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ukiyoexo · 3 years

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THE PERFECT ONE. — kjm

PAIRINGS — exo, kim junmyeon x reader

GENRES — best friends to lovers, fluff fluff fluff, slight angst

SYNOPSIS — after a ruined date, your best friend decides that you deserve to be treated in the form of a perfect night that leaves your heart warm and your feelings out in the open.

WARNINGS — swearing and sweetness

MESSAGE — hi, @amyeonzing i’m emma, your exol secret santa and this is my (hopefully not too shitty) gift for you. i really enjoyed the time i spent getting to know you and i must say that i think you’re pretty freaking cool!! thanks for putting with my somewhat sporadic asks, i hope this makes up for it

also thanks to mel and lolo for setting up the @exolssecretsanta, it really was fun and definitely worth it!

WORD COUNT — 2.2k+

"i hate guys." you let out in a huff, flopping your body into your best friend's bed, "i hate guys, i hate men, i hate boys, i hate those weird humans with the dicks hanging off their body. i hate them all." you repeat again more descriptively this time, the frustration growing in your chest as you continue your somewhat dramatic announcement. your hands gripping the duvet cover as your head buries into the pillow. the only sense of calm you gain being from the smell of cologne that lingers on junmyeon's sheets.

you don't hear or see him get up, but he does with a small chuckle, pushing away from the desk he was sat in front of at the other side of the bedroom and walking over to the bed calmly. he hovers over the side of the bed your laying on before deciding to crouch down next to you, one hand gently pushing on your arm in hopes of encouraging you to unbury your face. it takes a little convincing — it always does — but you do give in eventually, letting yourself be rolled over, your arms in reponse only folding over your chest as a pout forms on your lips.

"so you were saying," junmyeon nudges you to make room for him on the bed, "men equal bad?" he sits down once you shuffle over, doing his best to hide the small smile that is prying at his lips "men equal very bad." you nod in agreement, the stern look remaining on your face as junmyeon nods. “and why is that this time?”

you shake your head at his question, not really wanting to answer. if you were being honest, you found the truth quite embarrassing, even if you shouldn’t do, you just couldn’t help it. but then again, it was junmyeon you were talking. the man you had known since you were old enough to walk, the man you spent your childhood with, experiencing the epic highs and lows of being a teenager and now an adult. it being junmyeon made you feel a bit better at least and was only reason you were willing to admit the cause of your upset.

“i got stood up.” your face twists, eyes tracing the dappled texture painted on junmyeon’s bedroom ceiling. “i was supposed to go on a date last night with this guy i met through a friend and he fucking stood me up.”

junmyeon shifts onto his side, elbow bent to prop up his head, “oh,” he hums, face morphing into a sympathetic expression, eyes saddened. his hand moves to rest on your shoulder, rubbing soothing circles, “hey,” he begins gently, “there’s no point getting upset over this guy. if he couldn’t be bothered to show up to a date with someone as amazing as you, he’s not worth any of your time or thought in the first place.”

“ugh,” this was the exact reason everyone came to junmyeon for advice and you hated it, mostly because he was always right. you were letting some stupid guy, who you hadn’t even properly met, dictate your feelings and however much you didn’t want to admit it, it was stupid.

“ok.” you nod, lettting a small smile pry at your lips. “who cares about him, right?” you sit up promptly and junmyeon mimics the action. “right!” he cheers on with you but the joy is short lived. “it does still kinda suck though.” your body seems to deflate as the words pass your lips, shoulders caving in on themselves.

it sucked a whole lot in fact. not even because you cared that much about the guy, just the feeling that someone would rather leave you hanging than text to cancel.

junmyeon remains silent for a while before shifting off the bed, making his way around to the other side before grabbing your hands and pulling you up to. “y/n,” he begins softly, “forget him, yeah?” he nods encouragingly and you mirror the action reluctantly, gaze flickering away. “i’ve got a plan and it requires you to not be grumpy.”

your head seems to perk up at his statement, a plan?

your head tilts and it’s enough indication for junmyeon to begin explaining, “go on a date with me instead, a make up for last night.” he offers sweetly, hands clutching yours, and you swear you feel your heart beat fasten. “a date?” you question and he nods again, “a date.” he smiles back, “i’ll make it as perfect as possible and by the end of it, you will have forgotten that prick even exists.”

it hadn’t taken much convincing after that for you to agree, junmyeon was just a friend after all, and what’s weird about going out with a friend?

he had instructed soon after for you to go home and get changed, planning to pick you at seven for the beginning of your date. you had done so promptly, changing into your favourite ‘casual date’ outfit - whatever that meant - before fixing your hair and putting on a light layer of makeup.

and thankfully, unlike last night, when the planned time rolled around, junmyeon showed up too, a bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand that had your cheeks heating. his only reasoning being that you “deserved to know what a proper date was like.”

just a friend, just a friend, just a friend.

you have to remind yourself as he begins to drive after guiding you to his car, taking a deep breath as you scan the road signs you pass, hoping for any clue of where junmyeon might be taking you. the further you journeyed however, the more lost you became, city buildings morphing into fields upon fields. the car drive turning into what felt like more of an adventure as the minutes ticked on. “if you’re going to kill me, at least give me some warning.” you let out in a chuckle and junmyeon laughs back, his hand moving from the steering wheel onto your thigh. the feeling of his skin on yours leaving goosebumps prickling on your leg, “no murder happening here.” he squeezes his hand and just as quickly, it’s back on the wheel.

it’s weird, the feeling that bubbles in your stomach, almost like butterflies. but no, that was stupid. junmyeon was your best friend of course and that was it. even if he seemed to be the one you thought about most.

few words are shared after that, a quiet melody playing through the car from one of your playlists. your head resting against the window. you don’t even notice at first when the car rolls to a stop, junmyeon getting out first and promptly making his way over to your side of the car. the small giggle that passes your lips when he pulls open your door and holds out a hand leaving a rosy shade on his cheeks. he then retrieves the small weaved basket he had tucked in the car boot - the stereotypical picnic type - before gripping your hand once again, leading you down a small path.

it’s a small wooded area, up a slight slope, away from the concrete buildings and pollution. the moonlight weaves its way between the branches and leaves, leaving specs of silver dancing on the ground. rays highlighting the small blue flowers that sit in bundles in the foliage. it’s pretty. in fact more than that, it’s almost ethereal.

the world around you seems to glow, nature left to create its own bubble of serenity. the peace of the night only disturbed by the sound of your footsteps.

it’s a calm, however, that seems starkly contrastinf to the hammering in your chest every time you feel junmyeon’s thumb rub against the back of your palm. sure, you and junmyeon had held hands before, you had even cuddled and shared the same bed, you were best friends after all. it’s just that this felt different. felt special. it felt like something more.

you walk for only a couple minutes before reaching a clearing. it’s on the edge of the hill, surrounded by trees and seemingly secluded from the rest of the world. the only evidence of human life being the glowing lights of the city from what seems be miles away.

he lays out a blanket and places down the basket, opening it to pull out a collection of some of your favourite foods. god, he knew you well.

“how do you know about this place?” your head tilts, eyes scanning junmyeon’s features as you settle onto the picnic blanket. every soft curve of his face almost iridescent in the white glow of the moon and stars. “i just like to come here sometimes.” he responds rather simply, gaze fixated ahead. “when i want to clear my head, or need to be alone.” he continues, voice edging further into a whisper with each word.

“it’s nice.” you hum back, a small smile perched on your lips. “perfect in fact.” junmyeon gains a smile at that too. “i’m glad.”

you remain silent for a while after that, letting yourself enjoy the food and the comfort each other’s presences provided. you weren’t lying when you said it was perfect, it really was.

no one had ever done something like this for you, and you doubted anyone ever would again. it almost seemed too perfect, and somehow almost painful at the same time. to know that this was just a fake date per say and not the real thing left you with a bitter feeling in the pit of your stomach that you couldn’t seem to get rid. but you couldn’t say anything, after all, junmyeon was just a friend.

“you didn’t have to do this, you know?” you whisper after another moment, “but i wanted to.” he responds quickly but gently back. a response that leaves a warm, fuzzy feeling growing in your chest that you can’t stop no matter how hard you try. “i know, but it’s just sad as well i guess.”

your words catch the man off guard, his head twisting in your direction, eyebrows quirked up slightly. “well it’s not real, is it?”

a silence settles once again. a quiet that’s more stiff than serene. leaving your hands sweaty and throat dry. you shouldn’t have said anything, you knew that, but you and junmyeon had always promised to tell each other the truth and that was what it was. the truth. this date wasn’t real. and that was the truth no matter how much you didn’t like it.

“i—” your best friend begins but doesn’t finish, instead shifting in his spot on the checkered fabric. “i guess.” his thumb fiddles with the ring resting on one of his fingers, “unless you want it to be.” he then mumbles, so close to a whisper that he’s not even sure you heard him, but you do. of course you do.

“do you want it to be?” you whisper out your own question in response, junmyeon letting it linger in the air before slowly nodding. his movements small but sure. “i want it to be real, if you want it be real.”

junmyeon admits and you feel yourself seemingly freeze in the moment. the truth bubbling in your throat ready to be blurted out. you couldn’t lie, you knew that, but admitting it was quite frankly scary as fuck.

“i want this to be real, i want something between us too.”

maybe you blurted out too much.

you can feel your cheeks heating with embarrassment, heart thudding so hard you’re sure it could break out of your chest at any moment.

but then he laughs, a small chuckle, a chuckle of disbelief.

it seems out of character for the junmyeon you knew but then he’s threading his fingers with yours and leaning so closely towards you that you’re not sure if anything is as you really know it. “me too.” he lets a smile pry at the corner of his mouth, face inches away from yours as his gaze flickers onto your lips. your gaze however focusing on his eyes. the way they seem to store a thousand stars and hundreds of joyf memories. the small flecs of gold running through the brown that somehow glow even at night.

“can i kiss you?” junmyeon hums and a breath catches in your throat but your head nods promptly nonetheless. the feeling of his lips against yours akin to the feeling of electricity, jolting through every nerve in your body, leaving every hair stood tall. his lips soft and so so gentle, yet somehow still emitting fireworks when you meet with them.

fuck. he was a perfect kisser too.

you pull back reluctantly, the need for air suddenly an inconvenience. you want to kiss him again, feel the electricity bolting through you once more, but instead you can’t stop this big grin taking over your features. “what?” junmyeon lets out in a breathy laugh, “nothing.” you shake your head back, letting your heart swell even more.

you copy junmyeon’s actions when he lies back on the blanket, eyes scanning the star lit sky. and you let him pull you close when he wraps an arm around your shoulder confidently.

“so, do you still hate men?” junmyeon’s head tilts with an almost cheeky grin, fingers playing with yours. you let out a breathy chuckle before shaking your head softly, “you’re an exception. the perfect one at that.”

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djemsostylist · 3 years

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Of Queens and Trash

Here’s the thing. SCK has been on a downward trend since 13. The breakup was long, getting together again was tiring, the amnesia plot was poorly handled and the mess that came following his recovery was, well, a mess. The necessary break for covid gave us a chance for a fresh start for Edser. All the bad stuff in the past, and a focus in the last episodes of them being able to finally fulfill all the promises they had not been able to. After all, this was a story that, at its core, was about two people who met and fell in love and who, no matter what, chose to be together. Invisible handcuffs. And with the return of the OG writer, it seemed we might finally get that. After 39 episodes of angst and only 7(?) of real togetherness, surely it was time? Forget the pain of the past, and start with Edser navigating their world together.

And then the trailer dropped. And all of a sudden, all the people who had spent months eviscerating Serkan for behaving badly in the 30s were celebrating this new plot, the “great angst” and Eda “being a Queen.”

For me, I can’t get over the hiding of the child. It's a hardline deal breaker. I don’t think it matters who writes it, I think it's an awful plotline. No matter how "good" the trailer looks or moments seem, I will remember that I was watching a show about two people who loved each other and never wanted to be apart, about a man who learned how to open his heart, and this ruined it all.

Now, I think it's worth noting that my hard line, in this particular case, is in response to Edser, if that makes sense. I’m not hardline, “if this is in a story I’m not watching”. If it works for the characters and story because that is the type of story being told, then fine.

I don't subscribe to the woke feminism brand of "all women are Queens and all men are Trash" which seems to be a trend of late (and not just in fandom). I think people are people and people are generally imperfect but also trying. I don’t think women, simply by virtue of carrying a child, get full say in what happens to the child, regardless of the father’s wishes. I'm not fond of a “hiding a kid storyline”, and while I get the whole "my body my choice" style of arguing, it took two people to make the baby. Two people get a say in what happens. I get you are growing the kid, but you didn't spontaneously conceive.

For me, Edser being apart and/or hiding a kid is a hardline. It doesn't fit with the characters as I know them and it doesn't fit with the storyline. And look--I hated the amnesia plot. I thought there were a literal million ways this could have been done better, but it's what we got. So for everyone suddenly defending this new plot, despite it making about as much sense as Eda getting married to make Serkan remember her, then that means everything goes. No blaming writers or ignoring canon...everything has context and meaning now. And since “it's realistic” is also a common refrain, then fine. Let’s go realistic.

