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#ashley green imagine
halesinger · 6 months
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⟡ 𝔱𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 making art with you <3
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✦ jasper is the type to put paint on your face instead of the canvas.
. you're painting your own canvas then out of nowhere you feel something cold and wet on your left cheek. you look over to jasper to see a shit-eating grin on his face and red paint smudged on his finger.
✦ rosalie is secretly a very talented artist.
. "your's is really pretty." rosalie's voice cut through your train of thought on what color you were going to use next. you smiled at her and gave a quiet 'thank you' in response. "i don't really like mine that much." you heard rosalie mutter. but when you look over the most gorgeous, realistic painting of the outside scenery is on her canvas.
✦ alice isn't the best painter but still enjoys it.
. she lightheartedly laughed at her poor excuse for a painting. you grinned along, still painting your own canvas of art. her laughter eventually died out so you looked over, catching her staring at you with a look of adoration across her features. "what?" you asked, tilting your head slightly. alice scooted closer and gave you a tight hug. "you're the best piece of art." she whispered.
✦ emmett is a messy painter.
. you were showing emmett techniques to make different textures on the canvases, but now he made it seem like he was just flinging the paint everywhere. "emmett!" you shrieked as he got some on your shirt. he laughed loudly at your reaction and continued shaking the brush. thank god you decided to place a towel down before this.
✦ edward would rather paint on your arm than the actual canvas.
. the canvases were long forgotten about, because edward wanted to see if the paint would look the same on your skin as the canvas. now it has just turned into him doodling on your arm. you giggled softly as the paint brush tickled a sensitive spot, causing edward to smile. "how does this look?" he asked quietly. you nodded in response and he continued moving up your arm to paint.
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↳ sorry jasper's is short, couldn't think of anything for him. hope you enjoyed! :)
⟡ likes and reblogs are appreciated !!
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nukkibunni · 5 months
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what an odd thought but like. does anyone think either of the pair would....... unironically.... listen to BOTDF if they were exposed to it. yes the time is set in late 90s-early 2000s or so iirc, but like. that music was NOT long after so i just wonder all the early 2000s grimey rock and edm and industrial/european/etc music they would have. theres a LOT of options so like .3.
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fahye · 8 months
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your book reccomendations are always excellent, do you have any favorite queer romance authors? looking for the standard “trashy” romance vibes but with queer people if possible, thank you so much!
let's see! romance vibes but make it queer.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake (f/f contemp small town romance)
One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny (m/m medieval historical, fluff and identity shenanigans in a forest)
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner (f/f contemp 'oh shit I banged my roommate's hot mum')
basically anything by Alexis Hall but start with Boyfriend Material (m/m contemp romcom) or A Lady For A Duke (m/f regency with a trans heroine) for classic romance vibes
Teacher of the Year by M.A. Wardell (m/m contemp about a teacher and a student's dad) is extremely sweet
I can't imagine you've spent any time around my tumblr without hearing me yell READ EVERYTHING BY KJ CHARLES!! but today I will rec Any Old Diamonds (m/m historical, thief/aristocrat with HEIST SHENANIGANS)
For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes (m/f contemp with trans heroine and lots of kink) is scorching hot and heaps of fun
I have heard great things about An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera (f/f historical, SEX PACT WITH A DUCHESS) but my ordered copy hasn't arrived yet
ditto The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur (contemporary f/f celebrity marriage of convenience/fake dating), which I JUST got my paws on today and am excited to read
fuck it, Gaywyck by Vincent Virga was the first m/m gothic romance (1980!) and it's Truly The Most Gothic so if you like oldschool romances where the vibes are problematic but extremely delicious, check it out.
...and then read this great article by chels about Problematic Queer Books and why we need them
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stratusjay · 6 months
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Broken Pact
I am sorry it got a bit out of hand. Well I still hope you enjoy it.
Age 3
-Holà! I am Alba. Your plush looks cute, this is mine, his name is Raoh, What’s yours ?
-It’s Jack. I breathe out.
Alba looked confused for a second, she didn’t hear what her new friend said.
-You know Raoh is really nice. He won’t hurt him, he wants to be friends with your sheep but for that he needs to know his name.
-His name is Jack, I am Y/N. I say a little louder.
-Holà Y/N, holà Jack! Want to play on the toboggan ?
The two girls went ahead to play and spent the whole day together. At home that same time, they spent their evening talking about each other to their family.
Age 9
-Y/N! Come on! I want to play, speed up!
-Alba! Wait!
Bam, the second child fell on the floor, trying to break her fall, she put her hands before her making them hit gravel at the same time as her knees. She sat up. Her friend came back to check on her.
-Y/N are you okay ?
She got the gravel out of her knees and hands looking to make sure there wasn’t anything in the scratches.
-Mamà is gonna kill. My pants are done with the ones with grass stains, those are the third I destroy in the last weeks.
-Ouch! Yeah she will kill you ? Are you hurt? Do you want to get your scratches cleaned up ? 
-No it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt that much, let's go to the park.
The girls played in the playground imagining worlds where they were princesses or female knights, they slayed dragons, saved witches  and rejected ugly and annoying princes.
In the late afternoon, a middle aged woman came into the park, looked around, spotted them and an older girl who had arrived later and was playing football on the vacated grass field and called them over.
-Mamà!! shouted two voices. The two more similar girls came running hugging the older women.
-Holà mi hijas, said the women with a smile hugging them both and kissing the top of their head.
-Holà Senora Putellas.
-Holà Y/N, how are you doing ? Happy to sleep at ours ?
Y/N nodded excitedly.
-Oh Y/N, did you fall down ? It’s okay we are gonna clean that home okay ? And did your mamà put another pair of pants in your stay over the bag ?
-Nope, I made it myself.
-Okay in that case what about patching up your trousers yourself too. I have some funny knee patch that I created for Alexia when she kept scratching up her pants just like you. Come on girls let’s go we have things to do and your dad is waiting at home for his girls.
Age 14 
-Mamà, can I go see Y/N ?
-Wow are you sick ? Teased Eli.
-Why ?
-Well normally you don’t ask ?
-So ? Can I go ?
-Sure just come back for dinner and if she is alone at home. Invite her, okay ?
-Ok.
Alba went out, crossed the street in diagonal two houses down the street and knocked at the door and turned the handle down pushing the door open. Like usual the door opened without resistance, she went in and took the stairs opening the first door on the second floor. She let out a muffled scream and went completely still from shock.
-What the heck did you do to your hair ?
-Oh! That well it was annoying when I played football so I cut it short ?
-Are you asking me or telling me ?!
-Well telling you.
-Did you really have to cut that short ? You look like Alice Cullen with blond hair in twilight!
-Hey she is hot, I don’t have a problem with that.
-Yeah well you don’t have Ashley Greene physics so… It’s just weird. Actually it might be even shorter than Alice Cullen pixie. Who cut it ? 
-Me. Mamà said  I did the quote sign in the air “there is no way she would let me cut my hair” so I took scissors and cut myself, then she took me to a hairstylist so they could do damage control.
-You are an idiot. Alba deadpanned.
-Yeah, yeah but now it’s out of the way. Okay. One stop looking at me like that. And two what are you doing here ?
-Oh yeah right.
Alba threw herself on Y/N’s bed, and sighed. Y/N dropped her pen on her notebook and abandoned her Math problem to pay attention to her best-friend. Alba began talking into the pillow, which muffled everything she said. Y/N leant over her bed to take an old sheep plush on the shelf above her bed, she put it next to the pillow facing Alba, who had followed the shift in the air and was now looking at the sheep.
-Holà Alba, it’s Jack remember me ? Y/N and me we didn’t understand **** of what you said so could you repeat please ? said Y/N in a funny voice. 
Alba smiled and took Jack laughing.
- I said that Matteo asked me to be his girlfriend.
-We are fourteen, said Y/N dumbfounded.
-No shit. Fourteen, it’s teenagers love don’t you think.
-Uh maybe, what are you gonna do ? asked Y/N bringing her knees up to her chest and put her heels on the seat of her chair.
-Well since a bit of time now, I know that Ale is going out with one of her teammates and you remember the new girl at school. The cute girl from class B.
-Yeah, I remember her. She is in the volleyball team too.
-Oh I didn’t know that, well I think I have a crush on her. Do you think I should ask her out ?
Y/n shrugged, an annoyed look passed on Alba who opened her mouth but was stopped by Y/n’s hand going on the back of her neck and began rubbing it, thinking. Alba closed her mouth and waited.
-I think that, what you want and how you want to do is what you should focus on. But, she looked at Alba sternly, you should be clear with Matteo. And maybe try to befriend the poor girl before you jump on her. But you know we are young, we should experience obviously.
-Oh so you have your eyes on someone ? teased Alba.
-Ass. You know that I don’t care about that. I want to beat your sister in juggling, that's my only objective right now. Now let me do my homework and you do yours too.
-Yeah yeah football, I know. If I help you with Maths, you help me with English ?
-Like always right ?
They smiled at each other and installed themselves respectively on the bed and on the desk.
Age 17
-Love is stupid!
-Don’t say that, Sergio was just a bump in the road of life.
-He was an asshole.
-Hey! That’s my brother, that you are talking about. But he was kind of a jerk. But Louisa I told you not to get with him. 
-You told me! That’s your excuse, he cheated on me and you knew it! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. He always made stupid excuses to not show up when he did make them and you covered for him like nothing was going
-It’s not that big of a deal, and he is my brother.
-And I am your best-friend. We have known each other since primary school. Does that mean nothing to you?
Louisa's question was met with silence.
-You are trash! Just like him! I don’t want to see you ever again!!! I can’t believe it!
-Louisa, wait.
Alba tried to stop her friend from going and looked bewildered at her other friend.
-Don’t, not right now Albs.
-Sof… Aren’t you going to go after her ?
-What’s the point ? I am already the bad guy. 
Sofia turned around and left in the other direction leaving behind Alba and Y/N who clearly didn’t know what to do.
-Hum, what do we do now, Albs ?
-I don’t know, Y/n/n.
After a bit, Y/n looked up at the sky and took Alba’s hand dragging her away from her spot.
-Come on, we need to go home. It's gonna rain soon.
On the phone in the evening while they were doing their homeworks that same day, Alba was more silent than usual.
-Alba what’s going on ? What’s disturbing you ?
-I am just thinking about the quarrel between Sofia and Louisa. What if it happens to us who would you side with, I don’t want to lose you. Alba almost whispered at the end.
-Well my brothers are way too young for you and I don’t have a sister so I think we are on the safe side here, laughed Y/N.
-Yeah but Alexia isn’t too old for you.
-You are crazy, I practically grew up with her and listened to you complain about her.
-Same with Louisa and Sofia.
There was a pause in the conversation.
-Alba what do you want me to do ? Asked Y/N softly.
-If I promise to never go for your siblings and exes. Would you do the same for me ?
-Like a pact ? I can, we could write it too. To act it. Make it more real.
-I am coming over.
Age 21
-Happy Birthday Alba!
-Thank you! In three days it’s yours, but for now I am gonna remind you that I am older than you on the phone for the next three days.
Y/N laughed through the phone.
-So what are you doing for your big day ? 
-Well Ale and Maps organized something I think, and this week-end we are celebrating with Mamà. So that’s gonna be fun. But apart from my birthday if I remember correctly and I do. I seem to remember that my best-friend who escaped in America told me she had a date last night so how did it go ?
- It was nice but she was more searching for a hookup than anything, and I am not sure if I want a relationship right now so we had a fun night but we won’t be seeing each other again. I mean in a few months I graduate and then I will be or drafted somewhere in America or I will return to Europe or I could go to Australia or even Sweden but to be completely honest I don’t think I could survive there, it’s too cold.
-Isn’t it cold in South Bend ?
-Well it doesn’t get super hot in summer, but it does get really cold in winter. We go in the minus here. But the real problem isn’t the cold, it’s the rain. It rains too much. I miss Spain and the sun seriously, it’s not fun Alba. I don't feel Catalonian anymore, I feel like I haven’t tan in 4 years. I am a walking corpse… no, a vampire. If I see the sun.
-You will sparkle Miss Cullen ? Sniggered Alba.
-No I will burst into flames like Vlad The Impaler dumbass.
-Who ?
-The inspiration for Dracula, dumbass.
-Oh. Madame got culture, she is studying literature. Said Alba in a funny posh voice.
The childhood friends burst out laughing, across the world from each other.
-Oh I missed this. I am sorry I didn’t take the time to call you lately Albs.
-Y/N, you send me texts practically everyday, it’s not like we didn’t call each other for years. And I didn’t call you either. The effort goes both ways you know. I didn’t take the time either. Wait, isn't it time to go to sleep, for you ? Which hours is it ?
-It’s a little past midnight, yawned Y/N.
-Bullshit, it’s two in the morning. When what she just said registered in her head Alba yelled: What the heck go to sleep Y/N!
-Yes, Mom.
-Have a good sleep, love you.
-Love you too.
Age 23
I look at my watch, and jump out of the car. I’m not late luckily, Alba wouldn’t let me hear the end of it. I am actually a bit early, I advance towards the arrivals area, since I arrived two years ago I haven’t stepped foot in the airport, it’s actually easier to go to Copenhagen. But when we discussed her stay at mine, it was easier to take her from Malmö’s airport, less minutes on the road for me after a match day. I can’t ask for more. 
When I see that her plane is noted as landed, take out the sign I made with her name on it. I remember when we were younger and we watched romantics movie I always made fun of the “”running in the airport” kind of scene and the “seeing each other after a longtime” still in a airport kind of scene, it used to drive her crazy during the movie but at the end of it she always laughed with me. I look at the corridor people filling out, joining loved ones or going out alone and the inevitable few lost ones who are looking at the panels up, trying to decipher what’s written to understand where they are supposed to go. Finally I see her turning the corner looking ahead trying to find me when she is halfway the corridor, I put the sign higher. She looks in it’s direction and a smile breaks free on her face, in a second I see her smile turning into a malicious smirk. She drops her suitcase and runs towards screaming my name, hands outstretched toward me. I shake my head laughing at her but she doesn’t stop running. My brain finally realizes that she has absolutely no intention of slowing down. I drop the sign and prepare myself for the collusion two seconds before it happens. She just jumps on me, sending me backwards, tumbling down and she lands on her feets one on each side of my waist while I am on my ass on the floor. And it hurts a lot.
-Sorry I always wanted to do that, I didn’t think this through.
-It’s okay, help me get up. My ass hurt.
She holds her hand out for me so I can get up.
-I told you all those scenes in movies where faked!
-Don’t you do those kinds of things as celebrations during matches ?
-Well I think it depends on who and well who is the one jumping and the one receiving.
She grabs her suitcase, and follows me outside to my car so we can get back to my place.
-So like it depends on the connection between the two, like Jenni and Ale. They do it because they.
I cut her off.
-A couple ? No it’s not what I mean. I mean it depends on the weight of the jumper and the muscular capacity of the “jumpee” and their balance skill.
-One they aren’t and two… ARE YOU CALLING ME FAT ?!
-No, Ass. I just don’t have the balance capacity to keep me and you upright. And maybe you should stop stocking for winter, just saying.
-Bitch. So you are just unbalanced.
-Yep. It’s here, let me just find a place to park.
After another day visiting, we were on the couch doing a puzzle. Well, I was doing it. Alba was lost in thought. I try not to stay unoccupied for long periods of time. It makes me wonder and get lost in my head and I always end up homesick. I miss speaking in Spanish and Catalàn, I miss Alba, she is the only one I stayed in touch with in Spain. I have some friends who are on the Spanish national team, but I never got called up to the senior team, and they have their own lives. We text from time to time but it stops there, well that’s not completely true. Ona came to Malmö once a year ago in the middle of winter she stayed the week-end and hightailed. She told me I could come to Manchester whenever I wanted but she would never put herself through this again.
-Are you happy ? Alba asks me suddenly. I drop my puzzle piece and look at her.
-Yes.
-Truly happy ?
-Alba, I stop at her serious face. I think about it. Take my puzzle piece back from the table and put it with the other exterior pieces I sorted out. I am not sad, I finally exhale.
-Don’t you want to wake up in the morning with a smile on your face even if it’s a normal day. Does football still make you happy ?
-Yes, I smile, it’s one of the bright spots of my day.
-I think being away from home and family is eating you up inside. I am worried about you, Y/N. Her brows are frowned in concern, even her eyes seem watery by sadness for me.
-I’ll think about it.
-No. Or you’ll never do. You need to tell your manager, sports agent whatever, that for your mental health you need to be closer to Barcelona.
I nod, and bring my eyes back to the puzzle, feeling her eyes on me I meet them. She looks at me expectantly.
-Right now ? I ask hesitantly.
-Yes, right now or you’ll never do it.
I take my phone out and search for my agent number.
-I can’t do that by phone.
