#when Black Venus learns this she’s really startled

[daydreamerdrew]

Contact Comics (1944) #2

[mikareo]

⌗ RENAISSANCE ₊ ˖ ་. rin itoshi x fem reader (2.1k)

⊹ ⠀⠀ he's never been one to appreciate art, but you've given him a new set of eyes— the love he feels for you is overwhelming, and he hopes it lasts forever. (bonus for rationalism and romanticism; necessary to read first!)

contains; colorblind!rin, painter!reader, rin’s mom is reader’s art mentor, swearing, immense fluff, kissing, sae and rin actually have a good relationship, extremely inaccurate depictions of colorblindness author's note; bonus ending for rationalism/romanticism!

This is a fancy-ass venue. 

Rin can’t help but feel underdressed for the occasion, despite being clad in a fitted white button up and black tie, whilst his dress-shoes cramp his feet in the worst ways imaginable. He almost looks like that one moviestar in the romantic comedy you love so much. Was it the one with the rich guy in Singapore or the one where they worked in an office and he was a businessman? Rin can’t remember. Whatever, it doesn’t really matter either way. He’s distracting himself too much, he needs to focus— tonight is one of the most important nights of your career. No, it is the most important night for your future career. His mother contacted every big art distributor and critic that she has professional relationships with. It’s your night…and wow did you kill it. 

It’s almost as if you’ve plastered yourself across the walls. Every art piece that his eyes roll over is exceptionally you - your personality, your passions, and your heart - and it’s obvious you’ve spent months curating the most perfect array of paintings a person could muster. 

He can read your story like an open book while he slowly makes his way through the gallery. There are paintings depicting your childhood, ones that remind him of the stories you tell him of your primary school drama and premature interests. That one must be when you broke your arm while learning to ride your bike. You’re particularly stuck on that story— strongly stating how upset you were because it was your dominant arm, halting your ability to paint for seven weeks. Referencing your painting passion, there’s a whole array of canvases dedicated to your love for art; beginning with inspirations of immaturity to skillful selections of texture techniques. Rin is obviously no art critic, but if he were, he’d write a whole expose on how amazing you are. 

With his mind so engaged with your talent, he’s oblivious to the people passing by; so oblivious that he doesn’t even notice his own family approaching. 

“She’s talented isn’t she?” 

Holy shit. The familiar voice of his mother startles Rin, but he instinctively wraps a loose arm around her waist and greets her with a grin. She returns the affectionate expression and it’s painfully obvious that he got his smile from her, and even more painfully obvious that they’re all related when Sae walks up with his teeth beaming. Long lashes and a toothy grin, the physical brand of the Itoshi family; famous in not only football, but good looks!

“Y’know I always knew she had an innate ability.” Miss Itoshi has a faint smile on her face, gazing at her youngest son with nothing but pure happiness. It’s a true display of a mother’s love for her youngest son, and Rin doesn’t know what he’d do without her guidance. She squeezes his side and presses a gentle kiss to his cheek. God, he’d be so embarrassed if his teammates saw this. “Though, I always thought she specialized in artwork.”

Hm? Rin sends a puzzled glance in her direction. What is she going on about?

His mom continues, knowing her son well enough that he needs a clear explanation in order to understand anything at all, and presses her hand against his chest. “I didn’t realize she was so skilled at touching hearts.”

His heart is beating faster at the mere thought of your beauty.

There are tears behind Miss Itoshi’s eyes and Rin can feel the waterworks attempting to break his own dam. They’re an emotional duo, him and his mom, Sae gets tired of their antics sometimes— but Rin knows he loves them. Their mom always knows the right thing to say. “I never thought I’d see you like this, Rin.”

Sae smirks, nodding in agreement. “You seem so at ease. It’s cute.”

Reflexively, he pulls them both into a big hug— which is the first hug he’s given Sae since he was nothing but a young boy, six years old and playing soccer for the very first time. Rin finally understands what it means to love and be loved, all because of you; and now he can apply that same love to his older brother, who was his rival for so long. The overwhelming comfort he feels in his family’s arms is the same warmth he felt when he made his first goal and ran into his mother to celebrate his newfound passion. For a long time, Rin believed that it was only possible to have that one singular passion. Oh how wrong he was.

“I get it now.” he says softly into their ears. “She helped me understand.”

“And we’re happy for you,” Sae pats him on the back as hard as he can, eliciting a threatening glare from his younger sibling, to which their mother laughs. 

“Check out the centerpieces down the hall.” Miss Itoshi nudges Rin on, standing beside Sae. “I think you’ll love them, sweetheart.”

With their encouragement, he carries on with the gallery and down the straight hallway of evolving paintings. Every step he takes, seems to carry him into a new era of your life. It’s almost as if he’s time traveling through memories that seemingly morph from abstract to realistic art; and he learns more and more about you with each passing second, ultimately leading towards one large painting in the center of the room. 

Holy shit. You’re breathtaking. 

Never in Rin’s life has his world stopped due to paint on canvas— but right now, it feels like every single brush stroke is a frozen second that he gets to relive again and again, just basking in the presence of your beautiful skill.

The way you’ve outlined your hair with thin lines and highlighted your lovely cheekbones, is nothing short of masterful. If he looks close enough, he can understand the comforting feeling of cupping your face with just his eyes. He didn’t even know you did self-portraits, but now he wishes he could hang this very one right above his couch; to show off the talent of his amazing girlfriend for everyone to see (not that he actually has many friends other than his teammates).

Where are you? He needs to let you know how special it is to be with someone like you—

“Cat got your tongue?”

Speak of the devil.

“Do you like it?” You raise your eyebrows at him expectantly. “What do you think?”

You said the same thing when you first met.

Rin looks between you and the painting, now realizing that no matter how masterful your skill is, it’s impossible to capture just how gorgeous you are in any form of art. You’re simply exquisite. The most talented painter in the world wouldn’t know how to appreciate your beauty. Davinci? No. Botticelli? No. Di Angelo? Not even he could sculpt your features to perfection. However, despite his high standards, Rin believes that your self portrait is the greatest thing he’s ever seen. 

The familiar feeling of flusteredness grows on his cheeks as he holds eye-contact with you, wondering what color it is you’re wearing. He bets it’s red, you always wear red around him. “I love it.”

As your right hand finds his palm, the left reaches up and cups his cheek. With a gentle touch, your lips are on his and Rin feels his head take a spin on the merry-go-round of love. He can’t get enough of you. If he had a choice, he’d spend every waking second of his day peppering you in light kisses on every part of your body— and he’d make sure that you never felt loneliness again. You deserve nothing less than the absolute best, and he’s made it his life’s goal to give that to you.

Slowly, he begins to feel your smile against his lips and you pull away with a lovesick gaze. He pulls you into his chest, cradling your head and kissing it softly before whispering how proud he is, and it’s almost unbelievable how far Rin’s come. Somehow you’ve lured him into a bottomless ravine where the only resource to live is to be hopelessly in love with you— and truthfully, he never wants to escape. You're everything to him.

“You love it?” your eyes are shining brighter than the sun. “You haven’t even seen my best work yet.”

“Oh?’ Rin raises his brows, mocking surprise at your statement. “Well now you have to show me. It’s only fair.”

You place your hands on his chest and peck his lips before spinning him around. He’s confused for a moment, wondering what you’re doing when you could’ve just led him to the canvas instead of guiding him around like it’s a dance class…but then he sees it.

He sees himself.

Never in his life has he completely understood what being in love is. Yes, he's felt love. From his mother, who raised him to be the man he is; caring, thoughtful, and compassionate. From his brother, who helped him understand ambition and sacrifice. From his teammates, who challenge him to be the best he possibly can and to support one another without holding grudges. He's felt different types of love from so many people in his life. Familial. Platonic. Admiration. This is different, though. The love you show him is true love. It's the kind of love that movie stars win awards for portraying. It's the fantasy that kids dream about having when they grow up into big adults. It's the thing he thought was impossible to obtain, but was lucky enough to stumble upon you in that empty art studio on the best day of his life.

He didn't know love could be expressed in this kind of way. Through the very same paint strokes and brush marks that used to make him nauseous with hatred. Seeing your masterpiece, he doesn't understand how he could ever hate something so amazing. Art is spectacular. No. Your art is spectacular. You are spectacular.

"You love it right?" You're trying your best not to giggle at his awestruck reaction. "Want to know the best part?"

Rin can feel himself nodding, desperately reaching for your hand in an attempt to ground himself from the air he's walking on— and you begin to explain. "It's a dual piece. Notice how we're facing each other?"

Oh my god, you are facing each other. He hadn't noticed it before, but he can see clearly now. You've placed him in the dead center of the room, giving him a full view of both of the paintings— opposite of one another on two opposing easels. "Tell me more, baby." His voice is nothing louder than a whisper, only for you to hear.

"I'm painted in black and white."

Oh?

"You're painted in color."

...Oh.

"I wanted to show how love knows no bounds. There's beauty in how you see me and how I see you. It doesn't matter that I'm colorless to you, you still look at me like I'm the prettiest girl in the world; and I only wish you could understand how vibrant your eyes are, Rin. You're the most handsome man I've seen in my entire life."

He loves you.

He loves you so, so much.

A part of his heart feels like he's falling in love with you all over again. It's growing larger and larger, unable to contain the capacity of feelings he holds for you. He's so overwhelmed with joy that tears begin to fight to escape his eyes, ultimately dripping down his cheeks like watercolor on paper, and he sweeps you into the tightest hug known to man.

There's really only one thing left to do. One thing to close this chapter and carry on with the rest of your love story, something that's sacred only between the two of you. Something that he hopes to say to you everyday, every night, every hour, and every minute that he can.

"I love you."

this is the end of this series! every part was such a joy to write and i'm so thankful for all of the feedback i've been given. more fics coming soon love y'all <3

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⊹₊｡ reblogs are greatly appreciated! ˚₊⊹

[sapphicmsmarvel]

EP: Siren Queen

masterlist

Premise: Y/N L/N is a part of the world's biggest girl group. A stalker starts harassing her and her band mates so their label calls in the BAU. 

The case was weird for the BAU. It was a stalker case for a famous girl, Y/N L/N, she was part of the worlds most successful girl group. Garcia was all too excited to be involved in the case. Of course, she hated that you were being stalked but she was a huge fan. 

“You better tell me everything!” She squealed, “If she’s nice, if she’s as hot as she is on camera, if the other girls are nice, if they are ‘just like us’ please!” 

“If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were the stalker, Garcia.” JJ joked.

“If someone hurts that ray of sunshine I will stalk them!” She shouted through the video call and then hung up. 

JJ flipped through the file, “we have five days to catch this guy before they go on tour. And the girls are refusing to cancel.” “Even if their lives are at stake?” 

“They said that they will not cancel because it’s the opening to their world tour and they won’t risk disappointing fans because they know people are flying in from all over the country.” Prentiss explained. 

“Shouldn’t the label put the girls first?” Morgan asked. 

“Usually labels tend not to care about artists.” Reid said, “the amount of label abuse that’s been coming to light is horrific you guys should read up on it.” 

He looked up as everyone looked at him confused, he explained, “Simon Cowell for example, there are claims against him because of abuse towards clients. Overworking them, homophobic comments, racist comments, sexist comments you name it.”

“What groups?” JJ asked. 

“Little Mix and One Direction are the two most prominent ones.” Reid said flicking through the file. 

“How do you know all this?” “Garcia.” He answered. “Then I did my own research because I was fascinated by the music industry. It never hurts to learn even if I don’t know anything about it.” 

The team left it at that, and continued digging through the evidence of your stalker. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The team was currently sitting in one of the rehearsal rooms. There were couches, a snack bar, a coffee stand, everything except the girls they were meeting. 

Their publicist Ramona looked at them all apologetically, “I’m so sorry, the girls seem to be in traffic. They’re with trusted drivers and security guards.” 

“Have they been background checked?” Hotch asked. 

Ramona nodded, “we all were when we were taken on, we were when this stalker showed up as well. The dancers, the crew, everybody those girls come into contact with are background checked.” 

“Even interviewers?” Reid asked. Ramona nodded, “without their knowledge, just like you advised. If this got leaked…” Ramona shook her head, “we all know what happens to victims of stalkers, it isn’t foreign in this business.” 

At that moment the girls all came in, Emily recognized them from the files. Apparently, even your bandmates got checked. Zoey came in first, snuggled in her hoodie, her jeans were rumpled and her heels were clacking. Her smile falling off her face the second she walked into the room. Her blonde hair was tousled as if she was running her hands through it a lot. Her green eyes were tired.

Leaning on her was Brooke, who was also looking exhausted. Ramona told them that they had been up since 4 am doing press, it was now 4pm. They had a two hour rehearsal next, then dinner, then vocal rehearsal, then they could go to their hotel. Apparently it was an easy day for them. Brooke's black hair was in it’s natural curls, she wore heels as well as a dress. 

The two were holding hands. 

Then came in Liz, she was wearing a black long sleeve shirt, shorts and a beanie as well as heeled boots. She didn’t look as tired, she looked fiercely protective as she was holding your hand. 

You looked anxious, you were also in a hoodie, jeans and heeled boots, all black. Your eyes were darting around the room as you took in everyone around you. Your eyes startled when they landed on Emily, Emily wasn’t sure why. 

Ramona introduced all of them to the girls then said “Sit down girls.” 

Three of them did, you had other ideas and went and got coffee. “Y/N, that’s your fourth cup.” 

You held up a finger, “I don’t want to hear it, Ramona. I have a stalker out there and I have to act like everythings normal, if Marcus has a problem with it, he can suck my dick.” 

Morgan looked at Emily with wide eyes. Emily shrugged. Then looked at Reid, “who’s Marcus?”  She asked him. 

“Their choreographer.” “Why does it matter what he says?” 

“Because he cares about us and is a fitness nut.” You answered, “you’re not very good at whispering.” You deadpanned, sipping your coffee. 

“Y/N!” Ramona scolded. 

You rolled your eyes, and Zoey spoke up, “give her a break Ramona. She never gives you issues, let her live.” 

“It’s okay,” Emily spoke up, “I understand what it’s like to be afraid of looking over your shoulder.”

You nodded, avoiding eye contact. You felt guilty for snapping, that much she could tell. 

“Okay, let’s get started.” Hotch said, “do you have any particular fans you’d like to tell us about, people have stood out?” 

“We have a lot of...dedicated fans.” Zoey said, to put it gently. “Some good, some bad, some that are really intense.” 

You scoffed from where you were standing, “that's putting it lightly.” You grabbed a mini chocolate chip cookie.. 

“Do girl groups have groupies?” Morgan asked. 

“Of course we do,” Liz said, her tan cheeks gaining a rosy color. You sat in between her and Zoey, Brooke was next to Zoey. You had three other cookies in your hand and handed them to the others. 

“We recognize the line between fans and stalkers as well as people who don't agree with who we are. But there’s been nothing like this.”  Brooke shuddered.

“Don’t agree with who you are?” JJ asked. 

You held up a hand, “queer.” 

Brooke raised her hand, “black.” 

Liz raised hers, “philipino and black. So mixed race.” 

Then Zoey raised hers as well, “I’m ‘too skinny’ so everyone thinks I have an eating disorder.” 

You piped up, “I’ve also been fat shamed by the worlds biggest media outlets, it’s nothing new to find hate online.” 

Emily grimaced and she knew her team was doing the exact same thing. 

“Do you have any ideas as to who it could be?” Rossi asked.

“There’s one,” Zoey said, “but Y/N insists it can’t be him.” 

“You need to tell us.” Emily said, everyone looked at you. 

You sighed, “he went to jail when we were teens for sexual misconduct. I was the first person he assaulted and harassed consistently. But I didn’t press charges.” “Why not?” Morgan asked. 

“Because I was a fourteen year old girl who didn’t recognize that it was sexual assault.” You snapped, then sighed, “I’m sorry Agent Morgan. It’s touchy.” Zoey took your hand, Liz took your other one, Brooke reached over and put her hand on top of Zoeys. “To be honest, I don’t know where I would be without these three.” You admitted. Emily admired it, the sisterhood between you four. 

“How long have you guys been friends?” JJ asked. 

“We met in high school, then formed the band.” Brooke answered. 

 “Do you know if he’s out?” 

You sighed, “he is. But he lacks the brain cells to pull this stuff off.”

“It’s not that hard to mail letters.” JJ said. 

“Yeah but, he shouldn’t know the exact times we show up at venues, interviews, he isn’t smart enough to think of how to obtain that information. As kids he was not smart, at all.” You said, letting go of your friends’ hands and you started rubbing your hands on your jeans. 

Emily noticed how all of them kept their hands on you, as a way of comfort. 

“Unless he was following the bus,” Zoey said.

“He’s too lazy.” You said, “never had energy for thorough shit.” 

“What’s his name? We’re gonna send it to our technical analyst.” Morgan said. 

You nodded and spoke the name you’ve feared for far too long. “Peter Brady, he was born in my home state

“Okay,” Hotch started, “I want all of you to be shadowing the girls, they are not to be left alone, we don’t know how organized this guy is and what he knows.” He looked at Rossi, “we’ll contact Garcia and run through possible people. Do you have anywhere to set up?” 

Ramona began directing them to rooms, then told all of you to get changed and do rehearsals for the tour. 

JJ and Reid sat in during the rehearsals, meanwhile Emily and Morgan helped Hotch and Rossi with going through all the names that Garcia flagged as potentially dangerous. 

Two hours later, Emily was eating dinner, she was planning to eat alone, but then she found you. You were sitting on the floor backstage, by a bunch of wires and such eating your pizza. You were alone. 

“Hey,” Emily said.

“Hi, did Ramona send you because I’m alone?” You asked, smiling slightly. 

“No,” Emily said sitting next to you, “I can recognize when someone needs someone to talk to. Where are your friends?”

“They’re talking to their partners, I insisted they do. They haven’t been the past couple of nights because of all this. Part of being….’famous’ is that you have to leave your loved ones for long periods of time.” “My field is the same way. I don’t see my mom more than twice a year.” 

You shuddered, “I can barely handle not seeing my mom as much as I used to before ‘fame’. I can’t imagine it in your shoes.” You sighed. 

Emily popped open her salad box, “do you mind if I eat with you?” She smiled.

And she smiled wider when you smiled back, “feel free. By the way, I’m sorry about snapping at you. It’s been rough.” 

“I know how you feel.” Emily would tell you about Doyle if it helped you open up more about this guy.

“Have you been stalked?” 

Emily nodded, “by an abusive ex.” Was all she said. 

You grimaced, “so we’ve gone through similar things.” “Was this guy an ex?” You shook your head, “we were thirteen and fourteen, as kids navigating those feelings can be hard. I’d say we were close to dating then he...he pushed too far. I wasn’t raped, but he touched me inappropriately, then harassed me over text. Then continued for three years, he’s been silent ever since and now all of a sudden 12 years later he’s back.” You laughed bitterly, “and I have no doubts he’s done things to other women. Do you think because I didn’t report, it’s my fault that this is happening? And he’s most likely doing this to other women?” You asked her.

Emily shook her head, “It’s not your fault Y/N, it never will be. He’s a sick creep, and we’re gonna get him.” She assured you. “Can we talk about something else?” You asked. 

“Sure.” Emily smiled.

You felt your heart stutter. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the next few days, you and Emily had fallen into a routine. 

You ate all your meals together. Breakfast at 6am in the hotel lobby, lunch in the dance rehearsal room, dinner in the backstage area. 

Of course, your friends teased you relentlessly. And her team teased her relentlessly. 

But you two didn’t care, you found solitude in each other's company, considering both of your worlds were hectic and crazy. 

You two were eating chicken tenders for lunch before vocal and dance rehearsal in the dance room when Marcus walked in, “hey, some fanmail was left for you.” He handed you a blue box. 

“I’m surprised you can bring it to me.” You said grabbing it. 

“It went through security first.”

That was a good sign, you opened it and saw a diamond necklace, “holy shit.” You murmured, it was stunning and sparkly. 

Emily thought it described you personally. 

You took it out of the box and set the box on the ground. Emily saw a tag in the box. She grabbed it. She pulled it and it revealed a bigger note. She picked it up and read it. 

“Y/N….” Emily started. 

“What?” You asked, scared. 

Emily cleared her throat, “for you my love, it matches your smile. Remember that night under the stars at that restaurant our parents took us to as kids? It’s one of my fondest memories.” You dropped the necklace as if it had burned you. 

It had. 

It clattered against the floor, you shot off the ground. “Get it away from me! Get the box away from me! Get it all away!” You started crying. “No, no, no, no.” 

“Go get my team, now!” She ordered Marcus who ran off with his concern and protectiveness in his eyes. 

She approached you, “can I touch you?” She asked. 

You fell into her arms, “he found me. He actually fucking found a way to torment me. After all these years, I can’t. I can’t. I can’t. Please don’t let him get me.” You sobbed into her arms. 

She looked at the diamonds on the ground, the sparkling contrasted against the dull gray floor, she stroked your hair as she said, “I won’t, he will never touch you again.” 

And she would die to ensure that that promise was kept. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two hours later, you were in vocal rehearsals. You had to do questioning as well as calm down from your panic attack. 

You would only allow Emily near you. 

You two walked side by side to vocal rehearsals, the girls immediately rushed to hug you. Emily stepped back as the three of them hugged you. It was a huge group hug. 

“Oh sweetheart.” Brooke said and kissed your head. “Baby, we tried to get in there but they wouldn’t let us.” Zoey said, “I almost kicked that damn door down but Ramona pulled me away.” 

“We got you, that bastard isn’t going anywhere near you,” Liz declared. 

Emily heard a sniffle from you, and the girls all “aww’d.” 

“Babyyy.” Liz cooed as they all held you tighter. 

After about three minutes of you trying to calm down, you four separated, all of you were wiping your eyes. “God, we really do feed off each other huh?” You tried to lighten the mood. They all smiled, trying to keep the light mood going. 

They all said hi to Emily, then headed towards a couch. You four then sat down and began singing.

Okay, she had heard your records, after all your band was one of the biggest bands in the world, the biggest girl group. 

But God, she did not expect you to not have an auto-tuned voice. None of you do. All four of you have amazing voices but yours…

It was rich like dark chocolate, she wanted to hear you sing all. the. time. It was like a siren, captivating and lustful. You were calm while singing, nobody would know that your stalker had just dropped off a box with diamonds in it two hours ago. 

Then to make you laugh Zoey broke out with an off key note and made you burst out laughing. 

That laugh warmed Emily, she realized how much she loved your company and what she would do to make you laugh like that at her. 

Oh God, she was falling for you. And she was falling hard.

Shit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two hours before the show was supposed to go on, they caught him. 

He was staking out before the show, Garcia had his picture sent to all the guards and they found him. 

Everyone else went to question him, while Emily stayed with you. It was a few minutes before showtime, makeup artists and hair stylists were doing final touches. As well as the stylists. 

“Twitters blowing up.” Ramona said from her chair.

“About?” You asked, jumping to shake the nerves.

“The guy who got arrested in front of the venue.” 

You looked at Emily, “dear god.” 

“JJ will handle it.” She assured you all.

“Good.” Zoey said. 

You nodded to a corner at Emily, she nodded and followed you over. “I just wanna say, thank you for helping me and spending time with me. I know it’s your job but,” you sighed, “if you’d allow me, I’d like to take you out on a date when we have a show in DC. We’re staying for a couple days doing press and I’d like to go out on a date with you, if you’d like?” Emily smiled and blushed hard, “I would be honored, Y/N.” 

The smile you had could light up the night sky, “thank you, Emily. You won’t regret it.” 

“Ramona called, “Y/N! Show time!” 

“One sec!” Then shoved a piece of paper into her hand, “I hope to hear from you.” Then you kissed her cheek and ran off to stage. 

She opened the piece of paper, “to my hero, I hope to hear from you.” Then underneath was your number. 

She sighed happily, then went to find her seat in the stadium so she could watch her siren queen perform.

[miraculousmarifan]

Felinette Month 2020 - Day 22: Tattoo Artist

Happy @felinettenovember! It may almost be the end of November but I’m slowly catching up! Hopefully this longer story full of Felix being awkward makes up for the delay!

Around 3200 words of Felix and Marinette awkwardly trying to flirt. Spoiler, Nino was in fact trying to subtly set them up before then. Also mentions of Gabriel salt but not enough to really tag.

Also, there is one swear word in the entire thing but it was too perfect a spot not to include. Enjoy!

Felix hated going to crowded bars. He couldn't believe he had let his coworker, Nino, talk him into coming to this bar while he DJ’d on the side. Felix didn’t mind spending time with Nino at the tattoo parlor, the two had interesting conversations and Nino was pretty relaxed but it didn’t mean they had become good enough friends for Felix to put up with this. The reek of body odor near the dance floor deterred him and he wondered why he felt like he needed to come to this show. He hadn’t come any other time Nino had invited him. 

