#~however~ while he's on the phone is when he gets... well... ~slashed~

[moonfromearth]

- Scary movies are so easy to survive. They never think to just move out or call the cops or something.

Day 4 - The Outcast

"Responsible and level-headed, they're often perceived as a 'Debby Downer.'"

from @windbrook's Slashed Challenge.

[sp0o0kylights]

Here’s the thing about natural—or unnatural, as it were—disasters.

Regular social norms go right out the fucking window.

In Tommy’s case, all it took was to see one news report, highlighting the burning husk of Starcourt, for him to turn to his girlfriend and ask “Do you think…?”

He didn’t bother to finish his sentence.

Didn’t need too—Carol immediately and instantly knew what he was on about.

They were in Tommy’s house, but that didn’t matter. Carol went right for the phone like she owned it (or like she’d been practically raised in said house given she’d known Tommy since he was seven, which meant she might as well own it.)

“He’s not answering.” She reported after a tense moment,

Tommy bit his lip.

“Think he’s still messing around with Wheeler enough to be at her house right now?” He asked, but it was a hail mary and they both knew it.

Carol rewarded his stupidity with a flat stare. “He’s not dating anyone right now, he’s person non grata with that hideous uniform.”

And for other reasons, not that either of them bothered to voice it all.

Tommy opened his mouth again, no doubt to ask something else idiotic in his growing panic, but was stopped by a finger held loftily in the air.

Carol expertly dialed with her other hand, before once again returning the phone to her ear.

This time she got someone.

“Hi Miss Maple, is Mindy home?” 

A pause, and then a rapid-fire back and forth took place, in which Carol:

Assured Miss Maple she was not at the mall.

Was happy to know Mindy was also not at the mall.

Made an appropriate gasping noise upon finding out Mindy had left only an hour before the mall had caught fire and could she talk to Mindy? Pretty please? This is so scary!

--Until Carol was finally connected to Mindy herself.

“No, I'm glad you’re safe.” Carol was saying, after another exchange that to Tommy, felt like some kind of over-complicated girl language where they both made soft reassuring noises until they finally got down to business.

Which in this case, was asking if Mindy saw Steve Harrington, their wayward third, at the mall.

“He was there.” Carol confirmed a scant few minutes later, frown slashing across her face as she hung up the phone. “She said he had the closing shift.” 

Tommy panicked harder. 

“What do we do?”

Carol, bless her, gave him the easiest answer in the world. 

With steel in her eyes, she calmly determined: “We go get him.”

They did.

xXx

Steve was not at the mall. 

One of his obnoxious children was however, and insisted Steve was both fine and had gone home. 

(As if anyone was ever fine after escaping out of a burning building.) 

Lucky for Carol’s temper and Steve both, that proved to be true. 

 “Hello Steven.” Carol greeted the second one of the Harrington’s double doors swung open. “You look like shit.” 

“‘Ro?” Steve asked in blatantly disbelief, squinting at her. 

Give how fucked up one of his eyes was, Carol wouldn’t be surprised if he honestly could’t make her out. 

Steve’s messed up face moved to the left with another blatant squint before he warbled out: “‘Tommy?” 

“Yes, yes, it’s us. Move over.” She flicked her hands into a “shoo” gesture, as Steve dutifully stepped back, allowing them in. 

“What are you doing here?” He asked, somehow managing to sound normal for that one singular line. 

Carol beelined right for the cabinet with the medkit, while Tommy went for the fridge. 

“Taking care of you, idiot. How the hell did you get a black eye in a mall fire?” 

Or choke marks, or any of his other wounds she’d taken in at first glance, none of which looked to be a burn. 

It took a long, long moment for her to get an answer, during which Steve had trailed them both to his kitchen, confused but not fighting their presence.  

“Part of the building collapsed. I--there was--” He struggled for a moment, looking lost in his own kitchen. “A lot happened.” 

“No shit.” Tommy snorted, wrapping a  hand towel around an ice pack before dutifully handing it to Steve. 

“Put that on your eye.” He muttered, when all he got was a blank stare back. 

“Oh.” Steve stared at him, without moving. “Thanks.” 

With another loud snort, Tommy shoved it in his hands, then forced Steve to actually put it against his eye. 

An interaction that did not bode well for the state of Steve’s head. 

“Take that disgusting shirt off.” Carol commanded a few seconds later as she finished laying out medical supplies on the counter. Lined them up like little soldiers gearing up to ship out. 

Bandages, neosporin, alcohol wipes and various other little bits and bobs weren’t going to fix whatever the hell happened to Steve, but given his aversion to hospitals, Carol knew this was as good as she was getting. 

“Buy me dinner first, jeez.” Steve grumbled, but thankfully, complied. 

Or tried too, anyway--he seemed to be reluctant to take the ice pack off his eye now that he figured out that's where it should go, and equally seemed to be having issues raising his arms above his shoulders. 

Carol sent a pointed look at her boyfriend, then jerked her eyes in Steve’s direction when the idiot just stared at her. 

“Let me help you.” Tommy said a moment later, right before Carol decided to throw something at him. 

It took them both a minute, during which Carol rolled her eyes twice at their incompetence, but eventually they managed to get Steve’s busted torso out in open air, and the ice pack firmly back on his eye. 

Carol turned to survey the damage, and nearly dropped the bandages she was holding in shock. 

Tommy too seemed at a loss for words, eyes wide at the sheer amount of bruising. 

Steve was a mess.

More than, a mess--this was the worst state Carol had ever seen anyone in, and the fact that he was on his feet still was a fucking miracle. 

‘Staring won’t fix it.’ Carol told herself harshly, and she knew damn well Steve wasn’t going to fix it either unless someone forced him. 

Hence of course, why they were there. 

“Steven Harrington, did you run from the paramedics?” She demanded, as she finally picked her first weapon (a disinfectant wipe) and strode over to begin her battle. “There is no way they let you go looking like this!”

“They had other priorities.” Steve said defensively, then hissed as Carol got to work. 

“You should have been one of said priorities, idiot!” 

Tommy thankfully, had decided to make himself useful by retreating to the other side of the kitchen and pulling various items out of the fridge and pantry. 

Inbetween her runs for more supplies and hissing insults at how fucking stupid Steve was, Carol identified the makings of grilled cheese sandwiches--their little groups go to favorite. 

Which was good, because it both got him out of the way and meant they could get something in Steve’s stomach before she forced every pain pill she had down his throat. 

“I’m fine guys, really.” Steve protested, as if constantly repeating it would somehow make his words true. 

Carol stared deep into his watery eyes, before jabbing a finger into the center of the largest bruise on his side. 

“Carol!” He howled, bending double and away, panting harshly. 

“That,” She informed him with a pitiless stare, “was for lying.” 

Thankfully the damage wasn’t as bad as she first thought--it seemed to be mostly just bruises. 

Possibly a cracked rib or two, at worst. 

The worst of it was Steve’s eye, and of course, his head, because there was no way he didn’t have a concussion amongst all this. 

(Only time would tell how bad it was.) 

When Steve was as doctored up as Carol could make him, she promptly turned and frog marched him to his parents' overstuffed couch.

“Sit and stay sitting, while I clean up.” She ordered, not waiting to see if Steve would obey. 

She passed Tommy on her way back to the kitchen, a plate piled high with food in his hands. 

“Make sure he takes at least a few bites.” She added, low enough so only he heard. 

He nodded, and for the first time since the three of them had fallen out, Carol felt something in her finally relax. 

Figured it was likely the same for the boys, given their dynamic had always been something one step away from a normal friendship. 

(it wasn’t the relationship her mother had once accused her of having, though granted, they had tested those waters once, but something that sat in between ‘family’ and ‘mutual ownership.’ 

Losing Steve had carved something hollow in her and Tommy both. She’d put on a good show of not caring. Pretended it hadn’t cut deep. 

Getting even a taste of it like she was? 

Carol wasn’t letting him go again.) 

Cleaning up took a minute, long enough hopefully, for the pain meds to kick in, and she didn’t feel too guilty when she came back into the living room and collapsed on the couch, next to Steve (and thus putting him in the middle, between herself and Tommy.) 

He didn’t say anything at first, just leaned into her the second she sat down, like he’d been waiting for her to return. There was a pause, like he was bracing to be pushed off, but when she scooted closer, the tension left him in a silent exhale. 

“I missed you.” He whined softly into her shoulder.

She ran her nails through his hair, silently bemoaning the state of it. “We missed you too, Stevie.”

“I want to be friends again but,” Steve sighed, and Carol watched Tommy tense, staring at Steve with such intensity one would think Steve was about to announce whether Tommy would live or die.

(Honestly, her boys were so stupid sometimes.)

“We can't be mean anymore.” Steve finished. “Not me—but also not, not you guys.”

With an (unfortunately) adorable wrinkle of his nose, he added, “We were too mean.”

Carol rolled her eyes, but only when she was certain Steve was paying more attention to her sweater than her face.

“Compromise. I’ll only be openly mean to people who deserve it.” She countered, as Tommy finally relaxed.

“I can be nicer.” He agreed, slowly sinking down into Steve’s other side.

“Way less mean. No--no more pranks or insults.” Steve continued.

Carol nodded. “Not in public.” She agreed. 

She was not giving up her own personality in private, thank you very much. If that made her an asshole that was fine--it wasn’t like she hadn't been told she was nasty before this. 

“And I’m friends with Robin now. So you hav’ to be friends with her too.” 

“Buckley?” Carol made another face, and knew she fucked up when Steve instantly tried to sit up.

“Robin Buckley. She’s really cool, and--” He started, with that kind of stubbornness Carol knew all too well meant he’d made up his mind and would refuse to change it.

“Fine, fine!” She said quickly, though not without an eye roll. “You have got to stop adopting weirdos though. The kids are enough.”

Steve slowly laid back down. 

“You know about the kids?” 

“Steve Harrington, town babysitter?” Tommy said, something teasing threading through his voice. “Everybody knows, man. You give so many rides home your beamer has gained several bus themed nicknames.” 

“Huh. I hadn’t noticed.” 

“Of course you didn’t.” Carol snorted, before laying her cheek atop Steve’s head. Tommy cuddled up close to his other side, the same way they all used to before their parents started insisting their cuddle piles were “inappropriate.”  

(That hadn’t stopped them. Nothing had stopped them, until Steve had a crisis of consciousness while dating Wheeler. 

It was only half the reason Carol wanted to put her head through a wall.) 

“That’s what you have me for.” She informed him. 

“Yeah.” Carol could feel Steve’s smile, gentle and radiant as always. “Guess I do.”

A nice, perfect moment followed, the one she knew both her and Tommy had been craving. 

Steve, of course, was a creature who required constant reassurance because his awful, neglecting parents never provided any, and she was prepared when he fought against both his pain and sleep to seek it. 

“You guys promise to be nice to Robin? And Nancy, and Jonathan?” He asked it quietly, like he wasn’t sure what they'd do if they said no. 

“Oh God,” Tommy moaned, “I have to be nice to Byers?” 

 Steve stiffened once again, snapping out; “Yes--” 

“We promise, Steve.” Carol interrupted before Tommy’s giant fat mouth could ruin things.  

She moved a hand down to rub gently at his neck, a soothing gesture. 

Tommy, of course, wasn’t done, because Tommy was a moron. “Wasn’t he the guy Wheeler cheated on you with?” 

“We said we promise.” Carol repeated, steel in her voice. 

Tommy met her eyes over Steve’s head, and was greeted with the steel core of his girlfriend’s ‘do as I say or die’ personality. 

“Fine.” Tommy conceded with a pout. “I’ll be nice to fucking Byers.”

 In a mutter he added;  

“Not happy about it though.”

“That’s okay.” Steve mumbled back, seeming to have finally tired himself out. 

“Go to sleep, Steve. We’ll be here in the morning.” Carol told him.

It was a longstanding fear of Steve’s--that people just left in the night without saying goodbye. 

(Likely because his parents kept doing it.)

It didn’t take long, Steve was the kind of guy who fell asleep quickly. 

It was a nice mend to the hole Steve’s departure in her life had made. Carol hadn’t truly been looking forward to living her life without him. 

She’d get him back however she could.

Even if it meant being nice. 

(Carol hated being nice, but she’d do it, for Steve. 

Well. Less for Steve and more to complete the Tommy-Steve-Carol super trio that Carol had lived most of her life in, at least, but she wasn’t stupid enough to say that out loud.

Not now, anyway.) 

xXx

Close to a year later, Carol stood with her arms crossed, staring coolly at one Edward Munson, drug dealer extraordinaire and former (even if he was cleared) criminal. 

He grinned at her, the jerk.

With a supernatural slowness, she turned her gaze to Steve.

“I swear to God Steve you better housebreak him before you bring him anywhere near me.” She said, loud and clear.

Hadn’t she warned him about adopting more weirdos!?

Steve winced. 

“Come on ‘Ro, you promised not to be mean.” He wheedled. 

“I promised to not be mean to people who didn’t deserve it.” She shot back, as Tommy, wisely, stayed silent behind her.

(Robin, she noted, was equally quiet on Steve’s other side.

Normally this would raise alarms—Robin was quick to defend people if she thought Carol was being shitty and as a general rule was never quiet, but it would appear in this case she’d already clocked where Carol was taking this.

Smart girl.)

“Eddie doesn’t deserve—” Steve started but she cut him off with a blue tipped nail, shoved right against his lips.

“Not yet he doesn’t. But Munson,” She leveled her glare on him now, and let him feel the weight of it. “If Steve so much as says your name in a sad tone of voice, I will make your life into the kind of hell that Jason Carver can only dream of. Understand?”  

Behind her, Tommy cracked his knuckles, which was overkill and she’d get on his ass later for being dramatic, but presently she was too busy letting Munson figure out just how serious she was. 

Eddie’s gaze traveled from Carol, to Tommy, Robin, Steve and finally back to Carol in an assessment she frankly, hadn’t thought him capable of. 

She pushed him anyway. 

“I’m waiting, Munson.” 

In a somber tone of voice, Eddie replied; “It’s gotten. Very, very gotten.” 

“Okay, I’m lost.” Steve said, because, as always, he was the last person to know he was in love.

Moron. 

“Good. As long as we understand each other. Now.” Carol tossed her hair back with a quick snap of her hand. “Milkshakes?” 

“Robin--” Steve whined, no doubt wanting her to spell things out since Carol was refusing, but thankfully Buckley also seemed to realize staying quiet was the best course of action, and instead of answering quickly got Steve off track with a jab at his milkshake order. 

Which was of course, why Carol liked her.

(She wasn’t about to share that with Robin just yet. Integrating someone into a trio like theirs was delicate business—and she had a sinking feeling Robin might be sticking around, just like Steve and Tommy had.

As for Eddie Munson? 

Only time would tell.)

[icupblog]

Where did the party go? (batfam x neglected reader) TW: neglect, slight kidnapping

Gotham residents always said that the city could hollow your heart out, that if you lived there long enough you wouldn't care about how many homeless lived in that abandoned building, or how high casulties were every time the Joker got out of Arkham. But at least when gothamites went home they could cuddle up to their loved ones. At least they could have someone coddle them and ask them mundane questions like how their day was and talk about the weather. You on the other hand had no one.

Did you have a family, yes... but they weren't yours, in the sense of whether they would care if you left the house late or if they would come to a dance show you had because you had asked them to (they wouldn't)

So you spent your days working, grinding away at your schoolwork. because maybe Tim would be impressed if you got all A's on your exams, maybe Dick would notice you rather than just ignore your presence, maybe even Jason would give you some semblance of a smirk and tell you good job (you had lost hope for Damian).Oh, how you hoped to live up to your expectations, even for Barbara and Stephanie and they weren't even adopted.

Maybe you knew when you first entered the Wayne Manors beautiful gates that the house would be haunted by something, you just didn't think that something would be you.

You first entered the fiery gates of Bruce Wayne's home when you were 12 years old, unlike the kids that had come before you, you had actually reached double digits before making it to the dark knights home. (well the kids that were there at that moment in time).

The first time you met the man himself was after a funeral. You had just arrived at the Manor a day prior with Alfred escorting you to your room before you slept, and when you awoke there was pure brilliant silence throughout the mansion. It was so surreal you thought you were in a dream, you tiptoed down the massive staircase into the entrance of the house. The windows were slashed with a heavy downpour of thick unyelding rain, almost as if it reflected Bruce's own emotions. He opened the tall doors with superhuman ease (to a small twelve year old at least) and slouched his way into the manor, uncaring to whether his soaked clothes would get on Alfred's beautifully cleaned carpet. He looked up at you and held your gaze for an unseemly amount of time before sighing. You felt as though you should have said something, however upon seeing the man your throat closed up immediately. How could you do anything when just looking at him fills you with a strange foreign emotion? (fear)

When you were 12 you ignored the hints the family would sometimes give you that they were too busy. "Sorry name but I'm pre-occupied besides you're a bit old to ask for my help, right?" Dick would say while he would scroll on his phone. "Okay, uhm, see you around then," "Hey, I was wondering if you weren't too busy with paperwork the-" "No name I'm working got to Alfred if you need anything." "O-okay" Bruce would always be straight forward and blunt, he didn't care, no matter how hard you wanted him too. To him you were nothing more than a mistake a stain on his playboy image as one of his many escapades as Brucie Wayne ended with your mother getting pregnant. "Babs, can you help me with my computer?" "Have you tried switching it off and on again?" "no..." Barbara would always give you some time of day just not a lot... like 30 seconds max.

Then before you could think it could get any worse Tim arrived a Kid around your age, yet he would always sneak off with Bruce and Stephanie (a girl he would bring round, you sometimes could spot her before she disappeared) into the depths of the study and come out hours later looking exhausted and even more irritable before.

It somehow got even worse when Jason came back an evil entity hell bent on ruining your life, and Tim's. He show up outside your school sometimes telling the office workers you were his half-sister and he had to pick you up after school some days. He would shove on the end of his motorbike and hold you in a safehouse for hours on end before realising no one would arrive for you. Upon realising the great Batman didn't care about his one civilian child he would grow furious, breaking things around you as you clinged to whatever you were attached to and cry. Eventually he would grow bored of this old routine and leave you alone.

You tried to tell the family but they would just say "he didn't mean it" "he's not in his right mind name" or even worse they would forget the fact that their child who should be dead by all means kidnapped you and instead asked about his well-being. "Was he angrier or more sad?" "Did you see where you were held? maybe we can reach out to him B". In fact you didn't even realise Bruce Wayne your supposed father was Batman until you had moved out and put the pieces together.

Eventually Cassandra came along, then Damian. You think you were so traumatised by your first encounters by them both that you had blocked them out of your memory. You do however remember coming out of each conversation with an injury.

Let's just say when you eventually became eighteen you were quite frankly done with the family, you had decided to move out asap, so the second you got your college admissions you skedaddled out into metropolis.

Guys how do we feel about this?????

[leashybebes]

However— well, is Tommy a reliable narrator to himself? Sure, Eddie basically stopped talking to him, but what about Tommy? Did he also delay replying to the 118 so that the time between messages stretched out? Did he think they were only trying to be nice by keeping in touch with their teammates’ ex (never mind that he was Hen and Howie’s teammate first) and he’d prefer to not have their ‘pity’ and cut them off (again)? Did he cut them off preemptively and doesn’t see it that way because if he did then he’d have to also face the fact that he’s a little messed up? We probably don’t have time for them to delve into all of this on screen but it’s interesting to chew on. For reasons.

(Chim gets a pass for the post-throat slashing time of no contact because he was… let’s say preoccupied.)

oh 100% hang on let me get my coffee

okay, SO. mr unreliable narrator over here, mr enjoy it while it lasts, is never going to be the one with the full picture, because he sets it up that way - intentional or not, i feel like tommy is someone who has his view of the world and his role in it and just quietly, fatalistically makes that happen.

so i can totally see a world where no one from the 118 reaches out, full stop. but, y'know, phones work both ways, thomas. BUT. for tommy, that's buck's family. they're buck's people. (and look, my wife has a much closer relationship with her family than i do, and a much larger circle of friends, and it took me WAY longer than six months to start feeling like they were our people, not her people i got to hang out with through her.)

we know that tommy's a jealous guy, and we also get the sense that he's pretty fatalistic, so if no one reaches out, i can see that landing for him as "well, obviously. they never really wanted me around, of course i was never gonna be part of that" and just exacerbating his envy, but also his sense that that chapter of his life is Over Now. i can see the lack of contact from hen and chim actually not stinging that much (or tommy telling himself it doesn't sting that much, genuinely believing that, my king of unexamined feelings) because they're not friends, right? chim calls him when he needs a favour, but they're not close. he's not on hen's christmas card list (and that's genuinely fine, i mean zero shade to anyone involved here. they were friends by the time he left the 118 but for all we know they were mostly or entirely work friends). so i can see his internal monologue about that, his confirmed belief being 'well, hell, i wasn't enough for them to want around on my own merits before, why would i be now'. (again, this is not shade on hen or chim. phones work both ways and my special little guy is fucked in the head.)

eddie's gotta sting a little more because they were friends, right? actual friends. but if we're taking tommy at face value, then we have to assume he feels some kinda way about being friends with eddie once he and buck are together. i don't think he actually thinks anything is happening/has happened/will happen with buck and eddie, but we do get this delicious hint with that little scoff about eddie's straightness that maybe tommy has experience of that queer classic - losing years of your life being besotted with your ride or die straight bestie (sal!!!! but uh. that's a separate post.).

i lost my thought. wait. okay, so i think one of the fundamental mismatches is that for six months buck was in an x-rated rom-com and tommy was navigating something unbelievably fucking complicated because talking? communicating? who does that when you can just make up a scenario and stick to it like your life depends on it. (worth noting there's no way that scenario ends well for him, but uh, that's why i love him. go listen to settle for me from crazy ex girlfriend lol)

i can ALSO see the other part of what you said. tommy says eddie 'pretty much' or 'basically' (can't remember the wording right now and not in a position to check) stopped talking to him which does leave room for some contact. (it could also be read as a kind of deflection of the ouch of it all but ymmv.) so i can see a world where eddie sends a 'man wtf happened?' message which...tommy's not going to reply to that. he's just not. but changing the subject immediately is too obvious so he has to wait a while to say something innocuous, and it just kind of fizzles out.

whatever happens, whether it was zero contact or intermittent, declining contact, my special little guy, my world champion runner, my sad sad man was 100% thinking 'yeah, that tracks'. we definitely don't have time for the show to delve into that, and honestly it's not really that kind of show so i wouldn't expect it, but rest assured i am C H E W I N G

[deadhands69]

The Exorcism

Tomura Shigaraki x Reader

ShigAFO fix it fic, exactly what it sounds like

There's a man inside of your boyfriend. 

Not in the way that there are two wolves or some metaphorical chrysalis waiting to awaken in all of us. No, there's a man inside of your boyfriend and he needs to get out now. 

When Tomura Shigaraki went into the hospital, you expected an adjustment period afterward with the amount of quirks being dumped in his body at once. It’s a huge change but he was committed to it. So, you all made preparations. It wouldn’t be easy, but you’d manage and you’d get through it together.

Unfortunately, the powers came with an extra passenger. A parasite. He’s settled into his body unwillingly, taking over when he wants. That’s not a cost any of you are willing to pay, especially not when it's happening to Tomura. So:

He. 

Needs. 

To. 

Get. 

Out.

Now.

While All For One is off on some mission, abusing Tomura’s body for his own selfish reasons, you’ve called this meeting of close friends. The few of you who were available on such short notice sit in a circle on your living room floor. It’s an odd group, consisting of a few League of Villains members and your old neighbor Mrs. Shuzenji. She never retired, so she doesn’t get out much other than work, meaning she never has time to watch the news at the end of the day. Because of this, she has no clue who Tomura is (or the others) and simply thinks he’s “a sweet boy” who is at your apartment all the time. She has, however, heard of All For One and holds a special kind of hatred towards him. Especially now, All For One doesn’t bring her newspaper to her door like Tomura used to. Considering that she’s a healer, her quirk may be useful in this situation. She sits on your old armchair, sucking on a lollipop.

Spinner sips tea out of an oversized mug while Toga sits to his left, texting someone. There’s a knock at the door and you jump up to let Magne in.

Perfect, you’re all here.

It becomes clear very quickly that none of you have ever done an exorcism before. Fortunately, you’ve all seen movies and you have the internet. It can’t be that hard, right?

After a brief google search, Spinner finds something useful.

“It says here that quirk exorcisms are possible, especially if the person wasn’t born with it.” 

“That’s kind of what we’re looking for,” you say, “and we won’t even have to get rid of the whole quirk – just the vestige attached to it. What else does it say?”

“Well,” he considers, “there’s a reason people don’t usually do them. It’s not the easiest process for anyone involved.” He passes his phone around, allowing each of you to glance over the instructions. After, you check a few more sources but they all say more or less the same thing.

