#I hope it's okay that I kinda just dumped an entire mini fic on you?? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

solarmorrigan · 4 months

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Actually infertile omega!Steve for the WIP ask thing

Y'know what, you're the only person who's asked about this and this has been sitting in my drafts for months and I don't think I'm ever going to develop it past this point, so! I'm just gonna give you the whole thing

Fair warning, I did write this in the midst of an anxiety attack sometime after one in the morning. It's been edited! But that's pretty much the vibe

[CW: ableism, internalized ableism, uh... sexism? is that a thing I need to warn for in omegaverse? I dunno, it pretty closely mirrors real-world misogynistic views, so heads up]

Give me omega Steve who genuinely will never be able to have children. Who is tentatively excited after the Upside Down and Vecna and everything to get out from under his parents' influence and stop taking the harsh, heavy-duty suppressants that he was too young to have ever really been on in the first place and to get to actually be who he is. To get to freely express his designation

And instead he finds out that his body is fucked up and he'll never have a normal fertility cycle and he'll never be able to have kids

Give me Steve being told by a shitty, prejudiced doctor that it's basically all his fault for all the damage he's done to his own body over the years - the head injuries, the broken bones, the mysterious flesh wounds. Clearly these things upset the balance of his Delicate Omega Body and that's why his reproductive system is all fucked up (couldn't possibly have been the extended use of those suppressant drugs during his developmental years, oh no)

And Steve isn't exactly devastated at first, but he does feel ashamed. He only admits what's happened to Robin and no one else, and no matter how indignant she gets on his behalf, no matter how hard she tries to push him to get a second opinion, he refuses. He doesn't want to hear how bad he's fucked up from anyone else, thank you very much

The devastation dawns on him later, in stages. It occurs to him slowly what he'll never be able to do, the ways in which he'll always be othered by a society that often still values omegas for their fertility, the way his dream of a big family has been completely shattered

And it occurs to him that he'll never be considered a good mate, damaged in so many ways, unable to even offer children in exchange for whatever other shortcomings he has - which means that as soon as Eddie starts showing interest in him, he has to shut it down as quickly as possible

Because of course Eddie's going to want a family one day, and Steve thinks he'll be a great alpha and a great dad, and he deserves that - he deserves someone who can give him that, who can give him all the things A Good Omega should. So no matter how much Steve wants to be with Eddie, no matter how safe and at ease he feels around him, he can't let Eddie think he's a viable option, and pulls away

And Eddie - well, look, if Steve really doesn't want him, then he'll respect that. He can take no for an answer. But Steve has never really given him a clear no so much as he just started distancing himself. Making himself unavailable, no longer sitting next to Eddie when the whole group hangs out, no longer unconsciously curling into his side on movie nights, just - ghosting, essentially. And that, Eddie will not take

So he confronts Steve; he's not aggressive about it, of course, but he makes it clear that he's not leaving until he gets a straight answer. Tells Steve he's been getting some real mixed signals, and does he want Eddie or not?

Steve says Eddie doesn't want him. Eddie calls bullshit. Of course he wants Steve, he's never wanted anything, anyone, in his life like he wants Steve

But if Steve can look Eddie in the eye and tell him that he doesn't want to be with Eddie, then Eddie will go

And Steve - he's never been a good liar. Not when it comes to feelings. He's never been able to lie about that, so he breaks down and admits the truth, instead: he's a fucked up excuse for an omega, he can't have kids, he doesn't really even know how to do the social shit omegas are supposed to know how to do, so. There. So Eddie shouldn't want him

And Eddie is horrified. Not because Steve is "broken," but because of all the hurt he's taken on over the years, because of the way he seems to think it's all his fault, because he thinks his only worth as a mate is in bearing kids or caring for others. As if anything like that would put Eddie off - as if Steve has nothing else to offer

It's a slow process, after that, getting Steve to accept that he's desirable for who he is and not what he can do

It starts with Robin and Eddie teaming up on Steve and eventually getting him to go to another doctor, a better doctor, who promises Steve that what happened to his system is in no way his fault. It goes on with constant reassurance, which Eddie never minds providing (dramatic little shit honestly loves the opportunity to wax rhapsodic about whatever he loves, which very much includes Steve), with an unconditional acceptance from the rest of the group, with the realization that Steve already has a big family (and multiple children; like, seriously. how did he miss that. Eddie loves to tease him about it)

And eventually, when they're ready, it goes on still with the promise that they can adopt, or consider surrogacy, or just kidnap their friends' pups (Steve laughs at the last one, but Eddie notices that he doesn't say no). There is no right way to do it, no perfect way; as long as Steve just keeps being himself, Eddie will never be disappointed

#jessiedressesup #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #omegaverse #stranger things #I hope it's okay that I kinda just dumped an entire mini fic on you??#also if anyone needs this tagged as anything I missed please let me know #solar wrote #eddiesteve #answers from solar #long post

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kimnjss · 4 years

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grand gesture | ksj

⤑ series: sugar free

⤑ genre: angst, rich!jin x artist!reader, college au.

⤑ rating: PG13

⤑ word count: 1.5K

⤑ warnings: there aren’t any, lmao.

⤑ A/N: this is a bit short, but it’s straight to the point and meant to be that way!! just felt like this part worked better written then told through text, so yeah you’ll see what i mean! let me know what you think x

A full week passed. A full week of ignored gifts being dumped on your front porch. You were seriously considering selling them, no desire to collect his half ass-ed apology. This was the exact reason why you were hesitant to get involved with him in the first place. He was exactly like how you thought he'd be.

Of course, he'd approach you on a bet. Of course, this would all be about money. It was all that kid cared about. The way he was flaunting it, trying to buy your forgiveness was proof enough. Did he not get it? Was he that dim?

The only thing that bothered you about this whole situation was the time you wasted hanging around him. All that time you could've used working on projects or perfecting your craft... spent and wasted with the hope of trying to get to know the guy. What a waste.

Despite the constant interruption of a knock at your front door, you had decided that you were going to use all this new free time to concentrate on your art. Summoning all the inspiration you could to create... something. It actually was harder than you thought, feeling unbelievably uninspired and a little bit sad.

From your friends, you had requested they didn't pop in whenever they wanted. Felt like you'd work better if you had a chance to be alone. What you didn't realize was that with all this alone time you really had a chance to evaluate your feelings... what you had been suppressing since that night out with Jin.

It had been obvious to the people around you, but you refused to listen. It was hard to ignore now. You were a bit sad, to be honest. It had been a while since you were able to let go and actually enjoy being around someone... romantically, and you hadn't expected it at first but you really were starting to like him.

Things were comfortable around him, he was funny in a nice way, cared a lot about keeping things light, and actually listened when you ranted about whatever was bugging you at the time. It had only been a few weeks spent with him, two dates in that time but you really enjoyed yourself.

A little bummed that it had to end this way. Couldn't help but wonder if you had overreacted, if you should have listened when he tried to text you about it. Stopped being so stubborn and forgave him like everyone had said that you should. Maybe then you wouldn't be this miserable, suffering from this horrible artist's block, you didn't even know if you were holding your paintbrush correctly.

