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rebrandedbard · 3 years

Note

If you’re still doing the sentence prompts I’d love to see either 46 or 9 with geraskier

Ooo nice choices! Since there were two requests for number 9, I’ll answer it on this one so that anon and @itiswhatis-andwhatitisisgay both get the alert. Keep a sharp eye, anon! I’ll do 46 for you next!

9. “Don’t you ever do that again!”

WC: 1371

Jaskier’s Champion

Added a younger Ciri into the mix because my immediate thought was that the phrase sounded like an upset toddler crying. Decided Ciri was going to be Jaskier’s little bitty champion and come to defend him from her mean dad.

“It isn’t funny!” Ciri wailed, stomping her little foot in the snow. “It isn’t funny!” she repeated, pushing at Geralt’s legs as if her tiny arms had enough strength to move him. Her face was boiling red and streaked with tears, a bit of snot dribbling from her nose. Geralt tried to bend down to wipe it away, but she batted at his hands, crying out in rage, “No, no no!”

“But Ciri—”

“Go a-way!” she screeched. “It isn’t funny!”

When he tried reaching for her again, she picked up a handful of powdery snow and threw it at him. “Go! Right now!”

Jaskier put his hands on her shoulders. “Now, Ciri,” he entreated. “It was only a little prank, and Geralt apologized already. Nobody was hurt. It was only a bit of fun—nothing but a playful tease. Perfectly harmless.”

“No-o-o-o!” she cried once more, long and piercing. “We don’t want you!”

Geralt winced, looking at Jaskier with a desperate plea in his eyes.

Jaskier shrugged over the top of the hysteric tyke’s head. “She may be no more than a baby, but she has the sense of justice of a morally-staunch old woman.”

He sneezed, startling Ciri, who turned to Geralt with a glare of pure scorn.

“Bless him,” she demanded.

Geralt held his handkerchief out to Jaskier instead. “Bless you,” he sighed obediently.

Ciri reached up on her tip-toes and snatched the handkerchief away, tossing it back at him. She pulled a little hanky of her own from her cloak and handed it to Jaskier in its place. Then, with a sniff, she turned and started pushing Jaskier toward the stables. “Let’s go,” she said, picking up her little knapsack. She struggled, dragging Jaskier’s pack once more through the snow. She made it another two feet from the inn door before she had to stop and catch her breath.

“Cirilla, little cub, I really don’t think this is necessary for a simple—”

“It is nec-ess-ar-y!�� she insisted. “He pushed you. He pushed you in and you got sick.”

They’d had a little play-fight in the snow four days ago, happy as a pack of puppies set loose to romp. Towards the end, Geralt had crept up behind Jaskier and pushed him into a snowbank, unaware of the duck pond that lay hidden beneath. Jaskier had come sputtering to the surface, soaked through, and it was a half hour’s walk back to the inn. He’d caught a chill before they could get him warmed up, and for three days after, he’d been resigned to his bed.

Ciri had been frightened, asking over and over if Jaskier was going to die—a question that, when first asked, had doubled Geralt over in laughter. Her little green eyes had been so huge and sincere. He just couldn’t help himself. Ciri hadn’t let him come near Jaskier since.

“It isn’t funny,” she mumbled again, as if she could see the memory playing over in Geralt’s mind. And perhaps she could. She had a touch of magic in her.

“It isn’t funny,” Geralt agreed. He knelt down to eye-level to speak with her. “And I’m sorry I laughed. I would be very sad if anything should happen to Jaskier.”

Jaskier smiled at that, slightly smug. Oh would you now? he seemed to say.

Geralt glanced up at him with a look that told him to behave, then reached out to pick up Jaskier’s wet bag. She grunted at him, but he ignored her, heading towards the stables. He began to strap on Roach’s saddle and tied Jaskier’s bag to the side, speaking slowly as he did.

“So you’ve decided to leave me behind. Where are you going?”

“Not your business,” Ciri huffed, refusing to look at him.

Geralt hummed. He caught an anxious look from Jaskier, but simply reached out and took his lute case, tying it to the saddle next. “Your uncles will be waiting for you at home; they promised you plenty of presents for Yule this year. But I’ll be there too. Perhaps you’d rather go to Oxenfurt with Jaskier. There would be lots of parties in store for you, and the groundskeeper’s dog will be having her litter soon. Maybe they’ll give you a pup.”

Ciri frowned as Geralt took her knapsack and tied it with the rest. She hesitated a moment, then held her head up and said, “Oxfurt.”

“Then you’ll need coin for your travels.” He pulled a pouch from his belt and put it in her hands. “Here. This ought to be enough to put you up in a cozy room on the way. Make sure you don’t walk too much. Jaskier still needs his rest. And feed him lots of soup, understand?”

Ciri looked between Geralt and the pouch. She turned to look up at Jaskier, too confused to remember her temper. When she turned back to Geralt, he had Roach’s reins in hand.

Geralt looked down at her and asked, “Can I come close enough to bid Jaskier goodbye?”

Ciri gripped the little purse tight in her hands. She looked between the two of them, the hint of a pout beginning to form on her lips. Her face was becoming red again as if she were trying very hard to hold something in.

So Geralt leaned over her head and gave Jaskier a kiss. Jaskier blinked in surprise as Geralt gave his face a cheeky pat, then Geralt was off, leaving Roach’s reins in his shocked hands. “Goodbye!” he called, pack slung over his shoulder. “Take good care of Jaskier for me, Ciri.”

Then Ciri was crying, chasing after him with a heartbroken wail.

“Don’t go!” she sobbed, latching onto his leg.

Geralt tried to suppress a smile, hiking up his burdened leg to take one last performative step. “You don’t want me,” he said.

“No!” she cried again, hugging his leg even tighter as the tears rolled down her face.

“You do want me?”

“No-o-o-o-ho-ho-o-oh!”

Despite her unintelligible responses, Geralt turned and dropped his bag, sitting on the frozen ground. The moment he was within reach, Ciri threw herself at him. She beat his chest with her tiny fists, then wrapped her arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder. He hugged her, wrapping her in his cloak to keep warm.

“Don’t you ever do that again!” she shouted.

Geralt nodded. He pet her hair, shushing her gently. “I promise.”

“No leaving! Ever!”

“What,” Jaskier asked, “was that all about?”

He stood towering over Geralt with his hands on his hips. His face was flushed, far too flushed to blame on the cold, and he was looking at Geralt with his sternest no-nonsense expression.

Geralt smiled innocently. “I was doing as I was told. Seemed to work out well.”

“Not that,” Jaskier said. “The whole—!” He gestured a circle around his face, then flicked his hands at Geralt, eyes landing on his lips. He cleared his throat and looked away, flapping his hand in an empty motion. “That.”

“The kiss?” Geralt asked.

Jaskier huffed. “Yes, that.”

“Hm.”

“Oh-ho-ho, no! Don’t you ‘hm’ me! We are talking about this one, Geralt.”

Geralt chuckled, offering Ciri his handkerchief. “Ciri doesn’t like when you’re sick,” he said.

“And?”

“And I don’t like seeing you sick either.”

“But what has that got to do with—”

Ciri wiped her eyes and tugged at Geralt’s cloak. “Did you kiss him better?” she asked.

“Yes, princess,” Geralt replied. “He’s all better now.”

“Then you can stay.”

Geralt picked Ciri up and put her in Roach’s saddle as the realization crept over Jaskier. He turned to take the reins back once more, winking at Jaskier. “Unless you think he needs another kiss, Ciri,” he added casually.

Jaskier scrambled after them, eyes lighting up with excitement. “I need a—!”

“I need a kiss better,” she said, holding out her hands.

Geralt craned up and kissed her cheek before instructing her to hold on tight to the saddle horn. They were only two days away from Kaer Morhen. There would be plenty of time to kiss it all better once Ciri was in the care of Uncle Eskel and Uncle Lambert. They had all winter.

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#my fic #drabbles #witcher #the witcher #geraskier #geralt of rivia #jaskier #cirilla fiona elen riannon #young!ciri #jaskier's champion fic #angst and fluff and angst and fluff just back and forth #y'all know the drill by now #ask game

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eirist · 3 years

Text

Little Bits and Pieces of Heaven

OTANJOUBI OMEDETOU!

One-shot #: 28

Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.

Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.

Warning: OOC possible. One shot.

Rating: T

Note: This was supposedly for Nami’s birthday last year but I didn’t get to finish it on time. Not that I did as well this year. But I don’t want to drag this for another more year or so. And since it’s still July, I figured I can still make it work. Better late than never right?

This is for @redpakwan. AU setting. College zeitgeist. Yet super late. Forgive me. I hope you still enjoy this.

The omedetou in the last part actually has two meanings. In case you are familiar with the Japanese language, you’ll get the implication. *winks*

Summary: All of their friends are present at the party tonight! Even those who she barely knows and acquainted with her only through common friends. Yet Zoro who was supposedly close to her, wasn’t here!

“Ssshhhh! Quiet now!”

Usopp shushed the fidgeting and whining Luffy beside him.

“Quit squirming like an ant is biting your butt!”

“But Usopp…” the black-haired lad bemoaned. “It’s taking too long. I’m starving!” His stomach made a rumbling sound and a horrified expression crossed Usopp’s face.

“Shut up. Just wait for a few more minutes!”

“I can’t! I can smell all the meat that Sanji cooked!” A drool dropped down the side of Luffy’s mouth. “I can’t resist anymore!”

“Oi! Can somebody put a fucking gag on that moron’s mouth?” Sanji hissed somewhere from behind them. He had pushed the swinging door leading to the kitchen (where he was hiding) open to glare at them. “He’s gonna ruin our surprise!”

“Sanji! I can’t wait anymore!” Luffy shouted from his hiding spot.

“Aho! Don’t you dare move from that spot or I’ll tie you to a chair and make you watch us eat all the meat you specifically requested that I cook!”

“Demo…”

“Uruse!”

“Shhh! Quiet down guys!” Franky called out from beneath the bar counter. “She’ll be here any minute now!”

“Usopp,” Sanji drawled, throwing a handkerchief at the curly-haired lad. “Gag him if needed.” He nudged his chin at the boy beside Usopp, who was pouting at being denied food.

“But he bites,” Usopp complained even as he caught the hanky.

“We all have to make sacrifices...”

“Damn you!”

“She’s already here.” Robin announced from her position at the bar’s window. The raven-haired woman was acting as their lookout. “She’s about to cross the street,” she added before sauntering away from her location to join Sanji in his hiding place.

“Robin-chwan,” the cook greeted suavely as he opened the door wider to let the older woman inside. Then he turned and barked at the others. “All of you quiet down now! Anyone who makes any shitty noise will not be allowed to touch any of the food!”

“But, San—mmph!” Luffy opened his mouth and Usopp promptly shoved the small cloth inside.

“Everybody shut up and get ready!”

The bar door opened with a soft tinkling sound.

“SURPRISE!!!” They all shouted simultaneously as they popped out of their respective hiding places… well except for Luffy, who had to spit out the handkerchief in his mouth.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAMI!!!”

The sound of confetti poppers exploding alongside the hoots of party horns and lots of clapping and cheering immediately followed the greeting.

It was Nami’s birthday. And they had planned a surprise party for her at their group’s favorite bar. It had been a real challenge to pull it off since everyone was busy preparing for the university’s ‘hell week’—those torturous days before the summer break officially starts.

Plus, it was kind of hard to keep it hush-hush since some people in their circle are terrible secret keepers (namely Luffy).

But somehow they did. And Nami—as sharp as she is—didn’t have any inkling on what was going on, given the way her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.

“Ah ma cherie!” Sanji crooned as he twirled across the room, kneeling down on one knee in front of the newcomer. He presented a heart-shaped cake with flourish—with all the candles lit up. “Otanjoubi omedetou!”

Nami looked genuinely astounded as her brown eyes wandered at the grinning faces of her friends.

She blinked a few times and her lower lip quivered slightly. “You guys…” she whispered, bringing a hand to cover her mouth.

For a moment, she looked like she was going to cry.

Then her face broke into a largest smile.

“Minna! Arigatou!!!” She squealed, clapping her hands together delightedly.

The loud hoot of the party horn filled the room as Franky blew on it again before bellowing, “Supeeer Happy Birthday Nami!!!”

That signaled another round of applause and shouted greetings as the well-wishers approached Nami to greet her up close.

Sanji—who remained kneeling on one knee before her with her birthday cake—nearly got shoved to the side by Luffy and Usopp as they both sprang towards the orange-haired girl to give her a hug.

“Oi temee you idiots!” Sanji shouted. He was barely able to save the cake from the two morons.

But the two were oblivious to his swearing as they launched into a rather off-key happy birthday song, which the others soon followed.

Nami winced slightly as Usopp and Luffy belted out the song just right at her ears. They were saved from her punches by Robin approaching and placing a party hat around her head.

“Happy birthday Nami!” The older woman greeted and Nami grinned at her, holding the party hat with one hand and trying to shove Luffy and Usopp’s faces away from her.

“Thank you Robin!”

The birthday song ended rather exaggeratedly high and Nami tried very hard not to wallop both of her idiotic friends who had made it a contest to see who can sustain the last note longer.

“Enough! Both of you!” Sanji roared as he stood up and kicked Luffy and Usopp out of the way. He presented the cake to Nami again and said charmingly, “Nami-swan if you please.” He motioned to the cake he was holding. “The birthday girl has to make a wish first before blowing the candles.”

“Arigatou Sanji-kun,” Nami smiled at him and leaned forward, tucking a strand of orange hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes, silently stating her wishes before blowing the candles out.

“I hope you wished for your prince charming to—ooof!”

Luffy excitedly elbowed him out of the way to greet her again, almost toppling the cake off the blond’s hand again.

“Nami! Happy birthday!”

“Damn it Luffy!” Sanji desperately and comically tried to save the cake before it falls flat on the ground… and luckily succeeded.

Luffy ignored him and the ever-enthusiastic lad yelled. “It’s finally time to eat!!! Sanji serve the meat!”

“Aho!” Sanji bellowed and hit him in the head. “You nearly made me dropped Nami-san’s precious cake!”

“Ooops sorry!”

Robin giggled as Nami smiled wryly. Even during her birthday these morons just can’t stop themselves.

“Alright you guys!” Usopp suddenly hollered from her side. “Start calling the others! Nami’s happy 23rd party’s about to start!”

Nami whacked him on the head… hard.

“I’m just twenty you idiot!”

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

It hadn’t taken long for the bar to be filled with guests. Almost all of their friends and colleagues from the university attended the celebration. Not to mention, those friends also brought their own pals to enjoy a night of overflowing free food and drinks.

Not that Nami minded. She knew most of them anyway. If not, her friends definitely knew them.

Plus, you can bet she’s gonna charge their freeloading asses anyway.

Her eyes roamed around the room, noting the individuals who were present. She was enjoying her beer at the bar counter and taking a break from all that socializing and thanking her birthday guests.

Usopp had taken the responsibility of acting as the DJ for the night. An upbeat music was now playing and Luffy’s attractive older brother Ace had taken over the dance floor with his buddies.

Brook has just arrived from his band practice and Luffy ran off to greet him. Sanji was busy flitting around the female guests, crooning and spewing praises at them while Robin and Franky were sitting near her and was chatting with the bar owner, Shakky.

She gave a small wave at Kid and Killer when she spotted them. Both raised their beer bottles at her—a sort of silent birthday greeting. She mouthed thanks just as Luffy’s attention went to them and he launched himself at the two men much to their chagrin. She wasn’t really that close to the two seniors students but they’re both in the same fraternity as Luffy and Zoro.

Speaking of Zoro… is he still not here?

A frown suddenly appeared on her face and it deepened when she noticed the beer coolers stocked near the kitchen doors.

“Hey,” she turned to Robin, Franky and Shakky who stopped talking. “Why do we still have so much booze?” Nami pointed towards the large, still filled with beer coolers. “Considering we have a lot of guests tonight and most of them are drinkers… I’m surprised we haven’t broken the fifth one yet.”

“Huh?” Franky lifted his sunglasses and gazed at her curiously, before shifting his eyes to where she was pointing. Nami really doesn’t get it why he still wears them indoors. She just dismissed it as one of his idiosyncrasies… they all have one after all.

“Is there a problem Nami-chan?” Shakky inquired with a smile.

“Nothing. It’s just that… it’s nearing midnight and we still have that many,” Nami observed. “Hmm… never mind,” she waved her hand dismissively. “It’s probably just a slow night.”

“Maybe those guys are still warming up.” Robin observed Ace’s group and the Luffy’s fraternity acquaintances, who were all shouting and hopping on the dance floor. Good thing Luffy and Ace’s other brother, Sabo, is out of town. Or there’ll be chaos in that floor now.

Shakky leaned down the counter and propped her chin on her hand looking at Nami with a glint of amusement in her dark eyes. “It’s probably because Zoro-chan’s not here to start a drinking competition.”

Nami’s eyebrows disappeared behind her bangs. So that confirms it.

“Oh? He’s still not here?” she asked, trying to be casual about it—even if she already noticed that her green-haired friend was nowhere in her party. “Really? Of all days to be M.I.A?”

“He’s probably late just like Chopper,” Robin said with a soft smile, refraining from teasing the younger woman since it was her birthday. She had seen the disappointment flashed across Nami’s brown eyes earlier. It was for a fleeting moment but it is there.

“He better have a damn good reason why he’s not here,” Nami grumbled, folding her arms across her chest. The nerve of that guy, missing one of the most important days of her life.

“Just relax girly…” Franky winked at her as he handed her another bottle of beer to replace her empty one. “He’ll be here. This party’s compulsory and has booze after all.” He guffawed, opening another beer bottle for himself and taking a drink.

“Compulsory?” Nami repeated, cocking one eyebrow.

“Yep,” Franky nodded. “We made it mandatory for all invitees to attend so we’d have more heads. As we promised Shakky when she let us use her bar for your party’s venue.”

Shakky winked at her. “Once the supply beer runs out, you have no choice but to buy here.”

Nami snickered. “I’m surprised you even let them bring beers from outside.”

“Not really,” Robin chuckled. “Those are from Shakky’s as well.”

Said bar owner winked at Nami again.

“Damn,” Nami just shook her head disbelievingly. Shakky’s negotiation and money skills are way beyond awesome!

Franky grinned. “So let’s just wait for him. Besides, what’s a party without any drinking competition started by Zoro?”

Nami nodded her agreement even as she huffed. “He has to get his ass here first before anything else. Or I’m gonna start charging by the minute.”

Franky winced at that while Shakky and Robin giggled. Nami was notoriously known for her habit of charging outrageous amount of belis whenever she thinks the situation calls for it. Almost everyone in their circle owes her a certain amount that just keeps increasing as time goes by.

“Hey!”

Usopp suddenly appeared near them. “Got any more beers?”

Nami eyed him warily. “Weren’t you supposed to be on the other side playing songs and entertaining us?!”

Usopp made a face at her. “A guy could use a break you know. You’re not exactly paying me for my services.”

“I thought you said you’d do it free for Nami since it’s her birthday,” Robin reminded him as Franky went to the coolers to get him a drink.

“I did?”

Nami narrowed her eyes at him. “You still owe me my gift you idiot.”

A sheepish laugh escaped Usopp. “Well consider my dj-ing skills your present then.”

“Cheapskate.”

“Oi!”

“Here ya go long-nose,” Franky handed him his request.

“Thanks Franky!”

“Aren’t you going back there?” Shakky inquired as she lit up a cigarette.

“Nah. I’ll take a break.” Usopp answered. “I just auto-played a playlist. It’s not like those guys really care about what’s blasting on the speakers.”

He shifted his eyes towards the dance floor where the crowd was getting louder and rowdier. “Besides… I swear I’m not gonna be surprised if a fight breaks out in a few seconds.”

“Why?” Robin queried with an amused smile. “Too much testosterone?” As unruly as the guests may get… they wouldn’t dare or lest they acquire Shakky’s wrath and forever be banned in the place.

“More like too much Luffy.”

Everyone nodded in understanding.

“Thank Kami Zoro’s not here.” Usopp gushed. “One less of a headache.”

“You do know if he’s here someone can actually rein Straw Hat in?” Franky said matter-of-factly.

Usopp waved his hand dismissively. “I know that of course. Anyway… Zoro’s like really, really late isn’t he? Has anyone tried to call him?”

Both Robin and Franky shook their heads.

A horror-stricken expression crossed Usopp’s face. “Oh shit wait! Did someone inform him about today?!”

Nami eyes were sharp as they zeroed in at her curly-haired friend. “You didn’t tell him about today?”

Usopp looked guilty. “I think I forgot,”

Robin raised her hand. “I did tell him. And I’m pretty sure Luffy did as well.”

“Whew! Thank heavens for you Robin!” Usopp sigh in relief as Nami punched him on the shoulder.

“Ouch!”

Robin just smiled. “Luffy wouldn’t let Zoro miss Nami’s birthday of course.”

“Yeah. That’s why he isn’t here now. That moron.” Nami complained, glaring at Usopp who flinched under her gaze.

“Hey I said sorry,” Usopp rubbed the back of his neck. “He’s just been kinda busy lately it’s hard to catch him. Honestly, I haven’t seen him for like a week now.”

“That’s what cellphones are for you idiot,” Nami groused. “So you can send him a message to remind him of important stuff!”

“Like your birthday party?”

“Yes!”

“But Robin said she already told him,” Usopp whined. “So he should be getting his ass here by now. He’s a grown man after all.”

“Unless of course he got himself lost…” Franky reminded them. “Anyway well know if he’s here. Sanji’s been blissfully happy all night. Let’s just wait for his—”

There was a noise coming from the entrance as another group entered the bar. The sound of Chopper’s voice excitedly calling for their names got their attention.

From the looks of it, the medical students had just been released from Dr. Kureha’s clutches and they all headed straight to Shakky’s bar for the party.

“Oh wait there’s Kaya!” Usopp perked up when he spotted his girlfriend just right behind Chopper. “I’ll talk to you guys later.” And just like that he ran off.

Nami sighed inwardly. Of all days not to show up and it looks like Zoro will chose this one which means a lot to her. She had been looking forward to this day too. It’s always fun to see her friends try to make it fun and special for her in their own clumsy ways.

Especially Zoro.

Ever since they’d known each other, he never missed her birthday. It doesn’t matter if he had no gift for her… he always make it to a point to be one of the first to greet her.

And sometimes the last as well.

But today… she still hadn’t heard from him. No call… not even a message!

It wasn’t easy to miss. Not when you’ve been waiting for that particular person to greet you.

Nami squared her shoulders. Now is not the time for the birthday girl to be down in the dumps.

There’s still time before midnight after all.

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

The party was already in full swing. The sixth beer cooler was already opened. There was a lot of drunken shouting, singing and dancing happening inside the bar. Nami was pretty sure that they’ll be seeing Luffy’s brother Ace dancing on one of the tables along with Franky any minute now.

Yet no tall, scowling, green-haired man made an appearance.

She glumly stared at the sprinkle-rimmed birthday martini in front of her. Shakky made it for her birthday. But neither the cute-looking, celebratory beverage nor its taste can make the sinking feeling in her stomach disappear.

It was past midnight. And Zoro is no show.

No calls, no messages… no anything!

Idiot probably forgot her birthday!

All of their friends are present at the party tonight! Even those who she barely knows and acquainted with her only through common friends.

Yet Zoro who was supposedly close to her, wasn’t here!

Nami clenched her fist and gritted her teeth. He’s gonna owe her for this big time!

She didn’t realize that Shakky was just right in front of her, chin resting on the palm of her hand, watching her.

“Don’t worry about it Nami-chan,” Shakky suddenly spoke up. Her eyes were still glinting with the same amusement as before. “I’m sure he’ll show up.”

Nami instantly turned red at that. “It’s not…. that’s not…” she stammered. But then she gave up. No use trying to hide it. The look on Shakky’s face clearly tells her that she knows what’s in her mind (or who, to be exact).

A determined look crossed Nami’s features. “If he doesn’t… I swear I’ll charge him so much, he’ll sell his soul to the devil just to pay me!”

That made Shakky laugh out loud. Luffy’s friends are always so interesting. That is why she is fond of them.

“He wouldn’t miss this for the world. Late he may be,” Shakky stated in a mysterious tone and smile like she knows something that Nami doesn’t.

Nami just gaped at her.

Then Luffy was suddenly hollering at the other end of the room.

“Zorooooo!” He was bellowing loud enough to drown the already deafening noise in the bar. There were shouts of protests and swearing as the young man pushed his way across the crowd to greet his friend. “Zoro’s here!!!” Zorooo! Oi did you got lost again?”

“Shut up Luffy and get off me!” A voice growled.

Nami perked up at the familiar gruff tone.

