#thinkin of night and dream having a spat where they say hurtful things

[skelekins]

:P

[uas-fics]

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2

Read on AO3

Title: How to Train A Champion and Keep Your Reputation Intact

Summary: Piers doesn’t want to coach Leon, but the last thing Piers needs is for everyone to know a cool punk like him used to perform in Pokemon Contests! If it means keeping his reputation intact, he’ll begrudgingly teach this ray of sunlight what he knows.

Fandom: Pokemon Sword and Shield

Ships: LeonxPiers | dnnz

Rating: T

Contest Warnings: N/A

Chapter 1: The Early Morning Visitor

----

Of the people Piers expected to be sitting across his kitchen table at eight in the morning, the former champion was not one of them. Leon wasn't even in the top ten, yet here he was, twiddling his thumbs behind a cup of tea with a peppy expression on his face.

Piers was barely a human being this early, yet Leon seemed to have the same energy as a particularly bushy-tailed skwovet.

"You have a nice kitchen," Leon commented, more to fill the silence than an actual compliment.

Piers glanced at the pile of take-out containers on the counter then the singular shoe that hadn't made it to his room with its partner the night before. His kitchen was nothing spectacular, and it didn't need to be. His home was a place to crash or bring a date, not some fancy townhouse. With only he and Marnie there, why should he bother fancying the place up?

"What do you want, Leon?" Piers took a sip of his tea.

Leon wrapped his fingers around his cup but didn't move to drink. If Leon would have preferred coffee, he could have said something before Piers poured him a cup. It'd be a waste to pour it down the drain.

"Well, it's a little silly, but I could use your help with something," Leon explained.

Piers narrowed his eyes.

Leon was the chairman of the Pokemon League. Piers gave his gym over to Marnie after the last Champion tournament. What could he want Piers to help with at this point? The only connection he had with the League was Marnie.

Unless...

"I swear if you're goin' to pull the same shit as Rose did and try to get me to make Marnie move the gym—"

"No, no, nothing like that!" Leon raised his hands, palms facing out. "It has nothing at all to do with Spikemuth or the gym."

"Then what does it have to do with?" Piers leaned back and crossed his arms.

"Uh, well, alright," Leon didn't meet his eyes, "it's about a rumor."

Piers' frown deepened. He always had rumors about him floating about. It came with his persona.

"I heard Piers beat a man to a pulp because he spilled his drink on him." or "I heard Piers took three girls back to his home and made them leave before the sun was even up." or he was a dealer of rare hallucinogenic flowers or that he used his pokemon to break into Rose's office and peed in a potted plant behind his desk.

There was rarely any truth to the rumors. He didn't care to squash them. He was a dark-type trainer, having everyone thinking he was a bigger badass than he already was could not hurt his reputation.

"C'mon, mate, aren't you a little old to be listenin' to rumors?" Piers cocked an eyebrow.

"It's not a bad rumor.”

"What's the rumor then?"

"Ah, well, I heard," He paused to clear his throat, "that you, ah, that you competed in pokemon contests when you were younger—and that you won."

Piers barely kept his face deadpan.

Where had Leon heard that? Those contests happened just before posting on the internet boomed, so it wasn't like the contests were live-streamed and archived. The only video that he knew existed of his contest days hid in a box in the back of a closet. Marnie captured it when she could barely see over the railings at the stadiums. Even then, the video quality was terrible and Marnie kept moving the camera around. He looked like a black and white blob in them.

He forced himself to calm down. He could easily deny this rumor. No one would believe he, Piers, former Spikemuth gym leader, head of Team Yell, the fierce trainer of powerful dark-types, would ever compete in a pokemon contest.

"Where did you hear that?" Piers reached for his tea just to have something in his hands.

What credibility did this rumor spreader have? Probably none. Denying this would be easy.

"Oh, I heard your sister mention it."

Piers nearly dropped his cup.

Shit.

He could not deny this, not without putting Marnie's credibility on the line. She was still a new gym leader. The last thing she needed was the chairman thinking she was a gossip.

He hissed out a breath. "Oh, did she?"

"Yeah, she was talking to Opal while Bede filled out some papers," Leon told him. "She said she remembered you used to be good at pokemon contests. That's why I'm here."

"So what?" Piers spat. "It isn't illegal, now is it?"

Why couldn't this have been about Malamar scaring passers-by on Route 7 when he was bored? Why could this have been about the rave Piers helped throw in an abandoned mine last month? Why could it have been about pissing in the potted plant? Why couldn't this have been about anything else?!

Leon frowned. "Of course not—"

"Then why are you askin' me about it?"

"Because I wanted your help to win one."

Piers' mouth gaped. Did he hear that right? Leon, the former champion, one of the strongest pokemon trainers in all of Galar, wanted to enter a pokemon contest.

He stuck a finger in his ear and twisted it.

"Sorry, say that again. I must have somethin' in my ear. I didn't just hear you ask for help in a pokemon contest."

"That is what I asked." Leon beamed. "There is one in Ballonlea in two weeks and I want to enter, but I don't know the first thing about them. If you know, you could help me—if you want to, that is."

"Why?" Piers held back from pinching himself. How was this not a dream? Maybe he was messing with hallucinogenic flowers after all.

Reaching into his pocket, Leon took out a folded piece of lavender paper. He laid it flat on the table, smoothing it with the side of his hand, before pushing it over. The faint scent of roses wafted from it.

"All are invited to the first Bellonlea Pokemon Contest!" It read in a flowing, elegant font. "Coordinators of all ages and skill levels are invited to the Bellonlea Stadium to participate in a Pokemon Contest. Please contact the Bellonlean Ladies' Society for more details and how to enter."

"Was this ‘ppose to explain somethin'?" Piers pushed the flyer back. "Why do you want to win a contest?"

"That prize, of course!" Leon took his phone from his pocket. He scrolled a moment then turned the screen to Piers.

A picture of a red and white hat with a black logo stared back. It honestly looked like something an overly-excited ten-year-old would win from a cereal box drawing.

"It's a hat." Piers peered over the top of the phone to look at the hat Leon already had on.

"It's not just a hat. It's a limited edition!" Leon pulled his phone back. "I had one when I was a little kid, but I lost it to an angry corvisquire. The first place in the beginner contest wins it."

"And you can't just, you know, buy one for yourself?" He rolled his hand. "I know you have sponsorships out your ass." Piers looked down pointedly at his Spikemuth Chamber of Commerce shirt for emphasis.

Leon shrugged. "What fun is that?"

Piers downed half his drink in one go. The burn on his throat reassured him he wasn't dreaming.

"Piers?" Leon leaned over the table, his face alight with a smile. "Can't I talk you into helping me out? Please? I promise to owe you one after this."

Piers groaned. What choice did he have? He couldn't deny it without hurting Marnie's reputation. Their reputation used to be the only valuable he and Marnie had to their names, besides each other. Lying to Leon to save his own skin was not an option.

"Yeah, yeah, alright." Piers raised his hands in defeat. "Fine. I'll do it, but," he held a finger up in Leon's face, "you have to swear on your life that you won't tell a soul about it. I don't need anyone thinkin’ I ever put any of my pokemon in a frilly suit or made them dance around like pretty ballerinas or some shit."

Leon nearly jumped across the table. He put his hands on Piers' shoulders and squeezed a little too hard.

"Thanks a million for this!" He hopped up. "Where should we train? I think I understand the rules, but maybe we should go over the rules first? Or outfit—"

"Tomorrow." Piers cut him off. "We'll start tomorrow."

Leon's face fell like a growlithe that just had his bone taken from him. Piers held his sad gaze. Marnie's morpoko did the same pout when she wanted something, and Piers knew better than to give in.

If Leon still wanted to learn how to be a coordinator, he had to prove himself first. A day would be enough time for Piers to think up obstacles to make Leon forget about the silly notion. Contests, despite the stereotype, were hard work. While beginner contests weren't all that complicated, Piers didn't mind sprinkling in some of the more difficult to grasp bits from the higher tiers. With any luck that would confuse Leon right out of the idea and out of Piers' life.

Leon took a breath. He pulled his hands from Piers and squared his shoulders.

"I'll meet you back here at eight sharp tomorrow and then we can get started."

"No. You'll meet me outside Spikemuth at noon."

"Oh, well, alright. It'll be a champ—" Leon caught himself from using his old catchphrase. "It'll be a fun time."

"That's one way to think of it," Piers muttered, feeling less and less enthused at the arrangement by the second.

----

True to his word, Leon stood outside the front gate of Spikemuth at noon on the dot. He perked up when he saw Piers and jumped in front of him.

"Good afternoon, Teacher Piers."

He winked.

Piers wrinkled his nose.

"Call me that again, and I'm callin' this off."

Leon laughed nervously. "Sorry." He whistled. "Sooooo, what should I learn first? How to use music? Or pose? I'm already pretty good at that."

"How about the rules?"

Piers waved him to follow down the road towards the Spikemuth Tunnel. People were less likely to eavesdrop on them if they walked.

"Alright, rules. I know there are two rounds, and each trainer uses only one pokemon."

"Coordinator," Piers corrected sharply.

He promised to teach, but he didn't promise to be entirely pleasant while doing it.

"Yeah. There are two rounds. The first round is the Performance Stage. You show off your pokemon's appeal with a choreographed set of moves. The judges will assign points based on how well the performance fits into particular categories."

Piers began to ramble on about the different move categories as if the contest in Bellonlea would be so complicated. Beginner contests weren't judged by the five categories individually like higher-ranked contests.