The welcomed knock on your door had you standing a little too quickly, ready to ditch this blank canvas and see whatever had been sent your way. Nothing came in yesterday and you had assumed he got the hint... hoped he hadn't.

There's an arch in your brow at the lack of delivery man at your front door. With confusion written in your features, you're putting the front door open; eyes landing on a sad-looking Seokjin. He's dressed casually, opposite of the expensive tops and form-fitting jeans he usually put on. Pair of joggers and a plain t-shirt. The change was nice, made him look younger.

He shifted on his feet, hands behind his back eyes trained on his sneakers. You had to fight the smile that pushed it's way onto your lips, happy to see him standing in front of you – but quickly reminding yourself why he had to show up like this in the first place. Main priority was to be strong in this situation, figure out what he was doing here and deal with it. Not swoon and go all heart-eyed just because he showed up.

He should've shown up before all of this.

“What are you doing here? No ridiculously expensive coat to add to the donation pile?” Jin shifts at the sound of your voice, lifting his head to look up at you. He looks sad that you can't help but wonder if you're being a bit mean to him.

Although, him betting on your sex life was pretty mean in itself, right? Getting you to like him just to turn around and make you apart of some sick joke, that's mean.

“N-no, no gifts... they weren't working anyway,” He sighs, arm reaching up to rub at the back of his neck in the awkward way you notice he was always doing. Couldn't believe you had started to find the action cute.

“Yeah, sucks. You can't buy someone's forgiveness,” There's bite in your tone but he doesn't flinch, just looks down nodding his head. “Yeah, I deserve that. I shouldn't have treated this like some business transaction. I hurt you... I should've manned up and came to you.”

You're reading to rip into him again until his words are registering in your mind. Did he come here to... apologize? Eyes blinking as you stare at him, Jin takes your silence as a sign he should continue.

“Yn, I'm sorry. I hate that I fucked with you like that and even more that you're upset. I know you won't forgive me, I'm not expecting you to... I just figured I should at least say it, like for real, you know? We were having a good time together and I really like you, so I owe you at least a proper apology.”

There's a warmth that spreads throughout your body at hearing his words. Not sure if it was from the apology or the fact that he had just told you... to your face, that he liked you. What you had been wanting to hear this entire week was an explanation from him, not through text and not in the form of some designer shoes... like a real explanation. Could see yourself forgiving him if he gave you that.

“Why'd you do it?” Your voice is quieter than you remember as if you're afraid of the reason. Either way, you don't back down. Staring straight at him as if you're strong, waiting to hear what he has to say. “Because I liked you. And I know how stupid that sounds, but I was too chicken shit to do something about it... so I just used the bet as an excuse,”

Jin had said that you didn't have to forgive him, but that didn't stop the hopeful look in his eyes. Watching as you tossed his words around in your head, waiting for that smile of yours to appear as you told him that it was all okay. That you forgave him and if he promised he never did something stupid like this again, you two could go back to falling for each other as you had been before.

It didn't come. Instead, you were just nodding, taking a step back into your house. “Alright, well... thanks for coming here and apologizing.”

“So that's it?” The words are falling from his lips before he has a chance to stop them. Not realizing how expectant they sound, how he had promised himself he wouldn't act that way at this moment because he knew you hated it. “I mean... were you thinking we could, maybe, try again?” You can hear the hope in his voice and you don't miss it.

Did you want to try again? Let him in all over again as he attempted to break down your walls, he had done a pretty good job at it before. Were you ready for all that? All that came with being with him... like actually being with him. Before it had been different, you weren't sure of your feelings then, but now, you knew that you'd want more from him. An actual relationship. Would he even be able to do that?

“Was that what you were hoping for? Why you came by to apologize?” He's shaking his head before the words can fully leave your mouth.

“No, I came here because you deserved a proper apology because I was sick of being a coward about all of this. I want to be with you because... well because you're amazing and I don't want to miss out on that,” He's offering a small smile up to you, one you're returning almost instantly.

Still, there's something holding you back, but you're unable to place it. Needed to figure out what it was before you were leaping into a relationship with the guy. “Could I...? Could I think about it?”

“Yes, yeah!” The smile on his lips grows as he steps off of your porch, mission accomplished. “Take all the time you need to think about it... you can call me when you decide? My numbers the same!” You can't help but laugh at his quick shift of demeanor, the way he basically runs down your driveway before you can change your mind.

You stand and watch the entire time he jogs down the street until he's ducking into his car, and speeding off with a wave out the window. A hand lifts to wave back, heart thudding in your chest as you stepped back into your house. About to give this situation some serious thought... were you really going to be able to handle being with Kim Seokjin?

– rich, spoiled and a bit of a womanizer. but underneath all of that, there’s a heart of gold. and no matter how determined she is to reject him, he won’t stop trying until she sees he’s kinda sweet.

↲ masterlist ↳

taglist: @randomkoalablog @smoljams @dee-ehn @jaiuneamesolitaiire @lilacdreams-00 @sw33tnight @bangtansonyeondayyyum @okblve @jinhitwhore @tae165 @hellotherehoneybee @bangtansbun @betysotelo18 @cherriigguk @koostime @kooinluv @butterflylion @kookiesjoonies @uxwi @honeyoongles @imajiningseokjin @amoreguk @beeeb05�� @tommasauras @bluefaeriefury @butterflylion @withlovestudyblr @samros95 @korkanswers @houseofarmanto @soulstaes @thesunisup-theskyisblue @jinsearth @aizuwusho @moonb0yy @tan-dulset @8sjaf @mini-coop25 @marifujioka @sunskook @elliemeetsevil @ratking101 @leovaldezisfire @greyaceupyoursleeve @emmy17jane

A/N: timestamps are important throughout the fic!! if you want to be added to the taglist, send me an ask! also if you asked to be on the taglist and aren’t on there, it’s because tumblr sometimes doesn’t let me tag ppl for some reason.

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makiswirl · 3 years

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Question for the q&a: Do you have any authors that have influenced your writing?

oh god DEFINITELY. there's some specific ones out there where i've looked at their writing and went "wow, i'm taking your writing style" but it's mostly published book authors? there are obvi some fma fic authors that've inspired me tho! putting this under a read more for yalls sanity

1. definitely stephen king! i mentioned it in the notes for chapter 14 of hölle but around that time i read the shining and i was in LOVE. there were specific things you could probably nitpick and go "wow that seems kind of new" at in that chapter and that would be because i pretty much.. looked at the writing in there and got Super Inspired.

when i was writing hölle it was my first Big Fic (patent pending) and i did NOT have a consistent writing style. like. at all. 90% of it was me improving my writing skills as i went and actually getting used to writing fics??? hence a lot of.. hiatus time and...... not very good scheduling or drafting.......... ...

so when i read the shining i went (!!!) BECAUSE I WAS FIXATING ON IT SUPER HARD like. watching the obscure MINI-SERIES hard. i still kind of am but i specifically noticed the way king seemed to exaggerate thoughts in a very specific way

and i RAN with that. this specifically shows in holes and i thought it worked pretty well for the genre

at the time??? also especially apt because i like. literally just reread the shining. like i finished the day i wrote holes chapter 3 and that's why it was more heavy theme-wise i think???? BUT EITHER WAY stephen king's writing (particularly in the shining) inspired me a hell of a lot!