Felix wondered if he was overdressed. Most people wore jeans. Here and there he saw a nice blouse or even a dress but many women looked like their primary objective was to entice a date into taking them home, in Felix’s opinion. He saw one or two men wearing button down shirts but most wore flannels or plain t-shirts. His white button down, dark gray vest, and black pants might’ve been a little dressy for the venue.

There was still a little bit of room to sneak in by the bar, near a dark-haired woman on one of the few barstools. He excused himself as he tried to position himself at the bar without bumping anyone. He couldn’t help but wonder if this bar was normally crowded like this or if this was Nino’s influence. It might be a sign that he’s actually a really good DJ.

“I’m sorry. Were you saving this spot for someone?” Felix turned slightly towards the woman, while waiting for the bartender to finish making other customers’ drinks. “I just tried to get into the only opening at the bar I could see.”

“It’s fine! I’m meeting someone and she isn’t here yet. It’s nice to see it so crowded!” the dark-haired woman exclaimed with a smile, glancing up from her phone and placing a hand on the top of her drink glass while talking with him. He felt himself smile back. She wore a pink shirt, casual but stylish, with jeans and black heeled boots. She definitely had good taste, managing to look put together for a night out, while still being casual and comfortable.

“I’m glad I didn’t inconvenience you right now. It’s definitely crowded. Do you come here often? I mean, do you know if it’s normally like this? This is my first time here,” Felix fumbled out. He internally smacked his head. It wasn’t like he never saw pretty girls and he hadn’t even had a drink yet. Why was he forgetting how to speak properly with her sparkling eyes on him? He used to work with models for crying out loud. He felt like the words coming out were too direct. It was like he was a creep hitting on her at the bar and he just wanted to make some small talk! He felt the tension in him relax slightly as she lightly laughed.

“It sometimes gets busy but today is a little more than usual. My friend is the DJ and he tends to draw in more people. I think his girlfriend put something on her blog though, since this is a special show. It may have brought more people than usual. What brings you here, since you clearly aren’t a usual?” she mockingly asked him, after her casual remarks. She had brought her drink closer to her body, hand still on the top, as though she was thinking about getting up and leaving that spot soon.

“I actually came for a coworker… friend… that said he was going to be the DJ tonight. Nino?” Felix replied, wondering if Nino was actually a mutual friend. He hoped so, if only for the chance to chat with her longer tonight.

“Oh! You’re from the tattoo parlor?” she exclaimed, jerking up so her back was straight. Her face flushed lightly and her eyebrows were raised slightly.

“Yes… I take it Nino is your DJ friend. I’m Felix,” he stuck his hand out in introduction with a slight tilt of his head.

“Marinette,” she smiled and shook his hand. The bartender chose this opportunity to come over, apologize for the wait, and take his drink order. Felix asked Marinette if she needed a refill and offered to buy it. She downed the last of her drink and pushed it forward, repeating what she wanted. He gladly covered it, leaving a bill big enough to pay for the drinks with a generous tip. He figured with it being this busy, few customers would leave tips after having to wait and it would be appreciated. He turned slightly, looking over his shoulder to check for an open table with three or four chairs.

“I’m thinking about moving to that table--” Felix gestured to an empty table left of the dance floor, close to the DJ booth with three chairs by it, “-- so the bar has a little more open space. Would you like to join me there while you wait for your friend?”

Marinette smiled at him and nodded, pulling the strap of her small bag over her shoulder and sliding off the chair. He picked up her drink and started to weave through the crowd, walking as quickly as possible towards the table. He reached it a few steps before her, setting the drinks down and then gesturing for her to take the seat with the best view of the entrance. He quickly explained that he wanted her to be able to spot her friend right away.

“So you work with Nino at the tattoo parlor?” Marinette asked again, as though there was more behind the question.

“Yes. I also do tattoos, though I personally think Nino’s are more creative. I typically do by appointment, though I have helped out with walk-ins when we get a group of them. I find that they typically prefer his sketches though, so I don’t typically make my own designs,” Felix gave her more detail than normal, in case he could answer her unspoken question this way.

“I guess I’m just a little surprised. You don’t really look like the type to work there. Do you have any tattoos?” she sheepishly shrugged, kind of explaining the tone behind her previous question. He grinned mischievously and shrugged back at her.

“I actually don’t have any tattoos and didn’t get into this career field because I loved it. It’s a bit of a joke at work but I started there to spite my father. I had steady hands and trained for quite a while before starting working on clients but…” Felix had a bit of a laugh in his voice as he explained this career choice. Marinette studied him a little more closely before leaning forward to respond.

“Not to pry but were you a model when you were younger?” she whispered almost conspiratorially, with a narrowed eye and the tilt of her head. Her hair fell forward with the motion and his hand lifted to push it back behind her ear before he had a chance to think. As he realized what he had done, he flushed and looked away, pulling his hand back swiftly and gripping it in his lap. He completely missed her blushing and putting a hand up to her ear.

“I was actually… not that most people realize it now. I actually changed my last name to my mother’s maiden name when I came of age so people don’t make the connection when they do happen to hear it,” Felix replied and met her intense stare, quietly answering her searching gaze with his own. He wondered if she had really figured him out so quickly. He knew his longer-term coworkers knew about his previous work history but was he just delusional that others didn’t make the connection?

“I’m glad you found a way to fuck with Gabriel Agreste. After reading an article about the standards he held for his models when you suddenly disappeared from the fashion world, I decided I never wanted to treat people like that. I even decided that I didn’t want to take an internship there, even if it would help my career to learn from him. It’s good to know you’re doing well,” Marinette looked away, blushing more as she took a gulp from her glass, gripping it tighter than really necessary. He felt the need to study her closer. Most people didn’t notice or read the article he had helped with, especially when the only publication that would go up against Gabriel was a small independent fashion magazine. This girl must’ve been really invested in fashion to have noticed an article like that.

“So you must be working in fashion?” Felix rested his head on a hand, soaking up her expression. He was startled from his reverie by a hand on his shoulder.

“She’s the best designer of our generation! She’s going to have her name across every headline soon! She is going to blow Gabriel Agreste out of the water… Isn’t that right Mar?” a woman with brown and red hair declared firmly near Felix’s ear, before turning and confirming with Marinette with a grin.

“Alya! You made it! Why didn’t you message me when you got here?” Marinette grinned back, still blushing lightly. 

“Girl I did! Don’t you check your phone? I’m glad you guys chose a table that was easy to spot! Who’s your friend?” Alya lightly bumped their shoulders, before taking the last chair at the table and waggling her eyebrows.

“I’m Felix, and you must be Marinette’s friend,” he jumped in right away, extending a hand and smiling slightly at their interaction.

“Alya. Are you the Felix that works with Nino?” Alya grinned a bit bigger, the mischievous look seeming to grow. He nodded and looked around.

“I am. Do you guys know when he’s planning on being here?” he asked. He figured Nino was supposed to start soon, so he should be there.

“So Felix, you look a little dressed up today. Any specific reason? Like maybe you had a date?” Alya rested her head on her hands, staring across the table at him with slightly narrowed eyes.

“This is how I normally dress… These are my casual clothes…” he stuttered out in confusion. Luckily he didn’t need to stutter too long, as Nino arrived at their table and greeted his girlfriend with a kiss.

“Hey guys! Felix, man! You made it! I’m so glad you made it! Have you all met already?” Nino patted Felix’s shoulder before looking between the three of them. Alya turned and smiled at the two.

“We’ve been getting to know him. You didn’t tell me you had invited your work friend tonight,” Alya raised her eyebrows at Nino and placed a hand on his arm. He looked at her confused, and leaned over to talk with her in a low tone. The two leaned over as Marinette and Felix sat awkwardly, trying not to watch the pair. Finally the two seemed to reach an understanding and noticed their friends' discomfort. 

Nino proceeded to make a little bit of small talk, telling a short story or two about his and Felix’s experiences at the parlor, before he let them know he needed to head up to the booth to start.

With the music blasting, Alya attempted to convince Marinette to come out on the floor and dance with her. She promised to join her once her feet had rested up from her work day. Alya accepted the promise with a declaration that she'd be held to it. Felix felt a small amount of relief at being forgotten here. He was an awkward dancer at best, only really managing to acceptably slow dance for formal events, and this dance floor didn’t appear suitable for that style.

"I actually am kind of interested in getting a tattoo… I have some sketches of what I'm thinking, if you wouldn't mind looking it over…" Marinette pulled a small notepad out of her purse and opened it to a specific page before looking up at him.

"Sure. Are you thinking of making an appointment with Nino or somewhere else?" He gestured towards the notepad to indicate that he'd like to take a look. She slid it over to him and he looked at the line art she had put together for this design. It had some degree of floral swirling but also what appeared to be a small ladybug, a symbol of luck. It was simple but lovely. He looked up at her and leaned closer to point out elements as he spoke, "I imagine you're going to want to fill in the ladybug with red?"

A nod of confirmation. 

"What about these areas? You could have it filled in, make the lines a specific color, or even just put another layer of color on one side of the black so it has more vibrancy. I'm sure this part would look great with a vibrant green and this could be any color you want." Marinette’s eyes got wide with the possibilities. She stated she didn't want it filled in at this point, then started asking about the pros and cons of doing specific line colors versus the layered lines. They discussed what would probably work best for where on her body and what areas are more likely to be painful. Finally she came to a decision, writing down on the paper with her sketch what she wanted.

“So do you have openings for an appointment any time soon?” Marinette asked almost hesitantly. Felix blinked at her a few times before opening his mouth to speak.

“You want me to do it?” he mumbled incredulously, his brain still catching up after discussing the design from a neutral stance up to this point.

“Unless you think I’d be better off going somewhere else, yeah… I kind of thought that’s why you were so open to discussing it…” she replied quietly, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Her logic made sense. Normally he wouldn’t consult on someone else’s work, but he was caught up in the idea of being able to help the beautiful woman in front of him.

“I could! I just didn’t expect it… would you mind either coming over to the parlor so I can make a copy of this and practice it or you could send me it via email? I normally have my appointments do that when we set up the appointment and design. Then I can give a more accurate time estimate.” he answered enthusiastically, hoping she wouldn’t feel embarrassed by his slow thinking. It was a Friday night after all. He had every reason not to focus well.

“I could give you my number so we can figure out when to make a copy there,” she smiled at him, relief seeming to color her voice. He nodded in agreement, pulling out his phone and bringing up the new contact form, then sliding it over to her. She typed in her name, number, and email address quickly, then returned his phone. He smiled at it, sent a message to her with his name, then returned the phone to his pocket.

“I’m glad we’ll be able to see each other again for this,” the words slipped from his mouth when he watched the lights from the dance floor bounce across her face. She blushed slightly and nodded in response before asking him to dance. He hesitated before leaning forward to answer.

“I will if you ask me to, but I must warn you that I am a terrible dancer. You may end up regretting bringing me there, if it doesn’t make you laugh first,” he whispered near her ear, surprised that even this close to the dance floor his nose registered the sweet smell of her hair, vanilla. Before pulling back, he asked her again, “Are you sure you want me to join you and your friend on the dance floor?”

Her laugh twinkled out before she stood, leaning close to him to reply. “You haven’t seen my dancing yet! It’s not likely you can be worse than me!”

Her hand wrapped around his closest one and gently tugged it so he would get up and follow. The two made their way towards where Alya was dancing. She made a small laughing comment about how long it took the two to join in on the fun. During their second song on the floor, with Felix and Marinette awkwardly swaying and waving their arms near the beat but slightly off, Alya started to laugh.

“I never thought I would see the day that Marinette would find her perfect dance partner! You two dance the exact same! Was this planned?” Her exclamation caused the pair to look at each other, then join in laughing. Marinette exclaimed that they hadn’t planned it and looked a little embarrassed at the “perfect dance partner” comment. The next song was slower, definitely one that suggested partnering up. Alya gave Marinette a light nudge towards Felix and an eye waggle on her way back to the table for a “refreshment break.”

“Would you like to dance? I know we don’t really know each other and neither of us is much for dancing…” Felix awkwardly put a hand to his neck, eyes on her boots. She stepped forward and set a single hand on his shoulder. He brought his arms up, sweeping up her free hand in one of his, then hesitantly started moving. Surprisingly the two managed to stay on beat for more of this song. They were silent through the first chorus, just trying to get into a rhythm together.

“So are you the coworker Nino was trying to set me up with?” Marinette broke the silence, a blush covering her cheeks and eyes cast over his shoulder, rather than at his face.

“I’m not sure. It’s a pretty small parlor and Nino never mentioned setting me up on a date but I’m pretty sure I’m the only single guy there at the moment…” Felix felt a little flustered at the idea. He was sure if Nino had suggested it, he would have rejected on the basis of disliking blind dates. There was too much potential for hurt feelings and uncomfortable meals for his taste. He would’ve hated to find out he missed out on meeting an interesting woman like Marinette due to his own bias though. “Maybe that’s why he kept inviting me to his gigs though. He’s been asking me to come for months and I only got around to it tonight.”

“That’s possible…” Marinette sounded disappointed and Felix felt his stomach drop. He hadn’t meant to say the wrong thing, just state facts as far as he could tell.

“I’m really glad I made it tonight. If I had expected to meet you, I would have come much sooner!” he blurted out quickly, not fully certain if that would help or hurt his case. She blushed more than before and stared at him in surprise.

“I’m glad you came too,” she replied after a long pause. Felix felt relief wash through him.

“Does that mean I can call you sometime? Other than for the tattoo, that is…” he enthusiastically inquired, gazing earnestly at her. The song ended and he hesitated to release her hand, waiting for her answer.

“I think I’d like that.”

[owlbloop]

Part two of short story, please read the first bit if you read this. Sorry that read more won't work.

@seaside-writings

Prompt list creator, ^^^

-

-

Cold drinks

-

Fake pink lemonade

From the cheap waxy packets

That come in cardboard

-

Ice cubes splashing, pop

I startle, chair clattering back

Cold pink splattering

-

The glass in fragments

Where the sunlight falls on shards

Suddenly alive

-

I sweep them away

Just in case; Watched them tumble

Into my neon box

-

-

Pictures

-

We soak up starlight

Thinking our own little things

Last sun of summer

-

Red and orange sky

Bubblegum into clouds

Before night’s cool shroud

-

Will blanket the light

Till only pinpoints shine through

But for now we stand

-

The camera flashes

Snug within my brother’s hands

As he captures time

-

-

Pool party

-

The second summer

Starts with chlorinated blue

And sweet barbecue

-

Her skin is darker

From sunny all year travels

Now bridged with freckles

-

The winter pale sticks

Even now it clings to my face

We don't really care

-

I miss last year's floats

And sweet snow cone concoctions

Summer feels so good

-

-

Playground

-

Bright red six foot slides

Brother climbing up and up

Big rope spider webs

-

The white truck's jingle

Harolding neon popsicles

Frosty ice cream bars

-

The smell of old mulch

And lingering summer rain

New pine wood benches

-

We draw side by side

Pastel dollar store notebooks

Covered in graphite

-

-

Summer fair

-

Blue cotton candy

Stuck within her copper hair

On her dyed blue lips

-

Hot elephant ears

The size of her laughing face

My creeper shirt damp

-

The sun presses soon

On the windows of the wheel

I still don’t like heights

-

But to see her look

Face pressed to the sticky glass

With such open eyes

-

-

Boating

-

We might be part fish

Always longing for swimming

Should this surprise me

-

That we found water

Boats in an amusement park

Real bumper boats

-

Seems like an extra

Absolutely terrible

Horrific idea

-

We give it a go

Til we’re completely soaked

Wonderfully worth it

-

-

Night swimming

-

It's the dead of night

Warm steam drifting off the pool

My hair tied in back

-

The pool light is soft

Robing the tiles in flame

Bright but not burning

-

We slip into it

Into water's down caress

Waves sparkling bright

-

-

Summer wardrobe

-

Pale linen sundress

Pastel fabric flower crown

Brown eyes lined with gold

-

Black cotton crop top

Glittering hot pink flip flops

Hair electric blue

-

We both dress different

She is warm with toasted skin

I’m some midnight ghost

-

We both love lemons

I’m still flustered when she’s near

I still adore her

-

-

Ice cream parlor

-

Blue raspberry, grape

With whipped cream and a cherry

Sweet syrup soda

-

She eats red sorbet

A cookie dough waffle cone

And a large milkshake

-

I’ve learned to shrug

At how much sugar she eats

Somehow still a stick

-

Soggy plastic straws

Sun shining through the window

As her gaze holds mine

-

-

Lazy river

-

Drifting in circles

Bit too slender for the floats

The current flows

-

We bump one another

With the grace of cicadas

So basically none

-

The water feels good

As it swirls around my legs

Though my arms are sore

-

We manage escape

Into the warmth of her towel

A kid had soaked mine

-

-

Hammock nap

-

Swinging back and forth

Under the cool dark shade of

Magnolia trees

-

The light dances through

All the shades of waxy green

And onto her skin

-

I love the feel

Of big white velvet blossoms

Brown tinged on the ground

-

The weight pulls us close

Almost touching, but not quite

Just a bit too small

-

-

Sleeping in

-

I want to sleep more

Nap throughout eternity

Drown the sun in ink

-

But she wakes me up

With her mom’s strawberry cake

I have to smile

-

Because she looks cute

Buried in a stolen hoodie

Of cute lil skulls

-

The bright of the sun

Scalds me awake but soothes sweet

When shining though braids

-

-

Stargazing

-

Vast, blue, beautiful

A rising strawberry moon

We lie beneath it

-

She points out Venus

Who birthed the romantic rose

Through her mourning

-

Not quite so certain

She wants romance born of death

Rather something sweet

-

She doesn’t know much

When it comes to such mythology

So she offers snacks

[aria-raven]

OC-tober, Day 27: Midnight

A late night conversation between a few friends. @oc-growth-and-development 

Miriam awoke with a start, wondering for a brief, but terrifying moment, if something was wrong. An attack, perhaps, someone creeping up on them while they slept. Fortunately, one quick look around told her that everything was fine. She did, however, notice one thing of: Benedict wasn’t there. He’d been sleeping just a few feet away from her, but he was gone. Frowning, Miriam sat up.

She stood up carefully, doing her best not to wake anyone up, especially not Sophie, who was curled up beside her. The sky was nearly pitch-black, except for the stars twinkling down at them, and the moon in its crescent phase. Miriam knew how late it was, and she wondered just what on earth Benedict was doing up. She blinked a few times, allowing her eyes to slowly get adjusted to the dark, and began to wander away from the rest of the group, looking for him. 

As it turned out, he wasn’t too far off. He was sitting near the edge of the hill, and he barely reacted when Miriam approached and sat down beside him. “Why are you up so late?” she asked him softly.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he answered. He sounded more subdued than usual, and she couldn’t help feeling a bit concerned. 

“Something on your mind?” She scanned his face for any signs of distress, but found nothing.

Benedict shrugged. “Not really, I guess. I just couldn’t fall asleep.” He glanced over at her and gave a little half-grin. “Your hair looks like it’s glowing.”

Miriam snickered and tugged at one of her silver locks. She knew what he was talking about, her hair always stood out against the dark. Before she could joke back, a noise startled her. They both turned, and saw two more of their friends approaching. Anton and Felicity, who both looked as if they’d just woken up. 

“What’s going on?” Anton questioned wearily, glancing between the two of them.

“Nothing, we’re just talking.” Benedict gestured towards the space beside him and invited “Come and join us, if you want.”

Anton sat down next to Benedict, and Felicity sat on Miriam’s other side. They must have looked interesting together, Miriam with her silver hair and Felicity with her vibrant red. Anton made quite the contrast with Benedict as well, dark brown against a light shade of blond. Just another example of just how different their little group was. One thing you had to admit, they all stood out in some way. If one of them was missing, everyone immediately noticed.

“So, what exactly were you guys talking about?” Felicity wanted to know. 

“We didn’t get much of a chance to talk before you guys interrupted,” Benedict informed her with a little smirk. “I was just telling Miriam that I can’t sleep.”

“I guess I couldn’t either,” Anton admitted. “I’d go to sleep, but then I’d wake up an hour later.”

“And I can’t possibly sleep when people keep getting up and wandering around,” Felicity teased. “Still, I guess this is fine. Having a midnight chat with friends.”

With a nod, Anton agreed “There is something peaceful about this.” He turned his face up towards the night sky. “You know, I’ve never quite learned how to find the constellations.”

“Me neither,” Miriam replied. “I just can’t picture how they’re supposed to look.” She squinted up at the stars, then pointed. “But I do think I can see the north star.” 

Felicity looked up where she was pointing and nodded. “I think you’re right. I can see it too.”

“If you can find the north star, then you can see the Big Dipper,” Benedict told Miriam. He lifted up his arm and pointed in the same direction as her, and moved his hand to draw out the constellation. “Do you see it?”

Miriam tried to follow his movements as best she could. “Yeah, I think so.”

“The stars are wonderful to look at, but I always love the nights when you can see one of the planets,” Felicity said. “I can remember when I saw Venus for the first time, it was incredible.”

Anton smiled. “Oh yeah, it’s amazing when you can see the planets. I remember when I saw Venus too. That night went from ordinary to special in just a second.”

“It’s hard to believe, sometimes, that what we see is only scratching the surface of the universe,” Benedict remarked. “Just think about everything out there that we can’t see.”

“I try not to,” Anton told him, shivering a bit. “It makes me feel really small.”

Benedict smiled at that. “Understandable. Sometimes, when I think about my place in the whole universe, I can’t help but feel like nothing but a speck of dust.” The others nodded thoughtfully. “But I guess I just try to remember that my life is here, not out there. So I should make the most out of it, and not worry too much about my own insignificance,” he added.

“Very inspiring of you,” Felicity praised him. “We should have more conversations at midnight if this is how you talk.”

“Maybe so, but just wait until you have to interact with the sleep-deprived version of me, then decide if it’s worth it.” 

They sat up for a while longer, looking at the stars and talking, before slowly making their way back to bed, one by one.

[bylerboyfriends]

Will is dragged by his sister to the concert of a band he doesn't care about but then he see the beautiful singer and wow

“Jane PLEASE don’t make me!”

Will was sitting on his bed, completely dressed and ready to go. He had been fine with the idea of going to the concert with Jane up until she showed him a picture of the band they were seeing. Now he would rather do anything else.

“Will, why?! You were so excited just moments ago!” Jane was at her brother’s door frame, looking adorably punk, if that were a thing. “Moment” was the Hop’s word-of-the-day a week or two ago and it had become her favorite word since. It was sweet.

“You didn’t tell me the lead singer was that cute! And we were going to be that close to them!”

“Dad won them from a radio show, I didn’t get to choose what seats we got! And I’m sure none of the band members will even notice you, you blend in with the crowd!”

Will looked down at his black slacks and tee shirt. He hadn’t tried to look nice, he was just going because he had figured it would be a good time. Now he was having second thoughts.

“Will, come on!” His sister pleaded with him. How was he supposed to turn her down now? Especially for such a profound reason. She was right, anyway. He’ll probably go unnoticed.

—

After showing their tickets to the guard, they shuffled to their seats, which were quite literally right in front of the stage. Not center, at least, rather to the far left. Will’s palms were already sweaty but he’s never seen Jane smile for this long so he tries to enjoy himself. The opening bands are decent, pretty good actually.

The last opener left the stage and it was silent and ominous for several moments. Then every light in the amphitheater went out. Most of the audience screeched in anticipation. The large televisions came on with a big “10” plastered across each screen. Then 9... then 8.... oh gosh. Will’s stomach began churning. Jane grabbed his arm in excitement and smiled up at him, pearly whites showing and bright eyes lighting up the dark space. Will was calmed.

3... 2... 1.

Will was not calm. He had to fight the urge to cover his ears at the sound of screaming bouncing off every wall of the large room. Goosebumps covered his skin as he saw the lead singer run onto the stage with a gleeful expression.

He really didn’t think it could have gotten louder in the room but it did, so Will’s hands impulsively covered his sensitive ears.

He closed his eyes tightly for just a few seconds, exhaled, and looked onto the stage. The band was already setting up to play their first song.

It was a soft ballad.... odd for their first song. He expected a lot of energy but... it was nice. Cute.

The singer, who’s name turns out to be Mike, Will learned, had his eyes closed during the first few lines of the song. There was already a thin layer of sweat covering his face that made him look like he was glistening under the spotlight. Will’s mouth was slightly open while he admired the boy’s chocolate brown curls and seemingly hollowed out cheeks.

His eyes opened and stared directly at Will while singing the next lines:

What a sight for sore eyes

Brighter than a blue sky

Mike continued singing while swiftly smirking at Will before closing his eyes again.

That did not just happen Will thought. His cheeks were so flushed, it felt like he had just ate a lemon. He looked over at Jane to see if she could tell but she was paying attention to the show rather then specifically the singer. Will should try that, maybe then he wouldn’t feel so ridiculous.

—

The rest of the show was pretty normal. The band got more energetic as it went on, they closed with a real “banger” as referred to by Jane.

