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graftisms · 1 year

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CALLIE & ANGEL — DAY THIRTY-FIVE

location : early evening / dressing room

featuring : @dobits

ANGEL

immediately post evie date, angel had beelined to callie, smacked a soppy kiss to her cheek and handed over the little blue flower he'd very discreetly and possibly illegally picked for her from old town. it'd sat on the crook of his ear the whole car ride home until he was able to press it into her hand. a goofy and probably unnecessary gesture since she maintained how chill she was about the whole thing, but angel felt like he should do something to affirm all the promises he'd made to her the day before. i'm focused on you. my head isn't gonna turn. doesn't matter who walks through the doors. nothing's really changed.

except angel's knees are bouncing under the vanity. it's more than likely due to the fact that he'd had suspiciously limited time to fill callie in on the events of the date. he'd gotten to most of it: she's super sweet, you're gonna love her, got the idea she was gonna chat to pretty much everybody. it was admittedly brief and surface level and he'd barely gotten to the stuff he wanted to inform her of, let alone the stuff he still kinda wanted to avoid. since then he'd done a beach hut, met eden, tended to jenny's insecurities, and not a whole lot else. late afternoon is giving way to the evening and he'd finally gotten callie quasi-alone in the dressing room as people start filing in to the shower queue and it just feels like there's some stuff he's still missing. namely - gossip. "so, what do you think about the new girls?" he shoots callie a sidelong grin, hands busy picking through presumably adela's shit in search of ye old lost hair tie. "i thought eden was funny as fuck."

CALLIE

while it isn't lost on callie how little she's heard about the infamous angel-and-evie date, she's made it a point so far not to ask. she's not interested in being one of those girls, the kind that needs to hear about every little detail to feel some sense of security. she's secure enough in the relationship without asking for it, any mild anxiety she had during the waiting period today quelled when she saw his goofy smile again. but it doesn't change the fact that she does want to know, not because she's afraid of what he'll say, but because she wants to understand more of where the bombshells' head is at. evie had been sweet when they had met, disarmingly easy to talk to, but the lack of talk about angel had been awkward elephant in the room even when she was trying to make it not. they hadn't much time to talk earlier, but now seated in the dressing room as she does her makeup, part of her is hoping it comes up. but if last night was any indicator, angel's not very good at offering up what she wants to hear. "i caught up with eden this morning, which was nice! she remembered me," she smiles at her reflection in the mirror. either last night or earlier today she had definitely let it slip that she's met her before. "her dates went well, which i'm not surprised. she's so easy to get along with." a brief pause. "evie seems nice, too. i talked to her earlier. it's just so nice to have girls from home." even evie's accent is a warm memory of home. "i hope her date with charlene went well, she could use a win. did she mention her or anyone else on your date?" she says date like a high schooler would, sing-songy and how she's been saying it all day to him.

ANGEL

"oh my god, you have no fucking idea how hard it was not to tell her i used to watch her dad all the time when i was a kid." probably exactly no one is shocked to learn angel was an animal planet kinda guy. "yo, you gotta secure us a meet and greet before we leave." hair tie finally secured from the depths of a makeup bag, angel shakes off the stray hairs before sweeping all of his own locks onto the top of his head. it creates a much needed funnel for his focus as the conversation turns predictably to evie. "yeah, she definitely gives me charlene vibes, like i was sayin'." big grin magnetizes back to callie, warmed by how genuinely unbothered she seems. the trust it implies puts his heart on a fast two beat with a crash on the cymbal. "uh, yeah, everybody?" angel laughs, hearty and genuine. "i think she's just seeing who all she vibes with. like, she looked me straight in the eye and said i wanna get to the know the twins. i'm like -- the twins? not my twins." brow furrows down, mouth parting, hammed up and scandalized. lasts only a fleeting moment before he's chuckling again. "yeah, i dunno, she's bold low key. she didn't say anything to you? like, about the date or whatever?"

CALLIE

"you totally should've, she would love to hear it i'm sure. i'm impressed you even know who her dad is. charlene had no idea," she huffs out a small laugh, trying to concentrate on her mascara. there's a lightness to this moment that callie hadn't felt yet today, no doubt with the lack of him around. any doubts of making the wrong choice in bringing him back safely went out the winner when she got a brief glimpse of what it'd like to be here without him. "she's a sydney native, did i say that? maybe she'll last long enough for family day, that'd be sick." her and eden are getting on like old friends, but that doesn't mean she's about to ask to meet her famous father. everyone is such a cop-out answer that it makes callie snort, glad she got it out of her system before he mentions her and dylan. "yeah, she mentioned to me she was interested in dylan a little, but that he seems pretty closed off, which, yeah. she's definitely not interested in me, though." that felt perfectly clear in their conversation, because if there's one thing callie is good at picking up on, it's when a pretty girl is interested in her. but she's not pressed, considering the feeling is mutual, even if evie is very pretty. "bold, yeah?" that is not the vibe she got from evie, who didn't even wanna mention angel at all. putting her mascara down, she steals a peak over at him. "no, i got the feeling she didn't want to talk about it with me," she admits, lips twisting a bit. "why, did she try to stick it on you?" she jokes, but that nosiness is back, with a vengeance.

ANGEL

“yeah, they used to always be on early as shit before school. so tite.” his attention is sat squarely on callie now, turned sideways on the chair and watching her with his chin propped up in his hand. “oh my god, family day,” angel hypes, reaching forward to squeeze her thigh. “why am i kinda more excited to see her dad than mine?” purely a joke, even saying the words make his head buzz from excitement at the idea of seeing his old man here, although they’d more than likely send in his sister or something. he takes a second to imagine what it’d be like to meet callie’s grandparents in a place like this, warms to it just in time for conversational whiplash. a half smile plucks one side of his mouth, head shrugging. “yeah, little bit. just that silly love island flirty shit, y’know? mostly it was just, like, an interview. learning about her life and stuff. it was chill. i just wanted to come back and talk shit with you about it.” there’s a pause as angel casts his gaze over the dressing room, thoughtful and considering. “yeah, i mean, she said one kinda weird thing, but i don’t want you to take it like drama. it was just, like, bombshell stuff, y’know, about you and frankie. said she said it to, like, explain why she wants to get to know me. ‘cause frankie’s supposedly your first choice or whatever.”

CALLIE

she glances up at his gaze heavy on her, a smile heavy on her pursed lips before asking, "what?" family day feels like so far away and yet so close by, not something she can genuinely think about without her chest tightening from how badly she misses her family. "no, same," she laughs, shaking her head. "do you think he'd actually come? that i'll ask." that seems safe enough, and she'd hope eden would know she's more than just some fangirl. newly mascara'd eyes blink in mild surprise when he actually says yes to her question, although she instantly knows she shouldn't be. what comes next, however, is completely different, stomach churning at the mention of her ex that she anticipated as soon as angel said weird. it feels like such a blatant attack against her that the whiplash between that and the girl she just spoke to earlier tonight stings, teeth digging into the inside of her mouth for a beat. how is she not supposed to take that as drama? "yeah?" she asks, but her voice no longer sounds as light as casual as before, instead a little hollow. "and what did you say to that?"

ANGEL

"wow, you and eden really are besties, huh?" he teases, brow ticking up at her. when callie mentioned she'd met the bombshell before, he imagined it was more in passing, just by association, but he makes the mental note to bug eden about it more, see what goofy anecdotes he can squeeze out of her. immediately angel can feel the mood shift and he feels the air deflate out of him. she doesn't say much, but that's almost worse 'cause he can see there's a whole bunch of emotions working behind her big brown eyes and she's refusing to tip any cards. "i mean, i didn't say much, except that, like, i already knew you and frankie had an intense relationship." he genuinely has no clue that that's not the part she means. "it wasn't, like, super fuckin' sick to hear it from somebody who's seen it all from the outside, but, i dunno, i got the impression she just thought she was lookin' out for me. so i was like, hey, you're chill, we'll get to know each other more. i don't think she was trying to be shady."

CALLIE

any friendly gossiping is immediately sucked out of the atmosphere with the black hole that is everything angel dumps on her, finding it more insane as he continues. throat feeling suddenly heavy, callie makes an effort to rummage through her makeup bag as if she's looking for something, when in reality she just can't get herself to look at him, or at her reflection in the mirror. both would show too much of how she's feeling right now, like the ground has been pulled out from under her from twenty feet in the air. she's not even sure why she didn't expect it at this point, getting let down by someone she trusts, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. for a good minute she doesn't speak, hoping in the silence he realizes how absolutely insane he sounds. but when nothing comes out, all she can do is slowly say, "alright." there's a bit of a laugh, too, because how the hell does she unpack that all? "is that what you think, then?" she asks after a beat, still focusing on her makeup bag. "that you're second to frankie for me?" she tries not to make it sound as absurd as it feels, but it's not easy. we'll get to know each other more. callie replays that in her head, shaking her head to herself. "alright, so you're gonna get to know her then," she reiterates his words, deadpan. "cool." giving him one more shot to let what he's saying actually sink in. "that's just... i don't even know where to begin with all you just said," she laughs again, a dark sound. makeup is going back in her bag, in case she wants to make a break for it.

ANGEL

“nah, no way,” angel answers thoughtfully, if not distractedly. he’s watching her avoid looking at him, all her movements seem jerky and unpredictable. he definitely fucked up somewhere in this conversation, though it’s taking him a minute to pinpoint it. angel was so preoccupied making sure he didn’t disrupt the vibes between then girls that he somehow became the instigator. “oh — cal, no,” is the sentiment he affords almost in tandem to understanding what exactly tripped her up. there’s a dip in between his brow, not nearly big enough to hold all the guilt he didn’t even realize he had. “okay, hold on a sec, can we just —,” he lets out a sigh and reaches out to set the curve of her jaw in his palm, imploring her attention, “just pause? please? can you just look at me, ‘cause i’m not trying to say i wanna graft this girl, okay? to be crystal clear.” how could it be even remotely a possibility? does she genuinely think he’s capable of that? “‘kay? i want us on the same page here. let’s talk about it.”

CALLIE

she doesn't have to look at him to know when it finally clicks into place for him, his own stupid words. angel touches her jaw and she's quick to push his hand away, too annoyed and hurt for the physical touch, but she does let herself finally look back at him with a slightly clenched jaw, trying to keep the emotion from growing in her eyes. "i want to be on the same page, too," she tells him, but there's a growing edge to her tone. "like, i know you're trying to play it off as it's nothing, but i'd love to know why some new girl comes in who clearly likes you and starts throwing doubts at you about our relationship, and all you can respond is, 'hey, you're chill, we can keep getting to know each other.' because not only did you just give her the green light to think she can graft you, but you... why didn't you stick up for me?" her lips puff out a bit, feeling pathetic even having to ask. "unless you actually feel like she was right--she doesn't know our relationship, angel. hell, she doesn't even know frankie and i, past whatever was on tv. and it really fucking hurts my feelings that she did that, and you don't even seem to care." it's like him trying to befriend frankie when callie was still deeply hurt by the way things ended between them. she knows he's the type to be friends with everyone, but there has to be some exceptions.

ANGEL

it’s not like she didn’t explicitly warn him about this. that she’d been beat down by disappointing relationships and she was officially done taking any perceived hits. he’d just expected that she’d know him well enough by now that he wouldn’t play games and he definitely wouldn’t do anything to purposefully hurt her. but it all feels very life and death with callie, pretty hot or extremely cold. “i’m not… i’m not trying to play it off,” angel defends quietly, a seemingly important amendment as he takes in everything else she’s saying. his touch effectively blocked, angel folds them in his lap, chin tucked. “no, i don’t feel like she was right, but — like, you gotta understand, the shit she said is, like, so fresh and the biggest insecurity i have about us. and i know that’s irrational and you reassured me, like, a thousand times and i believe you, but it’s just, like, the quiet part of your brain that’s tellin’ you all the shit you really don’t wanna hear, y’know? and it totally threw me for a second, i just didn’t know how to handle it and, yeah, you’re right. that’s on me. i should’ve argued it more.” it’s hard to defend just by virtue of the fact that, to angel, it all seemed casual, maybe even silly in it’s innate love islandness, so the all-encompassing doom of callie’s reaction blindsides him as much as it breaks his heart. “but i didn’t think she was right, callie. i thought it was bizarre that someone could look at us and decide we weren’t gonna work. i don’t care if she grafts me ‘cause she was never even an option to me. even if you walk outta this room saying you’re gonna keep your options open, i’m still only here for you. i’d fight seb and charlene a million times for you. you’re the only thing i want in here.” eyes flicker over her face, brow knit. “do you believe me?”

CALLIE

she won't argue, but the fact of the matter is that angel is trying to play all of this off as not drama, as if someone she barely knows telling the guy she's falling for that callie doesn't even see him as a first choice is no biggie. to him it might be no biggie, maybe—until he brings up his insecurities about frankie, which makes her want to laugh and cry at the same time. it always comes back to frankie. it's not like she's not sympathetic to his insecurities, and when the blonde is brought up as often as she is in the middle of their relationship, callie can understand why he feels that way. but hadn't he been the one that assured her that he would be fine with the drama that came from her bringing him back to the villa? it's not like she hadn't warned him, or haven't put him first since their first kiss in casa. "i get that it's irrational, but... i don't know what else i can do, if the frankie stuff really upsets you so much," she runs her fingers through her hair, looking at him anxiously. "i was coupled with her for two days. she doesn't know anything about my last relationship, or my mum, or most of the shit that i've told you. i can't... if this is something that's going to get in the way of us, tell me now," she asks, dark eyes meeting his. everything he's saying is melting some of her annoyance away—because the way he had said it earlier, she did think he was implying getting to know evie—but after talking about it last night, it's hard not to think about his last relationship. she doesn't want him to resent her about frankie the way he resented his ex. "because i really bloody like you, and i don't think i can do this place without you." she wouldn't want to, either. "but i don't want to move too fast if you can't get past frankie, or if you have any interest in getting to know evie or anyone else. i don't want to have to watch her graft you. i don't wanna share you." not the first time she's said it, but this time it's not in vain.

ANGEL

the rake of her anxiety-ridden fingers puts one of her curls out of order with the rest and angel reaches out a passive, impulsive hand to brush it back into place. "look, i'm not gonna lie to you, it's for sure something that kinda bumps up in the back of my mind sometimes. like, when she defended you to seb or during the challenge or, y'know, when a bombshell brings it up on our date...," tone is glib and deadpanned, head inclining, realizing now how suspicious it kinda is. "it's like... god, what do they call it? when you think the thing you know you shouldn't? like, the crazy thought? -- intrusive!" thinking about frankie and callie getting back together definitely feels like spontaneously deciding to drive into oncoming traffic. chin lowers, his eyes set on her like he's trying to impress upon her how definitive his answer is. "but it's not gonna get in the way of us." maybe it'll exist there sometimes, once in awhile, in a vague impulse he'll just let pass, but it's through no fault of her own. and it certainly doesn't disparage the bond they're forging for themselves, especially when she points out all the things she's shared solely with him, a fact that admittedly does fuel a sense of renewed confidence. it's what he'd wanted when he'd brought up the whole thing in the first place and it's not unlike what follows, a string of sentiments he wants to hang like twinkle lights on his windowsill. it feels vulnerable, especially for callie, and he doesn't think twice about slinging his arms around her middle, pulling her off the vanity stool and into his lap. "never gonna happen," angel promises. "i told you before i wanna go where you go, that hasn't changed for me." if anything, it's no longer a want, but a requirement. "'cause trust me when i say i like you more and, more than that, i totally don't give a shit about moving too fast." he shows her a flash of a grin at that, waits 'til it melts off to add, "it's you and me, 'kay?"

CALLIE

she swallows down any lingering doubts about his frankie complex, no longer as on edge as she had felt minutes ago. if there's one thing that she appreciates about angel, it's the way he manages to calm her down with a few words, keeping her grounded when the villa makes her feel like she's somebody else entirely. for someone who can't seem to see past her previous coupling, angel speaks about the two of them with such decisiveness that it's hard not to take everything at face value. she wants to, but if angel's intrusive thoughts are about frankie, then callie's are about waiting for the other shoe to drop. after all, him having no interest in evie doesn't really erase from the fact that the bombshell is lining up to be angel's second choice—not unlike the second choice she claimed that angel was for callie. but it's hard to think about anyone else when he's pulling her onto his lap, arms linking around his neck as she curls into him. if they can just make it to the end of this, callie knows that they could be smooth sailing in the real world. it's so close, she can taste it. with a small nod, she takes his chin in her hands to press a kiss to his lips. somehow it feels like enough of a response to how she's feeling, but if not, she adds a decisive, "you know i trust you," to the end of it. it's not until her head is resting against his chest for a few heartbeats that she adds, "you're gonna have to tell her you're not interested, though. you can't tell someone you want to keep getting to know her after she takes you on a date and badmouths your girl without letting her think she has a shot." it's matter-of-fact, but the badmouthing comment does stir some residual hostility, callie can't help it. "she should focus on charlene, anyway." someone great who actually is open to getting to know other people.

ANGEL

at the very least angel was bracing himself to be in the dog house (and maybe he still is), but at most he was genuinely concerned that this would be the part where callie pushes him away. it’s his expectation that he wouldn’t let that happen, but it’s thankfully a pointless consideration because her kiss feels like reconciliation, easy and wordless and affirming. he hopes her words ring as true as that kiss feels, ‘cause it seems like there’s an implication of mistrust. that he should think twice about what he says to evie before he lets it spring easily from his mouth like every other thing. “— you mean you aren’t gonna tell her for me?” a joke, just a prod at the high school imagery it kinda paints, two girls fighting over some dude who definitely isn’t worth it. a cheshire smirk curls at his lips, pressed up against her forehead. “my girl, huh?” he teases lowly. “say it again.” considering how resolute callie is about not going too fast, angel simply can’t help celebrating each little win with annoying fanfare. a sigh melts all the playfulness away, grows more serious as he nods. “yeah, i’ll talk to her about it tomorrow… are you gonna talk to her?” he wonders, was genuine when he said he didn’t wanna mess with the vibe between the girls. after all, bombshells are gonna bombshell. “like, about all that?”

CALLIE

she makes a show of laughing without a lick of humor, before exchanging a look his way. but of course she knows he's joking, and it's hard to take it very seriously anyway, when his repeat of her words makes her lips twitch into a fighting smile. if there's one thing callie's never been good at with dating, it's the casualness that comes before a fully defined relationship. there's a reason none of her relationships before her big ex lasted long enough to call themselves a real relationship, either letting herself jump in too quickly, or get lost in the silly rules of dating: wait a few hours before replying, don't put out until at least the third date to be taken seriously, etc etc. every friend of hers had a different rule that she'd eventually come to break anyway. love island is without its rules too, most of them practiced religiously rather than discussed: exclusive doesn't mean boyfriend/girlfriend, leave your options open before immediately jumping into anything. but she's never been good at rules, and maybe it's because of the speed at which they're moving (despite her constantly trying to bring up that they're moving pretty fast), but she's already starting to view him as her boyfriend. for now she just kisses him instead of actually saying it again, although when she pulls away, she does admit, "i really missed you today, you know. it was really weird without you." codependent much? at least she's self-aware. callie's glad he doesn't argue with her about it, though his question has her making a face. "i don't know," she admits, truthfully. "maybe eventually, but i wouldn't even know what to say. i'm just annoyed, because we had a really nice chat earlier today, so hearing her saying all this about me... i was hoping we could be friends." but even if they get there, it'll take a minute for the sting of the deceitfulness to wear off.

ANGEL

“yeah?” a big smile holds up the apples of his cheeks, eyes crinkle at the edges. “you were playin’ it so cool, i wasn’t totally sure. was hoping you’d be missing me.” there’s a particularly juvenile part of angel that kinda wanted callie to be a little jealous, but only innocently. not remotely to hurt her feelings, but just enough to prove he meant something real to her. “i missed you, being out there isn’t even worth it without you. like how you were at the market, all excited and giggly.” the memory makes him laugh warmly, fingers splaying over the fabric of the dress stretched over her thigh. watching callie enjoy herself like she was when they were on their date had made him feel a distinct sense of pride, it made him feel good. it could probably be a link to the utter lack of thought he’s giving to the speed of their growing relationship. if it feels so good, why overthink it? why try and smother it? especially on a day like this, where their bond’s tested so directly. with frankie (and now evie) in the rear view, it’s easy to show callie each and every one of his cards. “mhm,” angel acknowledges, head bobbing. “that is super weird.” it doesn’t feel particularly natural to disparage who he feels is a new friend, but validating callie outweighs politeness. “yeah, maybe just let it lie, y’know? i’ll handle it tomorrow and then we can do our thing,” he says with a smile. breakfast, swimming, listening to their friends talk about themselves. it occurs to him to plan that date he’d promised, too. “but i’m sure things’ll blow over with evie. shit moves fast.”