Imagine being in a plane crash. You wake up, you have clear physical/mental blocks. For someone who likes to be in control, that's terrifying. You have a ring on your finger with a woman's name you don't know, and an entire year missing. You call the one person you know will come (since your parents and friends are useless) and she comes and tells you a story that jives. You can't remember shit and you keep getting flashes and your hands won't work, so you take what she tells you, because why would you have any reason to doubt? It’s not like you can remember anyway, and trying to remember hurts.

You finally go back home, and you recognize nothing about your own life. Friends, family...everything is different. Your mom is out, your dad is gone, your best friends are married. You don't even live in the same house, you have people working in your company you don’t know--even your dog is gone. And then you have a hysterical woman throwing pictures in your face of a man you don't recognize and your brain is still foggy and all your friends and family seem to be shrugging their shoulders at you.

You're terrified and alone and all you get is some vagueness about an epic love story and too much emotion and all you want to do is hide. From everything. Plus your heart is doing this thing every time the girl is near and you think you might be dying maybe and remember how your brother died?

So, the girl kisses you, you literally feel like you might be dying, and it's like naw. Fuck this. I'm getting back an ounce of control. So you propose to Selin. I mean you don’t love her and you barely want her but at least she is the same. At least she hasn’t changed, and at least she doesn’t stare at you with the weight of a million expectations that everyone else does. At least she doesn’t look at you and hope to see a man you can’t ever remember being.

But then the girl everyone claims is your soulmate is suddenly engaged to another man, and spends every moment after that claiming she hates you, she is over you, she is better off/happier without you, doesn't need you.

So it's like, okay, what is the truth. Your brain isn't helping, your friends aren't helping, she isn't helping. So you lash out, you close off, because really, what else is left. Your life isn’t your life, your mind isn’t your mind, you can’t even figure out what’s real and what isn’t. And she’s getting married and you want to die but she’s getting married and surely if she loved you she wouldn’t be doing this?

And then you get your memories back. Finally. Everything comes flooding back ,and it's a lot. You cope in shitty ways, you don't respond well, etc. You’ve returned from the dead twice, and everything feels just slightly off, but maybe you can make this work. At least you have her. After a few days, you’re feeling like your old self. You've got your memories, your girl, the possibility of the future you had snatched twice, and then BOOM. She rejects you, out of nowhere.

Won't talk, won't communicate, you have no idea what the fuck is happening. She’s crying and sad but also not leaving but also not staying and your brain can’t quite work things out but all you can do is promise that you love her, only her, always her, forever. Surely she must know that by now, right?

And then she tells you about the baby. You can't remember the sex of course, but then you find out it probably happened while your brain was fucked, and you barely have time to process this before oh yeah the love of your life is leaving you bc she would rather you raise a baby with your rapist. And suddenly you might be dying, again.

But you stop her. You stop her and even though she says she didn’t come back for you, why else would she have stayed? So, you finally get her back, she tattoos you on her finger and maybe just maybe everything will be fine when BOOM. Cancer. You aren't even over the other shit, and you have a fucking tumor. You are 30 years old, you've survived a plane crash, amnesia, and now you have a tumor. How many times can a person die?

And so you don’t cope well. You withdraw, you back away. Your brother died when he was young, you know what that does to a person. You know what it did to your family. You have this fear that curls around your heart that says “but what if she becomes my mother.” And she goes. She leaves and she takes your heart and your child (that you don’t even know about) and it’s like...fuck. Again. Because everyone leaves you, eventually. And somehow, it’s always your fault.

So, what I'm saying is, Eda endured a lot, sure. She was hurt. Their breakup in 14 was hard and I’m not denying that (although there is another post I could write about how since Eda never actually uses her words to tell him how she feels he can, perhaps, be understood in assuming that breaking up after barely being together would hurt but also that she would move on and live her life happily without him. Which I guess season 2 proves…) Losing Serkan to an accident/amnesia was hard, looking at the body of the man she loves but not seeing the man she loves must have been agony. But Serkan was fucking wrecked. So instead of choosing to write a plot where they both get to heal, where they both get to explore their pain and work through it together, we get Serkan who reverted to being a robot to cope with massive trauma and PTSD, and essentially is abandoned by everyone, again.

I guess what I'm saying is, if staying with him and supporting him when he was dealing with trauma was too much for her, then fine.That is very true for some people, and it’s certainly realistic. But I don't really think that jives with Eda and her character, and while it isn't a trauma competition, I'd still think Serkan comes out a winner here. Eda lost her parents, which was awful. She lost him, but she got him back. Twice. His trauma is losing his brother, being abandoned by his parents, a plane crash, amnesia, emotional manipulation/abuse and cancer. And then he gets punished by having his daughter taken away from him because he was having a hard time coping. Keeping a kid a secret isn't "protecting the child" it's punishing the father.

Tl;dr The direction they have taken the characters is gross for both mains, but if people are trying to justify Eda keeping his child from him because “he deserves it” or “she did what was best for her” then I think we maybe haven’t been watching the same show. Even if he said “I don’t want kids,” saying that to a hypothetical child is very different then being told “a baby is very much our reality.” Because that's the crux right? It's not that he decided he just didn't want to be a father ever, he's scared of having a family and losing them or of them losing him. And then she made that very fear be realized. Which is tragic and quite the opposite of what his life partner needed to do in that situation.

Bitte.

Thanks to @lolo-deli for the proofread and the final lines, you are the best. And for putting up with my uncontrollable ranting about this for days.

#sen çal kapımı #sck #serkan bolat #eda yıldız #SCK is officially over for me #so I’m making funerary arrangements to say goodbye to yet another fandom.#this is my eulogy #also this is a serkan bolat protection blog #jesus i sound like a 14 year old fangirl #whatever #its been a minute since i have been one of those #let me relive the days in peace

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mrsgreenworld · 3 years

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Son Yaz Episode 23

"İmkansız" ("The Impossible") aka It's Worth It

It's strange but after the last episode I've been thinking a lot about Arrow. Sure I'm a big Arrow and Olicity fan. Hell, they're the reason I got a Tumblr account. When the show ended, it was tough. Because it had been a part of my life for several years and it resonated with me deeply and it had given me a sense of community and belonging. So I feared I would never feel it again. But then Sen Çal Kapımı kinda attacked me, pulled me in and it was so great - feeling this passionate about something again. And despite SCK having turned into a mess and huge disappointment, I'll always appreciate those early days and keep them in my heart. After all, it brought me to you @lolo-deli and @djemsostylist. This alone is something I'm very grateful for. But my disappointment with SCK left me wondering yet again: would I ever find something worth watching and shipping and obsessing over? I got my answer when, after having seen all the amazing gifs by @aslibekroglu, I finally gave in and started watching Son Yaz. And it's completely taken over my life ever since. Not in a way SCK had back in the day. By similar to the way I felt when I was watching Arrow. I know it may seem kinda crazy because Son Yaz and Arrow are two completely different shows. Like, two shows cannot be any further apart, almost to the point of polar opposites. But I've realized that, if we look past the genre, language, the storytelling and all other differences, there's something very similar in the heart and core of both these shows. I looked at Akgün in the last episode and holy shit how much he reminded me of Oliver Queen. And I'll gladly explain why. Let's get down to it.

Akgün

So how the hell did I end up comparing Akgün Gökalp Taşkın and Oliver Queen? It's very simple really (at least it is in my mind 🙈😆) and I'm surprised I haven't made this connection before. Because both Akgün and Oliver are essentially the same type of character - a tortured hero, tainted by darkness and burdened with past sins but ultimately a very good person with a pure heart, bright light inside and infinite capacity to love. Both of them don't hesitate to make sacrifices for those they love, they can be borderline suicidal when it comes to protecting their loved ones. Sure Oliver had a mission and wanted to make a difference by helping people and protecting the whole city. Akgün doesn't have these ambitions. But then again Son Yaz isn't a superhero type of show. But if we remove the "super" part and focus on just the men, we'll see that what they both crave is actually very simple - love and family. I also think that Akgün reminds me of Oliver more now because in season 1, despite his difficult childhood and the loss of his mother, there still was some innocence left in him, he wasn't truly touched by the darkness. It changed when he shot his brother and helped Selim beat up to death and then buried a man, possibly still alive. Taking someone's life robs a person of innocence. Same thing happened to Oliver. However, he's way more acquainted with darkness, given how he dropped bodies left and right at the beginning of his vigilante career. It's clear that Akgün and Oliver had very different journeys but it's impossible for me to ignore the core similarities.

Another thing Akgün and Oliver have in common is their desire to not just protect their loved ones from the dangers and evil of this world, but also from themselves, their own darkness. They deem themselves unworthy of the women they love. Akgün even straight out confessed it to Yağmur in the moment of panic. That's the reason he left - he didn't want to taint her with his darkness. But then again, he's never truly left her or given up on her. He's given up on himself. He's doomed himself to loneliness.

I must say that episode 23 in general made me love Akgün even more. We saw not only his devotion and fierce love for Yağmur but his love and loyalty to Soner. Their brotp is one of the best things on this show and I sure hope they won't destroy it.

The Rocket Team (yes, the name is now canon!!!!) reunion gave me all the feels. Seeing these three grown men turn into teary eyed mess just melted my heart.

Throughout the whole episode we saw Akgün trying to be there for everyone. He didn't want to argue with and go against Selim but he also didn't want to betray Soner. The scene where Akgün met with Selim and told him that Soner and Naz had gotten married, made me so proud of him. He was the reasonable one in that moment. That's a first 🙈😆 At the end of the scene Akgün also managed to make me laugh. Really laugh. I didn't think I would be laughing any time soon this season but his wild gestures, his frustration with Selim and his "just listen to me for once" - all of that was funny to watch.

Just like I said, Akgün was supportive and tried being there for everyone, that's why he was immediately on board with the wedding. Soner had to only ask and it's like the three years of not having seen each other were erased in that moment. Akgün didn't try to talk Soner out of it, didn't ask any questions. He did remind Soner of the consequences but it was very cautious, filled with love and concern, without overstepping and disrespecting Soner's choice.

Then there was Yağmur... Akgün and Soner going to search for her and then the moment when Akgün found Yağmur in that storage room - that was for sure the highlight of the episode for me. First we saw Akgün and Soner working together as a well-oiled machine. Perfect partners in crime 😎 And after they split, the moment when Akgün stopped for a second and just smelled Yağmur... Damn. Such a parallel to Yağmur smelling him in episode 22. It doesn't matter how many years have passed, what they've been through, how much they've changed, doesn't matter if there's anger and pain and so much unsaid between them - they still just feel each other. Their connection is there, strong as ever. And Alperen totally knocked it out of the park, showing Akgün's panic and raw fear the moment he found Yağmur. He'd never seen her like that and it shook him to the core. I swear he looked ready to cut his chest open, take out his heart or, I don't know, lungs and give to Yağmur, just to make it stop, just to make her okay again 😭😭😭

When Naz tried to tell Akgün about Yağmur and what she had been through, Akgün didn't want to hear it. Because he couldn't bear it. But in the end he was forced to witness Yağmur's breakdown. The first one of many others to come. And when they come, he won't be able to stay away any longer.

Yağmur

Yağmur's journey this season is all about healing and acceptance. She has to live through those 5 stages of grief. Just like Meredith Grey once said: "There are five stages of grief. They look different on all of us. But there are always five". And I already said in my episode 22 review that Yağmur locked herself in denial. Naz in her conversation with Akgün confirmed it. But ever since Akgün showed up in the restaurant, it's like the floodgates of Yağmur's grief have been open. She started spiralling, diving head first into anger. All her anger was directed at Akgün. And even though Yağmur came to visit Akgün in prison to say that she was no longer angry with him, her biting words, the "I don't love you anymore" and the following panick attack - all of that only proves that she's still just as angry with him as she was, simply because she's still very much in love with him.

I think Yağmur's bargaining stage of grief revealed itself with Naz, when Yağmur went to the hotel to bring Naz home. In Yağmur's head there is this idea that she has to protect Naz, she's convinced that she can save her cousin from suffering Canan's fate. But Naz refused to go with Yağmur, therefore making Yağmur feel helpless and maybe even abandoned. Already in this fragile and vulnerable state, Yağmur completely lost it after having heard gunshots. She finally started accepting that something's wrong. And it's so important that, when she finally said the words "I don't recognize myself anymore", Akgün was the one she said those words to. It's like she had been waiting for him all this time. Naz told Akgün that Yağmur needed someone to tell her what had happened to her. Akgün's that someone. Only with Akgün back in her life, Yağmur will finally accept her mother's death and then start moving on.

Selim

I don't have much to say about Selim in episode 23 other than a string of curses 🤬🤬🤬.

I've never loved this character and barely even liked him. Canan made him bearable and with her gone... Well, we've got what we saw in the last episode. I wonder how he was never kicked out of his job. Not only was he completely unhinged but also absolutely stupid and unprofessional during that mission with Sare. Then him forcing Akgün to choose between himself and Soner. And of course him storming into Yağmur and Emel's house, yelling and demanding to see Naz. Mister, it's not your place to demand anything, let alone act all righteous and question Emel as a mother. I swear, I wanted to rip his tongue out 😠😡😤

That's pretty much all I have to say about Selim in the last episode. Well, I've got more to say but I don't see it moving forward without me spitting profanities and turning violent.

