#deran x adrian fic

[neapeaikea]

You Can Stay

I, much like every AK writer, am of course offering up my own Adrian/Deran reunion fic! We need all the 'Deran sees Adrian on a beach'-fics we can get! Obviously wrote and posted this a lot quicker than I usually would, so please excuse typos etc and hopefully it makes sense and doesn't have plotholes or comes across as too obviously written as a reaction to what we saw on the show. Honestly mate, I'm just happy Deran's alive but gdi we were denied a reunion!! Might end up revisiting this one, or write an entirely different reunion fic, there are a lot of thoughts right now.

It's available on AO3 here, but to make sure as many people as possible that need a little healing help right now sees it, it's also available here and under the cut.

______

Deran stays behind the treeline, like he has done for the previous two days. It’s safe there. There, he still has a choice. A chance. If he walks down onto the sand, approaches the water, he won’t have any other choice than to announce his presence to Adrian. Right now, there’s still a possibility that Adrian will be happy to see him, will take him into his arms, will love him. If Deran moves from his spot, he’s going to find out what Adrian’s real reaction will be, and Deran is scared shitless that it won’t be a positive one.

So he stays away from the beach, smokes some shitty Indonesian brand of cigarettes with more tar than nicotine at a roadside hut that apparently passes as a restaurant. His own bar would’ve counted as a Michelin-star establishment in comparison. He can’t fault their fried rice dishes though, and the beer is okay. The cigarettes truly are awful, but that doesn’t stop him from going through a pack in half a day.

He sees Adrian help a girl up from a surfboard on the sand, seemingly in the middle of beginner’s tutorial. He knows he’s unreasonably jealous of the girl, but he so badly wants to feel Adrian’s touch again. They’re too far away for Deran to really see their faces, but Adrian’s stance is easy and relaxed.

The first day Deran was here, when he first saw Adrian again, he was so close to rushing out, to beg for forgiveness, to ask for comfort. But he’d gotten close enough to see Adrian smile carefree, hear his laughter and he’d just stopped. In a second, before Adrian could spot him, Deran had run to hide behind some trees. He’d stood with his hands on his knees and had felt like retching.

You’re the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

He’d found a hostel to catch his breath at, then he’d started staking out the beach. For nearly three days now, he’s followed Adrian around, plagued with doubt and guilt. Is he really going to do this again, ruin Adrian’s life? What if he is happy? What if he is glad Deran isn’t in his life anymore? What if he loves someone else? Deran is going mad not talking to him, letting him know that he’s there. But he’s also so scared Adrian will turn away, and then Deran really won’t have anyone or anything left. He’s absolutely terrified of that outcome.

He’s also kind of happy, almost relieved. Adrian seems to have a job at some sort of establishment that is not only a bar but also offers surfing, scuba diving, fishing trips and plain old swimming lessons. Adrian’s left in the evenings for the same building that looks to be tiny apartments for the local workers in the tourist industry. Adrian’s talked to some randoms on the beach and people that must be his co-workers. Deran can’t tell if he looks happy, but from the outside, it does look like he’s got his shit together and isn’t strung out sleeping on the sand. Deran could leave now, without ever speaking to Adrian, and convince himself that Adrian is in a good place and will live happily ever after. Knowing that Adrian is alright, won’t that be worth a life of misery for Deran?

Deran’s spent nearly a year in utter hell. He’s grieved, drunk, robbed and fought his way across most of Latin America, the whole time wondering if there even was a reason to keep going. But every time he went down that dark, deep hole, he’d end up seeing Adrian, imagine being back in bed with him in their home, hear Craig say that’s the happiest he’s ever seen Deran. Fucking Craig. Of course his dead asshole brother is the one to not let Deran give up, and he uses Adrian to do it. The Codys can’t stop emotionally manipulating people even when they’re dead.

He spends most of the day in the same seat, one that has a view over the beach, where he can keep tabs on Adrian even if he’s mostly just a small figure walking between the bar and the ocean. Looks like he’s some sort of waiter for most of the afternoon. Deran wonders if he should go over there, order a Mai Tai and see what happens. Maybe it’s the sun, the glittering ocean, or the fact that he doesn’t feel like he needs to keep looking over his shoulder, but Deran’s thoughts actually turn somewhat optimistic. Adrian’s not like him, he’s not an asshole. If Deran goes over there, Adrian will at least talk to him, will offer him somewhere to stay. Maybe he’ll be able to finally make Deran exhale the breath he’s been holding since Craig died in his arms.

Adrian’s been inside for nearly an hour and Deran is close to going over there just to see what the fuck he’s doing, when Adrian comes back out from the wooden building, surrounded by a couple of other people. They’re all carrying something long and unwieldy and Deran actually stands up and does a doubletake when he sees them joining a group of other people on the beach, folding out what is apparently yoga mats on the sand. Deran laughs to himself. No fucking way. They used to make so much fun of the millennial hippies that did yoga on the beach, now Adrian is one of them?

Deran can’t help it, he’s amused and just a little curious at how bendy Adrian is, so he leaves a wad of cash on the table and walks closer. He makes sure to stay somewhat hidden, though he’s not sure Adrian would recognize him with his shorter, dyed dark hair and the huge aviator shades he has on.

Adrian looks good on the mat. He’s not as agile as some of the others, but he can hold the poses fine. He can’t be a newbie becuase his body flows from one movement to the next without interruption. His raggedy tank top keeps sliding up and down his torso, and Deran is finally close enough to see that Adrian still has a nice body. Deran’s body has more scars and bruises than ever. He’s got new ink too, to remind him of his brothers.

The yoga session lasts for half an hour. People roll up their mats afterwards, dispersing slowly. Adrian talks to the guy who was teaching the class. Deran’s moving before he’s really aware of it. He walks out onto the sand, has tons of it inside his Vans after just a few steps. He runs a hand through his hair and takes off his shades.

“Hey,” Deran says when he’s close enough.

Adrian looks over. He doesn’t react at first, then his eyes go huge and he looks around in confusion before focusing back on Deran, “Deran?”

“Yeah,” Deran stops a few paces away from Adrian, not sure if he’s welcome closer.

The guy Adrian was talking to takes the hint and walks away, leaving Deran and Adrian relatively alone on the strip of sand.

“Are you…” Adrian trails off.

“I’m sorry,” Deran says. He’s thought through this conversation a hundred times in the last years, but he’s woefully underprepared for it. Seeing Adrian up close, noticing how the sun has made his hair more red, the white rings around his eyes where he must use sunglasses, and the many freckles on his face and arms, it does things to Deran’s body and his head.

“I…” Adrian starts. He takes a step closer, “What’s… Deran.”

Deran’s eyes well up, and he can’t hide it in time, and suddenly Adrian’s arms are around him, wrapping him up in his warmth, making him feel cared for for the first time in forever. He’s had sex with people in the last year, but he’s barely let anyone touch him, not really.

Adrian’s arms are as strong as ever, and they feel so right around Deran’s sides. His hands run up and down Deran’s back, while he whispers comforting nonsense into Deran’s ears. Deran just cries harder at that, he was the one to send Adrian away, to destroy what they had together, and now he’s the one making Adrian take care of him. Adrian shouldn’t have to deal with Deran’s shit, his stupidity, his everything.

“I’m sorry,” Deran says again, voice thick with emotions, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, fuck, I shouldn’t have come, I’m sorry.”

“Shouldn’t have come?” Adrian pulls back, but Deran throws his arms around him, forces him into a death grip. “Deran, I’ve been waiting for this day for years.”

