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vanfleeter · 4 months

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Revelation

Summary: Going on a platonic date and being mistaken for being a couple, but things might just change. Characters: Jake x Fem!Reader Warnings: 18+ as always. Language. Fluff. Light Smut. Kissing. Heated make out. Angst (if you squint really, really hard). Allusions to sex.

Valentine's Masterlist

It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for Jake to invite you to go to dinner with him. It was usually when he wanted to get out of the house after going completely out of his mind.

So here you are, standing outside your apartment building and waiting for him to show up. And just on time, when he’s usually running late, his car pulls up to the side road. He parks it and gets out to open the passenger door for you.

“Oh how gentleman of you.” You giggle as you climb up inside.

“Don’t get used to it.” He smirks before shutting the car door and jogging back around to his side.

“So..” You say, breaking the comfortable silence in the car. It was never awkward between the two of you, if anything the you two enjoy the silence and just soaking in each other’s presence. “Uh… You already had this planned?”

Jake nods his head. “Had it planned since the new year. It’s a nice place, it's kind of hard to get reservations.. I didn’t want to cancel so I thought why not ask my best friend to join me?”

“Aw, how thoughtful.” You say, making him chuckle. “But you should know, I-”

“-Never liked her.. I know,” He smirks.

“Well..” You shrug your shoulders. He laughs and turns on the turn signal to make a right turn at the intersection.

–

Parking the car in the lot of the restaurant, he gets out and comes around to your side to open your door. “You know you don’t have to do that.” You say.

“I’m being polite.” He says as he closes the door when you get out.

With his hand on the small of your back, he guides you through the open door of the restaurant. The simple touch from him on your back sent a warm feeling through your middle, making your heart race just a little more than usual.

“Good evening!” The hostess smiles. “Do you have a reservation for tonight?”

“Yes,” Jake responds. “It's under Jacob Kiszka.”

The hostess hums as she looks through the book. “Yes, Kiszka. Party of two. Right this way.”

As she leads the two of you through the restaurant, Jake glances over at you, a small smile tugging at his lips as he watches your eyes grow in size as how fancy this place is. You don’t go to places like this. Your idea of fancy included cooking at home with a small glass of wine, maybe two if you were feeling yourself. This was way over what you’ve been to.

“Here we are.” She says with a smile, placing a couple menus down on the booth table. “Your waiter will be over soon to bring your drinks.”

“This place is insane..” You say, still looking around the room. “There’s chandeliers here, huge ones.” Jake smiles from across the booth as the awe still clouds your eyes. “And there’s a live jazz band?”

A young man walks over carrying a couple glasses and an expensive bottle of wine. “Compliments of the chef for the happy couple.”

“Couple?” You question.

Jake’s face falls but he quickly plays it off by clearing his throat and flashing the waiter a smile. “That’s very kind,” He says. “Please give him our thanks.”

The waiter pours the wine before retrieving a notepad and pen to write your orders. With Jake’s insistence on you getting anything you would like, you end up ordering a steak with all of the sides and he ends up ordering the same thing.

Once the waiter is gone, you reach for your wine and take a drink. “I’m sorry about that,” Jake awkwardly laughs. “I forgot I had put a note on the reservation that I’d be bringing my girlfriend–not knowing that we’d..break up..before this..”

You give him a warm smile and shake your head. “Don’t apologize.. Besides, free wine? I won’t turn that down.” You say with a giggle and take another drink of your wine. Hearing the music change, you can’t help but smile again when you recognize what song is being played. Standing up from the booth and receiving a confused look from Jake, you hold out your hand to him.

“It’s just a dance,” You say. “They already think we’re a couple, why not play off of it?”

He reluctantly slides out of the booth and straightens his jacket before taking your hand in his. You weren’t sure if he had felt it too, but there was a slight jolt of electricity as your hands connected. To which you chalked up as static after he ran his hands over his suit jacket.

Platonic.

That’s all it is.

Just friends.

Friends who are apparently having dinner at a fancy restaurant, dancing like a couple because that’s what the whole restaurant staff believes you are.

His hand rests again on the small of your back, but that’s as close as he will let himself get to you.

“Jake..” You say. He hums in acknowledgment, looking down at you. “I’m not gonna jump your bones should you decide you want to get closer.”

“Oh uh..” He clears his throat. “Okay.”

Stepping closer to close the two inch gap between your two, his pelvis rests softly against yours and his hand slides from your back to your other hip. He bravely pushes closer until he can feel your chest rising and falling against his suit. The contact alone sends a blood rush to his cock and he’s praying-to whatever higher power is out there-that you can’t feel it.

He hasn’t ever been this close to you–and that doesn’t include hugs.

He can feel the sweat perspiring on his palm and his heart begins to race. Little does he know that you’re feeling the exact same way. Even the flood of arousal between your legs.

When the song finally ends, you quickly excuse yourself to the bathroom, claiming to touch up just a little before the food comes out. He stammers a little before nodding his head and giving a soft ‘okay’ and a smile.

Stepping into the bathroom, you head straight for the sink and rest your palms against the edges. Taking in deep breaths, you work on calming yourself down, easing your heart rate and your nerves.

Once you feel calm enough, you straighten out your dress and run a hand through your hair and walk back out to the dining area. Approaching the table, you find that your food has already been brought out. Jake had yet to touch his food, him stating that he wanted to wait for you.

“It’s only been a minute since they brought it out,” He says.

“Oh, wonderful.” You slide back into the booth and retrieve the cloth napkin to spread over your lap. “This looks amazing.” You say before taking your fork and knife and cutting off a bite.

–

Dinner continues to go smoothly, small talk taking place between bites of food. A few laughs shared, mostly over stories of his brothers, to which you don’t mind. As your plates are cleared and you both agree to dessert, the waiter comes back with a single dish with a single slice of chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream nestled beside it.

They still believe that you’re a couple. But just like the wine, the dessert is free, more compliments of the chef.

It all comes down to the last bite of chocolate cake. You both lock eyes with each other and he smirks, readying his fork. “Bring it on, Jacob.” You say. And so the fight begins for the last bite. Of course he wins. He giggles and stabs the piece with his fork but instead of stuffing it into his mouth, he leans across the table and lets you eat it off his fork.

Again the rush of arousal floods to his cock again as he watches your lips close around his fork and take in the piece of cake. He gulps and pulls away and places his fork on the table.

For fucks sake, Jake. Pull yourself together. She is your friend. Your best friend.

The waiter comes back with the check and Jake hands over his card to pay for the dinner.

–

“I really enjoyed tonight,” You say as you unlock the door to your apartment. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Well it would have been pretty awkward to go with Josh,” He chuckles. “But you’re welcome.”

You smile and push open the door. Do it. Just ask him. “Do you, uh.. Do you want to come in?” You ask. “Unless you think it’s too late.” You quickly add.

He smiles and shakes his head. “I’d love to come in.” He says. Stepping inside, you hold the door open allowing him to come inside.

He instantly makes himself at home by slipping off his loafers and leaving them by the door and hanging up his suit jacket on the coat rack. He plops down on the sofa and crosses his legs on the coffee table. Slipping off your heels, you walk over to the couch to join him.

“I think the perfect way to end this night is by watching a movie.” He says as he reaches for the remote. You agree and snag a blanket off the back of the couch and cover the both of you.

–

As the movie ends, you both get up from the couch to stretch. His left arm swipes around your waist and pulls you into him. “Hi..” He smiles.

You smile back. “Hi..”

He takes in a deep breath before uttering his next words. “I’m about to do something that could potentially ruin everything but it’s a risk I’m willing to take because all night I’ve been dying to know..”

“To know what?”

He takes your face in his hands and plants a kiss on your lips. It took you by surprise initially but you allow yourself to lean more into it, both figuratively and literally as you press your waist against his body.

“How soft your lips are..” He chuckles when he pulls away.

“I..” You’re unable to form any words. You sigh at your inability to do so and he nods his head.

“You don’t have to say anything.” He says, his head dipping. “That was probably not the right call.” He clears his throat and pulls away before swiping his keys off of the coffee table.

“Woah, wait..” You grab his wrist, pulling him back and pressing your lips back onto his. “It was definitely the right call.” You kiss him again and wrap your arms around his neck.

He grabs your hips and pulls you as close as your bodies could possibly get. His one hand rests on your hip while the other tangles within your hair. Your lips move in sync as your tongues battle one another.

Wrapping his arms around the back of your thighs, he picks you up and lays you on the couch. He rests himself between your legs, hovering over top of you before diving in to attach his lips to your neck. You can feel his now hardened length rub against your center and arousal begins to pool again in your underwear.

As he continues sucking and now licking at your skin, you work to undo the buttons on his shirt, exposing his chest and torso. His skin is already starting to glisten with sweat. You press the palms of your hands against his chest, feeling how it expands with each breath and moves fluidly with each movement he makes.

He moans against your neck, the vibration tickling your skin and making you giggle. He smiles against you before pulling away only briefly to shimmy off his shirt and toss it to the floor. He starts back on your neck again before moving down to your collarbone and eventually down the exposed skin of your chest. He teases the valley of your breasts with a gentle sweep of his tongue and kissing back up to your collarbone and coming back to plant a kiss on your lips.

Being a little risky, you slide your hands from his chest and down to his crotch where you gently cup him in the palm of your hand. His breath hitches in his throat and he looks at you, his eyes darkening and a smirk appearing on his face. He grinds his length into your palm, creating the much needed friction he’s been craving to satisfy the aching feeling in his cock. But he moves back, pulling you with him.

“Everything okay?” You ask.

Jake nods his head. “Yeah..” He runs a hand through his hair. “But if I don’t stop myself now, I’ll want to take you right here.”

“Would that be a bad thing?”

“No! No, it wouldn’t be a bad thing but…” He sighs. “Y/N, listen.. Tonight did not go as planned for either of us.. I didn’t see myself coming home with you, or kissing you. Nor did I see myself doing this.”

“Oh..” You shift your legs on the couch and drape them over the edge before planting your feet on the floor and moving to stand up. “Now I just feel confused..”

He looks up at you from the couch, his brows pulling together. “All I’m saying is that tonight was not at all what I had planned..” He stands up from the couch. “Something definitely shifted tonight.. I felt when I picked you up.. Seeing you in this dress–I don’t know, it showed you to me in a different way. Normally I’d look at you and think of you as just my best friend. But not tonight. Tonight I looked at you in this dress and my heart stopped. All fucking night I was a sweating mess and goddamn nervous to be around you.”

Reaching out for you, he pulls you back to him and presses a delicate kiss to your lips.

“I so badly want to fuck you,” He says. “But I also want to make love to you.”

“Make love to me, Jake..”

–

Walking your fingers up his bare torso and up his chest, you watch as a smile slowly grows on his face. His eyes flutter open and he looks down at you. “Hi..” You say with a smile. He chuckles and wraps his arm around your shoulders to pull you closer to his body.

“Hi..” He responds before kissing you. “Tonight was perfect. I’m glad that I made the decision to invite you out tonight.”

“I’m glad you did too.. Or else I’d be here–alone… I never liked Valentine’s Day.”

“Eh, it’s okay..” He shrugs his shoulders. “You haven’t missed out on much..”

You giggle and turn over so that you’re resting on top of him. “You, Jacob Thomas, are a beacon of light that I get the pleasure of seeing every day.”

“Will you be my girlfriend?” He blurts out.

You smile and eagerly nod your head. “I thought you’d never ask.”

__________________________________________________

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#jake kiszka #greta van fleet fic #greta van fleet #greta van fleet fanfic #jake kiszka fanfic #jake kiszka fic #jake kiszka smut #gvf #jake kiszka fluff #jake kiszka angst #jake kiszka fanfiction #jake kiszka gvf #jake kiszka x reader #gvf smut #valentines

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purerae · 8 months

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— ROOM 42

CHAPTER ONE ;; PROLOGUE

ROOM 42 MASTERLIST

SYPNOSIS ;; Y/N, surprisingly, in detention for missed homework, teams up with the school's delinquent to investigate a mysterious door. Unable too explore further, Y/N and her friends devise a plan to sneak into the classroom after school and explore the hidden space. Their curiosity leads to a sinister game of secrets and betrayal. As they and their friends go deeper, the consequences grow. How far will they go to hide their sins? How far will they go... for her? (click on master list for more details)

(keep reading for chapter one.)

??? POV

"Why is it always me?" Zion groaned, frustration etched across his face. “The teacher's pet constantly snitches on every bloody thing I do." He slammed his fist into the wall, causing more chips to fly off the already ruined surface.

For the seventh time, Eliza, the teacher's pet, had reported Zion Minh for skipping class.

"Bro, she just doesn't like you. I skip class all the time, and she never bothers me," his friend Adrien chuckled.

Zion rolled his eyes. "She just wants to suck your dick, shut up."

"I mean, who wouldn't? Just look at me~" Adrien teased.

Zion gave him a blank stare and narrowed his crimson eyes. Adrien snickered at his own joke.

Despite their banter, Zion and Adrien were actually close friends. They had known each other since they were babies due to their parents' close work relationship.

Zion, with his dark crimson red hair and matching eyes, had a reputation as a high school delinquent. He was always ready to confront anything that seemed like a threat. Everyone in school knew better than to mess with him, except for his gang and Eliza.

Adrien, with his dirty blonde hair and khaki green eyes, was also a delinquent but less intimidating than Zion. He had a reputation as the school's playboy, often flirting with the girls. Teachers liked him, but they knew he could be mischievous at times. Only Zion and his dad had seen Adrien at his worst.

