#then i sat down with charlie and had a conversation and quickly figured out ah. its your fault

[codecicle-archive]

Congratulations on figuring out there are multiple people in your brain btw. I saw a while ago you posting about it being unsure so, YAY YOU FIGURED IT OUT!! LETSGOOOO!!! HELLO CHARLIE AND OTHER CODECICLE ALTERS!!!! YAAAYYYY!!!!!

FIGURED IT OUT!!! It really is crazy I didn't figure it out sooner, but I just assumed I was weird and didn't talk to anybody about it. Made a joke about it after multiple years of hiding it from everyone (and myself) and got told by multiple people "Hey yeah you're not normal go research stop feeling scared" and I did and now I'm friends with the people in my brain 🔥🔥 huge wins all around! LETSGOOO WOOOOOOOO CHEERING YAAAY!! Everyone rattling around up here says hi back!!!

[cucumbers-and-olives]

Enemies to Lovers Part 3

masterlist  <<part 1 <part 2 part 3 part 4 (coming soon!) >

Summary: You leave the Gillespie house and head to the airport with Charlie after an eventful two weeks. While at the airport, your flight gets delayed and you learn of some interesting news...

Category: enemies to lovers, angst, fluff

Fandom: JATP

Paring: Charlie Gillespie x fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings/Includes: arguing/fighting, small panic attack, cringy songs i wrote

A/N: so... i can never post on time. and i know its been a while since i posted the last chapter. i really hope you guys like this chapter! please reblog and comment and let me know what you think! your support means everything, and keeps me going, so thank you.

Mandatory Thanking of the Betas: thank you to @wrhen for giving me help and feedback with this chapter!

AO3 link here (coming soon!)

Please don’t repost my work without my permission, in part or whole. My work can also be found on AO3 @cucumbersandolives. Thank you!

Ice & Fire, and Enemies to Lovers are both my own songs that I wrote. All song rights go to me.

“Charlie! Y/N! Your cab is here!” Ms.Gillespie called. You checked under the bed one last time before grabbing your suitcase and backpack.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality Ms.Gillespie,” You said, walking up to her. “If you hadn’t invited me I would have spent Christmas alone, and this was so much better.”

“Christmas alone? What a loser,” Charlie remarked as he put his bag into the trunk of the cab. You just rolled your eyes.

“Charlie, be a gentleman and grab her suitcase.” Ms.Gillespie said with a calm yet authoritative tone. He grabbed your suitcase and did as he was told. “I’m sorry about him, but I’m happy you had a good time. Maybe you can join us next year?”

“I would be honored,” You said, taking a last glance around the house you had stayed at for the past two weeks.

“Hey! Let’s go!” Charlie hollered from outside. “We’re gonna miss the flight!”

“Thank you, Ms.Gillespie,” You adjusted your backpack and stepped outside to the man who had become a whiny teenager.

“Finally,” He said as you sat down. “She’s my mother, not yours.”

“I’m sorry about him,” You said to the lady in the driver's seat. “We’re all ready to go now, sorry for the wait.”

She nodded and began to drive. The scenery was nice, but it only took a couple of minutes for you to start yelling at Charlie.

“Fuck this,” You pulled out his earbud. The niceties could stop now that his mother wasn’t here. “I have tried to be nice to you this whole time, but now I can say this: You want to act like a little boy throwing a hissy fit? Fine, be my guest. But at least do it in someone else’s company, I have been nothing but kind to you, you-” You almost cussed again, but you reined yourself in. He was worth your anger but not that much of it.

He just rolled his eyes and scoffed. “Whatever you say, princess.” His words, taken in another context, could have easily been mistaken for something other than the daggers they were.

~

“It’s delayed,” He said, and that simple fact destroyed the rest of the day. “The plane has some issue. They think it’ll be at least two hours, if not more.”

“God, every time I try to like airports, something bad happens,” You said, slumping back into the uncomfortable airport chairs. You knew it wasn’t the airline’s fault, (well it kinda was), but you needed to get back to work. You fiddled with the cord on your headphones before putting them back on.

“Ah- Not so fast,” Charlie said, blocking you from putting them on. He showed you who was calling him. “If I have to talk to the boss man,” He said, referring to Kenny, “Then you do too.”

“See but I don’t,” You said, as you received a different call. “I have a different boss to talk to.”

“I mean, I’m not your boss-” The girl on the other end of the phone said, but Charlie cut her off.

“Are you actually going to talk to Jadah?” He said, about to accept Kenny’s call.

“No, Charlie. Sav’s phone died, so you talk to your boss and I’ll talk to mine.” You walked around for a bit to find a quieter corner of the airport.

“You okay, Y/N?” Jadah asked, finally.

“No, but that's for another time. What’s up?”

“So… Kenny is telling Charlie about the song showcase, but there’s one thing that he’ll leave out.” She said, leaving you on a cliffhanger.

“That is?” You said, prompting her.

“I- I may have slipped him your demos?” Jadah said slowly, and at that moment, all sense of keeping up public appearances went out the window.

“Jadah! Those were not yours to share! In any capacity!” You took a deep breath and asked your first question. “Where did you get them? I thought that the sound guy and I were the only ones with copies?” “I may have bribed him for a copy,” She said sheepishly. Even though you couldn’t see her, you knew she was nervous.

“Jadah, I have one other question.” You paused, trying to figure out how to ask nicely. “Which songs did you give him? Cause if you gave him Enemies-”

“I gave him Ice & Fire, Enemies to Lovers, and I can’t remember the third one. Please don’t be mad.”

“I’m not.” You were, a little bit. “Can you put Savannah on the phone though?” She gave a quick yes, and you could hear the phone being passed between hands.

“Y/N?” Savannah said.

“Did you know? A-about the demos,” You clarified.

“I knew you recorded them, and Jadah had me listen to them. You are amazing!”

“Thank you,” You said. “Uh, E.T.L. isn’t finished yet, but I had the time in the studio so I recorded it.” “Y/N, if you want to be a songwriter, you would be amazing!” She said, but you could tell what she meant.

“I won’t leave you in the middle of a show, Sav.” You were honest with your words. “I know.” She paused. You both knew what amazing opportunities would open up if you did. “Hold on one second, I’m going to go on mute really quick, okay?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

You could see Charlie coming towards you. His walk had a purpose, but one that was unknown to you.

“Hello, Mr.Ortega! How can I help?” You put your hand out to Charlie, signaling to him that if he talked he would be dead as Kenny spoke.

“I’m not sure if the girls have told you, but we’d love to have you perform your songs at the showcase.” He said, and you chose your words wisely, so that way Charlie wouldn’t know.

“I’d love to! What time, and which ones would you like to hear?” You asked, as you pulled out a pen and rolled up your sleeves.

“Ice & Fire, Enemies to Lovers or uh, E.T.L., I believe that was how Jadah referred to it?” He said, and you could tell he wasn’t sure what to call it.

“Yeah, I can do that, any others?” You said, scribbling down quick abbreviations of the titles.

“Oh there was one more, How to Be a Heartbreaker, I loved that one.” He said, pausing. “And I believe that Jadah mentioned that you had a few others? If you want to pick one or two, that would be great!”

“Alright! I know it’s weird to ask this, but no one has given me any details, so what time is the showcase, and where is it?” You asked, excited for the opportunity to perform.

“4:30 this afternoon, in dance studio A.” You wrote down the time quickly.

“Sir?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll be landing from my flight only an hour before that.”

“Y/N?”

“Yes?”

“You can do it.”

You scoffed a bit as the call ended. “Fuck.” You cussed under your breath.

“Wow, you talked to Kenny, and that's your response to a conversation with him? Anyways, I’m going to grab a coffee, want one?” He offered.

“Uh, I’ll just take a muffin, if they have one.” As you walked away, your brain was moving a mile a minute as you tried to figure out how everything would work.

“C’mon Y/L/N, if there’s one thing you can figure out, it’s making this work. You can do this.”

~

“Owen!” You said, running over to him.

“Hi!” He said giving you a hug, and then he looked at you. “Sav told me, you look like a mess.”

“Yeah, I know. Look, can you fix my necklace?” You said pointing to the jumbled mess it had gotten into around your neck.

“Yeah, ‘course, turn around,'' He said, and you did so. He got surprisingly close as you moved your hair away from your neck, and as he fiddled with it, you could see Charlie out of the corner of your eye. He had a look that you couldn’t put your finger on, but it almost seemed like… jealousy?

“All done!” He said, patting you on the back.

“Thank you,” You said, adjusting your sweatshirt a bit.

“You got this,” He said, grabbing your hand. “Okay?”

“Okay-” You said, but Kenny’s voice rose above everyone else's.

“Hello everyone! If you could turn your attention to the mirror, that would be great!” Everyone’s eyes turned to him, standing on a chair with a mic in hand. “Here's how this is going to work. I’d like our lovely leads to come to the mirror. Anyone else who isn’t singing can stand off of the dance floor over there,” He pointed to an area.

“If you are singing, you can follow me,” Paul said, raising his hand.

“Okay, go!” Kenny said, and as you followed Paul, you could hear him as a question. “Where is Charlie? Jeremy, check that bathroom, and Owen, look in the break room.”

~

“That was amazing Anna! Okay, who is next?” Kenny said, motioning to the person in front of you to come out. “Ah, Kevin, what do you have for us?”

Kevin began to talk, but it was hard to hear anything over your beating heart. You tried to take deep breaths, but it just got louder, and your worries began to overwhelm you. You took a step back in the line, making your way to the back. That would give you some time to overcome your worries before you went out there.

The line seemed to move a warp speed, because before you knew it, Kenny was calling your name.

“Y/N? Are you back there?” He asked, and you could hear everyone start to whisper when you didn’t respond.

“Yeah, gimme one second!” You said, fixing your shirt a bit. You got this. You can do it.

As you stepped out onto the stage Kenny’s face lit up. “There you are! How was the flight?” His eyes were kind, but as you looked into the audience, there were many shook faces.

“It was rough, but I’m happy to be here,” You said, sitting down in the chair in the middle of the stage. You kept taking deep breaths, trying, desperately to calm your nerves.

“I know you have a couple, so whenever you are ready, just say the song's name, and what characters you wrote it for,” Kenny explained. You looked around to see who was there. There was the choreo team, some Netflix executives, the lead cast, and a couple of other people who you didn’t recognize.

“This is lce & Fire, and I pictured Alex and Willie singing it.”

“Oh the desire

Like Ice & Fire

Shout it out loud

They won’t bring us down

Not a disgrace

We’ve made mistakes

Our love is strong

So sing along

I’ve been looking for you for so long

(I couldn’t find you)

Now that I’ve met you I’ve

Done something wrong

Oh, Ohhhh, Oh

Oh the desire

Like Ice & Fire

Shout it out loud

They can’t pull us down

Runnin’ from our past

Met in a crash

Through thick and thin

We can win

I’ve been looking for you for so long

(I couldn’t find you)

Now that I’ve met you I’ve

Done something wrong

Oh, Ohhhh, Oh

The forces pullin’ us together

Can’t stop, won’t stop

Oh hold on a little longer now

We’re Ice & Fire

(Fire)

Two parts of one

(One)

Can’t you see the passion in my eyes

Of Ice & Fire.”

As you finished, the final chord rang out from your guitar. The room was silent until Kenny spoke.

“That was wonderful! Booboo, Owen, what do you all think?” He said, turning to the actors for their opinion.

Booboo nodded to Owen. “Well, I think that your song embodies the characters really well. Uh, I definitely would love to sing it in the show, and I, uh personally can see our characters singing it. You wanna go?”

“Yeah, I agree with Owen on so many levels. I’d love to sing Ice & Fire, if that's okay with you Kenny,” Booboo turned to Kenny and the smile that was on his face was slowly mirrored on yours.

“Let’s do it! You wanna sing any others?” The room held its breath waiting for a response. And so did you.

Your first song had passed the test. Made it through. Your knee started bouncing again and you looked up to Savannah.

You got this. She mouthed.

You cleared your throat and moved the capo on your guitar. “Yeah, uh, this one is called Enemies to Lovers, and I didn’t write this one about any specific characters so it can be changed to fit any of them.”

You started singing and getting into the song. A door creaked open and you looked up, curious, and you continued to sing and play.

It was Charlie. He looked like a mess, like he had just gone to hell and back. Moving among the cast to find his seat, he didn’t notice you singing. Until you started the chorus.

It’s like we’re written in the stars,

Enemies to Lovers

Swinging past the bars,

Baby, we’ll discover-

You, me, we’re not so different,

You, me, we always win it,

You and me, we’re better than we seem,

Enemies

He watched you as you sang, and you, in turn, watched him. As you went into the chorus for a second time, you saw something change in his face. A realization or something, and you turned back to face Kenny as you finished the song.

We are written in the stars,

That's how we became

Well, what we are

Bicker hard and far,

Maybe we’ll discover-

You, me, we are different,

You, me, we can’t beat it,

You and me, we’re worse off than we seemed

You strummed your guitar, leaving the song and the story unfinished.

“That was amazing, unfortunately, I don’t think we have space for it in our show.” He smiled. “Someone will contact you about using Ice & Fire.”

The panel along with the rest of the room, packed up their things and started to leave until just you and the main cast remained. You started to walk out of the room when someone called out.

“Y/N! Wait!”

It was Charlie.

You looked at him, “Yes?”

“What the fuck was that song? Who’d you write it about?” He asked, like a love struck boy.

“I wrote it about you, duh!” You watched his face turn into one of- slight happiness? You laughed and started to walk away. Of course, he would think it’s about him, but why would it be? “Fuck you, Charlie. I didn’t think you were that self-centered!”

“I’m not!”He countered, and you stopped walking to look at him.

“Really? Cause only a self-centered person would ask me that… Or, do you have a crush on me? Aww, that’s so sweet!” You mocked. “See you around, lover boy.”

~

I really hope you liked that chapter! Let me know what you thought!

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[boxofbadaddiction]

Those Three Little Words

Fred Weasley x Reader

This story is inspired from a request of my F.R.I.E.N.D.S Themed Prompt List.

Prompts: 10 & 11

"Until I was 25, I thought the only response to 'I love you' was 'Oh, crap!'"/"Ah, Humour based on my pain. Aha-ha-ha."

Warnings: Swearing (per usual). Anxiety. Toxic Family. Emotional Trauma(?). Angsty. Post-War.

The War had been a sick wakeup call for Fred. He'd lived his life carefree and reckless, as he figured each day were a given. Mess up today it didn't matter because there was always tomorrow. He would strut through life as if he were invincible because, well, he always seemed that way. But death has a funny way of reshuffling ones priorities. A way of shedding light on what truly matters in your life.

Fred never considered himself as someone who lacked ambition. Frankly George and he never seemed to let anything hold them back. However, these days Fred could very well give Slytherins a run for their money - something George frequently teased him about. If there were something he wanted Merlin himself couldn't get in his way.

Not only in the case of work but his personal life as well. In love. And there was only one woman on Earth he loved. [Y/N].

He knew he loved her before the war. Before Umbridge drove him from Hogwarts in their final year. Before she left him.

It was only shortly prior, the boys epic departure, that [Y/N] had made the decision to call it quits. She knew their lives were destined to pull them in opposite directions and she never put much stock in long distance relationships. So, with a final kiss and a wish good luck, she walked out of his life. Albeit not completely.

After graduation she kept loosely in touch with the Twins, they had been friends after all, even visiting their shop on the off occasion when she could swing it. Although she was often far too busy to stay for long. Eventually she was relocated overseas for work, this officially terminating any of the limited contact had between the three.

The next time they would be in each others presence was the ill-fated battle.

[Y/N] had been keeping tabs on the events leading up to the fight. Even engaging in missions on behalf of the Order when necessary. She had proved quite a valuable asset. In the days before all Hell broke loose [Y/N] returned to Britian on 'urgent family matters' and of course she fought.

When Fred saw her again after so many years the rush of feelings that coursed through his body were nearly enough to knock him off balance. She was still so gorgeous. The [E/C] of her eyes reminding him just how deeply he loved her. Just how much he needed her. And he knew. Just knew she felt the same.

He saw it in the little things she did for him. Saw it in the tears of her eyes. In the way she broke down in his Hospital room when he finally woke, a fortnight, after his accident. Heard it in the tremble of her voice. In her 'I thought I lost you's. In the way she clung to him. He was so relieved she was okay and so happy to finally have her back in his life. Until suddenly...she wasn't anymore.

Recovery was Freds life now, but that wasn't hers. She was still needed elsewhere and as much as he wished she would stay he knew she couldn't. She still had a life left living. It were a miracle she managed to stay as long as she had. So...she left. And he wouldn't see her again for years. Six. To be exact.

Recovery had taken years from Fred. It was two and a half years before he could consider himself independent. After all that time wasted he wasn't about to let anything stand in his way. So when news carried to his ears that [Y/N] was back living in London, permanently, that after six years he could see her again, there was nothing holding him back.

In a second he'd apparated to her doorstep. Knocking on the withered wood door. Listening to the faint patter of approaching footsteps. Hearing the gentle click of the locks tumblers as they turned. Watching the steady swing of the door as it opened. Feeling the prick of burning tears behind his eyes as he stared back into her questioning gaze. Pulling her body into his as their lips collided. Relishing in the warmth that spread through his blood as she kissed back. Clung back. Loved him back. Everything he poured into her she gave right back. He swore right in that moment that he'd never let her go again. They'd wasted so much time already.

Over a year later the two could not have been deeper in love. She'd moved into the boys flat mere months after he appeared at her door. It's what Fred wanted, and Fred always gets what he wants.

Fred and Georges business had picked up quite quickly after the war. Fred insisted George begin work on the restorations while he recovered. Saying he wanted everything back in full swing by the time he was upright, to pick right back where he left off. George was sure he simply didn't fancy cleaning it himself and saw recovery as a pretty convenient excuse. Fred didn't deny his brothers claim.

They'd managed to open a second store in Hogsmead and were currently renovating the original store. Expanding the flat and lower levels. This saw the three residents temporarily relocating to the Burrow for a few days as the work was completed. Molly had insisted, saying the house were 'far too quiet' for her liking. Which was hard to believe as Ron and Hermione and Ginny and Harry all currently lived there. Of course Bill and Fleur, as well as Percy had all moved out ages ago, and Charlie was back living in Romania. Still, it beats paying accommodation elsewhere. And they couldn't deny that spending time back in their childhood home was enjoyable. It felt warm and safe and familiar, like the war had never happened and they were all just spending time together as a family.

As dinner approached on their third day home [Y/N] and Harry could be found helping prepare tonights meal, under the careful instruction of Mrs Weasley, while the rest sat comfortably within the sitting room fondly reminiscing their times spent together just like they were now.

The group were laughing haughtily at a certain memory George had recalled in which [Y/N] turned Rons entire bedroom hot pink with the Twins 'Everlasting Dye', after he thought it'd be funny to turn her hair a similar shade. Much like [Y/N]'s hair the dye hadn't faded for well over a fortnight as the Twins found the whole thing all too funny and refused them the instant remover.

"God, I love her." Fred smiled brightly at the memory, "I'm going to marry that woman." He stated matter-of-factly.

"Sure she likes you that much?" Ginny quipped.

"Certain, dear Sister." Ginny simply nodded a look of uncertainty on her face. "What's that look for?" "Nothing." "Ginny." "well it's just...she doesn't really say it much does she?" "'Course she does. What are you on about?" "I just don't think I've ever actually heard her say she loves you before." "It's not like you're 'round us 24/7 now is it?" Fred scoffed, shaking off his sisters comment.

George meanwhile was staring towards the ceiling, brows furrowed as he contemplated Ginnys words deeply before letting out a low "hmmp" as realisation struck.

"Oh, what now?" Fred rolled his attention toward his Twin. "Nothing it's just I can't think of a time I've heard her say it either." Ginny had a look of 'I told you so' blatantly obvious on her face while Ron and Hermione thought hard on the topic as well. Freds gaze shifted quickly between his gathered family.

"Oh, so what if you've never heard it. Point is I have. And I know she loves me so it doesn't matter. But if you all must! Here," he leant back in his chair calling into the kitchen "Hey, [Y/N/N]!" "Yeah, Freddie?" She walked toward him with a loving smile. "I love you" [Y/N]'s smile faded instantly as she raised a suspicious brow, "What'd you do?" "What!?" Fred asked shocked as the eavesdroppers giggled. "No. Nothing, really! I just wanted to tell you I love you." "Oh...well I know that" she smiled, kissing him softly. Fred gave her an expectant look as she stood back. "...what?" "you love me too, yeah?" "Of course I do." There was a determination behind her words. Almost as if she were insulted by his question, to which the answer were painstakingly obvious. She soothingly ran a hand through his hair, "I've got to get back in there and help your Mother before Harry burns everything." She joked, placing a final quick kiss to his lips. He watched her leave a giddy smile on his face before turning back to his nosey family.

"See. Told you." He laid back in his seat confidently. The group all shared tight lipped, awkward, smiles. "Oh, what?!" "It's just she didn't really say it, did she?" George spoke. "Yeah she did. I asked her and she said 'yes'. End of conversation." "But she didn't actually say the words; 'I love you'." Ginnys voice intervened. "She doesn't have to." "Shouldn't it be sort of automatic?" "Like you and Harry say it every time." He rolled his eyes. "Pretty much" Ginny nodded, earning an unconvinced scoff from her brother. "Here, watch."

Ginny mirrored Freds earlier movements, calling to the kitchen, "Hey, Harry!" "Yeah, Gin?" Harry came to his fiancès call. She smiled up at him sweetly, "I love you". Harry looked around the group a little uncomfortable and unsure but smiled nonetheless. "I love you too" he placed a quick kiss to her temple. "Right, that's all I wanted you can go now." Ginny turned back in her chair as Harry walked away very confused.

"Automatic." She gestured widely with her hands, a triumphant look on her face. "Oh piss off." Fred scowled. "Doesn't matter if she 'says the words' or not. I know she loves me. Doesn't bother me." "Good for you, Freddie." Ron spoke encouragingly. "So you're on my side?" "Absolutely!" "It wouldn't bother you if Hermione never-" "oh GOD no! She has to say the words. I need the reassurance." He looked up to his girlfriend, who in turn lovingly took his hand in hers.

"Alright. So it's a little strange. But I bet I can have her saying it before we leave." "In four days?" George questioned, sceptical. "Yep. I'll make her." "How romantic. With charm like that it's a wonder why she hasn't said it already." His Twin chuckled. "Why don't you just talk to her about it? Maybe there's a reason." Hermione piped. "Nah. My ways better." Fred shook his head, tapping his knees lightly as he thought.

And so began, what Fred would soon discover to be, the most difficult challenge he'd ever attempted.

It started out simply enough; with a few added 'I love you's here and there. Whether the moment called for it or not. Although after the war Fred had become notably more vocal in expressing his love towards family and friends, he kicked it up a notch in an attempt to coax those very words from the mouth of his partner. Quickly escalating to more grand and romantic gestures.

The first was a ridiculously large bouquet of vividly yellow roses. Moving onto a private picnic for two atop the Hill which rested behind the Burrow. At sunset he had dragged [Y/N] from the home to where he laid a blanket and candles, with soft music playing in the background, as well as having organised a platter of all their favourite foods. Ending the meal rather...intimately. During which he was sure to further praise her and whisper sweet, loving words in her ear. Telling her just how much he loved her.

His constant showering of affection had granted him plenty of appreciation in return. His words always being met with the usual "I do too"s and "Me too"s even a couple "Dittos" they always had, though he was yet to receive any "I love you"s. Which hadn't bothered him before, but now was proving to be mildly infuriating and very disheartening, really.

Failure wasn't something Fred was used to anymore. To think he was unable to get his long term partner to say those three little words was quickly making him uncomfortable.

By the fourth and final morning, since setting himself this little challenge, Fred was spent. He was sure he'd tried everything. Grand gestures. Romantic dates. Surprise kisses. Great sex. He had even seriously considered proposing, as a last resort. But these were not the circumstances in which he wanted to do so under, when he did he wanted it to be perfect. Maybe the Imperius - NO! no. Too drastic.

Why was nothing working? Suddenly Ginnys amusing quip wasn't so funny anymore and struck a vein far too close to home. Was it possible he was wrong and she simply didn't feel the same way?

All manner of sickeningly worrisome thoughts began to flood through his mind as he lay awake. He starred at the woman he loved so fiercely, so passionately, he could swear she were the only reason his heart kept bleeding.

He watched her as she slept peacefully, tucked tight against his chest, whilst he absent-mindedly stroked her hair, contemplating a reality which he much rather never come true. One in which she didn't love him.

He used to be so sure but now...now he was terrified. He'd never thought much on what form his Boggart would assume if he ever were to face one. He knew in this moment though that is exactly what shape it would take. Her.

She'd approach him slowly. An evil grin and amused brow raised upon her features. She'd tell him what a fool he was. How stupid he was to ever think a woman like her could love a boy like him. That she only stayed with him out of pity. How humiliated and desperate he seemed that day on her doorstep. How it would have been better if he had just given up, never fought to survive after the explosion. How much better it'd have been if he just died in War. She could have found real love, lived a happy life away from the embarrassing one she led with him in it.