-Y/N put your big girl’s pants on and do it!
I push the call button. My agent answers in a couple of minutes, asking me nicely what’s going on. When I tell him everything, he asks that we do a video call. After we talked about my last year on my contract and my performances this past two years with Rosengard which are really good. So he is gonna put a word out about it but before that I need to talk with my coach tomorrow. Apparently, it’s not gonna be a big problem and I should have talked about my problems earlier.
The next day, I give a call to my coach so we can talk about it, the rendez-vous is taken. And when the hour comes Alba comes with me, when I explain everything, they understand and tell me to take care of my mental health. I will still finish my season here obviously and if no one wants me they will always be a place for me. I left her office crying from relief, I didn’t notice it was impacting me that much.
Age 24
It’s been a longtime I hadn’t put a toe back in this airport, Barcelona is still as sunny as ever. When we discussed contracts and everything there were several clubs who reached out but I didn’t want a big club so I turned some down, I don’t want to be a bench player. Finally Rosengård agreed on a loan to Levante Las Planas, the club is in second division, and this season we are trying to get to the first one, the suits said it was the objective of this loan. At the end of the loan I’ll be a free agent and then I am free to choose where and with whom I want to play.
I take my suitcases from the carousel and step out in the august air. We are well into the afternoon hours, the sun is high in the sky and it’s not too hot today. The weather is perfect, when I close my eyes I can feel the sun’s warmth, the breeze caress my face and in the air you can smell the iodine. It smells like home, like clothes drying on lines, like warm smiles, like tickles and hugs. It smells like the sun.
-What are you doing sniffing the air ? Creep.
-Hello Alba, it’s nice to see you too. I am fine and you ?
-Your eyes are closed, and I was fine a minute ago but now I am wondering if I really want to spend a year supporting you.
I open my eyes when I feel her reach for me, we embrace each other.
-Well when you have enough of me, we will just have to stop hanging out at each other. In an instant Alba’s face turns guilty. What did you do ?
-You remember that you asked me to find an apart for you, right?
-I told you, you didn’t have to and you said you wanted to. I swear if I don’t have somewhere to sleep in a week. I will kill you.
-I found an apart but it’s actually more complicated than that. After putting my suitcases in the trunk, we got in the car without stopping our conversation.
-Someone died in it ?
-No… I don’t think so… Maybe it’s actually why it was cheaper ? Alba wonders out loud.
-So the apart ? I cut her off.
She looks at me surprised and then looks back at the road.
-Oh yeah it’s a shared flat.
-With who ?
-Me.
Silence fills the passenger compartment, I look at her. Think about it.
-If there haven’t been a death or murder in the apartment before, there will be one before the end of the month.
-So in a week, nice. I promise that I will keep my mess in my room.
-You better. But I am actually super happy to be living with you.
-Yeah! You remember when we were kids, we always said we would live together when we would be older.
The season was going well, we were in a really good position in the ranking. If we kept at it, we would advance in the first division. Next week we are gonna watch Barcelona Feminino against Real Madrid in the women’s champion’s league. Alba is super excited, well I am too. She got seats from her sister, the well known “La Reina”, best player in the world. It’s gonna be epic, she is going to the next one when Barcelona wins this one it’s for the quarter-finals after. I won’t be at that one but Alba is going with her mom, Eli. She constantly asks Alba to invite me for their family dinner on Sunday but I don’t want to impose on them so I avoid it everytime. I feel bad about it since they have always been so nice to me. But I have a fear, a complete anxiety for awkward silences. They give me cold chills. I finally open our apartment door and get inside, I advance to flick the light when I bump into something solid and hard.
-ALBAAAAAA! DIOS MIO! MIERDA! I roared. I stubbed my toe. I finish whining pitifully.
The light turn on, and I turn to find not Alba but Alexia on the doorway of her sister room and on my couch a few other Bareclona’s players, Mapi and her supposed girlfriend Ingrid cuddled on the couch waking up, and one the floor before the couch is Jenni Hermoso. And the hard stuff I bumped into is actually Leila Ouahabi, Oups.
-Huh?!
I blink a few times looking at each of them, fleeking my eyes between them and then I settle back on the most familiar one who actually hasn’t been familiar in a bit less than ten years.
-Hi Miss Putellas, Alexia. Miss Putellas. Excuse me but would you tell me where your sister is ?
-Miss Putellas ? someone laughed.
-Y/N ? She looks at me with uncertainty written on her face.
-Yes ? I answer, waiting for an answer.
-What’s going on ? asked Alba, yawning, stepping out from behind her sister in pajamas.
I look at her frowning and look at everyone and then back at her and make a face that I think explains everything.
-Oh, yeah they forgot their keys.
-Everyone ?!
-Well, Alexia’s suitcase got held up at the airport and is arriving tomorrow. Mapi and Ingrid are the same, well Maps forgot to bring her key altogether and Ingrid’s luggage is held back. Leila and Patri are flat sharing and each one of them thought the other had brought their keys. So they are calling their landlord tomorrow morning and Jenni, I actually don’t know. 
-My girlfriend forgot to give my key back to the neighbor, she is bringing it back to me in two days and in that time I am being housed by Alexia who is currently housed by the both of you. 
I nodded along to her words. I was a bit dumbfounded, don’t she have a double of her keys, don’t they all have a double of their keys.
-Hum, you don’t have a double of your keys ? Neither one of you.
-Nope, said Leila proudly and Patri nodded along.
-No but I’ll make one when I get my keys back, said Jenni.
-Yes, Alba is supposed to have it. Alexia pointedly stared at Alba who shrugged.
-I don’t know where I put it. It has a key chain with Nala’s picture on it.
I nodded, I excused myself for the noise and took my bags to my room wishing them a good night. I woke up the next day with a key chain with a dog picture on it. I knew when I went to bed that I had seen it somewhere, and it is said to sleep on it, so I did and I think I know where it is. I get out of bed, grab a hoodie and pull socks on. I carefully open my door, and advance towards the living room where all the Barcelona players are actually already awake. They salute me and I greet them back. In the kitchen, I can see Alexia at the stove.
-Y/N, please never call me Miss Putellas again. We have known each other for a longtime and it makes me feel really old, she finishes with a smile. I smile back without answering.
I advance towards the laundry area in the kitchen and look in the all-purpose drawer and get Alexia’s keys out.
-I am sorry, yesterday it was late and I was tired. I couldn’t remember where I saw them. I turn around and hand out her keys to Alexia. When she realizes what it is she smiles brightly and brings me in a hug. She kisses my temple before thanking me.
-You get double portions of pancakes just for that Y/N/N.
There was a minute of silence, we could hear a pin drop, then an uprising. Mapi, Leila, Patri and Jenni shoving each other and yelling to Alexia trying to plead the cause of their stomachs. Alba, woken up by the noise, soon joined in when she understood what it was about.
-Put the table and I’ll think about it.
I never saw Alba move that fast since reaching teenage years. Alexia’s pancakes must be something. I looked at the stove where Alexia was flipping pancakes, they did look pretty good, well rounded and fluffy.
Yesterday Barcelona lost against the Olympique Lyonnais, the only goal from Barcelona against the giant Fenottes was scored by Alexia. Everyone is saying that goal was a statement bla bla but I think she was frustrated with her team and herself and by the performance they were giving in this particular match, and that goal was just that frustration not a statement from The Best. On the other side of Barcelona, Levante Las Planas are on a really good streak and we know that being in the first division is possible next season. We have a couple other matches but we are at the end of the season, it’s feasible. Then it’s the Euro which is also a major event, but like the Champion's league I won’t be participating there. With Alba we are going on vacation after the beginning of the euro. She wants to support her sister with her mom for at least the first match then we are going to Indonesia with her girlfriend and some friends.
Judith and I were chilling on the couch. We had just finished cleaning the apartment, Judith moved in a couple months ago and I am currently looking for a new team, well my manager is, so when I know where I am going for next season Alba and her will have the apartment to themselves. Which is great for them but also for me because the walls are kinda thin.
Alba was in London with her mom, she apparently got a call yesterday and they changed their ticket to be there earlier. It’s not good news for La Reina, I personally don’t keep up with the news because they tend to be too dramatic but Judith pulls a weird face every time she unlocks her phone. I swear if that phone buzzes one more time I’m throwing it out the window, I can’t concentrate on my book and it’s a good romance!
-Holà, Alba! Is everything okay ?
I look up, Judith seems concerned. She hums and nods along her conversation with Alba, I suppose, but doesn’t give away what’s going on. Their conversation gets lengthier and lengthier, and I am getting more stressed every minute ticking. When she finally hangs up with Alba, she turns to me.
-It’s Alexia. She has done her ACL.
I feel myself getting a bit dizzy. I know better than anyone how complex those injuries are, this is the sole reason no club wanted to bet on me when I finished highschool, I had just done them too. University was my only option. Well that explains why Alba did not reach for me, she was there when I did them, it was a trauma that she shouldered me through. She is still protecting me.
-Y/N, are you okay ? You are all pale. Judith was kneeling beside me on the floor looking ready to catch me if something. She is great, Alba found a good one.
-Yeah, yeah just a bad memory.
-I am sorry, I didn’t know. 
I nodded looking through her while she went back to her place on the couch.
-What ? What didn’t you know ? I was confused after her words began making sense in my brain.
-For Alexia. A bit confused about her wording. I mean I didn’t either, you are the one who just told me. You didn’t tore her ACL, you don’t need to apologize.
-I didn’t know you were in love with her.
That’s weird. What ?! What did she just say? Brain please get back to work.
-Huh, I am not.
-But you had such a big reaction ? I thought … She did finish her sentence looking at me with a weird expression on. I think I need to explain my reaction or this is never gonna leave her mind.
-No, I did them a long time ago. It’s still a sore subject. It’s just that.
She looks back at me, raises an eyebrow while frowning slightly, then she nods and picks her book back up. I am not emotionally stupid, most of the time, before we made the pact with Alba I had already realized that Alexia was one my type and two completely out of my league. I knew my little crush would always be that, a crush without any further development. Moreover Alexia had a girlfriend at the time, then Alba asked me for the pact and I agreed; I wanted to forget my crush and I was gonna leave for the USA. I forgot about this silly crush, fell in love, fell out of love, experienced, got hurt, swore out of love and now I am back in Barcelona and I go on dates from time to time. But I do admit I haven’t gone to one in a longtime, the last one was a disaster. I do not have great conversation skills, I am not much of a conversationalist.
Alexia forced Alba to come with us to Indonesia, even if she is injured she is strong headed and not incapacitated; I think you can put some quote un quote somewhere. Indonesia it’s beautiful, cultural differences are a thing and I have been hit by it on numerous occasions. I am not sure they are too fond of homosexual so Alba and Judith keep the PDA low key, which is sad they make such a beautiful couple. If someone asks I’ll deny I ever thought it. In Indonesia people drive like madmen. I am not going behind the wheel in that crazy country, I swear I saw five people on one scooter and they klaxon all the time. It's really surprising at first. And food wise when they say it’s spicy, well it’s spicy, really spicy. The rice was red from all the spice, and I swear I have never eaten something as spicy as that tofu, I think I could have breathed fire. We visited a temple where if you didn’t cover your legs you couldn’t enter. They gave us batik tissue to make skirts with the stairs were uneven and it was dark and humid inside. We visited markets, eated more things than we should have. Insects are a really big no for me. There were two old men playing chess in one of them, it made a really good picture. We saw a wayang representation, it was mesmerizing, it’s a shadow theater with etched puppets. Then we spent a lot of time tanning and spending time on the beach. I admit I burn easier than I tan, it’s deplorable. During our vacation, my agent told me a big club was interested in me and even though I would probably not get a first spot, they wanted to play me as a super sub. When he explained every other interesting contract he told me to sleep on it and to call him back when I would reach a decision. When he began searching for a new club I told him that I wanted him to tell me about the contracts he would find ang get for me without giving me the name of the club.
-About the big club, can they reach the champion’s league ? I asked without preambule.
-Yes, you are leaning toward them ?
-Yes. Sorry, Hello, how are you doing ?
-Hahaha, I am fine. What about you ?
-I am great, Indonesia is awesome but I am worried about next season to be honest. It’s lingering in the back of my mind. I was afraid no one would want me. Now tell me, please.
-The big club, it’s Barcelona.
-How long ?
-Two years for sure, and another if both parties are satisfied. They wanted you before Alexia got hurt so do not get in your head for that. Okay ?
-Okay. Tell them I am gonna sign.
-I’ll do my job, which is also to get you a good deal. Then I will tell them you are in. Enjoy your vacation. Bye.
He hung up before I could say anything.
Where is my fudging phone, who the heck calls people that early on a sunday. Here it is, Alba I will kill her sleep is sacred, I put it down and bury my head back in my pillow. It’s ringing again.
-Alba, I swear to god. I answered the phone.
- Holà Y/N, it’s Judith sorry, but Alba heard you. I am gonna put you on the car’s speaker so we can talk.
-Oh, hi Judith sorry.
-What about me, I don’t get one.
-Nope.
-Nice, well we need your help. Like you know, today is family dinner day but with Judith we are away from Barcelona and we won’t make it back on time to get Alexia. So could you please give her a ride. I know you said you wouldn’t come like the hundred or so other times I asked you since September but Mamà wants to see you. And you are busting your ass off for Barça you need a break. 
-But I …
-Alexia doesn’t have the right to drive even if she can walk again and it’s always a source of joy for her to see the family. So if you don’t do it for Albs maybe you can do it for your capitana or for Elisabet. Say Judith slyly. The girl is good; she knows how to make me move.
-I’ll do it. When is she expecting me ?
-In half an hour would be good, like that you are gonna be early to Mama’s and can help her with cooking or play board games with her.
-Okay see you later.
I hang up and get out of bed. I turn on the coffee maker and while it whirrs I go in the shower. I get dressed, drink my coffee in a flash, I hate being late which is funny since Spanish people are known for tardiness but personally if I live by “if you are five minutes early you are on time, but if you are on time you are late.” And right now I am late. It’s the first time I actually go to Alexia’s, the team go see her sometimes but I always decline the invite. It's not that I don’t like her but I feel a bit uncomfortable when I think about going to hers, even more since Judith said I was in love with her. We see each other at the facility, she comes to see the team play before and after her recovery sessions. Woah well nice residence, but how do I get in, well I must have her phone number somewhere. I hear someone knock on my window when I am beginning to call Alexia. I look up, she is here. I hang up and get out of my car.
-Did I summon you ? I joke, when I go to greet her I hear a yap coming from around my knees. “Hi Nala, are you coming for the trip too ? Well little lady aren’t you a cutie. I am Y/N and I will be your driver for the day, little star.”
-And here suddenly I am completely forgotten. I was gonna ask you if it disturbed you if she came with us. But I feel like I should worry more about getting my dog back at the end of the day.
-No it’s not a problem at all, just the dog goes in the back seat and I hope you have a leash for the car to secure her. I must have a cover or something to protect the leather, let me search.
-I have one in my car if you don’t have one. I disappear in my trunk trying to reach for my cover, really I need to clean my trunk. It's a mess, the rest of my car is clean, nothing is laying around but the trunk; it’s Tchernobyl. “Y/N ?”
-I have it. Get in Lady Nala.
We spent the first few minutes of the drive in complete, I didn’t connect my phone to the car and I forgot to put the radio on. I never chose one so I don’t want to put it on now, we never know what we will fall on. I have been racking my brain for ideas of conversation. Football seems like an insensitive bad idea, and I don’t know her actual other hobbies, what she watches or reads. I think I am getting a brain cramp worrying like that. Saved by the phone quite literally.
-Can you ? I look at my phone then at Alexia then my car to finally get my focus back on the road.
-It’s Alba, I will connect your phone. What’s your code ?
-My birthday. It’s two days after 
-Alba, I know. She cuts me off. 
-Hello, did you get my sister ? 
-Hello evil spawn. I apologize it's offensive to your parents.
-Hi Albs. I am, I would say secure but I am still judging her driving style.
-Ah! The only thing you have to worry about with her it’s to get bored to death. She drives like a grandma. 
-Hey! It’s not true.
-I have been in the car for less than ten minutes and I tend to agree with Albs, you drive like a grandma.
-Well that’s just mean. See if you get a ride back from me. Nala gets one because she is cute but you can stay at your mom‘s. I pout jokingly.
- Well everything seems fine so I am gonna leave you and concentrate on the road. Oh one last thing Ale. Y/N probably still hasn't put a radio on so you can put her Spotify on. Usually she listens to old soft rock bands, she has a playlist named with a Smiley electric guitar you can put it on. If it's really not your thing she has your playlist for matchday and Barcelona playlist too. Enjoy your ride.
She hung up leaving me with flaming red cheeks from the corner of my eyes,  I saw Alexia search my phone after finding what she was searching she smirked.