Back when Galar still had a contest circuit, the people in beginner contests were kids with weak pokemon that might only know two or three moves. A performance with a cool move first and a cute move next wouldn't be judged as harshly as the first rank contest would.

However, Leon didn't need to know that. If he thought that the category system was complicated and—in Piers' humble opinion—limited and stupid, maybe he would back out.

"And that's all there is to the appeals rules." Piers looked at Leon, expecting him to be confused and dejected at the long-winded explanation, but instead found him holding onto every word.

"Well, that doesn't seem too hard." He nodded. "It's just putting on a show in a time limit with your partner. Easy."

"We'll see how easy you think it is when you're doing it." Piers stood under a shade tree. "The next round is the harder one. It's the battle round."

"Battle? I thought contests were for show, not for fighting."

Piers cackled at the genuine confusion on Leon's face. Of course, he would think that. That silly stereotype about contests never seemed to die, did it? Coordinators didn't just train their pokemon to teach them new moves. Their partner had to be strong to last the battles against one another. Even though Piers was a gym leader when he did contests, he still struggled against the stronger opponents.

He idly grabbed a lower branch and bent it down. If he didn’t slouch, Piers was tall enough that he could just about reach into the pokemon nest a few branches up with relative ease.

"You would think that, wouldn't you?" He opened his hand.

The branch whipped up and hit the branch the nest was on. The skwovet in the nest jumped with a squeak. Its sudden movement knocked a sitrus berry over the side.

"In the second round, two coordinators battle to remove points from the opponent, usin' moves that fall into the contest categories." He snatched the sitrus berry out of the air.

The skwovet glared at Piers. Piers smirked at it before wiping the berry on his shirt. The pokemon chattered and hurried higher into the tree.

Leon frowned at Piers' interaction with the skwovet. Piers met his gaze, daring him to comment on it.

Leon cleared his throat. "That wasn't necessary."

"It was an accident."

Leon pursed his lips in doubt but didn't argue. Instead, he said, "So it's a battle, but it's an entertaining battle. I can do that."

Around a bite of berry, Piers shrugged, "It's a five-minute battle, but the point of the battle isn't to knock out your opponent with the first move. No one needs to faint. It's to show that your pokemon is better than theirs."

Piers half-expected Leon to go on about how no pokemon was better than another, instead, Leon stroked his chin in thought. Maybe Leon realized that a contest wouldn't be as fun as he thought and wanted to give up on the idea.

The branches above shook and the skwovet chattered. A leppa berry slammed into the ground near Piers' boot. The skwovet, arm loaded with unripe leppa berries, held up another. It threw it. Piers took a step to the side.

"Nice try," he mocked. The skwovet's fur bristled. It tossed down the rest of its armful and missed every time. With a huff, it stomped back towards its nest to rustle through its hoard.

"Alright. I think I can handle this," Leon said, moving into Piers' personal space and lifting his arm over Piers' head, "with your help."

Grinning, he stepped back then opened his fist to present an oran berry. The skwovet cried out in frustration. Piers rubbed the top of his head. He glanced up at the wild pokemon once more before walking away from the tree, with Leon in tow. It was best not to test his luck anymore. The skwovet might use a move on him and the last thing he wanted was to spend the night picking slobbery bullet seeds out of his hair.

The skwovet angrily chattered but seemed to give up. It hurried down the tree to gather its berries. Leon crouched to roll the oran berry over. The skwovet eyed him but snatched the berry up to shove into its cheeks anyway.

Piers raised an eyebrow. Maybe this training wouldn't be as bad as he thought.

----

The training area outside Spikemuth wasn't much, just a patch of barren earth that trainers from Spikemuth would come to battle when they didn't feel like using the gym. Currently, the only souls there were Piers and Leon. Since Marnie took over as gym leader, the younger trainers of the city moved their training back to the gym.

"They didn't want to come when you were the gym leader. They think you're scary," Marnie had explained. "Dunno why though. You're about as scary as a teddisuara."

Piers crossed his arms. "Do you know which pokemon you're goin' use? These are Hoenn rules, so you can only use one."

Leon tapped the pokeballs at his belt. "I'm not sure. I didn't think I could go in with Charizard, so I didn't bring him with me."

"Why not Charizard?"

"Everyone knows what my Charizard looks like," Leon explained. "And I don't think I can pretend not to be me if I use him."

Piers' brows furrowed. What in the world was he talking about?

Upon seeing Piers' expression, Leon chuckled to himself.

"I guess I forgot to tell you." He put his hands on his hips and set his feet a shoulder-width apart. "I'm going to do this contest in disguise."

The hope Piers just acquired vanished.

"You're what?"

"I'm going in disguise," He repeated. "I was the champion, and now I'm chairman. That would give me an unfair advantage, don't you think?"

Piers pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course, Leon would want to win on a level playing field. The Bellonean Ladies' Society would probably just give him the stupid hat if he promised to simply show up and bring more attention to the event. If he did that, Piers could have stayed at home and lazed about, but, noooo, Leon had to win his silly hat fair and square.

"How do you plan to do that?"

"Well, I hoped you could help me with that, too." Leon pointed to his face. "I've seen your stage makeup, and you're talented. I bet you could make me look like a different person."

Piers hated that he couldn't argue with that. Not long after he decided to follow his dream of being a punk star, one of the gym trainers offered to teach him the basics of cosmetics. Once he had the basics down, it only took a year of using his pokemon, friends, and Marnie as test subjects for him to perfect his art.

He could easily make Leon's face look different enough: soften his cheekbones, maybe a few freckles, pull his bangs back, color contacts, and glasses...Leon would look good in glasses, even if it meant hiding his natural eye color...

Piers shook his head. He hadn't agreed to anything but training for the contest. He was not giving Leon a makeover like they were preteens at a slumber party.

Leon pursed his lips. "It would be pointless if I won because of who I am. That wouldn't be fair to the other train—coordinators."

"No. Figure that out yourself."

Leon sighed, his shoulders slumped. He muttered under his breath, something Piers couldn't make out. Finally, he straightened and shrugged.

"You know, I have to approve the budgets for each gym provided by the league," he lifted one finger and wagged it as he continued, "and wouldn't it be nice if Spikemuth got a little extra in their budget so their new gym leader could fix up her gym stadium? I know the Spikemuth Chamber of Commerce can't always give too much to the gym, and it needs a few repairs."

Piers' mouth fell a gape. Did Leon just try to bribe him through his sister? He had to admit, he was impressed. It wasn't the best bribery offer he'd ever been given, but considering whom the offer came from and what Marnie would get in return, he decided to give in.

"Make sure the gym gets enough to replace the crumplin’ stadium walls, and I'll do it." Piers stuck out his hand.

Leon took the offered hand in his and shook once. "I knew you'd have a change of heart."

Piers yanked his hand back. "Change of heart my ass. Just send out your pokemon."

With a nod, Leon let out each of his pokemon in turn: Aegislash, Haxorus, Dragapult, Mr. Rime, Seismatoad, then Rhyperior. True to his word, he hadn't brought his ace pokemon with him. Like a well-oiled machine, they quickly lined up and turned their full attention to their trainer.

Pride rolled off Leon as he gazed at his team. Up until last year, this team was undefeated. Leon kept them at their best and even Piers could call that admirable.

"Alright everyone, listen here." Leon clapped his hands as if any of them didn't have their eyes on him. "Remember how I said we were going to enter a contest? Well, only one of you can enter it with me."

Leon's Mr. Rime leaned on his cane and Aegislash shifted his shield, though the other pokemon didn't react one way or another to the news.

"Contests aren't like normal battling. They're a performance." Leon gestured to Piers. "Piers is going to help pick the best one of you for the contest."

Piers snorted. "Oh, didn't I tell you? I'm not assessin' your team."

Leon's hand dropped to his side. He tilted his head.

"You're not?"

"No."

Piers took out the only pokeball he had on him. With a flick of the wrist, he released his own contest partner. The stench of rotten eggs filled the air. Everyone but Piers jerked back to cover their noses.

Skuntank shook himself out. He stretched his front paws forward then pulled the rest of his body up like a cat in a sunbeam. Piers crouched down and patted his partner between the ears.

"Skuntank here won nearly every contest he entered," Piers explained. "He knows more about them than even I do, I'd say. Even keeps track of the Sinnoh contests online. If anyone can give this team a proper assessment, it'll be him."

Skuntank lifted his head proudly then stomped forward. He stalked up, down, and around the line, eyeing each pokemon. He stopped in front of Haxorus, narrowed his eyes, and rumbled. Haxorus shuffled nervously. She looked to her team members then back at Skuntank. Siesmatoad shrugged, and Dragapult looked away.

Satisfied, Skuntank trotted back to Piers. He took a breath and stated something to the pokemon, loud and clear.

The other pokemon were taken aback. They muttered amongst themselves, all except Mr. Rime and Aegislash. With his chest puffed out, Mr. Rime strode forward. A moment later, Aegislash floated next to him. The rest of the team remained still.

"That's the two to choose from," Piers said. To the other members of Leon's team, he continued, "You can go over there. Take a rest why don't you?" He jabbed his thumb towards the grass at the side of the training area.

Without missing a beat, Dragapult floated away, soon followed by Siesmatoad, Haxorus, and Rhyperior.

Leon gasped. "That's amazing. How does Skuntank know?"

It wasn't as if Skuntank could smell contest talent on Mr. Rime and Aegislash. It just so happened that when Skuntank asked, Mr. Rime and Aegislash wanted to enter a contest. The rest weren't interested.