A few honourable mentions:

🖤 Naz and her attempt to talk to Akgün about Yağmur.

🖤 Sare was kinda funny and she deserved a cookie for putting up with Selim. Glad they didn't make her stupid and she figured out that she was being followed.

🖤 Cihan trying to help Yağmur with her panick attack was very sweet. It was a nice first meeting. Although him being her secret admirer is kinda creepy and makes zero sense for now. I really hope they're going to show how it all started. Speaking of Cihan. I'm kinda conflicted about him. On the one hand, he's sweet and gentle with Yağmur, pretty hot when he was speaking German but also cunning and cold-blooded when he tipped off the Mertoğlu about Soner's whereabouts. And in episode 24 he's going to team up with Akgün to avenge Soner?🤔 Damn, the guy's making my head spin.

And that's pretty much it. Görüşürüz!

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sablesides-ask-blog · 3 years

Note

I Live For Pride!Roman, Sooo... Can You Do “Kidnapping” And “Bound And Gagged” Where Romulus Kidnaps Patton And Logan?

Patton was always excited when it came to dates with Logan, Logan was so kind and sweet and gentle and passionate, and he always made Patton feel safe on dates.

But even more important was how good he was at planning them, every little detail was exciting and there were always so many things to look at.

Tonight, Logan had set something up in the imagination, it had taken the form of an enchanted forest, almost like it was in space.

"Lolo you've really outdone yourself, this is beautiful," Patton said, smiling as he ran his hands through the leaves of the trees.

"I thought you might like it, but it's not done yet, I've got something special set up further in," Logan said.

"Oh really?" Patton said, smile broadening.

"Mhm, I think you'll enjoy it quite a lot actually," Logan replied.

And soon enough they came upon a clearing, a table was set up in the center with dozens of types of food and drinks.

"Lolo!" Patton gasped, clasping his hands together over his chest.

"I knew you'd like it," Logan said, running his fingers through Patton's hair.

"You've really outdone yourself Lolo," Patton said, leaning his head against Logan's shoulder.

"Well, shall we?" Logan asked, gesturing to the table.

"I think we shall," Patton replied.

It was all going well for so long, until the forest suddenly went dark.

"Lolo? What's happening?" Patton grasped around until he found Logan's hand.

"Stay close Pat, I'm not sure yet," Logan replied.

"Oh isnt this a pretty sight? So sorry to crash the party, but the imagination is closed today," a loud and commanding voice sounded from the woods.

"Romulus," Logan growled, Patton looked up at him with surprise.

"You know him?" Patton said.

"Oh of course he knows me, he helped create me," Romulus said with a grin.

"What!" Patton squeaked.

"We'd both been reading the story of Jekyll and Hyde, it was only meant to be an acting performance, Roman wanted to go for realism," Logan said all to calmly.

"For someone so smart, Logan, you dont have a lot of common sense," Romulus said with a laugh.

"Logan's got plenty of common sense! Plenty more than you've got!" Patton said.

And then his throat felt cold, almost frozen.

"Is that any way to talk to your king?." Romulus snarled, Patton tried to respond, but he couldnt seem to speak.

And then he felt himself falling to the ground, he couldnt seem to control his own actions anymore.

"Patton? Patton can you hear me? Its gonna be ok Pat-" and then Logan went quiet as well.

"You know, I've already got a prince and a duke, but that hardly makes up a proper court," Romulus said with a laugh, and then Patton finally saw him.

Dressed in black and red,with bronze accents throughout, eyes an odd mix of charcoal and blood red, grinning as though he'd received the best news of his life.

"But I still need an alchemist and a gentleman-in-waiting for my prince," and then everything went dark.

Patton's head felt fuzzy when he woke up. Looking down he saw that he was dressed in same blacks and reds as Romulus, though his outfit was composed of a black vest with red accents, a white long-sleeved polo shirt, black pants, and black boots.

He looked around, and saw, sitting in front of a vanity, none other than Virgil, dressed in a black dress, with a blood red choker around his neck.

"Virgil?. . ." Patton approached him, Virgil looked almost dazed.

"Are you here to help me get ready?" Virgil said in a monotone voice.

"Ready for what?" Patton asked.

"Romulus and I are getting married, remember?" Virgil replied, as though nothing was wrong with this sentence.

"Oh- Uhm- of course, but I just have to stop by the alchemist's first-" Patton said.

"Oh, ok," Virgil replied "have fun," and Patton was racing off.

He flung the door open to a nearby tower, and there was Logan, dressed in robes of red and black, looking just as confused as Patton felt.

"Oh Lolo thank goodness nothing's happened to you yet-" Patton flung himself into Logan's arms.

"Patton- are you alright? Nothing's happened? He hasnt hurt you has he?" Logan said, moving his hands over Patton's body, checking him for injuries.

"I'm alright- its Virgil I'm worried about- it's like hes been locked in some kind of- trance- he said he and Romulus were getting married," Patton said.

"Well that's obvious, Romulus calls him his prince, and we're trapped in a castle with very obvious roles, clearly, Romulus is trying to rebuild the imagination into a kingdom of his own image," Logan replied.

"What are we going to do?" Patton asked.

"I dont know yet, but itll be alright, I promise, now go help Virgil get ready, if hes already fallen under some sort of spell its likely Romulus knows what happens in his room, it's best not to get in trouble for not being there," Logan said, Patton merely nodded, and tried his best to keep from crying as he walked away.

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

Tag list:

@nova-xx

@softestpatton

@meowthefluffy

@a-deceit-salad

@nerosdayinhell

@curmisery

@willowaudreykeyes

@frawkeye

@the-sad-strawberry

@sneaky-slytherin

#cori answers #ts logan #ts virgil #ts patton #ts romulus #ts pride roman #logicality #romantic logicality #pridexiety #tw kidnapping #tw crying #tw hypnosis #tw arranged marriage

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jackiejacks923 · 3 years

Text

Christmas Is: Noche Buena

Pairing: Jin x reader

A/N: I’m sure we’re all from different backgrounds on here and Christmas traditions all differ in each way. In this story, I share a bit of my own heritage’s Christmas tradition. So before you continue, I will provide a bit of an explanation of the terms being used in the story. I do hope you enjoy! <3

Terms to Define:

Noche Buena = A traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

Lola/Lolo = Grandmother/Grandfather

Mano = A gesture made by younger relatives to the older as a sign of respect. The younger would take the hand of the older and touch the back of the hand to their forehead as a sign to ask for their blessing.

Lechon = The whole pig roasted so that the skin is nice and brown and crispy and the pork tender enough that it melts in your mouth when eaten.

Pancit = Filipino stir fried noodles. Every family has their own recipe on how to make it, but generally has noodles, vegetables and some sort of meat or seafood.

Lumpia = Filipino egg rolls. Also has different variations. Some have just a meat filling and Some can be a mix of vegetables and meat.

Apo = grandchild

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

Jin parked the car on the already crowded street outside your childhood home that was all decked out for the holidays. When you gathered around the opened trunk, you could sense the nervousness he was emitting.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” you told him as you adjusted the collar of his turtleneck sweater and thick wool coat, “I love you and therefore they’ll love you.” You reached up to your tiptoes and gave him an encouraging kiss.

“I just hope they’ll like my cooking,” he said as he grabbed the tray of the pasta he had made for tonight’s Noche Buena.

“It turned out perfect! Trust me,” you assured him as you grabbed the bags of presents for your relatives that you had both shopped for.

You and Jin had been dating for several months now. Having already met and charmed your parents, just as he had charmed you, and bonded with your brother as well, it was now the perfect time and setting to meet the extended family. Christmas this year was being spent with your mom’s side. She was the only girl with four brothers which basically meant you had at least a dozen cousins for Jin to meet. You rang the doorbell and shortly you both heard noises behind the door.

“Oh! That must be Y/N and her new boyfriend!” you heard a voice faintly exclaim through the barrier. Sounds of multiple footsteps running around resonated through and you couldn’t tell if it was the nieces and nephews playing or if it was your cousins racing to open the door first as they were excited to meet the man of your dreams that they’ve all heard so much about over phone conversations.

The door was opened and you were greeted by the smiling faces of the girls you had grown up with mixed with faces of your male cousins’ girlfriends and wives squealing their greetings, excited to see you for the first time in many months. You squealed in return and opened your arms ready for hugs as Jin smiled, happy to see such a loving exchange in front of him. You backed away enough so that you can properly introduce him to the squad that greeted you. Your cousins allowed you inside from the cold and as you introduced each one, they went over and gave him a hug in welcome. You were from a hugging type of family and handshakes were not familiar to anybody.

After taking off your shoes and placing them on a free space on the shoe rack, you went over to the Christmas tree with Jin following your footsteps so you can drop off the bags of presents to open later with the family. One of your cousins had taken the tray out of Jin’s hands to put on the waiting food warmer on the dining table. You gestured for him to take off his coat as you did your own and another cousin took it off your hands to place in the coat closet for safe keeping. You thanked them and then they followed you as you took Jin’s hand to the kitchen where your mom and aunties and grandmother were busy cooking.

“I’m here!” you announced to the room. Your first stop in greeting was your grandmother.

“Hi, Lola!” you greeted happily as you took her hand and touched the back of it to your forehead in the traditional gesture. You introduced her to Jin and he mimicked the same motions. You had explained to him the meaning behind this gesture of respect towards your elders beforehand and he remembered well. You smiled when your grandmother took him into a hug and patted his cheek affectionately in welcome. You then kissed your mom on the cheek and after, she gave Jin a hug telling him how nice it was for him to join them this year. Then it was off to “mano” your aunties and introductions.

“Where’s Lolo and dad and all the guys?” you had asked after you finished making the round of greetings in the kitchen.

“They took it upon themselves to ALL go and pick up the lechon,” you mom answered, as you donned an apron - as did the rest of your cousins so you all can assist with the cooking to make the task go faster.

“It takes them all, huh?” you asked sarcastically and laughed at the thought of needing all those men to pick up one pig. “You want to go ahead and sit by Lola, hun?” you asked Jin.

He shook his head as he took one of the spare aprons and put it on himself. “Nope. I want to help, too,” he said and you turned to him so you can tie off his back. “This is a great opportunity to learn the recipes so I can try to make them for dinner for us one night.”

An impressed look appeared on all the faces working in the kitchen. “Well, if you want to learn these recipes, you’ll have to ask Lola,” one of your aunties said, “All of these are hers to give out.”

All eyes then turned to Lola who smiled and stood up with the help of her cane. “Come,” she said, “Let’s have you do the pancit.”

You smiled up at him as he smiled nervously at you. You squeezed his hand in reassurance that this was a good sign. Your Lola then grabbed on to his elbow and led him away to an empty spot in the kitchen for him and her to work. You then proceeded to take a place at the kitchen table with your cousins where you could easily watch his interaction with your grandmother and proceeded to wrap lumpia to be fried.

You and your cousins caught up with each other and laughed as you prepped the food while one of your aunties took each readied batch to the stove to be deep fried. Once the smell of each delicious dish started to fill the house, the kids came out of hiding looking for a taste of a little something to hold them over until dinner could be eaten. They greeted you with hugs and you got up and took them to meet Jin. The older ones high-fived the handsome stranger when he offered his hand while the younger ones shyly waved from behind you. Jin conversed with the kids so naturally. When you took the tray of cooked lumpia for the kids to take one, Jin reached for the napkins to wrap them in so their tiny fingers wouldn’t get burned from the heat.

You remained around Jin, standing next to your Lola, affectionately hugging her arm like you would always do as a child. She instructed Jin of the order the ingredients should be added in and timing between each ingredient. As he was stirring the noodles and ingredients around, he had snuck in a look at you and winked charmingly. Your grandmother nudged your side knowingly and you couldn’t hold in the giggle that escaped you.

She smirked trying to maintain her serious face, clearly now one of the many victims of Jin’s natural charisma. “Jin!” she playfully scolded, “Pay attention or else you’ll burn the noodles.”

“Yes, Lola,” he replied obediently and refocused his attention with a grin. The smile that formed on your own face was one of entertainment and pride.

Jin was practically done with the pancit when the men of your family finally returned. Two of your male cousins were carrying the pig to place on the dining table as the main centerpiece.

“Bro!” your brother exclaimed when he entered the kitchen, “Good to see you again!” he then patted Jin on the back since his hands were too busy for a handshake at the moment and proceeded to give you a kiss on the forehead in greeting before moving on into the living room with the rest of the guys who were arguing about where the center of the table was.

“Jin, my boy!” your dad then came in and Jin quickly reduced the heat before wiping his hands on his apron so he can shake your dad’s extended hand. Your dad then brought him into a hug. “Glad you could make it!”

An older man then appeared behind your dad and he made way for him to introduce. “This is Y/N’s Lolo,” your dad introduced. Your grandfather extended his hand in greeting and smiled. Jin, without prompting, proceeded to touch the back of your grandfather’s hand to his forehead in the same greeting you had greeted your Lola and aunties. You saw your grandfather smile widely and patted Jin’s shoulder approvingly. You followed and greeted your grandfather, as well.

