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floralelu · 4 years

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Le Fleuriste Episode IV:

WARNINGS: NONE :))

Summary: Lucas hangs out with Eliott despite him trying to suppress his feelings, but will his feelings actually be reciprocated?

Word Count: 3,570

[A/N]: Hello!! We are so excited for you to read this chapter!! We just wanted to say that we would love to hear from you so send us questions or comments!! We will be checking our inbox and responding!!

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Lucas woke up the next morning with the sun in his eyes. He knew it was late morning because of the lack of noise in the apartment. All of the guys must’ve gone to work already, but Lucas didn’t mind. It meant he had the morning to himself.

Lucas checked his phone and was greeted with an Instagram notification.

1 Message from plantjunkieeli

Lucas welcomed the surprise message from Eliott. Even though Lucas knew deep down that this boy was probably straight and had other girls in his DM’s, it still thrilled him the fact that Eliott would text him.

plantjunkieeli: hey, lu <3 i’m sorry for what happened last night. i have a surprise for you tonight in paris, i’ll pick you up at 19:00 pm. can’t wait to see you :)

Lucas clutched his phone to his chest. His heart ached for this boy, but he had to realize that with heartache came heartbreak and he was scared to experience the feeling, especially for the first time.

But that didn’t matter. He was hanging out with his friend, Eliott. His friend. That’s it.

lucallemant: sounds good and me too <3

Lucas glanced at the time at the top of his screen. It was already 14:43 am. He only had a little over 4 hours to prepare for his “date”. Lucas slowly got up, still sluggish from the night before, and went out to the balcony.

It was a clear day, the sky was bright blue and people were scattered among the cobblestone streets before him. Lucas enjoyed it when the sun was out like this, he loved feeling the sun’s warmth on his skin.

Lucas wondered what Eliott would surprise him with. In a perfect world, Lucas would be greeted with a bouquet of flowers, it didn’t matter what kind as long as Eliott picked them out. Then Eliott would ask him the words. Will you be my boyfriend?

But Lucas knew that was too much to ask, if only he lived in a fantasy. Lucas knew his expectations couldn’t and would never be met.

Lucas soon left the balcony and went to Yann’s room. Yann and Lucas shared a closet since Yann already had a room to himself and had the space to accommodate Lucas’s wardrobe, which was larger than you might think.

Lucas went to the closet and opened it, he looked at the selections of clothes in front of him. Lucas wanted to wear something nice for Eliott, even though he knew he had no choice with him, he still wanted to look decent for him.

The only thing was that Lucas didn’t have many nice clothes. He had a couple of decent pairs of jeans and a few nicer shirts that he could wear, but the rest of his nice clothes were either too small for him or he sold it so he could have some extra cash on hand. Lucas finally settled on a pair of black jeans and a grey hoodie that had “ROMANCE” written across the chest. Lucas might as well wear his greatest wish across his body for Eliott, maybe he would take the hint then.

Lucas took a shower, washing the night before off of his body. It felt like all of Lucas’s thoughts from the previous night were washing down the drain. When he got out of the shower he felt renewed. He was excited to see Eliott.

Lucas slipped the hoodie over his head and felt something in the front pocket. He reached his hand in and was greeted with a picture. He took the picture out of his pocket and studied it.

Lucas could barely recognize what he was looking at. It was Lucas and his once manageable family. Lucas was a baby in the photo, he was seated in a highchair with a cake on the plastic tray in front of him. The cake was shaped into number 1 and was covered in bright blue frosting. His mom was on the right side of the photo next to Lucas, kissing his cheek. His dad was on the left next to Lucas, he was holding bunny ears behind Lucas’s head.

Lucas remembered grabbing this picture off of the pinboard on the wall above his desk as he was packing all of his things from his old room. He remembered his mom trying to talk him out of leaving. He had already been crashing at the gang’s place for a few days before he returned to his home and gathering his things in order to move in with them permanently

———————————————————————

“Lucas, you don’t have to do this. We’ll make it through this,” Lucas’s mom pleaded. “Please, Lu. You’re not ready to move out.”

“Mom, I am. You know I am. I’ve been ready since you and dad started fighting. I need to be away from it.”

“But what about me, huh?” His mother raised his voice at him. “Imagine what I’m going through! Dealing with my husband leaving and now my son.”

Lucas turned around and placed his hands on his mother’s shoulders.

“Mom, I promise to come to visit and call you as much as I can. But you have to keep in mind that I can’t be here. It’s not good for my mind.”

His mother nodded and hugged him tightly.

Lucas went back to the closet, picture in hand and reached up on the top shelf for his duffle bag. The duffle bag was filled with personal things to Lucas such as books, sheets of music he liked playing on the piano, and other things like his laptop and his chargers. Lucas placed the photo deep at the bottom of the bag, hoping to never see it again.

———————————————————————

“Lucas! You have a date?!” Basile shouted.

“This is great news! I’m tired of seeing you mope around all the time, Lu. Maybe this boy can bring some happiness into your life,” Arthur pointed out.

“It’s not a date. Just two friends hanging out,” Lucas commented.

“Yeah, sure. Friends,” Yann stated, making air quotes.

“With the way that boy flirts, I won’t be surprised if Lucas comes home with a boyfriend tonight,” Arthur remarked.

Eliott would be here any time now. Lucas was terribly nervous. He was terrified of the possibilities of what the night would bring. Could he get back his friend-zoned image and catch Eliott’s eye?

Lucas had his Instagram open, awaiting Eliott’s message of arrival.

plantjunkielei: i’m here :)

“I gotta go,” Lucas said as he placed his phone in his back pocket. “Wish me luck.”

“I bet he won’t be a virgin by the end of the night,” Yann mumbled to Basile and Arthur.

Lucas rolled his eyes and laughed.

Lucas headed down the stairs of the apartment building and headed towards the street. He was met with a truck that had the front of an old Volkswagen bus and had what seemed like a place for storage in the back. It was quite cute, it was the most Eliott vehicle Lucas had ever seen.

Eliott rolled down the window and Lucas’ gaze met Eliott’s eyes.

“You coming?” Eliott asked, flashing his brilliant smile that made Lucas melt.

Lucas nodded his head and hopped into the passenger side of the vehicle.

“For you, good sir,” Eliott laughed and handed Lucas a small bouquet of white daisies. Eliott plucked one of the flowers out of the bouquet. Lucas’ skin sparked at the contact of Eliott’s hand grazing his cheek and his temple as he placed the flower in his hair. “You look absolutely precious,” Eliott said, admiring his handiwork.

Lucas blushed hard and turned away from Eliott until he calmed down.

“So is this the flower that I remind you of?” Lucas asked as they headed down the street.

“I’m not sure yet. I’m testing out some different options,” Eliott said, glancing at Lucas multiple times while he drove on the road. “I still need to need to weigh my options, see what best fits you.” Lucas smiled.

“So where are you taking me in Paris?” Lucas asked as they headed out of Annecy.

“I can’t spoil the surprise,” Eliott remarked. “Besides, what’s the fun in ruining surprises?”

Lucas played with the bouquet of flowers in his lap, playing with their pedals and their leaves. He found that it calmed his nerves.

“Don’t you think I should have a right to know where we’re going?” Lucas asked. “You could still be a murderer, it’s especially suspicious how far away you’re taking me.”

“Oh come on!” Eliott exclaimed. “You still think I’m a murderer?”

“Not exactly,” Lucas said.

“Well, what do you think of me, Lucas?”

“Beautiful, I think you're beautiful,” Lucas wanted to say.

“I think you’re talented. People like you are hard to come by. You run your own flower shop and you’re so young. I could never do that,” Lucas told Eliott. “You impress me.”

Lucas met Eliott’s eyes, only a quick glance before Eliott turned back to the road, but Eliott’s eyes sparkled. Lucas turned away before he could blush any harder.

“And I think you’re beautiful,” Lucas whispered.

“What?” Eliott said.

“Nothing,” Lucas turned back to him. “What do you think of me?”

“I think you’re someone who doesn’t let people in easily. You’re a very reserved and quiet person. You have a lot of underlying issues that you keep hidden,” Eliott continued. “I want to be let in, Lucas.”

Wow. He was reading Lucas like a book. It was true, Lucas didn’t let people in very easily. The gang was a group of people he had grown up with, there were no barriers there, but with others, it was harder. Most of his friends were girls, which Lucas realized he could trust women easier than men. Most of Lucas’ friends knew his dad had left, but they didn’t know why. No one knew the full story because it was too hard to tell and Lucas didn’t want to see the other person’s reaction. Lucas knew he didn’t trust men as easy because of his dad and what he grew up with.

Lucas didn’t understand why Eliott wanted in. Who would want to befriend a guy with abandonment and daddy issues? Could Eliott handle hearing about Lucas’ past?

“I’d like to know more about you first, Eliott,” Lucas said. “I need to know if I can let you in.” Eliott smiled.

“Alright, then. My name is Eliott Demaury. I’m 26 years old. I was born in Paris, France.” Eliott said. “That enough?”

Lucas shook his head.

“Dig deep, tell me something no one else really knows about.”

Eliott sighed.

“Well, I just started back working at Barney’s this year. I used to work there all the time growing up, it was my home. I would burn through gas money just trying to go visit and work there every weekend,” Eliott told Lucas. “I loved seeing visitors come in and their faces light up with smiles just because of some fucking flowers. I mean, who doesn’t love flowers?” Eliott laughed.

“My grandpa and I ran that shop, it was something we were both passionate about,” Eliott said, his eyes lit up talking about it. “I went to my grandpa about everything, girl troubles, family issues, drama with my friends, he was there for everything, Lu. He was one of the only people who listened to me. Then, he got sick. My mom made us move to Annecy so that we could take care of him in his final days.” Eliott was tearing up at the thought. “I couldn’t bear it, seeing him in the hospital bed. I held his hand till his final breath and then I got angry. I was yelling and cursing, nurses eventually pulled me out of the room and calmed me down.

“At his funeral, I didn’t cry. I was tired of crying. I moved back to Paris because I couldn’t bear being in Annecy anymore. I didn’t go to the shop for years after he died, not until this spring. Luckily, Mrs. Lawerence hired my friend Idriss to manage the shop until I felt well enough to return.” Eliott continued. “It’s still hard sometimes, grieving him. But I’m getting better and that’s what matters.”

Lucas nodded. He was shocked to hear such a sad past come from the mouth of this boy who is upbeat. He didn’t know what to think.

He turned to Eliott as Eliott wiped the tears from his eyes. Lucas smiled at him.

“But you made it through it,” Lucas said. “I’m proud of you for that.”

The rest of the drive was filled with jokes and laughter. Even though it was a bit of a drive, Lucas felt like it went by quickly with Eliott. Lucas loved how easy going it was to talk to Eliott and to be around him. He enjoyed his company and Lucas prayed Eliott enjoyed his.

———————————————————————

Paris was a place Lucas had only been a few times, mostly for holidays or weddings. He never got to understand the love and the romance behind the city. He was someone who had been surrounded by the mountains his whole life. To be honest, Lucas was excited for someone to take him back to Paris again. Lucas hoped Eliott had some late-night sightseeing in store.

They pulled into the parking lot of Jardin des Plantes. Lucas had never been to the gardens before in Paris. Lucas hopped out of the car, following Eliott who had a picnic basket and a blanket tucked in his arms. Lucas was excited until he realized that the gardens would be closed.

“Eliott, why are we here? It’s definitely closed.”

Eliott smiled and flashed a set of keys.

“You have keys to this?” Lucas gestured to the massive gates in front of them. “May I ask how you obtained these keys, murderer?”

Eliott laughed.

“Yes, I just killed one of the bodyguards and stole these keys from his dead body.” Lucas rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay, I used to work here when I moved back to Paris after my grandpa died, and when I decided to quit, I may not have returned my set of keys.”

“Eliott!” Lucas shouted. “We could get caught!”

“Shush,” Eliott whispered. “If we keep quiet we’ll be fine.”

Eliott unlocked the gate and let Lucas in first before following him in. Lucas started to relax when he saw that no one was around. Maybe they won’t get caught after all. Eliott locked the gate behind him.

The moon was full and bright enough that it illuminated the ground below them. Eliott led him to a courtyard that had a stone pathway that was outlined with flowers. The courtyard was at the base of a hill, and at the top of the hill was a large grand building that looked like it could be built for French royalty.

As Lucas admired the scenery around him, Eliott was spreading out the blanket and placed the picnic basket on the ground. He opened the basket and fished out a few candles and a box of matches. He lit the candles one by one and placed them around the blanket, illuminating the beautiful spread. Eliott had packed sandwiches, crackers, different kinds of cheeses and fruit. Lucas’ mouth watered at the sight. Finally, Eliott pulled out a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

“What’s that building on the hill?” Lucas asked.

“That’s the Gallery of Evolution. Beautiful, right? It was designed by Louis-Jules André in 1889.” Eliott said, admiring the building with Lucas.

Lucas nodded and turned back to the spread before him.

“Eliott, this looks amazing. Did you make all of this?” Lucas asked.

“Are you kidding?” Eliott laughed. “Mrs. Lawerence made it, she’s good with details like these. After all, I wanted this night to be perfect.”

Lucas smiled and butterflies rose and fluttered in his stomach. He wished he could kiss Eliott now. He wanted to kiss him for eternity.

Eliott popped and poured the champagne into the glasses. They clinked glasses and sipped the champagne.

“Now,” Eliott started, pulling out a joint and lighting it. “Will you let me in?”

Lucas avoided Eliott’s eyes. Lucas didn’t know if he could do it, tell him his sob story of a past. What if Eliott didn’t want someone like Lucas in his life? It seemed like Eliott already had too much on his plate, with his grandfather’s death and taking over the shop again. Lucas sighed and began.

“My dad left my mom and me about a year ago. He would constantly abuse and yell at my mother and me. My mom was always having to hide bruises from her co-workers and family. My mom is schizophrenic, and my dad couldn’t deal with it anymore.” Lucas took another sip of champagne. “I couldn’t deal with it either. That night, I ran away to my friends’ apartment. They took me in with no questions asked and I’m really grateful for that, but sometimes I feel like a burden to them. When I arrived there, all I did was sleep, I couldn’t handle being awake. My mom kept calling me for the few days I was there and I wouldn’t pick up.” Lucas was beginning to cry.

“When I went back home to get my things, my mom begged me to stay with her. I couldn’t do it. I needed to get out, I was too old to live in my mom’s house anyway, you know? We eventually figured things out, I told her I would call her and visit her and I have been. It’s getting better.” Lucas said as a tear fell down his cheek. “But I miss those happier memories with my father. I miss when he was a good dad and didn’t abuse my mom or me. I have fucking abandonment issues and I’m so fucked up because of him.”

“Oh, Lu,” Eliott said as he pulled Lucas in for a hug. “I’m so sorry, you never deserved anything like that.”

Eliott pulled away and placed his hands on Lucas’ cheeks and started into his eyes. Lucas could feel his skin ignite under Eliott’s palms. Eliott took his thumbs and brushed them across Lucas’ cheeks, wiping the tears away.

Lucas calmed down as they dined on the sandwiches and other goods. They chatted a bit here and there but they mostly looked at each other, long glances being shared between them.

“Come with me, I want to show you something,” Eliott said, standing up and offering his hand to Lucas. Lucas nodded and grabbed Eliott’s hand.

Eliott guided Lucas further down a path that branched from the courtyard. It led to a large building made of glass that almost looked like a bubble. Eliott pulled out his set of keys again and unlocked the door.

Lucas was welcomed by a variety of tropical plants and trees, creating a jungle landscape. Lucas could even hear a waterfall running in the background. Little ponds of water covered in lily pads surrounded the path that leads throughout the building, eventually circling out to the entrance again. One of the glass panes was open, displaying the moon brightly in the sky and casting an enchanting glow on the water and the beautiful plants around them. Eliott took Lucas’ hand and led them around the path, even though it was dark, it was obvious Eliott had been here many times. Eliott led them to a spot where the trees and plants weren’t as dense and you could see one of the ponds of water clearly, you could even spot some of the koi fish circling the pond. Eliott turned and grabbed both of Lucas’ hands and stroked his knuckles with his thumbs.

“So, what do you think of me now?” Eliott asked, once again flashing his bright smile.

“I think you’re someone who doesn’t even realize how strong they actually are. You’re talented and independent. You’re someone others can count on, including me. I don’t deserve someone like you. I’m not enough for you.” Lucas felt the same feeling he felt when he last realized he didn’t deserve Eliott.

“You have the same look you did when you left my apartment,” Eliott frowned. “What makes you think you’re not enough for me?”

“Are you kidding?” Lucas started. “I’m falling for a fucking straight guy!”

Lucas tried to pull his hands out Eliott’s grasp, but Eliott tightened his hold.

“Lucas, I love people. I don’t love any specific gender or anything. I love who I love. I like you, Lucas,” Lucas wasn’t looking at Eliott, he couldn’t. Eliott lifted Lucas’ chin in order for him to meet his gaze. “Lu, I really like you, and I mean that.” Eliott readjusted the white daisy in Lucas’ hair. “You’re more than enough for me.”

Eliott wiped a tear that escaped onto Lucas’ cheek. They stared at each other for a minute, their faces inching closer and closer. Lucas could feel Eliott’s breath across his lips. Eliott brought his left hand to hold Lucas’ cheek while the other held Lucas’ hand, and with that Eliott kissed him.

Lucas felt the feeling deep in his belly, a whole migration of butterflies traveling across his body. Lucas got the wish written on his chest in the most beautiful place he’s ever been with anyone.

They were here together, kissing in their bubble, in their world, in their universe.

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foggyhoundbiscuitskeleton · 3 years

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20 / 32

“Yes, we need to be in Dallas ASAP, I need to be well rested and looking good to meet my second mother.” I burst.

“Is that tomorrow?” Zoe asks.

“Yes!” I sing.

“God, I feel sorry for Taylor having to meet you!” Zoe grinned.

“Shut the fuck up, don’t ruin this for me you thot!” I yell.

“Zoe, don’t ruin it.” Billie said.

“I’m sorry, and I won’t it was just a joke, gees!” Zoe huffed.

“Anyway, someone order the pizza, so I can eat and go to bed I need to get some sleep so I will look good.” I rant.

“Why, you can just sleep on the bus all of tomorrow on our way.” Zoe questioned.

“No, I need pre sleep, so I can wake up and have a moment while jamming out to prepare myself, and then I’ll take a nap before getting ready.” I answer.

“Baby, I’m going to agree with Zoe, I plan to sleep on the bus.” Billie said.

“I can go to bed by myself, I have for 21 years so......” I sass.

Billie rolls her eyes before kissing me.

“You’re a pain you know that?” Billie asked.

“I’m your pain though, sooooooo..... deal with it.” I smirk.

Billie playfully shoves me and continues talking to Zoe, I grab my phone and decide that I should call my friend Violet, since I haven’t talk to her in weeks.

“Babe, I’m going to call my friend I’ll be back in a minute.” I said.

Billie nods and I walk back to the hallway to get some privacy. I call Violet and she picks up instantly.

“I’m going to kill you!”

“What, why?” I question.

“You’ve been gone for three weeks and haven’t called or even sent me a text, you’re a dick!”

“It’s a two-way street!” I shot back.

“Yeah, well I’ve sent you texts and I’ve called you multiple times, I’ve even snaped you.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, it’s been crazy, I don’t even know where to begin to explain it.” I confess.

“Maybe you should start with your jail time.”

“You saw that?” I ask.

21 / 32

“Yes, it literally was on the news.”

“Ok, here it goes.” I sighed.

I spent an hour on the phone with Violet telling her all about my crazy three weeks, and how I’ve fallen in love with Billie. She listens only inputting when I ran out of breath from talking so fast.

“So, I think I explain it all.” I noted.

“Yeah, that definitely was a lot..... I still can’t believe my best friend is dating Billie Eilish, wow!”

“Yeah, I can’t either.” I blush.

“Well when you two get married I’m the maid of honor ok.”

“Ok, crazy!” I laughed

Just then Fineas walks around the corner. “Hey, the pizza is here, come and get it man.” I wave him off and mouth a thanks.

“Hey Vi, I have to go our foods here, but I’ll call you back soon.” I added.

“Yes, please do I need more of your crazy stories, I love and miss you!”

“I love and miss you too, and hopefully that will be all the crazy stories for now.” I giggle.

“Have fun with Taylor tomorrow, oh and ask her about the hit and run ok.”

“I’m not going to do that, but ok.” I sigh.

“Bye.”

I walk back and join Billie and the gang, they all were shoving pizza in their faces, while Fineas talks excitedly about recording Everything I Wanted and what the electric parts will sound like.

“Hey, so I think I’m just going to go to bed.” I yawn.

“You’re not going to eat.” Zoe asked.

“No, I’m exhausted plus I don’t want to be bloated for tomorrow.” I note.

“Oh yes, we wouldn’t want you to bloat.” Zoe sasses.

“Fuck you, I’m sorry I care about my looks, and you always look like trash.” I gloat.

“Well, I might be trash, but at least I’m not a virgin.” Zoes replies.

“Really, we had to go there, its ok baby go to bed I’ll be there in a little bit, and Zoe shut the fuck up!” Billie huffs.

“Aw, thank you!” I cue, as I walk over and kiss her, tasting the pizza on her lips. Zoe rolls her eyes as I walk past her.

22 / 32

“Night, everyone and the whore.” I say.

“Night, baby love you!” Billie adds.

“Night, wimp!” Zoe mutters.

“Aw, love you too Zoe.” I smirk.

I get back to my hotel room and put my pj’s on and brush my teeth. I lay down and fall asleep instantly, I dream that night about Billie, and Taylor, and all the craziness that is my life. I wake up at four to Billie packing all her bags, she looks like she never went to bed.

“Hey, did you not sleep?” I ask.

“No, Fineas and I started working on some songs and we got carried away, sorry.”

“It’s ok, are they about me?” I question.

“I don’t know I guess you’ll find out later, also you better get up and get pack we’re leaving in an hour.”

“Ughhhh fine, let me take a shower first to wake up then I will.” I huff.

“Can I join?”

“No, I need my alone time.” I said.

Billie gasp,”Fine.”

“Love you.” I smile.

“Love you too.”

I take a quick shower and pack my bags, Billie goes on down to the bus to start loading her things, and to grab us some coffee. I finish up and met her in the lobby, where she hands me my coffee and takes my bigger suitcase.

“Are we already to go?” Fineas asks.

“Jesus noo, I just want to sleep!” Zoe pouts.

“I told you to go to bed, you didn’t listen.” I mumble.

“Now is not the time, I am tired and cranky.” Zoe whines.

“Well, at least you’re self aware.” I laugh.

We load the bus and start making our way to Dallas. Billie, Fineas, and Zoe head to their bunk and quickly fall asleep as I put my air pods in and start jamming out to Taylors new album Evermore. I takes about five hours to get to Dallas, so I have a good amount of time to prepare myself to met the saint herself. Which first includes relaxing to her album, then crying to them on my second time around listening to them, because I’m going to met her and this is all not real. Time passes fast when you’re having a moment, Billie wakes up as we’re entering Texas, with only one hour to go until we’re in Dallas.

“You really need to get more sleep.” I say to her worried.

23 / 32

“It’s ok the concert doesn’t start until 6 and it’s only 9:25 now.”

“Yeah, but still why are you up?” I ask.

“Because you weren’t asleep next to me.”

“Ummm, those bunks are too small for that.” I add.

“Yeah, well hotel beds aren’t I can wait.”

“Ok, if you insist, do you want to jam out with me?” I chirp.

“Yeah, I guess.”

I take out my other air pod and hand to her, we both rock out all the way to Dallas. Once, we got to Dallas Fineas and Zoe also get up, with Zoe looking bad as usually. We get to the hotel quickly and made our way off the bus and inside the hotel, bags and suitcases filling our hands. Dan the stage director walks up to me.