Ignoring Leon's question, Piers asked, "How do you want to decide between these two."

Leon blinked. "Isn't that what Skuntank is here for?"

With a thump, Skuntank flopped to the ground, paws under his chin, and shut his eyes.

"He's filled his quota." Piers said. "This is your job, Mr. Chairman."

Leon stroked his chin. He crouched down between his pokemon. Mr. Rime tapped his feet and spun his cane. Leon lifted his eyebrows at the impromptu performance. Not to be outdone, Aegislash held his shield up and spun it on the end of his arm. He tossed the shield then expertly caught it.

Mr. Rime danced backward. He spun in a circle, holding his cane up to the sky. From the tip of the cane, snow flurried around him, glittering like tiny diamonds.

Aegislash, upon seeing Leon's dazzled expression at Mr. Rime's performance, clanged his shield and blade together. With his trainer's attention back on him, Aegislash whipped his arm out. The shield rolled out on its side into the middle of the battle area. In the blink of an eye, Aegislash descended into his shadow. Using shadow sleek, he hurried in front of the shield.

Aegislash burst from the ground, large and dark. He whipped the shield up. the sun glinted off the polished metal. Contrasted against Aegislash's dark form, the shining shield appeared like a bright star in the night sky.

Leon's mouth fell a gape. "Wow, I didn't know you could do that, Aegislash."

Aegislash returned to his normal appearance and smugly shurgged. Mr. Rime stomped his foot in frustration. He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled for Leon to look at him. Once again, his cane spun. Around him, aurous panes of light screen appeared then frosted over. Mr. Rime stopped and raised his arms. The light screen panes shot up and burst like fireworks.

Aegislash bristled. His grip on his shield tightened and his single eye narrowed. Mr. Rime sneered at him as Leon carefully picked up the frozen light screen fragments to examine.

Piers clapped his hands once. "Don't you lot make this a battle." To Leon, he ordered, "You need to pick one."

Leon stood. "But they're both really talented."

From behind them, Skuntank snorted. Aegislash and Mr. Rime turned their glares from each other to the dark-type.

Piers agreed with Leon, even if his pokemon didn't, but leaving those two to keep one-upping each other wouldn't end well. Leon had to pick a partner for the contest, even if it would hurt someone's feelings.

Leon thought on his choice then slumped forward with a sigh. He rummaged in his pocket and held up a coin.

"I can't decide," he admitted. "Heads for Mr. Rime and tails for Aegislash."

He flicked the coin into the air. Like the oran berry before, he caught it from the air. With a hard smack that made the top of Pier's hand hurt, Leon slapped it on the top of his hand. Aegislash and Mr. Rime stood tense as Leon slowly lifted his hand.

"Heads."

Mr. Rime jumped up with joy. Aegislash dropped his shield to the ground with a thud. Leon reached out to comfort him, but Aegislash waved him away. Dragging his shield through the dirt, he trudged towards the other pokemon.

Skuntank lumbered back to his feet. He intercepted Aegislash. Skuntank rumbled at Aegislash. He silently mulled over what Skuntank said then lifted his shield from the ground.

In a voice like clashing metal, Aegislash yelled at Mr. Rime. Mr. Rime stumbled in his tap dancing, looking shocked at what his teammate said. Skuntank cackled, slapping the ground with his paw. With his mood improved considerably, Aegislash led Skuntank away to join the other pokemon.

----

Mr. Rime was a showman. Even with the occasional heckle from Skuntank, he and Leon managed to cobble together the start of an alright appeal round. After Piers finally admitted that the move categories meant shit all for the beginner contests, Leon decided to make use of what Mr. Rime already presented: sparkling snow and unique uses of psychic power.

Piers, for his part, offered critique when he saw a move that might be too showy or too dull, but mostly left Leon to his own devices. After all, Leon was the one entering, not him.

A thunderbolt tore through an icy column, shattering it. A glow of psychic power protected some of the ice from the heat. When the mist cleared, what remained was the carving of the Champion's logo.

Leon pumped his fist. "There we go!"

Skuntank muttered something to Aegislash, who replied in agreement. Though he hadn't been as loud in his criticism as Skuntank, Aegislash made snide remarks for every misstep.

Piers had more fun watching Skuntank and Aegislash than Leon and Mr. Rime, honestly.

As the heat both from the thunderbolts and the day wore on, Piers was thankful he choose to sit under the shade instead of directly interact with Leon.

Though on the field, he would have had a better view.

Every time Leon raised his shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow, Piers turned his attention towards him. Rehain once mentioned Leon weight trained and exercised to stay as fit as his team, and Piers could tell. He stared at the well-formed muscles usually hidden under Leon’s shirt several times before finally being caught.

“Is something wrong? Is this too much?” Leon gestured to Mr. Rime’s newest ice sculpture.

Piers made up a suggestion to save himself the embarrassment.

“It’s fine, but you’re rushin’. Slow down, if you know how to do that,” Piers replied, turning his head to hide his pink cheeks against his shoulder.

“Oh, alright.” Leon nodded. “Mr. Rime, take a few more seconds before calling down the thunderbolt!”

Stuntank chuckled and Piers sent him a glare.

“Shut up,” he hissed, earning another laugh from Stuntank.

Something pulled at Piers' sleeve. One of Dragapult's dreepy chewed on his jacket. When Piers acknowledged it, it flew in a circle trying to get him to play with it. It went to nip at the end of one of his ponytails.

Dragapult sighed and wrapped his tail around the dreepy to pull it back. He gave Piers an apologetic look.

The rest of Leon's team wasn't doing much better. They were bored out of their minds.

Siesmatoad ripped a clump of grass from the ground and tossed it in her mouth. Rhyperior and Haxorus took turns stabbing leaves through their horns or tusks, seeing who could make the biggest hole without tearing the leaf in half.

Before Leon and Mr. Rime could start again, Piers called, "That's enough for today."

He stood and put his hands on his lower back to stretch. Skuntank grumbled but got to his paws.

"Well, if you say so." Leon came over to the crowd of pokemon with Mr. Rime. "Everyone ready?"

Seismatoad spat out the grass clump, nearly hitting Rhyperior's foot. Dragapult cooed and the rest of his dreepy hoard hurried out of the tall grass. Aegislash refused to look at Mr. Rime, instead of staying close to Stuntank. Haxorus bent forward and pressed the button on her pokeball with her mouth scythe, returning herself.

When Leon took out Aegislash's ball, Piers put a hand on his wrist.

"Before you return him, can I ask you a favor?"

Leon raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Aegislash and Skuntank seem to be havin' fun together. Do you think Aegislash could come back with me for tonight?" Piers asked. Skuntank stamped a foot and wheezed in approval.

Leon lowered Aegislash's pokeball. He bent down so he looked Aegislash in his singular eye.

"Do you want to have a slumber party with Skuntank at Spikemuth?" He spoke like a parent to a child. Mr. Rime snickered. Stuntank kicked sand at him with a short growl.

Piers pulled the bill of Leon's hat down over his eyes.

"Aegislash is probably older than both of us combined," he reminded. "Don't call it a slumber party."

Leon pushed his hat up and wrinkled his brow. Realization crossed his face.

"Ah." He asked Aegislash, "Do you want to have a date with Skuntank at Spikemuth?"

Piers went to pull Leon's hat clean off, but Aegislash took hold of the bill and pulled until it completely covered Leon's face with the bill touching his chin. He rolled his eye and shrugged towards Skuntank. Skuntank snickered and shook his head back in reply.

Leon laughed, taking the hat into his lap. "I'm joking. I'm joking. Sorry." He put a hand on Aegislash's shoulder. "Really, if you want to hang out with Skuntank for the night, you can." He smiled sincerely.

Aegislash paused, eyed his trainer, then seemed to sigh. He took the hat from Leon's hands and set it on his head. He patted his head, like a parent pacifying a child. Aegislash floated by him towards Skuntank.

-----

“Listen up.”

Piers whistled to the crowd of dark-type pokemon around the Spikemuth stadium. All heads turned towards him and the two pokemon by his side.

“This is Aegislash. He’s part of Chairman Leon’s team.” Piers nodded to Aegislash. “He’s visitin' for the night, so don’t be an asshole.”

He sent a pointed look at Malamar, who crossed his tentacles. Malamar only recently got out of trouble for scaring people around Spikemuth. Neither he nor Marnie needed Aegislash going back to Leon traumatized from Malamar's pranks.

The gym pokemon muttered and mumbled to themselves, eyeing Aegislash suspiciously.

Going well so far.

No one jumped to attack or called out an obscenity towards the new pokemon. Already it was going better when Raihan brought his pokemon over to play while he and Piers visited. Not one sucker punch to the back.

Marnie’s Grimsnarl picked up the toy ball and held it protectively. Both scrafty scooted to shield their tower of cards. Obstagoon took his nose out of a bag of crisps for a moment before shoving it right back in. Liepard yawned, purposely exposing her fangs, before laying her head on Toxicroak’s lap. Toxitricity peeked an eye open from his corner then continued strumming his chest. Morpeko jumped off the stage and scurried over to Aegislash and Skuntank.

She greeted them. Skuntank wheezed to her as Aegislash lifted his shield in a hello. Morpeko spoke with Aegislash a moment before turning to the rest of the pokemon. She took a deep breath and shouted to them her approval.

Malamar snorted but uncrossed his tentacles. Grimsnarl slowly took the ball back out. Neither scrafty moved from their hard work. Toxitricity waved idly. Liepard and Toxicroak and Obstagoon didn’t acknowledge the announcement, the former two napping and the latter still stuffing his maw.