-You did a blend with me ? It's cute and we have 84% compatibility, not bad.
-I did it with Alba too. We have a tad bit more compatibility.
-Found your playlist woah it's extensive.
-Play it on shuffle please.
The first song coming up was Brothers in Arms from Dire Straits. I absolutely love this song. It begins with a super bass solo then it slowly brings you in the deep. Actually there are a lot of Dire Straits songs in my playlist and U2 too, particularly songs from the albums Song of Innocence and War.
- These mist-covered mountains Are a home now for me Hmmmm
And you’ll no longer burn to be brothers in arms
Through these field of destruction Baptisms of fire I’ve witnessed your suffering
This song I just can’t help it. I am sorry I can’t help singing it.
For the rest of the journey when a song that I particularly liked came on I would heightened the volume and sing along to it or at least the chorus. Alexia joined me in some songs and I think I saw her take a video of me, I need to make sure she doesn’t send that to the PR department. Finally we got to her mom's house, I needed to stretch.
You know I always find it funny everytime I find myself back in the Putellas household I feel like a child again, nothing has changed since I left highschool. Well maybe the paint was refreshed but it’s the same color and everything. My parents and I don’t talk anymore and they moved away, they weren’t happy with some “choice” I made in my life. My siblings and I are still in contact and my grandma has always been more open minded and supportive than my parents so when I come back to Mollet del Vallès I always pass by her house to greet her.
After bringing Alexia to the Putellas family’s times that one time, it became a regular occurrence. Alexia and I would talk about the club, her dad sometimes, the prank I pulled with Alba when we were kids. After I revealed without meaning to that Alba and I were actually the ones who broke her parents bedroom window that one time where she got punished without having done anything, well she brought it up the whole night to Eli and threatened Alba with repercussions, I got brought up on that too. We tried to say there was a prescription by now, I am not sure prescription is in Alexia’s vocabulary. Even when she was authorized to drive again, we rode together but we alternated drivers and cars.
Finally Alexia got back to training with us and it was decided that we would go celebrate. I was pulled along with everyone and after being given a bit of beer and shots of I think it was tequila but I am not completely sure, by Mapi my inhibitions were completely out of the window. So gone that when I woke up the next day I didn’t remember what happened but I did realize that I wasn’t in my bed nor in my room. After a couple of minutes getting the fog out of my brain, I turned around in the bed realizing that one I was naked and my lower half was aching and two there was someone else naked in bed with me. I heard little footfalls running behind the door which clearly led outside. I got up and looked at the blond strong back, she was still deep asleep. It was still the middle of the night or really early in the morning, I got my clothes from the floor and my phone was in my jeans. I got out and closed the door behind me. In the dark I couldn’t see who the mystery woman was, she was blonde, had tattoos on her back and was pretty athletic from what I could see. So my taste in women didn’t change when I was drunk. I advanced towards what seemed to be the living room, and was greeted by trophies two that I recognized immediately the UEFA Women's Player of the Year, I knew only one person who won it two times and lives in Barcelona, while I was having a little mental breakdown with the thought of who I just slept with, Nala came to greet me. I scratched her head absentmindedly and stopped when I heard noise coming from the bedroom. Now it was really time to get out. Oh my god, I slept with Alba’s sister, I swore I’d never do it and I did. Oh my god I am a terrible person. Wait, how did I get here? Well it’s four in the morning. The first thing is to find a way out of the residence, then I’ll be walking home, which is great, it’ll give me time to prepare my funeral after I tell Alba I broke our pact.
If you were to ask me if I was avoiding Alexia, I would answer you, no. Which would be the truth. If you were to ask the same thing to Alexia she would probably say that I’m definitely am. And that would technically be also the truth, because the truth I am not avoiding Alexia, I am avoiding Alexia and Alba which makes a huge difference. Well technically one of them isn’t yet aware that I am avoiding her. Alexia has tried for the past two days to get me alone to talk to her and some of our teammates got the memo and tried to make that happen but I am fast and stealthy like an eel and I escape every time. Maybe I should change sports and play dodgeball professionally, I think I would be quite good. Maybe I should also move to a new country now that I reminded myself that I actually really want to survive. Damn it, I really need to talk to Alba. But I mean it’s not like I am dating her sister, I mean we slept together once or twice or more if my memory doesn't fail me.
-Y/N, Y/N.
-Alexia, Alexia! Hi! I am sorry I need to go, bury my hamster. See you later if you need something text me.
Damn it I didn’t realize everyone had left the changing room. Those assholes are ganging up on me. They are waiting for me at the parking lot, I can literally see them. I go hide upstairs in a room where no one ever goes. There is a window giving way outside. FIve minutes after I got there I saw Alexia getting out with a frustrated look on her face. She says something to the group and Mapi and Lucy laugh at her face, the other smiles back with a hint of understanding or some other sympathetic feelings. They wait a bit and a car comes park beside them, Alba gets out to greet everyone, talks a bit with Ale and gets her phone out. A minute later my phone rings, Alba is calling me, I decline her call and send back a generic message. Telling her I am busy and I can’t answer. I see her shaking her head at Alexia and looking in my car direction. Okay that’s it; tonight I am gonna go see Alba. I am not facing Barcelona’s own tribunal.
At ten, I am in front of Alba’s apartment. I knock at the door waiting for the door to open several emotions course through my body, I feel the need to flee, relieved that finally I’ll be able to talk and I am scared I remember Louisa and Sofia’s face and others over the years friendships over siblings or vice versa. Sofia and Louisa still don’t talk to one another, I don’t want to lose Alba, I can’t; I feel like a little kid why did it have to be Alexia. Every other single teammate would have been better. We would have talked about it and then it would’ve been history. When the door opens it’s not Alba I am faced with but Judith.
-Y/N ? What are you doing here ?
I open my mouth but no sounds get out, she looks at me like she can see through me.
-Come on in. You look like you are coming back from hell.
A laugh without any joy escapes from my mouth.
-I feel like it too. Is Alba here ? Judith shakes her head no. “You know you were right. Before our holiday you told me… Well I think you might have been right which is fucked up, I really wish you weren’t right.”
-You mean your feelings for Alexia. Y/N what happened ? I feel like you should be happier, did you tell Alexia, she really likes you too and I can’t imagine her being harsh.
-No. I didn’t tell her I didn’t realize before, I slept with her while I was drunk. And I have been avoiding her and Alba since.
-Oh… Why ?
I look at the wall trying to come up with a worded answer. When I hear keys at the door, Judith turns to the door. The door unlocks and Alba walks in, she stops when she spots me on the couch. She drops her bag on the floor and walks to the couch she put herself in front of me.
-What is wrong with you ? I tried to call you four hours ago, Alexia wanted to go out with us, she told me about an absurd excuse with a hamster you needed to bury. You are afraid of them.
I feel my face pale at the mention of her sister, and I drop my gaze from her to my hands on my thighs, I wiggle my fingers together.
-Y/N ? Talk to me, you hate rodents, what fake excuse is that even Alexia knows you hate them, she told me.
-I am sorry Alb. Those past few days I was so scared. I broke our pact.
Alba sat beside me, grabbed my chin so I would stop looking at my hands and looked at her. Looking around I see that Judith left us alone and Alba’s face is laced with concern.
-When we were 17 we made a pact, you remember ? After the incident between Sofia and Louisa. I promised that
-Oh yeah! Out about it ? Wait. You were scared because you slept with … oh my god You slept with Alexia! When ? I have been waiting for that for so long!
-What ?
-Yeah. Why the heck did you think the both of you are still riding to my mom together.
-To save fuel and for the environment.
She looks at me like I am super dumb and I really do feel like it right now.
-No dumbass, if that was the case Jud and me would ride with you two. Alexia has had a crush on you for a longtime now. She has always followed your career from afar, I discovered a year or so ago. I am sorry I completely forgot about our pact. So wait, you slept with Ale when and what happened.
I explain everything to her, and the more I talk, the more her eyes seem to grow and her eyebrows shoot up. When I finish, passing the more mature details for her sake, I sigh relieved to have gotten that off my chest.
-Y/N, I know how uncomfortable you can be with people, and Ale makes you feel good, you love being around her. When she is around you smile more and even now just talking about her makes you smile. So you are gonna put your big girl’s pants on and go see my sister. Yes right now. She is back at hers.
I get my stuff back, hug goodbye Alba and call Juds. I bring her into a hug.
-Thank you. She smiles back at me.
-It was nothing, I am happy I could help.
I call for the elevator when they close the door behind them. I’m stepping in the elevator, when I hear a door open.
-Oh actually if she isn't at her’s, she might be at yours. She said she would wait at your doorstep till you showed up if need be.
-What ?! The elevator doors close before I can do anything about it. Well to my apartment we go.
When I get to my floor, Alexia is sitting her head on her knees beside my door. When she hears the door of the stairs close behind me she looks up in my direction. She doesn’t move, her face shows no external emotion, the girl has got a great poker face, I am trying to dedramatize the situation in my head. It's already looking bad. Okay brain stop, take a breath, everything is gonna be okay. She doesn’t bite… hum rectification she isn’t a murder, well I think. Oh my god I am spiraling rambling inside my own mind.Stop. I force my legs to move forward. When I get to my door, I take my keys out without a word, I open and finally look at Alexia who hasn’t stopped looking at me. I reach out a hand to help her off the floor.
-Come on in. Sorry for the mess.
-It’s spotless.
I look around, that's right when I am stressing over things. I clean everything, it relaxes me.
-Right. Alexia, I am sorry I
-You don’t feel the same way it’s okay. But I would like to be friends
I cut her off.
-No. 
-No ? Okay, I’ll just
I put myself between my door and her.
-No please can you sit please. I show her the couch. I just leave me a second. I need to show you something.
I leave the room and go to my guest room /office where a lot of my cardboards still are. I grab the pact we made years ago with Alba, I go back to my living room and give the pact to Alexia. I give her a couple of minutes to read it.
-I know it doesn’t excuse the way I treated you the past few days but I didn’t know how to tell Alba. You probably don’t know, I don’t talk about it a lot, my parents and I don’t talk anymore and my siblings and I don’t see each other often either. Actually the only family I have left who cares about me is my grandma but she is old and when she will die the only permanent figures in my life are gonna be siblings who if they had to choose between me and their goldfish they would probably choose the goldfish, even if they don’t have one. And then there will be Alba, if I lose Alba. I don’t know if I will be able to make it, I can’t lose her. She is an anchor in my life, she is in all my plans for life, when I retire, when I grow old and gray and if I get sent to a retirement home one day. So after I left your bedroom that night and I recognized The trophies and Nala in your living room I had a mental breakdown and well you know what happened next. I am sorry I left you alone that night. I am sorry I left you to worry for days about what was going through my mind. And I am sorry I left you thinking I didn’t have feelings for you. I mark a pause to catch my breath.
-Do you ? Have feelings for me ?
-Yes. I mean obviously, you were my first crush and it will always be here you shaped the way I saw women. I think all the person I dated were pale comparison of you well there is some exception obviously but for most of my court terms relationship there hasn’t been a lot of them but there is a few, well most of them were light chestnut and athletic, there hasn’t be a lot those past years.
-Would you go on a date with me ?
-Now ? I ask in disbelief.
-No obviously not now. Maybe tomorrow, oh and is there any other weird pact you made with my sister that I should know about before we begin dating each other ? 
-Huh no ? I mean there is no other pact. We do have other “weird” promises but no pact I swear.
-Good please promise me to never agree on a pact with Alba without checking it with me.
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alienstardustwrites · 4 months
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ღ bees and petals...a coriolanus snow story. ❉ the prologue : snow melts.
♫ “TERRIBLE THINGS” HALESTORM W/ ASHLEY MCBRYDE.
☼ Summary: It's 15 ATT (After the Treaty of Treason) and Coriolanus Snow is the new President of Panem at age 23. To celebrate this accomplishment, he invites all the past Victors to the Capitol. Heavensbee (Reader) is the District 5 Victor from the Eighth Hunger Games. He takes a liking to her, working to impress her, but her heart belongs to another - a long lost Snow. ❂ Parts: Prologue. One.
✎ A/N: Coriolanus Snow imagine. And here is the beginning of this story. I did decide to go with casting Taz as the long lost brother... I wanted to give some background to our players. I really hope it's interesting. Feedback and comments are appreciated. I did try to do research about THG, i do apologize if i messed something up. Thank you so much!! ♥
‼ ‼ WARNINGS: violence, mentions of death, feels.
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JULY 4, 2246. “Come, come! Gather around lovely patrons of District Five. Such a beautiful day in our dear history,” the male announcer - Ronan Dusklock - cleared his throat and shifted in an unsettling manner on the stage in front of the mic. The people of District Five gathered in the open space in front of the moderately sized stage. Adults stood in the back while the children gathered in front. 
Ronan put on a nervous smile as he gazed out over the quiet crowd. “Okay! Let’s get started with our tributes for the eighth annual Hunger Games. Your service is always appreciated in our great home. The Capitol appreciates the bravery and sacrifices.” He stumbled over his words before calling out the male tribute. 
The crowd watched in silence as the male threw his shoulders back and stalked his way on stage. The announcer was the only one to clap his hands. The District was usually rowdy and lively, the homes were decorated with different sparkly lights. But that particular day it was gray, very gray. They all saluted the male. 
“Now joining you...” The announcer let out a squeaky laugh as he unraveled the paper. He called out your name. Everyone’s eyes turned to you when you started to make your way to the stage. You were dressed in a simple green dress with a silk belt around your waist, matched with some brown booties.
“Miss Heavensbee. You look Heavenly!” Ronan tried to make a joke and laughed at himself, glancing over at the crowd. No one erupted in laughter, they turned their attention from the announcer to their tributes. He cleared his throat when he realized he failed. “These two lovely people will represent District Five. We all wish you the best. Stay alert. Stay strong.” He nodded at you and your counterpart. 
You picked at the hem of the dress you specifically picked out for this event. Everyone always had to look their best for the reaping. The young man - Isaac - next to you didn’t say much, he glanced over at you and only nodded his head. His facial expression was stoic and empty. 
His hands went up and signed, “We won’t make it.” 
It wasn’t like he was wrong, but a tiny part of you wanted to believe you could. Your father had been helping you sharpen your combat skills, surviving with minimal items. He would tell you to think, and observe the arena before you tried to strike. Your uncle, his brother, was living in the Capitol. Your father made the decision to not follow, he couldn’t stand behind the Capitol. 
“I am going to make it.” You signed back to him and grinned softly. “I will protect you.” You reached over and hugged him tightly. The two of you were strangers, but as soon as you stepped inside the arena you would be each other’s lifeline. 
It didn’t take long for the Peacekeepers to round you and Isaac up after you said your goodbyes. 
Your father and cousin hugged you tightly. “You are a Heavensbee. Sting, little one.” Your father murmured as he placed a soft kiss on top of your head. You felt the tears streaming from his face. “Be bright. Think smart. Remember our training.” He swallowed back the rest of his tears. 
“Sting.” You let out a weak laugh and waved at them as they left. 
The Peacekeepers weren’t gentle, they shoved you into the trains. “Remember. You are guests in the Capitol,” one of them spoke sternly to every one of the tributes. 
You curled your fingers against the hem of your dress, keeping your eyes on the window. The train pulled out of your home district. A frown grew over your lips for a moment when your eyes found your cousin, kissing his three fingers and holding them out to you briefly. And you returned the gesture. 
Entering the Capitol was nothing to gawk at. Everything was perfectly boring, the people dressed in stupid garb. You found nothing beautiful about the Capitol. Peacekeepers yanked you up from your seat and guided you inside to a place you were unfamiliar with. 
Everyone around you was wearing red garb and whispering amongst each other. A few people pointed at you, and you took a step forward to frighten them. They gasped, and you only smiled. The trail of district tributes was being guided into a large warehouse behind the Academy. 
You did admire the statues, and the art around you - the place had that going for it. You were curiously staring at the art and didn’t notice when you collided with one of the students. “Oof! Sorry!” You muttered and looked up at the young man with bright blue eyes and blonde hair. 
“No worries.” He smiled charmingly, ironing out his clothes with his hands, and looked down at your armband. “Five…” 
“Yeah.” You grinned, doing a failed curtsy. “Sapphire Eyes.” You let out a shaky laugh before a Peacekeeper forced you forward and yelled to keep moving. 
The young man opened his mouth - almost looking like he would yell at the officer. But he didn’t. He only shut his mouth, adjusted his bag, and kept on. 
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Once you made it into the warehouse, there were very few rations for all of you. Districts One and Two were the first to help themselves. The rest were left to pick up the scraps of whatever was left. 
You were able to grab one biscuit and a small glass of water. You found Issac huddled in your designated cots and broke off a piece of the biscuit. 
“Here. Eat.” You placed it in his hand while you slowly ate yours, trying to make it last. 