CALLIE

"i mean, i told you last night that you were gonna go on a date, so i knew it was coming. and, like, no offense to evie, but i didn't think i had any reason to stress. but i don't know," she slides her hand down his neck softly, "i didn't expect to be so bored without you. or for it to take so bloody long. what, were you aging the wine and everything?" she makes a face, but the spark in her eyes is playful. maybe she should be jealous him and evie got a much more romantic date than the two of them did, but callie likes thinking back to their shopping trip, something about how silly and normal it was meaning more to her than anything fancy. "i was not giggly about grocery shopping," she argues, nipping his bottom lip before stealing a kiss. "mmm, but how was town? was it cute? were you by the water?" it still blows her mind that she's been here for nearly a month and still barely knows anything about the island. there's something about him calling it super weird that makes her roll her eyes, because he's acting like evie's actions are shocking, as if it's not super easy for her to see through. "i'm not stressed," she shakes her head, because she's not. annoyed, maybe, and a little hurt that someone who doesn't know her would speak so poorly about her to the person who matters most here. but callie doesn't need to be friends with everyone here.

ANGEL

there’s something so bittersweet about the imagery her words conjure up. there was angel, sitting at the date drinking up the wine and evie’s doubts while callie sat here missing him. it casts a shadow of guilt that quickly gives way to sunny resolution. there’s no way he’ll let himself second guess her again, she deserves better than that. “you’re so much better than me,” he tells her, repressing a smirk. “whenever you get called to a date i’m not waiting around here. i’m gonna, like, hitch a ride on the underside of the car. cape fear vibes.” though joking, it would be fair to estimate that angel’s jealousy probably outweighs her’s. the kiss he meets her with is loud, smacks, and is followed by another on her cheek, then her jaw. “you were so giggly, it made me so happy.” a chuckle rumbles in his chest, pulling back to look at her. “do you think i’d let them take me to the water without you? nah, could see some peeks of it around the buildings. it was super fucking cool, gonna be dope to go explore once we get out.” he nods, satisfied, and uses his fingers to push some curls off her cheek. “good. did anything fun happen in here while i was gone?”

CALLIE

"oh please," she scoffs, shaking her head. "i doubt you'll have to worry about that, anyway. there can't be many more bombshells coming in, and i probably won't be high on their priority list." especially knowing what evie's said about her, callie's beginning to doubt how great her edit's been, with all the frankie drama. "which is fine by me. i'm all dated out," she adds, with an exaggerated shrug of her shoulders. not like she hasn't been on... four? dates already. "i was not." her argument might be stronger if she wasn't laughing anyway, girlish and warm. how anyone could think their relationship is insincere is beyond her, when callie constantly feels like they're acting like the grosses couple in the world. not that anyone can be surprised, since they had talked back in casa about how they wanted to be with someone they were proper obsessed with. "god, i can't wait," she groans. part of her is ready for that part already, for the show to be over--at least in terms of being able to do their own thing, and getting to leave whenever they want. "you have to swear to me that we'll do some exploring before heading home. i feel like when the time comes i'm gonna wanna immediately be home, but i'll regret it if we don't check out the island for a few days." a lot is contingent on these plans--them getting booted from the show at the same time, for one thing--but harping on the details is how anyone can go mad. they'll cross that bridge when they get there. "no, i wasn't kidding when i said i was bored. i tried to nap, but my body wouldn't even let me. basically just the usual."

ANGEL

"i dunno, apparently we don't look married off enough," he tells her, tone laden with playful sarcasm. it feels like a joke anyway with her all scooped up in his lap, trading kisses like they're cringy high schoolers fooling around in a booth at mcdonalds. but there's nothing really to prove anymore, to anybody else or each other. "should we sleep on the terrace again?" he bites into the grin that threatens to split his features, only half-joking. actually, it'd be a very real consideration if there weren't so much speculation circling the production's walkies regarding the weather. head bobs, agreeing with every last bit of that sentiment. "i know, it's gonna be hard not to just go the fuck home. i'm all for coolin' out here for a bit though, i'm so gonna be there for your first surf sesh back." there's a thoughtful pause as he pictures it, indulges in the fantasy for a moment before the plot carries on and he's faced with reality and the question of what comes next. "so... you think then, like, you'd go home and i'd go home and we'd just meet up after we check in with everyone?" it's logistics that definitely don't need to be talked about now, but it is a curious thought. his lips press together, not entirely in love with the idea of splitting up after everything. maybe they'll need the space, but he imagines it would be more fun to stick together. "then we'll do real vacation?"

CALLIE

"well that's too bad," callie snorts. "i don't think we could be more obnoxious even if we tried." she already feels pretty fucking obnoxious right now, but she can't be arsed to care. callie likes being in a relationship with a strong physical touch, and after last night and the absence of him this afternoon, it's especially hard to keep her hands off of him. "would you do it again?" his offer makes her grin, not sure if he had really enjoyed the actual sleeping part of it, considering the ground isn't exactly the comfiest. "i totally would, if it wasn't apparently going to rain tonight." which isn't the end of the world—and callie's back will probably appreciate being back in a bed—but she did like the privacy. she's about to start praying to the love island gods for their time in the hideaway. "you can surf with me!" she realizes as soon as he says it, eyes lighting up at the thought. "i'll be sure to go easy on ya. i'll probably have to, since i'll be rusty as fuck." she's already dreading getting her ass back into training mode, even if it's just to build up her stamina to the way it had been. "oh, i... guess so?" lips press together as callie considers it. despite making casual plans here and there for the future, she's never been much of a planner, so the idea of how it's going to work after filming does throw her for a bit of a loop. "or we could take turns, go to australia first, then cali. or the other way around," callie shrugs. "whatever works. definitely a real vacation at some point, and you'll have to see sydney for yourself at some point." it's a gnarly long distance from LA to sydney, but while callie's started to come to terms with the idea of moving back to california, it feels too soon to talk about it.

ANGEL

brows furrow thoughtfully, makes a show of pretending to consider that. “mm, yeah, we should still try.” after all, by love island standards, he can’t imagine they’re the worst of the worst. more than that, angel is officially releasing the negative energy that comes with overthinking. from being wary of frankie to moving at a reasonable pace with callie, he’s keen to say fuck it and just enjoy what they have. “cal, i’d build us a bed frame out there if that’s what it takes.” he grins back, shamelessly makes no bones about how much he enjoyed himself, even despite the aches in his back. brows tick up, part glib and part dare. “but no one’s paying attention to us in the bedroom, y’know.” historically it seems like no one’s paying attention to anybody except their couple. in fact it seems like sleeping outside only draws more attention. the excitement that electric sparks callie at the mere mention of surfing has him bubbling with laughter. “nah, i’m gonna wipeout and you’re gonna get the ick.” she amends and he presses his lips into a smirk, head cocking. “oh, yeah, you’re gonna have to brush off the cobwebs. maybe i’ll smoke you then.” as if 1. callie could be out-surfed and 2. she could bear to lose an all-out challenge.

fingers are distracted mapping out the fancy threads of her dress, angel’s gaze trained to the tanned skin stretching over the delicate bones of her décolletage. he doesn’t wanna look her dead in the eyes ‘cause he knows his will betray how thoroughly exhilarated he is by her off handed suggestion. “yeah, we could go to cali first? so i can check on things, maybe. the shop and everything. and then… yeah, definitely sydney right after. i really wanna see all your spots.” he’s ultra-cool, playfully mimicking her chill with a sprinkle of self-aware sarcasm. how can he possibly deny how ridiculous and nerve wracking and cool it is that he met her here, that they don’t want their time together to end. “oh, damn, are you wrists okay?” he asks suddenly, delicately picking up one of her hands to inspect it. he presses a kiss to the inside of her wrist, smiles sweetly against the pulse. “do they hurt? like, from how cuffed i got you?”

CALLIE

"can we?" she laughs, nudging him in the shoulder. "you can go ahead and keep trying." because she would argue that he's the more obnoxious one after the two, although she'd be lying if she said she didn't love it. it'd be easy to overthink a lot of their relationship—how fast it's been moving, how serious things feel when they talk about the future—but there's an ease about angel that makes it natural, as if they've known each other a lot longer than a week or so. it's reminiscent to the way she operates back home, moving through relationships and life at her own speed, without thinking twice about it. she'd once told angel that she gets infatuated in relationships very easily, and it's like he's trying to put her words to the test—and right now, she's certainly proving him right. "i mean, i know that." she makes a face anyway, to show how she feels about it. "but it's just... it reminds me of staying in hostels during traveling. it's not very... romantic, you know?" it's hard to get herself in the mood when she can hear someone else moaning from the next bed over, like they're all a part of some orgy. "i will not," she laughs, shaking her head, "pinky swear. but i'll still smoke you," callie adds with a confident smile, not wanting him to expect anything less. right now making plans for outside of the villa is so unserious, so while she doesn't particularly love the idea of being away from elvis longer than she has to, she nods in agreement anyway. "will everyone be cool with you coming back to work just to leave right away again?" she asks, more curious about the set-up of his job than anything. callie's never had a job so permanent, that she had to worry about leaving behind. eyebrows only have time to knit together briefly before he's kissing her wrists, the punchline making her scoff in glee. "shut up!" she gives him a light shove in the chest. "i'd be going to LA either way, okay. to see romi and bash and them. you're not special." cue the grin.

ANGEL

“oh, i’m gonna,” angel assures her with a cheeky grin. he’s got, like, little to no qualms about pda. in fact, the qualms aren’t qualms as much as they are preferences. he’s never understood the idea that any kinda intimacy is supposed to be a litmus test for the seriousness of a relationship, equates the desire for proximity and their traveling plans to texting a new fling to hangout on a friday, but end up chilling together all weekend just because it’s fun and they can. how else are you supposed to build a bond? “yeah, no, i feel that,” he admits with an understanding laugh. “it’s college vibes, for sure. i mean… the terrace is pretty nice. good to know it’s there.” angel doesn’t exactly see them having full blown sex on tv, definitely wouldn’t press for that, but the privacy aspect is a drop in the plus column above all. “can’t wait to see you surf. do you get all, like,” he tools his lineaments into a look of mad dog seriousness, “game face about it?” he can imagine it, but he can just as easily imagine a fat smile slapped on her face as long as she’s on a board. “uh, no,” angel laughs. “i mean, it’s, like, not ideal for me either. it’s my shit, y’know? my responsibility. but i’ve never taken a long, full on vacation like this. i earned, like, a month or two then i’ll be back on the grind.” once he goes back he’ll just have to make more plans before bailing again, but he’s sure he can work it out. hand grips the outside of her thigh, pulling her closer into his lap even as she pushes against his chest. “mhm, mhm,” he teases her, teeth biting into his smile. “like you wouldn’t stay with me and ride in my cars.” the reminder puts a mischievous sparkle in his eye. “oh my god, i cannot wait ‘til i get you driving some crazy little mazda. somethin’ that jumps when you touch the pedal, y’know?”

#callie & angel ;#callie ;#callie & angel 012

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nikkirecs · 1 year

Text

i’m so sorry roy

this is gonna be a monster because i love educating baby weebs

psych

Zankyou no Terror - saw you paused it but it gets so wild in the latter half and i just love it so much

MONSTER - possibly one of the greatest psych anime of all time

86: Eighty Six - if you like code geass you’ll probably like this

BANANA FISH - it’s tragic. it’s gay. i’m sad.

Death Parade - an anime about death

Made in Abyss - it fucks up my head so much, also could probs go ounder the shounen section

PSYCHO-PASS - defs makes you think about society

Yuukoku no Moriarty - the manga’s better but still fun

shounen (by that i mean action/adventure bc there’s defs non-shounen here)

HIGH CARD - it’s not finished but has those bsd vibes

World Trigger - i actually read not watched and tay says s1 isn’t great but 2&3 are and i love the manga

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST - one of the greatest anime of all time, it’s amazing and has some psych elements too

HUNTER×HUNTER (2011) - long and so worth it, again one of the greatest anime of all time

Kekkai Sensen - very fun urban fantasy with a+ characters

Soul Eater - my favorite anime of all time, the manga is better but it’s still amazing, some fanservice

Akatsuki no Yona - heavy on the romance and idk how you feel about it but it’s so good, an adventure

Arslan Senki (TV) - by the creator of fma, a fun story of a prince reclaiming his throne

Baccano! - fun mafia ensemble that has spn elements

BLEACH - one of the greatest shounen of all time with a shitty ending. really just stop when it feels like it should end (i can’t say when without spoiling it)

BURN THE WITCH - by the creator of bleach, it’s fun but you need to read the prequel first

Dr. STONE - it’s fun and sciency

Enen no Shouboutai - by the creator of soul eater, it’s a fun anime about firefighters who use fire powers, some fanservice

Kyoukai no Kanata - another urban fantasy with kyoani art so it’s beautiful

Luo Xiaohei Zhan Ji (Movie) - it’s a really cute urban fantasy

Magi: The labyrinth of magic - a fun shounen about dungeons

Mob Psycho 100 - about a boy who’s too powerful and an adult who is irresponsible in most ways but is very responsible with how he treats children

Promare - it’s just fun

Shingeki no Kyojin - it feels weird to rec this bc the series goes downhill tbh but the early seasons are a+ shounen with a lot of psych elements later on

Ansatsu Kyoushitsu - listen you’ve seen nothing it’s making it hard to find creative ways to hype things up

Ao no Exorcist - full disclosure the first season has an anime original ending which isn’t great but s2 gets it back on track

Durarara!! - so fun and defs something for someone who likes bsd

K - heavy fanservice warning but bsd vibes are great

Kemono Jihen - honestly i forget about this so much but it was fun and p basic shounen

Modao Zushi - it’s just v good

THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL - it’s fun, it’s funny, it’s got great animation

Vanitas no Carte - the manga’s better but i still like this lots

VINLAND SAGA - could also be psych probably but it’s v good

EDENS ZERO - by the creator of fairy tail so fanservice warning

GANGSTA. - the quality is not great but it’s fun. i really need to read the manga

Kami no Tou: Tower of God - it’s fun. i’m excited for s2

ORIENT - honestly kinda meh but i’m fond of it

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - it wild

One Punch Man - op protags are fun

Owari no Seraph - i love fighting vampires

spoani bc it’s good for everyone

Blue Lock - you mentioned that you read it so you should watch it too

Aoashi - a+ soccer anime

Cross Game - technically this is sports but really it’s a drama about grief and how we handle it and move on

Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru - god what a good spoani

SK∞ - it fun

Ballroom e Youkoso - dancing spoani

Chihayafuru - v romance heavy but still v good

Diamond no Ace - baseball boys

Ookiku Furikabutte - more baseball boys

Yuuri!!! on ICE - figure skating is fun

Kuroko no Basket - basketball boys

Yowamushi Pedal - biking boys

misc

GREAT PRETENDER - it’s so fun and all about heists which is one of my favorite things i just coudln’t find where it would fit

Godzilla: Singular Point - tbh i just like science and giant monsters

#roy

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thebindingofhyperfixation · 3 years

Text

I have a bunch of stuff

I want to make a hypothetical mod with a hypothetical new final boss, and I want unlocks too

These do sound super op but my general idea is that the boss is just super fuckin' hard.

Note: A lot of the item unlocks will only spawn when you're playing as that character because they have little to no use on other characters.

so here's what I have for now:

Isaac-- "Isaac feels holier!"

Isaac has a minimum Angel deal chance of 15% and when something is rerolled it has a chance to turn into an Angel deal item. But for convenience's sake, this cannot happen to Devil deal items.

Magdalene-- "VALENTINE'S CARD" has appeared in the basement

(Who could it be from?)

Active item. Drops 4-5 random (mostly Red) hearts or Playing cards.

Cain-- "COMBINATION LOCKS" have appeared in the basement

Basically combination locks replace locked doors so you don't need to spend a key to open it, just press up against it a couple times. Probability of opening increases with Luck. Kinda rare but only a little.

Judas-- "Judas feels eviler..."

Judas has a minimum Devil deal chance of 25%. Book Of Belial now gives 3.5 damage instead of 2.

???-- "??? feels blue."

??? trails Aquarius-esque creep. If enemies are killed by the creep, they have a high chance of dropping a soul heart.

Eve--

Samson-- "Samson feels angry!"

Obstacles that Samson comes into contact with have a chance of breaking. Rocks and mushrooms and stuff break somewhat easily, but the sliding spikey blocks, turrets, and Stoneys have less chance of breaking.

Azazel--

Lazarus-- "SAFETY BROCHURE" has appeared in the basement

(Be careful!)

Yep. Go to my Carrd if you don't know.

Eden-- "HAIRDRESSERS" have appeared in the basement

Upon use, will give the player a random one of Eden's hairstyles and raise the cap on a stat it also adds 3 to. Will then break. Pretty rare.

The Lost-- "The Lost feels found!"

The Lost starts with Treasure and Blue Map. Events within certain timings-- Boss Rush, Hush, etc etc-- now have 15 more minutes before they become unavailable.

Lilith-- "RABIES" has appeared in the basement

Yeah. Carrd.

Keeper--

Apollyon--

The Forgotten-- "HOLY SERMON" has appeared in the basement

(Your soul feels stronger...)

Passive item. Makes it so The Soul can slowly drag The Forgotten along. For other characters, give them 5 Soul hearts and makes Soul heart drops more common.

Bethany--

Jacob & Esau-- "PAPYRACEUS" has appeared in the basement

(There isn't enough room)

One-time-use active item. Squishes Esau and sticks him to Jacob. Esau's Damage, Range, Tear Rate, etc stay the same but can no longer be altered. He shoots too.

T!Isaac-- "THERAPY" has appeared in the basement

(Do not let your pain define you)

Passive item. All Mom items are removed and Mom, Mom's Heart, and It Lives are instantly killed upon entering the room. Mom-themed enemies like the hands and feet are removed, and so are The High Priestess and its inverted counterpart. Essentially, anything involving Mom is just gone. Removed Mom items are replaced with Angel items.

T!Magdalene-- "TOURNIQUET" has appeared in the basement

(Wind it up!)

Active item. Upon use, slows the rate at which T!Maggy bleeds.

T!Cain-- "Cain feels a bit hollow..."

T!Cain gains a slot to store 3 pickups, kinda like T!???'s Hold. It's held in his eye socket for aesthetic reasons.

T!Judas-- "TRUE NORTH" has appeared in the basement

(Follow the star...)

Spawns an idle orbital that hovers near the door leading to a random special room, occasionally forcing a Devil or Angel Deal. Kinda like Navi, Card Reading, and Star Of Bethlohem in one item. Is given to both Judases at the beginning of a run.

T!???--

T!Eve-- "BAD BLOOD" has appeared in the basement

(Wait, I though you said B-)

Spawns 3 random clots and deals a heart of damage.

T!Samson-- "ANGER MANAGEMENT" has appeared in the basement

(Just take a deep breath...)

Trinket. As long as it is held, T!Samson will not go berserk. However, when you drop it, all of the berserks that would have activated activate all at once, providing a berserk that can last for a maximum of 150 seconds.

T!Lazarus-- "NECROSIS" has appeared in the basement

(Death and life become one)

Passive item. T!Lazarus still switches from dead to alive, but the two's stats and health are halved then merged together.

T!Eden-- "Eden feels more grounded"

Items of certain types (flight, tear effects, followers) will only turn into other items that give a same or similar effect.

T!Lost-- "GOD" HAS APPEARED IN THE BASEMENT

(He'll hold your hand)

Super rare one-time-use active item. It takes your items and stats into account and gives you whatever you need most, mostly horse pills to adjust your stats. May give you items that synergize with whatever build you have.

T!Lilith-- "SURGICAL SCISSORS" has appeared in the basement

(Sever yourself from your sin)

Upon use, detaches Gello from T!Lilith. Gello can be freely controlled by the fire keys. T!Lilith also begins 'bleeding' profusely, making a large amount of red creep where she was standing and making a stream of red tears shoot from her stomach. This can be charged like a Monstro's Lung shot.

T!Keeper-- "REAL LUCK!" has appeared in the basement

(Hey, now it actually does something!)

Passive item. Your Luck stat directly contributes to a multitude of factors-- pickups you need the most appearing, overall better items, tinted rocks are more common, chance spawns like devil and angel rooms are more common. This can backfire, however, as a bad Luck stat can completely fuck you over.

T!Apollyon-- "TOMIE" has appeared in the basement...

(yes it's a junji ito reference)

Spawns a follower-- a black haired girl who just walks around. Projectiles in a certain radius of her will get sucked in, and if she takes enough damage, she will 'die'. However, on the next floor, Tomie will respawn there and will be an additional Tomie, albeit smaller and weaker.