"Alright babe! Enjoy your detention, I'll see you later," Adrien chuckled, running off to the main entrance and leaving the building.

Zion grimaced at the mocking pet name and muttered a quick goodbye before heading towards Room 42, the designated detention room at the back of the school. He preferred this room to avoid the other students, as he was often tempted to pick fights with them.

Upon entering, Zion noticed a tall woman with long blonde hair sitting on a desk at the front of the classroom. He rolled his eyes, recognizing her as the one who often gave him detention.

"You're here again, Mr. Minh? You really need to step up your game before you get excluded from this school. Also, surprisingly, someone else has a detention right now in this room," she sighed, looking him up and down. "Please don't annoy her. I'll be gone for half an hour to attend a meeting. You better still be here." With that, she trudged off, her footsteps gradually fading away.

"You better still be here," Zion mimicked in a high-pitched voice, raising his hands mockingly.

He made his way to the back of the classroom, his usual spot, and started playing with his pen. After a while, boredom set in, and he decided to explore the classroom. He rummaged through the books, broke some pens, and generally acted nonchalant. Finally, he went up to a tall bookshelf and grabbed a boring science book, which he despised. With a sense of rebellion, he began vandalizing it, scribbling all sorts of things and profanities.

However, he soon noticed something in his peripheral vision. A girl with her hood up and earphones in was staring straight at him. The sound of music bled through the buds.

Feeling awkward, Zion looked up and made eye contact with the girl. She quickly rushed to the front of the class and took a seat. It then dawned on Zion that this was the person he had detention with. He rolled his eyes at the realisation, 'Great, some freak i have to share the room with for a whole ass hour…’

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Y/N L/N

Y/N was ten minutes late to detention because she couldn't find the isolated classroom. 'Of course, I'm the one who has detention at the stupid creepy classroom,' she thought with a groan, tilting her head back out of frustration

This was her first detention, and she was panicking. It happened because she had failed to submit her math homework three times in a row. It wasn't entirely her fault; she lacked the motivation and struggled to understand math for fucks sake!

As Y/N entered the room, she noticed a red-headed boy crouching down, aggressively defacing a book. He already gave her an odd impression as she wondered why he was torturing the Science book meant for younger children. She stopped her music and put her hood up, hoping to avoid any attention from him.

The boy's face was visible to her, but he seemed too absorbed in his task to notice her. It dawned on her that this was Zion Minh, the scariest person in school and Eliza's one-sided enemy. At that moment, she wished she could just run out of the classroom to avoid any potential conflict.

A/N ;; The first chapter is awful I am so sorry!! Please trust me, and it will get better as the chapters go on. comments and reblogs heavily appreciated <33

purerae <3

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joelswritingmistress · 5 months

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You Scare Me, Professor: Chapter 4

Summary: The reader is taking graduate classes at a local university in the wooded upstate New York. She is drawn to her professor, Dr. Joel Miller, though she is also inherently aware that he has something dark about him that she can't quite put her finger on. As the reader's attraction grows deeper, she has to decide whether to endure the danger or run away as fast as possible.

Eventually Pairing: Professor Joel Miller x f!reader

James had been right. Classes were put on hold with the ongoing investigation and for students who required grief counseling. While there were no formal assignments, both of my professors sent home optional reading material and questions to think about during the spontaneous break during our second week of classes.

Optional. That gave me the right to focus on Dr. Miller's topic.

As I sat on the computer in my bedroom that Tuesday night during the time slot my psychology class typically took place, I imagined what my professor might be doing right then. Like a series of movie previews my mind created images of everything from writing lesson plans, to going on a date to sitting at home in a pair of sweatpants.

A date.. I suddenly wondered, oddly for the first time, if Dr. Miller was married. How hadn't the thought crossed my mind sooner? For five or six seconds I let the big, green monster chase me into a childish pool of jealousy before I forced myself to snap out of it.

Focus on the reading. The fact that I was actively playing a game of tug-of-war with myself made me worry - just a bit; but soon I was engaged in the topic of: Antisocial Personality Disorder. I knew the basics about the topic but nothing in depth. My first correlation was to that of members of the mafia. Lack of empathy. Lying. Criminal behavior. Violent. All were traits I knew were associated with the disorder . As I continued to read, however, I knew the population possessing such qualities was far more broad.

I wondered, for a moment, if the person responsible for the woman's death suffered from Antisocial Personality Disorder. It was a valid question, or so I thought.

Maybe I'll bring it up in class, I thought to myself, and then immediately decided against it. What if someone in class knew the girl and was offended by my question? And then another thought, I could always approach Dr. Miller after class..

I tapped a pen against the desk where I sat and then rose to my feet. It was boredom. It was curiosity. It was lust. It was the craving for just a little bit of adventure. Before I had time to try talking myself out of anything I pulled on a snug, blue beanie hat, had my keys in my hand and headed out to the car.

I was beginning to feel a bit desperate when I began the trek across town to Woodbridge’s campus. What I would do when I got there, I had no idea. A part of me just wanted to know if Dr. Miller was on campus. Another part of me was intrigued a bit by the murder. No one had been found guilty, thus far, and as sheltered as I sounded I felt like it could be a little fun to poke around.

Beats being in the house all night.

The ride took about two-and-a-half songs to cross the threshold onto school grounds. I barely listened to what played on Spotify for those nine minutes or so. I had created a mountain in my mind for the trip to Woodbridge and I was certain I would end up with nothing but a molehill.

How will I even know if Dr. Miller is here? That was a question I didn't think of until I cruised into the parking lot by the building where my two classes typically took place. Students were not permitted in the academic buildings until Monday and there was a strict curfew being enforced with students living in the dormitories.

A handful of cars were in the lot and a few yellow squares on the adjacent outer wall of the building showed signs of life from inside. I circled slowly, rubbernecking to try to see down the green as I got near the end of the lot - as if any of the excitement from late last week was still occurring in the area.

When I doubled back around I felt the tingles. Only they didn't settle in my stomach. They traveled the length of my legs and penetrated my heels before making a leap straight for my throat.

Dr. Miller walked across the nearly vacant lot. I watched as tension gnawed and pulled at my insides while, all the same, praying he didn't see me there down at the other side.

I could breathe. Barely. I was much too old to be having feelings like this. Intense, yet baseless, feelings for a man I hardly knew. It truly wasn't far off from that first big middle school crush; an adolescent sexual awakening. No, I really shouldn't have been feeling like this at twenty-seven years old over a random man - or any man for that matter. On that notion alone I should have been running in the other direction.. but I didn't. Not even close.

I wasn't sure if it was the devil or angel on my shoulder that was ‘speaking�� to me. Maybe it was a combination of both. Regardless, I watched.. waited. Maybe I was the predator and he was the prey.

There was no music playing now, though my fingers fiddled with the knobs to assure I had all my senses loaned to the operation at hand. That operation was witnessing what vehicle belonged to Dr. Miller.

I could hardly say I was shocked when he swiftly entered the black Mercedes. I suddenly felt like a creep. I was lurking around watching; waiting. My professor was completely unsuspecting and oblivious. And here I had erratically and incorrectly cast him in, what I had just discovered, was my role.

Did he have a thing for me? No, I had a thing for him. Was he following me around? No, I was the one chasing him. It was me. Dr. Miller was nothing but a courteous, witty professional. I was desperate, enticed and bored.. with an active, and hopeful, imagination.

The purr of the Mercedes’s engine caused my moment of self-loathing and recognition to pause, like some intermission to my dark epiphany. Despite the conscious realization that what I was doing was wrong, I trailed him out of the lot like some game of cat and mouse.

The tables had turned, though I reminded myself again that he most likely wasn't following me last Thursday night. It was, indeed, a coincidence. He was leaving, I was leaving. Tonight I had sought him out. I acknowledged that I had somehow felt cheated that I didn't get to see him that night in our ‘regularly scheduled program’.

It was selfish, I knew that. Someone had died and somehow I felt cheated. Despite it all, I followed him for close to fifteen minutes before I was forced to back off when the Mercedes parallel-parked into an empty space outside a bar-lounge called ‘The Library’ that I had passed by on occasion, though never went into.

Okay, I was done. I had crossed a line. Following Dr. Miller was a new low. I breathed as the cars in front of me came to a halt at a red light at the end of the quaint city street.

My eyes took in the white lights and wreaths that were still strung about, the aftermath of the Christmas season that refused to be put to bed. It added some extra life to the cold, dark month of January.

A knock on the window made me physically jump. Being on edge suddenly felt like my body's default setting. I looked over and wanted to melt in my chair; or die right where I sat. I didn't know if my face was as white as ghost or red like a lobster. I wanted to fade away; disappear.

A pane of glass separated me from Dr. Miller, who smirked at me in the way he had on the few occasions we had spoken. I didn't know whether to floor it when the light changed and drop my Abnormal Psychology class so I never had to see him again or..

I rolled down my window and his eyes forced mine to meet his. “I hope you're a better student than you are a stalker.” Before I could attempt any justification for my actions he motioned with his arm. “Park up there by the church in the open space.”

When he backed away I turned to see that the light had turned green. A blaring horn from behind was like a defibrillator to my Mazda’s engine. I hit the gas just a little too hard and glanced in the passenger side view mirror. Dr. Miller stood there with his hands in the pockets of a long, black jacket and as I approached the parking space by the church I couldn't help but obey his benign demand.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!” The word peppered out of my mouth like a culpable chorus that translated to, ‘I just got caught’.

I still had time to make an escape. There was no force willing me to stay there and face Dr. Miller. I could always put the car in reverse and disappear into the night.

That's not an option. I knew that. I had to face the embarrassing consequences of my actions.

When I exited the vehicle I had that genuine feeling of wanting to disappear again. What was I going to say? What was he going to say?

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER

@untamedheart81 @amyispxnk @grogusmum @michilandcof

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cherry-queens-blog · 6 days

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OVERHAUL FANFIC

Overhaul x Reader

(MINORS DNI)

Summary- You were brought in by Chrono who had witnessed your quirk and knew you would be useful to the shie hassaikai gang. After bringing you in, you are questioned by the big man himself Kai chisaki. After months he takes quite the liking to you and wants you to fully be his and is ready to claim you. Content- Overhaul x reader, shower sex, nsfw, telekinesis quirk, blood spill, violence, consensual sex, killing.

Note- It took me a bit to come up with a start of this and I think reader having a strong quirk that would be of use to overhaul was a good idea in order for reader to join the gang members. I hope you all enjoy the story!. I have a few other stories coming soon involving Dabi or shigaraki, and All Might. This took me a good 7 hours to type out. it was a one shot fic.

YOU'RE MINE NOW

It was starting to get a bit late in the day around 8:34, the sun no longer visible in the sky as Chrono and mimic stepped outside having a chat about the things that had happened today only to have their chat cut short by some noise coming from the alleyway that was next to the shie hassaikai building they had came out of. Chrono and Mimic looked towards each other before looking towards the dark alley wondering if someone was was looking for a way in or something else. They begin to walk over to check it out, Chrono keeping his hand on his gun just in case until his and Mimics eyes land on the scene before them. Through the dimly lit alley they spot a young woman who had her arm extended with a man pressed against a wall by some invisible force holding him firmly against the hard brick wall when she closes her hand into a fist and the man began to yell. "AHHH wait WAIT!" Chrono and Mimic watches as the man yells out, and when she turns her hand and opens it the mans head bursts into pieces, blood splattering all over the wall and getting on the girl. Chrono and Mimics eyes widen a bit at what they just witnessed and honestly thought that, that was rather impressive and would be useful for yakuza. Mimic looks at Chrono who looks back at him. Mimic: are you thinking what I'm thinking? Chrono: she would be a good ally for the yakuza...

Overhaul was sitting in his office going through some papers when he hears a knock on his door, looking up to see Chrono and Mimic walking in with some girl who had some blood painting her which made him feel agitated a bit, A look of disgust forming on his face as he sees the filth on your body.

Chrono: Hey boss I brought someone who might be of interest to you

Chrono says allowing you to step forward. Overhaul glared a bit but he was curious to know why you were here. What was it that Chrono had brought you here for? What was so interesting about you?. Mimic goes over and sits on the arm rest by Kai ready to see how things will play out and if you would agree to join and work under their boss.

“And what about her should be of interest to me?”

Kai asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"her quirk... it's like a telekinesis quirk.." Chrono responded as Kai's interest was now peaked. He set his pen down on the table. He was definitely interested in people that held useful quirks, and this one wasn’t half bad. He stood up, staring over you with an intense gaze.

"A telekinesis quirk hm?"

He questioned a bit now wanting to see it for himself. "Show me then, I would like to see this" He stated and without much hesitation you raised your hand up quickly and Chrono had flew back hitting the wall pretty hard knocking the breath out of him. Kai’s eyes widened at the demonstration and He definitely found that interesting. Useful, even. He nodded, agreeing with Chrono that you would be of use to their plans.

“Indeed. I could see her being extremely helpful.”

He said while returning his gaze back to you with a slight smirk appearing on his face. "What's your name girl?"

"it's Y/N" You respond. answering his question as he took a few steps up to you but not getting to close and keeping a rather appropriate distance since you are filthy and if anything he hates anything dirty. He eventually stopped looking you over.

“I am Kai Chisaki, you can call me Overhaul. I run this business here. And I must say, your quirk is indeed interesting.”

He said, the grin staying on his expression under his mask. Chrono stands up and dusts himself off and looks at overhaul.

"What do you plan to do with her boss?"

He asks Kai who glanced at him with an amused expression.

“I want to take her in. She’s going to be an useful addition for the Shie Hassakai. An asset, if you will.”

