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#I just love watching one person swim while there's 3 people dead-set on NOT swimming clinging to their legs and screaming profanities
x-v4mp3y3lin3r-x · 3 years
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My favorite thing abt Achievement Hunter is that individually, most of them can actually be really good at certain games but then they all get put together and it's like the braincells and competence are thrown out the fucking window??? Esp with personalities like Lindsay and Fiona around, where their ultimate decision is always "Well if I'm going down, I'm gonna drag you down with me!" And I love it most of all because none of them are ever REALLY really angry about losing. They really are just a buncha stupid friends that happen to play games and are literally just happy to be there.
I guess that's why I can never really understand the backlash from the dudebros when they add new personalities? "*blank* SUCKS at this game! They never should've been added!" as if everyone in AH doesn't suck at everything (including dick) and as if that isn't, like, their whole entire schtick.
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delicrieux · 3 years
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☆ミ 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚢 “𝚘𝚑”
PART 10: BIG DICK IS BACK IN TOWN
y/n is back in brooklyn for the holidays. thinking that a stream will make her feel less homesick for cali, she starts working on her famously titled hentai.free.srv. what was supposed to be a relaxing stream turns into a special delivery about two hours in.
─── corpse husband x reader ─── soc. media + written fiction! ─── word count: 2.2k ─── ❥ req: Here's one... You know those apps for delivery like Domino's or whatnot... What if reader is streaming Among Us with Corpse, and reader mentions they're hungry and Corpse offers to order them food, and readers like no no it's fine... Then there's delivery at the door (Corpse ordered beforehand) 
author’s note: fucky format is also back in town baby!!! also if you find any mistakes - no u didnt <3 thank u everyone for enjoying this story sm i literally cant believe how feral yall going strawberry cow was a nuclear explosion im still recovering tbh. got an ask a while ago and decided to incorporate it into myso. happy holidays everyone! myso will continue on monday!
ultimate masterlist.  ҉  myso masterlist   ҉   previous.  ҉   next.
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Indeed, being soft on any social media platform was the biggest disgrace and needed to be eliminated post haste. Moreover, it was a slippery slope - once you start flooding your timeline with cute imagery and heart emojis, what will stop you from posting inspirational Facebook quotes? Disgusting. If Rae were here, she would chide you (not you thinking about her as if she’s dead or something). For once in your life, you feel like you deserve it. 
Alas, you hope this little chaos you’ve caused is enough to throw everyone off. The stans, especially. You know the hashtags, you’ve seen ARMY scourging for info online with the same fervor and ruthlessness 1 Direction fans hacked airport security cameras just to spy on the boys. If you had any dirty secrets online, they are out to the public now - thankfully, besides the Harry Styles stan account (with edits and all), you have nothing. Though, now that you think about it, exposed nudes would have been better than your Punk!Harry edit receiving almost a million views. God, your life’s a fucking mess.
Your fans aren’t the only ones out for info - you, too, are trying to decipher Rae’s message. Code: Barbecue Sauce. The two of you had come up with it roughly two years ago, around the same time when you promised that if you didn’t find significant others by the time you’re 40, you’ll just marry each other. It was one of the many rules found in your friendship codex. Barbecue Sauce signifies information - an exchange of information. And depending on how it ends or begins (”So I’m sitting there” alludes to Rae, “On my titties” alludes to you), secret data on that person is given away, usually free of charge. 
But why? And to whom did Rae give away what? You had pestered her mercilessly and even sent some voice messages where you were crying. You were only crying because of a video of a grandpa smiling you saw on TikTok, but you are a snake, and so you put those tears to good use. If streaming doesn’t work out, you’ll just become an actress. Hollywood would love you. Your PR firm sure as fuck wouldn’t, though.
Rae was having none of it. She said you’ll figure it out eventually. Told you to channel your superior puzzle skills. You were quick to remind her that you can barely count to ten without having an aneurysm. Oddly serious, she admitted that she worries for you sometimes. Why only sometimes?! you demanded. She merely sighed. uttering under her breath something that sounded closely to “Boke.”
You leave her for barely a week and she’s already neck deep in the gay volleyball anime, hoodie and cardboard cutout and everything. Your life is falling apart.
But Brooklyn is nice. It had snowed when you stepped off of the plane. Thousands of snowflakes sprinkling into your hair, dotting your cheeks and nose. You missed this sight back in Cali. You missed your parents, too. 
Home cooked meals, old sweaters, your old room and about 40GB worth of old high school pictures on your computer. You went through them all one night. Some were stomach churning, cringe inducing nightmares. You were especially fond of those. Texted some of your friends that were still in Brooklyn, met up, decided to bake. Bad idea, Rae was the resident chef back in Cali. Besides laughing till your stomach hurt, and almost burning down your kitchen, nothing all that significant happened. Somewhere down the line, at about 3 am, half-way through a cheesy rom-com you had the overwhelming urge to text Corpse.
That’s where the problems really started. God, you missed California, missed being in the same timezone with a guy you hadn’t even met yet, how embarrassing is that?! You missed skating around and taking pictures of the beach in the setting sun, sending it to him, silently wishing he was with you to admire the view. 
You really want to call him. And to hang out with him. But for some reason, the thought of that springs up immediate anxiety and you shy away from asking. Him sending you cute good morning texts doesn’t help, either. Maybe it’s better he doesn’t know that you’re a blushing, stuttering mess each time you read “baby”. 
Late evening. Your stream is already set up, people are slowly trickling in and you greet them with a grin and a soft “Hello! Hi hi!”. You did your best to make your room a perfectly chaotic backdrop - led lights, an embarrassing amount of anime merch and plushies. You always try to balance out your weeb side by dressing hot as fuck for your streams - today’s inspiration just so happens to be egirls. Mostly because you watched one too many egirl make-up tutorials on TikTok, and also because you’ve been listening to Corpse’s song all day.
Yeah, no, who are you kidding, you dressed up this way because you were hoping Corpse was watching your stream. You didn’t forget your cat headphones, either. You know he likes them. You want to make him suffer. Perhaps then, finally, he will ask you out, so you wouldn’t have to.
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“I feel like,” You start when you put away your phone, staring idly at the chat, “I feel like I need a new name for you guys. Calling you guys after two years of streaming is just... weird, no? I also don’t respect men so I don’t want to call you guys. Like, so many creator’s have, like, a name for their fans. Uhm, Cody Ko has the chodesters, Kurtis Conner has, uh, folks? Kurtis Town? Citizens! Markiplier has mommy issues--” You can’t help snorting, “So, I’ve been, like, thinking - I know, shocking! - so I was thinking I’m gonna name you cockroaches. Because you’re grimy little shits impossible to kill. And also then I can use the legendary Minaj meme ROACHES!”
Your stream enthusiastically echoes ROACHES, making the chat swim. Yes, if anyone would enjoy such a name, it would be your audience. You’re as equally proud as you are disturbed.
“Well, anyway.” Leaning back into your chair, you throw your arms out with a bright grin, “Big dick is back in town, baby! If you noticed the backdrops different, it’s cuz I’m in Brooklyn now. Don’t ask me when I will return to Always Sunny, I don’t plan that far ahead.”
While Minecraft boots up, you decide to answer a few questions.
r u dating sykkuno?
You want to smack your head into the keyboard, but as it is, you can’t exactly afford a new one, so you refrain, “No, Sykkuno and I are not dating, we are just good friends. Uhm, I’m not sure how much I’ll have to repeat this, but, we really aren’t, so if the roaches could chill - Oh my God, that sounds so stupid, I love it - uh, yeah, if the roaches could chill that’d be great.”
the roaches lmao sounds like we’re a sports team
“Oh shit, yeah it does, uh-- maybe I can make like, jerseys or something. That’d be cool, I think.”
how disappointed are your parents with the way your life turned out?
“My parents are actually not disappointed at all!” You say with a cute little smile, “Uhm, they’re both really proud, actually. They’re glad I found something I love doing and made a job outta it. Dad finds my Youtube videos endearing. Yes, they watch pretty much all of my videos, unless I explicitly tell them not to. And yeah, with all the fucks and thirsting for anime characters. Uhm, it was very embarrassing at first, but I mean, after a while, shame just...doesn’t exist anymore, I guess? Funny thing about my parents, actually, when they watch my videos-” You eye catches a comment, “Oh! No, they only watch my Youtube videos. They don’t know how to use Twitter, thank God. Uhm, anyway-- when they hear a name they don’t know, like, I dunno, Dabi, or something, they google--” You’re grinning by now, eyes crinkling, giggling softly, “--who that is, and buy me like, merch and stuff. It’s really cute. 
can i be adopted by ur parents plz
will you and corpse ever collab?!
You were about to answer, though the man of the hour himself decides to do it for you.
Corpse_Husband: yes.
Okay, not to say your heart skipped a beat, but it totally did. With a pleased smile, you nod, like one of those bobble head toys sold at the dollar store. The motion is oddly reminiscent of Sykkuno’s own nod. Perhaps you had picked it up from him. The chat seems to notice.
pack it up, sykkuno
More questions pile about this mysterious collab you and Corpse are planning. Yeah, you’d like to hear more about it, too, since he single highhandedly decided one was happening right now. Corpse remains silent. Fine, keep your secrets. 
“Okay, guys, oh, I mean, roaches, Oh my God--” You’re covering your mouth, giggling, “-calling all roaches, calling all roaches, calm down. Everyone grab a snack and a blanket I’m turning up the music volume so we can all chill. Entering chill zone. Entering chill zone. Roaches, prepare.”
we are prepared
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An hour or so passes and you grow hungry. It shows with the amount of cakes you had baked in your server. Currently, you find yourself throwing eggs at the wall of one of the renovated houses, your face scrunched in concentration and slight frustration. 24 of the 50 eggs have been wasted. “What’s a girl gotta do to get some chicks around here?” you had uttered under your breath, until, finally, a screech - the egg finally spawns a mob. Your mouth falls open, “Aww, look!” You approach it, so small, walking in zigzags beside you, “It’s a baby chicken! Die, bitch.” The baby chicken is no more as you swing your bedazzled (you have mods) diamond sword. You’re cackling by the time the dust settles.
y/n is a child murderer
“Roaches,” You address your fan-base, spurring another fit of laughter - you can’t get over the name, “I think I’m like, forgetting that eating in Minecraft won’t actually make less hungry in real life.”
take a break and go eat queen <3
“Fuck no, we starve and die like men. Now I actually really need another chicken.”
Another twenty minutes trickle by and you’re trying to lure back a panda from the jungle when there’s a knock on your bedroom’s door. Whipping your head to the side, you slide down your headphones. At the same time, your mom pokes her head through the ajar door, “MOM!” You scream, “Get OUT of my room I’m playing Minecraft!” But your yell has no actual bite to it, as you don’t manage to hide your smile. Your mom laughs, doing some sort of sign language and motioning for you to follow her with her head. That or it’s some sort of performative dance. 
“I’m live right now,” You tell her, pointing at your screen. She knows this already, though, “do you want to say hi?” 
The roaches spam the chat with friendly hellos. You mom, quite impatient now, waves you over. 
“Sorry, roaches, mom needs something. Be back in a bit!”
Stopping the stream, you rush out of your seat and pleased she slinks into the hallway. “What’s this about?”
“Your pizza came.”
“My what now?” You echo, confused.
“Domino’s. You ordered pizza?”
“What? No? I was busy with the stream, I never--”
Thankfully, you had managed to grab your phone from your room before you exited. You almost choke on spit once you read the messages.
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You decide that it’ll be impossible to stream after experiencing what you had just experienced. You tweet out a quick apology to the roaches (God, that fucking name) and say that you had a breakdown but you’re okay. That is as a close to the truth as you managed to muster. It’s a sad sight, chewing and crying; your mom winced when she saw your state - disheveled hair and rundown eyeliner and everything. “D’aww,” She had muttered, caressing the top of your head, “don’t cry my little raccoon.”
If anyone was ever to ask you where did your chaotic nature come from, you’d answer with my mom. To make yourself feel better, you took a selfie - duck face and peace sign and the horrible 2000′s angle. Sent it to Rae. 
looking hot, her message read. 
thanks, was all you replied with.
You couldn’t just leave things as they were. Once you calmed down, you wanted to text Corpse, but how would you follow up the ungodly caps lock and screeching? Impossible. An idea sprung to mind, one that was brave. Taking the first step.
Instead of sending a text, you sent a voice memo.
“Thank you for the pizza, it was delicious.”
You voice still sounded a bit raspy. His reply was instant. Your heart skipped a beat. He sent a voice memo back.
“Glad you liked it, baby.”
He was going to be the death of you.
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tags (in italics is those i couldn’t tag! make sure all’s ok w your settings!) : @littlebabysandboxburritos - @fairywriter-oracle - @tsukishimawh0re - @ofstarsanddreams - @bbecc-a - @annshit - @leahh19 - @letsloveimagines - @bellomi-clarke - @wineandionysus - @guiltydols - @onephootinfrontoftheother - @liamakorn - @thirstyfangirl - @lilysdaydreams - @pan-ini - @mxqicshxp - @tanchosanke - @yoshinorecommends - @flightsandfantasy - @liljennyx3 - @slashersdream - @unknown-and-invisible - @sinister-sleep - @fivedicksinatrenchcoat - @mercury–moon - @peterparkerspjsuit - @unstableye - @simonsbluee - @shinyshimaagain - @ppopty - @siriuslystupid - @crapimahuman - @ofthedewthesunlight - @mythicalamphitrite - @artsyally - @corpsesimpp - @corpsewhitetee - @corpse-husbandsimp - @hyp-oh-critical - @roses-and-grasses - @rhyrhy462 - @sparklylandflaplawyer - @charbkgo - @airwaveee - @creativedogs - @kaitlyn2907 - @loxbbg - @afuckingunicornn - @fleurmoon - @yeolliedokai - @truly-dionysus - @multi-fandom-central707
more tags are in the comments bcs tumblr only allows me to tag 50 people max 💙
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crystalcow · 3 years
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𝑆𝑎𝑝𝑛𝑎𝑝𝑠 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑//𝑆𝑎𝑝𝑛𝑎𝑝 𝑝𝑡 3
Masterlist // part one // part two
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Sapnap x reader !p !child reader
Pronouns used: none specified!
Warnings: swearing, death, betrayal
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╔.▪️.═════════╗
Being sapnaps child will include..
╚═════════.▪️.╝
𝐏𝗼𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐥
Apparently the castle got attacked
George was killed by the one and only technoblade
You haven’t personally met the man but you respected him
After all he is a legend
But he killed George
So you were dragged with sapnap when he got pinged on his coms
Dream and George were arguing on the prime path
The sight somewhat terrified you
They were supposed to be best friends?
Dream is the strongest person on the server
George was supposed to be the most unproblematic and protected person
For some reason Quackity was also there
Hiding in the corner of Tommy’s house
“You don’t give a shit about us”
Those words brought some hurt to you as they left sapnaps mouth
“Of course I care about you! I just want to keep him safe.”
The three most important men in your life
The dream team, and ultimate trio the friendship that could never crack! The ones who raised you to be who you are
They were falling apart
“George is no longer king!”
Quackity was just eating all of the drama
Damn duck
“I’ve done so much for you, I hope you don’t forget.”
“Like what?” “I helped you raise a child Sap, a damn child.”
That pissed the both of you off
As if you didn’t just recently spend a whole day with him
None the less your whole life
Being drawn into wars, multiple actually
Practically being drawn to death
“Don’t you bring them into this Dream.”
“Eret is now king again, he can actually rule this place.”
“I was the best king this server ever had!”
So there it happened
The crown was snatched off of George’s head and you were dragged along with it
“Don’t worry, we can start our own place!”
“El rapids it is”
𝐄𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐬
You were 100% skeptical about all of this
You didn’t trust that this would be good
I mean how could you
Everything that someone starts on the server
Dies, explodes, nukes, or straight up fails
So instead you went down to Lmanburg for the day!
You went to Nikkis bakery to get something to eat
She was glad to give you a couple snacks for the road
So while you were walking around the new area you spotted dream
“Where you heading off to?”
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
You both eyed each other weirdly
“Aren’t you supposed to hate me?”
You just laughed
Ofcourse you were upset
But you were also bored
“And?” “Come on let’s go see tommy”
So you agreed and carelessly followed the green man
You missed Tommy, after not having seen him for a bit
Fucking hell you needed friends
But when you got there
“Why the fuck is everything gone!”
You ran around the now blown up area
The tents were destroyed and signs were thrown around
Then you noticed the large pillar
You instantly ran to dream, begging him to give you a pearl
He was upset himself he lost his leech
So you threw the pearl up thankfully landing on the pillar
Looking around to see if there was any way he could’ve survived
But you accidentally tripped
And lost your first life
𝐘/𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝗼𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝗼𝗼 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 ♡︎♥︎♥︎
𝐏𝐫𝗼𝐩𝗼𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬
You woke up screaming in your bed
The three lines on your wrist now faded into two
Sapnap came rushing in holding you lose to him
You tried not to but you cried a little
This was your first time loosing a life..
And you didn’t even mean too!
“Your never fucking leaving me again.”
Karl came in with Quackity following after
Karl just like snatched you away from sapnap and just held you
That man was ready to go back in time and reverse that from ever happening
Trust me he will if you ever loose another life
So after that everyone kept a close eye on you
That was until one day you were with your dad
You both were at your old house just chilling around
Before he handed you two velvet boxes
You were in awe of the two rings that sat in them
Who the fuck paid for these??
“I’m going to purpose.”
You almost dropped the boxes
“What?”
Sapnap just kept smiling
“You really like em huh” “Yeah flame, I love them.”
So you just hugged him
Internally freaking the fuck out
What would this mean???
Three dads? What if they wanted another child! Oh hell no
So you all stood in el rapids
Candles were spread around the top of the grassy hill
There were flowers blooming from every direction and lanterns set afloat
It looked mystical
You watched as sapnap got down on one knee
Karl was in shock, tears streaming down his eyes
Quackity looked love struck, looking into sapnaps eyes with total adoration
So when they said yes your dad called you and the other two just hugged you
“I’m guessing they said yes” you laughed
“Yeah they did!”
You couldn’t help but be happy
Your dad finally found some happiness
Even tho life was going to shit
If you won’t be there
He’ll have them
𝐋𝗺𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝗺
Oh wait shit did someone spot tommy?
There was supposed to be a festival today
So you went to go check it out
Maybe throw a ball at the furry
“Go fetch!” You shouted at fundy
Yeah he was not happy and just threw you the finger
“Hey N/n is Dream coming?”
You were excited that Tubbo was actually talking to you again
“Huh? Oh yeah I think” “Great thanks”
And back to the disappointment
So you walked over to get a pretzel or some shit
And then heard everyone making a commotion
There he was, Dream walking in (angry) with full netherite armor
Damn dude respect some tradition
“Tommy blew up the fucking community house”
Did someone say tommy?
Oh you were ready to kill that bastard
Hell if Dream didn’t you most definitely will
So you followed everyone to the community house
Yeah you were ready to fucking cry
One of your homes, the place you’d always confide in since you were little
Where dream and George both helped raise you
Now blown to shreds
“What the fuck”
They were talking about Tubbo giving up the discs
Oh we are not going through that shit all over again
And this time the odds are most definitely not in your favor
Then tommy appeared half invisible
“YOU FUCKING DICKHEAD I THOUGHT YOU DIED YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT”
You litterly stabbed him, having to be held back by Quackity
“Alright hot shot, lets let them have their argument”
Tommy sent you an apologetic look already on the verge of tears
“Tubbo your not seriously considering this”
Then it hit everyone
“The discs were worth more then you ever were!”
Oh yeah we’re you already pissed off at tommy?
Yeah
And he just made it worse
“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAY TO TUBBO YOU SHIT HEAD”
Yeah you didn’t take pretending to be dead very lightly
Oh shit why was techno there
never mind, Lmanburg will be gone by tomorrow
No point killing tommy yet
Whos side were you on?
Neither. You litterly went into that battle feild and killed some shit
That was until multiple pieces of tnt landed ontop of your head
And that’s where you lost your second life
Shit
𝐘/𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐰 𝐮𝐩 ♡︎♡︎♥︎ ⚠︎︎ᴏɴᴇ ʟɪғᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴɪɴɢ
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝗼𝐧
This time when you won’t up it didn’t feel as bad
But you still screamed
A rush of a heartburn and scars employed on your body
The second line now faded into one
Shit
You were only 16-17 and on one life??
Die young the better
You waited out in your bed until the end of the fight
Death alerts and messages drowning out your communicator
But you had no energy what so ever
Until it all went quiet
You tried your damn best to get out of bed and walked to the damaged Lmanburg
There were people crying
Others were severely hurt
Then there were those who were perfectly fine
The whole place was a crater
Lmanburg.. the place of agony and depths of your pain
Now it’s finally gone
What the hell are you gonna do now?
Quackity spotted you calling out for Sapnap
You felt like you were gonna be crushed under their hold
“I’m gonna fucking kill dream.” You heard Quackity mutter
Sapnap felt like a bad father
Who lets their kids die twice?
(Cough cough Wilbur and dream)
Then suddenly things switched around
You were walking around with a bloodied nose and black eyed Tommy
Yeah you did a number on him
But it’s okay since he was your best friend
And there was a sign inside his house
“Wednesday you and Tubbo. Bring no one or anything, lets settle this once and for all”
The final disc war
“Tommy you can’t go” “I’m going N/n, he has my discs.”
So you like cried a little bit lined up on the prime path
Giving the two probably the last hugs they’ll ever get
Prime you really didn’t want to loose them
So you ran straight to church prime
Litterly begging Master Oolong that they won’t die
“Please please please spare them. Pogchamp.”