“You have?” Deran asks, surprised. He looks up, meets Adrian’s eyes. They seem sad, worried. Deran wonders if it’s because of his current crying, or because of everything else.

Adrian swallows, searches Deran’s face, “For so long, I’ve just wanted to see you again. I had so much to say to you. But ever since I heard about Pope, about the breakout, I’ve just wanted to know that you’re okay. I’ve just wanted…”

 It’s Adrian who cries now, his voice breaking as he puts his head on Deran’s shoulder.

“I’m okay,” Deran says, a hand sliding up into Adrian’s hair, “I’m okay. I promise. I’m sorry. Fuck, I missed you so much. Can we, can we go somewhere?”

“Yeah, uh, shit,” Adrian makes a noise like he’s keeping snot from Deran’s t-shirt. “I gotta, uh, clear out from work, but I’ve got a place not far from here, hang on.”

When Adrian pulls away to reach for his yoga mat, Deran feels physically ill. He doesn’t want to let go, he wants to keep touching Adrian forever. They were never ones to hold hands or some such, but now Deran reaches out without hesitation. It’s not ‘til he’s got Adrian’s hand squeezed in his that he realizes it might not be welcome, so he pulls his hand back. He’s too scared to look Adrian in the eye, the fear of rejection suddenly on the forefront of his mind. But then Adrian’s fingers tangle around his, and the vice around Deran’s heart loosens slightly.

They walk hand in hand, and Deran tries to feel like no one’s watching. They probably aren’t.

“Uh, my name’s Johnny here,” Adrian says quietly. “You?”

“Mark. Mark Smith.”

Adrian laughs, “So we’re gonna be Marky and Johnny? Perfect.”

Deran’s heart skips a beat at the insinuation that they’ll be anything together. He knows absolutely nothing has been said or decided yet, not really. “First person to call me Marky, I’ll beat the fuck up.”

“I bet you will,” Adrian mutters. “Some people call me Joe. Stay here.”

Deran waits outside while Adrian goes into the building, which Deran can finally tell has a seating area but also a large reception area where different corners are reserved for different activities. Adrian starts by heading towards the regular training area to leave the yoga mat, and then goes to the surf area. Deran watches as Adrian exchanges a few words with a guy who looks as much a Westerner as Adrian and Deran. Despite the fact that they’re in a smaller, out-of-the way town, there seems to be more tourists and ex-pats than Indonesians.

A couple of minutes later, Adrian comes back out. He doesn’t reach for Deran’s hand and Deran doesn’t dare make a move of his own. He does walk a lot closer to Adrian than needed, their shoulders constantly brushing. He takes comfort in the fact that Adrian doesn’t move away. Deran knows it’s just over five minutes to the building Adrian lives in, but he lets Adrian tell him about it on the way over there, and about how it’s building where mostly season workers from all over the world stay for the weeks or months they’re in town. Adrian’s lived there for over a year, it’s him and two Germans that make up the old guard by now.

It's a one-room apartment, a bed off to the side, a small kitchenette near the entrance where a table is cluttered with dirty dishes. There’s a bathroom and a wall of glass windows that look out over the beach. It’s not cozy, and it’s not a home. It’s just somewhere to stay.

“Home, sweet home,” Adrian sighs, picking up a hoodie from the floor and throwing it onto the bed. He turns around, studies Deran for a moment. “Come here.”

Adrian’s barely said the words before Deran’s back in his arms, the tears spilling out again without his permission. He thought he was done crying, that he didn’t have tears left. He’s spent so many days since he first sent Adrian away with puffy, red eyes, a splitting headache and bone deep tiredness. But here he is, breaking all over again. Adrian’s crying too, Deran absently notes. It’s not the body wracking, heaving sobs that Deran can’t seem to stop, but silent, small tears.

Adrian guides them to the bed, and they lie there for long minutes, arms around each other and legs tangled. It’s warm, a sticky heat in the room that isn’t helped by them lying so close. Deran feels disgusting with tears and snot all over, but he also feels amazing because Adrian’s fingers are rubbing the side of his neck, and he’s kissing Deran’s forehead.

“What happened?” Adrian asks quietly when Deran’s finally calmed down. “I heard about Pope, Jess told me. But she could never find out about you, or Craig.”

“Craig’s dead.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah,” Deran’s not ready to tell the whole story. “J fucked us over. He took all the money and left us all for dead.”

“He did?” Adrian shifts around, leaning up on his elbow. Something on Deran’s face must tell him to not push for more, because he clams up, looks away.

“I should’ve gone with you. I should’ve gone fucking with you. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” Deran turns his head away, wonders if it will ever stop hurting.

Adrian doesn’t say anything. But he has a hand on Deran’s side, and where his t-shirt rides up, Adrian’s thumb is pressed against his skin.

“Where have you been since then?” Adrian asks eventually.

“Trying to get here,” Deran says, voice raspy. “Didn’t have any money, didn’t know if I could use the passport I had, didn’t know if J was coming for me, had to stay away from the heat for a long fucking time. Shit was… fuck.”

“And now? Is anyone coming for you?”

Deran shakes his head, “Nah. I’ve got nothing, and with everyone else dead, nobody is gonna spend time and effort on me. I doubt even the feds are looking for me.”

“Yeah,” Adrian lies back down. “Keep it that way, okay? Whatever you end up doing here, don’t let it be crime. The prisons here, they’re no joke. I could probably get you a job at the bar. Oh, Soran would be glad to have some muscle on weekends for the nightclub. You can’t beat people up too much, though, no cops, remember.”

Deran blinks, “I can – you want – I can stay?”

“Yeah. You can stay. I don’t know how we’re gonna… I don’t know. But you can stay. I’m not gonna let you leave. Not ‘til I know what I want.”

Deran’s the one to shift then, leaning over Adrian, “Do you… do you still… feel that way, about me?”

“Like I hate you? I’ve hated you so much, for so long. When I heard about the breakout, and I never got any news about you, I guess I stopped. There was no point hating you any longer. Worried instead.”

“What about the other way?” Deran asks, because that was what he really wanted to know. He’s been clinging on to the slight possibility that things might not be a messy dark chaos for the rest of his life.

Adrian looks pained, “Have you ever stopped?”

Deran frowns.

“Feeling that way about me,” Adrian clarifies.

Deran leans in. Adrian has never, ever, been more beautiful. Deran says it quietly, almost a murmured prayer, “I love you. Always.”

Adrian closes the distance, kisses him with dry lips that taste amazing through the beer, cigarettes, sand and ocean water. When he pulls back, he sighs. “You don’t have to like someone to love them.” He pulls on Deran’s short hair, “I’ll like you a lot better when you’re blond again. I don’t know about this look on you.”

Deran laughs in surprise, “I don’t like it either. It was just for the trip.”

“I know,” Adrian says. He puts a hand on Deran’s cheek, like he knows Deran needs all the physical comfort he can get after going without for so long. Maybe Adrian needs it too. “Yeah, I feel that way about you, still. I don’t know if it matters or where it leaves us, but yeah. I love you.”

Deran’s heart doesn’t burst into fireworks, he doesn’t feel elated or weak in the knees. He just feels like a part of him is stitching itself back together, and it feels unexpectedly good. He keeps eye-contact with Adrian, the two of them stuck inside a bubble of uncertainty and hesitation. They’re gonna need so much time, and so many words.

“Well, then. I guess we should see about that job at the bar.” Deran says. He curls up against Adrian, “Tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” Adrian slides his arm around Deran’s side, “Tomorrow.”