Tears burned red in the whites of his eyes as his chest shuddered with every quickened and panicking breath he took. His heart thundering in his ears as the room began to spin. He was suffocating. Sweat streamed down his temples. He had to get out. Escape.

Sliding as quickly and carefully as he could from beneath the covers without disturbing the sleeping woman in his bed, he took for the shower. Praying the steam would unfog his mind. That the water would wash away his doubts and anxiety.

The whole time he tried to rationalise why [Y/N] wouldn't say the words. Reassuring himself that it didn't matter. Shouldn't matter. He left the bathroom long after the water had run cold feeling only moderately better than when he'd entered. At least now he had a modicum of control over his body. His emotions on the other hand...

He slowly descended the steps of his childhood home, face emotionless, to the sound of light chatter and clinking of various dishes. Everyone was already gathered around the table eating breakfast.

"Ah, there you are!" George announced as Fred entered the kitchen, "clean now are we? Thought you'd must have drowned in there." He joked. Fred offered a light chuckle and forced smile as he sat himself between his Twin and partner. "What's this the wake then?"

[Y/N] leant into his side, placing a kiss to his cheek as her hand traced circles on his lower back. "Morning, Hun" she murmured tenderly, chin resting against his shoulder as she peered up at him. He didn't look at her, simply humming in response. His hand briefly came to squeeze her thigh before quickly retracting. This did little to evoke a sense of ease within his significant other.

Over the eighteen months they'd shared together [Y/N] had long since become accustomed to his dramatic morning greetings. Usually, as they'd wake up together, it'd involve him peppering her face and neck in countless kisses before joining George for breakfast. On days when they'd wake to find themselves alone under the covers, the other having obviously awoke long ago, he'd surprise her. Lifting her off her feet and spinning her through the air then, placing her back down, kissing her deeply.

The only times she'd seen him like this were nights when his dreams had been plagued with flashbacks from the Battle. She assumed he'd slept peacefully. He hadn't had any nightmares in months and would usually, unintentionally, wake her during them. "You okay, Freddie?" "Yeah."

Totally convincing.

The rest of the day Fred was cold. To everyone but [Y/N] especially. He was having difficulty even looking at her. She'd tried talking with him but he insisted there was nothing the matter. Didn't keep her from worrying.

After dinner everyone moved into the lounge, engaging in various bits of conversation. Everyone aside from Fred. No one was sure when he'd disappeared but his absence was noted nonetheless. [Y/N] was the one to search for him. Found standing within the garden over looking the sunset.

She could see the discontent held in his body, the way he stood so rigid. The hollow expression on his features, completely devoid of any emotion. It hurt her seeing him this way.

"Hey, You." She spoke hesitantly. Fred turned at the sound of her voice. Watching her standing tentatively before him as if unsure whether or not her presence was welcome. "Hey, You" he smiled sadly back, his frame visibly relaxing at the sight of her. "We're all missing you in there. What are you doing out here all by your lonesome?" [Y/N] said softly as she approached him, arms snaking around his waist. His hands fell to her lower back and pulled her into his body ever more so. "Just needed a bit of quiet to think" "'Think', huh?" He hummed in response. "That's never good" she grinned making him laugh lightly. "No, it isn't." He placed a slow kiss to her lips.

Breaking it shortly after as he teased, "So, you missed me?" "Every second you're not by my side I do." He rested his forehead against hers, their eyes falling shut contently. Fred exhaled comfortably,"I love you" "I do too" [Y/N] replied. "What love you?" Fred straightened himself with a cheeky expression on his face which was mirrored on that of his partners. "Stop it." "I'm serious." "You know what I mean" "Do I?".

[Y/N] had another quip ready on the tip of her tongue until noticing that cheery look he held had vanished and they were no longer standing in one anothers embrace. Her face dropped at the sight if a completely serious Fred Weasley stood in front of her. Awaiting the answer to a question she didn't fully understand. "Whats gotten into you?" She took a step toward him, to which, he took one back. "Do you love me?" "Of course I do!" "Then why don't you say it?" "I don't know what you're -" "you never say it." "I just did." "No, you agreed to a question I asked." "It's the same thing." "It's not."

The two were practically talking on top of one another. "Just...say it." He took a step towards her, to which, she took one back. "If I say it now it'll be forced and it may as well not mean anything." "Why can't you just say it!?" He snapped, more asking himself the question than her. But he needed to ask. He wasn't yelling at her but a part of [Y/N] wished he would. "I know you love me. Or at least I thought I did. I just...I need to hear you say it because sometimes I can't help but wonder - please just. Say it." Staring into her eye's pleadingly, hers stared right back in apology. "Fred..." "Forget it." He turned from her. "Fred, baby" her hand reached for his shoulder as his own ran through his hair in frustration whilst his jaw clenched. "I can't. I can't be near you right now." He shook his head, storming off towards the Hill. Ignoring her frantic, begging calls.

[Y/N] stood rooted to the spot from shock. This was one of the first fights the pair had had, and she wasn't even sure what brought it on. There'd been minor squabbles between them out of stress from work or other things but never something like this. They had such an open relationship it never got to this point, any concerns either held was always voiced and discussed. Why was this time different?

As she watched his figure slowly disappear amongst the dark as night was soon to fall, she made her decision. This time wasn't going to be different. They were going to talk about it whether he cared to or not. Even if that meant her admitting somethings she'd very much hoped never have to. So, she set off after him.

Fred stood with his back against the trunk of an old tree which grew tall on top the Hill. One hand in his pocket as the other ran his fingers over the markings carved into it's wood by the Weasley family. One engraving in particular. A relatively fresh one where he had carved [Y/N]s name next to his own last Christmas to "officially" mark her as apart of the family.

He recalled the moment vividly. How she questioned his actions, wondering if he'll still love her the same 'down the road', not to regret this decision. "Nah, you're right. I won't love you the same. I'll love you more." He'd said. "But the real question is; will you love me, or are you just going to break my heart?" To be honest. He truly hadn't expected the latter.

He was drawn from his thoughts by the approaching sound of footsteps. Turning his head he rolled his eyes upon realising it was her. "Not now." He growled. "Yes now." She shot back at him standing firm in place.

She'd planned a whole monologue on the walk to him but now that she was here, eyes meeting his, she hadn't a damn clue what to say.

"Until I was 25, I thought the only response to 'I love you' was 'oh, crap!'" She blurted out. Fred looked at her quizzically as the words settled in the air. [Y/N]'s eyes shut for a moment, kicking herself. That wasn't how she intended for the conversation to go. "I'm-I can't say the words" she began again to which Fred scoffed. "Yeah. I gathered that much." "Fred, just shut the fuck up, and listen to me!" Her stare shot daggers into the boy and he found his attention unwavering from her words.

"I didn't have a normal upbringing. I didn't get what you have. I came from a family where love was a weapon. A tool for manipulation. Something that was withheld until you were useful. Something used to excuse shitty behaviour. I didn't get the warm Christmases and intimacy you got. Before you I wasn't sure I knew what love was. My whole life had been cold. Then when you showed up at my door that day it was like hot blood began pumping through my body for the first time. You felt like life when my whole existence has been death. That's when I knew I couldn't live without you. When I knew that I...I can't say it. The words. But not just to you, I can't say them to anyone. It feels unnatural like there's a rope tied around my throat and it suffocates me. And it kills me a little bit. To look into your eyes and know that I - that I still can't - may never ... fuck. I-" [Y/N]s hand came to cover her eyes as tears fell and heartbroken sobs escaped her body.

Fred reacted on instinct, by her side in a second, pulling her into his chest. A hand gripped her back as the other fisted into her hair. "I'm sorry" she cried as he soothed her.

Fred was fighting sobs of his own, feeling as her body shudder against his and she clung to him for support. Because if she didn't her knees would buckle and she'd fall.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I-I had no idea this was...look at me." He held her shoulders taking half a step back to look at her. "I don't care if you never say the words." "But then why-" "I listened to the opinions of four prats who had no business sticking their noses in our relationship." [Y/N] chuckled sadly, wiping tears from her cheeks. "Before they said anything I honestly hadn't noticed because I knew, I know you love me. You don't have to tell me because you show me. It's in your kiss. In your eyes. Your laugh. Your nostrils as they flare when you yell at me after successfully pissing you off. Never be sorry. I shouldn't have gotten so worked up over nothing. Okay?" [Y/N] nodded in response, unable to form a sentence. Smiling sweetly his hand came to caress below her jaw."I love you." "Now you're just rubbing it in." Fred laughed, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her lips.

He's pulling away before [Y/N]s pulling him back by the collar of his shirt for a deep and passionate one. Soon breaking in dire need for air.

Her chest is heaving as she catches her breath. His eyes fall shut, pressing his head against hers gently. [Y/N]s eyes are searching his face. Why can't she just tell him? The words, those three stupid little words, are right there tearing at her throat. Wanting to be said. This is real. He is not her parents, not her toxic 'family'. He's Fred. Sweet, caring Fred. Her one and only. He's different.

She swallows hard, mouth going dry, as that familiar tightening takes hold. Trying desperately to rid herself of that strangling sensation that plagues her a trillion times a day. She's staring at him, panic coursing through her bloodstream. Her eyes clench shut as she tries to muster as much strength as she can. "I-" the words are right there. Her voice barely a whisper as she fights that rope. "I love you." [Y/N] gasps for air as a knot in the rope snaps. Eyes widening as her chest shudders before she's smiling. Fresh tears falling in relief and joy.

Fred's eyes spring open, gawking. Did she just...is he-did he imagine that? No. There's no way. "You...you-" "I love you." Her voice louder this time, more assured as a second knot snaps. He doesn't know how to react. Body and mind still processing.

Soon though he's grinning like a madman, spinning her in his arms, feeling happier than he thought possible. Placing her back on the ground both hands cup her face as his lips crash into hers.

They stay like that for a while, in one anothers arms. [Y/N]s kissing him tenderly as she pulls back to whisper the words once more, "I love you." He smiles cockily down at her before his expression shifts to one of mock surprise. "Oh, crap!" he laughs as [Y/N] rolls her eyes. "Ah, Humour based on my pain. Aha-ha-ha. You're such a bastard." She turns to walk off but he grabs her arm. Spinning her back against his chest as his other hand comes to the nape of her neck.

"Not so fast, Princess." He licks his lips smirking, voice low "say it again." She bites her lip suppressing a wide smile. "I love you." He places one final kiss before a wicked grin spreads over his face and he's quickly throwing her over his shoulder.

"Come on, love!" He starts running for the Burrow. "FRED!" [Y/N] squeals. "No time to waste! I told them I'd have to saying it before we leave." "You...oh my god, FRED! Did you place a bet on me!? You absolute GIT!"

"Love you too, sweetheart."

[unlikelymilkshakedream]

A/n: sorry this took a little longer than usual, I had a huge project for one of my classes that was the only thing on my mind for like a week. Here is part 2 to the charlie weasley story I made a while ago. Hope you enjoy!

**Flash forwards 7 months to the week before valentines day**

Love was thick in the air at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry the week before valentines day, not only were people excited to spend the day with their loved ones, but the big school dance was atop everyone's minds.

It was no different for Y/N Y/L/N and Charlie Weasley. The couple was now into their 7th month of dating and they were absolutely head over heels for each other, let alone in the time of valentines day.

In the 7 months they've been together, they of course got to all the things couples do. Sneaking around at 2am, stealing kisses in the hallways between classes, driving their friends up a wall because they couldn't stop fawning over each other, you name it.

Their friend sof course, were beyond happy for them, seeing as they were placing bets on if this year would finally be the year they go together, (of course, Barnaby had lost.)

Now coming up on valentines day, you could guess they already had a date planned.

"Y/n?" Charlie said one afternoon on their way to charms class.

"Yes charlie?" She said with the biggest grin on her face.

"I was just wondering what color my tie should be so it can match your dress at the dance." He said with that mischievous smirk.

"Hmm, I didn't know i was going to the dance, no one has asked me yet." She said looking around for someone who wasn't there.

"Ahh, fantastic! Then there won't be any competition." Charlie said as he magically pulled flowers from behind his back. "Y/n y/l/n, would you do my the honors and go to the valentines day dance with me?" He bent down as if he was curtsying.

"Why yes charlie weasley, I would love to." He stands up and kisses her cheek just as they hear a round of applause. Both turning find their friends, Penny, Rowan, Ben and Andre standing down the corridor from them.

"Congrats guys, now come on, we don't want to be late." Rowan exclaims. The couple laughs and pecks each other's lips, heading off in the direction of their class.

As y/n sits down next to her best friend Rowan, she feels a nudge in her ribs. "What Rowan?"

"Will you go to hogsmeade with me Penny, and tonks later? I'm pretty sure we're going to buy dresses. It could be a fun girls day."

"Of course Rowan, I would love to." She says with a huge grin on her face. She turns to charlie, who is talking with Ben.

"Well charlie, I known dragons are fascinating to you, but to me, I can't imagine a more terrifying things." She laughs interrupting their conversation.

"Well ben, I promise you charlie would not let one harm you." She turns towards charlie. "Hey im gonna go to hogsmeade with the girls tomorrow." He smiles

"Okay, I'll miss you." She laughs.

"Charlie ill be gone for a few hours. You'll be fine." He sighs but agrees.

The next day, y/n, tonks, Penny, and Rowan are making their way down to the village, intending on heading to the dress shop, when a snowball comes flying at tonks head. Everyone stops and turns to see Andre, Ben, Barnaby and Bill picking up snow.

The girls laugh it off and pick snow up as well, engaging in a snowball fight that the girls are clearly winning. Y/n throws one directly and Barnabys head which hits him dead in the face signaling the defeat of the boys with a tremendous roar of laughter.

As the girls say goodbye to the boys and make their way into the dress shop, to the dislike of the owner since they were wet from the snow, they are all having great times.

"I don't think I've ever seen Barnaby that shocked since when you hit him y/n." Tonks say with a roar of laughter. She laughs.

"Yeah, he didn't know what was coming ro him." They all laugh together.

"Hello ladies, what are we shopping for today?" The owner comes over and looks at the group of girls.

"Well, we would all like to purchase dresses for an upcoming ball, preferably color coordinated, although maybe not y/n since she of course has to match with her date." Penny explains with a smirk in y/n's direction.

"I see, well what colors would you like?" The women asks the girls.

"Well for me, I think red would be the best option, since charlies favorite color is red. Do you have a burgundy or wine color dress?" Y/n finishes as the owner smiles and goes to the back to look.

"Of course, charlie would love to see you in burgundy, although, I bet he already has seen more than that." Penny says with a huge smirk on her face. She of course is talking about the 2am adventure y/n and charlie took an abandoned corridor, and did some things... (ill stop there so not every single piece of mine is smut;)

Y/ns cheeks turn a deep shade of red as the owner comes back with multiple dresses to try on. A few hours later, the girls were satisfied with their purchases, y/n choosing a beautiful burgundy dress that extenuated her figure nicely, and her friends with blue dresses that all looked amazing on them.

When they got back to the castle, they went to their common rooms and decided to get some rest, as it was quite late, considering they took forever to try on dresses.

The next morning, y/n met charlie in the common room and they walked to breakfast together.

"So, you never answered my question a couple days ago." Charlie started. "What color tie shall I be wearing?" He said with a grin.

Y/n laughed at that. "I won't reveal too much, but I would go with a dark red to match my drop dead gorgeous dress." He laughed

"Ooh I can't wait." They held as hands as they walked into breakfast.

The morning of the dance was filled with sunshine through y/n's window. It was a Saturday and she was going to get ready with her friends for the ball the evening.

She started the day by getting breakfast and listening to her favorite songs. By nightfall, she was with all her friends, getting ready to have charlie drooling over her.

"Y/n, show us your beautiful dress." She went into the changing room and got on her dress, which looked amazing with her curled hair. She walked out and everyone turned to her.

"Holy shit y/n/n, you look amazing." She giggled, "thanks Rowan. Come on everyone get dressed so we can go to this thing." Within an hour everyone was making their way downstairs at 7:30pm as the dance started at 8pm.

When all the girls were downstairs at the entrance of the ball, y/n got nervous.

"Y/n, what's wrong?" Rowan asked her best friend as she had yet to enter the hall.

"I don't know Rowan, i just, what if charlie doesn't like it? What if I fall on my face like an idiot, what if-"

"Hey, hey, hey, just take a deep breathe, okay? Girl you look so beautiful you don't even know, charlie is so in love with you that he is going to think you look good no matter what. You're beautiful and you don't need to stress like this. Okay? Come on." Y/n smiled at her.

"Thanks Rowan, you're the best friend ever." They hugged and y/n entered the hall, all eyes turning towards her and Rowan. Charlies mouth dropped open and bill had to quickly shut if for him. Y/n giggled at that as she made her way over to him.

"Y/n, you look, amazing." Charlie smiled. "Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself red." He offered you his arm and you took it. Walking into the dance with Charlie, you felt such euphoria, you were with all of your friends and your boyfriend, it was the perfect night.

"Y/n, may I have this dance?" Charlie asked, standing from the table where his friends sat.

"Ah, such a gentleman. Of course charlie." She smiled at her friends as they waved.

As the couple took their place on the dance floor, they felt so in love with each other.

"You look so beautiful tonight y/n, I love this dress on you." She giggled.

"Thank you charlie, you look dashing as well." She said as she leaned in to kiss him, which he reciprocated almost immediately.

"Wow, y/n, that was,"

"Amazing." The two moved closer to each other as they danced, her head on his shoulder.

"I love you y/n." She froze in her place. He felt it and pulled away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, we're so young and i-" he didn't get to finish as she pulled him for a kiss.

"Its okay charlie, I love you too." He smiled as they continued dancing, into the most perfect night ever.

A/n: okay, this one is not as good as the first, sorry! But I hope you liked it, I think it's cute. Warning, next chapter there will be ANGST!heart break and sadness lies ahead lol. Please let me know what you thinked of this chapter, it means a lot to me <3

[moral-turpitudes]

Unfinished Business: Part 1

Trigger Warnings: Angst, Swearing, Slight mentions of past Abuse, Drugs.

Characters: Thomas Shelby x Reader

+ random character/group I made up (Romboldi & The Black Hats)

Word Count: 3,084 omfg I really did the most but I just kinda ran with it.

Summary: Y/N’s current occupation requires her to encounter Thomas Shelby, a man she thought was in her past for good, but as fate would have it, she has to face him once again, because no one can forget a Shelby. 

Requested by: @msbzowy​

Summary of request: “...Thomas lost any contact with the reader and one time while on a business deal he meets her because they’re both involved in the business. They would be fighting a lot but eventually something happens between them and the old feelings come back? You can make it sweet or steamy. No specific deal in mind, just like the general idea! Thank you in advance!” 

A/N: This was requested as a oneshot but I had so many great ideas for it based off this awesome request, so I figured I’d turn it into a 2 or 3 part fic possibly. Let me know if that’s something you’d want to read. :)

Part 1 | Part 2

Y/n walked down the wooden staircase after receiving a phone call, one hand gliding down the rail, and the other holding her suitcase. Her nerves consuming her as she ran down the hall and out the door of her house in New York. The spring air filling her lungs as she quickly walked to the edge of the street, attempting to hail a cab. As she waved her hand out, she smiled as she saw one stop and handed him some cash for his efforts. She wasn’t much for pointless conversation, especially now. She was on her way to one of the biggest meetings of her career, a career she had found herself in only 2 years prior. It was a job most people wouldn’t want, but it paid well, and since she fled Small Heath, she needed the income and the protection. 

Small Heath was a series of bittersweet memories. Seeing her friends at the tailor shops, walking down the dark cobblestone streets, and becoming particularly close to a man named Thomas Shelby. After the war, he got heavily involved in the business, dealing with rival gangs, going after commissioners, committing arson, murder, dealing with bets at the tracks, and breaking hearts most of all. In the matter of heartbreaks, y/n was his first true victim. 

As the cab rolled down the city streets, she glanced out the window, remembering all that she left behind. 

Tensions in the blinders were running high at the time of her departure from the company, back when they had a business meeting with a rival group, the Black Hats from New York. The blinders wanted to transport weapons and ammo for a cheaper price because of recent financial troubles, but they weren’t having it and the Black Hats declined, but not without blowing up one of Tommy’s supply areas. This smuggling shit was risky business to say the least, as these were being smuggled along with drugs.....snow to be exact. The little blue bottles were like gold, taking away the pain of the day while giving you the energy to go on to the next, sucking you in like a rip-tide at sea until you were consumed by the need for more. She had been all too familiarized with it because Tommy struck a deal with a huge supply of it before she left. He didn’t use it often, but Arthur was a different story.

It came as a shock to her, as she had been dating Tommy for a year before everything came crashing down. She was confronted by him at a family meeting saying that she needed to leave, that she had no place there despite her skills. She was a great shot and was helpful on many occasions, but to have her there would pose a risk they weren’t willing to take after they bombed him. So, in true Tommy fashion, he gave her some money, bought her a boarding pass, and sent her on her way to New York to start a new life, his cold eyes staring as he watched her board the ship, emotionless.

This only fueled her need to get back at him, to show him what he had lost, while also proving to herself that she didn’t need him as much as he needed her. She could make a name for herself, even if that meant working for the enemy. 

Pulling up to the brick building, she realized she was now in the belly of the beast, the Black Hats home-turf. She was never seen with the Shelby’s when they visited him in Small Heath, as she was always doing secretary work at Tommy’s place, or perched high on rooftops, aiming at the men below who had came to charlies yard for their meetings. She was always out of sight regarding those men, but now here she was, working for them. She came to them seeking any position, lying about where she came from, supplying them with her forged papers, and even hiding her accent. For as big as this gang was, they weren’t the brightest, as they accepted her in with little apprehension. 

She earned a good living for herself though, quickly becoming their main contract killer. She would travel the country and take out the people on their hit list, and in return they’d provide her with housing and a guard that would check in every so often. 

As she walked in through the heavy double doors, she nodded to one of the guards who let her through into the leader, Mr. Romboldi’s office. He smiled as she came in, fiddling with his golden ring around his finger. 

“Ah there she is...little miss Quick Shot. Nice of you to join us.” He said using her nickname she’d earned among her peers. She could hit a target from various angles and distances without much help and came to like the name she made for herself. Y/n soon nodded and stood at attention like the others, ready for the days orders.

“We have some unfinished business in Small Heath, as I’m sure you’re all aware. It’s been a while since we’ve been overseas, and we’re going to send someone tomorrow to discuss our deal once more as they’ve had recent success in a certain business venture that I’m sure we’d appreciate here.” He said with a serious look in his eyes.

“What venture?” One of the men asked.

“Gin. Buying stocks in it, selling bottles, transporting cross-country, we Americans love our gin and Mr. Shelby has a new supply. He tried to low-ball us last time with the ammo, the guns, and the snow, but I’m going to send him an offer he can’t refuse this time.” He said smirking.

“What offer is that?” Y/n asked, putting on her fake accent.

“You.” He said looking at her. Y/n’s heart sank, as she looked at him and nodded. She never wanted to see him again after he booted her out like she meant nothing to him, even if it was to save-face for him and the company and for her safety. 

“You’re going to get him to supply us the gin and get him to pay us full price for our efforts with this am I clear?” He asked.

“Yes sir.” y/n said. 

“If you fail, we’ll be meeting again under very different circumstances.” He said, an evil smile playing at his lips.

She’s known him long enough to know that he meant he’d kill her or Tommy, and as much as she hated the man who broke her heart, she still loved him at the same time, and she couldn’t let him or his family die over a silly business deal.

As soon as she was dismissed, she grabbed her suitcase and headed off to the boating docks, buying a ticket and boarding the ship. She knew her boss didn’t care when she left, as long as she got there sometime that week. And besides, she was too anxious to wait around for tomorrow, knowing this was time sensitive. 

After the grueling ride aboard the ship, she went into London after going through the necessary checks. She used her alias and made her best impression, and then went on to Small Heath as assigned. When she got out of the car, she smirked as her red heels hit the black soil covered streets. Walking by a shop, she saw a women’s tailor and decided to stop in, buying a well made pant suit. It fit well and was a nice gray color with pinstripe detailing. Looking around further, she decided on a gold pocket watch, and nice hat to match, and then went on her way after buying it all. 

Walking down the street, she saw the Garrison, causing all the memories she had with Tommy and the rest of the blinders to start coming back. They were like brothers to her and despite her bitterness, she still loved them, as they were not particularly happy in seeing her go, as that was solely Tommy’s decision. 

Y/n shook the thoughts from her head, and waited outside the shop, leaning her back against the coal-black wall. While lighting a cigarette and taking a drag from it, she looked off into the distance seeing a man in a peaked cap riding a dark horse, much different than the white one she saw two years ago. As he pulled up near Shelby Company Ltd. He stopped in his tracks as y/n took another drag of her cigarette, looking at her pocket watch.  

