatter: how about epsilon fragmenting inside of tuckers mind and seeing tuckers memories vanish and not being able to stop it????

Through the Fallout: After a nightmare, Wash shoots Donut again. This time, forgiveness might not come so easily.

when it’s burning low: “You have to let go” - Tuckington

@comefeedtherainn

Crumble: Franklin Delano Donut is not afraid of Frank Dufresne. But should he be?

@cptgrif

Acceptance: For the Angst War: Grif dies during N+1, after falling off the cliff at Sidewinder. Simmons deals with the aftermath.

Double: something where simmons meets fake grif? (or, a bonus if its actually the real grif ;0)  

Care: grimmons where one of them takes a bullet/other attack for the other person, maybe?

@cutellic

I Lose Everyone and Now I Lose Myself: The Director didn’t lose it just because of Alison. He lost Carolina’s older sibling too.

@daftprodigy

Last Words: Warned by Santa that Locus is about to betray him, Felix strikes first. 

@darthrevaan

lay this body down: Lavernius Tucker knows who he is, and what he’s doing. He knows why the Reds and Blues are taking these missions; he knows why they have to work with Charon. Lavernius Tucker knows who he is. (Doesn’t he?)

@deltawash

Exposure Therapy: DID!Church, with a focus on Theta, as requested by anon for the angst war. child abuse, psychiatric abuse, and very blatant manipulation of a damaged kid

@eclaire-de-lune

Asset Retrieval: Instead of imploding by itself, PFL survives until Chairman Hargrove’s investigation brings all its secrets to light. Hargrove offers some of the Freelancers a deal; in return for getting them out of prison, they’ll do whatever dirty work he needs doing, no questions asked.

York and Tex Look for the D: Something’s gone wrong with the implant. York can’t hear Delta talk anymore.

@freelancercarolina

Past is Past: The Reds and Blues had returned to Blood Gulch after Chorus as originally planned, Donut and Kaikaina reminice on past events with Carolina, horrifying and upsetting her.

@gkingoffez

Paralysis: After Temple leaves, Wash and Carolina attempt to remain calm.

The Malfunction: Simmons never meant for anyone to get hurt. Running away was supposed to avoid that.

@hakanakiki

Walnuts: Caboose genuinely doesn't seem to understand that Epsilon is gone. Tucker and Wash discuss whether they need to have a talk with him.

@hazk

The One Day Regret: Grif changes his mind and comes back, but he’s too late and Simmons is already dead

@herecomesthesniperbutt

Felix’s Last Thoughts: felix's thoughts as he falls to his death

@illumynare

Rookie: You’re so tired. You’ve never been able to tell what’s real.

@irenkaferalkitty

This is What Family Means: Kai helps Grif build a new life after the Reds and Blues depart on a new mission. When the others finally return, the reunions aren’t what any of them expect. Written for RvB Angst War, @rvbficwars, 6/9-6/16/2017.

Just Broken Pieces: AU where North sides with Locus and Felix, South fights for the People of Chorus

Magic in the Marks: Each day, he reminds himself that his sister is the most important person in the world. No matter what, she’s all that matters. Written for the RvB Angst War. Dark fic.

@isumagica

Code: Alpha Church meeting the fragments for the first time… right before he’s killed by the EMP.

@justabookworm39

Can You Repair a Broken Heart: character of your choice becomes fed up (sorta the same way Grif did this season) and leaves the group behind.

Old Habits Die Hard: For the angst war how about North calming South down after her finds her pacing the halls having a panic attack because of a nightmare?

I think you’re my best friend: Caboose breaks his leg in the middle of a fight, and Tucker gets hurt trying to drag him out. Carolina and Epsilon find them once the battle is over. Happy or sad ending, you decide. *finger guns*

@lavernius-tucker

Alone: After Chorus, Wash decides to go home to find his family, only to discover there’s nothing left. 

@loyle-trash

Simmons Has Nightmares: Simmons has nightmares

@madqueenalanna

A Story, A Love Story: Set after 15x06. Caboose and Simmons can’t sleep, so Caboose begs Simmons to tell him a story.

