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doomhands-jr · 3 years

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The Choreographer -- Pt. 9

JungkookxReader (–ish??? Guest appearances from others.) Warnings: Smut/angst.

Masterlist

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Chicago was wildly different from LA. The warm weather and sunshine had been replaced with cloudy skies and frigid rain. Even inside, you weren’t exempt from the cold. It was chilly in the large rehearsal space. Everyone had to dress in multiple layers to keep their muscles warm while they rehearsed. You weren’t an exception. Gone were the tight spandex shorts and sports bras you’d donned last week. Now you wore large sweatpants and a zip-up fleece to every practice. If any of the guys noticed a change in your attire, they hadn’t commented. For that, you were thankful.

If you were being honest, you were embarrassed at the way you’d been conducting yourself. Looking back, it was blatantly unprofessional—not to mention obvious that you were acting out to get attention. Surely, it was time to turn over a new leaf. But even with your new change in attitude, you still couldn’t escape the consequences of your past actions. Namely; Jungkook.

Things were awkward between the two of you all week. Not on the surface. You remained friendly and casual with each other in rehearsals, but neither of you would look the other in the eye. At least, not on purpose.

There were a few times, like when you were running through warmups or watching them rehearse different numbers, where you would find yourself watching him. He’d be stretching his quads or focusing on a complex set of movements and suddenly he would latch on to your gaze. You’d hold eye contact for a split second, and then just like that, it would be over.

Each time it happened your heart immediately started pounding as if you’d just stepped onto a treadmill moving at top speed. Your body tensed up and you were in full fight-or-flight mode. You had to devote your full attention to steadying your breath so that you didn’t call any attention to yourself. You got surprisingly good at it after the first few days, though you still weren’t sure exactly why it kept happening.

Between rehearsals, evenings spent watching concert and practice footage, and staying out of trouble with Jungkook, your days were completely packed.

So, when Friday rolled around and the boys were busy with the press junkets all day, you were happy to finally find some time for yourself. You’d been so tense lately that you decided to get in a good workout, treat yourself to the hotel sauna, and then relax in a luxurious bubble bath.

It was nice to finally pamper yourself. You’d been slacking on self-care, and you desperately needed it.

As your body began to feel the first few licks of healing however, your mind grew restless. You sat in the bath, scrolling through social media on your phone for a while, trying out the luxury samples of shampoo and conditioner the hotel had provided, and shaving your legs (even above the knee), but eventually, you ran out of things occupy yourself with and settled for staring up at the ceiling.

For the first time in weeks, you checked in with yourself. And what you found was unsettling.

You were lonely, you realized. You’d been so wrapped up in work that you’d neglected your own needs. You hadn’t been able to see Jia all week, and she was currently with the guys waiting on stand-by for touchups.

Up until now, your closest friends had been the members and Son. It had always been easy with them. At least, it was before you started blurring the lines between work friend and fuck buddy. And now, with how touch-starved you were, you didn’t really trust yourself around the guys. That left Son, but he was all the way back in Seoul.

You missed him. He had been your closest friend for the last few years. And yes, he was technically your superior, but he’d always treated you as much more of a colleague and friend than a boss.

How had Son handled himself on tour? Had he struggled with loneliness the same way you had? Did he ever get tempted with any of the crew? Or was he just better than you were at maintaining professional boundaries and not letting his own impulses get the best of him?

You’d always admired Son’s dedication and commitment to his craft. You couldn’t imagine him ever letting anything like sex or dating get in the way. You knew he’d dated, of course, but he always seemed to be able to keep his work life and personal life separate.

You on the other hand, had always struggled with that. You weren’t even sure if you could call what you had a “personal life.” Everything seemed to blend together. All of your friends and acquaintances were people you knew from work. Even the people you slept with were from work. You’d devoted so much of your time and energy to your work that you couldn’t think of any real, concrete part of your life that didn’t revolve around your job.

You sunk lower into the bathtub, letting the water cover you up to right below your nostrils. The bath smelled like lavender and chamomile. You’d been soaking long enough that your fingers had gotten pruned, but you weren’t ready to get out. The water was still lukewarm against your tired muscles and getting out would mean being a Real Person in the World again. No, you’d stay in the bathtub as long as possible.

So what if you didn’t have much of a life outside of work? You were currently acting as the main choreographer for the biggest boy band in the world. That had to count for something. You should be proud of your accomplishments. Not many people can say they’ve achieved so much at such a young age. Besides, it was only for a few months, in the grand scheme of things. You could work on your social life when you got home. For now, it was okay to focus on work.

You closed your eyes and inhaled the soothing aromas again. Jungkook’s doe eyes stared back at you. Instantly, you felt embers spark to life in between your legs. You sighed in frustration, angry at the visions of him that kept following you around. Your body yelled back at you, demanding to have its needs met. And since it was just a harmless fantasy, you allowed it.

He was on top of you, one hand wrapped around your thigh, holding it up so that your leg was pressed into your torso, the other fisted into your hair, supporting his weight with his elbow. His gaze was determined, eyes locked on yours, practically staring into your soul.

Your hand dipped into the water and traveled down to the apex of your thighs. You stroked the area delicately. Your body sang out with euphoria, thanking you for tending to it.

Jungkook’s hair swayed back and forth with each thrust. His pink tongue darted out to lick his lips. His breath ghosted across you.

You added a little more pressure, circling your middle finger around the sensitive bundle of nerves. Your other hand glided across your chest, slipping over your nipples. The nerve endings lit up like firecrackers, feeling extra attuned to the sensory input.

Jungkook pulled your hair, exposing your throat to him. He looked almost feral, with the way he was gritting his teeth and studying the way your throat expanded and contracted with each of your labored breaths.

You arched your back, speeding up your movements in time with the image of Jungkook. He was gaining momentum, thrusting into you with a new fervor. He slammed into you with as much force as he could muster.

There was a loud knock on the door. You jumped at the sound.

For a brief moment, you thought someone had heard you, but you hadn’t been making any noise. You could practically hear your body whine in protest as your impending orgasm slipped from your grasp and quickly faded back into silence. You groaned under your breath, now crankier than you’d been even before all the pampering.

The knock sounded again.

“Just a minute!” you called. You sighed and counted to three, before hoisting yourself out of the bath water. The chilly air bit at your skin and you threw on a fluffy hotel robe, trailing water all the way out of the bathroom and to the front door of your room.

Upon opening it, you saw Yoongi, still in full hair and makeup from the interviews, but wearing generic sweatpants and white T-shirt instead of brand-name and designer clothes. He looked you over, glancing at your cheeks, which you could tell were still flushed.

“Uh, am I interrupting anything?” he asked.

“No,” you said, a little too quick and breathy for your liking.

“Can I come in?” he asked, choosing not to focus on your strange response.

“Uh, sure,” you answered, stepping aside and allowing him to pass. “Just let me get changed real quick.”

Yoongi gave a sort of half-shrug gesture that seemed to say ‘by all means’ and you ruffled through your suitcase to pull out whatever warm, comfortable clothes you could find.

You changed in the bathroom, trying to soothe your anger and frustration at having been interrupted, and threw your hair up in a towel turban. You took a little extra time to ensure the redness in your cheeks died down before re-emerging clean and dry.

“What’s up?” you asked, rubbing some lotion on your face. You were surprised that Yoongi even knew where your room was, let alone had a reason for wanting to visit you.

“It’s been a long day. Do you have any weed left?” He looked exhausted and positively desperate, and you couldn’t help but laugh.

Of course he would be looking for weed. What else would he be doing in your room?

“That bad, huh?” you asked, rubbing the excess lotion on your forearms.

“You have no idea.” He sighed heavily as if to prove his point.

You rummaged around in your carry-on bag, taking extra care to shield the contents from Yoongi’s view, lest he spot any of your undergarments or…devices.

“You’re in luck. I wasn’t going to bring it, but apparently it’s legal here too.”

You handed him two joints. “Keep the change.”

“What?” he asked, taking the joints from you.

“Never mind,” you said, realizing your joke hadn’t landed. It had been a throwaway, anyway.

Yoongi smiled at you, pocketing one and taking the other between his fingers.

“Care to share?”

You hesitated a moment before answering. Could you trust yourself with Yoongi? If last week taught you anything, it was that you didn’t always make the most responsible decisions, especially while inebriated.

But a louder, more insistent voice told you that you were lonely, and that you needed a friend to confide in. Besides, Yoongi had already told you that he wanted to remain professional. He stopped you from making a mistake last time (barely), but the message still came across.

“Sure,” you said. There was no balcony at this hotel, but there was a patio on the floor above you that had been blocked off for the tour. No guests aside from crew were allowed. But since it had been so cold, few people ever used it. If they had to smoke, they usually went to the hotel bar on the first floor.

You bundled up in a second hoodie. Yoongi borrowed one of your oversized fleece sweatshirts and you made your way down the hall, up the stairs, and out to the patio. It was deserted. You were shielded from the rain by a glass awning, but the wind still thrashed against your skin. You leaned against the railing and looked out over the city skyline as Yoongi withdrew a joint and a lighter from his jacket.

He struggled to guard the flame against the wind, trying in vain to light the joint. You moved to block the wind with your body, both of you huddled around the lighter as he clicked it again and again. Finally, he managed to keep it aflame long enough to light the joint and inhale deeply.

He passed it to you as you took a seat on one of the plastic Adirondack chairs. Yoongi sat down in the chair next to yours. You inhaled deeply and exhaled through your nostrils, allowing the smoke to billow out in two streams. You kept your eyes closed, waiting for the high to set in, and passed it to Yoongi, who did the same.

Yoongi looked stressed, you noted, as the now-familiar buzz settled over you. While not usually a high-energy person to begin with, he looked even more exhausted than usual. You’d noticed he hadn’t been as engaged in practice lately, either.

You waited for him to bring up the topic on his own. It took him a few more drags, but he finally did.

“I love my job,” he said, passing the joint to you. “I’m so grateful to be where I am.”

“I’m glad,” you said, taking a drag of your own. You could tell he had a lot to get off his chest.

“I’m happy that I have the opportunity to get my music out there. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.

“Sure,” you agreed. You could tell there was a ‘but’ he was getting to. He did not make you wait long.

“But when I agreed to this, I didn’t know that I was signing up for…all…this.” He made a vague hand gesture.

“The tour?”

“No, I expected to tour. I just didn’t realize I’d be shuttled around day after day, having to wake up early and do interviews, one after another. Answer the same questions over and over and sit in a makeup chair for hours and wear all these crazy costumes. It’s just so not me.”

You took another drag and handed it back to him.

“I’m sorry,” you said. “I don’t imagine it would be very fun.”

You couldn’t really relate to his experience exactly, but you had a sort of idea what he was feeling. You’d been struggling to get excited about your job recently as well. It had started feeling a lot more like a chore than a passion.

“You know my second mixtape has basically been ready for over a year now?” he said. “The label won’t let me release it until after the tour because they want to focus on the current tour. And I mean, from a marketing standpoint, I get it. But it also feels like it’s kind of getting pushed to the side. By this point, I’ve written enough songs for a third, fourth, and fifth album.”

“I’m sorry,” you said again, not sure what else to say.

“Getting my solo music out there was the reason I agreed to stay in the band when it switched from a hip-hop group to a K-pop group. I was ready to walk, but they said they’d promote my solo work if I stayed.”

He took another long drag from the joint. It was already half-spent by that point. Your heart went out to Yoongi. He had certainly agreed to quite a lot of compromises for the sake of his music.

“Are you going to say anything to them?” you asked.

“Probably not,” he said with a sigh. “There’s not really much I can do about it, anyway. They’re in charge of all the release dates. I agreed to it when I signed the contract. I should have fought for more control over my music before I signed. I was naïve and desperate.”

“Isn’t there anything you can do?”

He shook his head. “It’s too late now.”

“I’m sorry,” you said.

Yoongi didn’t say anything else for a while. You were both content to just sit there, taking in the slowly-darkening night sky. The city lights were pretty from where you were. The hotel was far from downtown Chicago, but it offered you a decent view of the skyline and the large lake beyond it. The water glittered in the setting sun. The entire city was cast in a pink and orange glow. Big, fluffy cumulonimbus clouds rolled across the sky. Pink on the bottom, transitioning to a deep blue gray around the edges. In the distance, you could see an incoming storm.

“Did you always want to become a choreographer?” he asked.

“In a sense,” you said. “My dream was to open my own dance studio one day.”

“What happened?” he asked.

You considered whether or not you wanted to tell him the full story, but thought better of it. He didn’t need to hear everything that went on between you and your professor.

“I’d done an internship with Son back when I was in dance school. That was when he was at a different company. We became pretty good friends during the internship. I was really sad when he left the old company to come here, but we still stayed in touch. Eventually, he determined he needed an assistant and reached out to me. I had to submit my resume for approval and go through a few rounds of interviews and background checks, and they made me learn a bunch of choreography before they’d agree, but eventually they hired me on. It seemed like a good career move at the time.”

Yoongi turned back to the sunset for a few more minutes before he continued.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

You opened your mouth to speak. Your knee-jerk reaction was to say that yes, of course you liked it. You got to do what you loved, and make a pretty decent living out of it. But something made you pause.

“Sometimes,” you said. He nodded.

“And what about other times?” he asked.

“I guess it can get a little lonely,” you said. “There’s a lot of pressure to be perfect.”

“I feel that,” he said. You didn’t doubt it. If you felt the pressure of perfection, it must have been a hundred times worse for Yoongi, being the one out there on stage in front of the whole world.

“Do you regret joining?” he asked.

“Not at all. I sacrificed a lot to be where I am today,” you said, a bit of bitterness leaking into your tone.

“Has it paid off?” he asked.

“Not yet,” you answered. “But I think it will one day.”

“Do you think you’ll eventually open your own studio?” he asked.

“I don’t know anymore.”

The dream seemed so far off now. You were too busy focusing on surviving the next few weeks of tour, and even that seemed nearly impossible sometimes. You couldn’t imagine ever having the energy to run your own studio, not to mention the discipline it would require—something you seemed to struggle with more and more every day.

You didn’t say much after that. You and Yoongi finished the joint and headed back inside. Yoongi went back to his room and you went back to yours. There was a lot in that conversation that went unsaid. A lot that didn’t need to be.

By the time you made it back to your hotel room, it was late.

You thought back to your conversation about Son. He was probably awake back in Korea. It had been so long since you’d seen his face, or even heard his voice. You missed him. He always had this way of reassuring you whenever you felt insecure in your skills.

You opened your laptop and pulled up your video messaging app. He’d probably be too busy to answer, but it was worth a shot.

The chat window rang for what seemed like ages. You were just about to hang up when the screen blipped, and you saw Son’s smiling face staring back at you.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite prodigy!” he exclaimed. “How’s it hanging?”

You couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face. You hadn’t realized just how much you missed him.

“Son! Oh my God, it’s good to see you.”

“How’s the tour been? Stressful?” he asked with a laugh.

“You can say that again,” you said. “You were right about what you said before I left. It’s been so fast-paced.”

“How about the crew parties? Did you survive?” he asked with a knowing grin.

“What did you hear?”

Son burst out into laughter, shaking his head. “I didn’t hear anything,” he promised. “I just know how you get sometimes. Remember that party we had at my mom’s place back when you first got hired at the label?”

Heat and embarrassment crept up on your face, but you couldn’t stop yourself from smiling.

“Don’t remind me.”

“You just about broke the table when you tried to back flip off it!”

“Give me a break, I was six beers deep by that point!” you exclaimed. “Besides, that’s nothing compared to the keg stand you tried to do on the deck. What did your mom say when she saw the railing?”

“Nothing. I was able to fix it before she got home,” he said.

“Lucky. She would have killed you,” you said.

“Well it’s a good thing someone kept their mouth shut.”

You both shared a hearty belly laugh for a good long while. You couldn’t explain it, but Son had a way of making you feel like yourself again. Something you hadn’t realized you’d been missing over the last few months.

The laughter died down eventually, replaced with a somber silence.

“How is she?” you asked.

He sighed.

“Really gonna make me talk about it, huh?”

“You don’t have to,” you said.

“No, it’s probably good to do that,” he resigned himself. “It has been hard. She hasn’t been improving, even with the chemo. Doctors aren’t sure what’s going to happen.”

“That must be scary.”

“It is,” he agreed. “It’s all this wait-and-see. It’d be easier if I knew one way or another. Then I could start mentally preparing myself. The hardest part is just not knowing. One day she seems like she has a lot of energy, the next, she’s sicker than she’s been in weeks.”

Your heart sank. Son’s mother had always welcomed you as if you were part of the family. She insisted on taking care of you whenever you were around. You have fond memories of laughing with the two of them while she taught you how to make some of her family recipes or telling stories about all the trouble he used to give her growing up. You’d give anything to repay that kindness.

“I’m so sorry. I really wish I could be there.”

“Honestly,” he said, “just you stepping in during the tour helps more than you even know. It’s been a blessing to be able to spend this time with her. She’s been there for me countless times, and I’m just happy that I can be there for her now. As shitty as the circumstances are, that is.”

Shit. Son was at home caring for his dying mother. And you were here, risking your position multiple times, and for what? Some cheap hookups?

What would happen if you got caught? Would they send you back home, too much of a liability to have on tour? Would Son have to stop caring for his mother and come back? How would you be able to live with yourself?

“I’m happy I can help,” you said. “You know how much you both mean to me. Just hang in there, okay? We’ll get through this.”

You tried to sound hopeful, but you could tell that he picked up on the sadness in your voice.

“Thanks. I mean it. I really can’t tell you how grateful I am that you’re willing to do this.”

“Of course.”

You fell once again into a comfortable silence, both of you feeling the weight of everything. Son was the first to break it.

“What about you?” he asked. “Is everything okay on your end?”

How were you even supposed to answer that?

Yeah, sorry I can’t seem to stop getting fucked up and sleeping with the members. Not sure why. Probably something to do with the fact that I’m completely unqualified for the job and I feel like sex is the only thing I’m good at.

No, you weren’t going to open up that discussion.

“It’s like you said. It just gets lonely and stressful.”

He didn’t press it any further. Instead, gave you a sympathetic look and assured you that he understood.

“You’re doing a great job,” he said. “I’ve been watching footage from the shows and everything looks really good.”

“Thanks,” you said, but it was hollow. If he knew how much you’d been fucking up, you doubted he’d still feel that way.

You stayed on the call a little longer, but it was getting late and you had to be up early for practice. It wasn’t long before you were saying your goodbyes and hanging up, with a plan to talk again next week.

You went to bed that night feeling worse than ever. You had to stop risking your job. You just had to. You couldn’t let your best friend down. Not after everything he’d done for you. Not when so much was riding on the line.

______

The next night’s show was one of the best they’ve had so far on the tour. Everything seemed nearly perfect. The dance moves were synchronized with the beat and the spacing was more balanced than it had ever been. You watched from a special location on the side of the pit reserved for crew member, pride swelling within you.

For the first time, it really felt like you were actually accomplishing something great. You’d been working so hard for so long, and while they had been performing well in the past, they still encountered issues with spacing fairly frequently. Many of them would move through the choreography, blending one move into another without fully following through.

Not that night though. That night, they were flawless. You couldn’t help but feed off the adrenaline in the crowd and the energy the members were giving off. They nailed each number they performed. You could tell they felt it, too.

At one point, Hoseok caught your eye and winked. Perhaps this was a sign that you had made the right choice. As soon as you decided to take your job more seriously, the stars aligned and everything came together. You hoped that was the case. Perhaps you’d be more committed now that you knew what you were all capable of.

You stayed afterwards in the makeup room to congratulate everyone on a flawless performance, taking care to provide each of them with individual feedback, before joining Jia and the rest of the crew. They were all heading to the club, which had become a Saturday night tradition.

You were happy to go. You felt like you’d truly earned a night of celebration. You donned your purple sparkly clubwear once again and piled into the van with Jia, Hanyuel, and a few other crew members that you were getting to know.

There was Colin, an energetic camera man who had been raised in America and could speak perfect English; Li, a member of the stage crew who could drink twice as much as you could and still seem sober; and a tall, stoic man who smoked Marlboro reds and went by the nickname “Woozie.” Woozie rarely talked and you weren’t sure how such a reserved person had received such a lively nickname.

You were beginning to understand the appeal of going to the club. While on tour, everyone worked so hard and tried to stay so professional. At the club, however, you were free to let loose. Some of the crew members partied harder than you ever had.

It was much more than a celebration for them, you realized. It was a necessary outlet for everyone. At the club, everyone worked off all the frustration they’d accumulated throughout the week. An hour into it, and Li had already downed seven drinks, and was now grinding with one of the other members of the stage crew who you hadn’t met before. Hanyuel had disappeared off to the bathroom fifteen minutes ago.

The others were crowded around a table watching as you and Jia went shot-for-shot with Tequila. Knowing you had to be up tomorrow for rehearsals, you tapped out after four, but Jia managed six without so much as a wince.

Feeling pleasantly buzzed, you decided to make your way onto the dance floor. The music pulsed loudly. The bass reverberated in your eardrums and throughout the rest of your body. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes, allowing the music to reverberate inside you. It came alive as you began to move in time with the beat.

You swayed your hips back and forth, feeling the rhythm settle down deep within your center of gravity. Back and forth, left to right. You swiveled, grinding down lower. The beat was sensual. Dirty. Bodies writhed around you. The music had you in a trance.

This was what you loved. Dancing. Moving your body freely. It was such cathartic form of expression for you. In this environment, you ceased to be the perfect, professional choreographer and instead became another stranger, moving in tandem with other strangers, uninhibited. Connected. Your heart was open. Your mind unoccupied. And though you couldn’t say you were happy, at least you were free.

You hadn’t danced like this for ages.

Most of your job involved helping others perfect someone else’s choreography. Other times, you danced freely to the music, but it was always by yourself. Never like this. Never writhing along with a crowd. A drop in an ocean of people. A thread in a tapestry. Part of a whole.

A pair of hands found your hips. You looked over your shoulder to see Colin drunkenly smiling down at you.

“This okay?” he mouthed.

You nodded.

It was innocent enough, you reasoned. Plus, you could use the release. The reminder that you were a sexual and sensual person, and just because you couldn’t act on that with Jungkook didn’t mean you couldn’t explore those feelings with someone who wasn’t off-limits to you.

You didn’t resist as he pressed up against you, grinding his hips into yours. You continued swaying to the rhythm, giving yourself over to the beat once again. It reminded you of some of the more intimate partnered dances you’d done back when you were in dance academy.

It had been awkward at first, to dance that way with other people—especially ones you didn’t know too well. But eventually it just became another form of dance to you. You were no stranger to getting up close and personal with another dancer. You couldn’t count the number of times you’d been in positions even more intimate than this one with one of your classmates.

Sometimes, their bodies would react to those sensations.

Kind of like Colin’s was right now, you noticed.

In dance class, whenever it happened, it was customary to just ignore it. They often couldn’t help how their bodies reacted and it was more embarrassing for them than it was offensive to you. You decided to give Colin the same grace you usually extended to the male dancers at your old academy.

You turned to face him instead, increasing the distance between the two of you a little bit so that you had at least a few inches of space to give him so he could calm down.

He wrapped his hands around you, traveling down your lower back. You draped your arms around his shoulders and found the rhythm again. You continued to dance, bodies moving against one another in synchronization. He rested his forehead against yours and you cupped a hand around his neck.

He slid his hands down to your ass to pull you in closer so that your leg was slotted in between his. You felt it. He was hard.

“Mmm,” he groaned as he rubbed against your hip. Your body tensed up. Your hands dropped from his neck to his chest, forcing some distance in between the two of you.

“I’m gonna go grab some water!” you shouted over the beat. His face fell.

“No, stay,” he said.

But he barely had time to protest before you were already halfway to the bar. You ordered a water and another shot of tequila. While the bartender went to run your card and close out your tab, you took a few deep breaths to steady yourself.

Where had that reaction come from?

Colin was handsome. He was nice. You enjoyed flirting with him and you could tell that you both had decent enough chemistry. Most importantly, he wasn’t off-limits to you.

Fucking Colin would make it so much easier to get over Jungkook—so why did you pull away?

You ground your molars together and looked at your phone.

No new texts. You weren’t sure what you were expecting. It was well past one in the morning. All the guys had probably gone to bed by that point. Everyone else you talked to was already here.

You tried to shake off your irritation, downing the shot and heading back to a different part of the dance floor, where you found Jia grinding on someone you didn’t recognize from the tour.

“Hey!” she said, abandoning her dance partner in favor of taking your hand and pulling you in close. “I saw you with Colin!”

She slid an arm around your waist while you braced your hands on her shoulders, the two of you dancing together while you talked.

“You should give him a chance,” she said. “He’s really nice and super cute.”

“Yeah?”

“I think so.”

“Maybe,” you shouted over the music. “I’ll think about it.”

“Awesome,” she said.

You doubted you would get around to actually considering it, but that was a conversation you didn’t feel like having.

You danced with Jia the rest of the night, feeling a lot safer with her than you had felt with Colin—though her movements were even more suggestive than his had been.

