#she is iconic for her floof! where is it????? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

georgiapeach30513 · 2 years

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How about a floof with Mimi and Papa alone? Just them looking at their family photo albums and reminiscing over the photos of their babies and grandbabies with their “remember this/remember when…?” and iconic “i love you, our life was worth it.” 🥰

Well, you know that today is the one year anniversary with the one shot, Desperate Affairs 😂 who knew that this little one shot was going to spawn into a series, but also a GIAGANTIC AU? I still remember coming back from Dollywood and just brainstorming what was going to happen in a one shot featuring Ransom and Andy. And never did I imagine all this a year later. Two days after the one shot, I got sick with covid, and was out of commission for 9 days, fevered the whole nine days, and just binged watched Chris Evans movies, I slept most of the time. But I had these crazy fever dreams with all the Chrises, thus, the Desperate Verse was born.

So without further adieu, lets look into Ransom and Kitten having a moment, with just Ransom and Kitten. No dogs, no kids, no babies. We know that Kitten went through a lot of pain to get to where she was, but she loves reminding her baby, that she would do it all over again to get this life.

Also in celebration of the one year anniversary, drop me an ask about ANYTHING in the verse. I'm hoping to get a lot more of my asks out this week. I miss my babies!

🖤🖤🖤🖤

Hugh Ransom Drysdale Was Worth It

Summary: You and Ransom reminisce

Pairings: Ransom X Reader

Rating: 🥺😢😂😏😍

Warnings: language, some touchy subjects (if you’ve read about Ransom and Kitten’s life, you already know) Ransom just being his ridiculous self, 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 2.7K

Desperate Lives AU Masterlist

Desperate Love Masterlist

You head towards Ransom’s favorite sitting room. You had looked for that man for what felt like an hour, it was your least favorite thing about this big house. Stopping in the doorway, to see him leaning over a photo album. He takes a deep breath sighing, and you walk over to your pretty boy. Still as handsome as the first day that you saw him in he-who-must-not-be-named’s office.

Sure Ransom had a few more lines on his face, but most were around his eyes from the happy life that you guys had made for yourself. His hair was thinning, he had bits of gray in his hair and beard, but you found him more attractive than ever. When you thought about forever with someone, it was always with him.

Stepping up behind him, he leans back to look up at you, and you give him his favorite, upside down kiss. Walking around the sofa to see him looking at pictures from the day that Iris Jade Barber became Iris Jade Drysdale. Ransom had never hesitated to adopt your sweet, sleepy girl. And in a short time, she became his sweet, sleepy girl. You might have had a good relationship with Iris, but her daddy was her hero.

“I remember this day like it was yesterday. I was so nervous. I was afraid that Frank would contest it at the end. He didn’t You know, I don’t know if I’ve ever thanked him. I couldn’t have done it. I didn’t even want to share him with Icy, and she’s not mine.”

“Yeah, she is,” you assure him. “She became yours the moment you felt her and Aster move in my belly. I saw your eyes, Ran. You wanted them. Both of them. Aster definitely has your outgoing personality, but Iris is your tender cuddle bug. Remember when I told you I wished that neither were yours?”

His head whips over to glare at you, “You gotta bring up the bad stuff?”

“The bad stuff is what lead us to this,” you say flipping over a few pages to you and him on your wedding day. Aster on your hip, and Iris on his, while the two of you are lip locked, and Aster is making a gagging face. “If we didn’t have that bad stuff, would we have even met? If you weren’t getting in trouble with the law, would I have met you at his office?”

“No. You would have met me at that bar. The first night that I made that kitty cat purr. How many times did we fuck?” you shove an elbow in his side, and he laughs, “I thought I was going to have the best sex of my life with no strings attached, and now look at us. Five kids later, and too many grandkids to count. By the way, your daughters are too fertile.”

“My daughters? They’re mine when it’s something negative, huh? My son also seems to be quite fertile, you don’t see me complaining do you? I like the woman that made him settle down. Our daughters could have done a lot worse than what they have. Hell, a few of them did.”

“Yeah, my spawn didn’t settle down until Christopher. God, I wish I could have taken away all of their pain. All of it. Aster’s need to feel like she had to get married, had to have babies. And then that partying phase with the sperm donor. The only good thing about that relationship was Ellie. But man, the many times I wanted to fucking murder Mickey. We could have done it. Carter almost...nothing. Carter doesn’t like him either.”

You cock up an eyebrow at him. You knew that him, Blade, Carter, and even his arch nemesis Curtis had a bit of a mafia type friendship. People who crossed them, or mostly their women, well it didn’t end well for them.

“Or our Icy,” you sigh. “If I could have taken away some of that pressure she put on herself. Her perfectionist personality, and that constant feeling of not knowing who she was or where she fit in. That nearly two years without the only man she will ever love. I know you say you hate that boy sometimes, but you love James so much. He’s a good daddy, good husband, he’s been so good to our other babies. We don’t deserve James Carter in our life.”

“Ugh,” Ransom shakes his head, “Don’t remind me. I love the kid, I just didn’t want him so romantically involved with my baby. She finally told me she wished her and ‘Jamey’ would have waited until they were older when they started messing around. She feared that Posie was going to be like her. She wasn’t until that Numb Skull.”

“Or Blade and his speech. I know your mother ragged on him about it, but there are days I wish I had it back. When Otto popped out with the impediment, but not the stuttering, it was like having my baby back,” your finger traces over an infant picture of Blade. Ransom looking so proud, and overcome with joy. His face a red and blotchy mess, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of the baby. Your son had been carved out of Ransom’s ass, but got more of your personality. “And then he became a dessert loving whore. I’m glad I didn’t know all those hussies. Even though, I’ll take his Boston Cream Pie any day of the week. God, she’s perfect for him. I didn’t want to like her, because she was taking my baby away from me. My only boy.”

You have to stop, wiping your tears away when the next photo is an ultrasound of Anders. One of the only photos you have of your sweet baby boy. His thumb in his mouth, and you swear that he favored Ransom as well. “Do you ever think about him?”

“Everyday, Kitten. But would we have had Story or Lucy?”

“I think, we would have had more. Blade and Lucy were my only pregnancies that weren’t traumatic. I wanted him, so much.”

“We have an AJ,” Ransom smiles at you.

“We have an Anders Jefferson. That little rolly baby,” Ransom gives you a big hug. You adored all your grandbabies, but there was something special, and kindred with Anders Jefferson. When you were around, there was no one else. It was like you finally got your chance to have your second baby boy.

“What about my Princess Story book,” Ransom stares at a picture of the two of you standing over her incubator. Her tiny little body looking cold as she cried for someone to hold her. The nurses could never get in their fast enough, and you ached to hold that tiny baby against your chest always. “I never thought that she was going to be the one that gave us trouble.”

“Your dad,” you giggle because it was never Richard that made the comment, “Harlan.”

“He was my dad.”

“Well, Harlan always said she was so much like you. If you had been given the chance to be as free as she was.”

“My itty bitty baby got my addiction. Sex, drugs, alcohol,” you hated thinking about that time of Story’s life. Your baby just up and missing for over a year, and you saw her again as a withered shell of her former glory. She was always the happiest of your babies, and her light was dull.

“Yeah, but she had my taste in men.”

“Shut up.”

“You gonna deny it? Let’s see, Carter is like you. Dayton, well he’s his father incarnate, and I don’t even want to know what all that asshole was doing to her. Nate, he is like Frank. She did love Nate, and he loved her, was good for her, but in the end he did what needed to be done for her to be with Carter. Chase, good lord he was just like Bryce. Pompous and needy. He was rich and he knew it.”

“What about her Frank? Or Beau? Or Jefferson?”

“Well, she was never in love with Beau. She did that boy wrong, but they’ve worked through it. Jefferson was her Jake Wyler,” Ransom snorts, and makes a mental note to bring that letterman jacket back out. “Frank, I don’t even know. Story was broken in that time. I don’t know if she considers him a boyfriend.”

The two of you glance through some more of the photos of you as a family of four, and then there’s a picture of your feistiest child. Your fallen angel, Luciana Violet Drysdale. The one that kept you on your toes, was a wild one with everyone, but you saw that sweet side come out. The prettiest baby with hair as dark as Ransom’s. Your honey eyed beauty.

“That is your chunkiest birth baby,” you laugh because she was too big. It’s funny to think that she was now your shortest baby. Even shorter than Iris with the biggest personality. “God, she was beautiful. It was like I knew that was in fact my last little Drysdale. I never wanted to stop having kids with you.”

“I know, baby. I felt like she completed us. And just think, Posie came only seven years later. We had us another pretty baby.”

“Everyone thinks she’s this strong and opinionated child, and she is, but,” he flips over to Story and Lucy curled up in Story’s canopy bed together. One of the few ways to keep Story out of your bed, was Lucy. Flipping around another page, Lucy was on the ground of the garden, while Harlan told her a story. Her drawing always reflected whatever it was that he was telling her. He was always amazed at the imagination she had.

Your favorite, was Lucy, and her tiny little hand, in Harlan’s wrinkled one, walking through the garden. Him telling her all about the special flowers that he put in there. And Lucy’s favorite napping place was on Ransom’s chest. Ransom had taken more time off from working to spend time with Lucy and Harlan. He knew how fast those precious moments flew by, and knew that Harlan was reaching the end of his days. Those three were always together.

Harlan never let a day go by without telling Ransom how proud he was of him. The two of them would sit in his study playing Go, while a baby Lucy chewed on Ransom’s signet ring. So many times after Harlan passed, Ransom wished he could hear him say he was proud of him again. Or use Go as a way to work through life’s problems. Harlan was always good at things like that. Ransom always questioned his parenting skills, but he had five happy kids to show he did something right.

“Oh baby, look,” you show him a picture of Ransom giving Carter his signet ring, the very ring that now rested on your youngest Baizen grandson’s finger. The ring that was worn by every Baizen boy, and soon will be retired and into the vault until Otto had a son. Carter’s silvery blue eyes looking up at Ransom with tears in them, while Ransom tried to be the man that acted like he didn’t care. He cared too much for Carter sometimes.

"You had to show me a thing like that didn’t you?”

“You made him so happy, though.”

“He made me happy,” you wipe off a bit of your tears, and want him to proceed his train of thought. “I didn’t have to be in that kid’s life. He didn’t have to like me, but he valued me over his own parents. I know, I am definitely better than them, but Kitten, we gave that boy a childhood. God, he drove me crazy sometimes, with his Mr. Drysdale, refusing to call me Ransom.”

“It was a sign of respect, baby.”

“It was a sign of fear.”

“Wrong. He never feared you,” he turns to glare at you, and you laugh. “Okay, he feared you a few times, but growing up he didn’t fear you. See,” a picture of Ransom with both Carter and James asleep on his chest makes you wish for these moments again. “I had brought the girls back from gymnastics. I had to take Blade with me, but look at you.”

Carter and James’ face both messy with ice cream, and a half eaten pizza on the table. “You loved those boys. If Carter Baizen feared you, he wouldn’t have fallen asleep on you like that. That chocolate cheek getting your shirt dirty. He was always going to be in our family. Just like James. The boy you went behind my back, and helped Stevie get full custody.”

“The one I also paid for Marta to adopt him,” just like the picture of Ransom and Iris, a sweet picture of a five-year-old James hugged up to his mama, and Marta was a crying mess. She had littered kisses all over James’ face, but he couldn’t get enough. “Yeah, those boys were always going to be in our lives. Story and Iris could have done worse.”

“They found men that reminded them of you,” Ransom shakes his head starting to cry. Mentioning his daughters growing up always hurt him the worst. “Aster, too. The man that she fell for, you hand picked for her. Remember the months we had to listen to Beck did this, Beck did that. Beck is so amazing. And our sweet Ellie belly fell for him first. Beck was falling for a woman he didn’t even know because of you and Ellie. Even Chris. Did you ever think you would let your twenty-year-old daughter move a boy in this house?”

Ransom shakes his head no. Chris was far from anything like Ransom. “He doesn’t look anything like you. What with the tattoos, and piercings.”

“I’ve got piercings!”

“Yes, baby, you’ve got piercings. Chris has everything pierced. I’m sure there’s holes in his body with no piercings. But I’m talking about his ease at comforting Lucifer. I knew he was the one, when she stopped coming to me, just to be held for an hour.”

“She still did that?” you nod your head at him. Just like Ransom and Harlan had a tender relationship with Lucy, so did you.

“She’ll still do it every now and then, but typically it’s Chris’ arms she wants. That big man just has to wrap his arms around her, give her a little squeeze, and she breathes easier.”

“That’s what you were doing? You were squeezing our daughter to death? And don’t you dare call me ridiculous.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

“I’m not. You’re just ridiculous.”

“I’ve got a new bottle of blue pills. How long you wanna go?”

“Ransom Drysdale! Are you never gonna stop wanting to have sex with me?”

His lip curls up in disgust and he shakes his head no, “Looking at these photos kind upset your baby, and he needs comfort from your pussy and your boobies, please give me that. I just want, no, I need comfort, Kitten. Please, let me make her purr.”

“Sweet moments are always ruined by your horny self.”

“You know, sex isn’t just for me. I don’t hear you being all flat, it’s always, ‘Yes, baby. Ran right there.’ I have had you screaming my name for one hundred years.”

“We’re not that old.”

“And we’ve been married for ninety.”

“That number is wrong, too.”

“And right now, I just want to play with my Kitty Cat. Please, please, please?”

You roll your eyes laughing. Getting up to go make you a cup of coffee, “What are you doing?”

“Giving myself some energy so I can have sex with you.”

“Oh! Let me take my blue pill, that I don’t need, I just want to make sure things are nice and long lasting for you.”

“You know, sometimes ten minutes is plenty.”

“What is wrong with you?”

“Ran, we have had sex for...” you stop to count on your fingers how long it had actually been.

“Eh,” he raises his eyebrow smiling really big at you, “Just say it’s been a hundred years. I don’t need to know the actual number, I just need to know that you’re the only cunt that I’m sinking my cock into until the end of time.”

“Okay, yeah. Until the end of time. Your cock, my pussy. You want some coffee?”

“Yeah, bring some cookies and snacks in here. We’re having a marathon!”

“You’re so ridiculous, baby!”

“But you love me!” he says as he rushes into the bedroom. And you really do. You love every part of Ransom. Every moment with him. And if you had to do it again just to have these sentimental to sexual moments, you would do it again and again. Because Hugh Ransom Drysdale and your family was worth it.

Masterlist

#desperate lives #desperate lives au #desperate verse #da au #dau #da au request #ransom drysdale #kitten drysdale #ransom drysdale x kitten drysdale #ransom drysdale x reader #ransom drysdale x you

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insomniac-jay · 2 years

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ChargeStorm Headcanons

Modern AU

The possibilities of journalist!Sorami and wrestler and part-time fitness trainer!Shukara

Before assuming her position as a weatherwoman for her family's media empire, Sorami was a journalist tasked with writing articles. One of those articles was on an up and coming wrestler who went by the name of Wasaburo Inoue.

Long story short: She went to one of his matches, interviewed him, he flirted with her throughout the interview. Then they formally met at his World Championship celebration party.

During her journalist days, Shukara would shamelessly flirt with Sorami whenever she interviewed him. The most iconic was the "See you when I get off" one.

Calls her in between filming just to hear her voice because he's That Guy and he can.

Shukara films workout tapes for Sorami post pregnancy to help her lose some of her newly gained weight.

Fantasy AU

Sorami is the Gladiator Queen by marriage to Shukara and as such is the chieftain of all gladiators, including female ones.

As a wedding gift, Shukara commissioned a marble statue of his new queen to be made. Sorami was embarrassed but loves it.

After a long day of working in the colosseum and overseeing the rowdy gladiators, Shukara likes to take his queen and princess for rides in his chariot.

While Shukara is aware that Sorami can defend herself (especially with her weather magic), he still made her her own personal guards just in case.

The two of them will sneak away from royal balls to have time alone and fool around a bit. Their most recent sneak off resulted in Princess Tenki.

During the winter, Shukara will spend a lot more time at the royal palace then there's not much for the gladiators to do then.

General

Their honeymoon was in Baja California (where Shukara's dad is from). That's also where Sorami learned that her new husband is surprisingly good at surfing.

Shukara sometimes takes up doing Sorami's hair when she's too tired to or can't get in contact with her hairdresser. It's always hits.

While Sorami is humble about their relationship, Shukara always flexes that he bagged an absolute baddie.

@floof-ghostie @calciumcryptid @s0ursop @opalofoctober @elflynns-horde-of-stuff @pizzolisnacks @peachyblkdemonslayer

#jay's bnha ocs #ship: chargestorm/shusora🌩#oc headcanons

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owlbearwithme · 4 years

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It’s a small thing but every time Scooter’s undergone a big change that requires her getting a new ref, I chop her mane shorter (Gotta try and maintain her Floof that flops over her head this time but it’s important I make it noticeably shorter)

And the reason for that is a symbolic “Right okay new chapter of my life” along with uhhhh emotional distress. An expression of grief or upset or change.

#Her newest icon isnt as drastic as the jump from the first to the second where she just. Took a knife to her dreads and mane #But im hoping to tweak the sketch and like...PRESERVE THE GENERAL FLOOF WHILE MAKING IT SMALLER

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blueberry-4 · 2 years

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Assassination classroom E class girls redesigns

Remember this post?: https://blueberry-4.tumblr.com/post/679572358445563904/assassination-classroom-e-class-girls-redesigns

Well I’ve done some scene edits with these designs! I’ve added a couple of characters that weren’t in that post so i hope you guys like how they look ^^. Once I create my Assclass timeline (inspired by @luna-loner ) this is how they will look.

//I didn’t feel like shading some of them so yeah :p

Why didn’t the designers indicate her dark roots from the green hair? Like I get it to keep her identity a secret and whatnot but if you wash your colored hair a lot it would fade lol. Whatever, I like this one the most ^^

I changed her hair color slightly and gave her curls! She deserves them!