There were a few more times he could swear Mike and himself had made eye contact, but then again it could definitely just be his imagination. He was probably looking at everyone in the audience, Will’s nothing special.

They walked out of the venue and to the parking lot, they were on their way to Will’s car when Jane grabbed his arm.

“Wh-” Will began to question but then she pointed to a tall figure in a black zipped-up hoodie. He seemed to be walking toward them.

He grabbed the mace he kept on his keychain for situations just like this, “Don’t try anything.”

Will’s stern voice seemed to have startled the thin boy because he stopped in his tracks. “Oh! Oh no uhm...” he pulled off his hood to reveal the same performer they had just seen on stage.

“Sorry, I wasn’t tryi-”

“Holy shit!” Jane exclaimed.

Will was speechless. What. Was. Happening.

“Uhm...” Mike chuckled awkwardly (cutely Will thought) before finishing his previously interrupted sentence, “I wasn’t trying to scare you or anything I just didn’t want to draw attention. I... wanted to come meet you guys. Noticed you in the crowd. Caught my eye.”

“Oh, you don’t have to include me I caught you two eye fucking between every other song. I’ll give you two a moment but you BETTER not leave before signing my CD.”

Jane winked at Will, took the keys from his hand, and walked past a few vehicles before finding theirs and taking a seat in the passenger side.

Will didn’t speak. He couldn’t.

Mike chuckled again, he was very awkward for someone who can jump around widely on stage without a care in the world. “I uh... didn’t mean to eye fuck you, if that’s what happened.”

“No, no it’s fine. Jane just likes to... well she... I’m not exactly sure why she says the things she does sometimes.”

Another chuckle escaped the curly headed boy. “Okay so I’ll just cut to the chase because it’s late and I’m not supposed to be here and I’m sure you need to get home so.... I’m in town for a few more days and you’re insanely cute if my eye fucking didn’t make that completely obvious so I would love to hang out with you if that’s possible? I can give you my number.”

That did not just happen Will thought for the second time that night. The only thing he heard from the ramble was: “you’re insanely cute,” “eye fucking,” and, “my number.”

“Yes.”

The simple answer received a blush and a deep, beautiful smile from the other boy. He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to the boy. Their fingers mingled for a moment. Will unfolded the paper to see 10 digits. This was really happening.

“Shit, I’ve really got to get back to my band. Tell your sister I’ll have all of us sign her CD if you bring it with you. That is, if we do get to hang out. So the pressure’s on you.” The taller boy winked, smiled, and ran past Will after putting the hood back over his head.

Speechless, Will walked to his car and took the driver’s seat.

“What the hell! He was supposed to sign my CD!” Jane was clearly upset, the disc was in one hand and a Sharpie in the other.

“Don’t worry. It’ll get signed.”

*******************************************************

Hey, I hope this is okay. I kinda rushed it because I wanted to get it out for you so it’s not my best but I tried!! Please enjoy :)

The lyrics are from Heather by Canon Gray which is really good!! Go listen!!

I’m going to start working on my other request ASAP so don’t worry!!

[monsterywriting]

Werewolf Boyfriend (Mordecai) - pt 8 (epilogue)

AN: I’m so so sorry I’ve been dead basically this whole month my life has been seriously crazy… it felt like every week was some new problem cropping up. First I had exams then finals and then I had a very sudden death in my family that really just took a lot out of me.

I’ve had half of the ending for Kai done for awhile I had just been slowly but surely chipping away at it.

I’m also taking summer courses starting in June. So, my current plan is to 1) rewrite the chapters I currently already have up for Maledos while also 2) working on new chapters for dear ol’ Mal. Hopefully this gives me some time to get back on schedule and put out some new stories!

So, without further ado, the last chapter for Mordecai. Enjoy-

word count: 2,586

“Nervous?” You asked as you popped into Kai’s bathroom in his parents’ guest house to grab your lotion, Kai buttoning up the fifth shirt he’d tried on in the past hour.

“Terrified,” Kai corrected you as he pressed a quick kiss against your forehead before turning back to the mirror.

You huffed a quiet laugh as you spread lotion on your legs, “Hey, I survived your family’s fancy schmancy luncheon. You can survive one evening with mine.”

“Yeah, but we weren’t dating, then,” Kai pointed out, walking out into his bedroom to grab some shoes from his closet, “and this is both of our families together in one space…”

You smiled with a small eye roll before you walked out of the bathroom after him without answering. You knew the true reason Kai was so nervous was the bit of news the two of you had to break to both your parents.

After a few more minutes of watching your boyfriend scan his wardrobe for the umpteenth time that night, you clapped your hands together to draw Kai’s attention to you, “Well, I’m dressed, are you ready?”

Kai groaned as he turned and threw his arms over your shoulders and went limp on you, muttering about how he couldn’t decide on an outfit. You were barely able to brace your legs and hold the two of you up as Kai’s full weight attempted to take you down.

“Get up,” you grunted as you pushed Kai off of your shoulder by his face, “What you had on earlier was fine.”

Nearly twenty minutes later, you and Kai were finally getting into your car and heading out to the venue where Kai’s parents were holding their 40th anniversary party.

You had yet to see his parents since coming back down to Newport for the summer as they had been spending time with Kai’s oldest brother and his family out of town, so this would be your first time seeing them since spring break.

Kai had eventually decided on a simple off white button up shirt with black fitted slacks and mahogany-colored dress shoes, though it took some threatening that you would leave without him to get him to choose.

By the time the two of you arrived at the venue, cars already filled the parking lot. Amongst the rows of expensive cars, you were able to make out your parents’ old station wagon, Asriel’s beloved Tesla, and even Kay’s new model Toyota.

Parking as close to the entrance as you could with how late the two of you were, you and Kai dashed towards the entrance, hoping no one had noticed your late arrival.

Inside, the venue was packed as people mingled with each other, and the two of you fortunately went unnoticed as you made your way through the crowds, Kai’s hand finding yours so the two of you wouldn’t be separated.

You caught the eye of Kai’s parents first, waving as best you could to catch their attention without drawing the attention of others to you.

Denise beamed as she practically dragged Isaiah over to the two of you, engulfing you into a tight hug that caught you entirely by surprise.

“It’s so good to see you again,” Denise practically beamed as she let you go before giving Kai a glare and whispering loudly to you. “Kai never used to call home until the two of you started dating. I probably wouldn’t even know what he looked like right now if it wasn’t for you.”

You only smiled and ducked your head awkwardly as you insisted you hadn’t done anything in particular.

You tended to call your family fairly often, always video calling someone every evening, from your parents to your aunts or any one of your cousins. Not even getting into your family’s very crowded group chat.

You had hardly noticed Kai falling into the same routine until his occasional texts to his parents became calls even longer than your own.

Denise had been shocked to know Kai shifted around you at first, but soon she warmed to the idea of you being comfortable with Kai being a shifter.

“Don’t bother, she’s been bragging to everyone who listens her son has the best girlfriend,” Kai’s father interjected, a playful smile on his lips as Denise scoffed and slapped his arm half-heartedly.

You chuckled at the interaction as Kai groaned, though you missed his comment as you saw your parents making their way towards the group.

You squeezed Kai’s hand reassuringly as he stiffened next to you before letting go to embrace your parents.

Whatever introduction Kai had planned flew out the window as your mother pulled Kai into a hug just as tight as the one Denise had given you earlier, and he still looked dazed as your father hugged him in greeting as well.

Laughing at Kai’s startled expression as he took your hand once again, you thought back to your own first meeting with Kai’s parents.

Denise had awkwardly shook your hand and quickly moved on. And you don’t even think his father even said anything to you at the time, though you learned the man was just painfully shy. Even more so than Kai.

After quick introductions and the usual small talk about school, you and Kai quietly snuck away from your bonding parents to an empty table to sit, Kai leaving you to grab some drinks. The two of you had long decided to wait until the end of the night for your announcement, but you knew this wait was what was driving Kai insane.

After a few minutes of scrolling through your phone to pass the time and Kai still hadn’t returned, you sat up and started to look around.

You caught his eyes near the bar, surrounded by a couple of guys that appeared to be around the same age who you figured were his old friends from the east side. They were all in line for the bar, which was much longer than you’d expected.

You sat back into your chair, ready to go back onto your phone when an all too familiar voice sounded in your ear.

“Hey, stranger,” Kailani greeted you, pulling out a chair and sitting next to you, “How’s being back?”

“It’s been really nice,” you answered honestly, “Kai’s been showing me around the east side. I never realized it’s like a miniature city within a city.”

Kay chuckled at your obvious awe, nodding in agreement with your observation, “Yeah, I guess we’re more used to it after growing up there.”

Suddenly, Kay frowned, the bridge of her nose wrinkling as her eyebrows furrowed, and began to look around, “By the way, where is my brother?”

“I think he abandoned me,” you joked as you pointed to where Kai was currently talking to the same group of men he had been with earlier, now much closer to the bar than he had been when you last looked.

“He hasn’t learned by now to bring his own drinks to family events?” Kay scoffed as she pulled a water bottle from her bag and took a large swig, “i have a couple more so just tell me if you want one.”

You laughed, partly in bewilderment, with Kay. The two of you had gotten closer since you and Kai first announced that you were dating. Apparently, she’d been rooting for the two of you to get together since spring break, hence her sudden invitation for you to go camping with them. And as you got to know her better, you learned that while Kay may initially come across as somewhat pretentious, she was actually very caring and sweet.

As the two of you began talking, Kay told you some of the more embarrassing episodes in her and Kai’s lives.

“They really thought you two were rabid Pomeranians?” Breathless giggles escaped you as you gasped for air at Kay’s retelling of the time she and Kai chased some teenage trespassers in one of the many parks in the east side on a dare as kids.

“Oh yeah,” Kay said, “We were in so much trouble once the news came out and they figured out it was us. Our mom was beyond livid, and dad just found it absolutely hilarious. And Kai always hated being the center of attention, so us getting caught was literally his worst nightmare.”

“I still can’t believe you convinced Kai to go after them, though,” you wiped a tear from underneath your eye as your laughter died down.

“Yeah, I ask myself that every day,” Kai grumbled as he pulled out the empty chair on your other side, setting down your favorite drink in front of you and an empty cup next to himself.

“Kai always was the follower growing up,” Kay mused, easily dodging Kai’s hand swatting at her from over you.

“I was coerced against my will,” Kai exclaimed, draping his arm over your shoulder and giving you puppy eyes as Kay stuck her tongue out at him.

It was then you noticed one of the young men from the bar earlier come up to the table and sit across from you in front of Kai. Soon, the rest of the group were all seated at the table around you.

“These are my friends,” Kai explained as you introduced yourself to each person as they arrived, “we all grew up together in the same neighborhood.”

You struggled to remember everyone’s name so quickly, but after a few minutes of repeating everybody’s name to yourself, you were almost certain you had it down packed. Kay also seemed to be close to everyone, which you figured was pretty obvious since she and Kai were pretty close in age.

The rest of the evening was spent with Kai’s friends and Kay, and you were eventually joined by Asriel, with most of the conversation comprised of stories about about all of them growing up together, and you learned most of the memorable stories were pretty embarrassing for Kai.

“It always took weeks before Kai would even be able to talk to any teacher,” one quipped, “Even in high school he wouldn’t talk that much to anyone else.”

“Or what about that time he fainted during that one presentation?” Another recounted.

“Ugh, don’t remind me!” Kay frowned as she turned to you, “Kai got picked up early but my dad left me there. When I got home Kai was just lounging in the den watching TV in his underwear with the whole house to himself.”

“You all are the worst and I hate you all,” Kai growled, but you saw the corners of his lips twitch as he struggled to hold in his laugh.

As the time went on, everyone slowly began to leave. Soon, you, Kai, Kay, and Asriel were the only ones left at the table.

The hall was similarly empty, only a few dozen compared to the couple hundred earlier. After splitting up, Kai found his parents and you caught yours just as they were leaving.

Once the six of you met up again in a quiet corner away from most of the other guests, you took a long sip from your water bottle Kay had given you as you planned out what you were gonna say.

“Did you want something else to drink?” Denise asked you, “it’s an open bar… you don’t have to drink water.”

“Oh, no thank you, I’m driving tonight,” you answered politely before swiftly changing the subject, “Actually, Kai and I had some good news to share…”

You looked up at Kai, who looked down at you in surprise as you deflected to him before he finally started speaking.

“Oh, uhm. Well I- we- uh… were- well, we’ve been together for- ahem- but-” Kai fumbled over his words as he stared at your parents, which you definitely weren’t expecting. Nor were you expecting the words that came out of Denise’s mouth as she interjected.

“Oh, christ, you’re pregnant!” She exclaimed, her voice cracking as she sounded on the verge of tears.

You didn’t know if you wanted to laugh or cry as Isaiah looked at Kai with a textbook expression of fatherly disappointment and your parents’ jaws dropped as they both went through every stage of grief. Glancing around, you saw some people had definitely heard Denise’s outburst and were staring.

“I’m absolutely not pregnant!” You raised your voice above Denise’s moaning about how she wasn’t expecting and your father’s yelling, patting Kai on the back as he started choking at his mother’s startling conclusion, “we’re moving in together!”

All noise seemed to stop at once as the information sunk in. Their relief was soon overtaken by concern as everyone began raising their objections to the two of you living together so soon.

“Both of our leases are ending and [Y/N]’s roommate graduated this semester,” Kai finally recovered enough to speak, “So last month we were looking at apartments and found one for both of us. The lease is already signed and everything.”

“It would be better to split the expenses,” you added, “and it’s much better than most apartments out there.”

One by one, each of your parents gave in the more you and Kai explained your decision, though the fact that the lease was already signed and would be expensive to break was the main driving force in their reluctant acceptance.

By the time you and Kai made it back to the guest house, you both were beyond exhausted.

You showered almost as soon as you arrived, only throwing on one of Kai’s clean shirts as you didn’t feel like digging through your luggage for pajamas. The shirt almost reached your knees anyways, though.

When you opened the bathroom door, only the light from the bathroom illuminated the bedroom, and you saw Kai sprawled across the bed. The only sign he was still awake was his left ear twitching as he heard you walk up to him.

You flopped on the mattress next to him, careful not to undo the towel wrapping your head and resting your cheek on Kai’s bicep.

You squeaked when Kai suddenly grabbed on to you and pulled you on top of him, planting sloppy kisses all over your face.

Kai was always cuddlier whenever he was half asleep, but it was rare for him to be so touchy-feely before bed. You soon had to bite back moans as Kai moved his ministrations down, nibbling just at the base of your neck.

“I thought you were tired?” You giggled as Kai’s cold nose tickled you, a barely audible hum from Kai your only response.

“ ‘M up for now,” Kai said, his voice still obviously raspy with sleep.

Soon, Kai finally found a comfortable spot in the crook of your neck and relaxed into you, a contented sigh escaping him. You chuckled to yourself at your boyfriend’s antics. Kai was always so cuddly whenever he was drowsy, and you usually woke up in a tangle of limbs whenever you slept over.

“I love you,” Kai murmured, his breath evening out as he finally fell asleep.

Your smile broadened into an outright grin as you knew Kai meant it, tired or not. You whispered the words back and laid your head back, your mind filling with thoughts of your future and a warmth spreading in your chest. Your own exhaustion dissipated and you decided to simply enjoy your present time with Mordecai, unsure when sleep finally did overtake you.

[fernwehbookworm]

Woke The F*ck Up- Chapter 29

August 15th, 2018

Three concerts down in her current world tour and Lena is crashing down from the high of it fast as she paces the new hotel room. Lena had released an album so shortly after her last that when it was announced that she was stepping back from music for a while, every venue sold out within the hour of tickets going up for sale. Right now though, she’s half-dressed in a new blue suit. The black pumps are waiting by the couch, and the jacket hangs by the door. She hates that she had to fly back to National City for this, but she has to see this through. Lena turns on her heel and paces the other direction while rehearsing in her head what she has to say.

“Lee,” Kara says softly from the couch.

Lena startles, forgetting her girlfriend is there. She turns to face Kara who has been watching her spiral into a near panic, pulling her out just in time. Lena smiles softly at her savior and goes to sit next to Kara. Kara immediately grabs both her hands, warm on Lena’s cold, nervous ones.

“Babe, you are going to be fine. I know it will be hard, but you can do this. We are all with you.”

“I know. I know. I got through Lex’s trial. I can get through Lillian’s. It’s just so personal this time. She kidnapped me, hospitalized you. It’s so much more emotional this time.”

“And you are even stronger.” Kara presses her forehead to Lena’s, and Lena closes her eyes and just absorbs Kara’s supportive presence.

A soft knock at the door and Lena’s assistant, Eve, calls that the car is waiting for them. Kara calls back that they will be right there, but she continues to sit with Lena for a few moments more. It’s going to be a long day. With a deep breath, Lena stands and Kara quickly follows. Kara holds Lena’s hand as she slips on her shoes and helps Lena into her blazer.

**

“In your own words, can you explain how you saw the events of the past year and a half?” the prosecutor asks Lena.

Lena’s pointer finger digs into the side of her thumbnail as she tries hard not to fidget. She has been briefed on this part and has practiced it over and over to try and be as calm and unbiased as possible.

She takes a deep breath. “It is no secret that I was estranged from my family. I took a path that was seen as unacceptable. My father did, however, leave money and a small percentage of the LuthorCorp stock in a trust fund before he committed his crimes that lead to his death. Before my brother was arrested, he legally transferred his shares to me as well. That left me with the majority and appointed me as the CEO of LexCorp, which my brother had changed the name to. I, however, have never had an interest in the corporate world. But as the new CEO, I had a very specific life insurance policy that essentially paid out large amounts of money to any kidnappers for my safe return.”

“And the defendant was aware of this policy?”

“I am sure she was. My father and brother had the same policy.”

“Did the defendant try to contact you before the alleged kidnapping?”

Lena tightens her hand into a fist at the word. There was nothing ‘alleged’ about it. “Yes. Several times. But after my brother’s arrest, I wanted nothing to do with my family. I already had an acting CEO managing the company as I decided what to do. My mother called and left messages that I ignored. She had made offhand comments about immigrants and the state of America before. I believe it alienated me even more. She was also not happy with my sexuality and people who were like me."

Jane Ramos paces in front of Lena as she pauses for the next question.

"How sure are you it was Lillian Luthor that kidnapped you?"

"One hundred percent. She was in my rental car when I was leaving National City Airport. She sprayed this aerosol spray in my face, and the next thing I knew I was waking up blindfolded and tied to a chair. She then proceeded to lay out her plan that either she would get the money from my insurance policy or would get to kill Power Girl when she came to save me. Or both. She was really hoping to Kill Power Girl and get the money. Cadmus had run out of funds since my brother's arrest."

"But you never saw her face after losing consciousness?"

"No. But that voice. I would recognize it anywhere. It has haunted me all my life."

"Why was your captor so sure the Power Girl would save you?" Jane asks.

"Power Girl was on a mission to end Cadmus. I'm sure she had made the connections. I'm also sure it could have been anyone that Cadmus took, and she would have been there."

"So Power Girl obviously rescued you. How?"

Lena knew this was coming. But she couldn't exactly put on record a secret government agency was working with the vigilante, who she was dating and whose sister was in that agency.

"I don't know. I was blindfolded the entire time. I remember hearing explosions and gunfire. A lot of shouting. Then something was tied around my waist, and I was hoisted upwards. Suddenly, I was on the roof with Guardian, and he was telling me to stay put while he went down and helped Power Girl get out. She took me on this zip line then and drove me to the police station. That was the last time I saw my mother before today."

Lena glances at the woman then. Lillian sits at the table next to her lawyer as stoney-faced as ever. She is careful not to show any emotion, but Lena almost cowls under the heat of fury in Lillian’s eyes. The lost little girl still trapped deep inside Lena wants to run away. Lena takes a deep breath.

“My mother is a very greedy person. She married for money and not love. She seized power wherever she could. Through connections or money or blackmail. The price of that greed has cost her more than she could ever imagine. Her husband is dead, her son is jailed, and her daughter never wants to see her again. In the end, she was the poison that tore our family apart and drove me away. I just hope our justice system doesn’t fail because my mother should not be a free woman.”

Murmuring ripples through the crowd in the courtroom following Lena’s statement, but Lillian does not make the same mistakes her son did. She stays quiet and allows her lawyer to cross-examine Lena. He tries to make it seem that since Lena never saw Lillian after losing consciousness that it could possibly have not have been Lillian afterall. After about twenty more minutes of questions, Lena is released from the stand and back to her waiting girlfriend and friends. Sam and Ruby sit in the row behind with Alex as Lena squeezes between Kara and Jess. Winn sits in the third row with Eve.

The rest of the day drags on as more witnesses are called and questions are asked. Jane warned Lena that this trial could go on for several days due to the sheer mass of crimes and how money was funneled in and out of the country. Honestly, Lena has planned to just come for this first day and then for the sentencing day. Kara squeezes Lena’s hand every once and awhile. After the lunch recess, the Arias women and Alex don’t return to the courtroom because of an increasingly bored eleven-year-old. Ruby has grown fidgety and her phone is no longer entertaining. Lena can’t blame the girl. She is going a little stir crazy also. Eventually, the judge calls a recess until the next day. It is so much like Lex’s trial but all so different. Cameras still camp out front, but this time, Lena leaves with Kara instead of Kara disappearing ahead of time. Jess, Eve, and Winn trail behind them. It touches Lena that she has more than Kara for her support. She actually has a support system with multiple friends. With a family that chooses her for everything she is.

In the end, Lillian is also sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison, and Lena feels like a giant weight has been lifted off her chest. She returns to her tour feeling lighter and happier, going along even better with the brighter sound of her new album.

**

September 1st, 2018

“What do you mean you have to go? This was your night off! We haven't had any time together in weeks. Ruby starts back to school Monday, and who knows when we will be free again?” Sam stands in the living room on the opposite side of the couch from Alex as she slips on her jacket and pulls her gun from the wall safe behind a picture of Sam and Ruby. Alex had installed it when she started spending more and more time at their house.

“I’m sorry. But this is a high value target that they are bringing in. He’s been at the top of our list for awhile, and the task force finally nailed him.”

“But why do you have to be there? The whole point of this was so you would have more regular hours. All they are going to do is throw the man in a cell and fill out paperwork.”

“Because it’s my team! How can I expect them to look to me if I don’t show up?” Alex slides her gun to its holster with a bit more force than necessary. Alex reaches for the door knob and pauses. “I’ll be back in two hours. We can talk then.”

“Don’t fucking bother! Stay at work. It’s obviously more important.”

Alex tenses, ready to bite back with something that she knows she would regret. Instead, she bites the inside of her cheek and twists the door knob. Alex heads off into the night fuming and leaves her girlfriend near tears in the living room.

It only takes Alex about fifteen minutes to realize how big of a mistake she made. Another twenty minutes to get to the closest store that sells flowers and buy the biggest bouquet possible. Alex is back on Sam’s doorstep before the hour is over. She has called and let the Agent in charge of third shift know that she isn’t going to be in.

Sam answers the door, wrapped in a blanket and red eyed. “What?” she snaps.

“I was wrong. And an absolute idiot. You were right. I don’t have to be there for everything. I have to learn how to balance work and personal things. But you were wrong, work is not more important. You are. And Ruby. I’m sorry I lost sight of that.”

Sam stares at her, long and hard. She looks from Alex, to the flowers, and back up. Sam considers Alex’s words. “You are an idiot. But You are my idiot, and I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Yes, you big idiot”

“I love you too. Does this mean we are done fighting?”

“Take me to bed, Director Danvers.”

“Oh, gladly.”

**

December 20th, 2018

Lena’s bag feels heavy on her shoulder as she gets off the plane. A whole nine days off, but she is scared out of her mind because she’s spending them in Midville. To meet Kara’s mother. Lena takes a deep breath and walks through the airport to find her beautiful girlfriend. This is going to be a long break.

“Lee!” Kara’s voice rings out among the din of the busy airport.

Lena turns in a circle until she spots Kara. Kara hurries to her and sweeps her up in a tight hug before kissing Lena deeply. It’s been three weeks since they had last seen each other. Lena takes a deep breath of Kara because she’s missed her so much.

“It's not too late. We can get on the next flight out of here and run away.”

“Don’t tempt me. No, I should actually meet your mother. Even if she probably hates me.” Lena pulls away and fits her fingers between Kara’s to walk towards the exit. It’s a small airport about an hour from Midvale and amazingly peaceful with no cameras in sight. Kara walks Lena to the car she’s borrowed from Eliza.

“Eliza doesn't hate you. She’s really glad you are coming.”

“Glad to tell me off for breaking her daughter’s heart?” Lena slouches in her seat and crosses her arms.

“No, Lee. She’s glad to meet the woman that makes her daughter happy.”

“You’re probably right. Still, I’m worried.”