2. john boyne! i reread the boy in the striped pajamas recently and. BOY i am so sad still. definitely wasn't as influential writing-wise but theres small influences here and there? specifically in the way i structure sentences i think & GOD how i love the ending of that book. like. it drives me to tears every time

whenever i reread the ending of the book i think of how STRONGLY it was written? like. the words were really impressing and strong and i kind of wanted to mimic that in my writing whenever the mood fit and i can really only think of the time being where i utilized that being the ending of holes? i don't really like the ending sentences of the fic itself but i remember thinking about skimming over the epilogue again when it came to writing the last bit

3. william shakespeare is super fucking funny to put on here but like. i'm currently taking pre-college classes and we reread romeo and juliet and some other sonnets that he wrote and ive like. never recovered since lmao

i can't state THAT much that i drew from him because i have brainfog from the entire past year but i remember the class heavily focused on refreshing us on poetry? like. we went over the old freshman year poets (edgar allen poe was also pretty "!!! urge to write !!! but wow hes kinda fucked up!!!!!!!!" tho specifically /w the raven and annabel lee when it came to me writing) and despite how incoherent that sentence sounds idk there was just SOMETHING abt that entire course that made me want to start writing a lot the professor was just super good i loved her come home 💔

4. OKAY SO FOR FMA FIC AUTHORS. i've read a LOT of fics (like ive been through the entire parental roy and edling tags consecutively) so it's.. very hard to keep track... ... there're a few that definitely stand out tho!

* alightintheshadows i remember specifically being like. one of the first fma fic authors i read from and their stuff is GREAT. someone please tell me if they have a tumblr because i want to gush about their content so bad it's so good but like. i think they're what got me INTO writing fma fics in the first place? especially horror/plot-heavy stuff like that? i first read the cult on ff.net and i would NOT shut up about it for like. a week. i got super excited when their fics came over to ao3 and im pretty sure you can still see them quite a bit in my rec bookmarks

* DEFINITELY @liathgray i love cece so much they're so nice and i'm glad i've gotten to talk to them it's unreal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think they're one of the authors who actually made me actually go "oh. wow the fandom is still alive!!!" when i was going thru ao3 after i watched both fmas last summer because i'm.. pretty sure giants in the forest was still going on iirc? that fic's definitely what dragged me into the hyperfixation and interacting /w the fandom super hard lol

also i just REALLY like blackwell springs????? can we talk about blackwell springs because blackwell springs is my SHIT.

like i get that these r all probably common picks for author inspos but i remember also being around for it when it first came out -> the end and i loved it sm and i got so excited EVERY time it updated. like i would liveblog it to my boyfriend or read it really fast half-asleep before driving to class and i'd shove it into his FACE. 90% sure that fic's what either struck me to write hölle or keep writing it (i can't remember when it originally came out???) but i really need to get on reading whatever series capra's part of even tho i don't particularly like crossover stuff bc i see it Everywhere and it looks so good

i think that's all??? there's definitely a lot of other authors that i've looked at and went "!!!" but my brain is.. so empty from dumping all of this.. hope this answers ur question tho!!!! ignore any typos i just feel very strongly ok but in like the best way possible ♥

#pip.txt #answering machine #holle #long post #like a REALLY long post #guess this half counts as book and fic recs in hindsight

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talatomaz · 4 years

Text

present tense | dinah drake x fem!reader

a/n: this takes place during 8x04 where ta & fta meet. this is shit, i know but i couldn’t get this idea out of my head. i practically used the same intro from my other fic for this one, don’t @ me but i just had no other way to start it. this also has references to dinahsiren in honour of dinahsiren week

warnings: mentions of blood

word count: 3.6k

masterlist | request list | request rules

i do not give you permission to repost or translate my fics on any platform - likes/reblogs are okay and are much appreciated

“Can we stop with the sob fest and get back to what we came here to do?”

You joked, interrupting Mia and Zoe as they reconciled over the argument they had earlier.

Just before Zoe could respond with a witty remark, the three of you became distracted when JJ arrived and proceeded to stab Mia in the neck.

Then, before you could even make a sound, he drove a sword through Zoe’s back. You screamed your canary cry, making him stumble back before you ran towards Zoe who had now crumbled to the ground, blood seeping from her body.

Holding back your tears, you gathered her into your arms and put pressure on the wound.

You barely took any notice as Connor went hand-to-hand with his brother, instead, you and Mia were holding Zoe.

As the three of you were huddled together, you felt a flash of bright lights surround you and with a blink of an eye, you were back in the bunker. Except this time, it looked...cleaner and technologically old.

You found yourself standing beside Mia, William and Connor; with you and Mia coated in Zoe’s blood and Mia’s neck still bleeding.

“Dad?”

You glanced over your shoulder at Mia then looked ahead where four adults stood in front of you. Your eyes widened as you recognised who they were. Oliver Queen, John Diggle, Rene Ramirez and...Dinah Drake, your mother.

All of you stood there, as if your shock had frozen you all in place. Time seem to begin again when William walked up to Oliver and hugged him in a tight embrace.

“Dad?”

“T-Those are my kids.” Oliver asked, tears falling down his face as he looked between William and Mia.

Then you watched Connor’s interaction with John and then everyone looked over at you.

“Hi...Mum.”

Everyone stared at Dinah as her mouth dropped.

“M-Mum? I-I don’t. I’ve not got a daughter.”

“Because you haven’t yet.” William stated and you glanced back at him in question.

“I think we’re in the past.”

Mia and Connor had a look of disbelief on their face whilst you agreed with William. You were one of the few people in the future to have ever experienced time travel; your Aunt Sara having taken you on a few missions on the waverider.

“He’s right. This place is new and our parents. Look at them. No gray hair, no wrinkles. What year is this?”

You asked, looking back at the group of parents.

“2019. What year is it supposed to be?”

Oliver asked when you and the rest of your friends let out a gasp.

“2040.” You answered.

“Okay, guys, we need to talk.” Oliver said, going into leader mode as he walked to a corner of the bunker, the rest of the parents following.

You and FTA followed suit and found an empty corner beside some weapons.

“How the Hell did this happen and why do you seem so okay with this?” Mia asked.

You were currently stitching her wound, as the bleeding had steadied, when you pulled on the last thread harshly as you answered.

“Because I’ve time travelled before. My Aunt Sara let me go on some missions with her when I was growing up. I got to see different time periods and she got to teach me how to fight. Win-Win situation.” You answered coldly.

Now that everything had relatively calmed down, you allowed yourself to run over the events that had just passed and suffice it to say, you were pissed at Mia because Zoe wouldn’t have been there in the first place had it not been for Mia’s stubbornness.

“Y/N-“

“I don’t want to hear it, Mia.” You replied coldly, closing the first aid box.

Connor then interrupted and explained how he was unsuccessful in killing JJ due to the fact that you guys had ended up here the moment he was about to kill him.

Mia then began to allude to killing a young JJ to prevent his reign of terror in the future before you, Connor and William disregarded her plan.