“Better late than never you dumbass,” Sanji was saying from somewhere. “Thought you got lost and ended up dead and decaying on the other side of the town. Tch! Too bad.”

“You wanna go cook?”

“Unfortunately I’m busy and don’t have time for you. Go scat.”

“Temee…”

“Zorooo!” Luffy whined, pulling the taller man away from Sanji and towards the bar counter where Nami was. “Why are you’re sooo late? Come on! You have to greet Nami or she’ll be mad at you and charge you so much money it’ll break you!”

A vein popped on Nami’s forehead as Shakky chuckled.

“Nami! Nami!” Luffy all but dragged Zoro towards her as Nami schooled her face into a neutral expression. “Look who’s finally here!”

“I can see that Luffy,” she huffed and narrowed her eyes at Zoro. “You’re late.”

Zoro scratched the back of his head as Luffy released him and started pestering Shakky for a drink like the one she has. “Sorry… got tied up.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. He was still in his after training ensemble—track pants, zip up hoodie, sports bag. It looks like he just came from Mihawk’s dojo or his gym workout or both.

“I just needed to take care of something,” Zoro was saying. “Anyway, happy birthday.”

“It’s already past midnight idiot! Technically my birthday’s done.”

Zoro glanced around him. The party is still at its height. “Apparently the celebration is not.”

She pursed her lips at his observation. “You better have a good reason why you just got here.”

“Shit. I’m gonna owe you big time for this aren’t I?”

“You bet your ass you already do.” The grin on her face was so evil that Zoro couldn’t help but think she really is the devil incarnate.

“Hey Zoro!” Luffy suddenly appeared between them. “Jaggy’s looking for you. Come on! Come on!” He was referring to Kid whom he fondly calls by that nickname. He hooked an arm around Zoro’s and pulled him towards where their other friends are and away from Nami—much to the latter’s disappointment.

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

“So why are you late?”

Zoro flinched slightly as Nami surreptitiously appeared beside him. He was standing outside Shakky’s bar, enjoying a few minutes of silence while drinking his beer. He had sneaked out of the party to get away from an already sugar-high and tipsy Luffy and the boisterous, smashed guests as well.

“Thought I already told you I had something to take care of.”

“Important enough to miss my party?”

He paused halfway to bringing the bottle to his lips. From the corner of his eyes he saw a displeased expression appeared on Nami’s face.

Zoro sighed inwardly. He should’ve known she was not going to let him off the hook that easy.

“Hey if it’s that important, then I have no complaints.” Nami raised both of her hands in mock-surrender.

He didn’t answer and instead took a swig from his drink.

“Just thought you were out busy with a date.”

Silence.

“WHAT?!”

Zoro had sharply swiveled towards her that Nami took a step back, hands still raised up in surrender. He was practically snarling at her.

She was teasing him of course. It was always fun to rile him up. Besides, he deserves it after making her wait for such a long time… intentionally or not.

Plus… she kept hearing snippets all night from their friends about why he’s been so busy recently (to the point that nobody has actually seen him) and why he was constantly absent at their recent group gatherings.

He’s dating someone. Stupid Usopp has whispered to Kaya and Chopper just as she was passing them on her way out to answer a phone call from their friend Vivi.

It made her insides twist and turn when she heard it.

To think he’d pick his date over her—his long-time friend?

What a jerk. She will wring his neck. Definitely.

She was so distracted with what she heard that she wasn’t able to enjoy Vivi’s enthusiastic greeting. And when she saw him stepped outside the bar to quietly enjoy the beer in his hand, she decided not to let the opportunity slip.

Zoro’s face was scrunched into a frown as he glared at her. “Where did you even get that idea?”

Nami bit her lower lip. “Usopp.” She unapologetically throwing her friend to the sharks… or shark.

Zoro’s face darkened. “What did he say?”

“He said you were dating someone. So I assumed that’s the reason why we weren’t seeing much of you lately and also the reason why you are late for my birthday. And not just because you were running around in circles again.”

The green-haired man studied her for a moment. His lone grey eye fixed intently on her. “Is that stupid long-nose making fun of me again?”

Nami blinked dumbly at his question. She’s not really sure what he meant by that.

This time Zoro’s frown had turn into a full blown scowl. “What the hell is that idiot up to now? I’m not dating anyone!”

And Nami’s face brightened at that. Good thing they were outside and the entryway of the bar was dimly lit or he will see it.

So Zoro was not really dating anyone? She fought the urge to smile. She’s gonna choke Usopp’s neck so hard later.

“Nami,” Zoro growled out. “Is that idiot making fun of me again? Because I swear I’m gonna hang him by his feet and we’re not talking about a tree this time!”

“Uhm… I don’t think so Zoro,” Nami’s lips trembled and she threw back her head and laughed. She recalled how Usopp spread a gossip about the older lad’s dating his ‘bokken’ before and Zoro literally strung his feet together and let him dangle from one of the trees lining up the front of their complex.

Zoro let out an irritated ‘tch’.

“So you’re really not out with someone?” Nami probed when she finished laughing. Of course she had to be sure. She still doesn’t know the reason why they’ve been seeing less of him lately or why he was late for her birthday party.

“No,” Zoro muttered. “I don’t have time for that.”

“Oh good,” Nami folded her arms across her chest, eyeing him sternly. “Because it that’s the reason why you showed up late for my birthday, I will raise your current debt amount so high you will be serving me eternally.”

He just smirked at her threat.

“And I’ll never forgive you.”

That made him glower at her. An unforgiving Nami is hard to appease after all.

She gave him a cheeky grin before swiping the bottle from his hand and taking a drink from it.

He glared at her, unimpressed with her antic as she childishly stuck her tongue out at him.

“Be glad it’s your birthday witch.” He muttered as he grabbed the bottle from her.

“Like I said Zoro, it isn’t anymore,” she reminded him. “That’s how late you are. You missed the whole day of it.” She was still peeved at him for that. Just a bit though.

She watched him as he exasperatedly rubbed the back of his neck.

And she smiled.

She was still glad he was personally here for her birthday. She can live with that.

There was a sound of pitter-patter coming from above them. And it didn’t take long for them to realize that it started raining.

They remained silent, watching the rain splatter on the street and on the pavement. Inside the bar, they could hear someone hooting. Probably Franky as he was on his eighteenth bottle when Nami stepped outside. And that was minutes ago. He’s most likely on his twentieth or twenty-first.

"Oi." Zoro nudged her shoulder with his own, prompting her to look at him. He was suddenly standing a lot closer to her than before.

"What now Zoro?"

He pulled his hand away from the pocket of his jacket and almost shoved it in her face. "Happy birthday," he mumbled, diverting his gaze straightaway to avoid looking at her.

Nami was taken aback at the object in his hand. It was a small light orange box with a silver ribbon tied around it prettily.

She stared at it, then at him. Even in the dim light she noted the blush that appeared on his cheeks. Truth be told… a blushing Roronoa Zoro was gift enough for her birthday.

But of course she wouldn't say no to the present he was handing her.

She made a grab for it before he decides that she's taking too long in accepting it and retract his hand.

"Aawww... you didn't have to," Nami cooed and laughed when the blush on his cheek deepened and spread all over his face.

Cute.

"Shut up witch and just open it!"

"I’m really surprised you’re able to get me a present to be honest," she giggled. "And a fancy one too I might add."

Zoro grunted something that she didn't quite catch. She was far too busy untying the ribbon to pay any mind to whatever it was he's grumbling about.

When she opened the box, she didn't fight the gasp that escaped her lips.

Inside was a necklace. With a dainty thundercloud pendant.

She took it out… and a warm feeling suddenly washed over her making her cheeks tingle.

It was beautiful. It was perfect.

Nami lifted her eyes so she could look at him. Zoro was still engrossed on the empty street across them, watching the rain splash down on the ground with the droplets exploding everywhere.

It was really thoughtful of him. "Thank you Zoro."

He gave her a flinty side-glance. There was a smirk on his lips as he turned his attention back on the road. "It's nothing witch."

She glanced at the necklace again. She recalled they have a private joke back in high school that started one afternoon while watching an animated series on the old television set in Luffy's house. Nami loved one of the characters who had a knack for predicting the weather and whose weapon can conjure thunderclouds that produce lightning which the character uses to electrocute her enemies. "It'll be really handy to wield that. I can use it to electrocute your asses whenever anyone of you pisses me off. Especially you," she recalled poking his cheek harshly. "You're so goddamn hard to wake up whenever you are asleep." That had been so long ago. She honestly forgot all about it.

But Zoro remembered. She blinked rapidly as she felt herself tearing up.

Such a sweet gesture. And on her special day too!

Maybe she’s not gonna raise his debt and damn him into eternal servitude to her after all.

She lightly punched Zoro on the shoulder, earning a surprised glare from him.

"What the hell are you hitting me for?” Zoro hissed at her, rubbing the abused part. “I already gave you a present!" "That doesn't mean you get a ticket away from my knuckles!" Nami countered. “That was for being late today of all days!”

"Oi! Gratitude you wicked witch!" He complained. "Do you know how many nights I've stayed behind to clean up Mihawk's dojo just to get you that?!"

Nami's eyes widened. And so did Zoro’s when he realized his slip.

She finally understood now… the real reason why he was not hanging out with them lately.

Why no one had seen him these past few days.

“Sooo…” she intoned as she glanced him mischievously, loving the expression on his face when as he realized that he just idiotically revealed what he was supposed to keep a secret from her. “You actually went to such lengths just to get me this?”

She almost burst out laughing when Zoro’s face turned so red and he stuttered his objection.

"N-no...I... ju-just..."

"Hmmm..." Nami hummed teasingly. "That's what you said."

"Fine!" He bit out. "Thought that gift would be good enough to cover three more future birthdays."

Nami chortled and tried to ignore the way her heart was doing cartwheels inside her chest from too much happiness.

"Do the honors Zoro," she requested as she handed him the necklace, turning around and pulling her hair over her shoulder so he can clasp it around her neck.

He didn’t protest and did what she asked. His fingers felt warm as they brushed her nape, as warm as the heat that was spreading on her cheeks and sending shivers running up and down her spine.

“There.”

She immediately whirled to face him. "So? How does it look?"

Zoro rolled his eye at her as she tried to dish out a compliment from him. "It looks... fine."

"Fine?!" Nami snorted in disbelief. "I swear Zoro, you can do better than that!" She looked down to check the necklace, touching the pendant while a pouting.

When she tilted her head up to look at him to chastise his lack of aptitude when it comes to flattering women… Zoro was smiling at her in a way that made her heart skip a beat.

“It really suits you.”

The way he was looking at her right now made her want to kiss him.

Just like she always wanted to do.

Suddenly the bar door burst open and Luffy and Usopp ran out, excitedly (and drunkenly) shouting that the rain finally let up. Zoro immediately stepped away from her to prevent them from barreling into him.

And just like that… the one, rare moment between the two of them disappeared in an instant.

They both turned to watch the two hopped and danced in the middle of the street like a pair of lunatics. Chopper hurried past Zoro and Nami to join them.

“Oi get back here you dumbasses!” Sanji was shouting from inside.

Nami sighed. It was finally time to rein in the inebriated ones.

“I got it,” Zoro said nodding at her. The corners of his lips quirked up to give her a small smile, then he stepped out on the street to restrain the three before they can create anymore disturbance that might get them all in trouble.

“Oi Nami!” Franky called out to her from the bar. “You and Zoro both get your asses here! There’s a lot more to drink!”

Nami nodded as she glanced again at the green-haired man who was now effortlessly hauling up Luffy, Usopp and Chopper by their collars back to the bar as they whined and griped.

"Nami-chan?"

She looked back to see Shakky standing on the doorway. "Problem?"

"Nah." Nami grinned. “Zoro’s just trying to contain the troublemakers.”

Shakky chuckled. “Zoro-chan’s really handy.” The woman paused momentarily, as if she was studying her. Then she said, "What a pretty necklace."

Nami’s hand automatically went to touch her necklace again.

“Omedetou.” Shakky gave her an insinuating smile. “Now come on. You and Zoro-chan’s still got a drinking competition to start.”

#zoro x nami #ZoNa #zonami #zonalove #zona one-shots #zona fanfiction #zona prompt requests #zoro nami fanfiction #roronoa zoro #nami

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shaydeoffical · 4 years

Text

Bright as a Diamond. Hitoshi Shinsou x Fem Reader: Chapter Four

Summary: When (Y/N)’s co-worker decided to send a picture of her making a diamond to the paper, her life was over. Gemstone based quirks weren’t all that rare, but being able to make a diamond put a target on her back. After years of hiding in the city, it’s time to hide in the countryside with her Uncle Shota Aizawa and his more than ‘roommate’ Hizashi Yamada. With the promise of training her to be self-sufficient, she’s ready to learn.

Chapter Three:

https://ambershaydeoffical.tumblr.com/post/611141904327983104/bright-as-a-diamond-hitoshi-shinsou-x-fem-reader

Chapter Five: https://ambershaydeoffical.tumblr.com/post/612522066443436032/bright-as-a-diamond-hitoshi-shinsou-x-fem-reader

Monday

My alarm was a few minutes from going off, so I sat in silence, waiting for it to cry out that I had to move. The new mattress was firm enough; I didn't sink but soft enough that it supported my curves. Still, I couldn't fight off the nightmares.

With the first siren, I had shut down the machine. Grasping my compact, I dabbed concealer under my eyes and applied the thinnest layer of blush I could get by with. Pushing my hair up into a tight bun, I was happy with my minimal look.

Grabbing my phone, I nearly dropped it to the floor—two thousand unread emails on my school account. My lips formed into an o, and I remembered that I had been the main topic of the Wednesday paper, of course, someone would leak my email.

As I scanned the emails, most were for charity auctions. Wanting me to demonstrate how my quirk works, then offer the highest bidder one of my perfect diamonds. Others were from geologists wishing to study how I create crystals from nothing but my body. A few were from people spilling their life story and asking for my help. The list went on and on and on.

"Shota?" I called my uncle, stumbling, from my room. He was in his sleeping bag on the kitchen floor.

"Hmm?" he glanced up.

"Someone leaked my university email." I whimpered, pursing my lips together. "How am I supposed to see what my professors post. People know my school now. Like- I-"

"Calm down." Shota sat up and took my phone. "Go finish getting ready, and I'll fix it."

"Yes, sir." I went back to my room, pulled on my tighter pencil skirt, then I remembered. Then I put on a purple blouse and a cute blazer. Of course, the jewelry I wore mattered, so I put the necklace my dad made me under my shirt and placed a simple chain to be visible. Then I positioned some magnetic gold studs and put a gold anklet on over my pantyhose. Before leaving my room, I created ruby, emerald, and a diamond to top it off. With the gems in my hand, I crushed them into fine sand then added them to my jar.

After that, I brushed my teeth, put on honey inspired perfume, and emptied my bladder. Nothing was going to hold me back from making a sale today. Of course, I preferred being in the background, but I could still rock the front line and make some sales.

When I was back in the living room, Shota handed me my phone, and as he said, all the spam was gone. "Wow, thank you so much," I beamed, scrolling through my inbox, checking to see if my teachers had any important messages.

"Breakfast," Hizashi yelled. When I entered the kitchen, there sat none other then Shinso. He was at one end of the table, and Shota took the other. With my nose upturned, I sat across from Hizashi and served myself.

"Good morning," Shinso greeted me, offering me the dish filled with rice.

"Hmph," I took the dish and plopped out a portion. "Thank you."

"So you were raised with manors," Shinso smirked, then raised a brow.

"It's too early," I warned, popping my fingers and a rouge opal hitting the table. "Shit."

"Does that happen often?" Hizashi picked up the dime-sized oval and held it to the light. "It's huge."

"You're embarrassing me," I reached for the stone, but he kept it arms length. "Let me handle it."

"This is beautiful, we need to have it made into something. Wow, Shota did you know-"

"Please give it back." Tears were close to spilling over, but I held it back. The heads of the table were silently watching. God, they were looking at me. I didn't want Shinso to know. I did-

"This would look great on my guitar." Hizashi was still in his own mind. I couldn't breathe. Why?

Trembling, I stood from the table and grabbed my phone. I couldn't glance at any of them, having looked like enough of a brat. "Ya know what, keep it. It will look super cool, just never tell anyone where it came from." I winced but kept walking to the door. I needed to change the wrap on my feet. "I'm going to be late."

"I was going to drive you," Shota interjected, sitting up.

"No, thank you. I'm leaving with enough time to make it. Thanks for breakfast." I hadn't eaten more than a few bites, but it didn't matter.

Leaving like this meant I couldn't make lunch or pack a pocketbook for my money. I had a ten in my pocket and a hankie for the rest of the day. Picking up my bike, I hurdled off the porch getting a good first push. I hadn't gotten much taller since I was fourteen, so the seat was still in a decent position.

Halfway to the main road, I was low on the breath but kept going. Tears had been free-flowing since I shut the door, but I refused to wipe them away. My quirk was dangerous, my quirk was valuable, my quirk was a double-edged sword. It's not that I cared that Hizashi loved my opal. I was ready to kill myself for losing control and making it. Putting myself in danger was the issue.

If that happened in public, I'd be in a huge mess. Hell, it already had happened and had been made public. Now I was in the same position as my father, but maybe even worse. Nothing was worse than the world, knowing my secret.

I must have been a site when I hit the main road. Tears flowing thicker than sweat. Dressed to kill, while pleading a children's bicycle. As long as no one tried to talk to me, I'd calm down before I had to make a good first impression.

The nice thing about the jewelry industry is they didn't want me to make jewels. Well, not my personal store, they were more interested in keeping the demand high and supply scarce. In fact, the article published about me probably hurt some of our customers. We specialized in ethically sourced gems and offering natures best. I was not nature, I was something else.

When I finally got to the store, I had five minutes before I was to clock in. I ran into the bathroom and splashed water on my face. My phone buzzed, and a picture of my bike was sent to my phone.

The number was unknown, so I ignored it. Preceding out of the bathroom with caution, I was meet with my coworker from my last job. Kira Nara, the boy who blew my quirk out of the closet. He was older than me by around seven years, divorced, and easy enough to get along with.

"What are you doing here?" I shuffled from one foot to the other, feeling a slight squish. If I could catch a break for even one moment, that would be nice…

"I transferred too," he grabbed my hand and bowed. "I felt so bad over the whole picture thing, that I wanted to move in solidarity. We are in this together." I could see the black hair on his head was thinning, probably a mix of age and stress. "The shop back home was such a mess after you left. News reports kept dropping by, and all these companies asking for donations. The boss thought it would be good if I came with you."

"In other words, since you spilled the beans, everyone wanted to talk to you as well." Kicking the carpet slightly, I pulled my hand free. "Alright, let's make the best of this."

"So you forgive me?" He lifted from his potion, hanging to every word I could utter.

"Yes, you didn't know. Just don't do it again." I was too soft for my own good. Still, I couldn't cause a riot within the workplace. "So have you meet the boss yet?"

"I am the manager," he gushed, gesturing to his name badge.

"Oh. So will I get to meet the head manger?" I asked, stepping behind the counter and finding my case key taped on the side of the safe.

"At some point, he mainly works the busy hours. Really they didn't need this position, but they felt loyal to our branch. It works in our favor." Kira pressed a hand against the case, and it took everything in me not to slap him upside the head. His large hands left an imprint that I would need to wipe down later, no doubt.

"Okay, so it's going to be quiet. That's good, more time for homework." I walked over to the stool and started to pull up my e-books. Kira had already put the display out, and I knew that was all I needed to do till a customer strolled in.

"So did you move somewhere around town?" Kira slid down to where I sat, adding more fingerprints.

"Something like that," I nodded, scrolling to the next page of my book. "Did you relocate?"

"I did. You should come by and see the place. It overlooks the ocean and has an indoor pool. You love to swim, don't you?" He pulled up a chair and sat across from me. It never mattered when acted like this in the back, but now he was blocking the display. Sure there were no customers yet, but it didn't look very professional.

What are you thinking, (Y/n), you're his only friend in this city? Of course, he's nervous and just trying to settle in. Not everyone is as familiar as yourself with running the front of the shop.

"Yes, I love swimming. But it's hardly the season for that anymore." Pushing my phone back into my pocket, I smiled. "So do they allow pets. I'm sure you brought your puppy with you. A German Shepard mix, right?"

"Of course, I brought Miso." He lit up with my full attention. "Did your mother come with you?"

"Uh, no." I clamed up, trying to refocus the conversation. "I'm so much closer to the university through. It's exciting."

"Oh yea, I'm sure you're doing well in your classes. You're so intelligent and dedicated, you must be at the top of the class."

"Don't flatter me, I'm doing well but not that well. I'd be doing better if my mom wasn't so sick." I rolled my tongue over my teeth and started to think about my next training session.

"It's a quirk related illness, right?" He pried.

"Something like that. Oh, a customer," an older lady walked in. I cursed for not having the glass spotless. But tended to her needs regardless.

True to my word, I made a sale on my first day. A fifty dollar glass bead bracelet with customizable charms. She was in love with the birthstone charms and got one for each of her grandchildren. I was able to explain the properties of the birthstones and offer her a wide array of cuts for the gems.

My body rushed with emotions, as the lady stepped outside. The simple sale reminding me how much I enjoyed sharing my passion for stones. That was the only customer for the rest of the shift. As I was part-time, and Kira had been promoted to manager, I was able to call it a day.

Kira had talked my ear off all day, but I did find time to study when he took his lunch break. With so much left to read, I put the audio text reader on and listened to my lesson on the way home. Of course, their big hill that was a bitch to walk up this morning, but fun to glide down now. Using that momentum, to make it the side road to lead home.

My tummy rumbled, and I was more than ready to eat a horse. I used my ten to buy a few snacks at the convince store that was now secured on the handlebars. I smiled, seeing the small ranch house, and pedaled down the driveway.

When I got my shoes off, I realized that I had opened my wounds, and now my blood was dried to my socks. Cursing under my breath, I decided to rip them off quickly. With the first one-off, I curled into my side and breathed through the pain.

Hips bleeding. Bruises up and down. Sleeping on my back for relief. Neck cramps.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled off the other and put on my house shoes. Scampering to the tub, I washed off all the sweat from my bike ride and the blood from my feet. Mixing in epsom salt to the water, I leaned back and enjoyed a moment alone. The water was hot as I could stand it, and I twirled in the water and imagined it like a hug.

A knock on the door broke my train of thought. "(Y/n), can we talk?" It was Hizashi.

"Can you hear me?" I asked, pulling the curtain back so my voice would travel further.

"Yes. I wanted to apologize for this morning. Shota told me why it upset you. I'd never seen your quirk in action, and I was blindsided at how cool it was." I could imagine his frown from my position.

"I'd make you a hundred opals, but I can't risk it. Even with my cover blown, I can't have people tracing them back to me." I popped a bubble as it drifted by. "No matter how awesome or cool, I have to pretend it doesn't exist. I forgive you, and I'm sorry I have made it such a big deal. I lost control of my quirk for a moment and made things awkward between us."

"We're all good now?"

"Yes, we're good. We get along too well not be on excellent terms," relief washed over me as I sunk back into the water.

"Rock on." He cheered, taping the wall before heading' off.

Once my bath was done, I changed into my pj's early and made a quick sandwich before I went for a nap. After eating, I curled into bed and stared at my phone. The center's number was preloaded, but I couldn't find it in my heart to press call. Instead, I covered my face and closed my eyes, it would be better tomorrow.

#shinsou x reader #shinsou hitoshi #bright as a diamond #ambershaydeoffical #x reader #my hero #my hero academia #bnha #boku no hero academia #enemies to friends to lovers #multi chapter #present mic #erasermic #bnha x reader

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nerianasims · 3 years

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Billboard #1s 1966

Under the cut.

Simon And Garfunkel – “The Sound Of Silence” -- January 1, 1966

This song is beautiful and thoughtful and I love it. People apparently talk about its naivete, but it's more a sermon than a political tract. And, above all, it is gorgeous and interesting music.

The Beatles – “We Can Work It Out” -- January 8, 1966

You'd have a better chance of working it out if you weren't blaming the whole fight on the other person, Paul. But that's so often the case. Thinking you're the only one trying, when the other person is trying just as hard, and you're talking past each other. I really like John's interlude, which also makes me think he's the one fighting with Paul. It happened plenty. This isn't a top tier Beatles song, but it's good.

Petula Clark – “My Love” -- February 5, 1966

Her love is greater than any other great thing in all of the entire universe, apparently. Sunshine? Oceans? Stars? Nothing compared to how great she is at love. Petula Clark could always sing, but by the time the chorus comes around the second time, she sounds sort of embarrassed. She doesn't hit the notes with her normal confidence. It is a thoroughly embarrassing song.