Kataoka is one of my favorites. She’s so pretty and Ik that some of y’all love especially this design I have for her and I’m so glad ☺️

Yada time! Ik that she loves her scrunchies so I looked up hairstyles with scrunchies first to change her style but then scrunchie scarfs popped up in my browser and they looked so cute!! It looks so good on her that I couldn’t change her iconic ponytail look

I thought about not changing Kurahashi’s look because her hair is very similar to how mine looks. I wanted to feather her hair to swoop upwards for extra floof. I also gave her a butterfly headband. Now looking at it, I think it looks too girly on her. What do y’all think?

The first time watching this show again after years I did not know Nakamura’s hair was dyed. I seriously could not tell at all. So once again, I gave her brown roots because that what her hair color was before apparently

Kanzaki with curls or beach like waves would look good on her fr. So I kinda gave her those. This was the only good scene I can find where she isn’t in the background ><

And save the best for last! Y’all know I’ve been drawing her with curly hair lately. So I had to do it to em 🤝

#assassination classroom #assclass #ansatsu kyoushitsu #kaede kayano #rinka hayami #megu kataoka #yada touka #hinano kurahashi #rio nakamura #yukiko kanzaki #hinata okano #redesign #scene art #scene edit #e class #3 e #class 3e

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gritsandbrits · 2 years

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Sorry to ask but is it ok to give a full summary on what is wrong with the BATB live action remake? I only heard a handful of them from disneyfan50 so I want to hear from you if there’s anything wrong with the BATB remake.

The Beast gave it his all but Emma Watson was a bad choice she was just basically Hermoine but bland and the autotune sucked. They had no chemistry, Belle comes off as a snooty brat and somehow they made her an inventor bc gal powah apparently. Also the Beast is kinda lacking too but eh. Somehow they gave Gaston a sympathetic backstory bc that's what cool these days. They made Lefou gay because I guess being a sycophant equates to sexuality when cogsworth was right there like you could TELL he movie was made solely to appease to critics who get their information from Buzzfeed and Cracked. Like when Belle comments about talking furniture or having to explain how she and Maurice moved or the enchantress all that stuff like no one wants that extra shit! They try to make it where it doesn't come off as Stockholm but again the chemistry between Belle and Beast here severely lacks in genuine heart.

But the biggest thing i hate about the movie was Belle's ball gown Now in DP movies the "fancy" gown is often the biggest iconic part of the movie

Look what they got Hermoine to wear

Whoops!

It's so plain and boring! Sticks out like a sore thumb among the other costumes; which are actually close to historically accurate the film was aiming for. There's detailing on the skirt but you barely see it! I've seen prom dresses on ebay look better than that!

Once Upon A Time has a tv budget but YET managed to design a better dress than a multi-million dollah movie!

It's different yes But still harkens back to the original. You can actually see the gold details! The fabric is very shiny and gold not that banana colored shit! Even her hair is reminiscent of the cartoon vs that flat ass ponytail.

Now look at this multimillion dollah celeb infested monstrosity:

No pomp. No floof. No whimsy. Just a bunch of flimsy slices of homogenized cheese!

Hate hate HAAAAAAAATE!!!

But for all intents and purposes it's just one of the most obvious examples of why Disney shouldn't fix what isn't broken!

#vent #rant #disney salt #gb asks #anti batb 2017 #anti disney remakes #disney princesses

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nochiquinn · 2 years

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four-sided dive episode 1: fuck a banana peel

dani!!

"yellow like chetney's teeth"

kavern teeper

it's my speech impediment's worst nightmare

oh it's a bop

"do old people drink prune juice? no. old people do."

"COOK grape nuts??"

"pfft, bertrand bell. ....unless??"

"HOPEFULLY he wakes up"

roll to survive the night

The Longest Rest

okay scanlan

IMMORTAL GNOME

"so robbie" "OH NO"

the moral of dorian's story is never leave home

"I wouldn't have squashed them. I'd have used them against you."

I need this set to have a sofa

"this is a guy I wrote about for pretend and now he's here!"

"what do we do now? we're BOTH morons!"

dorian added to cyrus' bounty for emotional trauma

"I used the black card 'cause I was gonna get murdered!"

evil dorian au where's the art

"that explains the nice boots"

his inner akechi

the fireplace behind marisha is giving me residual anxiety from That One Live

it's not even real

"are you sure it was a dream?"

oh now we're giving travis anxiety

"I wanna be SPOOKY for campaign 3"

vex double confirm

Ziggaraut Blast, new mountain dew flavor

this puts a new angle on marisha and laura shittalking their own c1 characters

"I heard she's a BITCH"

(or were they talking about keyleth) (I'm not going through all my liveblogs to check)

The Keyleth

does werthers do the fruit swirl ones bc those are okay

"there wasn't a lot to do in the 50s"

werthers nanobots

that's a soundbite now

wethersnanobots.mp3

sagas of sundry ptsd

"believe in the me that believes in me"

"are these painted together"

okay LIAM

(speaking of my sagas ptsd)

oh that's a nice littel graphic

isn't it still webelos? I don't know enough about boy scouts to confirm

a 4th grader with travis' attention span

Peak Weird

"if MARISHA does something weird no one can clock me"

laudna: I am thou, thou art I

dariax truly is No Thoughts Head Empty

No Thoughts Head Empty as therapy

oh I can maybe relate to the lying thing

don't tell my friends

"can you put all of this on her tab"

oh custom tankards!

"be honest - are you too young to get Flight of the Navigator references"

PFFT he saw the dick out memes

"he lived! and he boned liev'tel!"

I hope they make sam pull out of his scanlan tankard

"always take a spa day" be selective with your spa

dickoutery

"LOOK AT DANI"

"I'm not on camera right now!" bring back danicam

ROBBIE you BITCH

FLOOF

can't believe robbie refused to answer omar, so rude

"I've loved werewolves since I was tiny" really I don't think we ever could have told that about you travis

that's fucking adorable

baby travis is why crayola markers are washable by default now

"this is my werewolf! :D"

"you can say chetney"

djfslk robbie's pops

"she needs a dead thing"

"when taliesin dresses you for renfaire - and he always does - you need more dead things hanging off of you"

this does not surprise me in the least

bribing this boy with so many treats

the subs just called taliesin "allison"

"you eating questions??"

chetney's class is Werewolf

that's how you become liam

"I want to get into the higher levels of blood hunter because...somebody needs to do it."

chetney writes paranormal romance and we all know it

where the sidewalk ends!

Dorian Doodles

howdoyouwannadothises

liam's done the dramatic flavor always

travis doing the wall of fire hand slide

it was iconic okay

"was it liam being extra or something you could do" both

"all the characters just get fuckin weirder"

"I never played before :D"

"I know what three buttons do"

I don't know who's playing walugi but I'm automatically rooting for them

oh MATT is playing waluigi

you are also a man of taste

.....of COURSE he's playing waluigi, I can't put the picture but YOU KNOW WHICH PICTURE

"DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES"

"this was the moment?" "YEAH"

my kid kicks my ass at mariokart. and most other video games.

"I'm TRYING to win mariokart but I'm dummy thicc and the clap of my asscheeks isn't aerodynamic"

Big Hands Little Controller is a Problem

ohhh my bananas

"good thing nobody games on twitch"

"how do I commit seppuku in mariokart"

"waluigi deserves it" take it back

"you insulted her by calling her her name?!"

"FUCK A BANANA PEEL"

crying at matt's fall from grace

"touch them, they're helpers! :D"

"I got a real dry bowser"

"can't underestimate the worst mariokart player ever"

The Sweeper

"I'm never coming back on this show again"

I've been your travis willingham

OF COURSE SAM DID A SONG

omar is Helping

why did the plushie just jumpscare me

#critical role #four-sided dive #spoilers #crititag #liveblog #reaction post

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softcallofdutyimagines · 3 years

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The squad with a curly haired gf

Adler

Can you say, iconic hair duo?

Because, yeah lol

Russell is the rare example of a man who won’t give you shit for taking extra time to get ready to go out

Primarily because he also requires extra time to get ready to go out

It’s not that he makes a big deal of trying to ensure every last strand of hair is perfectly in place, mind you

More so that there’s a lot of steps in between when his hair is freshly washed, and when it’s ready to go, all gelled up and styled like it is

The cabinet under your shared sink is divided right down the middle with yours and his hair products

Of course, you would have no problem sharing, and you do in fact share certain things that you can

But your hair simply has different needs moisture and support wise, so you get all your own stuff

However, you have put some curling gel in his hair at least once, just to see how he'd look

It was not a very good look, but you both had fun trying it

Hudson

The exact opposite of Adler lol

While you and Adler would draw appreciative looks, you and Hudson get more like bewildered stares

It makes a bit of sense, considering just the powerful contrast between your glorious mane and his stark baldness

Hudson doesn't mind however

In fact, if anything, he finds it quite amusing

However, he could live without you draping your hair over his head now and then to "see what he'd look like"

Regardless, he does love your hair

It's so different from what he's use to, namely his lonesome bald himself, that is

He likes the soft texture between his fingers and against his stubble, and the fruity, flowery scent it always carries

Hudson has about zero skill with hair care, but if you're patient and willing, nothing would make him happier then learning how to help

This may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but he really is glad to do it...

As long as you can keep his secret safe ;)

Lazar

As an ethnic Jew, I think Lazar would have a lot more experience with luscious, curly hair then you'd think

He is undoubtedly a master braider and knows exactly what kind of protective styles would look good on you

Additionally, he loves doing this for you!

His mom has basically been preparing him for this all his life, so he's excited to flex his skills

And, while he doesn't necissarily use them himself, he has great recommendations for what kinds of creams, oils, and gels you should try

Personally, I suspect Lazar also has naturally curly hair, he just brushes and gels it to match the current style

However, if you encouraged him to go natural, he totally would

You'd be kind of like the sign he's been waiting for to do it lol

With a little shape up and some care, he looks amazing with his little floof top

From them on, the two of you strut around as the epitome of curly haired couple goals

And yes, you both do take great joy in telling people this is your natural hair when they ask where you got your perms from

Mason

Mason, sort of like Hudson, is a big of the unique smell and texture of your locs then anything else

He finds it comforting, and before long he starts to identify the most prominent smell from all your creams and oils as the smell of home

It's hard to explain, and he's afraid you might think he's strange for it, but...

Something about the reminder of you brings him to a safe place in his mind

The kind of place he didn't even think he had up there anymore

However, you don't find it wierd at all, quite the opposite in fact

You're glad that something as silly as the smell of your hair makes him feel at home, both physically and mentally

So, you makes sure to keep that particular product in your rotation whenever you can

Alex is not very good with hair care/styling however

He will try to learn if you want to teach him, but it just doesn't seem to click

So try not to expect much more then him helping you administer product and brush it through

This plays to his advantage though, as he's able to learn what it is that makes that smell he so adores

I say advantageous, because when he has to be away for longer periods, he buys one for himself, just to have

When he particularly misses you, he puts a dab of it in his own hair, just to have the smell follow him around

And why not? If nothing else, his justification is that it keeps his hair just as nice and silky too

Park

She's. In. LOVE

I hope you're ready to have your own personal stylist, because that's exactly what you'll be getting with Helen

Growing up, she was a big fan of playing dress up and princesses with her dolls

Now imagine how she'd feel as an adult with such a gorgeous head of curls in front of her

Unfortunately, doll hair and human hair care are quite different, and while she's easily able to grasp this of course...

She will need a bit of guidance on your hair care needs

But no matter how complex, she's game

It's very hard for her to pick out one thing she loves about your hair tbh

But, if she had to choose, she enjoys braiding it the most

It's also quite nice because, while her own hair is rather low maintenance, she does pick up a few useful tips and tricks from you on hair care

Of course, she does also appreciate that you don't mind returning the favor and giving her hair a bit of love

Before long the two of you would be walking around with absolutely perfect, hydrated and glowing locs

The effort may be a bit time consuming, but all that time together, and particularly the result it has, are so worth it

Weaver

He thinks your hair is the most gorgeous thing he's ever seen

If you two wanted to/were able to have kids, he'd be the type to pray all the kids get your hair

That's not to say he dislikes his natural, smooth and straight hair, that is

Just that he'd feel like quite the proud dad to have his beautiful little floofy haired family running around

But for now, he's more then happy to dote on you and your hair

He can manage a very basic braid, which might come as a shock to you, but if you want him to do anything more complex, he's going to need a minute or three

Also, he's quick to be proud of your hair on your behalf when someone compliments it

Considering perms were all the rage in the 80s, you basically get worshiped and for your curls and asked where you got them done a lot

It's funny at first, but a little tiring after a while

However, Weaver never seems to get tired of bragging on you

After a while, he's pretty quick to be the one saying "It's all natural" to those who inquire

You find it a little funny, but it does feel good to be appreciated so

Woods

Of all the others, he'd be the one to tease you a bit

Nothing all that mean or rude of course, more like in an endearing way

He nicknames you "Curls" almost immediately

At first it runs you the wrong way, and so he has to dedicate some effort to prove that he doesn't mean it like that

But in the end, he does manage to pull it off, and his teasing becomes something of an inside joke to you two

Only he is allowed to make jokes like that though, anyone else who tries it, even in a friendly way, gets snapped at

You do wish he'd ease up a little about it, but he can't help but be protective of you

Frank is a total lost cause when it comes to styling your hair

Honestly, you're lucky to convince him to even consider doing up your hair, but that's another story

He's one of those where if he can't get it right the first or second try, he gets to frustrated to keep going

With a little encouragement, he might be able to manage a basic braid

It does not look very good at all, but he tried

At first, he's a bit pissy over all the "girly" smells from your products overwhelming his living space

As well as the amount of time it takes for you to get ready in the morning

But he grows accustomed to it after a while and it doesn't bother him anymore

In fact, he goes down a similar route as Mason, and starts to identify the smells with a feeling of security

Woods would never go so far as to put scented anything in his hair, even as a token reminder of you, but...

He has been known to swipe one if your conditioners before a deployment, just to bask in the comforting smell now and then

It's probably stupid, but he likes to think it brings him luck, having that tiny piece of you with him out in the field

Just a little something to remind him to come home safe <3

#this is completely self indulgent but anyways #black ops cold war #call of duty #russel adler #russel adler x reader #frank woods #frank woods x reader #helen park #helen park x reader #jason hudson #jason hudson x reader #eleazar azoulay #lazar x reader #grigori weaver #grigori weaver x reader #alex mason #alex mason x reader

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atsumuwoah · 4 years

Text

team jacket - u. wakatoshi x reader

title : team jacket words : 1465 notes : hnggg wan me sum big jacket for snuggles pls genre : floof warnings : n/a

my masterlist~

✿.｡.:* ☆:**:. ☆ .:**:.☆*.:｡.✿

the girls and boys volleyball teams of shiratorizawa had just finished their combined training, and their captains, (l/n) (y/n) and ushijima wakatoshi, had stayed back to discuss some team bonding activities over the weekend.

unfortunately, a cold spell suddenly came upon their area, and to your dismay, you weren't properly dressed. all you had on was a your average uniform without any tights on, and a cute sweater that wasn't really all that purposeful.

"it's c-cold today, isn't it, ushijima-san?" your teeth chattered to your annoyance. in vain you tried to make small talk to distract yourself from the cold but to no avail. there you were, shivering in your aesthetic purposes only sweater as the winds beat down.

"yes, it is," was all he could say, his cheeks not even a single shade of red. a big fat liar was what he was, you bitterly thought, rubbing your forearms for warmth. stupid sweater you got off wish for 50 yen.

huffing out a gust of smoke from your move in frustration, rubbing your hands together until you reached the train station with its heated seating areas. each step you took, the heavier your legs felt, to the point you were very close to taping your heat pads to your thighs.

out of nowhere, a huge spot of wind blew in the two of you's direction, and that's when you knew you couldn't take it anymore. stood rooted to the ground, it was like you entire body had frozen. taking ragged breaths, you looked around for a conbini you could buy masks from, and possibly even a few more clothing layers.

but it just so happened, they were in an unlucky spot, with no 7Elevens to be seen. you inwardly cursed to yourself, because by god it was already awkward that you were freezing out in the cold with that tall hunky cute man of little words by your side.

blatantly you took out your phone and searched up 'nearby conbinis that sell clothing' in your usual search engine. you looked into your wallet for money, but as amazing as the situation could be, you were broke. all you was just enough coins to buy one and a half caprisuns.

you decided to suck it up and trudge your heavy-ass feet to the train station before they shrivelled up and fell off until a heavy fabric draped over your shoulders. a familiar purple adorned your sides, as well as the white bodice of it.

"eh?" and you look towards your chest to see a familiar volleyball icon on it. 'ics'. immediately you knew what it was.

you whipped your head in the direction the jacket came from and you see all 6'2 of him, his big muscley arms out for the whole world to see. what more, his face was already turning a bright shade of crimson.

"oi ushijima-kun! get back your jacket! i don't need it!" you say, unknowingly forgetting the right honorific, "the train station is 15 minutes away, 10 if i sprint!" you try to convince him, guilty that you accidentally pitied him into giving you his jacket.

his usual stoic face surprisingly turned even redder, and that was enough to keep him warm.

"it's alright. i am already warm. you need the jacket more than i do," he said, collecting all his shits, and holding it his arm as a gesture to hold your bag as you slipped on the big jacket.

it stopped right above the end of your skirt, and was very warm and fluffy on the inside, like a fresh-from-the-dryer hoodie. instinctively you hugged your arms, only the tips of your fingers escaping the end of the sleeves, and you took a deep breath.

oh shizzle i shouldn't have done that, you thought, a magnificent vanilla-deodorant smell, with a touch of snuggle fabric softener. needless to say, the smell got you simping even harder.

even harder? yeah, you had already been crushing on the fellow captain for a while, and if wearing his jacket wasn't making it worse, it was probably the smell of it. stupid female hormones and it's weird attraction to vanilla and fabric softener.