He responds casually to Chrono as Mimic watches from the couch quietly. Kai looked at you once more.

“What do you say, girl? You want to work with me?”

He asked you but you did have slight doubts about it, thinking it over and having questions of your own to ask this man in front of you.

"What will I be doing exactly?" You ask him wondering what kind of work he will be having you do. It was a good question to ask him since it would be good to know so you could make up your mind on rather you want to or not.

“You’ll be working for me directly. I’ll have you by my side for various operations and duties. You’ll be trained by me, personally.”

He said with a slight shrug. You think about it more and decide to trust this man and with a nod you agree to work under him. He nods back before looking at Chrono.

"Show her to the bathroom so she can get cleaned up and make sure she doesn’t snoop around and keep an eye on her. Wouldn’t want anything going wrong, now would we?”

Kai demanded Chrono who nods as Kai goes back to his work looking over the documents he had. Chrono takes you out of the office and towards a small room where he grabbed a gown for you to wear for now which looked like something a hospital would make a patient wear before leading you to the bathroom, showing you where the towels were before taking his exit shutting the door and standing by the bathroom door waiting for you to be done. The shower was nice, as the hot water ran down your skin washing away the dried up blood from the guy you killed awhile ago before Chrono and Mimic brought you in to overhaul their boss. When you stepped out Chrono nodded and guided you back to Kai for sleeping arrangements to be made. You sat on the couch across from Kai who looked at you and chrono. Kai was finishing up his work for the night as he glanced over at the both of you. "where will she be sleeping boss?" “She’ll be staying in the room across from mine. She needs to be under close watch - make sure she’s settled in.” "Yes boss, understood"

Chrono agreed give a slight nod as he spoke. Kai turned back to the little bit of work he had left. He then gestured for Chrono to take you to your room that will be across from his own. It was clear Kai didn't fully trust you quite yet but he might eventually if you behave and follow his orders.

Chrono helps you out with getting settled into the room you were put in before taking his leave and letting you sleep for the night. When morning rolled around you sat up in your bed and realized it was around 7:56 in the morning. Tossing the blanket off you stand up and head towards the door opening it and stepping out of the room to see a few men walking by talking to each other. One seemed drunk as all hell holding a bottle in his hand while the other guy was a pretty large guy and pretty buff as well. Kai approaches you while you watch the men walk down the hall. "Did you sleep well?" The sound of his voice had slightly startled you a little bit as you didn't expect him to suddenly appear behind you. Turning around you look at him as he chuckles slightly knowing he had slightly startled you a little. "Oh uh... yeah" You said rubbing the back of your neck while looking down at the ground. Kai narrows his eyes a little feeling displeased that you didn't look him in the face as you spoke to him. "Look at me when you speak to me, That's an order not a request" You lift your head up to look at him seeing the slight annoyance in his eyes as he said that. "Sorry.." You muttered to him making his expression soften a bit as you apologize to him. You didn't know the rules yet so he would have to go over them with you if you're gonna be staying with the yakuza.

"Since you're new and don't know the rules around here, I’ll give you a pass this time, but whenever you speak to me or even address me, you need to look at me straight on. Don’t look at the ground, or at anything else. Only look at me. Understand Y/N?"

He was pretty strict already but you nod your head in understanding of how he would like to be addressed by you.

"Good… Now, I’ll be having someone bring you some clothes today. I cannot have you wearing that all the time, you need something more practical." He stated to you putting his hands in his pockets as he looked down at you with his golden eyes. "Now I'll be showing you what you'll be doing while your hear. Come with me" He ordered you. You start walking by his side as he continued to walk, keeping a slow pace so you could keep up. He was heading towards a certain area in the building, not saying anything as he walked towards that location. He took a glance at you as he decided to speak up again.

“You might be able to tell, but I very much care about hygiene and making sure the environment around me is clean. If I see anything that doesn’t meet my expectations, I’ll make sure it’s gone. So don't be filthy here.. You make a mess you clean it up"

"Yes sir... I understand" "Good, and while you are here you will listen to my orders, and act exactly how I want you too, I am the boss so you follow what I say when I say it. Got it?" "I understand sir"

"Good. Now for right now I'd like to really test your quirk out. See how long you can use it until you reach your limit." You decide to agree to the testing he wants to do as you both step into a room together. It was pretty spacious and empty as if it was made for training or something. When you look over at Kai you watched him pull his glove off of his hand and you started to wonder if training was gonna be an actual fight against him. You weren't worried really since your quirk was strong and you could just keep him away from you at all times which will just be a piece of cake. Kai stuffed his glove into his pocket as he stepped forward towards you calmly bringing his hand up and grazed your shoulder with his finger.

Everything had went black after that until you started to feel an unpleasant amount of pain as if your body was being reconstructed back together. It hurt so bad for a good minute or so as Kai was building your body back up after blowing you to pieces with that simple touch of his finger. Your eyes began to open and you looked at him.

"What the hell was that?" You muttered as he finished up the process of reconstructing you. He smirked a bit as you asked him that. You thought he was just gonna explain what was gonna happen not kill you on the spot then bring you back?. You were confused big time as you laid there on the floor.

"I just gave you a feel of my quirk" He stated as he stood up with hives now on his face.

"Now get up, and don't hold anything back either. Wouldn't want to disappoint me" He walked over to the middle of the room as you stood up from the floor looking at him. Kai definitely wanted to fight you and see what you could do for himself, and get an idea on how long you could hold off against him. Without warning Kai drops down and touches the ground a large amount of spiked rock came at you which surprised you but in a good way. You put your hand up and every single one shatters into pieces and with a swift motion of your hand the rocks fling towards the wall. Kai smirked under his mask knowing this will be interesting and not boring like all his other opponents. This will be harder and more entertaining for him. "Not bad Y/N, But I'm just getting started" He growled out before pulling off his other glove tossing it to the side ready to come at you with everything he's got. Kai placed both hands on the ground now sending out more your way which You react the same shattering the spiked rock, slamming them on the ground before finding the right opening to use your quirk to throw him against the wall only to release him due to your body growing tired and weak already. Kai looks at you and could see an opportunity to strike you down since you were becoming exhausted which showed him you couldn't use your quirk for to long. You lift your head up to look at him just as his hand touched the ground and sent the spiked rock towards you, impaling you in three different spots.

"AHHNGH!"

Your eyes watered up due to the pain you felt, the tears running down your face. Blood dripped onto the ground from your wounds he in flicked on you, leaving the sharp rock pierced through your shoulder, leg, and side. You couldn't help but cry from the pain until he reconstructed the ground the spiked rock fading back to the floor. You drop to the ground, blood coloring the floor as Kai walked over placing his hand on your body and reconstructing the wounds which sucked for you. After that Kai stands up and dusts himself off, the hives still on his skin.

"I need a shower.." He muttered before turning his gaze back to you sitting on the floor drying your tears off your face.

"Were gonna work on that quirk of yours.. I can't have you getting tired after 5 minutes" He stated in a rather harsh tone feeling a bit annoyed at the filth.

"Get up and go shower as well.. You're filthy" He said gesturing for you to following him. You stand up and follow him out of the room. You both go to separate bathrooms to clean up. Once you both finished Kai offered for you to join him for breakfast which you did, enjoying the rest of the morning with him as he showed you around the place, going over everything with you.

Months soon passed and you were able to last for a good hour now using your quirk thanks to Kai himself training you every morning and night every single day and pushing you past your limits none stop. You stood up from the ground as Kai was walking off before he stopped and looked back at you.

"Oh and if you could do so and be a good girl for me, I'd like you to join me in the shower tonight.. And don't make me wait on you, yeah?. It would be a real shame to have to wait on you." He stated making you pick your head up to look at him, a faint blush spreading across your face as he walked away. You were frozen in place for a good minute trying to figure out if you actually heard him correctly. He wanted to shower with you? really? you wondered to yourself though you will listen to him and do as you're told. You head to your room first grabbing some clean clothes and made your way to the bathroom Kai was in and walked in shutting the door, seeing him pulling off his jacket and setting it aside. His hands move up undoing the straps to his mask pulling it off as you sit there just staring at him as if your in a trance just admiring him.

"You know it's quite rude to stare, now get undressed" You snap out of it as he pulls off the rest of his clothing as you start pulling your clothes off. He steps into the shower letting the water run down his body. You step in after him, his eyes roaming over your body with a slight smirk forming on his lips before he grabs a sponge and tosses it to you. "Now scrub yourself thoroughly. I won't tolerate any impurities."

His voice was stern leaving no room for disobedience. You put soap on the sponge and started washing your body with it as he watches you, never breaking eye contact. Once you finished scrubbing yourself down with the sponge Kai grabbed you and pulled you close to him under the running water, bodies touching each other, as he lowered his head to your neck while his fingers tangle in your hair, gripping it firmly as his mouth brushes against your neck. You close your eyes and your mouth falls slightly open as butterflies are felt in your stomach being this close to him like this as the water cascades over the both of you. He kisses up your neck getting up to your ear, taking your earlobe between his teeth and pulling on it till it slips away.

"You're mine now and I'm going to claim you"

He says before pulling away and having you turn around so your back is against him and he places his arm around your neck as he positions his hard member at your entrance before pushing it in. A faint moan escapes your lips as he enters your heat.

"do you like that?. Good" He mutters in your ear as he began to thrust at a nice slow even pace letting you adjust to him.

"mmm.. Kai" You groan out in a gentle breaths. Your hand hold onto his arm as your head falls back resting on his shoulder, lowering his arm a bit until his hand is resting on your breast, gently kneading it as he thrusts into your warm wet heat.

"You feel amazing Y/N" he purrs sliding his other hand around, fingers brushing against your sensitive nub making your body twitch a bit from the contact, placing kisses on your neck.

"I love you Kai" You muttered through slight short gasps as his fingers play with your nub as he thrusts.

"I love you too Y/N"

He began to pick up his pace a little bit making your moans grow a bit louder, your grip on his arm tightening slightly as he pounded his member deep inside your pussy.

"mmm Kai" You moaned, pushing your self against him to to make him go deeper while the water pours down your bodies.

"You feel so fucking good"

He groaned in your ear before placing a kiss on your neck, hand gripping on your breast firmly, finger playing with your nub making you twitch and squirm a bit as gasped moans fill the room with the sound of running water. You started to feel close as your body started to tense up a bit.

"hmm you don't get to cum yet unless I say so" Kai mutters pulling his hand away from your sensitive nub being a tease. He slows his thrusting down a bit as he keeps his eyes on you.

"Kai please.. let me cum to you" You begged him making a smirk appear on his lips.

"Well since you asked so nicely."

He bends you over placing one hand on your waist and the other hand on the shower wall and begins to pick up his pace again being more forceful with his thrusts. You began to gasp with moans escaping your throat, as he pounded into your tight heat.

"ngh fuck Kai.. I'm close" You whimpered out as your body tensed up.

"I am to.. fuck" With one last thrust he spills his hot seed deep inside you as you gasp out your last moan as you hit your orgasm same time he does. Kai keeps ahold of you as he pulls out letting the shower wash away the fluids that dripped out of your pussy. He holds you as he sits up against the shower wall with you in his arms in the shower pushing your hair behind your ear and kissing your forehead.

"That's a good girl"

#overhaul x reader #overhaul mha #overhaul bnha #overhaul smut #kai chisaki #chisaki kai #mha #mha anime #fanfic #Overhaul fanfic #kai chisaki mha #my hero kai chisaki #overhaul

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syndxlla · 7 months

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Fck now MY head is full of fanfic ideas because of you. I don't have anywhere to throw them so imma throw them at you 💕 take em! Don't take em! Tell em they're dumb! Say "yes and" or "yes but actually" or "no and" or "no but actually"! I don't do fanfic but I play dnd and that's like the same thing in a lot of ways.

Link comes back and is more hurt by Purahs words than he thought. Tired. Grumpy. Zelda feels a little guilty about all the work Link is doing. Asks to help him cook. Link is grumpy, he's bossy. Controlling. Conflict there? Zelda brushes it off but something is clearly bugging him.

Next day. Link is still upset. Zelda kept a journal previously, asks Link to get her a blank book to write in. Link is forced to go back to the lab, he's planning on apologizing, but it goes badly. Comes back, gives Zelda the book, and goes outside to blow off steam doing a bunch of manual labor. Cleans the horse pens. Chops a shit ton of fire wood. While he's working Zelda snoops more, and hatches a plan. Asks Link to draw her a bath again. Bathes. When Link is to come back into the house, she insists he's dirty and smelly. He needs a bath. Something something, reusing her bath water is embarrassing. While he's bathing she leaves.... but then she comes back and starts cooking the recipe he was being bossy about. He can't leave the tub or she'll see him naked, so he just watches her. In a hot tub. That she just soaked in. Eventually, she leaves so he can get dressed and the pot can simmer. Link is so freaking tired, after the bath all his muscles just relax. They talk about the thing Purah said. Bed time. Link puts on a bunch of fire wood, and sits next to the bed Zelda sleeps in. After him not being able to sleep, Zelda pulls him into the bed. He's basically not even conscious. It's warm with him there. He's asleep. The fire is hot. She takes her top off to stay cool.

Link wakes up to find himself in bed with Zelda. Panic! Gets out to not wake her. She's half nude. Stoicly ignore. Must busy himself to ignore thoughts. Eventually she wakes up too. Or was she awake when he got out of bed? Link pretends nothing happened. Zelda is frustrated. Internally, Link tries to work out how that happened. The next night, when Zelda goes to bed she notices theres no raging fire. He takes his shirt off and joins her, and the bed is just as warm.