“So,” Toga breaks the silence, “it’s decided.”

“Yeah,” agrees Spinner. “Here’s a list of the supplies we’ll need.” 

“It’s best if we keep them hidden,” you add. “This guy’s been around for a while – there’s no way he doesn’t know how this works.”

Mrs. Shuzenji offers her place for storage. It makes sense, as a space Tomura wouldn't go and there's no way All For One is ever setting foot there. 

The plan is decided quickly and you all disperse so AFO doesn’t sense you plotting against him. You need him to trust you all, at least somewhat.

A few days later, your opportunity presents itself. It’s not easy sneaking up on someone with so many sensing quirks so you’ve waited for the perfect time. AFO just got back from some solo mission he refuses to tell you all about and needs to rest. Regeneration quirk or not, healing takes time. Seeing the massive slashes scattered over his body sends a tidal wave of emotions over you. You're upset. You want to save him, protect him. Make sure nothing ever hurts him again. But mostly, you're fucking livid. 

Fortunately, that works out in your favor. The overwhelming feelings work wonders to hide your true intention so he never notices when you stick him with a tranquilizer. 

Spinner jumps in to help as Tomura’s body slumps onto the floor. The two of you soften his fall as much as you a before loading him onto a skateboard and pushing him out the door. 

When you arrive at Mrs. Shuzenji’s house, the others are already waiting for you. 

As you carefully move Tomura to the middle of the room, Magne and Toga run in to make a circle around him. 

“It's a special kind of salt mixed with a few chemicals they use in quirk canceling handcuffs,” Magne explains as Spinner looks back over the notes he took. “It wasn't easy to find, but the combination should absorb any quirks that are activated inside. It should also keep any quirks from crossing unless one of us sweeps it out of the way from the outside.”

“That’s important,” Mrs Shuzenji notes from her perch on a floral patterned chair, “quirks can go in but they can’t go out unless we open the circle.”

“Wait,” Toga asks, “so why isn’t the plan for one of us to just push Tomura out of the circle if that’s all it takes?”

“Well,” Spinner starts, “with the amount of quirks he has in him, we aren’t sure that he would even fall out of the circle. If he’s holding onto them, he’ll probably just be stuck in there. Especially since there’s another, uh, entity reliant on keeping them. He’ll fight it.”

“Plus,” you add, “do you want to climb into that ring with All For One when he realizes what we’re doing?” She shakes her head.

Each of you takes a seat around the edge and waits for him to wake up. You need him conscious for this or you won't be able to access the quirks. Taking advantage of the extra time, you begin passing out some of Tomura’s belongings. The ritual requires that each person involved in the quirk exorcism has an object belonging to the subject in order to form a connection. Fortunately, Tomura has been leaving his clothes all over your apartment from the day you started dating. Spinner picks up a sock from the pile with a disgusted look on his face.

After a few minutes, Tomura begins to stir. That's enough to begin. 

“So,” Spinner reads from his notes, “next we need to draw the quirks out and into the barrier.”

His voice is enough to wake AFO, who instinctively shoots off an attack at the barrier while opening a warp gate. One of his arms shoots towards you, sending a shock wave in your direction, but it never makes it. Instead, the quirk hits the invisible barrier above the circle and is yanked from his body. The portal melts too, sucked across the room and into the side of the circle before it disappears. He grimaces slightly as the jolts bring him to his senses. 

The next one isn’t so easy. Now that he knows what to expect, he holds his meta abilities closer to himself.

Still, there’s a way for you all to forcibly activate his quirks and you came prepared to do so. This part gives you pause. You remember watching AFO use a quirk to do this a few times and it never looked comfortable. However, he also doesn’t need anyone to be conscious through the process so clearly his ability differs a bit, which makes you think that if one part varies so much maybe the whole experience could be completely different. You hope so, at least.

Spinner reads from the sheet in front of him, before you all join in. “The incantation is ‘meta facultates exi.’” You all repeat it in unison, holding his belongings. After a few tries, something happens. His fingers twitch, beginning to change form. You all continue, louder and with more force. 

Red tendrils explode from his body, shooting out of his spine and fingers like lightning through the room until they hit the barrier and are wrenched away. Tomura jerks in all directions from the force of it before he crumples to the ground. Everything in you wants to comfort him, but you can’t. 

“So,” Toga begins to say what you're all thinking, “if we're doing this for every quirk, how many are there?”

None of you have an answer to that. Tomura’s eyes flicker from a beautiful red to muted white. AFO smiles from inside the circle, sending chills down your spine. 

“I've been around for years, collecting quirks much like this one used to collect pokemon cards,”he says, far too calm for the situation. “You'll never know if you got them all. Even if you do make it to the end of this, you'll always wonder if you missed something. And there will be no way to know. You're fighting a losing battle, so if you wouldn't mind I'd like to end this now and not waste any more of your time.” 

His words and emphasis in Tomura’s voice makes you want to scream. Throw up. Instead, you pull yourself together. 

“I will know. I'll know because you are not my boyfriend.” Looking at the group around you, you continue. “Again.”

“Everyone settle in, it's going to be a long night,” Mrs. Shuzenji says across the room. 

She's not wrong. 

The five of you repeat the words, putting all of your energy into it. Some of the quirks go easier. Others put up a fight. 

Much of the time, you see them flicker in advance and know you're on the right track. Muscles twitching, flames sparking, lights forming in his palms. 

Sometimes nothing seems to happen at all and you're not sure if it's working until his body pulls with the exorcized quirk. 

After one particularly concerning moment when you forced him to activate a quirk and were met with bloodlet, you all decided to take a brief break. 

“I forgot about that one,” Magne murmurs quietly while shakily sipping a cup of tea Mrs. Shuzenji made her. “He lost a lot of blood on that go.”

“He's still breathing though,” you say, knowing you couldn’t open the circle now to help him if you wanted to. You kneel down at the edge, “Tomura.” 

White eyes glare up at you. “I'm not talking to you and you know that.” Eventually his eyes shift back to red. 

“Hey,” you try to reassure him, “you're doing great.” He nods in acknowledgement. “Are you okay to keep going?” He nods again. 

The cuckoo clock on the wall announces that it’s 3am, taunting you. And to think, you used to find it cute.

As everyone reassembles, you toss a water bottle in the circle to keep him hydrated, but AFO throws it back out at you. That's his loss. You don't know All For One very well but you definitely know Tomura. 

Unlucky for the possessor, you've witnessed Tomura go longer without anything for much less reward. Once, you dropped by his apartment to find him having been glued to an online game for three days straight without eating or sleeping. If it comes to endurance and suffering, Tomura will win hands down. 

You hate that it's come to that though. 

“Again,” you whisper, voice growing hoarse. Your fingers twist into his shirt, gripping it like it's the only piece of him you have left to hold onto.

This time a series of spikes erupt from his body, much like unicorn horns. One pierces straight into the barrier and they all lurch out with a snap. Tomura crumples to the floor, laying on his side while he catches his breath. 

The end is growing near and you can sense it. 

The next doesn't go so well. 

“meta facultates exi,” you all chant. You've said it so many times the words no longer feel like words. You try again. And again. But nothing happens. AFO stands in the circle, quietly laughing. 

“You won't take that one,” he says and you realize this is it. You're down to the last quirk, the only one that really matters to him. 

The five of you continue with the incantation in unison, voices growing louder and louder until they finally crack. Eventually, the words feel dry in your mouth. Everyone's shouts turn to a feeble murmur and you stop. 

It has to work, you tell yourself. The group looks exhausted, Toga is sprawled on the floor near Magne’s feet. Mrs. Shuzenji looks like she's melted into her arm chair. Spinner's head hangs in his hands as he stares at what once was his friend. 

An air of sadness fills the room, but it's not over. Not yet. You drop the shirt you've been clutching all night.

Out of options, you do the only thing you can think of: jump into the circle with him and hope you can bait All For One into trying to steal your quirk. 

Magne audibly gasps, everyone's eyes grow wide. Now that you're in here, you're not sure if this was the best idea but you've committed. 

“You're almost out of quirks,” you taunt, “sure you don't want to try for another?”

AFO’s eyes flicker, but he makes no move to act on it. 

“I know you want my quirk,” you continue, “I see the way you look at me every time I use it.”

“I know what you're doing,” he replies, “and it's not going to work. I'm a patient man, I can wait. And now, you're stuck in here waiting with me. They'll give in and let you out eventually. You're my path to victory, so I believe I should be thanking you.”

His words make you nauseated, but you're used to that by now. In the entirety of your life, you can't remember ever hating someone this much. Every fiber of your being loathes this man and everything he stands for. You want nothing more than his destruction and wouldn't stop at anything to make it happen. 

Tomura looks tired, thirsty. In his current state, he’s barely able to stand upright. His eyes briefly flick between red and white, irises wavering. When the red returns, he smiles weakly across the small circle at you. 

That's all the time you need.

Before he can even think to brace himself, you jump on him. Your body feels like a rubber band being snapped as something is pulled from deep inside of you. Both of you land flat out onto Mrs. Shuzenji’s hardwood floor, outside of the circle. Your friends stare down at you in shock. 

While you're aware of what you did, the reality of it doesn't quite set in. Instead, you sit exhausted on the floor holding Tomura’s hand while Mrs. Shuzenji looks over his injuries. 

“He doesn't have much stamina left in him so I can't do too much, you'll have to come back when I’m off work tomorrow.” She leans in, giving him a tiny peck on the cheek. You notice some color returning to his skin. 

“So,” Toga says, looking closely at the salt ring on the floor, “he’s just in that now?”

Spinner steps in, pulling her back a bit. “Possibly. It’s uncertain how long quirk vestiges can survive outside of a host. Probably best to not touch it, just in case.”

“Hmm,” she considers, “what do we do with it then?”

“He can haunt my vacuum cleaner for a while,” says Mrs. Shuzenji, bumping everyone out of the way as she comes through with her oversized pink vacuum.

After everything is cleaned up, you all thank her for the use of her space and make your way to your respective homes. Spinner helps you move Tomura back to your place (he said he could walk by himself but proceeded to stumble around, too exhausted to figure out where to go.) 

The sun is just coming up as you make your way to your next door apartment. After Tomura is tucked into your bed, it’s decided Spinner should stay on your couch given how tired he is. You grab him some blankets before making your way back to your bedroom.

When you finally lay your head down, it all hits you. The pain, exhaustion. How much you sacrificed tonight. Both you and Tomura are quirkless now and you’re not entirely sure what to make of that yet. It’ll be a massive shift in your life, but now’s not the time to figure that out.

Tomura sleeps soundly by your side, long white hair piled around his face. He looks so peaceful for the first time in a long time. Whatever life changes come tomorrow, you’re absolutely certain it was all worth it.

bnha masterlist

taglist: @shigarakislaughter @dance-with-me-in-hell @minniessskii @vaval3ntin @ykyouluvme 

@dummi666 @lotus-flower420 @nonominchan @softnfuzzy @mysticalhills 

@reireitaka @crwavee @baby-pink-flowers @drlucichen @frieren-imposter

 @lou-the-naga-queen @multifandomidk @love-for-yoosung-kim  @xytraxpy @venom-barf 

@shiiigaraki @thetinas21 @spam-1 @kitkat13001 @kennys-partner

@amira-44820 @its-evee16 @thesecond2demonking

[schrijverr]

Do You Want to Go with the Strange Man, Buddy?

Divergence from chapter 13, where tía Pepa is forced to drop Christopher off at the 118 while Eddie is at the academy, because Abuela isn’t feeling well and she has to work. This leaves Buck with a surprise introduction to make to everyone.

On AO3.

Ships: Buddie (pre-slash)