#deran x adrian #deran x adrian fic #fic by me #deran cody #adrian dolan #deran goes to indonesia #reunion fic #reunion on a beach #animal kingdom tnt #animal kingdom

[hoodie-buck]

i was tagged by my beloveds @hippolotamus @buddierights to share my winter/holiday fics to get in the spirit now that it's december 🎄

buddie:

the holiday calendar—buck ends up with an advent calendar during the start of the holiday season. he thinks it's possessed and out to ruin his life, the toys inside continually leading him to some doe-eyed beauty and his adorable son.

the holiday calendar: strikes again—maddie asks eddie to hold onto the infamous holiday calendar for the season, eddie getting to find out just how ‘magical’ it really is

christmas kisses—five times buck gives eddie cheesy gifts, and the one time eddie gets exactly what he's been wanting

santa buck—buck wears a santa hat...that's it, that's the summary

you make everyday feel like it’s christmas—buck and chris want everything to be perfect for christmas; eddie thinks they already are

snow on the beach—the surfing au, christmas edition

in the reflection, all i see are glimpses of you and me—five times eddie sees glimpses of something more in a snow globe, and the one time buck sees it too

teen wolf:

christmas at the loft—the pack needs derek to participate in a very non-derek activity. it's his and stiles first christmas together as a couple; what could go wrong?

animal kingdom:

broken cookies—adrian helps deran with chritmas baking

on chrtistmas day— 5 times adrian gets deran to celebrate the holiday's and the one time deran makes a tradition for them all on his own

tagging: @loserdiaz @redlightsandicedtea @honestlydarkprincess @monsterrae1 @onward--upward @spotsandsocks @eddiebabygirldiaz @barbiediaz @justsmilestuffhappens @elvensorceress @wh0re-behavi0r @jacksadventuresinwriting @spaceprincessem @giddyupbuck @disasterbuckdiaz @wikiangela @daffi-990 @thewolvesof1998 @wildlife4life

#buddie #buddie fic #911 #teen wolf #sterek #sterek fic #deran x adrian #animal kingdom #christmas fics #tag games #🎄💚❤️ #evan buckley #eddie diaz #deran cody #adrian dolan #stiles stilinski #derek hale #kel(s) writing

[nymeria1105]

Guys what is happening?!?! Months without nothing and now not one but two new Deran and Adrian fics on AO3??!!

Please don't stoooop!!

#deran x adrian #deran x adrian fics #deran cody #adrian dolan #animal kingdom #animal kingdom tnt

[spaceskam]

here i am, pry me open

Summary: 4x06 coda

ao3

"I'm gonna go legit one day."

Adrian looked over at Deran. He'd been acting a little weird since the night before and not just because of how heavy he managed to make the words 'I love you' feel. Something was off. He'd stayed in bed all day, buried in a cocoon of blankets. It was unsettling to say the least.

"Oh yeah?" Adrian asked. He wanted to get him talking. How ironic was that?

"Yeah. I want… I want a real future. I've never realized how much I want a real future until I got you for real. I'd do a lot to keep you," Deran admitted. He wasn't looking at him, instead favoring the ceiling, but it still made Adrian feel like the bed dropped from beneath him. "I want you forever, Adrian. I want to make a life with you. To wake up beside you every morning, to have stupid joint bank accounts and even stupider matching rings, to be, like, the world's most questionable soccer mom."

"You want kids?" Adrian squeaked. He didn't mean to, but it came anyway. Deran wanted kids. With him. All he was doing was lying to him and scaring him. Deran thought he was cheating for god's sake. And Adrian might be the reason he goes down for good if he makes one wrong move. How's that for love and a life together? "I didn't think you wanted that."

"I do. If that's okay with you," Deran admitted, shifting to turn to face him. His words were wistful and sweet, yet the look on his face was anything but. Adrian wasn't even sure he was here. "A big family is all I've ever known. I don't know if they'd let us adopt because of my record. But you don't have that big of one, not really, so maybe? Or maybe we'll have to do, like, surrogacy or something."

Tears burned in Adrian's eyes as he stared at this man he loved. This man who loved him. Deran, the guy who pushed away all sense of feelings for fear of being weak, was just here and opening up completely. In twenty-four hours, Adrian had been blessed with an 'I love you' and the need for a life together and the dreams of a full-fledged family that Deran wanted.

"Wh-what about Smurf?"

"What about Smurf? That's why I wanna go legit. I don't want any tie to her, definitely don't want my kids to have any ties to her. J wasn't like that when he first came, that was all her doing," Deran said. Adrian gulped, wiping his eyes and hoping Deran didn't ask. He didn't. "Our kids are gonna have a good life."

Adrian didn't deserve him or this. He was a fucking liar.

Deran sighed, "Aren't they?"

"Huh?" Adrian blinked rapidly, the feeling of his throat closing up somehow bringing him less panic than the deadness on Deran's face.

"Our kids. Are they gonna have a good life?" he asked, "Because I grew up with a mother who lied to me and manipulated me and my brothers did the same. I grew up surrounded by people who I couldn't trust, but I had to if I wanted to survive. I grew up scared and walking on eggshells and having to create some fucking barrier around myself so I wouldn't get hurt. And then I met you. And I trust you and I love you and I'm not scared when I'm with you. I wasn't… wasn't scared when I was with you."

"D, c'mon, what's wrong?" Adrian said, steadying his voice in the best way he could. He was being stabbed over and over and over by some invisible force that was directly tied to Deran's words and his tone and his face. Fuck. Something was wrong.

"I can't… I can't understand you. You're lying to me and lying to me and all I need is for you to tell me the truth. I find the one person in the world who I trust completely not to fuck me over and, and, and you fuck me over. Why are you doing this to me?"

Adrian could count the number of times he'd seen Deran cry on one hand. The first time was when they were 7 years old and he wiped out on his bike, but he tried to act tough through the sniffles when Adrian put bandaids on his knees and elbows. The second time was when Deran had come to ask him to come to Belize, but they were more frantic tears than anything. The third was when Adrian finally got the balls to reject his tough guy bullshit. This time, though? This was Deran actually crying.

Fat tears slipped past his eyes and onto the blanket he'd wrapped himself in, his blue eyes getting bluer against the bloodshot red. His bottom lip was quivering and he looked absolutely completely broken. And it was Adrian's fault.

"Deran, Deran, c'mon, I'm not‒"

"Are you actually about to lie to me again? Are you fucking kidding me?" Deran laughed harshly, moving away when Adrian tried to wipe away his tears. What was he supposed to do now?  "I-I can't believe you. Who are you? I thought… I thought you gave a shit about me, about us. You aren't fucking Adrian, you're not my Adrian. My Adrian wouldn't lie. Not when he knew what the fuck it was doing to me."

Adrian watched helplessly as Deran unraveled himself from the blanket and stood to his feet. He looked weak. Adrian bit his lip, wiping his eyes as he tried to piece together what to say.  He couldn't say he'd been talking to the cops, he couldn't. That was a quick way to get thrown out and murdered. But he couldn't seem to find a lie that worked anymore. Deran knew too much apparently. Enough to be suspicious, enough to be hurt.

"Deran… I don't know what you want me to say. I-I'm not deliberately trying to hurt you," Adrian tried. He thought about getting up and going to console the man who was standing in the doorway of the bathroom. His hands were in his hair, pulling at it as he cried openly. That hurt so fucking much.

"I never thought I'd feel this way about you, I-I never thought…"

"I love you too, Deran, you know I do," Adrian tried. Except Deran's head fell back and he let out another cold laugh.

"No, I'm scared of you. I am absolutely terrified of you. And I can't do anything about it because clearly, you're never going to tell me the truth, but I love you too much to do anything about it. I will kill myself protecting you and you… you don't care. You don't care. You don't care."