(Please this is all jokes and old references don’t cancel me)
You got a blast message from punz on your comms with cords
“Come here. bring your best armor”
So you did so running to the nearest ender chest
If walking means saving tommy and Tubbo, it’s somewhat worth it
Sapnap made sure you didn’t leave his side as you traveled around the nether
even tho you could literally swim in the lava
So just to piss him off
You jumped in
The sigh of relief this man
Yeah he’s gotten a little more paranoid for you
But it’s okay since it’s in love
You looked around the weird black stone room
There were two giant photos of the discs
And everything was made out of the same material
No design what so ever
Tommy and Tubbo ran to you like you were gonna protect them
“Dream why” you asked as he was incased in the blocks
Down on his last life
Just like you
‘I’m sorry’ he mouthed to you
Why was he apologizing to you?
Hasn’t he hurt everyone here
You looked around the different items
Tracing the outline of the item frames
Gasping in shock as you a cage with your name on it next to badboyhalo
“Tell em what you told me! How you blew up the community house!”
Your neck spun around faster then an owl doing that 360 thing
You picked up your ace seriously read to slash his head off
“Wait wait! Lets put him in the prison.”
So they took him off
And it pained you to see it
You trusted that man for a very long time
Nothing stays the same on the Dream Smp
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TUMBLR WOULDNT LET ME WRITE MORE KMS. So yes I’m sorry but there will have to be a part FOUR. I just wanted to finish this-
As always! Ask or request anything and ask if you want to be on a tag list :))
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dreamerstreamer · 3 years
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Telltale Talent
Pairing: Dream / Clay x gn!reader
Summary: [Dream SMP!AU] When Dream tries to teach you how to spar, he learns that you’re more than what meets the eye.
Word Count: 2.1k
A/N: this was requested by an anon who wanted a fun sparring practice with a surprise! here’s to the first fic of 2021, and i hope you enjoy <3
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Clay stared down at the map on his desk, his fingers curling tighter around the quill in his hands. A mess of scribbles and circles gazed back up at him as he made another mark. He bit back the sigh that threatened to escape his throat, his brow twitching.
You were doing it, again.
He could feel your eyes on him from the other side of the room, practically boring a hole through his skull. He clenched his jaw, chewing on his lip as he tried to focus his attention on the map lying before him. If you were going to do what he thought you were going t—
At that exact moment, you opened your mouth, but he spoke before you could.
“No.”
Almost immediately, a whine flew from your lips, and you thrashed your legs in annoyance. “What?! Why not?” You frowned, determination etched into your features. “It’ll be a good experience!”
This time, he actually did sigh, lifting his head to look at you dead on, balancing his quill between his fingers. “For one, it’s not like you’re not going to go into battle, anyway.”
Your frown deepened, a line forming between your brows as you shot him a longing look. “That doesn’t mean you still can’t teach me how to spar.”
He pursed his lips, his tongue poking at the inside of his cheek. “There’s no need to.”
For a few seconds, you simply stared at one another, your eyes swimming with resolve as he grimaced. Then your face lit up, and you shot your arm into the air, making him jump. 
“Self-defence!” you shouted, your entire body practically glowing with hope. “If you teach me how to spar, then I could use it for self-defence purposes.” Before he could open his mouth to retort, you cut him off with a cold look. “Clay, you can’t tell me that there’s no chance that I won’t ever have to defend myself—you just can’t.”
Clay blinked at you, glowering. You weren’t wrong, per se. He didn’t want to acknowledge it, but there was still a very real possibility that at any point, you could be in danger, regardless of whether or not you were on the battlefield. It wasn’t that he didn’t think you were capable of keeping yourself safe, but teaching you how to fight would mean having to admit that there may come a time where he couldn’t be there for you.
The mere thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He stared at you for a long moment, taking in the sight of your pleading face and clenched hands, your eyes desperately searching his. Then, he sighed once more, setting his quill down in its holder. “Fine.”
You let out a delighted squeal, springing to your feet before bounding over to his desk. Bending over, you pressed a quick peck to his cheek. His heart skipped a loving beat in his chest, and his cheeks flushed pink.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Clay!” you cried, flashing him a bright grin as you pulled back. Your eyes curved into crescent moons as you giggled with glee. “You won’t regret this, I promise!”
He rested his head on his hand as he watched you cheer to yourself, pumping your air in a successful dance. A small smile flitted across his face, his emerald eyes crinkling at the corners as his map lay forgotten on the desk.
Oh, who was he kidding? You were far too cute to say no to, even if he wanted to.
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“So, what’s first?”
He hummed, tucking a hand under his chin. Above you, the midday sun beat down on you both, the clouds watching with eager eyes as Clay paced around the clearing.
He was lucky to have found a spot within the forest that was both open and had plenty of soft grass. This way, you’d have a proper spot to practice while also having some semblance of cushioning beneath you in case you fell. As much as he wanted to simulate a real fight scenario for you, he didn’t want you to actually get injured. He could hardly manage to keep his cool when you got a simple scrape on your finger—there was no way he’d remain calm if you got hurt in a fight, practice or not.
His steps suddenly came to a halt, and he turned on his heel to look at you with a thoughtful glance. “Before we even properly start practicing,” he began, raising two fingers, “there are two things you should know and remember.”
Your eyebrows knit together as you let out a small whine, your shoulders sinking at your side. “Aw, is this a lecture?” You frowned. “I just want to skip to the fun part, already.”
Clay rolled his eyes as shook his head, but you didn’t miss the tiny smile on his lips as he wagged his fingers at you. “Ah, ah, ah. I’m the teacher here, so you better pay attention.”
You shot him a sour look, then quietly grumbled, “Well, you’re not a very fun teacher.”
He scowled at that, placing a hand on his hip. “We’re getting there!” His gaze softened, and his tone grew gentle as he offered, “Let’s just do this first, okay? I promise I’ll keep it short, and you will get to try a real spar, today.”
Your frown was slowly replaced by a smile, and you sent him a keen look, shifting forward onto your toes. “Okay.”
He grinned, taking a few steps back from you until he was standing on the opposite side of the clearing. “Good. First,” he said, pointing his two fingers at his eyes then to yours, “never take your eyes off your enemy.” He cocked his head as he lowered his arm. “It may seem obvious to you, but you’d be surprised by how often people forget in the heat of the moment.”
Your gaze was serious when you nodded, and he was almost taken aback by how quickly your demeanour had changed. “I can do that.”
He blinked for a second, then sent you another encouraging smile. “Perfect. Second,” he carried on, pointing downward, “remember that your feet exist.”
“Okay—wait.” You froze, your eyebrows furrowing together as confusion flickered across your face. “What?”
He chuckled at your confused expression, dropping his arm. “I know it sounds dumb, but it’s true! You see,” he explained, tapping a finger against his temple, “the human brain is kind of dumb, and a lot of the time when it comes to fights, a person’s first instinct is to focus on their enemy’s hands and immobilize them.” He raised his hand toward you, curling it into a tight fist. “After all, they are pretty effective weapons. But your feet can be just as, if not more, powerful.” His gaze darted back to yours. “Do you follow?”
Slowly, you nodded, your eyes staring directly at his knuckles. “In the same way,” he continued, “it’s also good to remember that your elbows and knees are two of the strongest parts of your body.” He raised one hand, the other reaching over to tap his elbow. “Don’t be afraid to use them, because they can be especially useful.”
Your lips parted as you bobbed your head. He could practically see the gears churning in your head, and he almost wanted to coo at how focused you looked. “Feet, elbows, knees,” your murmured quietly to yourself, huffing. “Got it.”
He dropped his arm, his lips quirking. “Awesome.” He turned slightly to the side, shifting his weight onto his back foot. “Now that the so-called boring part is done, do you just want to give it a first go and try a practice fight? First person to knock the other person over wins.”
Your eyes lit up, and for a split second, Clay could have sworn he saw something dark flicker through your gaze. But it was gone as soon as it had appeared, and he was soon blinded by your dazzling grin. “Sure!”
His expression mirrored yours as he brought his arms up in front of him, his hands forming fists. In front of him, your eyes quickly scanned him up and down, and you slowly moved to copy his stance. He felt a tinge of satisfaction shoot through him. You were a fast learner.
“I’m ready when you are,” he called, cracking his neck with a grunt.
Your eyes narrowed, your tongue darting out to wet your lips, and for a moment, all was still.
Then, in a flash, you were charging toward him, stopping only just in front of him to throw your fist at his skull. He smiled at your earnest effort, quickly twisting to the side. You nearly toppled forward when your fist met empty air, and he reveled in your widening eyes. A split second later, you leapt back, swinging your left leg up and into his side. But just before your shin made impact with his hoodie, he lifted his arm, his hand quickly latching onto your ankle and holding it in place.
“Ooh, nice try, sweetheart,” he hummed, shooting you a crooked grin. He drank in the shocked look on your face as his expression grew a fraction darker and his grip on your ankle tightened.
“But not nice enough.”
He swiftly threw down your foot, watching as you stumbled back at the force. You didn’t get the chance to regain your balance before he was suddenly looming beside you, his fist flying toward your nose. With a yelp, you ducked, your arm shooting above your head to grab his arm in midair. He blinked as your fingers dug into his sweater, curling tightly into the fabric. Then, a devious grin crept onto his face.
As much as you may try, he had the upper hand when it came to brute strength.
But to his shock, he felt something sharp and hard slam into his gut, knocking the air straight out of his lungs. He quickly back-pedaled, but your hold on his sleeve didn’t let up. He only barely caught a glimpse of your kneecap before you stepped behind him, twisting his arm around and pinning it to his back. Just then, he felt something brush against his ankle.
No way.
In the blink of an eye, his legs were flying out beneath him, and he was flipping into the air. With a thud, he slammed into the ground, a dull ache shooting through his back as the grass cushioned his fall. Before he could even react, you quickly placed your foot on his chest, keeping him thoroughly pinned down.
His eyes were the size of saucers as he took in your half-shaking figure, your eyes trained on his fallen form. You panted above him, your fists slowly uncurling. “Was—was that good?”
Clay gaped at you, his head spinning with what you’d just done. You had just knocked him, a trained soldier and practiced assassin, flat on his back with practically no instructions whatsoever. He had only given you two—well, two and a half—simple tips before putting you on the spot, and you still managed to take him down.
There was no sugarcoating it—you were a prodigy. 
If he wasn’t in love with you before, then he definitely was, now.
Pride swelled in his chest as he closed his mouth, swallowing. He stared at you for a moment longer before shaking his head free from his reverie. He couldn’t wait to teach you more.
“[Y/N],” he breathed, his lips stretching into an awed grin, “you’re amazing.”
You blinked, pointing to yourself in surprise. “I-I am?”
He nodded without even an ounce hesitation, his grin growing even wider. “Very.” With a small grunt, he pushed himself back onto his feet, dusting off his behind before turning back to you. “Now,” he said, “do it again.” His eyes glinted with something akin to mischief. “I won’t go easy on you this time.”
You tilted your head at him as a devilish smile of your own tugged at your lips. “In that case, neither will I.”
He raised a brow at you, but he couldn’t stop the affection bubbling up in between his lungs. He felt his heart beat faster as you settled into a fighting stance, your arms raised in front of you. “That’s the spirit.”
Your eyes locked onto each other, and for a moment, all was still.
Then, you came barreling towards him, your eyes glimmering in the sunlight. His lips curled into a smirk as he raised his foot.
Perhaps teaching you to fight wasn’t too bad of an idea, after all.
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fire-lady-ilah · 3 years
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What if Ozai actually loved his family?
This could extend to Iroh and Lu Ten and Azulon, but what I mean by this is that he truly loves Ursa (as this is highly debated in canon), Zuko, and Azula. The no strings attached love that children deserve. Buckle up because this is gonna get long and need a cut.
Aang might not win in this universe.
It would start with Zuko’s birth. He has no spark but Ozai has never held something so small that had his eyes. His wife lays exhausted on her bed. Zuko does not almost die that night. He was lucky to be born, yes, but it is said with love rather than scorn.
Two years later, Azula is born and he finds himself loving her just as much as her brother, even if she has a spark he doesn’t. Ursa is severely weakened after the birth and he decides not to try for more children— he loves the ones he has and he wouldn’t want to lose his wife.
Outside the Fire Nation, his brother burns down swathes Earth Kingdom. This Ozai isn’t a good person, he proposes ruthless plans in the war room, just as he would in canon, he laughs as his brother dreams of the day he burns Ba Sing Se.
The only difference is that he loves his family. His son almost dies and he saves him. He thanks the spirits that he was a strong swimmer and makes the point to train his son in swimming for the rest of their time on Ember Island. The current is dangerous, and it is even more dangerous for a weak swimmer.
Azula is a prodigy in firebending. Zuko is not. He makes a point to show them the same amount of love (because he does love them both). He reinforces Ursa’s teaching of empathy, not counteracting it like he might’ve in another universe. Azula begins to tell her brother all her tricks, things that come so naturally to her that her brother doesn’t realize.
He is nowhere near a prodigy like her, but he’s only a few sets behind her at any given time, and he’s leagues better than he would be at the same point in canon. Ursa sits with him and they watch their children fondly— they have a bond no one could break now, able to share thoughts without words. One day, they will be an unbeatable team. Now they’re just children, practicing together, playing together.
The turtleducks in the pond hound both children when they walk by, knowing only soft hands and small pieces of bread.
Azula is a firebending prodigy, but Ozai watches his son carefully. He sees the light touch of his feet, the quick reflexes when he almost knocks a vase off a shelf, the way he watched with wide eyes as they happened upon two guards sparring while not on duty.
Ozai calls for the best swordsmaster he can, housing Master Piandao of Shu Jing in the palace. Piandao’s assignment is to teach two children, after all. It wouldn’t do to send both his children away for so long. (He would miss them, as would Ursa.)
Azula is a prodigy firebender, Zuko is a prodigy swordsman. He picks up any style Piandao tries to teach him with ease, eventually settling on the dual dao as his favourite. Azula picks twin daggers.
Their weapons are two halves of the same whole, just as Zuko and Azula are. Zuko tells his sister all his tricks, all the things about sword fighting that come naturally to him that she doesn’t realize.
The Seige of Ba Sing Se beings. The family write letters to Iroh and Lu Ten often. Iroh sends a doll for Azula and a dagger for Zuko.
(“It’s okay, Lala. Obviously he couldn’t find any twin daggers there. It wouldn’t be right for you to wield just one dagger.”)
The doll doesn’t burn, though it lays in a chest, collecting dust. Zuko’s dagger is used to open each subsequent letter, though it has little other use. He has his dao for fighting, and Azula has a collection of far better daggers that she would let him use if he asked.
(Mai tells Azula (who is a bit softer around the edges than she could’ve been, though her teeth remain sharp) of her slight crush on her brother. She just pushes them together like any other child would and laughs at their blushing cheeks.)
Ozai and Ursa watch their children, hand in hand as they walk together. Neither of them have a reason to be disappointed in their children or in each other.
Lu Ten dies. Azula’s voice is cold as she proclaims that her uncle should have burnt Ba Sing Se to the ground.
This time, everyone recognizes the words for what they are. Ursa holds her daughter and soothes her as Zuko collapses into his father’s arms.
(A doll is pulled from a dusty chest and held to a girl’s chest.)
Ozai kneels before his father and says he would make a better Fire Lord than his brother. He may love his family, but he still wants power and his words are logical.
This time, his punishment sounds like a punishment and not a boon.
(“Grandfather ordered dad to kill you.”
“Dad wouldn’t do that.”
“I know.”
The siblings spend the night huddled into the same bed anyway.)
Morning comes and Fire Lord Azulon is found dead in his bed. Prince Ozai and Princess Ursa are taking breakfast with their children when they find out. They are the picture of calm.
They are a family and they love each other. Ozai would not let Azulon break them apart, even if it meant committing parricide with his wife’s aid.
Prince Ozai becomes Fire Lord Ozai. Princess Ursa becomes Fire Lady Ursa. Prince Zuko becomes Crown Prince Zuko and Princess Azula is his closest confidant as she always is. Everyone knows the Fire Lord’s Chief Advisor is nearly as powerful as the Fire Lord themselves anyway.
The war in the Earth Kingdom continues. General Iroh returns as a changed man, yet finds solace in the fact that half of his family is healthy and whole.
Two years pass with Zuko as the Crown Prince. He is known as a formidable firebender (though still weaker than his sister. He was the first person she showed her new, blue flame to) and a master swordsman. He cannot lie to save his life, but he has a charisma that he clearly got from his father. His father looks at him and sees the greatest Fire Lord the Fire Nation will ever have, even if he still has a lot to learn. This is his son.
Two years pass with Azula as his best friend (as if the nine years before hadn’t been the exact same). She is known as a master firebender, though few know of her skill with a blade. Lies fall through her lips as easily as any other word. Her father looks at her and see’s the actress her mother once was (still is) and pride surges in his chest. This is his daughter.
Iroh brings Zuko into a war meeting. Zuko speaks up against a plan he finds despicable. He is more confident now, his words more eloquent, but he has the same conviction and tendency to speak without considering the consequences of his actions.
The Fire Lord hears not disrespect in his son’s words, but the voice of his people. Ozai is not an idiot, and loving his son is all it takes for him to listen a little deeper. He knew of his people’s growing discontent with the war, but he didn’t care until their words find their way through his son’s lips.
Ozai forbids the plan. His brother (for he was once the Dragon of the West, for he still is and Ozai should do well to remember as such) suggests a plan that would cost less lives and only a little more time. It is an acceptable exchange.
Zuko walks out of the war room, his head held high. His face remains unblemished.
His mother scolds him and punished him, for he was still disrespectful and the general would’ve been within his right to challenge him to an Agni Kai.
(“I could beat him.”
“Of course you could, I taught you. But mom’s right, it’s a stupid risk to take, Zuzu.”)
The forty-first finds themselves passing a letter between them that speaks of a prince speaking up to save them from a general. Loyalty to the royal family is cemented in this one group of soldiers, barely more than recruits.
Azula finds herself thankful for Piandao’s calligraphy lessons. The small glass vials, prepared with her mother’s careful tutelage remain hidden in her room.
Part of being the Fire Lord’s Chief Advisor is keeping him safe from his own stupidity.
Ozai takes the time to teach his son to hold his tongue. It is a lesson taught not with pain and fire, but that was a mode of teaching he would’ve never considered. He loves his son.
Years pass and the siblings flourish. Zuko begins to officially court Mai and deals with his sister’s incessant teasing. He knows he has her to thank for their relationship anyway.
He could’ve done without his father’s attempts to give him the Talk though. He sat in horrified silence for nearly ten minutes of pure awkwardness on both sides before he managed to squeak out that his mother already gave him that conversation.
Both father and son are quick to flee from each other.
Zuko is fifteen and Azula is thirteen as they begin their journey in learning lightning. Azula does not pick it up nearly as quickly as most firebending and finds it a thrilling challenge. Zuko finds himself pulled away by his uncle and taught to redirect lightning.
Why Iroh ever thought he wouldn’t share it with his sister, he didn’t know.
Zuko is sixteen when he manages his first bolt of lightning, his sister having almost perfected the art.
Zuko is sixteen when news comes from Commander Zhao that the Avatar has been spotted in the viscosity of Kyoshi Island, wearing the tattoos of an airbending monk.
Zuko is sixteen, face unblemished, head full of hair pulled carefully back into a top knot when he approaches the Fire Lord and Lady (his father, his mother) and requests to hunt down the Avatar.
His sister is only a half step behind him, for what is the future Fire Lord without his Chief Advisor?
(What is the Fire Lord without his heirs? Ozai thinks. What is a father without his children?)
Part: [2] [3] [4]
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justalost4girl · 3 years
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" If anything can go wrong, it will."
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Good night!! (Here it's still night :p )
A few weeks ago I said I would do a oneshot Lorraine Broughton x F! Reader, but it got too big so I decided to follow the initial idea and turn it into a mini series. I have two chapters written and I'm going to post them here and in Ao3, I think there will be 3 or 4 chapters in total, but I'm not sure yet.
English is not my first language, so all mistakes are mine.
Enjoy!!
warnings: mention of violence, R cursing, forgery of documents (?)
Words: 4573
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1989
Berlin, East Side
You feel in your bones, when you wake up, the consequences of last night and think that the famous Murphy's Law decided to test you. On this side of the wall few things go right, but having an order in your head two days after joining STASI's wanted list proves that nothing is so bad it can't get any worse. Courtesy of a dumb customer who messed with the wrong people and thought revealing where you find your customers would be enough information to escape death. The Local Gang (or Angels, as they call themselves) loves to eliminate competition from the market.
Now he's dead and you have to deal with the STASI AND the Local Gang (you refuse to call them Angels).
The local fucking gang that sent a team of idiots to break into your favorite bar and made you run out the back door before meeting a customer who was going to pay well. The local fucking gang who must be pissed that you shot the six dumbest members you've ever had to face in your life. No really fatal shots, but of course that won't matter as they do business with the KGB.
Sometimes you want to ignore the rules you've made for yourself, especially "never kill someone unless it's in defense of yourself or someone you love", but you think killing six agents who don't have the ability to set up an ambush of success would be a great waste of bullets. Now you know you're going to have to leave town soon and you have no idea how to break the news to your brother/partner, how do you honorably abandon a war before it's over?
Damn Murphy's Law
You know you need to sort this out, but you refuse to stay in bed crying over what's already written and decide to leave the wonderful Egyptian linen sheets you got from your favorite client last month to face the world and it's impossible to face the world without a good amount of coffee. After a quick shower with a cup of Blue Mountain in hand, your newest addiction, you sit in a robe in a nice armchair, look out the window at dying Berlin and thank heaven for the comfortable life you've earned by working with one of the greatest smugglers on this side of the wall, perhaps from all over Germany. Some desperate customers offer you valuable items from them in exchange for passports and unlike your idiot “brother”, you don't have a rule about only receiving cash. Almost everything here comes from gifts, from the sofa, pictures, bags, clothes and even some books on your shelf. You don't even remember buying that cup, or the coffee set, for gods' sake.