Where had she picked those up? Was it just the tequila? The last time the two of you went out together, she had not been quite as bold or handsy. And yet you didn’t react to her touches the same way you’d reacted to Colin’s.

By that point, the tequila had fully hit you and your memory grew a bit fuzzy. Your memory faded in and out, and you mostly recalled grinding on Jia pretty intensely until around two in the morning, when the rest of your group informed you that they were leaving to get pizza.

Colin didn’t interact with you much after the incident, whether because he was embarrassed or because he was salty from being rejected. You didn’t complain though. With any luck, he was really drunk and had already forgotten about it.

By the time the taxi pulled up to the hotel, it was half past three in the morning. You and Jia were still tipsy and had reached the giggly and affectionate stage of drunkenness, but a few of the other members had begun sobering up.

“Shit, you guys!” you realized as you reached the elevators. “I think I left my purse in the cab!”

“I think it’s still out there,” said Lee.

“Do you want us to wait for you?” asked Jia.

“No, you guys go on ahead,” you said. “I’ll just be a minute.”

You bid them good night and rushed out past the lobby and into the overhang, where the cab driver thankfully hadn’t pulled away yet. You startled him when you knocked on the door, but he was nice and non-judgmental about the situation when you explained.

You found the small clutch underneath one of the seats. Many of the contents had spilled out, and it took a while to collect them all. You ended up throwing the cab driver a few extra bucks as a tip for the trouble and made your way back into the hotel. The others had already taken the elevator upstairs, so you waited alone for it to come back to the first floor.

It had been a long night. You were still a little tipsy, but mostly just tired. The last shot of tequila may have been a mistake. It was a good thing you’d gotten some food in you. Now you just needed a hot shower and a warm bed. And maybe a toothbrush, you realized as you ran your tongue along your teeth and felt the fuzziness of sugar and plaque. You could taste the leftover alcohol and grease on your tongue, too. Gross.

The elevator dinged, opening to reveal an empty compartment. You stepped inside and hit the button for the eighth floor.

As the doors started to close, a hand appeared between them. They stopped in their tracks and reversed, opening back up to allow entrance for what turned out to be a very wet, very shirtless Jungkook.

“Oh!” you gasped, still a little drunk.

“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows. You moved aside to provide him with ample room. Probably more than was necessary.

“I just didn’t expect you to be awake.” Or shirtless.

The elevator door closed. He pressed the button for the ninth floor. He was on a different floor from you this time. That must be why you hadn’t seen him in the halls at all this week.

The door closed and the elevator lurched upward.

Don’t look at him.

You glanced out of the corner of your eye. He stared straight ahead. He had draped a towel around his neck, but it apparently hadn’t done a very good job considering how well his chest reflected the fluorescent lights in the elevator. His hair dripped down onto his shoulders. Water droplets trailed down his back and arms. He wore yellow swim trunks and nothing else. He looked bigger than normal in the tiny space. It was almost unfair how big he was. You looked away before he could catch you.

“Have fun tonight?” he asked, still looking straight ahead.

“Yeah,” you said. “They had a great DJ.”

“Cool,” said Jungkook.

The ascent was slow. The time between each floor felt twice as long as any other elevator you could remember riding.

“Nice night for a swim,” you commented.

“Yeah,” he said.

Jesus Christ, how long does it take to go eight floors?

“You look nice,” he said. You turned toward him, surprised to see he was looking right at you, expression unreadable.

“Thanks,” you said. “So do you.” You happened to glance at his chest before you could catch yourself and winced. “I mean, um.”

Why were you so stupid? You looked back away. He chuckled softly.

“Thanks.”

At last, the elevator finally came to a halt and the doors opened. You were in such a rush to exit that the heel of your stiletto caught on the frame and you stumbled a bit on your way out.

“Have a nice night,” he said softly as the doors began to close again.

“You too.”

And then he was gone. You slapped a palm against your forehead, mentally berating yourself for the absolutely terrible performance you just gave and stalked off down the empty hallway to your room.

You slept restlessly that night, replaying the scene in the elevator over and over in your mind. You had no idea what to do about the situation.

Jungkook said you looked good. Which meant he had been paying attention to your appearance. Did he mean it or was he just trying to be nice?

Jungkook had also looked good. You admired his commitment to fitness. Swimming at three in the morning? Who even did that? And it paid off, too. His arms were toned as ever.

Why had he been swimming at three in the morning though? Everyone else had already gone to bed by that point.

For the hundredth time, your mind went back to that night in his hotel room. Him on top of you, doe eyes locked on yours. A tingling erupted between your legs.

Ugh.

“Oh now you’re horny,” you said to the empty room.

Why now? Why not yesterday after you were hanging out with Yoongi? Why not earlier when Colin was pressing his dick up against you? Or even when Jia was grinding all over you? You were pretty sure she had hinted at wanting to make out with you at one point.

Sighing, you got up to rifle through your suitcase again. You figured you probably weren’t going to be able to sleep until you took care of it. You grabbed one of the expensive vibrators Jimin had purchased for you, feeling a twinge of guilt that you’d even allowed him to purchase so many things for you. In retrospect, it was obvious that there was some sort of catch. Jimin had always been a smooth talker and an expert at flirtation, but he turned out to be just as toxic for you as Jungkook was.

Not that you hadn’t played an equal role in making it toxic. You’d accepted the gifts willingly knowing that getting involved with him in the first place had been a bad idea.

But the sex toys had already been purchased. They were here now and there wasn’t much you could do about it, so you may as well get some use out of them. Besides, you figured Jimin probably wouldn’t want them back now.

You grabbed a dildo and a vibrator out of the bag, along with some lube, and tried your best to move past your guilt. It had been a while since you’d shown yourself some love. Sure, there was that moment in the bathtub, but Yoongi had interrupted it, so that didn’t really count.

You laid back, finding a comfortable position, and traced the vibrator around the outside of your vulva without turning it on.

What if tonight had gone differently?

You switched the vibrator on. The buzzing noise filled the room. God, it was so loud. You threw a pillow on top of it to dampen the sound.

What if Jungkook had kissed you in the elevator? You bet he would have wrapped his arm around your waist, soaking your clothes, but you wouldn’t have cared. He would have kissed you without saying a word. Held you up against the wall like he’d done back at the studio. You would have dragged your fingers through his damp hair, his broad shoulders and strong arms supporting you.

You arched your back, adding pressure to where the vibrator was situated snugly between the pillow and your clit. You dipped the end of it inside. Your pussy clenched reflexively around it. You needed more in you.

With one hand, you held the vibrator against your clit, and with the other you flipped open the cap on the lube bottle, squirted some on the dildo, and ran your hand up and down to ensure it was properly coated.

You pressed the head of the dildo to your entrance. It was bigger than the vibrator and didn’t go in quite as easily. You kept it pressed against you, enjoying the pressure until you were ready to take it.

You were back in Jungkook’s room. His mouth was sucking purple bruises on your neck. He grabbed a fistful of your hair and pulled your head back to reveal more of your throat. He traced his mouth along the length of your jugular vein, nibbling every once in a while until he got to your ear. He took the lobe between his lips and tugged. Tingles erupted down your spine.

Between your legs, the head of the dildo slipped inside of you. You gasped as it placed firm pressure against your G-spot, tilting your hips back and forth for more stimulation. With each undulation, more of the dildo slid inside until it was fully sheathed. The vibrator continued to buzz pleasantly against your clit.

The dildo was bigger than you were used to. Jungkook hadn’t been quite as large or girthy as the manufactured toy, but the fake silicone didn’t hold a candle to the real thing. He had been smooth and warm inside you. His skin was soft. You missed the weight of him on top of you and the force behind his thrusts. But the dildo still felt good and was doing a pretty satisfactory job.

You pulled the dildo out slightly and pushed it back in to mimic being fucked. You tried to find the perfect angle, flipping over onto your stomach. It was difficult to support yourself while holding the dildo and vibrator in place, but with some fenagling, you managed.

Jungkook was behind you now. His head was thrown back, eyes closed. Eyebrows furrowed, chasing his high. He fucked you with abandon, pounding you deeper into the mattress. You weren’t sure how much more you could take, already approaching sensory overload. Still, he fucked you harder.

You were close. Your hands were getting sore and tired from maneuvering the toys. Your shoulder strained from where you were resting most of your weight on it, and there was a cramp in your neck. Your lower back was starting to ache from its arched position.

Jungkook slammed into you again and again, his fingers digging into your hips as he gripped them firmly, fucking deeper into you.

“Fuck, Jungkook,” you whispered under your breath.

You came hard. In your vision, Jungkook came at the same time, spilling himself into you with a guttural groan, then rolling over and cradling you in his arms.

You collapsed onto the bed and eased the dildo out of you. You took a few moments to catch your breath and shut off the vibrator. You rolled onto your back, and stared up at the ceiling of the dark hotel room. As you came down from your high, the emptiness of the room grew more pronounced.

Everything was still and quiet.

Jungkook wasn’t there.

________

You woke up hungover, noticing the sheer size and emptiness of the king-sized bed. You groaned with the effort it took to force yourself out of bed. You would have given anything to sleep the rest of the day.

Somehow, you made it through the run-throughs. You worked on auto-pilot all day, taking breaks whenever you could and popping Tylenol like it was candy.

The guys, you figured, were experienced enough to know what to do. They didn’t require much instruction from you, especially after such a great performance last night.

You tried to make as little eye contact with Jungkook as possible, while still interacting with him enough so that you wouldn’t raise suspicion.

The rehearsal was over quickly, and they were off to hair and makeup. You paced around the back hallways of the stadium, unsure of what to do with yourself. You supposed you could go back to the hotel, but you’d prefer to watch the show from the sidelines so you could monitor how they were doing and make mental notes of any issues you needed to correct. It wouldn’t start for a few more hours though.

You avoided the dressing rooms, even though you desperately wanted to talk to Jia. You didn’t want to face Jungkook again. Not after having embarrassed yourself so much in front of him last night.

You wanted to see him though. You’d been thinking about him more and more. You missed him. Not just his body, but the dynamic you shared. Things had been different ever since the last time you slept together and you knew it was probably for the best, but it was still hard to see him every day. How were you supposed to get over him?

You found an access door near the back of the building and stepped outside for some fresh air. Woozie was there, smoking a cigarette and listening to music on his phone. He didn’t look up at you as you sat down with your back to the building. It was cold again. You could see your breath in front of you. The frigid air stung your lungs, but in a good way. You closed your eyes and rested your head against the wall.

This was harder than you thought. You’d be better once you got a decent night’s sleep, but at the moment, you were struggling to keep it together.

“Want one?” Woozie asked. It was the first time you had heard him speak. Whatever you’d been expecting, it didn’t match up with the soft politeness of his voice.

He was holding out an open pack of cigarettes. You smiled at the gesture.

“Thanks, but no.” You were tempted to give an explanation, but caught yourself.

He shrugged as if to say ‘suit yourself’ and turned back to his music.

You smoked briefly in college. Usually when you drank, but stopped when it had started impacting your lung capacity. Dancing became harder and you didn’t want anything holding you back. You still smoked the occasional joint (more so lately than usual), but it had been years since you’d touched a cigarette. You were almost tempted to accept one from Woozie, just to have something to bond over. But it would be foolish of you to do that. You needed your lungs to be in top shape.

You heard them beginning the soundcheck. They must have finished with wardrobe and makeup. You had at least thirty minutes before they’d be back in the dressing room. You could go visit Jia now.

Your legs didn’t want to move.

Maybe you’d just stay put for a while. Enjoy the fresh air. It was cold, but your body had acclimated enough so that it wasn’t unbearable.

You allowed yourself to slip into a dissociative state, feeling nothing. Your body blended in with the environment. You didn’t exist. You just breathed. In and out. Inhale cold air. Exhale steam.

Thank God you had the next day off. You needed to curl up in your bed and sleep for the next sixteen hours. You’d order room service for every meal. You’d watch the hotel television all day and you wouldn’t leave your room. It sounded perfect.

You phone buzzed it was Jia.

[Jia: Where are you?]

[Jia: Colin’s been asking for you :) ]

Fuck.

Colin.

That was the last thing you needed to deal with.

[You: Not feeling well]

[Jia: Gotcha. Hope you feel better!]

You’d have to deal with Colin at some point, but you just didn’t have the energy to address that situation yet.

You’d certainly gotten yourself into a mess, hadn’t you? You’d been so eager to prove yourself, and now here you were, having hooked up with almost half the members, and now leading on one of the crew. What were you even doing?

Why did you think you could do this? Go on tour with two (now three) people you’ve had inappropriate relations with, one of whom you suspected you were developing feelings for? What had Son been thinking in even asking you to do this?

There was nothing you could do about it now, though. You were already here. You’d already gotten in way over your head and the only thing you could do now was tread water until you could get home.

You were so tired.

You heard the door to your right open and close again. You opened your eyes.

Woozie was gone.

#bts fanfiction #jungkook x reader #Jungkook fanfic #BTS x reader #The choreographer

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brainrattlers · 2 years

Text

Play It Cool - Tyson Jost (4/n)

Authors notes: Oooh, it’s a date! Tyson’s taking the lead as far as planning goes. I apologize about the pacing of all this - I get so caught up in details, little things like clothes and facial expressions. If you’re still reading, thanks for putting up with all the extra I throw in! I hope you’re all enjoying it still. As always, I’m constantly editing, and any/all typos are my own doing.

Pairing: Tyson Jost x OFC

Miss Part 3? Find it at https://brainrattlers.tumblr.com/post/684427077082021888/play-it-cool-tyson-jost-3n Want tagged in future chapters? Let me know!

Word count: 4047 for this bit. Warnings: Language. Adult themes are starting to crop up, so... yep, throwing out the 18+ (although we’re still pretty PG here).

As soon as Tyson left the practice facility, he was on a mission. So was AJ; she began frantically texting Jess for more clothing advice, which left Jess asking more questions as to what was going on.

Jess: Wait did something happen at the party last night? Spill it.

AJ: So… yeah, something kind of happened at the party last night.

AJ wasn’t sure how much to divulge though, and was trying to figure out whether she should give more details or just let it go right there. She didn’t have much of a chance to ponder when a string of words came in fast and furious.

Jess: OMG WHAT HAPPENED?! OMG OMG OMG TELL ME!

With a deep breath, AJ recounted some of the story, but leaving out a few key details. Pretty much just that she and Tyson started talking and hit it off pretty well, and exchanged phone numbers, and that they were going to go get ice cream later this afternoon. Didn’t include the part that Tyson is a really good kisser, seemed too early for that tidbit of info to even be known since they hadn’t been on a proper date yet. Begged that it be kept quiet, since things were very new, and the future uncertain.

As it was just an ice cream date, there was no need for getting super dressed up. Having been to a number of practices previously, Jess pointed out that outside of gameday wear, Tyson does typically wear comfortable clothing… tees/hoodies with some sort of pants. This relieved AJ, considering she isn’t the most girly girl, and dressing up was an anxiety-inducing situation. While it wasn’t cold outside, AJ finally opted to layer a flannel with a graphic tee underneath. Too warm? Can take it off. It hid all the parts she was self-conscious about though. One she got her curls to finally do something, she snapped a photo and sent it to Jess.

AJ: Will this work?

Jess: You look great! He’ll love it. May not know what colors it all is, but you’re wearing it and that’s all that matters.

AJ sighed, but Jess was right. He’d already seen her in pretty much what she lives in already, didn’t need to pretend to be something she wasn’t. Quick touchup of the hair, grabbed her wallet and keys, and was out the door to her car.

The universe seemed to be playing pranks on her because the random playlist that she pulled up on her phone was picking nothing but slow, sexy music. AJ wondered if this was an omen of coming things, or if she was reading way too into it. Or maybe it was simply that Spotify was all “hey you need some slow sexy jams in your life.” She parked her car outside of the parlor, cutting off The Black Keys’ When the Lights Go Out, which definitely was causing a mood, setting up for what would be a hell of a slow burn of an afternoon. As she got out of her car, AJ noticed Tyson just by the entrance. Something looked a little different from the night before though. She squinted slightly, then smiled brightly when Tyson looked up and caught her eye. There was a moment of awkwardness once AJ approached though - how does one greet someone on a first date even though they kissed, quite passionately at that, the night before? The two both stood there for a couple seconds, then Tyson took the lead, engulfing AJ in a big hug that might have lasted a couple seconds longer than normal, but she didn’t mind. Looking up, she definitely realized what was different… facial hair was crisp, and… was his hair a bit shorter? Did he go get a cut and a shave before the date?

Seeing how it was a gorgeous fall afternoon, Tyson decided on ice cream, and then going to one of his favorite parks nearby to just relax and talk. It was a little more quiet than doing a coffee date (also with it being late afternoon, coffee seemed like a bad idea at that point), and there was no pressure really. They could walk and chat, or sit on a bench, people watch, but Tyson was still nervous how the conversation would go. He feared that maybe it was the alcohol that made the previous night amazing. Thankfully, it flowed wonderfully, just as it had via text after the party.

The two sat on a park bench, eating their ice cream before it melted, laughing at stories and cracking jokes. They made up stories about people they saw walking by at the park, completely ridiculous scenarios about them. As time passed, they both twisted around on the park bench to face each other, and just asked questions about each other, family life, work, hopes, dreams. Tyson reached across, and lightly intertwined his fingers with AJ’s, looking deep into her eyes to make sure it was okay. She looked at his hand in hers, feeling the warmth of it, looking back up to a smile that was bright as the sun. He ran his thumb over the top of hers, and they continued talking, until the sun had started to set. The two watched it dip below the mountainous horizon, with oranges and purples filling the sky. It was the perfect first date, punctuated by a lot less hormonally-driven, but ridiculously sweet kiss before getting up from the park bench to walk hand-in-hand back to their vehicles. Tyson snuck in one more kiss through the window of AJ’s car, before heading back to his own to call it a night.

As with the previous night, the texts started immediately once the two were at their respective homes. Flirty exchanges were made, texts like What are you wearing? ;) and I can’t wait until our next date! were tossed around. AJ did put a bit of a damper on the mood though with a serious thought.

AJ: Whatever this is, I’m enjoying it, but I’m a little nervous to say anything to anyone yet, you know? Also, I didn’t even think about this, but I don’t think I’m supposed to be fraternizing with people at work. I don’t want to get you in trouble. I’m sorry if I killed the vibe tonight, but that was starting to get in my head.

There was a long pause that made AJ worried she messed up in saying it. She put the phone down on the counter, started pacing a bit, and instead resigned herself to starting the laundry she should have done earlier in the day, had there not been an ice cream date. Just as she was putting in a new load into the washer, her phone finally buzzed. AJ was almost too nervous to open the message from Tyson.

Tyson: I don’t want to get you in trouble with work either, I know you need your job. But, I really like you. Like REALLY like you ;) If keeping things quiet to see where this goes is what you want right now, I’m fine with it. It’s been hard to keep quiet about today already lol

Butterflies erupted in AJ’s stomach

AJ: I really like you too, Tyson. Like REALLY like you :D I think it’s agreed upon then, let’s see where this goes. So… second date?

For AJ, it was typically easy to plan something, especially in the evenings or on weekends. Tyson, not so much, with his work being a little more random and not always in Denver.

Tyson: If it isn’t too soon, would you want to come over for dinner? Maybe Thursday night? Have a roadie most of the week.

It hadn’t even been 24 hours since AJ and Tyson became “a thing,” but it started feeling a little different as soon as Tyson mentioned the road trip. This wasn’t a new thing, AJ was friends with Nate previously and didn’t get sad about him going on road games. Hell, even right prior to AJ and Nate kissing and exploring possible feelings for each other, it didn’t bother her when he left. (Oh, by the way, Nate and AJ is a whole other story, and it’s long. But the short version that applies here is that they were drinking one night after playing Fort at Nate’s, and both gave it an “oh what the hell, let’s try this” attempt and kissed. It was awful. There was no chemistry whatsoever. It was decided that they were MUCH better off as only friends. This is why AJ laughed so hard at Tyson’s thought that they were together.) Regardless, literally her heart sank at the thought of Tyson leaving, even if just for a couple days.

But that also meant free evenings, or at least evenings to get stuff done around the house, or maybe snag dinner with Jess. It then occurred to her that she should probably respond to Tyson’s text, she didn’t want to scare him with lack of response.

AJ: Ooh, what is Chef Josty making for dinner? Tyson: I have not figured that out yet. Worst case, what kind of pizza do you like? :p

They continued texting, solidifying plans for later that week. Monday would find Tyson going to practice and then catching a flight. Playing Tuesday night, flying out that night to the next destination to play Wednesday night, coming home late. Home Thursday and playing at home on Friday night, but flying out directly after the game as they were to play again away on Saturday, back home late that night. He provided location and time, offering to pick up AJ, but she declined as she wasn’t sure how work was going to be for sure, she’d just meet him at his place. AJ: Damn, I didn’t know you lived THERE though, that’s swanky. Tyson: I just moved over the summer. I really like it!

AJ: Makes sense, new contract and all. Might as well live a little yeah?

Tyson: Keeping tabs on my contracts?

AJ: Nah, just a fan of the team. You know I’ve been a fan for the team for quite a while, right?

Tyson: WHAT? You’re not a fan JUST because of me? I’m hurt. :p

AJ: Yeah yeah yeah Jost. Alright, gotta go swap out laundry and sleep. Text me before you leave tomorrow?

Tyson felt something in his chest. It came out as a sigh, a happy one. He realized something big. He quickly sent a text that he’d been wanting to send someone, anyone, for quite a while.

Yeah, before we leave, and I’ll text you when we land.

He was beaming, he was finally able to send that line to someone other than his mom. And AJ smiled at the fact he was wanting to let her know he was safely on the ground without even asking him to.

AJ: G’night Tyson, sleep well, sweet dreams (kiss emoji)

Tyson: (kiss emoji) (kiss emoji) (kiss emoji) (kiss emoji) (kiss emoji) That should be enough to get you through without real ones until Thursday. Sweet dreams AJ

Tyson was already counting the HOURS until their next date. He packed his backpack, and set out clothing for the next day before falling asleep. The next day was long, and as he promised, he got to the airport after practice and texted AJ that he was on the plane, letting her know when they expected to land.

She got a nearly duplicate text from Nate. AJ carefully crafted responses to both of them, making sure the one with the heart at the end of it went to Tyson instead of Nate.

As soon as they landed and were off the plane heading for the bus, Tyson had his airpods in and was calling AJ. Texting didn’t feel right, and he felt the need to hear her voice. He was throwing his bag on the seat on the bus and sat down as she answered.

“Hello? Is everything okay?”

“Hey, yeah everything is fine. Just wanted to talk, I miss you.” The words fell out of his mouth before he realized that JT was staring at him, and a couple other nearby players also heard, giving him a look of confusion.

To be honest, AJ was even taken a bit aback, but in a good way. “It’s good hearing your voice especially when you’re half the country away. How was the flight?” (pause) “Tyson? You there?” Tyson was like a deer in headlights, but finally snapped out it, although completely stared down JT while responding. “I’m here, sorry, just grabbing my stuff. Flight was good. Got a little sleep. How was work?”

JT squinted and cocked his eyebrow before rolling his eyes and wandering to the seat across the aisle. Tyson continued the short conversation though, asking how AJ’s day went and what her plans for the night were. The two talked a couple more minutes, but as the bus took off, Tyson signed off, saying he’d text later. He looked over to find JT still looking at him.

“What is going on with you lately? You’ve been in a good mood, you got a haircut, and now you’re calling people saying you miss them? Please tell me that was not Laura.”

Tyson busted out laughing, both at the comedy of the situation as well as nerves. As the two decided to keep it quiet, he was trying to figure out how to downplay it. He sighed.

“Look, yeah, I… I met a girl a few weeks back, and we hit it off pretty well so we’re just getting into the swing of things. We’re both a little nervous right now, trying to not go too fast and jinx it somehow. Just feeling things out. Please don’t say anything though, I mean it. We’ve only been on, well, one date.” Tyson blushed at the admission. “I really like her though.”

JT’s look softened. “That’s awesome. I won’t tell, but I don’t know how many other guys heard you on the phone with her… where’d you meet her, what’s her name? Tell me she wasn’t on Tinder.”

Thankfully the bus pulled up to the hotel, and the bus made a less than graceful lurch to a halt. The guys were standing up and grabbing their bags, which gave Tyson an out.

“NO not Tinder! But… I’ve run into her a couple of times and we just started talking, and went on a date. Can we hold off on talking about her right now? I don’t want to mess this up.”

JT nodded. He was just happy to see Tyson out there, and acting like whomever the mystery woman was, that she mattered. He’d seen the revolving door of women that came in and out of their house when they lived together with Kerfy. And since JT had found Sydney, he wanted Tyson to find someone that made him happy, something stable like he had. By the sound of things, he really hoped that this was going to work for Tyson, no matter how early it was.

Tyson hopped off the bus, but a few guys stopped to ask JT what that was all about. “You’re his best friend, you know the details, right?”

Being the friend that he was though, JT did his best to keep it under wraps. “I really don’t know much…”

The rest of the guys around were frustrated by the lack of details, but JT could only shrug.