Adrian watched as Deran stepped completely into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He didn't know how long he was going to stay in there, but he decided not to push it. He didn't know what to say to that. There was nothing to say to that. Because Deran was right.

Adrian was scared of himself too.

#this has been in my head for a couple days #but i wanted to watch the new episode first #4x06 coda #animal kingdom #animal kingdom fic #ak #ak fic #ak 4x06 #ak coda #animal kingdom coda #adrian dolan #adrian dolan fic #deran cody #deran cody fic #deran x adrian #adrian x deran #Adrian x deran fic #deran x adrian fic #1.2k word #literally no one asked for this

[michaels-blackhat]

prelude to a first kiss

day 10/31 of my massive holiday project

for @sockich, who forever ago requested all the kisses for a completely different ship than the one I wrote today. Can’t wait to talk to you more once March hits.

The moon shined bright on the water. It reflected the light perfectly, so that Deran could see Adrian’s eyes perfectly. He could see how they trailed from his eyes to his lips, always back to his lips. Deran could see Adrian’s mouth, the way he bit his lip every time his eyes flickered down. He could see how the moonlight turned his hair almost silver, could see if only he could pry his eyes off of Adrian’s mouth.

Their second night in Belize and Deran doesn’t think he’s ever felt so free. He had surfed all day, had lounged and baked in the sun and hadn’t had to worry about a call interrupting. He hadn’t had to worry about his big brothers coming to take him home. He was free, for the first time he could remember. He was free from his mother’s gaze, her expectations. He was free to spend his time however he wanted with whomever he wanted. He wanted.

Adrian stood in front of him, countries away from home, and Deran couldn’t help but feel like this was everything he never let himself dream about. He dreamed of the two of them together, of a life so unlike the rest of his own. He dreamed about his soft skin, about his mouth, about his hair and his freckles and every last inch of him. He dreamed that one day it wouldn’t matter so much, that him dreaming about it at all, wouldn’t matter.

The moonlight turned Adrian silver where he was normally golden and Deran couldn’t think of any reason he shouldn’t reach out. They were alone, on the private strip of beach in front of their rented house, the rest of their friends hidden away inside the house with whoever they found for the evening.

Adrian’s eyes never left his face. They rarely did, when they were this close. And they found reasons to be this close so often. And so often Deran would back away, would punch Adrian’s shoulder and make a joke. Adrian’s face would turn stoic, his stony expression lasting well after everyone else left.

Deran didn’t want to back away now. He didn’t want to make a joke, he didn’t want to see Adrian’s eyes shutter. He just wanted to see how soft his cheek felt against his palm.

So he did. He lifted his hand and let his palm rest against Adrian’s cheek. It was soft yet sticky, still tacky from the dried salt water. He gently let his thumb sweep across Adrian’s cheekbone. Adrian’s eyes widened in shock, but Deran was too busy entranced by the way his skin skimmed Adrian’s.

“Deran,” Adrian whispered, voice soft as the sea. “What…”

But Adrian didn’t finish his question. Deran moved forward as he moved his hand from Adrian’s cheek to the back of his neck. He pulled him closer, brought their lips together in a soft press of the lips.

Deran understood why Baz and Craig loved this so much. Just a press of their lips and Deran was ready to stay on this beach of the rest of his life, family be damned.

Adrian made a noise, one of shock mostly but Deran thought he could hear desire in there too.

“Deran,” Adrian whispered again before he brought their lips together in a firm kiss. Adrian wrapped his arms around Deran.

They stayed on the beach through the night, and the ones after that too.

#deran x adrian #deran cody #adrian dolan #animal kingdom #not rnm #my fic #holiday fic gifts #sockich

[bestillmyslashyheart]

4x13 Coda

In the end it took time. 

It was 3 hours before Deran dug up Adrian’s old email and tell him he was sorry.

It took 5 months for Adrian to answer, saying he’d been wrong about what he said to Deran on the pier.

A year to the day after Deran watched Adrian walk away from him and didn’t follow, he picked up the phone and called. If anyone but Adrian ever asked, he’d deny it to his dying breath, but there were tears in his eyes when Adrian answered. Nothing had ever sounded so sweet as Adrian’s voice in that moment.

In the end, though, it was two years, four months, and seven days before Deran’s world made sense again.

“Hey boss!” Jemma, the new bartender, yelled as Deran stomped into the bar. “You got a visitor in your office.”

“Who is it?” Deran growled.

Jemma shrugged. “He said he was an old friend. Didn’t give a name.” Deran shook his head. One of these days he was going to get it through his employee’s thick skulls that his office wasn’t a free for all.

“Who the fu-” Deran asked as he burst through the door only to freeze when he saw the man standing at his desk.

His hair was longer, his skin tanner, and he had his back to Deran but it was unmistakably Adrian.

“Adrian,” Deran breathed as he closed the door behind him. “What are you doing here?” Adrian turned around and smiled, his face lighting up at the sight of Deran. “You can’t- if the cops find out-”

“It’s all good,” Adrian cut him off. He grabbed an envelope from Deran’s desk and held it out. “Turns out you’ve been a miserable shit without me.” 

Deran stared at the envelope but didn’t take it. After a while, Adrian started shaking it but Deran couldn’t move. “What are you doing here?”

Adrian pulled his hand back. “I can leave if you’d pref-”

“No,” Deran took a step forward, like he ready to stop Adrian if he so much as looked like was going to move. “Don’t leave. I just- what?”

Adrian took pity on him and opened the envelope. First, he passed a blank sheet with a handwritten note.

Now you can stop being a miserable shit and smile dammit

It was Craig’s handwriting but Deran didn’t understand. The next sheet of paper was actually a packet, the DEA logo printed across the top. Deran looked at Adrian but Adrian just looked at the papers in his hand so Deran started reading.

He didn’t understand the legalese so much but the bit where Adrian was sentenced with probation in exchange for his ‘invaluable’ assistance in leading to the apprehension of 11 known drug traffickers was pretty easy to understand.

“What is this?”

Adrian shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. “Ask your nephew.”

“J?” 

“Craig called me a few months ago, I guess he stole your phone to get my number, and he said that he, Pope, and J were working on a way to clear my name.” Adrian gently took the papers out of Deran’s hands. “They wanted it to be a surprise and I guess I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up so we didn’t mention it after that.” He held up the papers briefly before dropping them on the desk. “They sent me those a few days ago and I got on the first plane. I was going to go to the house but Craig said you don’t live there anymore.”

“You weren’t there, how could I-” Deran stared at the papers, unable to process what Adrian was telling me.

“Anyway,” Adrian continued. “According to my probation I’m not allowed to leave Oceanside for the next 12 months. Know a place I could stay?”

Deran stared at him. “You’re not going to prison.”

“No,” Adrian assured him softly. His fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for Deran but he didn’t move.

“You’re staying here.”

“Yes.”

Deran moved first, he knew that because Adrian had already made the grand gesture and it was his turn to step up, but Adrian met him halfway. 

When they broke apart, Deran kept Adrian close, their foreheads pressed together.

“Welcome home.”

#deran x adrian #ak fic #ak #my fic

[shadeandadidas]

“Are we ever going to talk about it?”

Deran casts a quick look behind him, blue eyes glancing over Adrian’s coller bone, but immediately back to the frying pan sizzling in front of him.

Adrian leans up against the counter top, arms crossed to try and get back some warmth that had been missing in their house for weeks now. He waits, but when Deran didn’t deign to answer, Adrian sighs. “Deran. Come on, man.”

