#nikolai come home the kids miss you x

[wylans-flute]

So my theory is the crows are being paid by nikolai to help him with the darklings little thing and if 'he dies they don't get paid'

#darklings not so little thing #i cant wait for kaz and nikolai interactions #its going to be FUNNY #netflix shadow and bone #shadow and bone season two #six of crows #six of crows duology #the crows #shadow and bone netflix #shadow and bone s2 #shadow and bone #kaz brekker #kazzle dazzle #baz krekker #nikolai lanstov #nikolai lantsov #nikolai come home the kids miss you x

[brokenpieces-72]

Home for Holidays

Monster! 141 (mostly Soap) x Hybrid female Reader (jackalope/wendigo)

This is a continuation of the previous fanfic on my page. The only context you need it that the reader is teenager. Mentions @diejager reader character Hunter and is based on designs by @bluegiragi

CW/TW: Mentions of trauma, abuse, family trauma, punishment, origins of wendigo, crying, angst, let me know if I’ve missed anything.

Soon enough Holidays come around and there are no signs of your handler returning to base. Which means you’ll likely be alone on base on the holidays. It’s not the first time so that’s okay but you do get jealous when plans are brought up in conversation.

“So what’ll you be doin lass?” Johnny asks. His friendly face becomes a small frown when you shrug.

“Maybe I’ll just stay on base with Ghost…not sure what else there is. Nowhere to go really…” You say shrugging. Johnny’s brother side comes out in full swing, not just for you but for Simon as well. He knows Simon uses the holidays for his own needs, and doesn’t really stay on base the whole time. Leaving you behind didn’t feel fair to him. Not only that but it’s not fair to you, to have to sit in your room by yourself bored out of your mind.

Johnny makes some calls after that and soon learns there’ll be some paperwork but he doesn’t care. It’ll be worth it.

Nikolai comes to pick people up to take home, and Johnny has you already packed and it basically bouncing on your bed to get you to wake up.

“Come on wheels up lass!”

He’s carrying the duffel you had when you came and hands it to you.

“But-“ you’re half awake as you try to protest.

“No questions. Come on.” He says and you both get on the helicopter. Rudy and Alejandro say good bye to you before you leave and give you a gift to open on Christmas as does Gaz and Price. Ghost sees you off and you tell him you hope he enjoys the privacy.

Johnny takes you to his hometown, and when you land he explains that he made some calls home. And then to Laswell, and the program and few others to make sure everything was sorted.

“Ma didn wantya to be alone. Just know you’ll be put to work still…got dat?” You nod and he takes you to his house after you land, where you meet Soap’s mother and Soap’s older brother. His mother comments a bit on your appearance saying you look a little pale and could afford to put on a couple pounds. Soap gives her a look but you shake it off saying you have been. She gives you a warm smile and helps you find your room.

You have a good time on your leave and it feels a little odd to you. Your family was way different, but Johnny’s is cozy and kind and teasing. You join in on jabs at him, and help around the house as best you can, learning more basic skills like cooking and chopping wood. Johnny takes you to a few different places around, along with his brother, and you even meet a couple of his football buddies. They’re friendly and tell you some stories about Johnny. They ask about the ears and antlers. Johnny lets you answer how you choose, whether it’s as a jackalope or a wendigo. At some point he leaves you with his friends to take care of something and when he comes back, he sees you talking and having a good conversation with them. It’s hard to imagine you were once this simple, shy, apologetic kid and now you had grown into a friendly, healthy teenager.

One night you and Johnny take a minute to relax on a bench before continuing your walk home. The two of you had just left his friend and their partner at a store, and the walk home would be long. Johnny could handle walking in the dark but wanted you to be safe too. You both look out at the street lit up by garlands of lights and shop windows. It was good to finally take a break after all the walking around. You watch people go by and notice body language you didn’t often see on base. Couples holding hands, kids running and skipping, snowballs being thrown, parents swinging their kids. You lean against your knees, following Johnny’s sitting position.

“Are all families like this?” You ask. Johnny notices where you had been looking and shrugs.

“Nah all of em. The good ones are.” Johnny ponders for a moment before inquiring. “Take it you didn ave that.”

You shake your head.

“Wha were they like?” He asks. You go very quiet, and he pays closer attention. It’s not an easy subject, your parents were mean and obsessive over your hybrid features. You were outcasted and isolated. Christmas was a rough time, as you would see people happy outside but never felt the same way.

“…they…they used to yell at me. Sometimes hit me.” You confessed. Johnny looks at you. “It kept escalating… sometimes it was burns or no food for a day. Then one day they grounded me and put me in the basement.” You pause for a shaky breath feeling your throat tighten up. Johnny lets you continue at your own pace. “They gave me raw meat and told me there was nothing else…”

You’re shaking recalling the horrid memory of how you became a wendigo. Your family wasn’t normal and your parents weren’t sane. You only found out how insane they were when it was too late. How cultish they could be.

Johnny doesn’t need you to finish, and instead moves closer to you on the bench and holds you tight. The tears just come down and you nestle into his winter jacket. You feel a gloved hand on your head keeping you close.

“You didn do anythin wrong.” He tells you over and over, tucking your head under his chin. “You’re a good kid. Don’ forgae ‘at.”

You finally pull away after a while and he asks if you’re ready to keep going. You nod, he gives you his arm to cling to while you head home. There are still tears but your face is stinging from the cold, and you’d rather be inside. Johnny tries to change the subject or make some jokes with you. He gets a couple giggles for his dad jokes. When you finally get back, Johnny’s mother notices your tears and gets you some water. She doesn’t ask about it and lets her son handle everything while you curl up on the couch with him watching Die Hard.

You feel more and more comfortable snuggling up to Soap, and he you. He’s taken to calling you ‘pup’ and ‘whelp’. When you walk in to relax with him he offers to shift for you so you can have a soft pillow to rest against. It doesn’t take long before his brother and mother are friendly with you too, spending some alone time with them as well. His mother has taken a shine to you, often asking for some help in the kitchen or showing you cute videos she found online. There’s a couple of Facebook posts usually involving the Grinch or Peanuts cartoons that you find cute, and smile at.

His mom expresses concern multiple times about your wardrobe, noticing you wear the same items in a row.

“If ya wouldna mind me askin dear, didn ya wear that shirt yesterday?”

“Y-yes. Is that bad?” You ask.

“No no of curse not, it’s a nice shirt, but doncha ave other clothes?” She asks. When you shake your head she sets down whatever she is working on. It doesn’t take long for her to check if any of her sons’ old clothes will fit you. The clothes are a little baggy on you, even with the couple extra pounds you’ve gained while staying there but they’ll work. Especially since they’ll likely get torn anyways when you back to base. Honestly his mother is glad they’ll be put to use, and they’re some of the few clothes she has that are intact since Johnny’s form often rips his clothing.

Christmas Eve comes around and Soap is up early for his workout and his mother is up for her meal prep.

“Aye ma? Canna ask you somethin?” Soap asks quietly, not wanting to wake you or give you the chance to hear him.

“Yes?”

“Whatcha think of the lass?”

She takes a moment to think about it.

“Lovely child. Takes after ya a bit moore than I’d like.” She teases. Johnny smiles before unloading a bit on to his mother. “They don’t ave anywhere else to go after this, unless Price keeps em. So it got me thinkin uhh…” his tail twitches awkwardly as she takes note of his tone. His mom has seen how her sons’ tails react when they get a certain way. Before he can ask she answers the question.

“I think ya need to think this over some more. I wouldna mind it… but she’s got as much of a say as you do. Honestly she’s a lovely lass, and I know you’ve taken a shine to her. More than a shine, yer practically her brother. You’ve told me what she is, and I have no qualms but ya better be here for her too. I’m not dealin’ with a hybrid under my roof, alone and at my age.”

“I will ma, thank you.” Johnny decides to bring it up later when you guys head back to base.

Christmas comes and it’s overwhelming for someone unused to large close gatherings. Johnny and his brother make it a habit for at least one of them to stay close to you. Their relatives ask tou questions and get to know you. You don’t unload like you did with Johnny, but when your past comes up you do respond.

“Well my adoptive parents were pretty bad, so after that my social worker put me in the program for rehabilitation and relocation I guess.”

When you get the chance you slip away to take a breath, and relax a bit. The whole situation is crazy after being on a such an isolated family. The holidays weren’t exactly great for you, and sometimes you were alone to open gifts by yourself. The gifts were strange too, often in the form of weird books and strange toys. Looking back, to any normal person the gifts should have been red flags. Johnny finds you soon enough, and asks if you just want some time to yourself.

“This is normal? Spending holidays like this?” You ask. He nods.

“Never got ‘at back ‘ome.”

You shake your head. Johnny isn’t one to show vulnerability but damn you make it hard.

“Fairly normal. You open your gifts yet?” He asks. “Come on we’re about to start opening them.”

You get up and follow him, carrying the gifts you got from the 141 into the living room, and sit down. Anyone seeing the scene would know you were out of place, as everyone was either human or a werewolf. Johnny’s mom sits by you, and has a gift for you too. You open it and you laugh, finding a hoodie for Johnny’s favourite football team. Johnny looks over and basically cheers seeing the hoodie. The gifts from the team are a journal and some stationary and a sketchbook. They’re simple gifts sure but they’re better than anything you had gotten before. They were yours.

Next couple days you spend collecting and drawing around the area. You take the journal everywhere, writing about the things you see and draw your own ideas.

During a visit to a restaurant you notice some humans and draw them as hybrids, giving them tails and wings. Any common or ugly looks from other humans go ignored as you focus on the pencils and paper before you.

Your journal gets filled with cards, photos, stickers, scribbles and a couple of miscellaneous items you find like leaves, flowers and feathers. It’s not long before items are poking out from between the pages marking your progress. You write plenty of thoughts, and even a couple stories about the items you find.

#cod au #hybrid au #wendigo #jackalope #christmas #late christmas post #fanfic #cod oc #john soap mactavish #home for the holidays #fluff #angst with a happy ending #family #monster

[indigo-o]

Let me be free

I got the idea from this on pinterest, all credit to the maker of it.

Anywayssss

Reader is teenager

Warning ⚠️ can be very triggering mentions of suicide, running away, abuse (from parent), crying. Self harm and Nikolai gogol, if any of these things trigger you please don't read

I just had this idea A little bit from personal experience but I hope this maybe help people with such thing even tho it's Nikolai gogol rip, but don't get into toxic relationships kids that's bad

Yandere! Nikolai gogol x Teenager! Reader

PLATONIC

I ran into my room, hiding from the anger that followed my father. He was loud. I had bruises covering my body.

This place was a prison that followed me. It was no home; not even a houseI sat in the bathroom.

My face covered in warm tears. I needed away to be free from this. I had two choice that made logical since. Run away or end it. Maybe I'd find freedom from here. Either would work. I got up. Options 1 or 2.

1

If that fails plan b.

I got up and quickly packed my bag. I looked around debating. Only to come to the understanding there was only to choices. I climbed out of the window.

Good bye

I got to the ground and ran; I ran as quick as I could. The city of Yokohama is big but I had to be free.

I had run far enough away from the apartment I began to walk, enjoying the calm night. The lights were bright but I still enjoyed the nightI stared into the sky

Thump

I fell on the ground. I covered my body.

"I'm so sorry." I looked up at him. Then to see him smile, and help me up.

"Oh its fine, little miss. Are you okay? Did a fall cause all the bruises?" He smiled.

He had such an interesting aura. He has a smile like no other. Though even with his personality, his clothes were weird as fuck.

"Ah these are nothing, just fell.". I smiled

"MHmm, why who hurt such a beautiful dove like you?". He questioned.

(I'm begging don't do this, do not follow random people on the street unless they're bleeding out and your taking them to the hospital, or it's a hot bungou stray dogs character, cause if someone *cough cough* dazai asked me wyltcadswm, i would love too)

I looked up at him. He smiled. I nodded at him. I think he understood.

"Why don't you come with me, little darling. I'll keep you safe.". He reached out.

I take it, and pray.

Lil time skip

We arrived at a building. His home I'm going to assume. He took me inside."Dos-kun! I brought something!" "Yes koyla? Do come and show me.". This man had a clam yet scary voice.I walked over and met the new man that would change how my life would go to end

#bungou stray dogs x reader #bsd x reader #fyodor dostoyevsky bsd #fyodor x reader #bsd nikolai #Nikolai gogol x reader #Nikolai x reader

[sofasoap]

Christmas love

Summary: it's Christmas time. You and Gaz are expecting a baby, and your husband think this will be a great time to gather everyone for an early Christmas gathering, also for you to meet the ladies of 141 for first time.

Pairing: Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick x Reader

Part of the Miss Sunshine Universe.

Warning: mature rating. Talk of pregnancy.

Note: a very self-indulgent fic that has absolutely no plot to it. And a presents to my lovely moots. 😘

The OCs belongs to:

Myléne 'Petra' Scholten de Ridder, @eenochian

Olga 'Zhar' Samiolova, @nrdmssgs

Christine 'Riot' Vega, @gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot

You clutch the plate of freshly baked chocolate biscuit in your hand as you stare up at the three women standing in front of you in awe.

“Christmas gathering?”

“I thought it might be a good idea to get everyone together before the baby comes.” Kyle said as he assembled the baby cot. “I talked to your mum and dad. They are happy to host the early Christmas party at their farm before everyone breaks off. Ah there. Done.” Gaz dusts his hand as he finishes putting the last screw in, and holds out his hand to help you stand up, pulling you into his embrace.

“And there are new people I want you to meet as well. Our lovely new Dutch Medic, she’s quite excited to meet you since I told her about the baby news.” he kisses you in the temple as both of you look around, surveying the newly set up nursery. “And Nikolai has been bugging me about wanting to bring his new partner along. He's eager to show her off.”

Your eyes brighten up. “Is Simon bringing his new girlfriend too?” you asked excitedly.

Ever since your Ma heard “the poor man has no family left to celebrate the holiday with” she made sure Johnny always brought Simon back to the farm to join in on all the family holidays.

First time he arrives at the farm, Simon grumbles about how he wants to be alone for holidays,but as soon as your Ma greets him, his demeanour changes immediately.

“Ah, you must be Simon that my two little bampot kids talked about so much!! Welcome home!! ” she exclaimed, pulling Simon down to give him a big welcoming hug.

“”Ma!!”” Johnny and you groaned at the affectionate name calling from your own mother but stopped when the two of you saw Simon returning the hug, with tears streaming down his face, with Ma giving Simon a soft pat on his back.

“Sounds like it. Soap and I were pressuring him to introduce her to the family. Your Mum said she needs to approve his future daughter in law.” Gaz laughed.

So here you are, not quite sure how to start the conversation with the three elite soldiers, while the others have scattered off to mingle after all the initial greetings and quick catch up.

“Um….. Chocolate biscuits? Freshly out of the oven?” you offered timidly.

Petra.. Or she introduced herself as Mylène, took a step forward and grabbed a piece of biscuit off the plate.

“ Oh gosh …you don’t know how much I’ve been craving for these biscuits since Soap shared some with us last time..” She moaned as she took a big bite of it. “Oh these are even better, fresh....come on girls, grab one!”

Christine, who’s been very quiet, her eyes lit up and hesitantly reached for one. Her eyes fluttered close as she sighed.

“Good right? I told you.”

“I thought you were exaggerating. Olga. Come on. Try some.” Christine picked up another two, passed one more towards Olga. She hummed as a small smile appeared on her face, nibbling on the biscuit without saying a word.

You let out a small sigh, you were glad they liked the biscuits. You would be lying if you say you weren’t intimidated by three of them. You heard so much story about these amazing women from Kyle leading up to the party, with all the achievements on and off fields, you felt so… ordinary compared to them.

“Um, Coffee? Tea? Simon brewed the tea… so it should be good.” You offered, trying hard to come up with topics to break the ice. You huffled as you moved around the kitchen table trying to serve them the drinks with difficulty with your very pregnant stomach. The ladies all stood up immediately to help.

“Oh thank you.. sorry, it’s getting harder and harder for me to move around as this little pea pod grows..” you puffed out as you sat down on the chair that Olga had pulled out, insisted you to sit down while they help themselves with the refreshments.

“Oh talk about baby… Since Gaz mentioned the two of you were expecting, we all brought some gifts for you and the baby. ” Mylène clapped her hand, and waved to the other ladies to bring in the gifts from the living room.

Your eyes widen at the amount of gifts the ladies started to pile onto the table.

“That… this…” you gaped.

“All for your new family. Come on, open it up!” Mylène urged as she pointed towards the bags and boxes.

You reach for the four different colour bags first, all filled to the brim with different assortments clothes.

“ Each of the bags are clothe from age zero to two years old.” Mylène explained.

“Till two years old?!” you gasped as you took a peek into each of them. “That’s… that’s too much!”

“Nonsense. I know how fast the baby grows and the amount of clothes and stuff they go through. If you need any more things, don’t hesitate to contact me. Gaz got my number.” She reaches forward to give you a hug, reassuring you.

“And if you need anyone to babysit or a bodyguard for the baby, I can lend you my brother. Emiel will make sure no harm come to your baby if he were to look after them with his scary look.” She offered her brother’s service proudly.

“Uh, thank you??” You thanked her for her offer, trying to imagine the tall assassin with a baby carrier as you reached for the next lot of presents.

You open the second parcel, presents from Olga and Nikolai, and a very intricate Matryoshka doll and……helicopter and aeroplane plushie?

“Nik insisted on getting those.”Olga sighed. “ Saying something about.. The baby should know how her Dad and her Russian uncle’s friendship was strengthened.”

“It’s very important for them to know the story!!” Nikolai shouted from the other side of the room. Olga just rolled her eyes. You chuckled as you put it aside. “Thank you for your beautiful gifts. I was actually thinking what to put on the shelves in the nursery, these will be very fitting. Thank you. Oh! There's another little box..”as soon as you open the wooden box, a little ballerina pops up with a lullaby playing.

It’s a custom made musical box, you realised.

“Nikolai had it specially made for your little one. He originally wanted some rendition of heavy metal band music, I had to intervene and choose something more appropriate.” Olga covered her face with all the wild ideas her husband coming up with, embarrassed.

“Thank heaven you did. I think the lullaby might settle the baby down more than.. “ you laughed as you closed the lid again and leaned forward to give Olga a hug.

Finally you turned towards the blonde lady. Christine hands you two big square parcels, and wrangles her hand as you open up the wrapping paper.

You pulled out a few knitted baby clothes, hand knitted, simple but made with care. And a few warm knitted blankets too.

“You made these?” You inspect each of the clothes and design, noticing each of the onsies pairs with a blanket. A SET!. “Oh these teddy bear patterns on the blanket and the onsies.. ah! The sunflower pattern on these ones… and Stars… so cute!” You cooed.

Christine nodded her head hesitantly, “Soap mention you were going to spend the first few months after birth with the baby in Scotland, Considering how long the winter goes on for up here,I thought might be a good idea … “ she trailed off. Your smile widened and pulled her in for a hug, “ it’s a very thoughtful gift… Thank you. And to all of you as well.” You turned towards the other two, thanking them again.

“Soap couldn’t shut up about how much he is looking forward to his future niece and how much he is going to spoil her, while that husband of yours, every spare moment he’s got, he’s writing down plans for the nursery, ideas for future outings, and way of organising routines to give YOU the optimal resting time.” Mylène chuckled.

“Simon has been giving out ideas of how the team can help with babysitting duties to give you two new parents a bit of breather.” Christine added. “I don’t think he likes to admit it, but he really cares about you as a little sister.” She smiled.