"t-thank you, ushijima-san," you silently mumble.

"ushijima," you turn in shock, "call me ushijima-kun,"

***

upon reaching home, you ran into your room and crashed into your pillow, screaming your little head off. the entire time ushijima had escorted you to the train station, from getting on the train to sPRINTing back home, you couldn't stop thinking about him and his amazing jacket.

honestly it filled your mind up to the point that you couldn't sleep, so tying your hair up into a messy bun, you scrolled through fanfictions late at night and early in the morning, hoping it would satisfy you and your shoujo manga dreams, but alas, it just wasn't enough.

***

"oH SHIZZLE I'M LATE!" yesterday was friday, meaning it was the weekend and of course, team bonding exercises at school. you were supposed to be there by 9, and it was 8:30. quickly releasing your hair and stuffing the scrunchie into a jacket pocket that you honestly forgot about.

cursing as you lost the sweats you wear over your volleyball spandex, you literally left your house in such a rush that all you were wearing was your volleyball shirt, your spandex-that-looks-like-booty-shorts, and the jacket you never bothered taking off because it was just so comfy.

running and completely ignoring the train, you finally made it to your school. you looked towards the buses and was relieved to see that the volleyball team bus, emblazoned with a giant 'SHIRATORIZAWA'.

running towards the gym where hopefully the team would be, you slammed through its doors, immediately bowing 90 degrees, apologising for being so late. everyone must have been so shocked though, that someone even froze mid-air.

you heard a familiar chuckle, and you looked up to see your middle blocker tomato friend, tendou, trying his absolute best to keep in his laughter but ultimately failing.

"tendou?!" you ask, trying to keep in you half anger, half confusion as he pointed at his friend, the tall, olive green headed ace, who, unlike the others, wasn't wearing his team jacket. he kept going back from you to him, over and over until you looked at yourself as well.

you were still wearing ushijima's team jacket.

he absolutely was shaking in his spot, staring you up and down like a deer caught in headlights.

to him, it was like a little dress on you. he just didn't know what to think of it, like wow, that's really pretty. it got even worse when bashfully, you slipped off the jacket, revealing you and your volleyball uniform of the day, a (those cute volleyball shirt captions) tank top, and your short little spandex, revealing your thighs.

in no way was he trying to be a perv, he was discreetly trying to admire you as you slipped off the jacket to show how really beautiful you were. the poor boy, as much of a volleyball-head he was, never really saw much of volleyball girls. even if he did, they were all just your run-of-the-mill girls. to him they were all just equal.

but you, it was as if he just realized you were a girl. timidly, you walked up to him, and you passed him his jacket. contrary to his usual straight face, his eyes widened as his team struggled to keep down their laughter, and hell, even your team was laughing.

honestly, it was obvious to anyone in the room that you two liked each other. and it was even more fun to see the two captains slowly falling head over heels for each other.

extended~

"eh, what's this in your pocket, waka-chan?" asked tendou, fiddling with the bump in his friend's jacket. he snatched it out, to find a/an (f/c) velvet scrunchie, and began to fiddle with it, trying to figure out what it was.

"wakatoshi-kun, what's this?" he asked incredulously, perplexed at the new sight before him. the said boy quickly snatched it from him, inspecting it as well.

"you know what, i think this is (l/n)'s! i've seen her wear it on her wrist and in her hair at school. she always is saying "oH i wISh I hAd a BoYfRieNd tO wEaR thIs!" he said in realization.

truth be told, he were confused on how to wear it ("even though you're not her boyfriend yet at least make move to try to be him," - tendou satori) so it was a lot of debate on the boys bus until they reached their destination, and to the surprise of the girls team, who arrived first, came out a proud ushijima, a small tuft of his hair tied up with a scrunchie on the top of his head.

#riri's haikyuu stuff #haikyuu!!#ushijima wakatoshi #hq ushijima #ushijima x reader #ushijima x y/n #ushijima x you #haikyuu fluff #im sorry this has been in the drafts 4eva #but finally letting this one go #have a good run toshi mwah

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calciumcryptid · 3 years

Text

Random Ramble of the Houses the BNHA Kids Would Be In Because One Braincell is Vibrating:

Kendou and Yaoyorozu are daughters of Athena, and you are wrong if you think otherwise. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, plus I want a universe where Yaoyorozu and Kendou are sisters and having a family rivalry.

Uraraka is a daughter of Hermes. This sounds odd but hear me out. One of the most popular headcanons is jock Uraraka and I adore this headcanon a lot. Hermes is the god of sports and athletes so it makes sense. He is also the god notable for winged sandals which aligns with Uraraka's quirk. He also has a hand in an aspect of health which can translate to Uraraka desire to become a rescue hero. Finally, Hermes is the inventor of the lyre and I just think Uraraka could rock a fucking lyre.

Hagakure is a daughter of Iris, rainbows deal with light and a common alternative hero name for Hagakure is Prism which produces rainbows through light.

Jirou as a daughter of Apollo is very obvious, but I really like it for the irony of it all. Apollo is this woman chasing, known healer, known prophecy teller, sun god. Meanwhile Jirou is very reserved, more on the attack, a realist, and would most likely associate herself with the moon. It is just a fun dynamic to think about. I do like to think that Jirou was offered to be a part of Artemis' hunters but she turned it down because she is in love with Yaoyorozu and doesn't wish to outlive her

Mina is a daughter of Aphrodite, a hopeless romantic who would be a fashion icon. Plus, her being buff as fuck would be a nice pushback against the stereotype.

Ibara is a daughter of Demeter as she is natural, and can be scary when she wants to be.

Mei would be a daughter of Hephaestus, I feel like this is obvious but an inventor daughter of an inventor god.

Camie would be a daughter of Hecate, as Hecate is the goddess of witchcraft so Camie would be able to do her illusions that way. She definitely spends a lot of time with the Aphrodite kids though.

@floof-ghostie

I don't know nearly enough about the other 1B girls like you do, but I would love some input.

Tokage could be a good daughter of Nemesis (goddess of revenge) or Nike (goddess of victory).

#pjo x bnha

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crystalessenceswrites · 4 years

Text

You’re Enchanting--Chapter Two

Summary: Delphine always told Elazar she would do anything to help him if he was ever in trouble, even knowing his knack for finding it. She didn’t expect to be helping him save the world after someone blows up the Conclave and tears a hole in the sky. Nor did Delphine expect to be falling for anyone, let alone a troubled, former templar, while she’s watching her best friend shape the future of their world with a green glowing hand.

Pairings: Cullen/Trevelyan & Dorian/Lavellan

Warnings: none I think? Includes discussion of mage/templar opinions of the other but nothing extensive

Can also be found on AO3

[Chapter One] [Chapter Two] [Chapter Three]

Chapter Two- Focus

“So, you don’t have a clue as to how you got the mark on your hand, except that it happened during the explosion, which also opened the Breach that’s allowing demon rifts to open and terrorize the good people of Thedas. And knowing this, you joined the Inquisition because the mark closes rifts and they want to seal the Breach in the sky and save the world.” Delphine sat on the edge of Elazar’s cot, rubbing her temples. “Do I have that all correct?”

“Pretty much,” Elazar shot her a half-assed grin. She knew he was getting too much enjoyment out of watching her try to wrap her mind around the events of the last week.

“And people are believing that a Dalish elf is the Herald of Andraste?”

Elazar’s fingers lightly traced over the blue ink below his eye. “That has surprised me just as much as you… but it’s better than people calling me some sort of darkspawn.”

“I can agree with that,” Delphine sighed. If becoming a religious icon protected Elazar from such accusations, she would let it stand for now. “Does it hurt? The mark, I mean.”

“Not so much anymore. Right after the explosion, when the Breach was still growing, the mark was spreading. Solas and the apothecary here, Addan, managed to keep me alive long enough to seal it… and once we did, the mark stopped consuming my arm. We think…”

Delphine could spot his fake optimism a mile away, but he wasn’t just trying to convince her that the mark was no longer a danger but himself as well. She hated that he felt the need to do so around her. They hadn’t been apart for that long, had they?

“Well, I guess that’s good to hear. There’s still the fact that it’s there at all, but that’s a problem that needs a solution later on. You will let me know if it starts bothering you again, won’t you?”

“Yes, of course, Del. You’re the last person I could hide it from anyways,” Elazar chuckled.

“That’s true. I can read you like a book.” She grinned back.

Maybe it hadn’t been that long after all.

“Which reminds me! I lent you a copy of Early Orlesian History before I left the Circle. Please tell me you left that in the tower and that it didn’t go up in flames in the explosion.”

The color draining from her elvish friend’s face didn’t give Delphine much hope.

“Ha- I was hoping you forgot about that.”

Delphine pressed her palms over her eyes, all hope of possibly appeasing her uncle next time she saw him was gone. That is if she ever saw him again…

“My uncle lent me that copy! I’ll never hear the end of it from him, ever!” The man could hold a grudge, which stands as quite a testament to character considering her family and their reputation.

“I’ll apologize to your bookworm uncle myself if I must. And I’ll see if I can find another copy to replace it with.” This was not the first time one of his books had been destroyed by Elazar’s mishaps, and apology and a replacement might not cut it this time around.

“Elazar, between worrying me and destroying my uncle’s prized library, you will be the death of me.”

In short order, Delphine found herself in the presence of the Inquisition leadership. Elazar, true to his charismatic nature, cheerily introduced her to Leliana, the Left Hand of the Divine, who eyed her with unabashed curiosity. Delphine was used to being ogled like an exotic pet but considering it was the Divine’s spymaster looking at her with such intensity gave slight cause for concern. Next, she was properly reintroduced to Cassandra, the Right Hand of the Divine. Despite knowing the woman was formerly a Seeker, Delphine was not nearly put off in her presence. Maybe it was the fact that her eyes weren’t nearly as cold and sharp as the other Seekers she’d crossed paths with over the years.

Josephine greeted Delphine with a practiced gleaming smile and a myriad of questions, the first of which was on her relationship to the Bann Trevelyan of Ostwick. She shouldn’t have expected any less from the ambassador.

“He would be my father.”

Delphine wondered if she should be more concerned about the ambassador considering the glee that washed over Josephine’s face at the answer.

“Lady Trevelyan, you and our ambassador are soon going to become fast friends.” Leliana sounded thoroughly amused at the development.

Josephine quickly voiced her agreement before Delphine had a chance to correct the Spymaster. Delphine had not been considered a lady since she was a child, and honestly, she held little desire to return to that position. The only title she savored was the one she had earned through dedication to her studies and craft.

Lastly, Elazar reintroduced Delphine to the Commander, who stood near the back of the room, his hands resting crossed over the hilt of his sword. The stance was as close to relaxed as any templar could allow themselves while still being able to perform their duties. Delphine did her best to keep her skepticism from showing as he greeted her in return. She also tried to ignore the way he looked her over in a not so subtle manner.

“I have asked Delphine to stay and help… after all, she is the smarter of the two of us. She may prove to be more helpful to the Inquisition than I.”

Delphine had never been fond of how Elazar put himself below her. He was just as talented in magic as she was, if not more so.

“That’s not true. We’re no longer in the Circle so I will not have this argument with you again,” she scolded. “And you are the one with the glowing hand in all this, not me.”

Cassandra looked rather amused but did not interject, deferring to Leliana. “I am sure we all agree that any assistance Lady Trevelyan can offer would be most appreciated, Herald. She is most welcome here.”

Cullen and Josephine nodded, the ambassador looking more pleased with the development than the commander.

“With the settled, we should discuss the names that Mother Giselle supplied us with. I believe having the Herald address the clerics is not a terrible idea.”

Elazar had briefly explained why he had been sent to the Crossroads following the developments at the Temple. Delphine was skeptical that any in the Chantry would even dare to gather in public right now.

“You can’t be serious.” Cullen balked, and Delphine had half a heart to agree with him.

“Mother Giselle isn’t wrong: at the moment, the Chantry’s only strength is that they are united in opinion.”

“And we should ignore the danger to the Herald?” Leliana shot back.

“Let’s ask him.”

Elazar shrugged, “what can they do? It’s just talk.”

Had he skipped all of his history lessons while they were apprentices?

“Don’t underestimate the power of their words. An angry mob will do you in just as quickly as a blade.”

Delphine nodded in agreement, Leliana had more than a fair point. “Never doubt the power of public opinion.”

“I will go with him to Val Royeaux. Mother Giselle said she could provide us names? Use them.”

Cassandra was a woman of action, and deserved credit for that, even if the idea did seem rather fruitless. All the Chantry would do for such a meeting would be a charade. Leliana seemed to be of the same opinion.

“But why? This is nothing but a-”

“What choice do we have, Leliana? Right now we can’t approach anyone for help with the Breach. Use what influence we have to call the clerics together. Once they are ready we will see this through.”

Begrudgingly the rest agreed, Leliana and Josephine would begin sending out letters and agents to bring together those they could in Val Royeaux in a few weeks’ time. Delphine offered Josephine any help she needed. She had not seen this list of names yet but it was entirely possible she knew of or was related to one of two of the clerics suggested to be amenable. It was the most she could do, for now.

“In the meanwhile, I plan to return to the Crossroads. There is still much to do,” Elazar declared. Always one to make such decisions on his own. At least that much had not changed.

The pair spent the rest of the day settling into Haven and planning what they could. Due to the already apparent lack of housing it was decided Delphine would bunk with Elazar. Another cot appeared rather quickly and was situated across the cabin from Elazar’s. It was more privacy than she had expected upon her arrival in the small village. Someone else came by not long after with fresh clothes more suited to the mountain winter. Delphine heartily thanked the elvish woman who looked at Elazar with wide eyes.

After bathing, something Delphine needed even more than fresh clothes, Elazar sat with her on her new bed and combed out her long sandy locks. Her elvish friend had been enamored with her hair since they had met. There had been plenty of nights over the years where he would sit behind her while she studied, dutifully combing and braiding. Delphine had tried unsuccessfully, on many occasions, to convince Elazar to grow his own hair out. She thought he would look rather charming with long dark hair. He always shot the idea down, content with his current messy floof.

“It makes me appear more the dashing rogue, don’t you think?”

Delphine would always roll her eyes, “if that’s what you believe, El.”

Maybe he would be some dashing heartbreaker had he been left to live his life outside the Circle tower, as his people intended.

Elazar’s hands lingered across her shoulders as he finished styling her hair. “I missed this- I miss you, Del.” He wrapped his scrawny arms around her shoulders, leaning across her back. “I’m glad you came… I don’t know if I could do this, whatever this is, without you.”

She couldn’t remember the last time he had hugged her. They hadn’t been on speaking terms last time they saw each other face to face. It had been too long.

“Well someone has to keep you out of trouble, El.” She lay one hand over his, rubbing soothing circles across his knuckles. “So, you won’t be getting rid of me so easily again.”

“Thank you, Del.”

Delphine felt much more prepared to face the day as she readied herself the following morning. Requisitions had supplied her with suitable clothing that actually fit, unlike the hastily bought traveling gear Del had purchased for herself upon her arrival in Ferelden. It was much easier to tromp around Haven in fur-lined boots that weren’t threatening to fall off her feet. She admittedly was also more comfortable going about her business in a skirt than the leather trousers she’d been wearing.

“You almost look like a proper Ferelden lady.” Elazar had snickered as she finished dressing.

She rolled her eyes in response. A brown lambswool sweater, cream skirt, and sturdy boots just made her appear ready for the weather, not Ferelden. Perish the thought she would ever be anything besides a Marcher.

After breakfast they parted ways, El wanted to discuss plans for returning to the Hinterlands with Cassandra, while Del wanted to see about having armor prepared. Next time Elazar went out on one of these missions, she wanted to be prepared to go with him. Del would leave nothing up to chance or fate now, she would have her friend’s back, defend it if she must.

Most of her day was spent in lively debate with the blacksmith, Harritt. He was hesitant at first, Delphine assumed because he spied the staff at her back the moment she entered his forge, but began to open up the longer she was able to hold a conversation with him. Back in the Circle Delphine had studied mage armor as a purely academic topic. It was not something they would ever be allowed to make or own as they weren’t permitted to fight, but there had been plenty of books and schematic references in the tower library. She may have never had the opportunity to craft but the theory behind it was one she understood, and it was the theory she needed now. Harritt would concern himself with the actual creation, Delphine simply had to supply the instructions.

Harritt was the first person outside of the Circle who seemed to enjoy, and dare she say, respect her knowledge. For the first time Del wondered if Elazar was right about people outside the Circles. Maybe it was possible for people to find common ground with mages. Could it be that the rebels found sympathy for their cause outside of their own kind? Delphine had plenty of time to sit and ponder the thought as Harritt got to work on her enchanter armor. It would take a few days to complete, as the blacksmith also had to manage the growing need for standard armor and weapons for the new recruits. She was not in any particular hurry and went about helping Josephine the best she could in the meanwhile.

Like everyone else Josephine had plenty to do. There wasn’t much Delphine could do concerning politics, a subject Del was much more removed from outside of mage and Circle politics, but she had decent penmanship and some tact with words. She did what she could helping pen the letters out to the Chantry Mothers, and offered what insight she could on the clerics themselves. One was a distant cousin by marriage to Delphine’s mother and another had been one of her brother’s sponsors when he had pursued his calling. Giving her name to those two letters did not feel like much but Josephine reassured her that every bit of influence that could gather would help.

“You do not understand the power of your name?” Josephine seemed rather confused by it, but Delphine decided it was not something to hold against the Antivan woman. How was she supposed to understand the hesitancy of a noble turned mage?

“It is not a name that is truly mine,” it was difficult to put to words, although it was her name and would forever be the family she shared blood with, any power it held had been stripped away along with her title all those years ago. Most days, Delphine was alright with that fact. “I have not been a proper member of the Trevelyan family since I was sent to the Circle.”

Josephine’s usually bright face dropped, “I see…I did not consider that fact. There is that much separation between mages and their families?”