Skuntank jerked his head towards Toxitricity's corner of the gym. Aegislash and Morpeko followed after. Grimsnarl and Malamar watched them closely.

Marnie took a bite of her hamburger. Around it, she asked, “Is that really Leon’s aegislash?”

Piers open the bag from Bob’s Your Uncle to dig out his order. “He is. He and Leon’s Mr. Rime got into a fight, and Aegislash wanted to be away.”

“So Leon asked you?” She swallowed.

Piers thought on his feet. “Dark and ghost types are pretty close when you get down to it. Born of night and the deepness of the soul and all that.”

“Shouldn’t he have asked Allister?”

Piers took a bite of his burger and slowly chewed. He swallowed and said, “Kid must have been busy. He’s still got school to go— just like you.” Piers smirked, leaning over. “And how’s that school work going, little sis?”

Marnie blushed. She huffed, snatched the bag from Piers, then marched to the stage at the other end of the stadium.

Even being a gym leader, Marnie still had to go to school like every other kid her age. Since she was still learning to juggle gym leader duties and school, Marnie fell behind in her classes and had to take extra lessons.

Piers had been the same when he took over the gym, but he usually skipped after-school lessons. She complained about the lessons often, and Piers offered an understanding ear.

He wasn’t above using this information against her, though.

With long strides, he followed his sister. He overtook her quickly. Holding his burger between his teeth, Piers hopped onto the stage and sat, his toes brushing the ground. Marnie walked up the steps to sit near him. She purposefully set the bag with their food on the side farthest away from Piers. He leaned across her to fish his chips out of the bag.

They sat in companionable silence, watching the pokemon as they ate their fast food.

When Marnie’s scrafty turned to open another pack of cards for their tower, Malamar raised a tentacle glowing in psychic power. With both scrafty backs to it, a card from the middle of the tower pulled itself out.

Piers’ scrafty gasped and tried to hold the wobbling tower together, but only managed to save the top two cards from falling. As the scrafty started to argue, Grimsnarl went to the wooden crate next to the stage. She sat her ball inside and began to dig through the pokemon toys until she found another ball. This ball was worn and patched up. She wandered over to Malamar to talk.

Skuntank, Toxtricity, and Aegislash lounged against one of the crumbling stadium walls as Morpeko chewed on a berry. They made friendly conversation until Grimsnarl and Malamar came over. Grimsnarl raised her ball.

Skuntank shrugged and spoke to Aegislash. Malamar sneered at Aegislash. Aegislash rolled his eye and pushed himself up. Skuntank slowly lumbered to his feet. Toxtricity shook his head. Morpeko tossed her berry up and caught it in her mouth before standing as well.

Piers nudged Marnie and pointed at the pokemon as they walked to the middle of the stadium.

Grimsnarl tossed the ball and hit it to Skuntank. Skuntank bopped it with his head. The ball dropped towards Aegislash. Aegislash raised an arm to hit it, but Malamar’s tentacle shot out and smacked the ball up. Aegislash snapped something at Malamar, who ignored him.

Piers chuckled to himself as the game of hot potato continued. Every time the ball neared Aegislash, Malamar or Grimsnarl made sure to hit it before he could. Of course, they were testing him. Being on the former champion’s team wasn’t enough to prove Aegislash worthy, even with Stuntank and Morpeko's approval.

Soon Aegislash had enough. When Malamar went to hit the ball for himself, Aegislash shadow sleeked behind him. He burst from the ground and slapped the ball towards Grimsnarl. The attack on her friend took Grimsnarl by surprise. She stumbled back trying to hit the ball but missed. For the first time since the game started, the ball bounced against the floor.

Skuntank cackled. Morpeko chased after the ball. Malamar stared at Aegislash, who held his ground.

Marnie started to push off the stage to break up the fight, but Piers put a hand out to stop her.

After a few tense heartbeats, Malamar coughed a laugh. He covered his beak and shook his head. Grimsnarl took the ball back from Morpeko. Seeing the newfound respect for Aegislash from Malamar, she went back over to the box to switch the worn, old ball, for a nicer ball with a pink and cream polka-dot pattern.

Marnie let out a breath. Piers tossed a chip in his mouth.

He knew things would work out well. Like his trainer, Aegislash was endearing in his determination.

He wondered what Leon was doing while the Spikemuth pokemon played. As late as it was, he was probably home, or maybe he was training with Mr. Rime for the contest. Piers could almost see him now working with Mr. Rime to pose in time with some pop song.

Leon worked hard for what he wanted. It's no wonder he became champ so young and held the title for nearly a decade. If Piers had that kind of drive, he wouldn’t have left Spikemuth fall into disrepair as he did.

He bet he could ask Leon to help him fix up Spikemuth, and not just the gym. The outside walls needed the myriad of penises and breasts painted over. He could do it, but it would be better with some company, particularly with company that had the energy of a sugar-high puppy. Enjoying the outside air, just talking and working—That would be fun. Piers would be willing to wake up early for that.

Piers reached into his chip container absentmindedly but found nothing but salt. He jerked out of his thoughts to see his last two chips disappear—one into Morpeko’s mouth and one into Marnie’s.

“The hell?” He held his hands out towards the empty container.

“Do you have a new girlfriend?” She asked bluntly.

Piers choked on his tongue. “What?” He shook his head. “No! Why would you think that?”

“A boyfriend? A non-binary friend?”

“No,” Piers assured. “I don’t have anyone.”

“Huh.” Marnie scratched Morpeko behind the ears. “You had that look on your face.”

“Look?” Piers’ stomach clenched as he asked, “What look?”

“That look.” Marnie pulled her pokemon to her lap. “The one you get before Morpeko and me find some gushy love song folded up on the living room floor. It happens every time.”

Piers’ ears grew hot. Twice, Marnie found his secret love songs twice. For that reason, he didn’t even write them on scrap paper anymore but in a nondescript notebook in his dresser drawer—which he hadn’t pulled out since he broke up with an ex gym trainer more than a year ago.

Morpeko stuck her tongue out in disgust at finding another love song. She clambered over Marnie’s arms to the chips container. Morpeko licked her paw, dabbed it in the leftover salt, and cleaned her paw before hopping off the stage to rejoin the game.

“I don’t have a look like that.”

“Yes, you do,” Marnie replied in a sing-song voice. “You get this far away look on your face and a little, tiny smile like you’re thinkin' of somethin’ soft. I only see it when you’re datin’ someone or,” her eyes widen in realization, “you gotta crush.”

Piers’ stomach unclenched and fell to his boots.

“You’ve got a crush, dotcha?” His little sister pried. “Who is it? Do they like you back? Can they like you back? Are they a trainer? What’s their pokemon team? Do you see them often?”

Piers' head spun, blurring the rest of Marnie’s inquiries.

No way. He was too old for crushes, for one thing. For two, if Marnie’s theory held any water, then his ‘crush’ would be Leon.

That wasn’t possible.

Sure, he admired Leon’s strength and his determination. His kindness towards pokemon and others was sweet if a little goody-two-shoes. He was much more clever than he first appeared. His athletic frame stole Piers' attention and he wouldn't mind leaning up against that strength-trained chest.

Oh. Arceus. No.

Piers’ face reddened as he cataloged his thoughts. He did have a crush. He had a crush on Leon. Leon was the Chairman of the League. Not only that, he was and still is the poster child for preppy, sporty trainers everywhere. Leon was the goal children were taught to chase if they wanted to compete.

Only the trainers from Team Yell ever wanted to be anything like Piers, a badass who sang to his own song, not the one society dictated.

Sponsors flocked to Leon like mothim to a flame for his perfect public persona.

Only the Spikemuth Chamber of Commerce ever sponsored Piers, and that’s only because they always sponsored the gym leader.

Leon was the light that the world idolized.

He was the darkness that fought back to prove to those that the shadows were protective and safe for people like him. He was a fierce dark-type trainer. He sang punk rock. He had a band of miscreants who would follow his every order.

He could not have a crush on Leon.

Yet, he did.

What if people found out? Arceus, if news got around he wanted some of Leon’s finely toned ass—

“Piers?” Marnie poked his cheek.

He jumped, losing his balance and tumbling off the stage.

At the thud of his fall, the pokemon stopped their game. Obstagoon tossed his crisps bag aside to barrel towards his trainer. He skidded to his knees, dramatically throwing his claws up and crying out as if Piers fell off a ten-story building.

Marnie hopped down. Crouching, she asked, “Did you break your face?”

Piers groaned loudly. “Dark void, open up and swallow me. I no longer want to live in this cruel world that would play my heart like a harp string and snap it with its sick, twisted irony.”

Once Piers went on with his dramatic monologue, the pokemon returned to their games, confident Piers was fine. Obstagoon patted the back of Piers’ head reassuringly.

Marnie crouched next to him. “Is the person you have a crush on that bad? Are they married or,” she lowered her voice, “old?”

“We’re the same age.” Piers didn’t lift his head from the ground. “He’s single as far as I know.”

Marnie poked his cheek. “So what’s the matter? Are you too scared to ask him out?”

“No. It’s worse than that.” Piers crawled into Obstagoon’s lap and leaned his back against the warm, somewhat smelly, fur. Obstagoon wrapped him in a hug. He’d seen his trainer confused and in a pansexual punk panic before. Piers needed all the comfort Obstagoon could give him.

Marnie tucked her legs under her and waited expectantly for Piers to clarify.