T!Forgotten-- "CRUTCHES" has appeared in the basement

Active item, no charge. Kinda like Notched Axe but for actual combative purposes. Deals probably like 5 damage with the player's damage on top. Deals 10 damage along with player's when the player has Brittle Bones, Bone Spurs, Compound Fracture, etc. Gives The Soul a way to attack.

T!Bethany--

T!Jacob-- "Jacob feels forgiven!"

Dark Esau is permanently slower and the time he shows up is delayed. Dark Esau's ability to bypass invincibility is also removed.

#Tboi #tboi repentance #tboi rebirth #the binding of isaac

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at-the-exd-of-everythixg · 3 years

Note

][All questions for otp meme for Sal + Rhys][

@blind-mutant

Coffee shop AU: Who is the barista, and who frequents the coffee shop?

Sal's at the coffee shop...what? Every night? It always feels a little different and a little bit the same each time. Sometimes Sal appears in suits and a slick charm while other times he's there in luxury dresses and patiently putting on makeup while Rhys rushes to get his over sweetened drink ready. Rhys never really says anything about the fact that Sal's lazy flirts make his stomach flip, or the fact that Sal usually calls him Moonie so sweetly.

And Sal's just as drawn to the pretty little drink maker, who always gives him extra whipped cream. How could he not want to flirt with the beautiful man? The one who smiled so sweetly whenever Sal got there and felt like the only person who seemed to really listen to him. Sweet drinks and sweet men are all Sal wants in life.

Highschool/College AU: Who is the straight-A student, and who’s the backrow slacker?

Sal doesn't exactly want to be a good grade student. It fucking sucks and the stress piles on more and more, but he knows that even failing for a moment would result in Giles yanking him away from other people and back to the same little house where he and his siblings would just be hurt more and more. It means everything to Sal to work hard, and it isn't like Rhys Brennan helps any.

What makes it worse? Rhys is...aware of it, in a way. He can hear the stress and pressure in Sal's voice and maybe he likes to flirt and tease the smaller man, just to have he pleasure of Sal snapping back and even occasionally when Sal joins him. He wants to know more about Sal, wants to know why he's so odd and so...not human. And Rhys has always, unashamedly, been drawn to secret and rude little men.

Rivals to loves AU: Who takes their rivalry seriously, and who is half in it just to push the other’s buttons?

Rhys came into Eden's Fruit, eager to impress and find his place at a workplace where he could be appreciated. And maybe Rhys does want to be the best, because the best always have the most trusted positions and the best always get assured of their worth. Instead, Rhys has Sal, who wishes to snark and play rivals, who thinks it's funny how much Rhys seems to care about being the best.

Its funny to tease and watch the taller man grow frustrated, funny as shit to flirt shamelessly while Rhys flushes and scowls. The other man doesn't seem to have that same sense of fun that Sal had beaten into him. Rhys just needs a good kiss and a shove off the highest balcony so Sal can rip that sense of terror away and not remember the fact that he shared it so strongly once.

Enemies to lovers AU: Which one switches sides?

Aspherane and Earth come to a clash and it's something everyone should have seen coming. Sal knows it's his part to leave Earth and go to the one place that won't one day kill him, just as Rhys knows that he should stay in Krakoa, the mystical island where everything should be safe and fine. Really, it's for the best that they stay apart and in their own separate world of shifting darkness and varied powers. The heavens and Earths were never really meant to mix.

So why do they still meet up? Like some sort of fucked up version of Romeo and Juliet in Sal's opinion, but it isn't like he can even think of not meeting up with Rhys in secret. Aspherane and Krakoa are meant to be their paradise and yet Sal won't ever stop thinking about simply meeting up with Rhys again and being able to kiss the other man. He considers trying to find a way to escape all of it, whether its beyond the stars or unde the Earth, where hell and demons reign strong.

Soulmate AU: Who is eager to meet their soulmate? Who absolutely does not want to meet their soulmate?

Rhys used to want to meet his soulmate. Key word used to. Years of being locked away shut down those thoughts. Better to not care about any soulmate than to hurt himself with facing someone who won't think he's good enough for them. It's a big difference from Sal, who looked over himself every day, hoping to find any mark or symptom of a Soulmate, to prove that he was human enough and to prove that maybe he was still good enough to at least have one.

And then he meets Rhys and the taller man us everything Sal wants, he bares the mark of the soul that can only mean he belongs to Sal, only...he's spoken before about how much he didn't want a soulmate. Rhys wanted Sal, not whoever was supposedly written up for him by fucking fate of all things and now they're both stuck in an awkard position really; Rhys wants Sal and doesn't want a supposed soulmate while Sal wants Rhys but now thinks the man he loves doesn't want him. They don't even deserve to be called himbos.

Single parent AU: Which one is the single parent? (Alt. if they’re both single parents: Which one is open to starting a new relationship from the start? Which one is never planning on finding love again… Until they meet the other and are instantly smitten?)

Sal is...more than aware of the fact that maybe he should have told Rhys about his child before inviting him to come live with him. But then again, why should he have to tell Rhys? If Moonie likes him so much, then Moonie can deal with his Starling. The rules are simple and it definitely helps keep a barrier up in case things go to shit.

Unfortunately, Sal didn't account for the fact that Rhys adores him enough to adore his Starling, the only other part Sal has that's enough like his own and how could Rhys resist wanting to protect someone just like Sal? Ugh, he became a dilf though emotions and Sal isn't happy about his newfound attraction for the fact that Rhys is the only one who can seemingly handle a half alien and a quarter alien child, but damn if he doesn't get buzzy when watching Rhys interact with the brat.

Doctor AU: Which one is the longsuffering doctor? Which one is the patient?

Rhys isn't...entirely sure what to make of the new patient in his institute, but Sal's angry scremaing and the way he quietly clings to Rhys at times means more to him than he would ever let on when trapped in such a dangerous place. Still, he tries to enjoy the brief moments he has between Blue and Sal while he can still get them.

And eventually they all get out. Blue dies and Rhys is grief torn and everyone leaves. Everyone except Sal, who was on his way to dying himself from the constant fluorescent lights. Rhys's constant darkness pulls him through though and now? Now Rhys is all he has and he saved him in more ways than one. Sal won't ever be Blue and that stings constantly, but the very least he could do is keep his feelings behind his teeth while doing what he can to keep him and Rhys alive.

Bodyguard AU: Who is the bodyguard? Who are they protecting? Which one is secretly pining for the other?

Rhys is...not entirely sure how to deal with the little brat he's been assigned to guarding. Sal is apparently some fancy alien...explorer? Ambassador? All Rhys knows it that Sal tends to use more than just his words to charm high assed men of Earth and never seems to fully realise the danger he puts himself in. It doesn't help the fact that Sal is...exceptionally cute and often expects Rhys to do certain customs that fluster him terribly and Sal has no idea why.

And really, what's so odd about asking your bodyguard to get in the bath with you? To help with your safety and self care? Sal knows that maybe it's a little odd, but how can he trust someone with his life if they haven't seen him when vulnerable? It's so dumb and that's exactly why he's fine of sleeping in the same bed as Rhys ans eating together. Not to mention that his bodyguard is....very fucking cute in his suits and the way his voice sounds rougher in the early mornings.

Pirate AU: Who is the pirate? Who is the member of the royal family who did not sign up for this?

I uh. Since were already doing this......Persephone and Hades au instead???

Rhys is....aware that his parents hated him, thought him to be evil and even he sees the irony of being a reborn Greek god of death when he's Irish. Getting out of the asylum was easier though and Rhys is grateful thay he cannot be held down as Kronos once did to him. Now Rhys travels looking for his reborn queen, whether she stays as she is or decides to be his husband or monarch of life.

And just as, Sal knows he was reborn oddly. Knows that flowers and Greek summers run through and that was enough for his Demeter to cast him out into the wild winters. Sal knows he should find his Hades, knows that a part of him aches for blooming spring and being able to kiss the person he loves primally. But Sal knows he bares the name from Maiden to Chaos Weaver and then it is his task to take, to perhaps hide from Hades and to save this reborn form of his husband from having to he stuck with him.

Then Rhys moves in and uh. Sal's kinda fucked, you know?

Childhood best friends AU: Which one was super obviously in love with the other the whole time? Who was oblivious until they were older?

How can Sal NOT be smitten with Rhys? The older boy is pretty and speaks funny and he always looks happy to see Sal, which is great because Sal likes his brother and sister, but he likes Rhys differently, like how Pap an' Mamné do. Rhys likes Sal too, but he doesn't ever seen to be aware of the way Sap clings to him and the manner of the kisses that get pressed to his cheeks, doesn't see the way Giles and his own parents narrow their eyes at it.

Then the institute happens and Sal's heart gets torn from him as Giles kicks him out. He's torn for years as he searches for Rhys and gets torn more when Cecil crushes and loves him sickly. By the time he finally meets Rhys...well, it's a big What If as to whether Rhys can truly stand someone whose been as ruined as he has, whose pale and scowls and flirts so horribly with anyone else but the reminder of his heart.

#ask #blind-mutant #headcanon #the living stardust (sal)#hope u don't mind me replacing the pirate one !#thought u deserved something fresh

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raidbossmadi · 4 years

Text

People Like Us Chapter 2

2. Arrival

Previous Chapter: Here

Eden-4 was a pretty self sustaining planet, it wasn’t home to a huge weapons manufacturer like Eden-6, nor was it a metropolitan super city like Promethea, and at the very least it wasn’t a barren desert hellscape like Pandora. It was just a nice forest planet, with a healthy farming community and one very enthusiastic group of people who took a siren being around weird , a nice planet to live a calm and casual life . However, being a relatively secluded planet meant that off planet visitors weren’t a common occurrence and it meant that the sound of a large space faring vessel entering Eden-4’s atmosphere was enough to startle Sloane awake instantly.

“What the fuck?” She thought,falling out of her bed. “Oh right the Calypso twins.” She picked herself off the ground and untangled herself from her blankets tossing them back on the bed. She decided she would show up at the arrival and see what all the fuss was about, normally she wouldn’t get dressed out of her pyjamas until after lunch but this was a special occasion after all.

She left her house and headed to the city center, as the tree tunnel that hid her house opened up to the sky, she saw a large transport class ship hovering in the upper atmosphere above the city. On its bow even from the height the word ‘Centurion’ was clearly visible in white lettering. It was an impressive ship though she supposed she should expect no less from the leaders of the Children of the Vault.

Sloane had decided she didn’t want to get too close to this arrival, if the Twins we’re here for the vault she would be a prime target. However, she couldn’t miss an event like visitors coming to Eden-4 so instead she came as close to the spaceport as she felt comfortable, seeing the crowd amassing and she slipped over to a tree having it scoop her up in its branches and carry her aloft to a nice vantage point.

She watched as a smaller drop ship landed at the spaceport, within minutes the doors to the ship opened and out stepped two figures, the girl was short yet stocky, she wore the same jacket cloak and high collared shirt she had in the videos. This was obviously Tyreen. Following behind her was a man, tall and lanky, he had the same sharp features as she did though his hair was black in contrast with Tyreens white. The most noticeable feature about him though was his large mechanical right arm that appeared to be made from scrap metal and barely cobbled together, both of the twins were far more intimidating in person than they were on film.

“Helloooo Eden-4! The twin gods have arrived!” Tyreen exclaimed in the same boisterous voice Sloane had heard in the videos. There was something almost predatory in the way the twins looked at the crowd of people before flicking to the horizon and though she knew there was no way that she could be seen from here she found herself ducking into the leaves of the branch and ultimately climbing out of the tree all together.

Perhaps they were after vault after all and that would put her on their radar sooner or later. She would prefer to be ready when it did.

***

“Quite the crowd we pulled in, eh Sis?” Troy remarked as he set his luggage down on the hotel bed.

“We always do, don't we?.” Tyreen was sat on her bed across the room looking down at her echophone scrolling through the files on the Siren that inhabited this planet and the history of the vault.

“I can’t believe the historical society just handed over those files like it was nothing. Like I know we’re a big deal and all but you’d think they’d have a little more loyalty to one of their own.” She mused as she noted just how much information was on the file; a comprehensive history of the girl's life. Not that she had done anything of note as far as Tyreen could see, just an artist who happened to be a Siren, her abilities seemed to be plant based and Tyreen was sure it would be easy enough to convince her to do what they wanted. While the Siren was the first one to be born on this planet the vault of course had been here much longer but as it stood now, the only way to get to the vault was through the Siren as they had been smart enough not to include the location of the vault key, only that she knew where it was.

“Think she’ll be trouble?” Troy asked as he took a seat next to her. “Kinda surprised it has taken this long to run into another siren.”

“I’m not, there’s only six of us Troy and we’ve been purposely avoiding falling under the Firehawks attention on Pandora so you know it’s not like we’re begging for another Siren to notice us.” Tyreen yawned seemingly less concerned with matter than her brother was.

“Uh yeah I know, I’m just saying. Think you’re gonna have to like I dunno fight her?”

Tyreen finally put down her phone looking at her twin with an annoyed stare. “I will if she gets in my way, otherwise I really don’t see the point.”

Troy nodded and opted to stop pestering his sister for the moment, she was obviously tired and it was best to leave her alone. Besides in the morning they had a siren to hunt.

***

It was easy to fall back into the rhythm of tending to the things around her little spot of woods like the Calypso Twins had never even set foot on the planet. Sloane was sure that they couldn’t be looking for her and that surely no one would tell them that she was the only one who knew where the vault key was would they?

She was out on the backside of her house hanging her laundry out to dry when she heard the sound of someone approaching the house from the front.

“That’s strange.” She thought. She wasn’t expecting guests as she walked back into the house. Warily she opened the front door to find herself face to face with Tyreen Calypso. Her first thought being “Wow she’s shorter than she looks on camera.” Luckily she had the sense not to blurt that out. Especially once she noted that the look in the other sirens eyes seemed particularly malicious.

“Uh hi, Can I help you with something?” Sloane asked cautiously and stepped back from the door. She felt intimidated even though the other woman had done nothing as of yet, but in reaction to the rush of fear she felt her siren marks began to glow a faint blue.

“Ah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,doll. You should just relax.” Troy’s smooth voice rang out from behind her and she quickly felt the cold metal of his cybernetic hand close around her wrist. Of course, she had forgotten to lock the back door after she’d come in to investigate the knocking. “We’d hate for anyone to get hurt.”

Sloane squirmed in his grasp, though it was a futile effort, there was no way she could safely get out of this.

“You can let her go Troy, I think she understands it’s easier to comply.” Tyreen said. Sloane felt her wrists sting as the metallic hand released its hold on her.

She straightened up and felt like a deer cornered by wolves as she looked between the Calypso Twins. She hated that they had managed to muscle into her own home and make it seem like they owned the place. This realization gave her a streak of boldness that she opted to run with.

“You two can stop with the theatrics, I don’t see a camera anywhere so I assume you’re not filming this; if I’m wrong about it and you are with how the both of you are acting I’ll assume it’s not live and you’re planning to edit out whatever you don’t like.” She said as her eyes scanned the room one more time not seeing anything out of the ordinary “So why don’t you tell me why you two are in my house? Otherwise I’ll politely ask you to leave.”

“Oh this one is sassy, Ty.” Troy remarked though Tyreen shrugged it off.

“We got intel that says you know where the vault key is and given that you know that I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you know where the vault itself is. Now I’m sure you’re already aware that the vaults are very important to my brother and I. So why don’t you make this easy on all of us and tell us where they are?” Tyreen demanded. Though the other woman was about the same height as Sloane was her mannerisms and speech made her seem all the more imposing.

“And if I don’t?” Sloane shuddered as the metallic hand caressed her cheek and caught her under the chin tilting her head to look back at Troy and she caught a glimpse of a large sword that sat sheathed on his back.

“Be a shame to add a face as pretty as yours to the trophy gallery, but heretics don’t get mercy you know.” Troy smirked and his metal fangs glinted in the light and Sloane all the more felt like she was helpless in this situation, the Calypsos had her exactly where they wanted her.

“You two can stop with the threats really, and I mean why assume I’m a heretic when all I’m doing is asking questions? I’m more than willing to help you, this whole guarding the vault key from outsiders responsibility has never really been my thing. Plus it’s like c’mon how am I supposed to judge who's ‘worthy’ to open the vault I’m just one woman but to be fair the two of you seem like the most prepared and knowledgeable people I’ve come across asking about it so might as well hand it over right? You are the Children of the Vault after all, I can’t think of anyone more suited for the job.” Sloane was stress rambling a little bit even though the rational part of herself told her that she was of more use to the twins alive despite the obvious posturing they were doing.

The twins looked at each other, clearly not expecting her to so easily give them what they wanted. Tyreen shrugged and smirked as she looked back at the other siren.

“Yeah? Well go one then. I’m sure you’ve got terms before you take us to the vault, we can make this a business deal. I’m feeling nice today.” Tyreen crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, everyone had a price and seeing as the other siren hadn’t seemed to be a threat she was willing to pay that price, within reason of course. Besides she hadn’t decided if she was going to kill the other woman yet.

Sloane blinked a few times; she hadn’t been expecting Tyreen to offer her anything other than not killing her as payment for what the twins wanted. She thought for a long moment before meeting Tyreen’s gaze again.

“I want to get off this planet, half of the people here treat me like I’m something to be worshiped and treated with reverence but I’m just a person. I’m not like the two of you, I have no plans to build a following or be a god and when the Vault is opened well I don’t need to be here to protect it now do I? I won’t be a bother, I’ll even be your new ship janitor if that’s what you want. I just want to get away from here, I’m tired of being stuck on this stupid planet.” Sloane ran a hand through her hair nervously, she hoped she wasn’t asking for too much.

Tyreen looked to Troy and raised a brow, the twins seemed to have a silent conversation in the moments that passed before they both looked back to Sloane.

“That’s all you want?” Tyreen asked, resting a hand on her hip. “You want a way off this planet. So much so you’re willing to serve us.” She seemed puzzled by the fact that Sloane seemed so easy to win over yet the desire to leave the confines of one’s planet was one Tyreen could sympathize with.

“Uh yeah?” Sloane was puzzled. Was it really that hard to believe? Had they really been expecting her to make some kind of extravagant request of them.

“Well it’s not the strangest request we’ve ever gotten. We’ll give you time to pack your things then come back for the Vault key, how does two days sound?” Tyreen nodded toward the door and Troy finally stepped around to join his sister, the taller of the twins looked Sloane up and down before flashing a smirk again.

“We’ll be in touch, don’t go get cold feet and run off either. Tyreen’s not a big fan of the chase.” He said as Tyreen gave a snort and nudged him with her shoulder, then as quickly as they had come in they were gone leaving Sloane still a bit stunned as she processed all that had happened. She checked her phone, the entire exchange had only taken about twenty minutes though it had felt like the three of them had been locked in the tense negotiations for hours.

So this was really happening. She was really about to leave the forest that had been her home for twenty-three years. It had protected her just as much as she protected it, though in recent years it had felt more like the forest was keeping her from truly enjoying her life. The canopy that blotted out the stars feeling more like a cage than protective barrier to keep the outside world away from her.

She slid down onto her couch, Persphone crawling out from the bedroom where she had hid while the twins had been present and climbing onto Sloane’s lap. Her fingers ran through the lizard fox’s fur as she processed what she would have to prepare for.

#People Like Us #My Writing #troy calypso #Tyreen Calypso #calypso twins #Sloane the Siren

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foreverwayward · 5 years

Text

“Wayward Hearts” Season 2 Chapter 11: What is and What Should Never Be

Summary: After the sudden death of John, Sam and Dean, along with Riley, continue their quest for vengeance. As Sam and Riley’s powers continue to grow, the three young hunters find themselves closer to the Yellow-Eyed demon than ever before. The strength within themselves and their loyalty to each other will be tested as they are left to fight their families’ lifelong war alone, unaware that unimaginable evil will lead them to face darkness itself as they carry the weight of their fathers’ legacies.

Masterlist

Word Count: 10,693 (yes, it’s HELLA long)

Content Warning: language, light smut and violence

DISCLAIMER: any words or phrases in bold in the story are not my own and are credited to the writers of Supernatural.

**GIFS ARE NOT MY OWN**

Sam and Dean got out of Baby and stepped into the night covered graveyard. They were tired and obviously flooded with adrenaline as they moved quickly and on completely on edge.

The Winchesters had just escaped the Green River County Detention Center in Arkansas. Both had been arrested on breaking and entering charges that had been a part of the plan along. They needed to get inside and find the spirit that was taking the lives of several convicts and C.O.’s on the inside.