Etc etc, someday Purah comes by and sees Link doing a bunch of chores while Zelda sips tea, watching him intensely, practically taking notes, wearing one of his shirts and Purah just sits there like. Oh. They've got it BAD.

Oh f wait the whole school story arc. Link helps bud a school?? Zelda gets better and plays with kids as Link falls madly in love with her watching her? Ahhh!

Something about tending a fire being a symbol for effort into the relationship or something? She uses the fire for closeness, he uses the fire to get away and be stoic or whatever. He wants to be stoic even though he wants to be close, she wants to be close but understands she must look regal to rebuild hyrule. Then they start doing the things together. Im sorry but building a school and teaching together is foreplay for "hey babe you want to have kids?"

haha i love all of this! you guys are all so creative! it makes me so happy that my works have inspired such creativity! i love a lot of these ideas. i’ve had lots of link taking care of zelda but believe be the tables will turn soon!!

#ask #fan fiction #tloz #zelink #zelda #botw #legend of zelda #the legend of zelda #zelda fandom #zelda tears of the kingdom #link x zelda #best friends dont look at each other the way we do

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strawberryicebreakers · 10 months

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Hello, sorry to bother you but I'm a bit curious about the UHF fanfic you mentioned a while ago. Has it been updated since?

I haven't gotten around to it just yet; I got bit by the ted lasso bug, blinked, and now I'm nearly 40k into a fic with no signs of switching over to a different WIP :(

that being said, it is incredibly nice to see that people want to read my writing :') I do, eventually, want to finish the fic, but with the current WIP I'm working on and the semester starting up [yay college!], it doesn't look like I'll get to finish it anytime soon.

as a condolences/sneak peak, I'll put what I've got so far under the cut. it's about 7.1k, and it is a very, very rough draft, but again, I'm very thankful for the kind words I've gotten from people concerning the fic and want to show it! if you have any questions, feel free to hit me with them :)

Three months in, and Robert still couldn’t believe the station hadn’t crashed and burned. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust George, or Pamela, for that matter, but it seemed too good to be true. It made no sense to him that the same universe that let him flunk out of college and lose every minimum-wage job he’d ever held was the same universe that gave him a television station and said “hey, go nuts!”

It made no sense, but in all honesty, nothing in his life seemed to make that much sense to him these days. Just the other day, he’d had a group of teenagers break into the building in the middle of the night, probably trying to find a place to smoke, and got chased out by some robotic behemoth Philo’d built in the back of his station control room-turned-laboratory, all while having not told anyone he’d come back to begin with. He’d come in the next morning to see the door off the hinges and a hunk of metal with a wagging tail getting behind-the-ear scratches from Pamela.

Pamela, who was slowly becoming another tally in favor of his life turning upside down.

Ever since the night Channel 8 went off the air, she’d started paying attention to him, and it was beginning to concern him. Before, she’d said “good morning” and “good night,” or even the occasional question about any plans he might have, but over the past weeks, she’d turned her charm on to the highest setting possible. Despite the weather turning cold, her skirts grew shorter, her heels taller, and she’d started lingering by his desk for much longer than it took to ask him where the Rolodex went.

Privately, he’d thought that was more of a question for Stanley, not him, but he didn’t want to embarrass her by pointing it out.

All in all, though, he knew he’d have to mention it at some point, if only to soothe his own conscience. The last thing he needed was to find her doodling hearts and “Mrs. Pamela Steckler” in her broadcast notes.

He glanced up at the clock and saw that all of a single hour had passed since he’d arrived. He’d started coming in early, around eight in the morning, to make sure the morning rerun segments ran smoothly; if it had the added benefit of getting an hour to himself before anyone else showed up, well, he wasn’t complaining.

The scrape of the door on the tile floor that pulled him out of his reverie told him that someone else had arrived, and the click of a heel announced who it was.

“Good morning!”

“Hey, Pamela,” he called out. “Any trouble with the drive?”

“Nah,” she said, pulling her coat off and hanging it on the rack. “Just some awful fog. I could barely see the street!”

Through the lattice, Robert watched her rifle through her desk drawers, pulling out a few pens and her notepad. At his desk, he did the same, and began to look through the show proposals for the spring schedule; not reading them, just counting the envelopes. “Anything interesting to cover today?”

“The uzhe,” she said. “The shelter’s doing a PSA for families looking to adopt a pet for Christmas and I get to go down and get fur all over my legs.”

“Look on the bright side, Pam,” he said. “You get to play with puppies, and George and I are stuck down here, puppy-less. You have to admit, one seems a lot more fun than the other.”

She turned, swiveling her chair over to look at him through the lattice. “You saying you want to come down with me, Bobby?”

“No,” he said, a bit too quick to be polite. “No, I -, uh, I’ve got to stay up here. Keep everything in line, you know?” He held up the papers to her with a shrug. “You really think George wants to read these?”

He sent a quick prayer up, hoping she hadn’t seen George all but club him over the head the other night when he’d mentioned splitting the proposals in half and reading them separately. Reading what the people of Tulsa wanted to see on the TV was half the alleged fun of the job, and reading them together, laughing about it, made it borderline bearable.

She stood, walking over to his desk and perching on the edge. “Come on,” she said, smiling. “It’s me, you, and a bunch of cute little animals. What’s not to love?”

“I said no, Pamela.”

She huffed, crossing her arms. “You’d really rather be here?”

“I really would rather be here,” he said. “I can’t ditch work to hang out with you.”

They sat in silence for a moment before Pamela looked down at him, smiling.

“What?”

“I mean,” she said, curling a lock of hair ‘round her finger, “if work’s the problem, we could always hang outside of work hours. Grab dinner, maybe a movie?”

“I -”

“I think Back to the Future two’s playing at the theater near my place. You ever see the first one? I always thought the guy who played Marty, the Fox guy, was pretty funny. He’s on Family Ties, too, and -”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just -,” he sighed. “I just can’t.”

She pushed herself off his desk, and he saw her face begin to flush. “I don’t get it,” she said. “I mean, I’ve got a job, I’m nice, and frankly, I’m not too bad to look at, so what’s your deal?”

“Well, I’m your boss, Pamela,” he said. “Pretty sure that’s illegal.”

“Fine,” she said. “If you weren’t my boss, would you date me?”

“No, but -”

“You got a girlfriend?”

“No -”

“Then what gives?” She slunk down into George’s chair with a groan, threading her hand through her hair. “I mean, is it my voice? My makeup? Shit, do I wear too much makeup?”

“You’re beautiful,” Robert said. “And your voice is fine, Pam. We wouldn’t put you on the air if it wasn’t.”

She huffed. “If it’s none of that, then what is it?”

“He’s gay, Pamela.”

They both jumped, nearly falling out of their chairs.

“Fuck, Philo,” Robert cursed, “how long have you been there?”

“Long enough,” Philo mused. He hummed while he worked, some odd little tune Robert couldn’t place while sticking a screwdriver into what looked like three batteries taped to a piece of glass. “And Pamela has an uncle like you, Robert. She wouldn’t have been rude about it, had you told her yourself.”

“How do you know about my uncle?” Pamela asked. “I haven’t said anything about him to you, or anyone here.” She turned, looking back at him. “He’s right, though.”

“Philo, you can’t say stuff like that,” Robert wheezed. He felt his heart racing under his shirt as if he’d run from one end of the station to the next, and tried to get himself to calm down.

For what it was worth, the older man looked genuinely confused. “I can’t?”

“No, you can’t,” he said. “Some people wouldn’t take that information very well.”

He considered it for a minute, then nodded. “My apologies, Robert.”

“Just don’t do it again, okay?”

“You have my word.” He pressed a hand to the right side of his lab coat, and gave a slight bow. With that, Philo walked away, returning to the back of the station to do god knows what, and left Robert alone with Pamela, who stared straight at him.

He knew she’d have questions; hell, he still had questions, sometimes, and it would be better to get the awkward part over with. “Whatever it is you’re trying to figure out how to ask, just ask it.”

“If you liked girls, would you like me?”

“For God’s sake, Pam.”

She giggled. “I’m sorry, I had to ask!”

“If I wake up tomorrow wanting to date a woman,” Robert said, smiling despite himself, “you’re the first on my list.”

“Yes!” She pumped a fist in the air. “I knew it!”

“Any man would be lucky to have you,” he said. “You could choose any man you’d ever met, and chances are, they’d treat you like a princess.” He picked up the papers that had fallen from his hand when Philo’d appeared. “Not me, though. Maybe not Stanley, either.”

“You think he’s gay?”

“No,” he said, unfolding the first proposal. “I just think you can do better.”

She stayed with him until other employees began to trickle in, and by half past noon, they nearly had a full house. They were still missing George and a few others, but he wasn’t too worried; he’d heard George come in late the night before, and figured he probably wouldn’t drag himself into the station until the last minute. Cameras wouldn’t go live until they started filming some of the upcoming week’s segments at two, but it was nice to hear people moving out and about, typing out a new script or whatever it was they got paid to do. They’d hired an entire new rotation of employees, a good chunk of which were people who wanted to see their shares in the station put to good use, and they had an entire team of high schoolers acting as interns, doing side work for some sort of class credit. Technically, he and George were supposed to give them assignments, grade them, the whole nine years, but if he was being honest with himself, unless one of the kids managed to break something that actually mattered, he’d give them all A’s and call it a day.

Life’s hard enough without some asshole in a tie trying to make it worse, he thought, watching one of them follow Stanley around as he mopped.

Everything had grown to become so much more professional since they’d started revamping the station; between the new employees, broadcasting gear, and business cards that said “Robert” instead of “Bob,” he finally began to feel like an adult.

The phone at the front of the office gave out a short, shrill ring, and Pamela answered. After a moment, she held the receiver away from her mouth. “It’s for you, Bob!”

“Coming,” he said, halfway out of his desk already. There were only two types of calls they got: serious calls that required either him or George, and Pamela’s social calls from friends who realized that, unless she was on their television, she was available to talk.

He lifted the receiver to his ear. “Robert Steckler, Channel 62.”

“I’m in hell, Bob.”

“George?”

Next to him, Pamela gave up any attempt she’d made at trying to look disinterested.

“Hell, Bob.” George repeated. He spoke slowly, as if he had to pull the words out of himself to say them loud enough to hear through the phone. “I’m in it.”

“What’s wrong?”

This time, Robert couldn’t hear the mumbled mess that came out of the speaker.

“What?”

“My glasses broke.” George sighed, loud enough to be heard over the speaker, and despite the situation, Robert fought back a grin at the dramatics.

“How’d that happen?”

“I didn’t put them in the drawer last night when I came in. Knocked them off the nightstand when I got out of bed since I didn’t remember they were there, and the second I put my foot down -”

Robert winced. “Crunch?”

“Crunch,” George echoed. “I just got off the phone with Visionworks. They’re doing a rush order for me ‘cause I might’ve mentioned I needed them for station work -”

“George -”

“which isn’t technically wrong, y’know, and they said the earliest they’d be in is Friday, so until then, I’m out of commission for anything that requires me behind the wheel of a car.”

“Got it,” he said. “I’ll be there in ten or so. You need me to help you down the stairs?”

A quiet chuckle came through the speaker. “I’m not your Grandma Ruth.”

“Yeah, but you’re both bordering on legally blind,” he replied, teasing, “so what’s the difference, really?”

“Just for that, I’m throwing myself down the stairs. Have fun running U-62 on your own, Bob.”

“I will,” he said, and hung up the phone. He reached over, grabbing his coat out from underneath Pamerla’s and sliding it on. “I’ll be back in about half an hour,” he said, looking at her. “Try not to let the power get to your head.”

“You’ll come back, and they’ll be feeding me grapes,” she said. She lifted her legs, crossing them at the ankles atop her desk and leaning back like a queen on her throne. “His glasses broke?”

“Shattered, from what he told me.”

Pamela clicked her tongue. “Damn,” she said. “No spares?”

“Nah, neither of us have that kind of cash.”

“Well,” she said, flicking through the Rolodex, “at least we know his address.”

“Of course I know his address,” Robert said, feeling through his pockets for his keys. “We live together, Pam.” He found the keys, kept on an old keychain his dad had given him when he first came back to Tulsa.

Behind him, Pamela gasped. “Oh,” she said, eyes wide. “Oh, I get it now!”

He whipped around, hands up in alarm. “Not like that!”

“He’s not -,” she asked, then stopped herself. “You two aren’t -?”

“I don’t think,” he said, lowering his voice, “that George knows that being gay is an option, much less, well.” He waved a hand at himself. “So please, Pam, don’t mention it in front of him.”

She mimed zipping her lips shut, throwing an invisible key in the small garbage can by her feet. “My lips are sealed.”

The fog had grown stronger during the hours he’d spent in the station, and Robert quickly learned that Pamela wasn’t lying when she’d said that visibility was zero to none. His car was barely more than a lump of blue-gray, even though he’d parked in the closest line of spots to the building that morning.

At least the roads were clear. The last of the lunch rush was still trickling back to their places of employment, but overall, the drive back home wasn’t too painful. He’d grown up around this type of weather in the winter, the days where you couldn’t see more than two feet in front of you followed by enough snow or ice to make it a hazard to anyone who didn’t know to look at the road when driving. Every year, car accidents littered the roads from December to mid-March, all because barely half of the town’s driving population consisted of Tulsa natives, and the other half was a combination of out-of-towners, the elderly, and teenagers that got their license that year.

