#(at this point all i can say is thank to jesse for taking matters into his own hands in 606 and making sure we got at least one kiss in s6)

[machetegirl109]

Synopsis: During a hot day at the beach with your friends, the sexual tension between you and Ellie leads the both of you to the passenger seat of her truck; again. *inspiration: tudo aconteceu by mc du black*

Warnings: 18+, MDNI, F/F, modern!AU, suggestive and offensive language, weed&alcohol, smut, dry humping, very good vibes, loser!ellie x reader

important info about my stories here

©machetegirl109 (credits to tudo aconteceu by mc du black that inspired me to write this) DO NOT copy/steal my work OR post it on any platforms

Word Count: 2.2k+

Oneshot: It All Happened

❝︎i fell in love

now i miss you endlessly❞︎

It was a hot day. The sun shined bright and no dark clouds were visible in the sky; it was the perfect day to go to the beach, and oh, Ellie was dying to. As soon as Dina texted her, demanding that she’d meet her, Jesse and you at the beach, excitement formed at the pit of her stomach as she hurriedly changed from her sleepwear to a black triangle two-piece set, anticipating seeing you again. She wondered what swimsuit you would wear this time, if it was the colored one that flattered the tone of your skin, or that Brazilian cut bikini that perfectly displayed your pretty ass.

Ellie put on a pair of light washed jean shorts, not bothering to put on a shirt and stepping into her simple havaianas. Grabbing a tote back and packing it with some necessities like a towel, water bottles and sunscreen, as well as a tin of Altoids that was filled with some pre-rolls. She gets into her truck and makes her way to the beach, quietly singing along to the song that plays on the radio. The memory of you on top of her, wearing nothing but a wet bikini bottom and a blunt between your fingers replayed inside her head – What I’d give to see her all high and fuck out on my lap again she thought and her blood felt like electricity as it flowed through her veins all the way down to her core.

After driving for about an hour, she finally arrives and parks her car in a more secluded area before the entry of the beach — The spot was hidden behind some palm trees that blocked surrounding vision, making it the perfect place to spend some alone time with you later. Ellie takes her things and heads to the beach, her eyes wander around until she spots Jesse sitting on his sunchair; head laid back, eyes closed towards the sunny sky and body spread on in as he holds a cold Heineken can. Upon hearing someone approach him, Jesse turns his face to his side, looking at Ellie who’s setting her tote bag onto the burning sand and taking a seat on the chair next to his.

“Ellieee, ‘sup, my friend!” He reaches his hand towards hers, exchanging a dap greeting. Ellie smiles and he continues. “There’s some drinks on the cooler right there,” Jesse points to a small light-blue icebox a few steps from them. “And some snacks on the bag beside it,” She nods looking at the black backpack. “Feel free to take whatever you want; Dina and Y/N are taking a swim.” Ellie turns her gaze to the wide blue ocean, watching as you and Dina laugh splashing the water around.

“Thanks. You getting in, too?”

“Yeah, just wanted to drink a bit and catch a tan first.” Ellie stands and walks towards the cooler, opening and getting a beer. Going to sit again, she opens it and takes a sip, the cold liquid refreshing her throat as she lays her back onto the beach chair. “What about you, gonna take a dip with Y/N?” She chuckles and turns her face away from him.

“I don’t know what you mean by that,”

“Haa, I’m not so sure about that. You think we don’t know what y’all were up to in your car when we came to the beach last week?”

“We just… Talked. And- and we hotboxed.” She trips over her words, shy over the little escapade you two had.

“Whenever two people who have insane sexual tension are together, in a closed space, they do a lot more than just talking.” Jesse proclaims as if it was a matter of fact and Ellie rolls her eyes.

“Whatever… You’re so annoying.”

“I know,” He says proudly as he places his drink on the sand and stands up. “I’m gonna go play mermaids’ with Dina now, wanna come?”

“Not now, go ahead.” Ellie watches as Jesse lets out an alright and he begins to walk towards the crystalline water, swimming towards you and Dina who smiles as he approaches. Soon the three of you engage in a conversation following up by Jesse making an exaggerated mermaid act, causing you and Dina to swim a little further from him.

“Can you two please stop being boring bitches and have fun?” He pleads, upset over the fact you nor his girlfriend wanted to act like kids in public.

“Yeah, no. I’m not gonna swim around and act stupid like you.”

“You’re just mad I have childlike wonder, Y/N.” He goes closer to Dina and wraps his arms around her. “Will you play with me, Dina? You can be Ariel and I’ll be Prince Eric.”

“We can reenact that scene where he drowns but instead of saving you I just swim away.” Dina suggests and he lets an annoyed huff out.

“Wow, I thought you loved me.”

“God, Jesse, when did you get so dramatic?” She hugs him back and he kisses her cheek. “I’ll play with you.”

“Y/N?” Jesse looks at you with puppy eyes and you hum. “Will you play with your dear friends?”

“No, but thanks for asking.” He kisses his teeth and throws the salty water in your direction. “Jesse!”

“You should go be boring with Ellie,” He says, pulling Dina closer to where the ocean got deeper. “She's by our stuff.” A smile appears on your face as Jesse lets you know she’s already here, you begin to swim back hurriedly, excited to see Ellie again. “They’re down bad for each other, huh?” Dina nods in agreement, the two of them watching you running towards the spot you all settled in when you arrived at the beach earlier this morning.

When Ellie sees you walking towards her, her green eyes sparkle with desire as she looks down at your body, almost exposed under the tiny bikini you’re wearing. You two exchange smiles with hidden intentions on it. When you finally stop in front of her chair, you lower yourself on her lap, pulling her into a hug; her body shivers as your cold wet body touches her hot one. Ellie takes in your scent, the mixture of sand and salty water into her nose as she presses her face onto the crook of your neck, making you only hug her even tighter.

“Hi Els,” You say softly as you pull back, looking at her face — Cheeks slightly red from the sun and her freckles more intense. “I wanted to see you so bad.” You confess shyly; not being able to take her off of your mind since the last encounter you two had.

“I wanted to see you, too.” Her hand comes up to your cheek, softly caressing it. “Did you not want to play mermaids with Jesse?” Ellie asks with humor in her voice and you chuckle.

“Yeah, I'd rather be around you,” Her smile widens and her hand falls to your naked thigh and your heartbeat falters. “Why didn’t you get in?” Ellie raises her other hand that holds her beer and gives it a little shake.

“I was just finishing up, and–” Ellie fingers trace up and down your soft skin, she looks down at your chest, covered by a small burgundy triangle top, and then backs up your eyes as she clears her throat. “To be honest, I was hoping you'd come here. I brought you something.” She leans forward on her beach chair with you still seated across both her legs, and places her can onto the sand, grabbing her tote bag. You observe her attentively as she removes a scratched metal tin and places it into your hands. Opening it, you see four perfectly wrapped blunts.

“Really? They're for me?” You give her a toothy smile, making her heart melt.

“Uhm. Just for you.” You close the tin and press a kiss onto Ellie's freckled cheek, who instantly holds your hips closer. You lean into her, moving your lips to her ear; giving a soft bite on her lobe. You can feel her body slightly shake under you – A naughty smile creeps up your face and you place one to the back of her neck, gripping it harshly as you pull her impossibly closer to you.

“You should take me to your car.” Your warm breath hits down her ear as you whisper and an almost inaudible moan escapes her lips. Ellie stands causing you to be back on your feet again and she quickly holds your empty hand, pulling you towards the beach entry with her. You try to keep up with her pace as you follow behind, and soon enough you two reach her old truck that hides behind the palm trees. Not being able to wait anymore, she presses you against the door and smacks a kiss onto your lips. Her soft lips carry a slight taste of the beer she was previously drinking.

You place your arms around her shoulders and Ellie clutches your hip with one hand as the other one moves down your thigh, grabbing it and bringing it up making you close your leg around her waist. She bites your bottom lip and pulls it forward with her teeth, her head going back as you reach her face to kiss her again. Before you're able to press them together again, she lets go of it and drops your leg back on the ground: giving your ass a slap as she pulls you away from the door.

Ellie opens the passenger seat door and enters; getting comfortable onto the seat as she pats both her hands over her thighs that are uncovered on her small low waist jean shorts.

“C’mere, pretty.” With no need to tell you twice, you get in, setting yourself on top of her with each of your legs divided on her sides; you throw the small metal tin on the driver’s seat. You press a small kiss on her lips before they make their way down her neck – One of her hands meets your ass again; she squeezes it roughly, earning a moan from you, and the other closer to the door reaches for the handle, shutting it close. “You look for fucking hot wearing that,” You move your lips back to hers and soon you two start a heavy and messy make out session.

Sinking your teeth into the plumpiness of her bottom lip, she opens her mouth allowing your tongue to move in and hers, too, explores the inside of your mouth. You grip her short locks tightly and she groans inside the kiss; both her hands holding onto each side of your asscheeks, rocking you back and forth above her crotch.

As the moans of you two start to get louder and louder each time your hips hit towards hers, you break the kiss; planning your hands on the sides of the headstand as Ellie tries to open her legs as much as she can in order to feel your clothed cunt rub against hers. She stares deep in your eyes, holding onto you as if you were about to run away, Ellie starts to move you against her even faster and rougher.

“Shit–” Her chest raises up and down fastly, her lungs losing air as she sees you untying your top and discarding it beside the joint-filled altoids. She feels herself getting even wetter at the vision of your perky nipples; lowering her mouth on your boobs, she alternates between the two as she sucks and licks, bites and kisses. Adrenaline and lust run through your veins as you feel her warm muscle on your sensitive nipples.

“Els– ahh,” Pornography moans leave your mouth, you two reaching closer and closer to that final snap inside the pit of your stomachs. “Don't stop, don't stop, pleasepleaseplease,” Upon hearing your cries, Ellie moans along with you as she deliciously rubs your cunt more violently against her own. Her eyes roll back as she feels your hand move from her naked stomach to her covered chest, sliding it under her top and flicking her nipple.

“Baby, baby– I'm gonna cum,” Ellie announces as her mouth lets go of your tits with a wet plop. You nod your head, letting her know you will, too. “Kiss me,” Tending to her wish, you put your lips on hers, kissing it one last time before you two reach your releases’. As Ellie feels the creamy liquid drip inside her bikini bottoms, her guidance on your hips falter, making you slow down, too, riding out your high. “Holy fuck.”

You let yourself fall into her as tiredness hits you. Ellie moves her hands to your back, giving you a bear hug. As the two of you take your time to catch your breath, she presses kind and loving kisses over your face, making you giggle with adoration.

“You want to smoke a little?” Ellie asks, a hint of desperation on her voice as she has finally met the opportunity to get you looking all pretty with your eyes red and horny on her lap, again. You nod your head, excitement making its way through your body.

“Yes, I do!”

ೃ⁀➷ thank you for reading! feel free to comment your thoughts, reblog, leave a heart and follow me˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

x-18 banner by @fic-dumpster

#ellie williams #ellie tlou #ellie williams x reader #ellie x reader #ellie williams x y/n #ellie x y/n #ellie williams smut #ellie tlou smut #loser!ellie #it all happened ellie williams #©machetegirl109

[madlittlecriminal]

Hdc about Miguel falling for reader? Love your blog by the way 😘

Worth It⥓ Miguel O'Hara × Spider-Person!GN!Reader [headcanons]

awe thank you! :D hope you enjoy!

Warnings: i ship the heck out of miles and gwen so sue me

1K Celebration!

When he first met you, he was immediately captivated by you.

He couldn't explain it, but there was something about you that caught his attention

Not to mention, you'd warm up this cold man's cheeks with anything you'd do

Just the sound of your laugh or seeing you smile made him blush

Jess ended up teasing him when he asked her why he felt so warm around you

"Sounds like you actually got bit, but by a love bug, Miguel."

He'd give her a glare that only made her laugh

However, he once heard Gwen and Miles sharing music which turned out to be love songs

He even heard Peter singing one softly to Mayday one time which confused him

He asked Peter about it and he smiled.

"It's mine and MJ's song. Apparently, Mayday loves it too, so she sleeps faster if it's played or sung to her."

Peter was confused though as to why his boss asked him about it, but then asked him if he was expanding his music taste.

Miguel grunted and Peter laughed before sending him a playlist of music that consisted of love songs

He was taken aback by how accurate they were to his situation

Considering they were all in English, he decided to search for Spanish and naturally, he wasn't disappointed

You caught him humming a song and when you asked him about it, he brushed it off asa song "the kids" were playing

You laughed

"Yeah, Gwen and Miles have it bad for each other."

He was relieved you believed him, but disappointed you couldn't tell he lied

He was also amazed you didn't hear his racing heart when you were around

What he didn't know was you did, you just never asked about it since you figured he'd just brush you off.

His feelings for you grew over time and it was bad.

He believed Jess was right to say he was bit by a love bug because you never left his mind

It was bad

Well, to him it was

He'd be so caught up in a daydream, Lyla would have to snap him out of it

I mean, we all know Lyla would tease him relentlessly about his crush

"Looks like the boss has a little crush~"

"You know, I think they have a crush on you too. You should try asking them out."

Miguel would simply hide his burning cheeks from Lyla's words knowing his A.I is the only one that can get under his skin

Well, maybe you too...

But that's not the point

No matter how in love he was, he couldn't manage to form a complete sentence around you anymore.

He was a stuttering mess.

Sometimes he'd get so frustrated that he'd just shut up and leave you hanging

There were times when Gwen noticed Miguel's behavior towards you

She never said anything

She knew Miguel was the one that had to say something

Then when he did end up confessing, your worry made sense.

"What about the canon?"

He would only chuckle.

"It's worth taking a risk it's for you."

[PART TWO]

#miguel o'hara x reader #miguel o'hara #miguel o'hara x you #miguel ohara #miguel o'hara x y/n #miguel spiderman #spiderman across the spiderverse #spiderman 2099 x reader #spider man 2099 #spiderman 2099 #spiderman 2099 x you #spiderman 2099 x y/n #marvel #mcu #marvel universe #asks #ask #anonymous #anon asks #anonymous asks #spiderman atsv

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

Hobie's 'No More' Moment - Hobie Brown Headcanons

Inspired by this post by @wicked-exe - thanks again!

I had to think on this a bit and honestly I think Hobie's 'No more' moment has to do with something we've already seen but don't talk about:

Hobie Joining the Spider-Society.

Honestly, I think it would be a really hard struggle for him in the beginning.

Imagine you're a brown kid living under fascism and it's your job to fight a totalitarian government and give people an ounce of hope.

Imagine you craft a whole persona around it, wear a mask, and go out and fight everyday with the slight hope that maybe you'll change something and finally be free

Then you finally learn that not only are their other universes and other yous, but they've created a community and society together!

Only to find out that they're totalitarian too.

That even though theres dozens of universes out there, and dozens of Spider-men, there's no freedom anywhere.

It's not just London, it's not just the 70's or your universe, it every universe. It goes all the way to the top.

And even worse, the people at the top are you. Spider-people. Literally versions of you from different dimensions.

All this time you've been fighting 'the man', when in reality, the one controlling the whole timeline is one of you.

That's what Hobie went through, and that probably fucked him up a lot!!!!!!

I feel like learning about the Spider Society would've made him really hopeful - maybe he thought that they were like him - anarchists, or at least freedom fighters.

And then he learns that no - he's different. They all like cops. They all like 'the man'. They all come from free universes, and they all agree with Miguel and what he's doing.

Spider-man probably meant so much to Hobie, and then to meet people like him - only to find out they're the thing he hates most?

It's like they perverted the image for him. It made him sick.

I feel like after he learned what the Spider-Society was actually about, he just couldn't do it.

I imagine it being really really depressing for him, sadly.

The feeling of never escaping fascism, no matter what dimension you're in. Facing the threat of violence whether its the police or people that literally know your life story like the back of their hand.

How can you sleep at night knowing there's versions of you controlling things, everywhere?

It would destroy him.

Going from a freedom fighter to being ordered around by other Spider-men, going into universes and executing their will. That's not what Spider-man is to him.

The watch is the only perk.

He doesn't tell anyone how he feels. He knows better than that.

He stays low at HQ, trying to keep to himself, and take as few missions as he can. Miguel sees potential in him and finds this disappointing, but whatever.

He hates it there, anyway. The only perk Hobie sees is the watch. The watch changes everything for him.

At the very least, Hobie knows that there's other universes that are better than his. Some, WAY more high-tech than his. (Imagine him learning about ipods!)

He'd see this as a chance.

With access to futuristic technology, he can really get serious.

It's around this time he starts making his watch pro-type. He 'breaks' his first one, asking Jess for a second, and he takes the first one apart.

He starts lifting and stealing parts from every dimension he gets sent to.

It takes at most 4 months for him to crack it, but he does.

Hobie seems like the type to go AWOL.

I feel like he'd just stop.

At once point he wouldn't see the point in fighting any more cause it's just suffocating.

He hates the Spider-society, he hates his universe, and he now hates looking at his own suit.

So after he makes his first watch, I feel like he'd say 'No More', and just take off.

Ghosts London, ghosts HQ, picks a dimension and just leaves, totally untraceable.

He only needs a rucksack and his guitar.

He squats in dimensions, never staying too long, picking up momentos from each one. He has to lay real low, and it's rare but lucky when he finds a dimension with an un-enrolled Spider-person.

The search for him at HQ is quiet, but heated. Miguel doesn't want to raise heat. Having a Spider-person quit is one thing.

They've never handled a Spider-man recreating their tech. That's worrying.

The only person who can make him come back is himself.

Part guilt, part nostalgia, part culture shock - eventually Hobie goes home.

He misses London. He dislikes the future. And he hates the feeling of running away.

Eventually he comes back. London has gotten bad, worse. He has his work cut out for him, but he's fine with that.

He'd forgotten that even if he was one out of hundreds at HQ, his universe only had one Spider-man, and he couldn't quit on them.

He lays low and changes up his strategies a bit so not to make too much ruckus

But his comeback is really the surge the resistance needed to gain some huge traction.

Eventually, he remembers why he started in the first place. Things start getting a little better. He starts feeling like himself again.

After a while Jess and Miguel catch wind of his return back home. It's a good while before they reach out again, but it very much to keep an eye on him.

They tell him they 'understand it was hard to process' for him, sweep it under the rug and call it squashed.

But it's not really.

Hobie wasn't suppose to know about Miles, but then he meets Gwen, and when he learns about Miles and what HQ is up to, he starts planning.

Miles was apart of the plan to take down HQ the whole time.

He's the only real reason Hobie stuck around. He's had a plan since he started.

I love Hobie Angst. I love it so much!!!! His universe and the trauma with that I love it!! I feel like just looking at who he as a character - he's really resilient. He was the first one there, by himself, a 16-17 year old coming from a fascist society, learning about the universe and HQ and how fragile it all is. And still choosing to fight!!!! He's so punk!

#hobie brown #spiderpunk #spider punk #gwen stacy #miles morales #atsv #across the spiderverse #marvel #marvel headcanons #spiderman #spider man #spider man across the spider verse #marvel comics

[justagalwhowrites]

Lavender - Ch. 13

Joel learns something big that changes everything. A continuation of Lavender Ch. 1-12, found on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

Warnings: Miscarriage (mentioned and referenced, not described); suicidal ideation. Some smut. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ only.

Length: 4.4K

A/N: GUYS THIS IS A HEAVY CHAPTER. Full explanation in the notes at the end of the chapter, with some spoilers. Scroll to the bottom and read that if you're worried about this chapter. It's not graphic but it's emotionally VERY heavy. Take care of yourselves and all the love in the world <3

Saturday, July 4, 2009 - 3 months later 

“What’s Steve gonna do?” You asked, legs stretched out alongside the small table in the break room of the clinic. 