“Hey, I know you have a Taylor concert tonight, but will you make sometime to look over everything and double check to see that everything is good to go for Billie’s concert tomorrow. After all you’re still here to do a job.”

“Yes of course, sorry everything is just so hectic, I was having a hard time keeping up, but I’m ok now.” I apologies.

“Well, that’s great, listen if you want out of this job let me know, because I need someone who can do their job and not just Bum it out on tour.”

“No, no, I want the job and I’ll do better, again I’m sorry!” I answer.

“Ok good, have that done before your concert.”

“Ok.” I replied.

Billie who had been walking in front of me, turns around and walks back to me.

“What was that about?”

“Oh nothing, Dan just wants me to do some work, I think he’s upset I’ve been slacking off.” I sigh.

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it.”

“No, it’s ok, he’s right I haven’t been keeping up with my work.” I said.

“No, he needs to calm down, you were just in jail and have had a rough week....I’ll take care of it, there’s no need to act like that!”

We get to our hotel room, and Billie instantly throws her bags, plops down on the bed, letting out a sigh of relief. I laugh as I open my suitcase looking for my laptop charger.

“Come to bed, please!”

“I would, but I have somethings I need to handle first, then I will.” I smile.

24 / 32

“What things?”

“Work, family, life, you know things.” I answer.

“I told you I would handle your work.”

“Well, it still needs done so I’ll just do it, after all it is my job.” I reply.

“Fine......but you're coming to bed later, it’s settled!”

“Ok, it’s settled.” I mock.

I walk down to the lobby to work, just to make sure I wouldn’t disturb Billie. I make a few phone calls and check some emails, when I see the table chair pull out beside me. I watch as Fineas takes a seat, coffee in hand, and still rocking his bedhead.

“Hey, whatcha working on?”

“Oh, I’m double checking everything for tomorrow, why are you still awake?” I respond.

“I mean it’s 11:30, plus I had somethings I needed to take care of.”

“What things?” I ask.

“Things, secret things!”

“I see we’re still hiding things from each other.” I say rolling my eyes.

“Hey, don’t hate the player hate the game, plus I’m not even sure what the secret thing is this time, I just had to pick it up, no idea what it is though.”

“Mmhm, yeah ok!” I sass.

“Whatever, you’re crazy man........that’s why you and Billie work together.”

“Yeah.” I whisper.

“Yeah, she really loves you, I’ve never seen here open up and bond with someone so quickly.”

“To be honest I’ve never felt this way for anyone before too!” I replied.

“I think you guys are meant for each other; I can feel it....I have this brotherly intuition, you know!”

“I’m sure you do and I think so too, I know it’s crazy, but I want to spend the rest of my life with her!” I confided.

“I know you do; I can tell.....well have fun Y/N, I’m going to go finish my mission.”

“Ok.” I laugh.

Fineas leaves and I quickly finish my work, thinking about Fineas’s words and how right he is, how I do madly love Billie. After my work, I put away my laptop and call my mom. I tell her all about the concert and my song, and most importantly how I get to meet Taylor later. She was happy for my and that made me feel good, I say my goodbyes, and start back up to my room. I thought about grabbing some food but I decided to nap first eat later, that way I was full when I met Taylor. I get up to the room and climb in

25 / 32

bed with Billie, she wraps her arms around me once I lay down, and I fall asleep instantly. We wake up around three, Billie looked like an angel with her hair all over her flushed face.

“Good evening baby, did your work go ok?”

“Yes, was your sleep good?” I ask.

“Yes, I’m starving let’s get some food!”

“Ok, let’s just get room service so I can take a shower.” I reply.

“That’s fine what do you want to eat?”

“Um.....get me a cheeseburger please, and a milkshake.” I answer.

I get up and grab some fresh underclothes, before heading into the bathroom. I take my time in the shower rocking out to some T-swizzle to continue my preparation for her concert. I hear Billie knock on the door, “the foods here.”

“Ok, I’ll be out in a minute.” I respond.

I finish up and dry myself off, putting on one of the hotel bathrobes after. I sit down with Billie and we dive in digging away at our food like we were starving, which I was.

“So, what time should we leave for the concert?” I ask.

“Probably 5, the concert is at 6:30, so it would give us plenty of time to get ready, get down there, and find our seats.”

“When do I get to meet Taylor?” I question.

“She does her meet and greets before, so you’ll have to wait till after the show, sorry baby.”

“That’s ok I’ve waited 21 years for this moment what's a couple of hours.” I laugh.

“I’ve been waiting 18 years for this moment too.”

“What moment, haven’t you met Taylor before?” I ask.

“Yes, but that’s not the moment I’m talking about.”

“Then what are you talking about.” I said.

“Don’t worry about it right now, I’ll tell you later when I’m ready.”

I let it go as we finish our food; I get up and get back to getting ready. I dry and straighten my hair to make it less frizzy, and attempt to put on makeup, I need to look my best to meet my second mother. I look out the bathroom and see Billie laying on the bed scrolling threw her phone.

“Play some music.” I yell.

“Ok, I gotchu baby.”

Billie starts playing some Girl in Red, and we both burst out laughing, but we jam out. After, I finish my makeup, I walk out and dig through my bag looking for my perfect drip.

26 / 32

“What are you going to wear?” I ask.

“Ummmm...probably my Gucci track suit, the orange one, with some black Balenciaga's.”

“Ok.” I note.

I finally decide on a white sweater tank top, with gray plaid pants, and little black boots. I also decide to throw on a baby pink cardigan too, to match Taylor’s song. I walk into the bathroom and change and make my final adjustments to my fit and walk out.

“Goddamn, you are fine, like wow!!!!!”

“Stop.” I blush.

“No, seriously wow, we need to show Fineas and Zoe your fit, they need you see your fine ass.”

“Ok, but get ready first then we can go.” I giggle.

Billie rushes and gets ready, not that she needed to put in any effort, she was already perfect. I grab my wallet and phone, then we make our way out the door and down the hall to Zoe’s room. Billie bangs on the door and Zoe opens the door.

“What the fuc....holy shit you look good Y/N!”

“Aw, thank you.” I grin.

“Where’s Fineas?” Billie asked.

“Down in the lobby.”

“Ok.” Billie replies.

All three of us walk down to the lobby, Fineas was sitting at a coffee table facetiming his mom. He looks up and his mouth drops at the sight of us.

“Oh my god, you guys look stunning, not you Zoe, but damn!” he whooped.

“Is that mom?” Billie asks.

“Yes.”

“Let her see Y/N, she needs to see how beautiful she looks.” Billie said.

Fineas turns the camera around, and I can hear Maggie gasp.

“You look gorgeous sweetheart.” She cues.

“Aw, thank you that means a lot.” I respond.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, I’m Maggie.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, I’m Y/N, you’ve created wonderful children.” I laugh.

“I know, Billie and Fineas have told me a lot about you.”

27 / 32

I blush hard.

“Ok, well mom we have to leave I’ll call you later, love you!” Billie tells her.

“Ok, let me know how it goes.”

“I will.” Billie says.

“I love your mom!” I smirk.

“And see loves you!” Billie Laughs.

“Stop......are we ready to leave I’m excited?” I say changing the subject.

“Yeah, in a second, I just wanted to get her off the phone before she starts harassing you. "Billie says.

“What’s the first thing you’re going to say to Taylor?” Fineas ask.

“Oh my god, I don’t know.........what should I say?” I gasp.

“I don’t know what about hi I’m Y/n, dumb bitch.” Zoe mocks.

“Imma fuck your shit up Zoe, I swear to God! "I grunt.

“Bet!” Zoe replied.

“When you’re ready come and get it nanana, whore.” I sing.

“Ok, I think it’s time we leave, before some ass gets kicked.” Billie giggles.

Billie takes my hand, and we start walking to the entrance. I can see the limbo waiting outside for us.

“Fancy.” I marveled.

“I thought you would like it; you deserve it too!” Billie responds.

“Have a good time, be safe!!!” Fineas yells.

We wave to him before getting in the car, after I get settled Billie sits down next to me and hands me some sparkling cider. We make small talk and laugh all the way to the arena, I could tell Billie was nervous, but I didn’t know what about.

“Are you ok, you seen anxious?” I question.

“Oh no, I’m just excited for you baby!”

“Aw, I love you!!!” I blush.

When we get to the arena, Billie calls some people so that we could go in the back way. Once, we get to the back entrance, we step out of the car and into the arena hand in hand. A stage crew member hands us our VIP passes and hang them around our necks, they then proceed to lead us to our seats. We were seated in the second middle row, with a perfect view of the stage.

“WOW, I can’t believe I’m sitting in the front of a Taylor Swift concert, I’ve always dreamed of this.” I shrilled.

28 / 32

“You've never seen her live before?”

“Know I grew up kind of poor and we never had the money to spend on things like this.” I reply.

“Well, I’m honored to be the first to take you, and I’m honored to get to experience this with you.....I love you!”

“Love you too....OH MY GOD it’s starting” I yell.

The stage went completely dark as a single stage light shined in the middle of the stage, and there Taylor appeared wearing her cardigan sitting on a bar stool. Everyone started screaming as Taylor began playing Coney Island. Billie and I sat in silence just listening and appreciating Taylor’s talent, this was a laid-back form of performance compared to what I’ve seen from Billie. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, all throughput her performance, with Billie of course holding me while I cried. When it came time for the concert to end and for Taylor to sing her final song, I started sobbing, Billie looked scared as she consoled me. After, Taylor finished singing her last song, Cardigan, she gave her final goodbye speech and the lights went out.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I just witnessed an angel preform.....did we die, because I’m pretty sure we’re in heaven!” I sobbed.

“No Y/N, we’re still alive, and I’m glad you enjoyed the performance.”

“Enjoyed, I would sell my soul to experience this again!!!” I scream.

Billie laughed, “Well, I’m happy that you would sell your soul for this experience this again, I’d sell my soul just to take you to this performance again.”

“Can we please go backstage now, I need to meet her, I need to fulfill my dream of this moment!” I begged.

“Yes baby, let’s go.”

Billie takes stands and takes my hand; she waves over a security guard who leads us backstage. By the time we got back there a group of people had already formed, and I didn’t see Taylor anywhere.

“Do you see Taylor?” I asked.

“No, she probably went to change, I bet she’s sweating I know I am after singing.”

“Taylor doesn’t sweat, saints don’t sweat!” I said.

Just then I watched Taylor walk up to a group of people who I recognize to be her boyfriend and mother. She looked stunning, she did change into just a plain t-shirt, with balck jeans, but even with a plain outfit on she stood out.

“Well, let’s go over and say hi.”

“I’m not ready.” I stutter.

“What do you mean not ready, you just asked me if we could meet her?”

“I mean, it’s not my time I can feel it.” I answer.

29 / 32

“That’s bullshit let’s go!”

Billie drags me over to Taylor and her family, I drag my feet the whole time, my hands started to supper sweat as we got closer.

“Billie please, I can’t do this right now!” I whisper.

“Yes, you can, you just have to face your fear.”

When approach the group of people and Taylor turns to face us, and I almost audio ably gasp.

“Billie it’s so nice to see you again, how you have been?” Taylor asks in the sweetest tone.

“I’ve been great, just living life on the road touring.” Billie smiles.

“Who’s your friend?” Taylor says.

“This is my girlfriend actually and her name is Y/N.”

I couldn’t look at her, I was to scare, so I just looked like a moron and stared at my feet with this weird look on my face.

“Y/N that’s such a beautiful name, it’s so nice you meet you!” Taylor bubbles.

“Thank you!” I mumble.

“She’s just supper nervous, she’s loved you and your music forever!” Billie cuts in and saves me.

“That’s ok, and I’m supper happy you’ve supported me for that long!” Taylor notes.

I stood still and listened to Billie’s and Taylor’s conversation as my mind went totally blank, I was standing in front of my second mother. I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long, and it finally was here. After, about thirty minutes of conversing with Taylor, Billie turns towards me, “Hey, baby, do you think you’d be ok to stay here while I pee?”

“Umm.....I guess maybe.” I whisper.

“Ok, I won’t take long, I promise.” Billie says.

Billie excuses herself as she makes her way to the bathroom leaving me all by myself. I felt so weird standing in the back of the group by myself, I contemplated going to the bathroom too, then I thought that Billie would get mad that I begged her to meet Taylor and now I was wasting it. I was deep into my thoughts when Taylor walked over to me.

“Did you enjoy the show?”

“Umm.....Yes.... it was super good...I’m sorry I’m awkward!” I stutter.

“You’re fine, it’s all okay, your outfit is super cute!”

“Thank you, yours's is too!” I said.

“Thanks, is there anything you want to ask me, since you’ve been waiting for this moment?”

30 / 32

I don’t know why but Violet’s question was the only one in my head and I blurted it out, “Did you and Harry commit vehicular man slaughter?”

#corpse husband imagine

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assassins-and-hidden-blades · 4 years

Text

The Predator and the Prey -- Part 2

A/N: (Early) Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays, everyone! Got a bit sucked into this to get back into the mood to write requests, and after this I feel a lot more inspired and out of the writing slump I’ve been suffering from for the past who-knows-how-many months. Hope you guys enjoy this as an early Christmas present, haha.

Feedback is always greatly appreciated; I’d love to know what you think!

Taglist: @marshmallow--3 (shoot an ask if you wanna be tagged!)

Part 1 HERE (With general synopsis)

Previously:

“There’s been another robbery.” You flashed the envelope his way. “You might have one too.”

“Let’s go and get it.”

-----------------------------------

You arrived with Jacob back at his rented flat, and he parked next to Evie’s dark blue beetle. Jacob scrunched his nose up in disgust. “Ugh, Evie’s taste in cars is something ’ll never understand.”

“At least it’s not pink, and it hasn’t got eyelashes on it.”

“Don’t even joke about that.”

Jacob was the first one through the door. “Evie! We’re here!” he called up the stairs. He dropped his keys in the dish on the side and made his way to his bedroom. It was simple, but was still cosy and had more than enough room. He had a double bed -- not made-- and one of his walls was a soft shade of tangerine patterned with white birds in flight; they had a major resemblance to the one tattooed on his chest. He went to open his drawer, shielding its contents from you.

“Don’t worry; I won’t ask about what you’re hiding from me.”

All you got in response was an amused scoff.

As Jacob found the document, Evie came up behind you, drying her hair with a towel. “You both going into work, then?” she asked.

“I think we’re going to have to; we didn’t last night when the first one was reported. They’ll need more people to do the legwork.”

“Even though you were both stuck to your laptop screens filing reports the night before?”

“Especially because we were both stuck to our laptop screens the night before.”

“If you need anything, either of you, just give me a call.” She moved out of the room.

“Thanks, Evie.”

The door closed softly a few moments after.

You sat down on the bed that was littered with one or two shirts, sliding your finger under the lip of the envelope in your hands. Inside was a typewritten letter that was signed by Henry Green -- your Detective Chief Inspector and Evie’s partner. You opened it and began to read:

Inspector Y/N Y/L/N,

At 0234 hours on Sunday morning, we received reports of theft that had taken place. At first, it was written off as an unrelated event, but is now being filed as yet another heist linked with previous frauds that had stolen similar artefacts.

This is an urgent message. You and Inspector Jacob Frye are required to come to Scotland Yard ASAP, in order to converse our course of action.

As you know, there have already been seven artefacts that have already been looted from various locations; this makes it the eighth. We are only aware of these international crimes because of one reason.

When you arrive, ask for an urgent meeting with me. We’ll discuss it then.

Signed,

HenryGreen

Detective Chief Inspector (DIC), Henry Green

P.S -- You both are the best I have. I need you to head this operation with me. I don’t trust anyone else.

You checked the entirety of the letter to double check that you had read it thoroughly. Looking back at Jacob, you saw him writing notes in a notepad. “Do we need to change?”

He clicked his pen and stood up. “I wouldn’t bother. It’s a Sunday, after all.”

You smirked, agreeing with him. “We should probably go.” Picking up your essentials, you followed him down the stairs.

“Don’t wait up for us, Evie. We’ll probably be a while!”

“Noted!”

You both went back to Jacob’s car and set a new course for New Scotland Yard.

------

You entered your workplace with your rucksack over your shoulder, while Jacob parked his car outside. The receptionist looked up at the sound of the doors opening and greeted you with a plastered smile.

“Hi, Caroline. Inspector Frye and I have an urgent meeting with--”

“Chief Inspector Green? Of course, I’ll let him know. Take a seat over there for a minute, will you?”

You nodded with a smile, and somewhat reluctantly sat on the chairs beside the desk. Jacob came in moments after, pocketing his keys in his back pocket. He seemed somewhat surprised to see you waiting.

“You waiting for me?” He winked coyly, a corner of his lips upturning.

“Caroline’s on the phone to let Henry--”

“You two need to go to the meeting room on the third floor urgently.” Caroline had put the phone down without a care in the world, ready for her weekend shift to be over.

“Thanks, Caroline. Hope you can get home soon.” You and Jacob headed to the elevator.

“Didn’t mention that we’re not here for fun?” He decided to ask as the doors shut and elevator music began to hum in the background.

“I said it was urgent! She just seemed to want to be in charge.” You shrugged.

Jacob scoffed in amusement. “Uh-huh.”

The elevator came to a stop on the floor you needed quickly enough. The meeting room was at the end of the open plan floor full of scattered wooden desks, of which about a third were littered with papers and files of all kinds. Walking through the paperwork minefield, almost everyone greeted you both, ranging from surprised waves to casual nods; all of which you responded to identically.

Jacob reached the meeting room first, knocking twice and waiting for an affirmation before opening the door, which was labelled ‘Do Not Disturb’. Henry was sat there in a semi-casual outfit consisting of smart jeans and a white shirt, no doubt displeased at having to be brought in on a Sunday. He sat at the end of a long glass table, surrounded by loose paperwork and random documents that stretched almost out of his reach. A laptop was open and charging beside him. He looked up when the door closed and put his pen down. “Glad you could make it,” he began, reclining into the leather behind him.

“We wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Jacob remarked sarcastically, slumping casually into the nearest chair.

“Shut the blinds.”

You looked out onto the rest of the floor and quickly shielded the room from view, much to the curiosity of people loitering around. After, you followed Jacob’s actions, with an extra kilogram of dignity. “What’s up, Henry?” You pulled out an average-sized notepad and a small pencil case, whereas Jacob pulled out a pocket notebook and a clicking pen from his pockets, resting his forearms on the table.

“This morning, at about half past two, something was stolen from the British Museum.” Henry took the charger out of his laptop and turned it around, showing the artefact. He stood up briefly to turn the light down. It was a folded gold fabric that had white patterns inscribed upon it. “This was labelled in the exhibit as the ‘Shroud of Eden’. That obviously has many connotations that make it quite precious, especially to the public. This piece is not at all common-- in fact, it’s the only one of its kind-- so it can have an extremely high street value.”

Your eyes drifted to movement in front of you. Jacob had lifted his legs up to rest his feet on the desk. His notebook was practically empty compared to yours, bar a few scribbled words. “How much is it worth?”

“Too much; possibly up to seventeen million-- most likely more.” Jacob wrote the figure down. “Continue.”

“The bottom line is that we need to retrieve this artefact. This was scheduled to be properly studied by the end of the week. Now that can’t happen and we have no idea what this thing does.”

“Who found it?” Jacob piped up again.

“A Lucy Thorne-- British curator, quite young, though.” Henry held up a picture of her. “It raised a few initial suspicions, but the head curator let it pass. Might be a good time to follow it up.”

Jacob wrote down another few words.

“How does any of this link internationally?” You asked your first question of the meeting, already two thirds of the way down the page.

“This is why.” Henry pressed on with the slideshow, showing images of the other artefacts that were stolen across the world. They all held a similar resemblance of colour and patterns. “These all originate from the same place. Whoever stole these items know something we don’t. This is why it’s urgent. We have no idea what these things are capable of, what they do, and what that means for everyone else on this godforsaken Earth.

“This isn’t just a matter of national security; it’s a matter of international safety.” Henry finished with a deep exhale through his nostrils, slowly moving to turn the lights on again.

“Our primary objective is to retrieve all eight artefacts. Our secondary objective is to put the people found guilty behind bars. If that’s too dangerous for you both, abort. Get the artefacts back to MI5 first, but if not, bring them back here. That is of paramount importance.”

“I have a plan.” Jacob put his feet down and leaned forward, arms back on the table. “We find this Lucy Thorne, and we interview her; take a statement, ask her a few questions-- find out what this thing does. We ask if she’s headed any investigations prior to working at the British Museum. We ask for the names of her superiors in her previous places of employment, maybe even search the place to find what else she might be hiding.” He gestured his point discreetly.

“We can’t do that without a warrant,” you remarked.

“But we know someone who can give us one…” Jacob looked to Henry.

“I trust you both; I’ll give you whatever you need, but there’s no time to waste. We have to do something now.”

You nodded. “I agree with Jacob.”

The corner of Jacob’s lips upturned. “Great. Let’s do--”

Before you both could stand up, there was a knock at the door. It opened almost immediately to unveil a very old rivalry. He stood tall, with his hair tied back with a red ribbon, dressed as if it was a weekday at the office.

“Good to see people working, even on a Sunday.” He adjusted his cuffs. “Mr Frye, Y/N.”

“Shay.”

#TPATP #the predator and the prey #Assassin's Creed #Modern!AU #detective!au #assassin's creed x reader #x reader #Jacob Frye #assassin's creed imagine #assassin's creed oneshot #jacob frye x reader #jacob frye imagine

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bnhainsert · 4 years

Text

Sound Out

Chapter 6: Aria Di Baule

__________________________________________________________

“Are you sure about this? You think we can trust her?” Bakugo cautiously asked Midoriya. “I’ve seen her in action. I’ve gotten to know her a little bit. She honestly kind of reminds me of myself when I was younger, even though she’s older than us” Midoriya reassured Bakugo. “Gross” Bakugo grunted. Midoriya rolled his eyes at his friend’s jest. “I know she said she wanted to be back home after 3 days but with what you two discovered today, I think we’re going to need her help for a little longer” Midoriya continued. He asked Bakugo to call the pro hero and let her know about the change in plans.

“Goddamnit it’s Ground Zero you dumbass. I’ve made arrangements for you to stay in town a few more days. You’ll be picked up tomorrow morning and brought to my agency”.

Midoriya watched Bakugo immediately hang up with a scowl on his face. He would have laughed if his friend didn’t look so angry. “Don’t you think that was a little harsh or abrupt?” Midoriya asked. “She understood. And even if she didn’t, she’s going to be picked up and taken here anyway” Bakugo replied. Midoriya shrugged.

The two discussed how to go about their meeting and the living arrangements for Hado. Everything was all planned out. Now all they needed was Hado to arrive tomorrow morning.

Bakugo watched as the pro hero walked in looking like a bit of an airhead. She was staring at the articles on the walls. She looked surprised like she had no idea who the article was about. It pissed him off a small bit. He bit his tongue to keep him from saying something too harsh. “Hey dumbass. Let’s go” he barked out.

He looked over his shoulder as he walked up the stairs of his agency. She sort of stumbled up the steps looking confused, concerned, and…was that a hint of annoyance? What did she have to be annoyed about?

They got up to Bakugo’s office. He went to have a seat at his desk. Everything had been organized for the day thanks to one of his 2 sidekicks. His sidekick would have had to do a damn good job because Bakugo wouldn’t have any less than that.

“So what is my town supposed to do without me for the next...however long you decided to keep me in town?” He heard Vocaller speak up. “Oh right. She wants to go back to her shitty town to make sure it’s protected…” Bakugo remembered Midoriya mentioning the terms of the deal they made.