The very first winter they’d lived together, he’d had to go rescue George from a ditch eight miles from the apartment at ten o’clock at night; he’d tried driving home from his girlfriend’s house and lost control when his wheel hit the ice. It was the same winter where the heat went out, and George’s uncle Harvey managed to save their asses both times. He’d paid for the repairs on the car, and “had a guy” who came out to fix the heating, not just for their apartment, but for the whole building, at no cost.

They’d met Kuni about a week later when he’d come by to give his thanks after he’d realized that the landlord hadn’t been the one to fix the heating, and he’d brought a Tupperware full of something his wife had made for them. Robert still didn’t know what it was; it’d been strawberries covered in some sort of soft, chewy coating that neither he nor George recognized. Whatever it was, though, was incredibly good, and after trying it, they had to count the individual pieces and divide them in half in order to make sure it was a fair split.

Whenever Kuni had a particularly loud class or a student who decided to try their luck punching through their walls, he brought the same dish over. It was partially apologetic, but mainly a “thank you for not reporting me to the landlord”-type gift, and with Harvey Bilchik’s various connections able to fix anything for free, neither young man ever even considered actually going legal with the various property damages they’d collected over the past four years.

He parallel parked in his spot on the street, leaving the key in the ignition to keep the car warm while he was gone as he left the car. He took the stairs two at a time, reaching the door quickly and opening it, knowing George would’ve left it unlocked.

At first glance, the apartment seemed empty. Both bedroom doors were shut, as was the bathroom, and the main room showed no signs of life. He stood still, not even breathing, and felt a small, irrational fear that someone had broken in and kidnapped his roommate creep into the back of his mind.

A small sigh coming from the couch gave him his second near-heart attack of the day.

Nearly camouflaged against the cushions sat George, hunched over with his head in his hands. If he’d worn anything else, he would’ve been visible, but the combination of the brown curls and light blue suit jacket made him a chameleon in their home.

The sheer unhappiness that radiated from his friend, combined with the MAD poster above his head reading “what - me worry?” made him have to fight back a laugh. “You ready to head out?”

On the couch, George sighed, purposefully loud, and lifted his head. He stared forwards as he spoke, not even turning to face Robert. “I think you might actually need to help me down the stairs.”

Robert could count on one hand the amount of times he’d seen George without his glasses throughout the four and a half years he’d known him. He put them on first thing in the morning, and taking them off was the last thing he did before bed. Hell, he’s pretty sure he’s seen him leave the bathroom after a shower with them fogged up. The few times he’d seen him sans glasses were always temporary; despite the fact that he was a man in his twenties, he kept his glasses safer than his car, wallet, and comics collection combined.

“That bad?”

George turned his head, lifting his bangs to reveal a bright red line going from his right eyebrow to his hairline. “I, uh, missed the bathroom door. Met the frame instead; turns out she’s a real mean lady.”

Curious, Robert lifted his hand in a Girl Scouts salute that would make his little sister proud. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

George glared at him. “You’re evil,” he said. “You know that, right?”

“I know,” Robert said, smiling. He held out his arm, palm facing the ceiling, the same way he’d always done for his grandma. “Come on, we’ve got about half an hour before the station burns down.”

“Fine,” George said. He reached out a hand, but instead of taking him by the elbow like Robert expected, took his hand, lacing their fingers together. “If you lead me off the stairs, I’m dragging you down with me.”

“Got it,” Robert replied, hoping his voice didn’t sound as strained as it felt when the words came out.

He could feel the other man’s pulse, a slow thrum, through his fingers as he led them out the front door and slowly to the stairs, with George clasping the railing with his free hand the entire way down. It seemed as though the weather had grown even colder while he’d been inside, making him all the more aware of how warm his hand was with another wrapped around it.

Logistically, he knew it wasn’t anything, but he was human, and it had been nearly three years since he’d been in a relationship, let alone held hands with someone. The weight of it was comforting; it was solid and steady, only verging onto tight once they’d made it to the bottom few steps.

Thankfully, they made it down without any event, and Robert led them to his car, stopping at the passenger door. “Your carriage, ma’am.”

“Oh, you’re such a polite young man,” George said, finally cracking a smile. “If I’d known you were here to help, I’d have brought a dollar with me to tip you!”

“I’m just glad to be here for you in such a trying time.”

George took his hand away, opening the door and sinking into the seat. Still in the cold outside, Robert wasted no time in making his way to the driver’s side and climbing inside. He looped his arm around the back of the passenger seat, checking the street for cars behind him before pulling out onto the main road.

They made it out to the highway before either of them spoke.

“Can you still do the Town Talk segment tonight?” Robert asked. “”Cause if you need me to, I can do it.”

“I can deal with it,” George said. “I know how much you hate being in front of the camera.”

“I hate being in front of the camera as Bob-o the Clown,” Robert corrected. “I’m fine being on air as Robert.”

George shifted in his seat, looking over at him, or at least looking in his direction. “You’re really sticking with Robert, aren’t you?”

“Yep,” Robert said, popping the ‘p.’ “Sounds more professional, which means the other channels take us seriously.” George snickered. “Only if they haven’t seen the shows we’ve greenlit.”

“Speaking of,” he said, turning onto the side road leading to the station, “we’ve got a new batch of proposals for spring. The people of Tulsa have spoken, and they want more insanity in the writer’s room.”

“Don’t tell me you read them without me.” George whined.

“I didn’t,” he said. “Just counted them. We’ve got about twenty, give or take.”

“And how many slots do we have open on the schedule for next spring?”

“Like, two.”

“Phenomenal.”

A little while later, they pulled into the station’s parking lot, and Robert was glad to see that no one had taken his spot while he’d been gone. He parked, taking the keys out of the ignition and slipping them into his pocket.

“You want my help again?” Robert asked.

“I think I’m good,” George said, “but thanks.”

“Alright,” he said, unconvinced. There were a few steps leading up to the door, and he didn’t want to see George eat concrete when he knew neither of them had dental insurance. They were still trying to get that all squared away, but the steps for registering a business with the various insurances wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially when neither of the bosses had ever had insurance to begin with.

They left the car, and Robert watched, wary, as George made his way to the front door, both hands splayed out in front of him. He followed close behind in case he managed to hit something and fall backwards, but to his pleasant surprise, neither of them hit the floor.

“Good afternoon, Stevie Wonder,” Pamela said, seeing them stumble through the door. “Had a nice drive?”

“If he’d driven, we’d be wrapped around a tree right now.”

“Very funny,” George said. He’d narrowed his eyes, but it wasn’t exactly clear if it was out of annoyance or if he was just squinting. “Make fun of the blind guy when he can’t see you well enough to punch back.”

“With your gangly limbs? Honey,” Pamela said, “I don’t think you’d manage to land a hit. Even if you could, you’re too sweet to hit a lady. It’s a mystery how no one’s snapped you up yet.”

He looked over at George, who stayed quiet, fiddling with the cuff of his suit jacket. “Someone has,” Robert said, perplexed at the silence. “His girlfriend, Teri Campbell. And before you ask,” he said, cutting Pamela off, “yes, like the soup.”

“Must’ve been born under a lucky star,” Pamela mused. “Rich girlfriend and a steady job at what, twenty-two?”

“Twenty-five,” Robert clarified, then paused. With the chaos of the first weeks at the station, he realized he’d never actually asked her, or anyone at the station, something as basic as an age. “Wait, how old are you?”

Pamela hummed, setting her pen down. “How old do you think I am?”

Robert laughed. “I’m not dumb enough to fall -”

“Twenty-seven,” George answered. He looked at the other two, who stared back at him. “Her birthday’s in April.”

“How do you know that?”

“It’s on her paperwork, Bob.” George said, the way one would expect to hear “duh” tacked onto the end.

He cocked his head to the side, surprised. “You read that?”

George mimicked him, cocking his head to the other side. “You didn’t?”

“I’ve been meaning to get around to it,” he mumbled, feeling his face heat up.

“Stanley’s thirty-two,” George continued, pointing at the janitor as he swept the floor near Robert’s desk. “Raul is forty-four -, no,” he corrected, “sorry, forty-eight. Kuni’s fifty-one, and Philo never actually filled out his papers to begin with.”

“Is he allowed to do that?”

A loud BANG! rang out from the back room.

“I say we let him do what he wants, and in return, we get an on-site engineer who’s willing to host a show without extra pay.”

He eyed the back room’s doors, taking note of the odd green glow that shone from the porthole windows. “That’s fair,” he said.

Together, they made their way to their desks, sitting down just in time to avoid the crowd that pushed their way in seconds later.

The live studio audience had arrived, and they were loud, almost overwhelmingly so. They couldn’t wait to see the people they usually saw on small boxes in real life, excited to participate in the shows they watched with family and friends. Parents with children they’d pulled out of school for the day as an early Christmas present were shown by Pamela to the largest spare room-turned-sound stage, the one with yellow walls and bleachers to fit all those coming to spend a day at Stanley Spadowski’s Clubhouse. A smaller, noticeably older crowd, directed by the interns, were ushered to Town Talk’s half-living room set-up, all the way across the building.

The other shows filming — Secrets of the Universe, Raul’s Wild Kingdom, and You Bet Your Pink Slip — wouldn’t film until after the first two, and luckily required no such audience. Raul chose to film on-site at his apartment complex, Philo hated the idea of anyone in his lab space that didn’t explicitly have to be there, and Pink Slip was shot at whatever place of employment had someone willing to, as the show’s title suggested, bet their pink slip on something insane.

One of the interns, a short, dark-skinned girl that was one of the first to sign up for the job, rushed over, the rubber soles of her Converse slapping against the linoleum. “Mr. Newman?”

George glanced up at her. “What do you need, Gloria?”

“Mrs. Nichole wants you in make-up for your segment,” she said, rushing through the words. “She wants to try something new with your hair for the episode, and told me to tell you to,” she paused, focusing, “‘get your ass in the chair and don’t complain like you always do or she’ll shave your ‘stache next time.’” She grimaced, then added, “her words, not mine.”

“I’m not letting her put glitter on me again,” he muttered, standing up. He smoothed out the creases of his jacket, and straightened his tie. “I’m still picking pink flakes out of my sheets and it’s been a full month.”

“Last I saw, she had the eyeliner out,” Gloria said, ��so I think you’re safe for today.”

“Don’t jinx it.”

Gloria left, spinning on her heel so fast it could’ve left a burnout, running back to Nicole’s hair and makeup station, operating out of a converted bathroom they’d found when planning out the station’s space, once they’d realized what was on the horizon. George followed her lead, not wanting to incur the wrath of Nicole, especially if his hair was at-risk of retaliation.

“Hey, George?” Robert said.

George stopped, and looked back at him. “Yeah?”

“Break a leg.”

George smiled back at him. “You know I will.” He turned back around, not wanting to lose Gloria in the hallway.

A moment later, after Robert had gone back to sorting through the bills they’d received for the upcoming week, a quiet thump! could be heard to those who knew to expect it.

“I didn’t mean it literally,” Robert called out.

“Oh, go to hell, Bob.”

Seven o’clock came quicker than he’d expected; between paying the bills, fielding calls from Raul’s suppliers, then having to speak to one very confused, very new-to-town police officer who’d seen Raul unloading a komodo dragon out of a van, and placing Philo’s order of calcite, dolomite, glass squares, and a bottle of hydrochloric acid, he didn’t have the time to, well, check the time.

“You planning on going home soon?” Pamela asked, packing up her purse. Around them, the station was nearly deserted; the camera crew left to film the next segments at four-thirty and the interns left at five, leaving only a skeleton crew at Station U-62. George had locked himself in the writer’s room, saying he needed the quiet to think of the next week’s Town Talk. “News segment finally wrapped, so I’m out of here.”

“Yeah,” he said, packing the last of his papers away into his desk drawer, “just waiting for George.”

“Mhm,” she said. She grabbed her coat off the rack, slipping it on and zipping it tight. “Can I ask you something?”

“Depends,” Robert replied. “Do you want to come closer and not shout it out?”

Pamela rolled her eyes as she made her way to his desk. “How long has George been dating that girl, Carrie?”

“Teri,” Robert corrected. “And, Christ, I don’t know. They’ve been on-and-off for as long as I’ve lived with him, why?”

“Just curious,” Pamela said. “How long have you two lived together?”

“Four years. Five this April, if that helps with whatever timeline you’re plotting out in your head.”

She pursed her lips. “Curious,” she repeated.

Robert sighed. “Fine, I’ll bite. What’s so curious about them?”

“They date for four, probably five years, and he still hasn’t popped the question?”

“With their breaks, they’ve probably only dated two years, to be honest.”

“And that! I mean,” she said, throwing a hand in the air, “if the guy I was with still didn’t know if he wanted to marry me after five years, even after seeing what life was like without me, I’d find myself someone who knew they wanted me.”

“Hey,” Robert interrupted, trying not to get upset, “he’s not leading her on, if that’s what you’re trying to imply. He’s a good guy, Pam.”

“I know, I know,” she reassured, “but it’s weird, right? I mean, is he breaking up with her every time they have a spat, or what?”

“I never said he was the one breaking up with her. In fact, every time they’ve broken up, Teri breaks up with him, and he doesn’t ever see a new girl. Ever. He just mopes around and waits for her to take him back.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously,” Robert confirmed. “It’s kind of sad.”

“Has he ever dated another woman?”

“I don’t know, I’d have to check his diary,” Robert said, half-kidding. It wouldn’t surprise him to find out his roommate had an actual diary. “Why do you suddenly care about George’s dating life?”