“We can’t tell our parents about the future or what just happened.” Mia stated, tenderly touching the bandage that now covered her wound. “Thank you, y/n.”

You merely nodded your head and listened as William began to argue.

“As much as I hate to say it, I agree with Mia. How are we meant to tell Rene his daughter is dead and John’s son is the one who did it? We can’t, William. It will have repercussions that we cannot control.”

You all then looked over as Oliver cleared his throat to get your attention. He, your Mum, John and Rene were stood in the centre of the bunker, quietly watching how the four of you were arguing.

“How about we all get some rest? We’ve all had quite a big shock tonight.” Dinah said to everytime, but maintained eye contact with you.

Since having revealed that you were her daughter from the future, she, understandably so, hadn’t said a word to you. But it still hurt.

“We have nowhere to stay. If you want, we could stay here?” You asked before your Mum interrupted you.

“No, that’s silly. You can come stay with me.”

***

“Home sweet home.”

Dinah said, closing the door behind her as she dumped her keys on the table.

“Where’s Laurel?”

“Oh, she wanted to be alone because she’s still grieving.” Dinah answered, confused as to why you were wondering why she wasn’t here.

“I’m sorry. Will she be okay?”

“I hope so. She knows she has us all, so there’s something at least. How about you? Are you okay? Are we okay? In the future, I mean.”

Dinah asked as you both sat on the sofa. Now that you were alone, for the first time ever, you found yourself in an awkward environment with your mother. Conversation usually came so easy to you two but finding out you have a daughter when you’ve not even been born yet kind of throws a wrench into that.

“Yeah, we’re good. We’re more than good. You’re the best part of my life, Mum. Dinah. I’m sorry. This is awkward and I don’t know how to handle this.”

“It’s okay. You can continue calling me Mum, if you want. I kinda like it.” She shrugged as she ran her hand over your arm in comfort.

The gentle embrace had you tearing up, as you hadn’t fully processed Zoe’s death and you knew you couldn’t even mention it to your Mum in fear of the rest finding out.

“Y/N, are you okay?”

“God, I’m just so exhausted, Mum. Like so exhausted.”

“What do you mean? I thought the future was a good place?”

“I-It is. I’m just so tired. My personal life is kind of a mess back home.” You said, lying through your teeth.

“Oh honey, it’s okay.”

Your Mum said soothingly, not even hesitating before wrapping her arms around you in a motherly embrace. You relaxed in her arms, and just like every time you hugged her, you felt your problems wash away and your mind ease, if only for a few moments.

***

“One of these days, I’m gonna slap Rene upside his head.”

You looked up at your Mum in question.

After your mini breakdown last night, you and your Mum had spent almost the entire night talking, just like you used to in your time. It made you feel better about this entire situation and you were grateful for your mother in any time period.

“What’d he do, Mum?”

“He just messaged me saying that William told him he becomes Mayor and now he’s acting as if he’s my boss.” She said, reading the text from her phone and rolling her eyes.

“I told William not to say anything about the future.” You added, rolling your eyes too.

“You really are your mother’s daughter.”

You and Dinah looked up to find John and Connor standing in front of you, grinning at you both.

“Oh, I didn’t know it was ‘bring your kid to work’ day.” Dinah said sarcastically making you smirk and fight to hide a laugh.

“Right back at you, Dinah. Connor thought he could help. He was an agent at an organization called Knightwatch.”

“It makes A.R.G.U.S. look like a kindergarten class. The Canaries are comparable, though.” He said, grinning once more at you as you rolled your eyes again.

“Canaries?” You glanced back at your mother and then widened your eyes at Connor. You guys weren’t doing a great job at not revealing things about the future.

“Haha, uh, he-forget it.” You waved your hand as if you were literally dismissing something real.

When Dinah and John raised their brows in question at each other, you smacked Connor‘s arm and scolded him.

“Ow, jeez, y/n.” He whispered and when your parents looked at you, the two of you suddenly smiled and pretended to act nonchalantly.

Dinah then changed the subject and showed you both something that was left at the crime scene of a bombing at Starling General. Connor then revealed the hidden message using a black light. You watched as he frowned and then excused himself to check his phone when it rang.

“This is Mia, I should probably go. Y/N?” He said, widening his eyes slightly to let you know he found out something he didn’t want your parents to know about.

“Yeah, I’ll come too. We’ll catch up later?”

“Yeah, of course. Be safe.” Your Mum said, kissing your cheek and quickly hugging you.

As you and Connor walked out SCPD and made your way to Oliver’s apartment, you started to speak.

“I’m sorry that you and John aren’t as close at the moment.”

Though you were glad that you and your mother were on good terms, you did feel bad that the rest of your team’s relationships with their parents had gotten off to a rocky start since you guys came back.

“It’s okay. It’s to be expected. I’m glad for you and your Mom. I know how close you two are. Time has no impact on that.”

“Thank you,” you smiled, “so, what did you see?”

He then began to explain the phrase he saw and the relevance it had to JJ.

“Shit, what are we going to do?”

***

After having relayed the information Connor had told you to William and Mia, you were all divided on how to handle the situation. You and William wanted to tell your parents but Connor and Mia wanted to handle this themselves.

You found yourself starting to get even more annoyed at Mia’s stubbornness but relented when Mia said that they could avenge Zoe by going after JJ themselves.

You all then went to an abandoned building that would later become Galaxy One’s home base. You decided to split up, with Mia and Connor in one direction and you and William in another.

As you and William started to look through the empty space, you heard Mia and Connor yell, “JJ” and before you could run up to join them, you found yourself surrounded by a handful of Deathstrokes.

Just by looking at them, anger coursed through your body as the image of JJ ramming a sword through Zoe’s chest came to the forefront of your mind.

“This is gonna be fun. Don’t move, William.”

You ran straight for the Deathstroke soldiers and began fighting them. You narrowly missed the swipe of their swords and you ducked under one of their arms before putting your full force into your kick to one of their chests. They fell to the floor, the sword clattering down beside them. Quickly picking it up, you stabbed the soldier on the floor and got ready to fight the other two remaining.

Just as you were about to strike, they fell to the floor in front of you, revealing John and Rene with their guns raised. You all jumped when you heard an explosion and ran out the building to find Connor and Mia, now joined by Dinah, Laurel and Oliver.

“You guys have got some explaining to do.” Laurel said, coughing as the smoke filled the air.

***

After the explosion at Galaxy One, which was sure to have consequences, you all went back to the bunker where you were scolded by your parents.

You all explained the significance of the building and that the Deathstroke’s leader was Grant Wilson, Slade’s other son.

“So if you knew it was Grant, then why did you call him JJ?”

You all stilled at the mention of JJ and looked at each other as if mentally asking whether or not to reveal the truth.

“Connor, what’s going on?” John shouted causing you all to flinch.

Connor then explained that JJ was the Deathstroke during your time and that you all thought he had come back alongside you. William then revealed the true nature of Star City in the future and how it’s overrun with crime and corrupt cops and politicians.

Then when William began to refer to Zoe’s death, he was harshly quietened by Mia.

“No, Mia. They have a right to know.”

William continued to explain how JJ had killed Zoe causing Rene to storm out with John and Connor following him.