“Oh, pancit, huh?” your grandfather asked and looked at the wok full of noodles. He took a fork and sampled the dish Jin learned. As your grandfather chewed, you held on to Jin’s arm as you both awaited his critique. Lolo proceeded to nod as he swallowed the helping in his mouth. “That’s done already. It tastes just like mine. Good job,” he complimented. Jin turned to your grandmother for confirmation and when she nodded, he turned off the stove and turned to you with a huge smile on his face, proud of his accomplishment.

“Hey, Jin!” your brother then called out from the dining room, “Come meet the other cousins and uncles.” Before he could say anything, you were already undoing his apron. He gave you a quick kiss before joining the guys.

Your heart felt warm as you watched your family accept him so well, like you knew they would. Your female cousins took this opportunity to finally come up to you and sing the praises of Jin’s handsomeness and gentlemanliness. You smiled and slightly blushed. You knew he was special and was very different from the others you’ve dated in the past. You wouldn’t have brought him to meet the extended family if he wasn’t.

Shortly after, your aunties and mom began plating all the cooked dishes you all prepared together and brought them to surround the roasted pig on the dining room table. Your grandfather said a prayer over the meal to give thanks for what the year has brought your family and blessings for the year to come. Plates were then distributed and everybody began digging in.

The house was full of laughter and happiness as you all ate and enjoyed each other’s company. Stories were exchanged of memories you all shared in this house. Jin never left your side and loved hearing the stories of your youth and learning more about you. He realized you were right, your family was so welcoming and loving he never felt out of place. To top it off, his pasta was a hit and your relatives requested he bring it every single time there was a get together.

As midnight came closer, the kids rejoined the adults around the tree. As per tradition in your family, presents were exchanged with each other at this time. Each smaller family unit took turns around the tree to hand off presents to each member. Jin had received his own from your parents and brother and even your grandparents and a few cousins which made him smile with gratitude feeling even more accepted by your family. Once everything was sorted and distributed, the unwrapping began all at once. Thank you’s were shouted in every direction. Hugs were exchanged everywhere you looked. The kids each went up to you and their “Uncle Jin” for a hug in gratitude for the gift they received.

Jin noticed that one of your nephews was having difficulty opening their toy and so he went off to assist him. At that moment, your Lola took the available seat next to you as she held the box of her favorite perfume you and Jin got her.

“Thank you, apo,” she said and placed a kiss on your cheek. You smiled and held her hand in yours. You both observed Jin playing with the kids around the tree. “You know he’s going to be staying for good,” she stated loud enough for your ears only as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

You smiled and laughed. “Lola, a lot can happen before next Christmas.”

She shook her head in disagreement. “The pancit never lies.”

You smiled widely and let out a good laugh at your grandmother’s statement. You continued to watch Jin with the kids and he eventually looked at you and shared a smile. You weren’t sure if you could trust the pancit with such a prediction, but you knew your grandmother never lied.

(image courtesy of Google search)

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

Next: A series of Unfortunate Events, Not by Lemony Snicket

Collab Masterlist: here

#christmas is collab

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incorrectprodigalsonquotes · 4 years

Text

Carved in the Cradle Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Dani bit back an amused smile at the sight of Malcolm Bright fidgeting like a shy preschooler talking in front of the class for the first time. She had a feeling that if Jessica ever showed Bright’s childhood photos, she would find that he had that exact same look since he was a kid. All fidgeting with the sleeves of his uniform and luminous eyes too big for his face.

“Something you wanted to say, Bright?”

Normally Dani would cringe at the thought of using the almost singsong lilt her voice had taken on, but he was ridiculously easy to tease.

“U-um...” Malcolm cleared his throat. His face like it was on fire and he knew it wasn’t because of the tea he’d just had. “So my mother sort of--well, demanded that I show up at her gala in a couple of days.”

Dani raised an eyebrow, unsurprised. Jessica Whitly was a societal force to be reckoned with and it was little wonder that even her son, who dealt with killers on a daily basis, was unable to say no to her.

“So I gathered.”

Bright being jittery was normal. The constant fidgeting, the mundane rambling, the sheer awkwardness was wired into him from a young age if Gil’s stories of a young Bright were all true, but he seemed almost… nervous?

It didn’t make sense to her. Sure, he normally said some weird things and he had an unfortunate habit of sticking his foot in his mouth, but it was benign for the most part. It should’ve alarmed her about how comfortable she was around him, but the warmth of the tea she had still lingered, making everything about the already odd night pleasantly hazy.

“She also wanted me to bring a date.” Malcolm let out a wry chuckle, his hand rubbing the back of his neck almost sheepishly. “I mean I’m already bringing Isabella as a sort of fun-sized baby date given that Mother's so taken with her, but it’d be nice to have a friend there a-and--”

“Bright.”

Dani’s voice slowed into a low drawl as she took a step closer, her face inscrutable save for the glimmer of laughter in her eyes. She had to admit, it was pretty cute to see him so flustered.

“Are you asking me to be your date?”

“W-well, I--”

The instant he cleared his throat, she could see a change in his demeanour. The determined set of his jaw, the squared shoulders as he drew himself to his full height, the clarity in his eyes. It briefly reminded her of something that Edrisa had said about the change that came with Clark Kent taking off his glasses.

“I just thought it would be nice to take you to a fancy party where you wouldn’t have to arrest somebody and just enjoy yourself.”

“So it has nothing to do with you wanting to see me in a dress again?”

A teasing grin spread across Dani’s face as she tipped her head to the side. The sight of it made Malcolm’s confidence practically fly out the window, leaving him rambling so fast that he almost bit his tongue a few times.

“Of course, there’s no obligation for you to say yes.” He nervously ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. “It’s just that you’re the only person I could think of when Mother said to bring a date. I know it’s probably not your thing, but--”

“Okay.”

“W-wait, what?” If his eyes got any wider, he could pass for a Disney Princess, all round and uncertain and saccharine sweet.

“Okay,” Dani’s eyes sparkled, the corners of them crinkling as she beamed at him. “I’ll go with you.”

“Really?” Malcolm’s anxiety practically melted away as he let out a relieved chuckle. “You don’t have to.”

“I know.” Dani nodded, “But a girl needs a night off for dancing every now and then--”

She nearly took a step back as he beamed at her, nearly as bright as the sun itself, the livewire tension in his body just melting away and it wasn’t until she caught the scent of bergamot and old leather that she realized what was happening.

Was Bright… hugging her?

“Okay,” His voice was muffled, his face buried into her shoulder, “that’s amazing!”

Dani couldn’t help but burst out laughing as she absently patted his back, feeling more like she had an armful of excitable puppy rather than gangly profiler.

"Well, what are friends for, right?"

“Seriously,” Malcolm pulled away just enough so he could look at her, his arms still around her, “I owe you big time!”

“Bright--”

“No, I mean it,” he insisted with a shake of his head, still grinning ear to ear as if she had just given him the secret to all of life’s mysteries. “Anything you want, I’m yours for the week.”

Dani knew he would probably say something like that. Malcolm Bright was the kind of man who would go to the moon and back for the people he cared about, but she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that she had become one of those people.

She briefly considered having him buy her fancy tea blends every day for a year or getting tickets to a sold out performance at the New York Ballet, but he seemed so genuinely happy that she accepted that she could only think of one thing that seemed right.

“You can start with those waffles you promised in the morning.”

(~**~) (~**~) (~**~) (~**~)

The bed was comfortable. Too comfortable.

Everything in the room was too tidy, too organized. The high end furniture gave Dani flashbacks of playing Tetris at the local arcade with her cousins, all neat blocks fitting together. The only things in the room that looked out of place were Dani’s clothes on a nearby loveseat and her duffle bag of extra clothes on the vanity. There was no real character to the room she was in, no personal touch.

Bright was right. These rooms were just like hotel rooms. At least there were silk pillowcases so she didn’t have to worry about her hair. Dani tossed and turned before she took her phone off the nightstand next to her and checked the time.

4:42 AM.

She stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought with a slight frown. When she was a kid, she would jump out of bed in the middle of the night to see what was on TV so early in the morning, curled up on the couch with her blanket wrapped around her like a cape. But it wasn’t like she could do that now.

This not being her home aside, Bright’s TV was way too big to subtly turn on and just watch with the captions. The high definition alone would be enough to wake both him and Isabella.

Then again…

Bright could be awake right now. Maybe he could use some company. She could just sneak downstairs and check in on--

Before she could make her decision, she faintly heard a high pitched squeal coming from downstairs. She absently let her hair down from her pineapple updo and made use of the fluffy white robe that was hanging in the closet before heading down. No one needed to see her in short shorts and a thin nightshirt.

What she saw made her stop at the foot of the stairs.

She found Bright on the ground with his legs tucked under him, a wide awake Isabella lying on a fuzzy blanket with numerous toys strewn about around them.

Wait.

Was he wearing glasses?

Dark thick frames that were so close to slipping down Malcolm’s nose as he sat with Isabella with a bunch of toys and blankets around her. It was unexpectedly cute. Something about those glasses stirred up a bit of fascination for stripped down, barebones Bright in the early hours of the morning--

She mentally shook her head. It was probably just her groggy mind that was thinking that though. Bright wasn’t even her type anyways, no matter how mesmerizing his eyes were.

Malcolm tried lulling Isabella to sleep again, but the little girl just kept smacking plushies in his face and blowing raspberries, her face crinkled into a happy grin. Dani bit back a laugh when she saw how Malcolm couldn’t help but smile at the baby girl as he gently grasped a chubby fist. Bright made a front about being strict with Isabella about bedtime, but he really was just a big old marshmallow when it came to babies.

“Come on, Izzy.” Dani heard Malcolm cajole the baby as the little one batted at his face. “You need to get some sleep or you’ll be cranky. And I don’t think either of us wants to see that.”

Izzy.

The nickname was enough to make Dani smile. She was too half asleep to consider that maybe forming a bond with the baby may not be the best idea. Isabella continued to gurgle as her tiny starlike hands patted Malcolm’s face, letting out a high pitch giggle when she managed to grab his nose.

“Izzy,” he whined, inciting even more giggling from the little girl, “Could you let go of my nose please? I kind of need to breathe and contrary to what lolo Gil thinks, I’d like to keep breathing.”

His nasally voice did nothing to stop the laughter coming from the baby.

Malcolm was removing Isabella’s hand when he heard a tiny laugh from behind him. He turned to see Dani on the stairs, wrapped in a fluffy robe with her arms crossed, watching in amusement.

“Sorry,” she murmured, giving him a sheepish smile. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No, no,” Malcolm shook his head as he picked up Isabella, “Did we wake you?”

“Hardly. I just couldn’t sleep.”

Dani’s footsteps were steady as she padded her way towards them, making Isabella turn her wide eyes to her with a coo. It still amazed her how much the little girl’s eyes were just like Bright’s, all guileless and moonlike in that shade that wasn’t quite blue or green.

A smirk took over Malcolm’s face, a playful spark in his eyes as he made room for her to sit.

“I thought we agreed you should avoid picking up my bad habits.”

“Pot calling the kettle black, Bright,” she shot back as she took Isabella from him, the little girl wrapped her tiny arms around the detective’s neck, letting out a tiny kitten-like yawn as she rested her head on Dani’s shoulder.

“For real, have you slept at all?”

Malcolm shrugged.

“Bright...”

Dani narrowed her eyes at him as he simply shrugged, shaking her head as she felt Isabella tangle her hands in her curls. Her face fell into a familiar expression, what JT had affectionately named her ‘why you always lying’ face during the first case they worked together.

“Got about four hours before I woke up,” he said, giving her a wry grin in return before nodding towards Isabella. “Then little miss night owl got up a few minutes later and I haven’t been able to get her back to sleep.”

Dani couldn’t blame him. She’d heard horror stories of sleepless nights from her oldest sister, but she could already sense Isabella starting to relax in her arms, absently rubbing the little girl’s back. Isabella was already much easier to handle than Dani’s niece and nephew.

“Well, we’ve already exhausted all your options. Let me try something.”

She didn’t think his eyes could get any bigger, but leave it to Bright to prove people wrong.

“You don’t have to--”

“You need to rest.” Her tone brokered no room for discussion. “We need to be up at six. Try to sleep for another hour. Make it an even five hours,” she added with a smirk.

“Five isn’t an even number.” Malcolm chuckled as Dani shot him a playful glare, holding his hands up in surrender. “Alright, but if you need help--”

“I’ll wake you, now go to sleep.” She gazed at him with stern eyes, practically daring him to ignore her. “Please.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely…”

Dani shooed him to bed with a roll of her eyes, her smile tender as she looked back down at Isabella.

Malcolm felt sore and exhausted, barely remembering to take off his glasses as his head hit his pillow. He could hear Dani softly speaking to Izzy as his eyes fell shut.

Wait.

That wasn’t it. She was singing.

“Moon river… Wider than a mile...”

Dani crooned as she rocked the baby, who seemed to settle down the more she was sung to. Her voice was--

Malcolm already found her voice steadying for his nerves, honeyed contralto with the slightest hint of gravel to it, but her singing?