“Hopefully act like an adult for a change,” Andrew smiled. “Get his own place. He’s gotta grow up sometime.” 

“Aw, you’re going to be like empty nesters,” you teased. He laughed. “Moving in together… big step.” 

“Right?” He shook his head. “Might as well call it marriage.” He turned his bottle of water in his fingers, watching the plastic fracture the light. “I’m not making a mistake, right?” 

“You love her?” You asked. 

“More than anything,” he said. 

“Then no,” you smiled. “Not making a mistake. Jess is… she’s the best. Truly. You’re lucky she had a lapse in judgement that lasted long enough to start seeing you…” 

He lightly kicked your leg and you laughed. 

“I’m really glad you figured your shit out with her,” you looked at him and smiled as he nodded. 

“You and me both.” 

After meeting Jess at the speakeasy just after Joel and Tommy made it to the QZ, Andrew just… kept bumping into her. When he went to the warehouse to pick up supplies for the clinic? She was there. At the market? She was there. At the speakeasy? She was there. And he kept watching her, out of the corner of his eye, like he thought no one would notice. But you did. 

“Are you going to actually talk to her again or are you going to just pine after her from afar because you’re hung up on her name?” You asked him eventually when she passed on the street and the two of you were walking to the clinic. 

“I can pine all I want, thank you,” he huffed. 

“I don’t think you want to just pine, bud,” you replied. He sighed. 

“I just can’t…” he looked up at the sky for a moment. “How am I supposed to get through the day if I’m always reminded of her? I mean I know I only knew her for a week but fuck…” 

“I don’t think time matters as much when you’re trying to survive,” you shrugged. “By the time we got to the QZ we’d known each other, what, three weeks?” 

“Shit,” he sighed. “Yeah.” 

“It’s just different,” you shrugged. “I was ready to claw someone’s eyes out for looking at you wrong.” 

“I punched Elias for not letting me see you for five minutes,” he winced. You looked up at him, shocked. “Oh yeah, that was when you weren’t responding to anything. Forgot you didn’t know about that. He forgave me pretty quick.” 

You shook your head.

“Point is,” you said. “A week is plenty when you’re relying on each other to stay alive. You protected her. You were there when… Anyway, it makes sense is what I’m saying. But that doesn’t mean it needs to hold up your whole life, you know?” 

“So you think I should talk to her.” 

“I think you need to get your head out of your ass or you’re going to watch her fall in love with someone else and be pissed at yourself about it and I’m going to be the one who has to deal with you.”

For a change, he took your advice.  

Introducing you to Jess had been a process. Andrew had - apparently - talked about you. A lot. And she’d seen you with him around the QZ. He’d set up a night at the speakeasy, just the three of you. You got there early. Andrew came over and hugged you, whispering in your ear “I’m so fucking nervous.” You gave him a squeeze. 

“Jess this is…” he held his hand out to you, frowning. Like he couldn’t think of how to qualify you. 

“I’m the outbreak survival partner turned best friend,” you smiled, holding out your hand. “And you’re the girlfriend!” 

“Hi,” she smiled, taking your hand and looking relieved. 

You talked for a while, getting to know each other. She had been a junior in college when the outbreak hit, studying psychology. She worked doing psych evaluations for FEDRA now, but wanted to try to get some kind of mental health system set up in the QZ eventually. She was sweet, smart and obviously very into Andrew. When he left to go get drinks, she watched him go before turning to you. 

“Oh my God,” she sighed and then laughed. “I’ve been panicking about meeting you, you’re very intimidating! He doesn’t really have any other family or people besides you and he talks about you all the time. I’ve been hoping you’ll at least tolerate me! I feel like I’m meeting the parents and the big sister and the best friend at the same time… I’m so glad you’re nice!” 

“Oh hon,” you laughed and put an arm around her, giving her a squeeze. “I don’t think I’ve ever intimidated anyone so thank you for that! You’re lovely, I’m now going to require him to bring you around as much as you’ll stand us.” 

“Then expect to see me an awful lot,” she smiled, looking back toward the bar. “I’m kind of crazy about the guy.” 

It helped that she went by Jess. It helped more that she was able to exist as her own, separate person with no ties to Jessica the more you were around her. She even understood when you or Andrew needed the other when things got hard and no one else understood.  

Moving in with her was the right choice.

“You and Joel any closer to…” he gestured vaguely, eyebrows raised. 

“Let’s not talk about my slowly devolving love life,” you took a drink of water. 

“I will kick his ass,” he said. “Just say the word.” You rolled your eyes. “Seriously though. What’s going on? I thought things were a little better after you actually told him what happened…” 

“It was, for about five minutes,” you sighed. “He’s only slept over three nights in the last week…” You swallowed the knot in your throat. “It’s like he’s looking for an out. I keep trying to ask him if something is wrong or if I did something… It reminds me of the last time I visited him in Texas, before the outbreak. He broke up with me a few weeks later and, in hindsight, that whole trip felt like him saying goodbye.” 

You sighed, finishing your bottle of water. Joel had slept over the night before and it was like his body was in your bed but the rest of him was gone. 

He’d been lying flat on his back and you wrapped around him, stretching up and kissing his cheek. His arm never went around you to pull you closer like it usually did. You tried to press yourself against his side, tried to soak up as much of him as you could. When you kissed the side of his neck, he turned his head and lifted your chin, crashing his lips into yours. His kiss was harsh, consuming. He all but tore your tank top and cotton shorts off your body, leaving them in a heap on the floor. 

His fingers dug into your flesh, into the spaces between your ribs, into the soft fullness of your breasts. You clumsily worked your hips against him as he ripped his own clothes off, too, before he pushed two fingers sharply into you, making you gasp. 

“Always wet for me,” he said it harshly, almost judgmentally. You moaned, a knot in your stomach that didn’t usually exist when he touched you. “Always fuckin’ wanting it…” 

“Joel,” you whimpered and he kissed you, his tongue shoving your mouth open as he pulled his fingers from you and pressed his hard length against you. He entered you with one firm stroke, forcing your walls apart, making you gasp against his mouth. 

His hips snapped into yours, his cock slamming into you with each stroke. He bit your neck, took your wrists in his hand and held them down when you tried to run your fingers over his back. Your body kept trying to hold onto him, keep him close and he refused it. You came only seconds before he went slack on top of you, panting for breath. 

He slid out of you and collapsed next to you in bed, not touching you. You just stared at the ceiling for a moment, feeling him leaking out of you, slipping away. He was gone when you woke up. 

“He’s not the only man on earth, you know,” Andrew was watching you. You frowned a little but nodded. “Steve’s always had a bit of a crush on you…” 

You snorted. 

“Steve needed me to teach him how to boil pasta.” 

“Yeah, he’s got mommy issues,” Andrew half smiled at you. “It explains everything.” 

“Doctor?” Marta hung her torso into the break room, her black ponytail swinging over her shoulder. “We need you.” 

“We’ll just have to fix my love life another day,” you drummed the tabletop for a second and gave Andrew a small smile before jogging over to Marta and following her to the exam rooms. 

“What’s going on?” You asked, fidgeting with your stethoscope. 

“Pregnant woman, thinks she’s about 10 weeks?” She passed you the chart. “Says she thinks something’s wrong but hasn’t given me many specifics. Wanted to just tell the doctor.” 

You stopped at the exam room door. 

“Thanks, Marta,” you gave her a tight smile. “I’ve got it from here.” 

You knocked on the door once before stepping in. 

“Hey Doc,” the woman smiled. You’d seen her a few times in the clinic through the years for the usual basic things. Coughs that wouldn’t leave, a broken finger, stitches once when she cut her hand as she fell at work. You glanced at the chart. Penelope. Penny. That’s what she’d told you last time. 

“Hi Penny,” you smiled back, setting the chart down and going to the sink to wash your hands before putting on gloves. “What seems to be the issue?” 

“I slipped at work,” she winced. “Yesterday afternoon…” 

“They still letting you on ladders with your track record?” You teased, taking some notes on the chart. She laughed. 

“Right?” She said. “You’d think they’d give me another job after a while… Anyway, something’s felt… wrong ever since. And this afternoon I used the bathroom and there was blood in my panties and…” 

Your stomach turned and you fought to make sure it didn’t show. 

“Let’s take a look.” 

*** 

Joel showed up at the clinic at the same time as Andrew’s girlfriend. He fought the urge to groan. She was a sweet enough girl but he’d never really taken the same liking to her you had. She was young, naive, a little too content to hang on Andrew’s every word. But she was insightful enough to know that he wasn’t about to start a fan club for her, just giving him a tight smile as they both went into the waiting room. 

It seemed quiet, at least. Something Joel was relieved for. He kept trying to get some distance from you and then something would pull him back in. You’d smile at him in just the right way, kiss his neck when your body was against him, have a bad day at the clinic and look so exhausted that all he wanted to do was wrap you up and hold you close. It was easier to keep his distance when you didn’t need him. He couldn’t resist you needing him. 

“Hey guys,” Andrew sighed, coming out of the back. Jess’ face brightened into a real smile then, looking at her boyfriend like he hung the moon. She put her arms around his neck and he kissed her, long enough that Joel cleared his throat to remind them that he was there. Jess blushed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s going to be a few minutes…” he lowered his voice. “She’s busy with a rough one.” 

“Oh no,” Jess frowned. “What’s happening?” 

“Miscarriage,” he sighed. “Which is hard on her for obvious reasons…” 

Jess just nodded and pressed herself into his side but Joel just frowned. 

“What’d you mean, obvious reasons.” 

“Well, you know,” Andrew shrugged. “During the outbreak.” 

Joel’s stomach dropped and, after a moment, Andrew’s eyes went wide. 

“Oh shit,” he breathed. “She didn’t tell you, fuck, she said she’d told you everything, I thought she told you, I swear she said she told you…” 

You came out of the back, looking sad for a moment but your face brightened when you saw Joel. You came up and stretched up to kiss his cheek. 

“Just need a few more minutes,” you said. “Just waiting for Kristen so I can go over some overnight care instructions for a patient. Let me tell you, I really need that drink…” 

“What the fuck is Andrew talking about?” Joel asked, looking down at you. You frowned. 

“I’m so sorry,” Andrew whispered. “I thought you’d told him, you said you’d told him everything, I thought you’d told him….” 

Your face fell, looking between Andrew and Joel. 

Joel stormed outside. His head was spinning. Something Andrew had said the night that he got to the QZ came back to him, something he’d heard that he wasn’t meant to hear. 

“So that’s the dad…” 

He’d thought he was talking about Sarah. Who else could he have meant? It would have made sense, you explaining your connection through his daughter…. 

“Hey,” you were walking quickly, almost jogging, to catch up to him. He was panting for breath, the haze of twilight on the horizon. “Joel…” 

“Were you pregnant?” He demanded, spinning to face you. You startled back from him, like he’d slapped you. You didn’t answer. “Were. You. Pregnant.” 

You stared at his chest. 

“Yes.” 

He turned away from you for a moment, trying to get his composure before he turned back. 

“It was mine?” 

“Yes,” your voice was wet and thick. 

“What happened.” 

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath before you answered. 

“They were going to shoot Jessica,” you whispered. “I didn’t know it was transmitted through bites, they were just going to shoot her and I had to stop it and they hit me and… Joel, I’m sorry, I tried, I tried so hard…” 

You’d been on your own, been with two teenagers you’d taken charge of and his child inside you and he’d been across the country from you, not able to protect you, only able to fail you, only able to fail you both…

“When did you know?” 

You were quiet and he ground his teeth. 

“When!” 

“The first day of school,” you breathed, glancing up at his face for a second before looking straight ahead again. 

He felt like he was going to be sick. 

“You knew,” he said it through clenched teeth. You winced but stood your ground, your arms crossed over your stomach. “You knew for weeks. WEEKS. And you didn’t fuckin’ tell me?” 

“I’m sorry,” your voice was shaky. “I didn’t know what I was going to do at first, I didn’t know if I was going to keep it and once I decided I wanted to keep it I didn’t know if I was ever going to tell you…” 

“You were going to have my fuckin’ kid and you weren’t going to tell me!” He was screaming. You wanted to cower from him, he could tell. Your body shook with it. But you weren’t backing down. 

“I decided to tell you the day before the outbreak,” your eyes met his then. “That’s why I texted you. I didn’t want to just tell you over the phone, that’s why I asked if you wanted to have coffee… I wanted to come up with a plan first to make sure you didn’t need to do anything you didn’t want to do, I didn’t want you to feel like you were stuck with me and a baby you didn’t want and I…” 

“You should have fucking TOLD ME!” He couldn’t look at you, putting his back to you. His stomach twisted, his chest tightened. 

He was running through everything that happened the night of the outbreak. He couldn’t help it, couldn’t stop it once it started. The phone call from Tommy, leaving Sarah alone at the house. Coming home and finding her at the mercy of the infected. Driving, running, holding her…. 

It all would have been different. If he’d known, if you’d just told him, it all would have been different. 

“We’re done,” his voice cracked. 

“What?” You sounded so small, so weak. It reminded him of the time you called him for help, when on a date with that handsy guy. You sounded scared. “Joel, please…” 

“Do you understand what you did?” He rounded on you, towering over you. You flinched back, like you were afraid he was going to hit you. “None of it would have happened this way if you’d just fucking told me you were pregnant with my goddamn kid!” 

“Joel…” 

“She’d still be here!” He screamed it. You stepped back from him then, sobbing now. 

“You can’t know…” you choked on it but he cut you off. 

“Yes I can,” he said. He was seething. “If you’d just fuckin’ told me, we wouldn’t have BEEN there! We would have been in New York with you or you would have been in Austin with us and I wouldn’t have left her alone that night, you would have been with her and known what to fuckin’ do, she never…” 

“You can’t…” 

“She died that night!” He yelled, getting in your face. He’d never told you this. He’d never told anybody this. “Shot by some Army fuck and it never would have happened that way if you’d just told me you were pregnant with my fucking kid!” 

He straightened, running his hands through his hair, desperate for something to hold onto. It was like losing her all over again, like there was a gaping hole in his chest, like someone had cracked open his ribs and started taking him apart. If you’d told him, Sarah would be alive. If you’d told him, he could have saved your child. If he’d just known, it would all be different. He wouldn’t have failed you. He wouldn’t have failed you. 

You were just standing there, your face wet, arms tightly around yourself. You hadn’t even moved to wipe your tears away. 

“Please,” it was barely audible.

“We’re done,” he said it again, his voice flat. “I wish I’d never fuckin’ met you. I never want to see you again. We’re done.” 

He turned and left you there in the haze of the streetlights outside the clinic. 

Joel wasn’t sure how long he walked. He wasn’t sure where he ended up. He didn’t fucking care. He almost hoped someone tried to talk to him. He wanted to hit something, he wanted something to hit him. He wanted to hurt, something on his body needed to hurt the same way his soul was hurting. It wasn’t right that the pain wasn’t spread out, that it wasn’t all through his body, too. 

Tommy was out when he got home. For a moment, Joel’s eyes drifted to the floorboards where they’d stashed their weapons. He wouldn’t flinch this time. Your voice wouldn’t pull him back this time. 

He went for the liquor instead. He drank until he passed out. He didn’t move for two days. 

***

You couldn’t seem to stop crying. You stood there, watching where Joel had gone, like you were waiting for him to come back for you. He wasn’t going to come back for you. 

“I wish I’d never fuckin’ met you.” 

“Don’t let anyone take you from me.” 

“I never want to see you again.” 

You had a patient. 

You forced yourself to turn and walk for the clinic. You hadn’t gone far, only about 50 yards, but it was apparently far enough that no one inside had heard the commotion outside. That was good, at least. Andrew noticed you first, his hands on your shoulders before you really realized he was even there. 

“Hey,” he said, stopping you. His voice was gentle, so gentle compared to Joel’s. You kept your arms around your waist. “What happened? Are you OK?” 

“I’m fine,” you said, even though you were still crying. “Is Kristen ready for care instructions? Have you seen her?” 

“She’s still in back, what happened?” He asked. Your eyes were having a hard time focusing. His chest was just a gray blob in front of you. “What’s going on?” 

“Nothing,” you answered. “It’s fine. You guys should probably just head over to the speakeasy, I think I’m just going home…” 

“What did he do to you?” His hands went from your shoulders to your face, tilting your head up so you were forced to look at him. You closed your eyes, unable to bear the idea of really looking at him. 

“He left,” you said, voice cracking. “Said he never wants to see me again. I’m fine,” you said it quickly, before Andrew had a chance to argue. “It’s fine. I understand it, I deserve it, I’m fine, it’s fine, I just need to give Kristen the care instructions…” 

Andrew pulled you against his chest, his lips finding your hair. 

“I’m so sorry,” he breathed. “I didn’t mean to, I’m so sorry…” 

“Not your fault,” you were getting his shirt wet with tears. “It’s OK…” 

“Doctor?” Kristen called. “Everything OK?” 

You pulled back from Andrew and sniffed, trying to compose yourself. 

“Fine,” you said. “Just a long day. Let me go over this with you…” 

You were numb as you went over protocols, noted medication and amounts, making sure to triple check everything because you didn’t really trust yourself but you didn’t have another doctor to hand Penny’s care off to. 

Andrew and Jess were sitting in the waiting room when you finished. You frowned. 

“I thought I said to go on ahead,” you said. 

“We’re not just going to abandon you,” Andrew looked at you, incredulous. 

“I just want to go home and be alone,” you looked between them. “Really. It’s fine.” 

“Well then we’ll walk you home,” Jess said, chin jutting out defiantly, almost daring you to argue. 

You let them. They walked you all the way to your door, but wouldn’t let Andrew stay. 

“I’d feel a lot better if I just slept here,” he was frowning, his hands in his pockets. 

“I just want to do this on my own,” you couldn’t look at him, staring over his shoulder instead. 

“Are you sure you’re safe to be on your own?” Jess asked, her voice soft. You nodded, not looking at her. 

“I just need to cry for a bit,” you said. “I’ll see you at work on Monday.” 

Andrew ground his teeth for a moment before pulling you tightly against him. 

“I love you,” he said. “Wouldn’t be here without you. Don’t go doing anything stupid.” 

You hesitantly put your arms around him. 

“Love you too.” 

He and Jess left, Andrew giving you a lingering look as he closed and locked your door behind him. You looked around your apartment for a moment. One of Joel’s shirts was hanging on your closet door. The picture of you, him and Sarah was still on your nightstand. The book he’d been reading was on his side of the bed. 

You left it there, going to the bathroom and running a bath in the tub that was a little too small for an adult to take a bath in but you didn’t care. You took off your clothes, folding them and putting them in a neat pile on the toilet seat, your body on autopilot. 

He’d been right, of course. If Sarah had died that night, it would have been different had you told him. If you’d just opened your fucking mouth when you’d found out and told him instead of mulling it over and being too anxious… 

You slipped into the water, body too numb to really notice the temperature of it. You stared into space for a while, just letting yourself cry until it seemed like there was nothing else left in you to cry out. 

For a moment, you wondered what it would have been like if you’d just told him. It wasn’t the first time you’d imagined something like it. Pictured Sarah chasing a toddler around your grandmother’s back yard or holding a plump baby with a bucket hat on their tiny head as they kicked their little legs in the Millers’ pool. You’d pictured what your child would look like so many times. Boy or girl, they always had Joel’s hair and eyes. Sometimes they got your nose, sometimes his. They sometimes had the dimple he got on one cheek when he smiled. 

It had always been a sad impossibility before. You could have done things differently that day, done what you could to change Jessica’s fate, made it so you never got hit but, after years of playing it over in your mind, you knew there wasn’t much you COULD have done differently. Your child was something that just wasn’t meant to be, something that got taken away before you had a chance to really love it and hold it close. Now, it was a choice you’d made. Another mistake born of a mistake. 