“Come on, time to cheer you up with some tunes. Alex and the Arias women will be here in three days. I need you in the Christmas spirit by then.” “Aren’t you Jewish?”

“Yeah, but the Danvers’ aren’t, so I was introduced to the joys of it. I still follow some of the bigger traditions like lighting the menorah and making latkes. Even though I don’t really follow it for the rest of the year, it’s a way to connect to my parents over the holidays. But it’s already over this year. It was at the beginning of December.”

Lena reaches over and takes one of Kara’s hands. “That’s very sweet.”

Kara glances at her with a small smile before looking back to the road, after a moment she says, “I have a whole Christmas movie lineup that starts tonight. Be ready.”

“For you, I’ll do anything.” Lena kisses the back of Kara’s hand and settles back into the seat for the rest of the ride while Kara sings to the radio.

It’s a beautiful landscape that leads to the seaside home, and Lena squeezes Kara’s hand tighter as they get closer. By the time Kara can shake her hand free from Lena’s grip to put the car in park, she can feel the blood rush back into her fingers as a thousand pricking needles. Kara unbuckles and turns to face her girlfriend. Lena bites her lip nervously and stares at the door.

“Just be yourself.”

“Myself is the problem.”

“Was. But now, we have been through a lot and are different people than we were.”

Lena takes a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

Kara grins and kisses Lena’s cheek before popping the trunk to get her bags. Lena opens the door and gets out. She takes a deep breath of the salty, fresh air and instantly starts to feel better. It definitely feels like a place to raise kids and call home. It feels safe. The door opens, and a blonde woman appears with a smile.

“I thought I heard a car door. Glad you made it back, Kara. Lena, it's nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Danvers.” Lena holds out a hand as she closes the door.

Eliza pushes it to the side and wraps Lena up in a hug. “Oh, please. Call me Eliza.”

Lena hesitates before wrapping her arms around the woman. She squeezes her eyes shut and let’s Kara’s mom hug her in a way that she hasn’t felt in a long time. Lena is fighting tears by the time Eliza releases her, but she doesn't say a word about Lena’s shining eyes. Eliza just cups Lena’s cheek briefly before turning to her daughter.

“All right, Kara, take those up to your room. I put the air mattress in there. Alex and Sam will be in the guest room, and I have the pull out in the den ready for Ruby”

Kara blushes scarlet. “Eliza—”

“Kara, I’m old. Not senial. Nor do I have any delusions about my daughters. I was your age once. At least I don’t have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy.” Eliza laughs and heads inside.

“See, she loves you already.” Kara says from behind Lena as they watch after the woman.

“Fine. You were right. But I’m still waiting for some sort of talk.”

Kara sighs and leads Lena inside.

**

Lena watches quietly from the doorway as Kara sifts through boxes of ornaments to decorate the tree Eliza has already purchased. Kara had been incredulous when she found out Lena had never decorated a tree before. The Luthor's home was always professionally done, and she didn't celebrate Christmas on her own. She never felt the need to. Kara has insisted that Lena help while they put on Christmas music and drink hot chocolate.

"Lena, dear. Would you mind carrying that tray for me."

Lena moves back into the kitchen to take the tray Eliza gestured too. It is laden with chocolate chips, marshmallows, marshmallow whip, candycanes, and whipped cream. "What is all this for?"

"The hot chocolate, of course. Kara loves adding so many things to hers that it becomes a meal."

Lena laughs because that is so much like Kara. She glances back through the doorway to the woman in question when a warm hand covers hers on the countertop.

"Listen, Kara didn't tell me everything that happened between you two. But she did say you both made mistakes. Whatever those were, I'm glad you two are working things out. She's happier than I've ever seen her. All she's talked about for the past two days is you," Eliza says softly, clearly not wanting to alert Kara to their conversation.

Lena takes a deep breath and smiles back at the older woman. "I'm glad too. Even if we had never worked things out,  Kara made me a better person. Made me want to be one. She showed me that I deserved love. And I would never have stopped loving her for that."

Eliza squeezes Lena's hand as Kara shouts for them to hurry up, and Jingle Bell Rock starts playing from the speakers. It isn't the harsh talking to she’s been expecting from the mother of the girl's whose heart she broke. It’s… nice. Lena isn't sure what to do with that or the warmth she still feels on her hand even though Eliza has left the room with the tray containing the cups of hot cocoa.

The evening blurs into a flurry of sparkling lights and shiny tinsel and holiday music. By the time they finish, Eliza pops some popcorn on the stovetop and Kara has picked out a holiday movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Kara insists Lena has to watch all the classic claymation movies. Kara and Lena cuddle together on the couch while Eliza takes a comfy recliner. She disappears about halfway through, and Lena is thankful for her giving the two of them some alone time. Lena burrows deeper into Kara’s side, and Kara tightens her grip on Lena’s thigh, basically in between Lena’s legs. Kara just chuckles at something in the movie and reaches for another handful of popcorn. Lena watches Kara watch the television in the soft glow of multicolored lights.

Lena could write a whole album about this woman. Well, she technically already did, but Lena could write another one. And another one. She could write a thousand more and still not feel like she’s captured the beauty of this moment. Lena admits defeat and decides instead to just rest her head on Kara’s shoulder. Soon Lena drifts off to sleep. She eventually is vaguely aware of Kara helping her to her feet and pulling her upstairs.

**

December 23rd, 2018

The kitchen is covered in about a dozen different types of cookies and holiday sweets. Lena sprinkles more powdered sugar on the marble slab to roll out the sugar cookie dough while Kara selects another shape to cut out. A finger darts out in front of Lena and swipes up some sugar.

“Hey!” Lena exclaims as she turns to face the culprit.

Kara wipes the sugar on Lena’s nose with a laugh. “You’ve got a little something right there.”

“Huh, wonder how that happened.” Lena reaches for a hand towel to wipe it off when Kara’s hand stops hers.

“No worries, I’ll get it,” Kara says as she leans in and kisses Lena’s nose.

Lena scrunches her nose up with a smile. “Did I get any anywhere else?”

“Hmm… Yup. There is some right here,” Kara kisses one cheek. “And right here,” she kisses Lena’s other cheek. “And… right… here.” Kara kisses Lena’s lips.

Lena deepens the kiss and pulls Kara closer. Kara’s hands cup Lena’s cheeks while Lena’s hands cup Kara’s ass. Kara’s tongue darts out between her lips to brush against Lena’s and Kara chuckles. Lena smiles back and gives a couple more soft pecks.

“I know you’re sweet usually, but the sugar is just an added bonus to kissing you.” Kara teases.

“Oh, come on!”

The exclamation breaks them apart. Kara looks over her shoulder to see Alex and Sam laden with baggage and standing in the doorway. Sam turns and laughs into Alex’s neck as Alex fumes and blocks Ruby’s view of the kitchen shenanigans. Lena lets go of Kara and goes to hug Sam and Ruby. Kara hangs her head before turning to her sister. Alex is holding back laughter by the time Kara gets to her.

“What’s so funny?”

“You have sugar handprints on your ass,” Alex tries to say low enough that Ruby can’t hear.

Lena does cover Ruby’s ears. “That’s because she has a sweet ass.”

“Not in front of my daughter,” Sam exclaims.

“Relax, I covered her ears.”

“Not well.” Ruby laughs.

Sam shoots Lena a glare, and Lena just laughs and kisses the top of Ruby’s head. It’s getting harder and harder to do with each passing week as the girl becomes just as willowy as her mother.

“I heard voices, are the girls here?” Eliza calls from the den that doubles as her office.

“Yeah, Mom!” Alex calls.

Eliza emerges from the other room and hugs her daughter before being introduced to her girlfriend and girlfriend’s daughter. Eliza shows Ruby where the den is while Alex and Sam take their bags up stairs.

“Well, that was embarrassing.”

“Please, no worse than when you were fucking me on the pool table. Or when I walked in on them topless in the living room.”

“You what?”

“Oh, yeah. They planned a date night, sent Ruby to a sleepover, but forgot to tell me. I had spent thirty-six hours in the studio and went home to shower and sleep. Unfortunately, it was after dinner and wine but luckily before the pants had come off.”

Kara laughs and goes back to cutting out cookies. “At east for us we were in my apartment behind a locked door.”

“Very true. Come on, let’s get these cookies in the oven so that we can all decorate.”

**

December 24th, 2018

Christmas Eve brought about a party in the Midvale town square. Lights were strung up and local lenders had booths. A mix of barrel drums and outdoor electric heaters kept the temperature bearable for folks to laugh and play carnival games. Hot drinks flow freely with shots of alcohol available for purchase for the adults. Lena questions the fact that no one seemed to be ID’ing anyone, but Kara just explains that the town was so small that if you’re underage and wanted alcohol, you have to go at least two towns away to use a fake.

Ruby excitedly jumps from game to game, flitting back once in awhile to get cash from her mother for food or to introduce a new friend. Eliza is busy running a booth so it leaves the four women on a double date, sitting at a picnic table sharing stories and snacks.

“Yup, and then she left me with this poor clingy girl who just wanted to dance with her favorite star.” Sam laughs.

“Okay, but she was insane. You left out the part that she followed us to three different clubs, jumped a VIP rope, was tackled and thrown out of the first, dumped a drink on another girl for asking for my autograph, and told me she would lick my feet. That girl was off her rocker.”

“And you climbed out a bathroom window and only texted me twenty mintes later once you were safely home.”

Alex and Kara laugh at Sam’s eye roll as they continue to exchange story about one another. They also take turns getting drinks to warm themselves, alcohol spreading through their bloodstreams. Eventually, Alex and Sam drift off to join the festivities, and Kara sits sideways to wrap her arms around Lena.

“Hey,” Kara whispers close to Lena’s ear.

“Yeah?”

“So since we are all here…”

“Yes…”

“That means no one is at the house.”

“I like where this is going…”

“Have you ever done it on an air mattress?”

“I’ll try anything once. Come on.” Lena excitedly grabs Kara’s hand and pulls her to her feet.

They try not to run back to the house, but Lena is way too excited. It’s been weeks since she and Kara had been intimate. With Eliza just down the hall, Lena hasn’t been willing to risk it. They manage to make it all the way to Kara’s room before removing clothing and tumbling onto the air mattress wedged between the twin beds. The alcohol makes everything blurry and warm, and before Lena knows it, she is riding three of Kara’s fingers as Kara lays under her. The orgasm that takes her is slow and sure, but then a wave hits her and Lena sits down hard and chokes back a moan. Lena faintly registers a soft pop and a hiss.

“Oh, shit.”

“What?” Lena asks lazily.

“Ah… I think we popped the mattress.”

Lena realizes then that Kara’s hips are sinking as Kara’s head gets closer to Lena’s. Lena rolls off of Kara with a laugh, and the hiss seems to get louder as she lays down beside Kara on a rapidly deflating bed. Kara starts laughing with Lena, and they stop suddenly when they hear the front door and muffled voices from downstairs.

“Come on, we can sleep on the twin beds.” Kara whispers.

“Beds?” Lena whispers back.

“Or we can squeeze onto mine.”

“That sounds better. Plus then I can fuck you in your childhood bed.”

“Later, babe. We have a full house again.”

Lena pouts while Kara struggles to get out of the bed and throw Lena a shirt and shorts. It takes a few minutes, but they finally settle in the narrow bed with Kara spooning Lena tightly. Kara glances at the digital alarm clock that used to wake her up every morning. 12:01.

"Merry Christmas, Lee."

"Merry Christmas, Kar."

**

December 25th, 2018

Kara is woken by a ball of cloth thrown in her face. “What the— Alex!”

“You two snuck off last night. Here’s your pajamas.” Alex stands in front of the bed with her Arms crossed. “And now I know why. How did the mattress get deflated?” Alex raises an eyebrow, pointedly.

“Oh, sweet. Eliza went with elf pajamas this year. Did she get Ms. Claus for herself?” Kara accuses her sister’s accusatory looks.

Alex rolls her eyes. “Just be glad that I came up and not Mom. Be downstairs in five, or we are starting without you.” She turns on her heel a little dramatically and exits.

“I’m sorry, what did I miss here?” Lena wipes the sleep from her eyes and Kara kisses her lips before climbing out of bed over top of her girlfriend.

Kara strips off her sleeping shirt and pulls on a long sleeve button-up that looks very elf like. “Every year, Eliza and Jerimiah would give us pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. Eliza still keeps up the tradition. I just assumed she wasn’t doing this year with all and the Arias’.” Kara pulls up the long pants that are red and green to match the shirt. “Here, there is a pair for you too. I wondered why she asked for your clothes size.”

Lena sits up much slower, glancing at the clock which reveals that it is still before eight. Lena wipes at her eyes again before standing and taking the clothing from her much too peppy girlfriend.

“You are lucky I love you,” Lena grumbles as she begins to pull off her shirt and put on the Christmas colored clothing.

“I count my blessings every day.”

“You are too cheesy sometimes.”

“You want me to stop?”

“Never.”

They make it downstairs before the five minute deadline and settle onto the couch with hot cocoa, despite Alex’s glare and Sam’s suppressed laughter. True to Kara’s word, all the women are wearing elf pajamas, and Eliza is wearing a set in red with a white apron printed on the front, very Mrs. Claus. Eliza hands Ruby her first present, despite Sam’s protests that it isn’t necessary, and then Ruby takes turns handing out gifts from youngest to oldest.

Colorful wrapping paper soon litters the floor as gift after gift is opened. Most are from Eliza to Ruby. The other women brought gifts for each other too, adding to the paper carnage.

“Alright, my turn.” Lena says and gets up. Instead of grabbing one from under the tree, Lena goes to the front door. “What are you doing babe?” Kara asks.

“I was warned you are a notorious present peeker.” Lena says, as if that explains everything.

“Am Not!”

“Are too!” Alex yells back.

“Am Not!”

“Are too!”

“Not!”

“Too!”

“Not!”

“Not!” Alex repeats.

“Too!” Kara exclaims, before groaning and slapping a hand to her forehead.

“Hah!” Alex sticks out her tongue at her sister.

“If we are done, your present should be here right about…” a knocking on the door, “Now.” Lena opens it to a warmly dressed personal currier with a large box. She balances it awkwardly as it seems to shift, and Lena pulls out a wad cash to generously tip the man working on Christmas. Lena walks awkwardly back towards the couch and carefully sets it down.

“What—” Kara begins to ask as the box shifts. Kara notices the holes in the said of the gift wrapped box and looks at Lena excitedly.

“Go on. Open it,” Lena urges.

Kara rips into the paper and hurriedly unfolds the top. A soft excited yip accompanies a shaking of the large box. Kara squeals and reaches inside, pulling out a white, wiggling, little fur ball. Everyone gasps and begins cooing about how pretty he is. Kara turns him to face the room revealing the black patch of fur stretching over one brown eye. The other was a bright blue that matched his new owner’s.

“What’s his name?” Kara asks.

“Hold on, I have the paperwork in my purse.” Lena grabs the envelope and hands it over the Kara who tries to open it and hold on to the squirming fluff ball at the same time.

When she manages to get the papers out, Kara scans them quickly. “It says Krypto.”

“Actually I think it’s supposed to be Klepto. The shelter said he kept stealing all the toys and treats and hiding them under his bed. It was an issue in the home his litter was born in, and because of his splotch no one wanted to buy him. So the shelter named him Klepto.”

Kara gasps and covers the puppies ears. “How could they do such a thing to such a beautiful creature.”

“Well, people buying purebred American White Shepherds usually do it for a show dog. The discolored fur wouldn’t look good. It’s technically a genetic mutation.”

“What a terrible thing. But don’t worry, you will be loved. And no more of this Klepto business. It’s Krypto now. Like the dog in the comics.”

“Whatever you want, babe. He’s yours now.”

Kara squeals again and lets the dog lick her face. Lena just watches her girlfriend for a few minutes before Ruby whispers in her ear. Kara gasps and hands Ruby the puppy as she sprints towards the back of the house.

“Where is she going?” Lena asks.

“To get your present.” Ruby says matter of factly.

“What do you mean? She already gave me the leather bound notebook and fountain pen.”

“You’ll see.” Ruby returns to playing with the puppy.

“Merry Christmas, Lee. I guess great minds think alike.” Kara arrives in the room room holding her own fur ball, this time black. Two little ears peek up above the Christmas bow tied to its neck. The kitten turns to the room and opens it’s green eyes, the pitch black fur only interrupted by a white streak over one eye. “One of the women in town had a litter and was going to give them all to the shelter if no one would take them, and you said you needed at least one cat.”

It’s Lena’s turn to get excited and she hops up to take the kitten. “What’s its name?” Lena lifts the cat above her head to check it’s rear end.

“I was Thinking Harry, like Harry Potter. You know, because of the ‘scar’ above his eye.”

“Hate to break it to you, but this little guy is a girl.” Lena cuddles the kitten back to her chest after being sure.

“Harriet Potter?” Kara tries again.

“Ah, no.” Lena sits back on the couch and scratches behind the kittens ears to begin the purring.

“I’ve been calling her Streaky.” Ruby chimes in, while trying to contain the squirming pup.

“You have?” Sam asks.

“Yeah, they kept her in the den with me, and Eliza made me promise not to tell. I had to call her something. She has a white streak on her head. Plus, she’s very fast, and ‘blur’ didn’t have the same ring to it.”

“She’s really that fast?” Kara asks and takes the puppy from Ruby to try and let the puppy sniff the kitten.

The kitten stiffens in Lena’s arms as the sniffing nose gets closer. Then, before Lena can blink, the kitten is gone from her arms, and Krypto is scrambling to chase her. Lena and Kara look at each other before scrambling after the animals, Kara basically vaulting over the coffee table. Laughter erupts behind the couple as they chase the animals into the hallway and then into the kitchen. Lena worries about the chemistry of the two and hopes this won’t end poorly.

By the time they get to the kitchen, Krypto is pinned on his back while Streaky bite s playfully at his ear. Krypto’s growl is less than impressive as he tries to escape while also trying to bite Streaky’s tail.

“Look, they are friends already.” Kara grins.

“And adorable. Look at them, complete opposites. Black and white, dog and cat. He and she. Yin and Yang. So adorable.” Lena tries to catch her breath while still laughing. They leave the animals to continue their play.

Back in the living room, clean up is happening before they finish cooking brunch together. Ruby has disappeared to set up her new Nintendo Switch in the den. Kara puts A Christmas Story on the television in the living room. It’s an all day marathon, Lena has learned, and Kara intends to watch it at least twice.

Lena just goes along with all the Danvers family traditions, including making these fried dough things rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Kara informs Lena that they dubbed them Elephant balls as Lena takes a big bite. Lena almost chokes as a laugh escapes.

“They are what?”

“Well, they taste like the elephant ears you get at the fair. But in ball form. Hence elephant balls.”

“Well despite the name, they are delicious.” Lena grabs a second one.

After a brunch to rival all brunches, Kara pulls out a winter themed puzzle that they work on while the movie plays in the background. When that’s finished, Alex pulls out Clue. Then Sam drags Ruby and her new gaming system back into the living room to share and play some of her new games.

It’s the best Christmas Lena has ever had. It was the best holiday Lena has ever had. They didn’t do anything but spend time with each other. For dinner, they order Chinese food from the only Chinese restaurant in Midvale. Lena does coax Kara into actual clothes to take a cute picture sitting in front of the tree. Each of them hold their gifted animals and face Alex who is taking the picture. Then, while the animals face forward, the couple kisses. Alex is a fantastic photographer, and Lena tells her so when she gets her phone back to judge the image. Lena sends it to Kara so they can post it on their respective Instagram accounts.

Sometimes, your opposite can make you whole. Lena types out. Kara kisses her when she sees it.

Not as good with words as my girlfriend so… ditto.

Lena laughs and kisses Kara back. Then they both turn off their phones to rejoin their family for the rest of the evening. Later that night, Lena convinces Kara to let Lena return the favor. Kara cumming quietly while biting her own forearm and Lena’s tongue moving between her legs.

“Best. Christmas. Ever,” Kara whispers as Lena lays on top of her.

“Ditto,” Lena sighs out.

**

December 30th, 2018

Kara follows Lena from Midvale to Metropolis to support her as she sings for the Glenmorgan Square New Years Eve Party. It is blistering cold and windy as Kara drinks spiked, hot apple cider to try and stay warm. Even the VIP section is crowded as Kara waits for her girlfriend to be introduced. The VIP section is to the side of the stage on a raised platform so Kara will be able to see the performance and the crowd. Alex steps up and joustles her from one side, Sam shouldering in on the other as they try to share body heat. They have left Ruby with Eliza and the new animal family members and made the drive into the city. Lena has rented a suite of rooms in a nearby hotel for the four of them to stay in.

Lena’s nervous. She’s seen Kara a couple of times on tour, but this is the first time she’ll be singing in front of her. She’s told Kara as much, and Kara has kissed her deeply enough to make her blush in front of the stage hands. Now Kara is waiting as the minutes tick closer to midnight. Lena has a three song set that goes straight into the ten second countdown for the final stretch of the ball drop.

A hiss sounds softly over the crowd as smoke fills the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… Lena Luthor!” An announcer yells over the crowd before the opening notes play.

Take your clothes and rip 'em, rip 'em off

Call these hoes and tip 'em, tip 'em off

Lena rises up from below the center stage to the cheers of thousands. She’s in full on Lena Luthor mode, and Kara is enraptured.

You can tell them you are mine

I'm sick of, sick of games

No more time, you lit the, lit the flame, yeah

We live in an age where everything is staged

Where all we do is fake our feelings

I've been scared to put myself so out there

Time is running out, yeah

Need to let you know that

Last night I woke the fuck up

I realized I need you here, as desperate as that sounds, yeah-eh

Last night I woke the fuck up

I realized I need you here, as desperate as that sounds, yeah-eh

Take these walls and rip 'em, rip 'em down

Take my (uh) and snip 'em, snip 'em now

I will tell them I am yours and very, very proud

I am forced to give in, give in now cause

Kara watches and sips her drink as her sister and Sam flirt with each other and share a night free of responsibilities. Kara has heard all of Lena’s music at this point, but watching her perform has made her more and more sure that they are heading down the right path this time. Kara is rubbing shoulders, literally, with famous people, but all she has eyes for is Lena as she begins her second song.

I was just an only child of the universe

And then I found you

And then I found you

You are the sun and I am just the planets

Spinning around you

Spinning around you

You were too good to be true

Gold plated

But what's inside you

But what's inside you

I know this whole damn city thinks it needs you

But not as much as I do

As much as I do, yeah

'Cause you're the last of a dying breed

Write our names in the wet concrete

I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

I'm here in search of your glory

There's been a million before me

That ultra-kind of love

You never walk away from

You're just the last of the real ones

You're just the last of the real ones

Kara laughs to herself. Lena told her this song was about Power Girl. It was Lena accepting that Power Girl was a part of Kara, but also sharing how much she needed Kara even though the city needed her too. It was sweet, and heart breaking. But Lena told Kara it was a good song. One that helped her process her feelings.

I'm here at the beginning of the end

Oh, the end of infinity with you

I'm here at the beginning of the end

Oh, the end of infinity with you

I'm done with having dreams

The thing that I believe

Oh, you drain all the fear from me

I'm done with having dreams

The thing that I believe

You drain the fear from me

Almost everyone around Kara is now fully focused on the performance. The crowd below is singing along, and it’s amazing. Just over four minutes are left until the new year as Lena begins her final song.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

I've been too many places. I've seen too many faces.

I wrote too many pages; never found a love like you. (Love like you)

I don't know how to say it. It's been more than amazing.

My whole life, I've been waiting; never found a love like you. (Love like you)

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Live, die next to me.

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Sleep, dream.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

You were unexpected, when our lips connected.

I was resurrected; never found a love like you. (love like you)

Don't care where I'm headed when the world is ending.

'cause you are my heaven; never found a love like you. (Love like you)

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Live, die next to me.

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Sleep, dream.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

Surrounded by numbers.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one

You brought me back to life.

You did the unthinkable.

Yeah, you are my miracle.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

Surrounded by numbers.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

Surrounded by numbers.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

On one of the big screens behind Lena, just under the Giant Ball slowly dropping it’s way to the new year. Just a few inches are left as the number ten flashes on the screen and switches to a nine. Lena calls out the numbers as the crowd joins.

“Here, hold my drink.” Kara calls to her sister, not waiting for a response before shoving it in her hand.

Alex sputters a protest as Kara grips the railing and vaults over it. “Hey!” her sister calls after her, but Kara sticks the landing eight feet down and strides across the stage.

“Three, Two, One!” Lena calls into the microphone.

Kara sweeps Lena into her arms as the confetti cannons explode and dips her into a kiss. The confetti swirls around them and leaves them in their own little world. Kara pulls Lena back up and kisses her again. Lena pulls confetti from her girlfriend’s hair, even though it’s pointless.

“Did you just jump onto stage to kiss me?”

“I had to kiss my girlfriend at midnight.”

“Just had to, huh?”