Grief and Closure and How To Drink Your Way Through Both: After CT’s death, her friends drink and share their memories of her.

Negative Category: Tex spends a late night watching York and Carolina train and muses on their relationship and her own.

What if this is it?: During season 10, Tucker takes a quiet moment to call Junior, but it doesn’t go as well as he hopes.

@meteoratdusk

This Pale Shade of Blue: he Reds and Blues do find Church. But there’s one problem for Carolina. It’s Alpha, not Epsilon. And he doesn’t know her.

@my-nerdy-shiny-self

My Mind Repeats the Scene: "Caboose! No!"

Protect and Defend: “I will always be there for you.” “We lost my brother! Not just an agent! Not a state name on your leaderboard! My brother! My brother is dead!”

@nms-manga-and-other-stuff

Gene and Simmons: Here’s where I’ll be posting all my entries for the angst war.  I only received two prompts, but I’ll be writing more than just those.  Thanks to @riathedreamer and @secretlystephaniebrown for sending me prompts!  All fic warnings should be listed in the tags.  If anything is improperly tagged, feel free to let me know.

The Triplets: The Triplets learn that Wash is dead

@notabyronichero

The Fire and the Flames: Agents Maine and South Dakota are sent on a mission. They have a simple set of instructions. If they fail to accomplish their mission, South could completely fall off the leaderboard. She is willing to do anything to stop that from happening.

@primtheamazing

numbers are a pain: “You’re welcome, Agent Carolina,” he says, because that’s what you’re supposed to say, and his body remembers that, his mouth moving to say you’re welcome as soon as his ears hears the thank you, no thought needed. “It was fun!” he adds himself after a moment of thinking, because it was, he got to do something he’s good at and doesn’t have to think about that reminded him of his sisters, so he could just sit there and braid and brush and think about his sisters while Agent Carolina slowly relaxed when he didn’t rip her scalp off or set her hair on fire or something.

@recxvery-xne

Unlocking the Truth:  Tucker dies on the staff of Charon. Wash gets his sword. And the fate of those who carry it.

@riathedreamer

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Grif comes back, only to discover that Simmons has started dating his doppleganger.

Theft: grif siblings shitty abusive childhood, especially their early childhood. Maybe including grif protecting Kai from one of their mom’s shitty boyfriends or something?

Digging Like You Can Bury: red team dies and grif’s the only survivor

@twinmeansneveralone

South vs North: Angst War: AU where South isn’t recruited to Project Freelancer, but her brother is. Instead, she joins the Insurrection, fighting against North.

@what-happened-to-agent-georgia

Promises Promises: North Survives the Meta taking Theta

I Know You Can Hear Me: Simmons returns to the moon to find it empty

Identity Crisis: hi! from the discord chat for the angst war: simmons keeping mistaken for jene (gene?) and even sarge and grif (if he comes back) just mistake the two soldiers, making simmons go crazy because they know him from years but this guy can easily take his place without nobody noticing. i hope u like this : ) 

@whatevertotesyourgoat

Memory: Chex role reversal: Tex is the AI that came from the director, Church is the echo

Grif: Grimmons, maybe Simmons's thoughts when he thinks Grif is dead after the Meta pulls him off the cliff? (Or you could go darker, up to you haha).

@whimsical-writer

Separation: after locking Wash and Carolina in their armor, Temple plays on Caboose’s abandonment issues, telling him they left him without saying goodbye. By @anneapocalypse Thanks Anne! Hope you enjoy this. :’D

What five things Wash would want for his team and one thing he would:

@winter-okami12

Time’s Up: Hey!! I have a prompt for the rvb angst war: Temple fails in killing Wash and Carolina, but when they go search for the reds and blues, they find out they’re already dead, and Temple kills Tucker last so Wash can watch it (Tuckington *•*).

@wordsysayswords

Please Don’t Go: The stupid part is, Tucker’s angry at the helmet. He couldn’t leave it behind, Goddammit, he just couldn’t. Abandoning it felt like abandoning some small part of Washington. And the thought makes Tucker’s stomach churn.