“I’m crossing you in style someday... Oh dream maker, you heart breaker...”

He let out a content sigh, having no words for once. He didn’t realize he was smiling as he let Dani’s singing lull him to a gentle sleep.

“Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way...”

And for once, he felt nothing but peace.

(~**~) (~**~) (~**~) (~**~)

“Our prime suspect is Evan Huntington.”

Malcolm went straight into never-miss-a-detail profiler mode as he fed Isabella her bottle. The baby was kicking one leg with glee as she drank her milk.

“He had a previous relationship with our victim, who’s vastly different personality-wise from his usual flings and even his own wife. The fact that Arianna doesn’t look like any of them is another inconsistency in his behaviour.”

“So let me get this straight.” JT interrupted with a grimace that Edrisa liked to refer to as his ‘turtle face’. “This guy sleeps with the women at his office…” his nose scrunched up as he tried to process what he heard, “and then to get revenge, his wife sleeps with them too?”

“Yup.” Dani had an identical look on her face and for a second, Malcolm mistook them for siblings. “Gwendolyn even tried to get me and Bright to sleep with her when we interviewed her.”

Gil let out a laugh of disbelief as JT looked like he swallowed a crateful of lemons.

“Tell me you’re kidding, Powell.”

“I really wish I was,” she snorted before shooting a sly look at Bright. “You should’ve seen Bright's face. You could pinpoint the exact moment his brain started imploding.”

Malcolm just narrowed his eyes at Dani playfully as she teasingly narrowed her eyes back at him.

“Does Evan even know about Isabella?” Gil questioned, frowning at the idea of such a bright little girl being raised by someone as flippant and dismissive as a Huntington.

Malcolm pursed his mouth as he looked down at the baby, who had abandoned her bottle in favour of playing with the grey silk pocket square tucked into his blazer.

“He knows she exists, but he refuses to acknowledge that he’s her birth father. Arianna was already pretty adamant about keeping him out of Izzy’s life.”

If he was being honest, he was hoping this little girl couldn’t be taken away by that man. He couldn’t imagine what would happen to Isabella if she were to grow up with that so-called family. Would she be loved? Would she even be taken care of or would she end up neglected like the characters in one of Ainsley’s historical romance novels?

“Who are the Huntingtons anyways?” JT cut in, his arms crossed. “‘Cause all I’m getting from this is bleach blonde one percenters who moonlight as cartoon villains and make deals with the devil.”

Malcolm and Gil paused at this, giving JT identical sidelong looks in near perfect synchrony. JT rolled his eyes. Gil isn't my dad, my ass.

“Miri and Noa have been really into Gravity Falls lately. The Huntingtons sound just like the Northwests.”

“I'll take your word for it.” Malcolm adjusted Isabella in his arms, letting her sit on his hip as he set aside her bottle. “Let’s just say the Huntingtons are richer than most of New York combined--”

“Which means they get away with murder all the time. That’s why we need to find something concrete that could connect them to Arianna’s murder,” Dani added, “And I don't think Evan Huntington’s willing to take a paternity test.”

Isabella interrupted with a small shriek before playing with Malcolm’s pocket square again. The team let out a laugh at her outburst, Malcolm especially.

“Exactly. See guys, she gets what we’re saying.”

As he continued with his profile, Malcolm didn’t notice that Isabella started trying to copy the swift way he gesticulated whenever he talked, nearly in time with him. The sight of her waving her chubby little arms with the same wide, unblinking expression mirrored on Malcolm’s face was adorable.

Gil couldn’t help but chuckle as he was paying more attention to the baby than the man she was imitating. Just as Malcolm was going to explain more about Evan Huntington, his face suddenly twisted. The older man raised an eyebrow in concern.

“You okay, Bright? And don’t just brush it off with an ‘I’m fine’.”

“I’m fine. Really,” Malcolm insisted after getting a look from Gil before letting out a chuckle, “It’s more to do with Isabella here and the fact that she needs a change.” Isabella giggled as Malcolm shouldered her diaper bag with practiced ease, “I’ll be right back.”

“Just be glad you’re not dealing with two of them at once!”

JT called out as Malcolm left the room, much to Dani and Gil’s amusement.

“You think you’re done, but then the other one needs changing,” he grumbled. “And it doesn’t help when they look the same so you don't remember which one you just changed.”

“At least yours are both girls,” Dani quipped, the corner of her mouth tilting up as she remembered. “Mona kept confusing her kids for months and she had one of each.”

(~**~) (~**~) (~**~) (~**~)

When Malcolm returned, he was surprised to find that Edrisa had joined them.

“Bright!” She lit the second she saw him. “Right on time!”

He chuckled as he placed Isabella in her stroller and gave her a few toys to distract her. He glanced at Dani for a second before doing a double take, his eyes comically wide.

“Wait,” he managed to choke out, his mouth suddenly dry. “What’s happening here?”

Jessica might have drilled the idea of being a gentleman into him, but even that didn’t stop him from staring at the corset that was hugging Dani’s slim frame. It was a more subtle design than most, but the champagne silk and delicate gold embroidery against her deep blue shirt highlighted her dark hair and made her olive skin practically glow.

The only thing jarring this image was the gaping hole in the corset just below Dani’s sternum.

“We found Arianna’s corset in the dumpster outside her building,” JT cut in, looking almost amused at the way Bright was looking at Dani. “Seems our killer didn’t account for the garbage not being collected until the weekend.”

“And according to the shop owners where Arianna would buy her corsets, this is one of their designs, but this isn’t their corset,” Dani explained before she let out a hum of appreciation, looking down at the corset in consideration.

Malcolm furrowed his brows, still not taking his eyes off her.

“How could they tell?”

“That’s the best part,” Edrisa grinned in excitement, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “If you take a close look at the stitching, you’ll see that this corset was machine stitched when they exclusively sell hand-sewn corsets only.”

The coroner nodded in approval as she added, "Plus they pride themselves on being cruelty-free and using eco-friendly materials.” She paused at the incredulous looks everyone was giving her. “What? My stepdad talks about them all the time. He did a collaboration with them for his last fashion line."

Malcolm’s eyes were sharp with focus as his hand hovered over at the stitching of the corset, ignoring the hole left from a knife having gone through it.

“Amazing.”

His fingers barely brushed over the curved seam above the hip when he faintly heard someone clear their throat. Gil, most likely.

“Bright?”

Malcolm was startled out of his thoughts, looking up to see Dani staring down at him with her eyebrows raised and her nose scrunched in confusion and he was suddenly very aware of just how close he was to her.

“Right, sorry.” He cleared his throat, a high flush stark against his pale skin. “So why’s Dani wearing it?”

“So glad you asked,” Edrisa piped up, clapping her hands in excitement. “Since we need to figure out what about it killed Arianna, Dani volunteered to try it out...”

Her smile turned into a pout, “So far no luck. We’ve laced it up as tight as possible, but it’s not like Dani’s squashed like a tin of sardines. It doesn’t seem like it’s difficult to breathe in it.”

Dani was reminded of a confused puppy at the bewildered expression that overtook Malcolm’s face.

“You’re fine?”

She nodded, her brow wrinkled in thought.

“Yeah,” she muttered, her hands smoothing down the front panel of the corset. “It doesn’t even feel like I’m wearing it, honestly.”

Just then Isabella let out a very loud cry, startling everyone. Everyone turned to see her plush owl on the floor, the little girl’s face scrunched up when her stubby little arms couldn’t reach it. Malcolm was quick to grab it and hand it back to her, earning him a toothless grin that matched his answering one.

He wasn’t expecting to hear someone suddenly collapse behind him.

They all turned and their eyes widened in horror at the sight before them. Dani was sprawled across the floor, eyes wide and lips turning pale as she gasped for air.

“Dani!”

Malcolm charged towards her in a panic, ignoring the near scrapes as he fell to his knees next to her. He couldn’t help but curse as his fingers fumbled, desperately trying to undo the corset which seemed to be getting tighter and tighter by the second. Gritting his teeth in frustration when he couldn’t get the knot out, he whipped out a pocket knife from his suit jacket and slashed through the laces before ripping it off her.

He was so going to hear it from Gil later, a scolding about unauthorized weapons already ringing in his ears, but at the moment Malcolm could focus on nothing but Dani.

He nearly slumped over her in relief as Dani started gasping as air began to flow through her lungs once again. She weakly grabbed Malcolm’s arms as he cradled her to him, keeping her upright against his chest. He barely registered flinging the damn corset away from her, now a pitiful crumpled mess on the floor.

“I-I couldn’t breathe…” Dani finally managed to choke out, her knuckles white from her grip on him. “I couldn’t breathe!”

Malcolm’s heart thundered almost violently as he stroked her hair, not letting her go as cool air started to fill her lungs again. Dani could practically feel it from where she had her head resting on his chest, the rhythm soothing her as she closed her eyes in exhaustion.

Malcolm briefly looked up at Gil, his expression grim, a spark of fury making his eyes electric.

“I think we know how this thing is our murder weapon.”

(~**~) (~**~) (~**~) (~**~)

"JT just texted, they’re on their way back." Gil reported as he pocketed his phone.

His expression was grim as he saw the man he considered a son freeze in the middle of his frantic pacing back and forth with a clingy Isabella on his hip. Malcolm hadn't been able to go to the hospital with Dani because the little girl saw him trying to leave the room and he wasn't able to do it in face of her tears.

“Is…” he hesitated, swallowing thickly. “Is Dani going to be okay?”

If Gil noticed that his eyes were a little red, he had the sense not to say anything.

“He said that both Edrisa and the hospital doctor confirmed that Dani only has some mild bruising. You managed to get the corset off her before any permanent damage was done.”

Malcolm didn’t seem to take any comfort in that. The almost pout on his face was enough to make Gil smirk.

“Kid, she’s gonna be okay. She’s from the Bronx, tougher than both of us combined, remember?” He unconsciously relaxed as he saw Malcolm let out a tiny smile. “Quick thinking with the knife, by the way,” he added, his tone almost smug.

He barely managed to keep his expression stern as the pout on Malcolm’s face dissolved into a deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression. It was the same face he had made the time the then officer had caught a twelve year old Bright attempting to smuggle a cageful of budgies--which Gil had later learned he ‘liberated’ from a neglectful owner--into his room, he couldn’t help but note.

“I justified it at the time,” he admitted sheepishly as Izzy patted his stubble, “but in hindsight, probably not the best idea to have a knife on me if I’m taking care of a baby.”

“Common sense kicks in at last,” Gil chuckled as Malcolm’s face flushed with rare embarrassment, “At least I don't have to make that my next point.”

At least, he hoped he didn’t have to. Had the kid even kept his wall of weapons out of the baby’s line of sight? He kept a straight face, but he was practically screaming internally at the thought.

“By the way,” Malcolm added as he placed Izzy back in her stroller, “my mother’s going to be stopping by to pick up Isabella while I go take care of something.”

“Where you off to, kid?”

“I, uh, I’m gonna see Ainsley.” He glanced away, still fidgeting with the stroller’s handles, “I haven’t talked to her for a few days, though I’d check up on her.”

“And Isabella?”

“Don’t worry,” Malcolm let out a tense chuckle, “That’s why I already called Mother, she’s more than happy to watch her for a few hours.”

Gil gave an understanding smile.

“I can keep an eye on Isabella until Jess gets here. Can’t be much different than babysitting Tala. Go see Ainsley.”

Malcolm’s smile was solemn as he knelt down to face Isabella. The baby just grinned at him and reached out to pat his face.

“I’m only going to be gone for a little while, okay? Mother’s going to take you on another adventure, that’ll be fun, right?”

Isabella gurgled as she hugged her owl, the plush toy squished against a chubby cheek.

“I’ll be back soon, Izzy.” As he stood up to leave, he turned to Gil once more. “Thanks for doing this, Gil.”

“Anytime, kid.”

As Malcolm walked away, Gil knelt down and gave Isabella a smile. The baby let out a light squeal as she reached out to him, the tips of her tiny fingers barely grazing his beard. She reminded him of Tala, his only grandchild when she was that age, wide eyed and curious and grabbing anything that caught her eye.

Once he took her back to his office, Isabella started to get fussy. He picked her up, immediately realizing what she wanted as he took the bottle of formula she hadn't finished yet. Gil couldn’t help the fond smile that overtook his face as her big blue eyes stared up at him, gurgling as a chubby fist stroked his chin. She started kicking a leg as if to say she was enjoying her snack.

“You just wanna do everything at once, don’t you?” He would firmly deny that he cooed at Isabella if one of his officers saw him like this. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you took after Bright.”

He didn’t get a response nor did he expect one, but the gummy smile that lit up her face as she reached for her bottle gave him a sense of understanding.

Then a wave of regret hit him. If Evan Huntington knew about Isabella now, why hadn’t he taken her away?

The lieutenant decided then and there that that sorry excuse for a man wouldn’t have a chance at ruining this little girl’s life.

Not if he had anything to say about.

(~**~) (~**~) (~**~) (~**~)

After the rollercoaster that had been the blackout and Endicott’s stabbing, Malcolm and Jessica somehow managed to keep Ainsley from being sent to prison by the skin of their teeth. Malcolm was the first to admit that it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Gil, Dani, and Edrisa. Even JT, much to the surprise of both mother and son.