Warnings: mentioned minor character death, mistaken child abduction

~~~

Buck had been working out on his own. It’s a slow shift – almost q-word, but he’s not saying it – so he actually took a decent shower after. He doesn’t know what it is about the shitty showers, but they’re homely to him.

Anyway, when he gets out and back into uniform, he checks his phone to see he’s missed a call from Pepa. She’s supposed to be dropping Chris off at Abuela’s house right about now, so he frowns and quickly calls her back.

“Oh, Buck, good. You’re on shift now, right?” she picks up.

“Yeah, I am. Is everything okay? Is Chris?” Buck asks worriedly.

“Christopher is fine,” Pepa tells him and his muscles unclench slightly. “We’re outside your work now, can you be there quick?”

“I can be there right now,” Buck says, starting to move towards the doors without a moment of hesitation. “And you’re sure everything’s alright?”

“It is, it is. Mama just can’t watch him today, she came down with a stomach bug,” Pepa explains.

At that point, Buck is at her car, quickly looking inside and waving over to Chris. However, he doesn’t immediately go over to him, because Pepa has gotten out of the car and closed to door behind her, a clear sign she wants to talk to him real quick, before Chris can hear.

Lowly, Pepa says: “Mama can’t watch him and I can’t take him to work right now. I can when I’m off, but not before. I tried calling Eddie, but he wouldn’t pick up. Is he safe here? Can you get off?”

Buck knows checking your phone at the academy has a high chance of getting yourself yelled at, so he gets why Eddie wouldn’t see the call. Mentally he makes a note to send Eddie a text about it all, before he assures her: “Of course I can take Chris. My Captain’s pretty chill, he’ll give me off or make me man behind or something. I’ll figure it out.”

“Gracias, gracias,” Pepa says, kissing his cheeks. “I have to go rush back before my lunch hour is over now.”

“Of course,” Buck blushes, still not entirely used to the warmth of this part of the Diaz family. He takes Chris’s bag from her, slinging it over his shoulder, before letting her get in the car, while he goes to get Chris.

Pepa has said her goodbye to him by the time he gets to his door, so he’s just focused on Chris when he opens the door. “Hey, buddy! Excited to hang out with me today?”

“Yeah,” Chris cheers.

“Good,” Buck smiles, unbuckling Chris from his seat and lifting him out of the car. He puts him on his hip while reaching in for the crutches, then the two of them wave goodbye to tía Pepa.

With her car out of the parking lot, Buck suddenly finds himself alone with Chris. At work. And it hits him that this is going to be a very hard thing to explain. Hell, he doesn’t even know how to begin, because how the fuck is he going to play this off?

It seems like frat boy Buck is dying today and he hopes they’re not going to be too weird about it in front of Chris. He’s never wanted his own issues to touch Chris. However, it’s also going to be heartbreaking to introduce him to everyone as his son, knowing that won’t last forever.

Subconsciously, he hugs Chris a little closer, before forcing cheer into his voice saying: “Well, I gotta introduce you to everyone then talk to my Captain for a bit, but then I can show you all the trucks and equipment. How does that sound?”

“I get to see the trucks?” Chris asks excitedly. With Buck sharing stories over dinner or breakfast on an almost daily basis, he’s gotten very enthralled with firefighters, so it’s dream come true.

Buck’s heart melts at the sight and decides that no matter how today goes, he’s going to make fucking sure Chris can see those trucks up close and personal. “Yeah, Superman, of course. Let’s go. Wanna be put down?”

Chris shakes his head. He has quickly realized that they first need to get through boring adult stuff before he can see the trucks and he wants to speed the whole process up. Which means he is perfectly fine where he is, getting to look around while papi does the walking for now. He’ll be independent when they get to the cool stuff.

So, Buck apprehensively makes his way up the stairs with Chris in his arms. He’s unsure what kind of reaction he should be bracing for when the finds the others hanging around the couch with their mugs, pausing when they see him.

For a moment, all of them just look at each other.

Then Hen cautiously speaks up: “Uh, Buckaroo, where- where did you get the kid? Did someone… Did he get lost?” she corrects herself, knowing Chris can hear her and not wanting to implant the idea that he was abandoned before they know more.

And Buck knows he should explain, but just going ‘no, this is my son’ feels weird when it’s not forever and this set up is just too funny. So he doesn’t explain and instead shrugs: “No, I just saw him while I was at work and took him.”

Everyone’s eyes get wide and they all freeze, as if they can’t believe that they’re hearing that and aren’t sure if he’s joking or not. They know Buck can’t lie, but since it’s technically true, it doesn’t read like a lie, which is hilarious to Buck right now.

He keeps a straight face as he turns to Chris and says: “Isn’t that right, Chris? I just took you off the streets.”

Chris – a little shit after his own heart and a better liar than his papi – just grins and nods: “Uh-huh, you did.”

Chimney must decide that he’s fucking with them, because he rolls his eyes: “Alright, sure. Was there anyone with him?”

“Yeah,” Buck says. “She wasn’t paying attention. I mean, I took this little guy here right out of her car and we waved at her when she left. Didn’t even blink. Probably didn’t care I did, did she?”

“That’s right,” Chris chimes in again.

At this point everyone is starting to get actually concerned. Buck is a little offended that they are, but he also gets it. Who knows if he snapped or something? A child abduction case should always be taken seriously. So, he should probably also stop now. Maybe a bad joke to make to begin with.

“Buck,” Bobby says, getting up slowly and holding out his hands as if calming a distressed patient. “I am asking you, if you can give the child to me. Okay?”

And look, he should just explain now, because this has gotten out of hand – story of his life, he supposes – but he can’t let this moment pass. It’s an educative moment, a cautionary tale if you will. So he turns to Chris on his hip and jostles him slightly, before quirking a brow and asking: “Do you want to go with the strange man, buddy?”

In the background, everyone is just getting more and more concerned with Hen and Chimney also rising to their feet and putting their mugs down. Buck half thinks one of them might sneak away to grab a tranquilizer or something, a true sign he should have never done this, but it’s too late for that now.

Luckily for everyone, Chris puts them all out of their misery by giggling: “No, papi.”

“Good answer!” Buck cheers, pressing a kiss on Chris’s cheek as he hugs him closer. “That is right, do not go with a strange man.” He turns to everyone else, who is still staring at him, perplexed. Buck has never seen someone blue screen like that. Ignoring it, he just goes: “And that’s how you teach stranger danger, people.”

For a few seconds it’s silent. The three others in the room blinking at him as they try to wrap their heads around the sharp turn that has just happened.

Not wanting to wait around for the explosion, he barrels forward, talking to Chris again as he goes: “So, let’s make them not strange people. This is my Captain, Bobby. Do you remember me talking about Bobby?”

“I do, he’s the Captain with the nice food,” Chris tells him.

Buck blushes a little, saying: “He is indeed the Captain with the nice food, but that was our little secret, remember?”

“But, papi, you’re not supposed to lie,” Chris counters.

“It’s a non-serious lie,” Buck defends himself, feeling a little called out anyway. “But you’re right. No lying. Want to say hi and thank you for the nice food?”

Chris nods and Buck makes his way over to Bobby, so Chris can shake his head. “It’s nice to meet you, Captain Bobby. I’m Christopher. Thank you for the nice food.”

Bobby now remembers Buck sneaking leftovers out the fridge. He always let him, figuring the kitchen in his frat house sucked and he didn’t feel like cooking there. Having the sudden knowledge that his food has instead been shared with this kid. This son Buck has apparently had this whole time, twists something inside him.

A little shellshocked, he shakes Christopher’s hand, saying: “Uh, yeah, call me Bobby. It’s nice to meet you too, kid. I’m glad you like my food.”

Chris smiles at him, but Buck moves on to the others before Bobby manages to form his face into a semblance of a smile back. It hits him all over again. Buck is a father.

“This is Hen, the badass paramedic,” Buck says, gesturing to her first and she waves at Chris and Chris waves back.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” Hen smiles, shaking his hand when he holds it out.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Chris says politely and chipperly.

When Chris looks away again, she gives Buck a wide eyed look and quirks a brow. Buck sends a half grimace, half smile back. Then he moves onto Chimney saying: “And this is Chimney, the one with the funny name.”

“Hey! I’m also a badass paramedic,” Chimney exclaims, playing it up and snapping out of his funk, while Chris giggles. “Nice to meet you, kiddo.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Chris says.

During the introduction, it’s clear that both are obviously trying to hide how weirded out they are. Buck is starting to realize it might have been a little dumb of him to lean into the frat boy thing, but in his defense, it will probably be true soon. And that doesn’t hurt at all, no sir.

Shaking the gloomy thoughts off, he asks Chris: “I have to go talk to Bobby for a bit, do you wanna hang out with Hen and Chimney while I do? They know everything about the ambulances, I’m sure they’d love to answer your questions.”

“And then we can go look at the trucks?” Chris asks hopefully.

Buck just melts and he gives Chris a soft smile: “Yeah, buddy, then we can go look at the trucks.”

“Okay.”

He puts Chris down, encouraging: “Strong legs,” hovering a moment until he’s solid, before handing him his crutches. Then he points to the kitchen and says: “I’m going to be right there the whole time, so you can just call out if you need me, yeah?”

“I know, papi,” Chris assures him, a little bit of attitude that he totally gets from Eddie shining through.

“Alright, alright,” Buck grins as he shakes his head. Behind Chris’s back, he sends Hen a questioning look and a thumbs up, silently asking her if it’s okay. She gives him a reassuring smile and he relaxes a little with the relief.

He stays for just long enough to see Chris move towards them without any shyness, before making his way over to the kitchen. Bobby is right behind him and Buck feels very uncomfortable about the whole thing. Exposed in a way he usually tries to avoid.

So, before Bobby can say anything, he starts talking himself: “I know, I’m jumping this on you and I’m so so sorry. He was supposed to stay with Abuela, but she isn’t feeling well and tía Pepa can’t take him to her job and she couldn’t reach Eddie. But I can try to see if I can reach him, or stay behind and use my PTO or something. I totally understand if you can’t accommodate this right now. Again, I’m so sorry.”

“Buck, breathe,” Bobby says, brow creased worriedly. He places a hand on his shoulder and makes sure Buck is looking at him, then says: “We’re here to work with you. I’ll need to clear it with the Chief, but I’m sure we can figure something out until you figure out childcare.”

“Oh, that’s- that’s really nice,” Buck stammers.

Bobby still isn’t sure where the kid came from, but Chris is clearly Buck’s and he is panicking. As much as it hurts to think about it sometimes, he still recalls how stressful and scary being a parent can be. Of course he’s going to support him, even if he still hasn’t processed everything.

He squeezes Buck’s shoulder, searching for more words of support, finally settling on: “Of course.” He wants to ask more about the how and when of the kid, but before he can, Buck’s phone starts ringing.

“Fuck, that’s Eddie, I have to take this real quick,” Buck says, turning away, but not really moving away as he picks up: “Eddie? Hi, yeah, Pepa said she called you.”

Buck has never mentioned an Eddie before today and he doesn’t know how to feel about him, remembering what he almost fired Buck for. Maybe it’s more recent than that? Even if that seems even more ridiculous. God, Bobby hopes it is though.

He can’t hear what Eddie says. However, he does hear what Buck responds: “Everything’s fine. Abuela’s not feeling well, so she dropped Chris off here, until her workday is done.”

Then Buck listens briefly for a moment, before nodding, despite Eddie not being able to see. “Uh, yeah, that’s okay. Everyone here is super nice and helpful. Bobby says we can figure something out. So, I’ll keep him for now, no worries. We’ll look at the trucks and he’ll be thrilled. You just focus on training, I doubt your instructor will be pleased with you taking calls like this or missing out.”

Something in Bobby’s heart clenches at how soothing and worried Buck sounds. He gets the feeling he can now be reasonably certain he knows who Eddie is; his partner. Another thing they all missed. Buck has had a family this whole time. And they don’t sound strained, which is a relief. Though maybe also a bad thing?

That feeling is further confirmed when he sees a small shy smile on Buck’s face as he responds: “No problem. We’re a team, remember? Bye.”

He hangs up, before facing Bobby again face still slightly red. “Uh, sorry about that. Hope you don’t mind me promising that to Eddie.”

“I don’t. It’s okay, Buck, truly. We’re a team here too,” Bobby says, which makes Buck relax. He seems really anxious about this whole thing and Bobby worries about what makes him feel so on edge. “Are you okay?”

“Me?” Buck asks, taken by surprise. Then he smiles awkwardly and unconvincingly says: “I’m fine.”

Bobby levels him with a look and Buck looks away. Deciding that stern probably won’t work on Buck, he goes for compassion when he says: “Look, clearly this was something you didn’t want to share. I get that it’s scary and I just want you to know that we support you, no matter what. You’re safe here.”

Buck’s eyes widen momentarily, before his smile becomes more real. “Thank you. It’s not exactly like that, but thank you.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed-” Now it’s Bobby’s turn to be awkward. He could have sworn Buck was just coordinating with his… spouse? Partner? Boyfriend? Husband? His Eddie. Maybe it’s a nickname? Maybe it’s something else that would explain the sleeping around. He hopes it will explain the sleeping around.

“Oh, no, Eddie is my husband,” Buck quickly assures him, which clears up exactly nothing. In fact, it makes it worse.

“Now, I’m confused,” Bobby tells him honestly, praying Buck will give him more information that will turn him into someone Bobby recognizes, someone more than a cheater, who lies and hides.

“Uh, it’s- it’s a bit of a long story. Me and Eddie are married as friends, for Chris’s sake. His mom walked out and I kind of stepped up. So, I adopted him when Eddie had to go back into the military. He is training to be a firefighter right now. When he’s stable, he, uh- he’ll probably divorce me. Kinda hard to bring that up,” Buck grimaces apologetically.

Bobby blinks a few times, that is indeed a long story and that’s with probably most of the details missing. However, it does clear up the sleeping around situation, so he’ll take it. Still, unsure what to say, he asks: “So, how long have you two been married then?”

“Coming up two years, but living together and raising Chris for three,” Buck answers, looking over to Chris with a melancholic note in his voice.

Okay, so this isn’t just a recent thing for a last tour, but a years long thing. Bobby knows what it is like to lose a kid, but to know they’re still out there? God. He doesn’t know this Eddie, but that is an awful thing to do to a person. He frowns: “And you’re just going to disappear when he is stable?”

“Uhm, yeah, probably. I mean, we haven’t really discussed it,” Buck rubs the back of his head, then admits: “I’ve been too scared to ask.”

“Buck…” Bobby breathes, unsure how to even begin to tackle all this.

“I know,” Buck sighs before he can figure it out. “I know I should talk to him. I know that. But if I know, I can’t cling to the possibility of it not happening, you know?”

He looks devastated. It’s only in his eyes, his face keeps that helpless half smile, but his eyes carry a deep grief that Bobby knows. He has already given up on keeping a professional distance, so he just pulls Buck into a tight hug and holds him close when Buck melts into it.

When he pulls back, he says: “The not knowing is killing you too. Talk to Eddie, tell him this. If he is a friend, he’ll understand and want to help. We’ll be here for you whatever happens.”

“Thank you, pops,” Buck says with a crooked grin, sounding a little choked up. He hasn’t called Bobby that since his second month there, but the nickname brings back a wave of nostalgia, and – treacherously – a voice in his head flirts with the possibility of being a grandfather, before Bobby represses it.

“Of course,” is what he ends up saying. His smile feels a little more forced, but he sounds genuine when he says: “Go show your son the trucks, I’ll call the Chief.”

Buck’s eyes sparkle when he says ‘your son’ and he nods eagerly: “I will. Again, thank you so much,” then he bounces off to the couches.

At the couches, Hen and Chimney have stared at Chris for all but two seconds. Neither of them have a clue what to do with the surprise news that Buck apparently has a kid. A kid that is now staring at the two of them with big eyes.

“Uh, so how old are you, Chris?” Hen finally asks. A standard question to ease into it.

“I’m seven,” Chris tells her proudly.

Hen quickly does the math. That makes Buck nineteen when Chris was born. She shares a look with Chimney, who did the same math as her. With Buck’s record of sleeping around, that doesn’t entirely come as a surprise. However, the well adjusted kid speaks to a lot more maturity that his recklessness would indicate.

“That’s already really grown up,” she smiles at Chris, who beams with pride.

Both of them are used to working with kids, so Chimney takes over: “Buck mentioned you were interested in the ambulances?”

Now Chris lights up even more. He sure is a happy kid, Hen thinks fondly. Apparently Buck is a good dad, that’s nice. And it becomes increasingly clear that he raised Chris, because when he starts launching questions at them that are truly impressively detailed, his face is the exact same one that Buck makes when he’s learning things and curious. It’s truly adorable to see.

They answer his questions the best they can, getting very charmed by this kid in front of them. They can almost forget that Buck pulled a kid out of thin air. Still, every time he does something Buck-esque they’re reminded all over again.

Hen wonders if there is some drama with the mother, since she now recalls Buck knowing a lot about custody. If Chris had been an accident, then they might not be together anymore and Buck has had to go to court about it. Maybe it had been a whole thing?

Chimney meanwhile realizes why Buck canceled so much on them at the start. Still does, they’ve just gotten used to it. At the time he’d been so jealous thinking he must have more fun parties or hot dates, but he probably was just going home to his son. Obviously childcare is an issue.

He wishes the kid had just opened his damn mouth about it. He remembers how rough it had been for Hen and Karen when they first adopted Denny. How it’s still difficult sometimes. They could have helped. Chim finally got the babysitting gig down. He has had practice.

It’s a bit of a mindfuck to have to reframe Buck from a frat boy to a teen parent. However, the pieces do fit in a way. The flashes of maturity, the way he can flip the switch to being responsible, the way he’s gold when there are kids on a scene.

So, yeah, Buck is a dad. That’s a little new.

But it’s only new to them, clearly it’s not new to Buck. Because when he’s done with his talk to Bobby he swoops back in, hauling Chris up over his shoulder as he says: “LAFD here to rescue you!” which makes Chris shriek with delight.

Buck puts him back down and ruffles his hair, matching big smile on his face. “Are you ready to look at the trucks now, Superman?”

“I am, I am,” Chris says, bouncing up and down.

“Alright, then, let’s get this show on the road,” Buck exclaims, gesturing for Chris to lead.

The four of them make their way downstairs, all of them smiling at Chris’s excitement at seeing the trucks. Despite being older than him, they all remember that same feeling from their first day.

It’s obvious that Buck takes much pride in his work and the fact that Chris thinks his career is cool. As he shows everything with much gravitas and importance, not to mention a matching thrilled sparkle in his eyes.

Chris gets to try on his helmet and sit in the rig, while Buck takes a billion pictures. After he’s snapped one in particular, he grins at Chris: “Daddy’s going to be so jealous of you, getting to sit in a real fire engine before him.”

“He will,” Chris grins slightly mischievously.

Behind the duo, both Chimney and Hen freeze. Daddy. There is a second parent involved. With what they know of Buck that is almost more unexpected than the kid thing.

Hen wonders if maybe the other dad is trans and it’s still what she first thought, while Chimney immediately grimaces. He doesn’t want to judge Buck too harshly, I mean, he didn’t for Hen, but it’s different with Buck. So, he can’t help but judge a little.

“Daddy?” Hen asks, deciding it’ll be better to just find out. If it puts Buck on the spot, they can pretend to buy whatever excuse he comes up with for now and interrogate him later.

“Uh-huh,” it’s Chris, who answers, “he’s becoming a firefighter like papi is!”

Buck on the other hand looks less enthusiastic and more like a deer in headlight, blinking two times, before quickly explaining: “Eddie is Chris’s dad – other dad. Bio dad? – uhm, he’s my husband, but we got married as friends. It’s a bit of a long story.”

“They made them kiss,” Chris informs the other two firefighters there a bit too gleefully. “It was really silly.”

“Chris was with us for the wedding,” Buck clarifies with a blush. “It’s a thing they expect you to do.”

Both of them just nod. Hen is sure that there is a much more detailed and much more stupid story there to explain all this, but honestly, she doesn’t feel like figuring it out. Chris is still right there and Buck looks like he’s going to kneel over if they ask more. She’ll wrangle it out of him when he’s had more time to get his head on right.

At that point the alarm goes off and Buck freezes a little. However, Bobby appears at the top of the stairs, about to go down the pole. Before he does, he calls out: “Buck, get yourself into gear. Kid’s coming with us.”

“Aye, aye, Cap,” Buck says, relieved to get some clarity. Then to Chris he goes: “You hear that, bud, you’re going to be a firefighter today.” Chris cheers. “Stay right there, okay, I’ll be with you soon,” Buck promises, before hurrying off to get into his gear.

When they’re driving to the accident, Chris has a thousand more questions and eagerly listens to all their answers and explanations. As well as to the little jabs and teases they throw at Buck. He takes them like a champ, rolling his eyes as he takes more pictures.

At the scene, Bobby sends Buck out there, keeping a close eye on Chris for him and walking the boy through everything that’s happening. He makes sure to pay extra close attention to Buck and explain what he is doing to Christopher.

Bobby tries not to, but he can’t help but wonder if Robert Jr. would have been equally as invested if he’d ever been able to go with him to work. He always misses his family, his kids, the most on days like these. On calls with kids, or when classes come in.

He puts it out of his mind though. Buck is closer to being his kid on most days and he has made some peace with it, even if he won’t acknowledge it yet. However, it makes it easier with Chris than with another kid. It doesn’t feel like he’s replacing his own, it’s a relationship he hasn’t had with anyone before yet. New is good.

After the call, Chris is in high spirits, excitedly rerunning every moment to everyone and asking more questions. He is very much Buck’s child. However, this also means he’s easily distracted by the video games they have and the pinball machine.

For a snack, Bobby asks if he liked one leftover in particular, making sure to whip that up, much to the boy’s delight.

By seeing Buck around Chris so much, it normalizes itself in their brains that Buck is a dad. The shock and newness wears off and they can appreciate this side of their probie they hadn’t seen before.

Buck is still basically an over excited puppy, but he matches Chris’s energy pretty well, never going further than he wants. He also has gotten the balance between letting Chris be independent and preventing him from doing something dangerous down to a science.

It’s very interesting to see traits they know he has being dialed up or down to suit this situation. How natural it looks on him, despite their previous assessment of him being a frat boy.

However, it’s also very obvious to all of them, that he is still a kid himself, raising another kid. None of them – bar Bobby – have a general idea of how long he’s been doing this, but they can all gather that Chris is older than most kids people Buck’s age have.

Of course he’s a firefighter, but he tosses Chris around like it’s nothing, keeping up easily with his boundless energy, and saying stuff like: “High five, Superman!” when Chris tells Chimney that his movie quote was weird.

All in all, Chris is having a blast and so is the 118.

They’re all helping Chris slide down the pole, grinning as he goes, when a brown haired man comes wandering into the firehouse. He stops short when he sees the whole spectacle, then smiles.

Out of everyone there, only Hen has spotted him. At first she thinks he might need help, but they have to focus on Chris’s safety first. However, when she sees him stopping to watch, she knows that must be Eddie. Buck mentioned them getting married as friends, but looking at him smiling at Chris and Buck, she doesn’t know how much truth there was to that.

Her theory that this is Eddie is confirmed when Chris is safely on the ground. Buck is grinning down at him, not paying attention to anything else. Then Chris spots Eddie and smiles widely: “Daddy!”

“Hey, buddy,” Eddie smiles back.

Buck immediately turns to look at him, a love struck look coming on his face when he says: “Eddie, hey!”

Fucking hell, she was so right that there is a much more detailed and much more stupid story there. It is obvious to her that if these two are married as friends, they’re both lying to the other and maybe to themselves about it.

“Hey, Buck,” Eddie greets back unnecessarily. “You two look like you are having fun.”

“We are,” Chris answers for them, bouncing up and down. “I got to try on papi’s helmet and sit in the rig and then we went to this crash and the sirens were on. We had these headsets and I got to see papi work. He saved this lady from her car. It was so cool!”

“That sounds very cool,” Eddie tells him, the utter adoration for his son clear in his eyes. He cards his hands through Chris’s hair and hugs him close.

While that happens, Buck has also come to circle the two of them. He says: “I thought tía Pepa was taking him today. You’re here early. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Eddie assures him. “Instructor let us go early today. I think he’s getting soft on us.”

“Pff, of course. LA training is soft on you all,” Buck teases.

Eddie rolls his eyes, apparently familiar with this particular taunt as he replies: “Here we go again. Let me guess, in Texas they forced you all to sweat through it like tough guys.”

“You got it,” Buck grins. “Anyway, I’m being rude. This here is Bobby, my Captain.”

Bobby steps forward, shaking Eddie’s hand as he says: “I’m Eddie Diaz, it’s nice to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise,” Bobby smiles. “And no need for sir. Just Bobby is fine.”

“This here is Hen and Chimney,” Buck moves on introducing both.

They shake Eddie’s hand too, telling him it’s nice to meet him while he returns the sentiment, though he adds: “It’s so nice to put a face to the names,” as he does. Whatever hiding Buck was doing, it was a one sided hiding act. However, none of them mention it. Not in front of Chris.

“So,” Buck claps his hands. “Did you come for a tour of the trucks too? I told Chris all the facts, he could probably give you a great tour. You know, since he’s been in an actual rig.”

“You’re full of it,” Eddie tells him, but he’s smiling too much to mean it.

“I know,” Buck replies simply and Hen wonders if they know they’re flirting.

Before either can figure that out, however, Chris tugs on Eddie’s hand, pleading: “Please, daddy, I can show you everything. There are loops on the hoses, just like papi said. Do they teach you that too?”

Eddie looks a little caught out, trapped between Chris and the 118. Carefully he says: “I’d love to, mijo, but papi and his team have people to save and help. We should give them space to work.”

“It’s okay,” Bobby says, before Chris can even pout properly. Much like his papi, Chris has got him wrapped around his little finger. “We have the house on low priority calls for the time being. You staying a little longer won’t be an issue.”

“You’re sure?” Eddie checks anyway.

“I’m sure.”

“Thank you so much,” Eddie says, before turning to Chris: “Well, then I would love a tour.”

Excitedly Chris directs Eddie to the trucks, telling him everything he’s just learned, while Buck chimes in from time to time with other tidbits or words Chris has forgotten. Throughout it all, Eddie listens with great pleasure. He’s clearly not as much of a talker, but it seems Chris and Buck more than make up for that.

While they all watch the family from the sidelines, Chimney asks: “So, does anyone know more about what their deal is?”

Bobby – the savior with actual information – answers: “From what I understand, they got married after Chris’s mom walked out so Buck could be there when Eddie had to go back into the military. They’ve been living together for three years, married two.”

Chimney whistles lowly, then checks: “And we all heard him say they’re married as friends, right?”

“Oh yes, we did,” Hen replies, sounding a little pained.

Next to her, Chimney cocks his head, watching Buck and Eddie bump shoulders every time they walk, because there is no space between them. Slowly, he asks: “And… are we… believing that?”

“Oh, definitely not,” Hen says.

“Come on, guys. Let’s not speculate too much. Buck hasn’t been comfortable sharing, we should respect that,” Bobby butts in, trying to be the responsible Captain.

That earns him a double judgmental look from both Chimney and Hen, before they ignore them and turn back to their conversation. “I don’t think Buck would do the whole sleeping around like that thing, if they were actually already together,” Hen says.

“So, we’re betting on pining.”

“Of course.”

“Okay, they’ve already been doing this for three years… That denial runs deep.”

“Yeah, it definitely does,” Hen agrees. “Did Buck mention anything about their communication to you, Bobby?”

Bobby sighs and rubs his brow, then decides he’s really no better than either of them. So, he admits: “It is their plan to divorce one day, but Buck hasn’t talked about it yet, because he fears Eddie will just cut him out.”

“…Now I don’t know if I should laugh at him or feel a deep sympathy,” Hen comments with a jikes grimace on her face.

“I told him to talk to Eddie about it. Clear the air,” Bobby offers.

“Twenty dollars on them figuring it out when Buck brings it up,” Chimney says confidently. “There is no way, Eddie is going to not kiss him about that.”