“ You should see Nik.. he is already pressing me to design some sort of self defence lessons for the baby. “Olga shakes her head, exasperated at her husband’s antics.

“Three of us agree, we felt like we know you already, from all the stories we hear from the boys, the love they have for you, how well you treat them, you deserve all the kindness in the world.” Petra said.

You blinked your eyes few times, trying not to tear up from the touching words and gestures. You were still in awe how generous the ladies are with all their gifts, and you never met them before. “I just want you all to know… all of you are always welcome here, anytime. The men are always like an extended family to us, and in term, all of you are welcome to the family too. “

And after this, it became a tradition for everyone to gather at the MacTavish farm at least once a year.

#call of duty #call of duty oc #Call of duty fanfics #self indulgent

[triptuckers]

Two Homes (part 6/7) - Nikolai Lantsov

Request: no Pairing:  Nikolai Lantsov x reader Summary:  you’re finally back in ketterdam Warnings: language Word count:  3.8K A/N: I literally love the crows so much they’re my comfort idiots <3  PREVIOUS PART | NEXT PART TAG LIST (two homes and/or all grishaverse fics): @godsofwriting @im-constantly-fangirling  @ayushmitadutta @mrs-brekker15 @dancingwith-sunflowers @thegirlwiththeimpala @parker-natasha @story-scribbler @romanoffstarkovs @daliareads @meiitanoia @itsnotquimey @sanktaesperanza @whymyparentscheckmyphone @aleksanderwh0r3 @ilovemarvelanne1 @marlenaisnthappy (if your name is in bold it means I couldn't tag you) add yourself to my tag lists here 

The cold wind on your face feels welcoming. You can smell the salt and there’s water all around you. You’d made the journey across the True Sea before, but it felt like a lifetime go.

Maybe because it was a lifetime ago.

You look down at the golden ring on your finger. It feels heavier than it used to. As if you’re suddenly aware of its presence.

When you first sailed across the sea, you were Y/F/N Y/L/N. A merchant’s daughter who had joined a gang in secret. You had learned how to fight, to steal, and a number of other illegal but useful things. You had earned your place among the Crows, joining them on jobs and secretly stealing small bits of your father’s fortune job by job.

And now you’re on a ship again, as Y/F/N Lantsov. A queen, of all things. Of a country you barely know. Married to a king you met less than a year ago. 

Of course, you hadn’t given the captain of the ship you’re on your real name. You’d used a name Kaz had given you once as an alias for a job. Luckily, the captain didn’t ask much questions.

You look out at the sea again. Would the Crows treat you differently now? You wanted to believe you hadn’t changed. But everything had changed. Your entire life. Still, you loved the Crows like they’re your family, and they loved you back. But you couldn’t help but wonder if they would love Y/F/N Lantsov as they loved Y/F/N Y/L/N.

You’re lost in thought, unaware of the people walking around the ship behind you. It isn’t until you hear a loud voice, you look up. 

Someone is standing at the front of the ship, pointing ahead. He shouted something in a language you didn’t know. When everyone moved to see what he was pointing at, you followed them as well.

After making your way to the front, you see what he was pointing at. In the distance, barely visible on the horizon, you can see land. A city. Your beloved Ketterdam. 

You’re home.

You feel like it takes forever to dock and be able to get off the ship. After pulling your hood over your face to hide your identity, you finally set foot in the city again.

Nothing’s changed. You see people moving swiftly between the people who just got off the ship. As a member of the Dregs, you know they’re pickpocketing. How many hours had you spent on the docks yourself, under Kaz’ watchful eye as he taught you. 

And now, you realise you’re among their targets. You grin as you start to manoeuvre through the crowd. You know the weak and strong points, and where it was most likely to find a gang member. 

Because this part of the docks belonged to the Dregs, you make sure to give them all the signs you have money on you. You keep patting your pocket. To them, it would look like you were merely checking if your money was still there. But you know for a fact your money isn’t in that pocket, and you’re simply luring them to you.

You know how to pick pockets, so you know how it feels. You walk through the crowd, fixated on your coat pocket. When you feel something brush against it, you grab the wrist of the person who walked past you, pulling them back.

The person lets out an annoyed sound and tries to pull their wrist out of your hand, but you hold a firm grip. 

‘You’re still bad a this.’ you say. ‘You should let Jesper do it instead.’

You smile and let go of the wrist. When you look up, you meet Nina’s widened eyes. Your hood is still covering most part of your face, but you know she recognised your voice in an instant.

She opens her mouth to say your name, but you stop her.

‘Not here.’ you say, grabbing her hand and leading her away from the crowd. You’re impressed by her patience. But once you’re away from the crowd and in a deserted alley, she fires questions at you.

‘Y/N, it’s so good to see you!’ says Nina. ‘How are you? How is Ravka? Why did you come back to Ketterdam? Oh, tell me you pissed Zoya off in some way, I would have loved to see the look on her face.’

You chuckle at her rapid questions and hold up your hands. ‘Slow down, Nina, remember to breathe in between questions.’ you say, smiling at her.

‘I’m just so glad to see you.’ says Nina. 

She reaches out to you and pulls you in a tight hug. You hug her back and inhale the scent of her signature perfume. When Nina pulls back she looks at your face and smiles.

‘Bags under your eyes, but still as gorgeous as ever.’ says Nina, winking at you. 

‘Not as gorgeous as you, though.’ you say and Nina laughs.

‘You worked on your flirty comebacks!’ she says.

You smile briefly. ‘That’s what you get when you spend so much time with Nikolai.’ you say.

‘Of course!’ says Nina. ‘How is he? Why isn’t he here?’

‘I chose to come alone.’ you say. ‘I got homesick.’ 

‘Well, I’m glad you’re here, we have a lot to catch up on. Matthias finally took the next step.’ says Nina, smirking.

Your eyes widen. ‘He did what?’ you say. Before you left, you were Nina’s favorite person to talk to about Matthias. Whenever he said or did something, you were the first one to know. Nina told you she was hinting for Matthias to kiss her, but he remained oblivious as ever. Looks like he finally managed to figure out all of her hints.

‘Later!’ says Nina. ‘Let’s get you to the Crow Club first, I don’t want them thinking I’m keeping you all to yourself.’

Nina links her arm through yours and together, you start walking toward the club. You look at the familiar streets and shops, constantly smiling. You were finally back in Ketterdam. You’d missed it so much, it felt good to be back.

While it’s in the middle of the day, the Crow Club is busy. It always is. As you walk to your usual table with Nina, you spot three familiar faces. Inej is the first to see you. 

When she does, she leaps to her feet and runs over to hug you. Her hair tickles your cheek as she hugs you. Like Nina, she immediately starts interrogating you about your time in Ravka. 

After promising her you’d tell her everything, you walk the last bit to the table, where Wylan and Matthias are sitting. 

Wylan smiles brightly at you and stands up to hug you as well. He’s happy to see you as well but unlike Nina and Inej, he doesn’t ask all about Ravka. Instead, he asks you how you’re doing and how your journey was. 

You smile at him and tell him you’re fine, that the journey went well. Sometimes you still wondered why the always energetic Jesper had been able to find his match in Wylan, someone who you’d always considered so calm and quiet.

Matthias holds out his hand for you to shake, before Nina pulls him to his feet and basically pushes him into your arms. You laugh at his bewildered face as you hug Matthias as well.

Meanwhile, Inej had ordered a round of everyone’s favorite drink, and you all sit down. As expected, they all start to ask you all sorts of questions. About Ravka, the palace, the wedding, what it’s like being queen, and of course, Nikolai.

You tell them you refuse to answer their questions until Jesper and Kaz are here, so you can tell them all at once. Wylan had told you they were away on a job. To kill the time, you asked them what had happened in Ketterdam while you were away. 

Apparently, a lot.

‘I got shot.’ says Inej. 

‘Twice.’ says Wylan, taking a sip of his drink and turning back to you. ‘And Jesper almost dropped me off a building.’

‘Come again?’ you say.

‘We were on a roof during a job, Jesper wasn’t paying attention and nearly knocked me off of it.’ says Wylan, not a single hint of fear in his voice. He had changed so much since you first met him. Maybe that’s what Ketterdam does to you, it hardens you, forces you to grow up. 

‘I got in a fight with the Stadwatch.’ says Matthias.

‘And I had to bail you out of a holding cell.’ says Nina.

‘Only because someone knocked me out from behind. It wasn’t a fair fight.’ says Matthias.

Nina turns to you. ‘Heleen wanted for Inej and me to come back to the Menagerie.’ she says.

‘You’re kidding, right?’ you say. ‘You’re telling me she had the fucking guts to ask you that?’

‘Well, it was more like sending one of her new guys to deliver the message. Kaz sent him back with five fingers instead of ten, and without a tongue. I think she got her answer.’ says Nina.

‘Sounds like something Kaz would do.’ you say. ‘What else did I miss?’

‘Jesper almost let Wylan shoot with his guns.’ says Inej.

You raise your eyebrows at Wylan. ‘Jesper allowed you to touch his precious revolvers?’ you say.

‘Almost.’ says Wylan, correcting you. ‘He changed his mind right before handing me one.’

You’re enjoying their company. You laugh and catch up on what’s happening in Ketterdam, buying rounds for the table. Every now and then they ask you something about Ravka, but you still refuse to tell them anything until all of the Crows are present. 

Several drinks and card games later, the club slowly begins to empty. Just as Wylan beats you in a game of card, his eye catches someone behind you and he waves at them.

Before you can turn around, you feel a pair of arms wrap around your shoulders, and a chin on top of your head.

‘There’s only one person who always sits in this spot.’ 

You smile and turn around. Towering over you, and with a huge grin on his face, Jesper is standing behind you. Your expression mirrors his as you stand up. Jesper wraps you in a bone-crushing hug. You close your eyes, grateful for his embrace.

When you let go of him, you smile up at him, then your eyes catch the person who had been standing behind Jesper.

‘Hi Kaz.’ you say.

Kaz nods at you and you’re convinced you can spot the smallest smile on his lips. Barely visible, but still there. 

Wylan pulls two more chairs from the empty table next to yours, and Jesper and Kaz sit down. 

‘So.’ says Jesper as Wylan hands him his drink. ‘What did we miss? How much have you all heard about a certain king?’

‘Nothing.’ says Nina. ‘Y/N didn’t tell us anything. She wanted to wait until you two got here a well.’

Jesper turns to you and winks. ‘Here I am. I’m all ears, darling.’ he says.

You take a breath and finish your drink. ‘Alright.’ you say. ‘What do you want to know?’

Everything, it seemed. They asked you about life at the palace, about your daily routines, if there really was a buffet every day, and if it was as big as the stories described. And they wanted to know all about Nikolai. What he’s like, if he’s a good king, what it was like to be married to him.

You told them life at the palace couldn’t be more different from the life in Ketterdam. You told them about the gardens, the meetings which were boring almost all of the time, the triumvirate. You told them Nikolai is very sweet, handsome, and a great king. 

The rest of the night is spent talking, laughing, playing games and ordering more drinks. You’re exhausted but grateful to be back as you lay down in your old bed. Just before you fall asleep, you realise just how happy you are to be back.

It’s easy to fall back into your old routines when you walk down the stairs to the kitchen. Wylan and Inej are already there, along with a plate of steaming hot pancakes.  

You’re grateful to be back, and eager to accompany them on jobs again. Still hiding your face and true identity. Last time you were in Ketterdam, you worried about your father finding out you were a member of the Dregs. Now you had to hide the fact the queen of Ravka is running along with gang members. Needless to say, you were slightly more nervous about someone recognising you.

But when you joined Jesper, Wylan and Nina on a job later that day, their presence was enough to soothe your nervousness. 

Everything felt right. Though you had been away for almost a year, it was like you never left. The way you knew what to do without them having to tell you was comfortable. Everything was all right. You couldn’t believe you were finally back in Ketterdam.

You had missed life in Ketterdam and your crows very much. And you were thankful to see they didn’t treat you any differently. On your first night back, your life in Ravka had been the number one topic, but now you felt like Y/F/N Y/L/N again.

You joined them on jobs, played card games, chatted with Nina and Inej over drinks. It felt good to be home.

But a little over a week after you arrived in Ketterdam, you start to feel down. You didn’t know why. You’re finally back home, just like you wanted. You should be happy, grateful, not miserable.

You’re sitting at a table by yourself, silently drinking your favorite drink, when suddenly Kaz joins you.

It was unusual for Kaz to join anyone for drinks. Mostly he was upstairs in his office, doing whatever the hell he did up there. Looking for new jobs maybe, or making sure the younger Dregs didn’t do anything stupid.

When he would join you and the others for drinks, it was mostly because you all had begged him to come along. Kaz wasn’t one to join someone for a drink out of nowhere.

Nevertheless, you were happy he decided to join you.

‘How are you liking Ketterdam?’ he asks.

‘It’s good to be home.’ you say, smiling at him. 

You watch as Kaz studies your face. You know there’s something on his mind, and you’re waiting for him to speak up as you nurse your drink. 

‘Something has made you upset.’ says Kaz.

It wasn’t a question, more like a statement. You look at him in silence for a while. You tried lying to Kaz once, and he could tell immediately. You figured it was some sort of hidden talent of his. No one could lie to him and get away with it.

You look at your hands, to avoid his eyes.

‘Why didn’t you come to my wedding?’ you say.

‘We didn’t want to risk it.’ says Kaz. ‘Traveling abroad would have ended in our capture. Besides, I thought you didn’t want to marry king Nikolai.’

‘I didn’t.’ you say. ‘Not at first. But once I got to know him, well, it all changed. He’s actually a really great guy.’

You finally look up at Kaz. You finish your drink and signal to the bartender for another one. Again, Kaz is studying your face. You wish he’d look away, you always felt like he could see right through you.

‘There’s something else.’ he says.

You frown. ‘No.’ you say, truthfully. There was nothing else to mention. 

‘Come on, spit it out.’ he says.

‘There’s nothing to spit out?’ you say, confused.

‘You’re not yourself. Not like I remember, at least. You said you’d be happier once you got back to Ketterdam. Well, you’re here now. You were happy last week, when you arrived. I have yet to see you genuinely smile, aside from the night you got back.’ says Kaz. 

Why did he always have to be right? It was starting to get annoying. Kaz would tell you the truth, even if you didn’t want to hear it.

‘I thought I’d be happy to be home.’ you admit softly, avoiding his eyes again. ‘I’m not. And I don’t know why. I’m finally home, like I wanted, but it doesn’t feel like it.’

‘Y/N, look at me.’ says Kaz. 

You keep looking at the table. The bartender sets down your new drink in front of you and you briefly look up at them to thank them. Still, you don’t look at Kaz. As you reach to grab your drink, Kaz’ cane lands on the table hard. Shocked and a bit offended, you look up at him.

‘Listen to me.’ says Kaz. ‘You can have two homes, Y/N. You came back to Ketterdam because you miss us. But you haven’t taken your ring off. Despite leaving the palace, yous till use Lantsov as your last name, aside from when you had to travel across the True Sea. Go back to the palace. Tell that king of yours that you love him. And come visit us during the summer.’

You look at Kaz, letting his words sink in. Two homes. Os Alta and Ketterdam. It could work. You’d spend your days with Nikolai, and spend the summer in Ketterdam. 

Suddenly, you think back to your goodbye with Nikolai before you had left for Ketterdam. It wasn’t a proper goodbye, because you couldn’t wait to go to Ketterdam. He deserved more. 

Maybe Kaz is right. Maybe you could have two homes. 

Kaz had been looking at you as you went over it all in your head.

‘Two homes.’ you mutter softly. 

You quickly finish your drink and get up. ‘I have to go.’ you say. 

Despite it being late at night, you head up the stairs of the Slat and to knock on everyone’s door. You knew they’d be alarmed if you wake them, because there was an unwritten rule that you didn’t wake someone up in the middle of the night, unless something very bad was going on.

When you knock on Jesper’s door, Wylan is the one who opens it. There’s still light in the room and there’s a pencil in his hand. He must have been working on some sketches for a new project. When you glance over his shoulder you see Jesper sprawled out on the bad, fast asleep.

‘Is everything alright?’ says Wylan. 

‘Yes, it’s fine, I just came to say goodbye.’ you say.

Wylan frowns, then smiles. ‘You’re going back to Ravka.’ he says.

You nod. ‘I need to see Nikolai.’ you say. ‘Can I say goodbye to Jesper real quick?’

Wylan steps aside so you can enter the room. You walk over to the bed, kneel beside it and shake Jesper’s shoulders. He wakes with a string of words you can’t quite understand. 

‘Jes.’ you say softly. ‘It’s me, Y/N, I'm here to say goodbye. I’m going back to Ravka.’

He mumbles a “good for you, have fun” before falling back asleep. 

You smile at move to rise to your feet again. You hug Wylan and after another goodbye, you leave their room, walking the stairs to the next floor. 

Inej walks out of her room, holding a bunch of dirty dishes in her hands. She must have been on her way downstairs to put them away.

‘Hey.’ she says. ‘What are you still doing up?’

‘Saying goodbye.’ you say. ‘I’m going back to the palace.’ 

Like Wylan, Inej smiles. ‘Tell the king I said hi.’ she says.

‘I will.’ you say. ‘Goodbye Inej, I’ll be back for a visit soon.’

You walk to the next floor and knock on Nina’s door. It takes her a while to open the door, but you knew she would. When she does open the door, her hair is messy, she was clearly fast asleep just like Jesper.

‘What happened?’ says Nina, voice thick of sleepiness. ‘Who’s in trouble?’

‘No one’s in trouble.’ you say. ‘I’m here to say goodbye. I’m going back to Nikolai.’

‘You’re leaving again?’ says Nina. ‘But you just got here.’ 

‘I’ll be back for a visit in summer.’ you say. ‘In fact, I’m going to visit every summer. But right now I need to go back.’

‘To Nikolai.’ says Nina.

‘Yes.’ you say. 

‘Give him a kiss from me.’ she says.

‘Nina!’ you say, making her laugh.

‘I’m kidding!’ she says. ‘How about give him a hug from me?’ 

You nod and Nina pulls you in her arms. You close your eyes, trying to capture the moment. You were going to miss them. But you’d be back in summer. When Nina lets go of you, she smiles brightly. 

‘Wait here, you can say goodbye to Matthias too.’ she says. 

She enters the room and seconds later she reappears, with Matthias behind her. Just like Nina, he looks like he just woke up. He’s squinting his eyes as he looks down at you.

‘You’re leaving?’ he says.

‘For a while.’ you say. ‘I’ll be back in summer.’

‘Alright.’ says Matthias. 

Unlike the night when you arrived in Ketterdam, Nina doesn’t have to shove him into your arms. Matthias steps forward and pulls you in for a hug. 

‘Take care.’ he says as he pulls away.

Nina moves past Matthias and pulls you in for another hug.

‘That first one was for Nikolai, this one’s for you.’ she whispers. 

You blink furiously to stop the tears from falling. Saints, you really were going to miss them. But there was no need for tears, you’d see them again in summer. You smile at her as she pulls away.

‘I’m going to miss you.’ you say. ‘All of you.’

‘You’ll see us again.’ says Nina. ‘Now go! You’ve kept him waiting for long enough.’

You walk down the stairs, and grab your coat when you get to the bottom of the stairs. You poke your head around the door and see Kaz is still sitting in the same spot. 

‘Bye, Kaz!’ you say and you wave at him. 

He nods at you and briefly smiles. And then you’re out the door.