“Quit your whining. Tsukuyami and Ingenium are out there in your shitty city keeping it safe” Bakugo spit out. He meant it to reassure her, but he was also just really annoyed by her blame. Midoriya walked out and jumped into the conversation. He mentioned that keeping her here was his own idea. Midoriya was always better at communicating with others than Bakugo which was just fine with him considering they worked together so often.

They walked into the conference room across the hall from Bakugo’s office to talk about all of the new information that was gathered. “Before we get started, I don’t think I’ve ever asked you your name…” Midoriya admitted clearly embarrassed. “Hado right?” Bakugo spoke. She looked over at him with more surprise. He wished he could smack the look off of her face. He closed his eyes instead waiting for an answer.

“Oh yeah….um yeah My name is Hado Hibiki…. I guess you heard Jiro say it yesterday? That’s a pretty impressive catch” Hado praised. Bakugo’s eyebrows twitched. He didn’t need her praise. He crossed his arms to keep from damaging anything in the conference room.

“Ah and you probably don’t know our names either. I’m Midoriya Izuku and this is-" He was cut off mid-sentence by Hado. “Bakugo right?”. His eyes flashed open to glare at her. That damn mobile phone charger had said his name out loud yesterday didn’t he. “Yeah. Heard it yesterday from Sparky right?” Bakugo replied. Hado nodded. A small smirked appeared on her face and Bakugo’s blood started to boil.

“Okay…now that we’re all familiar with each other, let’s talk about that discovery you two made yesterday” Midoriya moved the conversation forward. They began to talk about the hidden door connected to a bakery. Bakugo and Midoriya had spoken to the owner that morning and it seemed like they didn’t know anything about a hidden room. There also wasn’t a false room in the store’s blueprints. Upon further research, they dug up the map of the city’s underground sewer system, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. This map however was about 20 years old so there is a chance that the underground passageways could have been altered in the past 10 years or so.

They asked about the panels Hado found and how she managed to get them to unlock. “So, there’s a mechanism inside the panels that activate when pressed and are connected to each other. I’m guessing they won’t unlock unless pressed in a certain order because of how the mechanism tries to unlock each one. Instead of trying combinations I just amplified the soundwaves in each panel to activate the mechanisms all at once, causing them all to unlock and open the door” Hado explained. “That’s pretty resourceful” Midoriya commented.

“It would’ve been more resourceful if she had backup with her. Instead she called my agency panicked because she hadn’t planned that far ahead” Bakugo sneered. Hado laughed nervously and rubbed the back of my head. “Yeah sorry about that…” She apologized. She looked like she was just playing it off. She honestly looked like something was bothering her, but she wouldn’t say anything about it.

“Whatever” Bakugo replied, looking away from her.

The three of them went through some strategies, preparing for either the villains to come back out again, or to infiltrate their hideout. They were hoping they could implement the infiltration mission first, but they wouldn’t be able to have their team for that together for another 2 weeks. They would just have to wait and hope for the best.

“So where am I going to be staying for the next 2 and a half weeks?” Hado asked. Bakugo stood up quickly and turned toward the doorway. Hado looked after him confused. “Are you coming or what dumbass?” Bakugo called back to her. Hado realized what was happening and rushed to follow him. She thanked Midoriya on her way out as he waved to her.

She followed Bakugo a little way down the hallway from the conference room. He opened up a door on the left side and kept it open for Hado to go through. This was his very own bedroom away from home. There were plenty of nights where he would stay late at the agency and going home would just take too much time. To be more efficient, he had a room built specifically for him to sleep in when he works those late nights. It was painted all black but only had the bare minimum of a bedroom. There was a cot against the corner of the room and a small table with a chair near the door. There was also a counter with a coffee maker. There was a door on the right side of the room that lead to a shower for cleaning up. Bakugo didn’t need a whole lot to get going for the next day.

Hado walked in and inspected the room. Was she looking for reasons to insult the room? “This room kind of reminds me of my room back home” Hado said with a warm smile. “What do you mean?” Bakugo growled. “Oh well….I mean…I’m a pro hero but I don’t make a whole lot of money so I just have the essentials in my small apartment” She explained with a little bit of nervousness in her voice.

Bakugo realized that not every hero would be able to afford a nice agency building but having a home the size of this room wasn’t even an option in his mind for a hero. He felt a small pang of guilt in his chest.

“Well…..I guess make yourself at home” Bakugo managed to get out in a less aggressive tone. He shut the door and let her have some privacy and walked back to his office. He sat down in his chair trying to go through how things would be run now that she was around the agency. He opened up one of his drawers and took out a few files from previous days. There was a case about a robbery that was stopped in town. He just needed to sign off on the actual capture of the perpetrator. There was an open case of some small time breaking and entering houses in the suburban part of the city. They might be able to get some work done on that case.

There was a gentle knock at his office door. “Come in” Bakugo said loudly enough for the person on the other side to hear. A well-kept man in glasses, a neat button down shirt, and khakis entered the office. It was Ground Zero’s sidekick, Catalog. His quirk: Organize. He could organize anything or anyone by any merit in his mind and they would instantaneously be put in that order. He must have 4 or more people/objects for it to work. It is incredibly useful for apprehending villains as well as organizing offices.

“Good morning Ground Zero” Catalog greeted quietly. He walked in with a black cup of coffee and set it on Bakugo’s desk. “Any new cases today?” Bakugo asked. “Ah yes there seems to have been a hit and run not too far from here. Renova is already out there trying to resolve it” Catalog answered. Bakugo took a quick sip of his coffee looking over other cases. “We have another pro hero joining our agency for the time being” Bakugo mentioned. “Oh? I didn’t think you’d hire more people sir” Catalog said surprised. “I haven’t hired her dumbass. She’s staying here for now while she helps us work on the big case” Bakugo explained. “Oh okay. Um…. would you like me to check on her?” Catalog asked a bit nervous and confused. “No, I’ll take care of her. You take care of any incoming cases and send the big ones my way” Bakugo ordered. Catalog nodded and left the room.

Bakugo spent a little more time looking over the files before deciding to check on Hado. He got up from his desk and stretched, preparing himself to go out on a few jobs after he checked up on his guest. He knocked on the door of the makeshift bedroom “Hey! I’m about to go out on a job. Are you good?” He yelled through the door. He heard a loud crash come from the other side of the door. He busted his way into the room and looked around. The room was still incredibly neat and Hado’s bag was set down next to the cot. “What the fuck?” Bakugo thought.

A loud laugh erupted from the doorway leading to the shower. Hado was poking her head out laughing at Bakugo’s expression of confusion. His anger started to rise. “What the fuck was that?!” Bakugo yelled. “I’m sorry…I just-“ Hado wheezed. “I just thought it would be funny and boy was I right” She fully explained gasping for air. “Oh you think you’re funny?” Bakugo snarled. He started to march his way over to Hado, but she quickly shut the door and locked it. “Come out of there you coward!” Bakugo shouted pulling at the doorknob. He could hear Hado laughing through the door.

The door flung open after about 20 seconds of pulling on it. If Bakugo’s reflexes were any slower, he would’ve thrown himself across the room from how fast he threw the door open. “I’m sorry” Hado apologized smiling. “You just seemed so upset earlier and so I thought you needed a laugh” She admitted shyly.

He was starting to understand that she could tell what other people were feeling and thinking. In her own way she was trying to help. “Only a dumbass would laugh at a joke like that. I’ll show you what makes me laugh” Bakugo said almost threateningly.

The two ended up on patrol, making sure the streets were under control. “So do your sidekicks take care of most of the work you guys get?” Hado asked genuinely curious. Bakugo thought the question she asked was a bit rude, but the tone of her voice seemed curious. He remembered that she doesn’t really have an agency of her own in her city. “They end up taking the smaller jobs that I refuse to waste my energy on. In a big city, many of the jobs that come through are smaller ones, but on the other side of that, you also tend to get real big cases as well” Bakugo explained. The curiosity on her face made him think of a freckled face green haired nerd that he knew of. “Is this what he meant by he sees bits of himself in her?” He thought to himself.

“Okay well what does a big case constitute” Hado asked. “Think city-wide destruction, hostage situations…you know…big stuff” Bakugo responded. Hado nodded in understanding. “I don’t see too many ‘Big’ cases back home” She admitted.

“Oh look it’s Ground Zero! Did he get a new sidekick?!” a person on the street yelled. A large group of people started to gather and chatter about the two. “No way. Ground Zero doesn’t just hire sidekicks randomly. Maybe it’s his girlfriend” one person threw out. He looked over and saw Hado’s face get red. Now this was funny. Seeing someone humiliated in public was comedy gold for him. “Maybe she’s his mom?” Someone else threw out. Hado’s face went from red with embarrassment to red with anger. “Nah she looks too young to be his mom” another person responded.

He thought the response would calm her down but when he looked over at her she still looked pretty pissed off. Then suddenly he couldn’t hear the crowd at all anymore. “Motherfuckers. Thinking it’s okay to just say whatever the fuck they want about whatever hero walks the street”. The voice surprised him. Hado was…complaining?

“What’d you do? Why can’t I hear them, but I can hear you? I mean it’s nice to not have those extras constantly in my ear but…how?” Bakugo asked with a smirk on his face. He enjoyed seeing her angry. It was entertaining to say the least. “I just fucking stopped their soundwaves from reaching our ears. I thought all this idiotic rambling would be annoying to you too so I made sure you wouldn’t be able to hear it either” Hado explained with a disgusted look on her face.

Bakugo let out a roaring laugh. “Now this is my kind of humor” Bakugo nearly yelled. “I can insult any of these extras without fear of my pro hero rank going down” He said with a big smirk on his face. Hado looked over with a lifted eyebrow. “I mean…I guess you can. It’s a nice way to get out some frustrations safely” She said smirking now too.

The two of them spent the next 2 minutes yelling at the people gathering in the street. They laughed at each other’s insults for a bit before deciding to get back to patrolling. The crowd was incredibly confused as to why they couldn’t hear either of the heroes and their question of who the woman was still went unanswered.

The two continued their patrol through the city. Bakugo relaxed a little bit, feeling a bit more comfortable around Hado. Nothing too major happened that day but really anything could still happen at any time.

A few days passed and Bakugo was finally starting to get used to Hado and her little habbits. She definitely wasn’t as nice as he thought she was at the beginning. She also knew how to do her job well enough that Bakugo didn’t have to go running to save her. That was a big plus for him. He was worried he was just going to be on baby sitting duty. Having her around all the time was annoying at first, but as she opened up and started to show what she could do, it became a lot more bearable for Bakugo.

The two almost became inseparable as they continued with their hero duties. Since Bakugo never addressed who she was, rumors began circulating around the town. The most widely accepted rumor was that she was just another sidekick. Bakugo didn’t ever have a flashy introduction for his first two sidekicks, so it would make sense that they didn’t know exactly who this new hero was.

The rumors continued to spread of this new sound hero and the rumors went deeper and deeper down….

“Hey! Heads up there seems to be something popping off near the shopping district!” Renova yelled to Hado and Bakugo. “I’ve got this. You go take care of the ‘Big’ cases” Hado teased and amplified the soundwaves to push herself in the direction of the yelling.

She landed near where a building had a chunk taken out of it. She placed herself on top of a nearby building, surveying how much damage there was and by how many people it was caused by. She quickly scanned the rubble to see 4 different people emerge from the dust. There was a large buff man, a sleeker sketchier looking individual, a short woman with a cigarette in her mouth, and a muzzled man. They walked so nonchalantly out of the wreckage and began to look at the crowds of people running and screaming.

Hado amplified the soundwaves behind the crowds to project them forward just a little faster to keep the out of harm’s way of any of these villains. She silenced her steps and approached them from behind. She tried to listen intently to them as they spoke.

“Oh man I can’t wait to use this new quirk” the sleezier man spoke. “Yeah yeah just hurry up and test it already. I’m waiting to get my quirk next you know” The short lady spoke, taking a drag between sentences. Hado approached slowly, ready with a capture device that would wrap itself around the target and fully restrain them. She tried to throw her first capture item at the sleezy looking man but was grabbed by one of the others. The man with the muzzle had her arm twisted behind her back. “I GOT A HERO I GOT A HERO” the man said underneath the muzzle. She silenced his soundwaves quickly before they could reach the others. She flicked the capture item at the man and he quickly released her arm and fell hard onto the ground. His arms were fully restrained, and his legs were tied together.

The sleezy man was already in the air ready to wreak havoc, but Hado knew she couldn’t be too hasty. She had to take the others out first. “Where did Muzzle go?” The big buff man asked looking around. He turned and spotted Hado.

“Shit”

Hado pushed herself out of the way of a giant fist that swung her way. The shorter lady then spewed embers from her mouth while Hado was mid-air. Hado put as much amplitude into the waves in front of her to slow the embers down and send them flying back the direction they were thrown from. One had managed to find itself in the short woman’s hair. “AHHH! I just had my hair done!” She patted the ember out and took one last drag of her cigarette.

Hado knew she had to get to the man currently on a rampage in the middle of the city. She tried to throw a capture item at the large man first, but he caught it in his hand and crushed it into dust. “That must be his quirk. I don’t think he’s so strong he can crush matter that small…I think he can turn matter into dust without the power from his muscles” She thought still flying through the air. She couldn’t look back though. If she was fast enough, she would be able to stop the other man and then deal with the rest.

She flung herself near where the man had grown giant spider legs all protruding from his back. She was visibly disgusted, but she could handle this. He was in an area with plenty of buildings which would make it harder to take care of. Hado concentrated and created an extremely powerful soundwave that only traveled a very short distance. The end product sliced through one of the spider legs causing the man to scream out in pain. She propelled herself to the next leg and did the same thing again. More pained screams came from above.

Before she could make her way to the next leg, she felt the air begin to heat up. A lot more embers than before were flying through the air directly at her. She dodged to the left only to run into the buff man from before. He grabbed her by the arm. “I can’t let him squeeze me or else I can kiss this arm goodbye”

Hado amplified more soundwaves to push herself directly upwards. She felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and arm. The big guy was still holding on though he was confused for the moment and didn’t try to use his quirk on her. She used this moment of confusion to kick him straight in the nose. He let go and immediately put his hands on his nose.

Hado continued to fly up and was thrown straight into the man with the spider legs. Hado and the man were winded by each other and began to fall to the ground. Hado opened her eyes and tried to cushion her fall with more soundwaves. She was barely able to make them in time. She still hit the ground hard. A warmth began radiating in her side. She coughed up a bit of blood. She had enough adrenaline coursing through her that she didn’t feel the pain of her newly acquired broken rib. She stood up shakily but found herself surround by the ember woman, the large man, and the man who had grown spider legs. She was trying not to panic, trying to think of a way to take them out.

Desperate for time she concentrated and made Deku’s voice boom behind them. It was enough to make the villains shake. “Wait!” The sleezy man yelled. “This is the one that can throw her voice. That’s probably just a distraction. That hero’s no where near here right now” He pointed out. Hado cursed under her breath. Breathing was starting to get harder for her so producing anymore voices was out of the question anyway. She tried weakly to push the sleezy lanky man away only for him to be grabbed by the bigger man. “Your sound waves are getting weaker” The big man pointed out.

They started to close in on her. Walking backwards she tripped and fell. The big man stepped hard onto her right leg breaking it in an instant. She screamed out in pain. She tried again to push them away with a strong soundwave. They were barely pushed back a foot. Hado felt tears string her eyes. “Please…. not like this…..I have a town to protect” Hado almost faded out of consciousness.

Before everything got too blurry, she heard a loud yell quickly getting closer and closer. Bakugo? She tried to keep her eyes open. She thought she saw the big guy get flung incredibly far by a very specifically placed and powerful explosion. Bakugo had centered all of his energy into one spot for an extremely strong and extremely painful hit. “More heroes” the woman hissed.

Hado saw the woman try to approach her and set her on fire with an ember but she was suddenly in the air, being carried by someone. She looked up and saw Deku’s face contorted into fear and worry. Hado couldn’t hold on any longer and closed her eyes.

Midoriya held Hado close and propped up enough to where her broken leg and broken ribs wouldn’t be damaged any more. He made his way to where he had organized a rescue area. A pro hero healer was on sight ready to take Hado and treat her. Midoriya set her down gingerly and leapt his way back into the direction of the large explosions.

Midoriya felt a pit in his stomach. The fear and worry he was feeling earlier wasn’t for Bakugo, it was for the villains Bakugo was fighting.

The only other time he had seen Bakugo this furious was when Midoriya’s own life was on the line. It was terrifying back then, and it was still terrifying now. Bakugo had grown up and become incredibly good friends with Midoriya and on several occasion Midoriya owed Bakago his life. He watched as Bakugo grew not only as a hero but also as a person. He got better at controlling his anger and redirecting that energy into his fighting. If he managed to lose control of that anger, then lots of other people would be in danger.

Midoriya rushed to the scene where Bakugo was fighting the villains. The bigger man who got shot across town was out cold. The woman who was producing the embers was also out cold on top of him. The last member of their group was in the air fighting with Bakugo. Midoriya figure that his quirk was the spider legs he had grown but now the man was moving differently. He had such precision and speed that he didn’t have 10 minutes ago. Something was definitely wrong.

Bakugo was having trouble keeping up with him and the smirk on his face was only making things worse. Strings of explosions went off in the air, but the man was untouched. Bakugo did manage to grab the man by the collar, but the man did not look worried at all. Midoriya saw him mouth something to Bakagou before Bakugo pulled is other hand in front of the villain’s face. Light started to form in his palm. He was charging up a massive explosion!

Midoriya quickly shot forward and grabbed Bakugo with one and the villain with the other. He directed Bakugo’s hand upward as an incredible explosion lit up the sky. People in the next town over could probably see it. The villain laughed maniacally and suddenly was switched out for a civilian woman. Midoriya looked over in disbelief. He looked back at Bakugo who looked like he was having a complete meltdown.

Midoriya landed on the street with both of them in hand. “I apologize for that ma’am. You should be safe now” Midoriya said to the woman releasing her. He still held Bakugo by the one arm but Bakugo had stopped moving. He was clearly at odds, shaken by the fact that a pro hero was hurt on his watch along with the fact that he had almost accidentally murdered a civilian.

“Hey dumbass! You need to cut it out before I make you”

Midoriya and Bakugo both look up at lightning speed. The voice sounded like Bakugo’s voice but weaker. They both saw Hado limping her way over to them smiling like she didn’t have a care in the world. The healer hero was running right behind her yelling for her to stop. “Thank god you two are…. okay” she weakly gets out before she starts to fall. Before she can hit the ground Bakugo catches her. “What were you thinking you idiot” he whispers harshly to her. “I could ask you the same thing” She replies quietly before passing out in his arms.

The healer motions for Bakugo to place Hado on the makeshift stretcher he set up. The healer quickly gets to work trying to stop the internal bleeding. She is then taken away in an ambulance.

Midoriya puts his hand on Bakugo’s shoulder. “She’ll be okay. She’s stronger than you think” He tries to reassure him. Bakugo swats his hand away. “I know that idiot” Bakugo chokes out. “That’s why it’s so hard to see her like this” he says quietly and walks off.

Midoriya left his friend to sort out his thoughts and went to check on his sidekick, Renova. It looked like she had rebuilt most of the destroyed buildings with her quirk. “Were there any civilians hurt?” Midoriya asked. “No. Luckily the fighting ended up in an abandoned area of town” Renova replied.

Even while he was exploding with anger, Bakugo had managed to make smart decisions and keep the town safe. Midoriya was proud of his friend.

Midoriya knocked gently on the hospital door before letting himself in. Hado was still passed out and Bakugo was sat right there next to her with a pained expression on his face. He seemed to be apologizing under his breath. Bakugo turns to look at Midoriya with as much of a normal face as he can muster. “She needs to stay with you” he says suddenly. Midoriya, taken aback by the statement, looks at him incredulously. “I got careless about those stupid rumors. I never addressed them, and they spread. They spread to those goddamn villains who targeted both my agency and her” Bakugo admitted. Instead of questioning it, Midoriya nodded in agreement, letting Bakugo have his moment. He started to prepare arrangements for Hado.

Hado slowly opened her eyes to see some familiar faces. “Oh thank god you’re awake” Jiro sighed, relieved to see Hado conscious. “Woah. Hey everyone” Hado says weakly. They all look like they’re about to cry. “You shouldn’t be talking right now! You need to get as much rest as you can after all that you went through” Ashido fussed.Hado just gives her a bright smile.

“What you did out there was so manly!” Kirishima interjected. Hado managed a small laugh. “Thanks. Is it also manly to have broken bones?” She joked. Kirishima looked like his tears were going to well up any moment “Your bones may be broken but your spirit clearly isn’t” he said wiping his eyes with his arms. “You did look pretty cool, but we were all really worried about you. You tried to take on 3 villains at once?! That’s a bit too much for even some of us” Ochako pipped up. Asui nodded in agreement. “Sometimes it’s better to run and let others better suited take care of the situation, gero” Asui added putting one finger up to her chin.

“Well I’m glad you’re okay because you need to start that band with Jiro here so I can be your lead guitarist” Kaminari chimed in. Hado laughed again but felt a sharp pain in her side and grabbed at it. “Dude shut up. You’re going to make her wounds worse” Sero said as he wrapped tape around Kaminari’s mouth.

Jiro leaned against her bedside and asked “So has your family come by yet? Are we the first to get you a get-well gift basket?”. She held up a basket full of fruits and set them on the table next to the bed. Hado felt her stomach sink. It wasn’t their fault. They didn’t know. She smiled again. “It would be really weird if they did considering they’ve been dead for almost 10 years now” Hado replied trying to make a dark joke out of it.

Jiro put her hand to her mouth. “I’m so sorry…I didn’t….I didn’t know” Jiro apologized. “Don’t worry about it. It’s been 10 years since it happened. I got counseling for it in high school at UA. I’ve pretty much healed from that wound” Hado explained.

For the next few minutes, they chatted like normal and it made Hado feel the slightest bit better. She was thankful to be able to call these heroes friends.

A day later Midoriya and Bakugo both stop by to check in on her. Midoriya made the same mistake of asking about her family. When she explained, he apologized profusely. She reassured him that it was alright. She noticeed Bakugo being very quiet. She turned her head to face him. “Thank you both for saving me. Thank you Bakugo for being so quick on the draw. If you hadn’t had been there, I would’ve been in much worse condition”.

“Yeah sure whatever” Bakugo mumbled.

Midoriya then told her that she would be staying at a place near his agency. “We want to try and keep your contact with the outside to a minimum” Midoriya says. Hado’s face twists in one of displeasure. It sounded like she would be on lockdown. Almost like she was grounded. Yeah, she got hurt pretty bad this time, but she wouldn’t make the same mistakes. “So, you’re just going to lock me up and expect me to be okay with this” She fought back angrily.

“Shut up you damn idiot. They’re looking for you! If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be lucky enough to be in a hospital bed next time” Bakugo barked. Hado was taken aback by the sudden increase in volume. Through that anger she could tell he was worried about her and a small bit of guilt started to spread in her chest.

“Kaa-chan, don’t you think that was a little harsh..” Hado holds up her hand to stop Midoriya. “No no. He’s right. He usually is as I have learned this week. I’ll go along with this plan. Please just keep me updated and let me help when I can” Hado responds.

Bakugo looks up surprised by the response. Hado swears that something about his face softens but only ever so slightly. Midoriya must have seen it too because he dismisses himself from the room saying he was going to get everything ready for Hado.

Bakugo continued to sit a chair away from the bed, refusing to look at Hado.

“Hey. You can go ahead and call me a dumbass if you’d like. I was absolutely out of my element in that fight and it was stupid of me to think I could hold my own”.

“I don’t need your permission to call you a dumbass, dumbass. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. Next time you need to have a backup plan that includes dodging the enemy until help arrives. I thought you were smarter than that, damn idiot”.