Only the hunt didn’t go quite as planned. Agent Henriksen had found them after being on the hunt for Sam and Dean since the incident at the bank in Milwaukee.

Popping open the trunk, the brothers grabbed their flashlights, duffel, bag and shovels before locking it back up.

As they went to begin their trudge across the cemetery, a car’s headlights rushed across the quiet road. The Honda came to an abrupt stop next to Baby and its tires squealed on the pavement.

Sam and Dean waited, frozen in fear that they had been caught.

Riley nearly leaped from the car and ran to the boys with her arms open. Dean dropped his gear and caught her in his arms as they held each other tight.

“Oh, my god,” she breathed into his jacket. “You made it out.”

“Of course,” he told her with a smirk. “I wasn’t worried.”

She let go of him and threw her arms around Sam. Riley felt she could breathe for the first time in days. Not being able to be involved in the hunt in any way, she had felt completely helpless.

Spinning around on her heel, Riley slugged Dean in the arm.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“That was the stupidest idea you’ve ever had in a long line of stupid ideas, Dean Winchester.”

Sam shot his brother a knowing look. “Told you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Dean humored them before bending down to give Riley a kiss. “Missed you too, sweetheart.”

That look in his eye and the dimple that sat at the edge of his troublesome grin made her cave instantly. “You better have. Just glad you didn’t get made someone’s bitch,” she teased.

“Well, we kinda did,” Sam added as they all grabbed their gear again and hurried towards their destination. “Henriksen found us.”

Riley’s eyes went wide. “What?”

“You and I are both suspects in murder cases ourselves now. It’s not just Dean anymore. They’re after all of us.”

“Shit. Alright, lets salt and burn the bones and high-tail it outta here. You guys know we’re fucked, right?”

“I know,” Dean agreed. “This time, we gotta go fuckin’ deep.”

Sam scoffed. "’Deep’, Dean? We should go to Yemen.”

“Ooh, I'm--I'm not sure I'm ready to go that deep.”

------

About a week later, in a quiet motel room, Riley and Sam sat diligently doing research on their newest case. Missing people all in the same stretch of area that had brought them to Joliet, Illinois.

The hunters knew they had to stay in the wind, but come hell or high water, the job was always the priority.

Riley called Dean’s cell and put hers on speakerphone before laying it down on the table. It rang among the spread lore, books, and John’s hunter’s journal.

“Hey, Rye.”

“Hey, yourself. You got anything yet?”

“No way. There’s like 50 miles of real estate out here.”

“Well, that’s where all the victims disappeared,” Sam chimed in.

“Yeah, well I got jack squat. What about you guys?”

“Just one thing. We’re pretty sure of it now. We’re hunting a Djinn.”

Dean chuckled. “A fuckin’ genie?! You think these suckers really grant wishes?”

“I don't know. I guess they're powerful enough. But not exactly like Barbara Eden in harem pants. I mean, Djinn have been feeding off people for centuries. They're all over the Koran.”

“My God. Barbara Eden was hot, wasn't she? Way hotter than that Bewitched chick.”

Riley rolled her eyes before barking, “Dean! Focus.”

Clearing his throat, Dean’s tone went more serious. “Yeah, so you find out where Djinns usually lair up?”

“Bigger the better,” she answered. “Ruins, abandoned massive buildings--gives ‘em more places to hide.”

“You know, I think I saw a place a couple miles back. I'm gonna go check it out.”

‘Wait--no, no, no, no, no,” Sam interjected. “Come pick us up first.

“Nah, I'm sure it's nothing. I just wanna take a look around. Talk soon.” Dean hung up the call and continued his drive down the dark road through the rain.

------

The Impala purred as it stopped in front of an old abandoned warehouse. Rain poured down and Dean got out with his flashlight as he headed towards the building.

He swung open the large metal door as it creaked. The sound of dripping water came from all around and echoed into the empty space. What was an office once upon a time, was now covered in dust and cobwebs. It looked like a time capsule where nothing had been moved for years.

After clearing the area, he walked back to the hallway. Dean looked back and forth, having to watch his own back without his partners.

The hunter pulled out his knife and armed himself as he turned the corner. He quietly went further inside before a creature rushed at him and pinned him to the wall.

Dean dropped his flashlight at the attack. Staring back at him was the Djinn, bald with curling blue tattoos over its face.

The Djinn slammed Dean’s hand against the wall over and over until the hunter dropped his weapon.

As he opened his left hand, the creature’s palm was covered in what looked like a blue fire that grew hot, his eyes turning a bright blue.

The Djinn put its lit up hand on Dean’s forehead and the Winchester’s irises rolled back into his head as the white of his eyes took on a faint, blue hue.

------

Dean jolted awake to the sound of crashing thunder. He was in a warm bed and bare-chested as an old black and white horror movie played on the TV near him.

He briefly looked around, unsure of his surroundings until his eyes fell on the woman asleep at his side. It was Riley. She was wearing nothing but the thin bed sheet that barely covered her.

Confused, he reached over to gently wake her. “Riley…Rye…”

She groaned. “Babe, what is it? Scratch that, what time is it?”

“I--I don’t know. Where are we?” he asked in a panic.

“Uh...we’re at home?” she chuckled. “Jesus. You must be exhausted. Go back to sleep.” Riley rolled back over onto her side.

Dean’s face scrunched, completely perplexed. “What? Home? What the…” his voice trailed off as he gazed around the room again.

He got up and quickly got dressed before running to grab his phone and hiding in the bathroom. Dean dialed up Sam as fast as he could, his mind reeling.

“Dean?” the voice on the other end answered in surprise. It was Sam.

Dean tried to whisper even though his somewhat frantic voice. “Sam! Dude, I don’t know where I am. Riley’s here too, but she’s just as clueless as I am.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Djinn. It attacked me. I don’t remember anything after that.”

“The gin? You’re--you’re drinking gin?”

“No, asshat. The Djinn. The...scary creature. Remember? It put its hand on me and then I woke up...next to Riley in a bed that sure as hell ain’t my own.”

Sam sighed with a small laugh. “Dean, you’re drunk. You’re drunk-dialing me.”

“I’m not drunk! Quit fucking around!”

“Look, it's late. Alright? Just get some sleep and, um--I'll...see you tomorrow. Okay?”

“Wait, Sam! Sam!” he whispered firmly before realizing the call had been dropped. Dazed and more disoriented than he was when he woke up, Dean left the room to explore.

The hallway walls were covered in framed original vinyl classic rock record covers.

As he went into the main area of the home, he looked around at the decorated family room. The walls were a muted dark blue with nice curtains on the windows. Soft and welcoming furniture filled the space. It was relaxing and homey, somewhere he could definitely see relaxing with a beer.

On the coffee table sat a pile of bills. Dean picked them up and read one with his brow creased.

Dean Winchester

#53 Barker Avenue

Lawrence, KS 66044

“Lawrence?” Dean sifted through the rest. All had either his or Riley’s names at the same address. “What the hell?”

“Dean?” a sweet voice called from behind him. When he turned, there was Riley. She was in one of Dean’s large t-shirts. “Couldn’t go back to sleep?”

“Uh, yeah--” he chuckled awkwardly. “My god, she’s beautiful.”

She walked over to him with a flirty smile. “Well, if you come back to bed...I might be able to help you with that.” Riley put her hands around his neck and kissed him before staring up into his eyes lovingly.

“Sure…” he grinned. “It’s just--you, uh--you’re feeling alright, yeah? Like--not weird or...out of place?”

Riley looked at him with bewilderment. “Uh, no,” she laughed. “What’s gotten into you? I mean, we didn’t have more than a couple beers tonight.”

Dean remembered their signal for her to read his mind and rubbed the tip of his nose. When nothing happened, he did it again, and then again. “Can you hear me, Rye?”

“You having allergies or something there?” Riley teased.

She couldn’t hear his thoughts. “No, I--I’m fine. Why don’t you head back to bed, I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay.” The lips he loved and knew so well found his once more. “Don’t be too long.” Riley began to head back to the bedroom. She looked over her shoulder with a sweet smile before disappearing down the hallway.

“What the fuck?” he mouthed.

Dean stopped as his eyes went to the pictures all around him. They were of him and Riley. Christmases, birthdays, ridiculous photos of them in the Impala together...all telling a story of a life they had never known together.

He turned to see yet another photo, only that particular picture made his legs nearly collapse beneath him. Dean picked it up to look closer before dropping it at his feet. It shattered on the wooden flooring as he took off out the front door.

------

Later into that same night, Dean pulled the Impala over to the curb of a small and sleepy suburban street. His eyes refused to lift from across the way as his heart pounded in his chest.

The hunter got out of the car full of excitement and a hint of fear that it wouldn’t be true.

As he walked up the steps of his childhood home, he hurried the last few feet until he was at the familiar yellow door. Dean pounded his fist on the front door and rang the bell multiple times as his swirl of emotions grew.

Suddenly, the porch light lit and he jolted at its awakening. The door opened to a blonde woman in a pink and white robe with a soft and loving voice of concern,

“Dean…” It was Mary, it was Mom.

Dean’s eyes widened as he looked over her face with longing and love. 23 years without her had nearly stolen her image away from him. Tears formed and he stood nearly speechless.

“...Mom?” he could hardly utter.

“What are you doing here?” Mary asked with concern as she reached to touch her son’s arm. “Are you alright?”

“I don’t know,” he practically whispered.

Her head tilted slightly with worry. “Well, come inside.”

Dean stepped into the home, his eyes never leaving Mary as she closed the door behind them.

“Riley called. She said you just took off.” She walked into the family room and turned to face Dean as she waited for him.

“...you--you know Riley?”

Mary chuckled awkwardly under her breath. “Of course, I know her. You’ve only been together nearly four years.”

Stunned, his eyes grew again. “Four years?! Jesus,” Dean beamed, but his face quickly fell realizing he was probably being tricked; Mary couldn’t be real. “Let me ask you a question. When I was a kid, what did you always tell me when you put me to bed?”

“Dean, I don’t understand--”

Cutting her off abruptly, Dean pushed, “just answer the question.”

“I told you angels were watching over you,” she answered sweetly.

Dean’s muscles relaxed as he sighed with joy and rushed to her to hug her tight. “I don’t believe it,” he smiled.

His mom rubbed his back as she spoke into his shoulder. “Honey, you’re scaring me.” Dean took a step back to look at her again. “Now, just tell me what’s going on.”

“You don’t think--you don’t think wishes can come true, do you.” When Mary looked at him quizzically, he shook his head. “Forget it,” Dean smiled as he hugged her again. “I just--I’m just happy to see you is all.”

The hunter’s green eyes began to cry with joy, but he pulled himself together as he stepped away from the embrace. Dean looked her over, still in awe of seeing her. “You’re beautiful,” he uttered from a breathy laugh.

Mary grinned. “What?”

Clearing his throat, Dean had to ask her more. “Hey, uh--when I was a kid, was there a fire here?” He stepped away to examine the bookshelves and pictures.

“No. Never.”

“Oh. I--I thought there was.” Dean stumbled across a picture of John and Mary smiling with Sam and Dean as kids in front of them. They looked so happy. “I guess I was wrong.”

His wandering eyes studied the other photos. Dean in a cap resting on the couch as a teenager, one of him with his prom date, and another of Sam as a graduate. He picked up another picture. A black and white photograph of John, dressed in baseball clothes with a matching cap, a bat in his hand ready to swing with a huge grin on his face. “Dad’s on a softball team,” he murmured to himself with amusement. Dean turned around to see Mary staring at him, puzzled. “I mean--Dad’s softball team. That’s--that’s just funny to me.”

“He loved that stupid team,” she said softly with sadness in her eyes.

Dean’s smile fell. “Dad’s dead? ...and the thing that killed him was…?”

“A stroke. He died in his sleep. You know that.”

“He went peacefully.” There was a brief moment where Dean felt comfort over his father’s passing for the first time since his death. “Wow. I just--”

Mary sighed. “You’ve been drinking.”

“What? No, mom. I haven’t.”

A rapid, soft knock came from the door and Mary went to open it. There was Riley, her face covered in worry.

“Is he here?” she asked hugging Mary. Her gaze went to Dean, standing in the living room. Riley hurried to him and took his hand. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”

“I just--I’m sorry, Rye. I just needed to see mom.”

“Rye?” Her face scrunched with amusement. “That’s new.” Riley squeezed his hand. “You know you can always tell me if you wanna come over here. You know I’m always happy to see your mom.”

Dean gave Riley a half-smile to her response. “Right. ‘Cause we--we come here often.”

“Uh-huh,” she nodded with a bit of humor. “We’re here every weekend. Well, that or my parent’s house.”

He tried to hide his shock and swallowed it hard. “Your parents? They’re--they’re both here?” Dean sat on the couch with anticipation.

“Yeah…” she chuckled.

“And--and Deb?”

Riley’s forehead creased at his question. “I don’t know a ‘Deb’, Dean. Did you have another drink after I went to bed?”

Almost sad that Riley didn’t even know the aunt she adored so much, he just answered, “no, no. I promise. No drinking.” Dean turned to Mary. “Mom, can, uh--can we stay the night? I just miss the old place, you know?”

“Sure,” she replied hesitantly. “You can both stay in the guest room.” Mary stroked his face gently. “Are you sure you’re alright, honey?”

“I think so.”

Mary bent over and kissed his forehead. The touch was like a breath of fresh air that Dean hadn’t been able to breathe since he was four years old.

“I love you,” she told him.

“Me too.”

As Mary disappeared up the stairs, Riley took Dean’s hand once again. “Come on. Let’s go to bed. And this time...stay put, ‘kay?” she teased with a smile.

------

Waking in a comfortable bed with Riley in his arms, Dean could hear the sound of birds singing outside. His eyes focused on a large picture framed on the wall. It was all of them; Sam, Dean, Mary, and John when they were all younger. John was wearing a Santa hat and they all seemed to be laughing.

He was still there. Dean was still home and he gasped at the realization. Pulling himself away from his sleeping girlfriend, he quietly got up to go leave the room and dialed Sam’s number. His brother’s voicemail answered.

“Hey, it's me. I can't come to the pho--”

Dean hung up and his eyes darted back and forth as he tried to understand what was happening to him.

------

The professor’s office at the local college was filled with books and smelt of old leather and worn pages. The dark man sat at his desk as he looked at Dean. “Well, I don't think I've seen you in my class before.”

“You kiddin' me? I love your lectures. You--you make learning fun,” he said pointing at him with that awkward ‘Dean grin’. They both chuckled.

“So, what can I do for you?”

“What can you tell me about Djinns?”

The professor was slightly taken aback, but also humored. “Djinns. Huh. Haven’t had many of my students ask about those.” He went to his shelf and pulled out a large book before going to a table nearby to open it as Dean went to his side. “Well, a lot of Muslims believed the Djinn are very real. And they're mentioned in the Koran--”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Get to the wish part.”

“What about it?”

“Do you think they could really do it?”

“Um--uh, no. No, I don't think they can 'really do it'. You understand these are mythic creatures?”

Yeah, I know. I--I know. I know,” he reiterated, trying to cover his tracks. “But uh--I mean in the stories. You know, say you had a wish, but you never even said it out loud. Like that, uh--that a loved one never died, or that, uh--something awful never happened.”

“Supposedly, yes. I mean they have godlike power. They can alter reality however they want. Past, present, future.”

“Why would the Djinn do it? What, self-defense? Or maybe it's not really evil.”

“Son?” the professor studied Dean with concern. “You been drinking?

“Everybody keeps asking me that. But, uh--no.”

------

As Dean left the campus, he realized there was something he never checked. He fumbled for his keys and opened the Impala’s trunk. Inside was only old magazines, paper cups, and a rag. There were no guns, no weapons or paraphernalia of any kind.

He laughed. “Well, who’d of thought, Baby. We’re civilians.”

Dean closed the trunk and looked back at the building. A girl was standing in a white shirt, skirt, and shoes as she blankly stared at him.

His smile faded as he sensed something strange. Dean watched her for a while and then started across the street toward her.

All of a sudden, a car screeched to a halt as it avoided running into him. The driver slammed on the horn and Dean held out his hand as he looked at the car.

When he turned back toward the girl, she was gone. Dean’s forehead scrunched with curiosity as he went back to the Impala, puzzled.

------

Dean sat at the table of the Winchester’s kitchen with a full sandwich in hand, stuffed with all the fixings. He groaned happily from how delicious it was as he took a massive bite.

“Mm. Mm! Mmm!” he called out with his mouth full. “This is the best sandwich, ever!”

Mary called out from the other room, “well, thank you!”

“I tried to get a hold of Sam earlier. Where is he?”

“Oh, he’ll be here soon.”

“Good, I’m dying to see him.”

Riley came inside with a relaxed sigh as she walked over to the table. “Hi, Mary!” she shouted.

“Hi, sweetie! There’s lunch for you on the table!” Mary still loudly spoke from the other room.

Coming over to meet him, Riley gave Dean a kiss on his full and puffed out cheek. “Hey, you.”

“Mmm. Hey,” he mumbled with a still full mouth. “Where you been?”

She chuckled. “Uh--work at the studio.”

“The studio. Right. Because that’s where you…” Dean hinted for her to answer.

“...teach guitar to kids.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Shouldn’t you be at work, at the garage?”

Dean realized how bewildered she looked. “Right. The garage. I, uh--called out for the day. Needed some time off.”

“Huh. Dad didn’t mention that.”

“...you mean Jackson?” he asked with curiosity.

Riley laughed. “Uh, yeah. Your friggin’ boss.”

“I work at your dad’s garage…”

She took a big bite from her sandwich and chuckled. “You are so fuckin’ weird today.”

------

Dean sat fully content on the porch of his childhood home as he sipped a beer. He had just finished mowing the lawn and found so much joy in the mundane things of a normal life. The fresh smell of the wet grass had him lost in a perfect daydream. Those moments were ones he only dreamed of growing up in the hunting life.

Riley opened the door behind him and joined with a beer in hand. She sat down beside him in the quiet and sipped her drink as the warm sun bathed them both.

“You mowed the lawn? Since when do you mow the lawn?” she playfully asked as her shoulder nudged him.

“Well...since now I guess.”

“Cool. Then you can mow the lawn when we get home too.” Riley gave him a closed and teasing smile that reached from ear to ear while her dimples came out from hiding.

That smile reminded Dean of all the reasons he fell in love with her, the little things that made her so perfect for him.

Dean leaned over and kissed her as his hand went into her hair. “I’d love to. Hey, where’s the mutt by the way?”

“...the mutt?”

“Yeah. Finn, your dog.”

She laughed. “That’s almost cruel, asshole. You know you’d never let me have a dog.”

A blue car pulled up the curb in front of the house before the doors opened. Out came Sam from the driver’s side and Jessica from the passenger’s. The young Winchester went to grab the luggage from the trunk.

Dean uttered to himself, “I don’t believe it.” Hurrying to Jessica and practically attacked her with a hug. “Jessica.”

“Agh! You’re uh--it’s good to see you too, Dean,” she awkwardly replied through the tight squeeze. “Can’t breathe.”

“Oh, sorry,” he added letting go. Dean turned to his brother with the goofiest and happiest of smiles. “Sammy!” he said patting Sam’s shoulder. “Look at you! You’re with Jessica. I don’t believe it.” Dean laughed. “So where’d you guys come from?”

“We just flew in--” Sam replied, baffled. “...from Califor--”

“California!” Dean finished his sentence. “Right. Stanford! Law school I bet, huh?”

Sam chuckled, somewhat disapprovingly and motioned to the beer in Dean’s hand. “I see you started off Mom's birthday with a bang, as usual.”

“Wait. Mom's birthday, that's--that's today?”

“Yeah. Yeah, Dean. That's today. That's why we're here.” Sam sighed, annoyed. “Don't tell me you forgot.”

------

Mary and the boys, along with Jessica and Riley, sat at a round table in a high-end restaurant. A slick, white tablecloth and a small lamp with flowers adorned the top. Soft, elegant music floated in the air as the five of them sat with glasses of wine.

The waiter brought over a plate of asparagus spears bound into an upright sheaf and placed it in front of Dean. Displeased with the food he was given, his face scrunched. “Mm. Wow,” he said sarcastically. “That looks...awesome.”

The entire table laughed before Sam proposed a toast in Mary’s honor for her birthday.

“Happy birthday, Mom.”

“Happy birthday, Mary.”

“Thank you,” she said with an enormous grin.

Dean watched his brother as he and Jessica shared a kiss. There was so much happiness between them and Dean couldn’t help but feel so much joy for Sam. Seeing him so content and at peace with his life was all he ever wanted for his little brother.