If he saw you now he'd complain about being soft with customers and say something about how items aren't a bargaining chip in the real world, you'd get into a tiresome discussion about enjoying the finer things in life and how bills don't compare in the importance of yours. silver chain with moon pendant that was once an amulet for more than three generations for a French family.
At the end of the day, Merkel has a large information network and an office that takes up half the block, where she keeps as much money as she has secrets, and you have a house decorated by other people where each object symbolizes someone you've helped.
Four walls don't make a house
The thought takes away some of the almost peace you feel and you decide to finish your coffee before it gets cold.
After a quick glance at the calendar you remember about the march that will take place in Alexanderplatz square and decide to go scream for Germany one last time, hopefully you'll be able to hide long enough to see the fall of the damn wall that divides this country. It's not your country, not really, you don't even like to remember how you got here, but the experiences you gained wouldn't be exchanged for anything, not even for an original Van Gogh. Also, Merkel asked you to go and bring a black umbrella, the reason was not explained and you didn't feel like asking, sometimes you think Gordon Merkel is not his name, but how to judge the man who is your only family in this end of the world? You smile when you remember that he shouldn't have an umbrella with a story as cool as his and decide to piss him off for it.
Your phone rings, and you notice you've lost track of time. Merkel was helping a blonde woman named L, he didn't give you more details other than a few stories about how she was a perfect and dangerous assassin that you should keep your distance, as few people know how to deal with her. You thought he overreacted, but you had to take over some business from him while she was in town. She seemed important considering the way he told you about her and you knew better than to deny help to the person who always supported you and declared himself a brother, you trusted him because not even the best agent in the world could fake so much sincerity and affection in claiming this title for himself.
You reach out, pick up the phone, and decide to answer it. “Hey little sister, how are you out there? I called to say that everything is fine for dinner today, but there was a mishap and the wine ran out, bring the best Bordeaux you have, I'll return the courtesy as soon as possible." A code, of course.
He needs your services ASAP. Wine is a passport, Bordeaux means two elements, courtesy involves a child.
You can combine business with pleasure "Hi brother. I'm looking forward to today, I'll take the best wine I have, don't worry. I already know how you can thank me. I need to clean the house and go to the office first, but I'll be there on time. wait for me." you say in a voice that oozes normalcy, you never know when someone's listening on the phone especially now that you're a fugitive, disgraced customer. Your body sinks into the armchair noticing the oncoming cloud of worry
Merkel now knows you need his help, as cleaning the house means getting away and going to the office shows you're in a hurry.
"Alright, do you want me to send the driver?" He asks like he's not freaking out and offering the bloody job of one of his mercenaries
“No, bro, thanks, I know the way.” You say as if you really have an escape plan besides getting a fake passport, emergency backpack and all the money you can find.
“See you later, don't forget the wine. Are you sure you don't want the driver?" You wonder if he has forgotten that knowing the way literally means everything is fine
“Relax, see you later” It takes a few seconds for him to hang up and you can hear his sigh.
He will be SO pissed.
You put the phone down as you get up to gather the passport forgery materials and put them in a briefcase. Your cookbook is already there along with some banknotes from different countries. As you pick up the black backpack of standard clothes and accessories that always waited for you in the corner of the door, you decide to wear the first jacket you bought, the dark blue jeans, the combat boots you got from a skinhead, the wristwatch you bought. you got for your brother's birthday, thick leather gloves and a thin white shirt that matches the rest of your outfit. After all, if you can die when you open the door, then die well dressed. Be sure to keep the Colt 1911 around your waist and the Russian dagger around your ankle, after yesterday you never know, Your pocket watch with the coat of arms of the Brazilian imperial family indicates that 15 minutes have passed since Merkel's phone call
You take one last look at the house you've been so proud of in recent years, snap a photo with the Polaroid you've won, and, with a bittersweet smile, close the door. One day when the wall comes down, the government changes and your face is forgotten, you can come back here, until then you will have to make do with the photo album you keep in your backpack and this photo.
Putting on your sunglasses, you arrive on the street and decide to take a taxi on the other corner, make sure you look around before leaving your home, no one knows your address, but you can't be sure the local gang is so stupid to the point of not following you after last night.
Getting a taxi was relatively easy. Neil, the driver, thanks to the boots, mistook you for a revolutionary and talked for 10 minutes about how he hoped he could take down the wall with his bare hands, you thought it was cool, but as you passed the big river that was just a few blocks away from the your brother's office, you couldn't hear a word from him.
A sign signaling that the river was closed to visitors made your eyes fill with tears. You used to go there when the day was bad, spread a blanket in a corner and watch the stars, or just laugh at the distinct reflection the water made of the moon and stars. Merkel accompanied you on anniversaries, justifying them as bonding experiences. After some freaks started swimming in the river and executions increased, STASI took over and you replaced the dark water for the restaurant's bright lights. But seeing it tightly closed gave him a feeling of anguish and rancor. You would silently curse the wall builders for the rest of the trip.
Neil seemed to notice but didn't comment on it, you thanked him, wiped your tears and left a good tip as you descended a block away from your final destination. This time you didn't need to look around because even though Merkel was super busy, he made sure to leave some security close to where your landing place was.
A tall man dressed in a red T-shirt approached you and hugged you as if he hadn't seen you in a long time. You've known him since the beginning of last year, when he arrived at Merkel's office begging for a job, and from the first moment the way he turned grief over his brother's death into a thirst for revolution made you admire the young man. The two of you walked through the great gate hand in hand as you asked about his life with genuine interest, and Klaus increasingly believed in Merkel's theory about you having such a pure heart that you didn't care about motivation or the number of lives they took, your explanation of the judgment not being your responsibility, crossed the man's head before he escorted you to the main office.
You thanked him with a smile, opened the door and stood in front of the table in the windowless room, where your brother was already waiting for you.
"What the hell happened? Are you okay? I was about to send J to get you, please tell me what happened"—he said hurriedly as he got up and pointed at the couch for you to sit on. J was one of the most dangerous women in the building and you were grateful for not wasting her time.
Putting your backpack and umbrella aside, you answered:
"I'll explain later, little brother, now let me help you. You need passports urgently, don't you?" Yes, you were stalling and postponing the conversation. He'd call you an idiot for going out on the street right after you got on the wanted list, and he'd feel guilty when he found out why you didn't tell him. Merkel wasn't going to understand that her fear of failing him was no one's fault but yourself.
Your sentence seemed to give him some responsibility back, but still, as he held out a glass of water for you, his eyes met yours with a glint that warned that this conversation was far from over.
"Yeah, I really do, but don't think I'm going to forget about it. Let's talk when this is all over. Even if it's the last thing I do today."
You accepted the glass with a bit of trepidation and stood up towards the large center table while opening the briefcase with the supplies you were going to need, if Merkel noticed the bills he didn't say anything. Once at the table, you made two passports for mother and daughter in record time. According to the clock, 10 minutes passed, faster than a car, this deserves a celebration. It would have been six if Merkel hadn't been so curious to make you waste time pulling your watch out of your pocket just for him to analyze.
Everything was going well and there was only one last detail for mother and daughter to be taken by one Percival to the other side of the wall. Percival, according to Merkel, was strange and fickle. Unreliable and extremely dangerous, you should also keep your distance from him, as this man had crucial contacts on both sides of the wall.
"He must have fewer contacts than you", you would answer
If a loud noise didn't break the silence
The annoying noise of the door creaking made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and you almost missed the last signature, it made your body vibrate with irritation and your eyes follow to the offensive source of the sound. A tall man with short hair and blue eyes was holding the doorknob with a military posture and before you could release your anger and explain something about how people shouldn't be violent inside Merkel's office you noticed he was accompanied by a woman.
AND WHAT A WOMAN!
Your eyes connected to a pair of fierce, intent green eyes, surrounded by a pale skin tone and hair so blond it looked like snow. The barely perceptible frown showed she was surprised to find someone other than Merkel there, yet she looked ready for a battle. You looked into her eyes again and nodded in acknowledgment, this must be L, the woman he was talking about.
She looked at you suspiciously, but also as if she could see into your soul, and what must have been frightening, you found endearing. A few stories of murders orchestrated by her crossed your mind, but all you could imagine is how beautiful she must be when she's mad.
They say green eyes darken when we're high on adrenaline, does that happen to her?
Her analysis of the intriguing blonde ends when she notices that the man accompanying her has raised his voice and from his furious expression, it's not the first time he's repeated the question. You interrupt him before you hear him and make sure to direct the ghost of anger before him:
"Have you lost your mind? Who walks into the office without knocking? Surely you should be here asking about passports, but if it weren't for my experience and steady hands, they would be in the trash by now. Learn to be civilized. You're under two paws not four, so act human and not animal" you say in an explosive but articulate tone to make sure he understands what you say. Sometimes when you speak fast, you are betrayed by faulty diction. Not today. Today you want this man to feel every fiber of irritation that went through his body.
Hearing Merkel holding a nervous laugh, you try to relax, but judging by the cold, almost murderous look of the man in the doorway, you've definitely gotten yourself in trouble. Looking at the organized clothes, you notice it's an old police uniform, probably taken by your brother, and unless Merkel has hired new employees, you've never seen it around here. His eyes snap back to his and something inside you warns that this must be Percival. He probably wants to kill you.
Damn Murphy's Law
A brief silence settles in the room and you shake off the fear and turn away, refusing to play the glaring game with a man who almost spoils your art. On other days you might look at him at a party, but today you want to make him swallow the ink on the stamp in his hands and invite the blonde to dinner
And it's her voice that breaks the silence.
You're flipping through the two passports for failures when she says
"Sorry, miss. My friend is an unprecedented idiot. Shall I close the door and knock again? Perhaps your highness too--"
You turn her body towards her when you hear the slightest hint of irony in her tone and interrupt her with a fake smile as you look into her eyes.
"It's not necessary, I accept your apology, Miss. I always said that Merkel should have someone armed at the door to remind everyone of the need to knock on the door. Anyone who didn't knock would lose his mind as the law of my reign says. Perhaps I should start. for him, since the top head is the last thing he wears lately" you joke look at Merkel who doesn't seem offended by the statement, shrugging you look at those blue eyes again and say "the passports are ready. Let's get out of here."
You close the passports, reach for your backpack and umbrella and start moving towards the door, both agents let you lead the way and judging by the blonde's expression, she's not used to being interrupted, nor is she used to seeing someone talking like that with Merkel, but today it was acceptable. You really think she's adorable, but you know better than to let someone make fun of you, especially in front of your brother who wouldn't let you forget about it. Either she doesn't care, or she's a great actress. Anyway, that idiot is still by her side and you refuse to be the reason for his possible laugh.
Her friend probably didn't have the same acting classes and his resemblance to the local gang members, like he's going to kill you in the blink of an eye in a cowardly way, is almost frightening. If Merkel hadn't said L is a woman, you'd be scared. It makes you shiver a little and look for Merkel, but he's not following you. Looking over his shoulder you see him putting a few more piles of dollars and euros into your briefcase. With a snap of your fingers you get his attention and before you walk out the door, you hear the briefcase click closing.
Once out of the room, you look around and realize that nothing has really changed, all faces are familiar, except for three people: a couple talking to a child. After a brief analysis you find yourself facing the passport clients, mother and daughter. The man doesn't look older than 60 and has kind eyes, almost as if he doesn't live on this side of the wall.
They don't seem to notice you
Your observation is interrupted by Merkel's loud, proud voice, right behind you. Here it comes
"This is Elizabeth Loyd and Percival, two trusted clients. Elizabeth and Percival, this is my little sister, she will be on the march today, if you need anything in the future you can talk to her."
Hearing her name, you notice that Merkel really wasn't creative at all. Who would use the initial letter of a surname as a symbol? Anyone who heard the stories about L and met a loyde who knows a Merkel would make the connection. As you turn around, you swallow your nervousness and try to put on your best smile as you say your name to them. The blonde woman who finally has a name, Elizabeth, leans closer, her eyes never leaving yours, and you wonder if she can feel the jumble of emotions that is unraveling inside you.
She smiles a smile that makes you sure she does and reaches out and greets you with a firm grip, if she noticed the sweat on your hands, she didn't let on. She also looks a little more comfortable.
Maybe because she noticed you said her real name, idiot.
You hate yourself for one second and the next you want to be without gloves because it feels soft and warm.
The man, Percival, comes next and looks at you suspiciously and the smile fades from your face, you wonder if no one else can smell the strong smell he gives off, a smell of cheap whiskey and arrogance. Still, he holds out his hand and this time you thank the gods for the gloves. Make sure you don't bow your head or fail in your posture. He still looks at you like you killed his son. Useless even to pretend, for God's sake.
Merkel watches the exchange from afar and nods to Elizabeth, she responds and Percival walks away looking uneasy. You look around uncomprehendingly, feel a little left out, and wonder which computer must have Tetris installed.
You would kill for a distraction right now.
Going out on the street in a crowded march while being chased by two groups still makes you sick.
Your brother approaches and extends his hands around you. You've missed him for the past few weeks. He still wears the perfume you gave him for his birthday and it makes you sink deeper into the hug. You know he's going to be mad when he finds out what happened so you enjoy as much affection as you can
"Little sister, in addition to our conversation I need to tell you something" his voice is low in tone and you doubt you would understand the words if you weren't so close to him "but I can't do that until the march is over. Meet me at usual table at the restaurant where we celebrate our achievements, It's very important"
His even low voice is charged with strong emotion and you are genuinely worried, Merkel has never been like this before.
"I'll do it, brother, I promise. Whatever it is, we can work it out together" you say with all the certainty you can muster in your voice, because you need him to understand that this is true.
You feel eyes on you and as you look up you notice that Elizabeth keeps an eye on your exchange with Merkel while talking to the little girl's father, from the distance she probably can't understand anything and you don't know if she celebrates or cares with so much attention received. A little further away is a Percival who pretends to be busy with the coat he's wearing. He also pays attention to your exchange, but his talent for discretion is as effective as his ability to open doors.
Your eyes return to the concentrated blue eyes that are in front of you and Merkel speaks in an almost inaudible way:
"When I whistle, I need you to raise your open umbrella and stay alert. The three people we're going to cross are very important, nothing can go wrong. But if it does, I'll be at the restaurant, whatever happens find me there."
Noticing the proximity of Percival and Elizabeth, you place your hand on your brother's shoulder and smile as you speak a little louder:
"Don't worry man, it's always a pleasure to help you. I'll leave my briefcase here, then meet you to get it. Good march."
Merkel shows that she understands his strange move and smiles, you greet some friends of his that you haven't seen in a while and as you head towards the exit, you meet a pair of deep green eyes. Elizabeth is gleaming in the cold lights that are refracted by the mosaic of the gate, she looks into your eyes, ever alert, looks at the object in your hands and nods her head with a half smile, do you think the guard's idea black rain was hers.
As you wave back, you can feel that a pair of eyes haven't left your back since the moment of your brother's embrace, as the old man is saying goodbye to the family, you know who they belong to and decide not to look for them. If the STASI, KGB or local gang find you, he doesn't own the pair of eyes you want to remember before you die.
Taking a deep breath, you walk through the gate and blend into the crowd.
..........................................................................................................................
After leaving Merkel's office block, you take a hat out of your backpack and wear your sunglasses as you look around, not that a local gang member is here but because if he sees you in disguise he will ask a series of questions and he has enough problems already, plus STASI must be monitoring this area and the last thing you want is to be arrested. You decide to tuck your coat into your backpack to change your look, and while internally debating your ability to ignore the cold, your eyes catch the almost snowy blond hair in the crowd.
This signals that they are already on the march and you decide to get a little closer to them, but make sure you do this without drawing attention to yourself since the nasty man is still there. Elizabeth is on your diagonal absorbing all the extraneous details that might be a possible threat, she seems so focused on the job of passing the owner's gentle eyes in a safe way that it makes you wonder how important he is and if she's noticed you.
A few meters later a familiar noise floats through the march and you open the umbrella almost instantly, as do other protesters.
Out of the corner of your eye you can see Percival taking the man's family across and sometime later Elizabeth does the same. You notice that her posture has changed and when she decides to stop for a better look, the crowd drags her and you can no longer locate her.
Her feet continue forward and as some signs are raised by the protesters, you try to find your brother. Unsuccessfully. You decide to trust their ability and hope that you can meet him again at the restaurant.
You also want Elizabeth to be okay.
Continuing on the march, after two or three long blocks you notice the familiar silhouette of one of the STASI bosses, he is watching the crowd as if looking for someone, but he doesn't seem to notice you. You notice observers on top of buildings and decide to leave the streets. Whether it's the Local Gang, KGB or STASI itself you don't know and decide you don't want to know.
Your brain tries to design routes to escape and your body mimics the movements of the closest protesters so as not to draw attention to you, but when some agents in black point in your direction and make space in the crowd, you run between people to seek shelter in somewhere you know and at every step you are sure that the day will be worse than you thought.
Damn Murphy's Law
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astranva · 4 years
Text
Golden
Word Count: 1.4k
Category: Fluff! Nothing but fluff!
Warning: JUST THAT IT MENTIONS THE GOLDEN MV AND THAT SHOULD BE A WARNING
Summary: You watch Golden for the first time with Harry.
UM FIRST OF ALL, I’M NOT OK, OK
..
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Harry loved love. He loved emotions.
While heartbreak was nasty, he was a firm believer that “a heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved.”
While his love life history had many well-known people, to fall in love with someone who worked a job so different from his world, who also happened to be a fan of his, was something Harry was continuously in awe of.
You were a happy accident, as Harry would like to call your encounter. A wrong turn taken while he ran in the morning ended up with him harshly bumping shoulders with you as you walked down the pavement, making you drop your tote back and for the Harry’s self-titled album vinyl record to make an appearance.
You were excited, in awe, and completely enamoured by the man you have been supporting for years and listening to, telling him about how his debut album was “more than amazing” and having a heartfelt conversation that had made Harry’s entire week.
Before either of you knew it, you had been talking for well over 30 minutes; a conversation that was deeper than the ones Harry, and yourself, had with the closest people around you that it was bewildering that out of all people, you would have that conversation with someone you looked up to and for Harry, a fan he hadn’t seen nor heard of until that day years ago.
If you were to ask him how it happened, he wouldn’t give you any direct answer; not because he was a private person, but because he was unsure.
Sure, it might be cliché to say that “fate wanted the both of you to happen” but it was a cliché for a reason – it happened before, and it keeps happening, and it was exactly what happened with you and Harry.
Being a fan meant many things; sure, you get to show off his merch anywhere you go, and sure you get to enjoy his talent and presence live in more ways than others, but it also meant genuine, hyper excitement over his new work.
His second album was a blast, and you were glad that you were a part of the journey of the making, having had cried a little when Harry sat you down one night and told you that you were the inspiration and muse behind his love songs on Fine Line, to the point where he even briefly included you in his Watermelon Sugar music video.
“You sure you don’t want to join? Will miss you.” Harry mumbled one day against your hair as you had your arms wrapped around one another in a hug while he stood by the door of his (well technically, your shared) private Italian house.
He was leaving for the sole purpose of your trip; film Golden, and while he wanted you to join the filming, your decision was set.
“Stop pouting,” you chuckled at him, “I don’t want to see anything before it’s premiered.”
He couldn’t hide the smile on his face at the reminder, fully knowing that you wanted to embrace the fan part in you and if it meant sitting at the house for hours while he goes to film, then so be it.
“You’re stubborn.”
“I’m loyal.” You corrected him with a teasing tone before pulling your face away to look at him, “You’re going to be late.”
He hummed, leaning to kiss your lips. After one kiss and 3 pecks, Harry let out a sigh of contentment. “You’re right.” Another peck before he let you go, grabbing his bag, “I marinated the chicken last night while you were sleeping, just pop it in the oven when you’re hungry.”
“You’re an angel, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.”
Now, September was over, you were in LA accompanying Harry while he started filming Don’t Worry Darling for a few days, and out of all days, you happened to be with him on the day when Golden’s music video was getting released.
You had known when the fans did, having had told Harry that you didn’t want to know beforehand as well and that made him itch for a while.
So there you were, sitting outside in the backyard with Harry’s pink MacBook on the table in front of you, the screen showing you the countdown.
To mask his worry and nerves, Harry had you seated on his lap, arms around your stomach while you had your hands clutched together in eagerness underneath your chin.
“Baby, j-”
“Hush! It’s starting!” You instantly cut him off, causing Harry to laugh.
Harry had his phone perched against the metal vase on the table, camera opened and showing the both of you to catch your reaction – a keepsake for Harry for when he was away for too long and just because he enjoyed watching you supporting him, all eager.
With the first scene and music sounding, you let out a tiny squeal, covering your mouth as your wide eyes were set on the laptop.
Harry knew the video well, he didn’t need to watch himself again and besides, he had a better view anyway.
You were seated on his lap slightly sideways, making him catch sight of your face as you smiled genuinely while watching, eyes twinkling before you cupped your own face.
“You look so happy,” you cooed softly, your heart fluttering at the sight of your boyfriend looking so carefree, “I’m so proud of you.”
He refrained from replying, knowing that your commentary didn’t need any comments from him and that you’d scold him if he talked, so he pressed his cheek against your back for a second before looking up at you and beaming.
“Oh my God, you look so good!” You gasped as you exclaimed, “Are you kidding me?! How can this be so hot and cute at the same time?!” You pointed at the screen after the shot of him crouching in shorts while on a rock, arms up as he shook his head while singing “I’m out of my head and I know that you’re scared because hearts get broken.”
He giggled, watching you place a hand to your heart as you watched him dance, being so…himself.
“All that running,” you shook your head, “No wonder your thighs almost crush me when we’re sleeping.”
“I don’t crush you.”