“Ah you’re right. I should’ve known better. Thank you Bakugo. I know I scared you and I know you’ll never admit that. I don’t want to worry you again. You have enough on your plate as it is”.

“You’re damn right you scared me. Use that goddamn fucking brain of yours next time” Bakugo growled. Hado looked shocked. She didn’t think he would ever admit something like that to anyone. She swore she saw a tear roll down his cheek, but before she could confirm it Bakugo stood up and headed for the door. “Thanks for your work. Midoriya will take it from here”

Bakugo left the room to be met with Midoriya. “Beating yourself up isn’t going to help. She cares about you, you know?” Midoriya advises patting Bakugo on the back. Bakugo grunts as they leave the hospital.

Chapter 5 Chapter 7

#mha #bnha #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #izuku midoriya #katsuki bakugo #kyoka jiro #kirishima eijirou #kaminari denki #ochako uraraka #tsuyu asui #sero hanta #aged up #pro hero au #vocaller #sound out #character growth

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purplesurveys · 4 years

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What was the most unsettling film you’ve seen? Unsettling films are my jam, man. To name a few, there’s Eraserhead, Room, Midsommar, Eyes Wide Shut, Misery, and most recently, I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Eraserhead takes the cake though. That movie always makes me queasy...

What unethical experiment would have the biggest positive impact on society as a whole? I’m a firm believer in nothing good ever comes out of unethical practices. I’ll never forget reading about an experiment where a group of newborn babies were given basic needs like food and being bathed, but weren’t shown any affection whatsoever and it was meant to see if humans can survive with just the most basic physiological needs. By the end of the experiment period half of the babies were dead. The results were honestly a lot bleaker than how I’ve put it, but I don’t wanna be a downer lol. Suffice it to say that experiment haunted me for days after reading it.

When was the last time you were snooping, and found something you wish you hadn’t? It was around a week or so ago, I’m pretty sure.

Which celebrity or band has the worst fan base? My sister is into K-pop and I hear insights from her all the time, but her one constant is that BTS breeds the most annoying, toxic fans. I’d have to agree. Ariana Grande’s fandom was also annoying at one point, but I haven’t heard much from them making a mess these days.

What are you interested in that most people aren’t? Autobiographies.

If you were given a PhD degree, but had no more knowledge of the subject of the degree besides what you have now, what degree would you want to be given to you? Why would I deserve a PhD on something I’m clearly not qualified for...I’m not sure I’m following this question right, but I don’t feel like thinking too hard about it.

What smartphone feature would you actually be excited for a company to implement? I’m happy with the features that are widespread now, but I wish companies adhere more to countries other than the common ones like US, UK, Australia, etc. I always see ads about phones being able to tell you how much movie tickets cost or track boarding passes, but those are all irrelevant here. It makes a lot of Apple’s basic apps useless on this side of the world haha.

What’s something people don’t worry about but really should? Long-term effects of poor habits like not getting enough sleep or drinking too many cups of coffee. I know because I’m guilty of this.

What movie quotes do you use on a regular basis? “I won’t think about that now, I’ll think about it tomorrow,” but I usually say it to myself, especially when I feel stressed.

Do you think that children born today will have better or worse lives than their parents? Better, but idk if that’s just me being biased because my generation will be the next parents lol. I just think that a lot of Gen X parents still have a lot of dated prejudices and mindsets that my generation was able to learn better from. For example my mom doesn’t like using people’s preferred names, especially if they’ve transitioned -_____- and I know I’d never want to set such an example for my kids.

What’s the funniest joke you know by heart? I know I’ve come across hilarious ones but I always fail to come up with one when asked on the spot.

When was the last time you felt you had a new lease on life? LOL RIGHT NOW

What’s the funniest actual name you’ve heard of someone having? It’s more stupid than funny and I know I’ve already mentioned this before, but Covid Bryant as a first and second name still takes the cake for me. My sister went to school with a girl whose name is just her surname backwards, and for a time I was really weirded out by it. But in the times I’ve seen her she really owns her name and never looks bothered by it, so I quickly stopped caring.

Which charity or charitable cause is most deserving of money? For me it would have to be organizations for animal welfare.

What TV show character would it be the most fun to change places with for a week? Post-El Camino Jesse Pinkman. I wouldn’t want to live through his chaotic shit from Breaking Bad, but his fate after El Camino is something I’m super envious of.

What was cool when you were young but isn’t cool now? Flip phones, Blackberry phones, Roshes, Frappuccinos.

If you were moving to another country, but could only pack one carry-on sized bag, what would you pack? Phone, laptop, their chargers, important IDs, some of my favorite tops and jeans, underwear, essential toiletries, wallet, a family photo, a journal and pen, earphones, certain knickknacks to remember Gab and my dogs by. Minus the clothes, all of these are pretty tiny so I think these would all fit in the bag just fine.

What’s the most ironic thing you’ve seen happen? I don’t know. I’m not really a fan of rating the most/worst this and that stuff in my life, either. I feel like I unnecessarily rack my brain too hard for them when I take surveys to have a chill time.

If magic was real, what spell would you try to learn first? Probably something that’d keep my dogs from dying.

If you were a ghost and could possess people, what would you make them do? No thanks. I’d be the chillest ghost tbh, I’d like to just sneak up on people’s business and hang out but never interfere in them.

What goal do you think humanity is not focused enough on achieving? Climate change, global warming, alleviation of poverty. Corporations and the few people who actually have the power and money to change things only ever come up with short-term shit like donations and never look at the big picture. What problem are you currently grappling with? So many personal ones. But just like the recurring theme of my surveys so far, “I don’t want to get into it.”

What character in a movie could have been great, but the actor they cast didn’t fit the role? As much as I love Kristen Stewart, I heard she was cast as Princess Diana for an upcoming film and I’m not really feeling that decision. They could’ve gone with a British actress for starters?????? The movie is still in production but it is pretty annoying to think about lmao.

What game have you spent the most hours playing? Probably GTA: San Andreas as a kid.

What’s the most comfortable bed or chair you’ve ever been in? Luxury hotel beds are always so fluffy and comfortable.

What’s the craziest conversation you’ve overheard? Omg one time at a coffee shop Gabie and I sat beside this older couple that obviously was going through some heavy SHIT. There was a lot of animosity and tension between them and I caught the lady silently break into tears a few times. I never overheard anything but then again they sat in silence for hours until the lady finally walked out on him. Never knew what it was about but I’ve always guessed that the man did something crappy, like cheat, and was discovered. It was a really sad sight and a crazy situation to witness and I think I felt even more sorry because they were obviously in their 50s or 60s. I hope the woman is in a better place now as she looked rough as fuck that evening.

What’s the hardest you’ve ever worked? I wore a lot of hats when I was in my college org, and that was on top of balancing my acads as well.

What movie, picture, or video always makes you laugh no matter how often you watch it? That scene from Friends where Ross plays the keyboard for Chandler, Phoebe, Monica, and Rachel.

What artist or band do you always recommend when someone asks for a music recommendation? It depends on what music they’re into and if I have actually have a recommendation in mind for them. I obviously can’t suggest Paramore to someone who mainly listens to metal.

If you could have an all-expenses paid trip to see any famous world monument, which monument would you choose? I’m down for any monuments that are super ancient like Stonehenge or the Pyramids of Giza.

If animals could talk, which animal would be the most annoying? I’d go with frogs, but only because they get annoyingly loud in the evening.

What’s the most addicted to a game you’ve ever been? Playing The Sims, Mario Kart, Rock Band, or games in the Burnout franchise.

What’s the coldest you’ve ever been? Japan was so fucking cold when I was there. Didn’t do my research and ended up being dressed poorly, and I was so cold I could barely talk to my parents or fully enjoy my time. Sagada was also nearly unbearable in the early morning.

Which protagonist from a book or movie would make the worst roommate? Not from a book or movie, but BoJack Horseman. Diane can also be in the running as I always found her too whiny. I get that she had her personal shit to deal with, but I don’t think living with her would be good for my own sanity and mental health.

Do you eat food that’s past its expiration date if it still smells and looks fine? It annoys my chef dad to death that I don’t lol. No matter how great it looks, I’d bounce. I once ate expired Kit Kats that tasted like cardboard and that scared me off of expired food forever.

What’s the most ridiculous thing you have bought? I once bought a stupid novelty soap that to this day I’ve never even opened. It’s in one of my drawers, and I plan to just throw it out at some point.

What’s the funniest comedy skit you’ve seen? Not a fan of these but one that got to me is Dear Sister from SNL.

What’s the most depressing meal you’ve eaten? A few years ago there was a local breakfast place that offered red velvet pancakes for a limited time and I was all over that crap, so I went and ordered. The actual pancakes ended up not being any bigger than my palm, and I remember not being able to hide my disappointment once the server placed the dish on my table haha. I felt so scammed. I had to order something else to feel full, because those pancakes were stupidly small.

What tips or tricks have you picked up from your job/jobs? One of my superiors, when she was presenting a pitch to our director yesterday, kept asking questions and picking at the director’s brain so that she can get suggestions and answers straight from the director herself and so that she didn’t have to do any brainstorming anymore. I thought that was a pretty nifty and clever hack.

What outdoor activity haven’t you tried, but would like to? Hiking a mountain!

What songs hit you with a wave of nostalgia every time you hear them? Umbrella by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z.

What’s the worst backhanded compliment you could give someone? Idk, anything can be the worst depending on the context. I’m not a fan of giving those, though.

What’s the most interesting documentary you’ve ever watched? Unsolved Mysteries’ Dupont de Ligonnès episode was a lot of fun to watch.

What was the last song you sang along to? I think it was Thinking of You by Katy Perry? but I’m not entirely sure. I haven’t sung along to anything in a while.

What app can you not believe someone hasn’t made yet? I don’t really download and use a lot of apps other than the basic ones, so I don’t care too much.

When was the last time you face palmed? Last night.

If you were given five million dollars to open a small museum, what kind of museum would you create? I’d give it away to the Martial Law museum currently being made near my university so that it can do more to show the atrocities of the Marcoses. And so that I can piss off my pro-Marcos relatives.

Which of your vices or bad habits would be the hardest to give up? Uh hating myself, if that counts.

What really needs to be modernized? Public transportation systems in this country.

#survey #surveys

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arysafics · 5 years

Text

I Am Too

Summary: Clarke has been trying to pretend she doesn't miss Bellamy, but she really really does.

prompt: “my little sisters bf is a programmer. He made an app for her that has a button on it and when she presses it, a light on his room start to blink to let him know that she wants his attention” and i soooooo thought of an ex bellarke au. Like clarke is tired of that nonsense and wants bellamy back

Rated G, ~1,900 words

It’s so loud in the bar that Clarke can barely hear herself think, let alone hear Monty trying to talk to her. It’s some god-awful live band that apparently plays here regularly, although all they seem to know how to play are depressing country songs.

It’s not their usual spot, for obvious reasons (the terrible band), but Clarke can’t risk going back to The Dropship, in case she runs into someone she doesn’t want to run into. Namely, her ex, Bellamy. Not because she’s afraid of seeing him, or she’s not over him or anything. That’s definitely not it. She’s just being considerate. She doesn’t want to make things awkward if he’s there trying to hook up with someone and she happens to be there too.

Yet even though Clarke knows Bellamy would never be caught dead in a bar like Sanctum (which may have been the reason she chose it), her heartrate picks up every time someone with his vague colouring or body type walks in the door, as if it might be him. As if she wants it to be him.

“I can’t hear a thing you’re saying!” she shouts at Monty. He gestures to the empty glass in front of her, and she assumes he’s asking if she wants another. She’s had three in the last hour, and honestly, it’s not doing enough.

The band starts up another mopey country song, and even though she hates it, she feels it tug on her heart strings. She’s not thinking of Bellamy, she’s absolutely not thinking of Bellamy. She has no right to think of Bellamy, when she’s the one that ended things with him. And it’s not like there was anything wrong with their relationship, it’s just that that’s what happens, right? Relationships end. And isn’t it better to end things when it’s still going good, rather than wait for it to all fall apart?

“I’ll get them,” Clarke says, though she knows there is no way Monty can hear her.

The bartender takes a while to serve her, and because it’s not their usual place she actually has to ask for what she wants. She comes back to the table with Monty’s beer, her wine, and four shots of vodka. The band has finished their second set and are having a break, so it’s a little quieter now.

Monty raises an eyebrow. “Didn’t realise it was that kind of night,” he says.

“Yeah, well, I need something to drown out the sound of the band.”

“That’s the only thing you’re trying to drown out?” he asks knowingly. Not that he knows anything at all.

Clarke throws back one of the shots, quickly chasing it with a gulp of wine. “Are you going to have one or not?”

“I really don’t want one, but I know if I don’t then you’ll just drink them all yourself.”

“You are correct.”

“You should just call him.”

Clarke downs another shot. “Who?” she asks, feigning ignorance, screwing up her face at the taste of the vodka.

“You know who.”

“I don’t want to call him. It’s over. I want it to be over. I’ve moved on.”

“I don’t think you have.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know you refuse to go back to The Dropship. I know you hate the band because every song they play reminds you of Bellamy. And I know you’re using alcohol to try and forget about him.”

Tears well in her eyes, and she grabs another shot and swallows it down. She reaches for the last one, and Monty catches her wrist, taking the shot from her and drinking it himself.

“It’s for your own good,” he says, placing the shot glass back on the table.

Clarke slouches back in her chair sullenly. The stupid tears that formed won’t go away, and she tries to wipe them away before Monty can see, before they spill down her cheeks. Of course he notices though, and he wraps his arm around her, rubbing her arm soothingly.

“Everything reminds me of him,” she whispers. “I didn’t think I’d be so miserable without him.”

“So call him,” Monty urges.

“I can’t,” Clarke says. “I’m the one that broke up with him. He probably hates me. It’s my fault I’m not with him so I deserve to suffer without him.”

“You do not deserve to suffer. And I thought you said it was mutual?”

Clarke shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“Then that’s even more reason to call him. He’s probably miserable without you too.”

Clarke shakes her head. “I wouldn’t even know what to say.”

“You could just use that app I made you guys,” Monty suggests, smirk playing across his lips.

The app was Bellamy’s idea, and he’d enlisted the help of Monty to get it to work, since Bellamy himself has always been shitty with technology at the best of times. Part of the reason they needed the app in the first place, since Bellamy would always let his phone go flat and forget to put it on the charger, making him impossible to reach. But with the app, all Clarke had to do was tap one button on her phone, and it would set off a blinking green light in his room, letting him know she needed him.

Clarke snorts. “As if he didn’t throw out that light as soon as we broke up.”

Monty shrugs. “Well, you need to do something. I’m worried about you.”

The band walks back onto the stage then, for their final set, just as those three shots of vodka really start to hit. Clarke’s head spins as the band starts to play I Will Always Love You.

“Bellamy hates this song,” Clarke mutters. Somehow it’s louder than it was before. Somehow her heart is louder too, and she can’t stand to be here a second longer.

She stands up, and the room spins. Monty grabs her arm, and she looks down at him, but she can’t make out what he’s saying. She shakes her head, and he stands up too. He keeps his hand on her arm as they walk towards the exit.

“I was planning on driving home, but I guess that’s out the window now,” Monty says, pulling out his phone to order an Uber. “And you’re definitely too drunk to drive.”

“I think I’m going to walk.”

“Clarke, you can’t walk. It’s way too far.”

“But I always walk.”

“Yeah, but that was when we were going to a bar two blocks from your house, and Bellamy would always walk you home anyway.”

Clarke pouts. She knows Monty is right, but it doesn’t mean she likes it. She lets Monty bundle her into an Uber, manages not to throw up in the backseat, then basically falls out of it when it reaches her house.

She fumbles with the key in the door, and it takes her way too long to get inside. Then she crawls into bed, still fully dressed, shoes included.

She thinks the alcohol should put her straight to sleep, but she lies awake, empty, and unbearably lonely. Bellamy used to stay over every time they went out drinking. God, she can’t get a second of peace without thinking of him. All she wants is for him to be lying beside her, his skin on her skin.

Her phone is already clutched to her chest, and she holds it up in front of her face, unlocking it with her thumb. She opens the app Monty made for her, and stares at the glowing red button. If she wasn’t drunk, she probably wouldn’t even consider pressing it. But she is drunk, and she’s lonely, and she’s been missing him for way too long.

Anyway, he probably doesn’t even still have the light connected up. What would he need it for?

She presses her thumb against the button. Just to see. Just in case he’s missing her too.

A minute passes, then two. She’s about to close the app and try to get some sleep, but then her phone starts ringing, and she almost drops it on her face.

Bellamy. Her heart races.

She hits the answer button, and tentatively puts the phone to her ear.

“You’re calling me,” she says. As is she might be dreaming the whole thing.

“The light in my room is blinking like crazy. Did you—” he doesn’t finish his sentence. Like he’s not sure if he wants to know if it was on purpose or not.

Clarke swallows. The sound of his voice sets her whole body alight. “I’m a little drunk,” she admits.

“I am too.”

“Monty and I went to this new place called Sanctum. You would have hated it.”

“Not The Dropship?”

“No, I—I figured it was your place.”

“I figured it was yours.”

So he’s avoiding her too. For the same reasons she’s avoiding him?

“Clarke,” Bellamy whispers. “Why did you press the button?”

Clarke dabs at the tears forming in her eyes with her fingertip. She breathes out slowly, trying to make her voice steady. “Why did you answer?”

“You needed me.”

“But we’re not together anymore.”

“No,” Bellamy agrees. “We’re not.”

God, she wishes she could tell what he was thinking.

“Why aren’t we together?” Clarke says, and her voice is shaking now, trying to hold back tears.

“You wanted it to be over.”

“I know,” Clarke whispers.

“You’re either in love or you’re not, isn’t that what you said?”

“I did say that,” Clarke says.

“And you’re not,” Bellamy says flatly.

Tears stream down her face, and she tries to swallow down the lump in her throat. “What if I am though?” she whispers.

“What if you are what?” he asks, as if they might have changed the subject between the last thing he said and now.

“In love. With you.”

Silence.

“Bellamy, say something.”

“I’m at your house.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. I started walking when I saw the light blinking and now I’m at your house. Can I come in? Your keys are still in the door.”

Clarke sits bolt upright, quickly wiping her face with her fingers. “You can come in.”

He hangs up the phone, and Clarke pulls her own phone away from her ear. She hears the front door close, then footsteps coming down the hall. A figure appears in her doorway. Clarke watches him as he silently crosses the room, slow and lumbering, and lies down on the bed beside her.

She lies back down beside him, facing him. She can just make out his features in the dark.

“You’re here,” she says.

“Are you sure?” he whispers. “I need you to be sure.”

Clarke nods. “I’m sure,” she whispers back. “I’ve been so stupid. I didn’t know until I left you how much I loved you. I’ve missed you so much. So yes, yes I am sure I’m in love with you.”

He stretches his neck forward, and presses a kiss against her forehead. Then one on the tip of her nose. “I am too,” he whispers. “In love with you.”

His lips find hers in the dark, and tears roll down her cheeks again, from happiness this time. From overwhelming love for him, and relief that he loves her too, and she doesn’t have to be without him any longer.

#bellarke #bellarke fanfiction #the 100 #the 100 fanfiction #mine

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growingstronglikeahighgardenrose · 4 years

Text

The Holiday part 4

Pairings: Esther/Babington, Georgiana/ Mr. Crowe, Sidney/Charlotte (in order of prominence)

Prompt: Merry Gentlemen/ Dance for the 12 days of Sanditon hosted by @sanditoncreative (way too late entry)

Synopsis: Babington, James Stringer, Crowe, Georgiana, Sidney, Esther and the Princey Regent prepare for Christmas Eve at Babington’s Scottish holiday home. As mysterious mistletoes keep popping up out of nowhere, the group of friends try to navigate through the more awkward moments as they’re striving towards their ultimate goal; to all go to bed as merry men on Christmas Eve.

Part four of my The Holiday series, can’t be read as a standalone.

Available on AO3

The students spent half of their next day studying for their exams, and half of their days exploring the woods and nearby cities, before returning to the Boat House for dinner and evening entertainment.

It was odd to think that no three weeks earlier, half of them had never even met. Their temperaments fit together.

Crowe and Princey being boisterous,

Georgiana and James being cheerful and encouraging of the bad behaviour of Crowe and Princey,

Susan and Sidney joining in on the holiday cheer brigade from time to time, but also regularly taking a step back to laugh at their ridiculous friends,

And Esther and Babington taking in their friends and quietly making funny remarks about them.

And just like the previous night, Babington found her on the parlour, pointed out a few more constellations to her, and had a small talk.

He could easily grow used to this, he thought.

The mistletoe wasn’t where it hung yesterday. He wondered where Georgiana had moved it to. He wouldn’t like to be caught under it with anyone in particular.

‘It appears we will be spared a good night kiss’, Esther smirked before venturing to the stairs.

‘Good night, Lord Babington. When we wake up next, it’ll be the day of Christmas Eve already.’

‘If that isn’t a great excuse to have breakfast with champagne, I don’t know what is.’

‘I’m afraid any more excuses to drink will start to be detrimental to our studies.’

‘Start to be?’

She rolled her eyes.

‘Goodnight.’

‘Sweet dreams.’

♦♦♦♦♦

‘They were the last ones to go to bed again, I think. Esther was outside when I went to bed, and Babington was the only other one still awake when I went to bed.’

‘You think they… You know?’

‘I’ve known Babbs for many years, he’s discreet but he wouldn’t be able to hide something like that.’

‘It’s clear she’s into him. Last time she let another man that close for something else than sex was.. Well. Actually I can’t remember her letting in another man since me, and she certainly didn’t warm up to me this quickly.’

‘Would your ginger friend ever initiate anything?’

Heads were shook.

‘Would William?’

‘He needs encouragement. He’ll approach women, but if they don’t give a clear sign he won’t try to do something.’

‘We’re going to need more mistletoes. If they don’t dare to do it on their own, we’ll have to force some intimacy.’

‘Operation Christmas wishes, mistletoe kisses is active.’

‘We’re not making this a thing.’

‘We are’, three voices replied passionately.

♦♦♦♦♦

The 24th passed in a flurry. Those with the least amount of exams left for a long shopping trip to get groceries for the next few days, and the others desperately tried to find some focus to get in at least a couple of hours of studying.

By four o’clock Georgiana announced that the working day was over, and the preparations could begin.

The couches were pushed to the sides and the large kitchen table was brought in and decorated with a cheap glittery tablecloth.

Esther commandeered the kitchen, and all were assigned with tasks.

Sidney, Babington and Princey were to cut vegetables, Georgiana had to peel the prawns, Susan was preparing the soup, Crowe and James got the long end of the stick and were allowed to go into the woods to chop some more wood, and Esther made sauce, meat and desert in advance. No doubt Esther had deliberately assigned the clumsiest and most hyperactive men with a task which would keep them away from ruining the Christmas meal.

When Crowe and Babington returned, they could hear the music from the outside.

The living room was deserted, and in the kitchen sat Princey, Sidney and Babington with their phones in front of them, on them pictures of certain appetizers they had to recreate.

‘Where are the women?’

‘Getting dressed’, Sidney replied.

As if they sensed being called, the men could distinguish women shouting and a sound on the stairs seconds before the oven started bleeping.

‘They can get it! Come back!’

‘I need to check to make sure! It might need an additional ten minutes!’

Esther stormed into the kitchen, wearing opaque black tights and a blue t-shirt. One eye was already sporting a winged eyeliner, and the other wasn’t.

Sidney closed Babington’s mouth, and James threw him an amused look. The man was completely besotted with her, it was nothing short of a miracle that Esther hadn’t caught on yet. She could usually smell a man’s interest from miles away.

‘Nice look’, Crowe grinned.

Esther faced Crowe, after closing the oven and turning the timer up an additional ten minutes.