Turning to Riley, Dean smirked as he admired every part of her. She was in a black cocktail dress with matching heels and delicate dangling earrings. Her hair was softly curled, falling over her shoulders and her lips were painted a soft red that made her eyes look electric. It didn’t matter if she was in his t-shirt, in jeans and a jacket, or a dress, there was never a time he didn’t think she was perfect.

Riley caught his gaze and she beamed at the green eyes staring back her with admiration. “What?”

“You’re gorgeous, you know that?”

She was nearly floored at his response. “Wow. Well, thank you,” she giggled. “Been a while since you said something like that.”

Dean couldn’t help the confusion written on his face. “What? I always tell you that.”

“Uh--no...not so much. But, hey--I’m glad you did.” Riley leaned over and kissed him. “Hey,” she whispered discreetly. “After this, you wanna go get a cheeseburger? I can’t eat this crap.”

He smiled. “How did I end up with the most amazing woman?”

“Just lucky I guess. We’ll go before we hit the bar.”

“Oh, I didn’t know we were going to the bar after.”

Riley turned to him with slight worry. “Don’t tell me you forgot about my gig tonight.”

“Your gig?” he asked somewhat excited. “No, no. Of course not.”

“Okay, whew,” she chuckled. “Our change of clothes are in the trunk. I packed before we left.”

“Alright, Jess and I have some news, everyone. Wanted to wait for mom’s birthday to share the news.” Sam could barely contain his thrilled look and took Jessica’s hand.

Mary gazed at her son with a hint of a smile. “Tell us what?”

Sam held up Jessica’s left hand and showed off the engagement ring that sat on her finger.

Mary laughed with elation and went to hug them both. “Oh, my god! That’s so wonderful!” As she embraced Sam, she whispered, “I just wish your dad was here.”

“Yeah. Me too.” Sam turned to see Dean standing behind him.

“Congratulations, Sammy. I’m really glad to see you so happy.”

Sam looked almost uncomfortable over Dean’s intensity. “Yeah...thanks.”

Over his little brother’s shoulder, Dean saw the same girl he had run into at the campus earlier. She was much filthier and her face looked tired and drained, her hair completely disheveled.

Dean brushed past Sam and walked over to her. As he passed through the crowded restaurant, Dean finally reached the spot where she had been standing, only to see her gone again.

As he turned around, Dean saw his family looking at him with worry, wondering what had just happened.

------

The bar was busy and bustling that night and everyone had already gone back to change into more comfortable clothes.

Dean sat with his family at a long wooden table with beers and wine across the board. There was a large stage in front of them with instruments lying in wait.

Riley was fidgeting with a napkin, full of nerves.

Dean leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’re gonna be amazing.”

“God I hope so,” she sighed. “Dad! Mom!” Riley got up in a hurry and ran across the room.

Dean turned to look as she rushed to her parent's arms as they hugged her.

There they were, Linda and Jackson Munroe. Dean felt his heart swell seeing her so happy.

Riley headed back for the table and the others stood to greet them.

“Hey, Mary. Happy birthday.” Jackson’s voice was huskier than Dean remembered, still tough as nails, but with that gentle smile. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t make it to dinner,” he added, hugging her.

“No, no--I know you were away the last few days. I’m just glad you’re here,” Mary answered sweetly.

“Not gonna lie,” he started. “I miss John on days like this.”

“Me too.”

Dean went over to greet Riley’s parents and wrapped his arm around his girl. “Linda! Jack! So good to see you.”

“Dean…” Jack replied somewhat plainly.

Slightly stunned at the lack of connection between them, Dean left it at that.

The lights of the bar dimmed on and off letting the patrons know it was time for the performance.

Riley straightened her leather jacket and blew hard through her pursed lips.

“You got this, baby girl,” Jackson told her.

“Good luck, honey,” Linda added.

Riley looked at Dean one last time and he smirked proudly down at her. “Go get ‘em, sweetheart.”

The rest of the band made their way to the stage and the applause and whistles started as they set up.

Riley grabbed an electric guitar and put the strap over her shoulders, the bright lights nearly making her have to squint.

Leaning into the microphone, Riley’s lip curled with a hint of excitement. “You guys ready to rock?” The crowd cheered. “Alright, let’s do this. Happy birthday, Mary!” Her voice went low as she counted, “One, two, three, four…” Riley began her guitar solo until the drums joined her and then the bass. It was Def Leppard’s ‘Photograph’.

“I’m out of luck, out of love. Got a photograph picture of...passion killer, you’re too much. You’re the only one, I wanna touch.” Riley’s eyes went straight for Dean as she smiled through the lyrics. “I see your face every time I dream. On every page, every magazine. So wild, so free, so far from me, you’re all I want...my fantasy. Oh, oh, look what you’ve done to this rock ‘n roll clown. Oh, oh, look what you’ve done...Photograph. I don’t want your...photograph. I don’t need your...photograph. All I’ve got is a photograph. But it’s not enough…”

Dean couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. He laughed with sheer joy and love seeing her completely in her element, doing exactly what she loved. His eyes nearly watered up as he watched her every movement and every flick of her hair. That was the woman of his dreams and he knew it.

A large hand landed on Dean’s shoulder as Jackson sat next to Dean. “You know, that girl is my life. She’s so head over heels for you and can’t see that she could do better.”

“Wait...what?” Dean asked.

“You don’t show up for work, you’re always drinking, you’ve been with her for four years and still say you’re ‘not the marrying type’, whatever the fuck that means. She deserves better, Dean. That girl up there is the best goddamn thing to ever happen to you--don’t blow it. Break her heart, and whether you’re my best friend’s son or not, I’ll break your legs.” Jackson patted Dean’s shoulder and scooted back over to Linda to keep watching Riley’s show.

Dean ‘s heart sank. Riley had been shocked that he called her gorgeous, that he had a nickname for her, and now he learned that she didn’t know if they had a future together. It killed him. Dean knew he had to somehow make it right.

Riley sang the last line of the song and strummed her guitar with a giant smile as the crowd roared with applause.

Dean stood as he whistled and shouted with his hands clapping fiercely. She saw him and her eyes twinkled in the spotlight, sending a shiver down his spine.

That was his forever...Riley.

------

Outside of the bar, everyone was getting ready to leave for the night after Riley’s performance was over. They were all buzzing with their thoughts on how great the show was.

Dean couldn’t keep his hands off Riley and kept on raving about how incredible she was. “Sweetheart, you were just---ugh. You were amazing! They loved you!”

“Always the tone of surprise with you, Winchester,” she teased.

“Thank you all so much for coming tonight,” Mary told them all. “I had such a wonderful birthday.”

Dean kissed Riley hard in front of everyone and then wrapped his arm around her with pride. “And the night isn’t over. Alright!” he started, still grinning like an idiot. “I say we all go back to the house and hang out for a while--catch up.”

“Actually, I think we’re all gonna turn in, sweetie.”

Sam nodded and wrapped his arm around Jessica. “Yeah, it’s been a long day, Dean. We’re beat.”

“Oh, come on. One more drink...as a family.”

“Yeah, maybe another time.”

“Come on, man,” Dean beamed. “Look at us. Huh? We both have beautiful women on our arms. You're engaged, it’s still mom’s birthday, I got a rockstar for a girlfriend...let’s go celebrate!”

There was an awkward silence between everyone before Sam spoke up. “Would you guys excuse us for just a second? I wanna talk to my brother real quick.” The group nodded as he walked away and Dean followed. “Okay, what the hell has gotten into you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean this whole warm, fuzzy, ecstasy-trip thing.”

“I’m just happy for us, Sammy.”

“Yeah, right. That's another thing. Since when do you call me Sammy?” Sam stared at his brother and paused. “Dean, come on. We don't talk outside of holidays.”

“We don't? Well, we should. I mean, you're my brother.”

“‘You're my brother’?”

Dean laughed. “Yeah.”

“You know, that's what you said when you snaked my ATM card, or when you bailed on my graduation, or when you hooked up with Rachel Nave.”

“Who?”

“Uh--my prom date. On prom night.”

The older brother nodded, “Damn. Yeah, that does kinda sound like me. Well, hey man, I'm sorry about all that.” He walked closer to Sam and his little brother backed away.

“No, that--look, that's alright man, I just--you know I'm not asking you to change. I just, uh--I don't know, I...guess we just don't really have anything in common. You know?”

Dean blinked again and again in shock at his brother’s words as Sam began to walk back to the group. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Yes, we do. Yes, we do,” he chuckled.

“What?”

“Hunting.”

“Hunting? I've never been hunting in my life, Dean.”

“Yeah, well, then we should go it sometime. I…” Dean smiled. “I think you'd be great at it.”

Sam began to walk away and then turned to see his brother one last time. “Just--go home and get some rest, Dean.” He continued over to the others and said his goodnights before they all left.

Dean stood where his brother had left him, saddened by how things had turned out in that reality--or dream, or whatever it was. The people he loved the most didn’t even know how much they meant to him. There was so much he had to make right and he was determined to do it.

As Jackson said goodnight to Riley, his eyes shot over to Dean with a disapproving look. It was clear where he stood on Dean’s and Riley’s relationship. She then hugged everyone and jogged over to Dean.

“Ready to go home?”

“Yeah...I am.”

------

Dean sat on the sofa of his living room, his brow furrowed and his mind wandering. He couldn’t tell if things there were better than his reality. Yes, he finally got the life he always wanted, but the switch cost him so much.

Plopping down on the couch with two beers, Riley handed one to Dean. It was easily after one in the morning, though the couple was still wound from the night.

“Penny for your thoughts?” she asked.

He realized how much he missed the connection with her and her telepathy. It brought them so close, made their bond intense in such an amazing way.

“It’s just--there’s a lot that’s not like I pictured, you know?”

“How so?”

“Sammy and I...we don’t get along.”

Riley rubbed his shoulder to comfort him. “Well, you just don’t know each other all that well. Not really surprising with how little time you spend together.”

“Hm.”

She turned his chin in her direction and looked him in his eyes. “He doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

Dean’s eyes welled and his voice went to almost a whisper as he told her, “I don’t deserve you.”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“Apparently, I haven’t been as good to you as I should have been. I mean, your dad hates my guts.”

Riley chuckled softly. “He doesn’t hate you. He’s just...protective.”

“I should have been telling you every day how beautiful you are, how you constantly surprise me in the most amazing ways, how much I love you.”

“Well, I love you too, Dean.”

He shifted in his seat to look at her more intently and put his hand on the side of her face. “You’re the one, Rye. You’re it. And if you want a future with me, then I’ll give you everything you want. All I want is to be with you and make you happy.”

She swallowed hard as her emotions built. “What’s going on with you lately?”

“This isn't gonna make a lick of sense to you. But I kind of feel like I've been given a second chance and I don't wanna waste it.”

“Yup. Doesn’t make any damn sense,” she giggled.

Dean kissed her more passionately than he could ever remember. His lips spoke for his heart and soul and told her how deeply he loved her.

Riley went weak as she melted into him and felt it all as she returned the feelings. “Whatever’s gotten into you,” she said, “I like it.”

He looked deep into her blue eyes and lost himself as his thumb ran over her jaw. Dean needed her to know that she was his everything and he was going to show her.

Dean returned to their fervent kisses and pulled her close until they were flushed together. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she moaned as he gently picked her up to lay her down on the sofa. Dean’s lips softly trailed open-mouthed kisses down her neck and up towards her ear where he breathed into her ear.

As she played with his hair, he whispered, “it’s you and me. Always.”

Riley pulled away only to look at him again and her eyes darted back and forth between those beautiful green eyes that made her heart flutter. “Always.”

Slowly, he took off her tank top before lifting off his shirt. Their bare, warm skin together felt like home in the most perfect way. Dean expertly undid her jeans, never taking his mouth away from her. He undressed them both and then removed her bra.

They locked eyes as he brushed the hair from her face and their mouths went agape as he connected them.

Dean and Riley groaned and moaned in pleasure with how perfectly they fit together. All that love and passion came to life in that single moment of bliss.

Riley panted in his ear and his hand explored her body as the other cradled her head and intertwined with her hair. She gasped at his movements and he was lost in all she was.

Every movement of her face, every sound from her lips, breathed life into Dean and drove him on. He never wanted that moment to end.

As they made love on that couch, Dean knew that they could have a real life together; a life without hunting, without death and constant danger, the normal and happy life that he so desperately wanted to give her.

Riley was his other half and no matter what world they were in, it made his heart soar knowing they would always find each other.

------

Later, Dean still sat wide awake with a blanket covering him and Riley as she slept in his lap. His fingers ran through her hair absent-mindedly as he flipped through the channels on the TV.

He rolled through a cooking channel, a cartoon, and then finally the news.

The reporter for the station went through the evening's highlights.

“And today marks the anniversary of the crash of United Britannia Flight 424.” At the reporter’s words, Dean’s eyes grew and he leaned forward as he turned up the volume. “Indianapolis residents held a candlelight vigil in memory of the hundred and eight people who lost their lives…”

“No, no. I stopped that crash,” he muttered to himself. Dean gently snuck from under Riley and replaced his lap with a pillow for her before getting up.

Throwing on his jeans, he ran to get his laptop and searched headlines from the last few years on cases he, Sam, and Riley had solved.

“Indianapolis Sun”- December 5th, 2005 - ‘FLIGHT 424 CRASHES, 108 DEAD; Tragedy shocks the nation, as emergency crews continue to search rubble.’

‘Nine Children Comatose - mystery illness baffles doctors at Dane County Hospital.’

‘Parents Mutilated in Bed - brutal double homicide in quiet residential area causes shock.’

‘Girl Drowns in Indoor Pool - Mother devastated after discovering daughter drowned.’

Dean felt he was going to be sick reading about all the lives he had failed to save. Living the life he had always wanted, meant people died and continued to without him and his family hunting.

Out of the corner of his eye, Dean saw the woman dressed in white once again turn and walk down his hallway.

He quickly went to follow her. Dean let her lead him into his and Riley’s bedroom, but she was nowhere to be found.

Opening the closet door, Dean jumped in shock as he saw two, rotted, female corpses hanging inside.

A sound came from behind him and he spun around to see the ghostly woman, flickering in front of him, with a wound in her forehead and covered in blood. He panted, looking terrified and turned back to look in the closet, only to find nothing out of the ordinary.

------

The cool Kansas night was Dean’s only company in the Lawrence city graveyard. He stood in front of a large headstone, staring down at the inscription.

JOHN E. WINCHESTER

1954-2006

LOVING HUSBAND & FATHER

REMEMBERED FOREVER

“All of them--everyone that you saved, everyone Sammy, Rye and I saved. They're all dead. And there's this woman, that's haunting me. I don't know why. I don't know what the connection is, not yet anyway. It's like my old life is--is coming after me or something. Like it--like it doesn't want me to be happy. ‘Course I know what you'd say. Well, not the you that played softball but... ‘So go hunt the Djinn. He put you here, it can put you back. Your happiness for all those people's lives, no contest. Right?’ But why? Why is it my job to save these people? Why do I have to be some kind of hero?” Dean began to cry as he spoke to his father’s grave. “What about us, huh? What, Mom's not supposed to live her life, Sammy's not supposed to get married? Riley isn’t supposed to have a normal life with her parents again? I can’t have a real life with the only woman I’ve ever wanted to be with? Why do we have to sacrifice everything, Dad?” He paused as his lips trembled.

He couldn’t understand. All Dean ever wanted was to be happy, to have peace. And now that he had it, it was tainted...stained by the truths that he knew and the burden he carried on his shoulders since he was a child.

The sound of the sky rumbling above, letting itself be known over the silent graveyard.

Tears fell down Dean’s cheek and he wiped them away.

------

After hearing a noise coming from downstairs, Sam awoke and hurried out of bed. He grabbed a baseball bat and tiptoed down the stairs. Stopping in the doorway of the Winchester house, he looked into the living room. He saw the window open and beneath it, someone rifling through one of the cabinets.

Sam went in swinging, ready for a fight.

The person got up and counterattacked, throwing him to the floor. It was Dean that hovered above him.

“That was so easy, I'm embarrassed for you,” Dean joked through his ragged breath.

“Dean? What the hell are you doing here?”

“I, uh--was looking for a beer.”

Sam looked at his brother with disbelief. “In the china cabinet?” He went to turn on the light and saw a box with their parents’ silverware on the floor, opened. “That's Mom's silver. You--you broke into the house...to steal Mom's silver?”

“It's not what it looks like. Okay? I didn't have a choice.”

“Oh, really? Why? What's so fucking important you gotta steal from your own mother?”

“You want the truth?”

“Yeah, yeah I do,” Sam scoffed.

Dean shrugged. “I owe somebody money,” he lied. “A bookie. I lost big on a game, I gotta bring him the cash tonight.”

Groaning, Sam replied, “I can't believe we're even related.”

“...Sam, I'm sorry.”

“Yeah,” the younger brother said softly.

“I'm sorry that we don't get along and I wish to hell I could stay and fix it. But I gotta do this--people’s lives depend on it.” Dean turned around and took a knife from the box.

“What are you talking about, Dean?”

“Nothing. Forget it. Just, uh--hey, tell Mom I love her. And, tell Jackson I’m sorry...that he was right.”

Sam frowned seeing that something was up with Dean as his big brother went for the door. “Dean.”

Looking at Sam one last time, Dean feigned a smile. “I'll see you, Sammy.” He opened the front door and turned his eyes to memorize the house one last time before leaving and closing the door behind him.

------

Sitting in the Impala as the engine was on, Dean waited in the same parked spot, lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, the passenger side door opened and Sam got into the car.

“Sam, get out of my car.”

“I’m going with you.”

“You’re just gonna slow me down. This is too dangerous. You could get hurt,” Dean’s voice rose as he spoke firmly and adamantly to his little brother.

“Tough,” Sam bit. “Look, whatever stupid thing you're about to do, you're not doing it alone and that's that.”

Dean froze and just stared back at Sam. “I don't understand. Why you doing this?”

“Because you're still my brother,” Sam sighed.

There was a silence between them and Dean smirked. “Bitch.”

Sam’s neck snapped in Dean’s direction. “What? What are you calling me a bitch for?”

“You’re supposed to say ‘jerk’. Never mind.”

As he went to put the car into gear, the back door of Baby creaked open and shut. The brothers turned around and there was Riley with a nonchalant look on her face.

“Alright, where we going?”

“Uh--you’re not going anywhere. You need to go home,” Dean told her.

“Pfft. I don’t fuckin’ think so. Something’s up and I wanna know what it is. You’re not going without me, so you might as well drive.” Riley folded her arms and leaned back in the seat, letting him know she was ready to go.

Dean exhaled heavily with worry as he pulled the Impala onto the road.

------

There was a duffel bag sat on the floor of the backseat. Riley leaned over to look and pulled it into her lap. “What’s in the bag?”

“Nothing,” Dean said calmly.

“Nothing, huh?”

Riley unzipped the bag and as she did, Dean tried to stop her. “Trust me, you’re not gonna wanna do that.”

Taking out what was in the bag, Riley held a container of blood. Her face was one of pure disgust and Sam turned to look at it as his eyes widened. “What the fuck is this?” she asked.

“Blood.”

“Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. Why the hell do you have a container of blood?!”

Sam faced his brother. “What the fuck is going on, Dean?”

“You don’t wanna know.”

“Oh, no...we do...we really do wanna know.”

Dean shrugged. “Yeah, well you're gonna find out sooner or later. I needed a silver knife dipped in lamb's blood.”

“You needed a silver knife dipped in lamb's blood, why?”

“Because there's this creature--a Djinn, and I have to hunt it.”

“Okay, um--stop the car.”

“I know how it sounds.”

“Do you, Dean?!” Riley asked emphatically.

“It's the truth. Alright, there are things out there in the dark. There--there are bad things. There are nightmare things and people have to be saved and if we don't save them, then nobody will.”

Riley leaned back again and ran both her hands over her hair, pushing it back. “Oh, my god. My boyfriend’s losing his mind.”

“Look, we wanna help you, alright?” Sam spoke softly hoping not to spook Dean. “I--I really, really do, but you're having some kind of psychotic breakdown, so, I...just--”

“I wish,” Dean uttered.

Sam picked up his phone and began dialing a number.

As he did, Dean calmly rolled down his window and grabbed Sam’s phone from his hands before chucking it out the window. He then coolly rolled it back up as if nothing had happened.

“What the fuck was that, Dean? That was my phone!”

“I'm not going to a rubber room, Sammy and we got work to do.”

“What? I was just trying to help you out, Dean. I don't--I don't want you to get yourself hurt.”

“What? You protect me?”

“Yeah!”

Dean laughed. “Oh, that's hilarious. Why don't you just sit tight and try not to get us all killed.”

Before anyone else could weigh in, Dean turned up the radio as ‘Mr. Saturday Night Special’ blared out.