But it didn’t stop Jessica from finding it fit to send Ainsley to a rehabilitation facility of sorts. Phoenix Rehab, which the Milton matriarch had said had glowing reviews was a facility usually housed teenage heirs to fortunes with so-called attitude problems and wealthy housewives who found that something about their life just wasn’t enough and needed supposed space to breathe.

Very rarely were there people like Ainsley, who genuinely needed help and needed to understand themselves and their actions.

Malcolm had been against the idea at first. It was already public knowledge that Ainsley was The Surgeon’s daughter, but if the staff were to find out what had really happened that night...

He shuddered at the thought of Ainsley being raked over hot coals by the fallout.

Jessica, still reeling from what happened, had suggested Ainsley stay there for at least six months. She was reluctant to cut Ainsley off from society, but she felt that her daughter definitely needed to be somewhere where she didn’t have to deal with media vultures. Especially when Ainsley couldn’t call herself the well-adjusted Whitly anymore.

But from the start, their mother had made it clear that if Ainsley ever wanted to come back home, whether it be for the weekend or forever, she would welcome her with what Gil dubbed as the Whitly equivalent of arms wide open.

His sister had ended up making a deal with Jessica. If she could find even one thing she liked about the place--whether it was the food, the meditation classes, even just the comfy mattresses and the freedom to decorate her room as she saw fit--within a week...

Then she would concede to stay the six months Jessica had recommended.

Soon six months had come and gone, Jessica and Malcolm making various efforts to visit her at least once a week and Ainsley making quite a few visits back to the Whitly family home. Though she always stubbornly insisted that she didn’t need them to check up on her so much, especially considering the long drive.

But for reasons no one seemed to understand, the youngest Whitly always seemed eager to go back.

Ainsley clearly seemed to be improving. She half-begrudgingly admitted to Malcolm that she may have been ignoring her own mental health and she managed to come to terms with what she had done, making peace with it more or less.

But it still didn’t stop the guilt that she felt every time she saw a crime news report. Nicholas Endicott was nothing short of a monster for all the trauma he had put them through and she wasn’t sorry he was dead. But what worried her the most was that something in her--something twisted, something she could have inherited from the dark underbelly of Martin Whitly’s psyche--had snapped and she just couldn’t stand by and watch scum like him get what he wanted.

Whether it was him lusting after their mother or having Malcolm and Gil at his mercy, she couldn’t let him get away with murder.

Not again.

Not anymore.

She was only sorry for how it had made her notorious, serial killer father downright giddy.

Even more sorry that her mother and brother had been left to deal with the consequences.

And before long, six months turned to seven, to eight, then nine, but as time ticked on, Ainsley Whitly seemed to have no intention of coming home for good.

Malcolm was brought over to where Ainsley was lounging on an open patio. She looked comfortable in a flowy white tunic top and matching leggings, her hair fabulous and effortlessly styled as always.

She seemed at an easel painting... something?

He couldn’t tell if she was trying for peacock feathers or she accidentally started channeling Klimt with all the greens and golds.

“Before you say anything, I’m just playing around with this,” Ainsley said without looking up. “I will smear green paint in your hair.”

And that was Ainsley all over. She always seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to her big brother trying to tease her. He simply grinned as he walked over to her, meeting her halfway for a bear hug before he sat next to her.

“Hey bro,” she grinned, “it’s been eighty four years. Please tell me you brought truffle cupcakes instead of just your sorry mug.”

Malcolm couldn’t help but snort as he shook his head.

“Hi Ains. Good to see you’re still you.”

She blew a raspberry, wagging her paintbrush at him in a way that reminded him of the way great-aunt Martha Antoinette would wag her finger, seafoam green manicure almost blinding whenever she scolded him or their mother.

“Your last visit was over a week ago. You finally coming to terms that you don’t need to be checking up on me so much?”

“It’s not that. I’ve just been…” His mouth twisted as he tried to figure out how to even begin to explain everything, “busy the last few days. How’ve you been?”

“Pretty good. I’ve taken up painting obviously,” she smirked, stroking her chin thoughtfully. “You think if I grew facial hair, I could be Bob Ross?”

“Ains,” Malcolm barely got out, his shoulders shaking with laughter, “I think it takes more than mere facial hair to even pass for Bob Ross.”

“Rude,” she scoffed playfully before trailing off. “I dunno,” she added with a shrug, “I’ve been painting a lot of happy trees lately and I could do with another hobby.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” A relieved smile spread across his face. “How’ve you been doing?”

“Okay for the most part. I’ve been binge-watching The Good Place the past couple of days. I don’t get all the hype, but it was actually pretty good. Though the philosophy bits just confuse the hell out of me.”

“Well, it’s an acquired taste for some.”

Malcolm chuckled, remembering how JT’s face had scrunched up when he and Tally were debating about ethics in the latest episode during their last group outing. JT preferred everything straightforward while Tally liked diving into symbolism and the intricacies of foreshadowing.

And yet the two opposites had just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary.

The siblings shared a moment of comfortable silence before Ainsley spoke up.

“You came here to ask me something.” She crossed her arms over the table and leaned forward, her knowing eyes befitting of her passion for journalism. “And don’t deny it, you know you can’t hide anything from Whitly women, bro. What is it?”

For once, he carefully thought over his words.

“You gave Mom the six months she wanted. Your doctors say you’re more than equipped to return to your job and your regular life.” He frowned in confusion as Ainsley looked down at the table, almost curled into herself. “You don’t have an insatiable bloodlust, you don’t take pleasure in hurting people. I can’t imagine what must have been going through your head at the time--”

His eyes softened when he saw her look so small, so unlike her confident self. As much as he initially thought otherwise, he hadn’t been the only one affected by their father.

“But I do understand being afraid of what you could be capable of. And I know that it was a result of trauma and stress, but what happened obviously came from a very logical and rational urge to protect our family.”

“I know,” Ainsley mumbled before looking back up at her big brother, “I’m usually good at getting that through my head--I’m still scared that something will happen again. I’ll suddenly get this pang in my chest at the realization that yes, maybe I did kill to protect my family. Maybe his death helped to save the lives of innocent people who would have died because of him...”

Her voice wobbled, her eyes suspiciously bright and it was like she was five years old again, confused and hanging onto the hem of her big brother’s sweater.

“But none of that changes the fact that I did kill him. I killed him and I don’t even remember doing it.”

Malcolm placed a hand on her shoulder as he noticed her eyes glaze over, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m not saying that I’m worse off than you or you can’t understand what it’s like--but you’ve had this stigma of being Martin Whitly’s son for twenty years. It sucks, but at least it’s a constant for you. Imagine feeling like you’re doing fine and then all of a sudden, you’re hit with the guilt of something you actually did and can’t take back. Something you can never change.”

Malcolm held out his other hand and Ainsley was quick to take it, much like when they had been kids and she had held her brother’s hand because she was afraid of the high dive at the pool at Grandma Liz’s house.

“I feel that less here, but I’m still reminded.”

“You’re not a bad person, Ains. Single minded maybe, but that’s hardly the worst trait for a journalist to have.”

She let out a wry laugh.

“But I still killed a man and that changes things.” She pursed her lips as she let out a sharp exhale. “I don’t know if I can ever feel normal again.”

Malcolm nodded. Didn’t he have so many sleepless nights over that during the past twenty years? Maybe it was something only family could understand.

“Welcome to my world,” he jested, the beginnings of a teasing smile unfurling.

“I guess it was only a matter of time.” Ainsley let go of his hand, her laughter given way to a resigned sigh. “And I know Mom misses me, but now she’s asking me to either come back for this gala or give great-grandma Catherine ‘the Great’ something to roll over in her grave about.”

“Well, she was the life of the party back in her day,” he shrugged.

He vaguely remembered a larger than life old woman in an Audrey Hepburn style black dress and opera gloves, laugh lines around Milton blue eyes and streaks of silver in her chestnut hair. Malcolm had been four when she passed away, but he could still recall his young self balancing on her ruby red shoes as she led him in wide sweeping circles across the dance floor.

“And let’s face it, you definitely take after her ‘cause you’re much better at the whole gala thing than I am. I wouldn’t even know how to talk to anyone, really.”

“Wait,” Ainsley turned to him in disbelief. “You, Professor Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome, are actually going? Willingly?”

“Yeah, and here’s the kicker. Mother wanted me to bring a date.”

Ainsley let out a snort, her expression sly.

“Because you’re so clearly fighting them off with a stick?”

“Oh, ha, ha. Very funny,” he retorted with a roll of his eyes.

“What are you going to do when you show up without a date?”

Malcolm went quiet, fiddling with the cuffs of his sleeves and looking at anything but her. Ainsley’s eyes went wide with shock and delight, her reporter mind quickly connecting the dots.

“No. Way. Malcolm Alexander Bright! You actually have a date?”

Malcolm squirmed in embarrassment, his ears turning red.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it a date exactly--”

“It’s Dani, huh?”

“Wha--” Malcolm just blinked at her in bemusement, “I just--how’d you even--”

“Figure it out? Oh please,” Ainsley rolled her eyes, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “You couldn’t be more obvious. I mean, you literally talk about her every time you come visit.”

He froze at that, eyes so wide that she thought they’d pop out at any given second. Malcolm briefly wondered how his sister could read him so easily now. It had to have been the result of her almost year long stay here.

“I do?”

He winced at the way his voice almost cracked.

“Yup,” she nodded, practically preening with unholy glee. “It’s always the same thing. You tell me about a case, update me on Gil, guess the JT name of the week, and you end on some hilarious joke Dani made, usually at your expense. Which confirms you being a masochist because you find those the funniest,” she added in afterthought.

Ainsley settled back in her seat, grinning like the cat that caught the canary.

“So tell me, big brother. How’d you manage to trick her into saying yes?”

(~**~) (~**~) (~**~) (~**~)

Dani wasn’t normally one to simply stay at her desk, but she couldn’t help the soft smile on her face as she watched Gil and Isabella through the window of his office, the baby laughing as Gil made funny faces. It had been a while since she saw him like this, but lolo Gil was definitely a good look on him.

“Oh, Detective Powell!”

She snapped out of her thoughts a posh voice called out to her, accompanied by the crisp sound of heels clicking with each step across the floor.

“Hello, Mrs Whitly.”

Dani looked up at the older woman with a polite smile. Jessica Whitly reminded her of the high society ladies from the reruns of Dynasty that her Granmè used to watch when she was little. Affably dramatic with those close to her, but scrappy enough to get down and dirty when she needed to if breaking an antique vase over Watkins’ head was any indication.

Dani nearly had to cover her eyes when she spotted the bright, friendly smile on the other woman’s face, a sharp contrast with the navy suede trench coat and muted silver heels she wore. Well, at least she knew where Bright got it from now.

“Oh no, dear, Mrs Whitly was my former mother-in-law,” Jessica chuckled airily, waving off the formality. “Given how attached my son is to you, you simply must call me Jessica. It’s lovely to see you again.”

“It’s nice to see you too.”

It should’ve been awkward, talking to Bright’s mother like this as if her relationship with her son was something more profound than friendship, but honestly?

Jessica wasn’t as bad as some of the other high society mothers she had come across since meeting Bright. She was a lot of things; nosy, opinionated, a little judgemental at times when it came to Gil or her children’s choices. But she didn’t let her shortcomings stop her from trying to do right by the people she cared about.

The subtle smile on Dani’s face was genuine, even as the detective cleared her throat upon recalling last night’s invitation.

“Oh, by the way, I thought you should know that Bright invited me along.”

“Invited you along...?” The older woman feigned ignorance with a quizzical tilt of her head, a rare moment of mischief for her.

“Uh,” Dani hesitated for a second, absently biting her lower lip before she just came out with it. “Just that he extended the invitation for your gala... thing. He wasn’t really specific about what it was.”

“Oh,” Jessica lit up, clasping her hands together in delight, “So Malcolm did ask you after all! Finally. I knew that boy had a bit of the Milton persistence in him if I gave him a little nudge in the right direction, so to speak.”

Dani swallowed a chuckle, remembering the little family history lesson Bright had given them during the impromptu tour of the Whitly family home.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Oh, this is wonderful, dear! So tell me, what do you plan on wearing?”

Oh.

Dani hadn’t really thought about what she would wear to an upscale event like that. Her family was comfortably middle class and the Powells’ idea of fancy was a night at the New York ballet and a late dinner at the Havana Café.

“Um, I don’t really have a lot of options. Just that dress Bright bought me for a case a while back.”

“That fabulous oxblood gown you wore to the Taylor wedding?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Dani let out a laugh, simply shrugging a shoulder. “I thought about having my mom upcycle it and add some sheer lace sleeves, maybe a peekaboo collar.”

“As inventive as that may be and I will be asking for your mother’s number later,” Jessica looked momentarily intrigued by the idea before she shook her head, “I cannot let you be seen in that.”

Dani was nearly taken back, her brows raised in disbelief.