You don’t even know if there would be a ship at the docks that would sail to Ravka. But you’re still determined to head to Ravka as fast as you could. You walk down the streets toward the docks. 

You were going back to Ravka, to your king.

A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rules Here’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Marit

#nikolai lantsov #shadow and bone #grishaverse #Nikolai Lantsov x reader #nikolai lantsov fanfiction #nikolai lantsov fanfic #nikolai lantsov fanfics #Nikolai Lantsov fic #Nikolai Lantsov fics #shadow and bone fanfiction #shadow and bone fanfic #shadow and bone fics #two homes series

[vanilla-vivillon]

"we're exes and we meet again" maybe?

Oooooooooh interesting!!! I decided to do a Genya Safin x David Kostyk one because I haven’t done that yet for some reason

Also college AU yes please.

Genya Safin knows what she wants

And what she wants is to get through her studies

Become a plastic surgeon

Support her friends

Maybe get a cat

What she doesn’t want is to meet her high school ex at a party

She doesn’t want to talk with him for hours

She doesn’t want to relive the hurt

But the universe never does care for what we want does it

“C’mon Nazyalensky it will be fun!” Nikolai was trying to convince Zoya to come to the party he was throwing in his dorm

Nikolai was throwing a party to celebrate the start of there third year at Stanford

“Nikolai there is a lot of studying we should be doing instead of drinking our cares away” Zoya shot back

“Genya, love, please knock some sense into Zoya?”

“It could be fun, plus the school year started two weeks ago. No profesor is going to assign a big test anytime soon” Genya said

“You have never met Proffesor Baghra” Zoya said Speeding up

They were all walking to the dormitories together

Zoya was studying law. She wants to be a lawyer

“Are you really gonna let some old hag with a stick up her ass ruin your fun?” Genya retorted stopping in front of them

After a long pause zoya finnally relents and says “Fine. I’ll go, but for you, that way your not stuck with Alina and Mals drama”

Ever since Alina started screwing the professor with the the dreamy dark eyes and looked far to good to ever be a professor, mal had been insufferable

Flashing his million dollar smile Nikolai turned towards Zoya “I knew you would see sense”

“Now leave my sight before I change my mind” Nikolai sped off towards his dorm no doubt to finish preparations for tonight

Genya typically enjoyed parties

Cool people, cool music, cool boys

The list went on

Reapplying her deep red lipstick Genya turned towards her roommate Alina

Alina Starkov was a foster kid bouncing around homes in a small town, Keramzin.

She and her friend Mal felt so out of place in California

Genya helped her a lot in the first year and after some drama in there second year friendship was finally back on track

“Okay how do I look?” Genya asked giving a little spin

She chose a short red dress with a black leather jacket and thigh high black boots

“You look Perfect” Alina complimented finishing up on her own eyeliner

“Of course I do”

Alina laughed that fluttery sound that had become far to rare these days

“Listen Alina, I’m worried about you”

Alina took a pause before answering “I’m fine Genya”

“Alina you’re sleeping with your professor”

“So what!” Alina snapped “We’re both adults! Besides I don’t want to talk about this tonight, let’s just go to the party”

Genya let out a sigh

Sometimes Alina could be the most stubborn woman on earth

“Fine”

Loud music was blaring through the speakers Nikolai borrowed from Mal

Genya was socializing with some of her friends

While Genya did like parties the constant people was always a little stressful for her

So after giving some dating advice Genya went to go grab some beer

Pouring it Genya reflected

She was doing well in her classes, most of her friends were okay, she personally didn’t have a cat but across the hall from her is some dude Harshaw who did

one thing was missing

Him

Journals and glasses and caramel candies

Genya had been in love once in her life

And it’s seemed once was all she would ever get

“Oh sorry!” Genya exclaimed accidently spilling beer on someone

Looking up she lost her breath

There he was

All brown hair and wide eyes and sunkissed skin

And all the memories came crashing back

Geny first fell in love with him in the sixth grade

Well not love really

More like awe.

Back then he was really into legos

He built this giant airplane that Genya thought was so cool

But they first talked in seventh grade

They were partners in a group project

David hadn’t been very interested in Genya then

But Genya even then loved the way his brain worked

But she never said anything

In there sophomore year of high school after years of being friends Genya finally got the courage and told him her feelings

David was so suprised then he had to leave the room and come back two minutes later to say he reciprocated her feelings

They started dating and were inseparable

Whenever David had been pulling an all nighter on some new idea she would go over to his house and bring him some Carmel candies

Whenever she raved on about this new surgery technique he would listen and give her that soft beautiful smile he rarely showed anyone

But there happiness came crashing down in senior year

David was going to go to MIT all the way in Massachusetts while Genya wanted to go to Stanford in California since she was a kid

At first they were going to do long distance

But it didn’t work out

They both got busy

And didn’t talk

And Genya hated having a boyfriend who was never there

There was never some big fight

Never some big cheating scandal

One day Genya posted a picture of her on a date with the cute classmate who winked at her and that was that

They never saw each other again

But that might change tonight where she met those impossible chocolate eyes again

“What are you doing here?” Genya said after her shock

“Genya, I…. I live here” David said stuttering

Clearly he was just as suprised as she was

“Hey Genya you meet my new roommate David!” Suddenly Nikolai appeared “He just transferred from MIT”

Transferred

He transferred

David Kostyk transferred to Stanford

The one who got away was standing right in front of her

“Do you two know each other?” Nikolai asked sensing the tension

Ignoring him, Genya said “would you like to talk outside?”

After knowing David for years Genya knew she should probably initiate conversation

David gave a slow nod ignoring his roommate’s bewildered face

Walking outside they turned to each other again

He had gotten cuter if that was even possible

“So…. You transferred?” Genya attempted to start talking

“MIT was great, but it felt kinda isolating. So when Nikolai suggested transferring… I took him up on the offer”

Oh

Oh

That made sense

David always had a hard time making friends

In high school Genya practically had to force him into her friend group

It mustve be hard all alone

Genya was the opposite

Although all through elementary school she was ruthlessly bullied and sophomore year of college was complicated, she had always been able to make friends

“Well I’m glad your here now” Genya said looking away to hide her blush

“I think I’m glad to”

David and Genya talked the whole night

About there studies and friends

Genya couldn’t way to introduce him to Alina

They had a lot in commmon

Things between the two weren’t perfect

But then again in matters of the heart it never was

Genya wasn’t sure of what she wanted

But if she had a Carmel loving genius by her side she might be able to be okay with that

Omg it’s finally done. This has to be one of the most difficult things I’ve written. I didn’t enjoy it at all but I’m really glad I went through with it. Thank you @ninamorozova and @confused-as-all-hell for encouraging me to complete this.

Thank you @wafflesandschemingfaces for the prompt

If yall really like this I might make a part two with David’s perspective

Please reblog. Likes are nice but te logs actually help

My ask box is open and I take any Grishaverse requests

#genya x david #david kostyk #genya safin #saftyk #denya #shadow and bone #the grishaverse #daisy head #luke pasqualino #shadow and bone trilogy #siege & storm #ruin and rising #shadow and bone netflix #nikolai lantsov #zoyalai #zoya nazyalensky #alina starkov #the darkling #mal oretsev #malyen oretsev #malina #darklina #aleksander morozova #writing prompt #fanfiction #i hated this #but i did it #im not proud #but it’s there

[dylanobrienisbatman]

If my name never fell off your lips again

Mal x Alina Regency AU!

Chapter 2: A bloodied lip makes for quite a kiss

Alina and her sisters are invited to a weekend at the Prince's summer home, but the first night is far more eventful than they ever expected.

Thank you to my wonderful, darling friend @thelittlefanpire for this amazing moodboard, i love you sm!

---

Three days after the ball, a letter arrived by the King’s Courier, clean stiff white parchment with the seal of the Lantsov family pressed into golden wax, a delicate purple ribbon folded through it. Zoya snatched it from the plate with haste before composing herself and handing it to Genya with an air of forced nonchalance. Genya took it with a grin.

Miss Safin, Miss Starkov, and Miss Nazyalensky,

It is my great pleasure to invite you personally to my weekend Salon at my country estate. It will begin in the late afternoon in two weeks time, and will last for the whole of the weekend. Please bring only yourselves, and, of course, dress for a weekend.

Miss Safin, please do not fret, for an invitation has been sent to Mr. Kostyk. Please do encourage him to attend.

Yours with regards,

Prince Nikolai Lantsov

Over Genya’s shoulder, she could see that in slanted script , more rushed than the rest of the invitation, he had scribble:

“Yours, Nik”.

“Well we obviously must go!” Genya exclaimed, smiling brightly. Zoya looked expectantly annoyed, but she said nothing.

“Well the Viscount will be delighted that we’ve been invited, he will no doubt insist we attend.” Alina piped up, earning her a glare.

“Well,” Zoya said, and the look in her eye was mischievous, “No doubt he’s invited us so that you can see Mal again.”

“I certainly hope so, though I can’t imagine the prince wasn’t hoping that you would come.” Zoya glared at her again, but said nothing more.

The next two weeks seemed to crawl by, but soon Friday morning arrived and Alina was overrun with nervous energy. Every night, lying in bed, her mind would wander back to the party, to dancing with Mal in the candlelight, to the feeling of him holding her in his arms, of seeing him again for the first time.

The dance ended and Mal stepped back and bent into a deep bow, but when he returned to standing he stepped right back into her space. His gaze was hot, and she suddenly was glad for the flush from the warm room and dancing when she felt the blood rush up her neck and into her cheeks. They stood in the middle of the dance floor as the other couples dispersed, and with the quiet ringing in her ears she could hear Mal’s heavy breathing in the space between them.

“Should we get some air?” She asked, extending a gloved hand. He nodded and followed her out into the cool darkness.

The night air was a relief against her hot skin, and she extended her arms from her side in relief before remembering that anyone might be watching her. She sighed in annoyance before lowering them, and she heard Mal laugh. She whipped her head around and glared at him.

“What?”

“I’m just glad to see everything about you hasn’t changed.” She cocked her head a little in question, a smile breaking, reaching her eyes. “Even back when we were kids,” he answered, “you used to pout when Sister Ana would make you stop holding up your dress above your ankles to run, or scold you for punching some other kid. You always hated playing the lady. I’m just glad to see at least that hasn’t changed.”

She looked at him again, and suddenly every difference on his face was plain as day. Every line, the cut of his hair, the strength of his jaw where there had once been the roundness of youth. Before, she had only seen the parts that were the same, but five years, especially those years of the late teens, he was suddenly a man where he had once been a boy. She wanted to reach out and brush her fingers over the stubble marking his sharp jaw, but she kept her hands by her side.

Suddenly he felt a little bit like a stranger, she had realised then, and her reaction to that realisation had surprised her. She expected a wave of sadness to wash over her, and there was a tinge of it, of sadness at the time lost with him, but mostly she felt excitement. Excitement at the prospect of getting to learn all about this new version of Mal, to find out if he was anything like the Mal she had created in her dreams.

A knock at her door pulled her out of her daze. The sun was bright across the quiet Friday morning streets, and her ladies maid, Helena, bustled in with tea with toast and marmalade.

“Coach will be here in half an hour.” She said with a sigh as she plopped into a chair and snagged a piece of toast. “My husband and I read this book, Frankenstein , and I think you’d love it. I left a copy in your luggage. It’s a story of scientific fiction, it’s quite frightening, but brilliant.”

“Oh, lovely! Thank you. Oh, let me return the Jane Austen novel you lent me last month, it was riveting!” She pulled the well loved novel from her bedside and handed it back to Helena.

“If you see any good books at that princely house, I expect you to ask to borrow them for both our sakes.”

“Oh of course.”

Helena was about Alina’s age and when they were younger Alina had lent her every book she was made to read for her tutoring. They were quite fond of each other, and loved to trade books back and forth and talk about them. She lifted her own tea from the saucer and took a long sip, staring out the window over the front garden. Her pensive expression seemed to catch Helena’s attention.

“Are you alright, Alina?” She asked gently. “You seem a bit lost in your own mind today.”

Lost in the memory of Mal, as she had been for two weeks now, was more like it, but she couldn’t tell Helena that.

“Just… a bit nervous for this weekend, that is all. Invited to a salon hosted by a prince, it’s all very much outside of my comfort.”

“Oh I’m sure you will have a marvellous time. Isn’t that young man going to be in attendance?” Alina’s cheeks flushed at the very mention of him.

“Well, it was not said for certain, but Zoya and Genya seem to think that is why we were invited at all. Though I doubt it didn’t have something to do with the way Prince Nikolai couldn’t keep his eyes off of Zoya the whole evening.”

“He is only human, prince or not.”

The sound of the carriage arriving downstairs pulled their attention, and Alina stood up with a start. Helena reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tight.

“You’ll be alright.” She whispered before standing and hoisting Alina’s smaller trunk off the ground and heading out the door.

AO3 link in the notes

#malina #alina x mal #mal x alina #malyen oretsev #mal orestev #alina starkov #grishaverse #my writing #the grisha trilogy #regency AU

[fafulous]

Take Me Home (1/5)

Andy Barber x Reader (Post!Defending Jacob)

Summary: After the unfortunate events of the trial and after, a depressed Andy Barber decides to call it quits and start a mundane life far away from Newton. He decides it is best to have a fresh start away from prying eyes and alone, but he never thought his caring neighbor (and her son) would change all of that.

Themes: MAJOR D.J. SPOILERS ((The series is following the BOOK ENDING and not Show)), Sad and soft Andy Barber, Single Mother Reader. Cursing.

a/n: I hope you guys like it. We all know Andy deserves some softness :’)

The one thing you cherished about your neighbourhood was its calming silence.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the 21st century fast pacers. It did not give you any force to lead a rush life. No matter how hard life was you enjoyed this serenity, just like your neighbours.

You were the only one relatively younger in your neighbourhood, for this place was normally owned by retired elderly after experiencing everything life had to offer. But for you and your three-year-old little son, it was a second chance at life. All your neighbours except for that one loner house beside you was occupied by retired veterans and war heroes.

But that soon changed.

A man by the name Andrew Barber had moved to the house beside you. You got to know one day when you saw a huge truck with people going in and out of the house with clean and neat furniture.

Seeing all that, your vivid imagination went running and tried to picture how this man would look. Judging by the furniture (which made no sense), you thought your new neighbour was someone who would be simple and felt it wasn’t going to be someone who was, you know, old.

Oh boy were you right.

Once those packers went by, you saw him.

Andrew Barber was nothing what you thought out to be. Tall and broad, his back muscles would tell you its own tale. From afar you noticed his biceps never failed him too, for his arms screamed whenever he went in and out with a huge piece of cardboard boxes. His facial hair was a bit messy, like he is just moving into his new abode right after a sloth nap. You weren’t sure but his blue eyes had a dull finish that were deep embedded in his sunken face.

You also took notice of his sleek black Audi A6 which was parked by his driveway; It was not easy to peel your eyes away from its beauty.

This was wrong. You’re a single mother with the most adorable kid you could’ve ever asked for. After a struggle of six months your son Nikolai and you have found a hint of stability; single parenting is never easy unless you get the hang of it.

And you did.

Before you could offer any refreshments, your neighbours beat you to it. They were too kind. They were the elderly parents whose snobbish kids only visited once a year. Hence you decided to fill the gap in their lives. They loved you and you loved them back.

So now you decided that maybe when the time is right, you could meet him in a day or two and get to know each other.

Right?

 —

This was new for Andy. Very foreign too.

To live a life without Laurie and Jacob was something he never expected to happen after the trial. It’s been a good handful of weeks since it happened. He did not even have the heart to think more about his son. His eyes would cloud with tears and the whole day would go wasted in drowning himself in sorrow and liquor.

He was still mourning after all.

So he decided to move. Move away from his house that reminded of his 17 years of a marriage that only seemed successful, only for it go wrong in an impulse. Move away from all of the local tabloids that hinted at himself being a next murderer. 

Move away from his unsuccessful lineage.

Scattered around him were boxes of his stuff at his new house, his stuff alone. Laurie’s stuff was nearly packed and sent away to her parents’ home, the last time he’ll ever associate himself with her family.

Yes, her family.

Andy did file for a divorce while she was in prison, but that was a long procedure until it became official. However hard it was to sign those papers; it was as hard to let go of Laurie. Because if he lets her go, he has nobody.

A lone sunken soul.

The packers truck got in half of his belongings, the remaining which will come tomorrow. It was difficult moving especially with one single person. His neighbours were all elderly, so surely, he could not ask anyone for help. Also, it was another reason he chose this locality, he could be alone while he knew he lived in a tightly knitted community filled with respected war veterans. 

He was extremely taken aback when many of his neighbours offered him freshly cooked food and refreshments to get over the day. He was thankful. They knew about his past and still they accepted him and asked him to reach out if any help was needed.

Andy’s day went ahead unpacking his clothes first, which took his time. He wondered if he’d ever need the fashionable suits and ties, he wore to work. There was a job opening at a swimming instructor at the local community gym; all he needs are those Speedos. But nevertheless, he kept then all back, trying to keep his mind preoccupied in cleaning.

But all that effort seemed futile for every memory crashed down when he unpacked his wedding tux.

He felt too claustrophobic, buried his hand in his face. He no longer had a marriage. He no longer had anyone to look after.

He no longer had anyone to look after him.

But amidst all this chaos in his foggy mind, he hears a lovely toothy giggle of a child. 

He peeks out of his window to see a young mother and her small son sitting in their backyard with a picnic spread in front of them, while the little boy kept tripping over the grass purposefully just so he could laugh and make his mother laugh too. Andy had no idea he had a middle-aged family living nearby.

Seeing you and the son spread this familiar warmth inside Andy, reminiscing how he had this. It reminded Andy of a happier time. 

Soon to be replaced with anguish. He would never have that again. He missed feeling the warmth of family, the love of a wife. Life never really gave second chances he believed.

He noticed you, a caring mother placing the little one on your lap while you fed him all the scrumptious food. He didn’t fail to miss how your eyes shined with happiness. A happy woman is always a pretty woman at heart; it is something he used to tell himself. A soft chuckle left out of Andy’s lips as he saw the boy eat the food messily, but you seemed to be patient, responding lovingly towards his naughty antics. 

Her husband is one lucky son of a bitch.

He could watch you two all day, but that would be extremely inappropriate. Right now, Andy wanted his newfound house to look like a home.

Next day went by and it didn’t seem like he was getting anywhere near getting his house ready. He was waiting for another truck to get more of his stuff while he sipped on some bear till the movers arrived. They unloaded most of his stuff at his lawn and went away.

“Need a hand moving those boxes?”

Andy turned around to a gentle voice of the same woman who had he had seen yesterday with the small child.

You.

A chilly afternoon, he wasn’t surprised you sporting a loose, fluffy knitted woollen pullover with black leggings. Your hair was tied up in a bun and then noticed that he was probably staring at you for a long time.

“Uh- No. I’m fine, thank you.”

But you kept standing there looking at him smirking. He was literally struggling to carry all those boxes “Your body language says something else.”

When he looked up you saw his sunken eyes with even more detail as though the man hasn’t slept in days, “Would I be desperate man if I said yes?”

You chuckled, “Not at all. I’m Y/N Y/LN.”

“Andrew Barber”, he stretched out his hand for a warm greeting with a firm handshake. The feeling of his rough palms sends small jitters to you, but you ignored it; and just like that you resumed. 

You helped him lift the bigger boxes to his house even though you knew he carried most of the weight. Two could always get the work done sooner. Both of you didn’t talk much for these 20 minutes but it was a comfortable silence while both of you took sneaky glances at each other’s features.