Lou Christie – “Lightnin’ Strikes” -- February 19, 1966

Well I'm creeped out. This belongs a few years back, if it had to exist at all. It starts with "You're old enough to know the makings of a man" -- just how young is she? Young enough not to smack him with a brick when he tells her he just can't help but cheat on her since that's what men do, but she needs to stick around waiting for him and not do the same. If she does, he promises he'll marry her... eventually. Plus falsetto. I hate this song.

Nancy Sinatra – “These Boots Were Made For Walkin'” -- February 26, 1966

And this song is a good answer to it. Lyrically, it's the pinnacle of what a country song can do. "You keep thinking that you'll never get burned/ Ha!/ I just found me a brand new box of matches/ And what he knows you ain't had time to learn." The narrator's cheating scumbag whom she's in the process of dumping is so low, she's not even bothering to get angry with him. She's got a new, far hotter guy anyway. Musically, the instruments are themselves a Greek chorus making fun of the guy and heralding the singer's triumph. Love love love it.

Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler – “The Ballad Of The Green Berets” -- March 5, 1966

More machismo, but of the lawful rather than chaotic variety this time. This must have made a lot of people very angry at the time, but it also must have felt triumphant to a lot of others. "Fearless men who jump and die" -- that's not good! It's The Old Lie! A man dies because apparently that's just what Green Berets do, and his last request is that his son be a Green Beret too. For what? The song doesn't even say what they're fighting for! There's a line about dying for those oppressed, the same bullshit we've been fed for so long, but absolutely no details. Because it's a death cult. Oh, and the song is musically terrible too. This is horrific.

The Righteous Brothers – “(You’re My) Soul And Inspiration” -- April 9, 1966

It's another heartbreak song from The Righteous Brothers. She wants to leave, but she's his "soul and inspiration." I would like it better if it weren't a heartbreak song. It doesn't have to be. The chorus would go perfectly well with a song about how happy they are together. Meh.

The Young Rascals – “Good Lovin'” -- April 30, 1966

He says his doctor has prescribed "good lovin'". He's got the fever, you've got the cure. This could easily be creepy. It's not, because it's so fun. It's a seduction song where the seducer is trying to make his target laugh, which is the right tactic if you're light about it. Fun, good song.

The Mamas And The Papas – “Monday, Monday” -- May 7, 1966

John Philips was one of the worst people in pop music, and that's saying something. The Mamas and the Papas were a good group musically, though. This song is about how Mondays typically suck, but the narrator is happy because this Monday morning, his girlfriend is still here. And then Monday evening, she's left. He doesn't sound too upset. I find this song repetitive and boring.

Percy Sledge – “When A Man Loves A Woman” -- May 28, 1966

I don't like this song. Sledge's version is obviously better than Michael Bolton's, but the problem is the lyrics. The song doesn't say so directly, but the implication is that a man should never fall in love with a woman because she'll bring him nothing but pain. Nope.

The Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black” -- June 11, 1966

The song is about depression, specifically the depression coming from the sudden death of one's romantic partner. Which makes it a love song, in a way. It's rock, and it goes hard, and it's more achingly sad than thousands of schmaltzy songs about the same thing. It makes me cry every time. Amazing, heartbreaking song.

The Beatles – “Paperback Writer” -- June 25, 1966

This became a #1? It's mean and petty. Someone who has made it as thoroughly as it is possible to make it should not be scoffing at the little people trying to claw their way up. Musically it even sounds kinda half-assed, for the Beatles. Very much a lesser Beatles song.

Frank Sinatra – “Strangers In The Night” -- July 2, 1966

He and some woman were strangers in the night, but fell in love at first sight and became lovers, and are still together. I love the song. Sinatra was getting older, and that comes through -- his voice doesn't have the modulation and delicacy it did when he was younger. At the same time, that age gives the song a lot of heft and truth. "And ever since that night/ We've been together/ Lovers at first sight/ In love forever/ It turned out so right."

Tommy James And The Shondells – “Hanky Panky” -- July 16, 1966

His girlfriend fucks. And he shouts this fact to us over and over and over and over and... okay, look. I understand being thrilled with your first relationship in which you get sex. A lot of sex. A looooot of sex. But it's generally much more interesting to the people doing it than the people being told about it. Dull.

The Troggs – “Wild Thing” -- July 30, 1966

I don't understand anyone who doesn't start dancing, even just in their chair, when this song comes on. It's a rocking love n'sex jam with an ocarina in it. There is nothing not to love.

The Lovin’ Spoonful – “Summer In The City” -- August 13, 1966

This song comes down to: It's hot in the city during the day, but cooler at night, plus you can pick up chicks at night. The lyrics are a big nothing, but the music is great. Somehow the song got associated with the various protest movements happening at the time. Is that gonna happen with W.A.P.?

Donovan – “Sunshine Superman” -- September 3, 1966

It just occurred to me that R.E.M. may have been inspired to write "Superman" by this song. It's the same basic premise, except that unlike R.E.M., Donovan doesn't realize he's being egotistical to the point of being scary by saying he will use every trick in the book to get this girl. Well okay, "Donovan" and "scary" are tough to put in the same sentence. The song is musically great. Think about the lyrics for a minute, and they're disturbing. I don't really know what to do with this.

The Supremes – “You Can’t Hurry Love” -- September 10, 1966

"Love don't come easy/ It's a game of give and take." Yep. And if you do try to hurry it, you're likely to end up with one of the jerks from the first few Supremes hits. Normally I would say to avoid getting advice from pop songs, but I'll make an exception for "You Can't Hurry Love." This is a welcome evolution, and an excellent song.

The Association – “Cherish” -- September 24, 1966

Glurge. Such glurge, I thought this was a 70s song before now. I actually cannot listen to the whole song. The music hurts me somehow. So I read the lyrics to see what they are, and blurgh. It's about how he can't figure out how to say he wants her and none of the other guys really care for her and that's it I'm done. Atrociously bad.

The Four Tops – “Reach Out I’ll Be There” -- October 15, 1966

A phenomenal song. You need a hand to hold. Yes, you. And The Four Tops will be there for you. Huge numbers of pop songs -- a plurality, at least -- are sung to "you." But this one feels like it really is. Levi Stubbs is going to be there for you. And this song has been there for me throughout my life.

? And The Mysterians – “96 Tears” -- October 29, 1966

So, this guy renamed himself ?. I would expect a song that involved someone named ? to be much odder. Maybe it was at the time, though the organ sounds mostly like Baby Elephant Walk (though not as good.) ? speak-sings that he's gonna get the person who dumped him back, and then he's going to dump them, and they'll cry 96 tears. That is odd, admittedly. Why 96? That doesn't sound like very many. One good cry would probably do it. The organ is the most interesting thing about the song, which is sadly not nearly weird enough for the band's name.

The Monkees – “Last Train To Clarksville” -- November 5, 1966

One of my friends was a huge Monkees fan when we were teenagers. She was born in 1977. The Monkees were on Nick at Nite (I think), so I did see a few episodes. She watched them religiously. She insisted their music was great, and I was like... really? Sadly, I was snobbish about it, and entirely because the show was so doofy. Their music really was pretty damn good. Though this song sounds like the younger brothers of The Beatles trying to copy them. Still, they did a pretty good job of it.

Johnny Rivers – “Poor Side Of Town” -- November 12, 1966

The narrator's girl left him to be with a rich guy. The rich guy discarded her, so now she's back on the poor side of town. The narrator rubs it into her face for a verse and a half, but then he says that to him she's "the greatest thing", and he doesn't blame her for trying. By the end of the song, he says he and the girl will be able to make it together. The lyrics are good. Unfortunately, the music and singing are dull. Someone should take these lyrics and make a much better song out of them.

The Supremes – “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” -- November 19, 1966

For once, Diana Ross gets to be appropriately angry at a jerk. By the end of the song, she's commanding him to get out of her life. I have been where she is in this song, and it ties you up in knots. It deserves more of a full opera than a high-energy dance song. But this song is still great.

The New Vaudeville Band – “Winchester Cathedral” -- December 3, 1966

This is a British music hall song. Whether you like it will depend on whether you like that very singular genre. I do, in small doses. If it had been a #1 hit at any time when I was listening to radio, I'd have hated it. I can only identify "Winchester Cathedral" out of the lyrics, and the rest don't matter anyway. The song is fun and annoying in equal measure, and hearing it once every five years or so sounds about right.

The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations” -- December 10, 1966

This is my favorite Beach Boys song. Musically, it's astonishing. It's the song that persuaded me of the "Brian Wilson is a genius" stuff I kept hearing. It also has much better lyrics than most Beach Boys songs, as they are like the lyrics of a typical pop song. Except with a lot more "om bop bop" and the word "excitations." It sounds like it's going to have a slow, soft fade-out, and then the main chorus comes roaring back. One of the great pop songs.

The Monkees – “I’m A Believer” -- December 31, 1966

I think this is the best Monkees song. He didn't believe in love, then he "saw her face", now he's a believer. Has he even talked to her? Doubtful. That's okay, it's not meant to be anything but a cheery pop song. The beginning guitar does sound sort of like George Harrison, but the rest of the song is a bit more distant from the Beatles than "Last Train to Clarksville." They sound like a confident, real pop group, though they weren't allowed to play the instruments on it, which most of them were not happy about. They still ended up participating in a memorable song.

BEST OF 1966: This one is hard. I was tempted to make it a tie between about a half dozen songs. I think I have to give it to "Paint it Black" though. Maybe. Then again, "I'll Be There" is a heartlifting titan. And "You Can't Hurry Love" is timeless and something more people need to hear. And "Good Vibrations" is a musical triumph. Then there's "The Sound of Silence." And... discuss amongst yourselves. WORST OF 1966: No question. "Ballad of the Green Berets." Nothing in any year is worse.

#billboard number ones

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fanficimagery · 5 years

Text

Imagine celebrating New Year's Eve with the Pack and someone makes their feelings known for you when they realize you're unattached.

Peter X Reader

Arms full of supplies for the New Year's Eve gathering you and the Pack are having at Derek's, you enter the loft with a skip in your step.

"Feliz Navid, bitches. Momma's back." Several heads snap in your direction- each and every one of them yelling back a greeting in response. From his spot perched on a metal table, you grin at Isaac. "Hey, Lahey. Be a sweetheart and go grab everyone's gifts from the trunk of my car?" He hops off the table and you toss him your keys. "Thanks, puppy."

He ducks his head as he passes you and Lydia chuckles as she makes her way towards you. "Are you ever going to stop calling him puppy?" She asks while briefly hugging you.

"Never. He might be a vicious werewolf when the occasion calls for it, but other than that he's perfectly docile and adorable."

She rolls her eyes, but the corner of her lips twitch. "Whatever you say." You hum back and then she eyes the small ice chests you're carrying in each hand. "What's in those?"

Smirking, you hold up the red ice chest at eye level. "In the red we have jello shots for the weres and in the blue," you say as you hold up the other one, "are jello shots for the humans."

"Did you say jello shots?" Stiles comes up, eyes sparkling as he takes hold of the blue ice chest and holds it to his chest as if it's something precious. "Last time you made jello shots we got into a lot of trouble. Are you sure the boyfriend is okay with this?"

Your heart practically skips a beat at the mention of a boyfriend, and you slightly narrow your eyes at Derek who raises an eyebrow in response. "The boyfriend can't be mad if there is no boyfriend," you mumble. Lydia and Stiles' smiles falter, and you roll your eyes. "Relax. I'm the one who broke it off. I'm good."

"Well in that case, darling, let me go ahead and take these and put them in the fridge." Peter comes up from behind you and takes the ice chest from you before taking the other from Stiles. As he passes you, he winks and you chuckle as he heads for the kitchen.

Stiles grumbles and follows after the werewolf, and Lydia sidles up to your side. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm perfectly happy with my decision."

"Good. He was a slob anyway. You could do so much better." You snort and nudge her with your shoulder. "I'm serious," she muses quietly. "And now that everyone here knows you're single, Peter will not leave you alone tonight."

You groan. "Not this again. Peter is.. Peter. You're reaching, Lyds."

"I'm really not, but if you wish to remain oblivious then please be my guest."

"Thank you."

Isaac soon returns with Scott and Malia in tow.

"Who gets what?" Isaac asks.

"Lydia and Malia get the rum-filled chocolates, plus the gift cards to Starbucks."

Malia's eyes subtly widen. "You got me something?"

"Duh. You're Pack, silly."

Malia, the one member of the Pack who rarely let her guard down even after you were let in on the big secret, flashes you a small grin. Lydia passes her, her gifts and she eagerly opens the box of chocolates to snack on.

"Peter and Derek get the bourbon bottles, plus the big wrapped rectangles. And you, Scott, and Stiles get the rest of the bourbon bottles, plus the rest of the gift cards to Starbucks as well. Enjoy!"

Seeing as Isaac had passed Derek the two large wrapped gifts, plus two bags that hold a bottle of bourbon each, you excuse yourself from everyone as you follow after Derek who has gone to seek his Uncle. "Hey, Hale, wait up." He waits for you and smiles when you sidle up to his side. "I, uh, I kind of want to be there when you and Peter open your gifts. They're kind of.. personal and I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. I mean, to me it would seem like a good thing, but you never know."

"Y/N?" Derek muses, smirking. "You're babbling."

"I'm sorry. I'm just.. really excited. I hope you like your gifts."

In the kitchen, Peter is leaning against the counter with two empty jello containers beside him and a smug smile plastered across his face. "I haven't gotten a gift in a long while. I'm pleased you thought of me."

"Well with the way you wear those v-necks it's kind of hard not to think of you," you mumble. Derek snorts and you tense, red blossoming across your cheekbones. Glancing at the younger werewolf, you elbow him. "Just shut up and give Peter his gift so you can open them together."

Derek does as he's told before setting their liquor aside and together they rip the wrapping paper off the front. You hold your breath as the two Hale's blink down at the portraits in hand and your heart starts to pick up speed the longer they remain quiet.

But when Derek meets your gaze and you see the tears swimming there, and the faint smile curling his lips, you sigh in relief. "Where did you find this picture?"

You shrug. "As you know, I flew across country to spend Christmas with my grandparents. Apparently before they moved, they were really good friends with your grandparents. Nana was going down memory lane and I found that picture of your family in a box. Immediately I had it taken to the store and blown up so you could hang it somewhere or whatever."

"I remember this day," Peter suddenly murmurs. "We were celebrating Laura's eighth birthday and since we can't look at a camera head on, your Nana went around snapping candids so our eyes wouldn't flare." He finally glances up and your throat tightens up as you witness the once psychotic werewolf with a teary gaze of his own. "Thank you."

"It was no problem."

Derek's the first to move, he wrapping you in a one-armed hug as he kisses your temple. "Really, thank you. You don't know how much this means to me. I don't have any photos of them."

Your bottom lip trembles as you glance up at him. "You're welcome, Der. Now go hang it somewhere before you make me cry." He chuckles deeply before leaving and before you can even exhale, Peter's embracing you tightly. Barely managing to move your arms, you wrap your arms around his waist. "Seriously, you guys are going to make me cry," you chuckle wetly.

Peter's chest rumbles and you inhale sharply as he rubs his cheek to the opposite temple that Derek hadn't touched. The Hales.. they're scent marking you. "You truly have no idea how much this means to us, do you?"

"Uhh.. umm," you gulp. "I might have an idea."

Peter chuckles as he pulls away, he smiling softly down at you. "You truly are a magnificent woman."

Your eyes widen since your tongue seems to fail you, and his smile transforms into a smirk the longer you remain quiet.

"Ahem. I'm not interrupting, am I?"

Glancing towards the kitchen door, Lydia is smiling far too innocently.

"Not at all, Miss Martin. I was merely thanking Y/N for her gift." Peter gently caresses your jawline with his fingers before he really steps away, he then grabbing his portrait and leaving the room.

"He totally wants to bone you."

"Lydia!"

"I second that," Stiles says, leaning around the corner. "And if his gift is the same as Derek's, he's going to wanna bone you ten times worse. Or woo you. Either or, you're in for some major wolfy hanky-panky courtesy of Peter Hale."

You groan as Lydia chokes on a laugh. "I hate you both. Go away."

"Whatever you say, Y/N," Lydia teases you. "But don't act so shocked when Peter steals a kiss at midnight and you wind up in his bed."

Stiles snickers as you stomp passed them, exiting the kitchen. "Scott!" You bellow. "Lydia and Stiles are being assholes."

But instead of Scott taking your side, you find him sheepishly smiling. "Well, they're not wrong. Have you really not noticed how much nicer he is to you?” You start to glare at the Alpha, but only end up gaping as he continues talking. “Why do you think you two are always paired up? He's much more agreeable when you're around."

"I- but- what?" Scott nervously chuckles and you exhale loudly. "Not you too! That's it. I'm going to stick to Malia's side. At lease I won't have to hear about boning from her." As you glance at Malia, the girl in question raises an eyebrow in response. But when she goes to retort, you point at her threateningly. "Not a word, Tate. Not. A. Word."

The pack all laugh as you plop down in a vacated sofa chair, you then making yourself as small as possible when Peter returns to the room. With the clothing he wears and how it shows off every rippling muscle on his werewolf body, you know you're completely fucked. Especially when he steals a glance at you as he sits across the room, his gaze darting up and down as his expression turns thoughtful. You shift in your seat and he slowly smirks.

Yep. Utterly and totally fucked.

Despite all the alcohol floating around, you only partake in a few jello shots and nurse a couple of mixed drinks. The party is later taken to the rooftop and you immediately make a beeline to the small portable chimney that has a lit fire on the inside for the humans to keep warm.

You watch as Stiles and Isaac duel with Roman Candles, ducking out of the way every now and then when they flail with the fireworks still in hand. Malia and Scott soon pair off, followed by Lydia and Deputy Parrish when he finally arrives. Derek eventually focuses on keeping an eye on Stiles and Isaac to make sure neither of them fall off the roof, and you remain huddled by the fire.

Someone sits next to you and you immediately cuddle into the warm body when their arm is wrapped around your shoulders. "Whatcha up to, Peter? Not having fun with the other puppies?"

"I'm right where I want to be."

"Mmm. Is that so?"

"Yes." Peter smirks as he keeps his eyes on the dancing fire and you huff in response. "I didn't say it earlier," he then murmurs, "but I am sorry about the failure of your relationship."

Snorting, you shake your head where it lays on his shoulder. "No you're not. Everyone hated James. Especially you. You'd taken to snarling when he did something you didn't particularly care for."

"Well he was a bum, darling. You worked your pretty little ass off to make ends meet and what did James do? He sat on your couch and played video games."

"And that's the exact reason why we broke up a couple weeks ago."

"Weeks?"

"Mhm. It was pretty ugly," you admit. "I'm surprised Stiles didn't find out and tell the pack since I had to call in the Sheriff."

Peter growls. "Did he hurt you?"

"No. He just shouted and threatened, and then tried to make off with items that didn't belong to him. Stilinski set him straight and kicked him out of my apartment for me. I was kind of embarrassed about it all, but I got over it. I just needed to find my groove again."

"And now you're here getting trashed with the puppies."

Chuckling, you nudge Peter. "Am not. I'm totally in control of all my.. whatever. I'm just cold and sleepy and waiting until we can all go inside. I totally plan on bribing you out of the guest bedroom so I have some place to sleep tonight."

"Sweetheart, if you want to share my bed-"

"No."

You and Peter both laugh at the quickness of your answer, and soon enough the both of you then fall quiet. The Pack rowdily start a countdown and Peter pulls you up as he leads you over to the ledge of the building. Stiles and Scott are a little too cheerful with their countdown, and you smile as Malia manhandles her boyfriend into paying attention to her when they near one.

Fireworks sound off in the distance as midnight strikes, the sky lighting up in various colors and sparkles. Closing your eyes, you inhale and then exhale deeply as the year starts anew.

"Y/N?"

"Hmm.." You glance up at Peter and your breath catches when you see the heat in his eyes as he stares at you.

"Happy New Year."

"Happy-" The rest of your words are cut off as Peter presses his lips to yours. Momentarily frozen, you're then brought out of your stupor when his hands gently cradle your face.

Despite the hardness of Peter's body and his reputation within the Pack, he's gentle with you. Your eyes then close as you finally return his kiss, your fingers hooking into the belt loops of his jeans as you lose yourself in him when he boldly deepens the kiss.

"I KNEW IT!"

You jerk back in surprise just as you had taken Peter's bottom lip between your teeth and he growls as his own tongue soothes the sting you’d left behind. But knowing Peter, the growl is more for the interruption rather than the maybe painful nip.

"..what?" You mumble, glancing around until your attention lands on the one person paying you any attention.

"I told you Peter had a thing for you and you didn't believe me," Lydia muses.

Sighing, you roll your eyes. But before you can blurt some excuse, the knowing look in Lydia's eyes and the way Peter is practically purring has you realizing the truth. Utterly and totally fucked indeed.

"Well?" Lydia then grins. "Are you going to keep denying it?"

"Nah. I rather spend my time riding this werewolf's dick than making excuses and sleeping alone." You bluntly state while gesturing to Peter.

Lydia cackles and Peter somehow ends up behind you, his hands gripping your hips as he tugs you back into his body. With his mouth near your ear, you shiver as he says, "Promises, promises."

And feeling more bold than you have had ever felt in your life, you press back into his groin while smugly grinning over your shoulder. "What do you say we start off this new year with a bang, Hale?"

"I'd say it's about damn time. Lets get out of here."

HAPPY NEW YEAR, GUYS!

#fanficimagery #peter hale #peter hale x reader #peter hale imagine #teen wolf imagine #lydia martin #stiles stilinski #derek hale #scott mccall #isaac lahey #malia tate #imagine

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whimsically-ominously-auspice · 5 years

Text

Uncle Donald gave her $800 in the 1980s

She let him invest it for her up until now

And she has now $45B

I hope you enjoyed your game as there are more to come but with more people as it enters TV for free of course on Channel Fox.

As always enjoy life and what it brings with the most care you can afford.

Don't let the economy, crumble, Uncle Donald, i hit up JP for some cash since Jesse stole mine from United Business Bank located in Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico.

I own Chase, bought it with Donald and sold to the US Government for a mint. Jesse could got in on this deal but he wanted to challenge me instead.

So I asked Uncle Donald for a cash loan, how much he could afford and what was in his wallet. $4000 roughly. So we split it between his 4 kids (the 4th being me) and I gave him back $200 for the rest of the day.

And we returned to the bank and I asked him how to deposit the money into Chase Manhattan because Denise had bought me clothes but I wanted to be a fashion designer and had altered them So she threw them all away in a rage of jealousy and heat.

Of course i started to cry so we went back across the street to McDonald's and we talked. He said "i have a surprise for you, lets get to the bank"

So we walked alllllll around the building, up and down and he talked to a man and got us inside all the back rooms. He said "i wanna buy it!" And he turned to me and asked "would you like to invest your $800 into my bank as an investor?"

I said "what about my clothes! She said i had to return the money or else i get none!"

"But who did she spend the money on?"

"Me and my brothers and and her!"

"Well don't you think Its time to invest in you and your fashion?" He asked for my $800 i had to pull from 4 different pockets and my sock as he taught me to split to beat pick pocketers. And handed it all. He handed me back $200 and I handed it back then he handed me a $5 from his breast pocket and t told me to keep it.

And began to walk to the counter to buy the bank.

I chased after him and put it in his left cost pocket and told him, 'well you know you bought me lunch so you keep it"

I pulled it from his pocket to produce proof I had already given it and he couldn't give it back and then stuffed it back in deep, all the way i nearly ripped his shoulder off for which I promptly apologized, jumped on the counter and rubbed his soreness off and jumped down.

And he started to cry a little bashful at first then a full sob. And I tried to console him and Robby appeared with a trailing line of toilet paper so his silk hanky wouldn't be soiled with snot.

He thanked him and became startled and asked if he wanted in on the investment.

Robby said, "i might but i need to talk to you, I belong to this boarding school ran by this might be soon white bigger as he calls himself, inspired by her and taken completely out of context"

"Michael Jackson" interjected our new found Uncle Donald. "Come let's sit"

We moved to the side of the spacious lobby to a small table accompanied by two plus club chairs.

He and i talked about how neat it would be to have chaise chairs in Chase bank.

"Well, her mom is abusive, mostly about money so i would like to take control of her stock with her permission"

"Yes! I do! And i will wanna get married!" I jumped with my fist in the air and pushed against the chair like a standing push up and stood

....

"Her sit. First I would like to talk to you as an investor. I am run by the boarding house and they teach us things like to steal and bring back to get 'rewards' much often things less than they are worth like a stick of gum for $2 when I can get a whole pack for 20 cents. Uh oh, here he comes"

"Im about to invest into this bank with these two kids you got something you wanna say to me?" Instead of waiting for a reply, uncle Donald got up and briskly walked to the counter, asking to return to a different room, promptly and away from Mr Jackson whom was still solidly black (he doesn't have vitaligo its just bleached).