He sighed, slumping farther down Obstagoon’s lap. Obstagoon’s arm fur tickled his nose as he buried his face in it.

“I can’t ask him out,” Piers muttered. “He’s my opposite.”

“Opposite?” Marnie echoed.

“Opposite,” Piers repeated. He paused, then said, “I’m punk. He does ballet. What more can I say?”

Her brows furrowed. She opened her mouth, then shut it, opened, shut, then tilted her head with one eyebrow raised.

"He dances?”

Piers rolled his head away. “You kids have no culture.” He sighed. “He’s the kind of person every kid wants to be like. I’m the kind of person kids stop comin’ to community gyms to train because of.”

Marnie hit her fist into her palm. “Oh, I get it. You don’t want to drag down his rep ‘cause people think you’re a lazy delinquent.”

“Hey!” Piers bolted up, right into Obstagoon’s hanging tongue. He wiped the slobber off his forehead with his forearm. He jabbed a finger at Marnie.

“It’s the other way around. He’d pull mine up from a mysterious, cool rebel rocker.”

He cringed at himself. Out loud it sounded childish. What was he, a schoolboy?

Piers flopped back against Obstagoon, grabbed Obstagoon’s arm, and dropped it over his face.

“Suffocate me. Please. I need to die to escape this torment.”

With a humph, Marnie wrapped her arms around Obstagoon’s thick forearm and lifted. She looked down at her brother with a frown.

“That’s it?” She shook her head. “That’s sad.”

“You’re a kid. You don’t understand.” Piers countered, trying to pull Obstagoon’s arm back over his face.

Marnie wrinkled her nose and tugged against Piers’ attempts.

“I am not.” She dug her feet into the ground. “It is sad. If you’re a ‘mysterious, cool, rebel rocker,’ why should you care what anyone thinks?”

Piers dropped his hands to his lap.

Without the opposing force against her, Marnie fell backward, still clinging to Obstagoon’s arm. Instead of letting her fall, Obstagoon lifted his arm, leaving her hanging off the ground. He carefully lowered her, but she kept his arm pressed against her chest.

Piers pushed himself up to his feet. He patted the back of his shirt, throwing black and white fur into the air. Without a word, he headed to the stage and picked up the trash from their food.

“Piers?” Marnie hugged Obstagoon’s arm to her chest. “Are you ok? I didn’t break you, did I?”

Piers turned. “Yeah. Just fine.” He walked back, bag in hand. A smile spread across his face as he reached up and ruffled her hair.

“You’re right. I was being the opposite of cool.” He admitted, prying her hands off Obstagoon's arm. “Thanks for reminding me.”

Marnie was right. He was the cool, fierce master of dark-type pokemon. He became one of the strongest trainers in all of Galar without resorting to Dynamax in a pinch.

Why the hell should he give a flying ratata’s ass about what other people think about who he wants to make out with?

He still didn’t want people knowing about his contest days. The stereotype of elitist snob coordinators still hung too closely to contests. The attraction could excuse Leon, but he didn't have a good enough excuse for dressing skuntank in a tophat and glittery, purple bow tie when he was still a stunky yet. Maybe if the contest scene grew a little, he could try again, but until then best keeping that particular secret under wraps.

Marnie shrugged, aloof. “It’s whatever. Someone needs to help you keep your head spun the right way around. I'm the only one qualified for it.”

“What would I do without you?” Piers chuckled.

“Die, probably,” Marnie replied. “So can you ask this guy out? Does he like you at all?”

Piers shrugged.

He didn’t know if Leon liked men. As far as he could remember, Leon never dated anyone of any gender. Leon had always been laser-focused on training and being the strongest trainer in Galar.

But if he did like men, would he be interested in Piers? He didn't know, but given how much time they’d be spending together training for the contest, maybe he could figure it out.

Marnie, her ponytails somewhat righted, asked, “If you need help, Gloria and me could—”

“I’d rather step on a pincurchin,” Piers cut her off, crushed the paper bag into a ball, and tossed it to the side. It bounced and went right through Scrafty's new card tower.

"Sorry," he apologized.

Scrarfy sobbed and slumped back. Marnie’s scrafty looked towards him then sighed. She walked around and helped him pick up the cards, their friendship restored.

“I’ll tell you if I find out anything.” He pointed at the hot potato game still ongoing with his thumb. “Right now, though, you and me don’t need boys when we can play with the best pokemon in the Galar region, though.” To Grimsnarl, he shouted, "Oi, toss it to me!"

Marnie giggled as Piers took her wrist and led her towards the game.

----

AN: Shout out to my friend Sara for the help with this! You da best!!! ^-^)/ Next chapter should be next week? I'll probably post to A03 first though if you want less of a wait.

Also feel free to follow my art blog @uas-art if you enjoyed the chapter art.

[sillybub]

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer; "It's midnight, what do you want?"

Tap. Tap. Tap.

With his tongue lolled out and limbs all akimbo, Mungojerrie snored on in the cardboard box he called home.

Thump.

He was dreaming of that field again, where the catnip grew in grass that was just long and soft enough to be really good for chewing and rolling around in...sweet, frothy cream ran in the river...and frolicking among the daisies was Bustopher Jones, completely unaware, and with his pockets looking extra fat...his paws twitched closer and closer to the biggest diamond he'd ever seen in his life...oh Everlasting, it smelled like fresh Fancy Feast...

THUMP THUMP THUMP!

"PSST, JERRIE! ARE YOU AWAKE?"

Jerrie snorted awake, and dropped the pillow he'd been chewing on in his sleep. It had more holes than fishing net in it by this point. He should replace it soon--maybe he and Teazer could take a trip out to Victoria Grove soon and get the fleas that infested it a better home.

Speaking of his more horrible half--

Jerrie's cardboard box had a strategically shredded hole placed in the northwest corner. He could crawl in and out from it, but most importantly, it let in a cool night breeze at just the right angle for perfect ventilation. But tonight...

"Hello, Jerrie! Lovely night, ain't it?"

That hole was now plugged by Rumpleteazer, with her face stuck right through it. She was normally more than a welcome sight. But at this hour, when he'd just been having a lovely dream?

"Teazer," he groaned, rolling over onto his stomach and pushing himself up. "It's midnight, whaddya want?"

She took it as an invitation to squeeze in and make herself at home. She plopped next to Jerrie and "Do I need an excuse to pop in for a visit with my best chum?"

"You do if it means you have to wake me up," Jerrie grumbled. He sat fully up and licked the back of his paw to groom himself. He could feel the drool drying in his cheek.

Teazer twiddled her thumbs. "Just didn't feel like bein' alone. That's all."

Jerrie paused and glanced over at her. "You alright, Teaz?"

"Yeah, I think. I just couldn't sleep, so I went on a walk around the 'yard. And I got to thinking..."

Jerrie gave her a playful swat with his tail. "That's a first comin' from you."

Teazer buried her face in her hands and groaned. "Using my head sucks! I hate doin' it, so I wanted to come see you! If you're distractin' me, then I won't be payin' any mind to--well, my mind."

"Geez, Teazer, what were you thinkin' about to get you in such a bad mood?"

Teazer swatted at his head. "Jerrie! Didn't you hear a thing I said? I didn't come her to talk about it!"

He shrugged. "Dunno about that. Maybe you ought to. Might make you feel better, or something."

She was still and quiet for a moment--a rare occurrence. "Promise you won't laugh?" she said.

"How about this," Jerrie proposed. "I'll only laugh if it's really stupid. And if it's real stupid, then it was never worth it for you to worry about to begin with, and we can both laugh about it together."

Teazer spat on her hand and stuck it out. "Alright, deal." Jerrie licked his own hand and shook hers.

Jerrie shifted on the bed of swiped towels and socks, turning to give her his full attention. He motioned for her to go on.

Teazer took a deep breath. "You know how you and I have always stuck together?"

Jerrie nodded. "Through thick and thin."

"Right. And it was always just us two. Even back with Mac's crew, it was us against the world."

Jerrie's claws picked at the bedding beneath him--a nervous habit. Where was she going with this?

Teazer continued. "And then after Demeter ran off, we decided to follow suit, yeah? Decided we could do better than him, too."

"I was sure there for all of that," Jerrie said.

Teazer swatted him again. "I gotta set the stage, dummy! Munk's always sayin' a good story needs good explosions."

"You mean exposition?"

"I think more stories could use more of both," Teazer said. She waved her hand. "Anyways. I really like being with the Jellicles. And you do, too. I've got a new dad, and there's lots of real pretty queens here. And almost everyone is real nice, yeah?"

"I'd say so."

"But here's the thing. What if they don't always want us here?"

Ah, there we go.

"Now what makes you think that our pals wouldn't want a pair of cunning and charming individuals, such as ourselves, hanging around?"

"Well, you know how at the Ball, that old lady showed up? And nobody seemed to like her very much?"

"Oh yeah, Grizzlebear?"

"Yeah, something like that. And apparently she got kicked out for being a real asshole, right? Thinkin' she was better than everyone. She left on her own, but she was wasn't exactly welcome back."

"Teaze, what's your point here?"

"What if everyone gets tired of us?" she said. She hugged her knees to her chest. "What if they run out of patience, and we break one too many windows, or pull a prank that goes too far, and they kick us out?"

Jerrie scratched the back of his head. He... couldn't exactly say that he'd never had the same fears before. He often wondered far he could test Munkustrap or Old Deuteronomy's patience before they snapped.

He looked over at her. She was staring down at her feet, still and silent again.