“I’m sorry?”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Jessica started, “That dress is gorgeous and you looked stunning as always. I've lost count of how many times people have come up to me and asked who you were after you flawlessly took down the Countess of Monte Cristo, not even a hair out of place.”

Jessica’s expression turned sly as she recalled how her son would start to frown in annoyance whenever he overheard a wealthy scion ask if the lovely detective was single. It may have led to a few ice cold glares whenever Dani wasn’t looking and the occasional possessive hand cupping the small of her back as he guided her through yet another dance, but the Milton matriarch would let Malcolm have his dignity.

For now, at least.

“But it’s practically an unwritten rule in the upper echelon, you simply cannot be seen in something you’ve already worn, especially when it comes to these sort of events.”

"I guess you have a point…" Dani conceded.

She might have had a brief glimpse of high society at the Taylor wedding, but she could tell from a glance that there was a lot of cutthroat viciousness hidden behind polite veneers. She was not about to go to the gala like a country bumpkin put on display at the--

Dani mentally shook her head. She must have listened to Mona talk about historical Cinderella style novels one too many times. How did Bright even grow up in that kind of environment?

“Oh, I know!” Jessica's face lit up once again, “Why don’t I take you shopping? I still need to get my dress as well and I’m sure we could find something that suits your taste. We can make a lady’s day out of it.”

“I don’t know, Mrs Whitly--Jessica,” Dani corrected after a pointed look from the older woman. “I can’t exactly take off work--”

“Actually, you don’t need to continue your shift. Given that it ended a little while ago.” Gil interrupted, his face smug as he walked out of his office, bouncing a very happy Isabella in his arms. “Powell’s just a dedicated worker.”

Isabella kicked her legs in excitement, squealing when she saw Jessica hold her arms out.

“Oh, my little bluebell!” Jessica gushed as she took the baby from Gil, looking every inch a doting grandmother as she turned back to Dani. “Now then, if your work day is over, I would love to take you dress shopping.”

Dani opened and closed her mouth, unsure how to answer. Jessica was nice enough in small doses, but even she didn’t know if she could handle the entire day with Bright’s mom.

“Powell,” Gil interjected, fatherly assurance bleeding into his usual no-nonsense lieutenant persona. “After all the hullabaloo, you’ve definitely earned a break today. Don’t let me catch you back here until tomorrow.”

“Then I guess…” Dani paused, looking at Jessica with a tiny smile. “Why not? I could use a day off right about now.”

“Wonderful!”

Isabella started to clap and giggle as Dani stood up, the little girl’s enthusiasm making the grin on Jessica’s face grow even wider.

“See, even Bluebell’s excited for you to join us.”

Gil chuckled with a fond expression, offering to get Isabella’s stroller when his phone suddenly rang. He hurried back to his office when he saw just who was calling.

“Gil, I think I figured out how to get Evan Huntington to talk.”

“Bright,” Gil pinched the bridge of his nose. “We still don’t have enough evidence to bring him in. There’s still a possibility that he’s not our killer.”

“Killer or not, he knows something. He’s just not telling us.”

“Don’t I know it,” he groaned, a feeling of dread already starting to bubble up, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Do I even want to know what you have in mind?”

“Probably not,” he joked before his voice turned serious. “We may have to talk to Evan Huntington’s father, Edgar. But in order for it to work--”

He could practically hear Malcolm’s Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed thickly.

“--I may need to pay my father a visit.”

Hey guys!

I’m sorry this took so long... again, writer’s block plus online summer courses have not been a good combination. I’m hoping that chapter 8 doesn’t take this long to write but no worries, I’m not gonna abandon the story... if anyone’s still interested in the story lol

I hope you guys are doing well and staying safe, I’ll see you next time XP

P.S. extra special thank you to @s4karuna because I could not have posted these past few chapters without her edits

#prodigal son #malcolm bright #dani powell #gil arroyo #jt tarmel #edrisa tanaka #ainsley whitly #jessica whitly #brightwell #carved in the cradle #prodigal son fanfiction

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oh-theatre · 4 years

Text

Objection!: Chapter 17

Chapter title: Can I?

A/n: Y’all have no idea how long I’ve been planning…that moment. Like Ive had it ready and just kept imagining it, I mean…I love them so much. Honestly I'm sorry this chapter is so weird and low-key bad but I hope you enjoy it…ESPECIALLY THE END…sorry I got excited anyWHOO. Make sure to leave me some comments!

Quick disclaimer!! THIS CHAPTER (towards the end) HAS SOME DARK AND HEAVY STUFF SO PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION. Its brief but still!!

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words: 4381

summary: Virgil and Roman recover from an eventful evening, Patton debates his own control over his life and Logan helps him with the case

pairings: Eventual logicality, prinxiety, platonic demus, romantic remile

warnings: Murder mention, child murder, Law and Courtroom, swearing, blood, hospital, crime scene, murder, gun mention, guns, swearing, abuse, graphic descriptions

Ao3 Link

“Good morning” Patton mumbles walking up to his sister, Barbara giggles embracing her sleepy brother. Patton smiles pulling away sniffing delightfully at the steamy aura of the room “Coffee?” He hopes, knowing Barbara makes the best coffee

“But of course!” Barbara hands him a warm cup, allowing the heat to travel through his body. He hums softly making his way to the table, settling into the wooden chair. Barbara finishes her own preparations joining him. “How was the gala?” She inquired reading over the newspaper. Patton stares towards the window, allowing the sun peeking through to envelope him

“It was a very nice evening” he decides, Barbara takes a sip of drink nodding. “Some magical things occurred” he marvels recalling the moment he witnessed. His cheeks swelling instantly.

“We too had a magical evening. Marcy and I raced around the house chasing the twins, apparently we were evil sorcerers and princess Valerie and her duke Remus had to defeat us” she recalls, Patton laughs tapping his fingers softly on the wood

“Eventful” He's excited to have his sister return to him but his exhaustion has overtaken. For days he's worked endlessly, all he wanted was a day off to enjoy the company with his children in this blissful world, keeping them away from reality for even a moment. As if the moons were listening, the world came back to life.

“Papa!” Valerie cries running up to her father, Patton wastes no time scooping her up, situating her on his lap. “Did you have fun?” She wonders playing with his glasses, Patton lets her putting down his coffee.

“I did, but I missed you and your brother soooooo…” He stretches the ‘O’ hugging Valerie tight, she squeals laughing away. “Much!” He finishes, smothering her with kisses. A second patter of feet emerges followed by heavy resistance. Patton turns to see a rushed Remus dragging a very dazed Logan behind him.

“Dada! Look who I found!” He claims, Patton smiles an apologetic glance towards Logan. Patton carefully sets Valerie in Barbara's arms, removing Remus from Logan's grasp. “Lolo lives here now?” Remus questions, he puts his arms up. I wish...Patton looks towards a recovering lawyer. He smiles at Patton heading towards the kitchen for some caffeine. Marcy soon joins them, happily relieving Patton of Remus for a brief moment as he meets Logan in the kitchen.

“Good morning” He whispers, Logan turns yawning. He examines Patton for a moment before adjusting his glasses, Patton melts under his warm touch feeling as though he'd been thrown into the past. “Thank you” He watches Logan's eyes, their mysterious color, not deciding what they want to be. The slight shimmer, if you stare long enough, they look like the night sky, a single star glistens.

“Patton?” He might have looked too long, he regains his reality. “What are your plans for the day?” Logan wonders brushing past Patton for a spoon, he recoils and somehow the pair is closer.

“Well, Roman returns to work soon...so we won't be free for…” Logan's intense stare on Patton makes the man falter, it's weird how prominent his lips look. “Awhile...I was thinking we could...work on the case tonight?” Neither are really listening to the world around them, it happens. They feel so safe in their own bubble, so close, hearing the steady pace of their hearts beating in unison.

“I would love too, tonight, in my office?” Logan looks to the twins, they smile up at him waving ecstatically. Patton watches him, pursing his lips.

“Barb and Marcy are taking the twins out for some dinner, we could work here? In my office?” Patton offers, Logan turns back to him taking a sip of his coffee, he nods taking one last look at Patton before returning to the living room. Patton clutches the counter squealing softly, as though he were a teenager, interrupted by his phone ringing. “Patton Hart!” He greets

“I kissed Roman”

“Good morning to you too Virgil” Patton yawns, feeling himself descend from his sleepy state.

“I kissed...Roman. As in, my lips met his” Virgil slows and Patton can see his face. Eyes bulged in red tiredness, picking at the loose strings in his outfit.

“Well, I thought... I mean yeah that's how it works Virge” Patton stirs his drink carefully, listening as he makes some breakfast for the twins.

“I don't know what to do” Virgil admits quietly, Patton sighs, a bittersweet feeling overtakes. “I really like him, which sounds so high school but its true. But I have Damian, and I just… I don't know”

“Virge, take a deep breath” Patton requests, he hears an audible follow through and continues “I understand how hard and confusing this could be” He looks to Logan who has somehow calmed the twins down and now sits comfortably on the couch with them. “Go for it Virge,” He says wistfully, Logan listens intently to the twin's ramble. “Damian loves Roman, I mean he practically considers him a father” Virgil laughs on the other end “And you deserve it, you both do” Patton waves at a smiling Logan “Just promise me you'll give it a shot”

“I will” Virgil disconnects, leaving Patton to hold the phone to his chest.

“Pat? Everything ok?” Barbara asks as she washes up the dishes, Patton nods, keeping his eyes on Logan. “Oh my god...you two..” She shakes her head, Patton turns to her cocking his head. “Nothing, anyway whens mom coming over?” Patton sighs feeling the dreams drain from him.

“Later, she wants lunch, with me and you” He laments, Barbara scoffs. “I can't believe I agreed, you know she forgot the twins names? I mean...ugh I don't wanna talk about this” He waves it off, Barbara squeezes his arm a supportive smile. “I'm going to go get ready, love you” Barbara gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before rejoining the twins and Logan. He moves slowly to his room, picking out his outfit for the day, just as he always would. And probably always will...the same routine.

Was he getting bored?

~~~

“And then I kissed him, and then he wasn't there this morning but I did hear him t- Logan are you listening to me?” Roman rushes following after a less than happy Logan.

“Would you like an honest answer?” Logan wonders moving further into his office, Roman follows him tilting his head. He pouts sitting across from the lawyer, debating whether he should let the conversation continue.

“No” He whispers softly, swallowing his words. Logan smirks opening up some notices on his desk. “But Logan!” he moans, the lawyer looks up sighing “What do I do?” He asks genuinely, Logan shrugs. He is paying attention and he does, to some extent, care about what Roman is saying. On the other hand, he was swamped with work. Roman was coming back to court tomorrow, the case would resume and there was a lot to unpack since the previous time they had a session. Not to mention, Logan has a very important meeting tonight...with Patton.

“I don't know Roman, you like Virgil don't you? Then perhaps you should ask him out, see where it takes you” Logan advises, typing quickly into his laptop. Roman leans back nodding, he taps the desk quickly before jumping up.

“Thanks, nerdverine” He smiles in place, Logan groans. “Get it? Nerd? Wolverine? Nervderine?” He bobs his head, a stupid grin placated upon his face. “I think Virge should be here soon, I'm gonna go do...exactly that!” Roman points triumphantly before gallivanting away from his office.

He strides through the oh so familiar halls, his fingers lining the walls as he walks, an almighty smile blessing his face. He reaches the foyer of courthouse almost instantly spotting the sullen detective.

“Virgil!” He calls, waving ecstatically. Virgil scoffs playfully turning towards the judge, he waves back approaching him. “I kissed you!” He remembers, Virgil shushes him nodding, he takes him into a more secluded hallway.

“Yes you did, it was…” He bites his lower lip, watching Romans amber eyes light aflame “Enjoyable...” He whispers, leaning in carefully. Roman lets a soft laugh escape as he joins Virgil's antics, they meet each other halfway, the touch of their lips sending a shock through them. Roman takes the open slits of Virgil's jacket. He pulls away quickly, Virgil hides his pout.

“No! I mean yes but no...we need to talk about this” Roman continues his hold on Virgil, wondering when he should awaken from this dream. “I wanna take you out, on a date” Roman proposes, Virgil coughs back a smirk but listens. “U-unless you don't want to, I mean tha-” Interrupting Roman with a kiss might be Virgil's new favorite hobby.

“I would love to but...honestly I don't want anything flashy Roman. Spending time at home with Damian and you? Cuddled up with blankets and never-ending snacks? That's the dream” Virgil explains, Roman swears his hearts exploded. Everything he has ever wanted, just handed to him on a silver platter, it had to be a fantasy.

“Pinch me” He mumbles, shutting his eyes as he realizes what had fallen from his mouth. “Sorry, no yeah...that sounds great” Virgil cups his cheek, kissing him once more. Roman takes his hands swooning silently. “I'm getting the sense you really like kissing” Virgil shrugs.

“Nah, not really” Virgil taps his chest lightly before walking back into the foyer. Leaving a very confused Roman to slowly fall against the cold linoleum, gushing internally. Virgil pops back in, landing a quick kiss on Romans cheek “See you at eight Reial” Virgil quips

See you at eight...Virgil

“What happened to ‘I don't know what to do Patton?’” Patton asks as Virgil confidently returns, joining his friend at reception. “From what I just...unfortunately saw...you know exactly what to do” Patton greets Roman from afar with a small wave. Roman, from his dazed confusion, smiles back.

“I took your advice” Virgil says following Patton to his office “I went for it” He admits, a quick chuckle from the pair.

“Was all that kissing necessary though?” Patton inquires, seating himself comfortably into his chair, Virgil sits across from him as he had done so many times.

“No, that was for me” Virgil jokes, Patton laughs sweetly “He's a really good kisser” Virgil recalls coyly, Patton rolls his eyes not wishing to think about that. “God, this isn't real right? I'm going to wake up, super uncomfortable and sweaty, in my bed right?” Virgil leans forward, Patton pauses where he is.

“Virge, this is real, it's happening” Patton assures, Virgil takes a deep breath nodding, Patton takes his hand squeezing it. “I'm really happy for you V, you deserve this” He smiles, Virgil stands making his way around the table, hugging Patton from behind.

“Thanks, Pat,” He says, returning to his seat. Patton begins typing furiously into his computer, Virgil hums lightly examining the room. “What's up with you today?”

“Well, I have lunch with my mother later-” An audible groan of disapproval comes from Virgil, Patton nods in agreement “Then tonight Lo and I are working on our case, it'll be a while before we get another chance since the case resumes tomorrow” Patton informs. Virgil sighs wistfully, nothing against Patton but his recent connection with a certain judge was still ripe in his mind...and on his lips.

“Speaking of Logan” Patton whispers watching his phone alight with the promise of a new message. He takes the phone, murmuring the words aloud. “Come see me, courtyard..” He reads, Virgil gives him a subtle smile. “Shush” he says, hoping the dim lights cover his ever-growing blush. Patton stands gathering a few of his items, he smiles at Virgil leaving him in charge of the room. Grabbing his coat, making sure he has gloves, he sets on his way to the courtyard. He would never describe someone as...perfect looking. But as Logan stood in the center of the courtyard, the winter winds circling him as the remains of the world danced around him, Patton couldn't help but utter those words.

“Hello Patton” Logan greets “You like nice” He compliments

“You look perfect” His eyes soon go wide, but his honesty is unmatched.