You’d never really been meant to exist at all. Your parents never meant to have you, they’d left you with your grandmother who had stepped up out of obligation to her flighty daughter. You’d done nothing but fuck up everyone’s lives since day one. 

“Don’t let anyone take you from me.” 

“I wish I’d never fuckin’ met you.” 

You slid below the water, lying flat on your back in the bottom of the tub. You held your breath. You opened your eyes, the stained ceiling rippling overhead. Your lungs burned. The ceiling blurred. Your hair swirled in the water around you. You didn’t move when your body forced you to inhale, sucking water into your lungs. But your body wouldn’t let you stay still, making you shoot up, coughing and choking, gasping like you had anything worth living for. 

You cried again, staying in the tub until the water turned so cold that you could feel it. You went to bed alone, wishing the water had swallowed you.

A/N: Hi y'all. For folks who skipped to the end for a spoiler-y warning: FMC treats a patient who is having a miscarriage, Joel finds out about her miscarriage, freaks out that she never told him and leaves her.

I KNOW I'M SORRY I REALLY AM. Here's why it's working this way: 1) Joel after Sarah is largely defined by his inability to allow himself to love fully and honestly. Until he's forced to work through his shit, his trauma will not LET him love anyone. It's not safe. For him, loving someone will lead to his death. He can't do it yet. HE WILL EVENTUALLY. But he can't yet. Remember that the choices made by this Joel are literally life and death for him. After what happened with Sarah, he can't approach these choices any other way. 2) These characters are going to grow and develop along largely parallel paths for a bit and we're going to see them over the next few years where their paths cross until the day that Ellie shows up. Joel wouldn't be Joel if he was just happily with her for 15 years and she wouldn't be who I've been building her up to be if she was with the love of her life for 15 years. Their journeys are going to be separate for a bit but we're still going to see them together, I promise.

Thank you so much for reading and interacting and sticking with the story even though I throw SUPER SAD SHIT in all the time. I have a taglist now, so if you're interested in that, please let me know. I love you all like crazy!

Taglist: @paleidiot

#fanfic #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you

[hetalianskywalker]

Day 2: The Bakery

Pairing: Merman Jesse x gn! Reader

Summary: Something odd is happening on the island 501st are staying on.

Author’s Note: Mermaid AU! Jesse is a little cheesy at the end. He be good at flirting for the rest of the fic though. I just love me some cheese.

Warnings: Nothing I can think of

Word Count: 898

Prompt: The bakery is built of seashell studded stone, sitting several meters out from shore and buffeted by ocean waves. The owner can’t set foot on land.

Prompt 3205 by deepwaterwritingprompts

Jesse watches as the townspeople take rowboats and canoes to the seashell studded house several meters out from the town. They bring all sorts of items to trade from different kinds of food to clothes; everything a person could need. They leave and head back to shore with fresh pastry and bread.

The Mer should go back to the others. The 501st has stopped on this island for a few days before heading to the next battle site. However, he had spotted an ancient Mer shack from the main deck of their battleship. They had been told about these places a few times by their Mer trainers back on Kamino; they were made to be temporary places of shelter during a storm for any Mer who was too close to the surface.

Most were long abandoned, but this small town seemed to be using this one as a bakery. He finds he can’t fight his curiosity any longer and swims up to the small dock in front of the door. Jesse shifts into his human form as he jumps up on it. He places his helmet under his arm and knocks.

“Come in!?” You call out, sounding both surprised and preoccupied. Jesse slowly eneters and his stomach growls at the divine smells.

“Sorry I wasn’t expecting….” You pause, now looking at him. “A Mer.”

“Well, you’ll find many of the citizens of Mandalore would disagree with you there.” He jokes and you relax somewhat, but your anxiety was palpable.

“Well that’s stupid.” It’s Jesse’s turn to be surprised as he looks over your pastries. “It doesn’t matter if you were made with kaminoan alchemy. You quite literally have to be the same species as your prime.”

“I mean some of us came out as sirens and selkies.” He teases as he walks closer to the counter. Your shoulders relax at this point; he watches a soft shy smile grace your face.

“I believe those have all been considered Merfolk for the past few centuries.” You laugh before slowly handing him a cinnamon roll he was eyeing like he hadn’t eaten in forever.

“But I- ” You shake your head.

“On the house, soldier.” You flirt as you finish closing up shop; you can feel his eyes on you as he gobbles his treat down.

“So you live here too right?” Jesse asks as you gently lead him to the door.

“Yep. Thankfully this has two stories.” You lean against the doorframe as he stands on the dock.

You both stand quietly in the shadow of your house, protected from the last rays of the setting sun. You look at your old village and then back at the curious Merman. You know what he wants to ask; every outsider asks for the same story.

“I stood up to a monster that was passing through our town. In response, after finding out my family had died a few years ago, cursed me to never walk on land again or I would die. I apparently had nothing else to loose. He then threw me into the ocean. The people rallied behind me and found a solution…” You lovingly patted the house behind you. “I was the town’s baker by trade and so it made sense to…”

“Make it a bakery.” Jesse finishes in awe before it changes to something far more sad. “So you have been stuck in this one house for…”

“A few years.” You nod, shifting uncomfortably from the pitying look you always received and looking away at your feet.

“It’s better than being dead though.” You jokingly add to try to lighten the mood.

“And I thought Kamino was claustrophobic.” He says with the same joking air, but the empathy touches you. You gently look up at him with a soft smile.

“Thank you…”

“Jesse.” The Mer grins one of the brightest smiles you have ever seen. “I’m Jesse. I probably should have said that at the beginning.”

From then on, whenever his battalion was stationed nearby, he came to visit you. Occasionally, you even got letters all the way from the capital island of Coruscant when he was on leave.

However when it was announced that the Jedi Order were traitors and the war was over, no news of Jesse came. Many days were spent pacing and worrying before a soft knock echos through your small home.

“Hey, babe.” You are running for the door at the familiar exhausted sound. You throw the door open and you both almost plummet into the water with the force you hug him with. Jesse laughs, spinning you around.

“I’ll explain later, but we need to leave.” Jesse says quickly, setting you down. You look up at him confused.

“But I can’t…”

“You can never set foot on land again and we can find a way to break that curse eventually.” He softly rests his hands on either side of your face; his desperate eyes holding your gaze. “But if you’ll have me, I can make you a Mer.”

“Yes.” There is no hesitation. The man you loved and your freedom, even if it is different from what you had imagined, are too valuable to pass up on. “I love you.”

That bright smile captivates you for a long moment. “I love you more.”

“I love you most.” You both laugh when you say it together as you start your new journey.

#star wars #jesse tcw #jesse x reader #star wars: the clone wars #mermay #clone trooper jesse #mermaid au

[eroseas]

gimme a lil angsty drabble of reader and ellie being exes who still love each other and miss each other but know that they’re not good for each other right now (hint hint maybe things will be different in the future)

firstly, im very sorry for the late reply! ive been a bit busy. hopefully you enjoy this tho cause it definitely made me feel shit. in a good way tho. also, i saw a tiktok of that doctor strange scene where christine and strange were talkin and christine says "there are other things that can give your life meaning" and strange goes "like what? like you?"

....yea so anyway. heres this for you, my dove.

cw; idk angst? ellie is kind of a meanie but its fine.

word count; 1.6k

an; i say that ellie sings a song that obviously she did not write. don't take it personal. if u see errors no u dont

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

“There are other things that can give your life meaning,” you had pleaded, exasperated, exhausted. 

Ellie was unimpressed; had scoffed all mean and bitter and utterly defeated. You remember it like it was yesterday. The way her lips had pulled back into a sneer, like she couldn’t stand the thought of anything else, anyone else, being important to her. Like the thought of holding you on a pedestal made her sick. 

The fact of the matter had been that Joel had slipped into a coma six months prior to your fight, and he wasn’t going to wake up anytime soon. The doctors were doing anything and everything, Ellie had been traveling all over the world to find answers, and you– You had gone with her. You did everything you possibly could. You loaned money to her, didn’t bat an eye when she sold things you had gotten her for the extra cash, you didn’t flinch when she became distant. You stayed. You were loyal. You knew deep down she loved you, and that this was just something she had to do for Joel’s sake. You could understand that, you’d even excused any questionable thing she said or did. And yet. 

She hadn’t missed a beat. Arguing wasn’t new at this point. You’d get into it every other day. There was only so much you could take; the constant bickering, the snide remarks under her breath. You could take it, for the most part. 

And yet.

“Like what?” She snapped, her face permanently etched into a scowl, “Like you?” 

It had rendered you speechless. A devastation that rocked you internally. It was the worst thing she had ever said. Four little words, and that’s all it took. 

You had shut down. You both knew that this was it. That the relationship wouldn’t survive after that outburst, that it just wouldn’t be the same. You didn’t leave, though. You kept staying over to cook her dinner, and you’d clean the house while she traveled. For two months, neither of you said a word to each other that wasn’t hello, goodbye, thanks, or you’re welcome. 

And just as those two months were up, Joel finally woke up. 

Even so, you had left. Once you got the news, you had given her a hug and kiss. You visited Joel at the hospital, gave him a nice bouquet in a boot-shaped vase, and smiled as Ellie played the guitar for him. 

You were gone the following morning. Not much else to it. 

You couldn’t leave your apartment for three months. You couldn’t stomach throwing away the pictures of you two, couldn’t even get rid of the guitar picks she left at your apartment. The ghost of Ellie lived there still, and it was all you had left. Therapy, and time, and lots of patience helped. You started going out again, started hanging around Dina and Jesse, and four months after the break-up, you packed up all of Ellie’s stuff and shoved it under your bed. She was important to you still, and you’d never deny that. But out of sight, out of mind, right?

Two years had gone by, and here you were. Junior year of university had just begun, and you, Jesse, Dina, and Ellie all had a class together.

You huff out a breath, and adjust the strap to your bag. You haven’t seen Ellie in months. You ran into her by chance at the cafe down the street from your apartment, where you both always went to for breakfast. She had smiled at you, and nodded her head, and after that, poof. Gone again. 

You shift on your feet, waiting for an appropriate time to walk into the class. You’d gotten there early, hoping to grab a good seat. Once you deemed the time appropriate, you snuck into the class and looked for a table. You faltered in your step, recognizing the silhouette of the person sitting alone at a table towards the back of the room. Ellie. You nibble at your lip, a sick little habit that you could never give up, and weigh your options. Sit by yourself because Jesse and Dina will want to sit with Ellie, or suck it up and sit with her alone for a few minutes. You sigh quietly.

“Fuck.” You mutter, ducking your head. Your feet start to move before you have the chance to change your mind, and you eye the earbuds sticking out of Ellie’s pierced ears once you get to where she is. You reach over hesitantly to tap her shoulder, suddenly hit with the thought that you used to just jump on her shoulders anytime you wanted. How things change.

She looks up at you before you can think about it too hard. Her eyes widen in surprise and she flounders for a bit, her lips parting open but no words escaping. 

“Mind if I sit?” You ask, putting her out of the misery of finding something to say. She blinks, and nods quickly, grabbing her bag out of the seat next to her. 

“Yeah, fuck, sorry–” She mumbles, clearing out her little mess on the table. You eye her notebook, catching the sight of what looks like a song. You slip yourself into the seat, and tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. She quickly shoves her tattooed arm in front of her notebook, hiding it from your gaze. You look away, and start grabbing your notebook from your bag. 

The air is thick, even though the room is so fucking big. You can vaguely hear the music coming from her earbuds, and you try not to look at her. 

She looks the same, though. A little more grown, a little less tired. Like the dread has finally let her go. The calmness suits her. You remember her being tense and guarded from when you two were together; how nothing could calm her down. This Ellie, though, she looks like she fuckin’ sunbathes and does yoga. The thought makes you snort, and you duck your head quickly, embarrassed. Ellie looks over at you, a small grin on her lips, and when you meet her gaze, you realize it looks a little sad. You ignore it.

“It’s–” She coughs softly to clear her throat, wincing at her awkwardness, “It’s good to see you.” 

You mess with the pen in your hand, looking over her features. The freckles you used to kiss every night, and the lips that used to kiss the beauty mark on your neck, and the stupid little slit in her eyebrow that you know the story to but you swore you would never tell. You smile, trying to be polite, but it falls quickly. 

“Yeah, you too,” you nod, opening your notebook to try to look busy. The class starts filling with bodies, thankfully, and if Dina gives you a worried glance when she sits in front of you, you pretend not to notice. 

Growth is hard. It takes time, and effort, and it’s a push and pull every single day. Being around Ellie more has allowed you to experience this growth full force. You moved on after two years, sure, but now it's being put to the test. It’s hard to be around her, to treat her like she’s only a little bit more than a stranger when she used to be everything. It gets easier as time goes by, but then Dina just had to barge into your apartment, yelling like a crazy woman. 

You jump out of bed, rushing to the living room where she holds her phone out like a bomb. You breathe heavily, looking over her face and figure to make sure she’s not hurt. She looks back at you with wide eyes and a shit-eating grin, in perfect condition. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” You exclaim, and she steps closer, shoving her phone towards you. You squint at it questionably, gesturing to it. 

“The fuck is that?” You ask, your voice still on the verge of a yell, and she squeals suddenly. 

“This is a fucking Spotify account. More importantly, it’s Ellie’s fucking Spoitfy account where she posts songs that are about you!”

The statement makes you freeze. At first, the words don’t register in your brain. When they do, you scoff. Dina raises an eyebrow at you, silently asking you to try her life so she can prove it to you. You cross your arms over your chest, and glare at the phone. 

“Songs?” You ask, to which Dina nods. “Like, plural?” 

She groans in annoyance, connecting her phone to the bluetooth speaker. She scrolls, then clicks on a song. You peer over at her phone and notice it’s titled my kind of woman. It makes you lose your breath, hearing her voice and knowing the face she pulls when she sings a certain word. You bite the tip of your nail, and try to take deep, calming breaths. 

You and Dina sit there for what seems like hours, listening to every song in her discography. There’s not much, but the songs about you tell you everything you need to know at the moment. It brings back a feeling that you had when you two first started seeing each other. That giddy little fluttering in your tummy, the hope that you snuffed out years ago. 

Your phone buzzes in your pocket, and when you pull it out, you eye the message on the screen. 

ellie 

3:46pm 

hey. would you mind meeting me for some coffee? i was hoping we could talk.

When Dina catches a glimpse of the dreamy look on your face, she asks what's up. You’re too content to not tell her, and yet–

“I’ll tell you after.” You smile.

#ೃ⁀➷; eroseas writes #ellie x reader #ellie x fem reader #ellie williams x you #ellie x y/n #ellie williams x y/n #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x reader #ellie williams angst #ellie williams

[socially-awkward-skeleton]

WIP Poll Results

Thank you to all who voted! Tagging those of you who reacted in case you're interested:

@ivymarquis @unholymilf @icespinosaur @megraen @roofgeese @adelaidedrubman @yokobai @chazz-anova @neonneurons @statichvm @inafieldofdaisies @cassietrn @eclecticwildflowers @direwombat @neverthesameneveranother @kyber-infinitygems @kirjanikv6ilill @clicheantagonist @chadillacboseman @nightbloodbix @stacispratt @wrathfulrook

Here's the results of my hard work, admittedly some fics got more than what they should have but too bad (also there is smut at the end so minors DNI):

THE WINNER: The Animal in Me (fc5 werewolf au) - 13 sentences

The liquor coursed through her system making her head spin and legs feel like jelly that moved at the speed of thick molasses. Light-headed, she stumbled through the door of Jacob’s cabin and made her way to the living room, narrowly missing Princess before flopping down onto the nearby couch. 

The white wolf, having once been laying curled up, happily dozing on the rug on the floor, lifted her head and tipped it, trying to get a better sense of why this woman had invaded her territory.

Jacob made his way towards the couch, stalking towards her in the dark room. His sharp, pointed canine slipping out from below his upper lip as he smirked. “Whiskey sure did a number on ya, didn’t it?”

Kit’s legs hung draped over the armrest as she scooped her hair out from behind her head, stretching her arms out above her. “I never could have had this much before." Looking up at him with a grin as he untied and removed the boots from her feet. "I still have enough sense of myself even if my legs would like to tell you differently.”

“Guess you’re happy that I turned you now, huh?”

Kit rolled her eyes and rubbed at her forehead, trying to fight off the cascading waves that hit the inside of her skull. “I wouldn’t say that.”

American Beasts (kit's fc5 canon timeline) - 9 sentences

“She’s like the Predator, man. Comes in all stealthy like, so we gotta fight her the same way Dutch did.”

“Wait, when did her and Dutch fight?”

“No man, not that Dutch, you know, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The fuckin’ terminator. We gotta trap her and then instead of her tryin’ to blow us up we do that to her.”

“You wanna blow her up?”

“She’s a fuckin’ freak, my dude. You heard about what she did in that video. She’s with them, man. She’s with the cult, she killed Jess and she killed Eli and the other Whitetails. You think she gives a shit about any of us? I severely fuckin’ doubt it.”

Only you (fc5 soulmate au) - 6 sentences

"You know them best, what's their next move?"

"That doesn't matter. They need to be taken out of their element. Joey is strong, she needs someone who can break her. Staci's willing to do whatever's asked of him as long as there's good reason for it, he's got no backbone -- he's weak. And as for Whitehorse, he's complacent, does only what is needed to keep the county afloat."

Jacob stood hunched over his map looking at her, "Go on."

"Joey goes to John, Staci with us and Whitehorse goes to Faith."

"Works for me, angel."

Kakia (Kit's Herald/Role Swap AU) - 5 sentences

(apparently I'm writing this one in present tense, not sure why, but going with it for now)

Jacob knocks, heavy strikes with the side of his fist against thick wooden doors. It takes some time but the doors finally open, revealing a redheaded woman with the coolest blue eyes he’d ever seen besides his own, wearing little more than a silk robe the color of ivy. He’s meant to be there for business not pleasure, but he can’t help when his eyes travel over her form hungrily, barely able to hide the attraction he’s feeling for this strange woman in his midst. 

“Good morning…” Her eyes scan over the height and width of him, until they land on his badge and a smile creeps across her lips. “...Sheriff.”

He clears his throat, trying so hard to remember why he came here in the first place. “Ms. Cross.”

Arcadia & Empyrean (New Dawn AU) - 6 sentences

Her eyes widened, pupils made into pin pricks at the realization of what he meant. It was a death sentence without calling it that. She had no allies, no safe haven, she’d be fodder for the Highwaymen and the creatures outside their walls all the same. "Exile. You're banishing me?"

"Like Adam and Eve."

Kit's lip trembled, her hands falling to her sides in tightly clenched fists as her nails carved crescents into her palm, fighting the seething rage inside her. "You will bring nothing but death upon our people, Joseph. Do you hear me? I upheld the peace. I played my part. I did what you asked of me."

"The Lion is no longer needed." Joseph turned to the Judge, nodding for him to complete the sentencing. 

Even with the mask on she could tell the man underneath was hesitating. Trapped between his loyalty to the Father and to the woman who saved his life all those years ago, the woman who he joined the cult for. He stared at her for a moment, head tipping slightly and she could picture the brown eyes behind the dark holes trying to beg her for forgiveness for what he was about to do. Slamming his fist down on the table like a gavel her sentencing was complete. She was Persona Non Grata once more.

Pred/Prey Smut (MINORS DNI)- 9 sentences

“You like being treated like an animal, don’t ya? Not enough I put a collar on you, is it angel?”

Kit couldn’t speak as he ravaged her with his hands, a tear rolling down her cheek as her thighs clenched together and her walls clamped down around him. She was so goddamn close, he was going to make her cum any second. 