“Well, since you’re off the table -”

If someone had thrown a bucket of gasoline and a lit match onto him, Robert still would’ve felt the cold creeping up his spine. “Pamela, you can’t -” “I’m kidding!” Pamela laughed. “Sheesh, I wish I had my camera!” She wiped a tear from the side of her eye, taking care not to smudge her mascara. “I’m just trying to learn a little more about my bosses today, is that a crime or something?”

“Go home before you send me into a stroke, Pam.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” she said, gathering her purse under her arm. “Drive safe tonight, ‘kay? I don’t think the next managers will let me wear what I want on air like you two do.”

“I will,” he said, “and same to you; drive safe.”

She waved, then let herself out, closing the door quickly to keep any of the afternoon’s snow from floating in.

With his papers safe and secure, he locked his drawer and walked down the hall to the writer’s room. It was the one of the only rooms they used that was actually created for the purpose they used it for, though without an official writing team, it was rarely occupied. George tended to flit inside when he needed the quiet, and any staff who doubled as writers would go in and out in pairs depending on what they were working on.

He knocked on the door, three quick beats. When he didn’t get a response, he inched the door open. “George?”

The man in question sat at the long cherrywood table, one hand twirling a pen, the other lost in his curls. “What’s better,” he said, not looking up, “local grocery stores already stocking Valentine’s Day merchandise before the month’s over, or the movie theater’s highest grossing films for this year and what they say about the people of Tulsa?”

“Movie theaters,” he said, leaning against the door frame. “You ready to head home?”

At the table, George scratched “TULSA MOVIE THEATERS” in large, blocky handwriting, making the lines thick enough to see, even without his glasses. “Definitely,” he said.

He got up, but as he walked toward the door, Robert noticed something on his face. “You’ve still got eyeliner on,” he said, staring at his eyes.

“Got to chat with the local punk scene,” George said. “They’re a pretty nice bunch, once you stop gawking at them.”

“Good to know,” he said. “It -, uh, it suits you.”

“The eyeliner?” George asked. “I’d agree with you, but I couldn’t see it when Nicole did it. She nearly put me in a headlock though; apparently, I’m squirmy.” He made air quotes with his fingers around the last word.

“Pamela thinks you’re gangly, and Nicole calls you squirmy,” Robert said, tsk’ing. He opened the front door, holding it for George to exit first. “What does Teri say about you?”

“Bad things, probably,” he muttered, reaching for Robert’s car. He laid a hand on the hood, trailing his fingers on the metal as he found his way to the passenger door. It was quiet outside; Philo usually took care of the station’s graveyard shift, which let the rest of the crew go home at a semi-normal hour. There were only two other cars in the lot aside from his, and he knew one belonged to Stanley while the other was probably Philo’s, though he’d never actually seen the man leave the property line.

Robert came up behind him, unlocking the door, then went to his own side, quickly getting inside and turning on the ignition. He turned the wipers on, clearing out the light dusting of snow they’d accumulated during the day, then reversed, clearing out of the lot before the car had begun to warm up. He reached over, clicking on the radio, and for a few minutes, they drove in silence, only broken up by the soft sounds of Sinatra’s Christmas album.

They made it all the way to the main road before Robert’s concern won out. “Hey, is everything okay with you? Between the glasses and -,” he didn’t want to say “not mentioning your girlfriend to Pam” out loud, so he settled on, “your general demeanor, you’ve been really off today.”

George hunched deeper into the seat, shoulders ‘round his ears. “I’m fine,” he said.

From the driver’s seat, Robert felt his hands grip the wheel a bit tighter than they usually did. He was well-accustomed to George’s moods; he knew everything from the giddy delight he had when the newest issue of MAD came in the mail to the slightly self-destructive depressive tendencies that came with Teri calling it quits, but the quiet sadness, the quiet anything, was never a sign of something good to come. “You sure?”

“I’m sure,” George said. He stared straight forwards into the empty night, deliberately avoiding Robert’s gaze. In all their years of living together, he knew George only did that when he was hiding something. He had a shit poker face, mainly because whenever he lied, as rare as it was, he did so while refusing to look at the person he was lying to.

Robert knew he wouldn’t talk about it on his own, but he’d wanted to give him the chance. Now was the time for him to take out the pliers and pull it out of him.

He decided to try for the most obvious cause first, then work his way down. “Is it about Teri?”

The thud of George’s head hitting the headrest told him he’d struck gold on his first try. “She wants me to spend Christmas with her family.”

“And that’s -?” Robert trailed off, waiting for George to fill in the gap.

“Not good,” he said. “It’s not bad, either, but I -,” he groaned, threading a hand into the tuft of hair that’d started hanging loose from the rest as months went by with no haircut, “I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to go.”

“Well, why not?”

George scoffed. “Her family hates me, Bob,” he said, voice thick. “All they see me as is the guy that’s terrorized their only daughter for five years. One Christmas isn’t going to change that.”

“It could.” Robert turned off of the main road, pulling onto the side street they lived on. “People are weird about the holidays, especially people like Teri’s parents. They get all holy ‘bout it, wanting to forgive those who trespassed against them,” he said.

It surprised him; it’d been years since he’d said the Lord’s Prayer, but he still remembered it, at least partially.

“They’re going to want me to go to church with them, and I’m going to embarrass her, again, in front of her parents. I don’t know the words, or the customs, or -,” he spiraled, waving his hands as he spoke, “when to stand up and sit down, and I -”

“George, relax,” Robert said, keeping his voice calm. “Half of the entire Christian population only goes to church on Christmas, Easter, and for, like, funerals and weddings, if they go at all. You’re not going to be the only one there who doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

“Teri’s parents are Catholic,” he said. “Not Christian, I think.”

“It’s basically the same thing.” He swung into his spot, and turned the car off. “Just mumble through the prayers, don’t take the wafer or wine, and you’re good to go.”

“I don’t think I’m even supposed to go into a church,” George mumbled.

“Why,” Robert asked, “afraid you’ll burst into flames?”

He knew it was stupid, but it got a laugh out of George, and that’s what he was aiming for.

“Very funny,” he said, monotone. He reached for the door handle as the car’s engine died.

Together, they left the car, standing in the cold. It was nearly pitch-black outside, save for the streetlights, which cast a warm amber glow onto the pavement below. A few patches of ice remained solid, mostly on the road, but a few scattered on the sidewalk, one of which was too close to George for Robert’s comfort.

“Hey,” he said, stepping over the ice to the other man. He held out a hand close enough for George to see. “Grab on.”

He expected some form of protest, whether it be outright refusal or stubbornness, with or without a comment mentioning how he was a grown man, but like that morning, he said nothing, just stretched his hand out, wrapping his fingers around Robert’s.

Carefully, he guided George up the stairs, taking his time after seeing more patches of ice hiding on the steps. He waited until the front door was open to let go, putting the hand that had held George’s against the small of his back instead, ushering him inside.

“You can get first shower,” Robert said. “If I make Kraft, do you want any?”

“Yeah, I’ll take some,” he said.

“Try not to slip and break your head open.”

Robert watched as George stretched out his arms, making sure he didn’t run into any door frames again, and kept his eyes on him until he saw the bathroom door shut. Satisfied with the knowledge he wouldn’t have to hunt around for the first aid kit, he reached up to the wire shelves, grabbing one of the twenty-odd remaining boxes of Kraft mac ‘n’ cheese he’d bought at Costco a few months back, and turned on the burner.

He’d just finished divvying up the pasta into two bowls when he heard the water turn off in the bathroom. He hunted around for a minute, searching through the drawers, then the dishwasher, until he came up with two clean forks, and set them in either bowl. He brought both bowls to the small hunk of wood they called a coffee table, sitting down on the couch and turning the television on.

“CBS is doing a M*A*S*H marathon!” Robert yelled. “You down?”

The bathroom door opened, and George shuffled out. From the corner of his eye, all Robert saw was a mass of light gray; after all the times he’d seen the other man do laundry, he knew that George had a tendency to buy his sweatpants and hoodies in matching colors, so seeing just one hue wasn’t out of character.

Robert patted the cushion next to his. “Come on, it’s dinner and a show.” He shoveled a forkful of macaroni into his mouth and cranked up the volume.

The couch groaned as George dropped down beside him. “Which ep’?”

He watched for a minute, trying to place it. “Think it’s the one where the guy gets the Dear John letter,” Robert said. “God, imagine how much that would suck. You’re fighting a war, the only thing keeping you together is knowing you’ve got someone to go home to, then -” he turned, looking over to George, and - “oh my God, George.”

“What?” George asked, confused.

He couldn’t help the snort of laughter that came out, but he tried to smother it as best as he could. “I’m sorry,” he said, chuckling. “I’m sorry, it’s just -, you look like a raccoon, dude. Did you use anything to remove the stuff Nicole put on?”

#again I am so thankful for how excited some of y'all are #it means the world to me as a writer to see that people actually want to read my stuff!!!#hope this is an alright condolence for everyone #uhf #weird al yankovic #sherrie's shit #and to clarify-george’s feelings re:terri are his own self deprecating thoughts.#terri does not actually hate him nor think badly of him #I have a grudge against fics that demonize female characters to make the m/m pairing happen and I am not about to do a 180 to write that ahi #shit* <- for the last tag

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astarab1aze · 22 days

Note

As they both sat in cool grass beneath the stars, completely worn out by the midsummer day’s romp around the neighborhood, Kai fell uncharacteristically quiet. It was in times like these where he felt the loneliest— times where he knew he would soon have to return home.

He wanted to be with Loux every hour of the day. Even spending a few hours apart during summer break wrenched his heart out. He wanted to play fight and proudly wear the scrapes and bloody noses as medals of honor. He wanted to build forts out of trees and tarps and gather inside when the afternoon thunderstorms came. He wanted to eat popsicles and show each other their oddly-colored tongues when they finished. He wanted to stay like this forever, laying under the stars next to the only one who made him feel like he wasn’t born completely wrong.

When a chilly breeze reached the field, Kai shivered and inched closer to Loux’s warm body, looking at his annoyingly cute face that all the girls in their third grade class talked about. Why couldn’t they just stay like this? Why did he have to go home?

After an extended silence, he finally spoke, holding back the tears stinging his eyes.

“Do you think your parents loved you?”

Then…

“I don’t think mine do.”

The wind was cold, chilly, and it drove goosebumps to rise on his skin along his spine, arms, shins, and skinned knees, band-aids hanging on by a thread. He drew them up to his chest, mind torn in two between focusing too hard on what Kai was saying and whimpering over everything he'd gone through that year. Eight years old and both his parents were already dead and buried, little memories for the fat cats at the DRS, whoever those people were. Black suits like the secret service, idiots Loux often saw in the corners of the TV screen during an address.

Thinking about all the wrong things as to distract himself. He always was devious, thought too much, planned out even more with all the care an adult might've taken - combining common sense with simple cause and effect, figuring out the solutions to most things in his head before ever needing a pen and paper to show his work. He never liked math, or English - never liked having to show anyone how he got his answers to everything when they were just so clearly written! One plus one equalled two because there were two ones, right? Simple as that.

But, this was different - maybe. Different context, not so simple. Different. His best friend was near to sobbing over something he couldn't understand, because, yes, his parents did love him. He was certain enough about that. Nothing else, though. His parents loved him, but what good did that love do him? They were gone now. Dead. Buried under six feet of grass and dirt and ugly flowers to be eaten by worms and other gross things. Dead and gone. Even if they loved him, it's not like they'd come back and tell him everything would be alright without them. It's not like they'd come back at all, not on their own. Lennie and Lucy needed them more than he did, and he knew that. Knew that better than anyone. And that's what really did it for him, was the misery his sisters continued to go through even now, separated from them, forced into a system that'd never see them reunite.

And he thought of all the plans he'd thought were solid, good plans, and all the contingencies he'd had for them. How surprised Kai would be that he even knew and understood the word.

And then he thought of how wrong it was for a parent not to love their children. No matter how broken, ugly, terrified, or stupid - a parent should've always loved their children, even he knew that, early on and right away. Mothers and fathers had one job - to love and care for their children. Maybe that said something bad about their personal lives, but who cares? Who cares? Loux wasn't stupid; A parent stopped being themselves the second they had a kid. Or, at least, their lives stopped being about them. And so what? So what?

Losing some freedom, some ability to still be a kid, wasn't a good enough excuse to leave their own high and dry. To cry in the middle of a field next to a kid who couldn't cry anymore himself.

He was quiet a long time, at first bothered by Kai's proximity - surprised by it, even - then resting his head against his, pursing his lips. Sometimes, he wished he could've understood, and in others he wished he didn't have to worry about this at all. It hurt too much not to be able to help, to sympathize properly, and how did he understand that? He didn't know, but he did know it made things harder.

Kai needed help he couldn't give yet. And the more he thought about it, the angrier he got, fingernails digging little half-moons into his palms, biting at his skin like tiny knives. It didn't make any sense to him, that someone could just not love their own kid. And maybe he was lucky, maybe he was lucky to have had parents who loved him for even five minutes longer than Kai's, but he had nothing without them. His whole life fell apart the second they were out of the picture and he wondered if Kai knew that, if he understood.

Nothing was worse than having everything, then losing it as soon as you realized you had it.

It was...hard. It was very hard. To be what Kai needed in the moment. To know and understand that he just couldn't be what he needed then, but still having to be. And he cared so much about him, he couldn't just let it go for a while. He had to help, in any way he could, even if it was only a curl of his arm around him and a stupid quip.

"Well, yanno... F-fuck 'em? Fuck 'em. That's what th' big kids say! Fuck 'em. Right?" he huffed, chuffed, and sighed, thinking about how satisfying it'd be to see Kai's parents burning in front of him, where they couldn't hurt him anymore. If they couldn't love him, then so be it - but, in his mind, they would watch while he lived a better life as theirs crumbled. In his mind. In his. "If they don't love you, tha's okay. Ya got me, right? I'll love you, and you can love me back."