“Nice horse Tommy. You’re right on time.” She said relishing in the fact that she could use her normal accent. Her sunglasses and new brimmed hat helped in disguising her face.

“Thank you miss....Who are you?” He asked his eyes burning a hole through her shaded lenses. She smirked and took them and the hat off, revealing her face.

“Y/n...” He said, his eyes growing wide. He immediately took her inside and to his office, shutting the door behind him. 

“What on earth are ya fucking doing here?” He asked.

“That’s not a nice greeting for someone you haven’t seen in two years Tom. But given what happened I didn’t expect anything nice from you anyways. I’m here on business.” She said, walking past him to put her cigarette out. He watched as she walked towards him, her arms folded over her well-fitting suit, standing in front of him.

“What business is that?” He asked. 

“Oh you know, just a little...mafia business back in New York. Nothing too big... except that you’ve pissed off my boss. And now I’m sent here to try to make a deal.” She said making herself at home in one of his leather armchairs. He raised an eyebrow and sat on the edge of his desk near her. 

“What deal? Who are you working for y/n?” He asked.

“The Black Hats. Mr Romboldi to be exact...ring a bell yet? The son of a bitch who took me in after you booted me out without a goodbye? Yeah, him. He still remembers your little low-ball offer for the guns, the ammo, and-” She chuckled as she remembered the drugs. “-the fucking snow.” She said giving him daggers.

He looked down, y/n could see the gears turning in his head.

“I told you to leave and not go anywhere near them y/n. Why the hell are ya working for em aye?” He asked angrily. 

“You and I both know I couldn’t just sit around twiddling my thumbs and making pies for someone I never loved all day. I wasn’t going to be some house wife to some old bastard while I could’ve been out shooting and working a meaningful job. I wasn’t going to let myself rot.” She said, her own voice raising. 

“You didn’t have to choose this life though. You could’ve left this behind like I wanted you to.” He said lighting a cigarette. 

Y/n chuckled. “I remember what you told me one time, when I first started getting involved in Peaky business. You said and I quote, ‘you can change what you do, but you can’t change what you want.’ And you know what Tommy? I wanted this life, I wanted you, I wanted to make a name for myself, I wanted the thrill of this job because I often feel nothing. But I’ve only gotten half of that.” She said getting up, pacing around the room as he watched.

“What did you not get y/n?” He asked too focused on the mafia issue at hand to realize she mentioned him.

“You, you fucking idiot! But you threw me out, no goodbyes, no letters, nothing.” She said, her eyes filling up with tears.

“Y/n...that was two years ago. I was trying to protect you.” He said noticing the tears running down her face. 

“I had a job. I had a life here. I’m not expecting you to ever want me back but god damn it I’d like an apology. Hell, you didn’t protect me from shit.” She said, thinking about some of the things she had to do to get through to some people for her boss. She shuddered at the thought.

He looked hurt, seeing her like that, and despite it being two years since that day, he still loved her all the same, he was just terrible at showing it. He never thought he’d see her again, and in that moment he decided he wasn’t going to let her go again. 

She wiped her eyes as she felt him walk up behind her, she tensed up, not knowing what would happen next. He put his hand on her shoulder lightly, and she turned around to face him, her eyes still bright and hopeful after all that had happened. He loved her, and after she left, he mentally beat himself up over it every day. He turned to snow for a while, along with his opium, but what he truly needed was y/n. Fearing she may be too angry to every take him back, he hesitated as he brushed the tears from her cheek and kissed her. 

Instead of slapping him or walking out, she deepened the kiss, which surprised Tommy, as he pulled her as close has he could, not wanting to let her go. When they parted, lightly gasping for air, he smiled slightly and so did she. 

“I-I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry y/n.” He said stepping back from her.

She looked at him as she processed what happened, she never expected to fall right back into his arms after all she went through, but here she was, being sucked in by his ocean blue eyes once again. 

She straightened her blazer out and pushed a stray hair out of her face. 

“Why did you kiss me Thomas?” Y/n asked taking another cigarette out of her pocket and lighting it. 

Thomas thought for a moment, trying to pick his words less recklessly this time around.

“When I forced you out, I stayed up every night beating myself up. I’ll never get those nights back, but those nights made me realize something y/n.” He said.

“If you’re going to break my heart again just say it already.” She said tapping her heel impatiently. 

“I love you...y/n.” He said looking at her, studying her as she moved anxiously. He loved the way she looked, the way she carried herself, the way she wasn’t afraid to call him out. But he was terrified for the first time in his life that the woman he loved wouldn't return those very words back to him.

She looked down, exhaling a cloud of smoke. “I came here not only because of an order Tom...but because deep down despite my hate for what you did, I knew why you did it. And even though two fucking years have passed, I still haven’t been able to get you out of my head. So, I guess what the fuck I’m trying to say is that I love you too, you bastard.” She said looking up at him a light smile playing at her lips.

He smiled and walked over to her and took her hand in his, kissing it lightly. 

“I promise to never do something so foolish again y/n. I swear on me fucking life...so am I forgiven?” He asked.

She took his words into consideration and nodded, bringing his lips to hers. Breaking away, she walked around the room slowly, remembering all of their fun times in here after-hours. 

“So, about Mr. Romboldi, y/n how serious is this?” He asked.

“Well, he said that you’ll have to pay them full price for their services. He wants your gin. He sent me to persuade you to pay him for distribution and sales in the states......and It’s not easy Tommy, smuggling things.... especially alcohol back to the states........I hate him and his men believe me, but they risk their lives getting that kind of stuff so I think you should consider paying a full price.” She said.

“And if I don’t?” He asked. 

Y/n sighed. “I was also sent here because he knew you couldn’t refuse an offer if it came from a pretty woman. Now, he may have been right on that part, but he doesn’t know that I’ve been working under an alias for him, and he doesn’t know I know you. They think my name is Y/N Anderson, from Virginia. And so if you don’t take this offer, they’re going to find out, and then Mr. Romboldi and his men are gonna waltz in here and kill you, me, and everyone you care about because they’ve already been wronged once, and they don’t like being wronged a second time.” She said sternly, taking another drag from her cigarette.

He sighed and ran his hands over his head, his face growing angry.

“What is it Tommy?” Y/n asked, noticing his behavior. 

“After all this time, I thought maybe I’d be done for a moment y/n. With this whole empire of a business. But I think that moment will never come...before I stupidly forced you away, I had everything. I had this going great, and at night I could sleep. But now, when I do sleep, I dream. And in my dream, someone wants my crown.” He said with a sad look to his eyes. Y/n came over to him and hugged him gently, feeling him relax at her touch.

“Well, I’m here now. And the only way you’re going to get a break and get to keep your crown is if you help me fucking take care of this Thomas.” She said. 

He sighed and took a moment to think.

“Alright...in that case...you’re going to call him from a payphone tomorrow. You’re going to say I accept his offer now that we have the fucking funds to do so, and you’re going to tell him we can meet in a weeks time. We’ll meet in charlies yard again.” He said.

“So we have a deal then?” She asked grinning, still embracing him.

“We have a deal.” He said. 

“So now that I’m here...where shall I stay?” She asked.

“Well, first I’m going to re-introduce you to the family which I’m sure they’ll love. Then, I’ll be taking you to my place.” He said.

“And why is that?” She asked a mischievous smile playing at her lips.

“Because we have some unfinished business.” He said, before pecking her lips and ushering y/n out the door and into the family meeting room.

[chubbyreaderchan]

Technically No | Jacob Black x witch!Reader | Twilight/Buffy the Vampire Slayer Crossover| 1

jacob is over 18+ in this as well as reader! It's also a slight modern au because technology makes life easier man. And no I don't know what timeline this is. It's after Jacob phases and before Buffy dies again. So you might see Glory in this. Also it’s under a cut because this introduction/beginning is super long.

"Did you make it okay?" Buffy asked over the phone.

"Yes, Buff. I'm in my new house. I am going to my new job Monday" (Y/n) said with a soft sigh as she leaned against her new counter, having just moved from one small town to the other.

Sunnydale to Forks.

"Good. I'm glad you are safe." (Y/n) smiled a small yet sort of sad smile at the prospect of leaving the scoobs but there was a job offer in Forks that was just to good for her to not take and she was damn lucky to find a house for rent. She wondered if it was haunted. Not that was a big deal for someone who went to high school on top of a literal hellmouth.

"How's Dawny?" (Y/n) also knew that Dawn's first day back to high school was coming up as well as Buffy's first day of college for the year. "And did you get your course schedule yet?" She stated sitting in the empty living room floor eating her favorite fast food meal. Her moving truck wouldn't be there with her stuff for at least another day or two.

It wasn't exactly a house full of stuff yet, of course. She had just gone from living with her parents to on her own within a flash it seemed. It was as if the universe was pulling and placing her right in the middle of now where Washington.

"Yeah but I didn't get some of the courses I wanted. Have to try next semester." She sighed over the phone. Was it normal to talk to someone you had just left the day before as if you hadn't seen them in months? Maybe not but a lot was happening as the end of summer was coming to fruition. "Dawn is excited to go back to school"

"Interesting... She wasn't yesterday." Buffy sighed over the phone as her friend teased her. "Oh! So I'm going to try to get some essentials tomorrow!" She said suddenly remembering what she called Buffy about in the first place. "What color do you think I should decorate my kitchen in? Green? Red?" Buffy almost laughed again at one of her closest friends.

"You'll know when you actually go to the store. It's not like I can see the house." "Not yet! But you all are going to come visit me some day!" She laughed a bit. Her phone buzzed at her to charge. "Hey... Buffy. I gotta go. Phones is dying. Tell Willow and everyone I miss them."

"Will do." With that, the phone was hung up and placed on its charger.

(Y/n) sighed picking up her trash and began the work to make the floor as comfortable as possible until she could actually buy a decent bed.

--

The next morning, (Y/n) woke up at a fair hour for a Saturday and took a shower. It was nice to wash out some of the travel and sleep stink off before she slipped on her clothes for the day. Then she went to grab her phone as well as keys and her wallet. There was no way she could sleep on the floor for one more day and eating fast food everyday wasn't exactly a healthy option even if she did just arrive in town.

Sure she was still tired from the plane ride but she would stay tired. She need to find at least an air mattress. The car ride was short, it was nice. Familiar. It wasn't a huge change from one small town to another... Minus the demons and vampires. She hoped. It was simple enough to find the small plaza that had a few small shops and even a diner within walking distance of each other.

It was not even remotely difficult to find the things she oh so desperately needed. It was wonderful. (Y/n) was even able to add to her growing collection of magical artifacts when she stumbled into an antique shop. She thanked the gods that her family had loaned her a bit of cash to help her get by until she was fully working again.

Her day was going great... That was until she was hit with pangs of hunger. 'Did I even eat breakfast?' she asked herself before glancing at the time and gasping. She had been out a lot longer than she had realized.

Didn't she see a diner? She walked to her rental car and started a vague drive. Ah-ha! There was a diner.

She pulled in and was seated quite quickly. It wasn't long before her meal was ordered and her attention was drawn to her phone as she waited. There was a text message from Anya complaining about an argument she and Xander were having. (Y/n) laughed softly before responding with her opinion.

While she was distracted she didn't notice the small group enter. Especially a young man who had a slight staring problem. His eyes were locked on (Y/n) as she fiddled around with her phone. The young man was known by most as Jacob Black. A good kid who was madly in love with Bella Swan, his childhood friend.

"Jake... You okay?" Bella another member of the small group asked with concern on her face. An older man in a wheelchair who was previously chatting with the other older man in the group looked at the one named Jacob. A small knowing smile flashed over his features as he looked at his son.

'It's about damn time' Billy the man in the wheelchair thought. "Jake!" Bella's voice called him again, finally snapping the dark haired young man from his thoughts.

(Y/n) who was finally served food sat her phone down finally not even noticing the set of eyes on the back of her head.

"Is she-?" Bella whispered to Jacob just low enough for her father to not hear. "I... Think so... I think..."

"Son..." It was Billy who joined the conversation. "If you don't go talk to her... I will." Jacob's eyes went wide. How embarrassing would that be? His dad talking to his imprint before he could.

Jacob looked at the girl happily eating her dinner and playing around with her technology. Then she giggled. Oh God.

How could it be that just the day before he was trying to convince Bella not to turn into a vampire? That he was so madly and so deeply in love with the vampire girl that he defied Sam his pack leader for turn into dust and be replaced instantly by a young woman he hadn't even spoken to?

Jacob was so distracted by his thoughts he barely caught his father moving to go introduce himself. "No, wait. Dad. I'll go." He quickly stood up and wandered over to the table nervously. What was he going to say? What if she didn't like him? What if he said something dumb?

"Hey I'm Jacob." He said awkwardly, causing her to jump from what she was doing. Her face scrunched up in confusion before she finally looked up. Their eyes locked and it felt like everything stopped. Her heart beat hard against her ribcage at the very tall and dark haired man before her. "You looked lonely. Uhm. I know we just got here. But..." What was he doing? Inviting her to sit with his dad and his dad's best friend for dinner? That's weird isn't it? Especially since he was going to have dinner with a girl he was in love with.

"I'd love to join you." Why did she just agree to crash someone else's dinner? It looked like a family affair of sorts. "I'm (Y/n)!" She suddenly remembered her name. It felt like her face was on fire. He shifted from slightly nervous to having a large smile on his face. How sweet.

He even helped by carrying her stuff to the table. "This is my dad Billy. His friend Charlie and his daughter Bella." Jacob introduced allowing her to sit down. Something in the back of her mind told her that this was weird.

Something was off.

It felt... Magical. She knew magical.

But then Charlie began to talk about how he was a sheriff and the weirdness seemed to disappear. "So...where are you from?" Charlie asked trying to judge if this new girl was going to cause him trouble later. "Oh. Sunnydale," she paused. "California. Also graduated from Sunnydale high." She explained with a small smile.

Maybe it wasn't so bad joining their little dinner. It was nice having people to talk to, especially when one was so new. "What do you like to do Jake?" She said looking over at him before taking a bite of food.

"Oh, uh. I buy and flip cars right now. It's more of a side hustle really." He smiled at her. "Really?" She said with a smile on her lips. "Because the car I'm in is just a rental... If you find anything good will you think of me? I can't pay the rate they are wanting forever." She joked, gently and playfully touching his arm.

It was like fire. Both literally and figuratively. If it weren't for the people she could almost throw herself at him. But then his skin was so hot that it almost burned. "Absolutely." Jacob smiled. "What's your phone number?" He looked almost like a puppy who was just given a treat. She took his phone and put her number in and he sent her a text. A wolf emoji.

Her eyes looked him over again. Then the phone in her hand began ringing. She answered it quickly, it was the moving company.

Jacob watched as she excused herself to talk to whoever. Her once happy self was instantly deflated. Jacob did not like that at all. He felt it. He actually felt the sadness in her. Is this what it was like to have an imprint? Actually feeling their pain? She walked back in and sighed. 

“Are you okay?” Jacob asked with what (Y/n) could only describe as genuine concern. 

“My moving truck is going to be late. On Monday while I’m at work instead of on Sunday.” She shouldn’t be so easy to talk to someone she had only known for 20 minutes. Jacob didn’t like the look on her face one of distress. 

Jacob looked her over again, hardly getting tired of looking at her face. “I have some friends on the Res. Maybe we can meet them. Help you out..” Jacob offered without a second thought. 

“Really?” she looked at him unsure at first. 

Jacob nodded, a bright smile on his face. 

“O-okay” She agreed. 

a/n: Stopping this one here and writing part 2 next. If I didn’t this would be 3000 words. Don’t worry I’m literally going from posting this part to writing the next bit because I already know what I’m going to do. Then I’m going to write a Paul version of this. 

[beanie-beebo-writes]

It follows

Series Summary: Reader is running from financial problems and his/her studies, will they catch up with him/her? Charlie's close friends (none other than Sam and Dean) go to check up on the reader due to Charlie becoming worried for him/her. Trouble pursues, as the reader wants to keep silent about his/her struggles.

Warnings: None

Masterlist

Chapter 6

Dean instantly cut the engine and looked at you incredulously. Expecting the reaction, you held up your hands in defense.

"Look, I know what you're thinking-"

"Absolutely not." Dean interrupted, resulting in a look from his brother.

"Well wait, Dean. (S/he) seems to know what they're doing." Sam interjected.

"Sam." He warned.

"Give us a moment, (Y/N)." Sam said, stepping away from the cooled car.

This had to work, it had to.

"What the hell, Sam?"

"Dean, give (him/her) a chance. (S/he) said they know what they're doing, and (S/he) is definitely capable. Besides, maybe a couple hunts would get (his/her) mind off of whatever is chasing (him/her)." Sam argued.

"You believe this? Sam, I'm not being responsible for another person. Plus, we don't even know (him/her)! (Y/N) may know about hunting, but it doesn't mean (s/he) can hunt."

"(S/he) can. And yes Dean, I do believe (him/her). I think I understand (him/her)."

"How?"

"How can you not see it? (Y/N) is basically submerged in my footsteps. Maybe we can help (him/her)!"

Dean absently rubbed his hand down from his mouth and sighed.

"If anything happens, this is on you." Dean relented.

"Alright, fine!"

The two brothers strode back to their car in unison, not daring to argue any further.

As they stood on opposite sides of the hood, you could feel the tension vibrating off of them, and you started to reconsider your decision.

"Dean and I have come to an agreement," Dean huffed in response. "You can tag along with us."

"But, we're doing a little training first. Got it?" Dean added sternly.

You nodded vigorously, just wanting to finally belong. Hopefully not worry about anything else along the way.

"Let me just... Get everything situated." You responded, heading back to the ajar door to your room.

You quickly grabbed the room key on the end table and ushered your bags into the back seat. You told the guys about returning the room key as you made your way to the main office.

Is this really happening? It can't be... It's like a dream come true. If anything, it's too good to be true.

"(Sir/Ma'am)?" The receptionist said, bringing yourself out of your thoughts.

"Hm?" You blinked. "Oh yeah, sorry. Here are my room keys, I'm checking out."

"It's about time! I mean, I don't mind you staying, but you've been in there for a while.. Long family trip?" He inquired.

"Nah, I just like to travel a lot, that's all." You replied with a smile.

"Ah, you're one of those individuals." He said, taking the keys you held out.

You hummed a response and handed him your fake credit card, hoping it would do for the last two nights.

"Enjoy the rest of your day!" He called out as you left.

"Thanks, you too!" You said.

Walking back to the car, you lived in the moment. Already planning out what you would do, just like in the novels... Only it would be real.

"We'll talk later, we'll figure this out." Sam told Dean as you approached the car. "Ready to go?"

You nodded. "Yeah, all set."

"Alright, then let's get on the road." Sam said.

Gently, you sat in the back seat of the Impala, fearing you would disturb it if you forced yourself into the car too roughly. You ran your hand across the cool leather seats and a shiver ran down your spine as the car came to life. It was better than you had ever imagined.

You looked back at the motel as the three of you pulled away towards the main road.

"Where to?" You asked the brothers.

"Well, we were actually working on a possible case before we made our way to you, want to take a look?" Sam responded.

You grabbed the laptop from his grasp and scrolled up to the article marked: "Seventh Wild Animal Attack In A Month's Period".

"We were thinking it might be a werewolf. Animal attacks aren't this common in Indiana." Sam informed.

"Sounds about right. Did you go check out the bodies?" You asked.

"We're headed there tonight, actually. You could tag along-"

The car braked to a sudden halt, and was fumed with hot air from the silent driver.

"Sam, outside, now." Dean grunted almost inaudibly.

The two of them stepped out of the car, Dean almost slamming the driver side door behind him. It made you wonder if he held a grudge against you, since he had been distant lately.

You almost wished you had not overheard their conversation, even though they were almost a dozen feet from the car.

"That's it Sam, last straw."

"Look, I never said (s/he) had to come in with us, but we can't just leave (him/her) at the motel!"

"And why not? It would be no different than leaving (him/her) in the fucking car!"

"Dean, something is chasing (him/her). I don't know what, but it wouldn't be safe to just leave (him/her) miles away. Sure, you won't be responsible. But you know what? You're going to blame yourself anyway! If something happens, what would you do then?"

Dean walked slowly back to the car, kicking up some gravel in frustration. He muttered something you couldn't make out and jumped back behind the wheel.

"Sorry Baby, anger got the best of me." He apologized and kissed the steering wheel.

Sam sighed and bent his tall frame in order to fit into the car.

"Everything.. Okay?" You squeaked quietly.

Dean turned around slowly with a grin plastered onto his face. "Everything's great."

You fidgeted and looked out the window. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.

After a little while of driving, your eyes began to droop. The lack of sleep from the night before was catching up to you, and you couldn't stop it.

"(Y/N), we're going to be driving for a while, why don't you close your eyes?" Sam suggested, startling you awake.

"No, I'm fine. Maybe I just need to stretch my legs." You responded sluggishly.

"You look like you barely slept. Close your eyes for a while, you're no good to us exhausted. We'll make sure nothing will happen to you." Sam assured with a smile.

You weighed your options momentarily and decided to take his advice, knowing Sam was right. Slowly, you unbuckled your seatbelt and laid across the two seats. The scent alone was calming enough, and it wasn't long before the hum of the engine lulled you to sleep.

[alice-beaumont-ravenclaw]

A Night to Remember (Part 1)

A/N #1: It is finally here! The Celestial Ball fic!!! 23 pages total, hence why I divided it into two parts and will also insert text dividers so that if you can’t read it in one shot, you can easily find where you were. Here are the other fics in the series: You’ve Got a Friend in Me | Distraction | Something There | One Step Closer | Fashion Emergency | Get Your Head in the Game | Der Walzer von Alice | Of Quidditch and Ballgowns | From Paris, with Love 

There was only one day left before the Celestial Ball. The last exam before the Winter Break had been less than a week ago, so everyone was busy preparing for the ball. Alice and her friends were helping Penny complete the decorations in the Great Hall. Many students could be seen running around Hogwarts as they tried to finalize their ball outfits or tried desperately to find dates.

“Why is everyone so desperate to find a date?” asked Alice as she handed Penny a star.

“Because it’s way more fun to go to a ball with a date,” explained Penny, as she hung the star.

“Really? But it looks so stressful to try to get one. If it weren’t for the fact that prefects are the first ones to dance, I would just have gone with all you guys. Do you have a date for the ball, Penny?”

“I was so busy with the decorations committee that I just asked Andre,” she replied, hanging another star.

“Thanks a lot, Haywood. Now I feel really special,” shouted Andre, near the ceiling on his broom, hanging decorations.

“Come on! You said yes because you don’t have the guts to ask the Hufflepuff seeker to the ball,” replied Penny, acting fakely offended.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” said Andre before flying to another section of the Great Hall.

“What are you talking about?” asked Alice, handing her friend a big moon.

“Andre has a thing for Artemon Spooner, Hufflepuff’s Seeker. Another player told me that, when they practice together, they spend most of their time flirting with each other,” replied Penny.

“Why would a Keeper practice with a Seeker?” asked Alice, looking at Andre before bringing her attention back to Penny.

“Excellent question! Probably why nearly all Quidditch players know about the crush they have on each other,” said Penny, rubbing her chin.

“But why don’t they just admit it to each other?” asked Alice.

Penny stared at her as Alice looked back with her wide eyes. “Well, sometimes, it’s not that simple. Fear of rejection plays a huge part in whether you are willing to reveal your feelings to someone or not.”

“But… They flirt with each other. So… Isn’t it obvious they have a thing for one another?” asked Alice, scratching her head.

“Oh, some people can be oblivious to that. Believe me, I’ve seen it,” said Penny, looking back at her friend with a small smile.

“Really? When?” asked Alice, but before Penny could say anything, Charlie ran up to them.

“Alice, it’s time for our last dance practice,” said Charlie, pointing at his watch. 

With that, Alice and Charlie walked out of the Great Hall together. Penny looked at them leave, a small smile gracing her features. “Merlin, she’s oblivious,” she whispered as she shook her head.

In the evening, when Alice finally returned to her dorm, the first thing she saw was Rowan looking mortified. She turned to see what was causing her friend such distress.

“Tulip!” she exclaimed, looking at the red-haired Ravenclaw.

“What?” asked Tulip as she poured something in a small cauldron on her bed.

“What are you doing?” asked Alice.

“A face mask mixture! I heard some girls talking about face masks to have smooth skins, so I figured it’d be fun to try one before the ball.”

“Hum… Since when have you been so… girly?” asked Alice, raising her eyebrows.

“She omitted to tell you her main ingredient,” pointed out Badeea, who was busy sketching on her bed.

“It’s dungbombs…” whispered Rowan, still staring at Tulip.

“Of course it is… Tulip, do you want to repeat the dungbomb incident of last year?” asked Alice.

“Well… It was technically this year, since we are still in 1988,” pointed out Tulip, adding another ingredient to her cauldron.

“Tulip…” grumbled Alice. “I covered your arse last time. I don’t think Flitwick would believe me if I told him you had an ‘accident’ again.”