“Hush! I don’t want to miss- I don’t wanna be alone. You’re so golden! You’re so golden,” you sang loudly, swaying as you did and throwing your arms up, “You’re so goldeeen. I’m out of my head, and I know that you’re scared because hearts get broken! Awwwwwh, you know I love it when you have your hand on your cheek like that,” you feigned crying, “That nail polish, too. Kill me!”
No matter how many times Harry has watched you react to his work, he knew that there was no way he’d ever get bored of it.
The video came to an end, your eyes not leaving the screen for a moment.
“Am I allowed to talk now?” He teased, tilting his body slightly to the side to look at you better.
“Yes,” you breathed out, “You’re allowed to do whatever that you want because this,” you pointed at the laptop, “Was the best thing I have seen all damn year.”
“You like it?”
“Like?” Your eyes widened as you looked at him, looking offended, “Like?! How dare y- I love it! I love it so much, H! You, looking all happy, prancing and doing goofy dance moves like that, with a tan and your hair, don’t get me started on your hair. I’m still mad you had to cut it. You look beautiful anyway but your hair in that video? You know what that is?”
Harry, amusingly, grinned at you, “What?”
“Art! Your hair is art! I’d watch you dance and going wild in swimming shorts any day, any time. Just say the word and I’m free.”
He laughed, face heating up and veins making an appearance as he did. “But was it worth the wait?”
“Oh, hell yes.” You nodded slowly, “I don’t feel bad about deciding not to join the filming.”
Harry smiled, “Come here.”
Knowing what he meant, you wrapped an arm around his shoulders before capturing his puckered lips in a kiss.
“Harry?”
“Hm?”
“You’ve just killed millions of people with that video.”
“Are you dead?”
“Just about right.”
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worminstuff · 3 years
Text
Win Win Situation
dream x reader (more fluff)
from this ask -
Hello! I'd like to request Dream fluff, where they play Minecraft Manhunt with Pandas, Muffin and Gogy. The reader's a secret weapon they hold against Dream (she waits for him in the Nether or the End; the decision is up to u), since they know he really likes her and it's mutual anyways. She's capable of killing Dream with hearts to spare and in last hopes of winning the hunt, he proposes a kiss (in MC, of course) for his life (which the reader grants him). Thx in advance! 💞😊-
i love this ask vvvv much and im gonna try my best to do it justice!
It had been quite a day of filming, this manhunt proving to be one for the books.  Dream had really been stubborn upon not dying, and sapnap, George, and bad were really trying their hardest. 
George was so close to getting a dream when he first crossed to the nether but it was futile as he had looted around a lot and got more armor then they even had time to find.
Dream was pretty sure he was set after proving himself with that battle against George, he had 9 blaze rods, ten pearls and a burning sensation in his stomach from the excitement of winning.
It had been quite a day of filming, this manhunt proving to be one for the books.  Dream had really been stubborn upon not dying, and sapnap, George, and bad were really trying their hardest. 
George was so close to getting a dream when he first crossed to the nether but it was futile as he had looted around a lot and got more armor then they even had time to find.
Dream was pretty sure he was set after proving himself with that battle against George, he had 9 blaze rods, ten pearls and a burning sensation in his stomach from the excitement of winning.
As he sat listening to the 3 weirdos giggling amongst themselves he thought about you, you would've been so proud of the way he's wiggled out of their grasps so many times from a boat chase where he managed to drown Sapnap by using a tnt to blow them up in a cave. A blush crossed his cheeks at the thought of you being excited with him. He couldn't wait to tell you about it later.
Lately you two had been talking awfully a lot and he was enjoying it a lot. You'd met through sapnap since you knew him for a long time. You often streamed with Wilbur or Tubbo too, Tubbo being another one of your favorite people.
Dream loves to watch the streams and videos you both make because you two are so entertaining. Dream thought you were absolutely adorable, especially when you and Tubbo are trying to figure out redstone for a new scheme or terrorizing Tommy for a bit. Most of all he loved your bed wars streams, he was always entranced at how amazing you were at pvp. He loved every bit of it.
He himself had a really hard time talking to you at first. In his defense, you were a pretty girl! Adorable, sweet, funny and kind and incredible at pvp. How was he supposed to approach you without freaking you out with his tiny little obsession.
The sound of an ender eye breaking snapped him out of his little day dream, realizing he was nearby the stronghold, he started his way down.
Unknowing to dream, the boys were just over a hill watching him just as he was digging down. Instead of following just yet sapnap sent a message on discord, to you.
panpas 
    he’ll be there in a second i think
y/n
    okey dokey!
There was nothing in the unspoken rules of manhunt that said nothing about a secret weapon. That's exactly what you were. Sapnap and George and bad all knew you were one of the few people that could easily beat dreams.
Dream knew it too, sometimes he liked to tell himself it was only because she got him flustered so easily, but deep down he knew you just played way too much Minecraft. 
You sat impatiently waiting for him to reach the end, impatiently sitting near a clump of endermen. You were nervous and excited at the same time, beating dreams was always fun. You'd always admired dreams and his presence on the internet but after meeting him, things changed a bit.
He seemed hesitant talking to you at first but lately he had been texting you every morning and night and even called you a few times! He gave you so many butterflies just at the thought of him.
Dream searched around the stronghold looking for the portal, as he was about to turn a corner sapnap spoke up, 
“Don't you guys think it's been a bit boring without..y/n” He smirked behind his computer screen as he could practically hear dreams heart rate go up just by that single sentence. He was correct with that bet.
“Duh! y/n would have had a dream dead like an hour ago '' George spoke with a knowing smirk.
“That's not true-” Dream tried to poke into the conversation when bad suddenly interrupted him.
“No you muffin, you know y/n would totally have beat your booty way back in the nether”
“Booty-” Dream was cut off once again by a fit of hyena laughter from his friends. 
As they giggled he finally found the portal and filled in the empty slots hopping in quickly. He was surprised he hadn't heard the boys say anything about it with the achievements popping up onto the screen. 
He was confused up until he spotted you, standing by one of the pillars.
“what?! how?! y/n? how did you- when- huh?” His flustered state was quickly made obvious by the way the boys could hear a smile even through his confusion.
You started sprinting towards him as the three boys dropped into the portal as well but not rushing over just yet, wanting to see this unfold first.
You let out a small giggle as you were gaining on him, he was running around still confused on how you were there.
“Come here Dreeeeam” You said maniacally trying to gain on him.
“Get away y/n! how are you even-”
He let out a yell as you got your first crit on him, your ax was clearly more op than his and he could tell by only one hit.
“How did you do that much damage! What are you even-”
After finally trying to fight her, he was at 3 hearts and he even had a shield. 
“Okay, okay, okay, y/n hold on for a second please” He backed up a bit facing her character as she lowered her weapon waiting on his next move.
“I have..a proposition” Dream let out a breath nervously, 
“What kind of proposition?” You smirked, ready to decimate him with only a few more hits.
“No! No propositions! y/n you have him just kill him so we win!'' Sapnap chimed in with George and badly agreed.
“No no guys, hold on, I wanna know what it is,” You said with a small airy laugh.
“If you don't kill me y/n, i'll give you something I think you'll like”
“Like enough not to win?”
“I hope so..” Dream started to regret this decision, he knew he liked you and he thought you liked him, but how could he be sure? He would bed George would call him stupid for thinking she wouldn't like him but he just wasn't sure.
“Tell me then, what is it?” You were getting a bit antsy, he was a wild card to you. You adored him so much but sometimes you just never knew what was going on in his brain.
“A kiss.” You definitely weren't expecting that. As Dream spoke the two words he'd been repeating in his head for minutes, you were silent, sitting in shock.
You were expecting one of the boys to call it bullshit and tell you to just murder him on the spot, but they were silent.
“A..kiss?” You weren't sure you heard him right, because you couldn't believe it! A kiss? From Dream? You'd faint!
“Yeah. A kiss. And you let me kill the dragon.” He was gaining a bit more confidence after he realized he made you nervous.
“What?! No! No kissing! Murdering y/n! Murdering!” George wasn't surprised you were considering it because he knew how much you both like each other but he really doesn't want to lose like this.
“In- in game or?” you were sure he meant in game, but you were curious.
“Well.. it'll do until we meet in person. But I'll still owe you a real one after you let me win.” He smiled widely just thinking about getting to kiss you, or even be near you in real life! he could burst just at the thought.
While he was daydreaming, you were conflicted. The butterflies that were creating a sick feeling in your stomach at the thought of kissing him were overtaking the thought of wanting to beat him. You had already decided but you knew the boys would be so angry their secret weapon had failed them.
“How about. I take both kisses.. and then you have to beat me to the dragon. I won't fight you, you just have to beat the dragon before I can” Your plan seemed full proof. Seemed like a win win situation, or so you thought.
“Sounds perfect to me, y/n” He was grinning so madly, Your character got close to his, just a block or so in front of him.
“This won't be nearly as good as it could be but, MWAH '' Dream made an exaggerated kissing noise as he jumped towards your character hitting into it, then turning and booking it towards the dragon as it was starting to perch.
The boys were cheering and yelling as you sat in shock, not at the fact that his character kissed yours but because of what he said before. 
Was he really going to kiss you in real life? Your mind was absolutely swimming with thoughts when you suddenly checked back in at the sound of three boys yelling your name and the sound of the dragon dying.
“You just stood there y/n! why would you just stand there?!” George tries to sound mad but he really couldn't be. He was sure dream was on cloud 9 at that moment.
Dream was out of his chair, yelling with excitement as the boys were angrily shouting about their loss while you were still silent. Your silence was taken by a laugh, your own laugh,
“Hey y/n, can I call you in a little while?” He asked
“Yeah, please.” You said shakily as you left the discord call.
You leaned back in your chair, shaking your head with a small smile. He was going to be the death of you.
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hockeyboysimagines · 3 years
Text
Guess I always knew
Prequel to Say it to me Softly.
Pairing:Nolan Patrick x Sawyer Grey(OC fem)
Warnings: swearing, mentions of death, parties, alcohol, sexual situations, fluff, angst, harassment, fighting.
Hi all! This is really long, but it had to be done! Just some fun Nolan and Sawyer moments through the years until he asks her to move with him. Hopefully it can give you some background on them and you enjoy it!
-💕
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Toast popped up just as Delaney wrapped the hair tie around the bottom of Sawyers braid
“Viola.” She said smiling and pulling it tight. Sawyer smiled at her sister as her mother pulled the toast up and put butter on it. It was a warm early summer morning and a cool breeze was drifting through the open screen door in the kitchen. The radio was on, Sawyer’s mother, Anna humming along with the radio as she moved about the kitchen making breakfast. Mason was in his high chair eating cereal, and she could hear Liv making her way downstairs. Kellan was seated at the island reading the sports section of the paper.
“ Alright.” Delaney said, finishing her orange juice and placing her plate and cup in the dishwasher “I’m out.”
“Where you off to today?” He mom asked as she stirred pancake batter, bowl perched on her hip.
“Heading to the lake with some friends, shouldn’t be home too late.”
Her mom smiled, as Delaney dropped a kiss in Mason’s head and slugged kellan in the side. She waved to the girls and her mom.
“Del?” She turned hoisting her bag over her shoulder, hand braced on the door frame.
“Be careful. “
She smiled “Always am mom.” She breezed out the door, the sound of her flip flops on the gravel growing faint until she reached her car and pulled out of the driveway.
“How bout you?” Her mom said turning to Kellan. He stood drinking the last of his coffee, and stretched setting the paper down.
“I’m heading out to pick up some bait, then I’m gonna meet dad out at the mill and we’re gonna go fishing and then we’ll be home with dinner.” She smiled and wiped her hands on her apron, accepting a kiss on the cheek as he walked to put his boots on.
“And you?” Sawyer smiled and before she could say anything she heard her name being called from the driveway.
“Why do I even ask?” He mother chuckled and opened the window.
“Good morning Nolan honey! Are you hungry?”
“Good morning Mrs.Grey! No thanks my mom wouldn’t let me leave without eating. She said she has flowers to drop off for you later today!” Sawyer shoved her feet in her sneakers and put her plate and cup in the dishwasher before giving her mom a quick hug and waving to her siblings.
Nolan was sitting on his bike at the bottom of the driveway, backpack strapped on his shoulders. Sawyer heaved her own bike up, throwing a leg over it and hoisting herself up on the seat.
“So what do you want to do today?” Nolan asked as they began pedaling down the gravel road.
Summer had just started, and they had 3 whole months of free time with no school, no teachers and no responsibility.
“ I don’t know. It’s not warm enough to go swimming.”
He shook his head as they continued down the road waving to various neighbors and classmates. The sun was out now, high in the sky beating down and burning their shoulders. They ended up pedaling out of the neighborhood and dropped their bikes at the end of a hill and hiked to the top. They could see almost the whole town from there. Nolan was stretched out laying on his back eyes closed. Even at 12 Nolan was all legs and arms, hair shaggy that he refused cut. His mom had given up chasing him around with scissors and threatening bodily harm if he didn’t keep it short.
“I’m so glad schools over.”
“Yeah me too. No more homework, no more class, no more hockey.”
“You love hockey.”
“ Well yeah I do but I like a good break now and again you know.”
They sat for a while talking about the important stuff all 12 year olds talk about until it got too hot. They trekked back down the hill and decided to go to Nolan’s. The sun was shining and the air was warm and what should have been the start of a fun filled summer was the day their lives were about to change. Nolan’s mom had come frantically running from the front door when she saw them coming up the front walk and ushered them both into the car.
Delaney Grey was gone, her car abandoned, and no one knew where she was. Sawyer watched the following days destroy her parents, and turn her world upside down. The discovery of her car and her body later on would change the course of Sawyers entire life. She would forever be known as the girl who’s sister was murdered. Nolan was more important to her than ever. His mom took her in, keeping her shielded and protected from things she didn’t need to see, and stepped in when her mom couldn’t.
Time passed, the wounds healed but her parents were never the same and never okay. A lot of it passed so quickly she woke some days and didn’t remember. But the time they turned 15 rumors and stares mostly died down, until the anniversary. It would always be a part of her, and something that would always affect her. But she had Nolan. So she would fine.
******
“Gosh it’s so hot.” Jessi was sitting on a lawn chair in Sawyers backyard, sunglasses perched on her nose. Jessie had become an unexpected and close friend over the school year. They had met in English class, and paired together in a project. Jessie had a purple streak in her long dark hair, and a nose ring but she was funny and the only person who she could spend long amounts of time with besides Nolan. He even liked her, and the two of them got along well. The girls had been laying out in their bathing suits for almost 45 minutes and the most color they had gotten was sunburn. Sawyer closed her eyes and tipped her head back. It was rare to have peaceful moments like this so she was going to cherish it.
“Speaking of hot-“Jessi lowered her glasses and nudged her chin forward. Nolan and Chase, along with some other guys she didn’t know had just pulled into her driveway.
“Are you sure you never hit that?” Jessi was talking about Nolan, as always. She didn’t understand how ‘two people so attractive could exist as just friends without sex’.
“No Jess, I have not.”
“Are you sure you don’t wanna now? I mean damn.”
“If you think he’s so hot why don’t you-“
“He’s way out of my league babe. I wouldn’t even try it. But you should.”
Nolan had immediately tried to get them to leave her driveway the minute they pulled up and he saw she was wearing a bikini.
“Oh hell no.” Chase said practically jumping out of the car. “Sorry Pat. You said I couldn’t touch, but you said nothing about looking.”
Nolan mumbled something and followed his friends into her backyard, already regretting not calling. Why couldn’t she be wearing clothing?
*******
Sawyer closed her locker, balancing her books in one arm as she clicked the lock shut. It was raining but it was Friday and school was halfway over. As she turned she bumped into a chest. She looked up, about to scold Nolan for sneaking up on her when she was greeted by Kyle Welch. Kyle was the captain of the football team and a pretty well known colossal dick, but all the same he was popular and someone she had never even spoken to. Her eyebrows shot up on her forehead and she took a step back.
Hi. Your Sawyer right?”
“I-Uh yeah?”
“Your in my English class right? We should study sometime.” He was smiling at her, all teeth like a fucking dragon. He was looking at her with the strangest of looks, one that made her very very uncomfortable. Like she was a piece of meat, a toy for him to play with.
“Uhm. Sure. I guess.”
He gave her another smile and a nod before walking down the hallway and disappearing.
She shook her head, still confused but began her walk to the cafeteria. She found Nolan and the rest of her friends seated at the usual table. She sat between Nolan and Chase, across from Jessie, still bothered by the exchange at her locker.
“Your never going to believe who asked me to study today.” She said as she bit into an apple slice from her spot between them.
“Who?” Chase asked turning to her, mouth full of sandwich.
“Kyle Welch.”
Nolan’s bottle of water banged loudly off the table as he dropped it and his head whipped towards her.
“He what?”
She nodded and as she went to speak Kyle himself passed by their table sending her a smile. Nolan was glaring at him so severely, if looks could kill Kyle would be dead and the football team would be out a captain.
“No fucking way are you helping that guy study.” Nolan said, face set in stone.
“Yeah I’m gonna have to second this one.” Chase said from her other side.
“I wasn’t going to anyways, I think he just did it to be a dick.” She could feel heat and tension radiating off of Nolan, though she wasn’t sure why. As far as she knew they had never had any interaction, and ran in separate circles. But he was still glaring at him all the same.
“I heard some pretty messed up shit about that guy.” Chase said, eyeing Kyle from across the room.
“Like what?” Jessie asked. She was staring at Nolan who was still visibly angry, eyebrows furrowed. She glanced at Sawyer, who shrugged and turned her attention to Chase.
“ I mean it’s just a rumor but someone said that spiked some girls drink at Jenny Miller’s party last year. And I guess she isn’t the only one. Apparently he’s done it before. Like I said, just what I heard but still alarming eh?”
“Just stay clear of him.” Nolan snapped. He was quiet for the rest of lunch till the bell rang. He gave her a long look as he stood, and then turned abruptly and left the cafeteria without another word.
“What’s his deal?” Jessi asked, making Chase roll his eyes.
“You know Nolan. Come on.” He said nudging Sawyer “We’re gonna be late.”
She had always tried to keep her distance from Kyle and his group of friends in general. Nolan had an issue with him that she never truly understood but because it was Nolan she trusted it was for a good reason. She was following behind Chase on the way to history, but as he rounded the corner Kyle reappeared in front of her separating them. Chase kept walking unaware that she was no longer behind him.
“Oh hi.” She said taking a step away from him. The hallway was mostly empty and he was way too close to her.
“So about studying. How about later?”
“Oh I Uhm. I don’t know.”
“Come on. My parents are gone for the weekend so we’ll have the place to ourselves.” He reached forward, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. She froze. Nolan had a habit of tucking her hair behind her ear, but it felt all wrong when Kyle did it, and she didn’t like it one bit.
“I can drive you to my house. It’ll be fun.”
“I usually drive home with-“
“Me.” She jumped and turned to find Nolan coming up behind her. He was glowering at Kyle over her shoulder, who looked at him unfazed.
“Is this your boyfriend or something?”
“Yeah I am. Let’s go.” He steered her away by the waist, and down the hall away from him.
“What the fuck was that about?” He stopped suddenly and spun to face her.
“He wanted me to come home with him after school. I said no.”
He rubbed his forehead eyes closed “Go to History. And wait for me after school. “
He left, storming down the hall leaving her standing in front of her classroom. After class she said goodbye to Chase and stuffed her books into her locker before walking out the back entrance of school. The rain had stopped but it was damp and chilly as she walked, avoiding puddles on the sidewalk. She rubbed her arms through her sweater, and as she turned the corner to the back of the building she stopped.
Kyle and a few of on his football buddies were hanging around, and turned to face her. Kyle smiled slowly, and gave her a once over, making her feel like she needed a shower. She felt trapped for a moment when she realized she was alone, the closest person being way ahead of her in the parking lot.
“Hey. Decided to take me up in my offer eh?” She was still glued to the spot.
“I was actually heading to meet Nolan. Excuse me.” She tried to brush past him but he grabbed her arm.
“Hey where you going?” He pulled her closer, fingers gripping her skin painfully. The other guys had wandered over, circling around laughing. She broke from his grasp only to have him catch both of her wrists and pull him to her.
“You should be thankful I’m even giving you the time of day.” He said coolly “Now how about you come get in my car and we’ll go to my house and you can get on your-“
“What is this?” Nolan had turned to corner with Rhett and Chase. Kyle released her and held his hands up. She bolted to Nolan, falling into his arms holding back tears. Had he not turned the corner she had no idea what would have happened. Kyle and his friends turned to leave, and he yelled over his shoulder.
“Have fun slumming Patrick.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“Whoa buddy. Calm down.” Chase said peering around him to look at her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine I just really wanna go home.” She swiped at a tear, as more came rolling down her cheeks, she heaved in a ragged breath. He had scared her, and made her feel small. She wondered if this was how her sister felt when she knew she was in trouble that day. Small and scared. And alone. Nolan ducked his head down to look at her.
“Hey. Hey. It’s okay let’s just go.” She walked with them to the car, several student noticing her red eyes and tears. She got in quickly, while Nolan said goodbye to the guys. The ride home was quiet. Too quiet. She felt disgusting, and every time she closed her eyes she could feel his breath on her face and his hands on her skin. Nolan was gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white face unreadable. When he pulled up to her house, he parked and sighed. No one was home, and though normally he would drop her off, he got out.
“I’m not leaving you here alone.”
She nodded and he followed her up the front steps and in the front door. She was still crying as she dropped her backpack by the door.
“Sawyer.” He said softly. She turned, head bowed and he very gently wrapped her in a hug, sobs wracking her body. They stayed like that for a while, till she was all cried out.