And we entered a nearly empty office and he turned fiercely, angry even, "this will be your office where you will WORK"

...

"Its okay! We are still friends!" I climbed into the chair then up onto the desk "this is where I will sit"

"Well close your legs and sit like a lady, like this hand me your foot, no don't take off your shoe"

"Well I didn't want to ruin you! Your suit is NICE!!"

And he moved my foot and crossed my ankles and patted my knee and said "or you cross at here"

I took my ankle to my knee "no not like that, that's like a man. Knee to knee"

"Oh like this?" I squeezed my knees together

Robby laughed and Uncle Donald looked flustered

"Oh i know I know cross at my knees, you need to explain better!" I patted his shoulder. In the 80s it was okay to touch, at least for a child.

"I said that first!"

"Oh! I interrupt!"

"No apologize" Robby groaned

"I apologize for interrupting"

"For?" Asked Donald "you can't tell her that Because ---"

"No he could I get misinformation that way"

"Except when I'm being scolded and she knows the truth" said Robby.

Tune in next week for another Miss Adventure of one Wild Single Mom's Childhood!

I had 48 cents. Robby had put in 2500 front Hayes then 1500 each from Mark and Mike Andrews which he had not signed and they got rejected. Yet Jesse notified me of this, restricted my remote deposit privileges and now i am to notify the Sheriff of Hays County, Austin, Texas that the money is kept hidden in the tax and revenue accounts of his great county. And to open an investigation which he will pretend he did and then not. So i get his hush money as well as the other two and the $15B JP Dejoria stupidly just paid me because i Told Jesse to tell his father in law that Jesse is a stupid piece of shit which he didn't.

And of course I will invest in schools across the nation, installing playgrounds at any schools that do not have them, including intermediate, Jr high, middle, High and etc.. And may be finally lockers at least were I'm centrally located and/or where i want to be, namely at high schools at least.

Because that is what I want to do. Make people happy in the funniest ways possible.

And if there is any left I want to reinvest at the parks i originally invested in, initially, to make them better snd brighter, starting at the older to the newer.

I want the world to seem happier and brighter and in the case of schools at least around here once they hit 7th grade (middle school) they change schools to those that no longer have lockers or desks to put things in, 7 or more teachers to please instead of one or two they spend all day with, like a parent who gives love and kindness and retribution, they go through puberty which in itself is a chore. Then the kids riot. I've seen it in small schools and i know it happens in big ones. 20 in one week at the beginning of school less than a mile from my house where i can hear the school bell.

And so they need a place to sleep their weary heads like the shoulder of an old friend instead of weeping a soul they can no longer call their own.

The secrets i have included here broke my heart to where it actually stopped over and over.

Instead of asking what was wrong, Mr Moneybags Jesse sent me to the doctor alone. -.-

He could have provided me with what i needed like I provided and protected him from Ms Dejoria and Mark Hindberg, Afghanistan and Iraq, which I will no longer do.

He is the one that encouraged Michael Jackson to pickpocket the slaves he had created.

Yes Michael Jackson is Wacko, is Him and is burning in Hell because I killed him with my own pistol Jesse had stolen from a cop, altered and resold to himself at a cheaper price than the way over inflated price he created to create a deficit in his company to receive a refund from the US government's IRS Department in the amount of $8,000 instead of paying the $1M he owed.

I plead guilty before a judge and Uncle Donald, Mrs Katherine Jackson, the Anne my 4 year old daughter that Michael Jackson attempted to rape in front of me, as well as Robby, my true love and of course Sunny and Jesse James himself whom gave me the gun.

Then, before then President Barack Obama, i was exonerated and pardoned completely without the possibility of parole or any other misconceptions that would be included with self defense manslaughter.

This week total I have arrested a total of 19 men and women thanks to the CIA as an unpaid civilian.

That would guarantee me Presidentship of one really great country, now, wouldn't it?

Thanks. And not to be repeated: No more games. Only truth.

Until next time my fair weather friends!

Now! Let's grab the bookie!!! Snag! You're in jail. What did ya know, Mike Andrews, I knew all along that Mark Hindberg was FBI. Why didn't you think that?

Moving along, hi JP. How are you? No one cares. Good thing you trusted into your rapist daughter who was married to a true hero whom puts up with my shit even after we name him Mr Vomit cause I make him so scared he actually vomits like I did tonight (that's included. No more scare, only truth)

Oh yes, JP, you have already been arrested and so you know -- you have no guns with you, right? Alexis Dejoria is no rapist, she's actually an excellent FBI agent whom hates her dad and is included in any exonerations I may have to hand out butbat my leisurely pace, because she actually didn't rape anybody!

Also the US government will pay your wages as you did file a lawsuit this very week by signing up with Namus.gov like we all did.

She like me, was an unpaid civilian whom ran into luck. While she's smart, she's not smart like me. Thus she's the FBI vs me who is CIA and can work against the world in a millisecond as i usually do and have in Afghanistan and Iraq where i protected many NHRA members during their tours in the US Military while they served with Jesse James and my little brother and were even kidnapped thanks to Matt Hagan's temper tantrum and Jesse James refusal to listen to command. Eventually I saved them from that too in a day and 6 hours after leaving base. They were involuntary bound and gagged and beaten within 20 minutes of their capture. Within the next 20 when I was finally told of their status they were rescued by Tony Schumacher and his team.

And now i have saved the NHRA from being beaten and raped and tortured. My time to continue here at home is not wasted,

I love you all and thank you very much for listening...

And now i have something to say about Jesse since i made him puke from a lie via email Because he made me mad for being a Dick douchebag and not caring enough about me, not wrecking his motorcycle and then lying to make me feel bad and stupider than ever although I saw the wreck and my being a girl, up and President running, couldn't stop to rescue or assist a man on his feet whom had already picked up his bike after a wipe out and the trailer passed me up to show me he would assist because forgive those trespassers as we trespass ourselves and i care that he could really been hurt. That may be a fault of mine but it is called Grace and not salvation which is being my daughter reincarnated into a goat in Iraq to keep everyone safe because Jesse is a dumb dumb sometimes and Matt Hagan prefers truth over himself, sometimes. Like being in love with a goat of my daughter's soul, in Iraq. (I bet he fucked her, too. Bestiality freak. Not my business tho, nor yours. But still, let's laugh instead of poking fun at his misadventures. It is funny, yo!)

Jesse cared about the goat so much he listened to her over every one, even me. Because he believed she was closer to God where he needed to be..

I changed his life once in Alabama and several times then, over and over, any time that need be.

But finally for this one time he trusted somebody else and learned to love as much as he could, the soul inside of him.

So God bless to all of the two headed creatures we will see wandering around the backs of people at the NHRA in the future to come. Including even on me.

I'm Mrs Cougar cause of my fingernails and my desire to be with someone young to keep me fresh and Alive -- not by his blood byt by the life he gives me. And he will be Mr Snake the one who slithers up beside me only for love while I labor in the grass kicking myself for what i might have done but not for what i might have missed out on because I was there the whole time thinking and feeling and frolicking through the grass, same as me.

And of course my tattoo will be scary cause the world as I know it, very much can be.

And you can thank me for the past or you can think about the future and beyond!!!

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ofools · 5 years

Text

wip

yeet yeet. Because I’m feeling quite bad tonight, I thought I’d share something I wrote for book 2 a very long time ago that I reread to make myself feel a little better.

I also just like sharing it bc i think its cute. Under a readmore bc long.

The hours passed, and Anna sat cross legged in silence, running over what she needed to do for the hearing. The sun set outside, and meals were shared, and soon, the conversation wound down and Freyr, Freyja and Thor eventually got to their feet and left for the night. Loki held back, hovering by the door and watching Anna unroll her sleeping sack.

“So you’ll be hearing cases all day?” Anna asked, glancing up at him.

He nodded, and sighed. “Aye, I agreed to be a judge so I have to play the part.”

“What do I do?” She spread her old sleeping sack neatly, and pulled the wool blanket on over the top.

“Whatever you need, and whatever doesn’t land you in hot water, whether that’s staying put or sitting in the public area to listen to the hearings,” Loki said, quietly. “I’ll leave it up to you.”

Anna paused, and looked up again. Her throat tightened, an unnamed emotion clawing its way out from deep within her chest and seeking to pry her mouth apart. Stupid, stupid, stupid! You always cry! Whenever it’s too hard or your fault you just break down and cry—

Loki sat beside her with a grunt, and she felt the creak of his knees in hers. She gulped, swallowing down the knot in her neck and kept her lip stiff. “Don’t clench your jaw so tightly, it’ll just make it ache tomorrow,” Loki said, his voice low, and mouth taking on a softer shape. “You already grind your teeth in your sleep, no need to do it when you’re awake too.”

Anna laughed weakly, and busied herself with picking the dirt out from under her nails. “I was hoping you wouldn’t pick that up,” she said.

“Oh, just like a lot of things, I’m sure,” he replied, tucking his knees under himself and crossing his legs with another sharp grunt. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a worn hankie, offering it to her without a word.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Anna asked, still forcing a smile, eyes moist. “It’ll be all gross.”

“I’m not lending it to you, you’re meant to keep it, you little snorvalp.”

“‘Snot puppy’?” Anna laughed, wiping her face.

“Aye, that’s right. Now, just take this; consider it a placeholder birthday present until I think of a better one.” The corners of his mouth curled in a smile, and he winked at her. “Go on; wouldn’t be first I’ve lost to you.”

She smiled, but it flickered. Anna sniffed, rubbing her eye roughly, her cheeks and nose starting to grow blotchy. “Sorry, sorry. I hate being like this. It’s stupid, I don’t mean it.”

Loki sucked a breath in between his teeth. “Oh, aye, that’s a little harsh now, there’s no need for that,” he said, gently. “You’ve been through a lot over the past few days, and the past few weeks—or months really, actually.”

She shrugged off the comment, wiping her nose and scrunching the kerchief between her hands. Outside, the chatter of the camp drifted in through the tent, the sun long set, the torches lit and flickering. “Are they mad?” Anna blurted.

Loki blinked, taken aback. “Don’t be daft,” he snorted. “We’ve all done far worse than you. If you’d been mine to raise you would have probably done this years ago, a dozen times or more! You have a lot of catching up to do on the mistake front.”

The canvas trembled in the wind, gusts howling between the tents. Anna repositioned herself, legs aching. “Everyone keeps asking me if I’m alright, and I keep saying I am, but I’m really not,” she admitted.

“You are really peeling back the veil now. What other secrets will you reveal to the world?”

“Is it obvious?” She asked, with a teary laugh.

He tilted his head with a small, knowing smile, and leaned into her shoulder, saying, “it’s certainly not subtle.”

“Shit—I mean, damn it. Sorry.”

“Oh, piss off! What the hell are you apologising for? Ash all-fucking-mighty, Anna, of all the things you think I’d take offense to, you think saying ‘shit’ would really bother me? Come now, you don’t know me at all.” Anna gave a spluttering laugh, cheeks aching, and Loki’s arm draped around her shoulders, his hand settling on her firmly. “You’re not alright, aye, but it’s alright to not be alright.”

He stayed, far longer than Anna thought he would. He talked about runes, quoted old sagas, how to differentiate between mushrooms, any topic that seemed to crop up. Anna settled, kerchief crumpled in hand, nodding and listening to him, occasionally offering up her own thoughts or limited knowledge, all dredged up from previous conversations. She didn’t really feel like talking much, but he picked up on it, and that she also didn’t want to be alone.

Finally, quietly, she announced, “I’m ok now.”

Loki nodded, frowning into space before asking, “are you sure about that? Because I am just getting started on the biological and chemical differences between bogs and fens.”

Outside, talk had died down, and the canvas flapped in the breeze, evening had fallen now, and the crowds thinning. She sucked in a breath and nodded again, managing a smile. “Yeah, yeah. I’m tired.”

“You should think about eating something,” Loki said, arm still firmly around her, her shoulders numb from the weight.

“I’ll get something soon,” Anna shrugged.

“You’d better.” He got up, stiff limbed, and stretched, groaning, “I only chase you about eating because it’s important, not because I enjoy it.”

“I’m pretty sure you like telling people what to do,” Anna said with a wry grin.

He kicked her boot lightly, raising a threatening finger at her. “You’d best be careful or I’ll start getting ideas. Eat something, and I mean food, Anna, not just a roll.”

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ancientbooshartifacts · 5 years

Text

A Good Party

Author: IDeserveYou

Year: 2014

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Naboo/Saboo

‘It’s been a good party.’ ‘It’s been a good party.’ If one more pissed shaman says that to me tonight, I’m going to empty what’s left of my drink over his or her head. I force a smile; wave Tony Harrison goodnight as Kirk carries him out of the bar. Thank fuck, the others are finally heading off too. I thought I was going to have to stay up all night. A heavy hand is laid on my shoulder. ‘It’s been a good party.’ I resist the urge. Dennis is the exception. It is, after all, his party. ‘Thank you,’ I say mildly, my coolness somewhat spoilt by the fact that I then hiccup so hard I have to hold on to the counter rail. I knew that last cocktail of Kirk’s wasn’t a good idea. ‘No, thank you,’ the D-man says earnestly, ‘you did all the work organizing, I just had to turn up. Couldn’t have asked for a better stag.’ ‘It’s not over yet.’ I sigh. I’ve still got to survive a champagne breakfast tomorrow, a fishing trip and then a barbecue before we head home. Right now I’m not sure the fishing trip was such a good idea, but still... there must be someone here who knows a decent magic hangover cure. Dennis is looking thoughtfully out of the window, at the glittering wavelets on the moonlit sea. ‘Yes, a good party,’ he murmurs, ‘a good party...’ I get the feeling he’s lost the plot. A feeling one often gets when Dennis is in the room. My heart sinks. The last thing I need now is for him to start on one of his rambling conversations that go precisely nowhere and take hours to get there. Not for the first time, I wonder whether his wife-to-be really knows what she’s letting herself in for. ‘Are you turning in now?’ I ask, hoping he’ll take the hint and go to bed. ‘Yes,’ he says absently, ‘bedtime... Listen, will you do me one more favour before you go?’ ‘For you, D-man, anything.’ ‘So nice to have someone reliable on the team.’ Dennis is still staring vaguely out of the window. The silence lengthens; the sea whispers softly in the distance. I drain my glass; set it down on the bar. Dennis still says nothing. ‘So... what did you want me to do?’ I smother a yawn. ‘Everyone’s gone to bed happy. I could use some sleep before they all start drinking again.’ The Head Shaman sighs. ‘Not everyone.’ ‘Sorry, Den, you’ve lost me there.’ He gestures at the deserted beach. ‘Not everyone.’ I join him at the window, and look where he is pointing. A small figure is sitting forlornly on one of the abandoned sunbeds. It’s my turn to sigh. ‘Little plum. What’s his problem?’ And why the fuck, I wonder, should it be my problem? But I don’t say it. Dennis is the exception. ‘I don’t know, Saboo, I have absolutely no idea, but I do know that I’m too drunk to walk down the beach and find out, and what I’d like,’ Dennis says, more earnest than ever, ‘what I’d really like on my stag, is for everyone to go to bed happy. Or at the very least, not unhappy. Will you do that for me?’ My protest dies on my lips as he turns to me with that helpless, pleading look in his milky-blue eyes, the look I’ve never been able to resist, the look that’s led me to undertake all kinds of ridiculous shamanic tasks against my better judgement. ‘I’ll do my best,’ I say. ‘No promises, but –’ ‘That’s all I ask.’ He’s smiling now. ‘Oh, here, meant to give this to you earlier.’ ‘What is it?’ I take the small jar he’s holding out. ‘It’s from Methuselah’s new extreme skincare range. Extreme sun lotion. For extreme sunburn. I thought it might come in useful.’ ‘Er, thank you.’ I stick it in the pocket of my kimono. ‘Goodnight, Dennis.’ ‘Goodnight, Saboo. And good luck.’ I watch him weave across the bar and out of the door; wait a couple of minutes in case he falls over in the lobby, but there’s no crash or cry for help. Can’t put it off any longer. I grab the nearest full bottle from behind the bar and set off down the beach. *** Without his usual voluminous robes, stripped down to just a pair of leaf-patterned beach shorts, Naboo looks smaller and weedier than ever. ‘Fuck off,’ he snarls, as soon as I sit down on the sunbed beside him. ‘No.’ I take the lid off the bottle and take a hefty swig. This is going to be challenging to say the least. He doesn’t look round. I take another swig. ‘What’re you drinking?’ I peer at the label in the moonlight. ‘Bailey’s.’ ‘Out of the bottle? That’s disgustin’... Give it here, then.’ I pass it over, careful not to touch him. At least he’s not going to tell me it was a good party. ‘Where’s Bollo?’ he asks, after a while. I take the bottle back. ‘Crashed out under the decks in a pool of ape-sweat. Sleeping like a baby. Well, like a baby gorilla, anyway. He’s not going to be much use to you tonight.’ ‘Neither are you.’ ‘Well, that’s nice.’ I hand him the drink again. ‘You’re welcome.’ ‘You’re only here because Dennis sent you.’ ‘True. He doesn’t trust you not to wander off and fall in the sea or something.’ ‘I can’t swim.’ ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’ ‘Nothing. Everything. I don’t know...’ He puts the bottle down; scrubs angrily at his eyes. ‘Are you crying?’ ‘No.’ His shoulders heave. I pass him my handkerchief. ‘Naboo, this is pathetic, even for you. Get a grip. You’re on an expenses-paid trip to your home planet, on an awesomely well-organized and superbly alcoholic stag weekend with all of your best friends – and me – and you’re wasting perfectly good drinking time by being miserable. What is your problem?’ He waves a hand at the pale sand, the whispering sea, the South Cliffs gleaming in the moonlight. ‘OK, so you don’t like my choice of venue. But is that really worth crying over?’ He blows his nose; scrunches the handkerchief into a ball. ‘I can’t be here,’ he whispers. ‘What are you drivelling on about, you tit? You are here... No, I don’t want that back.’ He tucks the hankie into the waistband of his shorts, and seems to shrink into himself, if that were possible. I suppose I sounded a bit sharp. My head’s pounding, and I can’t see how on earth to carry out the task Dennis has set me, and I hate to see a shaman cry. Even this one. I reach out a hand and touch Naboo’s bare shoulder; he flinches away and cries out, burning hot skin brushing against my fingers. ‘You’ve fried yourself, you idiot.’ He catches his breath, and I try to soften my tone. ‘How did you manage that?’ ‘Fell asleep,’ he mutters. ‘Not surprised, you’d had a turban full of tequila.’ I feel a bit guilty about that; it was my reminder of the stag rules that led to Naboo taking that particular punishment. ‘Where is my turban?’ Naboo looks round as though expecting it to just reappear. ‘No idea, I expect someone’ll hand it in, if it hasn’t floated away. I’m not about to go off looking for it at this time of night.’ ‘Morning.’ ‘Whatever. Listen, Dennis gave me something that might help you.’ He looks suspiciously at the jar in my hand. ‘What is it?’ ‘Extreme sun lotion.’ ‘For extreme sunburn?’ ‘That’s what the big man said. There you go.’ He shakes his head and doesn’t take the cream from me. ‘Can’t.’ ‘What, you allergic to it or something?’ ‘No, I just – Oh, never mind, I’ll get Bollo to sort it when he wakes up. Cheers.’ ‘I could...’ I say, hoping he’ll either refuse or simply not get it. ‘Fanks.’ He turns away, staring out to sea. I sigh, and undo the lid of the jar. The cream is cool and slippery and has a faint sweet smell like vanilla; I smear it tentatively over Naboo’s back and shoulders, trying to use just my fingertips and not rub too hard, although to judge by his sharply indrawn breaths I’m not succeeding any too well. However, after I’ve been at work for a while the burning heat seems to grow less, and I can smooth my whole palm over his skin without him flinching. It seems Methuselah’s product is more than just window-dressing. ‘I’m not used to it,’ he says suddenly. ‘Not used to what? Having a personal slave put suncream on you?’ He shakes his head. ‘The sun. The suns... I’d forgotten how strong they are.’ ‘Don’t suppose you’ve built up much resistance, out there on that mudball you live on.’ ‘Chance’d be a fine thing.’ He sighs deeply. ‘Most of it hardly even ever gets warm. Fuckin’ useless planet.’ ‘You chose it.’ ‘Yeah, I know. Didn’t have much on, thought it would be as good as anythin’ else, bein’ the amulet-keeper, an’ it was OK for a bit but...’ ‘If you’re looking for sympathy, you’re looking in the wrong place.’ ‘’M not. Like anybody ever gets any sympathy from you about anythin’ anyway... I just... You did ask what my problem was. I get homesick sometimes, that’s all. Can’t come back here except for work, under the protection of the Board an’ all that ballcrap. An’ Earth winters are so cold... Ow.’ ‘Stay still, for fuck’s sake. I’m trying not to hurt you.’ ‘For once.’ I’m not sure whether he muttered that, or whether it was just in my head. I decide to ignore it. ‘You could move to the tropics.’ ‘S’pose I could. But there’s the shop – ’ I snort. ‘And those two losers you supposedly employ to run it. Big deal.’ ‘They’re my friends,’ he protests, ‘I can’t just leave them. They’re pretty much the only ones I’ve got.’ ‘You’ve got us. The Board. We work hard, we play hard...’ ‘Bullshit. None of you has ever really – ’ ‘Oh, change the fucking record.’ I snatch my hand away; screw the lid of the suncream closed and shove the jar back in my pocket. ‘I really don’t want to listen to any more of your self-pity.’ ‘Fine.’ He gets up; turns away, and wanders down the beach towards the pale line of the incoming tide. He looks very small, and very unhappy. And he can’t swim. Fuck it. Dennis, you owe me one for this. I haul myself to my feet, heave a sigh, and go after Naboo. He’s standing ankle-deep, head bowed, watching the waves break. They’re glowing: bright with the gleam and glitter of a myriad tiny noctilucent creatures swirling in the water, a rare event that has something to do with the conjunction of the two moons, though I’m not sure how it works exactly. ‘Phosphorescence,’ I say conversationally, as I step into the water beside him. ‘That’s easy for you to say,’ he lisps. ‘This is harder for me to say: I’m sorry.’ The waves come lapping in, clothing us with light. He’s knee-deep before he looks round at me. ‘’Pology accepted. Can’t stay mad at anyfink on a night like this.’ A bigger wave breaks. I hitch up my kimono; Naboo looks down at his wet shorts. ‘P’raps I shouldn’t stay in the sea, either. Did we finish the Baileys?’ ‘I think there’s a bit left.’ ‘I think we should finish it.’ ‘Come on, then.’ The next wave makes my shorts wet, too, and nearly knocks Naboo off his feet; I grab him by the wrist just in time. He grips my hand as the wave subsides; lets me lead him back up the beach to the sunbed. We finish the bottle in silence, and sit looking at the stars for a while, picking out the familiar constellations. The waves whisper in, closer and closer. ‘My feet’re cold,’ he says at length. ‘So are mine. Perhaps it’s time to call it a night.’ ‘Yeah, maybe.’ To my surprise, he takes my hand again as we go back to the hotel. I suppose we are both a little unsteady on our feet. Bollo is still snoring peacefully in the bar; we pull a rug over him and leave him to it. ‘Never wake a sleeping gorilla,’ Naboo whispers. ‘Howard taught me that, back at the zoo.’ The stairs are a challenge; the corridor seems to have got longer. I stop at the door of my room, fumble the key into the lock. ‘You’re three doors down, think you can get that far?’ He doesn’t answer, just looks at me. ‘Well,’ I hear myself say, ‘we could... that is, if you...’ He gives the smallest of nods. I open the door.