Once inside his hotel room, Tyson shed his suit jacket, hanging it in the closet, and flopped on the bed, curls splayed upon the pillow. He snapped a quick selfie and sent it to AJ with the comment Wish you were here.

AJ was feeling a little bold, a little more free with text than saying something to someone’s face.

You wish I was there, or in that bed? ;)

Tyson: Is it wrong if I said both? Because I’d love to show you around here. You said you’d never been right? And the bed, well, I could definitely handle a beautiful woman named AJ to curl up with tonight.

AJ: Nice save with that clarification bud. But you’re lookin’ pretty damn good right now yourself. Okay I need to stop thinking about that bed and sharing it with you… what’s for dinner tonight?

Tyson: Not sure. Nieto is meeting up with a few of us for dinner, I think he’s picking.

AJ: OH SHIT, say hey to Nietsy for me, will you? I haven’t talked to him in a few months!

Tyson: Wait how do you know Matt?

AJ: Nate and Matt would play/stream Fortnite together every once in a while. We’re loosely online acquaintances I guess?

Tyson: Huh, small world. Anyway I need to get changed, JT will be here in a couple minutes. Talk more later?

AJ: Looking forward to it. I’m probably just going to binge watch some TV and eat leftovers. Have fun! WAIT… hold on. DO NOT SAY HELLO TO MATT FOR ME! That’s going to seem really sus that *you’d* be telling him hi for me.

There was a knock at Tyson’s door.

Tyson: Good call. Okay gotta go (heart emoji)

AJ: Talk later (heart emoji)

AJ finally realized that Nate had texted back, and she fired back a few words, asking what he was up to tonight.

Nate: Nietsy’s picking out dinner, a few of us are going out with him. Haven’t seen him in a while should be fun.

AJ: Oh yeah? That’s cool. Tell him I said hi?

Nate: Will do. Heading out.

A handful of the players met up in the lobby before piling into cars and heading to a restaurant picked out by *Long Beach Native Matt Nieto* himself. A few other players were with Matt when they arrived, but off the ice, everyone was friends. Tyson found himself sitting next to JT, who was beside Nate.

In the middle of the meal, Nate seemed to have lightswitch flip on and remembered he was supposed to do something. “Yeah, Matt, Wicket says hello!”

“Really? How’s she doing? We haven’t talked in ages!”

“She moved out to Denver about a month and a half ago finally. Working in IT, imagine that.”

“So you finally convinced her yeah? You two finally…?”

Nate cut him off.

“Absolutely not. I’d be fucking lucky, but we’re just friends.”

They both laughed, and continued talking. A few teammates started catching on to who they were talking about. However this conversation rang in Tyson’s ears causing him to wince, and he immediately grabbed his phone.

Tyson: Babe? (Can I call you that?) What’s a Wicket?

AJ’s phone buzzed as she was getting ready to start the next episode of the show she was watching. She wasn’t prepared for that pet name. But the fact he asked if it was okay somehow made it even more adorable.

AJ: (blushing emoji) I could get used to you calling me that.. Wicket is an ewok, from Star Wars. Why do you ask?

Tyson: Nate called you that to Matt and I had no idea what it was.

AJ: We apparently need to watch Return of the Jedi when you get home. Part of my stream nickname though, it just gets shortened to Wicket.

Tyson: OK. Eating dinner, talk later… babe. (winking emoji kissing emoji)

AJ: (kissing emoji)

AJ sat there, staring at her phone screen with a rather dumb grin on her face. She couldn’t deny it, she felt giddy. Typically she’d be a lot more guarded, more cautious. But there was just something about Tyson. She’d read the stories about how close he is to his family. She’d seen the social media posts featuring him hyping up his teammates. He had his silly, maybe a little naughty moments (*ahem* if you recall these two did make out in EJ’s kitchen not 48 hours prior, but to be fair, AJ instigated.), but generally he came across as wholesome, a truly great person. Sure, she’d also heard the stories of his dating apps, but this didn’t feel like just a hookup buddy situation. Hookups don’t plan dates. They don’t typically spend hours talking/texting to find out more about each other. This truly felt different, and AJ felt safe in showing her true self, and diving in heart first, rather than feet (or head) first.

The two exchanged a few texts before AJ called it a night. She had to be at work much earlier than Tyson had to be on the bus to make it to the arena for a morning practice skate. Tyson’s morning was spent at the arena, and then a quick nap before game time. He woke up to a text from AJ saying she’d be cheering for him specifically. It was his turn to stare at his phone with a dumb grin on his face. AJ’s day at work was long, but she and Jess met up for dinner at a bar to watch the game that night.

The two women enjoyed dinner, had a few drinks, and cheered with the crowd with every Avalanche goal, and cringed with every Sharks goal. Unfortunately there were more Sharks goals than Avalanche ones, which put a damper on the mood. The two of them were paying their tabs before leaving when AJ’s phone buzzed with a message from Nate. Nate: Not a good night but sure you saw it. We’re flying to LA in a bit. Text you when we get there.

Jess rolled her eyes.

“You know you still need to talk me up to Nate.”

“Working on it. Trying to figure out something casual like dinner sometime. Patience! Likely won’t be this week though, they get back Wednesday night late, play at home Friday, and then fly to Chicago for a back to back on Saturday… back that night late though.” AJ rattled off the schedule as if someone had already told her when the flights were. (He did.)

“Well what about Thursday night?” “Uhhh that’s not going to work, I’ve already got plans.”

Jess raised an eyebrow at AJ. “Is it…?”

“Maybe…” AJ was interrupted by her phone ringing, Tyson’s name showing up on the caller ID, “hey hold on I need to take this. Hey whats up? I know, I saw. Jess and I were watching at the bar. I’m sorry it ended that way though. Yeah okay, I gotta go too, we’re heading home. I’ll text you when I get there. Talk to you soon, miss you.” She couldn’t figure out a good pet name to end that with and felt bad. But it was probably good because Jess was just staring at her.

“Yeah it was.”

What was funny was that Jess only heard AJ’s side of the call. A few players heard Tyson’s side of the call.

“Hey! Watch the game? It wasn’t great. Watch it at home? Ah, it’s okay. Can’t win them all. I just wanted to let you know we’re boarding the plane, will be in LA very shortly. But you can text, I’ll get them when I land. Okay babe gotta go, talk to you soon yeah? Miss you too. Talk in a bit.”

More than a few eyebrows raised with Tyson calling someone “babe” on the phone. As soon as he ended the call, the “OOOOOH!” and “Josty’s got a giiiirrrrlfriiiiiend!” chirps started. He turned red, but finally admitted a little. Again, he too was a little nervous about how well it was going, and didn’t want to mess it up before it even really starts either. He openly stated that he indeed has been talking with a woman, they went on a date the day before, and it went really well, and that, if he was being completely honest, he hopes it works out. The chirps died down quickly, and the tone shifted to one of encouragement and lots of “we’re happy you’re happy!” vibes were spread. Of course, this followed up with the “when do we get to meet her?” line of questioning. “Give it some time, we’ve only been on one date. But if all goes well… I think you’ll all really like her.” Tyson silently chuckled to himself, knowing they already did like her.

PART 5 is here! https://brainrattlers.tumblr.com/post/685260220370501632/play-it-cool-tyson-jost-5n

#Tyson Jost #Tyson Jost x OFC #Josty #Play It Cool

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atinymonster · 4 years

Text

starstruck

ateez 9th member.

when the maknae line teases jiyu and sunwoo during the drive in concert

some diabetic sunji fluff hehe

➴ masterlist

➴ taglist: @banhmi07, @galacticstxrdust, @jiyeons-closet

➴ requested by: a lovely anon

“Jiyu, stop gawking so much, you’re making it so obvious,” San teased as he came up behind her and threw an arm over her shoulder.

She dramatically rolled her eyes as she wrapped the blanket around herself tighter, making her look like a burrito. “I can’t watch my boyfriend?” she quietly retorted.

“Ji, if we were in an anime or any cartoon, your eyes would he literal hearts,” Wooyoung chimed in before also throwing an arm over her shoulder and over San’s arm. “As adorable as it is, it’s also really weird to look at,” he playfully gagged.

Her’s and Wooyoung’s relationship had basically returned to how it first was before he confessed. While at first there were some awkward moments whenever Sunwoo was mentioned, they became more infrequent as time passed.

“Okay, I get it, you two. Now shush and let me admire my boyfriend in peace,” she hushed them before giving the eleven boys on stage her full attention again. “Darn, you really can’t see much from back here...” she pouted.

“Is she at it again?”

Turning around, she found Mingi and Jongho approaching them. Whilst Mingi sported a curious expression, Jongho’s was a mix of a smirk and mock disgust.

“She’s been standing here since they went on stage,” Wooyoung laughed. “Wrapped up like a burrito in her blanket, too.”

“Ahhh, the things you do for love,” Jongho teasingly mused.

Jiyu’s cheeks flushed red at their merciless comments. Wrapping the blanket around her body even tighter, she just wanted it to swallow her completely. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she didn’t realize Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, and Yeosang had come up, too. Oh my God, this is embarrassing, now I have mama Hwa and Hongjoong here, too?

“What’s going on over here? We were wondering where you guys went,” Hongjoong commented. “Jiyu, the stylist told me to remind you to go back before our performance so she can fix your makeup.”

“You’re going to have to drag her back yourself, hyung,” Yeosang smirked. “Look how her eyes literally sparkle from watching her boyfriend on stage, I doubt she’s going to move from this spot.”

She shot him a playful glare. “Can you blame me? I haven’t seen them perform live in almost half a year! Our schedules never matched up, so let me fangirl in peace.” She stuck her tongue out at him for an extra measure.

A deep chuckle rumbled from Mingi. “She’s so cute,” he giggled before ruffling her hair.

“See? Why can’t you guys be like Mingi?” she teasingly asked Wooyoung, San, Jongho, and Yeosang. “At least he lets me fangirl in peace.”

“Yah, are you sure you’re loyal to ATEEZ?” Hongjoong laughed.

Pausing and dramatically rubbing her chin in thought, she playfully huffed. “With the way I’m being bullied here, I might as well quit ATEEZ and join The Boyz,” she joked with a straight face, but anyone could tell a smile was trying to break through with the way the corner of her lip was twitching.

Too caught up in their own laughter, the nine of them didn’t realize that the eleven boys had finished their performance and had overheard a snippet of their conversation. Sunwoo smirked before coming up behind her and placing his hand on top of her head.

Jiyu flinched out of shock, the nine boys mirroring her expression. They hadn’t realized the eleven boys had finished. “What’s this about joining The Boyz?” he mused.

“Is Jiyu joining us?” Q chirped in excitement as he took off the mic and mic pack. The smile slightly faded as he came to a realization. “Oh, wait, no if she joins us then they’re going to be joined at the hip all day, everyday.” He gestured to Sunwoo and Jiyu.

The eight boys snickered. So they weren’t the only ones teasing the couple.

“No we wouldn’t...” Sunwoo weakly denied, although anyone could tell he was lying with how flustered he sounded.

“One lovebird is enough,” Eric joked, ignoring the glare from Sunwoo, “You can keep Jiyu.”

Jongho snorted at his friend’s jest while Jiyu rolled her eyes for what seemed like the millionth time that day. “You know, I was about to congratulate you for a job well done as MC and your performance, but never mind.”

Sunwoo let out a small gasp. “Where’s mine?” he asked, a small pout forming as he stared at her with puppy eyes.

It took every ounce of her energy to not attack him with affection in front of everyone—he was like a little kid asking for a reward. “I-I mean-”

“She’s lost it, someone get my phone. I need to record it for some blackmail,” Yeosang said before looking away. “But maybe once my eyes recover from that.” In the background, San and Wooyoung were pretending to gag from the sight.

An idea formed in Jiyu’s head, making her smirk. Pulling Sunwoo in for a hug, she squeezed him tight around his torso. “Aww, my baby did so good today!” she squealed, breaking out into full laughter when she heard the other boys groan and scream out of sheer horror and shock.

“Sh-She called him baby!” San.

“Someone get Sunwoo some water, he looks like he’s about to pass out...” New.

“Now I’m just straight up blind.” Yeosang.

Hongjoong and Seonghwa just gaped at the affection Jiyu was showing. It was a sight to get used to...

Sunwoo, still dazed from her sudden attack, wrapped his arms around her neck and rested his chin on top of her head. “T-Thanks...” he shyly mumbled. “You’ll do great, too lovebug.”

“Can we turn back around?” Eric asked.

Looking around, she realized that all the boys had turned their backs turned towards them at some point. They casually looked around as if the couple weren’t there. Jiyu and Sunwoo chuckled. “Payback,” she stuck her tongue out towards Eric, “but yeah, go ahead.”

The boys sighed in relief when they turned back around and saw that they weren’t stuck to each other like koalas. “I’d rather take her punch then see that for payback,” Jongho mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. “That’s enough affection for the month.”

“But they’re so cute,” Yunho gushed as he laughed.

Jiyu giggled. “This is why Yunho and Mingi are my favorite people.”

“Hey!” Groans of protests erupted from the other five boys at her comment while Sunwoo’s members laughed at their reactions.

“...I’m your favorite, too right?” Looking up, Jiyu was once again soft when she took in Sunwoo’s pouting face. Glancing to see that no one was looking, she stood on her tip-toes and placed a small, butterfly kiss to on his cheeks.

To say it caught him off guard was an understatement. His stomach somersaulted at her kiss and he was pretty sure his cheeks resembled a tomato. “That so wasn’t fair.”

“You’re my number one favorite, don’t worry bub,” she giggled. Suddenly, she felt a pair of lips on her forehead, although the sensation left just as quick as it had came. Now it was her turn to blush as she buried her face in his chest.

Feeling her arms tighten around him and seeing her bury her face deeper into his chest, a warm and tingly sensation filled his stomach. She looked so small, and he was filled with an urge to protect her from everything horrible in the world.

“Hey, Ji, you need to let him go. We need to go back for touchups,” Wooyoung chuckled.

Slowly unwrapping her arms from him, she reached up and ruffled his hair. “Good job today, Woo,” she cooed before running off to catch up with San and Wooyoung who waited for her.

Watching her run off, Sunwoo was thrown into a daze again. He was practically wrapped around her finger, and it was a strange yet fuzzy feeling. “You’re smiling too much. Tone it down before manager-nim gets suspicious,” Jacob teased before he was rushed away by the staff along with Kevin and Eric to change out of their performance outfits back into their normal MC outfits.

Lightly slapping his cheeks and fanning his burning face, Sunwoo couldn't wipe the small grin off his face. “She really doesn’t know what she does to me.”

203 notes · View notes

seungmoroll · 4 years

Text

Heather | Hwang Hyunjin

Word count: 3.8k

Genre & tags: angst, dance team au, brother!Minho, mentions of other idols

A/N: this is the 4th part of the Heather series, you can read the others here.

Shining through the city with a little funk and soul

I’ma light it up like dynamite, whoa

Pants could be heard from all around the room showcasing the hard work and dedication everyone had put into the dance. Your eyes filled with awe as you sit off to the side. After 5 seconds of listening to their tired pants, you stand up and bust out in applaud, and soon the rest of them join you.

“You guys looked amazing! That was the best run so far. There’s no way any other team can beat you guys this Friday.” The looks and smiles on their faces let you know that they’re thankful for your words. However, you don’t have enough time to fully appreciate the moment as a body crashes into yours, forcing you back onto the sofa.

“Ugh, get off of me Minho.” Unfortunately for you, your attempt to push him off only makes him put even more of his weight on top of you.

“Can’t you let your tired brother rest for a moment?” You had the pleasure, note the sarcasm, of calling Minho your brother. You swear it’s his life mission to annoy you, however, there are perks of having him as your brother. One of them being that he has to drive you around everywhere, and another one being that you get to hang out at the dance studio that Minho goes to, which means you get to see your favorite people in the world. Speaking of favorite people, the sound of heavenly laughter fills your ears, and you turn to see Hyunjin laughing at yours and Minho’s antics. Gaining enough strength thanks to Hyunjin’s beautiful laugh, you manage to push Minho off of you, making him land on the sofa next to you with a groan.

“Gosh Minho, your big butt was suffocating me.”

“So, you admit I got a big butt?” All you want to do is knock the cockiness off his face, but you choose to be good, since Hyunjin was only a few feet away.

“You’re insufferable.”

Plopping himself on the sofa next to you, Hyunjin says, “I’m surprised you two haven’t killed each other yet.”

“Our mom says we can only kill each other after 10pm.” Is what you and Minho say synchronously, causing for laughter to erupt from Hyunjin.

“You guys are basically the same person.” Taking offense to his comment, you playfully smack him, “Don’t insult me like that.”

“Ow, you can’t hit precious things like me.” You roll your eyes at his dramatics. A year ago, if someone were to tell you that you would’ve had feelings for Hwang Hyunjin, you would’ve laughed in their face.

Hyunjin was an interesting character, not everyone realized that. Everyone only saw him for his exterior; they only focused on his visuals. Yes, you agree that he’s handsome, heck, you were sure that he sparkled sometimes, but that’s not what made you like him. Behind his looks, was someone that was so in touch with his feelings and wasn’t afraid to show them. One night, you had to go to the dance studio and wait for Minho who was helping Hyunjin with a dance, and before you had barged into the practice room, you saw Hyunjin and Minho sitting on the ground with Hyunjin crying his eyes out. He was crying because he was stressed out and he just needed to release everything. You didn’t make your presence known, but instead you watched as your brother comforted him. That’s when your perception of him changed; he wasn’t the mysterious beauty you thought he was.

“You’re coming with us after the competition, right?” It was tradition for the team to get a meal together after a dance competition.

“Duh, Minho’s my ride home.” That wasn’t your only reason why you were going. You actually enjoyed hanging out with the team.

“Good, I like it when you hang out with all of us.” His statement makes you blush, and you hope that Hyunjin doesn’t realize it’s because of him. From your other side you hear Minho scoff, making you smack him in the chest.

“You’re still doing my hair, right?” Ever since Hyunjin started growing out his hair, he’s been finding out new ways to style it, and that meant you doing his hair.

“Of course, can’t have you looking like a hot mess in front of a large audience.” It didn’t matter what his hair looked like; he’d still look good.

“So you think I’m hot?” Hyunjin asks with a teasing smirk.

“Psh, what, no.” He raises an eyebrow at you as you attempt to form a sentence, “But you’re not ugly either, you’re, you’re…fine yes you’re hot…or whatever.” The sound of his laughter fills your ears and you can’t help but want to record it to listen to it all the time.

“I’m just messing with you, Y/n.” He gently ruffles your hair, “It’s so fun to mess with you.”

Huffing, “I disagree.”

“Well I agree.” Minho butts in. More laughter comes from Hyunjin as you launch yourself at Minho.

A few days later and it’s the night of the competition. You and The Snipers are in the dressing rooms getting ready. Because the dance had more of a fun theme, you and Hyunjin had agreed to add a little bit of pop to his hair. As you started to braid small sections of his hair, you added some colorful beads. You can feel Hyunjin’s stare on you through the mirror and you hope that he doesn’t notice the nervous tremors in your hands.

“You better make sure I look good Y/n.”

“When do you not look good?” Covering up your mouth, you couldn’t believe that you had let that slip out.

“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

Playfully shoving at his shoulder, “Hey, you say that like as if I’m not nice all the time.”

“You’re the devil, of course you’re not nice.” Minho butts in. If looks could kill, you were sure Minho would be a goner.

“I want you to keep your eyes on me tonight, Y/n.” Hyunjin’s bold statement makes your heart skip a beat.

“What? Why?” There was no reason for Hyunjin to say this to you.

“Because I’m the only one you should look at.” His sentence sounds whinier than it does serious, but you see it as a sliver of hope that shines for you.

“Yah,” Minho starts, smacking Hyunjin in the back of the head, “They’re my sibling, they should be focused on me, plus it’s my last dance with you guys.”

“Oh boohoo, Y/n has seen you dance plenty of times. They should have something that’s more eye catching to look at this time.” Another smack is landed on the back of Hyunjin’s head.

“Yah, stop that Minho. You’re ruining my masterpiece.”

“See, Y/n thinks I’m a masterpiece.”

Scrunching your nose, “Not you, your hair.”

“My hair is a part of me; therefore, I am a masterpiece.” You couldn’t disagree with him, however, being you, you have to say something a bit insulting.

“Why is everyone on this dance team delusional?” You feel a pair of eyes on you and you instantly say, “Not you Felix, you’re a wonderful human being.” This time it’s you who gets the smack to the back of the head, but it doesn’t matter because you got to see Felix’s beautiful smile.

“Hey, why do you like Felix more than me?” ‘Oh Hyunjin, you big idiot. If only you knew.’ Minho snorts at Hyunjin’s question, and you send him another life-threatening glare. Minho knew about your feelings for Hyunjin, he wasn’t blind. He’d send you teasing glances every chance that he got, but you were thankful that he never brought it up to Hyunjin. To be honest, he thinks you could do better, but you think he only says that because Hyunjin is his friend.

Deciding to mess with Hyunjin a little bit, you respond, “Because Felix is precious.” A pout settles on Hyunjin’s face and you swear that it’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. Though you do have to say that the smile and hearts Felix sends you is almost as cute.

“Oof, Hyunjin looks like you don’t have everyone wrapped around your finger, isn’t that right Y/n?” Jeno says, poking fun at Hyunjin.

“Nah, I know Y/n has heart eyes for me.” Hyunjin playfully winks at you, and you hate the way your heart did somersaults in your chest.

“You wish Hwang.”

After the team had left to get ready to go on stage, you went on your way to find a seat in the audience. While searching for a seat with the best view of the stage, you see an individual frantically waving at you. Squinting to see who it is, you recognize the person as Jungeun, an acquaintance you made thanks to the dance team. Jungeun, or better known as Kim Lip on stage, was part of a different dance team and you guys happened to meet at a different dance competition. You were on your way to your seat after doing last minute touchups to Hyunjin’s hair, when you saw that she needed help fixing her hair, so you lent her a helping hand. From then on, you guys would say hi to each other every time you saw one another.

Reaching Jungeun, you are pulled into a hug, “Hey, I didn’t know you were going to be here.” There was no indication that Jungeun’s dance team was competing tonight.

“Oh, I was invited to come, plus I wanted to watch the competition anyways.” To you, her answer seemed normal since she was a dancer after all, so you didn’t bother to question it any further. Though you did want to know if you knew the person who invited her, but you guys weren’t close enough for you to ask.

“Do you have a seat already?” Jungeun asks.

“No, I was just about to look for one.”

“Oh you can sit with me!” She offers you the vacant seat next to her, and you kindly accept it; one, because it had a nice view of the stage, and two, because you didn’t like sitting by yourself.

“This is your brothers last competition, right? I heard he was going to be a backup dancer for a boy group.” You weren’t surprised that she knew of this. Practically everyone in the dance scene here in your city knew of Minho, so of course word would spread about his new position.

“Yeah, it is. He wanted his last dance with The Snipers to be amazing, so him and the others put so much work into this performance.” If you were forced to compliment Minho, the one thing that you could say that wouldn’t make you gag was that he was passionate. He gave it his all for every dance he’s done, which is why no one was surprised when he told you that he was going to be a backup dancer for a big idol group. Since he always gave 110% effort in his dances, for this performance everyone else gave 120% effort to have one last win for Minho. Honestly, you were confused when the team decided to dance to Dynamite by BTS because you would’ve thought that they would’ve wanted something more intense, but their reasoning was that they wanted to have fun on stage with Minho for one last time.

“Hey, I think the team is about to perform.” Jungeun points towards the stage, and you see the familiar figures of the dance team. Minho is front and center, but your eyes travel towards Hyunjin, who’s on Minho’s left. Sitting there in the audience, you anxiously wait for the music to start. This was the last time your brother was going to be dancing with this team before he goes off on tour as a backup dancer, and you just hope this doesn’t mean that this will be the last time you watch the team dance.

Once the music starts playing, you block out everything else around you and focus on the dance. You’ve seen this dance so many times, but every time you become mesmerized with their moves. It’s refreshing to see them dance with this concept, and you’re loving the way everyone’s expression is showing that they’re having fun on the stage. Like Hyunjin wanted, you kept your eyes on him, watching him do the moves like they were nothing. Though, you did tear your eyes away from him to watch Felix do that one flip that makes you worried all the time, and to watch Minho’s solo. Aside from those instances, your eyes were glued to Hyunjin. If you were to describe his movements, you would say he was like water. Every single move he made was elegant and flowed nicely.

Once the performance had ended, you quickly stood up and loudly cheered for them, and you didn’t miss the moment when you caught Hyunjin’s eyes and he sent you a wink. This only caused for you to cheer for them even louder. Watching them leave, you dismiss yourself from Jungeun, and make your way back to the team. As soon as you reach the boys, you instantly pull Minho into a hug, “You guys were phenomenal. You had the whole audience cheering for you.” Pulling back from your brother, a different pair of arms wrap around you.

“Thanks Y/n.” Taking this moment as a chance, you tightly hug Hyunjin.

Your time with the team is cut short as they’re called back onto the stage for the announcement of the results. Making your way back to your seat, you nervously wait for the announcements to begin.