“Now look what happened. We shouldn’t have told them.” Mia said, shouting at the both of you.

“You know what, Mia? I’ve had enough of you. This is your fault. JJ may have killed Zoe but it would never have happened if you hadn’t been insistent in us going in the first place! She told you that it was a bad idea. We both did.” You started to raise your voice then willed yourself to calm down and speak with a steady tone.

“There’s a reason why we were left in charge. For God’s sake, Mia. You jump into situations without thinking it through. Learn something from your goddamn father, for once.”

You watched as the blonde opened her mouth then closed it, unable to think of a retort. You hoped that, this time, she’d finally take your words into consideration.

Just now realising that you and Mia were still in the bunker, surrounded by Dinah, Laurel, Oliver and William, your cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Realising that, William attempted to change the subject.

“Zoe was fighting to fix exactly what her dad helped cause. That's why she was a Canary like both of you.

“You guys had a whole network of them in the City.” You added, smiling.

“And that's what Connor was talking about earlier?” You nodded at your mother. “And yet, we still failed to save the city.”

“Mum, you and Laurel helped us try and make it a better place. You trained Zoe and I and countless other women. We saved so many people, all because of you both.”

“Thank you, honey. I’m gonna go check on Rene.” She sighed.

“C-Can I come with you?” You asked with uncertainty but relaxed when she nodded.

***

“Aunt Dinah! I didn’t know you were gonna be here.”

You were currently outside Rene and Zoe’s apartment building in the Glades that looked a hell of a lot different than it did in the future. You watched your mother and Zoe hug when they pulled away and the latter looked you confused.

“Hi, I’m Zoe. Nice to meet you.” You shook her hand.

It was extremely weird and heartbreaking to see Zoe so young and happy.

For as long as you’d known her, she’d been so worried about the city and was later broken by Rene’s betrayal. The only time she was ever truly happy was when she was with you.

“I’m Tina. Dinah’s...cousin.” You lied, using the name your mother used when she went undercover.

Rene then ushered Zoe inside leaving you, Dinah and Rene alone. Rene expressed his fears of the numbered days with Zoe when Dinah offered some advice.

“Mum’s right. Just because she’s gone now doesn’t mean she will be. The future isn’t cemented. We can change it. It’s not all that hard to change honestly.” You explained, shrugging your shoulders.

“What? How do you know so much about time travel?”

“Aunt Sara used to take me on the waverider growing up. You and Laurel are great fighters but she wanted me to learn some League skills so she took me to Nanda Parbat where she, Nyssa and Talia taught me how to fight.”

You laughed when Rene and Dinah’s mouth dropped but was soon interrupted when your phone pinged with a message. It was Connor explaining that Mia had stormed out with Laurel and Grant had given a warning.

“We should get back, Mum. Rene, I’m sorry about Zoe. But I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure she’s alive. I can’t lose her again.”

***

After arriving back at the bunker and discussing the next steps, you watched Connor storm away and put on boxing gloves. You approached him just before he threw the first punch.

“What do you want, y/n?”

“I get that you’re angry. I am too.”

“Oh really? Your relationship with your Mum is fine. Mine with my dad is not.” He said snidely making you push him.

“For fuck’s sake, Connor. I’m pissed about Zoe. Your brother killed my best friend. I’m not just going to forget about that!” You whispered harshly, keeping your voice low to prevent your parents from hearing.

You then tied your hair up and discarded your top, leaving you in your sports bra.

“Come on, a moving target’s better.” You sighed, picking up two sets of bamboo sticks, throwing one to Connor.

The two of you began sparring, aware of your parents watching you both.

***

“I need 3 units at the docks and another 2 in Pennytown, okay?” Dinah ordered one of her officers.

After your sparring session, Curtis had explained that the drive that they had found had revealed that Grant was planning another siege. Everyone, with the exemption of you, Dinah and Rene, had left to take care of the bombs.

You then watched as another officer brought in a handcuffed male and sat him in a chair. You and your Mum looked in confusion when you saw the male place something under the chair.

Then all Hell broke loose. The individual put on a Deathstroke mask and began fighting officers. You and your Mum ran over to the chair when you were grabbed by the Deathstroke soldier.

You grabbed his arm and flipped yourself to get out of his grasp before ducking to miss one of his punches. He pulled a gun from one of the officers but before he could shoot anyone, you screamed your Canary Cry, effectively flinging him through a window where he slumped unconscious against a wall.

“BOMB!”

You ran back to your mother and kneeled on the ground beside her.

“Bomb squad’s not gonna get here in time.” Your mother said.

“I got this.”

You had been taught how to disable bombs from different people over the years. They were skills that definitely came in handy.

Removing the device from the chair, you gently placed it against the ground.

“It looks like an IED but there’s something different. The way it’s pulsating makes me think that it’s linked to an intervalometer meaning that there should be a transfer switch in the original device. Luckily if I disable this, it shouldn’t trigger anything. I just hope the intervalometer is with the rest of the team because Connor will be able to disable that.”

You started to inspect the device. You gently removed the plastic cap, revealing two wires. Pulling a switch knife out of your pocket, you grabbed the red wire and cut it, rendering the device harmless.

You sat back against your heels and let out a breath. When you looked up at Dinah, you saw a mixture of shock, surprise and pride on her face.

“God, you’re brilliant.” She said, hugging you close to her.

“Well, I am my Mother’s daughter.”

***

After defusing the bomb, Connor was able to do the same, leading to Grant’s capture and imprisonment in Blackgate. Everyone then went their separate ways to spend more time with their parents so you, Dinah and Laurel ended up going back to SCPD after getting some Big Belly Burger.

The three of you were laughing like you did back home and it made you smile as you thought back to some of your happier memories.

“That sounds gross, Laurel.”

“Just try it.”

Laurel pushed her milkshake towards you and Dinah so you both grabbed a fry and dipped it into the drink. Surprisingly, it tasted quite nice.

“Not bad, Laurel.” Your Mum said as they both smiled at each other.

Though you had revealed a lot about the future, there were a few things you had omitted from mentioning.

“So, here’s a question, y/n. Why do you call John, Rene and Oliver by their names but Sara by Aunt?” Laurel asked you, going full DA mode.

“Ummm, because she is?” You said, unable to think of a lie. “These fries are yum.” You said, swiftly changing the topic causing Dinah and Laurel to share a look.

“Okay, that was weird. I need to run a quick errand but I’ll be back in a bit to work out the logistics of the Canary network. See you, Dinah. Bye, y/n.”

“Bye, Mum.”

The words were out of your mouth before you could stop them. You covered your mouth with your hands, as if trying to will the words back in your mouth, but the damage was already done.

“I’m sorry, Mum?”

Your Mums looked at each other in shock and then at you.

“Oops.”

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zecretsanta · 5 years

Text

Fic: Concurrent Awareness

from @interabangs

to @therealhousewivesofhyrule

AO3 LINK

Loved your prompt about Hazuki introducing Seven to her daughters! I hope I got all of them right. Happy Holidays!

“I want you to meet them.”