“Most never see or speak to their relatives after entering the Circle. I was lucky due to my family’s position in the city.”

“I see…”

The Ambassador was rather apologetic the next few times Delphine stopped by to offer her assistance, though there was no need for her to be. She was not offended by the topic. Delphine imagined most had little to no knowledge of what life as a mage entailed. It was not something she’d ever consider holding against the woman, especially when Josephine had been otherwise nothing but kind to her. Delphine wanted to do what she could to help the bustling woman but found there was not much she could take off her hands.

Delphine soon found herself with more time on her hands than she knew what to do with, particularly after Elazar departed for the Hinterlands. It was a different kind of lonesome that Del was not accustomed to. Much of her isolation in the Circle had been self-imposed. This was the kind of where she sat and prayed, hoping Elazar would return in one piece.

Eventually, she fell into a routine, checking in with Josephine and Harritt in the morning to offer what help she could. If there was anything for her to do, it was usually wrapped up by midday, so Del would spend her afternoons sitting on the side of the main steps of the village, taking in what sun she could and watching the soldiers train by the frozen lake. It was oddly satisfying to watch them continuously drill and spar. Delphine had enjoyed people watching in the Circle, this was just a kind of people she had not had the option of watching before. Additionally, it seemed to annoy Joshua. He would often spot her staring and shake his head or act as if he was shooing her away. They had been playing this odd game of theirs for just over a week when the Commander caught Joshua in his usual display of displeasure. After what seemed like a thorough chewing out by his superior officer, Joshua waved her to come over.

Delphine made a point of approaching solemn-faced, worried she too would be getting a lecture from the former templar. “Yes, Lieutenant?”

“The Commander asked to speak with you.”

She must have grimaced because Joshua looked absolutely thrilled to usher her towards the blond soldier.

Delphine wasn’t frightened by the ex-templar, per se, but after a lifetime of being watched by men and women like him, she had been instilled with a healthy sense of wariness around them. It did not matter if she was in the tower or at one of her family’s estates being guarded by one of her uncles or cousins, they all viewed her as a potential danger and they acted as such. She didn’t necessarily disagree with their view. Delphine understood the dangers of possession, but she had no reason to trust someone who already mistrusted her. Delphine had yet to see the Commander interact with any of the mages who remained at Haven, besides in their initial meeting. Most seemed to avoid him, which stood as no surprise. She had yet to see him mistreat one of her kind but that did not mean he didn’t either.

She wanted to make up her mind about the man, but there was a small voice in the back of her mind that urged her to look closer. She had not heard him utter any disparagement towards mages, even in the few war room meetings she had attended in the absence of Elazar. There was also a certain steel that he lacked. He was gruff, yes, the lip scar and light stubble made him appear the rough soldier, but his voice lacked a certain bite that Delphine had become accustomed to with templars.

“Ser, you asked to speak with me?”

In the time she had spent watching from afar, Delphine had concluded the Commander had two kinds of days. On occasions she could read him like a book; these were the days when the stress seemed to overwhelm him physically, leaving him looking sickly and gaunt in his bulky armor. The rest of the time, she could not discern what he was thinking. There was no doubt that the man was strait-laced and knew how to act the part of a leader. As for today, Delphine stood cautiously next to the former templar as he looked out over the training recruits, she could not read his hardened stare.

“The Herald said you two studied together in Ostwick, correct?”

Delphine blinked for a moment, she still did not associate Elazar with his new title, despite the advisors all referring to him as such. “Y-yes. Elazar and I met in the Circle.”

“Then you received some proper amount of training?”

A proper amount of training? Maker’s balls she was an Enchanter!

Not trusting her voice to not give away her frustrations, Delphine gave the ex-templar a cautious nod. She wondered if he was worried that she wasn’t aware of the threat of possession she faced? As if she had not been living with the constant reminder for nearly twenty years.

He appeared satisfied and quickly turned to shout at the soldier currently sparring with Joshua. “You there! There’s a shield in your hand. Block with it. If this man were your enemy, you would be dead. Lieutenant, don’t hold back. The recruits must prepare for a real fight, not a practice one.”

“Yes, Commander.” Joshua quipped before he promptly knocked down the younger man with a shield bash.

Turning back, the Commander seemingly returned to his earlier point. “We’ve received a number of new recruits- locals from Haven and some pilgrims. They are progressing well but some have never even met a mage before, let alone faced one in combat.”

Delphine had an idea of where this was headed now.

“I believe it would be beneficial for the new recruits to practice defending against magic. Would you be willing to assist with this?”

“I…I want to be as much help as possible, ser. But in truth I have next to no combative magic experience.” He was an ex-templar, surely he was aware of the fact that Circle mages were not trained in such magic. Any “combat” primal magic Circle mages knew was self-taught, personally developed, or from banned literature. Delphine had been taught healing, crafting, and barrier magic, disciplines meant to protect and serve.

Yet the Commander looked a bit surprised by her admission. “The Herald said he had been part of the group who rebelled against the templars at Ostwick so I assumed you had as well. Did you not agree with the others?”

Delphine thought it best not to mention that Elazar had been the one to lead the rebellion at Faxhold.

“No, I left the tower before Elazar and the others rebelled. My family is made of templars, ser, I couldn’t find it in myself to fight against those in my Circle either. I took the cowardly way out and ran away so I wouldn’t be forced to choose one side or the other.”

He paused for a moment as if to wrap his mind around the fact that there were mages out in the world that did not inherently desire the death of all templars. “Well, I do appreciate your sentiments. But now might be the time to come to terms with the fact we are in the middle of a war, with a giant hole in the sky.”

“I have been thinking long and hard about that,” Delphine quipped back. She was not so naïve to believe she would walk away from this all without raising her hand against another person. When it came to Elazar, she would do all in power to protect him, fight for him if the need arose, but it was a sense of defense, she did not seek out violence. Yet in this case, the Inquisition was the force trying to quell a rising storm in their world, using her magic in defense of that idea was not inherently violent, was it? And by helping these soldiers with their training, she could possibly be saving lives down the road. Wasn’t that worth it?

“I want to assist you, ser. I’m just worried that despite what training I do have, I am going to hurt an untrained recruit instead of teaching them properly.”

His lips pressed together into a thin line as he ran one gloved hand through his hair. “You have a valid concern, Delphine. The freshest recruits may not be ready to face an untested mage. It may be best to stick with demonstrations for now. Would you be comfortable sparring with a trained templar instead? Someone who already knows how to handle your attacks?”

Delphine was surprised by how quickly he was taking her concerns into consideration but nonetheless appreciated it. Perhaps the Commander wasn’t such a typical templar.

“That would make me worry less. Thank you, ser.”

“You really don’t need to keep calling me “ser,” Delphine. You’re not one of the recruits.”

“Oh, that’s a bit of an old habit, I suppose. Is Cullen alright then?”

“That’s perfectly fine.”

Delphine could have sworn she saw his lips twitch up into a small smile but it was so brief and with the afternoon sun reflecting off his well-polished armor she could have been seeing things.

“Whenever you are ready, come down to the field and I’ll have someone set to run demonstrations with you.”

Elazar returned from the crossroads the following day to find Del throwing balls of fire at a shield wall while Cullen explained how the stance was an effective way to defend against an apostate mage or rouge’s fire attacks.

“Cullen has even roped your friend into training the new recruits.” Elazar jumped about a foot off the snow, not having heard the Spymaster approach. “And it seems to be going well so far. What she lacks in experience she makes up for in talent.”

“She did always have a good grasp on her studies. And she spent more time with her nose in her books than I ever did, if we’re being honest.”

“Are you worried about her Herald?”

“Perhaps a bit. I know she’s capable, more than capable really. But I am the reason she’s here and I don’t know what I would do if something happened to her. At the same time, I also don’t know what I would do without her. She was the only person in the Circle I truly trusted.” And she was all Elazar had left from the Circle. Everyone else they had ever known was gone.

“Well, the faster we can seal the Breach, the faster the two of you can head home.”

“That’s what I hope.”

[Masterlist]

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coffee-obsessed-writer · 5 years

Text

When You Least Expect It, Part Nine

Jensen x Musician!Reader; Rob Benedict x Reader (Platonic); Jason Manns; Nathan (OMC); Dee (OFC)

Masterlist - Contains Chapter Links & Wardrobe Collages

A/N: This is a slow burn fic that I have been working on for a while. Its a story I wrote for myself and just wanted to share with everyone. Yes, the “Dee” in the story is who you think, but there is no intended hate on her or their actual marriage. It is a work of fiction, that is all. Part nine is from the Both POV. There is also a playlist to go along with the series.

Spotify Playlist : Songs in this chapter - “Wow and Flutter” “Stay With Me” “Every Breath You Take”

Beta’d by @closetspngirl who has contributed so much to this fic! Thank you for not only indulging my lunacy but encouraging it with gusto! I don’t know what I would do without you!!!

Chapter Summary: Just as they decide to finally take this whole crush thing to a new place, people from their pasts like to pop in and cause some trouble.

Chapter Warnings: Language, Mild Violence, Floof, PDA

WC: 13K (Yeah, I know... I need to just stfu) **with lyrics. Lyrics NOT written by me in bold, italic. That honor belongs to the wonderful April Smith and The Great Picture Show. Song is on the playlist and I highly suggest checking it out. Its a great tune.

*Banner created by me; pics & gifs found online.

Tags are open if you want on, or wanna hop off.

Jensen woke up that morning with a smile. For the end of May, it was already hot in Austin, and the humidity wasn’t exactly being easy on the people who lived there. It was barely nine and he could already see the heaviness in the air. It didn’t phase him one bit because in the next two hours he would be heading over to the townhouse to spend the day with Y/N, Robbie, and Jason. They had planned a full-on day of just working and brainstorming on the best way to go about arranging the schedule of bands, where each one would be playing and for how long.

It wasn’t an easy task, as many of them were traveling into Austin for one day. Y/N had already taken care of all that and even arranged for a shuttle service to take the acts to and from the venues to hotels, airports, or even the local convenience store—wherever it was they needed to go. They were giving their time and talent for a worthy cause, so if there was something she could do to make their stay more comfortable, she was more than willing to do it.

It was little things like that, that made her a good partner on the event, but it was also those traits that made him look at her with hearts in his eyes and butterflies in his stomach. Her mind had a way of working and problem solving it like he’d never seen before. She wasn’t just thorough with following through, she took steps above and beyond what would be expected and consistently blew his mind.

On today’s agenda, the schedules would be finalized, and he could finally talk to her about the music she would be doing over the course of the weekend. That was what started all this, after all. Watching her play at the Beachcomber, seeing her play on New Year’s Eve, singing at the convention—Jensen knew this festival would not be complete unless Y/N took the stage. If he could convince her to sing with him as well? Even better.

It didn’t take more than an hour for him to be ready to go. As he showered and dressed for the day, he rehearsed a hundred different ways to approach Y/N about performing. He had brought it up casually in the weeks since they were in Chicago, but she always found a way to change the subject or just blow him off completely. Today, he was determined to get her to agree to getting on one of the stages and sharing her gift with the crowd.

Keys in hand, Jensen was heading for the door when there was a knock at it, quickly followed by the door opening. Jensen was about to go off when he saw Jared come through.

“Hey! You here?” Jared called out, then spotted Jensen standing off to the side.

“Uh, yeah. Right here,” he chuckled. “What are you doing here? Thought you were heading out for a road trip with Gen and the munchkins.”

“We are. Leaving later this afternoon, I just had to talk to you real quick so I told her I had to run a quick errand.”

“So, you’re lying to Gen about coming here? Has she been reading fanfiction again? She worried there’s some, uh, frisky business…” Jensen motioned back and forth between him and Jared but kept a straight face.

Jared rolled his eyes. “No, you jackass. But she was talking with Dee yesterday at the house.”

Jensen was a little taken back by his statement. “Uh. Ok. So?”

“So? Dude, I knew Dee had been calling and shit since New Year’s, but you didn’t tell me she and what’s-his-face broke up. She made it sound like you two were getting close again and she was interested in reconciling. So, what gives?”

Jensen didn’t know what to say to that. He stammered and then started to pace from the entryway into the living room. He tossed the keys he had in his hand onto the coffee table and turned back to Jared.

“She said what now?”

“All I heard was that she and that guy broke up a couple weeks ago and that she’s been talking to you every day. Is she?”

“She texts me a lot. But it’s stupid shit, mostly. Not like we’ve been talking talking. What did she say, exactly?”

“I didn’t hear all of it, and when I walked in Dee clammed up. But, from what I could hear, your name along with the word ‘reconciliation’ was being tossed around.”

Jensen groaned a deep sigh and exhaled. “This is just aces. What the hell is she thinking?”

“So, you’re not, then? You and Dee aren’t—”

“No! No way. I haven’t thought about her like that in a long time. Especially after New Year’s.”

“Because she was there with her new man—ex-new-man,” Jared mumbled to himself, then waved it off. “OR is it because of Y/N?”

“Honestly, both? I guess…” Jensen shrugged.

This was all news to him and news he wasn’t exactly happy to hear. Y/N had her issues with an ex, now it was going to be his turn? It was bad enough that weeks had passed since he asked Y/N out on a proper date, but their schedules just hadn’t allowed for it to happen yet. Now, there was another potential roadblock that he wanted to prevent as quickly possible.

“Whatever you do, you didn’t hear this from me, alright? Gen and I have had enough conversations about you and Dee. No offense, but I just don’t need to go another round.”

“Hey, I get it completely. I’m sorry you had to catch some of the fall out from that.”

“It was bound to happen. Just for the record, Gen doesn’t have a vested interest either way. Not like she’s on Dee’s side waving pom-poms just because they’re friends.”

“Even if she was, she’s rooting for the losing team. I will always care about Dee, but the breakup happened for a reason. Took a while, but I am seeing what the reason is now.”

“Y/N?”

Jensen smiled, and that flutter of butterflies kicked up in his stomach. “Yeah. Because of Y/N.”

Jared considered it for a minute and nodded. “Despite the miscommunication debacle, you do seem pretty damn happy since you met her.”

“Because I am, man. She just makes me feel good. It's going slow, but, slow is good.

“How slow?” Jared asked, his expression wrought with curiosity.

“Slow. Very, very slow. But… it’s okay. It’s good. Means maybe it will work out.”

“Well, well… look at who’s being Mr. Level-Headed. Didn’t think you had it in you, to be honest.” Jared was trying his best to control his grin as he continued taking shots at his best friend.

“Don’t you have a trip to go on?” Jensen asked, then looked at his watch and back up at Jared with a deadpan gaze.

“Seriously! I mean, you freaked when Dee left. Completely overreacted and created this larger than life project. Didn’t you buy like, twenty pair of cowboy boots—”

“Alright, alright… thanks for the info and painful reminders, you can go now.” Jensen hurriedly tried to usher Jared towards the door. “Come on Paul Revere, you delivered the news. Time to ride off now. I got places to be.”

“Y/N’s?”

“Yes, now go.”

“You’re gonna talk to Dee?” Jared asked before he was pushed out of the door completely.

“Yes. I promise. I’m not lookin’ for a fatal attraction situation here, okay? I will speak to her and not bring you into it. Happy?”

“Blissfully. Tell Y/N I said hey. I’ll call you when we’re back.”

“Alright mom,” Jensen smiled and waved as Jared walked towards his car in the driveway, flipping him the middle finger as he went.

Jensen closed the door and went back into the house. He didn’t want Jared to see the mild panic at what he had told him, but there was some anxiety growing. When Dee had first reached out, Jensen was glad to have smoothed things over with her. Being friends again seemed like an achievable goal, and he didn’t even care anymore that she was with someone else. In the time between New Years and seeing Y/N again in Chicago, Jensen became hyper-aware that his fascination with the songstress from Seaside was more than just a fix for his loneliness. She was way more.

By the time they were in Chicago, and Y/N seemed just as happy to see him as he was her, it felt like a given that Dee was just an old friend, and their communication reflected that. Y/N was his focus, aside from the festival. Rekindling whatever he had with Dee was the furthest thing on his mind.

He debated on calling Dee then, but he didn’t want to bring Jared into it, so he thought it best to wait until Dee contacted him first. Then, it would give him time to figure out the best way to broach the subject of her possible intentions without it feeling like an attack. A provoked Dee was not a happy Dee.

Just as he was about to reach for his keys and head out the door, his phone vibrated from within his pocket. Almost afraid to see who it was, he slowly pulled it out and looked at the screen. When it was Y/N’s name and not Dee’s, he smiled with relief and tapped the message icon.

>>Please hurry. Robbie is playing a harmonica while Jason is playing a kazoo and doing a jig. I cannot be the only person to witness this chaos. HURRY!

<<I’m gonna need video evidence. It’s great for blackmail. On my way.

Jensen was able to get across town and be at Y/N’s complex in less than thirty minutes. As he approached the front door, he felt a twinge of anxiety. It only took a moment to realize that it was related to what he and Jared had talked about that morning, mixed with the understanding that he would have to tell Y/N about it.

He had to, right? Yes, he thought as he was only steps from the door, I don’t wanna fuck this up. Be straight up with her. She’ll understand.

Back when he had been with Dee, he always second-guessed himself. He would mull over a thousand different questions and had even more moments where he doubted what he thought or felt in regard to Dee. Jensen had no doubts now. He knew that Y/N would be understanding of the situation, and he realized that none of those past insecurities were coming up. Having that kind of confidence in not only himself, but in Y/N, made him even more determined to be upfront with her as soon as possible.

He knocked but could hear the music muffled coming from the third floor. Since she had come back from New Jersey, Y/N transformed the third floor of the townhouse not just into her office, but into space where people could jam, pick at guitars, or just sit quietly and enjoy the view of the river. The sound of guitars and yes, even a kazoo, floated down from the open window making Jensen smile. He went to knock again when the door pulled open, and Y/N’s face greeted him.