Coiling her hair around his fist like the leather of a leash, he dragged her back to rest against his shoulder and he kissed her deep. Muffling her noises with his tongue, biting down on her lower lip when she cried out, his hand snaked between her thighs from the front, focused entirely on her clit. 

She became a sobbing mess under his touch, panting and moaning at his rough touch against her.

Music Box Smut (Minors DNI) - 5 Sentences

As the music dug into her brain, seeping into her every synapse, rewiring her mind, her thoughts were in a state of war. One half controlled, ready to kill and destroy, the other desperate to please, filtered down to her base desires, animalistic and wild. He’d tested and proven his theory on so many unwilling subjects and now to have her at his fingertips fully accepting of whatever happened while she was under the effects of the conditioning, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t at least a little excited at the prospect. 

Her eyes snapped open, and the deep recesses of her mind could be seen in her eyes. Icy, cavernous and dark, no light could be seen in them at all. She pushed him off of her, her strength channeled into enough force to send him to the floor. Pulling away from the bed, shoulders and back rising up from it first, her feet landed on the wooden floorboards. Eyes kept focused entirely on him, stepping towards him with long strides as he backed up trying to regain his footing. 

Grabbing the rough camo of his jacket in her fist she dragged him up to stand and face her. Clawing at him once he was in her clutches, her nails ripped at his shirt as she dragged him down into her embrace and then forced him further down onto his knees. Kit’s fingers ran through his hair, nails scratching against his scalp as she gripped his ginger tresses tight in her fist and forced his head back, exposing his jugular. That cold, dead stare of hers traced down the length of his throat, over the bobbing of his adam’s apple and landed on where his arteries kept his blood flowing. 

“You gonna hurt me, angel?” Jacob asked, testing the waters, checking to see if any part of her might still be in there at all or if she was all machine. 

Her face remained placid, as static and unchanging as marble. “Only if you tell me to.”

#skelly writes #wip wednesday #wip poll list results

[go-to-two]

A fandom person had a post a few weeks ago & whether they were joking or not I thought it was a great idea… they said next year Eid should bring on Tracy & Jesse in a cameo in FBI & write that they’re back together or something. My question is would that be possible? Not the fact Eid would want to do it as would Trasse & a deal would have to be made for them… let’s say that’s all good, but would NBC allow it since FBI is on CBS? Does NBC hold any rights to the characters or is that all Wolf & if it is Wolf it wouldn’t matter as long as the other parties are in? I know it’s a long shot, but I’d love to know if it could be done lol! Thanks!

This is so hard to say an outright "no" to (though I want to) because I'm aware Tracy has appeared on FBI before, but that was to cover Missy Peregrym's maternity leave and cross promotion for both Wolf shows so I'm going to file that under completely different circumstances.

Generally speaking, characters don't have individual copyrights. They belong to the bigger work as a whole, rather than as a la carte options. The ownership of the work belongs to the production company, in this case Wolf Ent, so the decisions would run through them.

I think you're asking if it's possible logistically without taking into account the human side of the people making those decisions, and I really don't think the two can be separated. Logistically, a lot of things are possible with negotiations. The people who are doing the negotiating are important, though. Personally, I don't think Wolf cares enough to make something like this happen. If he was super concerned about Jay and Hailey's ending, he could step in now as Gwen's boss. I don't think Eid cares either, at least not enough to do this. I know people have suggested he is angry that they've ruined Jay or he is shaking his fist at the sky because Burzek is together, but he has a whole other show with a whole new cast of characters to worry about. His attention is likely elsewhere. Add in the cost of bringing both Tracy and Jesse to guest star on a show that is not their own, and it's just not something I see happening.

I'm not sure if this answers your question at all, and I'm not trying to crush hope here. I just think it's important to look beyond "is it possible?" in a case like this. Possible on paper? Maybe. But these decisions aren't made by themselves so you have to look at the personal and business side, and every sign points to no for me.

#anon ask

[dontjudgemeimawriter]

OC in Fifteen

Tagged by @pertinax--loculos thank you! I wanted to do there for other characters after doing Terran

(Edit: This has been sitting in my drafts fully done for ages. Whoopsies.)

Raymond's up next!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

"But if I hadn’t convinced Jesse that you were capable of being a decent person, you would’ve— [killed him], and you know what? That doesn’t make any sense.”

2.

“You’re trying to control everything and I don’t like that stupid spell, I can’t talk to you. You think it makes you so good at things but it just makes you a controlling jerk,” Raymond yelled back. “This is why I don’t trust you! Why I didn’t tell you!”

3.

“I want everyone alive. You just want me alive.”

4.

[Raymond] smiled slightly. “When you cast that spell you heighten the level of resources your brain has dedicated to a specific task. It’s heightening of a psychological phenomena. All I had to do was split up the resources.”

I thought that over. “I didn't know Nyps could do that,” I said, and somehow when he explained it it made so much sense. Like it was simple.

“I didn't know I could either. It was a theory. Until just now. But I shouldn’t’ve tried it. I wanted you to unfocus but I shouldn’t’ve forced it.”

5.

“I want the person who let me go. You weren’t focused then. Look. I know that spell is useful. I know we might not’ve pulled this off without it. That’s kind of the point of this, though. I want to get to know you. And if even you don’t know who that is… maybe you should.” 

6.

(Context: Raymond shared that he makes and sells Nyp whispers, which is like selling a mental health spell)

“It’s like going in blind. And because it’s freaking illegal we can’t do it right, y’know? Even if it’d be fine to tell people, no one wants a Nyp going into their mind, they’d much rather take a whisper because it doesn’t give access. But everyone’s different, everyone’s brain is different. I’ve seen these not work on some people, or even make things worse, and I hate it. If I could go in, if we could do research on these spells, I could find a way to actually help instead of giving this thing that works for some people. And it’s worse because like, sometimes I’m selling it to someone, and like, I don’t need much to get in, y’know? I’m giving them a memory-whisper and I’m like, I can sense how your mind works and I know this won’t work for you, but I can’t say anything, and if people would be okay with it maybe I could actually help them. But maybe I’m not helping, because there’s no research on Nyp magic, and honestly, I have no freaking idea if there's side effects to anything, or if I could do more harm. I hate it.”

7.

“There was just—” he paused.

“There was what?” I urged. Something was there, something he wanted to talk about, I could feel it.

“Some fear?”

“Of?”

He sighed. “You? Like I know you wouldn't hurt me and I trust you. But it—made it a little hard to sleep, I guess.”

8.

“Because you’re always so invested in my existence being secret, right? I’d convinced myself that if you came looking for me it was because you had to control everything again, make sure I was being safe and all.” The corner of his mouth tugged up in a slight smirk. “But you missed me, didn’t you?”

Was that really a reveal? Sure, I hadn’t thought about the implication of calling out his name (and fuck he was right, that had been risky), but… “Of course I missed you.”

“That’s not an ‘of course,’ okay? You’re hiding 90% of the time. I have no idea how you feel. I have no idea if you—no idea why you saved me. I have to trust that you won’t kill other people that matter to me but I don’t even know what guided that decision in the first place.”

9.

“Sorry,” I took a deep breath. 

He nodded. “Thanks.” he didn’t meet my eye for a moment, then asked, “Should I not try to touch you?”

My wincing had been my fault, not his.  “It’s fine.”

“Is it actually?” he asked, concern in his voice.

10.

“I know I was just insisting I go,” Raymond said. “And I’m still going to. But that doesn't mean I’m not scared. And the truth is…you are better at this. Maybe I’ve been stubborn, and maybe you’ve been right this whole time. Maybe if I hadn’t come back to go to Dante, then both you and Jodi would be safe. I don’t have any ideas, any solutions, and I’m terrified, and you’ve gotten me out of this before and I can’t do this myself. I’m not leaving Jodi. And I think you can figure out a solution.”

11.

“Yes, I understand how a hostage negotiation works, Abigail."

12.

“Understand now?” He asked, speaking up after a second, and his voice still had the bite, but I sensed some strain. “You’re going to give me access to a lot of people who have reason not to like you. You’re going to need me in their heads. I do that all for you, but my friends are safe, guaranteed. And I won’t kill for you. That’s the deal. You will not use them to get to me ever again.”

13.

“Not cocoa. Chocolate.” Raymond leaned against the arm of the couch, facing me. He gave me a smile.

“What’s the difference?"

“Cocoa is powder and hot water. This,” he took a sip, closing his eyes as he did, an expression of deep satisfaction coming over him, topped with a whipped-cream mustache. “Is hot chocolate.”

14.

“Did you leave a window open, too?” I remembered, vaguely, him opening it earlier.

“No, I—“ he hesitated as he unwrapped his damp scarf and looked around, just as both of us saw that I’d been right. There was a window open, just a crack, but enough to be contributing. He ran over to it and shut it. “Definitely no windows left open,” he smiled sheepishly.

15.

“That feeling? You know how you said you can’t escape yourself?” I nodded again. “That’s why I went into a burning building. I realized what I was doing faster, sure. But you were there your whole life, and it’s all you were taught. And still, you showed me compassion. You risked yourself so I could live when I didn’t want to and I didn’t even think you liked me. I forgave you then.”

My boy!

Tagging @crushedmodule @rosesonneptune @bookish-karina @thegreatobsesso @wildswrites & @blind-the-winds

#oc in 15 #raymond #syndicate #tag games

[maeleelee]

Chapter Fourteen

Cotton Candy Landing

What goes up must come down. And as everyone from Orbit lands, more secrets are unveiled and will lead them to run. But will this path lead them to happily ever after or should they turn around?

Welcome back to the family of stoners. They’re all grown up and settling down. Everyone’s got full time jobs and some went and got married. Life is finally looking good for most. (Y/n has been turned into Bun Bun because this story follows a different lead.)

⚠️minors DO NOT interact⚠️

Warnings:

Jess stood by the car staring at the house that she used to live in. "You okay?" Yeosang's voice brought her out of the trance she was in.

"Yeah. I’ll be okay. It’ll take me a minute to get my essentials, I’ll try and be quick. Thank you for coming with me.” Jess smiled softly at Yeosang. As happy as she was with San, she still couldn’t understand why she wasn’t enough for Jisung.

“I know that look. Don’t do that to yourself. This isn’t your fault. This is his fault. You’re amazing, wonderful, the kindest soul. Stop thinking whatever you are because my wife would be very upset with her soulmate thinking down on herself.” Yeosang told Jess, pulling her into a hug.

“Mae’s lucky Yeo Yeo. Take care of her because Cassi will take her from you if you don’t.” Jess giggled.

“We won’t have to worry about that because she’ll be taken care of and we’ll step up and take care of her wifeys and soulmate and babies if we need too. Now come on. Let’s get your stuff so we can move you into your new place.” Yeosang smiles brightly. “Let’s kick this bitch to the curb.”

“Let’s do it.” Jess smiled. Her support group was amazing. No one questioned her decision in this whole matter and she appreciated that. She knew who she was meant for and that was Choi San.

-

Jess walked to the door and knocked on it. She heard foot steps and a giggle. The door open and Jisung stood there, widen eyed at Jess. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m just here to get my things.” Jess told him. He looked behind her and saw Yeosang and then looked back at her.

“Give me a minute.” He mumbled and closes the door. She rolled her eyes and just walked inside the house.

She laughed when she saw the scene in front of her. Jisung was talking to a girl, who was in Jess’ clothes. There were clothes everywhere. She should have known. “Who’s this?” The girl asked.

“Oh just a friend.” Jisung said to the girl, making Jess laugh again. Jess turned to Yeosang, who was walking into the house.

“Just a friend.” Jess told Yeosang, who rolled his eyes. “Don’t lie to the poor girl. Bet you didn’t even tell her you were dumped at the alter for cheating on me.” Jess said, making the girls eyes grow wide.

“Excuse me? Alter? You were getting married? How long ago did that happen?” Jisung rubbed the back of his neck, his ears getting super red.

“I- i umm. I-“ he couldn’t speak. What was there to say? He was in trouble either way at this point.

“Well the wedding was about a week ago.” Jess told the girl. “He cheated at his bachelor party and then acted like he didn’t when I showed him the proof.” The girl took a step back.

“I’m so so sorry. Oh my gosh. I should have known. Something was suspicious and I couldn’t figure it out.” The girl looked at Jess. “He told me he was house sitting for his sister and that she wouldn’t care if I wore her clothes.”

Jess shook her head. “It’s alright. He good at that. Making you feel like he actually cares and then he hits you a lie. He cheats baby. Protect yourself and get out while you can.”

“Yes ma’am.” The girl said and then turned towards Jisung. “Fuck you.” She spit in his face and slapped him across his face. “How dare you cheat on someone as pretty and as sweet as her?!”

“Can I help with anything?” The girl pouted and Jess shook her head.

“You did me a favor by slapping him. Just get out while you can.” Jess whispered.

“Good. Anything to help.” The girl said.

-

“Jess please. Just hear me out.” Jisung had been trying to talk to her this whole time she was gathering her stuff.

“Oh my gosh. Can you shut up?” She groaned. “You talk too much.” She spun around and looked at him. “I’m not here to hear you out. I’m here to get my stuff and move out. Away from you. I want nothing to do with you anymore. At all. So just go away.” She turned back and picked up a box. Yeosang took it from her and went to walk out when he hear Jisung start talking again.

“Oh I see what’s going on. You’re fucking all of them, aren’t you? Reasons he’s here and not San. Does Mae know? Does Mae know you’re fucking her men? The ones shoe just married?” Jess slowly turned towards Jisung.

“What did you just say?” Jess questioned.

“I asked if you were fucking them.” Jisung spat.

“Jess.” Yeosang said. “Ignore him.”

“Yeah. Listen to him. Listen to the man you’re fucking behind your best friends back.” Jisung smirked.

“That’s low Han Jisung. Even for you. You’re filth, trash, desperate, low life, and there’s so much more I can say but I won’t. You were everything to me. My best friend before we got together. I waited for you for years. I settled for something I thought was great. I settled for you and honestly, I regret it. Regret thinking I loved you. Regret thinking I’d spend the rest of my life with you. You’re not worth my time. You don’t deserve to know what happens to me anymore. Mae is and will forever be my soulmate. And I have all the other girls behind me as well. No matter what I say, you’ll always think differently.” She took a deep breathe. “And to answer your question, I’m not fucking any of them.”

“Could of fooled me. San’s not here. Where’s the man who stole you for me? Why is he not here? It’s funny how he let you come without him.” Yeosang went to step towards Jisung but Jess put her hand on his chest. “Yes. Somethings going on between you and shit for brains here.”

Jess laughed. She laughed in Jisung’s face. “Honestly, even if something was going on, it’s not your business. Plus, Mae would know because I’m not a lying two-face asshat who cheats. So when I come get the rest of my stuff tomorrow, be out of here.” Jisung’s eye grew wide, he knew he couldn’t bring her back now. She was gone.

“Don’t come crawling back to me when he leaves you for Mae again. Because apparently you all like to share.” Jess couldn’t do this anymore and swung. She hit Jisung in the jaw, smiling when she heard the break. He sat there holding his jaw, tears streaming down his face.

Jess bent down to where he was on the floor. “There’s one thing that won’t happen and that’s crawling back to you. My life is looking up. Karma will be by and when she shows up, she’ll be smiling brightly. Good bye Han Jisung.”

She stood up and grabbed another box and smiled at Yeosang. “That’s my girl.” The relationship they had, didn’t need explaining. She had the same relationship with Mae and Wooyoung. They were her family, all of the group was her home, and San was her safe place.

Masterlist

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Taglist: @bunnyiix @cadenonlinelive @weird-bookworm @imagine-a-life-like-this @mxnsxngie @choisoorin @piratequeen-queenofgames @littleleatabixx @stvrfir3 @okkkcausewhet @acrylishly @berryberrytan @lixielovesme @turtledove824

#i like shiny things but i’d marry you with paper rings #cotton candy orbit sequel #ateez #hongjoong #wooyoung #seonghwa #choi san #jongho #mingi #yeosang #yunho #ateez imagines #ateez smau #stray kids imagines #stray kids smau #Chan #Minho #Changbin #Hyunjin #jisung #Felix #Seungmin #Jeongin

[bechloeislegit]

25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2022

Day 4 - Mistletoe Mayhem

Prompt from FanFiction User malexfaith: [Full prompt will be listed at the end.]

It was a week before Winter Break, and the Trebles were holding their Annual Before Christmas Beak Party. The Bellas were all in attendance, of course.

Beca and Chloe were standing together, sipping their drinks and watching all the goings-on.

"One of us should do something about that," Beca said.

"Do something about what?" Chloe asked.

"That," Beca said, pointing to Stacie.

Chloe looked over to see Stacie in a liplock with one of the newer Trebles. The poor guy didn't know what to do with his hands or lips from the way Stacie released the kiss and pushed him away. Stacie laughed as the hunter went in search of some new blood.

"Whoa," Jesse said as he grabbed the guy to keep him from going after Stacie. "We talked about this; all Bellas are off limits."

"But she kissed me," the guy said.

"It doesn't matter," Jesse said. "Off limits means off limits."

Jesse turned the guy to face the direction of the other Trebles and gave him a little push.

"Thanks, Jesse," Beca said as the dazed guy stumbled away from them.

"No problem," Jesse said.

"I hate to break this up," Chloe said. "But it's getting late, and we should probably get the girls back to the house."

"Good luck with that," Jesse said, chuckling as he went over to the Trebles.

"You're right," Beca said, moving toward the girls. "Alright, Bellas! Time to go. Let's move it. Back to the house, all of you."

"I don't want to," Fat Amy said, plopping herself down on the ground. "And you can't make me."

"Fine," Beca said, looking down at Amy. "Sit out here all night for all I care. But be prepared to run extra laps if you're late for rehearsal tomorrow."

"Why do we even have a rehearsal the day after a party?" Cynthia Rose asked. "Everyone is hungover, and we don't get anything done."

"Can you do something with them?" Beca asked Chloe. "They never listen to me."

"Okay, Beca," Chloe said. "I'll get Amy and Cynthia Rose. You get the other girls."

"Okay," Beca said, looking around to see if there were any Bellas who weren't drunk. "Hey, Flo? Could you and Emily help us get the other girls back to the house?"

"Of course," Flo said, hurrying over to help Chloe with Amy.

"I've got Stacie," Emily said, wrapping an arm around the girl's waist to drag her away from the Trebles.

Ashley and Jessica weren't too drunk, so it was easy for Beca to get them to follow Emily and Stacie while she brought up the rear. Chloe followed close behind with Cynthia Rose draped over her shoulders. Beca looked back for Flo and Amy. Flo was pushing Amy toward the house, yelling something in Spanish. Beca didn't know what Flo was yelling, but it made Amy keep moving, so she wasn't going to complain.

"Everyone to bed," Beca said as soon as they were inside the house. "We have rehearsal tomorrow at nine sharp."

Beca and Chloe grabbed water and pain relievers to take to each of the girls.

"I'll take these up to Stacie and Cynthia-," Beca started to say but stopped when she saw Jessica looking at her and Chloe with a goofy smile. "What?"

Jessica pointed over the heads of Beca and Chloe; they both looked up.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Beca said. "Who put that there?"

Jessica shrugged, mumbling, "I don't know."

"It doesn't matter who put it there," Ashley said. "You have to kiss; it's the rules."

Beca looked at Chloe, who was staring at her with a raised brow.

"Fine," Beca said and quickly pecked Chloe on the lips.

Chloe's eyebrows shot up to her hairline in surprise.

"Hmm," Chloe said. "A kiss on the lips. It must be Christmas!"

"Don't get used to it, Beale," Beca said, chuckling as she blushed.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2022 ~~

The next day, Beca and Chloe somehow got the girls up, dressed, and ready to head to the auditorium. Just as they were about to walk out the door, Stacie stopped and cleared her throat.