‘Nice room.’ Naboo looks at the double bed, and raises an eyebrow. ‘Thought you might get lucky, did you?’ I sigh ruefully. ‘Not really. But since this weekend was going to be more work than play for me, I thought I might as well be comfortable.’ He nods, then winces and puts a hand to his head. ‘You got any Resolve?’ ‘I’ve got everything. Bandages, painkillers, bolt cutters, fire extinguisher, you name the emergency and I’m ready for it. Have to be, organizing a party for you lot.’ ‘Just the Resolve,’ he says faintly, and sits down heavily in one corner of the sofa. I rummage in the first aid kit for what I need, fetch a glass and chilled water from the minibar, drop the tabs in and watch them fizz and bubble. ‘There you go.’ I hand Naboo the drink, and sit down at the other end of the sofa. ‘Cheers.’ He takes a cautious mouthful and puts the glass down on the coffee table; leans back on the cushions, then draws a harsh breath of pain and leans forward again. ‘You’re still burnt.’ I pull the jar of extreme suncream from my pocket. ‘I didn’t finish the job.’ ‘You got pissed off with me an’ stopped.’ ‘So I did.’ ‘You still pissed off with me?’ ‘If I were, do you think you’d be in my hotel room?’ I take the lid off the jar. ‘You’d better let me sort that out for you.’ He snorts. ‘You’ve had plenty of practice today.’ ‘If you’re referring to my putting suncream on Tony Harrison, it was an isolated incidence in my capacity as event organizer, and I didn’t enjoy it.’ ‘So you say... Tony did, though.’ ‘Harrison’s perversions are not my concern. The less I have to do with that pink cleft, the better. Now, lean forward and stay still.’ I carry on where I left off, smoothing the cream as gently as I can over Naboo’s suns-reddened back, wherever it’s hot to touch. If it weren’t scorched, his skin would be flawless: ivory-pale and silk-soft, so unlike the rubbery, moist top of Harrison’s head, which left my fingers (and, to be honest, most of the rest of me) feeling unclean, tainted by the alien’s shameless sexuality. I concentrate hard on the task in hand and try to rid my mind of all trace of Tony’s nasal voice and filthy comments. It’s blessedly quiet in here: just the faint sound of the sea through the open window, the distant hum of the hotel’s air conditioning, and Naboo’s soft, uneven breathing. ‘Well, that should about do it.’ I put the cream away, with some reluctance. ‘I’ve covered all the worst parts, you should be fine by the morning... Naboo?’ His shoulders shake. ‘You OK?’ No answer. He sits up and looks out of the window, and I catch the glint of tears. ‘Oh, this is ridiculous. I thought we’d been there, done that for tonight. What the fuck is it now?’ ‘It hurts.’ His voice is barely louder than the whisper of the surf. ‘It fucking hurts...’ ‘What does?’ I hand him the Resolve and make him drink; he manages about half before he gives it back and buries his face in his hands. I put the glass on the table. ‘What does?’ I ask again. I am just about to ask a third time, when it hits me. He’s not talking about the raw skin on his shoulders, nor about the loneliness of his long bleak exile. Fuck. That’s the last thing I need. But it’s the only thing I need. The knife was so sharp, I never felt it enter my body, but here it is, lodged in my heart, and I can barely breathe. And he’s absolutely right. It fucking hurts. ‘I’m sorry.’ My voice is a raspy whisper. ‘I’m so sorry.’ Two apologies in one day? That’s never happened before. I’m not sure he’s even heard me. ‘Naboo.’ His name tastes sweet in my mouth. He looks up, and there’s a gleam of hope in his eyes, like the moonslight on the sea. I reach out and palm his damp cheek; he puts his hand over mine, to keep it there. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say again, and there’s a lot else I want to say, too, but I can’t. ‘Are you cryin’?’ ‘Yeah.’ I sniff. ‘I know, I know, it’s pathetic –’ ‘An’ a waste of good drinkin’ time, or somethin’ like that.’ He hands me back my own crumpled handkerchief; I take it gratefully, too far gone to be fussy about where it’s been or what it’s got on it, and dab at my eyes with my free hand. To my shame, once the tears have started, I can’t stop them. I can only kneel in front of the sofa with my head in Naboo’s lap and weep and weep. He strokes my hair and shushes me, whispering like the sea, until my eyes close and a tide of darkness, or maybe alcohol, carries me into a vanilla-scented sleep.

***

Ouch. My head hurts. Lots of other bits of me hurt too. My throat aches, my nose is clogged and my mouth’s as dry as the Desert of Nightmares. My eyes are sore and sticky. And there’s something in my hand that feels horribly like a soggy handkerchief. What the fuck? Anyone would think I’d... No. Please, ye Xooberon Gods, tell me I didn’t just do what I think I did. Oh, how bloody embarrassing. Can’t blame Kirk’s cocktails, or the Baileys (yes, I remember that); I know ‘Lachrymose’ is one of the four stages of drunkenness, but even so... How am I going to face Naboo in the morning? How am I... What was that? Sounded like soft breathing. Or maybe it was just the sea. No, it’s definitely breathing, and it’s coming from the other side of the double bed. I force my eyes open, wincing at the sliver of moonslight that cuts across the floor and straight into my face. Naboo’s leafy shorts are on the bedside chair with my kimono and my hat. I stick a hand nervously under the bedclothes, and am relieved to find that the rest of my clothes are still on me. ‘You OK?’ a sleepy voice mumbles. ‘Fine,’ I lie, ‘I just need the bathroom.’ I sit up slowly, trying to avoid sudden movements. A light goes on, not blinding full, just bright enough to see my way to the ensuite door. Cold water on my face helps a lot, but my head’s still pounding when I come out of the bathroom. I make my way carefully to the minibar. ‘Hair of the dog?’ Naboo asks, as I open the fridge. I wave a bottle of water at him. ‘Resolve, you plum. And I’m making you one too, you only drank half the last one.’ ‘Whose fault was that?’ I pretend I didn’t hear him. ‘Cheers.’ He takes the glass from my hand. I climb back into my side of the bed and sip my drink, not looking at him. He laughs suddenly. ‘What?’ I snarl. ‘Just thinkin’... It’s a good thing it’s not possible to actually die from embarrassment, or you’d be a goner... Hey, lighten up, it’s OK, there was only me there to see.’ ‘That’s bad enough.’ ‘No it isn’t. Tisn’t bad at all. I don’t mind.’ ‘Well, I do.’ ‘I know. Must be tough, bein’ you. You mind about all sorts of things that don’t matter. Look, you were under a lot of stress, an’ you were drunk, an’ I landed some emotional shit on you with no warning, an’ you flipped. Don’t worry about it. Your secret’s safe with me. An’ anyway that’s not what’s important.’ ‘Oh? And just what do you think is important?’ ‘Well... this.’ He waves a hand vaguely at the bed. ‘Whatever’s happened... gonna happen... whatever. Between you an’ me. You losin’ it – that don’t matter. But this... whatever it is that made you lose it... this does.’ He’s making even less sense than usual. But even so, I have a strange feeling he might be right. I draw a deep breath; let it out through my nostrils, very slowly. ‘Naboo?’ ‘Mmm?’ ‘How did you get me into bed?’ He laughs so hard he has to put his glass down. ‘Never thought I’d hear you of all people ask me that... I levitated you. Fuckin’ hard work it was an’ all. But I didn’t think you’d want to spend the night on the floor.’ ‘You thought right. Thank you.’ ‘Is it OK that I stayed?’ He’s biting his lip anxiously. I smile at him. ‘I’m glad you did... Come here.’ He hesitates. ‘Only if you mean it. Only if it’s you talking, and not the Baileys.’ ‘It is me.’ He shuffles across the bed; nestles into the hollow of my shoulder. ‘It’s OK, you can put your arm round me, I’m not sore any more. Good stuff, that suncream.’ I hold him tight, resting my cheek on his silky-smooth hair, letting the quiet and the contact (and possibly also the Resolve) soothe my aching head. A seabird calls in the distance. ‘There’s somethink you should know,’ Naboo says, reaching up to touch my face. ‘Before anything goes any further.’ ‘There’s someone else?’ I take my arm from round him. ‘No, not like that. I mean, about me. I’m not what you think.’ ‘I don’t follow.’ ‘I’m... third.’ ‘Third what?’ ‘Third gender.’ ‘You’re kidding. Xooberon Thirds are a myth. Like Earth unicorns.’ Naboo raises his eyebrows. ‘Unicorns’re real enough. I’ve seen one.’ ‘Were you high?’ ‘Yeah. Course I was.’ He turns back the bedclothes. ‘But that’s irrelevant. Look, third-sexers are real too. Good thing they don’t just appear to virgins, though.’ I don’t rise to that one, although I suppose he’s going to find out sooner or later. Right now I’m too transfixed by the sight in front of me. I don’t quite believe what I’m seeing. ‘Just like the diagrams in the Academy textbooks, innit?’ Naboo grins, and runs a hand over himself. ‘Does that mean you can’t have sex?’ Disappointment clutches at my chest. ‘Does that mean you want to?’ Naboo’s grin is wide and wicked. My breath catches in my throat. ‘Yes. Yes. But...’ ‘Don’t look so worried, course I can, I’ll just prob’ly take a bit longer to get off than you will.’ He wrinkles his nose; his eyes are twinkling. ‘Although that’s prob’ly true of just about anybody else in the universe right now.’ That smile... I just have to kiss him. ‘Can I see you, then?’ he asks, when I let him go again. I strip off my t-shirt and shorts and lie back on the pillows, the breeze through the open window cool on my overheated skin. ‘Why’ve you got your eyes shut?’ he asks softly. ‘There’s nothin’ here that anybody wouldn’t want to see. Or...’ ‘Or touch?’ ‘Yeah,’ he breathes. A small hand begins to explore my chest, my stomach, my... I keep my eyes closed. If I watch him touching me, I’ll lose what little control I have altogether. ‘Hey.’ He takes hold of my hand. ‘I’m doin’ all the work here. There’s two of us in this bed, y’know.’ He guides me over the contours of his chest, a brief contact with one small hard nipple, slender ribs, soft fuzz, the neat dip of his navel; so far, so familiar, but then the landscape changes, smooth and alien, a blank featureless mound where there should be – Should be? I’m not going to let myself think like that. What matters, is what is, here and now, and what this is, is... Well, I’m not sure what it is, to be honest, but it’s warm and soft and pleasingly curved. Not exactly male, but definitely not female either. ‘Saboo.’ He stutters a little, and it strikes me that I don’t often hear him say my name. Until today, we mostly traded insults, if we spoke at all. ‘Saboo, look at me. Please?’ ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘Nothin’, I just need you to look at me.’ ‘Alright, then, I’ll look at you.’ I open my eyes, and look, and look some more. He relaxes; lets go of my wrist. ‘Thanks.’ I slide my hand between his parted thighs and begin to stroke gently at the little folds of flesh. ‘What was that all about?’ ‘Nothin’ really.’ He nuzzles into my neck. ‘S’pose I just want to be sure you’re seein’ me for who I am.’ ‘You’re Naboo, that’s who. You think I don’t know that? You’ve told me often enough.’ Naboo sighs, and wriggles closer, his voice muffled in my shoulder. ‘Have to keep remindin’ myself that I’m not just a short bloke in a dress. Or a weird girl in a turban.’ ‘Is that how people see you?’ ‘Some people, yeah.’ ‘I’m not some people.’ ‘No, you’re not. You’re that person who’s never liked me. But when it comes to the crunch...’ ‘You can speak to me of the crunch?’ I’m having trouble keeping a straight face. ‘Reckon so, yeah. Although’ – he giggles – ‘not sure there is much crunch where you’re concerned, underneath all that bullshit you’re a total softy really, aren’t you?’ ‘How dare you... be so absolutely right.’ I kiss him again. ‘But if you ever tell any of the others...’ ‘You’re safe there. Promise. They wouldn’t appreciate it anyway. Not like I do... Oh.’ ‘Did that hurt?’ ‘No.’ ‘Stop talking, then, and let me do it some more.’

‘I give up. It’s takin’ too long.’ Naboo heaves a huge sigh, and flops back against the pillows. ‘No, it isn’t, it’s only been half an hour or so. If that.’ I run my fingers one more time over the hot, dry flesh between his legs, but everything remains stubbornly tight shut. ‘You did say it might take you a while, you probably just need more time. I’m happy to keep trying.’ He shakes his head; grips my wrist and lifts my hand away from him. ‘It’s not gonna work.’ ‘Would it help if we applied some sort of lubrication? I expect there’s something in the first-aid kit.’ ‘Lubes’re no good. I’m allergic to most of ’em. And there’s no point at the moment, there’s no way we’re goin’ to get that in there.’ He reaches for my erection. ‘Lemme just sort you out for now, you need to sleep.’ ‘I’ll be the judge of that, thank you.’ He flinches away; rolls over and buries his face in the pillows. ‘I’m sorry.’ I put my hand on his shoulder. ‘I didn’t mean to snap... I suppose I am tired. But not that tired. Listen, if we’re going to do this, let’s do it properly. It’s not that you don’t want to, is it?’ He shakes his head. ‘Then I’ll wait. My powers of self-control are legendary.’ I hope my aching cock has heard that. ‘I’m sure we’ll find a way eventually.’ ‘And if we don’t?’ he whispers. ‘Then there’ll be another time. I promise you.’ I knead gently at the tense muscles in his back. ‘This isn’t a one-night stand, Naboo. I’m not asking for sex because this is our only shot at it.’ He rolls over again, to look me in the eyes. I kiss him. ‘And I’m not asking because I had a bet on with Tony fucking Harrison, either. I’m asking because – this is something – I really want – and I know you do too.’ It’s hard to kiss and talk at the same time. I give up on the talking part; lose myself in the scent and taste of his mouth and throat and hair. I can’t resist cupping my hand over his smooth mound one more time. He arches his back and presses against the touch, then subsides with a small defeated whimper. ‘I can’t... I’m sorry.’ ‘No need to be sorry. After all, you hardly know me yet. And I’ve spent years taking every possible opportunity to tell you I don’t like you, so why the fuck should you believe me now when I say – ’ Naboo catches his breath. I must admit, I’m slightly surprised myself. But there’s no turning back now. ‘I love you. And yes, I do feel completely stupid saying that.’ I bury my burning face in the pillow. ‘P’raps you should say it more often, then,’ Naboo whispers in my ear. ‘Dunno why you should feel that way, though. ’Cos I don’t feel even slightly stupid hearing it. Go on, say it again.’ ‘I – ’ ‘Say it again an’ look at me.’ I heave a deep breath, and let it out again on a nervous half-laugh as I meet his eyes. ‘I love you.’ ‘Been waitin’ years to hear you say that. An’ for what it’s worth, I love you too.’ He grins, and kisses me again; and suddenly my hand is wet. Not just interestingly moist, actually wet. I withdraw it from between his legs. ‘What just happened?’ ‘Nothing bad,’ he stammers, ‘I just... ’s’what happens when I get turned on, but it’s backed up... couldn’t get out... I... I’ll go and wash it off...’ ‘Don’t be an idiot. We’re going to need it.’ I put my hand back where it was, stroking him slowly, not going any further, not yet; waiting for his breathing to calm. ‘Did you lay a bet with Tony?’ he asks after a while. ‘Yes, I did. And I’m about to lose it. The H-Man bet me I wouldn’t be able to resist you.’ Naboo laughs. ‘He knows both of us pretty well, I reckon. How much?’ ‘The cost of my pride? Three hundred euros.’ ‘Blimey... Better make it worth your while, then.’ He fastens his mouth back on mine, and I slide my fingers through the wetness and find the way inside him. At first there’s only room for one fingertip and even then it’s a tight fit, but it’s getting easier by the minute and I can afford to be patient. If I can keep control of myself, that is; the feel of that silk-smooth, rippling muscle around my finger is doing all sorts of things to my poor frustrated prick, which has never been inserted anywhere more interesting than my own fist... I slide in a second finger and start to make more room. He moans and presses against me. ‘More...’ ‘Like this?’ ‘Yes. Feels so good... Yes.’ My two fingers are moving freely now; I risk a third. He bites his lip. ‘You could... I think... that is, if you still...’ ‘Shush. You know I do.’ I press against him, letting him feel how hard I am. ‘Let’s give it a try, then.’ The nervous catch in his voice belies his casual words. I’m not exactly confident myself, but I slide my fingers out and clamber into what I hope is the right position. Braced above him, I’m all knees and elbows, too big, too clumsy for his delicate frame. ‘Give me a hand here?’ My heart’s pounding in my throat; my voice cracks and breaks. ‘Sure.’ He reaches down between us. ‘There you go, that should be the right angle. Just take it slow, yeah?’ I nod. He’s tight and hot and despite all the lubrication and foreplay I can only ease myself in a little way. I try to hold still, torn between my desperate need for more stimulation and my equally desperate fear that I’ll do some irreparable damage. ‘What’s wrong?’ Naboo lays a hand on my cheek. ‘Is it uncomfortable?’ ‘I don’t want to hurt you.’ He shakes his head; gives me an indulgent smile. ‘You won’t.’ ‘But I might – ’ ‘To coin a phrase, I’ll be the judge of that.’ The smile grows wider. ‘Not much sign of it so far.’ He strokes my back and my sides, laying his hands on my ribcage as though cradling my beating heart. Then he turns his attention to my nipples, teasing them gently until they’re stone-hard and tingling. ‘Stop,’ I croak, ‘you’ll have to stop or I’ll lose it...’ He slides his hands down to my arse instead. That’s almost as bad – or as good. I kiss him again, slipping my tongue into the corner of his mouth. He arches his back and makes a small, desolate cry; and suddenly the tightness holding me back is gone and I’m all the way in, ball-deep inside him, and it’s like silk and like honey and like the moonslight on the sea and like nothing I could ever possibly have imagined. Resistance is impossible. I thrust into him frantically, once, twice, and then the orgasm of my life hits me, tearing from my throat a high-pitched sound I didn’t know I could even make. He holds me as the aftershocks die down. ‘You didn’t...’ I manage to say, after a while. He kisses me on the cheek. ‘No, but if you... can you stay there a minute?’ ‘Of course I can.’ I’m not entirely sure this is true, but as my Academy tutor used to say, it’s good to test one’s limits now and again. ‘Fanks.’ He moves against me, crushing his body to mine, the tension in him winding up tighter and tighter; then suddenly he is still. His dark eyes hold a flicker of doubt. Even the sea is holding its breath. I kiss him on the forehead, on the mouth. ‘You’re quite safe, little one. Let it go.’ His release is almost silent, just the faintest of whimpers at the back of his throat, but the tremor that rushes through him is strong enough to shake the bed. I disentangle us with the last of my strength and we lie gasping and limp, sprawled side by side, still holding hands. The Xooberon Moons look through the window, murmur ‘We don’t need to see this,’ and turn politely away. I do like a planet with polite satellites. They’re right, we’re not a pretty sight, soaked as we are with tears, snot, sweat... pretty much every bodily fluid you could imagine. Yesterday I would have run a mile. Today I just stagger to the bathroom to fetch a towel. ‘I hurt you.’ I stare in shock at the bright smear on the cloth. Naboo shakes his head and smiles at me. ‘It’s OK, you didn’t really.’ ‘But this...’ He takes the towel out of my hand, drops it on the floor. ‘Only to be expected. Next time’ll be fine. If there will be a next time?’ ‘Of course there will. But I don’t understand.’ ‘Well, let me put it this way. Guess I won’t be seein’ unicorns no more.’ ‘Me neither.’ His eyes widen; then he laughs. ‘You too? You should’ve said. I’d’ve been more careful.’ ‘But –’ ‘It doesn’t matter. That was everythin’ I could’ve wanted. An’ to be honest, they’re ugly brutes anyway, totally overrated if you ask me... How about a shower?’ The complicated knot of emotions in my chest is soothed away by the hot water and the slide of Naboo’s clean skin against mine. Whatever else may happen tomorrow – ‘Why, what do you think will happen tomorrow?’ ‘You know what? I don’t care. I don’t care if the champagne’s flat, the boat sinks or the barbecue catches fire, all of which are distinct possibilities for which I have prepared the appropriate safety and medical resources –’ Naboo leans on me and rubs his wet face lovingly against my chest. ‘You’ve left out Dennis getting on the wrong boat, Bollo bein’ seasick, and Kirk falling overboard and floating away. To say nothing of yours and my hangovers. And the fact that you owe the H-Man serious money.’ ‘Don’t care.’ I pull him closer to me; bury my face in his fragrant hair. ‘As long as this doesn’t turn out to be a dream –’ ‘Which it won’t –’ ‘Then, well, I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but: it’s been a good party.’

#the mighty boosh #mighty boosh #boosh #saboo #naboo #naboo the enigma #naboo/saboo #dennis the head shaman #kirk (mighty boosh)#tony harrison

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okitodorokidoki · 5 years

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[2/3] all the feeling was all or nothing | takigawa chris yuu + yuuki tetsuya

ao3 | 2,696 words | gender-neutral reader

Things had begun to feel tense between you and Yuuki. At first you thought it was something that would blow away within a week or so, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

The two of you had gone out with Jun again, and Yuuki ended up drifting away for a moment.

“Did I spit on someone’s grave without knowing it?”

Jun didn’t seem too keen to answer your question.

“I’d like to know if I fucked up somehow so I can apologize- it sucks feeling like he’s forcing himself to be around me.”

“It’s nothing like that,” he finally said. “He’s just got a lot on his mind.”

The lack of real answers probably just fueled the awkward fire that was burning between the two of you.

You found yourself avoiding Yuuki, whether you intended to or not. You didn’t even call yourself out on it until you’d backed around a corner after catching sight of him with Jun.

“Is something wrong?”

You nearly jumped out of your skin at the sudden voice behind you. Whirling around with wide eyes, you saw Chris standing a few feet away from you.

“Oh, hey. No, nothing’s wrong, I just forgot where I was going for a moment there.” He didn’t seem to take your response as an answer or a joke, so you felt a little backed in.

He tilted his head slightly in the direction of a bench- an invitation that you didn’t think you could refuse. Chris let you pass him before following you, sitting maybe a foot away.

“I feel like I should repay you for the vague conversation that helped me,” he said. “Have something on your mind?”

You struggled with how to form your thoughts to not sound as whiny as you felt. “Things have just been… weird between Yuuki and I. I feel like I did something wrong, so I want to apologize to him, but I can’t apologize without knowing what I did, right?”

He took a deep breath, seeming like he was thinking rather hard about it. “Do you have reason to believe you did something? Maybe he’s just feeling stressed out about the team.”

You buried your face in your hands with a groan. “I tried asking Jun what was going on, but he just said he was thinking about a lot. But if it was related to baseball why would he avoid me and not Jun? Is he just too polite to tell me he doesn’t like hanging out anymore? He’s making me feel like I’m forcing him to stick around.”

Chris hummed, the bench creaking as he leaned back. “Tetsu isn’t the type to force himself to be friends with someone. Have you tried asking him directly what was going on?”

You drew your knees up to bury yourself further. “No…”

“I couldn’t hear that.”

A weak glare in his general direction didn’t phase him. “I said no.”

“So why don’t you try telling him directly how you feel?”

You uncurled yourself and pressed your back against the bench, looking up at the sky. “Because I’m scared? Yuuki’s one of my closest friends here, I don’t want to lose him just because I’m getting uncomfortable over something that may not even matter. Hell, maybe he’ll just come to his senses without me even saying anything.”

Chris moved his leg to bump your knee. “If you’re really friends, and it does bother you, then it’ll matter. Just tell him how you feel about this, and I’m sure he’ll understand.”

You looked back down at the catcher, trying to not feel like you were in a therapy session with how vulnerable you felt. “You’re an odd one, you know that?”

He laughed softly. “Is that a thank you?”

You nudged his arm gently as you got up. “Yeah. Thank you, Chris. Let me know if you ever need to ramble like this. It’s oddly enlightening.”

The small smile on his face almost looked bittersweet for a moment before he stood, turning away from you to look out at the practice grounds. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to do that.”

It wasn’t until after he’d left your view that you found yourself moving. You hadn’t gotten far, however, as you noticed someone leaning against the side of the building on your first turn.

“Yuuki?” you asked, a little shocked. “Are you okay?”

There was barely any indication that he heard you, but the bat in his hand shifted against the gravel as his hand twitched.

“Is something wrong?”

As you leaned forward to try and get a better look at his face, he suddenly turned to meet your eye. The almost disturbingly hurt expression on his face nearly had you stumbling back in shock. Neither of you seemed to want to speak first, but he soon pushed off the wall and gave you a short, stiff bow.

“I apologize if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I’ll try to be more aware of your feelings in the future. I hope we can still continue as friends.” His monotonous spiel set off a sharp pain in your chest.

You tried to call his name again, but there was hardly any sound to it- just a rush of air out of your lungs. Your hand reached out to grab his arm, but he’d already begun to turn away from you to leave. Air was the only thing that met your shaky grasp as a panic washed over you. What the hell was he going on about? The gravel beneath your feet felt like it had grown over your legs as you watched him walk away, shoulders tense.

You ended up walking back to the bench on shaky legs as you tried to figure out what had happened. Did he overhear your conversation with Chris and take even more offense? Just once you’d like to not fuck up your relationship with the first baseman. You never let yourself hope for a romance, so the friendship between you was kept in a tight grip close to your heart. And now you were just squeezing the life out of it.

You don’t know how much time or how many students passed by you before a rough stomping and a loud “oy” came your way.

“What the hell did you say to Tetsu, damnit? I thought I told you he was just overthinking some shit!”

You looked up at Jun, who looked more pissed than you could remember seeing him. For some reason, though, the expression cracked and he let out a softer “oy” than before. He crouched in front of you with his brows pressed together, bringing a hand to your face.