“Hmm, I don’t know.” Hen appraises Eddie again, squinting as she tries to get a read on him. “Twenty on them not figuring it out for another three years. And another forty on them never getting divorced.”

“Uhm, you can’t bet on things that are basically facts,” Chimney complains.

“Hey, you don’t know that!” Hen exclaims, knowing he is right, but she doesn’t care if it’ll get her forty dollars. They’ve been eyeing new cutlery.

“Ugh, fine! But I’d like it on the record that I protested it and I want my counter bet to be that they do a vow renewal instead,” Chimney says.

“Alright, deal,” Hen nods, shaking Chimney’s hand as they seal the deal.

They all return to watching the three at the trucks again. Buck has lifted Chris onto his shoulders, so he can properly point at all the things he’s talking about. Eddie is listening to him, sure, but he is definitely more focused on Buck.

After a few beats, Chimney wonders: “Hey, now that we know Buck adopted Chris and they met a few years ago. Do you all think there is some truth to him snatching Chris story?”

“God, I fucking hope not.” … “Five bucks says there is.”

“Ten says it’s an exaggeration.”

They shake on it.

“Fuck it,” Bobby mutters, then says: “Five on it being wilder than that.”

They shake with Bobby too, then wait until the tour is done. They haven’t gotten to speak with Eddie much, but it’s okay. Everyone has gotten the chance to observe him and he seems nice and polite when they say goodbye.

Buck stands there like a mom on the very first day of school, waving at them until they disappear when they do leave. The others kindly do not call him out on it. There is a bet now, so no interfering.

Still, the only reason they don’t ask, probably actually is because the alarm starts ringing so they have to go and focus on an emergency instead of Buck’s newly revealed private life.

Throughout the course of their shift, they do learn more details about how Buck got into that situation. When he tells them about dating Eddie’s ex-wife and meeting her while she shopped for eggs, is something they have a fucking filed day with. And it earns both Hen and Bobby some money.

They also learn about Eddie’s chopper getting shot down and Buck nursing him back to health. He chokes up a bit there and Hen rubs his shoulder.

As she does, she feels a little bad about the self satisfied grin she tucks away. If they can go through that and not confess, she was definitely right in placing her money on three years.

However, overall, it doesn’t change too much.

Still, when Buck comes in for his next shift, they all eagerly turn to him, wondering if he’ll turn back into over-sharer Buck now that the cat’s out of the bag. They need to know more about this nonsense he found himself in.

Buck does not disappoint. He eagerly hollers: “Eddie is not going to divorce me!” which turns the heads of everyone who hadn’t been there last shift. Seems like Buck is going to have to explain it all over again. And the betting pool will grow. Hen is so getting that new cutlery.

~~

A/N:

Credit to Memememe8989, who suggested this idea in the comments, I had a different idea that is somewhat related to this (which granted, I might still write), but this was just so iconic that it immediately gave my brainworms <333

Llsdkghdhkf there was so no reason for Buck to do pretend to have kidnapped Chris, but the idea was just too funny and you can’t tell me he wouldn’t in his awkward insecurity

The full phone convo for those curious:

B: “Eddie? Hi, yeah, Pepa said she called you.”

E: “She texted me to call you. Is everything okay?”

B: “Everything’s fine. Abuela’s not feeling well, so she dropped Chris off here, until her workday is done.”

E: “And is that okay? I don’t want you to get in trouble of this.”

B: “Uh, yeah, that’s okay. Everyone here is super nice and helpful. Bobby says we can figure something out. So, I’ll keep him for now, no worries. We’ll look at the trucks and he’ll be thrilled. You just focus on training, I doubt your instructor will be pleased with you taking calls like this or missing out.”

E: “Okay, that’s good. Thank you.”

B: “No problem. We’re a team remember. Bye.”

E: “I do. Still, thanks. Bye.”

[b0ne-merchant]

Can I request NSFW headcanons of Underfell!Papyrus x fem!Reader? ^^ With Reader fascinated by skeletons (I love steology, So I hope I don't bother you by adding that specification-)

Okay so I did do NSFW Fell!Paps but you played into my bias of Edge so of course I had to turn this into a oneshot <3 he's my fav besides classic Papyrus.

This didn't turn out terribly NSFW but it is pretty suggestive. I just kinda let my hands type out whatever they wanted so enjoy 2k words of describing bones n shit idek man i need him so bad

Up Close and Extremely Personal (Fell!Papyrus/Edge x Reader)

You’re staring.

You know you’re staring. You’ve been conscious of that fact for the past five minutes. But is it really so bad if the recipient doesn’t even realize it? Probably not, you tell yourself. Whatever makes you feel less guilty about not paying attention to Edge’s story in favor of blatantly zeroing in on his bare chest.

It had started innocently enough. He had strutted headstrong into his room after his morning workout, in search of a change of clothes from his athletic black tank top into something more casual. Well, casual isn’t exactly the right word for his wardrobe. Something with more flair, more spikes, more him. Before he could make it over to his woeful closet of all black and red, however, he took a moment to regard you, sitting at his desk, your phone in hand.

It wasn’t out of the ordinary for you to hang around in his room. In fact, Edge encouraged it. Being there meant refuge from his brother and his often mean-spirited jokes and gags. It’s not that you didn’t like Red, you just sometimes preferred to not be the butt of a joke that had way too much setup and not enough payoff.

No, the detail that caught his interest was the thin red line across the back of your hand. Edge had all but dislocated your shoulder when he grabbed your wrist and yanked it in his direction, examining the mark under great scrutiny. He drew his claw-tipped distal over the raised score, his sockets squinting.

“WHAT IS THIS?” he had snapped at you, bending your wrist for you to see, as though you didn’t already know it was there.

You set your phone down on the desk and attempted to reclaim your stolen limb, but to no avail. His steel grip tightened in response, as though to repeat the question without actually asking again. Edge never asks twice.

“It’s just a little scratch,” you replied coolly. No need to raise the alarms. “It’s no big deal, it didn’t even bleed.”

Edge gave you an unconvinced look. He then released your wrist from his grasp and stood up straight, folding his arms with a scoff. “I FORGET THAT YOU HUMANS ARE SO FRAGILE. LET ME SHOW YOU SOME REAL SCARS.”

And now, here you are, getting an eyeful of ribs and the tale of a great battle that you aren’t listening to at all.

Edge throws one of his arms up into the air, his hand clenched into a tight fist while his other runs the length of the long, deep scores that run diagonally across his ribcage. His spine bends as he stoops like a stalking predator, fingers now flexed like slashing talons. In one fluid motion, he straightens and swings around an imaginary bone attack, side-stepping an invisible charge from the creature and raising his hand like he’s summoning something from the ground. He does this all while animatedly narrating his duel with the surely fearsome assailant, his already passionate voice only rising in volume as the “fight” becomes more and more intense.

You’re sure the story is engrossing. You’re sure he’s telling it with an elegant verbosity that paints a crystal clear, if not exaggerated, picture of his formidable encounter. You nod along at parts, but your mind remains elsewhere.

A slim collarbone sits over his broad chest, curving down toward the middle to meet at his sternum. The ribs beneath are a creamy eggshell color, thick and sturdy as they wrap around to form the cage and littered with damage from hairline cracks to deep slivers. One of his bottom-most floating ribs is even missing, the stump where it once was is dull and blunt. His chest is broad, and his body makes heavy clacking sounds when his arms fall against his ribs in his grand pantomime.

Behind his ribcage is his long, slender spine, with ghastly sharp ridges jutting out from each vertebra. They, too, are not free of injury, with marks and slashes across them just like with his ribs. The further down your eyes travel, the thicker the circumference of his vertebrae becomes. You draw your fingers into a loose fist, imagining your hand around the marred columns of his spine. Would it feel smooth, like carved marble? Or would it feel grainy beneath your fingertips as you slid them over his bones?

As your eyes travel south to the base of his spine, you’re met with the holy grail of anatomy – his pelvis. His iliac crests arc gloriously over the low-rise of his workout shorts, leaving extremely little to the imagination. The bowl shape is broad like his shoulders, open and inviting in its tilt. If you leaned forward, craned your head just a little up and outward, you could probably see his sacrum, maybe even more than that. Oh, what you wouldn’t give to replace his hands that now rest on his hips with your own, to trace over the curves of the bone, to loosen those drawstrings and…

You blink out of your stupor, and your blood runs cold. He’s not moving anymore. His hips are pointed directly at you, hands planted on his ilium and still as a sculpture. The room has turned deathly silent as well, so quiet you swear your quickened heartbeat can be heard outside your chest. Your jaw tightens, and you slowly tilt your head up and away from his crotch.

Edge had been staring down at you, an unimpressed scowl crossed on his face. It deepens when you meet his eyelights, sending a surge of heat to your face at being caught undressing him with your eyes. You flick your eyes quickly to the window, wondering if jumping through the glass and falling from the second story room would kill you. Maybe that would be preferable to spending another second under the towering skeleton’s excruciating observance.

You figure he’s waiting for you to say something. Your mind scrambles for an excuse, a lie, anything to make him stop looking at you like you’re a child caught with some sort of contraband.

“Uh, I– I wasn’t–”

Edge drops his arms, the scowl softening as he cuts you off. “NO, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN…”

Your heart drops into your stomach. Now that he knows you want to jump his bones, you can never come back to this house again. Perhaps it’s time to make that window exit.

“I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WOULD NOT BE ACCUSTOMED TO SUCH CARNAGE!” Edge concludes, his brows hardening. He brings a pondering finger to rub at his chin. “OF COURSE, SUCH A HARROWING TALE WOULD FRIGHTEN YOU OUT OF YOUR WITS, SO MUCH SO THAT YOU COULD NOT EVEN FOCUS ON MY GRAND RETELLING!”

Your shoulders slump and the tension coiled around your torso relaxes. Relief cools your heated cheeks, and you breathe a small sigh as your heart calms in your chest. You will live to see another day of not breaking through glass with your body.

“HUMAN, YOUR FEARFUL COWERING HAS SHOWN ME THAT PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED MY SCARS WITH A DIFFERENT, LESS DAUNTING APPROACH.”

Edge spins around on his heel and takes a seat on his bed, just a few steps away from the desk. He makes a sweeping gesture from you to his ribcage, his posture lax but still straight and at attention.

“YOU MAY FEEL THEM, AND ASK ABOUT THEM AS YOU WISH.”

The tension coils back around your chest and the heat returns to your face. You manage to choke out a sentence, dripping with disbelief. “You want me to… feel you up?”

The expression goes over his head as he nods solemnly. “TOUCHING THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I SURVIVED WILL ALLEVIATE YOUR FEARS.”

You know deep down that you’re not getting out of this. Edge won’t let you leave until he thinks you’re cured of your “fright.” But a free invitation to get close and personal to an otherwise emotional cactus of a man? Well, who are you to look a gift skeleton in the mouth?

You get up from the desk chair and cautiously meander towards him, your hands pulled close to your chest in what you hope is a non-threatening way. Even sitting down, he’s nearly eye-level with you, his head just slightly tilted up to watch your approach with mild interest. Edge puffs out his chest slightly as you stand before him, no doubt proud of the stories displayed across his bones.

“GO AHEAD,” he urges, and you don’t miss the curious tilt of his head as he does so.

Your initial touch is a light graze across the deepest slash. When you see that he really is just letting you touch him, no strings attached, you rest your hand on his ribcage, putting just a small amount of pressure on it. The first thing you’re surprised by is the fact that he’s not cold. He’s not quite warm, either – room temperature, you suppose.

The next thing that makes your eyebrows raise is the width of the scars. From afar, they looked a hell of a lot more mild, but upon being this close, you realize that they’re as wide as your fingers are thick. You attempt to splay your fingers apart to fit one finger in each slash, but they are too spread out for you to manage that. The monster that gave him these must have been massive.

“Damn,” you utter under your breath.

You might as well have been stroking his ego, not his chest, the way he inflates.

“IT IS MOST IMPRESSIVE, YES.” A smile any sharper than his would cut you just by looking at it.

More marks catch your eye, shallow scores that litter his ribs. They don’t end in points in the concave middle like the large slash marks, they’re rounded, as though they were made with something blunt. You feel around his side and under his arm, noticing that they also cover his humerus. They give the bone a grooved texture, and it’s almost satisfying to run your fingers over them.

Edge leans back, his weight now supported by his arms. His smile has dropped just a hint, his jaw a bit more set. “THOSE ARE FROM A HAZING RITUAL WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE ROYAL GUARD. I EVENTUALLY PUT THOSE MUTTS IN THEIR PLACE.”

They’re teeth marks, all over his body. You wonder if it was just a ritual, like he had said, or if the “mutts” just couldn’t keep away from what looked like a walking snack.

Making your way further down, you stroke past various nicks and bumps in his ribs, until you meet with a rather nasty crack in his seventh rib. You swipe your thumb over it, and Edge draws in a sharp breath. The splinter is jagged, and you wonder if it’s somewhat recent from his reaction.

“Sorry, does this one still hurt?”

“NO, IT-IT’S FROM A FALL WHEN I WAS A CHILD. IT NEVER HEALED PROPERLY.”

You press your thumb a little harder into the crack, and Edge shifts, leaning further back until he’s propped up by his elbows. You have to move a little closer in turn, and you end up standing between his legs, spread wide to accommodate you.

Your hand finally makes its way down to the biggest point of interest – the missing floating rib. The damage is clearly old, the cracks in the bone smoothed over with time, like an eroded stone. When you touch it, your index and middle finger rubbing at the stump, you notice that it’s warmer than his ribs had been. In fact, his whole spine seems to be heated by some invisible force. Magic, you guess.

Edge twists his torso a fraction in the direction of your touch. “A DOG TOOK IT.”

“One from the Royal Guard?”

“NO. JUST AN ANNOYING LITTLE BEAST.”

You lean further over him for a better look, planting your unoccupied hand on the mattress next to his spine for balance. His spine is solid under your hand, and it’s warm, too. Warm like you’d expect another human to be. His vertebrae make up a thick column beneath your hands, sturdy and mostly smooth as you slide down the thoracic section onto the lumbar.

There’s just a few small scuffs here and there, a far cry from the rest of his battered body. You rub at a fracture, so small you can hardly feel its texture. Edge is fully on his back now, giving you a clear sense of the arch of his lumbar vertebrae. The arch only steepens when you investigate the cracks further, and your knees bump against the mattress in your doing so.

“FROM TRAINING.” His voice is strained and curt, and you can feel him tense, despite his lack of muscles.

Your curiosity pulls you further down, and you glance at his pelvis with a pause. There’s a chip in his iliac crest that you didn’t see before, right at the very peak. You remove your hand from his spine – the curve of his lumbar slackens and Edge lets out something adjacent to a sigh – and you hover over his pelvis. This is fine, right? It’s just like touching someone’s hip. You ghost your fingers over the crack.

“What’s this–”

For the second time today, your wrist is snatched away from you, and your whole body is pulled with it. You fly forward, and you would’ve smashed right on top of Edge if not for your quick replacement of your balancing hand, shooting up and slamming into the spot next to his head – His head that is wide-eyed and drowning in a red glow, a shocked frown tight over his jaw. You’re sure your face looks like a mirror image to his, and you can feel the heat rising to your cheeks and settling over your neck at the sudden closeness. His chest lightly grazes yours with every deep breath he sucks in.

“THAT’S–! I–!” You’ve never seen Edge grasping for words like this. “IT’S– IT’S SENSITIVE!”

Well, if he didn’t want you touching it, he was doing a really poor job of making sure that wasn’t happening. In your new position, you found your hips fully flush against his pelvis as your feet balanced on your toes.

That window-jumping idea isn’t sounding so bad right now.

You make a move to pull away, to apologize like your life depends on it (it probably will), and to escape mostly unscathed. Your master plan comes to a screeching halt, however, when his claws only curl deeper into your wrist. That look of surprise has been replaced by a devious grin. A hand wraps around the small of your back, locking you in place.

“AND WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?” Edge rumbles. “DON’T YOU HUMANS KNOW IT’S RUDE TO NOT FINISH WHAT YOU START?”

Seems like you won’t be leaving anytime soon.

[trick-or-fucking-treat]

The Knife in You Brings Out the Life in Me - Danny Johnson x Reader

Masterlist

Prologue ~

Summary:

You were never close with your cousin Billy and hadn’t seen him in years, but when he shows up at your roadside home, running from the law and with a Stu on his arm, you figure it’s best to let him stay. He wouldn’t.. gut you? Right? Best not take any chances! The real kicker, however, is when their inspiration - the real and original Ghostface - shows up. You have less faith he’ll let you live if you aren’t careful.

"How could this happen? Am I dreaming again? Her body's not moving I'm assuming she's dead"

- The Greatest Story Ever Told, Ice Nine Kills

———

"Fuck, Billy! What'd we do now?" Stu stressed, knife in hand, gesturing wildly.

"Well... our face is on every news station, too many people around here know who we are." Like Stu, Billy still wore his shitty dollar store Ghostface costume, albeit their masks were tossed off to the side. Both were covered in blood, Billy slightly more so, and Billy was trying to keep his cool while Stu made every effort to panic.

"Ok, so.. we need to lie low?"

"Exactly. I have a rich cousin who doesn't live far from here, but still pretty out of the way. They're a recluse, we won't be bothered there... assuming we'll be taken in."

After pulling off their first couple murders scot free, Billy and Stu decided they couldn't let the thrill go. Of course it was going to bite them in the ass eventually, but how were they supposed to know karma is a cold hearted bitch? Welp! They sure do now...

Their latest victim managed to get away, and while she didn't see their faces, she was damn sure she knew the killers. The two slash happy teens had taken a hit at another one of their classmates who they weren't too fond of, and they got cocky. Gave a hint hint, wink wink, at who they were behind the masks to scare the poor victim into thinking she was going to get her guts spilled by the guys who sit across the classroom to her in chemistry. It's all part of the thrill!

Except this time the bitch got away and ran to the police.

Stu was quiet for a moment before another thought occurred to him. "What about... you know who..? How will he find us if we drop off the map?"

"For all we know Danny's watching us right now! He's probably laughing about us fucking up.. he'll find us or he won't, that's up to him. Right now we need to get out of dodge."

———

Danny Johnson. The original Ghostface. Billy and Stu thought they were funny copycatting such a famous psycho. He was their role model of sorts.

Things changed when good ol' Jed Olsen started being pally with Billy and Stu, though. He was older. Sort of came out of nowhere. Knew things he shouldn't have known.

At first the pair were worried he knew what they were up to and just needed confirmation before going to the police, but Jed seemed to find it more funny than anything. He had this energy about him that made them cautious.

One night they were getting ready to start stalking another future victim (Miss run-away-and-blab-to-the-police, funnily enough) when they got a phone call.

"Do you like scary movies?" The familiar staticky voice had spoken. "Who am I kidding? Of course you do! Why else would you both be starring in one? The question is... are you really the predators? Or are you actually... the prey?" The line had gone dead a moment later.

But when they shared a slightly concerned glance and decided to continue to leave for their midnight hobby, they opened the door to see a matching - though much more pristine mask  - staring back at them.

The Ghostface at the door didn't wear a cheap, scraggly, dollar store Halloween costume like Billy and Stu. He wore thick, black, sturdy material with straps and combat boots. Ohhh fuuuuuck... this guy is serious.

Danny gave them a good scare and let them fear for their lives for a while. Danny's a better killer than them. More experienced. More ruthless, and far more premeditated. But despite planning on killing them at first (they stole his entire thing, they couldn't get away with it, Danny had been planning this for a while) in the moment, he saw potential in them. Also they were a good laugh.

From then on, Danny took them under his wing and turned up when he felt like it to guide them in stalking and nurture their talent for murder.

Danny wasn't typically the kind of guy to help out other killers, especially ones who steal his likeness, but these guys had the same raw psychopathy that Danny sees in himself. And also, what the hell, he gets bored, they buy him free meals, they treat him like a god, what's not love!

And so Billy and Stu met their hero and dedicated their time to someday be as great as him. (Danny knew they'd never live up to him, he can always kill 'em when they get boring).

But now they've fucked up. Their victim got away. Danny's laughing and hiding in a bush somewhere vowing to never let them live it down. And Billy and Stu are hitching a ride to Billy's cousins place, hoping the blood and murder will be looked past to let them crash for a little while.

———

A/N: so I did change some minor things! If you want a full update on what’s changed, you can read it on either Wattpad or Ao3 with the fic under the same name, only I use @sonufabitchhhhh on both of those (I don’t use it here cos that’s my main acc whereas this acc is just for horror, thinking of changing my usernames on the other apps tho).

Have a great day/night,

~ trick-or-fucking-treat

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

s8 episode 1 “within” thoughts

did you hear the news? that we are soooo back?

i have so many questions and i am VERY excited. today, we meet a guy named john. john doggett, to be specific. i look forward to learning about him.

the episode description mentions the lone gunmen… is now when their show takes place? i don’t think i’ll watch it at the moment, but maybe someday down the road when i have more time. and i think it has a sad ending anyway, right? so maybe not watching it is the best move. even if i love my friends the gunmen. they can live happily ever after in my head.

seems like we will have a lot of scully and skinner time, which i am jumping for JOY about.

hmm, do you think they’ll change the intro…?

so many questions! let us begin!!

shaking with excitement slash fear slash anticipation… please do not let me down!!

(post-episode thoughts: RAHHHHHHHH. ahem. skinner and scully...

good episode. i don't care for this doggett fellow, but i have a feeling he'll have a redemption arc and i'll grow to like him, which is fine. wondering if the same can be said about kersh, because he seems TOO evil... there has to be more there. but! doggett had that glass of water to the face coming and i support scully losing it. SO MANY MORE THOUGHTS below... but those are the biggest ones i can think of right now!)

is my volume not working or is this really quiet…? i skipped a few minutes ahead to check, and i think my volume just isn’t working. okay, let’s try again.

is this a… well. i have a guess as to what we’re seeing, but i don’t wanna sound presumptuous. baby?

AUGH, mulder and the goop!

ohh!! scully having a nightmare :( of mulder and the goop… is she still in the hospital?? free her!!

woah. that was the whole pre-intro scene. that has to be a record. it lasted, like, 20 whole seconds. they had to get to the good part, i guess.

UPDATED INTRO PICTURES???? WHAT THE HELL??? 

AND THE NEW GUY IS HERE: his name is robert patrick. those are both first names.

i’m so gagged... i never thought those pictures would change, LMAO. maybe that is why people don’t like this season: change.

and the visuals are all different, too! oh, we see a picture of a baby for real this time. mulder is falling!!! an eyeball!!! the truth is out there, bitch!!!

well, that is a LOT to handle, all things considered. i don’t think i’ll ever quite get used to that. which is probably okay. but trust that the truth is still out there. that fact remains eternal.

PREVIOUSLY ON THE X FILES...

and the audio isn’t syncing with their lips!! why must i suffer??

okay, everyone is recapped. scully is here. staring into a mirror. she looks beautiful. however, i do not think she is okay. she stops staring. buttons up her jacket. emphasis on her necklace. and heads to work.

GOD. it’s slow and i’m sad. i am very sad. she just looks so…. out of it. is she walking to the basement? yes. and a guy is down here. with other people. why are they going through all their stuff?? oh, she is MAD!!

they are collecting material for anything that might be pertinent to the manhunt!!!

OHHH, NO ONE TOLD HER….. “if you’re looking for mulder, you’re wasting your time. are you listening to me?” <- ohhh, what is she thinking?? has she given up?? or is it more about the methodology?

OH, SHE SAYS IT IS A STUPID IDEA AND ASKS WHO CAME UP WITH THIS…. she bursts into skinner's office while he is on the phone!!! he is saying that someone could have had the courtesy to tell him. did he not know either?

skinner declares that the manhunt was NOT his idea!!! OH, he says that he told her last night he will find mulder… so this is one day after the events of the last episode. oh my gooood. it’s all so new. but she thinks they will not find him this way. hmm…

i mean, when scully was taken, she was just kind of… brought back to that hospital. i don’t think having a lookout team is a BAD idea, but yeah, they’re not gonna find him by going through all of their stuff and sending out a battalion.

but i guess when scully came back, it was the government who took her and not the aliens. or maybe they were working together. this seems like a rogue alien operation, though, so the odds of him being returned in the same fashion seem much slimmer. but who knows?

also… pain that she says they’re going through “mulder’s office”. not shared anymore. damn.

OH GOD, HE SAYS HE DOESN’T WANT HER TO DO ANYTHING TO UPSET HER PREGNANCY, OH GOD… i knew he would be overprotective. falls to my knees and starts weeping.

but she is not having it. she wants to know who tf is going over his head? “our brand new deputy director” <- OHHHH??? KERSH!!!!

the way this happened over night... someone high up in the syndicate is pulling some strings...

what does he care to find mulder?? he hates the guy?? he was working for CSM!! well, maybe he wasn’t… we just saw him in a meeting with him once. i guess skinner has had meetings with him, too. he may have been very mean in s6... but maybe he is secretly a good guy??

so they go in to see him. he doesn’t want to waste any time. they are missing one of their own.

he thanks them for their cooperation. scully implies he thinks they are suspects. and kersh says he wants their statement taken by a guy named doggett, who is the task force leader on this mission. 

they start to leave and he says “one more thing”… oh, what now… “anything leaves this building about aliens or alien abductions or any other nonsense that might cast the bureau in a ridiculous light- and you can forget about looking for agent mulder. you’ll both be looking for new jobs” HUH?!?! WELL. 

uh. um. not beating the bad guy allegations.

i hope kersh has a character arc. i guess we'll see. i wanna know why he is Like That. 

“that‘s all” he says, very meryl streep as miranda priestly, while a furious skinner and scully walk out the door

“why do i get the feeling they’d be happy if we never found him at all?” OHHH…. they think it’s just about covering the FBI… skinner declares that he saw what he saw, and he will speak his truth. “you give them the truth, and they’ll hang you with it”, says scully. “they can hang me with a lie, too” OH…. a man of character. 

but scully asks “what good are you to mulder if you give them the power to ruin your career?” ohhh… such a hard situation… neither of them are wrong… we need to meet this doggett fellow and decide what the best course of action is…. see if he can handle The Truth...

she says they will find mulder. and then they go into the room to give their statements. a guy takes skinner back and tells scully to wait until they call her. it is a very busy room.

she sits down next to someone. but pointedly avoids the person. lmao. turn your whole body away, queen. i see you! alas, he is looking at her. is this doggett? well, whoever it is, he walks away. 

oh. this mystery fellow gets her some water. saying it could be a wait. well, that is kind at least. she says thank you and takes it. 

“aren’t you his partner? mulder?” “yes.” she doesn’t wanna talk about this right now, man with a deep and raspy voice. “i guess nobody’s beyond suspicion on this thing” (scully glare) 

she asks why they’re questioning him, and he says he knew mulder back a bit. “i doubt we agents ever truly know each other- even our partners” <- girl, you can take your doubt all the way to the bank... these two have a soul bond. this bitch...

she says she knows mulder as much as anybody. “yeah, probably so. i always took the rumors with a grain of salt” “what rumors are those?” oh girl…. “well, you know” (she looks at him, seeming to Not Know) “well that, from the beginning, he never felt a real trust with you, that you were ambitious” 

well, yeah, maybe at the beginning he felt that way, but it didn't last long?? i must confess, though, i thought he was going to bring up the rumors of them sleeping together to her face. maybe he was and he had to stop himself.

she is so taken aback she nearly laughs. “where’d that come from?” “there are women here in the bureau that he would confide in” (puzzled scully look)

OH?

nah, i don’t buy it. whoever this guy is, he is just trying to make her suspicious. 

she asks when that was and he says “oh, it’s just talk” <- boy, shut the fuck up……

he asks what her theory is. “my theory is you don’t know mulder at all” GET HIS ASS! “you never did”