“I had to start the year off right. I have a feeling that it’s going to be a good one. “

“Me too.”

They kiss again before the calls of Sam and Alex pull them apart. “Ready to party?” Lena asks.

“Ready to babysit our friends? Because I’m pretty sure Alex is already drunk.”

Alex is. Lena and Kara spend the rest of the night dancing at a party while keeping one eye on Sam and Alex. Around three, they decide to lead the two back to the hotel. Alex and Sam have been slumped together in a booth saying some not so PG things to each other. Not that either are in a state to follow through on those things. Once both are laying on their hotel bed, Lena goes to get some water for both of them in the morning along with some aspirin to leave on the bedside tables.

Kara manages to take off their shoes and outer layers before Alex throws her arms around Sam and completely passing out. Sam has already beaten her to it. Lena comes back in to set the glasses and aspirin down.

“One more drink before bed?” Kara asks.

“No. No I don’t think so.”

“Do you want something else?”

“Yeah. I think I do. Kara, I want kids.”

Kara gasps, not expecting that revelation. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

Kara kisses Lena then, and Lena begins to push Kara back out the door towards their own room. They start tearing off clothing and tripping to get there faster. Kara chuckles a couple of times.

“Sorry, did you mean you want kids right now? If so, it’s about to be pretty disappointing. Also, I think I should maybe teach you about the human reproductive system.”

Lena laughs too. “No, not right now. Later you can give me a refresher course, but right now, how about we get some practice in?”

“I like practice.”

“Then shut up and fuck me.”

“My pleasure. And yours.” Kara adds cheekily before pulling Lena into the room and shutting the door.

[intothestarkerverse]

Time of Our Lives (Part 8)

Based on a prompt from @geekymarvel  

Peter is tasked with an important mission that requires him to go back in time.   Finding himself at a gala for Stark industries in the 1990’s, he comes face to face with a young and incorrigible Tony Stark who considers Peter’s attempts to deny his advances a challenge.  Now, dogged by a horny young CEO who won’t take no for an answer, Peter’s task has become much more difficult….

(STORY CONTAINS ENDGAME SPOILERS)

Read on AO3

Peter was panicking.  Tony could tell by the look on his pretty face. He was excited, vibrating in his seat, but the size of his eyes and the shallow breaths he was drawing into his lungs suggested that Peter didn’t know if he was allowed to be excited about meeting his parents or terrified of the ramifications.  “What…what about the timeline?  What if I screw up the future by meeting them? What if they don’t like me?”

“Peter, you’re the most lovable person I’ve ever met.”  

Shit.  

He’d done it again, and Peter’s smile had taken on that same, ridiculous, dopey quality it always did when Tony slipped and found himself subconsciously using the ‘l’ word.  Tony chose to ignore it.  “There’s no way they’re not going to like you.  As for the timeline…you gonna warn them about their future deaths or introduce yourself to them as their future son?”

“Well, no…”

“Then, I think we’ll be fine.  There have got to be some perks to time travel, Pete, and if meeting your parents who you barely remember isn’t one of ‘em, than I refuse to ever invent it.  There goes your timeline, then, right?”

Peter’s eyes suddenly seemed to darken.  “Yeah, then I’m as good as dusty again.”

Tony paused as he tried to decipher that statement.  Clearly, it was a comment he was not supposed to understand, but something in the way that Peter said it and the slight tremor in his voice had set off alarm bells in Tony’s brain.  Something very bad had happened to Peter, and even the vague idea of it was enough to send Tony’s blood pressure skyrocketing.

Fuck.

He really had to get a handle on this.

“Good, so, it’s settled, Beautiful.  Operation Meet the Parents is a go.  But before we go off and make some memories, there’s a few things we need to go over.  Just for the sake of full disclosure.”  Tony shifted in his seat to give Peter his full attention.  It had not been easy to get Peter to open up about his parents so that Tony could go about locating them.  It had required Tony to share quite a bit about his own as well.  In the end, it was worth it, and completely necessary for Peter’s present…but it had also been painful.  Never mind the fact that Peter now knew things about his relationship with Howard and Maria that no other living person had ever heard him say.  Not even Jarvis.  Now, however, he had the wonderful task of telling Peter that most of what he thought he knew about Richard and Mary…was wrong.  “You said your parents worked for the government.  Couriers, I think, right?”

“That’s what Uncle Ben said, yeah.”

“And your dad was in the army.”

“Yes…why?”  Peter looked so bewildered, it made Tony’s heart clench.

The billionaire cleared his throat.  “Yeah…see.  About that.  Your father’s military record is full of holes.  I can find his enlistment information, a record of his additional training in special forces and then…big fat nothing.  His activity is so black ops, there’s no digital record of it.  Do you know how clandestine that shit has to be for the government to be afraid to leave an electronic footprint for any of it?”

Peter was completely motionless in his seat.  He wasn’t speaking.  Wasn’t moving.  Wasn’t even fucking breathing.  He was just staring at Tony like he’d been physically frozen.

“Peter?”

Nothing.

“Baby?”

Still nothing.

“Did I break you?  If I was going to break you, I was really thinking it was going to be in the bedroom…”

Not even a response to that.

Damn.

Tony grimaced, but continued.  “So…uh…he served under a friend of ours.  Nick Fury.  Remember him from the gala…”

“Nick Fucking Fury knew my dad!”  Peter had almost launched himself into the windshield at that piece of information.  His reaction and the strong language were so unexpected that Tony cracked his head on the roof of the sports car from jumping in his seat.  

“Fuck, kid.”  He was going to have a lump, not that Tony was too concerned about that when he saw Peter’s reaction.  

Peter was actually shaking.  At least his hands were.  “You don’t understand, Tony.  I know him.  In the future.  You know him too.  Everyone knows him…even my dad, apparently.  And Mr. Fury never said anything.  Nothing.  How could he not say anything?  He has to know who my dad is.  There’s no way he doesn’t know…”

“My best guess?  He hasn’t said anything because he had something to do with why they died and he doesn’t want to have that awkward conversation.”

Peter was back to sitting completely still again.  “Tony…what are you leaving out?”

He was almost afraid to go on, but there really was no going back now.  “Last year, your father was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. by his former C.O…Fury.  He’s been an active field agent ever since.  Your mother…she was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. right out of college…”

“My mom is a secret agent too!”  Peter fell back in the car seat, hands covering his face with a small, muffled moan.

“Kind of…she’s actually where you get your smarts.  She’s an up and coming star in the science division, if what I found through a bit of hacking is any indication.”

Peter was peaking through his fingers now.  “She is?”

“Oh yeah, genius level smart for sure.  Tech.  Forensics.  She does it all…”

“That’s…Ben and May never mentioned that.”

“I’m not sure they knew, Peter.”

Slowly, the teenager sat back up, smiling just a little.  “So my mom’s smart and my dad’s a hero…”

“The spider doesn’t fall far from the tree.”  Tony couldn’t help but smirk at the flush that began to climb the teen’s cheeks.

“Uh…so…what…are we doing here?”  Peter made a broad gesture at the park beyond the car.

“Ah, yes, well…we lucked out, actually.  I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to come up with a good way for our paths to intersect.  But, according to my PI…your parents are having their wedding rehearsal here this morning.  So, I’m hoping we can find a reason to…be friendly.”

“I’m actually famous for how friendly I am.”  Peter was bouncing in his seat again.  “So…they’re getting married soon, then.”

“In a couple of days, yeah.”

“Wow, this is…this is nuts.  I…don’t even know what to say, Tony.  I never thought…I mean they’re names.  To me they’ve just always been names.  And pictures.  Videos.  Not people.  Not to me.  Not really.  No real memories.  Just…flat.  And now they’re going to be real.  I never thought they’d ever feel real…  This means…it means a lot to me.”  Tony was startled to see the kid actually blinking back tears.  

Scrubbing a hand over his jaw, Tony tried to shrug the display of emotion off.  “It was nothing, really.  Just something I thought you’d enjoy…”

“Thank you.”  Peter’s voice was actually choked up now and there were full fledged tears and Tony was at a loss for what to do so he just gave an awkward smile.

“I’d do anything for you, Beautiful.”

“I know.”  He did?  “And you don’t…you don’t have to actually say it, Tony, you know?  Cause I know…it’s hard for you…and you do things like this…which are honestly just as good.  I don’t know if I’m allowed to say it, either, but this once…cause it’s my birthday and you did all of this for me…”  Peter’s rambling drifted off for a moment.  Some part of Tony actually hoped the kid was going to drop it there, but he didn’t.  “And I just want to say that I love you, too.”

Well, fuck.

He’d gone and said it and that tiny thread of denial Tony had been clinging to snapped.

He could actually feel himself falling.  Right up until that moment he’d thought ‘falling in love’ was a euphemism.  But, nope.  He felt the impact to the depths of his soul.  Despite this, Tony did his best to sound unaffected, but he could tell from the sparkle in Peter’s eyes that the kid caught the sudden thickness to Tony’s voice, the slight stutter before he found his words again.  “Al…alright, Peter, enough of that.  We have a wedding rehearsal to crash.”

—

Peter could hardly believe it was really happening.  He was going to talk to his parents.  Maybe get to shake their hands.  He’d be able to hear their voices and their laughs and their personalities and he’d never, ever have to wonder what they were really like ever again.  Not only that, but the things he’d learned about them already!  His father was practically James Bond!  How cool was that?  Ned was going to lose his mind!  And his mom, his mom was smart.  If his dad was James Bond than his mom was totally Q and that might actually be even more impressive to Ned.  Peter figured his ‘guy in the chair’ was probably going to be way more excited about Peter’s Mom being the ‘woman in the lab’.  It was all so awesome, so unbelievable that he had absolutely no words to explain to Tony just how much this whole thing meant to him.

As the two men made their way from their car to the wedding venue, Peter casually let his fingers graze Tony’s hand, his gaze darting over to look for some reaction from the older man.  Tony raised an eyebrow, rolling his eyes playfully before he took Peter’s hand in his own and gave it a little squeeze.  “You’re so lucky it’s your birthday, Parker.”

“Nah, I’m just lucky period.”  Peter would have never considered himself a lucky guy before.  In fact, he’d always thought the ‘Parker Luck’ was always more on the bad side of things…but maybe luck could change because ever since he’d found himself in the middle of that ballroom being visually devoured by a young Tony Stark, he’d been the luckiest guy on the planet.

“Look alive, Kid.”  Tony gave his hand another squeeze and gestured with a nod of his head towards the lone figure a few yards ahead.

No doubt to Tony he was still indistinct, but Peter’s senses were quite a bit more acute.  He could see the man with crystal clarity and just the sight of him sent Peter’s heart into excitement induced arrhythmias.  “Oh my God, it’s really him.”  The man from the pictures.  His dad.

Richard Parker was of average height and leanly muscled with dark hair that appeared to bear the hint of Peter’s curls underneath the thick layer of styling gel that was struggling to hold it in place.  Peter had always thought he looked more like his mother, but he caught subtle pieces of Richard that reminded him of his own reflection now that he was looking at the man in the flesh.

Apparently, Richard had also seen them approaching.  Brow furrowed questioningly, he waited for them to come closer before he called out.  “Good morning.  This is a far cry from Manhattan, Mr. Stark.”

Tony chuckled beside Peter, dropping the boy’s hand.  “I hope we’re not disturbing anything, had an appointment to check out the Park and thought I’d get here a little early to look at things without an audience.  Are you Mr. Seston?”

“No, my fiance and I are having our wedding rehearsal here this morning…or we were supposed to.  The girls were stranded and my brother had to save them.”  He glanced at his watch.  “I’m afraid we may not have time to run through everything if you have an appointment with Seston, soon.”

Tony made a dismissive gesture with his hand.  “I don’t want my appointment to interfere with your wedding.  You probably got the whole song and dance when you booked this place, right?  Why don’t you walk us around, then you can take your time with your rehearsal.”

Richard looked surprised by the generous offer.  Actually, Peter was too.  “That’s awfully kind of you, Mr. Stark.  I’m Richard Parker.”  He held out his hand which Tony took in a firm handshake before Richard turned his attention to Peter.  He held out that same hand again and Peter suddenly felt overwhelmed.  He meant to take the man’s hand.  He really did, but some embarrassing instinct took over and before he realized what he was doing, he had wrapped his father in a tight embrace that had the man stuttering in a very familiar way.  “Uh…well…okay…um…you’re…you’re pretty friendly, aren’t you?”

“He’s famous for it, actually.”  Tony’s sardonic tone snapped Peter back into reality.  Pushing back with a deep flush, Peter looked up at his father as he stepped back and the man spoke a sentence that made him wish he was dead.

“Yes, I know, he was extremely friendly at your gala.”

“Wuh…”  In the fraction of a second, Peter went from a scarlet flush to a sickly pale hue at the implications.  “You…you were…you were there?”

“Yeah…don’t worry if you don’t recognize me.  You two seemed busy…”

Peter staggered backward into a tree, bracing himself against the trunk with one hand as he doubled over and tried not to revisit his birthday breakfast all over the grass at the implication of his father watching him bite the buttons off of Tony’s shirt.

“Is he okay, Mr. Stark?”

“Peter?  Yeah, he’s fine.”  Tony was clearly trying to cover for him, though even Tony’s voice seemed a little strained at that unexpected development.  

“I admit, I was a little worried about you, Peter.  Mr. Stark doesn’t have the best reputation…but clearly if you two are out looking at wedding venues, I didn’t need to worry about him taking advantage of you.”

“What?”  Peter heard Tony echo his words as he straightened up to give his father his full attention.  

“Oh no, we’re not…”  Tony was chuckling nervously, a little too nervously.

“No, no no no no…definitely not.”  Peter was shaking his head vigorously, a bit of color returning to his face.

“Definitely not?”  Tony stressed the word definitely with an eyebrow cocked in a demi-scowl.  “Kid, you’re breaking my heart.  I think five ‘no’s’ was enough without the definitely.”

“Ah come on, Tony, you know I didn’t mean it like that!  It’s only been four months and it’s not like you’re going to actually try to marry me or something so stop embarrassing me in front of my fa…new friend…”  Oh God that was close.  It was also really freaking lame.

Richard appeared to be well and truly amused.  “Follow me, I’ll show you two around.”  Tony let Peter walk beside Richard as the man began to lead them around the wedding venue.  He was clearly trying to remember what he’d been told about the features, but gave up when he realized that neither one of them was really paying attention at all.  “I don’t think I caught you’re full name, Peter.”

“Parker.”  The word left his mouth before he’d even thought better of it.  A fraction of a second later he felt Tony elbow his side subtly and let out a grunt of annoyance.

“Really?”  Richard chuckled.  “Small world, I guess.  That a Queens accent I detect, too?”

Peter could only nod dumbly.  He was saved from further embarrassment by the sound of approaching footsteps.  “Oh, I think your wife’s here!”

It was several awkward minutes before two women and a man crested the hill.

Peter felt his heart stop again.

Ben.

He hadn’t realized until that exact moment that he was going to get to see Ben again, too.  Oh, and young May.  It was Peter’s turn to elbow Tony in the side when he caught Tony checking May out.  His annoyance was forgotten, though, as his gaze moved to his mom.

His mom!

Yeah, Peter was now utterly convinced that he looked a great deal more like his mother than he did his father.  He was only a little taller than her.  Same chestnut hair, same honey-brown eyes.  There features were even similar.  Clearly, he wasn’t the only one who noticed, because Tony was looking back and forth between the two of them with an amused expression on his face.  

“Baby, did you make friends while we were gone?”  Mary took Richard’s arm and rose on her toes to plant a little kiss on his cheek as she surveyed Tony and Peter.  “Oh…one of them is a billionaire!  In that case, bravo, Richie.  I should abandon you in public parks more often.”

Richard was chuckling, shaking his head and staring down at her with such a mixture of affection and exasperation that it took Peter’s breath away.  It might also, kind of, maybe, but not really, but maybe kind of, remind him of the look he caught Tony giving him every once in a while in the lab when the billionaire thought Peter wasn’t looking in his direction.  “Mary, Sweetheart, this is Tony Stark and Peter Parker.”

“Really?”  Peter thought her giggle even kind of sounded like a little like his laugh.  He had no idea he had his mother’s laugh! Before he knew what was happening, he was being drawn into a hug.  “That means we’re practically family Peter!”  His mother’s voice so close to his ear that it sent shivers down his spine as he held onto her and breathed in the scent of her perfume.  Lilies and Amber.  He was never going to be able to smell Lilies and Amber again without thinking of her…and that was so wonderful the thought brought tears to his eyes.

“Looks like you’re not the only hugger here, Beautiful.”  Peter could read the subtext in Tony’s eyes as he was forced to separate from his mother’s hug.  Apparently being friendly was also a family trait.  His parents were just…they were awesome.  They were perfect in every conceivable way!

They were shown around the rest of the venue, Mary holding onto Peter’s arm and walking ahead of them, pointing out all of her favorite parts.  “And I adore all of the natural flora, it was what made me choose the park.  We could save a lot of money on flowers this way.”

“And I agreed, because with fronds like these, who needs anemones?” Richard was quick to join in from Mary’s other side.

Peter let out a snort followed by a laugh that had his father grinning in delight.  “See, Mary, someone likes my jokes!”

Peter heard twin moans coming from May and Ben’s directions.  “Don’t worry, Richard, my chemistry jokes never get a reaction either.”

Mary swatted Peter’s arm.  “Oh, Peter, that was terrible…don’t encourage him or we’ll never hear the end of his jokes!”

“Oh my God, as if one wasn’t enough, now there’s two of them!”  Ben’s teasing was good natured, something so familiar to Peter that without even thinking about it, he turned around to stick his tongue out at the man.

“Are we sure he’s not an actual Parker?  No brother separated at birth or something?”  May’s voice this time.  “If not…you may just have to keep the kid.  He fits right in with the both of you.”

Ben seemed to be considering May’s suggestion a little too seriously, and for a moment Peter felt his pulse race.  “Can’t keep me, May.  I think Tony would miss me too much.”

“Couldn’t live without you, Gorgeous.”  To Peter’s ears, that sounded almost a little too sincere.

“We’ll have to keep them both then.”  Mary gave Peter’s arm a little squeeze.  “You two really must stay for the rehearsal and then join us for lunch.  Nothing beats wedding jitters quite like lovely distractions.”

“Oh, you don’t really want us there..”  Peter could see the look of alarm on Tony’s face as he tried to make excuses.  Maybe he was reconsidering his birthday gift after all.  

Too bad.  Peter wasn’t going to give up time with his parents, now.

“Oh, we’ll definitely stay!”  Peter was quick to interrupt Tony.  What was the man thinking?  They’d gone to all of this trouble to get Peter memories with his parents, and now that his parents both seemed to want them around, Tony was trying to back out?  “I mean, we don’t have anything else to do really.  And it’s my birthday, so…”

“It’s your birthday!”  Mary grabbed his arm again.  “Well now we have two things to celebrate, a wedding and a birthday, and we’re not taking no for an answer!”

The rehearsal was short and before long the six of them were seated around a table at a little Italian restaurant near the park.  It was very early in the afternoon and the lunch rush hadn’t started yet, so they had most of the place to themselves.

Peter was only too happy to quiz his parents on everything from how they’d first met to how Richard had proposed and what they’re plans for the future were.

“Oh we want kids desperately.”  Mary’s expression looked just a little haunted for a moment and May reached out to give her hand a little squeeze.  Peter’s head cocked questioningly at the gesture and Richard cleared his throat.  “Mary had a few health problems when she was younger. They could…make it difficult for her to conceive.  But, like I told her…we won’t know until we try…”

Peter had never known that.   He’d never stopped to think about his parents’ age or how long they’d been married…or even Ben and May’s age come to think of it.  “Yeah…you…you really shouldn’t give up.  Nothing’s impossible unless you accept that it’s impossible.”

“Are you sure he’s not a Parker-Parker?  That sounds just like one of your Parkerisms…like the responsibility schtick of yours Ben.”  May was using a breadstick as a pointer, leveling one end at Peter.  “He’s a cousin or something, I’m telling you!”

Tony cleared his throat loudly, “So, did I hear someone say you were writing your own vows?”

“Oh yes!  We only just decided to do that last week, but I really do not want to promise to ‘obey’ Richard because that’s one promise I’m definitely going to break.”  Mary smirked at them over her glass of wine.  “Actually…maybe we could use you as a test audience?  Make sure they’re just mushy enough without being too over-the-top?  I’ll just run off to the little girl’s room for a minute and let Richard give you a taste of his and then we’ll trade.  It’d be good for us to practice that too, and you two don’t mind, do you?”

“I’d love to hear them!”  Peter was probably a little too enthusiastic about hearing a stranger’s wedding vows, but no one seemed surprised by his excitement at this stage and Tony was quick to echo the sentiment, even if he wasn’t quite as flamboyant about it.

Richard, on the other, looked nervous as he plucked the folded piece of paper from his wallet and cleared his throat about a half a dozen times.  “All right, well, here it goes.  I love you Mary Fitzpatrick.  More than anything else in this world.  I promise to give you every beat of my heart, every breath from my lungs.  Even when there’s distance between us, nothing will ever separate us because you’re a part of me.  The best part.  I don’t want to kill for you or die for you, Mary, I want to live for you and I promise that every day of my life, no matter what it holds, will be spent with you, for you, and beside you until the day it ends.”

“That’s really awesome.  And poetic.  I think she’ll love that!”  Peter was blinking away tears, clutching Tony’s hand under the table.  When he hazarded a glance at the other man, Peter was surprised by the look on his face.  Tony appeared…thoughtful.  Distant.  Perhaps even troubled by Richard’s words.  He met Peter’s gaze and offered a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

A few minutes passed and positions were changed.  Now, Mary prepared to recite her vows from memory while Richard hid in the bathroom.

“Richard Parker…you are the bravest, kindest, most honorable man I have ever known.  I know that marriage isn’t easy and that life can be hard.  I know that our careers may make it even harder, but I don’t care.  My love for you is strong enough to conquer anything.  Nothing will ever separate us.  Not money.  Not health.  Not time.  The universe itself could try to push us apart, and I would just push right back…because I promise to fight for you, Richard.  I will fight for you and our love and our marriage…and someday, our family, because you’ve taught me that together we’re a force to be reckoned with.  Together, there’s absolutely nothing that can stop us, that’s my promise to you.”

“Oh wow…Mary.  That’s just..that’s really awesome!  I don’t think you should be nervous about that at all.”

“Thank you, Peter, I’m sure if you like it that Richard will.  You two do seem to have similar tastes, don’t you?”

“Yeah…I guess so.”  Another glance at Tony and Peter was perplexed to see a grim set to Tony’s jaw and that same distant look as he stared down into his wine glass.  He had no idea what the man was thinking, but a part of Peter was a little worried about it.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur.  They parted with promises to meet for drinks after the Parkers returned from their honeymoon and with May demanding some information about Peter’s family so she could delve into his genealogy and prove that he was related to Richard and Ben.  Peter had to keep repeating that he didn’t have a family or any access to his genealogy much to May’s chagrin.

Peter got a parting hug from the entire Parker clan, ending with Ben who held onto his shoulder after they separated.  His voice was soft as he spoke to Peter, gaze trained on Tony as he exchanged numbers with Richard and mary.  “Is that Stark fella good to you, Son?  I know he has a reputation and you said you don’t have a family…”

“Yeah…no…yeah, he’s great.  It’s not like the tabloids make it out to be, Ben.  He cares about me…”

“Well, I want you to take our number and address, Son.  If something happens, if someday he’s not and you need help or somewhere to go or even just an ear or a ride or a bus ticket…you call us, okay?  You may not be family, but you’re a good kid and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I thought you were going to get into trouble because you had no one to help you out.”

Peter blinked back tears and surged forward for another hug.  “You’re a good man, Ben.  Probably the best man I’ve ever known.  I just…I want to make sure you know that before I go, okay?  That I just…I want to be half the guy you are someday.  Thank you…for everything…and I’ll definitely call you if something happens and I need help.  I promise…don’t worry about me.”

—

Tony was remarkably quiet for the rest of the day, though he did try to make sure that the rest of Peter’s birthday was celebratory.  It was only when they were laying in bed that night that Tony was finally able to gather his thoughts into something coherent and tangible.  “Peter…” , The teenager stirred slightly.  He hadn’t been asleep, but he had been blissfully relaxed, cuddled close to Tony’s chest lost in the blissful afterglow of steamy sex followed by a hot shower and the soft, languid touches that had become common place between them several months ago.  He had only just stopped assuring Tony that this had been the best birthday of his entire life.  The movement of Peter’s hand stopped at the sound of Tony’s voice, palm pressed flat against Tony’s chest as he propped himself up on an elbow to look the older man in the eye.  “Yes?”

“I need you to tell me the truth.”

“I always do, Tony.”

Tony shifted, dislodging Peter and sitting up against the headboard.  He scrubbed his hands across his face several times before he tried again.  “I need you to tell me the truth about the future.”