Beca and Chloe stood at the foot of the stairs looking at Stacie.

"What?" Beca asked.

Stacie smirked and looked up. Beca and Chloe looked up as well.

"What the Hell?" Beca exclaimed, seeing the mistletoe hanging over their heads. "Who put that up there?"

Chloe didn't say anything; she just leaned in and gave Beca a quick peck on the lips. Beca blushed and looked down at the ground to hide the small smile on her face. Chloe saw this and grinned.

"You know we'd be here all day if we didn't kiss," Chloe said. She turned to the girls. "Okay, the show's over, let's get to rehearsal."

The Bellas were laughing as they turned and walked out of the house. Beca sighed and followed the girls out the door.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2022 ~~

The girls were sprawled over the floor as Beca and Chloe stood in front of them.

"You girls are pathetic," Beca said, looking around at the group. "I am recommending, no ordering you to do plenty of cardio during the break. We can't have anyone falling out during an actual competition"

The girls all groaned and then suddenly started giggling. Beca furrowed her brow and turned to Chloe with a "WTF" look. Chloe shrugged and looked at the girls. Emily was pointing over their heads.

Beca sighed. "More mistletoe?" she mumbled without looking up.

"I'm afraid so," Chloe said, looking up to see mistletoe over their heads. "How did they even get it up there?"

Beca looked up and then back down to Chloe.

"Fuck it," Beca said and crashed her lips into Chloe's.

The Bellas cheered, and Beca finally pulled back after a few seconds. Those extra few seconds of the kiss left Chloe wide-eyed as the Bellas laughed at them.

Beca turned to the Bellas, smirking as she said, "That's it. Rehearsals are over; get out of here or start running more laps."

The girls sobered up quickly and hurried out of the Auditorium.

"I can't believe they keep doing this to us," Beca said as she and Chloe gathered their stuff. "They're obsessed with getting us to kiss."

"Is kissing me really such a bad thing?" Chloe asked.

"Um, I'm sure that no matter how I answer that question," Beca said. "It will come out wrong."

Chloe hummed and took Beca's arm as they walked out of the auditorium.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2022 ~~

Over the next couple of days, the mistletoe bandit kept putting mistletoe up. Beca would see it and shake her head. She could have removed it, but having to kiss Chloe wasn't really that big a deal.

Beca's aversion to wanting to kiss her kept Chloe ever vigilant, and she managed to keep herself from being under the mistletoe, especially around Beca. Although, she wasn't totally against having to kiss Beca under the mistletoe again.

Beca noticed that the mistletoe was suddenly absent from the Bellas House. She kept an eye out for it, but it had magically disappeared.

The day before they were all to leave for the Winter/Christmas Break, Beca found herself alone in the house. She was standing on the stepladder near the front door when Chloe came in unexpectedly.

"Beca?" Chloe said, seeing Beca staring at her like a deer in headlights. "What are you doing?"

Beca thrust her hand behind her. "Nothing."

"Is that. . .mistletoe?" Chloe asked, seeing the sprig in Beca's hand.

"Nooooo," Beca said, throwing the mistletoe over her shoulder. "It's, um, it's nothing."

"Beca," Chloe said. "Were you taking it down because you're through with the whole mistletoe and trying to get us to kiss under it?"

"Yes. No, I, um, I," Beca said as she climbed down to stand in front of Chloe. "Oh, who am I kidding? I was putting it up and was planning to wait for you to come in. Then when you were under it, I was going to, um, kiss you."

"I thought you didn't want to kiss me," Chloe said.

"I didn't at first," Beca said. "But then I kind of liked kissing you, and I, um, I really wanted to do it again."

Chloe smiled and walked behind Beca, picking up the mistletoe. She walked back to stand in front of Beca and held the mistletoe over her head.

"So, do it again."

"Do what again?"

"Kiss me, you idiot," Chloe said, stepping closer.

Beca smiled and leaned in to kiss Chloe. Chloe pulled Beca tighter to her and deepened the kiss.

The kiss ended with both girls smiling. Chloe gave Beca a quick peck on the lips before saying, "For the record, you don't need mistletoe to kiss me. Feel free to do it anytime you want."

"Good to know," Beca mumbled as she reconnected their lips.

Full Prompt from FanFiction User malexfaith: Someone keeps hanging mistletoe up to force kisses between Beca and Chloe. Eventually, Chloe catches Beca hanging the mistletoe, and Beca responds with, "I just really wanted to kiss you."

#bechloe #Christmas 2022 #25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2022 #bechloeislegit #beca mitchell #chloe beale

[mothguillotine]

IV.

CW: Carl gets shot

A few days after the disaster of the CDC, the group decided to abandon some of the cars. It's easier to keep you all together, and you don’t have to use as much gas. You ride in the RV with Adi and Gracie.

Jesse is upset at you again, so he elects not to ride in the RV. So there you sit watching Andrea fiddle with her gun while Shane instructs her. Everyone has been tense about the CDC situation. You could tell that some people in the group were upset with each other.

“How much longer do you think until we get there?” you ask Dale.

“I have no idea. The highway is blocked up pretty bad.” he tells you, “Oh jeez. Aw no. See, a way, though?”

Daryl nods at Dale and nods his head to follow him.

“Uh, maybe we should just go back; there's an interstate bypass.” Glenn suggests.

“We can’t spare the fuel.” Dale tells him.

“Jeez.” Glenn says, looking at all the abandoned cars.

Then the engine starts sputtering, and you realize that the radiator hose is shot yet again.

“God damn it. Not again.” you say.

“I said it. Didn’t I say it?” Dale starts complaining, “A thousand times. Dead in the water.”

You and everyone who was in the RV get out to examine the damage done by the trashed radiator hose.

“Problem, Dale?” Rick asks.

“Just a smal matter of being stuck in the middle of knowwhere with no hope of-” Dale then looks around, “Okay wait that was dumb.”

“If you can’t find a radiator hose here…” Shane says to Dale.

“There’s a whole bunch of stuff we can find.” Daryl says.

You walk over to where Jesse is. He is listening to the conversation from the car he was riding in with Rick's family and Carol and Sophia.

“Can you stay in the car with Gracie?” you ask him, “She is ready for a nap and I think it would be better if she was with someone.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” he said to you.

You knew he was upset with you. That was no secret to anyone. Why he was upset with you nobody knew except for you and him. You passed Gracie over to him and he got back into the car with her to give her a nap.

“Adi, maybe you should stay with Jesse in the car until we get moving again” you tell her.

“No, I wanna help you find things. I can help.” she tells you, “I promise I will stay with you.”

“Okay, but you stay with me the entire time. Okay?”

“Okay.”

So you and Adi went to look for food, water, medicine, and supplies. You went through a few cars before you found a medicine bag. When you opened it you found general meds like Ibuprofen, Advil, Claritin, and Tylenol.

“Y/N look!” Adi says pointing at something in a suitcase she had opened.

When you walked over you found some clothes that would fit Adi and some toys.

“Good find Adi.” you tell her, smiling down.

“Thanks.” she says back with a smile.

You and her continue to go through cars together until you find something that you didn’t expect to ever see. You walk over to where Adi is looking though bags you click and hear a soft whirling. She turns around to see you pointing a camera at her. Not just a camera, but a polaroid.

“What was that?” she asks you.

“Look,” you tell her, as a picture comes out the top, “this is an old camera people used to use before digital or disposables.”

She grabs the picture and looks at it.

“But nothing is on it.” she tells you.

“Well it takes time to develop,” you tell her, “you see if you-”

You were cut off by Lori telling you and Adi to get down. That's when you see it. Dozens of walkers. You pull Adi down under a truck by where Sophia and Carl are hiding. You look over to where Carol is hiding with Lori and see her crying with Lori's hand covering her mouth.

You all stay like that for what feels like hours. Until you see that the herd of them is thinning out to where only one walker is going by at once, and after a while no more come around the vehicles. Then it is finally safe. You watch as Sophia goes to get out from under the truck. Then you see another walker grab at her. She successfully escapes that one but then runs into another when escaping from the other side.

She runs into the woods away from the walkers as they stumble to get her. Rick chases after her trying to protect her from the walkers.

“Lori. There’s two walkers after my baby.” Carol cries to Lori.

Lori shh’s her and comforts her. You don’t hesitate to run back to the car to check on Jesse and Gracie. You find that Jesse is alright and Gracie is still sleeping. Then you run back over to where the group is waiting for Rick to come back. After a while he does come back but not with Sophia.

“I found her. I thought that she may have come back on her own after I left her.” Rick tells you.

“You left my baby, alone?!” Carol yells at him.

“It was only for 10 or so minutes while I took down the walkers.” he tells her, “I will go back out to look for her.”

“I will come with you.” Daryl tells Rick, “I can track where she went if you show me where you left her.”

“Okay then we will go out right now and look,” he tells the group.

“I will go too.” Shane says.

“If he’s going, so am I.” Glenn tells Rick.

“So will I.” you tell them.

“I don’t think that's a good idea.” Rick tells you.

“Yeah I have to agree with Rick here.” Shane says, “It's safer for you to be here.”

You go over to Rick and whisper into his ear “Listen Carol is in no condition to be going out looking for Sophia. It would be better if I came instead of her and she will definitely want to go if I’m not.” Rick nods his head at your statement.

“Okay so me, Y/N, Shane, Glenn, and Daryl will all go out to look for Sophia.” he annonces to the group.

Just before you all leave to go back out Carol pulls you aside to give you a hug and tells you thank you. You and the group all walk back to where Rick says he left Sophia.

“Sure this is the spot?” Daryl asks.

“I left her right here.” he tells Daryl, “I drew the walkers way off in that direction up the creek.”

After Daryl found some of her tracks he concluded that she had in fact listened to what Rick said about keeping the sun on her left shoulder and had headed back to the highway.

“She was doing just fine until right here. All she had to do was keep going. She veered off that way.” Daryl tells you pointing at the foot prints Sophia had made.

“Why would she do that?” Glenn asks.

“Probably a walker or she heard what sounded like one.” you said to the group.

“I don’t see any footprints. Just hers.” Daryl said to you.

“So what do we do? All of us press on?” Shane asks.

“No,better if you and Glenn get back up to the highway.” Rick tells Shane, “People are gonna start panicking. Let them know we're on her trail doing everything we can. But most of all, keep everybody calm.”

“I'll keep 'em busy scavenging cars. Think up a few other chores. I'll keep 'em occupied. Come on.” Shane tells Rick, before ushering Glenn away from us.

Rick, Daryl, and you all continue on following Sophia's tracks until you find a walker. Rick distracts it while Daryl shoots an arrow at its head.

“Sophia!” Daryl shouts while Rick goes up to the walker. You follow Rick in investigating the walker.

“What are you looking for?” Daryl asks Rick.

“Skin under the fingernails. It fed recently. There’s flesh caught in it’s teeth.” Rick tells him.

“So what are we gonna do?” you ask.

“What kind of flesh is it?” Daryl asks you and Rick.

“Only one way to know for sure.” Rick says getting out a knife.

“Oh my god. You can’t be serious.” you say.

“Here, I'll do it.” Daryl tells Rick, “How many kills you skin and gut in your life? Anyway, mine is sharper.”

You and Rick look on while Daryl opens the body taking out the guts. What seems like more than normal Daryl says that he had a meal not too long ago. Daryl continues cutting and apparently finds what he is looking for.

“Here's the gut bag.” Daryl says as he plops down an organ.

“I got this.” Rick says.

You watch as he cuts open the so-called gut bag. Daryl pulls out chunks of fur and meat from it.

“This gross bastard had himself a woodchuck for lunch.” Daryl says after examining the remains.

“At least we know.”

“This woodchuck was not worth smelling this.” you tell them sniffing the air. You all stand up and walk away when you trip. You fall right into the cut open walker.

“Oh. What the fuck.” you exclamin trying to pick yourself up from the corpse.

“Shane found a bunch of water. You can wash up when we get back.” Rick tells you.

“Yeah, but my goddamn clothes are ruined.” you tell him looking at your now nasty and stained t-shirt.

“Find some clothes for you too.” Daryl says.

You all continue to follow Sophia's trail until it goes cold. Then Daryl tells you both that you should head back without him so he can continue to look.

“Daryl it's getting dark out we don’t have any lights it's pointless to be out past dark.” you tell him.

“We can’t just leave her out here all night.” he tells you.

“Daryl, as much as I don’t like leaving her out all night there is no point in continuing when it's dark.” Rick says agreeing with you.

“Fine,” he says angrily.

All three of you head back to the highway before it gets too dark. After a while of walking all of you are back at the highway. The group approaches the railing where you are walking up to the highway.

“You didn't find her?” Carol asks.

“Her trail went cold. We’ll pick it up at first light.” Rick tells her.

“Is that blood?” Carol asks, looking at you.

“We took down a walker.” Rick says.

“Walker? Oh my god.” Carol starts to hyperventilate.

“There was no sign it was anywhere near Sophia.” Rick says to her.

“How can you know that?” Andrea asks.

“Trust me. We found out the hard way.” you tell her.

“We can’t just leave her out there!” Carol yells.

That night you can hear Carol crying. You barely sleep as it is but hearing her all night makes you feel guilty. If you had stayed out in the woods for a few more minutes would you have been able to find her. If you had originally ran to find her with Rick you could have helped. It hurts.

“What about the guns?” Andrea asks the next morning while you are all preparing to go out again to find Sophia.

“We’ve been over this. Only Daryl, Rick, and I are carrying.” Shane tells her, “We can’t be firing off rounds every time a tree rustles.”

“It’s not the trees I'm worried about.” Andrea tells him.

“Y/N can I speak with you?” Jesse asks you quietly.

“Uh-” you see Rick telling people the plan, “Yeah make it quick.”

“I don’t want you to go.” He tells you bluntly.

“What? Why?” you ask him.

“You should stay here with Gracie and Adaline.” he tells you.

“Jesse I get the whole concern thing over me, okay?” you tell him, “but I’ve been out in harm's way more than you. I can handle myself.”

“It’s not that.” he says before trying to find the right words, “If you get hurt, or die, what am I supposed to do with the kids.”

“What do you mean? It's the exact same thing if you died.” you tell him, “You raise them and teach them.”

“Let me rephrase. What am I supposed to do with Adaline?” he asks.

“What do you mean? Why is she different from Gracie?” you ask.

“You know what, never mind.” he says after that.

“Wait, wait, wait, what do you mean?” you ask pissed off now.

“We can talk about it when you get back from running away from your problems.” he says to you before pushing past you.

You can see him walking back to where Gracie and Adi are still sleeping in the car. You focus your attention back on Rick. He is answering questions the others have about the search. One of the group is not paying attention and that would be Daryl. He is looking at you, you don’t doubt that he could probably hear the whole conversation. After you are handed a machete the group sets off. You try to focus on the search, but in the back of your head you keep thinking about what Jesse said.

All of you walk for a while until you find a tent. Daryl goes to check the tent and tells us that she isn’t in there until the group hears a church bell ringing.

“What direction?” Shane asks.

“I think that way. I’m pretty sure.” Rick tells him.

“Damn, it's hard to tell out here.” Shane says.

“If we heard them then maybe Sophia did too.” Carol says.

You all decided to run towards where Rick heard the bells coming from. There you find a church. It has no steeple which makes Shane think that this is the wrong church. All of you ran into the church to see if anyone was in there. All you find are some walkers. The group takes down all of them in a few minutes, which makes you think that you all are getting better at the whole fighting thing. Then you hear the bell again.

“It’s on a timer.” Daryl says.

“I’m gonna go back in for a bit.” Carol says to us.

“Okay.” you tell her.

You walk over to a bench that has a view of the whole cemetery. You look out amongst the graves. It's quiet, after moving so much these last few days it's weird but nice.

“Why were you and Jesse arguing?” Daryl asks from behind you.

“It’s… complicated.” you tell him.

“Trust me I know all about complicated relationships with brothers,” he says. You look over to him and he seems genuinely interested.

“Jesse and Grace were sent down here to stay with me. My parents were getting divorced and they didn’t want them to be in the middle of it. Jesse was not very happy about it.” you explain, “I moved down here for college because I saw the divorce from a mile away. While I was down here I got a job at a daycare. When this shit started I was there. Adi’s parents were late that day. I waited for a few hours with her until...” you pause, “I left right away with her and went back to my apartment. Then we left.”

“Why was Jesse upset about Adi though?” Daryl asks.

“In the beginning, he wanted to go back up North and try to find my parents but I couldn’t just take Adi. We were supposed to drop her off at the refugee center in Atlanta but the road got super jammed and nobody was moving. That's when I met Lori and Carol. After a week or so in camp Jesse wanted to leave again but I felt safer with the group than by ourselves.” you tell him.

“He wants to leave now?” He asks you.

“I don’t know. Probably. Teenage boys are hard to decipher.” you answer.

“Why don’t you now?” he asks. You look at him.

“I don’t want to be alone.”

The plan was simple enough. Rick and Shane went a little further for the night before heading back. The rest of you were supposed to go back to the highway. Then Carl said that he wanted to go. Then you told them that if they were all going that you wanted to go to. So you set off to find her for another hour or so.

“Dad, look.” Carl says pointing at a deer that was crossing in the sunlight. It was a gorgeous scene. Until it wasn’t. It happened so fast one second Carl was admiring the deer the next he was down on the forest floor.

You immediately go to help him. You take the flannel you were wearing and press it down on his wound. Rick falls down next to him.

“Rick, I need you to press down on this for me. Okay?” You ask him, he follows your instructions.

You put your head to his chest to hear his heartbeat. It doesn't sound good but he is still alive and breathing. Next thing that happens is you hear something big coming from the forest. He is apologizing profusely, but right now you are focused on keeping Carl alive.

“I can get help for him, there is someone who can help.” he tells you.

Rick picks him up and we all start running. Ultimately you and Rick run way faster than Shane and the other man can. Every so often Rick will get tired of carrying Carl and you help him get situated again before starting to run.

“How far? How far?” Rick shouts at him.

“Another half mile that way. Hershel. Talk to Hershel. He will help your boy.”

The closer and closer you get to the place the more you realize that you are on a farm. As you approach the house you see people coming out.

“Was he bit?” the older man asks.

“Shot. By your man.” Rick tells him.

“Otis?” A woman speaks up.

“We need help. Now.” you say urgently to the older man.

“Get him inside.” he tells you.

You help Rick get Carl inside the house. He lays him down on a bed and backs away. You take the rags from Hershel and press on Carl's abdomen.

“Keep applying pressure to the wound.” he tells you, “What's your names?”

Rick doesn’t say anything.

“Y/N and Rick.” you tell him.

“Okay well we are going to do everything we can. Okay?” He reassures you. “You can move now.”

“I was a nursing student.” you tell him, “I can help.”

“I think right now I would prefer to work with people I know.” he tells you.

“Yeah, right.” you say backing off of Carl slowly while one of the women replaces your hands with their own. You gently take Rick out of the room to see Shane.

“Is he alive?” the man asks who shot Carl.

“What the hell were you thinking? You ever hunt before today?” you ask him.

“Of course I’ve hunted before. I just-” you cut him off.

“Yes, he's alive. Lucky thing because the bullets are still inside.” you tell him. Before walking back inside.

Walking into the room where Carl was, you see both Hershel and the women looking at you with pity.

“Your son is extremely lucky he isn’t dead right now, but he is losing a lot of blood and is going to need more.” he tells you, “Can you or your husband donate to him?”

“Rick isn’t my husband and Carl isn’t mine. But I have type O blood so I am more than happy to donate.”

“Oh I am sorry. Come here.” he tells you, holding up the equipment you would assume for the transfusion. A few minutes later Carl wakes up screaming after Hershel tries to get one of the fragments of the bullet out.

“Stop! You're killing him!” Rick yells coming into the room.