“Talk about what?” Deran didn’t look back at him and it hurt. It hurt the same way it hurt when Deran rolled away from him in bed last night instead of into him like he always did. It hurt the same way it did when Deran could cast him aside for scantily clad girls when they were at teenage parties.

It hurt, but Adrian knows that its nothing to the hurt that Deran must be feeling. So he tries to be patient about it. 

Deran continues, flipping the bacon, “Talk about the Fed situation? Jesus, we’ve talked it to death. We’ve got our plan figured out and all that’s left is timing.”

“Timing,” Adrian says before he can stop himself, “to what? Kidnap a child? Put a bullet through a police officer’s wife?”

Deran’s shoulders tighten, “If that’s what it takes.”

The words make Adrian’s stomach turn. Especially because as much as he fiercely loves Deran, and as much as Adrian knows that Deran fiercely loves him, it’s not true. It could never be true. Adrian wouldn’t love him if it were.

“You don’t mean that,” Adrian says, gently as he can for the time being. “You wouldn’t be able to do it. Not for me or anyone else.”

Deran slides the bacon on to a paper towel wrapped plate, “You don’t know shit.”

“Maybe not, but I do know you.” Deran’s knuckles are tight on the pan, so Adrian switches gears, “It’s not what I meant, anyway. I meant we should probably talk about the fact that you can’t even look at me.”

The stubborn fuck purposefully turns around and Deran runs his gaze pointed from the scuffs on Adrian’s All-Stars to the divot in his chin. 

Then he meets his gaze for half a second and drops it. 

Another stab of hurt. 

Deran sighs, running a hand through his hair, wincing when he comes too close to the cuts on his nose, “It’s hard.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I know.”

A pause. Deran shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“I just can’t believe you’d be so stupid. Reckless to begin with and-- the lying shit. The lying shit is what gets me. Adrian, Christ, when we agreed to do this thing between us we agreed no lying.”

“I know.”

“You don’t know shit.” Deran snaps again, but this time his gaze meets Adrian and stays, “You were supposed to be the one thing I didn’t have to worry about. The one person I could trust. And you turn rat on me.”

Adrian pointedly doesn’t bring up the fact that both he and Deran know that Adrian didn’t actually say shit. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No. I want this to never have happened in the first place.”

“So do I.”

They are both silent for a long few minutes. Long enough for Deran to blot the bacon and add it to the breakfast collection he’d been working on. Long enough for Adrian to bright out several plastic plates and pop some toast in the toaster.

Finally, he can’t bring himself to let the silence reign any longer, “So where does that leave us?”

Deran takes a crispy bite of bacon and stares out the window toward the balcony. “I want us to be okay. I’m trying to make this okay, alright? Let... let me deal with Livengood. Let me not have to worry that on top of everything else, you might be put away.”

Adrian nods shortly and bites into his bacon, “This is really good. You’re still not going to hurt his kid.”

Deran stole a piece from Adrian’s place and crunched loudly. 

#animal kingdom #animal kingdom tnt #deran x adrian #da fic #i have thoughts and feelings on this ep

[thefancyspin]

Adrian/Deran- guys hit on Adrian in dreams bar. Deran has evolved. There’s been growth. He’s fine. Adrian is....happy about it? Mostly? Kind of? I mean a little jealousy wouldn’t be out of line. Turns out that Deran is full of shit. And rage.

Adrian doesn’t realise it’s happening at first.

Back when he was doing comps and travelling the world - back before he knew Deran was serious about them - people would hit on him all the time. He wasn’t tied down, he hadn’t made promises; he liked it. He welcomed it.

Now, though, he just feels weird.

“Uh, that guy just gave me his number,” Adrian says when Deran comes over with a beer for him.

Deran huffs at him. “No shit. Isn’t that like the third guy this month?”

“Uh.” Adrian blinks. “I guess so. I don’t know.”

“Does it bother you? I thought you’d be all cocky.”

“Cocky?” Adrian throws Deran a look and realises he’s barely paying attention. He’s apparently more interested in a game of pool they’re playing at the table next to them. “Well aren’t you bothered?”

Deran pulls a face. “People flirt with you like it’s going out of fuckin’ style, man. I think I’m past getting Pope to throw them over the side of a boat, don’t you?”

Adrian growls.

“Too soon?”

“I’m not talking about kidnap and assault. I just thought you might say something. Intervene.”

Deran claps him on the shoulder with that smart ass smirk. “You’re a big boy,” he says, his hand drifting further up towards Adrians neck. Its nice, and soft and warm. “And you made it clear jealousy is not something you’re here for. I let it go.”

Adrian swallows around a lump in his throat. It’s nice that Deran trusts him. It’s nice that he knows he’s worth more than that to Adrian - that he doesn’t need to prove anything, or bully any one.

So why does Adrian feel sort of… disappointed?

“Cool.”

*

Deran’s working the bar a few days later, and Adrian winds up meeting some friends, and the night moves boring and slow. Sometimes he’ll look up and over and catch Deran looking at him, and Deran will just smile, not bothering to hide it.

Deran wants him. As much as he ever has. He doesn’t need to worry.

So why has he been? Why does Deran’s laid back attitude put him so on edge?

“Hey, man,” some very tall and very blonde beefcake comes up to Adrian and offers him a beer. “You’re Adrian Dolan, right?”

Adrian declines the drink. “I am, yeah. Have we met?”

“No,” the guy says with a laugh. “I caught a few of your events in Hawai'i. You’re really good.”

“Was. But thanks.”

“My friends were just talking about you. They said they still see you out there, ripping it up.”

“Right, right,” Adrian shakes a finger. “Those are your friends, I have to remember to pay them later.”

The guy stands there for longer than he needs to, chatting to Adrian about comps and boards, touching his hand or his arm or his shoulder as he moves steadily closer. Adrian’s just about to be the ‘big boy’ Deran thinks he is and excuse himself before Deran actually appears and says,

“Hey, man, sorry to interrupt,” with a tight hand on Adrian’s forearm. “You mind if I borrow my boyfriend real quick?”

“Oh, um…”

Deran doesn’t actually wait for an answer, manhandling Adrian into the back room and slamming the door shut. Adrian can’t wipe the dumb smirk off his face.

“What happened to - ”

“You did that shit to mess with me!” Deran yells, and Adrian can’t help but yell right back.

“I did not!”

“I thought you liked this me. Carefree, and nice, and, just, enjoying this, not taking shit for granted.”

“Of course I do! That’s not-”

“So don’t push me Adrian, don’t test me, I ”

“I’m not! I swear I wasn’t.” Adrian watches him try to catch his breath, half way across the room but still so big and looming. He’s like an animal, proud and strong - he’s so fucking beautiful Adrian can hardly stand it. “When you were with Clark, it was like… whenever I came back it was like I was drowning. I kept thinking you’d finally moved on from your childhood bullshit and gone to find a real man.”

“What?”

“So when you were so unbothered, not angry, not jealous… I guess I started to think you were moving on again, you know? That if I took off on you, you wouldn’t care.”

Deran looks like he’s losing breath again - jittery on his feet and chewing at his fingers.

“I’m sorry. That, out there - it was nothing. I didn’t think twice about it. It was nothing.”

“Tell me you know,” Deran says in a raspy voice, making Adrian move closer. “After all the shit we’ve been through. All the shit you put up with. Tell me you know.”

“I…”

“I love you, you asshole! I love you so fucking much, and the only thing stopping me from going back out there and breaking that Ken Doll’s face is because I need you to love me too. I’m fucking desperate for you to love me.”

