#I’m not going back to Boston for treatment!!! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lovingmattysposts · 4 months

Text

Eastside 6

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14 P15 P16 P17

pairing: y/n and matt sturniolo

summary: growing up in the outskirts of Boston wasn't really pretty. Life wasn't that great for most people, most people. You had Matt and no one fucked with you when Matt was standing by your side. The chief's daughter and the bad boy deliquent. A perfect love story?

warnings: smuttty smuttt, angst, cursing, mentions of guns, mentions of drugs

matt pov

“You’re not mad?”

She shook her head and looked up at me with an unreadable expression. I swallowed and stared down at her. She just stared up at me.

I was waiting for the yelling. The screaming. The guilt trip that turned into rough makeup sex for how I left her the other night, but she just blinked up at me. Not an angry demeanor on her face, nor a smile.

“Don’t do this. I can’t read your mind as much as I want too. Just tell me you’re mad at me” I pleaded with my girlfriend. She shrugged. “You don’t have to read my mind, I’m telling you how I feel. I’m not angry with you” She said shaking her head, raising her eyebrows.

I blinked at her. I clenched my jaw and tapped my foot closing my eyes. “I don’t understand. You have to be mad. Yell, scream at me. Please just do something” I shook my head. She rolled her eyes.

“Is that what you want? You want me to yell at you?” She asked sighed and running her hands through her hair. I blinked at her flat demeanor.

“It’s better than whatever you’re doing right now” I said shaking my head. She looked off to the side. I bit my lip as I looked down at her. She’d been giving me the silent treatment all day long and her texts have been vague to say the least.

“Baby” I whispered as I pulled her waist. She shook me off and stepped back looking up at me. I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes.

“What?” I groaned clueless at what was going through her mind. She sighed and shook her head. “I’m late for class” She mumbled looking at me. My mouth dropped.

“No you’re not you still have 5 minutes” I said looking at her. She looked down at her feet. “Yeah well, I’m late” She said looking away from me. I just scanned her face.

“You’re not mad?” I asked again. She glared up at me. “No Matthew, I am not mad” she said through gritted teeth. Matthew? Oh god. I put my hands against my face, letting out a breath.

“I want to understand please help me understand” I said pressing my hands against her face. She pushed me off of her and sighed.

“I’ll see you later” She mumbled before walking off. I just turned and watched as she walked down the hallway.

“What?” I whispered to myself.

“I see you’ve resorted to talking to yourself now huh?”

I turned and saw Chris leaned up against the lockers. I glared at him pointing my finger into his chest. “You” I stated. He smiled stepping back holding his hands up.

“You can’t blame me for this one you’re the one who stuck your dick into her and didn’t make her finish” He chuckled. I pushed him back violently.

“That’s not what happened” I said through gritted teeth. He rolled his eyes. “Then what did happen?” He asked raising his eyebrows smirking at me. I glared at him shaking my head.

“You, we’re the most ultimate cock blocker of all time last night” I corrected him. He shook his head scoffing. “What would have happened if I didn’t call you?” He asked shrugging his backpack back onto his shoulder.

I just looked at him. “The package wouldn’t have come on time, Slim would have had your ass and she would have payed the price” He said pointing behind me. I sighed looking down, knowing he was right.

“I just wish she knew that” I mumbled looking down at my feet. “Yeah, well she doesn’t. So for now you’re protecting her without her knowing you’re protecting her” Chris stated. I looked up at him.

“And you’re gonna keep it that way. It’s better if she doesn’t know. Actually—it’s essential that she doesn’t know because that would complicate things” Chris sighed.

“She’s pissed. But she won’t tell me she’s pissed” I sighed looking at him. “She keeps saying she’s not mad, but she won’t text me. She won’t let me touch her and she’s storming off—“ I said shaking my head.

He raised his eyebrows. “I wish she would just yell at me, get it off her chest. But she won’t” I groaned placing my hand against my forehead. She’s never done this before, I didn’t know what to do. But I’ve also never done what I’ve did last night either.

“God bro, you’re giving me a headache with your relationship problems. I feel like I’m in a teen rom-com” He said shaking his head. I glared at him.

“Stop shitting on me and tell me what the fuck to do” I yelled at him. He sighed looking off and then looking back at me.

“I don’t know? Just fuck her” He shrugged. I let out a slow hard breath. Why I ever came to my brother for relationship advice, I will never know. But I was completely and utterly lost.

“That’s not the solution to everything, you absolutely shit bag” I said stepping towards him. He rolled his eyes. “I’m this close to losing my girlfriend over something you did. So give me some real advice but I tell Slim it’s your dream to do Coke with him” I mumbled looking at him.

He clenched his jaw before letting out a breath.

“Is she still wearing the necklace?” He sighed looking up at me. I furrowed my eyebrows. “What?” I asked blinking at him. He sighed and shook his head.

“Is she still wearing the necklace?” He said again shaking his head at me. “Yeah?” I said shrugging. He nodded. “So” He said placing his hand on my shoulder. “You’re not about to lose your girlfriend if your name is still around her neck, you idiot” he smiled shaking his head.

I let out a breath, nodding. Maybe he was right.

“Don’t you get it when a girl says yes she means yes, and when she says no she means no and sometimes when she says no she means yes and when she says yes she means no. It’s all in the body language and the girl and how they are acting. You have to understand what she means when she says it so you know which yes she means and which no she means” He said quickly.

I blinked at him.

“What?” I said softly. He groaned and rolled his eyes. “Is she acting mad?” He asked throwing his hands up. I nodded. He pursed his lips and pushed my shoulder.

“Then I hate to break it you bud, her no means yes” He smiled. I shook my head. “What?” I asked again shaking my head. “She’s mad at you!” He yelled at me. I sighed and looked away.

Fuck, she is mad at me.

“What do I do?” I asked looking back at him. He rolled his eyes. “Matt, I don’t know? You know your girlfriend better than me. Normally when a girl gets mad at me I just move on to the next” He shrugged. I just shook my head at him.

“Now” he said glancing around. “I need you to make that delivery again tonight” he said looking at me. I shook my head and stepped back. “No. I did it last time it’s your turn” I shook my head. He sighed.

“Slim asked for you specifically. I’m not showing up and having him force me to the do Coke” Chris shook his head. I bit my lip. Oh how Chris was such and asshole, but I loved him I wasn’t going to put my brother into that kind of position if it was avoidable.

“So what? I’m the designated delivery boy?” I said narrowing my eyes at him. He shrugged. “For Slim, I guess” He sighed. I groaned stepping back.

The last thing I needed was to come in contact with that man again. The bell rang above us. I looked back at him.

“Do not be late”

“Hello, my beautiful girlfriend who I love so much and is the light of my existence” I breathed quickly pecking her cheek and wrapping my arms around her from behind. She smiled and shook her head, making me smile.

She was smiling. Maybe she wasn’t that mad.

She still pushed me off of her, making me look down. “Y/n, please don’t do this. Just tell me what I can do to make you forgive me. I am so sorry” I said grabbing her arm and moving in front of her. She looked away from me.

“I told you I wasn’t angry with you” she stated again looking up at me. I shook my head. “You don’t mean that your no means yes” I shook my head down at her. Her eyebrows furrowed.

“Have you been getting advice from Chris again?” She asked raising her eyebrows. I just smiled and looked down at her. She shook her head chuckling.

“Do me a favor and never go to Chris with your problems” She said looking to the side and seeing my brother leaning against his car lighting up a cigarette slightly burning his finger and dropping it by his feet.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. God, he was an idiot. She just looked back up at me.

“He also told me to just fuck you I could have taken that approach” I sighed making her smile and shake her head. “He does know that’s not the solution to everything right?” She asked tilting her head at me. I smiled.

“That’s what I said” I stated. She just sighed and looked up at me. I just looked down at her, my eyes pleading with her.

“I know a way you can make it up to me” She stated slowly. I just looked down at her waiting for her to speak. She smiled slightly.

“My dad asked me to invite you over for dinner” She said stepping forward and looking up at me. I smiled and looked down at her. “He said if he can’t keep us apart that he’d like to get to know you better” She said quietly. I nodded hesitantly.

“And I know how uncomfortable my dad makes you and that parents aren’t your thing” She laughed making me roll my eyes. “But it would mean a lot to me if you did, come” She smiled up at me, as she laced her fingers with mine.

I swallowed the anxiety in my chest. A whole dinner? With a drug dealer and the chief of police? Kill me now. He already hates me I doubt he was going to change his mind over one dinner. But if it made her happy.

I nodded. “Okay” I breathed looking down at her. She smiled. “Okay? Like, you’ll go?” She asked smiling brightly up at me. I hesitated before nodding down at her. She smiled before leaning up and kissing my cheek.

“Okay consider me not mad anymore” She cheered making me roll my eyes at her. “Just be at my house by 7:30 tonight” She smiled up at me. My heart dropped along with my smile.

“Tonight?” I asked my face dropping. Her smile dropped at she looked at me and read it all over my face. She clenched her jaw stepping back and pushing my hands away and turning. Fuck.

I stepped forward grabbing her arm and pulling her back towards me. “Tonight is great. Tonight is perfect. I’ll be there. I promise” I said pressing my lips against the side of her face. She looked up at me.

“You promise?” She asked looking up at me. I nodded. I was going to be there. She smiled leaning up and pecking my lips quickly. I leaned down chasing her kiss but she stepped back.

“I’ll see you tonight Matthew” She said smirking at me before turning and walking away. I smiled as I watched her walk.

You know that saying ‘I hate to see her go, but I love to watch her walk away’? Yeah.

“You’re so pussy whipped it’s disgusting” Nick mumbled grabbing my arm as he walked by me and pulled me with him towards the car.

I shifted on my feet as I stood in front of her door. It felt like I was 15 again and asking her out for the first time, but that wasn't the case. I was on a major time crunch trying to make this up to my girlfriend. So I was going to look her dad in the eye and pretend I was the best thing in the world for his daughter, but I wasn't.

I try to be, but i'm not.

I swallowed as I lifted my hand to the door and knocked on it slightly and the stepped back. I don't think I had ever knocked on her door before this was a weird feeling. A few seconds later I heard the door open slightly before being pulled open revealing my girlfriend.

I smiled and let go of a little anxiety when I saw her smiling at me. "Come in" She smiled pulling my arm and pulling me into the house. She closed the door behind me. She turned and looked at me before looking towards the flowers I was gripping in my hand.

"These are for you" I smiled holding them out. She smiled and took them before bringing them up to her nose. She smiled looking up at me before wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling my lips down to hers. I smiled, pushing her hair back as she kissed me. She pulled back but didn't move from my face.

"Thank you" She smiled. I wrapped my arms around her waist and shook my head. "Don't thank me" I whispered. I heard someone clear their throat from down the hall. We both turned and saw her dad standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.

Y/n stepped back from me and I just looked at him. "Think you can give my daughter a bit of breathing room sturniolo?" He asked raising his eyebrows. I just bit my lip and looked at him. He wasn't in uniform. I don't think i've ever seen him not in uniform.

"Look, he got me flowers" Y/n stated next to me, holding up the bouquet. He glanced from the flowers and then back to me, an unimpressed look plastered all over his face. I smiled at him and he shook his head before walking back into the kitchen.

Y/n sighed and looked back over to me. I smiled down at her. "I think he loves me" I sighed placing my hand on her cheek. She sighed and turned her head towards the kitchen. "Come on" She said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the kitchen.

"This is really good"

I felt daggers from across the table the minute I sat down. I swallowed. To be fair I wasn't scared of the 'chief of police' I was scared that this dinner could make him take his daughter away from me forever. So I was willing to do as much fake ass kissing as it took for him to be okay with me walking through his front door instead of his daughters bedroom window. Not that it didn't make me hard at the thought of her sneaking me foregoing her father's wishes, but it'd be nice to not feel like a criminal in every aspect of my life.

"Didn't know you were so fond of duck Sturniolo" He said looking up at me. My fork froze as I look up at him. "He's kidding" Y/n said leaning into me, making me take a breath. Her dad smirked and shook his head.

"How are your brothers?" He asked looking up at me. I sighed and looked down. "Living and breathing unfortunately" I stated making Y/n look over at me. He raised his eyebrows. "You guys don't get along?" He asked. I shrugged. "We're triplets, of course we do but sometimes I feel like we're so different" I stated honestly.

I loved my brothers, we are blood and they are all I have. Of course I loved them. I just wish sometimes they understood when it came to Y/n, but they never did which sometimes caused a divide.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Funny you should say that because they don't have half the record you do" He said sharply, making me glare up at him. "Dad" Y/n said through gritted teeth. I sighed. I should have prepared myself that sitting across from the chief of police for one dinner, he would bring up some kind of 'oh you're still a criminal dating my daughter' type of thing.

He looked over at her and then back at me. "Sorry" He stated looking at me, but no sense of remorse was across his face. I shook my head. "No I get it I have a record that you have undying access too" I said staring at him.

"But I haven't gotten a charge since I started dating your daughter" I smiled, he didn't. Y/n smiled next to me, placing her hand on my leg soothingly. He looked over at her. "You guys been dating a while now, huh?" He asked looking down at his plate.

"Almost 8 months Dad" She stated looking at him. I smiled down at my plate. It should have been longer than that If I didn't just man up and admit my feelings. We probably would have been together since middle school.

He hummed and then looked up at me. "You a virgin?" He asked pointing his fork at me. My eyes went wide as I stared at him. "Dad" Y/n said again her eyes wide as well. He looked over at her and then back toward me, clearly waiting for an answer.

I looked over at y/n. Did she want me to lie?

"Yes" I said narrowing my eyes at him. He just stared at me, pursing his lips. He didn't believe me, he shouldn't.

"So Dad, how was work?" Y/n intruptted our staring contest. I looked over at her, her face slightly red. I bit back a smiled and looked down.

"It was great. What do your grades look like?" He asked staring back at me. I looked up at him as he stared at me. I let out a slight laugh and bit my lip.

"They are okay" I breathed slightly. He hummed and looked back down. "Tell me more about this summer job you had" He stated making my face dropped. Y/n looked over at me. "What summer job?" She asked looking at me. I looked from her to her dad.

"Um, yeah" I sighed shaking my head. Shit. "It was just moving boxes and stuff for the company. It was hard but easy money" I nodded looking up at him. I felt y/n's eyes on me.

He hummed. "What company?" He asked. I felt y/n's hand move over my leg again, in attempt to sooth me, but it was doing the exact oppoiste. At the worst time possible. I shook my head.

"The company my dad used to work for before he moved" I stated looking at him. He nodded. I looked over at y/n who just narrowed her eyes at my reaction to her.

"What are your hobbies?" He asked looking down at his plate. I put my hand on y/n's stilling her movements. She looked over at me in confusion and then smiled looking down.

"What?" I asked looking back over at him. He glanced up at me. "Your hobbies? What do you do?" He shrugged. I glanced over to y/n who smiled at me before moving her hand on the inside of my thigh. Fuck.

"You know like--" I swallowed as her fingertips grazed the now bulge in my pants. "Working out" I swallowed. He looked up at me before scanning my chest. "Working out?" He asked raising his eyebrows. I nodded. "I do a lot of running" I stated as her hand went fully over me and pressed down.

I closed my eyes and looked down to hide my face.

"I can see that" He stated shaking his head, possibly making a dig at me, but I wasn't focused on his rude remarks I was more focused on his daughters hand basically palming me through my pants.

I just looked at her as she looked back down at her plate. I swallowed moving my fork around.

He went on about his day, asking me a few more questions like I was in an interogation room and y/n's hand finally retreated and we were finally done eating.

"Are you done? I'm done. You look done. Dad?" Y/n said quickly grabbing my plate from under me. I looked up at her as she stared down at me. What was she doing? Her dad looked up at her as she took his plate.

He stood up walking over to the sink as y/n walked up to me. "What the hell--" I whispered. "Wasn't fun getting teased was it?" She smiled. I clenched my jaw down at her as she smiled at me. I let out a breath.

"I want to show you something" Her dad said walking up to us, clueless at the conversation that was just occuring. I looked up at him and then down at my phone looking at the time.

"You got somewhere to be?" He asked looking down at me and crossing his arm over his chest. I swallowed before looking up at him. "No" I lied looking at him. He smiled. "Perfect" He stated walking past me. "Follow me" He mumbled. I looked down at Y/n and she shurgged, clearly having no idea what he was on about.

I sighed shaking my head before turning and following him. He led me out to the garage. I stepped down the steps seeing him opening a cabinet. I just walked towards him. He glanced at me before opening the cabinet, showing tons of guns displayed. I just looked up at him.

"You know a fair bit about guns don't you?" He asked as he pulled one out. I just stared at him. He glanced over at me. He raised his eyebrows. I looked to the side. I knew he was mentioning my possestion of a weapon charge.

"Y/n doesn't know too much about them" He stated. I nodded. "She doesn't" I agreed with him. He looked over at me before stepping over to me. "What are you doing?" He asked looking down at me. I stood my ground as I stared up at him. "What do you mean?" I asked as I looked up at him.

"I mean, why are you doing all of this? Why do you care so much about my daughter? You don't strike me as the guy to really care about anything" He shook his head. I sighed and looked down.

"I love her" I stated. He just looked at me. "She so much different than me, she's kind and sweet and--" I paused looking up at him as he stared down at me. "As much as you don't want to hear it--" I breathed closing my eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere" I shook my head as I looked at him. He narrowed his eyes at me. "Not unless she pushes me away" I said honestly looking at him. He sighed as he moved away from me.

"I know you hate me, but I love her and she loves me" I said shaking my head. He sighed and pulled out a gun, running his hand over it. I just watched him. "You don't have to trust me, but you have to trust when I say that I would never let anything happen to y/n" I shook my head.

It was true. No matter what I did on the outside of our relationship was shady and I get that. But if y/n was involved nothing was going to touch her.

"So you're telling me not to trust you, but to trust you with my daughter?” He said raising his eyebrow. I sighed and then nodded. He pursed his lip and looked down. "She's all I have" He stated not looking at me.

"I get my role as a chief, but this is my only daughter" He shook his head. I sighed closing my eyes. "I don't like you two together, but I hate fighting with her" He shook his head.

"I won't hurt her" I stated making him turn to me. "I'll kill you if you do" He stated glaring at me. I rolled my eyes and looked at him. "I'll be civil if you do" I stated looking at him. He pursed his lips and looked at me.

“Fine” he stated as he shook my hand. I smiled and turned. He put his gun back into place and I looked over.

“That’s a good caliber” I pointed. He turned glaring at me. “Quit while you’re ahead kid” he said staring at me. I nodded and looked down and then turned to back into the house.

I walked in and saw y/n cleaning the dishes in the sink. She looked up at me and smiled when her eyes landed on me. She put the dishes down before walking up to me. I smiled down at her.

“Everything okay?” She asked looking up at me. I nodded pushing hair behind her shoulder. She sighed and wrapped her arms around me pulling me into a hug.

"Time's up" Her dad stated as he walked back into the room. Y/n sighed and pulled away from me. I looked down at her as she grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the door. She pushed me out of the house and looked up at me.

"Meet at my window?" She whispered as she leaned against the door. I let out a breath and looked down at my phone. Fuck I was cutting it close. "Matt" She said catching my attention. I looked to the side, a million thoughts going through my head. I can't be late.

"Yeah okay" I nodded looking down at her. She smiled leaning up and pecking my lips and closing the door in my face.

As soon as I climbed through the window, she grabbed my shirt and pulled her lips to mine kissing me desperately catching me by surprise. She wrapped her arms around my neck before pulling me towards her bed and straddling my waist, pushing her hands through my hair.

"What's gotten into you?" I smiled pulling apart briefly to look at her dark eyes. She smiled and scanned my face. "You hopefully" She whispered before connecting our lips again. I smiled against her lips, I'd never seen her this desperate before. I gripped her hips as her legs sat on either side of me.

She gripped my face slightly as her lips trailed down my neck, leaving slow harsh bites. I let out an unsteady breath as she marked me. "Y/n" I sighed pulling her against me, trying to relive some tension between us.

He peered up at me. "What?" She said quickly connecting our lips again. I pulled back. She sighed and looked at me. "Look" she started. "Maybe you haven't been the best boyfriend in the world, but I haven't been the best girlfriend either" She said looking down at me. My eyebrows furrowed.

"I get it you have shit going on that you can't tell me and I've thought about it a lot and I know that if you think I needed to know you would tell me" She sighed. I just looked at her in disbelief. "I love you and I just wanted to say i'm sorry for being such a bitch" She whispered. I blinked at her. Was this really happening? Was I dreaming?

I shook my head. "y/n, You are not a bitch" I shook my head making her smile. She sighed and looked down at me. "I'm the one who needs to be apologizing" I stated shaking my head. She licked her lips as she peered down at me.