“This won’t do us any good.” He signed to you and breathed in frustrated. “We are cattle.” 
“We are. But let’s be entertaining cattle.” You smiled weakly at him. He didn’t smile, only returned a nod and ate his biscuit. 
Your gaze turned away from his face when you heard the doors open. The tributes all stood to their feet and watched as the President came strolling inside surrounded by Peacekeepers. 
“Welcome! Welcome! To the Capitol.” He spoke charmingly and steadily as he paced back and forth gazing at the tributes. “We want to thank you for your service, we know it’ll be tough and taxing. But! No fear. We’ll have a feast in store at the Capitol. For the people who invested into this.” 
He laughed wickedly and sighed. He strolled down the middle, looking from face to face until he saw yours. “Heavensbee. My oh my… how the mighty have fallen.” He spat the words like venom. He gripped your face and squeezed it roughly. “If only your father listened to his family. He wouldn’t have been outcasted.” He winked at you and kissed your cheek. Then he stepped back and continued on his mini tour. 
You clenched your jaw and took a step forward, but a Peacekeeper noticed and whacked the butt of his gun into your stomach. You groaned and fell back on your ass onto the cemented floor. Isaac reached over, pulled you up and shook his head, signaling for you to calm down. 
Sucking in a breath, you nodded and watched the President turn on his feet once he made his rounds. 
“We’ll have some selected students from the Academy visit with you. Prep you for the games.” He nodded. “We thank you for your sacrifice.” 
And with that, he turned to leave the warehouse. A line of young people, presumed to be from the Academy, entered after him. They all looked disinterested in being present, if anything they hung around the promising winners from Districts One and Two. 
You took a step back and sat down in the broken cot. “Shit…” you murmured and saw some black shoes standing in front of you. “Did you come to mock me?” Your eyes drifted up to the owner and met the blue eyes. “Sapphire Eyes. How can I help you?” 
“This is all for extra credit. But I think you have something in you to win this. Everyone loves an underdog story.” He said flatly. His words left his lips but you couldn’t be sure if he was honest. They sounded very dishonest, almost pitying you. “Coriolanus Snow.” 
“Snow.” You narrowed your eyes at him, then smiled softly. “My father knew of your father. I suppose we have him to thank for the beautiful, blood games.” You let out a small chuckle and did a little curtsy while seated. 
Snow watched you and let out an amused chuckle. “He was a good man. But I didn’t come to discuss the past.” He nodded confidently. “I only have a question for you.” 
“I have nowhere to be. So ask away.” You raised your eyebrows and got to your feet when the cot became uncomfortable. 
“What would you do if you won the games?” 
“Go back home and continue with life. The Capitol doesn’t give much to its victors. Just scars and bad dreams.” You breathed out and glanced his wardrobe over, taking notice of the small details of tailoring. Then the gold ring that was perfectly placed on his middle finger with a beautiful white rose embellishment. 
You leaned in close. “For someone so rich, your wardrobe screams hand-me-downs. Stay humble, Coriolanus Snow.” You kissed his cheek and then moved backward before a Peacekeeper could notice your closeness.
His face turned a little embarrassed, his cheeks flushed red but then quickly pulled himself together. He breathed in taking note of his classmates leaving the warehouse. 
“Go-Good luck, Five.” He tugged his coat and then turned to leave. You didn’t respond, only watched him leave the warehouse and try to fix your cot. If you were to go into the games, you knew you would need some rest. 
Isaac tapped your shoulder to get your attention. “I’ll protect you.” 
You grinned sadly at him knowing it was impossible. “Thank you. I’ll do the same.” You held out your pinky to him, he linked it with yours. 
Once the cot was semi-fixed, you turned on your side and opened your hand, looking at the small button you lifted off Snow. You noticed it was a rose button. A small grin grew over your lips, you tucked it away. Closed your eyes. 
Peacekeepers came in the morning, gathered the tributes, and walked you all to the arena. 
The canon went off signaling the start of the game. 
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JULY 14, 2246. Inside the arena, you didn’t know yourself. All you knew was to survive. Your hands choked another tribute and stabbed their counterpart. You were a savage in the arena. You stung. 
Games were over, you were crowned the victor of the Eighth Hunger Games. Isaac defended you for as long as he could until his throat was slashed. You allowed him to fall onto you and die in your arms. You quietly sang a lullaby from your district to him until there was no life left. 
The President congratulated you, brushing away the bits of dirt covering your face. “Good job, Heavensbee. You’ll carry the guilt the rest of your days,” he whispered to you as the cameras flashed. 
You had deep cuts over your body, burn marks along your forearms, and your clothes were still covered in your friend’s blood. But they wanted the picture of the victor. 
Peacekeepers guided you to the train, and shoved you inside. You took a seat and stared out the window. You were lost in thoughts you didn’t hear the person approach you. Your shoulders shuddered when he spoke, sliding to the edge of the booth. 
“Whoa, whoa,” he smiled nervously at you. “I work with the staff. I wanted to bring you a treat.” The blonde man set the plate of biscuits and glass of water down on the table in front of you. 
Your eyes gazed at the food and then up at him, you noticed the same blue eyes. But it wasn’t Snow. He looked around the same age. He stood taller than Snow. He also appeared unbroken. 
“Beaumains Hemlock.” He held up his hand and waved awkwardly. When he noticed how weird it was, he dropped his hand. “I would say congratulations but I’m not sure it’s fitting.” 
Your lips stayed shut. You didn’t speak. You weren’t sure if you could trust him. 
“I think it’s bullshit. But it’s the way of the world, for our own survival - they say.” He took it upon himself to sit down on the opposite side of you. 
Your eyes studied his hands, took notice of the small cuts along his knuckles and then some of the rings along his fingers. One of them had a symbol - it looked very familiar. You finally looked at him. 
“If you want something else-“ he started to say. But you picked up the biscuit and shoved a piece into your mouth. He grinned lightly at you. The way he looked at you wasn’t pitiful, it appeared to be understanding. 
“Did I kill your loved one?” The question left your throat brokenly. 
“No. Someone else did.” He plastered a sad grin and dropped his shoulders. 
You swallowed, reaching out your hand to cover his. He wrapped his fingers around your hand giving it a gentle squeeze. 
“Do you have a brother?” You asked quietly. 
“Not that I know of,” he passed it off as a joke. He shook his head to give the answer. “A sister. But she’s no longer here. District Two, she was a tribute.” 
You nodded your head a little, locking your eyes with his. “Sapphire.” You spoke under your breath, glancing at the window as you reached your home. 
Your fingers, still covering his hand, traced the gold ring around his middle finger with the white rose embellishment. 
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kittybeansbarnes · 4 months
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Imagine dickhead Jamba Juice worker college!bucky who absolutely DESPISES his job. Not just because of the over priced sugar sludge or the annoying idiot costumers but because he’s too good for this place. He’s an Astronomy major for Christ sake!! It’s always a bad day the second he walks through the glass door. Tying his hair up in a little man bun and having to put on the horrendous green cap and apron.
He didn’t think his day could get any worse until you walked in asking a stupid question.
“Erm excuse me? Are y’all hiring?”
He HATES when people ask stupid questions. Like do you see a horribly printed “WE HIRING” sign anywhere? Use your fucking eyes he think
He takes a deep breath, his face showing no emotion before letting it out saying a harsh but simple “no”
You blink in surprise at his tone and then stutter out and ok and walk out the door. His manager strolling in a couple seconds later asking about the noise. Bucky tells him what happened and his manager laughs in surprise.
“Huh what a coincidence. Ashley quit last night.”
“Wait but she’s supposed to be working this shift with me!” Bucky complains. Thanks a lot Ashley he thinks
His manager pats his shoulder with a fake smile “guess we could’ve used her huh. Better hope she comes back” he leaves to his office leaving Bucky to work the rest of his shift alone.
You did come back thankfully. A week later on his day off. Luckily the manager was there and hired you on the spot (they were desperate) . That’s how you ended up here working your first shift with Bucky. He was extremely a bit rude but nothing you’re not used to from past co workers. His job was to train you and so far all he’s done is have you organize the supply room claiming “you’re not ready to be up front yet” well I won’t be ready if you never teach me you think
You’re trying to stay positive despite his sour attitude. You want to try and get on his good side. Not because you have a mega big crush on your him but because it’s always good to befriend your co worker…right?
“Are you almost done here?”
His sudden appearance startles you, breaking you free from your thoughts and making you drop the box you’re holding on your foot.
“Fuck!!”
He rushes to you “are you ok?”
You look up quickly not noticing how close he is and bump his nose with your head.
“Fuck!!” He scream out this time.
“Oh my god Bucky I’m so so sorry- I did- my foot- and I swear it was an accident-“ you stop when you see his shoulders shaking “Bucky?-“
*wheeze*
He’s laughing?
You start laughing too and the ridiculousness of the situation. Both of you near tears laughing your asses off on the floor of the stock room.
He wipes a rouge tear from his eyes looking at you with a goofy smile “god doll. That was the best thing to happen to me in this stupid job”
You give him an amused look. “Getting hurt is the best thing to happen to you here. Geez I better rethink my employment here”
“Nah you’re staying right here with me sweet heart.” He winks at you making you blush. He stands brushing himself off and extends a hand to you. “How about you come work the front with me? I’ll teach you to make the best damn smoothie”
You grin at him and take his hand. Both of you underestimating his strength as he lifts you fast, making you stumble into him. Your hands landing on his chest and his back against the wall. You look up at him as he looks down at you. His hand coming up to caress your cheek. You both lean in at the same time for a slow heated kiss.
He pulls back with his eyes still closed nodding his head saying “Yep definitely the best thing to happen to me in the job” before leaning back down for more.
Ignoring the bell ringing and customers calling to get a few more sweet kisses from you…and much more than that in the supply room😈
A/n: no idea where this came from. I’m applying to jobs and idk I just thought of this so bare with me y’all. Baaare with me.
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silentwonderlocks · 11 months
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Need A Hand Stranger? - RE4 Merchant x Male! Reader- One Shot
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“Just a little further” a man muttered under his breath as he ran forward throughout the island’s laboratory, a young woman trailing close behind. It was like his mantra for the past day or so, it was supposed to be a simple recuse mission that turned into cult madness. It was no matter to dwell on since the cult had underestimated who The President of the United States had sent to get his daughter back. That man was Raccoon City survivor Leon S Kennedy, a once bright eyed rookie now a hardened government agent. This mission had been a nightmare to deal with, it was anything worse than he knew from that traumatic night. Brainwashed villagers, lake monsters, invisible bugs, royal nutjobs,a power-hungry old comrade, an old flame and more.Leon could imagine all of the paperwork he would have to write down after he returned Ashley home.
 Not wasn’t the time for thinking about the future yet, not when he had gotten out with her first, thankfully there was a familiar indigo flame up head. Illuminating the small area with its standing torch was a metal door. Inside what seemed to be a storage room was the trusted Merchant, who stood behind a small wooden table reaching to his waist, perfect for laying out weapons or treasures to eye. The Merchant dressed in the only attire Leon had seen, a long navy blue cloak with a hood that covered his body. No doubt various amounts of ammos and weapons underneath. A purple bandana with white line pattern was tightly kept around his face only revealing his eyes. Eyes that Leon swore glimmered orange in the light sometimes. Upon his back was a traveling pack filled with supplies to take him where he was needed next.
The Merchant was a strange man but one that Leon greatly accepted as a welcomed help. Leon never questioned who or what the Merchant was or his purpose for helping, he felt like he didn’t need to since the merchant was the only man who seemed to be in his right mind. Leon was curious though, what did he get out of this? The little side requests, the treasures obtained, how the Merchant seemed to be in places before Leon even knew he was meant to be there. It didn’t make sense to him, then again it wasn’t his job to ask. It was his job to get Ashley home safe and alive. You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, right? The unnamed man seemed to perk up, waving his hand up in a welcome gesture.
 “Good to see you’re still pumping full of blood and bullets stranger” Leon walks up to the table taking a moment to rest his gun on it and gives a tired smile towards the man. Ashley meanwhile took a seat on a wooden crate to catch her breath.
“Heh..thanks. Listen, I know I'm gonna be dealing with the head nutcase here soon. I need my knife repaired and my magnum tuned up please. I have the funds to cover it.” Without another thought, Leon pulls out from his pocket: an ornate necklace filled with gemstones slotted beautifully together. Leon places the necklace down on the table. The colors purple, gold, blue and green shine as he adds a handful of various sizes of gold coins next to it. 
“Heheh thank you.” The merchant chuckles, deeply pleased with the trade offer in hand. He makes quick work of repairing Leon’s knife and tuning up his magnum. 
 “Here stranger, should keep you alive a little while longer.” Leon nods his thanks to the man before nodding towards Ashley that they are leaving. The agent heads back to the door, his escort by his side, Leon pauses turning back around to the Merchant. He knew this would be the last time that they would see each other again so, it seemed like the proper time.
“Thank you for everything.” Then just as quickly as the duo arrived, they wasted no time in leaving to go deal with whoever was left in their way.
Left in his own silence once more, The merchant lets out a tired sigh rolling his shoulders. It had been a couple of exhausting days, moving from location to location making sure his persistent customer had everything he needed to carry on with the battle. Now his job was done, time to take his profits and take his own leave. The merchant took the next few minutes putting out the torch and collecting all the valuables around. Distant gunshots could be heard from his spot making the merchant half smile underneath his cover. He wished Leon luck and hoped that he would put an end to all of this madness. That was his cue to get things moving along.
The laboratory’s hallway was dimly lit and smelled of dried blood with the lovely hint of chemicals. Bodies ruined by Leon and his guns laid strewn about, dark blood splatter nearly everywhere. Thankfully no one seemed to be left alive so it would be an easy way out to his hidden boat, all he needed to do was escape. The merchant walks swiftly even with the heavy luggage on his back heading through the metal double door. 
Once inside he sees a room filled with heavy medical equipment he does not understand, he sees an unconscious man out in a big chair. Said chair had arching pods that pointed downwards on towards the man’s chest and stomach. Whatever this machine was, it seemed to have recently performed a surgery on the man. The merchant hums in thought inwardly fighting whether or not to leave the man here to his own fate or save him. He walks up to the chair raising his hand to shake the person slightly earning a small incoherent mumble. A firm shake this time results in a more understandable answer.
“Leave me ugh…alone… 5 more minutes.”
“I'm afraid we don't have 5 minutes. Get up unless you wanna have the whole island blowing up with you on it.” 
That seems to jolt awake the man who wobbles to his feet, but his body doesn’t hold him up for longer. His knees buckle making the man collapse into the merchant who catches him with an exasperated grunt. The man blinks trying to gather his bearings, then pushes himself off of the merchant with a faint blush. He notices that the man is well dressed, in a plain shirt with a leather jacket, form fitting pants and combat boots. Not a soldier, a scientist or a victim? The man whips his head around rushing to grab a backpack that jingles a sweet song the merchant knows too well.
“Shit… I.. Who are you?”
“Heheh later for now we must move.” He responds by pushing the man forward to a side door in the room. 
“ Come before we run into any unwanted guests of ours.” The man seems to understand the situation and follows without another word. The few minutes are spent cautiously moving throughout the laboratory reaching the lower levels of the island. It’s only then does the merchant begin to speak.
“So stranger you mind telling me why I found you passed on in that lab?”
The man huffs, crossing his arms with a raised eyebrow. “You mind telling me who you are?”
“Why I am a lowly merchant who goes around making his profit.” The merchant’s playfully tone was nice to see and hear but it didn’t satisfy the man.
“So does this lowly merchant have a name?” The man asked, mimicking the merchant’s tone.
Huh, even the blonde agent didn’t seem to ask for his name. Not that he cared, the merchant knew the urgent matters at hand. He wouldn’t let that info slip so easily though. “Maybe I do, maybe I don't. If you have something valuable, maybe I'll give you my name.”
The slightly shorter man smirked, pulling a golden crown suited for a king, there were five pristine gemstones all different colors.  He waves it before handing it fully to the merchant who inspects it closely before slipping the crown into his pack.
“Anthony, stranger.”
“My name is ______ Now we’re not strangers anymore.”
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pupupuphuca · 6 months
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decided to do some fun miscellaneous twilight related facts about myself ⬇️
1. i have a pinterest board named “yes my vampires sparkle”. i have hundreds of photos of ashley greene and jackson rathbone from almost every angle for reference. i have cute moments of other characters too ofc.
2. i think my artworks are out of character. my drawings are my own interpretation inspired from fics. i cant draw consistent faces or get it close to my imagination. also its because
3. ive never read the books. I’M SORRY. i watched the movies and went straight to jalice fanfiction. also after i got on twilight tumblr i discovered the difference between the books and the movies, and i read metas, and thought my interpretation of the characters is so different from the books. so… yeah. also there’s not enough jalice moments in the books anyway amirite?