~~~

“Mom please” Patton begs feeling his sister dig her nails into his palm, it was common that the pair would perform this routine. It was a surprise should they not come home with scars marking their hands. How he dearly wished Marcy and Logan were present.

“I'm just saying...Barbara honey, you could do so much better” Gloria laments spinning her fifth drink. Barbara closes her eyes, picturing Marcy laughing at dinner, waddling through the house sleepy “I mean have you seen Marcy?” Nope didn't work.

“That's what you say to a high school girl!” Barbara cries, Patton sits her down, rubbing her back supportively “Marcy and I have been married for six years mother, I love her” She takes a deep breath, releasing the pressure from her brother's hand. “Doesn't matter, does not matter” She mumbles to herself, shaking her head. Patton continues his support, Barbara shoots him a grateful glance.

“Well at least you have a partner” Gloria side-eyes, Patton, he gives his brightest smile, pursing his saddened lips. “Oh! Just in time!” Gloria pipes up, waving at someone behind the siblings. Patton turns his face dropping a thousand colors, whiter than snow that falls fresh. “Liam! Over here, darling!”

“You absolute wench” Barbara scoffs, quickly turning to her brother “Pat, we can go, let's go,” She says taking his hand, he shakes his head sitting down. “I cannot believe you right now” Barbara's mouth falls with absolute disgust for her mother.

“Now children, don't get emotional” She snipes allowing Liam to take a seat next to her, Patton avoids their eyes, suddenly finding his salad very interesting. “Good afternoon dear, how are you?” She greets Liam smiles. It's a smile Patton knows, the way his lips curve, his eyes grow slightly as they stare intently. It's a facade, a trick, designed to make you fall in love, a charm.

“Oh just fine, better now that I'm here with my family,” He says, taking Gloria's hand, was that a blush? She swoons, fanning her face delighted.

“And delusional I see” Barbara quips, her glare never changing as it burns through Liam. “Mom what even is this? You haven't seen Pat and me for almost five years, can't we just have one nice lunch?” Barbara begs, Gloria waves her off continuing her fixed gaze upon Liam. “Mom, we have lives and kids and partners to get back to, so if you're just going to spend lunch gazing into Liam's eyes, I think we’ll take the check” She decides, Gloria sighs turning back to them.

“As far as I know, you don't have children and Patton doesn't have a partner” She smirks, Barbara cowers now, both know where this is going. “In fact, you made it perfectly clear you had no interest in children” She folds her hands. Patton snaps now, he slams his hands softly upon the table, glaring at this woman who dare claim she raised them.

“Mother that's enough” Patton knows this is what she wants, but he can't, he won't let her do this again. “Either we have a nice, civil lunch-” He shoots a glance towards Liam, his face dripping in evil satisfaction “Or Babs and I find somewhere else to eat” He offers, a finality to his words.

“Of course darling, how are the twins?” She tries, even the words are too hard for him. As if showing even a hint of care or concern would melt her innards, leaving her a puddle of emptiness. “Um..Veronica and...Re..re-” Patton finds it sad how she actively seems like she's trying to remember as if the two people who mean the world to Patton are just...forgettable.

“Valerie and Remus” He corrects, his voice remains even, steady. He takes a short breath, closing his eyes for a moment, remembering Logans earlier words.

You are the strongest person I know, I know this is random...

A light sprinkle of pink flash upon his face, how he wishes he could return to that moment. The nervous chuckle the fell from Logans beautiful mouth, shaking as he composed himself. Standing huddled in the middle of the courtyard, the wind circling them, entrapping them in this wishful bubble. The look of starry adoration that puddled in Logan's eyes as he attempted so hard to conjure the words.

I...Patton...I want to-

Poetic really, the small ping shattering their world. Patton would have ignored it, let Barbara amuse their mother for just awhile longer, but that's not who he was. He took the call, answered the beckon and left incredibly apologetic.

Tonight ok?

He assured Logan, a careful squeeze to Logan's arms as he listened to his sister's worried ramblings. As he stepped out from their safety, he felt the world collide into him, knocking him down a few. A confirmation, a hint of excitement was uttered.

Tonight

And then he was gone, returning into the courthouse to collect his things for lunch. He should've looked back, just one last time, he would've seen Logan watching him. A smile upon the lawyers face as the promise of a hidden meeting in the darkest hour of the starry night raced his thoughts.

“Patton!” He jumps, clutching the seat below him. “Ground yourself, dear, it's not good to get caught up with a dream” Gloria chides, Patton nods feeling himself shrink to that scared little boy so desperate to impress his mother, for her praise. He tries but the searching was harder. Where was the man who stood at his doorstep and kicked his parents out after they mocked him endlessly, where was the man who removed his children from the situation and walked away? How can she do this? How dare she? How dare she break and tear apart everything Patton had so meticulously built up and worked for, everything he accomplished. How dare she, in the blink of an eye, destroy him? One word, one sentence and she had total control.

What right does she have?

Why did I let her?

A dream?

No...a nightmare

~~~

“Sorry, I'm late!” Patton huffs shaking himself off as he steps into his home, Logan helps him with his coat, dusting it before hanging it up neatly. “My mother ambushed me with Liam and then a dreadful walk through a park” He groans, Logan listens a supportive look.

“Please, don't fret about this” Logan assures, Patton grabs his files and rushes towards the office, Logan takes this cue to follow him. He watches as the lawyer scatters his things, skimming through files, he had never seen him look so disheveled “Patton? Is everything alright?” Logan inquires moving towards him

“I just…” He takes a breath, clutching the edges of his mahogany desk, the old wood fierce below his fingers. “I just want to put him away, forever, I want him out of my life...and theirs” He adjusts his glasses, pulling up a seat for Logan. They sit next to one another, a silence falls as the inevitable wafts through the air.

Logan peruses the files carefully helping Patton organize them, they work silently, a well-oiled machine. Logan goes through the information building a structured case, Patton checks the information making sure everything is correct. Hours pass, the lights fade as the only thing keeping the room bright is a few dim candles, promising to guide the pair through the night. Patton begins typing notes and possible witnesses and testimonies. It's nice, the ease of the keyboard as the man works diligently. The soft flick of the paper as Logan checks yet another thing off, it works well, everything works smoothly. Or at least it did. Logan had forced himself, before they began working, to make sure he could separate Patton and mister Hart. Church and state, to be able to view this with no bias, to be able to get through this. It's the one thing he made sure he did. It was vital if he wanted this to work, to win. But he was only human, and he cared about this client more than anything in the world.

The file was huge, he had thought it was just one incident, why he decided to investigate further was beyond him but he's so grateful he did. Well...that might not be the right word. It was pages on pages, lined with reports after reports, each more horrifying than the other. Logan jerks his head towards Patton, just now realizing the typing had stopped. Patton's soft eyes watch him sadly, the brims threatening him with tears as they stare silently. Logan thought he knew everything, he thought he knew to what extent Liams abuse had gone...he thought.

“Patton this is…” He can feel his tongue, the words don't work, his mind can't compute. “I thought...I mean..how?”

“They just lined up...I...” Patton stops, shutting his eyes begging them not to cry.

“How did he get away with this? There's so much, I mean...the police have a lot on him” Logan looks through each one, trying to ignore how close they all are. Each one redacted and marked.

“And he has a lot of money” Patton squeaks softly, Logan restrains from slamming the desk. “Virgil tried, but...I mean most of them were corrupt at the time. Liam had them all wrapped around his finger, you know how much he owned” Patton says waving everything off

“Patton this is awful! This is so much worse than anything I…” Logan was trying so hard to come to terms with everything, stupidly he can't control himself. Stupidly he allows it to get out of hand, and he places the blame…. “How could I not know this?”

“I'm sorry” Patton whispers. No. Absolutely not, that was the last thing that should have left Patton's mouth. Logan's jaw slacks, he hopes he doesn't look as baffled as he felt.

“Sorry? You...you shouldn't be sorry. The last thing you should be is sorry, please understand that” Logan checks, Patton nods afraid to look away but fearful of what's to come. Logans not convinced, he watches Patton fidget carefully on the desk, his nails scraping the wood.

“Right..ok” He sighs, his breath unbelievably shaky. Logan lays his hand over Patton, squeezing it softly. Patton thankful for the familiar flutter of his heart looks to him, and there it is. He truly could get lost in Logan's eyes for hours, the safety they promise, the love they emanate.

“Patton, you should not be sorry. Please, I need you to know that” He begs, his voice is so quiet, the gentle tone carried through. “I need to know that you understand, that you truly believe that you should not be sorry” He pleads, is his voice becoming hoarse? Patton had never seen Logan so...vulnerable. There was no plan, no composure, he just was.

“I understand,” He says, an unbelievable pressure releases from his shoulders. For the first time in months, years, he believes it. Never had he felt someone care so much, the desire to help pulsing through someone's veins. Yes, he believed it but partly he couldn't bear the broken expression on Logan's face. “We can't do this can we?” For once he lets go of his hopes, he wants the deep-rooted honesty, the barren truth.

“Patton” Logan adjusts Patton's chin, facing the man towards him, his touch remains gentle. “I'm going to put him away, I'm going to fight tooth and nail, my blood, sweat, and tears are going into this. I'm going to watch Virgil drag that...monster...” He seethes “...Into jail. Where he will rot, just as he deserves” Why? Patton has to wonder. “Because...because I care about you, because you mean...more than I can put into words” He pauses, Patton bites his lower lip, he has to stop himself, he knows this is one-sided and he has to push his feelings away. “We can do this, you can do this” Logan finishes, Patton remains silent, wondering whether he would regret his next words. He looks to his hands, where Logan still holds him.

“Can I kiss you?” He knew one thing, he had wanted to ask that for a while. It seemed the wrong time but it wasn't. Because he knew, some inkling of him knew that perhaps...Logan felt the same. That maybe, all those years of yearning, stolen glances, dusted blushes...that he wasn't the only victim.

“Yes”

And so he did. Patton leans forward meeting Logan's lips almost instantly, the connection just feels right. A long-awaited puzzle finally complete as the last piece is placed. Logan takes Patton's cheek hearing his heartbeat loud in his ears. The careful clink as their glasses hit one another, the feathery tickle upon their face, the utter joy that neither can comprehend. How can you describe a moment so perfect? A moment that had been desperately desired for so long? The room surrounding them keeping their moment private, a memory to burn the dark wood for ages, a story to tell. The despair seeping away as they only deepen it. Yet somehow it remains as light as a feather, precaution is used as they intertwine. An almost fun game of who might need air is at hand, but neither wants to pull away. Neither wants to awaken from this wondrous fairytale. Alas as they part, soft gasps for air, their foreheads meet allowing their eyes to remain closed. Just for a little bit, to continue the dream they soar upon together. It's funny, Logan had never imagined their night going this way. He expected his confession to leave a mark of rejection...not that he ever reached his planned words. This was better, another time, he promised himself. Patton knows not to trust the media about depictions of these events, but he also knows that the world works in mysterious ways.

And it can absolutely be...that magical.

A kiss

Their kiss

Finally

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