OH, THIS BITCH IS DOGGETT? she reached over and grabbed his badge. she was MAD AS FUCK!!!

not so sure if i am excited to meet him now… 

“you might have introduced yourself” “i was getting around to it” 

she stands up and THROWS HER DRINK ON HIM, LMAOOOO “nice to meet you, agent doggett” <- GET HIS ASS!!!

skinner sees this happen and she stalks out. 

well. we’re off on a great start with our newest character who we can definitely trust!!1!1!!

he watches her leave. seeming impressed. GOOD. HE OUGHT TO BE.

ah, typically calm and composed and cool scully, throwing her drink on someone she just met... yelling at those guys down in the basement office... she is going through it. she is going to be in attack mode until she gets her man back. i support her, but i hope she doesn't go too far and get herself in trouble.

she looks doggett's ass up at home... lmao!!! and wouldn’t you!? he is from georgia… his middle name is jay… scully has flowers in her apartment. he was in the marine corps and a peacekeeping force in lebanon. and then he was in the NYPD as a detective and then has been with the FBI since 1995. 

ohhhh, poor scully gets sick :( i know that is par for the course with pregnancy, but like!!! it still sucks. majorly. and she is so alone.

she calls someone. her mom!!! who doesn’t pick up. she says she has been busy with “something else that i should probably tell you about in person” oh god… her voice is breaking. “i really need to see you, and talk to you. there’s a lot of stuff that’s going on with me right now, and, um… i just really need to talk” OHHHH SCULLY :( i hope her mom can stop by.

so her mom must not know about mulder being gone or the other big thing... she is going to be so freaked out when she hears her daughter crying on the voicemail. hopefully she will buzz right up. hopefully there is no other scully family drama keeping her busy.

but there’s clicking on the phone line…. someone must be listening to her!!!!

and there’s a guy outside her window. she calls doggett and tells him to STAY OUT OF HER BUSINESS!!

(you really have to appreciate how scully is acting like an attack dog. or some sort of enraged lion. i only fear it will get her into bigger trouble.

it is giving me flashbacks to triangle- telling spender she WILL kill him... we only really get to see this side of her when mulder is taken away from her. but i have a feeling it will be Way More Extreme now since there is a lot more on the line)

is it the alien bounty hunter taking his shape outside her window?? because doggett doesn’t know what the hell is going on. which had me laughing.

no… there are steps outside her door…. she’s looking at her gun…. grabbing it… what if it’s a friend? whoever it is, they are gone… she runs out of her apartment… but she left her door open! where is she going??? who is out there?? 

ah! it’s her landlord. he says someone was in the building- “tall guy, brown hair” “you don’t mean mulder?” “yeah, mulder” she runs back up to her apartment!!! “mulder… are you in here??”

GOD. the sorrow in her voice. the way it bounces around the empty room. i need to scream a little.

she gasps… something on her desk…. a wire??? what is it!!! maybe it was byers leaving some sort of message??? idk if the landlord knows names….

(author's note: please keep me thinking that there was a wire left on her desk in the back of your mind as we proceed, because it will be really funny later)

she goes to mulder’s apartment. his desk is covered in dust. she is looking around…. and picks up a shirt from his bed. lays her head on his pillow. OH MY GOD. SHE FALLS ASLEEP???

oh my god...... she fell asleep IN HIS BED HOLDING HIS SHIRT…

guys... do you think i should scream really really loudly????

but more evil dreams… of tests and needles on his face and something up his nose???? like a nose ring. and whirring. they’re pulling his face and sticking something in his mouth?? and he’s screaming. NASTY.

but is it really happening? or are those memories of scully’s abduction coming back and with his face on top of them?

the gunmen are here, finally! with some data! they’re looking at UFO encounters from the pacific northwest, of which there are a LOT. but they can’t tell where the next one will be... much to skinner’s dismay.

doggett is coming into kersh’s office. we learn that kersh was in the air force in vietnam. kersh lore… not sure if i will like his character enough to do anything with it yet, but we’ll see. i guess. i once hated skinner.

doggett asks if he is really in charge of this task force. he says he doesn’t believe it… someone else is calling the shots. kersh tells him he has a chance to shine. “show them all you’re an ace”

doggett kinda looks like an 80's rockstar. a little too sharp and pretty for this line of work. it is slightly off-putting. he does seem like he bites.

ooo, that was a very loaded exchange... i wonder how they know each other and why kersh selected him as a puppet. i wonder if kersh thinks doggett will do whatever he says and then rise through the ranks as a result. he seemed to be genuinely friendly with him... or is it all a ruse?

but doggett is clearly catching on that he is part of something bigger here, and he seems to be indicating that he won't just go along with everything he is told to do... does he have a heart deep down?

doesn't make up for being rude AF to scully, though... he is gonna have to grovel at her feet over that. in my humble opinion.

oh, scully… waking up. in mulder’s bed. so she must have gone back again. with doggett in the room??! “what are you doing here?” “i came by to feed mulder’s fish” <- yes, a responsible friend!! and the parallels to the first episode of the second season...

“and then you got tired and decided to take a nap” yeah, well, maybe she did! her hair was all mussed up from the nap in one shot and in the next it was fixed, LMAO

at this point he HAS to realize what is going on between mulder and scully. like, i couldn't tell if she was holding his shirt again when she fell asleep this time, but come on. doggett cannot possibly consider her a suspect at this point. maybe he is just pointedly ignoring the obvious because he doesn't want scully to know he knows. it might be too painful to acknowledge it.

or maybe he really can't see it. but... c'mon now. he was a detective. which you do not have to be to see what they have.

she wants to know who tf wiretapped her!!! she demands respect... but he counters with, oh, like you showed me over the phone? “i just came by to feed the fish” he claims... ohhh…. they’re having a cat fight. 

why does he know where the fish food is… bro was def poking around!!

he says he knows the answer… and she doesn't even know the question. of what happened to mulder. “i know what you’re gonna say or not, because you think i’m the big bad wolf. do you really believe it? that he was abducted by aliens?” “you said it, i didn’t”

“i guess i just find it hard to swallow that a scientist, a serious person, could buy that… ever see an alien, agent scully?” WHY IS HE SO NASTY?

“you want me to go on record? i will go on record to say this: that i have seen things that i cannot explain. i have observed phenomena that i cannot deny. and that as a scientist, and a serious person-“ oh, she is mad as fuck! “it is a badge of honor not to dismiss these things because someone thinks they’re B.S.”

okaaaay!!!! you live and you learn. and she’s been doing a lot of living and learning. 

i’m just worried he’s going to provoke her into revealing something… she is so frustrated and scared at this point in time that it would be easier to do it now than ever before… she is usually so guarded and cautious…

“so you think he was abducted? i’m just trying to find him” “then what are you doing here?” “trying to figure these out” ooooh… he has car rental receipts. 370 miles, four consecutive weekends in may. she says she doesn’t know where he was going. “like i said, maybe you didn’t really know your partner” <- rude as fuck. 

also... why did he rent a car? does he not have his own? then how did he get to work... i'm confused.

it's almost like he's implying she is just one of the many lovesick women mulder left behind and i Do Not Care For It. or maybe he was told by kersh to try and make her suspicious of him so they can come up with a bullshit reason for his disappearance- some sort of personal betrayal- and get her to buy it. which i cannot ever see happening.

he is interrupted by a phone call. “agent mulder at the FBI?” what is going on???? 

skinner gets called in…. scully is here, too… and he can’t talk to her. 

someone removed some files. we don’t know what yet. used the pass card belonging to mulder. “you said agent mulder felt threatened by the FBI” “no. no, that’s not what i said. i said he felt the x-files were threatened by budget-cutting” <- OOO SKINNER, CATCH THEM IN THEIR LIES!!! they ask if he would ever retaliate. 

they’re trying to find inconsistencies… scully said skinner was home, but he was allegedly making phone calls in the office until 10. they think he came in here… using mulder's pass card. 

someone is whispering to doggett… she says skinner is telling the truth. he claims he believes it, but it doesn’t explain who used the card. and now mulder's visa was used two days ago in north carolina. buying flowers at at mortuary. but on a schedule, it seems.

“mulder’s mother is buried in raleigh. that’s the reason he was going every weekend”

“it’s one reason”

GIRL???? what other business is he implying is down there.

also very interesting that she is buried in raleigh. she wasn't from that area, was she? i swear she was born in massachusetts. so why down there?

and then they crack open a GRAVESTONE WITH HIS NAME ON IT??? are they suggesting he was buying his own grave??? oh, how the tables turn from abduction arc… she is crying as she stares at it. 

people walk by her. 

notably, samantha is also on the gravestone, listed as deceased in 1979. is this from CSM??? or is he actually dead, too? maybe it's a sick thing from krycek, then...

skinner comes in and joins the staring. “i don’t know what to think” “i don’t believe it, dana, it just doesn’t make any sense to me” OH... HE CALLED HER DANA…. is she going to allow this… it appears she shall

doggett declares he has some light on this and wants help from scully. he had mulder's medical records. 

his brain… the records show lots of irregular brain activity. skinner argues he recovered from is illness. but scully says he was dying. that there was a record of his decline. 

doggett thinks… “he took one big last chance to make it”

OH LMAOOO, I JUST NOW REALIZE THAT THE WIRE IN HER APARTMENT WAS WHERE HER COMPUTER WAS BECAUSE HE BROUGHT UP THAT BOTH OF THEIR COMPUTERS WERE STOLEN… I’M DYING!!! I FORGOT THAT COMPUTERS HAD WIRES BACK THEN AS I STREAM THIS ON MY LAPTOP!!! KILLLLLL ME LMAOOO... I WAS LIKE "OOOOH A WIRE!! MAYBE IT HAS A SECRET MESSAGE", BAHAHAAAAA

(i'm still fucking laughing at this the next day LMAO, what the fuck did i think was hidden in that wire...!!! i just kind of accepted it, like it was some early version of a hard drive, BAHAHAAAAA. i am the person you have to spell things out for when you are making TV shows i guess!)

doggett wants to know how far he would go. he says he gets obsession- interesting. tucking that away for future character analysis. would mulder stage his own disappearance? 

skinner says he knows what he saw. he watched it happen. he will not sit there and listen to this. we get a little recap. but she reaches up and grabs his jacket. stands. looks at doggett. “please don’t report that” ohh... he must have confessed to doggett what he saw while we got to relive it.

he says it wouldn't help him find mulder anyway. also interesting.

she grabs skinner’s shoulder. but he says it’s not good enough. while doggett goes to make a phone call. 

now skinner and the gunmen are looking at UFO activity. scully thinks it is a waste of time, but skinner insists it isn’t. the ship might be in the arizona desert. well! we have had experiences in the arizona desert before, haven’t we? i still think about those weird alien human hybrid bodies in the train car in the desert all the time. will that finally be addressed here? probably not...

“okay, say this is true-“ ah! she is doing her thing! i love when she does the thing where she suspends disbelief to follow the next logical step. “then how do we even begin to start finding him?”

langly suggests with who they might abduct next- “we’re only trying to help” “we’re only trying to find mulder” they say. scully turns- they must think they have upset her. and doggett said that too… and kersh said something similar… who can she believe? 

but she realizes something. why they took him, why they’re in arizona. why do people refuse to believe in aliens? maybe they’re removing all the evidence. meanwhile, someone slides something under doggett’s door. she thinks they are the ones removing the things, not mulder. 

what does doggett have?

they want to find the good hard proof… gibson!

WAHHH!! doggett has a file on gibson!!! is that where he ended up?? arizona??

omg… i look forward to their reunion. but who gave this file to doggett!

doggett declares to his task force that the objective in this case has been reframed… they’re laughing as doggett explains mulder thought gibson could read minds, might be part alien. maybe mulder left to look for him, he proposes. gibson was last seen in arizona. and they’re out. doggett wants to put gibson’s photo all over the southwest.

more creepy images of a UFO or mulder experiments or scully nightmares… all very unclear what is real and what isn’t. UGH, the tubes in his arms and legs…. more face pulling…. SLICEY THINGS… nah, i don’t want to see that. CUTTING HIS CHEST OPEN???

does she have some sort of connection to him that lets her see this stuff?

ah! it was just scully waking up from a nightmare. skinner is driving them somewhere. with his shirt mildly unbuttoned. oh… he needs navigation help. his little smile at her.

oh my gosh, i guess gibson was technically seen last in arizona… i guess i didn’t know the power plant was out there. i can't keep track of all the places they go. hmm.

ahhh! a helicopter is over their car. is doggett? yes, it is! they found gibson in a school for the deaf. and doggett is on the way. hmm… i don’t want doggett to get there… and he has a helicopter, so he will get there first… skinner and scully have stopped for gas or coffee or a map or something... and scully sees something in the distance… a mirage? or an alien thing?

skinner says there is a school in 20 minutes. meanwhile, the school is getting a phone call about him. doggett is pulling up…. it is gibson!!!

doggett gets there just as skinner and scully do! i started to type “mulder and scully”, which i imagine will be a hard habit to break.

gibson sees doggett… but the teachers want to know what is going on. 

skinner and scully run into doggett!!! scully asks to see gibson so much more politely than doggett did, lmao. but the kid is on the run!!!

bro ran into somebody… but who?? we cannot see his face. doggett finds footprints…. that seem to lead into the mountains?

someone has him!! oh!! the little dude is growing up!!

OH SHIT!! someone has mulder’s body, but no way that is him. doggett has him at gunpoint…

dun dun DUN!!!

well. the next episode’s description reveals what is going on, but even if it didn’t i wouldn’t buy that it was really mulder for a second, LMAO.

so much to process…

let us think.

thoughts on doggett? don’t fully trust him, but i don’t fully distrust him. he might be kersh’s lapdog at the moment, but i don’t think he’ll stay that way. clearly he’s onto him, anyway, with the whole visit to his office thing. but i think he ought to be FUCKING NICER???? did kersh TELL him to be a dick on purpose?? i know he has some tragic backstory reveal later on, but other than that i do not know a damn THING about the guy. and so i expect kindness from him, as i do from all people.

so, mulder’s brain alien surgery thing was killing him? that… well, i was going to say that doesn’t make sense, but nothing on this show makes sense, so that helps nothing. i guess what i meant to say was that i didn’t see any signs of him slowly dying last season. was i supposed to? i would have bought it for season 6 with the way he was acting so weird, but by s7 he seemed mostly back to himself. and besides, the surgery was at the very start of s7 anyway, so that makes the s6 weirdness hard to explain. i guess the whole alien virus thing could have been why he was weird in s6, but it doesn’t fully explain anything… hmm. 

i do not believe that he purchased his own gravestone. first of all, his father already has one, so why would he include him on there? is that a thing people do- put people who are not actually buried in the ground at that location on the headstone? and i don't think his father was buried in north carolina like his mother was, so having them together on there was an additional layer of weirdness. i guess i could MAYBE see him doing that if he really was dying, and really was traveling to north carolina to buy his own burial plot, but like... why north carolina and why include his family on there if his father is in an entirely different location? just because he wanted to honor them? the samantha part makes sense- he would always want to keep her with him- but the confidence with which the death year was placed also throws me off because we saw him admit that there really weren't answers in the last episode. it seems to me it is a nasty krycek trick to try and divert scully and skinner from their mission by making them think he is just dead and then he can claw his way into the upper ranks of alien diplomacy or something. idk. feels weird.

skinner… i trust him and the gunmen. GOD. when he said over and over again that he would report what he saw… and scully had to tell him no, that he can't help mulder if he gets fired. skinner was so often the guy that saves the day for our agents, and now we get to see him be in distress, which is perversely appealing to me. oh, and he SMILED at her when she woke up in the car… the way he was trying to explain his theory with the UFOs, trying to be gentle, but she just rejected it… him saying he doesn’t want anything to impact her… she's going to chafe at him being to gentle. i can already see it happening.

and the way she grabbed his jacket and put her arm on his shoulder. RAHHHH, i’m eating this UP!!! this is such a fascinating dynamic. i really hope they leave that joke about him being into her in that one episode, because that protective mentorship role is SO much more fascinating in my humble and correct opinion. there’s definitely affection and a deep respect there, but like... come on. not like that.

and poor scully. i have to say though, i wanted more scully character exploration. although, for this show, i guess we did get a lot, huh? with the phone call to her mom, the water on doggett, her conversations with skinner… yeah, i guess that was a lot. we don’t get a ton of long and quiet character rumination, even if i would really really like that, so i guess, for our standards, this was pretty good. i look forward to scully time. i really do. she seemed so shell shocked. i hope that the season isn’t just “where is mulder! where is mulder!” but also that people are asking "how are YOU scully, how can we help you", and then even if she answers with “bad”, i want some narrative focus because she is going through a LOT and her internal world has always been really interesting, but especially so now. i want to dive in. i’m assuming that those scenes of mulder are deep memories of her own abduction and not that she is somehow seeing him, but i guess we can’t rule that out, either. some sort of cosmic connection. via a baby that he might have fathered. it isn't super clear.

i hope we get to see maggie scully in the next episode when they come back from arizona :( she needs her family at this point in time. not bill tho... fuck bill fr fr.

the one time someone left me a nasty comment on this blog (not including that comical anon message, which i ought to bring back because it still makes me laugh) someone said “scully started believing in aliens the minute mulder left!” and to me… were we watching the same show? because s7 was to me all about scully opening herself up. i mean, come on, we’ve been exploring this concept since beyond the sea in s1. gibson saying she believes in s6 and is just afraid to admit it? same with that guy from tithonus? what about the whole episode theef? let’s be for real. this is not out of nowhere. this is a process of her coming to terms with her beliefs, famously not an easy thing to do! that feels like such a reductive take. people change over time.

i did feel a pang of loss for mulder time when i began to type "mulder and scully arrive at the scene" out of habit instead of "skinner and scully arrive at the scene", but then i got to thinking. and i'm not quite sure how to put the thoughts i am feeling into words, so bear with me. we have seen our friends mulder and scully go and investigate many cases together. a lot of those cases are very interesting, and the dynamic between them that is explored is the heart of the show.

but there have also been many episodes where our friends mulder and scully go to investigate a case that have been... anywhere from mildly disappointing to point-blank infuriating. we all remember the greatest hits- quagmire! wetwired! detour! memento mori! how the ghosts stole christmas! and it is true that there were, in fact, some absolute bangers. BUT. there were also a lot of mulder and scully investigate a case episodes that have been flops. who remembers trevor? or first person shooter? D.P.O.? heaven forbid, el mundo gira?

while we all love scully and mulder agent time, it has 1. never been very consistent in tone or quality, which leads to whiplash, and 2. there are a lot of forgettable scully and mulder agent time episodes, so to say that they are needed together for an episode to be good feels like an oversimplification, because there are plenty of episodes where they ARE together that are still BAD.

my point BEING in saying all of this: while i understand the nostalgia of wanting them back together, and i can imagine how much more intense it was while the show was airing, i think changing it up opens us to some really interesting character and narrative exploration that we probably would not have gotten otherwise. i understand that they were backed into a corner with contract stuff, and why people would get hostile at having mulder gone for a while, but frankly i find it to be an opportunity to go to new places, test out new things.

it is entirely possible i could regret my words and end up being an early seasons purist... but i'm not as inherently opposed to shaking it up a bit as others might be. which is surprising. i usually hate change!

that got pretty long, and i imagine that future posts will continue to do so as the plot fleshes out this doggett anti-hero but really i just want to focus on scully and skinner's dynamic. but, a good start to the season, and i look forward to what will come! hopefully i can still post around once a week!!! because i am excited!!

[novafics]

l Missing l

Dean Winchester x Reader

Warnings: Kidnapped reader/talks of torture/talks of death.

Summary: Reader gets kidnapped and it's up to Dean to get to you in time before it's too late.

Word Count: 1.6k

Masterlist

---

You shouldn't have done it, you knew that, but all you could think about was the smile on Dean’s face when he found out you bought him his favourite pie. Dean was currently away on a hunt with Sam and from what you had heard from both Sam keeping you informed and Dean’s complaining it wasn't going too well which is why you broke the ‘don’t leave the bunker alone rule’. From the tone in Dean’s voice that morning over the phone you could just tell that this hunt had taken its toll, not only were both boys coming back with some injuries but every place that they had stopped never had any pies which was to Dean, in his own words, a “travesty”. 

All you wanted to do was to make him happy, that’s all that mattered to you, just the smile that graced his face was enough to make you jump for joy. It was just supposed to be a quick trip there and back, no stopping, however as you left the store and were putting the keys into the door of your car you felt a sharp pain to the back of your head and you were out, dropping to the floor with a thud and leaving you unconscious for your attacker to easily drag away while your belongings laid on the floor along with Dean’s pie that you had so carefully picked out.

As you woke up you found yourself strung up in a cell. The floors were covered in both dried and wet blood, something that could only mean a bad time for you was in store. You could tell that the back of you head was still bleeding from the continuous drip of the blood running down your back, your hands were raised so far above your head that your feet only just reached the floor on your tiptoes which meant all of your weight was being supported by your wrists which at this moment felt like they were about to break from the force being applied to them.

In the distance you could hear screaming, not from just one person, no, from many. You felt like you were in a torture chamber waiting for your turn, which as you heard the footsteps closely approaching meant that you didnt have to wait long.

Ever since your disappearance it didn't take long for Dean to realise you were missing, you always called him to make sure he was having a safe journey back and so when you didn't call he went to the worst case scenario and tracked your car. You knew that Dean had installed a tracker in your car as he asked for your permission to do so, just so that he could have that extra precaution to make sure you were safe.

After seeing your deserted car and your stuff strone across the pavement both Sam and Dean knew that you had been taken. Upon further investigation they had also found sulphur along with your things, which led Sam and Dean straight for you. They knew exactly who had you, it was a rogue demon that they had encountered on their last hunt who at being forced away from what he was up to was so angry with the two he left a threat for them both so that made him the obvious culprit in this situation.

It had been around 10 hours now since you were taken, those boots you heard echoing throughout the halls was indeed a warning sign for your inevitable pain and not long after hearing those sounds the demon that took you started to torture you taking all of his anger at Sam and Dean out at you. At this point your whole body felt numb. Your once excruciating wrists now felt as if they weren't there. The numerous cuts and slashes across your body that once felt like burning all over had made your body run cold. You knew that it would all go from bad to worse when you got cold, that meant that you didn't have much time left as first you go cold, then you die.

Luckily for you Dean was on his way, they had finally managed to find the place you were being held and while Sam managed to exorcise the demon their last task was to find you before it was too late. It felt like an eternity before they found your cell and upon entering found you still strung up, covered in your own blood and perfectly still. You weren't frightened or crying, no, you weren't doing anything at all.

The sight in front of Dean made his blood run cold, he couldn't lose you, not you, never you. To him you were his saving grace and you meant everything to him. Sam had managed to loosen the chains around your wrists while Dean caught you on your way to collapsing onto a heap on the floor. “Baby?” his voice was a whisper at this point, scared that you weren't going to answer him ever again. 

“Baby, I'm here, please open your pretty eyes for me, please!” The desperation in his voice was one that even Sam himself had never heard before. As Dean continued to cradle you in his arms with tears falling in steady streams down his face he was sure you were dead, your one warm skin was ice cold and he could feel his heart breaking inside of him as he stroked your cheeks. 

Before his heart could shatter entirely however he watched as your eyes slowly started to open and your hands weakly started to hold on to him, desperate for him to never let you go.

“Oh my god sweetheart, you’re ok, You’re ok!!!” he had to repeat that you were ok a few more times before he could believe it himself. “Yeah i'm here baby, im here” you replied trying desperately to snuggle closer to him trying your hardest to bask in his warmth. 

Not wanting to stay in that place a moment longer Dean brought you back to the bunker tucking you under what you could only describe as a million blankets to get your body back to being warm again, The feeling of your ice cold skin being something he never in his life wanted to feel again, and luckily something he never did.

[itzr4v3n]

Demon Logico

A little play with judicial corruption, except it goes down the fantastical path.

A lot of my stuff has fantasy involved, as you may have noticed. But now, this one actually has lore outside of the overarching canon one :0

Anyways, bad storytelling ahead

The two of them solve a murder case per usual and go separate ways. However, Irratino eventually sensed something went wrong and, by the art of following his gut, travelled out of the city and came across an abandoned church. Already sketchy enough, it was late evening as well, but Irratino went inside using his phone’s flashlight and looked around. He didn’t have to search for long, as Logico was pretty much in the centre of the room, unconscious and tied to a wooden cross for whatever reason. What Irratino thought was a mole on his neck turned out to be a small puncture hole, like it had been done by a needle or something else that is thin and pointy.

Irratino went over and freed him from the cross, checking him over and tried to wake him up. Logico did regain consciousness, however he immediately attacked the inspector and his teeth sunk into Irratino’s shoulder, through fabric and everything. The latter knocked him off with a kick, but it did result in a chunk of his shoulder being ripped off. By the loving hands of God, literally, he didn’t succumb to bleeding out and the injury healed. Logico snapped back into reality, after eating Irratino’s flesh, but was stuck in a state of shock and confusion. Irratino took him to his place, let him stay there and rest up and everything. He noticed Logico had a scar across his right eye, which probably resulted from a knife cut in a small fight, however it was black. It was later revealed, when he opened it, his “damaged eye” now has a black sclera and red iris. The first thing that happened after Logico woke up is trying to attack Irratino again, but luckily there wasn't any harm done this time.

So after a long time of observing his behaviour as well as finding out there is foreign tissue in his system that isn't human, Irratino could conclude Logico was infected by a demon. Sort of.

Every human being is connected to an angel at the core of their soul, even atheists. These angels represent a certain trait, and of course, there's also a negative trait (which are basically sins bound to an angel/demons in exaggerated form). A balancing force makes sure none of the traits get too strong

In Logico's case, his angel was Justitio, angel of Justice, and the negatives are Greed and Corruption. The balancing force Wisdom was destroyed/deactivated, so the Negatives slowly grew stronger.

(Left to right: Greed, Justito, Corruption)

Initially, Logico had it under control besides the occasional lashing out and hunger for human flesh. Blood does the trick of keeping him satiated for a while

It started really going to shit when Sister Lapis found out and, probably justifiable, randomly started an exorcism on Logico while in the middle of a murder case.

This forced the demonic side to take shape by changing Logico's body, while chains are attempting to drag him into the ground/Hell. Obviously he's in a lot of pain because the holy stuff initially hurts him, so Irratino smacks the crucifix out of Lapis's hand, which shatters on the ground. For breaking a holy item, Irratino receives two injuries in the form of slashes. One over his upper body, the other over his right eye. Both injuries look like a cross.