------

Dean looked over at both of his partners, who were both sound asleep. He picked up his flashlight and turned it on before shining it in their faces to wake them up.

“Where are we?” Riley groaned.

“Well, we're not in Kansas anymore.” Dean chuckled at his joke and when there was no reaction, his smile died. “Illinois.”

Sam looked out at the large building they had parked in front of. “And you think something's in there?”

“I know it is.”

Once they were all inside the factory building, the three of them looked around, all with flashlights in hand.

“Dean…” Riley almost whined. “See? Nothing’s here.”

Dean started walking down the hallway toward the same place he was attacked as Riley and Sam followed close behind.

There was a sound somewhere nearby and the two untrained hunters jumped. They both started to take the situation more seriously as they grew a little more afraid.

“Um, what the fuck is that?” Sam nearly gulped.

Dean turned to whisper to them. “Stay behind me and keep your mouth shut.”

The three entered a large, open space where bodies were hanging from the ceiling. They were the same bodies Dean had seen in the closet earlier.

A large and drained blood bag hung next to one of the victims.

Riley tried to control her horror. “What...the actual...fuck?”

Dean looked further to the right where he saw the woman that had been haunting him since he first woke up in that different reality. They all approached her and saw yet another blood bag next to her that was being filled with her blood. Her eyes were open, but she looked close to death.

“It's her,” Dean said to himself.

The young Winchester and Riley both looked closer to see that the girl’s wrists are tied above her where she was held up by a large hook.

She moaned and whimpered as she slowly came to.

Sam’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “Dean, what's going on?”

Dean grabbed him and Riley and pushed them both behind him. “Shh!”

They all rushed to the other side of a fence to hide behind leftover items of the abandoned warehouse.

The Djinn came out from the darkness and stared at the woman he had kept as his captive.

She sobbed, weakly. “Where's my dad? I won't tell--please. Please just don’t hurt me anymore.” The woman continued to weep. “Where's my dad.”

Reaching out to touch her face the Djinn told her, “sleep.” Blue flares went over her cheek as he stroked her and his eyes glowed a bright blue. “Sleep…sleep…”

Her head fell forward with her eyes still open and her feet relaxed as her body went limp.

The Djinn rested his face against her, touching her right arm and breathing heavily with his eyes closed. Pulling down what looked like a straw from the blood bag, he put it to his mouth and began to suck as he drank her warm, fresh blood.

When the creature was finally satiated, it walked up the creaky stairs nearby. The sound of a door closed in the distance as it disappeared.

Both Sam and Riley breathed heavy with fear. “This is real?” Sam asked. “You're not crazy?”

“She didn't know where she was,” Dean thought out loud to himself. “She thought she was with her father.” They all walked up to the woman as he finally put the pieces of the puzzle together. “What if that's what the Djinn does? It doesn't grant you a wish, it just makes you think it has.”

Riley patted his arm several times. “Dean, let’s get out of here. That creepy thing could come back.”

Dean walked past them both in the opposite direction and glanced up at the light bulb swinging above him. It flickered to a nearly blinding glow as Dean saw flashes of himself, hanging by his wrists just like the bound woman.

The hunter began to gag and had difficulty breathing as he panicked, realizing what was happening to him.

“Dean, please,” Sam begged.

“What if I'm like her?” Dean panted heavily. “What if I'm tied up in here someplace? What if all this is in my head? I mean it could--you know, maybe it gives us some kind of supernatural acid and then just feeds on us slow.”

“No. Dean, that doesn't make sense. Okay?”

“What if that's why she keeps appearing to me? She's not a spirit. It's--it's like more and more like I'm catching flashes of reality. You know, like I'm in here somewhere,and I'm--I'm catatonic. I'm taking all this stuff in, but I--but I can't snap out of it.”

Riley grew more and more anxious as she kept scanning everywhere around them. “Okay, Dean--you’re not crazy. We know that. This is all real and we were wrong. But we have got to get out of here or we’re screwed.”

Grabbing his brother’s jacket, Sam began to pull Dean in his direction. Dean pulled his arm loose from his hold and Sam looked at him as he threw his arms up as if saying, ‘what?’

“I don't think you're real. Either of you.”

Sam grew more and more agitated and grabbed Dean by the arm. “Dude, you feel that? You feel this? I'm real. This is not an acid trip. I'm real and that thing is gonna come down here and kill us for real. Now, please--”

“I’m real, Dean. We’re both real.” Riley took Dean’s hand. “Please.”

“There's one way to be sure,” Dean told them as he pulled out the silver knife.

She gasped. “Oh, my god. What are you doing? Honey, put down the knife.”

“It's an old wives' tale. If you're about to die in a dream, you wake up.”

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no,” Sam fumbled over his words in fear. “That's crazy. Alright?”

With a determined look, Dean said, “...maybe.”

Sam started walking back towards Dean who had taken several steps away. “You're gonna kill yourself--”

Dean held out the knife and his other hand telling him to stop and back off. “...or I'm gonna wake up. One or the other.”

Tears fell from Riley’s eyes as she pleaded with Dean and fought through her gasps, “this isn’t a dream. You’re going to kill yourself and Sam and I are both right here with you.”

“No, I'm pretty sure. Well, like--90% sure. But I'm sure enough.” Dean turned the knife on himself and took the handle in both hands ready to thrust it into himself.

“Wait!” Sam screamed.

From the shadows, Mary walked in toward her oldest son, in the same nightgown she died in that horrible night. Behind them, Jessica appeared and joined them all.

“Why'd you have to keep digging?” Sam asked. “Why couldn't you have left well enough alone?” Dean looked around at all the people he loved. “You were happy.”

Mary went to stand in front of Dean and peered up at him as she softly spoke to him, “put the knife down, honey.”

“You're not real,” he told her with tears in his eyes. “None of it is.”

“It doesn't matter. It's still better than anything you had.”

“What?”

“It's everything you want,” Mary smiled. “We're a family again. Let’s go home.”

Dean shook his head. “I’ll die,” his voice broke. “The Djinn...it’ll drain the life out of me in a couple of days.”

“But, in here, with us, it'll feel like years--like a lifetime.”

Dean looked over at Sam and Riley and they half-smiled.

Mary took his chin in her hand and he looked down at her. “I promise. No more pain,” she told him as she stroked his cheek. “...or fear. Just love and comfort...and safety. Dean, stay with us.” Mary stroked his other cheek and he leaned into her hand as he closed his eyes. “Get some rest.”

“You don't have to worry about Sam anymore,” Jessica said with a grin and he turned to her. “You get to watch him live a full life.”

Mary stepped away and Riley walked up to him, taking his face in her hands and kissing him. “We can have a real future together here, Dean. No more wondering if we’ll even get to live to be old. We could have our own family like we never could as hunters. I love you, Dean. Please...stay here with me.”

“Why is it our job to save everyone?” Sam questioned. “Haven't we done enough? I'm begging you,” he breathed in heavily. “Give me the knife.

Dean looked at Riley, Sam, and Mary with tears in his eyes. He backed away, his eyes cast down at the floor and then raised his head to look at his brother and the woman he loved.

The hunter took a deep breath as he whispered, “I'm sorry.” Thrusting the knife into himself, blood immediately came out of Dean’s mouth.

Voices echoed around him. “Dean! Dean! Dean!”

“No, no, no, no, no…” Riley begged as she shook him. “Wake up, Dean. Wake up!”

Dean groaned a little and his eyes began to focus on them both.

“Oh, my god. Hey, we’re here, Dean. We’re here.”

“Ahh…” Dean groaned. “Auntie Em, there's no place like home.”

“Thank god,” Sam sighed in relief. “I thought we lost you for a second.” He pulled the needle from his brother’s throat.

“You almost did.”

“Jesus Christ. Rye help me get him down.”

They both reached up and started to cut through the large rope as Dean winced over the pain and grunted a little.

Two bright blue eyes appeared next to Sam in the shadows as the Djinn came out.

Dean saw the creature and shouted, “Sam!”

The Winchester turned around, going for the Djinn with the knife. The creature grabbed Sam for a moment and got him to drop the blade.

Riley was working as quickly as possible to pull Dean down from the loosened rope.

Meanwhile, The Djinn got the upper hand on Sam and held him by the throat. The monster’s hand glowed blue and moved to touch the hunter’s forehead while Sam struggled and pushed against his wrist trying to stop him. The Djinn opened his fist, the blue light spreading over its entire hand.

When the creature was nearly at Sam’s forehead, Riley thrust the knife into the back of the Djinn and turned it inside its flesh. The blue light from its eyes went out and they closed as the Djinn’s head rolled down. When Riley pulled out the knife, the monster fell to the ground, dead.

Sam was breathing heavily from being strangled and Dean laid on the concrete floor behind them, his face pale with red-rimmed eyes. He pulled himself up to stand and walked up next to the girl that had hung nearby. Dean put his hand up to her neck, feeling for a pulse.

A tear rolled down one of her cheeks.

“She's still alive! Rye the knife…” He pulled the tube from her neck as Riley cut the rope and Sam held her steady. Dean caught her as her limp body dropped down. “I gotcha. I gotcha. We're gonna get you out of here, okay? I gotcha.”

A small wheezing sound escaped the girl’s bleeding throat.

“I got you.”

------

Sitting on the edge of the motel bed, Dean leaned on his knees with his hands clasped together, his head hung. The tacky room around him smelt old and like a strange wood as the antique lamps hung nearby lighting up the room.

Sam was on the phone listening to the other end. “Okay, uh--thank you so much for the update. Okay, bye.” He hung up at looked to Dean. “That was the hospital--girl's been stabilized. Good chance she's gonna pull through.”

“That's good,” he replied.

As Riley heard the tone of Dean’s voice, she went over to his side and sat on the bed. “What about you, though? You okay?”

Clearing his throat, he answered, “yeah, I'm alright.” Dean paused. “You should have seen it, guys--our lives. And Sam, you were such a wuss.”

Sam chuckled. “So we didn't get along then, huh?”

“Nah.”

“I thought it was supposed to be this--I dunno...perfect fantasy or something. That doesn’t sound so perfect to me,” Riley added. “Was I there?”

“Of course you were. But no, it wasn’t perfect. I wished for Mom to live, that Mom never died, we never went hunting and Sam, you and me--you know...”

Sam’s hands found his pockets as he leaned on the wall. “I’m just glad you pulled yourself out of it. Most people wouldn't have had the strength--would have just stayed.”

“Yeah...lucky me. I gotta tell you though, man. You know, you had Jess, Mom was gonna have grandkids, Rye and I were gonna have a real life together...”

“Yeah, but, Dean-- it wasn't real.”

“I know. But I wanted to stay.” Dean looked sad, almost lost.

Riley could feel it all and she knew how hard it had been for him to leave. She took his hand in hers as he went on.

“I wanted to stay so bad. I mean, ever since Dad...all I can think about is how much this job's cost us.” He stopped to gaze up at them both. “We've lost so much. We've...sacrificed so much.”

“But people are alive because of you,” Sam told him and Dean scoffed at the thought. “It's worth it, Dean. It is. It's not fair, and...you know, it hurts like hell, but...it's worth it.”

Dean looked down again, sad and pensively. “I wanted to stay....”

Tightening her grip on his hand, Riley heard his thought and sent one of her own. “I’m so glad you didn’t.”

He glanced up at her again and she smirked. Dean realized just how grateful he was to have that connection with her again. It made them closer than anything ever had and his forehead leaned against hers.

“We can still have a life together--here. What we have is real, Dean. That’s better than any fantasy. This life is ours.”

He kissed her sweetly and a small smile curled on his face. “You’re better than any dream…”

------

S2 Chapter 12: All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1

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secretshinigami · 5 years

Text

Concrete Box

Author: @silcnt-scul For: @queer-of-the-blue-moon Pairings/Characters: Light Yagami, (implied) L Lawliet Rating/Warnings: Claustrophobia tw Prompt: AU where Light actually feels guilty when he’s almost done with eliminating L, and overwhelmed, he hesitates which ruins his plans (but maybe it’s better this way). Author’s notes: tbh I had no idea what I was doing with this, but it was kinda fun actually even tho I’ve never written this kind of stuff before.

In the end, it had been his own guilt that brought him down.

The concrete walls seemed to be more suffocating than usual today, an occurrence Light would have thought impossible – but once he had also deemed impossible his downfall, and being locked into a light-grey hell filled with bright lights, with no windows, no clocks, no way to communicate to the outside world besides the camera which looked at him, unblinking, unswaying – every now and then, someone would speak – L, he thought – but never converse – only unfeeling voice, announcing whatever it deemed necessary for Light to know.

His own garden of Eden, where he was safe – contained within a concrete box, with everything necessary for him to stay alive. A lumpy bed with a thin blanket and pillow, a toilet and a shower, a sink where he could drink water(but the water was always room temperature, unpleasantly warm), and a tiny chute in the wall from which arrived his food thrice per day, guarded by a watchful eye… when Light had first thought of this, he had laughed, laughed hysterically for what felt like hours, before slumping down against a wall with a heavy sigh. At least Adam and Eve had gotten out by committing a sin – but there was no Tree of Knowledge here, no snake to tempt him. Only L, watching him through the camera, perhaps saying a word or a few if he deemed Light worthy enough – the only luxury the detective had allowed for him was the fact that the lights darkened somewhat a while after the third meal after Light’s waking, which let the ex-god sleep for a bit.

Oh, how he wished he had never waited to kill L – a day of hesitation had brought Light here, an overwhelming wave of guilt that had stripped him of control over himself and made him wait with killing L, make excuses – let him live just for a longer, he is an interesting person, he might be useful in my plans – and these human-like feelings had taken his hope to see the outside world, taken his life from him, leaving his body to live in this prison – oh, he had tried to get out alright, perhaps in the most foolish possible way – scraping and hitting at the walls - but the chamber had filled with a thick vapour before he was able to do any harm to himself or the chamber, and within seconds Light’s sight was gone, as heavy sleep brought itself over him – and worse yet, he had waken in a straightjacket, unable to move – the voice had warned him that the consequences would always be the same.

Every now and then, Light spoke to the camera – though not always did he receive answers, and even when he did, they were never answers to his questions. However, in a rather odd way, the mechanical, scrabbled voice was a grounding point for Light, something for his sanity to grab onto. Though the voice never was kind to him, and always made him feel worse than before, Light kept trying to get it to communicate more, like a foolish dog that keeps sticking its nose into boiling water – and so he did it again, without thought, without decision – words simply spilled out of his mouth, voice weaker than it had been yesterday – little by little, Light could realize that he was falling apart. “Kira will rise again,” he made a expression towards the camera between a grimace and a smile, “Others are bound to come, and they will not hesitate.”

Silence from the camera speaker, and Light wanted to hit it – but the camera was too high for him to reach anyways, and he knew it would probably end with him in a straightjacket again. Well, it was not like he was completely weaponless, even if his weapon was a dry wooden stick two centimeters long against a machine gun.

“Look at you, great and mighty L, too important to even talk to your prisoner,” a sneer came onto his face, “Or are you scared? Scared that I’ll find a way out?” A nonsense, he knew – Light had come to a conclusion long ago that this place was unescapable. Yet there still was a certain joy in fantasizing and letting L think he knew a way – a facade he had no doubt the detective could easily see through. However, in a bare room even useless words are fun and thrilling, for human mind yearns for stimulation. Though Light often found himself doing push-ups for the sake of doing something – because in the echo of their own thoughts can drive a person crazy if there is nothing to do – eventually even those became the same tired routine that he put barely any thought into.

The fool’s play continued, “You know, L, I forgot to mention to you something Kira could do. I know your lifespan, and it is rather low,” not that Light had any doubt that the detective would live to see the old age – with his diet of sweets, staying inside all day and other rather unhealthy habits, Light would have been surprised if the detective were to make it to fifty, even forty. Not that Light would probably be alive to see it – though for now L seemed to keep him in this place like a guinea pig, Light had no doubt that he would be killed soon.

The lights suddenly darkened, and Light decided to make one last jape, before using the opportunity to sleep – after all, dreaming in this box was always preferable to staying awake. “So you are scared, aren’t you? Putting my to sleep like that,” With that, he turned away from the camera to lay onto the hard bed – a thin mattress on a metal sheet bolted to the wall.

It did not take him long to fall asleep and dream – the dream was quite sweet, for in this alternate reality he had not hesitated – L fell into his arms, and Kira reigned over the world.

But the moment the lights brightened again – about eight hours later – he would be brought back into this box, for his own guilt had pushed him from his throne.

#fanfiction #submission #light yagami #Death Note #Mello's Birthday Bash 2018 #silcntscul #queerofthebluemoon #ratings: general #claustrophobia

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farfanfiction · 6 years

Text

Loyalty to the Pack: Part 2

Pairing: John Seed x Joseph Seed x Reader x Jacob Seed

AUs: Omegaverse, werewolves

Warnings: Cursing, mentions of sex, mentions of depression and anxiety, John being an asshole...

Word Count: 2,266

A/N: Here’s part 2 my doods. This part is just leading up to the meat, it will get far more exciting from here, plus if you haven’t noticed, John is a little OOC. He’s supposed to be that way for only this part, he’ll be the cocky, seductive, jackass we all know and love soon. Give me some feedback on what I could do better or what I did alright, where you wanna see this whole mess go, or something you just don’t understand. The gif is not mine.

Masterpost My Omegaverse Rules

The celebration continued on. Occasionally, people would come up to you and congratulate you on your pairing. You just gave your biggest, and fakest smile possible, while you gripped your dress under the table. This pairing was bound to be a joke, there was no way God would ever pair you with a Seed, let alone an Alpha like John. He seemed like a complete child when he didn’t have a respectful attitude when around his brother. Come to think of it, the baby currently in your arms behaved far better than he did.

She slept peacefully in your arms with the occasional whimper or snuggling up to your chest to escape the cool night air. When you weren’t staring at her, you stared at John. He would either be picking at the food on his plate or talking to one of his siblings. He would never look at you or respond to your repeated stares. No matter how long you stared at him, he didn’t falter. It was as if he was still brooding over Joseph’s choice. Pleading for him to reconsider. He didn’t need an Omega, he was only thirty-two and had tons of life in him before he settled down with an Omega and a few pups. The typical picket fence life.

Yet, that kind of look doesn't suit the stubborn Alpha. He looked like he’d fit into the fast cars, expensive wine sipping, and a new girl every night kinda life. Where you were an eligible bachelor until the day you died because of liver failure from said wine. He wouldn’t even be able to have that life, alcohol was a big no-no in Eden’s Gate as well as casual sex. The only sex you can have is during heats, ruts, or just to have children. No pleasure included when in reality pleasure was the perfect thing to help a heat or a rut.

You continued to give the nastiest looks you could muster. There was no way to avoid them, but he did. He really was ignoring you. “If you keep glaring at him, John and the Father will take notice.” Gabriel piped up. You turned to look at him and give an equally nasty look.

“So what if he does. If he’s going to be my Alpha, he’s gonna have to deal with my looks.” You snapped back, not intentionally making it that menacing. Gabriel gave a small chuckle and grabbed his other daughter from his mate’s arms. The pup let out an ear-piercing screech when her father’s warmth began to fade. The Omega side of you began to whimper at the thought of a pup crying. You wanted to reach out and hold her, feel her tiny heartbeat bound against your chest as she calmed down from her screamfest. Warm and safe on your breast, but you knew that wouldn’t happen. Her actual mother can take care of this.

Gabriel began to pat the girl on her tiny back until her wails became small whimpers. “There you go, sweetheart. No more tears, mama’s here.” He whispered into her tiny ear until she made no noise, simply drifting off into sleep. That’s what you wanted. Pups. The problem with this dream was whether or not John wanted them. He acted as if pups were too much time and trouble. A small life that both parents had to care for.

You wanted that tiny life to care for because as we all know, Omega’s were made to take care of the pack. While Alphas were meant to lead, children and Omegas were just a plus. An Alpha didn’t need an Omega, but if they did have one, they were supposed to love and care for them, their whole lives would be for the sake of the Omega and children rather than the pack at that point.

“Are you ok?” Gabriel whispered, careful to not wake both babies. You looked down at your lap and tried to avoid his gaze. Were you ok? That was the hardest question you’ve gotten all day.

“Honestly, I don’t know.” You whispered back, not for the sake of the pups, but for yourself. You thought if you talked louder, you would burst into tears. Your vision began to fog up with unshed tears ready to escape and ruin everything.

“If it’s about John it’s ok. I know how it feels to be uncertain about an Alpha. I didn’t even think our relationship would work out until I had my first heat with him and he treated me like glass. After we mated, I knew he was the one. You just know once you have an intimate moment. In all honesty, I didn't think the Father would hand you off to John of all people. I don’t even trust John with anything let alone you, but I think the Father knows that too.” Wait, Joseph doesn’t trust John? With you? Now that you think about it, Joseph did seem hesitant when he called John’s name.