“What?”  Peter was sitting up in a moment, brown eyes wide with horror and disbelief.  “I can’t!  Tony, I can’t.  The timeline…”

“The timeline is fucked, Peter.  Don’t tell me you haven’t realized that.  You’ve been here too long.  You’ve changed too much.   About me.  You’ve changed too much about me.”

“I…I have?”

“You have.”  He steadied himself with a deep breath, brushing the backs of his fingers along Peter’s jawline.  “Baby, you’re right, I…I love you and I’m not going to be able to let you go.  The Nullifier…we’re close.  Baby, we’re a hell of a lot closer than I’ve been letting on, and I need to know what happens.  I need to know how the Old Man becomes the hero you say he is.  Your parents…they made me realize some things.  I’m not giving in.  We’re not giving in.  I’m not accepting any outcome that doesn’t have you and me together at the end.  I’m taking a page from Richard and Mary Parker.  I’m fighting for you, living for you, all of it.  You’re going to tell me everything.  Everything, Peter.  And then you’re going to trust me to fight for you because you and me…we’re endgame now, whether the universe likes it or not.”

[groomlakeprojects]

Crash(test) The Ballad of Faded Wolf

(Summary)

Barry Mick is a struggling tour manager for a young US rock band in his 30's working in the rock world and mainstream pop; but also works several part time real jobs. The band he is currently managing is a young band “Faded Wolf”; full of notorious stories and behaviors including sex,drugs, and rock and roll. Will they crash and burn? Or live and learn? Probably neither.

Crash(test) The Ballad of Faded Wolf

Story written by Joe Bruno

Edited by

Max Barksdale

There’s something peaceful about waking up in a moving vehicle. The scenery moving like an old movie reel as we make our way to the next destination is the best part, I guess. From what my folks told me when I was young, you actually had to dedicate a person, with a license, to controlling the vehicle; which sounds like a terrible idea looking around my immediate company.

“Tommy Rocks”, as he’s known, is in the next bunk over; putting his genitals on one of our roadies face while he’s asleep. Classic. The band I’m currently out on the road with, (for way less money than I should’ve negotiated; had I known the shit storm I had agreed to) Faded Wolf, are one of the new growing bands in the heavy metal scene. And they are all about attention.

These guys just cost the label $600,000 in damages; leading cops on a two hour chase after stealing a old school collection car from a classic car show, then proceeding to manually drive it onto the highway.

Fucking psychos I tell you. Especially in 2044.

A human messing with with our great, automated highways? It’s crazy they’d let anyone touch a real steering wheel. Thankfully the van doesn’t have one or I’d never sleep with this band around. Not that I do much.. From what I heard growing up, people died like all the time crashing these things it was something crazy like the plague, it was in the millions of people dead all of the time, senselessly. And you’ve got to be an idiot to get out on the roads with the old cars and attempt to drive with the cars we have today. Nobody stops and goes and burns gas anymore. The road system today is cars going everywhere all automatically timed to drive without hardly stopping. Except out here, there’s some drivers still not enough automatic services out this way yet.

Suddenly, there’s a loud pop and the van comes to a stop on the side of the road. We are somewhere on I-70 near Anywhere, Kansas. The van operator broadcasts on to the intercom, “Hey fellas, we are really sorry to inform you but your ‘Bandvan’ rental has had an internal problem with it’s charge system and needs repairs. With your insurance purchase, we will be covering stay at a hotel for you guys until we can get the next van in your area. The nearest one is a day away. Really sorry about the inconvenience. We can give you two free days on your next trip. Again, so sorry. Local tow resources are on their way and should arrive in 25 minutes.”

Damn. We had one more date for tomorrow in Colorado, then I was to catch the Interstate speed train to California; where my next job starts. A pop artist, “Yuki”, is playing the VENUE on Mars’ grand opening. This is like the big stadium time too; bigger than the theaters and bars that host Faded Wolf.

I was asked to smuggle some personal belongings they had left when they took off last week. Oh, and it’s going to take two months to get there. The band managers “great joy of the music world”, is basically being the babysitter to the most irresponsible group of people in the world.

Not now.

I have to figure out what we are going to do. The tow truck is pulling up now I guess I’ll go settle up with the service and oh hey it’s the gang is already around the front. Shit. Tommy, Jim, John, and Freddy are chugging beers and flashing their private parts to oncoming traffic. I used to hear stories about bands like Motley Crüe and Guns N Roses, in my grandparents younger days, who did this kind of stuff.

It was wild.

I think that’s what they want.

Shock value.

It sounded fun at first; but after two months of living it, breathing it, and smelling it with this group, it has lost it’s appeal. I can’t wait to go Mars and get away for a bit.

But what are you gonna do?

These guys want it all.

And unfortunately, they’ll do anything for the attention.

We arrive at a local hotel. It was one of these small mom and pop ones with a kind of old “Bates Motel” vibe; except this was Conways motel. It’s almost like a slasher film; but instead of killing you in the shower, you would step back in time to what the elders would call, “the eighties baby!” The room was filled with neon colors on the walls and 80’s movie and music posters on every wall.

A short older man, maybe in his 60’s, in black pants and a faded blue vintage nascar shirt approaches us. He introduces himself as Earl Conway and asks if we are the rock band staying the night. Tommy and the gang, the kind of wild living guys they are, of course are already shotgunning beers behind me with the roadies and some local fans who are also staying at the hotel.

They have also recognized the band.

I shrug and go into “manager mode”.

We get away to settle up the insurance at the front desk.

“Well, I know it’s y’all’s misfortune, but it is just our treat to have y’all stay with us at ‘Conway’s’ tonight. We never have too many city folk stay here; especially real rockstars. Let us know if you need anything; food, beer, some coke, ‘Ya know’,” Earl brags with a grin.

Well, at least I know these guys are mostly safe to party.

“Thanks Mr. Conley. I really hope we don’t need too much. Our next van will be in town around 12 tomorrow. And then, we are back on the road to the rockies. Though, I can’t speak for the band. It looks like they are already making friends.”

I gaze out the door.

The crowd partying with the band has tripled since exchanging info at the front desk. It appears Tommy and Freddy are now signing several women’s breast and taking some suggestive photos. They probably assumed I quit paying attention, went to my room take my sleep aid, and pass out.

What the hell could go wrong? This is what they do.

That’s not managing though.

I’m thinking I got to go break this up.

“Mr. Conley, I’ll make sure we keep the crowd and noise down,” I assured him.

“Nonsense Barry! You know what; on the weekends we have a 25 Acre track, just behind the motel, where we race good old human driving cars. I saw the band’s mishap with that car out in California on the news. Compared to that footage, I’ll gladly let them rip it up tonight!” Earl responded.

Well there goes my peaceful night.

It’s not even night, and two of the old classic cars that drove by earlier have rolled up to the growing party in the parking lot. Freddy, Tommy, and the gang, are now doing what are called “donuts” in the parking lot. I’ve seen videos online where the human controlled vehicles speed and then brake during a turn, to slide across parking lots at shopping centers and apartment buildings. I suppose it’s better they can do that here; instead of the theft and driving on automated highways charges.

I head to the room to try to get some peace and quiet. Maybe I can try to go over my lists for the Mars trip; which I’m surprised about it being a whole 4 month thing and I’m not that nervous yet. I guess it’s hard to think to that far in the future when you live in “Faded Wolf’s” now.

As I’m approaching the room, I can hear sounds of giggling. Nope thats moaning.

Shit.

Someone is having sex in my room.

Again.

I can’t really count at this point how many times this has happened. But I’m not surprised really. It’s Faded Wolf. What did I expect. At least I have my bag. I can work on some things in this old chair at the end of the hall.

Luckily, I brought my headphones to tune this out.

And they are dead.

Goddamn Bluetooth!

I really miss the older devices my grandparents showed me when I was younger, the headphones may have had to be plugged in; but you weren’t left hanging.

Well, i passed out in the hallway on the floor for couple hours and awake to Earl right in my face and shaking me “buddy I got other customers rolling in soon can’t have you here like this.” I agree. I startle but get up in a haze.. I haven’t really felt this low since i turned 30. The world keeps turning though, I get up and grab my bag and computer I used as a pillow. The room was cleared out and I can finally catch a shower.

There’s clearly cocaine residue on the dresser and all of the room beers are gone. As much as I’m disappointed they didn’t leave any to share, I’m guessing Earl may have to order more for tonight.

I finish my shower, get dressed, and head out to the tracks. It’s a sunny summer day, with green trees and a field view; not that Kansas is known for its landscapes. It was a nice break from the crowded cities we usually stay in.

The guys are all hammered and driving these cars, I’d say, 90 miles an hour back and forth through a loop called a “race track.”

I’ve seen these before on the web. This used to be a popular sport, and still has a strong presence in the south to this day.

More of the local community has shown up looking for a chance to party with this band of fools.

I finally take a seat in the stands, with my own beer, and a little cigarette of ‘grass’, as they used to call it. One of the cars with Tommy driving, and yelling something obnoxious out the window, suddenly turns too quick. It goes up sideways, and flips several times in a barrel roll before stopping on it’s hood.

I drop everything and run over to help.

Tommy quickly climbs his way out, soaked in blood and yelling out in pain; which seems to be coming from the arm he’s holding. I look over inside. One of the fan girls from earlier is inside; luckily with a seatbelt on, which is holding her up. Kind of dangling, but still not awake. She looks a little cut up and I can’t tell if she’s breathing.

This right here is why they did away with letting humans drive. This is what my parents used to ramble on about when I

was young and driving had just been banned. I can’t believe they did this for over 100 years. This is a horror movie in real life. The shock and anxiety. You know, cannabis can make you very anxious without any bad shit happening; but this anxiety was something completely new.

One of my clients may have just killed someone.

As the local ambulance and fire response vehicles roll up, so do several police cars.

This is it.

We are fucked.

I am fucked.

The mars trip, is super fucked.

There is no way we are getting out of this mess by the time our next van rolls in tomorrow.

The rest of the band and I stayed back and talked to the cops about what we saw. I look over to the medical team, and see the fangirl miraculously retain consciousness; with no visible broken bones. Just a few scrapes and bruises on her faces. When her eyes finally opened and she got up and walked off with her friends quickly to the ambulance and seemed to try to keep looking over seeing Tommy at the ambulance, my anxiousness subdued a bit.

But now, we had a new set of problems. The law.

Tommy was immediately arrested and was being charged with an older charge called a “DUI”, reckless driving, and driving without a license. Apparently, this whole track operation is mostly for skilled drivers who still get a thing called a “drivers license.”

After they take him away, local news crews start rolling in to film the documentary of the end of our careers.

I had to call the label to let them know what had happened.

Well look at that. Faded Wolf news travels fast. Tim, the A&R rep, is calling me.

“Hey Tim, buddy! How are you?” I ask, trying to cool tension. “What the fuck did you let happen Barry? You’re the manager! Do you know how much this is going to cost us?” He yelled.

“Look man; you know these guys! Okay? They don’t listen to anybody! I just clean up the mess, like always! But I’m gonna go down there and get Tommy out, okay? These people are super fans; so we might get lucky,” I explained.

“Try what you will Barry; but if you can’t fix this, you’re done.” He hung up.

Earl comes up, still shaken from the event. I immediately start apologizing.

“Hey man. I’m so sorry these guys are idiots, And that poor girl”

He interrupts, “It’s ok Barry, it’s my fault. I encouraged it, and we’ve had accidents from time to time. I could’ve done more to set some ground rules. You guys being here has just been the most fun we’ve had in a while. Look. I got a lawyer buddy who helps me with my books. I’m gonna call him for us. Would you like a ride to check on Tommy?” He asks.

“Of course man! That would be amazing. I actually don’t know how to drive; really none of us from out west do.”

The rest of the crew stayed back.

The buzzkill shook everyone into retreating back to the rooms.

The parties over.

The drive was quiet.

The local radio report is already talking about the accident. I had to change the channel and the next station is, of course, a rock station ironically playing the “Faded Wolf” song “Crash”. I change it again, and finally tune into some obscure classical channel.

It was finally peaceful.

We get to the police station and go check in.

You know in jail movies, this part always sucks. Going to meet your friend or family member; locked up in the jump suit.

It is an all around shitty experience.

It also has be somewhere around 1 AM; about 12 hours away from our van departure schedule. At this point, I feel we are not gonna make it. And I’m not gonna make that Mars trip. We get to the front desk and ask for Tommy.

The desk lady grins and says, “We are hanging that mugshot up in the break lounge; as soon as we get it autographed. We’re holding him a bit longer. You know, y’all are so lucky that girl and her family likes him. He could’ve been here a while.”

I reply confused, “So he’s getting out?.”

“Well, yeah. Some lawyer came in representing that girl. Says she’s his daughter and he settled up with the judge. He will be free to go in just a bit”.

I look to Earl, “Dude, your lawyer is the girls dad?”

He looks shocked, “Shit I had no clue. I hope he doesn’t shut me down.”

The lawyer pops around the corner. “No real harm, no foul; I suppose. We live a little wild out here with these cars, and have accidents from time to time. Regardless, my kid, for some godforsaken reason, has been obsessed with this band for years now, since her high school days, and says it would be the most embarrassing thing to put you away for this. She just wants this to go away. And she really likes this “Tommy” guy, so we’ve made a hefty financial settlement that will take care of her, myself, and get some money flowing down at city hall again. Anyways, we will be in touch with the label for payment soon. And, please. Never. Ever. Let Tommy, or the rest of the band, drive. Or maybe never come here again. I’m serious. Goodnight, gents.” He leaves the station.

Well only in this rock and roll world can such scenario play out. Apparently everyone in this jail is a Faded Wolf fan even the judge. Tommy finally comes out of the back putting his shirt back on and a little bandaged up it seems. He signs a few copies of his mugshot for the station employees. Tommy then comes running at us jumping “ dudes I can’t believe it they love us here, apparently that girls dad is a lawyer, and begged him not to let me stay locked up and pay a fine instead” I reply “ so what’s the damage how much is this going to cost us?” Tommy smirks “ well let’s just say the label is not going to be happy about it and I’m sorry Barry if they blame this on you” I reply “ blame what?” Tommy deeply inhales and answers “eh it’s gonna cost about 20 million or so”. Well in my mind I was thinking a lot worse but that is still probably enough that it’s coming out of the next albums check and probably my check too. He continues “ it’s all good Barry we are getting that next advance and the last album just hit platinum”. This guy has no clue how completely fucked we could’ve been. But how could he? We let this happen and now by paying it off we encourage it.

We all get back to the hotel it’s probably close to 4 AM everyone’s passed out. Earl comes by as I’m packing things to be ready to go in the morning. “ well I’m glad it all worked out for you guys and I’m sorry about letting this happen” I interrupted “ look Earl these guys like to do crazy things and don’t think much, don’t blame yourself

We are all lucky it wasn’t worse.

And crazy lucky that the girl’s dad was lawyer; in our favor.

“You’ve been a great help to us! I’ll make sure to send you a postcard from the new venue on mars!”

He sort of gets excited, “Mars? No way! Is that the pop star everyone is going crazy for? ‘Yuki’ right?”

I replied, “Yup! That’s the one! I actually have to bring some things they forgot when they left the other day.”

Earl grabs a postcard from his folder he was carrying. “Well, could you show some love to the motel up there?”

I look at the picture of the motel which had several cars driving in the background, “You bet Earl, thanks for everything”.

I caught some sleep and woke up just in time for the “15 minute warning” for the vans arrival. We all loaded in and waved goodbye. Tommy was, of course, holding up the show and making out with the girl Alice. You know, the girl he nearly killed last night. I think that’s what her name was. Actually, I’m not really sure what her name was; but I guess it’s best we leave town on a good note.

And there we were; back on the road, heading to Colorado, cracking jokes trying to laugh off the bizarre events from the night before.

Tommy leans from his seat to me, “Barry, man, thank you for being there. We all appreciate it and I promise you that I’m never driving again! Well, unless I come back out here and see her again” he chuckles.

It had been on my mind all morning though, that maybe it was time for a career change. Possibly something with less responsibility for those least responsible. Maybe I’ll start my own band or label and just be in charge of myself. Who knows?

The Colorado show went off without a hitch; other than arriving right as soon as the band was scheduled to be on in 30 minutes. I’m glad we made it, but also just as glad to be out and not in charge of these maniacs for a long time. I left early to catch my train to the launch pad in California.

I can’t believe I made it.

Still sleepy and still taking in the events of the last two days, I figured it was a perfect time to take a sleep aid; seeing as I’ll be boarding a space shuttle to live in (which is basically a hotel lobby) for two months.

From what I’ve read, these launches can make you feel sick quickly; so it’s probably best to be passed out for that part. I get through security, get my bags checked, then board the ship. As I’m seated and buckled, I lay back with freshly charged headphones and some classics playing.

I slowly doze off.

I wake up, and I’m not in the ship anymore, but back in the port at the launchpad in a wheelchair. A flight attendant is near me, sees that I’m awake, and jumps up.

“Sir we are so sorry to inform you like this, but our ship had trouble taking off and was grounded. A second ship left later

in the day, but you have been out for about 10 hours and we could not get you into the next one passed out like that.”

I feel ambushed by the whole situation.

I’m still waking up but I take a second to process it “So when’s the next one?”

She replies, “Unfortunately, the Mars shuttle only flies three times a month, twice a day. That was the last one, and there are currently no options for two weeks. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience”

I’m still processing, but try to negotiate with her, “So what else can I get? my clients need their package.”

She responds, “Well your boss, Tim I believe, has left a package and note for you about that.”

I open the packages and letter.

“Hey, Barry. Give me a call when you get this. You’ve got a new mission. You're now taking the daily flight tomorrow to the moon for ‘Faded Wolf’s’ surprise show next week for the moon colony at the Lunar Lounge.

PS: Mars mail carrier will take the package; don’t worry. But you gotta watch these guys again!

You owe me!

And the label!”

Really? I quit.

[emoboijk]

MYG | Lo-Fi Beats (06)

Lo-Fi: an aesthetic of recorded music in which the sound quality is lower than the usual contemporary standards so that imperfections of the recording and production are audible.—fluff, angst, idol!au

prologue :: 01 :: 02 :: 03 :: 04 :: 05 :: 06 :: epilogue

1,835 words

p.cred

You’re staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Minji, her expression serious now that she’s fully explained that Daniel Ito is, in fact, completely full of shit . She smirks slightly and you can tell that she’s impressed with herself, “You have to come back.”

There’s a flicker of hope in your chest, your heart racing at the prospect. It almost makes you want to cry, how much you’ve missed your old job and friends. How much you’ve missed Yoongi; like missing a piece of yourself.

You say what you’re thinking, “Would he take me back?”

There’s an assumption in the question; an assumption about what Yoongi means to you and what you mean to him. For the first time, you don’t care. The carefully crafted boundaries you’d constructed around your relationship with him have evaporated, because if you go back now...you won’t risk being anything other than the person he was meant to be with.

You look up when Minji doesn’t respond, and you can see she doesn’t know what to say. Before your speech all those weeks ago, the answer would’ve been a definite: yes . But now it’s uncertain. He still cares for you, of course; you can’t erase that kind of connection and dependency so quickly. But could he forgive you? Would things ever be the same? There was no way to know the answer to those questions except to go back.

“I don’t know,” she sighs eventually, “but isn’t it worth the risk?”

And that question you definitely know the answer to.  

“Grandma,” you say, ten minutes later, bursting through the front door with Minji at your heels, kicking off your shoes wildly in the entrance. Your grandmother peeks her head out of the kitchen curiously and you say, “I’m leaving!”

You speed past her into your room and hear Minji introduce herself, your grandmother cooing, “I’ve heard so much about you!” And, even though she doesn’t mean for you to, you hear her whisper, “She’s finally leaving!” You know she means it in the best way.

You throw what little belongings you have into your suitcase and reemerge, Minji and your grandmother still chatting by the front door. Your grandmother looks at you knowingly and you smile, pulling her in for an awkward one armed hug. You press a kiss to her cheek and whisper, “I love you.”

She squeezes your shoulder and says, “I’ll see you. Have a good trip.”

You buy two last minute tickets for a train going to Seoul, rushing across the station to make it on time, and squeezing into your seats side by side, your shoulder pressed against the window.

“You know what you’re going to say?” Minji wonders.

“No,” you sigh, leaning your forehead against the glass, unable to picture anything but Yoongi’s expression the day you told him to leave you alone.

“It has to be tonight,” she whispers meekly.

“ What ?” you nearly screech, startling the elderly woman across from you both, who had been napping. She grumbles, glares at you and your bow of apology, and then falls back to sleep.

“They have their dome concert in Seoul tonight,” she glances at her watch, “right now, actually. Then they leave for Japan for two weeks…”

You put your head in your hands, “I can’t wait two weeks.”

“So, it has to be tonight,” she concludes, drumming her fingers on her thighs nervously.

“Why didn’t you come get me earlier?” you grumble.

“Uh, I have my own life?” she smirks, nudging you with her shoulder playfully.

“ Fine ,” you smile, “I guess I better get to thinking.”

By the time you get to Seoul nearly two hours later, you’re no closer to a speech. You don’t even have an opening line. Nothing seems good enough. Even you wouldn’t take yourself back at this point. But as the train pulls into the station, you can’t obsess about it anymore. Minji checks her watch and curses under her breath, the ahjumma from earlier glaring as she takes her bags off the overhead rack. You watch Minji, feeling panicky suddenly, “What is it?”

“The concert’s almost over,” she pulls you up from your seat and you barely have time to get your bags as she starts dragging you off the train. When you land on the platform, Minji goes on her tippy-toes in search of something, gasping when she sees a hand waving in the air. “Jihoon!” she yells, waving erratically as she begins pulling you again. You’re surprised your arm is still in its socket.

“Jihoon,” you grin when you see him, looking frantic as he shakes his car keys around. He doesn’t look at you and instead turns to face Minji.

“You’re late!” he exclaims.

“It was a long talk,” Minji rolls her eyes.

When Jihoon finally turns to look at you he’s glaring. You frown, guilt flooding your chest again. You bow to him and whisper, “Sorry, sunbaenim.”

“Damn right,” he chuckles, pulling you in for a tight hug before gripping your wrist and taking you with Minji to the parking lot, “We’re late! We have to catch them before they leave the venue!”

Jihoon drives like a madman. For all his OCD in the office, he’s chaos on the streets; swerving and speeding and braking suddenly. Minji holds tight to her chair, arms stiff from fear as she grumbles, “What is this, Fast and Furious ?”

“Do you want to get there or not?” he says, pressing his foot down on the gas.

By the time you get there your heart is hammering so fast it might burst, and while Minji and Jihoon are running full speed past security guards (waving their badges frantically) and down the back of the concert venue, everything feels hazy. Your doubts are the only things in your head, huddling together and blacking out all common sense.

When they stop abruptly outside the dressing rooms you nearly crash into them both, chewing on your bottom lip apprehensively.

“Minji…” you whisper, gripping her arm like she’s a life raft, “I don’t know about this…”

“ Come on ,” she urges, taking your hand and pulling you through the crowd of employees and toward the dressing rooms, “The concert is over,” she stands on her tiptoes to try and catch sight of them, “They should be here by now.”

“Couldn’t this have waited?” you ask, but you don’t look at her. Like second nature your eyes scan the surrounding area for him, “Tomorrow morning—” you pause as your heart restarts.

“I told you, they leave for—” she stops, too, when she sees him (all seven of them, plus an entourage, including Daniel Ito). You can’t take your eyes off him. Min Yoongi.

Exhaustion is painted on his face like a tattoo and sits on his shoulders like a heavy winter coat, like protection. You can’t help feeling that you shouldn’t be here. He’s the first to notice you and Minji, huddled together in their path, as if he has a sixth sense for it. He stops dead in his tracks, the boys noticing his pause and stopping too, before suddenly the whole hallway is frozen. But you can’t take your eyes off him.

“Yoongi, I—” you start and are grateful when someone cuts you off. Do you have an excuse? A good one?

Daniel’s voice is like steel against your name. “What are you doing here?” he says, the words tight in his throat.

“ You ,” Jihoon’s voice is serious and unwavering, “You sir, are full of crap!” He steps forward from behind you, pointing a finger accusatorially at Daniel.

Minji, standing at your elbow, adds, “Yeah! Mr. Empty-Threats!”

“Good one,” you mutter, but it’s half-hearted. You haven’t looked away from Yoongi. It’s been three months and he’s so beautiful. And you have so many questions. All the things you miss about him sting so much more now that he’s in front of you.

He doesn’t make eye contact. At first, he watched the floor. But now that Jihoon and Minji have started lobbing insults and hurling accusations he’s looked up at Daniel and the others. But his eyes still avoid you.