4. i got on tumblr and ao3 because of jalice. i had a tumblr account and knew about ao3 but have never read fanfiction that much. so the fandom culture on tumblr was mind blowing for me.
5. i love love love jalice fanfiction. urgh cant say it enough. some fics i read over and over ive memorized them. i have so many scenes i may never able to draw 😭
6. and so, getting interactions from fanfic authors is WILD for me. cant thank you all enough.
7. this is embarrassing but, one of my motivation is i wanna be THAT artist in the fandom (including but not limited to jalice hehe). i wanna contribute, i wanna draw characters exactly how i imagine them, i wanna make people feel something. and so i think my art has improved a lot while drawing jalice.
thank you again, for just being here, making up this lovely fandom, for writing fics, for giving me many treasured moments for the past 2 years.
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aqours · 5 months
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anyways if i'm going this deep in lemme share this teen mom Ashley fic idea i had i'd love feedback on the idea
this is completely unrelated to my other idea regarding this this is an entirely different can of worms i'm putting this under a readmore just bc it's a bit long and also filled with dead doves so only open and eat it at your own discretion
so basically the idea goes like this- when they were teenagers (her 14 and him 16) Andrew and Ashley got into some kind of big fight (still working on it) most likely due to him having a girlfriend in hs at the time. during this period, in an effort to make a point and piss him off, Ashley gets a boyfriend of her own (who just so happens to have messy black hair and green eyes wow what a coincidence) who was in a class with Andrew. some incident happens where Ashley "accidentally" leaves her phone with explicit texts on view (but also tis like the 90s so maybe i'll redo that) and Andrew talked with his classmate and then uh there was another second missing person, and after an intense argument Ashley and Andrew "slept in the same bed" and anyways a month later Ashley announces she's pregnant casually at the dinner table putting the pregnancy test she put right on it.
"Huh. Not the reaction I was hoping for."
"Forgive me for not being particularly fucking thrilled at the idea of being a grandmother at 32, Ashley."
"You know, if my kid has a kid at 15 and their kid ALSO has a kid at 15 you could be a great-great-grandma at only 75."
"Please shut the fuck up, Ashley."
and Andrew is in complete denial it is. it's been 6 years and every single person except Julia refuses to believe it isn't. at one point when Alexis "Alex" Graves is a baby she makes a comment she has her father's (green) eyes with a wink and grin at Andrew. during the Burial Route when Mrs. Graves is trying to plead with Andrew she finally says "... If you won't do it for yourself, do it for your ------------------" and it's like his brain physically blocks out any insinuation with he's the father with white noise. so he's been living as the kid's uncle officially and has no idea how to act around this kid most of the time.
Ashley is not a good mom by any means and has had CPS called on her more than once but incompetence won't remove the child entirely and she does like. actually love this kid but her obsession with Andrew is clearly more important to her, the fact this kid keeps him tethered to her even if he won't admit, and also because she spoils the kid however she can to try to prove she's a better mother just because her daughter is happier than she was, when learning Alex hit another kid to get their candy she was outright like fuck YEAH if you want something take it!!! girlboss gatekeep gaslight to this four year old and Andrew at least tried to teach the kid right from wrong in response. during her first birthday Mrs. Graves asked Ashley if she was gonna do anything and Ashley didn't see a point the kid is 1 they won't remember the birthday there's nothing they'd want and she doesn't seem to process the point of a birthday for a baby isn't about toys and fun but to celebrate their life. when Ashley suggests they can get by on mugging people Alex says she can pose as a homeless sad kid and for the first time in a while at her Ashley lights up and says THAT'S why you're mama's favorite <3333
babies don't make everything better the co-dependent toxic satanic demonic summoning cannibal incest game's plot now also includes a 6 year old that has also eaten people now with two of the most awful parents imaginable around her and if anything Ashley might get colder once her mom is dead because now there's no way
thoughts? i really want to write this but i'd love feedback
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boobav · 1 year
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Late-Night Dinner
Leon Kennedy x Reader
a/n: something short and sweet whilst my resi obsession reignites ;P
content: pure fluff, leon is actually happy for once, also hes not the rizz master some of u pretend he is... angsty subject matter, afab reader briefly mentioned
word count: 2.8k
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You shot up from bed with a choking gasp, almost a sob, with a cold sweat wetting your back and neck and with twisted blankets wrapping uncomfortably round you. Your fingers gripped the sheets involuntarily, flexing to feel the fabric, assessing its realness with touch. There were no tears, no cries. But your breath stung as it pulled through your lungs, your heart hammered in its cage and your eyes shot around the room, half expecting some fleshy, misshapen creature to be hiding in the dark.
Despite all this, the mission had been a success. Ashley was safe, every last speck of Plagas had been blown to pieces, etcetera.
Yet it still haunted you.
Success did not always lead to personal satisfaction... This idea was, unfortunately, accentuated by your line of work: a government agent sent on covert missions to defeat the most abominable of human creation.
You ran a clammy hand over your face, shuffling out the pile of blankets into the cool air. Coming down from a nightmare was always unpleasant, but the thought that these dreams would endure for as long as you did made it all somehow worse. The bedside clock read 2.34 in glowing green lettering, and with a sigh you stood, patting along barefoot to the kitchen for water.
Your nightmares were visages of blood and failure, of flesh and despair. Sometimes when waking, no stable image could be recalled, but dreadful feelings of anguish would linger just the same. Feelings of content, of happiness, were becoming increasingly rare, gems in the void that was your life. Escape was just a distant fantasy, a childish yearning for another reality.
Every single night, that island pulled you back to its unholy ground.
You filled your glass by the tap with the moodiness of night surrounding your figure, and you gulped the water with great fervor, the events of your dreams real enough to dehydrate. The dull moonlight spilling in through the window guided your actions. You were thankful for it, seeing as turning on a blinding light would just worsen your mood.
Slumping back into your warm bed was easy, but actually sleeping? That was some kind of impossible mission your mind could barely fathom. Over the past 3 weeks of life, sleep had become a reluctant, elusive mistress, granting you only tiny hours of intermittent rest. During the first week, you'd complained about it to anyone who'd listen... But now you were silent. Traversing the day with a half-asleep brain was somehow more pleasant than facing the sinister re-imaginings of past events your mind cooked up and labelled, 'fun dreams you definitely want to see!'.
Your wandering thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of your phone.
A soft sound left your lips, a delicate one, and you re-opened your glassy eyes to look at the notification.
'You up?'
Despite the void in your chest, you smiled.
'Yup'
2am texts from Leon had become increasingly common these days. They had been somewhat common a few years back, after that horrible night at the city, but rigorous special agent training tended to halt socialisation. Nonetheless... You looked forward to these texts more than you'd like to admit. He lingered on the chat, beginning to type something, stopping, beginning again- then finally sending a message.
'You wanna get some late-night dinner?'
'Sure if you pick me up :)'
'Be there in 5.'
If you'd had hope of falling asleep before, it had been completely extinguished now. That wasn't so bad though. 2am dinner with Leon was always a treat.
You threw on a hoodie (that'd been previously discarded on the floor) and some jeans, then rushed to the bathroom to make yourself look somewhat presentable. The light was harsh and made your sunken eyes look astronomically worse; you ignored the fact the diner would accentuate that flaw further, splashed water on your face and gave a half-hearted attempt to brush your teeth and hair. It wasn't a glamorous look by any means- but it was something.
Leon texted you a few minutes later saying he'd arrived. His promptness suggested that he must've been driving around already, but that wasn't surprising, nor worth mentioning. You swiped at your keys, cursed when they fell to the floor, picked them back up then jogged down the apartment block's stairs to meet your free meal ticket.
"Hey!" Leon yelled, much too loudly for the hour, as you exited the grey building, "C'mon, they're still open for an hour."
"I know! We've done this like a 100 times, if you recall." You slid into the passenger seat and glanced aside, meeting the agent's eyes for a brief moment. Shrouded in darkness as they were, they were bright, excited even. In these dim hours an old softness returned to the man's face, a delicate look no longer fit for his crumbling lifestyle. He had on some old black t-shirt and dark jeans, nothing fancy... But he still made them look good.
"101 times now." His smile was more like an awkward grimace- like he wasn't sure whether he wanted you to laugh or not at his cheesy comment.
It was adorable.
"Mm, true. Now drive, I'm hungry."
"Yes ma'am."
~
The ride to the diner was short and sweet. Streetlamps shone over you and Leon, lighting up his concentrated features in steady beats. The city's lurid lights shimmered through your half-closed eyes, beautiful and inviting- but really, they were only a scenic backdrop for the focus of your attention. Leon's gaze shifted sideways to yours every few seconds. No words were exchanged, no jokes or quips uttered. The two of you simply listened to the car engine, to the rare passing vehicle, and to the quiet and sleep-inducing murmur of the radio. His bangs framed his pretty face perfectly, but in the end, they failed at hiding that tired quality he'd been carrying recently, that deep, incongruous sadness that permeated though his angelic features.
"We're here sleepy-head." Leon woke you from the stupor you'd unknowingly fell into, and reached to unbuckle your seatbelt.
"What 20-something year old-" You yawned, "-calls people that?"
"A hilarious one." He grinned, "And luckily for you, I am just that." The streetlamp above the car was flickering, a slightly unnerving image to most, but it did nothing for your fear-receptors. As you shuffled from the car seat, you noted that the rest of the parking lot was empty and dead, a silent object in the night's hum. The diner's light was similarly flickering, however it was a neon pink and, therefore, more inviting.
"I don't think I'd go so far as to call you hilarious." You began walking, Leon coming up beside you. "Maybe a bit funny."
"Well, that's better than nothing."
Upon entering, the diner turned out to be just as dead as the parking lot. The place was going for a vintage style, pastel blue and pink stripes with cute booths made of well-worn faux-leather. In short, it was the kind of establishment that made you yearn for a milkshake. The two of you spent longer than necessary choosing one of twelve empty booths, accosted soon after by the lone waiter who was probably equally depressed as you, despite the life-style differences.
"Yeah I'll get... A strawberry milkshake, medium, and... The Roundabout burger. What do you want?" Sleeplessness was evident even in your voice. But that was nothing a great $2 milkshake couldn't fix...
"The same, minus the milkshake." The dull-eyed waiter nodded at your companion and strode off, notepad in hand.
Leon sat opposite you in the pink booth, eyes just as tired and weary as your own. He went from folding his arms, to placing them on his lap, to fiddling with the salt on the table, then back to folding them. Every night the two of you went out, there was always a moment he got caught up in some awkward back-and-forth with himself. The fluorescent light above you buzzed, a man-made insect, and you wondered whether that feeling of endearment in your chest was some delusion brought on by the sleeplessness and trauma- or whether this mess of a man was truly pulling on some strange and questionable feelings within.
Leon cleared his throat, "So... Still not sleeping well?" His brows, for once, were not furrowed, his mouth not turned downwards in misery.
"No, obviously."
"Yeah. I guess that makes two of us."
"I figured." And... A telling silence followed your reply. Eyes darted anywhere but each-other, fingers fiddled with loose threads. How was this still possible after so many hours spent together? How was this interaction so common when you'd saved the goddamn world together? Maybe if you spent less time pondering the awkwardness, and spent more time doing something about it, it would be less common... Quite an intelligent deduction... That you'd deduced a thousand times already. Thankfully, the waiter arrived with your burgers, so your brain shut up. You mumbled a thanks, so eager to eat that you almost missed that two straws had been put in the milkshake.
Leon was quick to throw you a brazen grin. Teasing, fake in its apparent confidence.
"What's that smile supposed to mean?" You spoke through chews, only realising now how hungry you'd been. Restlessness did that, you supposed. Made someone forget all about their basic needs, their wants- everything really. Made someone turn, slowly, into a shell of their former self.
"Nothing..." That goddamn sly look he loved pulling was deadly... "I don't wanna intrude on your milkshake privileges. Despite the invitation."
"You can try my milkshake if you wanna try my milkshade, dude."
He popped a sauce-covered finger into his mouth and hummed in appreciation. "You're the most generous US Agent I know." Then he shifted his straw and took a much-too-long sip, but, well, he was paying. So you supposed he had the right.
"Good?" You asked, and he nodded.
"Try it for yourself."
It was good. More than good, really. If you believed in anything, you believed in the $2 milkshake from going-bust vintage diners. You glanced up at Leon through your lashes, relishing in the feeling that his genuine smile gave you. The feeling was warm and bright- hopeful, even. It made you think that, somehow, the two of you could move on from yet another awful tragedy, yet another stain on your existences.
...Or maybe that was just the milkshake talking.
~
Dinner finished up sooner than you'd like; moments like this demanded lingering, demanded living in the present. But living in the present was hard, impossible even, because beautiful moments slipped through your fingers like running water. Such is life.
You strolled leisurely from the diner, Leon following suit, and stared out blankly at the parking lot. Rain had begun to drizzle onto the concrete, onto the lamp-posts and onto you; it was light, though, so you didn't speed up. Neither of you spoke- but you so desperately wanted to say something- say that you cared about him, that he wasn't alone, that you wanted to spend more time with him. But that lump in your chest was so heavy, heavy enough to halt any words that could possibly spill from your mouth and, god, why couldn't you just-
"So... You wanna come over?" Leon looked over to you, a boyish shyness evident on his face and in his voice; you were too stunned to answer immediately. Did he have some sort of uncanny ability to steal the words right from your mouth? Or... Could it possibly be true that he felt the same way as you? "Sorry that was kind of stupid to ask-"
"Yeah- I mean, no- I do, Leon." Finally your mouth caught up with your brain, "I'm just a bit stunned, that's all. I mean, I've wanted to ask you that for ages too but... I don't know, I never did."
You felt like a nervous teenager, embarrassed to be asking a boy to come over to yours... Even though it was the other way around. Goddamn, how was this man making you feel 17 all over again? Feel like there was a life ahead of you? The two of you paused in the parking lot, facing each-other with the body language of shy animals. Leon was smiling like a fool, the night's shadows accentuating his features beautifully, and with a light hesitation he moved to cup your face. You placed your hand atop his and searched solemnly through his eyes, with confusion and excitement rushing through your veins simultaneously. Fuck- you wanted this so bad. You knew that. But was it plausible? Could the enraptured expression Leon held continue through the night-terrors and meltdowns and inevitable missions and-
And then the drizzle broke into heavy, thundering rain.
It smashed into the two of you and you jumped away, yelping at the sudden shock of wet cold. The sensation, initially horrible, was somehow transformed into a jittery warmth as you and Leon looked at eachother, suddenly soaked to the bone, and fell into a laughter that continued all the way to the car.
~
Leon fumbled with his keys, ushering you inside his apartment and out of the pounding rain. He sighed, shook the rain from his hair like a puppy and spoke, "Make yourself at home. I'll go get a towel."
The place was simple, too simple really, there wasn't much decoration besides a fake potted plant by the tv and a painting of the ocean on the wall. It was askew, you noted. Rain fell from your clothes onto the hardwood floor, dripping in intervals that made you wary to approach the couch.
So you just stood there. Like an ill-fitted statue. Leon reappeared shortly, tilting his head and smirking at your awkward figure.
"You planning on standing there all day?"
"I mean, maybe." You caught the towel he chucked at you, and gave a half-hearted attempt to dry yourself. There was a feeling of unease trapped in your chest- and you knew if you didn't make a move now it would only get worse. So... As soon as you were relatively dry... A move was made.
You practically threw yourself at Leon; he caught you with a breathy laugh, humming as you pressed your lips against his. He wrapped his strong arms round you, tugging you gently towards the couch- but midway he tripped on your foot and fell backwards into it; you were dragged along, practically crushing him upon impact.
He just laughed, breathlessly, and so did you; he kissed your jaw, the corners of your mouth and the tip of your nose and laughed all the way through. You were smiling like a madwoman, hands caught up in his blonde hair and messing it up more than you thought possible. His hands found your waist as you straddled him, comfortably and casually and his lips crashed into yours again, oddly inexperienced, as though he hadn't done this for months, maybe years. He squeezed at your waist, smiling against your mouth and pulling away for a breath of air before pressing right against you again, and again, until your mouth was numb with kisses and laughter.
Finally, after an eon of never-ending smooches, you pulled away and brushed his bangs from his gentle blue eyes. Peering into them was seeing a slice of heaven, seeing a pool of love designated for you and you alone. Leon drew circles on your back and sighed, letting his head fall to the back of the couch once he'd confirmed from your eyes that whatever he felt, you felt too. He opened his mouth to speak, hesitated slightly... But went for it anyway.
"I think... I might be in love with you." His tone was breathy, nervous in a subtle way. You pressed a long kiss against his neck, then peppered kisses against his jawline with his eyes closed in content, like he already knew your answer to his statement. You knew it too, long ago really. Finally having it actualised made this moment more magical than you thought life could be. There was more after the struggle. More after the pain. There was more to life than fighting B.O.Ws and losing every part of yourself until all that was left was a power-hungry machine.