There was a split second where he just stared at her. She was radiant, and the heat of the day didn’t look to bother her one bit. Her hair was swept up off her neck in a messy bun, and around it lay the charm he had given her for Christmas. Y/N looked like she had just rolled out of bed, still in an old Pink Floyd concert T-shirt that had been modified into a tank top, and black pajama shorts that exposed a good amount of her legs. Y/N wasn’t wearing a drop of makeup. It was the most natural he had ever seen her, and by far, her most beautiful look yet.

“Don’t just stand there, hurry or you’ll miss it!” Y/N said excitedly and pulled Jensen into the apartment. “Come on! If you get upstairs fast enough you may catch Rob on the kazoo! Who knew he could rock out on that thing!”

Y/N had Jensen’s hand in hers and was pulling him towards the stairs. He froze in place and let go of her hand. “Whoa… easy tiger. Can you just wait for one sec.”

She turned to face him and looked slightly hurt that he let go. “You alright?” She studied him for a minute and then loosely crossed her arms under her breasts. “You’re not. What’s up?”

“Yeah, I mean, I need to talk to you about something and, I’m not sure where to start.”

“Oh,” she said and swallowed thickly. Her arms fell to her sides, and she fidgeted with them for a minute before returning them to crossed under her chest, but this time she was more tense and guarded. “What about?”

Jensen saw her body language shift and realized he gave her the wrong impression. Not off to a great start there, champ, he chastised himself.

“Nothing bad, promise,” he chuckled and closed the distance between them. He lightly rubbed the upper parts of her arms and as he softened his gaze on her, helping a little tension release from her body.

“Then, what is it?”

He already regretted bringing it up. “I’m a dick, this could have waited. I just… I’m so afraid of fucking this up--”

“Stop. You can’t do that. Whatever is gonna happen, is gonna happen, Jay. If you have something to tell me, please do. Then give me the benefit of the doubt that I won’t run out on you again, okay?”

“You’re right.” He paused and gave himself a moment to figure out where to start. “Jared came by this morning to talk to me...” he continued, trying to not be nervous about something so trivial. “You know how Gen is still friends with Dee? And how she and I have been talking again?”

“You’ve mentioned it,” she said.

“Right, well, I guess Dee was at their place yesterday, and she was making it seem to Gen that maybe she wanted to come back.”

“Come back? You mean, like, come back to you?”

Jensen nodded and watched nervously as Y/N processed what he was explaining. She was quiet, and that made him anxious. The longer she just contemplated, the more on edge he was getting. It wasn’t a big deal, it really wasn’t. He was just trying to be honest and upfront because he didn’t want her to get any wrong ideas about his interest, or lack thereof, in Dee.

Y/N paced from the entryway and through the kitchen. Leaning back against the counter near the sink, she used her hands to boost herself up and sat on the granite top. “I thought she was with that guy from the party.”

“Apparently she dumped him last week.”

“Oh… How do you feel about that?”

“About Dee’s breakup? Or about her wanting to come back?”

Y/N shrugged. “Both.”

“I mean, we go way back and she’s not a bad person, just misguided sometimes. I do care about her, and I want her to be happy if that’s with him or someone else… that’s up to her.”

“Do you want her back?” she asked bluntly, and for the first time, he saw a bit of worry threading through the lines of her forehead.

His reply was genuine and immediate. “No, Y/N, I don’t.”

Jensen crossed the kitchen and stood in front of where she sat on the counter. He could tell she was trying to play the whole thing very cool, that wall she put up was there, but not guarding her completely. Jensen could see there was a space that he could crawl into and make room for this business between them to grow further, but he would have to be vulnerable with her, first.

He took a step closer, putting himself within that zone of her personal space; the area reserved for only the most intimate of encounters. His tongue ran out nervously over his bottom lip, as he brushed his thumb lovingly against her cheek.

“I haven’t thought about Dee like that in a long time,” he continued in hushed tones. “Whatever she and I had, it's long over. You are the only person on my mind.”

Jensen leaned in and kissed her lips gently. He saw her eyes flutter closed and felt her respond to his touch. A flood of relief washed over him when Y/N’s arms draped over his shoulders and her hands clasped behind his neck, encouraging him to kiss her. It took every ounce of willpower he had, but Jensen finally did pull away from her before he wouldn’t be able to.

Jensen let his forehead rest against hers for a moment before stepping back. “Besides, you still owe me a first date, remember?”

“I remember. Maybe stop leaving town the second I get back…” she teased, challenging him with the rise of one, well-manicured brow.

“I could say the same for you. Can’t seem to coordinate these travel schedules of ours.”

“Well, you just had to go off to Italy last week…”

“Hey, I told you to come. We could’ve had our first date in Rome!”

Y/N rolled her eyes and sighed. Jensen couldn’t even pretend to be exasperated with her anymore when she did that. From that first night they spent out on the beach in Seaside, the simple expression of annoyance she threw at him quickly became the one he found most alluring.

“I told you, I don’t have a passport--”

“We need to fix that.”

“--Also, I had to work.”

“We should fix that too. This guy you work with seems like a jerk. You should tell him you need a night off. Or at least time to get a proper passport photo.”

“You are such an ass,” she giggled but looked at him with such adoration, even Jensen couldn’t deny it was there despite his constant fear that she would quickly lose interest in him.

“Seriously, he works you like a dog, never gives you weekends off to go out on a first date with me--”

“Ohhh my God, shut up!” she groaned, took his face in her hands and pulled his lips back for a blunt smack of a kiss and released him, solely to shut him up. “You done now?”

“Not if you’re gonna keep kissing me,” he winked. “In all seriousness though, when is this gonna happen?”

“I don’t know Jay, I leave in two days to go back to Seattle, then I have to fly out to Jersey because Miguel and Javier have finally agreed to join the festival. BUT they want me to come out and go over everything. Javier doesn’t trust Leo, and frankly, Leo would just fuck it all up. When do you start up again in Vancouver?”

“Next week,” he sighed. “It’s not lookin’ good here, Trix. I know things are chaotic, but I really want this time with you before things pick up even more.”

Y/N smiled bashfully and cast her eyes down away from the intensity of his gaze. “I want that too,” she replied in a near whisper. “How about tomorrow? Last minute, but, at least we’ll be in the same city on the same night.”

Jensen perked up, but before he could answer, they heard someone rushing down the steps in leaps and bounds, their feet eventually landing on the ceramic tile of the kitchen with a thud. Y/N started to laugh as Jensen’s head whipped around and saw Robbie standing there out of breath and trying to maintain his balance so he didn’t fall.

“Whoa, that’s slippery,” he said with chuckle and then saw Jensen standing there. “Hey! Look who’s finally here! You missed a killer kazoo session, brother.”

“I heard.” Jensen moved to hug Rob hello and then went back to his place right next to Y/N.

Rob looked at them and saw all the signs of two people clearly smitten with each other. Y/N was sitting on the counter, and Jensen was leaning back on the edge directly in front of her. She rested her chin on his shoulder and looked completely comfortable doing so.

“Don’t you two look cozy,” he quipped and went to open Y/N’s refrigerator.

“Aw, come on Robbie. We got our snuggle session later, do be hatin’,” Jensen teased.

Rob ignored Jensen and gasped when he looked inside of the fridge. “Jesus, Y/N, it’s like a deserted wasteland in this thing. Doesn’t the man pay you enough to buy groceries?”

“No, he pays me in wit and booze.”

“Bri was right, you two are a match made in Hell,” Rob sighed and closed the refrigerator door.

Y/N sat up straighter on the counter prepared to defend her barren refrigerator. “Rob, when am I supposed to go grocery shopping? Or cook for that matter? If I am in town, I am here for hours at a time. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve used this kitchen.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Jensen said and moved off the counter to turn to face Rob and Y/N. “Let’s get a bit of work done first. Then, I’ll run to the store and get something to cook up for everyone. Sound good?” Jensen offered her a helping hand off the counter, and she took it happily.

“Pizza?” she asked excitedly when her feet were back on the floor.

Jensen sighed. “God, no. Not again. No Salty Sow, either. I’m talking a home-cooked meal. Alright?”

Rob’s face lit up. “You’re gonna cook for us?”

“Yeah, sure. Why not? But, schedules first.”

“Aye Aye, Captain,” Rob said and thought they would both follow him up. When neither Jensen or Y/N made a move to follow, he realized he had interrupted something, again, and turned for the stairs. “You know, I’ll just head up and get the board clear,” he stammered and retreated back up the steps.

“I love that strange little man,” Jensen chuckled and slightly shook his head before turning his attention back to Y/N.

“So, you’re gonna cook, huh?”

“Yes ma’am,” he answered, accentuating the thick Texas drawl he normally toned down.

She eyed him with playful suspicion. “Didn’t know you could or that you even liked to.”

Jensen took a few steps towards her, his gaze fixed on her as he walked her back until she bumped into the refrigerator. He placed a hand on either side of her head against the freezer door, then bent down and ghosted his nose over hers before he left a breath of a kiss on her lips.

“There’s a lot you still don’t know about me, Trix. Come on, let’s go get some work done before this takes a turn and nothing gets done at all.”

Jensen stepped back from her, but Y/N felt frozen in place. He took her hand and peeled her off the fridge, forcing her feet to move and guiding her in direction of the stairs to join Rob and Jason up in the office.

An hour in and little work has gotten done up on the third floor of the townhouse. Jensen, Rob, Jason, and Y/N spent most of the time discussing music itself, instead of the scheduling of music. Eventually, it broke down to Jensen on the couch with a guitar, smiling like a fool as Robbie harmonized with Jason and the kazoo. Y/N watched from her spot on the floor, holding her belly and laughing as the guys jammed on what started out as a really nice version of Simple Man, into something unrecognizable, but amazingly fun.

When they had finally worn themselves out and put the instruments down, Rob’s stomach was growling loud enough for the entire room to hear it.

“Jay, please go get this man some food. I’m afraid we’re losing him.” Y/N pleaded with him as she stood up from the floor. “Maybe if he knows food is on the way, and you two aren’t here to distract him, I could trick him into work.”

“You’re devious,” Rob added, looking up to Y/N. “But your plan may just work.”

All eyes were on Jensen now, who regrettably got up from the couch. “Fine. Let’s do this. Jason, wanna take a ride with me?”

Jason nodded and got up from the couch and grabbed his keys from the table. “But we’re taking my car.”

“What’s wrong with my truck?” Jensen asked, slightly offended.

“Not the truck, I just want control over the music. Not really in the mood for Rob Zombie on repeat today.”

“Dude, that was one time. Let it go.”

Jason shook his head and went to leave the room, but turned and mouthed “more than one time” while Jensen’s back was still to him. “Meet ya in the car, buddy.”

Jensen waved him off. “Anything special you want me to grab while I’m out?” he asked Y/N and Rob.

“No, just food,” Rob said and went to pick up the guitar.

“Don’t you dare, Robert. You put that down and pick up the notebook and pen. Start making lists, I’ll be right back.”

Rob frowned, mildly scared. “Yikes. Since when did you get so bossy?”

Y/N gave him a challenging look, that made Rob slowly put down the guitar and pick up the notebook. Satisfied that he did what she asked, and turned her attention back to Jensen. She couldn’t help but laugh at his own expression as he appeared mildly shook at what he just saw happen.

“Damn, Trix. You gotta teach me that.”

“Oh don’t worry, I’m happy to boss you around any time,” she winked and then gently pushed him from the room and towards the top of the stairs. When they were out of view from where Rob was hopefully working, Y/N kissed his cheek sweetly. “See you soon.”

Jensen smiled and grabbed her arm lightly before she could turn away. His eyes were wistful and smiling, bringing out the crinkles she loved so much. He stole a kiss, sweet and soft before he released her and grinned smugly.

“I could really get used to this,” he said before turning and heading down the stairs and out the door to meet up with Jason.

Y/N took a moment to compose herself before going back into the office. When she did Rob watched her, a gleeful smile coming to light under his beard. “You guys… you’re pretty damn cute, you know that, right?”

“Shut up,” Y/N mumbled, but couldn’t hide the embarrassment in her smile.

“I mean it. So, what’s the deal, are you guys like… together?”

“Rob…” she whined. “Can we just work, please?”

“Yeah, of course,” he agreed and pulled out the list they had started with earlier that afternoon.

Ten minutes in and they came to their first bump in the road. There was an open spot on Saturday night that no one was able to fill.

“We could call one of the backup bands,” Y/N considered out loud.

“No,” Rob said, shaking his head. “I’ve got a better idea.”

“Which is?”

He leaned over and picked up the guitar, then held it out for her to take.

“You. You sing. You play. I know you have original songs. We’ve already talked about them. I want you up there.”

“No,” she chuckled and took the guitar but laid it down next to her. “None are ready, I don’t have a band anymore. I don’t--”

“Sure you do. We’ll back you up. Come on. Play one of the songs. I wanna hear one.”

“Maybe another time. Right now--”

“Nope. Now it’s my turn to be bossy. We need to fill this spot. It’s a big one on Saturday night on one of the main stages. I love the other bands and singers, but none of them are going to be able to fit that slot like it needs to be. We need a big sound. Original stuff. Too late to get any big, popular touring acts, so let’s give them something new. Besides, I know for a fact that a lot of fans are coming. A lot of which have seen you on stage with us already. So… whatcha say?” Rob motioned towards the guitar with his chin. “Play me something.”

Y/N studied his face for a moment and sighed in relent. “One song. But I promise nothing about the festival.”

“Yesss,” he hissed, excited for what was about to happen.

Y/N picked up the guitar and positioned it on her lap. “It’s not completely finished, but this is Wow and Flutter.”

She began to strum, the tempo was upbeat and had a good rhythm that Rob knew would be easy for the band to pick up.

“I could take a great big bite out of you When I get my cake I like to eat I like to eat it too And can I help myself if I find you simply delicious?

Now I'm like the big, bad wolf at your door My mouth is wide open, ready to explore And I'm not hiding the fact that I'm out for blood Baby, I'm vicious

Don't hate a girl because she knows All the ways to get beneath your clothes Cause you played those games, down to the letter You're just mad cause I play them better”

Rob’s foot was tapping along, and the grin he wore was large and genuine. When the verse went into the chorus, she repeated it twice and then just strummed the rhythm for a few more bars before stopping.

“I told you, it’s not done. I mean the lyrics are but…” she paused and shrugged. “Nothing special.”

“Nothing special?” Rob exclaimed. “Are you fucking serious right now? Y/N, that song… that could be huge. I can hear it finished in my head already and I’m telling you… it works. Please. Please consider this. I am begging you.”

Y/N didn’t know what to say. No one that had heard her original music had ever seemed very impressed by it; other than Mama Mia, of course. But that woman would encourage Y/N to do just about anything so she didn’t exactly trust her judgment.

“I--” Y/N was interrupted from a knock at the front door. “They couldn’t be back that fast, could they? Be right back.”

As she bounded down the two flights of steps, she felt a little relieved to be distracted from the conversation she was having with Rob. Putting it out of her mind, for the time being, she reached the front door and when she pulled it open, she felt like she was hit in the gut with a bag of rocks.

Nathan was standing on the porch, and when he saw her, his mouth unfurled to a wide grin. He looked tired and road worn; his clothes wrinkled and his hair unkempt. Yet, he still smiled wistfully when he saw her.

“Nathan?” His name came out more of a hollow whisper. “What are you doing here?”

“I came out to surprise you. Things at home were getting a little tiresome, so I rented a car and decided to take a road trip.”

“To Austin?”

“Well, not just Austin, but a stop along the way. Hope its a good surprise…”

“Um, yeah,” she said and tried to muster the enthusiasm he was expecting her to have. “Just a surprise. You have impeccable timing. One more day and I wouldn’t be here.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Work,” she started and then stepped aside. “Sorry, come on in…”

Nate walked into the townhouse and looked around, letting out a little whistle as he did. “Fancy.”

“Not really. Just sort of serves as a home base for everything,” Y/N said, a knot of nerves was starting to tie in her stomach.

“Still pretty nice that you get to live here. Quite an upgrade from the bungalow.”

Y/N shrugged. “I don’t know. I love my bungalow. This is a great place, don’t get me wrong, but I miss having the ocean outside my front door.”

Nathan wandered into the living room and looked out of the rear balcony doors. “Yeah but, you got a river out back. That’s pretty sweet.”

“Yeah…” she trailed off, trying to think of what to say, but was blessedly interrupted by Rob coming down the stairs.

“Was that them because I am seriously hungry--” Rob said and paused when he saw the change in Y/N’s expression and body language. He didn’t say anything, but his brow knitted together, confused, and when she looked past him into the living room, Rob turned and saw the source of why her energy had shifted.

“Um, Rob… this is Nate. He’s a friend from Jersey. He’s on a spontaneous road trip and decided to pop in to say hello.”

“Oh, hey man!” Rob said and walked into the other room, hand extended in a greeting. “I remember you from FaceTime.”

“Yeah, right. How are ya,” Nate replied and shook Robbie’s hand?

“Good, good. That’s a long drive from Jersey! Where’s your ultimate destination?” Rob asked, trying to keep him engaged in conversation. He could feel the tense energy vibing off Y/N and he wanted to step in and help her however he could.

“Not sure really. I only have a couple weeks before I start work, so, thinking of checking out the west coast.”

“What work?” Y/N asked.

“Oh, you remember that old guy Ellsworth? The one with the fluke fishery out of Manasquan?”

Y/N nodded. “Of course, they were my dad’s biggest competition.”

“Yeah, well, his kid Kevin hired me on. Gonna be running flukes for the summer.”

“That’s great,” she said but felt that she didn’t entirely believe him. Kevin had been a friend of theirs growing up, and the last she could remember, Kevin and Nate did not leave things on good terms. Not wanting to rock the boat, she let it go and just tried to think of how to make this surprise visit go smoothly.

“Can I offer you a drink? I don’t have much, unfortunately…”

“I’m good,” he said. “Can I use your bathroom though? Long drive and all.”