“Ju-” as you tried to speak, hiccup tore through your throat.

“What the hell is wrong with you guys,” Jun grumbled, wiping your face. “Shit’s supposed to go smoother than this.”

You let Jun pull your head to his shoulder, wrapping your arms under his. It didn’t even feel like you were crying, but the hand rubbing your back made your shaking more apparent.

“Whose ass am I supposed to kick now, damnit?” he asked, tone oddly fond for the words he was saying. “I’m gonna have to kick both of your asses.”

You shook your head as you cried your frustrations into his shoulder.

When you’d finally calmed down, Jun brought you over to a water fountain to wash your face with his hanky.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled. “I don’t know why I was crying.”

“Your head’s probably too damn dense for your heart to take anymore.” Jun tried to fix your hair after cleaning up your face. “Can’t say I blame it, you guys are making me want to cry too.”

You sniffled as he checked for any lingering mess. You thought for a moment that anyone who questioned the managers for putting Jun first in line to be their brother had never seen the boy off the diamond.

“Now you three have to talk before I lose my mind. I’ll lock you in the shed if I have to, ya hear?” he poked your forehead harshly before rubbing the mark he left.

“First of all- ow. Secondly, three?” you rubbed the abused spot gently.

“Yeah, three. You all talking two at a time is just biting me in the ass because you’re all so god damn dense.” he complained.

“Should you be talking like that at school, Jun? You’re sounding awfully rude.”

By the end of the day, your nerves almost felt shot. Your almost-breakdown after Yuuki felt like someone overestimated a wind-up toy and snapped its spring, and now you had to rest or go in for repairs or something. Or just let Jun take the wheel for a bit.

You were finally being dismissed from your club, so you packed your bag and made your way to his classroom. It wasn’t too long a walk, but your legs honestly felt like lead at this point. You were definitely going to soak in the bath much longer than needed tonight.

By the time you made it to the meet up spot, there were already three people there- the two you were expecting, and the one Jun had thrown out of left field. You just barely stopped yourself from saying his name in shock, not wanting to start things off with a dumb question.

“Bout time you made it,” Jun barked. “Did you crawl halfway?”

“I had to help clean up,” you said. “Sorry for the wait.”

Yuuki seemed interested in how many tiles were in the stretch of floor in front of him, while poor Chris looked like he was coming to terms with a kidnapping.

“So what is it exactly we’ve been biting you in the ass with?” It was better to just rip the band-aid off, right?

Jun thought so. “Everyone’s feelings for each other.”

At least he had the decency to look uncomfortable when everyone’s gazes snapped to him.

“Jun,” Yuuki’s tone almost had you backing down.

“I don’t see why I’m here,” Chris had a flush crawling up his neck that you could almost blame on practice.

“I understand threatening to lock us in the shed now,” you deadpanned.

Jun leaned against the wall behind him, shoving his hands in his pockets. You took some solace in the fact that you weren’t alone with your negative thoughts. You’d thought that Jun was letting your status with Yuuki turn into what it wanted without him meddling. And why was he dragging Chris into this? You glanced over at the catcher, who seemed like he was trying to look at everyone without being seen himself. Sure he was sweet, and cute, and nice to talk to when you were upset. And he always had that reliable vibe to him, yet a quality that made you want to shoo everyone away from him and let him curl up with a warm blanket. Those were completely platonic feelings for someone you considered no more than a friend.

Glancing back at Jun, you almost blanched at the look he was sending you.

“So I’ll leave this to the three of you,” he announced, walking out of the classroom.

The long stretch of silence after he left was almost suffocating. You found yourself scratching at the desk next to you before sitting down.

“Well then,” you said. “I take it if we don’t talk now, things will just get that much worse?”

You couldn’t bring yourself to look up, but soon the two left sat in the desks in front and behind you.

You turned your head to Yuuki behind first, but kept your gaze on the desk. “I didn’t mean to upset you earlier. I’m sorry for whatever I did to offend you.”

“You said my feelings didn’t matter,” he said, tone fluxing cold and hurt.

That got you to look at him, utterly confused. “What?”

“When the two of you were talking. You said I was making you uncomfortable over something that didn’t matter,” Yuuki continued.

You heard Chris shifting on your other side. “Ah, Tetsu. That wasn’t what we were talking about, I promise.”

“Wait, your feelings?” you asked.

“Yes. My feelings for you.” He looked understandably upset that he had to keep reiterating how he felt. “I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable with how I felt, but it wasn’t fair of you to say they didn’t matter just because you don’t feel the same.”

Your head was spinning, and you wondered if you tripped down the stairs on your way to meet Jun.

“Tetsu, you being cold was causing discomfort,” Chris tried again. “I never outed your feelings, and I doubt they were discovered naturally with that reaction.”

“Wait, you knew?” you turned to look at Chris.

You couldn’t place his expression, but he had a small smile. “I figured it out a while ago when he asked how I felt about you.”

“Oh, wow, okay, I totally understand Jun being over this,” you said, sinking in your chair a bit.

Yuuki leaned forward a bit. “What do you mean over this? Jun loves suspenseful romance.”

“This might just be too much for him. Because it sure is for me, and I’m part of it.”

There’s a long moment where the three of you sit in silence, just thinking.

“Do you return Yuuki’s feelings?” Chris’ sudden question made you jump.

You find yourself looking at the trees outside the window instead of at either of them. “I… yes?”

“Do you like Chris?” Yuuki asked.

You hesitate a bit longer to answer, but your mouth moves like it was expecting an answer.

“We both like you,” Chris says softly, his hand sliding across the desk to sit near yours. “Do you like us back?”

Your fingers twitch a bit as you contemplate grabbing his hand. The last thing you wanted was to hurt either of them, or the relationship they had as teammates. Would lying salvage anything at this point?

“Yes,” you almost choked out, like it was trying to escape before you buried it.

Chris’ fingers slid between yours as Yuuki leaned even closer, enough to move your hair with his breath.

“Would you like to be with us?” Yuuki asked, voice low enough to match Chris’.

Your gaze makes it to his chin before you back out. Were they teasing you? They weren’t that cruel, were they?

Chris tugs on your hand as he says your name gently. “We both want to be with you. And we’d like to be with each other. Would you like that?”

Your fingers curl around his as you take a deep breath, mulling over his words. “All three of us?”

Yuuki grunts in response, his knuckles brushing the back of your other hand.

“No one gets hurt?” you asked, a little quieter.

“No one gets hurt,” Chris confirmed. “We all like each other, we’d all be with each other. If we aren’t happy, we talk to each other.”

Yuuki stood and moved in front of you, guiding you up as well. “No love triangle, no drama. No one gets hurt.”

You finally looked up at him, and felt like you were melting under his gaze. “You guys won’t fight? I won’t ruin your team bond?”

Chris moved to stand behind you, and you were suddenly surrounded by warmth. “We can’t promise we’ll never fight over anything, but you don’t have to worry about driving a wedge between us by saying yes to this.”

Yuuki finally grabbed your other hand, his callouses tickling your sensitive palm. “We want this as well.”

You squeezed their hands as you rested your forehead against Yuuki’s chest. “Okay… I want it too. I really want this too.”

There was movement around you before you felt them both pressed against you, free arms pulling each other closer. You could almost feel the tension melting off of the three of you the longer you stood there.

“Does this mean Jun is our fairy god mother?” you asked, needing some humor to not feel like you were about to choke on your heart.

Their short laughs shook you to the core, and you found yourself pulling them closer.

#daiya no ace #ace of diamond imagine #takigawa chris yuu #takigawa chris yuu imagine #yuuki tetsuya #yuuki tetsuya imagine #Chris x reader x Tetsuya #Reader-insert #Gender-neutral reader #my work #ser: all the feeling was all or nothing

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catlady1986 · 5 years

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THE BEST SMELL IN THE WORLD IS THAT OF THE ONE YOU LOVE.

Chapters: 8/9 Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Gladiolus Amicitia/? Characters: Gladiolus Amicitia, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum, Ignis Scientia, background characters, others to appear later Additional Tags: ABO, Soulmates, Language, Blood, Depression, Angst, Referenced Masturbation, Deviant Behavior, Blood

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The big day had finally arrived and the entire city was bursting with life from the celebrations going on. Thankfully everything was going off without a hitch and everyone was having fun. Especially the birthday boy himself and Gladio can’t help but smile at his happy prince being a goof with Prompto, gorging himself on the food Ignis brings over, and dragging the king to dance with him despite the elder not knowing how to do the moves properly. It was great.

But that wouldn’t last for long.

Noct had just finished eating his second helping of cake and was slumped down in his chair, a hand rested upon his stomach in contentment and a huge smile on his face. Gladio snorts and shakes his head, getting a cheeky grin from the newly turned eighteen-year-old.

“Leave me be, it’s my birthday, I can eat all I want.”

“Until you put on a few pounds and can’t fit into your jeans then you’ll complain and blame me for not stopping you.”

“Nah, I’ll just wear sweatpants.”

“Or you can come jog with me early in the morning.”

“Eww no, you get up before seven and that’s inhuman.” Noctis complains and tries sitting up but finds it difficult. He lets out a sigh and tries again yet still can't get up, so he just smiles with his hands out. “Help your prince up, Gladio.”

“Jeez, bossy.” Gladio snorts but does as asked. “Is this what I’m going to have to deal with once you marry and become pregnant?”

Noct turns red and huffs at the older man, but then regains his grin. "Yeah, that’s right. You can rub my feet and bring me food in the middle of the night too.”

“Hell no, that’ll be your spouse’s job.”

There’s a momentary fall in Noct’s smile and Gladio too feels a slight twinge in his chest but he pushes it away as the smile returns. Noctis takes hold of Gladio’s hand once again and gives him a tug towards the dance floor.

“Let’s go dance for a while, burn off some calories.”

“So you can eat more cake?”

“Jerk.”

The two teens step out onto the floor where others are already dancing, a slow song currently playing so Gladio has Noctis take the lead and the two sway together to the melody. Amber eyes peer down into deep blue ones, them seemingly shimmering from the lights radiating from the chandeliers. A strange heat builds in the young shield’s chest and cheeks, his heart thumps in his chest, and he feels like he’s floating on water. Noct smiles tenderly at him, the prince’s own cheeks turning a shade of red as he presses his small frame closer to Gladio’s.

“Hey.” Noct begins, a smile still on his face and eyes half lidding.

“Hey what?”

“I’ve been sniffed by everyone here who hadn’t tried before and not a single one showed any interest outside of the normal creepers who are only interested because I'm a prince.”

“Could be the hanky.”

Noctis shakes his head. “My dad made me remove it when we came to the banquet hall and wash my neck, said that there were more than enough guards to keep me safe and I should start searching for my soulmate. But none of them are.”

“Hmm, you might not have met them yet.” Gladio says and frowns as a slight tightness forms in his stomach.

“Could be.” The teen snuggles closer and rests his head against the larger man’s broad chest. “Or maybe I did and they just can’t tell.”

“Huh?” Gladio stares down in question at the teen who looks up with a smile and the older man feels a strange tingling sensation in his gut.

But then a wince and soft gasp from Noct halts everything.

“Hey, you okay?”

“I-I think s-ngh. Ow, ow.” Noctis cringes and clutches his stomach, trembling slightly and taking deep breaths to try calming himself. It seems to work. “Stomach cramped up.”

“You wanna go sit and rest?”

“Yeah.”

Gladio escorts the prince back over to his seat and calls over a waiter for some water.

“You want me to get the king or someone?”

“N-no. I’m fine.”

“Noctis?” a concerned voice calls out. “Are you unwell?”

Gladio turns to see Ignis looking with great concern at the young prince, yet they turn to irritation when his green eyes shift to Gladio.

“Stomach just started to hurt, that’s all. Nothing to worry about.”

Ignis furrows his brows. “You’re pasty and sweating, that is something to worry about.” he tuts and budges past Gladio to place a hand against Noct’s forehead. “You’re burning up. We should inform your father and call it a night. Don’t want to stress your body out any further.”

“It's fine, the party ends in an hour, I can manage. Plus it wouldn't look good for the prince to leave his own party, would it?”

“I suppose but if you are truly not feeling well then-” Ignis stops talking and becomes tense.

Prompto bounds over gleefully, snapping a couple of photos of the three before looking with concern at his friend.

"Are you okay buddy? You look sick."

"Just my stomach, no big deal."

"Huh, maybe the seafood got to you. You were packing that away earlier."

"Hmm, maybe." Noct says and winces while holding his stomach. "I'm gonna head to the bathroom, maybe a good throw up will do the trick."

"Please don't make yourself purge, that's not good for your esophagus." Ignis says and rests his hands on the teen's shoulders.

"It's fine." Noct shucks off the other man's hands and stands.

"I'll come with you in case you feel worse and need help."

"It's fine I said. Just relax and go dance with someone, like maybe Prompto."

Ignis goes rigid as the young blonde turns a deep red and looks to him with a soft smile. Gladio can't help but smirk at this.

"I-I am really not in the mood too right now. I should probably go check the food for spoilage though, just in case that is what's bothering your stomach."

Noctis lets out a sigh as Ignis quickly excuses himself, then slowly stands from his seat. "I'll be right back."

"Okay, enjoy your puke." Prompto teases and gets a soft punch to his arm.

The blonde's smile slowly fades as he turns to scan the crowd before landing on Ignis, the man watching intently as the caterers check the food.

"Hey," Gladio begins and snickers as Prompto jumps suddenly. "why don't we go for a quick dance while we wait for Noct? Who knows, maybe Iggy will be in the mood after watching us shred it up."

"Oh, yeah that sounds great." he agrees and follows Gladio. "So umm, Gladio, Noct was telling me you've been doing research about cues and stuff for soulmates?"

"Yeah." Gladio knows where this is going and sadly the answer he has isn't what the teen probably wants to hear. "Is this about you and Ignis?"

Prompto perks up at this, a red tint shining on his freckled cheeks. "Uh huh. I just, I know I felt something when he hugged and sniffed me that time. And ever since, I can't get him out of my head. But he avoids me. I didn't know if you by chance noticed anything?"

Gladio frowns. He has but Ignis has refuted it vehemently despite all the signs. Should he say yes or will that just cause more trouble?

"I umm, don't-"

Prompto sighs and frowns. "Is it because I'm a Beta? Alpha and Beta couples are seen as undesirable, even more than two Alphas. Maybe I'm just not good enough."

This incenses Gladio, feeling deeply sorry for the teen. "If that's true then he's missing out. Noctis gushes over how cool you are and what a blast it is to hang out with you."

"He probably wouldn't if I didn't let him win at our games sometimes." the blonde chuckles.

"Yeah he can be a sore loser at times, but he gets over it."

"He talks about you a lot too when we hang out."

Gladio's heart thumps rapidly in his chest at hearing this. "Oh? Probably complaining what a hardass I am with his training."

"Sometimes, though he does talk about your situation and how unfair it is, that you're a great guy and stuff. He likes you a lot."

"Well I'd hope so, I am his shield and we'll be spending most of our time together, even more once he becomes king."

Prompto snorts and shakes his head. "Hey, I'm gonna let you in on something, but don't tell Noct I told you. Okay?"

"Uh, okay?"

"Noct thinks that you and him are- Huh?"

Gladio follows the blonde's gaze over, seeing Noctis rush from the bathroom in a frenzy, his eyes wet and red.

"Noct wha-"

"I want to go home." he whimpers out, body trembling and a look of pain etched onto his face.

"What?" Gladio catches the teen as he begins to collapse with a soft cry, holding him protectively close as people begin to take notice. "I'm not taking you home, you need to go to the hospital." he says and looks to Cor as the man rushes over. "Marshal, we need an ambulance."

"Easy now." Cor says with calmness yet his eyes give away his concern. "Wha-" He stops, nostrils flaring momentarily and face falls to horror. "I smell blood. Start escorting the guests out and get the medical staff, now!"

Noctis lets out a sharp cry and clutches onto Gladio tightly, his hold body quakes as he shifts his legs around, blood smearing across the marble floor. Terror fills the young shield along with guilt, feeling he had failed in keeping his prince safe. But who could have hurt him? He only went to the bathroom and there was someone stationed in there. Or was it something else?

The king and his shield rush over, Regis' face looking horrified at his son's pain as he drops to the floor and takes him from Gladio, cradling his boy in his arms.

"Shh, my son. I have you."

"Dad, it hurts."

Monica rushes over and begins to asses the prince with Ignis right behind her, the young man looking harried while wringing his hands together tightly.

"Majesty, I believe it'd be wiser to forgo the ambulance and have the prince driven to the hospital asap." she says, trying to remain calm despite the cries coming from Noctis after she touched his swollen abdomen during her quick exam for wounds. "His malady is internal and we shouldn't delay getting him medical attention."

"I, I'll drive." Ignis offers with a panicked time n his voice.

"No, Cor will."

"Please, let me. I need to make sure he is all right and gets there safely. I won't leave him."

"Sciencia, this isn't the time or place to argue. Cor has driven under stressful situations before and we'll keep everyone informed as things unfold."

Noctis lets out a soft cry as he turns to the other man. "Take Prompto home for me, please. I don't want him to have to wa-lk." he says and cringes.

"Noct, please. I want to stay with you, I need to stay with you in your time of need. It’s my right as your-"

“Enough!” The king relinquishes his hold to his son back to Gladio, his face going deeply ridged. "Gladiolus. Please take Noctis to my car with Cor, I shall be there in a moment. Keep him safe and comfortable."

"Understood, your majesty." Gladio says and as carefully as he can, lifts Noctis and cradles him as he follows Cor and Monica out of the room, leaving only his father, the king, and Ignis.

As he moves away from the doorway, he hears something rarely ever heard, the angry tone of the king. Though he can't quite make out what is being said, he does hear one thing that makes him almost want to smile in spite, but he also feels sadness in his heart.

"We know who his soulmate is and it is not you. So cease this nonsense."

But how could it be? Was it something known from his birth and kept hidden? There was a rumor the crystal revealed things, so maybe that? Or was it a ploy to get Ignis to settle?

"Gladio."

The young shield snaps out of his thoughts and looks down at the paled teen in his arms. "We're almost at the car Noct, don't worry, you'll be okay."

"I told my dad, about everything."

Everything? What did that mean?

Gladio wouldn't get an answer just yet, them arriving at the car. He sets Noctis on the seat with Monica, the woman preparing a shot of pain medicine for him that she injects into his arm. The king and Clarus arrive not much later, Regis giving Gladio his thanks as he sits next to his son.

"Gladiolus," Clarus begins, resting his hand on his son's shoulder. "head on home and let your mother know what is going on, not Iris though. She was already upset she couldn't come to the party being sick, don't want to make her worried."

"Okay, please keep me posted when you can."

"I will."

Gladio watches as the car drives off, feeling a deep sinking in his gut and pain in his chest. Then to make things worse since it wasn't already, he has a bad sneezing fit the entire way home that makes him dizzy and almost fainted a few times. Sleep doesn't come to him either, too worried about Noctis to relax, even when his mother makes tea for him. Hours pass by without word on the teen's condition, Gladio getting more panicked as the time ticks away to the wee hours of the next day. Then the phone rings and Gladio feels his stomach turn as his father breaks the news.

#final fantasy xv #fanfiction #gladiolus amicitia #noctis lucis caelum #prompto argentum #ignis scientia #regis lucis caelum #clarus amicitia #monica elshett #abo au #soulmate au #blood #unknown injury

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khadij-al-kubra · 6 years

Text

Useless

Fandom: Thomas Sanders/Sanders Sides

Pairing: Belial/Emile (can be seen as romantic or platonic)

Characters: Belial, Emile, Virgil, Thomas.

Author’s Note: This fanfic oneshot is based off of the wonderful “Illumination AU” created by @altruistic-skittles. The story itself is my own original idea, but the concept of soulmarks, the characters, and world writhing are her territory. So kindly go read her work as well. Seriously, it’s awesome. Hope you enjoy my story and as always feel free to leave a comment in the messages or reply if you have any notes or constructive critiques. I’m always open to writing advice.

* * *

Belial stifled a yawn as he walked over the the Heart & Soul Cafe. You’d think he’d be used to these 8am Tuesday therapy sessions by now, but it had been a late night performing his tricks and he didn’t sleep so great in general. At least the money he’d made was pretty good. He was really starting to get some popularity for his magic tricks.

No doubt Emile, his therapist and apparent soulmate (another thing he still wasn’t used to), would be chipper as ever. Sometimes he wondered if the man wasn’t actually a cartoon character come to life. Still, Belial supposed he shouldn’t complain. Dr. Emile Picani was good at his job, He could even handle a hopeless case like him. Now Belial had progressed to only sometimes lying compulsively. ‘What a real improvement’ he thought as he walked through the doors of the cafe.

“Oh great,” groaned the familiar voice of his ex from behind the coffee counter.

“Always a pleasure seeing you too Virgil,” he said, venomous sarcasm dripping from his tongue. “Are those new bags under your eyes?”

Virgil responded with a growl and a glare combo. He only eased up when Thomas placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Easy Virge, he’s not worth it,” said Thomas.

Belial smirked and headed to the corner office at the back. ‘Not worth it.’ Of course he wasn’t . Belial was never worth it to anyone. But he hated to admit how much it stung to see Virgil, someone he once loved, relying on someone other than him. Not to mention Virgil now had three soulmates . Three! Well, at least Belial could say he (by some miracle) had a soulmate of his own, platonic or otherwise. The jury was still out (not that he cared). A fact he still couldn’t wrap his head around. Emile was the complete opposite of him. Good and honest in all the ways he wasn’t. And sure, it was clear from their sessions how the doctor would be someone Belial was destined to rely on or need to some degree...on a professional level of course. Yet he couldn’t fathom how he himself would possibly be someone for Emile to lean on when times got hard. What use was he to someone so put together?

He was at the door to the office now, but to his surprise it was already ajar. No knocking needed. What was even more odd is that there was none of the usual ambient music playing. And Belial could’ve sworn he heard a muffled sob from the other side. Before he could think better of it Belial went inside. He was not prepared for the chaos he was. Couch pillows were torn and knocked to the floor, stuffing spewing from the fabric wounds. The tiny waterfall lay cracked on its side. Papers, pencils and pens were scattered everywhere, and even one of Emile’s favorite cartoon posters was torn half hanging off the pastel blue wall. Worst of all though was the sight of the normally Happy Doc (damn, Emile’s humor was rubbing off on him) sitting on the couch, bent over with a hand covering his face as silent sobs shook his shoulders. Even his hair was messy like it had been tugged at and his signature pink tie askew.

Belial’s own facial soulmark ached at the sight. He didn’t know what to do. So he just awkwardly cleared his throat. Emile jerked up, putting his glasses back on. The soulmark around his eyes glowed green, matching the therapist’s emerald eyes perfectly. But they were so sad. That sadness didn’t belong there.

“Oh, Belial. I didn’t here you come in,” he said with a smile. Belial knew a fake smile when he saw one.

“Yeah, I’m here for my session.”

“Of course! Right...Now’s not a good uh...I’m sorry. Let me just tidy up a bit, then we can...get started.”

Emile started to pick up papers around him and set them on the table. He moved painfully slow, not even getting up from his seat. Belial signed and sat across form the therapist. He rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sooo what happened in here?” he asked.

Emile sighed. “I happened. I guess you could say i sort of went Tasmanian Devil on the place.”

Didn’t see that coming. Frankly, Belial didn’t think the man had a rage filled vein in his body. Well, he supposed even therapists were entitled to a bad day once in a while. Of course it had to be on his session day.

“You? If anything you’re usually more of a Tweety Bird.” Shit. Another one. Worst of all, his slip of the tongue reference didn’t even get a chuckle out of the cartoon enthusiast. Not a good sign.

“Yes, well, i uh...got some bad new this morning and well,” Emile waved at the mess around him.

“Are you okay?” he asked on instinct. Hopefully Emile didn’t catch the tone of sincere concern in his voice.

“Oh i’m alright. Its...” he taked a long breath, “It was a patient of mine. She’d been coming to see me for some time now. Early this morning I got a call from her father that she...passed away a few days ago.”

Oh shit. “I’m...sorry. How...how did it happen?”

“...She happened.”

“Oh...” Really? Oh? That’s the best he could think to say in this situation? It’s not like he couldn’t sympathize. Belial remembered form his time with Virgil how hard someone could struggle with fighting mental demons like that. Hell, there had been times when he’d even entertained the idea. Those were his darker times when he’d felt the most worthless...Things got better after he could afford to move out of his mother’s house. To actually go through with it though, even with a therapist like Emile trying to help you... A hollow laugh bright Belial back from his thoughts.

“And I thought we were really making progress. I-I thought she was getting better. How did I not see? It’s my job to see! I should’ve--” He took off his glasses again as fresh tears fell from his eyes. “I could’ve done more!”