"Hey, Teaz." He laid a hand in her shoulder, and she turned to look at him. The beginnings of tears glistened in her eyes.

He pulled her into a hug, and burst into laughter. "That's a good one, Teaz! You almost had me there!"

Teazer shoved Jerrie away. "You jerk! Don't laugh at me!"

"You said I could, you dunce!"

"Only if it was something stu--" Teazer paused. "Oh." She leaned back into Jerrie. "So you don't think I have to worry about that?"

He gave her a pat on the head. "Nah. Do want to hurt any of our friends?"

"Course not..."

"Me neither. I like having a family, for once."

"Yeah, me too..." Teazer nuzzled into Jerrie's chest, and he put his arms around her again. "I know us two have always got eachother's backs, but...it's real nice to have lots of other friends."

"Yeah...me too."

They sat like that for a while, cooled by the night air flowing in from the hole in the corner.

"Hey Jerrie," Teazer said.

"Yeah, Teaz?"

"Wanna have a sleepover tonight?"

Jerrie laughed, for real this time. "Sure, why not?"

[e350tb]

Steven Universe: Marooned Together - Chapter Forty-Four

(with thanks as always to @real-fakedoors for proofreading)

Lapis woke up to find the bed surprisingly empty.

She sat up, gazing drowsily towards the barn door. Stevonnie sat there, gazing out into the darkness, beneath an ocean of dark sky and twinkling stars, alight with the faint glow of the dim green moons. Their shoulders were hunched, and she could hear their breaths in the still midnight air.

“Stevonnie?” she asked, “Honey?”

Stevonnie didn’t reply. Their head bowed down, eyes covered by their hand. It was clear that they had been crying.

It had been six weeks since the trap - since they’d first encountered Chrysalis. Lars had spent the whole time convalescing, getting used to his new arm, and the Sun Incinerator still sat in its berth at the New Earth docks. Everything seemed to be in a strange form of stasis - they were in crisis, but nothing was actually happening. Lenny and the peridots hadn’t been able to track Sadie, and even if they could, the Home Guard were being understandably cagey about whether they’d help capture her. Everyone seemed to be in this enormous funk, even as Stevonnie tried to keep them positive.

Lapis supposed they’d reached their limit.

Slowly, she walked over, sitting down next to them and gently pulling them into her shoulder. She hugged them as they cried, almost silently, rubbing their back and gently rocking them.

Eventually, the quiet sobs ceased, and they pulled themself out of Lapis’ chest.

“Sorry,” they said, “I’m a mess tonight.”

“It’s okay,” replied Lapis, “I’m a mess every night.”

Stevonnie giggled, shaking their head.

“No you’re not,” they replied.

They glanced back out at the stars.

“I saw them,” they said, “In my dreams.”

“Who?” asked Lapis.

“Mom and Dads,” replied Stevonnie, “And Pearl.”

They inhaled sharply through their nose.

“It’s been so long, Lapis,” they said. “Why does it still hurt?”

Lapis pulled them back into a hug.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, “Some things… don’t stop hurting. But it’s okay, because I’m here.”

She glanced out at the distant, faint shape of the two moons.

“We’re here together…”

“I-I-I-It’s a long shot,” said Lenny, “Buh-but I think I… I think I have something.”

Stevonnie, Lapis, Lars and Jenny were gathered in Lenny’s modest apartment. It wasn’t much - a living room and kitchenette, and a single bedroom with a double bed (the fact that it just happened to be big enough for a peridot and a jasper went unsaid.) Lenny sat on a small, holographic computer on the table, tapping at the keyboard.

“Th-this was actually Carl’s idea, she brought it up while we were sn-snuh… hanging out,” explained Lenny, “There may be a light r-residue in-in Lars’ wound.”

“Light residue of what?” asked Lars.

He gazed down at his new arm - a standard limb-enhancer-like appendage, painted in purple. He’d insisted on painting flames on the end to make it ‘look sharper’ - Stevonnie guessed it was a touch of goofiness designed to take the edge off things.

“No, a light residue,” corrected Lenny, “I… gem weapons are the same as gems, m-made of hard light. But-but each weapon has it’s own… it’s own signature and if there’s any r-res-residue on your wound, I might be able to...”

“...trace it back to Sadie,” nodded Lars, “So what’re we waiting for?”

Jenny wrinkled her nose.

“Politics.”

“The Home… the Home Guard won’t help,” said Lenny, “They say th-the last mission proved they… they…”

“They weren’t ready,” sighed Stevonnie, “What about Amethyst?”

“The Crystal Avenger left on a raid yesterday,” replied Jenny, “Won’t be back for a few weeks. We can wait on them…”

“We’ve got the Sun Incinerator,” snapped Lars, “That’s enough.”

“Are you sure?” asked Lapis, “Maybe we shouldn’t rush…”

“A-a-actually, I’m inclined to agree with Lars,” admitted Lenny, “If there’s any… any residue I’ll need all of it to-to do the scan, and once that’s done we-we’ll only have a small window to a-act. A-and if we w-wait, the residue could fade - we’re p-pushing the timetable as it is…”

“So we either go now,” replied Jenny, “Or we don’t go at all.”

“Shoot,” grunted Stevonnie, “What about Garnet and Bismuth? Are they on New Earth at the moment?”

“Last I checked, yeah,” nodded Jenny.

“Great, they can come,” said Stevonnie, “And with Lars’ crew, we’ll have ourselves a pretty good team, I think!”

“When can you do the scan?” asked Lars.

“Right now,” replied Lenny, “I’ll-I’ll set it up on the b-bed. J-Jenny, c-can you call X and C to h-help me?”

“On it,” said Jenny, standing up and heading over to the apartment’s communicator.

“Th-this’ll take a few hours,” said Lenny, “I-if you wanna go to the D-Diamond’s Lament or something…”

“Are you okay with that, Lars?” asked Stevonnie.

Lars’ lips thinned.

“I’m gonna have three Peridots scanning me for three hours in a tiny bedroom,” he replied, “Why would I want you two taking up space too?”

Stevonnie chuckled.

“Point noted.”

The first thing Lapis noticed on entering the Diamond’s Lament was the absence of Simon, the old bartender. Instead, a young woman with dark blue hair, maybe sixteen, was wiping down the counter - she looked up as they approached her.

“Where’s Simon?” asked Stevonnie, “Is he okay?”

“Grandpa?” replied the barkeep, her accent slightly difficult to trace, “He’s fine, just got a bad back today.”

“He’s your grandpa?” quizzed Stevonnie, “I didn’t know he had kids…”

“Yeah, he likes to keep his family life private,” replied the barkeep, “Doesn’t see it as anyone’s business, y’know? Cath Richardson, by the way.”

“Stevonnie… what is my last name, anyway? Never thought about that?”

“I’ve never heard the name ‘Cath’ before,” mused Lapis.

“What, Cath? Short for Catherine?”

“Usually people go for Kate, don’t they?” asked Stevonnie.

“On Earth, maybe,” shrugged Cath, “But this is New Earth. Anyway, what’s your poison?”

After picking out a drink - a dark green, citrusy beverage made from a fruit on a planet neither of them had ever heard of - they found a table and sat down. Lapis took an experimental sip - it wasn’t bad - and then noticed Stevonnie leaning forward, gazing at her with half-lidded eyes and a small smile.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Your eyes,” replied Stevonnie.

“Wh-what’s wrong with them?”

Stevonnie’s smile widened.

“They’re pretty.”

Lapis snorted and laughed, hand on her forehead.

“You’re a goof, you know that?” she asked.

“Yeah, but I’m your goof.”

They sat back, crossing their arms and staring at the ceiling.

“What is my last name, Lapis?” they asked, “Universe? Maheswaran? Mahesniverse? Univerwaran…”

“I thought it was Lazuli.”

Lapis nearly spat out her drink as Jenny casually slid in next to them.

“Think about it,” Jenny continued teasingly, “Stevonnie Lazuli - it’s got a ring to it.”

“But… but Lazuli isn’t a surname,” said Lapis, trying to ignore Stevonnie giggling their cute laugh and failing miserably.

“Who cares?” Jenny shrugged.

Lapis pursed her lips for a moment, then nodded.

“Yeah,” she said, “Good point.”

Jenny chuckled, taking a swig from her drink - it smelled somewhat of vodka - before sighing and staring into the glass.

“When did we get old?” she asked.

“Jenny?”

“That barkeep over there,” she said, “Cath - she’s seventeen. She was born here. She’ll never know what the Earth was like.”

She raised her hands and gazed at them. They were calloused and rough, the result of half a lifetime of scavenging in the stars. In the dim light, the lines on her face seemed to come out like ink on paper, the grey strands shimmering slightly in the light. She seemed almost like a completely different person to the young musician Stevonnie had known on Earth - yet there was still a spark in her eyes.

A spark that, a darker part of them muttered, would someday go out.

“I’m all that’s left, you know,” Jenny continued quietly, “Gunga and Dad, they’re both gone, and I’ve never found out where Kiki went. I keep looking but… it’s been so long. Nearly thirty years…”

“Jenny...” Stevonnie began.

“It’s okay, ‘Vonnie, I did my mourning decades ago,” replied Jenny, “I’m just… thinkin’. Is that an old person thing?”

She ran her hands through her hair, exhaled through her nose and smiled.

“You two hold onto each other, you get me?” she said, “‘Cause what you’ve got is beautiful, and you’re never gonna find it anywhere else.”

“Where did this come from?” asked Lapis.