******
Nolan had completely forgotten that he promised Bo he would do an “interview” the best day. While he was annoyed, he was also relieved. They had been friends for a long time, and Bo took his mind off getting in his car and driving to Kyle’s house to murder him. Sawyer was going to come over afterwards. She was still upset, but was doing her best to mask it. He felt guilty for letting her walk out of school alone that day, when he would typically meet her by the entrance.
After the whole thing was over and Bo ended the interview, miffed that Nolan had answered the phone before he was done speaking, Nolan hung up and turned back to Bo who was smiling mischievously.
“ So?”
“What?”
Bo rolled his eyes “We all know who your best friend is Pat and we both know it’s neither one of those guys.”
Nolan rolled his eyes and scowled “ Leave her out of this.”
“I would but she’s just so hot-“
Before Bo could say anything else Nolan had pulled the back of his shirt over his head and had him in a tight neck lock. The other guys laughed immediately trying to turn the camera back on.
“Alright Jesus let go Pat! I was joking!”
He released him and pointed a finger threateningly at him as Bo straightened his shirt and started giggling.
“I’m serious-“
“I know Pat I would never do that. I thought you knew me better than that.”
That was Nolan’s worst fear. Most of his friends knew better than to even think about asking Sawyer out but it didn’t stop them from looking and making comments. The speculation that surrounded them had grown huge by the time they were in high school, and while it was exhausting to have to answer the same questions over and over again Nolan found that he didn’t really mind that people thought there was some attachment between them. It kept guys away from her and while he knew it was selfish he couldn’t help it. He just didn’t think anyone was good enough for her. He had purposely said someone else’s name when Bo asked so that they would leave him alone about her and it had backfired anyways.
It was frustrating for Nolan to know that given the opportunity all his friends would make some type of move on her, and he would break both his legs before that happened. He tried to keep a barrier between her and them but most of the time it didn’t work. She was just so damn friendly and approachable, her big smile pulled people in like a magnet.
“ I thought she’d be around, where is she anyway?”
“None of your business.”
Bo held his hands up, and as if on cue Sawyers car pulled into his driveway. Nolan had tried to hurry the process of the ‘interview’ hoping they would be gone before she got there but Bo had spent so much time goofing around they were behind schedule.
Great.
She stepped out, closed the door and made her way to Nolan’s back yard. Her hair was curly today, falling down her back to her waist. She had on a pair of jeans and a long sleeve grey shirt. Even completely covered the other guys had already given her a thorough once over and continued to stare as she came to stand next to him. Nolan gave Bo one last glare
“Hi.” Nolan wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. For whatever the reason Nolan got slightly possessive over her in situations like this, which didn’t make sense because he wasn’t her boyfriend. But the arm that he wrapped around her shoulders stayed there, keeping her pulled flush to his side.
“Hi Bo.” She smiled at him, practically making the other guys flood Nolan’s yard with drool.
“Hey. Your boy here just hit me with a plastic ball right in the junk.”
“Well you probably deserved it.”
Nolan laughed and bid Bo and the others goodbye, as they filed out of his yard, and Sawyer followed him up the steps to his room and threw herself down on his bed. He pulled open a drawer and pulled his shirt off to put on a new one. Sawyer turned and felt a blush creep up her neck while he changed. She had seen him shirtless plenty of times but he had obviously been spending extra time in the gym and his long lanky frame was beginning to change.
What the hell am I saying? She shook her head and turned her attention to the tv instead, trying to ignore shirtless Nolan on the other side of the room. He pulled another shirt over his head and came to sit next to her.
“Tired?” He asked. She was curled in a ball, head on his pillow. She nodded and closed her eyes.
“I couldn’t sleep last night after you know-.”
He nodded “I’m still mad about it. But that’s never gonna happen again.”
He laid down next to her, settling in and flipped the tv on and she inches closer resting her head on his shoulder. She had an angry purple bruise on her wrist, another on her upper arm. He was pissed just looking at it. It was a reminder that he hadn’t been there to protect her.
Her eyes had slid closed. He was so warm and inviting and she felt safe and relaxed for the first time in 24 hours, as she felt his arm wrap around her shoulders. He felt her body grow heavy, and her breathing even out and grow slow. They were alone in his house, his parents and sisters were gone and would be for several hours. He reached a hand up and ran it tentatively through her hair. He always had his hands in her hair. It was thick and soft and caught the light just right when she moved. She stirred slightly, and wrapped an arm around his midsection, sighing. Her eyes opened and she tipped her head back to look up at him.
Nolan suddenly felt an extreme urge to kiss her. His eyes moved to her mouth, which was less than 6 inches from his own, and then back up to her eyes again. They stayed that way for a few moments before Nolan leaned forward slightly hand coming up to her face. Her heart rate increased as his nose brushed against hers. Their lips had just touched when the sound of a slamming door from downstairs made them jump apart and Sawyer moved clear across the bed away from him before standing up quickly. Nolan was alarmed at what had almost just happened and was rooted to the spot. She was backed up against the wall like a animal cornered in a cage, eyes large.
“Sawyer I-“
She hurried from the room, the sound of her feet carrying down the stairs, out his front door and into her car. He threw himself backwards and sighed.
Fuck.
******
Sawyer was standing with Jessie drink in hand when Bo came up behind her and bumped her shoulder.
“Your boy is here.” He motioned behind him with his head, and Sawyer rolled her eyes.
“He’s not my boy.” She looked over Bo’s shoulder and felt a twinge of annoyance. Nolan was standing with Rhett and Chase surrounded by a group of girls all giggling and twirling their hair around their fingers, giving them their best doe eyes. One girl in particular had Nolan’s attention, as he leaned against the wall hands in his pockets smiling as she spoke to him. The twinge of annoyance became anger. What the hell was he doing? He had nearly kissed her earlier that afternoon and now he was flirting with someone else?
“Kaylee Smith eh?” Jessie shook her head and took a sip out of her solo cup “Is anyone gonna tell him it’s supposedly like a cave down there?”
Bo stifled a laugh and looked at Sawyer. She was gripping her cup, other arm folded across her midsection.
“Well isn’t that just fucking cozy.”
She downed the rest of her drink and pushed through the crowd to get another one. Bo and Jessie watched her go before turning back to each other.
“This isn’t going to end well.”
“Maybe I should go warn Pat.”
Bo turned and weaved through the crowd of people, and gave Nolan a punch when he reached him. He turned pausing his conversation with Kaylee, and gave Bo a small smile.
“What’s up?”
“Can I talk to you?…. Alone?” Kaylee reached forward and gave Nolan’s hand a small squeeze before she turned to walk away.
“I’ll talk to you later.” She gave him a smile over the shoulder which he returned, and turned to leave with her friends.
“Are you a moron?” Bo asked arms folded. Nolan frowned, and Rhett and Chase both let out a chuckle.
“What?”
“Your about to cause a serious cat fight my guy.”
“Cat fight? I’m down for a cat fight.” Chase was snickering over the top of his solo cup, as he surveyed the girls in the living room.
“Who?” Nolan was confused. He had been talking to Kaylee since he had arrived and she was definitely flirting with him. He didn’t really have any interest in her, but he also didn’t have a girlfriend so he let her continue. And then it hit him. Sawyer had to be around here somewhere and no doubt it looked from the outside that he was going to take Kaylee home.
“Where is she?” Bo was frowning at him, and shook his head.
“What is up with you two? Your friends but I don’t think your really just friends-“
“Please dude we’ve had this conversation with him a million times and he refuses to budge.”
“Where is she?” Nolan repeated more forcefully this time. After what had happened earlier he had to at least explain himself. He couldn’t see her but he did see Jessie making her way through the crowd. He pushed in between them and caught her by the elbow.
“Nolan hi.” She knew what he wanted, but Sawyer had asked her to cover so she was going to.
“Where is she Jessie?”
“I don’t know honestly. I lost her a little bit ago. Check the bathroom maybe?”
Jessie’s face was solid as steel. She wasn’t going to tell him anything.
Sawyer in the mean time was in the kitchen pouring alcohol into a cup when she felt a presence behind her. Kaylee smith was leaning against the counter behind her, arms crossed. She had never spoken a word to her before so she wasn’t sure why she was in her space now.
“Sorry do you need something?” She wasn’t usually this snippy but she was already annoyed and the source of her annoyance was way too close for her liking.
“What’s with you and Nolan?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going home with him, and I just want to make sure you aren’t together.”
Sawyer giggled into her cup, before sipping off the top of it and shook her head as it burned all the way down her throat. “Your awfully sure of yourself huh?”
She pursed her lips in a tight smile, head turning to the side “Honey, I always get what I want. So you can find your own way home tonight. Kay?” She gave a wide nasty smile and Sawyer saw red.
“You really think he’s taking you home? Then you don’t really know Nolan at all. And don’t ever think he’ll take you home over me. Ever.”
At that moment Nolan himself entered the kitchen looking relieved to find her and then awkward when he realized she wasn’t alone. Kaylee smiled at him but he brushed past her and stood between them.
“Can I talk to you.” He gently grabbed Sawyers elbow and pulled her out of the kitchen. She sent a small smile at Kaylee over her shoulder as he steered her away, and left her standing in the kitchen mouth open. Once out of sight she pulled her arm from his grip and nearly stumbled, catching herself on the wall.
“Are you drunk?”
“Not enough.” She took another sip of her drink and ran her fingers through her hair before she turned on him.
“You and Kaylee smith huh?” She was squinting at him, cheeks red, hand on her hip. She looked angry, but Nolan wasn’t sure why because he hadn’t done anything.
“What? No.”
“Oh please.” She jabbed a finger into his chest, and stumbled back from the force of it “I saw her all googledneyes-gogole eyeed” Nolan was almost tempted to laugh as she stumbled over her words eyebrows furrowed as she struggled to say what she was trying to.
“Okay. I think it’s time to take you home.”
“She said you were taking her home.”
“God no. I’m taking you home. Now let’s go.”
He said goodbye to his friends and put her in the car. Her house was dark which meant no one was home. He had a hell of a time getting her out and up the stairs. He had just gotten her in the door when he felt her start to shake. At first he thought she was going to puke and immediately held her out at arms length, and rubbed against the wall near the light switch trying to turn it on with no hands. But when she let out a whimper he realized she wasn’t about to get sick.
“Are you crying?”
“No.” She choked out, bracing a hand on his arm as she almost fell in the doorway.
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s gonna take you away.”
“What? Who?”
“Kaylee what’s her name? Girlfriends never let guys have girl beat friends.”
“Oh my god are you-stop.” He heaved her up the stairs as tear flowed down her face. He turned her around so her arms were around his neck, face tucked into his shoulder. She had herself pulled so tightly against him he was struggling to get up the stairs. He had one hand firmly on her lower back, the other one he was using to pull himself up the stairs by the railing. She let out a particular loud sob, and Nolan tired to pull her off of him to look at him, but she just held him tighter.
“Im not even into her like that.”
“Her. Someone else. Doesn’t matter. They’ll take you from me.” She whispered against his neck. Her words touched Nolan’s heart.
“That’s never gonna happen okay?” He opened her bedroom door and walked her forward to her bed losing his footing and falling down into bed with her. They landed, bed springs squeaking with a small ‘oof’. Her tears had subsided and she was laying with her eyes closed on her pillow as he untangled himself from her.
“ Nolan?” Sawyer asked face against the pillow
“ Hmmmmm?”
“ Do you still love me?” He chuckled and pulled the covers up over her, pushing her hair from her face. She was flushed and her eyeliner was smudged around the eyes from her crying, but she opened them and stared at him waiting for his answer.
“ Of course I do. Why?”
She sat up suddenly, getting right up in his face. He was frozen as she stared at him, lips pushing up against his, arm wrapping around his neck. It was chaste at first but then she pressed harder and pulled herself flush to him. Like his body was on autopilot he let his tongue trace across her lower lip, and she opened her mouth allowing him to push it inside. Her heart was beating hard in her chest as one of his hands tangled in her hair and gripped the back of her neck. They carried on a few more moments till he felt her tug at the bottom of his shirt.
“No Sawyer.”
She looked shocked, and then angry as she backed up against her headboard.
“Did you say no? “
“Yes I did.”
She sputtered for a moment, genuine hurt clouding her face. Nolan felt bad but he had to put his foot down.
“ What? Not pretty enough?”
“No that has nothing to do with it. I’m not gonna let you do this when your drunk. Now go to bed. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.” She blinked sadly and laid down facing away from him. She was out within seconds and Nolan sighed looking down at her. He laid down on the sofa at the opposite end of her room, and folded his arm beneath his head as stared at the ceiling.
What the hell was going on?
Sawyer woke up with a raging headache the next morning. Her whole body hurt, and her mouth tasted like booze. She blinked a few times before she lifted her head and immediately put it back on her pillow. Her clothing from the night before was still on and as she curled up to snuggle deeper under the blankets her foot hit something. She froze and turned slowly to find Nolan was sitting up next to her on her bed, doing something on his phone. Her curtains were drawn shut and the room was still dark, but the the tv was on. She could hear the putter patter of rain on her window and could see the dark clouds through a sliver of window not covered by the curtain. He looked down when she stirred and smiled.
“Hey. How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a train. She rolled over to face him, head still on her pillow.
“Go back to sleep. I’ll stay for a while.”
She nodded and yawned snuggling in closer to him. He reached a tentative hand up and let his fingers run through her hair. She was asleep within a few minutes, her head resting on her pillow by his hip. She didn’t remember last night and he wouldn’t tell her about it. It was a secret he would keep, and kiss he would try to forget.
Nolan never spoke of it to anyone, not his friends, family no one. It was a secret he would take with him not only for his own sake but for hers as well. He didn’t know what she was going through but what had happened last night could have changed everything. He had thankfully not been drinking at that point, because if he had he wasn’t so sure he would have stopped her. The way she had kissed him had sent a chill up his spine. He buried it, and things between them went back to normal, but sometimes late at night when he couldn’t sleep it floated into his mind, and though he would never admit it to anyone but his own conscience, he wanted to do it again.
*******
“Nolan James you are cutting this hair whether you like it or not.” His mom said as she shoved him out the door and into the car. Sawyer was chuckling as she buckled herself in the backseat. He threw his head against the passenger seat. He had worked so hard to grow it out.
“I will not have you looking like a homeless child when you get drafted.”
“Everyone wears it this way now mom-“
“Well you don’t.” Nolan grumbled, and bitched and moaned through the whole thing. His mom made him take it short, shorter than it had been in a long time. He looked clean cut and presentable, but she liked it long.
“You look SO handsome.” She said smiling at him through the mirror. He looked sadly at the long pieces that littered the floor.
“I better get drafted really high for this.”
*******
“Philadelphia selects from the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings, Nolan Patrick.”
Sawyer covered her mouth, blinking away the tears in her eyes. She watched as Nolan stood, and hugged his parents and sisters before turning to her and pulling her into a very long hug.
“I couldn’t have made it this far without you.” He whispered, before releasing her and walked up to the stage, and pulled on the orange sweater.
He had made it. And she was so proud of him. His mom gave her a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s so important to him that your here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” She swiped at a tear, and clapped along with the rest of the crowd as Nolan stood on the stage and officially became a Philadelphia Flyer. She knew this meant she was going to lose him, that he would be far away and make new friends, and maybe even meet the girl he would spend the rest of his life with. But he had made it and that was all that mattered. When everything was all said and done, interviews completed and photos taken, it was just them alone in her hotel room. They had broken into the mini bar, and were laying on their back in the bed. The orange jersey hung on the back of a chair, and her black dress was hung on a hanger, shoes on the floor.
“How does it feel?” She asked quietly. The sun had just started to go down, the tv was on and she was sleepy from the long day and the alcohol. He shrugged.
“Nols you got drafted today. That’s a big thing.”
“Yeah. But it means I’m going to have to leave you.”
He turned his head to look at her. He was happy about the draft, but his whole life was in Winnipeg, with his family, his friends, and her. And he would leave all that at the end of the summer.
“I’m not going anywhere Nols. I’ll be here when you leave, and I’ll be here when you get back.”
There wasn’t much talking the rest of the night. They chose to sit in comfortable silence till they both fell asleep. They spent as much time together that summer as they could, clinging on to the last moments together for dear life. They were both absolutely terrified of being without each other for the first time in almost 19 years. She would have to re adjust her life at home without him, and he would have to start over somewhere new without her.
The night before he was due to leave they hiked up to the top of that hill they had sat on the day her sister disappeared. It was dark by the time they reached the top, the sounds of nightfall echoing through the trees. The moon was high in the sky, casting a pale milky glow over the trees and hills. The light sod town seemed so far away as they sat neither one saying a word.
“Will you come visit?” He asked quietly. She nodded.
“Of course. As soon as I can. Your gonna have so much fun in Philly Nolan.”
“I guess.”
It was quiet for a while before Nolan couldn’t take it anymore. He had been dying the last few months, each day getting shorter and shorter as it passed. His time with her seemed like it was being robbed from him. He went over it a million times in his head. And he always came back to the night she kissed him. A night she didn’t even remember and he would never forget.
“Sawyer.” He said suddenly, startling her. She was so used to him mumbling his way through life it took her aback how deep his voice was when he spoke clearly.
“What?”
“Can I- I just. Maybe this is just me being…whatever about leaving tomorrow but, can I…can I kiss you?”
She sucked in a breath, feeling like her chest was constricting. They had not spoken of their almost kiss the day he took her home when she was drunk, and she had pushed it out of her mind as a pity kiss for what had happened at the school the day prior. She didn’t remember the other one, and here he was asking her to do it again. He stared at her for a long time waiting for an answer. She didn’t know why she did it, she couldn’t think of a reason, she could barely even formulate words, but somehow she managed to say.
“Yes.”
He rose to his feet and extended a hand pulling her up with him. Her heart was clocking around in her chest, as she watched his hand moved forward and came to rest on her cheek. He stepped forward, pulling her against him very gently before he leaned down and brushed her nose with his own, before he pressed his lips to hers.
It wasn’t a heavy make out like in a movie. It was soft and slow, and shorter than she wanted it to be. When they broke apart, he sighed and let his forehead fall against her own.
“I don’t want to leave tomorrow.”
******
She watched with tears in her eyes as Nolan hugged his parents, various aunts uncles and friends at the airport. There had been no more talking, or kissing the night before. She didn’t know why he had done it, but it felt like it was okay. He finally turned to her, eyes sad and took a deep breath.
“Don’t cry.” He said as she fell slowly into him, arms coming around his midsection. A series of silent tears fell from her eyes as he rubbed a hand up her back. She knew this moment was coming, but she wasn’t ready for it. He pulled back to look at her, hands resting on her shoulders. She had her head bowed, two fistfuls of the material of his sweatshirt. His mom motioned for the rest of the group to turn around, and give them some privacy.
“Nolan.” Her voice caught in her throat. He reached forward and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear for what felt like the last time.
“I’ll see you soon.” He gave her a small smile, and let go of her still grasping her hand as he walked away towards the gate until they both let go. She wrapped her arms around her middle. She watched until he disappeared through security before she let out a choked sob. Bo, Jessi, And Chase immediately pulled her into a three way hug, and allowed her to cry on their shoulders right there in the airport.
*******
I hope you like this! It was both funny and sad and special to write! Let me know what you think💕
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echos-lighthouse · 3 years
Text
Ninjago fairy tale AU’s because I can’t sleep
Lloyd: little red riding hood
Zane: Snow White
Echo: Rapunzel
Jay: the little mermaid
Kai: beauty and the beast
Cole: Goldilocks and the three bears
Little green riding hood
This was going to be Kai but Lloyd fit better
Oh my gosh like the fandoms expectations for the green ninja
Lloyd was told by his Uncle Wu to go pick up some tea from Mystake
On his way back, he keeps running into Akita, who’s trying to warn him of danger, but Lloyd can’t understand her
The danger is Harumi is following him. Lloyd doesn’t see her
When Lloyd reaches the monastery, Harumi is there, pretending to tend the place
She says that she’ll take the tea to Wu, and Lloyd is give her the tea, when Akita comes and scares Harumi off
Akita sniffs out Wu and after she finds him, reveals herself as a human
Then they all live happily ever after (except Harumi) the end
Snow White
Zane is the son of the oh so famous Dr. Julien, the royal inventor, but the King (ice elemental from the elemental alliance) takes a liking to Zane, and adopts him when Dr. Julien dies
Now Zane is the prince woo
The King also takes a liking to the ice emperor, but that was a mistake, because he sneakily kills the king and takes the throne for himself
“Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the coldest of them all?”
It’s Zane
So IE tells Vex to go kill Zane, but Vex doesn’t actually know how to kill a nindroid so he just tells him to run into the forest
That’s where Zane meets the 7 dwarves
Hungry (Cole) Chatty (Jay) Confused (teen Wu) Flirty (Kai) Grumpy (Morro) Happy (Echo) and Sleepy (Lloyd)
Later he meets P.I.X.A.L. who immediately catches his heart
The IE finds out that Zane is still alive, and decides that since Vex didn’t help him, he was going to have to kill Zane himself
He disguises himself and goes into the forest
He gives Zane an apple that gives him a fatal virus, but Zane doesn’t realize it’s bad so he dies (wow shocker)
Then the IE falls off a cliff
The 7 dwarves hold a small funeral and invite P.I.X.A.L.