"I feel the same, I think." Forming such raw words was nerve-wracking, difficult in a way nothing else in this life had been. "How risqué... Two government agents dating."
"Hey, who said we were dating?" Leon huffed in jest and pulled you gently sideways, so that eventually the two of you had settled into lying down on the couch. He spooned you from behind, arm draped comfortably over your waist, face pressed warmly into your neck.
"Me." You closed your eyes, yawning, "So I guess that settles it."
Leon's only response was some incoherent mumbling against your skin, honey-dribbled words that meant more than you could ever know. His breathing deepened, chest pressed tight against your back. You followed him into his soft slumber, a deeper sleep than the two of you'd experienced for days.
He dreamt of you, and you dreamt of him.
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youcouldmakealife · 3 months
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LBTE: Jared (142-144)
Holden Chase, head trauma, and unintended consequences.
If you're reading along, the series page is here.
142. Ellipsis
You know, seems kind of sadistic to give this title to a chapter that ends the way it did. Not an apology, just an acknowledgment.
He went to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his rookie year, refused to touch the Cup, just in case. Dumb superstition, but more than that, if he touches it, he wants it to be because he earned it, not because he paid twenty bucks at the entrance. He went to the Empire State Building with some of the Oilers once, and Julius wore a supremely bored expression all day, all ‘New York is beneath me’.
Even Jared has gone to the Empire State Building more times than David Chapman, resident of New York for years, confirmed.
Minnesota’s fucking cold, and he’s saying this as an Albertan.
Went to Minnesota on TOTI research trip (my brother worked for a Minnesota based company at the time and he got a tag-a-long to a work thing that he in no way, shape, or form requested). Anyway, can confirm: was fucking cold.
Jared gets started on his packing as well. Just the socks and underwear, since he’s sure Bryce has ideas about what he’s going to wear, and will be all appalled that Jared packed like, a red sweater when obviously it’s green sweater season, Jared, how did you not realise that it was green sweater season, don’t you pay attention at all to the sweater seasons?
*
Bryce is grey sweatered and borderline hyperactive in his cheerfulness on the flight out.
Foolish Jared, it’s clearly grey sweater season.
Jared imagines money’s been bet, but what he doesn’t know can’t hurt him. Or like, stress him out. Bryce happily co-existing with their teammates is worth him losing some money at cards once in awhile. Or like, often. He’s really not very good, from what Jared’s gathered, so obviously everyone is happy to have him join in. But Bryce doesn’t mind, so Jared doesn’t mind. Much. They play for stakes the call-ups and ELC guys can afford, so it’s not exactly going to bankrupt them, no matter how many games Bryce loses.
Bryce is enthusiastic and terrible, which makes him the ideal person to play cards against, even before you get into the fact he makes more than most of his teammates make less money than he does and therefore the stakes seem low to him. That’s a Stevie rule — nobody’s betting more than the player paid the least on the team can stomach. This is a way to pass time on the plane, not a gambling ring.
Ashley is pregnant. Like, Jared knew this, obviously he knew this, they were told right before they left — weeks after Raf and Grace found out, and he is not upset about this — but there’s a difference between knowing and seeing. She’s not like, about to give birth or anything, but they definitely would have noticed if they hadn’t been told in advance. Probably. Maybe.
Bryce would have noticed, at least.
Jared a) is obviously extremely upset about this and b) would absolutely not have noticed, but he’s right that Bryce would have.
Jared mortifies himself in front of David Chapman, which is great. Totally fine. Absolutely not something that will haunt him for the rest of his life, and may actually lead to a premature death due to intense shame.
“You’re exaggerating,” Raf says over breakfast the next morning. “He didn’t even notice.”
Two things can be true. Jared DID mortify himself in front of David. And David did not notice.
“No offence?” Raf says. “But David’s kind of — not oblivious, exactly? Well, kind of. Trust me, he didn’t notice. I can almost guarantee he’s already forgotten your name, let alone anything you said to him.”
Accurate summary except where Raf said ‘not oblivious, exactly’, because he IS oblivious, exactly. At least in this particular matter.
“I mean you were flirting with another dude in front of him all night,” Raf says. “So I don’t really blame him.”
So apparently Bryce was not the only one who got the impression that Jared was flirting with David. Great. Terrific. Wonderful.
“I didn’t mean to,” Jared moans. “It wasn’t flirting, it was like — word vomit.”
Jared thinks someone is pretty, Jared loses control of his mouth. Well. Remaining control.
“Maybe don’t call David out of your league when you’re explaining why it wasn’t meaningful flirtation?” Raf says.
“That’s great advice,” Jared says. It truly is. “Except I already did that.”
Raf shrugs. “Would have told you not to flirt with David but—“
Jared thunks his head back on the table.
Raf has endured so much.
He found this one pretty funny though, to be honest. Like, mortifying to witness at the time, but over breakfast the next morning? Hilarious.
Bryce is no longer mad at him by the time they get to Buffalo. Or maybe he is, but not mad enough not to sneak into Jared’s room for a gameday nap, and Jared’s too relieved to remind Bryce about his ironclad ‘no sleeping together on the road, yes that means naps too’ rule. Which is apparently less ironclad and more ‘unless I fucked up and hurt your feelings in which case do whatever you want’.
Annnnd the ironclad rule has been broken.
then Hartford’s a quick, surprisingly easy win, one that’ll probably lead to a dozen Moby-Dick references in game-write ups from beat writers who think they’re clever.
Cue William Dineen pointing out that orcas are dolphins, actually.
There’s also a difference between quietly missing his family a bit and the loud ‘thank fuck we’re almost home’ that’s going on with a lot of his teammates right now, Dmitry the loudest among them. Everybody’s glad to be going home. Nobody needs to say it repeatedly at increasing volume.
“He’s got kids,” Bryce says.
“Okay?” Jared says.
“He’s got kids,” Bryce says, like Jared didn’t hear him the first time.
Dmitry hasn’t seen his children in several weeks. He missed them very very much.
Dmitry says something loudly about missing his kids. Bryce nods earnestly like this isn’t the tenth time he’s heard it. Today.
Very very much.
“They are getting so big and I am missing it all!” Dmitry groans. “All of the moments, Bullet! I have abandoned them!”
Bryce makes wordless soothing noises as Dmitry puts his face in his hands.
Very VERY much.
“Okay, he’s a little dramatic,” Gabe says, and Jared grins.
Also yes this.
Not seeing something coming is the biggest cliché. In general, but specifically in hockey.
I acknowledge, I do not apologise.
He doesn’t see it coming. Puck on his stick, back to the play. He does a shoulder check, and he’s clear, the Bruins defender on him peeling away, presumably for a change, and the puck’s off his tape, pass executed, on its way to Dmitry, and then there’s nothing at all.
So just to be clear: that pass was executed far enough before the hit that Jared was not eligible for contact anymore. It was a late hit. It would have been boarding even if it wasn’t, but it was late as well.
143. Washed Clean
“Okay, that’s okay, you’re fine,” he hears. It’s Gabe, he thinks, but he doesn’t open his eyes again to check. “You’re fine, okay Jared?”
“I’m fine,” Jared mumbles.
“You’re perfectly fine,” Gabe says back.
Gabe holds it together admirably until he gets home because he feels that’s what’s needed of him, but man is he freaking the fuck out right now.
“I want you to stay still for me,” Graham says. Jared assumes he’s saying it to him and not Gabe.
“Don’t move my head,” Jared says.
“Exactly,” Graham says. “Can you move your extremities?”
“You just told me to stay still,” Jared says. “Which one is it.”
The RELIEF Gabe feels at Jared being snippy.
“You’re okay?” he says from a careful distance, like if he breaches it he’ll break.
Bryce is 100% sure that if he gets within five feet of Jared right now he will not be in control of his own actions. He’s thisclose to not caring.
Getting out of there’s a mess. It’s the same as usual, honestly, doesn’t take any longer, or have any more logistical snarls, but whatever remained of Jared’s energy ran out before they even left TD Garden, and his head hurts too much to look at his phone, do anything but keep telling himself the painkillers haven’t kicked in, that he just has to wait, even though it’s well past time they would have started working. He feels like he’s going to cry every time he blinks. He hurts.
I can think of worse places to have a brutal headache than a hockey arena, but not many. Fluorescents, strong smells, so many people coming and going, people calling out, yelling — total nightmare.
Jared is on the verge of tears for a good hour or so, here.
“Back of the plane will be quieter,” Gabe says. “Let me check with Munch.”
Munch apparently gives them the last row without argument, which has Jared wondering just how bad that hit looked, because he’s as much a superstitious creature of habit as anyone Jared’s ever met, and no way would he cede his usual seat without good cause.
Munch is indeed extraordinarily superstitious, but Jared is as white as a sheet, and Munch doesn’t want to be haunted by ghost Jared. Also he has empathy. But mostly it’s the not wanting to be haunted.
He breathes small, shallow breaths, fighting the urge to grab Gabe’s hand and squeeze until someone else knows exactly how bad he feels. That’s unkind. Also his skin hurts, so it’d probably hurt him even more than it’d hurt Gabe.
Unkind may not stop Jared, but self-defeating will.
“How’s your head?” Bryce says, carefully quiet.
“Hurts,” Jared says. “My heart beats too much.”
Bryce looks extremely alarmed.
‘heart beats too much’ sounds like an alarming development without context, yes.
Bryce leans into him, nose nudging his hair.
“You scared the shit out of me, babe,” Bryce murmurs against his temple, barely louder than Jared’s own heart.
“Sorry,” Jared mumbles, and he feels the flutter of Bryce’s lashes when he shuts his eyes, forehead cool against Jared’s skin like maybe Jared’s running a fever.
Jared flinches at the sound of a toilet flushing, louder than it should be, but doesn’t put it together, cause and effect, until Stevie says, “Whoa, wifeys are going to be jealous.”
This is a real fucking soft moment for Stevie to blunder into. Also he’s usually better at this, but, you know: he’s a bit wired right now. Red Bulls. Finally getting to go home after literal weeks. Etc.
He doesn’t sound like his heart’s in it anymore, but Jared appreciates the attempt to keep it chill. Not chill enough, though: Jared can feel Bryce, a line of tight tension beside him, the space he put between them almost a presence in itself. And Jared knew Bryce telling Dmitry didn’t necessarily mean — he knew that. He shouldn’t be surprised.
He’s quietly so disappointed here. Easy to miss, since Bryce comes out in the same scene, but.
“Nothing to be jealous of,” Bryce says, and Jared’s half-expecting a ‘no homo’ moment, is just — tired — except Bryce says, “Considering we’re married to each other, so.”
So disappointed, and then Bryce keeps talking.
“Sorry,” Stevie whispers. “But — really?”
“Really,” Gabe says. He’s a few rows ahead, so if he overheard their conversation he’s not the only one. Jared doesn’t have the brain power to think about that right now. “Give them some space, Stevedore.”
Stevedore (dockworker) is such a good fucking nickname for a marine themed team. Only team it’d be better for is the Whalers.
Also such a Gabe nickname. Deep cuts from Gabriel Markson. Tate Williams would appreciate him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Jared says.
“Yes I did,” Bryce says, and finds Jared’s hand, lacing their fingers together.
He really did. Standing at a distance from Jared when he was in pain, even though nothing was technically stopping Bryce from reaching out, getting updates from Gabe even though he was right there — once he sat down next to Jared he wasn’t getting up again. And once he was close enough to touch Jared nobody was hiding shit.
Jared is pretty sure that’s impossible, but he manages eventually, and not just a cat nap, because he wakes up to the change of air pressure, fingers still laced loosely with Bryce’s, who’s on his phone, typing awkwardly with his left hand.
Every time Bryce makes a decision he pretty much ensures it’s irrevocable. Okay: I’m out. Not letting go of my husband’s hand for the next few hours, anyone using the back bathroom can mind their own fucking business.
“I let everyone know you weren’t doing screentime,” Bryce says. “Your mom says to call them when you feel up to it. Her and your dad are super freaked out. And my mom. She sent me like, fifty texts while you were sleeping. Sorry, I’m talking too much. I was really — I’m talking too much. I’m sorry.”
He knows Jared has a headache so he’ll be quiet now, don’t worry.
(He was so fucking scared.)
“Yeah,” Bryce says, letting go of his hand to dig up a travel bottle. Jared’s fingers feel cold. He wonders if Bryce let go once when he was sleeping, or if he spent the entire trip with their fingers laced, texting Jared’s parents, Elaine, the group chat, awkwardly one-handed the whole time.
Second one.
Julius’ texts go from mildly concerned, to irritated Jared’s not answering, to moderately concerned, to angry Jared’s not answering, and then land on severely concerned. Jared wonders if they should wait to see if he hits infuriated that Jared’s not answering, or if he’s just going to stay in severely concerned until he gets a text back.
“Send him a thumbs up emoji and nothing else,” Jared says. “I wanna see how he responds.”
“I’m not doing that,” Bryce says, sounding utterly horrified, and Jared smiles.
Possibly the meanest thing Jared ever does to Julius, and he stole his blanket and introduced him to his evil sister. (Or, it would have been if Bryce had obliged. Which he was absolutely not going to do)
Jared doesn’t know if that’s something management already told them, but he doesn’t think so, because they’ve treated Jared the same since he got to Vancouver. He likes his coaches. Really hopes that isn’t about to change, go sour the way Jared’s relationship with Oilers management did.
Jared doesn’t mention coach reaction at length, focused more on team, but coaching staff continue to treat him exactly the same, minus a few awkward shoulder punches.
“I’m gonna drive you guys home,” Gabe says.
Bryce frowns. “I can—“
“No offence?” Gabe says. “You do not look good to drive right now, Bryce.”
Bryce 100% looks worse than Jared at this point.
They should buy him like, a fruit basket or something. Jared doesn’t really know what’s appropriate for ‘hey thanks for looking out for me after I got steamrolled and probably handling the guys so they didn’t come swarming us with questions’. Elaine will probably know. She’s good at those sort of things.
Elaine suggests a gift basket featuring chocolate.
“I don’t even know,” Bryce says. “Think there was a 7 on his jersey? It was a board battle, I don’t think it was on purpose.”
James, and no, it was not on purpose.
“You get him?” Jared asks, letting his eyes drift shut.
“Dima did,” Bryce says. “He said if I did I wouldn’t know how to stop.”
100% for the best, Bryce was not in his right mind; it wouldn’t have been a hockey fight, it would have been assault.
“Okay,” Jared says. “You don’t — you can touch me, you know. I’m not going to break.”
“Okay,” Bryce murmurs, fingers still slowly carding through Jared’s hair, and Jared can feel Bryce’s lips brush his forehead, so light that he knows Bryce doesn’t believe him.
Oh my darlings.
144. Unvarnished
“Have you just been sitting in the car the whole time?” Jared asks. He texted Bryce to meet at the car, but apparently he didn’t need to bother, since Bryce is exactly where Jared left him. He could have just arrived, but Jared has suspicions.
Bryce looks shifty. “I didn’t want to go far in case you needed me,” he says.
Jared is unsure what situation would involve Bryce being needed — certainly not a medical emergency, since Jared was being evaluated by medical professionals — but he holds his tongue for once, which is good, because Bryce is a very, very fragile man at the moment.
He doesn’t notice at first, on the phone with his mom, who sounds weirdly un-mom like, all soft,
The people who love him all had a really bad day yesterday. Jared accepts this in the case of Bryce, you’d think he’d acknowledge his own mom might be shaken.
Bryce looks simultaneously sheepish, apologetic, and completely unrepentant all at once. Jared’s kind of impressed. It takes skill to look like you’re very, very sorry, but also get fucking used to it.
‘I’m sorry and I will not stop’
Bryce clears the Gatorade and cheese and crackers to make room for himself. Jared would ask what he’s supposed to do if he wants one of those, but that’d probably get Bryce springing up and apologising for daring to take the space of any food or beverage that Jared may need in the future. He probably shouldn’t tease Bryce — he doesn’t look like sarcasm’s going to go over well at the moment. Jared’s not the only fragile one right now. Hell, Jared may be the less fragile one right now.
Jared has no idea.
Jared holds an arm out, and sighs when Bryce looks at it almost suspiciously.
“I’m lonely,” Jared says. It comes out over-the-top, but whatever, it gets Bryce tucking himself against Jared, albeit very carefully.
Bryce knows he’s being managed, but also, Jared said he was lonely.
after Jared hands him his phone, he reads Jared one from Stephen, saying he’s glad he’s doing okay and to let him or Gabe know if they need anything, one from Gabe saying basically the same thing, and one from Dima that’s a bunch of emojis Jared can’t really make sense of: whale, thumbs up, men holding hands, heart, prayer hands — or pleading, Jared’s never sure which it’s supposed to be — hockey stick, net.