Adrian’s pretty sure that if he’s not crying he will be soon, Deran breaking the gap between them to bring his hands up to cradle Adrian’s face. “I’m a jealous fucking asshole who hates any other person who so much as looks at you with ideas. If I thought it’s what you want I’d go out there and yell it at everyone. But I know you don’t, and I know you deserve better.”

Adrian’s hands are covering Deran’s now and they’re practically sobbing all over each other and Adrian wonders when this became them. When did they go from pot smoking, risk taking, high stakes fucks to domestic, and desperate? “I love you too. I’ve loved you since I was sixteen.”

Deran finally kisses him, angry and relieved and biting, leaving blood. They end up slammed to a wall, and they end up getting each other off right there, and they end up saying it again, and again. More times than Adrian remembers.

I love you. Love me too.

#animal kingdom tnt #deran x adrian #deran cody x adrian Dolan #fan fiction #my writing #fic requests #fic prompts

[musicandi]

So be it

This is for @adrianintown, her post about Adrian never really falling into a deep sleep prompted this. 

As Deran drags himself up into the house and to the kitchen, he feels the weight of the day finally just collapse on him. Adrian, Smurf, the heist, staying up till almost dawn digging a tunnel. Everything just feels heavy and right now all he wants to do is feel numb. 

“You just get home?” He hears and looks to see Adrian, turning the light on and walking into the kitchen, standing across from him. He looks him over, shirtless, bed head, a little groggy, soft looking almost. The way he should look. 

“Yeah, sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.” Deran whispers. 

“Don’t worry, I was already awake.” Adrian answers. He gives him one last look before moving to sit in the living room and taking a seat on the sofa. Deran is hesitant but grabs a beer from the fridge and moves to sit in the chair next Adrian.

“Why are you awake? It is 3 in the morning.” Deran asks. He thought might as well make conversations, apparently Adrian been up for a while and Deran doesn’t think he could sleep even if he tried. 

Adrian shrugs but doesn’t look his way. He grabs one of the pillows on the couch and brings it to his lap. “Was just having a hard time falling asleep that’s all. It was to q-” He starts but he just gives an uncomfortable short chuckle and shakes his head. 

Deran could tell he wanted to say something else. He stares at the man across from him and can see every little tension in his body, probably similar to what Deran himself looks like. That is all that has been between them this past week. Nothing but tension and hesitation. He doesn’t want Adrian to hold back, not right now. “No man what were you going to say?” He hears himself tell Adrian.

He looks up at Deran and he can see confusion and slight fear in his eyes. He knows Adrian is scared right now, so was he. But one thing for sure is he doesn’t want Adrian to be scared of him. He tries to soften his stance and hopefully his face. 

“Tell me.” He says, trying to keep eye contact with him. 

“I ummm I can’t really… I have a hard time.. Falling asleep when… you aren’t home.” He confesses and looks away. He can see Adrian’s cheek flush with hints of red, he can see his throat muscles contracting like it is holding back something, and he thinks he sees something drop from his eye. He thinks back to what Adrian had just said and admits that was the last thing he expected to hear. He just told this man this morning, his mother wanted him to kill him and he still feels stuff like that. He sighs as he tilts his head to the side and scratches at his beard. 

“You should,” He starts and clears his throat before continuing, “You should try to get some sleep now then” 

Adrian looks up at him and nods but doesn’t make a move to go to the bedroom. He actually points to Deran’s hand. “That’s new.” 

Deran looks down at the new bandage and nods his head. “Yeah Smurf has a doing a job, wants it done by tomorrow.” He answers then freezes when he realizes he said her name. He looks over at Adrian and sees him frozen staring at the wall by their bedroom door. He hasn’t seen Adrian since that morning so he has no idea how he has been feeling since the outburst and then he just casually says that like it was nothing. Deran shakes his head at his stupidity before putting his beer down on the table in front of them. 

“Adrian.” He calls out. Adrian slowly moves his eyesight to Deran. “You know I won’t let her hurt you.”

Adrian turns to look down at his lap and slightly nods his head. “How?” He whispers so softly Deran almost misses it.

“We gotta leave, get out of the country where Smurf or Livengood can’t reach us. I am getting us passports.” He answers. 

He watches Adrian sit there in silence. He just sits there fiddling with the corners of the pillow. “Us?” He mumbles. 

“Yeah, I am getting you out of here alright. It’s the only way.”

“And what, we just never come back?” He asks. He finally lifts his head up and looks at Deran. 

Deran nods his head. “Not if you want to stay alive and out of prison.”

He sees Adrian’s eyes fill up with tears as he nods his head, turning away from Deran again. He watches him put the pillow aside and slowly stands up moving to face Deran. 

“I am going to go to bed now.” He whispers and moves away. He stops next to Deran and lifts his hand, wanting to touch Deran but stops midair, not knowing where or what to do. He can see when Adrian decides to not do whatever he wanted to do and he quickly grabs Adrian’s wrist, stopping him from moving away. Things are so bad right now, they haven’t touch each other in what feels like ages and he doesn’t know how to do this. To comfort people but at that moment he couldn’t let Adrian go. 

They stare at each other, the other not knowing what to do but still frozen in each other. Deran finally shakes himself out of his thoughts and gives Adrian’s wrist a light squeeze. “Get some sleep alright.”

Adrian nods his head and Deran finally lets him go. He hears him moving towards the bedroom but doesn’t look until he hears Adrian call his name. 

He looks back at his boyfriend who is still hesitate but does look slightly lighter than earlier. Adrian brings his hand up to his neck as he kicks his foot forward and back, the tick he always does when he is nervous. 

“You should…” He starts but takes a second. 

“Yeah?” 

“Will you come to bed please?” He asks. It reminds Deran that in the end this is his best friend who has never given up on him, who has seen him at his best and at his true worst, who is always there for him even when he was just an asshole in denial of who he was. This was his best friend and his boyfriend and he needs him now. 

“Yeah A, I’ll be right there.”

No matter how truly messed up things are right now there is only one option and that is Adrian stays alive and if it means saying goodbye to everything in Oceanside than so be it.

#Animal Kingdom #Animal Kingdom tnt #Deran x Adrian #Deran Cody #Adrian Dolan #Animal Kingdom Fics #Short and Quick #These boys just need comfort right now #Damn writers for not showing scenes that are needed

[salmonthestoryteller]

...And Never What We Deserve

Animal Kingdom Fanfic (s4e08 Coda) Adrian’s side of the bed was cold when Deran woke up.  The fact that he checked to see if his stuff was still in their dresser before he checked the kitchen said a lot about the current state of their relationship. He wasn't in the kitchen but there was a pot of coffee still on the warmer.

He found Adrian on the deck with a blanket around his shoulders - watching the ocean. His coffee sat half drunk beside him. "What are you doing up?" The question sounded more accusatory than he meant it to. Adrian tensed at it, and Deran hated that too.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Figured you could use the rest. You're pretty beaten up."

"Had worse." He shrugged. Actually, he was pretty sure this was the worst he could list. Plus, he felt even worse than he had the previous evening - not that he was planning on admitting that.

"Yah, name it." Adrian shot back, and for a moment it felt so normal. Then Adrian quickly dropped his eyes and looked away. "Sorry, if you say you're fine, you're fine."

Deran wondered who he was angrier at. Adrian for putting them in this position? Jack for offering Adrian the job in the first place? Himself for not looking into things sooner even when he felt something was off?

"This what it's going to be like from now on? Us walking on eggshells around each other? Watching our every word?"

Adrian curled his fingers into the blanket, then sighed. "No.  No, we can't go on like this."

"So look at me already."