P.I.X.A.L. realizes that Zane isn’t dead dead, so she kisses him and he comes back to life
They go back to the kingdom and Zane is crowned king, and P.I.X.A.L is queen. The dwarves are advisors
Then they all live happily ever after the end
Echo
Dr. Julien didn’t want Zane to know he was building a little brother for him, because he was getting sick, and thought he was going to die soon, and he didn’t want Zane to be sad at his brother and his father not being around
So he struck up a deal with Samukai the Skeleton
Samukai would give him a private place to build Echo, and a potion to help him get better if Samukai got to keep Echo
Not having much of an option, Dr. Julien agreed, hoping that Echo and Zane would find each other on their own
Echo was built and Samukai kept him in a lighthouse
Dr. Julien tells Zane of his missing brother
Events of Snow White (seen above) ensue and now Zane is king yay
Morro is a wanted thief and while getting away, he runs into what he thinks is an abandoned lighthouse
Only to find a rusty nindroid
Echo explains he’s always wanted to see the real world but he never got to
Morro sneaks him out and they head to the kingdom to celebrate the king’s birthday
Echo realizes that he’s the king’s brother, and he a Morro go back to ask Samukai questions
Samukai does an exposition dump, and stabs Morro, before Morro simply blows him away
Morro dies but he’s a ghost so it’s okay
They return to the kingdom and Echo FINALLY meets Zane
Morro and Echo start dating
Then they all live happily ever after the end
The Little Mermaid
Jay was always fascinated with little toys he found from human shipwrecks
He would often go on and on about what he thought they were all used for
His father may have been King Cliff, but Jay was practically raised by Ed and Edna, who taught him about the human world
His mom is dead rip
He goes to the surface and finds Nya, who he immediately falls in love with
He stays hidden, but sings Nya a little song
The ship almost wrecks, but Jay saves Nya. She’s barely waking up to his song again before he swims off. She wants to know who that voice was
Jay finds a locket with Nya and her brother in it, and he wants to take it to Nya, so he tells his dad
His dad isn’t happy that Jay fell in love with a human
After another fight with his father, Jay goes off and gets lost, but is found by Nadakhan
Nadakhan says he can make Jay human, all he has to do is wish, and Jay gets 3 wishes total. After the third wish, Nadakhan gets something of Jay’s
Jay’s first wish is to be human, his second is that he won’t be able to speak because he wants to save his 3rd wish
Nadakhan grants Jay’s wishes and Jay goes to learn to become human. He gives the locket to Nya
Nya tells him about her brother’s romantic escapades (see below) but she also tells him that she has to get married soon or she might not be able to support her career in technological advancement
She has her sights (or rather ears) set on the lovely voice she heard that night, but Jay can’t tell her that that was him
They meet Nadakhan who has come to get Jay’s third wish, but Jay won’t use it
Nadakhan says that if Jay doesn’t use his third wish by sundown the next day, he was going to kill Nya
Nadakhan uses magic to sound like Jay, and Nya has to marry him (she’s under a spell)
The next day, Jay still hasn’t made his third wish by sundown and Nya starts dying
Jay wishes her to stay alive, and says even if Nadakhan takes his legs and he never gets to see Nya again, he’ll be fine, just as long as she lives
Nadakhan grants the wish, but the spell on Nya fades away and she falls in love with Jay
I don’t know what to do with Nadakhan, I think I’ll have him just take the boat and leave
Then they all live happily ever after the end
Flirty and the Beast
Kai is the biggest flirt in their village
Everyone knows he’s just a blacksmith who likes fighting, but men and women alike can’t get enough of his flirtatious exploits
Though he’s never actually known what real love is. He also wants to go out on an adventure, but the closest he’s ever gotten was books
One day, Nya wants to take her samurai x project to ninjago city, and Kai tells her to have fun
While Cryptor (literally couldn’t find a better villain please work with me) is trying to get Kai to date him, Kai receives a message from Nya that she’s in trouble
Kai runs off to try and save her and that’s when he finds out that Nya’s been taken prisoner by an anacondrai looking person
She introduces herself as Skylor, and she says she’ll let Nya go if Kai stays with her
Kai agrees and Nya goes back to their village to get help
Nya tells Cryptor about Kai, and he just laughs it off, because Nya’s a women, and all women are crazy, but he decides that if Nya is going crazy, he could hold it against Kai
But he can’t find Kai
Back at Skylor’s mansion castle, Kai gets curious and finds the staff making Skylor a snake
After she scares him, he runs into the woods and is attacked by wolves, but Skylor saves him
They star falling in love after that
Kai asks Skylor if he could visit Nya, and Skylor reluctantly lets him go for good, thinking he might like that most
Kai also tells them of Skylor, finally realizing he loves her, and Cryptor decides to get rid of her, because “if I can’t have Kai, no one can”
They fight
After stopping Cryptor (Nya was able to shut him off) Kai shucking finally kisses Skylor and she turns into a Normal human
Wanting to help Kai go on and adventure, Skylor takes him, and Nya on a trip to visit a beach (queue previous story)
then they live happily ever after the end
Noir locks
Cole never wanted to sing and dance, but he loved watching the lumberjacks
One day he followed them out to a part of the woods he was unfamiliar with
He explores a bit more and finds a house. There seems to be fresh food, he didn’t eat breakfast and was starving, so he sneaks in
There’s cake
After eating the vanilla cake instead of the chocolate or strawberry, Cole decides to take a nap. He woke up super early to catch the lumberjacks, and walking for so long made him exhausted
He finds the most luxurious bed he’s ever slept in
He’s woken up to a high pitched scream
He sees an ivory and gold colored bear and starts screaming too
Two more bears come up the stairs
After they all calm down, the bears introduced themselves as Vania, Seliel, and Kataru
Kataru says his sister is usually here as well but she was out doing something else
Cole asks what the heck is going on and why there were talking bears sleeping in beds and eating cake
Vania explains that her father cursed her and Seliel, and Kataru was just a bear formling
Cole decides to see if he can do anything about it, so Vania leads him to her fathers mine
Cole try’s to reason with Vangelis, but the king won’t have it
Vania explains that Cole needs to shave Vangelis’s beard because that’s where he stores his magic
Cole does, but Vania and Seliel are still bears
Vangelis later explains that his magic is actually from a magic skull and he just tells people that it’s in his beard because he wants to throw them off
Cole tries to steal the skull, and Vangelis catches him and turns Cole into a bear
After fighting Vangelis and ultimately getting the skull, Cole runs off
He takes the skull back to Kataru who destroys it
Vania, Cole and Seliel turn back
Not having any real magic anymore, and just being a horrible person, Vangelis is knocked off the throne and Vania takes over
Then they all live happily ever after the end
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wtffundiefamilies · 3 years
Link
This is from 2013, but holy hell I hope Anna finds it.  Entirety of the post beneath the cut; it’s both long and not something people should read with no warning.  But I wanted to copypaste in case the link goes down one day.  It’s insane to me that these “little details” and “clues” are obvious and screaming red flags to people raised in a normal world.  (And no, looking at legal porn is not a “red flag” that someone is a child molester.  But, like...again, given the circumstances I’m not sure what we’d expect; we all saw what Jessa said.)  It’s part one of a series, and it’s amazing just how much this dude sounds like Josh.  And how much their “courtship” sounds like Josh and Anna’s.
Part of my mission, my purpose in life, is to educate others about child predators.  I’m not here to stir up some kind of crazy hype, but to present the facts and to give you a bit of insight as to what happened in my own life.  How was I so blinded to the fact that for forty years I was living with a practicing pedophile?  How did I not see the signs?  How did I not pick up on something being very wrong with the man I married?  
The truth is that I sensed something was wrong even before we got married, but I didn’t listen to my inner being.  I didn’t pay attention to those nudgings that something was wrong.  Why?  Because as a Christian it had been taught to me from little up that people who went to church were good, honest, moral people.  I was taught to trust people who said they believed in God and followed His teachings.  And, I did just that.  I was, unfortunately, one of the most trusting women who ever walked the face of the earth!
Pay attention to this, please!  Just because a person tells you that they walk by the teachings of God does not mean it’s true.  In fact, the word of God warns us against “wolves in sheep’s clothing”, and I learned first-hand just what that meant.  But, it would be years before my eyes were totally opened to this fact. As a bit of background information, I came from a broken home.  My parents divorced when I was fourteen, a sister of mine died when she was thirteen, my mother was an alcoholic, and my father was by today’s terms a “dead beat dad.”  Needless to say, I longed for a different life, and I prayed constantly that God would send a good, righteous, faithful Christian into my life so that I could build a home on godly principles and a firm foundation.
I worked hard all through high school so that I could go to college.  But, I didn’t want to go to just any college.  It had to be a Christian college because I sincerely believed that was the only place I would ever meet a Christian man to marry.  Because I worked so hard all through high school, I earned a four-year scholarship to a four-year state school.  BUT, you guessed it!  The idea of finding and marrying a Christian man was so ingrained in my heart and mind by now that I passed up the scholarship and instead went to a very small, two-year Christian College.  Little did I know that this one decision would lead to so much heartache for me and for those who are most special in my life — my children.  While it’s true that we can’t see around every bend in the road, there are signs and signals along the way.  I didn’t pay attention to anyone who tried to talk to me.  One thing was on my mind — finding a Christian mate!
Every person wants to feel special, and longs to be told that they stand out among all of the rest.  During the summer between my first and second year of college I met a young man who was articulate, bright, funny, witty, and who also told me that I stood out.  He was spending the summer at college and so was I.  A friendship developed, and even though I was engaged to marry someone else, this young man worked very hard every day to convince me that I was with the wrong person.  He pointed out all of the flaws of the man whose ring I was wearing until he finally convinced me to break off the engagement.  That’s a story in and of itself — maybe I’ll share that with you another day.
What was a bit strange to me was that the man I would soon marry had a quiet control over me like nobody ever had before.  Even though I had low self-esteem I was used to making my own decisions and being very independent.  For the first time in my life I found I was reporting my every move to this quiet, shy young man. He told me I was special.  He said out of all the girls on campus I was the only one that he thought was pretty and was a true Christian.  He told me just what I wanted to hear.  It was the word “Christian” that nailed me!  I knew he was the one I had been praying about since my youth!
One of the greatest stories my now ex-husband loved to tell was how he spotted me from across campus and said to his roommate, “See that girl?  I’m going to marry her.”  This was totally absurd because at the time he said that we had not even met!  He later told me he would hide and watch me — study me — and he knew my schedule, when I was going to eat, when I’d walk back to campus, when I would go to work.  He said, “I knew everything about you.  I knew where you were from morning until night. I knew I would marry you.”
Instead of being freaked out and thinking this guy was some kind of stalker psycho, I was flattered.  “He chose me.”  Out of all of the girls around, he chose me and that again was more evidence of answered prayers.  Deep inside, though, was a gnawing feeling that something wasn’t right.  He didn’t talk much.  And, for a man who said he loved God, he made fun of people in a mean way.  He mocked people’s insecurities.  Yes, you guessed it!  He mocked me on several occasions and I felt like a piece of dirt he had stepped on.  He made fun of the size of my nose.  He made fun of my feet calling them “hammer head toes.”  He made fun of the space I have between my teeth.  I cried myself to sleep many, many nights, but still……..he was a Christian man, and he was so nice when we were together in public.  He opened the car door for me (it was my car, by the way).  He paid the bill when we went out to eat and left a nice tip.  (It was my money that he used.)  He talked me into giving him my car (which I had since I was 16) and I found myself asking him for permission to use my own car.  This was really weird!
Why did I put up with it?  Why does anybody put up with abuse?  Because they’ve been so used to being beaten down that they think this is the norm. Please, please — if you’re in a situation like this run for your life!!!  This is NOT the way a good relationship works!  And, it’s a red flag indicator of many other problems — in my case, it was a big red flag that I was being masterfully manipulated.  Groomed to be the wife of a pedophile who was already deeply involved in porn and child sexual molestation!  
Learn to listen for “clues” that a decision you’re making might not be right.  I had BIG clues that I passed off as “odd”, “not making much sense”, “silly”, or “not that big of a deal.”
Clue 1:  For the last four months we dated, my fiance was in Israel doing overseas study.  We corresponded by letter only.  We were to get married less than one week after he arrived back in the states.  In his letters he would write to tell me how he would hide behind the grasses on the beach and watch girls changing out of their clothes and swimming nude.  He said he’d skip class and stay there all day.  In other words, he was openly telling me he was a “peeping Tom.”  This was a test of how far he could manipulate me and I passed with flying colors! I never questioned him about it.  Oh, I cried lots, but I never questioned him!
Clue 2:  He told me while we were dating that he and one of his cousins spent the summers together and they would steal cartons of cigarettes from stores and sneak out of the house at night and smoke the cigarettes and look at “porn” all night long.  Another test!  I looked at him quietly but never questioned him.  If you want to know the truth — I didn’t even know what porn was!!!!!  I had to ask my college roommates.  Again, I was being tested.  Could he get away with doing things right under my nose?  Sure he could. I’d never question a man of God!
Clue 3:  He was almost 21 and his favorite job was to “babysit all the little kids at church for free because he loved to give them baths and powder their little butts.”  I’m totally sick now as I write these words.  Why in heaven’s name didn’t I run from this man? There were so many clues that something was wrong, and I passed them off as being a little odd.  Nothing more — just a little bit odd. In fact, I actually thought this was kind of nice.  I never saw my father get involved in parenting like that, and I thought, “Wow!  This man will make a wonderful father!”    
Porn.  Lying.  Peeping Tom.  A young man who loves bathing and powdering little kids.  Masterfully manipulating.  Gaining the trust of adults. (Church people loved him babysitting their kids!)
I was another one of his victims.  I was being set up. I was being groomed  I would be the perfect alibi for his continued evil behavior.  He was calculating.  He studied me.  He used me.  He used my faith as a means to get what he wanted.  He knew what he was doing! His actions were no mistake.  He worked very hard to plan every detail.  
Listen up everyone!  Please don’t do as I did!  If your gut is telling you something is wrong, it probably is!!! Pay attention to the little details and the little voice that is whispering something is wrong!!!
This is just the beginning of my story.  I will share more in the weeks to come in hopes that others will not be blinded to the facts as I was.   We must get educated about child sexual molesters so that we can protect life’s most precious blessings — our children!
Why am I sharing the ugly, sad parts of my life?  That’s simple.  Because children are beautiful.  Children are precious.  Children deserve to be protected.  Statistics (according to information found here ) tell us that 1 in every 3 girls and 1 in every 6 boys are molested by the age of 18.  Please help me to stop this!  Let’s get educated!  Let’s do all we can to make it incredibly difficult for the molester!  Let’s be vigilant on behalf of our children — at all times!!!
Every child should have the ability to grow up feeling safe and loved and whole and pure!
It isn’t easy or comfortable for me to write about this, but I must.  I must take this terribleness and do something positive with it.  I must work for the safety of our children. Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to read this.  Thanks even more for making yourself more aware of what is going on right under our noses — in our schools, our churches, our camps, our homes.  Let’s do all we can to work together to make this a safe place for our children!  
Love, Clara
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rivenchu · 4 years
Text
A Curious Fish
AN: Credit for this AU goes to @mintyfrosty​ ~ 
Read the Copperight Merfolk AU post and this whole fic popped into my head as is. I may have changed a couple things to make fic-flow sense, but I hope you like it Minty! Thanks for letting me write it~  Lemme know if something is too far from your AU and not okay. :3  I’ll wider tag this / AO3 if source approved!
Summary: They say curiosity is bad for a cat and it’s true for Merfolk too.  Reginald was just curious about flotsam he saw during a storm. It was only natural to get a closer look. He didn’t mean to get stuck and he certainly didn’t mean to end up on dry land where none of his kind were allowed to go. 
A curious fish.
That's what everyone always called him. The elders always warned him to not be too curious, to not wander close to dry land, and more importantly never get near the the floating crafts that skimmed over the ocean. Remaining unseen from 'dry landers' was the safest choice for their colony.
He'd listened and never done any of those things, but.
But.
They never said anything about parts of the sailing ships.
Reginald watched the long stick and strange white flaps with it's many tentacles. The storm had ripped it off the adrift vessel and he followed it. It was alone, none of the beings on it (he never could see them well, they were a mystery) were nearby... long as he watched out for the tentacles he'd be fine.
Making up his mind he swam up to the far side and broke the surface. The rain didn't bother him, though he always wondered why it tasted different than regular water.
Reaching out he marveled at the texture. Slippery with strange bumps, but not slimy at all. Drifting closer he blinked at a hole and poked at it, had it been carved in? There were more leading up. Wandering further Reginald craned his neck to see how far they went. He couldn't see the end of the giant stick, but he almost could.
Just a little further.
Something curled around his tail.
Fear coiled like an eel as he ducked back underwater. He'd strayed too far up.
Just one tentacle, he could handle that. Everything would be fine.
Diving  deeper so the stick wouldn't hit him (storms made the ocean surface move so much), he unwound the coarse limb and sighed. That had been close. He should go.
Turning to look up at the strange object one last time, he could barely see it against the surface. He had wanted to look at it more, maybe if he had climbed on it he could have spent longer.
Something brushed his shoulder. Jerking back Reginald's eyes widened.  It was the connected multi-tentacle net. He hadn't gone that far had he? Was it the storm pushing it faster than he thought?
Twisting around he began to swim fast as possible back to the safety of the depths.
For a moment Reginald thought he made it.
He screamed as agony shot up his tail, swimming stalled. He floated dazed for a few seconds before the adrenaline kicked back in.
Wincing he glanced up at his tail, tangled again. Reaching over to yank at it he wished he didn't leave his cutter tool at home. This one was tighter, it wanted to hold. Sticking out his tongue to loosen the cord and ignore the pain he tried to work fast.
It wasn't fast enough.
He froze when he felt his back brush up against something. Looking up he realized he was drifting towards more tentacles. His tail seized up and refused to move with anything less than blinding agony.
Reginald was many things, witty and clever, curious and mischievous, but he was not known for his bravery.
Terror dulled the pain as he thrashed against the cursed coils drawing him in. He knew they weren't alive, but he could still die to them.
No one came when he called for help as the storm blew him further away from home.
Dread settled in as he grew tired. There was no way he could escape now. He was entanged and his tail hurt worse than before. He was drifting to the dry lands. Memories of the horror stories the elders told drifted across his mind.
They'll take you from the ocean to never return. They'll keep you in a water bubble to stare at you. They will never listen to you, we're just fish to them. They ate all kinds of fish up on the dry lands.
Reginald shivered and closed his eyes. He shouldn't have wandered.
~*~*~*~ That was a storm to remember. Lots of trees were down, roads were a mess, and he'd have a few days of solitude. There was much more in damages, but he didn't care enough to look into it unless he was getting paid.
Right didn't mind he liked being alone. It's why he lived out of the city and did whatever odds and ends he could to keep food on the table.
Like combing the beach for anything interesting washing up after a storm. He'd find some nice lost cargo to sell a few times and made a habit of checking.
He walked around a boulder and raised his eyebrows at a partially beached broken mast. Bad news for whatever ship it was formerly attached too. There were no boxes nearby, but he could get some use out of it surely.
Walking over he rested one foot on the mast so he could rest his elbow on his knee as he surveyed the debris. Sails seemed intact, he could sell those. Wood and rope he could keep for himself, the rope ladder could be repurposed into a net.
Not a bad find.
Nodding to himself he set to work wading into the surf at cutting a sail free. Yanking it it up to dry land he folded it up and put it in his sack. Halfway done he walked the the next and cut the top connection off.
...was that hair?
Oh, he sometimes found dead bodies too. Or bits of them. He buried any... partials and brought intact ones to the city. If it helped someone find peace, it was worth it even if he didn't get paid.
Grimacing he knelt down and lifted the sail higher.
A wave washed up to his shins and Right sighed. No reaction to the wave, no cough or sputter to show they were alive. As the water pulled back he reached down and rested a hand against the corpse's forehead. Wasn't warm, definitely dead.
New plan, use sail as temporary corpse barrier.
Cutting the last sail connection and some additional rigging he hefted the body in front of him and walked back to the beach. He was going to stop by his house first for a bite to eat. Hopefully the mast would still be around when he got back, but the less bodies were left around the better for everyone's sense of smell.
Strange he wasn't getting a whiff of decay, must have been recent.
Trekking through the woods he was familiar with he tilted his head. There was strange sound following him. If he didn't know better he would say it was someone struggling to breathe. Wildlife wouldn't get close enough to him to make that noise, there were no injured animals nearby and he was keeping company with a dead person.
It moved.
Right paused. He'd been sure the poor soul was dead but dead things don't usually move.
Swearing he broke into a jog glad he lived nearby. There was a first aid kit he could use if there was  a chance of saving a survivor.
Throwing open the door he lowered the person to the floor and threw the sail off.
...
...what?
...
It had brown hair, frills on it's arms, moving gashes on it's neck, and a full blown fish tail from the waist down. The bright purple caught his attention as he stared down the length ending in the wash of warm colors fins.
It'd gotten caught in the ropes, some digging in painfully from the missing scales and red skin. No wonder it had been fine in the surf, any higher and it would have been dead already.
Movement caught his eye as it reached up to it's throat fluttered it's brown eyes.
Fish, water. Fish die out of water. Oh he made a mistake. Oh he didn't want to kill it. Oh no he wasn't near any ponds or rivers.
Scooping up the not-corpse he kicked open his bathroom and dumped it into his bathtub. In preparation of the storm he had filled it just as a precaution.
Stepping back to lean against the doorway he ran a hand up the side of his face and knocked his hat off. He'd heard stories of merpeople, never believed them of course. It seemed silly that fish people would exist but there was one right in his bathtub.
~*~*~*~
Gulping down water Reginald wanted nothing more than the curl up. His tail hurt so much, why did it feel like it was out of water? And the... water tasted funny, like rain does? He surrounded by white?
Pushing himself up with his one free elbow he looked up. The water wasn't deep, he didn't have much room to either side of him. He still had the coils trapping him. Slowly he turned over and pulled his tail into the different tasting water.
This wasn't the ocean, but maybe it was close by?
Reaching up the smooth wall he felt air and curled his hand around the edge and pulled himself up to look around.
It was mostly brown, bit of red on a normal looking face, but it was just there on dry land. It was on dry land. It was a dry lander. Pushing back as far he could in the tub Reginald screamed.
Dry lander made a noise and fell out of the room.
Reginald screamed again.