Dima: 🐳👍👬❤️️🙏
Jared: 👍
“I guess we’ll see,” is all he says. If they disappoint Bryce he’ll — he doesn’t even know what he’ll do. They better not.
Man’s already offered to set the Saddledome on fire for Bryce, you think he’ll leave Rogers Arena intact just because they play in it?
“You see my fight?” Dmitry asks. “Kicked his ass for you.”
“Bryce isn’t letting me do screens,” Jared says.
Dmitry wheels on Bryce. “He needs to see my fight!”
Dmitry thinks Bryce’s priorities suck.
“Bryce is having a very intense conversation with Grayson about whether plus-minus should be abolished as a performance metric,” Gabe says. “So he’s fine.”
Bryce is pro abolishment. Because there are better ways to track a player’s defensive stats and what’s meant to be an individual performance metric is fundamentally a team one, and that’s bullshit. Grayson doesn’t even care that much, but now he’s stuck defending it to Bryce and his wildly gesticulating hands.
“Okay this is not me being homophobic, first off,” someone says in the hall outside the bathroom. “Seriously, I’m not that guy. Totally happy for them, love is love or whatever.”
Jared freezes, because starting a statement with a homophobia disclaimer is pretty much a guarantee something extremely homophobic is about to follow. He sees Gabe doing the same out of the corner of his eye.
“But like, Bullet’s married to Math?” the guy says. “Bullet’s like, friendly happy go lucky dude and Math’s like — Math’s kind of mean.”
This is objectively the funniest conversation Jared could ever overhear. And after his death glares/60, this season, it is so very deserved.
“Stephen’s mean,” Jared hisses at him. “And old! Mean and old. That’s who you picked. A mean, old person.”
Hmm, good work proving you’re not mean, Jared. (Stephen is two days older than Gabe.)
Everyone’s over-the-top friendly, asking him how his head is, telling him they’re glad he’s feeling better, saying congrats for their marriage like it just happened, while Jared mumbles ‘thanks’ until it stops sounding like a word to him.
People are showing care and concern for Jared and he does not like it.
Jared waits by the car after a very weird practice. Bryce is back on the plus-minus subject with Grayson, and he looked so happy that Jared didn’t want to drag him away from it.
‘Please’, says Grayson. ‘I don’t even care anymore., I just want to go home’
“Yes!” Jared says. “They keep asking me how my head is and telling me how glad they are I’m feeling better. Like, everyone keeps coming up to me and saying that like they’ve got a script or something.”
Those fuckers.
“They’re just acting like it’s all like—“ Jared says.
“Like it’s all what?” Gabe asks.
“Fine,” Jared says. “They’re acting like it’s all fine and normal.”
And here’s the rub. Nobody’s treating him any differently, and for all he said they wouldn’t, he didn’t actually expect that.
“You know I’m out to the team, right?” Gabe says. “And have been for awhile? You guys aren’t exactly the first queer teammates they’ve shared a room with. The guys who need time to adjust have already had that time.”
“Yeah but it’s like,” Jared says. “I don’t know. Different this time.”
I mean, it is different, in that it’s two teammates and also Bryce is a veritable super star, but also Jared: stop talking.
“I don’t know,” Jared says, frustrated by the pinched look Gabe’s giving him. “A bigger deal? It’s like. I don’t know. You wouldn’t get it.”
Baby gay exceptionalism.
“Isn’t it so nice to have lunch with these trailblazers, Gabe?” Stephen asks. “Laying the groundwork for future generations. I hope we can be like them someday. No, that’s asking for too much. I only hope that we can understand them one day, even just a little.”
Stephen came out around the age Jared is now. That was years and years ago, because, as Jared mentioned, he is mean and old.
“I’m not hopeless,” Gabe says. “Can’t be hopeless when I have you.”
“Ew,” Stephen says flatly. “You know how I feel about schmaltz, Gabriel.”
“I’m a little hopeless sometimes,” Gabe sighs.
Still madly, hopelessly in love.
“It’s absolutely adorable that you think there is any scenario in which I’d let this go,” Stephen says, tossing his hair.
“Steve,” Gabe says.
“Yeah, yeah,” Stephen says. “‘If you keep tossing your hair it’ll lose its dramatic effect’, I know.”
One of my favourite lines in the entire universe. It was a privilege and also a delight to revisit Stephen Petersen when he isn’t deep in fight-or-flight.
He swears Gabe’s eyes twinkle. He thought that was just a thing from books.
“You’re not as nice as you pretend to be,” Jared says, stomping away.
Stephen Petersen is his soulmate, what did you expect.
“Mathematics!” Dmitry says, arms out.
“Quit hugging me it’s been forever since I got hurt!” Jared says, veering around him, and stomps the rest of the way to his stall.
It has been two days.
“What?” Jared snaps, and gets a dozen ‘don’t look at me’ raised hands. “What?”
“He is kind of mean, though,” Langley says, then, “You’re just proving my point, Math!” when Jared throws a glove at him.
This room is a little terrified of him. It’s great.
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halesinger · 6 months
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⟡ 𝔱𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 on a movie date
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✦ jasper is the sweetest ever. definitely gets the snacks and tickets if you would rather have him do it. you would probably have to convince him to go to the movies with you, because of the amount of people that would be there. he would also do the cough and stretch technique just to see you laugh.
✦ alice would have so much fun. she'd pick the movie, but let's you pick the snacks. she'd have to be touching you in some way throughout the movie and would mostly be watching you instead. if you caught her, she'd just smile and turn her attention towards the movie.
✦ rosalie is just happy to see you happy. i don't think she would care what movie you picked as long as you enjoyed it, that's all that matters to her. instead of her staring at you, you find yourself staring at her - admiring the fact that she went to the movies just for you.
✦ emmett is the type to try to make out with you in the theater. he would scoot as close to you as he could without moving out of his seat, and wrap his arm around your shoulders - pulling you close. you'd gently press your hand against his lips as he leans in for a kiss, watching as his head tilts in confusion. smiling, you would point to the movie and he'd smile back, understanding what you wanted.
✦ edward would be a little nervous, especially if this was one of your first dates. if not, he's nervous because you make him nervous. overall, you two would have a great time though. he's the type to stop at a dollar store for snacks because the ones at the movie theater are too expensive. he'd slowly pull your hand towards his to hold, reading your thoughts to make sure he didn't overstep in his actions.
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↳ lmao my brother gave me the idea for this one. hope you enjoyed :)
⟡ likes and reblogs are appreciated !!
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roseglazedlens · 7 months
Text
⦑ 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐛𝐚 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 ⦒ [ part two ]
read part one here (leon kennedy, rebecca, chris, ashley, carlos & ada) read the 'boba tea date' fic here (leon kennedy x gn! reader) characters: ethan winters, jill valentine, jack krauser & claire redfield a/n: part two, because i really want to write about ethan!! content: SFW
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ETHAN WINTERS
Doesn't have a preference, he would just get the same thing as you, and tags along every time without fussing because you wanted to get some
I feel like he likes to match drinks
But you hate it - you want him to order something different so you can have both drinks.
He considers this idea, because he wants to tease you a little by denying the drink from you.
But he will let you have your way anyway, because you look too cute with your cheeks lightly puffed when you sip through the straw.
will kiss you on the cheek as you're sipping - he has no self control and wants to kiss you all the time
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JILL VALENTINE
Pearl milk tea - never gets any modifications because she likes to enjoy drinks as they are intended.
Not into fancy flavours, she tried the pearl milk tea once, likes it, and doesn't feel the need to change.
Even if the bobarista messes up her order, she would just take it and drink it without making a fuss
She never finishes a large drink, but still gets it anyway.
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JACK KRAUSER
Orders coffee at the bubble tea shop 💀💀 and usually black too.
You didn't even know they do coffees here.
The flavours, toppings are too complicated for him.
But I see him branching out to lemon green tea (I headcanon him for liking lemon) with a few dashes of honey
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CLAIRE REDFIELD
Doesn't have a regular drink she goes for - always experimenting with flavours, even sugar/ice levels!
She would always gets toppings though - lychee and mango popping pearls are her favourites!
I can imagine her going to Chris in her youngers years and ask:
"Can you get me bubble tea?" She would ask Chris as he's putting his shoes on, ready to leave.
"Get it yourself, you lazy bum." He would say. But when Chris returns, he would kick down her door, wordlessly placing the drink on her table, giving her the middle finger, before leaving.
(I love their sibling dynamics)
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thanks for reading! come check out my other works. ––yours truly, rose. tags: @valsthea @sporeghost @emilzke © roseglazedlens - please do not repost, plagiarise, or feed to ai.
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spahhzy · 5 months
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Danger is your friend~
If Ashley's glare could kill from across the room, Julia would have been dead a thousand times over.
Gripping at her drink a little too tightly as she saw that whore latch herself onto her brother, Andrew, arm like the snake she was. A million dark thoughts crossed her mind as she watched the two just converse. Andrew looked passive as ever and a happy and smiling Julia.
"Hey Ashley, why don't you come over and play some party games with us?" said one of the party goers as she looked at the various drinking games being played.
She looked back to where Andrew and that...person was before suddenly getting a really dark idea.
"A drinking game sounds fun, I have just the thing too. Can I bring my brother and his girlfriend along too?" Ashley asked with fake sweetness and the party goers just shrugged.
"More the merrier, I suppose, and what game do you have in mind?" They asked, and Ashley let out a mischievous smile but said nothing as she went to go get her brother.
-
"I really am glad you came out to the party tonight, Andrew." Green eyes looked back to glimmering yellow as Julia looked happy at him.
"It's nothing" was all he said as he went back to watching his sister out of the corner of his eye.
"You know this is honestly the first time I've seen your sister in a public event like this" said Julia as she looked at Ashley who was talking to another party goer.
'Mmm,' was all Andrew said as Julia wrapped her arms around his neck and put her forehead to his as Andrew let his hands linger on her waist.
They stayed like that for a good minute, Julia just enjoying the warmth, and Andrew trying his best not to imagine a certain someone else in her place.
"Ahem"
Julia jumped off Andrew in startlement as she looked at the glare she got from one Ashely Graves.
"What's up, pest?" Andrew asked as suddenly the glare she was giving Julia 180 to a happy smile towards Andrew.
"Oh Andy~ I have a game I want you and Julia to be apart in" Ashley said in a sing-song voice.
'Ah hell she is upset,' Andrew thought to himself as he noticed that angry glare at Julia moments earlier.
"Actually Ashley uh me and Andrrw were probably going to go-"
"Ah, come on, it's just a couple rounds it will take no little of your times, then you can go back to being lovey dovey after." Andrew could feel the sarcasm dripping from Ashley words as his sister looked at him with a pout.
"Please, Andy."
Don't look at her lips, Andrew
Don't look at her lips, Andrew
Don't look at her lips, Andrew
Don't look at her smile, Andrew.
He looked.
Fuuuuuck.
"Sure"
"Yay~" cheered Ashley as Julia just sighed.
-
"So what game do you have us playing?" Asked Julia as they came up to a smile crowd in the kitchen.
"Ashley I got the table and cutting board set up uh...you sure this is a drinking game" said that same party goer that was woth Ashley earlier, Andrew made a mental note to have a 'chat' woth them afterwards.
"Oh yes, thank you," She said as finally the group came to a small table set up with one knife in the middle on a cutting board and bottle of whiskey.
"Alright, looks like the contestants are here," announced Ashley as she took her place on one end of the table before dramtically pointing a finger at Julia.
"I, Ashley Graves, herby challenge Julia to a game of Five Finger Fillet' .
Leyley-Sidequest- titled: Five Finger Filleting this brother stealing bitch!
Julia looked at Ashley, who had grabbed the knife from cutting board.
"I uh decline?" She said not at all interested in playing any game Ashley cooked up and not at all liking the look she gave her with that knife in hand.
"Oh, come on, stop being a wimp it's very easy how many rotation within sixty seconds you can do without nicking your hand as you go faster and faster," Ashley explained, and Julia still looked very uncomfortable.
"I'm fine, Ashley. we can play something else that doesn't involve you know knives!" Said Julia trying to reason woth Ashley but the younger graves sister wouldn't have it.
"Come on, don't you want to prove to my brother how great you are?" Julia heard that sarcastic tone, but she wouldn't be tricked by Ashley.
"I'm good Ashley- no need to -
"I'll play in her place," Andrew said much to Julia's shock as he stepped forward, shrugging off his coat and handing it to Julia, who looked a bit worried but Ashley was all too pleased.
"Ooh is big brother coming to his girls' rescue how romantic," Ashley said as both her and Andrew sat down from across each other.
"I'll set the tempo, my dear Andrew" Ashley said as she took a shot of whiskey, and Andrew used his phone to set the timer.
Slow at first as the knife landed on the wooden surface between Ashley's fingers as Andrew stared intensely at his sister.
Soon, she began to pick up the pace, going faster and faster, the blade dancing around her fingers almost as if afraid to incur the wrath of the gaze of the wielders brother.
30 seconds had passed, and so far, five rotations that Ashley had managed without so much as a nick to her skin.
Julia could only watch the knife dance back and forth as the crowd around her spoke in hushed amazement.
Soon, one minute had passed, and Ashley smiled smugly before slamming the knife into the cutting board.
"10 rotations Andy~beat that," Ashley said playfully as her pink eyes gazed hazily at Andrew's green.
Staring at her still Andrew rose from his seat and yanked the knife from Ashley's cutting board before taking a shot of whiskey for himself, the liquid burning his throat as he sat down and shut his eyes for a second and reopened them with a smirk.
Placing his hand on the cutting board, Andrew began his turn.
Julia watched with baited breath as Andrew worked the knife with skill as the blade landed between his fingers, going faster and faster, and on top of that he was already at eight rotations and was close to beating Ashley but Julia caught one little detail that made her feel uneasy.
As Andrew was playing... all this time, he kept his eyes locked onto Ashley, whomst didn't even look away, and now that she looked a little closer at the younger sibling...
Was Ashley...biting her lip?
Was she also blushing?
She looked at Andrew, who also had a little pink dust on his cheek.
Whatever was happening, Julia needed to put a stop to it. She looked at the time clock to see it was at 45 seconds, just 15 more to go, and this game will be over.
Or that would be the case if...
"Mmmmm" moaned Ashley, which caused Andrew to stem him off guard a bit before suddenly.
"Ouch." Andrew looked down at the small little cut he made on his index finger he was at 9 rotations...
"Yeeees! I beat you, Andy!" Shouted Ashley in victory as Andrew just gave her a small glare and grumbled as he wrapped a small napkin on his cut.
Julia, worried, looked at Andrew's cut.
"It will be okay, Julia," Andrew said to her, but before she could say anything else.
Ashley came in between them and grabbed Andrew's bad hand.
"It's time to go home now, big brother, don't you think?" Ashley said innocently before looking behind at Julia.
"Since you lost, you can go home by yourself" and before Julia could say anything else.
"I'm sorry Julia, it seems Ashley is ready to go home, I'll fetch you a taxi if you're not feeling confident to go home by yourself," Andrew offered and Julia just sighed before shaking her head.
"I'm fine," Andrew was not convinced but didn't want to say anything. Have her a small hug and a kiss on the side of her head, but let go when he felt Ashley's nails dig into the palm of his hand.
"Have a good night, Julia." He waved at her before following Ashley out the door. Julia sighed for lords know how many times tonight before suddenly Ashley raced back into the room and looked at Julia before snatching her brother coat out of her hands and putting it on her self.
Julia just watched her leave back out through the door.
-
In the car ride home to the apartment, Andrew just drove as Ashley snuggled up to her Andy's jacket, enjoying the scent, warmth, and security it gave her.
Andrew just looked over out of the corner of his eye at his sister.
Wincing a bit from the cut on his finger, Andrew groaned, just wanting to get home and sleep until suddenly a hand grabbed his finger gently.
Andrew held in a breath as he watched as his sister put the single digit to her lips and kissed it gently, some of his blood lacing her lips as she licked it off before giving her brother a smile.
"All better~"
Andrew let out his breath, glad that road was empty as he was currently driving on the opposite side.
What will Andy ever do with Leyley?
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imaginesbymonika · 2 years
Text
It all tastes like poison.
Part 1.
Pairing: Homelander x fem!reader / Solider Boy x fem!reader
Plot: based on this request: “can you please write an imagine about someone who use to be with soldier boy before he "died» which left her broken, but she still worked with vought for years because she ages slower than normal and she meets homelander who she kinda falls for, but when ben comes back she gets mixed emotions till he tries to kill homelander and then she'll have to work with everyone else to get him back into the box, which she doesn't want to do. LIKE ANGST?”
warning: f-bombs, angst
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Her eyes move over to her friend Black Noir and she slightly lowers her head in defeat. Today was supposed to be her one free day of the week, where she could escape her coworkers and just rest. Fuck, but now she somehow ended up in some stupid monitoring room surrounded by said coworkers.