Cool air flowed through the cracked windowsill into his tiny apartment. It wasn’t much, and Hazuki would’ve been lying if she said she didn’t mind the cramped bathroom and kitchen that only had enough space for one person to cook. In the back of her mind, she knew she deserved better – lavish furniture, bright lights, and a desk at which to work without first having to clear aside stacks of dirty dishes and mountains of paperwork. In actuality, she knew exactly why she didn’t run screaming from the dump at first sight.

“Hmm? Meet who?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes and put the finishing touches on her braid before lowering herself down into a lying position. Seven took up most of the space on his mattress, which she insisted was too small for both of them, but for the last four-and-a-half weeks, she found herself back here, curling up against his expansive chest. Where she had once found it off-putting, she now found it comforting.

But she wasn’t about to tell him that.

“Nona and Ennea. You do know who they are, right?”

She expected a cutting remark in response. Something along the lines of, “’Course I do. Do you know who they are?”

They tended to fall into this rhythm, and after several weeks together, Hazuki had realized just how much she liked it, liked their teasing and bickering. It excited her, kept her on her toes. She prided herself on her zingers, and the predictability of his casual retorts made her feel like she really was at home.

“You want me to meet ‘em? Really?” he asked, and when she turned to the side, she saw that he’d sat up against the headboard, gazing at her in awe.

Now that, she did not expect.

She raised herself back up into a sitting position next to him, and thanked the gods above that it was a cool night, because the fan was broken, and the repairman wasn’t coming until Wednesday.

“Don’t you think it’s kinda… soon?” he asked, still staring at her with that wide-eyed look she found endearing.

She shook her head, smoothing out the wrinkled sheets over her lap. They were definitely shopping for some new ones next weekend, come hell or high water. She had her eye on an Egyptian teal set. It was a bit pricey, but she’d just closed a deal on a commission, and would hopefully find more work soon enough.

“I’ve told them all about you, and they’ve been thinking about coming for a visit. They’ve been wanting to meet you for weeks, and I think it would be beneficial for you all to meet to discuss… whatever it is you’re all investigating.”

He finally blinked again, and let out a long sigh. “Well, that’s a lot to take in, all a sudden,” he said, raising his arm and scratching the back of his head. “I mean, meetin’ the kids, this soon, it’s, uh –”

“Are you saying that you didn’t expect us to last this long?” A spark of indignance couched in fear, flared up inside her stomach. “Trust me, I would not be making myself at home if you were thinking all this time that this was just a silly fling, and if I ever found out I was wasting my time, I would be out that second-hand door faster than you could say, ‘Freeze.’”

“No! No, babe, I didn’t mean it like that.” Her shoulders were still tense, but the tightness in her stomach slackened at hearing ‘babe.’ He hadn’t called her a ‘demon’ since they first started seeing each other, and instead used pet names with her, names that she mostly pretended didn’t phase her, but secretly made her feel young again. He lowered his arm and took her hands in his, staring into her eyes so she knew he was being serious. “I wanna meet them, I do. Not just for intel, but I wanted to make sure you’re okay with us bein’ serious. I never thought I could settle down and be with someone else again, day in and day out, but with you…” His mouth quirked up into a half smile. “I think I could live like this for a long time.”

Hazuki leaned forward. “Well, we are moving into a better neighborhood, eventually.”

Seven’s mouth split into an awkward, crooked, and gods help her, endearing grin. “If that’s what you really want, then hell, I’ll start packin’ my bags tomorrow.”

“I need to save up some more first. Then we’ll be out of here before that damned fan falls down and kills us.”

When he kissed her and murmured, “Can’t wait to meet ‘em,” all the tension in her stomach was replaced by soaring butterflies.

And she would never tell that to the Elephant Man.

—————

“Where is he?” Ennea asked, twisting around in her seat to glance around the restaurant.

It was one of the higher-end places in the neighborhood – well, technically, the next one over. Hazuki’s daughters had chosen the place, insisting on paying, and she internally filed away their good taste, that they had certainly inherited from her. The décor was a crimson-and-black pattern, conveying an intimate atmosphere. There were square tables laid out in a cavernous room next to the front entrance, and against the windows, there were semi-circular tables, toward which Hazuki and her daughters were escourted. The lights were unfortunately a bit too dim for anyone to see her gorgeous, eye-catching outfit, but that was only a small point against the place.

She wore a seafoam mini dress, opting for long sleeves and a skirt that went down to just above her knee. There was an oval cut-out in the front, which she knew was just enough to make Seven weak at the knees, with a thin strap in the middle of the oval, resting lightly on her bare skin. If heads were turning at the glorious sight of her appeasing figure, that only made Hazuki proud, rather than insecure.

Her daughters couldn’t have been dressed any differently. Nona wore a green dress – not as bright as Hazuki’s, but she still approved of the hue – with a clean white shirt underneath, and Ennea wore a dark brown power suit with Mary Janes that were so shiny, Hazuki could see her reflection in them. More pride swelled up within her as her daughters sat with her in the semi-circular table at the Italian restaurant. She had raised two intelligent, kind-hearted, and successful daughters; their clean looks and healthy cheeks told her she had done right by them, and she had been relieved when she picked them up from the airport.

“He’s probably stuck in traffic,” Nona said, idly swirling her wine around in her glass. Clarksburg, Hazuki had noted when she ordered it, and silently approved.

“Well, I hope he gets here soon,” Ennea said with a sigh, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. Hazuki couldn’t help but glance at her left hand, which was noticeably bare. That made neither of them married. Good. Hazuki didn’t want them to get married too young, like she was. They had their whole lives ahead of them.

Just then, Hazuki heard the front doors burst open. A large man barreled into the restaurant. He was wearing an orange jacket over a wrinkled grey shirt, that was untucked and flapping over his wrinkled dark grey pants. He slowed his stride before he collided into the hostess at the front, and after speaking with her, he turned to look toward Hazuki and her daughters.

She glared at him as he strode over to them, and she was about to give him an earful for being late, but then he leaned over the table placing one of his large hands flat on the fine dining cloth to steady himself, and took in a deep breath.

“We need t’get outta here. Don’t look like you’re scared or anythin’, just follow me and everything’s gonna be fine.”

Hazuki swept her gaze over her daughters, and it was surreal how quickly they straightened in their seats, maintaining their composure as Nona gathered her handbag and Ennea picked up her phone and wallet from the table. They smoothly slid out from around the semi-circular table with the grace of natural dancers, and Hazuki slid out from behind Nona, her heart pounding with adrenaline.”

“My car’s about four blocks from here. We need to take the back roads to get to it,” Seven said, his tone urgent and quiet as he headed out of the restaurant. Hazuki checked her daughters, their expressions nonplussed as they filed out of the restaurant after him. Hazuki tailed the three of them, and her mind was filled with so many questions, she forgot to thank the bemused hostess as the four of them exited the restaurant.

When she burst out into the cool night air, Seven was already leading the way toward a narrow alley between the restaurant and a duplex. Hazuki quickened her pace to catch up with him, her heels clicking across the cracked pavement.

Seven didn’t speak the entire time. He just kept barreling forward, down the alley, through a narrow walkway, and then down another back-alley. Hazuki wanted to ask him to stop, but something in his demeanor made her realize that this wasn’t the time for questions. Adrenaline flooded her bloodstream, the cool air whipped across her legs, but her heart was racing so quickly that she barely registered the breeze.