She bit her lip immediately, perceiving that she’d said something wrong, but Jenny just laughed.

“It’s all good, Lapis, I wanna get this off my chest,” she said. “It’s just… seeing Sadie again, I… and I know, she and Lars were always the main event, and I didn’t… I didn’t want to…”

She sat back, crossing her arms.

“Too late now,” she admitted to herself, “Too late now. Just… I’m glad you too took that chance, that you didn’t just… bottle it up and… sorry, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what might’ve been, you know? Just… you guys are lucky, you know that, and-”

She was cut off as Stevonnie leaned over the table, pulling their friend into a hug.

“That can’t be right…”

X gazed at the printed scan results, his face twisting into a confused grimace. With the three Peridots, Lars, Jenny, Lapis and Stevonnie, and Carl all crowded together in the small apartment, things had become decidedly snug - Lapis felt Carl’s elbow brush hers and pulled it away, pointedly rubbing the point of impact.

“What is it?” asked Lars.

“The only habitable planet in the scan’s range is Epsilon 3-5 Omega,” replied X, “But that’s been abandoned for eons.”

“Epsilon 3-9?” repeated C, “Whoa, no kidding!”

“That’s… that’s troubling,” muttered Lenny.

“Uh, anyone mind explaining the joke to us?” asked Jenny.

“Epsilon 3-9,” said Lapis, “I… I think I’ve heard of that before…”

“You would have,” nodded X, “Epsilon 3-9’s a big myth on Homeworld. All we know is that it was a planet White Diamond colonised and then decommissioned, way back in the earliest days of Homeworld’s expansion. Some gems say it was there before the other Diamonds…”

“Why would they put Sadie there?” asked Lars.

“Maybe it’s convenient?” replied X. “Maybe they can use old facilities there. Maybe it’s a symbol, or a complete coincidence.”

“But… but if we g-go there,” added Lenny, “I-I-It’ll be the f-farthest any expedition f-from New Earth has ever… has ever gone. We’d be going r-right into the… the heart of…”

“...Homeworld’s busiest trade routes,” finished X. “Patrolled by their biggest battleships and their best soldiers. The only ship that could possibly get in and out undetected…”

Lars smirked.

“...is mine,” he finished.

X nodded, and Lars clapped his hands together. It was sort of nice to see that there was no surge of discomfort on his face when prosthetic met flesh; Stevonnie imagined he must have started to get used to the new limb.

“Well then!” he said, “Dangerous mission to a mysterious world in the middle of Homeworld’s empire, huh? And here I thought this was gonna be complicated…”

[kdfrqqg]

Angry words...

Characters: Dean, Reader, Sam and Cas (No pairing completely platonic) 

Word Count: 3.3K

A/N: So I took some liberties with this request.  I couldn’t see Sam getting angry with her so I had Dean channel his inner John.  This is not John Winchester positive.

Warnings: Some angst and yelling, cussing, Dean is an ass to the Reader.

Request: Hi I really like 18th Birthday Gift you did a amazing job on it. I was wondering if I can make another request. Where the reader lives with Sam and Dean in the bunker and after a rough hunt the boys yell at her because she messed up or something and she end up crying. So when the boys are not paying attention or are sleeping she packs her stuff up and sneaks out. When the boys realize they go looking for her but end up needing Castiel to help them find her. Lots of fluff. @deansupernatural67cas

Two weeks on the road, the whole car was cranky and just wanted to go home.  Dean had blared the music while Sam was searching for something on his laptop, (Y/N) was just staring out the window allowing the world to fly by.

“So get this.” Sam muttered.

“Oh no, no, no. Dude, we just finished two back to back hunts.  Can’t we just get a day off?” Dean complained before Sam said another word.

(Y/N) popped her head up from her day dream to listen to Sam knowing Dean’s protests were falling on deaf ears. “Really! I can’t believe you Dean. People are dying and you just want to get back to your bed.” Sam guilted him.

“Yeah, yeah, I do.” Dean called out.

(Y/N) placed her hand on Sam’s shoulder, “We’ll take the case.” With a few simple words she effectively ended their argument.  

“Ok” Dean grumbled. “What’s the case?”

There had been two murders of some local girls that had been abducted from a bar in town.  When the authorities found the bodies there were large bite marks to their necks and they had been drained of all their blood.  The three hunters knew right way what had caused this and it wasn’t an animal attack.

The first place they checked out was the bar, (Y/N) flirted with the bartender. “I’m looking for my friends. They like to have a real, real good time.  I lost my cell phone and I had to get a new one but I lost all my numbers.” She laid it on thick and he was buying every bit of it too.

“There’s a crew.  They’ve been here almost every night this week. You sure they’re your kinda people?” He asked her concerned for her well being.

“Oh yeah.” (Y/N) bit her lip. “Do you know where they’re holed up at? I’d love to surprise them.”

In less than ten minutes, she had an address with directions and free shot of tequila.

“Be safe out there.” The bartender took her hand and his dark brown eyes looked directly into hers. “You know some girls have gone missing.  I’d hate to see your pretty face on the back of some milk carton somewhere.”

“I can take care of myself but thank you for your concern.” She told him.

(Y/N) joined the Winchesters at a high top, “What was that all about?” Dean asked.

“What was what about?” She questioned not sure what he meant.

“Him touching you.”

“Oh he was just telling me to be safe.  He’s a good guy.  He’s probably a father or uncle.” She explained and they seemed to understand.

Within the hour, they were staking out the abandoned house and made the determination that this was definitely the nest that killed the two girls.

Sam and Dean grabbed their blades from the back. “Ok, Sammy you’re with me.” Dean handed her a machete, “(Y/N) stay outside and you get any that make it passed us.”

“Yeah, ok, stay outside.” She nodded.  Dean always wanted to keep (Y/N) safe and hand to hand in close quarters was never her strong suit.  

“Stick to the plan and we’ll be home by morning.” Dean smiled looking between Sam and (Y/N).

The boys went hot and fast through the back door as (Y/N) stood ready by the front door.

She took a heavy breathe, “Just follow the plan.”  

One vamp came busting out the front door and (Y/N) hid next to frame before she swung hard slicing his head off in one blow.  This made the other vamps think they were surrounded and no one else charged the front door.  (Y/N) could hear the scuffle coming from inside.

“Sammy!” Dean called out.  Her mind raced she wanted to help but also needed to stay the course.

“Dean!” She heard Sam yell.

“Just follow the plan and stay outside.” She told herself. (Y/N) grasped the handle of her blade, “Fuck it!”

She barged through the open door, searching for the brothers. Out of nowhere, someone rushed her slamming her into the wall.  Teeth pierced through her lower neck, (Y/N) fought back pushing the dark haired vampire off of her.  Her screams ripped through the small house bringing the Winchesters to her rescue.  Sam found her first grabbing at the vampire’s jacket shoving him to the ground before he swung decapitating him with one thrust.

Dean followed rushing to (Y/N)’s side, “Dammit! Dammit! (Y/N) you gotta open your eyes.” He cradled her head in his large hands.  “Why didn’t you stay outside?”

She groaned, feeling lightheaded trying to stand to her feet leaning against the wall. “Ahh shit. Thanks for saving me.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t have to save you if you just stayed outside.” Dean spat.

“I’m sorry.” She rasped out.

“Well sorry, doesn’t bring you back from the dead does it?” Dean stared her down as he pressed his shirt to her neck.

“Dean chill!” Sam yelled at him, scooping (Y/N) up in her arms running her to the car.  He slid into the backseat with her, keeping pressure on the wound.

Dean started the ignition, “Why did you come inside?” He started up again.

(Y/N) was losing a lot of blood, her voice was rough from all the screaming, “I thought you were…”

“No, No, No!” Sam yelled at her trying to keep her eyes open. “Dean just drive.  I gotta get her stitched up.”

The Impala roared down the highway to the motel, Sam carried her inside laying her down on the bed, she had been in and out of consciousness the whole drive over.  (Y/N) winced biting down on her lip as Sam poured alcohol over wound, her gashes were sever and Sam had to do multiple little stitches all over her collarbone and neck.  Dean just kept pacing and huffing, from his body language (Y/N) could tell he was pissed, she screwed up but she just wanted help them.  Tears fell down her face, it wasn’t the pain, she could handle the pain but she disappointed Dean and that was the one thing she never wanted to do.

As soon as Sam was done dressing (Y/N)’s wounds Dean spoke, “You know, I’m glad you got hurt, maybe next time you’ll listen to me.  I still can’t believe you came inside (Y/N)!  You should have never stepped a foot inside that house.”

“Fine! Fine Dean!” She stood up, “Next time I think you’re in trouble I just won't come to help you.” (Y/N) ran to the bathroom, wiping her eyes as she cried.  

She sat against the door crying and Dean left the room driving off in anger.  Sam was left alone in the main room still unsure what really just happened.  He knocked on the door, “Hey, it’s just me.  Dean isn’t here. Can I come in?”

“Yeah” She cried and she stood up next to sink as she opened the door.  “Sam, I just don’t understand.  Why is he so mad?  All I wanted to do was help.”

Sam pulled her into a hug, “He isn’t mad.  He’s scared that you got hurt. He cares for you so much, that’s why he’s upset.”

She sobbed incoherently into his chest, and Sam suggested she go to sleep because things will be better in the morning.  (Y/N) slept next to Sam as he curled around her and he told her he would protect her and keep her safe. 

The next morning, Dean was cold and barely spoke more than a few words to her.  She held back tears the whole car ride home as Dean glared at her in the rear view mirror.  