“Rick, do you want him to live?” Hershel asks him.

Hershel tells Rick that he needs to put Carl under to get out the rest of the pieces. Shane and Otis leave to get the supplies while Maggie goes to get Lori.

About an hour later you see Lori coming up to the house. You are sitting on the porch drinking orange juice and eating a cookie. Rick is in Carl's room giving him another blood transfusion.

“How is he? Is he alive?” Lori asks you from a distance.

“He needs surgery, Lori. He’s been getting blood transfusions from me and Rick for the past hour.” you tell her.

“What are his chances?” she asks you.

“You need to ask Hershel that. Not me, I'm sorry.” you tell her.

“You have nothing to be sorry for sweety.” she tells you while walking into the house to see her son.

You sit back down on the porch and look up at the sky. It’s calm for a minute until you hear Lori crying. This brings you back to the reality of your world. It’s not calm anymore.

<Previous Part/Next Part>

Masterlist

#Daryl Dixon x reader #Daryl Dixon #The Walking Dead #fanfiction #reader #y/n

[morganweir]

if home were a boy, he’d have hands like yours

find it on ao3 here

"Oh, this is fucking bad," Benny says, which is always reassuring. They're fighting vampire off shoots from Anastasia's supposedly civilized vampire board of directors, or whatever they're calling themselves this century- Ethan found some old journals from his however many greats grandfather, the one that Jesse had mentioned, and had found out from Grandma that the Tribunal he was referring to were very much the same vampires that Ethan has to deal with today. So completely not the point.

"You alright, Ben?" Ethan asks, his voice gruff, but he's shoving a vampire off of him by way of swinging a UV light like a bat, so he can be given a little grace for not exactly sounding as normal. The last of the vamps goes down with Benny throwing out one of his vampire hex bags, new and improved from their early days on the hunt. They're better now. They're supposed to be, anyway.

"E, I think I swallowed some," Benny says, his fear so heavy in the air it's almost like a vision, almost like it's gonna take him under. Ethan stays above the waves. It's Benny's turn to be scared. Ethan'll get his turn later.

"Some of what, Ben? Tell me what's going on and I can help," he coaxes, the lifelong job of managing his best friend's fear clicking in like a familiar programming routine, and he crosses to Benny with no thought of the bodies he steps over. A body is just a body. We all do what we have to do.

"The blood, E. I don't think you're going to be able to help," Benny says, his fingers coming to his mouth dirty with the bloody spoils of the battle (they haven't even graduated high school yet, they're not even grown), pressing against his lips. Ethan pulls his hand away from there, his fingers wrapped loosely around Benny's wrist.

"Why would the blood matter, dude? The blood doesn't matter unless you've been bitten," he reminds Benny, sure that Benny is just being Benny, sure that the worry is misplaced. The incident of Benny's zombification is absolutely hitting him over the head right now. Ethan's eyes dart over Benny rapidly, checking him for wounds, checking him for anything, and-

Benny shrugs his shoulder upwards. His shoulder has the imprint of perfect canines pressing through his stupid striped shirt. A full set of teeth, really- it's still bleeding, though sluggishly.

"Whoops?" Benny says, his voice going a little pitchy with his panic. Ethan holds in a sob, and pulls himself together.

"It's. Okay. It's okay. You're gonna be okay, Ben. We'll take you home and-"

"You can't take me home, E. Not to Grandma. Dude, what if I hurt her?" Benny asks, panic mixing with overt disdain. Ethan cuts a grin sharp enough to scar glass.

"What if you hurt me?" he asks, knowing well enough it'll just make Benny laugh. The other boy delivers, raised eyebrow included as he presses his hand over his wound.

"You don't think you can handle me?" Benny asks, his eyebrows all shameless flirtation but his stance still riddled with fear and pain. Ethan rolls his eyes, playing up his exasperation a little for the bit.

"Alright, pack it up, vampire boy. Let's take you down to the shop then, yeah?" he suggests, already holding onto Benny's wrist and dragging him toward the exit. Hell of a lot to explain to whoever finds this den; he would usually bury the bodies himself, or Benny would disintegrate them in a potion with ingredients Ethan doesn't even wanna think about. Neither of those are an option right now- thank the Gods Horace Black owes him about a million favors. He sends the vampire a text with his free hand, quick and probably short enough that Jesse is gonna call him to bitch about it later, but that's a later him problem.

Ethan works out of one of the kitschiest little shops in town, sitting down for palm readings and tarot cards at a rate of way too much an hour with a regular clientele of suckers who believe him just enough to keep coming back. They think the "trick" where he rolls his eyes back white is real neat, like how he always knows where they're going after their appointments with him. It's independent contractor work at seventeen. It's selling the only real thing about him. At least he has his own key.

He pushes Benny into the car, indelicate with his best friend's overlong limbs and distracted by the math running circles in his head. How long does it take someone to turn? How long does he have until Benny is losing it in his passenger seat? Will he even make it to the shop?

"Hey, no, I'm the one panicking right now, you get out of your head, mister," Benny says once Ethan is settled in the driver's seat, hands frozen on the wheel. Ethan shakes his head, rapid and doglike, and rakes his fingers through his hair.

"It's cool, I'm cool. The shop. How are you feeling? Keep talking, Ben," he instructs, equal parts order and request, equal parts command and desperation. Benny starts chattering about something completely unrelated to the open wound in his shoulder, but Ethan allows it. The distraction is nice. The route to the shop is familiar. If it wasn't 1:32 in the morning according to the clock embedded in the dashboard of his shitty car (which actually means it's 1:35 in the morning, but he digresses), it might even feel normal. But he knows better. Nothing ever really feels normal anymore.

He doesn't say much to reply to Benny's rambling on the way, but he holds out his hand over the gearshift. Benny laces their fingers.

The shop is familiar in a way only somewhere you are paid to be can be. It's really not a bad job, but he's been turned a little cynical by  a few years of this, maybe, a few years of vampires and magic and seeing the future, because working for money is just so petty. He's built a little nest in his alcove room in the shop, something about the ambience, how it makes him seem more mysterious, more occult. Like he doesn't notice how many questions everyone actually wants to ask him, like he doesn't notice how reticent he's actually become, the glances people send his way. He's becoming the freak of this town he never wanted to be. He's just starting to realize that it doesn't really matter. They climb out of the car and Ethan grabs Benny's hand again even while he's unlocking the door. It's like he can hardly help it. The fear is beating a pulse behind his sternum. Benny's quiet now, his face pressed between Ethan's shoulder blades for a moment.

Ethan pushes the door open and pushes Benny directly into his working nest. It's got enough pillows to keep him comfortable even on the linoleum. Knowing the sensitivity that Sarah dealt with when she came into her fledgling abilities, he doesn't bother with flipping on the main lights, only grabbing the switch on the lamp in his own alcove, and grabbing the first aid kit from under his table. You never know in this industry. He climbs into the nest with Benny to clean him up, uncaring of their closeness. No matter how close they get, it'll always feel like they've been closer. Once someone has tethered their magic in you, he imagines it'll always feel that way.

Benny's quiet while Ethan is cleaning him up. He doesn't pry the other boy to talk again, doesn't want to press him when he's gonna have to rationalize this in whatever way Benny gets through these situations. They talk about almost everything, they always have, but the idea of one of them getting turned was always a burden too hard to bear. Even then, if one of them got turned, Ethan always thought it was going to be him. He's the weakest of the bunch. The runt of the litter. He didn't expect Benny to have to do this.

"E, I don't wanna be a vampire," Benny says, voice so small it's hard to hear even in the big, black and dark emptiness lit only by the lamp, the silence they've carved out together. Ethan folds at the waist, his forehead resting against Benny's good shoulder.

"We don't always get what we want, I think," he says, voice breaking just a bit. He doesn't mean for it to. Benny's chuckle sounds strangled out of him.

"You're really bad at this reassuring thing, you know," the spellcaster says, and is he even going to be that anymore? They've never known anyone who was something else before they were bitten. Magic means so much to Benny. Ethan pushes down the instinct, heavy as it is, to cry. He gestures to the building they're in.

"That's not really what they pay me for," he says, the facsimile of his smile a little brighter when Benny actually laughs this time.

"They don't pay you to break in, either, dude."

"Oh, I do that for free," Ethan returns, flashing a shadow of his usual smile. Benny bumps him a little, jostling him as if they aren't already halfway in each other's laps.

"It's gonna be okay, you know. Most of our friends are vampires. It's not what I want, but I'll be able to handle it. You'll help, right?" Benny asks, as if there was another option in the world, as if there was a universe where Ethan wouldn't be right by his side. I'm his best friend, Benny had said when they were fifteen and dumber than hell, when Ethan still thought he was halfway in love with Sarah and all the way straight, when Ethan couldn't see what was right in front of him despite it being there his whole life. Ethan grabs Benny's hand again, lacing their fingers, squeezing Benny's hand just a little bit too hard. His face is still pressed into Benny's good shoulder. He wants to bite Benny himself, like the blunt of his human teeth will make any difference in the gambit of what's already happening to them, what's already coming to pass.

"I'll always be here, Ben. I'll always be yours," he says, so tired he can barely stand it, not tired to sleep but tired to never move again, tired to be done. Benny's fingers unlace from Ethan's own, knots untied, knots tied now in Ethan's stomach, and those fingers come to tilt his chin up, forcing him to look at Benny's eyes in the dim of the lamplight. He's always had pretty eyes.

"My best friend? Or Mine?" Benny asks, a difference that Ethan was hoping he wouldn't ask for, but one that Ethan cannot deny. He gives Benny a smile.

"Whatever I can, B. Whichever you want." It's a cop out and he knows it, relishes in the ambiguity, really, because the ambiguity is where people like him have always stayed safe. Historically best friends. Lifelong roommates. They exchanged letters. Benny looks down at Ethan's mouth.

"What- uh- what do you mean by mine?" There's no ambiguous way to answer that. Ethan looks down at Benny's mouth, the smears of blood cleared from it now. He wonders how it will look with fangs.

"Yours, Ben," he says, and he falls into Benny like he has nowhere else to go, because if a boy could be a home, he would look like Benny Weir. If a home could have a mouth, it would kiss him like this, the press desperate but careful, Benny's fingers near bruising as he grabs Ethan by the hips, if a home could have hands they would hold him like Benny. If home was a knobby kneed teenager, those knees open to allow him to lean against Benny's chest, one of his hands moving to Ethan's hair, and if home was a touch felt, it would be Benny's smile as he pulls away, the barely there touch of his laughter.

"Your type vampires, E?" Benny asks.

"You're not a vampire yet," he reminds Benny, not really wanting to get into compulsory heterosexuality with his newly vampirized best friend who he might be able to kiss whenever he wants now. Benny grins.

"I noticed that wasn't an answer," the other boy teases, his smile almost enough to distract from how pale his skin is beginning to look. They'll have to get him some blood, or some blood substitute, depending on what route he wants to take. They'll take it together. Ethan laces their fingers.

"My type is you, idiot. My type is you."

#bethan #benny weir #ethan morgan #mbav #my babysitter's a vampire #mine

[hellhound5925]

Cyare Verd *Beloved Warrior*

Chapter Four

We make out to the court yard and immediately Fives grabs Echo in a headlock.

"Fives...Let. Me. Go." Echo struggles under his grip for a few moments before accepting the inevitable.

Jesse laughs and seeing the look on Five's face....it's egging him on...

"Fives you really should be nicer to your vod (brother). He's ARC trooper too and I'm pretty sure he could kick your sheb (ass)." I say to him with a raised eye brow.

"Nah he wouldn't he loves me too much." Fives replies with a shit eating grin.

Echo no longer struggling causes Fives to relax his grip some.

If I was him I'd-

My thought was cut off by the loud grunt let out by Fives when Echo threw an elbow into his stomach plate.

"Nar'sheb (shove it)" Echo says with a smile now free of the grip of his brother.

I chuckle and shake my head.

Jesse having said nothing the whole time strolls over to a spot off to the side underneath one of 4 small trees in the courtyard.

I find it funny how all this permacrete and they found room for four measly little trees....homey...not

I sit down next to Jesse, Fives and Echo join. Fives and Jesse get into some debate over a woman they must have seen at 79's.

"You know, it's nice having a female around for once to keep the guys in check....not that Commander Tano isn't great, but she's not going to be around as much as you" Echo says smiling at me.

I smile back "Thanks Echo that sweet of you. I promise I'll do my best to keep your brother off your back" with the last part we both laugh.

"Thankfully usually he bothers Hardcase, being that he's the newest member of our squad but when Hardcase isn't around- which isn't often- he goes for me" Echo says.

"Oh come on! I'm a joy to he around" Fives chimes in.

"Of course you would hear you name and start listening" Echo teases.

Fives shoots him a childish look and Echo reciprocates.

"You guys remind me so much of my vode (brothers) it's uncanny" I say laughing

"I mean technically we are all the same DNA" replies Echo very matter of fact.

I shake my head "Doesn't mean you all have to get along. There were some batches I saw on Kamino that would have killed one another given the chance".

I hear a blast door slide open and pladtoid boots moving quickly across the courtyard.

"I'm baaaaaaack!!!! And I've got cards!" Yells Hardcase.

He plops himself down in our now circle. Going from left to right, it's Jesse, me, Echo, Fives, and Hardcase.

"Sabacc???" I ask.

"Well yeah that did you think we were going to play?" Fives snorts out a laugh.

"I've never actually played before" I say.

The group looks over at me in shock.

"Too busy being a Mandalorian badass to play Sabacc?" Asks Jesse.

"You can look over my shoulder for the first round if you want?" Echo asks.

"Okay yeah sure, Vor'e (thanks)!" I reply.

The boys play through a couple rounds because I was still confused after the first two with Fives and Hardcase arguing with Jesse and Echo over the rules.

"Udesii, udesii. (Calm down, take it easy)" I say over the four of them bickering.

They all look at me like they are waiting for orders. "Alright it seems like we are split here on the rules. Can we agree to disagree for now and for the sake of being able to actually play through a game AGREE on some rules for tonight" I say trying to reason with them.

Hardcase and Fives look at each other and Echo and Jesse do the same. "Fine" they all say together.

After FINALLY agreeing on a set of rules for the night....we were able to play through a round where I understood what was happening and was able to play on my own. I even won.

"OYA!!! (celebratory phrase, like hooray, has different meanings" I yell over the guys signing and Fives about ready to fall over in shock.

"Oh no no no no no, beginners luck" He says.

Echo high-fives me and laughs pointing at Fives in excitement "no longer undefeated you di'kut! (idiot)"

Fives scoffs "like I said beginners luck".

I check the time on my watch. "Osik (shit)....well boys..." I say getting up. "Looks like it's time to pack it in. Wouldn't want Rex pissed at me on the first day".

Fives quirks an eyebrows "first name basis eh?" He teases.

I cocked my head at him in confusion.

Echo even smiled "oooh not many can say they are on a first name basis with the Cap. Let alone the first day they meet him."

Hardcase and Jesse snicker.

"You're point?" I ask feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.

I mean Rex is attractive I'll give him that. Could be the blonde hair? Could be the rank? Nah I've met other clones who hold higher rank than Captain... but we just met they are reading too far into this...

I scoff and turn to head towards the blastdoors leading back to the sleeping quarters "Get some rest" I say before turning around with a smirk "That's an order" I say.

"Sir, yes sir" the boys say together lazily saluting me.

I chuckle and head inside.

When I make it to my room, I get around for bed getting caught up in my thoughts...

They seem like such a great bunch. It's so hard to believe the GAR sees them as 'expendable' they are men...all the same...yet different. The more clones I meet the more I just don't understand. They deserve lives like the rest of us...

That Captain though...I mean I guess he's cute....no....he's definitely attractive...I'm not here for that I'm here to teach them hand to hand combat skills...which are great against doids? Psh yeah right...must be they are worries about civies being 'noncompliant'....

I see myself being good friend with Fives and Echo I think more them the rest....not that they aren't worth it but something about those 2 ARC troopers reminds me so much of Ordo and Mereel....it draws me in...Echo is definitely more like Ordo. Quiet, smart, and I want to say a little up tight at times....and Fives like Mereel. To cool for the rest of us and definitely a lady killer....Fives is a little more arrogant though....

I wonder Kal'buir had made any progress.. it's not like he would tell me if he did...'you'll know when you need to know' 'it's too dangerous' 'it will be soon'.....yet here we are....

I crawl into bed and almost immediately drift off to sleep....

Masterlist

#clone captain rex #may the 4th be with you #may the force be with you #rex star wars #star wars clone wars #star wars the clone wars #the clones #rex x you #rex x reader #captain rex x you

[maddieautobot273]

Silk & Cologne (47)

A Miguel O'Hara x OC - link to AO3 (X)

Chapter 47: Slumber - previous chapter (X)

Pairing: Miguel O'Hara x Female OC

Words: 4.1K + words

Warnings: Slight implied sexual content, intimacy, overall fluff and therapy/healthy communication

Summary: Miguel visits Lisa for the night.

/////////

Miguel’s P.O.V. 

Miguel had finished reviewing the mission reports as requested, only to find over a dozen errors in the multiverse monitoring software. It seemed Gabriel had implemented a software update and didn’t tell him about it. Or Miguel was so swamped with the incoming stream of messages from other Spiders that he must have missed it in the flood and didn’t go back to read it even after silently reminding himself to do so. 

Nonetheless, it was enough to get under Miguel’s skin to the point he felt like he was near the verge of snapping. Hunched over, his back muscles tense and throbbing as he took deep breaths, trying to fight off the urge to punch or throw something if something went wrong in the next 10 seconds. No matter how efficiently he worked, something always came up. 

He didn’t want Lisa to see him so tense and agitated after he went the extra mile to initiate a date night. Miguel knew he had to calm himself down, telling himself that Lisa deserved better than how he was acting, so Miguel decided to quickly pop by the training center and work out the stress in his body. He ran laps around the center, followed by a series of pushups, situps, and a few rounds on the punching back for good measure. 

He had managed to get a few sets in, listening to Lisa’s playlist to help himself calm down as he took big, steady breaths as he lifted some weights to end his routine. He finished his last set, setting the weights down, his body covered in sweat as he wiped his head with a cool towel. Footsteps caught his ear, and he was praying that it wasn’t Peter B. with another security report. 

If he sets me off and I gotta do all of this again–! 

“Don’t you need to be somewhere?” Jessica Drew spoke up. 

Prayers answered. 

Miguel glanced over, seeing Drew standing there. One hand on her hip, the other hand gently over her baby bump. But the look she gave Migue through her spider-shades made him question that perhaps he should prefer seeing Peter B. over her. 

“Lisa and I planned for 8. I got time,” He quickly reassured her, gently brushing her off as he grabbed his bag and began to walk away. 

“It’s almost 9, Miguel,” Drew stared at his backside, watching the second his muscles seized up and twitched at her words. 

Oh shock! 

“Thanks, Jess!” Miguel immediately runs off, not giving Jessica a chance to say anything else. 

He runs off to his private room, quickly showering to wash the sweat and gym smell off of him.  Once cleaned, he changed into some casual clothes whilst combing through his messages, finding Gabriel’s contact. Instead of wine, he recommended a champagne bottle, something light, but simple. 

He went for his wine cabinet, finding the champagne bottle. He quickly huffed some breath onto his palm, smelling it. Seemed fine, but he popped a breath mint just in case. 

Miguel typed in the coordinates for Lisa’s dimension, locking on to her apartment on his gizmo. Simultaneously, he opened up a separate chat box window, quickly typing up a message. The chat was labeled, ‘Team Louvre’. 

“At ease for the night team. I can take it from here,” - Miguel 

Miguel didn’t wait for a response before a portal opened before him. Sucking in one more quick breath, he steeled his nerves and jumped through the portal. Traveling through the interdimensional tunnel, he emerged at the otherside, arriving in Lisa’s apartment. 