“Ugh, fine, fine! I guess we won’t have soft skins then,” she said as she opened a window, dropping the content of her cauldron outside.

“Wait! Don’t!” shouted her three roommates, all running towards the window.

They heard a splash followed by a scream. They slowly looked out the window. All the way down on the ground was Filch, covered in Tulip’s mixture. They all quickly took a step back before he had a chance to look up.

“Tulip, slowly close the window,” whispered Alice. “Rowan, scourgify Tulip’s cauldron and hide it.”

“She can put it in my trunk,” said Tulip as she closed the window.

“Hide it from Tulip,” specified Alice. “We don’t want her to make our dorm stink or explode before the ball.”

“I just love how you trust me,” said Tulip.

“What can I do?” asked Badeea.

“Hum… Oh! You can sketch our alibi! Just draw Rowan reading and Tulip playing with her dungbombs.”

“What about you?”

“Well, I arrived moments before the incident, so having a full sketch of me doing something wouldn’t be very credible. So just a vague shape on my bed.”

“Alice, don’t you think it’s a bit much? It’s not like we are trying to get away with murder,” said Rowan.

“It’s Filch. He’s going to look for a culprit. He probably knows it came from the Ravenclaw tower. Which Ravenclaw do you think he’ll suspect?” 

“What can I say? He’s so fun to mess with,” said Tulip, shrugging.

Alice sat on her bed, massaging her temples. “I swear, Tulip… I have enough stress as it is with the ball fast approaching, I really don’t need the extra stress of Filch conducting an investigation.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll be nice until this is all over. I think I’ll be able to stay out of trouble for one day,” conceded Tulip.

“What about Winter Break?” asked Badeea.

“Oh, I’ll get to annoy my parents back home, so it’s all good.”

Rowan stared at Tulip before turning back to Alice. “Why are you stressed? Your dress is ready; you have every element for your outfit, you have someone to dance with… Oh!”

“Yeah… I will be dancing in front of everyone. Everyone will be staring. One false move, and I can already hear Merula laugh.”

“Why do you care so much about what Merula thinks?” asked Badeea

“I don’t really care about what she thinks, but she’s been a thorn in my side since our first day at Hogwarts. If I screw up, she won’t just think I suck; she’ll keep bringing it up, which is so annoying. There are days where I wish I could just cast Silencio on her,” explained Alice.

“Alice?” said Tulip.

“Hmm?”

“If Merula is an arse during the ball, can I use a dungbomb on her?”

“You have my blessing.”

“You sound like the Godfather,” remarked Badeea.

Alice looked at her before realizing what she was referring to. “Should I make her kiss my ring?” she said before laughing.

“Your godfather makes people kiss his ring?” asked Rowan.

“And he asks people to use dungbombs?” asked Tulip.

The next morning, the Great Hall was abuzz with conversations about the ball. At the Ravenclaw table, Andre was busy suggesting various hairstyles to Alice. 

“What about Audrey Hepburn’s hairstyle at the beginning of Breakfast at Tiffany’s?”

“Too much,” replied Alice between two bites of toast as Barnaby sat next to Andre.

“What’s going on?” asked the Slytherin.

“Andre is suggesting hairstyles for tomorrow.”

“I don’t think you have enough hair to make that hairstyle,” said Barnaby as he looked at a picture and then at Andre.

“It’s not for me! It’s for Alice,” replied Andre, letting out a sigh. 

“I like Alice’s hair right now,” said Barnaby, looking at Alice with a smile.

“But it’s too plain! We need something amazing!”

Alice narrowed her eyes. “Thanks, Andre. But honestly, I don’t want a hairstyle that is too over the top. The dress is already dazzling, not to mention the hair accessory I have…”

“But…”

“Andre. I won’t be a contestant in a beauty pageant. I don’t need to outshine everyone. I just want to look good for myself. I want to be able to recognize myself in the mirror,” pleaded Alice.

“Alright, alright. Anyway, with the outfit I’ve put together for you, you’ll outshine everyone.”

“I have a question,” said Barnaby.

“Yes?” said Alice, turning her attention to her Slytherin friend.

“Where can I get a buccaneer?”

“A buccaneer?” repeated Alice, taken aback.

“In the Caribbean, about two, three centuries ago,” answered Andre. “Why?”

“Well, I heard Merula and Ismelda talking about it last night in the common room. Merula said her date better have one,” said Barnaby pensively.

“Kinky,” mumbled Andre, stifling a laugh.

“Did Merula say anything else about the… buccaneer?”

“Well, she did say she hopes the flowers won’t clash with her dress.”

At the mention of flowers, both Alice’s and Andre’s eyes lit up.

“Ah!” exclaimed Andre.

“A boutonnière!” said Alice.

“Showing off your French, Beaumont?” snickered Andre.

“Shut up,” mumbled Alice. 

“Wait, isn’t it what I said?” asked Barnaby, rubbing his chin.

“Not exactly… Anyway, a boutonnière is a single flower you wear on the lapel of your suit. So I guess you could go see Professor Sprout for one,” explained Alice.

“But it’s really not necessary. I wasn’t planning on wearing one, and Charlie’s suit doesn’t have any lapel…”

“Oh! Speaking of Charlie’s outfit…” started Alice, her curiosity piqued.

“Tonight,” replied Andre.

“Awww, come on! All he told me was ‘Dragons!’ I’m starting to imagine a suit covered in little dragons.”

“That sounds so cool!” exclaimed Barnaby, resulting in Andre staring at him.

“You know I would never do that,” said Andre as he kept glancing at Barnaby.

“Could you cover mine in bowtruckles? No, wait, puffskeins! Oh, oh, no, even better…” said Barnaby, visibly excited at the idea of a dress robe covered in magical creatures.

“No! Your dress robes shouldn’t look like a 5-year-old’s pyjamas!”

“Aww, come on, Andre, at least give him a little embroidery,” said Alice, drinking her tea.

“Ugh, fine… Can I go to Paris this summer?”

“Only if you shut up about you-know-what,” replied Alice, not looking up from her cup.

“Could you make me some PJs with all the creatures after?” asked Barnaby as he got up.

“We’ll see. Alice, think about your hair and your makeup while I’m busy with the man-child,” said Andre before following Barnaby.

“Be nice!” shouted Alice at him, smiling before taking another sip.

Back in her dorm after breakfast, she stood in front of the mirror, playing with her hair and the tiara her grandmother had given her. She tried various hairstyles, holding her hair up, then half-up-half-down, her tiara at the top of her head, then at the back. She sighed and dropped on her bed, her face in her pillow.

“UGH!!!” she let out, the pillow muffling the sound of her exasperation.

“Are you ok, Alice?” asked Badee in a soft voice.

Alice looked up from her pillow. “Uh? Oh! How long have you been here?” 

“I just came in,” answered Badeea, sitting at the edge of Alice’s bed. “What’s going on?”

“I’m trying to figure out a hairstyle for tomorrow that goes with this,” said Alice, pointing at the tiara on her nightstand.

“Oh! It’s lovely!” exclaimed Badeea, delicately picking it up and observing its details. “The craftsmanship is amazing. Did Andre make this?”

“Hum… No… It was a… family friend,” replied Alice, unconvinced by her lie.

“I see,” said Badeea, a small smile appearing on her face as she glanced at Alice. “So, what kind of hairstyle are you going for?”

“Something simple. I don’t want to look like a wedding cake topper.”

“What about… a braid, going around the back of your head?” suggested Badeea.

“Like a milkmaid braid? Sorry, but I forgot my dirndl at home,” replied Alice, raising her eyebrows.

“No, no. Not a milkmaid braid. I was thinking more of taking parts of the hair at the side of your face and braiding them towards the back of your head until both met. Your tiara could go just underneath.”

Alice stared at her for a few seconds before jumping out of her bed and hugging her. “That’s brilliant!”

Startled by the hug, Badeea was rendered speechless. It was extremely rare for Alice to initiate physical contacts. She slowly tapped Alice’s back before the latter took a step back. 

“You think you could make a quick sketch for Andre? It doesn’t have to be super detailed, just for him to understand the idea,” said Alice. 

Badeea simply nodded as she watched her friend, who said a quick thank you, run out of the dorm. 

As she ran down a corridor, smiling brightly, Alice bumped into Andre, who was coming back from the Slytherin common room. 

“You look like you are in a hurry. Your cheeks are all flushed! Actually kinda looks good on you,” noticed Andre, staring at his friend.

“There you are,” said Alice, ignoring his remark. “Badeea came up with a brilliant hairstyle for tomorrow! Taking the hair at the side of my face and braiding them towards the back, like a braid crown, but only at the back, and we could place my tiara right underneath it! She’s going to make a sketch so you can see,” she said as she started to drag Andre in the direction she came from.

Andre stopped her in her tracks. “Woah, slow down there, Alice. Breath in, breath out. Now, I’m glad you figured out your hairstyle, but what about makeup?”

“Make… Up… Awww, great. I forgot about that… Well, I can already tell you that I don’t want to look like Cyndi Lauper. Her music is rad, but her overall look is a bit too over the top for me,” said Alice as she crossed her arms, leaning against a wall.

“Oi! I could make some suggestions,” said Tonks, who’s head popped up from behind Andre.

“No! After the Camden incident, I want your makeup ‘skills’ to stay as far away from me as possible,” exclaimed Alice, terrified at the prospect of Tonks applying her makeup.

“Do I wanna know?” asked Andre, looking between the two girls.

“Nah, just that little Miss Sloane Ranger here doesn’t like edgy makeup,” replied Tonks, doing her best not to laugh at Alice’s face.

“Edgy? I looked like a panda! So did you, for that matter,” said Alice with a huff.

“Sloane Ranger?” said Andre, raising an eyebrow as he stared at Tonks.

“Yeah… Think Lady Diana, Princess of Wales,” summarized Alice. 

“Oh… Oh!” exclaimed Andre, his eyes lightening up.

“What?” asked Alice, furrowing her brows as she looked at her friend.

But before she could say anything else, Andre had grabbed her wrist and had started running towards the Ravenclaw common room, leaving Tonks behind. Once inside, he dragged her to his dorm.

“Oi! Egwu! What’s going on? Why did you drag me all the way here? Am I even allowed to be here?” asked Alice, looking around the boys’ dorm.

“Yeah, you are,” said Andre as he started to rummage through his trunk. “Guys are not allowed in the girls’ dorm, but girls are allowed in our dorm.”

“Could you two keep it down?” said a voice behind them.

Alice turned around to see Talbott staring at them from behind his book. “Oh, sorry, Talbott. Didn’t see you there.”

“No wonder. You stormed into here,” grunted Talbott.

“I thought you would be hanging in the owlery like you always do,” said Andre, barely paying attention to his roommate.

“The owlery is too busy, people sending thank you notes to their families for the stuff they sent for the ball,” explained Talbott, his attention back to his book. 

“Oh, are you going to the ball, Talbott?” asked Alice.

“Nah, I avoid crowds,” replied Talbott.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” said Alice, a light pout appearing on her lips.

“Let him be…” said Andre, suddenly raising a magazine above his head triumphantly. “There! Found it!”

“What?”

“Your makeup inspiration! Princess Diana at Canne last year!” said Andre, shoving the picture in her face.

Alice took a step back to have a better look at the picture. “Oh! How lovely! It looks really natural and timeless. I love it! But maybe not the blue eyeliner I’m kinda seeing…”

“Don’t worry; blue wouldn’t go with your green eyes. I was actually thinking of forgoing the eyeliner, and simply go for blush and mascara, and perhaps a natural shade of lipstick.” 

“There’s just one problem… I don’t have any makeup with me.”

“Mmm… I might know where we can get some… To the Hufflepuff common room!!!”

“Penny!” exclaimed Andre, standing beside Penny, quietly reading while her face was covered with a clay mask.

“AH!” screamed Penny, making her mask crack. “Ugh! Look what you’ve done! I’ll have to start all over again.”

“As if you needed a clay mask… We need your help, Penny. We finally figured out a makeup style for Alice, but we don’t have any makeup!”

“How the hell did we get in here…” mumbled Alice, looking around.

“What do you need?” asked Penny.

“Blush and mascara.”

“I can do the blush, but sharing mascara is very unhygienic.”

“We could use Scourgify on the brush?” suggested Alice.

“Every time I dip the brush in, I contaminate the product, so even if you clean the brush, it’s pointless.”

“Don’t you have a spare?” asked Andre.

“Well, I do, but…”

“Please! It’s for Alice’s big night. She’ll be dancing in front of a huge crowd with, you know, Charlie,” said Andre, winking.

“Huh? Oh!” exclaimed Penny, suddenly realizing what Andre was hinting at. Tonight might be the night the Dragon Boy and the Curse-Breaker would confess to one another. “Alright, you can have it. I’ll just go and fetch it.”

“Thanks for reminding me of the huge crowd…” grumbled Alice.

“Oh, you’ll be fine. You’ll be in the arms of Charlie Weasley, dancing to the sound of a waltz, in your own little world,” daydreamed Andre.

“All that’s missing is an evil step-mother, and we’d have a fairytale,” said Alice, rolling her eyes. 

“Oh, Alice, where is your sense of romance?” asked Andre, letting out a sigh as he looked at his hopeless friend.

“Andre, I don’t have time for romance. I have to protect you guys from ‘R,’ whoever that is, and I have to find the portrait vault. Romance would just be a distraction. Anyway, who would be interested in a danger magnet like me?”

Andre stared at his friend, letting out another sigh. Everyone could see how much Charlie was smitten with her, except her. “Fine, fine. Why don’t you go and eat lunch? It’s going to be makeover time after lunch!”

“Why am I afraid?” said Alice as she left the Hufflepuff common room, just as Penny arrived with the makeup.

“There! Alice will look like a fairytale princess for the big confession.”

Andre didn’t say anything as Penny handed him the blush and mascara. He just kept staring at the now-closed door of Hufflepuff’s common room.

A/N #2: That’s it for Part 1! Part 2 is HERE! I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you thought in the comments! (Kinda fit this challenge’s “Ball” prompt...) Oh, and what are your thoughts on the text divider?

[jetsetlife138]

Imaginary - Chapter 7

Rating: Mature for this chapter, but Explicit in future chapters

Pairings: Alastor x Fem!Reader, Alastor x Lucifer x Reader

Summary: Somehow thrown into the animated world of Hazbin Hotel, you’re now transformed into a two-dimensional human that has been cast into Hell. Charlie and the staff of the Happy Hotel take you in and offer you protection while they try and figure out how to return you to your world. That is… until you come across a certain Radio Demon with different intentions. Chapter Warnings: Manipulation 

Previous Chapters: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

Holy shit. Oh, fuck. There he was. The creature you had heard about your entire life. The epitome of all things evil and corrupt… the embodiment of sin… and he was standing directly in front of you, meeting your horrified expression with an amused one of his own.

Finding words was impossible as your mouth hung open in shock, unsure of what to say or how to address your current situation. Granted, this Lucifer was an animation, and an extremely whimsical one at that, but considering what you had heard, you were certain that he was capable of terrible and downright unspeakable things.

“Cat got your tongue?” Lucifer teased, quirking an eyebrow.

At that moment, it just so happened that a grumpy cat-demon was passing by. From the hallway, you could hear Husk grumble, “Fuck off,” clearly offended by the remark and probably on his way to the bar. He seemed to be surprisingly unfazed by Lucifer’s presence. Either that, or he was completely oblivious to the fact that he was even there.

Luckily, Charlie broke the tense silence that filled the room. “W-where’s Mom?

Releasing an exasperated sigh, Lucifer turned to address his very clearly emotionally overwhelmed daughter. “She’s on another one of her holidays. She took the gardener and fled to the Lust Ring for some time away. I think that it will do her some good.”

Upon noticing Charlie’s look of discomfort and your perplexed expression, Lucifer chuckled darkly. “Lilith and I have what you would call an open relationship. I adore the woman, but alas, she and I tend to grow tired of each other’s company after several millennia. You could not have come at a better time, little human!”

Changing the subject, Charlie interjected, “So… that’s why you’re here? I haven’t heard from you or Mom in weeks, but somehow you can find the time to cross the Seven Rings to see someone you don’t even know?”

“Oh, Charlotte. Desperation is not a good look on you,” Lucifer sneered, brushing off Charlie’s jab. “You’re a Magne for Satan’s sake. Wipe that dejected look off of your face and stop embarrassing yourself.”

Fighting back tears, Charlie’s bottom lip quivered, but she managed to keep herself in check. “Yes, Dad…”

Anger was bubbling up inside of you and threatening to spill over. You had exchanged a look with Alastor, who very subtly shook his head, indicating that now was not the time to lose your cool.

“Now,” Lucifer declared, clapping his hands together excitedly. “Let’s get moving, shall we? Oh, this is absolutely thrilling! I have so many things to inquire about.” 

Finally finding your words, you spoke barely above a whisper, “I don’t want to leave.”

Wagging his finger disapprovingly at you, Lucifer chastised, “I’m afraid you have no choice in the matter. You’re deliciously powerless and at the mercy of Hell’s ruler… who just happens to be me!” He cackled at his own joke, which wasn’t even funny.

“But, Dad,” Charlie couldn’t stop herself from butting in. “She’s doing well here. We’re keeping her safe and she’s just getting settled. We’re making progress, and I really don’t think that it’s a good idea--”

“Enough!” Lucifer snarled, shaking the whole room with the intensity of his anger. He bared his teeth at Charlie, his eyes now a fiery red and yellow as he glared at her. “Do not defy me, child. Your sympathy for other creatures is pathetic and will be the end of you. I will not tolerate it!”

To Charlie’s credit, she refused to cower before him and instead puffed out her chest, challenging him as her own eyes flashed red and yellow back at him.

“If I may,” Alastor’s calm and collected voice cut through the tension in the room. “The princess makes a valid argument.”

As everyone turned to look at the Radio Demon, Lucifer returned to his former self, brushing his hair back to smooth out the blonde strands that had fallen out of place during his fit of rage.

“Ah, Alastor. I see the rumors are true. You’ve decided to embark in the hospitality industry. It’s a far cry from Overlord status, but to each their own, I suppose.”

Alastor remained eerily still, his smile prominently projecting while his eyes narrowed ever so subtly, which Lucifer seemed to pick up on. “Come now, old friend. I have nothing but the utmost respect for you and your endeavors. Perhaps you can teach my daughter a thing or two about Hell and the roles each must play.”

“I have no intention of soliciting false pretenses, Luci, my dear. I am merely here to watch the scum of the earth struggle for betterment before they trip and tumble down into the fiery pit of failure.” A shiver crept down your spine as he finished and he had a sinister gleam in his eyes.

“Ha!” Lucifer exclaimed. “I should have known. You’re far too clever to abed Charlotte in a failed quest of humanity.”

“Come now, Luci,” Alastor began, tutting the King of Hell. “Must you be so cynical? If nothing else, she’s providing entertainment. I would think that you, of all sinners, would enjoy that.”

“Apparently, you know nothing of the things that I enjoy, Stag,” Lucifer quipped using a peculiar nickname.

Alastor hummed thoughtfully. “Oh, I wouldn’t say nothing.”

An awkward silence filled the room as Lucifer cleared his throat before swallowing thickly. Alastor’s cold and calculated stare was unwavering and wicked.

Quickly averting the topic, Lucifer stated, “The fact remains, it’s not safe for a vulnerable human here in the hotel.”

“I beg to differ,” Alastor countered, nonchalantly twirling his cane in his hands. “She’s no safer with you, my king. You have a significant target on your back and were she to stay with you, she would be in constant danger.”

“I could say the same for you,” Lucifer argued, narrowing his eyes while his smile widened. The similarities between Lucifer and Alastor were unsettling. “You’ve certainly made your fair share of enemies.”

“That may be, but I have nothing but free time,” Alastor deflected with a hint of malice. “You have enough on your plate, what with the recent extermination and those dreadful turf wars that are always on the picture show. The last thing you need is to be burdened with something like this.”

Lucifer sneered, pausing to look over the Radio Demon as if he were looking for something to give him ammunition for the conversation. “If I didn’t know any better, my old friend, I would think that you were trying to manipulate me into allowing her to stay.”

Alastor’s smile crept higher into his cheeks, the slits of his eyes thinning ever so slightly. “I think we’re far past the point of manipulation. I won’t beat around the bush. It would be a mistake for you to take her into your custody.”

Lucifer growled, his impatience fracturing the surface of his indifferent disposition. “The mistake would be to underestimate me.”

“Dad, enough!” Charlie interjected, no longer able to stifle her disdain. “Why is it always a fight with you? Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

“Charlotte,” he warned, not bothering to look at her.

“For the last time, it’s Charlie ,” she opposed, fuming. “I just… we were managing just fine. Why does this even matter to you?”

“Charlie,” he spat, his voice laced with venom. “Just when I think there might be hope for your future, you set yourself up for failure. You are a disappointment and an embarrassment to me, and I grow tired of your insolence.”

Each word spoken was like a dagger in Charlie’s heart. She was trying so hard to be strong, but she was close to breaking down. Unable to hold back any longer, you snapped.

“What the fuck is your problem?”

The words had left your mouth before you could stop them. The whole room fell silent as everyone turned to Lucifer to gauge his reaction.

“Beg your pardon?” he inquired, his expression stoic.

Swallowing thickly, you continued, “Why are you being so unnecessarily cruel? She’s your daughter , and she’s been nothing but kind and helpful since I arrived. Why do you have to openly mock and demean her like that?”

His eyes searched yours as you stood frozen, waiting for him to slaughter you on the spot for talking back to him. Instead, he threw his head back and laughed, clearly entertained by your ignorance. However, just as you thought he was going to let it go, you were thrown up against the wall, his hand at your throat as he lifted you from the ground. Your nails raked at his hands while your feet scuffled, trying to find anything to lift you and alleviate the pressure on your neck.

“Silly pet,” he hissed, his eyes becoming snake-like as he glared at you. “You’re here as my guest, and I am a courteous host, but make no mistake… should you cross me, it will be the last thing you ever do.”

Finally, he let go, allowing your body to slump to the ground as you choked and gasped for air.

Brushing off his sleeves and straightening out his jacket, Lucifer sighed before speaking. “She will remain here temporarily until I can make proper arrangements.”

No one spoke as he looked down at you on the ground, grinning wickedly. “Take care, human. I’ll see you soon.”

With that, he saw himself out, not bothering to utter another word, leaving behind a haunting silence in his wake.

You hardly noticed the hand that was being extended to you as you sat on the ground, dazed by the interaction. When you glanced up, you saw that the hand belonged to Alastor, who was offering you a casual smile. “How are you so happy all the time?” you grumbled as you took his hand, allowing him to haul you to your feet.

“A smile does not necessarily convey happiness,” he explained as he looked you over. “Hell is prominently filled with barbaric individuals who favor crass behavior above all else. It’s quite dull. I myself am in favor of a more amiable approach.”

Before you could respond, Charlie approached you, wrapping her arms around you as she pulled you into a tight embrace. “Are you okay?” she asked, still tightly coiled around you.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Are you?”

Retracting herself, she nodded glumly. “I’m used to it. In case you couldn’t tell, my dad and I don’t exactly have the best relationship. And as much as I appreciate what you did, you really need to be careful. He holds grudges, and you don’t want to get on his bad side.”

Nodding your head, you asked, “What happened to Vaggie?”

Sighing, Charlie answered, “She always makes herself scarce when he’s around. It goes without saying that Vaggie is a bit… outspoken, and she doesn’t want to slip up and say something that she’ll regret. She knows that it will only make things worse for us.”

“Ah, got it.”

Alastor thumped his cane against the wooden floor to gain your attention. “Well, my dear. It seems that we are on the clock. I think it would be best to get you back into the mortal world before Lucifer can carry out his plans. Make no mistake, he’s a cheeky fellow, but you do not want to be caught in his web.”

“Hey! What you got against webs?” Angel Dust popped his head in the doorway, scowling at the Radio Demon.

“Nothing at all, Mr. Dust!” Alastor replied cheerily. “It’s a simple comparison.”

“I’m going to go check on Vaggie,” Charlie stated. “After that, we can come up with a plan. There’s got to be something more that we can do than just go through books to try and get you home,” she thought out loud, a determined gleam in her eye.

As she left, Alastor approached you, placing a bony hand on your shoulder, which he meant as a comfort, but instead had the opposite effect, sending a chill down your spine. “Fear not, my dear. I will not let anything happen to you.”

With a wink, he withdrew his hand and glided out of the room, humming a show tune on his way out, leaving you alone with Angel Dust.

“Guess I missed all the fun,” he quipped before he flung back onto the bed, placing his top set of arms around his head. “Heard the Big Guy was in. He’s a charmer, ain’t he?”

“You know him?” you asked, your interest piqued.

He shrugged his shoulders casually. “Not personally. But I hear the gossip. Val can’t stand him.”

“Am I supposed to know who Val is?”

Rolling his eyes, he replied, “He’s the top dog around these parts, sweetheart. Big Vee controls the black market of Hell, and that’s sayin’ somethin’. You wanna know somethin’ outside the norm? He’s your guy.”