“Of course, it's down the little hallway there, behind the stairs.”

Nate smiled at her as he passed by, and went down to the bathroom. Rob turned then and quickly walked over to Y/N.

“You alright? You look pale.”

“Just surprised is all.”

“Not a good one I take it?” Rob asked and Y/N just shrugged, then swallowed hard enough for Robbie to hear. “Who is he, really?”

“My ex. We’ve known each other for years,” she said lowly, then moved back into the kitchen so Nate wouldn’t hear them. “It didn’t end well. At all. He came over while I was back in New Jersey over the winter, wanting to be friends. But--”

“But what?”

“I don’t know Robbie, I think he wanted more. I tried to be firm and make that understood. But I don’t think he is taking that rejection well.”

“What makes you say--” Rob was cut off by the sound of the bathroom door open.

“So,” Rob started as Nate rejoined them in the kitchen. “How long you in town for?”

“Um, well, that depends on this one,” Nate said with a grin, that made Rob noticeably uncomfortable and pointed towards Y/N.

“Nate, I just told you, I leave on a trip soon. I won’t be here.”

“Oh, right,” he said, choking back whatever words wanted to follow. “Well, might as well make the most of the time we have, right? Why don’t you give me the grand tour.”

“Sure. I can do that. Rob, you wanna hang here and let the guys in if their hands are full?”

“You got it,” he grinned and watched as Y/N escorted Nate up the stairs towards the second floor.

When they were gone, Rob took out his phone and brought up Jensen’s name through the messaging app.

<<Hey man, how much longer you guys gonna be? Surprise visitor at the house, Y/N is sorta freaked.

He hit send and then held his breath for a beat waiting for Jensen’s response. It didn’t take more than a minute to get a text back.

>>What the hell? Who’s there?

<<The ex popped in.

>>Mine or hers?

<<Hers.

>>What the fuck. She ok?

<<Yeah, just freaked he showed up unannounced. What’s his deal, anyway?

>>IDK never met the guy. But I’m about too. Be back in ten min.

Y/N showed Nathan around to the second floor, but skipped her bedroom, then took him up to the office area on the third floor. When he walked into the loft space he stopped and took a good look around. It was a large, open room, with two glass doors that open out onto a balcony.

“Wow, this place… it's huge for one person,” he mumbled and walked through. “Can’t believe you have furniture and instruments up here, and still have that much room to move around.”

“Well the guitar is mine, but the amps and bass, drum kit… they’re all Robbie’s. He brought them up about a month ago and they just sort of became part of the room now.”

“You playing with their band?” he asked in an accusatory tone.

She was taken aback by the tone of his question. “Sometimes, but just for fun. Why?”

Nate shrugged, seemingly annoyed, and walked out to the balcony. Y/N stayed in the room, though she knew he wanted her to follow him out there. A moment or two later, he came back in realizing that she wasn’t going to.

“So what’s the plan, Nate? Why are you here, really?”

“Can’t I just come by to say hello? I mean, we’re friends, right? That’s what you said.”

“Yes, Nathan, we are--”

“They why don’t you call or text me back?”

“Because I’m--”

“Busy?”

“Yes, and stop interrupting me. I’m working, Nate. I travel a lot. I am in meetings with school boards, city councils, business owners, bands…”

“Singing on stages with celebrities…”

Y/N froze. “What did you say?”

“I saw you, Y/N. I saw the video. When you were in Chicago and you never called or texted back. I got scared something happened to you. I was sitting at home worrying that you were dead in an alley somewhere. I mean, you were in Chicago! Anything could’ve happened to you! So, since you weren’t answering, I did some digging. Searched hospitals and morgues, but then I saw the video and there you were, perfectly fine.”

“And? What the fuck does that have to do with anything, Nate? It was work! Also, I don’t HAVE check in with you. I call and text when I can. I told you back in January if you couldn’t handle us just being friends, then, you need to stay away.”

“No… I…” he stuttered nervously “I can, Y/N. I know, I have a lot to make up for. It’s just… I miss you. Just even talking to you. And I worry about you traveling so much alone.”

“I’m sorry Nathan, but that’s no excuse to come here to my house and act like a jerk.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Y/N sighed and crossed her arms over her chest tightly. From below, she heard the commotion of voices and knew that Jensen and Jason had come back. Relief washed over her, but also a sting of anxiety over Nathan coming face to face with Jensen and what that would entail.

Nathan heard it too, and Y/N saw his body noticeably tense up. “More company?”

“No, the other guys are back with food,” she said and walked towards the door.

“What other guys?”

“Jensen and Jason. We were all here working today.” Y/N turned to go down the stairs. She didn’t invite him to follow, but he did.

Down in the kitchen, she found Rob, Jensen, and Jason talking in hushed tones, and she had an idea that it was in regards to Nathan. The moment she arrived in there, they stepped back and resumed normal conversation.

“Hey,” she said and went to the counter where they were unloading the bags. “What did you get?”

Jensen studied her demeanor for a moment before answering. “I got some chicken kabobs to throw on the grill, some salads and Jason insisted on the mango salsa and chips.” He was going to ask about Nathan and if she was alright, but right on the heels of his rundown of lunch, Nathan appeared from the stairwell into the kitchen. Y/N heard him and did her best to keep a pleasant tone as she introduced him.

“Nathan, this is Jensen, and that’s Jason. They are both working on the festival.”

“Nice to meet ya,” Jensen said and held out his hand. Jason simply gave a wave from the other side of the kitchen as he pretended to busy himself with the food.

Nathan hesitated when taking Jensen’s hand to shake, but after a moment, he reached out and did just that. Y/N could see he was getting angry. That side of him hadn’t changed, and all his usual tells were still the same; his hands were fidgeting, the vein in his neck was protruding, his body was very rigid. But somehow, Nathan managed to shake Jensen’s hand and even reply normally to the introduction.

“Same here. Heard a lot about you from Y/N,” Nathan said after letting go of the greeting.

“Yeah, me too… So what brings you to Austin, Nate?” Jensen was getting right down to business. Y/N watched nervously as the conversation between them was pleasant, yet ripe with tension.

“Just road tripping through,” he answered and shifted uncomfortably.

“How long you sticking around for?”

“Well, I don’t know, Jensen. Was hoping a few days but seems like you’re working Y/N too hard, as she’s off for another trip tomorrow.”

Jensen knew that she didn’t have to leave for another two days, but nodded in agreement. “Yeah, well, that’s why she gets paid the big bucks,” he said with a forced smile. Y/N saw that expression and knew there was nothing humorous about it. Jensen was getting annoyed by Nathan already, and she needed to find a way to diffuse the situation.

“Jay, why don’t you go light the grill. Takes a few minutes to get going. Rob and Jason can get back on the schedules while the food’s cooking. Right guys?”

“On it,” Rob said, grabbed the chips and salsa, then motioned with his head for Jason to follow him back upstairs.

“Yeah, okay,” Jensen said after the other two left, and gave Y/N a purposefully sweet smile. He grabbed the ready-to-grill chicken kabobs from the counter, then made his way through the living room and out onto the patio to ready the grill.

“Nice guy,” Nathan mumbled sarcastically. “His hair always look like that?”

“You need to stop. I am not going to do this with you.”

“Do what?”

“Have you stand in my house and be rude to my friends. You forget I know you, Nathan. I know your tone, your body language… I know when you’re lying and I know when you’re being a shit on purpose.”

He was growing annoyed and she didn’t care. She was tired of his brazen ways of trying to get her to pay attention to him.

“I’m not lying. I am on a road trip, wanted to see you. That’s all!”

“Ok, fine. But, you should have called. I can’t just drop everything for you--”

“But you would for him,” Nathan snapped and pointed over his shoulder. “Some pretty rich boy… who can buy you townhouses and fly you all over the world. When the fuck did you get to be so God damn shallow?!”

“You know what, fuck you! You don’t have the first clue who he is. You don’t know me anymore, Nate! I am not the same girl you could push around and--” she stopped herself before she ventured down a road she wasn’t ready too.

“And what?” he asked, baiting her.

“It’s time to go, Nate.” Y/N wouldn’t look at him. Her arms were so tightly crossed against her chest, she was beginning to tense in her shoulders and lose feeling in her hands.

“You’re unbelievable. You leave Jersey for what, six months? And now you’re too good to spend time with me, right? You’ve moved on? What makes you think you deserve any of this, huh? Because some fuck boy is gonna give you whatever you want to suck his dick?”

Nate was growing louder and now, more than ever, she just wanted him to go peacefully.

“Nate, please. Just go,” she said, nearly pleading with him.

“You say I’ve changed?” he ignored her and continued. “YOU have changed! You used to not care about any of this shit. It was you, me and Dave. All we had was each other!”

“Right, then you drank everything away and left! Put me in the goddamned hospital before you did, too!” She was so angry she was shaking now, working hard to focus her frustration at Nathan. So much so she never heard the balcony doors open a moment before, or notice Jensen step through.

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” Jensen’s voice cut through the tension and caused Y/N to finally unfurl her arms, letting them fall to her side.

“Jay…” she breathed and looked over at Nate who was grinning in a way that made her stomach churn.

“Did you actually just say that he put you in the hospital?” Jensen’s gaze was stuck on her, his lips pulled into a thin line and his arms rigid at his side. “Y/N?”

Y/N closed her eyes for a moment and sighed deeply before answering. “It was a long time ago… It’s not a big deal. I’m just asking him to leave now.”

“I don’t give a shit if it was yesterday or a lifetime ago. He put his hands on you and put you in the hospital. Yes or no?”

She tried to swallow back the lump of anxiety in her throat. Words wouldn’t come, but she wouldn’t lie to protect Nate anymore, either. Slowly, Y/N nodded.

In a flash, Jensen took a few lunging steps towards Nathan, grabbed his shirt at each shoulder and shoved him hard up and into the wall. His face was contorted into disgust and it was taking all of his will power not to pummel the man right there.

“What the fuck did you do to her?!”

Y/N could hear footsteps from upstairs, the volume of the argument reaching the top floor of the townhouse. Just as Jensen was getting in Nate’s face, Rob and Jason were there, trying to pull Jensen off him.

“Jay! Come on man be smart!” Rob yelled, yanking at Jensen’s shirt as Jason wrapped an arm around his waist, trying to move him back.

Jensen stopped resisting and let go of Nate’s shirt. He stepped back but was still breathing heavily through his nostrils from the rush of adrenaline.

Nate laughed and smoothed out his shirt. “That’s what I thought,” he mumbled and took a step towards the front door. “Don’t worry, Y/N. I’m going. I see you for what you are now. You ain’t worth--”

Nathan was stopped by the motion of Jensen’s fist connecting with his mouth. Taken off guard, Jensen cocked his arm back the second Rob and Jason had let him go. He had no intention of letting Nate get off that easy. Leaving or not, Jensen would have the last word here. No way he was going to let Nate say anything else, especially not about his girl.

Nathan went spiraling backward, and slammed into the front door, then slid to the tile. He grabbed onto his jaw where Jensen punched him and felt the trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.

“Come on! You’re so fucking tough to him a woman?! Hit me, asshole! I dare you!”

“Jensen! Jay, please… Just… let him go,” Y/N was standing in front of him now, pushing him back towards the living room and out of Nathan’s reach. “Please, look at me.” She could feel how tense his body was and she was amazed she was even able to move him back at all. Y/N touched his cheek and then lay the same hand on his chest; simply trying to get his attention.

From behind her Nathan snorted a laugh and muttered, “Yeah, that didn’t take long.”

“Dude, I think you need to leave. Now,” Rob warned, feeling ready to lay down some swift justice himself. “Seriously. Fun’s over.”

“I swear to God if you come anywhere near her again…” Jensen growled then trailed off, knowing he needed to be careful, but seething to make a definitive promise of bodily harm. He finally looked away from Nate and into Y/N’s gaze. He saw her desperation for this to be over. For her, he released the tension in his body and laid his hand over hers that rested on his chest.

Nate didn’t say anything else. He glared at Y/N incredulously and gathered himself before opening the front door. When he was done eyeing her with an air of disgust, his gaze flicked up to Jensen. Nate spat on the floor and laughed, then went out the front door and slammed it behind him, making Y/N jump.

Jensen put his arms around her and pulled her into him. He held her until she stopped trembling, then walked her to the couch. In that time, Rob wiped up the floor, so Y/N wouldn’t have too. He and Jason thought it best to give their friends a few moments alone, so they quietly went back upstairs after setting all the locks on the front door.

“You alright?” Jensen asked her. She was tucked into the crook of his arm on the couch, and he was grateful she had stopped shaking.

“Me? How’s your hand? You hit him pretty hard.”

“Eh, it’s fine,” he reassured her and flexed it once or twice. “Promise. Just a little sore.” Jensen sat up and turned to face her. “Why didn’t you tell me what he did? And, I’m not trying to judge you, but why would you ever let him back into your life after he did… whatever he did?”

Y/N slowly shook her head. “I don’t know. He never used to be violent. After the drugs and drinking though, he got that way. We were at the Bamboo, and he had come for money and I wouldn’t give him any. He hit me, square in the face. Broke my nose and when I fell back, I hit my head and got a concussion.”

“Hence the hospital stay.”

“Yup.”

“Jesus,” Jensen sighed and took her hand in his. “He won’t hurt or scare you again. Ok? I won’t let him. In fact, I think it would be safer if you just come stay at my place. I won’t be there a lot, but, better than you being here alone. I don’t like the idea of that while I’m in Vancouver.”

“No, Jay--”

“No, listen. Please… Y/N…For me, for my peace of mind, come stay. We’ll wrap this up and then go back to my house--”

She was shaking her head emphatically. “No. I won’t do that. I won’t let him chase me away. I had to move away from the bungalow for months after that happened because I was afraid. I won’t leave my home again because of him. I won’t, so please don’t ask me too.”

Jensen was quiet for a minute but agreed to stop asking. “If he should come back around, you don’t hesitate to call 911. And tomorrow, I’m calling an alarm company and getting one installed.”

“Jensen,” she sighed, “That’s not necessary.”

“It is to me. And if you won’t come to my place. I will make sure you’re safe when I can’t be here. Sorry, Trix, those are the rules if you’re gonna date me.” His expression shrugged, and it made her smile. That’s all he ever wanted to do was to make her smile.

“I can handle that,” she said and leaned against him again.

“Do you… are you still--I mean, if you wanna cancel tomorrow,” Jensen started half-heartedly, hoping she would stop him. He wasn’t disappointed.

“Oh no, fuck that. We are going out tomorrow. I refuse to let that assclown ruin anything else. Especially that.”

Jensen breathed a sigh of relief and kissed the top of her head. “Good. That makes me happy.”

“Can I ask you a favor?” Her voice seemed small and timid.

“Anything.”

“For the rest of the night, can we not say his name or bring this up again? Everything was so perfect before he came and ruined it.”

“That is something we can do. You know what else, we can do?” he asked and pulled back to look down at her.

“Eat chicken kabobs. Good ones too. Maybe Rob and Jason even saved some of the salsa for us.”

“Now you’re just setting yourself up for disappointment, Jensen,” she teased.

She loved how despite the chaos that just erupted, he could roll with the punches and provide her with the tools she needed to get back on track with feeling good and skirting the void she used to fall into where Nathan was concerned. Jensen was a beacon for her, and she was grateful to have him in her life.

“Call me a hopeless dreamer,” he laughed and stood up from the couch. He offered her a hand and pulled her up to her feet. She turned to go, but he stopped her and made her face him.

He didn’t say a word, just kissed her softly and gave her hand a squeeze. She saw that he winched a little when he did and knew he was downplaying how badly his hand hurt. Y/N walked into the kitchen and went into the freezer. She pulled out a bag of frozen peas and met him near the staircase.

“Gimmie,” she demanded and waited for him to put his hand out. She rested it gently against the bag of peas and adjusted it to cover his knuckles.

“Robbie’s right, you are bossy.”

“It’s a gift,” she shrugged it off.

“It’s cute.”

She shook her head and concentrated on his hand. “I have sports tape somewhere. I’m a klutz, constantly tripping over stuff, so I learned to keep it on hand.”

“Hey, Y/N, it's fine. I’m fine. I promise. Go upstairs and help the guys. I should go flip the chicken. Then we’ll work and after which you and I can just concentrate on tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? What’s tomorrow?” she asked, but couldn’t keep a straight face. “Still cute?”

Jensen nodded. “Ridiculously so.”

Jensen called first thing the next morning, letting Y/N know the security company would arrive by ten for a consultation, and the installation was scheduled for the day after she left, with Jensen promising to be there to oversee it. They chatted casually about that evening, and he was very mysterious and vague about the plans he had made for them. Only that she should wear whatever she wanted, and be ready by six.

There was much different energy throughout that day then there was the last time she spent an afternoon getting ready to go out with him. Y/N leisurely searched through her closet and pulled out a white, cotton dress, with a delicate lace overlay that came to mid-thigh. Pairing it with her favorite jewelry and sandals, she grabbed her light blush colored purse just as his knock rapped at the door.

Y/N exhaled a steady breath before she opened the door. She had been out places with Jensen a dozen or more times, but tonight was different. It wasn’t about work or the festival, it wasn’t planning or brainstorming. This was just Trix and Hollywood, going on a date and that put a mild tremor into her nerves.

She opened the door and saw him standing there staring off into the parking lot. There were a few times she was struck by just how gorgeous he was, but that night, Jensen took her breath away. He wasn’t dressed in anything more than a pair of blue-grey pants and a tight-fitting, long sleeve cream color shirt, but there was something about him that left her speechless.

When Jensen turned and was able to take in the full sight of her, his expression fell, along with his jaw.

Y/N had a moment of panic at his reaction. “What? It's too much, right? I’m way overdressed—” she paused when Jensen looked like he may say something but stopped. “Underdressed? I could change.”

Y/N went to turn, already running through other things she could throw on real quick. Before she could get far, Jensen’s hand gently grabbed her wrist to stop her.