He bit his lip.

"You can love me back...and then we'll ne'er hafta worry 'bout whether anyone loves us or not. 'Cause we got each other, right? We got each other." Yet tiny sparks of unquenchable flames began to burn at his finger tips, singing fabric and skin alike, but whose was it? His or Kai's? He couldn't tell, didn't want to, emotions bubbling within strong enough to burn even the coldest of wicks, or whatever. He couldn't deal, couldn't live with the fact the person he liked and loved most, someone he knew would be his friend until the end, was sad, hurt, left behind by the people who were supposed to love him more. "You can love me back..."

#☿ || Asks.#♞ // Main Verse.#✘ // Get Fucked & Die Right; Kai.#gloryundimmed #/ i'm going to throttle you gray #/ i shouldn't be sobbing and yet i am #/ i planned this out with you three days ago #/ YET I AM MCFUCKING SOBBING

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eahgal33 · 3 months

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Parent Trapping With Alistair Part 1

By Madeline coral

Male Narrator: Fall at the Ever After High and the students are excited for their new traveling 101 class with Miss Wonderland.

“So class that is why when you travel through anywhere in the realms and the world,” said Miss Wonderland “it is always important to be prepared for three things: climate, Environment and most importantly weird phenomena and or magic of any kind.” Suddenly the bell began to ring

“ oh that’s the bell class dismissed” Alice said “ but remember to study hard children for Monday’s quiz I mean it!”she shouted

Female Narrator:Soon Lizzie hearts,Alistair,bunny, Maddie and kitty left to have a study tea party at the wonderland grove.

Male Narrator: there Alistair would reveal something exciting for his friends

Female Narrator: seriously I’m narrating here. You already narrated!

Male Narrator: still it’s my turn

“ will you two stop fighting!”Maddie said “Peas and crackers!” Her friends soon look at her confused but shrug it off as they continued their tea party

“Your mom seems to be doing well with her new teaching job Alistair!”Bunny says

“Even though I don’t care for Geography, your mom seems to make it fun.” Kitty says while sipping tea in a tree

“Dad always told me she was adventurous and smart but I never knew she was this amazing!” Maddie says

“ if you think she’s great, you should see my dad. He’s the prince of accounting.”

Female Narrator: ah yes the prince of accounting.

Male Narrator: Lawrence of Accounting. The most powerful finance advisor of all the realm.

Female Narrator: with the flash of his pen he can deny any loan,for close any building and approve any financial situation.”

“ Speaking of your dad,” Bunny says” how is he doing?” “Oh he’s doing great ,Bunny! In fact we are going to see a movie tonight.” Alistair says”Wait a minute?” Kitty says as she disappears then reappears to the table” aren’t you and your mom supposed to go out tonight?” She says

“Yes.” Alistair says sheepishly

Then everyone around him looked at each other in dismay

“ Don’t tell us you’re parent trapping again Alistair.” Maddie says

“Maybe a little.” Alistair said sheepishly

Then everyone ughed

“ Alistair you can’t play Cupid with people who don’t love each other.” Bunny says

“Did someone call me.” Said a voice. It was Cupid herself strangely behind some bushes

“Oh hello Cupid.” Lizzie hearts greeted

“Hi Lizzie,Kitty,maddie Alistair And Bunny what’s up? Love emergency?”

“No not this time,”Lizzie explained “we were just telling Alistair not to set up his divorced parents and play with romance.”

“Oh!” Cupid said wide eyed” I see. Don’t worry this happens all the time in my department. “ cupid explained “Kids trying to get their parents back together by parent trapping them. It’s a fairytale classic like any other.” Then Cupid sat by Alistair and said

“Look Alistair I know this must be hard for you and all but in truth there are different types of love. Their is love that’s forever after like with princes and princesses then there are short love like divorced people. Still it doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other.and ....”

“Exactly.” Alistair Said”which is why I have to get them back together cause I know they still

Love each other. And that’s what I’m going to do.”

Then Alistair got up and left the tea party along his friends at wonderland grove.

“I hope he’ll be ok.” Bunny Said concerned

“Well I really hope he doesn’t plan on playing Cupid I mean me.” Said Cupid “cause when people do, it always leads to disaster and even more heartache.”

“Maybe I can make him some” feel better”tea with some cheer up scones.” Said Maddie

“I think what is best is to leave him be.” Lizzie said”let him make his own mistakes.Ever After all he must learn from them as well. “

“Although it could be funny to watch him flop.”Said kitty “remember when we were 11 and he tried the whole big romantic gesture routine.” Kitty laughed and the other girls couldn’t help but laugh either.”Oh oh oh.” Maddie said “remember when he was 13 and tried making up a fake emergency and ended up making it a real one.”once again everyone laughed.

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t get his head stuck in a fence this time.” Lizzie said

“ Now who wants more tea!?Maddie asked everyone.

“By the way Cupid,” Said Lizzie “What were you doing in those bushes?”

“Oh well um certainly not looking for dexter charming if that’s what you are suggesting!”cupid said nervous

Everyone looked at each then shrugged it off

“Well if you are not looking for dexter charming than care to join us for tea?” Maddie says

“Oh sure that sounds fun!”cupid Said and joined them.

Female Narrator: and so as the the wonderland gang and Cupid drank tea and studied, Alistair conjured up a plan to hopefully get his parents back together.

Male Narrator: Hey! That was my turn!

Female Narrator: no,it wasn’t!

Male Narrator: yes, it was!

Female Narrator: no,it wasn’t!

Male Narrator: yes, it was!

“Listen Narrators, we are trying to have some tea and get some studying done!” Maddie yelled in the air

Everyone laughed at her rant and went on with their study and tea group.

The End is only the Beginning

#ever after high fanfic #alistair wonderland #bunny blanc #lizzie hearts #kitty cheshire #madeline hatter #ca cupid #part 1

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haik0xx · 2 years

Text

“A New Day”

Genshin Highschool Au

Gender of Reader : Gender neutral

Relationships : Xiao/Reader — Childe/Reader — Albedo/Reader — Hutao/Yanfei — Ayaka/Thoma — Yaemiko/Ei

a/n : Eh idk what to name this chapter + If you want a ship added just tell me !!

Chapter : 2

Maybe a year ago you still would've hated the thought of switching schools again; after all it seemed so unfair. But now you felt relieved, relieved not having to deal with all those people staring, waiting to hear the worst.

The day passed quickly, and soon enough it was time to leave. You waved goodbye to all your classmates, promising yourself you'd see them tomorrow. They would probably all try to give you hugs, tell you how lucky you were, and ask you what you were going to do next. You wouldn't lie, you did wish you could tell them, but that would only lead to more questions and then more yelling and then even more anger. So instead you just smiled and said goodbye, hoping that they understood.

As you walked home, you started planning what you were going to do that night. Maybe you'd make dinner tonight? Or order pizza or something. That always worked when you were upset. It helped.

Before long you reached your apartment building. You grabbed your bag and unlocked the door, walking inside. There wasn't anybody in the hall, which was fine with you. There were fewer people out today, anyway.

After taking off your shoes, you headed into the kitchen and began preparing dinner. The smell of tomato sauce filled the air, and you hummed contentedly.

You glanced at your phone and frowned. 7:30pm. Well, at least that was an acceptable time for eating dinner.

About twenty minutes later, you put the finished dishes into the dishwasher and sat down at the small dining table with a book. You'd finished the last chapter about four chapters ago, but you couldn't help finding yourself rereading it, reliving old memories.

You' d been reading the same sentence for over ten minutes when the doorbell rang, startling you. Your first thought was that someone had changed their mind. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Coming!" you called out, getting up and making your way towards the door. Who would bother you at seven PM?

You swung open the door to reveal a slightly dishevelled Aether. You noticed, however, that he was holding a small box in front of him.

"Hey," he greeted.

Your heart jumped when he spoke to you like that, but that didn't surprise you in the least. Even though he tried, he couldn't quite keep his emotions off his face.

You opened the door wider, inviting him in.

"Thank you."

The two of you walked into the living room and set the box down on the coffee table. He took a seat on the couch.

"What is this?" you asked suspiciously, sitting opposite to him.

"Open it, Y/N," he urged gently.

Reluctantly, you picked up the lid. Inside were several items; a piece of paper, a pen, a key, a wallet, and… a photograph?

It was your mother. She was smiling widely, wearing a red dress, her arms wrapped around you and another man. You recognised him immediately; he was your father, standing next to a younger, happier, more beautiful woman in a wedding dress. The photo was taken years ago, probably around your third birthday.

"[Name]?" he questioned.

"Yeah," you mumbled, eyes still glued to the picture.

"Do you know her?"

You blinked and finally tore your gaze away from the photo, focusing on Aether. He was looking at you intently, his eyebrows knitted together in concern.

For a second, a small smile played across your lips. How nice it would feel to finally tell him.

Then you remembered you had no idea whether he really cared about you, or if he was simply using you.

"No," you replied softly, looking down at the photo again.

"Are you sure? Because-"

"Don't." You cut him off harshly. "She's dead. And I don't want to talk about it."

The smile vanished from your face as quickly as it had come, and you stood up and walked out of the room.

"[Name]?" Aether called after you, but you ignored him.

There was nothing else you could do now but sit by the fire and cry until your father returned.

You woke with a start when your phone alarm rang in your ear. Slowly you peeled yourself out of bed. The clock read 5:00am.

You shuffled out of bed, grabbed a pair of pyjamas from your suitcase, and dragged your feet back towards the bathroom. You showered, brushed your teeth, and put the rest of your clothes into your duffel bag. When you were done dressing you left your bedroom and headed down to the kitchen. There was a note laying on the counter. On it was written:

[Name],

I'm sorry to wake you early (or late) but I'm leaving now for work, and it'll be around 4:30am by the time I come home, so I'll try and get back before 6:00pm, but I don't think I can guarantee it. I've already arranged for my colleagues to look after you. Just please eat something and drink some water.

See you tonight.

Dad

You sighed to yourself and placed your hands in your pockets. He was acting completely weird, and it didn't take much for you to figure out why. This meant something big was about to happen.

You grabbed a bottle of water and a granola bar from the pantry and sat down at the table. You opened the granola bar. While chewing, you watched as the rain outside poured relentlessly against the glass windows. It reminded you of the stormy nights you used to spend alone. Sometimes you wished you lived with your father, then maybe you wouldn't have to deal with all this crap.

With a sigh, you threw the wrapper into the trash and got up to throw away the empty bottle. As you turned around, you saw a flash of movement out of the corner of your eye. You froze. Was it your imagination? Were you imagining things?

But then you saw it again. Another flash. And then another. And another. Soon there were dozens upon dozens of flashes, causing a blinding light to fill the apartment, flooding your vision.

Then everything faded to black.

#genshin x reader #xiao x reader #childe x reader #albedo x reader #xiao x you #childe x you #albedo x you #genshin x y/n #genshin x you #genshin high school au #genshin modern au #genshin

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vivelafrancemotherfuckers · 2 years

Text

S3 Description thoughts

I wrote a comment on reddit earlier today about the Bridgerton S3 description, and I wanted to share some of those thoughts here as well. I'm trying to see it with a positive attitude. After all, the plot was never the strongest part of the book, so any plot that allows for the same exploration of the characters is fine by me. Book and show spoilers ahead!

I think the official description might be vague on purpose. Either to be misleading or because there’s no way they’re going to reveal the main sources of conflict for the season if they haven’t been introduced yet.

There are things I like, such as Pen's glow-up coming from a place of her gaining confidence rather than purely from her looks (although I hope she builds it herself, rather than it all coming from Colin's 'lessons'). I also like the idea that 1) Colin will start to appreciate how constant and important Pen's presence in his life was, 2) Pen will take Colin off the pedestal she had put him in, and 3) they will have plenty of chances to be as cheeky and ridiculous as they are in the book (the pastry moment comes to mind) even if the plot changes.

I am a bit confused about Colin's swagger, because in the book the whole thing about Colin is that he is not as confident as he lets on (especially when he compares himself to his brothers). I wonder if this newly found confidence could stem from his writing? Maybe he doesn't bring the confidence back from the trip necessarily, just the inspiration/motivation, but he finds it as soon as he is back when Pen praises his writing. Or it would also be interesting if this confidence he tries to teach Pen is only a facade but his true confidence comes from spending time with her discussing his writing and her confidence. I think exploring his confidence, and whether it is genuine or a protective shield from the world would be a nice arc for Colin, otherwise the season would focus more on Pen than on him, and ideally they should grow together by having truly found each other.

I remember reading a fic not long ago in which they traded favors: Colin helped Pen with her confidence (and sexual experience) and Pen helped Colin with his writing. I remember thinking that would make an interesting premise, putting both on an even playing field. If they go down that road, I doubt they'll want to spoil the element of Colin's writing talents so soon in the description, given that he himself is not aware of them at this point, so I still have hope that this plan will only be a part of the overall conflict (LW, anyone?). The LW reveal will surely bring some tension and also challenge the characters (this plan to help Pen will most likely be affected by the reveal, because Colin will have to face the fact that there’s more to Pen than meets the eye).

I think we’ve only been given the tip of the iceberg. I’m planning on staying positive and trusting the team. I’m not a book purist, and RMB as it is could never work on screen, let alone without the ten year gap, so I’m open to whatever they throw our way, as long as the characters get to grow and fall in love in the process.