But something was different. Not quite off, but different. Most of the lights were off or dimmed to a low setting as his sensitive eyes adjusted to the lowly dark room. The blankets Lisa usually kept on the couch had been moved to her bed, the curtain pulled back. There was a scented candle on the coffee table in the living room area, it smelled like. . . lavender? 

Footsteps caught Miguel’s attention as a female figure emerged from the kitchen. Lisa stepped towards him, arms crossed over her chest, wearing comfy sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt. She looked so cute and Miguel wanted nothing more than to hug her tightly and apologize profusely, but he held himself back.

Miguel tried to get a read on her, analyzing the look on her face. A neutral expression, lips in a thin line. She raised a brow towards him. 

Here we go. . . 

“Held up at work?” She asked him, her head tilting slightly to the side. 

Miguel didn’t detect any sign of hurt or tiredness in her voice. A tiny part of him felt relieved, but that was what scared him the most. Sure there could be slip ups here and there when couples first start dating, but this felt like a fumble if anything. 

“Mi Mona Lisa, I’m so sorry I’m late,” He apologized, his gaze pouring into hers. 

“What happened?” Lisa asked him with a calm expression, her arms lowering to her sides. 

“I finished reading the reports, but there were errors in the monitoring system I had to fix that I wasn’t made aware of,” Miguel sighed deeply, doing his best to keep his frustration in check. “By the time I fixed everything, I was tense and agitated I– I didn’t want all that seeping on to you so I went to work out and get it out of my system,”

“As you were doing that, you lost track of time?” She asked him for clarification. 

He nodded softly, relief coursing through him that she had spoken his explanation in much more simple terms. “Yes,”

Please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad. . . 

Lisa seemed to stare at him, evaluating him for what felt like unbearable seconds. Until she finally spoke, her voice soft, “Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t getting any sleep?”

Miguel froze, his eyes widening. She wasn’t mad? She wasn’t going to yell or scream at him?

You are in so much trouble young man! Faintly fluttered through his mind. His mothers voice. 

He shuddered briefly at the memory. “You’re not mad. . .?” Miguel’s voice muttered, wandering off. 

“Miguel?” Lisa called out to him, snapping him back to reality. 

His gaze fell upon her sulk expression and his heart nearly shattered. “Lisa, I’m sorry, I know it sounds like an excuse, but I– I didn’t want you to worry,”

Lisa sighed, shaking her head, “Miguel, as I keep gently reminding you,” She steered her gaze back to him, a calm expression on her face. “You can talk to me, you know that,”

“I do know that, I swear,” Miguel insisted heavily, inching a step closer as his grip on the champagne bottle tightened at his side. 

“Then why didn’t you tell me back when I was visiting you in the lab today?” She asked him. “Or the day before?”

Miguel managed several deep, calming breaths to keep his emotions in check. His mind was spiraling. Lisa wasn’t blowing up on him. Not like her, but she was talking to him. 

“You can’t keep hiding things like this, Miguel,” She spoke gently. 

Just like Xina did. . . 

////////

Earth-928 - Nueva York - Babylon Towers - 5 years ago 

Miguel arrived home later than normal that night. After working a long shift at Alchemax, he had stopped by the psych ward to visit his mother, Conchata, with his little brother, Gabriel. As always, Gabriel was the sunshine son that could do no wrong, but Miguel. . .

Well, it was better to not repeat those things. All the words and insults she said, once was enough in Miguel’s mind. But he always came back, for Gabriel’s sake. 

Miguel was tired, exhausted even. He let out a deep sigh as he shut the door behind him. Xina had to be long asleep by now, and didn’t want to risk waking her, or the baby. 

Soft whimpering caught his ear, as Miguel glanced over, peering into the dark living room to see a baby crib, tiny hands beginning to fidget. His lips curled into a soft smile as he set aside his house key card, taking long, quiet steps towards the crib. He peered down at the little body, its bottom half swaddled in a blanket. 

Little baby Gabriela. 

“Hey, sssshh, it’s okay, mija,” Miguel’s voice was a soft whisper as he carefully picked her up in his large, warm, protective hands, “It’s only papa,” - darling

He cuddled her close to his chest, calming her down as he rubbed his hands up and down her small back, humming affectionately. It took a few minutes, but eventually Gabriela stopped whimpering, making soft little noises as her tiny eyes peered up towards Miguel. Miguel smiled softly at her, gently rocking her. 

“It’s okay,” he whispered gently, “Go back to sleep. Wouldn’t want to wake up mama now, would we?”

As if on command, her little eyes started to droop down, her little body snuggling in her blanket as Miguel carefully adjusted it for her. He set her back down in the crib gently, brushing a large finger along her head. Miguel swore he would have melted in a puddle right there and then. 

If not for the sound of footsteps coming from the master bedroom of the penthouse apartment. “I was worried something had happened,”

Miguel’s heart stopped as he turned, taking in the form of the Cantonese woman wearing PJ’s with a silk robe overtop. Her long, silky black hair draped past her shoulders. No matter the time of day, Xina Kwan-O’Hara always looked so angelic to him. 

“Mi amor. . .” Miguel greeted her softly. - my love 

Xina offered Miguel a soft nod, a ghost of a smile on her lips as she walked closer towards him. A hand snaked up his back in a loving manner as the both of them turned to glance down at Gabriela who had fallen back asleep. “Did something happen at work?” She asked. 

“No, everything was fine, just the usual, fixing everybody’s mess,” Miguel answered softly, keeping his gaze locked to the baby. “I was just. . . out with Gabriel tonight. I meant to message you about it, but. . . time got away from me,”

“. . . You two were visiting your mother tonight?” Xina asked him, her hand brushing up to his shoulder. “How is she?”

“Yes, she’s. . . the same as she always is,” Miguel nodded. 

Xina hesitated briefly, before her fingers curled over against the fabric of Miguel’s jacket. “You haven’t told Gabriel yet. . . that you want to take a break from seeing her?”

A wave of shame coursed through Miguel as he curled his fingers into a fist at his side, steering his gaze away from his daughter. His eyes briefly met Xina’s before lowering them to look at the floor. “No. . .”

Xina sighed quietly, muttering a prayer in her native tongue as her hand snaked down his arm, engulfing her fingers around his. “You can’t keep hiding things like this, Miguel,” She spoke gently.

Her voice was calm, but direct. A little blunt. But that’s how Xina was. 

Most days Miguel felt that Xina was his rock, his very conscience if he dared to go so far. It was enough to make Miguel steer his face from the floor to look at her square in the face. Xina was so smart, confident that he hated the idea of making her worry about him. 

“I know, Xina. . .” Miguel’s gaze softened as he gently pulled Xina closer to him, their bodies brushing against one another. 

“We’ve talked about this,” Xina insisted, “You need to talk to Gabriel about setting boundaries for the two of you. I know your protective big brother instincts always kick in when its the three of you,” 

“It’s just. . . she is the light of his world as much as he is hers,” Miguel sighed. “I. . . don’t want to ruin that for him, because a part of me never got that from her,”

“You may not have gotten it from her, and honestly, she’s an adult, she was the parent, she chose to be this way and that’s on her,” Xina\s voice was calm, but her expression stern as she lifted a hand to cup Miguel’s cheek. “But you found that light elsewhere, here, with her,”

She steered her gaze down towards Gabriela’s sleeping form and Miguel smiled. He didn’t remember smiling this much growing up. He loved this feeling, and would fight tooth and nail to keep it. 

“Talk to Gabriel,” Xina instructed with loving authority. “He’s smarter than you let on about what’s been going on between the two of you, and I know you’re smarter than to keep this bottled up. He’ll understand. He’s your brother,”

Miguel took a long deep breath, taking it all in. The place he was standing in, the words that fluttered from Xina’s mouth. When he exhaled, he felt this weight lift from his shoulders and suddenly didn’t feel so stiff anymore. 

“Alright,” he nodded softly. 

“Yes?” Xina raised a brow at the man. 

“I’ll talk to him in the morning,” Miguel went on. 

“Good,” Xina patted him on the cheek before glancing down at Gabriela. “Kiss your daughter goodnight and come get ready for bed,”

“Yes ma’am,” Miguel chuckled with a faint smirk as he brought a hand up to cup XIna’s chin, offering her a soft, loving kiss on the lips. “Remind me again why she can’t still sleep with us?”

“She needs her own space, Miguel,” Xina smirked up at him. “But she knows papa isn’t too far away if she needs him,”

Xina smiled at Miguel’s romantic gesture before walking off back to their shared bedroom. Miguel watched her leave before glancing back down into the crib, snagging one last look at his baby daughter. He carefully lowered his upper body down into the crib, his lips brushing gently on her forehead. 

“Dulces sueños pequeña,” Miguel whispered softly, his voice warm like another blanket being tucked around her. - Sweet dreams little one 

Miguel walked off into their room, immediately pulling his shirt off. He was about to make his way over to the dresser when Xina beckoned him over. “Come’ere,”

“What?” Miguel smirked over at her sitting on the bed with a curious glint in his eyes. 

“It’s not about that, Miguel,” Xina rolled her eyes at the man as he sat at the edge of the bed. “You’re not going to bed when you’re still clearly feeling tense,”

Miguel immediately clued into what Xina was talking about as he turned her back towards her, reaching down to pull off his socks from his feet. “Give me a second to–” But the sentence halted from his lips as she felt Xina’s delicate hands begin to massage his shoulders. 

The soft groan of relaxation that left him was everything Xina could have hoped for. “Now how do you feel?”

The corner of Miguel’s mouth curled into a smile, “A little to the left?”

Xina followed his request as she shifted her hands over as she slowly worked down his back and another sigh of relaxed pleasure fluttered from his throat. 

“What did I do to deserve you?” He asked her, turning his head towards her. 

“Everything and more,” Xina smiled before pressing one more kiss to his lips. “I’ll be here to help you, you know that. Just promise me you’ll put in the effort to take care of yourself, Miguel?”

“. . . I promise,” 

///////

Earth-12128 - New York City - Lisa’s Apartment - Present Day

“Miguel?” Lisa’s voice brought Miguel back to the present as she gently took the champagne bottle from his hand. “We’re partners, right?”

“Yes?” he nodded softly. 

“As partners, we should look out for each other’s well-being, right?” She went on, smiling softly at him. 

“Right . . .?” Miguel answered again, yet more slowly as he drew out the word. 

Where is she going with this? 

“You’ve constantly looked out for me, so, let me do the same for you,” Lisa stated. “You made a promise to me that you’d take better care of yourself, and in turn, I promised I’d make sure that you do just that,”

Miguel’s fingers seemed to twitch as he mustered all the strength he had to not tackle Lisa in a bear crushing hug and kiss her silly. 

What did I do to deserve her? 

“So, change of plans for tonight,” Lisa spoke up as she set the champagne bottle aside, setting it on the kitchen counter. “When was the last time you got a full night's sleep?”

Miguel’s heart began to flutter in his chest, his palms sweating as his eyes glancing around at nothing in particular. “Uh. . . Does it matter?”

“How many, Miguel?” She asked him. 

“. . . 2 days,” He answered after a brief hesitation. 

“And in those two days you haven’t gotten any sort of rest?” Lisa pressed on gently. 

Miguel shook his head, sulking like a child that was about to get reprimanded by their mother. 

Lisa nodded softly, glancing down at the floor, “Alright then,” She returned her gaze to him as Lisa dared one step closer towards him, then slowly another, “So, Miguel, I know you’re a very smart man. What happens when our human bodies don’t get enough sleep?”

Miguel processed the question, the gears of his mind turning with the strength and energy he had left in the day. “Are you genuinely asking or are you quoting Big Bang Theory?”

“Both,” Lisa managed a soft grin before it loosened, “Now answer the question, smart boy,”

Miguel couldn’t stop his cheeks from flushing at the comment, his mind scrambling. “They. . . lose their sensitivity to serotonin and norepinephrine, receiving less signals from the brain,”

“Which then leads to?” Lisa dared another step closer.

“Impaired cognitive function?” Miguel’s cheeks started to burn. 

“That’s exactly right,” Lisa nodded, her head motioning towards the bathroom door. “So, instead of a movie, I’ll hold onto the champagne for another night. You’re going to be a big man, march over there and brush your teeth, and go to bed and spend the night here,”

Wait. . . she’s not mad? She doesn’t sound like she’s mad, does she?

Miguel had a frazzled look on his face, daring to scoff even as he raised a brow at the lady before him. “Seriously?”

“I had the sheets cleaned, pillows fluffed, extra blankets in case you get cold, and scented candles to help soothe the senses,” Lisa smirked, feeling accomplished with her tasks. “I just hope the candle smell isn’t too sensitive,”

There was a playful glint in her eyes as she suddenly smirked up at him. First Miguel was surprised. Now he was scared. 

“You didn’t have to do all this,” As reluctant as he was, Miguel couldn’t help but smile at what Lisa had done. She had done all of this for him. “Can’t we stay up just a little longer?”

“I’m going to count to 3,” She taunted. 

Miguel’s mouth gaped open, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. “You wouldn’t dare–!”

“Try me,” Lisa grinned. The pair locked eyes, provoking a staring contest as they both waited to see who would crack first.  “. . . 1–”

“You are not–” Miguel gawked at the woman. 

“2–?” Lisa raised her voice an octave as the look in her eyes told him that she wasn’t playing around. 

“Alright, alright, I’m going!” He surrendered, his head and hands shaking with a surprised laughter as he sauntered into the bathroom. 

“Your spare toothbrush is in the cabinet,” There was a hint of a grin on Lisa’s voice as her voice fluttered over the sound of Miguel shutting the door behind him. 

Miguel found everything he needed, brushing his teeth and quickly rinsing off his face. Flicking his finger across the touch screen of his gizmo, his clothes changed into a comfy t-shirt and sweatpants before he stepped out of the bathroom and walked over towards the bedroom. Lisa was already sitting on her side, gently patting her hand on the mattress for him to join her. 

“Come on,” She beckoned him. 

“I don’t need to be told twice,” He teased, grinning at her as he carefully crawled across to the other end, plopping down on his back. 

Lisa pulled back the covers for him as Miguel adjusted himself, tucking his lower body under the sheets. Everything felt warm, and silky smooth. His pillow smelt clean, feeling cool against his skin. It was only then he realized how tired he truly was. 

He contemplated passing out right there and then, but he willed his eyes to stay open. He wanted to see Lisa, talk to her, just be with her. Miguel reached a hand out, his large fingers brushing against her cheek as she reached up and held his hand with her delicate fingers. 

“What did I do to deserve you?” His voice was quiet, soft, and low as he cupped her cheek. 

“Everything. . . and more, Miguel,” Lisa smiled softly at him. 

He smiled softly back at her. Lisa’s body shifted, and at first Miguel thought that she was settling in beside him so they’d both get some sleep. But she scooted over and suddenly straddled in his lap, Miguel’s eyes went wide, his cheeks turning pink. “Lisa, what are you doing?”

“I’m making sure you actually go to sleep and stay that way,” She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to appear authoritative and intimidating as she narrowed her gaze down towards him. “That means no getting up in the middle of the night to sneak in more work, or calls. Just sleep,”

“You’re going to stay there until I do?” he asked her with a curious look in his eyes. “Like, watch me sleep?”

“If that’s what it takes,” Lisa stated. 

The pair seemed to be stuck in an intimidating staring contest for what felt like long minutes. The curious glint stayed in Miguel’s gaze as his smirk slowly grew. He wanted to test Lisa’s claim for himself. 

“Miguel. . .” Lisa’s voice gives off an audible warning drawl.

Miguel tries to sit up, but is stopped short when Lisa quickly stretches her arms out. Her hands grip his shoulders and push him back down. Miguel was genuinely caught by surprise by her strength as she pins him back down to the mattress, the back of Miguel’s head falling into place on the pillow. 

“Miguel O’Hara!” Her lips flickered into a grin, staring down at him as she called him out for his attempted defiance. 

Her long brown hair dangles on the side of her face, and try as he might, Miguel couldn’t hold himself back as his gaze began to linger down. He loved Lisa’s face, her sweet, almost innocent looking gaze, her soft expressions and loving smile. But Miguel would be lying to himself if his mind wasn’t screaming at him to, at least once, admire and appreciate Lisa’s body. 

Elegant curves, a strong form, he couldn’t be more proud of her and the progress she had made since joining the Spider Society. In Miguel’s eyes, Lisa was beautiful inside and out. When his gaze retracted back to her own, and he saw the realization in her eyes of what he had done, there was. .  hesitancy, doubt even as her cheeks flushed, and her grip on his shoulders loosened. 

Was there a part of her that didn’t believe what Miguel saw in her?

Miguel’s expression faltered for a split second. Right now was probably not the correct time to discuss something like that. Tonight was about taking care of him and his health, Lisa had made that very clear. 

“Fine, I’ll get some rest,” Miguel sighed deeply, his body relaxing into the mattress as Lisa’s hands snaked away from his shoulders, across his chest. 

“Good,” Lisa nodded her head. 

Miguel’s smirk was playful as his arm hooked around her back and gently pulled her down. Lisa landed with a soft ‘PLOP’ along Miguel’s chest, her head tucked under his. “Especially now that I have my favourite body pillow,”

His low rumbling laughter caused Lisa’s cheeks to burn as his hand gently stroked along her back. If Miguel was going down, he was taking Lisa down with him. Two could play at this game. 

“Miguel O’Hara, go to sleep!” She ordered, hiding her face in the fabric of his nearly skin tight shirt. 

“Yes, mi Mona Lisa,” Miguel’s voice drawled as his laughter quieted down. 

Miguel reached over with his free hand, grabbing a spare blanket and pulling it over Lisa. He made sure she was snuggly and warm before he kissed the top of her head, holding her close. Slumber took hold of him minutes later and when he breathed in deeply and snored for the first time, Lisa truly relaxed, nuzzling against him completely as sleep overcame her as well. 

//////////

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"Sun and Rain"

Chapter 47

"Whatever It Takes"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: For one, I apologize for the cliffhanger on the last chapter 😅

Second, a new character you'll meet in this chapter is the female OC of my good friend, @l-lend ! (Do NOT read this chapter, K, if you haven't caught up yet!! 😝😝 lol) I've included her OC as a way of saying thank you to her for a couple of story ideas she tossed around with me that I'll be incorporating over the next couple chapters! I can't say what they are yet cuz *spoilers* 😜 I can only hope I do her character justice!

Hope you all enjoy this!

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @tmntchick677 , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettroseog , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink

《 Chapter 46

》 Chapter 48

All chapters

Explanation: The Bad Batch have suddenly and mysteriously gone missing and only Kimber remains. Now, it's up to her, Captain Rex and Commander Cody to figure out how to find them and get them back...which prompts Kimber to reach out to someone unexpected for help.

No...no, this couldn't be happening.

It couldn't be.

Rex had just told her that her friends were missing.

Kimber had just returned to her squad; they were finally back together after several months...

...and now, she'd lost them again.

"No...no, that can't be...! Rex, tell me you're lying. Tell me that's not true!" she pleaded.

Rex couldn't hide the guilt in his expression, no matter how much he wanted to. "I wish I could, Kimber, but it's true. It looks like they've been captured."

Her breathing grew short and rapid and she clutched at the sides of her head in a panic, leaning over the edge of the med bay bed she was sitting on. How did this happen? This couldn't be real. This wasn't fair!

She was alone, her squad was gone.

Hunter was gone.

This was her nightmares coming true.

"How could this have happened? Who could've done this?" she asked, her voice trembling in fear.

"We...actually might have a hunch about that," said Cody.

Her head shot up at hearing that and she gaped at Cody expectantly.