When you neared him, you realized he was lot more than just handsome. Sunken face was holding two blue eyes that would be enticing if he had put any effort to put any life in them. His beard was neatly trimmed although scruffy, just like you saw yesterday.

Andy on the other hand was just too despondent to, you know, check you out. He thought you to be a beautiful woman with a kind heart, especially after seeing you and your son yesterday.

He even thought of asking you about your son and family, but that would be too intrusive he wondered.

Andy thought you’d leave after moving the boxes but you insisted you’d stay to help unpack his stuff and maybe cook some lunch for him since he didn’t even unpack his kitchen utensils out. He was ready to accept the help only for a second.

The Andrew Barber he knew before the events of the trial would have gladly accepted, maybe even made lunch for the beautiful lady, instead of you, who graciously offered him help. He was divorced now so there was nothing stopping him.

But do you really deserve a fresh start with a lady Andy?

Would she be here if she knew who you really were?

His mind was plagued. He moved here with the intention of a fresh start but, he wondered if anyone would actually accept him. He decided for himself that they wouldn’t.

“It’s alright Y/N. Thanks for your help.”

There was no way a man could set up his home all alone you thought. “Mr. Barber, are you sure? I really have no problem. I’m completely unoccupied at the moment. Besides Nikolai-”

“No.”

You blinked at his curt reply.

“I’m good Y/N. I can take care of the remaining stuff here. You can go now.”

Looking at him made you realise how conflicted he was. His words likely meant that he didn’t require your presence but his whole demeanour looked like just wanted some god damn company. He didn’t mind your help at first, but at the same time now he was pushing you away. What changed?

So much for making acquaintances with the new neighbour, you thought.

Without saying anything you stiffly nodded, Andy realizing the offence written all over your face, and saw you walk away from his abode closing his door politely.

It was probably for the best to keep distance from a kind woman like you. He knew you were trying to get acquainted with him like any normal person would, but Andy was firmly grounded that he and normalcy would never go back again.

The minute you left he opened another beer bottle to sink himself. This fresh start for Andy was just bullshit.

–

You rushed back the minute you closed Mr. Grumpy Cat’s door and made a beeline to your home, only to see your son playing on the countertop with one your elderly neighbour. 

“Thank you, Mr. Arthur, for taking care of Nikolai. I hope he didn’t cause much trouble.”

“I’d do anything for you sweet pea, Nikolai was a sweetheart.” The old man chuckled and turned to leave, “By the way last weekend’s pot pie was delicious. I had to make it up to you.”

Returning a hug, you thanked your neighbour again and leaped your son in your arms, attacking him with kissed while he spurted giggles. “Mommy it tickles!”

“Guess what happened peaches? I met our new neighbour”

Nikolai clapped his hand “Mista Wandew Bahhba?”

Your son was hell bent on knowing the name of the newcomer after he laid his eyes on the stylish black Audi. Boys always know their toys.

You nodded, “He’s a grumpy man peaches. I have no idea what to do with him.” And just like that you began speaking with Nikolai. He was your only company to talk. He never really understood anything, but your talented son did a fairly good job of putting up a pretense to hear.

“I offered him help and he says yes. Then I kindly ask him if I can help him more, you know like cook homemade spaghetti. But instead he becomes snippy with me?”

“Woh no,” your son whispered to your exclamation, which in reality was for his superhero figurines falling on to the floor. “I like his cahr mommy.”

“So do I Niko, but I so do not like him,” you paused and gave him a kiss on the forehead, “Guess we’re the only sunshine in this neighbourhood peaches.”

—

Days went by and you rarely interacted with your new neighbour.

Oh and when it did, it really never went well for you.

The first time was when a few standard posts under the name of Mr. Barber arrived at your doorstep, since he wasn’t available at his house. Like any other hospitable neighbour, you signed the post and made sure to drop it by him when he gets back.

"Uh Mr. Barber the post man dropped this by at our doorstep since you weren’t available. I thought I should give it to you.”

Andy opened the door with a few knocks and saw you standing with a few posts in a fluffy cable knit sweater. He took the posts from you, gently brushing over your hands. He perused through them quickly and gave you that conflicted stern look.

“I appreciate it Mrs. Y/L/N, but next time I’d like to collect my own posts irrespective of its nature. You can tell them I can collect it from the post office”

Was this man for real?

You crossed your arms and gave him back that stern look too. He wasn’t going to get away without you throwing shade. “Oh you know Mr. Barber I was just trying to be a good neighbour. It’s not like I’m dying here to get associated with you.”

He gave you a nasty grin which triggered you to make you leave away from his threshold.

Andy thought for a moment that he already crossed the line with the wrong woman.

The next time you met him was probably the last time you would ever meet him.

Your shift at the library got too late, for you were the Librarian of the local Library. You didn’t have to worry much about picking up your son late for he was at Mr. Arthur’s.

But coming home realising that he was sitting on the front porch of Andrew’s house made you park your car haphazardly in your driveway and run up to your child, ignoring Andrew’s presence.

“I’m so sorry sweetie. What are you doing here Niko?”

Andy interrupted, “Mr. Arthur had to visit the hospital. He was catching the flu and he didn’t want to give it to Nikolai here.”

You didn’t want to meet his gaze, but you forced yourself for you were grateful for this kind gesture. Maybe this Grumpy Cat has a kind heart after all.

“Mr. Barber, thank you so much for taking care of Niko. My phone must’ve been on silent if Arthur wanted to contact me.”

“Oh, don’t thank me Mrs. Y/L/N. I am just filling in the gaps of irresponsible parenting.”

It felt like a blunt hit to your heart. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, you heard me.” he whispered so closely that you could smell his musky deodorant with a hint of beer. Your son was out of earshot, sipping on a glass of lemonade that was probably offered by this man. “Trust me I know what happens to a child that is always kept away from their caretakers.”

He quickly went on to say how Nikolai was a special child when your son came near you both and how your family should take more care in your child. You never really listened for your eyes threatened to pierce with tears. No way were you going to cry in front of this man.

“Thank you Mista Wandi.”

“Anytime buddy.”

He went up and shut the door, like it was a personal aimed at you.

And you just stood there feeling numb while Niko tugged on your work coat.

“Let’s go home Mommi.”

The audacity to tell you how to be a parent. Did he even have a child? Does he even know how to it is to take care of a child single handed?

But those questions never mattered. No matter how positive you are in life, its never nice to hear someone spew your flaws on to your face.

Meanwhile minutes passed when Andy soon realised how he had royally fucked up. Everyday around 5pm you and your child would come along to the backyard and have a snack ritual while both of you played or read story books. For Andy, though he chided himself for his stalking behaviour, it brought him a sense of peace to see your son scream with shrills of laughter when he ran around the lawn.

He had nothing against you, yet he was being selfish.

I be mean to her; I stay away from here. Simple.

Today however, Nikolai sat facing away from his ypu munching on freshly baked cookies while you sported a tear stained face. He felt a twinge when he saw you staring straight ahead with a blank stare while tears rolled down. His heart successfully sunked when he saw Nikolai trying to wipe your tears and hug you. Andrew then sat down dramatically on his chair when he saw you breakdown into your son’s fragile shoulders.

Apologies wouldn’t fix this. It would, but Andrew Barber the resilient thought that being obnoxiously rude to someone he wants to be close to will make them hate him.

He never thought it would hurt you.

He decided not to take any efforts in an apology; or it could take more than an apology.

—

A few weeks passed by and you tried your level best and succeeded in avoiding banters with Mr. Grumpy Cat. Whenever you saw him, a flurry of rage fell over you. Was it your mistake you were trying to be friendly to your only attractive neighbour?

Strike out attractive. A mean soul was never attractive.

Andrew Barber on the other hand dreaded what had happened; he was a little too late to the party to realise that your house had no male inhabitant, except for that one man who had made a visit.

He soon deduced that you were a single mother.

Too late rather Andy.

And when he recalled what he had said to you, he wanted you to slap him in the face. Hard enough to have a bruise that lasted for a year.

Nikolai and you always woke up late on a weekend morning. Both of you always shared and slept in the same room for Nikolai had regularly occurring nightmares.

You never realised but you and Niko woke up a small commotion outside your house, or probably his house.

Plus, the other day it so happened Nikolai’s father paid a terribly long visit, pleading you to take him back into your life. He felt apologetic for what he did. But that lingering memory was soon cut off by Grumpy Cat’s voice.

Knowing his tendencies to irate his neighbours, (or maybe just you exclusively) you ignored it and began serving late breakfast pancakes for your son. But you soon stopped when you heard a loud, hoarse bellow.

“GET OFF MY LAWN!”

You looked outside of your window to see a bunch of vans and the reporters standing outside Andy’s lawn. Niko ran up to you and carried him over your hip for the little one heard the scary yell too.

Andy’s car was parked haphazardly on the pavement. A pair or more of reporters were taking pictures of him and his vandalised garage door.

“Oh my god.”

You put down Niko and asked him to play with his toys. Yes, you hated Andrew but what you saw on his now tainted garage door made you want to retch. It was such a distasteful thing to do. It appeared as if a spray can paint was used to write whatever it was on the door:

MURDERER, YOU WILL ROT IN HELL TOO.

Andy crouched down on his knees, his hands covering his face and ruggedly running his hands through his hair, while he kneeled down in front of the vandalism.

The very reason he moved away from Newton was now on his garage door.

You wanted to go out and help him, but your ego wouldn’t let you. Why should you help a man who was nothing but mean to you all this while?

Luckily enough you saw Mr. Arthur and a couple of his old friends admonishing the press. They threatened that this community was filled with retired war veterans and that they would charge them for community trespassing and disrupting the lives of people who have lost a limb and more for this country.

Hearing that threat made the desperate amateur reporters leave from the vicinity as soon as possible.

Andy stood up and tried to process this whole situation, looking around for any sort of help, only to lay his eyes on the faint image you from your window.

You expected him to shout and rage and ask you to fuck off from staring at his pitiful state. But he didn’t. You would never forget those embarrassed sunken eyes, silently pleading for help.

He didn’t deserve this. You have no idea about his past or who he was to garner such attention, but this was just cruel. He soon averted from your gaze and went on to thank his fellow elderly friends and made his way inside home.

Later in the evening, you caught Andy scrubbing the ugly writings with cloth and soap water. After a while, he took a few steps behind and saw that they words were still there but faded.

“I had some grey paint for Nikolai’s nursery, but never got the chance to do it.”

Andy turned to that sweet voice of yours and hesitated in meeting your gaze. He was embarrassed, for you stood there, giving out an arm to help him again despite his foul behaviour. He saw little Nikolai standing behind you with his shabby brown hair that reminded him of Jacob, clutching onto your legs while he peaked at him. He didn’t understand what you mean by the whole nursery thing, but he stood up and finally, both of you took in each other’s gaze.

Andy’s eyes were even more sunken than he had when he arrived, his blue orbs sunk in a sea of red. He must have been crying. He saw you were missing your feisty eyes that you always sported. Maybe it’s because you despised him so much.

“It’s not the exact colour of your garage door but it can do the trick I suppose.”

The second you handed over the paint to him, you quickly turned around to head towards your home. But Andy didn’t want to push you further anymore by being a dick. He was ready to apologise.

“Hey please listen up! I really am s- “

“No no no,” your voice trembled; this habit of crying while you were angry was just exasperating you wondered, “I think its best we don’t hold conversation Mr. Barber. This will be probably my last interaction with you; what happened to you was horrid and ugly. You don’t deserve that. That much I know”

Andy was hesitant, embarrassed. “Mrs. Y/L/N- “

“Quit calling me a missus! I am not even fucking married anymore-” you said drawing quotes in the air, to be interrupted by a little tug at your coat. You realised that your kid was standing next to you. And you swore in front of him. Great parenting.

“Oh Niko,” you picked him up and peppered him with a few kisses, “Sorry for that language. Mommy won’t swear again okay. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah”, the kid nodded and buried his head into your neck and hugging you tightly.

"Let’s go, sweetie. I’m done with this man.”

As you went away the little boy who was wrapped around over your shoulder waved with his short hands to Andy. To Nikolai, Andy was the one who had the coolest car and made the best lemonade (which he had when he was made to wait for his mom). He never really understood the intensity of adults’ arguments. He was just a grateful child.

It was only then Andy realised he had to make it up to you by any means for he stood there alone feeling like a real douchebag with a paint can in his hands.

—

Part 2

—

Taglist (IS OPEN): @sinner-as-saint @captainscanadian, @kakakatey @bluevelvetsam

@mrsbarneswillseeyounow

@anqelicstarc @lcandothisallday @https-bucky @readermia @chrisevansforever @ruthyalva96 @thedarkplume @sammyfresh @bloglovelylady @stuckys-dirty-girl @rindaastridfreakinreign @buckys-plums3 @marvelouspottering @sweetlittlegingy @emilykjhgsj @poppunkdork @bval-1lovepeacefood

@captainchrisstan @hista-girl @xlanawriter

@denisemarieangelina @xoxabs88xox @adreamemporium @yoncevans @oceanlenny @ididntchoosethislife @evansinlove @ninaminaromina @sodonutnutnut @nickysurfer28 @captainchrisstan​ @charmed-asylum​ @lovepeacefood @trashboggart​

#Andy Barber #defending jacob #Andy Barber x Reader #Andy Barber Imagines #Chris evans x reader #chris evans imagines #defending jacob spoilers #andy barber smut #andy barber fluff #chris evans #chris evans x you #andy barber imagine #andy barber angst #defending jacob finale #jacob barber #andrew barber

[master-sass-blast]

Children of the Gods: Part Four, Chapter One.

Summary: After everything with Thanos, life goes back to normal. You go back to training, assisting the teachers with their classes, tutoring students, and lovingly annoying the hell out of your husband.

You can almost forget the events of the past year --Allison Ricci, her war against Frank Castle, an attack on Xavier's by the Italian mob...

And then you come home to find your front door hanging off its hinges.

And then Frank Castle and Allison Ricci show up on your front porch, asking for help.

And everything goes to hell all over again.

Pairing(s): Piotr Rasputin x Reader, Nathan Summers x Wade Wilson, Alexandra Rasputin x Nikolai Rasputin, and Frank Castle x Karen Page.

Rating: M for kidnapping, death (not of any major or relevant characters), and gun violence.

Word Count: 5.1k.

Set after "This Life is Infinite" Parts One and Two.

Wind whips through your ponytail. Birds flit past, occasionally squawking angrily when you startle them. The sun shines high overhead, warming your back as you sail across the sky.

You’ve always found flight tranquil –meditative, even. There’s something about being so isolated from the rest of the world, alone with your thoughts and the rushing wind. It’s why, every now and then, you head out for some flying time, even if it’s just to catch a quick five minutes in the sky.

It’s like Piotr and his art studio; it’s a safe place for you to retreat whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed or get that itchy, yearning sensation for freedom beneath your skin.

You arc back towards yours and Piotr’s home; you smile as anticipation thrums in your chest. It’s been, what, fifteen minutes? And yet you already miss your Russian giant and can’t wait to see his face and hear his voice and feel his arms around you—

You land on the lawn and start jogging towards the front porch –and that’s when you see the broken door.

The front door to your home –the blue one you’d both picked out at Lowe’s—hangs awkwardly off the bottom hinge. The metal exterior of the door is dented in, and the wooden frame where the latch slides into place is visibly splintered.

Dread makes your stomach churn. Your hands go clammy, heart pounding in your throat as the implication –the truth—of what you’re seeing sinks in. Someone broke into our home.

On autopilot, you call Nathan.

He picks up after two rings. “What’s up, kid?”

“Someone broke into our house,” you say, voice quavering. “I –I was out on a flight, and when I came back the front door was broken open. I don’t see Piotr anywhere, and I was only gone fifteen minutes; I don’t even know how—”

“Get out of sight,” Nathan orders, voice slipping into the sharp, serious tone he usually reserves for missions or incident involving Wade and expanding foam. “Go to the mansion. Stay there until I come get you.”

“But what if this is a hit against the X-Men?”

“Get back in the air, then. Stay out of sight and out of reach. I’ll call you once Wade and I have made sure your house is clear.”

You gulp when he hangs up, then fly back into the air. You swivel, looking for a good place to hide, then dive under a tree and float up into the canopy. You land on a branch, tucking yourself out of view of yours and Piotr’s driveway and the front porch.

You make another call, running on autopilot –this time, to Piotr.

The phone rings and rings and rings. And then, devastatingly enough, you reach his voicemail.

Your chin trembles as Piotr’s voice tells you he’s unavailable at this time, and to please leave a message and a callback number so he can reach you later. You hang up, wait a few seconds, and try again.

The voicemail answers once more. And the third time you try, as well as the fourth.

You sniff and scrub tears from your cheeks. You jam your phone in your pocket and curl in on yourself as much as your sitting position on the branch allows. Please be okay.

***

Nathan and Wade arrive less than three minutes later. You can hear their quiet muttering and quick, muted steps against the gravel driveway –and you can sense Nate’s presence as he reaches out to you and lets you know not to panic, that it’s them and not whoever broke into your home.

Your heart pounds in your throat while you wait for them to clear the house. Your butt’s slowly going numb against the tree branch, but you can’t bring yourself to move. You feel locked in place; your own terror’s holding you hostage.

Ten minutes later, your phone buzzes.

Dad: All clear.

You float down from the tree and sprint into your home. “Piotr? Piotr?”

The couch in the family room is upended (and, judging by the way it’s sagging in the middle, the frame’s been broken, too). Shattered glass litters the floor, glinting in the mid-morning light. The wall leading to your husband’s art studio is dented and cracked in multiple places.

Piotr’s studio is worse. Papers and pencils are strewn everywhere. His easel’s been knocked askew. His rinse cup for his paintbrushes is knocked over on the seat of the armchair, the dyed water long since having soaked in and stained the fabric beyond repair.

Bile rises in your throat when you spy the remains of a broken repression collar on the floor by the door.

“Intruders broke in through the front door,” Nathan summarizes. “It must have happened pretty fast, since we didn’t find any blood or other evidence of external injuries.”

No blood. That’s good. That means that Piotr is probably alive, and that there’s a way to save him, and that all you have to do is find him and rescue him.

He could be anywhere.

“Looks like they were ready to make him go easy,” Wade comments as he holds up a dart gun dart. “Wonder what sort of cocktail they put in this to make the Literal Man of Steel konk out?”

“You’re not going to be the one to find out,” Nathan says, using his telekinesis to take the dart from Wade’s hand so he can’t test it on himself. “Has anyone made any threats against the school lately? Have there been any altercations with criminal groups where you weren’t able to capture everyone?”

You swallow hard, then shake your head. “No. It’s been really quiet, actually. Calm, even.”

“Okay.” Nathan nods, then puts an arm around your shoulders and starts walking you out of the studio. “We’ll go check the school and talk to Xavier if he’s there, then you can come back home with us while—”

Wade goes stiff, then pulls his pistol out of his holster. “Nate.”

Nathan growls, then puts you behind his back before raising his rifle. “Don’t come any further.”

You hear it, then. Heavy, slow footsteps on the boards of the front porch.

“Easy, easy,” a familiar, gravelly voice says.

Nate and Wade lower their guns in unison.

“What are you doing here, Castle?” Nate asks.

Frank Castle steps into view. He opens his mouth to speak—

And then Allison Ricci shoves past him. “We need your help.”

***

The conversation that follows basically confirms your worst nightmare.

Not only is Piotr gone, but Artemis –Tatianna—and Allison were taken by the same people, along with several of Frank’s friends and known associates.