“Alrighty everyone, are you guys ready for the announcements?” Cheers fill up the auditorium as everyone wants to know the results.

“I guess that settles it, starting off with 10th place…” There were only a total of 15 dance teams, so there was a very high chance that The Snipers at least placed. When the MC announced a different team as 10th, you let out a big sigh, and you could hear Jungeun chuckle at you, but you chose to ignore it, focusing your attention on the MC. Every time the MC announces the placement of a team, you become even more anxious because now third place was about to get announced and the team hasn’t been announced yet.

“And in third place, we have…Trailblazers!”

“You and the others must be nervous.” You can only shake your head as response to Jungeun.

“Coming in second place, we have…Revolution X!” You had thought Revolution X’s performance was good especially with Kino’s solo, but not as great as The Snipers of course. The Snipers thought of Revolution X as their major competition, so maybe they had a chance at getting first.

“And last, but certainly not least, coming in first, we have…drum roll please.” The auditorium fills up with the sound of beats as everyone is anticipating the winners.

“The Snipers!” They did it, they won. You jump out your seat and loudly cheer for your boys. On stage the team is all huddled up together with Minho in the center, jumping up and down, and you wish that you could join in with them, but you’re also alright with just watching them from the sidelines, like always.

Instead of meeting in the dressing room, you meet up with the team outside in the parking lot. Jungeun had tagged along with you, which you didn’t mind since she knew the members of the team. Upon seeing the team, you run towards them, jumping on your brothers back.

“You guys did it! I told you, you were going to win!”

“Alright, alright. I just won and you’re already trying to kill me, get off.” Hesitantly, you get off of Minho’s back, but you don’t miss the smile that’s on his face, so it makes up for it. Your vision darkens when you feel something on top of your head cover your eyes, pulling up the unknown object, you see Hyunjin smiling brightly at you. Realizing that the object was Hyunjin’s bucket hat, you adjust it to sit right on your head as Hyunjin exclaims to you, “We did it, Y/n. We got first!” He then grabs onto your forearms and makes you jump around with him. The sounds of yours and his laughs are mixed together, and it makes you feel light on your feet. Eventually the two of you settle down, and Hyunjin finally realizes that there was someone behind you.

“Jungeun!” Leaving your side, Hyunjin goes off to talk to her. Before you can even think of anything, you’re being whisked away by your brother, “C’mon slow poke, we got to get going to the restaurant.” You don’t even manage to bid a goodbye to Jungeun as your brother pulls you towards his car.

You and Minho were the first ones to arrive at the restaurant, going up to claim your reservation. One by one the members of the team, came in filling up the seats at the tables. So far, the seat in front of you remained empty, and you hoped that Hyunjin was going to occupy it. When Hyunjin arrives at the restaurant, you see that he’s brought a surprise with him.

“Hey guys, you know Jungeun. It’s okay if she hangs out with us, right?”

“The more the merrier,” someone who you can’t register says, as you try to figure out why Jungeun had come. The seat in front of you becomes occupied by Jungeun as Hyunjin grabs another chair and sets it to the right of her. ‘Ah, he’s such a gentleman.’ Though, you couldn’t help but feel a little bit disappointed that he didn’t sit in front of you.

The dinner was amazing, and you weren’t talking about the food. Everyone was in such a good mood that you didn’t even realize that you guys had been sitting at the restaurant for almost two hours. San is in the middle of telling a story about the disaster of time when him and Wooyoung went on a double date when Hyunjin got up from his seat.

“Hey guys, I’m gonna head out early.” He motions towards Jungeun who has also gotten up from her seat and that’s when reality hits you. Hyunjin was the one that invited Jungeun to come out tonight. He was winking at her, not you. You never had a chance with Hyunjin. There will always be girls like Jungeun and guys like Hyunjin want girls like her, not you. In Hyunjin’s eyes, you’ll always just be Minho’s sibling, the person that just tags along with the dance team. Any chance of hope that you thought you had didn’t exist. Hyunjin was just being Hyunjin. He was just being playful with you without realizing the things that he did to you.

Now that you think about it, you couldn’t believe you missed the signals; more like you chose to ignore them. You can’t say that you missed the small interactions that the two had at every dance competition, like this one time you were looking for Minho, but when you turned the corner Jungeun was leaning against the wall while Hyunjin had a hand propped up against the same wall next to her. You had just tried to explain to yourself that they were just having a normal conversation. Or that one time, you saw a familiar sweater Jungeun had on and assumed that they just had the same sweater. For every situation you had made an excuse to calm your delusional mind, but now as you sit there in the middle of the restaurant and watch the two of them, you can’t ignore the painful feeling in your chest that’s starting to form.

“Boo, can’t you spend a different night with your girl? This will our last time hanging out with this group.”

“Oh leave him be Wooyoung, you’re just jealous that he has someone and you don’t.” San says.

“And if I am?” His question makes everyone, but you laugh. That’s just because you’re too focused on Hyunjin.

“I’ll take you out another night Wooyoung, don’t worry.” Hyunjin sends Wooyoung a wink, and in returns he gets a flying kiss.

Laughing, “Anyways, we’re going to go. Don’t have to much fun without me.”

“Bye guys!” Jungeun bids the rest of you goodbye before she walks out the door Hyunjin is holding for her.

Your eyes follow the couple through the window as they walk away from the restaurant, and you wish that you could say that you didn’t see the way he playfully wrapped his arm around her. Gone from your line of vision, you tear your eyes away from the window and tune yourself back into the story San is telling the others. However, the image of Hyunjin with Jungeun is the only thing going through your mind, so you can’t even bother to focus at all. Instead you choose to swirl your straw around in your drink, doing all you can to think of something else.

“Are you okay?” Minho’s soft voice breaks you out of your thoughts.

“Hmm? Oh, uh yeah, I’m fine,” you answer indifferently.

Nudging you with his elbow, he gives you a concerned look, and in that instance, you felt like you wanted to cry even more because now your brother was worried about you. The last thing you wanted to do was ruin what is supposed to be a good night for him. “You want to go home?”

Shaking your head, “No, you shouldn’t have to leave early because of me, you should be celebrating with the rest of the team.”

“Y/n, you’re my sibling. You come first, no matter what and I can tell that you’re not okay. C’mon get up.” You and Minho had weird ways of showing it, but when it comes down to moments like these, you knew that you two loved each other. Hyunjin may be unobtainable, but as long as you had Minho by your side, you knew you would be fine.

As the two of you get up, Minho speaks to the rest of the team, “I’m sorry guys, but the life of the party is going to have to leave early, something came up.” The group boos at him, but eventually lets him leave. Silently, you bid the others goodbye, ignoring the concerned look Felix gives you.

The ride back home is silent, which is how you preferred it because you think if Minho had mentioned anything that you would’ve been full on sobbing, and that’s something you’d rather save for your pillowcase. You were 100% sure that Minho knew about Hyunjin and Jungeun, and you’re not sure if you’re glad that he didn’t tell you earlier or not. You know he had the best intentions. Looking out the window, you watch as the lights flash by and you internally laugh at yourself. You look like someone who’s in a sad music video, ‘pathetic.’

A/N: we’re half way through the series, yay! I've never seen anyone mention Kim Lip as a “heather” but I love her and think she would be one, so I had to include her. like always, feel free to let me know what you guys think

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juuls · 3 years

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YESSSSSSSSssssssSSSSSSsssssss! *fist pump*

YES YES YES yEs yES Yessssss!

I asked my dad if (and he said yes and would tell my mom on his own—certainly helps she’s in another province for 7 months, minus Christmas break), for a combined Christmas/birthday present (they’re only 3 weeks apart), pending shops are open and have availabilities… so I’m going to make an appointment now before it’s too late, and hopefully Covid fuckers don’t fuck things all up again, still, constantly, every moment of the day still… *sighs exasperatedly*

But!!!!!! Dad agreed and even liked the idea (!!!) that my gift (I’ll be near 32; I don’t need anything whatsoever but if I want something I want it to be one or two things and no more ; I mean come on) could be getting my little alto clef tattoo retouched behind my ear AND get either a large dragon or large unicorn on the back of one of my shoulders on the shoulder blade, to one side of the flower (shown below the cut further down alongside examples/ideas). So they’d gift that to me and hopefully they don’t buy me anything else or I’ll feel bad, hah—

I’m looking at YOU, mom 👀, who shops like 8 months in advance—you’re ridiculous but I still love you—it IS nice and I’m always grateful. I’ll simply ask her to donate the new items to a charity asking for new goods, or save it for another time, a later year, but I’d talk to my mom first about that, of course. I just refuse to be that greedy type, but I also don’t want to be an ungrateful little brat—because I an aware that I have and have access to more privilege than many others.

Dad’ll talk to her about my new, planned tattoo first, then I’ll bring up the Mother’s Day one…….. because tattoos are not something you want to surprise people into getting. That’s almost as weird as getting your guaranteed-to-be-an-ex-partner’s-name tattooed in a highly visible spot. 😅

And then I mentioned that for mother’s day I wanted to save up my own paltry stipend and buy a mother-daughter outing of (maybe a manicure-pedicure too, maybe not) getting tattoos on our ankles because apparently mom has always liked those but has never gone through with it. There are some REALLY pretty music tattoos with the watercolour splash style over it which I think she’d adore. Not sure for mine but we’ll see haha. But dad seemed approving and even supportive and excited because he knows mom would quite likely really like that.

I’m sooooooooo psyched!!!

Alto clef needing touchup: (I sing alto, don’t play viola or bassoon or oboe so don’t ask me to read the clef music lmao — also, funnily enough, this is the only tattoo of mine my mom approves of….. she’s a music teacher. 🎶 hehehehe)

Latest tattoo, on right, is a crocus — it has many meanings but in this colour and context implies “abuse me not/no more” with the date I left my abusive ex tucked into the bottom of the stems and leaves (left him, and the USA, on July 4th, 2017 because I’m a dramatic bitch like that hahaha) when I packed my things and left the gaslighting bitch. The phoenix was my first tat ever and its only meaning is I love mythological creatures (and sometimes they have deeper meanings).

But for this next one and when I get more tats later, I’ve decided I want to have them on my back over my shoulder blades and/or curved around my ribcage (no tramp stamps though beh). My dad’s always been cool with my tats even though I lied and them from my family for like 8 years lmao, but it’s because he trusts me and knows I’m smart and won’t tat up, like…. My face or hands or arms unless I’ve thought of a way of making it tasteful first or easily hidden.

So now I’m stuck trying to figure out if I want a dragon or a unicorn for the first shoulder blade tat. Or perhaps there’s a mythological creature that would suit me better? Here are a few that caught my eye! Ribs or shoulder blades though, hmmm…. i have more options but Tumblr is mean and limits 10 pics booooooo.

Yeah, the paw prints are the odd one out, but due to losing Nala this summer and an earlier dog, Trip, to cancer when he was just 2.5yo… I love dogs. The dog paws, or something (else) to do with music may be the one I get with mom if she agrees and doesn’t chicken out. 😜

Other mythological creatures I like…. sirens/mermaids, angels (especially the weird ones that take actual inspiration from the bible—fucking creepy), fairies of all sorts, sad and pining ghosts, pegasus, hellhounds, were-creatures or even just spooky, eerie, supernatural animals, probably tons more honestly hehe.

But yo!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!! Dad is even going to come to the consult next week, and yes I was the one to offer because a) it’s a gift/not my money, b) I respect him and my mother as well, c) I dislike discord and wish him to approve, d) my anxiety disorder demands it lmao.

#tattoos #tattoo #unicorn #dragon #me #my tattoos #i’m so psyched i mean—

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michaelbogild · 3 years

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Lines by Bruce Springsteen

Shithole on the corner, no light, no sign Nobody on the street except the deaf, dumb, and blind

Now your death is upon us, and we'll return your ashes to the earth And I know you'll take comfort in knowing you've been roundly blessed and cursed

Some girls, they want a handsome Dan Or some good-lookin' Joe on their arm Some girls like a sweet-talkin' Romeo Well, 'round here, baby I learned you get what you can get So if you're rough enough for love Honey, I'm tougher than the rest

Can't see nothing in front of me Can't see nothing coming up behind Make my way through this darkness I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me Lost track of how far I've gone How far I've gone, how high I've climbed On my back's a sixty pound stone On my shoulder, a half-mile line

A mother prays, "Sleep tight, my child, sleep well For I'll be at your side That no shadow, no darkness, no tolling bell Shall pierce your dreams this night"

Tonight we'll sing the songs I'll dream of you, my corazón And tomorrow my heart will be strong And may the saints blessing and grace Carry me safely into your arms There, across the border

We are alive And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark Our spirits rise To carry the fire and light the spark To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart

The condition you're in Now you just can't get out of this skin

The hurricane blows, brings a hard rain When the blue sky breaks, it feels like the world's gonna change We'll start caring for each other like Jesus said that we might I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright

You shot through my anger and rage To show me my prison was just an open cage There were no keys no guards Just one frightened man and some old shadows for bars

You gave your love to see In fields of red and autumn brown You gave your love to me And lay your young body down

If the angels are unkind or the season is dark Or if in the end Love just falls apart Then here's to our destruction Baby let me be your soul driver

I know we're different you and me Got a different way of walking The time has come to let the past be history Yeah, if we could just start talking

I chased the heat of her blood Like it was the holy grail Descend beautiful spirit Into the evening pale Her appaloosa's Kicking in the corral smelling rain There's a low thunder rolling Across the mesquite plain

The dust of civilizations and love's sweet remains Slip off of your fingers and come drifting down like rain The pages of Revelation lie open in your empty eyes of blue I watch you slip that comb through your hair and this, I promise you, I'll work for your love, dear

Tend to your flock or they will stray We'll be called for our service come judgment day Before we cross that river wide The blood on our hands will come back on us twice

Bird on a wire outside my motel room But he ain't singing Girl in white outside a church in June But the church bells ain't ringing I'm sitting here in this bar tonight But all I'm thinking Is I'm the same old story, same old act One step up and two steps back

Goodbye, my darling For your love, I give God thanks, Meet me on the Matamoros banks

Trees on fire with the first fall's frost Long black line in front of Holy Cross Blood moon rising in a sky of black dust Tell me baby, who do you trust?

He saw the watcher at the city gates Jonah in the belly of a whale He watched you walk your ragged mile His mercy it did not fail

I got somethin' in my heart, I been waitin' to give I got a life I wanna start, one I been waitin' to live No more waitin', tonight I feel the light I say the prayer I open the door, I climb the stairs

Yeah funny, I thought I felt a sweet summer breeze Must have been you sighing so deep, Don't worry, we're going to find a way

So you been broken and you been hurt Show me somebody who ain't Yeah I know I ain't nobody's bargain But hell a little touchup And a little paint

Tires on the highway hissing that something's coming You can feel the wires in the tree tops humming Devil's on the horizon line Your kiss and I'm alive

Mister trouble come walkin' this way Year gone past feels like one long day But I'm alive and I'm feelin' all right Well I run that hard road outta hearbreak city Built a roadside carnival out of hurt and self-pity It was all wrong well now I'm movin' on

Band's counting out midnight Floor's rumbling loud Singer's calling up daylight And waiting for that shout from the crowd

Remember the morning we dug up your gun The worms in the barrel, the hanging sun Those first nervous evenings of perfume and gin The lost smell on your breath as I helped you get it in The rush of your lips, the feel of your name The beat in your heart, the devil's arcade

You're looking for the key of that box you locked yourself in

I hold my breath and close my eyes And I wait for paradise

The road is dark And it's a thin thin line But I want you to know I'll walk it for you any time Maybe your other boyfriends Couldn't pass the test Well, if you're rough and ready for love Honey, I'm tougher than the rest

Well now on a summer night in a dusky room Come a little piece of the Lord's undying light Crying like he swallowed the fiery moon In his mother's arms it was all the beauty I could take Like the missing words to some prayer that I could never make In a world so hard and dirty so fouled and confused Searching for a little bit of God's mercy I found living proof

Now it's some old Stones' song the band is trashin' But if you feel like dancin', baby, I'm askin'

I got seven pictures of Buddha The prophet's on my tongue Eleven angels of mercy Sighing over that black hole in the sun My heart's dark but it's rising I'm pulling all the faith I can see From that black hole on the horizon I hear your voice calling me

So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise

I wanna build me a house, on higher ground I wanna find me a world, where love's the only sound High above this road, filled with shadow and doubt I want to shoulder my load, and figure it all out With Leah

But love and duty called you some place higher Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire

Hard times, baby well they come to us all Sure as the ticking of the clock on the wall Sure as the turning of the night into day Your smile girl, brings the morning light to my eyes Lifts away the blues when I rise I hope that you're coming to stay

I heard somebody call your name from underneath our willow I saw something tucked in shame underneath your pillow Well I've tried so hard baby but I just can't see What a woman like you is doing with me

Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true But you and I know what this world can do So let's make our steps clear that the other may see And I'll wait for you If I should fall behind Wait for me

Now I was young and pretty on the mean streets of the city And I fought to make 'em my home With just the shirt on my back I left and swore I'd never look back And man I was gone gone gone But there's things that'll knock you down you don't even see coming And send you crawling like a baby back home You're gonna find out that day, sugar

She sits on the porch of her daddy's house Oh but honey your pretty dress is torn She stared off alone into the night With the eyes of one who hates for just being born

Well here's to your good looks baby now here's to my health Here's to the loaded places that we take ourselves When it comes to luck you make your own Tonight I got to dirt on my hands but I'm building me a new home

My father said, "Son, we're lucky in this town It's a beautiful place to be born It just wraps its arms around you Nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone"

In the darkness my fingers slip across your skin I feel your sweet reply The room fades away and suddenly I'm way up high Just holdin' you to me As through the window the moonlight streams Oh won't you baby be in my book of dreams

Well it's never too late so come on girl The tables are waiting You and me and lady luck well tonight We'll be celebrating Drinkin' champagne on ice In just another roll of the dice

Same old faces it's the same old town What once was laughs is draggin' me now Waitin' on rain hangin' on for love Words of forgiveness from some God above Ain't no words of mercy comin' from on high Oh no just a long goodbye

We've given each other some hard lessons lately We ain't learning We're the same sad story, that's a fact One step up and two steps back

Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt are unique, I suppose But when they built you, brother, they broke the mold

I need you to chase these blues away Without you, I'm a drummer girl that can't keep a beat, Ice cream truck on a deserted street

Good times got a way of slipping away

It's the same thing night on night Who's wrong baby who's right Another fight and I slam the door On another battle in our dirty little war

Is dry lightning on the horizon line Just dry lightning and you on my mind

The day rips apart A dark and bloody arrow pierced my heart

There's a cross up yonder on Calvary Hill There's a slip of blood on a silver knife There's a graveyard kid down below Where at night the dead come to life

My soul went walkin' but I stayed here Feel like I been workin' for a thousand years Chippin' away at this chain of my own lies Climbin' a wall a hundred miles high Well I woke up this morning on the other side Yeah yeah this is the long goodbye

Now sometimes tomorrow comes soaked in treasure and blood Here we stood the drought, now we'll stand the flood There's a new world coming, I can see the light I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright

I'm trudging through the dark in a world gone wrong I woke up this morning shackled and drawn

Now, when all this steel and these stories Drift away to rust And all our youth and beauty Has been given to the dust When the game has been decided And we're burnin' down the clock And all our little victories and glories Have turned into parking lots

The rain it keeps on falling on twisted bones and dirt I'm buried to my heart here in this hurt

These are better days baby Yeah there's better days shining through These are better days baby Better days with a girl like you

Now I ply my trade in the land of king dollar Where you get paid and your silence passes as honor And all the hatred and dirty little lies Been written off the books and into decent men's eyes

Well, darling if you're weary Lay your head upon my chest We'll take what we can carry Yeah, and we'll leave the rest

Give me help, give me strength Give a soul a night of fearless sleep Give me love, give me peace Don't you know these days you pay for everything

Where're the eyes, the eyes with the will to see Where're the hearts that run over with mercy Where's the love that has not forsaken me Where's the work that set my hands, my soul free Where's the spirit that'll reign, reign over me Where's the promise from sea to the shining sea

Been on a barbed wire highway 40 days and nights I ain't complaining, it's my job and it suits me right I got a sweet soft fever rushing around my head I'm gonna sleep tonight in Maria's bed

Baby, once I thought I knew Everything I needed to know about you Your sweet whisper, your tender touch I didn't really know that much Joke's on me, but it's going to be okay If I can just get through this lonesome day

Ain't no mercy on the streets of this town Ain't no bread from heavenly skies Ain't nobody drawin' wine from this blood It's just you and me tonight

I knew some day your running would be through and you'd think back on me and you And your love would be strong You'd forget all about the bad and think only of all the laughs that we had And you'd wanna come home Well, now it ain't hard feelings or nothing, sugar That ain't what's got me singing this song It's just nobody knows baby where love goes But when it goes it's gone gone

Dark and bloody autumn pierces my heart The memory of your kiss tears me apart The sky above is turning, the world below's gone gray I thought that I could turn and walk away

Einstein and Shakespeare Sitting having a beer Einstein trying to figure out the number that adds up to this Shakespeare said, "Man it all starts with a kiss" Einstein is scratching Numbers on his napkin Shakespeare said, "Man, it's just one and one make three Ah, that's why it's poetry"

Your sweet memory comes on the evening wind I sleep and dream of holding you in my arms again The lights of Brownsville across the river shine A shout rings out, into the silty red river, I dive

Seven days, seven candles In my window, light your way Your favorite record's on the turntable I drop the needle and pray

Well, the piss yellow sun Comes bringing up the day She said "Ain't nobody can give nobody What they really need anyway"

Your voice comes calling through the mist I awake from a dream and my heart begins to drift

I'll hammer the nails and I'll set the stone I'll harvest your crops when they're ripe and grown I'll pull that engine apart and patch her up 'til she's running right I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright

I want a thousand guitars I want pounding drums I want a million different voices speaking in tongues

Out where the sky's been cleared by a good hard rain There's somebody callin' my secret name

Blood on the streets Yeah, blood flowing down I hear the blood of my blood Crying from the ground

Well, it ought to be easy, it ought to be simple enough Yeah, man meets woman and they fall in love But this house is haunted and the ride gets rough You've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above If you want to ride on down, down in through this tunnel of love

You said, "Heroes are needed, so heroes get made" Somebody made a bet, somebody paid The cool desert morning and nothing to save Just metal and plastic where your body caved

Well I took a piss at fortune's sweet kiss It's like eatin' caviar and dirt It's sad funny ending to find yourself pretending A rich man in a poor man's shirt

In the late afternoon sun fills the room with a mist in the garden before the fall I watch your hands smooth the front of your blouse and seven drops of blood fall

I'm standing in the backyard Listening to the party inside Tonight I'm drinkin' in the forgiveness This life provides

We've got no fairytale ending In God's hands our fate is complete Your heaven's here in my heart Our love's this dust beneath my feet

Billy felt a coldness rise up inside him that he couldn't name Just as the words tattooed 'cross his knuckles he knew would always remain At their bedside, he brushed the hair from his wife's face as the moon shone on her skin so white Filling their room in the beauty of God's fallen light

Now Tom said, "Mom, wherever there's a cop beating a guy Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries Where there's a fight against the blood and hatred in the air Look for me, Mom, I'll be there

Well tonight I just wanna shout I feel my soul waist deep and sinking Into this black river of doubt I just wanna rise and walk along the riverside And when the morning comes baby I don't wanna hide I'll stand right at your side with my arms open wide

Hands me two tickets, smiles and whispers good luck Well cuddle up angel, cuddle up my little dove We'll ride down baby into this tunnel of love

Everything is everything But you're missing

Where the distant oceans sing and rise to the plains In this dry and troubled country, your beauty remains Down from the mountain roads where the highway rolls to dark Beneath Allah's blessed rain, we remain worlds apart

The moon is high and here I am Sittin' here with this hammer in hand One more drink oughta ease the pain Starin' at that last link in the chain Well let's raise our glass and let the hammer fly Hey yeah this is the long goodbye

Baby let's get our bags packed We'll take it here to hell and heaven and back And if love is hopeless hopeless at best Come on put on your party dress it's ours tonight And we're going with the tumblin' dice

I got a cold mind to go tripping across that thin line I'm sick of doing straight time

There's a girl across the bar I get the message she's sending Hmm she ain't looking too married Me well honey I'm pretending Last night I dreamed I held you in my arms The music was never ending We danced as the evening sky faded to black One step up and two steps back

Well the highway is alive tonight But nobody's kidding nobody about where it goes I'm sitting down here in the campfire light Searching for the ghost of Tom Joad

I got my finger on the trigger But I don't know who to trust When I look into your eyes There's just devils and dust

Well now his kisses may thrill Those other girls that he likes But when it comes to treatin' A real woman right Well all of his tricks No they won't be enough 'Cause lovin' you baby lovin' you woman Lovin' you darlin' is a man's man's job

There was a woman waiting at the well Drawing water beneath a desert sky of blue She said "He'll heal the blind, raise the dead Cure the sickness out of you"