“You’re perfect.”

“You’re biased.”

“Maybe,” he shrugged and guided her closer towards him. “But I don’t care. You’re perfect just how you are.”

She looked away bashfully, momentarily unable to handle the way he was looking at her. Y/N didn’t know if she could accurately describe just how intense it felt; just that it made every hair on her arms stand at attention, and every nerve ending spark with live current. Jensen offered his elbow to her just like he did on New Year’s Eve, and once again, she took it happily, closing the front door behind her.

As Jensen escorted her from the front door to his truck, Y/N had a moment where she wondered if he made her feel like he did because he was simply the most genuine and kind man she’d been out with, or if it was because that’s what it felt like when you met your soulmate. He opened the car door for her and once she was in and he closed it, she watched him walk around the front of the truck and thought the night would help her to figure that out.

“You never did tell me where we were going,” she said as she watched the city roll by from the passenger window. “I mean, this is you we’re talking about, so I don’t know if you’re taking me to McDonald’s or to The Met.” Y/N turned her head from the window to look at him and was met by a deadpan roll of the eyes.

“Seriously? McDonald’s?” he sighed.

“What? I’m not exactly a five-star bistro kinda girl, Jay. I’m ok with Mickey D’s, as long as you let me supersize.” She wiggled her brows and winked at him. Even when she was being purposefully sarcastic, he found her adorable.

“We are definitely not going to either of those places. I was shooting for something more in the middle.”

“A hint, perhaps?”

“Nope. Sorry, Trix. You’re just going to have to be patient. Besides, we’ll be there before you know it.”

“Mean.”

“Terribly,” he smirked and directed his eyes back to the road in front of him.

True to his word, they arrived at the secret location shortly after. Jensen directed his truck through the entrance and to the parking lot, finding a space and killing the engine. Y/N realized they were in Republic Square and felt slightly confused until she spotted the sign near the edge of the lot that read “Jazz in the Park, Featuring FOR TONIGHT ONLY, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox”. The realization hit her as to the evening’s entertainment and she whipped her head around to him.

“Seriously?! You got tickets that last minute?! I’ve always wanted to see Postmodern Jukebox!” she squealed and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze.

In all the months he knew Y/N, Jensen had never seen such a rush of excitement come over her. He thought he had seen all of her expressions, but this was new and he found himself liking it, a lot.

“I did. I heard you talk about them enough, and saw there were a few tickets left so I grabbed ‘em.”

“You’re amazing, Jay, thank you,” she breathed, then leaned over and left a longing kiss on Jensen’s cheek.

His breath caught in his throat like it always did when she was that close. But Jensen was able to maintain his composure. “Come on, let’s go find a good spot.”

Once they were out of the truck, he went into the bed and retrieved the oversized plaid blanket he had there along with a big wicker basket.

“Well, well, maybe you ARE a Boy Scout after all,” Y/N said, surprised at all the effort he had put in for their date that had been planned with such short notice.

“Shall we?” he asked, tucking the blanket between his arm and the basket, and offering her his free hand.

Y/N smiled and took his hand, lacing their fingers together, excited for what the evening had in store. “Yes, please.”

After claiming a spot close to the stage, but not in the middle of the crowd, Jensen spread out the blanket and set the basket on top. He offered a hand to Y/N as she went to sit, then took his place beside her.

The park had been transformed into an intimate setting with the addition of twinkling white lights that were strung through the trees that lined the perimeter of the concert area. The evening air was a perfect temperature, and off in the distance, beyond the dreamy atmosphere of the fairy-like trees, the insects of twilight could be heard performing their own concerto.

“What’s in there?” she asked pointing at the basket, then lifting the lid to inhale the familiar, savory aroma. “What did you bring?!”

“Well,” Jensen said, a sly smirk on his face as he pulled the basket closer and opened it up a little. “Wine, cheese, grapes, some caviar--” he looked to Y/N and saw her eyes narrowed at him.

“I know the smell of a burger, Jay. Don’t give me that wine and cheese crap. What did you get?!” She sat up on her knees and tried to get a look in the basket, but he snapped it shut before she could. “Mean!” she sat back on her heels and pretended to pout.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed. Y/N continued to protrude her lower lip and look at up him with wide, sad eyes. “Come on, don’t ruin my fun. Close ‘em.”

Y/N played along and closed her eyes. A moment later she felt him place something in front of her and when he gave her the ok, she was able to see the lengths he really went to for their first date. Sitting on the blanket in front of her, was a six-pack of her favorite brew from his brewery and two styrofoam containers from The Salty Sow.

Jensen went back into the basket and retrieved utensils and napkins just as the opening band took the stage. The smooth soulful jazz was a nice backdrop to a dinner of their favorite burgers and the light, playful banter that flowed so easily between them. By the time that band had played through their set, Jensen and Y/N had cleared the debris from the food and were ready for PMJ to take the stage next.

There was a good size audience spread out across the meadow, and they all rose to their feet when Postmodern Jukebox began to play. They kicked off the first set with the more uptempo numbers, prompting a lot of the people that were up, to dance and move to the beat. Jensen took Y/N’s hand and tried to pull her close.

“Come dance with me, Trix.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I can’t dance, or did you forget?”

“Did I ever tell you that I have a bucket list?” he asked, ignoring her and refusing to let go of her hand.

“No,” she sighed, “do tell…”

“Well on that list, it very clearly says, ‘dance with Y/N’. Are you really going to deny me a chance to cross something off my bucket list?” he asked with a feigned offense. “Really?”

“The first night I met you, I told you I dance like Elaine from Seinfeld, remember? Why would you subject yourself to that?” she asked with a chuckle.

“Oh, I remember. I also remember jumping into the frigid ocean just to get your attention,” he said, and brought her hand to his chest and held it there. “I remember asking you to come work with me…” his picked up her wrist, and brought it up to his shoulder, and laid her hand behind his neck. “I remember how you rolled your eyes at me constantly…” Y/N rolled her eyes purposefully at him, causing a smug grin to unfurl on his lips. “Yup, just like that.”

Finally, he slipped his arms around snuggly around her waist and began to sway her slowly to the music before he continued. “I remember you finally agreeing to come work with me after I sang Joy to the World, and then spent the night.”

The song ended, and just as Y/N half-heartedly tried to break away from him, PMJ’s cover of “Stay With Me” started to play. Jensen brought her in even closer, leaving barely a breath of space between their bodies.

“Oh no, that was barely a dance… Besides, I didn’t tell you what I remember the most about that first night.”

“What?” she asked, the question nearly silent as it caught in her throat.

“What I remember most, is how beautiful you looked in the moonlight.”

Y/N felt her chest ache at his words, and she instinctively felt the need to play it off like what he said was no big deal. She rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Laying it on a little thick, huh Hollywood?”

“No,” he breathed. “Not gonna let you do that.” His face turned serious as he held her a little tighter. “I mean it, Y/N. I knew that night that somehow, someway, I would get to hold you like this.”

“Jensen…” she breathed, unsure of what should come next.

Words were failing her. There was no snappy comeback, no witty retort she could throw at him that would shift the mood of the moment. What surprised her more was that she didn’t really want it to. Y/N wanted to be real with him. The simple act of allowing herself to dance with him was her being pretty open already, but she knew she had to go further. She wanted to put the walls down and be as vulnerable as he was; she craved it. Past experiences and regrettable choices were the only things holding her back, and it was while she danced with Jensen that she came to understand that they didn’t matter anymore. Jensen knew her, understood where she came from and how she’d been hurt because he had been too. He saw that in her and still wanted to be there, holding her while they danced under a canopy of stars.

Y/N sighed softly, and when her eyes were able to meet his she found the confidence to say what she needed to. “You were the first person I told that story to… the one about my dad. No one knew about that; not even my brother.”

The little smile Jensen had been wearing fell and was replaced by something softer. “Really?”

“Mhm, I just never wanted to share that. That was my thing with him. But that night, I don’t know, it just felt right. I wanted to tell you about it. I knew you were someone special when you jumped in the water and sang the song with barely any hesitation. I knew then that he would have liked you.”

“You think so?” Jensen smiled proudly hearing that from her. “I didn’t hesitate because I knew you’d be worth it. Whatever it took, would have been worth it for you to say yes,” he said, his voice low and raspy.

“After everything, you still think that?”

Jensen nodded, “Absolutely. What makes you think otherwise? Because of yesterday?”

Y/N shrugged. “Maybe. And, New Year’s… I know we promised to move on but, Jay… I still feel terrible, and--.”

“Don’t. I’m glad it happened the way it did. My head wasn’t ready for it all yet. Neither was yours. But having that time between then and now, I know for sure that whatever this is, isn’t just a passing thing. But I get still being cautious. So, if that means moving slowly towards something, I am happy to take the scenic route.”

“You really mean that?” she asked.

Before he responded, Jensen took a moment, letting his eyes gaze over her face, taking note of every freckle, the little dimples that only appeared when she smiled a certain way and how her eyes softened when she did. It was rare for him to see her like this; free of the facade she put up to keep people at arm’s reach. This was Y/N, real, raw and stunningly beautiful in her vulnerability.

“Yeah, I really mean that. I’m in, Trix. I’m all in. Just promise you won’t shut me out; not about what you feel, not about your past, not about what you want for your future. And I promise you to do the same.”

“Wow… dinner, music, dancing and heartfelt promises… what’s next?”

“Aaand there she is,” he teased, the smiling growing on his lips was still there when he leaned in to kiss her.

Y/N kissed him back as they danced close, eventually resting her head his chest, and his cheek to the top of her head as the song came to a close.

The band took a short intermission, so Jensen and Y/N sat back down and he opened them each another beer. As they got comfortable stretching out on the blanket, she began to look around the park. He watched her closely, something he had become quite fond of doing, and could tell that her mind was plotting and planning for when this park was under their control later that year.

“Stop it,” he chuckled and drank from the bottle.

“Stop what?”

“Planning. Plotting. Whatever you’re doing. No work tonight.”

“I’m not!” she objected and took a sip of her own beer, then shrugged subtly and sighed. “Ok, maybe I was, a little. But, I can’t help myself. I’m excited. Seeing this place set up like this, I can really envision our stage up there when the time comes.”

“It is pretty exciting. Honestly, I can’t believe how close it's getting. I couldn’t have done it without you, you know.”

“I know,” she sighed, waiting a beat, then winked at him playfully.

“Since it came up… there is one thing we haven’t talked about.”

“What’s that?”

“Well… since I met you, I’ve seen you do burlesque, play piano and sing with Bri, jam with Robbie… but you have yet to sing with me even once.”

“We can sing together anytime, Jay,” she chuckled.

“No, I mean at the festival.”

“You wanna sing with me at Brewfest?” she breathed. “Really?”

“You bet your ass I do, I think we should do a few songs together. Besides that, I think you should get up there with a band and do your own stuff. I know you have songs ready and I also know that Louden Swain would be more than happy to learn them and back you up on stage.”

“I--I don’t know, Jay. I’m doing a number with The Corsettes at one of the theater locations downtown, and I would be thrilled to share a stage with you. I don’t know about my stuff though. It’s not…” she trailed off and shrugged. “It’s just not good enough.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“How would you know? You haven’t even heard it yet,” she laughed and waved him off.

“Because Robbie heard it. I trust Rob and he said its beyond good. Will you at least think about it?”

The stage came to life again as the band returned from the brief intermission. Just as the music picked up again, she turned to Jensen and nodded. “I promise to think about it.”

Jensen leaned over and left a soft kiss on her cheek. “That’s my girl,” he whispered before pulling away and leaning back on his hands; his long legs stretched out before him, giving his attention over to the stage.

Several songs later, Y/N found herself leaning back on her hands as well, her shoulder leaning against Jensen’s, just lazily enjoying the show. The music was heavenly and the air of the evening was deliciously warm with the slightest bit of a breeze. The opening notes of “Every Breath You Take” began, and it made her sit up a little straighter. The original being a favorite, this particular cover was quite beautiful. As the songstress’ voice filled the park, Y/N couldn’t help but look over at Jensen, who wasn’t watching the stage at all; his eyes were firmly fixed on her.

Jensen sat up. He gingerly took her legs and swung them his way so they were draped over his lap, and slid her across the blanket so she was as close as she could be. She giggled and locked in with his gaze. He left his hand to rest on her knee and leaned in to kiss her again. It was soft and gentle, and when she kissed him back, his hand began to move slightly up her thigh, brushing past the hem of her dress. Her hand was on his cheek, sliding to his jaw than to his collarbone and coming to on the back of his neck.

She tried to remember they were in a public place, but the feel of his lips against hers was too good right then to let go of. With this particular song as the backdrop, she felt herself getting lost in him. Jensen’s lips moved from her mouth but didn’t go far. He left a trail of delicate, lingering kisses along her jaw until he reached her neck. He kissed her there, softly yet wanting. The path of his lips stopped when he reached the collar of her dress, and that’s when he lifted his head and met her gaze.

Jensen caressed her cheek with his hand and smiled wistfully. “So, better than Rome would have been?”

“Way better,” she whispered and leaned into his touch, finding his lips again and continued kissing him sweetly.

It didn’t get heated, or greedy; it was tempered and loving. Just the two of them lost in each other and in the song. When it ended, they let the other go. Jensen put his arm around her and held her as close as he could until PMJ closed the show a short time later.

The drive back to the townhouse was quiet but in a comfortable, contented kind of way. The next day she would be off to Seattle, then to New Jersey. Jensen would be back in Vancouver by the time she returned, so it was their last bit of time together for who knew how long.

He parked the truck and went around to open her door for her.

“I gotta say, Hollywood, you are quite the gentleman. Your mama did a damn good job.”

“I’ll be sure to tell her you said that,” he said, and squeezed her hand.

They strolled up to the front door, neither wanting the night to end, but knowing that it had too. If she was lucky, she could get in four solid hours of sleep before leaving for the airport.

“I feel sixteen again,” Jensen chuckled, feeling a little nervous. “Afraid your dad is gonna start flashing the porch light at us. So, when are we in the same city again?”

Y/N sighed, and Jensen thought she seemed as suddenly anxious as he was. “I’m not sure. I hope soon.”

“Before San Diego would be good. Think we could work that out?”

“I will do some planning on the plane. We’ll make it work.”

“Well, since things are going to get hectic, do me a favor and clear the first weekend in August.”

“August? Why August?”

“Gen is throwing Jared a belated birthday, Luau style.”

“Oh, well now, that seems fun. Are you asking me to be your date?” she asked and raised her brow in question and flashed the impish smile he couldn’t get enough of.

“What do you think?”

“I think I need to find a grass skirt.”

“Oh God, please, yes. Do that.” Jensen bit his lower lip at the thought of it and she smacked him gently. “I guess this is goodnight, huh?”

Y/N’s smile faded and she reluctantly nodded. “Unless you wanna cancel the festival and run off somewhere...” she tried to tease, but there was the underlying disappointment and knowledge that of course, they couldn’t.

“Don’t tempt me, Trix.”

“Alright. Another time, then?”

“Absolutely,” he said, almost breathless at the thought.

They embraced under the light on the porch and held each other for a long minute. Jensen kissed her, and despite the warm night air, ripples of goosebumps cascaded down her arms. He could feel himself craving more of her. Jensen was the first to break away; he had too.

“I should go,” he sighed. “If I don’t…” Jensen just shook his head and ran his tongue out and over his bottom lip.

“I know… I should go, too. Get some sleep. Thank you for tonight. It was perfect.”

“It was pretty perfect, wasn’t it?” He took a step off the porch and started to slowly head for the driveway. He paused and turned around, continuing to walk back towards his truck. “Let me know when you land tomorrow, okay? And how that schedule pans out…”

Y/N nodded, and pulled the door key from her purse and called out to him, “Night, Hollywood.”

She knew she should go in, but she didn’t want to until she saw him in the truck. Knowing he wouldn’t leave until he saw her actually go inside, Y/N unlocked the door and did just that. She closed it behind her, set the deadbolt, then closed her eyes and leaned her back against it.

“Oh, girl... “ she whispered to the empty room. “You are so, incredibly fucked.”

Thirty minutes later, Y/N had retreated up to her room and changed into her pajamas. She’d gone through her nighttime rituals and slipped under the covers with a contented sigh. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand to check her alarm, and before she could navigate to the clock, the phone started to ring. The same mysterious number came up that had been calling on and off since Chicago. She pressed answer and brought it to her ear.

“Hello?”

Silence.

“Look, if you’re gonna keep calling, at least try to scam me or sell me something!” she groaned and waited another second. Ready to hang up, she stopped when she finally heard another voice.

“Stay the fuck away from Jensen. Alright? You’re outta your league here, lady. I saw you two tonight… the way you act around him, disgusting. No one should have had to see that! So why don’t you leave him the fuck alone and go back to that cesspool you came from!”

The other end went silent and the call ended. She immediately went to the call history and hit redial, refusing to let Dee--and she knew it was Dee--get in the last word. The call wouldn’t connect anytime she tried to dial, it would just beep three times fast, then end the call.

“Sorry, Dee,” Y/N muttered with a breath of anger, as she went back to the call log and blocked the number. “You’re too late, he’s already moved on.” She tossed the cell back to the bedside table and fumed before the image of Jensen floated back in her mind.

Her beacon of light. She replayed his words “...I’m all in...” and laid back down in the bed.

“Dee... Nathan... neither one of them are going to ruin this for us,” she whispered as she tried to close her eyes and drift off to sleep. “I won’t let them.”