(Y/N) made dinner, sort of as a peace offering, Dean was very much appreciated of the gesture.  He took a huge bite of the burger and with a full mouth of food he declared, “I’ve been thinkin’ and you should just do research until we can get you better combat training.”

“Excuse me! You’re fucking benching me! No, you don’t get to be an ass to me all damn day and then tell me you’re benching me!” She yelled with a fiery roar. “I’m sorry I screwed up but I thought you and Sam were in danger.”  She left the room to be alone.

“I can’t believe him.  Who the hell does he think he is?” She talked to herself as she pulled her duffel out.  (Y/N) didn’t have a ton of stuff and it would only take two or three bags to pack up everything she owned.  It was late in the evening, she checked the main rooms for the sign of the Winchesters and they were asleep while she loaded her stuff into her car.  Silently, she drove out of the garage, she didn’t know where she was going but she knew where she wasn’t wanted.

“Hey Sweetheart!” Dean knocked on her door, “I made your favorite.” He waited to hear her move or say something, “Hey, don’t be like that.  Please talk to me.  I’m really sorry.  I shouldn’t have told you that. I’m coming in. I feel silly talking to you through the door.” He opened the door slowly giving (Y/N) the opportunity to tell him to get lost.  He walked in and noticed that all of her drawers were still pulled out and her bed wasn’t slept in.  Dean knew right away she left. “Dammit!” He charged down the hallway to the garage, her car was gone too. “Dammit! Dammit!” He yelled hanging his head, she left because of him, all because of him.  He sank down up against the wall.  “Sammy! Sammy!” His chest was crushing him with heartbreak, he just wanted to keep her safe and now she wasn’t even here for him to protect.

Sam came running to his brother’s side, “Dean, what’s wrong?”

“She left.” Dean wept a single tear down his cheek, “(Y/N) left.” Dean’s face said it all, he couldn’t think, he couldn’t focus.  

“Lets call her.” Sam suggested calmly.

“Ok.” Dean allowed his brother to help him up off the floor leading him to war room.

Sam pulled up his laptop and began trying to track (Y/N)’s cell phone, credit cards and license plates as Dean called her.

“(Y/N), Sweetheart, I’m so so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.  Please come home.” He left a voicemail on her phone.

“Did you find anything yet?” Dean inquired to Sam.

“No, she must have turned her GPS off and she’s probably using cash also she had to have changed her plates.” Sam told him.  “She doesn’t want to be found, just keep calling her. She’ll come home.”

Dean tried her phone once every 30 minutes leaving long heartfelt voicemails that almost broke Sam’s heart as he listened to him.  (Y/N) had become their sister that they never thought they needed but they did need her, she made them stronger and happier.

Sam thought Dean was calling (Y/N) again but he call someone else, “Hey Cas, I need your help.” Dean willed away his tears.

“Hello Dean and Sam” Castiel appeared out of nowhere. “How can I help?”

“It’s (Y/N). I yelled at her and she pack up her stuff and now we can’t find her.”  Dean explained.

“That would explain why she has been praying since last night.” Cas informed them.

“She been praying?” Dean questioned.

“Mainly for forgiveness, protection for you two and for me to not to find her.” Cas sat down next to Dean, he didn’t want to tell them everything that (Y/N) had been praying about so he kept a few things secret.

“So do you know where she is?” Dean’s eyes became red again as he push back a tear.

“I can help you find her but I’m not sure if I should.”

“Please Cas, I just have to tell her I’m sorry. If she doesn’t want to home come, I’ll have to live with that.” Dean pleaded with him.

(Y/N) made it a state away before she stopped to rest.  “I can do this on my own.” She psyched herself up about her decision.  “I don’t need them and I definitely don’t need Dean.  If I happen to get myself killed, then I’ll see them in heaven.” She muttered wiping the fog from the mirror as she came out of the shower.  

(Y/N) got dressed in her yoga pants and large t-shirt, she wasn’t really going to go anywhere today.  She curled up in the bed surrounding herself in the blankets and pillows, she didn’t want to be alone but she had turned off her phone hours ago still not wanting to be found.  She prayed like she was having a conversation with Cas, ‘I love them but I just can’t be there anymore.  I wanna forgive Dean. He hurt me right to the core of who I am.  He doesn’t think I should be hunting.  If I’m not a hunter, than what am I.  I don’t care that he is only trying to protect me, our job is dangerous.  Please God forgive him because I’m not sure that I can, right now.  Cas, please don’t come find me.  I know you can. Please, please they can’t always protect me.  If I die, then well I die.’  Her tears stained her pillow as she prayed and fell into a sleep of exhaustion.

When Cas heard her praying again he wanted to go to her, comfort her pain. (Y/N) was that missing puzzle piece to the team and she was a talented and skilled hunter.  He didn’t understand why Dean had been upset with her, and she had taught Cas so much over the years.  He was torn between his loyalty to the Winchesters and his respect for (Y/N).

“I will go to her. If she doesn’t want to come home, I’m not going to force her.” Cas said before he popped out of the room.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door, (Y/N) woke up and shuffled to the door hoping it wasn’t the manager giving her a difficult time for paying in cash again.  She swung open the door, “Cas, what are you doing here? I told you not to come.”

He walked past her into the room and she slammed the door shut, “I know what you said. Sam and Dean sent me; they are worried about you. Dean is very sorry.”

“Well he shouldn’t have been such a jerk to me.” She sat on the bed crossing her legs in her lap. “I hate this Cas. He doesn’t get to treat me like that and then just say he’s sorry.”

“Then let him make it up to you.” Cas took a seat next to her on the bed.

“I don’t know.” She laid her head down on Cas’ lap.  

Cas stroked her long hair. “He just wants to tell you in person.  We can drive back and if after you see him, you don’t want to stay I’ll help you leave.”

“You know good and well that’s not going to happen.” She smiled up at him.

He shrugged, “Probably, but I hate seeing you two upset.  Please let's just get you home.”

She didn’t want to be in a lonely hotel room but she didn’t want to go back, she was still upset and didn’t think Dean could say anything to make her change her mind.  She sighed, “Alright, I’ll go back to the bunker and listen to what he has to say.”

Cas helped her load her stuff up in the car and they drove back.  (Y/N) made Cas stop along the way a few times for breaks plus she wanted to make Dean sweat.  “Come here Cas!” She called, lifting up her phone to take a selfie of them both.

“We should be getting back on the road.” He took her hand leading her back to the car.

“They know I’m with you.  I saw you text them.”

“I know you just don’t want to face him so you’re stalling.”

“Yeah, you’re damn right, I am.  I’m hungry. You wanna buy a girl a meal.” She chuckled.

“Ok but once your feed, I’m taking you home.” He informed.

Dinner included a few pieces of fried chicken, potato wedges and drink from the gas station down the road.  Even the cheap meal had made (Y/N) feel better, she didn’t want to see Dean if she was hangry, that would have made the whole experience even worse.

Within the hour, the pair pulled into the garage.  When Dean heard the door to the garage open, he ran down the hallway with Sam behind him.  Dean didn’t even wait for (Y/N) to get out of the car, he was opening her door and pulling her up into his arms hugging her hard.

“Dean!” She giggled, almost forgetting why she was mad.

“I was the biggest ass and I’m sorry.  You had every right to leave me, I mean leave us.” He murmured in your ear.

“Umm hey Cas, why don’t we leave these two be?” Sam signaled to Cas as he left the garage.

“Help me with my bags?” Her large (Y/E/C) eyes looked into Dean’s emerald eyes. “Then we can talk.”

Dean happily slid her backpack around his arms, picked up a duffle and then he flung his arm around her shoulders while they walked to her room.  They tossed her bags on the floor, before Dean started talking, “I’m really sorry.  I know that doesn’t make up for how I treated you.  Yeah, you messed up but I should have been proud that you were brave enough to come in when you knew you shouldn’t have.”  He wiped his hand down his face, “We need you.  I need you, (Y/N).” Her eyes were becoming wet from his confession. “I don’t know why I thought I could treat you way my dad used to treat me when I fucked up.  I’m not him and you aren’t me plus that’s no way to treat people you love.”

“Dean.” Her voice was soft as she reached out to touch his face.

He sat her on the bed, “I have no right to ask you this but can you please forgive me?  I need you to forgive me.” She leaned against him and sighed, “I promise we won’t bench you but we are going to train you harder.”

“Ok, ok.” She spoke still soft trying not let the tears fall, “I forgive you.”

“Are you ok with the extra training?”

“Yeah, it’s obviously that I need it but not until I’m healed up.”

“Deal!” He stuck out his hand to shake.

She opened her arms not accepting a hand when she could get a hug. “Deal.” She whispered in his ear. She laid down on the bed now emotionally exhausted. “Will you hold me?”

“Whatever you want, Sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her forehead.

Dean snuggled around her holding her back to his chest. “Whatever I want?” She popped her head up thinking about what she could ask for.

“Yeah sure.”

“Can you make french toast tomorrow?” She asked like a child.

“You could’ve had french toast this morning but you had to run off.”  He tickled her side.

She laughed hard, making her face light up. “I guess I overreacted.”

“Yeah but so did I.  Go to sleep Sweetheart.  Tomorrow will be so much better and today will just feel like a bad dream.” He held her even closer.  She was back in his life and he wasn’t going to lose her again.

I love all the likes and reblogs but I really do want your feedback. Please leave me a comment; let me know what worked or what didn’t. If you hated it let me know what I could do different. It may determine how I write my next fic.

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