I been knocking on the door that holds the throne I been looking for the map that leads me home I been stumbling on good hearts turned to stone The road of good intentions has gone dry as a bone

Wherever somebody's fighting for a place to stand Or a decent job or a helping hand Wherever somebody's struggling to be free Look in their eyes, Ma, and you'll see me"

Tell me in a world without pity Do you think what I'm askin's too much? I just want something to hold on to And a little of that human touch

Tell me someone, what's the price I want to buy some time and maybe live my life I want to have a wife, I want to have some kids I want to look in their eyes and know they'll stand a chance

Well, your desires for your sweet confusion I'll walk away then, I don't buy your delusions

She gave me candy stick kisses 'neath a wolf-dog moon One sweet breath and she'll take you, mister, to the upper room I was burned by the angels, sold wings of lead Then I fell in the roses and sweet salvation of Maria's bed

It's a fairytale so tragic There's no prince to break the spell I don't believe in magic But for you, I will

Now a life of leisure and a pirate's treasure Don't make much for tragedy But it's a sad man my friend who's livin' in his own skin And can't stand the company. Every fool's got a reason for feelin' sorry for himself And turning his heart to stone Tonight this fool's halfway to heaven and just a mile outta hell And I feel like I'm comin' home

Is it the sound of the leaves left blown by the wayside That's got me out here on this spooky old highway tonight Is it the cry of the river with the moonlight shining through That ain't what scares me baby, what scares me is losing you

Darlin' give me your kiss Come and take my hand I am the nothing man

Now there's a loss that can never be replaced A destination that can never be reached A light you'll never find in another's face A sea whose distance cannot be breached

They destroyed our families, factories And they took our homes They left our bodies on the plains The vultures picked our bones

Like a thief on Sunday morning It all falls apart with no warning

I got the fortunes of heaven in diamonds and gold I got all the bonds baby that the bank could hold I got houses 'cross the country honey end to end And everybody buddy wants to be my friend Well I got all the riches baby any man ever knew But the only thing I ain't got, honey, I ain't got you

Gray morning light spits through the shade Another day older, closer to the grave Closer to the grave and come the dawn I woke up this morning shackled and drawn

Now you play the loving woman, I'll play the faithful man But just don't look too close into the palm of my hand Well we stood at the alter, the gypsy swore our future was right But come the wee wee hours maybe baby the gypsy lied

You walk real pretty and you talk real fine But night after night babe I'm on the line

I'm counting on a miracle

Dancing down a dark hole Just searching for a world with some soul

Gambling man rolls the dice, workingman pays the bill It's still fat and easy up on banker's hill Up on banker's hill, the party's going strong Down here below we're shackled and drawn

Well, Jesus kissed his mother's hands Whispered, "Mother, still your tears For remember the soul of the universe Willed a world and it appeared

Come to the door, Ma, and unlock the chain I was just passing through and got caught in the rain There's nothing that I want, nothing that you need say Just let me lie down for a while and I'll be on my way

Your world keeps turning round and round But everything is upside down Your own worst enemy has come to town

Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn Pick up the rock son, carry it on What's a poor boy to do in a world gone wrong? I woke up this morning shackled and drawn

And though my heart's grown weary And more than a little bit shy Tonight I'll drink from her waters to quench my thirst And leave the angels to worry With every wish

Rode through forty nights of the gospels' rain Black sky pourin' snakes frogs And love in vain You were down where the river grows wider Baby let me be your soul driver

Don't worry, darling No baby, don't you fret We're living in the future And none of this has happened yet

There's a lot of talk going around you Let them talk, you know you're the only one There's a lot of walls need tearing down Together we could take them down one by one

I could smell the same deep green of summer Above me the same night sky was glowing In the distance I could see the town where I was born

Oh feelin' like a real man I ain't no fighter that's easy to see And as a lover I ain't goin' down in history But when the lights go down and you pull me close Well I look in your eyes and there's one thing I know Baby I'll be tough enough If I can find the guts to give you all my love Then I'll be feelin' like a real man

I hold you in my arms as the band plays What are those words whispered baby just as you turn away I saw you last night out on the edge of town I wanna read your mind to know just what I've got in this new thing I've found

Maybe I'm just a clown throwin' down Lookin' to come up busted I'm a thief in the house of love And I can't be trusted Well I'll be makin' my heist In just another roll of the dice

Now I see your pieces crumbled, and our book of faith's been tossed And I'm just down here searching for my own piece of the cross

Pockets full of dust, my mouth filled with cool stone The pale moon opens the earth to its bones

raise your hand And together we'll walk into Canaan land

On the plains of Jordan I cut my bow from the wood Of this tree of evil Of this tree of good

Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening To the hours and minutes tickin' away Yeah just sittin' around waitin' for my life to begin While it was all just slippin' away I'm tired of waitin' for tomorrow to come Or that train to come roarin' 'round the bend I got a new suit of clothes a pretty red rose And a woman I can call my friend

From a house on a hill a sacred light shines I walk through these rooms but none of them are mine Down empty hallways I went from door to door Searching for my beautiful reward

A little sweet talk to cover over all of the lies You came runnin' back but to my surprise Well there was somethin' gone in Gloria's eyes

Last night I stood at your doorstep Tryna figure out what went wrong You just slipped something into my palm, and you were gone

I sink beneath the river cool and clear Drifting down, I disappear I see you on the other side I search for the peace in your eyes

I had some victory that was just failure in deceit Now the joke's comin' up through the soles of my feet I been a long time walking on fortune's cane Tonight I'm sleepin' lightly and feelin' no pain

Better ask questions before you shoot Deceit and betrayal's a bitter fruit It's hard to swallow, come time to pay That taste on your tongue don't easily slip away Thy kingdom come, I'm going to find my way Yeah, through this lonesome day

Well there in the high trees love's bluebird glides Guiding us 'cross to another river on the other side And there someone is waitin' with a look in her eyes

Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize Well it comes with a hard hard price You can't shut off the risk and pain Without losin' the love that remains We're all riders on this train

I walk this road, with a hammer and a fiery lantern With this hand I've built, and with this I've burned I wanna live in the same house, beneath the same roof Sleep in the same bed, search for the same proof As Leah

I built a shrine in my heart it wasn't pretty to see Made out of fool's gold memory and tears cried Now I'm heading over the rise I'm searching for one clear moment of love and truth I still got a little faith But what I need is some proof tonight I'm lookin' for it in your eyes

I been out in the desert, yeah, doing my time Sifting through the dust for fool's gold, looking for a sign Holy man said "Hold on, brother, there's a light up ahead" Ain't nothing like a light that shines on me in Maria's bed

They say if you die in your dreams, you really die in your bed But honey last night I dreamed my eyes rolled straight back in my head And God's light came shinin' on through I woke up in the darkness scared and breathin' and born anew It wasn't the cold river bottom I felt rushing over me It wasn't the bitterness of a dream that didn't come true It wasn't the wind in the grey fields I felt rushing through my arms No no baby, baby it was you

Now if you're lookin' for a hero Someone to save the day Well darlin' my feet They're made of clay But I've got somethin' in my soul And I wanna give it up But gettin' up the nerve Gettin' up the nerve Gettin' up the nerve is a man's man's job

If the sun should fall from the sky tomorrow If the rain brings the tears to your eye, I would share your sorrow

I've stumbled and I know I made my mistakes But tonight I'm gonna be playin' for all of the stakes

Well, no cannonball did fly, no rifles cut us down No bombs fell from the sky, no blood soaked the ground No powder flash blinded the eye No deathly thunder sounded But just as sure as the hand of God They brought death to my hometown

With these hands We pray for the strength, Lord

On the road to Basra stood young Lieutenant Jimmy Bly Detailed to go through the clothes of the soldiers who died At night in dreams he sees their souls rise Like dark geese into the Oklahoma skies

Well your hair shone in the sun I was so high I was the lucky one Then I came crashing down like a drunk on a barroom floor Searching for my beautiful reward

I'll mow your lawn, clean the leaves out your drain I'll mend your roof to keep out the rain I'll take the work that God provides I'm a Jack of all trades, honey, we'll be alright

Past the playgrounds and empty switching yards The turtles eat the skin from your eyes, so they lay open to the stars

Me and my girl Saturday night Late movie on channel five The girls were droppin' they're droppin' like flies To some smooth talkin' cool walkin' private eye I ain't got no nerves of steel But all I got to know is if your love is real

Sleeping beauty awakes from her dream With her lover's kiss on her lips Your kiss was taken from me Now all I have is this

I put my heart and soul I put 'em high upon a shelf Right next to the faith the faith that I'd lost in myself I went down into the desert city Just tryin' so hard to shed my skin I crawled deep into some kind of darkness Lookin' to burn out every trace of who I'd been You do some sad sad things baby When it's you you're tryin' to lose You do some sad and hurtful things I've seen living proof

It was dark, too dark to see You held me in the light you gave You lay your hand on me Then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave

My life's the same story Again and again I' m on the outside looking in

My ship Liberty sailed away On a bloody red horizon The groundskeeper opened the gates And let the wild dogs run

Now you were the Red Sea I was Moses I kissed you and slipped into a bed of roses The waters parted and love rushed inside I was Jesus' son sanctified

Now the sweet bells of mercy Drift through the evening trees Young men on the corner Like scattered leaves

Around here everybody acts the same Around here everybody acts like nothing's changed

Oh there's somethin' in your soul That he's gonna rob And lovin' you baby lovin' you darlin' Lovin' you woman is a man's man's job

Well now all that's sure on the boulevard Is that life is just a house of cards As fragile as each and every breath Of this boy sleepin' in our bed

He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag Preacher lights up a butt and he takes a drag Waiting for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass

Now the world is filled with many wonders under the passing sun And sometimes something comes along, and you know it's for sure the only one The Mona Lisa, the David, the Sistine Chapel, Jesus, Mary, and Joe And when they built you, brother, they broke the mold

You said my act was funny but we both knew what was missing, honey

Tonight I can feel the cold wind at my back I'm flying high over gray fields my feathers long and black Down along the river's silent edge I soar Searching for my beautiful reward

Now get yourself a song to sing and sing it till you're done Sing it hard and sing it well Send the robber barons straight to hell

I'm just a lonely pilgrim, I walk this world in wealth I want to know if it's you I don't trust 'cause I damn sure don't trust myself

This is radio nowhere Is there anybody alive out there?

All over the world the rain was pourin' I was scratchin' where it itched Oh heartbreak and despair got nothing but boring So I grabbed you baby like a wild pitch

Tonight our bed is cold, I'm lost in the darkness of our love God have mercy on the man who doubts what he's sure of

Well I've been a losin' gambler Just throwin' snake eyes Love ain't got me downhearted I know up around the corner lies My fool's paradise In just another roll of the dice

The Virginia hills have gone to brown Another day, another sun going down I visit you in another dream

When they built you, brother, they turned dust into gold When they built you, brother, they broke the mold

It's coming on closing time Bartender, he's ringin' last call These days I don't stand on pride I ain't afraid to take a fall

They say you can't take it with you, but I think that they're wrong Because all I know is I woke up this morning, and something big was gone Gone into that dark ether where you're still young and hard and cold Just like when they built you, brother, they broke the mold

You'll be fine long as your pretty face holds out Then it's going to get pretty cold out

You and me we were the pretenders We let it all slip away In the end what you don't surrender Well the world just strips away

So when you look at me you better look hard and look twice Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise

You can't sleep at night You can't dream your dream Your fingerprints on file Left clumsily at the scene

On his right hand, Billy'd tattooed the word "love", on his left hand was the word "fear" And in which hand he held his fate was never clear Come Indian summer, he took his young lover for his bride And with his own hands built her a great house down by the riverside

We've got God on our side We're just trying to survive What if what you do to survive Kills the things you love

Now my ass was draggin' when from a passin' gypsy wagon Your heart like a diamond shone Tonight I'm layin' in your arms carvin' lucky charms Out of these hard luck bones

It'll take your God-filled soul Fill it with devils and dust

I'm driving a big lazy car rushin' up the highway in the dark I got one hand steady on the wheel and one hand's tremblin' over my heart It's pounding baby like it's gonna bust right on through And it ain't gonna stop till I'm alone again with you

For all the blown-off strangers and hot rod angels Stumbling through this promised land Tonight my baby and me we're gonna ride to the sea And wash these sins off our hands

But they're as empty as paradise

Quiet afternoon in the empty house On the edge of the bed, you slip off your blouse The room is burning with the noon sun Your bittersweet taste on my tongue

Well now our old fears and failures, oh baby, they do linger Like the shadow of that ring that was on your finger

Well by Our Lady Of The Roses we lived in the shadow of the elms I remember ma dragging me and my sister up the street to the church whenever she heard those wedding bells Well would they ever look so happy again yeah the handsome groom and his bride As they stepped into that long black limousine for their mystery ride Well tonight you step away from me and alone at the alter I stand As I watch my bride coming down the aisle I pray for the strength to walk like a man

You got a one-way ticket to the promised land You got a hole in your belly and a gun in your hand Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock Bathing in the city's aqueduct

You might need somethin' to hold on to When all the answers they don't amount to much Somebody that you can just talk to And a little of that human touch

Easy street, a quick buck, and true lies Smiles as thin as those dusky blue skies

I'm running through the forest With this wolf at my heels My king is lost at midnight When the tower bells peal

Forty-one shots and we'll take that ride Across the bloody river to the other side Forty-one shots cut through the night You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule Praying for his life

Let your mind rest easy Sleep well my friend It's only our bodies that betray us in the end

Well now the years have gone and I've grown yeah from that seed you've sown But I didn't think there'd been so many steps I'd have to learn on my own Well I was young and I didn't know what to do when I saw your best steps stolen away from you Now I'll do what I can, I'll walk like a man And I'll keep on walking

I got a house full of Rembrandt and priceless art And all the little girls, they wanna tear me apart When I walk down the street, people stop and stare Well, you'd think I might be thrilled but baby I don't care 'Cause I got more good luck honey than old King Farouk But the only thing I ain't got, baby, I ain't got you

Coming from the city, coming from the wild I see a breathless army breaking like a cloud They're going to smother love, they're going to shoot your hopes Before the meek inherit they'll learn to hate themselves

Got on a dead man's suit and a smiling skull ring Lucky graveyard boots and a song to sing I keep my heart in my work, my troubles in my head And I keep my soul in Maria's bed

"Every cloud has a silver lining, every dog has his day" She said "Now don't say nothing If you don't have something nice to say

Now Billy was an honest man, he wanted to do what was right He worked hard to fill their lives with happy days and loving night Alone on his knees in the darkness for steadiness he'd pray For he knew in a restless heart the seed of betrayal lay

Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break Who'll be the last to die for a mistake

Well I awoke last night in the dark and dreamy deep From my head to my feet my body's gone stone cold There were worms crawling all around me My fingers scratching at an earth black and six foot low Alone in the blackness of my grave Alone I'd been left to die Then I heard voices calling all around me The earth rose above me My eyes filled with sky

Plastics, wire and your kiss The breath of eternity on your lips

For a while you'll go sparkling by Just another pretty thing on high

Don't know when this chance might come again Good times got a way of coming to an end

I search for you on the other side Where the river runs clean and wide Up to my heart, the waters rise

Hell's brewing, dark sun's on the rise This storm will blow through, by and by House is on fire, vipers in the grass Little revenge and this too shall pass This too shall pass, darling, yeah I'm going to pray Right now, all I got is this lonesome day

I love to see your hair shining In the long summer's light I love to watch the stars fill the sky On a summer night The music plays you take his hand I watch how you touch him as you start to dance And I wish I were blind When I see you with your man

Rising from a long night as dark as the grave On a thin chain of next moments and something like faith

Ain't no church bells ringing Ain't no flags unfurled Just me and you and the love we're bringing Into the real world

A silver plate of pearls, my golden child It's all yours, at least for a little while

I got a picture of you in my locket I keep it close to my heart This light shining in my breast Leading me through the dark

The times, they got too clear So you removed all the mirrors Once the family felt secure Now no one's very sure

I've got my finger on the trigger And tonight faith just ain't enough When I look inside my heart There's just devils and dust

I feel my soul waist deep and sinking Into this black river of doubt

Where the road is dark and the seed is sowed Where the gun is cocked and the bullet's cold Where the miles are marked in blood and gold I'll meet you further on up the road

In the garden at Gethsemane He prayed for the life he'd never live He beseeched his Heavenly Father to remove The cup of death from his lips

I love to see the cottonwood blossom In the early spring I love to see the message of love That the bluebird brings But when I see you walkin' with him Down along the strand I wish I were blind When I see you with your man

I hold you in my arms, yeah that's when it starts I seek faith in your kiss and comfort in your heart Taste the seed upon your lips, lay my tongue upon your scars When I look into your eyes and we stand worlds apart

Now's there's tears on the pillow, darling, where we slept And you took my heart when you left Without your sweet kiss my soul is lost, my friend Tell me how do I begin again?

May your strength give us strength May your faith give us faith May your hope give us hope May your love give us love

We took the highway till the road went black We marked 'Truth Or Consequences' on our map

We'll let blood build a bridge over mountains draped in stars I'll meet you on the ridge between these worlds apart We've got this moment now to live, then it's all just dust and dark Let's let love give what it gives

Now no one knows which way love's wheel turns Will we hit it rich Or crash and burn Does fortune wait or just the black hand of fate This love potion's all we've got One toast before it's too late

And the things of the earth, they make their claim That the things of heaven may do the same

God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops

I got a pound of caviar sitting home on ice I got a fancy foreign car that rides like paradise I got a hundred pretty women knockin' down my door And folks wanna kiss me I ain't even seen before I been around the world and all across the seven seas Been paid a king's ransom for doin' what comes naturally But I'm still the biggest fool, honey, this world ever knew 'Cause the only thing I ain't got, baby, I ain't got you

But love is a power greater than death, just like the songs and stories told And when she built you, brother, she broke the mold

Well, big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

Alone I limp through town A lost cowboy at sundown Got my monkey on a leash Got my ear tuned to the ground My faith's been torn asunder Tell me is that rolling thunder Or just the sinking sound Of something righteous going under

Men walking 'long the railroad tracks Going someplace, there's no going back Highway patrol choppers coming up over the ridge Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge Shelter line stretching 'round the corner Welcome to the new world order Families sleeping in the cars in the southwest No home, no job, no peace, no rest

Sometimes the truth just ain't enough Or is it too much in times like this Let's throw the truth away, we'll find it in this kiss In your skin upon my skin in the beating of our hearts May the living let us in before the dead tear us apart

So hold me close honey, say you're forever mine And tell me you'll be my lonely valentine

There's spirits above and behind me Faces gone black, eyes burning bright May their precious blood bind me Lord, as I stand before your fiery light

Girl ain't no kindness in the face of strangers Ain't gonna find no miracles here Well you can wait on your blessings darlin' But I got a deal for you right here

Familiar faces around me Laughter fills the air Your loving grace surrounds me Everybody's here Furniture's out on the front porch Music's up loud I dream of you in my arms I lose myself in the crowd

Woke up election day Sky's gunpowder and shades of grey Beneath the dirty sun I whistle my time away Then just about sundown You come walking through town Your boot heels clicking like The barrel of a pistol spinning round

Well, it ain't no secret I've been around a time or two Well, I don't know baby maybe you've been around too Well, there's another dance All you gotta do is say yes And if you're rough and ready for love Honey, I'm tougher than the rest

The fuse is burning Shut out the lights The fuse is burning Come on let me do you right

When I look at myself I don't see The man I wanted to be Somewhere 'long the line I slipped off track I'm caught moving one step up and two steps back

Days just keep on falling Your voice it keeps on calling I'm going to dig right here until I get you back

I was driving through the misty rain Just a-searching for a mystery train Bopping through the wild blue Trying to make a connection with you

It's been a long long drought baby Tonight the rain's pourin' down on our roof Looking for a little bit of God's mercy I found living proof

I always loved the feel of sweat on my shirt Stand back son and let a man work

Well, it's Saturday night You're all dressed up in blue I been watching you awhile Maybe you been watching me, too So somebody ran out Left somebody's heart in a mess Well, if you're looking for love Honey, I'm tougher than the rest

It's been a long time coming, my dear It's been a long time coming, but now it's here

It takes a leap of faith to get things going It takes a leap of faith you gotta show some guts It takes a leap of faith to get things going In your heart you must trust

Fear's a powerful thing, baby It can turn your heart black, you can trust It'll take your God-filled soul And fill it with devils and dust

Well above the stars they crackle and fire A dead man's moon throws seven rings We'd put our ears to the cold grave stones This is the song they'd sing

A letter come blowing in On an ill wind Something about me and you Never seeing one another again And what I knew had come Stars struck deaf and dumb Like when we kissed That taste of blood on your tongue

The sun sets in flames as the city burns Another day gone down as the night turns And I hold you here in my heart As things fall apart

Now the ritual begins 'Neath the wedding garland we meet as strangers The dance floor is alive with beauty Mystery and danger We dance out 'neath the stars' ancient light into the darkening trees Oh won't you baby be in my book of dreams

For you I'll build a house High upon a grassy hill Somewhere across the border Where pain and memory Pain and memory have been stilled There, across the border And sweet blossoms fill the air Pastures of gold and green Roll down into cool clear waters And in your arms beneath open skies I'll kiss the sorrow from your eyes There, across the border

An endless stream of stars shooting by You got your hopes on high

I ain't lookin' for prayers or pity I ain't comin' 'round searchin' for a crutch I just want someone to talk to And a little of that human touch

World peace gonna break out From here on in, we're eating take out

Tonight the moon's looking young but I'm feelin' younger 'Neath a veil of dreams sweet blessings rain Honey I can feel the first breeze of summer And in your love I'm born again

I see you Mary in the garden In the garden of a thousand sighs There's holy pictures of our children Dancing in a sky filled with light

I got a big diamond watch sittin' on my wrist I try to tempt you, baby, but you just resist I made a deal with the devil, babe, I won't deny Until I got you in my arms, I can't be satisfied

And though this world is filled With the grace and beauty of God's hand Oh I wish I were blind When I see you with your man

The sky was falling And streaked with blood I heard you calling me Then you disappeared into the dust

Well, you get so sick of the fighting You lose your fear of the end But I can't lose your memory And the sweet smell of your skin

Love leaves nothin' but shadows and vapor We go on, as is our sad nature, baby

And we're walkin' on the wildside, runnin' down a one way street

You're dancin' with him he's holding you tight I'm standing here waitin' to catch your eye Your hand's on his neck as the music sways All my illusions slip away

If I'm going to live I'll lift my life Darling, to you

The scars we carry remain but the pain slips away it seems Oh won't you baby be in my book of dreams

So listen up, my sonny boy, be ready when they come For they'll be returning sure as the rising sun

I woke up this morning I could barely breathe Just an empty impression In the bed where you used to be I want a kiss from your lips I want an eye for an eye I woke up this morning to an empty sky

The earth, it gave away The sea rose towards the sun I opened up my heart to you It got all damaged and undone

May I feel your arms around me May I feel your blood mix with mine A dream of life comes to me Like a catfish dancing on the end of the line

Now your legs were heaven your breasts were the altar Your body was the holy land You shouted "jump" but my heart faltered You laughted and said "Baby don't you understand?"