“They took us to a warehouse in the middle of nowhere,” Allison explains, voice flat. “They had a bunch of other people there, too –Miss Page, your husband—” she nods to you “—and his family. They had collars on all the mutants; everyone else was handcuffed.”

“And they didn’t handcuff you?” Nate asks.

Allison shakes her head. “I don’t think they knew I was a mutant. I broke out of my cuffs, then left when Artemis told me to go get help.” Her mouth tightens into a grimace. “She didn’t think I’d be able to fight all the guys there.”

“And you teamed up with your former mortal nemesis because…” Wade asks, pointing between Frank and Allison.

Allison rolls her jaw, but says, “Also Artemis’s idea. She figured he’d show up anyway to save his girlfriend, so I might as well be on the same page as him.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch Frank’s index finger twitching against his thigh.

“How many people were in the warehouse?” Nate continues.

“I don’t know.”

“It had to be a small army,” you sigh as you rub the back of your neck with your hand, “if they managed to take in Alex.”

Allison frowns, shakes her head. “She wasn’t there. Just her kids and her husband.”

You stare at the teen, dumbfounded. No way in hell someone abducts Alex’s husband and children without her putting up a fight.

Judging by the grave expressions on Wade’s, Nathan’s, and Frank’s faces, they’re all thinking the same thing.

You pull your cellphone out of your pocket and dial Alex’s number.

She answers on the third ring. “Ya sluchu vas.”

You frown.

Nothing’s making sense. If Nikolai, Mikhail, Piotr, Illyana, and Tatianna are imprisoned and Alexandra isn’t, the only answer that makes sense is that someone finally took her out and captured her family afterwards, when there’d be no risk of evisceration.

But she’s alive, which means…

She has no idea, you realize. You blink when you hear Alex shout your name, then start talking, “Alex, where’s your husband?”

“What?”

“Where’s Nikolai?”

“He… he’s at home. With the dogs.”

“And where are you?”

“I… had some errands to run. What’s the point of this? Why did you call me? What’s going on?”

“Where’s Mikhail? And Illyana?”

“Mikhail’s with Nikolai…” There’s a beat of silence, and when Alex speaks again, her voice is tight, clipped. “They’re not home, are they?”

You swallow hard, then look over at your dad. “Nate’s gonna pick you up and bring you over to New York.”

Alex curses in Russian. There’s the sound of a car door slamming and an engine turning over, then she growls, “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

***

You’d never really considered how many guns a mercenary might own before; between Nate, Wade, Frank, Alexandra, and your uncle (Nate picked him up after Alex, seeing as this is a “All Hands On Deck” situation), the five of them have enough fire power to stock a decent sized gun store.

The seven of you have relocated to Wade and Nate’s apartment –a reasonably clean (considering that Wade lives there) and spacious two bedroom unit in downtown New York city. You’re all hunkered around the living room on three mismatched recliners –one of which is a lurid shade of highlighter yellow—and a plaid futon that’s an offense to even Oscar the Grouch’s sensibilities.

You’re relatively certain there’s still a coffee table underneath the mountain of firearms, ammo, and other weapons.

Alex, Frank, Nathan, and your uncle all alternate between pressing Allison for information –where approximately is the warehouse, how many men did you see, how far did you have to travel to get back to the city—formulating a plan, and hashing out just what led up to this particular incident.

“It’s my fault,” Alex grinds out as she cleans and preps yet another pistol. She puts the slide back into place, then starts loading a clip with bullets. “There were… whispers, after the mall incident. Displeasure at my involvement, my children’s involvement, with everything.” The left corner of her mouth twitches down into a scowl. “I didn’t snuff them out fast enough.”

Right. Because, apparently, Nikolai has a brother –a mutant who joined up with the mob of his own volition. Allison described him well enough that Alex recognized him; as far as anyone can figure, he’s the one heading up this whole operation.

“It was a matter of time,” your uncle insists as he places a comforting hand on Alex’s arm. “You didn’t exactly make friends out in Siberia. They would’ve tried to figure out how to put you down eventually. This just… accelerated things.”

“I think my ex-attorney had something to do with it, too,” Allison muses, arms crossed over her chest such that she looks like she’s pouting. “We know she called in the first team to try and kill me. My sources suggest there’s been contact between the Ricci’s and the Siberian brotherhood since then.”

It’s practically laughable. Crime families colluding to wipe a handful of mutants and a vigilante off the face of the Earth? You’d think they’d have better things to do with their time.

But they don’t. If anything, this is exactly what they need to do with their time. To protect their territory, their assets, their investments, their influence. You –your family—only wound up in their scopes because you got in the way.

And that’s how it’ll always go. You’re always going to be in the way. As a mutant, as someone sworn to stand against injustice and corruption. You’ll always be on someone’s shitlist; there’ll always be someone with too much at stake or gray enough morals to decide that their bottom line is more important than your life.

Your fingers pick absently at your lower lip. You stare into space, thoughts spiraling in the same dizzy pattern. It’ll always be same. We’re never going to be completely safe. Someone’s always going to want us dead, and it’s just a matter of time—

“Blah, blah, blah, whatever. Snack break time!”

You jolt when Wade grabs your arm, then yelp as he yanks off the couch.

“No Sour Patch kids,” Nate says, voice equally fond and stern. “I’m not cleaning chunks of your tongue out of the sink again.”

Allison cringes. “Gross.”

“And here I thought you liked my tongue,” Wade shoots back as he fishes a Hello Kitty change purse out of the junk drawer in the kitchen.

“Not in pieces, I don’t.”

Wade offers Allison an apologetic shrug when she retches. “You want anything, Tiny Terror?”

The nickname gets an eyebrow raise, but she shrugs back. “Something salty. Nothing with nuts.”

“No salty nuts, can do.” Wade laughs when Allison pulls a face, then claps a hand on your shoulder and ushers you towards the door. “Come, extra hands! We have sustenance to acquire!”

“Oh, is that all I’m good for now,” you manage as Wade shoves you into the hall and in the direction of the floor’s vending machine.

You sigh as you follow him into the alcove where a few vending machines standing, humming quietly. “Alright, what’re we getting?”

“That can wait.” Wade stashes his Hello Kitty change purse into the pocket of his hoodie –hot pink, with a bedazzled unicorn on the front—and studies your face for a moment before asking, “Are you okay?”

You sigh and rub your temples. “No. I’m not.” When Wade doesn’t say anything, you take it as the permission it is to continue. “I… I can’t deal with this, Wade. Every time we turn around, there’s someone who wants to kill us. Because we’re mutants, because we threaten their bottom line, because we’re connected to the wrong people in their eyes… It’s never going to end.”

“No,” Wade agrees quietly, “it’s not.”

“I’m never going to be completely safe,” you continue, voice quaking. You swallow against the lump in your throat, clench your hands into fists, then continue. “The people I love are never going to be completely safe. And don’t –don’t fucking hit me with some ‘there’s no such thing as completely safe’ bullshit. This is different.”

“It is,” Wade says, nodding. He draws you into a hug when you start crying silently. “I’m so sorry, sis.”

You cling to him, to his eyesore of a sweatshirt. You body shakes with silent sobs as you mourn –for the life you’ll never have, for the pain your family has endured and will endure, for the fate the students at Xavier’s are liable to share, all for something that was never in their control. You sniffle. “This sucks.”

“Yeah. It does.”

You sniff again, then step back and dry your face with the heels of your hands. “Is it worth it?” you ask Wade once you catch your breath. “Going through all this?”

Wade considers, then nods slowly. “I think it is. I mean, shit’ll be crazy, but… you’re gonna be happy. And safe enough. For us, I don’t think there’s much more you can ask for.”

Part of you wants to argue –because you and people like you deserve more, deserve to not have politicians and corporate bigwigs campaigning against mutants and pouring money into specialized prisons just to hold all of you over petty infractions, deserve to not have crime syndicates teaming up against you over the apparent threat of your fucking DNA, deserve to not have to settle for “safe enough.”

But it’s a long way down that road; you’re not likely to see the end in your grandchildren’s lifetimes, let alone your own.

And Wade’s right. You’ll be happy.

(You’ll be a hell of a lot happier when you rescue your husband and get him back home where he belongs.)

Wade smiles when your shoulders finally relax. “That’s better.” He hugs you again, then turns to face the vending machines and cracks his knuckles. “Alright, how many Twizzlers do you think I’d need to make a viable bungee cord?”

You laugh. “More than they have in stock here.”

(Wade cleans the vending machine out of Twizzlers and Snickers. He makes a show of tossing the Snickers bars at Frank’s head once the two of you get back to the apartment, until the former Marine threatens to deck him.

Wade bats his nonexistent eyelashes. “Only if you’re gonna ‘swab my decks’ while you’re at it.”

“Fuck off, Wilson.”

You laugh and laugh, and –for a moment—you can believe that everything’s going to be okay.)

***

You don’t care about the plan.

You’re all driving out to some godforsaken warehouse in the middle of nowhere because there’ll be too many people to teleport or bodyslide back. Seven of you and the mountain of guns are split between Frank’s murder van and two SUVs; you’re driving Allison because Wade can’t drive, your uncle and Alex are still talking strategy with Frank in his death trap of a van, and no one had thought it best to leave the teen alone with Frank for any length of time.

You’re both silent as you trail the SUV Nate’s driving –and that’s likely because you’re both in the same position.

Neither of you care about the fucking plan.

This isn’t about strategy. This isn’t about ‘assessing threats’ this and ‘optimum entry points’ that. This about getting your people –Piotr for you, Artemis for Allison—back where they belong.

This is war. A bloodbath waiting to happen. Rough, messy, even cruel –whatever it takes.

“Do you think they’ve already killed everyone in the warehouse?” Allison asks in a rough whisper.

You tense your leg to keep from mashing the gas pedal against the floor. Your knuckles go white as you grip the steering wheel tighter. You inhale deeply through your nose, then grit out, “For their sakes, they better not have.”

***

The warehouse is, in reality, an abandoned mall in the center of a defunct town. Weeds grow tall in the cracks in the parking lot pavement. Several of the windows have been graffitied over or are just plain broken. A few mannequins still stand on display, caked with grime and other detritus.

“Ah, capitalist apocalypse hellscape!” Wade chirps as he hops out of the other SUV. He stretches, groans when something in his back pops (“fucking seventh vertebrae, pain in my ass”), then unsheathes one of his katanas and twirls it. “Alright, what’s the plan? Duck into Macy’s to check out the sales, swing past the pretzel stands, then pop a few baddies before cleaning out the clearance sale at Claire’s?”

“They could be anywhere,” Frank gravels out. He scowls as he scans the mall front, then turns towards Allison. “I thought you said it was a warehouse.”

“I thought it was!” she snaps, fists clenched at her side. She stalks towards Frank, teeth bared in a surly scowl. “We were in some kind of storeroom, and I had to duck out a loading bay door. I ducked into the ether after that; it seemed more pertinent to me to find help, rather than get the fucking building specs!”

“Loading bay doors will be away from the main façade,” your uncle says.

“There’s over twenty-five stores,” Nate comments, expression grim. “We don’t have time to check all of them.”

You look to your uncle, then look over at Alex when you realize he’s watching her.

Her eyes glow a dull copper color as she scans the abandoned mall. She sucks a breath through her teeth as her gaze flits erratically across the structure. “There’s heat signatures everywhere.”

“They’ve got back up,” Frank gravels out when the meaning hits.

“East Wing,” Alex tacks on. “Cluster of people in a storeroom.”

“Could be bait,” Nathan grunts.

“Not unless they got someone Piotr’s size… and a couple of kids.”

Frank’s trigger finger taps against his thigh as he swallows hard. “What’s the plan?”

“Where is everyone?” your uncle asks, looking up at Alex.

“Mostly in the East wing,” she answers after a moment.

“We can draw them over to the other side,” your uncle suggests. “Summers, Wilson, Alexandra, and I can make a big enough scene to let you and Castle slip in and free everyone.”

Allison scoffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “What about me? And don’t tell me to just stay here and watch the cars! I’m too old for guard duty.”

And too young to be in the direct line of fire, you think. “Come with Frank and I,” you suggest before an argument breaks out. “Stay in the ether; chances are, we’ll need to make new entrances and exits to get to the hostages. We’ll need you for that.”

“Wait until you hear us start in,” your uncle tacks on as he hovers into the air, “then get moving.”

You gulp as Alex details out the directions to the proper storeroom for Frank. Your body tenses, and your pulse pounds in your ears as you stare at the darkened mall front. Hang on, baby. We’re coming.

***

The desolate, inky interior of the abandoned mall makes your skin crawl.

Aside from the sounds of your uncle, Nathan, Wade, and Alex wreaking havoc in the distance, it’s dead silent. You can hear every breath you take, the shuffle of your footsteps against the cracked linoleum tiles, the nervous flutter of your pulse in your ears.

Frank stalks ahead of you, footsteps silent from years of practice. He’s decked out in his Punisher gear, rifle in hand. If it wasn’t for the last dregs of the sunset and the white skull on his chest, he’d fade into the shadows like mist.

You jolt to a stop when Frank slows ahead of you and holds up a hand. He peers around a corner, looking both ways down the chasm of the main hall, then looks back at you before jerking his head at a looming storefront ahead of you.

Get across quickly, then get back out of sight.

You nod back, then dart after him when he breaks out of the shadowy corner you’d tucked yourselves into and heads for the store entrance.

The inside of the shop –a Macy’s, you think—is just as desolate as the outside of the mall. The space is largely ransacked; the glass display counters that once showed off jewelry and perfume are smashed and long since picked over. Clothes and hangers litter the floor. Several of the mannequins have been toppled over, but a few still stand upright, showing off clothes from several fashion seasons ago.

A “Get Ready for Summer” banner hangs over a ruined display; the picture of a laughing woman and child almost seem to mock the ruin of the store.

“Rasputin said the loading dock was on the left side of the store,” Frank whispers –though, somehow, his voice still sounds rough, like he’s made a career out of eating glass and gravel.

You nod. “So, first floor, look for any ‘employees only’ signs?”

After a moment, Frank sighs. “Best place to start.”

The two of you creep through the store, stepping over fallen clothing racks and ruined bits of hangers and display cases.

(You’re trusting, at this point, that Allison’s following the two of you; she sank into the ether before you and Frank made it five paces from the cars when this all started.)

After some cautious searching with a flashlight, you stumble upon a hall with a sign marked “Employees Only” –one of the many spots you’d normally overlook if you were a regular shopper.

“One way in and out,” Frank grumbles. He turns and scans the space behind you both, where you’d just been, then growls under his breath. “Stay behind me; keep an eye on our six.”

You creep after him, making certain to glance over your shoulder every few steps.

One of the doors in the hall is an employee’s only bathroom. Another is a breakroom (a rat scuttles out when Frank opens the door to clear the space).

At the end of the hall, though, is a much larger door –one that boxes of clothes or a cart of cleaning supplies could easily be maneuvered through.

Frank motions for you to wait, then tests the handle. He opens the door slowly –still holding the handle so the latch doesn’t snap back into place and make a noise—then peeks inside. After a moment, he pushes the door open a little wider. “Keep back,” he whispers. “Stick to the shadows.”

Let Frank bait out anyone that might be hiding, then kick their asses when they try and jump him, you reason. You nod, then slip through the door after him and hang back.

The storeroom smells like dust; you have to scrunch up your nose to keep from sneezing. A few, rat-chewed cardboard boxes dot the concrete floor. Metal shelving units –also coated with a thick layer of dust—line the room like walls in a maze.

In the back of the room, one fluorescent bulb buzzes.

You have to duck to see through the gaps in the shelves, but you can make out a group of people –several adults, and two kids, and—

Piotr.

It takes all your self-control to not run to him then and there.

The area’s still not secure, you remind yourself. You clench your hands into fists and force yourself to focus. You sweep your gaze around the room, first to Frank, then to the other shelves and shadows—

‘Not secure’ is an understatement. You can pick out at least five goons dressed in black and bulletproof vests that tucked behind various shelves and corners.

Judging by the rigid line of Frank’s shoulders, he knows he’s being watched, too.

Fortunately, the men take the bait. They wait for Frank to get within a stone’s throw of the hostages, then start following him.

Before you can blink, Frank whirls and shoots the closest man between the eyes.

The two kids in the hostage group yelp and cover their ears.

The first guy falls, splattering blood and brains across the cement floor.

The second guy, unfortunately, is faster than Frank’s trigger finger. He holds out one hand and wrenches Frank’s rifle from his grasp, then pulls a pistol out of his holster with his other hand and takes aim at Frank’s head.

You lunge towards the man and push as hard as you can with the air around you.

He sails over Frank and into the nearest wall. There’s a sickening crunch, and then he crumples to the floor in a broken heap.

“Fuck!” The other men whirl, torn between attacking you and Frank. Before either you or Frank can charge, the ground cracks open beneath their feet. Dark, shadowy tendrils –the most “solid” ones almost resemble arms and hands—latch onto their legs and yank them down.

The men scarcely have time to shriek before they disappear beneath the floor.

The ground cracks again, glowing blue at the edges this time; Allison rises from the ground, stumbling a little as she resituates herself on solid flooring. She spares half a second to sneer at Frank, then lets out a gasp of relief and darts over to the hostage group. “Artemis!”

“Hey, kiddo.” The assassin lets Allison hug for a moment, then nods to where her hands have been cuffed to pipe. “We need to move. Help us get these collars and cuffs off.”

You and Frank work with Allison to free everyone; in the next few minutes, you learn that the kids are part of the Lieberman family (and that “Micro,” Frank’s tech spook, is their father), that the blonde lady wearing the skirt suit and the heels sharp enough to sprout a vein is Foggy’s girlfriend, Marci (and that she didn’t know Frank was the Punisher, and you can’t wait to rub it in Wade’s face that you got to witness that dramatic revelation firsthand), and that the Lieberman family, the office of Nelson, Murdock, and Page, and Marci were grabbed due to Karen’s connection with the “Allison incidents.”

Guess it’s best to clean house, leave no witness and all that shit, you think without much humor. You use a knife –gifted to you by Wade—to cut the wires on Piotr’s repression collar, then step back so he can break out of the cuffs himself.

Your husband snaps the steel handcuffs off his wrists as though they’re made of wet tissue paper. He stands, stretches, then wraps his burly around you. “Myshka.”

“Hey, sweetheart.” You nuzzle against his chest, just for a moment, then force yourself to let go so you can help free the others.

Nikolai gives you a one-armed, grateful hug when you pick the locks on his handcuffs. He hugs his children –including Artemis, who hesitates but doesn’t seem too put out otherwise—after, then looks to you again. “Where is Alexandra?”

You open your mouth to reply, then flinch when an explosion goes off that rattles the entire building. You gesture in the direction of the destruction. “That way, I’m guessing.”

Nikolai’s mouth settles into a tight grimace. He nods.

“We need to get out of here,” Matt pipes up. “This place is crawling with hostiles.”

“Any close by?” Frank asks.

Matt cocks his head to one side, then nods at the loading bay door Allison mentioned earlier. “There’s a group of them heading towards us from outside. I count at least ten.”

Frank swears, then pulls a pistol off a holster on his belt and hands it to Mikhail. “Anyone else here competent with a gun?”

“I found mine!” Karen answers, picking up her purse from where it was discarded behind a pile of boxes. She pulls out a .380, checks to make sure it’s loaded, then nods to Frank.

“I’ll manage without,” Artemis says when Frank offers his other pistol to her.

Nikolai out one hand. “I can.”