He was tired, hungry, in pain, and trapped. No matter what angle you looked at it from, this was bad. He was never going to get away now. Looking around the room he swallowed, was this where they kept fish for awhile?
Actually... he didn't want to look right now.
Sinking back into the water he curled in the corner and trembled. He... wasn't going to get out of this was he?
~*~*~*~
Clutching his chest, Right wheezed. That was far louder than he expected, not that he had an idea of what to expect from a mythical creature in his bathroom. He jerked away from the bathroom door at the second screech.
Well, he wasn't going to town now. Not sure what to do.
Guess he could fold up the sail, that was something he could do while his brain was reeling from his new discovery.
Merpeople existed. Science types would love to study it, nobles would want to showcase it, and who knows what criminals would do to it.
Right sat down on the floor staring at the folded sail.
It didn't seem right. There had been fear on it's face, and if he thought about it that was fair. Waking up in a strange place with someone staring at you would spook anyone. Plus it was still tangled up.
That he could help with.
Grabbing a knife he stared at it, on the other hand he'll look pretty scary. Nothing new there, people found him intimidating even if he was minding his own business.
Intentions would get across when it realized it wasn't getting stabbed. Better be quick.
Stalking into the room he winced at expected scream but didn't stop. "Not gonna hurt ya."
It didn't believe him, eyes widening more as it turned to flee out the tub. What it hoped to accomplish beyond that was questionable considering the lack of water.
"No you don't." Reaching over he caught a rope and pulled it back over the tub. He took a deep breath as he heard distressed whimpers. It couldn't reach him with it's free arm.
He felt guilty for trying to help now. Maybe he should have waited, but he was committed now.
" 'm just gonna cut the ropes." he sighed and started to saw carefully. He didn't want to injure it if it made any sudden movements. Instead it hung there defeated, which he decided was worse. When the rope snapped it fell back into the tub and he stepped back just in case it attacked. Cornered beings tended to be unpredictable and fierce.
Instead the brown eyes broke surface and stared at him. Scanning.
Yeah, bit smarter than an animal, they would have gone back to panic. This was questioning and uncertain.
" 'm gonna cut some in front. Yah should be able t' get most of it off unless it's on there good." Right stood there and watched for a reaction. Maybe it didn't speak, that would make sense. Different culture and.. talking mediums? How would someone talk underwater?
Walking back up to the tub Right paused to see if it would try to flop out in fear again.
It was just warily watching.
Reaching down slowly Right watched for any sudden movement - he didn't want to get bit or hit with that tail.
Grabbing a knot he lifted it out of the water so he could better look at the mess. It was actually impressive how it managed to tie itself.  A cool grip on his hand caused him to look up as it lightly held his wrist and it bit it's lip. Understandably nervous, but he had ropes to cut.
This time when he cut through and it dropped back into the water he walked to the far side of the room to put the knife down. Space while it worked itself free.
Water sloshed over the edge in the next five minutes as it worked to freedom. Finally a mass of ropes was thrown over the edge, with a single line running back to the tub.
Before he could say anything  the vibrant tail shakily waved out of the water, the last rope tangled near the base of fins. Grimacing Right walked forward to look at it. That would leave a scar, maybe the back fin would heal.
Fetching his knife he reached out almost touching the tail before looking down. It was watching him again. Taking this as an affirmative he lightly grasped the tail and started making small cuts. The rope was wound tight and the wound already painful, he didn’t want to make it worse.
After a few minutes the rope fell away and he let go of the tail. It sunk out of sight and the merperson stayed submerged. Fair, poor thing had a rough time of it lately.
Gathering the rope he walked out and left the knife in his sink. Sitting down he ate an apple as he pondered his new situation. He had an injured merperson in his house. He had helped it after almost killing it by dragging it away from water.
Merpeople were real and he had one in his bathtub still.
~*~*~*~
Laying at the bottom of the white shell Reginald rubbed his right arm. He was glad to be free of the deadly coils, but his tail was still painful. He was still stuck, but the dry lander hadn't hurt him. It could have done so easily.
He was still alive. Plus he felt pain down to his fins, so it wasn't as bad as one of the elders who couldn't move their tail anymore nor feel it. It would heal in time.
Wrapping fingers around the edge of container he pulled himself up and looked around. There were so many things he knew nothing about. What were they used for? Did all dry landers live in places like this?
Crossing his arms on the edge Reginald rested his head as he let his mind wander with questions.
The dry lander stopped at the door and was staring at him. There was something he was dragging behind him.
Pulling his arms back into the water he blinked up at the other. The brown layers were strange and moved funny, like a covering? Why would they need a covering?
"Not sure if you'll like smoked fish, but thought yo might be 'ungry." Walking in the dry lander held out a fish within easy grabbing distance.
He was starving. Taking the fish he sighed, he... was being rude. The other had done nothing but help him and deserved a proper response.
"Thank you." He missed the stunned expression on the dry lander's face as he tore into the funny smelling fish. The flavour was concentrated, with something he had never tasted before!
"Y-you're welcome." Taking a seat the dry lander still looked dazed at the new discovery. Merpeople could talk.
"Uh... want another?" A second fish was offered.
"Please." Accepting the fish it disappeared as quickly as the first.
"My name is Right." He held out a hand to his formerly-mythic-but-totally-real guest
Glancing down at the extended hand then back up Reginald held out his hand with a tentative smile, "Reginald, it's nice to meet you Right."
Of course a merperson wouldn't know about shaking hands. A smile crept up on Right's face, "It's good to meet you too Reginald."
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Text
Harringrove April Days 3, 7, & 22: Spring Break, Daisychain, & Yellow
Spring break was Billy's favorite school holiday.
He didn't like winter vacation because that meant Christmas, and Christmas meant mean Grandma Hargrove, and pretending not to be bored listening to all the old people talk, and lots of yelling and his mom crying afterwards.
Summer was okay, because as long as his chores were done he got to play with his friends and spend more time at the beach.
But spring break was the best, because he got to spend time alone with his mom while his dad was at work.
Sometimes they'd stay home. They'd go to the park a few blocks away, then she'd read him his favorite stories and play toy cars and teach him how to make cookies.
Sometimes they'd go to the beach to swim and walk along the sand, looking for shells or rocks or sea creatures. When he started learning to surf, she'd watch, cheering him on. They'd usually stop for ice cream on the way home.
Sometimes they'd go for walks. She would point out the plants and flowers they passed in neighbors' gardens or along the hiking trails. Once they found a meadow full of wildflowers and she taught Billy how to make daisy chains. She smiled when he proudly set the lopsided daisy crown he'd made all by himself on her head, and she wore it the whole time they sat there watching clouds drift lazily across the sky.
No matter what they did it was nice, and every year Billy looked forward to spring break.
Until the day Neil came home early and found them in the yard, laughing as they blew on dandelion puffballs and making wishes on the tiny, feathery seeds.
"Scattering goddamn weeds everywhere," he shouted. "Do you know how hard I work to keep this lawn looking nice?"
Billy snuck off to his room but he could still hear his dad yelling about goddamn weeds and turning the boy into a pussy with that goddamn hippie shit.
His mom stopped wishing on dandelions after that.
And Billy stopped looking forward to spring break.
*
They moved when Neil married Susan. This house was bigger but had no yard, just a cracked concrete driveway with an old basketball hoop at the end.
Billy spent hours out there, practicing. Neil didn't mind, because real men were supposed to be interested in sports and cars and girls. And he was good at basketball. Liked it even. It was better than baseball at least.
He hated the dandelions that sprang up in the cracks though.
Max ran over them with her skateboard, not even noticing. But Billy noticed every time another little yellow flower popped up, and made sure to stomp on them when he ran and jumped for the net.
Part of him ached every time he squished one. He wondered if they felt pain, if they knew what it was like to be crushed and smothered, yanked up and thrown away.
But a bigger, louder part of his brain sneered that those kinds of thoughts were for faggots and pussies, and he wasn't a faggot or a pussy.
So he smothered those thoughts, crushing them down like his feet crushed the dandelions.
*
They had a bigger yard in Hawkins, and Neil made it clear that Billy was old enough now to take responsibility for keeping the yard maintained. He discovered he hated shovelling snow, longing for sunny skies and ocean waves as he cleared the walkways and the driveway. But slowly the snow melted, and his next task was raking up all the dead grass and leaves, tidying up last fall's debris to make sure the lawn looked good for summer.
When the first dandelions poked up through the grass, little bits of sunshine dotting the lawn to announce the coming of spring, Billy went out with the weedkiller.
He sprayed the poison over the plants, soaking them in it, making sure not a single one survived.
At the dinner table that night, he blamed his red-rimmed eyes and hoarse voice on the chemical fumes. Luckily Neil believed him.
*
Spring turned to summer, and suddenly everything he ever knew was uprooted.
It was October when they finally released him from the hospital. By then the world was gray again, the plants and trees and flowers dying off for the long Indiana winter.
There were a few bright spots though.
He was staying at Joyce Byers' house. It was crowded, since Hopper and El had moved in too. But he shared a room with Jonathan, who was a surprisingly understanding roommate and didn't even expect him to talk if he didn't want to.
He passed the days doing his exercises and whatever household chores he could manage. He spent time with El and Will, and with Max, who visited as often as she could.
And sometimes Steve came over.
The entire group had formed deep, lasting friendships as they all healed together, and Billy still couldn't quite believe he was part of that group now. But he'd apologized, and meant it, and they were willing to give him a chance.
At first he'd just join in when Steve and Robin brought the rest of the kids for movie nights. Then they'd started hanging out without the kids, occasionally going to Steve's house, or to a movie, or the diner. Jonathan and Nancy had even come along a few times.
But, as winter turned to spring, there'd been a few times when it ended up being just Steve and Billy. And the more time Billy spent with Steve, the more he realized he couldn't deny his feelings anymore.
He was in love with Steve. And he had to tell him. It might cost him everything - Steve himself, all the people who'd taken him in and given him a home, who he'd begun to trust and care about - but he couldn't keep lying to himself or anyone else.
He got his chance when Steve came over on an unseasonably warm April day. Hopper and Joyce were at work and the kids were at school, so they had the house to themselves.
"Hi," Steve said when Billy answered the door. "I'm off today so I thought we could, um. Hang out. If you want. It's such a nice day, it'd be a shame to waste it, right?"
"Yeah," Billy said. "You want to sit outside for a bit?"
"Yeah, okay," Steve said.
With his sunny smile and a yellow T-shirt Billy had never seen him in, he looked like a personification of spring. He was beautiful.
Billy pulled the door closed and they settled onto the old porch swing that creaked when it rocked. Steve's arm bumped Billy's, and their thighs were almost touching.
They rocked on the swing slowly, not talking.
And then Steve spoke.
"They're kind of pretty," he said.
Startled, Billy turned to him. "What?"
"The dandelions." Steve gestured towards the Byers' front lawn, dotted with the little yellow flowers, some already gone to seed. He chuckled. "I know most people think they're weeds - my parents hate them - but I don't know. I kind of like them."
"Me too," Billy blurted, before he could stop himself. He looked down. "My mom - she always said if you blew on the seeds and made a wish it would come true."
"Yeah?"
Steve's voice was soft. Billy was too scared to look at him.
"Yeah."
"Well, my grandma said if you blow on a dandelion and all the seeds come off, the person you love loves you back."
Billy tried to laugh. It came out as more of a wheeze.
"Maybe they're both right," Steve said. "Your mom and my grandma."
"Maybe," Billy said quietly.
"Do you want to, uh - ?" Steve took a deep breath, lacing his fingers together, then untwining them and laying his hands flat on his thighs. "Find out?"
"Okay," Billy whispered.
They stood up in unison and walked down to the grass. They both plucked a dandelion and faced the road.
Billy closed his eyes and blew as hard as he could. He hesitated before opening his eyes, almost afraid of what he'd see.
He was holding an empty dandelion stalk that matched Steve's, the little white seeds mingling, dancing away on the breeze.
"Did your wish come true?" Steve asked softly.
Billy kissed him in response, just a brief, tentative touch of his lips to Steve's. He drew back immediately, expecting Steve to scrunch his face up in disgust, shove him away, and run.
Instead Steve took his hand and drew him in for another, longer kiss.
Billy didn't even realize he was crying until they parted and Steve's thumb was on his cheek, gently wiping away his tears.
He put his arms around Steve, hesitantly at first, tightening his hold when Steve hugged him back.
"I guess your mom was right," Steve said.
"I think your grandma was right too," Billy said, when he could speak again.
"Yeah," Steve said, eyes soft and smile warmer than the sun. "Totally."
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It’s so dark - pt 2 (Spike x Reader)
Warning: Mentions of death, swearing, angst 
word count: 1,576
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You don't know how long you had been lying on the cold sodden cemetery ground staring up at the balls of gas in the sky we call stars. They were so beautiful. You'd never really taken the time to appreciate the little things in life. You were dying. 
You could feel you body getting colder, could almost feel the blood draining from your body and seeping into the earth beneath you. A tear slipped from the corner of your eye and you looked up blinking, staring into the eyes of your crying vampire. You shakily lifted your crimson palm to cup his stoney cheek. 
“Shhhh Spike, It’s okay, it’s okay.” You could hear Giles and everyone talking behind you, Willow and Tara were sat on either side of you chanting something gibberish and Buffy had just finished off the vampire that did this to you. God, you'd think with all your training or something you would have been able to stop this but it all happened too quick, you just had to save spike. You loved him too much to see him turn to ash. 
Spike brought you into his arms and cried into your hair, his firm hands gripping onto your bleeding body for dear life, you were crying because this was it, as much as you had hated your father in the beginning for being away with the slayer you wanted to get to know him and reconnect, you thought you had all the time in the world. Then there was Spike, your leather clad knight in shinning armour, the love of your life and you his. The greatest love in his lifetime. You cried into him as you felt your soul slipping away, your eyes blurry, looking up at the night sky, one last sigh. 
“I love you William.”
- unknown p.o.v.-
“Hybrid, you shouldn't be here, it is not your time yet, you’ve not realised your true destiny, born of Slayer lineage and Warlock, you harness great powers that with this love sacrifice will be fully realised when you rise from the earth re-born!”
You woke with a start. God what a weird dream…. until you realised, it wasn't a dream at all as you stared up at the lid of the wooden box that encased your very much alive body. You gasped and your hands flew to where the metal rod had once protruded from your skin. Nothing, no mark, no hole, like nothing ever happened. You started to panic.. You were in a coffin and everyone thought you were dead. What did that voice mean destiny? Slayer and Warlock lineage? You looked down, your body clad in your favourite black dress and on your chest.. spikes pendant he always wore around his neck. Your eyes welled up and you screamed as it started getting harder and harder to breath. You needed to get out, you punched the top of the lid with all the strength you could muster from your lying position and much to your surprise you heard a loud crack. You coughed and blinked as earth fell on your face, you hated to think what creepy crawlies were in the box with you. 
It had felt like a life time but you had managed to completely break through the layer of wood holding you hostage. The earth was hard and cold, your fingers racked the earth urgently, holding your breath as much as you could. It was like trying to swim to the surface of a pool but you never knew when you'd break through the top. You started panicking as the breath slipped away from you bit by bit. You just wished the ground would open up and let you out. You dug harder and harder and all of a sudden you felt a breeze, the earth had opened up…. as if by magic. Your fingers tingled, you watched what looked like purple smoke recede into your mud covered finger tips. Right now, you didn't question it, all you knew is you didn't like being buried alive. Your body squeezed from the hole in the ground and on tired achey arms you pulled yourself up and rolled onto your back, this time very much alive, and once again looking at the stars. 
You had tried to brush as much mud and leaves off as possible, but it wasn't worth trying. You stood slowly, scared your legs might give, turning, you glimpsed the white pearly headstone with your name engraved. Normally it would take a while to get a headstone when someone died, however, given Sunnydale’s reputation for people dropping dead every to minutes, there were a few places you could get one from around here. You gulped and held back tears, oh god, everyone must be out of their minds. How has this all happened. 
You didn't know where to go first, your heart knew where it wanted to go… to your platinum blonde boyfriends crypt, but you also didn't want to freak him out, and part of you wanted to find out what was actually happening to you incase this was all some sort of twisted trick and living wasn't the permeant situation… You found your legs carrying you towards your fathers house before your brain realised what was happening. You must have thought subconsciously that, surely, your father should know all about this? But what if seeing you alive puts him into shock… I guess it would be a risk you'd have to take unless…. there was always Willow and Tara… 
Before long you had changed direction and you were headed to the apartment that Willow and Tara shared. It was the middle of the night, the town roads lit up by nothing but the dull amber glow of street lights, the wind rustling through the bitter air and you, alone, barefoot, hopefully walking towards some answers and a much needed shower. 
Stopping, you looked up at the apartment building, part of you felt guilty that you were probably about to wake them but then you shook yourself remembering you just rose from the dead. Scoffing, you reached for the door handle that lead you into the block of apartments, locked. Of course it’s locked. You tried it again but no use… god, if the thing about having witchy powers was true then they sure would have been helpful now.. You felt stupid but you focused, placing your hand on the door knob, thinking and challenging some sort of energy into the door handle. You didn't have a fucking clue what you were doing but you had been around Willow and Tara to know a small thing or two. Before you knew it, the same purple smokey tendrils present at your gravesite, pulsed from your palm and the door flew open with a bang. Whoops… 
You'd only been to Willow and Tara’s apartment once, it was fairly new and they hadn't been there very long. You still remembered the way, following the grey marble tiles down the second story corridor to door number 3. You hesitated, you were nervous, scared… all of the above, but with a deep breath you took the plunge and rapped your fist on the door. At first you didn't know if anyone was in, no lights, no sounds of movement, but then a glimmer of hope as you heard a groan and the side light next to the sofa switched on. Here goes.. 
To say they were shocked was an understatement.. Tara was the one who had answered the door, she had screamed and knocked the lamp of the side table while staring at you with wide frightened eyes. Obviously all the commotion alerted willow who was in the other room, and she came out magic at the ready, poised to fight anything evil at the door. She too was shocked, disbelief fluttering across her facial features, then a grin and she was hugging you tightly and ushering you into the dimly lit apartment. 
After they had helped you wash up, brushed the twigs and dirt from your hair and sat you down with some coffee, you filled them in on everything that had happened. Explaining the weird voice, the prophecy, having to claw your way out of your coffin after you woke up again. Willow was healing your hands with some charms while Tara scoured through book after book, trying to find anything that might explain what had actually happened. But nothing. It had been hours and there was nothing. Yous sighed falling back into the sofa only one person on your mind. You sadly looked at Willow. 
“How is Spike?” She turned to you slowly.
“He’s not in a good way Y/N, Maybe you should go and see him, the last time I saw him he left your grave plot and went back to his crypt demanding to be left alone.” You couldn't help but let a couple of tears fall. 
“Theres nothing more I want than to go and see Spike, b-but what if this isn't permanent, what if this is some cruel joke and I see him and then I just die again..” You were really crying now, the full weight of what had happened setting in. Without saying anything Tara and Willow enclosed their arms around you and held you… for how long you didn't know.. all you knew was the sun rose and you were living to see another day.
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Okay so this is wayyyyy overdue.. but it’s here at least! Let me know what you think in the comments below and please tell me if you want to be added to a tagging list for future parts!  
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voidstilesplease · 3 years
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Fandom/s: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus
Pairing/s: Annabeth Chase/Percy Jackson, Rachel Elizabeth Dare/Percy Jackson
Rating: Teen and Up Audiences
Tags: Alternate Universe - Mortal, Cheating, Friends to Lovers, Friends With Benefits, Jealousy, Angst, Bad Decisions, OOC Characters, a significant amount of Taylor Swift references
Chapter 3
But the possibility that Piper knows about it didn't cross her mind. Percy had mentioned being back in town for a few days now, but Piper could not have known that, right? If Piper did, she would have told Annabeth right away because if anybody knows about Annabeth's broken heart pining after Percy all these years, it's Piper. She would've said something.
III.
And soon enough, you're best friends.
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool.
/./
Annabeth jerks awake from disturbances originating in the general vicinity of her kitchen. In her half-asleep state, her usually sharp mind turns to a useless mush. So with what mentality she can grasp, she concludes that it's possibly just her cutlery deciding to worm their way out the drawer to skydive to the kitchen floor. Her dream-silly brain likes the image she conjures. After all, not everybody's cutlery would be as adventurous as hers if that should be the case.
Maybe they want to remind Annabeth that they still exist, and she can use them sometimes. Good point, she thinks, but between blueprints after blueprints shoved to her at work, she doesn't have the time to be guilty about using only one spoon for her morning mashed potatoes. Unless it can wash, wipe itself dry, and put itself back to the drawer, she's sticking to her one-spoon-morning routine, thank you very much - that's all she can spare the time to clean.
She squints one eye open and sighs in relief to find that her entire bedroom blanketed in the same comforting darkness that engulfed her to sleep the previous evening. Yesterday morning had been hell. The sun had glared at her accusingly like she had done something wrong by sleeping it through past her alarm after a murderous evening at work. Usually, Annabeth scares people away when she glares at them, so she tried to glare back at the sun, and if she didn't have a degree in architecture and a line of buildings credited to her name, she'd have doubted her own intellectual capacity. She had hauled her ass up from the bed and went about her routine like she'd swallowed an entire pack of Sour Patch in one go. That morning would have sucked completely if it weren't for Percy.
Percy. Who's back in town. For good.
Whom Annabeth is going to have dinner with this evening.
A smile automatically tugs at her lips. In her kitchen, something clatters again, and she sighs. She moves her head to peek up at the alarm clock on the table. It's only fifteen minutes past seven.
She groans.
Now she can hear the blender whirring to life and the unmistakable 'ding' of her toaster. Any sane person who is aware of not having a roommate should already be springing off their bed and grabbing the nearest weapon they can use to bonk the intruder's head.