I can't sleep so I lay awake listenin' to the sounds of the city below I get dressed and walk the streets but I got nowhere to go

Feelin' like a real man Well you can beat on your chest Hell any monkey can

These days I sit around and laugh At the many rivers I've crossed But on the far banks there's always another forest Where a man can get lost

We struggle here but all our love's in vain Oh these eyes that once filled me with your beauty Now fill me with pain And the light that once entered here Is banished from me And this darkness is all baby that my heart sees

Well if something in the air feels a little unkind Don't worry darlin' It'll slip your mind I'll be your gypsy joker your shotgun rider Baby let me be your soul driver

Well this is a prayer for the souls of the departed Those who've gone and left their babies brokenhearted

I was your big man I was your prince charming King on a white horse hey now look how far I've fallen I tried to trick you yeah but baby you got wise You cut me cut me right right down to size Now I'm just a fool in Gloria's eyes

I been up on sugar mountain, 'cross the sweet blue sea I walked the valley of love and tears and mystery I got run out'a luck and gave myself up for dead And I drank the cool clear waters from Maria's bed

And when that train comes we'll get on board And steal what we can from the treasures treasures of the Lord

A half-drunk beer and your breath in my ear At the Moonlight Motel

American beauty will you be mine Out on this highway counting white lines

And it’s all lies but I’m strung out on the wire In these streets of fire

and it’s one false move and baby the lights go out

And she’s so pretty that you’re lost in the star

And the world is busting at its seams And you’re just a prisoner of your dreams

And you’re in love with all the wonder it brings And every muscle in your body sings as the highway ignites

As you jockey your way through the cars And sit at the light, as it changes to green With your faith in your machine off you scream into the night

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet And a freight train running through the middle of my head

At night sometimes it seemed You could hear the whole damn city crying

Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge Drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain

Blame it on the lies that killed us, Blame it on the truth that ran us down

But all her pretty dreams are torn, She stares off alone into the night

But I ride by night and I travel in fear That in this darkness I will disappear

But they said, “Johnny, it falls apart so easily, and you know hearts these days are cheap”

But tonight you’re gonna break on through to the inside

But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold

Calling and calling so cold and alone Shining cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned

Dress in the latest rage

Driving all night, chasing some mirage

Eat at your insides and leave you face to face with Streets of fire

Everything dies baby that’s a fact But maybe everything that dies someday comes back

Explode and tear this old town apart Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart

For one kiss, darling I swear everything I would give Cause you’re a walking, talking reason to live

from the dark heart of a dream

From your front porch to my front seat, The door’s open but the ride ain’t free

He tried sellin’ his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street

I don’t give a damn For the same old played out scenes Baby, I don’t give a damn For just the in-betweens Honey

I hear that whistle whining I feel her kiss in the misty rain And I feel like I’m a rider on a downbound train

I lie awake in the middle of the night Makin’ a list of things that I didn’t do right With you at the top of a long page filled

I see that lonely ribbon in your hair Tell me am I the man for whom you put it there

I took a wrong turn and I just kept going

I walk with angels that have no place

I’m a rolling stone just rolling on Catch me now ‘cause tomorrow I’ll be gone

I’m caught in a cross fire That I don’t understand

I’m twenty five hundred miles from where I wanna be It feels like a hundred years since you’ve been near to me

In this house it’s so easy to set a world on fire, All you need is the need and the money and a soul full of reckless desire

In this house the guilty go unpunished and blood and silence prevail, Here the dead remain nameless, the nameless remain jailed

It’s a long dark highway and a thin white line Connecting baby, your heart to mine, We’re runnin’ now but darlin’ we will stand in time

Just the false taste of paradise and then the fall

Kids flash guitars just like switch-blades

Let your hair down sugar and pick up this beat, Come on and meet me tonight down on Bluebird Street

Like soldiers in the winter’s night with a vow to defend No retreat, baby, no surrender

Lonely-hearted lovers Struggle in dark corners Soul engines running through a night so tender

Man I ain’t getting nowhere I’m just living in a dump like this There’s something happening somewhere baby I just know that there is

My brain takes a vacation just to give my heart more room

My kisses used to turn you inside out

Now the heart’s unsteady, and the night is still All I’ve got’s this melody, and time to kill

Oh-oh come take my hand, We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land, Oh-oh-oh-oh Thunder Road

Outside the street’s on fire In a real death waltz Between what’s flesh and what’s fantasy And the poets down here Don’t write nothing at all They just stand back and let it all be

Radio’s jammed up with talk show stations It’s just talk, talk, talk till you lose your patience

remember last summer drifting through our eyes

Show a little faith there’s magic in the night, You ain’t a beauty but hey you’re alright

So come close my pretty darling and let me feel your disease, Tonight I’ll have you naked and crawling at the end of my leash

So you fell for some jerk who was tall, dark and handsome Then he kidnapped your heart and now he’s holdin’ it for ransom

Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife, baby, edgy and dull And cut a six-inch valley through the middle of my skull

Standing in that doorway like a dream

Talk about a dream Try to make it real You wake up in the night With a fear so real

That secret pact you made Back when her love could save you From the bitterness

That thunder in your heart At night when you’re kneeling in the dark It says you’re never gonna leave her But there’s this angel in her eyes That tells such desperate lies And all you want to do is believe her

The book of love holds its rules Disobeyed by fools

The hungry and the hunted Explode into rock'n'roll bands That face off against each other out in the street Down in Jungleland

The rat traps filled with soul crusaders, The circuits lined and jammed with chromed invaders

The screen door slams, Mary’s dress waves Like a vision, she dances across the porch As the radio plays Roy Orbison singing for the lonely, Hey that’s me and I want you only

The teenage tramps in skin-tight pants do the E Street dance

There were ghosts in the eyes Of all the boys you sent away, They haunt this dusty beach road In the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets.

There’s a darkness on the edge of town

there’s a joke here somewhere and it’s on me

There’s a war outside still raging You say it ain’t ours anymore to win

Theres a sadness hidden in that pretty face, a sadness all her own, from which no man can keep Candy safe

These days you don’t wait on Romeo’s you wait on that welfare check

They say in the end true love prevails But in the end true love can’t be no fairytale

They say you gotta stay hungry hey baby I’m just about starving tonight

They scream your name at night in the street, Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet, And in the lonely cool before dawn, You hear their engines roaring on, When you get to the porch they’re gone On the wind

True love is broken and your tears are fallin’ faster You’re sufferin’ from a pain in your heart or some other natural disaster

Two hearts are better than one, Two hearts girl get the job done

Waiting for the bells that ring In the deep heart of the night

Waste your summer praying in vain, For a saviour to rise from these streets

We got married, and swore we’d never part Then little by little we drifted from each other’s hearts

We got one last chance to make it real, To trade in these wings on some wheels, Climb in back, Heaven’s waiting down on the tracks

We kiss, my hearts pumpin to my brain the blood rushes in my veins, when I touch Candys lips, We go driving, driving deep into the night, I go driving deep into the light, in Candys eyes

We shut ‘em up and than we shut ‘em down

we’re gonna ride to the sea And wash these sins off our hands.

Well I saw you last night down on the avenue Your face was in the shadows but I knew that it was you You were standin’ in the doorway out of the rain You didn’t answer when I called out your name You just turned, and then you looked away like just another stranger waitin’ to get blown away

Well the night’s busting open, These two lanes will take us anywhere

Well, everybody’s got a secret, Sonny, Something that they just can’t face, Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it, They carry it with them every step that they take.

Well, I believe in the love that you gave me I believe in the faith that can save me

Where we swore forever friends On the backstreets until the end

With a love so hard and filled with defeat

With her long hair falling And her eyes that shine like a midnight sun Oh she’s the one

Words were passed in a shotgun blast

You can hide 'neath your covers, And study your pain, Make crosses from your lovers, Throw roses in the rain

You can’t judge an apple by looking at a tree, You can’t judge honey by looking at the bee, You can’t judge a daughter by looking at the mother, You can’t judge a book by looking at the cover

You don’t have to call me lieutenant, Rosie, and I don’t want to be your son

You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much Till you spend half your life just covering up

You inherit the sins, you inherit the flames, Adam raised a Cain

You know it’s never over, it’s relentless as the rain, Daddy worked his whole life, for nothing but the pain

You never smile girl, you never speak You just walk on by, darlin’, week after week

You pulled my jacket off and as the drummer counted four You grabbed my hand and pulled me out on the floor You just stood there and held me, then you started dancin’ slow And as I pulled you tighter I swore I’d never let you go

You sit and wonder just who’s gonna stop the rain Who’ll ease the sadness, who’s gonna quiet the pain

You wake up and you’re dying you don’t even know what from

You walk cool, but darlin’, can you walk the

You walk too far, you walk away Hello sunshine, won’t you stay

I thought I knew just who I was And what I’d do but I was wrong One minute you’re here Next minute you’re gone

Footsteps cracklin’ on a gravel road Stars vanish in a sky as black as stone

In the afternoon 'neath the summer sun We’d lie by the lake till the evening comes I run my fingers through your sun-streaked hair Baby, that’s the power of prayer

It’s a fixed game without any rules An empty table on a ship of fools I’m holding hearts, I’ll play the pair Darling, it’s just the power of prayer

I’m holding hearts, I’ll play the pair I’m goin’ all in 'cause I don’t care

I’m reaching for heaven, we’ll make it there

Zero’s my number, time is my hunter I wanted you to heal me but instead you set me on fire We were out over the borders, I washed you in holy water We whispered our black prayers and rose up in flames Take me on your burnin’ train

White sun burnin’, black wings beatin’

With our shared faith Rising dark and decayed Take me and shake me from this mortal cage

On your bed of thorns, I brought you shining gifts Wiped the sweat from your brow and I touched your lips Sheets stained with sweat, outside the endless rain Darlin’, I’m blessed in your blood and marked by Cain

Tried to summon all that my heart finds true And send it in my letter to you

Things I found out through hard times and good I wrote 'em all out in ink and blood Dug deep in my soul and signed my name true And sent it in my letter to you

I took all the sunshine and rain All my happiness and all my pain The dark evening stars and the morning sky of blue And I sent it in my letter to you

There’s a light on yonder mountain And it’s calling me to shine There’s a girl over by the water fountain And she’s asking to be mine

Well sweet Virgin Mary runs the Holy Grail saloon Well for a nickel she’ll give you whiskey and a personally blessed balloon

And the Holy Ghost is the host with the most, he runs the burlesque show Where they’ll let you in for free and they hit you when you go

Mary serving Mass on Sunday and she sells her body on Monday To the bootlegger who paid the highest price He don’t know he got stuck with a loser, she’s a stone junkie what’s more she’s a user She’s only been made once or twice by some kind of magic

If Jesus was a sheriff and I were a priest If my lady was an heiress and my Mama was a thief And Papa rode shotgun on the Fargo line There’s still too many outlaws trying to work the same line

Well things ain’t been the same in heaven since Big Bad Bobby came to town He’s been known to down eleven, then ask for another round

Me I’ve got scabs on my knees from kneeling way too long It’s about time I played the man, took a stand where I belong

And I forget about the old friends and the old times There’s just too many new boys trying to work the same line

Hands raised to Yahweh to bring the rain down He comes crawlin’ 'cross the dry fields like a dark shroud

Rainmaker, a little faith for hire Rainmaker, the house is on fire Rainmaker, take everything you have Sometimes folks need to believe in something so bad, so bad,

Rainmaker says white’s black and black’s white Says night’s day and day’s night Says close your eyes and go to sleep now I’m in a burnin’ field unloadin’ buckshot into low clouds

The blood moon shines across the vale Bells ring out through churches and jails I tally my wounds and count the scars Here in the house of a thousand guitars

The criminal clown has stolen the throne He steals what he can never own May the truth ring out from every small-town bar We’ll light up the house of a thousand guitars

Here the bitter and the bored Wake in search of the lost chord That’ll band us together for as long as there’s stars Here in the house of a thousand guitars

So wake and shake off your troubles, my friend We’ll go where the music never ends From the stadiums to the small-town bars We’ll light up the house of a thousand guitars

The road is long and seeming without end The days go on, I remember you my friend And though you’re gone and my heart’s been emptied it seems I’ll see you in my dreams

I’ll see you in my dreams when all our summers have come to an end I’ll see you in my dreams, we’ll meet and live and laugh again I’ll see you in my dreams, yeah around the river bend For death is not the end

Well how many wasted have I seen signed “Hollywood or bust” And left to ride the ever ghostly Arizona gusts Cheerleader tramps and kids with big amps sounding in the void High society vamps, ex-heavyweight champs mistaking soot for soil

Well sons they search for fathers, but the fathers are all gone The lost souls search for saviors, but saviors don’t last long

Those aimless questless renegade brats who live their lives in song They run the length of a candle, with a goodnight whisper and they’re gone

Believe me my good Linda, the aurora will shine the way

Those orphans jumped on silver mountains lost in celestial alleyways They wait for that old tramp Dog Man Moses, he takes in all the strays

Now don’t you grow on empty legends or lonely cradle songs Billy the Kid was just a bowery boy who made a living twirling his guns

The night she’s long and lanky and she speaks in a mother tongue She lullabies the refugees with amplifier’s hum

I hear the sound of your guitar Comin’ in from the mystic far Stone and the gravel in your voice Come in my dreams and I rejoice

It’s your ghost Moving through the night Spirit filled with light

Count the band in then kick into overdrive By the end of the set we leave no one alive

I shoulder your Les Paul and finger the fretboard I make my vows to those who’ve come before I turn up the volume, let the spirits be my guide Meet you brother and sister on the other side

All the redemption I can offer girl Is beneath this dirty hood

#bruce springsteen #springsteen

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pangtasias-atelier · 3 years

Text

A Good Start to the New Year

So this story involving Keaton and Kaden has been in my WIPs for like a month. This was originally planned to be like a series based on FEH seasonal banners, but I absolutely hate the Plegian banner and the Valentine’s units + designs I hate so I lost all care and now this is a small ficlet meant to be of some chub on the smaller scale. But I absolutely loved Kaden’s and Keaton’s new years alts, especially how easily mergeable they were.

“H-hey! What’re you doing?” Back pressed up against a wall, Keaton stubby tail refuses to budge much like the rest of his body. Unable to wag it, his tail is unnecessary in giving away his excitement from Kaden near assaulting him, his bashfully red face betraying him instead. That and Keaton refusing to fight back much, the wolfskin easily able to take on the overeager kitsune.

“Making sure we match!” Kaden sticks out his tongue as if creating a masterpiece. Holding Keaton against the wall with his body, his New Years kimono remains slightly open as ever, the creamy soft lines of his chest easily visible to Keaton. Grabbing Keaton’s kimono, Kaden opens it up. “There!” He nimbly jumps back despite the few extra pounds on his frame. The extra camera weight is somewhat noticeable with Kaden always sporting a svelte body; however, all it amounts to is a slight paunch. Kaden’s attire is as overly revealing as ever. The upper bits of his slightly faded abs reveal themselves.

Keaton stares down. Not at Kaden’s modification to his outfit, but at Kaden himself. Unable to resist egging on Kaden for extra treats, the extra heft had made itself known to both Kaden and Keaton a week or so ago. Yet, Kaden never made a comment on Keaton’s overeager offering of snacks. Neither did he so much as lift a finger to stop, Kaden eagerly accepting all the snacks Keaton dared him to eat or the snacks he argued he had to taste to see how delicious it was. Their time in Askr the shortest of any other heroes, the two summoned together, the extra heft on Kaden is rather minimal. Though Keaton’s mind envisions a much more plump, wider Kaden, his constant daydreams and dreams giving him all the motivation he needs to offer up another snack to Kaden whenever he can.

“How do you like my magic?” Kaden’s selfsure attitude brings Keaton’s brain back to Askr. Smiling smugly, Kaden’s ears twitch as his eyes roam over Keaton’s body. Keaton originally wearing his outfit modestly, Kaden figured a little “touchup” wouldn’t hurt. Opening up Keaton’s outfit so his chest and abs would greet the world, the showing of Keaton’s softening chest and fading abs was a pleasant treat. A treat he planted himself with all the snacks he offers to Keaton, Keaton devouring all of them with utter joy.

“Hey, I look good,” Keaton’s self suredness matching Kaden’s own, Keaton rests both of his fists on his plush love handles.

“Yeah, your tail already told me that,” Snickering, Kaden yelps as Keaton charges at him.

“Lemme grab your tail and we’ll see whose is wagging!” Keaton’s face is a furious shade of red. His eyebrows are downturned, yet his tail continues to wag.

“I combed my tail!” Kaden hugs his tail to his chest. Used to feeling the soft luxurious locks lining his tail, he feels zero discomfort or itch from it. Instead, he holds his long tail protectively, nimbly taking a few steps back or to the side everytime Keaton swipes at him. Kaden’s eyes focus more on Keaton’s bare skin than his actual attempt to grab him. The slight softness to his frame causes his lips to upturn.

Keaton’s eyes focus on the same aspects of Kaden’s bare skin rather than the direction of his movements. A grin on his face as well, the expended energy adds a slight flushness to his skin, Keaton beginning to gain the onset of a huff by the time Kaden soon tires out as well.

“Give up?” Any intention of sounding menacing is lost upon the heavy breath that rushes past Keaton in hopes of regaining the bit of breath he lost earlier.

“You already did,” Kaden mimics Keaton, his brows furrowed as he stares back at Keaton. Also like Keaton, Kaden’s vibrant energy putters out for a moment in order to muster up the lost energy from the two’s playing.

“I did not,” The more tired of the two, Keaton eventually gives in and rests a hand on the wall, slightly bent to the side while his cheeks puff out every so often.

“I think you did,” Clearing his throat, Kaden hiding his last huff behind the noise, he saunters up to Keaton. “Just admit it,” His tail swishes behind him as he places two fingers on Keaton’s chest. He traces both of them down to Keaton’s faded abs without losing a single second of eye contact. “Your eating is catching up to you,”

Aware of the slight extra heft on his body, Keaton had never truly examined himself quite the same way he did with Kaden’s body, his mind much more interested in Kaden’s bit of pudge. "And yours isn't?" Grinning, Keaton slots both hands underneath Kaden's soft tummy.

The fur on the tip of Kaden's tail stands upright upon Keaton's hands on his stomach. "What if it is?" Kaden gives a small pout.

Keaton remains silent for a brief moment. The blush adorning his face burns brighter as he considers his words. "W-well, it certainly doesn't look bad on you," Keaton shrugs his shoulders as his eyes focus on the air beside Kaden's face.

"Good, cause I think you look great with some extra weight on you," Sneakily grinning, Kaden holds Keaton's face. His right thumb rubs Keaton's squishy cheeks while his left hand scritches as Keaton's ear.

"Damn you," Keaton scowls for a moment before leaning in towards Kaden's affection.

"You can't outsmart me," Stopping, Kaden steps beside Keaton and wraps his arm with his own.

"I can't outeat you either," Keaton grumbles. He looks up to find Kaden's incredulous face staring back at him, Kaden's mouth agape.

"Well, I just have a finer appreciation of food!" Kaden splutters. "And to think I had a nice dinner planned for us,"

"Dinner at midnight?" Keaton makes a visible face despite the audible swishing of his tail making itself known.

"Knew you'd prefer that over a fireworks show," At that sudden moment, Kaden's stomach grumbles.

"You're doing this for yourself too," Grinning, Keaton grabs Kaden's hand. Sniffing the air, his tail begins to wag faster as he gets a trail. Leading the way, Keaton pauses at random intervals to smell. Taking a few turns and walking forward, Keaton grins as the scent leads him back to their shared room. Opening the door, their room is comprised of a king sized bed and a decently sized dining area. A relatively large table is in the corner with two chairs. However, the table is currently overflowing with food, the entirety of its surface covered by dishes.

"Oh. This is a lot," Keaton's tongue sticks out as he grins.

"Had to start the New Year right," Kaden leans into Keaton's quick petting.

Removing his hands from Kaden as quick as he put them on him, Keaton leads Kaden to their table. Pulling the chair back, he waits for Kaden to sit down before pushing the chair back in. Leaning down, Keaton gives Kaden a peck on the cheek. He rushes to his own seat, nearly slamming down on the chair.

"To the New Year!" Kaden cheers while smiling at Keaton.

"To the New Year," Keaton repeats, his own smile mirroring Kaden's.

The two picking up their forks, they giddily dig into their feast, the first of many for the year.

#fat!kaden #fat!keaton #chonk #maleweightgain #fat emblem #feeder emblem #my writing

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tmnt-mags · 4 years

Text

Raphael x Fem!Reader

Reader is April's little sister and meets the turtles through her. I changed the ages and timeline a bit just because I don't feel entirely comfortable writing the turtles as 15 year old kids. SO the turtles are 18 the reader is 17 nearing 18 and april is 27.

Warnings: some mention of parent death, but nothing else!

Part 1/ ??

Im still pretty new at writing fanfic and have only done a few and this is my very first tmnt one. Constructive criticism and nice things only please!

I didn't remember my dad. My mother gave birth to me a month before his death. I didn’t remember him but my big sister April did. She told me everything she could about him, all kinds of stories and old home videos. It's almost like I know him but I don’t. Sometimes it's sad and I wish for nothing more than to have some memories with him, but I’ve had a good life and have a great family. I’ve lived with my sister since our mom passed 2 years ago from cancer. I miss her a lot, but I like living with April and I love our apartment.

We both have a deep love for media. She is a reporter with Channel 6 and I started making youtube videos right around the time mom died. It was like a video diary back then and has since turned into something completely different, though there are the occasional personal diary type videos.

I was wearing my favorite oversized sweater. It was a deep forest green and nearly reached my knees. It was worn and a bit tattered in some places, but it was the coziest thing ever.. I was barefoot in the kitchen listening to April talking about the latest Foot Clan activity and thinking about the questions she was planning for some guy who worked on the docks. She had convinced her camera guy Vern to take her over there before they shot her morning segment.

“You’re gonna be late!” I called into the living room while putting some breakfastt in a container for her to take on the road.

“Thank you shorty,” She rushed in and gave me a kiss on the cheek as she grabbed her breakfast and rushed out of the kitchen again to grab her bag “I’ll either be back for dinner or late!”

“That's really specific April,” I mutter as a lean in the kitchen doorway and watch her check her purse. “Do you have your touchup bag and your toothbrush?”

April let out a small gasp and rushed back to the bathroom. She came back out with a bag, gathered her things and blew a kiss as she ran out the door. I let out a laugh and went to eat my own food.

I spent the day editing a new video. I just hit 700k last week so I was making a special video to celebrate. It had some songs that I had covered laid over a video of me painting a portrait of my mother and father. It was taken a year before he had died and they had gone on a weekend getaway in the Appalachian mountains.

I didn't look up until April burst through the door. It was already dark out and I hadn’t even noticed.

“I just witnessed a Foot Clan attack!” she called as she walked through the apartment.

“What? Oh my god! Are you okay?” I practically jumped up and followed her as she began pacing around the living room. “April? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine! There I was at the docks trying to get some answers and then BAM! They were there!” She went on about the attack and then started about some kind of vigilante that fought them off.

“Vigilante? Are you serious?” She didn't answer, she just went into her room. I sat back down on the couch and tried to process what she had said. In the end I shook it off and went get some dinner ready.

Over the next few days April was hard to find. She seemed to be constantly on the move and didn't answer her phone. She came home talking about dad's old experiments and giant turtles, and over the next 2 days seemed to just be gone. The spire on the Sacks building fell and The Shredder, who was the leader of the Foot Clan, was arrested and Eric Sacks was revealed to have been working alongside him the whole time. It was a wild time for New York, and April was suddenly quiet about the vigilantes.

Time began to move on and April started talking about these 4 new friends she had that were brothers. They seemed like a fun nice group, and the stories she shared were great.

“So,” I started as we sat together on the couch, “when do I get to meet the brothers?”

April choked on her glass of white wine. “What? Meet them?”

“Yeah, You talk about them all the time! I would like to meet them. They’re all you’ve been talking about for like 3 weeks.” I said as I pushed her with my foot.

“Ummm,” April stopped to think and had a vague look of concern on her face, “I'm not sure actually. They’re pretty busy guys.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Uh-huh. If you don't want me to meet them just say so. I was just curious.” I turn my face away from her.

“No it's not that, It's just they’re kinda shy. They don’t really like meeting people.” April's face said that she was telling a lie.

“Okay.” I left it at that clearly something is bugging her about me meeting her friends.

April-

April went to spend some time with the boys, but couldn’t stop thinking about them meeting her little sister. How would she react? She thought to herself, ‘I fainted when I met them, and there are still times when it kinda freaks me out a bit. I don’t want my baby sister to get scared and I don’t want the boys to get hurt because of it.’ They had tried to act like April’s reaction didn’t hurt them, but she knew it did. ‘I just want everyone to be happy.’ She was sitting in the lair watching the boys fight and Mikey brought up their Christmas pop album again. She smiled, (y/n) loved music and often performed covers on YouTube. She was really good at it. She had even written her own songs but at this point refused to release or talk about them on her channel.

“April, is something troubling you?” The brunette turned, surprised to see Master Splinter.

“Oh it’s nothing really.” She paused, “Actually could we talk? I am having some trouble.” Splinter nodded and gestured for her to follow. Not answering the questioning looks of the brothers, they went into Hashi.

“The boys avoid this room as much as possible,” Splinter said with a chuckle, “they will not listen in in here.”

“Makes sense,” April laughed and sat down on a mat with Splinter while looking at the odd structures in the room, “I’m having some trouble with my sister.”

“Oh yes, little (y/n) she had only just been born. I believe your father brought her down to the lab twice in those last weeks.” He thought back fondly on the small soft baby that looked so tiny in the arms of her father but so big compared to him then. “ what is it that is wrong?”

“She wants to meet the brothers. She doesn’t know that they are turtles, but she knows I have new friends.” April said looking down, “ we are very open. We’re the only family we have left so we always know each other's friends. It’s a safety thing I guess.”

Master Splinter hummed and looked at April, who continued.

“She wants to meet them and honestly I want her to too! I think they would all get along so well and I think the boys would adore her. It would also be nice to know that there are 4 ninjas who would look out for her.” April sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

“I just don’t want the boys to get hurt. What if she is afraid of them? What if she screams and calls them monsters or freaks? What if she passes out or cries. It would hurt them so much, and I don’t want to see my sister frightened anyway.” April’s shoulders slumped and she lowered her face to look across at Splinter.

“You know your sister well? Do you think she will react this way?” The rat questioned.

“I don’t know. This isn’t exactly a situation that has ever come up before or one I ever thought I would be in.” She played with her fingers in her lap and she watched him stroke his beard.

“I think you know your sister well and know what would be the best course of action.” He smiled, “I think the trouble now will be convincing the boys to risk meeting her. I have no doubt that it will be a split crowd.”

April nodded and gave a kind of exasperated smile. She knew exactly what he was talking about. Mikey and Ralph would agree, Donnie was iffy, but Leo would say no.