@zalia

Old Yeller Lived Here: the AU where Wash is still adopted by the Reds & Blues, but they’re mercenaries who work for Hargrove ;)

Cold Comfort: Tucker and Carolina find more than they bargained for when they explore the Staff of Charon.

Mod Submissions:

@a-taller-tale

You Suck: Simmon is still new to being a vampire and loses control. Set in my Vampire AU, though not in that canon.

@goodluckdetective

I Don’t Want to Set the World On Fire: The Institute catches up with Simmons.

Echoes and Other Ghosts: Tucker has to choose between believing Wash or believing Temple. He chooses Temple. (Or wash if you'd rather have fun~)

@powerfulpomegranate

Zeus: If Hawley had managed to kill Locus is ch 19, what would she have done to Carolina?

Grif driving: Simmons is hurt.

Your Fault: Carolina went with York and Tex

@renaroo

Claustrophobia: Wash and Carolina are paralyzed in a room with the bodies of their dead friends.

The Battle is Won: maine recovering/remembering himself only after killing washington

Revenge is a Dish: wesome, can you do a short where Temple and the Blues and Reds kill the Reds and Blues. But Dylan and Jax make it to the Freelancers and they plot revenge?

All In the Phrase: The Counsellor secretly brainwashed control phrases into all the Freelancer Agents. When he allies with Felix and Locus, he tells them the phrases to use on Wash and Carolina.

Time’s a Funny Thing: Grif and Simmons drift apart and years later, before he knows it, Simmons gets a wedding invitation in the mail. Could be "Took a Wrong Turn at Normal"-verse except they never patched things up. :D

@secretlystephaniebrown

Loves Me Not: schrodinger’s relationship. you don’t know if you’re boyfriends until he’s gone. grimmons.

Boxed: Felix and Locus put Wash in a box, then die before they tell anyone where it is.

Back to the Start: Tucker finds the murder fridge before they find wash and Carolina. Maybe he realizes. Maybe he doesn’t

Deprivation: Wash is kidnapped after season 11, and Tucker is told he's dead. Things go downhill from there.

Breaks Your Little Heart in TwoYork’s terminally ill from having Delta plugged in nonstop for [X] number of years. Set after “How to Heal a Broken Heart”. (bonus for “-But I just got you back!”)

Start the Clock: Tex trying to rescue Wash and Carolina from the murder fridge! And I was like “what, Tex in 15? this is the dream scenario.” Then I figured out how to make it angsty anyways

[startinginorange]

Trans RvB Week - Friday

Prompt - Social Media -

Trans Wash, Trans Tucker, mentioned Nonbinary Maine, Tuckington, past Mainewash

Tucker would tweet in an actual firefight if he could. In fact he has, occasionally, taken a quick selfie with an armor cam when he’s been pretty sure of his cover and position, and posted it later.

When Wash asks him what the fuck he was thinking later Tucker shrugs.

“It helps me keep calm.” He tries to explain. “It makes me feel like I’m not alone and like, you know, this is just another part of my life. ‘Cause I’m tweeting about it, right? And if I’m tweeting then like I’m fine.” He shakes his head. “It’s hard to explain but it works, okay?”

Wash sighs. Under the pressure of being a leading figure of the Federal and New Republic Alliance he finally caved and set up a twitter, but he still barely posts there.

He used to have an Instagram during Freelancer days, one he’d mostly use for shots of nice food, whenever they got any on the MOI, and pretty nature whenever he was on shore leave. He hasn’t used it since before Epsilon.

The paranoia that he developed to survive the downfall of Freelancer doesn’t have room for social media, and Wash doesn’t particularly care to change that. There are other things in his life worth more than social media.

(And whenever he posts pictures it makes him think back on Freelancer, of York teasing him for it and the triplets telling him to post a picture of them. York teased him even after North told him to stop because it was part of how York dealt with stress, and Wash had been considering deleting his account and growing up when Maine of all people told him not to.

"You like the account,” Maine said with his usual brief eloquence. “Fuck York.” He signed at the end, and even though Wash was still learning sign language he knew that much. It’s one of the first things he learned working with Maine.)

Wash shook himself out of his memories.

“Just be careful,” He tells Tucker.