You’re consumed with your thoughts, with your mental catalogue of Yoongi (his hair is sticky with sweat and darker now, the purple blotches beneath his eyes tell you he hasn’t slept in at least 36 hours, you can see the sharp definition of his cheekbones so you figure he hasn’t been eating, his hands are shaky so you know he’s been having trouble writing…), but in the background everyone’s fighting. Jihoon and Minji are shouting explanations to the staff and the members, while Daniel demands that you and they be removed.

You’re crying without realizing because, along with all the signs of his unhappiness, he looks so confused . And you’re terrified that you won’t be able to come back from this. You burned a bridge when you left. You broke his heart and your own. And even when he learns that you were manipulated and blackmailed...will he ever be able to dissociate that lie from who you really are?

You think back to the night on his front porch so many years ago...That boy and all of the beautiful things he said, the lo-fi beats in his headphones, the kimchi on his breath. You have to believe that that boy would never give up on you.

Your voice is soft and tear-soaked, but it cuts through the noise, “I’m so sorry.” And then, finally , he’s looking at you.

You step toward him, almost close enough to touch but you aren’t that brave yet. “I’m so sorry,” you say again, “I didn’t mean any of it. Of course, we’re more ,” you pause, looking him in the eye, tasting fear on your tongue, “I hope we’re more.”

He’s a foot away from you and you feel the distance so sharply that it might as well have been an object separating you both. His eyes are sharp and serious, calculating; it’s his editing face, cold and critical. He says your name, half a warning and half a plea.

“Yoongi,” you whisper desperately.

And you’re not sure what shifts, or what part of him inside snaps, but he closes the distance between you, takes your face in his hands, and presses his lips to yours like there’s no other place they should be. You’re caught up in it all, your arms wrapping around him, his emotions and yours flowing through you both like an electric spark.

One thought pierces through it all: he’s a better kisser now. He knows what to do with his tongue. He tastes like cherry chapstick and sweat, and his tongue licks your bottom lip until you concede. It lights a fire in the pit of your stomach and sets your nerves alight.

The only thing that hasn’t changed is the emotion behind it. You can feel it clear as day, just like the last time, he loves you.

author’s note—feels rushed?

epilogue ↝

for more of my works check out my m.list

[mycandylavynder]

Validation

He watches her sunkissed bun wiggle as she scribbles into her journal listening to whatever is blarring in her earbuds. He smirks as he takes a seat beside her.

"Hey!" She protests as he suddenly pulls the earbud out of her ear to have a listen.

He grins as he recognizes the guitar riff playing vehemently through the buds. "Born Ugly by Winged Skull. Nice. I'm glad you like the MP3 player."

Her scowl softens into a smile. "Yeah, I'm glad you gave it to me."

"So what are you working on?" He asks as he looks at the makings of a sparrow sketched out onto the page.

"Nothing, really. Just felt like sketching a bird. What are you up to?"

"Just got out of class so nothing much on my part either."

She nods, briefly distracted by the giggling group of girls slowly congregating around them. Half of them shooting lazers from their eyes at her while the other half shoots love hearts at Castiel.

"Uh, so, you want to get out of here?"

"Sure. Anything beats staring down your fan club." She says as she stuffs her journal back into her bag.

Cas leads Lavynder past the crowd of gawking girls, ignoring the lustful comments and hoping she doesn't hear the snide remarks about her. He peeks over his shoulder to make sure they werent being followed. "So what should we do?" He asks once he is sure they are safe.

"Hmm...I could go for some frozen yogurt."

"That sounds good."

"Yaya's Froyo, it is then?"

Cas nods, leading the way as they walk in silence.

It is a great day for a cold treat. The sun is warm enough to comfortably embrace her exposed skin but not too warm to turn icecream into a soupy bowl of sugary mess within a matter or seconds.

Cas holds the door open for her when they arrive and she immediately makes her way to the self serve station where she fills her paper bowl with the blueberry vegan option. Cas gets right to work too, generously filling his cup with strawberry frozen yogurt. They each pack on the toppings before bringing their froyo to the scale in the checkout counter.

Cas places his on the scale first before nudging Lav to add hers too. "I've got it."

She raises an eyebrow but doesn't protest as he pulls out his wallet. She knows it's no use once he makes up his mind.

After paying, they find a secluded seat in the corner that slightly shields them from the few prying eyes in the shop.

"Thanks for the Froyo. It's a nice treat." She says before taking a blissful bite.

"Don't mention it. I kind of owe you after that disaster date in your dorm."

She flashes a cheeky grin. "Yeah, you definitely owe me for that. Although it wasn't all bad...well, maybe not for you anyway."

He lifts his red brows. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I mean you did get to see me in a towel and you kissed me, albeit in front of your groupies."

"I guess you're right. You did fill out that towel nicely."

"Shush it," she cries as she leans over the table to playfully slap his arm.

Castiel just laughs and she smiles. It is nice to see him laugh like this, she thinks as she admires the slight crinkling of his eyes. She takes in his long red hair and his broad shoulders, trailing her eyes down his tattooed arms. He is leagues away from the troublesome punk she used to date in highschool, not just in looks but in personality. He is much more refined and mature than she ever remembered him to be. He has become so serious and mysterious. It is fun getting to know him again.

"What's on your mind?" He asks as he clocks the softness in her inquisitive stare.

She waves her hand. "Nothing serious. Just admiring how you have changed."

He leans forward while grinning smugly. "And how is that?"

She laughs at him and pokes his nose. "Don't give me that look!"

He smiles lifting his eyebrow. "Well? I'm waiting."

"Fine. For starters... You're a lot more focused and level-headed than you used to be."

"Yeah?"

"Hmm, you still have hints of your hot-temper though, but in a different way. Like if then you were a wild fire, now you're an inexstinguishable coal fire."

He chuckles as she throws here hands around to paint the picture. "Inexstinguishable coal fire, huh?"

"Yes! You're totally hot in every sense of the word! And it's crazy because I always knew you'd be a big deal and here you are, a very big deal. Maxing out venues, trending MVs, hella fans. It all looks really good on you Cas because it's clear you've worked really hard for it. Seeing you be so serious about your music makes me want to push harder in the art world. I want to be successful too."

"You will be. You've already shown how impressive you are by throwing that gala thing."

"You think?"

"Of course. Don't sell yourself short. You've always stood out. You just need time to let things fall in place."

She smiles, taking another bite of yogurt.

"Besides, you have changed a lot too. You aren't the doe-eyed little girl you were in highschool. You're much more sure of yourself. You still run around campus like a chicken with your head cut off, but you seem like you're less nosy now."

"Shut it!" She wrinkles up her nose as he laughs.

"I guess I finally learned a lesson or two. Especially after passing out."

"I hope so... I prefer my date to be conscious. And if you're going to rip my shirt again, it would be nice if it led us somewhere other than the infirmary." He says cheekily.

"Oh? And where exactly should it lead?" She asks in mock-concern.

He takes a spoonful of yogurt to bite back a grin.

"And weren't you the one who said 'choose your words carefully?'"

"I did. And I am." He says staring into her purple eyes as he takes another bite. She gives him a playful side-eye and continues eating her treat. And they quietly savor their yogurt for a while.

"Lavynder?"

"Hm?"

"You look sexy today." He says as he follows the trail of the charm hanging down from her black velvet choker.

Caught off guard she brings her hand in front of her face, giggling as she blushed. "Ah, stop being sillyl! I wasn't ready for that one."

He smiles at her, enjoying how cute she is. He wonders if he should keep hassling her, although he isn't lying. She is really sexy wearing a top that looked more like black lingerie than the satin lace-trimmed Cami it is.

"Seriously Lav, you can't wear that and expect-"

A phone starts ringing, startling them both.

"Oh, that's me. Sorry!" She says digging through her bag to grab it. She looks at the phone and adds, "It's Rosa. She's been having a really hard time lately. Mind if I answer?"

Cas shakes his head.

Lavynder answers, "Hello? Oh... Hey Leigh is everything ok? Oh...uh...Ok...um...Sure. I'll be right over." She hangs up the phone.

"Is everything alright?" Cas asks, noticing the change in mood.

"Yeah... I hope so. Do you mind walking me to Rosa's apartment?"

"Of course not."

They finish the last few bites of frozen yogurt before gathering their things to go. Castiel observes the drooping pout of her lips and the far off gaze in her eyes as they stroll the street. Should I press her, he wonders. But he decides it's best not to pry.

When they arrive outside Rosa's apartment she mumbles, "We're here."

He nods, his eyes still fixed on hers.

"Thanks Cas. I had fun." She gives him a weak smile.

Castiel pulls her into a hug, giving her a gentle squeeze before he lets go. "Text me, ok?"

She nods and takes a step up, watching the redhead trot away.

"Castiel?"

He turns around.

"Everything is going to be okay?" She says timidly. Her eyes are wide and glossy. It takes every ounce of self control for him not to rush over to hug her again and bombard her with a billion questions.

"It is," He responds. His voice is solid and warm.

"Thank you." She smiles, this time a little stronger. She finds the strength to finish the short ascent to the apartment building door.

Cas waves a salute before disappearing down the street.

[tarithenurse]

New Years Eve

Pairing: Sam Wilson x Avenger!Reader Content: Pining, fluff, lemons. Don’t read if you’re not old enough. A/N: Refound the draft for this which I must have started back in December 2017. Thought it was about time to finish it...even if it’s not really NY Eve soon. And still...didn’t do proper proof reading. Sorry.

”The party of the year”, had been the way Tony described it when he secured your attendance for his New Years bash more than two months ago. Since then, you’d only heard rumours about the plans, and you’d been too preoccupied about getting through your solo-mission to spare a thought. That’s why you’d more than happily accepted when Wanda and Natasha had offered to sort whatever was needed that night.

Leaning back in the car seat, you really hope your two friends and co-Avengers have kept their end of the promise, whatever it might entail. No texts or calls have come your way which had been rather relaxing. For a while. Now not so much. Both Wanda and Nat are perfectly capable of being reasonable adult with common sense, but sometimes they end up in a mood where they wind each other up. Add Clint to the mix and the result will be disastrous, yet brilliant, pranking. For all you know, you might be on the way back to a cellophane covered room and a New Year’s outfit suitable for disguising the wearer as a flamingo.

...

Even after very careful inspection of your rooms, you’ve not been able to find any pranks lurking. And the outfit? It couldn’t have been better which is good because a few hours from arrival to party-start wouldn’t have left you with a whole lot of option. Why not re-use a dress or something? That’s what you normally would, but in usual Stark style the party has to be themed and this time it’s “animals” – hence the worry about the flamingo. But you’re in luck and the outfit is perfect.

More than perfect, you admit to yourself as you smooth a hand over the tightfitting number you’ve wriggled into. Tiny, faux scales in an oily-black shade is covering your body, only broken by the plunging cleavage and daring slit at along the thigh and a series of red accents that shimmer like fire across you chest and hips. Unfortunately, it does little to steel your nerves. It’s too…too…little! You feel exposed, naked.

A knock on the door barely precedes Natasha and Wanda who come barging in. They’re ready to go (one as a tiger and the other representing her alias’ namesake) and are here to put the last touches to their plan.

…

“I feel…like someone else!”

The woman staring back at you from the mirror is perfect. Dark makeup compliments the outfit (normally you’d only go as wild as mascara), and the usually unruly hair has been tamed into a surprisingly long, sleek braid that on its own looks like the snake you symbolize.

“You don’t like it?” Wanda cocks her head, causing the plushy tiger-ears to wobble endearingly.

You frown at the mirror. “I…I do! It’s just so…not how I normally look…” Do you? “That there,” you gesture helplessly, “she’s…I mean…hot and I’m not.”

“Jeez, good thing we got you sorted then.” Natasha’s adjusting the red/black corset one last time but spares a glance in your direction. “It’s about time you see what everyone else sees.”

Everyone? There’s no room in your head to consider the possible implications of that, so you try to ignore the hot bubble of nerves in your stomach. It’s just Nat and Wanda saying it. They’re your friends. Supportive, sweet, honest…but not objective. Hell, you wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of the guys would claim you were pretty either. Like Tony, he compliments anyone he meets on their outfits or whatnot (even if there’s nothing new about it), and Thor and Steve are the biggest sweetheart although one is quiet and the other is boisterous about it. Yeah, but what about Sam. And there you go, thinking exactly what you didn’t want to.

Sam used to be your friend. A buddy you hung out with and who showed you the ropes when you joined the Avengers. You still try to do that, but each moment around him is close to painful because you don’t see him as a casual friend anymore. You should because that’s what you guys are…but it’s not enough. What you feel for him is so much more. Trusting him with your life would be the easiest thing. And there’s no limit to what you’d do for him both in the field and outside to make sure he is safe and happy. Fuck.

“Hey! Viper, where you at?” Nat’s voice reaches through the swirling thoughts.

Both ladies are waiting at the open door, ready to head out. Mumbling an apology, you hurry after them, hoping they don’t notice your quickened breath and pulse.

“Why a black snake?” Standing in the elevator, it’s only now that it strikes you as odd. “I mean…as Viper it would make sense to use that for the animal tonight.”

“People might get suspicious,” Wanda shrugs, busy inspecting her nails.

Nat’s busy looking for something in her tiny purse but manages to talk past a thin knife: “Bwe’ide, ‘omeone elwe claimed it.”

…

You’d been lucky that there already were plenty people at the venue, meaning you could snake in between the other guests and head straight for the bar (ditching your friends at the same time).

“Gin ‘n tonic, please.”

Waiting for the drink, you look around the place. It’s busy, both at the bar running the length of the ball room, but also at the place in general. Hundreds of people are milling about, snatching canapés from trays carried by various birds (not actual birds, but waiters dressed as flamingos, cranes and so on). Huge tables with champagne pyramids is the only “classic” New Year’s theme while the place has been invaded by what appears to be an entire jungle. Lush green plants and exotic flowers create section in the large area while trees and hanging plants mingle above the heads of the guests, infiltrating the chandeliers to the point where you don’t think they will ever get free again.

“There y’are!” Nat’s smoky voice curls around you together with your arm. “Found the others by the palm trees. Steve’s a cat with yarn and all.”

It’s impossible not to take than bait, so you let her lead the way as soon as you got the cool drink in hand. They’re a sight to behold. Not just Steve the Kitten, but also Tony the Unicorn (sporting a long horn with which he attempts to skewer hors d’oeuvres when Pepper the Peacock isn’t looking) and well, probably everyone, but of course your mind is being silly and making sure to get stuck on the sight of the one person you shouldn’t watch.

Hot damn. Green scales glitter in the light as they adorn Sam’s suit, making it looks as if a viper’s curling around his body in a way you wouldn’t mind mimicking. No! I shouldn’t think that. At least he hasn’t noticed you because he’s too busy examining the rear end of Tony.

“You installed cooling?” His warm voice muffled by the fake tail hanging down.

“Wha’?! He’s got air-con?!” An edge of betrayal is powering Rhodes’ disbelief. “Man, you said I couldn’t get my exo cooled!” Hurrying over to take a look through Stark’s rear, he pushes Sam aside.

“Hey! Wa–” But Sam never gets further.

His eyes are scorching your skin but it’s impossible to tell what he’s thinking. Out of sheer nervousness, you fidget with the metal straw in the drink, almost inhaling the clear liquid. Suddenly, the dress is too revealing, causing your guts to clench in a desperate plea for hiding, but the moment you try to move to get a bit behind Nat and Bucky, you feel the air breeze through the slit. Shit. Heat is rushing through your body.

“You’re looking good.” It’s Steve. “Like what Wanda and Nat have done, sticking with the venomous snake theme.” His friendly chuckle helps you soften up a bit as memories of your old life flashes by.

Growing up in the slums in the biggest city in South America had taught you a lot – even more so during the hardest periods where you stole away to survive in the jungle instead, figuring it was safer than being near the gangs and drug cartels. In hindsight, neither option could’ve been considered safe, but that was at least you learned enough to eventually take up the fight. Try to protect innocent people from the violent crime lords. That’s how you’d gotten onto the Avengers’ radar. Why they came to capture you. It was a good thing Clint had been there on that trip because he convinced the others to bring you back.

“Thanks. Feels odd not to wear something more…practical.”

A broad smile flashes. “I get it. Penguin suits are fine, but they aren’t made for moving.”

“That too.” Need to get away. “’Scuse me.”

Slipping away between the myriad of guests, you circle the room once while pretending to admire the decorations. In reality, you’re scoping the place for quiet corners and easy escape routes. But soon enough your feet are carrying you back to the bar for a refill. From there it’s possible to see most of the room…including the random flashes of a familiar green. My colour.

…

How can it not be near midnight?! It’s never been this awkward hanging out with the team. Sure, the chatting and fun is still going on…it’s just you that finds it hard to feel comfortable in your own skin as long as your near Sam. You’d tried talking to him, pretending everything’s fine. Normal. No unrequited love tearing you up from the inside, making it feel like someone has dripped your old venoms straight into your heart.

So you try to spend your time on the dance floor where no one expects you to carry on a conversation as you can lose yourself in the rhythms. Otherwise it’s the bar that calls, luring you with cold G&Ts until your head is buzzing comfortably. Not drunk…because you never know what can happen. 4th of July was bad, you remember, pushing the ice cubes around in the tall glass.

A delicate but strong hand clamps onto your shoulder, startling you.

“Relax, hon, just me.” The redhead takes a seat beside you. “Do you want me to ask or are you just gonna talk?”

“’Bout what?”

You don’t even have to look at her to know she’s rolling the eyes. “Why you moping.”

“Oh.” The straw clinks against your teeth. She’s bluffing. “Ask away. Doesn’t mean I got anything to tell.”

Somehow managing not to spill the martini, Nat whips around to face you. “Right, of course not. ‘Cause it’s not like you’ve been harbouring a huge crush on a special gentleman.” Your glare doesn’t discourage her. “Maybe you should consider why the viper was taken so quickly.” And with that she floats away, drink in one hand and hips swaying elegantly to the music.

…

Dancing with Steve is an interesting experience: as physically gifted as he may be, this is one thing he has a hard time getting the hang on although he does his best to follow your instructions while both of you are grinning like fools, the ending of the song still brings a certain relief. Until you turn around straight into Sam’s arms. For a second, he seems just as baffled as you do, but then his trademark crooked grin lights up his face.

“Guess there’s no way about it now…wanna dance?” A warm hand is already skimming along your hip although the other waits for your decision.

It’s odd how perfectly his fingers fit around yours, how his arms seem to create a bubble of calmness that seeps into you until your breath is even and your heartbeat follows an unheard rhythm. Fingers with blood-red nails slither across venomous-green faux scales until coming to a rest on Sam’s shoulder.

“Didn’t know you liked that colour.” It looks amazing on him. “You should use it in your uniform.”

They’re playing an old Frank Sinatra song that you’ve heard a million times, allowing your brain to switch off and Sam to lead you effortlessly.

“I’ve thought about it…didn’t wanna to steal from you, tho’.”

He twirls you in his arms before dipping you, causing your heart to pound rapidly against the ribs so hard he might hear it (especially considering how close to your cleavage his ear is). Not like you haven’t stolen anything already.

“Oh, is that so?” Pulling you back up, chest against chest, it’s evident that you must have spoken your thoughts. “What’d I steal, babe?”

Babe. Sure, he’s used nicknames before. He’s the master of thinking up witty monikers for everyone on the team and failing that there’s always the classical endearments which he freely uses for everyone. This time, though, it’s spoken in a soft purr that makes it sound anything like the usual banter. You can’t take your eyes off him as your try to kick your brain back into action. A quick sweep of the tongue to get your mouth working brings back the taste of lipstick and G&T, brings Sam’s focus onto the red colour adorning your lips and his eyes darken momentarily.

Maybe you should consider why the viper was taken so quickly. Nat’s words echo in your mind and small details that you’ve never really given much thought start to fall into place. The way Sam always makes sure there’s a spot on the couch on movie nights, or how he somehow checks in a bit more frequently on missions than with the others. He even knows how you like your tea and coffee, despite the fact that you aren’t sure yourself.

“Sam…” you bite your bottom lip, still nervous.

“[Y/N]?”

Somewhere outside the bubble he’s created, the music is still playing, and people are getting closer to the new year, but inside, it’s just the two of you standing closer than humanly possible, allowing your lips to brush easily over his. Maybe the soft sigh is from him, it doesn’t matter. Just the fact that he recaptures your lips to deepen the kiss is important. His hand travels up the back to cradle your neck, the other arm drawing you closer.

…

The party is far away across town when the new year approaches. Clothes are discarded around the familiar room as Sam looks at you from under heavy lips. His hand is resting on your head that bobs slowly in unison with your hand. Each time the tip of your tongue twirls around the crown of his cock he hums in approval and you can feel his muscles work under the free hand you’re supporting yourself with partially.

His erection twitches as moans become groans, maybe spurred on at the quiet laughter you can’t hold back. It’s exhilarating to have such power over him, but next moment it’s gone as he pulls your away. Sam’s got you on your back quicker than you’d anticipated, lips trailing hot over the goosebumps covering your body and then…then he’s the one in control as mouth, tongue and fingers play you like an instrument, coaxing sounds from you that increasingly sound like his name. Sound like begging.

Your limbs are shaking when he pulls you onto his lap. Hands on your hips, the gorgeous man allows you to set the pace after he has aligned the throbbing cock with your wet core, and as you finally glide down the shaft, as he fills you up more than anyone has before, both of you cling on.

Open mouths breathing hard. Sweat glistening on skin. Moans. Strangled cries of pleasure. Partially suspended above your arching body, your name tumbles from Sam’s lips while his hips rock into you. Harder, faster. Your legs are on the verge of cramping from the iron hold around his waist, ankles locking behind his backs while your nails are digging into his shoulder blades.

Outside the window, fireworks light up the night sky, their explosions nearly drowned out by his name as you both tumble over the edge and into the hazy sea of bliss.

[avidfanficwriter]

The Other Sister (Chapter 2)

Characters: Steve Rogers(AU!) x OFC.

Summary: After five years of marriage, Steve Rogers finds himself questioning everything that his wife, Annabel has ever told him thanks to the impromptu visit by her troubled younger sister: Addison; whose existence he’s just learned about fives years prior. His only question now is: who verison is the truth? His loving wife? Or the troubled sister? 

Ratings: M.

Warnings: Mentions/indications of depression, mentions of sexual abuse, indication of mental abuse, drug abuse, alcohol abuse. (Warnings will be updated as chapters come)

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. 

Tags:  rangotangomango  lilulo-12  wolflhards 

The day of their wedding, Steve felt sick, even arriving at the venue was a difficult task, every turn that brought them closer only quickened his heart rate. "She's off drugs?" he double checked with his wife-to-be.  He'd gone over the worse case scenarios in his head and even as he tried to calm himself down, convince himself that he was overreacting, He couldn't stop the thoughts that continued to pile up.

"I told her to be clean." Annabel said quietly, "I'm sure she'll listen." He didn't believe it and was half convinced neither did she.

Their wedding was different than the usual, not at all what her parents had envisioned or the guests. They were going to have a short party before the wedding, a few drinks would be served and then the wedding would begin and the dinner afterwards. Instead of going straight into their hotel rooms and get ready, they mingled with their guests. Annabel spots Addison after a short while, Steve feels her hand squeeze his arm and she gasps. "Oh, she came and she looks drug free!" His eyes fall to the mystery sister and he's taken back. She looks normal... to normal. She's in a light blue dress that comes down to her knees and her hair is pulled into a bun, it's almost more shocking that she doesn't look a thing like Annabel or her parents. It's no wonder they were able to just forget her, she was the odd child.

"Addy, you're here!" Annabel squealed as she rushes towards her sister, she towers over her full of glee.

"You sent me a plane ticket," She responds in a monotone voice as Annabel engulfs her in a large hug. Addison has a internal struggle as to how to respond, hugging felt to impersonal and not hugging felt rude, in the end she stayed still, her mind overthinking too much to remember to actually do one of the options.

"Shit, I didn't tell mom and dad you were here." Annabel suddenly confesses.

Addison chokes on her breath, it's like her body forgot how to function, she can't move. She is scared to death, stuck between wanting her sister to never let her go and tossing herself in front of a moving vehicle. All she can hope is her sister changes her mind, by some miracle maybe the stars will align and every god that exists or a genie will appear and give her this one wish that she's forced to leave. Annabel will shout, scream and force her to leave this place and never return.

If only fate was that nice.

Annabel taps gently on her sisters back before she's suddenly pulled away and her worst nightmare comes true. Clear as day, there she is. "Addison." She hears and now she's positive she'll never start breathing properly. That she'll die, her heart is going to stop and she'll be tossed in a garbage bin. There's a silent plea for help that is conveyed through her eyes as she comes face to face with the woman that gave her life. Annabel stands aside the two women, her eyes going back and forth between the two women watching silently.

"Mo-Courtney... Uh.. Mrs. Shaw." She struggles at first, her voice is almost non-existent and her eyes drop immediately. She's been forced to see the disappointment that laid dormant in her mother's green eyes that she didn't think she could handle it today. Her mother looks exactly the same, dressed far better than everyone, the same color hair dye, her body covered in jewelry. Her mother was lavish but classy.