“Maybe.” You stated. Gabriel gave you a sad smile and went back to comforting his pup. You looked back at John one last time. For once he looked back. His blue eyes locked with your (e/c) eyes and a frown graced his face. You gave a frown of your own and got up from your seat.

The pup in your arms began to squirm, but you shushed her. “I’m gonna go take a quick walk.” Gabriel gave a small nod and turned to talk to his Alpha.

You walked to the riverbank, completely unaware that the Baptist had gotten up from his own chair and started to follow you. You gently laid down in the grass not caring if you dress got dirty. You looked at the pup in your arms and a tear began to escape your eye. The tears just fell as you looked at her little face. Something you couldn’t have because God deemed you unworthy. Your sadness overwhelmed you, you began to quake and wail, just hoping no one would hear.

Suddenly you felt a large, callused hand touch the bare skin of your shoulder. You nearly jumped from the touch. You quickly turned around to see John’s handsome face rather close to yours.

“Tsk, tsk. Leaving your own party so soon?.” His voice was laced with pure cockiness. You just wanted to be alone with this miracle. So pure and quiet, unlike the bastard that stood beside you, mocking you for having any real emotion.

“Well, why don’t you leave me alone.” You hissed back. All you could hear was a dry chuckle as he sat himself down right next to you. It was then he finally noticed the baby nestled in your arm. He scooched over and gazed at the pup. The Alpha carefully put out a hand, you didn’t flinch away or protect the pup, you simply stared as he stroked her tiny head. She looked so fragile and tiny compared to his large hands.

This made John think back to his childhood. From what his brothers told him, he was a happy child. He could never remember ever being happy as a child except when he spent time with Joseph and Jacob. The rest was a haze of curses and abuse from his ‘parents’. The very people who gave him life were equally as eager to take that life away. Pups were made to be protected, loved, and cared for. They weren’t meant to be your own personal punching bag until all they could scream was ‘Yes!’ with a worn throat.

The pup in question gave a small whimper and lazily opened her brown eyes. Her tiny eyelashes fluttered as she took in the blurry image of John Seed. The man that would lead her through Eden’s Gate. She stared up at him in aw, her mouth opening and forming a small smile. She showed off her pink gums as she let out a tiny giggle. You looked at her with such admiration. She had no fucking idea who she was laughing at.

John gave his own laugh in return. It actually sounded genuine, not like the dry laugh you’ve heard all night. The pup gave another laugh in response, having an absolute blast with this game of hers. You gave her a smile as well, pulling her close by the cloth of your dress.

“Why are you here John?” You asked, all your attention now focused on the pup.

“If we’re going to be mates, there has to be some arrangement.” He did have a point. It was no use living with your parents anymore. The best place for an Omega is by her Alpha’s side, you could just picture your mother giving a whole speech about it. Heats will hurt if an Alpha’s not there or it was an honor to be the mate of the Baptist, a herald of the Father.

“I want you to live with me.” Wow, wasn’t he blunt? If it was any other kind of situation, you would never live with John, but considering your circumstances, you had little choice. Plus, from what people had told you, Seed Ranch was a sight to behold. An obvious display of John’s money and his huge ego.

“I don’t have a choice do I?” You looked up at John, your (e/c) eyes pleading with him for any other choice. John ran his fingers through his thick beard in fake thought and then shook his head. Damn.

“Since I have no other choice, I might as well go.” You carefully cradled the pup in your arms and slowly got up. She was already asleep, growing tired from all her cute playing. You walked back to the party, John following close behind. He didn’t make a move to go back to his table. As you handed the baby back, John just stood there watching. You gave her a kiss on the head and passed her to Gabriel. It felt like you were a mother being ripped away from her child, it hurt so much. Your heart felt like someone was squeezing it, the same sensation as an anxiety attack. Something you got often as a child.

You simply gave him a fake smile and turned to John, ready to get away as soon as possible. You gave a nod to him and he led you to his previous table. He walked up to Joseph and patted his shoulder lightly to get his attention. The Alpha turned to look at his younger brother and leaned in to hear what he had to say. John cupped his mouth, whispering into his ear. The Father’s smile grew at the information, nodding at his idea. “Go with the grace of God, John.” He stated, gently grabbing John by the back of the neck and leaning in. They gently touched foreheads and closed their matching blue eyes. It was like they were sharing thoughts and emotions, completely understanding each other. Your mother had described a bond like that to you. When a mating bond or sibling bond was so strong you could feel each other's emotions and pain.

Both Alpha let go and John led you to a fancy white truck. He helped you in and slid into the driver’s seat right next to you. He put the keys in the ignition and started the truck with a small roar. No one else followed you as you both made your way to Seed Ranch. The trip was rather long and boring, neither of you uttering a single word to each other. You just watched out the window as fields and farms passed by in a blob of color.

When you arrived, you gave a small gasp of surprise. The ranch was huge. It was a large wooden mansion-like structure with gardens surrounding it. An airstrip appeared to be right beside it as well as a garage and a hanger. Guards moved in and out of the building, guns at the ready. John pulled into one of his garages and proceeded to help you get out. It wasn’t even two minutes and he was already laying down the rules. “Welcome to Seed Ranch. Here it’s my way or the highway, sweetheart. You get out of line, I punish you like a bad girl, be a good girl and you might get a reward.” What did he take you as? A judge?

What on God’s green Earth had you gotten yourself fucking into?

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therake-1996-blog · 6 years

Text

Revelation Ch. 10

Chapter 10- Babysitting

Aveline POV

When I open my eyes, I’m immediately confused. I expected to be put back in the cold and hard arms that I’m used to, but I’m still in the warm, soft arms of an unknown person, and I don’t like it. I look up and see a kind, gentle face looking down at me. The man holding me has chocolate brown eyes and medium brown hair that flops in his eyes, a loose red tie looping around his neck.

That looks fun to tug on.

But my main concern is why I’m not in mama’s arms like I was before.

“She’s awake,” The man holding me says, his voice soothing. I know his name. I know I do. Give me a minute…

“She’s just staring at you, Karno. That’s kinda creepy.” Someone else says.

Ah, Karno! That’s right. Why are you holding me? Where’s mama and dada?

I stretch my arms, legs and back, opening my mouth for a big yawn before I look around for the ponytail of dada or the long hair of mama. But all I see is strange yet familiar men surrounding me. Mama showed me who these people were when I was still a part of her, but their name to face memory is a little blurry.

I look up to Karno and tap his face, silently asking where my parents are.

“Oh, hi, little one,” He says with a smile. “What’s the matter?”

“I think she’s looking for Zig and Eden,” A man with black hair says.

“Oh.” A look of understanding crosses Karno’s face, and he gently pats me. “Your mommy and daddy went out for a little bit, so we’re watching you until they get back.”

What?!

You mean to tell me, mama and dada left me? Alone? I feel my eyes widen in my head with this news, and a feeling of immense sadness comes over me.

No, no, no! That’s not fair! Mamas and dadas aren’t supposed to leave their babies! That’s not how that works! They’re supposed to stay with me!

Something I can’t describe begins washing over me, making my eyes sting and blur. I feel my face screw up and my lips begin trembling.

“Uh-oh,” I hear a childish-sounding man gasp.

“Ditto.” Someone else groans.

The emotions I feel well inside my tiny body and congeal into one bubble, one thought in my head, and that is:

I WANT MY MOMMY AND DADDY!

I begin screaming, flailing around in Karno’s arms as huge tears roll down my cheeks.

“Oh my gods, shut that kid up!”

“Don’t be so callous, Scorpio,” Karno says over my wailing, hoisting me over his shoulder. “She’s upset.”

“Okay, okay, let’s try distracting her! Maybe a bottle will help!” I hear the bubbly man say.

Distract me? A bottle? Do they think I’m a normal baby? I know what you’re saying, you buffoons!

“Well, it’s as good a place as any to start,” Karno says. I wail louder, expressing my displeasure, but he just bounces me and makes shushing sounds.

“Okay, what did Ziggy say about her food? A blood and Moon Milk mix? Dui, is that right?”

“Yeah, I think so, Ichthys.”

The gods named Dui and Ichthys work to make the useless concoction, snapping their fingers a couple times, but I can’t see what they’re doing for Karno having me over his shoulder.

“Uh…so, how much?” Ichthys asks.

“Hm. Maybe half and half?” Karno guesses.

What? No, not half and half! The blood needs to come to the tenth line, and the milk needs to fill the rest, or else I won’t drink it! I mean, I don’t even want it, but come on, at least make it correctly!

I hear the slushing sounds of the formula being shaken, and Karno moves to lay me in his arms. I’m still screaming.

When Dui hands him the bottle, I see that the cap is blue instead of yellow, and I become even more irate. That’s not the right bottle! It’s the wrong shape!

Okay, now I’m just mad.

“Weh!” I smack the bottle from Karno’s hand when he tries to offer it to me. It goes flying across the room and slams into the wall, pinkish red splattering onto golden yellow.

“Oookay, that wasn’t it,” He sighs.

“How about a pacifier?” A man with silver hair suggests.

A what now? Did he say pacifier? I AM NOT A NORMAL BABY!!

“NEH!” I grunt.

“Try it, Krioff.” Karno says. The god called Krioff snaps his fingers, making something weird shaped with a nipple like a bottle on the end appear, and he presses it to my lips.

No! I don’t want it!

I open my mouth and rip the nipple off, spitting it out and smacking the pink plastic piece out of Krioff’s fingers.

“Ouch! That kid hits hard!” He says, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Any other ideas?” Karno asks as he bounces me.

And boy do they come up with ideas.

I ignore Ichthys when he makes toys and tries to play with me, or when he makes funny faces at me. I thrash around and kick their hands away when they try to change my diaper—only mama can change my diaper!—and I throw the rattle across the room, knocking Dui in the head, when Ichthys offers it to me.

“What are we gonna do?” Ichthys moans. “She’s gonna explode if she doesn’t stop crying!”

“What is all this screaming about?” A new voice, smooth yet irritated somehow manages to enter my ears through my own yelling, and I open my eyes to see a man with honey brown hair come into the room. I don’t stop screaming.

“It’s Aveline,” Scorpio sighs, rubbing his temples. “She won’t stop crying.”

“She just wants her mom and dad,” Karno repeats for the millionth time.

“Well they’re not here, are they?” Scorpio snaps.

“You can’t get her to be quiet?” The new man asks dully, as if this bores him.

“No,” Ichthys whines. “We’ve tried eeeeeeverything!”

“Literally.” Dui agrees.

“Hm.”

The man walks up to Karno and I, looking down at me, at my reddened face, a look of disgust taking his pretty features. His eyes are a lovely shade of amber, and there’s a longer chunk of hair on the left side of his face that I’ve love to pull. He narrows his eyes.

“Knock it off.” His says. His voice is cold, each word precise, not one word unnecessary. “You’re just being a brat and you know it.”

Immediately, I stop screaming, my eyes widening at his words.

“Leon!” Karno cries, his voice going high in shock.

“Have I finally gone deaf?” Scorpio mutters.

“If you have, so have I.” Krioff replies in the same tone.

The man called Leon and I just stare at each other. He…called me a brat. He called me a mean name. And I know this is the man that dada doesn’t like, that this wouldn’t fly if he were here.

The gods watch me, waiting to see if I start crying again, but I just narrow my eyes at Leon, tilting my head at him. He didn’t try to give me what I wanted, or try to soothe me. He knew I was mad and was acting up, and had no tolerance for it.

Interesting.

Slowly, with a few stray tears still rolling down my puffy face, I lift my chin and sniff at the air around him. His scent is pleasant, a mix of cloves, cinnamon, and spice—but there’s another, softer scent, a gentler undertone, indescribable, yet somehow sweet.

Once his scent registers with me, something inside my mind clicks, and my lips tingle, the instinct to bite awakening, even though I’m not thirsty. I lift a hand and place it on Karno’s jaw, tapping it a few times, and reach my other hand out to Leon, opening and closing it.

“Neh,” I say. “Meh? Eh, oohm ba.”

I know they can’t understand me, but I’m saying that I want to go to him. Surely he’ll be able to tell by my actions.

However, he raises his eyebrows.

“What?”

Karno chuckles tiredly.

“I think she wants you, Leo.”

“Um, I don’t think so. I don’t need her drooling all over me.”

“She doesn’t really drool, Leon. And she’s highly aware, so I’d avoid—”

“I know she’s aware, Karno.”

Karno sighs.

“Well, now that she’s finally gone quiet, I think I’ll head on back to my room. She interrupted my rest.”

What? No! He can’t leave, too! First mama and dada, now him? No!

“MA!”

I wail, thrashing around in Karno’s arms. He has to use both arms to restrain me. Leon looks over his shoulder back to me, his eyes narrowed.

“Oh-ho? Is this how we’re gonna play?”

He lifts a foot to take another step.

“MA! MAAAAAAAAA!”

“Leo, don’t tease her like this, please,” Karno implores as I flail wildly in his arms. Dui comes to his side in case he loses hold of me. Leon brings his sharp gaze to the god holding me, and the corner of his mouth turns up.

“She thinks me a toy.”

“How the turn tables.” Ichthys says. Scorpio smacks him upside the head.

“She does not think of you as a toy, Leon, she just likes you. Stay, just until Zyglavis and Eden come back, please?”

Leon looks to me, then saunters over, leaning down to look me in the eye.

“You. If I don’t stay, you’ll start screaming again, won’t you?”

I lock eyes with him and smile, slowly and deliberately, then reach up a hand and grab that piece of hair I’d been wanting since I saw it. Then I nod.

“Ugh. Fine. But I’m not holding you, got it? I don’t need spit up on me.”

“She hasn’t even eaten!”

“Just hush and sit down. I’m tired.”

…

It’s displeasing that Leon refuses to hold me, but at least he shakes a stuffed lion around while Karno holds me up. I reach forward and grab at the lion’s paws, brushing my hands against Leon’s fingers in the process.

“Meh!”

I grab onto his fingers, my entire hand holding tightly onto his index and middle fingers, and with my other hand, I reach out and grip his jacket, intent on just pulling myself onto his lap.

“Hold on there, kid,” Karno says with a laugh. “You’re a little small to be doing that right now, don’t you think?”

“She’s finally being quiet,” Scorpio groans. “Let her ride a motorcycle if she wants.”

“I wonder why she’s taken such a shine to you, Leon,” Dui ponders as he lounges on the couch across from us, his feet resting on Ichthys’ lap. Ichthys is passed out, his head slumped back. Krioff left once I quieted.

“I have that affect even on babies,” Leon says with a grin as he pries my hand from his jacket. “I mean, it’s me we’re talking about after all. How could she not like me?”

Well, I see why dada doesn’t like him. He seems arrogant. But I can see something else beneath the surface. There’s something in his eyes, something I can…smell in him. It goes beyond just the call of his blood, goes to the very center of him. It’s like I can smell his soul. Pure, loving, loyal, kind…I sense all these positive things from this man. Plus something else. Something I don’t really understand. I want to bite him, but not because I’m thirsty; I want to establish a marker with him, like I did mama, dada, and gramma.

I wonder if he’ll let me.

“Mm-beh.” I mumble, reaching out again for him.

“Though I gotta admit, she is kinda cute. She must get that from her mother.”

And then the door flies open, slamming into the wall.

Suddenly I’m lifted up into cold, hard arms, pressed tightly against a familiar chest. Purplish black hair falls into my face.

Dada!

I squeal happily, nuzzling my head into his neck.

“You couldn’t even say hello to everyone first?”

Mama!

I lean around dada and smile at her.

“I don’t care about everyone else,” Dada says as he cradles me in his arms. “Oh, Aveline, you look like you’ve been crying.” He lifts a gloved finger and gingerly strokes under my eye, then glares at the gods who took care of me. “What did you do to her?”

“Now, I’m sure they didn’t do anything,” Mama says, coming up next to us and patting dada’s arm.

“Aveline cried a lot while you were gone,” Karno tells them. “She missed you, that’s all.”

“Yeah, and she only stopped when Leon showed up.” Dui adds, jutting a thumb over at Leon, who leans back on the couch and crosses his legs, smiling smugly at dada.

“Oh?” Dada says, sounding unhappy.

“Mm-hm. You’re spoiling that kid. You gotta tell her no, otherwise, she’ll throw royal temper tantrums like tonight. For instance, I believe that mess over there was created by her?”

Leon points to the wall, still stained by the Moon Milk and blood mix, and mama and dada look at me.

“Aveline,” Mama says, looking disappointed. “You can’t do that, it’s not nice.”

“Mm…” I mumble, curling into dada’s chest.

“You know Leon, you say not to spoil her, but didn’t you stay when she wanted you to?” Dui asks, smiling wickedly. Leon shoots him a pointed glare.

“That was only to get her to stop crying. It was giving me a headache.”

“Hopefully you two will stop fighting now?” Karno asks, looking at mama and dada. Oh, right! Was that why they left? I’d hate it if they started fighting over me again.

Mama nods.

“We were only gone for a few hours, but I think we’ll be okay now.” She says with a smile, looking up to dada. He smiles back.

“Yes. It’s true that Aveline puts everyone she meets under a spell, but fighting over her is only going to hinder our time with her.”

They look at me fondly, mama reaching out to stroke my hair, and I close my eyes. Suddenly, I realize how tired I am, and I yawn.

“You think she’ll be able to use her crib tonight?” Mama asks. Dada chuckles.

“If we can manage not to steal her from it.”

#zyglavis #star crossed myth #voltage inc #otome game #scm #star crossed myth fan fiction #voltage fanfic #fanfic #scm fanfic

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semenguine · 5 years

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when i wake up, eden isn’t in the bed beside me. i figure she must have gone to work out. not a big deal. so i stretch and lie around a little. but i do have to go to the bathroom so i get up but the door’s locked. i knock. eden, are you in there? i have to pee, i say. but there isn’t a response. music’s playing in there, really quietly, i knock louder. i have to PEE, i say, raising my voice.

there’s silence and i start to get a bad feeling. eden? eden! EDEN!

i pick the lock.

she’s lying in the tub. her eyes are sort of open. she’s breathing. but she doesn’t seem to register me coming in. my body tries to shut down but i force it to move. i feel the water. it’s kind of cool. how long has she been in here? the adrenaline is really starting to kick in. i try not to panic too much. i reach for her phone and stop the music. near the phone is a bottle of sleeping pills. there’s a few left, four that i shake out onto my hand. useless. i don’t know how much was in there to start. i dump them back in. i’m shaking, i run out of the bathroom and to my phone.

i realize abruptly that i can’t call 911. going to the psych ward right now would destroy her. i’m thinking about all the doctors, all the sterility. i’m thinking about the fact that she’s visibly intersex and gender non conforming and not good at listening to orders or being compliant. if she goes there she’ll never come back the same. it’ll just kill her. she’ll just try again when she gets out and she’ll make sure it ends.

i don’t want her to die. my heart’s hammering in my chest. i grab my phone and call the first person i can think of to call. i remember rue saying she is trained in first aid and also that she has had to do things just like this before in the past. i call her. i’m so relieved when she picks up. rue, i say. something about talking makes the panic hit me full force. i start to cry. rue i need help it’s eden i sob, breath hitching like crazy. what? she says. sierra? i- slow down, what’s happening, concern coats her voice. it’s eden, i sob. it’s eden she she she’s going to die i need help. i can’t take her to the hospital because she’s scared of doctors and they’ll keep her for a really long time and it’s gonna just kill her and i don’t know what to do i need help she’s going to die. rue is silent for half a moment and then she says, i’m coming, where are you? home, i cry. she overdosed i need help. she’s going to die. hey, rue says. take a deep breath. it’s gonna be okay. is she conscious?

barely, i say hysterically. are her eyes open? rue asks. kind of, i say. just make sure they stay open as long as you can, says rue. i’m coming.

so i do that. i slap eden again and again and again. she doesn’t exactly react. but her eyes don’t close and i just try and keep them open. i call jess, i call charlie. i have to call again and again to get to charlie but i’m desperate and i keep on going til she picks up. they’re all on their way, i just try and keep eden alive until then.

jess actually gets here first, i’m terrified to leave eden but i go and get the door and let her in. her gaze drops to my stomach immediately, oh god, she says, startled. you’re, i am suddenly self-conscious. she shakes her head. where’s eden? in, i wipe at my eyes and hurriedly beckon jess to the bathroom. oh god, jess says again. shit. shit, ok. rue’s coming, i say. but i. i shake my head and sob.

sit down, okay? jess says softly. you’re making me nervous. i- i don’t, i stammer. eden- i’ve got it, she interrupts. just sit down, alright? she glances awkwardly and anxiously at my tummy a few times. please?