She lifted her meat thermometer slowly.

‘I’ve gotten people into the hospital before’, she said ominously as she quirked an eyebrow.

Babington didn’t doubt it.

Crowe swallowed.

‘Easy there, pumpkin. The nearest hospital is quite far away. You really look good. I’m sorry, I was just laughing.’

She left without saying another word.

‘She once excitedly called out Charlotte’s name as she saw her walking down a flight of stairs. She’d succeeded for a course she thought she’d fail. Charlotte was startled and fell down the stairs. She couldn’t stand on her foot anymore, we feared she’d broken it so we took her to the hospital. She’d sprained her ankle instead’, James laughed after she’d left.

‘Well the way she said it…’

‘That was deliberate, airhead.’

The five men made quick work of the appetizers and raced to the only bathroom in the house. James was first, and the others blamed it on his youth. The others went to their rooms, to either wait for the shower, or accept defeat and put on their Christmas outfits. The men had collectively decided to put on awful Christmas sweaters on Christmas, and to suit up for New Year’s Eve. Babington was one of the men admitting defeat, putting on a fresh t-shirt and the sweater before being interrupted by Crowe.

‘Hey, Babbs, happen to have a razor? I forgot mine at home.’

‘I’m afraid I lost the charger of my electrical one two weeks ago, as you may have noticed’, Babington laughed as he rubbed the scruff on his cheeks. He was happy that he was blessed with a naturally full beard, he doubted patchy stubbles would look good on him.

‘Well Sidney deliberately grows a beard, and Princey has lasered his. Think James has one? He looks like a babyface, it would surprise me if he needed to shave every month.’

‘You can always ask.’

‘Shit. Okay, thanks. It’s what I get for skipping no-shave-November. No matter, what better place to look like a bushman than in the Scottish wilderness.’

‘Crowe, you barely have a stubble, don’t be dramatic.’

‘That’s worse. Beards are fine to kiss, I’ve heard, but stubbles sting. I don’t want to blow my chances.’

‘Chances with… Georgiana?’ Babington guessed.

‘She’s just got that spunk I like. You can tell she’ll be a lively handful in bed.’

‘Wicked man. Well I wish you luck.’

♦♦♦♦♦

Babington looked himself over in the mirror, the large reindeer standing out on his dark blue sweater. He was no woman, there was little he could to get ready. His face was his face. He spritzed on a dash of perfume and left his room just as Esther’s exited hers. He hadn’t known in which room she slept, apparently it was right across of him.

‘Oh, could you help?’ she asked as she pulled back her hair. She stood almost as tall as him on her golden heels.

‘Sure.’ He took hold of her necklace, struggling with the clasp for a minute, before he could finally hook the chain.

‘Thanks.’

She turned around. She looked like a ‘40s movie star with her sleek straightened tresses, winged eyeliner, red lips and dress looking like molten gold, with a plunging neckline and billowing sleeves.

‘And?’ she asked, her red lips silently begging him to kiss her.

‘Gorgeous. Not that you’re usually anything else, but the time you ladies spent preparing yourselves instead of dinner was obviously well spent.’

‘No need to be so awkward. You can compliment me. I won’t be insulted. Come now, it’s almost six.’

Before he knew what was happening, she’d pressed her lips against his cheeks and strutted past him. He reached for his cheek as he looked up.

And yes, there hung the mistletoe. Right between their bedrooms.

He pulled his hand back, it was stained red with the oily lipstick.

‘That’s a cruel trick!’

He could only hear her laughter as she disappeared from view.

He quickly returned to his room to rub it off with a towel, before continuing to the living room.

♦♦♦♦♦

Three plates of appetizers stood on the large table, and everyone was standing, glass of champagne in hand, talking, as the stereo blared a classic Christmas song.

‘Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s play a game!’ James shouted upon noticing Babington.

‘I’m feeling like Never Have I ever. It’s about time we really get to know each other’, Georgiana decided.

‘I like your style, Georgie’, Crowe laughed as he pulled her onto his lap.

As Babington poured himself some champagne, carrying the bottle with him towards the couches, he spotted James encouragingly patting Esther on the shoulder.

‘Guys, not only about sex, alright? It’s just boring and vain’, Susan decided.

Everyone agreed, and Georgiana kicked off the game.

‘Never have I ever watched Spongebob Squarepants.’

The group collectively moaned as they shared their first sip.

‘Never have I ever memorized the entire lyrics of Old Town Road’, James said. Crowe and Georgiana laughingly ticked their glasses against James’ before drinking.

‘Never have I ever heard someone else doing it’, Princey laughed.

Sidney, Esther, Susan and Babington drank.

‘Never have I ever been the one doing it’, Crowe confessed.

Georgiana awkwardly ticked her glass against his before drinking.

‘What, now?’

‘No!’ Georgiana shouted a bit too quickly.

‘We could though’, Crowe grinned.

‘I’m way too sober for that’, Georgiana simply huffed.

‘Never have I ever googled my own name’, Esther announced. Everyone drank.

‘Never have I ever flown in a glider.’ Babington was surprised to see Esther drinking as well. ‘My dad took me once, before he died’, she admitted.

‘Never have I ever stayed up all night’, James said. Everyone drank again.

‘Never have I ever sent a wrong person a text’, Susan laughed before everyone drank again.

The game went around another couple of rounds before it – inevitably – turned darker.

All the men and Georgiana admitted to smoking pot, James and Princey admitted to having been caught peeing against buildings, Crowe and Sidney admitted to having fled from the cops, stories were exchanged about how they’d gotten detention in high school, Princey’s fling with an underage girl came out, and Sidney had to tell about his brief boxing career.

And from bad behaviour, it turned to sexual behaviour. From going commando, to one night stands, from skinny dipping, to hickeys given, to public places being defiled. Babington couldn’t help but keep track of everything Esther drank for. Skinny dipping, being in love with bad people and one night stands had been things he had not been able to imagine her doing, but it turned out she had, and he found himself growing more and more intrigued as the game progressed.

‘Never have I ever known someone with gambling problems.’ Georgiana, Esther and James took a sip, before it was up to James.

‘Never have I ever been in love while the other person didn’t know about it.’ Esther and Babington both drank, together with James and Princey.

‘But isn’t that always the case? I mean, when you’re in love you only find out when one tells the other. Who can tell the exact second a person falls in love with them? That’s impossible’, Georgiana huffed.

‘But sometimes everyone can see, except the other person’, Crowe mused, throwing Babington a look.

‘Yeah okay, that can be true’, Georgiana admitted.

‘Sometimes you stumble into something, and you both only realize later on that you’ve fallen for the other. Never have I ever been cheated on’, Sidney sighed.

Esther shot upright, downing her glass before announcing it was time for soup and leaving the room.

Sidney gestured at the empty seat, silently begging for an explanation. James quickly followed her, offering to help.

‘Let’s not reference cheating. It’s taken her four years to get over Ed- … Her previous boyfriend’, Georgiana said, quickly stopping herself before she finished his name.

Ed? Edward? What Edward? She couldn’t possibly.

And with a horrible realisation, all the dots connected.

Esther had been together with Edward Denham, and must’ve found out about his philandering the night she’d cornered him. It had been exactly four years.

She’d been dating her stepbrother. He watched her as she exited the kitchen, carrying a large casserole of tomato soup.

She had fallen prey to one of the most awful men he knew, and in the most awful way possible. No wonder she felt hesitant to play the game. And no wonder the comment about cheating had made her jump.

Her shoulders were tense as she poured some soup into every bowl.

No wonder it had taken her four years to get over him. Having someone so close to her betray her trust with that many girls had to fuck up her faith in men.

No word was spoken about it anymore. Georgiana put on another cheerful song and Princey started telling them about an amusing adventure of his, pretending the awkward moment hadn’t happened at all.

♦♦♦♦♦

Babington attempted talking to her as he’d done the previous night, trying to catch her eye and joke about their friends, but she remained withdrawn, laughing without her smile ever reaching her eyes.

It was a shame she had such a hard time enjoying herself, as she’d put so much work in the evening, but to pay more attention to her, was to make her uncomfortable.

The other courses passed in quick succession, and before they knew it, the fish, roast turkey and cake had been consumed, and a tray of raisins in brandy was placed on the table. The lights were extinguished as the tray was lit to play snapdragon.

The men immediately made it into a competition. But Crowe, who’d been drinking as usual, quickly had to back out since his reflexes were too slow.

Georgiana quickly grabbed him when he yelped in pain. Dragging him to the kitchen, pressing a kiss on his lips beneath the mistletoe still hanging above the kitchen entrance, and returning from it, kissing him again, with his hand securely wrapped.

They didn’t really stop kissing afterwards.

‘Come on, Babbers, join us’, Princey laughed. Babington shook his head, nearing the table.

‘You shall all burn and it will be one hundred percent deserved’, Esther huffed.

‘Mother always told me to never play with fire… So like any good kid I respected her rules while in her house. Now I can make my own stupid decisions. No one’s going to stop me’, Sidney smirked.

‘Charlotte will love to hear.’ Sidney’s face snapped to Esther. She had filmed him as he’d snatched a raisin from the tray and talked about his mother.

‘No.’

‘Sent.’

Sidney groaned, taking a step back. James, Princey and Babington all stood on opposing sides of the table, and as they all grasped towards a raisin, they were blinded by Georgiana’s camera and Susan’s cell phone.

‘Damned all ye witches’, crowed James, rubbing his eyes and then moaning when it stung.

‘Babies’, Esther sighed. ‘Oh Sid, your girl answered.’

Esther twisted her screen towards him, Babington could see Charlotte frowning on the short clip.

‘But all particularly stupid decisions have to pass by me first’, Charlotte said, before she disappeared from the screen.

Rowdy cheers erupted. For the remainder of the evening, everything Sidney did, going from drinking from his glass of beer, to going to the toilet, earned a mocking ‘Doesn’t that have to pass by Charlotte first?’.

Charlotte, when she was notified of this by Esther, burst into laughter at her family dinner table.

♦♦♦♦♦

‘Alright merry gentlemen, time for dancing’, Georgiana decided after the fire on the tray had died.

‘But we’re with so few people’, Princey complained.

‘We’ll leave out the light. Eight is a perfectly acceptable number of people to start a party.’

‘Lady Susan, do you permit it?’ Princey asked before whisking Susan off onto the empty floor space intended for dancing.

Crowe and Georgiana started dancing as well.

Esther put small candles on every surface, illuminating the room with a warm and cosy light.

Bowls of punch and eggnog were placed on top of the table, as well as another crate of beer.

Glasses were drunk and laughter was shared. He gave up on trying to keep track of everyone’s occupations, simply allowing himself to join whatever activity he was included in.

He waltzed with Princey, lost a poker game, held a snowball fight with James against the united force of Georgiana and Crowe, and turned out to be the killer during a game of Clue.

♦♦♦♦♦

‘Fair maiden, it appears I have caught you underneath a mistletoe again. I’m afraid I must ask thee for yet another kiss, since I wouldn’t wish to curse thee for a year.’

‘How unfortunate, it seems I keep finding myself in these compromising situations.’

‘Perhaps I should take thee somewhere safe, away frome these devilish plants.’

‘Oh, my lord. That would be so knd of you’, Georgiana laughed as Crowe quite unsubtly took her hand and pulled her along with him to his chamber.

♦♦♦♦♦

Babington had just went to fetch a glass of water, when he spotted James sitting on the staircase, looking decidedly pensive, he found himself taking a seat beside him.

‘Quitting the merry gentlemen?’

The corners of his mouth twitched to attempt a smile. ‘Don’t know. Suddenly felt out of it, you know? Have you ever stood in a big group which was having fun, and suddenly you blink and start questioning everything?’

Babington nodded. James allowed his head to fall against the wall, hands playing with the empty bottle of beer.

‘Anything that could’ve caused it?’

‘No.’

‘Well… Yeah, actually. It was that game. We never should’ve played it’, he admitted.

‘The truth or dare?’ Babington guessed.

James nodded, raking his hand through his hair and getting his fingers stuck in a couple of knots.

‘Georgiana’s forgotten why we don’t play it in larger crowds. It’s something we only play amongst the four of us, if we play it at all.’

‘Why? Any bad experiences with playing the game?’

‘No, but we do have some bad experiences, which the game reminds us of. That’s the damned thing about the game, it always turns into sex and relationship statements… And if you’ve had as much bad luck in love as we’ve had in our first year, then the questions can become very unpleasant. When someone claims they’ve had sex in a certain place, and you’ve had sex in the same place with a romantic partner you had a bad split with for example… Or you’ve been in love with someone for some time, and see them drinking about being in love and having had sex with people that aren’t you… It can sting sometimes.’

The protruding face of the reindeer on James’ sweater rose as he took a deep breath to prepare himself for the next part of his speech.

‘Babington I’ve come to trust you. And I feel bound to tell you, for fear of becoming a victim of my own thoughts if I do not discuss them with another. Sidney’s your best friend, but Charlotte’s mine. I’ve been able to keep something a secret from my best friend, can you keep what I’m about to tell you a secret from yours?’

Babington nodded, curious but worried about what would come next. It was obvious Stringer had been struggling with the problem for some time.

‘Georgiana, Esther and I had a lot of bad luck in our first year. It hurt us so deeply, we had a hard time even talking about it with each other. It took us over a year before we could talk about it freely, and even longer before we could joke about it and play the game. We’re careful of mentioning things which could reopen old wounds. Some things are hard to explain to others, and explaining would reopen the wounds. I mean, you heard how many times the questions “how” and “when” were asked. I was in love with Charlotte for a while. She never noticed, and between the romantic tragedies of Esther and Georgiana, and Charlotte’s little flirtations here and there, they were too occupied to discover the truth. Except for Esther, of course. Esther always notices everything. She talked to me about it, comforted me, but kept it a secret.’

With shock, Babington realized he hadn’t seen her in hours. But it would be rude to ask for her when James was opening up to him.

‘But you’re not in love with her anymore?’

‘No, but the game did bring back those awful feelings of rejection and sadness. You see, there’s this girl.’

Babington couldn’t help but smile, and James shook his head.

‘Ah, I know it is silly but it’s only the second time I’ve been in love. She’s wonderful. But I’m terribly afraid it’ll turn out like last time.’

‘Why would you think that?’

‘Because she’s just as wonderful. So wonderful and accomplished you’re even surprised she’d be willing to spend time with you. Meanwhile I’m still poor young Mr Stringer.’

‘I don’t think you’re anywhere near a bad catch. As far as I’ve observed, you’re very nice to be around. Has she a similar character to Charlotte’s?’

‘Well… No.’

‘Does she dabble in little flirtations as well?’

‘Not that I know of.’

‘Why would you think she, who is clearly different from Charlotte, would fall for the same kind of man as Charlotte? Why couldn’t it be you?’

James shrugged.

‘That’s what I mean, I was lowkey insecure, but all these memories of Charlotte not even noticing, continuing to fall in love with others, it made me doubt myself.’

‘Just try. Those who don’t try shall never find out whether the other is interested. Staring and texting never got people very far, I’ve learned that through my many years of partying. One has to approach the other, or change the topic of conversation, if one wishes to get to the next part’, Babington smiled.

‘You’re right.’

They bumped their shoulders together.

‘But the same goes for you, Babbers’, James said as he stood up.

‘Me?’

‘All this staring and talking won’t get you far.’

‘Is it that obvious?’ He noted with a resigned smile. ‘Esther told me she wasn’t interested.’

‘She said that?’ James asked in amazement. He hadn’t known they’d talked about them being together. Had they all read the signs wrong?

‘Well, no. But she said she wasn’t flirting. And if you’re not flirting, you’re not trying to get together with someone.’

‘There can be a lot of reasons why someone wouldn’t flirt, like because they assume it would be unwelcome, or because they’re afraid. But what did she say exactly? If you can remember.’

“It’s only flirting when we intentionally do it. And we’re not. And we’re just being thrown together because you’re the dad friend and I’m the mom friend.”

James laughed. Babington buried his face in his hands as James’ laughter only grew.

‘Dude. You’re going to tell me all that banter and stuff wasn’t flirting?’

‘It doesn’t matter how it sounds, what matters is whether she intends it to be flirtatious.’

‘Oh she’s flirtatious, alright. I’ve seen her reject a lot of men, and interact with many, when she flirts she’s fully aware of it. Has it ever crossed your mind that she simply assumed you didn’t intend it, and she was covering up for herself so it wouldn’t be embarrassing? Come on. Rule one of being in love: you don’t want the other to know unless you’re certain your feelings are returned. And with Esther, she wants to be really sure you care for her.’ It made a ridiculous amount of sense, but it was too good to be true.

‘Because she’s been cheated on multiple times by Edward?’

‘Yes. Wait. You- Georgie didn’t say a name.’ There was the confirmation for his suspicions. Wine had a way of loosening the tongue.

‘I was there the night she kicked Edward’s butt. She’d called him out for cheating on many girls. Never thought anything of it. But then when I learned she’d been single for four years, and her boyfriend started out with those first two letters… I don’t know, it was a wild guess. And it’s almost implausible since he’s her stepbrother.’

‘Yeah. It took her a year to confess. Apparently, their parents only got together two years before they had their accident. Esther was sixteen and Edward eighteen. When their parents died when she was seventeen, well, insert grief bringing them closer together. Edward insisted they’d wait until she was eighteen, meanwhile, he was at college, picking up girls left and right while she had no clue whatsoever. She’d hidden her relationship, and the nature of it, from us. We still don’t know any particulars, and I’m sure she’ll kill me if she finds out I told you anything. But it did scar her.’

‘I won’t say a word. I pity her. He has betrayed her trust in the most horrible ways. I’m only glad to know that she’s rid of his influence now. James, thank you for trying to encourage me, but it doesn’t matter anymore I’m afraid. She’s gone. Isn’t she?’

That sobered James up. ‘Yeah, she left shortly after everyone started dancing. But there are still days left.’

‘Perhaps, on New Year’s Eve’, Babington laughed as they returned to the living room.

Sidney was gathering the glasses.

‘Ah, there you are. I thought everyone had gone to bed. Let’s do the dishes tomorrow, shall we?’

‘Has everyone else gone to bed?’ James asked.

Sidney nodded.

‘It’s four in the morning. We lasted a good while.’

Babington immediately started helping his friend.

‘You can go to bed James, three’s too much for the job.’

‘Alright well, if you say so. Good night I guess, or morning, as you wish.’

♦♦♦♦♦

Sidney and Babington carried the table back to the kitchen and put the glasses in the sink. Babington allowed Sidney to use the bathroom first. He didn’t know what motivated him, but he suddenly felt the need to go upstairs again. The evening had ended abruptly for him, which meant he was neither prepared nor willing to go to bed.

Perhaps he could gaze at the stars on his own. There were still a few hours of night left. Maybe it could relax him enough so he could go to bed.

The fire was still gently crackling in the hearth, and the room felt warm and cosy, the elated atmosphere of the past few hours still lingered. He softly pushed the couches back in place, but found the comforter missing.

Perhaps someone had taken it to bed with them.

He prayed the sweater would be sufficient, but the weather forecast had warned the temperatures would remain sub-zero.

The bench was unoccupied. It was strange, sitting there without her, staring at the moon on his own.

To gaze at the stars with her had felt so romantic and intimated under the cover of darkness, but to be alone with the billions of stars was a spiritual experience. He rose from the bench, descending into nature. The moonlight cast a special hue on the snow, and the stars reflected beautifully upon the lake. Cold permeated his skin, but he had no care, allowing the night to consume him, and fill him with wonder and cold.

Idly, he wondered why people had started worshipping a single God. Surely, anyone living underneath that awe-inspiring star-filled sky, experiencing the biting cold and scorching heat, suffering through love, and being burned by fire, had to admit that these were more logical powers to recognize. Man was but a plaything before nature, having no choice but to accept everything nature put him through.

He looked away from the sky, kicking a snowball which hadn’t disintegrated upon impact. With a smile, he turned back towards the house. A light was shining in the living room. Odd.

The woodwork of the parlour groaned underneath his weight. He was certain no trespasser could have been silent enough to sneak past him. Someone had to be up.

If anyone heard the creaking planks, he would be the perceived intruder.

He put another food towards the door. The plank creaked. The door flew open. It was Esther, still dressed, without shoes but with a knife which she was pointing at him.

‘Oh, it’s you’, she sighed, shoulders slumping as she let herself fall against the doorframe.

‘You’re still up? I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t scare you too much?’

‘Well, I assumed everyone here was asleep. So there were only two possibilities: either a Scottish rogue was about to kill us or…’ She didn’t finish the sentence, looking past him at the night sky instead.

‘Or?’ he inquired.

‘Or had come to seduce either me, Georgiana or Susan away like in one of those romance novels. I wouldn’t have minded to find a wild Jamie Fraser on the doorstep, but I prepared for the worst scenario.’

‘I’m sorry to destroy your Highlander fantasy, it’s only me.’

‘You can pass, you still fit into the second scenario.’

‘A seductive highlander?’

‘The scenario in which I wouldn’t mind the person at the door entering the house’, she replied with a smirk.

He entered and closed the door behind him, mimicking her posture by leaning against the other side of the doorframe.

‘So, what brings you to the living room?’

‘I’d been in my room, but I haven’t been sleeping. I didn’t even bother dressing for bed, I knew sleep wouldn’t come. Thought I’d come to check, see who was still up. I thought I was the only one, all the lights were out.’

‘Couldn’t sleep either’, Babington confessed.

She nodded, fingers toying with the knife in her hands.

‘And what shall your restless spirit do next?’

‘I had figured I might as well wash the dishes. I hoped it could tire me, and it would lessen the work tomorrow.’

‘You shouldn’t. We agreed on doing them tomorrow morning.’

‘I already finished, save some pots which are soaking with soap.’

‘What kept you up?’ he softly asked as he turned towards her. They weren’t far removed at all.

‘Nothing in particular. It was just a bit much, all the music and the dancing and the cheer. Georgiana and Crowe’s kissing, James and Susan talking, you were all having such a good time. I just knew I wouldn’t be able to get into the mood. So I spared everyone the trouble of feeling guilty for having fun while I obviously wouldn’t be able to join in. Perhaps I should ask for the role of the grandmother friend instead’, she smiled weakly.

‘And leaving me a single dad?’ he gasped. Which reminded him of the mistletoe which had previously been in this location. It still hung there. Esther became aware of it at the same time. Remembering James’ words, he decided he would risk it with a small peck on her cheek. But before he could as much as bend towards her, she pushed herself away from the door.

‘Don’t pretend you don’t know. Don’t pretend you don’t mind the mom and dad jokes, now that you know how tainted your mock wife is.’

‘Know what?’

He followed her into the living room.

‘About my love life.’

How could she know that he knew about her stepbrother? News could’ve impossibly reached her. Only he and James knew that he knew.

She came to a standstill in front of the fireplace. She’d put the music back on, it was silently playing in the background.

He knew he was treading dangerous territory. Whatever he said next would be decisive in how their relationship would continue.

‘May I ask what it is exactly that I am supposed to know and disapprove of?’

She didn’t look at him. In fact, she turned even further away from him.

‘Little Esther, having been in love but never having had a real relationship. Stupid silly goose, falling for a player who cheated on her with so many girls it’s a wonder she didn’t end up with mouth herpes. And still! The stupid cow needed years to recover from a superficial romance with a man she really shouldn’t have been together with in the first place. Now you know the truth, are you not disgusted? Afraid you'll be tainted by association? No doubt the full truth about my stupid mistakes will come out soon. And then everyone here shall look at me differently.’

She didn’t know that he knew his name. Perhaps he’d better keep it that way.