Everything Tags: @kazosa // @sorenmarie87 // @lefthologramdeer// @his-paradox // @letsby // @thefaithfulwriter // @sister-winchesters99 // @thymeheals

SUPERNATURAL TAGS: @wings-of-a-raven // @negans-wife // @mrsbarnes-rogers // @teller258316 // @spnhollis // @sweet-things-4-life // @hobby27 // @sweetlythoughtfulbird // @theoriginalvicki // @dreamchester67 // @xxwarhawk// @babykalika2001 // @superwhovianfangirl81 // @toobusynerdfighting // @missihart23 // @idreamofplaid // @thewinchesterchronicles // @wayward-gypsy // @closetspngirl // @fatestemptress // @rebelminxy // @22sarah08 // @witch-of-letters// @cole-winchester // @rainflowermoon // @adoptdontshoppets // @waywardvalkyrie // @fandomoniumflurry // @gnrfanfic// @blackcherrywhiskey // @jessieray98 // @lyoly // @a–1–1–3 // @31shadesofbrown // @whereismyangel-damnitdeanshare// @pilaxia // @screechingartisancashbailiff // @kgbrenner // @holylulusworld // @deansenwackles // @jamielea81 // @coffeebooksandfandom // @logical-princey // @gemini0410 // @salt-n-burn-em-all // @collette04 // @mrswhozeewhatsis // @deathofmissjackson // @lauravic // @akshi8278 // @katehuntington // @81mysteriouslyme

When You Least Expect It: @winchest09 // @jerkbitchidjitassbutt // @aomi-nabi // @luciathewinchestergirl // @alexisxwinchester // @moonxdance // @seppys-return-to-madness // @donnaintx // @deans-baby-momma // @the-is13

#Jensen Ackles x Reader #Jensen Ackles x Reader Insert #Jensen Ackles x y/n #Jensen Ackles x you #jensen ackles RPF #When You Least Expect It #long fic #sorry not sorry

147 notes · View notes

seenashwrite · 5 years

Text

The Fall ‘18/Winter ‘19 Edition of…

It’s a better-late-than-never situation, but it’s finally here!

*~* New to The Nail? *~*

The Nail isn’t about perfection. It isn’t about award-level contenders. It isn’t for highlighting certain genres of fics or specific ships. It’s about seeing real effort and hard work radiate off of the screen - the sole focus is quality. Character dimension. Writing with clever readers in mind. Well-built worlds. Killer starts and clutch endings. Crazy crisp dialogue. Incredibly tight plotting. More shows, less tells. Big emotion.

Find past editions HERE. Find what factors are considered when constructing this rec list, and learn how to get your recommendations to me HERE. Find info on the structure of these rec posts HERE, with answers to FAQs such as “Why did someone make up a title for my piece?”, and more.

>> The Basics On What’s Below <<

- All from the world of SPN (unless otherwise noted, i.e. cross-overs), across all genres; these are organized by length for the most part, so you’ll need to click thru to see if it is a theme of your preference; I aim to not have too much that’s of the same genre/length in a given edition, and limit the times a writer can appear on a given list (if they had more that fit the bill, I’ll chuck ‘em to next edition’s list); when applicable, unique projects, original stories, and any anecdotes/personal essays/family stories/etc. are near the end.

- You’ll see icons throughout…

If it has NSFW elements / walks an NSFW line - ⚠️

If it features / blatantly alludes to a specific ship - 🚢

If it has less than 100 notes (at time of this post) - 📌

And that last item is very important.

- A main priority of The Nail is to have at least 50% of these one-and-done SPN stories (so, drabbles and one-shots) be those which have less than 100 notes (give or take a few self-reblogs by the writer, and not counting mine) in each posting, and for this edition, out of 36, these comprise 26 so the goal was met!

Highly encourage you to at minimum hit the heart, ideally reblogging along with a note of feedback if you enjoyed. To do my part, I’ll be queuing these low-note fics one per day after this edition is published.

- Reblog of this rec list by “big blogs” (let’s say 1K followers and up) is especially appreciated, and not for my sake; it’s to get these wonderful writers with low note fics as much exposure as possible.

- Writers, make sure you scroll - you may be on here more than once!

- “Notes from Nash" at the very bottom of the post.

- For your mobile convenience, here’s The Nail Master Post of Editions

- And finally, shameless plugs....

See Nash Write: Master List

You Totally Made That Up podcast - @youtotallymadethatup

Note: Just a line or two excerpt to paint a little picture - no specific feedback on these drabbles because each writer nailed it in the entirety - all are poignant, well-structured, thoughtful, and they did it all in a limited amount of words. Well done, all of you.

181 words

The Wishes 📌 - @sixtysevenandwhiskey

It’s a lot of nothing, until nothing is all there is.

182 words

Stars 📌 - @covered-byroses

She loved looking at the stars.

223 words

Storytelling 📌 - @always-keep-writing

He shouldn’t be surprised that it ends up being a story.

230 words

A Long Forty Years - @babybluecas

Sometimes, he’d wish he was so much older.

352 words

Control 📌 - @idreamofhazel

If only Dean knew the other, more biting things he holds under his tongue.

370 words

His Hair 📌 🚢 - @gabrielfallstonight

He often wondered if, by spending as much time on Earth as he did, he was growing almost human.

427 words

Topper - @alleiradayne

Coffee. He just needed a cup. Or four. Okay, maybe the whole pot.

483 words

Tedium 📌 - @smi727

This situation was something Michael simply could not abide.

555 words

Kids These Days 📌 - @revwinchester

A little behind-the-scenes interlude wherein Dean has an interaction with some kids in town. In medias res, OCs developed in a short amount of space, thoughtful/nice message without being preachy.

560 words

Four Months Expired (But Still Good) 📌 🚢 - @bendingsignpost

A delightful scene based on a premise that could've gone saccharine but stays the just right amount of sweet and humorous.

(I cannot tag this lovely, if someone would be so kind as to try to do so in the comments, it would be appreciated!)

570 words

Black 📌 - @sculptorofbeginningslibrary

An introspective look at Dean in the time between waking up with his demonized soul and when he left the bunker; doesn't merely recap what we know; nice take on the physical changes; excellent characterization.

633 words

Smoked - @ameliacareful

A snicker-worthy tale of what should be an ordinary shopping trip, but as we know nothing can ever be simple for the brothers; well-structured, solid characterization, concise descriptions that put you right there with them.

(I cannot tag this lovely, if someone would be so kind as to try to do so in the comments, it would be appreciated!)

664 words

Last Night - @atwistoffate

A brief interaction between you and Dean that is a perfect balance of snarky and cute, and (thank Chuck) Dean is portrayed realistically, and I personally salute the writer for not uttering a single Y/N or sweetheart (it can be done, folks). I'd also be remiss not to highlight this beauty: “You know what? I don’t even care,” Dean says, caring deeply.

714 words

Stay - @there-must-be-a-lock

Absolutely beautiful moment between you and Sam that doesn't get weighed down by over-dramatic pining, in part thanks to a sandwich. In medias res; descriptions that paint the picture without diving too deep; lovely from beginning to end.

812 words

Carolina 📌 - @atc74

A first-person, introspective tale of an interaction Dean has with a stranger. In medias res; sets the stage from the opening paragraph, putting you right into Dean's shoes; well-developed OC in short amount of time; great closing lines.

841 words

Strange Gifts 📌 - @lastactiontricia

Michael gives you the "gift" of knowing your potential fates. In medias res; great structure/descriptions that convey the mood without being belabored; clutch open-ended ending.

1.1K words

Syruped and Feathered 📌 - @mrswhozeewhatsis

A snicker-worthy on-the-hunt tale where you and the Winchesters get in a... well... a sticky situation. Ahem. Sorry, couldn't resist. Oh, and there's a surprise guest star that'll make you grin. In medias res, nice flow, creative use of prompts.

1.2K words

Don't Panic 📌 - @koedeza

Beautifully written, somber tale about what eventually happens in the lives of hunters. In medias res, excellent structure/flow, fantastic characterization, clutch ending. Keep an eye out for this writer - they are consistently solid and do not disappoint.

1.3K words

'Til It All Falls Apart 📌 - @lipstickandwhiskey

Angst done right in this story about what Dean might've gone through after Michael was cast out. Good flow, no laborious explanations of what we already know, reasonable actions/reactions from all.

1.4K words

Bite Me, BitFit 📌 - @shy-violet-soul

Exactly what you think from the title - a funny story about Dean's battle with healthy living. In medias res, nice structure, great characterization, several killer lines.

1.4K words

Eggshells 📌 - @hunenka

A coda to Nightmare Logic, this tackles Dean's internal processing of life as he now knows it, Sam in charge and what feels like a million people in his home. Beautifully written, Dean is as accurate as it gets, excellent flow, plausible scenario.

1.7K words

Told You So - @there-must-be-a-lock

How to do hot and sultry without smut - read and learn. This is a story about what should have been just an ordinary post-hunt night back at the bunker, when it turned to something more. Great opening paragraph, easy flow, trifecta of snarky-sweet-sexy.

1.8K words

Brother 📌 - @sixtysevenandwhiskey

An exquisite look - to use the writer's words - at Dean over the years, through Sam's eyes. Excellent structure/verbiage, no unneeded repetition of things we already know, good use of song inspo, plausible within canon, feels genuine throughout.

1.8K words

The Lie 📌 - @sophisticated-angel

Stunning tale (and add this to the pile of "Why the hell doesn't this have more notes?!" stories) about what happens to those who are left behind after a loved one dies - but as always in the Winchester world, nothing can ever be routine. In medias res, creative plotline, moving and heart-grabbing that leaves you with both a sense of rightness and a sense of unease.

2.9K words

The Unexpected Guest - @crispychrissy

Per the writer's summary - "A day of researching takes a turn when you see something from your past that leads to some interesting discoveries." But, wait - this is so much more. Pay attention as you read, because the writer has left you clues along the way (starting with the title), and it's done quite deftly. In addition - nice blending of humor and drama, time taken to research the creature featured clearly evident, clutch ending.

3K words

Easier To Be Me 📌 - @alleiradayne

A Sam + Reader story labelled "floof" by the writer, but it's sweet without bending saccharine; in medias res; great opening/closing lines.

[Nominated by @atc74 who said - “So I have read a couple things of hers, this I read a while ago, but it deserves some love, because it is just that good. Hope you like it This was so wonderful. Well written and beautiful."]

3.1K words

Teeth 📌 - @lastactiontricia

Do you want to read something spooky that’s based on a true story, with a fantastic plot that has roots in a true story, which features well-developed characterization/accuracy in characterization, and is - in case I didn’t mention it - based on a true story?!

Read this. Find you a cozy corner, grab the drink of your choice whether it’s bourbon or hot chocolate, wrap up in a blanket, and Read. The. Story. It is unique, it is well-written, quality top to bottom, and it’ll give you the feels, tips to toes. Stop wasting your time on the same ol’, same ol’.

READ THE STORY

(Part of a collection, all are fantastic, so see also: Halloween Horror SPN One Shots Masterlist)

3.3K words

Lay Me Down 📌 - @stusbunker

A solid case fic here that balances itself with some cheekiness thrown in amongst the drama (and a bonus for me, not a "Y/N" in sight - it can be done, folks). In medias res, moves at a quick clip, great line here: "The spell spread quickly, like spilled water on a tabletop..."

4.9K words

Shadow's Edge 📌 - @saenalife

A story of what happened one night when a routine retrieval of an item goes sideways. In medias res, excellent opening line/paragraph that perfectly sets the scene/mood (I mean - "Dark seems like too shallow a word for this. It goes beyond the absence of light - more like the light has never existed here at all..." - hello), creative plot, great structure (specifically: flashback/forward done right), and bonus kudos for switching things up with a feature not seen with regularity, that of a gender neutral lead.

5.6K words

The Wonders of Modern Technology ⚠️ - @littlegreenplasticsoldier

If you aren’t familiar with Greenie, she’s another one of those rare writers ‘round these parts who gives us consistently solid stories with a unique style that’s all her own, and this one is no exception, a humorous tale of a piece of equipment that doesn’t exactly malfunction, but we’ll just say there’s, ah, user error [wink].

5.7K words

Like Ocean in the Desert 📌⚠️ - @saenalife

Borrowing the writer's summary - "Baby needs some work before Dean can get back on the road. He went to the salvage yard for parts, but what he found was a human connection." In medias res, well-developed OC, nice premise, great structure/flow.

[Nominated by @littlegreenplasticsoldier who said - "Here’s a prime example of notes misaligning with quality. Pfft. Criminal. This is the third time I’ve read this."]

6.4K words

The First Bite 📌 - @shy-violet-soul

A story from the way-back-when, and as for feedback, I’ll let the curator take it away....

[Nom'd by @mrswhozeewhatsis who said - "Confession: I love Weechesters. So, this fic was already up my alley from word one. Add in pie mentioned just in the author’s note, and I was already a happy camper! Imagine my surprise when I was sniffling halfway through because wee!Dean was just killing me! The OCs are very well fleshed out, without being distracting, and the whole story was just so well-written I finished it just wanting to hug everyone. The grammar and other technical stuff was at least flawless enough that I didn’t notice it, and the whole story just unfolded in front of me like a cootie-catcher. I think I’m in love, and I might go read it again, even though I should be writing. *swoon*"]

6.8K words

Gutted - @idreamofhazel

A case fic with some Dean + Reader sweet-n'-sultry on top. Nice opening paragraph that sets the tone, solid characterization, very creative plot/creature featured, excellent structure.

6.9K words

About Dean's Dreams ⚠️ - @fanforfanatic

This writer has yet to disappoint - and this story is damn near pristine from start to finish. It’s an actual, on god, Dean-in-character dive into the woman of his dreams. Sound fluffy or angsty? Nope. You’re wrong. It isn’t either. What it is, is just right. I’m not telling you any more - when you next have time to sit and read and really absorb an introspective Dean piece, make this your first choice.

Say hello to a new (-ish!) writer, @salt-n-burn-em-all !

Doors 📌

You will not believe this is just her 2nd SPN fanfic - captivating and moving, and even if you're swiping a tear away, I think you'll find yourself with a smile at the last three words.

East of Nowhere ⚠️ - @thecleverdame

You and Sam are strangers trapped in a desolate mountain town where you live alone, isolated from the outside world, for five years.

Very creative scenario that takes you on an intimate journey and - most importantly - has quite the satisfying reveal.

How You and I Will Be - @katehuntington

When a hellhound case in the mountains goes sideways, Dean and you find yourselves trapped in a small cabin, miles from civilization. Rescue is on its way, but will it be in time?

Opening paragraph sets the scene perfectly, you'll find yourself there immediately, and it's a plausible scenario of a hunt gone wrong. (We do love our case fics here at The Nail!)

If This Is A Dream 🚢 - @wendibird

Sam receives a tip about a restless spirit haunting a particular patch of woods in South Carolina - one who has asked for him by name. He must now deal with the thought of putting to rest someone he once cared for, but will things go that simply?

Phenomenal opening line/paragraph that puts you in Sam's headspace from the jump, and boy howdy can we all empathize with him, and it's a plausible scenario, one I personally haven't seen tackled til this.

Men of Cold Cases - @smi727

Sam had uncovered hundreds upon hundreds of cases the Men of Letters had never closed, [and the] idea was to investigate what those stodgy old nerds never got around to. Given the cases were at least 60 years old, the chances that any were still active were slim to none. They should all be milk runs…

Fantastic concept, completely original, and well-written to boot. Bonus? The writer has based the plots on actual cold cases and mysteries, and provides you links to the stories behind the story so you can learn more.

The Ellison Lane Legacy - @sixtysevenandwhiskey

Sam finds a case. You’re reminded of a past you want to forget.

Cheers for a well-rounded original female character who is tough and vulnerable all at once. Interesting and creative story that's heavy, yes, but thanks to skilled writing the flow keeps it moving vs. getting mired down.

Wrath 📌 - @waywardjoy

Shakespeare gets a run for his money here with a small fic inspired by some of his words. Beautifully composed, from the title to the usage of the lines, flows like a dream, evokes big emotion, and puts you right there in the action, breathtaking from start to finish.

The Runaway Vessel 📌 - @butiaintgonnaloveem

A creepy re-working of a popular children's story that will stay with you after you read it. Killer first line, clutch ending, and a detailed, stunning piece of artwork to boot from @lostmymuseagain, what a match made in heaven. This one dug deep, and definitely read like a cautionary fairytale about fate and choices that grandparents would tell/read to the children on a dark night around the fire, give ‘em a bit of a chill in spite of it.

Ring-A-Ling - @winchester-writes & @littlegreenplasticsoldier & @mrswhozeewhatsis

To think, it all started with an innocent post about a tiny bell - get ready to laugh.

Ten Years Gone - @cinnamonanddean

This is a short-and-sweet, most worthy exception to a The Nail rule that no RPF will be on the list, wherein Jensen reflects upon his time on the show.

Carriers - @violetwolfraven

Daddy Loves To Be Murdered - @gabesnonnie

Slay Ride - @bendingsignpost

The Awakening - @rmeisel

The Chosen One - @copperbadge

The Night - @later0varies

Bedtime Stories & How Chad Got His Name - @lostmymuseagain (also see the artwork related to the Chad story here)

The Author - @thebibliosphere

Notes from Nash

The document with my little summaries and personalized feedback for each of these got eaten - basically, I had to re-do the list and time’s been scarce, so forgive me for the lateness.

Also, there was a good handful of stories that disappeared due to what I presume was the purge/people deleting or losing their blogs. I did make effort to check AO3 but I’m afraid some stellar work has been lost for good.

There were a lot of repeat writers and folks I’m friendly with in this edition, more than I typically feature - I strive to highlight mostly lesser known writers and, as noted, mostly fics with <100 notes - but they earned it (and I even chucked a few more from some of these peeps into the folder for the next edition, that’s how hard they’re rockin’ it). That’s why it’s so important y’all let me know about the unsung writers and their undiscovered jewels - submit the story links and your reviews to me (links to your reblogs with your comments is perfectly fine) any ol’ time.

That’s it! What’re you waiting for??? Get to reading!

#The Nail #Supernatural Fanfiction #SPN Fanfic #and more #Nailed It!#Quality Writing #Must Reads #Fic Recs #Queueby Dooby Doo #Dad's on a blog post and #he hasn't been queued in a few days

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