Humming thoughtfully for a moment, you asked, “Do you think he’d know anything about returning me to my world?”

“Probably,” he teased, brushing his hair back. “Val knows lots a weird stuff. He might be your guy.”

“Where do I find him?” you pressed, eager for more information.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” the spider demon cautioned. “You don’t just show up unannounced. You need an appointment, toots.”

“Okay,” you sighed, losing your patience. “Can you set up an appointment?”

“I could… but what would you do for me in return?”

Narrowing your eyes, you asked, “Seriously?”

He flashed a smile at you, showing off his golden tooth as he wriggled his eyebrows.

“What is it that you want, Angel?”

“How’s about an I.O.U.? I do this for you, and you owe me a favor. Capiche?”

“How do I even know that I can trust you,” you asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

In mock offense, Angel Dust put a hand over his heart, dropping his jaw. “Well, that’s just rude. I’m trustworthy! I haven’t told a soul about your relationship with Smiles!”

Huffing, you snapped, “There is no relationship! You just keep walking in at the wrong time!”

“Uh huh,” he teased, snickering. “Either way, I’ve kept my mouth shut, even when there was nothing in it for me. If you wanna talk to Val, I can make that happen, but no more of this free shit. You owe me. Got it?”

“Ugh, okay, fine. Just… make it fast, please.”

Jumping up from the bed, the spider blew you a kiss before heading out on his mission, leaving you with an uneasy feeling in your gut. If only you knew what you had just done.

Tags: @beetlewise-and-pennyjuice @edgy-drama-queen @chasingfireflies1999 @galaxy-meteor @cecidit-31 @shadowclawstudio88 @utterly-disappointing @opheliuva @trinswhimsys  @skylarhedges @whogavebrynjolfpermissiontobehot @sailor-earth-1

[thran-duils]

Watch Me Burn (P.8)

Title: Watch Me Burn (Part Eight) Summary: Fem!Reader x AU!Cas. Fem!Reader x AU!Sam. This fic was inspired by both parts of “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem & Rihanna. Castiel and the reader are toxic for each other and keep falling back together until the reader moved away. It’s been years and now she is back home, waltzing back into Castiel’s life. She is determined to do better this time, to make them work, but outside forces as well as the scars the two have left on each other weave their way into their reconciliation. Will they be able to overcome the past and new threats to their sustainability? Words: 1,800 Warnings (for the fic in entirety): Extreme angst, domestic violence, smut, unprotected sex, dom/sub dynamics, BDSM trust breaking, fluff, language, alcohol abuse, !!! eventual !!! happiness

Part 7 || Part 9 || Masterpost (mobile) || Fanfic masterpost

Maureen waved him off, “Ah, I think they’ve both matured. At least, I know Castiel has. If you couldn’t tell, I am older than him.” She smiled at her own joke. “I’ve watched him grow up since his late twenties to now and he’s evolved just normally like the rest of us.”

“One can hope,” Charlie said and then added quickly, “So, do you to take these with me…?”

“Oh, right. Of course,” Maureen chirped, picking up the shot glass closest to her, clinking glasses with Charlie. “Cheers.”

They knocked them back and Charlie immediately said, “I do need a refill though. Would you wanna go with me to the bar?” She was trying to steer Maureen away from the table. Maureen agreed, much to her relief and the two of them got up. Charlie shot Sam and Dean a look, who were smirking at Maureen’s retreating back. “I’ll be back.”

As soon as they were gone, Dean said, “Seems like there’s a bit of history there.”

“Sounds like it,” Sam murmured, looking contemplative.

<> <> <>

By the time you reached the table again, Charlie seemed drunker than you had left her, which had only been twenty minutes at best. When you sat down, you noticed Sam and Dean were watching you with interest.

“What? Is there something on my face?” you asked, beginning to shrug your jacket off.

Charlie held out her hand, “No, no, no! Don’t take that off!” You froze, your jacket halfway off, eyebrows raised in surprise. “We were just talking about going down to the pinball bar!”

Eyes shooting around the bar, you tried to pinpoint where Aspen was. She was sitting at a table with an unknown woman. You were uneasy about leaving Castiel alone in the bar with her – she had left so dramatically and ridiculously last time. Plus, thinking about what kind of bullshit she could pull was a never ending list of scenarios that would be running through your head after you left.

“I… um,” you stammered.

“Come onnnn, there’s a pinball bar down a few blocks! I’ll give you all the quarters you need!” Charlie begged you.

“We’ll make sure you get home safe,” Sam commented lightly. “It’s not like it’s that far of a walk, according to Charlie.”

Charlie looked so hopeful; Sam was staring at you so intently just daring you to say no; you could feel it. He had an arsenal of ways to guilt trip people and you had proven to be susceptible. Plus, you did not want to seem like a wet blanket or that you were attached at the hip to Castiel. So, you forced a smile, “Yeah, okay.”

Charlie let out a cheer and jumped up from the table quickly. “Let’s go close our tabs!”

“I got it,” Sam said to her, standing up as well.

“Wait, what?”

“My treat,” Sam said to her and looked around the table. “For everyone.”

There were protests around the table, telling him that was completely unnecessary. You watched him, smiling and politely telling them it was appropriate, it being his first night out with them and they had invited him out and how appreciative he was at being included. He was trying to make a wonderful impression, seeming to be congenial company, the “nice guy”. There was always an angle with him.

Sam won out – you had been silent, knowing better than to try to persuade him to not do something by now, he would not listen – and he left the table, going up towards the bar.

<> <> <>

Leaning on the bar, Sam signaled for help. As soon as she was free, Pamela came over to him, asking him what he would like to order. Sam told her he was closing out the tab for the table, giving her his last name so she would be able to find the table number for the cards.

“I can’t give you back their cards,” Pamela explained to him.

Sam gave a light laugh, “Well, I hope you wouldn’t do that. I just need the checks. They’ll come grab their cards. They’re all getting packed up since we are heading out.”

“You got it,” Pamela told him, turning to go to the register.

Castiel walked by Sam, shooting him a quick look. He headed to the kitchen, shouting something back at the cook. Sam’s gaze was piercing, taking Castiel in, wondering what the hell Y/N saw in him. What kind of future she expected to have tying herself down to a bartender – a business owner too, but a bartender all the same.

When he passed back by, Sam spoke up with a quick smile, “Nice place, man.”

Castiel stopped in his stride hearing him speak. “Thanks,” he said cordially. He noticed Sam had his quote on, and his wallet out. “You heading out?”

“Uh, yeah. Charlie said there’s a pinball bar down the street a few blocks. Doesn’t sound like my type of scene but the company is well enough. Everyone’s just gonna move down there.”

There was only a slight pause as the word ‘everyone’ fell on Castiel. His eyes flicked to the table, seeing that everyone, including Y/N were wearing their coats and making their way towards the bar.

“Hmm,” was all Castiel said.

“Not to take away business from you. And we’ll get Y/N back home safely.”

Castiel gave Sam a smile that did not reach his eyes. “I’m sure you will.”

<> <> <>

You came up to the bar with the group, eyeing Sam and Castiel speaking. They seemed calm enough, yet it still put you on edge. Castiel’s eyes met yours and you gave him a weak smile. You had a feeling he was not going to like that you were leaving his sights either when he had already been frustrated with the way Sam was acting tonight even with Castiel in the establishment.

Pamela brought Sam back the check to sign along with everyone’s cards.

“Hmm, cheaper than I thought,” Sam commented.

He was poking at Castiel.

“Oh, Y/N’s isn’t on there,” Pamela explained. “She’s got a tab.”

“Lucky her,” Sam said, putting the pen back down on the counter, as Pamela snatched up the receipt to stick it in the register. There were other people waiting down the bar. He shot you a look over his shoulder. “I guess I’ll just have to pick up your tab later.”

You gave him a nod as everyone began to make their way away from the bar, thanking Sam for his generosity. While Sam was momentarily distracted, you moved past everyone to where Castiel was still standing. Behaving and regarding what Castiel had told you earlier about remembering who you belonged to and showing it, you got up high enough on the stool to lean over the bar, giving him a quick kiss.

“I’ll be back,” you told him sincerely.

<> <> <>

On your way back from the bathroom, you turned the corner leading away from them, finding Sam standing there. You stopped immediately, staring at him, anticipation creeping on your skin. He was definitely waiting for you and to catch you alone.

“Come outside with me,” he told – not asked – you. He gestured at the door leading out to the patio.

You could walk around him but one, Sam was large and two, whatever he wanted to talk about, you wanted to put it to bed you figured in your buzzed state. So, you did as he asked, him following closely at your back.

There were only a few other people outside and he led you to the back corner of the area against the wall where the two of you would not be heard.

Sam noticed you did not have your coat and he began to take his off. “Here—”

“I don’t need it. We won’t be out here long, will we?”

He stilled in his movement, his eyes raking over you. You were being bold, in his eyes at least. He had managed to make you so small because he had never let you grow in the first place during your relationship together.

“Well, I suppose not if that’s not what you want,” he finally said, putting his coat back on. He stepped towards you with purpose, his hands reaching for your arms. “Y/N, I really think you should consider coming back to Austin.”

You sighed, closing your eyes. “Sam, don’t do this. Please. I am not going to do that.”

“Y/N, think about it. You had so much potential. You were going to go places! School for one, get some more education and that program is perfect back in Austin. It would help you! And I was ready to support you.”

“That was your idea, not mine.”

Sam narrowed his eyes, looking perplexed. “Are you joking? You told me you wanted to go back to school.”

“I did one time—”

“And I listened to you. I went and got you all this information and brought it up to Jerry, who was willing to use money to help you go. Because I asked.”

“Fine, I did say it one time. But people are allowed to change their minds, Sam. I wanted to come home. And when the opportunity arouse, I took it. Because that had been something I could not shake about wanting.”

Sam shook his head and told you disappointed, “He just doesn’t seem your type.”

So, that’s what the conversation was really about.

“Just because he’s not you, doesn’t make him not my type.”

“You can do better.”

“What? Like you?”

Sam looked irked, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

There was no reason to try to anger him right here and now, so you reeled it in. Sighing heavily, you said calmly, “We weren’t going to work out, Sam.”

“I think we were getting too serious and it scared you.”

Your face screwed up, “That’s not it at all.”

“Oh, it’s not? You couldn’t even be bothered to tell me you were transferring until the day of. You hurt my feelings, you know. I should have known though when I asked you to move in with me and you turned me down. Your dreams are too small for yourself, Y/N. I was ready – willing – to help you. You were just too scared.”

Tightly, you told him, “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Why? Because you know I’m right?”

You moved to walk around him, but he shot his arm up, blocking your way. He was close, staring into your eyes. His lips parted as his gaze fell on your own. Reaching up, Sam’s fingers traced your jawline gently. You breathed shakily as they ran down your neck, caressing at your collar bone.

His hazel eyes shone in the flickering flames of the bonfire near as he held you, and you sensed he had every intention of kissing you.

“You’re not right,” you told him, your voice cracking despite yourself, before you escaped underneath his arm, heading back inside.