"It just means so much to me that you came tonight and I know that this isn't really your thing and it makes you uncomfortable" She stated, making me smile and shake my head. "And If I'm being honestly you talking to my dad being all nice, just for me--" She said trailing her hands up my chest. I looked down at her hands.

"It really turned me on" She whispered kissing the side of my face. I raised my eyebrows as she smiled at me. "So be a good boy and let me ride you" She said staring into my eyes before pressing her lips against mine, pushing me down against the bed.

I could have moan at that sentence alone if she would have given me a second to react. I never let her be dominate. This was my territory. But like I have mentioned many times before, I'd do anything just to make her happy, and with the fire in her eyes and the dirty things she was currently whispering in my ear, I'd be in idiot if I stopped her.

She pushed my shirt up before looking up at me. I reached down pulling it over my head and throwing it onto the floor. She smiled at me before undoing my belt and unbuttoning my pants.

God, I felt like a teenage boy who discovered what jacking off was for the first time I was so worked up. She pushed my pants down slowly leaving me in my underwear beneath her. Her hand ran down my clothed length.

I sighed lifting my hips up into her hand. "Y/n, please" I whispered. "Don't worry, I'm not mean like you. I'll let you finish" She said looking up at me. I felt her pull my boxers down and my dick sprung free. She smiled leaning up to me.

"You have the biggest dick i've ever seen" She whispered. I rolled my eyes. "It's the only dick you've ever seen" I mumbled looking down at her. She gripped it in her hand, wiping her thumb over the tip making me squirm.

"And the only one I ever will" She whispered making me moan sligthly. She smirked before wrapping her mouth around me and swirling her tounge around the tip. I lifted into her mouth, making her chuckle against me. The vibrations made me reach down and grip her hand in her hair, pulling on it.

"Y/n" I said begging her to take more. She hummed before lifting off me. "I've been thinking about this all day" She whispered as she dragged her tounge down my length. My dick was throbbing at this point. I squeezed my eyes shut. "Then take it" I stated pushing her head back down against me. I one swift motion she took all of me into her mouth.

I held back moaned as she moved against me. I guided her with my grip on her, thrusting into her mouth. I looked down as I saw her eyes squeezed shut, tears streaming down her face from the impact. And absolute mess underneath me just to please me. She normally couldn't take all of me but she forced herself to, all for me.

I felt my dick twitch inside her mouth and I pulled her off. She looked up at me, wiping the drool off her mouth blinking. "You were about to--" She stated. "I thought you said you wanted to ride?" I smiled down at her. She smiled leaning up and wiping her face, tearing off her shorts and underwear before climbing back over at me.

"I'm not use to this" Her confidence suddently altering as she looked down at me. I shook my head and pushed her hair back. "You will do fine baby, i'll help you" I whispered. She swallowed. "I just want to make you feel good" She whispered back. My heart was beating out of my chest from the sweet innocent girl who was almost tearing up at the thought of not pleasing someone like me.

"You already have" I whispered. She smiled and I leaned up pecking her lips. She looked down between us before lining herself up with me. "You don't have to take all of it" I stated. She looked up at me before looking back down. She let out a breath as she sank down on me, making my lean my head back. I gripped her hips as she laid her head against my shoulder.

"Fuck" She whispered from the new feeling of her on top. I swallowed as she sank all the way down against me. Fuck, this felt too good. She started to lift off of me slightly before sinking again back and forth, again and again.

"Oh my--" I started to moan but her hand covered my mouth. I looked up at her. "Shut up" She grunted. Wow this was a switch. I sighed as I gripped her hips hard, following her motions drawing my hips back and pushing against her.

I felt as she grinded against me, pushing herself against me biting her lip so hard just to keep her moans in. "Move faster" I mumbled. She moaned against my neck as she moved faster against me.

This was when I realized what was happening. I left her to fend for herself last night. She was begging for me and I left her unsatified and now she was doing all of the work just to finish from me. She may like to be dominate, but I needed to be. This was fun and all, but I had some unfinished buisness.

I flipped us over quickly making her eyes snap open as I pounded into her and covered her mouth, knowing the moan that was going to leave her lips.

"You did your apologizing. But now it's my turn. I'm making you finish, and I'm making you finish hard" I said looking down at her. She nodded quickly as she pushed her hips against mine with every thrust.

"Matt oh my-" She muttered as she gripped my arm so hard, she drew blood. I looked down at the necklace laid across the colarbone, smiling to myself. I pushed her legs up hitting her from a new angle, fucking her the way I promised to the other night.

I turned her head, biting her lip so hard to muffle her sounds. I kissed down her neck. "Mine" I whispered. "Only mine" I whispered as I looked at her face. She was close. Really close.

"Tell me you like it" I whispered. She moaned nodding. "I said tell me" I said again gripping her face. "I love it" She cried before I felt her clench against me, making me twitch inside of her. I held it because there was no way I was finishing before her. I reached down rubbing harsh circles over her clit.

"Come" I ordered as she felt limp beneath me feeling her let go all over me and all over the sheets beneath me. I sighed as I thrusted into her a few more times. She pulled me against her. "You fuck me so good Matt" She whispered against my ear and that was all I needed before I released into her.

I sighed as I laid against her, us both breathing heavily. She ran her hands up my back. I looked up at her. She smiled down at me. "That's the only time I'll ever let you be dominate so I hope you enjoyed it" I said smiling softly. She rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised you let me do it for as long as you did pretty boy" She chuckled.

Pretty boy.

Fuck.

Slim.

My eyes went wide as I jumped up and out of her making her whine from the sudden loss. I scrambled for my phone seeing a text from Chris.

Chris

you have to be there in 20 minutes I hope you've left. Or your ass is Y/n's ass.

My eyes went wide as Y/n sat up. "What? What's wrong?" She asked looking at me. "I have to--" I started to say and she looked down. "Go" I whispered. She just nodded as she leaned over and reached for her shorts pulling them back on. "Y/n" I sighed reaching for her. She looked over at me.

"I know, It's okay" She said nodding her head slightly frowning. I swallowed as I pulled my boxers and pants back up. She looked away from me as she stood up.

I felt like this was just a hook up, like I was running right after fucking someone like a damn one-night stand. "I'm sorry" I stated as I stood. She nodded looking down.

"Thanks for coming" She whispered half smiling at me. My heart turned. My chest hurt. I sighed and shook my head. "I'm really sorry" I whispered. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Just go" She said smiling and motioning towards the window. I smiled sadly before walking over to her and grabbing her kissing her passionatly.

She laughed against me trying to push me off, as I kissed all over her face. "Get out" She laughed turning away. I smiled up at her. "I'm gonna marry you one day" I whispered making her smile and her face flush red.

"After fucking me like that, I'll be expecting a ring in the next few days please" She smiled holding out her hand. I rolled my eyes picking her hand up and kissing it. "Give me a few years, I love you" I smiled before turning and running out of the window.

I was gonna add another part but I wanted to get this out to you as fast as possible and If i want to update bfb or anything else I have to put this out so i love you guys missed you.

tag list:

@rac00ns-are-c00l4 @miastromboli @secret-sturniolo @sturnsclutter @sturniolodreamz @paper-crab @chrisolivia4l @mwah0mwah @recklesssturniolo @ejswift @kitaysworld @meg-sturniolo @nickmillersn1gf @fr3shl0ve @adrianaturnedpretty @oversturn @ghostgurlswrld @flowerxbunnie @ilytrinsworld @lustfulslxt @kiarastromboli @gemofthenight @blahbel668 @haunted-headset @sturnybabes @bethsturn @d3adlyclassrat @sturnybabes @mattsbitch @chrisluvbot @nickenthusiast @sturniolossmut @biimpanicking @iloveneilperry @chalametbich @dsmja

tell me if I forgot you on tag list pls

#christopher sturniolo #sturniolo fanfic #sturniolo smut #nick sturniolo #sturniolo x reader #nicolas sturniolo #spotify #matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo #sturniolo triplets #sturniolo #s

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sourcherryandsprinkles · 5 months

Note

conrad thanksgiving fic please!!

This has been in my drafts for a long time...sorry. I might delete later, I don't really like it. It's not giving what I wanted it to...

Request: You’ve done Conrad dating a Haley James type of character, what about a Blair Waldorf type character? Old money, fiercely strong, rich, and outspoken. She and Belly would NOT get along, at all. He takes her to Thanksgiving dinner and Susannah is still there and she loves her

my taglists are here + you can send requests here at any time

—

Thanksgiving had always been a massive celebration in your family. Every year, your parents would go all out and host a dinner with their closest friends and their families. Your mother would direct the caterer team and make sure everything was perfect before the guests’ arrival. At the end the meal by having a slice of your father’s infamous pumpkin pie — which was your personal favorite part.

This year, Thanksgiving was going to be different. Your father was in Paris for business and your mother somewhere in Europe, expanding her collection of vintage designer handbags. Had you not been in college, you would have happily joined her.

‘’Why don��t you come with me to Boston?’’ Conrad asked as you watched him pack a bag for the weekend. ‘’My mom keeps asking me when she’ll get to meet you.’’

The thought of spending Thanksgiving alone had been looming over you, and Conrad's invitation was like a ray of light.

A small smile tugged at the corners of your lips. ‘’You told your mother about me?’’

‘’Not really,’’ Conrad explained, picking another sweater and adding it into his bag. ‘’She heard your voice when she called the other day and Jeremiah told her all about you. He’s such a big mouth...’’ He shook his head, wishing his brother could hold his tongue sometimes.

Susannah was ecstatic to have another guest for dinner. It was on very short notice and most of the preparations were already done when Conrad informed her of your addition to the table, but she would never pass up an opportunity to meet her Connie’s new girlfriend.

When you and Conrad walked in, Susannah was all over you, complimenting your dress and how gorgeous you looked. You were quick to return her compliments, pointing out how her eyes looked exactly like Conrad's.

You met the other guests — Conrad’s father and brother, then Laurel and her kids —, and all were surprised by who Conrad had brought home. No one ever expected him to date someone born of old money. He’s dated Nicole, but she was nowhere as rich as your family.

‘’Look at this amazing table,’’ Susannah said as she brought in the turkey, looking very proud of herself. ‘’Martha Stewart can kiss my ass!’’

Your eyes went wide for a short second, not expecting such words from her. She looked so sweet and delicate.

Conrad shook his head at his mother, happy to see her being herself again.

Everyone got seated, then Susannah spoke again. ‘’Before we eat, let’s go around the table and say one thing that we’re thankful for. Jere Bear, you can start.’’

You lifted your eyes at Jeremiah across the table, who looked nothing like his brother. If you hadn’t known, you would never have guessed they were related.

‘’I’m thankful for my mom,’’ the younger Fisher began, ‘’who reconsidered trying this new treatment for us. I don’t know what I would do without you, Mom.’’ He glanced at his mother, his eyes shiny with unshed tears.

Susannah squeezed his hand over the table while everyone was trying to not get emotional.

Conrad had told you about his mother’s breast cancer having come back in the spring. He tried to hide her sickness from you, but when you found him crying in his dorm on a Saturday afternoon, you knew something wasn’t okay. It was a tough subject for the entire family — especially since it was the second time she was going through this. For that, Susannah didn’t like to talk about cancer. She didn’t want her whole life to revolve around it just because a nasty tumor had returned in her body. She wanted to live her life the way it’s always been…and take a few more sitting breaks when needed.

In turn, the other guests said what they were thankful for. It went from Steven getting a car for his birthday to Belly becoming captain of her school’s volley-ball team and Laurel being a typical mom and being thankful for her children.

‘’Connie, it’s your turn,’’ Susannah said, motioning to her eldest son.

Conrad nodded at his mom, then cleared his throat. ‘’Jeremiah took the words out of my mouth, so I’ll say something else I’m equally thankful for.’’ His lips tugged up into a little half smile and he reached over the table to take your hand in his. ‘’I’m thankful for meeting my amazing girlfriend, who came into my life at the most unexpected, yet perfect moment.’’

You smiled back at Conrad, giving his fingers a little squeeze.

Seated before you, Belly snickered lightly. ‘’Can we eat now? Mom didn't want us to get snacks on the way here and I’m starving.’’

Laurel gave her daughter a pointed glare, wishing she would behave.

Although the pumpkin pie didn’t come close to your father’s recipe, you made sure to tell Susannah it reminded you of home.

‘’I hope your parents are not too sad that you came to Boston instead,’’ Susannah said, incapable of imagining spending Thanksgiving without her family — especially her boys.

‘’Not at all, Mrs. Fisher,’’ you politely replied. ‘’My parents were both out of the country this Thanksgiving. Business related travel.’’

Susannah raised an eyebrow. ‘’Oh? What is it that they do?’’

You didn’t mean to brag, but she had asked. ‘’My mother is a fashion designer and my father is a lawyer at my grandfather’s firm.’’

You caught Belly rolling her eyes and muttering something. You didn’t care what she thought of you, you were the one who got to share Conrad’s bed at the end of the day. Ignoring her childish reactions, you continued talking to Susannah about your parents. She was very interested in your mother’s designs.

When dinner was officially over, you all vacated the table. Jeremiah and Steven went to the living room to set up a game for the five of you to play — another family tradition. You had never played cards against humanity before, but you’ll give it a try.

Before you reached the living room, Conrad pulled you in a corner near the stairs, wanting some time alone with you.

‘’Belly despises me,’’ you pointed to him, keeping your voice down so no one would hear.

Conrad rolled his eyes as he curled an arm around you, knowing how you had the tendency to exaggerate things. ‘’She does not. She’s just…having difficulty accepting that I moved on.’’

You made a face at him. ‘’Don’t you defend her. Have you seen all the sour looks she gave me during dinner? Your eyes might be the most beautiful shade of blue, my love, but I believe they are in need of a visual acuity test. You should schedule one when we get back to Palo Alto.’’

Conrad chuckled, amused by your theatrics.

‘’Belly is going to be tougher to win with your charm. Like every ex-girlfriend, she’s gonna try to paint you as a mean girl, so you just have to show her that you’re the opposite. Compliment her. Tell her you like her sweater.’’

‘’But it looks itchy. It’s probably polyester.’’

The corner of Conrad’s lips turned into a smile.

—

All and more taglist: @spiokybirdstarfish @kenqki @liidiaaag @hawkegfs @gillybear17 @areaderinlove @acornacreacure @black-rose-29 @fudge13 @cece05 @rosie-cameron @Caxddce @laylasbunbunny @gemofthenight @beautyb1ade @hi-bored-as-fcuk-rn @lovelyy-moonlight @mellabella101 @vxnity713 @marzipaanz @bisexualgirlsblog @queenofslytherin889 @thatbxtchesblog @softb-tterfly @ethanlandrycanbreakmyheart @xyzstar @graceberman3 @Heartsforneteyamsully @aerangi @hallecarey1 @bxbyyyjocelyn @mikeyspinkcup @jackierose902109 @daisydark @laurasdrey @mischieftom @fanatic4niall @peterholland04 @idkwhattonamethisblogs @grxnde-dwt @lexasaurs634 @teeeree13 @notasadgirlipromise @zoeynicolas @thejuleshypothesis @multi-fandom-bi-bitch @lexasaurs634 @teeeree13 @notasadgirlipromise @thejuleshypothesis@Shasta89 @sierraluvz @specialk6802 @CZARINERA

TSITP taglist: @msmarvelknight @maritaleane @dingus0401 @idontknowwhatimdoing777 @nomorespahgetti @lomlolivia @5sosbands @bloodyhw @depthsofdespairr @a-band-aid-for-your-heart @gilbertscurls @brandirouse86 @leilani-nichole @bloody-mf-bsc @papayaboyluvr @bchindureyes @bellysbeach @slytherinambitious @darylscvmdumpster @johannelis2302nely @aqshua @foockingasshole @straberryshortcake143 @luiise @sickntiredtoo @adrluvh @mymultiveres @Rosekar16 @hopeurokays @amysangrl @hopelessromantic727 @beth-gallagher22 @lonelywitchv2 @arinexeisnotworking @cloudrainy342 @theflcwer @alllriseabove @angelxxrose @angelxxrose-blog @r1vrsefx

#conrad fisher #conrad fisher x reader #conrad fisher imagine #the summer i turned pretty #the summer i turned pretty imagine #tsitp imagine #tsitp

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justagalwhowrites · 11 months

Text

Lavender - Ch. 28

You get ready to leave the QZ - probably forever. A continuation of Lavender Ch. 1-27 found on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Reader

Warnings: Canon typical violence. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ only

Length: 4K

A/N: If you're seeing this and feeling behind, it's probably because I put up two chapters in a day! Go back for chapter 27 first :)

You kept Ellie close, flanked by Joel and Tess as you made your way back across the QZ. They slowed down a bit once there was some distance between you and the Firefly hideout, reassured that FEDRA wouldn’t be showing up at any second to start arresting people.

You weren’t sure there was a safe way out of this situation. Not that you actually thought Joel would kill a child - you doubted Tess would but didn’t know her well enough to know for sure - but if you managed to slip away, the Fireflies would be after you immediately.

In a time where you could freely move between cities, you might have taken Ellie to a bus stop or train station and gotten the hell out of there. But the QZ was an immensely finite space. There weren’t many rocks under which to hide.

“OK,” Tess said, looking between you, Joel and Ellie. “I’m going to check on our path out. Doc, you go do whatever you need to do, be back here in three hours. The kid stays with Joel.”

“No,” you shook your head. “Ellie stays with me.”

“Then you stay here,” Tess shrugged. “We’re not about to let our key to a way across country out of our sight.”

You sighed and turned to Ellie, a hard look on her face, and tugged her into the kitchen.

“You’re not seriously considering leaving me with these psychos?” She asked, voice low.

“They’re not bad,” you said. “Joel… he’s a good person, he’s not going to do anything to hurt you. He just might be an asshole.”

“How much of an asshole,” she narrowed her eyes at you.

“Enough to be annoying about it, not enough to do any damage,” you smiled. “Promise. But I have to go shower and change and grab some things, if I try to cross the country smelling like this they’re going to throw me out of the car before we even make it to Pennsylvania.”

“Fine,” she muttered.

“Try not to poke the bear though,” you said, looking back toward Joel and Tess talking quietly in the living room. “Not worth the hassle.”

She sighed dramatically in the way that only teenaged girls seemed to be able to do and stomped back to the living room.

“Back in three hours,” you said.

“Should probably tell Andrew you’re leaving this time,” Joel muttered, flopping on the couch.

“Yes, the next time the Fireflies grab me off the street and hold me captive for two weeks, I’ll try to leave a note first,” you snapped. He sat up a bit, looking at you, frowning. “What, did you think I was there on purpose?”

He settled back into the couch.

“Figured you and Tommy’d decided to do something stupid,” he replied, looking you up and down. “You OK?”

You were taken aback by the question.

“Fine,” you replied. “Just really need a shower. Back soon.”

The shower might have been cold but it might have been the best one you’d ever had. You took your time, scrubbing every inch of yourself, washing your hair twice. You were shivering when you were done but you knew it was probably the last time you’d be clean for a while, you wanted to take advantage of it.

You tried to pack as quickly as you could but you took a few minutes to make your bed and clean the glass that Ellie had used two weeks earlier, putting it away. You knew you’d likely never see Boston again, let alone this apartment so you wanted to leave it in a good way. You’d lived here for nearly half your life. It was small, parts were worn, but it had been yours. It was hard to reckon with leaving everything behind.

You packed some clothes, trauma gear, all the research notes you had about the effective treatment you’d found, water bottles, the book of poetry Beth left you. For the second time in your life, you took the picture of you, Joel and Sarah out of its frame and tucked it into your bag, knowing you likely would never return. You did the same with the pictures of your grandmother and Becca. You got the photo of Joel and Tess out of the notebook in the drawer and tucked it away, too. You grabbed a handful of ribbons that you’d collected through the years, like bringing them meant you weren’t leaving part of yourself behind. You took all the food you could from your kitchen - jerky, dried fruit. Every birth control pill pack and broad spectrum antibiotic you had. Finally, you put the old sweatshirt you’d worn during the outbreak in your bag. You still wore it when you felt lonely, put it on and remembered how you’d felt when Joel had given it to you the day you graduated. You’d been tipsy on champagne and he looked so goddamn proud it made your heart ache.

You sat at your kitchen table and wrote a short note, the only one you felt you needed to write. “Derek,” you wrote. “I’m sorry for everything that happened. Know that I loved you the best I could and know that you deserve more than that. Thank you for everything.” You put it with the framed photo you had taken of him reading in your apartment.

Before you took a last look around, you went into the stash below the floorboard and brought up all your extra ration cards and ammunition. Not that you had your gun any more thanks to Marlene but hopefully Joel or Tess could use it. You pocketed some ration cards and put the rest in the bag you usually brought to school, along with the photo, the note and as much of your other research as it could hold before setting off to Andrew’s.