Lapis says something along the lines of "God will punish you" but Irratino couldn't care less at the moment, because Logico was having trouble turning back to normal. Half of his body took up a part of Corruption's form, removing the mouth and replacing the eye with the previously stated red one

Basically this, but his left side is still normal

There's kind of a time jump, Logico somehow still goes back to normal, except his demonic side is more widespread news and he starts isolating himself/only goes to places with Irratino. Oh, and his sense of justice also gets skewed/has more violent ideas for punishment because why the fuck not

AND THEN Irratino gets kidnapped because of course he did. It was by the cult who caused Logico's corruption in the first place. They hoped a sacrifice to whatever demon like angel they worship will speed up the process. Basically create the mortal version of the Negatives combined who will fulfil their wishes. Irratino is barely alive, his chest and abdomen were fucking CUT OPEN but he's alive because of plot armour and God.

Jokes on the cultists, Logico ends up killing them. He ripped off the face of the leader. Just wanted to throw that in. I got a video too, but I won't add it until the very end because gore.

Oh he also cannibalizes them. Sometimes you gotta satisfy that craving

Irratino gets put in a hospital and an investigation to find more cultists starts, but that has very little to do with the main lore.

Another time jump, yay

Greed and Corruption have finally overwhelmed Justitio and forced their souls to fuse, which of course also affects Logico. He pretty quickly becomes that "fully corrupted form" I showed earlier and stays like that, his conscience is also breaking, previous acts are amplified like violence and cannibalism.

I forgot to mention, the more corrupted he is, the stronger and faster he gets, plus regeneration. You have to know, angels are damn near unkillable and heal in a matter of seconds.

Irratino, by then fully recovered, now asks his angel Ryomen and the counterforce Nemoyr as well as God (again) to help him. God was rightfully pissed and gave the trio the green card to do pretty much anything. Logico is lead into a different church by some supernatural force. Irratino thought all the holy relics would weaken Logico, but now that the "demons" and angel became one, they have no effect. In fact, because the angel is his core, he's stronger in a church than outside, much to Ryomen and Irratino’s dismay. The plus side is that at least Belief and Deceit are also more powerful.

Battle ensues, Logico is chasing Irratino, the latter is just trying to keep him distracted while Ryomen and Nemoyr fight corrupted Justitio on the spiritual level. Justitio is gets incapacitated and his connection to Logico was cut, allowing Irratino to knock him out

I ironically don’t have the aftermath planned out, except that Justitio is dealt with in Heaven and Wisdom is brought back alive.

Logico and Irratino both sustained injuries that will definitely leave scars, the deductive's demon eye is now just a blind eye, but otherwise they can pretty much resume their usual routine. Except Logico goes into therapy for a while to make sure his mind is fully back to normal.

Uhm, that's pretty much all there is to it.

Well, property damage pays as well, but nothing Irratino can't handle

Idk why I came up with this in the first place, but I did.

Lazy ending because I have a heat headache.

Oh, also, here's the video I mentioned

K bai

[hunk-never-dies]

Words That Were Never Spoken

A Valenfield Fanfiction

(Trigger Warning for Violence, Blood, and Graphic Descriptions of Undead)

Previous chapter in tags

Chapter 8

After stopping at the BSAA headquarters and stocking up on many weapons, Jill drove the pickup truck to their next destination, where the woman awaited them. Jill watched the road, driving the speed limit, while Claire looked at the map on her phone. She tried to focus on the highway, but her mind kept wandering to the fight to come. Was this going to turn into a suicide mission? She and Chris were barely able to defeat the last tyrant. She doubted they would have survived if Chris hadn’t had those proximity mines, and judging by the weight of the bag she had carried, it was more than just a few. Jill had brought a surplus of them, along with other high-powered firearms and rifles. This woman was not going to harm another person on her watch. She vowed to herself to keep both Claire and Rebecca safe. She gripped the wheel tighter in her hands. She needed to keep calm and stay level-headed. Claire seemed to have calmed down, but when faced with that woman, the things she would probably say would set her off. Jill needed to keep her safe and clear-thinking as well. She knew Claire was strong and could easily take care of herself. However, she had never seen her get that angry before. Then again, it was her brother that the woman had nearly killed. Jill couldn’t blame her but hoped she could rein in her anger when they arrived. 

“So, what’s our plan for when we get there? Sticking together would be the wisest option, especially if she harbors more of the super-powered B.O.W.s.” Rebecca said from the center of the back seat. She leaned forward and looked at the two. “Plus, I’ll need to stay close in case one of you gets into trouble.” Jill glanced in the rearview mirror at her before looking back at the road. “In the video, that zombie was faster than normal. Those things would take us out quickly, especially if she uses stronger foes. Like the tyrant, you and Chris fought.”

“Take this exit, Jill,” Claire interrupted, and Jill slowed the truck, turning off the highway and onto an exit. The exit soon opened to a backroad, and Jill followed it, formulating a plan. The woman would be expecting her; that was a given. She was the only person mentioned in the video. But why? Was it because she was also one of the founding members of the BSAA? Her malice toward Chris was far more profound than a simple organization, so that could not have been the reason. Was it because he was her partner? That seemed more logical to her, but thinking of whys would not get them through the fight. Instead, they had to be a step ahead of this woman. If she were only expecting her, she would not be expecting Rebecca and Claire to show up. The woman could have thought she would bring back up, but she slashed the idea. In her video, the woman had said it was a trap. If she was avenging Chris’s death, would she bring other people with her? Memories of the nightmare came back to her, and so did the pain she had felt deep in her chest— A suffocating feeling that left her hollow inside. 

No, she wouldn’t bring anyone with her. She would go by herself to kill that woman or die trying. The person responsible would not expect her to bring the other two women along. But why was she doing this? Why would someone from Umbrella want Chris dead so badly? It made no sense to her. That question, unfortunately, would have to be answered by the woman, and something told her she’d be more than happy to share why. “I don’t think she’ll be expecting you two with me. That could give us an advantage to ambush her.”

Claire looked up from her phone with a serious expression. “No way, Jill. You are not going in alone. Rebecca is right; we can’t split up.” Jill glanced at Claire before she looked ahead again. She knew they were right, but it would give them an edge if they branched off. “We are staying together.” 

Jill was about to speak when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She let go of the wheel with one hand and shifted slightly, removing her phone. Jill glanced down at the screen and felt uneasy. It was a phone number she did not recognize. She handed it off to Claire, who hit the accept button and pressed the speaker. Jill spoke loud as Claire held the phone above the center console. “Hello? Who is this?”

There was a brief silence before a voice answered. It was pained, quiet, and half-asleep-sounding. “Hey, Jill.”

Jill’s eyes widened at the voice, and she nearly slammed on the truck's brakes. Claire shot up in her seat. “Chris!?” Claire exclaimed as she looked down at the phone. Jill pulled off the road and stopped the truck, turning in her seat slightly. Chris was awake and had called her. Her partner must have been okay if he was able to do that. Though he was far from okay-sounding, Chris was alive. That was what truly mattered.

“Claire, too? Hey, sis.” Chris’s words slurred and sounded like he’d fall asleep any minute. 

“Are you okay? How are you feeling? Why are you calling?” Claire asked as the questions came spewing out of her mouth. There was silence on the other end, and it sounded like the phone had fallen. “Chris?”

There was another brief moment of silence, followed by a muffled curse. “Sorry,… damn phone fell. ‘M okay… ish. Feel like shit,” Chris answered in a sluggish voice before he continued. “Need.. where’s Jill?”

Jill blinked as she exchanged glances with the two women. Rebecca smiled, and Claire smirked at her. She mouthed, ‘I told you he likes you.’ Jill rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks heat up at the insinuation. 

She then looked at the phone and spoke: “I’m right here, Chris. I’m with Rebecca and Claire.”

“Oh, hey, Rebecca.”

“Hey, Chris,” Rebecca said, “glad you’re awake.”

“Kinda awake,” Chris mumbled, “Jill still there?”

“I am. What is it?” She hoped that it was necessary. If her partner had just woken up, he should have been resting, not making phone calls. However, she could not deny that she was happy to hear his voice. It made her feel relief knowing he was conscious.

“They said you weren’t here... I wanted to be sure…” That she wasn’t there? What was he talking about? Jill frowned before she blinked in understanding. Was he calling to ensure she wasn’t in the hospital as well? “Glad.. you aren’t. That tyrant was an asshole. Don’t want you hurt-” His voice trailed off, and the phone sounded like it dropped again. He must have been on some heavy-duty pain medication or sedatives, most likely both, given how out of it he was sounding. “Sorry, keeps falling...”

“Are you even supposed to be on the phone right now?”

“I dunno. I wanted to be sure you were okay,” Chris said, his words beginning to slur even more. He should have been resting, but Jill was glad to hear his voice again. She wanted to keep talking to him, but she knew he probably shouldn’t have been on the phone in the first place.

“You don’t have to worry about me. You should be taking care of yourself.” Jill scolded, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. It seemed the stubbornness was still there despite how high he sounded. If she were being honest and under different circumstances, she would find him utterly adorable right now.

“Can now… now that I know you’re safe.’ 

Jill felt her heart beat faster in her chest. It must have been the drugs, but something about the soft, caring tone in his voice felt different than usual. ‘Focus, Jill. He’s your friend and as high as a kite right now.’

 A friend that you could have prevented from getting hurt. 

The warm feeling in her chest instantly turned cold as she pushed the feelings away. That was right. Had she spoken up, Chris wouldn’t be in the hospital now. He would be with her, helping to take down this woman and completing the mission. “We are all safe, I promise. Now get some rest.” 

“Mmm,” Chris hummed before he mumbled, “bye. Bye, Claire. Bye, Rebecca.”

“I'll see you soon, okay?” Claire said, her voice brimming with relief.

“Okay… oh, here. Doc wants to say hi.”

Jill listened as Chris handed the phone over, and the doctor's voice came through the phone’s speaker. “Hello, this is Doctor Sampson. I just wanted to let you know Chris is doing well. We brought him out of the heavy sedation, and his vitals have been promising thus far. He insisted on calling you when he woke and realized where he was. I normally wouldn’t allow it, but he attempted to get up and get the phone himself.’

“That, unfortunately, sounds like my brother…” Claire said, shaking her head.

‘Quite a determined patient, indeed. I’m going to keep him sedated so we can ensure he stays put. We are also going to keep him in the ICU until the six hours are up to be safe and then have him transferred to a room. Given how he’s currently doing, he probably would be fine with being transferred, but I want to cover all the bases.”

“Thank goodness,” Rebecca said from the back seat. 

“Thank you so much for taking care of him,” Jill said as she picked up her phone.

“It was no problem. Take care.” 

Jill hung up and sighed softly; this was the best news she heard all night. “Huh, imagine that. My brother wakes up in a hospital bed, and the first thing he thinks about is you.” Claire teased with a smile.

“It’s just because-”

“He’s your partner,” Rebecca and Claire said in unison. Jill silently sighed to herself. She wanted to believe with all her heart that he had the same feelings she had for him. But right now, the guilt outweighed it. It was slowly smothering her the more she thought about it. Instead, Jill would push down her emotions and process them later. 

Jill slipped her phone back into her pocket and looked from one woman to the other. As much as Jill was dying to turn the truck around and see her partner, they had bigger things to worry about. If they didn’t stop this woman and she found out Chris was alive, then she would have him killed. But now, it would be far easier to concentrate on the task at hand. Knowing Chris was awake and hearing his voice gave her comfort. He was alive, and now she could focus clearly on what they had to do. “Since we know that Chris is doing better, let’s make a plan,” she said, “and stop this woman before she finds out he’s alive.”

“According to the directions, we are six minutes from the address she indicated,” Claire said as she set her phone down, zooming out on the map. “The place is on a dead end, so there’s only one way in. She’ll notice us coming, and walking with all those weapons wouldn’t be the best idea.”

“We’ll have to drive up then,” Rebecca said as she sat up straight. “She won’t expect us to be with you, but hopefully, she didn’t anticipate you would bring people.”

“I hope not. That place could be swarming with B.O.W.s infected with that black sludge,” Jill said as she studied the map. Their only option was to drive up, unload their weapons, and take the woman on. They could deal with any creatures or zombies along the way. The only thing she was apprehensive about was the possibility of another tyrant. With any luck, she had only manufactured the one. “So we will drive up, get our gear, then complete this mission.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go kick that bitch’s ass,” Claire said with a grin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jill slowed the pickup truck as she approached what looked like a run-down, two-story home. She parked a couple of feet from the steps leading to the front door. Jill cut the engine and exited the truck; Claire and Rebecca followed suit. She paused before closing the door and got the Lightning Hawk from under the seat. Jill removed the clip and checked it before sliding it back into place. Jill checked the chamber before she tucked it into her belt. Jill shut the door and joined the other two women by the flatbed. Claire had lowered the tailgate and was kneeling in the back of the truck. “I hope we don’t need all of this,” she said as she looked at the weapons Jill had gathered. 

Two bags, one housing proximity mines, and the other hand grenades, were sitting by the back of the cab. Jill had also taken three assault rifles and three handguns, complete with holsters. The riot gun was still in the back, and Claire slung the strap over her shoulder. Each of them took an assault rifle and pistol, checking to make sure they were in working order. Once finished, Claire handed the bag of proximity mines to Jill and divided the bag of grenades amongst themselves. This time, Jill felt more prepared to take on whatever that woman had decided to throw at them. She watched Claire jump off the tailgate before she looked at Rebecca. She had brought a bag filled with first aid supplies. Jill hoped that they wouldn’t need it. “Ready?”

“Let’s get this bitch,” Claire said, and Jill led the way to the house and up the stairs. She stopped at the front door, Rebecca and Claire flanking each side. Jill tested the knob and felt it give under her grip. It had been left unlocked, and she had had a feeling it would be. The woman seemed confident that she would show up, so there was no sense in even locking it. Jill twisted the knob, holding the rifle in her right hand. She opened the door and waited, listening for anything hiding by the door. Silence greeted her before she signaled the two to follow her lead. Jill checked the corners and behind the door before fully entering the house. The short hallway beyond the door opened into a wholly gutted living room. All that was left was the flooring and drywall. Jill cautiously entered the room, signaling Claire and Rebecca to hang back. Rebecca nodded, and Jill continued forward before she was in the center of the room. Jill did a slow three-sixty; the room had no doors or windows. Her eyes then widened as the realization dawned on her.

“Stay back, both of you,” Jill said as she looked back at them. “It’s a,” she began before the floor shifted below her feet. A deep rumbling sounded from below her as the foundation seemed to quake. She tried to keep her balance, but it was in vain. The floor cracked, and Jill felt herself begin to fall as the floor caved in. She could hear Claire call out her name as she plummeted into the darkness below. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jill let out a soft groan as she started to come to. Her body ached everywhere, but there was no significant pain that came with broken bones. She let out a cough, feeling dust attempting to settle in her lungs. Jill opened her eyes, and nothing but pitch black greeted her. Jill pushed herself up slowly into a sitting position. She was unsure how far she fell or what she had hit on the way down. There was only one definite thing: Jill would be sore for days. A cough escaped her before she patted her pant pockets. Locating her phone, she pulled it out and tapped the screen. It, thankfully, remained undamaged. Jill chose the flashlight option before she looked around the space she found herself in. It was an old tunnel. The walls were made of heavy stones and smelled dank and musty. She could hear the faint trickle of water, and she pointed her flashlight upward. Darkness stretched above her, and she could not see where she had fallen. “Great,” Jill muttered to herself as she swept the flashlight on the ground around her. The assault rifle had landed within reach and seemed to be intact. Jill reached over and grabbed it, setting her phone down on its screen. Using the light, Jill checked the rifle over. Satisfied the fall had not broken it, she lowered it and sighed. 

‘I need to get back to Rebecca and Claire,’ she thought as she slowly rose. Jill removed a small flashlight from her vest and switched it on, turning her phone’s light off. She looked at the screen, reading the battery percentage: Seventy. At least there was that, but there also were zero service bars. “Shit,” Jill cursed as she replaced her phone in her pocket. There was no way to get in contact with the other two women. Jill hoped that they would stay safe until she could regroup with them. She looked behind her and saw only a solid wall several feet away with a small grate. ‘Well, at least there’s only one way to go,’ Jill thought, sliding the rifle’s strap over her shoulder. Removing the pistol from its holster, she held it in her right hand and kept the flashlight in her left. 

Jill proceeded cautiously down the tunnel, keeping her breath slow and steps quiet. The less noise she made, the better off she would be. Since this was an obvious trap, there was no telling what was down here with her. Jill looked ahead, pointing the flashlight in front of her. The tunnel bent ahead, and she stuck close to the wall as she rounded it. She could feel water droplets drip onto her shoulders from the ceiling above her head, and she glanced up. The stone had some spacing in the grout, and mold had begun to form where the water entered. Jill looked back ahead as the tunnel straightened, a bright light several steps ahead. She shut her flashlight off and tucked it into her back pocket before she held the pistol firmly in her hands. With attentive steps, she approached the opening and hung back as her eyes adjusted to the sudden light. 

Once they did, she stepped forward, stopped shy of the entrance, and gazed at the enormous room before her. The space was solid concrete, with a metal catwalk suspended near the room's roof. Jill stepped forward before the stones beneath her feet gave way. Jill gasped as she slid down several feet and landed on the ground on her rear. The fall had jarred her back, making her wince before coughing. She waved the dust from her face before she gingerly stood up. Jill looked behind her and inwardly groaned. The ledge was too high to reach; climbing up would be impossible with the loose debris and dirt. This day just kept getting better. She turned her attention back to the room before her. There had to be some other way out. Ahead, sitting across the room, there were what looked like jail cells. Her eyes narrowed; this had to be where the first video originated. She had assumed it was a prison, but if the cameras were mounted close enough to the cells, it would give that illusion. A clap resonated throughout the room, and Jill’s attention snapped to the catwalk above her. The woman from the video stood in the center of the catwalk. She clapped her hands together again before placing them on the railing. Even from far away, Jill could tell she was smirking down at her, making her blood boil. A speaker then sounded, the woman’s voice echoing around the room. “Welcome, Jill Valentine. I'm so glad you could make it.”

[jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka]

Part 3!! I had a good time writing this chapter as well, and it’s another doozy. Hope you enjoy!

Pairings: Jake Kiszka X Danny Wagner ***slash

Warnings and tags: 18+ only please!! Adult themes including: very brief mention of past partner death, very brief mention of marriage problems, some crying, some insecurity, my sad attempt at flirting, very slight suggestive talk, dad Jake AU, uncle Danny

Word count: 5.5k

Mondays were hard for everybody, but this particular Monday seemed to be kicking Jake in the ass.

First he spilled coffee all over his pants so he had to change after already being a little behind on getting up and getting both himself and Luna ready. That made them end up at the back of the line for drop off at the elementary.

He was speeding over to the office after getting her to school. Normally it wouldn’t matter so much if he came in a little late, but someone had the bright idea of scheduling a meeting at nine am on a Monday and he still needed to go over a few things with his team before it started.

They had a big fundraiser coming up soon that he’d spent nearly six months preparing for. One of the local orchestras had offered to put on a concert and donate the ticket sales to the foundation. The event wasn’t going to be too big, but they had managed to secure a guest singer, a couple of soloist, and even a live band to agree to play afterwards while they had drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

Jake was excited about this particular fundraiser because the sales and any extra donations were going to go to giving students private music lessons, a program he’d been working on launching for quite a while now.

Though Jake had been working for the foundation for a few years already, this was the first project he’d put so much of himself into, feeling particularly strongly about the accessibility of musical education for children as a passionate musician with a child himself.

Even after his wife’s passing, Jake’s home was still filled with music to share with his daughter. His record collection specifically ranged anywhere from dusty old vinyls he had inherited from his parents house, to mint condition collectibles and limited editions he probably never would have found without his connections. His prized possessions however, were the first pressings of his and June’s album when it first came out.

The few copies they’d kept for themselves stayed tucked safely away on the corner of the highest shelf where they sat untouched since her passing, Jake still too tender to hear her voice again. Someday though he knew Luna would want to listen to them, and he only prayed he would have himself prepared enough by then.

By the time the meeting was over Jake decided to head back out for an early lunch. With the rush to get out the door this morning he hadn’t packed anything to eat so he decided to treat himself at his favorite restaurant- a spot he didn’t frequent too often since it was in what he considered to be a sketchier part of town.

Since it was just him he didn’t mind making the drive over, at least that was until his dashboard suddenly lit up with about three different warning lights. Of course he would be having car trouble today of all days.

With an annoyed huff Jake pulled over to the side of the road, leaving his car running because he was too scared that if he turned it off now he wouldn’t be able to get it back on. Being a little unfamiliar with his surroundings he pulled out his phone and googled where the nearest service shop was, finding one simply called Rudy’s Custom Auto just up the road he’d hoped would do the trick quickly and without charging too much.

His car managed to make it to the mechanic in one piece- though the sputtering of the engine misfiring was about to give him a heart attack.

The shop was nothing more than two bays behind old garage doors with a small office attached to the side. One of the bays was already occupied by an old body truck stripped of all its paint and covered in multiple patches of bondo. Jake pulled up to the next bay and waited a moment for someone to come out.

When nobody came he braved turning off his car, gripping the keys tightly in his palm as he slowly tread into the open garage. Once he stuck his head in he saw a pair of dirty work boots on the other side of the truck, but the dated stereo system that sat on top the workbench on the far wall kept the person at work from hearing Jake arrive. Jake cleared his throat and called out above the sound of Steely Dan playing loudly, “hello? Are you open?”

“You scared the shit out of me!” The person inside answered him, then their boots started to make their way around the front of the truck.

Jake stood awkwardly at the threshold of the doorway, waiting to see what kind of character worked at a place like this, but oddly enough he felt like he’d heard their voice from somewhere.

“What can I do for you?” They asked with their back towards Jake as they paused to turn down the stereo. Finally he turned around and a huge smile spread across his face when they both realized who it was. Danny was just as shocked to see Jake here as he was, but he also looked really excited.

“You work here?” Jake asked, thinking it was a stupid question as soon as it slipped out. Of course Danny worked here, he was standing inside the shop in a pair of navy dickies covered in oil and white dust with a just as dirty white t-shirt (this one without any modifications to it) tucked into his waistband and tightly stretched across his chest and arms.

“Off and on. Rudy’s a friend of mine he lets me do some body work when I need a job”.

“Oh,” Jake looked around the shop aimlessly, mostly just trying to keep from staring at the tattoo he now knew peaked out just underneath Danny’s sleeve. “There’s umm… something wrong with my car. Could you take a look at it?”

“Well, I’m not much of a mechanic but Rudy is out on lunch right now. For you though I could do some digging around and see if I can’t at least figure out what your problem is”.

Jake knew Danny was giving him special service as he lifted the hood and bent over into the engine. He never once thought having an admirer would come with many perks, but as he stood with his arms folded loosely across his chest as Danny checked hoses and looked for leaks the frustration towards the whole situation started to wear away. By some strange stroke of fate the car he so tediously took care of, nearly never missing an oil change, happened to break down in the same neighborhood he had no idea Danny worked in.

“Hey! Don’t break it any more!” Jake hollered, stepping up next to Danny to see what all the banging around he was doing was.

“I think I might know what it is” Danny popped his head back out, startling Jake as he suddenly came face to face with the other man. Another shock came when Danny grabbed his hand and shoved it down into the engine. “Feel that?”

Jake wanted to rip his hand away, all he could feel right now was the residual heat from the parts around his forearm, his fingers blindly searching for what Danny may be talking about, and the way his chest pressed against his shoulder as they both leaned over so Jake’s shorter arm could reach. Finally he felt the warm liquid and realized the smell he got a whiff of was gasoline.

“Must have a leak in your fuel injectors” Danny backed away, letting Jake pull his own hand out and offered him a rag from his back pocket to wipe it off with. “Gonna be a bitch to get replaced. Let me call Rudy see if he has any spare parts otherwise he can pick some up on his way back”.

Jake wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, not being too familiar with the inner workings of an engine himself, but he figured he should probably start making some calls of his own starting with work. After letting them know he probably wasn’t going to make it back from lunch Danny came walking out of the shop again.

“Good news, he can get the parts and he’s on his way back. Bad news, I could only sweet talk him down to a couple hundred bucks”.

“Right! Of course that’s fine, let me just-” Jake bent over back into his front seat, bracing himself on the cushion with one arm as he searched the console for his wallet. After a few seconds of not finding it he was struck with the realization that he’d had his wallet in his pants this morning. The ones he spilt coffee all over. “Fuck” he grumbled to himself, backing out of the car to see Danny looking away quickly. Was he staring?

“Well actually, I think I left my wallet at home. This Rudy guy doesn’t take ApplePay does he?”

Danny chuckled and shook his head, “no, this is not the kind of place for that. Don’t worry I’ve got you”.

“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to do that” Jake tried to quickly figure out how he could get the money before Rudy returned. Maybe he could call Josh to swing by his house and get his wallet, or bring some cash. Fuck how long was this going to take anyways? He might have to ask Josh to pick up Luna from school too.

While Jake’s mind was racing Danny turned around and walked back into the shop to get back to work on the sanding he was doing before Jake happened to show up.

“Let me see what my brother is up to right now, he might be able to bring me some cash. How much exactly is it?” Jake followed Danny inside this time, not paying much attention to where he was going as he pulled his phone out.

Abruptly he was stopped when Danny’s hands wrapped around his forearms and pulled him out of the way before Jake could walk into a tool box sitting in the middle of the floor. He looked around the inside of the shop now, seeing the entire place was quite a disheveled mess. Tools were everywhere between the ground and the workbench, and oil pans that looked like they’d been used one too many times were piled into the corner of the second bay. It was like navigating a minefield to get somewhere he could stand and wait.