Unbeknownst to you, out on the sidewalk, Dean smirked down at his phone at the photo he had caught of the two of you, Sam holding you closely against the wall. He texted it to Sam as he had promised he would before moving to go back inside.

~~~

CASTIEL FOREVER TAGS: @willowing-love @perseusandmedusa @greenappleeyes @afanofmanystuffs @earthtokace @shikaros-blog @marisayouass @splendidcas @stixnstripesworld

[justthehiddleswrites]

The Reluctants | Chapter 10 | The Reluctant Detective

Pairing: Adam (OLLA) x OFC (Charlie Bock)

Summary:  Charlie can’t believe her luck when she lands an apartment all to herself in Quincy, Massachusetts in a decaying triple decker. But life gets more complicated when someone moves into the basement. Specifically her landlord, Adam, who also happens to be a vampire. As life collapses around Charlie, these two forge an uneasy and unlikely relationship. But is their relationship as doomed as the building they live in?

Chapter:   Adam finds out the truth of Charlie’s whereabouts as well as Jason’s nature and is pissed.

Warnings: Violence, Smut, Frottage, Dry Humping, Teasing, Coming In Pants, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex. Couch Sex. Kidnapping. Stalking. Non-Graphic Violence, Character Death

-

Adam groaned and stretched in bed early that evening. Charlie’s side was cold, and the sheets tucked up. His brow furrowed until he spied the note on his nightstand.

“Ridiculous.” he clicked his tongue at Charlie, slipping out without waking him. He remained in bed, hoping she would soon return and slip under the sheets to curl next to him before heading to the living room.

But Charlie didn’t show when she usually did. Or two hours later. At first Adam figured she was caught up at the record store, but at three hours Adam worried enough to call Simmons’ personal cell phone. No easy feat as Adam needed to dig out his landline from under a table and crumpled pieces of paper and dust.

“Hello?” Simmons answered with his distinct, gravelly voice.

“It’s Mr. Streiff.”

“Oh, already calling with an offer to buy the Gibson? Charlie is a better salesperson than she lets on.”

Adam’s brows knitted. “What Gibson? I’m calling to check on Charlie, who is working late with you.” His tone firm, bordering on accusatory.

“She left hours ago. With a 1905 Gibson she insisted to take to show you.” Simmons responded worried, although Adam couldn’t tell if it was over the guitar or Charlie. His fist balled tightly at his side.

“What?! Where did she you go?” Adam paced the floor as silence hung in the air while Simmons contemplated his response.

“I didn’t see.” Simmons snapped his fingers. “Wait! I wondered if her cousin came and got her.”

“What cousin?”

Adam shoved on his boots while pulling on a shirt. Charlie said nothing about a cousin. And given what she said about her parents, he doubted the existence of any cousin.

“The one who came by the other day asking for her schedule.”

“And you gave it to him?!” Adam’s voice rising to a yell.

“He said the family came to surprise her. It sounded nice.”

Adam rolled his eyes and cursed. “Fuck! What did he say? Did he give a name?”

“He said his name was Jason. And—” Simmons’s next words met with a dial tone when Adam hung up.

He threw the phone against the wall, smashing it to bits.

“Fuck!” He kicked at the pieces of plastic on the floor before slumping onto the couch. He couldn’t decide whether to kill Simmons first or go out hunting for Charlie.

-

Charlie rolled her neck, popping the bones.

“Ah…” she sighed while taking a quick inventory of her body.

Her head still pounded and tender to the touch on the back, where she touched what seemed to be a goose egg. Her arms and hands were free, and she was wearing everything from when she left the record shop, save her overcoat. As Charlie sat up from the bed or couch or whatever she sat on, a chain clinked. Charlie glanced down to see her leg shackled to what Charlie now determined to be a couch. A shitty futon to exact.

Loud voices filtered from next door and Charlie moved to the edge of the couch, as far as the chain would let her.

“This was not part of the plan, Jason. Idiot!” A female yelled.

Something clattered to the floor on the other side of the door.

“Why are you the one calling the shots!?

Charlie recognized Jason’s sniveling tone.

“I’m the one taking all the risks! You wanted Adam, she will get us him!”

“That doesn’t mean kidnap her! Do you realize how pissed he will be?!”

“What do you suggest? Let her go? Absolutely not! She’s mine.”

“I don’t know what I wanted, but this is not it.” The floor shook as Ava stomped and pouted. “I’m hungry.”

“There’s some blood in the fridge.”

The door creaked open and Charlie scrambled away. Ava popped into the room.

“Oh, you.” her voice dripped with disdain. “You’re awake.”

“How in the hell did you and Jason…” Charlie’s voice wavered, still coming to grips with her situation.

Ava smiled, her fangs peeking out from behind her lips. “Your little stalker boyfriend?”

“Not my boyfriend.”

“No, but he is your stalker.” Ava smirked. “I met him outside when Adam threw me out. So rude.” Her bottom lip popped out into a pout.

“He will be so pissed when he gets here.”

“I realize that!” Ava stomped her foot and then stormed away as Jason came in.

He sat down right next to Charlie. His cast rough against her skin. Jason lifted his good hand to run the back of his finger along Charlie’s cheek. She jerked back at the intrusion.

“Get used to me, sweetheart.” Jason’s face twisted into a sick smile.

-

Adam spent the better part of an hour grilling Simmons on every nuance of his conversation with Jason and the events of that night. Frustrated and angry, he slammed his hand repeatedly against the steering wheel of his Jaguar. It hurt like hell.

As soon as he got back home, he went to Charlie’s apartment and ransacked her living room and bedroom. Clothes and paper flew in the air without regard until he located Charlie’s neglected planner. With a deft finger, he flipped the pages until he found what he wanted. He ripped the page out and then shoved clothes and debris from his fit to find the phone.

“Charlie?” Elise answered in a groggy voice.

“Who the fuck is Jason?”

“Who the hell is this?” Elise’s voice turned shrill.

“It’s Adam, I’m her…” He hesitated. How much did Charlie tell her friends? He quickly replaced the thought with panic and fear as to what may happen to Charlie. “… boyfriend.”

Elise sat up in bed. “Oh, pleasure. Did Jason show up? I told Charlie to be careful.”

Adam would have to wait until Charlie came home safe and sound to discuss hiding important information from each other.

“Tell me everything about him.”

-

Twenty minutes later, Adam hung with Elise with enough information about Jason to recognize breaking his arm last month was a gift. He should have broken his neck. Nothing that would pop up on a standard background check, but red flags nevertheless. He sounded like a serial killer in the making. Adam ripped the phone out of the wall and walked downstairs to fish out his own address book. He prayed the number still work as he punched in the number.

“Hello?” the male voice answered.

“Frank, I need a favor.”

“Adam. You know that’s not my name, right?”

“I’m not calling you Francois Eugène Vidocq.”

The man chuckled. “It is a mouthful. It’s been at half a century since we talked. How’s Eve?”

“Dead.” Adam winced.

“I’m sorr—”

Adam cut him off. “I don’t need your apologies. Do you still have access to the Registry of Motor Vehicles?”

“Massachusetts? Well, yeah, if you call hacking into their database access.”

“I need you to get my an address for a Jason Fuller and a Nicole McDonald?”

“Got anything else? Dates of birth?”

“No.”

Frank sighed on the other end of the line. “Give me a bit, I will call you back.” The line clicked dead.

Adam paced the floor. His hand ran through his wild hair. He hated this. He hated his mind racing to all the possibilities of the horrible things happening to Charlie. A thought entered his mind. He walked into the spare bedroom, digging through a box. And then another, and a third.

“She’s fucking right, Eve. I should let her clean and organize down here.” He rummaged through yet another box before pulling out a tattered shoebox. “Apologies, baby, for what I may have to do. But I love her.”

An hour later, the phone rang.

“Took you long enough.” Adam snapped back. He threw a black leather jacket on top of his usual rock n roll attire, combat boots and everything.

“You didn’t say anything about a rush.”

“The urgency was implied, Frank. Did you get the addresses or not?”

“I got what you want.” Frank rattled off two addresses, Jason’s in Cambridge and Nicole’s in Revere. “You never told me why you are looking for this guy.”

“He took something very dear to me.”

“A guitar?”

“A girl.”

-

Charlie soon discovered Jason and Ava didn’t have a fucking clue what they were doing. Two things became clear to Charlie: Jason wanted to keep Charlie for himself, and Ava was always hungry. She had no idea how long she had been here or if Adam realized she’d gone missing. If she wasn’t so terrified, Charlie would have been laughing at this Keystone Cops kidnapping of hers.

Ava and Jason bickered in the corner.

“Hmmm.” Charlie cleared her throat. Two heads snapped over to glare at her. “I’m wondering,” She crossed her legs at the ankles, chain clinking along the floor. “which of you is going to let Adam know you have me?”

Ava’s face pinched up. “I beg your pardon?”

Charlie’s lips twitched into a smile. “Well the whole point of this is to get Adam’s attention, am I correct? It’s hard to do that if he DOESN’T HAVE A FUCKING CLUE, I’M HERE!” she screamed.

Jason stomped over to Charlie and hit her with his open hand. The left side of her face exploded in pain.

“DON’T FUCKING TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” Jason screamed back. His nostrils flared and spittle flew out of his mouth. Charlie cried out of exhaustion and pain more than anything. Jason’s expression softened. He sat next to her.

“Sweetheart.” He cooed, reaching up to soothe the already bruising mark on Charlie’s cheek. “You know better than to get me upset. I lose control when I get upset. You might end up hurt.”

Charlie gulped. “Sorry.”

Jason stood up and kissed the top of her head. “Now let’s go get some ice from that bruise.” He walked off to the kitchen.

Ava’s gaze darted between the kitchen and Charlie. “Fine, I’ll make the phone call.”

Adam never got that message because he was long gone.

-

Jason’s Cambridge apartment was empty, but that didn’t stop Adam from ransacking the place. In particular, he shredded to bits a few photos of Charlie pinned onto a corkboard.

“Fuck!” he cursed as he caught the time after kicking in Jason’s TV. There wasn’t enough nighttime left to make it to Revere. “Hang on just one more day, my love.”

-

Charlie iced her cheek with the frozen bag of peas Jason tossed to her. Her stomach gurgled.

“Could I get something to eat?” Charlie’s voice soft and wavering.

“I’m hungry too.” Ava whined.

Jason rolled his eyes. “Women.” He grabbed his keys. “Feed on her if you’re hungry.”

“Do I look like I have a death wish? I want to talk to Adam, not be killed by him. Bring something to eat.”

“Fine!” Jason slammed the door.

He returned several hours later, a greasy bag of fast food tucked under his cast and a drunk girl holding his other hand.

Charlie’s nose scrunched at the aroma of burger and fries. Jason pushed the girl towards Ava.

“Eat up, both of you.” he sneered.

“I’m trying to watch my cholesterol.” Charlie piped up.

“Did you ask her if she is clean?” Ava complained.

“If you don’t like what I brought you, then you can STARVE!!” He slammed to the door to the other room.

Ava shrugged her shoulders and dragged the girl into the kitchen. Charlie snacked on the fries while ignoring the greasy cheeseburger. Tears rolled down her face.

“I miss you, Adam. Please find me.” she whispered as she pulled the thin afghan over her body and laid down on the sofa, which she just noticed smelled of beer.

[the-inept-artist]

The Next Step

It's my first time doing a Destiel oneshot, I hope to make my fellow shippers proud! I'm also considering doing an animatic to be posted to my Tumblr, but I gotta figure out the tech and get the right software first, so that won't be for a LOOOOONG time.

Supernatural doesn't belong to me, nor does "Angel With A Shotgun", or any other song mentioned.

Anyway, as always, please enjoy and review!

~oOo~

It was over. It was finally over.

Castiel nursed his beer from his spot just inside the library as the sound of happy people washed over him. Conversation and laughter floated out of the war room—

No, not war room. Foyer. They had no use for a war room anymore. Cas needed to remember that.

It had seemed like ages since Chuck had surrendered. Somehow, two hunters, an angel and a nephilim had managed to bring down the almighty creator of the universe. And Dean—intelligent, cunning, wonderful Dean—made Chuck swear on his every creation that he would bring back everyone the four had lost to his little game, along with repairing the dimension that Michael had destroyed.

So that was why Cas was watching Mary Winchester chat animatedly with Charlie Bradbury and Jody Mills. Watching John Winchester stand awkwardly in a corner beside Crowley, tipping back his third beer of the night. Watching Sam nearly double over in laughter in response to Gabriel's joke, Balthazar rolling his eyes in mock-annoyance. Watching Kelly Kline grin excitedly after beating Bobby Singer and Rowena MacLeod at cards for the fourth time in a row that night. Watching Jessica Moore try to explain what college was to Amara. And many more revelers, all smiling and happy and alive.

"Hey." Cas nearly jumped from his seat as he noticed Jack standing beside him, looking at him concernedly. "Are you okay? We won, you should be celebrating."

Cas settled back, idly twirling his beer bottle and watching the alcohol swish around inside. "I know, and believe me, I'm ecstatic. It's just…I don't know."

Jack pulled up a chair and sat beside him. "Not sure what to do now?"

"Yes, that's it. Ever since I met Dean and Sam, there's always been an enemy to fight. Lucifer, other angels, the Leviathans…there's never not been a struggle." Cas sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure if that makes sense."

"No, no, I get it." Jack leaned his arm on the table and shifted in his seat. "I am a bit restless as well. But I say we make it through the party tonight, and tomorrow we figure out what to do next."

Cas mulled over the nephilim's words. "That sounds…doable."

"Hey everyone!" Dean's voice echoed over the clang of the metal door. Kevin Tran peered over his shoulder, bucketloads of Chinese food in his hands. "Lookit what the kid and I got!" The two headed down the stairs. Cas got up off his seat and joined the throng of people, Jack not far behind him.

"A karaoke machine?" Mary said, reading the box Dean held. "Where in the world did you find that?"

"We stopped in a tech store on the way back from the Chinese place," Kevin said, moving to the table to unladen his arms. "Dean insisted."

Dean smiled sheepishly. "I thought it'd be fun. Any takers?"

Charlie shrugged, a smile gracing her face. "Why the hell not, I'm in."

Several others followed the redhead's example, nodding and murmuring their agreements. Crowley and John took a pass, but more or less the majority of the party decided to partake in the fun.

Sam came up to Cas as he was watching Dean set up the machine. "You joining in?"

Cas glanced at the younger Winchester before returning his gaze to the elder. "I may. Not sure."

Sam nodded. "Gabe's definitely doing it. I'd bet all my money that he'll do "Sexy Back"."

Cas cracked a small smile. "That's my brother for you. Do you think you'll sing something?"

"Ah, nah." Sam rubbed the back of his neck as Dean hooked up the mic. "I've never really liked singing, and certainly not in front of people. Dean, on the other hand—"

"I call first!" Dean yelled, quickly straightened up from behind the machine. He grabbed the microphone and started scrolling through the songs, ignoring Charlie and Kevin's playful boos.

Cas nodded sagely, fighting a chuckle. "I see."

For a time, Cas enjoyed the many performances put on. Dean gave a rousing rendition of "I'm Too Sexy", to which Crowley immediately groaned and left the room. Cas found his face a bit hotter than normal as he watched Dean move to the music. But as Charlie took the makeshift stage, he attempted to calm himself and focus on the coming acts.

Charlie sang "One Woman Army", and Kevin managed to stumble his way through "Die Young". Jess ended up being the jewel of the party, singing "I Wouldn't Mind" with the most beautiful voice. True to form, Gabriel performed "Sexy Back", complete with some more than inappropriate dance moves. Funnily enough, as Cas looked around a while later, neither Gabe or Sam were to be seen.

The two finally came back just as Amara was wrapping up "Never Enough". They seemed much more giggly and closer than before, Sam having an arm casually slung around the smaller angel. Though, Cas, noted, Gabe was wearing Sam's coat. And Sam's mess of hair certainly was…messier than usual.

Cas smirked to himself, turning his gaze back to the head of the room. About time.

"Oi, Cas!" Cas was startled for the second time as Dean materialized beside him. "You haven't sung yet, c'mon!"

"Oh, um. I don't know," Cas said lamely. Dean chuckled and pulled him up off his seat.

"Please?" The hunter wiggled his eyebrows, which made Cas's stomach explode into fuzzy bumblebees, tickling his sides and making his head feel light. There was something about Dean's ernest and hopeful expression that made his face flush and he couldn't help a small smile escaping.

"O-okay," the angel timidly agreed, letting Dean lead him to the stage. He waited, awkwardly staring out over the idly chatting audience as Dean bent over the machine.

"Alright, you touch here to scroll up, and here to scroll down," Dean explained. "Hit this to confirm your song, and have fun!" He stepped down the stairs and started chatting with Mary, leaving Cas to his own devices.

Cas looked through the music selection with trepidation. Nothing he saw immediately jumped out. Everyone had somehow found a song to describe them, yet he—wait. Cas stopped scrolling and eyed the song title. "Angel With A Shotgun".

Cas remembered this song. It was one of the songs that convenience store he once worked at had on shuffle. The first time he had heard it, his thoughts had instantly jumped to Dean, much to his confusion and mild embarrassment at the time. Though as he listened, waiting for the next time it would play softly over the store speakers, he realized that there was a certain…pull, to the song. To how it somehow took every puzzling feeling he had and explained it clearly and concisely.

The song had helped him admit to himself and accept that he had a—what did humans call it?—a thing for Dean.

Cas's eyes flicked from the karaoke machine to Dean. He had long ago shoved the small piece of hope to a remote corner of his heart, but now that hope was shining through, almost hurting his chest with its strength and brilliance. They were free now, with nothing to hold them back or worry about. Could he…could they have a chance?

"C'mon, Cas, pick a song!" Dean exclaimed. Cas was shaken from his thoughts as they rest of the party realized who was onstage and began to clap and cheer encouragingly. The bumblebees in Cas's stomach were now rocketing around, pinging lightly off their walls.

He took a breath and before he had time to back out, selected "Angel With A Shotgun".

The familiar opening started, and Cas relaxed a bit. It's not like you're doing this blind, he reasoned with himself as the backup singers sang their parts. You know the song, and you have the lyrics. You'll be fine. Glancing out over the audience, he caught Dean's eye, who smiled and gave a thumbs up. Cas's heart skipped a beat as he cleared his throat and hastily looked down at the screen. Probably.

"Get out your guns, battles begun

Are you a saint, or a sinner?

If loves a fight, than I shall die

With my heart on a trigger."

Cas knew his singing voice wasn't the best. He was a bit too low in pitch, and he was probably holding the microphone too close. But as people listened and he warmed up, he felt his nerves settle down. The bumblebees faded away.

"They say before you start a war

You better know what you're fighting for

Well baby, you are all that I adore

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be

I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back."

Cas couldn't help bouncing on his toes a bit. Jack whooped, and he felt a slight smile break out. Chancing a quick glance at Dean, he saw the hunter nodding his head in time.

“I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Don't you know you're everything I have?

And I wanna live, not just survive tonight

Sometimes to win, you've got to sin

Don't mean I'm not a believer

And Major Tom, will sing along

Yeah, they still say I'm a dreamer."

Cas never really understood who this "Major Tom" was, but he knew that human music could be vague and have odd references. He didn't think too much of it as he moved into the beginning of the second chorus.

They say before you start a war

You better know what you're fighting for

Well baby, you are all that I adore

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be."

He wasn't thinking anymore. He was openly grinning, moving in time with the music, even jumping about a little bit. He felt as though he were invincible. Is this how all humans feel during karaoke?

"I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back

I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Don't you know you're everything I have?

And I wanna live, not just survive tonight."

As the music slowed, so did Cas. He swept his eyes over the audience, landing on Dean. Dean was smiling, the lights reflecting in his eyes like stars over a deep green sea. He's so beautiful.

"Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa

Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa."

Cas kept his eye contact with Dean. The bumblebees returned tenfold, some appearing in his throat, stinging slightly. Yet he never faltered, never wavered. He wanted Dean to listen and understand what he was saying.

"Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa

Oh, oh whoa whoa oh whoa."

Cas stepped down from the makeshift stage, ignoring the amount of eyes that were on him. As the music all but stopped, he set down the mic and strode right up to Dean. The hunter's eyes widened in surprise, and though it may have just been the lighting or alcohol, Cas swore he saw his cheeks flush. He lowered his voice, gazing into Dean's eyes as his lips smiled with the unasked question.

"I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back."

And Dean—the man who once clung tight to him as they ascended from Hell, the man who always had his back, the man he had fallen in love with—took his hand, smiling as he nodded. Cas's head instantly felt weightless, and he thought his face would split from the size of his grin as launched into the final chorus.

"I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back

I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Don't you know you're everything I have?"

Almost laughing, Cas spun Dean around, pulling him closer. He saw in his peripheral vision people smiling joyously. Sam was giving an approving thumbs-up, and Crowley, Gabriel and Balthazar were going around collecting money from others. But his main focus was on the man in front of him, beaming widely, blushing freely.

"And I want to live, not just survive, tonight

And I'm gonna hide, hide, hide my wings tonight."

Dimly, Cas realized he should finish the song back on the steps. But as he went to reluctantly pull away, Dean tightened his grip and pulled him, if possible, even closer. Now it was Cas's turn to be surprised as Dean gently cupped his face and quietly sang the last few lines.

"They say before you start a war

You better know what you're fighting for

Well baby, you are all that I adore

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be…"

Dean trailed off as he pressed his lips to Cas's. Cas's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he relaxed, nearly melting against Dean. Sure, he had been hoping for a yes, maybe even a hug after the song, but this…this went beyond his wildest dreams. He could even ignore everyone going nuts and yelling in gleeful surprise.

Cas had no more doubts about the future now. No more qualms about the next step, or anxieties over what the rest of his life would be like with no enemies. No, he thought as he and Dean broke apart to grin at each other. I know what I want to do.

I want to be the one to make him smile like that for the rest of his life.

[screensirenfic]

Black Leather - Chapter 26

So maybe today had passed slower than most days at Charlie’s, but that had everything to do with the fact that replacing brake pads was a bitch of a task to do, and nothing to do with the fact that every waking minute waiting for Billy felt like an hour.

I mean; I couldn’t stop grinning the whole time like an idiot, but that wasn’t because of Billy. I was just happy and shit; and...

Fuck; who the hell was I kidding?

Billy had managed to turn me into a giggling school girl by just asking me on a date.

It was stupid, and dumb, and childish; but fuck, if I wasn’t the happiest girl in Hawkins right now.

Even the fact I had to strip and replace the rotors by hand couldn’t put a damper on things; the black grease that coated my arms up to the elbows, a minor setback on what otherwise could’ve been the perfect day.

Magic By The Cars was playing on the radio, and I hummed along with it happily; hands steadily working at tightening some callipers beneath the truck whilst my mind was half a world away; daydreaming of sun kissed smiles and bright blue eyes.

I heard some heavy footsteps by my legs, and my heart immediately skipped a beat.

It could’ve easily just been Johnny come to make another half assed joke about the limited reach of my arms, but I could still hear his angle grinder halfway across the shop.

I couldn’t keep a smile from my face, because damnit; he was early, but I wasn’t gonna complain. He’d been occupying my thoughts all day, and I couldn’t wait to get in his car and...

My train of thought got cut short as a foot landed on the bottom of my creeper board, right between my legs, then began to slowly roll me out from under the car.

“I thought we agreed six thirty...” I protested as I lowered my tools to get a good look at him, even though the protest was more token than anything else.

Excitement and something deeper coiled in my stomach as my head surfaced from beneath the chassis, then dropped away like a pile of bricks at the last moment.

There was pretty boy standing at the foot of my board, hands on his hips waiting for me to emerge, but not the one I’d been expecting.

“Steve..?” I said; the word halfway between a question and a statement as I took in the familiar sight of too high hair and luxury sports casual.

“And kid I don’t know...” I continued; my eyes trailing from the figure of my best friend, to a kid about three heads shorter, but with enough curls to match Steve in hair height, if not for that stupid hat.

Since when had Steve taken up babysitting?

“Not that I don’t appreciate the visit, but why the hell are you here?” I asked; pretty sure I hadn’t agreed to do anything with Steve tonight, and very concerned that my two prospective pretty boys might run into one another and start shit again.

Steve looked at the kid for a sec; a look of uncertainty passing over his face, and I began to wonder exactly what brand of shit he’d managed to drag himself into.

There was no way in hell that Steve would be here for any other reason than a service on a weekend.

That, or maybe there was something serious on his mind, but then why the hell was the kid here?!

“You got a minute...” Steve asked, and though I probably should’ve refused considering the insane amount of overtime I was supposed to be doing anyway, Steve looked concerned, and I owed enough to him these past couple of weeks that I should be there when he needed me.

“Yeah. Sure.” I agreed, putting down my tools on the floor beside me.

Steve held up an open hand, and I took it, allowing him to pull me to my feet with minimal struggle. I grabbed the rag off the truck’s hood, wiping the grease from my arms before asking;

“So do you wanna do this in the car?”

——————————————————-

This was insane.

I had to be dreaming. I must’ve breathed in too many gas fumes back at the shop, and I was currently unconscious, because there was no way any of what Steve just told me was true.

“So let me get this straight...” I said; my voice still not managing not to drip with incredulousness as I sat in the middle of the backseat of Steve’s BMW, the chassis vibrating slightly as we tore down deep county roads.  

“You decided it was a good idea to go into some creepy old basement...” I began, my eyes immediately fixing on one Steve Harrington, who I honestly believed was some sort of realistic hallucination, because I still didn’t buy a second of his bullshit story.

“Because some kid who’s friends with Nancy’s brother told you there was some monster down there?” I continued; my attention switching to the kid in question sat in the passenger seat who I now knew was called Dustin; and played Dnd or something with Mike Wheeler.

“Not thought. There was. I trapped it down there.” Corrected... Dustin, spinning round in his seat to see me, and hold on; why did the twelve year old get to ride shotgun?

I spun my focus back to Steve, unwilling to have a debate on what was real and what was imaginary with a literal child.

“Okay. So you went down there, planning to do Christ knows what, but it had already escaped and left behind its skin...” I continued to repeat what I’d been told; a mixture of disgust and disbelief colouring my words, because if this was some kind of practical joke; it was gross and Steve was so dea—

“Yes; yes. I know; I thought it sounded crazy too.” Steve interrupted; his voice filled with chargrin, as if my disbelief was something he’d expected, but really didn’t have the patience to deal with; and maybe Steve wasn’t making this shit up.

“So now we’re going to ki—“ I continued; only to be interrupted by the kid.

“Ah, ah, ah...” He interjected; because this so called “baby demogorgon” had been his pet; and what kind of fucking idiot takes a look at a fucking demonic slug and thinks it’s cute?!

I sighed, restraint wearing thin, before continuing my train of thought before the kid had a chance at raising any more helpful observations.

“And we’re going to catch this thing with a nail bat and some pastrami; and how exactly was this plan meant to work?” I trailed off into a question, because although Steve wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, I’d at least expected something a little better than lure it in with lunch meat then hit it over the head with a baseball bat.

“It’s the best I could come up with on short notice...” Steve defended himself; sounding less than convinced on his “master plan”.

“Besides not all of us are the spawn of Sonny & Rico...” He began to make a cheap cop joke about my dad; only for the child mega mouth on legs to come flying in with another comment.

“Wait; you’re the Chief’s daughter?!” The kid exclaimed as if it wasn’t one of the most well known facts of the town.

“Yeah...” I replied, before quickly returning to the conversation at hand, because usually when people got worked up about my dad; it was for one of three reasons, and considering this was a twelve year old boy I was talking about; it probably wasn’t about being stood up at the movies.

“Wow; that’s wicked awesome. You know; I hadn’t even realised, but now that I think about it—“ The ki... Dustin began to ramble again,; and hero worship it was, but I really didn’t have time for this.

“That’s great, kid; but can we go back to the fact that there’s a baby monster who might possibly try to kill us!” Steve interrupted before I got the chance, ending up near yelling at the kid; and I was finally beginning to believe that this all wasn’t a hoax.

“Back to your plan...” I restarted; knowing now would be a good time to get this show back on the road before I had to break up a cage match between an annoyingly dumb brunette and an equally annoying child genius, who still wasn’t smart enough to follow basic horror movie logic.

“Harrington; this is half baked, even for you.” I stated matter-of-factly; Steve not at all deflated against my slight insult.

“I’m open to suggestions.” Steve admitted with a sigh, not knowing that was the exact opening I was waiting for.

“And I’m open for business...” I countered with a grin, leaning forward between the seats, because Steve Harrington may be a noble dunce when it comes to well thought through plans, but I was a Hopper; and if there was one thing a Hopper could do, it was battle strategy.

“Take a left up on ninth.” I instructed; Steve taking the turning without argument , because he trusted my judgment when it came to this sort of shit.

If we were gonna take down this fucker; we were gonna need meat, lots and lots of meat.

[chuffyfan87]

Hiding. Part 8b

"I want to know what's being said about me."

“Most people are talking about Andrew. And how much of a coward he is for hitting you.”

"Do they think the baby's his?"

He nodded. “Yeah.” Although that wasn’t the whole truth.

She gave him a pointed look. "Charlie..."