Elizabeth was shrieking with laughter when you got to their door. You waited a second before knocking, savoring the sound while you could. The thought of never hearing it again put a knot in your throat. You took a deep breath before you knocked.

There was some chaos on the other side of the door, you could hear Andrew trying to herd his children out of the way, followed by the frantic turning of the deadbolt and him ripping the door open, the knob slamming into the wall as he all but jumped into the hall to hug you.

“Holy shit I thought you were dead,” he held you tight, backpack and all, crushing you to his chest. You hugged him back, trying to remember what it was like the first time you’d held him. You’d both been so different then - he’d just been a teenager, he’d gotten slightly taller since then. It was hard to think of leaving him behind.

“I’m sorry,” you said, your voice thick. “I’m really sorry…”

He stepped back, pulling you inside, looking you up and down.

“Are you coming back or are you leaving?” He asked.

“Leaving,” you said quietly.

“Auntie Doc!” Elizabeth ran over to you, her little bare feet slapping against the linoleum floor. “Did you know that giraffes’ tongues can be 20 inches long? That’s almost two feet!”

“No way, really?” You smiled, trying not to cry. “That’s so long! What do they do with it all?”

Jess ran out from the bedroom and hurled herself at you, her red hair flying. You barely caught her.

“Thank God!” She said tearfully. She clung to you for a second before falling back. “Where the hell were you? We’ve been worried sick!”

“I know and I’m sorry,�� you said. Elizabeth was looking up at the adults, confused. “Can we stash the kids for a minute? I need to talk to you guys.”

Jess nodded before taking Elizabeth’s hand and scooping up Jonah, setting them up in their room with some toys before closing the door.

“We’ve got about five minutes before one of them winds up dead,” She said.

“I’ll try to be quick,” you said, handing the canvas bag to Andrew who took it with a frown. You slid your pack off your back and to the floor before sitting on the couch. He sat beside you.“That’s for you. My apartment keys are in there, too. When you can or want, go take whatever you might like.”

Andrew looked at you and frowned.

“You’re talking like you’re not coming back…”

“I don’t think I am,” you said quietly.

“No,” he shook his head, looking away from you for a moment before turning back, tears in his eyes. “No, see, we don’t do this. You and me, together, that’s how we do this…”

“It’s not going to happen this time,” you said. “I have a student, the one I’ve told you about… The Fireflies are taking her across country. Something happened with her and… They think she might be immune.”

“Immune?” Jess frowned, sinking onto the couch beside her husband. “Like can’t turn?”

You nodded.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Andrew said. “That… we’d have seen that by now if it were possible.”

“That’s where I’ve been the last two weeks,” you said. “She showed up at my house with a half healed bite, I was trying to take her to the clinic to see if I could get the cordyceps out and the Fireflies found us. They’ve been monitoring her for the last two weeks. She hasn’t changed, the cordyceps haven’t advanced. I never got a chance to remove them, they just… aren’t attacking her. They’re bringing her to their lab out west and I’m going with them.”

“No,” Andrew said again. “Fuck the Fireflies, who the hell knows what they’ll do with anything they get from her…”

“That’s why I have to go,” you said. “I have to make sure whatever they’re doing they’re doing it right. But more importantly, I have to protect that girl. No one is on her side, Andrew, no one. She has no one. She’s going to vanish and no one is going to notice, they’re all going to assume she fell through the cracks. Someone has to be on her side, she can’t go through it all alone.”

You didn’t want to give them time to argue.

“In the bag is all the research I didn’t want to try to haul in the backpack that I might want,” you said. “I’m hoping I’ll have access to a radio so if there’s something I desperately need, I’ll get word to you and you can relay it over. There’s more at my place but it’s even older. I’d appreciate if you could get it and hold onto it for me, though.

“There’s also something in there for Derek, if you wouldn’t mind dropping it off. Doesn’t need to be soon, whenever you want but I’d appreciate if you waited until I’d been gone for a week or two first. I don’t want him thinking I took off because of him or something. I also put my stash of ration cards in there. I kept some to hopefully bribe someone with if I need to on the way out but the rest are yours.”

“What am I supposed to do without you?” He asked.

“I don’t know,” you sniffed, starting to cry. “Let me know if you figure it out because I’m going to be lost without you.”

He pulled you into a tight hug and you pressed your face into his shoulder.

“I owe you everything, you know,” you said, voice muffled by his shirt.

“I wouldn’t be here without you,” he replied, holding you close for another moment before pulling back. “The end of the world fucking sucked but I’ve always felt like it at least got me my wife and my best friend out of the deal. And now you’re leaving.”

“You’re my family,” you smiled tightly, putting a hand on his knee. “But you’ve got your own family now and you’re doing a hell of a job with them. Keep it up, OK?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.

“Never thought I’d get another sister,” Jess sniffed. “But damn, I lucked out.”

“I never had one to begin with,” you smiled at her. “But if I had, I think she’d have paled in comparison to you.”

There was a clatter from the bedroom. Jess dried her eyes.

“Let me get the kids before they hurt themselves,” she said. “You have to say goodbye to them, too…”

It took everything you had to not cry as Elizabeth babbled to you about giraffes - the animal from today’s science book - and Jonah tugged at your shirt. You hugged them both tightly, told them how much you loved them, tried to cover the feeling of your heart cracking open with longing to hold them just a while longer.

Andrew walked you to the door, his arm around your shoulders.

“Even if we never had to save each other, I’d still be so glad we met,” he said.

“Me too,” you smiled through the tears.

“I’m just deciding this isn’t goodbye,” he said. “It’s see you later, OK? We’ll see you again. It’s you and me, that’s how we do this.”

“Yeah, OK,” you laughed a little and he pressed his lips to your forehead.

“Radio when you make it, OK?” He said. You nodded. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

The walk to Joel’s felt both too long and too short. You wanted to get your tears under control before you got there but walking through the QZ while crying was a little too vulnerable for your taste. There were still tears in your eyes when Joel opened the door.

“You OK?” He frowned down at you as you stepped inside.

You shrugged with a sniff.

“Said goodbye to Jess and Andrew and the kids,” you said softly. “I never thought I’d know when I wouldn’t see them again, you know? At least not for a few decades if we got that lucky.”

You wiped your eyes on your sleeves.

“You’re not coming back,” he said it more than asked it.

“No,” you shook your head. “I don’t think I am.”

“Doc!” Ellie came out from the bathroom, a proud grin on her face. “I figured out their smuggling code. 80s means trouble.”

You glanced up at Joel.

“Bill and Frank?”

He added once.

“Shit,” you muttered.

Tess wasn’t too far behind you, letting herself in just as you’d managed to stop crying.

“Let’s move.”

***

This girl was going to drive Joel insane.

She was nosey, a smart ass and too clever for her own good. And she damn well knew it, too. Which only made it worse.

Thankfully, she seemed to have a modicum of respect for you and actually listened when you told her to be quiet and do whatever Joel and Tess told her to do.

“They’re pros,” you’d told her as they got ready to leave the apartment. “You’ve got to trust them. Stick close, obey, you’ll be fine.”

She’d sighed dramatically but seemed to listen, Joel in the lead, the girl behind him, you behind the girl and Tess bringing up the rear.

He wasn’t huge on any part of this plan. You were a liability outside the QZ. He’d given you a gun and a knife so you weren’t totally unarmed but you were far from a great shot and he wasn’t sure you’d even be willing to shoot or stab anything but an infected.

And then there was the kid.

Joel hadn’t been around kids such since… Regardless, he didn’t remember them seeming quite so small or disturbingly fragile. It wasn’t that she was particularly delicate by any means, it seemed like she approached everything that crossed her path the way a freight train would: loudly and head on. It was more that she was inherently breakable, something that was in desperate need of protection.

Protection that you’d, apparently, decided fell to you from the way you kept close to her. It set Joel’s teeth on edge. You might have been capable of protecting her in the QZ - you had connections, after all, and you could certainly patch her up when she got hurt. He was sure you’d have no problem shouting down some FEDRA asshole on the girl’s behalf. But raiders and infected? Those were another story.

But he only had to get the two of you across Boston. Then he’d have a car and could go find Tommy. And leave you to the Fireflies.

He ground his teeth.

He’d cross that bridge when he came to it.

He made it to the fence line, ducking under first while Tess held it up for you and the girl to scramble through before following behind.

“Holy shit,” the kid breathed, looking up as though the sky should be fucking different a few feet outside the wall.

“Ellie!” You hissed, grabbing her and tugging her down beside you.

“Sorry,” she winced. “I’ve just never been outside!”

Joel watched the searchlight and you tugged the girl lower against you as it passed overhead.

“Go,” Tess ordered once it had cleared.

He led you along the wall, staying pressed close against it, until they were close to the next gap… and ran almost head first into a guard.

“Hey!” He yelled, raising his gun.

“Fuck,” Joel muttered, putting his hands up, trying to maneuver himself in front of you. You grabbed the girl and tucked her behind your body before raising your hands, too.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” The guard snapped. Joel tried to not groan.

“Look,” he began but he cut him off.

“Thought I warned you that we were cracking down and now you’re just, what, leading a fuckin’ field trip?” He demanded.

“This is all just a big misunderstanding,” you smiled a little. “I’m sure we can work it out…”

“Did I tell you that you could fuckin’ talk?” The man pointed his gun at you. Joel’s jaw twitched.

“If you just want to give me a second,” your voice was calm. “There are some cards in my back pocket. I’m going to get them out, you can have them, they’re yours, OK?”

The man paused, gun still pointed at you.

“Let’s seem ‘em,” he said.

Joel glanced back at you as you moved slowly, just one hand, and pulled out a wad of cards, approaching the guard slowly and handing them over. You stepped back, glancing behind you as you did, lining yourself up with the girl, staying in front of her.

“Thanks,” he pocketed them. “For that, I won’t kill you.”

“What more do you fuckin’ want man?” Tess asked. “Let us do this run and we’ll give you half.”

“Need a lot more than fuckin’ half if you want me risking my neck for you assholes,” he snapped. “Turn around, down on your knees, hands on your head, let’s go.”

You looked at Joel, your eyes wide. Your head moved, ever so slightly, once. A shake. For some reason, this was a bridge too far.

“You can have it all,” he said quickly. “All the cards from this run, they’re yours.”

“I said down on your fuckin’ knees!” The gun was up.

“Alright, Jesus,” Tess muttered, turning around and looking to you and Ellie. “Just get down…”

You and the girl shared a look as you got to your knees and Joel followed, watching you out of the corner of his eye.

“I know a lot of high up people in FEDRA here,” you said as the man went to Tess. “Want a nice, cushy gig? I can make that happen…”

“Yeah I bet you fuckin’ can,” he scoffed. “Crawling out of the QZ like a fuckin’ rat screams power…” He pressed his scanner to Tess’ neck.

“Seriously?” She snapped. “We were coming from inside…”

“Unauthorized exit,” he showed her the screen. “That’s a hanging offense.”

“Pills,” Joel said quickly. “Half off.”

“All off,” the man countered.

“I’m a doctor,” you said quickly. “You won’t even need to wait for them to do a run, I’ll get you as many as you want, I’ve got access…”

The scanner pressed to Joel’s neck.

“Two for two,” he shook his head. “Not lookin’ too hot for the field trip…”

He scanned you next.

“Looky here,” he turned the scanner around. “Unauthorized. Exit. Hope your powerful friends are free to bail you out…”

“Name it,” you said quickly, pleading. “I’ll give you whatever you want…”

He pressed the scanner to the girl’s neck and she screamed, leaving him yelping in pain, clutching his leg.

You moved quickly, twisting and grabbing the girl, all but throwing her behind you as you scrambled to your feet and the guard yanked a knife from his leg.

“Fucking bitch!” He raised the gun.

Joel jumped between you and the guard.

“She’s freaked out, I’m sorry,” you said quickly. “It’s a misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding. I can still get you whatever you want, I can get you more cards, I can get you pills…”

“No, fuck you,” he snarled, pressing forward.

“We can work this out,” Joel kept his hands up, glancing behind him. Your eyes were wide, the girl peering over your shoulder. Your arms were behind you, trying to hold her back as you shielded her. He looked back at the guard. “Just put the gun down.”

“I don’t fuckin’ think so.”

The man’s finger twitched toward the trigger and, for half a moment, it was 20 years ago. He was holding Sarah. He was scared. He needed to protect her. Life without her wasn’t worth it, he needed to keep her safe.

He lunged for the guard before he was fully aware of what he was doing, knocking the gun aside and bringing his fist down on the man’s face again and again and again.

There was something deeply satisfying about it, raining blows down on the man who would have killed Sarah, just tried to kill you, just tried to kill the fragile girl whose body you were protecting with your own. This time, he wasn’t failing. This time, he was doing what was needed.

“Joel!” Your voice snapped him back to reality, the man’s face a bloody mass below his hand.

The girl was leaning behind you, watching him intently. He looked back at the man, his hand covered in his blood. You darted forward, putting one hand gently on his back, the other taking his bicep, tugging him slowly to his feet. You pulled his hand into yours, looking at his bloody knuckles.

“Come on,” you said quietly. “I’ll take a better look when we’re clear…”

He nodded to you once. You got to your knees and checked the guard’s pulse, wincing after a few seconds. Joel took the gun from the ground.

“Joel!” Tess yelled, panic in her voice. She was holding up a red scanner.

“No,” the girl shook her head and you ran past Joel so fast you were barely a blur, throwing yourself between Tess and the girl.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Doc?” Tess snapped. “You’ve got me hauling an infected girl out of the goddamn QZ! You have us risking our asses for this?”

“I’m not infected!” The girl said, slipping below your arm and holding out her own. “Look, I got bit weeks ago, OK? Weeks, no one lasts that long…”

“It’s true,” you said quickly. “It’s true, she came to me two weeks ago and it was already a week old then, Marlene got us and held us another two weeks, I saw all of it, I swear she’s not infected I don’t know what it is…”

“I should fucking kill you both!” Tess snapped.

“Then let’s do it away from here before more guards show up!” You said quickly, putting the girl behind you again. “Tess, you know me. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have a reason, do you think I’d leave everything here if I didn’t have a reason?”

She panted for breath, staring you down.

“Let’s move before we have more fucking problems,” she snapped, stalking for the fence, Tess ducking below first. You nudged the girl behind her and you stopped, looking back at Joel, waiting for him. He came and stood beside you, his mouth a grim line.

“I promise there’s a reason,” you said softly. “I promise.”

He gave you a single nod. You ducked below the fence and he followed you and the girl into the dark.

A/N: And we say goodbye to Boston and the Boston OC crew! I hope you enjoyed Andrew and Jess at least half as much as I have. Andrew quickly went from a small side character to probably the second favorite character I've ever written. It's the only reason he survived the run with Tess and Joel - I couldn't handle killing him!

I'm really looking forward to exploring some of the dynamics of these characters in the next chapter and, of course, some fun with infected - with some added drama on the books because why not.

I have a taglist! If you'd like to be added, comment below.

Thank you again for reading! I know I say this all the time but this has been such a joy in large part because the readers are such a joy. Thank you thank you thank you for this experience. Love you all!

#fanfic #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #enemies to friends to lovers

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pimosworld · 5 months

Text

Moonshine

TLOU x Triple Frontier crossover AU

Pairing-Joel Miller x f!reader x Francisco Morales

CW-18+,MDNI,NSFW, alcohol consumption, angst,fluff,oral male receiving,cockwarming, canon typical violence, kidnapping,protective Joel,protective Frankie, minor character death, comfort

Chapter summary- Things come to a head when Joel leaves the QZ. Cain’s greed boils over into all your lives and the boys put their skills to use.

WK-6k

A/N- This is it folks and then the epilogue. Thank you for all sticking around. We are saying goodbye to this beloved trio…for now.

Character link

[Series Masterlist][Main Masterlist]

Not beta read

Final Chapter-Speakeasy

Joel could be extremely stubborn, but it seems you were going to take the cake in that competition. It’s been two days since Joel told you he needed to leave the QZ for supplies. He swore to you he would never put himself in danger again. Your best option at keeping him from leaving at this point was the silent treatment and it seemed you were determined to hold true to that despite today being the day he is supposed to leave.

“You gonna stomp around all day or ya gonna talk to me?” Joel tries to cage you in against the counter but you slip out of his grasp and stomp towards the bedroom.

Frankie sends him an apologetic look as he waves him off.

“This isn’t the first time she’s been pissed at me and it certainly won’t be the last.” Joel resumes drying the dishes you left in the sink as Frankie looks towards the hallway where you disappeared.

Joel turns to him when he’s done with a look more stern than his normal demeanor. He’s nervously rubbing his hands together and Frankie fights the urge to tell him to stay. He wants to tell him everything you’ve expressed over the last few days. He wants to tell him that he has all he could ever want inside these walls…but Frankie knows that’s not true.

Things are different now. It’s not just about their survival. People relied on Joel to take care of their families and his last few runs have come up short since he wasn’t the one overseeing it. Things were ‘stolen’ or people went missing. Much like his brother Tommy, Joel was growing tired of sitting idly back without getting his hands dirty.

“I’ve been meanin’ to talk to you about something before I go.” He sets out two glasses from the cabinet and grabs a bottle from under the sink that Frankie’s never seen before. His eyes aren’t focused on the glass but he pours all the same.

“Before you start… just know I’m not going anywhere.” Joel flicks his eyes to Frankie briefly before swallowing it down in one gulp.

“If something happens to me…”

“Nothing is going to happen to you!” You emerge from the hallway fuming.“You don’t have to go.”

Frankie winces at the sight of your bloodshot eyes. Tears streaming down your face as Joel crosses the room to pull you into his arms. You try to push him away but he’s much stronger than you as his hold on you tightens.

“Stop fightin’ me Shine.” He half shouts into your hair as you pound your hands on his chest.

“I don’t want you to go.” Your inaudible sobs are breaking Frankie’s heart. Joel has been your security blanket since you arrived in Boston and you can’t fathom a life without him.

“You know I have to go.” He rocks you slowly in his arms and rubs your back as your breathing comes back to you in shallow sobs. You nod your head against him and he tilts your chin up to face him. “Shine.”

“I know.” You feel a warm presence behind you pressing into your back and large hands come between you and Joel to caress your front.

“I’m gonna be here for you no matter what hermosa.” Frankie sounds like he’s on the verge of tears and it breaks your heart to think he doesn’t understand how much you appreciate him.

“Shit Frankie I’m sorry.” You turn around burying your face in his neck, inhaling his scent you’ve grown so addicted to. “I didn’t mean to…”

His lips are on yours in an instant, all the feelings and desperation he’s trying to convey in this one kiss is enough to silence you. You kiss him deeply, your tongue licking into his mouth as Joel’s lips find your neck. Your soft moan almost stifles the quiet words whispered against your lips.

“I love you.” Frankie hears your sharp intake of breath and Joel’s hands stilling on your waist as the moment hangs in the air. “I love you both.”

You don’t think your heart can take the simultaneous feel of it swelling and breaking all at once. Frankie loves you…and Joel, he finally decides to tell you both. Maybe as a last stitch effort to get him to stay. Or maybe he truly does love you and he realizes this may be his last chance to tell you while you’re all in the same room.

He’s waiting for a response for what seems like an eternity and the feeling of worry and guilt start to creep over him. He can see the look in your eyes like he’s holding your heart in the palm of his hands and Joel who refuses to meet his gaze. He can sense his mistake, much like yours of trying to ignore Joel these last few days in a final triumphant tantrum to get him to stay.

But this is not that. He’s loved you for months, just afraid to tell you and open up a part of him he thought long dormant before him and the boys made their trek to Boston. You came barreling into his life, not taking no for an answer and challenging him every step of the way. Joel surprised him from the beginning, turning out to be quite the opposite of the persona he lets on. He may be hard around the edges but inside he’s soft and sweet and just needing to be loved all the same.

“I’ve felt this way for a long time, I wanted to tell you the other night but after you said you were leaving it just didn’t feel like the right time.” Joel finally looks up then and smiles at him and Frankie knows maybe now was not such a good time either but he couldn’t wait any longer.

“We love you too Francisco.” Joel gently kisses the back of your head. “This one was pretty eager to tell ya’ months ago but I didn’t want to push.”

Joel closes the small space between him and Frankie as his lips tenderly meet his. It’s short and sweet yet you know it still holds the same weight of his words.

“You know I still gotta go.” Frankie rests his forehead against Joel’s and nods once.

None of you speak for a while and you think if you keep your eyes closed maybe you could stay like this forever.