‘ Esther, we’ve all been fools in love. Everyone here has made decisions ranging between terrible and horrible concerning love and lust, no one is in a position to judge. Secondly, I doubt anyone will think badly of you. We’re friends. Friends don’t judge friends for things that happened years ago, especially not when they know how much you’ve suffered. Thirdly, you’re not stupid for needing time to get over it. It is only logical it would take time to start trusting men again. Is this what has been keeping you up? Fear of our judgement?’

She didn’t deny it.

‘I don’t give a damn about your past. I liked you back when I first met you, and I like you still, even better, now that I’ve learned more about you. That is what I base my judgement upon. The point of the game should be to trust each other with secrets, in the confidence that the others offer their secrets in return. That way, there’s a pact: you can’t call out others for the things they shared, since you can be judged for your secrets as well. You pretend like your past relationship is a reason for us to drop you, but why wouldn’t we drop Crowe for being arrested? Why wouldn’t you judge me for cheating on an exam? If they’d find out at college, I’d be expelled. Many of the things we’ve done were actually bad, your only gave your heart to someone. But the mistake made was his, by choosing to break it by being unfaithful.’

He couldn’t see her face, but he could see she brought her hands to her face to wipe away the tears.

‘Why are you always so awfully nice?’

‘I hope I can convince you that the world doesn’t always have to be a bad place where everyone is naturally unkind.’

‘I would like that.’

Babington noticed the music changing.

‘As it has become clear your hours spent in thought weren’t useful at all, might I suggest you catch up with our forms of entertainment? You might not have been in the mood for it, but you will find that simply partaking in it might change your mood.’

She looked at his outstretched hand with an amused smile, as if she couldn’t even believe she was agreeing to the proposal. But she took it, and he took her in his arms.

I gotta take a little time, a little time to think things over

I better read between the lines, in case I need it when I'm older

Now this mountain I must climb, feels like the world upon my shoulders

Through the clouds I see love shine, it keeps me warm as life grows colder

Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, his hands on the middle of her back. There was the faintest of smiles on her lips as they slowly spun around the room.

‘So you have been doing this the entire night?'

‘There might have been the occasional snow ball fight.’

‘I’m sorry to have missed it. Who won?’

‘I did, of course. But I’ll be generous and admit that James helped a bit too.’

‘And who were your opponents?’

‘Georgiana and Crowe.’

‘You want me to believe Georgie lost a fight?’

‘They were no match for us, at least not after all the booze they’d consumed.’

The pitch changed, and Babington took that as his cue to take one of her hands and spin her around on her own.

A single breath of laughter left her mouth, but her smile finally reached her eyes.

Can't stop now, I've travelled so far, to change this lonely life.

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me.

Their dance turned more animated, their arms pushing and pulling the other, playing with the ever electrically charged space between them.

Esther twirled away from him, raising her arms as her skirts fanned out around her, she was a whirl of copper and gold. He stepped towards her again, catching her in his arms once again.

A hand trailed towards his shoulder, the other hesitantly nestling on his lower back.

They were a lot closer now, but she didn’t cower.

She didn’t make any inclination to start dancing again. And that’s when he realized, they’d landed right underneath the mistletoe hanging in front of the kitchen door.

I'm gonna take a little time, a little time to look around me I've got nowhere left to hide, it looks like love has finally found me

His eyes slid towards her lips. The lipstick had long since faded, but that didn’t make her mouth any less appealing.

If he wanted to test her feelings, he could kiss her on the cheek and slowly build their bond throughout the remainder of the holiday.

His eyes connected with hers. He’d started his day thinking she would never like him back, but tonight’s confessions had unveiled turns and twists in the path of his destiny which he thought had been set in stone. Fate pushed them together one mistletoe a time. After three years of pining, it felt unnatural that the defining moment in their relationship would present itself so suddenly, and he felt awfully unprepared, his stomach an awful knot of excitement and dread as he resigned himself to his fate.

By the time morning chased away the mysterious dark cover of night, during which all happened which could not bear the light of day, he’d either be one of the happiest men alive, or the saddest.

The dice were thrown.

And his lips connected with hers.

The hand closest to his face, grasped for his hair and pulled him even closer to her. Her hips tipped forward, pressing against his thighs.

Lips celebrating, and minds rejoicing, they kissed for minutes on end, before the stereo shut itself off because it hadn’t been used in an hour.

A log crackled particularly loudly, breaking the moment between the two young lovers.

‘We should go to bed.’

Esther nodded in agreement.

‘We’ll already have little sleep as it is.’

He could faintly make out her smile, but as the fire had almost died out, there was very little light in the room.

They made their way towards their bedrooms. Both buzzing with excitement, but unsure on how they would continue from there on out.

‘Goodnight.’

‘Goodnight’, she breathed before taking the handle of her door.

He turned away, reaching for the handle of his door when he heard the sound of her door opening. He couldn’t resist a look.

Her sleek hair shielded a large part of her face, but there was no mistaking the look in her eyes as she wordlessly urged him to look up from where she was standing in her bedroom.

The mistletoe was still there between their bedrooms, and they were both standing on opposing sides of it.

They flew towards each other, the euphoria of young innocent love and sensual bliss making it impossible to separate for the remainder of the night.

#12 days of sanditon #sanditon fanfiction

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beanfic · 5 years

Text

New Roommates - Ch.3

Word Count: 1371

Warnings: None, I don’t think? Hopefully...

Author’s note: Here is chapter three of my YouAU! I hope you enjoy :)

I woke up the next morning with the sound of a coffee grinder going off in the kitchen. It sounded like an airplane taking off, but almost ten times louder. No one warned me about this rude awakening, but I am sure I will get used to it.

My phone which was hooked up to my charger lit up as I picked it up. I had two text messages from my friend Nicole, who lived back in Oregon.

Nicole: how was moving in? I want to see the room!

Nicole: actually, call me later when I get off work and we can catch up!

I missed Nicole so I was definitely going to take her up on that offer. She and I met in high school and we ended up going to different colleges, but we still stayed close. She went to nursing school and works as an ER nurse.

As I stood up out of my bed and stretched, I realized how badly I was in need of a shower. I started to feel a little anxious about taking my first shower in the new apartment. Everything should be fine as long as I locked the door.

I grabbed the clothes that I was going to change into and headed into the bathroom. The shower had a green shower curtain which was pretty ugly. It was moss green too. Maybe Josh would allow me to redecorate the bathroom a little bit.

I took a pretty quick shower, as I didn’t want to make the water bill any higher than it needed to be since I would be paying for a quarter of it. Once I hopped out of the shower and dried off, I braided my wet hair and threw on a pair of athletic shorts and a sweatshirt.

I could hear laughter coming from the hallway, and I recognized Kae’s voice. I instantly got excited knowing that they were over again. I could definitely tell that we were going to become good friends, hopefully.

“Sav!” Mark announced as I walked into the living room. There were two bowls of popcorn on the table with Josh, Mark, Tyler, and Kae sitting around it watching a movie.

“Hey, sorry I woke up so late!”

“Don’t worry about it! We are just having a movie day if you want to join us?” Tyler waved me over to sit down next to Kae.

“I would love too! What movie are we watching?”

“We haven’t really decided yet,” Josh mumbled. He held the remote in his hand and he clicked through different movie titles. “It would help if someone suggested something!”

“I love your sweatshirt!” Kae whispered as I sat down next to them.

“Thank you!” I smiled and they smiled back. They really were the sweetest.

“Wait!” Tyler shouted. “Let’s watch the first Iron Man!”

“Hell yeah!” Kae added. Josh nodded and looked over to Mark and me for approval. Mark gave him a thumbs up and I nodded. I never had seen Iron Man, but I don’t think I was going to mention that to them.

Six bathroom breaks later, and multiple refills on Coke Zero’s, we all finally got through the movie. I really enjoyed it, and I ended up getting into a long conversation about the entire Marvel cinematic universe with Kae and Tyler once the movie ended.

“We literally watched them all, again, like a few months ago! We watched one almost every night!” Tyler explained.

“I can’t wait to teach you all about the different characters! You still have so many to meet!” Kae added.

“I’m excited! I'm glad I have you two!”

“I’m so happy that the boys got a girl roommate because there is too much testosterone in my life, and I needed a solid girlfriend!”

You smiled at Kae, “Yeah, I get that!”

“You could become friends with the girls that Josh brings over, you know,” Mark chuckled. Josh shot his head up and glared over at Mark. The tips of his ears turned a shade of red.

“I can’t do that because it’s a different girl every time, and he never sees them again,” Kae snapped back.

“Roasted!” Tyler stood up and shouted in Josh’s face. Kae looked over at me and winked. I couldn’t help but laugh at the subtle roast Kae just threw at Josh. I knew Josh had lots of tinder dates, but I didn’t realize how big of a joke it was to all of them.

It made me feel uneasy too, I wasn’t quite sure why either. I guess I never really understood one night stands, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad thing! Just a different lifestyle than mine.

“Leave poor Josh alone!” I giggled.

“Don’t take his side! Take our side!” Kae shouted but I shrugged my shoulders as I smiled over at Josh who mouthed a “thank you” over to me.

“I need to stand up for my bedroom neighbor!”

“Exactly!” Josh agreed and reached over to give me a high five. His eyes crinkled as his lips turned up into a smile. Butterflies went crazy in my tummy.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. I finished unpacking my room entirely and decorated it with small decorations I had picked up on a small target trip with Kae and Tyler. Tyler drove and as he passed by anything remotely significant Kae would point it out and explain a certain memory that was connected to it.

Apparently, the Red Robin that was next to the target happened to be where Tyler took Kae on their first official date together, and they both ordered chicken fingers without knowing it was each other's favorite meal.

I had some spaghetti that Mark had whipped up for dinner, and it was starting to get late which meant it was almost time to call Nicole. I was still getting used to the time difference, but she got off work at 7 so she should be ready. I texted her just to make sure.

Once she responded that she was off work I dialed her number and put my phone on speaker. I was busy coloring in a mandala.

“Hey, Sav!” Nicole answered cheerfully.

“Hey! How was work?”

“It was good, not too hectic which was good! I’m tired though.”

“I won’t keep you long so you can get some sleep.”

“It’s okay! I want to hear all about the apartment! How are the boys?” Her voice lowered in the last part as if she didn’t want anybody to hear.

“The apartment is actually pretty nice! My room is pretty big, they have a nice TV, and I already made a friend! Their name is Kae and they are dating Tyler. They have been showing me around.”

“That sounds awesome!! Tell me more about the boys.”

“Well, there is Mark, he cooks a lot and he is also into photography!”

“That’s awesome! You should take photos with him.”

“He actually is more into videography, but I am definitely going to have him help me with navigating fancier cameras!”

“Which one was the cute one you were mentioning to me?”

“That’s Josh. His room is actually right across from mine, and yeah he is really cute.”

“Like really cute?”

I smiled stupidly down at the paper I was coloring on, “Really really cute. He has these freckles all over, curly brown hair, and the cutest smile ever!”

“You’re falling hard.”

“Nicole, I know, but I need to stop! He is my roommate and I’ve seen all those movies. It never ends up well! Plus he is really into flings and hookups.”

“He is into hookups? I thought you said he was sweet?”

“Nicole, just because he likes to bang doesn’t mean he can’t be sweet,” I laughed.

“True! Well, good luck with that! I really need to go but I’ll call you later this week! Text me though!”

“Okay! Goodnight!”

“Night, bye Sav!”

I hung up my phone and closed my adult coloring book. It was such an odd term. Adult coloring book. Why can’t it just be a coloring book? My mind raced about the conversation and Josh as I got ready for bed.

Nicole was right. I was falling hard.

******

Tag list: Tag list: @takenvysleep @fromcalmto-ill @svintsandghosts @reginawashere15 @breadbinishigh @ohprettyweeper @myjourneystartsnow19 @wearebxnditos @gaiatheroyalrabbit

#ks youau wc #tyler joseph #josh dun #twenty one plots #twenty one pilots fanfic #twenty one pilots fanfiction #josh dun fanfic #josh dun fanfiction #tyler joseph fanfic #tyler joseph fanfiction #tøp fanfiction #tøp fanfic #tøp #josh dun fluff #josh dun angst #tyler joseph fluff #tyler joseph angst

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gray-anxiety · 5 years

Text

No Sympathy → Levi Ackerman Chapter 6 → Shopping

Read the rest of the chapters here!

This is a FILLER chapter — it isn’t necessary for the story, but gives a better look at the relationship blooming between the characters. I have other fillers planned in the future as well just to explain some background, etc. This has happened AFTER the last chapter and BEFORE the next.

Aella couldn’t care less about skipping school — she already had managed to talk to the teachers via email about a ‘family emergency’ that had come up and had to skip school for a day. Levi, on the other hand, couldn’t have given any shits about making up any excuses about skipping a whole school day — he just flat out skipped. The flaking duo woke up that Thursday morning without leaving for school like normal; even Aella slept in until 7 instead of waking up at 5 like normal — giving Levi all the time he wanted to clean the apartment. Aella’s eyes fluttered open and adjusted to the light that was pouring in from the window over her head — enjoying sleeping in like it was a Saturday. Aella rolled out of bed and strolled to her closet to change — while she adored lounging around in whatever she wore to bed the previous night, she had to change to go shopping with Levi at 10. Aella grabbed her phone off the charger and walked out of her room to see Levi already making breakfast — he insisted on always making it since Aella would always ignore directions and create dishes with her own twist. Levi nodded his head at Aella and grabbed the toasted waffles out of the old toaster and threw them on their separate plates. Aella tasked herself with making tea as she was extremely possessive of her tea cabinet — yes, tea cabinet. Surprisingly enough, the roommates figured out a morning routine fairly quickly and forced the other to do it even if they didn’t want to. Levi set down the plates the same time Aella set down the tea and glared at each other; knowing that their little race resulted in a damned tie.

“So, we need outfits for the party, and I was thinking that we could get lunch and shop around? Is that alright with you?” Aella asked, trying to make their shopping trip somewhat organized and planned. Levi nodded and sipped some of his tea.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I need to get a new bandana; I can’t stitch this one anymore.” Aella nodded. She was still nervous about the party — she hadn’t been to one since before she was left to rot. She didn’t have any friends anymore, well, except for Levi that is, and to top it all off, she couldn’t even get drunk or high at the party! Aella sighed through her nose — this was going to be a pain in her ass. Eventually, the two headed out, Levi begrudgingly agreeing to taking the train to the shopping district in Maria, but only if he wore his bandana. Aella and Levi both knew he looked unbelievably shady — leaving Aella to come up with an idea to protect Levi’s identity without looking shady.

“Hey. Levi?” Levi’s eyes slid over to where Aella was walking next to him. He grunted in response, letting Aella know she had his attention.

“Why don’t we get you something like a scarf or a cravat? Maybe one of those fabric versions of those masks that people wear when they’re sick? If I wasn’t here with you right now, you’d be looking so shady that people would kick you out. You don’t want to blow your cover, no?” Levi nodded his head in acknowledgment knowing Aella was right. Even though Maria was the shadiest place to be in all of the triune cities, there was an unspoken rule between the gangsters here that you never covered your face unless you wanted to commit a crime — which, yes, most did, but the guards in the shopping district were from the city of Rose itself — the lowest crime-ridden city in the country with one of the highest police and military activity ever. To summarize it, the crime rate in Maria’s shopping district was the lowest of them all. Low crime rate leads to spending more money on making the shopping centers and malls seem pristine and clean versus the dirty grimy streets in the rest of Maria. The two passed by numerous shops, but stopped at a popular store for all customers — Terra Pine; a clothes store with low priced current trending clothing even inspired by the clothes in Sina itself. Aella dragged Levi to the scarf section and made him pick out a scarf that could easily be pulled over his mouth and nose, but functioned as a lightweight loose scarf that could easily pass as a necklace if folded correctly. Levi pulled Aella to the men’s section to help him pick out a hoodie and any accessories that could help him stay hidden; Levi had to remain as hidden as possible at that party if there truly were going to be mafia members in attendance — they might recognize him from numerous mafia dealings. Aella quickly bolted to the genderfluid section to pick out any outfit that stood out to her and eventually landed on a casual skater outfit.

“Let’s go,” Aella mumbled to Levi so he could pay for everything since he insisted he actually had money to waste (he was a damned mafia boss, of course he had money to waste!). Levi handed Aella the bag full of her stuff and walked to the nearest pretzel maker popup shop and ordered pretzel bites.

“Lunch; which is better than school lunch,” Levi mumbled, handing Aella a cup of pretzel bites. Aella nodded in agreement and walked to the nearest table in the mall — sitting down so she didn’t piss off Levi by making any mess whatsoever. Levi looked over at the art supply store and back to Aella.

“I noticed you were almost out of every single art supply you owned.” Aella looked up and nodded, swallowing her last pretzel bite before replying:

“Yeah, I’ve been saving up for almost two months for new ones, but they were so expensive I eventually gave up on trying to buy anything aside from paper.” Aella sighed — even paper was expensive these days. The economy, though while very successful, kept jacking up prices the more money paid to employees; making it extremely difficult for those in poverty to get back up again. Levi handed Aella two hundred dollar bills and tilted his head in the direction of the store.

“I know your life for the past two years was just focused on work and trying not to fail school. Go buy some shit and actually use it since you don’t have to voluntarily work overtime all weekend now.” Aella knew Levi saw all of her art in his room — he must’ve known it was her only escape since she couldn’t even afford any booze or drugs either. Aella whispered out a ‘thank you’ and walked over to the store — buying everything from paper, pencils, and paints to erasers, brushes, and markers. Levi stood by the entrance as soon as Aella walked out with two paper bags full of art supplies — Aella was actually grinning from glee for once. Levi was determined to give Aella an escape for when things were too much — just like what Farlan did for Levi when they lived in the slums. Farlan went out of his way to steal cleaning supplies for an unknowing Levi after seeing Levi only sleep, eat, kill, and try to clean with only a rag. Levi was pulled out of his trance when Aella grabbed his arm and pulled him to the exit of the mall.

“Come on, we need to get on the next train. This place is unnerving.” Levi nodded in agreement, but his storm eyes looked over to a knife shop and looked back to Aella.

“We need more weapons, Aella.” Aella’s eyebrows raised and gave Levi the look like he was crazy.

“Levi! We won’t be able to leave if we have fucking knives on us!”

“I entered the district just fine, thank you for your concern.” Aella’s jaw dropped.

“Are you serious, Levi?” Levi nodded plainly and dragged an increasingly worried Aella to the knife shop. The shop itself was dark and smelled like smoke versus all the other shops that were white and clean. Levi walked further in until he was face to face with the manager in the middle of the shop — leaning against the checkout desk with glass encased blades up for sale.

“What do you want?” The manager asked, smoking a cigarette while looking at the two other customers checking out blades. Levi huffed and slammed down one of his best blades at the checkout desk the manager manned.

“You have exactly 5 of these knives in stock right now — I want all of them.” The manager’s brow raised in a silent question and brought his mouth closer to Levi’s ear.

“Do you want throwing knives with those, Blade?” Levi nodded and slid the manager a 50 to keep quiet. Farlan would pay the actual expense with the rest of Levi’s money. The manager pulled the five blades out in individual flat boxes that barely encased each blade. The boxes were meant for hiding a purchase without taking the newly purchased blade out. The manager then slid Levi 7 throwing blades so thin they were see through. Levi nodded and put the purchase in Aella’s brown bags from the art supply store — walking out like nothing had just happened. Aella kept quiet and just kept carrying her stuff like normal; she didn’t mind blades — she only minded jail time if she was busted by Rose. Levi had gotten in the district without being checked like other civilians thanks to Farlan — even Aella wasn’t checked when she entered before Levi. When the two arrived at the train station, they walked past the lines of angry civilians begrudgingly being checked one by one for anything illegal by Rose security itself. Yes, Levi and Aella both received glares from checked civilians for the duo not having to go through the shit they just went through, but Levi couldn’t have given any shits whatsoever — life was unfair. Levi walked to the train behind Aella — allowing Aella to board before him. Just as he started to walk on the metal vehicle, a man walked past getting off the train — bumping into Levi’s shoulder harshly. Levi growled and turned around.

“Watch it you fucking dumbass!” The other man turned around and flipped Levi off — ‘wait a minute…’ Levi recognized the man. Green-blue eyes, messy brown hair, and a death wish of a will to fight anyone? Levi knew him alright. He was also a well-known ‘bad boy’ in Karanese High — Eren fucking Jaeger. Levi never knew the man aside from nods of hello down the halls whenever they saw each other out of respect for one another’s gang-affiliated past, but from what he heard of the man, he was worth recruiting when the time came.

“Levi, come on, the train is about to leave.” Aella put her hand on Levi’s shoulder and lead him to two isolated seats. The party was in two days — Levi was finally going to get some answers.

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makeste · 5 years

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BnHA Chapter 175: 8:30 A.M.

Previously on BnHA: Deku agreed to help the staging team hoist Aoyama above the gym as a living disco ball. Time progressed and we got another nice scene of Deku training with All Might. All Might revealed that his mastery of OFA actually came to him quite easily and instinctively, which is he sometimes has trouble guiding Deku. Mei showed up and did some Mei things and told Deku that the new ~mystery support item~ he requested would be ready soon. Apparently Deku requested it to help with his new move, and All Might’s cool with it as long as he doesn’t start to rely on support items too much. Class A’s preparations continued and Momo served everyone some fancy tea. Gentle reviewed his plan of attack with La Brava. He intends for this to be a wake-up call that will help the little hero eggs of U.A. grow stronger, and he’s probably not wrong, but at some point all of this character building is gonna kill these poor kids. So now we’re cutting to the night before the festival, and that’s where this chapter will presumably pick up!

Today on BnHA: The kids of 1-A wrap up their dress rehearsal and gather in their common room to make final preparations and work off their nervous energy. Deku realizes that the rope he’s gonna use to suspend Aoyama is dangerously frayed, so he decides to run out to the store early in the morning to buy a new one before the show. The next day Hatsume delivers his new support item -- another new pair of gloves. After breaking them in with some training, Deku heads out to the store conveniently still wearing them. On his way back to U.A. he stumbles across a ~mysterious pair of characters~ wearing trench coats and sunglasses as they emerge from a tea shop. Deku says something about tea, and Gentle can’t keep his fucking mouth shut, and Deku subsequently recognizes his voice and realizes he’s the villain from the Youtube videos. Remembering that the festival will be cancelled if even a single alarm goes off, Deku decides he’ll just stop Gentle on his own, and gets ready to fight.

(As always, all comments not marked with an ETA are my unspoiled reactions from my first readthrough of this chapter. I’ve read up through chapter 199 now, so any ETAs will reflect that.)

these kids are all too fucking cute

who’s braiding Eri’s hair? a doctor/nurse?

more importantly, is Eri gonna have braided hair today omg. I’m gonna fucking die of cuteness here

(ETA: for some reason she does not. maybe they tried it out but she just wasn’t feeling it. who knows! but she’s still adorable no matter what)

holy moses

that’s another Iida dancing panel. swiped. placed in special folder

omgggg

I’m so exciteddddd

“but now I know for sure that I was one hundred percent right to be worried”

nah just kidding Sero. BREAK A LEG

he says that both the band and dance team have come a long way

SHOW MORE OF THE BANDDDD

aww he’s giving Mina props for being “such a super intense coach”

don’t forget to also give her props for coming up with your disco ball thing

(ETA: MVP)

THE BANDDDD!!!

DON’T YOU ‘EH’ HER YOU MONOSYLLABIC BASTARD. YOU HEARD HER, NONE OF THOSE “WEIRD AD LIBS”

also lmao at “ONE OF US might get thrown off”, which absolutely is referring to Kaminari and only Kaminari and you all know it

but it’s not his fault! he’s still learning!!

sobbb

I swear to god, if Gentle does ANYTHING to fuck this shit up I will cast him deep into the pits of Cancelled Hell right there with Mineta and Overhaul

now Hounddog is coming to chase them out because BARK BARK BARK, STUDENTS ARE ONLY ALLOWED IN HERE TILL 9

is he literally foaming at the mouth

anyways, so now all the good little boys and girls are in bed resting up for their big day!