"What makes you think you have any right to be here?" She remarks turning up her nose. "And wearing that ill-fated color? Blue is not a flattering color on you, you would know that if you weren't to busy shoving illegal substances into your body."

Addison stands still, her eyes tracing lines in the ground as she faces her mother's berating. "You have some nerve showing up. What is your plan? To ruin this event? Are we not welcome to one decent memory in this family that will not be ruined by you?" She feels herself growing smaller, like a doormat being trampled on which only worsens when her father joins the 'kick Addison party.' He's not one to spare feelings, his insults come quicker and harsher, he doesn't hold back. "You ruined this family with your refusal to grow up and you think you have the right to be here? That you can pick and choose when to be part of this family! You're not welcome here." He spits.

Addison wants to try to make the situation better, say her sister invited her and that she only came out of remorse but it won't come out. Nothing is coming out. Not a single word. She has tears in her eyes and her breath is shaky as she tries to contain herself. "You came here to screw up this day? Like you did every other day of your lives? Ruin your sisters day because what? You need drug money?" Her father shouts, reaching into his black slacks and pulling out his wallet, he grabs the loose dollars her has and tosses them at her. "There now be gone."

Steve isn't far from the abuse when he notices Addison, she's small compared to the three and her eyes never leave the ground. The green paper slowly falls to the ground at her feet but she still refuses to move. All he wants to do is run over and console her, shout at them and force them to act their ages but their is in-laws. His family and as much as he hates to admit it, maybe she deserved this. It could be her wake up call. The one thing she needs to get her act together. He watches helplessly, waiting for the moment he'd heard all to much, Addison's explosion. Every story Annabel had confessed to him, all ended the same way, she would threaten them or worse lash out at them and storm off. Only the moment never comes.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw." Addison simply says in response to their brutal words and walks away. Steve's eyes follow her as she leaves them, trying to disappear from their eyesight and he notices she wipes her eyes and takes a deep breath. It's out of character and even her parents are left speechless, glaring in the direction she had disappeared to. Steve chalks it down to her trying to be good for her sister's wedding.

Shockingly, their wedding went off without a hitch, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw sat in the front row, sobbing as they watched their only daughter walk down the aisle to get married, Addison was seated in the last row, emotionless as the ceremony began. it was how she remained throughout the night, withdrawn. Steve, on the other hand was full of emotions, a stabbing pain in his gut began when his wives, father Gregory began his speech at the dinner.

"My beautiful daughter. The light of my life. My reason for living. The day you were born and I held you in my arms for the first time, I knew you were destined for greatness. I could see it in those tiny little eyes and standing here before you I know it came true. I am so proud of the woman you've turned into, how strong you are. You're the best daughter a father could have. While it breaks my heart to have to give my only daughter away, I know that you'll be taken care of. That is all I want for you. I love you and I'm so excited to see this new chapter of your life begin." His speech seemed to be crafted to hurt Addison, each word meticulously thought out to tell the world, how proud he was of his only child. Steve looked for Addison while Gregory spoke, she was in the back of the room where most of the people they invited for seat fillers were placed. Her eyes were the first thing he noticed, they were empty, it looked like she was staring off into space. She had no reaction to Gregory's words as if she was ignoring them. The speech continued building Annabel up as God's gift and more but Steve remains focused on Addison, watching her for anything. It was almost beginning to annoy him that she wasn't doing anything or even smiling, she seemed to be there in person but mentally elsewhere.

When the time for pictures came there was a part of Steve that cringed when he noticed Addison wasn't invited in them, not even by her sister who wanted her here. Addison stands idly by, almost blending in with everyone else as she smiles.

"Alright, the groom and the bride's family, please." The photographer says ushering the bridesmaids away. Steve flattens his tie against his chest and watches Addison slowly begin to disappear into the crowd as if she's running away.

"Uh... Give me a second." Steve gets out in a rushed tone. "I just need to..." his brain is drawing a blank and facing his now parent-in-laws seemed harder than ever.

"No, no, dear. You have no explaining to us, go find your wife." his mother in law says, gently tapping his shoulder.

Steve smiles, nodding. It's not entirely lying and quickly rushes off in the direction that Addison begin disappearing in. He finds her inside the venue, ordering a soda at the open bar. He had no plan after he went after her, nothing even as to what he is going to say. Addison turns around, nearly crashing into him and lets out a startled gasp.

"I'm sorry." She says in a apologetic tone, immediately cowering down.

"It's my fault." They really were different, he notes. "You're Annabel's sister?" He questions as if he didnt know that already.

The statement gets her attention, she scans the area to see if anyone heard that and finally looks up to meet Steve's eyes. "No... The Shaw's only have one daughter, you must have me confused." There's a small smile at the end of her sentence that doesn't sit well with him. "Congratulations on your wedding."

Steve is left speechless as he watches Addison return to her seat, there a million moves he can make followed by a million things he could say, 'I know you're Addison's sister. Listen everything that has happened is a mistake, a complete misunderstanding." Before he even has a opportunity to do any of that, he's stopped by the actions of his parent-in-laws shouting for the remaining guests inside of the venue to leave. Gregory storms in, face bright red and his body language even more threatening than his voice. "Everyone out! If you're not family, get the hell out! That includes you behind the bar!" Everyone scurries from the room like rats. Steve's attention turns back to Addison whose now standing, her eyes wide and body slowly beginning to tremble.

"What the hell is your problem?" he shouts, pointing his finger accusingly at Addison.

Annabel quickly rushes to her mother's aide, wrapping her arms around her and sobbing.

"You weasel your way into this wedding and what decided to see who you could get to buy some drugs from you?"

Steve takes a step forward, "Whoa-whoa, hold on. Do we even know that she brought drugs here?" He tries to play devil's advocate to no avail.

"Did you or my daughter invite any other known drug users to the wedding?" Gregory questions.

Steve bites his tongue, glancing at his wife whose sobbing hysterically. "I don't have anything, old man." Addison sneers.

"Let me see your purse." He demands, walking towards her, holding out his hand.

"Screw you." Addison shouts, clutching her purse closer to her chest.

"Wait, alright." Steve interrupts. "If you didn't have any drugs on you then we shouldn't have any problems going through your purse, right?" He asks, moving in between the two.

"I have nothing on me."

"Then we'll look into your purse and all will be good, right?" He's praying to God, he's right, it's a misunderstanding. Charlie from his office always seemed a bit sketchy, it could easily be him.

Unreluctantly, Addison hands her purse over to Steve with a shaky breath. He's begging for a tell, something in her eyes that lets him see the truth but there is nothing there. Not even fear or anger, they're just empty. He looks inside the purse, moving a few items around before his eyes grow wide. underneath her wallet was a clear bag of pills, all different shapes and sizes.

"There's nothing in here." He says, gently putting the wallet over the contents again.

There's a surprised reaction inside the room, Annabel gasping and her father, staring at him confused. "You're sure?" he questions.

"Yes." He nods.

"Check the side pockets."

Steve inhales deeply, unzipping the pockets on the side. "Nothing here either."

Gregory doesn't take that as an answer, "No, give me it. There has to be something here." Steve uses his size as an advantage, puffing his chest out and shoving an hand out.

"There's nothing here." He repeats. "Would I lie to you?" Gregory chews on his lower lip, exhaling sharply. With a quick look to Addison, he fears the truth will soon fall out of his mouth. "Addison, I think it's time you leave." Steve shoves the bag into her hands.

Without another word, Addison grips the bag and quickly leaves the room without a look behind her. Gregory who is still filled with anger, moves behind the bar pouring a shot of whiskey and quickly drinking it. Annabel and her mother escape to the bathroom to adjust their makeup, both reeling emotionally from the events. He lets out a deep breath before heading in the same direction Addison went down earlier.  The sour taste in his mouth is only getting worse as he spots her on the sidewalk, a cigarette between her lips as she anxiously waits for her car. "What the hell is wrong with you? Your sister invites you here to extend an olive branch and you bring a bag of pills? Are you capable of only making bad decisions?" He shouts at her long before he even gets near her.

"An olive branch? Is that what you think that was?"

"Why do you think you're here?" Steve asks, tossing his hands up in the air.

"Yeah, you're right. The one time my sister allows me to be apart of this family, I screw it up by bringing a shit ton of pills."

"I just lied for you. I lied to my father-in-law for you!" He's lost all ability to control himself now.

"I didn't put those pills in there!" She closes the space between them, rising to the tips of her toes.

"Who did, huh?"

"I don't know but I didn't."

He chuckles, "Oh my god. You're pathetic." It takes a minute for what she's saying to actually hit him and he can't help but let out another chuckle, rubbing his clean shaven face. "Wow! You really think that they... that Gregory and Courtney put those in your purse?"

"I wouldn't put it past them."

"You don't even know them!" Steve shouts.

"Neither do you." She scoffs, shaking her head. "You think you're marrying into the brady bunch, huh? Sweet wholesome family with their little dog Tiger out in the backyard? Let me tell you something, it takes two awfully screwed up people to make one fucked up kid don't you think?"

"You're blaming them for your decisions?"

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, now does it?" She tosses her cigarette onto the ground and shakes her head. "Like I said congratulations on marrying into the Brady Bunch. Just make sure your dog doesn't get hit by a car." Addison smirks, walking into the parking lot, refusing to take the blame for anything or even share a thank you.

That was almost six years ago, he could barely handle their fight outside of the wedding, how was he supposed to handle a few weeks with her living inside of his house?

Annabel could lie, claim something came up, they had an emergency and she could no longer stay. Only his brain wouldn't let him, technically his mother wouldn't. "We forgive people for their past mistakes, some day, you'll be the one who makes a mistake and wishing someone would forgive you." She had beat that phrase into him when he was just a young boy.

Damn his mother, damn her inspiring speeches and damn him for being a good son and listening.

If his mother was privy to any of the thoughts running rampant in his head, she'd flip over in her grave. Even worse, she'd probably rise up from the grave and whack him on the back of the head with a rolled up newspaper.

Rather face the possibility that his mother would be ashamed of him, he took action. Hiding anything of value they had. Art, trinkets, jewelry; anything that she could make even the tiniest bit of money off of to support her habit. It was wrong and his mother would be annoyed that he was not seeing the best in people but she wasn't someone who had the best inside of them. If he could, he'd replace the furniture just to prevent her from infecting it.

Two days before she gets there, the contractor has another problem. "Listen, the kitchen it's done..."

"Why does it sound like there is a 'but' at the end of that?"

He chews on his bottom lip, "Whoever you got to do that wiring on short notice, he did a shit job."

'What does that mean?"

"It means you got a faulty kitchen. You flip the switch for the light and the breaker blows, turn on the disposal and the breaker blows, plug the fridge in--"

"The breaker blows." Steve finishes his sentence for him. "I get it, what can you do to fix that?"

"Redo it."

"So do that."

"It's gonna take at least a week."

"I don't have a week. I have two days." Steve panics, rubbing his palms together to calm the nerves. "What if I tripled your money?"

"Still can't be done in a week."

He begged, promised and bribed the contractor to find anyone who could do a good job in short notice but there wasn't anyone willing to take on the job who could guarantee the job would be done in a two days. He was screwed and the hours were closing in. Miss Addison "Trouble" Shaw was on her way and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Not even if he tried.

"When is the last time you talked to Addison?" Steve asks just before they go to bed.

"I don't know... probably the wedding." She looks over and notices her husband is laying down wide eyed. "Baby, it's going to be fine."

"How can you say that? With the shit that happened at the wedding? She was invited there and screwed that up. What's to say we don't wake up one morning and find half of our stuff gone? Or worse some guys standing over the bed with guns at our heads?"

"Babe, she's not the mafia." The statement doesn't comfort him as much as it should, instead it only makes him feel worse. At least if she was the mafia, there was a chance he could bargain their way out of death. Launder money for them, sell illegal stuff, hide people, whatever it took he would do it. Addison wasn't as simple, she was a no good drug addict.

[djddueces]

An Idol in Teal Chapter 2

JUST FINISHED. Hope you guys like! Feedback is appreciated please. 

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SAPPORO: September 2006

The sun shone bright through the girl’s bedroom, illuminating the whole room. Deep in her slumber, the sun’s rays did not faze her. She was sleeping silently. Her light blue bangs covered her eyes, and her long pigtails fell behind her to the floor. Suddenly, a loud noise startled the girl and she sat up, panicked.

“HUH? WHAT? WHO’S THERE? INTRUDER ALERT!!” she screamed as she threw her plushies at her door.

“Are you done making a ruckus or do I need to come in there?” The woman behind the door seemed angry, and the girl did not want to piss her off.

“Come in mom…..” She groaned. The doorknob made a clicking noise as it turned, and appearing in the doorway was a woman. She had short baby blue hair and turquoise eyes. She was wearing a business dress and had a briefcase in her hand. She glanced at the girl sitting in the bed.

“Seriously Miku, I must have called you a million times. You have school today. I mean, you’re 15 years old, I shouldn’t have to wake you up anymore.” Miku scratched her head and laughed nervously.

“Heh heh, I know, I know, but you know I do need my beauty sleep. It’s what keeps me so flawless.”

“If you were so flawless, you wouldn’t have failed math and had to take make up classes in summer school, now would you,” her mom said through gritted teeth. Miku, mouth agape, sighed.

“Listen honey, just try to pay more attention next time and don’t sleep in class. I mean, it’s bad enough you don’t have anyone to talk to or be around, but just try to be a little more social.” She walked over to the bed and sat down next to Miku, hugging her. She started speaking Japanese to Miku.

“Ganbate Miku. Daisuki.”

“Mom, you know English is easier for me to understand right?”

“Embrace your Japanese heritage Miku.” “Of what, weeaboos??” She grabbed her plushie and snuggled it.

“Just make sure you eat and don’t miss the train today, okay? I love you. I’ll be home tonight with dinner. What do you want?”

“Can we go out later? I kind of been meaning to ask you that, but I know you’ve been swamped with work.” Her next words were almost inaudible.

“I miss you….”

“Huh? What was that Miku? I didn’t catch your last part.” She tilted her head at her daughter.

Miku dropped her plushie and waved her hands back and forth rapidly. “It’s nothing mom don’t worry.” Her mom kissed her forehead and stood up.

“Sure, we can go out tonight, but make sure to be ready by about 7 okay? I love you. I’ll talk to you later.” She walked over to door and closed it gently behind her. Miku plopped back down in her bed.

“I’m not alone….I have you Sailor Moon.” She picked up the plushie and held it close to her chest. “She didn’t have to point it out….It’s not my fault I can’t make friends. I’ve tried so many times, just nothing clicks. Plus,” she leaped out of bed and picked up a toy microphone, “I’m going to be an idol anyways! Idols don’t need friends! We make our own rules whenever we want, go to sleep whenever we want, and do whatever we want whenever we want!” But was she really happy? Was all of this just a cover up of how Miku really felt deep down inside? Did she really want a friend? Or did she simply want to be acknowledged by others? The blue-haired girl changed out of her pajamas and into her school uniform, which consisted of a black blouse, black button up shirt and black thigh high socks. She also grabbed her pink jacket and headphones.

“Now where is my iPod?” She searched around the room for it. It wasn’t anywhere to be found.

“I’m always losing things….Maybe it’s downstairs in the back room.” She grabbed her backpack and just as she was about to leave, she glared into the mirror, sluggishly.

“My hair is a mess….I love my pigtails and all, but they’re SOOOO hard to take care of.” Grabbing the brush from her dresser, she straightened out her hair. She rummaged around in her draw for a scrunchy also. “I think I’ll go bun today. Sound good Sailor Moon?” The plush didn’t respond. “Figures….Talking to inanimate objects again, you really are alone Miku…..” She carefully folded her pigtails together and crunched them up. With one hand on her hair and the other with the srunchy, she carefully tied her hair into a bun. Looking into the mirror, it turned out terribly.

“I look like a fool….Maybe I can do…..” She took a chunk of her hair and pulled it through the scrunchy, letting it fall into a single ponytail.

“THERE WE GO! Bun isn’t too big and the ponytail falls just about right. Rather thicker ponytail than I would have liked, but I’ll live.” She smiled and trotted downstairs in search of food.

Once in the kitchen, she looked around for her iPod still. “Still no sign. And I can’t locate my phone either. UGH.” Her stomach rumbled and she patted it while looking at the clock.

“Let’s see, it’s 7 am now. School starts at 9. Train ride is about a half hour, and I still have to look for my belongings.” She reached into the pantry and grabbed a Pop Tart. Soon after, she took a mini carton of milk from the fridge and glugged it in one shot. She let out a long and deep “AHHHHHHHH,” and proceeded to take a bite out of the Pop Tart next. With a Pop Tart in hand, she looked around the house for her iPod and phone.

Walking down the hallway, she passed a room with a glass window. You could see through the glass. The room was located at the end of the hallway, towards the back of her house. She opened the door and came across another door, with no windows in sight. She slowly turned the doorknob and walked into darkness. Feeling the wall for a light switch, she turned it on. In front of her stood a small room, no bigger than hers. There was a huge glass wall in the center that went up to the ceiling. About halfway down to the floor was a giant audio panel. There were dozens of switches on the panel, some of which Miku didn’t even know what they did. To the right was a door that led into the glass room. She walked over to it and entered, closing the door behind her. In the small glass room was a single microphone hanging from the ceiling. She went over and stood in front of the microphone.

“Testing, 1,2, is this thing on?” she said jokingly, knowing everything in the room had been out of commission for years.  The soft carpet underneath her comforted her bare feet. It was as cozy as a bed, and Miku had fallen asleep in this room dozens of times when she wanted to be alone, something that her mom scolded her for multiple times.

“I can’t believe none of this stuff works anymore.” She squat down and fell backwards, looking up at the microphone. She wanted to practice her singing and record music for demos, but her mom refused to get the systems back online. She told Miku that being an idol was a waste of time, and that nothing good with come from it.

“I don’t get it….” She rolled onto her side and looked at the wall. “Mom was a famous DJ….She loved doing it. She knew how to work all of this. So why did she quit? Is it because I was born? Is it because my sperm donor abandoned us?” Thinking about this wasn’t going to make her any happier. Her mom had Miku at a very young age. She was a world famous DJ that while mostly doing shows in Japan, also went to countries to DJ, such as the USA and countries in Europe. As stupid and childish as it was, Miku blamed herself for her mom giving up her passion. While also having a minor in marketing (what she was doing now, hence the business suit), she knew her mom wasn’t happy. She read about articles about how lots of people would flock to the venue to see her mom perform.

“Mom, what can I do to convince you to teach me all of this?” She once again turned around, this time lying on her belly. “All you wanted me to learn is piano. Why? I dunno, to teach me responsibility? To make me practice something and not be bored. I picked up guitar all on my own. I’m still no good at it. I’m trying though. I won’t give up. I want to become an idol. I want to do what you did. Mom, this is my passion. And I will convince you to teach me, even if I have to beg and plead. You will succumb to my request!” She stood back up and walked out of the room, making sure to turn off the light. She walked out of the other room and back into the hallway. The clock read 7:30.

“Guess I should be going soon, but not without my iPod or phone. Shit, why am I looking for my phone, not like anyone ever texts me anyways….” She checked the den for her iPod, but it wasn’t there.

“AH DAMMIT WHERE IS IT?!” She ran into the living room next, and tore it up. Music was the only thing that kept her sane, and to lose her iPod was the same to her as losing her life. After a few minutes of searching and coming up empty, she thought hard about where it would be.

“Where was the last place I used it. Where is it? Maybe it’s…..” Suddenly, it came back to her. She jolted towards the stairs and ran up. Down the hallway, and next to her room was the bathroom. She opened up the cabinet underneath the sink and found a pink item sitting there. It was her iPod.

“AH THERE YOU ARE MOMMY HAS YOU!” She grabbed it as if it were a sacred item and turned it on. Still full battery. Miku occasionally practiced lip synching in front of the mirror, and left it there when she went to take a shower.

“I’ll never lose you again I promise.” She connected the jack from her headphones into the headphone slot in her iPod and slipped it into her jacket pocket.

“Right, I should be getting to school now. But for what reason? Idols don’t have to go to school!” She put the two headphone buds in her ears and walked downstairs towards the back door.

“Idol, idol, gonna be an idol. Idol, idol, that’s what I want to be!” she sang. It was her passion after all. She dreaded the idea of getting a 9-5, sitting in a cubicle, and doing what her mom did. She convinced her mom many times to get back into her passion, and many times her mother told her no and not to dwell on being an idol. “Hmph, whatever mom,” the light blue-haired girl said to herself while reminiscing. “You do you, and I’ll do me. That way, I can prove you wrong. Miku once again looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. “Shit, 8 am. Gotta run!” She grabbed her keys off the kitchen hook, put a song on her iPod, and ran out the door, locking it behind her. She darted for the train station, which was not that far from her house. Up the block and making a right at the corner, she continue to pace herself, making sure she wasn’t too tired during class. In the horizon, she saw the tracks of the train, elevated about the ocean front. Or was it a giant river? Pond even? “Eh, no time to think about this Miku. You NEED to get on the next train,” she said to herself. “You’re sweet, sweet loving me,” she sang. “Keep me coming, coming, ay ay ay,” she giggled to herself. “Come. Speaking of things coming, THE TRAIN!” The train was pulling into the station. Miku bolted for the steps, running up them fast, knocking someone over in the process. “SORRY!!” she said as she ran.

Once up the stairs, she approached the turnstiles. Grabbing her backpack and flinging it around her, she grabbed her card out of her card holder, smacked it on the panel, and walked through the turnstiles, and with good timing also. The doors opened, and she walked into one of the train cars. It was particular empty for this time of day. “Well, it is Friday after all. Friday, Friday, GOTTA GET DOWN ON FRIDAY!” She laughed as she sang, looking around to make sure no one heard her atrocious singing. “I don’t think I have that bad of a voice.” She continued to sing silently to herself. Soon, the train doors closed, and it took off, next stop, Fukisawa Middle School.

“Here we go. Same shit, different day.” She changed the song of her iPod to something instrumental, and tapped her foot to the beat. And off she went. As she looked through the window behind her, the ocean was a glistening blue, sparkling due to the sun’s rays. You could even see the bottom of the ocean sometimes, that’s how shallow the river was at the base, but as the train ride continued, and the further it extended out, you couldn’t see anything anymore at the bottom, though it was still a bright blue color. Current time: 8:20 am.

“Barely going to make it, but I’ll just dart to my class like usual.” Changing the song again on her iPod, she continued to look out into the ocean. She may have convinced herself that she would be lonely for now, but that wouldn’t be the case forever. She didn’t want friends. She didn’t even want a boyfriend. All she wanted was her idol dreams to come true. She always associated music with adventure, and some songs would pump her up, to the point she would close her eyes and think about the future. It didn’t make sense to other people when she explained it, but to her, it made all the sense in the world. Music plus adventure equaled a lifetime of happiness to her. The more and more she thought of it, the more and more motivated she became. She switched to a Spanish song and started humming the beat to herself. Soon enough, she saw the school through the train windows, which sent her back into deep depression. Once the train came to a stop and the doors opened up, she placed her iPod in her jacket pocket, making sure she had all her belongings, and walked out and down the stairs, the train station directly across from the school gate. The time read 8:50 am.

“Let’s do this.”

As Miku approached the school gates, she was stopped by a tall looking figure.

“ID please,” the tall figure said.

“Can we do this another day? I’m going to be late to class.” Miku said sluggishly.

“I won’t ask again. ID please,” the tall figure said with a stern voice. Scared, Miku flipped her backpack from around her and took out her ID, flashing it to the guard.

“Thank you. Proceed.”

Miku ignored the figure’s gesture and check the time on her flip phone.

“8:55 SHIT.” She ran towards the doors. Her class was on the third floor, so she had to be fast. She ran up the stairs all the way to the third floor.

“Too many stairs today….” She huffed and puffed as she made one last jolt for the classroom door. As the clock read 8:59 am, she reached for the door. Pulling it open, she gave a sigh of relief, and took her seat. Last row from the door, second to last seat, all the kids were seated. Not one made the effort to say good morning to her, and she didn’t even bother to start up a conversation. She saw school as a waste and just stopping her from achieving and pursuing her dream as an idol. Her mom would also kill her if she dropped out of school and didn’t go to college. Miku pulled the chair out from the desk, sitting down and plopping her bag next to her. As she did all of this, the classroom began filling up with kids, the teacher following behind. She was about 5 foot 1, an inch smaller than Miku, with long hair like herself, but instead of light blue, it was dark black. She wore a white short sleeve blouse, a black mini-skirt, and black flats. Glasses complimented her eyes, and she was a little younger than Miku’s mom.

“Good morning class,” the female teacher said.

“Good morning Mrs. Kurosu,” the class said back along with Miku. Miku then turned her head to the window and looked up the sky.

“One day God, I will be an idol. Don’t forget me please.”