****

Joel doesn’t say anything as you feverishly pack his bag full of stuff he knows is probably too much to carry but it’s not worth it right now to tell you to stop. It’s adorable the way you mutter under your breath about needing to keep warm and hydrated. He’s sitting on the bed against the pillows trying to burn this memory in his brain…just in case.

If he waits any longer to leave he’ll be late to meet the few others that he’s making the short trip with. Some older locals he knew he could trust wanted to gather some more supplies before winter. They also knew how to handle a gun in case they ran into any trouble. Which he assumed may happen since his last few scouts he sent out for supplies came back with little to nothing and seemed downright spooked to even tell him.

He couldn’t afford to send any of the boys, he needed all hands on to run the bar and make sure his presence was still known. Charity would likely never forgive him if he sent Santiago and he would never put his family in any unnecessary danger. He needed Francisco to stay for obvious reasons and part of him just wanted to prove to himself that he hadn’t forgotten what it was like to be out there.

Tommy always lingered in the back of his mind as he lived his quiet and relatively peaceful life. He wanted that so badly for him but Cain had other motives and he couldn’t convince his brother to leave that life behind. Ultimately that cost him his life and so Joel swore to you he wouldn’t put you in a position to mourn anyone else.

“Shine I think that’ll be enough to last me a few weeks. I’m only gonna be gone a few days.” He stills your hand as you try to zip his pack. He places a kiss on each one of your knuckles and then a final on your palm. “I’ll be back in a few days, I promise.”

“Don’t promise.” You look up to him with tears streaming down your face.

“I’m gonna promise anyway.”

****

The bar is not open today so that leaves you with nothing except your thoughts running wild. Frankie follows you around like a lost puppy as you try to find new ways to clean and organize the same space. You know he’s trying to be supportive but you just wish he would do something…anything really besides follow you around the house.

Frankie can see you’re wound tight. He knows all too well the feeling of wanting to be in control of something you have no control over.

You need a distraction

“Did you say something?” You turn to Frankie as he leans against the wall in the hallway.

“I said…you need a distraction.” He takes a few steps towards you and holds out his hand waiting for you to accept it. “I promise I won’t bite…unless you want me to.”

“Okay.”

He smiles at you as you take his hand. He says nothing as he leads you from the hallway to the living room. The early sunset peeking through the blinds is all the light you can see as he sits on the couch. He positions you between his legs as he looks up at you with those brown puppy dog eyes. You’re already feeling better and thoroughly distracted as he rubs his large palms up and down the back of your thighs.

“So…what do you want to do?” It’s a pleasant nervousness thrumming through your veins as he sits back and you try to keep your eyes level with his face and not on the stretch of his pants as his legs relax.

“Whatever you want to do Mi Luna.” His face reads calm and collected but his hands are fidgeting at his side and you realize he’s struggling just as much as you are with Joel being gone.

“Whatever I want.” Your teasing tone as you start to pull your shirt over your head has him equal parts worried and excited.

You weren’t expecting to put on a show today so you’re feeling a little self conscious in your basic panties and bra but the way Frankie is looking at you like he wants to devour you makes you want to prolong this a bit.

You drop to your knees in front of him and lean forward to pull on the waistband of his sweatpants. He lifts his hips slightly to help you as you let the fabric pool at his feet. You can’t help the look in your eyes when you see how turned on he is already. The way his breathing picks up as you splay your hands on his thighs and dig your fingers into the muscled flesh.

He curses under his breath as you take him in your hand and pump him a few times. You place your other hand on his stomach as he tries to keep his hips still. “I’ve barely touched you.”

“Fuck I know.” It’s more of a response to himself than it is to you.

You move your hand briefly before your lips are wrapping around the tip of his cock. Teasing with your tongue at first until you sink down slowly enveloping him in your mouth. You don’t stop until your lips meet the base of his cock and you still there for a moment before swallowing.

“Holy fuck.” You’ve never taken him this far before and Frankie’s brain short circuits when you start to bob your head up and down his cock, the lewd sounds coming from your mouth spur him on as your other hand still firmly on his stomach presses down. An unfamiliar groan leaves his lips and he has to bite down bordering on painful so he doesn’t finish embarrassingly fast.

“I’m close hermosa.”

You swirl your tongue again and come off with a pop as you lean back on your heels to catch your breath.

“I need your shirt off Francisco.” He rips his shirt off, his hat clambering to the floor somewhere behind him as you take off your bra and panties.

You settle your thighs on either side of his hips as you hover over him. You haven’t told him he can’t touch you but he follows your silent instruction as his hands nearly tear the fabric of the couch with his grip. You reach down and line him up with you as you sink down slowly.

He’s always a stretch but he usually gets you ready…on his fingers, his tongue for as long as you’ll let him. You don’t have the patience today and you’re loving the control. His eyes are squeezed shut as you moan into the feeling of pleasure as you’re fully seated on his cock.

“You can touch me.” Your voice quivers a little as his hands grip your hips. He starts to lift you slightly when your hand goes to his shoulder to stop him. “I just want to stay like this for a minute.”

“Okay.” His voice barely above a whisper.

His hands loosen slightly as you lean forward, eating your head in the crook of his neck. He smells like your lavender body wash and sweat and you release a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

You shift a little as you wrap your arms around him and he pulses inside you. A soft whimper leaves your lips and his hands tighten their grip on you again. “Is this okay?”

You can feel him nod his head as he places a kiss to your cheek. “More than okay.”

“I love you Francisco.”

“I love you too Shine.”

****

The last few days at the bar have been hellish. The business has helped you keep your mind off Joel so you’ve enjoyed the chaos.

You can tell Frankie’s been on edge. A similar look in his eyes to when you first met Joel. He’s not sleeping and barely eating. You talked to Ben before starting work today and he assured you he’d check on him when things started to wind down for the night. It didn’t seem that things would be winding down anytime soon though.

Joel didn’t discriminate in his bar, any patron was welcome. Whether it be a tired mother getting off her shift in the kitchen or a FEDRA officer unwinding after a day of carrying out questionable orders.

His only rule was no fighting in his establishment.

As quiet as you tried to keep his absence, people talked. It was evident with all the rowdiness of the night that people knew he was gone. The boys were intimidating to most but they were new. Joel’s name held weight and with him being gone it provided opportunities for challengers.

You and Charity did your best to keep up with the high demand as the boys tried to keep the patrons in line.

You told Frankie early on in the night to help his friends. You could see him grappling with making sure you were okay and standing by on the sidelines trying not to feel useless.

“Go, I'll be fine.”

The nagging part of your brain that tells you, how long can he put up with being your glorified babysitter. The part of your brain that tells you he’s going to get sick of you. It’s the devil on your shoulder that tells you he needs something else to do or he’s going to leave eventually.

“Are you sure?”

Frankie shouldn’t listen to you. That part of his brain keeps telling him you’re going to get sick of being treated like a child. You survived just fine before he got here so why shouldn’t he go be with his friends. Eventually you’re going to get sick of him just watching over you.

If the two of you would’ve just got out of your heads you could’ve avoided this whole situation.

****

Your head is pounding and your throat is dry. Your neck hurts from being stuck in the same position for god knows how long.

It’s like waking up from a nap and you have no idea how you fell asleep or where you are. As you blink your eyes open you see a room much like your old apartment above the bar. It’s clearly daytime as the sun peeks through the dark curtains. The last thing you remember was being behind the bar….last night.

Your hands are poorly tied behind your back as you sit in a small wooden chair in the middle of this room. It’s well kept and smells of a cheap heady cologne. You can just barely feel a loose thread between your fingers as you start to pull on some of the loose rope.

“Well look who's awake.”

Joel is going to be pissed

****

“Tell me again…from the beginning.”

“Listen Joel, it happened so fast-.” Joel holds up his hand to stop Will from speaking.

“I want you to tell me.” He points to Frankie who hasn’t let his eyes leave the floor.

Frankie’s been silent since Joel walked into the bar this morning. They had been up all night trying to figure out what happened to you.

****

“Frankie just go, Will looks like he could use the help.”

Frankie looks to Will, struggling to break up a fight between two men. Santi is at the front door helping Benny handle another situation. He can’t just sit by and watch, he needs to do something. He looks at you one last time as you take someone’s order before heading over to Will.

He couldn’t have been gone for more than a minute.

He’s seen these guys here before…together. These were the guys harassing you a few weeks ago. He’s not sure why they’re having a disagreement but Will has it handled by the time he’s made it over to them.

They leave of their own accord thankfully and it seems whatever disgruntled patron Benny and Santi were handling left also.

Frankie returns to the bar but you’re nowhere to be found. He asked a woman who was seated at the end… a regular, where you went. She waved her hand off down the hall and mumbled something about you running off after some people. She was no help as drunk as she was, most likely not even aware of her surroundings.

Frankie takes off out the back to the alley, his heart is pounding in his chest as he runs to the street. No sign of you or any life for that matter this late at night. He doesn’t care how much trouble he gets in for waking the neighbors as he yells your name.

Santiago runs out to him on the street and takes in his frantic state. Not bothering to ask and further piss Frankie off.

He had one job and now he has no idea where you are or even where to begin to look for you.

“We need to close the bar.”

“I’m on it Fish.” Santi disappears inside while Frankie stands helpless on the street.

****

It’s been hours…

The FEDRA officers didn’t take too kindly to the boys telling them to drink elsewhere if they didn’t turn a blind eye to the curfew hours so they could search for you.

Will has a sneaking suspicion that you couldn’t possibly have gone far without being seen, but no one seems to know anything.

The sun is starting to come up as they make their way back to the bar, Ben’s guilt ridden face has nothing on the way Frankie feels at this very moment.

The situation isn’t much better once Joel arrives taking in their disheveled appearance.

“Y’all look like shit.”

Ironically enough Frankie thinks Joel’s seen better days and he’s back much sooner than anticipated. He already looks pissed and he doesn’t even know what’s happened to you.

****

“Are you stupid Cain?”

“Sweetheart, I'm a lot smarter than your bodyguards.” He comes into your view with a smug grin on his face.

Whatever idea he’s got conjured up in his brain you’re sure is not thought through. The only thing you know for certain is Joel is going to kill him.

“You know Joel is going to come get me.”

“That’s the plan, Sweetheart.” He crouches low in front of your chair, tilting his head side to side.

“He’s going to bring reinforcements.” You know he’s not easily intimidated but he knew next to nothing about the boys.

“I’m countin on it Shine.”

He laughs as you spit in his face, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. “You don’t get to call me Shine.”

“You’re not really in a position to give orders are ya?” He tugs on the restraints around your legs as you try to lunge at him.

“So what’s your plan? You just gonna keep me tied up here forever?” He’s too cocky to not tell you what his motives are. You know you can get out of this poorly tied rope around your wrist, all you need to do is bide your time.

“You know you could’ve just accepted my offer to let you work here. You may even change your mind about me when Joel doesn’t have a bar for you to work in.” He stands and gently strokes your cheek. “The cavalry is gonna come lookin for you, and my men will be cleaning him out for everything he owns.”

Stupid, what a stupid plan.

Cain never was one to think ahead. He always underestimated Joel and that bothered him. It’s why he took Tommy under his wing. The only way to manipulate Joel was to hit him where it hurt.

Some people just couldn’t leave well enough alone. The world ending brought out the best and worst in people and knowing Cain you could guess it wasn’t too far of a push to become one of the worst. His greed will always be the driving force to what makes him tick, but it will also be the reason for his demise.

****

“I know where she is.” Joel sounds oddly calm for everything they just told him. “I should’ve killed that son of a bitch a long time ago.”

“Who?” Ben looks to Joel but it’s Frankie who speaks first.

“Cain.” Joel nods his head as Frankie clenches his fist. The thought of him even laying a finger on your head has his blood boiling.

Pope and Will wanted to take him out months ago but Joel didn’t want to disturb the peace. He can see it written all over their faces now. Cain was not someone who deserved peace.

“So let’s go kill him then.” Joel chuckles at Ben’s enthusiasm as he lays out a glass and puts himself a whiskey.

“Since you’re so eager to help, here’s what we’re gonna do.”

Frankie doesn’t like the idea of Joel going alone but he insists that this is the only way this plan will work. Joel was more than confident in your skills and he knew it wouldn’t be long before you got yourself out of whatever predicament you were in.

Santiago takes Charity to Joel’s place so he won’t have to worry about her.

Joel knew Cain would be sending his men to the bar to case and destroy the place. He ran into some trouble on his way back into the QZ when two guys tried to ambush them. By the time Joel had them tied to a tree they were begging for their lives. He let them live in return for information on who hired them. Cain had been intercepting his supplies for months, but it still wasn’t enough for him. He got greedy.

Greed is a bottomless pit

****

One of Cain’s men had been pacing outside your room, when you finally stopped hearing footsteps you got to work on the rope.

Next time I’m using zip ties

You try to clear your head of the thought. The first time Joel tied you up and timed you. You were out of it before he could get started.

You feel one of the ropes loosen around your sore wrists as you shake the hand free. It’s a relief to be able to move your shoulder. With the help of your free hand the rest is done in now time. You lean forward stretching your back as you undo the ropes around your ankles.

A sudden creak in the floorboards has you pause your movements. You hold your breath for what feels like an eternity and start slowly moving again. Your chair makes a similar nose beneath you and you let out a sigh of relief knowing the noise came from inside the room.

You make your way over to the window and thank your lucky stars there’s a fire escape. The sun is just starting to set as you crawl out and sneak down to the alley below.

****

Joel takes one deep breath before he opens the door to Cain’s place. He doesn’t miss this side of town, the way it smells, the way it looks all just remind him of how he was before. It’s time to finally close that chapter of his life and move on.

“Well look what the cat dragged in.” Cain is sitting in the middle of the room. The inside hasn’t changed much, except for the dingy chairs and tables that almost resemble Joel’s. “Where are your lap dogs.” He claps his hands together as Joel takes a seat across from him.

“They’ll be here shortly.” Joel’s pistol is situated in the back of his jeans but he makes no move to reveal it.

There’s a man in the corner he notices is armed.

“I don’t think it would be a wise decision to do anything rash with your bride upstairs.” He snaps his fingers and the man disappears down the hall. He can faintly hear him climbing the stairs, Joel’s focused on counting his steps as Cain drones on.

“Now…she can live here with me. Or she can die with you. The choice is yours Joel.”

The footsteps have stopped.

“We could’ve continued to coexist in peace. Despite the fishy circumstances of my brother's death.”

One set of footsteps resume

Cain chuckles under his breath. “It was fishy wasn’t it? If I hadn’t shot him in the leg the clickers would’ve got me too.”

If Joel was certain you were gone and safe he would’ve shot him between the eyes right then and there but he needed to be sure.

The floorboard creaks in the hallway

Cain ducks his head as Joel raises his pistol to shoot. Hitting the man square in the chest as he rounds the corner. He wishes he could frame the look on his face when you don’t appear in the hallway.

****

The cold stinging your face as you run through the streets is a welcome feeling. Your lungs burn and your feet are screaming at you to take a break but you can’t stop until you reach home. The full moon lights your way as each passing landmark starts to look more familiar.

The light is on in the house as you look up at the window. You can’t climb the stairs fast enough as the door is already being flung open. Frankie looks worse than you do, his hair is a mess and his eyes are bloodshot.

He almost knocks the wind out of you as he pulls you into his arms. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again.” You're shivering in his arms now that your adrenaline has worn off. “I didn’t know where you went.”

“Let the girl come inside Frankie.”

He laughs and steps aside as he wipes his eyes. Charity is standing in the living room looking just as worried as him but still smiling.

“I told you she’d come straight here.” She holds out a blanket for you and pulls you into a warm embrace.

Frankie has a seat at the dining table, probably for the first time in over a day. “I still don’t know how Joel was so sure you’d make it out.”

“Because Cain is first and foremost an idiot. He never thinks things through.” He gestures for you to come to him and you take a seat in his lap. “Wait…you said Joel…he's back?”

“Oh ya…he came back early, Shine.” Charity gives you that look. The look that tells you he’s finally handling it. “The boys are just tying up some loose ends and then they’ll meet back here.”

Frankie lets you go barely enough to turn and face him. You gently brush his curls out of his face and he sighs as he closes his eyes. “I take it I missed quite a bit.” You say as he narrows his eyes at you.

“Why did you run off like that?” His tone comes off more worried than accusatory, and that makes you feel that much worse.

“I saw someone run off without paying, and you guys had your hands pretty full.” He raises his eyebrows at you but stays silent. “ So I chased him down the hall…and he went out the back, and now that I’m saying it out loud it sounds pretty stupid.”

“What are we gonna do with you?” He looks at you incredulously and kisses your forehead.

“Hon you must be hungry.” Charity is in the kitchen pulling out a pot and your stomach grumbles at the thought of not having eaten in so long.

“I should probably shower.” He sniffs you and makes a face as you playfully swat his chest.

“Don’t get lost on your way.”

“I promise I won’t.”

****

“Listen Joel.” Cain looks at his henchmen bleeding out in the hallway. “We can come to some sort of agreement.”

“Oh I’m sure we can.” Joel shoots him in his kneecaps and he keels over in pain.

“Are you fucking crazy?”

Ben, Will and Santiago enter through the back, Joel gestures at the man dead in the doorway. “Take him down to the basement.” Will and Ben drag him off down the hall as Santiago approaches Joel.

“Crazy is thinking you can take what’s mine and get away with it.”

Joel and Santi carry Cain to the basement to join his dead friend. It’s cold and dingy, the dead body isn’t going to help the smell much and he didn’t have any supplies down here it seems. The poorly built ones are often flooded in the winter, he can tell by the mold creeping up the wall that this particular basement probably does.

They toss Cain on the ground as the man tries and fails to stand.

“What the hell are you gonna do Joel, you can’t just leave me down here.”

“Ya he’s right, you should at least give him some food.” Will chimes in, the obvious sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“He’s got food right there.” Ben points to the dead man’s body and they all laugh amongst themselves.

They file out one by one leaving Joel last to close the door. “I’m giving you a better chance than you gave my brother.” He takes one last look at Cain before slamming it shut.

“Lock it up boys, we’re going home.”

****

You’re finally all nice and cozy, freshly showered and fed. You’re nestled on the couch between Frankie and Charity when you hear footsteps and soft chatter coming from the stairwell.

Joel comes in with the boys in tow as they all drop their bags at the door. You bolt off the couch and run to him practically knocking him over. “I missed you too, Shine.” He cradles your head in his large palm as he breathes you in. You smell fresh like the lavender soap you use and he knows he desperately needs a shower but he wants to relish in this a little longer.

“I want everyone to stay here tonight if that’s alright with you.” He lets you go as you take in his appearance, he’s seen better days but he’s still your Joel. Just a few more wrinkles, his eyes don’t seem as sad.

“Of course it’s alright with me.”

“Why don’t you get everyone situated while I shower.” Joel winks at Frankie before heading down the hallway. You know they’ll say their proper hellos and I missed you’s later.

You look around the room at Will and Benny laughing about something. Santi swaying by the couch with Charity singing something sweet in her ear. Frankie is looking at you, probably thinking the same thing you are. It’s a relief to have all his favorite people under one roof. Safe

“Well.” You clap your hands together. “You and Santi can have the spare room. Will and Ben can flip a coin for the couch. I have an extra cot and some blankets I can bring in.”

“I’m sleeping on the couch. I'm the older brother.” He ruffles his hair as Ben swats his hand away.

“That’s fine I’ll just sleep with them.” He gestures to Frankie and comes over to lift you up bridal style.

“It’s not that kind of sleepover Ben.” You pat his cheek and mouth a silent sorry as he puts you down.

“Fine, but if I hear any noise coming from either of your rooms I’m coming in.” You give him a thumbs up as they roll their eyes at the younger Miller.

****

It doesn’t take long for the house to quiet down. Everyone is exhausted from the last few days' events. You’re exactly where you want to be, situated perfectly between Frankie and Joel. His hair is still wet from the shower as you run your fingers through his curls. Frankie’s chest is warm on your back and his arm is draped over the both of you.

It’s too late to talk about anything that transpired and you’re not sure if it will ever get addressed. All you know is Joel hasn’t looked this peaceful since you’ve met him.

The last thing Frankie said before he drifted off the sleep was ‘I love you’ , something he wanted to be sure he’d be able to say to both of you in the same room again.

You think maybe Joel is asleep as he mutters something under his breath. He looks down at you, his eyes just barely visible in the dark room, dimly lit by the moon.

“Hmm?” He tilts your chin up and kisses you slowly.

“I said I’m never leavin you again.” His kisses grow sleepier by the moment as you feel Frankie’s grip tighten on you.

“You promise?”

“Ya Moonshine, I promise.”