#polin #penelope featherington #colin bridgerton #penelope x colin #colin x penelope

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crab-instruments · 2 years

Text

Of Rats and Men Part 8

Master <Part 7 Part 9>

Pairing: Silco x Female Reader

Rating/Warning: teen, violence, major character death, angst, killing

Summary: You are a traveling medic, journeying between Piltover and Zaun. One night, you stumble upon a man and take him in. His presence causes havoc on your practice. Set between Act I & Act II.

Beta Reader: @unfocusedfish

For: @imalovernotahater

a/n: Posting 8 and 9 together. Buckle up, I am very anxious that you'll hate me for this (hence ch 9 is also posted)

Some music for your consideration:

Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Cover) - Lorde

Holding Out for a Hero (Cover) - Nothing But Thieves

You could only watch as Silco threw objects around his office in an enraged hysteria. Paperwork, books, pens, anything throwable, but nothing that had his daughter’s touch. He sent some of his best men, Sevika included, to bring Jinx back. Only Sevika returned, badly beaten up and overpowered. She didn’t say much, eyes staring off in the distance as you patched her up.

Flint’s message was a mere appetizer to the real threat. That came with Jinx’s gun, half a blue braid, and a ransom note. The note itself was delivered like any other parcel, dropped off unceremoniously on Silco’s desk with the rest of his mail. It was when it was opened that the giant light pink bow tied around a too perfectly wrapped powder blue present that Silco knew something was off. The note was handwritten and neat, staged like a gift rather than the threat it was. Topaz wanted their name attached to the cruel act, craved to be known as the one challenging the King of Zaun.

The note stated that in order to get Jinx back, it would require Silco relinquishing his empire to the chem baron. Any move he made to undermine the demand from then on would result in his beloved daughter’s death. Topaz would arrive for Silco’s answer in two days, wanting a coronation as soon as possible. The allotted time was for Silco to simmer in his own anger and pity, not able to see clearly when it came to Jinx. A day and a half flew by and dragged on, the seconds slipping through your fingers.

In the few sparing moments you had been in the presence of Topaz, nothing gave away the real anger they must have felt about what Jinx had done to their shimmer supply. It may have to do with what Jinx overheard, not wanting the information to get out. It must have been more than a power play to walk into Silco’s office to accept the deal they had refused initially. Were they assessing the damage done, finding out if Jinx spilled the dirty secret? Or was Topaz more unhinged than you previously thought? Silco had more enemies than allies, sure, but this felt deeply personal. How long had they been planning this scheme? Topaz was clever and daring, that you knew. But this? Extraordinary. A brilliant move. Silco was incapacitated.

Since learning of Jinx’s disappearance, his whole operation has come to a halt: shipments froze, money no longer circulating, unrest in The Lanes. Piltover would soon notice the atmosphere and you didn’t want to think about what City of Progress would do in this situation. Silco was driving himself to the edge and it took everyone to stop that from happening. You expected nothing less; Silco would do anything for his daughter. He would self-destruct to save her.

The Last Drop had been hauntingly empty, people moved like ghosts through the building. It wasn’t closed but the atmosphere was tense and suffocating. The barkeeps stocked and restocked, cleaned the place more than it ever had been. Rumors spread from the staff about the state of affairs, worried that this was the end of Silco’s reign. Whispers of if they should stay or go. You did feel there was less muscle around, but you never knew how many the Kingpin employed. The one constant was his second-in-command.

Sevika wasn’t a patient woman, tolerance already spread thin from failing to save Jinx. She attempted to reason with Silco in the beginning but realized it was a fool’s errand. The man was unreachable. You never thought much of your relationship with the fighter, she was Silco’s most trusted confidant so you respected and thought highly of her. Sevika was a hard read, you never understood where you stood with her. So, it was surprising when she came to you in your practice, alone.

“Sevika,” you unconsciously made yourself presentable, “are your injuries bothering you? I can—”

“I need you to talk to him.” Her voice was hoarse and her expression tired.

“To Silco? I’m not sure what I could do.”

“He listens to you, more than he listens to reason.” There was a hint of bitterness in her voice.

You furrowed your brows at the comment, unsure how to take it. “What does that mean?”

Sevika sighed, frustration clear on her face. “I’ve dedicated my life to Silco for many years, doing what he’s asked for the better of Zaun. Following whatever orders I was given, making sacrifices along the way, not questioning why. It was me!” She raised her voice but quickly controlled her outburst, voice low when she continued. “It was me who was loyal to Silco, loyal to my purpose. Loyalty to the end.” A beat passed. Sevika stared at you, through you, and slowly started to walk towards you. “But you show up, shove your way into his life, bat your eyelashes, and suddenly he hangs on your every word. You, the helpless little saint from the shiny city.”

She was so close to you, you could feel the resentment radiate off of her, the puffs of breath as she spoke her harsh words. “Where do your loyalties lie, Doc? To Silco or to yourself? To Zaun or to Piltover? Do you even know what loyalty is?” Sevika let the words hang in the air, still so close to your face. The only sound you could hear was your heart beat and you wondered if Sevika could hear it too. Her face twisted with something, disgust maybe, before huffing and backing away, leaving.

“You’re right to question where I stand, I would too.” Sevika stopped but only looked over her shoulder at you, not giving you her full attention. “I’ll try and talk to him, but trust me when I say I will do everything I can to fix this. I believe in Silco as much as you do.”

Sevika continued to glare at you for a few seconds more before responding. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When there was a moment of calm, you approached the distressed crime lord, hoping to get through to him. He sat at his desk, hair disheveled and clothes unkempt, face in his hands. He looked ragged and the lack of sleep showed on his face. You stood next to him but didn’t touch him, worried he would fall to pieces.

“Silco, please. You need to get some rest. You’re not able to make rational decisions like this,” you begged.

Silco weakly batted you away, not able to fight. “You don’t understand, Medic, she’s my daughter.”

“Letting your whole operation fall to pieces is exactly what Topaz wants. They’ll be here within the hour. Silco—”

“You don’t understand what she means to me!” He slammed both hands on his desk, ending the conversation. You took a couple of steps back, watching him closely. Silco wouldn’t lay a hand on you willingly, but this was a man close to his limit. He apologized by dropping his shoulders, hiding his face in his hands.

It was pure torture to watch Silco break like this. Your own heart was torn in half at the thought of Jinx captured and alone, and there was nothing you could do about it. Topaz, whether consciously or not, was also attacking you with this move. The worse the situation got, the more your hatred grew for them. You weren’t one for violence but it was becoming an appealing option. When Topaz got here, you weren’t sure if you could control yourself.

Involuntarily, you clenched your hands into tight fists, knuckles going white. Where do your loyalties lie, Doc? To Silco or to yourself? To Zaun or to Piltover? Do you even know what loyalty is?

The silence in the office was deafening as you let Sevika’s words echo in your head. Your feet carried you to the door but stilled once your hand was on the handle. “You’re not the only one who cares for her,” the words were barely above a whisper, spoken to the door rather than to Silco. Frustrated, you left Silco’s office and made your way to your practice. You did small tasks to keep your mind and body busy, knowing the turmoil you would fall into if you stopped moving.

Opening a cabinet, you froze in place, looking over the contents. It was the cabinet you kept vials of drugs and serums in, mostly what you had brought over from Piltover. Many of them could not be found in Zaun, expensive and dangerous if dispensed incorrectly. The fading black print on each label stuck out in your mind. You grabbed a bottle and examined it in your hands, a terrible idea coming to the surface.

You didn’t have power like Silco, brawn like Sevika, or skill like Jinx. But that didn’t make you useless. No, you were unpredictable. You could weaponize your innocence.

Topaz had made you an offer before, would that still be on the table or was that a move to hurt Silco? If you switched sides, could you get to and save Jinx? It wouldn’t be as easy as walking away, there was no possibility where Topaz would believe you’re defecting to abandon a sinking ship. You would have to prove yourself to the chem baron. Prove your loyalty.

You frantically searched the cabinet, looking for an answer. The vials clinked, blurring together until you found the one with a worn label, warnings sun-bleached from time: potassium chloride. If injected, it would cause a cardiac arrest. You took it out along with a few others, pulling the liquids into syringes, and prepared a bag to take with you. If questioned, you would say that these were hard to come by, which wasn’t necessarily a lie. You tucked away a few surgical knives on your body, in case the lie wasn’t bought. Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted the bomb Jinx gave you. Hesitating for only a moment, you placed it in the bag along with the other items.

Downstairs, the doors burst open, no music playing to drown out the footfalls of Topaz and their men. Time was running out. Hastily, you left your room to cut them off before they got to Silco’s office. You had to compose yourself before confronting them, like you weren’t freaking out, like you weren’t someone with a mission. There was no time to think of how bad your plan was, the damage it could possibly do, that it could fail, or how it was going to tear your insides apart.

You walked right in front of the group and the chem baron stopped, unfazed. The entourage followed their leader but looked prepared to remove you if necessary. “Topaz.” The name felt like poison in your mouth.

“Ahh, Medic. I’m afraid to say you don’t look good,” with a gentle hand, they grabbed your chin, forcing you to look into their eyes. “Is something bothering you?” Due to the lack of sleep, you could barely hold yourself back from going feral, their tone dripping with arrogance.

Showing nothing, you ignored their comment. You had to keep to the mission. Jinx needed you. “Your offer. I’ve reconsidered, if it’s still available.”

They sneered, pleased by your words. “Oh, it still is, but the timing is… undesirable. I’ll need something from you to convince me this isn’t a stunt, a perfectly wrapped façade.” Topaz loved the position of power they were in.

You swallowed, throat dry at the thought of what you had planned. The air felt thicker, it was harder to breathe. “I figured as much. And I’m willing to prove my loyalty.”

“Oh? Something in mind?”

“Yes, I’m sure it will persuade you.”

Topaz smirked, brown eyes glinting with glee. “So confident. That’s the Medic I was hoping for. Come, I’m very excited to see what you have up your sleeve.”

You fell in line with the chem baron, sticking behind a few brutes. Defecting was the plan but that didn’t mean you were proud about it. One man broke the door to the office, the rest spilling in. It took a few men to hold Sevika back but she was soon overpowered, succumbing to her injuries. You hung back, making yourself invisible. Images of Jinx’s smiling face grounded you, reminding you of the goal. Reminding you why you were about to do the unthinkable.

For the time being, Silco was allowed to sit at his throne. The King of a dying empire.

“Silco. You’ve seen better days.”

The man looked deranged, hostile, and at the end of the line. “Fuck you.”

“As usual, so eloquent with your words. Is that your answer?”

“I will never surrender to you. Give me my daughter back and I might let you live long enough to go back to dumpster diving for scraps like the rat you are.”

Just as you had suspected, Silco wasn’t going to roll over. You planned on his stubbornness, basing your whole mission around it. The only sound you could hear after that was your own heart beat. Counting your breaths, your feet carried you forward, toward the man you loved. How tragic that it came to this.

Silco’s eyes went wide, watching your approach. Confusion crossed his face but the emotion that hurt the most was fear. It cut through you and it took every last ounce of courage to not turn and run away, to not let the tears fall that threatened to in the corner of your eyes. Your blood ran cold with dread.

The pain you were in must have shown on your face. Silco sounded concerned when he spoke, even when everything was against him. Sevika was right. “Medic… What are you—”

You placed a gentle hand on the non-scarred side of his face, effectively cutting off his words. Silco was frozen by your touch. Carefully, you moved his head to the side, placing a kiss on his scared cheek. Without warning, you gripped his chin and shoved Silco’s head the rest of the way, exposing the external jugular vein in his neck. With your other hand, you brought a syringe full of liquid next to his throat. The needle easily went into the vein, the contents emptying smoothly.

Silco grunted, attempting to fight you, but it was too late. You whispered an apology into his hair as you held his head close to your chest, his body going limp.

As a surgeon, you were no stranger to death. People die all the time. They died on your operating table, died because of complications, because the damage was too much, because the person gave up on living. Death was a part of you as much as life was. Zaun was a deadly battleground, barely having a chance at anything other than hard fought survival. Someone could end another’s life on a whim, never thinking about it again.

Watching the life leave Silco’s eyes was never something you could mentally prepare for.

A few tears escaped, falling down your face onto Silco’s. The rest of his body slowly showed signs of shutting down, until there was nothing left but his body. With your left hand, you closed his eyelid, the other was a mere flicker of the fire it once held. You blinked away the rest of the tears in your eyes and pushed him carefully to lean back in the chair before feeling for a pulse.

Nothing.

“Was that enough?” You couldn’t make eye contact, not yet.

Sevika yelled at you, a slurry of insults and colorful language. You didn’t blame her, you would do the same if you watched someone kill Silco. Especially after she confided in you about her loyalty.

Topaz responded with a slow clap. “Impressive! Even more spectacular than I had imagined. Quite a show! He’s dead?” You glared at them but nodded. They looked towards a grunt, motioning for him to check. When the man approached you, you showed him how to check the pulse before taking a few steps back. He confirmed with a silent head nod and that appeased Topaz. “Absolutely wonderful. Almost started crying myself, the performance, so heart wrenching. It makes this next part harder.”

“What—”

Before you could finish your question, pain splintered through your head and the world around you faded into darkness.

Part 9

Notes:

Imagining yourself a hero?

Medical/medicine: I did talk to my paramedic friend about how to go about the unethical medical science, but obviously, this is Hollywood baby so understand shit happens. The move Medic does to inject Silco is one of the faster ways to see effects from what you inject.

#of rats and men #crab fics #silco x reader #silco x you #silco x oc #arcane silco #lol silco #silco imagine

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