She squints her eyes. A deafening noise breaks the silence in the room and the entire screen in front of her turns white. "Stop.", Homelander states, but instead of doing what he is told The Deep accidentally closes the taps. He sighs in frustration:" Deep.", the blonde man rubs the bride of his nose:" Is there anyone else who could operate this thing?"
Y/N notices how his entire body tenses up, before the Deep quickly points toward the red-haired woman who stands next to her. "Ashley thought we should get rid of most of them!" Ashley opens her mouth, she wants to say something in return but before any words can leave her lips Y/N slaps the back of Deep's head. He flinches and instantly rubs the stinging spot:" Ouch, what was that for?"
"You fired those people! Ashley had nothing to do with that!" The superhero looks at her for a moment, before he turns his attention back on the screen, his eyes widen;" Nevermind, I found it." Y/N only scoffs.
Homelanders hands find their way to Deep's shoulder and he moves closer:" Okay…Stop!" Quiet falls upon the room. The paused video suddenly reveals a man and everyone around Y/N moves closer to the screen. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches how Homelander takes a small step back. "Zoom in."
"Soldier Boy.", Homelander whispers and Y/N's heart drops. She stares at the screen for a moment, before quickly turning around. She reaches for the nearest trashcan and throws up. Homelander peeks at her, before looking back at the computer. "That's impossible, he died like 40 years ago." "Someone's cosplaying?"
The ringing in Y/N's eyes becomes more piercing with each passing second and it almost feels like her head is going to explode any moment. "Look at his face." Y/N doesn't have to look at Homelander's face in order to know that he is terrified. It is radiating off of him. "Maybe it's CGI?", the Deep questions and Y/N feels the insane urge to rip his head off. "It's not fucking CGI!", she hisses. Deep rolls his eyes:" How would I know, I-.", he swallows thickly, when he meets her glowing green ones.
"You won't leave me now, ri-right?" Y/N turns her head and her gaze softens once she sees her boyfriend. She sighs as she walks over to him. "Just because Soldier Boy's back, doesn't mean you are going to leave me, right?"
She stares at Homelander, while a soothing smile arises on her lips. He is a broken man, beyond capable to be fixed… maybe that's what she adored about him. "I won't.", she declares and caresses his cheek, which makes him close his eyes. "You're the only man for me." But deep down she knows that that was a lie, and by the look on Homelander's face, she understands that he could probably smell that on her.
"Wait, wait, wait.", Hughie asks and wrinkles his eyebrows:" You're telling us that you used to date Miss Americana?" Soldier Boy, who sits across from him nods before he takes another bite off his Hamburger. " I thought that you and Countess were a thing." He watches (somewhat in disgust) how Soldier Boy takes a deep breath before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand:" Well, we only dated for the people. Behind closed doors, it was only Y/N and I." Billy leans back in his head:" Do you think she lied about it?" "Who?" "Countess. You know, about Y/N being the only one who didn't know."
Soldier Boy simply chuckles at that. "What's so funny?" "Well, let's just say that if Y/N knew that I was imprisoned in Russia… that place wouldn't fucking exist anymore."
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aesopsharpmybeloved · 2 months
Text
Tess' Sharpuary - 11. Moste Potente Potions
Aesop and his partner go undercover to investigate suspicious activity at the Minstry's records, and he remembers just how much he always enjoyed brewing...
chapter specific tags: case fic, friendship, attempts at humour
relationships: aesop sharp & aesop's auror partner
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11. Moste Potente Potions (2.7k)
tw: sexual themes (implied/mentioned briefly), mention of off-screen death, my attempts to be funny
Aesop weighed the potion book in his hands. It had been years since he last held it, and even longer since he last brewed something in it. Ever since he graduated Hogwarts, actually. The knowledge necessary to apply for and complete the Auror Recruitment programme was mostly theoretical, such as successfully identifying a potion or a poison by its colour and smell, rather than actively brewing any concoctions - the ministry had special people for that kind of job.
However, seeing as their current objective was to be as inconspicuous as possible, he and Ashley thought it for the best it was him who got this job done. Well - it was more Ashely than he…
“You cannot be serious.” Aesop frowned at his partner from where he was sitting, his feet atop his desk. He was in the middle of a little pause, casually throwing a Galleon up into the air before catching it mid-fall once more, when Ashely came in with the news.
The woman walked in, and sat into her chair: “Of course I’m joking, in fact, our current objective is to impersonate Puffskeins instead,” she said dryly. “Hilarious,” noted Aesop, putting his feet down and turning towards his oldest friend, “Why the theatrics? We could go undercover without impersonating those two dolts.  Not to mention they should be capable of getting the answers themselves.”
For some time now, whispers going around the Ministry hinted at there being someone with connections to a Welsh crime ring among the workers. Therefore, when a young couple working in Records arrived at the Auror office, claiming their new colleagues were acting rather suspiciously, Aesop and Ashley were called on the job.  Aesop found the job somewhat banal, but the urgency seemed to stem from their boss wanting to uncover the traitor.
“They’re abhorrent actors,” Ashley remarked, “The buggers already called them out for acting strange, imagine how weird they’re going to be when we ask them to actively spy on their colleagues,” said Ashley, cringing at the recent memory of Mrs Barbara Treadway trying to act nonchalantly at her request. Poor people would burn a hole in the ground from how much they’d be blushing. “Besides, I already brought the idea up with the boss, and he gave it a green.” Aesop groaned. 
 "There's just one hitch," she added. "We're out of polyjuice." Sharp opened his eyes to look at her. “What do you mean we’re out of polyjuice? We literally have an entire crate of it in one of the storerooms, exactly for this kind of mission.” Ashley grimaced at him shortly: “Correction. We had an entire crate of it. But then the Bradley case happened and, well…” 
Aesop sighed and scooted his chair over at his partner’s desk. “So we’ll just have to buy some, and label it investigation expenses, I suppose” he said simply, "Banal case, unnecessary twists. Great…" 
“Honestly, I just think it’d be better if you brewed it,” she replied, resting her chin on her hand, peering at him blankly. Aesop blinked confusedly: “What, why?!” 
“You remember what the Chief said two weeks ago…”
Aesop did remember. While Chief Auror sent praises their way most of the time, after Ashley’s and his last case, they were admonished for some of their actions as well - not enough discretion, namely. He said it wasn’t the first time he noticed this in their cases, and that the two of them weren’t careful enough in their investigations. The Bradley case (which they didn’t work on) having brought several dead as well did not help the situation.
Ashley suggested, "Brewing it ourselves might show that we're taking his advice seriously, keeping this job nice and secret." Aesop sighed, "So instead of a quick buy, we drag this on for a month while I brew it. And what makes you think I still know how to brew it? It's been years since I brewed anything!"
His partner gave him a smile: “You, my friend, have my complete trust.” Aesop rolled his eyes again.
So, that’s where was now, flipping through Moste Potente Potions, the old book he once used during his studies. It was quite worn after the years it spent in not only his care, but also that of his mother, but despite its years and the amount of uses, its condition was still more than acceptable. 
He couldn’t deny that he felt slightly nervous. While he did graduate at the top of his class when it came to potions, it was not a skill that came natural to him. He invested hours upon hours of work into it, having started out as a very average student. Despite this fact, he always greatly enjoyed the art of potion-making. The precision that was required, having to abide by the strict instructions, and the utmost joy when he was successful in his endeavours, he loved every second of it.
And even now, though he had a rough-ish beginning (almost having forgotten he was using a copper cauldron and not a pewter one), he soon fell right back into the routine of cutting, crushing, and stirring. He watched his own hands adding the various ingredients in expert motions, noted how finely he had crushed the bicorn horn. He always knew he wanted to become an Auror, but as he brewed, he decided that being a potioneer wouldn’t be exactly a punishment either.
And then, when he finally stirred counter-clockwise for the last time, he was happy to find out he hadn’t lost his skill. The potion was perfect, and he felt no small amount of pride. If Ashley and he are able to portion it just right, they might be able to use it for three days straight. Aesop, admittedly, first wanted to make a smaller batch, believing they’d be done within the first day of their undercover job, but Ashley insisted they were cautious once more, and that was that.
They were ready. 
Both of them met with the couple from Records on several occasions to discuss the way they should behave while disguised as them, and when they stood together at the place from which the Treadways usually departed when going to the Ministry, they knew it was now or never.
Ashley, who was now a head shorter than normal, with mousy hair, round glasses, and big grey eyes, was fixing Aesop's tie. Aesop too was shorter than normally, and had a very delicate, boyish, and nearly pretty face. 
“I think next time we should switch,” Ashley said, and Mrs Treadway’s high pitched soft voice left her lips, “I get to be a man, and you a small delicate woman. Could be fun.” Aesop chuckled: “Fun? I thought we were supposed to be cautious and discreet.” Ashley grimaced at him: “We would be. It'd be just a new challenge, one that we could use to get better.”
He didn't reply, and instead threw some floo powder into the flame before them: “Ladies first.”
Aesop was right when he was certain it'd only be a one-day job. Only not in the way he thought.
Augustus Buckman and Hobson Teague were a pair of men who came to Records over from Magical transportation. Reason for the relocation? Personal reasons, apparently. No further comment was given on the subject by anyone. 
Aesop's and Ashley's job was to find out all that they could straight from the horse's mouth, and possibly find out where they were on 14th June earlier this year, as both of them took a day off work, and it happened to also be the day a Muggle jewellery shop was robbed using magic. So the couple of Aurors went to attend to their duties as temporary record keepers, both keeping an eye out for either one of the two men.
They didn't have to, the pair found them themselves. “There you are!” said the one who matched the description of Augustus. A young man with a pointy face and mischievous eyes. “Finally, Hobby and I thought you were avoiding us!” He said jovially. “A-avoiding you! Oh, no, not at all! Me and Mortimer here were just terribly, terribly busy these past few weeks! You know how it goes, new house, lots to do!” Ashley played her part of ever-nervous Mrs Treadway perfectly. Another man, one who Aesop bet was Teague appeared shortly after. He was older than the other fellow, and looked shabbier.
The group of four worked together for a while, with the two men being terribly friendly, and the Aurors in disguise playing the role of awkward young couple so well, neither of their suspect's noticed a single oddity.
It didn't take very long at all before Hobson said: “So… Before you got so busy, we talked about meeting up in privacy - we have an offer for you.” Aesop could see his partner's eyes light up momentarily, but she soon schooled her face into Mrs Treadway’s mask once more. “A-an offer, you say? Uh, well, what sort of offer?” The older man got very close, nearly uncomfortably so and whispered: “A sort of offer that's better unheard by anyone else… Why don't you meet us in the office after the shift, nobody ever hangs around there in the afternoon.” And with that, he walked off, followed by a grinning Buckman.
“So… what do you think?” Ashley asked quietly, looking at Aesop from the corner of her eye. “Well… suspicious, definitely, but I can't think up into what sort of illicit business they would want to drag these two sods. The real Treadways would've wet themselves by now,” Aesop replied grumpily, prompting Ashley to click her tongue at him in reproach.
“Maybe they want them to be strawmen for them? Or scapegoats?” The woman offered, returning to her work. Aesop hummed in reply neither agreeing with or denying her hypothesis.
They waited until the very last workers left for the evening, and then made their way over to the office. The two men were already there, an open bottle of firewhisky and four glasses on one of the desks. “There they are!” announced Hobson, and immediately began pouring out the liquor. “So, uh… what is this all about?” Aesop asked, checking the room for any potential danger covertly, while taking a hold of Ashley's shoulders like a loving husband would. “Let's drink first, break the ice, loosen up a little,” Augustus laughed as he pressed a glass into his and Ashley's hand.
Aesop's hands squeezed upon Ashley's shoulders. ‘Do not drink it,’ he tried to tell her through the touch. Not a second later did her own free hand come up to squeeze his: ‘Don’t worry’. The group clinked their glasses, and both Aesop and Ashley did one of the tricks they were taught as Aurors - pretend to drink something without taking a single sip. It sounded easy, but it truly wasn't - the trick was to use wandless magic to vanish some of the liquid in glass in time while pretending to sip and swallow. Even older, more experienced Auror's had problems doing more than a little bit at a time.
“You don't drink much, do you boy?” The older man asked, slapping his large hand on Aesop's shoulder and making him wince. Damn, this smaller body was a lot weaker than his normal one. “Now look here,” Hobson said, “I've been told I'm rubbish at explaining this sort of thing, so Auggie here will do it for me. Will you, love?”
Wait.
Love?
“So, this may sound a little strange, especially if you never heard about it before, but Hobbie and I, well, we occasionally like to… let's say, bring some people over to visit us. In our bed I mean. And we-”
Merlin's saggy left bollock!
Aesop screamed inwardly. He didn't know what exactly he was expecting, but it was definitely not a couple of swingers looking for someone new to play with. He was frankly rather annoyed, but he was sure Ashley was laughing like a madwoman on the inside.
“And you two are such lovely people, and so we thought we'd extend this offer to you. You don't have to worry, we don't bite! Well, we do, but only with consent, what I mean is that if you were interested, we could take things slow, and see where it takes us. What do you say?”
Once more, Aesop marvelled at Ashley's skillful acting. Or maybe she wasn't acting this time? Nevertheless, the woman before him grew as red as a tomato and began sputtering for dear life. Aesop, while nearly completely sure these two idiots were not the criminals they were looking for, risked a question to confirm his suspicions, being sure to speak in Mr Treadway’s indecisive manner: “Uh, I-... Well, that's… are you saying you… you did this before?”
The younger man grinned: “Oh yes! We met this very nice Swedish couple during the summer, and spent some time with them before they left. We even took some time off to be able to be with them for one more day before they had to return home. Does that mean you're interested?”
“NO! I mean, uh… please, don't take any offence, you're both… delightful people, I'm sure, but Barbie here and I, well, we're not really… we're not really looking for… this kind of thing.” Aesop grit out, trying his best to imitate the poor Mr Treadway, who would’ve most likely fainted already during such a conversation.
“Oh…” Augustus said, his face falling. “I told you they weren't the type, Auggie, but you wouldn't budge…” said Hobsman in a placating voice, coming up behind the younger man and placing his hand on his shoulder. “I was so certain this time though… I, um… I don't suppose there is a way we could… forget about the whole thing, is there?” He turned towards the disguised Auror’s once more. “Come now, Augustus, don't be silly. The sooner we start packing, the better,” Hobsman said, leading his companion away.
“P-packing? What do you mean, packing?” Ashley found her voice once more. Well, her voice…  “We used to work at the Magical transport department, and Augustus here got a desperate little crush on the secretary there. He kept convincing me the fellow was of our way of thinking until I gave in, and we offered him and his wife to join us. Long story short, they took offence and didn't want to be in the same workspace as us anymore. And I'm guessing you won't either,” Teague explained, running his arms up and down the younger man's arms.
“You don't have to leave…” Ashley said then, “we can forget this ever happened. Can't we, Morty?” Aesop cleared his throat uncomfortably, but soon nodded his head: “Of course. This never happened. We won't bring it up to anyone.”
Both men looked at them, then at each other and smiled. “We appreciate it, you don't even know how much. It's no fun flying from department to department like a Golden snitch!” Augustus said, his previous disappointment replaced by cheerfulness once more.
The group disbanded after one more drink (one that the couple of disguised Aurors actually swallowed this time), and with that, they were off. Just in time, too, the Polyjuice wore off just as they left the Ministry.
“So… that was a wild ride,” Aesop noted as he led Ashley to his house through the darkened village of Willow Creek where they Flooed. He had to admit, despite his annoyance, he was also rather amused. He made their clothes, which were now entirely too small on them, fit once more while they walked. “You tell me,” Ashley agreed, actually laughing.
“So. What do we tell the Chief? And the Treadways?” She asked after they stepped over the threshold, both immediately making their way to the kitchen for something to eat. “To the Chief? That they're no longer suspects. We'll contact the department of International Magical Cooperation, check out that Swedish couple, and hand in the report that says that our ‘criminals’ are just a couple of blokes who like to indulge in consensual extramarital affairs. And the Treadways? Nothing. Just that their colleagues aren't suspicious at all.”
“Won't we tell them about the offer?” Ashley persisted, accepting the apple Aesop threw her way to munch on before he made them something to eat. “Why?” He asked, “it never happened. Remember?” A knowing look spread on her face, and she grinned quickly before biting into the apple.
“What about the rest of the Polyjuice potion?” Aesop asked as he summoned various food items to make into a meal. “Keep it,” his partner said, “you never know when you might find a use for it.”
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Thank you very much for reading 😘
[Ao3] - [Sharpuary 2024] - [Masterlist]
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