“There’s at least two people in the department who highly suspect the baby isn’t Andrew’s.” Neither of them were aware that Peter was listening into their conversation.

"Only two?" She asked, not believing his answer for one moment.

“Yes only two.” He winced at her glare. “Three...”

"Who else knows?"

“About you being pregnant with my baby?”

"Our baby." She corrected.

“‘Max, George and Eve. Although Eve only suspects. Max and George know.”

"Could be worse. They're not really the gossiping type." Relaxing slightly she smiled, her hand coming to rest on her bump.

He placed his hand over her bump. “Our baby. It’s a girl, I’m telling you.”

Duffy giggled as she gave Charlie a light kiss. "And she's already got you wrapped around her little finger!" She teased.

Charlie laughed and returned the kiss, “Just like her mum always has.” He laughed.

Duffy's giggles turned into more of a dirty laugh as she felt Charlie's hands start to roam.

His hands groped her bum. Not once but twice. He really couldn’t resist her growing figure! She was extremely attractive.

"You never could keep your hands to yourself." She smirked inbetween kisses.

“Can you blame me?” He groped her bum again. “You’re so sexy. Always have been.”

"One track mind! That's what you've got!" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer.

“When you’re as beautiful as you are, how can I not be constantly...” He lent down to whisper in her ear, “...horny?”

She laughed. "Oh everyone will soon know just how horny you get!"

There came an awkward cough from behind them as Peter emerged from the bedroom looking a bit embarrassed.

Duffy froze, immediately going bright red.

Charlie moved his hands from Duffy’s bottom and smiled slightly, taking a step back. “Sorry about that.”

"Peter... Um..." Duffy stammered.

Peter shrugged. “It’s alright, can I get a glass of water?” He asked.

Duffy nodded and got her son a glass of water. She went to speak to him again but he turned and left the room quickly.

“Ah. Sorry.” Charlie said sheepishly.

Duffy didn't reply as she went to follow Peter. As she reached the doorway he slammed the door in her face. She sighed and opened it, walking into the bedroom. "Peter..."

“What?” He sighed, sipping his water.

She glanced over at Jake who was sitting on the bed intently watching his older brother. "Jake, sweetheart, why don't you go and show Uncle Charlie which film you want to watch?" The younger boy's face broke into a smile and he bounced out of the room. Duffy quietly closed the door before moving to sit next to Peter on the bed. "I think we need to have a little talk you and me."

Peter shrugged but didn’t deny that him and his mum needed to talk.

"About what you saw just now..." Duffy began.

“You and Uncle Charlie?”

"Its not what it looked like." She winced, that sounded so stupid! "I mean..." She tried to start again.

“It’s alright.” He mumbled.

"We were going to tell you and your brother soon. So much has happened recently that we weren't sure how you'd feel about us being a couple."

Peter shrugged once more. “Doesn’t really bother me. I know dad’s been cheating on you.”

Duffy winced. How did he know that? "Are you upset about that?"

Peter shrugged.

"Will you please talk to me? Instead of just shrugging."

“Why can’t we go home to dad?”

"Its, um, its complicated sweetheart. Uncle Charlie has been kind enough to let us stay with him for a while until we can sort something better out."

“I want to see dad.” He replied.

"You can't. Not right now. I'm sorry."

Peter sighed. “Fine!”

"Its better for all of us that we're here for the time being."

Peter nodded. He was only 9 but he knew more about the situation than he was letting on. Especially between Duffy and Andrew and the abuse.

Duffy held out her arms towards her eldest son. It broke her heart that he was suffering because of the huge mess she found herself in.

He moved himself into his mum’s arms and cuddled her.

She kissed the top of his hair. "I love you. It's all going to be OK, I promise." She whispered.

“Love you too.” He replied.

Duffy tensed slightly as she felt her son's arms tighten around her waist.

He didn’t say anything, even though he knew about the baby.

"Are you OK to join your brother whilst I get dressed?" She asked.

“Yeah ok.” He smiled sadly as he unwrapped his arms from around Duffy’s waist.

Duffy sighed as she watched Peter leave the room. She dropped her head into her hands. Could things get any worse?

Peter walked back into the lounge and found Charlie sat on the sofa with Jake on his knee.

“Are you alright, son?” Charlie asked Peter as he returned to the lounge.

Peter didn't answer and just sat down on the floor in front of the TV.

Charlie sighed softly but didn’t say anything.

Jake looked over at his brother and then back at Charlie.

“You ok, Jake?” He asked.

"Why is mum taking so long?" He asked.

“At getting dressed?” He smiled, “I think she was talking to Peter first.”

"Can I go talk to her too?"

“Of course you can.” He smiled.

Smiling broadly he bounced down from Charlie's lap and ran towards the bedroom.

Jake opened the bedroom door. “Mum?”

Duffy let out a startled shriek. She had her back to the door and was stood in just her bra and leggings.

“Mum?” He giggled.

Duffy quickly grabbed a tshirt, not realising it was Charlie's, and held it in front of her as she turned around to face her younger son. "Yes Jake?"

“You’re taking forever!”

"I won't be much longer. I couldn't find my clothes amongst the mess you and Peter have made of this room."

Jake giggled, “It was Peter.”

"He plays with your toys now does he?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in mild amusement. "Uncle Charlie has been kind enough to let us stay here, please don't destroy his home in return." She sighed, running her hand through her hair.

Jake nodded. “We stay with Uncle Charlie forever?”

"Would you like that?" She asked gently.

Jake nodded enthusiastically.

Duffy smiled sadly. Everything was so simple to the 5 year old. "I'm just going to finish getting dressed. You go back to watch the film. I won't be long."

Jake nodded and ran out. Duffy sighed and pulled the tshirt over her head. Taking a deep breath she reentered the lounge.

Charlie was watching Peter, wondering if he was ok. He hadn’t meant for the boy to see him touching his mum up.

Jake crashed into Peter as he ran to sit next to him on the floor.

"Be careful!" Duffy admonished from the doorway.

“Jake!” Peter rolled his eyes and went back to watching the film.

Charlie gestured for Duffy to sit beside him.

Duffy walked across the room and sat on the sofa. If she'd been any further away from Charlie she would have fallen onto the floor however.

“Are you okay?” He asked quietly as he gave her knee a small squeeze.

"Fine." She replied through gritted teeth.

“No you’re not.” He sighed and removed his hand from her knee.

She sighed and nodded her head in the direction of the kitchen.

He smiled sadly and stood up. He followed her into the kitchen.

She quickly whirled around to face him. "You sent Jake in whilst I was getting dressed!" She hissed.

“Sorry.” He sighed, “I thought you’d have gotten dressed by then?”

"I was talking to Peter and then I had to find something appropriate."

“I’m sorry, ok?”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. She rubbed her hand across her face.

“This is harder than I thought it’d be.” Charlie admitted.

"You had the chance to walk away."

“I wasn’t ever going to walk away. But that doesn’t mean I don’t find this all... hard.” He admitted. “It’s complicated. And I hate to think we’re going to hurt the boys.”

"You probably should have thought about that before you felt me up in here!" She shot back angrily.

“I didn’t hear you complain!” He shot back.

"You didn't exactly give me much opportunity to!" She hissed, her face inches from his.

“So it’s my fault is it?” He asked as he looked down at her lips and then back to her eyes.

"Yes! This..." She gestured to her figure, "is all your fault!"

“Our fault.” He replied.

"Sure, shift the blame onto me." She sneered.

“Well I was quite happy to come on your stomach and breasts but you dug your nails into my bum and pushed me in further.” He replied back in a whisper.

"You refused to wear a condom!"

“I don’t recall you ever asking me to wear one!”

"There you go again blaming me!"

“I’m not blaming you.” He replied, “We slept together without protection. We’re both nurses, we knew what /could/ happen.”

Duffy suddenly burst into floods of tears.

Charlie was taken aback and wrapped his arms around her.

Duffy pulled back. "Don't touch me!" She snapped.

“Why? What’ve I done now?” He asked.

"You really don't know?!"

“Getting you pregnant? Is this why you’re so... upset?”

"If you don't know why then I'm not talking to you anymore." She turned to leave the room.

Charlie shook his head. Bloody hell, he was going to have his work cut out here.

Duffy paused in the hallway and turned back around. Seeing Charlie still stood in the kitchen she stormed back into the room. "Why didn't you come to check I was OK?"

“Are you serious?!”

"If you cared you would!"

[ladywinchester1967]

Wildest Dreams

Ours; Chapter 3

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Katlynn Roberts

Warnings: SMUT, drunken behavior, feels, fluff....literally everything.

A/N: Chapter 3 for Ours is finallt here!!! Hope you guys enjoy!! As always, unbeta’d, all mistakes are mine, pics are not!

Wanna catch up?

Chapter 1: Elevator Buttons

Chapter 2: You Really Got Me

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He’s so tall and handsome as hell,

He’s so bad but he does it so well.

Say you’ll see me again even if it’s just pretend. 

At lunch that day, Kat sat with Jody, Donna, Jo and Lisa. Jody, Donna and Jo had been really friendly to start with, as had Lisa, until she found out Kat was Dean's assistant, then she had been somewhat icy toward Kat, though she'd never bothered to figure out why.

“How’s working for Dean?” Jody asked, she had pretty blue eyes, short dark hair and a slim figure.

“Fine, he’s a little rough around the edges but it’s not that big of a deal.” Kat said as she cut into her chicken.

“He put the moves on you yet?” Lisa asked, as if she were demanding an answer, rather than asking a genuine question.

Kat laughed and shook her head “God no,” she lied “it’s not like that with us.”

“Okay, sure.” Lisa said and rolled her eyes.

“Jesus, bitter much?” Jody asked, looking at Lisa

“I’m not bitter,” Lisa said “it’s just same old same old, which is why he can’t keep an assistant.”

“Wait, what?” Kat asked, this wasn't news to her, but it being brought out of the blue by a woman that didn't seem to like her at all, was a little offensive.

“Oh it’s not that bad.” Jody said.

“When was the last time he had an assistant that lasted more than six months?” Lisa asked

The whole group was silent and Donna said “Well, after you there was Charlie.”

“Well, you KNOW why it lasted so long with Charlie, so that doesn't count. The defense rests.” Lisa said and got up. Kat looked at Jody, then Donna and Jo.

“What’s up with that?” Kat asked,

“She and Dean are the reason there’s a no dating policy.” Jo said; Jo had blonde hair and blue eyes and was stick thin. “They dated, it ended badly and the next thing you know, she’s screaming at him in his office. It was a mess.”

“Yeesh.” Kat said

“Look, it’s not a secret that Dean likes to sleep around,” Jody said “everyone knows he-“ she paused

“Gets around.” Donna filled in, fuller figured than Jody and with blonde hair, she had a cheerful, nearly Pollyanna friendliness about her.

“Thank you.” Jody said.

“Like a record.” Jo said and Kat laughed.

Inside her own head she was screaming at herself. Of course he liked to sleep around. Why wouldn’t he? But this made her wonder what had gone so wrong between Dean and Lisa.

“What happened between them?” Kat asked

“Depends on who you ask.” Jo said as she finished up her lunch.

“From what we’ve been able to piece together, she wanted to get married and she started putting the pressure on him. He wasn’t ready and told her to knock it off.” Jody said.

“She wouldn’t and thought he was cheating on her, that’s when the screaming match happened.” Donna said “I mean, sure he’s a tramp, but a cheater?”

“He isn’t,” Jo said “I’ve known Dean literally my entire life, he isn’t the cheating type.”

“But a man whore nonetheless.” Jody said.

“Well yeah, no one’s saying he isn’t” Jo said.

That conversation had given Kat a lot the chew on, but it wasn’t like she could ask Dean about it. One, she wasn’t sure they’d be anything more than a fling anyway, and two, they hadn’t shared much about their lives to start with. She had tried not to let Lisa’s words bother her, if anything it sounded like she was more a jilted lover than anything. Kat scrolled through a few websites to find something to wear to this shindig, Dean had said it was a “monkey suit” thing so she tried to think along those lines.

“Kat, here’s those files you wanted.” Charlie’s voice brought her back to Earth.

“Hey Charlie, for this benefit thing, what do people wear?” Kat asked.

“It’s really fancy,” Charlie said “Like prom.”

“Ah, Okay.” Kat said

“Who are you going with?” Charlie asked, looking excited.

Kat looked around and motioned for Charlie to come closer and she said in a low tone “Dean, as friends.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet. He and I went as friends last year because I didn’t have anyone to go with. I have a date this year.” Charlie said.

“Oh? Who?” Kat asked

“Jo.” Charlie said with a smile.

“Oh, are you two going as friends too?” Kat asked.

Charlie shook her head

“No, Jo is my girlfriend.” she said

“OH!” Kat said, surprised. Now she knew what Lisa meant about why she had been Dean's assistant for so long, they batted for the same team. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” and Charlie laughed

“No big, most people don’t,” Charlie said “we’ve been together for almost a year.”

“Aw, that’s nice. Congrats.” Kat said

“Dean’s a great date,” Charlie said “He’s very sweet, don’t let the rumors about him fool you. He’s a real sweet heart.”

Kat smiled, she knew he was a sweetheart.

“Thanks Charlie, for that and the files.” Kat said and extended her hand

“No problem, if you need anything else just shout.” Charlie said and put the files in Kat’s hands.

The night of the charity function had finally arrived; Kat had preemptively gotten a room at the hotel it was being held at so she could drink and not have to worry about driving and to get out of her condo for a little bit. She was finishing curling her hair when she got a text from Dean.

Here; where are you?

She quickly replied

Hotel, room 608

Coming up he replied

She cut off the light in the bathroom and went into the room where she took off the robe she’d been wearing to get ready and admired her dress. It was an emerald green, floor length dress with cap sleeves and a lace covered back. She took it down from the hanger and unzipped it. It had enough room where she could step into it and not worry about messing up her hair or makeup, she’d made sure of that when she’d bought it. She stepped into the dress and pulled it up over her body. She’d secured it behind her neck and reached in the back to get the zipper. That was the one thing she’d forgotten to make sure she could do on her own. It was at an awkward angle and she couldn’t quite reach it, no matter how much she tried.

She heard a knock at the door.

“Crap!” She said and went over to the door. She looked out of the peep hole and her jaw nearly hit the ground when she saw Dean. She opened the door and he was wearing a sharp black suit and tie. His eyes met hers and he grinned at her.

“Hey, wow,” she said “you clean up nice.”

“So do you.” he said as he admired her.

She let him into the room, the door automatically shutting behind him and asked “Can you zip me up? I’m on the struggle bus over here.”

He laughed “Sure.” he said and she turned around. “Nice tattoo” he said as he zipped the dress up, his finger tips brushing her back, a shutter running down her spine.

“Thanks,” She said “it’s a phoenix.”

She turned around and he said

“You look really, really pretty.”

“Thank you,” She said “I need lipstick and my shoes and I’ll be ready to go.” and walked into the bathroom.

“Okay.” he said, and walked into the doorway of the bathroom “I’ll have to keep my eye on you and make sure no one steals my date.”

“I’m not your date remember?” She asked, reaching for her lipstick.

“No, you are my date, just my platonic date.” he said and leaned against the door jamb. Kat quickly applied her lipstick, a fierce crimson shade and smiled at herself in the mirror. “You look like someone out of Mad Men.” he told her

“That’s style goals.” she said and he laughed. She left the bathroom, put her sky high heels on and asked “Okay, close enough for government work?”

“Nah,” he said “way better than that.”

Her face broke into a grin as she grabbed her purse and they walked out of the hotel room together. They went toward the elevator and waited behind a group of people that were going down as well. They stood toward the back and Kat felt a hand grab her behind. She looked and realized it was Dean, and he was grinning like crazy.

“Hand. Off. Ass.” She said in a quiet but playful tone “off ass.”

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly “my hands have a mind of their own.”

“Tell your hands to keep away from my ass.” she said with a grin.

He leaned into her ear and said “That’s really hard, your ass looks good in that dress.”

She pulled back from him, her cheeks flushing. “You just-“ she stopped short as he laughed “shut it. Okay? Shut it right now.”

“I have to cop a feel while I can,” he said in a grouchy tone “I can’t touch you once we get to this fucking event, and I haven't touched you in days. This sucks!”

She leaned into his ear and said “If you play your cards right maybe you will after word.”

He pulled back from her, his eyebrows shooting up and down.

“Okay, let’s hurry and get there so we can leave.” he said and she laughed.

When they arrived at the ballroom, they saw everyone from work was there, all gussied up. Donna and Jody signaled Kat and she squeezed Dean’s arm, nodding to them. He smiled and they walked over.

“Ladies.” Dean greeted them

“Kat you look amazing!” Jody gushed and introduced her date, Troy. He was a tall lanky man with chestnut brown hair and a strong jaw line. He shook hands with Kat and Dean and then Jody and Donna gushed over Kat.

“I’m headed to the bar,” Dean said and looked at Kat “want anything?”

“Sure, just get me something sweet.” she said and he nodded. When he was out of ear shot Jody looked like she was going to explode with happiness.

“You two make a really, REALLY attractive couple.” she said and Kat laughed

“Jody!” Donna said “you leave that girl alone.”

“No, it’s fine,” Kat said “neither of us had anyone to go with so we said we’d go together as friends.”

“Aw, that’s sweet.” Donna said

“How’d you get here?” Jody asked

“I’m staying in the hotel,” Kat said “get out of my condo for a night.”

“So, he didn’t come pick you up?” Donna asked

“No,” Kat said “I’m not even sure how he got here.”

“Uber,” Dean said interrupting them and hanging Kat a glass “champagne, the bar tender said it was sweet.”

“Thank you.” she said, taking it from him

“Yeah, I got an Uber in and I’ll get one out so I don’t have to worry about driving.” Dean said

“Well, you’re so sweet to bring Kat as your date.” Donna said

Dean shrugged and sipped his beer. They chatted a while longer and then Kat and Dean made a walk around the ballroom. He introduced her to some of the higher ups she hadn’t met, like Zachariah (head of finance), Naomi (the CEO) and finally Carver, the head honcho. He was a short guy with messy brown hair, hazel eyes and a nicely trimmed beard. When Dean introduced Kat to him, her greeted her with a warm smile and hand shake.

“Nice to meet you Katlynn, welcome aboard.” Carver said.

“Nice to meet you as well, I’ve heard so much about you so it’s nice to put a face with a name.” she said.

“Ah, good things I hope.” Carver said with a wink.

“Only good things, yes sir.” Kat said with a smile.

“Sir isn’t necessary, Carver is fine.” he said.

“Oh okay, sure.” Kat said and looked at both of them “If ya’ll will excuse me, I’ll be right back.” Kat said and trotted off. Carver and Dean watched her go and Carver asked

“She’s always that sweet?”

Dean nodded

“I think it’s from all the sugar she drinks.” he said with a fond chuckle and took a sip of his beer

“Don’t mess it up with this one Dean,” Carver said “I see a lot of potential in this one.”

“Roger that.” Dean said.

Kat went to the bathroom and hitched up her dress to do her business. She heard women chattering and then it quit as the ladies left the bathroom. She heard the door open again and then Lisa’s voice say

“I’m just saying, she’s NOT even that pretty if you really look at her.”

“Lisa, you need to bring it down a notch” she heard Jo’s voice say “You and Dean broke up a million years ago and you’ve moved on.”

“I’m just saying,” Lisa said, she sounded drunk “Why does he always have to parade his tramps in front of me? Do you think he gets off on that or something?”

“LISA!” Jo yelled “Kat isn’t a tramp!”

Irritation hit Kat at her core. She finished up her business and let the hem of her dress hit the ground. She flushed and left the stall, seeing Lisa and Jo standing by the sinks. Jo’s eyes widened with fear as Lisa stared down Kat. Kat washed her hands and didn’t say a word to either of them. She turned her back to dry her hands and Lisa said

“He’s just gonna break your heart you know.”

Kat turned around and said “We’re not together Lisa so I don’t know where this is coming from.”

“But you’re fucking him right?” Lisa asked with a laugh.

“No, I’m not fucking him.” Kat said, her anger rising.

“You sure about that?” She asked “Because he looks at you the same way he used to look at me.”

Kat left the bathroom after that, fuming. She went back into the ballroom and looked for Dean, suddenly feeling eyes on her. She looked for him and eventually found him with Sam. She lightly touched his arm and he turned to see her with a smile on his face. His expression quickly changed when he saw the look on her face.

“What’s wrong?” He asked

She gave her head a little shake and plastered a fake smile on her face.

“Nothing,” She said “I’m fine.”

Dean knew she was lying but didn’t push her any further.

They found their seats next to each other for the sit down dinner. Kat kept looking up and saw Lisa staring her down and whispering to a couple of girls she didn't recognize. All three glared and sniggered at Kat as she tried to keep a lid on her temper.

“Are you okay?” Dean asked, seeing how tense her shoulders were.

“I'm fine,” she told him “don't worry about me.”

“I am worried,” Dean said “you've been tense since you got back from the bathroom, everything okay?”

“Just office bitches.” Kat said and took a sip of her wine.

“Office bitches?” he asked and looked up, catching Lisa's eye. She and the two girls she was gossiping to quickly turned like they hadn't done anything. It clicked for Dean right then and there and he grew angry. “Ah, I see the trouble.” he said “What'd she say?”

“Nothing important,” Kat said and dabbed the corners of her mouth “your gonna be needed on stage in a few minutes and I'm not in the mood for a bar brawl.”

Dean firmly nodded and then leaned over to her

“I'll take care of this, I promise.” he said lowly

Kat snorted at this

“Okay, she's just gonna stop being a bitch to me because you asked nicely?” she asked

“No,” he said “but HR is gonna want to know if someone's harassing my assistant at a work function.”

“Please Dean,” she pleaded ���let me handle it. You can't fight all my battles for me.”

Dean stared her down, he knew she could handle herself, but it wasn't fair that she was being dragged through the mud in the first place.

“Okay,” he said “but if it gets out of hand, let me know.”

“You know I will.” she said as he got up and joined Sam on stage with the board of directors. Carver gave a speech about how proud he was of the charitable work they were doing and how this evening alone had raised more than twenty one thousand dollars toward the charity they were sponsoring, which showed kids how to navigate the business world. Kat listened as Carver talked and then he added

“None of this would be possible if it weren't for the Winchesters; John, Sam and Dean, so let me bring them up here.”

Kat was a little taken aback, Dean hadn't mentioned that his Dad would be at this function, but she could see good looks ran in the family. John was a little taller than Dean, with salt and pepper hair and a matching, closely shaved beard.

“Thank you Carver,” John said into the microphone “this is actually a pet project my sons started and got their old man, who at the time was just starting a business, to back them up on. Now, we've given out nearly five hundred business and law scholarships and helped give some kids and young adults a leg up in the business world. I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of these two.”

He gestured fondly to Sam and Dean who both nodded in appreciation. Once the speeches were over, everyone resumed walking around the ballroom and hanging out. Dean caught up with Kat and intorduced her to his Dad.

“Dad,” Dean told him “This is my assistant, Katlynn. Kat, this is my Dad, John Winchester.”

“Nice to finally meet you,” John said as he shook her hand “Dean's told me so much about you, about he failed to mention just how pretty you are.”

Kat laughed as she shook John's hand

“He exaggerates, but thank you. Nice to finally meet you Mr. Winchester.”

“Please,” John insisted “John is fine.”

“Kat's the one that keeps things on the straight and narrow,” Dean told him dad “she's been a huge assest ever since she got hired on.”

“How long you been working for my son?” John asked as he sipped his beer

“We're coming up on six months right?” Kat asked Dean, who nodded “six really good months.”

“Well, keep up the good work.” John said with a nod.

Blushing, she turned to Dean and she asked “How about that drink?”    

“Sure, thanks” Dean said, giving her a small smile.

“Sam, anything for you?” Kat asked, turning to Dean's brother.

“No, I’m good. Thank you though.” Sam said

Kat walked over to the bar and saw Lisa start toward her with the other girls she'd been leering at Kat with all night. They stood in line behind Kat and she pretended not to notice them. Lisa seemed to be swaying, like she was having trouble standing up.

“Don’t you think it’s funny that Dean shows up at every event with a different girl?” Lisa asked, loud enough for Kat to hear her but not loud enough to cause a fuss. “I mean this is, what? The third event this year and the third girl he’s brought?” Lisa asked. Kat tried to block her out as she approached the bar. She felt Lisa get close behind her and whisper in her ear “If you think you can tame him, you’re an idiot.”

“I’m gonna need you to take a step back.” Kat said, anger flaring in her chest.

“Or what?” Lisa asked “you gonna make me?”

“No, just get out of my personal space.” Kat said, her temper flaring.

“Come on Red, I know you want to swing on me, so do it.” Lisa said and pushed Kat forward. Caught off guard, Kat tumbled into the bar, she stuck her hands out and missed hitting her head by inches, but she did send glasses and alcohol flying as her side hit the bar. She righted herself as she saw Sam and Dean rush over.

“What the hell?!” Dean asked

“She started it!” Lisa slurred as Sam helped Kat to her feet. Dean looked from Kat to Lisa and back again.

“Lisa, stop.” Dean said

“YOU STOP DEAN!” Lisa screamed and by that time, the whole ballroom was looking at them.

Intense anxiety came crashing over Kat, literally everyone that held her future in their hands was looking at her, wondering what had cause such a disturbance.  

“It’s fine, I’m just gonna go get some air.” She said and pushed Sam away.

“You okay?” Sam asked

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Kat said, fighting back tears. Sam let her go as Dean followed behind her.

“Hey, Kat, wait up” Dean said

Kat stopped outside of the ballroom and turned around. “Dean, just. Don’t.” Kat said

“Look, I’ll talk to Lisa but not here.” Dean said

“Don’t worry about it okay? I’m fine.” She said in a clipped tone. This non-relationship, whatever thing they had going on was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth. She turned to leave and Dean grabbed her elbow

“Come on Kat, don’t leave.” he said.

“Dean, stop okay?” She asked “I don’t need drama in my life.”

“What drama? She’s drunk!” He asked.

“Oh, come on Dean, I’m probably not the first girl she’s gone after and I probably won’t be the last.” Kat said, she was hurt and angered by what Lisa had said but she also wondered, could ANY woman tame him?

“Kat, come on will you just listen to me?” He asked.

“Dean, just let me go.” she begged and wrenched her arm away from his grasp.

“Katlynn, please. I just want you to listen” he said.

“No, I want to be left alone.” she said and made her way to the elevator. He was hot on her heels as she smashed the up button.

“Kat, let me explain, please.” Dean begged, his green eyes wide. Kat refused to look at him, she crossed her arms over her chest as the elevator announced its arrival with a ping. The doors slid open and people walked out. Once they were clear, Kat went inside and Dean followed her as she punched the button to her floor.

“No, Dean, go away.” she said and he closed the elevator door.

“Not until you listen.” he snapped as the doors slid shut and he turned around to face her “You’re so fucking stubborn you can’t see when someone’s trying to apologize to you!”

She had her back up against the wall of the elevator and she finally lost it on him.

“And you’re so caught up in finding your next conquest that you can’t see when someone actually cares about YOU and not what’s between your fucking legs!” She shouted at him.

They stared at each other for a few long seconds and in a step and a half, Dean crossed the elevator and crashed his lips into hers. Every nerve in Kat’s body hummed as they furiously kissed, he pressed her up against the back of the elevator, his hands on either side of her head; his perfect full lips closing over hers. Part of her was furious, she screamed every swear word she could think of at him in her head while her body had different ideas. She wrapped her arms around him as their tongues met, hers massaged over his and he gripped her hair tightly. They parted, catching their breath as the elevator stopped. The doors slid open and stayed there. She wanted him, badly. The ache that had been in her body since London re-emerged with a vengeance.

She took his hand and pulled him out of the elevator as people walked in. They walked down the hallway and she silently cursed and kicked herself. This was going to go down in flames, she was going to end up broken hearted while Dean fucking Winchester added another notch to his belt. With her hand in his, the memories of London came crashing back over her, that hand running all over her body, touching every bit of her felt more like a want than a memory.

“God damn it.” she thought as she arrived at her hotel room door. She used the key card to quickly unlock the door and they went inside. The door shut behind them and she turned to face him.

“I’m going to say this loud and clear, you listening?” She asked and he nodded. “I’ll listen to what you have to say, if I don’t like what I hear or if I figure out you’re lying to me; you’re gonna leave this room. I’m gonna ask for a transfer and I’ll never see you again unless it’s absolutely fucking necessary. That clear?”

“What if you like what you hear and I’m not lying?” He asked.

“We’ll cross that bridge IF we get to it.” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. She turned the chair at the desk around and motioned to it. “Sit and start talking before I change my mind”

He obeyed her command and she sat on the edge of the bed. He took a few seconds to collect his thoughts and then said “What you said about by reputation, it isn’t a lie, but it isn’t the whole truth either.”

“Go on.” she said.

“I’ve had one night stands, A LOT of one night stands but I’ve had relationships too. For one reason or another, they didn’t work. I’ve always been up front on why they didn’t work with the girl, I can get that much credit right?” She nodded and he went on “Lisa and I didn’t work because she wanted more than what I could give her. I told her I wasn’t ready to settle down, she kept pressuring me and I couldn’t take it so I broke it off with her. Needless to say, she didn’t take it well.”

“Yeah, no shit.” Kat said

He dragged his bottom lip between his teeth and then continued “It’s different with you,” he said “the truth is, you’re good for me in a way no one else has been. My life has been different in the best way possible since we met and I don’t want to let that go.” Her heart pounded “I never said anything because I didn’t want to ruin the good thing we have going. Then London happened and,” he trailed off with a smile on his face “and I realized I felt differently about you.”

“Oh shit.” she thought as she looked at him. She didn’t have a witty retort or a sarcastic comment ready for this. This was a mistake and it was going to ruin everything, she felt it in her bones. She stood up, placed her purse on the desk and went over to him. If this was the atomic bomb that would ruin her life and career, at least she’d enjoy it before the impact.