“Thank you Splinter. That does actually help. Do you mind if I stay in here a bit longer?” She asked.

“Go ahead child. Take your time.” Splinter got up and left the Hashi.

April sat and thought about what he had said. She thought back to everything she knew about her sister and what she knew of the boys. If her sister could be accepting she knew that they could have a great friendship. The boys were half a year older than her and they didn't know anyone their age. It would be nice for them to have that she thought. She knew Mikey would be super friendly right away, maybe even too friendly. Donnie would be polite but wary at first and a bit excited. Raph would be happy just to meet another person, but Leo would be cold. She feared that he would be distant and unapproachable and she knew her sister well enough to know she wouldn't be able to handle that.

She took her time and eventually rejoined the brothers. She brushed off their questions with a simple: “I needed advice.” She sat down with them as they all talked and joked around. Finally Donnie brought up the perfect opportunity.

“April you're lucky you don't have brothers.” He said as Mikey bombarded him with insane ideas for gadgets.

“Well I don't have any brothers but I do have a baby sister.” The turtles all turned towards her clearly shocked by this news. “She's actually about 4 months from turning 18.”

“Woah Angelcakes, We didn't know you had a lil’ sis. Is she as beautiful as you?” Mikey said while batting his eyes at her.

“I think she is absolutely gorgeous, and she sings and does art. She’s about to be a senior in high school.” April said while leaning closer to mikey. “Shes shorter than me and has curves for days. She used to be on the dance team actually.” April laughed and Mikey threw himself back and fanned himself with his hand.

“Why haven't you mentioned her?” Leo asked.

“You never asked if I had any siblings. She was born a few weeks before my dad died.” April smiled sadly at that “She actually asked if she could meet you.”

The boys seemed to freeze at that, and suddenly all eyes were on her.

“You told about us?”. Raph asked.

“Kinda. I might have left out the part about being ninja turtles, but I told her about my new friends and she wants to meet you guys.” Raph scoffed at her answer.

“So you didn't actually tell her about us.” He almost snapped at her.

“Cool it Raph.” leo warned.

“I don't wanna be looked at like a freak. She won't want to meet us when she sees us.” he stood up and walked off. April looked at the others who all looked like they wanted to disagree and agree with Raph at the same time.

“Sorry angelcakes, I'm sure baby angelcakes is great though.” Mikey shrugged.

April sat in disbelief that they all basically said no. The lair was quiet after that and she left after they ate some dinner.

She got home only to remember her sister was spending the night at her friends house. So she had the place all to herself. She let out a sigh and poured herself a tall glass of wine and sat on the couch thinking about the events of the day. She came up with a plan as she finished her cup and decided that by the end of the week they boys will have met her baby sister. She grabbed her phone and invited the boys to come hang out at her place for once this upcoming weekend. They didn't even ask if her sister would be there.

(Y/N)-

April had gone out to pick up some pizza for a late night dinner. I had school, homework, and some video editing to do and forgot to cook. April came home late and said not to worry about it and would grab some pizza. Her new favorite place didn’t offer delivery so she went to go get it. I decided that a nice hot shower sounded good and went in. I got out as I heard the front door open and close. I made my way to my room about to throw on my favorite green sweater only to remember that It had been washed and was in the dryer. So, I wrapped my towel back around me and opened my door to head out into the living room. I walked out and looked up only to meet with 4 pairs of eyes.

“Oh my bad,” I said, turning to go back to my room only to stop and turn right back around. “Ummmm…” I trailed off not sure what to say as I stared at 4 very large, very green, oddly human like turtles, all while in a bath towel that left most of my left hip exposed.

“Oh hi (y/n). I forgot to mention I had friends coming over.” April said walking into the room. “You might wanna put some clothes on though.”

“Yeah…” I said not able to look away from the very large turtle creatures sitting in the living room.

#tmnt #tmnt x reader #tmnt imagine #tmnt 2014

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kelpyart · 3 years

Photo

There's just something SO relaxing about finally drawing and designing canon characters how I always imagined them reading the books ;; Also- I have the other ones done (The Prophecies Begin and The New Prophecy) but wanted to do a few touchups on them before submitting! Anyways- super fun challenge! Next is going to be a wall of text as to why I designed them like I did and maybe some head-canons I have for them... Darkstripe - I gave him more of a dark gray/brown tint like the trash that he is. His eyes are SUPER PALE YELLOW just because I thought it'd be neat to be light that pale yellow, reflective color. I wish his relationship (half-brother) with Graystripe would have been developed more. I know you can't go into all relationships like that, but I feel like they are complete polar opposites with the same mother, so that could have been a really interesting sub-plot to be explored. My headcanon would be that he always looked down on Graystripe because of how his mother took another mate after his father died. Also he smells like stagnant pond water. Redtail - Ahhh Redtail, my boy. I haven't read Redtail's Debt, so I may be wrong on a few of these things but... Let's star with the design. You can't see the fullbody I have for him and Spottedleaf, but Redtail is large patches of ginger whereas my Spottedleaf is much more speckled. Other than that, they have the same color pallette! I 100% stan Trans Redtail. This is one of my favorite headcanons and I love it. And this can totally still work for him being Sandstorm's parent which is ok with me Or not! That's fine too! I just stan Trans Redtail! Redtail is in love with Runningwind but when Sandstorm is born, Sandstorm's surrogate mother becomes Brindleface. Also, I absolutely would have loved to change the books so that Redtail, not Spottedleaf, was Fireheart's StarClan guide. ALSO Go read Redtail's Choice on Tumblr?! It's so good!? Like really! Go read it!! Longtail - So I always had this idea in my head that Longtail was always pretty vain- always viewed himself as an extremely good looking character, so when Firepaw shredded his ear, more than anything, his pride was hurt, but also his good looks (at least, to him!). Longtail becoming deputy would have been so much great character development and I would have loved to see that- would have really showed his maturity away from Tigerstar/Darkstripe and really prove not only his loyalty to ThunderClan, but to Firestar and I LIVE for that. Every single Longtail design I see is 100% valid and I LOVE the ALL of the different designs in the community (but I am WEAK for cinnamon / cinnamon silver). He really did NOT want to mentor again after Swiftpaw, feeling that Swiftpaw's death was his fault- it really took some persuading for him to be willing to mentor again. After Longtail was blinded, Goldenflower took care of him, helping to guide him, encourage him, and describe his surroundings to him after they made it to the lake territory and they formed a really strong bond over him doing the best he could with Swiftpaw and both of their shared experiences with Tigerstar. Ace 100%. Yellowfang - I always LOVED Yellowfang in the original arc, but after that, my love for her kind of burned out a little...I didn't like how she *lied* to Squirrelflight saying that she would never be able to have kits and pretty much guilted her into raising the three but... I digress. In Squirrelflight's Hope, she literally gave the middle finger to Moth Flight about having kits and THEN making the rule for medicine cats not to have kits. Her relationship with Raggedstar was horrible, toxic, and borderline (if not fully) abusive and I hate it. The only real headcanon I have for her is that basically, Cinderpelt was the daughter that she had never had, so I like... love that. So, as Cinderpaw recovered from her accident, Yellowfang worked herself tirelessly trying to find any way that she could help Cinderpaw's body and soul heal. She talked and met with other medicine cats, studied the bones in prey, and other various methods, trying to figure out how to help the apprentice. She was tough on Fireheart, but always had a sweet spot for Cinderpaw, often taking her treats while Cinderpaw was recovering. Sandstorm - Sandstorm isn't the typical definition of beautiful but is beautiful in her own strong, independent, hard-working way. Her morals and ethics are what make her so beautiful. I completely agree that she is slightly larger than Fireheart, and much larger if he had the same length of fur that she does. She's a big buff and I love her for it. I completely wish she would have had a scene where she went absolutely feral on Tigerstar for killing both of her parents. Like wtf regardless of her family tree, Tigerstar literally killed Redtail, Runningwind, and Brindleface and she didn't beat his ass for it and I hate that. Also- Sandstorm only had one litter because she hated being pregnant because she's too much of a busy-body and too risky during border skirmishes. She hated being told to sit out or rest while others were risking their lives. Also- small ear gang I love her Cinderpelt - Cinderpelt- my girl ;; A lady who deserved more but totally made the absolte best of the life she was given. Yellowfang made her into the hardened, no non-sense medicine cat she is and I adore her for that, even telling Tigerclaw to shut up. I love it. I read a headcanon once (which I fully support) that she was given her name Cinder-PELT after the Silver-PELT, to always remind her of her connection to StarClan and how she met her destiny like a true warrior. I personally hate CinderxFire. I don't like it one bit. She doesn't need a relationship to be the badass that she is. She's stocky and strongly built, contrary to a lot of medicine cats- she has the build of a warrior and the size to back it up. Also heck on the Erins for not exploring more about the relationship between Brightheart and Cinderpelt, being sisters and also Cinderheart having to take care of her after she was mauled by a dog and then subsequently named Lostface. I also wish I could have saw Cinderpelt take a chunk out of Bluestar for being so horrible and naming her beloved sister that. Also she was super honored to mentor her old mentor's daughter. I love it. Templated by my friend Jayie-The-Hufflepuff || The Prophecies Begin Design Challenge II Template

#warriors #warrior cats #design challenge #darkstripe #warriorcats #redtail #longtail #sandstorm #yellowfang #cinderpelt #mine #my art

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artificialqueens · 3 years

Text

Galactica, Chapter 72 (Group Fic) - TheDane/Veronica

A/N: Click here if you’re looking for previous chapters (or here if you’d rather read on AO3). 💫

Previously: Miss Fame and Raja appeared on morning TV, and Miss Fame was visibly irritated with Courtney.

This Chapter: Violet stresses, Sutan orders some dinner, Katya chills, Raven preens, and Courtney’s Day From Hell continues.

***

“Courtney!” Miss Fame’s voice was sharp, sharper than usual. “Do you ever use your head? Or do you just go through life without a shred of critical thinking?”

It was fairly obvious that it was a rhetorical question, so Courtney kept her mouth shut, wondering what had gone wrong, what mess she’d have to clean up now.

“Hello?!?!”

“I’m sorry, Miss, I-” Courtney picked up her bags, prepared to head into the building. She looked at the cab driver, wondering if she should attempt to get a receipt for her expense report or just say fuck it. Jaida was pretty forgiving with petty cash records if the ride was less than fifty dollars.

“Do you know what happened when I got dressed for the investor lunch, Courtney? Thank god Raja was here, she’s the one who spotted it!”

Courtney pushed the door to the cab closed with her hip, trying to follow Miss Fame’s thought process, her heavy purse slung over one shoulder and laptop bag over the other.

“Spotted…?”

“A rip! There was a rip in the seam of the dress! Is that how you wanted me to show up? Looking like an absolute disaster?!”

“I-” Courtney scrambled into the lobby as quickly as she could to avoid the drizzling rain, glancing for a moment at the elevators before deciding that getting cut off wasn’t worth the risk. She opened the door to the stairwell and began trudging up, cursing the heels she’d chosen today and wondering if it would be too awful and unsanitary to just take them off and go barefoot.

“Next time you pick something up, you need to use your brain and your eyes and check the garment! Always check everything! Don’t trust anyone, do you hear me?!”

“Yes, Miss.”

“These kinds of careless mistakes are unacceptable. You’re not new anymore, you’ve been here for months. Violet isn’t around to protect you, you have to think, think!”

“Yes, Miss-”

“Luckily for you, I had my outfit from the show this morning, so it wasn’t an absolute disaster but if this ever happens again, I won’t be forgiving.”

“I understand, Miss.”

“This meeting better go flawlessly. I simply cannot take more incompetence today!”

“Yes, Miss-”

“That’s all.”

And with that, the phone clicked off. Courtney sighed, sagging against the banister before continuing on her way. Luckily, she hadn’t climbed too many flights, so she could still catch the elevator before she turned entirely into a sweaty, disheveled mess.

***

Violet heard her phone vibrate, and she looked down on the floor, her bag carefully placed under her desk. She abandoned her computer, several tabs with pictures from past Met balls open, and reached for her phone, messages from Sutan ticking in.

SUTAN: Any thoughts on dinner?

SUTAN: I could go for italian

SUTAN: I know a place that has a great fettuccine al salmone that I think you’ll like

Violet read the messages, a smile on her lips. Sutan was probably stuck in traffic or watching a presentation somewhere, her boyfriend often texting her like this when he was bored.

VIOLET: That sounds good

SUTAN: Great! I’ll order. Bottle of red too.

SUTAN: Feeling like dessert? Raja texted that she’s picking up Dominique Ansel for her and Raven and I’m jealous. The Italian place has a fantastic torta tenerina

SUTAN: It’s a chocolate cake if you haven’t had it

SUTAN: It’ll be just like our second date ;-)

Violet felt an instant blush rise in her cheeks, the memory of falling off the couch hitting her like a freight train. Sutan had been so kind about it, the man just laughing when Violet had messed everything up. She knew she was insanely lucky that Sutan was so calm and collected, that he rolled with the punches and took most things with a grain of salt, but she couldn’t help but worry if he was too relaxed.

Violet had meant to push it aside, to stop thinking about it, but Maxwell’s words from yesterday were still playing around in her head, the small comment about her sex life with Sutan starting an avalanche of worries.

Because Maxwell was wrong.

Violet did not, in fact, suck Sutan’s dick. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, wasn’t that she found it gross or unappealing, it had just never… happened.

She didn’t know how she’d bring it up, what she’d say or what she’d do, but she knew that she wanted to talk to Sutan about it, and make sure that everything was okay.

VIOLET: Can’t wait

***

“Hey, Court, how are you?” Jaida asked, entering the conference room, holding up a flash drive with their investor presentation.

“Jaida! Oh thank god, is that the final?” Courtney asked, shifting from one foot to the other. She stood next to Shawn from IT, who was crouched over the projector.

“It is, it is...at least until Miss Fame texts me with another round of helpful suggestions,” Jaida said with a grin, and Courtney closed her eyes briefly.

“Don’t even joke about that,” she warned.

Jaida handed over the flash drive, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Poor thing looked very much on the edge, her little face screwed up anxiously, a crease in her brow where no one her age should have one.

“It’ll be okay, I promise. And I’m gonna stay here with you until it looks perfect.”

“Thank you,” Courtney said, her face softening into a grateful smile. “I know how to handle all the refreshments and stuff, but we don’t usually do these kind of multimedia things. I’m so worried that I’m gonna mess it up.”

“You won’t. And anyway, I’ll be right here. I can always tell you to go back a slide.”

“Right...yeah, that’s true.”

“How’s that look?” Shawn asked, and Jaida gave him a thumbs-up.

“Perfecto. Thank you, sir.”

“Alright, great. Court, you need anything else? ‘Cause apparently marketing is having some kind of emergency with their calendars not synching.”

“No, I think I got it,” Courtney said, sounding not at all confident.

“We got it,” Jaida said, sitting down beside her to look at the laptop that controlled the screen. “Why don’t I give you a basic rundown of what I’m gonna say, and then we can even do some rehearsing.”

“Sure!” Courtney said, smiling brightly.

Jaida took her through the whole presentation, then stood up to do a run-through, making sure they worked out a signal for when she was moving to the next slide, and double-checking the investor packets to make sure all the references to page numbers were accurate.

“Alright...I think we’re good. Do you feel better?”

“Yeah, definitely,” Courtney said, standing and walking towards the refreshment table, lining all the drinks up in neat pyramids. “You can take a break, I’m sorry to have kept you so long.”

“It’s no problem,” Jaida said. “But I could use a little breather before they arrive. I’ll be back in 30.”

“Okay. Um, also…”

Jaida turned in the doorway. “Yes?”

“Well...it’s just...um, some people were talking about their bonuses, and my last paycheck was just my regular salary. So I just wasn’t sure how that all worked.”

“Oh.” Jaida sighed to herself. Of course Miss Fame hadn’t filled her in. Dammit. “Well, usually we only give end of year bonuses to people who’ve worked for the company for six months or longer.”

“Oh. Right. Okay, sorry.” Courtney said, looking disappointed but not surprised, and Jaida felt awful.

Courtney’s salary was a pittance--barely enough to be off the street in New York. Jaida knew that, and she knew how much of a difference even a few hundred dollars would have made to her. But Miss Fame had insisted that the rules were there for a reason, and it would be a bad precedent to set to overrule them for her own office. It was pure nonsense--all employee bonuses were at the discretion of the department heads and always had been.

Clearly, Miss Fame had simply not wanted to reward her for whatever reason. At the time, Jaida didn’t think it was worth the headache to push back, but looking at her sad little face, Jaida couldn’t help feeling like maybe she should have.

“But hey,” Jaida said, giving a rueful smile, “It gives you someone to look forward to next year, right?”

“Yeah.” Courtney returned her smile, trying her best to recover. “Sorry to bother you about it.”

“It’s no bother. I’m sorry I didn’t have a better answer for you,” Jaida told her, guilt still eating away at her. “I’ll see you at 3, okay?”

“Okay. Thanks, Jaida.”

***

“And there we go!” Raven looked up from her phone, Juju standing behind her, a big smile on her face. “What do we think?”

Juju held up a mirror, showing Raven the back of her head. She had gotten a keratin treatment, her thick black locks cascading down her back like a silky waterfall, the ends cut ramrod straight, her December touchups going exactly according to plan.

“It looks great,” Raven smiled, running her fingers through her hair, the strands beyond soft to the touch. She always got her hair done by Juju, Raven’s salon visits an excellent opportunity to chat with her best friend without kids around. “Good job.”

“Thanks,” Juju smiled. “I’ll have someone over shortly to fill up your lashes. Can I get you anything?”

“A Pellegrino please.” Raven held up her glass, Juju leaving her to stay in her chair. She didn’t really want the water, a caramel macchiato or a hot cocoa much more weather appropriate, but she had already had her first fitting for Galactica’s closing look, which meant she had to stay true to that size.

Raven looked at herself in her mirror, turning her head side to side, her brows already threaded and perfect. She hadn’t told Sutan, or even Raja, but she had started to get the tiniest botox injections, her day starting off with a visit to the doctor. It was just 5 units here, another 10 there, to make sure her glabellar lines didn’t show up and that her nasalis lines stayed on the side of cute, instead of wrinkly and gross.

Raven pulled some of her hair over her shoulder, twisting her waist to catch the best lighting as she held up her phone, snapping a pic for her Instagram, a grin spreading on her lips at how hot she looked.

***

Courtney flexed her fingers and toes, trying to keep them from going numb. Her brain already felt like mush. They were going into hour three of the investor meeting. At first, she’d found it incredibly interesting, how the new fund they were raising would help with their 2015 growth, allowing them to expand into several Asian markets and open up a whole new stream of revenue. She’d taken a few business classes in college, and while math was never her strong suit, the financial charts and projections were fascinating.

However, after several hours of this, coupled with the fact that she’d been working since 6 am, and the fact that nearly everyone else in the entire company had already left to start their winter vacations, Courtney was slowly losing her interest in, not just the meeting, but the fashion industry period.

She glanced out the window. A flurry of snow was swirling past the window--it would probably melt before it reached the ground, but it made her long to be tucked under a blanket with Bianca. She picked up her personal phone to discreetly check the messages.

BIANCA: Still getting out early?

COURTNEY: We’ll see. :’(

BIANCA: LOL, poor baby. I’m heading home now, tell me when you’re done there.

COURTNEY: I will. Can’t wait to see you...counting the seconds...<3

Courtney sighed softly to herself. The drone of voices was starting to sound surreal to her, like she was under water. She checked the time again, wishing that they would wrap things up. By the sound of it, though, no one was in any hurry to leave. Maybe I’ll die here…

“Courtney!” Miss Fame’s sharp voice cut through her thoughts and she stood up straight, back against the wall.

“Yes Miss?”

The fury in Miss Fame’s eyes told her that she’d missed a cue, and she racked her brain for what it could have been. They were done with the presentation, and she’d laid all the refreshments out, as well as clearing the empty plates and replacing them with clean ones twice already.

Miss Fame glared at her harder, eyes darting to the box near her feet, and she jumped, realizing her mistake. Miss Fame wanted her to hand out the glossy photo books of the history of Galactica that were on standby, just in case. She reached down and pulled a big stack out of the box, then quickly began handing them out.

“If you’ll open your books,” Fame said, going back to the meeting with a charming smile, “You’ll see some photos of our humble beginnings at New York Fashion week, 2002.”

I will definitely die here, Courtney thought, trudging back towards her spot against the wall.

***

Winter break was here, and Katya absolutely loved it. She had slept in, enjoying a slow morning making pancakes in her pajamas, listening to Christmas music and dancing around, since she was completely alone.

Well, not completely, at least not anymore. She couldn’t feel the baby yet, and probably wouldn’t for a few more weeks, the app Trixie had downloaded informing her that she should be able to sense movement from week 20.

Katya took a sip of her hot cocoa, a Hallmark Christmas movie playing on the TV. She had cleaned up the apartment, making sure to get all of the laundry out of the way so everything was nice and tidy for the upcoming vacation.

She picked Pearl’s bomber jacket back up, the scent of her cigarettes clinging to the fabric. She had noticed that there was a tear while checking it, Pearl often forgetting the most random things in her pockets, so she had taken it upon herself to sew it back together.

She knew she didn't need to, but she liked doing things for her friend, the small project perfect for a relaxing day with nothing important on the agenda.

***

“Raja!” Raven couldn’t keep in the shout of happiness as she finally finally heard the front door open and click shut. She rushed to the hallway, making sure not to trip over her dress in her heels. “You’re home!”

“Hey Princess,” Raja smiled, taking off her coat, specks of snow in her long hair, revealing one of her office suits underneath. “You look perfect.”

“Mmh?” Raven grinned, her fiancée’s eyes sweeping over her body, appreciating the brand new outfit she had put on. “You think?”

“I know,” Raja hung her jacket up, and Raven stepped up, wrapping herself in Raja’s arms, a moment of complete peace washing over her.

Raja was home for the holidays, almost two wonderful weeks ahead of them with no work, minimal obligations and parties except New Year’s, all followed by their annual trip to Aspen.

It was Raven’s favorite time of year, for the simple reason that she had Raja’s undivided attention, and that was why she had picked New Year’s Eve as their wedding date. It was a little stressful that she only had about a year left to plan, but she knew that the night would be perfect, no matter what.

“Did you remember dessert?” Raven looked up at Raja, the fact that she was still taller than her even in heels insanely hot.

“Of course I remembered dessert,” Raja grinned, the Dominique Ansel box on the little hallway table, “I got your favorites.”

“I love you,” Raven smiled, getting up on her toes to plant a kiss on Raja’s lips.

“Are you talking to me or the pastries?”

“You,” Raven rolled her eyes, Raja as always teasing her, “...and the pastries.”

***

“So, what are we in the mood for?” Sutan asked. He sat down on the couch, placing the chocolate cake and the two forks on the table before grabbing the remote to turn the TV on. “A Christmas movie?”

He waited for a beat, and then another, no reply coming.

It was normal for Violet to be on the quiet side, common for her to come home from work and need time to unwind and reset before she could be present, his girlfriend not saying much during dinner.

What wasn’t normal was for Violet to ignore him outright, and Sutan couldn’t help but feel worried.

“Violet?” He sat up, looking over at her. She was tapping her fingers against her leg, looking straight ahead, her lip between her teeth. “Is everything okay?”

“Does it bother you that I don’t suck dick?”

“What?” Sutan spluttered, nearly choking on air, the question taking him by complete surprise.

“Does it bother you?” Violet twisted her body, her knees knocking against his as she turned towards him.

“Why are you asking?” Sutan knew it wasn’t what he should focus on, but he hadn’t expected Violet to ask that, hadn’t figured that a sex thing was what had twisted her into a knot, though the direct and blunt approach was exactly her.

“Answer my question.”

“I’m very satisfied with our sex life.” Sutan turned the TV off, commercials in the background not what he needed at the moment. “So no. It doesn’t bother me.” He was being completely sincere, the lack of Violet performing oral not something he had thought about except in brief fantasies here and there.

But it was just that, a fantasy.

A tantalizing and sexy fantasy for sure, but when it came down to it, not getting blow jobs was a miniscule price to pay in exchange for Violet, Sutan much more concerned with making sure that his girlfriend was having a good time, and that she was into what they did in bed.

“I simply assumed you wouldn’t enjoy it.”

“Okay.” Violet bit her lip, and Sutan moved closer, putting his arm on the back of the couch.

“Why are you asking? Is everything okay?”

“Maxwell made a comment at work.” Violet pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, looking at Sutan’s chest instead of his face.

“And?” Sutan reached out, gently putting his hand on her shoulder.

“I just figured, I never really…” Violet sighed, tugging at the edge of her skirt, Sutan rubbing his thumb up and down. “Offered, and I hadn’t considered…”

“Violet. Good sex, is sex that makes everyone feel good, and I like, no, I love, making you feel good.” Sutan smirked, watching the prettiest blush bloom on Violet’s cheeks, but this time, she didn’t shy away, didn’t look down, instead, she met his gaze straight on, their eyes locking together.

“I want that too. To make you feel good.”