Frank hands the firearm off, nods approvingly when Nick checks the safety and the clip, then ushers the Lieberman children away from the loading bay door. “Alright, let’s move.”

#sass writes #piotr rasputin x reader #nathan summers x wade wilson #alexandra rasputin x nikolai rasputin #frank castle x karen page #once again i am lumping together my favorite marvel fandoms #with little regard for any canon whatsoever #tw: gun violence #tw: kindapping #tw: death #not of anyone relevant #but still #x men fanfiction #deadpool fanfiction

[dvsvsgrr]

and a higher torque version will be available

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[wylans-flute]

When Nikolai said

"Adventure? Danger? Now your speaking my language."

Oh my saints

#on my knees #sir #nikolai come home the kids miss you x #nikolai lanstov #netflix shadow and bone #shadow and bone season two #shadow and bone s2 #shadow and bone netflix #shadow and bone

[theeeveetamer]

One yr the GD have a little too much to drink and end up crashing the BL thanksgiving b/c Ferdie and Lorenz miss their daughter. It goes surprisingly well. It’s also where Victor and Nikolai meet and no one but Prissy even know they’re talking until x amount of time later where they show up to a family dinner and Nikolai says with a blank face “this is my husband of three hrs, we just got married in the courthouse and also he’s pregnant” while aggressively cuddling Victor.

Maybe not completely well, though. Hubert isn’t a huge fan of Ferdie trying to invade his visitation time with their daughter, and I can think of no one he hates more than Lorenz on a personal level. I mean, not only did Lorenz marry the man he’s still hopelessly in love with, but Hubert’s daughter calls him dad. And he’s just as insufferable as Ferdie is, but without all of the cute things that made Ferdie lovable to him.

He swears the first time he had Priscilla on his weekend and she asked him for tea?? He almost had an aneurysm.

So yeah. Hubert gets all dry and sarcastic and insulting, Lorenz gets all short and uppity, Ferdinand starts crying because he’s had a little too much to drink and he can’t believe Hubert is being like that right now... Then Priscilla comes over and calls them all idiots for ruining Thanksgiving which shames all three of them into getting along.

After that though? It’s great fun! Dimitri doesn’t drink because someone has to be responsible and make sure the kids don’t die, but everyone else get’s fucking hammered. They always hold Thanksgiving at Dimitri and Dedue’s house because they have the most space (big houses are necessary when you have five children) and that night ends with 30 completely trashed adults all trying to squeeze into two guest bedrooms and the livingroom/family room. Not to mention the dozen or so kids squeezing into the kids’ bedrooms since their parents are too drunk to drive them home.

#3h omegaverse #hubert/ferdie/lorenz love triangle #various assorted omegaverse babies #modern au #Anonymous

[simonxriley]

hi there, fluff alphabet for liz x ghost? :))

Hello :) My babies!! P.S I want to know who you are, I barely talk about this ship and people already like it? Let’s be friends anons!!!

A ctivities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

These two are homebodies, they just like spending some quality time at home. Sometimes they might have a competition and see who can get the best time in the pit. It usually ends with a quickie in a storage closet….One time Price walked in on them. Now if the kids are in the picture, they’ll figure out something to do, like go to a park, play in the backyard, see a movie, etc. 

B eauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

That they’ve been through the same thing and understand what it’s like. They both had abusive and neglectful fathers’ and to find someone who will not only understand what that feels like, but isn’t going to use it as a deal-breaker because they don’t want to deal with someone who was a victim of abuse and say they have too much baggage. It’s cliche but they find everything beautiful about each other…well almost everything. 

C omfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

If Ghost is having a rough day or is feeling down or even has a panic attack, she’ll cuddle him and thread her fingers through his hair. It helps calm him down and she’s been doing it before they even got together. Then she’ll wait until he wants to talk or sobs into her chest. 

Ghost is almost the same way, he’ll definitely cuddle her and let her rant or cry, depending on how bad everything is. He’ll also go out and buy her something sweet, like flowers and cupcakes because sometimes she would rather eat her weight in sugar. 

D reams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

After they survived Shepherd’s onslaught, they lived one day at a time. Both fearing if they thought about the future or talked about it, it wouldn’t come true. But they are beyond happy on how it did turn out. Happily married with 4 kids.  

E qual - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

They’re equal when it comes to who is more dominate. Sometimes they might let the other be a little bit more, depending on the situation. 

F ight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

Yes they would, their arguments are never long or that serious tbh. Their fights are usually about one of them keeping their emotions in, instead of telling the other how they feel or if something is wrong. 

G ratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

They are both very grateful for one another. Not only because they found someone who they share life experience with but for what they do for one another as well. They’ll always have each others back and both are willing to take care of the family. 

H onesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

Not really, sometimes they’ll not say how they’re really feeling because the kids might be in the room or they don’t want to worry they other. It never stays a secret for long, that’s for sure. 

I nspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

Ghost never saw himself as a husband or father until Liz came along.They never talked about marriage or children, just living one day at a time. Then one day Ghost just thought “someday I could see her as my wife”. It was out of the blue, but if it wasn’t for Liz he probably would have never thought about marriage. Even though their first daughter Faith was not planned, he couldn’t have been more excited or happy. Liz gave him hope and faith that he could have a happy life with someone he loves. 

If it wasn’t for Ghost, Liz would have never fell truly in love with England. She’s tried new foods, been to new places all because of him. She also wouldn’t have known what it felt like to be protected either. Ghost always protected her and made sure she was with him on all missions. 

J ealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Oh boy Ghost does. The only people who are aloud to flirt with Liz is Roach and Soap and maybe Price but he’s on thin ice. If someone who isn’t them tries to flirt with her he’ll become grumpy and act like an asshole to them. Liz usually has to calm him down with a few kisses. 

K iss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Liz is and I expect Ghost is too! It was when Ghost confessed his love for her. She didn’t say anything back because she was shocked and contemplating his words, it made him feel awkward and think that she didn’t share them but then. She grabbed his shirt, gently tugged him down until their lips met. 

L ove Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

They confessed it after being betrayed by Shepherd. Ghost couldn’t hold it in any longer and while they were in one of Nikolai’s safe-house while Price and Soap went after Shepherd he just told her how he truly felt about her. I don’t want to go into full details because you’ll see it unfold in my fic. 

M arriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

Yes they do and Ghost proposes at Hyde Park in London in front of the lake. And in front of a bunch of people. Their marriage isn’t much different from when they were boyfriend/girlfriend. They still work together, live together, the only difference is they call each other husband and wife and eventually mom and dad. 

N icknames - What do they call their s/o?

Liz calls Ghost - babe, Simon, and sometimes honey. 

Ghost calls Liz - Love, honey/hon and Liz. 

O n Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

I actually haven’t figured this out too much for either character’s. All I know is that Ghost gets very protective of Liz and she just likes spending time with him. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint what they would do when they’re in the middle of a war. 

P DA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

Yes they are and don’t try to hide it either, besides everyone knows they’re together. Price just tells them to have sex in their own room and not in a storage closet. 

Q uirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship. 

I don’t know about this one I can’t really think of anything. RIP me. 

R omance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

Neither are really romantic but they try and that’s what counts. Ghost will buy flowers occasionally or small gifts to show his appreciation and love. While Liz is the more creative one, she’ll get him a new balaclava or clean his weapons for him. Sometimes Ghost will even surprise her with a nice dinner. 

S upport - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

Oh absolutely and I think they’re succeeding thus far. And of course they believe in each other. 

T hrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

They do follow a routine because military life, but sometimes they might spice things up. 

U nderstanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

They are both empathetic and they know each other pretty well. They’re still learning about each other everyday. 

V alue - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life? 

To Ghost, his relationship with Liz means the world to him, everything else comes second, including work. The only thing that comes close is their kids. And the same for Liz as well. In a span of a year, they’ve been through so much, getting closer day by day. The relationship means the world to them! 

W ild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

Ghost bought a baby version of his sunglasses while Liz was pregnant, even before they knew they were having a boy or girl. He didn’t care and when Faith was old enough to wear them, Ghost made sure she had them on every time they left the house. 

X OXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

They both are affectionate, Ghost more so in private unless he’s really comfortable around everyone. They do love to kiss and cuddle though, especially Ghost. Cuddle time is the best time to him. While Liz enjoys kissing a bit more. 

Y earning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

Ghost will do the pit over and over again, trying to get a better record time. Being in the pit gives him a way to focus on something else instead of missing Liz like crazy. If kids are in the picture than he’s on dad mode. 

Liz will try and occupy herself, whether it’s cleaning her weapons or bugging someone else. And if the kids are involved than she’s on mom mode. They kids will definitely keep her occupied. And very rarely she’ll use the pit as a way to occupy herself. 

Z eal - Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

Yes, I think they would. I think they would go as far as to go to counselling if the relationship needed it. They’ve been through hell and back, quite literally, no one will ever come close to sharing the same amount of life experience as these two have.  

#anonymous #liz x ghost #oc liz walker #simon ghost riley #call of duty

[irishforjane]

my frenemy @wesminski tagged me to answer these hella hard questions. and idk who to tag rip i always tag the same people i swear someone’s gonna get fed up with me soon but i lowkey want this tag to circulate so i’m tagging @pynchfluff @@moonwitche and @lxntsov

interesting questions and not very interesting answers under the cut. ^_^ (prepare for lots of question marks and hmmms and repetitive answers)

i. which character are you most similar to?

hmm i think i’m part cath (from fangirl), part ari (from ari & dante), and part molly (from the upside of unrequited)

ii. which character are you most dissimilar to?

the wild ones. take from that what you will.

iii. if you were in a zombie apocalypse, which character would you bring with you?

i’d want to be w all the badass (see also kinda ruthless) characters for guaranteed survival. ie kaz brekker, andrew minyard, lila bard

iv. what is your favourite au?

i dunnoooo O.O T_T

v. what trope did you suspect a character would fall into but proved you wrong? 

hmm inej ghafa?? i thought she’d be one of those characters with kickass skillszsz but have self doubt of epic proportions or whatever, like not confident and self deprecating and all that. but she’s not. and i love it. 

vi. what is your favourite genre? 

fantasy. definitely.

vii. if you could write a book, how would you describe it in five words? 

spoiler alert: it’s so bad

viii. describe your favourite book in five words

everything is aesthetic as fck; dreamthieving asshole has a crush; coca-cola shirt is a bamf; spoiler alert: president cellphone dies

ix. do you prefer guarded or open characters?

guarded characters.. i think

x. which three songs suit your favourite character(s)?

young volcanoes - fall out boy

sinister kid - the black keys

renegades - x ambassadors

xi. what fics do you wish there were more of?

hmm i don’t actively look for fics; i read them when they’re on my dash or somebody recommends one. but idk, i’d like to see more bluesey??

xii. what’s your favourite line? 

duh impossible to answer

xiii. what line made you laugh? 

what doesn’t make me laugh?? i’ll give you this tho: “Man, don’t SAT at me. Here’s what’s up. The Ronan you know is no more. He’s having a coming-of-age moment. A - a - bildungsroman. Goddamn me! SAT that, Dick-dick-dick.” (I thought of this bc of ‘fuckweasel’)

xiv. if you were paired up in a group project, who would you want to be with? 

i say adam parrish as well bc i have no originality and bc adam

xv. if you could turn your favourite book(s) into a different genre, what would it be and why? 

ohmygod genre-wise idk?? but setting-wise, it’ll be cool to see trc set in an earlier time? like 70′s maybe? so gansey’ll have to have a much older aesthetic af car.. or soc set in our world?? why? bc it just seems fun?? i’m useless. i know.

xvi. which character would you be best friends with?

binch i wanna be bffs with matt too. T_T also, jesper llewellyn fahey

xvii. which character(s) would you:

• go on a road trip with?

henry cheng and kuwei yul-bo. i’ll take my under appreciated boys on a fun, fun trip (loljk henry’ll drive bc i can’t)

• venture into the woods with?

the gangsey ofc!!

• go on late-night escapades with?

probs nikolai lantsov. or wesley ayers. or levi

• cause trouble and get away with it with?

kaz brekker DUH

• share a mixtape under the stars with?

hmm.. something tells me simon spier has excellent taste in music so him. or kevin day bc classical music? under the stars? seems pretentious af but also FCKING GIVE IT TO ME (noah is an A+ choice btw)

• fight to the death

all the shitty characters. the shitty fathers the shitty mothers the shitty ex lovers? 

• give up your entire mortal existence for?

don’t make me choose i’d die for ALL my childruuun

• go on a heist with and succeed?

doOOod the dregs?????

• be in a gang with?

a girl gang sounds good so inej ghafa, nina zenik, blue sargent, puck connolly, karou and zuzana, kizzy shao, helene aquila. all the badass girls!!

• have a dorky handshake with?

henry cheng. totes

• bring home to the family?

richard campbell gansey the third my pride and joy light of my life solution to all my problems 

• bake with?

nicky hemmick. i kind of hc him to be really good in the kitchen idk why

• fall in love with? (platonic/romantic/sexual, depending on your sexuality)

in case you missed it, gansey for all of the above OKAYY????

• sit on a roof at 2am in peaceful company with?

neil josten my boy

• bring into a different book and explore with?

all my kids ofc and binch i swear i didn’t copy you i recently finished the book and space seems so cool and terrifying and my children are all adrenaline junkies so we’re going to ‘the long way to a small angry planet’ world 

#this was so hard i crii #interesting interesting stuff tho #tags

[fafulous]

Take Me Home (4/5)

Andy Barber x Reader (Post!Defending Jacob)

Summary: After the unfortunate events of the trial and after, a depressed Andy Barber decides to call it quits and start a mundane life far away from Newton. He decides it is best to have a fresh start away from prying eyes and alone, but he never thought his caring neighbor (and her son) would change all of that.

Chapter Warnings: MAJOR D.J. SPOILERS (BOOK Ending), Reminiscing the Loss of a loved one.

Andy soon came to realise that walking out on you was never ever really a solution. In reality he knew with his current state, without you he was doomed.

He needed you because he has no one. He needed you because it was his chance at something new; something no one would understand.

He needs you because in between all those shenanigans in these few months, he was falling hard for you.

But he did what he had to that day because he just wanted some space. In his head it seemed to be fine, but alas it hurt like a bitch.

On the other hand, Nikolai had no idea what was going on. It only took him minutes to fall in love with his new room. The lights, the colour of the room made him so jubilant, later on only to see you a bit unhappy. You were able to deflect from your son’s questions, but how on earth were you going to tell him that Andy won’t be meeting him anymore.

It hurt. So hard. All you needed was one conversation with him to settle things away but he wanted his space and so you half heartedly respected it.

Nikolai on the other hand was hitting a real low seeing you unhappy the whole day sporting stuffy red eyes. Like any other kid, Nikolai jumped to the conclusion that their mother is crying because she got a boo-boo or lost her favourite toy.

But that little brain of his pieced it slowly once he realised Andy never visited them for any of the dinner nights.

“Mommy pwese don’t cwy” his nimble fingers wiping your fat tears rolling down your cheek.

“I know peaches. I’m trying so hard to get Andy back okay. I’m sorry for crying around you like this baby.”

“B-but Wandi pwomised he neva gonna hurt you mommi…”

“Oh Niko,” you wiped the cookie crumbs around his tiny lips, “Your little brain won’t get it. It’s okay.”

“No. Not owkay. Wandi hurt you. Wandi bad. I don’t wike Wandi cahr now.”

You couldn’t help but surpass a giggle. “Niko. Andy is never bad. Never. He is just feeling sad and lonely. We just need to tell him we have him and love him okay?”

Love? Too soon. Maybe it’s more than like but it was too late to change it for your son and for yourself. You always saw how Niko’s eyes sparkled whenever Andy was around; he was soon accepting him to be a member of the household.

“Owkay,” he dug his head to your neck, “I wike Wandi and his cahr.”

–

The following week were hard for you and him. From sharing couches to kisses, now the only thing you both shared were small talks.

Yes. Small Talk. Or texts rather.

Andy told you he finally found a therapist to speak to and slowly expressed his wish to still visit Nikolai till you both figured out what was happening between you two.

Why did this have to get so complicated?

You on the other hand replied he was free to do so because to be real, the little kid missed him too. So, the next day he asked you for permission if he could take Nikolai on a car drive.

You had no idea what would go on in his head at times. From seeing Andy’s perspective, he was denied of the choice of telling you his story. It was his fucked-up childhood, his story that he wanted to tell you. Not a pity tatter-tale gossip story that was to be heard from your characterless, ex-husband.

Andy later in the evening sent a message that he was ready, and you saw the man your heart so longed for.

His eyes were back to being sunken, those blue irises not having the guts to meet yours. His hair was ruffled like he just woke up from a nap. Looking at him made you realise how much your hands were twitching to just hug him. You were reminded of the first night you spent at his house; that blue sweater he gave you while you two made out on his couch for the first time was now worn by him.

You walked towards him as you held Nikolai’s convertible baby seat to be fixed in his car and he was kind enough to open the door for you.

Andy on the other hand knew he had to- no, wanted to strike a conversation with you; but didn’t know what to say.

Hey long time huh?

Y/N. Hey, how are you?

Hey listen…

Nope nothing came out of his mouth while you fixed the seat.

He took in your appearance too; that ray of sunshine that beamed from your smile was non-existent; replaced with a forlorn look that he hated to see on you. The past few days were definitely much harsher on you than it was for him. Andy knew he couldn’t get any more foolish. He had to get back to what you two had before.

He needed it.

“Have we gone back to square one? Because of what? My ex-husband?”

Andy came out of his tiny reverie and focussed back on you. He didn’t pay attention, but he did realise you said something bitter that meant to sting him.

“Honey listen-”

“Oh, don’t you honey me Andy. How could you? How could you be so- so-“ you tried so hard to not break into a stream of tears.

How could you be so hateful to yourself Andy? Did you not trust me?

“How could you just desert me like that? D-did you think I was going to throw away my second chance at life for something you father did? Did you want to throw away your second chance at life because of your father who has no role in our lives right now?”

He sighed dejectedly, disappointed with himself. Hearing your voice break wrecked him, “I know Y/N. I was an asshole that day, leaving you without an explanation.” He found himself taking steps towards you and cupping your cheek, tilting his forehead onto yours, “I am so sorry hon- Y/N. I am sorry.”

You bit your lip and looked up at him, his eyes still closed; now content that he and you could just touch each other after a very long time.

Any other situation, you wouldn’t let a man walkover you so easily after fucking up. But this was Andy. The man who made you believe in second chances. You gave him a first chance already, and now it was again your turn to give him one more.

“You weren’t an asshole Andy,” you held on to his hands, “Its just, I don’t know…”

“I know you know exactly what you want to say Y/N. Just say it.”

You could hear Nikolai running around his circles with his unicorn plush doll behind you, “I was angry when you left, but at the same time I tried to understand your point of view, your emotions and your feelings about this whole situation. But I think or- or I know that I didn’t deserve to be ghosted like that Andy, because I liked you for you, not what your father did, especially when we had something so good going on.”

He removed his hand from your cheeks and looked down like a disappointed child. He knew he was at fault and so he didn’t say anything; head hung in shame looking at the little, carefree boy that he loved so dearly.

“It’s only had if you want it to be,”

“What do you mean?”

You saw a glint of that eagerness that Andy always had with you before, “I told that we had something good going on? It’s only had if you want it to be…“

Andy took some time to find his words. Again. It was the second time he fucked up so bad and here you were, taking him back even after he exploded like a mine. Was this woman for real?

“Of course, I want this honey. I always want us. You’re always so good to me.”