As they approached his car, he unlocked it with a key fob. His vehicle of choice was a creaky, two-door dark brown sedan with chipped paint and a faint smell of walnuts lingering in the upholstery, Nona and Enna nodded to each other before climbing into the backseat.

Hazuki got in the passenger’s side – she still wasn’t used to the way cars were set up in America, and she doubt she’d ever grow accustomed to it.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” she said as the mountain of a man squeezed into the driver’s seat beside her. He brightened for the first time that day, turned around, and flashed a hearty grin toward her daughters. “This is Seven. Seven, these are my two daughters,” she paused beaming with pride, “Nona and Ennea.”

They each offered him a small nod, and he said, as though they hadn’t been practically running for their lives, “Oh I’ve been hearing about you two for a while. It’s nice t’finally meet ya.”

—————

They made it back to his place, fortunately without incident. Hazuki badgered him for answers the whole ride back, but he kept making vague responses as his eyes kept darting toward the rearview mirror. It had been obvious from the minute he burst into the restaurant that he was being followed, but by whom, she did not know.

“No one’s gonna find us here, trust me,” he assured her.

“Who? Who is trying to find us?” she blocked his way to the hall, her hands on her hips as she glared daggers at him. “You need to tell us what’s going on, right now!”

“It’s Cradle,” Nona said, and after a long moment of silence – save for the ticking clock in Seven’s bedroom – he nodded at her.

“Why would they be following you?” Hazuki cried, her hand automatically flying up to her necklace.

“’Smy fault, really,” he said with a shrug. “Been tryin’ to investigate them ever since our ‘fun’ little trip out to the desert, and, well…” He ran his hand through his hair, making it stick up a bit. Out of the corner of her eye, Hazki noticed Nona nudging Ennea, a light smile playing on her lips. “Guess I got too close for their comfort.”

“If we’d known a lot sooner, we could have helped you,” Ennea offered, though not unkindly.

“And find you a better barber,” Nona blurted out.

“Nona!” Hazuki snapped, then turned to look at Seven. “You do need a better haircut, though.”

To her surprise, he let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head and heading to his bedroom. “Guess I better get used to this, huh?”

“Used to what? Hey, where are you going?” Hazuki immediately fell into step behind him.

He rummaged around in his tiny closet, and emerged with a suitcase that was about half the size of him.

“You’re leaving? Now?”

“Looks like we all are, babe. Seems like we’ll be sayin’ goodbye to this place sooner than you thought.” Seven lowered the suitcase down onto his rumpled blanket and turned to face her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Bet that’s not gonna make you too upset.”

Hazuki considered this. He was right about that, but she had made plans. Then again, when she first arrived in LA to meet him ‘because he owed her coffee,’ she had planned on just visiting for a weekend. Which turned into a week, then two. And…

“Akane will settle everything, once we arrive in Nevada,” Nona said, raising her voice from the living room, although she didn’t have to raise it too much. “She’ll find you both a nice place, where you’ll be safe. You can help us – both of you.”

“Thanks, you two” he called back to her, “For everything.”

“It’s no trouble at all, Mr. Mountain.”

“Yes, can we call you Everest?” Ennea said, and even though Hazuki couldn’t see her, she knew she was hiding her smile with her hand.

Hazuki couldn’t help but beam up at Seven as he continued to hold onto her. That was a sure sign of approval from her daughters, if she ever needed one.

When she looked at Seven, she saw that he was grinning too.

“Well, come on then, let’s get packing!” she said, and lifted her heels so she could kiss him.

Then they began to say goodbye to their old lives, and step into the future together.

#zero escape #9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors #interabangs #therealhousewivesofhyrule #lotus/seven #zecret santa 2018 #submission

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vivaciouswordsmith · 7 years

Text

New Thing

So, I got inspired by @ask-thevagabond‘s Wolf!Ryan AU (Yes, I’m aware of how late I am to hop onto this train. That’s kinda how I roll) and am starting on a fic based on it. It’s called Four-Legged Fiend and you can read it here or beneath the cut, as always. I hope you enjoy. :D

Chapter 1: One Man’s Trash

Police sirens wailed through the night while the best and brightest of the Los Santos Police Department sought them out.

Sniffer dogs searched every slum, every nook and every cranny a criminal might hide in, and choppers circled restlessly over the tallest rooftops, but to no avail. It seemed that the two crooks had gotten away scot free with their jewelry store heist.

Several miles away, the two criminals in question peeped through the blinds of their hideout. It was a tiny, three-room shanty built into the side of Mount Chiliad that didn’t face Los Santos. Unless you knew how to get to it, the little hideout was impossible to find. The footpath leading up to it was almost overgrown, and the road accessing the footpath was made of dirt and gravel. It had cost them quite a few heists to invest in it, but seeing the cops swarm like ants over the city made the endeavors worth it.

“See? I told you this shack was a good idea,” said Geoff. He was the older of the two, and much more richly outfitted, even considering the liberal coating of dirt covering his black shoes and the cuffs of his pant legs. He let the blinds fall back into place and flopped down into his lawn chair. “They’ll never find us here.”

“Still, we cut it pretty fucking close,” said Jack. His clothes were much more casual, consisting of tennis shoes, white and blue striped shorts, and a Hawaiian shirt. He continued to watch the night while his partner relaxed. His heart still pounded hard after the chase through the city. “You know, that crew idea of yours is getting more appealing every day.”

“I know, right?” Geoff smirked up at him. “Think about how much easier it’d be to disable cameras and shit with a real tech expert.”

“What about an explosives guy? That’d made safe-cracking much less of a hassle.”

“See? See how awesome it would be?” A water bug skittered over Geoff’s shoe. He jumped and squashed it with his heel. “Besides, I’m fucking sick and tired of squatting in these fucking…fucking…holes.” He sagged into his chair and gestured towards one of the doors. “Now be a pal and grab some celebratory beers for us.”

“On it.” Jack turned from the window and made his way into the kitchenette. There was a mini-fridge and a tiny stove and one cupboard in there. They’d stocked it the week before the heist with the hopes that they could live off that until the coast was clear. Jack popped the door of the mini-fridge open and peered inside. There was one gallon of milk, a carton of orange juice, a carton of eggs, some sliced cheese, a package of lunchmeat, and four apples. No beer.

“Uh, Geoff? We have a problem.”

“Please tell me it has nothing to do with not having beer.”

“Bingo.”

Geoff let out an incredulous groan. Jack stood and shut the door. He returned in time to see Geoff drop his head into his hands.

“The one thing we didn’t fucking grab. Of course.”

“At least we have plenty to eat.” Geoff lifted his head and looked Jack dead in the eye. “You’re seriously not considering blowing our cover for beer, are you?”

“Why would I go? You’re the getaway driver.”

“Wha – why the fuck would I go?”

“You don’t stand out as much as I do!”

“Bullshit I don’t!”

“C’mon, what’s a heist wrap-up party without booze?” Jack didn’t budge. “Please? Fuck, I’ll even give you a bigger cut if you want.”

Jack sighed and finally relented. “Fine, fine, I’ll get your beer.”