“It’s fine, the base has its own secure network,” Tucker says. “Anyway I’ve been posting this much for ages, nothing bad happens because of it. I mean, come on, look how popular I am!”

“That’s why I’m worried,” Wash grumbles, but he looks at the screen Tucker’s holding up to him. “I mean, I guess that follower count seems pretty large?”

“You guess!?” Tucker repeats. “This is the most followers I’ve ever had and you just-”

“Well it’s not like I have context for how many followers are a lot,” Wash points out. Tucker sputters, but Wash gets distracted by something on the screen.

“What’s that?” He asks, pointing to the side.

“Oh, that?” Tucker looks at his own screen and pulls up what Wash was pointing at. It was a series of photos of Tucker standing taking waist-up selfies in various bathroom mirrors, wearing nothing but a binder in each one. “That’s my hormone series, I documented all the effects of T over the first year I took it.”

“You posted all that online?” Wash asked. It was his turn to be flabbergasted.

“Well yeah,” Tucker shrugs. “Why not? I’m not ashamed.”

“I mean, I’m not ashamed either, but…” Wash couldn’t imagine even telling the entire Internet that he was trans, much less posting photos of him transition. He didn’t even like telling people he wasn’t sure he could trust. “I guess I can’t imagine being that out.”

“It didn’t seem like that much of a big thing,” Tucker looked away and took his phone back, suddenly seeming self-concious. “Everybody who mattered already knew, ya know? Who cares about strangers.”

Wash studies Tucker, thinking again of Maine, oddly enough. They were just so different. Maine barely told anyone that he was nonbinary and also went by neural pronouns, even less than Wash tells people that he’s trans. He told Wash days after Wash came out to him, still matter-of-fact and unapologetic. It really meant something to be someone Maine came out to. And here Tucker is, posting even the details of his transition to the world, and even being self-concious about the fact that he’d done so.

They were like day and night, but they both ended up taking Wash’s heart.

“I’m glad,” Wash tells Tucker abruptly.

Tucker looks up. “What?”

“I’m glad you’re so out about being trans,” Wash says. “You’re a role model for any young trans person on this planet, and you’re going to go down in history books as being out and proud. I’m glad that you’re out like this, you-” He falters. “You’re so brave.”

Tucker blushes. “Sure, we all fight in a war and risk our lives for this planet, but I’m brave for being out on twitter.”

“There are different kinds of bravery, Tucker.” Wash is unrelenting. He’s proud and Tucker’s gonna know it.

“Well… thanks.” Tucker says. “And I’m glad, too, you know, that you came out to me. That you trusted me enough, I- the history books will probably remember you as trans too, and all, and I don’t know if they’ll think you were proud or whatever, but it doesn’t matter. 'Cause you are, and I know.” Tucker reaches out and grabs his hand. “And I’m proud of you.”

[aplaceforrtprompts]

Don’t Dream It’s Over

Pairing: North x Reader

Prompt: “so I've been rewatching rvb seasons 9 and 10, forgot how much I loved North and Washington. I don't wanna get angsty (i.e reader getting the letter that North has been killed in action) and instead wanna imagine modern au! North taking reader to a military ball/ fancy party of some sort and just being really sweet and like letting reader have their own space but never being too far. Separate but together I guess?” @agent-washball 

Word Count: 1,065

You stood in front of the mirror and did a twirl for yourself. The smile on your face was clear as you watched spin then fall back to the floor. You paused and adjusted the clip in your hair one last time before there was a knock on the door.

Your smile only grew with each footstep closer and closer to seeing him. You swung the door open breath catching as he stood there decked out in his uniform.

“Well, don't cha clean up,” you greeted, a laugh in your voice.

North’s face lit up upon seeing you. It always did. His twin kept him going on the battlefield but you were the one thing that always brought him home.

“I could say the same for you but that doesn’t even begin to cover it,” he replied.

Your cheeks flushed but you didn’t waver, “Smooth as always.”

His smile is if it was possible before he produced a small bouquet of flowers, “For you.”

“And you just keep getting smoother. Thank you,” you took the flowers and smelled them before inviting him inside for a moment as you found a vase. “Aren’t we suppose to be celebrating you and not me tonight?”