AND THE NOT SO GOOD LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS ARE RUNNING AROUND SCREAMING

“some people” is obviously Bakugou lmao

also this is the cutest!!!!!!! this chapter is going for the record, huh? Cutest Chapter? going for the title? you’ve gotta beat out all of Deku and Kacchan’s flashbacks, all of Mirio’s flashbacks, that chapter two chapters ago with Eri touring the campus, and chapter 163 with Kaminari being all, [HOP] “HEY KACCHAN”

so it’s a tall order! but I think this might just have what it takes!!!

Jirou is telling Iida it won’t do any good to worry now about whether or not everyone else will enjoy it, and that they just have to enjoy themselves

and the boyfriend is all

THAT WAS DIFFERENT, KAMINARI!!

Deku’s agreeing with Jirou from over by the table where he’s double checking the equipment he’s gonna use for the Aoyama Hoisting

and it’s a good thing he did check it, too!

lmao

“IT’S THE PROOF OF OUR FRIENDSHIP” “no, actually, this would probably get you killed dude”

also Kaminari’s “desuwa” has legit just bumped him up a notch on my favorite characters list. fully not joking. whoever was at number nine just got bumped down. I think it was either Toga or Mirio. actually, you know what, I’m gonna go ahead and say he just leapfrogged both of them and ended up at the #8 spot right behind Momo. that’s the power of doing loving cheeky impressions of your fellow classmates

anyway, Momo is apparently already in bed though. because SHE is one of the good little girls

and Mina’s shouting “don’t treat her like a tool box!” and Kami’s protesting that they all treat him like a battery charger though

I mean, if I had a quirk that could recharge people’s phones or make them ropes and shit, I wouldn’t mind using it to help out my good friends! and I’m sure Momo wouldn’t mind either, so long as they waited until morning and, you know, didn’t go and wake her up just for that lol. but whatever

Deku says he’ll just buy one first thing in the morning since he’s gonna be training anyway

I’m thinking back to Gentle’s detailed plan of attack, but although the home center Deku’s talking about was indeed on that route, I don’t think the schedule matches up with Gentle’s. he and La Brava should still be drinking tea until 8:30. although the cafe is right by the home center though

but I’m thinking there’s a chance Deku might spot him in the cafe though maybe, and recognize him from the videos

anyway! that’s a problem for future!Deku! current!Deku is doing a cheer with his fellow students and heading off to bed

tempted to include this with the dancing Iida panels, but no. I’m choosy enough to wait for the real deal

so now it’s 6:30 the next morning, and Midoriya Izuku, who most definitely has not gotten as much sleep as a growing boy needs, is nonetheless out training with All Might again

and Mei is here with his new item!

ooh

always with the glove upgrades, huh

lol All Might is impressed with how far technology has come

that’s right, All Might. welcome to the... twenty... third?? century?? I don’t actually know for sure but I usually just add 200 years to where we’re at currently for simplicity’s sake

also, Mei can make things this compact. we don’t know anything about “they.” but this genius girl here, she can do it, and she deserves some credit

Mei is seriously so cool though

and she did this all on even less sleep than Deku. (although apparently she’s planning a 36-hour power nap once this is all over, which sounds amazing)

so now Deku is going to test out the “thing” he wanted to try

and of course we’re cutting away lol and cutting to 7:50 a.m.

Deku’s running to the store and fretting about almost being late

honestly you should have just asked Momo if it ended up being like this

he still has his gloves, incidentally. HOW CONVENIENT

-- oh snap, because this ridiculous little villain magnet was late and then had trouble finding a rope, it’s now 8:30. aka exactly when our two villains are scheduled to leave the tea shop

and sure enough...

OH MY GOD LA BRAVA

THAT DOES IT. DEFINITELY THE CUTEST CHAPTER EVER DALSFKHDL

Gentle is all “the aftertaste of the imperial golden tips was almost ruined!”

and now he’s scampering off with La Brava quick as can be

so it seems like the name of that tea was important? I guess?

oh my god

so Deku’s all “huh, so that house was a cafe, whoodda thunk?”

and Gentle is getting all “!!!”

and. just

oh my god he thinks he’s a fellow tea enthusiast

how does he not actually recognize Deku, though? too gentlemanly to watch TV like ever?

(ETA: probably just sticks to reading books in a big armchair by the fireplace)

Deku’s saying he just knows about it because he got some from a friend

BUT, he’s thinking that Gentle’s voice sounds familiar!

meanwhile, Gentle is all “ooh you must have a pretty high-class friend”

but then he’s like

and Deku is all

oh my god lmao

they’re both freaking out

and as always, Deku’s Big Hero Brain is way too freaking smart

so Gentle’s turning to make a quick getaway, but Deku’s asking him to wait a moment

ooooooooh snap

YOU BETTER WATCH YOURSELF GENTLE, THIS KID HAS A PROVISIONAL LICENSE AND SOME SHINY NEW GLOVES MOTHERFUCKAA

so now Deku’s setting down the bags with the rope, and remembering what the Rat Principal said (did he actually say this? I thought it was part of his flashback with the police commish but I guess not) about how they would immediately suspend activities if the alarm sounds

and I’m guessing... that maybe Deku wants to take care of this right here because he doesn’t want the cultural festival to be cancelled after all of their hard work

which is pretty stupid, but also understandable enough that I have no trouble buying it

like, he should be calling the authorities and putting them on alert, not trying to take this mofo out himself lmao

but instead this is happening

and you know what? I’m okay with that

BONUS: my boy Fat Gummmm

Fat Gum sobbing while eating a banana and apologizing to the ghost of Nighteye is somehow just the biggest mood

look how he has the takoyaki splayed between his knuckles because eating them one at a time just isn’t enough. think bigger. plus ultra!!!

it took him all of four days. what a champ. and now I’m fucking starving omg

#bnha #boku no hero academia #midoriya izuku #class 1-a #aoyama yuuga #kaminari denki #hatsume mei #gentle (bnha)#bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #makeste reads bnha #okay but #kaminari being hyper af right when they should be settling down and getting ready for the big day tomorrow #is also the biggest mood of all time #somehow this kid is going head to head with eri battling it out for cutest of the arc #he has absolutely no filter and no inhibitions #but he's so pure of heart that it doesn't get him into trouble because all he does is just run around being cute #I adore him so much you guys #he makes everything better and I appreciate it so much

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sariasprincy-writes · 5 years

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Hollow Point 21

One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight // Nine // Ten // Eleven // Twelve // Thirteen // Fourteen // Fifteen // Sixteen // Seventeen // Eighteen // Nineteen // Twenty // Twenty-One (here)

a/n: Please note that this story contains themes that may be triggering. These themes include: murder, attempted rape and detailed/graphic violence. If you are uncomfortable reading any/all of these themes, please do not proceed. Thank you.

Chapter Twenty-One The Changing Tides

Sakura took a long sip of coffee. With the other hand, she scrolled through her phone, mentally organizing her day, her shipments and her thoughts.

Releasing a drawn-out sign, Sakura darkened the screen of her phone. Her gaze fell out the little café she had grabbed coffee from. The panels were covered in raindrops. Beyond them, she could see it was still raining. Just a slight drizzle that dampened everything, washing the grey city in even more grey.

It made her want to go to bed. Curl up and watch a movie between naps.

But she couldn’t. She still had so much to do. Between overseeing the packing of the storage to the North and checking in on Ino and Naruto, her day was already full. Not to mention she still needed to pass Madara’s copycat device off to Itachi. Now that Sakura had had three days to buy another phone and make a copy for her own use.

Opening her phone up again, Sakura sent Itachi a text message. The address to one of her many apartments and a time.

She finished her coffee after that and stood, intending to begin another very long day. Her phone pinged with another notification the moment she stepped outside. Under the awning of the doorway, Sakura pulled her phone out again.

This time, it was Kabuto. With a nasty email. Unsurprising since she had declined his latest payment, seeing as she had frozen all her orders. Just one more thing she had to deal with today. Mentally she went over her schedule again. She supposed she could reach out to Kabuto after her meetings with Ino and Naruto, and before she saw Itachi. As long as Kabuto didn’t take too long.

With that decided, Sakura replied to his email as she headed down the sidewalk, weaving between the businessmen moving with purpose and the tourists lingering without.

At the end of the block, Kakashi was waiting for her. His dark Charger idling on the curb, headlights off and windshield wipers on low. He reached across the center console and opened the passenger seat from the inside for her. Once inside, he merged into traffic.

They spent the better part of the day together, just as they had for the last two days straight. He went with her as she conducted her business, organizing shipments and helping her secure safe locations. The storage up north was almost done and after meeting with Ino and Naruto, Sakura was beginning to feel a little better about everything. At least on her side of things.

“I’m going to send Ino to double check on the store in downtown while Naruto surveils the port,” Sakura said as they drove back towards the city.

Kakashi glanced at her briefly before his eyes fell to the road again. “And what about your things in South Central?”

Her fingers stilled over her phone. “Shit, I forgot about that.”

“Do you want to go there now?”

“Can’t, I have to meet with Kabuto,” she said. When Kakashi peered at her, she sighed, “He’s bitching again. Believe me, I don’t want to meet with him either, but he put in an order a week ago and I cancelled it. Hopefully by going to talk to him, I can shut him up for a while.”

Kakashi still didn’t look overly happy but he didn’t reply. They drove without speaking for a few minutes after that. Just the road humming along beneath their feel to keep the silence at bay.

Eventually Sakura darkened the screen of her phone, a soft sigh spilling past her lips. “How about this: you to South Central and I’ll go talk to Kabuto, and we’ll check in afterwards? That way everything gets done.”

Even in the dark, Sakura could see the downward pull of his lips but he nodded nevertheless. “Fine. I’ll drop you at your apartment in downtown. I think that’s where you left your car, right?”

She nodded before she resumed her scrolling through her phone. That would give her just enough time to speak with Kabuto before Itachi showed up.

It was still raining when Kakashi dropped her off. Fortunately, the parking was underground, the only water on the pavement tracked in from other vehicles as they came and went.

“Kabuto’s annoying, but he still pays. Try not to kill him,” was Kakashi’s parting words.

Sakura merely smiled a smile without promise before she headed to her own car.

Less than an hour later, she crossed the main bridge between New York and New Jersey. It had been a while since Sakura had been to the warehouse Kabuto liked to hide out in, but she recalling the winding roads down to the river.

The parking lot was mostly empty, except for the crowd of usual cars. The ones Kabuto and his groupies paraded around in. Little sporty Hondas. The ones that made a lot of noise while going nowhere fast.

The warehouse itself was dark when Sakura entered, her boots echoing against the wide walls of the large bay. She expected to find Kabuto in the back, like she always did. Only when she got there, the table was empty. As were the chairs scattered around it.

Unease settled in the pit of Sakura’s stomach and her hand went for her gun automatically. Out of the corner of her eye, a shadow flickered. She turned towards it as she drew her weapon, but before she could defend herself, something struck her hard on the side of the head. And her whole world went dark.

Pain, pounding and throbbing, hit Sakura like a wave as she woke from her forced unconsciousness. She exhaled a tight breath, not daring to open her eyes just yet as she prayed for the ache in the back of her skull to recede. It didn’t, but it slowed to a deep, pulsing throb rather than a sharp, stab as she inhaled and exhaled and inhaled again.

The first thing she noticed after the pain was that she was lying on her side, her hands tied behind her back. Something she likely only realized because she wasn’t able to reach for her tender skull.

The next was that there were voices. At least two, possibly three somewhere behind her. But it was hard to make out through her pounding head and their mumbling. She strained to hear what they were saying, but the more she concentrated, the more her head ached.

Sakura wasn’t entirely sure much time passed. She dozed off and on, grateful for those brief minutes when sleep chased away the pain lancing through her temples.

She was just drifting off again when a door somewhere nearby slammed open. “So?” someone demanded. She would recognize Kabuto’s voice anywhere.

“She came alone,” one of his men told him.

“Not even her sniper?”

“Nowhere in sight.”

“Well that’s the job of a sniper, isn’t it?” Kabuto bit back harshly. “Go. Search the area. Find out for sure if he’s around.”

There was a hurry of footsteps across the concrete floors. Only once they had faded did she hear softer steps approach where she was laying. Sakura pretended to be unconscious. Which didn’t matter because Kabuto still landed a swift kick to her ribs. She hissed, keeping her yelp of pain locked firmly behind her teeth.

Kabuto was smirking down at her when she finally managed to roll over. His glasses flashed against the single, overhead light. She glared up at him.

“Well, well, Tsunade. Seems our positions are finally reversed for once,” he said, his tone openly smug.

“The only thing that’s changed, Kabuto, is where I was only just considering killing you before, is now a definite,” Sakura retorted.

He didn’t reply. Simply struck her again. Automatically she curled in on herself, hoping that the metallic taste on her tongue was from the dust and metal shavings on the floor and not blood.

“You would think someone in your position would be nicer. But you always were a big talker. I guess that’s what got you here in the first place,” Kabuto said, squatting down to be closer to her level. He rested his chin on his fist, his elbow supported on his knee. “You should have known better than to cross me. I always got you your payments, perhaps one or two were a little late, but you got them. And then you had the audacity to deny me my guns when my men needed them most.”

“Kabuto-”

But she never got the rest of her statement out as one of his men approached her from behind. The strike to her lower back left her winded, gasping for breath. She wasn’t even able to find the strength to struugle against the hands that grabbed her as she was hauled up and settled roughly into a chair. She likely would have tipped over had someone not straightened her again.

“Kabuto,” she tried again as she caught her breath, “I didn’t deny you guns out of spite. There are factors in play that you don’t understand-”

She cut off abruptly as one of his men backhanded her. She spat out the blood that coated her tongue before she glared at him. The man grinned right back, his broken front tooth gleaming in the light.

Kabuto didn’t reprimand his man but he held up a hand to keep him back. “You see, that’s the problem isn’t it?” he said, casually throwing her words from their last meeting back at her. “You’re a pretty girl, Tsunade. I’m sure that’s helped you get out of situations in the past. But it won’t help you here. I’ve found another supplier who can get me what I need. Which means I’m done with your threats and demands.”

She wasn’t sure she liked the cruel smile playing on his lips, but before she could open her mouth, he turned to a man on his left, a large brute that made Kabuto’s small frame appear even smaller. “Do whatever you want with her. Just make sure you dispose of her body afterwards.”

Sakura’s eyes grew wide as her heart jumped in her chest. Kabuto said nothing else. Merely flashed her one last parting glance before he turned and walked out of the room. The heavy, metal door slammed closed behind him. It sounded more like a coffin closing heavily over her head.

Sakura stared at the door until the man Kabuto had addressed stepped towards her. There was a dark, sinister smile on his face as he purposefully reached for the belt of his pants.

Her stomach twisted with disgust and unconsciously she pressed herself back into her chair, wishing it would just swallow her up and make her disappear. It didn’t. Instead, it only pushed against her skin, into the bruises and aches that throbbed just below the surface.

A hard knot began to grow in Sakura’s chest. A mix of terror, hate, rage. And hopelessness. She knew exactly what position she was in. What would likely happen next. And how there was very little she could do to stop it.

Her breath quickly became labored as her distress grew, but Sakura didn’t bother screaming. There was no one to hear her anyway. And in that moment, every fiber of her being regretted her decision to not have Kakashi come with her. She never realized how much she had taken him for granted until now.

On either side of her, more men approached. All wearing that same, matching smile that made her actually, physically ill. She began to struggle, the bounds around her wrists burning into her skin and unyielding. Then one of them was on top of her, one hand grasping her breast painfully through her shirt while the other snaked up the inside of her thigh.

Sakura did the only thing she could think of. She kicked off the ground, knocking her chair backwards. With her hands still tied behind her back, she landed on them heavily. Pain raced through one wrist but she ignored it, using the momentum to roll away from the men crowding her. It gave her enough time to slip her hands in front of her before she pushed herself to her feet.

Sakura didn’t know how she was going to escape. There were at least ten of Kabuto’s men in the room. All with the intent to hurt her. Defile her. They stalked towards her purposely.

“Here, kitty kitty,” one of the men cooed cruelly.

The rest of them all laughed as they took a step forward. Sakura stepped back, matching their pace.

“C’mere, doll face, we’re not going to hurt you,” another off to one side snickered.

Sakura glared at him, realizing a moment too late that the distraction had work. Another man grabbed her from the side and knocked her to the ground, pressing his body down and on top and against her. She tried not to retch at the foul musk of sweat and cigarette smoke.

“C’mon, baby,” he said huskily in her ear. “We just wanna have some fun.”

With a growl of frustration and pain and terror, Sakura tried to shove him away when his fingers slipped under the hem of her shirt and splayed against her stomach. She struggled against him, feeling herself losing the battle. She had never felt so helpless. So desperate in a fight to escape.

That’s when her knee connected with something hard against his hip. A second later, her eyes caught the glint of a handle of a gun. And in that moment, something other than panic rippled through her. Something that distracted her from how alone and defenseless she felt.

Like a light turning on, Kakashi’s training kicked in. Sakura dug her heel into the man’s other hip and pushed out with as much strength as she could muster. It gave her just enough separation to reach down with her bound hands and grab his gun before she kicked him between the legs.

With a loud curse, he scrambled back, both hands cupping himself. The fury was obvious in his eyes when he peered up at her through watery eyes. “You bitch, I’m gonna fucking kill-”

A bullet through his eye cut him off abruptly before he slumped to the floor and didn’t move again.

The rest of the men stilled, realizing the shift of power at that exact moment. Then they all scrambled. But Sakura was already moving. She unloaded two more rounds into the bodies of two more men before a third managed to reach her.

His hand tightened around the barrel of the gun just as she pulled the trigger. A scream tore from his throat as she unloaded the last two bullets into his gut. He dropped his own weapon before he collapsed to the ground, his hands around his stomach where black blood bubbled.

Sakura didn’t give him a second glance. Merely grabbed his discarded gun from the floor before she moved on.

The rest of the men either scattered for cover or tried to restrain her as well. Only one made it close enough to touch her. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back until she was looking up at him. There was a murderous sneer on his face but it vanished when she stomped on his foot and brought the gun in her tied hands up to hit him upside the nose.

He stumbled back as she ripped her hair out of his grasp. Her skull stung but her anger burned stronger. Sakura was nearly seeing red when she swung around to face him. Blood gushed out his nose as he pointed his gun at her. She dodged as the sharp crack rang through the air.

With her adrenaline pulsing, Sakura didn’t know if she had been shot, but she felt the rope binding her wrists together loosen. Not enough to fall away but enough that she was finally able to break her bounds and free her hands completely.

Then she went after the man once more. He aimed at her again just as she closed the space between them. Grabbing his wrist, she pushed his gun far above her head as she unloaded a round into his chest. This close, she felt the metal round rip through his ribs. When he gasped, she saw his broken front tooth. The man that had hit her.

With the cruelest of smiles, Sakura held his gaze as she lodged two more bullets through his flesh. Feeling the exact moment his heart stopped.

In less than a minute, Sakura took out the rest of the men. The ones who had come in unarmed looking for a show. She panted hard, her labored breathing echoing around the room like she had just run a marathon. And she felt like it with her aching sides and sore muscles.

The entire room looked like something out of a horror film. Bodies were strewn about, blood collecting in little pools around them and flecked up the walls and across the concrete. It took her a moment to realize that over her own panting, she could hear another. Just a soft, shaky inhale and exhale.

Looking down, Sakura saw the faint rise and fall of one of her attacker’s chest. Still alive. She fixed that with a single bullet to the back of his skull.

Then she exited through the door Kabuto had departed through. Her only thought of finding him. And ending him.

At the bottom of the staircase was another one man, supposedly standing guard. He must have not heard the commotion upstairs through the thick steel for he never even heard her approach. Only dropped to the ground with a single shot.

To her disappointment, Kabuto was already gone. That didn’t stop Sakura from taking out the rest of the men in the warehouse, one-by-one. Until all that remained in her wake were corpses and an unspoken story of what would become of those who tried to double-cross her.

The entire apartment building was quiet when Sakura arrived. Still, she took the back stairs to the top floor where her condo was, only too aware of the blood and other bodily fluids that clung to her skin and clothes.

She tried not to think about it. About how her hands were still shaking, about how her hair stuck to the side of her neck from more than just sweat, about how much her wrist was killing her. She just focused on one step at a time and trying to get into her apartment before anyone saw her.

Which is why when she exited the stairwell and saw someone sitting on the step outside her door, she stilled. It took her a moment to recognize Itachi but she didn’t immediately relax when he looked up at the sound of the stairwell door closing behind her. The last thing she wanted was a visitor right now.

“What are you doing here?” she asked quietly when he didn’t speak or move to stand.

He stared at her a moment before he finally said, “We were supposed to meet hours ago.”

There was a faint note of irritation in his voice. One she didn’t understand until she realized she was still standing in the shadows. Just out of the hall light.

Letting out a small, ironic laugh, she took a single step forward. “Sorry. Something came up.”

Itachi didn’t move, but his eyes grew large as he traced her from top to bottom. He seemed like he was trying to find what to say as he pushed himself to his feet slowly. The questions of ‘how’ and ‘what’ and ‘are you okay’ formed over his expression, but the words never made it past his tongue as a door slammed closed elsewhere in the building.

It seemed to blink him out of his trance. “Let’s get you inside,” he said instead.

They didn’t speak after that. Even after Itachi slid the deadbolt in place behind him. Even after Sakura slipped her boots off. She simply headed further inside towards the bathroom.

There, she stripped slowly, carefully. First her pants, followed by her shirt. A low hiss escaped her when she reached back for the clasp of her bra. The dull ache in her sides sharpening to something more pronounced with the action.

Without hesitation, Itachi stepped forward from where he had been in the doorway. So still and silent and watchful she hadn’t realized he was there. She tensed at his initial contact, barely relaxing when he helped her slide the material off her shoulders and down her arms with gentle fingers.

In the mirror, Sakura saw the full extent of the damage. Blood splattered against her hands, smeared along her collarbone and neck, and flecked across her face. Bruises had already formed on her sides, dark and looking as painful as they felt. But it was her wrists that were the worst. Rope burns cut into her skin, the right one already swollen where she had landed on it.

Unable to look at the damage any longer, she peered up at Itachi. Through the mirror, their eyes met. His gaze never wavering from hers. She could see the questions lingering there but he didn’t ask and she didn't answer. Merely turned away to turn on the shower.

By the time Sakura had scrubbed all the crimson and grime from her skin, the air in the bathroom was thick with steam. Itachi was no longer there, only a towel left by the shower stall the only evidence he had ever been there. She didn’t know if she was more or less relieved that he was gone.

Sakura dried herself in silence, wrapping the soft towel around her middle carefully before she used her hand to wipe the mist off the mirror. She frowned at the blemish in the corner of her mouth, recalling how the man with the broken tooth had hit her. Which was immediately followed with the memory of her unloading three bullets into his ribcage. Those shots ringing in her ear, feeling them ripple through his body under her hand.

Sakura looked away from the mirror sharply. She didn't dare peer into it again before she headed into the adjoined bedroom. There, she pulled on a hoodie and a pair of pajama shorts before she wandered into the rest of the condo.

To her surprise, she found Itachi in the living room, sitting on the longue chair beside the coffee table. He was typing on his phone but he looked up when he heard her footsteps. She stopped in the doorway and eyed him uncertainly. She had thought he had left. With him sitting there, watching her, she wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him to go away or not.

In the end, she said nothing. Simply sat on one side of the couch. Itachi didn't speak either. Not even when he stood a minute later. Sakura watched him curiously when he disappeared into the kitchen. She didn't know what he was doing in there, but he came back a few minutes later with two shot glasses and a bottle of her best tequila.