“Great! I’ll see you in…however long it takes you to find a convenience store that hasn’t heard the news.” With that, Geoff pulled out a laptop and started tapping away at it.

“Whatever.” Jack turned on his heel, pulled the door open and stepped into the night. He struggled to close the door behind him, and as soon as it was closed, he was on his way. The footpath was even more treacherous at night, and he stumbled on rocks and roots jutting unseen out of the ancient path. Each trip was accompanied by a garbled swear and a frenzied stamping to regain balance. Fortunately, Jack made it back down to the little road alongside the river without severely injuring himself.

“Fucking finally. Thank God I didn’t fucking break anything.” The disgruntled getaway driver stepped toward his concealed car and immediately slipped on a loose river rock. “Goddammit!” He wormed it out of the ground and chucked it into the river. It plopped into the water and disappeared in a cloud of dirt. Several drops of water splashed against something dark and oddly plastic. Jack blinked and looked up.

A black garbage bag stuck out amongst the rocks in the river. Jack sighed and shook his head. He may be a criminal, but even he knew littering was wrong. He stepped down onto the bank, grabbed a stick and looped it through the yellow handles. The weight tugging on the stick made him pause.

“C’mon, a full garbage bag? Really?”

Jack toed off his shoes and waded into the river. He bent down and pulled the bag out of river fully. The lump at the bottom shifted. Jack trudged back to the bank and set the bag down next to his shoes. It flopped over, and the lump shifted to the middle. A tiny whimper sounded from the bag.

He stopped dead.

“Oh my God.”

Jack pulled a knife from his back pocket and cut through the knot keeping the bag closed. He pulled the bag open and reached inside. Something sharp nipped at his fingers, and a hot, sticky wetness engulfed the tip of his index. With his other hand, he pushed back the plastic.

A tiny black pup nipped weakly at his fingers. It blinked when the light hit its face and looked up. Jack let out a gasp. It had two bright blue eyes, and white markings around its eyes and on its nose and cheeks. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but those markings looked an awful lot like a skull. More white splotches dotted its back and tail, and one foot had a white sock. The pup whimpered and drew back into the bag.

“You poor thing.” He reached out and scooped the pup into his arms. It nibbled on his fingers for a few seconds, but ended up curling into his warmth. Its stick-like tail tucked between its legs, and it hid its face in Jack’s Hawaiian shirt with a soft whimper. Jack scooped up the bag and scowled at it. “Who the fuck would do this?”

Mt Chiliad didn’t offer him an answer, so Jack stood up and headed back to his car. With his free hand, he pulled out his phone and dialed Geoff’s number.

His partner picked up after two rings. “Seriously? Already? You just went out for drinks!”

“No, it’s not that, I’m fine. There’s no cops.”

“Then why are you calling me?”

Jack set the pup in his lap and started the car. The noise startled the pup, and it lifted its head and let out a little howl. “That. That’s why.”

Geoff was silent for a long moment. “Was that a dog?”

“I found it, Geoff. Someone dumped it in the river. In a fucking garbage bag.”

A sharp inhale whistled over the line. “Okay, that’s fucking awful, but we can’t keep a dog.”

Something nudged at Jack’s stomach. He looked down and saw the pup attempting to bury into his lap. His heart tightened in his chest, and tears beaded up at the corners of his eyes. He pet the pup’s tiny back with his index and middle fingers, and it relaxed and curled up in his lap.

“If you saw him, you wouldn’t say that.”

“Fuck. You’re already getting attached.” He sighed, and Jack could almost see him putting his head in his hands. “Fine. We’ll keep it while we’re in hiding, and then you have to find it a home.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s how it’s gonna go down.”

Jack drove down the highway with the utmost of care, much more than he usually did. Every time he went over a bump the pup whimpered and curled as tightly as it could. Its tiny heart pounded so quickly in its chest Jack could feel it fluttering against his leg. His tiny flanks heaved with every breath he took. Occasionally the crook would run a finger down the pup’s back, and it would relax ever so slightly.

It took him about twenty minutes to reach a relatively dead-end gas station in San Andreas. Jack crossed his fingers and hoped the news of the heist hadn’t reached it yet. He parked in front of the store and tucked the pup close to his chest. Its little paws batted at his hand before it burrowed into his chest with a whimper.

The door pinged when it opened, and Jack quickly ducked into an aisle. The clerk briefly glanced up from his magazine, saw Jack hovering next to the beef jerky, and returned to his articles. Jack let out a sigh and walked down the aisle toward the booze. He paused next to the canned dog food mid-aisle.

He looked down at the pup and stroked his tiny head with a finger. “Are you old enough for solid food?” The pup’s little blue eyes peeped up at him and blinked solemnly. “We’ll try it.” He grabbed a couple cans of food, swung around to the very first aisle, and picked up a few baby bottles. Next he grabbed a 24-pack of beer from the fridge and headed toward the register. Briefly he entertained the thought of shooting the cashier and walking out without paying, but they were in hot shit enough already without him bringing the heat to San Andreas.

He put a $20 down on the counter and cleared his throat. The cashier shut his magazine, picked up a decrepit scanner, and slowly rung up his items. The pup yipped and wiggled in Jack’s arm. He lifted him up and tucked him more securely against his chest. A wet nose snuffled at his neck and chin for a few seconds. Then the pup nibbled at the collar of his shirt and growled low in his throat.

The entire time he was checking out, Jack crossed his fingers and hoped he could get through this without resorting to violence. Ordinarily he wouldn’t be opposed to a shootout, but the tiny pup curled against his chest made him change tactics. Plus, Geoff would be up his ass if he brought any more heat down upon their heads.

After an eternity, the clerk put Jack’s stuff in a plastic bag and pushed it and his change across the counter. Jack scooped it up and hurried back to his car. He put the bag in the floorboard and set the pup in the passenger seat. It whimpered and huddled against the seat. Jack pet its ears and dialed Geoff’s number.

“I got the booze. We’re heading back now.”

Geoff was quiet for a long moment. “We?”

“Me and the puppy.”

“You seriously still have that thing?”

“Oh, trust me, once you see this little guy, you’ll understand.”

Suddenly, the pup scampered over the center console and into Jack’s lap. He started and nearly drove into a ditch. He regained control just in time for the pup to hide its face in Jack’s Hawaiian shirt. “Jesus Christ!”

“What? What’s going on? I swear to God-”

“No cops, I promise! It’s just…he’s really cuddly.”

“Jack, we’re not keeping it.”

“Just for the week, Geoff. At least until the heat blows over.” A tiny set of teeth nipped at the hem of Jack’s shirt, and Jack brushed the tips of the pup’s ears with his knuckles. “I’m telling you, when you see him, you’ll bend.”

“Bend nothing! We’re not adopting a dog. I don’t care how fucking cute it is.” Geoff hung up after that. Jack chucked the phone into the passenger seat and set about returning to home base.

All the while, the pup never moved from his lap.

#new fic #wow i haven't posted in a while #Mind Games AU is on hiatus for a while #Need to work out the kinks on that one #anyway here's a more lighthearted thing #Achievement Hunter #fanfiction #wolf!ryan #wolf!ryan au

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