She leaned down and gently kissed his lips. He responded, kissing her back as she placed a hand on the back of his head. She pulled back from him and said

“Dean, I want this, but.”

“But what?” He asked

She had to know, she moved her hand and placed it on his cheek.

“You’re not lying to my face just to get some are you?” She asked

He shook his head, his hand covering hers.

“No; I’ve lied about things to get with a girl, but everything I just said? Probably the most honest thing I’ve said in months.” he told her.

She studied his face; his eyes always gave him away if he was lying. The impact hit as she realized he was, indeed, telling the truth. Her mouth went slack as he stood up, his fingers running over the back of her hand. He leaned his head down and kissed her. Her heart beat thundered in her ears as she kissed him back, their lip lock becoming more intense. His hand slid down her arm and rested on her shoulder, he tentatively put his other hand on her waist as she opened her mouth for another kiss. She laced her fingers together behind his neck and they parted.

“Dean,” She said quietly, her breath sending little puffs of air on to his lips.

“Mhh?” He asked, gripping her shoulder and hip tightly.

She bit her lip and said “I want you.”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

“Kat?!” They heard Jody’s voice call “it’s Jody, you okay?”

“Fuck!” Kat swore and looked at Dean “You aren’t supposed to be here, hide!”

“I’ll say I’m comforting you.” he said

“Yeah, with red lipstick all over your mouth?” Kat asked “Like she’s gonna buy that!”

“Damn, you’re right” Dean said and went into the bathroom as Kat worked up a few tears and took her shoes off. “Too bad you’re taking those off, I kind of wanted those around my ears tonight.” he said with a wink.

“You’re a pervert and I love I.t” she said and he closed the door to the bathroom. Kat opened the door to the outside and Jody stood there.

“Hey, you okay?” She asked tenderly

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Kat said “she’s just a bitch that’s all. Brought back some not so fond memories of high school.”

“Do you want to come back down? I think they made her leave.” Jody said and Kat shook her head.

“No, I’m fine. I’ve got room service and HBO.” Kat said with a laugh.

“Is Dean here? I saw him leave with you.” Jody said, looking into the room.

“He was, but not any more,” Kat lied “he made sure I was okay and he left.”

“Okay,” Jody said, buying it “you sure you don’t want me to hang out for a bit?”

“Nah, go have fun, I’m fine Jody. Really” Kat said Jody hugged her and asked

“See you Monday?”

“Yep, see you Monday.” Kat said and Jody left. Kat closed the door and Dean came out of the bathroom.

“Aw, that was sweet.” Dean said, his tone genuine.

“Look at me, making friends.” Kat said

“I’ll be your friend” he said with a devilish smirk and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and guided her back to the bed.

“Friends don’t do what we did in London,” Kat said, her hands around his waist “or what we’re about to do.”

“And what’re we about to do?” He asked

“Use your imagination Winchester.” she said

His lips crashed into hers, their tongues mingling together. When he pulled back he said “Say it again”

She gently kissed his lips and said “Dean, I want you.”

His mouth over took hers, his tongue winding its way into her mouth. He slid his hand around to her back and to the zipper on the back of her dress. She reached to the hook and eye clasp on the back of her neck and unhooked it, the front of the dress falling down and she shimmied out of it. The top of the dress hit the floor, leaving her in a strapless bra and panties. Dean pulled back and looked at her.

“Wow.” he said

“Wait,” Kat said “good Wow or bad Wow?”

“Good,” he said “better than good. Excellent.”

She smiled and he took his jacket off, casting it aside. He sat on the edge of the bed and she straddled his lap, kissing his lips. His hands slid up her back and back down again as she gripped the hair on the back of his head. He unhooked her bra and tossed it aside. He then unbuttoned his shirt. She slid it off of his shoulders and it fell away. He laid back on the bed and she lay on top of him while still kissing him. He rolled her so that she was on her back. She reached down and pulled off his under shirt, seeing his bare chest for the first time. She knew he was fit but even her imagination couldn’t guess how fit he was. She grinned as he looked up at her.

“I’ve seen what you can do with your mouth,” he said “now you get see what I can do with mine.”

“Oh dear god” she thought as he began his kissing adventure down her body. He got to her waistband of her panties and helped her shimmy out of them. He settled between her legs and kissed from her inner knee up to the apex of her thighs. He licked the length of her, making her moan and her back arch. His mouth closed over her and then his tongue set to work. He licked and flicked his tongue all over her, making her whimper.

He wasn’t lying, he was GOOD at this.

He sucked on her clit, a near pornographic moan coming out of her mouth.

“Dean, Dean!” She cried gripping the sheets by her head. This didn’t stop him, he flicked his tongue in and out of her and she cried out again.

“Fuck,” she sighed “oh fuck!”

He expertly slid his tongue in and out of her, his fingertips teasing her clit.

“Dean,” she moaned “oh fuck, that feels so good!”

He kissed back up her body and she could hear him unbuckling his belt and unzipping his pants. Their mouths connected and she gripped his shoulders hard.

“I️ want you, now.” she told him fiercely

“Okay.” he said and slipped out of his pants, underwear, socks and shoes rather quickly.

“Condom in my purse.” she told him

He raised an eyebrow and asked

“You PLANNED this, didn’t you?”

“Well, not the getting pushed into a bar part,” She said “or the following argument, but yes, the sex was premeditated.”

“I️ like the way you think” he said and opened up her purse and found a bunch of condoms in it. “How much sex were you planning on having?” He asked

“Never can be to careful.” she said with a grin. He shrugged as he ripped one open and rolled it on.

“Good point.” he said and made his way back over to her. He crawled on top of her and kissed her before pushing inside of her. Having him inside her was better than she’d imagined, she sighed as he pushed in deeper and kissed her. He finally filled her, and got his hips into a rhythm.

“Mmmhhhh,” she moaned against his mouth. She hooked her leg over his hips and rolled so that she was on top of him. She braced herself, placing her hands on his chest and syncing her hips to the rhythm he had started. His hands ran over her butt and rested on her hips, his finger tips digging into her flesh. This position also pushed her breasts together, making them look bigger.

He breathed out a mix of a sigh and her name as his head lolled back. She bit her lip, wanting to hear that again. Without warning, he sat up, his arms wrapping around her and their mouths crashing together. She pulled back from him and kissed his neck.

“Dean?” She asked in his ear.

His hand gripped her hair

“Yeah?” He asked.

“Say my name again.” she said and playfully bit his ear.

“Mh, Katlynn” he sighed and she smiled.

“All mine.” she thought her hand running through his hair. She locked her mouth over his and picked up the pace with her hips. He held her tighter against him as he kissed her slowly and passionately. He rolled her on to her back, positioning himself over her, he took both of her hands off of his shoulders and placed them by her head. He slid his hands up her arms and then laced his fingers through hers as he slowly and deliberately kissed her lips. It was then, she realized, that this wasn’t a quick fuck for him. He was making love to her. Deciding to go along with it, she let him have control.

“Dean, mhhhh, Dean!” she sighed as he started kissing her neck and shoulders.

“That’s right sweetheart.” he murmured as he thrust into her. She whimpered as she climbed higher and higher. She squirmed under him, wanting him to go harder and faster. She told him as much and he gave her a smirk

“I’m taking my time with you, I️ want both of us to enjoy this.”

His tongue slipped in and out of her mouth, he released one of her hands and smoothed her hair with his free hand. She squeezed his other hand in hers and hooked her legs around his hips. He thrust a little harder into her as he kissed all over her neck and throat. She moaned and cried out, as he scooped an arm under her and picked her up so that she was straddling his lap again. He placed his hands on her hips, moving her in the rhythm. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, whimpering against his mouth as he hit her sweet spot. She ran her hands through his hair and said

“Oh God, Dean I’m gonna come!” her body couldn’t hold on any longer.

“Come for me sweetheart.” he said in her ear as he drove into her harder.

She finished with such intensity, it felt like she went blind for a few seconds. She cried out as he groaned in her ear as he finished, gripping her hair tightly as he did. They sat there for a few seconds and then he finally pulled out and they laid down on the bed. He disposed of the condom and she crawled under the sheets while he was gone. When he came back, he joined her, wrapping her into his arms. She laid her head on his chest and said

“I’m sure you hear this a lot but, holy shit. That was awesome.”

He laughed, stroking her hair.

“Not as often as you’d think, but I️ have heard it.” he said

She picked her head up and kissed him. When the kiss was over, she asked

“I'm curious, about something you said earlier.”

“Shoot,” he said

“You dumped Lisa because you weren’t ready for marriage correct?” she asked

“Correct.” he said

“Is that something you’re even remotely interested in?” She asked

He shrugged

“Truth be told, I️ haven’t given it a lot of thought before her” he said “don’t get me wrong, it had been brought up before then but it was more in casual conversation rather than a “Hey would you want to?” kind of thing.”

“Fair enough.” Kat said

“After her and now, I️ can’t give a definite yes or no.” he said “Would it be nice? Sure, I️ guess. I’m just focused on my career right now.”

Kat nodded

“What about you?” He asked

She shrugged

“I️ haven’t met someone I️ can honestly say I’d want to spend the rest of my life with this human.” she said

“Smart thinking.” he said

“Kids?” She asked

“Again, can’t give an honest yes or no,” he said “I️ have friends that have kids and they’re fun, but one of my own? I’m not totally sure about that.”

“Again, fair enough.” she said with a smile

“You?” He asked

She sighed

“It’d be nice,” she said “but” she paused.

“But what?” He asked.

“This is a safe zone right?” She asked.

He looked around

“Um, we’re laying naked in a five star hotel room, I’d say this is pretty safe.” he said and she laughed, shaking her head “What? That was funny!” He said

“It was stupid!” She exclaimed.

“So stupid that it was funny.” he corrected her.

“No, just stupid” she said and he kissed her “Come on, but what?” He asked

She chewed on her bottom lip and said

“The last guy I️ was serious with dumped me because it’s difficult for me to get pregnant.”

“What? Seriously?” He asked and she nodded

“We decided we wanted kids right?” She asked “and we weren’t having any luck, so we both went to the doctor and he checked out fine. Me, on the other hand, my body produces sperm antibodies. My body literally hates sperm.”

This made him laugh and he said

“I’m not laughing at you, that phrasing was funny.”

“Nah, you’re good” she said “it isn’t impossible for me to have kids, it’s just very difficult.” she told him “he decided it wasn’t worth it to him and he dropped me like a hot potato.”

Dean rolled his eyes

“I’ve met some douche bags in my time but he’s toward the top of the list right now.” he said and she shrugged

“I️ didn’t lose sleep over it.” she said and he gave her a look “What?” She asked

“I️ find that hard to believe.” he said

“Okay, so I️ moped around. Like a lot.” She said

He kissed her forehead and said

“I️ better get going.”

“Nah, you don’t have to.” she said

“Oh is this a slumber party now?” He asked

“I’m not exactly kicking you out so yeah, if you want to stay, you can.” she said

“Ah, what the hell? We already broke every rule in the handbook.” He said and she laughed

“Yeah, we sure did” she said.

The next morning, Kat felt her shoulder being lightly shaken.

“Sweetheart,” Dean said “I'm gonna go ahead and go home okay?”

“Hm?” She asked sleepily and he repeated his statement “Text me later?” she asked with a yawn.

“Yeah, I will.” he said, his knuckles brushing over her skin “Promise.”

He gently pushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. She smiled up at him, tiredly and said

“Miss you all ready.”

“Trust me, if I don't leave now, someone's gonna see me and we're gonna get busted.” he said and she nodded before going back to sleep.

When she woke up and checked out later that day, she was driving home when she got a text from Dean.

Hope you had a good morning, mind if I come by you place later and see you so we can talk?

When she arrived home, she answered with

I did, thanks for checking on me! Sure, come on by! And included her address

Twenty minutes later, Dean arrived, wearing a backwards baseball hat and aviator sunglasses.

“You didn't have to come in disguise.” she said as she let him into her condo.

“Disguise?” he asked “This is how I dress outside work.” he said as he took his sunglasses off and walked in.

“Oh, well then.” she said and closed the door behind him. He looked around the condo, which was sparsely decorated, but there were boxes in a few places.

“Moving out or still moving in?” he asked

“Still moving in,” she told him “my boss is a slave driver.”

“Mh, I'll talk to him about that.” Dean said and tilted her face up to his and kissing her. “Missed that this morning.” he said quietly.

“Yeah, me too.” she told him, her hands on his hips “Gotta admit, I feel bad that you had to do the walk of shame.”

“Shame?” he asked “We called it the stride of pride when I was in college.” she laughed and he said “Seriously, I got laid, what's there to be ashamed of?”

“All right, point taken.” she said. She stretched to her tip toes and kissed him again. He smiled against her mouth and the returned the kiss, her hands tightening their grip on his jeans.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, he had one hand between her shoulders and the other gripping her ample backside. His lips worked down her neck as he tasted her skin.

“Is this what you meant by talk or did you ACTUALLY want to talk?” she asked breathlessly “Because I'm good with this.”

“No,” he said “I actually meant talking.” his lips skimming over her skin.

“Okay, well then you better quit,” she told him “or the only talking we'll be doing is the dirty kind.”

He laughed and released her, she in turn let him go before striding to the kitchen.

“It's nice outside, do you want to sit on the back porch? Beer maybe?” she asked him.

“God, you're good.” he said “I'll take both of those.”

She nodded and grabbed two beers out of the fridge as he opened them and handed her one.

“Such a gentleman.” she said and led him by the hand to the back porch that over looked the walkway to the next condo buildings. They got comfortable in the chairs she had set outside, the crisp autumn air around them. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked

“I've been giving it a lot of thought,” he said “you and I.”

“And?” she asked, not sure she was ready to hear what he had to say.

He took a long pull of his beer before answering

“I want to be with you,” he said “I mean for real. You and me, together.”

“Really?” she asked

“Really.” he answered, making her smile. “But at work, we're not. Strictly professional.”

“So, we’re not together?” Kat asked

“As far as anyone at work knows, we are not,” Dean said “Outside work? On like Donkey Kong.”

She laughed “That’s the best description ever.” she said

“You can use that as long as I get credit.” he said

“You will” she assured him, she bit her lip, apprehensive “Can we make this work?” She asked.

He took a drink from his beer and said “We have so far, I don’t see it being a problem now.”

“But,” She said, unsure of how to word her next sentence.

“Just say whatever it is you’re thinking,” he said “you make a face when you’re over thinking. It’s cute.”

“It’s gonna be hard for me NOT to talk about my boyfriend” she blurted out “but I can’t say YOU’RE the guy I’m gushing about. I’ll have to make up a code name for you.”

“Let’s see how creative you get, I’m interested.” he said “I’ll have to come up with one for you too because the thing about my girlfriend? She’s awesome.”

“Shut your face.” she said and picked at the label on her beer bottle

“What? I call it like it see it” he said and she smirked, her cheeks turning pink.

“I’m glad we’re doing this,” she said “for real.”

“Me too.” he said and offered up his hand to her. She took it, lacing her fingers through his. She looked at him with a smile.

“You realize we’re risking everything right?” She asked him “both of us could lose our jobs if anyone finds out. Though they’ll probably get rid of me before they get rid of you.”

He nodded.  “Yeah, I know” he said, taking a sip of his beer. They were silent for a few seconds and he finally said “But it’s worth it to me.”

“What makes it worth it to you?” She asked him.

He sighed and said “How I feel about you is different than I’ve ever felt before,” his eyes connecting with hers “I can’t deny it, and I don’t want to let you go, if this is what you really want. But, what about you?”

She looked down at their hands; his, big rough hand in her small one and she slowly smiled. Everything in that moment felt right.

“I don’t want to let you go either, so if we’re both in this one hundred percent, then it’s worth it to me too.” she said and looked up. He was grinning back at her. He picked their hands up and kissed the back of her hand.

“My lady.” he said and she laughed

“My lord.” she answered and he grinned wider.

“C’mere, you’re too far away.” he complained and she rolled her eyes, getting up.

“I was comfortable you know.” she told him as she made her way over to him.

“I’ll make you comfortable.” he told her as he pulled her into his lap. She sat sideways, her forehead resting in the crook between his neck and shoulder. Her wrapped an arm around her shoulders while his other arm draped across her hips. She wrapped both arms around his neck, closed her eyes and absorbed the moment; the feeling of his warmth around her, the way his soap smelled, how his chest gently rose and fell with each breath, the way the breeze danced over her exposed knees.

Dean, meanwhile, was in heaven. Here she was with the beautiful girl he’d had his eye on for months. The one that always made him laugh, the one who brought in an outsider’s prospective, who was always two steps ahead of him and that always had a smile as warm as sunshine for him, was in his lap, wrapped up in his arms right after agreeing to be his girlfriend. A smile played over his lips as he laid a hand over her knee and the other stroked her shoulder. He gently kissed the top of her head and looked up at him.

“What’s that look for?” She asked him

“Just happy, that’s all.” he said

She leaned in and kissed his lips. His mouth enveloped hers in a sweet, sensual way. His kisses weren’t rushed, as they had previously been. This go around, he took his time, letting her know she had his full attention. He traced over her knee with his thumb as they kissed over and over. His free hand ran up and down her spine, his feather light touch leaving goosebumps in its wake. She sighed and pulled herself closer to him, then she slide her hands up his shoulders and held his face in her hands and he opened his mouth and kissed her again. They pulled apart, her thumb running over the apples of his cheeks while his hands linked together on her hip. She gave him two short and sweet kisses before asking

“Want to go in? I’m getting cold.”

“Sure.” He said and they got up, walking inside.

They settled in to watch a movie, which mostly meant that the movie was on the the background while they drank and made out on the couch, high school style.

“At least we don’t have to worry about any parents walking in.” Kat thought. She was laying on her side with her back to the TV, her legs tangled up with Dean’s. Her hands were tangled in the hair in the back of his head while he had one hand on the back of her head and the other on her hip. They came up for air and a sip of their drinks when Dean looked at the screen.

“What the hell are we watching?” He asked as they sat up and he took a sip of his beer.

“That’s using the term loosely,” Kat said and watched the screen “It’s called “Just Friends” Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart are in it.”

He shrugged as she finished off her glass of wine. During the “movie” she had switched from beer to wine.

“Want another?” She asked him as she got up

“No, I’m good.” he said.

“Okay, just checking.” she said as she walked to the kitchen. She poured herself another glass of wine a joined him back on the couch. He lifted her legs into his lap as she laid back against the sofa, setting her glass of wine on the coffee table in front of her. His eyes focused on the screen while hers were focused on him. He looked so relaxed and at ease, a five o’clock shadow on his chin and cheeks, his hand resting in her knee. A smile crossed her face and she turned her attention to the screen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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Dean/ Jensen:

@spnbaby-67​ @akshi8278​

[sorrybutnotashamed]

I wrote another little thing.

I just want to ensure you understand that all I’m looking for is hugging. Cas typed, hesitated, typed. This is strictly platonic. Clicked send.

While he waited for a reply, he took another expensive sip of wine. He was doing his best not to chug the glass, but this conversation required liquid courage.

 Yeah, buddy, I hear you. You cuddle, then you help me with my Accounting class. We have a deal?

A huge gulp of wine preceded his reply text. Yes, we have a deal. I’ll see you tomorrow at 6. I’ll text you my address.

* * *

His little rented house was always pretty tidy, but Cas still ran the vacuum and wiped down the coffee table with Lysol before his cuddle buddy’s arrival. He was drying his hands on a dishtowel when someone knocked firmly on the door.

Cas slung a mask on his face and swung the door open. “Hi, I’m –“ His brain stuttered to a stop. The man on his porch was extremely well-built with light brown hair and crinkles around his striking green eyes. Undoubtedly his grey-and-black mask covered a smile. Dammit. Charlie hadn’t said anything about his looks. But then again, why would she? She probably never noticed.

“Cas, right?” His voice was muffled by the mask, but it was pleasantly deep.

Cas blinked and rebooted. “Yes, I’m Cas. You’re Dean? Please come in.”

Dean stepped through the doorway, dropping a messenger bag off his shoulder and toeing off his boots. “All right, cuddle first or study first?” He rubbed his hands together and moved into the living room, taking in the second-hand couch and the view from the patio doors into the small backyard.

Cas quickly turned to shut the front door. Get a grip, Castiel. Oxytocin. Remember the oxytocin. “I’d prefer to cuddle first, if you don’t have a preference,” he said. Dean quirked his eyebrow as Cas used air quotes around “cuddle”.

“Um, sure, buddy. Whatever floats your boat. Here on the couch, I guess?” He swung his arms back and forth, like he was stretching for a workout. Cas emphatically did not eye the strip of taut abdomen revealed as Dean’s t-shirt rode up. This is platonic hugging. It doesn’t matter how good looking he is.

Brow furrowed, Cas stepped hesitantly around the couch to face Dean. “I thought we’d do it standing up?”

Dean ducked his head, and looked up at Cas through his lashes, his eyes twinkling. “You wanna do it standing up?”

“Hugging!” Cas blurted, flustered. “Hugging is usually done standing up!”

Dean’s mask clearly hid a grin, but he spread his arms wide. “It’s your party. Bring it on in, man.”

Firming his shoulders, looking anywhere but at Dean’s face, Cas stepped into Dean’s orbit. Immediately Dean’s arms tightened around him, drawing Cas’s head in to his shoulder as his hands splayed across his back. “There we go, that’s not too bad.” Cas felt the rumble of Dean’s words through his chest and shivered.

He didn’t feel calm at all. His breath sped up and he felt uncomfortable in his clothes. Maybe hugging a stranger was worse than hugging nobody. There’s no way he’d be able to relax enough to get the good vibes flowing. Or maybe you’re not giving it a chance, his brain supplied helpfully. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around Dean’s waist and leaned against him. Dean had an inch or two on him; they slotted together like puzzle pieces, hip to shoulder.

A few minutes passed, the two men standing awkwardly together in the middle of the room. Dean said nothing, and Cas wasn’t sure what to say. This was a bad idea. A dumb idea. Did I remember to put on deodorant? Cas’s shoulders stayed ramrod straight and he did his best not to breathe damply on Dean’s neck, which was hard to do, with the way Dean had pressed his face into his shoulder.

Another minute passed in silence. Dean shifted his weight slightly. “Um, Cas? Is this working the way you want?”

“Yes, exactly as I pictured it,” Cas lied. He moved his hands hesitantly up Dean’s back to grasp his shoulders. He tried valiantly to relax into the hug, while Dean shifted his weight again.

“Could we, ah, talk? As we … hug?”

“Yes, of course. Just not about politics, or school, or –“

Dean huffed a laugh. “I get it. Nothing stressful. Right.” One of his hands rubbed soothing circles into Cas’ back. If possible, Cas tensed even further. Dean sighed. “Why don’t you tell me why we’re huggin’?”  The soothing circles continued.

Clearing his throat, Cas shifted his weight back onto his heels. “The pandemic has been here for a year. I find myself stressed out most days. My schedule only allows for so many runs per week and I’m already eating very healthily. My rental agreement doesn’t allow for a pet,” Cas recited. “Touching another human releases oxytocin, which reduces stress.”

Dean hummed, his hands moving to knead along Cas’ spine. “Don’t you have someone local that you’re close to? Family? A girlfriend? A boyfriend?”

“No, my family’s out West. I’m finishing my fourth year of a demanding program. I tutor students over Zoom and I live alone. My social bubble is very small. Charlie said your bubble is small, as well.” His shoulders relaxed infinitesimally as Dean’s hands continued to rove over his back. Talking distracted him from the weirdness of the situation, and let him enjoy the feeling of touch again.

Dean cleared his throat and swept his hands down Cas’ sides. “Yeah, I was working at Rocky’s before the pandemic but they aren’t open now. Who woulda thought I’d miss checking freshman IDs, right? Or cleaning up a pukey bathroom?”

Huffing a laugh, Cas rested his head more comfortably on Dean’s shoulder. Even through the mask, he could smell Dean’s cologne, and he was positive it would permeate his own clothing. Dean’s presence would linger long after the man himself had left.

“So no special someone?” Dean asked. His hands continued to move, smoothing subtle patterns into Cas’ back and sides.

Cas shook his head. “No. The man I was seeing was doing a term in Scotland, and he decided to stay when the pandemic hit. Long distance didn’t work for us.”

He realized how much of his weight he was resting on Dean when Dean shifted his feet yet again.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to –“

“No, Cas, it’s fine, that’s why I’m here, right? Lean on in.”

“Um, this is probably enough, it’s, we – we can move on to your homework if you want.” Cas stepped back reluctantly.

“We’ve only been standing here for like fifteen minutes, Cas, and I’m going to take up way more than that with my Accounting questions. I’m fine. It’s fine.” Dean hauled him back in, tightening his arms and shifting his feet on the carpet.

“What if we sit down?” Cas asked hesitantly, fully aware that Dean had suggested that in the first place. His traitorous arms just weren’t ready to let go of the first person he’d touched in months.

“Sure, no problem. Let’s do this.” Dean’s voice lacked judgement, and when Cas glanced into his eyes, expecting to see I-told-you-so humour, he saw nothing but kindness.

Within moments, the couch springs squeaked angrily as Dean sat down and hauled Cas onto his lap. Cas also squeaked, flailing his arms and trying to move off Dean. Dean grabbed his arms and pulled him against his broad chest. He trapped one arm between their bodies and grasped Cas’ free wrist in his left hand. The right resumed it’s meandering path over Cas’ spine.

“There we go. Relax. I figure an hour for an hour, okay? Fair’s fair,” Dean’s voice brooked no argument.

“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind,” Cas squirmed on Dean’s lap.

“Human touch, you said. Oxy-something? This is the best way for you to get as much touch as possible unless you wanna get horizontal.”

Cas immediately stopped squirming. “No, this is good. This is fine.”

Dean settled back into the couch, stroking from Cas’ nape to his waist. “Do you have an Alexa or something?”

“Yes, over on the table,” Cas responded. “Music?”

“Yeah, music.”

“Alexa, play my favourites list.”

“Playing your favourites list on Spotify.”

A soothing jazz instrumental bled into the living room, making the silence between the two men less awkward. Cas drifted slightly, the gentle motion of Dean’s hand on his back lulling him into a stupor. He jerked slightly when Dean’s fingers splayed across his scalp.

“This ok?” Dean rumbled. He’d dropped his own head to rest against Cas’ crown, but his fingers stilled, awaiting Cas’ response.

“Yeah… yes, that’s fine. It’s quite relaxing. There are –“ Cas swallowed a groan of pleasure behind his mask as Dean’s fingers kneaded his scalp – “there are special sensory neurons at the base of our hair follicles.”

“That so? I thought you were an Accounting major, not Pre-Med.”

“My mother’s a doctor,” Cas slurred. “Dermatology. Skin’s the biggest organ, blah blah,” he muttered. He closed his eyes and splayed his legs out along the length of the couch, settling in more closely against Dean’s chest.

Dean snorted a laugh. “Right. Blah blah.” He squeezed Cas’s thigh and sighed lightly. His other hand slipped almost lazily through Cas’s pandemically-long hair.

It could’ve been minutes or it could’ve been hours later when Cas jerked awake, head still pillowed on Dean’s shoulder.

“Good evening, Sunshine.”

Cas froze, dread filling him. “Oh God, Dean, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” He reflexively tried to wipe his mouth, running into his mask. At least he hadn’t drooled on that broad shoulder.

“It’s okay. I guess you really needed some human touch. I don’t mind, but I think my ass is numb and I have to pee.”

Cas blushed furiously and scrambled off Dean’s lap. “Of course, I’m so sorry. The bathroom is just around the corner.”

Dean groaned as he stood, stretching his arms to the ceiling. Various parts of his back cracked and popped. “Be right back.”

Cas ripped off his mask and chugged a glass of water in the kitchen. His hands shook slightly, anxiety pounding his chest. He put his mask back on and dropped his head, leaning against the counter and taking deep breaths.

“Hey, whoa, what’s going on? You okay?” Dean walked right up to him and crowded into his personal space, stroking down Cas’ arms.

“I have Anxiety. I guess that’s probably not a big surprise. I’m sorry I fell asleep on you, that really was not my intent. I don’t even know what time it is, I’m so sorry.” Cas’ hands shook slightly as he gripped the counter.

“Cas, buddy, it’s fine. I fell asleep a bit, too. And I could’ve woken you up. I guess maybe touch therapy worked both ways today, huh?” Dean bent down, trying to catch Cas’ eyes with his own.

Blue met green, and Cas took in another deep breath through damp cotton. “I’m sorry, my Anxiety is acting up more lately, with the lockdowns.”

“It’s fine. No need to apologize for being you. As long as you’re fine. Do you need another hug?” Dean opened his arms and wiggled his eyebrows encouragingly.

Feeling sheepish, Cas closed the distance and hugged Dean back. It did make him feel better, but he stepped back a few moments later.

“Should we get to your homework? What do you need to work on?” He turned towards his dining room table, where he had his own textbooks spread out.

“Nah, Cas. It’s late, I’m gonna head home.” Dean headed for the front door a few steps away.

“It’s what?” Cas looked at the clock, and Dean was right, it was almost ten o’clock. He’d slept, snuggled on Dean’s chest, for three hours!

“I can feel you freaking out from here, Cas. I told you I didn’t mind.” Dean finished lacing his boots and threw his bag over his shoulder. Sure enough, his green eyes were crinkled when he glanced at Cas.

“Next time, we’ll start with the homework though, and then the cuddling, okay? And maybe we’ll get a pizza.”

Cas’ eyes widened. “Next time? You’ll come back?”

Dean laughed. “Yeah, buddy. Cuddles for tutoring, that’s what we agreed. Let’s just consider this one a freebie. I’ll see you around, Cas.” He saluted with two fingers, and closed the door quietly behind himself.

“’til next time,” Cas said softly to an empty room that did, indeed, still smell like Dean.

Chapter 2 is posted on AO3.