Love you guys so much thank you for showing this story so much love. 🤍

Comments and reblogs are much appreciated

@fishingforpike @christinamadsen @alwaysdjarin @avastrasposts @basicoccult @pastelnap @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @superhoeva @legendary-pink-dot @jwritesfanfics @milla-frenchy @romanarose @casa-boiardi @moonlightdivine @sheepdogchick3 @scarletthefierce @theywhowriteandknowthings @she-could-never @csarab615 @paleidiot @cakipy-blog @criticalarchitecture @xxx-silhouette-xxx

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luke-hughes43 · 5 months

Note

Yes post the angst please

Stella Gets Hurt | Luke and stella

(Disclaimer, the injury aspect of this is not fully true. The how and nature of the injury is accurate but the diagnosis and treatment stuff is totally not accurate.)

(Also, I used to play softball so I might’ve gotten a little carried away with the in game detail.)

(Also can write a part 2 if you want)

Part 2

Stella’s POV

So today we were playing Ohio State at home. It’s been about 2 weeks since the hockey team was beat in the Frozen Four in Boston and Luke was devastated. But ever since his season ended, he’s been at every home game. I made the starting lineup for this game and I was batting 4th while playing center field.

It’s current the 4th inning, OSU scored in the first inning on a home run, so it’s 1-0. I am leading off the inning. The first pitch is a ball, second one is a strike, so right now the count is 1-1. I look down at coach and acknowledge the signal of swing away.

The pitch comes in right in my sweet spot and I swing and crush it. I drop the bat and run to first. I notice that the ball land over the fence as I round first and the whole team is cheering so loud. I can hear Luke and the guys cheering for me too since he brought the team with him. I have a smile on my face as I make contact with the base and my knee gives out on me.

There’s a pop and I instantly fall, clutching my knee in pain.

I cry in pain and the tears have already started flowing. I’m clutching my knee but I’m also trying to force myself to stand. At this point the whole stadium has gone quiet and I can hear Luke yell, “Stella?!.” I manage to get up and try to make a step towards second base but I fall as soon as I try to put pressure on my right knee.

I try a couple more times to get up and I eventually make it to second base but I can’t force myself up anymore. I just end up on the ground holding my knee. The trainer comes out and talks to me. He says, “What happened?”

“My knee gave out when I rounded first. I tried to keep going because if I didn’t then the run doesn’t count but it hurts so much and it just keeps giving out. There was a pop, it’s my acl isn’t?”

“Most likely. I wanna get you back to the training room so I can actually look at it. That sound good to you?”

“I wanna touch the bases first. I have to. Touching home makes it 31, I’ll officially have the single season fro homerun by a freshman. I need this. Please let me try.”

“Ok. Let me talk to the umpire, see what we can do.” He says. I get myself sitting up right finally waiting for the trainer to come back. He comes back shortly and says, “In order for the homerun to count, you have to touch the bases but no one from our team can assist you. You have to do it yourself or it won’t count.”

“Ok.” I move so that I am on my hands and knees and force myself to stand. I take a deep breath and manage to take a few steps before my knee gives out again. I hear two girls ask the umpire, “Hey blue, if we help her touch the bases, will it count?”

“Yea, I don’t see why not.” He says. The two girls come over and over a hand to me. I accept and we start our way towards 3rd. Number 3 says to me, “I’m Ashley by the way.”

“Stella.”

Number 7 then says, “Sarah. That was a great hit. We know it was for the ncaa freshman record.” Ashley then adds on, “Our schools may have a long hatred for each other but you earned this record so we wanna give it to you. Especially since your season is probably over.”

I say as we touch 3rd, “Thank you. This means more than I’ll ever be able to tell you.” I make eye contact with Luke and I can see the worry on his face. I give him a small smile with a nod and hopefully that tell him I’m ok.

“It’s the least we can do.” Sarah says.

We approach home plate and I can see my team waiting for me. I smile at the girls, we make it to home plate but stop about a step before the plate. They let go and say, “You got this. You deserve to touch the plate without help.” I smile at both of them and say, “Thank you.”

I pause and take a deep breath before taking the step to touch the plate. Once my foot touches the plate, the two girls closest to me immediately grab onto me so that I don’t fall. The whole stadium starts clapping. At this point, the adrenaline has worn off and all I can feel is excruciating pain down my right leg. Two of my teammates help me down the stairs and down the tunnel to our locker room. It was Emerson and Lauren, two girls in my grade that weren’t playing today. I say to them, “Thanks.” They nod and stay with me until the trainer comes in.

I ask him, “How bad is it?”

“I don’t know. You said there was a pop?”

“Yea. And it hurts so much.” He nods and start feeling around my knee. He says, “I’m gonna pull the pant leg up and your socks down to look at it better, it that ok?” I nod and try to fight the tears. He does whatever he has and is messing around with my knee for what feels like eternity. Eventually he says, “So, I performed a Lachman’s test, which is used to rule out an ACL injury. And unfortunately, it confirmed my suspicions. I think you tore your ACL, we’re gonna need an MRI to really confirm it but it looks that way. I’m sorry Z.”

“I figured as much. How early can we get an MRI?”

“Once the game is over, I’ll call our ortho surgeon and ask him when we can get it done. If we can get everything done early, you hopefully will be able to come back for next season, but that’s only if we get on this now.”

“Ok. I’m assuming that I’m gonna be sporting a knee brace and crutches for the time being?”

“Yea. Until we can get the swelling to go down and and the pain to decrease. I really am sorry Stella but your season is over.” He says and I can feel the remorse in his voice. I nod and don’t really say anything. He then says, “I can let someone down here for you if you want. If your family is here at all.”

“Can my boyfriend come down? He’s all I have in Michigan right now.”

“Yes. I can ask one for the girls to tell him to come down.” He says and then continues by saying, “I’ll give you some privacy to get changed out of your uniform. You’ll probably be more comfortable if you change and here’s those crutches so you can get to the locker room. I’ll leave a bag of ice for you as well.” I nod and wait for him to leave to really let the tears flow. I hobble to the locker room and change quickly before going back to the training room.

I grabbed my phone and call my mom in tears. She answers instantly, “Stella?”

“Momma?”

“Honey, what’s wrong? We were watching the game and saw you go down after you hit first. What happened?”

“The trainer thinks it’s my ACL. It hurts so much momma.”

“Oh sweet girl, I’m so sorry.”

“But I did it, I got the record. Today was 31.”

“I’m proud of you honey. Are you ok?”

“Not in the slightest. Someone is getting Luke so that I’m not alone. My season is over, I’m probably gonna need surgery. The trainer is calling the surgeon and is gonna try to get me in for an MRI tonight.”

“Ok. Do you want me and your dad to fly out?”

“Not yet. I wanna get more answers about it before I ask you guys to do that. Besides, I have finals this week and I need to study for them.”

“Ok. You say the word and your dad and I will be on the next flight to michigan.” Mom says softly. I lay back on the table and convert the call to a FaceTime. She accepts instantly and I can her face drop when she sees me. She says softly, “Oh honey. I’m so sorry. Do you want me to stay on while you wait for Luke?”

“Yes please.”

“Oh baby.” She says. We don’t say much until I hear a knock on the door. I croak out, “Come in.” The door opens and it’s Luke. He lets out a breath and says, “Oh Stella.” He comes over and hugs me. I finally break and start sobbing. He holds me tighter and rubs my back in an effort to calm me down.

I feel him take my phone and can hear him talking to my mom. He says, “Hey Mrs. Zegras.”

“Hi Luke. You can call me Julie.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s ok.”

“I got her. And I promise to keep you posted.”

“Thank you. Should I make plans to come out?”

“Probably. She probably already told you no but I think she’ll want you to come out. I already texted my mom just in case. I promise, I got her.”

“Thank you Luke. Stella, I love you honey. Keep me posted please?”

“I love you too momma.” I say and my mom hangs up. I cling to Luke and he holds me tight while I cry. He rubs my back and says softly, “Hey just breathe for me Stella. Just breathe baby. You’re ok.”

I try to take some deep breaths and calm down but it hurts so much. I croak out, “It hurts babe.” He says reassuringly, “I know baby, I know. It’s gonna be ok.” I just hold him tighter and try to breathe through the pain. Eventually, the trainer comes back in and to see me. He says, “I can come back if you want.”

“No, let’s just get this over with.”

He nods, “I called the surgeon. He can get you in tonight for an MRI at 8. He can see you again on monday to talk about the results and everything with you. I would recommend calling your parents and seeing if they can come out.”

“Ok.” I nod. I then ask quietly, “Anything else?”

“Non weight bearing until told otherwise. Ice every 2 hours, 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off. obviously we want you to come the rest of the weekend but just take it easy for the next few days. Stay of the best you can, elevate your knee. Do you want me to go with you to the MRI?”

“I’m good. I’d rather just go by myself. Get it over with. Is the game over?”

“Yea. Lost 6-2. Sorry kid.” He says regretfully. I mutter quietly, “It’s fine. Can I go home now?”

“Yea. I’ll check in tomorrow before the game. Just take it easy and make sure to get to that MRI.” He says. I nod and wait for him to go. Luke says, “Let’s get you back to the dorms sweet girl.” I nod again and he helps me get off the table. Once I find my balance, I look up at Luke and say, “Hey lukey?”

“Yea?”

“Can I get a kiss please?”

He smiles and then leans down to kiss me softly. When he pulls away he says, “You never have to ask stel.” He kisses me again, “I love you Stella.”

“I love you too.”

“Come on baby. Let’s get you out of here and get you some rest.” He says. I nod and follow him out of the room. I head down towards the locker room and say, “You can’t come in. Team rule, and I don’t know if anyone is still in there. I’ll be quick, I just need my bag.” He nods and I head in.

Luckily, no one was int here so I could get in and out without having to answer a bunch of questions. I leave the locker room and say, “Let’s go please?”

“Of course Stella.”

He helps me back to my dorm and lifts me into my bed. He sets me up with the pillows and the ice from the trainer. He says, “I’m gonna head back to my dorm to grab a few things. Do you need anything?”

“Just you.”

“10 minutes sweet girl.” He says. He leaves and comes back in no time. I smile when he comes back in and then climbs into bed to cuddle with me. He pulls me close to him and says, “Get some rest sweet girl. I’ll wake you when you need to get up for your MRI. Just get some rest baby.”

He rubs my back and right before I drift off to sleep I hear him whisper, “God I love you Stella. Forever my best girl.”

#luke hughes #umich hockey #stella zegras

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thatgirl4815 · 7 months

Text

OF Favorites Rankings

I did this once before the series aired, but I thought it’d be fun to rank the core characters in OF in the middle of the series’ run and once more at the end.

I’m gonna tag some of my active OF moots here (and some new OF friends as well!) if any of you want to play too—no pressure at all! And of course, even if you aren’t tagged, please feel free to play along! I’m super curious to see how opinions have changed from the beginning to the middle to the end. :)

@abstractelysium @nihilisticcondensedmilk @just-gm @firstkanaphans @prapaiwife @dreamedofyou @sandrayy @fanfictionroxs @khaopybara @tiedankelstotheocean @thegalwhorants @autisticbokutoenthusiast @itsmelb @way-too-indecisive @k-white @waitmyturtles

1. Sand

Of course it was going to be Sand in first place (get it…First place?)

He might be morally dubious in Ep6, but if anything, that makes him more endearing to me (don't ask me how). If they all play dirty, he can play dirty too. Plus, he's just got the vibe. The t-shirts, the jackets, the boots, the independence. The superior music taste? Mans has it all except for money. Though tbh, the moment that solidified Sand as my favorite was when he ran after Ray at the end of Ep6--he was just dealt a personal attack by Ray in front of everyone, but he doesn't even hesitate to go after him. And that is the marker of a ✨ favorite character ✨

2. Ray

Naturally, both Sand and Ray have taken the top spots (pun intended), and it's because I have a special place in my heart for "woobified" characters (did I use that right @waitmyturtles? 😂)...and Khaotung executes his layers so beautifully. Ray did go in for a nonconsensual kiss (which he later apologized for, but I digress) and he did hash out some pretty brutal insults last episode. Irrespective of his feelings for Sand, it's indisputable that he has used him in some aspect to distract himself from Mew. So for all that, Ray is also morally dubious--but I'll use the term realistic instead.

I just want to give him a hug and tell him that he matters. Because clearly that is something he's heard only a few times in his life. And maybe if he heard it more often, we could avoid situations like the one at the end of Ep6.

3. Nick

I’m having a bit of an inner battle with myself over this one because Nick came out of the gate with some very immoral behavior, and yet I’m still putting him above Mew, because something about him is just so…pitiful. Admittedly, I've been growing more and more frustrated with him as the series goes on and he still fights for Boston's affection when Boston has proven time and time again that he just doesn't care. Boston keeps him on a rope, and in some ways I sympathize with Nick's struggles, because it isn't easy to turn the feelings off once they've already been cemented. But alas. He's digging himself further and further into this hole.

4. Mew

A lot of my gripes with Mew have been in respect to his treatment of Ray, but I go back and forth because I do understand the mental toll it must take on him. Regardless of whether or not he's responsible for helping Ray through his mental issues, as his closest friend, I think it should've been him running after Ray at the end of Ep6. Yeah, Ray said some shitty things about everybody, but Ray has only ever wanted what is best for Mew. And Mew was going to watch him run off and potentially get himself killed, even after Ray admitted what Top had done. Something about that just doesn't sit right with me.

Despite all of this, Mew does appear to be the most level-headed of the group (alongside Sand, though that was put to the test last ep). And the moment he played TopBoston’s sex audio right in Top’s ear? Phenomenal. He nailed that execution. I will laugh when he's on his revenge kick next week.

5. Cheum

Cheum is this low firstly because she doesn't get a lot of screen time, and secondly because she's made some comments that are a little questionable too. I can't remember who said it, but someone pointed out just how often she references how lucky Mew is to be with Top--which is a little strange, looking at him like he's some big prize. Also, not to bring everything back to Ray but...she contributes to the "burden" discussion quite a few times.

I do really enjoy the small snippets we've gotten of her with April. I like that they finally gave their relationship a little bit more context in Ep6. They do seem to have some pretty solid communication (at least compared to the others) so I'm pleased with that.

6. Top

I know a lot of people have felt sorry for Top. And I understand that completely. I struggle to given that he not only cheated but lied about the cheating--and likely would never have admitted to it. For Mew, someone who values communication and honesty so strongly, it's like a punch to the face. I hope Top gets what's coming to him. (Also, stealing Sand's boyfriend? Wtf dude.)

7. Boston

Not much to explain about this one--I can understand why he is some peoples' favorite for the sole reason that he is the one creating all the conflict in the first place. But he's so twisted, manipulative, and careless that I just want Mew to kick him into that pool a hundred times over. I don't expect him to rise from last place by the end, but if he does, it'll be a miracle.

#only friends #only friends the series #ofts #only friends favorites game #sandray #raysand #topmew #bostonnick #only friends episode 6 #firstkhaotung #forcebook #neomark #only friends series

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justthewayuare · 7 months

Text

The treatment of sluts

I’m not the first person to write about this topic and I don’t want to dive in here deep into societal problems with slutshaming. But I think about it a lot - there is an interesting approach within the show to this.

I talk about how both characters in the show and the audience treat so-called sluts of the show. Yes, it’s about Boston and Top. But also about Sand and Ray. Because it’s quite clear that all four of them have - or had before by the point we’re now - an active sex life. With Boston, Top and Sand it was spoken out loud, with Ray wasn’t but come on. Like he is horny as fuck.

And the way he just casually raised the car roof here without stopping a make out session - I don’t believe for a second he never did it before.

But Ray also spends a huge amount of his life being blackout drunk so maybe his sex life is not that intense at this point. The other three? 100%

But the approach towards Sand (and Ray) is very different than towards Boston and Top. And it’s partially because of car scene, of course, but not only about that. Top and Boston both constantly judged for their sex life in the show and out of it. And I think characters view on those who actively engaged in casual hookups speaks volumes. It happens in all of the main dynamics but differently.

Friend group. So the whole Boston-Mew drama about feeling superior to the other cause of having/not having sex is amazing. Those two are very dramatic about it. Boston going crazy about Mew’s virginity while Mew being arrogant ass towards Boston’s sex life is just everything. I love it.

Like really, Mew, honey, there is nothing wrong with sleeping around. It’s not something that needs correction. He’s fine.

Cheum said nobody would be happy in a relationship with Boston. And why?

That’s her reason. While so many real reasons exist for her it’s just Boston being a slut. And it’s just interesting to me for two reasons:

1. Boston didn’t say anything about relationship. Not everyone wants a relationship.

2. Monogamy is not the only option, you know? Some couples are great without being inclusive and it’s fine.

We never see anyone talks on Ray about it and, well, Ray is a depressive addict and that’s what should worry people around him more, rightfully so. Ray is also the only one in that friend group who never speaks about others sex life.

Top and Mew. Mew is really getting paranoid by the episode 5. Every time he sees a man looking at Top he gets nervous.

And yes, Top slept with Boston, but Mew seems (at least for me) unaware of that. He’s fine when Top and Boston are near each other, but any random guy passing by Top? Even when Top doesn’t interact with them or even looks back at them.

And Mew really tries his best to be cool about Top’s past.

But he just can’t. It’s always present in their relationship. He can’t get over it to the point he decides to have sex with Top.

And maybe it’s not all about that and he also in love with him and blablabla but the reasoning is “I’m afraid he’ll get bored” and this is all about Top and sex and the role sex played in his life.

And while Mew doesn’t want to judge Top he usually judges people like Top, and of course he can’t separate it. He is not okay with the past Top has. He doesn’t trust him because of that past. So the audience doesn’t too (and also because we know Top fucked Boston obviously).

Boston and Nick. Nick is in a way the same as Mew. While he doesn’t seem to judge people for having sex life, he does it with Boston. He is obsessed with him being with someone else (read as: Top).

Just a reminder, he bugged Boston’s car just because he saw photos with Top. Just in case. While they agreed on being fwb and Boston never lied about having other partners.

And when Boston told him about someone else blackmailing him over sex tape, how Nick responded?

Yep. And while it was meant as a tease, it wasn’t. Nothing is ever a reason to record someone without consent (as that guy did. And Nick did. And Boston did). But Nick says it as this is justified because he really doesn’t like that Boston is a slut. And, well, the audience doesn’t like it too (besides all the other reasons of course).

Sand and Ray. I give it to them, in that particular case they are doing great. Not in a one point of the story not Sand or Ray had issues with other’s past sex life. They don’t even seem to care about it.

The one time Ray asked if Sand is fine with casual hookups he did it for a reason to, well, know if Sand will be into having sex with him. So when Sand said yes Ray was actually pleased with this answer.

And while their situationship progresses into something and Sand sees Ray with a girl, he’s not nervous or jealous. He teases Ray a little and a bit possessive but he is totally chill about it.

I had so much hope we’ll get a threesome with those two at some point of the story, but yeah. Second time they let a gorgeous girl walk away without even noticing. They are simping for each other so badly it’s pathetic. And adorable. I love them. No threesome for them I guess.

And when the fight at the end of episode happens Boston brings up twice that he thinks Ray and Mew had sex. As that has to make Sand feel even worse. But the thing is, Sand is heartbroken not because Ray potentially had sex with someone, even his close friend. I really don’t think Sand would care about it. Sand is heartbroken because Ray loves someone else.

So those two are only ones who don’t judge anyone, including each other, for having an active sex life (being sluts). And this is quite healthy approach (look at me, using word healthy to describe that one thing about OF, I don’t believe myself) to life and relationships. Any sort of relationship, including friendships, romance or people you don’t know but so ready to judge. And while them not judging each other, why the audience would?

I don’t know if the show does it on purpose or not. I do think it does with Boston and Top. But with Sand and Ray? I doubt it. It more looks like those to have enough other shit to worry about both within their relationship and outside of it. I know it’ll develop but by episode 5 characters biggest problems looks something like this:

1. Mew’s biggest problem is his relationship with Top and sex. And Boston.

2. Top’s biggest problem is maybe insomnia but also his relationship with Mew and sex. And Boston.

3. Boston’s biggest problem is Top and Mew and their relationship.

4. Nick’s biggest problem is his relationship with Boston and sex and Boston.

5. Ray’s biggest problem is depression and addiction and inability to love or being loved.

6. Sand’s biggest problem is his financial situation, debts collectors and working his ass off 24/7.

So maybe yes, those two just don’t have enough screen time to worry about sex too. And while I do think we will learn more about other characters, by that point we’ve seen almost half of the show. And the initial idea of who they are already formed. It can develop, but it won’t change.

And the approach to Boston and Top being sluts won’t change either. Whatever they do the “slut” part will be seen as their flaw, something they have to overcome (it is not). While Sand and Ray get a free pass on that.