Belial would never admit how much it killed him inside to watch Emile hunch over wracked with sobs, In the past few months of therapy with him, of time spent in and out of the Heart & Soul Cafe, Belial had begun to feel more than he had in a long time. And his didn’t know what to do with it all.

What could he do now? He didn’t have Logan’s tact of Patton’s sensitivity. All he had up his sleeve was--

“Wanna see a trick Emile?” he asked, grabbing a blank scrap of paper and a pencil from the floor.

“I really don’t feel in the mood,” said Emile, pausing in his hiccuped cries for a few seconds.

“Trust me, it’s a good one,” he said as he drew a rough picture of a spoon on the paper.

Actually this was one of the more difficult tricks in his arsenal of illusions. He’s only been able to pull it off twice before among numerous tries. But if it worked now, it was sure to amaze Emile and maybe even cheer him up a little. It would be worth it.

“If you must blink, do it now,” The Kubo reference coax a small smile out of Emile. “Watch closely.”

He swiped a hand over the picture, holding the paper by a corner. Then he began to gradually pinch the handle of the spoon picture. Belial watched the grown man’s face change from sorrow to awe as he saw the spoon bend while the paper itself remained smooth. Seriously, he could almost glimpse what Emile looked like as a child.

“wha-what the heck-that’s so cool! How’d you do that?”

“A magician never reveals his secrets.” Yep. the thrill of amazing people with his magic never got old. “And for my grand finale...”

He crumpled the paper in his hands and then held them both up, fingers spread open to reveal that the paper had disappeared. Lastly he reached behind Emile’s ear and pulled out a soft yellow hankerchief. He felt a sense of pride at hearing Emile laugh and clap.

“Now blow,” he said, offering the hankie.”

Emile thanked him as he took the small cloth, giving it a loud elephant like blow. He wiped his eyes with the palms of his hands and put the glasses back on.

“Look, said Belial, “I get why you took the news so hard. I’m sure you did as much as you could for her, but it’s not your fault that she...ran out of strength to keep fighting. You can’t save everyone, and it’s not your responsibility to.”

Emile looked into his eyes with those emerald ones. “Then what use am I?”

Hearing that broken tone in his voice, that kind of question, coming from such a kind, patient, and selfless person like Emile felt like a punch in Belial’s heart. (Well, if he had a heart) He understood better than anyone what it felt like to be worthless...useless.

He was, but Emile definitely was not!

“I could easily lie and say that you’re the best therapist in the world and can save someone the next time. But I wont, because I don’t know that for sure.” He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “But you are the best I know, and from what Ive seen a lot of others think the same. I mean come on, if you haven’t given up on a broken mess like me yet-don’t talk, just listen-then you probably won’t give up on anyone else either. You put your all into what you do and actually give a damn about people. Make them feel like they’re worth something. That gives them a reason to...hope...and that can mean more than anything. So you Emile Picani are not useless.”

Phew that was a lot! Maya wasn’t nearly this much work. He tried to be as honest as possible (not an easy feat). Was that the right thing to say? No clue. Could he have phrased it all better? Probably. Emile half shrugged in response for crying out loud. .At the very least he wasn’t calling himself useless anymore, but he was still clearly upset.What else could he do? He thought back to how he’d try to comfort Virgil during anxiety attacks. Belial took a deep breath and placed a hand on Emile’s shoulder, giving it a gently squeeze.

Belial did not expect the man to lean forward. He didn’t expect him to bury his teary face into his shoulder. And he definitely didn't expect his chest to skip a beat the way it did. He caught the glow of his own yellow soulmakr reflected in the doctor’s glasses. Belial was terrified of making a wrong move, but he let instinct take over and hesitantly wrapped his arms over Emile’s back. He made soothing stroked as his soulmate got out the last of his silent sobs.

After who knows how many minutes, Emile Stopped shaking and with a shuddered breath he finally sat back up. Belial was sorry or the loss of contact.

“Thanks Belial.” The smile on his face was finally devoid of melancholy.

“Don’t mention it. I’m so glad to have used up my therapy session time this way,” he said. Emile just laughed.

“I am sorry about that. I’ll be sure to make up for the missed time next session.” Emile looked around at the state of his office with a sigh. Seriously. It was a mess. “I really should clean up in here before my next appointment. It’s not till noon, but still. Elliot is rather punctual.”

Typical Emile. Thinking of others even after having an emotional meltdown. It was far too pitiful for Belial to allow.

“Better Idea: You leave the cleaning for later and I take you to get some ice cream now,” he said.

“You really don’t have to,” said Emile.

“Of course I do. Didn’t you know? Ice cream is the cornerstone of any healthy breakfast.” He was unable to hide the smirk that ghosted his face at hearing Emile’s full laughter for the first time all day.

“I’d like that,” Emile said, holding open the door for both of them.

“But it’s only fair that you buy, given that I lost therapy time.”

“Nice try Mr. Banks. I’m the one who needs chim-chim-chima-cheering up. We can go halvsies.”

“Oh fine.” Belial put his hat back on and followed him out.

As they exited the cafe and walked down the block, he caught the low hum of a Disney song (Mary Poppins maybe?) coming from the therapist. Well what do you know? He’d actually been able to be there for his soulmate in some small way. This time, Belial allowed himself to indulge in a genuine smile.

Maybe neither of them was useless after all.

#sanders sides #sanders sides fic #altruistic skittles #My writing #deceit sanders #emile picani #virgil sanders #thomas sanders #holy shit im tired #i wrote this in a day #worth it #KDsWriting #sympathetic deceit

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jovialyouthmusic · 5 years

Text

Two’s Company, Three’s Allowed, a Royal Romance fanfic

Masterlist

@speedyoperarascalparty @brightpinkpeppercorn @sleepwalkingelite @zaffrenotes @ao719 @choicesfanatic86 @darley1101 @flowerpowell @gardeningourmet @kinkykingliam @livingthroughchoices @likethetailofacomet @andy-loves-corgis @silviasutton1989 @blackcatkita @flowerpowell @endlessly-searching-for-you @boneandfur

An Unusual Wedding Part 3

Warning; Mention of miscarriage and bereavement

Lucy and Brad were waiting outside the Chateau to greet them, along with Gladys. Brad opened the car door and Bianca got out, followed by Savannah while Drake got out of the other side of the car.

‘Mrs Walker, it’s wonderful to see you again.’ beamed Brad. ‘I can’t tell you how much I appreciate Drake’s friendship and loyalty. He’s a credit to you and your husband.’ He gently touched her upper arms by way of a token hug and leaned down to kiss her on either cheek.

‘Brad, you’ve grown into such a fine young man.’ she said fondly. ‘I was so sorry to hear of your father’s death. He was always good to us.’

Uncharacteristically, Lucy hung back, but only for a fraction of a second. Only Brad and Drake would have noticed her hesitation, but she held out her hand to Bianca, smiling sweetly.

‘Mrs Walker, so good to meet you. Drake has told me all about you.’ Drake knew that was a white lie as he found it hard to talk about his parents at the best of times. At least she hadn’t said ‘told me so much about you’. Bianca accepted her hand, and they leaned into each other for a kiss on the cheek. They parted, and Lucy looked hopeful, but her smile was beginning to wane as Bianca looked her over critically.

‘My my Drake, what a lovely pretty young wife you’ll be sharing with Brad.’ she said to him, then turned her attention back to Lucy. ‘You’re rather pale my dear, it must be tiring trying to keep two men happy.’ Lucy looked crestfallen for a moment before she plastered on a smile again.

‘Not at all Mrs Walker, they look after me very well. I’m hardly ever alone.’ Drake felt moved to defend Lucy and stood close to her facing his mother. He sneaked his hand into hers.

‘Lucy had an accident a week or so ago, Mom. She’s still getting over it.’

‘Oh don’t be silly Drake, I’m just fine.’ smiled Lucy. ‘Brad has been very attentive.’

‘Accident? What happened?’ Bianca asked. ‘Should you be putting so much pressure on her if she’s not well?’ By this time Savannah was standing next to her mother.

‘Mom, come in and let’s see if Bartie is awake.’ Bianca’s face lit up and the two women went off into the house chattering and smiling. Drake looked to Lucy, who was looking a little shocked at his mother’s comment.

‘Don’t mind her Lucy, she always says what she thinks. I’m sure she’ll be more relaxed after she’s seen Bartie.’ Lucy smiled wanly

‘I can see where you got your forthright nature from.’ Lucy said tartly. Drake made a face, the corners of his mouth turning down.

‘You do look pale, are you okay?’

’I wish you would all stop fussing, I’m fine. I’m naturally fair skinned and I’ve not seen much sunlight lately.’ Lucy said testily.

‘In that case we cna have tea and cake on the terrace.’ said Drake ‘By the time we’ve had a stroll around the knot garden it will all be ready, and anyone who wants to can join us.’

‘That’s a good idea, it’s still warm and it will be a while before dinner is ready.’ Brad nodded to Drake.

‘I’ll go and arrange it and let folk know, you two catch up.’ he said, disappearing into the house, leaving Lucy to stroll arm in arm with Drake.

‘You must be excited to have your Mom here at last.’ she smiled.

‘Honestly, yes, but a part of me still remembers how she left me and Savannah here when Dad died, and you saw how she speaks her mind. I’m sure things will settle down when she gets to know you better but…’

‘It’s not going to be easy, is it?’ Lucy sighed. ‘In some ways – I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but she reminds me of…’

‘Olivia, I know.’ said Drake miserably. ‘There is a big difference though, Mom doesn’t mean to be unkind, she just doesn’t realise how saying what you think can be hurtful. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you.’

‘Well Drake, although you say what you mean too, you’re not cruel. That marshmallow centre of yours always keeps you in check. Whenever you’ve said anything hurtful, you’ve apologised as soon as you realised.’ Lucy assured him. ‘Luckily I find that a very attractive quality.’

‘And you always say exactly what you mean, but say it nicely – unless of course you’re talking to Olivia because harsh words are the only thing she understands, or someone like Neville who is an idiot.’ Drake grimaced ‘Your words are precise and well thought out’

‘Thanks Drake. I guess all that matters is that everything goes smoothly, then the three of us can at least have a little alone time before Anton’s trial.’

They saw that tea was ready on the terrace, so they went to sit in the afternoon sunshine. Gladys and Lily stood by to serve guests and Lucy went to wave them away, but Drake tutted at her.

‘You need to take a back seat Valois. Sometimes having servants is useful, so let them wait on you.’ He smiled at Gladys ‘Thank you, Lucy needs some spoiling, so go right ahead.’

The two of them sat companionably, sipping tea and eating cake for a while before the others started to drift out to join them. Brad was first, and Hana followed after, exclaiming in delight at the spread. By the time a fresh pot of tea was needed, Bianca and Savannah arrived with Bertie and Bertrand, closely followed by Maxwell.

Talk turned to arrangements for the wedding, which by now was due in two days’ time. Bianca was captivated by little Bartie, feeding him cake and ignoring Savannah’s pleas not to spoil him.

‘Nonsense, I’m his grandma, and who knows when Drake will be giving me another grandchild – I expect the first child you have will be an heir to the throne, won’t it, Lucy?’ Everyone stared at her, and Hana choked a little on her cake. Maxwell banged her on the back, which created a diversion, but the damage had been done. Lucy got up and excused herself, walking determinedly to the house. Bianca looked puzzled.

‘What on earth is wrong with the girl?’ she cried. ‘It’s true isn’t it?’ Drake turned on her.

‘Mom, you really should think before you speak.’ he growled and got up to run after Lucy. Hana was blushing by now, having been told all about the reasons for Lucy’s stay in hospital and Brad smiled uncomfortably. Savannah leaned forward to speak in a low voice.

‘I think you hit a nerve, Mom. Lucy was in hospital last week with a suspected miscarriage after taking a fall from her horse.’ Bianca looked stricken.

‘How was I to know? No wonder she was looking pale. Do none of you know how to look after someone after a shock like that?’ Brad cleared his throat.

‘I assure you Mrs Walker, Lucy has received the best medical care Cordonia has to offer.’

‘This little backwater?’ she cried. ‘you might as well have witchdoctors for all the good it’s done her. It’s not medical attention she needs.’ and she got up and all but ran after Drake and Lucy, who had reached the house and gone into the drawing room. Lucy was now flushed and looked angry.

‘Mom, not now.’ hissed Drake, but she was adamant.

‘Do you know how devastating a miscarriage is, Drake Walker?’ she scolded. Lucy’s expression changed to one of sorrow.

‘The doctors said she’d never been pregnant to start with.’ he protested.

‘But it’s enough if she thought she was!’ she cried and turned to Lucy to hold her in a fierce hug. Lucy froze at first, then suddenly softened and burst into tears. Bianca led her to a sofa and sat her down. ‘There there dear, nobody understands what it’s like. You go ahead and cry, you’re grieving for a lost life, whether there was anything there or not.’ Drake hovered by the two women, not sure what to do.

‘Don’t just stand there, Drake, at least get the poor girl a hanky’ she chided, holding her arm around Lucy’s shoulders ‘She’s suffering from grief and shock. Get some sweet tea too’ She sat and soothed the sobbing Lucy as Drake hurried off. She managed to pull herself together after a few minutes.

‘Th – thankyou Mrs Walker. I didn’t think it mattered.’ she hiccupped softly. ‘I only thought I was – and I went for a ride to think about it, then my horse threw me. Drake found me… at the bottom of a slope in the woods, and he stayed with me until the Air ambulance came. He was so brave and comforting. Don’t be hard on him. I love him so much – and Brad too.’

‘Shh darling, call me Bianca, and you settle yourself down. Doctors know nothing you know, you need to talk to someone who’s been through it themselves, they can tell you how to cope.’ Lucy looked at Bianca, realisation slowly dawning.

‘You mean – you…?’

‘Yes darling, me. Drake might have had an older sister or brother. I felt so bad afterwards, and the best tonic was being able to talk about it with someone who knew. The next best cure is a successful pregnancy.’

‘I’m so sorry for you Mrs Walker- I mean Bianca. I – we weren’t even planning it for a while, we were going to wait, and we’d been careful. I was late, but I guess it was the shock of all the things that happened on my wedding day.’ Lucy did not tell Bianca that she wasn’t sure whose child it might have been, but she felt as if a huge weight had been lifted ‘Nobody wanted to talk about it, they were just glad that I was okay.’

‘And now you’ve got the pressure of another wedding. It’s not surprising you’re so run down.’

‘But I can’t call it all off. I want Drake to be part of our marriage.’

‘Well I don’t quite understand how you can have two men at once dear, but if that’s what you want, and it’s legal and above board in this little backwater, why shouldn’t you? Just leave all the arrangements to everyone else and give yourself some time to grieve. Talk to Brad and Drake about it and what it means to you, and then hopefully you’ll be able to enjoy your…’ she took a deep breath. ‘second wedding. Just let it happen.’

Drake reappeared with tissues and tea, and Brad came in with him. Bianca stood and gave the two men a stern look.

‘You need to listen to Lucy and support her. She’s not to have any work to do at all before the wedding, it’s all your responsibility. I’ll be watching and making sure she’s not stressed – do you boys understand?’ The two men nodded, and she walked out of the room to leave them to it.

Lucy patted the sofa beside her, and the two men sat either side of her. She leaned into Brad’s embrace and Drake put his hand on her back and held her hand. She closed her eyes and felt their support. She drew a deep sigh. Her voice was small as she started to speak but grew stronger as she went on.

‘For a few hours, I thought I was pregnant. For those hours, I wasn’t only wondering whose it was – I was thinking about whether it was a boy or a girl – who it would look like and how I’d cope looking after it. I wondered if I’d make a good mother. I knew you would both be fantastic fathers, but I wondered if it would divide you when you knew whose it was. I didn’t even know if Drake was going to say yes to joining us. I thought of little Bartie and pictured myself feeding the ducks with them or reading them bedtime stories. I thought of the sleepless nights and looking after him or her if they were sick. When the horse threw me I realised I hadn’t even been watching the track. It all hit me again only a few hours ago.’ Brad held her tight, and Drake drew little circles on her hand, then lifted it to his lips to kiss it.

‘When I was told it hadn’t even been a possibility, I felt – so stupid, and so guilty for making you both worry so much. It was as if there had been – a little girl, or a little boy, and he or she had – just disappeared. Before that, I’d never really thought about being a mother. At all.’ She stopped, and Brad spoke instead.

‘I thought the same thing.’ he said quietly. ‘But I thought talking about it would only upset you. I’ve always seen myself as a father. It comes with the territory. I have to provide an heir.’

‘How could we be so stupid? ’Drake said bitterly ‘All feeling the same and saying nothing.’

‘Well, we’re talking now’ said Lucy ‘and we have plenty of time to think about starting a family for real after the doctor told me to wait a few months. That’s probably a good thing.’

‘We can call the wedding off for now.’ said Drake. ‘I only want you to be well and happy’ Lucy smiled and squeezed his hand.

‘What would make me happy is for everyone to acknowledge you as my partner.’ she said, reaching out to touch his cheek. ‘Everyone – nobles, and citizens, and the rest of the world. Calling the wedding off is not an option.’ Brad spoke up next.

‘I’m sorry - we’ve failed you, Lucy. I promise the wedding will be stress free. The only thing you have to do is choose your dress, we can take care of everything else.’

‘I was going to wear the one I already had.’

‘Well actually, you need to speak to Hana, she has an idea. I’ll go and get her.’ said Brad. Lucy cuddled up to Drake, who held her tight and stroked her hair.

‘You can tell me anything.’ he murmured. ‘any time, you know that.’

‘Thankyou. Let’s just enjoy being alone and quiet, that’s all I want right now.’ Before long Hana appeared, and Lucy smiled at her friend, untangling herself from Drake’s embrace.

‘Lucy, it was going to be a surprise, but I’ve designed a wedding dress for you.’ Hana said. ‘I was going to give it to you on the morning of the wedding, but if you’d like, I can show you now, and we can make any alterations we need to. It would be rather stressful doing it last minute like I’d planned.’

‘Hana, you are just amazing. I tell you what – I’ll try it on – blindfold – and you can fit it, and it will still be a surprise.’

‘That sounds as if it could work. Let’s get to it right now.’

#drake walker #king liam #the royal romance #choices the royal romance #drake x mc #drake x liam #liam x mc #trr #choices trr

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that-buckley-gal · 5 years

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Powerless - Chapter Ten

November 3, 1943

We were in Italy: Steve, the USO girls, and myself. He was performing for stationed troops currently, and as usual, I was backstage. Only instead of standing to the side and watching, I was in Steve’s dressing room again, like I had been during the past two shows.

Sitting in front of me on the vanity, was Bucky’s last letter that I received last month. As my watery eyes reread the last paragraph, an ugly sob escaped my lips, and I wrapped my arms around my stomach as I curled forward and cried. He said not to cry, but how could I not? He said he was going to the front, and that he wouldn’t be able to write for a while. Is a month a while? It’s too long. Even with him being on the front, it was too long. He was a sergeant, and a damn good one. But HYDRA was bad. It was Johann Schmidt’s army. They killed Erskine. A knock came upon the door but I couldn’t bring myself to straighten up right away, though I tried. Immediately my hands caught onto a handkerchief and I wiped it against my face harshly, trying to rid myself of the tears, but it was too late. The door swung open and I crumpled forward, resting my head on my hands, continuing to clear my face of the evidence. “Madison? Are you alright?” Peggy. What was she doing here? I ignored my friend, hoping she would go away. But she was Peggy. The door shut and the agent called my name once more. I sat up then and threw the hanky to the floor. I turned to her slowly. “Peggy.” “Oh… Are you all right? You seem upset?” I give a weak shrug. “I’ve been better, I suppose.” Peggy continued her advance on me and took a seat in the chair I would sit in had Steve been in the chair I was in now. Her eyes bore into mine, and I averted them to the door. “Is that letter from your fiancé?” She asked. “Yes…” I said. She nods. “Is everything all right?” “No,” I said, then look down at my interlaced fingers. My thumbs twirl around themselves waiting, but Peggy never pushes the subject. I decide to tell her anyway. “He, uh… I don’t know if it’s against the rules or whatever, but he told me he was going to the front to go against the Nazis…and HYDRA.” “HYDRA?” Peggy pushed. There it is. I nod and sniff again as my eyes start to water. “Take your time,” Peggy urged, but I could detect certain urgency in her tone. “He sent that letter over a month ago, and hasn’t sent one since. And I know it’s just a month, but still… I just… I lost my mom a few years ago and can still feel the pain of losing her. I don’t know what I would do if I lost Bucky, too. I haven’t told Steve, but I think he’s starting to catch on that something’s wrong.” “I don’t mean to pry,” Peggy started. “But what infantry is Bucky stationed with?” “The 107th.” Peggy’s silence is deafening. I turn to her with narrowed eyes. “What is it?” Peggy doesn’t seem all that intimidated by me, which is slightly frightening, but mostly irritating. She did seem hesitant to answer me though. “Last month we got word that a few soldiers were trapped behind enemy lines. The crowd for Captain America is made up of what was left of the 107th.” “What?” I stammer. “Why? Who? Where? I mean…” Peggy doesn’t say anything as I stumble over my words like an idiot. However my shock quickly turns to anger. “WHY HASN’T ANYBODY DONE ANYTHING TO GET THEM OUT?” “Madison – ” Peggy started. “WHERE IS THAT GODDAMNED COLONEL?” I start towards the door, which flies open and I flinch back thinking it was the colonel. I really am tough. Just not when I’m angry. Steve brushed passed me, but grabbed my bicep, and turned me back around to Peggy who looked startled by Steve’s sudden appearance. Steve’s sharp gaze landed on me, and I shrunk back. “You – knock it off,” He looked at Peggy. “And you, um… Did you say the 107th?” Peggy retold her summary of the events whilst I slowly talked myself down. Steve is here. Steve will fix things. He’s my big brother. Big brothers do that. Steve turned on his heel and grabbed my hand instead and led me from the room; Peggy followed. Steve was practically dragging me as he ran across the army base. A few straggling soldiers stopped and stared at the three of us. Steve eventually entered a tent where the colonel sat in a desk. He saw me and shook his head before greeting Steve. “Well, if it isn’t the star spangled man with a plan! What is your plan today?” “I need the casualty list from the Battle of Azzano.” The colonel stared before turning a sharp gaze on Peggy before assuring her that they would share a talk she wouldn’t enjoy later. I glared at colonel but he ignored me. “Please, sir,” Steve pressed on. “I just need one name. Sergeant James Barnes,” he eyed me before spelling out the name. “B-A-R–” “I can spell.” Pause. Time seemed to slow down as my chest got tight and heavy. I couldn’t feel my heart beating, but I could hear myself inhaling a deep breath as my eyes shot from person to person in this tent. The Colonel was paused and staring at Steve with a determined look on his face. Peggy and Steve wore identical stony expressions as they stared back at the man in charge. “I have signed more of the condolence letters than would I care to count, but the name does sound familiar. I’m sorry, son.” Silence. Deafening silence. Steve is talking back to the colonel, but I don’t hear anything. Bucky… My heartbeat is thundering in my ears. I can’t feel my limbs. I don’t think I can breathe. Am I breathing? Bucky. The colonel walks out, and Peggy is turned away from Steve and I. Why? Is she giving us privacy? Peggy. Speak. Help me. I don’t think I’m alive. Am I dead? Steve. He is in front of me. His lips are moving slowly but I can’t hear what he’s saying. I can’t read lips. That’s not my forte. “…listen to me. Can you hear me? Madi!” “…yes,” I whisper. I blink rapidly before I suddenly breathe in. I can breathe. I am alive. “Steve?” “Look – Bucky may still be alive. We don’t know that he’s dead for sure. Just breathe, okay? I’m going to go to Azzano and try to find him, ok?” What? Are you nuts?! Steve…you can’t, okay? You just can’t. Don’t. Please, I’m asking you not to. I can’t lose you, too. “I’ll be back, I promise,” Steve walked off making my breath hitch. Didn’t he hear me? Peggy followed after him after the colonel told her to keep whatever she had to say to herself, which made me even more upset. Before I could dwell on it too long, Peggy stormed back in and grabbed my arm and pulled me along with her. I couldn’t even function, though. How could I? Bucky could be dead right now. Steve could be walking into a death trap as we speak. Peggy. Let me stay here. I know how this will end. Just send me back to Brooklyn. Of course, Peggy either didn’t hear me or ignored me as she led me to Steve’s room. While she walked into the center of the room, I lingered by the door and watched. Time seemed to slow down again as the colonel’s monotone voice replayed that sentence again. “I have signed more of the condolence letters than would I care to count, but the name does sound familiar. I’m sorry.” My breath hitched again as I moved back to lean against the door frame. Steve and Peggy were talking awfully slow as Steve packed his suitcase in a similarly slow pace. What were they doing? “I have signed more of the condolence letters than would I care to count, but the name does sound familiar. I’m sorry.” Except the colonel wasn’t really sorry for us personally. He was just sorry another American died in the war. Sergeant Barnes was just another number to him, at least, so I thought. It didn’t make sense for him to be gone. How could he be? Really. He is strong, and brave, and selfless, and smart, and honest, and kind, and amazing, and extraordinary, and so much more. How could he really be gone? I blinked away the tears. Now’s not the time to cry. You have to be strong for Steve. Time seemed to pick up again as Peggy and Steve continued to converse, this time in a normal pace. They didn’t seem to be alarmed by my mini panic attack, which was slightly concerning, but then I shook it off. There were lives on the line here. Steve then pulled his jacket on and walked out. I followed him. Peggy followed us. Steve threw his case into the backseat of a jeep and moved to get in the driver seat. I took this as my chance to go with him and climbed into the backseat. Peggy and Steve were too busy to notice. My brother then got into the driver’s seat, but Peggy stood to the side of the car, refusing to let him go. “I can do more than let you go,” Peggy said. Steve stared at her, and I could tell our expressions were most likely matching. What? When Steve didn’t make another move, Peggy moved around the front of the car and got into the passenger side. That’s when Steve noticed me. “Get out.” “No.” “Madi, I’m not kidding. Get out.” “No, Steve.” “Madison!” “WHY can’t I go?” “Because you’re my little sister and I’m not going to put you in harm’s way.” “So you’d rather leave me here on base with men who probably haven’t seen a woman in months while you and Peggy go try to find Bucky?” Steve pursed his lips and Peggy looked at him knowingly. “Fine,” Steve agreed. “You can come with on one condition.” “Anything.” “You have to stay with me, and follow my orders, at all times,” Peggy said firmly. “Okay.” “Good, then it’s settled. Steve, take us around Stark’s lab. It’s across the base.” “We’re gonna see Howard?” I ask. “He’s gonna get us a plane,” Peggy said. And right she was. At first, Howard seemed skeptical of Steve going on his own mission without backup, or the colonel’s approval. When Steve went into depth about why he was so adamant on going, Howard agreed. “Oh, and are you going to be helping the Captain?” He asked me. I shook my head. “Peggy’s my charge. I’m just going to see Steve off.” When Howard gave me a curious look, I glowered at him. “He’s the only remaining family I have.” Howard put his hands up in surrender before nodding with a slight smile. “Then let’s get going.” He started to walk away with me trailing behind him. He went over to the pilot’s seat whilst I took a seat at one of the benches on the plane; Peggy and Steve doing the same. “Ms. Rogers, Agent Carter and Captain America: welcome to Air Stark. This is your pilot speaking and today we’ll be flying over Azzano. Please fasten your seatbelts; the ride may get a little bumpy.”