“I said don’t worry about it” Danny replied once he had Jake situated in a safe place. “Besides there are plenty of ways you can pay me back”. Danny gave Jake a flirtatious wink from where he sat back on his rolling stool on the other side of the truck.

“Excuse me?” Jake scoffed, too astounded by Danny’s suggestive response to focus on making the phone call now.

“Yeah, like a date” Danny continued as he picked up his scrap of sandpaper and started to go over his most recent bondo covered spot.

“A date?” Jake blinked a few times, wondering if he’d heard him right since the radio was still playing quietly in the background. “You want me to take you on a date?”

“Well I was going to say let me take you on a date” Danny chuckled again, keeping his eyes focused on his work, “but if you want to take me out I’m not at all opposed to that either”.

“I- I mean- ” Jake was stumbling over his words, in utter disbelief and embarrassed by his lack of composure right now. He didn’t understand what had gotten into him.

“What? Are you not into guys or something?” Danny let his eyes flicker back over to Jake this time, catching a slight blush creep into his cheeks.

“No, that’s not it…” Jake replied sheepishly. It was true, from a young age he didn’t put much thought into sexuality or gender for that matter. He was always more attracted to the person and how deep of a connection he could make rather than just what was on the surface. Though he’d never actually dated someone of the same sex before, it was never out of the question for him.

“Then what is it?”

The sound of Danny’s sanding stopped as he waited patiently for a response. He had a suspicion he knew where Jake’s reservations were rooted from, having already heard a few details, but he hoped Jake would feel comfortable enough to tell him himself.

“Dates have been hard for me,” Jake began, fiddling with the rim of his phone case to distract himself from mentally screaming stop shut up if you tell him he will only pity you- “since my wife died a few years ago”.

“I know,” Danny replied without hesitation, making Jake realize- of course he knew, his sister was one of Jake’s closest friends, “and I’d respect your boundaries if you said it was still too soon”.

Jake leaned against the work bench behind him and let his head fall backwards, huffing a breath out through his nose, staring up at the ceiling as he thought for a moment. His eyes felt dry and prickly, but he absolutely could not tear up right now. No he’d told himself a long time ago that he was done with that.

Danny seemed to be one step ahead of him on this, already understanding what he was getting himself into when asking Jake for a date. “What if I said it wasn’t too soon?”

“Hmm?” Danny didn’t quite make out his question, either because it was being directed towards the ceiling instead of him, or maybe because Jake was actually only asking himself.

“It’s not too soon” he rephrased as he looked back over at Danny again, a little more resolve in his demeanor. “Are you free this Friday night?”

Danny’s face lit up in a smile, having thought there for a moment Jake was going to officially tell him to fuck off. “I can be”.

A cocky reply, Jake thought, smirking himself a little. “Alright then. Friday night, I’ve got an event to go to. You can come”.

“An event? For your job?” Danny questioned in return as he once again got back to work. “Doesn’t sound like much of a date to me”.

“Look, do you want to come or not?”

“No, no, I’ll be there,” he assured him quickly, “thanks for inviting me”.

It’s not really like I had much of a choice. The truth was he could have declined, could have told Danny to shove it and stormed out of the shop to wait in his car for Rudy to return. He didn’t though, and there was possibly even a part of him who was excited he’d invited Danny.

Originally he was supposed to be going with Josh, but then his brother had something come up that weekend that he couldn’t get out of. Josh’s partner booked them a little mini vacation not realizing the dates conflicted with Jake’s concert, and the hotel and airfare were nonrefundable.

Jake promised him he didn’t mind, ‘It’s just going to be a local group playing a few songs, nothing too special. You guys go have fun’. He was more anxious about it than he’d led onto Josh though. At least now he wouldn’t be going alone and he’d have something to distract him if he got too nervous- Danny being easily very distracting.

“What are you even doing? You’ve been sanding the same spot this entire time” Jake tentatively stepped a little closer until Danny waved him over.

“I may not know too much about engines, but I know a lot about the body” Danny replied with a smugish half smile that made Jake roll his eyes. “Come here, you have to get right up close to see what I’m talking about”.

Jake moved to stand next to Danny, leaning over slightly as he stared at the white blob on the fender of the truck. Danny stood up and got behind him, barely grabbing at his waist as he positioned Jake to get the right angle. Jake’s body stiffened and froze, unused to being freely touched so often without any warning.

“You see how smooth it looks?” Danny muttered behind his ear making the hairs on the back of Jake’s neck stand up. “Run your hand across it now”. Jake did as he was told and placed his palm on the cold metal, feeling a small ripple as he swiped it slowly over the surface.

“You see sometimes things look perfect from the outside, but when you get your hands on it you find tiny little flaws. I’m a perfectionist, I’ve got to get every little dent and scratch out. Sometimes that takes days of just filling and sanding it back down until I run my hand across and it’s smooth as can be”.

“Doesn’t it get annoying?” Jake asked, thinking about how long and tedious that process must be.

“I’m very patient” Danny shrugged, letting go and sitting back on his stool.

Jake couldn’t help but let his mind wander in this moment as he watched Danny from just a foot away now. He wondered what Danny might think if he ever got an up close look at him. Sure maybe from the outside he looked put together, just like this fender solid and sturdy, but once he got his hands on him he’d be able to feel all his flaws- the cuts that dug deep into his very being and had scarred over.

Only about ten minutes later Rudy returned and Danny took a break from what he was doing to help get Jake’s car back in good working order. Thankfully they were done just in time for him to get to the school and pick up his daughter without having to call in reinforcements.

“Wait, could I get your number?” Danny stopped Jake before he could drive off, hoping but also confident that their fix worked. “So we can coordinate the date?”

Jake looked over Danny’s shoulder, seeing his boss tossing more tools around, not even bothering to clean up and not paying attention to what his employee was doing- clearly harassing customers. He gave him his number anyway, finding a text presumably from Danny when he got home. Just a simple wink face emoji.

Before he could save the number in his contact list though, Luna called for his help in the kitchen and he dropped his phone off on the bar. Completely forgetting about the little message left on read.

It wasn’t until Thursday night after he’d gotten off the phone with Josh that he received another text from the unknown number.

What should I be wearing tomorrow?

10:34PM

Jake waited a moment to reply, he’d just about concluded that maybe Danny had forgotten about the ‘date’ because he hadn’t heard from him since leaving Rudy’s shop Monday afternoon. When Danny didn’t show up to Wednesday’s soccer practice either Jake was a little discouraged, but he told himself to get over it. He walked Emma home and her mom looked like she’d had a rough day so Jake didn’t bother asking about her brother's whereabouts. Should he really care anyways?

Something nice but not too formal

10:48PM

No jeans and a crop top

10:49PM

Crop top?

11:00PM

Wait, that’s my favorite shirt

11:00PM

Good to know. Don’t wear it.

11:02PM

Ok I won’t, but you remember it?

11:02PM

Jake panicked for a second as he read the text. Why did he have to bring it up? Stupid mistake.

Danny continued to text while Jake stumbled for a reply, writing something out then thinking it sounded stupid and erasing it, knowing Danny was probably watching him type.

Did Luna see the video I sent her? Of the soccer ball slime? I thought she’d like that one

11:05PM

If Jake didn’t already feel awkward about bringing up the crop top, now he felt even sillier about having thought Danny had sent that video to him. Of course it was meant for Luna.

He debated not responding, just closing the messages app on his phone and going to sleep, but he knew that would be rude- a little white lie might be better.

Yes, she liked it

11:08PM

I’m glad, sorry I wasn’t at practice this week

11:09PM

Danny didn’t offer a reason why he was absent, but at least he’d thought to apologize. Not that he had to, it’s not like Jake was hoping to see him there or anything. Again he didn’t know what to say; it was getting late Danny had to know he was probably in bed right? Before he could reply again another text came in.

I’ll let you get to sleep. I’m excited to see you tomorrow. Good night Jake

11:11PM

Good night

11:12PM

Friday was a frenzy, hustling around between the office, the venue where the orchestra and band were getting to practice with the soloists for the last time before the show, and then home to get Luna ready to stay at Emma’s house while he was out.

The air was heavy at the venue when Jake left, some issues with sound they were able to get a tech to fix, and some tiny adjustments to the breaks in the program had everyone tense and on edge. Jake knew it was just pre show nerves though and he had full faith that the night was going to go over well.

The confidence in his peers didn’t exactly extend to himself however, as he held his breath when he rang the doorbell, Luna standing at his side excitedly.

“Daddy you’re going to a party?” She asked, ever curious about what he was up to.

“I’m going to a work party” he explained to her again, having already told her she was going alone to play at Emma’s house tonight for just a couple of hours.

“Will there be presents and cake there?”

“No presents, but there might be some cake. Do you want me to save you some?”

“Me and Emma?” She asked, grabbing his hand and looking up at her Dad with a pleading smile.

“Of course, I’ll bring you both some” he returned the smile down at her until the front door opened and she bounced inside off to find her friend.

“Thank you for watching her tonight” Jake told Emma’s mom as he waited around for Danny to show. He’d text him when he was on the way, offering a ride since he was coming over anyways.

“Of course any time” she kept the door open, also aware who Jake was waiting on. The silence was a bit uncomfortable, how much did she know about them anyways? The two seemed to be close, but he worried if she thought it was a little strange her friend and her brother were going out together.

“I know someone who gives piano lessons will be there tonight. I can ask them if they have any space for Emma” Jake offered, just to fill the time.

“Oh, that would be nice. We’ve got a lot going on right now though so we might wait until next year”.

“No worries, I can just get her contact information. Has Michael been having to stay late again?” He didn’t want to pry too much, but after a couple of years of knowing them he could tell there seemed to be some new unresolved tension coming from the household.

She sighed and shook her head, obviously frustrated but biting her tongue. He realized there might be a little more to her irritation than just her husband working late, but before she could break and spill her worries Danny finally emerged from the hallway.

“Sorry for making you wait, I was ironing my shirt”.

Jake’s eyebrows shot up when he saw Danny in the doorway, the light from inside the house casting his long shadow across the porch Jake stood on. He was wearing a dark colored button up with a diamond pattern, the sleeves rolled a quarter of the way up his arms with subtle gold chains across his wrists and neck. “Is this okay?” He did a little spin, holding his arms out so Jake could get a good look at his outfit.

“Yeah it’s great. You look great” Jake cleared his throat and adjusted the collar of his own shirt, glancing over to see Danny’s sister watching them with amusement in her eyes.

“Well you two have fun. Jake don’t worry about hurrying home we’ve got the kids”.

Jake nodded and Danny gave his sister a quick side hug before joining Jake on the porch. She shut the door behind him and Danny gave Jake a big eager smile.

“You look great too. I like this” he ran his thumb across the lapel of Jake’s suede coat he’d chosen for the night, already knowing it got cold at the venue they were going to. “I like these too” Danny’s fingers moved next to one of the necklaces that sat against Jake’s chest, picking up the circular charm and examining it.

“Thanks, they were a gift” Jake replied, trying to remain as still as possible and keep his breathing steady.

“Well, shall we?” Danny gently laid the pendant back down and retreated, clasping his hands behind his back like he was reminding himself to behave.

The ride over was nice. They talked about music finding out they had similar taste, Jake leaning more towards blues and Danny towards folk but both sharing a passion for the classics of old rock n roll.

When they arrived at the event Jake had plenty of people to greet and thank for being there. He worried Danny might feel out of place or get bored, but every time he glanced over to him Danny was lit up with a smile and conversing with those around him. Soon it was time to take their seats; Jake showed Danny where they would be at the back of the room, and waited by the stage for his quick speech before the concert started.

Jake held the mic tightly in his hands, not having felt that weight in his grip in years. He’d always had a bit of stage fright, but getting up in front of a crowd with June had never been less than amazing and he tuned into the memory of that feeling when he stepped in front of the audience tonight.

“First of all I’d just like to thank everyone for taking the time out of their weekend to be here with us. For those of you I don’t know, my name is Jacob Kiszka and I work for the foundation who put on this event. All of our ticket sales from tonight are going towards our new program that offers students free private music lessons. I really hope you enjoy the performance. Over the past six months I’ve been overseeing this project, I've gotten the opportunity to know some of these brilliant musical minds and promise they have some treats in store for you. Again, thank you so much for coming and after the show please feel free to check out the live band and refreshments we will have in the conference room next door”.

The crowd clapped for him as he exited the small stage and scurried off to rejoin Danny at their seats. They had the last row reserved to themselves, and with the venue not being close to full there wasn’t even anyone sitting anywhere near them.

As soon as he plopped down next to Danny the lights dimmed, getting darker where they were compared to the stage lights that focused their intensity on the musicians down below and the first song on the program began.

Jake’s focus stayed on the stage, but he felt Danny shift closer to him and whisper into his ear. “You did a good job”.

Just as easily as he’d leaned over, Danny sat back in his seat and enjoyed the performance, letting Jake do the same. Despite any hiccups they’d had earlier, the soloists were flawless, the transitions between pieces seamless, and the audience was loving every minute of it, clapping enthusiastically after each final note.

“Isn’t she amazing?” Jake asked Danny when his favorite performer finished by far the hardest song of the night, The Habanera from Carmen. It was her idea to include it in the program, and although Jake worried it might be too difficult for an intermediate orchestra, he was blown away by their hard work and dedication to the art.

“I actually can't believe I just heard that in real life” Danny’s mouth was agape, his eyes glittering with sheer delight.

Jake’s smile faded as he observed Danny watching the performance now, but it wasn’t because he was upset or anything. Quite the opposite, he was suddenly being filled with an overwhelming sense of relief and reassurance. He expected Danny might like it otherwise he wouldn’t have invited him. Even if he didn’t that would have been ok, but Danny seemed to be genuinely appreciative of his time here and that made Jake even happier he’d come.

Feeling like he was being watched, Danny looked over and made eye contact with Jake who was sitting on the edge of his seat. A shiver broke through undeather his coat when Danny’s eyes took him in next, looking him up and down through hooded lids and finally settling on his hands in his lap.

Internally Jake was screaming at himself to move, say something, do anything, but on the outside he was as calm as ever when Danny reached over and grabbed one of his hands, intertwining their fingers together and giving it a squeeze. Jake let out a shaky breath as his eyes fell to his lap, hoping Danny could not feel his heart pounding in his wrist.

“Jake…” Danny muttered his name in the dark, swiping his thumb over the back of Jake’s hand making him look back up again, only he didn’t look him in the eye this time. Jake found himself staring at Danny’s lips, hoping he’d be the braver of the two again.

Before either of them could make the next move though their moment was cut short when Jake heard someone else start speaking over the microphone.

“This last piece was not included on the programs, it is a special thanks to our Director Jake for all the hard work he’s put in. We hope you’ve all had a great night and be safe”.

Jake snapped his head back towards the stage, shocked and completely unaware of this secret addition to the performance. He gripped Danny’s hand tighter when the song began to play and he instantly recognized it as a rendition of one of his own.

The singer started in after the acoustic guitar opening, and Jake was taken aback when he heard his late wife's lyrics bleeding through the speakers for the first time in over three years.

He could feel the sting but he didn’t even register the tears rolling down his cheeks until Danny sat forward as well. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just-” he felt his voice crack, his face and chest burning hot as he shook his hand free from Danny’s and excused himself.

Jake went out into the hallway to collect himself, furiously wiping at his cheeks until they were rubbed red and drying his palms on his pants. Thankfully he was alone, until he heard the sound of the door behind him allowing someone else out.

“I’m sorry, that just caught me off guard” Jake’s knee jerk reaction was to apologize, suck it up, and walk back in with his head held high. All of that flew out the window though when Danny silently came from behind him and wrapped his arms around Jake’s shoulders, pulling his back against his chest and resting his chin on the top of Jake’s head.

More tears began to pool along his lash line when Jake reciprocated the touch by wrapping his hands around Danny’s forearms and pulling them tighter around his shaking frame.

“Don’t apologize. You’re allowed to feel every emotion coming to you right now” Danny muttered behind him.

Jake shook his head and nuzzled his face into the forearms folded across his chest, waiting for the moment to pass before he popped his head back up and inhaled sharply.

“Ok, I’m going to go to the restroom. People will be coming out soon. Will you wait for me in the conference room?”

“Yeah, I can do that”. Danny released his hold and took a few steps back to give Jake some space now. Though as he watched Jake cover his mouth with the back of his hand and walk away, he wished he’d let him follow.

Tags: @lyndz2names @gracev0609 @lipstickitty @sanguinebats @kultavalo

A/N: So there really is a program called Austin Soundwaves that does offer free private music lessons for children in that area. I was able to go to one of their concerts and the performer really did start belting Carmen, it was awesome. Support your local musicians 👏

[the-maid-of-witchwood]

Hi :)

Since I have an obsession with characters that don't do anything, do you have any about the Workin' Girls? You know, the people Hidgeons verbally abused for months?

You know I do.

Not as many as the drama club because I don’t really use them in fics as often, they’re more just offhanded mentions.

Zoey:

Mezzo

Thinks she’s fully straight, she’s not

Gave as good as she got

E.g. Hidgens couldn’t even attempt to insult her without getting completely trashed by her in response

Absolutely terrifies Hidgens a bit

He begged her to be part of the project, she did not audition

However, she did show up to the auditions - terrorising anyone who might have threatened her spotlight until they quit - and helped with casting

(I live for their dynamic in Honey Queen, so we’re bringing it back)

She also frequently joined in when he went after the others, at least behind closed doors

The exception being Hailey and Ruth - she happily talked shit about them while they were in earshot or to their faces

Gets mistaken for Steph a lot

It really pisses her off when she was younger, but now she mostly just takes advantage of people being kind to the ‘Mayor’s daughter’

Hidgens once admitted to her that if he had got to cast boys, he would have casted Zach as Henry

His car was mysteriously found completely wrecked with slashed tires at the end of rehearsal that day and was ultimately taken away by a policeman. His name might be Sweetly? I don’t know….

Definitely slapped Ruth at least once, brushed it off as being an ‘acting choice’ for their scene

Convinced Hailey to give her her solo

Opts up every night during her songs - just to show off her vocal abilities and to outshine the ensemble

Hailey:

Alto

Lesbian

Went to Sycamore

Literally just a theatre kid trying to do her best

Got the worst and brunt of Hidgens’ abuse

Hailey initially had a solo song in the show (like Cass and Amber) but was bullied into giving it to Zoey by Zoey

Hidgens needed little convincing to make the change because he hates her

Thinks this show is the most sexiest thing ever and really doesn’t want to be in it anymore but is holding her tongue about it because she’s scared of what Hidgens will do to her

Zoey makes her get a job at Beanie’s to do all the work she doesn’t do - everything but the singing for tips

Has not caught on to Cass’ flirting at all

Was neutral with Ruth but didn’t interact with her

Cassandra:

Mezzo

Lesbian

Had an emo phase

She’s mostly gotten over it now

Goes by Cass or Cassie most of the time

Becomes fairly close with Hailey but does not understand why she puts up with Zoey’s bullshit and is really trying to encourage Hailey to stand up to her

Has a very mysterious, stoic vibe to her. (Think Garnet from Steven Universe). But she’s actually very much the opposite

It’s kinda more just for show

Recently got a job at CCRP as a receptionist. Not on the same floor as anyone noteworthy, but Ted stops to hit on her every other morning and she threatens to turn him into a frog

She also gets on very well with Melissa

May or not may have a crush on Hailey

Was nice to Ruth but didn’t go out of her way to speak to her

Courtney:

Soprano

Bisexual

Definitely auditioned for this as a joke or on a dare from someone in Needy Beast, she didn’t think she would actually get cast

She isn’t completely invested; musicals aren’t her type of thing

Isn’t particularly close with anyone here, just doing her job

She’s Brooke’s older sister

She thinks she’s better than everyone else in the theatre because they all care way too much about this and/or are really pathetic

(And she’s not entirely wrong)

Helps out with the choreography

Sits on her phone a lot, texting Needy Beast about how lame rehearsals are. As if they aren’t in their own rehearsals and enjoying themselves

She gets them all tickets to see the show

And then immediately regrets it because they take a shit ton of videos and photos of her

Was chill with Ruth but avoided her like the plague because she thought she was weird

Amber (my name for Kim’s Workin’ Girl):

Soprano

Straight

Went to Sycamore with Hailey

The two are childhood best friends but lost contact at some point in high school - different crowds/interests, no hard feelings

It’s still a little awkward for them though

The Karen Smith of the actresses

To complete the trio with Zoey being Regina, Hailey being Gretchen obviously. Not that they are a trio, but if they needed someone to be Karen… it’s her

She is literally the dumbest person you will ever meet

Is a really, really bad actress (because she doesn’t understand what she’s doing) but keeps getting cast in things for some reason

Is a really big opera nerd

Was really nice to Ruth - the two use to frequently sit together, partially because the sopranos were all sat together but still

Paige (my name for Virginia’s Workin’s Girl):

Alto

Bisexual

One of the only people in the show who was nice and actively interacted with Ruth

She use to go over some of the dances with Ruth, even though she wasn’t in the scenes, just for fun

Literally came to the auditions, thinking the show would be a fun thing to do after work. She did not realise how serious Hidgens or Zoey was going to be about it

Currently works at both Beanie’s and Pasqualli’s

Is a fully trained dancer

She use to travel a lot out of state for dance competitions, specifically ballet and is quite accomplished. More so outside of Hatchetfield

Was also homeschooled

Brenda is her younger, maybe slightly envious (for getting out of Hatchetfield, if only temporarily) cousin

[brunette-barbie4562]

Uncharted (Duff McKagan X OC)

Summary: Unsure of her next steps in life, Carreen Joy "CJ" Thompson finds herself taking a job working under the Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan during the Not in the Lifetime... Tour. She faces the fast-paced and foreign world of rock n' roll, touring, and groupies, as well as blossoming taboo feelings for her boss.

-

Trigger Warnings: Heavy child abuse in this one and references to drugs/drug use

-

6

February 2018

Mindy’s House / Redding, California

The kitchen was quiet, as Mindy and Michelle sat at the dinner table. Mindy picked at the food on her plate, only having taken a few bites. It had been three days since CJ’s snowboarding accident. She had been quieter than ever and had not left her room.

It had been like walking on eggshells with CJ since she had returned home at the beginning of December. Her niece appeared to have fallen into a depression. December and January had been rough. Mindy had to force CJ out of bed just to shower, never mind eat. She often stood by CJ’s bedroom door and listened to her sob on the other side. When she did see her niece out of her room, her face was often puffy and red from crying. Asking CJ outright about what was wrong did not work. She would look at her aunt with a thousand-yard stare and tell her “nothing.”

Mindy had been delicate with CJ and then tried to be more forceful to pull answers out of her. Neither of which had been successful. Mindy had backed off and let Michelle try to speak to her. In the past, CJ had been more willing to open up to Michelle about things. But that had also been unsuccessful. Mindy was sure something had happened while CJ had been out on tour, as there was no other explanation. One moment, CJ appeared to have been the happiest she had ever been when they spoke on the phone right before she returned home, and then the next she was a mess. She had got off the plane in Sacramento completely despondent. She had called Axl, who had no idea what the problem could be. As far as he had been aware, nothing had occurred that would cause such a behavioral change. After attempting to reach Duff unsuccessfully several times, she had reached out to Slash. He had been vague with his answers, seeming somewhat unsure, but also a little evasive. However, that was not entirely unlike him.

Mindy’s sleep had been shit. She had sat up awake for hours, anxious and worried about her niece’s health. Michelle had tried to reassure her that when CJ was ready, she’d talk. As January moved into February, things seemed to improve little by little. CJ seemed to cry less and came out of her room and ate more often. She had even been convinced by Mindy to get back out onto the slopes. But after the accident, things seemed to be back at square one. CJ had not left her room since, and Mindy had left her plates of food that went uneaten.

Mindy pushed her own plate away and scooted her chair out.

“I’m going to try to talk to her again,” she said, with a frustrated sigh. Michelle took her hand gently before she could stand up.

“Don’t, just let her be a little bit longer. She might just be a little tired and sick from her medicine.”

“She hasn’t spoken more than two words in the past 72 hours. I thought things were getting better. It’s time to figure out what’s wrong with her. I’m worried, she needs to talk to someone.”

“Pushing her does not work.” Mindy rubbed her face in frustration, a strong stress headache coming on.

“Then what WILL work?! I don’t know what else to do!” Michelle stood up from the table and took both of Mindy’s hands, looking up at her with concern.

“It’ll be ok, I promise. You just have to be a little patient. Just wait a little bit longer. I’ll try to talk to her, ok? Just let me try, I’ll get through to her.” Mindy felt some of the frustration leave her body, looking into Michelle’s bright blue eyes. She was always her voice of reason. Mindy felt a flood of emotions and she hung her head, letting out a quiet sob.

“I just worry about her so much.” Michelle pulled her into a hug and Mindy tightly embraced her back, burying her face into Michelle’s neck, quietly crying. She knew that if anyone could get through to CJ, it would be Michelle. CJ tended to call Mindy more on an everyday basis. However, in times of serious distress, she always seemed to gravitate towards Michelle. Since Mindy had first introduced CJ to Michelle, there had been a special connection.   ��                  

-

December 1999

Sacramento, California

Mindy nervously smoothed her wool long pea coat. It was an abnormally cold evening in Sacramento. She had pulled out the heavier winter clothing at the last minute, trying to put together a suitable outfit for herself, as well as CJ.

CJ stood next to her, holding her hand with her small mittened one, looking down as she shifted her feet in the frost. Mindy took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She had been dating Michelle for about six months. Things were amazing. Mindy was head over heels in love. They had been on countless dates and gone away a few times over weekends. Mindy had made Michelle aware that she had had a child early on but had kept information close to the chest about CJ until very recently. She wanted to be sure about someone before she revealed many details about CJ or allowed anyone to meet her. Tonight was a big night. She hoped things would go smoothly. CJ had made great improvements within the past year, in regards to handling unfamiliar people and environments.

It was five minutes until the hour, and they stood outside an Italian restaurant waiting to meet Michelle. Across the street was a beautiful park, lit up with Christmas lights. Mindy found her mind drifting to the upcoming holiday and what she had left to buy. CJ’s small voice broke her train of thought.

“When will your friend be here auntie?”

“Soon baby.” Mindy searched the parking lot for Michelle’s white Jeep Cherokee and saw it pulling in. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her jacket again and watched as Michelle got out of her car and locked her door before approaching. Michelle’s face brightened into a smile, looking from Mindy to CJ. Mindy looked down at CJ’s face to gauge her reaction to a new person approaching. Her expression was blank, and Mindy could not tell what she was feeling.