Adrian didn't just look up, he stood and turned to face him.  His eyebrows drew into a worried V and he reached out a hand to trace the cut on his nose. "Shit, you really did a number on yourself."

"What? I don't pull off ruggedly handsome well?"

"Ruggedly handsome, huh?"

"Yah, like one of those douches on TV who get paid to look hot with fake blood and shit."

Adrian laughed, letting his arms fall around shoulders. "Yah, sorry, you're not looking like some hot tv star from a fake action movie right now. More like I should tuck you into bed and bring you meds and jello."

"Oh, yah?" Deran felt his lips curve into a smirk, and he placed his hands on Adrian's hips. "You gonna play nurse for me? I would enjoy that."

"Oh, keep dreaming." Adrian returned.

This was them. This was what he needed, and he felt his grip on Adrian's hips tighten. This was what he couldn't give up. No matter what it took to keep it.

"We need to talk."

He frowned, studying Adrian's face - he was worried again. "Inside."

Adrian nodded, and drew away to grab the coffee cup to take back to the kitchen. Deran sat himself down at their table to watch him place it in the sink. Adrian didn't return to his side - he seemed to be gearing himself up to speak. "I've been thinking about it all night and I… I just can't go through with this thing with Livengood."

"I'm not expecting you to be involved in the next part. No offense, but you're not very intimidating."

"No, I mean I don't want you to go through with it either."

Deran snorted at that. "Yah, sure. I'll just let you go to prison instead."

"If that's how the trial goes, yes. If we plea down to possession instead of trafficking I might still get probation. At the very least a reduced sentence-"

"Not happening."  The idea of Adrian in prison? Of what the guards, let alone the other prisoners, would do to him? Yah, no way Deran was letting that happen.

"This is my mess. Okay? I don't have the right to come begging to you to fix it for me."

"You didn't. You damn well should have - months ago. But you didn't. This is me choosing to fix this."

"You aren't the kind of guy who threatens someone's kid, Deran."

"I'm the same guy who had your would be boyfriend tossed in the ocean in a fit of jealousy, so…". He shrugged.  He didn't want to admit that the idea of threatening someone's kid left a sour taste in his mouth. But he didn't actually have to hurt the kid - just make Livengood believe he would.

"You aren't that guy anymore."

"Aren't I?"

Adrian approached him then, and reached out a hand to touch his face. "You aren't." He said with certainty. "I know you and you aren't. I don't want to be the reason you do something like that."

"And I can't watch you go to prison. So where does that leave us?"

"I'm the one who screwed up and worked for Jack when I should have known better. Whatever ruling I get, I deserve."

"Screw that!"  Deran shot to his feet. "May we get what we want, and never what we deserve." He quoted, reaching out to grip his arms.  He’d been saying the phrase all his life - but he wasn’t certain he’d ever felt the words more strongly than he did now.  “That has always been my family's motto. You need to embrace it now."

“I can’t.” Adrian pulled away.

“You have been on the fringes of this stuff all our lives.  Not even because of me.  I didn’t introduce you to Jack.  I didn’t tell you to be friends with Ox or…”  He couldn’t say Colby’s name right now, couldn't even think it, “Or any of the other people in our lives. And I sure as hell didn’t ask you to get involved with Jack’s drug trade. You jumped head first into that all on your own.”

“I know that.”

“I’ve tried to keep you out of this shit, but you’re in it now.  And you going to prison isn’t a solution - it’s a death sentence.  This Livengood asshole knows it - he just doesn’t care.  You weren’t supposed to go to trial originally, right?"

“No, I was supposed to be exempt from prosecution.” Adrian admitted.

“Exactly.  He played you, threatened you; went back on his word. You have no reason to lose sleep over this jackass.”

Why was he so worried about going after the guy who was to blame for putting them in this position? Who was the one who had broken his deal, and targeted them?

“It’s not about him!  It’s about us! I don’t want to do this. I don’t want you to do this. I don’t want to be the one that makes you cross a line you can’t come back from.”

“There is no line I wouldn’t cross to keep you safe!”

“I’d rather die in prison than have you do that to yourself!”

Silence settled between them for a moment. Deran stepped back, running a hand over his face. After a moment he spoke, slowly.  “...If you die in prison, I’ll kill every one of the fuckers involved. Starting with this Livengood asshole.”

Adrian froze, eyes wide.  “Don’t say that.”

“I wouldn’t stop until I killed every one. I swear I wouldn’t.”

“Deran, no.”  He stepped forward, reaching out to him, but hesitating.  “You don't mean that."

"I wouldn't care anymore. Not without you. I just wouldn't." He confessed, and reached out to take ahold of his wrists - worried he'd pull away. Adrian made no move to, and he stepped closer.   “May we get what we want, and never what we deserve. Say. It.”

Adrian’s eyes were haunted as they met his.  Was this what his eyes had looked like? Years ago, when he’d first begun to work the family business?  When he’d first understood what it all meant? “May we get what we want, and never what we deserve.” Adrian repeated the words slowly.

Deran kissed him, and Adrian surrendered to the kiss.  A part of him felt like he was manipulating him into this, but he hadn’t been lying.  He may never be able to actually hurt a kid - but Livengood himself? If he got Adrian killed in prison because of refusing to stick to the original deal?  He wouldn’t have any problem pulling that trigger. He knew that for a fact now.

Fini

#animal kingdom #deran x adrian #fanfic #this distracted me from my rnm week fics I'll have you know

[marvelatbarnes]

Adrian x Deran

Make it Official

#i love adrian #adrian dolan #animal kingdom tnt #animal kingdom #animal Kingdom fic #deran cody #post 4x6 #deran x adrian #adrian x deran

[neapeaikea]

If no-one else is gonna write it, I will! But I hope you will too, 'cos I wanna read your version of this supposed "family unit" that the EP is banging on about. IDK if I really buy the four of them living together or whatnot, but there's a number of ways it can be interpreted. Maybe Deran just sends money and that's that.

Obv wrote this based on the articles, Deran saying he's going to take care of Nick, and what we've seemed to accept as post-canon truth. I wasn't completely expecting the moodswings from Adrian, nor the desperation from Deran, but I liked it so I kept it! It makes sense to me that Adrian is both angry and happy, and that Deran just hangs on for the ride. Feelings-wise, this one sorta goes around town and then comes back again but I hope it makes sense, and that it's not too boring to have them talk so much about, well, things we in fandom have needed to get out and processed.

Gotta say, I love how with Deran you can just have him smoke to give him something to do, because he really does in every scene on the show. Thanks, show.

Feel free to tell me how completely wrong I got this reunion and how you think it went.

With that said, bring me ALL the reunion fics! Now or later, I don't mind :)

#deran x adrian fic #deran x adrian #fic by me #animal kingdom #animal kingdom tnt #adrian dolan #deran cody #reunion fic #keep 'em coming

[hoodie-buck]

fanfic ask game

thanks for the tags loves @rogerzsteven @imsupposedtobewritting @blaidddrwg1982 @mansikkaomenabanaani @panicatthediaz 💙

What is your total posted word count on AO3?

—854731 …whoops 👀

How often do you write?

—i try to every day whether on my computer or phone, but sometimes real life gets in the way

Do you have a routine for writing?

—well if i’m writing for an au (which is 90% of the time) i’ll watch/read whatever i’m basing it off of and mark down all the plots i wanna tackle, then make an ‘outline’ and go from there. if it’s an insomnia fic, then i just wip my phone out at 3am. and if it’s canon/fix-it i’ll just open up a word doc and start writing

What’s your favourite tropes/pairing?