The thing is, both Top and Boston do have flaws and things to overcome. But their sex life is not a part of it. Them having a lot of sex partners doesn’t mean they can’t be in relationship, or even monogamous, if that what they (or at least Top) want to. And if they doesn’t - nothing is wrong with it. It’s like trying to change something that’s not even broken on the first place, you know?

#ofts #only friends the series #only friends meta #only friends #topmew #bostonnick #sandray #and yes all of those relationships are way more complicated than this one tiny topic but it’s still interesting #it's the third time i try to post it and something always wrong #it’s not even that good but I just want it to be published cause my brain going insane

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lonesome-witching · 11 months

Text

Forever Starts Now

I was asked to do a sequel to Forever With You this time including the wedding. So here it is. Thank you for the prompt. It was lovely to write.

It does feel weird to not advertise myself in this bit. But prompts reopen this Friday, May 26th. Until then you can always check out my previous prompts or my ao3.

“I will admit, I had pictured your wedding differently.”

Nancy looked up from where she was pulling at her white gown. It probably shouldn’t have been white.

“Please mom, not this again.” She sighed as her eyes locked with her mother’s.

“No, no. I’m not complaining.” Karen stepped further into the room. “You look good. Happy.”

Nancy forced out a laugh. “Shocking because I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack.”

“Second thoughts?”

“No.” Nancy shook her head. “I want to marry her. I love her. But… God, it feels so… so final. Like once I walk down the aisle there is no going back anymore.”

“Would that be an issue?”

Nancy wasn’t entirely sure if her mom was trying to talk her out of this or not. “Not for me. I can’t even believe how lucky I am that she wants to spend her life with me but mom,... What if… She-” She took a breath. “She deserves better than me. I’m such a mess and what if one day she realizes that she doesn’t want to clean up after me anymore. I have all this trauma that follows me wherever I go and I keep dragging her into it. Just the other day I kept her up till 5 am, just because I was afraid to go to sleep. And she does it. She does whatever I need her to do every single time but someday she might get tired of it and then… it’ll hurt so much more if I go through with this.”

“Sweetie.” Karen pulled her daughter into a hug. “How long have you and Robin been together?”

“7 years.”

“Exac- 7 years? Nancy! You told me you didn’t start dating until your junior year of college.” Karen exclaimed, pulling back.

“That might have been a lie. But seriously mom, you didn’t suspect anything? Me and Robin were roommates.”

“Well, 7 years then. In that time has Robin ever made any move to leave you?”

Nancy considered the question seriously. She went over every single fight they had had. How they had argued when Robin forgot to do the dishes right after moving into their small Boston apartment together. How Nancy had lashed out when they went to a gay bar and Robin accidentally flirted with another girl several years ago. How Robin had shouted at her when Nancy pulled up her walls or gave her the silent treatment.

But Robin had secretly done the dishes while Nancy went to the supermarket. And Robin had held her hands and assured her that she was just trying to be nice and that there was no one she could ever love like she loved Nancy. And Robin might have shouted at her but her words had always been kind and she’d spent her nights holding Nancy’s crying form. She had never run out, slammed the door behind her, went to sleep in the middle of an argument. Things that couldn’t be said about Nancy herself who preferred to run before she’d get hurt.

“She never has.” Nancy admitted, almost ashamed of giving the idea any thought at all.

“Instead she asked you to marry her. She didn’t do that on a whim. She waited 7 years to be sure that this was the best for both of you. She knows what she’s in for and she wants to be with you every day of her life. I might not know everything about your relationship but I do know that Robin isn’t the type to run out when it gets difficult.”

“Nancy! Your wedding is starting in T minus 2 minutes. Please tell me you are ready?” Dustin yelled from the hallway.

“Time to go.” Karen smiled at her daughter as she pulled her out of the dressing room.

The first thing Nancy noticed wasn’t the bright bouquets of flowers her mom had picked out, despite what she had said when they were preparing the place. The first thing she noticed was Robin’s bright smile, lighting up the room. That same smile she was greeted with when she came home after a long day of fighting the patriarchy. It was an anchor, keeping her stable. It always made it easy to take the next step. If she could have she’d run to Robin, fall into her arms. She didn’t though. She stayed in check. Noticing how Steve leaned toward his best friend to whisper something in her ear that somehow made Robin smile even brighter. Nancy would ask about it later. Later when they’d be sharing their bridal suit that her own parents had insisted they’d take.

She stopped walking when she reached Robin. “You look beautiful.” She whispered the second Nancy was in earshot.

Just like the very first time Robin had said those words, Nancy blushed a soft shade of pink.

“Today we are joined together to unite these two beautiful women into their holy matrimony.” Murray began his speech. Robin was snickering beside her. “Please tell me you have prepared your own vows.”

“We have.” Nancy nodded with a smile.

He motioned for them to start. Nancy could feel her hands starting to sweat. She could only imagine how nervous Robin must be. But when she looked up, Robin seemed as calm as ever, nodding in understanding and clearing her throat.

“Hello, Nance.” Robin started.

“Hi.” Nancy replied automatically.

“Throughout these past few years you’ve changed my life. I remember being 17 and feeling like my whole life was one big error, feeling like I’d never truly be happy. And then you waltzed into my life, smooth as ever, staring me down as if I had just broken into your home and you were getting ready to shoot me. And I instantly fell in love. All it took was one look, one ‘who are you?’” Robin imitated Nancy’s voice as best she could, which wasn’t very well. “And I was hooked. So hooked I was frightened to talk to you for like a year. But then we became friends and I found an understanding in you that wasn’t just unexpected but it was so desperately needed. Since then a lot has changed. Somehow I have gotten you to fall in love with me. It must be the incessant rambling, I’m sure.”

Nancy laughed softly.

“We went to college together. We moved in together. We build a home and we build a life. And Nancy Wheeler, it is better than anything I could have wished for. I love waking up next to you, whether it’s at 10 am, 6 am or 3am. I love holding you through our shared nights. I love spending hours debating which movie to watch just for you to fall asleep during the opening credits. I love when you complain about work almost as much as when you talk about it with pride. I love reading the first drafts of your articles. I love spending my time with you. And frankly, I can’t wait to keep doing it. I can’t wait to wake up next to you every single day of my life. Because most of all Nancy, I love you. And I vow to keep loving you till the day I die.”

Nancy couldn’t help but blink away the tears that were forming in her eyes. “Is it my turn now?” She asked, her voice barely audible.

“Yes.”

“God Robin, I love you.” She breathed. “I can’t-” Her voice faltered. The instant those two words escaped her mouth, Robin’s smile vanished.

“We don’t have to. Just say the word and we’ll pretend this never happened.” Robin had lowered her voice to a whisper.

“Robin, I- I do want this.” She swallowed the lump in her throat, staring into those kind blue eyes that had never been more unsure. “This world isn’t kind to people like us. It isn’t kind to women in general. But Robin, when I get home and see your smile I don’t care about any of that. You make the rest of the world disappear and there is nothing I want more than to stand here with you today and declare how much I love you because Robin, my heart aches when I’m away from you and I’m convinced it shouldn’t continue doing that after being together for this long. I wish the world was different. I wish we could sign that stupid document that would bind us together legally. I wish I could take you to the office Christmas parties instead of having to pretend I’m still waiting for the right man. But you know what, fuck all of that. What we have is between us. And that’s all it has to be. And I vow to cherish every moment we get to spend together. And when one day in the near or far future the world eases up on us like you so believe, I vow to marry you again.”

“Murray?” Robin said without looking away from Nancy. “Please tell me this is the part where I get to kiss the bride. Because I don’t know how long I can contain myself.”

“No, no. First it’s the rings. Robin- Wait what is your middle name?”

“No middle names.” Nancy and Robin replied in unison.

“Okay. Robin Buckley, do you take Nancy Wheeler as your wife?” Murray asked.

“I do.” She said as Nancy slid a thin gold band around her left ring finger.

“And do you, Nancy Wheeler, take Robin Buckley as your wife?”

“I do.” Robin pushed the ring on Nancy’s finger with a soft sigh.

“Then by the power invested in me by your good faith, I pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Robin closed the gap between them, pressing her lips against Nancy’s.

#prompts #ronance #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #my work #stranger things #fanfic #robin x nancy #nancy x robin #ronance fic

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andydrysdalerogers · 6 months

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Sliding Into Home ~ The One with the World Series

Pairing: MLB!Frank Adler x Abigail Hernandez (OFC)

Synopsis:

After a trade from Boston to Los Angeles, first baseman Frank Adler would seem to have it all. Money, women, an amazing niece, yes Frank should have it all. Except for one thing. One thing that left after a mistake five years ago. Los Angeles should be the chance to start over. Except she is supposed to be in Boston. Not his new medical director.

* A Frank Adler AU x Major League Baseball Story**

Warning: ANGST (i can't stress this enough), second chances, cheating, S~M~U~T!!, slow burn, drug use, abandonment issues, betrayal, domestic violence (i may have missed some), flashbacks

Dividers by me

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

Previous: Trial by Fire

Sliding Into Home Master List Main Masterlist

Two weeks later...

“I want to know.”

“So do I.”

“So why can’t we?”

“Because It’s too early for it to show up.”

“That seems stupid. Why are we here? You’re perfect.”

“I’m a mess.”

A chuckle. “But you’re my mess.”

“Thanks, I think.”

Frank kissed the top of Abby’s head. “You’re beautiful Cricket.”

“I don’t feel like it.”

“You’re twelve weeks pregnant, Cricket.” Frank took her hand. “You’ve been nauseous every day for the last two weeks. Plus, the stress from the hearing wasn’t helping.”

“And you’re leaving,” she mumbled.

“Sweetheart, you know I don’t want to leave you. I have to go to work.”

“Stupid playoffs.”

Frank chuckled. Abby had always hated when the playoffs started because he would have to be on the road for five days at any time during the current series. They were starting in LA, the Dodgers having the best record in the West, facing off against Arizona. “Cricket, it’s gonna be fine. Marco and Scott will be home to help. Please, just take it easy, ok?”

Abby sighed. She knew this but it didn’t stop her anxiety. She thought back on the last couple of weeks.

Mike had been officially charged with kidnapping and endangerment since there were drugs found in his house. He was fighting it, of course, but now Frank and Abby had a protection order against him. He went back to Boston in custody, his bail revoked.

Diane pled no contest to her charges of assault and battery. The deal she made was to allow her to stay in treatment in Boston as long as she had no contact with Abby or Mike. She asked for a letter to be delivered before she accepted. Abby read the letter, Diane’s apologies all over it. Abby closed that chapter in her heart, grateful her friend had found peace and recovery.

Bobby Fuller was suspended pending a full investigation for his involvement with Frank’s incident in Vegas as well as helping Mike with the kidnapping. He made a statement, saying he was not going to fight any charges or decisions made by the league. He had earned what would happen to him after everything had concluded and offered his apologies to the Adler family.

Now, she was dealing with the playoffs and the push for Los Angeles to make it to the World Series once again. She came out of her thoughts as her doctor entered the room. “Hello Dr. Adler.”

“Hey Dr. Montgomery.”

“Mr. Adler,” she shook Frank’s hand. “Ready to start the playoffs?

“Absolutely Doc.” Frank flashed her a smile. “Game one tomorrow.”

“You better bring that trophy home,” she replied. “Now Abby, how are you feeling?”

“Nauseous and thirsty at the same time. Kinda weird.”

“Yeah, that happens. Any drowsiness, bloating, cravings?”

“A little bit of everything.” Abby smiled. “Just generally tired. Had back to back surgeries yesterday and then Mary decided it was time to learn a new hobby.” She gave Frank a pointed look.

“How did I know she wanted to learn the drums? She said she wanted to play an instrument.” Frank shrugged and gave his best boyish grin.

Dr. Montgomery chuckled. “Yeah, I can understand that. Well, your blood work came back great, your weight is on track for twelve weeks.”

“When will I pop?” Abby placed a hand over her belly. “Right now, I just feel big but Frank says I look the same.”

“No, I said you look beautiful,” Frank argued.

“Whatever.”

“Usually, moms pop their bellies closer to 15 or 16 weeks. Like I mentioned, your weight is great for twelve weeks. Now, are we ready to see baby?” Abby nodded. “Ok, scoot down, shirt under your breast and pants down a little. Sorry, this is a little cold.” She squirted gel onto Abby, grabbed the wand and rolled over her skin. Frank and Abby stared at the screen, just a mix of black, white and gray, until...

“There it is.” A little peanut shaped blob appeared. It was different from the first scan where it was just a blip of something. This time, a head was clearly taking shape. “That’s your baby.”

“It’s like a little peanut alien,” Frank said.

“Frankie,” Abby whined.

“What? Cricket, it’s a peanut. It's our...” he stopped as Dr. Montgomery turned on the sound and a rapid noise echoed in the room. “Is that...”

“Baby’s heartbeat. Its nice and strong, about 150 beats per minute, which is perfect.”

“They are perfect,” Abby breathed. A tear ran down her face.

“Cricket, what’s wrong?”

“I just thought with the stress, that I did something to the baby.”

Dr. Montgomery cleaned Abby up. “Abby, you are doing everything right. I know that the hearing was stressful, but everything is perfect. I don’t think you need an amniocentesis, so I would relax and enjoy.”

Abby nodded as Frank said, “thanks Doc.”

“Pictures will be up front, and I want to see you in four weeks. Good luck, Frank.”

As Abby and Frank made their way up, they started to talk about baby names. “I like Emily for a girl or Steven for a boy,” Abby said.

“I’m ok with Emily but Steven? Steve Adler?” Frank twisted his mouth in disgust.

“It sounds good.”

“No Cricket it doesn’t. How about Daniel?”

“Dan Adler? I mean, its ok.”

Frank sighed. “We have time right?”

“Yes, we do.” Abby leaned into him. “When are we going to announce this?”

“Let’s do it after the playoffs. You won’t be showing for a few more weeks, and we have the box, so you’ll be hidden.”

“Ok, now if we can only guarantee that Mary will keep her mouth shut,” Abby muses.

“That’s like asking Johnny not to call himself the ‘Human Torch’. Just impossible,” Frank smiled and kissed her head. “But keep dreaming.”

The Dodgers make it through the Wild Card and Division series, defeating The San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cub, respectively. Johnny had pitched a no hitter in the first game against the New York Mets, but a rouge bounce made Frank miss a ground ball in game two, letting the Mets win that game. Fortunately, the Dodgers held themselves together for games three and four and were sitting on the verge of their 13th World Series appearance.

Frank was pumped. He was already a two time World Series winner with Boston and he wanted to make his new team proud. They were away in New York, but it was Saturday, so his family and Abby’s parents were able to make the game.

Abby: No matter what, Mary, peanut and I love you so much Frankie. Good luck baby!

Frank smiled as he finished dressing. Johnny was also looking at his phone, smiling like a goofball. “What has gotten into you? Or should I say who?”

Johnny dropped his phone. He scrambled to pick it up. “Nothing, no one, what, wait, huh?”

Frank grabbed his chest and laughed so hard it brought attention from the entire team. “What is so funny Adler?” Mookie Betts asked.

“Johnny Storm, our own Human Torch, has a girl!” Frank said through gasps of air. “Pay up losers!”

Over half the team grumbled as they pulled out their wallets with Frank and a couple of others holding out their hands. “What the actual fuck is going on?” Johnny asked.

“I told the guys you were going to be infatuated with a girl. Thanks for this,” Frank holds up his hand holding up a few bills.

“You bet on me meeting a girl?”

“No, that’s a stupid bet. I bet you would fall for a girl. Told them I introduced you to one and said I think this is the one for him and Betts said there wasn’t a chance in hell and others agreed so we made a small yet rather fruitful wager.”

“You couldn’t have waited until the end of the season, could your Torch?” Betts slapped his back.

Johnny tried to be angry but instead smiled. “Hell no. Have you see her?” He showed off a picture of him and Katie together by the beach. “She is smart, gorgeous...”

“And should have no business with you,” Kershaw said. “She is smoking.”

“She likes baseball, hangs out with Mary and likes it and she...” he stopped himself. “Never mind. All I’m saying is that I hit the jackpot with my girl so you all can fuck off now.” He turned back to his locker to finish getting ready.

“$100 says he’s engaged if we win the World Series,” Kershaw says.

“No bet. I think he’ll do it at Christmas. More romantic,” Frank says. Johnny just flips them the bird and the team laughs.

The game is tense, but Johnny manages to throw only one hit the entire game. Mookie hits a grand slam and seals the Dodgers fate to another World Series. After the celebration in the locker room, Frank showers and heads out. He sees his wife, daughter and best friend in the family room, Mary asleep in her grandfather’s arms, Abby leaning against Scott and Susie in Marco’s lap. Johnny walked in right after and saw his sister. Before Johnny could say anything, Frank covered his mouth. “Shut up,” he whispered.

“That’s my sister,” Johnny pointed.

“Have you not noticed she been dating my brother in law?” Frank hissed. “Since the All Star game.”

“Seriously? I thought she was with that nerd Reed.”

Frank sighed and ran a hand over his face. “According to Abby, Reed said he didn’t have time to date because of some crap project about a cloud in space, who the fuck knows. Anyway, when everyone was trying to find Mary, I guess Susie broke down in the backyard and Marco comforted her. One thing led to another, and they started seeing each other in LA.”

Johnny looked at his sister. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

“Geez, I wonder,” Frank deadpanned.

“Yeah, alright, you don’t have to be a dick about it. Let’s take them to the hotel and get some sleep before we fly home.” He took another look at his sister. “She’s happy, and he’s a good guy?”

“I couldn’t trust anyone better to protect this family.”

The Dodger has two days off before they have to start their series with Boston. The irony was not lost on Frank. Playing the team that had traded him after missing the playoffs last year would either be glorious or gut-wrenching. They are starting on the road this time and Frank is nervous. Not for the game, but for the fact that Abby had now been dealing with a streak of morning sickness that left her pale, dehydrated and bedridden.

“Cricket, maybe I can miss the first game? Just until I know you are better.” He smoothed her hair away from her clammy forehead.

“Frankie, you can’t miss. Susie said she would stay with me and Nugget and Marco. Scottie and Steve are going to go and support. If I feel better, I’ll fly out with Mary for game two.”

“But...”

“No, Frank, this is your job. Win this, babe, and come home and finish it for me here in LA. I promise, if something is wrong, we will call. Your baby just likes to test me is all.”

Frank ran a hand through his hair. “The minute something is wrong?”

“You’ll be the first call, ok? I love you.”

He knelt next to the side of the bed. “I love you Peanut. Be nice to momma, ok?” He kissed her stomach and then kissed her forehead. “I love you, Cricket. So very much.” One last kiss, he grabbed his suitcase and was out the door.

Mary, Susie and Abby watched their boys play in Boston. They took game one with ease, Frank making a spectacular dive in the fourth for a double play. Johnny hit two homers in the ninth securing the win. Game two was a different story. Boston came to play, outscoring Los Angeles by ten. Abby flipped off the TV at the end of the game, tugging on Mary’s ponytail. “At least Frank hit it.”

“But they lost.”

“I know, but you have to look at the positives, Nugget. I’m sure Dad would appreciate it if we kept to the positives. It’ll make flying home easier.”

“I guess.” Mary shrugged. “I don’t remember Boston being that good.”

“Me neither.”

Frank and the rest of the team came home in a dejected state. Losing that hard took its toll but it just made the Dodgers want to work that much harder. He hadn’t mentioned it to Abby, but a couple of the Boston guys jeered at him when his was on base. Fans did too, during game two. It had messed with his head a little bit. Johnny had heard it and reminded Frank that he hadn’t chosen to leave Boston. It still stung.

The next three games were at home and the Dodgers took the lead after five, with spectacular performances from Kershaw and Storm. Betts hit homers in every game and Frank had two RBIs. Abby had been feeling better to attend the games, making Frank feel better knowing his girl was at the stadium with him.

Game six and the teams were back in Boston. It had been a close game, but Frank fouled up in the ninth allowing the winning run on base. But former Dodger Justin Turner would not be denied. He had come over during Frank’s trade and had something to prove. He launched a walk off rocket off a fast ball from Joe Kelly that went right over the famous Green Monster wall. Joe and the rest of the team walked off of the field with the crowd going absolutely wild in the background.

As Frank woke up on the day of game seven, he stared at the ceiling. This was the last day to prove to everyone that, despite the year of chaos he had, he was still the best at this game. He turned and looked at his beautiful wife. Abby’s hair cascaded down her naked back, finding comfort of no clothes during her fourteenth week of pregnancy. Frank moved a piece of hair that had fallen over her face back. Winning her back, completing his mission to marry the love of his life, he knew he had already won the year.

Abby curled more into his side and Frank wrapped his arm firmly around her. He could snooze for a few more before the chaos of the day began.