He sat beside her before he uncorked the bottle. As soon as he filled one glass, Sakura grabbed it, tossing it back in one go. Hoping the unforgiving grip of alcohol would blur the memory of hands on her chest, between her legs. In her soul. She clung to her anger and the memory of their blood between her fingers. Warm and sticky.

Without a word, Itachi refilled her shot after he had finished topping off his. This time, they drank together.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Itachi asked eventually.

Sakura blew a long breath out between her lips. Not looking at him as she leaned forward to place her shot glass back down. He refilled it immediately.

“Not much to talk about,” Sakura said.

Not sure if she should be telling him anything. He was still CIA. And she had just doubled her kill count in one night. She didn’t know how she felt about that either.

“Just a deal gone bad,” she continued before she reached for the shot glass again. Hoping he didn’t see the way her hands trembled slightly.

She pretended not to notice he was still watching her. Or how close he sat beside her. Even after her shower, her skin was still crawling. She wanted to run her nails down her arms, over her chest. Tear the feeling of those other hands on her body.

“Do you need anything?” he asked.

Sakura let out a cruel laugh. What could he possibly do that could make her feel any better? Tell her he was sorry? Hold her? Perhaps pour her another drink?

“Why are you even still here?” she retorted instead, her anger rearing.

She hoped her words cut into him. Made him bleed. Made him hurt. Like she had. Like she still was.

Because there was something about Uchiha Itachi that made her feel vulnerable, like he could see into her, through her. And the worst part was, she didn’t entirely hate it. She felt safe with him. Secure. As if she could tell him her deepest, darkest secrets and he would only just listen. All without judgement.

But Itachi didn’t become offended by her harsh tone. Instead, a look of confusion passed over his face. Like he didn’t entirely understand why he was still there either. When he blinked, the look was gone. “I am just concerned about you,” he said so softly, so quietly like a caress.

Her eyes narrowed defensively. “It’s not part of your job to be concerned about me.”

“No, but I am anyway.”

“Why?”

Itachi didn’t immediately reply. Then he said, “Because you aren’t what I expected.”

“And what did you expect?” Sakura asked flatly, already feeling the pull of the alcohol. It helped dull the pain in her body and mind. She poured herself another drink before asking, “Did you think I was just some girl who was in over her head?”

To her surprise, he shook his head, his gaze falling somewhere out the window. “No. I thought you were cold and cruel and heartless.” Then he looked at her. “But you’re not. You’re smart and cunning, and though you may not be ‘good’, you’re not evil.”

Sakura stared at him, her anger dissipating as quickly as it had come. Their eyes met. Holding the full attention of the other for one heartbeat. And another.

Then Itachi laughed humorlessly.

"What?" she asked.

"I want to kiss you right now. But I shouldn’t," he said with a fleeting smile. “I don’t know what happened tonight, but-.”

Itachi never finished that sentence. Not before Sakura reached up and gripped the front of his shirt before she sealed her mouth to his.

There were a million reasons why they shouldn’t be doing this, but Itachi never voiced one. Not even when she slipped herself into his lap, her arms wrapping around his middle as her fingers dug into the back of his shirt like he was her lifeline. He, in turn, held her gently, his hands cupping her face as if she were made of dust. One slip away from falling between his fingers. Lost forever.

She could still taste the bite of tequila on his tongue as he kissed her. His mouth moving with hers only to break away to press soft kisses to her jaw and chin and the corner of her mouth. Where the bruising still lingered. His lips were careful and soft like he was trying to kiss the ache away.

She fought against the swell of emotion that built in her chest. It stung in the deepest part of her chest and in the corner of her eyes. She tried to blink it back as she pulled his lips back to hers, but it was too late. The feeling had sunken too deep.

If he noticed her tears, he didn’t mention it. Only smoothed his fingers through her hair and along her spine as she rested her head on his shoulder. Just listening to his strong, steady heartbeat beside her own as the rain pattered softly against the window. It didn’t stop until just before dawn.

to be continued…

#hollow point #chapter 21 #itasaku #itachi #sakura #tw: murder #tw: attempted rape #tw: death #tw: graphic content and violence #arms dealer au #crime au #not as bad as the tags sound (I hope)#just covering all basis

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nalufever · 5 years

Text

For the Best

Chapter two of On Camera

Fandom: The Flash

Snowells, Caitlin Snow x Harry Wells

Rated: mature (future lemon)

Caitlin held her pillow in a death grip, a thin line of saliva connecting her to it as she crooned softly in her sleep. Her smartphone chirped with the tone from an incoming text which she was able to ignore. Mere seconds later, Caitlin's alarm blared rock music and she rolled and bolted upright, bleary eyes and clumsy hands searching for her phone to quell the source of the disturbance.

Get up. Your ride is here.

Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and onto the floor, Caitlin detached her phone from her charger and started typing a response. Is there coffee?

Her phone pinged and a picture popped up on screen - two large steaming coffee confections. Caitlin tapped furiously. Gimme ten minutes!

New music blared and Caitlin swiped to answer the phone, closing her eyes. "Yes?"

"Hey. Do you want me to wither waiting in the car or come on in so you can take longer getting ready?"

"Harry, you already know." Caitlin giggled and then tapped the 'hang up' icon. Life was funny. They'd immediately clicked as friends from day one of the movie shoot, bonding over lunch and shared scenes. They were written as good friends and that had naturally morphed over into their real lives. It wasn't hard after all - Harry treated everyone with enormous respect and kindness.

When her car had developed an unholy rattle (and her garage mechanic was booked for several weeks), Harry had volunteered to drive her, saying he was sure Caitlin would do the same for him.

Harry knocked on the front door, waited a minute and then let himself in with the key Caitlin had insisted on giving him. Caitlin had a nasty habit of falling back asleep. Having another person making noise helped keep her awake - most of the time. He wandered into the kitchen and popped the muffins he'd brought into the microwave, looking for the butter where he'd left it last - having to take the butter out of the fridge. He sighed. Rock hard. He'd have to nuke that too or risk turning the pastries into crumbs.

The two coffees he set on the kitchen island and moved to the sink. Dirty plates and take-out containers scattered on the countertop. Harry grinned; time to make some noise. He ran the hot water, dumped in a healthy amount of soap and began to clean the dishes, making sure to drop the silverware into the sink of bubbles and then into the other side, piece by clean piece.

"Can you not make such a racket?" Caitlin trudged over to her drink and took a sip, sighing with contentment. "God, this is soooo good."

"You don't have to call me God."

"I wasn't. Should I call you the butter police?" Caitlin took the butter off the counter and moved it into the fridge. "Can you please stop doing that?"

"What?" Harry turned his smile to maximum wattage. "Making it easily usable?"

"I keep it cold for portion control if you must know. The harder it is to spread, the less I use."

"…" Harry shook his head and restrained himself from looking at Caitlin's fit body. "You don't need to diet."

"Tell that to my agent and most of the directors I've worked with." Caitlin noticed the pair of buttered muffins gently steaming on a plate. "At least you'll be gaining weight with me."

"Then let's eat." Harry started the sink draining, wiping his hands on a towel and slouched on his favourite barstool. "You're gonna need energy for today's shoot - they've got you scheduled for that running scene."

"Oh yeah," -Caitlin snagged a piece of muffin right out of Harry's hand-"might as well carb up then." She smirked, breaking into a giggle at Harry's look of outrage. "You're the one who told me I don't have to diet, you've got no one to blame but yourself."

He smiled. "I'm my own worst enemy."

Director Tina flipped pages on her script and frowned. "This scene is right before 'Tom' makes his big discovery - but you're supposed to be angry at his distrust of you, 'Danielle.' I need your running to be angry."

"Sorry, I'll do better." Caitlin apologized, lips pressed in a tight line. "I won't let you down." Her eyes were drawn to Harry who approached Iris and whispered into her ear. Caitlin scowled.

"Perfect!" Tina clapped her hands. "That expression - perfect."

Caitlin allowed the wardrobe workers to tidy her appearance for the hopefully last take she'd need to do running in stupidly high heels. The clapperboard was held in front of the camera, clapped - and Caitlin started acting.

"Drop me off at Trevelyan's Tavern?" asked Caitlin. "I accepted a last minute date and it was just easier to meet right after work. So glad they don't need me for the weekend."

"Of course." Harry glanced at his passenger. "Mind giving me directions?"

Caitlin fumbled with her phone, tapping away and giving up with a frown. "I'm out of juice - hand me yours?"

"I'd love to, but I'm sitting on it." Harry stole another look at Caitlin, his expression unreadable. "Don't get weird about this, but-"

"I'm not about to reach in there and grab it!"

"Y'know when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me?" Harry pointed at the glove box. "As I was about to say, don't get weird about this, but I picked up a charging cable for your brand of phone."

"Oh." Caitlin knew her cheeks were radiating heat and colour. "Sorry."

"Heh, as if I'd hit on someone young enough to be my daughter."

"I know. You have too much class for that, but you can't be my dad's age," exclaimed Caitlin. "He's seventy." She grinned. "I'm not as young as I look either."

"Most people would just reassure me I'm not old." Stopped at a traffic light, Harry gave Caitlin a mock glare. "You know us actors are sensitive about our ages."

"You're many things, but you're not age obsessed." Caitlin withdrew the cord from the glove box and connected her phone. "Thanks."

"Don't be too happy. I didn't want you using all my data."

Caitlin rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, old man."

Home had never called so strongly to Harry before; the weather was beautiful - a brightly blazing sun and endless blue sky - the grass and flowers were out in full glory. Harry removed his shoes and took his book out into the courtyard so he could enjoy the fresh air, turning on his favourite music before settling down on an Adirondack chair.

Realizing he'd read the same paragraph several times without making sense of it, he shut the book and sighed. Something felt…off. Not quite right. Work on the movie was going good - most of his scenes were in the can and he was enjoying his co-workers - well, most of them. He still hadn't warmed up very much to Julian, but the man had made an effort to be more friendly.

Stomach rumbling, Harry decided to fix that problem, but upon surveying the contents of his fridge decided a trip to the grocery store was first. Or should he dine out? Thoughts of Trevelyan's Tavern flitted into his brain and he immediately squashed them. Caitlin and her date were there, and it was already weird enough that they were carpooling, if he showed up and Caitlin noticed, she would definitely think he was creepin'. Did young people call it that anymore? Eh.

Harry pulled into the closest supermarket and parked - but before he could exit the car, his phone rang. "Yello?"

"I need a favour! Can you pick me up?"

"I'm fine, how're you?"

Harry regretted his flippancy at Caitlin's next words. "My date is not going well - he's got a restraining order against him-" her voice grew louder, "-and he's proud of that!"

"I can be there in under ten minutes." Harry grimaced. "Has he threatened you?"

"No, but he's creeping me out something fierce." Her voice faltered, and in the background, Harry could hear a staccato knocking. "Ugh - he's pounding on the ladies' room door. Come in and tell him I've got a family emergency?"

"Hang in there, I'm on my way."

Caitlin saw Harry first and bolted from her chair so fast it almost toppled. "Harry!"

"What's going on?" asked Caitlin's date, "You know this guy? That ain't your dad, is it?"

Life pivots on a fulcrum - choices, opportunity, and serendipity wreak havoc on the best-laid plans and intentions.

"I'm her -"

"Previous boyfriend!" Caitlin lunged over to take hold of Harry's hand and started babbling. "Just seeing you has stirred up memories! I realize now I can't move forward because I'm still stuck on you." She flung her purse over her shoulder and gave her ill-fated date a stilted smile. "It wouldn't be fair to you to lead you on, I'm sorry, Tony."

Confusion was replaced by arrogance on Tony's reddening face. "You're out with me, he musta dumped you and you think he'd take you back like that?" Tony snapped his fingers to emphasize his point. "I don't think so."

"Regardless of what you think, the lady has ended her date with you - and we'll be leaving." Harry had to admit he liked how tight Caitlin was twined around his arm, but this was a performance and he loathed how her fear of this guy, Tony, was making her act.

"Not before she pays her share. I don't like not gettin' something for something." Tony rose out of his seat and glared. "This place ain't cheap, and-"

Harry held out his hand and cut off Tony. "Allow me." Harry took out his wallet as best he could one-handed and tossed several twenties onto the table. "We'll be going." He patted Caitlin on the shoulder and smiled.

Caitlin gave a jerky nod and if her smile wasn't happy at least it was relieved. "I think this is for the best."

"Whatever." Tony picked up the money and shoved it into a pocket. "What a waste of my valuable time."

#On Camera #the flash #chapter 2 #For the Best #mature #future lemon #snowells #Caitlin Snow #Harry Wells #Snow x Wells #nalufever

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themissingmarvel · 6 years

Text

Hardly Starstruck [Part 1]

A/N: I’ve never done a celebrityxreader before. So please be gentle! No hate to any celebs in here. I love ‘em all. Also this will be a series. So be patient! :)

Synopsis: Working a con can be stressful, but you’ve done it a while. You’ve seen enough celebrities to be starstruck-proof. Until the big day at San Diego Comicon when the higher-ups tell you Tom Hiddleston’s PR rep is sick. You’re covering the next four days and helping out doing whatever it is that Tom needs done. And while you can’t deny the obvious attraction, you’re determined not to let it cloud your judgment and to ensure you do your job well. But the man is smitten. And determined.

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2.4k

It was the Wednesday before the con opened. San Diego ComiCon to be exact. You’d been volunteering at it for long enough that you were no longer just a volunteer. They’d hired you on as a special guest coordinator long ago, once you got over being so star-struck. After being hugged by Jensen Ackles, Chris Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch… well, you started getting used to it. They were good folks, to be sure, and you loved your job, but you’d become one of the few who was able to sit in a room for longer than ten minutes without completely losing it.

Thursday night was always a fun night. You’d wake up early, get yourself dressed, and head to the con to make sure it was prepped for preview night. It meant going to bed early Wednesday and missing out on some of the parties, but it wasn’t a big deal. You tended to be a part of the rest of the parties throughout the week. With the newest Marvel movie coming out, another Avengers flick, you knew that this would be chaos.

The hotel was night enough, donning your usual baggy pajama pants and tank top as you readied yourself for bed, your routine interrupted as the phone rang on the table, charging next to about twelve other portable battery chargers (such was life.) Glancing down, you recongized the name, “Hey, Emma. Enjoying the- wait, what? Slow down a sec. Hold on.” Emma Hughes was one of the heads of the PR staff for Tom Hiddleston, one of the bigger names you were tasked with ensuring wasn’t tackled by mobs of fans. She was good. They all were. You had to be to work with folks like the stars they did.

On the other end there was frantic yelling, “Y/N! Listen, I know this is last minute, I know that. And I am so sorry in advance. But… shit. Listen, Tom’s con rep, Mark? He’s sick. Like, he can’t get to the airport kind of sick. I’d normally never ask this-”

You waved your hand, though she couldn’t see it, “No. Nope. No way, Emma. I’ve got the rest of the show to run at this point, I can be focused on Tom. I’ve got the entire Marvel crew to watch over, not to mention running point with the rest of the staff!” There was a towel wrapped around your head, wet hair inside it as you felt yourself unplug the phone and nervously pace.

Emma pleaded, “I’m begging you, Y/N. I don’t know the staff the way you do, and right now Tom’s insisting that it be you. He says he doesn’t trust anyone he hasn’t met before.”

Your eyes rolled, dramatically so, keeping the sigh that you wanted to let out internal. Emma was just following orders. But what she was asking of you wasn’t just to keep an eye on him, was she? Squinting, you stared at the door before you, “Are you asking me to be his personal PR rep while he’s here?”

There was a soft pause, “I already talked to the leads of the convention. They’re ready to cover what you’d normally be doing. They’re on board with you being his guide through this. Honestly, Y/N, it’ll be easy. You’ve met Tom before, a few times, and he trusts you. Could be worse. Could be following around Robert,” there was a smirk on the line that you knew too well.

Shaking your head you shrugged, “Fine. Am I meeting him in the morning at the main invite? Or do I have to cart his luggage around the airport,” you mused, already beginning to adjust the items you had packed away to fit this new role.

“Oh, he’s actually in your hotel, perfectly enough. I’ll text you his room number and extension. Just meet him at his room around 9am. You know Tom, he’ll be punctual about it. Just… no starstruck stuff.” A flush crossed your cheeks, one that you were so very glad Emma couldn’t see.

“Rude! I’m never starstruck. And around Tom? Please. Not my type. I’ll be fine, thanks,” you weren’t quite sure right then who you were trying to convince.

“Right, handsome men aren’t your type. I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll send you his schedule and everything in some PDFs to your email and the main account. Familiarize yourself with what you can, but he’s a pretty self-sufficient guy. Just keeping everything in check and getting him places in one piece would be nice,” she droned on.

“Emma! I’ve done this for years. I know the drill. Send me what I need and I’ll make sure he’s taken care of. Promise. Cross my heart. Won’t make any Loki comments, either.” You grinned widely.

Once the two of you had hung up a slew of files came to your phone in almost no time. You were glad the con had provided you with the phone the size of a tablet, give the information. But you were realizing, as you readied yourself for bed, that this was not going to be an easy gig. No, Tom Hiddleston had been one of the celebrities that you’d avoided because of that just… unfairly gorgeous man. More than that, he was charming, funny, sweet, and genuinely fun to be around. You’d avoided him because you knew there was no use getting starstruck around a guy who’d never notice a convention staff member. Certainly not you.

As you lay your head down, though, the thought repeated until you fell asleep, If he doesn’t notice staff, why would he ask for and remember you?

_______

Punctual as he was, 9 in the morning found you dressed with comfort and style outside his door. You were wearing the clothes that you’d always wear, a pair of tattered blue jeans and a low-cut black top clinging to your form. This wasn’t for his benefit, but it was for yours. It was easy to manuever in. And the bag slung around your shoulder held all you needed (including emergency supplies.)

Knocking, you did realize your makeup and hair had been done just a little more than you might have normally. You’d told yourself it was because you’d be in the spotlight more, but that wasn’t it. What did surprise you, however, was Tom opening the door wide, his eyes bright with a smile on his face, “Y/N! Great to see you, beautiful. Please, come in, security was just finishing some of the briefing on the day.” He stepped aside, finishing doing the gunmetal grey tie around his neck with a strange finesse only he could manage.

“Oh, Emma emailed me the security briefings. I just wanted to make sure you’re good with the meet-and-greet with all the A-List around noon, which gives you an hour or so to check out the main theaters. I mean, clearly not enough time to explore all of the con, but it’ll give you a sense of the main-”

He cut you off with a wink and a grin, “Always down to business. Come, sit down and have a cup of coffee while the rest of the group worries themselves with technicalities,” he motioned you through the incredibly elaborate and large penthouse suite. It was hard not to look overwhelmed as you took it in. You’d never had a role quite like this, working directly with a celebrity, but always in the background or from above.

You were surprised as he pulled out the chair for you by a table larger than your own dining room table, waiting until you sat to push the chair in gently, “I’m not too concerned about getting to the main hall early, Y/N. Rather, I’d prefer to chat with you, first. Get to know you better. Sound fair?” He was walking towards the kitchen area, grabbing what looked to be a French press already made, pouring two cups.

Behind you there were the usual suspects working out logistics, locked in their world. You looked at Tom, almost nervously, “I guess so. I mean, I’d really like to talk about the plans for the meet-”

There he went. Interrupting you again, “Cream or sugar? It’s quite potent. Brought the coffee from London. Never the same out in the states.” He eyed the bag and you bit down your brief annoyance.

“Cream. Dash of sugar. Please. So like I was saying, the expectation is to chat it up with some of the other ‘superhero’ franchise folks-”

“I suspected you liked your coffee sweeter, though I’m not sure why. Perhaps you’re sweet enough without the sugar,” he smirked as he waltzed closer, moving with grace and ease as you attempted to hide the blush when he placed the mug down before you.

Shaking your head you eyed him, “Mr. Hiddleston, respectfully-”

“Tom, please, Y/N.” He crossed his legs and leaned back, taking a sip of his piping coffee.

“Tom, I’d really like to go over the details for the day. It’s important you know all this so that when we need to bolt from one hall to the next, you’re ready,” your eyes were pleading, but you knew really you were trying to be distracted. Getting to know Tom was a mildly terrifying idea. He had asked for you, you, without even knowing much more than your name and title.

A gentle smile settled on his lips, “Just, please, do me this request and enjoy the coffee for a minute or five. I promise the entirety of Comicon won’t collapse in that time because I’ve insisted on having coffee with a beautiful woman,” he raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying watching the flustered look on your face.

You attempted to hide it, lifting the mug and taking a sip, your face changing as it caught you off guard, “Damn, you weren’t kidding about the taste. This is potent. But good-potent.” You hadn’t quite realized your swear, nor was it at the top of your ‘things to be concerned about’ list. Rather, enjoying the robust flavor you let the man talk.

“So you’ve been doing this a while. Emma tells me you’ve been part of conventions for some time,” he looked over, taking a sip as well as he waited.

“Been attending forever. Anime cons when I was a kid, got into the other cons as I got older. Broke as hell in college so I decided to volunteer, and viola. Long story short, here I am. Got good at what I did so they decided to keep me. So I get stuck babysitting difficult children like you,” you grinned at him over the coffee, deciding you were getting more comfortable around him now. He seemed like the type who could take it well.

And he did. A laugh escaped his lips as he grinned widely, “Difficult! Darling, I can recite my entire schedule and timing of each location better than you can. Even the parties I’m set to attend this evening. I’m simply trying to put you at ease. Though, I’m concerned I’ll have to be a bit more careful. Seems things are a bit more… distracting for me, this time around.”

He let the words sit in the air with an odd comfort, leaving you to sip the coffee before he quickly began to discuss his own thoughts on the scheduling. He hadn’t wanted to cause you any grief. Quite the contrary. Tom wouldn’t tell you as he discussed the panels he’d be at the next few days, but Mark was fine. In fact, Mark was sitting on a beach in Aruba after having been bribed to do so by Tom. There was no way that Tom would tell you he’d spend months orchestrating the ability to get some time alone with you.

It wasn’t easy for a celebrity, which you understood on a real personal level. Finding time to spend with someone and doing it without raising suspicions was always hard. But he’d managed it. And of course you’d never tell Tom as you sat across and watched his plan to once more appear in his Loki attire, drinking your coffee as he read you the schedule off his tablet, that you were smitten for him. It didn’t feel superficial, either. Which was arguably what frustrated you. This man was taking time, time that he was supposed to spend going down hallways and strutting around for the cameras, with you. He’d slide in a personal question here or there, and you’d ask one in return. In the span of only a half-hour, while the team convened, you and Tom had gone over his weekend that already felt too short.

Realizing the time, the coffee now coursing through you, you almost leapt up, “Oh! Mr. Hi- I mean, Tom, we’ve got to get going. Traffic will be a nightmare unless we head downstairs now, we’ve at least got to get you there in time to smile and wave at all the people you already know,” you grinned.

He followed, no putting up a fight this time, your sudden take-charge attitude coming forward as you lead the group down the hall and out to where the limo was waiting. But as the rest of the crew filed into their cars, you heading for the team at the front, you were surprised as Tom gently took your hand and smiled, “I’d prefer you ride with me, Y/N. You know, in case anything comes up while we’re on the ride there. This limo seems far too large to be in here alone. How about it?”

The smile he gave melted away nervousness that had been eating at you. There was a new kind of anxiety rising now as you slid into the limousine you were almost never allowed into. You wanted to be able to do your job, and to do it well, but now? Sitting in the back of a limo headed to the main hall of the convention center, you weren’t quite sure how that might pan out.

(To be tagged, just let me know! Or not tagged. It’s all good! New territory for me

@skymoonandstardust @with-the-words-all-wrong @little-red-83 )

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