He reached out to graze your cheeks, but he was blocked by your squealing son.

“Cahr Wandi! Can we gooo?”

You were surprised that you weren’t interrupted by your son sooner, but nevertheless your son’s new founded patience was found to be a blessing in disguise.

The cutest sight unfurled before you as Andy made grabby hands at your son, only for the latter to be scooped into Andy’s arms like a cocoon.

“Come on Y/N, join us wont you? For a drive?”

You shook your head, “I think I’ll pass.”

“Y/N. I want to really make it up to you. Like real time. Please come with us?”

“I know Andy, but who will make dinner if I come along with you boys?”

Andy slowly grinned at your implications. He never ceased to be impressed by your gracious generosity and the small acts of kindness.

“I’m not mad, not as much as I was before I promise,” you dared to but tiptoed to place a kiss on his cheek, “We can talk over dinner today.” You saw how his cheek sported a cherry red tint, slowly creeping up till his ear. A teenager in a old man’s body.

“Peaches,” you turned to your son right now jumped into Andy’s arms, nuzzling his face in that soft sweater, “Be good and behave okay peaches? Don’t trouble Wandi- I mean Andy for anything on the way okay?”

Everything drowned inside a chorus of laughter when Andy realised how you had called his name. Niko had no idea what the humour was for but joined the chorus when he found his two most favourite people in the world giggling.

Were you forgoing all that pent-up sadness that this man gave you this week? Yes. Yes you were.

And you would soon realise that it was the best decision you made.

Hours passed by and the boys came back home. Nikolai was gleefully pulling onto Andy’s beard and curiously asking him when he was going to get a ‘bweard’ like him and heard both the boys animatedly inhaling; the smell of aromatic food that stirring their tummies.

“MOMMY IS MAKING PAWSTAHH!”

Andy was so confused. You always made the best Italian food for your child.

“Let’s just say after that episode we had with Chad, I was cooking boring greens and ordering takeout for the little one and me. I lost the will to cook. Thought I’ll revive the poor kid’s taste buds.”

It was always these small gestures that pulled you towards Andy; like this one. He tugged you by your shoulders and placed a soft kiss on your forehead and then cupped your cheeks so lovingly.

“Sorry Momma bear.”

“Shhh. It’s okay grumpy cat,” you winked.

Dinner on the other hand did go relatively smooth than you expected it to. Andy explained himself, his feelings and what he felt that day when he left you and tried his level best to process your emotional state that day.

The baked pasta was licked clean by your two boys and you while Andy also spoke about his past few days with his therapist, who seemed to help him more than he possibly could ever think of. Over a glass of wine, Andy held your hand promising you that he wouldn’t do any more foolish stunts that ended up hurting all of us in the process.

But as you and Andy were doing and drying the dishes, you felt that he was holding back something.

“You’re doing that thing.”

“What thing.”

“That thing you used to do when I used to pick movies that you don’t like.”

His grin could make your whole body mushy and soft like a teenager having their first crush “So? Is that my fault honey?” he feigned hurt, glad that he could now call you back with his favourite sweet name.

“Nah,” you playfully tapped his shoulder. “You give me that look so prominently so that I understand that you want something from me, or you want me to do something for you.”

Andy looked so lost and you knew something was biting his thoughts because he enjoyed doing domestic chores with you; his favourite being you washing the dishes and him drying them out and keeping them inside the cupboards. He didn’t reply until the last wine glass was kept inside the cabinet

“It’s just-” hesitated Andy. You waited patiently for him to find his words.

“It’s about Jacob.”

“Oh.”

For a startling few seconds, you held your breath; thinking about Andy’s son was something wrecked your thoughts and heart every single time.

“My therapist says that I haven’t, you know, fully processed Jacob’s death. Like I’m holding on to something. But parents don’t, right? They can’t move on from their child’s death right? It’s practically impossible.”

You weren’t sure what to say but you nodded, gripping on to his arm and gesturing to sit with you to the couch where little Niko dozed off with two of his stuffed dolls clenched in his hand.

“But she did say one statement that made sense to me, I don’t know. It made sense about how we can’t forget our children who are no longer with us but we can learn to accept the fact that they are no longer with us.”

Oh bub, how much have you been through? “Do you agree with this Andy?” You asked him to keep yourself strong during this conversation for him, and you did.

“Of course, yeah. Maybe. But the thing is I think I haven’t accepted it honey.”

You took both of his hands and squeezed reassuringly, “I have no idea what you are going through bub but I’m glad you are talking to me about this. Take your time; its going to be hard, but I’m right here okay? Whatever you need, I’ll do within my best ability.”

He hummed, but still hesitant.

“Andy its okay, tell me. Talk to me bub.”

He squeezed your palms even more tightly, turning towards you completely. “C-can I ask you a favour? I mean you can say no, I will understand.”

I’m ready to give you all the happiness in the world to you bubba. “Anything for you Andy? Tell me now.”

He didn’t meet your gaze, but instead shifting his focus to trace your knuckles, “My therapist told me to visit Jacob’s grave whenever I was ready, to mourn him, to accept he is no longer with me and you know…talk to him I guess. To process my emotions. And um…Oh god I am a bubbling mess Y/N.”

“Hey its okay baby take your time. There is no pressure.”

“I can’t do this alone honey…I need you there with me. Can you come with me to the graveyard?”

How could you ever say no to this solemn situation?

“Of course, honey. Absolutely anything you need.”

And what seemed like after ages, Andy Barber enveloped you into his signature bear hug. Both of you left a huge sigh of breath, relief washing over that both of you were slowly getting back on track.

Until you heard a rugged whimpers from the little boy beside Andy.

You didn’t want to tell Andy about this, but Nikolai’s nightmares were back and the little boy was finding it difficult to sleep at night. The new nursery still did not work for him, so he ended up sleeping on top of your chest; your heartbeat probably soothing him to sleep.

But Andy the experienced father he was, quickly scooped him into his arms and started cradling him, rocking him side by side with his arms protecting him, humming a familiar soft tune that seemed to calm you in the process too. You saw how Niko’s head was cushioned between Andy’s pecs and muscles, slowly relaxing and nuzzling into his touch.

Niko’s scrunched up face was now back to a peaceful baby lost in slumber. 

Andy met your gaze and blinked at you with a smile and it conveyed so much than you think.

We got this baby. We all gonna get through this.

–

The decision to take Nikolai along with you and Andy was refuted by the latter saying that a young boy like him shouldn’t be visiting such desolate place.

“Children are the embodiment of new birth, new life. And graveyards, quite opposite.”

But you knew secretly he also didn’t was your son to see him in such a vulnerable position. You were grateful for the fact that the rough patch between you and Andy was solved; for the little boy saw Andy as his new father figure with Chad gone away with a new girlfriend.

Talking about Chad, he did not make efforts to meet his son; and you didn’t bother contacting him. Better off without him you wondered.

The drive to Jacob’s grave was a couple of hours away and ride in itself was a quiet one. Andy and you were informally dressed in dull colours, hearts dull too. You knew it was a big step for Andy and you were going to support him till he thinks he is over it. Car windows were rolled down, the fresh air making efforts to refresh you both.

You could also see Andy’s urge to interlink his hands with you while your drove and you did; Gripping onto his palm or occasionally rubbing his shoulders or thighs throughout the ride would help him calm down and relax his creased forehead.

When you both got down from the car it was so hard to read Andy’s thoughts. He came over to you and interlinked your palms and made way to the place where his son was buried.

Jacob’s grave was flowerless when arrived. Andy soon fixed that after leaving a wreath of Jacob’s most favourite flowers, daisies.

A graveyard, a place of death, sprouting trees filled with life here and there. The irony of life.

You didn’t know the boy but the aura of the graveyard, the impersonal feeling towards the dead even though you have no idea who they were beneath the stones made you heart sink. It then came to your senses.

The boy was just fourteen.

Both of you sat down near his grave, not caring about the grass and mud staining your clothes. He finally took away his palms from yours.

Andy spoke some kind words, rekindling memories of his son’s favourite pastime, his favourite stories and one of his embarrassing yet kind-hearted moments. He sought an apology on behalf of his mother, trying to make Jacob understand that his mother loved him so much, that it unfortunately ended tragically.

Another thought popped into your head, how couples these days separate over trivial matters, over materialistic matters, and infidelity. But Andy? He separated because his wife- No no. You didn’t want to complete that thought.

But after a while passed and you decided give Andy some needed space. He was probably going to be anxious, but it was for the best.

“Andy, you feel a bit better?” you whispered.

“You can say probably.”

Here we go. “I’m going to leave you two alone okay?”

“What? Honey. If I can’t-”

“You can Andy. He is your son, remember that. So, don’t hold back. I know you wanted me to be here with you and I did and I’m so proud of you, bubba,” you stroked his hair. “But unintentionally you may be holding back on expressing because I’m here and that’s normal.”

Why are you so good to me?

“I’m just going to be near the parking lot okay? I’m not going anywhere,” you reassured him with a peck on his cheek and made your way back.

You shed your tears while you sat inside his car, thinking about the little boy. It was difficult thinking of losing a loved one that you gave birth to. He was too young. Too fucking young.

Oh, this cruel world, how you hated it so immensely right now.

Half hour passed by and you saw Andy making his way towards the car. It was so strange to think of this, but he didn’t look red eye rimmed like you; he looked the same with much more solemnity. He didn’t cry and that slightly bothered you. Maybe you had to accept the fact that different people process emotions differently.

He got into the car and took in your red eyes. He knew you had cried. Seeing you like that made his pull your lips onto his for just a chaste kiss, the first time you two felt each other’s lips after an eon. All he breathed into your lips was that we are going to be okay and drove back home with no word exchanged. For the upcoming hours, the fresh air offered you comfort, drying out those spilt tears along with the lingering touch of his palms; interlinked like their souls.

After coming back, you took advantage of Andy’s silence and maneuvered him to your home. He seated himself on the couch pulling out his phone and wallet from his pants and placed it on the coffee table.; trying to steal a quick nap while you picked up Nikolai from your neighbour Mr. Arthur.

Andy sleeping gave you an immense sense of peace, but for the little boy in your hands; not so much.

“WANDI!!!!”

He groggily woke up thanks to Nikolai running towards him, lying on his chest like he does with you. “Hey buddy.”

“You home yaay!” Probably meant that he was excited to see the man in house like the usual dinner nights. Nikolai calling him and telling he was home pricked him and at the same time felt so right. As cliché as it sounds, he always has heard this quote where Home is never a place with four walls to cover your head; home is where the heart is.

His heart was with you and Nikolai.

After eating Andy, and you began to do your dish washing routine, this time he washing the dishes. He was slow, but that was alright, you had all the time in the world.

Niko on the other hand was singing all the rhymes he learnt from daycare in different pitches, earning a chuckle from the both of you here and there. He was also carelessly playing with Andy’s phone and wallet, both of you seeing that the little boy had dropped all the contents of the wallet on to the floor. Once they were done Andy picked up the falling things patiently without chiding the little one like any other adult would. 

He picked up his Dollar bills, receipts and then a forgotten thin strip of a photo roll.

It was him and Jacob.

The roll had four pictures of him and his son posing for the silliest pictures, the first three with their tongues sticking out in the goofiest angle possible. The last one however was so pure; Andy giving a  forehead kiss to Jacob because he was so proud of his son, remembering he had bagged the highest grade in English that term in school.

Minutes pass and he didn’t notice his waterworks brimming. A blink and they would fall down.

And they did, when he heard Nikolai nudging him by the thigh. “Why you cwyin Wandi?”

That startled you enough to stop whatever it was you were doing and went to see what was happening.

Oh bubba.

You sat near Andy, touching his thigh for comfort while your son got closer to the photo that was in Andy’s slightly quaking hands.

“Who that Wandi?”

“Th-thats my son buddy. His name was Jacob.”

“Can he play with me Wandi?”

Everything just pricked. The boy’s innocent questions and Andy’s realisation of his emotions. This was too much to bear.

“No buddy he can’t-“

A hand around his shoulder, it was you. When he looked up his eyes were blurry from the tears that were falling. He was so upset he didn’t even realise you were next to him. It was you. Only you.

It was then you realised it finally that it hit Andrew that his son was dead.

“You don’t have to answer that Andy. He’s just a kid. It’s okay.”

The little one feeling that he had said something wrong hugged his arms with his little arms. “I’m sowwy Wandi. Don’t cwy.”

“I’m not buddy, I-I’m not.” He reassured the kid, and falsely assuring himself too.

“Wandi, I’m feelin sleepy…” “Yeah, let’s get you to bed buddy,” he cooed with his quivering voice.

“Andy I’ll take him-” But he refused to and took the child. You took a few minutes to pull yourself together after witnessing Andy so vulnerable. Even in these moments, he took care of your son. When you reached the nursery, Andy was whispering a lullaby to a dozed off Niko for a good ten minutes. He even spoke to the little boy, telling him that the measly Audi car painting he did in the room was going to protect him and his nightmares; and the boy believed because Andy said so.

Few minutes later and Andy didn’t refuse to hold back.

“I held Jacob like Nikolai, put him to sleep like Nikolai. My sweet precious baby,  my innocent child Jacob. He didn’t do anything and he is away from me Y/N. Far far away-”

Andy let out a loud whimpering cry, the sound swallowed when he buried his head into your neck and your tears began streaming, him sobbing uncontrollably the next minute.

Andy and your tears began streaming; you pulled yourself together soon but Andy? He was weeping uncontrollably. You only could take him in your arms and offer him comfort. No words could heal his wounds instantly. He buried his face into your neck, his safe place, which made you remember the initial days with Andy when he lent a shoulder when you cried. Now it was your turn.

You whispered in ears how it was best not to do this near Niko and maneuvered Andy to your room. He held onto your arms as you took him to your room. You urged Andy to talk to you if the visit to the grave was still bothering him. He sought recluse in your safe place again, lying down on the bed, head tucked in your neck.

“Andy you can tell me anything. I promise it won’t affect whatever is between us.”

It was too twisted, he was distraught. He ranted about Laurie and how she unravelled into killing her own son. He slipped some details of how Laurie always kept bringing up past incidents of his son to prove that Jacob was the possible killer. He kept blaming himself that he was too weary with Laurie and that he should’ve seen her actions. Your whole body pricked; he was crying as he said all this.

You couldn’t imagine Nikolai and yourself in that situation. It brought tears to you eyes but wiped them off before he could see it. You let him talk as much as he wanted to, calming and soothing Andy in the process, running your fingers through his hair gently. You comforted him as much as you could and kept reminding yourself that this was the first time he came to his senses and realised he was crying out for his dead son; and so you were patient.

“My own wife murdered him Y/N. My Jacob. If I had been more attentive”

“Shhhhh Andy,” you cooed into his ear “Your circumstances were horrible. Don’t blame yourself bubba, none of this was your fault okay? Jacob’s death was out of your hands, it was an unfortunate accident Andy.“

Andy could stay all day in your embrace, his head on your gentle shoulders while your soft hair caresses made him doze off to sleep.

But his head felt like it was going to explode and he couldn’t let you see that.

“I’m going back home honey. I think I need to be alone tonight. I- I am not abandoning you okay, I promise, I’ll be okay tomorrow.”

“Andy are you sure? Stay with me, I don’t want to leave you alone.”

“I- I think I need to be alone for sometime you know? Please don’t be upset.”

“I’m never ever upset okay? As long as you are sure bubba; whatever you think is best for you okay? This house is always open to you.”

Kisses on the cheek were exchanged before he left your home. But you stayed awake, in the hopes he’ll be back because deep down you knew, he needed you.

You would give him space, and why not?

He was your home.

–

Andy soon realised he couldn’t. Staying alone was the worst decision he made.

Yes he did get the desired space he absolutely needed for like an hour and he did try to cease his crying, but his heart, oh his heart was pounding like nobody’s business. Anxious. Alone. Not cared for.

The walls of his room closed around him, his breathing becoming rugged, the laughter of his dead son echoing in his head. But he remembered he was cared for. By you. He had only you now.

He wanted, needed your soothing embraces, your kind words, your optimism, your affection. Everything.

He just wanted you now.

He had to forget.  It was a bit past midnight, but it was you. His reliable rock; soon to become the love of his life. He had to forget what he was going though and in a moment of desperation, he texted you. His thought was confirmed, you would always be there for him.

—

Last and Final Part 5 on its way :)

#Defending Jacob #Andy Barber #Andy Barber Imagine #Chris Evans Imagine #Chris Evans #Andy Barber x reader #Chris Evans x reader #Andy Barber Smut #Chris Evans Imagines

[fafulous]

Take Me Home (2/5)

Andy Barber x Reader (Post!Defending Jacob)

Summary: After the unfortunate events of the trial and after, a depressed Andy Barber decides to call it quits and start a mundane life far away from Newton. He decides it is best to have a fresh start away from prying eyes and alone, but he never thought his caring neighbor (and her son) would change all of that.

Themes: MAJOR D.J. SPOILERS ((The series is following the BOOK ENDING and not Show)), Sad and soft Andy Barber, Single Mother Reader. Cursing.

a/n: I dedicate this chapter to my LOML @sinner-as-saint​. Happy Birthday Darling! ILY!

Part 1

Warnings: Small Hints of Abuse.

—

It was your full day shift at the library

You still couldn’t stop thinking about that horrid graffiti left out on Andrew’s Garage door. Why would anyone write something so horrific? It is never a common occurrence to accuse someone of being a murderer; Besides, you didn’t even truly know who the man was.

In one of your breaks while sipping on your hot cocoa, your curiosity got the best of you and googled about him. Those amateur press reporters wouldn’t crowd around a random vandalism; you knew something was up.

To your dismay, you came across terrifying articles of his family. Specifically, about his son.

You read about how Andrew Barber, the Local district attorney of the Newton County was found to be tangled in a murder case because of his son. You didn’t bother to read further for the headlines were awful; described how his 14-year-old son was in trial for the murder of his own classmate.

The details were too horrifying. The press reported every court proceeding but you didn’t proceed to read about what happened. Perhaps his son went to jail? Or he was declared not guilty but was separated from his family? You thought how a good handful of weeks passed and he had absolutely no visitors to his house. Best decision you made was to close the articles for it made you sick to the stomach.

Not only did it feel like you were invading on someone’s privacy, it was also not difficult to picture your son in Jacob Barber’s shoes.

You felt bad for the man, you really did. But then you recalled how he questioned your parenting. It takes years to build self-confidence, but just one statement to shatter it all.

It didn’t feel right reading about your neighbour, it felt like you were a stalker. And so, you resumed to stock up and label the new pile of books.

The Librarian desk was placed in such a way that you would immediately know if anyone entered the library. It would normally be teenagers and college go-ers labelled as nerds who would spend hours and hours of studying and reading. But this time, the one approaching your desk was the last person you ever wanted to see.

Nikolai’s father.

A week ago, Chad did make an appearance into your life out of the blue, asking you to take him back. But you couldn’t for you believed in two things: Your self-respect wasn’t weak, and that Nikolai didn’t deserve a pathetic excuse of a father. After you found out about his infidelity, you mentally decided not to take him back and that was a final decision.

You dropped whatever you were doing and made a beeline to Chad. “You can’t drop in during work like this.”

Quarter of an hour perhaps was spent on arguing back and forth in whispers. You will never deny that how it would be perfect for Nikolai to grow up with a father, but you kept reminding yourself not to give in to him.

“Listen Y/N. I really am sorry for barging like you on this. I want to make things right. “

“You can’t Chad,” you whispered, “I can’t. It is not fair to Nikolai and to me. Just go.”