There was some commotion on the radio as we were taking off; Howard shut the radio off without responding to it. Steve and I shared an uneasy look before trying to act nonchalant when Peggy looked at us. She assured us that Howard was the best civilian pilot she knew, and that was enough to calm me down. If Peggy trusted him, then so would I.

Eventually we came over our destination and Howard just told Steve that we’d most likely be able to put him down over the doorstep. “Just get me as close as you can,” Steve replied before returning to his conversation with Peggy about trouble and shooting people. “Agent Carter? If we’re not in too much of a hurry, I thought we could stop off in Lucerne for a late-night fondue,” Howard spoke from his chair. Steve turned his gaze on Peggy, who shifted uncomfortably. Then she looked at Steve with a ‘what-are-you-thinking’ look on her face while he looked back at her with a ‘are-you-serious’ look. What is Steve thinking? “So you two…you…fondue?” My brows shot up as Peggy turned to look at me. We exchanged expressions before she regained her composure, and assured that Howard was the best pilot she knew, but avoided the fondue. Steve, Steve, Steve. We talked about this. Bucky is going to hear about this after Steve rescues him. Steve stood up then and crossed two feet over to me. We looked at each other and though there was a lot to say, nothing was said out loud. Instead, I wrapped my arms around my brother and his around me. He kissed my head like our mother used to and I had to fight back the tears. “You have to come back, okay?” “I will.” “You can’t just leave me here, okay?” “I won’t.” “Okay,” I let my brother go. “Be safe. Give them hell.” “You bet I will.” I nod and turn away from him while he goes back to Peggy. I hear the plane’s door open and Peggy and Steve said their goodbyes before Peggy shut the door. Then, against my will, a few tears trickled down my cheeks. I just had to have faith that my brother would return.

#powerless #bucky barnes #steve rogers #captain america #the first avenger

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captain-kingliamsqueen · 6 years

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I Never Been So Scared In My Life

Part 4 of Life Before Him

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Pairing: Liam x Riley

Summary: Liams emotions about nearly losing riley and the events of the days get to him, he finally lets it all out to his childhood friend.

Word Count: 2085

Tagged : @starstruckzonkoperatorbat @drakelover78 @queencatherynerhys @devineinterventions2 @jayjay879 @kawairinrin @hopefulmoonobject @flyawayblue56 @gardeningourmet @blackcatkita @syltti78 @decisso @theroyalweisme @hhiggs @mfackenthal @bruteforcebears @pens-girl-87

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“Liam…?” Riley whispered looking drained

“yes sweetie?”

“could…could you come and lie with me?”

“of course,” Liam whispered before standing up, Riley moved over on the bed making room for him, then she lifted the blanket. Liam climbed onto the bed under the blanket then wrapped his arms around her as she cuddled into his chest.

“I love you Liam” she whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

“I love you so much Riley…so much” he replied in the same tone.

Liam stayed with Riley all night that night, refusing to leave her side. Riley lay wide awake, unable to sleep, Liam however, he was being taken over with tiredness, he lay beside Riley, drifting in and out of sleep, trying to stay awake in case anything happened

“Liam” she mumbled half asleep “go to bed, the doctors here if anything happens”

“no…I’m not moving” he stated

“Liam…”

“Riley, I am staying put, there’s nothing you can do about it.” He mumbled before falling into a light slumber.

Riley spent the night awake, thoughts running back and forth through her head. How could she let them get her to that point…she thought she was over it, she thought she was done with that part of her life, then they just come out of the blue and turn her life upside down…again!

The next morning, when Liam woke, Riley had not long fallen asleep, he looked down to see her eyes and cheeks were red…she had been crying.

“it will get better Riley, I promise” He was startled to a knock on the door, he gently pecked Riley's head then climbed out of the bed, careful not to wake her. He opened the door stepping out of the room for a moment. When he turned after shutting the door, he was met with Drake.

“Drake…” he sighed

“I just heard…Bastian informed me…is she alright?”

“define alright?” he sighed “she’s sleeping finally, the doctor said she’ll have to stay in the medical room for a day or so, just so he can keep an eye on here, make sure that nothing happens. Listen, why don’t you give me twenty minutes and I’ll get the doctor to come and sit with her and I’ll meet you in my study…I’ll explain everything”

“alright…twenty minutes” Drake patted Liam's shoulder then headed down the hall. Once Drake left, Liam headed down to the doctor’s office, He gently knocked then walked in.

“doctor James, I have a matter to attend to, I don’t want to leave her alone, could you stay with her?”

“of course, I was just about to head down to check on miss Brookes anyway”

“thank you…for everything” Liam replied. He headed back down to the room with the doctor, informing him of Riley's sleeping pattern through the night. He quickly pressed a kiss on her lips then headed up to their bedroom where he changed his clothes, when he reached their bedroom door, he noticed that the door had been mended from where his foot hit it, he entered the room, looking around, it looked just like it did before the events of the day before.

Liam quickly showered then changed clothes before heading down to his study where Drake waited outside.

“drake” Liam greeted before opened his study door then gesturing for Drake to enter before him. Once the two were inside, Liam shut the door, walking over towards his liquor cabinet and pouring himself a whiskey. He turned and listed a glass to drake, asking if he wanted one.

“it’s a bit early Liam”

“Drake…”

“never mind” Drake replied “I’ll take one”

“thought you would” Liam sighed

“Liam what happened?” Drake asked as he took a glass from him. Drake sat on the sofa, that sat against the wall, whilst Liam stood, leaning on his desk.

“her parents…they…they fuckin turned up here”

“the palace?”

“yes, the palace, they turned up here, expecting her to just forgive them…expecting her to forget everything they done to her”

“fucking assholes”

“she met with them…she yelled, they got her worked up. she told them to leave, she didn’t want to see them, once they left she told me she was coming upstairs to freshen up, she had been crying…I told her I would come with her, but she said she would be okay” the lump in his throat could be hear, he turned his head to the side, hoping Drake wouldn’t see his eyes beginning to water. “she went up to our room, she must of just…I don’t know, I was in here and I heard her scream then something smashing so I ran…I ran in there, she wouldn’t open the door, she wouldn’t let me in, she could hardly breathe Drake, and I couldn’t get to her, I couldn’t help her.” He sniffled

By this point Drake could see his life long friend breaking, he had noticed the tears…he thought best not bring attention to it…let him talk…let it out.

“she refused to open the door, I told her to open it but she refused, I wanted to help her…she just cried and screamed and…she said she didn’t know why…why anyone would want her…why anyone would want to help her…I told her, I told her that we all love her so much…but she just said that we we’re going to do the same thing her parents done…she thought we were going to leave her alone…I need her to know that I would never…ever do that to her. That’s when she said she couldn’t let herself be hurt again…she went into the bathroom, I shouted for her, but she ignored me then I heard the pills hitting the floor I’ve never been so scared in my life man” at this point Liam's face was covered in tears…he couldn’t hold it in, he was hurt…it hurt him that she thought the things she did, it hurt that he nearly lost the woman he loved me than anyone in the world.

“I shouted…I banged on the door, all she said was I love you…I told her to move away from the door that I was coming in and she said…she said you can try…you’ll be too late” drake didn’t know how to comfort his friend, he didn’t know what to say to make it better…to make it easier to deal with.

“I had to kick to the door in…she was balled up on the floor, she was hyperventilating and everything…I didn’t know what to do then I see all the pills on the floor…she wouldn’t tell me how many she’d taken…I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t respond so I called for Bastian to get the physician”

“Liam” Drake whispered as he went to get up

“no…please don’t get up” he sniffled

“Liam none of this is your fault…it’s her parents…they did this…they did all of this!”

“but if I had gotten to her sooner…if I hadn’t let her come up here alone…if I had listen to my gut and just followed her up here…maybe I could have helped her…maybe I could have stopped her before anything happened…she wouldn’t be down there in that damn hospital bed, with wires connected to her”

“Liam…these are all maybe’s…yes…maybe it might have been different but what matters now is Riley…what matters now is helping her be happy again”

“I know that but I just…I just want her to be okay…I just want her to be happy again…I can’t stand seeing her down there in that bed…helpless…I just want to be there for her...but I don't know how...I-I don't know what to say or what to do to make things easier for her, it hurts that I cant do anything to make the pain go away...she doesn't deserve what shes going through and theres nothing I can do to stop it” he cried, lifting his hand and wiping his eyes

“Liam…you haven’t left her side since she woke up…you are helping her by being there for her…I know it’s going to be hard…not just for Riley…but for you too…but being there for her is all you can do right now.”

“listen” Drake stood from his seat, he walked over to Liam, placing his hand on his shoulder “Riley is one of the strongest people I know…she has been here for all of us when we needed her now we are all going to be there for her…whenever she needs us…no matter what she needs…but we’re also going to be there for you man.”

“thank you, Drake, thank you” Liam sniffled as he wiped his nose.

“listen…why don’t you…go and freshen up…then go back down and see her.”

“yeah…you’re right…I need to get back down there” Liam grabbed his hanky from his pocket and wiped his face.

“alright…go and freshen up then” Drake smiled sympathetically as he patted his friends shoulder. Liam headed out of his office after bidding Drake goodbye, he walked down the hall and into his quarters. He closed the door then headed up to the bathroom, he washed his face then headed back down to the medical room to see Riley wide awake.

“hey” he smiled as he shut the door behind him, he walked over perching himself on the seat beside the bed.

“hi” she whispered “the doctor said I might be able to come back to our bedroom tonight”

“really that’s great” he smiled taking her hand in his

“yeah…I think I might have some tidying up to do”

“hey…its done…don’t worry about it…its sorted”

“o-okay” she mumbled

“Miss Brookes here is doing great…the pills have been flushed from her system…she will feel tired and sick for a little while…but it will get better, I am certain, it is safe for her to head back to your quarters, but…she has to rest…no stress” the doctor smiled

“I promise…she will have nothing but rest” Liam smiled as he shook the doctors hand.

It was about thirty minutes later that Riley and Liam headed back to their quarters. Once they got back Riley went to change her clothes.

“Liam” she whispered from the wardrobe

“yeah?” he replied as he walked over to the door to see her.

“c-could I borrow this?” she mumbled lifting one of his hoodies.

“yes of course…what’s mine is yours” he smiled, he very rarely wore hoodies, he only really wore them when he was out for a run in the morning when it was a little cold.

“thank you” she mumbled. She quickly changed after Liam headed back into the bedroom, she headed back into the bedroom, putting her dirty clothes in the laundry basket. she walked over to Liam, who had his back to where she stood, she wrapped her arms around him, cuddling into his back. he turned to wrap his arms around her, gently placing a kiss on her head.

“promise me something Liam” she sighed

“anything sweetheart”

“promise me you won’t ever leave me” she whispered as a stray tear ran down her cheek. “promise me you won’t ever do…what they did to me”

“I promise…with everything in me…from the bottom of my heart…from my head to my toes…I will never leave you…I will never intentionally hurt you Riley and I will try my damn best to make you happy again, I’m sorry you’re going through all of this but I swear to you on my life…I won’t let anyone ever hurt you the way that they have, I’m here for you Riley…no matter what”

“I love you Liam…I love you so much…thank you…for…for standing by me for not…running for the hills”

“if I ever go running for the hills, it will be to see the view…and I’d be taking you with me” he smirked

“I’m exhausted…will you lie with me?”

“of course,” he whispered before picking her up like the queen she will be then he lifted the duvet and placed her in the bed, pulling the duvet over her then kissed her lips. He walked around the bed, climbing in beside Riley, wrapping her arms around her pulling her to his chest.

“I’m sorry for what I said yesterday…I-I didn’t mean what I said to you…about you leaving me…everything just…got on top of me…everyone always makes me out to be so strong but…I’m not…I’m not strong…I’m broken”

“hey…listen to me…what you said…yes it hurt…but I need you to know that I am here…I will always be here…so will all of our friends…and let me tell you something else…you may not feel like you are strong Riley…but the fact that you have made it this far after everything that you’ve been through…that makes you strong…stronger than anyone I’ve ever met… you might feel broken sweetie but I promise…I’m gonna help you...I’m going to help you to be happy again”

“promise?” she whispered as she started to doze off

“I promise”

he whispered, he kissed her head as he gently ran his fingers through her hair, helping her fall into a peaceful sleep.

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singledarkshade · 6 years

Text

Waverider Detective Agency

Part Three

Gideon ran on the treadmill, feet pounding as music blasted in her ears. The gym was practically empty but considering the time that didn’t surprise her. She hadn’t slept well, so rather than stare at the ceiling until it was time to go to work, she had decided to come and work out.

Feeling a presence at her side she pulled out the earbud and slowed the treadmill to look at the blonde standing there.

“Good morning,” Sara smiled at her, “You’re here early.”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Gideon gave a quick shrug, “I thought I would get some exercise before going into the office.”

Sara nodded, “That makes sense. You know I have some free time if you want to have a training session just now.”

Gideon gave the other woman a quick smile, “That sounds good. I feel like punching something.”

Sara frowned slightly, “Okay?”

“Work is a little…unsettling just now,” Gideon explained, “I have a new partner who is already annoying me.”

“You need to blow off some steam,” Sara nodded in understanding, “Come on.”

Grabbing her water bottle and towel Gideon followed the other woman towards one of the private rooms. This would be a better way to work off her frustration.

*********************************************

Rip was relieved there was a coffee shop on the way to the office. He didn’t have anything in the apartment other than a, now empty, bottle of whiskey. He really needed to get some groceries…and painkillers.

Reaching the agency, he headed to his office and finished his coffee flicking through his email before he started reading more about the cases Gideon had dealt with in the past year. Rip had been surprised by how well she’d thought on her feet the night before. She had impressed him which Rip would admit he had not expected.

Hearing the outside door open he checked the time, wondering if this would be their one employee or Gideon. Taking a breath to steel himself for dealing with people, he stepped out of his office he paused at who was standing there waiting for him.

“Eve?” he demanded in amazement.

His former partner, Eve Baxter, smiled at him, “So this is where you disappeared to.”

“How did you find me?” Rip asked motioning her into his office, “It’s not like I even knew where the hell I was going.”

Taking the seat he offered Eve shrugged, “I annoyed Captain Lance until he told me.”

“Yes, welcome to my newest hell,” Rip told her with a sigh, “Mother gave me her half of this Agency and made me promise I would work here for the next year. Lance agreed with her and put me on special leave.”

“I talked to Mary before I caught the train,” Eve told him motioning the bag she was carrying which she dropped at her side, “And she asked me to bring you some things while she packs the rest.”

Rip’s jaw clenched, “Why didn’t you talk her out of this insanity? She might listen to you and then you don’t have to spend a year trying to work with someone new. Which you hate.”

“Because I actually agree with you taking some more time off,” Eve told him, “Rip, after what happened last week. You have to know you’re not ready to be back on the force.”

“Eve,” he ground out.

“Take the time,” Eve told him, “Trust me, I don’t want to get stuck with some idiot for the next year but after what happened it’s clear you’re not ready to be back.”

Rip stared at her, betrayal filling his eyes, “Eve…”

“I think you should stay here,” she repeated softly.

Shaking his head he exploded, “Why?”

“Because I never want to see you like that again,” Eve told him softly.

Eve Baxter watched Rip hesitate in his anger, his head dropping sadly, “I just want to go home, Eve.”

Understanding he didn’t mean Star City she moved to his side and wrapped her arms around him. They’d been partners for about four years and she’d been made part of his family, becoming Auntie Eve to his little boy from day one.

Eve would never forget that night bursting into his house to find Rip on the floor, blood pouring from several bullet wounds as he tried to get to Miranda and Jonas who were lying unmoving at the other side of the room red pooling around them.

“I know,” she breathed, wishing she could do this one thing for him.

Before that night Rip was a completely different man, open and quick-witted even though his humour was so dry most people didn’t get it. It was clear how much he adored Miranda, how he would do anything for her while he doted on Jonas.

Eve remembered sitting at his side in the hospital, taking her turn between Mary Xavier and Captain Lance as Rip lay practically catatonic for the few months after. Devastated by the loss of his family and the fact they’d been taken from him by someone he had trusted, someone he had opened his home to many times over the years.

“Okay,” she said softly after several minutes, “I have to go, Lance has me on a shift this afternoon. If you need anything, call me. But try and make the best of this year.”

Rip nodded and Eve gave him another hug.

“Eve,” he said softly, “Be careful.”

“I will,” she promised.

Sitting silently in his office after Eve left Rip finally picked up the bag she’d brought with her finding several more changes of clothes, and his favourite picture of the two people he’d loved more than anything. Staring at the two smiling faces Rip gently stroked along their faces shaking himself and slamming the picture back in the bag when he heard the outside door again.

This time it was definitely Gideon, talking to someone he assumed was a friend. Taking a deep breath and making sure he was composed Rip left his office.

Gideon again had her gym bag and coffee with hair pulled up looking completely relaxed was sitting on the reception desk while another woman, darker but just as pretty was sitting in the chair.

“Rip,” Gideon greeted him cordially, “This is Kendra Saunders, our receptionist.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Saunders,” Rip offered his hand.

Taking and shaking his hand she gave him a bright smile, “It’s Kendra.”

“We’re very informal here,” Gideon noted softly.

Rip nodded feeling awkward at being the interloper, “Of course.”

“So, we have Mrs Miller coming in about an hour to see the outcome of our surveillance on her husband,” Gideon told him, “Do you want to join me?”

Rip nodded, “If you don’t mind. Just to let me see how you work things.”

“Of course,” she nodded, “I am going to check my email. Kendra, let me know when Mrs Miller is here.”

Kendra nodded and Gideon left them alone.

“Do you want some coffee or tea?” Kendra asked him.

Rip frowned confused, “I thought you didn’t do coffee or food?”

Kendra laughed, warm and comforting as she rolled her eyes, “No, I don’t make either. But I will do a run to John’s if you really want one.”

“I’m fine,” he assured.

Kendra smiled at him again, “Then I’ll let you know when Mrs Miller is here.”

Feeling dismissed Rip retreated to his office once more.

*********************************************

Gideon sighed in relief when Mrs Miller left, she had to make sure to stock up on more boxes of hankies. Turning to Rip she saw her relief was reflected in his face and wondered if it was just because Mrs Miller spent the whole time crying or if he just wasn’t good with people.

“Well, that was horrible,” Rip noted.

“Unfortunately that is the nature of our business,” Gideon replied softly. Standing she started out to the reception area again, “Kendra, is there anything else for today?”

“Nothing on the books,” Kendra replied with a smile, “But your secret admirer sent flowers again.”

Turning Gideon turned and saw the small bouquet of flowers sitting on the desk with Kendra, “That’s the second this month.”

Rip frowned suddenly picking up the blank card, “Who sent them?”

“We don’t actually know,” Kendra smiled amused.

“They’re from Mr Downey,” Gideon rolled her eyes turning to Rip and explaining, “We found his wife’s necklace a few months ago but he couldn’t afford to pay our normal rates. I admired the flowers in his garden, so he sends flowers about once a month.”

“This is the second bunch this month,” Kendra noted, “They always brighten up the office.”

Rip nodded but his grimace didn’t leave his face.

“Since there is nothing else for today,” Gideon told them, “I am going to John’s for something to eat and I have some research I can do at home. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

Grabbing her bag and jacket she left the office. Walking to John’s she chuckled to herself to see it was a Juice Bar today.

Stepping inside she wasn’t surprised to see how busy the place was, she really wondered how he managed to change his business on an almost daily basis and still be so popular.

“Gideon,” John spotted her almost instantly and made his way over, “I’m glad you came in, I wanted to talk to you.”

“I was hoping for lunch,” Gideon noted.

John shrugged, “I have no chef today, hence the juice bar. I can make you a sandwich.”

“I’ll pick something up on my way home,” she replied.

He nodded before resting his hand on her arm and guiding Gideon into his office disappearing quickly. She took a seat, smiling when he returned and placed a smoothie on the desk beside her.

“What did you do?” Gideon demanded, taking a drink she smiled that it was strawberry flavour her favourite.

John took a seat across from her, “I know you told me not to but I checked up on your new friend.”

“John,” she sighed before her curiosity got the better of her, “What did you find?”

He took a quick breath, “You’ve heard of Vandal Savage?”

“The crime boss in Star City who was taken down a few years ago,” Gideon nodded, “Of course.”

“Well, your new partner was the Detective who did it,” John revealed.

Surprise filled her, “That is impressive.”

“True,” John nodded before continuing, “According to my source one of the reasons Savage managed to avoid being caught was because he had someone on the police feeding him information.”

Gideon remained silent listening thoughtfully.

“Hunter exposed the cop, Zaman Druce who it turned out was his training officer,” John explained, “From what I was told before they could arrest the guy he went after Hunter’s family. Hunter’s wife and son were both killed while he was shot several times and left for dead. He spent about six months in hospital and only went back to work about three months ago.”

Silence filled the room for several minutes as Gideon took all this in.

“That is horrible,” Gideon breathed.

John nodded in agreement, “I’m also sure I know why Mary suddenly gave him her half of the agency and sent him here.”

Intrigued she leaned forward waiting for him to continue.

“Druce was due to go on trial,” John said, “Somehow he escaped and disappeared three days before Hunter came here. I was told Hunter nearly hospitalised a suspect when he found out.”

Gideon sighed softly leaning back in the chair thinking over everything she had been told.

“Poor man,” she whispered.

John nodded, “Just be careful, Gideon. It feels like Mary has sent Hunter here to make sure Druce can’t find him and finish what he started. I don’t want you and Kendra being caught in any cross-fire.”

Gideon wrapped her arm around him in a quick hug, “We will be.”

“Are you sure you don’t want a sandwich?” he asked.

Giving him a quick smile Gideon shook her head, “I’ll pass. Bye, John.”

“Bye,” he grinned opening the door for her.

Leaving the bar and heading home Gideon thought over everything John had told her, completely unaware of the eyes watching her closely.

Part Four

#fic #legends of tomorrow #rip hunter #gideon #timeship #alternate universe

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