i sit and let jess stay in there with eden, terrified, trying to think happy thoughts and all that. i focus on my breathing. it’s all my fault, i think. i couldn’t help her. i look down at myself, is my bump really all that big? i suppose the way the nightdress fits makes it more obvious. my thoughts are racing. i guess they’ll be missing a mom, i think at some point. i start sobbing again.

it feels uncomfortably long, the amount of time until the door rings again, and i go to get it and there’s rue, her eyes drop to my stomach briefly, she says, where’s eden? she’s in the- jess is in there right now, she follows me, walking briskly. she enters the bathroom and inhales sharply. alright, she says.

rue, jess says, sounding relieved. i, i think she’s, um... she glances at me like she doesn’t want to say it in front of me. i go cold. help me get her out of this tub, jess, rue says. i stand just out of the way where i can still see, feeling sick to my stomach.

with some effort, they pull her out of the tub. jess takes out the plug and lets the water drain. rue leans eden against her front even though eden is wet and cold, the cool water soaks her flannel. the doorbell rings. i rush to get it. i let charlie in. she looks at my stomach. oh lord, she says, she pulls me close, holds me tight for a short bit. i cry. it’s gonna be okay, she says. now look, i done forgot your name ‘cause i jus have you as eden’s girl in my phone. but trust me, it’s gonna be okay. eden’s stubborn as hell. she don’t die easy. i nod, sniffling. okay now, where she at?

i just take her there. y’all need some help? asks charlie. yes please, rue says. i’m rue, that’s jess. can you help jess keep eden propped up there? i need her hunched over this toilet. a’ight, charlie says. don’t look, rue says. she shoves her fingers down eden’s throat then and makes eden vomit. i turn away, covering my mouth and closing my eyes and crying. she does this again and again and again and again. i wasn’t counting but if i was i would have lost count. sierra, can you go get me a big cup of water?

i get a whole water bottle full. that’s perfect, sierra, thanks, rue says. i don’t want to watch anymore so i just start folding laundry. a full two hours pass and it feels like the air is thinning. then rue calls my name. i come running. eden’s on the bed, she’s been wrapped in a towel, she’s kind of starting to wake up. i rush over to her, take her head and cradle it in my arms.

i hold her like this for almost an hour, combing through her hair. every time she shifts or makes a sound makes me feel like god himself is watching over me. she starts gagging at some point, rue quickly comes and helps me lean her over the side of bed. bile splatters limply on the floor. this happens a few more times. then she coughs. who, she starts. my breath catches. she curls in on herself.

she emits something that’s not a groan yet. 20 more minutes pass. her eyes open just a crack, she stares at me. a..phrodite? she croaks. i stare. i don’t feel good, she says. she’s silent for even more time. i’m pretty sure she is sleeping. rue, jess, and charlie stand. watching. am i dead? eden asks out of the blue, startling me. it’s been like 40 minutes.

no, i say. she’s silent. no? she asks. no, it’s me, i say. sierra. she forces her eyes open, they take a bit to focus. no, she says. no. no, no, she starts looking really upset. i don’t know what to do, i freeze.

hey, rue says, making her way over. eden’s head turns. what, eden starts. is she, please calm down, says rue. you’re gonna hurt yourself if you keep that up. what’s she doing here, eden demands. she sits up. will ya lie down please? rue says sharply.

what the hell is she doing here? huh? eden yells. what’d you bring her here- she brought me here to save your fucking life, rue cuts in. she was thinking of you. said you’re scared of doctors and the hospital would kill you so she called me. lie down, and thank her while you’re at it, eh? hell no, eden says. i don’t take orders from you. rue purses her lips. but then i think eden feels kinda lightheaded or something because she does lean over a bit and put her head down.

i move to touch her hair again. don’t fucking lay your hands on me, bitch, eden says. i jerk. man, what the hell, says charlie. don’t fucking talk to your girl like that. eden goes still. who the hell is that? she says. it’s charlize, charlie says, loudly. OH. okay, eden says. so. you just, huh. you threw a fucking party, huh bitch? i try not to take it personally, i try to deflect the words but i can’t. how many people did you invite, huh? i didn’t, i shake my head miserably. just rue and i, and i invited jess and charlie ‘cause- because they’re your best friends and i was-

ohhh, yeah? cause they’re my friends? i just cry. stop it, eden, jess says. you’re angry, but don’t take it out on sierra. she was scared for you. she was helping. oh, so you guys’d thank someone for fixing a car you don’t even plan on driving? yeah, i would, rue almost growls. because even if i didn’t plan on driving it it’s a nice fucking gesture. does she always talk to you like this, sierra?

no, my voice wobbles. she’s just, she didn’t want anybody to know, i swallow thickly. she’s, shut up sierra, eden says, i ignore her. she’s not been doing good, i confess. sierra, eden says. she wants you guys to leave, i cry. she doesn’t wanna talk about it. she doesn’t want h, shut up you stupid fucking bitch, eden says. she doesn’t want help, i say. she was taking xanax and, crying a lot and not working out safe anymore but i, just, SIERRA, eden says. i thought i could help her by myself, i whisper.

sierra, sweetie, you don’t have to help her by yourself even if you think you can, rue says quietly. i wish you had told me. but i really wish, she looks at eden. that you had told me. uh huh, i’m fine, thanks, eden sneers. nah, you ain’t, charlie says. c’mon, man, you never tell nobody nothin’. i thought you’d grow outta that shit. shut the fuck up, eden says. you’ve been wanting a family for the longest, charlie says. i know there has to be a damn good reason you’d consider leavin your baby mama and your kid alone on this earth. eden doesn’t say anything.

jess comes and sits next to me. she puts eden’s head in her lap. eden doesn’t exactly move. it’s okay buddy, she says. eden squares her jaw and blinks angrily at the wall. but i know she’s just trying not to cry. jess pulls her fingers gently through eden’s hair. pretty soon we’re all on the bed.

i’ve seen too many people die like this, eden, rue says. silence kills. she’s quiet for a moment. i’m sorry if i ever did or said something that made you feel like you couldn’t talk to me.

i want you all to get out of my house, eden says. i’m not leaving til you tell me what’s going on, rue says. i’ll have fayth come by and give me my toothbrush and a change of clothes, charlie says. i’ll stay the night, deadass. jess just keeps on stroking eden’s hair. i’m an adult, eden says. i can handle myself, thanks.

yeah. you sure handled yourself well this morning, jess says. jess, eden says, and then she is quiet. sierra called me, jess says. just, sounding like she was about to pass out. i tell you stuff, eden, she continues. i know i’m really touchy and huggy and share-y and you aren’t. but i thought at least if something like this was going on that you’d tell me. i thought you trusted me at least that much. you know? and even though you like to keep to yourself i just.. i always assumed that if you needed help you would ask me.

i would, eden says. it’s literally just that i don’t need help. well, i dunno, eden. i mean, you tried to kill yourself, jess says. and i, when i got here, sierra came to the door and i wasn’t expecting, i mean, she’s got, she’s pregnant. and like- she looks to charlie. charlize, she says. like charlize said. you’ve always wanted a family and it would take a lot for you to pick death over your fiancée and your kid so whatever it is has to be big. and i think you do need help with it because if you keep trying to deal with it alone at some point you’re gonna pick death again and maybe we won’t, um, find you until it’s too late. and i dunno, if, maybe, i did something or said something, and if it made you feel like, like rue said, like you couldn’t trust me, i’m really sorry. ‘cause i wanna be there for you so bad. if sierra calls me again i don’t want, it to be, because she’s found you and you’re not with us anymore. and i want your kid to have a chance to meet you, ‘cause y’know what? you’re a really great person. and my life has only been enriched from meeting you and whatever kid has you as their mom would be so freaking lucky.

get out of my fucking house, eden’s voice is all tight. look, kid, rue starts. i’m not a kid, eden snaps. act like it then, rue says. eden takes a sharp breath in. an adult knows when she can fix something by herself and when she can’t. a kid doesn’t, that’s what parents are for. you haven’t proven you aren’t a kid yet. eden’s mouth opens, then closes.

do you guys, um, want some breakfast? i say. yes please, charlie says. jess nods. that’d be fantastic, sierra, says rue. thank you. as i’m leaving the room, i hear eden say she does not know how to cook and jess say leave her be.

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therake-1996-blog · 7 years

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Pure Chap 12

Chapter 12

The Past

Leon makes me go back to school the following day, even though school is the last thing on my mind. No one asks me where Zyglavis is. The teachers don’t call his name during rollcall. Everyone’s forgotten him.

Everyone but me.

I have to go to the bathroom more than I usually do, not to actually use it, but to cry. I can’t seem to stop my tears. Everything hurts. It feels like when Zyglavis left, he took my heart with him. And the thing that sucks is, I knew that he would leave one day, I knew it, but I didn’t let myself think about it. I thought I would have more time with him.

In the back of my mind, I think about what Leon told me.

You need to keep smiling and being yourself. As long as you act like your normal self, you’re not vulnerable to the dark king.

When he told me that, I thought that I could do it. But why should I smile when Zyglavis isn’t here? I’m sure there’s nothing the dark king can do to me that would hurt more than when Zyglavis left.

As I splash cold water on my face to get rid of the tear tracks for the millionth time today, I look at my reflection in the crummy school bathroom mirror. Man, I look like something the cat dragged in. Dark circles, pale skin, red eyes…I dip my head and hunch over the sink.

No, Leon is right. I need to smile. I need to be bubbly. I need to at least act happy, even if I’m not. Maybe if I do, my brain will start believing I am happy and I actually will be again one day. But this is exactly what the dark king wants. He wants me to feel despair and anguish. It fuels him.

I can’t let sadness win. For the good of everyone, I can’t.

I take a deep breath and force a smile on my face, but all it looks like is a twisted sneer. “Ugh.” I groan, my voice echoing off the bathroom walls, and my head falls back onto my shoulders.

“Eden?” I start when my name is whispered, and when I turn my head, it’s none other than Phoebe who walks into the bathroom, tapping her slender fingers against her passbook.

“Pheebs,” I murmur. “You startled me.” She offers me a tiny smile.

“Sorry.”

I turn my head quickly from her to shut off the water and sneak a look at my face. My eyes are still a bit red. It won’t be hard to tell that I’ve been crying.

“Eden…what’s wrong?” Coming to stand beside me, Phoebe puts her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t think you can fool any of us. You’ve been crying so much today. If something is hurting you, you can tell me. I want to help you.” I close my eyes. There’s nothing I want more than to tell Phoebe everything. To tell her that I’m in love with the god who was protecting me from the dark king, that my life is in jeopardy, that the god that I love has left me…everything. But I can’t. My lips move, and the words that leave me have me shocked.

“I’m in love with someone,” I whisper. Dammit. Why did I say that? Glancing over at Phoebe I see that her crystal blue eyes are wide, a look of shock on her delicate features.

“Well that…wasn’t what I was expecting. Here, sit with me.” She moves us over to the wall by the handicapped stall and we sit down on the floor, curling our legs up toward our chests.

“Okay,” she breathes. “So, you’re in love. Why does that make you so sad?”

“Because there’s no way he’ll ever love me back,” I reply. Okay…maybe I can tell Phoebe bits and pieces, so long as I don’t mention the words ‘god’ or ‘underworld’ or ‘dark king’.

“Why do you think he won’t love you back?”

I bite my lip.

Of course, the real reason is because I’m a human and he’s a god, but I can’t tell her that.

“Because…he’s so…perfect. And, well, he’s not our age,” That’s the truth. “His job is very…demanding, and he lives far away from here.” Phoebe remains silent for a while as she thinks of what I’ve said.

“Well…I think if you really love him, you’ll find a way,” She tells me. “And there’s no way he won’t love you back. I mean, have you met you? You’re amazing. It would be stupid of him to not love you. Things like age, distance, jobs…if it’s real love, none of those things should matter, right?”

I feel a fresh wave of tears in my eyes and I squeeze my hands into balls. Yes, for normal people, age, distance and jobs shouldn’t get in the way of love. But in my case…I’m a lost cause. There’s no way he’s ever coming back. I’ve ‘lead him astray’, whatever that means.

I just have to get out of this on my own.

It’s April now. Seven months have passed since everything started, but it only feels like it’s been a few weeks.

As I stare out the window of the reflecting pool room, watching the budding trees outside sway in the breeze, someone bumps me. I turn my head to see Dui handing me a small stack of documents. “Do you mind separating these by date for me while I do some punishments?” He asks.

“Not at all.” I take them from him and turn back around to begin to tedious task.

My depression has gotten better over the last month, particularly because Ichthys and Dui won’t let me have any time to be sad. When I’m not at school, they’re dragging me around different spots on Earth, saying that they want to do some sight-seeing while here, which I know is an excuse, or I’m helping them with their work.

Last Friday, they teleported us to New-York-freaking-City to just drag me around, not really having one goal in mind. I’m always exhausted by the time we get back, especially after being around all those people.

As I’m shuffling the papers around, I feel a sharp pain in my index finger and I gasp, yanking my hand back to look at it.

“Ah…papercut,” I mumble. Dui glances at me, then stiffens, his expression changing dramatically. I blink as a tiny drop of blood seeps up from my wound. “Dui? Are you sensitive to blood? Sorry…” I stick my finger in my mouth to try and get rid of the blood when Dui speaks.

“Who…are you?”

My body freezes, my eyes darting to look at him in shock. His voice is no longer light and smooth, but rather gruff and deep. His expression is suspicious, his brown eyes guarded as he stares unblinking at me.

“Who am I?” I repeat incredulously. “You know who I am. Are you okay?” Dui smiles, but something about it is dark and twisted.

“Me? I’m fine. Never better.”

He slaps down the papers he was holding and stretches out his arms and legs while cracking his neck. “Ah…but you still didn’t answer me. Who are you?”

“I’m…Eden?” I reply, narrowing my eyes. “Are you playing with me? We’ve known each other for seven months now.”

“Seven months? No, you’ve know the other Dui for seven months. I have no idea who you are.”

“The…other Dui?” I repeat. Confusion swirls through my system as I stare at this familiar yet strange god in front of me.

“Yeah,” He replies as if I’m stupid. “You ever hear of split personalities?” I blink.

“Split…”

“Clicking yet? Man, you’re slow,”

“Gods can have split personalities?”

“If that god has experienced severe trauma, sure,” Dui says, plopping down right beside me. “But my split personality disorder isn’t the same as when humans have split personalities. I can still see and feel what the other Dui feels.” I stare dumbly at Dui as he explains his situation to me. “The other gods refer to me as the ‘Shadow’, the darker side of Dui. I come out when he sees blood,” He eyes my injured finger, which has stopped bleeding by now, but I quickly hide it.

“So…still all mopy, are ya?” He sighs.

“I…wait, what?” I had expected this conversation to go in a totally different direction. I thought he’d try to attack me or something, but instead, his thick voice softens a bit, and he looks at me with what looks like compassion in his eyes.

“Didn’t you hear me before? I said I see and feel things the other Dui does. When you said your name, I recognized who you are. Dui really likes you. He considers you to be one of his closest friends. So I figured I shouldn’t do anything too mean to you if he likes you so well.”

“O-oh…”

“I don’t know all the details, but I do know you’re sad about something,” He tells me. “Aaaaand it’s kinda annoying,”

“Annoying?” I repeat, frowning as I look at him.

“Yup. All Dui is doing is worrying about you. ‘What should I do to make her smile?’, ‘What should I do, what should I do?’. It’s getting really annoying. I mean, he already pushes all the hard stuff onto me and now, having to hear him constantly fretting over how to make you happy is making me tired.”

“He…pushes the hard stuff onto you?” I murmur, turning the words over in my head. There seems to be some deeper meaning to it. Dui did say that if gods go through severe enough trauma, they can develop split personalities. Maybe something really bad happened to Dui in the past.

“Mm-hm. I act as sort of a…defense for Dui. He’s really soft and gentle, you know. He takes a lot of things to heart and the smallest things affect him. I take all the bad things said to or about him in and lock them away so he doesn’t have to deal with them. He’d break if I weren’t here.”

“You protect him.” Dui nods once.

“The other gods say I’m a burden, that all I do is weigh Dui down, but if I weren’t around, there’s no way he’d survive.”

“What…happened?”

I can’t help but whisper.

Dui shoots me a glare, and I shrink back.

“You don’t have to tell me!” I gasp quickly.

“Ah…” He sighs and cocks his head thoughtfully. “Well…many years ago, before Dui joined the Department of Punishments, he had this best friend,” I stare at him with wide eyes. I didn’t think he’d actually tell me. “Those two did everything together. They were friends since childhood. Dui loved him like the brother he never had. About a week before everything happened, Dui noticed that his friend was acting strange. Being evasive, not willing to talk or do anything, basically ghosting him. Something wasn’t right.

“They told each other everything, so when he refused to even see Dui, he knew that something was terribly wrong. So one day, Dui decided to follow his friend in secret after he left his house. He looked…ragged. His skin was pale and sunken in, there were dark circles under his eyes, his hair was dull and straggly…Dui followed him all the way to the outskirts of the village they lived in, and that’s where his friend collapsed.

“He ran over to him, panicked, asking him what was wrong. His friend had eaten the Forbidden Fruit,”

“Forbidden Fruit?” I repeat. Dui nods.

“It’s this strange fruit shaped like a peach that has been outlawed for consumption in the Heavens due it’s evil origin. It gives any god who eats it unrivaled power…but at the price of severe deterioration of the god. It causes unbearable pain and suffering up until the god loses all sense of who they used to be. It is rumored that the original demons of the underworld had once been gods who survived the pain of consuming the fruit without being killed.

“Anyway, Dui’s friend had been tempted by some unknown god to eat the Forbidden Fruit. I don’t know all the details of that, but he begged Dui to kill him,” My blood runs cold at those words. “Dui didn’t want to do it. He loved his friend dearly. He wanted to try and get him help, but he wouldn’t hear anything of the sort. ‘Even if I do survive, I will probably be killed by the king for breaking the law.’ He had said. ‘I will die either way…and I’d rather yours to be the last face I see. Please, Dui. Kill me.’. And Dui did.

“All the blood from his precious friend’s dead body caused Dui’s mind to break, but I hadn’t been born quite yet. Of course, after it was realized that Dui’s friend was missing, he…came clean. But he didn’t tell the king the truth. He lied, saying he got into an argument with his friend and simply killed him over that. He wanted to protect his friend’s reputation over his own. How stupid is that? His friend is dead, and he values his reputation over his own!” Dui’s face darkens significantly, and I press my lips tightly together.

“That was when I was born. The other gods called Dui a god-killer, the worst thing you can call a god. They wanted him thrown out of the Heavens, they wanted the stars torn from his eyes…they damn near rioted when the king announced he would allow Dui to stay, and protested when Dui was appointed the god of Gemini and given a position in the Department of Punishments. Even now, a good number of gods and goddesses avoid Dui under any circumstances. The only friends he has are within the Department of Punishments and Wishes. Everyone else hates him.

“So he pushes all of that hurt, all of that anger, onto me. He doesn’t want to deal with it. That’s what makes me so dangerous, as the other gods say. If it gets to be too much, if some idiots decide to confront Dui, I come out. I hurt them. I am the physical embodiment of anger, pain, and sadness. I am the monster they made him.”

Dui completes his story, and silence falls heavily onto us for what feels like forever. My eyes are stinging and my throat is dry. How selfish am I? Crying over Zyglavis going back to the Heavens when I knew nothing was going to come out of him being with me when Dui is going through all of this? Years after the incident happened? I feel so rotten.

“I am so sorry, Dui,” I whisper, my tears spilling over the sides of my eyes.

“About what?” His voice casual, Dui looks over at me, and his eyes widen when he sees my tears. “The hell are you cryin’ for?”

“What am I crying for?” I repeat. “I’m crying because…you know why!”

I lean forward and wrap my arms around Dui, squeezing him tightly. “Hey…what are you…?”

“I’m your friend,” I tell him. “Not just Dui, yours too.”

“You just met me,” Dui says with a small chuckle as he awkwardly pats my back.

“You’re not a monster,” I turn my eyes up to his face; he’s looking down at me like I have a third eye. “You’re not…a shadow. He is a part of you, like you’re a part of him. You’re not different, you’re just different aspects of a full person. The past is the past, and you can’t change it, but, you can change the now. You can be one of the best gods in the Heavens. Who cares what other people think? You know they’re wrong.”

“You are…an oddball,” Dui murmurs, though he looks oddly happy. I sniffle a bit.

“I know I am.”

Laughing softly, Dui pulls my head to his chest and pats my back, rocking back and forth slowly.

#zyglavis #otome game #star crossed myth #fanfic

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