The game was tight and scoreless. Both teams were playing with no errors. It was the top of the ninth and Frank was on second, having a lucky bounce allowing him to get the double. Johnny was now at bat and had a two count. Frank took a small lead of the base and could see a fastball would be delivered. Johnny read it perfectly and it bounced in left field. Frank ran for third and the third base coach waved him through to home. Frank slid and beat the throw home.

Dodgers –1 – Boston – 0.

The next batter strikes out, but the damage has been done. It's up to the defense to hold off Boston for the next half of the inning. Johnny came in as relief to Kershaw and has been on his game all night. He quickly dispatches a batter but walked the next and now it's do or die for Boston. And Justin Turner is at bat.

Johnny settles, a shake of his head, then a nod, and let go of his patented fast ball. Strike. He gets the ball back and takes a breath. He looks at Frank, who gives him a reassuring nod and he turns back. Another nod and Johnny threw his change-up, leaving Turner swinging.

One more.

Johnny sets, rears back and lets go of the ball.

It's perfect.

Until the crack of the bat sounds.

And Frank watches as it sails over the right field wall.

Boston has won the World Series.

I'm sorry, don't kill me...

Taglist

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@firephotogrl74

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#andy's hea #andy's shenanigans #chris evans fanfiction #frank adler #frank adler au #mlb au #dodger au #ofc abigail hernandez #sliding into home #chris evans #mike weiss #johnny storm #baseball au #frank adler smut #slow burn #chris evans au #cliffhanger queen

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ask-carmenpondiego · 2 months

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Just as an FYI for my Gumshoes~

March 15, I may be completely offline or making some rather unusual posts, depending on if I am allowed my phone or not.

My Artist/IRL me is going into surgery that day for a lung nodule biopsy with a DaVinci Robot in Boston. They want to see if the constantly growing nodule is benign or malignant.

This is not my first run in with cancer. I have had Endometrial cancer about 7-8 years back and is in 5years remission currently. The cancer was a Stage 1, Grade 1A meaning it was tight-clustered and tiny. It never grew past 50% of my lining.

Even if it did grow past 50% past my uterus lining, there was still a chance that particular cancer jumped to my lungs, apparently thats common for that cancer. BUT with the multiple CT Scans and PET Scans I have been put through, the wonderful Doctors at Dana Farber say the nodules are not acting like cancer so they need to figure out why they are sticking around and growing instead of shrinking and disappearing like regular nodules do.

The only risks they foresee in this surgery is a 1.5% chance of my lung collapsing. Then I’ll stay overnight so they can “fix it”. Otherwise if it does not collapse, I can go home the same day, just be very out of it due to the anesthesia.

Now, I’m hoping the results will be good. I do NOT want a repeat of the past 7/8 years of wrestling my mental health with the depression of having cancer and dealing with possible chemo treatments. (Not that I had much treatment before, it was so small I was just given a pill and IUD and that made it fuck off pretty much) Which that depression was the reason I stepped away in the first place.

I just got this all back, I do NOT want to abandon it again.

So thats my Ides of March, how will you spend yours?? XD ❤️

#mlp oc pony #carmen pondiego #ask blog #life update #tw surgery #cancer survivor #lungs #davinci robot

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cariantha · 1 year

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Bad Dream

Book: Open Heart, Book 2 Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Sawyer Brooks) Rating: General Category: Fluff Word count: 1.2K Summary: Sawyer has a nightmare while Ethan is out of town and despite the distance he is able to bring her comfort in the sweetest way.

A/N: To the anon who sent this ask, I’m sorry for taking so long to follow up. I had promised “Coming Soon” content, but the original idea for this fic was not working. So, I scrapped it and ended up going another direction, inspired by the song Bracelet by Lauv. Hope you like it!

Almost three months had passed since the attempted attack on the senator and Sawyer was doing fairly well. Finally back to work full-time, going to counseling, and taking medication as needed. Despite the positive prognosis, Ethan knew there could still be setbacks. Nor was he over his own fear of losing her. So he continued to keep a watchful eye. And being this far away caused stress and constant worry.

It was supposed to be a quick turnaround trip. The plan was to fly to Cleveland with Baz, consult on a case, and return home as quickly as possible. But nothing had gone according to plan. A diverted flight, lab work delays, and a challenging diagnosis kept him in Ohio three days longer than originally anticipated.

2:00 P.M.

8:30 P.M.

“You were right, Ethan,” Baz announced as he returned to the conference room with updated lab results. “It’s POEMS syndrome.”

A couple hours later, Ethan and Baz had drafted a detailed treatment plan to present to the patient's physician of record.

“Baz, we’ve been in Ohio much longer than I anticipated. I need to get back to Boston. Do you think you can wrap up this consultation on your own? There’s a flight back to Boston leaving at 5 a.m. that I’d like to catch.”

“I got this, Boss.”

“Thank you.”

1:00 A.M.

After booking the flight and packing his things, Ethan laid on the hotel bed intending to catch a nap before his ride to the airport arrived. Eyes closed but far from sleep, his phone buzzed and vibrated on the nightstand, Sawyer’s name flashing on the screen.

“Rookie?”

“E-Ethan.”

He sat up and turned on the lamp when he heard his whimpered name. “Hey,” he said delicately, “what’s wrong?” His heart started to beat faster and harder, mind suddenly racing with all of the possible reasons for the broken voice on the other end of the line.

Trying to stop herself from crying, Sawyer snuffled, “I just needed to hear your voice. Will you talk with me for a little bit?”

“I’m here,” he assured her, “whatever you need.”

With that specific request he understood the cause of her distress. Though not as frequent several weeks later, Sawyer continued to have nightmares about the poison attack. This one likely the result of whatever triggered her anxiety earlier in the day. “Was it another nightmare?”

“Yeah, it was a bad one,” her voice was still shaking.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really. Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

“I’m sorry for waking you up.”

“No need to be sorry. I wasn’t asleep. I was actually lying awake thinking of you.”

“You were? What were you thinking about?”

One night after a particularly upsetting dream, Ethan brought comfort by revealing one of the moments when he started to realize he had feelings for her. Since then, whenever they were together and Sawyer woke up from a bad dream, he soothed her back to sleep with another endearing memory.

“Do you remember the leather wrist band you bought for me at the farmer’s market last year?” he recalled.

“You mean the friendship bracelet I gave you? Because you were being stubborn and wouldn’t admit that we were friends?” she wise-offed.

“Can you hear my eyes rolling?” he came back with, earning a light chuckle from the other end of the line. “Yes, that’s the one.” His voice now gentle, “I don’t remember if I ever told you, but I took it with me when I left for the Amazon. You know that I convinced myself that it would be best for us to try and move on… but that didn’t mean I was ready to let you go right away. With a foot already out the door, I realized that I needed to take a piece of you with me, so I went back for it. I figured I’d wear it until enough time passed that I didn’t need to anymore. I was so busy and distracted when I was working that I sometimes fooled myself into thinking I was finally getting over you... but at night when I was alone with my thoughts…” he exhaled softly, “well, they always drifted to you and I’d wake up missing you even more.” Sawyer sniffed back sentimental tears as he continued. “The day that I didn’t need it anymore never came. I wore that leather band every day until I came home.”

“Thank you for telling me that,” she whispered. “Want to know something?”

“What’s that?”

“When you first told me about the W.H.O. mission, I started following their Pictagram account. After you had been gone for a few weeks, they posted a picture of you and you were wearing the bracelet. And the night you came back, when we were talking in the beer garden, I saw it around your wrist. Just under the sleeve of your jacket,” she explained. “It’s the reason I kissed you that night. You’d never wear something like that unless it meant something important to you.”

“I see you’ve mastered the art of observation,” he joked before getting serious again. “And it did. It still does.”

Sawyer’s phone vibrated in her hand as a notification alerted her to a new text message.

“Ethannnnn, you’re wearing it now?” touched by the gesture.

“This time it was the first thing I grabbed when packing for this trip. I wanted a piece of you with me while I was away.”

“I love…” she caught herself. It’s not that she didn’t want to say it, she just didn’t want to pressure Ethan to say it back if he wasn’t ready. “I love that. It’s so sweet.”

“And far less creepy than pocketing a pair of your panties,” trying and successfully making her laugh.

“Well, I should probably confess that I’ve raided your closet and will be spooning your pillow so I can feel close to you too.”

He laughed heartily at the mental image. “Are you feeling better?”

“Much.”

“I’m glad. Go have a cup of tea and try to get back to sleep,” he encouraged.

“Any chance I’ll see you tomorrow?” she asked hopefully.

“We’ll see, but I think the odds are looking good,” he replied knowing full well he’d be boarding a plane and on his way home to her in just a couple of hours.

“Well, fingers crossed. And Ethan?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you,” she said most sincerely.

“Only good dreams now, okay? Goodnight, Rookie.”

“Bye, babe.”

9:00 A.M.

Ethan entered the still apartment, leaving his coat and suitcase in the entryway. Seeing no sign of life yet, he quietly made his way to the master bedroom. Head just barely poking out from under the comforter, he found her just as she said, spooning his king size pillow.

He carefully toed off his shoes and parted with his shirt and pants. He removed his watch, placing it on the top of the dresser, but left his other accessory on.

Lifting the comforter, Ethan climbed into bed scooting up against her backside and wrapped his arm tightly around her. Though jarring her from sleep, the familiar touch and scent instantly quieted her alarm.

“Surprise,” he breathed into her ear before kissing her cheek and trailing down her neck.

With a raspy morning voice she uttered “Hiiiii” while her hands hugged his arm, the feel of braided leather under one of her palms.

“Did you have better dreams after we talked?” he mumbled against the skin of her exposed shoulder.

Rolling over, she nudged him flat onto his back and slowly straddled his hips. “Mhmmm, the best. And it looks like they’re about to become reality,” she smirked before leaning down and kissing him deeply.

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics @potionsprefect @jamespotterthefirst @annfg8 @peonierose @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @jerzwriter @quixoticdreamer16 @mysticalgalaxysstuff @inlocusmads @txemrn @trappedinfanfiction @mvalentine @takemyopenheart @ofmischiefandmedicine @openheartforeverinmyheart @doriopenheart @coffeeheartaddict2 @genevievemd @starrystarrytrouble

#open heart #open heart choices #open heart fanfic #ethan ramsey #ethan ramsey x mc #ethan x mc #ethan x sawyer #choices stories you play #choices open heart #playchoices #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week

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halfd3af · 9 months

Text

Dilation Experiences From a Trans Man with MRKH

content warning: anatomical terminology, non-sexually transmitted gynecological illnesses, self pleasure + sex

I’m going to get extremely honest with stuff in this post, so there’s your second warning.

In May 2022, I decided to try dilating. I didn’t have any assistance in setting this up because back in 2018, I had seen a specialist to learn how to dilate and remembered enough + googled tips on how to do it correctly.

Something that I did to make it more interesting was using a vibrator for clitoral stimulation while dilating. It vastly seems to ease the muscle tightness that you’re trying to improve with dilation in the first place, and I think it also made the process much quicker toward reaching a typical depth. I was able to dilate almost every day because of it.

But after two months, when I was starting to use sex toys instead of dilators because I didn’t feel like buying bigger ones, I had my first UTI.

Then I had my second, then my third, and when I finally went to Planned Parenthood last October for help with my fourth UTI in less than 3 months, as I had been seeing MinuteClinics or my PCP until that point, I apparently had a yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis too.

I remember before that appointment, worrying and worrying that I had messed up dilating, or that something else was horribly wrong, but when I met who would become My Favorite Medical Professional Ever, she assured me that I looked very average, despite the caveat of the trio of illnesses.

But after getting treatment, I still kept having those infections come back, especially when UTI antibiotics and BV pills can cause yeast infections and create a never ending circle, so we tried brainstorming different ideas with each visit.

Some trans men on testosterone use vaginal estrogen cream to maintain the necessary balances because HRT can disrupt it… but for someone with MRKH, who has a “schrodinger’s vagina” as I like to call it, the opening doesn’t stay open unless something is inside it, so any kind of topical medicine won’t stay in. It wouldn’t be effective as a preventative measure.

It wasn’t my underwear, it wasn’t my shower hygiene, I wasn’t having copious amounts of sex, my sex toys were being cleaned properly and the materials were safe, I wasn’t incorrectly wiping after I pee—we just couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The UTIs kept coming back and then the other two would usually follow after the antibiotics would wipe out the good bacteria. She only knew how to treat non-intersex trans men—she had never treated an intersex trans man before.

So, I finally went ahead and scheduled with the top MRKH specialist in the United States up in Boston, because I had seen this very same man back in 2018. He and his clinic are incredibly trans friendly, too, now and even back then.

When I got there, I got a very good grade in pussy, which is a very normal thing to want and achieve. I had indeed dilated correctly, but I finally figured out that my angle was slightly off and was causing friction against my urethra. That had been the mysterious cause of the UTIs.

I haven’t had a UTI since correcting for that, but since July 2022, I’ve had:

6 UTIs

7 yeast infections

4 instances of bacterial vaginosis

I was also told by this specialist that my vagina is trying to “create a biome” and that could explain the yeast infections being so recurrent. My vagina wasn’t even a year old, so it was trying to play catchup. With that in mind, I take a probiotic every day or at least every other day, and I haven’t had an infection in several months since starting that routine.

However, he never really told me any other good preventative measures beyond “kegels”, which would not solve the infection issues whatsoever. It was good to figure out the friction issue, and he suggested I see a urologist if the UTIs continued (they haven’t), but that was about it. I didn’t really get a confirmation if this hell would actually stop or not.

Maybe in time my vagina will become less sensitive to minute disruptions, and I think it already has since I first began dilating, but it still feels like I have to be hyper-vigilant of anything that would cause an infection again. BV pills are the nastiest, bitterest things I’ve ever taken, and they make me constantly nauseous during the length of the prescription, so I don’t exactly like getting sick all the time.

Regardless, I did all of this just so I can have vaginal sex. Despite the dozens of antibiotic and antifungal and antibacterial pills I’ve had to take, it’s worth it in my opinion. This is where I’ll definitely get more honest, so third warning.

Even though a sexual partner wouldn’t be able to feel a difference, I’ve noticed that something might be different with the vaginas of people who have MRKH because, well, we don’t have cervixes or uteruses. The tissue feels a ton more malleable, in my experience (I’ve had larger partners with no pain issues beyond initial insertion), but it could also be that my muscles are incredibly relaxed. I could continue with further thoughts on the topic, but I’m unsure if those are unique experiences to me or if they’re actually common, so I might just save them for another post if I’m feeling up for it.

In conclusion, I hope that talking about my experiences helps anyone, and I’m also willing to discuss anything further in depth if needed! I don’t want anyone to feel as alone and nervous as I did for so many months because of how little information there is for dilating/gynecological health when you’re intersex.

#mrkh #intersex #my intersexness takes precedence over my transness any day so I always wanna help out my fellow intersex people #halfd3afgenderposts

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thestylesfamilysblog · 23 days

Note

I’m sorry you have had such an awful experience with our medical system. That kind of treatment is unacceptable 😔

Thank you Eve..I’m going to miss Boston but I’m excited to get back to my doctors in London🩷 - Ro

#thestylesfamily #rostyles

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justagalwhowrites · 9 months

Text

Lavender - Ch. 46

You and Joel find out the Fireflies' plan for Ellie. A continuation of Lavender Ch. 1-45 found on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

Warnings: Canon-typical violence. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ only

Length: 5.3K

Your whole body hurt. It reminded you of when you got thrown from your neighbor’s horse and broke your arm when you were a child. Everything was sore and raw and everything felt ever so slightly wrong. Like something central to you was misaligned.

“Take it easy,” there was a man’s voice, one you didn’t recognize. You ignored him, shooting up and looking around. He kept his distance, his hands up in front of him. He kept his voice low, gentle. “You’re OK, not going to hurt you…”

“Where…” you looked around.

“You’re at a hospital in Salt Lake City,” he said, hands still up. “With the Fireflies. We found you a few hours ago. Sorry for the cold welcome but I don’t think they were expecting you to actually show up…”

Your head spun a bit as you shifted. You were on a gurney, the room dim.

“Joel?” You asked. “Ellie? Are they…”

“They’re fine,” he said, lowering his hands slowly. “Joel is still out but he should be fine, we’re getting things prepped for Ellie right now so we can start our work.”

You nodded and rubbed your temples.

“Looks like you’ve been through the mill,” he smiled a little and sat next to you.

“Yeah, just a bit,” you laughed a little. “It’s a hell scape out there…”

“Marlene said that you were a doctor?” He asked, looking you over. “That you’d been doing research in Boston about a possible cure?”

“Well, not a cure,” you said, looking around the room again and spotting your bag in a corner. You slid down from the gurney and went to get it, needing to hold onto the wall for a moment to keep from falling over. But you got the bag and went back to the gurney, setting the bag on top of it. You dug all the way to the bottom, finding your piles of notes. “But a treatment. Something that can be administered immediately after a bite that will slow the progression of cordyceps. If you can amputate the effected area or surgically remove the cordyceps from the tissue, it never reaches the brain and takes over. It’s not perfect and I haven’t done any kind of live trials but it could mean that a bite is no longer a death sentence…”

“This is incredible,” he was flipping through pages of your work, skimming over it. “Just imagine, with the information we can get from Ellie combined with your research…”

“I take it you’re a doctor then?” You asked, putting your hands in the back pockets of your jeans.

“Oh, of course, I’m sorry,” he shook his head and smiled before holding his hand out. “I’m Dr. Jerry Anderson, I’ve been leading the Fireflies’ research into finding a cure. Marlene mentioned you to me when she made it out here. She’d hoped you’d show up at some point but gave up hope about a month back. She was pretty upset, said she thought your work showed a lot of promise…”

“Well glad to know someone missed something about me,” you said wryly. He laughed a little. “So I guess we’ll be working together then? Or I can at least give you my notes, I know our plan isn’t to stay here forever but I obviously want to help…”

“Of course, of course,” he nodded, going back to your notes. “We are talking about the single most important medical achievement of mankind here, I’d hope you’d want to be involved!”

You laughed once and nodded, looking over his arm at your work.

“I just don’t want to put too much strain on Joel and Ellie,” you said. “They’ve been through a lot. Especially her. There’s a place we want to make it back to, settle for a while. She deserves that, all she’s known is the QZ, she deserves better than that…”

His jaw clenched for a moment before he spoke again.

“I have a daughter, not much older than Ellie,” he said, looking down at you. “I’d do anything to make life better for her. But it’s… hard. Knowing that they’re going through something awful, especially when it isn’t their fault.”

“It really is,” you sighed. “That girl went through so much just to get here. More than any one person should ever go through… Of course a cure is important, it’s the most important thing we could do and I know she wants to do whatever she can for it but I want her to have a chance to be a kid. That’s important, too. Maybe not to the whole world but it’s important.”

“At least you can know that, whatever happens, it was done to save everyone,” he said. “It’s worth some sacrifice if it saves everyone.”

There was a knock at the door and a nurse leaned her head in.

“Doctor?” She said. “We’re about ready for you…”

“Thanks,” he smiled tightly at her before turning back to you, handing you your notes. “We can talk more later, see if we can find the best applications for your research with what I think we have in Ellie…”

“Are you running tests on her?” You frowned. “Can I see her?”

“Not the best time,” he said. “We’re trying to keep the environment contained at the moment. We can talk later…”

“I’d really like to see her though,” you cut him off. “She’s got to be scared, she’s never been in a place like this and…”

“Just…” he paused. “Just think about what all we’re going to be able to do with what we’re making here. How many people we’re going to save. We’ll talk in a bit, OK?”

“But…” You protested, trying to follow him, but he stepped around a large, armed man on his way out and the man pressed you back into the room. You stepped back from him on instinct, his tall, broad body blocking you from getting to the door. He had a rifle in his hands. You swallowed, looking up at him. “I just have a few questions…”

You went to duck around him but he cut you off.

“Dr. Anderson wants you to stay here,” he said gruffly. “So you stay here.”

You frowned.

“Are you holding me prisoner?” You asked.

“No,” he said. “Just keeping you here for now.”

“Sounds an awful lot like holding me prisoner,” you said. The man shrugged, blocking your way to the door. “I’m not going to cause any trouble, I just want…”

“You can stay put for a bit while the doc does his work,” he replied. You narrowed your eyes at him.

“OK so if I can’t see Ellie can I at least see Joel?” You planted yourself in front of him, your arms crossed. “The man I came in with, just take me to see him. I just want to make sure he’s alright…”

“You stay. Put.” The man said, voice sharp. You stared him down for another moment before you went to look out the window. Not that you were seriously considering jumping out of it if you were low to the ground but it was tempting.