“Is this your way of offering?” Sutan raised an eyebrow, “To experiment with blow jobs I mean.”

“Yes,” Violet nodded. “I think I could enjoy it with you.”

“If you want it,” Sutan smiled. “I want it.”

***

As Courtney helped Miss Fame into her coat, she could feel her will to live come surging back, the end of the day so close now that she could taste it. She’d already brought the many gifts from Miss Fame’s friends and associates downstairs to her car and in a remarkable display of generosity, Miss Fame had even handed Courtney one of the bottles of Veuve to take home herself.

“Merry Christmas, Miss!” Courtney exclaimed happily as she settled back down at her desk to take care of her last few tasks of the year.

“Yes. Make sure that those sketches get to Trixie before you leave. Goodnight.”

“Sure thing!” Courtney called after her, waving as she rounded the corner. The sketches. She knew she had the sketches earlier. Where were they?

She searched the mostly empty surface of her desk, stomach lurching when she realized what must have happened. The cab. She left them in the cab. Her sunny smile dissolved, color draining from Courtney’s face as she realized how absolutely fucked she was.

Miss Fame almost never did her own sketches any more. These were rare and precious; Courtney recalled how angry she’d been earlier in the day at simply the thought of a crease in the pages.

How could Courtney have been so utterly careless?

Original sketches from Miss Fame of Galactica floating around a random NYC taxi was a nightmare. She wracked her brain, trying to remember the cab company, and found her head absolutely empty of any details, devoid of anything that could help.

And of course, she didn’t have a receipt, because she’d been in such a rush to get upstairs, which meant no evidence, nothing to go off of.

She frantically searched for the numbers of any local cab companies and began the tedious task of calling them to track down the priceless unmarked envelope.

Nearly two hours later, throat hoarse from crying, she had to finally admit defeat.

Nobody had seen the envelope, and the chance of her getting a call back with good news was looking slimmer and slimmer as the dispatches closed for the day. She picked up her phone, knowing that she’d be seeing a whole bunch of increasingly concerned messages from Bianca.

There was no way she could face her tonight. Not after she’d fucked up so immensely, done something that was sure to make her boss more furious than she’d ever seen her. There was a small chance that Bianca herself wouldn’t be mad, that she might even be sympathetic--but Courtney knew that she absolutely didn’t deserve that.

Just to be certain, she waited until she was on the subway before responding to her messages, texting a simple ‘I can’t make it’ and then adding ‘I’m so sorry’ before shoving the phone back in her bag and riding the rest of the way to the Bronx with her head in her hands, cursing herself over and over.

#rpdr fanfiction #thedane #veronica #galactica #vitan #bitney #raja x raven #courtney act #miss fame #violet chachki #raja gemini #jaida essence hall #raven #jujubee #bianca del rio #katya zamolodchikova #lesbian au #m/f au #fashion au

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andinewton · 4 years

Note

Hey i love your work!! 💕💕💕If your requests are open i would like to request something: mc and victor are in the beginning stages of their relationship and he seed mc without makeup for the first time and she is really insecure and it’s just 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

I love this prompt so much, I’m sorry it took me so long to get around to it! I hope you like it, it’s definitely fluffy towards the end and I hope it shows MC’s insecurities well enough! I haven’t edited it, I finished it literally a couple of minutes ago, but wanted to get it posted for you! Enjoy!

Bare-Faced Cheeks

Victor/MC

Your body ached in new and fascinating ways as you woke, your hazy memory coming back to you as your mind roused itself. It had started as date night at Victor’s place, and truth be told you had wondered, hoped, that your relationship was about to take the next physical step, and you weren’t disappointed. You started with dinner, Victor having made something light with the promise of dessert with coffee, but you didn’t even make it that far. Once he suggested taking a seat in the living room while the coffee dripped through things sort of…spiralled. What had started as a thank you kiss had quickly grown heated, coffee and dessert went forgotten as Victor carried you up his stairs to his room. Yeah, that was the best date yet.

But now you needed the bathroom, in a strange house, and you were naked. The ensuite was across from where you lay, your eyes darting to the partially open door illuminated ever so faintly by the smallest amount of daylight that slipped from the top of the heavy curtains. A glance to your other side showed Victor fast asleep, his breathing deep and heavy as he lay on his front, facing you. He looked so relaxed, his lashes so long against his cheek, the muscular arm that his cheek lay on…wow, you really had to pee! Internally groaning at having to move from being able to gaze at him so freely, you slid out of the bed. Glancing around you spotted Victor’s discarded shirt not far from you and, grabbing it, you dashed into the bathroom and quietly closed the door. You let out a slow sigh as you turned on the light and slipped on the shirt, buttoning as you went about your business.

You yawned as you approached the vanity and began washing your hands, finally raising your head…and going wide-eyed in horror with a yelp.

You hadn’t taken off your makeup and the result now was close to a partially melted clown.

‘Oh damn.’ You muttered to yourself as you went about cleaning yourself up with the luxurious toilet paper, rather than making a mess of a washcloth. You were just about done when there was a knock at the door, making you squeak again.

‘Alright in there?’ Victor’s voice with husky morning undertones came from the other side of the door and panic hit you.

You looked from the door and back at your reflection. You stared at yourself, barefaced and, honestly, not your best. Your cheeks were flushed, you thought from the idea that he would see you without makeup. It was something you always made sure you never left the house without, that and having brushed your hair, and the thought of him seeing you less than well turned out was enough to make your stomach turn.

‘Emci?’ You turned back to the door, biting your lip out of worry.

‘I’m…I’m okay. I’ll be right out!’ You called, wondering if you actually would.

‘Alright.’ Even you could hear the uncertainty in his voice, certain your yelping had clued him into something being wrong. ‘I’m going to put some coffee on. Wait for me in bed?’

‘Uh, sure!’ Coffee sounded really good but you were more concerned with what you were going to do. It still amazed you that you had landed Victor in the first place. Sure, you weren’t ugly, but you weren’t supermodel pretty and, honestly, without your makeup, you just felt a little…cutesy. Like you weren’t quite a woman. Sure, being cursed, or blessed, to looked youthful was definitely a double-edged sword. What if Victor saw what was effectively the real you and didn’t like it?

You pressed your ear to the door until you heard the bedroom door close then clicked off the bathroom light and made a dash for the bed, shuffling down and pulling the covers up to your nose. The curtains were still drawn so as long as you stayed in this artificial twilight you’d be fine…but when Victor brought the coffee back he’d probably draw the curtains or put on the lights. Damn! You had a small makeup set you used for work when you needed a touchup in your handbag, but that was down in the main part of the house. In all honesty, you hadn’t been planning on spending the night, you were glad you did, but this was an unexpected hiccup you hadn’t thought of. What were you going to do? Even with the covers pulled up he’d be able to see your eyes, some of your freckles, could you hide in the bathroom indefinitely? Wait…that could work!

You darted back into the bathroom, and just in time as the bedroom door opened.

‘The coffee is dripping through, do you…what are you doing?’

You slammed the bathroom door just as Victor finished his sentence, leaning against it heavily. You were expecting it but the knock still made you jump.

‘Emci, what is going on?’

‘Erm…’ You stammered as you tried to think of an excuse, knowing he was too smart to buy that there was nothing wrong.

‘Talk to me.’

His no-nonsense tone made you want to tell him, but you know he would find it shallow and ridiculous. You didn’t see what choice you had but first, there was one final thing you could try before you gave in.

‘Could you bring me my bag please?’

Victor blinked to himself as what you said sank in. ‘Your bag? Are you sick? Do you need medication?’

You sighed and dropped your head back against the door. ‘I’m not sick.’ You said in a defeated tone. ‘I’m just…’

‘Spit it out.’ Victor used his work voice, the one you were so used to hearing tell you your proposals were subpar, that you could do better, and before you knew it the truth fell from your lips.

‘I don’t want you to see me without my makeup on!’

You weren’t expecting Victor to chuckle, but that was what he did. You were expecting the next word that came out of his mouth. ‘Dummy. Is that what this is about?’

‘Well, yeah.’ You replied defensively. ‘You’ve never seen me without makeup and I…I don’t want you to be disappointed.’

‘Open the door.’ It wasn’t a demand, rather it was gentle yet firm, encouraging.

With a sigh, you unlocked the door and opened it, head bowed. You could see Victor’s bare feet on the threshold, he had put on black pyjama pants that you suspected were silk, and peripherally you could tell he was still bare-chested.

‘Look at me.’ You swallowed, unsure as to whether or not you could voluntarily raise your face, but the choice was taken from you. Victor’s finger hooked under your chin and slowly raised it until your eyes met his. ‘Huh.’ The noise was almost surprised and you wished you could look away again.

‘What?’ You whispered, wondering what had all but rendered him speechless.

‘Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more beautiful.’

The words took a few moments to sink in, your mouth flapping slightly as you tried to form a sentence, but then you didn’t need to. Victor ducked his head and caught your lips with his own, a soft yet insistent pressure that had your eyes flutter closed and remain that way even after he drew back. Which was why it was such a shock to suddenly be scooped up in his arms. You gave a small yip of protest, your arms quickly wrapping around his neck and shoulders for support. It reminded you of just how broad he was, how strong, as he effortless climbed onto the bed and laid you in the centre. Laying beside you he propped himself up on his arm and drew his knuckles down your cheeks. He had opened the curtains while you were hiding in the bathroom the second time, and the bright sun lit his skin in such a way he was almost ethereal.

‘Would you look at that.’ He murmured a soft smile on his lips, making you frown.

‘What?’

‘I’ve got myself a girl who can do both.’

#mlqc #MLQC Victor #mlqc fanfic #mr love victor #Victor Li #I love that he's Victor Li because I'm Li and if I married him I'd be Li Li #haha #asks

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currentfandomkick · 4 years

Text

Bio! Dad Strange part 12 Waiting for Help

Marinette promised herself that this was a nightmare, that she’d wake up and there wouldnt be a kwami or earrings.

She was wrong.

Her dad compliemented the new studs at breakfast, asking if she got them in Gotham.

“Found them laying around is all.”

Maman told her they’re begining self defense lessons tonight, and to bring the other girls. She didnt point out she already knew how to fight, and made a mentsl note to tell the girls to pretend she was just good at gym, not fighting.

She checked her phone. No message from Tim yet.

“What yout doing?” Tikki—no captor—asked.

Marinette forced a smile, “just checking my messages, that’s all!”

—

Tim looked over his messages. He remembered seeing two alerts on his burner from Harley Before the Arkham Prison Break and its destruction. He couslnt remember from who though... was it a heads up about the outbreak or...

He tried to find it on his laptop, cloning the phone to it ages ago. The data from it was... corrupt?

He didnt like the look of this. It was from Pixie. Teo messages, oen short and one cery, very long.

He managed to get one phrase at the end. His french had to be wrong but it said “they won’t find you”

He tried to call Pixie then. The number was disconnected. He swore.

He’d need to find the RKC somehow and findout where Pixie’s family lived. It sounded like somethinf was wrong, and he didnt know if he could get the old number back.

—

Marinette was dragged into the girl’s room on entering school.

“Marinette, I want you to help me out with Adrien—you’re the type his dad should like.”

Marinette raised an eyebrow at Chloe. She loves her but really?

“Becuase I’m smart?”

“Ew, no, well...” Chloe shook her head. “You design, and you’re good at it. He might listen to you on giving him more free time if it was to snag you as a designer.”

“His dad?” Gabriel Agreste, owner of the brand Gabriel. Hasn’t designed since his wife’s disappearance, and has a hermit problem.

“He owns a fashion brand, and they like new talent.”

Easy to exploit, unaware of industry standards, and less aware of the laws protecting them... that didnt sound good.

“And i’m the key becuase...”

“He’s seen your work before, remember last year at the show?”

He was? She didnt remember it, too busy back stage and throwing classmates into outfits while Chloe did touchups on makeup and threw people on the catwalk.

“Come on, Adrien has bars on his window, please? For me?”

That... paranoid millionaire designer or abusive father, definitely toxic tendencies though. Maybe working on this family would be a good distraction?

“I’ll try, but no guarantees. And you know i’ll use a different name, right?”

“We’re minors Mari, I’d be worried if you didn’t. Now, let’s go say hi to my prince!”

Marinette questioned her sanity once more. But magic butterflies and kwami are a thing.

She just wants to toy with Markov’s emotional intelligence and translator programming. But she needs a cover for that...

—

Flash frowned at the images from the satellite imaging. Either something was off in Paris, one picture showed damage but the one before and after showed no issues, or there was a glitch. Occam’s razor.

“Hey Red, can you check our imaging tech? We had a glitch over Paris!”

He needed to work on his proposal for the JL on intervening with the meta situation in France. No one liked it. Someone pointed out there was polarization of us vs them in France, metas fleeing left and right. From french media reports, it sounded like they were running a campaign to remove metas from France unless they were ‘under the state’s control’ and that. No one liked that.

He hopes he can get Jill out before things get bad. He know’s she can hide,’but how long can she hold out? He doesn't want an answer to that.

He’s going to get her and the others out before it gets that bad.

—

Marinette wanted to throw Kim across the school when she remembered that Kim set off the Big Guy yesterday. She would be a normal meta in hiding if he hadn’t.

Sabrina made a slideshow last night for her to lecture him. Alix is down to tear Kim a new one, and Marinette has no sympathy for him.

The class is quiet when Big Guy comes in.

Marinette gets up, smiling at seeing him and Mylene together now.

“Hey guys, so, how’d it go?”

Big guy and Mylene blushed a bit. Interesting but not definite proof of her suspicions...

“So are you to going to sit together or...”

Mylene nodded, tugging Ivan behind her. Marinette smiled back at her classmates, who were... staring?

“Guys, things happen. Now get back to what you were talking about or get ready for class, okay?”

“Says the Gothamite,” Kim smirked.

“Only during the summer, you know the custody deal as well as I do.”

“Don’t remind me, I have to be deprived of my favorite princess every summer,” Chloe pouted, almost launching herself over Marinette and Sabrina’s desk to throw her arms around Marinette. Almost.

“I like seeing my family?” Marinette didn’t get why everyone made a big deal of it--if she was honest, objectively she did prefer Gotham. More science, metas are out and not hunted, and she has a family happy to help her with whatever that listened to her morals and played by her rules... albeit weirdly and a bit murderous at times.

But then she wouldn’t have her friends and she wasn’t going to give them up anytime soon. Especially since Max would build a tesla coil if she didn’t stop him. and a death ray too, to prove he could.

Sabrina rolled her eyes as Kim flung himself over his desk and pulled Marinette into a hug. “My sister, Gotham can fight me.”

“You would lose,” Max state, cleaning his glasses. (for dramatic affect, obviously Marinette, she heard him snark in her mind) “You can’t even cross the street without almost getting run over.”

Kim blushed as the class laughed. “Shut up--I don’t need to cross streets, just fight.”

“Marinette, has he even gotten close to beating you yet?”

“Nope.”

“A ten year old kicks your butt regularly Kim.”

“She beats everyone that challenges her. It is the law. of Marinette in a fight.”

Adrien stared at her then, “Really?”

Max piped up then, “Out of the 230 matches they’ve had, Kim lost each. As have her challengers in each match.”

“That’s awesome! Do you think you could teach me?”

“As long as we’re not at my house, I don’t see why not.” Good, keep him distracted. “Oh that reminds me, Sabrina, Chloe, Alix, Maman demands you come over to practice too. Remember the rule--”

“You’re not that good in science,” Alix began

“You kind of know how to fight, but not really.” Chloe continued

“And you have never, ever done anything remotely reckless,” Sabrina snickered.

that got a number of laughs out of her group. “Oh shut up, shouldn’t you be grilling Adrien on what color and other thing he’s using from now on?”

That caused the group to light up.

“I almost forgot we haven’t introduced Adrikins to that part our little group!”

“Little?” She heard the cure red head whisper. Yes, she memorized his voice already.... its not weird at all...

“Okay, so I’m yellow and stripes, as you can see,” Chloe gestured to her outfit. “Kim and Alix understand the wonder of my choice, as Kim is red and yellow, while Alix is black and stripes, hers are always her gloves or uses her snake sleeves to pass.”

“I’m purple and argyle, the best pattern,” Sabrina beamed.

“Green and collared shirts, the only way to go,” Max stated.

“Uh, pink or red is me, and a floral pattern is always on me,” Marinette gestured to the flower pattern on her shirt and showed off her coin purse.

“Blue and my hat,” Nino tipped his hat at Adrien as he walked over. “Nino.”

“Adrien, and wow, i don’t know... is my jacket okay?”

“White jacket, when off he’s mad at us then. Pro tip, wearing someone else’s colors or patterns means they’re your favorite,” Nino explained, turning to Marinette. “So Alix is your new favorite with the new studs?”

Marinette moved to hide her earrings.

“Marinette, how could you not tell me your rankings changed!” Sabrina mock-pouted.

“Sweet! I get dibs on Mari’s bed tonight!”

“Alix!”

“I, just, someone told me they’d bring good luck and with what happened over the summer...” and yesterday. “I figured it’d be okay to be a little superstitious--it can’t hurt in this case, right?”

Max shook his head, ready to lecture his la partner until Sabrina and Kim glared. He shut his mouth with a small frown.

“Of course not,” Adrein beamed. “Guessing it was pretty rough?”

“It was... more Gotham chaos than usual, that’s all.” New brother that was dead and is now alive and teenage again, Hero Stalker almost dying and somehow having one of her personal heroes deem her a good soundboard for solving cases that stump him? She didn’t know what to make of it, not really. (yet, Uncle Oswald’s voice rang in her head. You will when the dust settles, until then, keep your cards from view, or end up someone’s lunch.)

“That sucks.” Well, he didn’t try to hug her... yet. She could feel him debating it.

Class began then.

Marinette glanced back at Cute Red Head. She really needed to learn his name soon....

They had gym before lunch. During it, Marinette was told to show the class what can happen if someone is flexible and does the exercises right in a fight..

Kim came after her on the mats. She turned him into her vault, sent hi to ground as she jumped off him, and flipped out her landing for fun.

“I said for normal people Miss Cheng.”

Marinette grinned at their gym teacher. “Very well. Given that we seem to have magic infecting our city, its important for you all to learn how to defend and flee to safe places. Now, today we’ll be going over evacuation procedures...”

During lunch Alya and Lila were dominating a few other classes’ groups, talking about something called the “Ladyblog” and how amazing Ladybug was....

It didn’t sit right with Marinette. Chat was a big help, when he wasn’t getting ahead of himself. She was trained, he wasn’t. Could they be a little nicer to her apparent partner? She get’s she’s good, but she and Chat can be good together, can’t they?

Chloe was about to drag her to her table with Adrien, Nino (when did that happen?) and Sabrina, but she knew Max would follow her. which meant Kim would too--and she wasn’t lecturing Kim in front of Adrien and Chloe about him being jealous of them. that was a recipe for disaster--and she needed to do some recon on Big Guy and what triggered the transformation.

the police actually remembered to encrypt their files on the case, so she had to go the other way.

“I’ll catch up with you guys during class, I think those two,” Marinette pointed to Big Guy and Mylene, currently sitting alone and being avoided, “might need a buffer from the rest of school, Example setting and stuff, right Chloe?”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “I am reserving you in advance for tomorrow.”

She had one day to get Kim’s jealousy under control, great.

“Sure thing! See you later!” Marinette ran off with her lunch and took a seat across from Mylene and Ivan. “Hi, Marinette.”

Big Guy was Ivan apparently. Somehow Marinette managed to ask about how they got together, the poem he wrote yesterday did it. She squealed at that--it was cute, okay?

Kim came over after Marinette. Ivan tensed when he did.

“Hey Marinette--why are you--”

“Why not?”

Kim was silent at that, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh....”

“Sorry about Kim, he’s dense and i may be regular clumsy, but he’s emotionally clumsy.”

Ivan snorted at that. “Like when you almost dropped three trays of macaroons at the talent show last year?”

Marinette pouted at that. “I caught them all!”

Mylene giggled at that. “I think you’d do well in a circus act with reflexes like that.”

Marinette beamed at that. “Thanks! My Uncle Jerry grew up in one so he sometimes teaches me old tricks. Still haven’t mastered taming a certain monkey...” Marinette raised an eyebrow at Kim.

“I---fine. Ivan, I’m sorry about yesterday, i shouldn’t have made fun of the poem.”

“And?”

“...and your feelings.”

“And.”

“And I should talk my feelings out instead of taking them out on others.”

“and?”

“I,..” Kim frowned, thinking for a moment. “I’m glad you managed to confess, and will work on not acting out when I jealous of someone doing what i want to but won’t.”

“Good Kim.” He still wasn’t getting a macaroon. “Sorry about yesterday.”

Ivan stared at her and Kim. “So, dating or...”

“Ew.”

“Never.”

the pointed at each other. “That’s my brother/sister if my parents have it their way.”

Mylene brightened at that. “Really?”

Marinette nodded, “Kim decided he has all big brother rights too, apparently i’m a human arm rest.”

“You steal my hoodies.”

“It was cold, and unguarded. free game Kimmie.”

Kim shook his head. “this is not over Mari.”

“Is it ever?”

Mylene waved at someone... Alix and Max then--too long for one person.

“Hello.”

“yo, sitting here today?”

Marinette hummed as the pair took their seats. Over the course of the conversation, she found out a few things. 1) Ivan did not remember being Stoneheart. 2) the last thing he remembers is being told to knock by Damocles which only made him angrier at the time 3) a voice talking to him.

while inconclusive, her best guess would be some form of possession with rage as a catalyst for said possession to occur. Possibly just negative emotions, but she didn’t have enough data to support that theory.

Classes began again, this time with Adrien sitting by Nino, Sabrina moved back to Chloe’s side, and Marinette given more room than she needed.

Class was boring. She took the girls home with her while Max followed Kim to his house. Nino said something about babysitting and Adrien looked... sad. Some Huge Guy he called Gorilla picked him up without talking.

Maybe Huge Guy Gorilla is mute, otherwise very rude.

Maman had her handle the front while the girls were taught in the back what to do. and probably mined for information on what happened yesterday.

Marinette checked the Ladyblog and felt sick. She was being called a hero. Her family was not one of heroes---they were vigilantes at best and she knew it. She was a vigilante at best. don’t call me a hero--heroes always disappoint.

Marinette handled the front until closing time. she made dinner with the girls and Maman while Papa finished prep for tomorrow’s pastries.

dinner was normal. The girls kept their own anxieties about what was happening mostly quiet, but Marinette could feel it.

Alix stayed the night, Chloe had ballet and Sabrina needed to feed her hamster since Raincomrpix would be home late.

Marinette checked her messages again. nothing from Tim. She tried texting him while Tikki and Alix were asleep. she wasn’t even on read.

Marinette kept the tears in. He was still mad at her then.... did she doom Paris by lecturing Batman?

no, she just had to wait. Gotham wasn’t always calm. she just needed to wait for it to be calm and he’d see it. The Justice League would come. If not from Tim, then she’d work something out into her messages to Flash. a code.. just one letter in each letter needed to be different enough to notice. it would take time, but she knew he’d notice.

he had to.

she just had to wait. Had to be Marinette Dupain-Cheng in the meantime.

Paris and her just had to be patient.

They would’t abandon her Paris, right?

Bruce looked over the mostly cold case, Princess Jill, and sighed. They never found the girl that summer, and Superman wasn’t taking it well.

He looked over at Flash, who was trying to make a proposal the others could support. His french meta, Jill Smith, she was in Paris and they made progress on that front. No idea what her french name was, or her parents, but they knew she was in deep with the Gotham Rogues for Harley Quinn and Joker to claim any familial connection.

Both of these girls went by Jill. Possible body doubling given they both are summer only. There was a slim chance they were the same person, very slim, but that would mean that the Rouges were letting their princess go into fights, and he doubted they would. She’d be kept under lock and key while Mr. J was active, and clearly Pixie was not--possibly rebellious. They could use that to convert her.

Apparently Pixie Jill Smith was connected to a new threat to Gotham, Red Hood, often working in the same areas as Victor Zsasz. He wasn’t sure how the trio were connected, but he didn’t like it.

Flash was insistent that Jill was just scared and well... Batman would admit that much was obvious. He hoped Flash managed something usable in his proposal. The less batman needed to tweak for him, the better.

That’s all this time. Warning, there is an angst train and it will hurt for a while. it takes Years for things to end up where we want it, so this is a longfic in the works.

and reminder, Marinette had multiple romantic crushes and relationships in this. I only ask you tolerate the various ships.

Also the lovesquare from cannon may not be included, or if it is, it will be very different as so far, Marinette has a very different crush.

link to the full story for easy finding from ao3 --> https://archiveofourown.org/works/22342267/chapters/53372962

@mosseaters @dast218 @daminett4life @chaosace @emeraldpuffguide @ilovefluffbutsmutisalsogreat @mystery-5-5 @weird-pale-blonde-person

#maribat #maribat au #bio!dad #bio! dad au #bio!dad au #bio!dad strange #marinette strange dupain cheng #marinette strange dupain cheng part 12 #my au #ml au #my idea #sorry for the angst #ml fic #mlb x dc

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