“Actually it's sort of just a celebration for all,” he explained. “Plus I don’t need an excuse to give a beautiful woman flowers.”

“You’re ridiculous,” you sighed and got the flowers situated on your table before walking back over to him.

“Ready to go?” he asked offering his arm.

“Ready as ever,” you took his arm and allowed him to lead you out.

You followed the normal traditions; going through the receiving line, toasting, listening to the speeches from The Director and a few others. You were waiting for the band to start though and the second they played you and North were the first ones on the floor. Though only a few songs in and you were already slowing down.

“Tired already?” he chuckled warmly as he held your waist, swaying to the music.

“My heels are already killing me,” you explained.

“Why did you wear heels anyway?” he looked down at your feet.

“Because someone wants to be half a foot taller than me and I wanted to dance face to face with my date. Is that so bad?” you scrunched your nose making a face at him and getting him to chuckle again.

“I’m your date now?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Always are. Just because we’re not together, doesn’t mean we can’t be together,” you answered smartly.

“Fair point,” he agreed. “Take off your shoes.”

“What? No. This is a formal event. You don’t dance shoeless,” you shook your head. “I can make it one more dance.”

“South is wearing a tux and spiking the already alcoholic punch. I think no one is going to blink if you take your shoes off for a moment,” North pointed out.

“The Director?” you raised an eyebrow.

North nodded over to the side of the stage and you looked over your shoulder to see him walking out with his twin. You sighed and let go of him before slipping off the heels. Now a few inches shorter you felt like you had to stretch to reach his neck.

North decided to pick you up and swirl you around so you were taller than him before landing you so your feet were on his like a kid dancing with their dad. He swayed and you giggled.

When the song ended you curtsied, “Thank you for that.”

“Anytime,” he nodded, “I’m going to grab us some drinks. Want to grab a table?”

You nodded and kissed his cheek before scanning the tables spying a few of your friends.

“Well, hey there,” York greeted as you took a seat.

“Hey, York. Washington,” you flashed them each a smiled, “Where are your dates?”

“A couple of stags,” he pointed his thumb between himself and Wash.

“No Carolina?” you asked knowingly.

“Not yet,” York replied, “I am saving a dance for her when she arrives.”

“And what about you, Wash?” you asked, “No lady… gentleman?”

Wash shook his head, “Not all of us get lucky and meet our soulmate when we’re kids.”

You laughed, “I’m not with North.”

“You’re not?” He perked up, confused and interested in the conversation. “I thought you guys have been dating forever.”

“They’re together just not together,” York interjected and you shot him a glare.

“Huh?” Wash turned to him.

“They’re not dating but they won’t date anyone else. Exclusive. I don’t see why they two of you just don’t date. You’re perfect for each other,” York continued.

“We might. Not now. It’s not that we won’t date anyone else. I’ve tried dating others but none of them measure up so maybe one day. I worry enough about him as a friend and he cares enough as a friend. One day maybe. We’re happy as is now though,” you explained.

“That… makes no sense,” Wash scratched his head.

“What are we talking about?” North asked joining you and place a drink in front of you.

“You. And me,” you replied and took his hand under the table.

“Ah. My favorite subject, Y/N,” he joked.

The rest of the night was filled with friendly chats, lots of laughter, and new memories. You didn’t want the night to end but it had to come to a close at some point. North drove you him and walked you to the door, insisting he use an umbrella as it started to rain. The walk from the car to your door was less than a minute but you obliged.

“Thank you for tonight,” you told him as you reached the door. A shiver went up your spine and he reached to take off his jacket. You put your hand on his, “I’ll be inside in a minute.”

“You’ll be cold until then though,” North argued.

You stepped closer and he wrapped his free arm around you, “This will do.”

He smiled down at you, “Thank you. Any night spent with you is always a joy.”

“You should over tomorrow then. We can spend it in sweats and eat pizza,” you offered.

“I can’t imagine a better Sunday evening,” he agreed.

You took the moment to stand on your toes and press your lips to his. As you pulled away you whispered, “Goodnight, North.”

“Goodnight, Y/N.”