Then he went on to say, "We don't have much to go on right now, but...there have been groups of Clones going missing recently...and it seems like Clone Force 99 are the latest victims of these disappearances."

Something about those words sparked another memory in her mind from back on Zeffo and her gaze found Rex's.

"You warned Hunter and Echo about this. I heard you say something to them on Zeffo," she pointed out.

With a nod, he said, "Yes, I did. I thought your squad could help investigate if more Clones kept going missing, but I didn't imagine they would get taken, too."

"Wait...what about Jesse and his group?" she then asked, her fear spiking again as she remembered they had left before she and the Bad Batch.

"Fortunately, he and his group got away," he reassured her.

Kimber let out a quick sigh of relief knowing Jesse made it out okay. Then she told them, "Whoever it was that took my friends, they were waiting for us." The Captain and Commander gave her curious glances and she clarified, "We hadn't gotten far from the planet when a ship suddenly came up on the sensors out of nowhere. Echo said the only ship that could do that was a stealth ship with cloaking technology. They knew we were coming."

"But why would they only target Clone Force 99?" asked Cody, looking at Rex.

"The bigger question is: how did the kidnappers know where they were?" Rex asked in return. "They had to have been tracking them somehow."

Those same questions were running through Kimber's mind, too. How would the kidnappers have known where they would be, especially when that information wasn't made public? Furthermore, if they were specifically targeting the Bad Batch, how did they know which ship was theirs? That wasn't exactly public knowledge either, even to other Clones in the Grand Army of the Republic. Someone had to have told the kidnappers which ship to watch out for, but she knew none of the 501st Clones would do that. That only left the archeologists and most of them were either injured or being checked out by the med team.

That is...everyone except....

"Alden," she spoke.

It had to be him. The young archeologist had been near the Marauder just before their departure. What she thought had been innocent curiosity was starting to seem like a lie.

"What?" asked Cody in response.

Kimber jumped up from the bed and inquired, "Where is Alden, the young archeologist? He told me he was coming with the last group on this cruiser."

Still a bit confused about why she was asking about the young man, Rex answered, "He's two rooms down waiting to be checked."

Immediately, Kimber angrily stomped her way to the doors of the room, not even waiting for the other two, despite them calling after her. The doors swished open and she walked briskly and determinedly down the hall, her focus on the appropriate door. Her boys were missing and the evidence pointed to Alden having something to do with it. She was going to get answers from him one way or another. When she got two rooms down, she turned into the doorway and the doors opened, revealing Alden sitting on the bed in the room and his eyes widened at seeing her glaring at him as she strode in.

"You!" she growled at him, all reason leaving her mind now that he was in her sights. In one swift motion, she grabbed him by the collar of his jacket with both hands, yanked him up from the bed and slammed him into the wall, eliciting a startled cry from him. "What did you do?!" she yelled in his face. "You said you weren't snooping around, but that was a lie, wasn't it? You did something to our ship and now, my squad is gone!"

Right then, she felt a pair of arms grab her from underneath hers and forcefully pull her off of Alden, who was staring at her with eyes large with fear.

"Kimber, stand down!" cried Rex, who had grabbed her and was holding her back.

Cody came into her view and chided her, "We still have protocols to follow and interrogating a civilian with force is not one of them."

"I don't give a damn about protocol," she spat back. "My squad is missing and I'm going to do whatever it takes to find them, starting with him." She cast Alden a death glare.

He yelped in fright and suddenly cried, "All right, I'll talk! I'll tell you what you what you want to know!"

Both Rex and Cody exchanged astonished glances and Kimber had to really hold back from saying "I told you so" to her intimidation method working on getting Alden to talk. When she felt Rex's grip on her slacken, she pulled away from him and went back in front of Alden, who whimpered ever so slightly at her staring him down.

Stopping in front of the scared boy, she then told him, her voice darker than even she recognized, "You better tell us everything you know, boy, or so help me, I will take you back to Zeffo myself and bury you back in that cave where we found you!"

Alden cried out in alarm in response to her threat and then added, "I didn't know they wanted your squad, I swear!"

"What did they want...and who is 'they'?" she demanded.

The young man gulped nervously. "I...I was an archeological intern and I was hoping to work with Master Cordova on his latest expedition to Zeffo. I was approached by someone who told me they could make it happen if I did something for them in return."

"Who was it?" asked Cody as he and Rex came up behind Kimber on either side.

Alden shook his head. "I don't know. He never gave me a name."

Frustrated with that answer, Kimber turned her back to Alden and walked away a couple steps. So far, his information wasn't getting them anywhere.

"What did he tell you to do?" Rex questioned him.

"He...the man told me they needed to catch certain people and they were going to stage an attack on Zeffo to bring those people there, but I didn't know what kind of attack," Alden explained. "He told me that once we got out to...to...."

Impatiently, Kimber whipped back around and asked, "To what?"

Flinching, Alden blurted out, "To put a tracker on a lone shuttle!"

Rex turned and saw Kimber's jaw and fists clenching in anger, so he held up a hand and warned her, "Kimber, stay calm."

She heard him, but didn't acknowledge him. Instead, keeping her eyes trained on Alden, she hissed at him, "You're telling me...that you sold out my friends...just so you could go on a digging trip to Zeffo?!" Instinctively, she took a step forward, but Rex blocked her way, holding his hand up higher to keep her back.

"I'm sorry!" Alden cried.

"What did that man want with Clone Force 99?" she then asked, her voice still raised.

"He never told me it was them; he never even said they were Clones," he replied, "so I don't know the reason why. I swear, that's all I know. Please...I'm really sorry, ma'am. I made a mistake. I had no idea they were going to take your squad and I regret my part in all of this."

Kimber knew if she stayed in that room a moment longer, she was going to pummel the young man to unconsciousness, so she abruptly turned on her heel and stormed out of the room back out into the hall, not even giving Alden any indication that she accepted his apology. Her squad was gone because he wanted to go on an expedition and he sold them out to someone without even asking why. How stupid could this boy be? She could feel her rage growing exponentially mixed with her worry for her boys. Why had they been taken? All she could do was hope they were okay, wherever they were.

Behind her, she heard Cody and Rex's footsteps following her. After moving a few feet away from the room, she stopped and turned back to face them.

"We're not any closer to figuring this out than we were moments ago," she commented to them in frustration, folding her arms across her chest.

Rex responded, "It seems that the kidnappers wanted the Bad Batch, but since you were left behind, it confirms they are specifically targeting Clones."

"They knew an attack like the one on Zeffo would not only bring Clones in general to the planet, but it would be a mission suited for Clone Force 99," added Cody, "which means whoever is behind this are familiar with them and what they do."

"I would imagine that's not a very wide circle of people," said Kimber.

"No," Cody confirmed. "Apart from you, there really isn't anyone outside the Grand Army of the Republic that would know about them. At least, to our knowledge."

Kimber ran a hand over her face and up into her hair anxiously. If anyone outside the Grand Army knew about the Bad Batch, it would be next to impossible to figure out who it could be, considering there were millions of people in the galaxy.

Though, she then had a thought and voiced it aloud, "Well, whoever took my boys, they had a ship armed with cloaking technology and a large ion cannon. My guess is they must be people that come from wealth or have a rich benefactor because I'd imagine a ship of that make would not be cheap."

"That's a fair point," said Rex.

"Either that or they have connections in the black market or a criminal underworld somewhere that would get them such technology," Cody also put in.

Hearing him mention the black market and criminal underworld made Kimber freeze briefly as a thought came to her mind. One she hadn't considered until just then and one she hadn't thought about in months.

"If that's the case...then I may have a contact of my own that could help," she told the two Clones.

The two of them glanced at her and tilted their heads, bemused.

"You have a contact in the black market?" questioned Cody.

She shrugged and bobbed her head. "Not necessarily in the black market, but I know someone who has their ear to the ground in the more shady parts of the galaxy. Or they might know other people who do."

"Where is this contact of yours?" Rex inquired.

"I met them on Jakku a couple months back," Kimber answered. "I can see if they've heard anything regarding shady deals on the market for stealth technology or even just about the disappearing Clones in general."

Rex and Cody turned to each other in thought.

"We have to start somewhere, Cody. It's better than nothing," said Rex.

Cody seemed to contemplate the suggestion for a moment and then stated, "All right, then. Call your contact and see what you can get from them."

"I'm sure they'll actually want to meet in person," said Kimber. "As far as I'm aware, they're still on Jakku, but I'll comm them and get their location. I'll let you know what I find out."

Cody gave her a nod of approval and proceeded to walk away, leaving Rex and Kimber alone in the hall.

Looking to her, he asked, "Are you all right? Your actions back there...that wasn't like you."

With a mildly guilty look in her eyes, she said back, "I know. I'm not myself. I'm just overwhelmed with worry and anger at what that boy did. I let those emotions get the best of me."

"It's not uncommon," he said. "When we were going to rescue Echo from Skako Minor, I reacted with anger at one time and that's something I rarely do."

"What happened?" she asked.

"Crosshair had made some remarks about Echo that I didn't appreciate, so...I punched him. Twice."

"Knowing him, he probably deserved it."

"Emotional reactions happen to the best of us. Though, maybe just reign it in a bit next time," he politely warned her.

She nodded. "I will."

He gazed at her a little longer, his eyes emanating with remorse as he then said to her, "Kimber, before you go, I uh...I found something in the cabin of the Marauder when we picked you up. I get the feeling you might want to hold onto it."

He gingerly reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out something enclosed in his hand. When he unfurled his fingers and revealed what he had, Kimber gasped softly and shakily.

It was Hunter's credit necklace.

In shock, she gradually reached down and took the necklace from Rex's hand, fighting the tears she could feel wanting to fall from her eyes. "This...is Hunter's," she said in a strained voice.

Silently, she nodded, keeping her eyes on the credit in her hand. "I love him, Rex," she then told him emotionally. "I hurt him when I left and now, I may have lost my chance to make things right. If anything happens to him or any of them...!"

"You two were...together, weren't you?" he then asked her. Though, from his tone, she judged he already knew the answer.

He laid a hand on her shoulder. "Hey...we'll find him, Kimber. I promise you," he consoled her. "We'll find the boys and bring them home."

She took a slow, deep breath to calm herself down and then lifted her head to meet his gaze. "We'll bring all the Clones home," she said with steadfastness.

Rex gave her an encouraging grin and nodded. "You'd better go make that call."

With that, he too walked away from her and left her on her own. Kimber once again looked down at Hunter's necklace lying in her palm and she ran her thumb gently over the credit. Rex had said he'd found it in the cabin of the Marauder...which means Hunter must have had it with him when they were attacked. He'd kept it with him like he used to. Though was it for his original reason or the reason he'd said when he'd given it to her; to fight for her and a future with her? There was no way to know now. She debated putting it on, but...it wouldn't feel right. Not when she didn't know where she stood with Hunter at the moment. No...she would only wear it if he chose to give it to her again. Until that time, she would do what he did and just carry it with her.

It would give her the motivation to do whatever it took to get her family back.

Pocketing the necklace in one of her pouches, she returned to the room she'd awoken in and found her pack in a corner on the floor. She fished around inside it until she pulled out a black holopad, one she hadn't needed to use until now.

She activated it and waited for the other person to answer. A few seconds passed and then a holographic female figure appeared.

The woman snickered upon seeing her. "Well...Kimber Sallaros. I wondered when I'd hear from you," she greeted her.

"As much I'd love to go through pleasantries, Rina, I don't have that kind of time. I need your help," Kimber said in return.

"Ah, quick to the point. It's gonna be one of those calls," commented Rina. "All right, then. What do you need?"

"What I need is information, but it probably isn't safe to speak of over comms. Are you still on Jakku?"

"Nah, I ditched that place. I was getting bored there. I'm on Balmorra now."

Kimber couldn't help but feel a little relieved at hearing that. Jakku was clear on the other side of the galaxy than where she was and it would take days to travel there. Balmorra was a lot closer, though it would still take some time to get there.

Time she hoped the Bad Batch still had.

"Isn't Balmorra part of the Confederacy of Independent Systems now?" she questioned.

With a shrug, Rina answered, "I mean, yeah, but it's still a good place for me to lay low. Where have you landed?" she then asked.

"Currently, I'm just in space on a cruiser. Though, we were just on Zeffo," Kimber answered.

Rina crinkled her face. "What would make you go to Zeffo?"

"It's a long story, one I can't tell right now because time is not my ally at the moment. Can you help me or not?" Kimber replied, a little irritated.

"No need to get your blacks in a twist. I can help. If you want information, it'd be best to meet in person." Rina pulled out a datapad and typed something into it. "Come to these coordinates. You'll know how to find me."

"Copy that. I'll let you know when we reach the planet. Thanks, Rina."

"I'll be waiting."

Kimber ended the call and let out a sharp exhale. It was going to be interesting to see how this meeting was going to go.

Then she activated her comm, put in Rex's frequency and spoke into it, "Rex, I've got a location for my contact. Tell Commander Cody to set a course for Balmorra."

"Copy that, Kimber," Rex replied.

Kimber reached back into her pouch and pulled out Hunter's necklace again, her thoughts drifting to him and his brothers once more. She hoped they were okay. She hoped they were still alive and would be even after traveling to Balmorra.

She closed her hand around the necklace and reverently pressed it to her lips. "I'm coming, lads. I'm going to find you and bring you home if it's the last thing I do. Just please stay alive until I get there."

It took a couple of days for them to reach Balmorra, having to go from the Outer Rim all the way back to the Colonies, just outside the Core Worlds. Since it was a planet aligned with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Cody and Rex agreed it would be best for Kimber not to go alone. For her safety, Rex would accompany her planetside to meet with Rina. They both ditched their official Republic armor, as well, to remain inconspicuous and to ensure it didn't catch the eyes of any enemies. Kimber got her civilian clothes from the Marauder, which was now docked inside the hangar of the cruiser, and Rex donned some gray armor with jaig eyes on the chest with a matching helmet cap as well as goggles. They both had blasters still strapped to their sides in the event they needed to defend themselves.

Once they were ready to go, Rex flew the both of them down to the planet in a Y-wing fighter. Balmorra seemed pretty gray in its architecture, but the light of the sun at least gave it a little more color. They landed a few clicks outside of the city Rina's coordinates were located so as to not attract any attention. Kimber sent a signal to Rina to alert her that they were on the planet and heading her way.

As they made their way into the city, Rex asked Kimber, "So how did you meet this Rina woman?"

She told him, "A couple months ago, I'd gone with Jesse and some of the 501st on a supply mission to Jakku that went slightly awry when some thugs went around trying to steal people's parts, including ours. Rina was there and she also helped deal with them. She was quite a fighter and she told me she was impressed with my skills, as well. Afterwards, she bought me a drink and we conversed while the lads finished getting supplies. It turns out she's on the run, but she wouldn't say from who or what. She informed me if I ever either changed my mind about working with Clones or I needed any help in the future to comm her."

"Why would she think you'd change your mind about working with Clones?" was his next question.

She shrugged. "She said something along the lines of if I wanted to 'stop being an armor chaser and have a group of my own fighters'."

Rex gave her a curious glance. "Armor chaser?" he repeated.

"Her way of describing me working with soldiers or Clones," she clarified.

He nodded. "Sounds like she was trying to recruit you to something."

"Whatever it was, I have no interest in having a group of my own," she told him. "I have the Bad Batch and I also had Jesse, Kix and the 501st at the time. I'm not a leader."

"I'd beg to differ. I think you'd make a great leader," he countered.

Kimber scoffed in amusement. "I appreciate the confidence, Rex, but that's just not in the cards for me." Then she went on to say, "I've never seen this gray armor you're wearing before."

"I don't use it often," Rex answered. "The last time I wore it was on a mission to Onderon to train some local fighters trying to reclaim their government."

She looked him over once and then stated, "I definitely like your normal armor better."

"Believe me, so do I," he replied.

They continued walking through the city, keeping their heads down and avoiding eye contact with the locals. Kimber kept alert, waiting for the sign from Rina.

"How are we supposed to find this Rina? She said you'd know how to find her," said Rex.

"I do," said Kimber, "I'm just waiting for--"

Then it hit her...a citrussy flood to her nasal passages.

"There you are," she thought. "You smell that?" she asked Rex.

He inhaled a bit and replied, "Yeah, I do. Smells like smoke, but it also has a hint of citrus to it."

Kimber smirked slightly. "Yep, that's her. She's a smoker, told me she wanted to quit, but...clearly, it looks like that's not happening."

"Clearly," Rex repeated as they followed the scent.

They followed the trail of the smoke further ahead and into an alleyway, where they saw a shorter young woman standing in the middle of the alley leaning on the right wall, one foot propped up against it. As they got closer, they saw she had silver hair that was short, but just long enough to be pulled back into a small bun, and bangs that framed her face. She was fair-skinned and wore simple gray clothes. She lifted a vape mod to her mouth for a few seconds as she inhaled and then slowly breathed out a cloud of wispy white smoke, keeping her eyes up on the opposite wall.

"Still an armor chaser, I see, eh Kimber?" the woman asked, a light rasp to her velvety voice.

Both Kimber and Rex exchanged glances. This was definitely Rina, though how she knew it was Kimber and that she was with a soldier without even looking at them was unclear.

Kimber responded in kind while they walked, "Still hitting the mod, I see, Rina?"

"Yeah, quitting ain't as easy as I thought. Just can't beat this stuff, you know?" Then Rina turned to look at them with a devious smirk on her face, piercing blue eyes catching the light even within the shadows of the alley. "I guess you're not here to accept my offer, are you?"

"Not this time, I'm afraid," replied Kimber as she and Rex approached her.

Gesturing with her head to the Captain, Rina inquired, "Who's the stiff?"

Rex's eyes widened, baffled at her manner of speaking.

"This is my friend, Captain Rex," Kimber introduced him. "He's here as my protection. Rex, this is Rina Caska."

He gave her a nod. "Ma'am," he simply said.

She startled him by scoffing and saying through a small laugh, "Ma'am? Wow, you're too well-mannered for my taste."

He said nothing, too taken aback by her response.

She took another drag of her vape mod and blew a puff of smoke up right at Rex's face. "Though, you're a definitely a looker, for sure," she said with a grin as he coughed and waved the smoke away.

"Cut that out, Rina," urged Kimber, pushing Rina's hand with the mod down.

"Whatever you say, boss lady," replied Rina, turning away. "If you two will follow me, I'll take you to my humble abode and you can meet the rest of the team."

"Team? What team?" questioned Kimber, but she didn't get a response.

She and Rex walked after Rina down to the end of the alley and made a couple turns afterwards down some darker streets. Soon, they came into a little hole in the wall place with a door that had a control panel on the outside. Rina pressed a button on the outside and they heard the locks retract inside just before the door slid open. With that, Rina stepped inside with Kimber and Rex behind her.

The inside of the house was pretty run-down yet ordinary. There was simple furniture off to the left in one room and in front of them in what appeared to be the dining area. Though, there were bright lights coming from a back room just up ahead.

"Girls, they're here!" Rina called out as they walked into the back room.

Kimber and Rex turned the corner into the room to find three more female figures inside: a Pantoran leaning against the left wall with a drink in her hand, a Zabrak casually lounging across a sofa on the opposite side of the room fiddling with a vibroblade and then a Togruta sitting in front of a vast array of computer screens between them.

Pointing to each woman from left to right, Rina introduced them, "This is Kida Firestar, Irys Montari and Lex Valen. Ladies, this is Kimber Sallaros and her friend, Captain Rex." Then she turned to the other two, held her arms out to her sides invitingly and declared, "Welcome to our headquarters. Now...how can we help?"

#star wars the bad batch #the bad batch #bad batch hunter #bad batch fanfic #hunter x oc fic #sun and rain fanfic