—tropes: one bed/sharing a bed, fake dating/didn’t know they were dating, hurt/comfort, enemies to lovers

—pairings: buddie, deran x adrian, sterek, chenford

Do you have a favourite fic of yours?

—ahh they’re all my babies <3 so here’s 2 of them

coastlines or i want to love you (but i don’t know how)

Your fic with the most kudos?

—nobody can do everything

Anything you don’t like about your writing?

—umm it can be very scattered at times (like my brain) so there’s lots of going back to add things in. i just have so many ideas 😩 (this is why i struggle writing anything short)

Now something you do like?

—i like the way i’m able to tell a story through the weather/scenery. i’ve been called the ‘metaphor queen’ by at least one of my readers 😁

tagging: @fearlessdiaz @prettyboyandthekid @justsmilestuffhappens @onward--upward @prettyboybuckley @loveyourownsmiilee @honestlydarkprincess @djdangerlove @jacksadventuresinwriting

#ask games <3 #fanfic asks #my writing

[nymeria1105]

@adventuresofprettyboyandthekid I just re-read all Fragments of Us...

#deran x adrian #deran x adrian fics #animal kingdom #animal kingdom tnt #deran cody #adrian dolan #if you haven't read it yet what are you waiting for? #such a beautiful story

[spaceskam]

when will i feel all soft on the inside?

Summary: adrian and deran having a first kiss in Belize

"When we get back, I'm gonna have to tell Craig that you're just a big softie."

Deran gazed over to Adrian as he laid on a stupidly gigantic pool float, his skin glowing red with how much time they'd been spending in the sun together. It didn't take away from how absolutely stunning he looked. The impulsive decision to show up at Adrian's window at midnight and ask him to run away to Belize with him was proving itself to be the best decision he'd ever made.  He felt safe here. There were no worries about what people might think about them wrestling in the pool or sharing food or sleeping in the same bed. No one was there to point fingers, to call him gay or weak or wrong. It was just Adrian. Adrian didn't request any explanation for his actions, he just welcomed them.

It was fucking paradise.

"I'm not soft, shut the fuck up," Deran said, but there really was no bite to his words. He found it hard to be any type of aggressive with Adrian when he didn't have a reputation to keep up. He sunk into the water until it covered his nose when Adrian grinned at him.

"Oh, you're so soft. You can't fool me, Deran Cody. I saw the way your eyes fluttered when I was getting that shit out of your hair last night. Soft," Adrian teased, the world's fondest smile on his lips. Deran sunk into the water completely.

His entire body felt like it was on fire, but he wasn't sure that it was embarrassment. He was slowly but surely testing the waters with Adrian. He had no idea he was even interested in guys, but the night before had given Deran some hope that he had a chance. Adrian had combed seaweed from his hair with his bare hands which was a lot in itself, but he didn't exactly stop once they got back home and got into bed. The same bed. They'd both made it pretty clear that touching wasn't off the table and he could still feel the heat of Adrian's body against the back of his own, playing with his hair as they both pretended to focus on the movie so they didn't have to acknowledge what they were doing. But Deran, sober now and feeling ballsy, wanted to acknowledge it. He wanted more.

At 21, all of Deran's sexual and romantic experiences were with women. Save for a rough drunken kiss from a guy when he was off competing. He thought he was hot, but he was with Craig and had punched him anyways. He wanted something soft and sweet that he could enjoy. Adrian could provide that. It was a bonus that he was, well, Adrian and Deran had loved him for years.

So, when he opened his eyes underwater to see Adrian falling into the water only a few feet away from him, Deran decided to finally go for it. He pushed himself to the surface. Adrian followed a second later.

"I bet I can hold my breath longer than you," Deran challenged. Adrian licked his lips and Deran's stomach tied in a thousand knots.

"I doubt it."

"I'm a pro-surfer."

Adrian laughed, "So am I!"

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see about that," Deran said, "One… two… three!"

The two plunged into the water, sinking to the bottom. Adrian puffed his cheeks out, but the smile was still visible. It took all of two seconds before he was poking and prodding at Deran, urging him to lose. Deran bit the inside of his cheek as he grabbed his hand to stop him. Bubbles rose to the surface as Adrian let his puffed cheeks morph into a wide smile, squeezing Deran's hand lightly.

Now or never.

Deran moved forward and placed the shortest little peck on his lips. It really wasn't enough and he wanted so, so, so much more, but he pulled away and left the ball firmly in Adrian's court. They both pushed themselves up.

"You cheated!" For a short second, Deran considered that this might be his rejection. Adrian had gone to the surface first, Adrian considered the kiss cheating in their challenge. But between the smile on his face and his close proximity, Deran knew that wasn't the case. It was quite the opposite.

"No."

"Yes!"

"Fine, rematch," Deran suggested.  Adrian met his eyes and he got to watch the determination fill this boy he adored so fucking much. Determination for him. He never wanted to go home. "But you can't cheat either, so keep your hands to yourself."

"Maybe." There was nothing innocent about the way Adrian grinned.

"One… two… three!"

Once they sunk into the water, Deran closed his eyes and waited. It was Adrian's turn. He made his move, now he just had to wait and see if Adrian really wanted the same.

He didn't have to wait long.

Adrian basically crashed into him, grabbing his neck and kissing every worry in the world away. They busted through the surface of the water, kissing and smiling and trying to pull each other closer. Deran pressed into his space, trying to touch any part of him that he could. Adrian welcomed it, sliding one hand into his hair and placing the other on the small of his back.

This was it. This was everything he'd been looking for. This was Adrian.

"Fuck," Adrian breathed when they finally managed to separate, both of them gasping to catch their breath as they stayed firmly against each other. "Holy fuck, Deran." A calloused hand slid up his chest, cupping his cheek and tracing his lips with his thumb. Deran couldn't help himself as his eyes closed.

"That…" he trailed off. No words came to mind to describe it, he just didn't want to separate. So he just moved in for another kiss.

It was just as accepted as the previous one, only much slower and softer and Deran melted. Once reality hit, he'd be forced to deal with the fact this was wrong. He shouldn't be kissing guys, but he, more importantly, shouldn't be kissing Adrian. Adrian had grown up with him and he knew too much. But now that he had a taste, he found it hard to imagine feeling bad about it.

He figured one side eye from Smurf would quickly make that happen. Just not today.

"You wanna go inside? Take a shower?" Adrian asked against his lips before trailing soft little kisses across his jaw and his neck, "If we make it that far." Adrian's hand slid down his back again, lower this time to make his intentions clear. Deran couldn't even think straight. He didn't want to. He just wanted to get lost in Adrian.

And he knew that he could.

"Yes."

#this is me having no self control #was i supposed to not have them recreate the 21:21 scene? #i mean they were basically asking for it #deran x adrian #adrian x deran #Adrian x deran fic #deran x adrian fic #deran cody #deran cody fic #adrian dolan #adrian dolan fic #animal kingdom #animal kingdom fic #ak #ak fic #literally no one asked for this #1k word #derans pov

[isakvaltersnake]

The urgent need to pee woke Craig out of his drunken slumber. He rolled off the sofa and stumbled for the bathroom. Not thinking to question the sound of running water, Craig strolled into the bathroom, without knocking. "WHAT THE FUCK!?" Deran's voice yelled angrily. Deran moved from under the shower head while Adrian scrambled off his knee. "Morning" Craig greeted and continued for the toliet. "GET OUT." Deran insisted, throwing a shampoo bottle at Craig's head. Craig ducked with a chuckle.

#fic anon #animal kingdom #deran x adrian #gotta love a craig appearance