Something about this whole situation had set you on edge. Your chest was tight, your stomach in knots. Something felt wrong. You didn’t trust it. You weren’t sure what you didn’t trust yet - if it was Dr. Anderson, if it was being away from Joel and Ellie, if it was just the whole situation in general - but you didn’t trust something. The feeling of something being out of alignment grew more insistent.

You were pacing, one arm across your stomach with the other propped against it, hand to your mouth, when you heard two sharp pops. The sound made you jump, like gunshots did in the QZ. You frowned and looked toward the man at the door.

“Did you…” you began but he cut you off.

“Quiet,” he snapped, looking through the window in the door to your room. His radio crackled to life.

“Shots fired!”

“What’s going on?” You asked, eyes wide.

“Probably fuckin’ raiders,” he said, his grip tightening on his gun. “Stay…”

“I need to get to Ellie and Joel,” you said quickly, trying to push your way past him but he shoved you back. “Please, I need to get to them, Dr. Anderson said Joel was unconscious and Ellie…”

“Leave it!” He snapped over his shoulder. “If you get yourself fuckin’ killed you’re of no use to anyone so let me handle it…”

“Joel was still unconscious!” You tried to run past him but he grabbed you and threw you back into the gurney, sharp pain radiating out from your ribs. You had started crying but you knew it because of the blow. “Please, they’re just going to kill him he won’t even have a chance!”

There were more gunshots and he glared at you as you pulled yourself to your feet.

“I was told to keep you in this room and keep you alive,” he snapped, turning the gun on you and pointing it at your thigh. “I will fuckin’ shoot you if you don’t calm down and stay put!”

More gunshots. They sounded closer now.

“Please,” you begged again, trying to make yourself stop crying. “I’m sure they got Ellie out but…”

“The fuck you think you’re gonna do?” He snapped. His eyes were wide, scared. “You’re not gonna last two minutes out there if we’re overrun by fuckin’ raiders! So get out of sight and shut the fuck up before you get us both killed…”

There were a few more loud pops, so loud that they made you flinch. Some of them must have made it to your level. The man glared at you and jerked his head toward the corner of the room that was against the same wall as the door, where you’d be harder to see if someone just glanced inside. You obeyed, watching him closely. The man clenched his jaw for a moment and went to the holster at his belt and pulled out a pistol. He handed it to you.

“It’s a full clip,” he said quietly. “If you need it.”

You just nodded and aimed the gun at the ground, pressing yourself back against the wall. You wiped your eyes and breathed deep. You had to focus. Had to be ready to defend yourself, you couldn’t help Joel and Ellie if you were dead.

The man was watching through the pane of glass in the door as you tried to calm yourself down. Your thoughts were like a drumbeat, get to Joel get to Joel get to Joel. You had to reach him, had to save him, you and Ellie needed him. It was desperate and gnawing and grasping and you had to get to him.

The man tensed for a second.

“Stay put,” he breathed, opening the door slowly, moving almost silently. You closed your eyes for a moment and got ready to move, to try to find Joel, when there were two almost deafening pops. So loud you knew they had to be right outside your door. You jumped and tightened your grip on your pistol, raising it, getting ready to shoot the next person through the door if they were a raider. Your heart was pounding against your ribs, so hard you were certain that someone standing outside would hear it.

The door opened slowly and you aimed your weapon for a second before you dropped it.

“Joel!”

***

You weren’t next to Joel when he woke up.

It felt like you should have been, though.

In fairness, it always felt like you should be next to him when he woke up. That had been one of the nice things about traveling with you the last few months, waking up and having you within arm’s reach. He’d started every goddamn day of his life from the time he first touched you feeling disoriented if you weren’t there when he woke up. He’d reach for you, searching, like there was a part of him that was missing. It happened when he thought you were dead, in the glorious few seconds every day where he forgot about the outbreak and didn’t know that you and Sarah were gone. It happened in the QZ, even when Tess was there because she wasn’t you. It happened on the nights on the road where you had second watch and he woke up while you were out of sight and there was the thrill of fear, a spark of wrongness at you being somewhere else.

But he needed to find you now. Something had happened, he could feel that in his body. He needed to find you and Ellie and make sure everything was OK.

“You actually fucking did it.”

The voice was familiar, it took him a second to place it, for his eyes to focus.

“I thought you were long dead…”

“Marlene?” He sat up and saw her in the doorway of a hospital room.

“You are the last person on the planet I’d want to be in debt to,” she hook her head, her small smile dark. “It couldn’t have been Tess who made it this far with them, had to be you?”

“I’d have it be the other way if I could,” he said, looking around. “Where are they?”

“They’re fine,” she said. “Doc is awake and has met with our doctor. She’s a little banged up but fine. Ellie doesn’t have a scratch, was mostly worried about the two of you…”

“Can I see her?” Joel asked, still blinking some disorientation out of his head.

“How’d you do it?” Marlene asked, ignoring his question. “How’d you make it this far? I had a whole fucking team of guys whose whole job was keeping me alive. We had equipment - trucks, guns - and I still barely made it here. And then there’s you three…”

“They were determined,” Joel replied. “Did a lot to make it this far…”

“They’d be dead without you,” she cut him off. “Before you even made it out of Boston, they’d have been dead. Ellie’s a kid, Doc wouldn’t hurt a fly even if it meant saving her own damn life…”

“I need to see them,” Joel’s chest was tight. He didn’t like this. Something was off, wrong.

“You can’t,” Marlene said, her voice calm and even. “I’m sorry, Joel.”

“The fuck you mean I can’t?” He got to his feet. An armed man at Marlene’s side started moving for him but she put an arm out, stopping him. “I need to see them right now, Marlene!”

“I mean,” she said, still calm. “Doc is getting up to speed on what our doctor’s been doing and Ellie is getting ready for surgery.”

Joel leaned back against the gurney. You already working made sense, he knew you wanted to get in and get out of here quickly but Ellie…

“Surgery?” He frowned. “You said she was fine, not a scratch, why’s she need surgery? I thought you just needed her blood and shit, to run tests, if she’s fine why’s she need surgery?”

“Our doctor thinks Ellie has had cordyceps with her since birth,” Marlene said. “They produce a kind of chemical messenger…”

“So get it from her fuckin’ blood,” Joel snapped.

“He needs the cordyceps that have grown inside her,” she said. “With them he’s going to produce that chemical messenger, one that makes normal cordyceps recognize Ellie as one of their own, and we can give it to everyone. It’s a cure, Joel. It’s a fucking cure.”

It was like his brain was a scratched CD for a moment, stuck on one thing she said.

“Cordyceps grows inside the brain,” he looked at Marlene.

He had to be missing something. That couldn’t be right. Marlene might be an asshole but she wouldn’t murder a child. She wouldn’t hurt Ellie.

“It does,” she nodded.

“No,” he shook his head. “No, you…”

“She doesn’t know,” Marlene said. “She’s not afraid, she’ll be unconscious so she won’t feel any pain…”

Joel’s head spun. It couldn’t be right. They couldn’t want to take her, not like that, not…

“No,” he snapped, pushing himself off the gurney and going for Marlene. “No, you take me to her! You take me to her right now!”

She didn’t stop her guard from intervening that time, the butt of his gun slamming into Joel’s stomach, a second blow hitting his head, sending him to the ground.

“Can’t do that, Joel.”

“You really think she’s gonna help you if you kill her?” He asked. “Think she’ll do a damn thing to make that cure happen if it comes at the cost of Ellie’s life? You’re not gonna have shit…”

“Doc won’t let Ellie die in vain,” Marlene said. “She’ll do it. She’ll make sure it works.”

“Please,” he panted. “Please…”

“I’m sorry, Joel,” she said quietly. “I truly am, you have no idea how sorry I am.”

“Then don’t fuckin’ do it!” He said, getting to his feet. “You can’t…”

“I’ve known her her whole life,” she said. “I was there when she was born, I was there when her mother died after I promised I would protect her daughter. But there is no other choice here, Joel. This is what it takes to get the world back. I have no other choice.”

He was back in 2003. It was dark, chaotic. He had to get to his daughter and he had to get to you. He had to protect you both, he had to, there was no other option. He had no other choice.

He looked up at Marlene.

“I do.”

She sighed.

“Get him out of here,” she said to her guard. “Out of town. He acts up, shoot him.” She pulled a knife - Ellie’s knife - and handed it to them. “Give him that.”

“What about Doc?” He asked. “What about…”

“Thought you hated her,” she said. “So don’t worry about it. We’ll take care of her. We need what’s in her head, remember? She’ll be safe with us.”

She left the room ahead of Joel, before the men shoved him forward. She paused and looked back at him.

“I am sorry, Joel,” she said. “Take care of yourself.”

They pushed him toward the stairwell and he let them. It was like an out of body experience, like he wasn’t in control. The need to get to Ellie and get to you had taken over. Nothing else mattered, nothing. Not his body or mind, not the lives of the people in this hospital, not hope for humanity, none of it. Get to his daughter, get to you.

“Keep goin’,” the voice behind him was sharp. Joel had forgotten he was there. He obeyed, going for the stairs. He paused, at a sign indicating the floors. He needed to go up. The men with Joel shoved him down. He let them.

He needed a gun. The Fireflies weren’t going to just let either of you go. He was going to have to take you from them. He was OK with that. It was worth it. It was worth a whole hell of a lot more than that.

He stopped on a landing. He didn’t have time to keep going along with them. He had to do this now, he had to get to his daughter and get to you now.

“The fuck did I say?” The man snapped, shoving Joel into the wall. “Keep. Goin’.”

He shoved him again and Joel moved fast, whipping around and ripping the gun from his hands. He shot the first man and shoved the other back onto the stairs. The man’s hands went up.

“Where’s the girl?” Joel asked. He didn’t recognize his own voice.

“Fuck you,” he spat.

“I don’t have time for this.”

Joel shot him, too. He didn’t feel anything when he did it, not the pain he once felt when killing another human being, not relief at taking action, not the push of adrenaline. He was beyond that now, outside what feeling could touch.

He moved on.

Up the stairs, next floor, where he heard people moving. He had to make sure there was no one who could interfere, no one who could stop him, not this time. He was not going to let them take you from him. Not you, not his daughter.

He took another gun and a clip from someone who was dead. They were dead because Joel had killed him. The fact barely registered. The fact that he’d killed at least a dozen people so far barely registered.

He moved to the next floor.

The Fireflies were shooting at him but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He’d only care if they killed him before he could get to his daughter and get to you. As long as he got you both out, they could have him. Get to her, get to you.

Next floor.

It was quieter there. He tried to think of how many Fireflies would be here and how many he’d already killed. The last few minutes were a fog. Two dozen dead, at least, he thought. Probably more. There may not be any more left to stop him.

There were gunshots from the side of him, shattering a pane of glass near his head. Joel turned and shot, dropping the man. Joel went over to him, the man writhing on the ground, gasping for breath. He went to shoot the man again but the gun didn’t fire. Out of ammo. He pulled out the knife - Ellie’s knife - and slit his throat before taking the man’s gun and ammunition.

Joel looked up. There was a door, one the man was close enough to that he might have been protecting it. It could be you or Ellie.

He opened it, slowly.

“Joel!”

You were against him in a second and he could suddenly feel again, everything becoming bright and harsh. Everything except for you, your warm, soft body holding him to the earth. He could smell your hair and your skin and feel your heart beat against his chest as you clung to him.

“You’re alive,” you buried your face in his chest and his arms went around you. It was instinctual. “Joel, there are raiders, in the hospital…”

“No raiders,” he released you and you stepped back from him, frowning up at him. “We have to get Ellie.”

“What?” You frowned. “I don’t… haven’t you heard the shooting? There’s…”

“We need to get Ellie,” he said. “Do you know where she is?”

“No,” you shook your head. “No, they just said they were taking her for tests, they wouldn’t let me see her yet. I’m sure they got her out of here when the shooting started… Joel, what do you mean there aren’t raiders? Who’s…”

“They’re not running tests,” he said, getting a better grip on his gun. “We have to get her.”

“What?” Your eyes searched his and he saw himself reflected in you for a moment. The shell he’d become if he failed this time. He saw the brief moment of horror and then understanding, he saw that you knew. He cut you off before you had the chance to ask.

“She’s in surgery,” he said. “They need to take the cordyceps from her, they…”

“That would kill her,” you stepped back from him, your eyes wide. “Joel, that would kill her, that…”

“Marlene said she didn’t have another choice,” he said. “We do. We have to get our girl, Baby, we have to get her…”

You picked up a gun from the ground and put it low in front of you.

“She’ll probably be in pediatrics,” you said, looking up at Joel. “She’s small, they’re going to want to use the tools that are there. They’ll stick to the surgical wing, no reason to reinvent the wheel and take the procedure anywhere else…”

Joel nodded once.

“Stay behind me,” he said.

He led you past the man he’d killed just outside your door, the linoleum slick with his blood. There was a twinge of something almost like pity in Joel now, seeing the man’s body. He pressed on. Down past the faded and dirty murals of animals, past the body of another man he’d killed to get this far.

“There,” you nodded down a hall. “It’ll probably be there…”

Joel wordlessly led the way, peering into rooms until he saw her, through a window in a door. Her small, fragile body on the table, nurses standing next to her, a man in a scrub cap with a scalpel. He opened the door, gun raised.

“Unhook her,” he said, his voice deadly calm. The women jumped. The man stared at him.

“Dr. Anderson,” you said softly. “You can’t do this. Please. This will kill her…”

“It’s the cure,” he looked at you, his eyes darting back to Joel before settling on you. “It’s worth the sacrifice, it’s for all of humanity, it’s…”

“Unhook her,” Joel said again, stepping closer. “Now.”

“I’m sorry,” the man said, holding the scalpel up. “I’m sorry, but you can’t take her.”

Joel aimed for his head, his finger going for the trigger, but you jumped in front of him, your gun held low.

“Baby,” he said sharply. “Move.”

“No,” you said. “No, you can’t kill him, you don’t have to kill him. He has a daughter, Joel. He’s a father, just like you. Imagine what would have happened to Sarah if you died. Imagine what would happen to Ellie. You don’t have to kill him…”

He reached out to sweep you out of the way but you turned before he could get to you, shooting the man in the leg with a small cry. The doctor screamed, dropping the scalpel and collapsing to the ground. Joel lowered his gun. Your eyes were wide, pleading.

“Get Ellie,” you said. “Joel…”

He turned the gun on the nurses as you put your pistol in the waistband of your jeans, starting to put a tourniquet around the doctor’s leg.

“Unhook her,” he said, gun up again. The nurses scrambled to obey this time, pulling a face mask from her and an IV from her arm. She started bleeding where the needle had been and he nodded at it. “Make that stop. Quick.”

They quickly taped a patch of gauze over the hole in her arm and stepped back again. Joel kept his eyes on them as he slung the strap of his gun over his shoulder and lifted Ellie’s small body, gently, into his arms.

“You’re OK Baby Girl,” he said quietly. Her head lolled to his shoulder. He could feel her breathing. “You’re OK.”

You got up from the ground beside the doctor, kicking the scalpel across the room and drawing your gun again.

“I’m sorry,” you said, looking around as you backed toward Joel. “I’m sorry it had to be this way but you can’t… We can’t… I’m sorry.”

You stuck close to Joel as he went for an elevator which, mercifully, still worked. You pushed the button labeled garage.

“I hope they have trucks,” you said, your grip on the gun tight.

“Should have let me kill him,” he said.

You shook your head.

“I’ll kill to keep you and her safe but I’m not killing if I don’t have to,” you said, your voice firm. “We didn’t have to kill him, he wasn’t armed, there’s nothing he could really do…”

“He was going to kill her.”

You took a deep breath.

“I know,” you said. “I know.”

The elevator chimed and you went into the garage first, your gun up, ready to shoot. For half a moment, Joel thought it was over. That he could take a car and be done, that there was no one down here and that the worst was over.

But it wasn’t. Of course it wasn’t.

“You can’t protect her forever, Joel,” Marlene said. You both turned to face her, her gun up as she prowled closer. “Not in a world like this one. It’s impossible. No one is safe here, that’s the point.”

“It’s not your choice to make,” he said, holding Ellie’s limp body closer.

“It’s not yours either,” she said, gun still raised. “It’s hers.”

“She’s 14 years old, Marlene,” you put yourself between her and Joel, your gun up. He resisted the urge to put you behind him, holding tightly to Ellie. Keeping her safe, that’s what mattered. “It can’t be up to her, she doesn’t understand…”

“She’s a smart girl, Doc,” she cut you off. “This is what she’d want and you know it.”

“She’s a child!” Your grip tightened on your gun. “She’s too young to decide something like this! So we’re deciding for her…”

“She’s going to get torn apart,” Marlene was ignoring you now, looking over you to him. “Or kidnapped by raiders, shot by some asshole. Is that what you want for her, Joel? Do you think that she’ll forgive you if she finds out that you cursed her to live in this world? With these risks?”

“Rather her be alive to hate me,” he said, looking down at Ellie, his watch reflecting the florescent light of the parking garage in a broken, fractured pattern onto a nearby concrete post. “Don’t care about the rest.”

“Let us go, Marlene,” you said, backing up toward Joel. “I don’t want to kill you…”

“We both know you’re not the dangerous one,” Marlene looked at you. “Just put the gun down, we can discuss this. We both know you’re not a killer.”

You planted your feet.

“For them I am.”

Marlene realized what was happening half a second before you pulled the trigger and fired just before you did. Time slowed and Joel watched, helpless, as the bullet hit you. He was helpless, just like that night in Texas. He couldn’t do anything but watch you hurt. You stumbled back and fell, keeping your gun clutched in your hand.

“Go!” You yelled at him, sitting up on your elbow, raising the gun and pointing it at Marlene again. He realized she was on the ground, too, her gun dropped where she’d been standing. “Get Ellie to one of the cars. I’ll be fine, get Ellie to a car…”

You were panting for breath now and he ran to obey, finding one of the SUVs that the Fireflies were charging a battery on and setting Ellie gently in the back seat. He made sure she was still breathing before going back for you.

Marlene was struggling to breathe, trying to get back to her gun. Joel met your eyes for a moment and you gave him a nod, letting your weapon fall as you hissed in pain. He picked up Marlene’s gun, standing over her.

“Please,” she panted, her hands clutched over her stomach where you’d shot her. “Please, don’t do this…”

“Can’t leave you alive,” he said. “You’d just come after them. You’d just kill them. Can’t let you live.”

He shot her in the head and her body went limp. He tucked the gun into the waistband of his pants and knelt beside you, one hand going to cup your cheek, the other around your ribs, holding you up.

“You’re OK Baby,” he said quickly. “You’re OK, it’s going to be OK…”

“It’s not bad,” you winced, nodding down at your leg. He adjusted your shirt. There was an entrance wound on the side of your thigh. “It missed the vital stuff and it went clean through, just need to stop the bleeding…”

“You did good, Baby,” he kissed your forehead. “You did so good.”

You closed your eyes and nodded.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” you said.

He lifted you gently into his arms and put you in the passenger seat of the SUV before he unhooked the battery, closed the hood and left the hospital behind.

A/N: Alright folks, this is it. We've got three chapters of this left to go.

I know, I know, I can't believe it either! I hope you enjoyed Joel losing his mind a bit in this chapter and that you'll enjoy what the future holds for our little trio.

Right now, I'm planning to publish again on Tuesday, 7/18; Thursday, 7/20, and close out the series on Friday, 7/21.

I'm going to close the taglist for now since we're so close to the end of this and it's been a bit shoddy anyway (Tumblr just does NOT let me tag some folks and I don't know why!) But thank you to everyone who has shared and commented and liked and followed this story. It sincerely means the world.

Thank you for being here! Love you all!

Taglist: @paleidiot@ayamenimthiriel@ginger-swag-rapunzel@drewharrisonwriter@flugazi @pedropascalsbbg@taoyuji@starstruckmusiciansartghost@splendsay@bigboiseason123@jpbplvr @ashleyandring @mrsyixingunicorn10@sloanexx@ninaminaromina @lady-bellyn @hufflepuffriver @sarap-77 @storyarcscribe @mellymbee @jasminedragoon @lemonmeli @reds-ramblings@arizonadaydreamer@mumma-moonchild@blackroseguzzi@candypeaches16@kittenlittle24@wrappedinfiction@oatmeaiboy@pedritosdarling@winchestergypsy90@imnotdatboii @lalalalemonade11 @maknimuk1@mrsdarcyinlovewithbuckybarnes@pedrosaidsheispunk@commanderawkward@n7cje@elliesgirlll@tsunamistorm123@spookyxsam@leeeesahhh @anoverwhelmingdin @untamedheart81 @pedropascalfan221 @pedr0swh0r3 @pedrobae@fifia-writes@fatima-marisa @acf2023 @1soff@encephalitiskat @ashleymsnodgrass @karlinspace

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

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