“Hey Mindy,” said Michelle, moving in for a hug. When they pulled apart, Michelle turned her attention to CJ. She crouched down to her level with a small smile, keeping a comfortable distance away so as not to overwhelm her. “You must be Miss CJ.” Michelle used a low and soft tone. CJ’s expression remained blank, her mitten in her mouth, as she appeared to slightly lean into Mindy’s leg.

Mindy cleared her throat and said, “Well, let’s head inside. I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.”

-

Mindy sat on one side of the table with CJ, while Michelle sat across from them. They had just put in their food orders. CJ worked on coloring a child’s restaurant place mat, every so often glancing up cautiously at Michelle who would smile in response. CJ would quickly look back at her place mat. Mindy observed their interactions, hoping that this would work with time. She needed CJ to like anyone that she brought into their lives. If CJ didn’t like her it wouldn’t work. She turned her attention to Michelle.

“So, how was work today?”

“It was good! Had to surgically remove a tennis ball from a dog’s intestines, so that was fun.” Something that had first captured Mindy’s interest in Michelle was her love for animals and her career as a veterinarian.

“I bet that happens a lot.”

“It does, dogs will eat anything,” said Michelle with a laugh.

“You work with doggies?” Mindy froze, surprised to hear CJ speak. CJ had looked up from her place mat, crayon still in hand.

“I do,” said Michelle with a soft smile. “Do you like dogs?” CJ nodded shyly.

“You’ll like my tattoo then.” Michelle pulled up her sleeve to reveal the large and beautiful tattoo of a German Shepard on her forearm. CJ leaned closer to get a better look.

“It’s so pretty!”

“I have a dog at home, his name is Elmo. He looks just like this tattoo. Maybe some time you can meet him. He loves kids.” CJ nodded excitedly and then turned to Mindy.

“Can I please!? Can I auntie!?” Mindy was completely taken aback. It typically took CJ weeks to warm up to someone enough just to speak a few words to them, never mind initiate interaction with them. 

“Ya,” she said, “definitely, if you want too.” Michelle was beaming. Mindy had given Michelle a heads up about how long she thought it might take for CJ to become comfortable with her due to her extensive trauma history. Since gaining custody of CJ two years ago, Mindy had her in a specialized home-schooling program with the help of tutors. CJ had not ever attended school and there was a lot she had been behind on academically. She had caught up quickly and was preparing to enroll in the local public school system. Mindy had been working on social skills with her lately and perhaps this was a positive result of that. Mindy was not going to waste this opportunity. “You know CJ, Michelle works all the time with all different kinds of animals.”

“What other animals?”

“Almost everything,” said Michelle, “dogs, cats, turtles, snakes, I help them when they’re sick or hurt.” CJ’s eyes were wide with interest.

“You save them from bad people?” Michelle appeared to mull over the question for a moment, trying to respond in an age-appropriate manner.

“Ya, we help them feel better after bad things have happened to them.” Something appeared to click in CJ’s brain at that moment. 

“Kind of like how you helped me auntie?” Mindy was surprised at CJ’s openness.

“Sort of like that,” she said, with a smile, lightly running a hand affectionately down CJ’s hair and back.

“Ms. Michelle, I want to help you help the animals.”

“You guys can come by the clinic anytime and I can show you around.” The conversation was interrupted by the waiter bringing their plates to the table. Attention now on her plate, CJ enthusiastically began to dig at her spaghetti. Touched by the entire interaction that had taken place between Michelle and CJ, Mindy couldn’t help but let a few tears slip from her eyes. This was the one. The woman for her. She knew it. If she thought she had felt love for Michelle before, she knew she felt it now. She made eye contact with a smiling Michelle across the table and mouthed “thank you.”

-

February 2018

Mindy’s House / Redding, California

Michelle lightly knocked on CJ’s bedroom door. “CJ, it’s Michelle, can I come in?” There was silence. She waited a few moments before speaking again. “I just want to come sit for a bit, I miss seeing you.” More silence. Not wanting to push it, she turned to walk away when she heard CJ’s voice from the other side of the door.

“You can come in.” Excited to finally be getting somewhere, Michelle lightly turned the doorknob and went inside. The room was dark with the shades shut. It took a moment for Michelle’s eyes to adjust. CJ’s room looked the same as it always did. She noticed that the shower sleeve and snacks Mindy had left her the other day were untouched on her desk. CJ was a lump underneath her blankets on her bed, so that Michelle could do not see her. She walked over and lightly sat on the edge of the bed. CJ lay facing away from her, and Michelle could just slightly see her face poking out from under the covers, looking towards the wall.

“Hey,” she said, her tone just above a whisper. “I just thought I’d come see you. I’ve been missing you.” CJ continued to lay there expressionless. “How are you feeling?”

“Broken.”

“Maybe when you feel better, we can get back out on the mountain. We could go to Montana or maybe Washington?” Suddenly, CJ began to tremble underneath the blankets and became bizarrely hysterical. Michelle jumped back off the bed, shocked at her reaction. Panicked, Michelle ran around to the other side of CJ’s bed. She dropped to her knees, so she was eye level with her. CJ’s face was red as she sobbed and hyperventilated. A few stray curls poked out from underneath the blankets around her face.

“CJ please tell me what’s wrong, I want to help, but I can’t if you don’t tell me what’s wrong,” she said, desperately. “We can fix it, no matter what it is, I promise. I just want you to be happy again.” CJ looked her in the eyes, still for a moment, acting as if she might speak. Michelle held her breath, waiting. CJ seemed to think better of it, and broke back down into sobs, shaking her head.

“No, I can’t,” she sobbed. “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” CJ pulled the blankets over her face so that she couldn’t be seen. Michelle sat there awhile longer, placing a hand on CJ’s covered shoulder and lightly rubbing, trying to provide some comfort.

-

May 2017

Conrad Dublin Hotel / Dublin, Ireland

CJ stood at the front desk of the hotel, having just checked herself and Duff out. She scanned the lobby, seeing a group of fans excitedly watch the elevators. Axl had already left, having gone out a back door of the hotel. However, Slash and Duff would be coming through the lobby to get into the airport shuttle. Duff had told her there would probably be a crowd of people waiting for them and it wasn’t anything abnormal.

The elevator dinged and out walked Duff and Slash. She went to walk over and was cut off by a group of fans. She pressed herself back against the wall, watching as fans asked for pictures and autographs. Slash signed a few things but did not stop for pictures. Duff took more time, signing merchandise and taking pictures. After the crowd had cleared, a few women continued to hang around, giggling and asking Duff questions. He politely excused himself, walking towards her. Behind him, the woman looked on coldly as he approached her.

“Hey, you ready to go kiddo?”

“Ya, if you are.” She picked up her bag and they headed out to the shuttle. As she walked away, she could hear the group of women talking amongst themselves. She was only able to pick up on some of what they were saying.

“Who is that?”

“I’ve never seen her before.”

She heard mentions of Duff’s and Axl’s names before CJ walked completely out of earshot. She remembered Beta’s words about people assuming “the worst” and felt a sense of unease settle in her stomach.

-

CJ soon forgot about the experience in the hotel lobby. Getting through the airport had been a fast whirlwind. They moved quickly, having gone through a private screening. But by the time they sat down on the plane, CJ had to catch her breath. It took her a moment to look around and notice how nice the plane was. It was a smaller private plane, with large spacious leather seats with two to a row on either side. The seats had tables with small food and drink menus. Along with she and Duff, was Axl, Beta, some of Beta’s family, Slash, Meegan, and several of the band managers. The luxurious accommodations continued to be overwhelming for her, having been launched from her quiet rural middle-class life in Redding to private jets and suite hotel rooms in the city. A part of her felt strangely guilty. She understood that she was working, and this was a job, but she didn’t like the feeling of not having paid for anything. She had grown up with a strong work ethic in a solidly middle-class household. CJ had watched her aunt work hard to provide her with a good life and despite having overly sheltered her, Mindy had instilled that same work ethic into her.

She sat in the window seat, watching the crew on the tarmac scramble around to prepare the plane for takeoff. They were headed to Spain, where the next show would take place in a few days. Thankfully, it would only be about a 2-and-a-half-hour flight.

Duff stood further up the aisle, talking to one of the managers, as she got settled in her seat. She pulled out her book, Wuthering Heights. She re-read it once in awhile, as it was one of her favorites.

Duff took a seat next to her as the plane began to push back from the gate.

“You like to read?”

“I do,” she said, “It’s like a movie in your brain.”

“What’s your genre?”

“Romance and history,” said CJ, “But I like to read classic novels of any type.” She flipped her book closed, keeping her thumb in the page she was on. “I’ve read this one about four times already.”

“I’m a reader and a history nerd myself,” said Duff, with a grin. CJ paused thoughtfully before speaking.

“History helps us understand things in the present, how we got here, why we do things, how our world has been shaped. I think that’s why I like it so much.”

 “When we are in different cities I like to visit historical sites, if you ever want to come along,” said Duff.

“I’d love too, if you don’t mind,” she said.

“Not at all, nobody else around here typically wants to come with, I’d love the company.” CJ smiled at him gratefully and thanked him. She wanted to ramble on and info dump on him about her interests but restrained herself. She didn’t want to bother him and make him regret extending the invitation to her. Instead, she opened her book back up and continued reading.

The airplane took off and reached cruising altitude without turbulence or issue. The words on the page began to blur together as CJ tried to focus, but sleep began to overtake her. The dark tendrils of panic began to replace her sense of realism. She shook her head in an effort to stay awake, but it was unsuccessful. Her book and the plane around her fell away and she was swallowed up.

CJ awoke with a start. It was suddenly the summer of 1997. Her heart was pounding, fight or flight activated immediately, eyes darting around the humid, dark, and dingy room, frantically searching to be sure that neither her mother or her mother’s boyfriend, Stephen, were standing there. When she was sure the room was empty, she relaxed a little. The house was silent, meaning they were both either passed out or not home. Home. It was not home here, despite it being one of the longest places CJ had ever stayed at, a little over one year.

A dim ray of light made its way through the dirty windowpane and old moth-eaten curtains on the other side of the room. Despite it being the room of an 8-year-old girl, it was bare, other than the mattress CJ lay on in the corner of the room and an old dresser with half the drawers missing. A few of her belongings sat on the floor next to the mattress; a half-filled glass of water, her CD player, a small box of CDs, a few small toys, and some rocks she had collected outside. Faded old, ripped wallpaper was peeling from the walls to reveal the dirty drywall, patched with mold and water stains. There was a small bathroom connected to the bedroom, with a dusty non-working tub, but a functioning sink and toilet.

Her body felt sticky and sweaty underneath the stiff and musty blanket she had pulled over her head, only her face sticking out to look around. She wanted to throw it off herself but figured it would be best to wait a few more minutes to listen for any movement in the house. In addition to the window on the other side of the room, there was another down at the other end. But no light shone through, as it was covered with a thin tarp that had been nailed haphazardly to the wall to keep it shut. Despite this, there was always a draft, hot in the summer, and cold in the winter. It was currently summer, and she was used to waking up overheated. Still better than the cold of the Pennsylvania winter.

When CJ was certain she was safe, she quietly rose out of bed. She tiptoed to the bathroom and silently shut the door to use the toilet. She caught a glimpse of herself in the old, rusted mirror hanging above the sink. She was an absolute dirty mess. Her curly brown hair was knotted beyond repair, hanging down in what looked like partial disorganized dreads. She was dirty-faced and unclean. The only working shower and bathtub was in the downstairs bedroom where her mother and Stephen slept, and she was not allowed to use it. Her clothing was also unwashed. They didn’t have a washer or dryer, and her mother only went to the laundromat maybe once a month. That left CJ to cycle repeatedly through the four outfits she owned, washed or not. Her tank top and basketball shorts hung off her malnourished frame.

CJ walked back into the bedroom and quickly gathered up the small plastic bag she used to carry the things she collected during the day while outside. She was almost certain nobody was home or conscious enough to hear her but she still tip toed out into the hallway. She passed by the other rooms, doors open to show their empty spaces, other than the occasional piece of old and broken furniture that had been there since they had moved in. The house was large and at one point may have been filled with a big and happy family. However, it had fallen into disrepair a very long time ago and was no longer livable. Stephen had moved CJ and her mother into the house from their small one room apartment back in Philadelphia a little over a year ago. The dilapidated house had been bought by one of Stephen’s brothers with the intent to fix it up and flip it. However, he had to move out of state for reasons unknown to CJ, and all but abandoned the project, due to distance and lack of interest. The house had sat until Stephen needed a place to live. He offered to fix the house up for his brother and get it ready for sale in exchange for living there rent free. But that had not happened, and Stephen’s brother did not seem to care enough to check in. While the apartment had also been dirty and cramped, she missed having heat in the winter and cold air in the summer. She missed going to school, learning new things, and spending time with other children. She also had friends that lived in the apartment building. She could find loose change on the sidewalk and walk to the corner store and buy herself some candy. Now she was in the middle of nowhere and the furthest she went was in the woods out back behind the house. She often left during the day to be outside until the sun set, exploring the woods, collecting rocks, and playing in the river. Her mother didn’t care where she was and if she stayed inside, she’d be on the receiving end of drug fueled rage from her mother or Stephen. Unfortunately, when winter came, she was stuck inside. It often went below zero, considering they were up in the mountains. She had no winter clothing.

Where she really wanted to be was with her aunt Mindy in California. Her mother loved to remind her how far away California was ever since they had fled to the east coast two years ago. She didn’t dare mention her aunt to her mother, she knew what the punishment would be, and things were becoming increasingly unpredictable. CJ had stopped speaking completely while inside and did her best to make no noise when she moved throughout the house. She didn’t even ask for food anymore, and instead snuck it from the kitchen when she could. Her mother had always been a drug user, but ever since getting with Stephen back in Philadelphia, her usage had ramped up substantially. Additionally, they had their “project” in the basement that they were always working on. Stephen had been motivated to move to a rural area from the city for his “project.” He had wanted the seclusion and privacy to cook and sell meth, as well as sell heroin. People came in and out of the house almost every day to purchase. They all had the same lost and scary look her mother had, and she tried to stay hidden during these transactions.

CJ quietly moved down the stairs, but stopped dead in her tracks when the couch came into view and she saw Stephen asleep, face up and hanging slightly off the edge. The coffee table was overflowing with dirty plates and silverware, old and moldy food, empty cups and bottles, multiple syringes, baggies of drugs, and several lighters. She could see several cockroaches scuttling across the floor and over the old food. Laying on Stephen’s chest, lightly held in his right hand, was a handgun. She slowed her movements down and held her breath, not daring to make a sound. She clutched her things closely to her chest as her feet hit the floor at the bottom of the stairwell. The house tended to creak and groan with its age and disrepair, but CJ had figured out how to move quietly throughout the past year so as not to make noise and alarm her mother or Stephen. She quietly crept across the room; her eyes anxiously focused on the front door.

She was almost there when the sound of something hitting the floor made her jump a mile and her heart leapt out of her chest. It was a rock, a rock from her plastic bag that she must have overlooked when emptying it out in her bedroom last night. Under typical circumstances, it would have been insignificant. But to CJ, it was so loud it could have made her ears bleed. She didn’t have time to think or assess before she was painfully deafened by the sound of a gunshot. She fell to the floor in a fetal position, her hands over her ears and the back of her head. She could just barely hear Stephen screaming at her, her sense of hearing gone. She was only able to catch some of what he was saying.

“You little bitch!” She trembled violently as a large hand tightly grabbed her by the back of her shirt, lifting her off the floor, causing the front of her collar to choke her. “Waking me up!” All she could do now was brace herself and hope his rage would be over quickly. The breath left her body as she was slammed into the wall, pinned by Stephen’s large fist that was now gripping her neck in addition to her shirt collar. He continued to scream, his spit flying all over her face. She opened her eyes a crack to see her mother standing in the doorway of the kitchen, nonchalantly smoking a cigarette and watching. She tried to reach a small hand out to her.

“Mama….” She knew her mother wouldn’t come to her rescue, but in her emotions of complete fear and helplessness, she didn’t know what else to do. Her attention turned back to Stephen as he wound his fist back to strike her in the face.

-

Duff looked up from his computer to notice CJ had fallen asleep. Her book was sliding off her lap as she leaned back into her seat. He gently took her book from her and closed it on the table in front of her. His gaze lingered on her. He was captivated by her, he wanted to talk more to her and pick her brain. But he let her read, not wanting to bug her. He repeated his mantra from earlier in the week, telling himself that she’s just a kid, young enough to be his daughter. In addition, she was his personal assistant, and he knew too many people who fucked their personal assistants and it always turned into a mess. Thirdly, he didn’t even want to think about what Mindy would do to him if she knew he had even glanced in CJ’s direction with anything more than a professional gaze. Just having intrusive thoughts about her made him feel like he was slightly losing his grip on sanity. There was no way someone like her would be remotely interested in someone his age anyway.

But if it was 30 years ago…..

He didn’t let his mind finish that sentence. In reality, if it was 30 years ago, a woman like her still wouldn’t look in his direction. He had been a mess. Sometimes he felt like the theme of his life had been a mismatch between timing, sobriety, people, and events.

Duff turned back to his computer, scanning over their tour schedule, and looking at when he’d have substantial time off in the next 6 months. He had about two weeks off in September and then about a week in October. He was trying to plan something for him and the girls. They could go away to the vacation house in Hawaii, but he was thinking somewhere different might be better. Somewhere they had never been that allowed for more adventurous activities they could do together as a family rather than just lie on the beach.

Duff was startled by CJ’s sudden movement in the seat next to him. She was still asleep with her eyes shut, but there was a look of distress across her features. She twitched and made small crying sounds. Concerned, Duff was unsure if he should wake her up.

Suddenly, she awoke and sat up, clawing at the table in front of her. She was wide-eyed and hyperventilating, tears spilling over her eyes and onto her cheeks. She appeared to quickly realize where she was and sunk back down into her seat. She met his gaze, looking up at him with sheer panic in her eyes. Nobody else on the plane seemed to have noticed.

“I’m sorry, I-, I just had a nightmare. I’m sorry. I wasn’t loud, was I?”

“Hey, it’s ok, you’re fine, you don’t need to apologize” he said, trying to keep his voice soft and calm, shifting into damage control. “You weren’t loud.” She was taking slow and controlled breaths in an attempt to calm down. “It’s ok, you’re safe.” He didn’t know if putting his hand over her grip on the side of the seat would help or make it worse, so he just sat there, letting her regulate her breathing. Touch typically helped him come down from panic, but he knew that was not the case for everyone, and he didn’t feel like risking getting clocked in the jaw. Instead, he tried to use his words to help her.

“I used to struggle on airplanes with panic, still do sometimes.” CJ appeared to somewhat visibly relax and the fear in her face was replaced with curiosity.

“You do?”

“I don’t like airplanes; I’ve learned to cope though. It took a long time.” His thoughts wandered back to all his mind-numbing drug use on airplanes, “and lot of trial and error.” She continued to gaze at him curiously, a few tears still on her cheeks.

“Did something bad happen to you on an airplane?”

“No,” he said, “I’ve been diagnosed with a panic disorder. A lot of the time they’ll happen without any triggers, sometimes I can identify a trigger, like being on an airplane.” His transparency seemed to surprise her.

“I know my triggers,” said CJ, looking away and wringing the hem of her shirt nervously. “If I’m in a new or unknown place, I sometimes get nightmares.” Duff didn’t want to pry; it wasn’t his place. But he could be supportive.

“If you need help with anything, you know where to find me. I’ve been dealing with anxiety for 53 years.” She smiled up at him gratefully.

“Thanks, it’ll settle soon, once I get in the new routine, like it always does.” He watched her wipe her face of any loose tears that had fallen in her sleep, sit back up, and open her book, straightening up as if nothing had happened. Almost as if putting on a mask, like she’d done it a million times.

-

CJ had never had someone calm her down as quickly from a nightmare or panic attack as Duff had. Nightmares typically occurred when she was alone in a bed and she calmed herself down, after waking up in the middle of the night. Even in instances where Mindy, Michelle, or a friend were close by she preferred to keep it to herself and breathe deeply until she had regulated.

There had never even been a therapist that had been able to bring her out of the panic cloud like he had, and he hadn’t done anything beyond talk to her. But his voice, his face, his entire aura was intensely calming. CJ still felt a sense of guilt and embarrassment. Embarrassed because she wished he hadn’t seen her like that, and guilty because she didn’t like to feel as if she had hoisted her problems on others or made him feel uncomfortable. She preferred to keep her difficulties internalized and try to handle them on her own. CJ felt the overwhelming urge to apologize again to him or spill her guts about everything. Everything that had ever happened to her. He had been open to her about his issues, and they hadn’t even known each other for a week.

CJ tried to focus on her book but couldn’t help but notice Duff shoot a few concerned glances her way. It made her feel awkward. Other than her aunt and Michelle, she’d not had many others in her personal life who had concerned themselves with her anxiety, especially a male. When she caught him looking over a fifth time, she turned to him with an amused smile.

“I’ll be ok, don’t worry, I’m not gonna fall back asleep.” She couldn’t fall asleep if she tried. Duff reciprocated her smile and put his hands up in mock defensiveness.

“I know, I know, I just told your aunt I’d keep an eye on you.” CJ rolled her eyes and scoffed at him.

“She worries too much.”

“Well, it’ll be my ass if something were to happen to you.”

“You’re afraid of her, for some reason.”        

“Well, she does have a pretty good right hook. Or at least she did.”

“What did you do to make her hit you?” He looked unsure if he wanted to say what was on his mind, nervously rubbing the back on his neck.

“I mean, she always was perpetually mildly annoyed with me,” he said with an amused smirk “Even if I wasn’t interacting with her.”

“Ya but why did she hit you?” CJ wasn’t going to let it go.

“She just thought that I played around too much, that’s all” he said vaguely. CJ’s brow furrowed, unsure of what he meant. Before she could continue to question him the captain of the plane came over the intercom, announcing that they’d be landing soon.

-

The plane descended smoothly and before CJ knew it, they were walking out onto the tarmac. There’d be SUVs waiting from them at a pickup point close by.

CJ kept up with Duff as they made their way over. Behind some metal fencing, was another group of fans, calling out to them and holding out merchandise. They quickly stopped to sign a few things. CJ noticed a few people snapping pictures, and stood behind Duff, Slash, and Axl, not wanting to be in any photos, her anxiety still slightly heightened from her nightmare. She even did her best to position herself behind Meegan, who didn’t seem uncomfortable with the crowds and the photos.

“Are you alright?” asked Meegan, seeing CJ attempting to use her as a shield.

“Ya, I’m just still getting used to all this,” said CJ, “I don’t know how they do it.”

“They’ve been doing it for a long time, you learn to adapt.” Duff and Axl had finished up, but Slash was still signing a few things, a group of women appearing to be verbally fawning over him. CJ looked for Meegan’s reaction, but she seemed unbothered, scrolling through her phone. CJ didn’t know how to frame the question she had in mind.

“It- it doesn’t bother you? When they act like that?” Meegan looked up to see the woman cooing and squealing in excitement.

“No,” she laughed, “Groupies are part of the job, as long as he doesn’t entertain them too much.” CJ looked back over at Slash who had finished signing. He smiled and waved at the fans and then turned to walk back over to Meegan.

“You ready to go kiddo?” Duff was suddenly next to her, his hand lightly resting on her shoulder. She looked up at him with a small smile and nodded, wanting to get to the privacy of the SUV.

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Two Sons: Part 2

Chihiro: Byakuya!? Byakuya, can you hear me!?

Chihiro?

*Mid-flight with the ring pieces still on his ankles, Byakuya suddenly hears a voice coming through his phone. He quickly picks it up and listens to Chihiro call him on the other end.

Chihiro: Thank goodness I reached you.

What's going on? I thought Tsuchiya destroyed your laptop. How are you contacting me right now?

Chihiro: Well, it turns out that once Kyoko and the others got back to the camp with Makoto and Kuripa, they sent some soldiers up to lend us some assistance. They got held off on the way up by some Monokuma's, but for some reason, their activity has been reduced massively, so they finally made it through. They brought a spare laptop, but it needs a moment to boot up, so I'm tracking you through a similar app on my phone.

I suppose it would be good to have some potential backup, but I trust you to leave this to me. If things go south, I'll give you a warning well in advance.

Chihiro: Good to hear...Oh! Byakuya! I've located Tsuchiya!

Where is he!?

Chihiro: AH! BEHIND YOU!

Wha-!?

*BZZZRRR!*

GAGH!

*Byakuya is surprised to find himself suddenly in the midst of a hail of jagged metallic ring fragments flying in his direction from behind, which he just manages to dodge.

Damn!

*Byakuya backflips to hold his two ring pieces in front of him like shields as the pieces fly back. Before turning to glare at his assailant, he swipes some more gunpowder to increase his ammunition.

Stop! You've violated the law!

Call you back! HYUGH!

Hap! Hyap!

*Byakuya slides his comm back into his pocket, showing only exasperation at Akira's smarminess. In retaliation, he gathers the ring fragments he has captured and launches them all in Akira's direction, but he avoids them all and catches the final projectile with his hand.

Gotta say...I've lived quite a while on this earth and NOBODY on it has frustrated me quite like you have!

I tend to have that effect on a lot of people I find! Still, you get cut once and this is your reaction!? Pitiful!

Ahahaha...Don't knock it 'til you TRY it!

*SLAASH!*

GAGH!?

*THUMP!* *THUMP!* *THUMP!* *WHAM!*

CHAGHCK!?

*While Byakuya is distracted, two stray ring projectiles fly behind him and slash him across the back. He topples forward, letting Akira punch him a few times before knocking him down to a platform below them.

*VWOOOM!* *WHOOSHSHWOOSHSHOOSH!*

Hrrr-CHAAGH!

Gah!?

*PONK!* *PONK!* *PONK!* *PONK!*

*When Byakuya lands, Akira gathers all the ring's fragments around him and launches the lethal chunks at his opponent. However, Byakuya uses his own control to commandeer the ring pieces and return fire back to the sender. Before his own attack can hit him, Akira leaps away, sending the ring fragments crashing through the wall in his wake.

Hehehehe...

What's funny? You...

*Crumble!*

...missed?

*CRAASH!* *CRUMMBLE!* *CRUMMBLE!*

GAAGH!?

*CRAASH!*

*Akira lets his guard down for a split second, not realizing Byakuya is controlling the ring pieces to cut a large slab in the thick stone wall behind Akira, which he then sends crashing down on top of him, smacking his half-brother in the face and crushing his body between the slab and the platform. As Akira is crushed, Byakuya calls back the ring pieces.

Haha! You can do EVERYTHING with these things!

Heh...I know...right...?

*CRUMBLE* *WHOOOM!*

!!!??

*CRRAAAASSH!*

HAAH!

*POOOW!*

DRGH!?

HAAAH!

*WHOOM!* *SHUNK!* *SHUNK!* *SMAAASH!*

GEGCK! TCH!?

*Even though Byakuya calls back most of the ring pieces, Akira is still able to hold onto two, which alone allow him to lift the cut slab of stone off of him and throw it at Byakuya with ease. While he's open, Akira punches him upward, reclaims the ring, and fires the fragments at him, with three of them piercing his chest and sending him crashing through the hangar's ceiling.

Hm?

*SSSHHHHHHHZZZZZZZZZZZZZHHHHHHSSSSSSSSSSSSSZZZZZZZZZZZZZHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSZZZHHH!!!*

...Oh fuck-!

*CRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!*