Chad suddenly pushed you back to one of the bookshelves by gripping your shoulders. His shoulder touches were something that he used to do to offer you comfort at times of distress. But now this was causing you stress.

He gritted his teeth. “Why can’t you just fucking take me back?”

“Because I wasn’t the one who slipped into my co-worker’s vagina!”

Before you realised Chad was going to get unpleasant with you, another familiar voice interrupted the small run-in.

“Hey everything alright?”

You turned around to the stern voice only to see your neighbour, Andrew. You were fixated on him to the point where you couldn’t take your eyes off of him.

He looked so handsome.

He was wearing a formal dark navy suit, his tie almost matching his hair colour. His hair and beard were neatly groomed with just a hint of messy. His beautiful trench coat accentuated his arm muscles. He did look like a textbook District Attorney.

Andy on the other hand exchanged looks between the both of you, glaring at the man who dare pushed you back against the bookshelf. He got near to them which made Chad leave his grip and take a few steps away from her.

Chad continued the conversation with you without acknowledging the intruder’s existence. “I’m going to leave now. Think about it. I’ll come in a few days to pick up Nikolai.” He soon left, making sure he didn’t make eye contact with the formal dude who seemed to be much taller to him.

Andy approached you cautiously while your hand pressed the wrinkles off of your shoulders. “Couldn’t help but hearing the whole co-worker slipping into your vagina statement. That man your ex?”

Dealing with two arrogant men simultaneously was not something you signed up today. “Be careful Mr. Barber, the attorney in you is showing.”

Andy stiffened his shoulders but did not let go of his grin. He liked a woman who was snappy, especially when he has seen the caring side of you. “So, you know about me?”

“I can take care of myself,” deflecting from his question. You didn’t want to admit about your slip up that you read about him from an online article. “You didn’t have to do that whole saviour stunt on me Mr. Barber,” you walked away from him, heading outside the library to catch a breath of fresh air. Andy followed you like a puppy would.

“You didn’t have to do it alone too, Miss”

You noticed how he didn’t call you formally. “Andrew, I told you I-I am never going to have a conversation with you ever.”

“I know I know.” He paused and you crossed your arms, waiting for him to say something while you admired the beauty of his trench coat on his frame.

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’m busy. M-my shift ends in an hour.”

“I can wait.”

“No Andrew, my car is in the repairs and I’m bailing on my assistant to drop me home-“

“I can drop you. We literally live next to each other. Please Y/N,” He neared you, anxiously looking over at you, “Give me this tiny speck of a chance.”

You stood there trying to pull off a stern look, trying so hard not to display you inhaling his musky cologne that made you excited. Who would’ve thought you would fall for a meanie who just had a pair of needy, blue eyes?

“Alright fine,” you said giving in. “Read a book or something inside.”

Andy was happy at his sweet victory.

In that time Andy decided to look through the well-ventilated library. It was quite spacious, his senses hitting with the smell of old books and natural pesticides to keep the books from deteriorating. There were enough tables for people to sit and read at their leisure. He even recognized familiar books he used to read with Laurie every night. It was an intimate ritual for them; so eventually for the past few months, he gave up on reading.

Andy then noticed you scuttling around for a while till you plopped on your desk. Your work attire was silk white blouse with a yellow pencil skirt. There was a strut of confidence every time you took a step or gave orders to her assistant. 

Neither of you would deny the lingering glances you gave each other in that time.  

An hour passed and both of you stood outside near his beautiful black car.

“What is it Andrew?”

“I wanted to sincerely apologize to you. This is not right I know. I know I’ve hurt your feelings and this apology doesn’t even cover it. I stepped out of line many times even though you remained to be kind to me.”

You puffed out a breath of air. Judging by the tone of his voice, you knew the man before you were being sincere.

“Just let me make it up to you one day at a time please. It would kill me if I didn’t do anything.”

“Y-you don’t have to anything Mr. Barber. Its just-“

“I know take your time. I hope we could hit the refresh button excluding the part where I make it up to you.”

“Yeah no um- I also owe you another thanks for helping back at the Library- uh Chad? The bloke you interrupted me with?”

Andy nodded. “It was nothing really. So, can we start fresh?” He extended his hand to you and a firm handshake was exchanged.

“Apology accepted I suppose.”

Soon you found yourself in Andy’s car, who was kind to even open the door for you. Chivalry isn’t dead. 

For now.

The ride back was quiet, you observing in the interiors of the sleek black car. The seat felt so comfortable, along with the man beside you. A comfortable silence prevailed the drive back home, Andy popping in superficial questions about your work and Nikolai and vice versa. 

“So any plans for tonight?”

“Nikolai wanted to watch a Disney movie tonight with some Chicken Lasagne. Oddly, specific I know but kids these days, right?”

“Yeah.” You noticed how his face fell slightly and so you tried to change the topic. “What about you?”

“The usual. Netflix and Takeout. Trying to cut on the beer though you know with the new job and all.”

“Thanks for the drive back home Mr. Barber.”

He took this as a good sign. “From now on you can call me Andy.”

“Listen Mr. Barber- Andy I have to get something off of my chest. “

Andy unbuckled his seat belt and faced you, unsure of what she wanted to say. “Sure please, go ahead.”

“Okay Andy. I just want to clear the air that only know about you as an attorney because my curiosity irked me after your whole garage shed incident. I didn’t dig much because I felt like the inner me was being like a creep.”

He raised his eyebrows heart slightly sinking that you had already become the judge of his character. “So, you do know about me then?”

“Not more than how your son was involved in a murder trial,” you fumbled. “I don’t know the outcome and I don’t know why I am telling you all of this oh my god.”

Andy chuckled to see you covering your face in embarrassment, feeling a little relieved to know that you didn’t have much of an idea of who he was. He reassured her that it was completely fine, and you saw you going back home.

The next couple of days went smoother for both you and Andy. After a week it seems you and Andy always left home for work at the same time, passing casual morning greetings…which you had to do by successfully covering your blush because he never failed to look nothing less than good looking even though he was now just a swimming instructor.

Andy told you that day he apologized to you at the library was the day when he gave in an interview for the Swimming Instructor position opened at the community gym. He said it was something he used to do in his free time, and he wanted to give it a shot

You weren’t even surprised to find your mind in the gutter when you thought about Andy in skin-fit Speedos that stuck to his thick thighs and broad back. Or would he just wear trunks? You smacked your head; this what happens when the last time you got laid was two years back…

No offense to your expensive vibrator.

Andy would drop you to work if you didn’t feel like it and pick you up too. He even would take Nikolai alone for car rides which he enjoyed.

“Mommy! Wandi car go zooooom!”

He once popped into the library telling you that he would like to be a member. You would have never thought that this man was a bookworm. He soon told you how he used to have a habit of reading a book every night and now that he wants to revive it.

Normally for new inquisitive children or young adults who wanted recommendations to begin the practice of reading was handled by your assistant, Tracy. You weren’t surprised when Tracy was almost proactive when she saw Andy. But to the utter dismay of your assistant, Andy wanted to hear it from you.

Its not like you won a battle with your assistant, but you happily concurred with you head held high. He wants me. (You smacked yourself mentally again, jealousy is an ugly stain).

“How do I know you’re not bluffing Andy?” you whispered.

“Hey hey,” he leaned nearer to your ears. “I’m new to this place and I want a couple of books and recommendations that’s all. It can get lonely at home sometimes.”

As Andy and you spoke over books, you saw he had no shred of the hostility he had in these past few weeks. Andy also noticed how you looked much more comfortable than you were initially. For the both of you a new friendship was blooming.

For now.

“What kind of books are you into Mr. Barber?”

“Well I was the thriller and mystery kind, but things have changed, looking for a change rather. Nothing old sticks on to me now.”

“Ah yes. Every reader has that phase and I have just the solution.”

He was almost puzzled when you took him to the young adults section and handed over two books or rather two parts of a beautiful story.

“Harry Potter? Isn’t that a children’s book?”

“Objection your honour!” You went on to tell him the premise of the books without spoiling much for him. It suddenly struck him that Jacob had these books at home too. But he was able to push the twinge away when he hears your sweet whispers of excitement. He did complain he has watched the movies but the bookworm in him knew that books are always better than the movies.

“Okay okay! Objection is sustained.” He laughs. A genuine laughter after what seemed like eons.

You didn’t want the conversation to end. It felt refreshing to talk to Andy and so you felt generous.

“You can drop the usual food takeout today yeah? When was the last time you had home cooked meal?

Andy thought for a while. “An awfully long time Y/N. It’s okay-“

“Dinner is at my house. No excuses.”

Andy found a little purpose to be excited in life.

–

On Mondays, Andy comes home with a bottle of wine to beat the heat of a horrid Monday morning.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Andy flaunts his cooking skills to you and Nikolai. Surprisingly, he has not lost his touch over cooking. He loved it how the little boy gets the food names all jumbled up and how, much to your embarrassment, he would ask him for food requests. Can we have Pawsta and bwed? Or Can we have spwagety?

Wednesdays and Fridays, Andy chilled out on your sofa having a tea party or fighting an alien invasion with Nikolai while you effortlessly cooked to your delight.

It’s almost become a ritual over as the weeks go by. Andy and you talk a lot, but never about each other. Both of you talk about books, or debate over politics or even talk about movies.

It was in these nights when both of you unintentionally spills the beans of your past.

First was Andy when was discussing about how he loved the Harry Potter books you suggested that the waterfall of backstories began. After dinner got over both of you sat on your couch talking about the day’s work, while Nikolai fiddled with toys on the cushioned chair. He mentioned how Jacob had these books.

“Who is Jacob?”

Andy looked ahead at Nikolai sitting at one of the comfort chairs with a couple of his figurines while his eyes fought with slumber, “My son.”

“Oh, how is he? Is he with his mother now?”

Maybe it was too soon to ask. You literally saw with your own eyes how Andy’s eyes drooped, and his figure slumped before you. It even became confusing when he shook his head slightly sideways.

Realising you may have overstepped a line, you tried to steer the conversation to another direction, but Andy blurted it out as if he needed to remind himself the truth.

“Jacob died in a car accident and his mother is in prison for the very same.”

Whispering a oh my god underneath your breath while covering your mouth didn’t stop your eyes from pricking with tears.

Andy narrated the events of the trial briefly while he grabbed the bottle of wine drinking from it directly, not getting in too detail. He mentioned how his son was dropped of all the charges and how after one vacation, everything changed. He mentioned how his now ex-wife successfully attempted to kill Jacob in a car crash because she was convinced that her son was the actual murderer.  

Andy was numb to this story (the kinder version where you didn’t know he was the son of the murderer Billy Barber) and he didn’t realise the kind of reaction it would evoke from someone who had no idea about his past. Guess he was surrounded with nosy people all his life until now.

He internally panicked to you see your tearful state.

“Andy I’m so sorry.”

In an instinct you pulled Andy to you, arms wrapped around his shoulders in a hug. Andy needed a hug so bad he may have wrapped his arms around you an inch closer while he rubbed your back in assurance. He heard your small sniffles, which made him hug you tighter.

His hoarse reassuring whispers that he was alright made you even more devastated. “Hey look Y/N. I am alright okay?”

You pulled away from his embrace in embarrassment. Andy’s heart was hard as a rock, he gave you a half-hearted smile, “God I’m such a fool sometimes. Quick to come to conclusions. I shouldn’t have been so judgmental.”

“If you’re forgetting that was me a couple of weeks back.” His gently touched your cheeks wiping a tear or two away. “Hey come on now. Tears don’t suit you momma bear.”

“So, I’m a bear now huh?”

A little giggle came out of your lips and Andy felt warm. Your mind was fluttering as Andy still stroked your cheek with his thumb. You never realised could be so soothing until a worried Nikolai tried to scramble up on both of your laps.

“Mommy why you cwying?”

“Nothing peaches. Its just-“

“I ate your mommy’s cookies Nikolai,” Andy interrupted earning a dramatic gasp from the little boy while you stifled your laughter.

“Its okay Wandi. Mommy you can take the cookies fwom my jahr. Don’t cwy mommy”

After a series of awws from the two adults, Nikolai went back to his toys. It was time for Andy to leave, standing on the threshold of your house.

“This fresh start is not happening for me at all Y/N. You have been such a wonderful person entertaining me these nights but, I still can’t sleep you know. It’s haunting.”

“Andy,” you still sniffed. “The minute the garage incident was over, that was the minute you stepped away from prying eyes. No one is going to bother you now Andy. You can start fres, infact I think you already did. You bagged a Swimming Instructor shift at the local gym, you have got a new house and most importantly, or not, is that you have Nikolai and Me.

“We all have skeletons in our closet Andy, that’s the unfortunate truth. Its not going to be easy but life has to go on because little do you know you have people depending on you.”

Andy knew you were referring to Nikolai, but for him he had no one depending on him. What was the point of moving on?

“Good night Y/N”

He only left the threshold after he realised you had placed a kiss on his cheek and gave him a hug on your tiptoes.

Another night, it was your turn.

Andy soon realised Nikolai wasn’t anywhere around the house. The toys were neatly placed, and the Television wasn’t running. Music was playing from your phone, but it was low and from the smell of it, you were cooking Chicken Lasagne, Nikolai’s favourite dish.

“Where is Niko? Is he sleeping?”

“He is with his father and the grandparents.”

The dinner went awfully quiet, sure he tried to sneak conversations here and there, but he wasn’t able to hold it. He learned how you decided to actually listen to Chad’s wishes under the conditions that his grandparents would be around. Andy saw your little smile when he learned that Nikolai was extremely reluctant to go with his father. A rational side of you didn’t want to separate Nikolai from his father.

It was while you were flipping through the channels that you broke out like a dam.

“You know Andy, what you heard that day in the library was the truth you know.”

“Niko’s father Chad?”

“It was Nikolai’s first birthday. We were all gathered at home for a small birthday party. Chad and I called in our co-workers that day. In the name of this little one everyone began drinking by around four when we scheduled the party at six.”

Andy noticed how you sardonically laughed in between.

“Before we could cut the cake, I went in search of Chad because Niko wouldn’t cut the cake without him. So, I went around searching for him because I remember Chad was kind of drunk. And then I find him in our room fucking his co-worker while he screamed her name.”

You looked below and began fidgeting with your fingernails. “The next half an hour went in a haze. The guests left. Chad and I went hysteric. We were at each other’s throat. I screamed at him and Chad somehow became sober and began to um- hit me uhm-“

You were breaking and Andy didn’t want to ask you to stop narrating. You must have trusted him enough to talk about something that you evidently found traumatic. Andy scooted closer and took your palms in his hands.

“And I didn’t even realise how I was scarring Niko. He was sitting on the couch all alone scared at our hysterics. In that half hour I- I- forgot about him. The guests were gone, and he didn’t cry. Niko just sat there with his beady eyes clutching his figurines, looking at me in horror after that bastard went up to his room like nothing mattered. I’m the reason for Nikolai’s state.”

“Hey what state Y/N?” Andy stroked your cheek; the lines of formality were blurred between you two. Right now, it was just one soul comforting another in a time of agony. “Nikolai is such perfect child. I have never seen such a brilliant three-year-old in my life.”

You whimpered, “N-Niko hates birthdays. The sight of candles on a cake make him cry and disturbed. H-his nursery is left incomplete because he has these terrible nightmares when he is left alone. He comes crying in horror even if I try to let him sleep alone for once. He always sleeps with me. W-what if I damaged him Andy? Wh-what if he likes his father more in this visit? What if he leaves me?”

You sobbed uncontrollably into Andy’s chest. He didn’t hesitate in cradling you and stroking your hair. He pulled you closer, leaning back at the couch. He waited for your crying to die down.

“You’re such an amazing mother darling,” he whispered, the loving nickname going unnoticed because it seemed so right, “So caring, so kind. Nikolai loves you, you know that right?”

He felt you nodding your head at his chest while none of you bothered to acknowledge how both of your legs were intertwined now. Andy scooted lower on the sofa, lying down with you still cradled to him.

“Chad was a fucking scoundrel okay? Anybody would have reacted like that like you did.” Andy gritted his teeth when he recalled that he hit you but suppressed his emotions because his emotions wasn’t important now. “Nikolai is going to be simply fine. When he comes back, he’s going to run into your arms and say how much he missed you and then proceed to ransack the living room with his toys.”

That genuinely made you laugh. You didn’t want to let go of Andy. His cologne was calming. His sweater shirt was soft. You even felt his little belly; he did mention he was drinking a lot of beer and whiskey when he can’t sleep in the night. It felt so intimate; it felt so right in spite the fact the neither of you are dating.

“You’re a good man Andy.”

Andy places a chaste kiss on your forehead. He saw your cheeks scrunch up, like you were blushing. His lips felt soft on your forehead, a warmth running through the both of you. Andy decided to leave but your grip on his meant something else. Looking down, he felt your soft breaths on his neck now for you tucked your head on his neck. You must be clingy he wondered, but he didn’t mind. He needed a dose of clingy looking at his current state of life.

“Good Night Y/N.”

He was supposed to get up slowly and untangle from your limbs and spread a blanket on you before he left. He was supposed to go back inside his house and have another round of sleepless nights.

Not cuddle and have a good night’s sleep peacefully with you in your soft sofa?

–

Finally, Saturdays and Sundays are the lazy days, ironically both of you don’t hang out as much on the weekends for deep inside Andy thought he was invading Nikolai and yours family time.

When Nikolai was back the next day, just like Andy had mentioned, he ran into your arms and kissed you so much. He even hugged you harder and said he didn’t want to go back to his father.

“He’s not like Wandi. Wandi likes tea pawties. Papa says tea pawties is for guhls and not for boys.”

“Peaches that’s not true, you can play tea party any time you want. You can play with me and Andy okay?”

“Yeah okay. Can we play tea pawty inside Wandi’s cahr too?”

“Niko!”

Your little boy also managed to change your mother-son ritual into a mother-son-neighbour ritual. He persisted you into calling Andy for the everyday evening picnic at the lawn. You knew your son loved Andy but a little voice asked if this was too much.

Apparently it wasn’t. Andy was extremely happy to join you and Nikolai. He kept asking if it was okay but a few reassurances later Andy joined you with a jar of  lemonade. “I may have peaked out of the window and seen your daily picnics. None of them have this baby.” (Of course he was talking about his lemonade).

“Mommi look, Wandi made lemonade! Yaaaay!”

He runs over and hugs Andy as tight as his little hands can. 

“I bake this boy five types of cookies and he falls for your lemonade? Blasphemy Andy. What are you doing to my son?” you ask him with feigned wound in your heart.

“Oh Y/N. He’s just found a new friend. Don’t be jealous now.”

Seeing your son and Andy bond made you heart make a little small wish; that Niko and you find a companion like Andy. Wishing for Andy himself is like wishing for a star. Why would this perfect man fall for a broken person like you?

Andy and you spoke while the little boy ran around the lawn with his toys and it was then his senses came alive and he took in his surroundings.

A pink stained sky; clouds imitating to be cotton candy. A beautiful house in a quaint neighbourhood. The faint smell of your warm cookies and refreshing lemonade while your son ran around. A woman of his dreams weaving her palm through the strands of her hair. This was a dreamland.

And in that moment, he scooted near you and he entwined his hands into yours. You were perplexed at what he was doing but you went with the flow. He wanted his utopia.

“Andy? What are you-“

“Y/N, will you go on a date with me?”

After a few minutes later, your answer gave all the reassurance that he finally got his fresh start; that he can finally start a new life without the demons in the closet.

Right?

–

Part 3

–

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