But Annabeth is used to the intrusion - this is her life now. So, she calmly gets off the bed and folds her sheets. She opens the door to her room and walks the short distance to her kitchen. As the whirring continues, she remembers the first time she woke to the noises. Annabeth wishes she can say that she was calm then, but she wasn't.
She had jumped out of bed, heart drumming so fast in her chest, and took the only item she could find in her room that could bash anybody's brains out - a baseball bat. (She didn't like the sport. It was just a souvenir from a memorable day. Her heart belonged to swimming. Or, though it wasn't clear to her at the time, to a specific swimmer.) As stealthily as she could, she tiptoed on the cold floor to knock someone out who thought they could use her kitchen while robbing her blind.
As it turned out, she had almost bashed her friend Piper.
Piper, bless her, had been unfazed. Not even after seeing the raised baseball bat and Annabeth's wide, frantic eyes. Piper gave her an innocent smile and a chirpy good morning, then went back to chopping celery, ignoring Annabeth's confusion and gaping mouth.
Piper grins as soon as Annabeth appears in the kitchen. "Good morning, Annie!" she lowers the cup of coffee she's holding on the table in front of Annabeth, who immediately reaches for it.
"This smells amazing," Annabeth closes her eyes and inhales. It is why she loves having Piper around for breakfast. She doesn't remember when Piper decided to be her mother, but as long as it benefits Annabeth with cooked meals and non-Starbucks coffee, she's not complaining.
But she can't exactly complain about Starbucks coffee, though. Not when Starbucks brought Percy back to her life - sort of. She realized that if Piper had come yesterday, she'd have missed Percy. But the fates brought Piper to her apartment today so she could meet Percy yesterday. She smiles contentedly at her coffee.
Piper doesn't miss her dopey smile. She raises a brow, pouring the contents of the blender on a tall glass. "Is it that good?"
"No words," Annabeth answers with a silly grin.
Piper draws her eyebrows in suspicion, "Why do I feel like we're not talking about the coffee?"
Annabeth shrugs.
Piper narrows her eyes but lets it go. Knowing Annabeth, it's probably a work-related high. Piper sets her glass of smoothie on the table and sits beside her friend. "Hey, I remember," she says, taking her phone out and starts browsing. "Juniper asked me to show you these." Piper swipes image after image as Annabeth waits curiously. Finally, she passes the phone to Annabeth.
Annabeth takes it and promptly gasps. "Are these for the wedding?" She draws the phone closer to examine the picture. It's of a forest-painted canvas with a man and a woman in the center, holding each other's hands as they walk side-by-side in the middle of a flower-field surrounded by butterflies. Annabeth looks up to Piper for confirmation. When she nods, Annabeth shakes her head in amazement. "That is beautiful."
"I know!" Piper takes the phone from Annabeth, glancing at the picture again before putting it down on the table. "When Juniper sent the picture to me, my eyes goggled."
Annabeth chuckles, "Grover and Juniper commissioned the right artist."
Piper nods in agreement, "And they're even getting it for, like, half the usual price. I suddenly want to get married." She smiles dreamily, reaching for her smoothie.
Annabeth laughs. Jason and Piper have been together since they were in High School. To be fair, they are practically like a married couple - sharing an apartment, sharing bills, considering the possibility of sharing a dog. They've even met each other's parents and got one another's mother or father smitten with them. It's perfectly sensible if they decide to legalize it. With that in mind, Annabeth asks, "So why don't you?"
Piper stiffens, and she briefly averts her eyes before giving Annabeth a wan smile. "He hasn't asked me yet," she says softly, looking away from Annabeth, slurping half-heartedly at her vegetable smoothie.
Annabeth bites her lower lip, mentally reprimanding herself for her careless asking. She didn't mean to poke on touchy subjects. She didn't even know it was a touchy subject at all. "Well," she begins awkwardly. "I'm sure you'll get there anyway." Annabeth offers a smile, hoping to ease the sudden tension.
Piper shrugs, "I'm not in a hurry. Jason's it for me." she pauses, then adds with uncertainty, "I just hope I'm it for him."
Annabeth frowns at the statement. "Now that's ridiculous, Piper." She reaches to touch her friend's hand a bit forcefully. She looks her dead in the eyes and says in total assurance. "Jason's head over heels for you, okay, it's almost criminal that you think you're not it for him."
Piper lifts her eyes, a hint of smile ghosting in her pouting lips. "You think so?"
"You're an idiot for even doubting,"
That seems to alleviate Piper's insecurity, at least for the moment, because she smirks at Annabeth. "Yeah, I guess I'm an idiot. Of course, Jason can't get enough of me. I mean, come on."
Annabeth rolls her eyes. Piper's weird sometimes.
She happily slurps at her smoothie now, humming a chipper tune. She reaches for the plate of toasts and passes it to Annabeth along with a jar of strawberry jam. Annabeth just watches her with amusement.
They eat in silence for a moment before Annabeth hears a clearing of a throat. She looks up to see Piper looking at her intently. Of course, Piper didn't come into her apartment early in the morning just to accompany her to a lovely, peaceful breakfast.
"…Yes?" Annabeth prompts with resignation. If this is happening -and it is- because it's Piper's business now to harass Annabeth, she wants to get it over with sooner than later. She mentally prepares for the onslaught of Piper's usual intros. But, instead of saying "There's this spa that we should check out," or "Do you remember Mark Castillo from 10th grade? Did you see his Facebook status change to Single last night?" or "We should shop new underwears for you, Annie. What you have are boring me to death", she said:
"How's work?"
That certainly catches Annabeth off-guard. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline.
At Annabeth's incredulous expression, Piper says defensively. "What?" she reaches for another toast. "Am I not allowed to ask about your work?"
"You're not interested in my work." Annabeth deadpans.
"I'm asking, aren't I?" Annabeth detects the unspoken 'duh'. "And I know a little about architecture, mind you. I just want to know how you're doing at work."
Annabeth hums unconvincingly, taking another sip of her coffee. She decides to ride along with it. "Well, for starters, I'm up to my neck busy. As always."
Piper nods for her to go on.
"We've contracted a new project for downtown."
Piper hums.
"It's nothing major, but the area is swarming with water pipes -many of which are old ones- so we have to be extra careful with the planning."
Piper nods, "But you aren't the only one working on it, right?"
"No. I have a team." Annabeth confirms.
"So," Piper stretches the 'o', studying the toast in her hand a little too casually. "That means that even if you weren't around, say you went out or something, a whole team is still gonna work on it?"
Annabeth narrows her eyes skeptically, "…I suppose. I'm not the project head." Annabeth answers slowly.
"So…" Piper looks away again, picking at the toast. "There's no reason to cancel Friday night, right?"
Annabeth purses her lips. She sets her cup on the saucer and folds her arms together, "I already said I would go."
Piper blushes crimson and gives up the innocent, interested-in-friend's-work scheme, "I just want to make sure!"
"I'm going, okay?" Annabeth huffs in mild exasperation. "And, if I ever go back on my promise, you have the permission to drag my ass over to the club."
"Deal," Piper quickly agrees. "Do we seal this oath with blood?"
Annabeth shakes her head as Piper starts laughing.
Piper is weird but a wonder. Annabeth is ever so thankful for having Piper as a friend. They have been friends since the 10th grade when the Cherokee girl transferred to Goode. They didn't particularly become friends instantaneously because she came around the school as Drew's half-sister.
Drew wasn't exactly Annabeth's favorite person on campus. She was a cheerleader who penned herself as the queen of Goode High, dated around, and clung to different guys when her grade couldn't even hang on to a C minus. And her face, always caked in make-up, always smiled condescendingly at everybody as if they were lesser beings. She made Annabeth want to punch something. Anything. Drew's annoying face would have been good enough.
When rumors scattered about Drew having a half-sister on campus, Annabeth was sure she'd be a clone of Drew, and Goode High was doomed. Frankly, their school had had enough mini-skirt, crop-top, belly-button girls who thought the ground they stepped on was sacred. Another one to add to them and Goode would have crumbled. After all, what else could they expect from somebody blood-related to Drew? Annabeth loathed her guts.
As it turned out, though, her half-sister hated Drew's guts just as much if not more. Literally.
She proved that during P.E. class in a volleyball game when she purposely spiked the ball straight towards Drew's midsection hard enough that Annabeth was surprised why Drew hadn't spewed her entire digestive system all over their gym court. Drew doubled over, wheezing in pain and yelling about how Piper tried to murder her. The teacher had to give Piper detention since the girl didn't deny the accusation and refused to apologize. When they took out Drew, who glowered at her sister the whole way out, Piper smirked at her unapologetically and waved her goodbye by flicking her fingers and blowing her a kiss.
Annabeth wanted to slow clap and pat her in the back for a job well done. She didn't need to anyway because the matching gleam in their eyes spoke enough for both of them. Piper and Annabeth became good friends, bonding over a mutual hatred of Drew. Then Piper started hanging out with Annabeth's group of friends, and the rest is history.
"You've got to be honest, though, Annie. You love it when I come by." She sips from her smoothie. "Because then, you won't have to eat packed mashed potatoes again."
"I love mashed potatoes," Annabeth says defensively, reaching for a toast and slathering it with strawberry jam.
"No, you don't." Piper also eats her toast with avocadoes. She gestures at Annabeth's food. "I hope you like strawberry jam."
"It's okay," Annabeth chews. It's decent enough, she thinks. Strawberry had been her favorite jam when she was younger, but that has changed now.
"I just thought maybe you should try a different flavor. All I ever see you have is blueberry. I figured maybe you miss your old favorite."
"I don't. Blueberry is everything to me."
Piper probably doesn't mean to sting Annabeth when she mutters, "Took you long enough to realize it, though."
But Annabeth is stung. And Piper is correct.
Blueberry is Percy's favorite. She had never appreciated it until Percy was gone from her life. She just one day found herself picking blueberry jam instead of strawberry at the grocery. Because, somehow, it made her feel closer to him. It was a futile act, but it was all she could cling to.
They ate in relative silence for a while before Annabeth remembers the conversation over the phone the previous day. It's time to question Piper about it. "Hey," she waits until Piper is looking at her. "You wanted to tell me something."
Piper's brows scrunch up.
"Yesterday," Annabeth clarifies. "Over the phone?"
Piper draws a blank.
Annabeth elaborates, "We were talking about Friday night, and I said yes to going, and then it's like you hesitated over something?"
Annabeth can tell when the realization hits. Piper's eyes widen a fraction. "Oh,"
Annabeth stares expectantly.
Piper looks down, breaking their eye contact, "It was nothing," she says with a small voice.
"You're lying."
Piper doesn't deny the accusation, but her eyes remain downcast.
"Piper, what are you keeping from me?" Annabeth asks, feeling that the playful air around them has been replaced by tension yet again. Piper bites her lower lip, only spurring Annabeth's curiosity. "Piper,"
"Annie, I'm sorry." Piper whispers. She raises her head to look at Annabeth with wide, desperate eyes.
"I can't accept your apology if I don't know what it is for," Annabeth's gaze doesn't leave Piper's. They look at each other - Annabeth urging and Piper trembling.
Finally, Piper sighs in defeat and quietly utters. "It's Percy."
Silence immediately follows Piper's statement. Because for the first time in many years, Piper openly mentions Percy's name in her presence.
Annabeth answers, trying to keep her voice level, "What about Percy?"
Piper gnaws at her lower lip, "I've wanted to tell you, but…"
"But?"
Like a dam breaking, Piper begins barraging. "I don't know if I should be the one to tell you this. I mean, yes, of course, I'm your best friend, but I'm his friend too. And after that-that," she wrings her hands. "I mean, he's been gone for so long, and maybe if I tell you, he's just going to disappear again. He never said anything about not telling you, but I - or, or maybe you're going to disappear this time and I - we can't have any of that, you know? Especially not now. So I decided to wait for the right time, but I don't know if there's ever a right time for anything, really-and, and,"
Piper is talking so fast that Annabeth struggles to catch up. "Piper, you're rambling."
"I know!" Piper whines in frustration. "And I hate to be turned into a blubbering fool, but I… but I want you to know that I kept my mouth shut because I didn't want either of you running away in different directions when the wedding's in a week!"
Annabeth grabs Piper's swinging arms. "Piper," she snaps to get her friend's attention and stop her from ranting anymore. "If you would just tell me-"
"He's in New York!"
It makes Annabeth pause. Well, she knows that. But the possibility that Piper knows about it didn't cross her mind. Percy had mentioned being back in town for a few days now, but Piper could not have known that, right? If Piper did, she would have told Annabeth right away because if anybody knows about Annabeth's broken heart pining after Percy all these years, it's Piper. She would've said something.
But Piper is in her kitchen with a guilt-stricken face. "How long have you known?"
Piper blinks, confused. "You don't sound surprised. Do you know he's back?"
Annabeth nods, "Only yesterday. We saw each other at Starbucks."
"Oh,"
"Piper, how long have you known that he's here?" Annabeth repeats her question, impatient to hear that Piper only actually found out the same day Annabeth did.
But Piper grimaces, hunching in her seat to make herself small. "Since he told Jason that he was coming home," she finally admits. She draws a shaky breath, hanging her head in guilt.
Something inside Annabeth collapses. She leans back in her seat in disbelief, "You all knew?"
Piper quickly shakes her head, "No, not all of us. Only Jason, Grover, and I." Annabeth almost sag in relief to know that she isn't the only one left in the dark about this. "None of us has seen Percy yet, though. He's been busy with the transfer of work location and settling in again. That's also why Friday night is important. He'd be there. For the first time in a long while, we'd be complete."
Annabeth is silent for a period, then nods weakly.
"Do you hate me?" Piper's voice hitches, and when Annabeth turns to her, her eyes are already brimming with tears.
She hates when Piper cries. God, it isn't even her fault that she knows. It isn't her fault that Percy told Jason and Grover, his best friends, and it isn't her fault that Jason told her. Annabeth knows Piper would rather not know. But now that she does, it's not her fault she wants to protect both Annabeth and Percy from each other. Not after what happened years ago between them.
Annabeth stands up and walks over to her friend, who is just about ready to explode. As soon as she opens her arms for Piper, her friend immediately melts into soft sobs. "I'm sorry, Annabeth. I didn't want to lie, but…" her voice catches again, and Annabeth rubs her back to soothe her. Piper must have felt bad about keeping the secret from her, knowing how important it is for Annabeth.
"I don't hate you, Piper. I can never hate you."
Piper sniffles, "I lied to you,"
"You kept a secret." Annabeth corrects. "That's hardly lying. And you did it for a good reason."
Piper pulls away from the hug to look at Annabeth, her eyes still misty from crying. "Thank you, Annie."
Despite herself, Annabeth smirks. "But you owe me a week of coffee and breakfast for this."
Piper laughs, and the heavy atmosphere around them dissipates completely.
/./ curt /./
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aretmiscrock · 4 years
Text
life saver | john b. routledge
summary: your lifeguard skills come in handy when you save a foolish surfer from drowning.
word count: 1,532
a/n: hope u guys like this! tell me what u think <3
          ─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───
Growing up by the water means the ocean is your home. Whether you're swimming in clear blue waters or bronzing your skin under the scorching sun, you never get tired of the beach. So when a lifeguard position had opened up at the local beach, you jumped at the opportunity and landed the role with ease. Now you get to spend the entire day at your favourite place – and get paid for it.
Even when you're not saving lives and preventing people from doing stupid things in the water, you still find yourself there, by the ocean. On one particular day, the wind had picked up, causing the waves to grow more monstrous than usual. Swimming is a no-go.
Instead, with your friend Maggie, you sit on a fluffy blanket on the soft, white sand with an abundance of food scattered on the cloth. With a strange lack of appetite, you take small nibbles of each snack. Maggie, on the other hand, feasts like a queen. She lays back, holding her bloated belly and closing her eyes.
"How's your food baby?" you question, swallowing a bite of watermelon.
She lets out a heavy sigh, and you laugh – Maggie's the only person you know who gets tired from eating. "I'm, like, nine months."
For the next while, you and your best friend make conversation about anything and everything while watching as vicious waves tear across the water and crash and tumble onto the shore. The sight is terrifying, yet exhilarating and the sound is like a beautiful song. It calls out to you, drawing you to swim, but you know better. Even a trained lifeguard like you wouldn't survive waves like that.
Though apparently someone disagrees. In the distance, someone with a bright yellow surfboard rides the ferocious waves with ease. Despite how impressed you are, it makes you wonder who is crazy, not to mention stupid, enough to take on a damn near tidal wave.
"Are you serious?" you say, rising to your feet. Your life-saving instincts begin to kick in and you watch the figure's every move to make sure he's safe. Who are you kidding, though? There's practically a guarantee of a bad ending for the surfer, and all you can do is watch. You can't get in the water unless it's absolutely necessary and so far, it hasn't been absolutely necessary.
"What?" Maggie responds, slowly standing up beside you to see the commotion. "What?" she repeats after you don't respond, and you want to slap her. Is she blind, or does she have no common sense?
"Do you not see the surfer? He shouldn't be out there," you explain, panic bubbling up inside you.
"He looks pretty professional to me," Maggie shrugged. You can't help but agree – he's incredible, as though he'd been doing it all his life and he probably has been, but still. With waves like those it doesn't matter.
"He's gonna get himself killed," you mumble.
The waves grow stronger, as if they're alive and are out to get him, to the point where he can hardly stand on his board. When he falls, you gasp – the wave had broken at the same time and crashed down on top of him. Then he appears again, paddling on his board to catch the next wave.
"He's still going?" you exclaim. You're pulling at the roots of your hair.
The same thing happens again: he falls into the water only to come back up again moments later and you're growing closer and closer to losing your mind. You mumble incoherent curses under your breath helplessly, trying as hard as you can to refrain from rushing into the water. Today is not the day you die.
The surfer falls under the water again and you wait for the routine to continue, for his bright yellow board to float to the surface and for his head to bob up out of the water. A moment too long passes. Nothing happens. Another wave comes. Uneasiness washes over you and suddenly your heart is racing.
"Uh, where did he go?" Maggie asks, concern filling her voice, too.
"I don't know," you tell her, breathing out in panic.
As a lifeguard you own more bikinis than bras and wear them just as often. There's never a situation where it doesn't come in handy, including right now. You tug your shirt off and shimmy out of your shorts.
Maggie's eyes go wide. "You're going in?"
Maybe today is the day you die, but you're okay with dying while trying to help someone.
With hesitation, you reply with a weak "yep," and begin to sprint towards the water. You're suddenly thankful for your lack of appetite earlier.
"Wait, why don't we call the coast guard or something?" Maggie asks.
"There's no time," I call back.
Although the air is relatively humid and hot, the water is cold, but as you think of the life that's at stake, it feels warm like a bath.
You dive straight in and paddle with all of your energy against the strength of the water, struggling as you do. Your lungs become tired quickly and so do your arms and legs. The waves pull you under constantly. The surfer is nowhere in sight.
Then, you spot a body being thrown around by the water, floating lifelessly. Taking a huge gulp of air, you dive under and swim towards it. Once your hands find a tight grip on his wetsuit-clad torso, you begin to haul him through the unforgiving water, praying you make it back to shore. The waves have no mercy, huge volumes of water dropping on you every few seconds as you kick your legs despite the agonising pain in them.
Finally, your feet reach the ocean floor again and you breath in gasps, making sure the boy's head is above the water. When you're back on land, you pull him as far from the water as you possibly can, though it isn't far, seeing as he's a buff, young man.
Maggie rushes over, pelting you with questions. You drown her voice out, much more focused on other things.
Pushing your wet hair out of your face, you slap the boy's face and even shake him, but to no avail. Relief sets in when you find a pulse, albeit a faint one. All that matters is that he's not dead. You begin to pump his chest, cursing each time you do and begging for him to wake up. Nothing works.
You're left with one option. Mouth-to-mouth is nothing new to you, which is why you don't hesitate to put your lips to his and breathe. You do it again and again and again, growing more frantic in your actions when he doesn't react. All of a sudden he's gasping for air, sitting up and choking up all of the water he had swallowed.
The relief is overwhelming, so much so that you could pass out. Or is that because of the oxygen you lack?
"Hey," you say, catching the boy's attention. He's attractive, more so than any boy you had ever seen, with freckles and brown curls that hang on his forehead. "Are you okay?"
He turns to look at you, his chest rising up and down as he heaves for air. His eyes fill with wonder and he gazes at you, his saviour. At the same time his face is filled with confusion. He's probably wondering what on Earth just happened.
"You saved my life?" he asks, starstruck.
You roll your eyes. "Yes, but I wouldn't have had to if you weren't so stupid. You shouldn't have been surfing out there, you know that? You're good, but you're not that good."
"Hey, I've surfed worse waves," he says defensively.
"Oh, so you have a death wish?" You stare at him unimpressed.
"Apparently," he says, chuckling. How does he have the audacity to laugh in this situation? He just escaped death.
You let out a sigh, stretching out a hand to help him to his feet. "Stay safe, kid. I hope I don't have to haul your ass out of the water again."
"Wait, I never got to thank you. For literally saving my life."
A light smile plays at your lips. "You're welcome."
For a moment, you stand in an awkward silence, thinking of what to say next. That is until the boy speaks up.
"I'm John B," he says.
"Nice to meet you, John B. I'm (Y/N)," you reply.
"Well, thank you for saving my life, (Y/N)," he smiles with genuine appreciation.
"Yeah, you owe me one."
"Just say the word and I'll deliver."
You hum. "Alright, John B, would you like to hang around with my friend and I? We have food and towels," you giggle.
"Why, I'd love to."
With a nod, you lead him back to where you and Maggie were sat, inviting him to help himself to whatever he wanted to eat. John B eats like he hasn't eaten in a week, and you can't blame him after what he's been through. After a while, his lips twist into a smug grin.
"Hey, just wondering... Did you give me mouth-to-mouth?"
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